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 111

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 111

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How Old Mrs. Besser Defended the Soldier .- During the war, when the public sentiment was at a boiling point, a discussion took place at the depot one day, and all hands were decry- ing the Southerners, when a little soldier stepped up, who had been listening, and without ado told the crowd they did not know what they were talking about; he had been South and knew, and the rebels were no worse than the Northern soldiers. The crowd was furious, and two men by the name of Lampman and Lockwood off with their coats and were going to thrash him. Seeing that discretion was the better part of valor, the soldier ran into Mrs. Besser's saloon to escape. They chased him to the door, where Mrs. B. met them, armed with a flat- iron, and declared, if either stepped in, she would crack their skulls. They stood outside and

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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

pounded the door, and cursed; but, nothing daunted, Mrs. B. held her own, and finally drove the belligerent parties away, to the great amusement of the lookers-on.

At the time the La Belle House was burned, it was being kept by a spruce young fellow who now keeps hotel in the South. It appears that the alarm of fire roused him from a sound sleep and utterly confused his brain, so that he did not know where he was, or what he was doing. He jumped up and rushed into the street in dishabille, and ran around in the crowd shouting for some one to go and "see to the soap and milk the cows." He had to be told, before he came to himself, to put his clothes on.

Many more amusing anecdotes could be given concerning the place and people, that occurred at different times, but enough has already been told to illustrate the phases of every day life here in the past.

ANALYSIS OF LA BELLE SPRING.

Temperature, 480° ; specific gravity-The amount of salts in a gallon of twenty-three cubic inches :

Bicarbonate of lime

Grains. 12.4931

Bicarbonate of magnesia.

9.3724

Bicarbonate of soda.

1.7577

Bicarbonate of iron.

00.946

Bicarbonate of potassa

00.465

Sulphate of iron

02.192

Chloride of sodium

a trace

Silica

07.714

Alumina

00.784

The general healthfulness of this locality has long been acknowledged. This place, being near the highest point between Rock River and the Fox River, is blessed by a cool, dry and bracing atmosphere, while the numerous attractions beguile the invalid forth to ride or walk, and breathe, fresh from nature's fount, this invigorating fluid, or receive life from the sun's genial and magnetic rays.

Incomparably beautiful surroundings, a cool, salubrious climate, and as pure water as ever sprung from the bosom of mother earth-what more can be asked ? Saratoga, Long Branch, Newport, the White Mountains, the retreats of Virginia, Arkansas, Colorado, California or the glorious Hudson, afford no more sweetly picturesque and charming scenes than can be found here. Tourists who have visited this place are enthusiastic in praise and admiration of all they find here, active and anxious in securing a similiar enjoyment among their friends and acquaint- ances, and seldom fail to put in a second appearance themselves.

Within a comparatively few years, since Messrs. Coffin, Schufeldt and others first came here for fishing and recreation, this country has acquired a fame, both near and far, as deserved as it is exceptional. What a marked contrast appears between the present and the past ; the wilder- ness is subdued ; the revolutionary hand of civilization has changed the face of nature ; where once stood the lodge of the savage, or cabin of the early settler, now inviting farm dwellings are seen, and the neat and attractive houses and stately country residences of business men, or people of leisure, line the streets, or dot the well-kept lawns and umbrageous retreats that border the lakes.

Where once the Indian or pioneer followed the trail to some famous spring, or favorite hunting or fishing resort, now come and go the favored and fashion of the land. Here at the height of the summer season the gayest of the gay seek an outlet to their exuberance and hilar- ity ; the prematurely worn speculator, rest and refreshment to strengthen him for new ventures ; the invalid, invigoration and health from climate and scenery ; the student, knowledge from history and association ; while all combined, conspire to make up a little world by itself, instruct- ive as well as beautiful. Here are to be seen " turnouts " in every imaginable variety ; coaches with liveried attendants ; carriages with servants behind ; dashing equipages with four in hand ; tandems of blooded stock ; road wagon to track horse ; sportsmen in dog carts; and pleasure

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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

parties on horseback, all going at a spinning rate, seeming devotees the to old maxim, " While we live, let us live." The future of Oconomowoc is established, as it is already determined by the annually increasing host of fashionable assemblages, one of the favorite watering-places of America, and one of the few places in the world suitable for a summer home.

BEAUTIES OF OCONOMOWOC.

To portray the many and great attractions of Oconomowoc City and surroundings, the most fertile fancy and elaborate word-painting seem inadequate, for, in view of so much natural magnificence and varied perfection, all landation appears tame and commonplace. Go which- ever way you may for miles, and scene upon scene of surpassing loveliness greets the charmed senses, and feelings of delight are experienced that can never be forgotten. Within a radius of eight or ten miles, are twenty-three or twenty-four lakes, resting like gems in emerald settings of hill and dale, vernal with rich fields and shady woodlands ; while here and there bright streams and brooklets, like threads of crystal, go hastening joyously along to hide themselves in some one of nature's spacious resorvoirs.

The roads here are the pride of the inhabitants and the delight of travelers. The soil being somewhat gravelly and slightly porous, good natural roadbeds are secured, and, by careful management and work, they have been rendered permanently hard and smooth, and, like every- thing else in this favored region, are as good as can be found anywhere. They are neither lim- ited in number or circumscribed in distance, and lead, winding in every direction, through gor- geous parks of farming lands, sunny slopes and openings, and overhanging forests and the ever- recurring lakes, and sparkling rivulets, that intersect the landscape on every hand.

The mean height of the land about Oconomowoc is 300 feet above the level of Lake Mich- igan. Government Hill, a few miles distant, is about 600 feet above the lake. From this point on a clear day, twenty-eight lakes can be seen. The names of the prominent ones are Lac La Belle, Oconomowoc, Okanchee, Silver, Golden, Twin Lakes and Fowler's Lake, while there is one peculiar one known as " Aunt Polly's Wash-Tub," which alone gives soft water. These are all within easy driving distance, and here the disciples of Walton, in search of pleasures pisca- torial, will find an abundance of fish, the waters being literally alive with bass, pickerel, perch, etc. Sportsmen also find promising hunting-grounds in this vicinity ; as water-fowl, snipe, wood- cock, quail, and almost every species of small game luxuriate here in unlimited numbers.

The mineral springs found here may as justly be proclaimed for their healing properties and life-giving qualities as any found within the State of Wisconsin. There is a strip of country beginning on the eastern boundary of Waukesha County running west more than forty miles, and much of it belonging to the valley of Rock River, that is particularly noted for its mineral wells and springs. These waters are similar in their nature; most of them containing iron in large proportion, others magnesia and various mineral properties, but all noted for their health-giving qualities. Of these there are a goodly number, and thousands already bear testimony to their efficacy. One of the largest, is located on Mr. Hitchcock's property. In the early settlement of the country, this is said to have been a favored spot among the Indians, and the various tribes brought their sick here to avail themselves of the benefit of " the healing waters."

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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

HISTORY OF TOWNS.

TOWN OF BROOKFIELD.

Township 7, Range 20 east, called Brookfield, was set apart as now bounded, and organized into a town by act of the Legislature of 1839. It is an excellent farming section and one of the good fruit-growing towns of the county. Its close proximity to Milwaukee, excellent con- nections with that city by two railroads and the plank roads, gives the farmers opportunity to secure, at all times, the highest cash market prices for their products. Thus the location adds materially to the natural productive value of the farms in this town.

The first real settler was Robert Curran, who came to Prairieville August, 1836, with his family, consisting of a wife and three children. In September of this year, be moved to Brook- field and purchased a claim on Section 25, where H. Gregg now lives. There was a small cabin, partly completed, on the place. He moved in while there was yet a stump inside, no floor having been laid, and with scarcely a roof over their heads. He came in with two yokes of cattle and had to brush out a road, there being only Indian trails through the town at that time. He went to work at once and cut a large quantity of hay for his cattle and for the purpose of providing for travelers. During the winter, he made the first clearing, and in the spring of 1837, built an addition, and made it his chief business to care for travelers.

His house was the first tavern in the town, and Elon Fuller was his first guest.

In November, 1836, George Putney came in with a family and settled in the west part of the town, on the farm now owned by Chester Blodgett. He remained a few years and at last ran away with the Mormons.

S. G. Putney came here in the fall of 1836, and in 1840 brought bis family and settled on a canal claim of 200 acres, one mile south of the Brookfield Junction Depot, where he still lives on the same old claim.

In the spring of 1837, Augustus Yale, a young married man, came in, hiring a team to haul his things out from Milwaukee into the deep woods where he had made his claim. Here he started life by sticking up two or three poles in the ground and covering them with a bed- quilt, this constituting his first dwelling. Where he stuck his first stake he now lives, having developed a fine farm and reared a large family.

During this spring, Mr. Curran broke three or four acres of land and planted corn and vegetables. This was the first land broke in the town, and these were the first crops raised.

Jacob Stam came in very early in the spring of 1837, with his family, the snow being quite deep when his house was built. He was the third settler in the town.

Maj. Farr and family, and E. A. Parker, his son-in-law, a brother of John G. Parker, the Canadian patriot, came in the summer of 1837 and made permanent claims and built houses.

Augustus Story came in and settled at the Plank Road Junction about this time.

Moore Spears came in 1837 and settled near Elm Grove; Ezra Maynard came in the summer of this year, and Mr. Van Vleck also.

In the winter of 1837 and 1838, the first school was taught in the town by Moore Spears, in a claim cabin on Maj. Farr's place. There were about twelve pupils, some of them being of age.

In the spring of 1838, the Hatch settlement, so-called, was formed in the northwest part of the town. There were two Hatch brothers, and two or three others in this settlement.

A sa w-mill was built by Charles Hart on Section 15, about 1838. This was the first mill in town, and was run until within a few years.

J. P. Story bought out his brother Augustus about in 1840, and built a steam saw-mill soon after. This was run for several years, but did not pay, and was finally abandoned.

Charles Hart built a small grist-mill about 1860, near his saw-mill. This mill was never prosperous, and after standing a few years was demolished.

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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

The first schoolhouse in District No. 1, Section 26, was built in 1839, of logs, and Juda Phelps taught the first school here.

In 1840, Rev. H. W. Frink held meetings here, and organized a class of Methodists. There were five members from Brookfield, Robert Curran, wife and son, and Gideon Wales and wife. The first preaching in town was at the house of Robert Curran, by Elder Wheelock, in 1838, and Mr. Curran's son Charles rode around the neighborhood to warn out the settlers.

The first death was that of Miss Susan Farr, daughter of Maj. Farr, who died in the spring of 1838.

Joseph Irwin and Fanny Farr were married in 1839, by Rev. Cyrus Bowles, of Milwaukee. This was the first marriage in the town.

The first birth was a child of Gideon Wales. His son Solomon was born about 1840.

Harmenus Van Vleck was the Territorial Justice about 1840.

The first election was held in a house built by Lot Blanchard on the old Dousman plat, afterward occupied by Jerome Topliff, who kept tavern here and the first post office.

The plank road junction was at one time called Storyville, after the Story family.

Charles Raymond was the first Justice of the Peace and Postmaster in Brookfield. He lived two miles east of the plank road junction.

The first blacksmith-shop in the town was started by Jacob Stam, in 1837, on Section 26. He was an excellent workman. John Bevier, M. D., came here in 1840, and was the first residen physician in Brookfield.

There are several churches in town-two Catholic, one Lutheran, one Methodist and at Bible Christian Church.

Most of the land in town came into market in 1839. Among the first settlers were Mr. Buell, about 1836 or 1837; Joseph Irwin, Mr. Mclaughlin, Joshua Cheney and Paul McMahon, in 1836 or 1837 ; Gideon Wales, Isaac N. Smith, Mr. Van Vleck, J. Shirtleff, Nathan Raymond, Charles Raymond, J. W. Brackett, John McLean, Charles Hart and father, William Leith, Isaac Fellows, Charles Leland, G. H. Breed, James Hines, Deacon Degraff, Mr. Ellis, Jacob Keeler, Charles Shut, Harmenus Van Vleck and sons, Amos and Aaron, who came in 1838, 1839 or 1840.

Brookfield Junction .- The first depot was built here in 1853, at the junction of the Mil- waukee & Prairie du Chien road (then called Milwaukee & Mississippi) and the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway (then called the Milwaukee, Watertown & Baraboo Valley). This depot is now used as a dwelling house. The present depot was built in 1867, after the purchase of the Milwaukee, Watertown & Baraboo Railway, by the Milwaukee & Prairie du Chien Company. Dyer Bill kept the first post office here. C. H. Purple, now dead, opened the first store in town, at or near Brookfield, in 1852. He also kept the post office here. which was established after the coming of the railway. Fare from Brookfield to Waukesha was once but 10 cents. John Ban started a little shop here in 1858. He was engaged in working for the railway company, when a bank caved in on him, disabling him, and compelling him to resort to this means of support. He soon sold out, an addition was built to his shop, and a hotel was opened here by Harry Cox.

A steam saw-mill was built here in 1849 or 1850, by Bean, Clinton, Powers and E. D. Holton. This mill they constructed and fitted up on quite an extensive scale, there being a fifty- horse-power engine and two boilers, but, the various working parts proving very defective, the mill did not work well. After it had been run about a year without paying, E. D. Holton and W. D. Bacon purchased the interests of Bean, Clinton & Powers, becoming joint-owners. They at once proceeded to change the working parts and connections in the mill, putting in new and improved machinery, and adding a twenty-two-inch circular saw in place of the mulay saw. From this time on the mill proved a complete success. In a short time after, Mr. Bacon pur- chased Mr. Holton's interest, becoming sole proprietor, and held possession and ran the mill as long as there was need of one in this vicinity.

The Milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad Company depended very largely upon this mill for lumber for building cars, bridges and roadbeds. That was before the invention of satis-

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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

factory "chairs" for holding the ends of the rails where they unite, and one of the first pieces of work done here was to cut ties 18 inches wide for this purpose. These double ties were laid the entire distance from Waukesha to Eagle. A quantity of timber, twenty-two inches wide, sixteen feet long and six inches thick, enough to lay two to each one of the cattle guards, from Eagle to Prairie du Chien, were sawed here, besides crossing-plank and bridge timbers. All of the first ties used in the several " y's " at Milton Junction were cut here, and the plank and ties used in constructing the first railroad bridge over Rock River, at Janesville. The entire bill .of 100,000 feet of joists required to build John Nazro's large double store at Milwaukee, was sawed here. When the mill closed, Mr. Bacon sold the boilers and engine to R. N. Kimball, who set them in his grist mill at Waukesha.

Elm Grove .- The majority of the inhabitants of Elm Grove are Germans, and it is an exceedingly quiet little burg.

The depot was built here in 1864, and about that time the post office was established, with G. B. Breed as Postmaster. After him, Mr. Schlick, then Mr. Reusch, then Mrs. Reusch, the present Postmistress. The first store was kept by Mr. Wood, in the basement of the building now owned by Mrs. Reither. Mr. Reither is now the oldest store-keeper here.

St. Mary's Orphan Asylum and Convent of the Sisters of Notre Dame was founded by Lady Superior Caroline, of the Mother House, in Milwaukee, in 1855, at first as an asylum. For the last two or three years it has been used for a convent school, as well as asylum. It is at present self-supporting, and has a large farm connected with it. There are now about eighteen children, twenty candidates and twenty-four Sisters in the convent. There is a church and two parish schools in connection with the institution. Sister Mary Hippolita is now the sister in charge.

TOWN OF DELAFIELD.

Originally the present town of Delafield, Township 7, of Range 18 east, formed a part of the town of Warren, now Merton; by act of the Legislature, approved February 17, 1842, it was included as part of Warren, the election to be held at the schoolhouse in District No. 1; by an act approved March 21, 1843, the boundaries were established as they now are, and the town named Nehmabin, the first election to be held at the house of N. P. Hawks; and by an act of the Legislature, passed January 26, 1844, the name was changed from Nehmabin to Delafield.

The town of Delafield presents as many attractions, especially to the tourist, as any in the county. That it is one of the most beautiful, fertile and well watered, cannot be denied. Here are as fine drives, views and farming lands as heart can wish for or imagination suggest.

The population of the town is quite varied in nationality. It is an easy matter for one to study here, in the space of a few square miles, the manners and customs of several different nationalities. The Welsh still live in primitive simplicity among the hills of the south; in the northwest, the Scandinavian cultivates the hop-vine with enthusiasm, and in other parts Yankee and Scotchman, Englishman and German, each pursues his peculiar way of life without let or hindrance from the others.

The first claim was made by Deacon Schuyler, in the spring of 1837. He erected a cabin on the site of the present village of Delafield, and lived there for a year or more, then moved into the town of Summit. Albert Campbell came in 1837, and chose the fine farm where he now resides. Here he at once built himself a little house out of poplar logs, covered the top with poplar poles, with more of them split into "shakes " for shingles; made his furniture of the same facile material, and "enjoyed himself the best he ever did in his life." Mrs. Campbell says that she felt as if she was entering a palace when their household goods were removed to a more substantial log house (which is now rotting down in the woods). The following parties also came in this year, besides some whose names are not known, viz., Hiram Campbell, Henry C. Skinner, George W. Skinner, Edwin Skinner, E. Melvin Skinner, Gaylord Ellsworth, Homer S. Finley, D. W. Kellogg, George Paddock and Millard Hughson.

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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

In 1838, Stephen Warren came in and many others, the exact date of their arrivals not being known. About this time or soon after, there came Ira Morris, A. J. Wilson, John A. Messenger, Elisha Daggett, Robert Lookwood, John Heath, Harvey Burchard, Rufus Scott, Edward Pearmain, Ben Brewer, Ben Moffit and Nathaniel Hughson ; but many of these moved away soon after or sold their claims.

According to the old poll list for September, 1842, there were but nineteen voters ; of those not already mentioned there were George Paddock, Martin Waite, Harvey Brewer, Isaac Harrison, N. P. Hawks, Francis Chase, Ben Brewer, E. Dolivar, M. B. and W. Cushing, E. L. Math- ews, A. L. Castleman, and Samuel Smith. Soon after, Michael Ward, Thomas Cahill, Mike Clarey, Jack Wilson, John Heath, Russell Frisby, Daniel Plumley, Albert Alden and many others came.

The first deaths were those of E. Melvin Skinner and Gaylord Ellsworth, who were drowned in Snail Lake, now known as Pewaukee Lake. This was a most sad and aggravating circum- stance, and is still fresh in the memory of many. It occurred October 8, 1837.

The first funeral and first sermon was on the occasion of the deaths, by drowning, of the above named. The ceremony was conducted by Elder Wheeler, about October 12, 1837.

Not many years after this, Edward Pearmain committed suicide by shooting himself, owing to trouble which he had with Daniel Plumly, his son-in-law, said to have been a worthless wretch, who subsequently traded his wife with another fellow, of equal merit, for his sister.

The first marriage was that of Henry Bowron to Miss Hellen Campbell, the ceremony of the occasion being performed by Elder Griffin, of Waukesha, in the spring of 1840.

The first person to commence his existence in this town was Frank H. Skinner, son of Henry C. and Susan Skinner, born January 4, 1838. He died in California.

A school was taught by Mrs. Stephen Warren, in a room of their dwelling-house, in the fall of 1840, there being about twelve pupils. This was the first school taught in town.

The first school in a schoolhouse was taught by Morgan L. Skinner, in 1841-42. Num- ber of pupils, fifteen. The schoolhouse was made of poplar logs, and stood near Rowell's gate.

The first dam was built and a saw-mill commenced by the Warrens, in 1841, at Hartland. This property was purchased by Christ Hershey, in 1842, and was operated by him for several years.

The first well was made in 1841, by Stephen Warren, on the place occupied by the Widow Skinner.

The first store in the town was opened at Delafield in 1843, by Albert Alden, in the build- ing afterward occupied as a hotel by Silas Barber.

In July, 1842, N. P. Hawks advertised for a blacksmith, and soon after a shop was started here by a Mr. Selick.

The first Justice's docket in the town was opened by Milton B. Cushing, on the 15th day of February, 1840, and a case was tried by him between Russell Frisby, defendant, and G. S. Hosmer, plaintiff. Mr. Cushing was succeeded by N. P. Hawks, in 1843.

The old Territorial road came to Delafield in 1838, and gave the town the benefit of a public thoroughfare.

The first hotel was started by N. P. Hawks as early as 1840. Hawks was known from that time forward for many years as the " prince of high living."

There were three hotels, located between Delafield and Pewaukee, on the stage route in this town, as early as 1844, and so great was the travel that they all did a thriving business until the advent of the plank road and railroad. Daniel McVean owned one on Section 25, and Messrs. Houston & Crombie owned the others on Section 26. They were all burned after 1850, heavily insured.

At the first town meeting held in Delafield, then Warren, at the schoolhouse of District No. 1, Tuesday, January 5, 1842, the following officers were elected, George Paddock being chosen Moderator, and George W. Skinner Clerk of the meeting : Milton B. Cushing, Chair- man. Henry Cheney and William Odell, Side Supervisors ; Town Clerk, Elias Palmer ; Con-

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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

stable and Collector, Stephen Warren ; Assessor, Hiram Warren; Road Commissioners, John Johnson, John Molster and A. L. Castleman ; School Commissioners, Samuel B. Parsons, Albert Campbell and Philetus S. Cross. It was then resolved that all town officers should receive a compensation of $1 per day for service if not otherwise provided for by law ; that a tax should be levied on all property not to exceed a of 1 per cent, for school purposes, on all taxable property, and that $25 shall be raised to pay town officers. According to the first assessment roll, there were but twenty-four tax-payers in the town. The amount of personal property assessed was $1,530 ; of real estate, $9,815.32 ; total wealth of the town, $11,345.32.

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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 111

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