USA > Wisconsin > Sauk County > The history of Sauk County, Wisconsin, containing an account of settlement, growth, development and resources biographical sketches the whole preceded by a history of Wisconsin > Part 92
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Benevolent Society .- The Sauk City Benevolent Society was started in 1874, the first movers in the matter being Andrew Kahn and John Buerki. The first meeting was held at Truckenbrodt's hall, March 4, 1874, there being about twenty persons present. They then organized, and elected John Buerki President ; John Baertsch, Vice President ; Andrew Kahn, Secretary ; Henry Trueb, Treasurer; Gasper Steuber and Edward Neidiker, Bysiters. Of the first members five or six have withdrawn, but, on the other hand, new members have come in, until now
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there is a membership of thirty-two. The society is strictly a mutual protective organization, with no secrets or password. If a member is not able to work he gets a regular appropriation of $3 a week. In case of the death of a man, the heirs get $30 from the treasury and 50 cents each from the members. When a man's wife dies, he gets $15 from the treasury and 25 cents each from the members. A man cannot be over fifty-five to join, and must be in good health. The membership fee is $3. The meetings of the society are held once a week.
Sauk City Brass Band .- A brass band was first organized here at about the time the old military company was formed. There were at first but five members-John Junge, D. Schramm, A. Vogel, Ed Kuehn and Henry Schegelmilch, J. Junge being the leader. In 1856, the band number was augmented by the addition of Samuel Kleiner and Peter Bernhardt. With the exception of a few changes, the band continued until 1868 or 1869, when it broke up, never having been more than nine or ten strong at any time, and seldom more than the first seven. In the present band, organized but a short time, there are ten members : Samuel Kleiner, leader, and V. Wuerth, E. Van Eschen, Rudolph Kleiner, Nic Muller, A. Marguart, M. Bohnsak, Charles Schlungbaum, Ed Stadelmann and John Meyer.
Cemetery Association .- The Sauk County Cemetery Association was organized at the schoolhouse, July 27, 1852. The Trustees elected were Henry Wild, Thomas Cook, L. Accola, T. Hitzmier and Curtis Bates. On the 6th of September following, the land of the cemetery was purchased from John Gallard for $50, and soon after was platted. At present, lots sell for from $8 to $10, according to location. At present, P. Lachmund is President ; F. G. J. Lueders, Treasurer ; Ed Rendtorff, Secretary. Mr. Rendtorff has been Secretary of the society for twenty-four years. Mr. Lueder is now Superintendent of the grounds, which are tastefully laid off and ornamented with shrubbery.
A. O. U. W. Society .- The only secret society now in Sauk City is the lodge of United Workingmen, No. 62, A. O. U. W. This order was organized here May 1, 1879, with eighteen charter members, which have since increased to thirty-eight. The charter officers were H. Muhlburg, P. M. W .; John Bach, M. W .; A. Fischer, V .; J. Shaddi, G. F .; H. Meyer, Secretary ; M. Loddi, Treasurer ; J. Just, Financier. The officers now remain the same, with the exception that A. Ferber is now G. F., and Samuel Kleiner, Secretary.
Humanists .- The society of the " Free German Association " held their first meeting, ac- cording to various accounts, as early as 1842, at which time they styled themselves "Humanists," the name which is now commonly applied to them. Charles Duer, now deceased, was their first speaker, but the society was not regularly founded until the 24th of October, 1852, after Mr. Ed- ward Schroeder became speaker. The society was incorporated June 3, 1853, as the " Free German Association of Sauk County." At first the organization met with strong opposition from church people, which has become modified during the passage of time. The congregation has no settled dogma, neither do the members recognize any authority as being infallible, and to be explicitly fol- lowed. The works of nature, and the revelations of human experience in history, serve as foundations for whatever opinions may be entertained, subject to the analysis and conclusions arrived at by reason. The chief principles acted upon are for the advancement of general intelligence, and the maintenance of sincerity, honesty and truth in all things, as opposed to hypocrisy and false- hood. All members stand on a footing of perfect equality, without regard to sex. The speaker is the teacher of the old and young, and the general exercises consist in lectures, singing, decla- mation and the instruction of the children in morals, under his supervision. The congregation belongs to the Wisconsin Union of Free Congregations, and to the Union of Free Congregations of America, and to the North American Union of Radicals. The society owns two halls, one at Sauk City and one at Honey Creek. Their speaker, Mr. Edward Shroeder, has recently gone to Europe as the Delegate for the German Free-Thinkers of America to the Free-Thinkers' Con- gress at Brussels.
The Catholic Church and Society .- Sauk City St. Moysius Congregation is the oldest Catholic congregation in Sauk County, and one of the oldest in Western Wisconsin. It was founded in the year 1844. The first baptism recorded is that of Catharina Holbleib, baptized
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2d of October, 1844. The first Catholic priest was Rev. Albert Inama, of the order of the Præmonstratensians, of the Convent Welten, near Innsbruck, Tyrol, who died 1879, in Roxbury Town, Dane County, Wis. The first Catholic Church was built in Sauk City in 1845. It was a small frame building, and was burnt down by an accident in the following year. During that year Count Haraszthy, an Hungarian nobleman, gave lots to the Catholic congregation for build- ing purposes, the deed of said lots being dated 17th of February, 1846. In the same year, Rev. Maximilian Gaertner, of the same order as Rev. Inama, arrived and took charge of the congre- gation remaining until 1858, when he retired to his home country, Tyrol, where he afterward died. In 1851, the 29th of May, first steps were taken to erect the new Catholic Church build- ing which is now in use. Catholics and non-Catholics united for this purpose, and $380 were subscribed. On the 21st of July, 1851, the corner-stone was laid, and Mr. Stingelhammer did the mason work. Messrs. Werner, Kraus and Mertens were building committee. The rear or brick part was first finished, then the work stopped because of lack of funds. In 1853, work was re- commenced, and the church finished under the supervision of Rev. Gaertner and Rev. Wein- hardt. The building is 103x50 feet and thirty feet high (walls inside clear thirty-nine feet), and cost about $13,000, all of which is now paid. The Rev. Weinhardt left in 1861. His successor, Rev. Voessem, finished the plastering and left in 1865. Since then several priests have had charge of the congregation, which consists of about 130 families, of which twenty-five are Irish. A Catholic school is attached numbering about seventy Catholic children. There is also a mis- sion belonging to this congregation situated in town of Honey Creek, consisting of about forty Catholic families. They have just finished a stone church 50x28 feet, eighteen feet high ; steeple, seventy-six feet, at a cost of about $1,800. The Rev. Herman Grosse is now the Priest.
German Reformed Congregation .- The first preaching of this society was held in the old schoolhouse as early as 1850, the Rev. Mr. Spangler being the minister. He continued here until 1856, when Rev. Mr. Knoepfel came. After him in 1858, the Rev. Etter was minister. Then in 1859, Rev. R. Ruetenick became Pastor. During Mr. Ruetenick's time the society was regularly organized. He was succeeded by Rev. A. Winter, in 1860. The church was built in 1861, at a cost of $2,000, during the pastorate of the Rev. Winter. In 1864, the Rev. J. Brecht became minister. He remained until 1869, when he was succeeded by Rev. J. Herold. After him in 1869, came the Rev. F. Kuenzler, who served until 1877, when the Rev. J. Gruenigan superseded him. In 1875, the Rev. S. S. Thalers, the present Pastor, was installed.
At first there were but five members, C. Obrecht, J. L. Accola, J. Buerki, G. Schaefer and C. Shultz, these being Swiss and German. There are now 250 members of the same nationalities.
Evangelical Association .- The first services of this denomination were held here in the schoolhouse in 1844, by Bishop Johannes Seybert, the first Bishop of the German Evangelical Asso- ciation of America. With him came the Rev. Mr. Miller, who afterward came out here for some time every four weeks. A few years after their services were held every Sunday, the place of meeting being changed to the house of Mrs. J. E. Wright, at Saukville. The church was built in 1871, by John Thilke, and was consecrated by Bishop Escher. The society here is a branch of the Salem Church, at Honey Creek, and is supplied by their minister. There are fifty-five members here.
ATTORNEYS AND PHYSICIANS.
The following is a list of attorneys that have practiced here : William H. Clark, James S. Alban, Cyrus Leland, J. Stephens Tripp, John B. Quimby and J. W. Johnson.
Physicians : John B. Woodruff, William Wolf, George H. Briggs, Henry McKenna, H. G. Lachmund and A. F. Jonas.
SAUKVILLE, OR MIDDLE SAUK.
This little village lies midway between Upper and Lower Town. The most that has ever been done here toward erecting a village is the work of J. E. Wright, now deceased, but, owing to the unfa-
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vorable location, just between the villages of Prairie du Sac and Sauk City, very little more than making a fair start has ever been accomplished, for, as the trite old saying expresses it, " that which stands between two stools must needs fall to the ground." It is not beyond the possibilities that at somne future time a railroad may pass directly through here; then who can say but that that which has heretofore shown small vitality may suddenly take new life unto itself, and withal out- strip its more favored competitors. At least, whatever may occur, it is always well to look on the bright side, and hope for the best. And furthermore, that the village of Sauk City and Prairie du Sac may some time be united by the growth of a village here, is to be devoutly desired, for then the interests of the two places may become identical, and correspondingly strong and influ- ential abroad.
A huge brick chimney and a dilapidated wooden structure now mark the spot where, in 1852. J. E. Wright, in company with P. Tinker, a practical machinist, began the erection of a steam saw and grist mill combined. In 1853, Soreno Wright came on from the East and purchased J. E. Wright's interest in the mill, and, with Mr. Tinker, went on and completed it. The mill began running in 1854, and for that early time was a large institution and did an extensive busi- ness. The mill continued in active operation until October, 1858, when it was burned (cause unknown), with a loss of $5,000. After the building of the mill, in 1854, J. E. Wright, Sr., put up a large store building, which is yet standing near the road on the handsome property of his estimable lady. This store was first occupied by a Mr. Forbes, of Portage City. Subse- quently, after having been used several years as a store, it was converted to its present use as a private dwelling. Shortly after the buildnig of the mill and store, blacksmith-shops, wagon- shops, etc., were started. Of those that were started early, none are left. and, to sum up, the business of the place is now represented solely by the blacksmith and wagon shop of Mr. Habermann.
After the burning of the mill, Soreno Wright immediately began building a steamboat, for a good boat with a special home interest at this point was then very much needed. She was ninety feet long, twenty-two feet beam, and eighteen inch draft when loaded, being constructed especially for navigating the Wisconsin. A large part of the machinery was made at the old foundry and machine shop of Mr. Rosche. The boat was launched in July, 1859, and made her trial trip in a satisfactory manner, with about two hundred and fifty on board. She was first called the Wisconsin Pioneer, but the name was subsequently changed to the Sauk City Enter- prise. This boat was for many years one of the principal craft on the river, as well as the repre- sentative boat of this section.
The church of the German Evangelical Association is located a short distance south of Sauk ville.
THE SAUK BATTLE.
At a very early day, in the career of Sauk City, the raftsmen made a practice of tying up here at night when they could, and going up town en masse to rampage and bum, perhaps the whole night through, constituting themselves a law unto themselves, to the terror of the saloon- ists and the law-abiding citizens. It was but the common turn of affairs for them to run the saloon-keepers out of their places, and to bid defiance to all restraints, and to indulge in the most indecent routs conceivable.
This sort of thing could not last always ; so, after long suffering, the Germans, who are slow to anger, but determined when they get started, turned out in strong numbers one night, and, armed with cudgels, attacked a large gang of raftsmen. The engagement was a hotly- contested and bloody one, but a worse whipped and used-up crowd of rowdies it would be hard to find ; bloody noses, cracked skulls and broken bones was their condition generally. Some of the worst injured ones brought suit against the Germans for damages, but when it came to be tried, the lawyer who acted for plaintiffs was chased from Lower to Upper Town by the infuriated defendants. and so ended this affair as well as any further abuses by the raftsmen. They had had enough.
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CHAPTER XII.
TOWN AND VILLAGE OF LAVALLE-TOWN OF WASHINGTON-TOWN OF WINFIELD-LOGANVILLE AND TOWN OF WESTFIELD-TOWN OF DELLONA-TOWN OF FREEDOM AND VILLAGE OF NORTH FREEDOM-TOWN OF GREENFIELD-TOWN AND VILLAGE OF IRONTON-TOWN OF EXCELSIOR AND VILLAGE OF ABLEMAN-VILLAGE AND TOWN OF DELTON-NEWPORT-TOWN OF WOOD- LAND-TOWN OF FAIRFIELD.
TOWN AND VILLAGE OF LAVALLE.
The town of Lavalle is formed of Township 13 north, Range 3 east, lying in the north tier of towns of Sauk County, and, were it not for the town of Woodland, which stands by itself on the west, would be the northwest eorner town of the county. It is bounded on the north by Juneau County, on the east by the town of Winfield, on the south by Ironton, and on the west by Woodland. The surface of the town is uneven, but well watered by the Baraboo River and its tributaries. Good wells are easily obtained ; springs are abundant. Timber is plenty and of good quality, principally oak, of several varieties. Railroad ties, hardwood timber and staves are made in large quantities. Considerable pine was found here at an early day, but it is now very searee. The soil is elay and black and sandy loam ; rock, principally sandstone ; some lime- stone is found, of good quality for building purposes. Adjacent to the streams are found some pieturesque masses of perpendicular rock, from fifty to two hundred feet in height, decked out with vines, mosses and shrubs, adding greatly to the beauty of the landseape. Wild fruits com- mon to this latitude are abundant in season. In early days, wild bees were so common that wild honey was obtained with but little trouble. Bee-trees are frequently found at this time by those who know how to traee them. Several good water-powers exist in the town ; one at Lavalle, on the line of the Madison Division of the Chicago & North-Western Railroad, which crosses the town from the southeast to the northwest; another is found on Section 24, where William Rathbun has a good saw-mill in operation ; and another on Section 1, on Big Creek, where Harvey Gifford has a fine saw-mill in operation ; still another mill is doing a flourishing business at a switch on the railroad, called Podunk, owned by a Milwaukee man. Large quantities of railroad ties, wood and timber, are bought here. A store, boarding-house and blacksmith-shop are in operation at this point.
The first white man to loeate in the town was Samuel Karstetter, who built a shanty on Seetion 28, in 1847. Mr. Manelious Pearson, a native of England, came in 1848, and, in July of that year, ereeted the first substantial house, situated on Section 34. Mr. Pearson still resides on the farm of his first choice. His daughter Mary Ann, now Mrs. George Inman, born September 21, 1850, was the first white ehild born in the town. Among the very earliest settlers should be mentioned, in addition to Karstetter and Pearson, George Harrison, who eame in 1848, Jabez Inman. in 1849, Ansel H. Brownell in 1850, John Tordoff in 1851, Edmund Tordoff in 1851, A. D. Potter in 1853, W. S. Hubbell in 1854, George W. Dickens in 1854, and John White in 1854.
The territory now embraced in the town of Lavalle was originally in the town of Baraboo, and subsequently in the town of Marston. It became the town of Lavalle in 1861. The first town meeting was held in the village of Lavalle April 1, 1862. J. G. Blakeslee was elected Chairman : E. B. Hageman and J. H. Douglass, Supervisors; C. F. Christnot, Clerk; II. G. Howard, Treasurer; H. A. Sturgess, Assessor ; David Beery, HI. A. Sturgess and Calvin Gard- ner, Justices.
The first school district was organized while the town was a part of Marston, in 1851. A schoolhouse was commenced that year, situated on the north side of Seetion 33, near the Iron- ton and Lavalle road. Owing to a lack of harmony among the people, work was suspended on
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it. It was finally completed in February, 1853. This is said to have been the first school in the town of Marston, of which the present town of Lavalle then formed a part. When the school- house was completed, W. S. Hubbell was Clerk, William All, Treasurer, and Samuel Hoskins, Director. The first teacher was William H. Brown.
The first religious meetings were held at the house of the Rev. Mr. Hamlin-also a Sab- bath school, with Mr. Hamlin as Superintendent-in the summer of 1851. Mr. Hamlin was a Free-Will Baptist minister.
Village .- The early settlers in the vicinity of what is now the village of Lavalle were J. F. Hamlin, Solon Rushmore, A. H. Brownell, Elisha Potter, Ezra Hagaman, Sebastian Kar- stetter and M. A. Matthews. Mr. Hamlin made a claim of the land upon which the village is situated, and commenced the improvement of the water-power in the year 1849. He built a temporary board shanty, in which to live, on the south side of the Baraboo, opposite the point he decided upon as the most feasible one for the construction of a dam and mill. He was soon afterward joined by Solon Rushmore, who took an interest in the enterprise. The year of 1849 was spent in making a dam and building the frame work of a mill, and, in the spring of 1850, the machinery was put in. The mill irons were manufactured in Baraboo by Sanford (J. F.) & Becktel, who were then carrying on a foundry at the county seat, the former being engaged in the mercantile business also. Mr. Sanford settled in Baraboo in 1848, and owned the first stock of goods ever taken to Reedsburg for general sale. The saw-mill was put into operation in the summer of 1850, the first lumber turned out being used, it is believed, in the framework of a more substantial dwelling for Mr. Hamlin. It is still standing as a part of the residence of Mr. Hunneberg.
In 1864, the mill property passed to the hands of J. F. Sanford, who removed to Lavalle and took immediate charge of it. A flour-barrel factory was soon established in connection with the saw-mill. Both institutions were carried on successfully for a few years. The manu- facture of broom-handles also became a part of the enterprise. In 1869, Mr. Sanford turned his attention to the building of a grist-inill, to be propelled by the same water-power employed in running the saw-mill, barrel factory, etc. A large three-story building was erected just below the dam, and, the necessary machinery being procured, the citizens of Lavalle were soon enabled to use home-made flour. The grist-mill is now the property of Lyman Beery and Theo- dore Yager. It has three run of stones, which are employed principally on custom work.
In 1874, the old machinery in the saw-mill was taken out and the establishment fitted up for the manufacture of staves, by Stafford & Co., of Reedsburg, who had rented the building and a certain portion of the water-power for a term of three years. In 1876, Messrs. Keith & Pad- dock, who also own and conduct the Reedsburg stave-mill, obtained control of the concern. In the fall of the same year, a building was erected a short distance above the dam. In it were placed a steam boiler and engine and other necessary machinery for the manufacture of .staves. Work was commenced and carried on until the 15th of June, 1878, when the establishment was destroyed by fire, at an estimated loss of $1,200. Immediate preparations were made for occu- pying the old saw-mill building, and, in due course of time the buzz of busy saws again echoed in the quiet precincts of Lavalle. The capacity of this mill is about 500 staves an hour. In 1879, the combined product of Messrs. Keith & Paddock's Lavalle and Reedsburg Mills was 1,500,000 staves. A. E. Miller is Superintendent of both establishments. The surrounding country, being heavily wooded with oak and basswood, furnishes an inexhaustible supply of material, and affords profitable employment to large numbers of industrious citizens. The man- ufacturers find a ready market for their work in the leading cities of the West, the major part of it being shipped to Chicago, where it is made into pork and flour barrels.
In 1874, the Northwestern Hoop-Pole Company, of Chicago, put up a steam mill in the eastern part of Lavalle, in which machinery for the manufacture of hoop-poles and dressing of staves was placed. The business has been conducted with varied success up to the present time.
In 1878, F. Ricken set up a carding machine in the upper part of the stave-mill, where he does local carding on a small scale.
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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.
So much for the manufacturing interests of Lavalle. The early growth of the place was necessarily slow, situated as it was in a dense wilderness, scarcely accessible to ordinary road wagons. But the pioneer's first pathway is always rough, and he is thankful if he can but dis- cern the outlines of even an Indian trail. New-comers gradually found their way into these hills and valleys, which were soon settled upon and cultivated. A school was established in the fall of 1855. It was held in a little shanty just north of the present residence of B. G. Pad- dock. There are no records of this school prior to 1865. In 1859, the district built a more spacious schoolhouse, which was occupied until 1875, when the present very creditable temple of learning was constructed, at a cost of $1,800, the old schoolhouse being converted into a town hall. At the end of the school year of 1879, there were 127 pupils in the district over four and under twenty years of age who had attended school. There are two departments, Marion Groat and Charlotte Beauchat presiding over them as Principal and Assistant respectively.
A post office was established in the spring of 1856, with S. P. Barney as Postmaster. It was what was then commonly known as a special office, the mail being carried from Reedsburg by the citizens, who at first were in the habit of having a meeting and "drawing cuts " to decide who should carry the mail for the next two weeks. W. H. Young is said to have been the first victim of the " cut system." Finally a subscription was taken up and a regular mail carrier employed. This continued until the railroad reached the place in 1872. Mr. Barney held the office until 1864. It then became what Mr. Barney aptly terms a " a political office," requiring the special attention of an individual with strong party leanings and more or less political influence. William P. Cobb was selected to supplant Mr. Barney, but he lived only a few months. and upon his death J. F. Sanford, one of Mr. Cobb's sureties, was appointed. Mr. Sanford held it ten years, and resigned in favor of William R. Croft, who, in the spring of 1876, withdrew in favor Mr. B. G. Paddock, more commonly known as " Ben," who is the present incumbent.
While the people of Lavalle are all law-abiding Christians, their religious enthusiasm has never led them to erect extravagant temples. Methodist meetings were held in the place as early as 1856, soon after the construction of the " shanty schoolhouse." Stated services have been of frequent occurrence since. The Adventists, existing in very limited numbers until recently, have also held meetings. Sanford's Hall, Field's Hall and Odd Fellows' Hall have been used by both denominations. In 1878. the Adventists built a neat church edifice. Among the sub- scribers to the fund were Elder Groat, of Ironton ; J. Abbott Douglass, Robert White, W. H. Field, B. C. Douglass and J. N. Nye. Elders Graves and Hitchcock have supplied the pulpit.
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