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 88
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As early as 1870, it was thought best that the association grounds should be platted and sold to pay the debt on them, and the residue of the funds be employed to purchase cheaper and more lands, as the grounds then in use were not sufficiently large.
During the spring of this year a sum of money was borrowed to pay the indebtedness of the association. At a meeting of the stockholders, in December, 1871, a motion was made and car- ried, that the grounds should be surveyed and platted, and sold to the highest bidder. The lots were platted as directed, and sold to the highest bidder among the members of the association. The sale came off in July, 1875, and shares previously purchased applied on the purchase of lots. The fence and other property was sold by Mr. Hall as agent.
The last record of an election or other meeting being held was in April, 1876. After the division and sale of the property, the interest formerly sustained died out, and with it the society. During the existence of the society, agriculture, stock-raising, and kindred matters received an impetus which is illustrated by the fine farms and stock now to be found in this vicinity.
The benefits of such an organization cannot be too highly appreciated by any community. While the society was in operation, fine stock exhibitions and races were of frequent occur- rence, splendid annual fairs were given, and handsome prizes distributed ; now if the farmers, in- ventors, or stock fanciers would exhibit their productions, they must seek some other place where proper facilities for this purpose are furnished.
OLD SETTLERS' CLUBS.
There is hardly a county in the State where old settlers' clubs could be more easily organ" ized and maintained, and in which the age of their members would more fully entitle them to the name. Unfortunately, however, the two societies, which had brief but pleasant and profit- able existence in Waukesha County, are dead now, apparently past all resurrection. The papers presented by the members of each are made use of elsewhere; that is, those which have not been lost, or destroyed by fire.
Waukesha County Old Settlers' Club .- In December, 1870, several of the pioneers of the county had an informal talk about the desirability of an old settlers' club. This resulted in a call, which was circulated by various parties, until it assumed the following form and dimensions :
The old settlers of Waukesha County are requested to meet at the " Exchange,' in the village of Waukesha, on Saturday, February 4, at 2 o'clock, for the purpose of making arrangements for an " Old Settlers'" meeting. It is expected that this preliminary meeting will decide upon the programme for a large gathering.
F. Slawson, J. L. Gaspar, S. H. Barstow,
J. C. Snover,
Robert Curran,
John Gaspar,
William Blair,
James Bias,
M. D. Cutler,
John Sperber,
J. N. Woodworth,
John Burnell,
Isaac Smart,
Robert Crawford,
Sebina Barney,
P. D. Gifford,
Richard Smart,
David Rea,
J. H. Kimball,
Norman Shultis,
Benj. Smart,
Robert Begg,
S. McCumber,
M. L. Sayles,
N. Walton,
William Graves,
Silas Barber,
D. B. Sayles,
A. C. Nickell,
D. Gallagher,
Manville Barber,
P. Bannon,
Moses Tichenor,
E. W. King,
B. F. Chamberlain,
W. D. Bacon,
Vernon Tichenor,
James King,
I. M. White,
W. A. Nickell,
R. Mercer,
George Lawrence,
J. Stoltz,
Orson Tichenor, Elon Fuller,
J. G. Gredler,
H. Austerman,
Joseph Fuller,
James Pinkman,
F. R. Lyons,
W. S. Hawkins,
A. Donaldson,
W. S. Barnard, Andrew Aitken, C. Jackson,
I. Lain,
Henry Bidwell,
H. Totten,
Ira White,
A. Blackwell,
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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.
F. M. Putney,
C. Nohl,
I. M. White,
P. D. Murray,
John Patterson,
R. B. MeCumber,
James Murray,
J. W. Williams,
Henry Davis,
S. Silvernale,
A. A. Davis,
N. Burroughs, R. N. Kimhall,
R. B. Hammond,
John Wagner,
O. Z. Olin,
W. D. Holbrook,
E. S. Purple,
W. R. Williams,
G. Harter,
D. W. Reed,
N. Whicher, Josiah Moore, Lyman Goodnow, Zebulon Bidwell,
J. S. Baldwin, R. C. Robertson,
E. Gove,
J. Y. Watson,
Amos Goff, Martin Field,
D. Creighton,
William Rhodes,
A. Cowan,
E. S. Kellogg,
Amos Putnam,
L. B. Noyes,
L. Martin,
John Stockman,
John McKenzie,
H. Grimshaw,
Peter Mckenzie,
P. H. Carney,
Richard Jones,
H. Gregg,
Pitts Ellis,
F. B. Ward.
M. Deagan, William Kelley, John Magee, Thomas S. Reese,
Henry Frame,
J. I. Rehberg,
T. D. Cook,
Peter Van Buren.
Elihu Higgins,
W. R. llesk,
W. A. Vanderpool,
William Emslie,
S. Bennett,
John Aitken,
James Begg,
S. Ware,
A. Dingmann,
F. McNaughton,
O. M. Hubbard,
J. Austin Waite,
John Darling,
W. N. Lannon.
R. A. Waite,
D. Cameron, Aaron Putnam,
J. T. Walklin,
Hosea Fuller,
M. S. Hartwell,
Hosea Judson,
Ed. Allen.
Rial Rolfe,
C. S. Hartwell,
E. Enos,
Thomas Lambe,
James Weaver,
Dennis Hanna,
A. S. Putney,
A. B. Clifton,
Thomas Weaver,
M. Putney,
H. Colgrove,
William Weaver,
A. F. Pratt,
B. Carmichael,
W. P. King.
Dr. J. Smith,
G. C. Pratt,
John Graham,
J. M. Gavitt,
J. P. Story.
R. Dunlap,
A. M. Warner,
T. C. Dousman,
S. W. Warner,
James Davis,
Joseph Cook,
Joseph Bond,
W. H. Kendrick,
William Harland,
Newall Andrews,
Emanuel Cook, Thomas Cook.
The above call resulted in a meeting, of which the following is the official report :
At the meeting held at the Waukesha Exchange, on Saturday, the 4th inst. (February, 1871), pursuant to call published in the last issue of the Plaindealer, Alexander Cook was called to the chair, and E. Enos chosen Secretary. The Chairman stated the object of the meeting to be the making of the necessary arrangements for the organization, of an association of the early settlers of Waukesha County, and fixing the time and place of the first meeting of the association.
On motion of William Mcwhorter, the following-named gentlemen were appointed by the Chair a committee to report a plan for such organization, and to fix the time and place of the meeting as above stated : A. F. Pratt, Wau- kesha ; Elon Fuller, Pewaukee ; John Gale, Merton; James McDonough, Muskego ; R. C. Robertson, Vernon ; J. S. Nickell, Summit.
The committee reported, recommending that the first meeting of the Early Settlers Association he held in the afternoon and evening of February 22, 1871, at Waukesha, and also recommended the appointment of the following Committee of Arrangements for such meeting : A. F. Pratt, Henry Totten, A. Cook, William White and F. M. Putney, to which the meeting added William A. Nickell, Manville Barber, William S. Barnard and E. Enos.
On motion, a committee consisting of A. Cook, Frank H. Putney and E. Enos were appointed to draft a con- stitution for the association, to be presented for the consideration of the meeting, and also prepare a historical sketch of early incidents of the settlement of Waukesha County.
E. ENOS, Secretary.
A. COOK, Chairman.
According to the above recommendation, a very large and enjoyable meeting was held, in Robinson's Hall, in the village of Waukesha. It is well described by the Secretary's official report, which is as follows :
ROBINSON'S HALL, February 22, 1871.
Meeting called to order ; Alexander Cook in the chair ; E. Enos, Secretary. The proceedings of the prelimi- nary meeting was read. The report of Committee on Constitution and By-Laws was read, and after some discussion
0). Howie, Francis Thompson, Moses Bryant, C. S. Hawley, A. Cook G. A. Hine, H. H. Hunkins, James Hunkins, Lucien Clark,
E. A. Church, W. L. Wright, M. Wright, James Wright, James Welch, J. F. Peffer,
James Stewart, William Stein,
James Murphy,
John Murphy,
J. J. Murphy,
M. J. Bovee, W. R. Bovee,
J. Q. Watson,
G. M. Barney,
C. T. Deissner,
H. J. Deissner,
J. Hadfield,
William Smith, James Poole,
W. W. Worden, J. W. Thomas,
John Remington,
Thomas Spence, Ed. Porter,
A. J. Frame,
A. Fender,
C. Vanderpool, Henry Hunkins, A. C. Vanderpool,
George Whitmore, George Howard, H. Smith,
Patrick Higgins,
John Waite,
H. G. J. Palmer, Hastings Hunkins,
S. Moulton, E. W. Jenkins, Patrick Fox, James Moore, Patrick Cullerton,
R. L. Gove,
J. J. Punch, Amos Smith, William Toner, John Blackburn, William Sugden, Thomas Sugden,
C. P. Silvernale,
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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.
was adopted. Enrollment of names was then begun by calling the towns. The Waukesha brass band then played several tunes. Permanent officers were then elected, as follows ;
President-L. Martin, Vernon. Vice Presidents-A. F. Pratt, Waukesha ; E. Hurlbut, Oconomowoc ; J. C. Molster, Merton : James Weaver, Lisbon ; William R Hesk, Menomonee; John D. McDonald, Summit ; Stephen Warren, Delafield ; Elon Fuller, Pewaukee ; S. G. M. Putney, Brookfield; T. C. Dousman, Ottawa ; Thomas Sugden, Genesee ; William L. Parsons, New Berlin ; A. R. Hinckley, Eagle; S. Andrews, Mukwonago ; L. Ellerson, Muskego. Secretary-I. N. Stewart, Pewaukee. Treasurer-H. H. Hunkins, Waukesha. The President appointed the following Executive Committee-L. Martin, Chairman; E. Enos, I. Lain, Sebina Barney, William Blair, W. A. Nickell.
The Committee on Constitution reported the following, which was adopted :
SECTION 1. The name of this society shall be " The Old Settlers' Club of Waukesha County."
SEC. II. The objects of this club are to revive and foster sentiments of kindly feeling and good fellowship among the old settlers of this county, and to gather and preserve incidents connected with its early history.
SEC. III. Any male inhabitant of this county, who shall have resided in the Territory or State of Wisconsin for twenty years, may become a member of this club by subscribing to this constitution, giving the date of his settlement, and paying an initiation fee of 50 cents ; and each member shall have the privilege of recording the female mem- bers of his family as honorary members of the club.
SEC. IV. The first class shall be composed of all those whose settlement dates prior to the year 1840, and shall be known as "The Pioneers ; " the second class shall be composed of all those whose settlement dates between the years 1840 and 1845 inclusive ; the third class shall be composed of all other members of the club.
SEC. V. This club shall meet once in each year at the county seat at such time as the Executive Committee shali appoint.
SRC. V1. The officers of the club shall be a President, one Vice President for each of the towns in the county except the one from which the President shall be chosen, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and Executive Committee of such number as the by-laws of the club may prescribe.
SEC. VII. The officers of this club shall be chosen annually by the members at their regular meeting, and a majority of all the votes cast shall be necessary to a choice.
SEC. VIII. This constitution may be amended at any regular meeting of the club by a two-thirds vote of the members present.
The following by-laws were also reported and adopted :
SEC. I. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at the meetings of the club, and preserve order, and he shall be ex officio, the Chairroan of the Executive Committee.
SEC. II. It shall be the duty of the Vice President to assist the President in the discharge of his duties, and in his absence the Vice President having the oldest settlement shall act as President pro tem.
SEC. III. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep a record of the proceedings of the club, to file and preserve all historical sketches and other papers presented to it, and keep a register of the members of the club and their age, nationality and date of settlement ; his records, books and papers shall always be open to the inspection of the members of the club.
SEC. IV. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to receive all moneys paid into the club, to keep a true account of the same, and to pay them out upon the order of the Pre-ident.
SEC. V. The Executive Committee shall consist of five members, and it shall be their duty to make the necessary provisions for the annual meeting of the club, and to hear, audit and allow claims.
SEC. VI. No subject of political or sectarian character shall be discussed before the club.
SEC. VII. The annual dues of the members of the club shall be 25 cents.
SEC. VIII. Every member of the club shall subscribe his name to the constitution and by-laws of the club, and duly observe the same.
SEC. IX. Upon the death of any member of the class designated as " Pioneers." it shall he the duty of the Secretary to notify the members of the club of the death of such member, and of the time and place of burial.
Fred W. Monteith then read a sketch of the early settlement of Muskego. After some discussion by the " old 'uns" as to times, places, and men, he read a letter from Hon. J. D. McDonald, of Summit, giving this 'gentle- man's early experience. The cominittees of Eagle and of Merton furnished summary histories of their respective towns. A. E. Gilbert and Judge Field followed with an account each of his own town, New Berlin and Mukwonago. Club then adjourned to supper, which was furnished at the Exchange and the American. In the evening, the hall was well filled with old settlers, and a fair sprinkle of young settlers. All enjoyed themselved in the dance or social chat as suited their fancy.
I. N. STEWART, Secretary.
This club held three meetings-all pleasant and more or less profitable-but nothing has been done toward reviving these annual gatherings during six or seven years, and it is feared never will be.
Bark River Valley Old Settlers' Club .- The old settlers of Hartland, Pewaukee, Mer- ton, and vicinity, held a preliminary meeting at the Burr Oak House, at Hartland, February 3, 1870, having in view the permanent organization of an old settlers' club. There were seventy- three persons present, and all had a very enjoyable time.
The second meeting was held on Thursday afternoon and evening, January 12, 1871, at the same place, when 124 of the old settlers of Waukesha County put in an appearance, and became
C
A.o. Perkerio
MUKWANAGO. .
579
HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.
members of the club. The meeting was called to order by Stephen Warren, Esq., President, and the following resolutions adopted :
Resolved, That the male member of this club who is the oldest settler, shall be the President, until removed by inability or death ; and that the male member of the club, who is the next oldest settler, shall be Vice President, under the like conditions.
Resolved, That a Secretary be chosen for the current year.
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed, whose duty it shall be to determine when and where each annual meeting of the club shall be held ; make the necessary provisions for attending funerals of members, and pro- cure circulars, and see to their distribution ; collect statistics, and arrange any and all matters, for the information and edification of the club ; such committee to act for the current year.
Resolved, That the members of the club be assessed for any amount necessary to defray the incidental expenses for the current year.
The following persons were chosen officers of the club : Ralph B. Allen, President ; Thomas Redford, Vice President for Lisbon ; Stephen Warren, Vice President for Delafield ; C. G. Williams, Vice President for Waukesha; W. C. Gates, Vice President for Pewaukee, and F. S. Capron, Vice President for Oconomowoc; Chauncy Simonds, Secretary, and Elisha Pearl, Treasurer. On motion, it was decided to hold the next annual meeting at Hartland, the second Thursday in January, 1872.
One who was present, and who seems to have been well fed, furnishes the following description of the supper, which is always a prominent feature of all pioneer gatherings :
" At 7 o'clock, P. M., business was dropped, and all hands turned into the dining hall of our friend, and prince of hotel-keepers, G. W. Nourse, whose genial disposition, gentlemanly conduct and qualities eminently fit him for the position of landlord. But while the outside arrangements were so admirably conducted, Mrs. Nourse presided with a queenly grace over that more difficult and delicate department that is always counted first at a hotel, the satisfying of the inner man. No one escapes her attention, and a welcoming recognition is sure to greet all of her guests.
" The tables were loaded down with the substantials of life and all those delicacies and dain- ties which melt upon the tongue and ravish the palate with delight. But oysters stewed, and oysters fried, and oysters pickled, and oysters raw, were the favorite dishes. Until 10 o'clock the caterer held sway, and well did he do his duty. Then the crowd assembled in the hall and took up that order of business that all were so much interested in, the relation of historical incidents and reminiscences of pioneer life.
" Messrs. Thomas Redford, James Weaver, Ralph B. Allen, Rev. E. H. Chapin, Rev. N. A. Spooner, M. L. Skinner and Chauncy Simonds addressed the club with such hearty good will, eloquence, and relation of witty anecdote, that the audience were loath to break up the meeting, even at the midnight hour. Several gentlemen presented written accounts of the early settlement of the towns in which they live, which were left with the Secretary for publica- tion.
"The meeting was a complete success. The more of such gatherings we have, the better."
The second was also a successful meeting, as were one or two following ones ; but as the novelty wore off this interest seemed to die out, and the Bark River Valley Old Settlers' Club is now a thing of the past. Most unfortunate of all, however, was the destruction by fire of the records of the club, at the burning of the depot at Hartland.
The following communication to this club, from the first Circuit Judge for the circuit of which Waukesha County forms a part, will be interesting to pioneers everywhere :
MILWAUKEE, Wis., January 20, 1872.
D. H. ROCKWELL, Chairman :
DEAR SIR :- Your proposed gathering carries me back through nearly twenty-eight years, to my first acquaint- ance with Waukesha County forests, which then covered many a field that has long since yielded to the plow; and faces were then youthful and forms erect that now bend under a snowy covering. All is changed. It would require a hook to record all the instances of courage, enterprise, perseverance, and privation which have brought about these changes. One of the greatest difficulties, perhaps the greatest met with in those pioneer days, was the want of good roads. The roads to Milwaukee, your chief market, were not only unimproved, but some seasons, nearly im- passable Who does not remember being "stuck in the mud" in the Milwaukee woods? It cost nearly all a load of wheat would sell for to drag it through from Oconomowoc to the lake. But during the year 1848, the plank-road
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580
HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.
(thanks to its enterprising builders) was opened, to the great benefit of both city and county. Not only Waukesha, but Dodge, Jefferson and Dane Counties shared largely in this improvement, and the prices of lands and produce rose together.
In the grand march of improvement, railroads soon followed. Waukesha could have got along without them, but the rest of the State could not. We all well know what they have done to benefit the whole country. Give them their due ; they are the offspring of civilization. But while they have monopolized the business of carrying passengers and freight they must be guarded and watched ; though useful as servants they may be bad masters, and must be made to feel and know that there is but one sovereign, the people. Looking back at many changes and im- provements which twenty-eight years have effected, I am filled with pride and admiration. So rapid has been the growth of the country far and wide, that we scarcely realize the advancement that has been going on under our own eyes. I remember, when I was a boy, in Saratoga Co., N. Y., one man, who was said to be worth five or six thou- sand dollars, was looked up to as the richest farmer in the town. Probably twenty-eight years ago there was not a farmer in Waukesha County who was worth as much over and above his debts. Now we count farmers by the score, and hundreds, in every town, who are worth from five to fifty thousand dollars. If property confers bliss, your peo- ple ought to he very happy. The old settlers of Waukesha County did not bring to their new homes a miser's spirit, but they did bring prudence, pluck, good sense and strong arms, and they made good use of them. They know and appreciate the uses of wealth ; they have provided their farms with all the best agricultural implements furnished by modern invention, and they have surrounded their homes and filled their houses with comforts and luxuries ; they have erected factories, schoolhouses and churches, and have connected their material prosperity with intellectual culture and a wholesome moral and religious sentiment. Such is the scene which will present itself to the old set- tlers when they come together to exchange greetings and renew their friendship on Tuesday next. Well may they look back with pride and satisfaction at the work of their own hands, while they thank God for His manifold bless- ings upon them and our common country.
May they live long to enjoy the fruits of their labor.
Please offer the following sentiment in my behalf : The old settlers of Oconomowoc, Summit, and vicinity-they have made their heritage what it is, let their successors better it if they can.
Very respectfully yours, LEVI HUBBELL.
PREMIUM FARM.
During the year 1860, premiums were offered by the State Agricultural Society for the three best farms in the State, and a committee was appointed to travel through the country and visit the farms of the different applicants, to decide on their merits and report on the condition of the country generally. During that year, the year before the " late unpleasantness," it will be remembered by farmers that grain crops were never better throughout the State ; so the report of the Commissioners was a glowing one. They placed the yield at twenty-five bushels per acre on the average. This created a great amount of criticism throughout the Eastern States, and finally Ohio sent a person to see if the report was not exaggerated. Contrary to their expecta- tions, he said the crops were underestimated.
Among the applications was one from Mr. Edgerton, who then owned the tract now known as the Van Brunt farm, in Summit, and who entered it in 1837. When the Commissioners came on they found the buildings comparatively nothing to what they now are, there being only a rambling one-story house, such as farmers sometimes build by piecing on to the first old log house in every direction, until nothing is to be seen of the original structure but the chimney (and maybe not that) and the interior. Of outbuildings, there was a carriage-house, built in a substantial manner, of stone, the upper part being dedicated as a chapel, to gratify the wishes of Mrs. Edgerton. This was the only chapel in the neighborhood until the little Church of St. Maria was erected, a short distance east of the house, on land which belonged to the farm. Beside the carriage-house, there was a large pantry, with cellars for milk, a cheese-room, smoke- house, ashery, etc. There were three stone buildings, gothic in style, fronting toward the south, and connected by wooden structures. These buildings were the only ones on the farm worth mentioning. But the farm itself was, as it now is, almost perfect. To attempt to describe it as it then appeared would be impracticable, as it has since been largely improved in every par- ticular, by the expenditure of about $25,000 by Mr. Van Brunt, who came into possession of the property in 1873. The farm is one mile long and half as wide, and is intersected by but one public road, which runs through it from east to west, leaving one-third on the south side, and the remaining two-thirds on the north side, on which are erected the splendid family man- sion and capacious outbuildings. Directly back from these buildings, a lane runs north, divid- ing this part of the farm in the center, by which the fields, twenty acres in area each, are reached on either side, in a most convenient manner. This part of the farm is devoted principally to
581
HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.
raising grain and grasses. About sixty acres of the southern third of the farm, on the west, are covered by a fine forest, besides seven acres in the northwest corner. The remainder of this portion is divided into fields and used principally for pasturage. The farm is splendidly watered by Bark River, which starts in on the eastern central side and runs southwesterly almost across it, having a gravel bottom. To get anything like a fair idea of the real beauty and complete natural, as well as artificial, arrangement of the place, one must go up into the cupola of the house. From this point a fine view is obtained of this superb farm and the magnificent country around, than which nothing better or more beautiful can be found anywhere. The surface soil is a rich loam and limestone marl, mixed with a very little sand and gravel, which has a heavy clay subsoil, and is therefore well adapted to various agricultural purposes.
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