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 106

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 106

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694

HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

The first charter election of the village of Oconomowoc was held in the store of C. Y. Read, Esq., on the 22d day of April, A. D., 1865, at which the following officers were duly elected : William Thompson, President; I. C. Stratton, A. B. Hall, C. M. Hartwell, Trustees, and J. R. Carpenter, Esq., Police Justice.

The first meeting of the Board of Trustees of the village was held on the 26th of April, 1865, at which time David Brokaw was appointed Village Clerk ; Alfred Harden, Street Com- missioner, and J. W. Place, Constable.

The second village election was held on April 9, 1866, at the village hall, the following officers being elected : Edwin Hurlbut, President ; Cyrenus Munger, C. M. Hartwell, Charles Hubbard and Walter Dibble, Trustees ; and Samuel March, Police Justice.

At the next charter election, held in April, 1867, D. H. Rockwell was elected President ; C. M. Hartwell, Frederick Bender, William Wentworth, Lyman Kellogg and Delos Hale were elected Trustees, and C. M. Smith, Esq., Police Justice.

At the fourth annual village election, held on April 13, 1868, the following officers were elected : President, Dr. J. A. Henshall; Trustees, George W. Fay, Lyman Kellogg, Jacob Weltner, Samuel March and L. A. Rowell; Police Justice, C. M. Smith, Esq.

At the fifth annual election, held in April, 1869, the following officers were elected : Pres- ident, J. A. Henshall ; Trustees for one year, Orville Hathaway, Jacob Weltner ; for two years, Cyrenus Munger and J. M. Brown ; Justices of the Peace, C. M. Smith and R. C. Hathaway ; Assessor, John McPherson ; Treasurer, D. H. McArthur ; Village Clerk, J. R. Carpenter ; Marshal, Henry Ludington.

The following year of 1870, the village officers were elected as follows : President, William Thompson ; Trustees, Copeland Townsend and H. F. Lyke; Village Clerk, Joel R. Carpenter ; Assessor, R. C. Hathaway ; Treasurer, H. G. Jones ; Marshal, Henry Ludington.

In the year 1871, the officers of the village were as follows : President, Orville Hathaway ; Trustees, J. A. Henshall, J. L. Hastings, B. M. Woodruff, H. K. Edgerton, Edwin Hurlbut and Lawrence Rinney ; Clerk, R. C. Hathaway ; Assessor, C. M. Smith ; Treasurer, H. G. Jones ; Marshal, Henry Ludington ; Justices of the Peace, C. M. Smith and W. J. Brown.

At the charter election of 1872, the elected officers were as follows: President, William Thompson ; Clerk, J. R. Carpenter ; Treasurer, H. G. Jones ; Assessor, D. R. Thompson ; Marshal, E. Thayer ; Trustees, J. C. Starkweather, C. B. Johnson and Gabriel Erricson.

In the year 1873, the officers of the village were as follows : President, Lyman Kellogg ; Trustees, Ole Halverson, Job B. Mills, E. D. Parsons ; Clerk, J. R. Carpenter ; Treasurer, H. G. Jones ; Assessor, D. R. Thompson ; Marshal, Henry Ludington; Justices, D. R. Thompson and J. R. Carpenter.

In the spring of 1874, at the last election held under the village charter, the following officers were elected : President, Lyman Kellogg ; Trustees, J. C. Starkweather, H. K. Edger- ton, Lawrence Kinney ; Treasurer, H. G. Jones ; Assessor, D. H. McArthur; Clerk, J. B. Carpenter ; Marshal, H. Ludington. It was at this election that the ordinance duly adopted by the President and Trustees of the village of Oconomowoc, entitled " An Ordinance providing for the annexation of the village of Summitville to the village of Oconomowoc, was submitted to the voters of the last-named village and adopted by a vote of 151 votes " For," and eighty-two. votes "against union ordinance."

First city election April 6, 1875-W. W. Collins, Mayor; J. R. Carpenter, Clerk ; H. G. Jones, Treasurer ; C. M. Smith, Assessor.

1876-Martin T. Draper, Mayor ; Lloyd C. Babcock, Clerk ; H. G. Jones, Treasurer; C. M. Smith, Assessor.

1877-Martin T. Draper, Mayor ; R. C. Hathaway, Clerk; H. G. Jones Treasurer ; D. H. McArthur, Assessor.

1878-W. W. Collins, Mayor ; R. C. Hathaway, Clerk ; H. G. Jones, Treasurer; Will- iam Thompson, Assessor.

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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

1879-A. J. Rockwell, Mayor ; R. C. Hathaway, Clerk ; E. E. Ely, Treasurer ; William Thompson, Assessor.

1880-Martin T. Draper, Mayor; E. D. R. Thompson, Clerk ; H. G. Jones, Treasurer ; George L. Kern, Assessor.

PAST CONDITION AND GENERAL GROWTH.

Although very many incidents that were intimately connected with the early history of Oconomowoc Village and surroundings are irretrievably lost-forgotten, never to be recalled- that would have contributed largely to the interest of this work, yet enough facts are preserved in vivid recollections and reminiscences among the few early settlers who yet remain, to give a faithful reflex of its early condition and growth, and of the enterprise and achievements of the pioneers, as well as of later comers.

The first actual claimant to the first village property was H. W. Blanchard, who entered .the west half of Section 33, Township 8, Range 17, in April, 1837, and on the 1st of May, sold to Philo Brewer, who, in September of this year, erected the first house or cabin ever built in Oconomowoc. It was made of logs, with shake roof, and stood on the lot now owned by the widow of J. S. Rockwell, a little west of the present residence.

At that time there were no streets or roads-only the Indian trails leading from point to point. Mr. Sheldon, the oldest as well as first inhabitant, says that these trails formed a junction at about where the old La Belle House stood, on the northeast corner of Main and Milwaukee streets, diverging from that point about as those streets now do. Very much of the land that is now occupied for business purposes and dwellings, was then a tamarack and ash swamp. From the point where Zion Church stands, across to a point a very little south of the Townsend House, a line might be drawn ; from this line south, where a beautiful sheet of water now lies, was all swamp, and from this swamp a slough extended south across Milwaukee street, back of the Summit Bank property, and the whole scene in this vicinity then gave but little promise of its present development. Soon after Mr. Brewer built, A. W. Hatch and J. S. Rockwell came here and bought a two-thirds interest in Mr. Brewer's property. and, in conjunction with him, set men at work building a mill-dam across the Oconomowoc River, where the wire bridge now is. The mill (a saw-mill) is said to have been located a little west of the dam on or near the banks of La Belle Lake. The work was continued through the winter of 1837-38, and in the spring it was completed, so that as soon as the mill was done, business could be commenced. But just at this juncture a most unfortunate disaster occurred. With the breaking-up of winter, and the melting of snow and ice, came a freshet, and the dam, which had not been very sub- stantially built, gave way, putting matters hors du combat. The only thing to do then was to fill up the gap, which was immediately done, only to have it swept away again in July. How- ever, the proprietors were not to be discouraged by this misfortune, but at once rebuilt in a more substantial manner. In the mean-time, while the dam was being so constructed, an addition was built to the saw-mill, to be used as a grist-mill. Mr. Jesse Edsall, and his father-in-law, Mr. Noble, came on in August of this year to fit up and run the grist-mill. While they were on the trail, going through the woods, they got lost, and finally, quite late in the evening, came upon the cabin of Mr. Sheldon, and asked for supper and lodging, stating that they were trying to find Oconomowoc Village, having been employed to go there to attend to the new grist-mill. They were kindly cared for, and the next morning saw them on the scene of their future oper- ations. Curtis Brown was employed to go with a team and bring on the grinding apparatus, and within a short time thereafter, to the great satisfaction of the settlers, the mill was in oper- ation. About this time a turning-lathe was also added.

In 1839 or 1840, John Heath was placed in charge, having a Mr. Palmer as assistant. In 1840, Mr. Brewer sold his interest in the mill property and village site to G. A. Foster. In the summer of 1841, the water undermined the dam, which was located on a yielding, marshy soil, and swept the whole institution away, dam, mills and all. So ended the first mill enter- prise. Nothing was done toward reconstruction until the following spring, when a Mr.

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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

Anderson- was employed to build a dam where the present dam is, he guaranteeing the work for five years. During this season, 1842, a new saw-mill was built also, and by autumn was ready for work.

The second house in the village was the Worthington cabin, a small affair, built by Mr. Edsall in 1839. Here he and family afterward lived until Mr. Worthington purchased it. This was the first family that settled in Oconomowoc Village. This year brought quite an acces- sion to the village population. William Quigley came and built a small plank house on the lot now occupied by the Summit Bank, and Day Dewy and John Ferry erected the first frame house on the lot recently owned by Clark Hartwell, and just south of the house now owned by Harold Peck.

George W. Pugh, George Brooks and Charles Wilson settled here this season, also. During the ensuing winter, George Brooks built a house, Charles C. Wilson doing the carpenter work, such as was to be done; and in the spring, or early part of the summer, of 1840, Mr. Brooks moved in and opened the first tavern. This stood on the lot now owned by Mrs. Bruce. In 1840, Wilson built another house, the red house that stood on a part of the present Semi- nary grounds, and which W. W. Collins occupied for several years.

During 1840, or 1841, J. Dougherty, Day Dewy and Mr. Barton, three bachelo s, began a manufacturing enterprise, in the shape of a chair-factory and cabinet-shop, there being a demand among the new-comers for furniture. The work done here was certainly good, for many of the oldest settlers have chairs and other articles of furniture, which they are now using, that were made at this factory. The business was discontinued after a few years, as it did not pay.

In 1840 or 1841, A. Rowe built the house now owned and occupied by H. M. Peters. This is said to be the oldest building in the city. Mr. Rowe soon after started his blacksmith- shop on the lot where the Town Hall now stands. It was used for a blacksmith-shop until 1851.

In 1840, the first child was born in the village, Eliza J. Dewy, daughter of D. Dewy and wife. She was born in the first frame house built in the place, January 17, 1840. The fol- lowing year, January 16, 1841, Charles H. Ferry, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Ferry, was born. He was the first male child born in the village.

In the month of March, 1841, the first death was announced to the little community, and many there were who sincerely lamented the sad occasion, for in this death the village lost an esteemed lady, Mrs. G. A. Foster. She was buried near where Zion Church now stands, but was afterward removed to Nashotah Cemetery. Mr. G. A. Foster died a few years later and was interred in the same cemetery.

In the Winter of 1842, J. S. Rockwell, in conjunction with E. P. Cotton, made arrange- ments to build a new grist-mill, which was begun in the spring, and finished in 1843. The lumber and site were furnished by J. S. Rockwell, and Cotton furnished the machinery and attended to the labor. This mill was known as the "old red mill," and stood on the banks of La Belle Lake, nearly opposite Draper Hall. A. B. Hall and I. C. Stratton were among the principal carpenters employed on the work.

The chief difficulty experienced in those days when building, was in getting enough hands to do the raising. But, although they entertained apprehensions on that score, they were set at rest on the day of the raising, for the people were only too glad to help to get a mill up, and came in from far and wide, until there was no lack of help. It may be remarked here that at that time " help one another," was the rule, for in no other way could they get along.

An account of a Fourth of July celebration that came off in 1843, will not come amiss here, as it aptly illustrates the spirit that actuated the people then, when a celebration was more a matter of patriotism than parade, and less a matter of business than recreation (features con- nected with our national anniversary fete that are not now the same). The story as related in the Free Press, is given with a few interpolations:

It occurred in July, 1843, quite a number of families having by that time settled in and around Oconomowoc. Emulous P. Cotton was President of the day; Elder Wheelock was Chaplain ; Jonathan Dougherty was the Orator ; George W. Pugh was Marshal ; Chauncey C.

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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

Ludden was to read the Declaration of Independence, but he got mad about something and at the last refused to do so. Upon that John Barton was appointed, and, according to some acounts, read it. There was also a fine band of martial music. John Ferry was fifer, Chauncey Osborn tenor drum, and Conrad Osborn base drum. The committee on toasts were John Metcalf and . David Findley. There were no sbort-hand newspapers reporters present, or we might now have been in possession of detailed reports of the oration and toasts. The dinner was a picnic one, prepared by the ladies, and the tables were set on the bank of the lake near where Mr. Peck's new house now stands, and in the afternoon a large party of Indians, who were en- camped at the foot of the lake, came up to see the pale-faces' "pow-wow." At that time the Indians infested the country here largely, and continued to do so for a few years. They were ordinarily peaceful when not squibbe (drunk), and were great beggars.

Some time in 1842 or 1843, the mill property interest of Hatch Foster is said to have been purchased by J. S. Rockwell, or his father-in-law, a Mr. Hard. During the summer of this year, J. S. Rockwell began building a hotel opposite to where the seminary building now stands. It was finished this year, and in 1844 opened by Charles Chaffe. From him it passed into the hands of a Mr. Willie, who kept it for a short time, when Mr. Charles C. Wilson became permanent manager. This hotel was for a long time the only one in the village worth mentioning, and in the person of Mr. Wilson was presided over by a jolly and popular landlord, who was remarkable for two qualities. He was a great story-teller, and yet had such a bad memory as to business matters that he could not remember any debts he owed. He used to say that "when he died he wanted to be buried near the bank of the lake, so that he could hear the loons screaming in the spring." His wish was gratified as to the place of his burial, but whether he heard the loons has not yet been ascertained. He died in 1858. He was a kind, good-natured man, and his death was much regretted. Many a story is told of the sports indulged in by the bachelors who made this place their chief rendezvous during his time. He was succeeded by A. R. Moore, who kept the hotel during the latter years of its existence. It was finally burned.

In 1844, George W. Fay and W. W. Collins opened a store, an event of considerable importance, as it supplied a want long felt, and relieved the inhabitants from the necessity of going to Summit, the rival town, for the many things they were constantly needing. Although this may be regarded as the first regular store, yet Mr. Rockwell had brought in a few articles some time before, that were kept at his house, which was very early used as a sort of boarding- house and hotel, Deacon Goodell being the landlord.

The store of Fay & Collins was kept in a frame building on the lot where Mr. F. Peck, of Chicago, is now building a summer residence. The stock of merchandise was general, including drugs and liquor for medicinal use, or otherwise. There being no "internal revenue " then, the best of brandy sold at $2.50, and whisky as low as 25 cents per gallon. That which pre- ponderated in their stock, according to the best authorities, singular to relate, was crockery. " Big mug et little mug " being hung up conspicuously around the room. The firm continued in this place until 1849 or 1850.

Loan Saxe & Co. came in 1845 and rented a little building owned by Mr. Beaman, who had it fitted up for them as best he could. They brought in a pretty fair stock of goods, said to have been in part the residue of an old establishment in the East. Although Loan Saxe was the figure-head of the company, yet his partner Samuel March was the moneyed man. About a year and a half after this store was opened, J. Dougherty, who had put up a small building where the north end of Draper Hall now is, got a young man by the name of Packard to come in with a stock of goods, he thinking at the time that they might possibly run out Loan Saxe & Co. So at that early day, competition and strife had already begun.

Packard was an auctioneer from New York, and his uncle, a Mr. Ranney, of Racine, fur- nished him with goods. There was a large quantity, but mostly old, shop-worn stuff. C. Eastman hauled them from Racine. This firm lasted not more than a year or two, as, the young man not paying, his worthy uncle shut up the shop.

698

HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

In 1846, Saxe & Co. put up a new building near the site of the old one. This they occupied for a few years, then moved it to where it now stands, on Main street, where they kept a store until Saxe's death, and after which Samuel March perpetuated the institution for a few years. This store is now known as the red front.

After Saxe & Co. had moved into their new building, in 1846 or 1847, Mr. Beaman stocked ' up the shop with dry goods and books. He was not here long before he traded with a man at Monterey for a mill privilege.

After Packard and Dougherty were closed out, Capt. Parsons started the first regular grocery at the same place.

Soon after coming to Oconomowoc, George W. Fay, a man of considerable enterprise and influence, proposed to the citizens of the place that they should go at it and improve Main street, as it was in a miserable condition, being so low in front of where the present mill stands, that. the going was often very bad. A subscription was taken and $300 raised, for which sum Mr. Pugh graded the street from Draper Hall nearly to Johnson's harness-shop. After that, a Nor- wegian was employed to grade on from Draper Hall to the old mill, several parties pledging themselves to Mr. Fay to pay, but at the end not doing so, probably for want of money. Mr. Fay also at one time employed a large number of men to clear land, who came from far and near, glad to work for 50 cents per diem, store pay, to get food.

Abont 1845, the first village plat was surveyed, and extended from north line of Section 33, to about where Johnson's harness-shop now is, Main street being laid out very crookedly, to accommodate the lay of the land on either side. A number of lots were bought and buildings erected by this plat, but Mr. Rockwell, being satisfied, that it would be to the future advantage of the entire community to have the road laid out straight, secured an act of the Legislature vacat- ing this plat. A new plat was laid out by J. S. and L. R. Rockwell and D. M. Hard, and surveyed by J. A. Farnham in January, 1848. This plat straightened the street and changed the boundaries of several of the lots, and extended from north to south line of Section 33 ; it was recorded in the spring of 1849; there was some difficulty experienced in fixing the new bound- aries, one man in particular, a shoemaker by the name of Daniels, making a good deal of trouble. Sometime during this season several of the prominent citizens met, and by common consent agreed that Main street should be widened eight feet, the plat allowing only fifty feet. This arrangement brought the boundary line of the road directly up to Daniels' dwelling house, and necessitated the moving of his fence ; this he refused to do. Very soon after, upon getting up one morning, he discovered his fence had been moved to the back of the house, near La Belle Lake. Seeing that he would only have trouble, if he refused to comply with the wishes of his neighbors, he yielded.

The old barracks, so called from being a huge three-story shell, were built about 1845, and figured quite generally in the history of the settlement for years, as blacksmith-shop, carpenter. shop, tenement house, schoolhouse, and, it may be added, hospital. Here the first fire occurred; there having been some sort of a meeting in the evening, it was discovered, after the folks left, to be on fire in the second story. Water was brought and the fire drowned out, as were the family that occupied the lower story. H. McCoy, the builder, fled the country many years ago, under the suspicion of having been a counterfeiter and general rogue. The barracks stood a little north of the present mill. It is now used as a cooper-shop by George Stephens.

In 1847, the people here began to be afflicted with that miserable disease, fever and ague. It continued for the next three or four years, and became so prevalent that at times there were scarcely any more well ones than were needed to care for the sick. The old barracks then came into play as hospital, for nearly all living in it were shaking and had to be nursed. There was but one physician living in the village then, unless mention be made of William Quigley, who could give a dose of physic or prescribe a sweat.

During the constitutional campaign of 1846 a mass meeting was held here, and A. D Smith, since Judge of the Supreme Court, and Curtis Reed, were opposing speakers. The town was in a perfect furor, and half of the men in it were either tight or getting so as fast as

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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

they could. Smith stood in a wagon in such a breezy condition that he had to be held up while he denounced Reed to a crowd of men, who were cheering him, while the man who held Smith up kept saying, " 'Ear 'im ! 'ear 'im !" On the other hand, Reed was entertaining a crowd by pouring forth his eloquence against all dissenters to his doctrine, and especially emptying the vials of invective upon the head of the devoted Smith-this being the style of argument often employed at that time.

In 1849, the first brick building was erected, E. P. Cotton and Fay and Collins being the builders. It was divided into two stores, Fay and Collins moving into one-half, and E. P. Cot- ton and P. A. Woodruff taking the other, and putting in a new stock of goods. Fay & Collins continued for five or six years, then ceased to operate. Cotton & Woodruff continued for a short time and failed.

In 1850, R. C. Hathaway started a wagon-shop in the building vacated by Fay & Collins, continuing there for a short time. Subsequently this building was moved across the road, and was eventually purchased by Martin Draper, and converted into sleeping-rooms.

From 1849 to 1853, there was a large amount of building done in Oconomowoc. In 1850, Loan, Saxe & Co. put up the old LaBelle House, which was completed in August, and was formally opened to the public by Dyer Topliff, who, in his prime, was the prince of landlords. A grand party was given to commemorate the opening of the hotel. It was as gay a party as has ever assembled ; they met together on the evening of the 11th of September, 1850. Every- body came. There were no old people in Oconomowoc then, and society had not become divid- ed. It was the first public gathering of the kind in the place, for the reason that, previous to the building of the La Belle House, there was no building of sufficient capacity in the village to entertain a large party. That party was nearly thirty years ago. There were about 140 guests, with not a single gray-headed one among them. How would the surviving members of that party look to-day if they could assemble together again? The hotel stood on the large vacant lot on the corner of Main and Milwaukee streets, and was eventually burned.

In 1848 or 1849 the first frame schoolhouse in the village was built by subscription, on the north side of the Oconomowoc River, familiarly called, " Canada." It is still used as a schoolhouse. Isaac C. Stratton was the builder of this temple of learning.

In 1850 or 1851, the red brick building that stood where Mann's Block now is, was built by Mr. Humphrey for a hotel. and was opened as such by Mr. Janes, who was succeeded by Mr. Clock. This hotel was called the Globe. After being run for about two years it was con- verted into a store and dwelling-house, being occupied by the firm of P. A. Woodruff & Co. It was afterward used for various business purposes until it was torn down. At this time there was a saloon in full blast on the opposite side of Milwaukee street, one Hovey being the keeper. This was the first saloon started, and was begun about 1848 or 1849. Previous to this time the " needful " was purchased at the stores and hotels.

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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 106

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