The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, Part 104

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 104

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).

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

Among other important clauses in the original city charter of Columbus was one providing for the establishment of a fire department. Accordingly, on the 26th of December, 1877, the City Council entered into a contract with the Babcock Manufacturing Company, of Chi- cago, for two of their extinguishers and one hook and ladder truck, for $1,800. At the same meeting of the Council, authority was granted for the formation of three fire companies. On the 19th of October previous, the Germania Fire Company was organized by the election of Fred. Hanneman, Foreman ; John Topp, First Assistant; H. A. Lueders, Second Assistant ; Fred. Wirth, Treasurer ; E. Von Briesen, Secretary, and V. Batz, Marshal. The other mem- bers of the company were D. Stark, G. Link, J. Lemcke. C. Topp, C. Ulm, C. Mirow, J. Engel, M. Rueth, F. F. Wilske and A. Miller. The present officers are : H. A. Lueders, Foreman ; John Topp and G. Link, Assistants ; G. Woehlert, Treasurer; E. Von Briesen, Secret ary, and W. Hanneman, Marshal.

On the 6th of December, 1877, Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 was organized with the following officers : E. Blasius, Foreman ; J. McCabe, First Assistant; W. Vanaken, Second Assistant ; T. Robinson, Secretary, and T. Morris, Treasurer. The other first members were M. Houghton, J. Mettler, T. Clatworthy, T. Nix, G. Mohring, C. Kellar, J. Cagney, A. Hirscher, S. Harding, S. McConnell; G. H. Colville, S. F. Strehmel, O. Schmidt, J. C. Hutch- inson and J. A. Welton. The present officers are: M. J. Durkan, Foreman ; J. A. Welton and J. Dreyer, Assistants; J. Schaeffer, Secretary ; G. H. Colville, Treasurer ; J. B. Barney, Marshal.

Columbia Fire Company was organized December 10, 1877. Officers and members : W. G. Bresee, Foreman ; J. Jackson and R. Cunningham, Assistants ; C. E. Fowler, Secretary ; T. F. Sweeney, Treasurer ; Charles Mohring, E. J. Davis, C. Randall, E. Kendall, J. Kendall, H. Annis, C. Cooper, D. McLarty, D. Griffiths, S. B. Kendall, L. Zick and J. Richards. This company was disbanded on the 9th of April, 1880.

On the 13th of November, L. J. Sawyer was elected Chief Engineer of the Fire Depart- ment, by the Common Council, but did not qualify. J. Cagney was chosen Assistant Chief, and the City Clerk and City Treasurer appointed to act as ex officio Clerk and Treasurer. The present Assistant Engineer is Andrew Hirscher.

Since the organization of the department, there have been three fires in Columbus. March 19, 1878, the calaboosc was destroyed ; March 27, the same year, J. J. Sutton's dwelling and barn, a somewhat memorable fire in the annals of Columbus ; September 27, 1878, J. Kuhl's dwelling.

LODGES AND SOCIETIES.

The common tendency of civilized people to form themselves into societies for mutual advancement developed itself at a very early day in Columbus. From records still in existence, we find that a lodge of Odd Fellows was founded here, in 1849. It was called Columbus Lodge,

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

No. 40, and was organized on the 12th of September, with D. F. Newcomb, Andrew Higley, Benj. F. Hart, F. A. Fowler, J. J. Guppey, H. S. Haskell and Jerome B. Fargo as charter members. It prospered and grew in numbers until 1872, when it suspended operations.

In 1869, Benjamin Kelsey, J. R. Jones, A. H. Vanvoorhes, C. H. Townley, T. C. Charles, E. Richards and A. Miller applied for and received a charter for Ridgley Lodge, No. 165, but upon discovery that there already existed a lodge by that name (No. 82), it became necessary to adopt a new title for the new lodge, and on the 8th of May (the charter bears date of April 24, 1869) the word Gem, was substituted for Ridgley. The present officers of Gem Lodge are : F. Wirth, N. G .: Samuel McLarty, V. G .; W. G. Bresee, Sec .; L. Williams, P. S .: Robert Griffiths, Treas. The lodge has sixty-one members.

Mizpah Encampment, No. 61 .- Organized May 6, 1875, with C. L. Dering as C. P .; Robert Griffiths, H. P .; F. W. Hart, Treas .; L. Williams, S. W .; C. S. McFadyen, J. W .; and L. E. Everson, Scribe. The present officers are : W. K. Hosken, C. P .; C. S. McFadyen, H. P .; R. Griffiths, S. W .; Benjamin Kelsey, J. W .; F. Wirth, Treas .; W. G. Bresee, Scribe. Number of members, twenty-three.

Irene (Rebecca) Lodge, No. 59 .- Chartered November 25, 1879, with the following signa- tory members : W. A. Thompson, T. B. Elmore, C. Thiese, W. J. Edwards, W. K. Hosken, J. F. Buschke, S. McLarty, W. G. Bresee, A. D. Brewer, R. Griffiths, II. Annis, L. F. Owen, J. R. Jones, J. R. Decker, L. E. Everson, G. McIntyre, C. S. McFadyen, M. G. Todd, F. Wirth, and sisters Hosken, Griffiths, Bresee, Annis, Todd, Jones, Brewer, Thiese, Elmore and Decker. The present officers are : Samuel McLarty, N. G .; Mrs. H. M. Todd, V. G .; W. G. Bresee, Sec .; Mrs. W. K. Hosken, Treas. Thirty-two members. Meetings are held by the various lodges over Bassett & Davis' store.

The Masons-Columbus Lodge, No. 75 .- Organized June 12, 1856, with the following charter members : F. Macauley Black, Edward Jussen, Silas Axtell, Peter Wentz, S. C. Higby, A. P. Birdsey, J. S. Manning, Benjamin Campbell, J. A. Elliott, B. F. Hart, J. J. Smith, E. E. Chapin, B. Chase, Robert Mills and J. H. Valentine. Messrs. Black, Jussen and Axtell were the first officers. The present are M. Adams, W. M .; N. Sawyer, S. W .; E. Churchill, J. W .; J. A. Erhart, Treas .; B. E. Johnson, Sec .; O. E. Cornwell, S. D .; L. A. Randall, J. D .; D. D. Kelsey, Tiler. Meetings are held over Griswold's store, where the lodge has a well- appointed hall.

The Good Templars .- As early as 1850, an organization known as the Sons of Temperance was effected in Columbus, and the work of reformation in this direction has gone steadily for- ward with slight variations of success. Among those who were prominently connected with the various temperance movements of early times, may be mentioned Chester W. Dean .* W. W. Drake, John H. Valentine, William McCracken,* R. W. Chadbourn, Samuel McLarty, H. Loomis, A. D. Williams, Milford Loomis, D. F. Newcomb,* and others. Meetings were then held over Swarthout's drug store, where Hayden Brothers' place now is. The ladies of the village took an active part, and the society succeeded in gathering quite an extensive library. On one occasion the, lady members were allowed to vote on an important question, and this being a violation of the then existing condition of things, the Grand Lodge of the Sons of Temperance threatened a revocation of their charter and a confiscation of the property belong- ing to the liberal-minded cold-water champions of Columbus. In order that they might save their library, the lodge surrendered their charter to the Grand Lodge and went over to the Good Templars in a body. About 1855, a grand temperance sleigh-ride was gotten up. Three or four " bobs" were lashed together with ropes, and eight horses hitched to the concern. Fifty-six persons took passage for Beaver Dam in it. An hour and a half's drive brought the party to their destination, where a temperance dinner awaited them.

On the 6th of February, 1874. Columbus Lodge, No. 46, I. O. G. T., was organized with the following charter members : E. D. Kanouse, E. G. Stitt, Rev. W. A. Cain, L. Williams and wife, R. Griffiths and wife, Walter Stitt, T. H. McConnell, Mrs. A. McConnell, Annie

* Dead.

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

M. McConnell, C. E. McConnell, Joel Winch, Mollie Campbell, H. D. James, Alice Randall, F. L. Jones, Willie Loomis, J. F. Shadduck, F. W. Hart, Theron Dodd, D. J. Kelsey, J. W. Campbell and wife, Eugene Everson, J. W. Quain, W. E Bith, Hattie Tyng Griswold, Lorinda M. Drake, George Drake, Ettie Lee, George Spencer, T. D. Stultz, J. Roberts. W. G. Bresee and M. G. St. John. The present officers of the society are: T. Sanderson, W. C. T. ; Nellie MeLarty, W. V. T .; J. Harris, W. S .; R. Griffiths, W. F. R. ; May Harris, W. T. ; Anna Loomis, W. C .; R. Turner, Marshal; J. Birdsey, I. G .; H. W. Meyers, O. G. Meetings are held over R. Griffiths' furniture store.

Columbus Temple, No. 19, T. of H .- Instituted April 23, 1875. Charter members, Rev. H. Sewell, E. D. Kanouse, B. F. Hart, M. G. St. John, Jay Jennings, E. E. Jones, J. R. Jones, William Cole, R. T. Williams, R. Griffiths, P. J. Umbrite, H. Annis, G. Tollard, T. H. McConnell, A. Whitney, T. L. Jones, L. Williams, J. W. Quain, F. W. Ilart, J. Jack- son, M. W. Sawyer, E. Federly and Samuel Hutchinson. There are now seventy-five members in the temple ; following are the officers: R. Griffiths, W. C. T .; D. MeLarty, W. V. T .; S. McLarty, P. W. C. T .; M. W. Sawyer, Rec. Sec ; HI. Annis, Asst. Sec. ; W. Thompson, Fin. Sec. ; S. Nelson, Treas. ; A. W. Fuller, U. : F. Heise, D. U .; John Leith, W. S. ; J. McConnell, W. G. Meetings are held over R. Griffiths' furniture store.

Turnverein Germania .- The "Columbus Turnverein Society " was the title of an organization which existed from about 1865 to 1860. Through a lack of proper interest it dis- banded, and, in 1874, a new organization was effected with the same laudable objects which had animated the leaders of the one defunct. A permanent organization was reached October 14. the books showing the following charter members : J. Engel, O. Vogl, M. Alft. F. Wirth, HI. F. Vogl, G. Morrisse, Antone Winter, J. G. Stahl, J. Siepp, C. Mohring. J. Kurth, J. Alts- schwager, G. Knaak, L. Knaak, C. Roth and G. Sproesser. The first officers were: Otto Vogl, President; C. Mohring, Vice President; F. Wirth, Treasurer ; J. Engel, Secretary. The present are: John Topp, President; J. A. Erhart, Vice President ; F. Wirth, Treasurer ; J. Engel, Secretary ; M. Ehrmann and H. A. Leuders, Wardens. The Turnverein is com- posed of about forty-five members, and is located in Henderson's Opera House.

St. Jerome's Temperance Society .- Organized January 1, 1876, by the election of the fol- lowing officers : President, Terrence Flannagan : Vice President, M: V. Cunningham ; Secre- tary, B. Conlin ; Treasurer, John Crook ; Spiritual Director, Rev. H. J. Roche. In May, 1880, a library association was formed by the members of this society, and they now have 100 volumes of choice books. The present officers of the society are: President, Stephen Tobin ; Vice President, T. Conlin ; Secretary, R. S. Cunningham. Mr. Roche is a strong advocate of temperance principles. and is meeting with considerable success in his work.

CEMETERIES.

When Lewis Ludington platted the village of Columbus in 1844, he donated to the use of the citizens of both town and village for burial purposes the most appropriate spot within the boundaries of the plat -- the rise of ground now lying in the northeastern portion of the city. The first burial made there was that of the body of Hiram Allen, an early settler, who died in 1845. The cemetery question has entered quite largely into local political contests. When the city was incorporated, it was stipulated that there should be no change in the existing arrange- ments between the village and town. The matter has since been regulated by the Legislature, as follows: " Whenever any town cemetery shall become embraced within the limits of any city the duties and powers of the town board relating thereto shall be exercisedby the Common Council."

Catholic Cemetery .- In 1868, St. Jerome's Parish purchased of A. G. Cook suitable grounds for cemetery purposes just north of the public burying-ground. The first interment made therein was in the spring of 1869, the body of Maurice Cunningham, who died the win- ter previous and was buried temporarily in the churchyard, being transferred to the new plat. The grounds have been appropriately laid out and beautified, and the little groves of crosse s

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

that mingle with the growing shrubbery bear ample evidence that the hand of Death has not been idle.

LOCAL REMINISCENCES.

There are many good stories of early times in Columbus, but they are mostly of the char. acter of the majority of good stories-they lose their best qualities when told in print ; press a rose between " morocco " or " sheep " and its fragrance will vanish. The knowledge-box of the average " early settler " teems with pioneer reminiscences, ludicrous and pathetic ; but it takes the " average early settler " to relate them. It is beyond the pen of the historian to por- tray, with any depth of interest, the incidents in John Swarthout's first pilgrimage to Colum- bus. It is an easy matter to say, in bare words, that John was the captain of a " prairie schooner " propelled by several yoke of oxen, and that he found himself "unequal to the occasion " whenever it became necessary for him to " talk ox "-for John had been reared a city boy and knew more of the efficacy of pills and squills than he did of the language usually applied to beasts of burden of the bovine species. Stripped of the intonations and gestures of the narrator, the story loses its charm.

It would also be a difficult matter for any one besides Uriah Davies to describe the appear- ance of Mr. Swarthout when he came to Columbus the second time, dressed in new " store clothes," his young and tender brow shaded from the torrid rays of the sun by a genteel, and at that date very stylish, white soft hat. Quite a difference of opinion existed among the set- tlers as to the nature of the stranger's calling ; some insisted that he was a minister, while others declared this view to be a libel upon the church. It was some days before the new-comer found favor in their sight.

Nor can a correct history be written of the "Codfish Society," so long ago has it been since their martial tread was heard in the streets of Columbus. They were wont to rouse "the boys " from their slumbers and " press them in " at all hours of the night. This once famous quasi-military society acquired its name from the alacrity with which its members could sur- round and annihilate a salt codfish. Its eminent commander saw actual service during the rebellion, leading the gallant Twenty-third through the domain of King Cotton. Codfish was then a luxury.

There were initiations by that immortal brotherhood, the A. O. O. T. O (Ancient Order of One Thousand and One), which, in point of thoroughness, rivaled all other initiations ever heard of. Patent-medicine men, patent-right sharps and such like adventurers, willing to sacrifice a little principle to gain "business prestige," fell easy victims. Occasionally a resident candidate took the "degree " and became honored with membership. But the order is no more. It has passed away, with many another institution, whose existence was in accordance with the con- ditions of society.

It has been deemed proper to preserve a few incidents of early times, as illustrating what those conditions of society were. One of the first settlers in Columbus, who is still living, says the first winter he spent in the place he boarded at the hotel. If there is one thing about that hotel he remembers more distinctly than another, it was the landlady, who was a large, masculine- looking woman, well proportioned (though rather too corpulent to be considered a good figure), and withal a woman of great strength. She sometimes displayed her physical powers in leading unprofitable customers out by the ears, and was, at times, something of a terror to the boarders generally. Our pioneer informant recollects on one occasion hearing an unusual noise in the kitchen of the ancient hostelry, and upon going to see what wonderful thing had happened, found one of the male boarders being used as a rolling-pin by the female Samson. The unfortunate man had in some way interfered with the landlady's prerogative. She was engaged at the time rolling out biscuit on a large table, and had taken the offending boarder, and, sprinkling him well with flour, forcibly laid him across the table, and was rolling him back and forward over the dough, in place of the wooden instrument commonly used for that purpose. The astonished observer of the proceeding thought it best not to interfere. But the old lady soon after came to grief at the hands of her victim.

It was in this wise : She very frequently put in an appearance when

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

anything interesting was going on, and seemed anxious to know all about it, sometimes taking part in the fun. One afternoon, quite a number of men had collected in front of the hotel, and were engaged in shooting a rifle. The female giant caine to the door and said she wasn't afraid to shoot a gun, and would like to try what she could do. The gentleman who had, but a short time previous, been made to serve as a rolling-pin was present; his time had come to square accounts with his tormentor. There was an old musket setting in the bar-room, which, when heavily loaded, was wonderfully given to kicking. Indeed it was difficult to tell which was the safer end of the gun to stand in front of when it was discharged. The old " fusee " was brought out and given to the landlady, who knew nothing of the old musket's history, and was equally ignorant of the handling of fire-arms of any caliber. Seizing the weapon, she placed the silent end against her stomach (not her shoulder, as most people do), and pulled the trigger. The reverberating report of the musket was followed by a heavy thud upon the ground. The old lady and the gun had suddenly parted company. The target was untouched, but the earth in front of the hotel looked as if it had stopped a meteor. Dr. Axtell happened to be present, and by the free use of camphor, the old lady was restored, but she was never again known to engage in artillery practice.

It is related that the first attempt to hold a religious meeting in Columbus occurred in 1846. A well-groomed young man put in an appearance one Saturday afternoon and exposed written notices on the four corners, announcing that on the day following he would conduct divine service in the schoolhouse, which was then regarded as an imposing structure. Something of a congre- gation of both sexes duly occupied the benches. The prayer was made fluently enough, and the reading of the sacred poetry was accomplished without any perceptible violence to the sentences. Then the divine plunged glibly into the delivery of his discourse, but, after rolling out a single paragraph, he hesitated, and at once fell over the fragments of a sentence and finally went back to his beginning again. This provoked a ripple of merriment, which was quickly subdued, when, after a little " scoring," his sermon got under headway again. He broke down a second time at the same place, and when he again went back to the commencement to re-form, it was amid something like a general laugh. He went on once more briskly enough till he reached the old pitfall, and there he floundered hopelessly for the third time. The laugh was general and hearty now. In a pause of it the speaker proceeded to say : " I have always believed that I could preach, and, being among strangers, I thought I would take advantage of the opportunity. It's the first time I ever tried it, and, ladies and gentlemen, I haven't done near as well as I expected." Therenpon he fished up his hat, and, quickly vanishing, was never again recog- nized in these parts.

In 1846, Elder Winchell, a clergyman of the Baptist style of doing things, arranged for a meeting in the village and secured for the occasion an apartment in the old hotel that then occu- pied the present site of the Fox House, and which offered about the only feasible place in the settlement for the public breaking of the bread of life. A few of the villagers gathered in to refresh their recollection of meeting as they had been accustomed to it before their removal to the frontier ; but the audience must have been very small indeed, as the residents of the entire hamlet then would not have made a corporal's guard. The minister made fair sailing with the preliminary exercises, and had just started in his discourse with some show even of listening on the part of his little congregation. All at once, however, their attention seemed diverted toward some object in the street and momentarily became more engaged. Presently one of the little company went softly out on tiptoe; then another, and another, after which the balance of the flock stood not on the order of their going but went noiselessly out in a body, leaving the sur- prised minister entirely alone, and not yet advanced to the middle of his sermon, Bassett & Arnold had recently built a little store, which stood somewhere near the present location of Leuders & Krause's new block, and Bassett, who had been East for a stock of goods, had arrived that Sunday forcnoon with a load of mixed merchandise, and his appearance with it in the streets was so great an event that it caused the stampede mentioned, and undoubtedly gave the preacher an experience entirely new in his ministry.

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

There is "a good one" told of J. T. Lewis, and it is worth preserving for posterity. Not long after his arrival in Columbus, the now ex-Governor was met near the place where he now resides, by E. Thayer and H. Cady. They had just wounded a deer, and the animal was over the hill using his best endeavors to escape. They were on foot and Mr. Lewis was mounted on his Indian pony, and they requested him to give pursuit and secure their venison. Now, it may be premised that he knew as little about the cervine quadruped as any man in these parts, but he gave chase. The difference in the speed of the pony and that of the wounded buck was hardly discernible, but the former gained slowly, and after a sharp run came alongside. The rider was at the moment perfectly guiltless of any weapons of offense or defense, and the buck bad ugly antlers, a circumstance before unthought of, but Mr. Lewis unhesitatingly flung that physique which was subsequently to embellish the gubernatorial chair of Wisconsin, pronely upon the back of the running deer. It was a seat even more uncertain than the seat of power, and his future Excellency was precipitated several yards into the snow. He shook him- self from his descent, and, bethinking himself of his pocket knife, followed on foot the now almost exhausted animal, and, after one or two ineffectual attempts, succeeded in dispatching the deer by stabbing him in the neck, and was himself completely covered with blood.

The national anniversary of our independence was first commemorated in Columbus in 1846. Most of the settlers for miles around were convened and expressed their patriotism with- out any reference to the conventionalities that came in later years. The country tavern which then stood on the present site of the Fox House, had been transferred by Mr. Whitney to a Mr. L. Thomas, and here the dance, indispensable at such a time, was held. In those days most of the settlers were young or unmarried men, and the gentler sex did not exist in the proportion in which they are now to be found. Partners were in demand, and all the wearers of petti- coats were impressed into the service. Many of those who were noted for their grave and dig- nified deportment that year passed the night of the '2d decorating the hall, danced all night on the 3d, and spent the night of the 4th in general jollification. The portico of J. T. Lewis' little law office was the rostrum for the orator of the day, who was Mr. Lewis himself, and Dr. Axtell read the Declaration of Independence. The ordnance consisted of a couple of anvils, the one inverted on the other, and the martial music to stir the patriotic breast of the early resi- dents included a fife and drum, the latter manipulated by A. P. Birdsey.

The first court ever held in Columbus was when the old district system obtained, and was presided over by Judge Alexander W. Stowe in the old schoolhouse. Judge C. H. Larrabee was elected for this district, but at the time had made an exchange. Judge Stowe was an old bachelor of rather an harmonious turn of mind, and several dry jokes are related concerning him. During the first term of the court, T. Clark Smith was Sheriff and H. A. Whitney was Deputy. In the first case that was tried the jury went out under the direction of the Deputy to a room in the Whitney House to make up their verdict. The deliberation extended into the night, and the jurors, becoming convinced they could not agree, suddenly dispersed through the window, des- pite all the efforts of the deputy.

It was at this same term of court that Judge Stowe fined a petit juror for contempt, to which judicial visitation the party punished replied promptly and cheerfully, "Fine and be d-d," whereupon the court "went and saw him" in a second mulct, which satisfied him.

The first proceedings in the Justice Court in Columbus was an action of assault and bat- tery, wherein one Joseph Brown did do Bob Mills bodily harm contrary to law. He was tried before Squire Allen.

Josiah Arnold, now Mayor of Portage, was a Columbus pioneer. He was a Massa- chusetts boy, and his birthplace was among the hills of Berkshire. He came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1843, and located at Janesville, then a small settlement. In 1845, Arnold and D. E. Bassett, another Columbus pioneer, started business together at Janesville, and conducted it there for about a year. Thinking the demands of trade too fully met in Janesville, Arnold started northward on horseback, in August, 1845, to find a new location. He came by way of Lake Mills and Waterloo, and night overtook him about six miles south of the hamlet of Columbus.

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The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, Part 104

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