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 87
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Oconomowoc Local .- On the 4th of September, 1874, the first number of the Oconomo- woc Local was issued, with F. W. Coon and A. C. Macrorie, publishers. Mr. Coon was fresh from college, the latter a practical printer; and, coupling the enterprise of these two young men, a newspaper was produced, that at once grew into public favor and secured a handsome patron- age. In the following summer, Mr. Macrorie withdrew from the paper, and the present editor has conducted it in the capacity of both editor and proprietor since that time. The Local was
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first issued as an Independent paper, but in the fall of 1875 it espoused the cause of Repub- licanism, which it has since sturdily adhered to. It has a good advertising patronage, and is one of the prosperous newspapers in the county. The subscription price is $1.50 per year, in advance, and advertising rates reasonable. A good job office is now in connection with the paper, and the proprietor prides himself upon turning out artistic work. The newspaper is issued each Friday morning during the year. It is an eight-column folio, and the only Republican paper in the north and north west portion of the county, and has an ample field in which to labor.
Wisconsin Free Press .- This is one of the influential, esteemed and well-patronized papers of the county ; has led, for a paper of its age, a very checkered career as well ; having been the victim of several tag and rag newspaper bobtails. The paper dates its initial number from May 15, 1875, and is indebted to C. C. Bowsfield, now a partner in the Milwaukee Evening Chronicle, as its founder. The first paper came before the public at a very inauspicious time, as the Oconomowoc Times, with Ashley D. Hager as editor, was in a flourishing condition, and the Oconomowoc Local had been established a little over ten months, and was also doing a fair business. The pertinent question was asked, what can Bowsfield do with his prodigious semi- weekly infant. Mr. B. made, as he termed it, an "ideal paper," and a nine-column, entirely home-manufactured, semi-weekly folio country newspaper was the result. The attempt was a bold one, and deserving of a better fate than befell it, for in the future, as the sequel proves, Mr. Bowsfield lost everything he had, and more.
In the salutatory, a brief summary of which is given, it is announced that the paper shall be devoted to the dissemination of local and general news and choice literature.
Its chief aim shall be the prosperity of the young city. That, although the editor expects to encounter incredulity and discouragements, nevertheless he launches out fearlessly, and shall publish, twice a week, nothing but valuable intelligence. He has an ideal which he intends now to illustrate, and he would rather make an ignominious failure than to publish a single number that the people would be ashamed of.
The dignity of the profession of journalism shall be maintained, in the columns that sparkle with independence, life, and spice.
In the discussion of all social and political questions, which come before the public, he shall take an independent and conscientious course, aloof from the behests, or dictates, of any man or party, and endeavor, at all times, to promote purity in legislation, the prosperity of all practical systems of education, and a higher standard of morality in our common life.
Mr. Bowsfield continued to issue the paper for two or more months, but at last the time came when, if he would avoid a collapse, he must get help. He sought help, which he obtained from Messrs. E. Hurlbut, C. M. Smith, and Chauncey L. Innis, who signed a note with him, secured by mortgage on his stock and printing fixtures, to obtain the money required, some $300. These gentlemen did this, not only from a feeling of personal interest, which the young man had aroused in his favor, but because they were public spirited, believing it would be a good thing for the city and community at large, to keep the paper running.
Mr. Bowsfield, with the money borrowed, managed to stem the tide for a time, but soon found himself in the same dilemma in which he had been before, and with less prospect of final success. Again he went to Mr. Hurlbut for funds. The money was advanced, but with some misgivings, for it certainly seemed to him that nothing less than a miracle could now save the institution from ruin. But he was determined that the young man should have another chance, whatever might be the result. After this, Mr. Bowsfield formed a partnership with R. B. Rice, a practical printer, who had been connected with the Commercial Times of Milwaukee. On the 14th day of August, 1875, one day less than three months from the time of starting, the first paper bearing the names of Bowsfield & Rice as associate editors and proprietors, was issued, reduced to an eight-column paper, but to be still published twice a week. In the saluta- tory it was announced, somewhat to the surprise of a portion of the readers, and to the gratifi- cation of the remainder, that " The Free Press will now take its place in the ranks of the Dem- ocratic Reform party of Wisconsin."
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The partnership had not gone on long, before Mr. Bowsfield discovered that he had not made a desirable acquisition, and he determined to give up the ship, which he did, leaving Mr. Rice in command.
Wednesday, October 6, R. B. Rice announced that the management of the paper had been taken by him, and would be maintained on the same platform. Mr. Hurlbut consented, being in hopes that he might get out of his newspaper interest. Moreover, the Presidential canvass was then brewing, and the Democratic party wanted an organ that would maintain the claims of their candidates. Mr. Rice was to continue the paper through the canvass, as it had been, in size and politics. He went on with the paper from this time until the following spring; but not having any money, was obliged to get help several times to pay for stock. This money came from the same source as the other. The last paper which Mr. Rice issued was on April 15, 1876, when, without warning, he went to Waukesha, and began working on the Plaindealer. Mr. Hurlbut, who was away at the time, returned and consulted with Mr. C. M. Smith, who had a tangible interest in the concern, and they decided that Mr. Smith should assume manage- ment. He conducted the paper from April 22 until July 8, 1876, at a loss of $150. He declares if " some one had not come along just at this time, and relieved him, he believes he would have pitched the entire institution out of doors." Charles A. Feistcorn, who claimed to have money from the sale of a paper in Blue Island, Ill., expressed a willingness to buy the Free Press, and finally, through Mr. Bowsfield, did contract for it. He took charge in July, 1876, but was not allowed to publish the paper as his until he had paid something on it. Mr. F. changed his tactics, by collecting all of the old outstanding bills, and adding to the list of advance paying subscribers, as largely as possible, and on September 20, while Mr. Hurlbut was away, determined upon a withdrawal of his forces. Mr. Hurlbut has not seen him since, nor the money collected for the paper. On Wednesday, the day following Mr. F.'s departure, Mr. Hurlbut returned, to find several disconsolate workmen about his office, wondering what was going to happen next. Said he, " Boys, go to the office, I'm going to run the paper." Just then Thomas Spence. former editor of the Waukesha Democrat, came in, and on invitation went to the office, and looked over the fixtures and stock, with Mr. Hurlbut, which they found entirely at sixes and sevens. Mr. Spence explained what was necessary to be done, and Mr. Hurlbut started for Chicago that afternoon, without saying a word to his townsmen about the trouble, and returned with a large stock of necessary articles the next day. The next Saturday, the paper appeared as usual, with the following salutatory address to the citizens, under the title " Absconded."
"Charles A. Feistcorn, late of this city, and former manager of the Free Press, having taken French leave for parts to us unknown, it becomes necessary for some one to take charge of the paper, who has a more substantial interest in its success than the mere dollars and cents realized from its publication from week to week. Consequently, here- after the paper will he managed and controlled by ns. We shall endeavor to act in perfect good faith with all the patrons of the paper, and contract no debts but which we are able and willing to pay.
The Free Press, as heretofore, will be a consistent Democratic Reform paper, with "no friends to reward nor enemies to punish ;" but truth and justice shall be its guide in all things. Everything that will tend to advance the welfare and prosperity of this city, county, State and nation will find a faithful advocate in us. Friends, take the paper, read it, and give it a fair trial ; then if you are not satisfied with it-stop it. EnWIN HURLBUT.
The " barn door," as the paper was at first called, was at last hung on a substantial hinge, and the people knew it; for when in the afternoon Mr. H. started out with subscription-book in hand. there was no lack of subscribers. He worked until 9 o'clock that night, and was re- warded by an addition of 111 names to the before meager list, and from that time, September 27, 1876, until the present, the Free Press has gained friends and influence. Mr. Hurlbut also reduced the price of the paper at that time to $1.50 from $3, per year. The office was also transferred from the old place, in C. M. Smith's block, to its present place, and throughout, a new order of things was instituted. Some time ago, an improved Fairhaven press costing $1,000 was purchased, the old Washington hand-press being too small for the largely increased busi- ness. Also, as have been needed at different times, the best appliances for labor saving and job printing have been added, until the office is now thoroughly equipped.
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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.
Pewaukee Standard .- As Pewaukee and vicinity began to become famous as a summer re- sort, with hotels, cottages, fishing grounds, springs and boats to be noticed and patronized, they felt the need of a newspaper. Various inducements were held out to whoever would locate a publi- cation office at that place, which resulted in the founding of the Standard, in 1877, by C. P. Smith. The paper, which was well received in the neighborhood of Pewaukee, was a six-column quarto, "patent on six pages, and Republican in politics. Mr. Smith soon received a good run of job work, and had a larger business than he anticipated. Finally, after the death of his father, he sold the good will and subscription list of the Standard to H. M. Youmans, of the Waukesha Freeman, in May, 1880, and the patrons of the former are served with the latter publication. Mr. Youmans maintains a Pewaukee department in the Freeman, and has an office in that vil- lage for the accommodation of advertisers and other patrons of the paper, so that the people of that village, although with a newspaper printed precisely on the ground, are still pretty well served. Mr. Smith now publishes a paper in Minnesota.
FRUIT-GROWING IN WAUKESHA COUNTY.
The first apples ever grown in Waukesha County, except the wild fruit, were probably taken from two trees planted by David Jackson, the first Postmaster in the county, in the village of Waukesha. These trees have long been dead. There were 112,982 apple-trees in orchards in 1879, of which 109,116 were of bearing size. The number of bushels produced was 54,822. Of pear-trees there were 1,684 of bearing size, which produced 1,321 bushels of mature fruit ; of grapevines there were 4,418 of bearing size, and 10,642 growing, which produced 1,684 bushels of fruit ; of cherry-trees there were 9,654 of bearing size-43,000 in all-which pro- duced 1,112 bushels of fruit. The product of smaller fruits, such as strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries and currants, was about 1,400 bushels for 1879.
Most of the apples and pears were grown in the east tier of towns joining Milwaukee County, which are from eight to eighteen miles distant from Lake Michigan. In the second tier west, some apples and pears were fruited. The third and fourth tiers had but little large fruit ; but their grapes and berries were good, and most all the smaller fruits were from those towns. More than one-third of the apple and pear trees are within the towns of Menomonee, Brookfield, New Berlin and Pewaukee. The towns having the least are Otawa, Summit, Delafield and Genesee, there being less than 12,000 trees for those four towns. Those towns are farther from Lake Michigan, and also have a peculiar soil. It is of the glacial drift more or less, and is not suited everywhere for fruit trees, except where there is more or less clay and a northern slope to the land, which are not on every farm. Yet Waukesha County can and will raise as much fruit as any county in the State, and perhaps as many different varieties as are to be found any- where in the State .. Owing to the great number of varieties, the amount of fruit is less than it should be, because many sorts are not suited to this climate, and will only grow for a time. Whenever we have had a very dry and hot summer or severe, cold winter, or both, old Eastern favorites will get killed, or hurt so they will not fruit any more. Now, if those varieties that are tender would be discarded, and trees substituted that are hardy and will bear well, we could, in a bearing year, furnish nearly 500,000 bushels of apples, besides those required for home use ; but that will never be, as there are so many worthless trees always imported to our coun- try, and set out year after year, that nearly one-half the trees growing cannot be counted upon to bear enough to pay for the room they take up, and the time spent to grow them.
A list of apples that have paid, and are hardy and profitable, are Duchess of Oldenburg, Wealthy, Fameuse or Snow, Alexander, for fall and early winter. For summer use Fetofsky, Washington or William's Favorite. For winter, Tolman Sweet, Pewaukee, Golden Russet, Westfield, Seek-no-Further, Ben Davis. This list can be extended, but it is the best-paying list, on as many years' trial as varieties named.
The soils for horticultural purposes are as follows : The east half of Waukesha County, which is in part, red, marly clay soil and limestone loam. A strip of land two to two and one-half miles in width, extends from northeast to southwest, belonging to the kettle range (and is of
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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY
glacial drift more or less), where all kinds of soil can be found, and where occasionally a very fine orchard could be grown with profit. Grapes and small fruits are at home on those lighter soils. The chief fruit grower of Waukesha County, is George P. Peffer, of Pewaukee, who furn- ished the two preceding paragraphs. A recent writer said of his fruit farm :
" He has one hundred and thirty-two varieties of apples, many of them on trial, but only twenty to twenty-five of them he recommends as sufficiently hardy for this climate. Among his forty-three varieties of pears, he considers but five of them adapted to this country. He has never lost a tree of the Flemish Beauty, and the Ananas d'Eta varieties, by frost. He is confi- dent they can be raised in this country without any danger of frost. Of his forty differ- ent kinds of grapes, he recommends but five for this climate. He has some thirty-three varieties of plums, but warrants from four to five kinds only. He raises his peaches from the seed, and has had remarkable success, having lost but two years out of twenty. His nursery consists of eighteen acres, and contains, besides a well-grown orchard, 35,000 apple-trees, 3,000 pear-trees, 6,000 plum-trees, 10,000 grape-vines, in addition to an almost endless variety of gooseberries, raspberries, strawberries, and all of the hardiest varieties."
WAUKESHA COUNTY THIEF-DETECTIVE SOCIETY.
This association of the property-owners of the county has been a valuable one to all con- cerned. Before its organization, scarcely a week passed that the newspapers did not contain reports of horses or valuable property being stolen ; but since it got into complete working order, thieving has been almost entirely unknown, especially in the neighborhoods where members of the association reside. Alexander F. Pratt, one of the best detectives who lived in this portion of the State, was the founder of the detective society. The first organization was formed in 1865, as the following call will show :
The Executive Committee of the Waukesha County Detective Society (which includes all the officers) will meet at the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Waukesha, on Saturday, the 14th inst., at 1 o'clock, P. M., for the purpose of adopting by-laws and rules for the government of the society. It is important that the officers shall all be present, as the success of the society will depend very much upon its by-laws, without which the society is no pro- tection to its members.
WAUKESHA, October 2, 1865.
G. C. PRATT, Secretary.
This did not result in such a complete and permanent organization as was desirable. The following, which is the present constitution, was adopted March 5, 1870 :
ARTICLE 1. This organization shall be known as "The Waukesha County Thief-Detective Society."
ART. 2. Its officers shall consist of a President, Treasurer, Secretary, and two additional officers, as an Execu- tive Committee, who shall be elected annually, and hold their offices until their successors are elected and qualified.
ART. 3. Any person may become a member of this Society by subscribing to the constitution and by-laws, and paying into the treasury $5.
ART. 4. The officers of the Society, including the Executive Committee, shall constitute an Executive Commit- tee for the transaction of business of the Society, with power to audit accounts and direct generally in all expenditures.
ART. 5. Whenever any horse, mare or gelding of the value of $30 or more, is stolen from any member of the society, it shall be the duty of each member to aid and assist in recovering it and capturing the thief or thieves; but no person shall be allowed pay for such services unless he acted by the advice and authority of the Executive Committee.
ART. 6. The Executive Committee shall have power to assess an equal tax upon all the members of the Society, for the purpose of defraying its expenses, or to pay for stolen property that cannot be recovered, whenever the same will be necessary, but shall never pay more than two-thirds the value of the horse, mare or gelding, which shall have been stolen, nor more than $200 for any one loss. Provided. That to entitle any member to recover compensation for stolen property, every loss must he notified to the President hereof within twenty-four hours after the same shall occur.
ART. 7. The headquarters of this Society shall be kept at the county seat ; but whenever twenty-five or more persons join the Society, from any town, except Waukesha, the Executive Committee may appoint a town committee of three, from those members, who shall have all the power within their town of the Executive Committee, except auditing accounts.
ART. 8. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to keep the funds of the Society in some safe depository, and shall not use or pay out the same for any purpose except upon the order of the Clerk, with the names of a majority of the Executive Committee indorsed thereon, and shall receive such pay for his services as the Executive Committee may direct.
ART. 9. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to record all proceedings of the Society in a book to be kept by him for that purpose, which book shall also contain the constitution and by-laws of the Society and the names of its members, and the Executive Committee may allow him for his services such compensation as they may deem proper.
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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.
ART. 10. The annual meeting of the Society shall be held at the court house on the second Monday in December, of each year, at 2 o'clock, P. M., and each member shall be entitled to a yote.
ART. 11. Special meetings of this Society may be held at any time whenever ordered by a majority of the Exe- cutive Committee, by giving notice in a newspaper published in Waukesha.
ART. 12. This constitution and by-laws may be amended by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at any regular meeting of the Society.
In 1870, A. F. Pratt, founder of the society, wrote as follows in his paper, the Plain- dealer : "Many of our farmers are not aware of the fact that we have a well organized and efficient county detective society, that insures two-thirds the value of all losses by thieves. Any person, by paying the paltry sum of $5 and signing the constitution, can become a mem- ber. Every farmer or business man should become a member. When it is understood that we have such an organization, with two or three hundred members to back it, no professional thief will ever come to this county to steal ; if he does, he'll certainly be captured, for MONEY WILL CATCH ANY THIEF. Among its members may be found the most wealthy and substantial farmers in the county. We have not the list of members before us, but among them are Capt. George Lawrence, A. C. Nickell, John Porter, M. Barber, R. B. McCumber, William Blair, Orson Tichenor, Daniel Brown, C. A. Blodgett, E. S. Purple, R. M. Jameson, John Aitken, W. R. Blodgett, Hendrick Gregg, James McDonough, Benjamin Smart, Andrew Snyder, and others."
Professional horse-thieves give this county a wide berth ; one horse was stolen soon after the society was organized, but it was recovered four miles from the place where it was taken. The treasury now contains $170 in cash, and the society is stronger than ever before. Its officers have been as follows : President-John Porter, 1870; A. F. Pratt, 1871-74; A. C. Nickell, 1875; John Porter, 1876-78; R. B. McCumber, 1879-80. Secretary-W. V. Tichenor, 1870-72; Frank H. Putney, 1873-75 ; R. M. Jameson, 1876-78 ; Orson P. Clinton, 1879-80. Treasurer-William Blair, from its permanent organization to date. The society has an Exe- cutive Committee composed of some the best men in the county, whose business it is to look after the general welfare of the organization.
OCONOMOWOC AGRICULTURAL, MECHANICAL AND STOCK ASSOCIATION.
Feeling the necessity of good accommodations for agricultural and stock exhibitions nearer home, the citizens of the northwestern part of the county held a meeting April 2, 1867 for the purpose of organizing an association, the chief object of which should be to advance the agri- cultural, mechanical and stock-raising interests of Oconomowoc and surrounding towns. It was resolved by those present that shares of $100 each per member, should be subscribed, to be used in a common fund for joint-stock purposes, and that a tract of eighteen acres be purchased from Cooledge Eastman and Calvin C. Palmer, the same lying south of the highway, and south of David W. Small's hop-yard, to be used for fairs as the association might designate. The charter members and shares taken were as follows, viz .: D. W. Small, one share ; G. Winton, one share ; A. B. Hale, one share ; William Wentworth, one share ; C. H. Hartwell, one share ; J. A. Henshall, two shares ; D. McL. Miller, one share ; D. H. Rockwell, one share ; A. C. Rockwell, one share; J. Weltner, one share ; Louis F. Rowell, one share ; Cooledge Eastman, one share; Samuel Buck, one share ; C. C. Palmer, three shares ; A. M. Bruce, one share ; J. C. Hitchcock, one share ; D. McArthur, one share ; Thomas Chandler, one share; E. W. Bar- nard, one share. On April 17, 1867, a meeting was held, and the following officers elected temporarily : President, D. W. Small ; Secretary, J. C. Hitchcock ; Treasurer, A. B. Hale ; Directors, Louis F. Rowell, C. C. Palmer, and Cooledge Eastman. The Directors and President were authorized to make such assessments, from time to time, on the capital stock, as might be necessary ; and on motion it was decided that shares should not, in the future, exceed $25. Fourteen shares represented, constituted a quorum for transacting business.
A short time after this, D. H. Rockwell, D. McL. Miller, and C. H. Hartwell, Ezra Wing and George A. Winton, were elected Vice Presidents, and it was decided that the Presi- dent and Directors already elected should conduct the affairs of the association, until a meeting of the Legislature, when they would obtain a special charter.
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During the summer, the fair grounds were fitted up, and inclosed with a fence from seven to eight feet high. The first annual fair of the association was held during the autumn of 1867. At the first regular election of officers, D. W. Small was elected President, and continued to be at each election ; J. A. Henshall, Vice President ; J. C. Hitchcock, Secretary ; A. B. Hall, Treasurer ; J. A. Henshall, L. F. Rowell and G. A. Winton, Directors ; and J. A. Henshall, L. F. Rowell, and D. W. Small, were appointed a committee to draft constitution and by-laws. By report of the President, July 25, 1868, they were in debt $1,300, and a resolution was adopted to levy an assessment on the shareholders and sell shares to pay this indebtedness.
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