USA > Wisconsin > Dodge County > The history of Dodge county, Wisconsin, containing its early settlement, growth an extensive and minute sketch of its cities war record, biographical sketches > Part 60
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400
HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.
Superintendent's Report for 1878 gives the following interesting statistics concerning the schools of Dodge County :
MISCELLANEOUS.
First District.
Second District.
Totals.
Number of Districts in the county
70
64
134
Number of parts of Districts
64
52
116
Number of schools with two departments.
6
6
Number of schools with three or more departments
2
2
4
Number of teachers required ..
112
114
226
Number of volumes in District libraries
590
422
1,012
Number of schoolhouses in the county.
101
92
193
Number of schoolbouses built of stone or brick
17
21
38
Number of schoolhouses properly ventilated
79
82
161
Number of Districts with adopted lists of text-books.
22
13
35
Number of Districts which purchase text-books.
12
6
18
Number of Districts which loan text-books to pupils.
2
3
5
Number of Districts which sell text-books to pupils
10
3
13
Number of Districts uniform as totext-books .
4,762
6,052
10,814
Number of certificates issued, First Grade
10
S
18
Number of certificates issued, Second Grade
50
16
66
Number of certificates issued, Third Grade
158
123
281
FINANCIAL.
Average wages per month for male teachers.
$35 00
$37 48
Average wages per month for female teachers
21 12
24 21
Cash value of libraries
594 50
587 00
$1,081 50
Cash value of schoolhouses
37,200 00
59,225 00
96,425 00
Cash value of school sites
5,137 00
6,015 00
11,142 00
Cash value of school apparatus
1,488 00
2,969 50
4,452 50
Money on hand August 31, 1877
3,706 22
2,578 37
6,284 59
From taxes levied for building and repairing ..
2,713 04
3,824 33
6,537 37
From taxes levied for teachers' wages.
18,333 93
17,881 29
36,215 22
From taxes for apparatus and library ..
382 76
341 17
723 93
From taxes levied at annual town meetings
924 56
1,673 42
2,597 98
From taxes levied by County Supervisors ...
2,564 31
3,632 35
6,196 66
From income of State School Fund
2,944 83
3,436 56
6,381 39
From all other sources
1,040 60
2,285 62
3.326 22
Total amount received during the year ..
32,709 28
35,653 11
68,362 49
Total amount paid out during the year ..
11,013 25
3,468 47
14,481 72
Money on hand August 31, 1878
1,241 97
1,299 64)
2,541 61
Superintendent Whitford's report for 1879 not having been received, it is impossible to obtain more recent data than that contained in his report for 1878 ; but it is believed that more recent statistics will not materially change these figures. The entire absence of earlier records concerning the public schools of the county prevents us giving tabulated comparisons with the above.
WAYLAND UNIVERSITY.
Early in the fifties, a few of the citizens of Dodge County found themselves face to face with the necessity for a school affording facilities that would enable their children to obtain a higher degree of instruction than could be had under the district system. The establishment of a university was certainly the wisest course to be pursued, and, accordingly, on the 31st of January, 1855, Wayland University, to be located in the city of Beaver Dam, was incorporated by the following named individuals : Absalom Miner, H. J. Parker, R. A. Fyfe, Charles Gif- ford, F. Westover, J. R. Doolittle, O. O. Stearns, William Otis, J. H. Budd, M. D. Miller, John Childs. A. E. Green, D. D. Reed, Peter Conrad, S. Cornelius, Jr., A. Lull, P. Work, James Crawther, A. Case, S. L. Rose, W. Farrington, J. W. Robinson, N. E. Chapin, J. W. Fish, E. L. Harris, J. H. Dudley, M. B. Williams, E. D. Underwood, James Delaney, Nor- man Clinton and J. I. Waterbury.
Number of children between four and fifteen years of age ..
401
HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.
Early in the spring of 1855, ground was broken for the ercetion of a suitable building, the corner-stone of which was laid July 4 of the same year. In the mean time, a class, consisting of four young men, was organized and instructed in the old Baptist Church by Prof. Benjamin Newell, who was the first Principal of Wayland University, and who hield that position until the fall of 1857, when Profs. Haskell and A. S. Hutchins took charge and located the school in the south end of the University Building, the only part then completed. In February, 1858. Prof. C. A. Hutchins was added to the corps of instructors as Principal of the Preparatory Department.
In September, 1861. at which time the names of about eighty students were upon the roll, Prof. H. K. Trask was installed as Principal of the University. Prof. Trask is the present Principal of the South Jersey Institute, at Bridgeton, N. J. He remained in charge nearly seven years, and during his administration the by-laws of the University were amended so as to admit young ladies to the curriculum.
In 1865, Prof. F. B. Palmer, now at the head of the State Normal School at Fredonia, N. Y., became associated with Prof. Trask, and, a year later, they were joined by Prof. Allen S. Hutchins.
In the fall of 1868, the institution was temporarily absorbed as an auxiliary of the Chicago University, Prof. Ambrose Miner being sent by the officers of the latter as Principal, with Miss Mary E. Wadsworh as Principal of the Female Department. This regime continued until 1875, during a portion of which time Prof. E. S. Stearns, assisted by Prof. Frank Jones, was in charge. Prof. A. S. Hutchins was then called upon by the Trustees of Wayland University proper to conduct its destinies. He was assisted by Miss Delia Gilman, as Lady Principal : F. B. Pray, as Professor of Mathematies, and Mrs. Emory, as Teacher of Music. Miss Mary Eaton became Lady Principal in 1876.
The present staff of instructors is as follows : Principal, Prof. N. E. Wood, who took charge three years ago ; Assistant Principal, Rev. R. E. Manning ; Lady Principal, Miss S. C. Stowe; Greek and German, Mrs. A. B. Wood; Teacher of English Branches, Miss Emma Miller ; Music Teacher, Mrs. J. J. Coblentz. There are at present about sixty students under instruction. The roll shows the aggregate number of pupils who have attended the institution to be about fifteen hundred.
Wayland University was founded and is supported principally by members of the Baptist Church. The small tuition of $26 a year is charged those who avail themselves of the advan- tages elaimed for it. The student may acquire therein a general education, fitting him for admis- sion to any of the leading colleges in the United States. The University is delightfully situated near the center of a twenty-acre tract of ground, almost in the heart of the beautiful city of Bea- ver Dam. The building eost something like $30,000 nearly a quarter of a century ago, and is insured for $8,000, about one-half its present estimated value. It is within four or five minutes' walk of the famous Vita Spring-a rare combination, by the way, whose advantages will readily suggest themselves. The present officers of Wayland University are: President, C. B. Beebe ; Vice President, S. P. K. Lewis ; Secretary, Rev. J. M. Coon ; Treasurer, Rev. R. E. Manning.
FOX LAKE SEMINARY.
This institution was chartered under the name of the Wisconsin Female College in 1855, and was opened for students in the fall of 1856. The Principal the first year was Miss H. S. Skinner. At the expiration of that time, it was decided to admit young men to the Normal department, and Mr. N. E. Goldthwaite was appointed to the Principalship, and held it for three years. The war then drew off the young men so that it seemed best to return to the original plan of a school for young ladies alone. Miss Caroline Bodge, with a corps of teachers from Rockford Seminary, was in charge of the institution until her death in 1867, when Miss Mary S. Crowell, Miss Bodge's associate, became Principal, and remained in charge nntil 1871. Rev. J. P. Haire and Mrs. Haire were then called to the management of the school, and remained two years. After Mr. Haire accepted a Professorship in Ripon College, Miss Mary
402
HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.
Henry, who had been one of the teachers, became Principal. At the end of two years, her fail- ing health compelled her to give up all work and seek needed rest. The Trustees then decided to open the institution to both sexes, and the results have fully justified the wisdom of their course.
The buildings are solidly constructed of limestone, and are each three stories and a base- ment high. The main building is 100x40 feet, and Downer Hall, the gift of Hon. Jason Downer, of Milwaukee, is 65x45. The grounds occupy five acres in the center of the village of Fox Lake, and are adorned with many fine trees. There is a small endowment on the chair of Lady Principal. The interest of the Dodge fund of $5.000 is given in scholarships to young ladies who need assistance.
The present staff of teachers, etc., employed in the Seminary consists of the Rev. A. O. Wright, Principal : Miss S. O. Sheppard, Acting Lady Principal ; Miss Martha W. Dean, Miss Lizzie S. Spencer, Miss Mary Richards, Mrs. G. J. Davis (music), Mrs. L. Newman, Matron : Jarvis Willett, Janitor.
ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL.
Founded in Beaver Dam in October, 1863, by three Sisters of Notre Dame, from Milwau- kee. A good common-school education, both in English and German, can be obtained at this institution. The average attendance in winter is 200 pupils ; in summer, 150.
The number of unincorporated private schools in Dodge County, August 31, 1879, was 36 (5 in the First and 31 in the Second District); of these, 30 were denominational or parochial ; teachers engaged in such schools, 37 ; average number of days such schools were taught, First District, 200; Second, 223; number of pupils registered, who had not attended district schools, First District, 75 : Second, 1.143 ; average number in daily attendance, First, 35; Second, 79.
TOWNS.
PORTLAND is located in the extreme southwest part of the county, Town 9 north, Range 13 east, and its first settlement dates back to the fall of 1843, Alex. Campbell at that time locating his home on Section 32. He was soon afterward followed by George Powers, Cyrus Perry, D. V. Knowlton, K. P. Clark, D. Clark and others, who comprise the pioneers of the town. They experienced the same trials, endured the same hardships and suffered the same as others who came in at an early date, and who, with strong right arms and energy worthy of example, felled the forest, cultivated the soil and " made the wilderness to blossom as the rose."
The town was originally all timber land, and, when opened for settlement, the title of every acre was held by the Government: therefore, the early settlers secured their claims under the homestead act. Crawfish River traverses the town from north to south, with a branch running through Sections 27, 26 and 24. Waterloo Creek washes a portion of its southern boundary, and supplies the water-power for the mills in the village of Portland. The town has an area of 23,040 acres, the greater part of which is at present under cultivation.
The products for 1879 were: Wheat, 4,965; corn, 1,475; oats, 901; barley, 500; rye, 45; potatoes, 125; apple orchards, 157; grasses, 118; growing timber, 1,824. Population in 1870, 1,286.
ELBA.
In Town 10, Range 13 east, lies the town of Elba, the first settlement of which was made in 1843. Of the pioneers who, in that year or soon after, made this their home, we recall the names of Lawson Trowbridge, Miles Burnham, Morris Burnham, George Adams, Mr. Jarvis and James Webster. There is one small village in the town, that of Danville, the settlement ot which is cotemporaneous with that of the town.
The first election was held at the cabin of a Mr. Robinson, called the Ox-Bow, on account of the river presenting that appearance near his house. . There were two tickets in the field for town officers, one representing the land-owners and the other the squatters, and the result of the ballot was a tie. In consequence of there being no election, the town business for that year
.
403
HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.
was transacted at Lowell. In the next election, the land-owners were victorious, and the town was fully organized.
In naming the town, there was great diversity of opinion, and, every citizen desiring it should be called some name with which he was familiar, a town meeting was held at the farm of Mr. Thompson, to fix upon a name, but no agreement could be reached. Robinson was then delegated to go to Madison to consult with the Secretary of State, and the two together fixed upon the name of " Elba."
The first schoolhouse was built in the south part of the town, citizens volunteering to put up the building, which was to be of logs. It is probable that in this house the first school was held.
Rev. Miriam, a Wesleyan Methodist minister, preached the first sermon, but the first church was built by Catholics. Their building was a small one, moved from Lowell in 1847, and located on Section:26. A larger and better building has since been erected, and they now have a large and flourishing congregation, one of the largest in the county ; Rev. Thomas Dempsy, Pastor.
The German Methodists have a neat church edifice in the south part of the town, erected at a cost of $1,500, and have a good congregation.
The first saw-mill was built in 1844, by one of the Burnhams.
Originally, the town was all openings, with small ridges, running northeast and south- southwest. The first settlers were, generally, from the East. At present, the Irish predomi- nate, though in the north part there is a large settlement of Welsh. Farmers are mostly well- to-do and own their land, there being but few renters. In 1874, they organized an insurance company, upon the mutual plan, composed of farmers of the town, with a capital stock of $500,- 000. They insure farm property only. James Webster was President for four years. The company now embraces the towns of Elba, Portland and Lowell.
The C., M. & St. P. R. R. passes through the town, and directly through the farm of Mr. Webster, one of the whole-souled and substantial men of that region.
In 1870, the town contained a population of 1,496. It contains 22,420 acres of land, assessed, in 1879, at $609,805, while the total personal property was listed at $78,886. In the same year, there were in cultivation : Of wheat, 5,670 acres ; corn, 1,433; oats, 1,249; barley, 298; potatoes, 140 : apple orchards, 50; grasses, 345.
CALAMUS.
Town 11 north, Range 3 west, is the town of Calamus. The soil is good and produces fine crops. The Welsh predominate in this town, though other nationalities are well represented. The Welsh are a quiet, hard-working and thrifty class, and have two churches-Bethel and Salem-in which the Gospel is preached in their native tongue.
The Catholics have, also, a substantial church edifice, on Section 6. built in 1866, at a cost of $700, and rebuilt in 1878, at a cost of $1,500. It is known as St. Mary's Catholic Church of Mount Pleasant. Fathers Dougherty, MeGurke, Gray and Roach have, from time to time, ministered to the spiritual welfare of the members, of which there are some sixty families.
The town has an area of 22,800 acres of land fit for cultivation, and, in 1879, it had in wheat, 4,319 acres; corn. 813; oats, 865: barley, 191; rye, 17; potatoes, 87 ; grasses, 828. The usual number of schoolhouses are scattered over the town, at convenient distances from the homes of the pupils.
WESTFORD.
Though, probably, not so thickly settled as some other towns, we find here a thrifty class of people, the Germans predominating, many of whom, through their own industry, have become independently rich. It lies in the western tier of Towns 12 north, Range 13 east. Its first settlers were principally from the East, the greater part from the State of New York.
Wilmert and Vincent Goldsmith, brothers, settled here in 1842, and John Cruden, Tyler Thompson, Ralph Davis, Thomas Ransom, Daniel D. Ashley and others came in shortly after. At a later day, they were followed by Charles Nutting, Abiel Stark, John Converse and others,
404
HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.
who might also be termed pioneers, for, even at the time in which they came, the great body of land was yet in a state of nature. Evidences yet exist of its once having been the home of the " noble red man," in the number of mounds to be seen.
In 1879, there were reported to the Assessors 18.627 acres of land, valued at $273,052, with the following number of acres of the various products mentioned : Wheat, 5,441; corn, 1,170; oats, 800; barley, 282; rye, 18; potatoes, 86; grasses, 735. Population of town in 1870, 1,341.
As illustrating the fact that occasionally something transpired to enliven the people, we give the following account of what is generally known as the " Cruden War: " In July, 1844, a number of Winnebago Indians returned from their reservation and camped upon Beaver Lake, in the town of Westford. On the 10th day of the same month, several of them paid a visit to the cabin of John Cruden, who. withont thought of the consequence, sold them a lot of whisky. The taste of the "fire-water " felt good to the Indian palate, and, after the first drink, they demanded more, which, being refused, aroused their passions and they became somewhat boister- ous in their conduct.
About sunset, Mr. C. grew alarmed and began to look about for help. His first call was upon Daniel Ashley, asking him, with his hired man, to come over and protect his family from being massacred. They went, and found two Indians and one squaw at the cabin, the latter having a gallon keg, which she desired filled. Wibmert and Vincent Goldsmith were also pres- ent, with their dogs. The Indians being ordered away, and refusing to go, the Goldsmiths, in order to frighten them, set the dogs upon them, and, before they could be called off, one of the Indians suffered considerably, his clothes being torn from his back and his flesh terribly man- gled. This excited the indignation of about twenty of the Indians, who determined upon revenge. Their intentions becoming known to Mr. Cruden, he went a second time for Mr. Ashley, and dispatched a messenger to Fox Lake for further assistance. During the interven- ing time, the barrel of whisky had been removed to the loft of the cabin. Ashley and his hired inan returned with Mr. Cruden, and, on arriving at the cabin, instead of attempting an entrance at the front door, they crawled through a cellar-way and knocked on the floor for admittance above. Their surprise was unbounded when, instead of Mrs. Cruden, two Indian squaws peered down upon them. Without stopping to ask questions, the men retreated out of the cellar and hastened to join the squad of men who were just coming up from Fox Lake. Uniting their forces and choosing one of their number for a leader, they charged upon the cabin, with yells that would have been sufficient to arouse the "seven sleepers," and the Indians fled precipitately to their camp on the marsh below.
After holding a council of war, it was decided to surround the Indian camp and take them prisoners, but, on arriving there, no Indians could be seen, but they could plainly hear them making a retreat to their boats on the lake, a few rods distant. Some of the men desired to fire upon them, but their leader thought it best that it should not be done, lest the Indians should return some night and burn the house of Mr. Cruden for the purpose of revenge. But the Indians had not gone far before they opened fire upon the whites, which was returned. As no one was hurt, the Indians then began to tantalize their pursuers, when the Captain raised his rifle and fired upon the one that seemed to be a leader, and with effect, for he immediately fell forward into the water, but was caught by his companions and dragged back into the boat, and the redskins fled in dismay.
Thus ended the Cruden war. The authorities, soon after, sent down a force of men, and the Indians were removed to their reservation.
Fox LAKE.
This is the oldest settled town in the county. and is situated in the extreme northwest part, Town 13 north, Range 13 east. Its history is probably better known to the citizens than any other. The first permanent settlement dates back to 1838; but it was not until 1842 that a permanent growth was perceptible, as in the spring of that year only some four or five families were then
405
HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.
living there. Beaver Lake washes the town on the south, and Fox Lake comprises the greater part of Sections 12, 14, 15, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26 and 27, the two lakes being connected by a river. Lake Emily, a small body of water, lics in the northern part of the county, on Sections 4 and 5. A hotel was once built upon its bank for the comfort of those who might visit this delightful place. The lake has no apparent outlet. The town was originally all timber-land, and the many beautiful farms which dot the country here and there had first to be cleared by the wood- man's ax. We find on record, in 1879, as comprised within the limits of Fox Lake, 20,300 acres of land, valued at $531,453, with the following number of acres of the various products mentioned : Wheat, 3,839; corn, 1,317; oats, 938; barley, 344; rye, 14; potatoes, 55; grasses, 1,497. Population, 1,800.
SHIELDS.
This town is located in the southern part of the county, Town 9 north, Range 14 east, and con- tains a less area of land than any in it, comprising only 13,954 acres. It was originally all timber- land, and is settled almost exclusively by foreigners, the Germans and Irish comprising nine- tenths of the population. It was named in honor of Gen. Shields, the Irish statesman, who represented three different States in the United States Senate, viz., Illinois, Minnesota and Missouri. Judge Mertz was among the first settlers, locating here in 1848. The village of Richwood, a small station, on the La Crosse Division of the C., M. & St. P. Railroad, is located on parts of Sections 13 and 24, and is the only post office in the town. The city of Watertown is the general trading-point for its inhabitants. The Catholic religion predominates, a church of that denomination being located at Richwood, Rev. D. Tierney, Pastor, who also has charge of the Hubbleton Church, which is attended by several families of Shields. In 1870, it had a population of 1,119. In 1879, there were grown of wheat 3,235 acres ; corn, 539 ; oats, 638 ; bar.ey, 456; rye, 33; potatoes, 140; grasses, 446. The land is assessed at good figures, showing good farms, as we find the 13,954 acres valued at $439,307, an average of $33 per acre.
As Indian stories are always appreciated, we give the following as narrated to us by one who knows : In 1850, quite a number of Indians lived in the town of Shields. They were not disposed to be particularly mischievous, except when their rights were infringed, and a friendly feeling existed between them and the whites. The nominal chief of this tribe was the husband of a lovely squaw. The town of Shields also boasted a militia company, which had on various occasions made itself efficient in preventing outbreaks on the part of the Indians, and that militia company had a captain, John D. Griffin, who was on the best of terms with his dusky neighbors. The chief of the tribe, in course of time, became unduly jealous of Capt. Griffin, and demon- strated his feelings, one day, by setting upon him and giving him an unmerciful beating. This was too much for the gallant Captain ; his pride, his honor (and his body) had been wounded, and, " in the name of the State of Wisconsin," he called out his company of militia to drive the Indians away. The jealous chief, realizing what he had done, and not knowing the extent of Capt. Griffin's injuries, but fearing that they might be such as to bring the vengeance of the whites upon his head, called his followers about him and fled. In the mean time, Capt. Griffin got his men together, bade good-bye to his family, and set out for the scene of the anticipated conflict ; but when he and his company arrived near the spot, it was discovered that no Indians were there. But one solitary tepe remained to mark the spot where the gallant Griffin had been so severely and unwarrantably punished. "Let me reconnoiter," said the gallant Captain, call- ing a halt. Leaving the company under the command of Lieut. Richard Mertz, Capt. Griffin cautiously approached the tepe, and finally ventured to peer within. Returning to his command. he said, "Boys. please stay behind ; I'll charge the enemy myself." The chief in his flight had forgotten to take his squaw with him.
LOWELL.
This is one of the largest towns in the county, and contains fifty-four sections of land. It lies in Town 10 north, Range 14 east, and was settled at a very early day. It has within its borders two villages-Lowell and Reeseville-of which mention is made under the head of "Villages." Lowell is situated near the center of the town, and is the place where all the
406
HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.
town business is transacted. The town is mostly woodland, and is reckoned as one of the best in the county. It has an area of 32,432 acres of land subject to cultivation, assessed, in 1879, at $960,775, an average of about $30 per acre. There were grown in 1879, of wheat, 7,165 acres ; corn, 1,316 ; oats, 1,248 ; barley, 693 ; rye, 5; potatoes, 132; grasses, 804. The town is well supplied with churches and schoolhouses, showing that the moral and intellectual welfare of the rising generation is looked after.
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