The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, Part 124

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 124

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).

Town Hall .- This is a large building upon Oak street, north of the Finch House, and was erected for theatrical, concert and lecture purposes. In size it is 30x80, 18-foot ceiling, with large stage in the rear. It was built by a stock company in 1868, and is rented for purposes named, on reasonable terms; W. H. Finch, agent.

Baptist Church .- Elders Keith and Sprague were the first missionaries of this church, and held a number of services in the winter of 1858. In May following. a number of the brethren met in the old schoolhouse, for the purpose of effecting an organization. Elder A. E. Green was present and acted as Moderator. Deacon John Hogoboom, Mary Hogoboom, Samuel S. Barker, Mary A. Barker, Augustus S. Barker, Edward F. Barker, Charles H. Barker and David Stillwell signed the articles of covenant. John Hogoboom was made Deacon, and David Stillwell, Clerk. Elder Green was invited to become their Pastor, and accepted the call, coming twice a month from his home in Delton to hold services here. He remained with them until August, 1864, when Elder Snider was called to the work. July 13, 1867, Elder George W. Freeman was invited to become their regular Pastor, and accepted the invitation. In August, 1867, the churches of Dell Prairie and Delton, which had become weakened by removals and other canses, came forward and united with this church, thus giving them an effective working strength of about sixty members. At this time, J. W. Wood was appointed Deacon, and A. S. Barker, Clerk. February, 1868, a committee was appointed to take into consideration the erection of a church edifice, and their report being satisfactory, the work was immediately undertaken. The flush times of the previous year made the community liberal in subscribing to the church fund, but the failure in the principal product of this region made collections slow, so that it was impossible to complete the building. As soon as inclosed and plastered, it was rented to the village for two years. It was not made ready for formal dedication until December, 1872. Elder J. W. Fisher preached the sermon. Elder Freeman remained with the church until November, 1869. Elder E. L. Schofield was the next to minister to the con- gregation, but only remained a few weeks, and was succeeded by Elder A. L. Seward, who remained six months. The church then remained without a pastor for several months. In August, 1871, Rev. H. C. Fuller engaged in the work, and continued for two years. Again, for a short time, the church was without a shepherd ; but in April, 1874, Elder John C. Dong- lass was ordained to the ministry, and was then called to the pastorate ; remained one year, and

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was succeeded by Elder J. S. Cox, who served four months, when Rev. F. S. Witter came and remained one year. Rev. H. C. Fuller was then called for the second time, and continuel to serve until September, 1879. The church is weak numerically and financially, but has some earnest Christian men and women connected with it. A Sunday school is maintained, with a membership of fifty, with A. S. Barker as Superintendent. Hours of service for the church : Sunday, 10:30 A. M., and 7:30 P. M. Sabbath school, 12 M.

Methodist Episcopal .- The first preaching by a minister of this denomination, in this vil- lage, was in the old schoolhouse, in the spring of 1857, by Rev. William Mullen. A congre- gation was soon afterward formed. John Kneen and wife, Silas Merrill and wife, Cook and wife and Harriet Peabody were in the first organization. Silas Merrill was the first Class Leader. After worshiping awhile in the old schoolhouse, a small dwelling-house was purchased and fitted up for religious purposes. Here they assembled from time to time until the house became too small, when they went back to the schoolhouse. An old store building was now purchased and used until it also became too small, when it was sold and the money applied on a new building. While this was in progress, the congregation worshiped in the old academy building. Sabbath, January 31, 1868, the new church was dedicated, with appropriate services. Among the Pastors who have served, were Revs. Mullen, Springer, Searles, Faucier, Smith, Yocum, Howe, Bennett, Case, Bishop, Allen, Buck, Gaskell, Steele, Hamilton, Duncan, Hazel- ton, Full and Webster. The church is weak numerically and financially.

Protestant Episcopal .- The first public service of the church in Kilbourn City was in the year 1858, the Rev. Hugh Miller Thompson, of Portage, officiating. Occasional services were thereafter given by the Rev. Mr. Thompson and his successor in St. John's Parish, Portage, the Rev. A. J. M. Hudson. From 1860 to 1863, services were given more or less regularly by the Revs. J. O. Barton, William Pray Ten Broeck and Mosely Morris, successively itiner- ants on the line of the La Crosse & Milwaukee, now Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. Some church interest was developed and two lots were given by Mr. Edward Roddis, of Mil- waukee, for the purpose of erecting thereon a church building. The missionary, however, being withdrawn and the services discontinued, several of the church families in the meanwhile remov- ing, the lots were allowed to be sold for taxes, and all church interest died out. In the year 1867, the Missionary Board, adopting a new plan of missionary work, placed the Rev. George Vernor as its missionary on the line of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad; at which time services were once more commenced, and regularly maintained on the first Sunday of each month, together with occasional week-day services. Some of the old church families having returned and new ones having moved in, a new interest was developed, and a mission organized under the name of St. Paul's Mission, Kilbourn City. The lots sold for taxes were redeemed, and a deed for another lot was given by Byron Kilbourn. In the fall of 1868, the Rev. Chester Adams was associated in the missionary work, the headquarters of the mission being Beaver Dam, services being continued at Kilbourn City, the same as the year previous. In 1870, Rev. William B. Bolmer was placed in charge, and continued to serve until 1872, when he was succeeded by Rev. Peyton Gallagher, who only remained six months, and was fol- lowed by Rev. F. C. Eldred, who remained until March, 1875. At this time, Rev. J. B. Pedelupe was called to the pastorate, remaining in charge until June, 1878, since which time no regular services have been held. The parish was organized with nine communicants. Thirty- two have been added to this number, making a total of forty-one, of whom fourteen have removed, leaving twenty-seven. A. C. Dixon, Warden ; John W. Brown, Secretary and Treasurer.

Presbyterian .- In the summer of 1855, a petition was drawn up, signed by nineteen per- sons, asking the Presbytery of Winnebago to organize a church at Newport and Delton. The petition was sent to Rev. William W. McNair, then of Portage City. Rev. Stewart Mitchell was stopping with Mr. McNair, and the two visited the new field. The Presbytery soon after sent Rev. H. M. Robertson to organize the church, should the way be clear. The church being organized by Mr. Robertson, Rev. Stewart Mitchell was called as its first Pastor. Great difficulty

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

was experienced in obtaining a room in which to hold divine service. Frequently the congregation would meet in private houses, in public halls, in store-rooms, in dining-rooms, any where that shelter could be had. and the people assembled to hear the Gospel. A church house was needed, but property in Newport was depreciating, and it was with the utmost difficulty a sufficient sum could be raised to erect a church edifice. But by persistent effort, it was done, and on the 23d of August, 1857, a small church building was dedicated to the service of Almighty God. The church meanwhile began to lose by removals, and soon after the church was built, it became apparent that it would have to be abandoned. On Sunday, June 29, 1856, Rev. Mr. Mitchell preached his first discourse in Kilbourn City, and soon after began to preach regularly in the place. But great difficulty was experienced in awakening an interest. . Elder J. M. Weber removed here in the spring of 1858, and the minister in the fall. The first communion was held in April, 1858, and four persons were admitted to the church. R. M.

Thompson was elected an additional Elder. The church now began to grow slowly. In 1861, the project of building a church was seriously talked of, and, in the beginning of 1862, the church at Newport was taken down, and the materials brought to this place for erection during the summer. Various circumstances delayed action until fall, and in the fall difficulties were greater than ever. Money was not easily obtained, and the work could not have commenced, but for the help of a benevolent lady in Milwaukee, Mrs. Harriet T. Smith, who furnished the means to buy the lumber necessary for erecting and inclosing the building. Alanson Holly gave the lot on which to build. In August, 1863, the church building was dedicated during a meeting of the Presbytery of Winnebago. At this time, Rev. Mr. Mitchell resigned the pas- torate on account of the ill health of his wife, and was succeeded by Rev. Alexander Strain, who acted as supply for a year. An interim of a few months followed, when Rev. Willis B. Phelps supplied the church in part and, on the 25th of September, Mr. Phelps was invited by the church to become its Pastor. This relation continued until 1870, when Mr. Phelps retired, and was succeeded by Rev. George F. Hunting, who for two years supplied the church, and was then chosen its Pastor and continued as such until 1876. For two years, the church was without regular service, but in 1878, Rev. J. V. R. Hughes was called to the work and yet remains with the church. Those composing the church on its organization were Jacob Van Doren, Rachel Van Doren, Simeon Hunter, Eliza Jane Hunter, Abigail Britts, Elizabeth Van Vetcher, Caroline Dawes, Mary E. Holmes, Jacob Vanderburg. Charity Vanderburg, Maria Andrews, Everett Beardsley, Olive Beardsley, Thomas Murray and Isa- bella Murray. J. M. Weber and wife united shortly after. Everett Beardsley was the first Elder, and Jacob Van Doren, S. D. Hunter, J. M. Weber, the first Deacons. In 1856, Mr. Weber was made an Elder, and has since held that responsible position. Since the organization of the church there have been admitted to membership 195. Present membership, 66. The officers in 1880 were E. H. Parmlee, Timothy Temple, Harlan McDonald and J. M. Weber, Elders. Services held each Sabbath at 101 A. M. and 7 P. M. Sunday school meets each Sabbath at 12 M. Dr. McElroy is Superintendent of the Sunday school.

German Evangelical Lutheran .- Organized in the fall of 1876, at which time a small church house was built, at a cost of $800. Rev. Zorn, of Portage, was the first Pastor. He was succeeded by the Rev. Hovde, and he, in turn, by Rev. Gesal. In the latter part of 1879, Rev. E. J. Peterson was called to the work. The church is weak, numerically, num - bering but about twelve families.

Roman Catholic-In 1859, a church was erected in this place, at a cost of $600, since which time improvements have been made and the church enlarged, making the value of the property about $1,200. In addition, a parsonage was built in 1871, at a cost of $1,600. The church numbers eighty-five families. Fathers Montecue, Keenan, De Kalver, Ryan, Siner, Galweiler, Gohntyn and Hækler have each, in turn, served the congregation.

Columbia Lodge, No 124, A., F. §. A. M .- Was organized by dispensation March 14, 1860, and by charter June 13, 1860, by A. B. Alden, Grand Lecturer. The first officers and charter members were: J. M. Weber, W. M .; J. H. Fort, S. W .; Robert Herren, J. W .;

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

J. E. Dixon, T .; L. R. Mitchell, S .; John Tanner, E. T. Hooker, W. S. Payne, William Gardner. From its organization till January 1, 1380. ninety persons have been initiated into the order. The membership at that time was thirty-eight. The lodge meets the first and third Tuesday evenings of each month. The officers for the term commencing the first meeting in January, 1880, were : H. R. Snider, W. M .; W. H. Mylrea, S. W .; C. E. Griffith, J. W .: J. Mylrea, T .; W. A. Ramsay, Sec.

Columbia Chapter, No. 31, A., F. § A. M .- Instituted March 8, 1866, by M. L. Young. 11. P .; A. B. Alden, K., and E. F. Lewis, Scribe. Its first officers were : William C. Swain. II. P .; William Case, Scribe ; Frank M. Stewart, K .; I. T. Murray, C. H .; G. II. Daniels, P. S .; G. W. Jenkins, R. A. C .; O. W. Dickinson, Third V .; Robert Herren, Second V .; Frank Hill, First V .; George Smith, T .; A. Chamberlain, Sec .; U. F. Hind, G. Present membership, twenty-eight. Meets second and fourth Tuesday evenings of each month. The officers for the term commencing the first meeting in January were: George Smith, II. P .; A. Chamberlain, K .; K. F. Hill, Scribe; Frank Hill, R. A. C .; G. W. Jenkins, C. H .; I. W. York, P. S .; G. B. Bacon, Third V .; C. A. Noyes, Second V .; A. C. Dixon, First V .; John Mylrea, T .; J. M. Weber, Sec .; O. W. Dickinson, G.

Dell Lodge, No. 175, I. O. O. F .- Was chartered January 20, 1870, with S. F. Smith, John Jellodd, Peter Emser, A. C. Dixon, J. H. Fosnot, A. F. Leonard, H. H. Tredwell, I. F. Friend, C. H. Stone, F. S. Meakler and J. Kingsland as charter members. Membership, Jan- uary, 1880. 33.

The officers elected January 1, 1880, were: H. M. Whitney, N. G .; G. Guyer, V. G .; H. Corning, Sec .; Charles Schroeder, P. S .; N. Van Alstine, Treas. Lodge meets every Monday evening.

Alpha Encampment, No. 48, I. O. O. F .- Instituted December 6, 1871, with I. F. Friend, George Lintner, George Ribenack, George Smith, Allen Wright, H. R. Snider and Jonathan Bell as charter members. Now has 15 members, and meets the first and third Friday evenings of each month.

The temperance cause in this place has always had some very strong advocates-men and women who were willing to labor to " save the fallen and prevent others from falling." A> individuals, they have toiled ; and in organizations, under various names, they have endeavored to inculcate temperance principles in the community. The Wisconsin Mirror, under the man- agement of A. Holly, and the Kilbourn City Guard, edited by Wesley Moran, did much to advance the cause.

The first organized effort was that of the

Minnehaha Lodge, No. 87, I. O. G. T .- A number of ladies and gentlemen of this place having petitioned the Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Good Templars of the State of Wisconsin, with authority and assistance to open a lodge, G. W. C. T. Hawley, of Madison, accompanied by Mr. Wilder, of Delton, came and effected such organization. The charter members of the lodge were J. M. Weber, L. D. Combs, H. McDonald, S. N. Merrill, W. H. Peabody, C. D. Woodruff, L. B. Noyes, W. Recker, John Springer, H. Clark, Thomas Coon, Frank Tanner, Emma Elmer, Ada A. Wheeler, Adaline Weber, Adelia Weber, S. A. Merrill. H. M. Peabody, Sarah Cronk and Sarah Smith. As first officers, were elected and appointed J. M. Weber, W. C. T .; Sarah Smith, W. V. T .; H. Clark, W. R. S .; Frank Tanner, W. T .; L. B. Noyes, W. F. S .; L. D. Combs, W. M .; Thomas Coon, W. I. G .; W. H. Peabody, W. O. G .; Ada A. Wheeler, R. H. S .; Emma Elmer, L. H. S .; John Springer, Chaplain ; II. McDonald, P. W. C. T .; Adelia Weber, W. A. S .; Sarah Cronk, W. A. M.

The lodge flourished until the breaking-out of the war, when a considerable number of the members went forth to battle for their country. During the existence of the rebellion, regular meetings were sustained, but the interest was not great. In 1865, the membership again increased, and interest was well sustained until 1866, when a number of the menbers became dissatisfied and withdrew, and, the spring following, the lodge ceased to exist.

POYNETTE

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

Evening Star Lodge, No. 512, I. O. G. T., was instituted April 15, 1867, with eighteen charter members. The organization of this lodge resulted from the withdrawal of some of the members of the Minnehaha Lodge, who had become dissatisfied, and who felt they could better labor in the temperance cause in another organized body. The charter members and first offi- cers were George W. Case, W. C. T .; R. Dudgeon, T. : John B. Markham, W. F. S. ; Orvis M. Burnhans, W. Sec. ; Chancey Doughty, W. M .: I. H. Chickering, W. O. G .; William Snoad, P. W. C. T. ; Anna Bliss, W. I. G. ; Durand B. Peabody, Frank Kingsbury, I. M. Strong, H. Taylor, Samuel Kaler, Misses N. E. Case, D. H. Dudgeon, S. Bennett, A. Murray and Miss Doughty. The lodge had a prosperous career for some five years, when the interest began to decline, and in August, 1875, it ceased to exist. April 7, 1877, it was re-organized under its old name and number, and from that time has been quite prosperous. During the month of January, 1880, initiations occurred at every meeting, and its working membership was thirty-nine, with G. A. Ramsay, W. C. T .; Hester J. Teare, W. V. T. : James S. McNeel, W. R. S. ; Harry G. Markham, W. F. S. ; Emma V. Drinker, W. T. ; Frank H. Marshall, W. M. : Mrs. Helen B. Stroud, W. C .; Harry E. Hinnan, W. I. G .; William Brew, W. O. G. ; William Gillespie, P. W. C. T .: G. E. York, L. D.

Kilbourn City Temple, No. 148, I. O. G. T .- Connected with Evening Star Lodge is a degree temple, which was instituted June 20, 1867, which continued to work until August, 1875, when it ceased, and was re-organized April 7, 1877.

Dell Temple, Temple of Honor .- This institution was organized May 16, 1876, by Col. Watrous, G. W. C. T., of Fond du Lac. The charter members, as well as its first officers. were P. F. O'Hare, W. C. T. ; A. D. Lincoln, W. V. T .; J. H. Dunn, W. R .; S. Cady, W. A. R .; J. H. McNeel, W. T .; W. C. Hicks, Chaplain ; H. O. Darling, W. U .; Fred. Hin- nan, W. D. U .; James Hinnan, W. G .; J. M. Bilby, W. S .; J. B. Markham, P. W. C. T .; George F. Noble, D. G. W. T. The temple has had its seasons of prosperity and seasons of adver- sity. But three of the original number were living in the village January 1, 1880. The removal of the others has tended to weaken the order, but their regular meetings are still kept up. For the term commencing January 1, 1880, the officers were James Clapper, W. Y. T .; A. E. Drinker, W. V. T .; C. A. Thompson, W. R .; N. Van Alstine, W. T .; Henry Rich, W. G .; I. HI. Chickering, W. S .; J. B. Markham, P. W. C. T. The temple meets every Thursday night in Temple Hall.

A Reminiscenel .- " I came to Kilbourn City," writes A. Holly, " the last of October, 1855, and hastily prepared a house in which my family could live, and an office in which to print my paper ; and issued the first number of the Wisconsin Mirror, the 1st day of January, 1856. The day was very cold, for a peculiarly cold winter, and our office was very open. I wrote my editorials in the house, and picked up dry wood about where the village now is, and hired green wood cut when I could not get dry.

" The day on which we published the first number of the Mirror, the mercury was 17 degrees below zero, at noon. The office boys were obliged to heat planks to stand on, to keep their feet from freezing, and to keep a kettle of hot water to prevent their hands from freezing. There were several of the officers of the ' Wisconsin River Hydraulic Co.' and others, present, and when the first paper was struck off, Mr. Noble, of Newport, now a resident of Kilbourn City, took it and put it up at auction, for my benefit, and Mr. Weaver, of Ohio, bid it off at $65, and immediately paid for it! The next copy was sold to John B. Vleit, of Newport, for $10, and the third to a brother of J. B. Vleit, for $5. This, of course, was all done for my encouragement, but it was all kept a profound secret from me, till the sale began. It was to keep me ' printing in the woods' till things thawed out, and it was a good way to do it.

" The present Kilbourn City was then covered with woods, and not a dwelling-house within a mile. Our provisions and other things for use in the house had to be brought from Newport, or other places abroad, and much of them were brought on my back, or on the backs of my boys. There was, that winter, a considerable quantity of game seen where Kilbourn City now is-deer, sometimes bear, rabbits, squirrels, partridges and quail. But the larger of these

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animals entirely disappeared on the appearance of the railroad, and considerable of the smaller ones. One winter, the northern bears got so hungry that they made us quite a long visit.

" The Dells of the Wisconsin River, when we came there, had scarcely been seen, except by raftsmen, and nothing was said about the canyons or gulches.

" The summer after we came there. we went frequently through the Dells in small boats, and to the canyons and gulches, in boats or on foot. But those canyons were so filled with brush and fallen logs that it was difficult to get through them. In 1856, I and the boy went to Cold Water Canyon, and it was so cold, in August, that I would not have our women try to go in. We afterward went to Witch's Gulch, not then named, and could not get through, because the water was so deep below the fall. Afterward I heard that some boys swam through ; and because they imagined they saw something on the high wall at the lower end that looked like a witch, they named it ' Witch's Gulch.'

It remains to point out a few of the advantages of Kilbourn City, geographically, for pleasure-seekers. It is situated about midway between Chicago and St. Paul, being one hundred and ninety-three miles from Chicago, and two hundred and sixteen miles from St. Paul, and is in the immediate vicinity of the Dells, which have already been described. It is seventy-seven miles from Oconomowoc, fifty-seven miles from Madison, and sixty-two miles from Sparta. By the run of trains, one can leave Kilbourn in the morning, go to Sparta and fish for trout all day, and return in the evening ; or go to Oconomowoc and dine, and have some four or five hours' amuse- ments on the lakes, and get back to supper at Kilbourn : or go over to Madison, arriving there at 10 A. M., and see the capital and public buildings, take a sail on the beautiful lakes by which it is environed, and return to Kilbourn to supper, the same night ; or take a carriage and pair of horses and drive through to Baraboo and Devil's Lake, seventeen miles, and dine and "take in " all there is of scenery there, and back to Kilbourn the same night ; or take short runs out by trains to Mauston, Lisbon or Camp Douglas, and view the wonderful rock formations all along the line: or over to Delton, and take a sail on Mirror Lake, and back to Kilbourn.

Mirror Lake, located three and a half miles from Kilbourn City station, and four miles from the Dells, has hitherto been kept from public notice by the few lovers of good fishing and the beauties of nature, who were acquainted with its attractions. But its wonderful reflections, magnificent canyons, and entire difference from other places of interest, have at lengthi disclosed its beauties to the tourist, and in 1879, a steamer was put upon its waters. Its proximity to " Congress Hall," and the mineral springs, and the well-known healthy climate of Delton, where it is located-the average mortality being only two deaths per year, out of a population of about nine hundred-make it one of the most desirable resorts in the Northwest.

Lake Mason, the fisherman's paradise, is a spot comparatively unknown, though one of the finest of the numerous lakes scattered over Wisconsin. The lake proper is three miles in length, and two in breadth, with several large bayous. The lake is situated partly in Marquette County, and partly in Adams County, about ten miles north of cast from Kilbourn City. The drive from Kilbourn City to the little city of Briggsville, so cozily nestled in the valley at the foot of the lake, is undoubtedly the finest drive for the tourist visiting the Dells. The fishing is among the finest in the West. The favorite sport is trolling for pickerel. The lake is filled with them, and the best time to troll is during the months of May, June, September and October. Pickerel have been caught here weighing as high as twenty-five pounds. Still-fishing for perch, rock bass, black bass, sunfish, and other varieties, is good at all seasons of the year, whenever the lake is clear from ice. In the spring and fall, large flocks of ducks and geese float upon its bosom, and feed upon the wild rice that grows in wild luxuriance in the different arms of the lake. The lake is situated in a valley, where, in the springtime, the waters of the Fox, which flow into the great lakes, mingle with those of the Wisconsin, which enter the Mississippi.

As the traveler reaches the eastern edge of the plateau, about half-way between Kilbourn and Lake Mason, he beholds a landscape of green fields, and waving woods, and silver lakes, and distant hilltops, veiled in blue, that makes him think he has caught a glimpse of fairyland. Now all these attractions around Kilbourn City are in addition to the unique-the wonderful Dells !

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The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, Part 124

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