USA > Wisconsin > Dodge County > The History of Dodge County, Wisconsin, containing a history of Dodge County, its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc > Part 77
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1870-President, Thomas Stoddart ; Clerk and Librarian, E. Hillyer; Treasurer, A. H. Rounsville ; Collector, G. E. Jennings.
1871 and 1872-President, D. Ferguson ; Clerk and Librarian, E. Hillyer ; Treasurer, A. H. Rounsville ; Collector, G. E. Jennings.
1873-President, W. H. Taylor; Clerk and Librarian, E. Hillyer; Treasurer, E. W. Jones ; Collector, G. E. Jennings.
1874, 1875, 1876, 1877 and 1878-President, W. H. Taylor; Clerk and Librarian, E. Hillyer ; Treasurer, E. W. Jones ; Collector, G. E. Jennings.
1879 and 1880-President, L. D. Henpley ; Clerk and Librarian, E. Hillyer ; Treasurer, E. W. Jones.
To the late William Euen belongs the credit of taking the first steps to organize the Wau- pun Library Association.
OLD SETTLERS' CLUB.
On the 8th day of February, 1875, many citizens of Waupun and vicinity, who had long been residents of the State, met together for the purpose of organizing an Old Settlers' Club. A Club was formed and a committee appointed to draft rules for its government. A resolution was also adopted, that all citizens of Waupun and vicinity, who had been twenty-five years resi- dent of the State, should be entitled to membership. The meeting adjourned to February 15, 1875, for the purpose of perfecting a permanent organization.
On the last mentioned day, rules for the government of the Club were presented and adopted. The Club permanently organized by the election of James McElroy, President ; John
512
HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.
Bryce, Treasurer, and W. H. Taylor, Secretary. A resolution was adopted that the Old Set- tlers' Club hold their first meeting March 2, 1875; that a picnic dinner be furnished, and that members of the Club only participate.
Before the meeting, appointed for March 2, 1875, convened, the following named residents of Wisconsin became members, giving the date of their entrance into the State :
Jedediah Amadon 1844
Simon Heath
1838 | R. L. Oliver 1846
Samuel Amadon. 1845
Eli Hooker
1846
J. C. Owen
1846
Henry Amadon
1846
E. Hillyer .. 1847
C. T. Owen 1846
Almon Atwood
1847
J. C. Hillibut .1849
Joseph N. Olin 1839
Dudley Andrews 1845
M. J. Althouse
1849
S. C. Hill
1842
A. P. Phelps
1846
John Bryce
1849
Ira Hill.
1843
E. A. Padgham
1849
H. L. Butterfield
1847
Frank Johnston.
1844
C. W. Page
1840
B. B. Baldwin
1844
A. S. Johnson
1843
John Rap.
1848
W. T. Brooks
1846
Benjamin Lyons
1847
C. F. C. Rank 1848
John A. Baker 1842
B. Lemoness.
1847
A. J. Sheldon.
1848
' Luther Butts.
1846
John Landaal.
1846
B. C. Sawyer
1842
D. L. Bancroft 1843
John Kastine
1847
W. H. Smithers
1845
C. C. Bailey.
1847
Philip Kramer
1847
J. L. Sargent ..
1845
David Bruce
1842
Isaac Keech
1837
August Spannagel
1846
D. C. Brooks
1848
Elias Kennedy
1845
T. C. Sanborn ....
1849
John Burns.
1842
James McElroy 1848
L. C. Stewart.
1849
L. B. Balcom
1841
John McCune ..
1848
Edward Sikes ..
1844
David Boynton
1845
Robert Mosher
1845
H. N. Smith
1847
Ira Clement
1847
S. I. Mattoon ..
1844
W. E. Scott
1845
H. E. Collins 1836
John McElroy.
1848
W. H. Taylor
1846
Philander Cole.
1837
Ira Merriam
1844
Lyman Towne.
1844
Sylvester Dodge
1845
John Manz
1847
Cyrus Taylor.
1838
M. K. Dahl
1849
Silas Marsh
.1840
William Thompson
1847
James Davison.
1846
John Mosher.
1845
Caroline S. Town
1844
E. M. Dodgson
1842
D. S. Moon
1843
John Taylor
1842
Joseph Fairbank
1844
Parley Merriam.
1844
C. B. Whitton
1846
August Fisher
1844
Nelson Merriam
1844
Rev. E. N. Wright. 1844
R. Franklin
1846
Alexander McElroy.
1848
Thurston Wilcox 1836
Rev. E. D. Farnham.
1844
E. T. Miller. 1844
C. H. Walker. 1846
John S. Gee.
1846
O. A. Moose
1843
Jane A. Walker
1846
Martin Grider.
1843
S. W. McDonald 1844
H. B. Wilcox
1836
Charles Grant.
1845
N. J. Newton .. 1839
Horatio Weadge
1844
R. L. Graham
1849
D. V. Nickerson 1845
Newel Whiting.
1844
T. W. Gee
1846
John Nickerson 1845
H. T. Wood. 1844
S. H. Harris.
1845 W. G. Oliver 1846 Whitman Young ..
1848
C. W. Henning.
1849
These only comprise those who settled in the State previous to the year 1850, yet all who came in that year, were admitted to participation, together with their families.
On the 2d of March, 1875, pursuant to notice and invitations, the old settlers met in Wau- pun. A large company was present. An old-fashioned dinner of pork, beans and brown bread was served in abundance. Men and women partook of it with a relish. Old times and old scenes were talked over. The evening was spent in social enjoyment. All were pleased with the first Old Settlers' Club meeting.
On the 25th of November, 1875, the Executive Committee of the Club appointed December 4, 1875, as the time for the election of officers. On the day last named, James McElroy was re-elected President ; John Bryce, Treasurer, and W. H. Taylor, Secretary. A resolution was then adopted, that the Club hold their annual meeting on December 21, 1875. Accordingly, on that day, the second annual meeting of the Club was held in Waupun. It was a success. The banquet was enjoyed by about 650 old settlers and their guests. The evening was spent in social intercourse, music and literary entertainments. This meeting, though held in 1875, was really the meeting for 1876.
Owing to the inclement season of 1877, and other reasons, no annual meeting was held. The Executive Committee having previously called a meeting, for the election of officers, on the
-
A. F. Moon. 1843
William N. Walker 1846
I. H. Elkins.
1843
Daniel Hiler 1845
Daniel Pierce 1844
513
HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.
6th day of February, 1878, all of the past officers were re-elected. A resolution was adopted that the Club hold their annual meeting for 1878 on February 15, and that all who had been residents of Waupun or vicinity for twenty years, be entitled to membership. On the day last named, the Club held their third annual meeting. The gathering was large. Old men and women, with their families, met and exchanged congratulations. A banquet was served, and many partook of the repast. The afternoon and evening was spent, by those present, in pleas- ant intercourse. All were pleased and all voted the meeting a success.
At this time, it was determined that the Club should not hold its annual meetings in the winter ; that the next one should be held in the open air. Consequently, on the 15th of June, 1879, the fourth annual meeting of the Club was held in a grove one mile from the city, invi- tations to all old settlers having been extended. The novelty of an out-door meeting, the season of the year, and the pleasure of meeting old friends and faces, brought out a large assembly. A long table had been prepared and was spread, loaded with the good things of life, generously furnished by the old settlers. It was estimated that at least 1,200 partook of the ample bounty. This meeting was a success, and will be remembered by all present with pleasure. The day was beautiful, and was enlivened by music and addresses.
WISCONSIN STATE PRISON.
This institution was located in the village of Waupun during the year 1851, and opened for the reception of convicts in the spring of 1852. By a law enacted in 1851, Messrs. John Bullen, John Taylor and A. W. Worth were appointed Commissioners to determine the best point in the State for the location of a State Prison. They examined different points, and, on July 4, 1851, a majority of the Commissioners (Bullen and Taylor) decided to locate at Wau- pun, Mr. Worth dissenting in favor of Madison.
On July 21, 1851, a contract was made with I. K. Smith for the construction of a main, upright part of a temporary prison for $4,600, the dimensions of which were 26x80 feet, three stories high, of wood, above a stone basement. The Commissioners estimated the sum necessary to continue the erection of the prison and pay indebtedness at $25,000, and also recommended, for the sum of $800, the purchase of an additional twenty acres of land, which recommendation, however, does not appear to have been acted upon.
John Taylor, of Waupun, was, March 28, 1852, appointed Commissioner by the Legisla- ture, but removed by Gov. Farwell before taking possession of the office, and Henry Brown, of Fond du Lac, appointed in his place, who took charge of the prison April 2, 1852.
On July 12, 1853, the Legislature directed the Commissioner to let the contract for the mason work upon the south wing of the prison, and, in December following, Andrew Proudfit contracted to complete the work by December, 1854, for the sum of $12,624; it was ready for the accommodation of prisoners in January following.
In his report for the year 1853, the Commissioner put the value of personal property belonging to the State at $4,181.71.
By an act of the Legislature, the management of the State Prison was placed in the hands of a Commissioner, who was elected by the people at the general election in November, to hold his office for the term of two years, from January 1 next succeeding the election. He appointed one person to perform the duties of Deputy and Clerk, and also appointed all other officers. The prison building, at this time, only contained sixty-seven cells ; number in confinement, sixty-one.
The Commissioner, from January 1, 1854, to December 31, 1855, was A. W. Starks, of Baraboo. In accordance with a law passed by the Legislature at the last session, the Commis- sioner, during the year 1855, let the convict labor as follows :
To Whiting & Danforth, for the labor of the convicts in the carpenter-shop, for two years, at 55 cents per day.
To Starkweather & Elmore, for the labor of convicts in tin-shop, for thirteen months, at an average rate of 48 cents per day.
514
HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.
To Mensink & Boland, for the labor of convicts in shoe-shop, for one year, at 60 cents per day, and 25 cents for apprentices for the first six months.
Total amount received from the State to December, 1855, $30,156.94. Prisoners confined, sixty-eight males.
E. McGarry, of Milwaukee, was the Commissioner from January 1, 1856, to December, 1857 ; John Lowth, Deputy. An appropriation of $10,000 had been made by the last Legis- lature for the construction of the main or center building, but there being no money in the treas- ury, the Commissioner had to negotiate the same to purchase material and keep the convicts employed. He also recommended the building of a stronger wall around the prison yard, as the board fence had become much decayed and afforded poor protection against escapes.
Gov. Bashford, in his message, recommended the leasing of the labor of convicts, provid- ing, that they should be fed, clothed and furnished with the usual necessaries of life by the con- tractors, who also should pay all expenses of guarding the prison, and allow the State a reason- able compensation for the services of the convicts.
Prisoners confined January 1, 1857, 108; received in all up to that time, 241.
E. M. McGraw, of Sheboygan, held the office of Commissioner from January, 1858, to December, 1859; James Giddings, Deputy.
Hans C. Heg, of Racine, held the office to December, 1861; L. W. Evans, Deputy.
On account of the meeting of the Legislature early in January, it became impossible to complete the annual report for the preceding year before the meeting of that body. The time for making the annual report was therefore changed to October 1 of each year.
The Legislature also passed a law giving the Commissioner the authority to diminish the term of any convict, sentenced for a specific term, against whom no infraction of the rules had been reported, not more than five days in each month.
The foundation for nearly all the front wall was laid during the year 1861, also iron-work for front wall received, each panel weighing about 800 pounds. The prison report states that the prison continued to turn out shoes for the soldiers.
In August, 1861, the office of Deputy and Clerk was divided, neither of which office to be held by the officer holding the other.
Hans C. Heg was re-nominated by the Republican State Convention, for the office of Commissioner, but afterward declined, and Alex. P. Hodges, of Oshkosh, nominated in his place, and elected ; he held the office for the next two years, with Martin Mitchell as Deputy and Henry Cordier, Clerk. Seven hundred and eighty prisoners received to September 30, 1862, of whom 116 remained in prison at that time.
The next Commissioner was Henry Cordier, of Waupun (formerly of Oshkosh), who held the office for three terms, from January, 1864 to December, 1869. John Wingender, Clerk; N. H. Palmer, Deputy.
The joint committee of the Legislature on State affairs, having recommended the construc- tion of a sewer from the prison yard to Rock River, a distance of 2,800 feet, the Legislature appropriated the sum of $2,500 for that purpose, and work was commenced during the spring of 1864, and finished next year.
A number of convicts were let to the Green Bay Stave Company, for making barrels for a term of one year. The contracts did not prove profitable, and was not renewed.
Number of prisoners confined September 30, 1865, 90, being a decrease of 23 since the year previous; total received up to that time, 1,011.
Four thousand dollars were appropriated by the Legislature in 1866, for steam-power, and contract made with Hiner & Co., of Fond du Lac, for an engine of sufficient capacity to be used in the cabinet shop.
The prison buildings at this time consisted of main building (used as Commissioner's resi- dence, office, officers' rooms, chapel and hospital), cell-room, female prison, workshops, wash- house, barn and stable and woodshed. The prison proper, or cellroom, is 200 feet long, 50 feet wide and 50 feet high; built of dressed limestone; ten windows on each side, each being
515
HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.
16x5 feet. In the middle part of this room is a stone block containing the cells, four tiers, 280 cells in all, which are 7 feet long, 4} feet wide and 8 feet high; the north cellroom to be a fac-simile of the south cellroom.
The manufacture of chairs was, during the year 1868, inaugurated at the prison ; a consider- able number of the prisoners were employed in quarrying and cutting stone. The prisoners' dress was changed from the striped dress heretofore worn, to one uniform color-light gray-the former being used only as a means of punishment, but has since been entirely abandoned.
On January 1, 1870, George F. Wheeler, of Fond du Lac, assumed the management of the prison, having been elected Commissioner; he appointed C. S. Kelsey. of Montello, Deputy ; D. B. Parkhurst, of Berlin, Clerk; Dr. H. Butterfield, Prison Physician.
The workshops were. on the 2d day of May, 1870, destroyed by fire; also about 300,000 feet of lumber, considerable cord-wood and other property. The shops were immediately rebuilt, and ready about January 1, 1871. They are now 375 feet long, 54 feet wide, two stories high, with engine-house attached, two dry-houses and brick smoke-stack, 110 feet high.
During the next year, Mr. Kelsey resigned his position as Deputy Warden, and was suc- ceeded by B. F. Bettis ; L. D. Hinkley was appointed Clerk, in place of D. B. Parkhurst, resigned. Mr. George F. Wheeler was re-elected Commissioner, and held the office until December, 1873.
The Legislature, during the session of 1873, passed a law, changing the management of the prison, which law went into effect in January, 1874. Three Directors were appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, to hold their office for two, four and six years, and thereafter all appointments to be for six years, in place of the Commissioner, heretofore elected by the people at the general election, the Directors appointed a Warden, who had charge and custody of the prison, also appointed the Clerk, both to hold their office for a term of three years; the Warden appointed all other officers, subject to the approval of the Directors.
The Governor of the State appointed as the first Board of Directors, ex-Gov. Nelson Dewey, of Grant County, for six years ; W. E. Smith, of Milwaukee, for four years; Joel Rich, of Dodge County, for two years. They met at the prison February 12, 1874, and appointed George F. Wheeler, the former Commissioner, as Acting Warden, and L. D. Hinkley, Acting Clerk.
On April 1, 1874, H. N. Smith, of Sheboygan County, was appointed Warden, and Jacob Fuss, of Brown County, Clerk, for a term of three years from January 1, 1874. The Warden appointed S. D. Hubbard, Deputy; Dr. H. Butterfield, Prison Physician; Rev. E. Tasker, Chaplain; G. J. Heideman, Superintendent of Shops.
During the first year of the new administration, arrangements were made with the C., M. & St. P. R. R. to run a side track into the prison yard, for which purpose four and one-half acres of land lying between the railroad track and the prison grounds had to be bought. The manufacture of wagons was also introduced, employing from twenty-five to thirty convicts.
S. D. Hubbard resigned his position as Deputy Warden September 30, 1874, and was suc- ceeded by V. B. Knowles, who remained until April 30, 1875, when he resigned, and Joel Rich, one of the Directors, acted as Deputy until January 1, 1876, when his term of office as Director expired, and he was appointed Deputy.
George W. Burchard, of Fort Atkinson, was, January 1, 1876, appointed one of the Directors, in place of Joel Rich, whose term had expired.
The Legislature having authorzed the leasing of the labor of convicts, the Warden adver- tised for proposals for the labor of from fifty to seventy-five men, but no bids were received.
The Warden, H. N. Smith, and Clerk, Jacob Fuss, were re-appointed January 1, 1877, for another term of three years.
On the morning of February 1, the engine-house burned down, also about 20,000 feet of lumber, and destroying the engine. It was immediately rebuilt, making it a one-story building, with fire-proof roof. The engine was also repaired, and two new tubular boilers put in in place of the old flue boilers worn out.
516
HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.
An experiment was made by employing a number of convicts in the manufacture of brooms, which, however, did not prove satisfactory, and was therefore abandoned.
The convict labor was leased to M. D. Wells & Co., of Chicago, for the manufacture of boots and shoes, for five years from January 1, 1878, at the rate of 40 cents per day, nine and three-fourths hours to be a day's work. All other manufacture on the part of the State was therefore discontinued after January 1, excepting a few men kept in the wagon-shop, where it was intended to work up the old material on hand.
H. M. Kutchin, of Fond du Lac, was, in January, 1878, appointed one of the Directors in place of William E. Smith, whose term had expired, and who had been elected Governor of the State.
Alexander White, of Fond du Lac, was, April 10, of the same year, appointed Deputy Warden in place of Joel Rich, resigned. The continued increase of the number of prisoners seemed to make it necessary to complete the north cellroom, which was done during the sum- mer following at an expense of about $8,000.
From the Directors' and Warden's report for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1879, the following statistics are gathered : Total number of prisoners received to that time, 2,730; total number confined, 309, of which 225 were employed under contract. Age of those confined, 21 under twenty years; 47 from twenty to thirty ; 65 from thirty to forty ; 56 from forty to sixty ; 20 over sixty. The total number of life prisoners received were : Murder, 54 ; murder, first degree, 29 ; murder, second degree, 11; rape, 2; desertion, 1-total, 97. Discharged on Governor's pardon, 31; order of courts, 8; order of Secretary of War, 1; removal to Insane Asylum, 3; died, 6-total, 49; leaving in prison, September 30, 1879, 48. Longest time served, 17 years ; shortest, 2 years and 9 months.
The prisoners confined September 30, 1879, were received during the several years as fol- lows: 1857, 1; 1860, 1; 1862, 1; 1863, 2; 1865, 3; 1866, 1; 1867, 2; 1868, 5; 1869, 2; 1870, 2; 1871, 5; 1872, 6 ; 1874, 8; 1875, 14; 1876, 22; 1877, 48 ; 1878, 108; 1879, 78.
On June 17, 1878, the number of prisoners was 366, the highest number ever reached.
The total amount of appropriations received from the State since the organization of the prison is $1,993,481.23, or an average of $41,240 a year to September 30, 1877. No appro- priation was asked for and received, for the two years from October 1, 1877, to September 30, 1879, and none asked for the year ending September 30, 1880, the last annual report showing all bills paid, with cash on hand $11,090.
George W. Carter, of Fond du Lac, was, January 1, 1880, appointed Warden in place of H. N. Smith, whose term of office expired on that day. Jacob Fuss was re-appointed Clerk, Alexander White continued as Deputy Warden; Rev. Victor Kutchin, Chaplain ; Drs. H. But- terfield and D. W. Moore, Prison Physicians ; Henry Brooks, Turnkey.
WAUPUN A DOZEN YEARS AGO.
" Waupun, a village containing something over 3,000 inhabitants," says a writer in 1868, "is situated on the Horicon Branch of the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. The village lies in the counties of Fond du Lac and Dodge, Main street being the county line. The distance from Milwaukee is about sixty miles; from Green Bay, eighty-five miles ; from La Crosse, one hundred and fifty miles, and from Madison fifty miles. There are direct railroad communications with all of these places. Chester, a small station on the C. & N-W. Railway, is situated about two and one-half miles east of the village. The ready communication thus afforded with Mil- waukee, Chicago and Green Bay, renders this a better place of market than most inland towns. One great essential to the rapid growth of a place-a good water-power-is wanting here; and Waupun has been obliged to depend mainly upon the agricultural wealth of the surrounding coun- try, and the enterprise and energy of the early settlers, for its advancement.
" The first white settlers in this locality came here between the years of 1839 and 1841. One of the first buildings, if not the first erected here, was a tavern put up by Mr. Seymour Wil- cox. Soon after him, Nathan Newton, John N. Ackerman, Nathaniel Dodge and William
517
HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.
McElroy made settlements here. Since that time, Waupun has grown slowly but steadily, and the wilderness has been converted into rich and well-cultivated farms. In the 'early days' of the settlement, Seymour Wilcox owned nearly all of the land where Waupun now stands. Gen. Winfield Scott, the hero of many a well-fought battle with our country's foes, once stopped over night at Mr. Wilcox's tavern. Before the railroad was laid through this place, most of the farm- ers carried their produce to Milwaukee with ox teams and heavy lumber wagons, the trip there and back taking about five days at shortest.
"I know of no more accurate criterions by which to judge a place than its churches, schools, press and saloons. At the last village election the temperance ticket was chosen, and there is not now a whisky saloon in the place. Of the churches, schools and press, I propose to speak.
" There are six churches in the village. The Congregational Church, Rev. M. J. Williams, Pastor, has a large membership, and exerts an extensive religious influence upon the community. The Methodist Church has been longest organized at this place, and probably has the largest membership. The Pastor, Rev. J. C. Robbins, has labored earnestly among his people, and with good success. The First Baptist Church, Rev. J. O. M. Hewitt, Pastor, though hardly equal to the others in membership, is not inferior in other respects. The Free-Will Baptist Church, Rev. E. N. Wright, Pastor, prospers well financially and spiritually. There are also the Trinity Protestant Episcopal Mission, Rev. Charles Thorp, Deacon in charge, and the Cath- olic Church, Rev. G. L. Willard.
" There are three ward schools. all well supported, and all under the direction of well qualified teachers. There has been considerable talk about establishing a central high school here, but no very energetic action has ever been taken about the matter.
" Two weekly newspapers are published here, both strongly Republican. The Waupun Times, John R. Decker, editor, is published every Tuesday, and has now nearly closed its eleventh year. The Prison City Leader has just entered its third year, and is a live local sheet, edited and published by Short & Oliver.
" Western States generally have shown much liberality in the construction of their public buildings, but perhaps none more than Wisconsin. Surely its penitentiary is one that may com- pare favorably with the best institutions of the kind in the Union, and has often been termed the ' model prison of the country.' The convicts are under excellent discipline, the result of the earnest labors of the present Commissioner, Mr. Henry Cordier, who has been three times eleeted to this office. The institution is now nearly self-supporting, and it is expected soon to be entirely so. A prison school, established a little more than a year ago, is now in successful operation.
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