The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, Part 103

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 103

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).

German Lutheran Church .- Over a quarter of a century ago, emigration from the " old home in Germany " found its way to Wisconsin and to the vicinity of Columbus, then only a small village. Several German families had settled here, including notably various former res- idents of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg. The desire to enjoy religious privileges similar to those in Germany led a number of them to form a religious society in Columbus in 1855. The first ministrations were by a clergyman from Watertown, whose name is not now of record or in remembrance. The first regular minister was Mr. Oswald, who came in 1855, and who, at first, preached in a private house, and subsequently in the old schoolhouse. Among the first members were Joachim and Christian Boelte, Henry Lange, Christian Westen, John Mauth, Joachim Herman and John and Christian Schwiesow, who are yet all members of the society. The following early members of the society are dead or have removed : John C. Lang, Charles Boldt, Christian Miller, Fred Spechdt, Fred Kuhl, Charles Linck, Henry Niemeyer, Sr., and John Topp, Sr. The congregation increased by new arrivals from Germany and by local accessions until the necessity for a church edifice became apparent. February 14, 1857, J. T. Lewis donated Lot 9, Block 10, West Columbus, as a site, and on May 3, 1858, while the Rev. Reuter was in pastoral charge, articles of agreement were signed, by which was formed the Evangelical Lutheran Zion congregation of Columbus. The first Board of Trustees were John Prien, Christian Mueller, Julius Fuchs, Carl Boldt. Fred Spechdt and John Lang. The building of a church was commenced on the donated site, but a majority of the congre- gation deemed another location more desirable, and the lot given by Mr. Lewis was sold, and Lot 1, Block 13, of Birdsey's Addition was selected. This lot was also a donation for the same purpose, by A. P. Birdsey, and was given on the 2d of December. 1858. The first church was built during the ministry of Rev. H. P. Duborg, in 1859. He was succeeded, in 1860, by the Rev. Braun. On the 24th of August. 1864, the congregation extended a call to the Rev. Meyer, and he sustained the ministerial relation until the close of 1865.

On the Sthi of January, 1866, it was resolved to purchase from Smith Haines Lot, 12, Block 8, of Birdsey's Addition, and to use the house thereon as a parsonage. The sale was per- fected on the 27th of that month. On the 11th of March following, Rev. A. Liefeldt became

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

the Pastor, Prof. Moldehucke, of Watertown, having preached several times during the interval. The growth of the congregation was steady and rapid, and an enlargement of the church soon became necessary. It was finally resolved, at a meeting held on the 28th of April, 1868, that the Board of Trustees be empowered to purchase from A. C. Olds Lots 6 and 7, and the south- west half of Lot 8, in Block 16, and to sell the society's other real estate. On the 6th of July, 1868, it was resolved to remove the church edifice to its present site, and on that plan the build- ing should be enlarged. The sale of the other property was made to C. Zarz, September 30, 1868, and on the following day the deed for the new site was executed. During this period, the Rev. A. Liefeldt had resigned and the Rev. C. Oppen had assumed pastoral relations. On the 3d of May, 1869, the enlargement of the church was decided upon, and Messrs. John Prien and Joachim Herman were appointed a committee to procure the plan and engage an architect to take charge of the construction. The addition was completed in 1869. In April, 1876, Rev. Mr. Oppen resigned. Rev. Aug. F. Ernst, of the Northwestern University at Watertown, officiated until the 21st of May, 1876, when Rev. Henry Vogel became the minister. Again the congregation increased beyond the limits of the church, and in the first part of July, 1877, a new building was ordered. A committee, consisting of Messrs. Julius Vogt, Chris. Boelte, Henry Boelte, Fred Messow and E. V. Briesen, was appointed to make plans and estimates for another new edifice. The plan proposed a building 70 feet long and 40 feet wide, with a belfry 125 feet high, and was accepted as to its general features September 2, 1877. The estimated cost was $5,000. A few changes were ordered, and E. T. Mix, of Milwaukee, was directed to perfect a plan, which he did. In the mean time, the subscription showed $4,800 to be in readi- ness, and on the 9th of December, 1877, the erection of the new church was voted, the plan of Mr. Mix being adopted. John Prien, Julius Krueger, E. V. Briesen, Christian Boelte and Aug. Reddemann were named as the building committee, who, with the Board of Trustees, were empowered to make necessary contracts, and to superintend the work, E. V. Briesen to be chairman of the committee, Julius Krueger, secretary, and H. A. Lueders, treasurer. Con- tracts were let to Henry Bolte for the stone, brick and plaster work, for $1,500, and to R. D. Vanakin for the carpenter and joiner work and the painting, for $3,800. The organ used in the old church was bought, in 1873, of the Lutheran congregation of Sheboygan. On the 2d day of June, 1878, on the Sunday called Exandi, the corner-stone of the building was laid with appropriate ceremonies, and on the 3d of November following the church was dedicated, the Rev. Deninger, of Waterloo, preaching the dedicatory sermon in presence of a large assem- blage, composed of representatives from Beaver Dam, Lowell, Waterloo and Portage. The 1,600-pound bell in this church has something of a history. The metal from which it is made was presented to the society, in 1873, by the Emperor of Germany. On the 4th of July, 1876 (the centennial anniversary of America's independence), there arrived at New York from Berlin one six-pounder brass cannon and four pieces of other cannon, consigned to the Lutheran con- gregation of Columbus. These strange implements of warfare were of French pattern and were a part of the fruits of the conquest of Alsace and Lorraine. They reached Columbus on the 2d of February, 1877, and in April, 1878, were reshipped to Baltimore, where they were recast into a bell bearing the following inscription : "I call the living ones, I mourn the dead ones, I break the lightning." The Lutheran Church is a splendid piece of architecture, built of cream brick and trimmed with red brick. The entire structure, including the bell and organ, cost $7,000. The present officers of the church are M. Blievernicht, Aug. Reddemann, Christoph Boelte, Hy. A. Lueders (Secretary), John Topp (Treasurer), Charles Ulm.

St. Jerome's Church .- There is no record or remembrance of earlier Christian effort in Columbus, according to Romish tenets, than that embracing the ministrations of that pioneer apostle, the Rev. Martin Kundig, whose footprints we encounter in the early church history of almost every city or village of note in Central and Southeastern Wisconsin. He bore the cross into Columbus in the winter of 1856, and planted it in the midst of a small flock of the faithful, who hailed it with all the reverence begotten of earnest belief. The rude homes in which the members of the primitive parish lived were dedicated to the cause of the church, and their doors

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

thrown open to receive the reverend father. Masses were said in the log cabins of the parish- ioners with all the profound impressiveness that now characterizes the more attractive service from gilt and draped altars, which echo back the notes of solemn-toned organs. A common tin pan then served as a baptismal font, and a gourd of water from the Crawfish River, properly blessed, removed the stain of sin from the finger-tips of devout believers. Early in the spring of 1856, work was commenced upon the foundation of a church edifice, on a lot donated for the purpose by A. P. Birdsey, and in June of that year the corner-stone was laid. For want of sufficient means, no further progress was made till 1864, when work was resumed, and, in 1866, during the pastorate and under the supervision of the Rev. E. McGuirk, the present substantial house of worship was completed. In the mean time, a temporary wooden structure had been built and occupied. Father Kundig's successors and McGuirk's predecessors were the Revs. Downey and Purcell. The first resident Pastor was the Rev. James O'Keefe, who succeeded to the charge in September, 1868. In that year, the red brick parsonage was purchased for $1,400. Father O'Keefe remained until May, 1870, being followed by Father McGuirk, who found both the affairs of the church and the spiritual condition of the parishioners much more satisfactory than when he had previously visited the place as a missionary. The fruits of his earlier labors were fast ripening. His stay was brief, however, being succeeded by the Rev. E. Gray, who, in December, 1872, retired in favor of the Rev. Henry Roche, the present incumbent. A much- needed addition was made to the church in 1879, making the total cost of the building about $5,000. The size of the parish is given at eighty families.

The Universalists .- The Rev. Dudley Tyng will be remembered by the people of Columbus as having presided over a society of Universalists a quarter of a century ago. This society went out of existence, and in February, 1866, a new one was organized from the fragments of the former society, by the Rev. M. G. Todd. The church was organized in September, 1869, and a church edifice erected that year at a cost of $7,000. Mr. Todd continued as Pastor until November, 1878, when he resigned and was succeeded by the Rev. Edgar Leavitt, the incumbent. The first officers of the present society were: John Hasey, President of the Board of Trustees ; A. Chapman, Treasurer ; Deacons, Rev. Dudley Tyng and L. H. Bingham. The present officers are the same, with the exception of the Rev. Mr. Tyng, who is now deceased.

The Episcopalians .- Luther Gregory was the first Rector, and the parish was organized over twenty years ago. The church edifice was built in 1871, at a cost of $3,000. S. S. Burleson is the present Rector. His circuit includes Beaver Dam, Fox Lake, Junean, Doylestown and Columbus.

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.

The first piece of machinery put in motion in Columbus was the rude attachment to Maj. Dickason's "up-and-down" saw. This earliest of all early Columbus pioneers built the first dam on the Crawfish River. It was he who first taught the stream to leap forth in the morning to its toil, and to glide away at evening to its rest. The Major put in a run of stones soon after getting his saw into operation, and thus he became the only miller for many miles around. In 1843, he was compelled to turn over the mill to Jere- miah Drake, who came as the agent and manager of Lewis Ludington. The grinding of grain was then made the leading feature. Another run of stones was added, but even this increase of facilities could not cope with the accumulating grists. People came from Madison, Stevens Point and other remote settlements to the Columbus mill. The various grists were numbered and had to " take their turn." many of them lying over for two weeks at a time. This was a

serious condition of things when bread was short. One of the pioneers of Columbus relates with apparent amusement, having gone to the mill with a few bags of wheat at a time when there " wasn't a crust in the house." He found so many ahead of him that, had he taken his place in the hungry procession, he could not have reached home until late on the following day. The lamentable condition in which he had left his family urged him to use a little strategy ; so, the miller's back being turned about the time the hopper became empty, he quietly turned his grist

F.H.BOLTE &CO.

·C . M . A. ST. P; R.R.

F .H. BOLTE & CO. FOUNDRY W MACHINE SHOP COLUMBUS WIS.

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

therein, but the miller made the discovery too late to remedy the matter ; the hopper was full, and the only way to empty it was to keep the wheels turning and grind it out. In August, 1849, thirty-one years ago, J. S. Manning purchased the property. He has made many im- provements about the old place, putting in an entirely new outfit of machinery. In 1858, a new stone dam was built, but a portion of it has since washed away. The main dam is now constructed of wood. In 1876, a sixty-horse power engine was added to the other improvements. Since then, water has been universally abundant. There are now four runs of stones in the mill, and it has a capacity of about one hundred bushels per day

The Foundry .- In 1869, or perhaps a year earlier, Hall & Caswell established a factory in Columbus, where they turned out wagons, corn-plows, etc. Mr. Caswell soon retired from the business, selling his interest to a son of Mr. Hall, the firm becoming S. C. Hall & Son. In September, 1879, Bolte & Eckoff purchased the property. They have added largely to the ma- chinery and now manufacture the "Eureka " windmill, upon which Mr. Bolte has a patent, it being his own invention. They also manufacture the "Economist" churn. Connected with the institution is a foundry in which are used all the modern appliances, and one run of stones upon which feed is ground, the whole being operated by a large and powerful engine.

The Elevator .- Built in 1865, by Farnham & Allen, now managed under the firm name of Farnham, Allen & Co. The elevator building proper is 40x40 feet, and has a capacity of 30,- 000 bushels of grain. Besides the usual machinery attached to elevators, there are two runs of stones for grinding feed, the whole being operated by a twenty-horse power engine. Adjoining the elevator is a warehouse 60x40 feet, built in 1856.

Near by is the extensive storehouse of Messrs. Churchill & Sexton, built in the spring of 1877. It is 130 feet long and 36 feet wide, and has an area of floor capable of holding 20,000 bushels of grain.

Columbus Marble Works .- Established by Wilson & Cramm in 1867, near the Fox House, on James street. In 1869, G. L. Graham purchased the works of Mr. Wilson, the latter having previously bought out his partner, Mr. Cramm, and removed it to the present site of Leuder & Krouse's store, and later, to the present site of Henderson's Opera House. J. P. Miller then became a partner and remained three years. A partnership was then formed with W. T. Turner. In 1872, the concern was moved to its present site. In 1878, H. M. Blumen- thal took a third interest, and a year later, Mr. Turner retired in favor of his son, W. R. Turner. In January, 1880, Mr. Graham disposed of his interest to his partners, and the firm is now Turner & Blumenthal. From four to six hands are employed, and the result of their labor finds ready sale within a radius of forty miles.

Machine Shop, etc .- In 1870, S. Hutchinson established in Columbus as an agricultural implement dealer. In March, 1875, J. G. Kanouse took a half interest with him, and the firm commenced the manufacture of pumps on a small scale, and also repaired machinery. A ten- horse power engine is employed in the business. Attached to the shop are a turning lathe and a planing machine. On the 3d of April, 1880, Mr. Kanouse went out, leaving Mr. Hutchinson sole proprietor.

Joiner and Builder-Among the institutions of Columbus, none have borne a more im- portant part in the growth of the place than the estabishment of R. D. Vanaken. Twenty-five years ago, he commenced in Columbus as a builder, manufacturing his own windows, doors, sash, etc., and has since erected nearly two hundred houses in and around the city. Many of the handsome stores, dwellings and churches in Columbus are of his workmanship.

Breweries .- Jacob Jussen was the pioneer brewer of Columbus. He built a small house on the west bank of the Crawfish, as early as 1848. The old Gambrinian temple still stands, though its beams are bent with the burden of time, and the walls within are odorous with age and the fumes of beer. Louis Brauchle purchased the establishment in 1849, and though he has repaired and rebuilt and made additions to it, the general decay that pervades the premises must ultimately triumph in their destruction. The old maltster long since passed the meridian of life, and soon both he and his brewery must take places among the things that were.

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

In 1859, Henry Kurth came to Columbus with his family and a four-barrel brewer's boiler. He located in the southwestern portion of the then village, and commenced the manufacture of the " creamy, dreamy beer." It must have been a profitable business, for, in 1865, he built a large brick brewery, at a cost of nearly $4,000, and a year later put in a large boiler and added other improved appliances. His establishment has now a capacity of about sixty barrels a week, though the demand only reaches from two hundred to three hundred barrels per year.

In 1869, Stephen Fleck built the Farmers' Brewery. Its custom is entirely local.

BANKS.

Isaiah Robinson carried on the first money exchange business in Columbus. His opera- tions were necessarily the reverse of extensive, but were in keeping with the "small things " of the early fiftics. R. W. Chadbourn engaged in the same branch of business in 1853, making insurance and real estate two of the three specialties. Money, however, seemed to be most largely in demand, and Mr. Chadbourn turned his attention almost entirely to this branch of his business.

Bank of Columbus .- In December, 1856, W. L. Lewis started the first bank of issue in Columbus. In it were interested C. C. Barnes and James Barnes, the latter being Cashier. Mr. Lewis was the President. About 1859, the institution became the property of Willard Scott and Vosburg Sprague, under whose management it ceased to exist in 1861.

On the 7th of September of that year, R. W. Chadbourn opened a private banking insti- tution, in the same building vacated by Messrs. Scott & Sprague, and in 1863, it was organized under the National Banking Law, as the First National Bank of Columbus, with a paid-up capital of $50,000. Its number (178) indicates it as having been among the first institutions of the kind. The officers under this organization were R. W. Chadbourn, President ; S. W. Chadbourn, Cashier ; Directors-R. W. Chadbourn, S. W. Chadbourn, William M. Gris- wold, George Griswold and F. F. Farnham. Upon the death of Mr. Farnham, in 1877, C. L. Waldo became a Director. Otherwise the management has remained unchanged.

Union Bank .- In September, 1861, John R. Wheeler opened a private bank in A. G. Cook's building, and soon afterward organized under the State Banking Law, in connection with Marshall Ilsley, of Milwaukee banking fame. Mr. Wheeler was the President, and A. G. Cook, Cashier. The capital stock was $100,000. In 1872, Mr. Wheeler having retired the circulation and discontinued the organization of the bank, it was transferred to L. R. Rockwell, who has continued it to the present time as a private bank. The Union Bank building, one of the architectural ornaments of the city, was erected in 1865.

COLUMBUS LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.

The intelligence of a community is usually ganged by the literary patronage of its citizens. The support the people of Columbus have given to the Public Library is excellent testimony of this. On the 20th of January, 1877, a meeting of prominent citizens was held at the Opera House, for the purpose of organizing a library association. The necessary preliminary steps taken, an adjournment was had until the 27th of the same month, at which time the organiza- tion was completed by the election of the following officers : President, Matthew Lowth ; Vice President, E. S. Griswold ; Secretary, C. L. Dering ; Treasurer, L. R. Rockwell. Directors, for one year-K. W. Chadbourn, John Topp and William M. Griswold; for two years-J. Q. Adams, D. S. Fuller and Edward Bowen ; for three years-R. W. Earll, D. C. Davies and E. E. Chapin. At the same meeting ex-Gov. Lewis donated fifty-four volumes of books. Another meeting was held on the 30th of January, at which committees were appointed as follows : Library Committee-W. M. Griswold, D. C. Davies and E. E. Chapin ; Committee on Rooms- J. Q. Adams, D. S. Fuller and Edward Bowen; Finance-R. W. Chadbourn, J. Topp and R. W. Earll. E. S. Griswold tendered the use of two rooms in his brick block, which were accepted, and thanks voted. Miss Mattie Walsh was appointed Librarian.

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

The officers for 1878 were the same as in 1877, Messrs. Chadbourn, Topp and W. M. Gris- wold being elected Directors for three years. On the 29th of April, 1878, an executive com- mittee was appointed, consisting of E. S. Griswold, J. Topp and W. M. Griswold.

In 1879, M. Lowth, E. S. Griswold and L. R. Rockwell were re-elected President, Vice President and Treasurer, respectively, Mic Adams succeeding C. L. Dering as Secretary. The Directors were J. Q. Adams, D. S. Fuller and Edward Bowen. The same executive com- mittee chosen in 1878 were re-appointed, and Flora Walsh succeeded to the position of Librarian, holding it till November, 1879, when Helen Walsh was appointed.

In 1880, the only change in officers was the election of R. W. Earll, D. C. Davies and E. E. Chapin as Directors, and the appointment of M. Adams, D. S. Fuller and J. Topp as the executive committee.

The first purchase of books was made in March, 1877, of Jansen, McClurg & Co., to the amount of $550. Various purchases have been made since then, the total amount expended to the present time being $830. In 1878, the young ladies of Columbus presented the association with $59 in cash, the proceeds of a concert given by them for that purpose. Quite a number of donations of books have been made.

The association is composed of seventy-five life members, each of whom paid $10. One of the rules of the association provides for the admission of annual members at $1.50 each for the first year, and $1 for each subsequent year they remain as such. The annual membership has grown to important proportions. There are 1,000 volumes in the collection. Nearly one-fourth of this number is continuously in the hands of patrons.

HOTELS.

When the village of Columbus was platted by Lewis Ludington, it presented a promising picture-on paper. Passing through the eastern limits, the rippling Crawfish marked its wind- ing course. Leading away to the southwest from the river's oak-fringed banks to the borders of clustering groves in the distance were broad avenues with other avenues crossing them at right angles. Near the river's edge was an entire block marked "public square," and not far away a "park," "schoolhouse," " church," "hotel," etc .- all donations from the proprietor of the village. H. A. Whitney was the lucky possessor of that portion of the plat indicated as the "hotel," corner of James and Ludington streets, and in the summer of 1844, he secured abso- lute title to it by building a hotel upon it. It was a one-and-a-half-story frame. Most of the lumber of which it was built was hauled from Aztalan. In the lower portion, Mr. Whitney kept a small stock of goods. About 1848, it passed into the hands of a man named Thomas, who devoted the entire establishment to the accommodation of the public. A. P. Birdsey pur- chased from Mr. Thomas. Ile built an addition to it and conducted it for a number of years. Whitney & McCafferty were the next landlords. At the end of a year and a half, they retired from the business, and the concern was then rented. On the 8th of October, 1857, it was com- pletely destroyed by fire. The work of rebuilding commenced at once. Winter was approach- ing and Columbus was without a hotel. There are few instances to record where so much energy is displayed as was the case in the construction of the present Fox House. Within eighteen days from the time the first shovel of earth was removed in excavating for the foundations, a substantial four-story brick had been erected, and workmen were engaged putting on the roof. Mr. Whitney surprised himself as well as his friends. The following spring, it was rented to a Mr. Gardiner, and not long afterward Mr. Whitney took the management upon himself. At the end of four years, he sold out to G. Fuller, but was compelled to take it back. Soon after- ward, an old ex-sea-captain piloted his bark into Columbus, and, purchasing the Whitney House, anchored for a brief time. But the winds were unfavorable, and the old salt turned the house over to Mr. Whitney. Enoch Pulver then became the purchaser. A man named Graves bought of Pulver, and Julius Fox, the present owner, purchased of Mr. Graves.

One of the early institutions of Columbus was the old Mountain House, which stood on the high ground not far from J. T. Lewis' residence. Its career as a hotel was brief, though how brilliant is not known.

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

COLUMBUS OPERA HOUSE.

In 1872, the old Methodist church building was purchased by J. T. Henderson. It was then located near the present site of the foundry. From there it was removed to Broadway and converted into a public hall, and, in 1877, it was "made over " into an opera house. It was thought to be a fine edifice in its day. The voice of prayer has often been heard within its walls, and it has echoed to much pulpit eloquence of all sorts. In it Mrs. Van Cott made her series of public appeals and won sinners by her personal magnetism. When it had been decided to convert it into an opera house, a structure 16×35 was added for stage purposes. On the first floor are two rooms for rehearsals, etc., and the second floor is used entirely as a stage. Mr. A. Leibig, of Mayville, Dodge County, who was a scenic painter before he left Germany, executed the stage decorations. The total cost of the stage improvements is $1,200, of which $500 is for scenery. The hall will seat nearly four hundred.

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The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, Part 103

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