The History of Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources; an extensive and minute sketch of its cities, towns and villages etc, Part 101

Author: Western Historical Co., pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1050

USA > Wisconsin > Waukesha County > The History of Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources; an extensive and minute sketch of its cities, towns and villages etc > Part 101

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On the organization of the council, after obtaining the charter, the following gentlemen were elected its officers, and duly installed : Regent, Richard Street ; Vice Regent, A. A. Miller; Orator, William Street ; Post Regent, S. D. Tyler ; Secretary, George F. H. Barber ; Collector, Dr. Hugo Philler ; Treasurer, Orlando Culver ; Chaplain, William H. Kendrick ; Guide, E. K. Kimball ; Warden, Samuel M. Hughes ; Sentry, Fred M. Slawson ; Trustees, H. S. Hughes, one year, William H. Sleep, two years, F. E. Sanford, three years.

The regular meetings of the council are held on the second and fourth Monday evenings of each month, at Barstow's Hall, near the railroad depot. It has been steadily increasing in mem- bership since its organization, and the roll now contains upward of sixty-three names, all in good standing. One member has died, Orville Tyler, since its organization. His family received $3,000 from the benefit fund, which they were entitled to, with promptness. The council is in a most flourishing condition and is composed of the leading business men and citizens of the village and surrounding country.

Independence Lodge, No 130, I. O. G. T .- This lodge was organized in Barstow's Hall, Jannary 13, 1872, D. W. Kent acting as District Deputy Grand Marshal. The following persons were appointed its officers for the purpose of organizing : Samuel H. Barstow, Recording Secre- tary ; Mrs. N. Barnard, V. T. ; Dr. Hubbell Fox, Marshal ; Amos Greengrove, W. C. T .; Mrs. Coles, Chaplain ; Miss Gooding, Treasurer ; Mrs. Mary A. Fox, Financial Secretary. The following persons were charter members : H. Libbie Whitcher, Asena B. Whitcher, J. H. Whitcher, Matie Blackwell, Hattie Putney, Elizabeth Sellers, H. T. Kent, F. McBeath, L. Whitcher, M. Z. Bidwell, Carrie Hunkins, Nathan Whitcher, Mrs. N. Whitcher, Susan Good- ing, Louie Nicholson, Millie Nicholson, Sarah Lees, Lucy Kent, A. D. Kent, L. Hunkins, C. Wardrobe, A. E. Evans, E. E. Orvis, J. Ernest Jewett, Lucy Clark, Rosa Clark, Emma Hawkins, M. Blackwell, C. A. Hine. At the election the same evening, the following-named persons were elected the first officers of the lodge: James H. Whicther, W. C. T. ; Hattie Putney, W. V. ; F. McBeath, W. S. : M. Z. Bidwell, F. S. ; H. Blackwell, W. T .; C. Ward- robe, W. M. ; Matie Blackwell, I. G. ; N. T. Kent, O. G. ; N. Whitcher, W. C. ; A. E. Evans, P. W. C. T.

The receipts of the first evening's meeting amounted to $13, out of which was paid $10 for the charter and $2.50 for books, etc., leaving a balance of 50 cents in the Treasurer's hands. The meetings were held Saturday evening of each week, and were generally well attended. New members were being admitted at every meeting, and all took a deep interest in the welfare of the lodge. A paper called the Independent, edited by some brother or sister, was read at

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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

every alternate meeting, followed by a debate on a proper subject, submitted by a member at a previous meeting. The lodge was continued in Barstow Block until about the 3d of May, 1873, when it was removed to the basement of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Here it struggled for an existence until about the middle or last of October, 1873, and then surrendered its charter, the last meeting being held the 25th of October. It being the regular quarterly election, the usual officers were elected by the small number present, but were never installed.

Phoenix Lodge, No. 17, I. O. G. T .- In the winter of 1873, December 27, Phoenix Lodge, No. 17, was organized by the following charter members : Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Barnard, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel H. Barstow, Mr. and Mrs. D. W. Kent, Nellie Kent, Katie Warner, Rev. T. G. Watson, Henry B. Bidwell, James Clark, Mrs. and Miss Telyea. Lodge Deputy Hubbell Fox, of Independence Lodge (which long since surrendered its charter), assisted by G. W. S. Hazeltine, of Beaver Dam, installed the following officers soon after the completion of the organ- ization :

D. W. Kent, W. C. T .; Mrs. Cole, W. V. T .; D. R. Prindle, W. S .; S. H. Barstow, F. S .; Mrs. S. H. Barstow, W. T .; Rev. T. G. Watson, W. C .; James Clark, W. M .; Miss Nellie Kent, W. I. G .; William S. Barnard, W. O. G .; S. H. Barstow, L. D. The occasion was one of much pleasure, and the new lodge gave new impetus and vigor to the cause of temperance. The members went to work with a will, and soon had a large and prosperous lodge, which still exists. The meetings are held in the Town Hall, in rooms tastefully fitted up for that purpose, on Tues- day evening of each week, and are well attended. During the past winter and spring, the lodge has given many interesting entertainments, socials and suppers, which have been liberally patronized. The following are the names of the present officers of Phoenix Lodge : D. R. Prindle, W. C. T .; Miss Crissie Fletcher, W. V. T .; Dennie Maynard, W. S .; W. H. Middleton, W. F. S .; Jennie Mill, W. T .; E. W. Chafin, P. W. C. T .; Miss Carrie Hawkins, W. C .; Andrew Ross, W. M .; Miss Mary Seabold, W. I. G .; Frank Barnes, W. O. G .; D. W. Kent, L. D. The present membership in good standing is 105.

Juvenile Temple .- This juvenile temperance organization is composed of little misses and masters, and has a membership of about forty. It has been in existence nearly five years, although not holding meetings each week. It was organized by Lillie Robinson. The present Superin- tendent is Mrs. W. H. Middleton, who takes great interest in the work. The meetings are held in the Good Templars' rooms, at the Town Hall, on Tuesday afternoons at 4 o'clock.

BANKS.

Waukesha County Bank .- The subject of organizing a bank in Waukesha, had for a long time been discussed among several of the prominent men of the place, but they never came to any definite understanding until about the 18th of February, 1855, when a meeting was held in the law office of Alexander W. Randall (since Governor of Wisconsin and Postmaster General of the United States), then and there organizing "The Waukesha County Bank," under the free banking law of Wisconsin, which then existed. The capital stock of the concern was fixed at $25,000, divided into two hundred and fifty shares of $100 each. The stock was all subscribed for and taken by the gentlemen present who composed the meeting, viz. : A. Miner, subscribed for ninety shares ; Nel- son Burroughs, twenty shares ; William White, ten shares ; C. C. Barnes, eighty-five shares ; William Blair, five shares ; S. S. Sawyer, ten shares ; H. N. Davis, ten shares ; Sebina Barney, twenty shares ; comprising the two hundred and fifty shares and the $25,000. All the stock- holders were made the bank's first board of directors. Mr. Miner was elected President of the banking company, and C. C. Barnes, Cashier. From the bank's first existence up to the present time, safely passing through the many vicissitudes of financial depression of the country, its business has increased, and it has always held the confidence of business men and the farming community at large, and to-day it is one of the soundest moneyed institutions in the great West. Mr. Oscar Burroughs, since deceased, was appointed Assistant Cashier May 7, 1855. On the 3d of December of the year the bank was organized, the capital stock was increased from $25,000 to $50,000. The same officers were elected in 1856 as were at first chosen. Other matters occupying the time of Mr. Barnes, he resigned the position of Cashier April 14,

661

HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

1856, and Oscar Burroughs was appointed to fill the vacancy May 5, 1856. Sabina Barney was then elected Vice President, which position he filled up the time of his death in 1879.

October 13, 1856, the business constantly growing, the capital stock of the bank was again doubled, making it $100,000. The following gentlemen were elected officers of the bank Janu- ary 7, 1857 : A. Miner, President ; Sebina Barney, Vice President ; and Nelson Burroughs, William Blair, H. N. Davis, S. S. Sawyer and Thompson Richmond, Directors. At the next annual election of officers in 1858 there were no changes except that Martin Field and George Lawrence, Jr., were elected Directors in place of Mr. Richmond and William Blair, the latter of whom was elected Cashier at this meeting. At the annual meeting in January, 1859, there were no changes in President or Vice President of the bank. The Directors elected at this meeting were George Lawrence, Jr., Martin Field, J. H. Kimball, J. Y. Watson and William Blair. The same officers were re-elected in 1860, except that Mr. S. Andrews was elected Director in place of George Lawrence, Jr. In 1861, the only change was that Mr. Sawyer was elected in place of Mr. Andrews.

At a regular meeting of the bank officers April 22, 1861, it was deemed advisable to reduce the capital stock, and in June, 1861, it was reduced to $50,000. From 1861 to 1864, there was no change in its officers. In 1864, at the annual meeting, C. H. Miner was elected Cashier in place of Mr. Blair, and S. Barney, J. H. Kimball, J. Y. Watson, M. Field and William Blair were chosen Directors. The same officers were elected in 1865, with the addition of Andrew J. Frame as Assistant Cashier. The bank, at this time laboring under many disadvantages by doing business under the old State banking law, resolved, at a meeting held January 16, 1865, to re-organize under the new banking act The stockholders met January 8, 1865, to take action in organizing the National Bank, at which date the meeting adopted their articles of association and elected Messrs. A. Miner, S. Barney, J. H. Kimball, M. Field and William Blair its first Board of Directors. A. Miner was elected President, S. Barney, Vice President, and Charles H. Miner, Cashier. On the 22d of May, 1865, Andrew J. Frame was appointed Assistant Cashier, which position he held until the resignation of Charles H. Miner, in February, 1866, when he was appointed to the responsible position of Cashier.

Mr. Miner sent in his resignation as the President, which was accepted March 6, 1866. Mr. Blair was elected to fill the place thus made vacant ; and Mr. Sewall Andrews elected to fill the vacancy on the Board of Directors occasioned by the promotion of Mr. Blair to the presidency.

There were no particular changes in the officers of the bank from 1866 to 1869, when J. H. Kimball resigned as Director, and Andrew J. Frame was appointed to fill the vacancy, and finally was elected member of the board in 1870. Henry M. Frame was appointed book- keeper in the fall of 1869; which position he filled until January 8, 1878, when he was appointed Assistant Cashier. In July, 1879, he was appointed Director in place of Sebina Barney, deceased. At the same meeting, in July, 1879, Martin Field, of Mukwonago, was elected Vice President, in place of Mr. Barney.

The Board of Directors and officers next elected and now holding their respective positions, are Hon. William Blair, President and Director; Martin Field, Vice President and Director ; Sewall Andrews, Andrew J. Frame and Henry M. Frame. The present building was purchased by the bank October 13, 1873, of Andrew Aitkin, at a cost of $4,000. The bank put the building in excellent condition by expending over one thousand dollars in repairs and other im- provements. That the bank has the confidence of the people of Waukesha, is shown by its very large deposit account. The following is the present list of stockholders and amounts of stock held by each :

W. Blair, Waukesha $ 8,500

Sewall Andrews, Mukwonago.

$ 8,000

Sebina Barney (estate), Waukesha.

7,000

Martin Field, Mukwonago.

4.250

Mrs. H. A. Blair, Waukesha

2,000

Edward Sargeant, Omro, Wis.

2,000

Andrew J. Frame, Waukesha.

10,000

Atwood Sargeant. Chester, Vt.

1,000

Henry M. Frame, Waukesha.

3,250

Mrs. Persis Baldwin, Chester, Vt

1,000

W. D. Bacon, Waukesha.

1,500

Marshall Wilder, Brattleboro, Vt. 500

W. S. Hawkins, Waukesha.

500

E. Kingsland, Keesville, N. Y

500

Total

$50,000

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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

Farmers' National Bank .- In May, 1865, W. D. Bacon, of Waukesha ; H. A. Youmans, of Mukwonago ; James Parsons, of Whitewater ; A. C. Bronson, of Eagle ; Dr. A. Kendrick, Jehial Smith and John Wagner, of Waukesha, as stockholders, incorporated the Farmers' National Bank, with a capital of $50,000. The Directors were W. D. Bacon, President ; A. C. Bronson, Vice President ; O. M. Tyler, Cashier ; H. A. Youmans and A. Kendrick. The corner room in the Robinson Block, where Foster's drug store now is, was occupied by the bank, which in a very short time after opening for business increased its capital to $100,000, A. E. Perkins and Jerry Youmans, of Mukwonago, becoming additional stockholders. The bank did a very large and profit- able business until 1868, when the President, who held a majority of the stock, desired to withdraw his capital, and the concern was closed. It was against the wishes of the stockholders that the bank went out of existence, as it had been a profitable investment.

Forest City Bank .- This was a State bank, chartered under the statutes as a bank of issue, with $25,000 capital, by Sidney A. Bean, M. G. Townsend and others, about 1857. It continued in business about five years, and was closed by Mr. Bean, who came home from the army a short time for that purpose.

O. M. Tyler & Co's Bank .- Very soon after the closing of the Farmers' National Bank, O. M. Tyler, who had been cashier of that institution, opened a private bank under the name and style of O. M. Tyler & Co. According to the books kept by Mr. Tyler, he began business with $17,000 in cash on hand. The bank continued to do business until September 18, 1875, when, for want of funds to cash a small check, it was closed. Richard L. Gove was appointed assignee under the State law, and collected a sum of money. This he turned over to R. M. Jameson and P. H. Carney, the assignees appointed after bank- ruptcy proceedings, in January, 1876. They continue to be assignees, and have declared a dividend of 10 per cent of the indebtedness, which was about $32,000. On the Saturday before the bank closed, J. S. Waite and R. L. Gove, according to the books of the bank, deposited $150, but, when the concern was turned over to the assignee, only $83, in mutilated bills, could be found. As the bank had been during some time without a cat, it is supposed the mice destroyed the last deposits.

PUBLIC HALLS.

The old tamarack log schoolhouse, built in 1837, on the west side of the river, was not, strictly speaking, a public hall, but during many years it was used as such in the absence of any- thing more suitable. Before the log schoolhouse fell into disuse, the Congregational Church, erected in 1839, was used for a public hall, as it was larger and more centrally located. The first session of the County Board, long and stormy as it was, took place in this church. The Prairieville Academy building was also used for a similar purpose, and in it the first term of the United States District Court for Waukesha County was held, Judge Miller presiding. The court house, which was between two and three years in building, was used for various public gatherings after 1848, and Waukesha, therefore, never suffered seriously for want of places in which to hold public meetings.

Jacob Hengy had a small hall in the Exchange, but it was mostly used as a dancing room. In the third story of W. D. Bacon's large stone building was a room used for a hall, but it was more suitable for lodge meetings and the lofty tumbling of the 1,001 than for public gatherings. Somewhere along in the fifties Andrew Aitkin built the stone block now occupied by I. M. White and others, and had a portion made into a hall. It has long since been used for merchan- dise.

Robinson's Hall .- Mostly at the solicitation of A. F. Pratt, Charles Robinson began the erection, in 1856, probably, of a stone block of stores with a large public hall overhead. Although never a paying investment, Robinson's Hall became a noted one and the place of all public gath- erings. During the war, its name became familiar everywhere, as it was the place where all war meetings were held. It is now owned by Poole & Ware, and is largely used for dances and social gatherings.

663

HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

Carney's Opera House .- As Waukesha was becoming more and more noted as a summer re- sort, the need of an opera house more suitable for the concert and the drama became apparent. Therefore, early in 1874 Mrs. E. H. Carney began the erection, on Main street, of a two-story block of Waukesha limestone, especially for an opera house. The lower story was designed for stores. The house has a pit and gallery with 600 seats; private boxes, dressing rooms and a stage with good scenery and all the modern improvements. The cost of the block was about $25,000, and to fit the hall for all kinds of entertainments cost $2,000. The building is an ornament to Waukesha Village, but as a financial investment it does not pay 2 per centum on the cost. It was erected by C. S. Hartwell and M. Gleason.

HOTELS OF WAUKESHA.

Prairieville House .- The first hotel opened in what afterward became the village of Waukesha was the Prairieville House, first called the Prairie Village Hotel. It was erected by Henry Bowron, and opened by James Buckner, in 1837. The structure was of logs; and, as business increased, which it did very rapidly, additions of logs and of boards were built from time to time, until the hotel had the appearance of a village, which, in truth, it was. During many years, the Prairieville House was the liveliest place in Milwaukee County. In it conventions, mass meetings, law suits, town meetings, caucuses, elections, political conferences, slave- hunters' consultations, and weddings have been held ; all of which were attended by the most distinguished men in the State. Among its proprietors have been James Buckner, Peter Jones and Samuel H. Barstow. When business began to be transferred to the present center of the village, which was before the completion of the railroad, the location of the Prairieville House was left to one side and was never afterward of any importance. One part stands on the old site, east of the court house ; one part belongs to the American House, and the balance is scattered piecemeal over the village. In 1854, this hotel was remodeled by Father Doyle and used for a Catholic seminary.

Exchange Hotel .- Jacob Hengy arrived in Prairieville more than forty years ago, with his wife and family of children, with only fifty cents with which to begin business. He engaged Lyman Goodnow to haul enough green basswood boards for a little shanty ; and in this he began tailoring. In a short time he had earned enough to pay for an addition to his shanty, and in 1845 or 1846 he had accumulated enough to warrant him in building the front part of the present Exchange building. This he opened to the public as Hengy's Exchange. To the original building, as necessity required, additions were made until the wooden portion as- sumed its present proportions. In 1864, the property was purchased by F. M. Putney, who built a fine three-story addition of stone in 1870, fronting on Grand avenue, which is the beginning of a stone structure of similar design and finish to cover the entire corner of Grand avenue and Broadway, now occupied by the wooden structure. After Mr. Hengy sold the hotel, it was managed by P. N. Cushman, F. M. Putney and E. Holbrook. Mr. Putney has continued to be proprietor since 1864, leasing the house to other persons. W. C. Holbrook is the present manager and has a large patronage.

American House .- This is the oldest hotel building in Waukesha Village, as well as the oldest in the county. It was erected, not precisely as it now stands, in 1844, probably by William A. Barstow, and was considered a good building at that time. It was called the Barstow House, and was managed by Samuel H. Barstow. Late in 1850, or early in 1851, the property was purchased by Silas Barber, and the name changed to Railroad House. While Mr. Barber owned the house, he had a contract to feed the drafted soldiers of the county. About the year 1864, he sold the hotel to J. B. Cable, who changed the name of it to the American House, which name has ever since been retained. Mr. Cable was manager as well as proprietor until his death, and the property remained in the possession of the Cable heirs until the spring of 1880, when it was pur- chased by Weston for $8,000. L. Coleman is the manager, and has been since 1877. A portion of the American House helped to comprise the old Prairieville House, the first hotel in Wauke- sha. Previous to Silas Barber's purchase of the American House, it was owned and managed by George Vail, and during several years from 1846 gained considerable notoriety as "Vail's Hotel."

664

HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

Mansion House .- Originally the Mansion House was a small dwelling, in which, in the very early fifties, W. D. Bacon had his home. It was enlarged about 1856, by Jacob L. Bean and his sons, making one of the largest residences in the village. The property was finally purchased by Miss Elizabeth H. Clark, now Mrs. E. H. Carney, and an addition, 26x80 feet, and four stories in height, was erected in 1871 for a hall and additional sleeping rooms. Although a regular hotel, keeping open for patronage during the entire year, the Mansion House makes a specialty of pro- viding for summer guests-those who come from various parts of the country to receive benefits from the use of Waukesha mineral water. It is made more popular by the brilliant parties and receptions which are given every season at brief intervals. The hotel has been under the popular management of L. N. Mowry, who has had more patronage than the house afforded room to accommodate.

Fountain House .- This is the largest hotel in the State of Wisconsin, and one of the most noted in the Northwest. The building of it in so small a village as Waukesha looked financially hazardous to the majority of people ; but Matthew Laflin, of Chicago, had been cured of a pain- ful and dangerous malady by the use of Waukesha mineral water, and he was therefore deter- mined to furnish more ample accommodations at Waukesha, that a greater number of the afflicted might avail themselves of the virtues of her springs. The following is taken from the Hotel World of May 17, 1879 :

" Last season, the influx of visitors from all parts of the country, and especially from the South, to our Northwestern summer resorts was something extraordinary. Among the most famous hotels none experienced greater demands upon its resources than did the Fountain Spring House, at Waukesha, Wis., from whose doors dozens were turned away every week because of lack of accommodations. It was the home of some of the most brilliant representatives of the beauty and chivalry of Southern cities, who lingered far beyond the ordinary limits of a watering- place season, dreading to return to their fever-stricken homes as long as the specter of their dread hovered over them. The hotel and grounds were the scenes of gayety and enjoyment until the night of September 1, when a fiend, twin brother of the yellow plague, burst in upon the inno- nocent revelry that served to fill so many hearts with pleasure, and in a short space of time nearly all of the splendid Fountain Spring Hotel was a heap of smoldering ruins ; all that re- mained to tell the story of what had been, except the north wing of the structure, which was saved only after the most superhuman efforts. It seemed like a death-blow to the ambitious citizens of Waukesha, and, in spite of their all-abiding faith in the natural attractions of the beautiful village and the efficacy of its celebrated mineral springs, they could not believe it possible for the place ever to recover its lost ground. They had forgotten that the proprietor was a Chicago man, whose experience with the fire fiend enabled him to regard the loss of a piece of property as splendid as the Fountain Spring House in the light of an almost every-day event. Mr. Mat- thew Laflin and his sons were blessed with too much of that native philosophy which enabled them to laugh at trifles, and with the energy that belongs to every Chicago man, like his coat, they only waited until the insurance loses had been adjusted, when they entered into negotia- tions not only for the rebuilding of the burned portions of the house, but also for an addition of 300 feet in length, which would make the new structure one of the largest hotels in the whole country. How astonishingly rapid has been the progress of the work, may now be seen, for there stands in the place of the former hotel a building whose magnificent proportions surpass the wildest expectations of the most sanguine believers in Waukesha's destiny ten years ago.

" The old building was 147 feet front on Grand avenue by 147 feet deep, which front has been restored, and the new part 300 feet front by 147 feet deep, with dining-room addition of 116 feet by 54 feet, together with the rising in height of some of the rear buildings, has been added, thereby making one of the most complete and by far the most substantially built of any summer resort in the country.

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The History of Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources; an extensive and minute sketch of its cities, towns and villages etc, Part 101

Author: Western Historical Co., pub Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company Number of Pages: 1050

Author: Western Historical Co., pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1050