USA > Wisconsin > Dodge County > The History of Dodge County, Wisconsin, containing a history of Dodge County, its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc > Part 81
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" Record of a town meeting of the town of Fairfield, Dodge County, Wisconsin Territory, held at the house of Lewis D. Phelps, in said town, on the 7th of April, A. D. 1846.
" Hiram Barber was elected Moderator of said meeting, and John W. Gray was chosen Clerk, both of whom were duly sworn, as provided by law.
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HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.
" The meeting then proceeded to elect, by ballot, the following town officers, with the fol- lowing result :
" George J. Rice, Town Clerk. Supervisors-John W. Gray (Chairman), Orrin Perkins and Moses Bryant. Assessors, Allen H. Atwater and Arad Owen. Treasurer, Morris Grout. School Commissioners, John L. Eddy, William H. Lander and George A. Birge. Commission- ers of Highway, Ephriam Perkins, Amasa Hyland and Ira Lane. Justices of the Peace, J. Anderson, Silas Hemstreet and Moses Bryant. Constables, S. V. R. Haughton, H. Powell and M. Griffin. Collector, S. V. R. Haughton. Sealer of Weights and Measures, Garry Taylor. Fen e Viewers, Hezekiah Cole, Ira Lane and George J. Rice.
" On mation, it was voted that there be assessed upon the taxable property of the town, as valued by thu Assessor, the sum of one-half of one per cent, for the support of common schools in said town for the ensuing year.
" Voted" that all town officers, where compensation for their services is not established by law, shall receive the sum of 50 cents per day while discharging the duties of their offices.
" Voted that $15 be assessed upon the taxable property of the town for the payment of contingent penses, and that $20 be assessed for the support of the poor for the ensuing year. ·J:
" Voted, that the next town meeting be held at the house of Lewis D. Phelps.
" Ad ourned sine die."
The principal officers chosen at the town election of April, 1847, were, Clerk, John L. Eddy ; Supervisors-Hiram Barber (Chairman), Spencer Givens and George J. Birge. Col- lector, John S. DeGraff; Treasurer, Morris Grout. Assessors-Amasa Hyland, Ephraim Per- kins and W/homas M. McCaughey. School Commissioners-R. F. Rising, James Anderson and Charles Burton.
1848-Clerk, James H. Hall ; Treasurer, Morris Grout; Collector, Lyman Stanton. Supervisors-Hiram Barber (Chairman), Joel Rich and Thomas M. McCaughey. Assessors- William Stanton, George A. Birge and William Merick. School Commissioners-Charles Bil- linghurst, Alson Atwood and S. W. Taylor.
1849-Clerk, George J. Rice ; Treasurer, George G. White. Supervisors-Ephraim Per- kins (Chairman), Thomas Marshal and Carlton Cleveland. Superintendent of Schools, Alson Atwood. Justices of the Peace-Edwin Giddings, Allen H. Atwater, James Anderson and William Stanton.
1850-Clerk, Silas H. Coleman ; Assessor, Thomas M. McCaughey ; Collector and Treasurer, S. V. R. Haughton ; School Superintendent, Eli C. Lewis. Supervisors-Silas Hemstreet, (Chairman), Peter R. Sager and M. B. Hall. Justices of the Peace-J. H. Coleman, N. B. Clough, A. P. Haughton and Theodore Allen.
1851-Clerk, Moses K. Stickney ; Treasurer, Joel Rich. Supervisors-Samuel Baird (Chairman), Charles W. Daniels and William Stanton. School Superintendent, Bradley Phil- lips. Justices of the Peace, A. H. Atwater and Edward Giddings. Assessors-Waldo Lyon, George J. Rice and Spencer Givens.
1852-Clerk, Charles S. Birge. Supervisors-Samuel Baird (Chairman), George J. Rice and ^muel Stanton. Assessors-Allen H. Atwater, Spencer Givens and George H. Birge. School Superintendent, Horace M. Parmelee ; Treasurer, Joel Rich. Justices of the Peace- John G. Lewis, A. P. Haughton and G. A. Buffington.
1853-Clerk, S. J. R. Smith. Supervisors-Samuel Baird (Chairman), Ozras Woodford and Barnabas Snow. Assessors-William Stanton, Ephraim Perkins and Roderick Caldwell. Justices of the Peace-A. H. Atwater, Judson Prentice and James Anderson. Superintendent of Schools, H. M. Parmelee ; Treasurer, Egbert B. Parmelee.
1854-Clerk, E. Perkins. Supervisors-S. Baird (Chairman), Spencer Givens and The- odore H. Allen. Treasurer, Ethan Owen. Justices of the Peace-Thomas McCaughey, Oliver Crowl and Leonard Mertz. Assessor, George J. Rice. School Superintendent, H. M. Parme- lee ; Poundmaster, Joseph Evans.
540
HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.
1855- Clerk, George J. Rice. Supervisors-Samuel Baird (Chairman), Hiram Barber and James Anderson. Treasurer, Alanson Atwood ; Assessor, W. H. Lander; School Super- intendent, H. M. Parmelee. Justices of the Peace-Robert B. Wentworth, A. H. Atwater, Silas Hemstreet and Thomas Marshall.
1856-Clerk, Spencer Givens. Supervisors-Hiram Barber (Chairman), James Anderson and Egbert B. Parmelee. Assessors, S. S. Drake and A. P. Lyman. Treasurer, Amos K. Givens ; School Superintendent, H. M. Parmelee. Justices of the Peace-G. R. Clapp, Charles Varnum and James Douglass.
1857-Clerk, Spencer Givens. Supervisors-Hiram Barber (Chairman), E. B. Parme- lee and Thomas Marshall. Assessors-S. S. Drake, A. P. Wyman and David Barber; Treasurer, Amos K. Givens ; School Superintendent, H. M. Parmelee ; Justices of the Peace, James Douglass and G. J. Rice.
1858-Clerk, Charles H. Graham. Supervisors-Hiram Barber (Chairman), Samuel S. Drake and Azor Marshall ; Treasurer, Selah J. B. Smith ; School Superintendent, Thomas B. Brown ; Assessors, George J. Rice and J. W. Nash. Justices of the Peace-E. A. Bailey, C. H. Mark and E. B. Parmelee.
1859-Clerk, H. N. Crossett. Supervisors-Hiram Barber (Chairman), W. R. Mayhew and Samuel Eastman ; School Superintendent, T. B. Brown ; Treasurer, S. J. R. Smith ; Assessors, Calvin Ely and J. W. Nash. Justices of the Peace-James Douglass, James McFarlin, S. B. Kellogg and Ethan A. Bailey.
1860-Clerk, John H. Ely. Supervisors-Joel Rich (Chairman), Ranslow Smith and George Hyland ; School Superintendent, H. M. Parmelee; Treasurer, Benjamin F. Ellis ; Assessor, George J. Rice ; Justices of the Peace, Egbert B. Parmelee and John W. Parmelee.
1861-Clerk, John H. Ely; Treasurer, B. F. Ellis ; School Superintendent. H. M. Parmelee. Supervisors-Chas. Billinghurst (Chairman), Wm. Harrison and Morris Grout ; Assessors, G. J. Rice and L. Stanton ; Justices of the Peace, J. W. Brand and G. F. Wight. 1862-Clerk, John H. Dunham ; Treasurer, B. F. Ellis. Supervisors-Spencer Givens (Chairman), William Harrison and H. J. Bennett. Justices of the Peace-Asa Varnum, John C. Lewis and Ranslow Smith. "G. J. Rice and J. J. Graves, elected Assessors, having failed to file their oath of office within the time limited by law, we therefore appoint G. J. Rice and J. J. Graves Assessors for the year 1862, to fill said vacancies."
1863-Clerk, John H. Dunham ; Treasurer, John W. Perry ; Assessor, George W. Hyland. Supervisors-William Harrison (Chairman), James Rogers and Horace Cole. Jus- tices of the Peace-Owen Mccullough, W. H. Miner and Marshal T. White.
1864-Clerk, John C. Halliger ; Treasurer, William Barber ; Assessor, Artemus Vesper. Supervisors-William Harrison (Chairman), Leonard L. Sprout and Abner H. Medbury ; Jus- tices of the Peace, Jonathan C. Brown and Oliver H. Smith.
VILLAGE GOVERNMENT.
Juneau was incorporated as a village April 29, 1865, and on the 1st day of May of that year, the first election for village officers was held, with the following result :
For President, J. P. Barber, 37 votes ; O. F. Jones, 33. For Treasurer, J. C. Brown, 38; George R. Clapp, 32. Trustees (three to be chosen)-A. Hiebler, 39; G. Birmingham, 37 ; J. C. Halliger, 37; J. B. Hays, 33; E. C. Lewis, 34; H. J. Bennett, 32.
At the first meeting of the Board, Mr. Charles Billinghurst was requested to accept the appointment of Clerk, but upon the refusal of that gentleman to do so, Charles L. Morris was chosen to fill the office, at a subsequent meeting.
At the charter election of 1866, Garrett Birmingham was chosen President, and Augustus Hiebler, Treasurer. Trustees-John C. Halliger, Jerry Murphy and James B. Hays. Clerk of the Board (appointed), John H. Dunham.
1867-Eli C. Lewis, President; Alonzo Crane, Treasurer ; Trustees-J. B. Spencer, C. S. Griffin and H. J. Bennett ; Clerk (appointed), William T. Rambusch. As a matter of
ALander
BEAVER DAM
543
HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.
history, it may be well to state that the Widow Dowd received one vote for Trustee at this election.
1868-Eli C. Lewis. President ; John C. Bishop, Treasurer ; Trustees-Richard Mertz, H. J. Bennett and Charles S. Griffin ; E. A. Barber appointed Village Clerk.
1869-70-No record.
1871-Henry Bertram, President; Eli Hawks, Treasurer; Trustees-Richard Mertz, John Lowth and J. C. Brown ; E. C. Lewis, Clerk.
1872-Henry Bertram, President; John Bumby, Treasurer; Trustees-John Lowth, George R. Clapp and Samuel Eastman ; E. C. Lewis, Clerk.
1873-Henry Bertram, President ; Eli Hawks, Treasurer ; Trustees-John Lowth, George R. Clapp and S. Eastman ; E. C. Lewis, Clerk.
1874-Henry Bertram, President ; Samuel Eastman, Treasurer ; Trustees-L. F. Fribert, S. V. R. Haughton and Richard Mertz; E. C. Lewis, Clerk.
1875-Charles End, President ; L. E. Haughton, Treasurer ; Trustees-J. H. Dunham, G. R. Clapp and J. Downing ; W. T. Rambusch, Clerk.
1876-Eli Hawks, President; S. E. Veltum, Treasurer ; Trustees-F. W. Lueck, J. H. Dunham and John Taft ; Constable, Peter Petersen ; W. T. Rambusch, Clerk.
1877-Samuel E. Veltum, President; Albert Schmidt, Treasurer ; Trustees-John Bumby, John Taft and Charles End ; W. T. Rambusch, Clerk.
1878-Samuel E. Veltum, President ; T. L. Smith, Treasurer; Trustees-John Bumby, Isaac Downing and John Taft; Constable, Ivan Brown; W. T. Rambusch, Clerk.
1879-In accordance with an act of the Legislature, the citizens of Juneau, on April 12, 1879, voted upon the question of re-incorporation, with the following result : "For re-incor- poration, 54 ; " ." Against re-incorporation, 19."
At the last charter election, the following officers were chosen : Samuel Eastman, Pres- ident ; S. V. R. Haughton, Treasurer ; Trustees-John Bumby, J. S. Allard, John Perkins, J. H. Dunham, John Wyman and Ch. H. Zilisch; Police Justice, T. H. Lewis; Justice of the Peace, J. C. Brown ; Marshal, W. D. Warner; Constable, Paul Schmidt; Clerk, E. E. Kirkham.
THE POST OFFICE.
Charles Billinghurst was the first Postmaster in Juneau. He was appointed in 1847, and held the office about a year. The first piece of mail matter received by Postmaster Billinghurst was a large mud-turtle from Oak Grove, sent by Judge Ely C. Lewis, who at that time was Postmaster at the latter place. Nelson Willie was the mail carrier between the two points, and, according to his contract with the Government, was compelled to make regular trips at stated intervals. He had carried his empty mail-pouch over the road numerous times, until the task became as monotonous as it was fruitless, and Willie was fast developing into a constitutional growler, because there was no mail to carry. Stepping into the Oak Grove Post Office one morning, his heart was made glad when he heard Postmaster Lewis say, "Got something for you this morning, Willie ; can't complain about not having any mail to carry now ; here's your bag, with its contents ; take it to Billinghurst, and be sure you arrive on schedule time." Willie was happy. Shouldering his burden, he strode off, smiling blandly at every one he met, and revealing to his most confidential friends the cause of this pleasure. "Got something for you this morning, Charlie," shouted the elated Willie, as he entered Billinghurst's door ; "can't complain about not receiving any mail now ; here it is," he continued, rolling the turtle out upon the floor, after the Postmaster had unlocked the pouch. And sure enough he did have something ; and it weighed about fifteen pounds. "Charlie " took in the situation at a glance, and commenced to laugh. But Willie was very tired ; his smile no longer resembled that of the " heathen Chinee." The more he looked at that turtle, the more tired he became. When Willie returned to Oak Grove, the boys were waiting for him, and it cost him about half the revenue of his contract to induce them to say no more about it.
N
544
HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.
Postmaster Billinghurst was succeeded, in 1848, by Joel Rich, and, in 1852, S. H. Cole- man received the appointment. Judge E. C. Lewis was the next Postmaster, and, after serving for a short time, Mr. Coleman again became the incumbent. He was succeeded by E. B. Par- melee, who died while in office, his widow becoming his successor. In 1874, J. C. Brown was appointed to the position, and, in October, 1879, A. S. Vanaelstyn became Postmaster.
The location of the post office was, from time to time, the source of considerable quiet strife, and consequently it has been many times removed. Its location, at the time of the receipt of the turtle from Oak Grove, is a matter of but little importance. Mr. Billinghurst's inside coat pocket is said to have answered the purpose until the latter part of his term, when it was located in the Court House, then just finished. When Mr. Rich was appointed, he removed it to his residence, where he now lives, keeping it there but a short time, however. A. Crane's grocery store, which stood a short distance north of the present site of the Juneau House, soon became the place where Postmaster Rich was to be found in his official capacity. Mr. Coleman. when first appointed, removed the institution to his store, which stood on the present site of Allard & Martin's establishment. Under the management of Judge Lewis, it was kept for a short time in one corner of John C. Lewis' saloon, but was soon removed to Crane's new store,
at the west end of Oak street. When Mr. Coleman was re-appointed, he took it back to his place of business, but soon found it necessary to remove it to the residence of Mr. Parmelee, where Luecke's shoe store is now. Here the Federal institution remained until 1874, when Mr. Brown was appointed. It was then removed to a rented room in Kellermann's building, where it remained until Mr. Brown built a small frame, especially for its accommodation, at the corner of Oak and Main streets. From there it was recently removed to the store of A. S. Vanael- styn, its present location.
The Juneau Post Office became a fourth-rate money-order office in 1870, the first order being issued August 4 of that year, in favor of H. M. McGill, of Cincinnati, for $14.45, John G. Daily being the remitter. In 1878, there were 718 orders issued. The total number issued to September 20, 1879, is 4,798.
When the post office was first established here, thirty-three years ago, Oak Grove was the distributing point, from which place the mail was carried, as already related, by Mr. Willie on foot. It is now sent from Juneau to Oak Grove, but there has been no change in its mode of conveyance. Henry Fanshaw (seventy-seven years old, and as " spry as a kitten"), walks the distance-three miles-twice every day, winter and summer, rain or shine, carrying the mail each way, in the old-fashioned leather pouch. This he has continued to do for the past twenty years.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL.
Juneau is situated in School District No. 7, and the organization of its first school dates back thirty-two years. The proceedings of the first meeting of the inhabitants to per- fect this organization are herewith given as they appear in the records now in the hands of Mr. William T. Rambusch, Clerk of the District Board.
" At a meeting of the inhabitants of School District No. 7, held on the 28th day of April, 1848, at the house of J. H. Hall, in Fairfield, Ephraim Perkins was called to the chair, and the meeting proceeded to elect the following trustees : Hiram Curtis, Lester Noble and Joel Rich. George J. Rice and J. H. Hall were elected Collector and Clerk, respectively.
"It was resolved that the Trustees be authorized to select a lot on the north side of the public square in the village of Victor, town of Fairfield, whereon to build a schoolhouse; that the inhabitants of District No. 7 shall build a frame schoolhouse, 28x24 feet, to be inclosed with basswood siding, well seasoned, and the roof to be sheathed with one-inch oak boards and shingled with short basswood shingles ; that the house shall be underpinned with stone, laid in lime mortar, one foot below the ground and eighteen inches above; that the house be ceiled within, up to the windows, with basswood one inch thick, matched and planed, the rest of the room to be lathed and plastered with two coats; that the house be painted white, with three coats ; that the seats be finished after the style proposed by J. H. Hall, with desk and stools."
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HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.
Thus it will be seen that the inhabitants of District No. 7 enjoyed the possession of a very comfortable, not to say a commodious, building as their first schoolhouse. Daniel Huntly and Jane Marsh were the first to " teach the young idea how to shoot " in District No. 7. They received, for their services, the former $18 per month and the latter $5 per month. School was taught, the first year, nine months, and eighty-two children received instruction.
The cause of education has never failed to receive every consideration at the hands of the people of Juneau and vicinity. Their first schoolhouse soon became too small for the accommo- dation of their children, and. in 1856, we find them erecting a new and much larger structure (the one at present occupied for school purposes), at a cost of about $1,300. Three teachers are now employed, their aggregate salaries amounting to $1,000 a year. The number of school children in the district at present is 248. The school officers of the district are Hon. Eli Hawks, Director ; Hiram A. Jones, Treasurer, and W. T. Rambusch, Clerk.
THE CHURCHES.
The first religious services accessible to the good people of Juneau were held in 1847, at the farm house of Lester Nobles (now dead), situated about one mile north of the village. They were conducted by a Presbyterian preacher named Johnson. In 1848, a schoolhouse having been built within the limits of the village, it was agreed between the leading members of the Presbyterian and Methodist congregations (a society of the latter having been formed about that time), in order that both might be accommodated, the forencon of each Sabbath should belong to the Methodists for worship therein, and the afternoon to the Presbyterians. This apparently equitable arrangement worked harmoniously for awhile, until the Rev. M. Ordway, the Presby- terian minister, gave out one Sabbath afternoon that thereafter his flock would meet at 10:30 in the morning. Considerable feeling was aroused during the week among the good Christians of both denominations over this somewhat strange " new departure," and there was every indica- tion that on the following Sunday morning a lively contest would take place for precedence. A prominent citizen, with the peace and welfare of the community at heart, determined to avert a scene which would not redound to the credit of Christianity, repaired to the schoolhouse before the appointed hour for the dual meeting, and took up a position in the doorway. He had been there but a short time when the Rev. Mr. Ordway and a member of his Church approached him, but they were refused admittance. After some unsatisfactory parley, the two Presbyterians left the premises, repairing to the house of the member in company with the minister, where services were held. In the mean time, the Methodist minister, the Rev. Mr. Crawford, arrived, together with a large number of his followers. A great many Presbyterians, believing that they were to listen to the divine wisdom of Mr. Ordway, walked into the schoolroom and took seats, only to dis- cover Mr. Crawford in the pulpit. Most of them remained, however, probably in anticipation of " seeing some fun," but the sermon was listened to attentively, and future conflicts were avoided.
The Presbyterians became permanently organized in 1852, and, in 1855, built a neat house of worship.at a cost of $1,700. The first sale of pews realized $1,372, with eight remaining unsold. Among those who have served as Pastors, may be mentioned the Revs. Robertson, Thompson, Vance, Van Pelt, Burgster, Railsback, Street and Wykoff. The congregation, com- posed of Presbyterians and Congregationalists, numbers one hundred members, with a Sabbath- school attendance of forty pupils.
The remotest history accessible to the compiler concerning the Methodists in Juneau, is dated April, 1846, when "Brothers B. Blackburn and William and A. Harrison united by letter at Brother Ward's, three miles east of Juneau." Meetings were held thereafter, among other places, in the old Court House, and, in 1865, we find the society building a church edifice at a cost of $3,500. Among the Pastors who have been called to the charge, may be mentioned the Revs. Hollis, Stone, Cobban, Stevens, Bolton, Hall, Greene, Brown, Requa and Spell. The present Trustees are as follows : J. C. Brown (Chairman), S. E. Veltum, John Harrison, Jabez Ormsby, M. Bassett, J. B. Spencer, Levi Butler, Timothy Yates and G. G. White (Secretary ).
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546
HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.
The Catholics .- Father Peter De Berge was the first Catholic priest who visited Juneau for the purpose of organizing a parish. He lived in Horicon, and, at the solicitation of Mrs. Philip Rock, came to Juneau in the summer of 1860, and celebrated mass in the house of her husband, near the railroad depot. The next was Father Fusseder, now of Beaver Dam. Father Ward followed in 1872. He lives in Clyman, but officiates in Juneau twice a month. In 1874, under the management of the Rev. Mr. Ward, a frame church edifice was erected on North Main street, in which the society, consisting of about forty-five families, now worships. The expense was borne by individual members of the society, prominent among whom may be mentioned Henry Kellermann, John Walther and Jerry Murphy. Catholic burials are made in the churchyards of that denomination either at Horicon or Clyman.
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church .- Society organized in 1874, by William Hil- gendorf, Carl Schrap, Chr. Linderman (the first Trustees), and others. For a short time prior to the organization, informal meetings were held in the Presbyterian Church. In the latter part of the year above mentioned, a schoolhouse was built by the Lutherans in the western limits of Juneau, where a class of forty children is now instructed by Gotlieb Muche. The schoolhouse also answers the purposes of a church. Ph. Kohler is the only Pastor ever called to the charge. He lives in Hustisford, and preaches at Juneau twice a month. There are about thirty families in the congregation. The present Trustees are William Hilgendorf, Carl Schrap and John Hildemann.
SOCIETIES.
Solomon Lodge, No. 86, F. § A. M .- Chartered in June, 1857, with seven charter mem- . bers. The present membership is twenty-three. Meetings are held the first and third Fridays of each month over Allard & Martin's store. Hon. Eli Hawks, W. M., and Dr. W. Hallock, Secretary.
Temple of Honor .- Instituted October 25, 1875, by Col. J. A. Watrous. Officers-J. C. Spencer, W. C. T .; J. C. Brown, W. V. T .; Frank Lowth, W. R .; C. D. Miller, W. A. R .; S. E. Veltum, W. F. R .; J. H. Dunham, W. T .; T. L. Smith, W. C .; I. Downing, W. U .; I. Brown, W. D. U .; A. Stowe, W. G .; G. M. Beard, W. S .; John Lowth, P. W. C. T. & T. D.
FIRE COMPANIES.
The frequency of destructive fires in Juneau warned the citizens of that place to take pre- ventive steps in the direction of establishing a fire department, and, in the fall of 1878, the Village Board voted the necessary funds for the purchase of paraphernalia-a hand engine, hose cart, etc. Some of the most prominent residents got together and organized a volunteer com- pany to "run wid de machine," and elected J. G. Allard, Foreman ; Capt. Charles End, Assistant Foreman, and A. S. Vanaelstyn, Hose Captain. The notable fires at which this company rendered excellent service were those of the cheese-factory and L. A. Wight's res- idence. The present officers are W. D. Warner, Foreman ; F. W. Lueck, Assistant Foreman ; A. S. Vanaelstyn, Hose Captain.
HOTELS.
The Juneau House was built in 1849, by Judge Hiram Barber, and opened under auspices of the most brilliant nature, Solomon Juneau, who then lived in Theresa, and many other old settlers, being present to congratulate the Judge, and witness the introduction and trial of some fancy oil lamps (presented by Mr. Juneau). It was a rare and luxurious sight ; tallow dips and candles had furnished light prior to that time, and the effect, though not exactly electrical, was very satisfactory. William Barber became the purchaser of the Juneau House in 1859. The property, originally costing about $3,000, has changed hands a number of times, and is now owned by John Walther.
The American House, the property of J. C. Brown, has been in existence as a hotel for about thirty-three years. Nelson Willie was the builder. Numerous additions and improve- ments have been made from time to time, and changes in the proprietorship and management
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