The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, Part 101

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899, [from old catalog] ed; Western historical company, chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1104

USA > Wisconsin > Columbia County > The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement > Part 101

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

671

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

quite thoroughly canvassed among the leading citizens and heavy tax-payers of the city, and the general opinion seemed to prevail that the better plan would be to organize anew under a city government, and accordingly, on the 6th of January, it was unanimously resolved, by a full board, " that a charter be drafted to incorporate the city of Columbus, and that it be made the special order of the next regular meeting.

A petition was drawn by the Clerk, circulated and generally signed by the prominent men and tax-payers within the proposed corporate limits. On the 20th of January, 1874, it being the next regular meeting of the Village Board, " the special order " was taken up. A city charter, in the mean time, in the main, had been agreed upon. The boundaries, however, had not been fully determined. For a number of reasons, it was thought best to extend the limits to embrace the south half of Sections 11 and 12, the west half of Sections 13 and 14, and the north half of the north half of Sections 23 and 24, provided that the persons living on the same were willing, and the board adjourned till the 21st. The parties were seen and nearly all acquiesced in the proposed change. At the meeting of the board, January 21, several of the prominent citizens were present. Amendments were proposed and considered. Suggestions were made, and the board adjourned till the 22d. The petition, in the mean time, was publicly circulated and generally signed, not by people outside the proposed city limits, but by actual residents, by those most interested.

The charter was finished on the 23d. A memorial of the Village Board to the Legislature was also prepared. Mr. Huggins, President of the Village Board, and E. E. Chapin were authorized to repair to Madison with the memorial and bill, and procure the necessary legisla- tion thereon. February 3d, the memorial was introduced into the Senate, when that order of business was reached; likewise the " bill to incorporate the city of Columbus." The bill was read the first and second times and referred to the Committee on Incorporations. The bill, being very lengthy, was not printed till Thursday afternoon, February 5, and was laid on the desks of members on the morning of the 6th, at which time all the extra copies of the printed bill were obtained for the purpose of distribution. These copies, some seventeen of them, were distributed among the residents as soon as possible, that errors might be corrected, amendments proposed, and the charter perfected as near as possible while the same was before the committee, who had agreed not to report it back till the next week.

On the 9th, the board met, at which time nearly every gentleman with whom the printed bill had been left appeared and suggested amendments, corrected errors, and aided in perfecting the bill for its passage. At this meeting, Messrs. Huggins, Chadbourn and Chapin were appointed a committee to appear before the Senate Committee on Incorporations, on the 12th, with the proposed amendments. At the morning session of the Senate, "a remonstrance of the citizens of Columbia County against a bill to incorporate the city of Columbus " was presented, and on the afternoon of that day the committee appointed by the Village Board appeared before the Senate Committee on Incorporations, and presented the several proposed amendments, also urging a favorable report from the committee. The Chairman of Town Board of Supervisors also appeared before the Senate committee, and was decidedly opposed to the whole thing.

On Tuesday, the 17th, the Senate committee reported the bill baek, unanimously recom- mending its passage, whereupon it was ordered engrossed for a third reading, and on the 18th it passed the Senate unanimously, and was messaged to the Assembly and passed without a dis - senting vote. On the 23d, it was reported correctly enrolled, and on the 24th was signed by Lieut. Gov. Parker, messaged to the Assembly, signed by Speaker Bouck, returned to the Senate, then sent to the Governor, who, after a careful, critical reading, approved the bill on the 26th, when it became a law, and thus Columbus became a city, a municipal corporation by the name of "the city of Columbus."

In accordance with the provisions of the charter, the boundaries of the city were set off as follows: The south half of Section 11. the south half of Section 12, all of Section 13, all of Section 14. the north half of the north half of Section 23, and the north half of the north half of Section 24, all being in Town 10, Range 12. The above-described territory was divided into

672

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

three wards, and it was provided that elections be held the first Tuesday of April in each year. Section 2 of the charter provided that " the elective officers of said city shall be a Mayor, a Treasurer, an Assessor and a Police Justice, elected for and by the city at large, and three Alder- men ; one supervisor, to represent his ward in the Board of Supervisors of Columbia County ; one Justice of the Peace and one Constable, to be elected by and for each ward." A subsequent amendment to the charter repealed the clause providing for the election of a Police Justice, and the duties formerly devolving upon that officer, are now performed by the Ward Justices. The city officers elected since the incorporation are :

1874-L. J. Sawyer, Mayor ; H. Rowell, Police Justice ; H. D. James, Treasurer ; John C. Hoppin, Assessor. Aldermen-First Ward, R. W. Chadbourn, E. D. Kanouse, Joseph Schaeffer ; Second Ward, John Hasey, J. S. Manning, Frank Huggins ; Third Ward, C. A. Colonius, J. Topp, Frederick Hanneman. John Topp removed in July, and A. G. Cook was elected to fill vacancy. City Clerk, C. L. Dering; Marshal, O. M. Dering. Justice of the Peace-Third Ward, E. V. Briesen. (Other Justices of the Peace did not qualify.)

1875-L. J. Sawyer, Mayor; Michael Adams, Police Justice; W. G. Bresec, Treasurer ; John C. Hoppin, Assessor. Aldermen-First Ward, R. W. Chadbourn, E. D. Kanouse, Joseph Schaeffer ; Second Ward, John Hasey, J. S. Manning, D. C. Davies ; Third Ward, A. G. Cook, F. Hannemann, August Krause. City Clerk, E. V. Briesen ; Marshal, O. M. Dering. 1876-W. M. Griswold, Mayor; Michael Adams, Police Justice ; Chas. A. Colonius, Treas- urer ; H. A. Lueders. Assessor. Aldermen-First Ward, R. W. Chadbourn, E. D. Kanouse, M. G. St. John ; Second Ward, John Hasey, J. S. Manning, D. C. Davies; Third Ward, A. G. Cook, F. Hannemann, August Krause. Alderman Krause removed out of the ward in May, 1876, vacancy not filled. City Clerk, E. V. Briesen ; Marshal, Alfred Miller ; Justice, E. V. Briesen, Third Ward.

1877-0. E. Cornwell, Mayor; M. Adams, Police Justice ; C. A. Colonius, Treasurer ; L. Birdsey, Assessor. Aldermen-First Ward, W. G. Bresee, E. D. Kanouse, M. G. St. John ; Second Ward, John Hasey, D. C. Davies, August Krause; Third Ward, H. C. Fields, C. Ulm, F. Hannemann. City Clerk, E. V. Briesen ; Marshal, A. McConnell; Justice, First Ward, Hy. Annis (for one year).

1878-0. E. Cornwell, Mayor; C. A. Colonius, Treasurer ; L. Birdsey, Assessor. Alder- men-First Ward, W. G. Bresee, E. D. Kanouse, M. G. St. John ; Second Ward, John Hasey, R. D. Vanaken, August Krause; Third Ward, H. C. Fields, C. Ulm, F. Hannemann. Citv Clerk, E. V. Briesen ; Marshal, A. McConnell ; Justices-First Ward, H. Annir ; Third Ward, E. V. Briesen.

1879-0. E. Cornwell, Mayor ; C. A. Colonius, Treasurer ; L. Birdsey, Assessor. Alder- men-First Ward, W. G. Bresee, E. D. Kanouse, R. W. Chadbourn ; Second Ward, John Hasey, R. D. Vanaken, August Krause ; Third Ward, H. C. Fields, C. Ulm, C. Leitsch. City Clerk, E. V. Briesen ; Marshal, O. M. Dering.

1880-0. E. Cornwell, Mayor; C. A. Colonius, Treasurer; L. Birdsey, Assessor. Alder- men-First Ward, W. M. Griswold, E. D. Kanouse, R. W. Chadbourn; Second Ward, John Hasey, R. D. Vanaken, August Krause ; Third Ward, C. Ulm, C. Leitsch, J. A. Erhart. City Clerk, E. V. Briesen ; Marshal, H. W. McCafferty ; Justices-First Ward, J. R. Decker ; Third Ward, E. V. Briesen.

The original plat of the town of Columbus, embracing the four corners, the town pump, and a few acres, has from necessity been extended in either direction, and now covers hundreds of acres. Instead of only "the cross roads," are now scores of streets lined with maple, elm, linden and poplar shade trees, at sight, beautiful and attractive. Modest dwelling-houses, hand- some cottages and splendid mansions, surrounded by lawn, trees, shrubs, flowers and cultivated gardens are now seen, in place of the rude structure and unbroken, uncultivated soil of early days.

673

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

PLATS AND ADDITIONS.

From the records at the Recorder's office, in Portage, it appears that the first plat of Col- umbus, called Ludington's Plat, and containing Blocks 1 to 9, was recorded in Brown County, on the 11th of November, 1844. The next plat made was of Ludington's Addition, Blocks 10 to 13, recorded in Columbia County Angust 6, 1849. On the 3d of October, 1850, Mr. Ludington made a second addition to the original plat, covering Blocks 14 to 19. In 1869, all that portion of this addition lying between Blocks 17 and 18, and as much as had been purchased by the railroad company for depot purposes, was vacated. Other additions have been made, as follows : Birdsey's Addition, Blocks 1 to 9, January 3, 1854; Birdsey's Addition, Blocks 10 to 27, June 4, 1855-Blocks 20 and 21, vacated December 1, 1868 ; In- galsbe's Addition, April 9, 1856; Farnham & Co.'s Addition, June 25, 1856 ; Mills' Addition, July 3, 1856-vacated March, 1861; Manning's Addition, in August, 1856; Warner's Addi- tion, September 29, 1856-vacated December 1, 1868, all except Blocks 1 and 5; Williams' Addition, March 4, 1857-all but Blocks 1, 15 and 29, vacated, in March, 1861; Warner & Fuller's Addition, May 12, 1857-vacated in 1868, except Block 6 : Whitney's Addition, April 28, 1857 ; Thyng's Addition, August 8, 1857; Laura Gibbon's Addition, October 28, 1858; Butterfield's Addition, 1878.

The plat (J. T. Lewis) of the village of West Columbus was recorded June 10, 1854, in Vol. 10 of Deeds, on pages 107 and 208, in Register's office of Columbia County. The plat of Lewis' First Addition to the town of West Columbus, recorded August 8. 1856, in Vol. 17 of Deeds, on page 324.

THE COLUMBUS POST OFFICE.

Reference to this subject takes the pioneer back to the period when the only communica- tion between Columbus and Beaver Dam was a mere Indian trail and the only means of trans- portation the backs of Indian ponies. Before the establishment of the postal route from Green Bay to Madison there existed a primitive line from Aztalan to the portage. Letters were dropped at Columbus by the carrier, who made the distance on horseback, and when any of the residents went to the " village of the mounds " they brought back letters to such of the neighbors as were fortunate enough to have any addressed to them. Late in 1845, a post office was estab- lished at Columbus with a weekly mail. There was an animated contest as to who should be the first Postmaster. The friends of Col. Drake and those of H. A. Whitney were equally active and made every exertion in their behalf. The latter, however, received the appointment. He shortly after went to the pineries on business, and in his absence the duties of the office were performed by Sylvester Corbin, more familiarly known in after years as "old Hyson." Corbin carried the mail about the place in his hat, except when ont with his gun hunting prai- rie chickens. On such occasions, he would leave the contents of the " office " with Gov. Lewis. The first post office was kept in a low, flat-roofed building which stood nearly opposite the pres- ent site of Schaeffer's brick block, and which subsequently became une of the out-buildings of the Whitney House. F. F. Farnham, who came to Columbus about this time, thus describes it : "The apartment was partitioned by the aid of blankets, and in the room lay 'old Hyson ' prone upon a bed, shivering with the ague. In one corner stood a barrel of whisky, a grocery much in vogue in those days, and in another was a 7x9 glass box, the contents of which consti- tuted the post office, which the inquirer after mail rummaged at his leisure.'

Josiah Arnold next became Postmaster, in the spring of 1847, and kept the office in a building which stood where the store of Bassett & Davies now stands. Arnold was familiarly known as "Captain Spraker " by reason of his connection with the famous "Old Guard," an organization more un-matrimonial than military. James E. Eaton is the next on the list. He was appointed in Fillmore's time, and is said to have been a cousin of that President, who wrote asking him what appointment he desired. He chose the incumbency of the Columbus Post Office. He was Justice of the Peace and kept the two offices together in a building which stood on the

674

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

lot afterward occupied by the harness-shop of J. A. Erhart. Eaton went to California in 1850, having resigned in favor of D. F. Newcomb, who shortly afterward removed the office to Griswold's store. Addison Griswold became Postmaster under President Pierce, but Mr. New- comb remained with him for some time and attended to the business. The office was after- ward removed to the building which then stood where is now situated John Swarthout's brick drug store. When Buchanan's administration came into power, A. G. Cook became the appointee and removed the office to the present site of Winler's jewelry store, into a building which had formerly been used by Mr. Farnham when Register of Deeds, and which was moved from its original foundations to make room for Farnham's old red store, which was in turn mnoved to Sargent's corner, to make room for Schaeffer's brick block. In 1859, Mr. Cook built what is now used as a millinery shop by Mrs. Dering and removed thither. Under Lin- coln's first administration Frank Huggins was made Postmaster. When he first took possession he occupied the structure formerly used by Griswold as Postmaster, but in 1868 he moved the office into his new drug store. In May, 1869, John Swarthout was appointed to the posi- tion of Postmaster, and has held the office ever since, his long tenure being evidence of his ability. The Columbus Post Office was made a money-order office in 1867, the first order being issued September 9 of that year. Frank Huggins. the Postmaster, was the remitter and W. D. Ogden, of Chicago, the payee, the amount being $10. The number of orders issued up to March 31, 1880, is 18,415. H. D. James, who has been Assistant Postmaster for nearly twelve years, furnishes the following interesting statistics, which are in marked contrast with the num- ber of letters it was the wont of "old Hyson " to carry in his hat: "The number of letters received at the office delivery during the year 1879 is estimated at 72,125; postal cards at 35,420. Number of letters mailed, 63,480; postals, 32,540. The number of stamps sold was 8,470 1-cent, 1,756 2-cent, 56,738 3-cent, 921 5-cent, 416 6-cent, 592 10-cent, 83 15-cent, 41 30-cent and 24,391 postal cards ; stamped envelopes 11,410 and stamped newspaper wrap- pers 2,307. The discrepancy between the amount of postal cards sold and the amount mailed is caused by the large number mailed by traveling men which are furnished them by the houses for which they travel.

THE SCHOOLS.

The citizens of Columbus enjoy school privileges excelled by few cities in the State. These educational advantages were not attained all at once, nor without much effort. There is a fund of local history associated with their growth. It is said that Columbus never possessed a log schoolhouse. That rough cradle of learning, which many distinguished men recall in the glamour that memory throws around boyhood as their only alma mater, never reared its rugged exterior in the community. The old schoolhouse which stood on Ludington street was built in 1846, at a cost of $400. It was the scene of many varying events, often doing duty as a church, town hall, etc. Political harangues and religions exhortations, and much very far from kin to the latter, found voice within its walls. It saw festivity and mourning, and is itself fast coming to grief.

In this seat of learning a school-meeting was held in November, 1849, at which J. J. Guppey was Chairman, and F. F. Farnham, Clerk pro tem. On that evening, pursuant to a notice, an election for district officers was held, and Robert Mills was elected Director; J. T. Lewis was elected Treasurer, and H. S. Haskell, Clerk. At that same meeting, several resolutions passed which may be of some interest at this date, by way of comparison ; $10 were voted to procure seats for the schoolhouse. It was voted to have four months' winter school, with a male teacher. On the succeeding page is a report of the District Clerk to the Town Superintendent, which states that on the 1st of September, 1850, there were residing in the district (No. 2) forty seven male and forty-five female persons. between the age of four and twenty years ; that sixty-six pupils attended during the winter term, and sixty-two during the summer; E. E. Randall taught four months, and Agnes N. Butts five months ; the former was paid $100, and the latter $56; the amount of money received from the Town Superintendent was $91.50, and the amount raised by the district was $80. The text-books used during the school were Sanders' Speller,

675

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

Sanders' Series of Readers, Rhetorical Reader, New Testament, Colburn's Arithmetic, Morse's Geography, Smith's small Geography of the Heavens, and Comstock's Philosophy.

By way of contrast, let us examine the report made by the Clerk of the district, in Au- gust, 1868. We find that there were then residing in the district 296 male and 321 female persons, between the ages of four and twenty, and the total number of pupils who attended dur- ing the year was 455. The school property in the district was appraised at $9,500, and during the year, the district paid to a male teacher $960, and to female teachers $1,637, a total of $2,597.

In running over these musty pages, we discover the names of several persons, spoken of as teachers, who have since become quite prominent before the public-Garrit T. Thorn, since then a Senator from Jefferson County, once taught in the old schoolhouse, as did John A. Elliot, since State Auditor of Iowa, and Dr. Laura D. Ross, who afterward took so active a part in the woman's rights movements, and several others.

In 1853, the number of males between four and twenty years was 100, and of females 185. The number who attended during the year was 173, and the total expenditure was $321.50.

At a meeting held in February, 1856, the expediency and necessity for building a new schoolhouse was considered. It was resolved that J. T. Lewis be authorized to apply to the Legislature for the passage of an act authorizing District No. 2, of Columbus, to loan money of the school fund, and that C. W. Dean, C. E. Rosenkrans, A. G. Cook, W. W. Drake and William McCracken, be a committee to confer with the State Superintendent of Schools and others, respecting plans and expenses of a suitable school building. In a resolution immedi- ately following, the proximity of the Milwaukee & Watertown Railroad to the then site of the school is the only reason assigned for erecting a new building. But it was not until 1857 that the contest concerning a new building was fairly opened ; and it was among the liveliest passages- at-arms ever known in the community. It continued and waxed hot, until about January, 1859, when the contract for building was awarded. Meetings were held in that interim, sometimes on alternate nights. There was occasionally manifested a careless audacity concerning the require- ments of parliamentary law. The records, however, give little idea of the real animation of these occasions. According to the minutes, it was first voted to raise $3,000, for a building and site, and a committee, consisting of A. G. Cook, C. E. Rosenkrans and William M. Lewis, was appointed to select the latter. Two weeks after, it was voted to authorize the purchase of a portion of Newcomb's Nursery lots, and a fortnight later the vote was rescinded, as was also the vote to raise $3,000. This was in November, 1857. In October, 1858, another special meeting is recorded, when it was again resolved to procure a site and erect a union schoolhouse, the site to be the Newcomb lots, and $2,000 to be raised. A building committee, consisting of A. G. Cook, J. B. Folsom, F. M. Black, William L. Lewis and F. F. Farnham, was appointed, to procure land and contract the building, not to exceed $6,000 in cost. On November 20, suc- ceeding, the adverse party called a meeting to consider and modify the action last taken. It was reported that a contract had already been made, but a motion was made to rescind the action

taken at the last meeting. The chairman, William L. Lewis, declared the motion out of order.

An appeal was taken from this decision, and the chair was not sustained. The motion to rescind was then put and carried, by a vote of fifty-nine to forty-nine. A division of the house was then called for, pending which the chair abruptly declared the meeting adjourned, and, as the official chronicler of the event says, " amid confusion the Chairman retired." A. Topliff was then elected Chairman, and a new building committee appointed, consisting of J. B. Folsom, William M. Griswold, H. J. Waterhouse, J. T. Lewis, Robert Mills, F. F. Farnham, Amos Clement and F. M. Black. At a subsequent meeting, William Griswold presented the majority report of this committee, in favor of two smaller-sized buildings, and J. T. Lewis a minority report, in favor of one large one. The latter was finally adopted, and the present site was finally selected, and purchased of R. W. Chadbourn, for $1,000. The building was completed the same year, John Haydon fulfilling the contract for $5,000.

676

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

As illustrating the growth of the schools the following figures from the records of Super- intendent Bowen are given : In 1861, the number of male children between the age of four and twenty years residing in the district was 228; female, 225; making a total of 458. Of this number 292 attended school. The receipts for school purposes during this year were $2,430, $1,825 being raised by tax .. In 1865, the total number of children in the district was 576, there being 16 more females than of the sterner sex, and in 1871 there were 640, the females being in the majority 38; receipts, $5,430. The salaries of teachers this year amounted to $2,821. In 1879, there were 697 resident children of school age in the district, 23 being the preponderance in favor of the females. The receipts for the school year of 1880 were $4,829, $3,500 of which was paid out for teachers' salaries.

The most important feature of the school history of Columbus is that embracing the free high-school system now in vogue. The act of February 26, 1874, incorporating the City of Columbus provided, among other things, for the establishment of a school system, which should be independent of the jurisdiction of the County Superintendent, and committing the educational interests of the city to a Board of Education whose duties and powers were prescribed. In the month of July following, the Common Council elected a Board of Education, and in the fall of 1874 the public schools were opened under the new system. On the 5th of March, 1875, the Legislature enacted a general law authorizing the extablishment of free high schools. The city availed itself of the privileges given by the law, and dnly appointed and held an election, Au- gust 9, 1875, by which it was determined by a majority vote of electors to adopt the free high- school system. The Board of Education experienced some difficulty in attempting the organiza- tion of the new system, but finally, in the month of January, 1876, succeeded, and the free high school of the city of Columbus became fully established.

In June, 1877, Miss Lonie Adams graduated from the high school. A year later there were seven graduates from the high school, as follows: Laura Bassett, Mary R. Cook, Julia M. Davies, Carrie Genung, Nellie Ida Loomis, Elouise M. Stephens and Genevieve A. Stephens. Olivet Church was crowded on the occasion of the graduating exercises with the justly proud citizens of Columbus, the inside walls of the building being gaily bedecked with fragrant flowers. The programme of exercises is herewith given :

Quartette, by Misses Flora and Matie Walsh and Messrs. E. D. Kanonse and D. Griffith ; Prayer, by Rev. M. E. Eversz ; Solo, by Miss Satie Butler ; Introductory Remarks, by Prof. G. M. Bowen ; Essay. " The Extent of Man's Researches," by Genevieve A. Stephens ; Essay, "Dr. Jenner," by Mary R. Cook ; Solo, by Miss Katic Jones ; Essay, " Climbing the Hill of Science," by Julia M. Davies ; Solo, by E. D. Kanouse ; Essay. "Joan of Arc," by Elouise M. Stephens ; Essay, "Salt," by Laura Bassett; Trio, by Misses Maggie, Genevieve A. and Elouise M. Stephens ; Essay, "Mound-Builders," by Carrie E. Genung; Solo, by Miss Kittie Lowth ; Essay, " An Ill-Fated Nation," by Nellie A. Loomis ; Valadictory, by Julia M. Davies ; Solo, by Miss Lillie Lewis ; Presentation of Class, by Prof. G. M. Bowen ; Conferring Diplo- mas, by E. E. Chapin ; Music.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, Part 101

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899, [from old catalog] ed; Western historical company, chicago, pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company Number of Pages: 1104

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899, [from old catalog] ed; Western historical company, chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1104