The History of Dodge County, Wisconsin, containing a history of Dodge County, its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc, Part 76

Author: Western Historical Co
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 774

USA > Wisconsin > Dodge County > The History of Dodge County, Wisconsin, containing a history of Dodge County, its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc > Part 76

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April 23, 1860, Prison City moved into a hall, owned by Phelps Moore, on Fond du Lac street, just north from Main. It continued to flourish until the breaking-out of the rebellion, April, 1861, when quite a number of the members enlisted in defense of their country. At first, all other interests seemed absorbed in the peril that threatened the nation, and the Lodge suffered in consequence. During the war, thirty, at least, of its members entered the army, and several enlisted from Welcome Lodge. Some of these soldiers returned to take their places in

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HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.

the Lodge-some came home sick and maimed, while others were killed in battle or died in Southern prisons-but whatever their fate, their memories are cherished as brave defenders of the " old flag."

April 23, 1862, Prison City again occupied Odd Fellows' Hall. Somewhere between 'April and November of this year, Welcome Lodge surrendered its charter. May 13, 1863, Prison City moved into a hall-on Main street, in the Amadon Block, now owned by J. W. Seely. On the following Fourth of July, the members were assigned a place in the procession which celebrated the day, and marched to " Sumner's Grove," making quite a creditable display. At the conclusion of the exercises in the grove, the Good Templars held a picnic, in which many of their outside friends participated.

October 5, 1864, the Lodges in the State having been re-numbered, the number of Prison City was changed to 21, which it still retains.

Sometime between September 1 and November 1, 1865, the Lodge moved into what was then known as Dodge's Hall, over the insurance office of Edwin Hillyer ; the lower part of the building was then occupied as a dry-goods store by L. B. Dodge-now occupied by Silber Brothers. The name of the hall was changed to Temperance Hall. It was occupied until March 12, 1878, when the Lodge rented a hall in Rank's Block, Main street. November 11, 1879, the Lodge negotiated with John S. Gee for the purchase of the old hall on Fond du Lac street, occupied by it from April 23, 1860, till April 23, 1862, and where it remains at this date, January 9, 1880. The hall has been considerably renovated, and tastily fitted up, and it is expected that still further improvements will be made during the year. The Lodge now numbers about ninety, and is in good working order. Its officers, at present, are : W. C. T., William T. King ; W. V. T., Nellie A. Blodgett; W. R. S. and Treas., M. Em. Roun- seville ; Assistant Sec., Merton R. Wilber; W. F. S., Lawson J. Tompkins; W. Chap., Mary H. Heath ; W. Marshal, Herbert F. Gillman ; Dept. Marshal, Alvira Cornell; W. I. G., Stena Otten ; W. O. G., Luman J. Pryor; R. H. S., Ada M. Thompson ; L. H. S., Florence Sheldon ; P. W. C. T., Lewis J. Althouse.

Prison City Lodge, like all kindred societies, has had its successes and its reverses. It would be nearly impossible to estimate the number who have been connected with it during its existence-suffice it to say, that comparatively few of the inhabitants of Waupun have not, at one time or another, been numbered among its membership. Its record will compare favorably with that of its sister societies ; the Grand Secretary considers it one of the best in Wisconsin. It is proud of its career, proud of its military history, and proud of the numbers it has educated and sent out to labor in the "harvest fields of temperance," and it proposes to exist and to work, as long as there is a call for its existence and a demand for its services.

Advance Temple of Honor, No. 21 .- This secret temperance society was organized Octo- ber 9, 1875, with the following charter members: James McElroy, R. H. Oliver, S. W. Keyes, P. M. Pryor, G. B. Durand, O. D. Hudson, N. Raymond, J. S. Gee, S. J. Morse, E. H. Drew and P. H. Kelley. The first officers were : E. H. Drew, W. C. T .; G. B. Durand, W. V. T .; R. H. Oliver, W. R .; O. D. Hudson, W. F. R .; James McElroy, Treasurer ; S. J. Morse, W. M .; P. H. Kelley, W. D. U .; J. S. Gee, Guardian ; N. Raymond, Sentinel ; S. W. Keyes, P. W. C. T.

In June, 1876, occurred one of the greatest temperance revivals ever known in Waupun or vicinity, during which 100 members were admitted to the Temple in the week beginning June 16. In the following July, the Lodge reached the height of its strength in point of numbers, containing at that time 275 members in good standing. The present officers are : J. S. Gee, W. C. T .; L. C. Owen, W. V. T .; R. H. Oliver, W. R .; W. T. King, W. F. R .; O. F. Stoppen- bach, P. W. C. T.

A. O. U. W .- The Order of the Ancient Order of United Workmen is purely benevolent. It was brought into existence to promote mutual benefit to its members in sickness or trouble, as an insurance to their heirs after death. Each member is assessed $1 at the death of any member within the jurisdiction. The Lodge at Waupun was instituted February 3, 1879, and consisted of the following charter members, who were also the first officers : W. W. Houghton,

ICHan Brunt

HORICON.

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HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.

P. M. W .; H. W. Frost, M. W .; F. F. Zimmerman, G. F .; Christian Johnson, O .; J. C. Wilms, G .; J. H. Linds, Recorder ; William Warren, Receiver; H. Johnson, I. W .; F. S. Keech, O.W .; Frank C. Hill, Medical Examiner

The present officers are : H. W. Frost and W. W. Houghton, P. M. W .; J. C. Wilms, M. W .; R. T. Oliver, Recorder; C. Johnson, G. F .; John Fieldsted, Overseer ; Herman Hanisch, Guide ; Richard Goff, Financier; J. R. Viall, Receiver; August Pobuns, I. W .; W. C. Peterson, O. W. The Lodge meets every Monday evening, at Odd Fellows' Hall. W. W. Houghton was Representative to the Grand Lodge for 1879, and H. W. Frost for 1880. The present Medical Examiner is Dr. J. N. O'Brien. The Lodge now has twenty-three members.

Lelulah Lodge, No. 33, I. O. O. F .- This Lodge was instituted at Waupun by Deputy Grand Master Lowther, December 25, 1848, with the following named persons as charter mem- bers : Isaac Valentine, L. B. Hills, George Howe, W. S. Post and J. Dickenson. It occupied rented rooms until 1852, when a joint-stock company was formed among the members, and an Odd Fellows' Hall was built, at a cost of about $600, which the Lodge continued to occupy for Lodge purposes until 1871, when the old hall was disposed of and a new one was erected as a permanent home for the Order in the city of Waupun. The property is valued at $5,000. The Lodge is and has been in a prosperous condition.

Waupun Lodge, No. 48, A. F. g. A. M .- At some time during the last end of the year 1852, D. L. D. Huntington, L. B. Dodge, Milo Sikes, Andrews Burnkam, Sr., Jeremiah Look, George T. Wood, C. B. Carrington, Joseph Bardwell and Charles Spoor conceived the idea of of instituting a Masonic Lodge at Waupun, and for that purpose petitioned the Grand Master of the State for dispensation. On the 20th day of April, 1853, Hon. H. L. Palmer, then Grand Master, granted the petition, appointing D. L. D. Huntington to be the first Master, L. B. Dodge the first Senior Warden and Milo Sikes the first Junior Warden. August 12, 1853, the Lodge was organized under dispensation with the above named brethren as Master and Wardens. June 20, 1854, the Grand Lodge granted a charter for a Masonic Lodge, to be located at Waupun, to be known as Waupun Lodge, No. 48, appointing C. B. Carrington Master, Joseph Bardwell Senior Warden, and L. B. Dodge Junior Warden. The charter so granted was signed by Henry W. Billings, Deputy Grand Master, attested by William R. Smith, Grand Secretary, un ler the seal of the Grand Lodge. The first election for all of the elective officers of the Lodge was held June 1, 1855, when C. B. Carrington was elected Master. Since which time the following named brethren have been elected and served as Masters: Cromwell Laithe, William E. Haneard, Ira Hill, Robert Cosgrove, W. H. Taylor, C. W. Henning, M. C. Short, S. 3. Sumner, G. W. Stanton, C. S. Gillman, John I. Roberts and F. S. Keech. The Lodge now has an active membership of ninety-two. She has been and now is free from debt.

WAUPUN PIONEERS.

[ FROM JAMES MCELROY'S ADDRESS BEFORE THE OLD SETTLERS OF WAUPUN AND VICINITY, JUNE 11, 1879.]

'Many of the old pioneers and our former associates are gone from our circle, some to other fields of toil, and others, whose prospects were as bright for a long and happy life as any of us now living, have received their discharge; their work is done; they have been called from labor to rest ; and if, while mingling with the busy crowd, we sometimes remember them, let it be with kindness. We see many of the old veterans still with us, whose whitened locks and wrinkled brows tell us that their little bark has been tossed on the billows of life's ocean for many long years; and that they were ever at their posts, fearless of the cold of winter or the heat of summer, needs no other proof. These are some of the men who left their Eastern homes to assun e a life of toil and danger incident to settling in a new country, so that they might pro- vide for themselves and their children homes of independence and freedom, and, though some- times meeting with trials and disappointments, yet most nobly have they done their work, and why ? l'ecause they were men of strong minds and determined wills to accomplish, as far as possible, whatever they undertook to do.

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HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.

" They were not of that stripe of men who hang around the corners all day whittling dry- goods boxes and never have courage enough to get away from the end of their mother's aprón strings ; but men and women who pitched their nightly tents on the broad prairie or under the spreading caks, night after night, until they found a resting-place in Waupun and the country around it, where they have labored to build up and improve the place of their choice and make it what it is to-day, the pride of its people; men who have stood by it in clouds and sunshine, watching with interest its slow but sure growth, ever firm in the belief that there was before it a bright prospect of future usefulness and prosperity."

MANUFACTORIES.

The Waupun Pump and Windmill Works .- Like many another institution, the Waupun Pump and Windmill Works had their origin in the day of small things. In 1852, when Dodge and Fond du Lac Counties were only thinly settled with new-comers, Milo J. Althouse, then a young man just starting to make his way in the world, with no resources but his own hands and his energetic will, made his first essay in the pump manufacture-a single pump planed, bored, fitted with handle, spout and bucket, and finished by his own hands, and by his own hands then set in a well. Returning from this completed job, he commenced another, to be finished and carried to the customer before a third was entered upon. By these slow steps was first put in motion a business which has since reached across the continent, finding its principal market in a dozen States. Endeavoring always to make his work excel, Mr. Althouse soon found his business and his reputation so growing as to warrant the opening of a shop and the purchase of improved tools. In 1859, he left the little shop, on a farm where he had worked alone, and opened a shop in the village of Waupun. From working by hand he advanced to horse-power for running the augers, and gradually augmented the force as the demand for his work increased. In 1861, Mr. Althouse introduced steam-power, and again enlarged his shop to meet the growing business. He still carefully maintained the quality of his work, and his stamp was a synonym for the best on all work in his line. Every stick of timber used was care- fully inspected, and every piece of leather for packing was selected from the best part of first quality sides, all else being rejected and sold for scraps. The same careful selection of material has been continued throughout.

In those days, the wind sweeping overhead was undreamed of as a motive power, or at least not dreamed of in any practical way as a power applicable to the ordinary work of a farmer ; but, about 1860, the first windmills, with partially self-regulating devices, were introduced in the Northwest. Their progress was slow for years ; the devices themselves were imperfect. Those who now find such a machine a necessity were not then educated to the knowledge of the benefits to be derived from its use ; and the large stock and dairy interests of Wisconsin, which now more than ever before make this machine necessary, were then comparatively in infancy. But, ten years ago, Mr. Althouse foresaw the growing future of this power, and its intimate connec- tion with the pump business, and made arrangements for manufacturing one of the best wind- mills then invented. In 1873, Messrs. George and Albert Raymond having their attention called to the matter, commenced experimenting with wind-engines, and, in February, 1874, in connection with Mr. Althouse, patented the Althouse & Raymond Windmill. which, with some later modifications, is now known through Wisconsin and the Northwest as the " Althouse Vaneless Windmill," and enjoys the reputation of being the most perfect self-regulating wind-engine yet invented. In the following spring, Hon. George F. Wheeler and L. D. Hinkly became asso- ciated with Mr. Althouse, under the firm name of Althouse, Wheeler & Co. Since that time, the business has been carried on by the firm, and their trade has extended from Massachusetts to California, and from Canada to Florida and Texas, within the Union, and still further on the west, has reached the Australian fields, and, in the Far East, the winds which ripple the old Euphrates propel the sails of their engines.

Nearly sixty thousand pumps, made in this establishment, are in use in the Northwest ; and nearly three thousand wind-engines bearing their stamp are pumping, churning and grinding.

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HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.

.The pumps made are mostly wooden pumps, of all sizes, from a cistern pump of two inches bore to a mammoth of six inches. The special feature of these pumps, introduced by Mr. Althouse, and distinguishing them from the old wooden pumps, is the making of a detachable hard-maple cylinder in which the bucket works. This simple improvement adds immensely to the dura- bility and ease of working of the pump. Of course, the greater part of the windmills made are of the smaller sizes, the most common size for farm use being the ten-foot wheel. They manufacture pumping windmills of eight feet, ten feet, twelve feet, fourteen feet, sixteen feet and twenty-five feet in diameter, and also make geared mills for driving machinery. These are mostly made in sizes of sixteen feet and twenty-five feet. In prosperous times, the business of the establishment has been $10.000 per month, with a pay-roll of $3,000 per month, distributed among about fifty men. Like all other business, this has felt the depression of the last three years, in reduced production and sales, and continues its work on a somewhat narrowed scale, awaiting the " good time coming" which shall justify more active efforts.

This is one of the institutions which has contributed, in no small degree, to give Waupun a steady and solid prosperity when other places have stagnated after premature expan- sion.

M. K. Dahl's Plow-Factory .- One of the oldest manufacturing establishments in Wau- pun is Dahl's Plow-Factory, on the Dodge County side of Washington street, Upper Town. The first building, now occupied by Mr. Dahl, was erected in 1846 or 1847, by Bly & Ely, and had been occupied as a plow-factory since about 1850. Mr. Dahl manufactures plows, land rollers, sulky plows, harrows, cultivators and other farming utensils, in which he has built up a large business.

F. F. Zimmerman's Wagon Factory .- In 1865, Mr. Zimmerman began the business of wagon making and repairing, on the Fond du Lac County side of Washington Street, in Upper Town, in a building formerly occupied in the country as a schoolhouse. He manufactures wagons, carriages and cutters, giving employment to from ten to sixteen men. He now has three large buildings, and carries on an extensive and constantly increasing business.

Morse &. Morris' Carriage Factory .- In 1876, O. A. Morse, Jr., erected, on the corner of Franklin and Drummond streets, three commodious buildings for a carriage factory. In 1877, Mr. Morris purchased an interest in the factory, which gives employment to nine men in the manufacture, exclusively, of carriages, phaetons, buggies and cutters.

Thomas Stoddart's Organ Manufactory .- Thomas Stoddart brought his knowledge of organ-building from Scotland, and about 1860, after retiring from the post office and other active business, began the manufacture, in a shop near his residence on Prison street, of pipe and reed organs. He has patent " coupbos " and resonance boxes, as well as a patent bellows or air pump, and makes all with his own hands the softest-toned instruments extant. He does not manufacture " for the trade," but for musical people only. He has built over fifty instruments, one of which is a " barrel organ," eight feet high. This is an organ which plays by machinery. Mr. Stoddart is one of the only three men in America, who can make a "music barrel," which will play the simplest or most difficult music. The one mentioned plays from Handel, John Sebastian Bach and other distinguished composers.

The Waupun Stone Mills .- The first flouring-mill built in the vicinity of Waupun, was erected in 1846, by Forest & Smith, at the foot of Mill street, on the Rock River, in the North Ward of Waupun. The lumber for it was sawed the year previous, by the same parties who had a saw-mill near by. In 1848, the mill burned, having caught fire from lumber spread over the engine to dry. In the fall of the same year, the present stone mill was begun and finished for business in the early spring of 1849. It is four stories in height, and equipped with both water and steam power, and is the oldest mill in the vicinity. It has three runs of stones, with a capacity of one hundred barrels of flour per day. The mill is now owned by T. W. Markle and W. W. Harris, Mr. Markle having owned an interest in it since 1857.

Clisby's Steam Mill .- In 1876, Lorenzo Clisby erected a large steam flouring-mill, near the track of the C., M. & St. Paul Railway, on the Fond du Lac County side of Waupun. It.

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is equipped in modern style, with all the latest improved machinery. It has five runs of stones, with a capacity of 125 barrels per day. It does both custom and job work.

BANKS.

The Waupun Bank .- The first bank of issue, or real banking institution of any sort in Waupun, was the Waupun Bank, which opened for business in 1856, with L. B. Hills as Cash- ier. Owing to hard times, it suspended in September, 1857, and its business passed into the hands of its creditors. John N. Ackerman was chosen President, and T. B. Hills, Cashier, and the bank resumed operations again in November of the same year. It continued in business until about January, 1859, when it suspended, never to be revived. On searching the safe after the second suspension a pack of cards and two dollars in counterfeit money were found. There were no losses to speak of occasioned by the failure of this bank.

The Corn Exchange Bank .- In 1857, William Hobkirk was the means of securing a char- ter, and starting the Corn Exchange Bank, in a stone building on the south side of Main street, erected by him for that purpose. It was organized under the State law as a bank of issue. Andrew Proudfit was President, and William Hobkirk, Cashier. When State Banks were compelled to withdraw their circulation, by high taxes purposely imposed, the Corn Exchange continued on in the general banking business. On the 6th of August, 1875, the bank having been some time without any officer but a cashier, Mr. Hobkirk closed its doors and made a trip to South America. The heaviest loser was Mrs. Margaret Drummond, who had about $60,000 intrusted to the bank. Several years after the failure Mr. Hobkirk returned and settled a portion of the bank's indebtedness, but never opened it for business.

The Citizens' Bank .- After the failure of the Corn Exchange Bank, in 1875, the village of Waupun had no bank until early in 1876 when Almon Atwood, of the town of Waupun, started the Citizens' Bank in the old Corn Exchange building. Almon Atwood was President, and A. Robinson, Cashier. The enterprise not proving satisfactory to its projector, business was discontinued, and the bank closed in February, 1877.

George Jess & Company's Bank .- In the summer of 1876, George Jess and David Met- calf began the erection of the handsome two-story brick and stone block on the corner of Main and Prison streets for a bank, and, in the fall, opened for business, under the name of George Jess & Company, with a paid-up capital of $50,000. The firm has a commodious and well- appointed office, and does a general banking business, such as buying and selling inland and for- eign exchange, receiving demand deposits without interest, selling letters of credit and selling ocean steamship passages. It is a private bank, having no charter.

WAUPUN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.

In 1858, the following petition circulated in the village of Waupun : " We, the under- signed, agree to pay the sum of $3 yearly, until we withdraw from the society, for the purpose of establishing a Library Association in the village of Waupun, the same to be governed by laws adopted by its members. Books shall be received for the first year's subscription, if said books shall be approved by a committee to be chosen. Said subscriptions shall be paid as soon as the society is organized.

This was signed by eighty persons, and on petition the following order was issued :

STATE OF WISCONSIN, ss : VILLAGE OF WAUPUN, Whereas, an application has been made to me by five proprietors of the Waupun Library Association, requesting one of their number to be authorized to call a meeting of the proprietors thereof, for the purpose of making a permanent organization of said Association, as provided in Chapter 49 of the Revised Statutes of said State. It is therefore ordered that Edwin Hillyer be and is hereby authorized to call said meeting, to be convened at Dodge's Hall, on the 16th of February, 1858, at 7 o'clock in the evening, and that he give due notice of said meeting.

Given under my hand this 8th day of February, 1858. JOHN WARE, Justice of the Peace.

At this called meeting, Edwin Hillyer was elected Chairman, and W. H. Taylor, Clerk. L. B. Hills, John Ware, William Euen and J. H. Brinkerhoff were appointed a committee to

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draft a Constitution. They performed the task, and the Constitution was adopted the same night. The election for permanent officers resulted as follows :

President, H. L. Butterfield; Treasurer, George W. Bly ; Collector, William Euen ; Clerk and Librarian, Edwin Hillyer. Directors-C. S. Kneeland, David Ferguson, A. H. Rouns- ville, George Wirt, Geo. Babcock, M. Leary and Charles Smith. Book Committee-L. B. Hills, Jesse Hooker, R. W. Wells, John Ware, George E. Jennings. The latter committee began at once to receive books from members and purchase others with the funds obtained for fees and dues. The library was opened in Edwin Hillyer's office ; and when he moved to Thomas Stoddart's stone block, corner of Prison and Washington streets, the library was also moved there, where it has since remained. During several years, Mr. Hillyer served as Librarian and gave the use of a large room in his office free of charge. Latterly, a nominal rent has been paid, and the Librarian is now paid $30 per annum for his services. The library contains nearly three thousand volumes of choice books, which may be used by any person not a member of the Association by com- plying with the rules and by-laws, and paying ten cents per volume. On every Saturday even- ing the library-room is open, and has always been well patronized. Its financial condition is sound, and new books are constantly added. Since the first year the officers have been as follows :

1859-President, A. H. Rounsville; Clerk and Librarian, Edwin Hillyer ; Treasurer, George W. Bly ; Collector, William Euen.

1860 and 1861-President, A. H. Rounsville ; Clerk and Librarian, E. Hillyer ; Treas- urer, G. W. Bly ; Collector, George E. Jennings.

1862, 1863 and 1864-President, A. H. Rounsville ; Clerk, W. W. Houghton ; Librarian, E. Hillyer ; Treasurer, G. W. Bly ; Collector, George E. Jennings.

1865-President, A. H. Rounsville ; Clerk and Librarian, E. Hillyer ; Treasurer, G. W. Bly ; Collector, G. E. Jennings.

1866-President, D. Ferguson ; Clerk and Librarian, E. Hillyer ; Treasurer, A. H. Rounsville ; Collector, G. E. Jennings.

1867 and 1868-President, Charles Jones ; Vice President, W. H. Taylor; Clerk and Librarian, E. Hillyer; Treasurer, A. H. Rounsville ; Collector, G. E. Jennings.

1869-President, W. H. Taylor; Librarian and Clerk, E. Hillyer; Treasurer, A. H. Rounsville ; Collector, G. E. Jennings.

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The History of Dodge County, Wisconsin, containing a history of Dodge County, its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc, Part 76

Author: Western Historical Co Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, Western Historical Co. Number of Pages: 774

Author: Western Historical Co
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 774