USA > Wisconsin > Washington County > Washington County, Wisconsin : past and present > Part 21
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The same exactness and thoroughness that characterize the me- chanical construction of the car are evident in the body-building, upholstering and finishing departments. The door frames, for ex- ample, instead of being built in four sections, with that many more joints to loosen by vibration, are made with one bending. . All heel boards, door mouldings, dash boards, decks, and door strips, and mouldings for cushions are made of solid mahogany with piano finish. Upholstering is done by experienced, skilled men, and the material is the best of leather, genuine gray hair, and piano springs, and special care is exercised on each individual car to secure the ut- most niceties of matching and workmanship. In the finish of the bodies twenty-six operations are employed to secure a glossy, lus- trous, durable finish.
Every department of the extensive works is furnished with all the modern appliances for the economical production of the highest type of a standardized automobile. In every essential and primary prin- ciple the Kissel Kar may be said to be perfected. The year to year changes are practically restricted to alterations of design to con- form with popular taste. But if any new feature, because of its desirability and utility, promises to become standard, the company
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is among the first to adopt it. Anything freakish or experimental, however, is vigorously avoided.
The Kissel Kar is made in semi-touring and semi-racer types of thirty, forty and sixty horsepower touring cars, and Limousines of fifty horsepower, and Coupes of thirty horsepower. The firm also manufactures motor trucks carrying from one and one-half to five tons, chemical fire trucks, special delivery, ambulance, and police patrol automobiles.
A noteworthy feat was performed by a Kissel Kar in 1911, when it trimmed three hours, fifty-four minutes and twenty-one seconds off the Los Angeles-Phoenix record, with a total running time of fifteen hours and forty-nine minutes for the four hundred and eighty-three miles. It was not a special racing car either, but just a stripped Kissel Kar "Fifty" from the sales room floor, and it de- feated a big entry of higher priced, representative American cars. This record-smashing is wellnigh without a parallel in the history of road racing. Nearly half the time the run was made in dark- ness. The course of this race is noted for its difficulty, leading over mountainous grades in California, and heavy desert roads in Arizona. But it was more the reliable, balanced construction of the car than the speed that won this flattering victory.
The use of automobiles is rapidly spreading, not only in the cities, but also in the country, among the farmers. And it cannot be said that the farmers of Washington county are slow in perceiv- ing the factors of happiness and economy that lie in the possession of an automobile. There are farmers who have two or three spans of good horses in their stable, and still own a car. Hand in hand with their changed attitude toward the "devil's wagon" goes their sup- port of the good roads movement. What fine perspectives do these changes open in the country! They will tend to revolutionize farm life. The spins through the country will bring the farming popu- lation closer together. The Sunday rides to distant friends will be made in a fraction of the former time. The motor car will be the joy of every member of the family. It will bring the country closer to the city, and the city closer to the country. There are unmeasured possibilities in the automobile. And it should at any rate be inter- esting to know that there is a great industry of that kind in this county.
The officers of the Kissel Motor Car Co. are: president, George A. Kissell, vice-presidents, H. K. Butterfield, Otto P. Kissell and A. P. Kissel; secretary and treasurer, W. L. Kissel.
CHAPTER XXVIII
STATISTICS
To impart some idea of the wealth and other interesting con- ditions of the county, the following data have been taken from the United States census of 1910, and from the assessors' tables of I9II :
In 1910 Washington county had 2,795 farms in all, as against 2,873 in 1900. The reason for the decrease in the number of farms in the last decade is their increase in size, and this could only be ac- complished by buying other farms, and in this way lessening the number of farms in the county. It will be seen that this is against the teachings of some sociologists who advocate smaller farms and intensive farming.
Of the farmers, 2,095 are born in this country, while 700 are born in foreign lands. The number of those born abroad, mostly in Germany, is noteworthy. It is smaller than may have been conjec- tured. In the average only one out of four of our German farmers was born in Germany, has rooted in German soil, and came over here, more or less imbued with German ideals of life, which he tries to bring in accordance with American ideals. This ratio naturally grows more one-sided with the years, and the time is not far away when the percentage of immigrated farmers will have disappeared.
In size the farms differ very much. There are 2 farms which contain less than 3 acres, 81 contain from 3 to 9 acres, 79 from IO to 19 acres, 294 from 20 to 49 acres, 1,172 from 50 to 99 acres, 1,010 from 100 to 174 acres, 137 from 175 to 259 acres, and 20 from 260 to 499 acres. The average size of the farms is 94 acres, or about twice the average size in the first score of years following the settlement.
The county covers an area of about 275,840 acres. Of these, 262,- 902 acres are laid out in farms, of which 173,839 acres are im- proved farm land, 42,260 acres are woods, and 46,803 acres are un- improved land. Of the county's area 95.3 per cent are farms.
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The value of all farm property is $25,933,195, as against $20,- 060,303 in 1900. In ten years the value has increased 29.3 per cent. The land is valued at $16,334,361 ; the buildings thereon, dwellings, barns, etc., are valued at $6,035,040; and the agricultural machines and implements at $1,091,437.
On the farms 39,656 head of cattle have been counted. Among them are 24,259 milch cows, 2,906 other cows, 4,593 one-year-old heifers, 5,827 calves, 1,161 one-year-old steers and bulls, and 913 other steers and bulls. The value of all the cattle is $1,037.654.
The number of horses is 10,304. Of these 9,532 are full grown horses, 684 are one-year-old colts, and 88 are younger. The aggre- gate value of the horses is $1,089,852. On the farms 48 mules are used, which represent a value of $3,065.
Of hogs there are 28,727, of which 14,448 are full grown hogs, and 14,279 are shotes. Their value is $191,833.
The number of sheep is 10,435 of which 3,367 are lambs. They are valued at $41,632. The goats number 71 and are valued at $158. The fowls of every description number 175,383, and their value is $98,706. There have been counted 2,311 colonies of bees, and their value has been placed at $9,457.
The total value of all these farm animals is $2,472,357, as against $1,695,003 in 1900.
Of the farms 2,472 are worked by the owners themselves, 129 of whom have rented land besides their own. By exclusive tenants 284 farms are run. In 92 cases the rent is paid with a part of the harvest, in 2 cases it is paid with a share in the harvest and the balance in cash, in 179 cases cash alone is paid, and in II cases the stipulations are not specified. There are 39 farms which are run by managers, as against 18 farms ten years ago.
Of the farms worked by the owners, 1,291 are free of debt, and on 1,175 are mortgages; of 6 no report has been received. Of 1,092 farmers whose land represents a value of $8,486,115 mort- gages to the amount of $2,929,992 have been reported, or 34.5 per cent of the value.
Thus far the figures have been taken from the census of 1910. Here is other statistical material taken from the county assessors' tables of 1911 :
In 1911 the following crops were raised in the county: Wheat, 107,388 bushels; corn, 693,412 bushels; oats, 954,049 bushels; bar- ley, 535,835 bushels; rye, 73,409 bushels; potatoes, 383,673 bushels;
OFFICE OF GERMANTOWN FARMERS' MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY, SOUTH GERMANTOWN
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
clover seed, 24,844 bushels; sugar beets, 2,204 tons; other root crops, 7,010 bushels; hay, 33,643 tons.
The ten creameries in the county in 1911 received 30,481,285 pounds of milk which, less 249,280 pounds shipped to Milwaukee, were churned into 1,254,943 pounds of butter. For butter sold during the year $372,757.85 were received. The milk came from 8,693 cows belonging to 913 patrons. The forty-three cheese fac- tories made 4,246,156 pounds of cheese out of 41,403,433 pounds of milk which came from 11,292 cows belonging to 1,326 patrons. For cheese sold $539,199.73 were received during the year. The two milk condensing factories produced 650,000 pounds of con- densed milk from 5,946,417 pounds of milk received. The value of this milk produced sold during 1911 amounted to $88,745.40. The inilk came from 1,487 cows, owned by 183 patrons. Besides these dairy revenues, 136,508 pounds of butter were made on the farms, and 108,670 gallons of milk were sold for use in households in the county during the same year.
The county in 1911 possessed 12,474 vehicles of various kinds; 135 automobiles; 755 pianos, and 570 organs. The bank stock amounted to $217,100; the merchants' and manufacturers' stock to $1,092,500; and the moneys, accounts, notes, bonds, mortgages, etc, to $1,887,000. The logs, timber, lumber, etc. (not manufacturers' stock) were valued at $43,500; the steam and other vessels, of which there are twenty, at $7,000; the property and franchises of water and light companies at $13,000; and all other personal property liable to taxation at $875,000.
The aggregate real estate values in the cities and incorporated vil- lages in 1911 were: Hartford, $1,873,550; West Bend, $1,507,989; Kewaskum, $574,369; Schleisingerville, $331,015.
The total real estate and personal property of the county was in 19II valued at over thirty-four million dollars, or $1,416 per capita.
The total valuation in 1853 was $507,486, which with a population of about 15,000 amounted to $33 per capita; the total valuation in 1880 was $7,490,000, which with a population of 23,000 amounted to $326 per capita. Nothing is more illustrative of the enormous gain of wealth in the county than the comparison of the assessors' tables of these three years.
CHAPTER XXIX
THE PRESS
It is merely a case of modesty that this chapter is put almost at the end of the book. The writer belongs to the press of the county for many years, and for this reason it could have been considered tactless to place it before the other molders of the mind, the schools and the churches. That it had, from the very start, a powerful influence on public opinion in the county, nobody will deny who is familiar with the early history. It actually at one time had a weighty influence on the public opinion of the state. Today the press of the county, barring the German papers which share the decline of the German press all over the country, is in a healthy and thriving con- dition. The German press will receive only a casual mention, as it has been treated historically in the chapter on "The German Ele- ment." There are five English weeklies published in the county, the data of which appear in the following sketches.
The West Bend News
This paper was started some time in 1854 under the name of Washington County Organ by a Mr. Wentworth, a practical printer. It is the oldest paper in the county. In size it was small, and the owner had little luck with it. At the close of 1855 he sold his meagerly furnished printery together with the good will and a shattered sub- scription list to Josiah T. Farrar and a Mr. Fonda. January 1, 1856, they issued the first number of the Washington County Democrat, having changed the name of the paper. Farrar very ably edited the paper until January 14, 1861, when failing health compelled him to resign. Under his editorship the paper gained a reputation all over the state. In 1861 the name was changed to West Bend Post. and the paper was run until March 25 by Charles D. Waldo and Ed. P. Kellogg, when Jacob E. Mann bought an interest in it. The Vol. I-16
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firm of Mann & Waldo owned and conducted it till January, 1863, when Mr. Mann became the sole proprietor, and Erastus W. Root was engaged as editor. February 14, 1864, Waldo & Mann again became the owners, and Jacob E. Mann assumed the editorship. In September, 1864, Mann sold out to Waldo who ran it alone as editor and proprietor until 1866, when it was bought by Maxon Hirsch who remained the possessor for nearly ten years. During his owner- ship, Paul A. Weil, Abraham L. Baer, and perhaps others, filled the editor's chair. Mr. Hirsch also started a German paper, the Washing- ton County Banner, edited by John J. Liver of Schleisingerville, which was run for six years in connection with the Post. After that it was discontinued for want of support. In 1875 Franckenberg & Walters bought the paper and changed its name to West Bend Dem- ocrat, William Walters becoming editor. In 1878 Mr. Francken- berg retired, and the firm's name was changed to Walters & Murtha, Mr. Walters retaining the editorship. In March, 1880, the Washing- ton County Publishing Association was formed, who continued the publication of the paper of which Mr. Walters remained nominal editor until November 15, 1880, when Michael Bohan was entrusted with the editorship, continuing it till July 1, 1884. He was succeeded by E. Aug. Runge who was assisted by Ed. L. Luckow. Both re- signed April 1, 1886, whereupon the shares of the business were sold to E. Franckenberg, Mrs. E. Franckenberg, and Arthur Franck- enberg. The latter became the manager, and Walter Wittmann as- sumed the editorship. In 1887 the West Bend Times, then the property of C. L. Powers, became merged with the Democrat. In January, 1888, the Beobachter, a German weekly published in Fond du Lac, also became the property of the association, Mr. Wittmann continuing as editor of both papers until 1892, when he severed his connection and joined C. E. Robinson who founded the Washing- ton County Pilot. Arthur Franckenberg now assumed the editor- ship with Math. J. Fohn as associate. The latter resigned about a year later and entered a mercantile business. His successor was Jos. F. Huber. July 1, 1894, the firm was reorganized under the name of Washington County Publishing Co., with Arthur Franckenberg, E. Franckenberg and Jos. F. Huber as shareholders. In March, 1899, the writer entered the employ of the company, and soon afterward was made editor of the Beobachter. May 1, 1902, another change took place, when Arthur Franckenberg sold his interest to Theo. E. Guth and retired to become cashier in the Bank of West Bend. The size of the paper was changed from an eight column folio to a seven
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column quarto, and the name was changed to West Bend News. The last link was added to the chain of vicissitudes when in Decem- ber, 1905, Mr. Guth turned over his shares to Mr. Huber, to follow a mercantile career. Ever since, Mr. Huber is the principal share- holder of the business, also its manager, and the editor of the News. The paper is Republican, having turned away from the Democratic ranks when in 1896 Free Silver was made their campaign issue. It has a wide circulation.
The West Bend Pilot
Early in 1892 Charles E. Robinson carried out the idea of provid- ing another weekly paper for West Bend and the county in general. He accordingly started the West Bend Pilot, assisted by Walter Wittmann who just had resigned his position with the Washington County Publishing Association. The first issue, a five column quarto, appeared Feb. 24, cleverly edited by Mr. Robinson. His presumption proved correct, there was room for another paper, and the enterprise, although the first years were full of hard rubs, turned out as a signal success. October 19, 1892, the size of the paper was changed to an eight column folio. May 24, 1893, it was sold to D. T. Keeley who also became the editor. January 9, 1895, the size was again changed, this time to a six column quarto which remained up to the present day. The present owner, Hy. B. Kaempfer, who had been the local editor of the paper since September 21, 1892, bought it May 19, 1902. His success as publisher and editor is evinced by the fact that he now owns a neat modern cement-block building with a well appointed newspaper and job printing plant including a Mer- genthaler typesetting machine.
The Hartford Press
The birthplace of this paper was West Bend, its birthday, Septem- ber 13, 1872, and its baptismal name, the West Bend Republican. It was published by a corporate company, the West Bend Publishing Association, and the first editor was S. S. Barney. At the time, and for many years afterward, it was the only Republican paper in the county. January 9, 1874, Dr. G. F. Hunt succeeded in the editorship and held it until June 12, when William George bought an interest in the paper and became its editor. After he had gained a controll- ing interest, he on July 21, 1876, removed the printing office to
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
Hartford and changed the name of the paper to Washington County Republican. January 1, 1883, the paper was sold to J. M. LeCount and H. K. Butterfield who changed the name to its present one. In 1887 Frank M. LeCount, the son of J. M. LeCount, and Edward Hosing bought the paper, and a short time later sold out to J. M. Le- Count. In 1887 he again took his son, Frank M., into partnership. After the demise of the former, September 27, 1894, Wm. Radke be- came a member of the firm. Frank M. LeCount assumed the editor- ship. In January, 1897, O. W. Leach was taken into partnership, the three being equal shareholders. This continued until December 8, 1898, when Radke and Leach sold out their shares to Frank and Fred L. LeCount. In 1907 Miss Sadie E. LeCount bought the half interest of her cousin, Frank M. LeCount. The business is still con- tinued under the firm name of LeCount & LeCount, Miss Sadie E. LeCount being the editress. The politics of the paper have stayed Republican.
The Hartford Times
In 1894 Tim Foley and A. J. Hemmy launched a Democratic paper in Hartford and named it "The Hartford Times." It filled a want, for it has since been well, and deservedly so, supported by the Demo- crats in the western part of the county. A few years later, Mr. Foley sold his interest to Mr. Hemmy who ever since is the sole proprietor and the editor. Both Hartford papers, the Times and the Press, were for a number of years issued semi-weekly, but in 1911 they decided to go back to the old weekly issue.
The Kewaskum Statesman
The first number of this weekly appeared October 5, 1895. It was published by Charles E. Krahn, and very ably edited by George Nugent. After a service of many years, the latter resigned, and for a number of years Mr. Krahn was the editor. April 10, 1909, George H. Schmidt bought a half interest in the paper, and August 29, 1910, he also bought the other half and changed the size from an eight column folio to a seven column quarto. Mr. Schmidt is now the sole proprietor and the editor. The paper circulates chiefly in the northern part of the county. In politics it is independent.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
Other Papers
Several other English papers have at times been published in the county, but they died a peaceful death either from want of support, or from an outlived cause. The most noteworthy of them was The Home League, started in Hartford early in 1861, by A. M. Thompson. It was devoted to the interests of the railroad mortgagors of Wiscon- sin, who were hard beset by the creditors of the bankrupt railroads, and were in imminent danger of losing their farms and everything they possessed, and actually did lose much. It was "the friend of labor, and the uncompromising foe of swindling corporations," as the prospectus stated. The little paper was very ably edited by Mr. Thompson, and it had a good circulation in the county and the state. After the courts had decided that the mortgages were valid, his cham- pionship was of no further avail. He later became editorial writer on the Janesville Gazette, Milwaukee Sentinel, Chicago Tribune, and Chicago Journal, and gained quite a reputation, the beginning of which must be traced back to the modest little sheet, and the cause of his cheated and helpless fellow-citizens, for whom he so valiantly fought.
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EPILOGUE
The Moundbuilders have passed on their obscure path, no one knows whither; the Indians have left long ago, never to return; and most all of the real settlers have shuffled off the mortal coil. A new generation has sprung up that has new duties to perform and new problems to solve. That they will be equal to their task, there is no doubt. Evidence of it is multiplying. As a valuable unit of a state that carries the proud motto "Forward" in her Great Seal, and acts upon it so steadfastly, the county cannot help progressing on sound economic lines, and enjoys the happiness that comes from well spent energies. Here's good luck to Washington County!
APPENDIX
REGISTER OF THE WASHINGTON COUNTY OLD SETTLERS' CLUB
William Wightman, born June 20, 1798, at Herkimer county, New
York; date of settlement, October 20, 1846; died March 28, 1891. Leander F. Frisby, born June 19, 1825, at Mesopotamia, Trumbull county, Ohio; date of settlement, October 1, 1850; died April 19, 1889.
Samuel S. Barney, born January 31, 1846, at Hartford, Washington county, Wis .; date of settlement, January 31, 1846.
Paul A. Weil, born July 22, 1829, at Besancon, France; date of settle- ment, June 1, 1846; died April 1, 1891.
William McHenry, born December 25, 1814, at Kilkenny county, Ire- land; date of settlement, October 15, 1846; died December 6, 1896. John Potter, Jr., born December 25, 1821, at Brookfield, Madison county, N. Y .; date of settlement, March 1, 1849; died April 20, 1904.
George Lussenden, born April 15, 1812, at Thomham Parish, Kent, England; date of settlement, April 15, 1852; died October 21, 1884. Ananias Wescott, born January 8, 1832, at Nichols, Tioga county, N. Y .; date of settlement, May 8, 1853; died May 17, 1899.
John Shelly, born February 1, 1817, at York, York county, Penn. ; date of settlement, January 7, 1854; died December 4, 1886.
Henry Glantz, born February 28, 1833, at Mecklenburg-Schwerin; date of settlement, January 10, 1855; died December 9, 1900.
Louis Miller, born August II, 1823, at Hanover ; date of settlement, November 5, 1845; died August 1, 1889.
John E. Derfus, born September 20, 1823, at Hetzles, Bavaria; date of settlement, December 20, 1843; died November 7, 1902.
Abraham L. Baer, born February 17, 1845, at Strasburg, France; date of settlement, May 20, 1852.
M. Hirsch, born December 24, 1829, at Tremback, France; date of settlement, June 15, 1847; died February 11, 1890.
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Charles H. Miller, born September 26, 1826, at Doebeln, Saxony; date of settlement, September 28, 1841; died April 14, 1897. George W. Knapp, born June 27, 1831, at Carmel, Putnam county, N. Y .; date of settlement May 15, 1846; died May 17, 1892.
F. W. Nolting, born June 22, 1822, at Bremen, Germany; date of settlement, July 11, 1845; died January 29, 1887.
James Garbade, born February 20, 1827, at Bremen, Germany ; date of settlement, January 15, 1854; died May, 1905.
Jacob T. Van Vechten, born May 8, 1823, at Catskill, Greene county, N. Y .; date of settlement, August 20, 1846; died February 15, 1907. Wareham P. Rix, born March 19, 1843, at Canada ; date of settlement, April 15, 1845.
John A. Rix, born December 26, 1834, at Massachusetts ; date of set- tlement, April 15, 1845; died October 27, 1887.
Marvin Green, born October 26, 1808, at Carmel, Putnam county, N. Y .; date of settlement, May 16, 1849; died February, 1901.
Manson Farmer, born August 19, 1808, at Edenburgh, Saratoga county, N. Y .; date of settlement, May 21, 1845; died June 12, 1883.
Reuben S. Rusco, born October 18, 1816, at Onandaga county, N. Y .; date of settlement, November 5, 1846; died October 18, 1896.
Thomas Farmer, born October 27, 1838, at Tioga county, N. Y .; date of settlement, May 21, 1845; died October 24, 1900.
B. S. Weil, born June 29, 1802, at Strasburg, France; date of settle- ment, November 1, 1845; died March 28, 1893.
E. S. Weil, born February 4, 1847, at Schleisingerville, Washington county ; date of settlement, February 4, 1847; died January 3, 191I. Caspar Rehrl, born December 31, 1809, at Salzburg, Austria; date of settlement, December, 1855; died September 3, 1881.
Nic. Schwinn, born November 20, 1825, at Heltzweiler, Prussia; date of settlement, October 10, 1848.
Willet R. Wescott, born February 15, 1830, at Tioga county, N. Y .; date of settlement, October 4, 1845; died November 25, 19II.
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