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 119
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The fish go to the spawning races in October, this being the season for spawning. Then the males and the females are separated. There is no difficulty in detecting the sexes at this season, the female having quite a rotund form that the male does not possess.
After the hatching apparatus and the filtering tanks and boxes have been put in order, and the gravel to be used has been sifted to a proper size, and washed, boiled, and re-washed to destroy insect life, then begins the work of capturing the fish. This is done with nets made of coarse bagging, with appropriate frames and grooves, which are in proximity to the spawning beds.
The party who superintends the work takes the fish by hand from their place of captivity, and by means of a gentle pressure with the thumb and middle finger, the eggs, which average about one-sixth of an inch in diameter, emerge from the fish. The male fish is similarly handled. The eggs from the female are immediately placed in dry pans, this being the Russian method, and considered preferable to any other. In the pans about half an inch of water is placed ; the male fish is held over these, and the milt being gently pressed from him, and evenly distributed over the eggs, and thoroughly mixed therewith, the process of impregnation begins. All this preliminary work occupies less than a half-hour, and in this condition the material is transferred to the " nets " in the hatching troughs, which are simply little board brooks, ten or twelve feet long and one foot wide and which are divided into twelve compartments one foot square. These
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troughs are properly graveled and supplied with fresh cold water from a large spring but a few feet away. Each trough will hold about 30,000 eggs, about three-fourths of which hatch.
Within ninety days from the time the eggs are deposited in the troughs. the little fish about an inch in length, begin to appear. Up to this time all that is requisite is to keep the gravel where the eggs are deposited free from foreign substances and to remove any eggs that may from any cause lose life, as, if they are not removed within forty-eight hours, they will cause the death of many more. They are detected by the color, a dead egg being white, and a live one being of a pinkish shade. They must be supplied with pure water constantly, at an average temper- ature of 50°, and the light must be excluded while the hatching process is going on. Very soon after they hatch out, the troughs begin to become too contracted for the little finny tribes, and their food being chopped up fine for them two or three times a day, they develop rapidly, and at the end of a few weeks they are transferred to the rearing-boxes in finely woven nets or wire scoops, where they find more scope for disporting themselves.
From the rearing-boxes, the fish are transferred to the ponds, when great care must be exer- cised to keep the larger fish separate from the smaller ones, as they have naturally voracious tendencies, and destroy their younger brethren to an alarming extent when unchecked. To prevent this, the ponds are graded, so as to contain fish of pretty nearly the same size.
The food of the trout is pork, and beef liver, the beef liver being the best. The chopping or grinding apparatus is run by water-power. Here the liver is ground into an impalpable mass, then strained through cloth, the coarse part being fed to the large fish, the fine to the small ones. There are about 1,500,000 fish here now, according to estimate, varying in size from a third of the length of the little finger to two pounds or more in weight.
The Roman Catholic Church was the first in the town. and was originally a log structure, but has been rebuilt these many years. The Priest who presides here also attends to another church in Jefferson County. There are two Welsh churches on Section 30, one of which is called Bark River Church. A new church was recently erected and dedicated by the Bible Christian Society at Pond Island.
The first claims were made by T. C. Dousman, Mr. Orchard and George Hoskins. Orchard sold soon afterward to Justin Noble.
The present town officers are Henry Weiner, Chairman ; F. G. Tytherleigh and W. D. Owens, Side Supervisors ; E. M. Deck, Town Clerk ; Thomas E. Jones, Assessor ; Thomas J. Davies, Treasurer ; D. R. Davies, John Martin and William Blett, Justices of the Peace ; Walter Stewart and T. M. Edwards, Constables.
In 1845 or 1846, Messrs. Smith & Williams built a saw-mill here, the power being fur- nished by the springs. The mill was called the "Buttermilk Mill." As there was no pond in sight, it was said that the mill would be as apt to be run by that fluid as any other.
About sixty rods from the hotel is the only artificial cranberry marsh in this section. It was never flooded until the winter of 1879-80, and promises to become a success.
TOWN OF PEWAUKEE.
The town of Pewaukee, named after the lake within its borders, of the same name, called by the Indians Pewaukee-we-nink, is, historically speaking, the oldest town in the county, next to Waukesha. The Cutler brothers and Henry Luther passed the summer of 1834 in the town of Waukesha, but not the winter of 1834-35. In the spring of 1835, people began settling in Pewaukee within a few weeks of the time when the Cutlers and others returned permanently to Waukesha.
The town is in a rich and thrifty agricultural district, which is neither hills, swamps, nor prairie. It is composed largely of glacial drift, and therefore has a more thoroughly diversified soil than any other in Waukesha County. One farm may be excellent for fruit, the adjoining one for wheat, the next for grazing, and the next for meadows. This is a valuable characteristic in any town. Timber was originally found in goodly quantities, though Pewaukee never was as heavily timbered as some of the other towns. With good timber, a diversity of soil, excellent
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stone-quarries and plenty of water, Pewaukee is certainly a desirable town in which to own a farm and a home.
Pewaukee was set off and organized as a separate town by an act of the Territorial Legisla- ture, approved January 13, 1840. As will be seen by the following act, the town has no legal right to the name under which it now exists, holds elections, and transacts business :
Be it enacted by the Council and House of Representatives of the Territory of Wisconsin :
SECTION 1. That all that part of the Town of Brookfield, in the County of Milwaukee, comprising Township seven, north, of Range nineteen, east, be, and the same is hereby set off into a separate town, by the name of Peraukee.
It will thus be seen that the town was named "Perankee," and in subsequent acts of the Legislature-except those in regard to preserving fish in the lake, passed in 1866, and one relative to school moneys-the town is referred to as "Perankee." This may be safely set down as an error, though the historian has no means of knowing how the error, if such it was, occurred.
The first recorded town meeting or election was held at the house of E. P. Maynard, April 5, 1842. Asa Clark was chosen Moderator, and D. W. Reed, Secretary. A committee of five was appointed to report on the various sums necessary to defray the town expenses. The com- mittee decided that the Assessors, Highway Commissioners and Supervisors should receive each $1 per day for services; that the School Commissioners should receive 75 cents per day, and that the Town Clerk and Treasurer should receive such compensation as the Supervisors saw fit to allow. They also reported in favor of raising $200 for incidental expenses, and for levying a tax of one-half of one per cent on the taxable property of the town, for the support of schools. These resolutions were all adopted. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year : Morris S. Barnett, Chairman of Board of Supervisors; Asa Clark and Allen Clinton, Side Supervisors; David W. Reed, Town Clerk; Hamilton Nelson, Treasurer; Charles Bell and Seth Riford, Assessors; Israel W. Porter, Seth Riford and Waldo Rosebrook, Commissioners of Highways; David W. Reed, Thomas H. Olin and Timothy W. Lyman, Commissioners of Common Schools; John Nelson, Constable and Collector; Harvey Church, Sealer of Weights and Measures; Cromwell Hills, Overseer of Highways, District No. 1; James N. Heath, Over- seer in District No. 2; Seth Riford in District No. 3; D. W. Reed in District No. 4; Leland Crocker in District No. 5; Samuel Bissell, Hiram Wheeler and Spencer Allen, Fence Viewers.
The first road surveys recorded, occurred in June, 1842, Rollin Blount being the surveyor. There were six roads surveyed this year, and opened by the Commissioners. In 1843, the road districts were increased from five to nine, and in 1844, increased to thirteen. The total expenses for services of town officers and surveyor's fees and incidentals during 1842, amounted to $82.03.
The first election of Justices of the Peace was recorded in 1844, when Charles Bell, M. S. Barnett and C. L. Rockwood were elected.
In 1843, there were 130 school children, with a school fund of $150. There are now 806 pupils. In 1880, there was $3,720.62 appropriated for school purposes in five whole districts and nine joint districts. There were in 1843 four whole and two joint districts.
In 1843, there were 100 resident taxpayers in the town, with property assessed at $1,461.50, as follows: Isaac B. Judson, F. Jewett, Elon Fuller, Hosea Fuller, Hosea Fuller, Jr., John Seeley, John L. Bidwell, Allen Clinton, James Begg, Seth Riford, Marvin Reed, Frederick Forrest, G. Moulton, Daniel Moulton, James Tipple, Stephen Moulton, John Williams, James O'Hara, Thomas Johnson, J. W. Friend, John Nelson, Hamilton Nelson, William Love, David Root, Henry Reed, Charles Bell, T. Lyman Clark, Joseph Gauthie, B. Love, Isaac Smith, Henry Smith, John Austin, Daniel Aret, Samnel Bissell, M. S. Barnett, Abel Brown, James Buckner, Asa Clark, Leland Crocker, D. G. Deissner, R. K. Dye, Ansel McCall, Thomas G. Eggleston, J. F. Eggleston, W. C. Gates, S. F. Smith, Michael Graff, Abram R. Gale, Cromwell Hill, D. J. Heath, James N. Heath, Philetus Hurlbut, E. P. Maynard, Caleb Nanscawen, John H. Nanscawen, Joshua Nanscawen, Warham Nobles, Thomas H. Olin, C. C. Olin, Adam S. Putney, Israel W. Porter, G. W. Sturtevant, David Miller, Waldo Rosebrook, D. W. Reed, Cephas L. Rockwood, Isaac Sears,
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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.
Eleazer Scripture, Alexander Stewart, William Stewart, John M. Woodworth, Hiram Wheeler, Hiram H. Wheelock, Zebulon Bidwell, Nathan Graves, John Hodgson, Solomon Horn, H. Rupell, Robert Stewart, Elisha Lyman & Sons, Jesse Williams, Daniel McCall, Jackson Swift, Abraham Mead, Dieman, J. H. & H. C. Waterman, J. Kaye, Edmund Miles, John Wigginton, Lyman Goodnow, - - Clark E. Turner, Absalom Miner, Samuel S. Breese, Breese & Higginbotham, Milo Heath, Joseph Webb, - -- Bloor, Samuel H. Dougherty, Charles Bartlett. Among these, D. G. Deissner, owner of the saw-mill, was the heaviest tax-payer, being assessed $32.66, and Asa Clark, owner of the saw-mill at Pewaukee, with a tax of $21.49, was the next heaviest.
In 1844, a novel vote was taken, it being decided by ballot to appropriate $75 for the sup- port of the poor, if any be found in the town during the year.
The first settlement was made in the southwest quarter of Section 34, which is opposite Waukesha Village, by Elon Fuller, a single man, and Isaac B. Judson and his family. They made their camp, in June, 1835, on a gravel knoll near a sulphur spring, on the farm now owned by Henry B. Bidwell, quarter and section above named. This camp was their home until a log house was erected near where John Russell now lives, a short distance from the original stopping- place. Elon Fuller's present residence is only a few rods from the knoll on which he first lighted his camp-fire in Waukesha County.
In 1836, Zebulon Bidwell and his family settled on the farm now owned by the son, Henry B. Bidwell, Section 34. The next settler was probably Israel W. Porter, who built a dam near where Deissner's Mill now is, in 1836, and a mill in 1837.
At about the same time, John M. Woodworth settled in the south part of the town. Mr. Woodworth was a small man, and Cephas L. Rockwood, a Prairieville lawyer, was a very large one. The latter settled on one of the former's claims, and was ordered off, without success. Mr. Woodworth went out one day, and finding Mr. Rockwood preparing to build a log house, again ordered him to leave. He was still unsuccessful, and then began a series of strange and astonishing maoneuvers, jumping and squatting on all sides of Mr. Rockwood, standing on his head, making frightful grimaces and falling prone on his face with astonishing rapidity, the while keeping up an uninterrupted flow of gibberish which no one could understand. Mr. Rockwood thought Mr. Woodworth, who was always known as "Crazy Woodworth " on account of his strange actions, was possessed of a devil, and dropping his ax, took to the deeper woods, leaving the claim to the quasi juggler. Afterward, Mr. Rockwood had many a laugh over the novel manner in which he was frightened out of a claim.
In the vicinity of Pewaukee Village, T. Lyman Clark was the first settler, building or commencing a log house on the shore of the lake, a short distance above the present village. This was in June, 1837. A few weeks later Asa Clark, his father, A. M. Clark, his brother, and the balance of the family, arrived and occupied the house. The claim, including the water- power at the outlet of Pewaukee Lake, had been examined and secured by Asa Clark in 1836, who began the present dam, which is the road bed of the street, in 1837, and erected a saw-mill during the following year. This was the second saw-mill in the town, Israel W. Porter having begun one the year before, which was the second in the county.
The first death was Edgar T., a son of Ethan Owen, who was killed accidentally, in the winter of 1836, while at work in the woods. The accident was an exceedingly sad one, young Owen's head being split open by the blow of an ax in the hands of his brother.
The first Pewaukee couple who committed matrimony were probably Hamilton Nelson and Mrs. Caroline Eggleston, but they were obliged to go over into the town of Waukesha to find a person competent to tie the knot, which was done August 12, 1838.
The first house in Pewaukee was built for Isaac B. Judson, in 1835, Section 34.
The first chimney in Waukesha County was built by I. B. Judson in 1835, in Pewaukee.
The first thrashing machine in the county was built in this town, by Hamilton Nelson, now of Beloit, Wisconsin.
Mrs. I. B. Judson was the first woman in Pewaukee.
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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.
The first birth was Uriel P., son of Nelson Owen.
The first schoolhouse was probably built where Pewaukee Village is, in 1842. The first school-teacher was a young woman, who taught in Asa Clark's house. The first one to teach in the schoolhouse was probably Mr. Waterman, who was paid $12 per month.
Asa Clark erected the first flouring-mill at Pewaukee Village, which began grinding in 1845.
The first store in Pewaukee was kept by David Miller, at the village. He also distrib- uted mail gratis, the residents clubbing together to pay for fetching it from Waukesha, or some of them volunteering to fetch it free.
In 1839, Henry Bowers stabbed James O'Hara with a pitchfork.
Gardner Brown, of Summit, was killed by the fall of a tree, at Porter's saw-mill.
The dam for Deissner's flouring-mill was built in 1836, by Israel W. Porter. The saw-mill was built in 1837, and began sawing early in 1838. The saw-mill ceased to pay in a few years, and the Deissners erected a flouring-mill on the site. The mill is still managed by a member of the family and has a good business. It is a water-mill, that is, has water for its motor power, and is well equipped with modern milling machinery.
The first steamer on Pewaukee Lake was a rude affair, built by L. Ferris. It made only a few trips in 1866.
In 1873, N. P. Iglehart and J. M. Heath launched a screw propeller, but the engine was worthless, and the boat was made into a sailing yacht.
In the summer of 1873, N. P. Iglehart went to Oconomowoc and purchased the "Surprise," and chartered a special train of cars, on which he transported the boat to Pewaukee. Her owner now is Capt. Davy, and her name " Lady of the Lake." She is a side-wheel steamer with fifteen-horse-power engine, registered to safely carry 150 passengers.
The " Oriole " is another side-wheel steamer, owned also by Capt. Davy. The steamer " Lady of the Lake " was the making of Pewaukee as a summer resort.
The first hotel was opened at what is now Pewaukee Village, in 1844,by Theodore Sheldon. The building was erected by A. M. Clark, still a resident of the place, and was called the Pe- waukee House.
Asa Clark probably built the first frame dwelling house, at Pewaukee Village, in 1839.
Chauncey H. Heath was the first Postmaster, receiving his appointment from James K. Polk, in 1846 or 1847. The office was called Pewaukee, and was located at what is now Pewau- kee Village.
Matthias Schock built the first brewery in Pewaukee in 1876, not far from the village of Waukesha. It is of stone, 55x25 feet, and is called " Fountain Brewery." It is fitted with patent coolers, a fine cellar, large ice-house and all modern improvements. In connection with the brewery is a summer garden and beer-bottling works.
The town officers for 1880 are as follows : Supervisors-John Ross, Chairman ; August Jessie, J. W. Wilkins ; Town Clerk, Alexander Caldwell ; Assessor, J. A. Gauthie ; Treas- urer, Casper Linder ; Justices of the Peace, John W. Gentz, J. A. Griswold ; Constables, Alexander Parsons, F. W. Dick.
Pewaukee Village .- The first settler within the limits of the village was Asa Clark, a Vermonter known everywhere as Deacon Clark. The village is comprised of Section 9, and the east half of Section 8. It was originally claimed by the following : Asa Clark, southwest quar- ter of northwest quarter, and the south half of Section 9 ; S. T. Bolles, east half of Section 8, and east half of northwest quarter of Section 9; Lyman Griswold, northeast quarter of Section 9, and the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 9, by Lyman Morley.
The first house was one built by Asa Clark. The first frame house was built in 1839, by the same person for Abel Brown.
The first store after David Miller's pin and needle stand, was erected in 1844, by L. Swift. J. F. Morse remodled the structure, and C. McVean opened a large stock of goods in it.
Asa Clark was the pioneer in the lime business, building a kiln near the present depot in
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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.
1840 or 1841. The stone quarry, whence stone for the kiln was hauled, was opened on D. G. Ormsby's present farm. The credit of making Pewaukee a lime and stone-producing point to a large degree, is due to W. J. Bolles, who began to push the business about twenty-eight years ago. It is still a very important branch of business.
The first brick dwelling was erected in 1862, by R. Walker, and is now the residence of D. G. Ormsby.
The first Postmaster was David Miller, who had no commission, but simply allowed the mail of the " Pioneer Club Postoffice," to be kept in his store. The mail was brought to him from Waukesha by some member of the club. The first commissioned Postmaster was Chauncey G. Heath, appointed in 1846 or 1847, by President Polk. When the Whigs came into power, in March, 1849, President Taylor appointed S. T. Bolles to succeed Mr. Heath as Postmaster. B. F. Goss is the present Postmaster.
Israel Wheeler began wagon-making in 1841. The first real wagon-shop was started by Steele & Son. George W. Steele has since built a shop and continues in the business.
Village Incorporated .- The village of Pewaukee was incorporated by an order from David W. Small, Judge of the First Circuit, April 3, 1876. The first charter election was held May 2, 1876. At that and subsequent elections, the following officers have been elected : Presidents, S. T. Bolles, 1876-77 ; B. F. Goss, 1878; A. M. Clark, 1879; Joseph Bull, 1880. Trustees, A. M. Clark, J. H. Rhodes, B. Boorman, M. R. Hewitt, A. G. Alton, Thomas Quinlan, 1876; B. Boorman, B. Garrets, A. M. Clark, Thomas Shields, William Jones, 1877; T. Shields, William Jones, A. Labair, G. W. Steele, Jens Larsen, D. F. Cogswell, 1878; B. Garrets, A. Labair, M. C. Wilson, Thomas Shields, Joseph Bull, William Jones, 1879; Thomas Quinlan, Thomas Shields, M. C. Wilson, Robert Lowerie, G. H. Parks, Jens Larsen, 1880. Village Clerk, F. A. Heath, 1876; George Barker, 1877 ; R. R. Griffing, 1878 ; George Barker, 1879 ; J. B. Weaver, 1880. Treasurer, J. M. Heath, 1876-77 ; John Ross, 1878; A. L. Palmer, 1879-80. Police Justice, George H. Parks, 1876-77; George Barker, 1878-79; Frank McBean, 1880-81. Street Commissioner, J. H. Rhodes, 1876; J. Wildish, 1877 ; Stephen Weaver, 1878; John M. Heath, 1879; John Ross, 1880. Marshal, John C. Pope, 1876 ; Louis Passolt, 1877-78 ; S. B. Griffing, 1879; Louis Passolt, 1880.
In 1842, the first schoolhouse was built, where the Baptist Church now stands. It did good service, and accommodated a large number of scholars, until the present stone schoolhouse was erected. An exceedingly good village school is maintained here. The chapter on " Gen- eral Educational Interests" will furnish further statistics as to the number of students and kindred matters.
In 1876, B. F. Goss commenced on a cabinet of the eggs of North American birds. It now numbers about 260 varieties, and more than two thousand specimens. It is, doubtless, the largest collection of eggs in Wisconsin, and, in some respects, cannot be equaled anywhere. It is excelled by no private collection. Mr. Goss has also, while making a specialty of Wiscon- sin birds and eggs, made large collections from other States, for himself and various scientific societies.
Pewaukee Lake Mills .- This is one of the landmarks of Waukesha County. In 1837, the the dam was built across the outlet of Pewaukee Lake, by Asa Clark, and the following year, on account of trouble made by persons making claims near the lake, he secured an enactment of the Legislature, allowing him to maintain this dam, with six feet of water above the natural level of the lake. Mr. Clark built a saw-mill during that year, 1837, and got it to running. It stood where the Oakton Springs House bowling alley now stands. In 1845, after the stone quarry had been opened, Mr. Clark erected a stone grist-mill, three stories in height. The original building, with two additions erected by B. Boorman, still does service. After Asa Clark, this mill was owned by Cogswell & Davidson ; then again by Mr. Clark, who sold to Benjamin Boorman, in 1854. Mr. Boorman ran the mill until 1878, when he rented it to his sons, A. and F. Boorman. The water head is six feet, which runs a forty-inch Brooks wheel and three runs of stone. The mill has a steam engine, but it has not been required in five years. High
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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.
and low water come in cycles of about seven years each In 1857, the dam was swept away, resulting in a damaging flood to the country below. In 1879, Joseph Johnson, backed by sev- eral of his neighbors, began suit against the Boormans for damages to lands overflowed by the dam. Several similar suits have been begun, and always decided in favor of the mill owners.
Best Brewing Company's Ice House .- By far the largest building in Pewaukee is the ice house built by the Best Brewing Company, of Milwaukee, in 1878. It is 450x50 feet. From it, eight car-loads of ice per day are shipped, during the summer, to the breweries in Milwaukee. This, with the business of filling them, gives employment to a large number of men.
Pewaukee Lodge, No. 186, I. O. O. F .- This lodge was instituted December 12, 1869, with S. T. Bolles, James Ormsby, John M. Heath, D. F. Cogswell and John Dieman as charter members and first officers. The growth of the lodge was rapid, and its condition exceedingly prosperous. From this lodge have branched off the Bark River, No. 204, and Sussex, No. 205, lodges, which weakened it materially. In 1876, the lodge erected a fine two-story building, the upper portion being used as a lodge-room, and the ground floor for a public hall. The present officers are S. T. Bolles, N. G. ; R. Kensley, Secretary ; and the number of members about forty. There is a debt of $800 on the building, but the lodge has money to pay a portion of this. It is one of the finest lodge buildings in the county.
Congregational Church .- This church society was organized in 1840, by Asa Clark, Charles Bell, William C. Gates, Lyman Clark, and others from Lisbon. The church people of Pewau . kee and Lisbon met together and formed a church in 1840, and continued to so meet during four or five years. The Pewaukee people then took the records and perpetuated this old church, the Lisbonites forming a church in that town. ] Mr. Bell is the only one who is now living in Pewaukee of the original organizers. The first pastor who was settled at Pewau- kee was Mr. Bridgeman ; but the first preacher was Mr. S. Baker, who resided in Lisbon. He preached for this people even before a church was formed. The church edifice was erected in 1856 and cost about $1,500. The same building, repainted and repaired, is still in use. It is of wood. There are thirty-one members and a good Sabbath school. The present pastor is Rev. J. H. Cameron, who has been in charge during the past four years. He was preceded by Rev. George W. Sargeant, who preached here two years, although residing in Milwaukee.
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