USA > Wisconsin > Rock County > The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc. > Part 88
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Mr. Hudson believes that the Temple of Honor has done more to reform the morals of cer- tain citizens of Janesville than all the police courts and police justices ever existing within its precincts.
JANESVILLE SOCIETIES.
St. George's Benevolent Society .- The advent in Janesville of a weary Briton from St. Louis, where he had been saved from death from typhoid fever through the exertions of the society of the above name in the city by the bridge, gave the first " starter " to the organization of a similar society in this city. On March 30, 1871, a meeting was held at Concordia Hall to consummate the formation of the association by the enrollment of persons who had signified their intention of becoming members, and the election of officers. After the usual . preliminaries had been disposed of, the following persons signed the roll and the articles of constitution, viz. : C. Loftus Martin, John Slightam, G. K. Colling, John Phillips, Benjamin Grove, John Sargent, Richard Sheppard, John Thoroughgood, C. Tall, G. W. Eaton, E. J. Kent, Thomas Cole, William Barnes, John Spong, William C. Holmes, W. H. Colling, George Irish and G. R. Laylock. The members then proceeded to ballot for officers, which resulted in the election of the following: President, E. L. Martin ; First Vice President, G. K. Colling ; Second Vice President, S. Hutchinson ; Treasurer, Henry Rogers; Secretary, W. J. Sparham.
The Society at the present time has a membership of about twenty-five, and possesses prop- erty valued at $200, consisting of funds in bank and furniture. The present officers are : President, W. Winkley ; First Vice President, John Fox; Second Vice President, W. Holt; Treasurer, Henry Rogers ; Secretary, W. Bladen ; Trustees, G. K. Colling, J. Spence and G. Irish ; Committee on Charity, William Silleto, W. Barnes and S. Hutchinson.
The Western Star Lodge, No. 14, F. § A. M., acted from July 8, 1847, until January 18, 1848, under a dispensation. On the 1st of January, 1848, the Lodge was regularly chartered, and, on the 18th of the same month, an election was held, resulting as follows : F. Whitaker, W. M .; George W. Burrows, S. W .; Hiram Taylor, J. W .; S. S. Herring, Secretary ; Luke Stoughton, Treasurer; W. T. Burrows, S. D. ; C. Chapin, J. D. ; J. Austin, Tiler. The char- ter members were: Hiram Taylor, Franklin Whitaker, Calvin Chapin, William F. Burroughs,
P
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
George W. Burrows, Isaac Noyes, Thomas W. Close, James Austin, Theodore Kendall and William P. Coff. The present officers are: George H. McCausey, W. M. ; John Heath. S. W .; A. S. Lee, J. W .; George G. Sutherland, Secretary ; Robert Hodge, Treasurer; C. E. Ranans, S. D. ; Frank Mathews, J. D., and S. H. Lee, Tiler.
The present membership is stated at 112, and the value of the Lodge property at $1,000. Meetings are held semi-monthly, on the first and third Tuesdays, in the Masonic Hall, corner of Main and Milwaukee streets.
Janesville Lodge, No. 55, F. & A. M .- Organized June 13, 1855. The first officers of the Lodge were: William Murdock, W. M. ; William Addy, S. W .; Sumner K. Rich, J. W .: . C. C. Cheeney, Secretary ; A. B. Miller, S. D. ; Hugh Chapin, J. D. ; L. M. Fluent, Tiler. John J. R. Pease, Lyman Smith, George Barnes and Theodore Kendall were among the charter members. The present officers are : Fenner Kimball, W. M. ; O. F. Nowlan, S. W. ; F. A. Ben- nett, J. W .; J. A. Blount, Treasurer ; J. H. Balch, Secretary ; G. K. Colling, S. D .: A. C. Blood, J. D. ; J. H. Dyer, Tiler ; S. Hutchinson and C. H. Lee, Stewards.
Janesville Commandery, No. 2, K. T .- Organized September 11, 1856. The charter was granted by the Grand Encampment, which met at Hartford, Conn. It was the second Com- mandery organized in Wisconsin. The charter members were: Erastus Lewis, E. C .; Charles C. Cheeney, Gen. ; H. B. Bunster, C. G. ; William Addy, Prel. ; Edward McKey, S. W .: Michael McKey, J. W. ; Samuel Lightbody, Treas. ; B. B. Eldredge, Rec. ; Elias Downs, St. B. ; Joseph A. Wood, S. B. ; William Chapel, War. Present Officers : A. W. Baldwin, E. C .; C. L. Martin, Gen. ; C. P. Foster, C. G. ; W. H. Towsley, Prel. ; H. G. Reichwald, S. W .; A. S. Lee, J. W. ; Thomas Kirk, Treas. ; Charles E. Church, Rec. ; B. F. Crossett, St. B. ; Orange Williams, S. B. ; C. C. Cheeney, War. ; J. H. Dyer, Sentinel.
Janesville City Lodge, No 90, 1. O. O. F., was instituted July 10, 1856, by D. D. G. M. Charles C. Cheney, the charter members being S. H. Marquissee, A. O. Francis, John McMar- tin, Charles E. Church and M. H. Butler, M. D. The Lodge was organized immediately, and elected the following officers : S. H. Marquissee. N. G. ; Levi Moses, V. G .; Charles E. Church, Secretary, and Dr. M. H. Butler, Treasurer.
The organization prospered in a manner that was gratifying to founder's and members until 1861, when, in consequence of the departure of many of those interested, to the war, the Lodge ceased working. At the close of hostilities, when many of the original members had returned. the question of re-organization was agitated and finally took shape. A petition for re-instatement was prepared and forwarded, which was granted, and, on Thursday afternoon, June 9, 1870, the Hon. Sam Ryan, Jr., re-organized the Lodge under a new dispensation, and it is now in a flour- ishing condition, counting a membership of 128 on its roster, and holding title to property wal- ued at $1,200.
The first officers were : J. M. Kimball, N. G. : J. T. Wilcox, V. G. ; C. C. Cheeney, Seo- retary, and Frank Wolman, Treasurer.
The present Board consists of B. R. Hilt, N. G. ; A. R. Wilkerson, V. G. ; E. F. Wieglef. R. S. ; A. Watson, P. S. ; J. S. Bliss, P. G. ; J. W. Hodgdon, Treasurer. Meetings are held weekly, on Tuesday evenings, in the Odd Fellows' Hall.
The Temple of Honor .- This, the most important of the temperance societies, was organized on December 29, 1875, with the following charter members : J. W. St. John, J. B. Whiting, E. L. Dimock, S. S. Gard, Levi Canniff, H. S. Woodruff, James S. Clark, J. D. King, C. Č. Cheney, Jenk. Ll. Jones, William A. Lawrence, Charles F. Wheeler, A. P. Angell, S. C. Burn- ham, Jr., E. R. Smith, James S. Dunn, Maurice Smith, J. S. Bliss, L. W. Godfrey, Edward Connell, S. D. Cole, Frank A. Cheney , A. Hyatt Smith, O. K. Chapman, Charles H. Lee, E. F. Wieglef, John Davies and Silas Hayner. At the same meeting, the following officers were elected : W. C. T., J. W. St. John, M. D. ; W. V. T., S. C. Burnham, Jr .; W. R., S. S. Gard; A. R., E. Connell ; W. F. R., J. D. King; W. T .. C. F. Wheeler; W. U., E. L. Dimock ; P. W. C. T., J. B. Whiting, M. D.
The society now numbers 200 members, and is the lessee of a very fine hall in the Mitchell Block, upon the decoration of which, from the date of their organization, they have expended
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
about $1,000, so that they are in a flourishing condition. The present officers are : W. C. T., J. D. King. ; W. V. T., M. S. Pritchard; W. R., George H. Osgood; A. R., C. W. Blay ; W. F. R., W. H. Tousley ; W. T., D. C. Ward ; W. U., James S. Haggart; W. D. U., John B. Hemingway ; W. G., S. Van Buren ; W. S., Levi Canniff.
Janesville Council, No. 4, Templars of Honor and Temperance .- This organization, a higher branch of the Temple of Honor, was formed in 1877, with the following charter members, all of whom were of the present temple and had obtained the six degrees necessary to their pro- motion : J. W. St. John, J. S. Bliss, C. C. Cheney, James S. Clark, E. L. Dimock, J. D. King, M. A. Norris, A. D. Wickham, J. H. Wood, S. C. Burnham, Jr., A. W. Baldwin, James Clark. B. F. Crossett, L. D. Jerome and A. E. Morse. Their officers were: C. of C., S. C. Burn- ham, Jr. ; S. of C., J. S. Bliss ; J. of C., A. W. Baldwin ; R., M. A. Norris; T., E. L. Dimock ; Manager, J. D. King. Their present membership is thirty, and their officers are : C. of C., James Clark ; S. of C., M. S. Pritchard; J. of C., J. H. Field; R., L. D. Jerome ;. T., E. L. Dimock; Manager, R. M. Matherson. They occupy the hall of the Temple of Honor.
Ancient Order of United Workmen .- A branch of this Order was instituted in Janesville on July 27, 1878, with twenty-two charter members, from among whom the following officers were chosen : P. M., O. F. Nowlan ; M. W., G. A. Libbey ; G. F., W. P. Douglas ; O., S. P. Delaney ; R., F. Sonneborn ; F., F. Fellows ; Receiver, A. J. Roberts ; G., Will Holmes ; I. W., John Neff; O. W., Emmett Bailey ; Trustees, C. E. Moseley, J. A. Denniston, O. F. Nowlan. It is a benevolent organization entirely, the modus operandi being that of an insurance company. Upon the death of a member, the remainder on the slate (where, as in this case, a separate charter is enjoyed) are assessed $1 each, which is turned over to the Treasurer of each Lodge, who in turn hands the total to the Grand Treasurer, who pays the amount of $2,000 to the relatives of the deceased.
This Lodge has now sixty-eight members, who always keep one assessment in the treasury, but, as the custodian of that office is required to give bonds of $3,000, the chances of embezzle- ment are as nothing.
The following is a list of the present officers : P. M. W., Herman Buchholz ; M. W., A. J. Roberts; Foreman, E. J. Kent; Overseer, William Marsden; Recorder, A. C. Kent : Financier, C. W. Trott ; Receiver, W. G. Wheelock ; Guide, M. Fish; I. W., Thomas Riding ; O. W., N. C. Baker; Trustee, Fred. Sonneborn.
Memorial Lodge, No. 318, Knights of Honor, was organized at a meeting held on the evening of July 3, 1876, by the following gentlemen, who were enrolled as charter members : J. B. Whiting, A. A. Jackson, J. W. Sanderson, G. II. McCausey, H. F. Bliss, II. McElroy, B. F. Crossett, T. S. Woodworth, H. G. Richwald, H. C. Stearns and J. L. Croft. The officers elected at that meeting were : J. B .. Whiting, Dictator; J. W. Sanderson, Past Dictator; H. F. Bliss, Vice Dictator ; H. McElroy, Assistant Dictator; B. F. Crossett, Guide; H. C. Stearns, Sentinel; G. H. Macausey, Financial Reporter; II. G. Richwald, Treasurer ; J. L. Croft, Reporter ; A. A. Jackson, J. B. Whiting and T. T. Woodworth, Trustecs.
The object of the association is a beneficent one, inasmuch as it is a mutual insurance com- pany, the working of which is similar to that of the Order of Workingmen. They have now a membership of fifty-two, and their present officers are : Dictator, G. A. Libbey ; Vice Dictator, J. A. Denniston ; Assistant Dictator, J. McCulloch ; Reporter, S. Hayner ; Financial Reporter, J. R. Botsford; Treasurer, J. C. Echlin : Guide, L. L. Beers; Guardian, C. E. Moseley ; Senti- nel, A. M. Valentine; Chaplain. H. S. Hogoboom.
Badger Council, No. 223, Royal Arcanum .- This Lodge, also a mutual insurance com- pany, was organized on December 26, 1878, with twenty-eight members, by whom the following officers were elected : Regent, S. C. Burnham ; Vice Regent, R. Valentine; Orator, Rev. T. P. Sawin ; Past Regent, A. A. Jackson ; Secretary, S. IIoldredge, Jr .; Collector, A. W. Bald- win; Treasurer, J. A. Denniston ; Chaplain, Rev. A. Lee Royce ; Guide, J. B. Doe, Jr. ; Warden, G. F. Selleck ; Sentry, James Clark ; Trustees-M. M. Phelps, J. B. Cassoday and
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
Rev. H. Faville; Medical Examiners-J. B. Whiting, M. D., and E. E. Loomis, M. D. Theirs is a principle of assessment for death, also, but in other respects their workings are similar to those of any first-class insurance company. Their present membership is forty-nine, and their officers are as follows : Regent, M. M. Phelps; Vice Regent, A. J. Roberts; Orator, Rev. A. Lee Royce; Secretary, Howard Lee; Collector, A. W. Baldwin; Treasurer, J. A. Den- niston ; Chaplain, Rev. J. Ll. Jones ; Guide, G. A. Libbey ; Warden, James S. Clark ; Sentry, W. H. Bonsteel ; Medical Examiners-Drs. Whiting and Loomis ; Deputy Grand Regent, Rev. T. P. Sawin.
Janesville City Division, No. 20, Sons of Temperance, was organized on July 20, 1863, with the following charter members : C. D. Pelsburg, W. P. Curtis, B. B. Curtis, F. H. Hor- nick, A. K. Cutts, J. M. Riker, J. M. May, O. W. Sleeper, Robert Brand, W. L. Smith, G. P. Wooster, L. Beers and S. C. Burnham. The title of the Lodge was afterward changed to Janesville City Division, No. 2, Sons of Temperance, under which name it is still recorded. It is claimed by its members to be a branch of the oldest temperance order in the State of Wiscon- sin. The present membership is 125, and the following is a list of their officers : W. P., E. C. Baily ; W. A., Maggie Hullihan ; R. S., W. J. Bates ; Asst. R. S., Della Tuttle; F. S., L. B. Canniff; Treasurer, Rosa Perish ; Chaplain, Mrs. O. Gurnsey ; Conductor, Will Maine; Assist- ant Conductor, Ida Stickney ; I. S., Stanley Velser, O. S., Elijah Carter; Organist, Cora Roof.
Young Men's Christian Association .- To Mr. K. A. Burnell, who organized the Associa- tion on May 22, 1867, Janesville is indebted for the establishment of this most valuable auxil- iary to church work. The first effort put forth by the society was the establishment of daily prayer-meetings, which was consummated by Mr. K. A. Burnell, of Milwaukee, assisted by Mr. Deans, of Emerald Grove, and Messrs. F. S. Lawrence and H. M. Hart, of Janesville. Six years ago, Sunday afternoon meetings were commenced, and, in addition, the Association now holds cottage prayer-meetings, meetings at the jail, Saturday evening meetings for young men, and have also established a Mission Sunday School. The following is a list of the Presidents from the foundation of it, together with the years they held office : 1867-68, A. A. Jackson ; 1868-71, E. S. Barrows ; 1871-73, W. G. Wheelock ; 1873-75, H. M. Hart ; 1875-77, N. Dearborn; 1877-78, S. C. Parker and J. A. Cunningham ; 1878-79, J. H. Kinney. The present mem- bership is seventy-five, and the officers are : President, N. Dearborn ; Vice President, Homer Rice; Corresponding Secretary, Warren Collins ; Recording Secretary, Frank Mead ; Treasurer, James Sutherland.
At the last annual meeting, Mr. Wheelock stated that in one year, over thirty letters and telegrams had been received by the Association from fathers, mothers and friends asking the care of the Association for young men, and in every case they had responded with gratifying results. The rooms of the Association, which they occupy in conjunction with the Young Men's Association, are in the Lappin Block, on Milwaukee street.
Oriental Lodge, No. 22, Knights of Pythias, was organized March 25, 1878, with the fol- lowing charter members, John P. Williams, A. W. Baldwin, W. T. Vankirk, Pliny Norcross, Horace McElroy, Charles E. Moseley, G. M. Hanchett, N. Smith, Emmett Addy, Mark Ripley, S. B. Smith, J. L. Ford, R. M. Bostwick, John Livingstone, E. B. Heimstreet, A. H. Baxter, C. E. Raynous, F. C. Cook, C. S. Jackman, C. S. Crosby, G. H. McCausey, W. D. McKey, J. B. Doe, Jr., Charles Potter, A. E. Morse and C. L. Valentine. The first officers were : P. C., J. P. Williams ; C. C., A. W. Baldwin; V. C., W. J. Vankirk; P., H. McElroy; K. of R. and S., A. E. Morse; M. of F., C. S. Valentine; M. of E., C. S. Jackman ; M. of A., W. H. Towsley; I. G., C. E. Moseley ; O. G., E. B. Heimstreet. The present officers are : P. C., A. E. Morse; C. C., W. H. Towsley; V. C., S. B. Smith ; P. A., C. Blood; K. of R. and S., E. B. Heimstreet; M. of F., J. A. Sutherland; M. of E., C. S. Jackman; M. of A., J. McLean; I. G., O. Suther- land ; O. G., Herman Notbohin. The lodge room is in the Conrad Block, and is most elegantly furnished ; the paper even with which the walls are draped having been imported specially for it.
583
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
St. Patrick's T. A. & B. Society was organized in May, 1872, with twenty-five members and the following officers: Father Kchoe, President; F. Quinn, Vice President; A. Quinn, Recording Secretary ; Adam Sanner, Treasurer. The Society now numbers one hundred and seventy-five members, and, in addition to property in their hall in the Young America Block, they have $700 in the Treasury. Their present officers are, President, Rev. J. M. Dovle; Vice President, F. Quinn: Recording Secretary, James Hickey ; Financial Secretary, C. F. Grant ; Treasurer, Adam Sanner.
In connection with it is a brass band, established in 1873, of twelve pieces, the members of which the following is a list: J. Thoroughgood, Director, B flat; H. S. Quinn, Leader, E flat; T. McKeigue, E flat ; L. Cronan, 1st B flat; J. Cunningham, 1st alto; J. Cassoday, 1st tenor; William Coday, 2d alto; J. Barrow, baritone; W. Brown, tuba; J. Brown, bass drum; H. Brown, 3d B flat; John McCue, 2d tenor.
The professions of the Society are, Total Abstinence and Benevolence, and they carry them out to the letter.
The Mutual Improvement Club, as its name indicates, is a literary society which was estab- lished in Janesville in the winter of 1874-75, with about fifty members, principally young ladies, whose object was to improve their minds by a course of study of the poets and a superior class of literature. Their first officers were : President, Mrs. S. C. Ll. Jones ; Vice Presidents, Miss Ida Harris and Miss Nellie Drake; Secretary, Miss Sarah L. Hatch; Treasurer, Miss Alice Conant. The society now numbers seventy members, and their officers are : Conductor, Rev. Jenk Ll. Jones ; Secretary, Miss Rosalia Hatherell; Treasurer, Walter Helms; Librarian, Miss Abbie H. Daniels. Their place of meeting is in the parlors of All Saints' Church, and there also they have a very nice library of 120 volumes.
The Round Table .- Mr. John S. Van Cleeve (now a resident of Cincinnati, O.), in 1876. conceived the idea of establishing another literary society, and accordingly, on April 18 of that year, an organization, containing 100 members, was effected and the above title taken. The following were the officers : President, Rev. G. W. Wallace; Vice Presidents, Rev. Mr. San- derson and Rev. T. P. Sawin ; Secretary, Stanley B. Smith ; Executive Committee, Gen. James Bentliff, Prof. John P. Haire, Mrs. D. A. Beal and Miss Lavinia Goodell. The present officers : President, Rev. T. P. Sawin ; Vice President, B. F. Dunwidde; Secretary, Miss Angie King; Treasurer, J. P. Haire; Executive Committee, Mrs. E. B. Haire, Rev. J. W. Sanderson, Miss Lavinin Goodell, Rev. A. L. Royce and Prof. John Van Cleeve. The object is similar to that of M. I. C., viz., the cultivation of, and consequent familiarity with, the better poets and higher classes of literature.
The H. of C.'s (Hunt Club), was organized in November, 1875, with twenty members and the following officers: President, W. P. Bowen ; Vice President, Wilson H. Doe; Secretary and Treasurer, R. M. Palmer. The members, now thirty in number, are all young men, who, every Thanksgiving Day, assemble and participate in a rabbit hunt, "the run " being concluded with a " hunt ball " in the evening at Apollo Hall. The following is a list of the present officers : President, Henry Ehrlinger ; Vice President. W. H. Doe; Secretary, W. P. Bowen : Treasurer, F. E. Fifield. The Club, as may be supposed, is very popular among the young ladies.
Wisconsin Lodge, No. 14, 1. O. O. F., was organized on February 11, 1847, by the follow- ing gentlemen, who were also the charter members : W. W. Holden, E. H. Bennett, D. H. Babbit, Alfred Dewey, D. B. Post and C. G. Gillett. They elected the following officers : N. G., W. W. Holden ; V. G., E. H. Bennett ; R. S., G. Bangs ; T., D. H. Babbit. The Lodge at present contains 190 members and is in a very flourishing condition, they being the owners of one $1,000 bond, $1,000 out at interest and about $300 in the treasury. The present officers are : N. G., J. Creighton ; V. G., J. S. Clark ; R. S., D. E. Puffer; F. S., V. Atwood; T., I. C. Brownell. Their meetings are held in Odd Fellows' Hall, which is located in the Court Street Church.
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
LADY LAWYERS.
Miss Lavinia Goodell, who passed a successful legal examination in 1874, was admitted practice as an attorney in the Circuit Court of Rock County at that time. Miss Kate Kan was admitted to the same bar in 1878. In 1879, Miss Angie King also passed a satisfactor legal examination and was admitted to practice in the same court; after which she associates herself with Miss Goodell, under the firm name of " Goodell & King." In 1875, Miss Goodell took a case to the Supreme Court of the State and appealed for admission, but was refused on the ground, as held by a majority of the Court, that the statute provided only for the admission of " persons," which word applied to males only. She went to Madison during the session of the Legislature of 1876-77, armed with a bill covering the ground of her grievance; this bill was passed and became a law. It provided (which provision was carried into the revised statutes of 1878) " that no person shall be denied admission or license to practice as an attorney in any court in this State on account of sex." Since the passage of this law, Miss Goodell has been admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Wisconsin. The partnership of " Goodell & King " has since been dissolved.
THE POST OFFICE.
" On the 23d of April, 1837, the first United States mail entered Janesville. It contained one letter, and this was for the Postmaster, Henry F. Janes. The mail was brought by a man on horseback, whose mail route extended from Mineral Point to Racine. The post office at Janesville for several months consisted of a cigar box, which was fastened to a log in the bar-room. Small as it was, it was found to be amply sufficient to contain all the letters then received by the citizens of Rock County."-Rev. W. G. Miller's Thirty Years in the Itinerancy.
Mr. Miller could not be expected to further pursue the history of the Janesville Post Ofice in a work confined exclusively to that of the Methodist ministry in Wisconsin. But he having begun so well, it seems a pity that he should have left the task to a less graphic pen. The rev- erend gentleman might have devoted a chapter to telling us that Mr. Janes was the first Postmaster in Janesville ; that the man on horseback was B. B. Carey, the first Postmaster of Racine, who had come over for the purpose of inducting Mr. Janes into the mysteries of his responsible ofice: that the postage on the mail matter which passed in and out of that cigar-box the first year netted to Uncle Sam the very sufficient sum of $90. In those days, twenty-five cents was collected on all letters, and a proportionate amount on other kinds of mail.
"H. F. Janes resigned in 1838, and D. F. Kimball was appointed, who also resigned in 1840, and J. L. Kimball received the appointment. Mr. Kimball hold the office until January, 1849, when, through a change in the Administration, he was removed, and C. S. Jordan was appointed, who in June of the same year was superseded by Samuel H. Alden, and, in the spring of 1853, he was succeeded by E. H. Strong, the present incumbent.
" It was during Mr. Alden's term that the second great reduction of postage took place, the law taking effect July 1, 1852. The last quarter preceding this date the gross amount received at the post office was $500. The first quarter after the reduction the amount only reached $335. and this, being the first quarter under the present rates of postage, is the basis from which the reader will see the rapid growth and prosperity of Janesville. For the quarter commencing April, 1853. the gross receipts were $461. The increase since that time has been rapid. especially in the letter department of the office, showing for the quarter ending December 31. 1855, $1,248, with an estimated receipt for the present fiscal year ending July 1, 1856, of over $5,000, this being an increase of about 400 per cent in less than four years.
During the succession of changes spoken of, location of the post office was a matter of con- siderable doubt. We have the word of a truthful citizen that he did not know where to find it one-half the time; that he would go to bed perfectly well assured that the post office was on the East Side, only to awake the next morning to find it doing business over the river, together with a complete outfit of peanut and news stands. The changes were wonderfully frequent.
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585
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
It was about this time also, just before an expected " lightning change " in the postmaster- ship, that J. M. Haselton, the present City Treasurer, took a notion that he would like to fill the office for a term or so. The usual petition was circulated by Mr. Haselton's friends. Of course, Mr. H., like all good office-seekers, was " entirely in the hands of his friends;" they were anx- ious to see him draw the salary of a fat office, and have all the honor as well. In those days, owing to the meager population, petitions rarely exceeded a mile in length, but the one prepared by Mr. Haselton's friends spoke volumes in flattery of that gentleman's popularity.
Mr. Haselton went to Washington. He took his petition with him. Being a citizen of many sterling qualities, his friends would willingly have laid large odds in favor of his appointment; but time passed, and no word came of his success or failure. One evening, while . large number of the anxious friends of the absent candidate were assembled in the old Ameri- can House, corner of Main and Court streets, Sol. Hutson, Mr. Haselton's partner, received a telegram. The long-expected tidings had come at last. Offers of stupendous odds that Mr. Haselton's application had been received favorably by the President were made with no takers. The message was opened and read : " All right, Sol ; do the handsome thing by the boys."_A shower of hats went up. Three cheers and a tiger broke the stillness of the evening air. " The boys " were all present, of course. Among them were William Hodson, James Burgess, Anson Rogers, and a dozen other young chaps whose ages ranged from forty to sixty years. "The handsome thing " meant refreshments-a plenitude of the best in the house, and it is needless to say they were dealt out in princely style. The postmastership was the sole topic of discussion the remainder of the evening. Vivid pictures of interviews between "Todd " and the President were drawn, the great importance of the office and the responsibilities attached to it were dis- cussed, more refreshments were set out, and " the boys " went home.
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