The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 95

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

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llope Mission was established by the Presbyterian church in 1864. John S. McDonald owned the old Arndt M. E. Church building, and gave it to the Presbyterians for mission pur- poses, and B. F. Moore gave the two lots, on which the building now stands, for a site, on con- dition that the school be continued during ten years. It has been a successful school for sixteen years, and Mr. Moore gave a deed of the lots, as promised. It is in a remote part of the city, on the west side of the river. where churches are not easily accessible. It now has a regular attendance of 120. The Superintendents have been, J. E. Peabody, C. E. Hill, C. V. Petti- bone (who served ten years), W. H. Williams and John Benton.

St. Paul's Cathedral .- St. Paul's Episcopal Church was organized at the Court House, in the village of Fond du Lac, by the Rev. Joshua Sweet, September 3, 1848. The first members were : N. P. Tallmadge, ex-United States Senator from New York, and cx-Governor of Wiscon- sin : A. W. Stow, Chief Justice of Wisconsin ; Lieut. Gov. Samuel W. Beall, Gen. George D. Ruggles, George Mc Williams, Charles Doty (Gov. Doty's son), Charles Stevens, A. L. Williams, Nathaniel Waterbury, and A. G. Ruggles, now President of the First National Bank. The first Rector was Rev. Joshua Sweet, and services were held in the Court House. The first officers were chosen September 4, 1848, and consisted of Jolm Hamilton and Newell Case, Wardens ; and N. P. Tallmadge, George Mc Williams, A. D. Bonesteel, S. W. Beall, George D. Ruggles, Carson Graham, Nathaniel Waterbury and A. G. Ruggles, Vestrymen. On the 8th of December, 1849, a meeting was held to take steps toward erecting a church edifice, and, February 12, 1850, it was resolved to build after plans furnished by Mr. Wyatt, of Milwaukee, on lots donated by John B. Macy, on the

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corner of Follet and Bannister streets. Rev. Joshua Sweet and Carson Graham were appointed a committee to solicit and take subscriptions to defray the expenses of building. Rev. Homer Wheaton, of Lithgow, N. Y., and N. P. Tallmadge, of Fond du Lac, brothers-in-law, gave the largest sums, Rev. Wheaton's donation being $500. April 15, 1850, a building committee, con- sisting of A. D. Bonesteel, Carson Graham and Nathaniel Waterbury, was appointed, and the church edifice was begun on the corner of Follet and Bannister streets, on lots donated by John B. Macy. July 12, 1850, the church rented a hall in Darling's Block, for the use of the con- gregation. March 14, 1852, the first services were heldl in the new edifice, the tower of which had been donated and crected by M. J. Thomas and Thomas McDonough. There was a portion of the building expenses unpaid, and, May 24, 1852, a mortgage of $300, at 12 per cent interest, was executed to Thomas McDonough, to " pay in full the contract with Mr. Barber," the builder. The builtling, which is standing yet, and in occasional use, is 30x50 feet, and will seat 200 persons. The mortgage was soon paid, as the building could not otherwise be consecrated, and, July 18, 1852, the consecratory ceremony was performed. On August 24, of the same year, Rev. Joshua Sweet tendered his resignation on account of ill health, which was accepted October 26, 1863.

On the 26th of June, 1854, a call was extended to Rev. George B. Eastman, of Brownville, Jefferson Co., N. Y., to become Rector, which he accepted, coming to Fond du Lac immediately. where he still resides, though not engaged in active work.

During the rectorship of the Rev. George B. Eastman, arrangements were made for the erection of a new church building of stone, on the corner of Division and Sophia streets. The lots were given by Robert A. Baker, and three additional lots were subsequently bought by the corporation. A Gothic church, after plans of Lloyd, of Detroit, was begun and partially finished, the woodwork in the interior being of solid oak, and the workmanship thorough in every par- ticular. The tower was carried up to the base of the spire, and temporarily capped. The total cost of the building was about $20,000.

'In 1866, Mr. Eastman resigned, and his place was temporarily filled by the Rev. Mr. Davenport and Rev. Hugh Miller Thompson. In January, 1868, the Rev. Hiram W. Beers, of Chicago, accepted the rectorship, and remained three years, being succeeded, in 1871, by the Rev. William Dafter, now of Oconto, Wis., and in May, 1875, by the Rev. John Townsend, of Albany, N. Y. The Diocese of Wisconsin, which formerly embraced the whole State of Wisconsin, had become so unwieldy, that in 1874 a new diocese was erected, consisting of the twenty northeastern counties of the State, under the title of the Diocese of Fond du Lac. The Rt. Rev. J. Il. Hobart Brown, S. T. D., was conscerated the first Bishop December 15, 1875.

Promptly on coming to this diocese, the Rector and Vestry of St. Paul's Church at Fond du Lac offered the realty belonging to the corporation to the Bishop for cathedral purposes, and all the owners of pews decded their rights to the Bishop, that the cathedral might be forever free. After a year's consideration, the Bishop accepted the proposition, and, on the feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, January 25, 1876, took formal possession of the property, and insti- tuted St. Paul's Cathedral. A temporary organization was effected, to remain in force until the Cathedral shall be completed and consecrated. The plan contemplates a chapter composed of the Bishop, eight canons and eight laymen, to whoin all the interest of the Cathedral shall be committed. The Rev. John Townsend became the Dean of the Cathedral in 1876, and resigned in May, 1877. The Canons in office at present are the Rev. F. S. Jewell, Ph. D., and the Rev. N. D. Stanley.

During the rectorship of the Rev. H. W. Beers, a schoolhouse capable of accommodating 300 pupils was erceted on the Cathedral grounds. at a cost of about $10,000. Soon after the institution of the Cathedral, a corporation was formed and a charter obtained to enlarge the scope of educational work, and to give the school a diocesan character. The following were the first Trustees: The Rt. Rev. J. H. Hobart Brown, S. T. D., President ex officio ; Rev. F. S. Jewell, Ph. D., Vice President ; Charles A. Galloway, Fond du Lac, Secretary ; Hannibal Wood- worth, Fond du Lac, Treasurer; Rev. F. R. Haff, Oshkosh ; Rev. Fayette Durlin, Ripon ; William

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Dafter, Oconto ; Rev. R. W. Blow, Sheboygan ; Rev. W. E. Wright, Waupun ; Rev. M. V. Averill, Manitowoc ; Rev. George Vernor, Appleton ; Rev. James A. Upjohn, Plymouth ; Rev. George A. Whitney, De Pere ; Rev. G. W. Harrod, Green Bay ; Messrs. Charles J. L. Meyer, Fond du Lac; August G. Ruggles, Fond du Lac ; Timothy F. Strong, Fond du Lac : James B. Perry, Fond du Lac : James Jenkins, Oshkosh ; George Gary, Oshkosh ; E. L. Browne, Waupaca ; George L. Field, Ripon ; I. D. McCulloch, Stevens Point ; R. W. Welles, Waupun.

The school has been opened with abont sixty pupils in attendance. in charge of three teachers.

St. Joseph's Church .- The present St. Joseph's Church stands on the site of the first Catholic chapel erected in Fond du Lac, corner of Marr and Second streets. From it, in the course of time, have gone forth, by successive divisions, all the other Catholic congregations of the city, arising from the rapid increase of the Catholic population. Rev. F. X. Bonduel, one of the first missionaries of Wisconsin, attended to the wants of the Catholics here prior to the year 1847, in which year he erected a small chapel which was named St. Louis Church. At this time, that small house of worship was amply large to accommodate the Catholics of all nation- alities. Rev. C. Rehrl, at present at Barton, Wis., succeeded Father Bonduel, and was the first resident Pastor stationed here. He attended numerous missions, not only in Fond du Lac, but in all the surrounding counties. In 1850, Rev. E. A. Godfert assumed charge of the St. Louis Church, and remained its permanent Pastor till July. 1853. He was succeeded by Rev. L. Dael, who enlarged the church and built a pastoral residence.

About this time the congregation became too numerous to be accommodated in one church edifice. A part, therefore, separated, and selected the present site of St. Patrick's Church for a new house of worship. The foundation of this new edifice was laid in 1855.

In June, 1860, Rev. L. Dael was succeeded by Rev. Perrodin, in the charge of the St. Louis Church, the Germans, French and a portion of the English-speaking Catholics still worshiping there. During the pastorate of Rev. Perrodin St. Patrick's congregation was given over to the charge of Rev. James Colton, the present Pastor. who completed the building, a very large one of stone, and erected a pastoral residence, at No. 7 East Follet street.

Notwithstanding two additions which had been made to the old St. Lonis Church, and the withdrawal of St. Patrick's congregation, the building was soon found too small to accommodate the remaining Catholics, so, in 1866, the German portion of the community separated, and laid the foundation of St. Mary's Church, a large wooden structure, at No. 15 Merrill street.

The last division took place in 1871. when the French resolved to erect a church in which their own language would be spoken. Rev. Father Perrodin was, therefore, appointed to the task of erecting this new edifice and placed in charge of the French congregation, the title St. Louis being transferred to that parish. Rev. G. Willard, in 1871, assumed charge of the mother parish, which was from this time called St. Joseph's. He laid the corner-stone of the present structure in 1874, and officiated as Pastor till February of 1879, when he was succeeded by Rev. Joseph J. Keenan, the present Pastor. St. Joseph's Church will be, when completed, the largest and most imposing church edifice in the city; its length is 135 feet, width 75 feet, the tower is to be 216 feet high. Work upon this building will be resumed as soon as the pres- ent indebtedness has been paid off.

St. Louis Catholic Church .- Early in 1871, the French Catholics separated from the Irish congregation, and began, under Rev. John C. Perrodin, the large stone structure for a church, which stands on the corner of Follet and Bannister streets. opposite the old St. Paul's Episcopal Church. The cost of the building thus far has been $25,000, and the tower and spires are yet unfinished. It is 65x120 feet, the main room being 30 feet in height. Father Perrodin died June 9, 1873, and was succeeded, June 22, by Rev. E. Maseau. Father Maseau resigned Octo- ber 1, 1874, and was succeeded by Father Louis Dael, who built the priest's house, a fine two- story brick structure, located near the church, at a cost of $4,000, and dedicated the church in

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November, 1874. Father Dael died March 6, 1879, and was succeeded by Rev. Oliver Comp- tois, the present Pastor, June 22, 1879. Although in debt, the church is now prospering. In the fall of 1879, Father Comptois organized a parish school at which French and English are taught, and which is also prospering. This church has the oldest church bell in the city. It was bought in 1864 by Father Perrodin, at Troy, N. Y., and cost $637.48. Its weight is 1.020 pounds. It is held in high esteem by the members on account of Father Perrodin's connection with it.

The first Trustees of St. Louis Church were Michael Baltazare, Leander Landermann and Michael Pariseau.

First Baptist Church .- The first Baptist organization in this jurisdiction was the one at Fond du Lac. The second was at Waupun. May 21, 1845, eight persons residing at Fond du Lac and vicinity, who believed in the doctrines of the Baptist Church, organized themselves into a church society. Their first Pastor was Rev. H. Hovey. The church edifice now used by this society, on the corner of Forest and Union streets, was erected in 1853, for $3,000 ; is the most pleasantly situated of any in the city, and has been continuously used by the same denomination and society longer than any other church edifice in Fond du Lac. In 1877, the building, which is of wood, was enlarged and repaired, and is now a comfortable and cheerful place of worship. Rev. F. A. Marsh is Pastor, with a membership of about one hundred.

Free Baptist Church .- The Free Baptist Church society was organized May 31, 1869, the first Pastor being Rev. Rufus Clark. The first officers were: Daniel Roberts, C. A. Rider, G. B. Carpenter, E. A. Randall and S. L. Brasted, Trustees; S. L. Brasted, Secretary and Treasurer. The society purchased the wooden building corner of Marr and Second streets, which was built by the Congregationalists, of the German Lutheran society, for $1,100, and immediately thereafter expended $600 for enlarging and improving it. The building now is in comfortable condition, is 30x60 feet in size, and has a debt of $900. The second Pastor was Rev. O. H. True ; third, Rev. A. B. Taylor : fourth, Rev. T. S. Roberts, and fifth, Rev. W. C. Hulce. The church is now without a regular pastor, although services continue to be held.

The present officers are: C. A. Rider, Nathan Main, T. A. Root, D. W. Smith and Will- iam Crawford, Trustees ; D. W. Smith, Secretary. A Sunday school is maintained in connec- tion with the church organization.

German Evangelical Church .- Salem's Church, a branch of the Evangelical Church of North America, was organized in 1865, by II. Altpass, E. Weise, H. Friederich, A. Zahn, G. Guell, F. Rhoening, W. Dehnert, J. Felter, J. Smith and W. Treder. Their church building is the one built by the Methodists on the corner of Marr and Third streets, in 1851-52, of whom it was purchased in 1865, for $2,700. Rev. J. T. Viel was their Pastor, and the society embraced sixty members. In 1867, Rev. Viel was removed and Rev. William Horn appointed to fill his place. He remained two years, and was succeeded by Rev. A. Huelster in 1869, and Rev. A. Tarnutzer in 1871. In 1874, $800 was expended in improving and repairing the church building, the society then numbering eighty members. In 1875, Rev. A. Tarnutzer was succeeded by Rev. J. L. Runkel, who remained until 1878, when he was removed, and Rev. J. Schneller, the present Pastor, appointed to the charge. The congregation now numbers fifty- four families and one hundred and fifteen members, these numbers being constantly on the increase, although old members very frequently move to other cities. The church property, which was improved during the summer of 1879, is valued at $3,000, and consists of the church, a wing for a parsonage, and a small but comfortable building for the parish school, taught by the Pastor. This school is attended by forty-five scholars. One of the very promi- nent features of this church is its large Sunday school, in which old and young take a deep interest. It has a regular attendance of 110, and every Christmas indulges in an elaborate festival. The officers of the church are : Herman Friederich, President; W. Rhoen- ing, Vice President ; William Dehnert, Secretary ; E. Weise, Treasurer, and F. Mund, Librarian.

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

Salem's Evangelical Church .- In order to be distinguished from the other church of the same name in Fond du Lac, this may be called Salem's Evangelical Church No. 2. It was organized October 11, 1869, the first members being Phillip Brocker, William Luling, C. A. Fuerstnow, Martin Sasse. B. De Sombre, C. G. Reichman, Charles Blankenburg, A. Soll and Franz Werner. The first Pastor was Rev. C. F. Off; and the first officers Martin Sasse, C. Blankenburg and William Luling. The building, which stands on the corner of Military and Ruggles streets, was finished in 1870; is 38x80 feet, with basement below and auditorium above, and cost $13,000, site included. It was built mostly by Phillip Brocker, who gave most of the brick of which it was constructed, C. Blankenburg and Martin Sasse. The present Pastor is Rev. II. Buehrig, and his congregation numbers forty-six members. The building is one of the most substantial in the city of its class, and is owned entirely by the church society. The First Universalist Church .- The first meeting to form the Universalist society was held in Music Hall, corner of Division and Main streets, March 20, 1871. This meeting made Andrew Steveley, Dr. Terah J. Patchen, Elijah Hawkins, D. W. C. Priest and Orin Hatch, a Board of Directors to act authoritatively in perfecting the organization according to law. On the 8th of June, 1871, the Board made a contract with Rev. A. C. Barry to preach one year for $1,000 and a vacation of eight weeks. The services were held in Music Hall, which was rented for the purpose. The first officers were : T. J. Patchen, Moderator : D. W. C. Priest, Clerk : Q. M. Olcott, Treasurer ; Jesse Beckley. Andrew Steveley, Orin Hatch, E. M. May and David Howland, Standing Committee for the year. May 20, 1872, this Committee adopted plans for a church made by T. II. Green, of Fond du Lac, and, on July 11 of the same year, let the contract for the building which now stands on East Division street, and which is occupied by the Red Ribbon Association, to C. A. Ryder, for $2,647, on condition that the structure should be finished and ready for occupancy by September 1. The building was called Universalist Chapel, and was dedicated November 4, 1872. Dr. Barry, the Pastor, loaned a large sum to clear the church of debt, and took the notes of his parish- ioners for security. He was the first and last regular Pastor, the church having been without regular services since his resignation. During 1879, E. N. Foster, who now owns the building, remodeled it for the use of the Red Ribbon Association, which has exclusive control of it, with the privilege of purchasing. The first members of the Universalist Church were T. J. Patchen, Q. M. Olcott, Andrew Steveley, J. Beckley, L. R. Lewis, Q. M. Oleott, O. E. Wil- kins, Mrs. Dr. Patchen, J. A. Chitterling, John V. Frost, J. Eudemiller, E. M. May, A. H. Raymond, Joseph Olmsted, David Howland, Elijah Hawkins, U. D. Mihills, Orin Hatch, G. W. Carpenter, L. F. Stowe and their families.

German Evangelical Lutheran Church .- This flourishing church organization has a fine brick church edifice and parsonage on the corner of First and Marr streets. The church was erected in 1869, and is one of the substantial edifices of the city. The membership, which is constantly increasing, now embraces 175 families. In 1878, a fine pipe organ, built at Mil- waukee, was added to the church furniture, at a cost of something over $1,000. The real estate belonging to this church extends from First to Second street, and on the Second street front is a two-story wooden schoolhouse, at which 200 children attend. It is supported by this church organization, and is a thorough and comprehensive institution of learning. The teachers are Rudolph Fritzke and Charles Brenner. The Pastor is Rev. Phillip Hoelzel, who took charge in 1877.

BANKS.

The Exchange Bank .- In the early part of 1849, Dr. Mason C. Darling and Keyes A. Darling, his son, opened a private bank in the second story of Darling's Block, as it now stands. Before this Dr. Darling had kept an office in his residence-first in the log house built where Darling's Block now stands on Main street ; afterward in his residence on Macy street, near to and just south of the location of the present post office ; in 1847, in a building which he pur- chased of S. S. N. Fuller, located where D. R. Curran's old store, No. 529 Main street, now stands, and soon afterward in the building now called Darling's Block. This office was mostly

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for the entry of land and payment of taxes, although he occasionally bought exchange. This new firm did but little real banking business at first, but carried on a large business in land war- rants, real estate and collecting. In the latter part of May. 1851, Dr. T. S. Wright, now a practicing physician of Fond du Lac, purchased M. C. Darling's interest in the concern, and the bank was organized as the Exchange Bank. by Darling, Wright & Co. The "company " was John Warner, Dr. Wright's father-in-law, who furnished some of the means on which the business depended. The business of the new firm was transacted at the old stand until a tem- porary building of wood could be erected where Wells' Bank now stands, corner of Main and First streets, on land owned by K. A. Darling. Mr. Darling, immediately after finishing this tempo- rary structure, built the stone block which now stands next to Wells' Bank, occupied by Coff- man's meat market. This he rented to the firm until he could build more especially for the business, the stone building next to it on the corner, now occupied by Wells' bank. The wooden building first. used by the bank had no good safe, and on the occasion of a fire near by, January 19, 1852, which threatened to destroy it, Dr. Wright entered the limestone vault and filled his pockets with bills, after which he went out to fight the flames. His coat pockets alone contained $20,000. He lost none of the money. however, and the bank building did not burn. During five years after 1852, the Exchange Bank had the contract to carry the government money from the land office at Green Bay, afterward moved to Menasha. to Chicago. The trip had to be made once each month, or oftener if $20,000 was accumulated. The money was usually gold and was locked in an oaken box large enough to hold $20.000. This box was put by Dr. Wright, (who generally made the trip). in a meal bag, and placed under the seat of the stage coach, no one but himself being aware of its contents.

In 1852. Darling & Wright engaged A. G. Ruggles, who had been a bank clerk in Pough- keepsie, N. Y., to copy some accounts and straighten out others, at $1 per day for a month. The bank was then in the wooden building just mentioned. on posts. and did not have a first-class vault or safe, being only a temporary aflair. To gnard the building, Darling & Wright kept a large. reddish dog, half Indian and half Newfoundland, and generally covered with fleas. He was always kept in the building, as he was considered too valuable to lose and was sure to run away if let loose. Fleas were active in those days, as were banking and real estate, and the dog put in a large share of his time in scratching them. Every time he did this it would set the whole building into a flutter, and everybody had to suspend operations until the dog had mastered that particular flea. This was a source of much amusement to incomers as well as of great annoyance to those connected with the bank, as many a blot and illegible. scattering scrawl on the old books bear evidence to this day.

Darling, Wright & Co. took advantage of the State law of 1852, which provided for the emission of bills, soon after its adoption. The capital stock was $75,000, and the amount of bills issued nearly as great. In May, 1860, Dr. Wright withdrew from the firm, and the business was then carried on by Keyes A. Darling. The circulation was called in after the passage of the National Banking Act in 1862, but the bank continued to do a banking business until May 11, 1868, when it failed with disaster alike to itself and its patrons. Mr. Darling had made many injudicious loans when the Exchange was a bank of issne, and, in re-organizing to continue business after his circulation was called in, burdened his affairs with the old debts. On Friday. May 8, 1868, Mr. Darling left Fond du Lac, his clerk said, to get some money at Chicago. On Saturday, the following day, more drafts were presented than could be paid, and the bank was quietly closed. That it was bankrupt, however, did not become generally known until the fol- lowing Monday. Mr. Darling never returned to Fond du Lac. The bank owed $30.000, and it was thought at first that its assets would aggregate $20,000. The creditors petitioned the Bankruptcy Court to have Selim Newton appointed assignee of the bank, and it was done. Harvey Durand, Deputy United States Marshal, being placed in charge of the office, books and papers. The bank fixtures and other property were sold by order of the court, but the creditors realized only a small amount of what was due them. Mr. Darling is now in Colorado, and a poor man.

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

The Bank of Fond du Lac .- The early records of this institution have been lost. Its pro- prietors were the founders of the first real banking institution in Fond du Lac-that is, were first to organize under the State banking law. In August, 1852, McRae & Bell, of Milwaukee (Augustus L. McRae and William J. Bell), purchased of E. Doolan the land situated on the northwest corner of Main and Division streets, and began, immediately thereafter, the erection of the low, round-cornered building, of stone, which now stands thereon. Hearing that other parties were arranging to begin the business of issuing bills in Fond du Lac, and being desirous of having the prestige of starting first, Mr. A. G. Butler was sent to the city to open an office before the bank building was finished, which he did in the wooden building located on the oppo- site corner (of Main and Division streets), built by John B. Macy for an office. This was known as McRae, Bell & Butler's Bank, and was continued as such until the institution was organized under and according to the State law, in 1853, as the Bank of Fond du Lac. Its capital stock was to be $25,000, although business was at first begun with a much smaller amount. The stockholders of the re-organized bank were George McWilliams, James Ewen and Lyman Phillips, Fond du Lac, and O. P. Chandler, of Vermont. A. G. Butler was Pres- ident, and Charles W. Whinfield, Cashier. Mr. Whinfield is now connected with the bank at Beaver Dam.

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The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 95

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