USA > Wisconsin > Dodge County > The History of Dodge County, Wisconsin, containing a history of Dodge County, its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc > Part 82
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HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.
have been frequent. Givens & Haughton, Mortimer L. Sayles, Jones & Babcock, John & Franz Gebhardt, E. C. & P. H. Lewis, Gen. Henry Bertram and J. C. Brown completes the list of lessees and proprietors.
It is generally believed that the old Court House, now the property of Judge E. C. Lewis, will shortly be used as a hotel. It has been thoroughly overhauled, and improvements made of a character that will entitle it to rank among the first-class caravansaries of the Northwest.
MANUFACTORIES, ETC.
Weightman & Wengfield made the first wagons in Juneau. Alfred Harrington soon came upon the scene as competitor for public patronage in the same line of business. Andrew Olson is perhaps the oldest individual, in point of residence, engaged in manufacturing in Juneau. Ten years ago, I. Downing established a manufactory of this character. He makes buggies, cutters and light wagons a specialty. John Brenseke and Charles Abel, established in the spring of 1878, and John P. Perkins and J. Ludwig Billack, established in May, 1879, are the latest firms of wagon-makers.
Cheese-Factory .- Established in 1872, by a joint-stock company, composed of Joel Rich, J. E. Spalding, William Ballough, J. F. Harrison, D. Barber, Joel Adams, I. J. Edwards, Amos Butler, Lewis Butler, Hiram Curtis, J. H. Dunham, P. A. Hiebler, H. A. Jones, L. L. Sprout, O. B. Wilcox, Josiah Smith, J. D. Austin, and others. In 1875, the institution passed into the hands of Giles S. Talbot, who carried it on for two years, when the building and contents were entirely consumed by fire, with an insurance upon them of $1,000, which Mr. Talbot failed to collect before leaving suddenly for New York, and the question of settlement is still in the courts.
Samuel Eastman & Co.'s Elevator .- Built in 1875. Has a capacity of about 12,000 bush- els ; an average of 80,000 bushels of wheat and 18,000 or 20,000 bushels of barley are handled annually. Improved cleansing apparatus is attached.
The first grist-mill was built in Juneau, by Peter Quick. F. & M. Delme and J. H. Dun- ham are the owners of the present steam flouring-mill, which stands near the depot.
The North-Western Railway was finished to Minnesota Junction, two and a half miles north of Juneau, in 1856; but, owing to the panic of 1857 and numerous other causes, it did not reach the latter place till about 1860.
The present officers of the town of. Oak Grove are : Clerk, A. M. Grout ; Treasurer, S. V. R. Haughton ; Assessor, Henry Engelbracht. Supervisors-John Leslie (Chairman), Herman Albert and Horace Cole. Justices of the Peace-C. Fuermann, P. H. Lewis and Warren Mars- ton. Constables-George Hargraves, Fred Matwig and Peter Gannon. Sealer of Weights and Measures, Charles End.
HUSTISFORD.
As an introductory to what we shall have to say of this beautiful little village, in the language of an eminent Chicago divine, we have read and completely absorbed the following from the pen of Capt. Charles A. Pettibone, editor of the Telephone, Juneau, under the caption of "Wausharaca, the Land of the Foxes."
" More than twoscore years ago, in the earlier pioneer days of our county, when the Indian trail and the river's winding course were the only routes of travel, young Hustis came to Wau- sharaca. And here, like the heroic, hopeful heroes of classic days, he found a home and founded a new city. Beside the river's ford, at the intersection of the numerous trails from the Michigan to the portage between the upper Fox and the Wisconsin, and from the south country northward to the foot of the Winnebago, he rears his cabin, and with industry and persever- ance patiently awaits the time when others, advised of the favorable location, its fertile soil and wonderful natural advantages, should come and make a home beside him. Years have passed, and where once stood the lodges of the Indian, to-day we find the workshop and the mill ;
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HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.
happy homes, resonant with the merry music of childish glee, abound ; and the young adven- turer of other days, his head silvered with the burden of years, walks the streets of the populous village which bears his name, and sees all about him the fruition of the daydreams of his early manhood. Where once the painted warrior sharpened his scalping-knife, maybe upon the glacier-creased surface of a projecting rock, the man of news sharpens his murderous Faber and indites the present records of the town, then heads his little piece ' Hustisford.'
" The village of Hustisford is situated in Sections 9 and 10, Town 11, Range 16 east, and distant nine miles from Woodland; nine miles from Horicon ; five miles from Neosho ; eight miles from Juneau, and twelve miles from Watertown. The original plat of the village, with its subsequent additions, possesses a most generous provision for the possibilities of the future, but at present the main part of the town extends only along the right bank of Rock River, and upon an incline gradually rising to the west. To the east, across the river, the summits of two nearly parallel ridges, which were once forest-crowned, but now, shorn of their leafy burdens, need only the plowshare to become tillable farms, rise to a considerable height above the embryo city which nestles so cosily in their early morning shadows.
" The surface of the surrounding country is broken, being a regular succession of nearly parallel ridges and valleys, running in the general direction of northeast and southwest, and extending in an unbroken chain, except where crossed by Rock River or its tributaries, the Wildcat and the Rubicon, from the north to the southern boundary of the county. Laterally, the general plane of these valleys is remarkably level. A brief inspection of the topography of the country shows that by the most nearly level and accessible roads, the larger portion of the east half of Dodge County is naturally tributary to Hustisford; to the south and southeast, Ashippun, Rubicon, Lebanon, and some portion of Emmet; and to the northward, Hubbard, Her- man, and portions of Williamstown and Oak Grove find, by way of the level valley roads, adapted to hauling the heaviest loads, their most natural market center at Hustisford.
" With ample water-power-the best on Rock River between Rockford, Ill., and Mayville -it needs no prophetic vision to foretell the wonderful growth, and what a suitable connection with some main line of transportation to the metropolis will bring to this thrifty and industrious people.
" The residents here fully appreciate the situation, and on the resumption by the old man- agement of the Fond du Lac, Amboy & Peoria Railroad, and its lately rumored extension, there is an eager interest felt by all in the probable course of the railroad.
" Speaking generally in regard to this subject, there is no doubt but Hustisford needs the railroad, and it is equally true that the railroad company needs the large and remunerative car- rying trade which its location at this point would inevitably bring to it. How this mutually desired object can be best attained remains for the parties interested to determine."
Indians still inhabited the country, and, although said to be friendly, and they doubtless were as much so as it is possible for them to be, they were always regarded as treacherous. As illus- trating Indian nature, Mr. H. narrated to us the following story :
Wishing to go further north and explore the wonderful fine country of which so much had been said, in company with Mr. Griffith, they secured the services of three Indians to pilot them through, a portion of the distance having to be gone by water, in a common dug-out. As they were quietly moving over the water, Mr. H., having occasion to address his companion, turned around, and, as he did so, he observed one of the Indians with uplifted arm and in his hand a tomahawk, ready to send it crashing into his skull. Quickly throwing up his arm, he arrested the blow and the Indian quietly settled down and resumed his rowing. A short time elapsed, when one of the Indians dropped the ax with which the whites had provided themselves into the stream, with the intention, no doubt, of lessening the chances of resistance of their victims. The boat was stopped and the most friendly of the three Indians plunged in and brought it up and presented it to the owners.
" While the two men were becoming somewhat alarmed, they dared not show it in their actions, but, as quickly and quietly as possible, they had the Indians effect a landing, and,
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HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.
through the woods and in the darkness of the night, they made their escape. They afterward . learned the reason why an attempt was made upon their lives. A short time previous, one of their tribe was shot by a white man, and, in accordance with their lex talionis, they must take the life of the first white man.
It is related of Beardsley that the first fall in which he lived here he used to turn an hon- est penny by running a ferry. He had a single ox, which had lost its mate, and when one desired to cross the river, for the sum of 10 cents he was permitted to mount the back of the ox, who soon landed him upon the other side.
As illustrating how near a place can come to being made famous, and yet see its hopes disappear, it is said that the village of Hustisford came within one vote of being selected as the State capital by the Territorial Legislature. The Iowa members of that body, wishing and expecting their Territory to be separated from Wisconsin, voted as their pecuniary interest dic- tated.
In 1845, quite a number of people settled in or near the present village, and John Cameron built the first store, which afterward became the property of Jacob Rapelye, who operated it as a branch of his store in Milwaukee. The price of farm produce about this time may be estimated from a mercantile transaction of one Beetle, a clerk for Rapelye, who sold a well-heaped half-bushel of fresh hen's eggs for 30 cents.
In 1846, William T. Ward opened a hotel, the first in the place., He came to this embryo village with hardly a penny, and, in five years, sold his interest in the hotel and carried out of the town $3,000 cash. In that day, there was a large amount of travel, emigrants coming and going, looking out new homes, returning again for their families, and a well-kept tavern was well patronized, and the proprietors grew rich. In this same year, a post office was established here, and Symmes Butler received the first appointment as agent of Uncle Sam to transact the postal business of the neighborhood. Since his time, four other gentlemen have occupied the position, viz., John McRae, John C. Daily, Hiram Hughes and the present popular incumbent, James Hall. The office has not yet been made a money-order one, but doubtless should be, as its registered letters will now amount to over five hundred per year.
SCHOOLS.
The first schoolhouse was built in 1846, by Wales & Hustis, and a select school taught therein, which was continued until 1850, when a public school was organized, with Mr. James Hall as teacher. Mr. H. has long since abandoned the profession, and is now one of the lead- ing merchants in the place. At present, there are three schools, all apparently well patronized, and ably conducted by competent instructors. The common school is taught during the winter by a male teacher with a female assistant, but during the summer months the services of a female teacher are considered sufficient.
Some time since, an association of German citizens was formed, who support from their private funds a German free school. The attendance is about seventy.
The Lutherans also have a very large and flourishing school. The number in attendance we did not learn, but judge from all the information we gained that this is really the most generally patronized, and the attendance is much larger than at both the other schools.
CHURCHES.
The first to " proclaim Christ and Him crucified " was a Methodist preacher, followed soon after by a Congregational minister, who succeeded in organizing a congregation, but which has long since disbanded. The German Lutherans were next, and have in the village and sur- rounding neighborhood a large following. In 1865, they erected a substantial church edifice, in which they yet assemble for divine worship. Rev. Philip Koehler is the present Pastor. The German Methodists and Americans of the different denominations hold their religious services in the school building.
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HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.
MANUFACTURING.
Again we absorb the writings of Mr. Pettibone, and give the present status of the village :
Leading among the manufactories are the two flouring-mills. One, owned and operated by Mr. J. F. Koch, contains three runs of stone, with an estimated capacity for converting about. five hundred bushels of wheat into flour during twenty-four hours. The necessary power is given by a seven-foot head of water. Custom milling a specialty. Mr. Koch also mills for the general market.
The other, generally known as the lower mill, is owned by the Dehne Brothers, of Juneau, but is rented and run by Messrs. Neitzel & Braendmuehl. This mill contains four runs of stone, estimated capacity per diem of twenty-four hours, between five hundred and six hundred bush- els. The water-power is ample.
Near this mill is a saw-mill, owned by the Dehne Brothers. This is also rented and operated by the present milling firm. This mill is fitted up expressly for sawing hard wood.
Furniture manufacturing is ably conducted by Mr. Ferdinand Steinborn and also by Mr. Frederick Zilisch. These gentlemen find a ready demand for the numerous articles manufact- ured by them. This attests, in the best manner possible, the excellence and honesty of their work.
There are also in town two turning shops, where everything from a croquet set to an ox-yoke, or anything, though as crooked as a politician's record, can be turned out on demand.
A well-managed cooper-shop also adds its quota toward making up the aggregate business of the place.
PROFESSIONAL MEN.
Peace and quiet is the normal condition of the place, and hence there is no need for the paid services of a surplus lawyer. The good common-sense and sound legal advice of Squire Daily adjusts the little wrangles which usually form the germs of law-suits.
The school of allopathy is represented by Drs. J. A. Smith, an experienced and successful practitioner, long a resident of Hustisford, and J. Pennett, who has his numerous friends and admirers.
The homeopathists have not as numerous a representation as their opponents ; but if there ever was a true and skillful disciple of Hahnemann, that man is Dr. E. E. Atkins, who, though comparatively a new-comer, has already attained a remunerative practice.
Mr. George Newton officiates as notary public and conveyancer, and contributes in no small degree to the welfare and convenience of his fellow-townsmen.
HOTELS.
In the village limits there is but one hotel, that of the Hustisford House, by Louis Prenz- low, which has a central location and is well patronized. The Wisconsin House was burned to the ground during the fall of 1879, and has not been rebuilt.
Upon an island in Rock River, F. W. Lehman keeps the "Sportsmen's Home," a favorite resort for sportsmen from abroad during the hunting season.
Mr. Lehman keeps boats, fishing tackle, etc., for the accommodation of his guests, and his tables are always supplied with the best attainable. Liquid refreshments are among his medical supplies, in quality and variety suited to every phase of sportsmen's ailments.
MERCHANTS.
One of the foremost in strictly upright and honorable dealing is Mr. J. Hall, whose mercantile stock consists of the usual variety of dry goods, boots and shoes, etc., found in a first-class country store. Having studied for years the tastes and wants of his patrons, Mr. Hall is sure to have on hand almost anything they want. This gentleman is also the Postmas- ter, and is a sincere believer in the infallibility of Republican principles.
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HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.
Miss Emily Hall has, at her father's store, a full and choice selection of millinery goods, all of the most fashionable and popular styles. Her patronage is large and well-merited.
H. Matthes, a very popular merchant, also keeps a general assortment of merchandise, and his patronage is large. His customers are old ones, who during years have found no cause to transfer their patronage to other towns. Matthes has already acquired a comfortable income by strict attention to the interests of the public.
Last, but by no means least, on the list of Hustisford merchants, is Mr. August Flemming, whose store is likewise crowded with hosts of his especial patrons. If you cannot find what you want in Flemming's store it is because it is just out, or because it is on the way but has not arrived.
August Roessler presents his thanks for past favors, and attracts attention by his large stock of agricultural implements, stoves, shelf hardware, and the thousand and one articles of the trade. Roessler is also agent for thrashing machines with the popular Traction steam engines, the Triumph reapers, mowers, etc., etc. His business is steadily increasing.
In the same line of business, the Zilisch Brothers are formidable competitors for the local patronage. The stock consists of the usual assortment, and by their uniformly fair manner of treating their patrons, they have laid the foundation for a most lucrative and permanent business.
MISCELLANEOUS.
F. Voight, proprietor of the paint-shop, possesses the facilities for turning out in the best style the finer grades of work. Sign and carriage painting executed in the most workmanlike and stylish manner.
Theodore Schmidt, A. Vogeler and William Seitz are the Vulcans of the town, and each seems to receive his due proportion of work.
Lauersdorf Bros., August Brensecke and Julius Briesemeister are respectively the manu- facturers of many of the favorite light-running but durable wagons and buggies so numerous throughout the county.
H. Rex presides behind the counter of a well-stocked drug store, and is deservedly popular with everybody.
H. Bramer manufactures and keeps in stock as fine a stock of harness, double and single, saddles, and everything else in that line, as any dealer in Dodge County.
While Otto C. Hannemann, August Zilisch, Martin Vollmer, Fred Bruncke and Adolph Walther supply the best of leather boots and shoes, in all styles and at reasonable prices. C. Haertl with his little gouge carves out the wooden ones.
William Rathloff divides the tailoring business of the village with Fred Zimmerling, the patrons of each claiming that his tailor is positively the best.
August Lehman keeps a good and well-patronized restaurant and saloon, also deals in fancy goods, confectionery and fruits. He has the only billiard-table in town, and his place of business is a popular resort for all who visit Hustisford.
Ferdinand Schuette, John Lange and Ferdinand Pagel deal in liquors, cigars, wines and the lighter beverages.
There are, in convenient distance from the village, seven factories making the celebrated Limburger cheese.
With the incoming of a railroad, and possessed of all her natural advantages, the village of Hustisford should take rank among the cities of the land, and we predict for her a bright future.
OAK GROVE.
With one exception, this is the oldest village in the county, and, like Hustisford, came near being a noted place, for in the early day, before Juneau was even thought of, it was the temporary seat of justice, and, had its proprietor exercised a little worldly wisdom and enterprise, it might have been made the permanent county seat.
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HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.
That he might accommodate the great traveling public which was steadily pushing its way north, and add as well to his worldly wealth, Maj. Pratt, in 1841, built a log cabin on the site of the present public house in the village, and boldly erected a sign informing the inter- ested parties that he would afford accommodations for man and beast. As may be inferred, his accommodations were rather limited, but the sight of a public house was an ever-welcome one to the travelers in those days, who usually made the journey in a lumber wagon drawn by oxen, and who were content to make their fifteen or twenty miles from the rising to the setting of the sun.
Oak Grove was on the direct line north from Watertown, and here the roads forked, one leading to the northeast and the other to the northwest; therefore, an inn here could be said to be a halfway-house, and travelers generally endeavored to make it convenient to reach this place to spend the night. As travel increased, the necessity for greater accommodations became apparent, and Ethan Owen erected another public house, known as Owen's Hotel, and still this did not satisfy the demand; therefore, in 1851, another was built, called the Green Moun- tain House. As many as three hundred teams of "movers" have been counted passing this point in one day, and they were constantly going and coming. Of course inn-keepers thrived.
GIVING IT A NAME.
The settlement being formed, it became necessary to give it a name, and that of Fairfield was selected, but when application was made for a post office it was learned that there was another Fairfield in the State, therefore it was thought best to select a different name. It was then given the name of Oak Grove, though for what reason is unknown, probably from the fact that there was no oak grove in the neighborhood. If an old settler is asked the reason why the place is called Oak Grove, he will reply as did the Dutchman, when speaking of the name of his son, " I call him Yaucob pecause dat ish his name." We call it Oak Grove because that is its name.
POST OFFICE.
Application was made in due time for the establishment of a post office in the place, and the powers that be in Washington gave heed to the prayer of the petitioners, and Ethan Owen had the privilege of first entering the service of Uncle Sam as village Postmaster. The first mail route established was between Watertown and Fox Lake, running once a week. Other routes were soon added, and Oak Grove became quite a distributing center, the citizens of the whole country lying between Fox Lake and Watertown here receiving their mail. The follow- ing-named have also served as Postmasters of the village: E. C. Lewis, A. H. Atwater, Mr. Mccullough, William Ambright, John Currie, William Woodworth and John G. Lees, the latter of whom now occupies the position.
GROWTH.
The place at first grew quite rapidly, and its prospect in 1842-43 was better than any other point within a large scope of country for the building-up of a splendid village, but its original owner was not possessed of enough foresight to enable him to take advantage of the oppor- tunities presented, and failing in securing the county seat, which was established within two and a half miles, its growth was checked. No plat was ever made, and all sales of lots have been made as fractions of an acre. Believing it would be made the permanent county seat, several attorneys located here, among the number being the Hon. Charles Billinghurst, who was after- ward elected a member of Congress, being the first representative from this district. Under head of " The Illustrious Dead," will be found a biographical sketch of this gentleman. Judge E. C. Lewis was also a resident of the place for a short time.
SCHOOLS.
For some cause-it may be for the reason that the early settlers of this place, being Americans and " Down-East Yankees," did not rear as many children as our German fellow-citizens, who
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HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.
now principally inhabit this county-a school was not established here until 1844, when Mrs. Fuller taught a select one in a log house erected for that purpose. At the present writing, there are two good schoolhouses in the district, Oak Grove and Clyman, No. 1, with a graded school. Miss Theresa Griscoll is Principal of the grammar school, and Miss Lilian Atwater of the primary. The average wages paid are $32 and $20 for the respective grades. Besides the two mentioned, the Germans have also a school here with a fair attendance; therefore the educa- tional interests of the rising generation are well secured.
RELIGIOUS.
The Congregationalists were the first to enter this field, the Rev. Moses Ordway, the Presbyterian Patriarch of Beaver Dam, preaching the first sermon in 1842 or 1843. A congregation was soon 'afterward organized, composed of a very small band of zealous and God-fearing Christian men and women, who have, in spite of discouragements, held together and presented an unbroken front to the enemy. Their present membership is about seventy. In 1851, they organized a Sunday school which has at present writing an existence of twenty- nine years. It holds its regular weekly sessions, summer and winter. The German Lutherans have also a congregation, and, having no meeting-house of their own, assemble in the school- house, where thanksgiving and praise to God is offered. The Methodists, a few of whom live in the neighborhood, also assemble occasionally in the schoolhouse to sing and pray and listen to the proclamation of the Word.
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