The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc., Part 67

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

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He did not need newly to attune his mind to harmony with the will of God, no matter where it might lead him, through what depths soever of pain and abnegation. But in those months of suffering, he enjoyed a conscious- ness of the presence of his Savior; consolations from the Holy Spirit ; views of the glory soon to be revealed, such as no pen may describe, no gratitude of ours may equal.

Much that he said has been preserved, and dimly shadows the delightful visions by which his sick-room was made sacred.

The death of Mr. Willard occurred in the autumn of' 1867, and, though for some time anticipated by those who knew his condition, nevertheless, to a large number of his personal friends in the State, it came as a sudden shock.

As a citizen and neighbor, Mr. Willard was a noble specimen of a Christian gentleman. He was honored for his unwavering adhesion to principle and duty, and for his zeal and liberality in the promotion of all worthy objects, while the graces of his personal character, and his amiable disposition, won for him the love of his fellow-citizens.

Socially at home in his " Forest Cottage," his virtues and personal gifts shone with a beau- tiful and benign lustre.

The social attentions it was his pleasure always to extend to those who visited him there were but the generous expressions of his characteristic hospitality. His conversation was ever of an exalted character, pure and enriched, with useful and varied information derived alike from books, from men, and from experience and observation, marked also by originality of thought, yet, with an absence of self-assertion or thoughtless or unkind words, that might afflict or wound.

Though his career was characterized by no remarkable achievement, his life was, never- theless, remarkable for its purity and for its consecration to the best interests of his family and of his fellow-men.

443

HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

CHAPTER VI.

POLITICAL HISTORY-ROCK COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY AND MECHANICS' INSTITUTE-STATE FAIRS IN ROCK COUNTY -- WAR RECORD-EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS-ROCK COUNTY PHAR- MACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION-SOUTHERN WISCONSIN AND NORTHERN ILLINOIS INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION-MACK MURDER.

POLITICAL HISTORY. I .- THE WING PARTY.

[BY A PIONEER WHIG OF ROCK COUNTY.]

The early population of Rock County was derived very largely from the New England States and the State of New York. It would not be an extravagant estimate to set the pro- portion of the early settlers from these States at three-fourths of the whole, and of these three- fourths, fully two-thirds were from New York. The greatest proportion of these settlers came to Rock County with fixed politics, and there was a very large preponderance in favor of the principles and policy of the Whig party. There were, indeed, many strong and influential members of the Democratic party. and these were able in those days to control quite a large element of foreigners who had sought the fertile lands for which the county is pre-eminent. This was particularly the case with the Norwegians and Irish, great numbers of whom had taken up their abode in the county. But that great middle class of which we first spoke, mostly from New York and the Eastern States, were the controlling political element, and it only needed the proper leaders to organize this element, to enable it to take the control of the political affairs of the county.

Rock County could scarcely be said to have a separate political organization till 1845. Before that time, Rock and Walworth united in their Representatives in the Legislature, yet each had its own separate county officers. But that year, Rock was set off by itself, in a sep- arate legislative district, and it became conspicuous at once for being the only county in the then Territory in which the Whigs were permanently and reliably the ruling party. From that time, with only a few exceptions. the Whigs of the county maintained their ascendency until the absorption of the party by the formation of the Republican party in 1854.

The few exceptions which happened were mostly brought about by the presentation, by the Whigs, occasionally, of an illy selected and unfairly distributed ticket. There was always a ,rivalry between Janesville and Beloit for the best places upon the ticket, and when Janesville succeeded, as happened once or twice, in securing an exceedingly unfair distribution, Beloit threw her influence against the ticket and thereby effected its defeat, but these cases were excep- tional in the history of the party.

But what added much to the stability, success and perpetuity of the party was, first, the possession of men for leaders who were thoroughly imbued with the correctness of Whig prin- ciples, who conscientiously believed their political doctrines were right, and who possessed the intelligence, the rectitude and the integrity to give them force and win for them the respect of the people; and, second. a newspaper which gave expression to their principles, which stood by them thoroughly. promulgated them authoritatively, and never allowed itself to be led astray from the old Whig doctrines by side issues or local politics. These instrumentalities were the factors which took up the grand material at hand, out of which to build up, unite and consoli- date one of the proudest, firmest, most harmonious and beneficent political organizations which ever existed in any republic.

444

HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

First and foremost among these leaders was the Hon. Edward V. Whiton, who was also among the very first settlers in the county. He was a native of Massachusetts, was a thorough- going Whig, of the Webster school, and, as early as 1838, he was sent to the Territorial Legis- lature to represent Rock County. The next year, he was chosen Speaker of the House, a "position which he was eminently qualified to fill. He was subsequently elected to the Territorial Council for several terms, in which body, at one time, he was the sole Whig member. His eminent abilities as a statesman and a jurist, and his strict integrity as a man, finally pointed him out as a fit person for the Chief Justiceship of the Supreme Court, and his long, brilliant and useful career in that position is a matter of record. But as a political leader, he possessed qualities of the first order. He was too high-minded to descend to the tricks of the partisan, but he influenced and led men by the force of his character, by the strength with which he advocated his measures, and by the simple rectitude of his example. He was always in attend- ance, and took an active part in all the primary meetings and conventions of his party, and his wise and healthful counsels in these gatherings were seldom disregarded. As a leader, he was prudent, honorable, cautious, yet inflexible, and he pushed his measures with a will-power and determination, which generally secured success A great element in his strength was the ewident honesty and uprightness of his political convictions, and he had a rare power in enforcing the soundness of his opinions upon his hearers.

But even so eminent and efficient a leader could hardly hope to organize and keep together a party single-handed, and Judge Whiton was not left to fight the political battles alone. He had the ablest and best of coadjutors in the work ; helpers who themselves were capable of leading ; who too were actuated by the same high principles and motives for and by which he so gallantly and disinterestedly contended. Without any memoranda of the names of the leading Whigs of the early days of the county who so grandly laid the foundations of the party, some will be mentioned as they occur to the memory, with the premise that many, perhaps some of of the most efficient and worthy, may be omitted. In this category it is not pretended to give>we names in any fixed order of locality or priority of action ; they are grouped together as memory recalls them ; some long since passed away, some now active in the sphere of business and poli -- , tics, but all, at some time in their career, good and efficient Whigs : George H. Williston, Vol- 1. ney Atwood, William F. Tompkins, Joseph S. Lane, David I. Daniells, Joseph A. Sleeper , John R. Bennett, Samuel HI. Alden, Shubael W. Smith, S. A. Hudson, E. L. Dimock, Timo o. thy Jackman, Otis B. Lapham, Thomas Lappin, II. O. Wilson, R. M. Hollister, James M. Alden, John M. May, Hezekiah L. Smith, Justus P. Wheeler, Levi St. John, John M. Keepp, S. J. Todd, L. G. Fisher, Joseph Colley, S. G. Colley, J. B. Colley, James Hanchett, P. A Pierce, Jonathan Lawrence, Levi Alden, William Trusdell, Adelmorn Sherman. R. T. Power" Il. David F. Sayre, John M. Evans, M. Osborn, J. T. Wright, Daniel Lovejoy, S. D. Chambers, G. E. Newman, N. G. Storrs, S. F. Chipman, George E. Cowen, Ezekiel Clapp, R. R. Cowar _n, Charles L. Weed, Sidney Wright, A. C. Resseguie, B. F. Riddle, D. G. Cheever, E. D. Mu: - ray, O. P. Bicknell, A. P. Waterman, A. M. Carter, Lemuel Warren, John C. Jenkins, S. W.W. Abbott, Lewis E. Stone, M. W. Trask, Ray Jenkins, George R. Ramsey, Joseph Goodrich. HE H. P. Culver, L. P. Harvey, O. W. Norton, J. E. Culver, William A. Harding, Paul Crandall, Isaac Woodle, Jesse Moore, Ira Jones, Daniel C. Babcock, Ezra A. Foot, Alanson B. Vaughar n, Robert T. Carey, Anson W. Pope, Virgil Pope, Lucius H. Paige, John R. Briggs, Leand- Ber Hoskins, E. C. Smith, Edward Vincent, Joseph Kinney, Thomas C. Sleeper, George Burpees, Ensign H. Bennett. William A. Lawrence, Frank S. Lawrence, E. G. Fifield, Ilarrison Steb- bins, William D. Murray, Horatio J. Murray, Harvey Holmes, A. P. Prichard, James KirE -k. patrick, William Taylor, William Spaulding, James Sutherland, N. B. Howard, John Child, William H. Tripp, T. W. Williams, Russell Cheney, William H. Stark, George Irish, J. K. P. Porter, E. L. Carpenter, William E. Wheeler, George Golden, John P. Dickson, S. S. Northrop, B. F. Carey, N. B. Howard, T. E. Green, Jonathan Cory, Orrin . Densmore, Jacob Fowle, Dennison Alcott, Thomas Earle, David Douglass, E. A. Douglass, Daniel Mowe, Joka P. Houston, Charles Holt, Daniel Gordon, S. C. Carr.

-1 8 & b 91

445

HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

As was intimated before. there are doubtless many worthy names omitted which belong in this honorable catalogue, and a few may be therein named who came later into the Whig fold, but of the original party, it is believed to be quite complete.

Of the instrumentality of the press in conserving the principles of the party, of being their exponent and constant advocate, too much can hardly be said, and the Janesville Gazette, edited by Levi Alden, assisted after 1848 by Charles Holt, was, from the date of its first issue till there was no longer a Whig party, an able, efficient, unfaltering and consistent defender of that party. It was the political gospel, wherein was the word of life and the assurance of faith to the votaries of that grand old organization, and the influence of its early teachings still lives in the compact, harmonious, invincible party which to-day is predominant in Rock County. Justice would not be done to another Whig organ. the Beloit Journal, edited by J. R. Briggs, without a most honorable mention here. Coming later into the field. with a circulation not as general, it still did efficient and valuable service in the party as a co-worker with its older colleague. Always able and candid, it never became factious, as is too often the case with rival organs of the same party. when a conflict of interests might at times seem to justify factiousness. It fought its own battles and fought them well, and it, too, must share in the glory of having done good and faithful work in and for a party whose history is most honorably closed. but whose tradi- tions will always remain a bright and perspicuous chapter in the annals of American politics.

II. THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. [FROM THE JANESVILLE GAZETTR. ]

The record of the Republican party of Rock County is as brilliant in its successes as that of the Republican party of the nation. For twenty-five years it has gallantly held the fort in old Rock, and at the age of twenty-five it is as honorable in principle, as strong in the faith, and as powerful in numbers, as when it swept the county in 1854. The first Republican County Convention was held in the Court House in Janesville, on the 12th of October, 1854. The call was signed by L. P. Harvey, afterward Secretary of State and Governor, John Howe, George H. Williston, Peter Schmitz, J. II. Budd, S. G. Colley. A. Hoskins, J. Dawson and E. Vin- cent. The call invited " the electors of Rock County, who are determined to support no man for office who is not positively and fully committed to the support of the principles announced in the ' Republican platform ' adopted at Madison on the 13th of July last. to meet at the Court House on the 12th of October to effect a thorough organization of the Republican party." The Convention was largely attended, and a spirit of signal enthusiasm pervaded the assemblage. The candidate for State Senator on the Republican ticket was Jaunes Sutherland, who was an early settler, and had already become a prominent business man. Judge Noggle was his oppo- nent, who ran independent. Mr. Sutherland received 1,011 votes, and Judge Noggle 760. All the Republican candidates for the Assembly were elected. George H. Williston was elected over John J. R. Pease by 25 majority. S. G. Colley was elected over John Hackett by 224 majority. Joseph Goodrich and N. B. Howard had no opposition. The candidates for county offices were: Sheriff, A. Hoskins, then of La Prairie ; Register of Deeds, Charles R. Gibbs, then of Harmony, now of Whitewater ; Clerk of the Court, E. P. King, of Beloit ; Clerk of the Board, J. L. V. Thomas, of Newark ; Treasurer, M. T. Walker, of Milton ; District Attorney, S. J. Todd. Mr. Todd withdrew from the canvass. He believed the Fugitive Slave Law unconstitutional, and avowed that he would perform no duties under it if elected Sheriff, and therefore refused to be a can- didate. All the Republican candidates were elected by large majorities. Matt Carpenter was the Democratic candidate for District Attorney, and G. B. Ely ran independent. Each received 1,109 votes, and Todd 782. For some irregularity, the town of Turtle was thrown out, which gave the election to Ely, and he received the certificate. Washburn ran for Congress against Otis Hoyt, Democrat, and carried the county by 1,419 majority.

Since the organization of the party, in 1854, the Republicans have invariably made a clean sweep of the county officers and State Senators. In 1856, Fremont's majority was 2,743;

446

HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

Washburn, for Congress, had 2,762 majority. Mr. Sutherland ran for the State Senate agains Ezra Miller, now of car-coupler fame, and defeated him by 1,247 majority. The entire Repul lican county ticket was elected by large majorities. Since 1854, the following Republicac have been in the State Senate, named in the order in which they served : James Sutherland. four years ; L. P. Harvey, four years : A. I. Bennett, four years ; Z. P. Burdick, two years; Ezra A. Foot, two years ; William A. Lawrence, four years ; S. J. Todd, two years; Charle es G. Williams, four years ; H. N. Davis, four years ; Hamilton Richardson, four years.

In the Assembly, the persons who served as Republicans since 1854, are as follows, wit. 3th their years of service : N. B. Howard, two years; George H. Williston, one (two years as a Whig) =): S. G. Colley, one ; Joseph Goodrich, one; Levi Alden, one ; John Child, one; John M. Evana =8, two; H. J. Murray, two; L. G. Fisher, one; David Noggle, one; Ezra A. Foot, one; W. HE H. Tripp, one ; G. R. Atherton, one ; K. W. Bemis, one; Z. P. Burdick, three; J. H. Knowlton., one; George Irish, one ; W. H. Stark, three; E. L. Carpenter, one ; J. P. Dickson, two; WWW. E. Wheeler, two; J. K. P. Porter, one ; Edward Vincent, one : T. C. Westby, one; Jeremiah [ __ h Johnson, one; G. Goldon, one; S. S. Northrop, one; B. F. Carey, one ; Alexander Graham, three ; A. W. Pope, two; James Kirkpatrick, one ; E. Palmer, one; Samuel Miller, one; John an Bannister, one; A. C. Bates, three; Orrin Guernsey, one; J. Cory, one; Joseph Spaulding one; Jacob Fowle, one; C. M. Treat, one; D. Alcott, one; Thomas Earle, one; Thomas H Goodhue, two; Guy Wheeler, one; Perry Bostwick, one; H. Richardson, one; J. Burbank one; Daniel Johnson, one ; S. C. Carr, two; H. S. Wooster, two ; E. P. King, two ; J. B. Cas- soday, two (Speaker) ; Daniel Mowe, one ; A. W. Pope, one; Burrows Burdick, one; A. C =__ ). Douglas, one ; J. T. Dow, one; Pliny Norcross, one; Burr Sprague, one; W. C. Whitford one; C. H. Parker, two years as Republican, and one year as Greenback ; A. M. Thomson two (Speaker) ; Seth Fisher, one; D. E. Maxon, one; Adelmorn Sherman, three ; I. M. Ben nett, two; John Hammond, two; H. H. Peterson. one; R. T. Powell, one; Willard Merrill one; O. F. Wallihan, one; D. G. Cheever, two; E. K. Felt, two; David F. Sayre, one; H H. A. Patterson, one ; Marvin Osborne, two; Andrew Barlass, three ; A. Henderson, one ; George H. Crosby, one; Hiram Merrill, one; L. T. Pullen, Independent Republican, one; Georgee Gleason, one; S. T. Merrill, two ; G. E. Newman, one; Fenner Kimball, one ; A. P. Lovejoy. one ; R. J. Burge, one; William Gardiner, one.

The Democrats have elected but two Assemblymen in this county since 1854-John Winans, & in 1873, and J. A. Blount, in 1875.

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. [BY A ROCK COUNTY DEMOCRAT. ]

In the light of admitted facts. we may, indeed, affirm that before Rock County, as such, 1, existed, even while its fertile lands were under . Government jurisdiction," the votaries off Democracy found here an abiding-place; and here, too, as everywhere else, they reckoned them- 1- selves a part of the great National Democratic Party, as founded by Thomas Jefferson, and taught by Silas Wright. Thomas H. Benton and Stephen A. Douglas. These were leaders whose followers were not bounded by States or hemmed in by Territorial legislation : and, in the early history of the county, no less than at present, we find the leaders of the Rock County Democracy, and its rank and file, men of nerve and sagacity. In an early day, the county was Democratic, in fact. remained so practically without variation until a Free-Soil boom, which here as elsewhere revolutionized communities, and finally converted the majority to the principles of the new Republican Party, whose ascendency has ever since been maintained.

Within the thirty or thirty-five years covering the period of which we write, a generation has passed, and yet, during all of this period, eventful without precedent in our country's history, the Rock County Domocrats have maintained, whether in the majority or in the face of dis- couraging odds, the same steady devotion to Democratic principles and party discipline, which has commanded the admiration of all intelligent men, regardless of political status. If scores

447

HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

and hundreds of Rock County's intelligent Democrats forsook the party and joined another, it shows that they were thinking, reading men, and, as such, they still share our respect. Our space forbids mention of their names, but many of them still adorn the walks of life, thus clearly evincing the power of early Democratic teachings and examples ; many others, still wiser. if we may so express it, have returned to their first "love." where. we trust, perpetual sunshine awaits them. David Noggle, John Hackett, A. Hyatt Smith, C. S. Jordan, Matt. H. Carpenter, Dr. John Mitchell, J. M, Burgess, Rush Beardsley, Robert Stone, H. B. Johnson, H. W. Cator, N. P. Bump and brothers, J. M. Haselton, Hamilton Richardson, W. T. Hall, Col. Ezra Miller. J. W. Phillips, M. C. Smith, James Murwin, Anson Rogers, Dr. J. B. Whiting, Sol Hutson, A. D. Wickham, J. W. St. John. A. O. Wilson, William Smith, W. Skelly and brothers, the McKey brothers, Judge Parker, Dr. O. P. Robinson, C. S. Decker, J. A. Blount, A. D. Maxfield, Moses S. Prichard. Frank Biddles, John and B. Spence, D. Davies and E. II. Davies, John Winans, H. McElroy. J. R. Hunter, Clinton Babbitt, Paul Meagher and brothers, Ira Miltimore, Paul Broder, C. Sexton, J. J. R. Pease, Dr. W. H. Borden, John Livingston, Matthew Smith, A. Broughton, Col. Russell, J. B. Doe. Evan Thomas, T. T. Croft, William Cox, Robert Johnson, Edward Ryan, E G. Newhall, Joseph A. Wood, James Church, Edward Connell, J. W. Bishop, S. G. Williams-but space forbids further mention of names. It is sufficient if in this list (both of the living and dead), the reader can form some idea of the men and material forming the ranks of the Rock County Democracy since the county was organized. We regret that other names equally as well known could not be obtained at this writing. But, from even this limited number, the resident reader will find many who not only helped lay the foundation of commer- cial and intellectual progress, but may also note many earnest and faithful builders, whose work is yet unfinished. If, within the last twenty years, the Democrats of Rock County have not figured much in mere local government, they have, at least, made their share of sacrifices for the good of all. As citizens, they are respected, as tax-payers their counsel is sought the more when difficulties appear. The Rock County Democratic vote, in 1876, was 2,880 for Samuel J. Tilden.

ROCK COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY AND MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

The preliminary steps toward the formation of an Agricultural Society in Rock County were taken November 19, 1850, at which time a call was made on the farmers of the several towns of the county to meet at the Court House, in Janesville, on the first Monday of January (the 6th), "to make arrangements for their own benefit by association."

On the day appointed. a meeting was held. J. P. Wheeler, of La Prairie, was called to the Chair, and O. Densmore, of Bradford. was appointed Secretary. The object of the meet- ing having been stated by the Chairman, remarks were made by Messrs. Hodson, Neil and Russell, of Janesville, and E. A. Foot, of Center. On motion of C. C. Cheney, of La Prairie, it was resolved that the meeting proceed to organize an Agricultural Society. A com- mittee of fourteen was appointed to draft a Constitution, which committee, after a short interval, reported a Constitution for the Society, to be known as the " Rock County Agricultural Society and Mechanics' Institute."

The following persons were elected officers : J. P. Wheeler, President; W. F. Tompkins, of Janesville ; Ansel Dickenson, of Harmony: Orrin Densmore, of Bradford ; Joseph Goodrich, of Milton ; J. M. Burgess and A. W. Pope, of Janesville. Vice Presidents ; Josiah F. Willard, of Rock, Recording Secretary : Andrew Palmer, Corresponding Secretary ; and John Russell, of Janesville, Treasurer. A Board of twenty Directors, one for each town in the county, was also elected, viz .: William Stewart, of Clinton ; Peter D. Wemple, of Bradford ; J. A. Fletcher, of Johnstown ; Paul Crandall, of Lima : G. W. Ogden. of Milton ; Harvey Holmes, of Harmony ; Guy Wheeler, of La Prairie ; John Hopkins, of Turtle; W. Yost, of Beloit; Z. P. Burdick, of Rock ; L. D. Thompson, of Janesville ; R. R. Cowan, of Fulton ; D. Lovejoy. of Porter ; E. A. Foot, of Center; H. C. Inman, of Plymouth ; John L. V. Thomas, of Newark ; A. Kenney, of Avon; R. R. Hamilton. of Spring Valley ; E. Miller, of Magnolia; and H. Griffith, of Union.

448

HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

The Society having become fully organized, it was resolved " to make the experiment of holding a fair, to see whether the farmers of . young Rock ' had sufficient enterprise to get up anything like a creditable show."

The result was highly gratifying. The fair was held on the 1st and 2d days of October, 1851, at Janesville, and at least five thousand persons were present. The annual address was given by J. P. Wheeler, President. At the close of the year, the Treasurer reported the receipt of $291.91; the expenditures, for premiums and other expenses, $206; leaving a balance of $86 in the treasury to the credit of the next year.

The annual meeting of the Society for the year succeeding was held on the first Mon- day of December, 1851. The officers elected were : J. F. Willard, President; Z. P. Bur- dick, of Janesville; J. A. Fletcher, of Johnstown ; James M. Burgess, of Janesville; I. S. Love, of Beloit; John Winston, of Porter; and Jesse Miles, of Janesville, Vice Presi- dents ; Orrin Guernsey, Recording Secretary ; John P. Dickson, Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer.

The committee for locating the County Fair reported that the town of Beloit had offered a bonus of $240, the highest offer of any town in the county ; whereupon it was voted that the next annual county fair of the Society be held at Beloit. The fair was held at the place appointed September 28 and 29, 1852. An address by the President, J. F. Willard, was 8.18

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The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc., Part 67

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