The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc., Part 61

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

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EVANSVILLE.

The first paper published at this place was the Evansville Citizen, a four-page, seven-column weekly on the " patent inside " plan, issued January 3, 1866, with the name of J. A. Hoxie as editor and proprietor. The salutatory announces the intention of the publisher to be, "to fur- nish the people of Evansville and vicinity with a home, family newspaper, mainly devoted to local matters and interests," such a paper being demanded by the rapid growth of the village and its environs. "In politics, we are of course Republican, in the true meaning of the word, and believe in the equal rights of mankind. But no man has, or can have in the nature of things, a right to do wrong. * * * We hold the broadest freedom consistent with our obligations." The first number contained about two columns of editorial matter, about the same quantity of local items, six columns of advertisements, and the remainder miscellany. The Citizen was pub- lished continuously under the same proprietorship through the first and second volumes. The first number of the third volume (January 15, 1868) gave evidence of increasing prosperity, in fourteen columns of advertisements, and the announcement of immediate removal to a new and more commodious office. The issue of October 7, of the same year, contained the valedictory of= J. A. IIoxie, and the salutatory of C. W. Baker, who announced himself "a Radical." With 1 the issue of December 30 following, the Citizen ceased to exist, but there is no notice of an intended suspension, or explanation of the causes which rendered it advisable or necessary.

For about fifteen months from the date last mentioned, Evansville appears to have been without a newspaper, but on Tuesday, March 15, 1870, the first number of the Evansville- Review appeared with the name of J. A. Hoxie, the founder of the Citizen, at the head of its= columns as editor and proprietor, who announced in his salutatory that the paper will be the= earnest advocate of the Republican party and of the cause of temperance. The new paper pre- sented a marked change in "make-up," as the printers denominate the arrangement of the matter,- as compared with the Citizen. The first page contained nothing but reading matter-three col- umnns original and four selected ; the second and third pages were all selected miscellany, and the fourth page had two columns of local matter, the remaining five being taken up with advertise- ments. The issue of April 20 contained the charter of the Evansville & State Line Railroad- June 29th, the title of the paper appeared at the head of the editorial columns as the Citizen- Review, and the number of the volume was changed from one to six. April 26, 1871, the editor congratulated himself and his readers upon the fact that the paper was " wholly of home produc- tion "-that is, that both sides were " set up" and printed in his own office. This experiment appears to have been unsatisfactory, however, for, ten weeks later, July 5, the "patent inside" plan was returned to, upon economic grounds. On the 13th of September of this year, in announc- ing the completion of "another half-year volume," the editor regretfully announces that

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" circumstances compel a suspension, but for what period, our patrons and business men must be consulted, rather than our own feelings. *

* We have sums varying from a few cents * to dollars, due us all over the country ; separately they are small, but in the aggregate they con- trol our present condition ;" and closes with the expression of a hope that the citizens may decide favorably to a continuation of the publication. It would appear that this direct appeal to the amour propre of the citizens was measurably successful, as the " suspension " was limited to two weeks, the next issue of the paper being dated October 4.

From this time forward, the course of the Review seems to have been free from many of the embarrassments which had attended its publication, and the close of the thirteenth volume, April 23, 1879, contains the valedictory of J. A. Hoxie, announcing his retirement after thir- teen years of almost continuous service. The first number of Volume XIV, dated April 30, 1879, bears the name of J. B. Jones as editor and publisher. In his salutatory, the new pro- prietor states his purpose to be simply to make a good local paper ; it will be Republican in pol- itics, but temperate and courteous in discussing political questions. His religious views, he maintains, are his own, and, as he shall not interfere with the opinions of others, hopes they will not meddle with his. The paper has continued under the same management to the present time, and may be regarded as one of the permanently established institutions of the county.

MILTON.

The College Journal, as its name implies, is a record of events specially interesting to a class (college students and graduates), and a medium for the discussion of thoughts and topics directly connected with their lives. It is, in short, designed to be a literary periodical rather than a general newspaper.

The first number appeared March 15, 1878, with the following staff: Editors, Samuel Plautz, W. E. Hemphill, Ira Flagler ; business manager, Charles M. Morse ; published monthly throughout the college year, at $1 per annum, in advance, by the Journal Company. This first issue contains articles on the " Spelling Reforin," a boy's account of his " Troubles with a Diary," " The Development of Self-hood," other selected and contributed articles, some brief editorial matter, local and personal paragraphs, and one.page of advertisements.

The fifth number shows that Mr. Flagler has retired from the editorial staff, presents the names of C. E. Crandall and Miss M. J. Haven, as new acquisitions, and substitutes the name of W. W. Clarke for Charles M. Morse, as business manager.

The eighth number, dated December 18, 1878, adds a book review department to those pre- viously existing. By the tenth number the editorial was both longer and more diversified, and the publication has been continued upon substantially the same basis, by the same staff, down to the present time.

" BORNITZ."

On the first day of August, 1852, Articles were filed in the office of the Secretary of State, at Madison,'for the incorporation of the " Scandinavian Printing Association," in " Bornitz," in the town of Avon, the Association consisting of A. C. Preus, J. F. Dietrichzen, H. A. Preus, J. D. Reymert and Ever Ingebregtson. The object was to aid emigration of their countrymen. To that end they printed some pamphlets and also a small newspaper, called the Emigranten, which was published afterward for a year, at Janesville; removed to Madison in 1858; and is now pub- lished in La Crosse.

CLINTON JUNCTON.

In years past, many attempts were made by ambitious writers to become the censors of pub- lic and private acts, in Clinton, through the medium of a newspaper, but it was not until Novem- ber 12, 1874, that the attempt was realized. On that date, Messrs. Chet M. Whitman and Curtiss M. Treat brought out the first number of the Clinton Independent, their names appear- ing at the head of the column as editors and proprietors. No change took place until July, 1875, when Mr. Treat purchased Mr. Whitman's interest at a good figure. He continued to

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run it alone, its politics being of a " soft-money " tendency, until November 15, 1878, when he sold out to Messrs. P. H. & H. S. Swift, for $1,200. Upon assuming charge, they pulled it out of the slough of Greenback principles into which it had fallen, and enlisted under the banner of Republicanism. At that time, it was a seven-column folio, but, on June 1, 1879, they enlarged it a column, and gave their readers a thoroughly good weekly, a course of procedure which may be likened unto casting bread upon the waters, inasmuch as it has returned after many days in the form of a largely increased circulation.

In connection with the paper, they control a complete job printing establishment, the whole being valued at about $2,000.

MILTON JUNCTION.

The first newspaper published in the village was the Milton Messenger, a journal "run " by Miss Mary Spencer, but it was short-lived, and gave place to the Milton Register, the first number of which appeared on June 6, 1878, the head of, the editorial column announcing that Mr. J. S. Badger was responsible, as proprietor, for the ideas and remarks contained therein. When it first appeared it was a four-column quarto, but on March 13, 1879, was increased to five-column quarto-its present size. It is, and always has been, an exponent of Republican ideas, and is under the same proprietorship as when first started.

In connection with it is printed the Temperance Herald, a small monthly, of which B. J. Curtis is editor, which is run in the interests of the Sons of Temperance, and is claimed to be the only paper in the exclusive interest of that body in the Northwest.

EDGERTON.

On December 4, 1874, Messrs. W. F. & F. E. Towsley commenced the publication of the Wisconsin Tobacco Reporter, a seven-column paper (24x36) devoted to the interests of Edgerton in general and tobacco in particular. In 1878, Mr. W. F. Towsley purchased his brother's interest, and now controls the whole. It is a weekly, with no politics, and has a circulation of about six hundred copies per week ; together with a complete jobbing outfit, it is valued at $3,000.

ROCK COUNTY BIBLE SOCIETY.

This Society was organized on May 16, 1848, at a meeting of citizens held at the Court House. The first officers were : Rev. Hiram Foote, of Janesville, President ; B. Durham, of Beloit, Vice President ; W. Hughes, of Janesville, Secretary; James Sutherland, of Janesville, Treasurer and Depositary. Directors-Rev. Wesley Lattin, J. B. Doe and B. Herring. The Society is auxiliary to the American Bible Society of New York. From 12,000 to 15,000 copies of Bibles and Testaments, in the English, French, German, Danish and Welsh languages, have been sold or donated in Rock County since the organization of the Society. A great number of destitute persons are supplied with the Scriptures. Those making annual donations to the Society are members of the same. The present officers are as follows : H. S. Hogoboom, Presi- dent ; Capt. E. Ruger, Vice President; John Rexford, Secretary; James Sutherland, Treas- nrer and Depositary. Directors-H. S. Bliss, J. H. Kinney, A. J. Hendrickson, W. G. Wheelock and H. Moffit.

WISCONSIN INSTITUTION FOR THE EDUCATION OF THE BLIND.

No more appropriate monument to the memory of the individuals who founded this institu- tion can ever be erected than the imposing structure as it now stands, overlooking, from a prom- inent elevation, the thrifty city of Janesville, reflecting its shadow upon the placid waters of Rock River ; no more fitting epitaph written than this : "Founders of the Wisconsin Institution for the Education of the Blind." The benevolent motives of these men are plainly marked in the rec- ords of their early struggles to prevent the removal of the institution from Janesville. Racine, Milwaukee and Madison parties sought it as a speculation while it was in private hands, and did

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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

not cease their efforts until it became the property 'of the State and was permanently located in Janesville by an act of the Legislature. The citizens of Janesville have regarded it in the light of an inheritance, and look upon its success with peculiar satisfaction. In the twenty-fifth annual report of the Board of Trustees of the institution is given a historical review of its work. Prior to the 27th of August, 1849, and before the establishment of any benevolent institution in this State, the subject of establishing a school for the education of the blind in the then village of Janesville had received some attention from the residents of the village. On the 27th day of August, a public meeting of the. citizens of Janesville was held at the Court House for the pur- pose of adopting some measures looking to the establishment of such a school. The meeting was presided over by the Hon. A. Hyatt Smith, the Rev. Hiram Foote acting as Secretary. There was present at this meeting, by invitation, Mr. J. T. Axtell, a recent graduate of the Ohio Institution for the Education of the Blind. Being himself a blind man, he made an impressive appeal in behalf of those who, like himself, were deprived of vision ; explained the methods of instruction, and proposed to remain and assist in establishing a school, provided the citizens would contribute the necessary funds. For the purpose of raising the money required, a subscription list was circulated, of which the following is a copy :

The undersigned agree to pay to the Trustees of the Wisconsin Academy for Instruction of the Blind, the amounts by us respectively subscribed hereto, for the purpose of founding a school in the village of Janesville for the instruction of blind persons resident in Wisconsin, and the purchase of the necessary apparatus for the instruc- tion of six such persons. We also'agree to pay the said amounts in installments, as follows : One-fourth on the 1st day of November next ; one-fourth every three months thereafter.

October 12, 1849.

This subscription was signed by A. Hyatt Smith, Ira Miltimore, L. E. Stone, Lawrence, Strong & Co., Charles Stevens, II. O. Wilson, Dimock & Clark, Rodney Eaton, William Hod- son, J. Milton May, Charles S. Weed, Charles H. Parker, William Trusdell, Alden & Holt, Chittenden & Robinson, J. B. Doe, E. L. Roberts, O. W. Norton, Joseph H. Budd, Moses S. Prichard, M. B. Edson, H. Taylor, Lyman J. Barrows, R. B. Treat, James Sutherland, Will- iam Macloon, Bowen & Bangs, J. W. Hobson, Bennett & Hudson and P. F. May.

With the funds raised by this subscription, a few pupils were gathered, and a school opened in a house owned by Capt. Ira Miltimore, on the right bank of Rock River, near what is known as the Monterey Bridge. It was the first benevolent institution in the State of Wisconsin. Mr. Axtell took charge of the school, and such was the progress of the blind pupils that in February of the next year, those under whose fostering care the school had been organized and carried forward, consented to take them to Madison and give an exhibition of their progress and methods of instruction before the Legislature then in session. So satisfactory was this exhibi- tion to that body, that on the following morning, for the purpose of aiding in sustaining the school thus founded, it passed, under a suspension of the rules, an act incorporating the school. The first section of the act named A. Hyatt Smith, Hiram Foote, Ira Miltimore, Levi Alden, Jarius C. Fairchild and William A. Barstow as Trustees, and gave them corporate powers. The second and third sections are as follows :

SEC. 2. The object and duty of this corporation shall be to continue and maintain the School for the Educa- tion of the Blind established in Janesville, and to qualify, as far as may be, that unfortunate class of persons for the enjoyment of the blessings of a free government, obtaining the means of subsistence, and the discharge of those duties, social and political, devolving upon American citizens.

SEC. 3. The school shall be continued in or near Janesville, and the corporation shall, as early as practicable, purchase a suitable lot of ground containing not less than ten acres nor more than twenty acres, and proceed to erect thereon suitable buildings, and make such improvements as are necessary for the school.

In 1850, the school was transferred to the residence of Mrs. H. Hunter, on Jackson street, and she became the Matron thereof. It was continued at the residence of Mrs. Hunter until the 1st of June, 1852, when the new building on the present grounds of the institution was completed, and the school removed to it.

The State was saved the cost of the grounds, Cupt. Ira Miltimore very generously donat- ing ten acres of land on the southerly bank of Rock River, about one mile southwest from the then village of Janesville, upon which the buildings of the institution were erected.

HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

The structure erected in 1851-52 soon became insufficient for the needs of the school, and as used as a wing to a main building, which was completed in 1860.

In a few years, the continued growth of the school required another enlargement, and the ving which was the original building, having become unsafe, was torn down and replaced by ne larger, and built in a substantial manner. This was done in 1868-69. The building thus enlarged was expected to provide for the wants of the school for at least a score of years, but, on the 13th of April, 1874, this proud monument to pioneer enterprise was laid low in ashes.

The following graphic sketch of the fire is from the pen of Mr. Little ;

The 13th of April, 1874, will be remembered in the annals of this institution as the date of the destruction of its chief building by fire. Until evening, the day was marked by nothing except the violence of the wind, the direction being southwesterly. At a little after 7 P. M., while the pupils were assembled for their usual evening reading, fire was discovered in the elevator. This was of wood, and, at the moment of discovery, was thoroughly on fire above the third-story floor. * * * Immediately upon the discovery of the fire, the hose was brought to the door of the elevator on the third floor. The door was forced open with a fire ax, of which two were always kept on each of the third and fourth stories. The flames burst out with fury, but no water came from the hose. [Mr. Little believed this to have been the result of a twist in the hose. ] A Babcock fire-extinguisher was brought into use. This acted promptly, and might have proved effective against a fire just beginning ; but in this case the fire spread much faster than the extinguisher put it out. Before the charge was fully played out, it was impossible to approach the elevator door, and it was apparent that the fire could not be controlled by any means except by regular fire engines. What the condition of things had been on the fourth story at the time of the discovery of the fire can- not be told, as no one went up there to see ; but the flames burst out at the eaves in so short a time as to indicate that it must have spreid considerably under the roof before it was discovered. Two steam fire engines arrived before long from town, but they accomplished very little toward checking the fire. They soon exhausted the cisterns, and

became useless. + * * Before 1 o'clock, the entire building was a ruin. The greater part of the walls remained standing. Those on the south and west were not much burned on the outside, except where the verandas confined the fire : but those on the east, and especially those on the north were badly damaged. The shop escaped uninjured by the flames. The same furious wind that hastened the destruction of the house made it impossible for the fire or any great heat to cross the narrow space that separated the two buildings.

One pupil perished in the flames, Henry Nelson, of Beloit. He was a man about 30 years of age, connected with the work department only. As he had ample time and warning, it seems probable that his failure to escape was due to an attack of epilepsy, to which he was subject.

The records of the institution and most of its business papers were saved. *

* It is impossible to state

the cause of the fire. * * * This statement should not close without reference to the prompt and considerate kindness of the citizens of Janesville in providing at an early stage of the fire ample means for the removal of the pupils , and others) of the institution in covered carringes to town. in throwing open their houses for their reception, and in making donations of clothing. It is fit to record particularly the assistance rendered in the matter of clothing by various organizations of ladies, the tender by the School Board of a schoolhouse and grounds, and the unani- mous vote of the City Council permitting a portion of High Street to be closed against carriages, while the institu- tion should occupy the Williams' House and the school building

Immediately after the destruction of the building, plans and estimates were made for a new one. The old building was constructed of stone, but after its destruction, the Trustees believed a new edifice quite as substantial, could be erected of brick, and at a less cost. The west wing was hurried to completion, and, when finished, was used in conjunction with the barn and work- shop, for the accommodation of pupils. An appropriation for the building of this wing was made of $56,000. By the most remarkable strokes of an energetic policy, the work was not allowed to cease until the main building was added to the wing. It is a beautiful structure, costing in the neighborhood of $140,000.

It is surrounded by thirty-seven acres of rolling land, most of it covered by beautiful oaks and hickories. Some portions of the tract are under cultivation.

In the early years of the institution, several different Superintendents were in charge, during brief terms of office. From 1856 to 1861, William H. Churchman, as Superintendent, did an excellent work, and the school arose to a higher degree of efficiency than it had previously attained.

Thomas H. Little, the Superintendent of the institution from 1861 to 1875, did more, per- haps, to promote its welfare and bring it to its present highly satisfactory condition, than any one individual ever connected with it. Mr. Little died in 1875, and his widow, Mrs. Sarah F. C. Little, was chosen to succeed him. She has proved herself thoroughly competent in every way, and seeins to live only that she may continue the work so nobly carried on by her husband during

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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

his connection with the institution. Nothing but words of praise are heard of Mrs. Little's management. Her salary was increased two years ago from $1,000 to $1,200.

The average number of pupils at the institution is about eighty. These are not all totally blind. Many of them are but partially so. Any person between the ages of eight and twenty-one years, who cannot see to attend a common school, is eligible to admission to the institution which is in no sense an asylum. There is no charge for tuition, the institution being supported entirely by State appropriations, which will average from $18,000 to $20,000, per annum.

The operations of the school fall naturally into three departments. In one, instruction is given in the subjects usually taught in the common schools. In another department, musical training, vocal, instrumental and theoretical is imparted to an extent sufficient to furnish to most of the pupils an important source of enjoyment, and to some the means of support. These two departments were opened at the commencement of the school, and have been ever since main- tained. A little later, the third department was opened, in which broom-making and weaving of rag-carpets is taught to the boys; sewing and knitting, both by hand and machine, and various kinds of fancy work to the girls, and seating cane-bottomed chairs to both boys and girls.

The present management of the institution is as follows: Board of Trustees, E. Bowen, Cyrus Miner, B. R. Hinckley, H. S. Hogoboom, W. T. Vankirk ; officers of the Board, E. Bowen, President, W. T. Vankirk, Treasurer, H. S. Hogoboom, Secretary ; officers of the Insti- tution-Superintendent, Mrs. Sarah F. C. Little, A. M .; Teachers, Miss S. A. Watson, Miss A. I. Hobort, Miss Helen F. Blinn; Teachers of Music, John S. Van Cleve, Miss M. L. Blinn ; Matron, Mrs. Maria H. Whiting ; Foreman of shop, William B. Harvey. Dr. E. E. Loomis is the attending physician.

AGRICULTURE OF ROCK COUNTY.

In surveying the pleasing drapery of surface, and in contemplating the numerous advan- tages presented in the county of Rock before it was disturbed by human agency, the traveler must have been led to feel that Dame Nature had acted in her blandest and most beneficial mood, while thus lavishing her gifts to promote the welfare of those who might inherit the boon. He will have traveled far, and seen much of the earth, who shall have met with any region of similar extent which more fully combines the elements of wealth, prosperity and comfort.

The surface of the county consists of rolling prairie and oak openings, with scarcely a foot of land that cannot be tilled except the bluffs along the margins of the streams. In the early settlement of the county, the pioneers found several large open prairies happily distributed in its various parts, affording landscapes of rare beauty. Aside from these, the county was orig- inally oak openings. with the usual characteristics of such land. Of the twenty townships con- tained in the county, about 60 per cent is prairie, 20 per cent hard-wood timber and 20 per cent openings. These.openings were quite early tilled, as the trees were so scattered as to offer less obstruction to the plow of the husbandman than an ordinary orchard.

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The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc., Part 61

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