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 93

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 93

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The above extract shows more the esteem in which John Hodgson was held in Waukesha County, and the influence he carried, than the details of his life. His father was the steward of a famous estate near Scarborough, England. On the death of his father, the oldest son, older than the subject of this sketch, succeeded to the position of steward, in which he natur- ally " put on some airs." He issued orders to young John at one time which were not obeyed, and thereupon proposed to inflict a flogging upon the brother, who resented being made a menial. John then went to his mother and declared he should leave England. Whatever could be said to prevent so young a lad, for he was only sixteen, from going alone into a strange country, was urged, but to no purpose. His mother therefore prepared him for the journey. John had always been a pet of the surveyors, and had thus acquired a complete knowledge of the busi- ness, and also of mathematics, in which science he was a prodigy. This surveyor, when his young friend was about to sail, packed a trunk. with such books as he thought would be most useful for him in the New World-among them the best works on surveying.

The young Englishman arrived in Detroit in 1827, and began at once to look over the country, his purse suffering the while, until nothing was left for his support but the chest of books. In this strait he began a search for work. Seeing a sign, " Gen. Lucius Lyon, Sur- veyor General of the Northwest Territory," he walked in and asked for Mr. Lyon. He had addressed that gentleman in person. This took away every particle of the penniless English lad's courage, and instead of talking about surveying, as he intended, he meekly inquired if a chore-boy was wanted. One was wanted-he must go up to Mrs. Lyon, who would engage him. He was engaged to milk, care for the horse, prepare the wood and do general work, although he knew nothing about such labors. His place was the kitchen. In that room no light was provided except such as the fireplace afforded. John, after his work was done, would start a blazing fire and lay down upon the hearth to peruse the books his old friend sent. Night after night for a month or two this programme was repeated, when, one evening, Gen. Lyon entered the kitchen and found him thus engaged. He walked up to John, reached for the book and took notice of its title. "What do you know about the contents of this book ? " he asked. John replied that he knew all about them. "Can you work this problem ? " queried the sur- veyor. John said he could. A slate was brought, and the chore-boy wrought out whatever prop- osition or problem was offered, and with such rapidity as showed a master mind. "Who are you ? " demanded Mr. Lyon. "I am John Hodgson," said the lad. " But what does this mean ? This is a rare work-the most elaborate ever published. Who are you ? How came

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you to know all about this book ? Where are you from ?" Thus the astonished official plied his young chore-boy with questions, finally learning his history. John was asked if he would like to go into the office. He would. Mrs. Lyon objected at first, saying he was the best chore-boy they ever had ; but her husband settled the matter by saying that John " knew more about surveying than he did himself." And John entered the office. After remaining two or three years with Gen. Lyon, Mr. Hodgson went to Cincinnati and entered the land office. There he worked by the piece. His . companions would always quit when they had earned $3 per day, which required from three to six hours, but he never left his work until he had earned $10, which required from twelve to sixteen hours per day. This ambitious industry characterized all his after life.

In 1834, Mr. Hodgson came to Wisconsin and surveyed until 1838, when he returned to Michigan for a brief period. In 1842, when he located on his farm in Pewaukee, he had entered nearly 9,000 acres of land. He entered the land on which Eagle and North Prairie stood; a large portion of the site of Geneva, in Walworth County, where he built the first dam and saw-mill, and large tracts near Madison, in Dane County, as well as in various other localities. He thus became a very wealthy man by his own efforts and good management.

In 1861, Joseph Bond was nominated for State Senator. A few days later, John Hodgson was nominated as his opponent, by the Republicans. As soon as Mr. Bond learned of this, he refused to make the canvass, and wrote Mr. Hodgson that he would support him ( Hodgson ) for Senator. Mr. Hodgson received all the votes cast, except about 200, in the county.

While mass meetings were being held to recruit for the Twenty-eighth Regiment during the war, Mr. Hodgson made a stirring speech, which will always be remembered by all who heard it, and which he closed with these words : "To the government of the United States I am indebted for protection, both to person and property, and I gladly yield whatever I have that is required to maintain that government."

From 1862 until his death, Mr. Hodgson was a member of the Board of Managers of the State Industrial School for Boys. He died at " Derwent Farm," his home in Pewaukee, Decem- ber 22, 1869, aged fifty-seven, and the procession that followed his remains to their last resting- place was the largest one ever seen in Waukesha County.

ALEXANDER W. RANDALL.

The subject of this sketch was born in the village of Ames, Montgomery Co., N. Y., in the year 1819. After passing through his school days, a comparatively brief but successful period of his life, he read law, and was admitted to the bar at the age of nineteen. Soon after he emigrated to Wisconsin, locating at Prairieville, now Waukesha, in 1840. He commenced the practice of his profession and had a large share of business, which he managed with success.

He returned to Canajoharie, N. Y., in the summer of 1842, where he married Miss Mary C. Van Vechten, daughter of Herbertis and Susan Van Vechten. He returned in a few weeks with his bride to Waukesha, where they continued to reside The death of Mrs. Randall occurred in the fall of 1858. Mr. Randall continued to make Waukesha his home until 1865. Their only child died in 1852, in the ninth year of her age.

He devoted so much of his time to politics that it interfered considerably with his legal practice. Mr. Randall was originally a Democrat. He was always zealous in the cause he espoused, and a working member in the full sense of the term, of the party with which he acted. His first office was that of member of the First Constitutional Convention, in 1846. He took a prominent position in that body. In 1848, when the Free Soil movement was inaugurated, Mr. Randall was prominent in that movement. He did not, however, long harmonize with that party, but soon fell back into the ranks of the regular Democracy.

In the fall of 1854, Mr. Randall was elected as an Independent Democrat to the Assembly of the State, and gave the casting vote that elected Charles Durkee United States Senator. He became, afterward, a recognized Republican, and in 1855 ran on the State ticket of that party for Attorney General, but was defeated with the rest of the ticket. In the gubernatorial contest

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between Barstow and Bashford, he acted as one of the attorneys for the successful contestant, Bashford.

In 1856, Gov. Bashford appointed Mr. Randall Judge of the Second Judicial Circuit Court, composed of the counties of Milwaukee and Waukesha, which position he filled with great credit to himself, and to the public's satisfaction. In 1857, he was nominated as the Republican candi- date for Governor, and was elected. He entered upon the duties of Governor on the 1st of January, 1858, and discharged them so satisfactorily to the people that he was re-elected in the fall of 1859.

His second term carried him through the year 1861-the first year of the war. He proved himself a very able war Governor. The ability, energy and boldness with which he labored for the service gave him a national reputation. He was known everywhere as the "war Governor of Wisconsin." In 1861, Mr. Randall was a candidate for United States Senator, but was not elected. At the close of his second term as Governor, Lincoln appointed him Minister to Rome. In 1865 he was appointed Assistant Postmaster General. Mr. Randall afterward, upon the res- ignation of William Dennison as Postmaster General, was placed at the head of the Postoffice Department, which position he held until the close of Johnson's administration. This was his last official position. He afterward opened a law office in the city of Washington and had a lucrative practice. He died at his residence in Elmira, N. Y., July 26. 1872.

The following proceedings, had by the Village Board of Waukesha and a mass meeting of citizens, are taken from a local paper, and are self-explanatory :

At a special meeting of the Village Board of Waukesha, called at 11 o'clock A. M., this 27th day of July, 1872 for the purpose of taking appropriate action on the death of Hon. A. W. Randall, the following preamble and resolu- tions were unanimously adopted :

WHEREAS, The sad tidings have reached us of the death of our former honored fellow-citizen, ex-Governor Alex- ander W. Randall, at Elmira, New York, on the 26th inst., and

WHEREAS, In these tidings we recognize that the hand of Providence has removed from earth a man useful to his generation, of true nobility of character, and whose name will ever be held in honor by the people of the great State of Wisconsin, to the advancement of whose interests he gave a great portion of his life and talents, and espe- cially by his old neighbors at Waukesha, who knew and found canse to admire him ; therefore,

Resolved, That this hoard recommend that a public meeting of our citizens be held at Robinson's Hall this even- ing at 7:30 o'clock, to express a public appreciation of our great loss, and that it is further recommended that our merchants and business men close their places of business from 9 A. M. to 12 M. on Monday, July 29, 1872, and that the several clergymen of the village he requested to have the bells of their respective churches tolled between the hours of 9 and 10 o'clock, A. M., Monday, July 29, 1872. F. H. PUTNEY, Village Clerk.

At a meeting of the citizens of this village, hield at Robinson's hall on Saturday evening. July 27, 1872, to take action on the occasion of the death of our late fellow-townsman, Alexander W. Randall, Elihu Enos was called to the chair, and R. L. Gove elected Secretary. The Chairman briefly stated the object of the meeting. Remarks suited to the occasion were made by A. Cook, Rev. Aitchison, John Gaspar, Richard Dunbar and others. On motion, a com- mittee of nine was appointed by the meeting, as follows : A. Cook, Robert Dunlap, S. A. Randles, R. Dunbar, Vernon Tichenor, Samuel G. Curtis, R. L. Gove, E. Enos and W. D. Bacon, to draft resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting. The following funeral exercises were decided upon : That service be held at the Baptist Church at 10:30 o'clock A. M., Monday, July 29; ringing of the church bell at 9:30 o'clock, tolling of the bell at 10 o'clock, to con- tinne until 10:30 o'clock : procession of citizens to form at the Exchange corner during the tolling of the hell, and proceed to the church, where funeral exercises will take place in the following order : Singing, prayer, reading of the Scriptures, report of the Committee on Resolutions, remarks by resident clergymen and citizens, singing, bene- diction.

E. ENOS, Chairman.

R. L. GOVE, Secretary.

Adjourned meeting of the citizens at the Baptist Church, Monday, July 29, at 10:30 A. M. Meeting addressed by the Chairman and order of exercises announced ; singing by the choir; reading of the minutes of Saturday even- ing; prayer by Rev. Blackburn ; reading of the Scriptures by Rev. Camp ; report of the Committee on Resolutions, reported by their Chairman, A. Cook, Esq .:

Resolved, That we, citizens of Waukesha, from the time of his earliest manhood to a recent period the home of the late Hon. Alexander W. Randall, as long his acquaintance, associates and friends, here met to pay the tribute of respect to his memory, look upon his career, from the time of his taking up his residence at this place, just after attaining his majority, without pecuniary resources or the aid of influential family connections, attaining a command- ing position at the har, a seat in the State Legislature, the position of Judge of this circuit, the Executive chair of the State for two successive terms, the position of Minister at a foreign court, and finally gaining the confidence of the Executive head of the nation so fully as to be invited to the head of one of the Executive Departments of the National Government, being thereby made one of his confidential advisers on all questions of Executive responsibility and duty, evidences a degree of talent, culture, ability, tact and winning personal address very rarely found com- bined in equal degree in any one individual.

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That if ambition seeks, as it justly may, expressions of confidence, appreciation of ability and honesty of pur- pose, he has enjoyed enough and more than enough to satisfy the most lofty, from his immediate neighbors, from the people of his State at large, and from the people of the nation, as expressed through their representatives in official position.

That, as Governor of this State, at the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion, his executive ability in the discharge of luties devolving upon him, new to himself and to all others not trained to military life, of organizing, equipping and forwarding to the field of action the regiments sent from the State, challenged and received the admi- ration of the people, irrespective of party.

That the time and the circumstances of his entering the councils of the nation as Cabinet Minister-the Rebel- lion having been recently subdued, and having left eleven States in a state of chaos, to be reconstructed and brought to their original standing in the restored Union, and especially the reorganization of the functions of his own depart- ments in those States, demanded the exercise of profound knowledge of human nature, far-seeing sagacity, the broad- est philanthropy, and the fact that his discharge of those duties met the general approval of the country is of itself clear proof of the possession of all the qualities requisite to the highest order of statesmanship.

That we, without respect to party, and having the opportunity, from the close intimacy of an acquaintance and neighbor for many years with the deceased, with marked satisfaction point all men to the fact that while his trusts were many and responsible, in no instance has he ever failed to fulfill, with fidelity and ability, in every respect, every public trust committed to him.

That in sorrow and in grief at the occasion of our meeting, the pleasure of recording our high appreciation of his character as a citizen and a neighbor is still toned with the saddest mourning.

That we here, and while they are standing by his open grave in a distant State, tender to his bereaved widow and heart-stricken relatives our warmest sympathy in the loss which they have sustained in the death of a brother, a son and a husband, and the country at large by that of one of its most honored citizens.

The Milwaukee News, his political enemy, had this to say of Gov. Randall, on the day of his death :

" Our telegraphic columns contain the not unexpected announcement of the death of ex- Gov. Randall at his home in Elinira, N. Y., aged fifty-three years. Few men in their physical aspects have better promise of a long and vigorous life than Gov. Randall, but an acute disease which seized him a brief time since rapidly exhausted his vitality, and has prematurely, as it were, taken him from our midst.

" We have not the material at hand to write an accurate biography of Gov. Randall, and, if we had, the brief time allowed, and the narrow limits of one issue would fail to do the subject jus- tice. Such a biography would be a tolerably full political history of the Territory and State of Wisconsin. A man of ability, gifted as a speaker, and with a taste for politics, general and personal, there have been few political campaigns of importance in Wisconsin in which Gov. Randall has not been a prominent and efficient actor.

" Gov. Randall's career sufficiently proves him a man of marked ability, of devotion to his convictions and courage in maintaining them. In private life he was a man of pure morals and sound character-a genial member of society, a steadfast friend and by no means an implacable enemy.

" His death will be generally mourned as a public loss, while to many it will be felt keenly as almost a private and personal calamity."

If there ever was a jovial, fun-loving person, Alexander W. Randall was that one. To recount his jokes and tricks would fill a volume. No one escaped from them. He made the most of every opportunity, and there was not a man in the State who had come in contact with Mr. Randall who could say he had not been the object or subject of the War Governor's inveterate joking. Mr. Randall was no aristocrat. He was a friend to all.

ORIENTAL EVANIC ORDER OF THE 1,001.

The famous " Oriental Evanic Order of the 1,001," was not the indescribable offspring of Waukesha County as has been claimed, but was started in Grant or Iowa County, Wis., and in 1848 Robert M. Briggs gave it to the public. It was not at first even approximately as elaborate, ridiculous, funny, indescribable and popular as in later years, but the plan of it was such that it grew with wonderful rapidity, especially after Mr. Briggs, then Grand Segnior, introduced the order into the Legislature at Madison, in 1849. At that time nearly all of the members were initiated and carried enthusiasm for the order to their various portions of the State.

In 1849, Andrew E. Elmore, William A. Barstow and Alexander W. Randall met in Wauke- sha and determined to form a branch for Waukesha County. An organization was accordingly

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formed by electing Mr. Elmore, Grand Segnior, and William A. Barstow, Pilot. Alexander F. Pratt, Elihu Enos and Harrison Ward aided the three just mentioned, in founding the order in Waukesha County.

No pen or brush can paint the astonishing things done in this order. The highest men, financially, socially and politically, in Wisconsin, were initiated, and the " sublime order of 1,001 " made the word "initiated " the most comprehensive one in the English language. It conveyed every thing the wildest and most abnormal imagination could invent. The first initia- tion in Waukesha County took place in a building located where Carney's Opera House now stands, in 1849, and later they took place in the court house, in W. D. Bacon's stone building, and anywhere a secure room could be had. The ritual, than which no more astounding or side- splitting book ever was published, was written by Andrew E. Elmore. It so far surpassed every other one then extant, that the " Elmore Ritual " came into general use. Under it the greatest, most modest, most refined, most distinguished and most able men in the country did things they never have told of, and never will. The order existed in Waukesha County during a number of years, until all the men of prominence in any direction had been initiated. Some of them were so disgusted with themselves that they could hardly live.

Some men joined because they had been led to think that by so doing they could get higher prices for pork or whatever they had to sell. Others joined because the assessor was a member, and they thought he of course would favor members of the order ; others to secure more custom, to get office, and for every conceivable reason-all due to the extravagant but earnest and solemn promises of the fun-loving members, who thus secured large numbers for initiation. The initia- tion was all there was of the order; and scores of men who were stripped, branded. bounced, yoked, doused, made a sled of, whirled, tossed into the air, made to drink nauseous decoctions, wear shoemaker's wax for weeks in the hollows of their feet to "draw out meanness," carry asafœtida in their pockets to " counteract immoral tendencies," have their hair greased to pre- vent foot-rot in sheep, and do numberless other outlandish and humiliating things, never went near the lodge-room after the first night, being completely saturated with unutterable disgust. But those who did return night after night to take part in the initiation of new candidates undoubtedly had " more fun," as they still maintain, than was ever had by any set of men in any other manner.

To recount all that was done would fill a volume like this ; therefore this brief account, which will serve to remind those who were members, of the meaning of " A. M. A .; " and to per- petuate that symbolic term, which was the pass-word, will be all-sufficient for the purpose of this work.

POLITICAL PARTIES.

Waukesha County, during many years, was the acknowledged leader, for both parties, in all political contests. The genius of politics seemed to be enthroned here, and the men who were its embodiment for Wisconsin directed the hosts from their homes in Waukesha. They were not politicians merely, for this county has furnished her full share of men to fill high State and Federal positions. The two accounts here presented were prepared by members of the respective parties-that of the Democratic party by an old Democrat and the other by a lifelong Repub- lican and Libertyite. The latter is lengthy and covers wide ground ; but it is a history more or less of both parties, and will be found interesting and valuable.

DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

In the earliest days of the county there was no organized party, although the United States Government was in the hands of the Democrats ; and all the officers in the Territory of Wisconsin, where politics were taken into consideration in making appointments, were Democrats. There- fore, had there been any politicians at all in the country, the members of the Democratic party might have formed a party organization which, in view of the fact that the offices were to be had from that side of the house, and that the number and importance of them were constantly increas- ing, would have been strong enough to have retained supremacy for an indefinite period. But

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such a state of affairs was foreseen by no one at that time. The people here were poor. They had left the land of wealth and political parties to establish homes, and, whenever any public action was taken in their new country, it was in regard to the formation of a town, the erection of bridges, or pertaining to some other purely local interest, into which it would have been wholly impossible to inject anything of a political nature, and for which all labored with a common zeal. About the first parties were " Sweet " and " Kilbourn," or canal and anti-canal. Finally, in 1843, the General Government gave the Territory power to choose her own justices, sheriffs, etc., in the different counties, and then began the first real interest in political parties. There had, previous to this time, been little or no formal organization of the Democratic, or any other party, and the claim that the first formal organization of the party in Wisconsin occurred at a gathering of prominent men in Prairieville, since Waukesha, is probably a just one. Certain towns, like the towns of Prairieville and Milwaukee, which had begun to assume some size and importance, had before this divided on party lines in choosing supervisors ; but the divisions were loose ones and of limited extent. Finally, when Milwaukee County had been divided and Wau- kesha County erected and fully organized, it became evident to the people of the latter that they were a little kingdom all by themselves, where political parties might do battle, win victories and suffer defeat. Then politics, for the first time, received such attention as they had in older coun- ties, and always have, since that time, received here. All the interests for which the people in the sixteen towns which now compose Waukesha County had labored had been settled in their favor, and the citizens now had time to squabble for the offices among themselves. And they did it right royally ; there have been some as spirited and able election contests in Waukesha County as were ever known anywhere, for the leaders of the various parties were men accustomed to succeed ; and, having worked side by side in previous years for common county interests, they knew each other's methods, and understood precisely what kind of fighting must be done to win, now that they were enemies. When Waukesha County was organized the leaders of the Demo- cratic party were substiantially as follows, the other parties being Whig and Abolition, or, as it was afterward called, Free Soil : William A. Barstow, Alexander F. Pratt and Alexander W. Randall-a big team, if there was any-of Waukesha ; Andrew E. Elmore and Joseph Bond, of Mukwonago ; John C. Snover and J. Bottomley, of Eagle ; William E. McClure, Henry Weiner, and P. Lifferdorf, of Ottawa ; Orson Reed and John D. McDonald, of Summit ; John S. Rock- well, of Oconomowoc ; Francis McCormick, of Merton; James Weaver and W. H. Thomas, of Lisbon ; William R. Hesk and William. Costigan, of. Menomonee ; Andrew Proudfit, Albert Alden and D. K. Warren, of Delafield; Robert Stewart, of Pewaukee; J. W. Brackett, of Brookfield, and others, who have since become more prominent in these and other towns than they then were.

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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 93

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