USA > Wisconsin > Rock County > The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc. > Part 14
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WISCONSIN AS A STATE.
usual route. In case of any extra session of the legislature, no additional compensation shall be allowed to any member thereof, either. directly or indirectly.
ELEVENTH ADMINISTRATION .- LUCIUS FAIRCHILD, GOVERNOR (SECOND TERM)-1868-1869.
The Eleventh Administration in Wisconsin commenced at noon on the 6th day of January, 1868. This was the commencement of Governor Fairchild's second term. On the eighth of January, 1868, began the twenty-first regular session of the legislature of Wisconsin. A. M. Thomson was elected speaker of the assembly. Of the laws of a general nature passed by this legislature, was one abolishing the office of bank comptroller, transferring his duties to the state treasurer, and another providing for the establishing of libraries in the various townships of the State. A visible effect was produced by the constitutional amendment allowing members a salary, in abreviating this session, though not materially diminishing the amount of business transacted. A sine die adjournment took place on the sixth of March.
At the election in April, 1868, Chief Justice Dixon was chosen for the unexpired balance of his own term, ending on the first Monday of January, 1870. At the same election, Byron Paine was chosen associate justice for the unexpired balance of Associate Justice Downer's term, ending the Ist day of January, 1872.
At the Fall election in this year, republican electors were chosen over those upon the democratic ticket, for president and vice president; and, as a consequence, Grant and Colfax received the vote of Wisconsin. Of the members elected at the same time, to the forty-first congress, all but one were republicans - Eldredge being a democrat. The successful ticket was : H. E. Paine, from the first district; B. F. Hopkins, from the second; Amasa Cobb, from the third ; C. A. Eldredge, from the fourth; Philetus Sawyer, from the fifth, and C. C. Washburn, from the sixth district. These were all members, form their respective districts, in the previous congress-the only instance since Wisconsin became a State of a re-election of all the incum- bents.
On the thirteenth of January, 1869, began the twenty-second regular session of the State legislature. A. M. Thomson was elected speaker of the assembly. A very important duty imposed upon both houses was the election of a United States senator in the place of James R. Doolittle. The republicans having a majority in the legislature on joint ballot, the excitement among the members belonging to that party rose to a high pitch. The candidates for nomina- tion were Matthew H. Carpenter and C. C. Washburn. The contest was, up to that time, 'unparalleled in Wisconsin for the amount of personal interest manifested. Both gentlemen had a large lobby influence assembled at Madison. Carpenter was successful before the republican nominating convention, on the sixth ballot. On the twenty-seventh of January, the two houses proceeded to ratify the nomination by electing him United States senator for six years, from the fourth of March following. One of the most important transactions entered into by the legis- lature of 1869 was the ratification of the suffrage amendment to the constitution of the United States. Both houses adjourned sine die on the eleventh of March-a very short session. At the spring election, on the 6th of April, Luther S. Dixon was re-elected without opposition, chief justice of the supreme court, for a term of six years, from the first Monday in January next ensuing. In the Fall, both democrats and republicans put a State ticket in the field for the ensuing election: the republicans were successful, electing Lucius Fairchild, governor; Thad- deus C. Pound, lieutenant governor; Llywelyn Breese, secretary of state; Henry Baetz, state treasurer ; S. S. Barlow, attorney general; george F. Wheeler, state prison commissioner ; and A. L. Craig, superintendent of public instruction. The office of bank comptroller expired on the 31st day of December, 1869, the duties of the office being transferred to the state
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treasurer.
At this election, an amendment to sections 5 and 9 of article five of the constitution of the State was ratified and adopted by the people. Under this amendment, the governor receives, during his continuance in office, an annual compensation of five thousand dollars, which is in full for all traveling or other expenses incident to his duties. The lieutenant governor receives, during his continuance in office, an annual compensation of one thousand dollars.
TWELFTH ADMINISTRATION .- LUCIUS FAIRCHILD, GOVERNOR (THIRD TERM)-1870-1871.
On the third of January, 1870, commenced the twelfth administration in Wisconsin, Gov- ernor Fairchild thus entering upon his third term as chief executive of the State; the only instance since the admission of Wisconsin into the Union, of the same person being twice re-elected to that office. It was an emphatic recognition of the value of his services in the. gubernatorial chair. On the twelfth of January, the twenty-third regular session of the legis- lature of the State commenced at Madison. James M. Bingham was elected speaker of the assembly. Before the expiration of the month, Governor Fairchild received official information that over two hundred thousand dollars of the war claim of Wisconsin upon the General Govern- ment had been audited, considerable more than one hundred thousand having the previous year- been allowed. In the month of March, an energetic effort was made in the legislature, by members from Milwaukee, to remove the seat of government from Madison to their city; but the project was defeated by a considerable majority in the assembly voting to postpone the: matter indefinitely. According to section eight of article one of the constitution, as originally adopted, no person could be held to answer for a criminal offense unless on the presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in certain cases therein specified. The legislature of 1869. proposed an amendment against the " grand jury system " of the constitution, and referred it to the legislature of 1870 for their approval or rejection. The latter took up the proposition and agreed to it by the proper majority, and submitted it to the people at the next election for their ratification. The sine die adjournment of both houses took place on the seventeenth of March, 1870. On the first day of January, previous, the member of congress from the second district of the State, B. F. Hopkins, died, and David Atwood, republican, was elected to fill the vacancy on the fifteenth of February following.
Early in 1870, was organized the "Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters." By an act of the legislature approved March 16, of that year, it was incorporated, having among its. specific objects, researches and investigations in the various departments of the material, meta- physical, ethical, ethnological and social sciences; a progressive and thorough scientific survey of the State, with a view of determining its mineral, agricultural and other resources; the: advancement of the useful arts, through the application of science, and by the encouragement of original invention; the encouragement of the fine arts, by means of honors and prizes. awarded to artists for original works of superior merit; the formation of scientific, economical and art museums; the encouragement of philological and historical research; the collection and. preservation of historic records, and the formation of a general library; and the diffusion of knowledge by the publication of original contributions to science, literature and the arts. The academy has already published three volumes of transactions, under authority of the State.
The fourth charitable institution established by Wisconsin was the "Northern Hospital for the Insane," located at Oshkosh, Winnebago county. It was authorized by an act of the legis -. lature approved March 10, 1870. The law governing the admission of patients to this hospital is the same as to the Wisconsin State Hospital.
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WISCONSIN AS A STATE.
On the third day of July, 1870, A. J. Craig, superintendent of public instruction, died of consumption, and Samuel Fallows was, on the 6th of that month, appointed by the governor to fill the place made vacant by his death. The census taken this year by the General Govern- ment, showed the population of Wisconsin to be over one million sixty-four thousand. At the Fall election for members to the forty-second congress, Alexander Mitchell was chosen to represent the first district ; G. W. Hazelton, the second; J. A. Barber, the third; C. A. Eldredge, the fourth; Philetus Sawyer, the fifth; and J. M. Rusk, the sixth district. Mitchell and Eldredge were democrats; the residue were republicans. The amendment to section 8, of article 7 of the constitution of the State, abolishing the grand jury system was ratified by a large majority. Under it, no person shall be held to answer for a criminal offense without due process of law, and no person, for the same offense, shall be put twice in jeopardy of punishment, nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself. All persons shall, before conviction, be bailable by sufficient sureties, except for capital offenses when the proof is evident and the presumption great; and the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended unless, when in cases of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require it.
Governor Fairchild, in his last annual message to the legislature, delivered to that body at its twenty-fourth regular session beginning on the eleventh of January, 1871, said that Wisconsin State polity was so wisely adapted to the needs of the people, and so favorable to the growth and prosperity of the commonwealth, as to require but few changes at the hands of the legisla- ture, and those rather of detail than of system. At the commencement of this session, William E. Smith was elected speaker of the assembly. A very carefully-perfected measure of this . legislature was one providing for the trial of criminal offenses on information, without the inter- vention of a Grand Jury. A state commissioner of immigration, to be elected by the people, was provided for. Both bodies adjourned sine die on the twenty-fifth of March. On the thirteenth of January preceding, Associate Justice Byron Paine, of the supreme court, died; whereupon the governor, on the 20th of the same month, appointed in his place, until the Spring election should be held, William Penn Lyon. The latter, at the election in April, was chosen by the people to serve the unexpired time of Associate Justice Paine, ending the first Monday of Jan- uary, 1872, and for a full term of six years from the same date. On the 3d of April, Ole C. Johnson was appointed by the governor state commissioner of immigration, to serve until his successor at the next general election could be chosen by the people. To the end that the administration of public charity and correction should thereafter be conducted upon sound principles of economy, justice and humanity, and that the relations existing between the State and its dependent and criminal classes might be better understood, there was, by an act of the legislature, approved March 23, 1871, a "state board of charities and reform" created -to consist of five members to be appointed by the governor of the State, the duties of the members being to investigate and supervise the whole system of charitable and correctional institutions supported by the State or receiving aid from the State treasury, and on or before the first day of December in each year to report their proceedings to the executive of the State. This board was thereafter duly organized and its members have since reported annually to the governor their proceedings and the amount of their expenses, as required by law.
The "Wisconsin State Horticultural Society," although previously organized, first under the name of the " Wisconsin Fruit Growers' Association," was not incorporated until the 24th of March, 1871-the object of the society being to improve the condition of horticulture, rural adornment and landscape gardening. By a law of 1868, provision was made for the publication of the society's transactions in connection with the State agricultural society; but by the act
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HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
of 1871, this law was repealed and an appropriation made for their yearly publication in separate form; resulting in the issuing, up to the present time, of seven volumes, The society holds annual meetings at Madison.
At the November election both republicans and democrats had a full ticket for the suffrages of the people. The republicans were successful, electing for governor, C. C. Washburn; M. H. Pettitt, for lieutenant governor; Llywelyn Breese, for secretary of state; Henry Baetz, for state treasurer; Samuel Fallows, for superintendent of public instruction ; S. S. Barlow, for attorney general ; G. F. Wheeler, for state prison commissioner; and O. C. Johnson, for state commis- sioner of immigration. At this election an amendment to article four of the constitution of the State was ratified and adopted by the people. As it now stands, the legislature is prohibited from enacting any special or private laws in the following cases : 1st. For changing the names of persons or constituting one person the heir-at-law of another. 2d. For laying out, opening, or altering highways, except in cases of State roads extending into more than one county, and mili- tary roads to aid in the construction of which lands may be granted by congress. 3d. For- authorizing persons to keep ferries across streams, at points wholly within this State. 4th. For authorizing the sale or mortgage of real or personal property of minors or others under disability. 5th. For locating or changing any county seat. 6th. For assessment or collection of taxes or for extending the time for the collection thereof. 7th. For granting corporate powers or privileges,. except to cities. 8th. For authorizing the apportionment of any part of the school fund. 9th. For incorporating any town or village, or to amend the charter thereof. The legislature shall provide general laws for the transaction of any business that may be prohibited in the foregoing cases, and all such laws shall be uniform in their operation throughout the State.
Industrially considered, the year 1871 had but little to distinguish it from the average of previous years in the State, except that the late frosts of Spring and the drouth of Summer dimin- ished somewhat the yield of certain crops. With the exception of slight showers of only an hour or two's duration, in the month of September, no rain fell in Wisconsin from the eighth of July to. the ninth of October-a period of three months. The consequence was a most calamitous event. which will render the year 1871 memorable in the history of the State.
The great drouth of the Summer and Fall dried up the streams and swamps in Northern Wisconsin. In the forests, the fallen leaves and underbrush which covered the ground became very ignitable. The ground itself, especially in cases of alluvia! or bottom lands, was so dry and parched as to burn readily to the depth of a foot or more. For many days preceding the com- mencement of the second week in October fires swept through the timbered country, and in some- instances over prairies and " openings." Farmers, saw-mill owners, railroad men and all others. interested in exposed property, labored day and night in contending against the advance of devouring fires, which were destroying, notwithstanding the ceaseless energies of the people, an occasional mill or house and sweeping off, here and there, fences, haystacks and barns. Over the. counties lying upon Green bay and a portion of those contiguous thereto on the south, southwest and west, hung a general gloom. No rain came. All energies were exhausted from " fighting fire." The atmosphere was every where permeated with smoke. The waters of the bay and even Lake Michigan, in places, were so enveloped as to render navigation difficult and in some instances dangerous. It finally became very difficult to travel upon highways and on railroads. Time drew on-but there came no rain. The ground in very many places was burned over. Persons sought refuge-some in excavations in the earth, others in wells.
The counties of Oconto, Brown, Kewaunee, Door, Manitowoc, Outagamie and Shawano. were all more or less swept by this besom of destruction ; but in Oconto county, and for some. distance into Menomonee county, Michigan, across the Menomonee river, on the west shore of.
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the bay and throughout the whole length and breadth of the peninsula,-that is, the territory. lying between the bay and Lake Michigan,-the fires were the most devastating. The first week in October passed ; then came an actual whirlwind of fire-ten or more miles in width and of indefinite length. The manner of its progress was extraordinary. It destroyed a vast amount of property and many lives. It has been described as a tempestuous sea of flame, accompanied by a most violent hurricane, which multiplied the force of the destructive element. Forests, farm improvements and entire villages were consumed. Men, women and children perished-awfully perished. Even those who fled and sought refuge from the fire in cleared fields, in swamps, . lakes and rivers, found, many of them, no safety there, but were burned to death or died of suf -. focation.
This dreadful and consuming fire was heralded by a sound likened to that of a railroad train - to the roar of a waterfall- to the noise of a battle at a distance. Not human beings. only, but horses, oxen, cows, dogs, swine - every thing that had life - ran to escape the impend- ing destruction. The smoke was suffocating and blinding ; the roar of the tempest deafening ; the atmosphere scorching. Children were separated from their parents, and trampled upon by crazed beasts. Husbands and wives rushed in wild dismay, they knew not where. Death rode triumphantly upon that devastating, fiery flood. More than one thousand men, women and children perished. More than three thousand were rendered destitute-utterly beggared. Mothers were left with fatherless children ; fathers with motherless children. Every where were homeless orphans. All around lay suffering, helpless humanity, burned and maimed. Such was the sickening spectacle after the impetuous and irresistible wave of fire swept over that portion of the State. This appalling calamity happened on the 8th and 9th of October. The loss of property has been estimated at four million dollars.
At the tidings of this fearful visitation, Governor Fairchild hastened to the burnt district, to assist, as much as was in his power, the distressed sufferers. He issued, on the 13th of the month, a stirring appeal to the citizens of Wisconsin, for aid. It was promptly responded to. from all portions of the State outside the devastated region. Liberal contributions in money, clothing and provisions were sent - some from other States, and even from foreign countries. Northwestern Wisconsin also suffered severely, during these months of drouth, from large fires.
A compilation of the public statutes of Wisconsin was prepared during the year 1871, by David Tayor, and published in two volumes, generally known as the Revised Statutes of 1871. It was wholly a private undertaking; but the legislature authorized the secretary of state to purchase five hundred copies for the use of the State, at its regular session in 1872.
THIRTEENTH ADMINISTRATION. - C. C. WASHBURN, GOVERNOR - 1872-1873.
The thirteenth gubernatorial administration in Wisconsin commenced on Monday, January I, 1872. The only changes made, in the present administration from the previous one, were in the offices of governor and lieutenant governor.
The twenty-fifth regular session of the legislature began on the 10th of January, with a republican majority in both houses. Daniel Hall was elected speaker of the assembly. The next day the governor delivered to a joint convention of the legislature his first annual message - a lengthy document, setting forth in detail the general condition of State affairs. The recent great conflagrations were referred to, and relief suggested. The work of this session of the Leg- islature was peculiarly difficult, owing to the many general laws which the last constitutional amendment made necessary. The apportionment of the State into new congressional districts was another perplexing and onerous task. Eight districts were formed instead of six, as at the commencement of the last decade. By this, the fourth congressional apportionment, each district
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HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
elects one member. The first district consists of the counties of Rock, Racine, Kenosha, Wal- worth, and Waukesha ; the second, of Jefferson, Dane, Sauk, and Columbia ; the third, of Grant, Iowa, LaFayette, Green, Richland, and Crawford ; the fourth, of Milwaukee, Ozaukee, and Wash- ington; the fifth, of Dodge, Fond du Lac, Sheboygan and Manitowoc ; the sixth, of Green Lake, Waushara, Waupaca, Outagamie, Winnebago, Calumet, Brown, Kewaunee and Door; the sev- ·enth, of Vernon, La Crosse, Monroe, Jackson, Trempealeau, Buffalo, Pepin, Pierce, St. Croix, Eau Claire, and Clark ; the eighth, of Oconto, Shawano, Portage, Wood, Juneau, Adams, Marquette, Marathon, Dunn, Chippewa, Barron, Polk, Burnett, Bayfield, Douglas, and Ashland. To this district have since been added the new counties of Lincoln and Taylor.
After a session of seventy-seven days, the legislature finished its work, adjourning on the twenty-seventh of March. At the ensuing November election, the republican ticket for presi- dent and vice president of the United States was successful. The ten electors chosen cast their votes in the electoral college for Grant and Wilson. In the eight congressional districts, six republicans and two democrats were elected to the forty-third congress; the last mentioned from the fourth and fifth districts. C. G. Williams represented the first district; G. W. Hazel- ton the second; J. Allen Barber the third ; Alexander Mitchell the fourth ; C. A. Eldredge the fifth ; Philetus Sawyer the sixth ; J. M. Rusk the seventh ; and A. G. McDill the eighth district.
Throughout Wisconsin, as in all portions of the Union outside the State, a singular pesti- lence prevailed among horses in the months of November and December, 1872, very few escap- ing. Horses kept in warm, well ventilated stables, avoiding currents of air, with little or no medicine, and fed upon nutritious and laxative food, soon recovered. Although but few died, yet the loss to the State was considerable, especially in villages and cities, resulting from the diffi- 'culty to substitute other animals in the place of the horse during the continuance of the disease.
The twenty-sixth regular session of the State legislature commenced on the eighth day of January, 1873, with a republican majority in both houses. Henry D. Barron was elected speaker of the assembly. On the ninth, Governor Washburn's message- his second annual one - was delivered to the two houses. It opened with a brief reference to the abundant returns from agricultural pursuits, to the developments of the industries of the state, to the advance in manufacturing, to the rapid extension in railways, and to the general and satisfactory progress in education, throughout Wisconsin. He followed with several recommendations- claiming that "many vast and overshadowing corporations in the United States are justly a source of alarm," and that "the legislature can not scan too closely every measure that should come before it which proposed to give additional rights and privileges to the railways of the state." He also recommended that the " granting of passes to the class of state officials who, through their public office, have power to confer or withhold benefits to a railroad company, be prohibited." The message was favorably commented upon by the press of the state, of all parties. " If Governor Washburn," says one of the opposition papers of his administration, " is not a great statesman, he is certainly not a small politician." One of the first measures of this legislature was the elec- tion of United States senator, to fill the place of Timothy O. Howe, whose term of office would expire on the fourth of March next ensuing On the twenty-second of January the two houses met in joint convention, when it was announced that by the previous action of the senate and assembly, Timothy O. Howe was again elected to that office for the term of six years. On the twentieth of March, the legislature adjourned sine die, after a session of seventy-two days.
Milton H. Pettitt, the lieutenant governor, died on the 23d day of March following the adjournment. By this sudden and unexpected death, the State lost an upright and conscientious public officer.
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