The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 65

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

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" There is a first-rate plank road from Fond du Lac to Sheboygan and another to Rosen- dale. There is in contemplation a railroad from the head of Lake Winnebago to Rock River in the county of Dodge, with others to be built, and plank roads also, in almost every direction, having Fond du Lac for one terminus. Vast fields of wheat, corn, oats and barley, bowed with the weight of substantial wealth. wave their rich treasures where so lately wild flowers bloomed alone. The howling of wolves and savage yells of the Indian no longer rend the air and chill the blood with sensations of horror. The wigwam and its inmates, with all the associations of rude and savage life. have disappeared. as the tide of civilization, like a prairie fire, has swept over the country. Wild plums, apples and cherries, like wild men who plucked them, have given place to those which are more refined and the highly cultivated. Many thousands of apple trees of choice varieties have been planted within the past year [1854].

" Encouraged by the luxurious growth and abundant productiveness of those which were early cultivated, agriculturists are now beautifying and enriching their farms with the best varieties of apple. pear, plum and cherry trees. While the citizens of this county have mani- fested so much zeal and energy in the cultivation of their farms, they have not neglected the moral and intellectual field, but have exhibited their high sense and active appreciation of the cultivation of the youthful mind in common schools, by the erection of 141 schoolhouses in the various districts, most of which are both convenient and elegant, while a few yet remain of the

* This definition of "Fond du Lac" is not strictly correct. For the literal as well as figurative meaning of the word, the reader is referred to the article already given, entitled, " Origin of the name Fond du Lac."

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

rude edifices hastily thrown up to serve a temporary purpose. At an average cost of $200 these buildings would amount to $28,200. In them have been taught the past year [1853], 4,866 scholars ; average time in the districts, about eight months."

In speaking of the health of the county at that date, 1854, the writer says: "Some idea of the salubrity of the atmosphere and purity of the water may be formed from the healthful- ness of the inhabitants. The pale face, sunken cheek, cadaverous countenance and hectic cough are seldom met with in this county. Butchers arc patronized far more liberally than physicians. The unusual absence of discase in this county was noticed more particularly by the early settlers, from the fact that they anticipated the visitation of those bilious discases so com- mon in new countries. The Fond du Lac Journal of May 4, 1849, contained the following remarks on the subject of health : ' We can assert without fear of contradiction that the climate of Wisconsin is healthier than that of any Eastern State, and Fond du Lac County far inore healthy than any Eastern county. In proof of this, we have the universal affirmation of the old residents here. For three years (1842, 1843 and 1844), when the population of the county ranged from 300 in 1842 to 1,500 in 1844, there was not a single death from disease in Fond du Lac County. We do not believe another like instance can be found in the world. Since that time, sickness has been almost a stranger here. Up to the present time, this place [the village of Fond du Lac] has never been visited with any general sickness. Disease and death have followed the transgression of the natural and Divine laws here as in other places, but the inhabitants are abundantly warranted in their fixed belief, that this is a very highly favored part of the world as regards health.'"

The abundantly satisfied writer continues his discourse thus : " It has already been said that ' the present improvements in this county were but the development of an insignificant fraction of its capacity.' Every new facility for communication or transportation between this and the Atlantic States adds to the value of the products of this county, increases the agricultural inter- ests, and advances the market value of the soil. The construction of the plank road from Fond du Lac to Sheboygan, opening an easy land communication to Lake Michigan, advanced the value of wheat and other grains in this county at least 20 per cent, and reduced the cost of transporting freight from Sheboygan to Fond du Lac 75 per cent. But a new era is just dawn- ing in the improvement of the Fox River between Winnebago Lake and Green Bay, which must result in advantages to the city and county of Fond du Lac far greater than any other improve- ment either accomplished or contemplated."

" In forming an estimation of the future of Fond du Lac County," continues the writer, " some guidance may be found in the brief records of the past ; the actual enumerations taken at the different periods show clearly that the increase of its population has been by no wild panic rush. but by an ever-increasing stream. In 1840, the number of its inhabitants was 139; in 1842, the number was 295; in June, 1846, it was 3,544; in December, 1847, it had increased to 7,459; in June, 1850, to 15,448; and it is confidently believed that at the present time [1854] it is more than 30,000.

" It is now [1854] about ten years since the Indians were removed from this county. Up to that time, there were only a few scattering pioneer settlements of a few individuals. In the short space of ten years the inhabitants have multiplied to probably more than 30,000. In 1850, the real estate was valued at $1,473,197 ; personal, at $32,956; total, $1,606,153. Since that period, the property has undoubtedly more than doubled ; and the rapid progress of public improvements and individual enterprise warrants the belief that, if there should be no providential calamity or revulsion of business, both population and wealth will increase for the next decade at least as fast as that of the past."

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

A TERRIBLE DISASTER .*

On the 12th day of October, 1859, one thousand people from Chicago. Janesville, Water- town and other places along the line of the Chicago & North-Western Railway reached the city of Fond du Lac. They came in twenty-five passenger cars, the occasion being the celebration of the completion of the road from Chicago to Fond du Lac. A banquet was had at the Lewis House ; every house and street in the city was illuminated, and a grand ball was given in Amory Hall, then the most elegant finished place of entertainment in this part of the State.

An eye-witness says: " As the noble span of iron horses drew the twenty-five cars proudly into Fond du Lac, no town, I think, could look more beautiful. It was thoroughly illuminated. It seemed that not a window had been neglected. The long streets, up and down, at right angles, were walled on either side with a sheet of pearly light, sending up a soft shine over the whole city, blending with the subdued moonlight, through the slight haze and mild atmosphere of Indian summer, in a fine mellow glare that was enchanting.

" The Zouave Cadets, preceeded by the Chicago Light Guard Band, were escorted through the streets by the Fond du Lac Fire Department, with torch-lights. The cadets are a company of much more merit than most youthful military bands possess. Their uniform is partially of the Turkish costume.

" Main street was thronged with people and vehicles, having more the appearance of Broad- way than any other street that I have ever seen in the West.

" The tallest kind of a supper was in readiness at the Lewis House and over three hundred partook of it. Mr. Ewen, the landlord, was quite efficient in making all comfortable who could get under the roof of his spacious house, though the regular beds were all given up to the ladies. About one-third of the excursion party were ladies. All the hotels were filled 'jam full.'

" The committee of arrangements, in behalf of the citizens of Fond du Lac, provided for all who were the invited guests of the railroad, free of charge, and when the hotels could hold no more, we were packed away in private houses and churches. It fell to my lot to get room to indulge in a horizontal position at Plymouth Church, where a hundred or so of us went to sleep 'after the revel was done,' as quick as if a person had been discoursing.

" The ball at Amory Hall was well enjoyed, and rather too well attended for the dance to go off easily. All who had tickets of invitation to the excursion were admitted to the ball free, so there was not a sufficient general acquaintance among those attending to relieve it of its awkwardness. And then some of the cadets who were quite soldierly in the street, at the ball reminded me of supernumeraries in the grand ball of the Capulets. The music by the Light Guard Band, of Chicago, was as fine as ever I heard in a ballroom. Amory Hall has, without question, the most elegantly finished interior of any hall in the State, and is one of the largest and loftiest.

" The main expense of the whole affair, as far as Fond du Lac was concerned, was defrayed by her own citizens, and their endeavors, for the most part, showed excellent taste."

On Tuesday morning. November 1, 600 people in twelve coaches, left Fond du Lac to return the visit of the Chicagoans. At Watertown, two more coaches were added and more passengers were taken aboard. Although the cars were crowded, it was a happy throng. The train was running slowly, at a rate of speed not exceeding ten miles per hour. When eight miles below Watertown, a heavy ox which was drinking near the unfenced track, frightened at the approaching train, sprang directly in front of it and was caught in a culvert. The pilot of the locomotive struck the firmly fastened obstruction instead of pushing under it and the locomo- tive and five cars were thrown from the track. A scene of indescribable confusion, horror and suffering, instantly supplanted mirth and gayety. No one could tell how many lives were lost, for there were at least 200 persons in the demolished cars, from the wreck of which it did not appear possible for one of them to escape alive. T. F. Strong. Sr., at once sent his son, Timothy

* Although this disaster occurred in another county, it is a part of the Ilistory of Fond du Lac, because it resulte l in the death of seven of its citizens.

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

F., to Watertown for physicians, liquor, bandages, beds and assistance. Young Mr. Strong appropriated without permission the first horse and vehicle he could find, and ran them to Watertown, where a gravel train just unloaded was found. He made known his errand, and the ears were soon laden with everything the village contained that would be of service on such an occasion. He then telegraphed to the Chicago office. Fourteen were actually killed or died soon after, of whom seven were from Fond du Lac. These were Major J. Thomas, United States Marshal, who was plunged into a mud-hole and held there by the wreck until he drowned : Timothy L. Gillet, one of the first directors of the road, who was crushed, torn in twain and disemboweled ; Jerome Mason, express agent and telegraph operator, who was thrown across the stove at the middle of his body and burned in a most shocking manner, and only recognized by his boots ; John Boardman and Isadore Snow, carpenters, who were both instantly killed ; Edward H. Siekles, a book-binder, who had the lower portion of his body crushed, and who lived several hours : Van Buren Smead, of the Democratic Press, who had his skull fractured, and did not die until November 29. The balance of those killed were four from Oshkosh, and three from Watertown and other places. Those from Fond du Lac who were seriously injured were Robert Flint, Mrs. R. M. Lewis, Mrs. James Kinney, Mrs. John Radford, Edward Beeson, J. Q. Griffith, James W. Partridge, A. D. Bonesteel : others were bruised and eut.

Strangely enough, Dr. A. D. Raymond had a presentiment that something would happen, and took with him a case of surgical instruments and lint, as did also Dr. T. S. Wright. The Fond du Lac Commonwealth of November 2, said :

" The smash-up took place in the woods, on low, marshy ground, there being a deep ditch on each side filled with water. The engine and cars that left the track were plunged into the water, mud and soft ground, and not less than three cars were utterly demolished-a mass of splinters above the body of the car, and the strong frames driven deep into the earth. There were seven cars filled to a jam that did not get thrown from the track or any person injured on them save those who were standing on the platform. * In one minute after the crash,

we never saw a cooler set of men, or a band of more heroic women. They leaped to the work of saving others with remarkable effectiveness, and it seemed but a few moments before all were dragged from the ruins, the dead decently cared for, and the wounded made far more comfort- able than one would conceive possible in such a location. The cushioned seats of cars laid upon doors made passable beds, while the ladies' skirts were freely stripped to make bandages for the wounded." Johnson's Creek, about eighty rods south of the culvert where the accident hap- pened, was then called Belleville, hence the casualty is known as the " Belleville Disaster."

CHAPTER VI.

THE PRESS OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY-SOME OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY'S ILLUSTRIOUS DEAD -- AX " INDIAN SCARE"-FIRST THINGS-COUNTY STATISTICS-PROSPERITY OF THE COUNTY- POLITICAL PARTIES-RIPON COLLEGE.

THE PRESS OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

Fond du Lac County has always been blessed with newspapers of more than ordinary ability, influence and respectability. The general intelligence and prosperity of a community may be fairly measured by the character of the newspapers published therein, and the liberality with which they are supported. An intelligent, thrifty and enterprising community demands newspapers of the same attributes, and sooner or later that demand is always supplied. Fond du Lac has not been in advance of her newspapers, from the days of the first Journal and Whig, down to the present publications, and possibly has not been up to them in liberality and enterprise. The village liad very good local newspapers before it contained a church or a Court House, and very soon after the first schoolhouse was erected within the present city limits. They have kept fully up to an excellent standard ever since ; always praising and pointing out to the world, without money or price, the advantages of soil, health, climate, location, growth, society, edu- cation, culture and enterprise of the place ; inciting new improvements and enterprises, where they did not already exist, and wielding, in the case of one or two of them at least, a strong influence in shaping political and State, as well as local, affairs. They have, therefore, played a very important part in the development and growth of the locality and the State, and the best history would rightly be considered far from complete if it contained no accounts of the various newspaper publications of Fond du Lac. In the sketches which follow, those are the most liberally treated of whose files were the most perfect and afforded the most material. Many volumes of the different newspapers have been destroyed, lost or borne away by those interested in their publication or the history they contain. This necessarily abbreviates the histories of some of them, although the most that is worth recording and preserving in pages like these has heen obtained and verified.

The Fond du Lac Journal .- Followed through all its manifold changes of name and pro- prietors, the Fond du Lac Journal is the oldest paper in Fond du Lac County. On the Ist day of October, 1846. the Journal made its appearance. It was six-column folio, printed on mate- rial brought by John O. Henning, now of Hudson, Wis., and Eli Ilooker, now of Waupun, from Ithica, N. Y. As the Territory of Wisconsin was under Democratic administration, the paper was devoted to the advocacy of the principles of that party, although Mr. Hooker was a Whig. The county then contained about 3,500 inhabitants, and the paper was meagerly pat- ronized. though all who were able did what they could to sustain it. Henning & Hooker contin- ued together until March 23, 1847, when Mr. Hooker purchased an interest in the Whig. with J. M. Gillet, and Edward Beeson, a practical printer, took his place and proprietary interest in the Journal.

In July, 1848, Mr. Beeson purchased his partner's interest in the business and became editor and sole proprietor of the paper. He continued to manage its publication in a moderate and dignified manner, compelled, however, to use the utmost economy in all financial matters, until March 23. 1849, when he sold the whole establishment to John A. Eastman, now of Benton IIarbor, Mich., and Alfred A. White. On June 22 of the same year, the Journal was enlarged by Eastman & White to a seven-column folio, and improved by the addition of some new type. The new type evidently was purchased in Milwaukee, for in that issue was printed this : " We

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

have been to Milwaukee on the stage-road, and must say that we never saw such horrible roads in all our experience. From one end of the road to the other, it was a succession of stumps. stones, logs, ditches, mud-holes, log-bridges, etc. We broke our wagon twice, tore our horses' shoes off and pounded our bones until we were blue." The editor appears to have been mollified after reaching Milwaukee, for he declared in the same article that the city "is improving very

fast-her growth has been unparalleled, * The hill is covered with beautiful residences, many of brick, and all show the progressive spirit of the age. Milwaukee is des- tined to be one of the largest cities in the West. Her location insures this."

The historian does not need to testify that the editor proved to be a wise prophet.

The Journal at this time contained over thirteen columns of advertisements. In its issue of June 29, it " tooted its own horn," as the Whig paper remarked, by announcing in big type that the Journal was " the largest paper, and had the largest circulation of any in Northern Wisconsin," and $30 would buy a column advertisement in it for a year. It also contained an article hetcheling Zachary Taylor, the new Whig President, because he had turned out Demo- cratic office-holders and appointed men of his own party in their places. Sam Ryan, of the Republican, now editor of the Appleton Crescent, recent Democratic candidate for Secretary of State, had just been appointed Postmaster of Fond du Lac, and he came in for a good share of the punishment. The same issue was graced by an elegant obituary notice of James K. Polk, who had died a few months after retiring from the Presidency. A few issues later on, evidences of such newspaper fights as occur in modern journalism, appear in the cry of "lie," and " falsifier," against the Republican. At the same time the Journal calmly published the list of unclaimed letters, signed by Sam Ryan, editor of the Republican, as Postmaster.

In August, September, and during the fall, the paper was given up to political news and discussions quite as much as now, and political parties appeared to be as numerous. Calls were issued in the Journal for Democratic, Union Democratic, Whig, Free-Soil and Independent con- ventions, and the proceedings of each, with the nominations, were published. In the Journal of September 28, 1849, appeared a letter from Mr. D. Lamb, in the town of Rosendale, describing how a black bear, weighing 400 pounds, was killed by himself and the neighbors in his grove.

The issue of October 12 contained a brief account of the suicide of Ira Church, and the dissolution notice of Eastman & White. The paper was thereafter published by Eastman & Beeson, Edward Beeson having become possessed of the half-interest in the establishment owned by Mr. White. The issue of October 12 also contained over two columns of the county delin- quent tax list. On November 9 was published the proceedings had by a large meeting of the citizens to consider the matter of a plank road from Fond du Lac to Milwaukee, and the next issue was liberally devoted to the proceedings of a meeting held at Watertown, by the officers of the Beloit & Taycheedah Railroad, a line of railway which existed only on some maps that were pronounced to be " beautifully drawn," but which was being energetically pushed by the leading citizens of Fond du Lac to something more tangible.

The issue of March 8, 1850, had an amusing account of how the charter election of the village of Fond du Lac, which was to have been held on Monday, the 4th of the month, was entirely forgotten by the busy people, and no election was held.

On the 26th of April, 1850, the Journal announced in large type that John B. Macy, who was then in New York, had negotiated a loan of $1,000,000 with which to build the Roek River Valley Railroad.

On the 29th of May, 1851, Mr. Beeson again became editor and sole proprietor by pur- chasing John A. Eastman's interest. He continued alone in the business until June 23, 1853, when M. J. Thomas (son-in-law to John B. Macy, afterward U. S. Marshal, and killed in the Bellville disaster, who was not a practical printer), exchanged a half-interest in the National Democrat, which establishment he had just purchased, for an egnal interest in the Journal. The firm name then became Beeson & Thomas, with M. J. Thomas, editor, and the two papers were merged under the name of the Fond du Lac Union. It was one column wider than the

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

Journal, having eight columns to the page. The first number appeared June 24, 1853. The reason for the change appeared in the following extract from the editorial announcement in the initial number :

" It is well known to our readers that for some two or three years a species of family quar- rel has existed in the ranks of the Democratic party of this city and county. This quarrel has gradually gained strength until now it threatens to defeat the success of the party. *

* The time has arrived when we have either to restore harmony in our ranks, or suffer defeat."

The article goes on to recite how each paper, the National Democrat and the Journal, was the organ of a different faction in the party, and expressed the belief that the union of the two papers would unite the two contending factions, saying :

" Believing that such a union and the establishment of such a paper will materially aid in harmonizing and securing the ascendency of our party, we have united the Journal and the Democrat, and substituted therefor the Fond du Lac Union."

The paper was liberally adorned with thrifty looking advertisements and would be a credit- able paper for the Fond du Lac of to day. It was published over Baker Brothers & Hoskin's store, on Main street, which was the building then located where Robert A. Baker's bank now stands.

When Mr. Beeson entered into partnership with M. J. Thomas, he made it a part of the contract that if the matter was not satisfactory to him at the end of one year, the partnership should be dissolved. Therefore, in the last issue of the first year of the Union, June 15, 1854, a notice of dissolution was published, Mr. Beeson selling out to Mr. Thomas. The change was owing to differences of opinion on certain important topics. This was noticeable to the public through the differing editorials signed respectively "B." or " M. J. T.," as the case might be. Mr. Beeson continued three months in the office to settle up its business, and on July 27, 1854, Andrew J. Reed, of Buffalo, N. Y., purchased an interest in the establishment, and the paper was then published by Thomas & Reed. In the fall of this year. the Union published the tax notice of the county, and was well filled with advertisements. June 21, 1855. a new " head " was purchased for the paper and the make-up was changed. February 7, 1856, A. J. Reed sold his interest to M. J. Thomas, but remained a short time as associate editor, as Mr. Thomas was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention which nominated James Buchanan for President.

On Saturday, March 8, 1856, the Daily Union was begun by M. J. Thomas as proprietor, Thomas & Reed, editors. Mr. Reed continued with the paper only one week. The publication was a five-column folio, and contained fourteen columns of advertisements, mostly taken from the Weekly Union, and were a source, therefore, of very little profit. Mr. Thomas announced at the beginning that he expected to do the extra work of the first year for nothing in order to place the daily upon a paying basis. This paying basis could not be reached, although a very good paper was published, and the matter used in the daily was transferred to the weekly, thus lessening the expense of that publication ; and on November 13th of that year-the next week after election-the Daily Union was suspended. February 12, 1857, S. C. Chandler, of the Beaver Dam Republican, purchased an interest in the Union, and the firm then became " Thomas & Chandler, editors and proprietors."

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The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 65

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