The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 60

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1082

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SEC. 7. The booksof said corporation shall be open at all times for inspection by any inember, or stockholder, or officer of the township, county or territory, acting in his official capacity ; and the stock in said corporation owned by any shareholder shall be at all times liable to attachments and execution for the private debts of such stockholder, in the same manner as is provided in Fections 105, 106 and 107 of an " Act concerning judgments and executions ; " and Section 107 of said act shall apply in all particulars to the corporation created by this act, and to its officers.

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

SEC. 8. The first meeting of said corporation shall be held at the house of Lester Rounds, in the town of Ceresco, county of Fond du Lac, on the first Monday in April, A. D. 1845, at 9 o'clock A. M., which meeting shall proceed to choose Chairman and Secretary for said meeting, after which they shall proceed to elect by ballot the following officers (a majority of votes being necessary for a choice) : One President, one Vice President, one Secretary, one Treasurer and nine Councilmen. The President and Vice President shall be ex officio members of the Council. Said officers shall hold their respective offices until the second Monday of December following, and until others shall be elected to fill their places, unless sooner removed by the Council, as hereinafter provided.

SEC. 9. There shall be an annual meeting of the stockholders and members of said corporation holden on the second Monday of December in each year, in the town of Ceresco, at such place as the Council shall determine, for the election of officers to fill the places of those whose terms of office expire on the same day. Said meeting shall continue from day to day until such officers are elected. Every male member and stockholder over twenty-one years of age, present or absent, shall at all times be entitled to one vote hy person or by proxy in the election of officers, but in no other case shall either a member or a stockholder vote by proxy. The term of office of each officer shall expire on the second Monday of December in each year, or as soon thereafter as another shall be elected to fill his place.

SEC. 10. A person may be a stockholder without being a member ; a member without being a stockholder.

SEC. II. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the members or stockholders ; to sign all papers and documents for the Phalanx ; to make out and present at each annual meeting of the corporation a general statement of the affairs of the Phalanx : and to have a general supervision of the business of the Phalanx, subject at all times to the direction of the Council.

SEC. 12. The Vice President shall be President of the Council and, in the absence or disability of the Presi- dent, shall perform all duties devolving upon him ; in which case the Council shall elect a President pro tem.

SEC. 13. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep all record books and papers for the Phalanx and Council, and transact such other writing as the corporation or Council may direct.

SEC. 14. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to receive, keep, disburse and pay out all moneys belonging to the corporation, pursuant to instructions from the Council, and to keep an account of all moneys received and paid out, and furnish a copy of the same to the Secretary weekly. Before entering upon the duties of his office he shall execute a bond to the corporation, with sufficient sureties to he approved of by the Council in such sums as they shall deem proper, which bond shall be conditioned for the security, faithful keeping and disbursement of all moneys coming into his hands pursuant to the direction of the Council.

SEC. 15. The President, Vice President and nine Councilmen shall form a Board of Managers, two-thirds of which shall form a quorum for the transaction of business. The Council shall receive and determine upon all appli- cations for membership and subscriptions for stock, and no person shall be permitted to become a member or stock- holder without the consent of all composing the Board of Managers. The Council shall arrange and determine all business for the corporation, both financial and industrial, and shall have power to make such rules, regulations and by-laws for the government of members as they may deem proper; provided always that said rules. regulations and by-laws shall in no wise conflict with the provisions of this act or with the laws of this Territory. The Council shall have power to remove the Secretary or Treasurer, or any member of their Board, by a vote of three-fourths of all the members composing the Board, for neglect or mismanagement of his official duties. The Council shall in case of such removal call a meeting of the members and stockholders to fill the vacancy occasioned by such removal.

SEC. 16. There shall be annual meetings of the members and stockholders on the first Monday of December in each year, at which time a settlement shall be made with each member. Previous to, and preparatory for which meetings, the Council shall make or cause to be made, an assessment and appraisal of all property. real and personal, belonging to the Phalanx ; and if said appraisal shall exceed the cost and last appraisal of said property, the increase shall be divided as follows : One-fourth shall be credited as a dividend for stock, in proportion to the time said stock has been paid in since the last appraisal ; the remaining three-fourths shall be credited to labor in such man- ner as the by-laws shall determine. The amount due each member or stockholder upon settlement shall be paid in money or stock, as the Council shall determine, but the kind of payment shall be alike to all. It shall be the duty of the Council to transact all business of the corporation not otherwise provided for.

SEC. 17. The Council shall establish a public school in which shall be taught all the different branches of science usually taught in the common schools of the Territory, which schoot shall be open and free to the children of all the members of the corporation, and shall be continued nine months in each year. All teachers of the arts and sciences except those hereinafter excepted, shall be paid as follows, viz., three-fourths of the amount shall be deducted annually from the amount credited to capital, and one-fourth from the amount credited to labor, previous to the individual settlement with the members and stockholders.

SEC. 18. There shall always be a free toleration of religious opinion, and every member shall be protected in his or her religious belief; and no member of the corporation shall ever be taxed without his or her consent for the support of any minister or teacher of religion.

SEC. 19. This act may be altered, amended or repealed at any time by the Legislature of the Territory of Wis- consin.

SEC. 20. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

Warren Chase returned from Madison armed with his charter, to the valley where the Wis- consin Phalanx had its abiding-place. "Now, we are safe," said the members, " for our prop- erty will be in our own hands.'

On the 17th of February, 1845, Warren Chase, Lester Rounds and Uriel Farmin, as dirceted by Section 6 of the charter, met at the house of Lester Rounds, in Ceresco, prepared

404

HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

and opened a book as a stock-book for the Phalanx, and commenced receiving subscriptions for stock.

Officers were soon elected under the charter, and the " tempest-in-a-teapot " excitement which lasted until it was done, subsided, and the Wisconsin Phalanx was " a thing of life " in the spring of 1845. " The neighbors, who had begun to locate in the vicinity," afterward wrote Warren Chase, " were greatly alarmed by it, and most of them were sure it would do mischief ; for it had great power, they said. and would monopolize."

" During the summer of 1845, the saw-mill was making boards ; the ' long home' was going up in sections which continued to lengthen until twenty tenements of twenty feet each were joined together in two rows, with a hall between, all under one roof with a ridiculous plan of a double front house and hip-roof, looking more like a rope-walk, or salt works, than a house."

The members all lived a " unitary life," that is, they ate at a common table and worked a common farm. "But the families all had separate homes to retire to after meals. A stone schoolhouse had been erected, and a school commenced, which never stopped except for neces- sary vacations, until the society ran out its race ; and then it left the children of the members qualified for teaching the other schools and children of their own ages around them.

" They felt the great advantages and economies of combined labor and living ; but some were not satisfied with the unitary life, especially of houses, and sighed for the retirement of quiet meals in family circles, as of old. Others were greatly pleased with the unitary table. Both males and females were abont equally divided on this subject ; but the plans and buildings had been commenced for the unitary living, and could not easily be changed. The single men, of whom there were quite a number, were very much opposed to a change. This apple of discord finally grew until it was of sufficient power to break up the society, with other feebler aids."

The evenings, after the toils of the day were ended, were divided between business and sociality. Monday night, there was a business meeting of the Council. Tuesday evening, there was a meeting of the Philolothian Society ; various subjects were discussed and a paper read called the Gleaner. Its motto was, "Let the gleaner go forth and glean, and gather up the fragments that nothing be lost." On Wednesday evening, a singing-school was held. A dance and social meeting enlivened Thursday evening. There was no meeting on Friday evening. Saturday evening was a general meeting for reports from foremen.

The various branches of labor were carried on under the direction of persons selected by the members, which persons kept in a public manner exact accounts of all labor expended in each department-this showing the exact cost of each erop of grain, etc. At the end of each fiscal year, three-fourths of the net produet was divided for the labor to each in proportion to the amount of labor performed after deducting suitable rewards for extraordinary skill. All labor was voluntary, the members working when and where they chose, and receiving credit only for the amount of work done.

From the second annual statement of the Phalanx, published in the Harbinger. December 27, 1845, for the fiscal year ending the first of the month, signed by its President-Warren Chase-it appears that the estimated value of the property on hand was $27,725.22, and was wholly unencumbered. The association was free from debt, except about $600 due to members who had advanced cash for the purchase of provisions and land ; but to balance that, it had over $1,000 coming from members on stock subscriptions not then due. The whole number of hours of labor performed during the previous year, reduced to the class of usefulness, was 102,760. The number expended in cooking, etc., and deducted for the board of members was 21,170 hours. The number remaining after deducting for board was 81,500, to which the amount due labor was divided. . In this statement, the washing was not taken into account, families having done their own. The whole number of weeks' board charged members (including children graduated to adults) was 4,234. The cost of board was, provisions, 44 cents and five hours' labor per week. The whole amount of property on hand was $27,725.22. The cost of prop- erty and stock issued up to December 1, 1845, was $19,589.18. The increase during the year

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

being the product of labor, ete., was $8,136.04. One-fourth of this was credited to capital, being 12 per cent per annum on stock for the average time invested; and three-fourths to labor, being 72 cents per hour. It will be seen, then, that the Phalanx was a joint-stock experiment in which it was attempted to recognize the rights of both capital and labor ; that every hour of labor was carefully recorded, and received its reward in wages-save five hours per week for each individual, which was included in the cost of board ; that one-fourth of the increase of property during the year gave to stoek 12 per cent per annum; and that three-fourths of the increase gave to labor 73 cents an hour.

In the Harbinger of January 9, 1847, the third annual statement of the President of the Phalanx was published. It ineluded an exhibit for 1846. It says : " We have now 180 resident members; 101 males, 79 females ; 56 males and 37 females over the age of twenty-one years. About 80 have boarded at a publie table during the past year, at a cost of 50 cents and two and a half hours' labor-whole cost, 63 cents. The others have, most of the time, had their pro- visions charged to them and done their own cooking in their respective families, although their apartments are very inconvenient for that purpose. Most of the families choose this mode of hving more from previous habits of domestic arrangement and convenience than from economy. We have resident on the domain 36 families and 35 single persons ; 15 families and 30 single persons board at the public table ; 21 families board by themselves, and the remaining five single persons board with them." In a pecuniary point of view, the year 1846 was less favorable than 1845. The reasons given were 'a new farm to work,' and a light erop of wheat; still, the Phalanx paid 5 cents an hour for labor, and 6 per cent on capital.

" They bave now." wrote the President, " about 40 families resident and near 2,000 aeres of land, and are in a prosperous condition. During the first and part of the second year, they boarded mostly at one boarding-house. so far as eating together, but otherwise lived in separate families. Finding this mode less economical and more inconvenient than they anticipated, the families have since lived mostly entirely separate, but change occasionally, following at all times their choice. Board and provisions are advanced during the year as they are needed, always in proportion to labor done and stock, and deducted at the annual settlement from each member's account. In matters of opinion, they are not, as many suppose, a company of fanatics; there are some among them of all varieties of opinion, from the doctrines of Swedenborg or the New Jerusalem Church, down to skepticism and infidelity. In politics, they are Democrats, Whigs. Abolitionists and Native-Reformers, with a large proportion of the latter. All this variety of opinion has a tendency to improve the public mind, but never disturbs their business opera- tions. Most of them are great readers, and they take a great variety of papers, and exchange with each other.

" They are all temperance people, using no spirits except for medicine, and seldom for that, for many of them are believers in the system of hydropathy now in use, and several are also dieties [dietists], using no meat, tea or coffee ; but these are not general principles with them. They avoid, as much as possible, profane language, and endeavor to set good examples for their children. They keep up a school all the time at the expense of the society, and pay much attention to education.

" They are often called Fury-ites, Four-year-ites or Fourierites, but they deny all 'ites ' and ' isms.' each individual being responsible for his own individual opinions, and nobody else's. Their society belongs to the American Union of Associationists, and with them believe in a joint- stock property, a co-operative labor and equitable distribution of property. Their efforts thus far prove as successful as they anticipated, and, with two or three exceptions, their members are contented and happy. They have no arbitrary laws, but they buy and sell stock and go or stay where and when they please. They have an excellent location, one well adapted to test the sys- tem they are endeavoring to prove, and, from present appearances, seem almost certain of success.

" It is a fine sight," says another writer, " at sunrise to turn from the hill west of Ceresco and look down upon the prairie stretching away to the east, with its border of heavy timber, its

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

gentle undulation, its ravines, the creek, its serpentine course marked by scattered oaks and thick bushes, until it winds down into the valley or basin which holds this little Phalanx, and, after doing its duty in driving various machinery, disappears in the distance. The long build- ing with its numerous windows which is used as the dwelling of many of the families, the mills, the detached houses and offices-some built of stone and very neat in their appearance-the numerous staeks of hay and grain, the fat and sleek-looking eattle and hogs, and the industrious inhabitants, busied about their various duties, make indeed an interesting and beautiful scene."

The following is the statement for the year ending December 6, 1847:

The Wisconsin Phalanx was organized as an Industrial Association, in the spring of 1844, and commenced practical operations May 27 of the same year, in the nnoccupied town since called Ceresco, which makes this the fourth annual settlement.

The moral and social condition of the Phalanx has experienced no sudden and striking changes; yet it is believed that those who look not alone upon the external surface of things, will have noticed that decided and constant progress, which must ever attend the earnest efforts of truthful men and women to place themselves in just and harmonious relations to each other. The social intercourse of the members is governed by that correct moral feeling, which must be gratifying to all who come within its influence.

Religious meetings of some kind have been sustained regularly during the year, and occasional opportunities have occurred of listening to lectures on reform from some of the leading reformers of the age.

In the education department, we have not yet been able to make that improvement which we desire, owing to the want of sufficient buildings and conveniences for reducing the management of this branch to that regular system, which, by an adaptation of external circumstances to the internal nature, harmoniously unfolds that " variety in unity" without which there is no complete educational development.

Music, vocal and instrumental, has been taught to some extent, yet, laboring under the disadvantages mentioned above, there has not been that attention paid to its cultivation which its importance demands.

For want of materials and from a determination to free ourselves from debt and contract none for any improve- ments, we have not yet built so as to establish a library and reading room-but there are taken by the members 136 copies of newspapers and periodical publications of thirty-nine different kinds, a constant interchange of which (comprising as they do the best publications of the age) gives us many facilities for information which isolated society cannot possess.

The number of resident members is 157, viz., 84 males, 73 females-32 males and 39 females under twenty-one years ; 52 males and 34 females over twenty-one years; 18 persons above the age of twenty-one unmarried. The whole number of resident families is 32-we have resident with us, who are not members, one family and four single persons.

Four families and two single persons have left during the year, the stock of all of whom has been purchased, except of one family and one single person-the former intends returning, and the latter one owes but $25. We have lost by death the past year three persons-one married lady, aged thirty-five, and two infants-all by consump- tion. Generally, the health of the members has been remarkably good.

The Phalanx has sustained a public boarding-house during the latter and major part of the year on an improved plan from the former method, at which most of the single persons and part of the families have boarded at a cost of 75 cents per week. The remaining familes board at their own apartments.

The number of honrs' labor performed during the year, reduced to the medium class, is 93,446. The whole amount of property at the appraisal is $32,564.18. The net profits of the year are 89,029.73, which gives a divi- dend to stock of nearly 73 per cent and 7 3-10 cents per hour to labor.

The l'halanx has purchased and canceled during the year $2,000 of stock ; we have also by the assistance of our mill (which has been in operation since June ), and from our available products, paid off the incumbrance of $1,095.33, with which we commenced the year-made our mechanical and agricultural improvements, and advanced to members in rent, provisions, clothing, cash, etc., $5,237.07. The annexed schedule specifies the kinds and valuation of the property on hand.

Seventeen hundred and thirteen acres of land at $3 $ 5,139 00

Agricultural improvements.

3,509 77

Agricultural products

5,244 16

Mechanical improvements. 12,520 00

Live stock ..

2,983 50

Farm and garden tools.

1,219 77

Mechanical tools.

380 56

Personal property, miscellaneous ..

1.567 42

Amount

$32 564 18

BENJAMIN WRIGHT, President.

NOTE .- At the annual charter election of the Phalanx, held December 13, the following persons were elected : Stephen Bates, President ; William Starr, Vice President; Uriel Farmin, Secretary; A. Devine Wright, Treasurer; Jacob Beckwith, Jacob Woodruff, Carlton Lane, Chester Adkins, Benjamin Wright, Robert D. Mason, James Hebden, Seth R. Kellogg and Benjamin Shelden, Councilors.

The report for 1848 shows the Phalanx as still a paying institution. It gave a dividend to stockholders of 62 per cent, and 6} cents an hour for labor. The next year, 1848, divided

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

about 8 per cent on the capital. For the year 1849, the Phalanx had 120 residents ; 8! cents were paid an hour for work. The cost of board was 75 cents per week. It will thus be seen that financially the institution was a success ; socially, however, it was a failure and steps were taken looking to its dissolution. The following act of the Legislature was approved January 29, 1850 :

An act to amend an act entitled " An act to incorporate the Wisconsin Phalanx."

The People of the State of Wisconsin represented in Senate and Assembly do enact as follows :

SECTION 1. An act entitled " An act to incorporate the Wisconsin Phalanx," approved February 6, 1845, is hereby so amended as to allow and authorize the council to sell and convey real estate by their official act ; also to lay out and have recorded a village plat, with streets and squares and public lots.

SEC 2 The said act is further amended by repealing sections sixteen and seventeen of the same.

SEC. 3. It shall not be lawful for the council or other officers of said Phalanx to purchase real estate in their corporate capacity after the passage of this act.

SEC. 4. This act shall take effect from and after its passage.

MOSES M. STRONG, Speaker of the Assembly.

SAMUEL W. BEALL, Lieutenant Governor und President of the Senate.

In April, 1850, an appraisal of the lands of the Phalanx was fixed upon in small lots (some being cut into village and some into farm lots). They then commenced selling at public sale for stock, making the appraisal the minimum, and leaving any lands open to entry, after they had been offered publicly. During the summer of 1850, most of the lands were sold. and most of the capital stock canceled, under an arrangement by which each stockholder should receive his pro- portional share of any surplus, or make up any deficiency. Most of the members bought either farming lands or village lots and became permanent inhabitants. They divided about 8 per cent above par on the stock. Some of the members regretted the dissolution, others seemed to care very little about it. The social features, which many disliked, and speculation of members outside the institution, brought on the death-throes of the Wisconsin Phalanx. The names of all those who were members of the society during its existence are as follows :

Warren Chase, Mary P. Chase, Milton M. Chase, Charlotte D. Chase, Albert Chase. Lester Rounds, Aurillia Rounds, Sterling P. Rounds, Rhoda A. Rounds, Horace E. Rounds. James Stuart, Almira Stuart, Agnes Stuart, Robert L. Stuart, John P. Stuart, Helen P. Stuart, Thomas Stuart, Frederick O. Stuart, Jacob Beckwith, Hannah Beckwith, James G. Tracy, Joseph S. Tracy, Uriah Gould, Nathan Hunter, Chester Adkins, Laban Stilwell, Julia Stil- well, William B. Stilwell, Rachael Stilwell, Julia A. Stilwell, Charles E. Stilwell, Truman V. Newell, Esther Newell, Charlotte E. Newell, Asa Bissell Newell, William E. Holbrook, Will- iam Dunham, Almira Dunham, Adelia A. Dunham, William H. Dunham, Carlton Lane, Har- riet Lane, W. Irvin Lane, Eugene F. Lane, Charles W. Lane, Alpheus Lane, II. Gordon Martin, Julia Martin, Augustus Martin, Mary Etta Martin. Robert Martin, Caroline Martin, Alexander Todd, Jerome T. Cobb, George H. Stebbins, Mrs. George H. Stebbins, Seth R. Kellogg, Ebenezer Childs, William Seaman, Arelisle Seaman, Arelisle C. Seaman, William H. Seaman, Charles F. Scaman, Charles W. Henderson, Harriet Henderson, George II. Hen- derson, Antoinette Henderson, Daniel Hager, Volney C. Mason, Hiram Barnes, Eliza Barnes, Mary E. Barnes, Marshall Barnes, Uriel Farmin, Eliza Farmin, Marcellus Farmin, Marcelia Farmin, Albert Farmin, Luther Jenette Farmin, Isabel E. Town, Hiram S. Town, Edward D. Town, Nathan Strong, Sarah Strong, Sylvia H. Strong, Phoebe Ann Strong, Betsey Strong, William Boutelle, David B. Dumham, James Hebden, George Limbert. Margaret Limbert, John Limbert, Elizabeth Limbert, Newton O. Adkins, William D. Strong, Eunice Strong, Harriet N. Strong, Henry V. Strong, Ann Eliza Strong, Cynthia A. Strong, Alice A. Strong, James M. Bacon, Corintha Bacon, Ellen A. Bacon, Emma J. Bacon, Eveline F. Bacon, Emer- ette L. Bacon, William Workman, L. M. Parsons, Oscar Wilson, Jacob Woodruff, Warren W. Braley, Morris Farmin, Lucinda M. Farmin, Hiram Farmin, Giles Farmin, Mahlon Farmin, Almira Farmin, Otis H. Capron, Robert Shelden, Gilbert Lane, Benjamin Shelden, Isaac Russell, Mary Anna Russell, Nathan H. Strong, Sarah Strong, Lewis G. Strong, Benjamin F.

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The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 60

Author: Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company Number of Pages: 1082

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1082