The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 98

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

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Other Manufactories .- A very important branch of business in Fond du Lac is C. L. Pierce's Plow Works, corner of Macy and Court streets. It is also an old established branch, the Pierce Brothers having a shop open on Division street before any other houses had been erected in that vicinity. The shop is equipped with steam machinery, and turns out a large number of plows adapted to Western soil.

Goddard & Burrows, on Macy street, have as large a business as their buildings will accom- modate, in the manufacture of patent carriage tops.

Sherrer's File Works, on Johnson street, employ five or six men at making new and cut- ting over old files. There are but few file works in the country, hence Mr. Sherrer has a large business.

Albert Buechner, at his shops on Forest street, is a manufacturer of heavy wagons.

Edson & Son, on Western avenue, near the railroad, have a large factory; run by steam, for the manufacture of bed frames, springs, hay-cutters, and to do a general business in wood turning.

Wolf & Potter have a large shop on Macy street, for the manufacture of cutters, sleighs, phaetons and buggies.

E. G. Main, corner of Macy & Second streets, has a steam factory, where harrow frames and the wood for other agricultural implements are made.

B. F. & H. L. Sweet, on Arndt street, are manufacturers of Sweet's "Common Sense Sleighs." They are very large and strong, for work in lumbering, and are pronounced superior to any other lumbering sleigh. Smaller sizes, with the same patent improvements, are made for farmers and general purposes.

The old Hiner & White Iron Works, on Arndt street, employ fifteen men. Up to 1877, while owned and run by Hiner & White, the works gave employment to 125 men, and turned out great quantities of milling machinery, some mowing machines and all kinds of iron machin- ery. A stock company composed of Hiner & White's creditors now run the shops.

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

The only boiler works in Fond du Lac are situated on Arndt street, and owned by J. C. Pierron. He has all the local trade, and constructs large boilers for mills and steamboats in various portions of the country.

Jacob Kunze has a wagon-shop on Division and Sophia streets, at which mostly heavy work is turned out.

YACHT CLUBS.

Of all the Wisconsin lakes, there is not one to compare with Winnebago for yachting. The shores are low, and, as a usual thing, cultivated, with very little timber, save the beautiful wooded points, with here and there just a fringe, to screen the growing crops from the strong winds. Thus storms approaching the lake can be seen, prepared for, or a safe harbor reached. Even if it were necessary to beach a boat, it could be done anywhere, on either shore, without the slightest damage to the craft, and with nothing more than a partial wetting of the persons in it.

This lake is also one of the finest for the concomitant of yachting, that is, camping out. either beside the cool springs of the east shore, or in the shady groves which are still left on most all the high, projecting points on the west shore.

But the greatest blessings are sometimes the least prized-at least. it appears so in the case of Fond du Lac people, who are just beginning to appreciate what they have for so long neglected. But they are rapidly making up for lost time.

Indulgence in these aquatic sports, however, has become a habit only, so to speak, to the few. The many are yet to taste the joys and reap the benefits to mind and body that they are sure to give. Their growth has been slow. but, at this writing, it is a good, healthy growth, and possibly, by the end of another decade, the lake, large as it is, will be insufficient for the demands put upon it in this regard.

The pioneers in yachting were good men, all possessed of an ardent desire to be good yachtmen ; good swimmers, plucky fellows, but without a particle of experience as to building, rigging, manning or sailing a yacht.

In 1865, an organization was perfected, as follows: S. A. Dudley, Captain (qualifications -related to a ship carpenter) ; R. A. Baker, Capitalist (qualifications-served a term of years as purser on board the United States steamer Michigan) ; John Mathews, First Officer (qualifi- cations-crossed the Atlantic in a sail vessel); T. S. Weeks, Second Officer (qualifications- went across the Hudson in a skiff when a small boy) ; James Coleman, wader (qualifications- height, and ability to walk ashore in case of accident).

During the winter of 1865, they bought an old fishing boat, and with the aid of Col. Ewen and Capt. Johnson, rigged it out, in April of that year, with a Ing sail and steering oar. Dur- ing high water in the spring, they launched it in what is known as " Meyer Sluice," which, at that time, extended up from the lake to Scott street, opposite W. H. Hiner's residence. Here the first naval school was established for Fond du Lac. They cruised up and down this sluice during the entire season. When the wind was abeam, the sailing was fair both ways ; but with a north wind, they had to tow their craft down and sail back, and with a south wind, vice versa. Their skill and efficiency being approved (by themselves), the yacht Water Lily was ordered built in Milwaukee, to be delivered here in time for the season of 1866.

This little boat, just sixteen feet over all, rigged with portable mast, sprit-sail and oars, took the city by storm, and yachting commenced in earnest.

The Water Lily's complement of men being six, another man was shipped, and George P. Knowles was taken in the capacity of cook.

Long excursions were taken in this boat, frequently making the entire circuit of the lake. She proved an excellent sea boat, and soon established a reputation for safety. This snug little craft is still afloat, at her moorings, off R. A. Baker's cottage, at Green Lake.

The next accession to the yachting interest was the yacht Rosendale, built at Rosendale, in this county, and put into the waters of Lake Winnebago in 1868, her owners being the Rev. II. W. Beers and H. H. Tenbrock, then a candidate for orders, and subsequently ordained a priest. He made, during the summer months, this boat his home, using it as a means of transit

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

to the various points on the lake to which he was assigned for missionary labor. Being no sailor, he depended upon any one he could pick up who professed to have the slightest knowl- edge or experience in this line. The consequence was that the Rosendale was continually over- due, either being ashore, wind-bound, or in some creek, or high and dry on the beach ; so that, when Mr. Beers had occasion to want the boat for his favorite fishing excursions, recourse was had to the Water Lily's crew to hunt her up and bring her into port.

A choice amusement of Tenbroek's was to take six to eight of the parish schoolboys on board this vessel and put out for a day's sport. the outcome being that when night set in, and the boys had not returned, so many anxious mothers had started out as many anxious fathers, to go in search of the supposed lost vessel and crew. As a nsual thing, about 9 o'clock in the evening. Capt. Johnson, of the tug Minnie, would be got up and dispatched to the relicf of the Rosendale. As a matter of course, he returned no wiser than he went. In the mean time, the boys would have found their way home, some on foot, some in farmers' wagons, and foot-sore, tired and half-famished, to gladden the hearts of their distressed parents. Tenbrock, in the end, became a good sailor, keeps the boat still, which now makes one of the fleet on Green Bay.

The advent of the Daisy, in 1870, was an event of marked importance to yachting, which was not confined to any one locality on the lake. This vessel was a Boston-built yacht, 19 feet 6 inches over all, by 8 feet 6 inches beam, and the best weather vessel ever sailed on the lake. She had fair speed and great beauty. She was hailed with delight all along shore. and stimu- lated a generous rivalry, that has led to the present state of yachting on the lake.

Her Captain. the lamented Dudley, had made himself master of the art of managing water craft of this description, and to his zeal and enterprise, more than anything else, were the yachtmen indebted for the Daisy being placed upon these waters.

He was assisted by R. A. Baker, H. II. Dodd. L. L. Lowry, John S. McDonald, and I. K. Hamilton, in the purchase and transportation of this little craft to Fond du Lac Harbor. Messrs. Baker and Dodd, who have fallen heir to this little old lady of a yacht, keep her now at Green Lake.

Next the Gipsy was built here by Z. & I. W. Maxim, in 1871, the same gentlemen who have since built the Belle. and the steam yacht Guy. The first formal organization was made in 1871. with but these four boats represented, viz., Rosendale, Liberty. Daisy and Gipsy. The organization was styled the Fond du Lac Yacht Club. The first officers were: II. H. Dodd, Commodore : R. A. Baker, Vice Commodore ; S. A. Dudley, Fleet Captain ; George P. Knowles, Secretary and Treasurer. This club continued to be the nucleus around which the yachting interest gathered, until 1878, when the great number of yachts and diversity of interests demanded a new organization, which was perfected by the election of the following officers : H. II. Dodd, Commodore ; C. H. Benton. Vice Commodore: H. C. Dittmar, Fleet Captain ; Thomas Terrell, Measurer ; Robert H. Wharton, Secretary ; R. C. Baker, Treasurer.

The number of yachts now is fifteen of all sail, of which the Mystic, Pinafore, Lolita, Lulu, Hawk, Aquila, and the steam yacht Guy, may be noted as equal to any in the State as to beauty, speed and safety.

CONFLAGRATIONS.

Fond du Lac, when compared with other cities of equal size, has, fortunately, suffered from few conflagrations resulting in great loss of life or property. As it is largely a wooden city, this freedom from destructive fires is considered remarkable by those who are not acquainted with the promptness and efficiency of its Fire Department and its admirable water-supply for fire purposes. The earliest fires, of which no record was kept because there was no organized fire department, entailed the greatest comparative loss, because the inhabitants were poor, insur- ance companies were little patronized, and building material was scarce.

On the 13th of May, 1847, Charles Kenkall's house, with all its furniture and all the money he possessed, was consumed by fire. This was an almost irretrievable loss, as the prop- erty was not insured

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

Under the head of "Terrible Conflagration," some person, name not known, wrote, in December, 1848, an extravagant account of the destruction by fire of the first schoolhouse erected in Fond du Lac. The building was located on Fifth, between Marr and Main streets : " On the evening of the 12th inst., our quiet village was visited by the most destructive fire ever known in this place, within the memory of the oldest inhabitant! The Congrega- tional, Baptist, Presbyterian and Methodist Churches, the former Court House, the Academy, the Town Hall, the Franklin Schoolhouse and lecture-room, besides the spacious room occupied as the publie room of the Lyceum, together with their valuable contents and all the outbuild- ings, were, in the short space of a few hours, entirely consumed ! !

" Although it was not discovered until near the dread hour of midnight, and the weather was intensely cold, still our efficient and well-trained Fire Department was soon on the ground, endeavoring, by its magnanimous and almost superhuman efforts, to stay the devouring element; but, in defiance of their utmost efforts. the flames continued to spread with great rapidity from one to another of the above-mentioned buildings, until the whole were completely wrapped in one enveloping sheet of flame ! ! It was truly a grand and appalling sight.

" It is uncertain, as yet, how or by what means this terrible catastrophe was brought about :. but it is generally believed to have been caused by the contaet of fire with the wooden portion of the schoolhouse.

" The calamity is much more severely felt at this particular season of the year, as the building cannot, probably, be replaced before next summer. The ruins present a sad appear- anee, indeed, comprising the entire number of buildings in the block. Our village wears a really forsaken aspect. Not a publie building of any consequence is left, except the jail, ball- alley and billiard-room, besides a few other holes of a worse sort !"

The substance of the above inflated account of the destruction of the small wooden school- house was telegraphed to some of the leading newspapers, from which news went to the people of the entire Union that Fond du Lac had been wiped out of existence by fire. Newspapers, published in other cities and States, could not know that a single pine building of one room was used as a church for several denominations, a court house, lyceum, " academy " and all the other purposes enumerated in the account sent abroad ; and these localities, doubtless, which to this day have not been disabused of the impression, believe that Fond du Lac was at that time laid in ashes. The joke was a very good one, but it caused much needless anxiety in the hearts of those who lived in other States and had friends in Fond du Lac, and, the next week, the labors of the Postmaster were increased by the numerous letters inquiring about the " terrible fire."

On Saturday night, January 17, 1852, the wooden block belonging to E. W. Davis, situ- ated on the east side of Main street and occupied by Drs. John Pantillon, W. T. Galloway, N. W. Howard and L. Kellogg ; Johnson's saloon and Mr. Norwood's store were burned. Adjoin- ing buildings were saved by tearing down a small building belonging to Mrs. Rapelje.

This was considered a large fire, and the enthusiastic ones who turned out with buckets and pails to carry water, had not finished reciting their exploits when, on Monday morning (two days later), the row of wooden blocks between First and Second streets, on the east side of Main street, was discovered to be on fire. The weather was intensely cold, the thermometer indicating 22° below zero, and the few gallons of water the citizens attempted to carry frequently congealed before they reached the fire. That entire block was burned, except Darling, Wright & Co.'s Exchange Bank, which stood on the corner of First and Main streets, where Wells' Bank now stands. This was a wooden building, built for temporary occupation, and Dr. Wright rushed in, as soon as he reached the seene of destruction, and filled his ample pockets with 820,000 in bills, and then went out to fight fire. D. R. Curran and A. P. & G. N. Lyman were the heaviest losers, Mr. Curran's store and stoek of goods being burned, and his dwelling- house, near by, damaged to the extent of $300. The Lyman Block was valned at $2.500. Case & Alling lost $3,000 in stock; Carswell & Dee, $1,000 in dry goods; Mr. Nash. on building, occupied by Carswell & Dee, $1,200; John II. Martin, on building occupied by Case

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

& Alling, $500, and other losses, the amounts not given, by H. C. Keys, A. D. Bonesteel, Z. L. Chapman, W. A. Dewey, D. Lyon and others. There was a finger, an ear, a toe or a nose frozen for every thousand dollars of damage wrought. The liveliest scene was at the reservoir, on the corner of Main and Second streets, where those who attempted to save goods were show- ering each other to extinguish burning clothing.

One of the greatest losses by fire at one time was in 1866, when the east side of Main street burned from Robert A. Baker's bank north to, and including, the Lewis Honse, which stood on the present Patty House site ; and east on Sheboygan street far enough to destroy the dwelling-house and ontbuildings belonging to Richard Dix.

March 4, 1868, the High School building burned to the ground. Loss, $16,000.

In the spring of 1878, a small dwelling in " Lower Town " caught fire from an unknown canse, and was totally destroyed. George IIewins, a maimed soldier, who had lodgings in the building, was burned to death.

On September 8, 1879, five wooden buildings on the east side of Main street, between Second and Third, were burned. The fire began, from an unknown cause, in Thomas Gibson's store, in which himself and an eight-year old daughter were burned to death. The buildings were old, and the greatest loss was that of life.

The burning of the McDonald & Nightingale paper-mill, in 1878, entailed a loss of $25,000.

In the winter of 1874-75, the row of wooden buildings from Opera Hall to the Rottman Block, on the east side of Main street, were burned.

The fire that probably entailed the greatest loss of property was set, July 15, 1871, by sparks from the steamer Gabe Bouck in the Bannister warehouse, on Scott street. Twenty-two buildings, including the Mihills Mills and Factory and a large quantity of lumber and wood, were destroyed. Loss, $100,000, with less than $10,000 insurance.

RIENZI CEMETERY.

In an early day, as is the case with all new settlements, Fond du Lac had no burial place. Matters ran along thus past the usual period when action is taken in this direction, and when Eastman & White took possession of the Journal, they trained their guns on what was termed the barbarity of the people of the village for neglecting to provide a suitable burying-place for the dead, and in their issue of May 4, 1849, published the following article :

" Fond du Lac Village, containing 1,200 inhabitants, has no public or private burial ground, but buries her dead in the public highway. We never before saw a village without a graveyard of some kind. In the wildest times of the wildlest State of the West, her people always respected the dead, and gave them some decent habitation. The Indian tribes honor the dust of the departed, and protect their graves from destruction. But Fond du Lac, whose people claim relationship with the oldest, the most Christian-like, moral and enlightened of the old States, dig their graves by the roadside, and bury their friends where the cattle's hoofs and passing vehicles will soon obliterate all marks of their resting-place ! Whose dnty is it to see to this matter ? If the duty of nobody, who will volunteer to rescue Fond du Lac from its reputation ? The act incorporating our village says : 'SECTION 14. The Trustees shall have the following powers : To purchase, hold, own and lay out graveyards or cemeteries, to regulate the burial of the dead, and to make and enforce any regulation or ordinance relating to the same.' "

But no public burial place was secured, and the high land on the east side of Main street, a mile south of the city, was used as a cemetery, as it had been from the earliest settlement of Fond du Lac, the first interment being that of Fanny Pier, wife of Colwert Pier, who died March 1, 1838. Later, the beautiful knoll, now occupied by the " old grounds " of Rienzi Cemetery, was used by a few who would not bury their friends by the roadside ; but it was only used as such by sufferance, being owned and occupied by N. P. Tallmadge. The spot contained a grave, however, before it was seized upon by any portion of the public as a burial place. Mr.

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

Tallmadge had been contemplating making a gift of land for cemetery purposes, and walked out, one day, with his son, William D., then a young man, to look over the place now called Rienzi. The " Governor." as he was popularly called, thought what is now known as the " new grounds" would be suitable for burial purposes; but the son chose the lower hill, or what is known as the " old grounds," saying, " When I die, I wish to be buried right here." It was a beautiful spot, and, four weeks later, he was buried on the very ground he stood upon when the wish was uttered. That settled the choice of location, and Mr. Tallmadge laid out around his son's grave eight and one-half acres for a cemetery. This was the beginning of what finally became the beautiful Rienzi Cemetery-William D. Tallmadge being the first to choose the location and the first to sleep in its bosom.

The following is the record of the incorporation of Rienzi Cemetery, as found in the Register's Office:

WHEREAS, On the 16th day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, pursuant to agreement and pursnant to the statute in such cases made and provided, the following persons. residing in the county of Fond du Lac in the State of Wisconsin, desirous to form an association for the purpose of procuring and holding lands to be used exclusively for a cemetery, or burial place for the dead-namely, N. P. Tallmadge, M. J. Thomas, A. D. Bonesteel, Robert A. Baker, Napoleon Boardman, Isaac S. Tallmadge and A. G. Butler, met at the banking-house of A. G Butler, in the city of Fond du Lac, and proceeded to appoint the undersigned, N. I'. Tall- madge, Chairman, and A. D. Bonesteel, Secretary, by a vote of a majority of the persons present ;

Now, therefore, the undersigned Chairman and Secretary, as aforesaid, do certify, pursuant to the statute in such case made and provided, that, at such meeting; N. P. Tallmadge, M. J. Thomas, A. D. Bonesteel, Robert A. Baker, N. Boardman and A. G. Butler, attended. as associates ; that the corporate name of the association determined upon by the majority of the persons who met was " The Rienzi ('emetery : " that the number of Trustees fixed upon to manage the concerns of the association was seven : that the names of the Trustees chosen at said meeting are N. P. Tallmadge, M. J. Thomas, A. D. Bonesteel, Robert A. Baker, N. Boardman, 1. S. Tallmadge and A. G Butler, for the purpose of managing the affairs of said association, to be known by its corporate name as " The Rienzi Ceme- tery ; " that the undersigned, as Chairman and Secretary, aforesaid, proceeded to divide the said Trustees into three classes, by lot, as follows : Those of the first class to hold their offices one year, those in the second class two years, and those in the third class three years, as follows : First class, N. Boardman and A. G. Butler ; second class, Robert A. Baker and M. J. Thomas; third class, N. P. Tallmadge, A. D. Bonesteel and I. S. Tallmadge.

And the undersigned Chairman and Secretary, aforesaid, do further certify that the future annual election of Trustees of said association, known as " The Rienzi Cemetery," was fixed to be held on the second Monday of August, in each year, at such place as said Trustees shall from time to time appoint. All of which, the undersigned Chairman and Secretary, as aforesaid, do hereby certify. pursuant to the statute in such case made and provided, and, in witness whereof, have hereunto set their hands this 16th day of August, 1853.

(Signed)

N. P. TALLMADGE, Chairman. A. D. BONESTEEL, Secretary.

This act of incorporation, duly sworn to, was recorded, on the same day and year, in Vol. I of " Cemeteries and Power of Attorneys," page 61. On August 17, 1853, a meeting of the officers was held, and N. P. Tallmadge chosen President; A. D. Bonesteel, Secretary, and Robert A. Baker, Treasurer. It was then decided to purchase, for $400, thirty-nine and six- tenths acres of land of N. P. Tallmadge for cemetery purposes (a portion of which had already been laid out and used as a cemetery by Mr. Tallmadge), and to grant to him, free of charge, forever, such a plat or tract as he might choose as a burial place for his family. At a subse- quent meeting, held in December of the same year, N. P. Tallmadge offered to convey to the association, free of charge, a tract of eight and one-half acres which he had already inclosed and laid out as a cemetery, which offer was accepted. That traet is now known as the " old grounds." and is composed of the first knoll of land at the entrance to the cemetery, in Sec- tions 18 and 19, town of Empire, situated two and one-half miles southeast of the city. The traet of thirty-nine and six-tenths acres was, therefore, not purchased.

N. Boardman was authorized to survey and lay out lots, walks and avenues in the ceme- tery, the expense of which should be paid out of the sale of lots, and proceeded immediately to do so.

In October, 1863, the Trustees authorized the purchase, at $20 per acre, of N. P. Tall- madge, a traet of twenty-four acres of land, lying east of the " old grounds," which was done, and the land was immediately laid out and offered for sale. Rienzi now contains thirty-two and

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

one-half acres, composed of beautiful hills and valleys, covered with oaks, and carpeted in sum- mer with a profusion of wild flowers. It is one of the most charming spots in nature, lying nearly a half-mile from the street, and reached by a smooth carriage-way, shaded on either side by thrifty trees, and refreshed by a clear spring brook. In the valley between the old and new grounds is a miniature artificial lake, fed by a never-failing spring, as though from the very resting-place and ashes of the dead gushed forth the water of life. An extract from the report of the Trustees in 1877 is here made :

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The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 98

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