The history of Dodge county, Wisconsin, containing its early settlement, growth an extensive and minute sketch of its cities war record, biographical sketches, Part 62

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 776

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 62

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412

HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.

Range 16 east, and is a fine farming country, with a thrifty population. It contains 23,000 acres of land. The principal trading-point is Waupun, though Mayville comes in for a share of its trade.

AASHIPPUN

lies in the extreme southeast part of the county, and is bounded on the south by Waukesha County, and on the east by Washington. It is principally settled by Norwegians, but with large representations of English, Germans and other nationalities. It is an exclusively farming community, there being no village of any considerable size in it. There are two post offices here, Ashippun and Alderly, both being small villages. There are several churches and school- houses in the town ; therefore, the moral and intellectual welfare of the people is attended to. We find, in 1879, a total number of 22,809 acres returned to the Assessor, valued at $354,439. Also, in that year, were in cultivation, of wheat, 4,167 acres ; corn, 1,082; oats, 938 ; harley, 337; rye, 32 ; potatoes, 95; apple orchards, 185; grasses, 1,560. In 1870, it had a popula- tion of 1,623.

RUBICON.

The history of the town is comprised in that of the two villages, Rubicon and Neosho. Suffice it to say, its history dates back to the year 1845, and to Daniel E. Cotton is given the honor of being the first white man to make for himself a home within its boundaries. Hc arrived here in February of that year. Soon after his arrival, he commenced the erection of a saw-mill. In the following spring, Dennison Baker located here, together with a number of others, and it was not long before the town was well settled, for a new country. Its organiza- tion as a town government was completed in 1846, and the following Board was elected : Sylvester Taylor, Chairman ; Dennison Baker, Assessor ; Nelson Chase, Collector ; John S. Terry and Ryland Parker, Justices of the Peace. There are several large streams, with good water-power, traversing the town. The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad passes through the northeastern part. At present, there are three post offices, viz., Rubicon, Neosho and Fremont. In 1870, the population of the town was 1,995. In 1879, the Assessor reported 22,888 acres of land, valued at $420,804; and, also, in cultivation, of wheat, 5,415; corn, 1,448; oats, 850 ; barley, 246; rye, 75; potatoes, 136 ; apple orchards, 182 ; grasses, 1,415.

HERMAN.

This town, like many others in the county, was originally settled by Eastern people, but as we write (January, 1880), there are within its boundaries but three American families, the rest being Germans, who have from time to time purchased of its first inhabitants the fine farms which we now see and admire. The entire town is woodland, therefore it required hard, earnest work to clear the land. But it is an acknowledged fact that timber-land for many purposes is more valuable than prairie, and our German fellow-citizens appreciate its value for growing wheat, and are ever ready to purchase land for that purpose. There are two post offices in the town, Herman and Woodland, the latter of which is a pleasant little village on the C., M. & St. P. R. R. The town is bounded on the north by Theresa, on the south by Rubicon, on the west by Hub- bard, and on the east by Washington County. In 1870, it had a population of 1,955. In 1879, was reported to the Assessor 23,280 acres of land, valued at $718,077, and in cultivation, of wheat, 6,747; corn, 1,513; oats, 1,096; barley, 410; rye, 55; potatoes, 87; apple orchards, 177 ; grasses, 2,577. Of the early history of the town, we learn the first schoolhouse was erected in 1847. in the present District No. 7, on Section 30, and a school was kept there that same year. The first sermon preached was by a Methodist minister, at the house of Martin Shultz, Sr., in 1847, and the first church was erected in 1851, on Section 14. There are at present in the town three Lutheran and two Catholic Churches. Rev. C. Gausewitz and Rev. Mr. Opitz are the Lutheran ministers, and Father Schaaf, the Catholic. A post office was established in 1849, and given the name of Herman, E. Dake being the first Postmaster. Charles Ringle is the present efficient incumbent of that office. The town is well supplied with schoolhouses,

there being eleven in it.

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HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.

THERES.A.

This town, like that of Herman, is peopled almost entirely by Germans and is very densely populated, having 2,248 inhabitants in 1870, and numbering in 1879, about 2,500. It is an almost entire farming community, there being but one small village within its territory, that of Theresa, lying about six miles east of Mayville. It has four churches and eight schoolhouses. In 1879, we find assessed 22,690 acres, valued at $694,537, and in cultivation of wheat, 6,028 acres ; corn, 676; oats, 947; barley, 357; rye, 200; potatoes, 120; apple orchards, 100 ; grasses, 1,574.

LOMIRA.

In Town 13 north, Range 17 east, in the extreme northeastern part, lies the town of Lomira, an exclusively farming town, there being no village within its boundary, though there is one post office. The nearest trading-points for her people are Mayville and Waupun. The population in 1870 was 1,905, and almost exclusively Germans. In 1879, were reported for assessment 23,446 acres, showing very little unavailable land. This was valued at $813,278. There were also returned as in cultivation, of wheat, 6,080; corn, 788 ; oats, 1,180; barley, 510; rye, 37; potatoes, 158; apple orchards, 127 ; grasses, 1,295.

CHAPTER VI. BEAVER DAM.

THE GARDEN CITY-ITS HISTORY FROM THE PENS AND TONGUES OF EARLY SETTLERS-GROWTHI- MANUFACTURES-THE ABORIGINES-BURSTING OF THE DAM-CONFLAGRATIONS-THIE POST- OFFICE-HOTELS-STEAMBOATS-GOVERNMENT-SCHOOLS-CHURCHES-THE VITA SPRING- BANKS-PERRY'S CAR-COUPLER-PUBLIC HALLS-THE RACE COURSE-THE FIRE DEPART- MENT-SOCIETIES-THE NEW CITY HALL-CEMETERIES.

THE GARDEN CITY.

Upon the eastern shore of a placid lake, nestling beneath the brow and along the crest of a semicircular hill of such gradual elevation and gentle slope that the housetops in the dimpled valleys on either side are scarcely hidden one from the other ; shaded by the branches of lovely maples, elms and oaks; clustered here and there together in veritable Eden bowers ; wrapped in an atmosphere whose balmy, life-prolonging breath fans you in the face at every step and meets you round the corner like a perfumed zephyr escaped from Paradise, lies the city of Bcaver Dam-the Garden City of Dodge County-noted for its palatial residences, and enterprising citizens, and famed for its beautiful women and chivalric men.

Such is the picture. What the place has been, who the individuals that built it, what their privations and tribulations, we leave to abler pens, to whiter heads, to those who bore a part in the grand undertakings and achievements that have resulted in the phenomenal growth of Beaver Dam, and made its founders illustrious.

BEAVER DAM THIRTY-FOUR YEARS AGO.

In 1871, the following able and interesting paper was read before the Sewing Society of the ladies of theBaptist Church, at their quarter-centennial anniversary, by ex-Congressman S. D. Burchard. It is replete with incidents of the carly history of Beaver Dam :

"In looking back over the last quarter of a century, at the city in embryo, you will, I know, be willing to go one step further, where you can look upon its inception. In the month of March, 1841, five years before the time of which I may properly speak, Thomas Mackie came to what is now the site of the city of Beaver Dam, with the purpose of making for him- self a home. The nearest settlement upon the north, at that time, was at Fox Lake, where three or four families (in all, about ten souls) had located. East, the nearest settlement was at Hyland Corners. Amasa Hyland, Luther and John Cole, and a brother of Mr. S. M. Stanton, had settled themselves; and their cabin, with its bachelor comforts, offered a welcome resting- place for the pioneer settler seeking a home. South, between here and Watertown, the first evidence of civilization was a log shanty, about four miles this side of Watertown. West, at Columbus, Maj. Dickson had located, and, between this place and his settlement, there were no white inhabitants. Mr. Mackie at once proceeded to build a house, locating it near and a little west of the Mackie Spring, the head of Spring Brook, which runs through the city. Since the stars sang together, the spring which now bears his name had sent its sparkling waters on their way to slake the thirst of the red deer, or cool the brow of the tawny hunter who pursued it; and now, for the first time, its crystal surface mirrored back the face of the white man, as Mr. Mackie stooped to quench his thirst in its liquid coolness. Here, he built the first house which was built in Beaver Dam. The old house may still be seen where he placed it, and its builder is still a citizen in our midst. The one was always open and welcome to the tired traveler; but age and the march of improvement have robbed it of its usefulness ; gray

Bons Holy Rose

BEAVER DAM .

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HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.

hairs have silvered the head of its builder, but the heart of the old pioneer is still young-is still open to the appeals of humanity. All honor to Thomas Mackie, the pioneer of Beaver Dam ; for, through all the changes of these many years, in his conquest of the virgin soil, and his more recent struggles with men wiser and more avaricious than himself, he has never swerved from his devotion to principle; he has never been cast down by the reverses of fortune. He may and did brush the mist from his eyes, as the fruit of all this sacrifice and toil was wrested from him by the strong arm of the law; the great heart was for a moment broken and stirred to the bottom, until it ran over with great drops of bitterness; but it was only for a moment, and the serene spirit of contentment, which reigned in his household and in his heart through those early days, returned and dwelt with him again. Another altar is reared under the roof-tree which he established; another seeks shelter from the noonday sun beneath the vine which he planted; but, rich in that contentment which money cannot purchase-proud in the knowledge that he stands charged with no man's misfortune, crowned with the confidence and respect of all who know him-who shall say that Thomas Mackie hath not by far the most abundant and the most enduring riches ?

" But time and space allowed me will not permit further digression from my theme. One by one, attracted by the beauty of the location, and its natural advantages, men settled here, and the forest which covered the present site of the city was gradually cleared away to make homes for their families. The population increased slowly, for the price required to be paid for a home was sufficient to deter all but men of strong and willing hands, and stout hearts. Not in money, for the land was subject to entry at a nominal price, but in toil and hardship, in privation and all of the inconvenience incident to the life of the pioneer. The nearest lake port was Milwaukee, the nearest grist-mill Oconomowoc. To take wheat to mill and return required eight days of tedious travel, and on the trip five nights were required to be spent in the open air.

" In 1846, twenty-five years ago, the population of Beaver Dam consisted of not more than 120 souls. It may be of interest to you to know the occupation and place of residence of these early settlers. Abraham Ackerman, recently deceased, lived near the spring, west of the barn upon the Ackerman place in the Second Ward. He was at this time engaged in farming, and also held the office of Probate Judge of the county. Henry Stultz lived on the site of the house recently occupied by C. W. Daniels, Esq. He also was engaged in farming, and also worked at his trade of blacksmithing. Mr. S. was the first blacksmith in the city, and one of the first settlers, having settled here in 1842. Jacob P. Brower lived where the brick building recently occupied by Warren & Bailey as a hardware store now stands, and kept the Exchange Hotel. Moses Ordway, whose form was familiar to most of you, lived upon what is now Madison street. He was the same zealous worker in business and in the church then as more recently, when we had the pleasure of his acquaintance. He supplied by his experience a want which had pressed sorely upon the little community, and erected the first grist-mill upon the stream. It was a small affair as compared with its successor, but the necessities of the people vested it with an importance which we of this day find it difficult to realize. There was great rejoicing and hand shakings, and congratulation, as the snowy flour escaped from between the upper and nether stones of Ordway's mill for the first time. The original building is now used by William Fox as a blacksmith-shop, it having been removed in 1848 to give place to a larger structure. Mr. Goetschius lived just east of the Mackie Spring, across the Fox Lake road, which then passed near to and east of the residence of Mr. Mackie. Asa Jenkins lived with Mr. Mackie, and Mr. A. Horn lived where A. P. Lawrence's store now stands. J. M. How and Gideon How lived on what is now Madison street, on the site at present occupied by Joseph Hummel's saloon. Here, in the spring of 1846, my informant attended the first prayer-meeting which he was present at in Beaver Dam. The house built by the Hows, from which twenty-five years ago ascended the voice of prayer and praise to heaven, has been removed, and in its place is seen a commodious brick edifice known as Hummel's saloon, where thirsty souls imbibe copious draughts of lager beer on Sundays. The garments of the Genius of Prayer, sometimes in her march, are soiled with the dust of travel. It seems so here. Rev. Mr. Montgomery, Presbyterian

HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.

minister, built and occupied the house now owned and occupied by Mr. G. B. Chatfield. Rev. Mr. Pillsbury, Baptist, lived north of the present depot, and near Sylvester Cole's resi- dence. Dr. Kimball, whom many of you will recollect, resided in the house now owned and occupied by William Wade. The house was then by far the most extensive and expensive pri- vate residence in the village, and so remained for many years. We do not learn that its owner assumed any airs of superiority for this reason. Dr. Manchester lived in a house which stood on the present site of William Wade's carriage factory. William Weed lived over the old mill store, and was the first foundryman in Dodge County. Malcolm Sellers and wife boarded with him. James Connor lived in the west end of the house in which Mrs. Waldhier now resides, on Madison street. Sumner Cole lived in a house which stood on the present site of Spuhler & Schluckabier's store. W. T. Bidwell occupied the house in which Mr. R. C. Gaton now lives. The house then stood on the present site of R. V. Bogart's residence. D. E. Hays lived in the house now owned and occupied by Joseph Brownlow, in the First Ward. Mr. La Jess lived on Madison street, and Nelson Brobriant boarded with him. William Savage kept a wagon-shop where Adam Caspiar now follows the same business, and lived in or over his shop. C. S. Snow lived in a part of Bidwell's honse, and sold goods in a one-story building near where the Music Hall now stands. Hiram Dodge, a resident of this city at this time, was clerk for him, and boarded at the Exchange Hotel. Mr. Putney cared for the understanding of the people by making and mending their boots and shoes in a small building east of the old mill store, and near the present residence of Mr. J. A. Williams. John Van Eps kept for sale a general assort- ment of goods in a store west of and near where the Washington House now stands, and lived in the house now occupied by Louis Kress, in the First Ward. Mr. Manahan lived on the lot adjoining Van Eps' store, and also kept a small stock of merchandise in a building adjoining his house. Mr. Manahan was also Postmaster, and kept the post office in his store. Frank Blod- gett was a partner of Mr. Van Eps, and lived west of and adjoining Horn's, near the old Haight Block. Dan Benjamin made himself illustrious by building the Eagle tavern over Spring Brook, where Stultz & Carroll now have, a paint-shop. The building still stands near its origi- nal site, and is used by Smith & Ellis as a marble-shop. Mr. Benjamin was a tinner by trade, and made the first stove-pipes manufactured in the city. His stove-pipe and tinware were fashioned on a piece of round iron driven into a tree. A piece of square iron also driven in the tree served as an anvil. His pipe possessed this peculiarity, that, while it could not be drawn out to any desired length, it could be shortened at will by telescoping, as he had no machinery for swedging check-rings on it.

" The Angel of Hate cast the shadow of his wing for the first time over the community at this point, and in the basement of Dan Benjamin's tavern the devil developed the skirmish line of the grand army which destroys mankind with rum. The cloven-footed gentleman soon after suffered an ignominious defeat. A party of ladies, filled with righteous indignation, and led by Mrs. Bremnan, attacked the saloon, smashed decanters, broke glasses, and sent the liquor to mingle with the purer element that flowed beneath. This was, I believe, the first public asser- tion of the rights of women in the community, and the astonished Dan, ruefully gazing upon the wreck of his worldly possessions, was forced to admit that in this instance, at least, her cause was just.

" Charles S. Bristol, better known as Charley Bristol, lived opposite Beaver street bridge on Madison street, in the house at present owned by Mrs. Spuhler. He was a lawyer, and kept his office in the west wing of his residence. G. W. Green, also a lawyer, had his office in the office of Jacob P. Brower, who was at that time Register of Deeds of Dodge County. The office stood on the south side of Front street, on the site at present owned and occupied by John Mc- Hugh. G. A. Thompson lived in the house now occupied by Mr. Liebig; it is the first house west of the new schoolhouse in the First Ward. Mr. Thompson was employed in the grist-mill. and was the first miller in Beaver Dam. Mr. Vine Taylor, his father-in-law, lived on the lot now owned by James A. Williams, in the First Ward. Joseph McNeil occupied the house adjoining Mr. Hosmer's residence, and worked about the saw-mill. Our townsman, Samuel

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HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.

Ilodgman, lived with his father, Asa Hodgman, on the lot now occupied by the new schoohouse in the First Ward, and both worked at coopering in the shop where Mr. R. N. Banks now pursucs the same calling. Mr. Ager kept the Exchange Hotel, a marvel of elegance and comfort at that time, and by far the most aristocratic and noted public house within a radius of many miles. William Fisher, who is now a resident of the town of Burnett, and Mr. Brobriant were partners in the blacksmithing business, in a shop which stood where Rowell's foundry and agricultural implement works stand now. L. H. Marvin and E. W. Goodnow established a cabinet-shop near the present site of Ilovt's Mill, and lived in a house adjoining. The shop is still used by Mr. Marvin for the same purpose, but now stands near the north end of Beaver street bridge. Amos Grattan lived in the house with Dr. Kimball, and was a partner of Weed in the blacksmithing business. The tailoring business was represented by Stephen Horn, who kept a shop about where the Clark House stands now. John Thomas worked in the shop with him at times. Truman Parker kept a grocery in the building now occupied by Mr. Weimer as a glove-factory. His stock consisted of crackers and cheese, a few herring, a small stock of sugar, a few pounds of tea, pepper, salt, salaratus, soap, candles, some fly-specked candy, pipes and tobacco. He also manufactured a beverage known as " burr-oak cider," a base imitation of apple-juice. It is related of this individual, that a customer one day called at his store and asked for a pound of cheese, but was informed by the astonished Parker that he only sold cheese at retail.

.. In the spring of 1846, Abner Thompson commenced to build what isknown as the Sewell Haskell House on Front street. Dr. Noyes at the same time was boarding at the Exchange, and building the house now owned and occupied by Mr. S. T. Carroll.

"In the same spring, the community was gratified by the arrival in their midst of Mr. William Gowdey and his family. Mr. G. at once purchased a site and proceeded to build a house near where Dr. lloyt resides at present. Mrs. Gowdey entered with zeal upon the church work of the Baptist society, and it was mainly through her efforts that the society, whose quarter- centennial anniversary you now celebrate, was organized. We are not informed as to the em- ployment of the youthful David at this time. It is probable, however, that he was then explor- ing the brooks of knowledge, in search of some small pebbles with which to slay the Republican giant, whose shadow, coming before, was even then seen in the land.

" The record of the first settlers would be incomplete without a brief notice of "Big John ' Hooper. Six feet four inches in height, and well proportioned, he possessed the strength of two ordinary men. Ile, too, was a blacksmith, and many are the tales of his wonderful strength, of iron bars broken and twisted as reeds in his hands, of restive horses held firmly as in a vise in his heavy arms; and yet, with all his strength, his disposition was gentle as a child's. His voice was a marvel of depth and power, and, in ordinary conversation, was the terror of timid strangers, so loud and coarse, and when his boisterous laughter echoed through the valley, it brought back to the memory of his neighbors recollections of the labored puffs of the strained steam engines in the villages they had left in the East. He built a portion of the Stevens House, soon after the time of which I write. There was at this time but one church in the place, a small building which stood immediately south of Mr. Alfred Loomis' house. It was built by the Presbyterian society, but occasional services were held in it by Rev. Mr. Pillsbury, Baptist. At other times, the Baptists held meetings in private houses. Meetings were held regularly cach Sabbath and the entire community attended, women bringing their children, even to the babe at the breast. No groups of idlers were seen lounging on the streets upon the Sabbath, no shouts of drunken men, no sound of revelry. The foot of civilization seems to have slipped here and gone backward.

"The present site of the city was at this time embraced in School District No. 3, of the town of Beaver Dam. The schoolhouse was situated near the present site of Mr. J. C. Hall's residence upon an acre of ground which had been donated to the district for that purpose by Mr. J. P. Brower. The schoolhouse was a small building abont 20x26 feet, one story high, and was built in 1844, being used as a schoolhouse until 1852, when, the district having failed to com- ply with certain conditions necessary to secure a perfect title, the property reverted to Mr.

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IIISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY.

Brower. The building now stands on Mill street. Twenty-five years ago, the only school in Beaver Dam was taught by Mr. G. W. Green, of whom mention has been previously made. He is said to have been eminently well fitted for the position, and always felt a deep interest in the education of youth. Mails were received once each week, via Watertown, and were generally brought on horseback.

" I have thus, as briefly as possible, located the residence of every resident of Beaver Dam twenty-five years ago. They were few in number, as compared with the present population, but there were no drones in the hive. All worked harmoniously and energetically, with a unity of purpose that gave their efforts the force of greater numbers. The lust of political ambition and the greed of gain had not covered their hearts with the thick rust of selfishness, and hid the bright jewels of their better nature. There was little need of courts or lawyers. Moses Rowley, who lived on the farm now owned by Mr. William Parker, near Mr. Parker's present residence, was the first, and for a long time the only Justice of the Peace in the community. He dis- pensed justice, much as physicians now do medicine, carrying his docket-books and papers under his arm, and holding his court as near the scene of the difficulty to be adjudicated as possible. In his decisions of points of law and settlement of difficulties, he was as impartial as a man of his strong prejudices could be, and his long continuance in office is strong evidence of the fav- orable estimation in which he was held by his neighbors.

" The appearance of the village at this time may be imagined from the following summary : The population did not exceed one hundred and twenty souls. On the territory now embraced by the First Ward of this city there were but twenty-one buildings of all kinds; in the Second Ward four : in the Third Ward three, and in the Fourth Ward ten, making in all thirty-eight buildings, including private residences, stores, shops. hotels and mills. A small cluster of houses on Madison, and a few on Front street, was all of Beaver Dam that could then be seen at one view. All of what is now the First Ward, except that portion lying along Madison street, and perhaps one-fourth of an acre where Rowells' factory now stands, was covered with heavy timber. The Second Ward was entirely covered with timber, except a small space where Mr. J. C. Hall now resides, which had been partially cleared to make room for a schoolhouse, and the clearing made by Messrs. Stultz and Ackerman, east of the Ackerman Spring. The road ran over the hill diagonally across Mr. S. M. Stevens' lot and the Union Schoolhouse grounds, past Mr. Ackerman's, and an Indian trail followed down the river near the edge of the pond. As late as the fall of 1848, my informant saw three wild deer quietly lying in the bushes near Edgerton's livery stable. In Lewis' mill-pond, the original timber was still stand- ing, dead and unsightly. This entire block and the one on which the Presbyterian Church stands was a pasture, with no improvements upon it except a small clearing made in the spring of 1846, by Mr. Gowdey, where Mr. Hoyt now lives, the Mackie farm and a narrow strip along Front street. The Fourth Ward was entirely covered with heavy timber. There was little or no underbrush, except upon the low ground, where an impenetrable thicket was formed by wild plums, grape vines, prickly ash and all the varieties of small timber which are still seen in the timber south of the city.

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The history of Dodge county, Wisconsin, containing its early settlement, growth an extensive and minute sketch of its cities war record, biographical sketches, Part 62

Author: Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company Number of Pages: 776

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 776