The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc., Part 16

Author: Wesern historical company, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 899

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WISCONSIN AS A STATE.

assembly. Since the year 1862, the aggregate allotted to both houses had been one hundred and thirty-three, the maximum allowed by the constitution; one hundred in the assembly and thirty- three in the senate. The number of this representation was not diminished by the apportion- ment of 1876. One of the railroad laws abolished the board of railroad commissioners, confer- ring its duties upon a railroad commissioner to be appointed by the governor every two years. Under this law. Dana C. Lamb was appointed to that office, on the 10th of March, 1876. On the 2d day of February, previous, George W. Burchard was by the governor appointed state prison director for six years, in place of Joel Rich, whose term of office had expired. On the same day T. C. Chamberlain was appointed chief geologist of Wisconsin in place of O. W. Wight.

The application of Miss Lavinia Goodell, for admission to the bar of Wisconsin, was rejected by the supreme court of the State, at its January term, 1876. "We can not but think," said Chief Justice Ryan, in the decree of refusal, " we can not but think the common law wise in excluding women from the profession of the law." "The profession," he added, " enters largely into the well-being of society, and, to be honorably filled, and safely to society, exacts the devotion of life. The law of nature destines and qualifies the female sex for the bearing and nurture of the children of our race, and for the custody of the homes of the world, and their maintenance in love and honor. And all life-long callings of women inconsistent with these radical and social duties of their sex, as is the profession of the law, are departures from the order of Nature, and, when voluntary, are treason against it." Whether, in the second centennial year of our national existence, this reasoning will have as much weight in Wisconsin, as at present, some have questioned.

By an act of the legislature, approved March 13, 1876, a State board of health was estab- lished, the appointment of a superintendent of vital statistics, was provided for, and certain duties were assigned to local boards of health. The State board was organized soon after; the governor having previously appointed seven persons as its members. The object of the organization, which is supported by the State, is, to educate the people of Wisconsin into a better knowledge of the nature and causes of disease, and a better knowledge and observance of hygienic laws.

By a law passed in 1868, as amended in 1870 and 1873, the secretary of state, state treasurer, and attorney general, were constituted a State board of assessment, to meet in the city of Madison, on the third Wednesday in May, 1874, and biennally thereafter, to make an equalized valuation of the property in the State, as a guide to assessment for taxation. In the tables of equalized valuations compiled by this board in 1876, the whole amount of taxable property in Wisconsin, is set down at $423,596,290 ; of which sum $337,073,148, represents real estate and $86,523,142 personal property.

This being the year for the election of president and vice president of the United States, the two political parties in Wisconsin-republican and democratic-had tickets in the field. At the election on Tuesday, November 7, the republican presidential electors received a majority of the votes cast in the State, securing Wisconsin for Hayes and Wheeler. The eight congressional districts elected the same day their members to the forty-fifth congress, whose terms of office will expire on the 4th of March, 1879. Charles G. Williams was elected in the first district; Lucien B. Caswell, in the second; George C. Hazelton, in the third; William P. Lynde, in the fourth; Edward S. Bragg, in the fifth; Gabriel Bouck, in the sixth; H. L. Humphrey, in the seventh; and Thad. C. Pound, in the eighth district. A majority of the delegation is republican, the representatives from the fourth, fifth, and sixth districts only, being democrats.

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HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

There was a general and spontaneous exhibition of patriotic impulses throughout the length and breadth of Wisconsin, on the part of both native and foreign-born citizens, at the com- mencement of the centennial year, and upon the fourth of July. The interest of the people of the State generally, in the Exposition at Philadelphia, was manifested in a somewhat remarkable manner from its inception to its close. By an act of congress, approved March 3, 1871, pro- vision was made for celebrating the one hundredth anniversary of American Independence, by holding in that city, in 1876, an exhibition of arts, manufactures, and the products of the soil and mines of the country. A centennial commission, consisting of one commissioner and one alternate commissioner, from each State and Territory, was authorized to be appointed, to carry out the provisions of the act. David Atwood, as commissioner, and E. D. Holton, as alternate, were commissioned by the president of the United States, from Wisconsin. This commission gradually made progress in preparing for an international exposition. "The commission has been organized," said Governor Washburn, in his message to the legislature in January, 1873, "and has made considerable progress in its work. The occasion will be one to which the American people can not fail to respond in the most enthusiastic manner." The president of the United States, by proclamation, in July, 1873, announced the exhibition and national celebra- tion, and commended them to the people of the Union, and of all nations. " It seems fitting," said Governor Taylor, in his message to the Wisconsin legislature in 1874, " that such a cele- bration of this important event, should be held, and it is hoped it will be carried out in a manner worthy of a great and enlightened nation." By the close of 1874, a large number of foreign governments had sified their intention to participate in the exhibition.

The legislature of Wisconsin, at its session in 1875, deeming it essential that the State,. with its vast resources in agricultural, mineral, lumbering, manufacturing, and other products and industries, should be fully represented at Philadelphia, passed an act which was approved. March 3, 1875, to provide for a " Board of State Centennial Managers." Two thousand dollars. were appropriated to pay its necessary expenses. The board was to consist of five members to. be appointed by the governor ; and there were added thereto, as ex-officio members, the United. States centennial commissioner and his alternate. The duties of the members were to dis- seminate information regarding the Exhibition; to secure the co-operation of industrial, scien- tific, agricultural, and other associations in the State ; to appoint co-operative local committees,. representing the different industries of the State; to stimulate local action on all measures. intended to render the exhibition successful, and a worthy representation of the industries of the country; to encourage the production of articles suitable for the Exhibition; to distribute documents issued by the centennial commission among manufacturers and others in the State ; to render assistance in furthering the financial and other interests of the exhibition ; to furnish information to the commission on subjects that might be referred to the board; to care for the interests of the State and of its citizens in matters relating to the exhibition; to receive and. pronounce upon applications for space ; to apportion the space placed at its disposal among the exhibitors from the State; and to supervise such other details relating to the representation of citizens of Wisconsin in the Exhibition, as might from time to time be delegated by the United States centennial commission.

The board was required to meet on the first Wednesday of April, 1875, at the capitol, in Madison, to organize and adopt such by-laws and regulations as might be deemed necessary for the successful prosecution of the work committed to their charge. Governor Taylor appointed Eli Stilson, J. I. Case, J. B. Parkinson, T. C. Pound, and E. A. Calkins, members of the board. Its organization was perfected, at the appointed time, by the election of J. B. Parkinson as pre- sident, and W. W. Field, secretary. The ex-officio members of the board, were David Atwood,

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United States commissioner, and E. D. Holton, alternate. From this time forward, the board was untiring in its efforts to secure a full and proper representation of the varied interests of Wisconsin in the centennial exhibition of 1876. E. A. Calkins having resigned his position as member of the board, Adolph Meinecke took his place by appointment of the governor July 24, 1875. Governor Ludington, in his message to the legislature in January, 1876, spoke in commendation of the coming exhibition. "The occasion," said he, " will afford an excellent opportunity to display the resources and products of the State, and to attract hither capital and immigration."

Soon after the organization of the United States centennial commission, a national organ- ization of the women of the country was perfected. A lady of Philadelphia was placed at its head; and a presiding officer from each State was appointed. Mrs. A. C. Thorp assumed the duties of chairman for Wisconsin, in March, 1875, appointing assistants in various parts of the State, when active work was commenced. This organization was efficient in Wisconsin in arousing an interest in the general purposes and objects of the exhibition.

By an act of the legislature, approved March 3, 1876, the sum of twenty thousand dollars was appropriated to the use of the board of centennial managers, for the purpose of arranging for, and making a proper exhibition of, the products, resources, and advantages of the State at the exposition. The treasurer of Wisconsin was, by this act, made an ex-officio member of the board. By this and previous action of the legislature-by efforts put forth by the board of managers-by individual enterprise-by the untiring labors of the "Women's Centennial Execu- tive Committee," to whom, by an act of the legislature, approved the 4th of March, 1875, one thousand dollars were appropriated-Wisconsin was enabled to take a proud and honorable position in the Centennial Exposition-a gratification not only to the thousands of her citizens. who visited Philadelphia during its continuance, but to the people generally, throughout the State.

In Wisconsin, throughout the centennial year, those engaged in the various branches of agriculture and other useful avocations, were reasonably prosperous. The crop of wheat and oats was a light yield, and of poor quality ; but the corn crop was the largest ever before raised in the State, and of superior quality. The daily and hog product was large, and commanded remunerative prices. Fruits were unusually plenty. Trade and business enterprises, however, generally remained depressed.

By section five of article seven of the constitution of Wisconsin, the counties of the State were apportioned into five judicial circuits : the county of Richland being attached to Iowa, Chippewa to Crawford, and La Pointe to St. Croix. In 1850, the fifth circuit was divided, and a sixth circuit formed. In 1864, Crawford and Richland were made part of the fifth circuit. By an act which took effect in 1854, a seventh circuit was formed. On the first day of January, 1855, the sixth circuit was divided, and an eighth and ninth circuit formed, the county of Columbia being made a part of the last mentioned one. In the same year was also formed a tenth circuit ; and, in 1858, Winnebago county was attached to it ; but, in 1870, that county was" attached to the third circuit. In 1858, Kewaunee county was attached to the fourth circuit, An eleventh circuit was formed in 1864, from which, in 1865, Dallas county was detached, and made part of the eighth. By an act which took effect on the first day of January, 1871, the twelfth circuit was formed. In 1876, a thirteenth circuit was " constituted and re-organized."

At the present time, the sixty counties of the State are apportioned into the thirteen judicial circuits as follows . First circuit, Walworth, Racine, and Kenosha; second circuit, Milwaukee, and Waukesha, third circuit, Green Lake, Dodge, Washington, Ozaukee, and Winnebago; fourth circuit, Sheboygan, Calumet, Kewaunee, Fond du Lac, and Manitowoc ; fifth circuit,

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Grant, Iowa, La Fayette, Richland, and Crawford ; sixth circuit, Clark, Jackson, Monroe, La Crosse, and Vernon; seventh circuit, Portage, Marathon, Waupaca, Wood, Waushara, Lincoln, and Taylor; eighth circuit, Dunn, Pepin, Pierce, and St. Croix; ninth circuit, Adams, Columbia, Dane, Juneau, Sauk and Marquette; tenth circuit, Outagamie, Oconto, Shawano, Door, and Brown : eleventh circuit, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Chippewa, Douglas, and Polk ; twelfth circuit, Rock, Green, and Jefferson; and the thirteenth circuit, Buffalo, Eau Claire, and Trempealeau.

The thirtieth regular session of the legislature of Wisconsin commenced, pursuant to law, on the tenth of January, 1877. The republicans had working majorities in both houses. J. B. Cassady was elected speaker of the assembly. Governor Ludington delivered his message to the joint convention of the legislature the following day. "We should not seek," said he, in his concluding remarks, "to conceal from ourselves the fact that the prosperity which our people have enjoyed for a number of years past, has suffered some interruption. Agriculture has ren- dered less return ; labor in all departments has been less productive, and trade has consequently been less active, and has realized a reduced percentage of profit." "These adverse circum- stances," continued the governor, "will not be wholly a misfortune if we heed the lesson that they convey. This lesson is the necessity of strict economy in public and private affairs. We have been living upon a false basis; and the time has now come when we must return to a solid foundation." The legislature adjourned sine die on the 8th of March, after a session of fifty- eight days, passing three hundred and one acts-one hundred and thirteen less than at the session of 1876. The most important of these, as claimed by the dominant party which passed it, is one for the maintenance of the purity of the ballot box, known as the "Registry Law." On the 3d day of April, at the regular Spring election, William P. Lyon was re-elected, without opposition, an associate justice of the supreme court for six years from the first Monday in January, 1878, his term of office expiring on the first Monday of January, 1884.

Under a law of 1876, to provide for the revision of the statutes of the State, the justices of the supreme court were authorized to appoint three revisors. The persons receiving the appoint- ment were David Taylor, William F. Vilas and J. P. C. Cottrill. By an amendatory law of 1877, for the purpose of having the revision completed for the session of 1878, the justices of the supreme court were authorized to appoint two additional revisors, and assign them special duties on the commission. H. S. Orton was appointed to revise the criminal law and proceedings, and J. H. Carpenter to revise the probate laws.

Governor Ludington declined being a candidate for renomination. His administration was characterized as one of practical efficiency. As the chief executive officer of Wisconsin, he kept in view the best interests of the State. In matters coming under his control, a rigid system of economy prevailed.

There were three tickets in the field presented to the electors of Wisconsin for their suffrages at the general election held on the sixth of November, 1877: republican, democratic, and the "greenback " ticket. The republicans were successful, electing William E. Smith, governor ; James M. Bingham, lieutenant governor; Hans B. Warner, secretary of state; Richard Guenther, treasurer; Alexander Wilson, attorney general; and William C. Whitford, state superintendent of public instruction. At the same election two amendments to the constitution of the State were voted upon and both adopted. The first one amends section four of article seven; so that, hereafter, " the supreme court shall consist of one chief justice and four associate justices, to be elected by the qualified electors of the State. The legislature shall, at its first session after the adoption of this amendment, provide by law for the election of two associate justices of said court, to hold their offices respectively for terms ending two and four years, respectively after the

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end of the term of the justice of the said court then last to expire. And thereafter the chief justices and associate justices of said court shall be elected and hold their offices respectively for the term of ten years." The second one amends section two of article eight; so that, here- after, "no money shall be paid out of the treasury except in pursuance of an appropriation by law. No appropriation shall be made for the payment of any claim against the State, except claims of the United States, and judgments, unless filed within six years after the claim accrued."

The year 1877, in Wisconsin, was notable for excellent crops. A depression in monetary matters continued, it is true, but not without a reasonable prospect of a change for the better within the near future.

SIXTEENTH ADMINISTRATION .- WILLIAM E. SMITH, GOVERNOR-1878-1879.

At noon, on Monday, January 7, 1878, began the sixteenth administration of Wisconsin, by the inauguration of the State officers elect. On the 9th of the same month, commenced the thirty-first regular session of the Legislature. A. R. Barrows was elected Speaker of the Assembly. On the day following, Governor Smith delivered his message-a calm, business-like document-to the Legislature. Both Houses adjourned sine die on the 21st of March following. On the Ist day of April, Harlow S. Orton and David Taylor were elected Associate Justices of the Supreme Court ; the term of the first named to expire on the first Monday of January, 1888 ; that of the last men- tioned, on the first Monday of January, 1886. In obedience to a proclamation of the Governor, the Legislature convened on the 4th day of June, thereafter, in extra session, to revise the statutes. A. R. Barrows was elected Speaker of the Assembly. The Legislature adjourned sine die on the 7th of the same month. In November following, the members chosen to the Forty-sixth Congress were C. G. Williams, in the First District ; L. B. Caswell, in the Second ; George C. Hazelton, in the Third ; P. V. Deuster, in the Fourth ; E. S. Bragg, in the Fifth ; Gabriel Bouck, in the Sixth ; H. L. Humphrey, in the Seventh ; and T. C. Pound, in the Eighth. The thirty-second regular session of the Legislature commenced on the 8th day of January, 1879. D. M. Kelly was elected Speaker of the Assembly ; the next day, the message of the Governor-a brief, but able State paper-was delivered to both Houses. On the 21st, Matthew H. Carpenter was elected United States Senator for six years, from the 4th of March thereafter, in place of Timothy O. Howe. The Legislature adjourned sine die on the 5th of March, 1879. On the Ist day of April following, 'Orsamus Cole was elected Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, for a term of ten years.

Wisconsin has many attractive features. It is a healthy, fertile, well-watered and well-wooded State. Every where within its borders the rights of each citizen are held sacred. Intelligence and education are prominent characteristics of its people. All the necessaries and many of the comforts and luxuries of life are easily to be obtained. Agriculture, the chief source of wealth to so many nations, is here conducted with profit and success. Generally speaking, the farmer owns the land he cultivates. Here, the laboring man, if honest and industrious, is most certain to secure a competence for himself and family. Few States have made more ample provisions for the unfortunate-the deaf and dumb, the blind, and the insane-than has Wisconsin. Nor has she been less interested in her reformatory and penal institutions. In her educational facilities, she already rivals the most advanced of her sister States. Her markets are easily reached by rail- ways and water-navigation, so that the products of the country find ready sale. Her commerce is extensive ; her manufactures remunerative; her natural resources great and manifold. In morality and religion, her standard is high. Her laws are lenient, but not lax, securing the greatest good to those who are disposed to live up to their requirements. Wisconsin has, in fact, all the essential elements of prosperity and good government. Exalted and noble, there- fore, must be her future career.

TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY. 1

BY T. C. CHAMBERLIN. A.M., STATE GEOLOGIST.

The surface features of Wisconsin are simple and symmetrical in character, and present a con- figuration intermediate between the mountainous, on the one hand, and a monotonous level, on the other. The highest summits within the state rise a little more than 1,200 feet above its lowest sur- faces. A few exceptional peaks rise from 400 to 600 feet above their bases, but abrupt elevations of more than 200 or 300 feet are not common. Viewed as a whole, the state may be regarded as occupying a swell of land lying between three notable depressions ; Lake Michigan on the east, about 578 feet above the mean tide of the ocean, Lake Superior on the north, about 600 feet above the sea, and the valley of the 'Mississippi river, whose elevation at the Illinois state line is slightly below that of Lake Michigan. From these depressions the surface slopes upward to the summit altitudes of the state. But the rate of ascent is unequal. From Lake Michigan the surface rises by a long, gentle acclivity westward and northward. A similar slope ascends from the Mississippi valley to meet this, and their junction forms a north and south arch extend- ing nearly the entire length of the state. From Lake Superior the surface ascends rapidly to. the watershed, which it reaches within about thirty miles of the lake.

If we include the contiguous portion of the upper peninsula of Michigan, the whole elevation may be looked upon as a very low, rude, three-sided pyramid, with rounded angles. The apex is near the Michigan line, between the headwaters of the Montreal and Brule rivers. The northern side is short and abrupt. The southeastward and southwestward sides are long, and decline gently. The base of this pyramid may be considered as, in round numbers, 600 feet above the sea, and its extreme apex 1,800 feet.

Under the waters of Lake Michigan the surface of the land passes below the sea level before the limits of the state are reached. Under Lake Superior the land-surface descends to. even greater depths, but probably not within the boundaries of the state. The regularity of the southward slopes is interrupted in a very interesting way by a remarkable diagonal valley occupied by Green bay and the Fox and Wisconsin rivers. This is a great groove, traversing the state obliquely, and cutting down the central elevation half its height. A line passing across. the surface, from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi, at any other point, would arch upward from about 400 to 1,000 feet, according to the location, while along the trough of this valley it would reach an elevation barely exceeding 200 feet. On the northwest side of this trough, in general, the surface rises somewhat gradually, giving at most points much amplitude to the valley, but on the opposite side, the slope ascends rapidly to a well marked watershed that stretches across the state parallel to the valley. At Lake Winnebago, this diagonal valley is connected with a scarcely less notable one, occupied by the Rock river. Geologically, this Green-bay-Rock-

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river valley is even more noticeable, since it lies along the trend of the underlying strata, and was in large measure plowed out of a soft stratum by glacial action. Where it crosses the water- shed, near Horicon marsh, it presents the same general features that are seen at other points, and in an almost equally conspicuous degree. Except in the southern part of the state, this valley is confined on the east by an abrupt ascent, and, at many points, by a precipitous, rocky acclivity, known as "The Ledge "- which is the projecting edge of the strata of the Niagara limestone. On the watershed referred to-between the St. Lawrence and Mississippi basins- this ledge is as conspicuous and continuous as at other points, so that we have here again the phenomenon of a valley formed by excavation, running up over an elevation of 300 feet, and connecting two great systems of drainage.

On the east side of this valley, as already indicated, there is a sharp ascent of 200 feet, on an average, from the crest of which the surface slopes gently down to Lake Michigan. The uniformity of this slope is broken by an extended line of drift hills, lying obliquely along it and extending from Kewaunee county southward to the Illinois line and known as the Kettle range. A less conspicuous range of similar character branches off from this in the northwest corner of Walworth county and passes across the Rock river valley, where it curves northward, passing west of Madison, crossing the great bend in the Wisconsin river, and bearing northeastward into Oconto county, where it swings round to the westward and crosses the northern part of the state. As a general topographical feature it is not conspicuous and is rather to be conceived as a peculiar chain of drift hills winding over the surface of the state, merely interrupting in some degree the regularity of its slopes. There will be occasion to return to this feature in our discussion of the drift. It will be observed that the southeastward slope is interrupted by valleys running across it, rudely parallel to Lake Michigan, and directing its drainage northward and southward, instead of directing it down the slope into the lake.

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The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc., Part 16

Author: Wesern historical company, Chicago, pub Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co. Number of Pages: 899

Author: Wesern historical company, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 899