USA > Wisconsin > Wisconsin: comprising sketches of counties, towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form: > Part 21
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Brother Baird was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1500, located at
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Green Bay in 1823, was admitted to the bar in 1824, and was promi- nent in the early history of the state. He was the last whig candi- date for governor, and during the campaign all of the candidates with the exception of Elisha Starr of Milwaukee, who was at the bottom of the ticket, having deserted the party and joined the re- publicans, he had printed and circulated through the state tickets having his name at the head, and Starr's at the bottom, with the space between blank. He was a member and president of the first territorial council in 1836, and a member of the first constitutional convention in 1846.
Mineral Point lodge No. 1, organized July 27, 1841, under dis- pensation from the grand lodge of Missouri, dated October, 1840, the oldest lodge now in existence in this jurisdiction, contained the names of many who were prominent in the early history of our state. The prime mover in its formation, its first worshipful mas- ter, and most active member was Gen. William R. Smith. He was early a member of the grand lodge and long a guiding spirit in its deliberations. He was for ten years the grand secretary, and for two years grand master, and was generally known as the father of Masonry in Wisconsin. His last appearance in grand lodge was in 1862. He died in 1868 at the age of eighty-three.
An early member of this lodge, prominent in the fraternity, was Judge M. M. Cothren, an able lawyer, who was early a grand treasurer of the grand lodge; in 1856 grand high priest of the grand chapter, and a writer of several able reports on correspond- ence. Rufus DeLos Pulford, an active business man of Mineral Point, early stepped to the front, serving as presiding officer of all his Masonic bodies. He was the first eminent commander of his commandery ; was grand master and grand high priest, and will be remembered by all who attended the sessions of the grand bodies up to the time of his death in 1891. Geo. W. Cobb, another early member, was grand high priest in 1853. Amasa Cobb, served many times in the legislature; was at one session speaker of the assembly ; was in 1863 member of congress; was colonel of a regi- ment during the civil war ; was deputy grand master in 1859, and again in 1869; and later removed to Nebraska, where he was chiel
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justice of the supreme court for a number of years. He died in Los Angeles, California, in 1905.
Henry M. Billings was for two years grand master, and re- puted one of the ablest members of the grand lodge. He was for several years a member of the legislature.
Other notables who were charter members or received into the lodge very shortly after were Charles Dunn, who was chief justice of the supreme court for the territory and a member of the convention which framed the constitution; Thomas P. Burnett, a promising and brilliant lawyer and a member of the constitutional convention at the time of his death; Dr. Moses Meeker, who built the first furnace for ' smelting lead ore in southwestern Wisconsin, who was a candidate for delegate to congress against the llon. Geo. W. Jones, and also a member of the first constitutional convention; Geo. W. Jones, first delegate to congress from the territory, and later the first United States sena- tor from the state of Iowa.
Melody lodge No. 2, at Platteville, also organized under dis- pensation from the grand lodge of Missouri, in January, 1843, con- tained a brilliant array of pioneers. Among the charter members was John H. Rountree, founder of the city, and later grand high priest of the grand chapter. Benj. C. Eastman, a charter member and second worshipful master, was secretary of the territorial council from 1843 to 1846, served in congress from 1850 to 1854; was first grand secretary of the grand lodge and took an active part in framing the first constitution of the grand lodge. He died in 1856, at the age of forty-four.
Benjamin T. Kavanaugh, the first worshipful master, deserves more than passing mention. An itinerant Methodist clergyman, made a Mason in Kentucky in 1810, he was stationed at Platteville in 1843, and immediately took steps for the formation of a lodge. Hle also made the first movement towards the organization of the grand lodge, which culminated the 18th of December, 1843, at Madison, and he was elected the first grand master, and re-elected one year later but before the close of his term was called from the state and never returned. He appears to have had during his
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long life multitudinous callings and professions. He was preacher, physician, editor, college professor, author, scientist, with possibly other avocations to make a variety. . He published a Masonic paper for three or four years in Texas. He was chaplain and surgeon to General Price, of Confederate fame, during the war of rebellion. He died in Boonsborough, Kentucky, in July, 1888, at the age of eighty-three.
Milwaukee lodge No. 3, with dispensation from the grand mas- ter of Illinois, in July, 1843, and charter from Illinois, probably dated in October, 1843, as Milwaukee, No. 22, (now Kilbourn lodge No. 3), contained its full quota of notables. Its first wor- shipful master was Lemuel B. Ilull, who died in October, probably before the charter was received, and we have no record of him. But among the charter members were Byron Kilbourn and George II. Walker, two of the great trio who were the heads of the west, south and east sides of Milwaukee, and the record of whose lives forms so large a part of Milwaukee's history ; Judge A. D. Smith, prominent both as lawyer and as judge, who was the sec- ond master, the second and for four years the grand master of the grand lodge, and removed from the state in the early 60's, and died in June, 1865; Alexander W. Randall, another charter mem- ber, who was one of the war governors of Wisconsin; W. A. Bar- stow, governor in the early '50's and one of the heroes of the fami- ous Bashford-Barstow contest; Asahel Finch, jr., who long was the active Milwaukee attorney. Dwight F. Lawton, first senior deacon, afterwards worshipful master, was deputy grand master in 1850, the first grand high priest of the grand chapter, and was said to be a very dignified presiding officer. He was also for several years grand lecturer of the grand lodge. He died in 1856. Among the early members was Morris Louis, who was very active. For fifteen years of the existence of the lodge, Byron Kilbourn and Morris Louis were the two presiding officers. In 1869 the name of the lodge was changed to Kilbourn.
The early Masonic records of Milwaukee do not show that har- mony and brotherly love at all times governed the brethren in their intercourse with each other, and after the organization of
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Tracy lodge No. 13, now Wisconsin lodge, the jealousy between the east and west sides of the Milwaukee river seems to have been carried into the lodges, and some of the legislation savored more of pioneer days than of the present methods, when even churches quarrel in a suave and polite manner.
Among the first acts of the new grand master was the granting of dispensations for new lodges in two towns in northern Illinois, and it is a little curious to note that so able a jurist and true a Mason as Judge A. D. Smith, in his first address to the grand lodge, in defending this plain violation of the even then well-set- tled American law of exclusive jurisdiction, uses the specious argu- ment that as the boundary line between Illinois and Wisconsin was not yet settled, the Masonic fraternity should claim the terri- tory for the purpose of influencing public opinion in favor of plac- ing the Wisconsin line in a lower latitude.
Among those present at the organization of the grand lodge and at its sessions for several years after, was Mason C. Darling, of Fond du Lac. We do not find his name in lists of members of any lodge until 1846, when he appears in that of Madison lodge No. 5, and the same year he was chosen grand junior warden. He was master of Fond du Lac lodge No. 26, chartered in 1849. Darling chapter No. 20, of Fond du Lac, was named for him, and he was al- ways an active member. He was a member of the territorial legis- lature from 1840 for seven years, and was the first member of congress from the second district after the admission of the state.
The first worshipful master of Jefferson County lodge No. 9, organized at Lake Mills, was Captain Joseph Keyes, who was born in Vermont in 1794, and who was the first settler of Lake Mills, in 1837. Hle built the first school house and even paid the first teacher in that town with his own means. He, in 1850, moved to Menasha, and built the first sawmill there. He died in Menasha in 1874. On the institution of Island City chapter, R. A. M., in 1864, he was made the first high priest, and continued in that position until his death. In 1872 he was elected grand king. It is a noteworthy fact that all of his four sons, among them the well-
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known Judge E. W. Keyes, and most of his grandsons, are members of the fraternity.
A man of some prominence, probably, was Rev. Franklin Whitaker. His petition for the degrees was in 1847 presented to the grand lodge, and they were conferred in grand lodge. That is, probably, the only case of the kind on record in Wisconsin. The report of that session does not locate him as a member of any particular lodge, but in 1848 his name appears in the list of mem- bers as worshipful master of Western Star lodge, of Janesville. In 1848 and 1849 he served as grand chaplain, and in the latter year he was appointed deputy grand master.
In February, 1847, dispensation was granted for Brotherton lodge, now Wisconsin No. 13. Its first worshipful master was Dr. Luther M. Tracy. He from the first took a prominent position in grand lodge, serving on important committees, and as grand master in 1858-9. He was also the first high priest of Wisconsin chapter, No. 7 and in 1853 was deputy grand high priest. He died in 1870. -
Among the early members of Madison lodge No. 5, was John Catlin, who was clerk of the court in 1836, and chief clerk of the assembly from 1837 to 1844, and member of the council two terms. He was past master of the lodge and an active member of the grand lodge in 1845.
Ebenezer Clewett, of Madison lodge No. 5, was the first grand tyler of the grand lodge, and was a faithful attendant, missing but two sessions, until his death in 18:2. Ile was succeeded by Leonard Barrett, who died in 1899. The office has had but three incumbents from the organization of the grand lodge until the present time.
A picturesque figure in Madison lodge was Fred W. Horn, of Cedarburg, never active in Masonic matters, but for many years a member of the legislature. In the list of entered apprentices of this lodge in 1854, are the names of Wm. R. Taylor, afterwards governor of Wisconsin, still living ; Ira W. Bird, recently deceased, who was later deputy grand master, and David HI. Wright, who was worshipful master in 1860 and 1861, and forty years later was
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agam elected to that position in 1900. Previous to 1860 and for nearly if not quite the entire period between 1861 and 1900, he has been secretary of the lodge. He has also been deputy grand mas- ter of grand lodge, and is now one of the trustees of that body ; has been grand high priest of the grand chapter, and grand treas- urer of that body since 1872.
In 1850 is the first record of the appearance in grand lodge of Judge Henry L. Palmer, who was two years later elected grand master, and the history of the grand lodge for the next thirty years, -in fact of the fraternity of Wisconsin,-would be a partial record of his life. Wherever throughout the world, Masonry is known, his fame extends.
John Warren Hunt of Madison, had a brief but brilliant career in grand lodge. Initiated in 1851, he rapidly advanced, held of- fices in all subordinate bodies, and 1858 was elected grand secre- tary, succeeding General Wm. R. Smith. He held the office till his death, two years later. The records show that had he lived he would have been a power in all the bodies of the order. Ile is described as remarkably accurate in all his business relations, and as genial and affable and beloved by all his associates
Alvin B. Alden of Portage, was in grand lodge in 1859 as dele- gate, and two years later was elected grand master, serving for three years. From that time till his death, in 1882, he seldom missed a meeting of any of the grand bodies, and was well-known to the great majority of the older members of the fraternity now living. He traveled much about the state, and was a genial, pleas- ant companion.
John Turner of Mauston, also in grand lodge in 1859, was an able lawyer and editor. He served two years as grand senior war- den and died in 1889. lle was installed high priest of Mauston chapter in 1867. He was the Masonic leader in Mauston for many years, and a writer of one or two able reports on correspondence for the grand lodge.
Gabriel Bouck was in grand lodge as worshipful master of Fox River lodge No. 27, in 1852; was grand senior warden in 1853; deputy grand master in 1854 and 1855; grand master in 1860, and
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again in 1869 and 1870. From his first appearance until 1897, he was a constant attendant, never missing a session except while at- tending to his duties as a member of congress. He was always a power in the body, generally chairman of the committee on juris- prudence, and the leader in debate. Seldom was a measure carried through against his opposition, and he was always a conservative. He died in 1903.
Jedd. P. C. Cottrill was made a Mason in Vermont, and came to Milwaukee, in 1855, immediately affiliating here. He was always active and zealous. He served as grand master for four years, from 1874 to 1877 inclusive. He was a brilliant Masonic writer, and was for thirteen years author of the correspondence reports for the grand chapter. He was an able lawyer and a man of clean and pure personal character. Ile died in February, 1889.
Dr. C. Loftus Martin, of Janesville, was one of the old-time well-known figures in all the grand bodies. He never missed a session when health permitted, to the day of his death in 1894. He was born in England in 1801, was made a Mason in London, and was for several years master of Lion and Lamb lodge. He came to this country in 1849,-to Janesville in 1855,-and was for several years master of Janesville lodge, No. 55. He was grand senior warden in 1872. He was an active member of the Episcopal church, and generally a delegate to the meetings of the diocese.
John T. Wentworth, of Racine, another old-timer, appeared in grand lodge in 1859, and was grand master in 1865. He was cour- teous and dignified, and an able and useful member of the grand lodge. Ile was a lawyer and for many years was circuit judge. He died in 1893.
Charles F. G. Collins of Beloit, bound to himself by the strong- est ties all those who knew him. Of a strong rugged nature, he was self-reliant, and endowed with the most sturdy common sense. He was born in New Hampshire in 1839. He received the symbolic degrees from the hands of his father, who was also an active Mason, and many times in grand lodge, and early ad- vanced to the highest honors his brethren could bestow upon him. Ile was grand master in 1828 and 1879; grand high priest in 1872
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and 1873, and grand commander in 1880-1-2. He was prominent in Beloit, both as a business man and as a citizen, and loved by all who knew him. He died suddenly in 1883.
Mather, a postoffice of 150 people on the C., M. & St. P. Ry. in Juneau county, 30 miles northwest of Mauston, the county seat.
Mattoon, a post village on the Mattoon Ry. in Shawano county, 40 miles from Shawano, the county seat. Its population of 800 supports a weekly newspaper, the IIerald.
Mauston .- This is an incorporated city, the county seat of Ju- neau county, on the C., M. & St. P. Ry., and the Lemonweir river. It has a population of 1,857 which supports two banks and two weekly newspapers, the Juneau County Chronicle (dem.), and the Mauston Star (Rep.).
May, a country postoffice of Burnett county, 28 miles northeast of Grantsburg, the county seat.
Mayfield, a discontinued postoffice in Washington county.
Mayhem, a postoffice of 25 people on the C., M. & St. P. Ry. in Walworth county, 8 miles northeast of Elkhorn, the county seat.
Mayking, a discontinued postoffice in Langlade county.
May Riots, The .- See Riots, The May.
Mayville, an incorporated city on the C., M. & St. P. Ry. and the Rock river in Dodge county, 11 miles northeast of Juneau, the county seat. First settled in 1844, it has a population today of 1,693, which supports three weekly newspapers, the Mayville News, the Dodge County Banner, and the Dodge County Pioneer, and a bank.
Mazomanie, an incorporated village of Dane county, on the C., M. & St. P. Ry. and Lake Marion, 23 miles northwest of Madi- son, the county seat. There is a bank and a weekly newspaper, the Sickle. It has a population of 863.
McAllister, a country postoffice and a station on the W. & M. Ry. in Marinette county, 20 miles north of Marinette, the county seat.
McCartney, a postoffice of 25 people and a station on the C., B. & Q. Ry. in Grant county, 16 miles south of Lancaster, the county seat.
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McConnell, a country postoffice of Sawyer county. Ilayward, the county seat, is 13 miles north.
McCord, a post station on the M., St. P. & S. Ste. M. Ry. in Oneida county, 28 miles from Rhinelander, the county seat.
McCord, Myron H., was born ir. Ceres, Mckean county, Pa., November 21, 1840; came to Wisconsin in 1834. He was a state senator 1873-74; was a member of the assembly in 1881 and was elected as a republican representative to the 31st congress. In 1897 he was appointed territorial governor of Arizona and resigned in 1898. He has since made his home in Phoenix, Ariz.
McDill, a discontinued postoffice in Portage county.
McDill, Alexander S., was born in Crawford county, Pa., March 18, 1822, and came to Portage county, Wis., in 1856. He was elected a member of the state assembly in 1861 and state senator in 1862; he was a republican member of the house of representa- tives from Wisconsin in the 43d congress. His death occurred near Madison, November 12, 1875.
McDowell .- See Web Lake.
McIndoe, Walter D., was born in Scotland, March 30, 1819, and came to this country in 1823. He was a member of the Wisconsin state assembly in 1850 and again in 1854 and 1855. He was elected as a republican to fill out the unexpired term of the Hon. Luther Hanchett in the 37th congress and re-elected to the 38th and 39th congresses.
Mckenzie Lake is on the line between Burnett and Washburn counties. Superior Junction is the nearest rail approach.
McKinley, a discontinued postoffice in Marathon county.
McMillan, an incorporated village with a population of 136 on the W. C. and C. & N. W. Rys, and the Little Eau Plaine river in Marathon county, 40 miles southwest of Wansau, the county seat.
McMynn, John G .- One of the best known of the pioneer edu- cators of the state was born July 9, 1824, in Montgomery county, N. Y. He was graduated from Williams college in 1848 and came that year to Wisconsin and began teaching a private school at Southport (now Kenosha). The public school system having been Instituted he began teaching in the public schools there the next
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year. In 1853 he was made principal of the high school in Ra- cine. In 1861 he enlisted in the Union army as major of the 10th Wisconsin Infantry and after two years rose to the rank of colonel. Ife was for several years state superintendent of public instruction and was a regent of the University of Wisconsin about 20 years in all. Ile founded Racine academy which he conducted for a num- ber of years. He spent the last 12 years of his life in Madison, where he died June 5, 1900.
Meadow Valley, a postoffice of 50 people on the C., M. & St. P. Ry. in Juneau county, 40 miles northwest of Mauston, the county scat.
Mecan, a country postoffice in Marquette county, 716 miles east of Montello, the county seat.
Medary, a settlement at the junction of the C., M. & St. P. and the C. & N. W. Rys. in La Crosse county, 4 miles north of La Crosse, the county seat.
Medford, the county seat of Taylor county, on the W. C. Ry. and the Black river. Its population of 1,923 supoprts three newspapers, the Democrat, the Taylor County Star-News and the Waldbote, and two banks.
Medical Examiners, Wisconsin Board of .- This board was created by the legislature of 1897. Originally it consisted of seven members, three of the "regular" school, two of the eclectic school and two of the homeopathic school. Later the eighth member, who is an osteopath, was added. The appointments are made by the governor from lists furnished by the different schools of prac- tice represented. The purpose of the board is to elevate the prac- tice of medicine by requiring a higher standard of efficiency and knowledge. Graduates of recognized medical colleges are granted license to practice without examination. All practitioners must register and secure a license before they can practice the art of healing professionally in Wisconsin. The creation of the board in 1897 was the first official recognition of the homeopathic school, as the addition later of an eighth member was the first official rec- ognition of the school of osteopathy.
Medical Society, Wisconsin State, was organized in 1812 as the
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"Medical Society of the Territory of Wisconsin." It is made up of physicians of the allopathic school or "regulars." It has held annual meetings since its organization, but the records of the meetings prior to 1847 have been lost.
Medina, a post town of 200 population on the C. & N. W. Ry. in Outagamie county, 12 miles west of Appleton, the county seat.
Meehan, a post station on the G. B. & W. Ry. in Portage county, 12 miles from Stevens Point, the county seat.
Meeker, a discontinued postoffice in Washington county.
Meeker's Grove, a post town of 110 inhabitants on Fever river in La Fayette county, 16 miles southwest of Darlington, the county seat.
Meeme, a discontinued postoffice in Manitowoc county.
Mellen, a post village on the W. C. Ry. and the Bad river in Ash- land county, 26 miles southeast of Ashland, the county seat. Its population of 1,200 supports a bank and a weekly newspaper, the Mellen Times. It is also called Iron City.
Mellrue .- See Pennington.
Melnik, a discontinued postoffice in Manitowoc county.
Melrose, a post village on the Black river in Jackson county, 18 miles southwest of Black River Falls, the county seat. Its popu- lation of 450 supports a newspaper, the Saturday Chronicle.
Melvina, a postoffice of 60 people on the C., M. & St. P. Ry. in Monroe county, 12 miles south of Sparta, the county seat.
Menah, a country postoffice in Washburn county, 22 miles front Shell Lake, the county seat. -
Menard, Rene, was a French priest of the order of Jesuits, who visited what became later a part of Wisconsin in 1661. He lost his life while on his way to establish a mission among the Indians near Black river. (See Jesuit Missions in Wisconsin, Early.)
Menasha .- This is a city on Lake Winnebago, the Fox river, the United States canal, the C., M. & St. P., the C. & N. W. and the W. C. Rys., in Winnebago county, 13 miles north of Oshkosh, the county seat. Menasha was settled in 1848. incorporated as a city in 1874, and today has a population of 5,960 which supports a daily and two weekly newspapers and two banks.
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Menchalville, a discontinued postoffice in Manitowoc county.
Mendota, a postoffice of 100 people on the C. & N. W. Ry. in Dane county, 5 miles north of Madison, the county seat. The state hospital for the insane is located here.
Mendota Lake is the first and largest of the string of "Four Lakes" in Dane county. Madison lies between it and Lake Monona. The name, Indian, for "great," was given it in 1849 by Frank Hudson, a surveyor. The legislature of 1855 legalized it. It is also known as Fourth lake. It is 772 miles long by 472 miles in width.
Menekaunee, the first ward of the city of Marinette. Formerly a village.
Menomonee Falls, an incorporated village of 936 population on Menomonee river and the C., M. & St. P. Ry. in Waukesha county, 14 miles north of Waukesha, the county seat. Supports a bank and a weekly newspaper, the News.
Menomonee [Menominee] River rises in Forest county. It forms the state line between Michigan and Wisconsin along the east boundary of Marinette and the north boundary of Florence until it empties into Green Bay at Marinette. Its flow is southeast.
Menomonee Indian Reservation is in northern Shawano and western Marinette counties. It is crossed by the Wolf river.
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