|
|
Ozaukee
County, Wisconsin
History
Always Free...
Always Updating |
|
OZAUKEE COUNTY, WISCONSIN
One of the Richest and Most Fertile Regions of the Badger Commonwealth.
The Port Washington Star (4 July 1898) submitted by Diana Heser Morse
OZAUKEE COUNTY COMPRISES AN AREA OF 216
SQUARE MILES and is divided into seven townships, viz: Mequon, Cedarburg,
Grafton, Saukville, Port Washington, Fredonia and Belgium. Its people follow
mostly agricultural pursuits, although its principal city—Port
Washington—has of late years grown to considerable importance as a
manufacturing town. Dairying and barley growing constitutes the principle
source of income to the people, and the nearness of the county to the state
metropolis makes stock raising very profitable. Oats, rye, corn and wheat
are grown with success, as are also the various vegetables and grasses
common to the state.
The general surface is gently rolling,
mostly of a tillable nature, well watered, with fine groves of timber
interspersed. The country between the lake shore and Milwaukee river has a
red-clay soil of great depth and durability, and is particularly adapted to
diversified farming, while west of the river and in the valleys is found a
dark-clay loam, having in places a considerable mixture of sand.
The country is well drained by the Milwaukee
river and Cedar creek, and several well distributed smaller streams. Springs
abound in the vicinity of Port Washington and Cedarburg, which have been
utilized for various purposes. The water power of the Milwaukee river and of
Cedar creek, the larger portion of which has been improved, is not excelled
on streams of equal size anywhere in Wisconsin. Good wells are generally
easily obtained, and there is still plenty of timber for home demands.
Building materials are plenty and easy to obtain, there being many ledges of
Niagara lime-stone at various points throughout the county from which a
superior quality of lime is made, and clay suitable for making cream colored
brick. Sand is also abundant and easy of access. Quarries have been opened
in Saukville, Cedarburg and Port Washington from which are taken a fair
quality of building stone and sandstone.
The state census for 1895 gives the
population of Ozaukee county at 14,943, comprised mostly of
German-Americans, with a few Yankees, Norwegians and Irish, and here and
there a native of France. These different classes work harmoniously
together, and by thrift, energy and perseverance have made themselves
generally a well-to-do people, with scarcely a pauper in the whole county.
THE COUNTY'S PIONEERS
The earliest settlement of Ozaukee county,
of which we have record, Was in 1835. They were men who came to make for
themselves homes in the then unbroken wilderness, and the fields and gardens
that now annually teem with bountiful harvests are grand and silent
witnesses of their indomitable will and patient toil.
Prominent among the early settlers of 1836-7
was John Weston, the first postmaster in the county, who located near where
Thiensville now stands. Timothy Wooden was the first settler of Grafton, and
Asa Jackson the first in Saukville. William Worth was the first to donate
land for public school purposes and Daniel Strickland was the pioneer school
commissioner. Joseph Gardinier had the contract to cut out the Green Bay
road. To Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Bigelow was born the first white child in the
county, and James W. Woodworth was the first white man married in the
county. Thomas Day, a devout Englishman, introduced observance of the
Sabbath day, and Peter Turck first preached the doctrine of immersion.
Ephriam Woodworth kept "bachelor's hall" in 1837. B. O. Zastrow originated
the monthly stock fairs, which are still regularly held at various points in
the county, in 1858. The Germans began coming into the county in August,
1830, Adolph Zimmermann and his brother-in-law Wm. F. Opitz beinig the
first. They were later followed by Wm. Vogenitz and a large company of
Lutherans in October of the same year. The Freistadt colony came the same
year, and established a Lutheran Evangelical church, the first religious
organization in the county. Other settlers came in rapidly, Fred. W. Horn in
1841, and a few years later Col Wm. Teal, Harvey J. Turner, Geo. W. Daniels,
C. E. Chamberlin, I. T. Brown, Fred. Hilgen, J. Schroeder, G. W. Foster,
Hiram King, Orman Oce, O. A. Watrous, Hiram Johnson, Wm. Payne, Col. B. H.
Mooers, and a host of others whose early associations and the vicissitudes
through which they passed have left so marked an effect on the county's
history.
An Old Settlers' Club was formed in 1873 and
had a large number of names recorded in its roster at one time, but in the
natural course of events has passed out of existence with the death of many
of its members. The annual reunions of the club afforded great pleasure to
the members but the all too frequent answer "dead" at the annual roll call
so saddened the spirits of the surviving pioneers that after about ten years
the gatherings were abandoned.
Of those still living who were members of
this organization may be mentioned Hervey L. Coe, Shepard E. Moore, 1844;
Peter Spehn, H. B. Schwin, John P. Weyker, 1845; Wm. Beger, J. W. Sizer, F.
C. Race, J. J. Bace, E. S. Turner, 1846; Mrs. O. P. Melin, L. Towsley, B.
Patch, Anthony Bell, A. Bodendoerfer, Dr. Theo. Hartwig, 1847; Mrs. J. M.
Boatwick, J. W. Vail, Adam Even, E. R. Blake, W. H. Landolt, W. H. Ramsey,
1848; W. A. Pors, L. Eghart, 1849; C. F. Cooley, 1850; M. Audier, 1851; John
Neuens, 1852; J. C. Corrigan, J. C. Schroeling, 1853; A. Koenig, J. B.
Peffer, T. Rubly, N. Jacobson, Jos. Malherbe, 1854; Jos. Albrecht, 1855.
Peter Spehn is the oldest of those above named, having been born in 1815.
The dates given above are the years of settlement in the county.
THE COUNTY'S ORGANIZATION
The organization of Ozaukee County was
effected by an act of the legislature passed March 7, 1853, the territory
prior to that time forming a portion of Washington County. At the time the
division was consummated, the county seat of the original Washington
County was located at Port Washington, it having been removed from the
village of Grafton
to that place several years previous. Strenuous efforts had been made by the
West Bend people to have the county
seat transferred to that place. The jealousy existing between the factions
representing the different towns, each claiming their respective locality to
be the most favored and desired spot on which to erect a court house and
other public buildings, was one of the principal causes leading to the
division of the county. Considerable chicanery was resorted to, and
occurrences of a kind calculated to cause ill feeling were frequent. It is
evident that at the time the division took place, a majority of the people
were bitterly opposed to it, as the county officers refused to give up the
records until the question had been settled by the Supreme Court. In this
act they were sustained by the people. It was many years before the
inhabitants became reconciled to the change forced upon them by the
legislature, but after the decision by the Supreme Court sustaining the
constitutionality of the law had been handed down, the situation was
accepted. Happily for all, the old grievances which then existed have passed
away, and the two counties and the inhabitants thereof are good neighbors.
The first officers of Ozaukee county were:
County
Judge, H. G. Turner; Register of Deeds, H. G. Schulties; County Clerk, John
R. Bohan; Clerk of the Circuit Court, L. Towsley; County Treasurer, J.
Fitzpatrick; Sheriff, B. F. Pidge, District Attorney, E. S. Turner. The
County Board of Supervisors consisted of: John Thompson, Mequon; Wm.
Schroeder, Cedarburg; Harvey G. Turner, Grafton; Patrick Hayes, Saukville;
Milo M. Whedon, Port
Washington; Daniel M. Miller, Fredonia; Nicolas Langers, Belgium.
The Board of Supervisors held its first
meeting in the village of Saukville
at the house of Wm. Payne and passed resolutions condemning the division of
the old county. The settlement of the financial affairs of the old county
caused much ill-feeling between the two new counties, but was finally
amicably concluded in the fall of 1853, through a joint committee from the
two counties, when the new county may be said to have fairly struck out
untrammeled for itself.
At that time the valuation of the whole
county was $395,081.42, which increased in 1860 to $2,542, 538.48, in 1870
to $3,920,475.00, in 1880 to $5,420,563.00, in 1890 to $5,000,000, in 1897
to $5,374, 200.
The Court House was built in the village of
Port Washington,
the county seat, in 1854. It is a substantial building of brick, three
stories in height. It will probably be replaced by a more modern structure
within a very few years. The first floor is fitted up for living apartments
for the janitor, the second floor is used for the County Treasurer's, Clerk
of the Court's, District Attorney's, and Surveyor's offices, and law offices
of leading attorneys; the third is the Court room. The building cost
$12,000.
In 1867, a fireproof building, adjacent to
the Court House, was erected at a cost of $6,600. It is occupied by the
Register of Deeds, County Clerk, and County Judge.
In 1893 the county erected on grounds just
west of the fire-proof office building, a $20,000 Sheriff's residence and
jail.
The present county officers are: Sheriff,
Wm. Alten; County Judge, Leopold Eghart; Register of Deeds, Wm. Ahlhauser;
County Treasurer, John F. Bruss; Clerk of the Circuit Court, James Hedding;
County Clerk, John C. Schroeling; District Attorney, E. S. Turner; Surveyor,
L. Towsley; County Superintendent, Peter R. Kunny; Coronor, blank space;
State Senator, representing Ozaukee and Sheboygan Counties, Hon. F. A.
Dennett, of Sheboygan; Member of Assembly, Herman Schellenberg, of Horn's
Corners.
SCHOOLS
Under the county system of supervision,
which was inaugurated in 1862, our schools have attained a high grade of
excellence. The superintendents under whom the work has been carried on were
as follows: From 1861 to 1864, Fred. W. Horn; 1864 to 1874, P. K. Gannon;
1874 to 1878, E. H. Jansen; 1878 to 1880, Adolph Heidkamp; 1880 to 1885, Wm.
F. Scott; 1885 to 1889, J. E. Reichert; 1889 to 1892, A. J. Kreitzer; 1892
to 1896, H. F. Fehlandt; 1896 to 1898, P. R. Kunny.
From the last report of Superintendent Kunny
the following statistics are gathered: Number of schools in the county, 59;
teachers, 81; children of school age, 6, - 499; children attending school,
3, - 398; value of school buildings and sites, $97,435; cost of running the
schools, $39,438.59.
Miss Helen Upham taught the first private
school in the fall of 1839 in a log house owned by James W. Woodworth, in
the town of Mequon. The first public school teacher was E. H. Janssen in
1839, followed by William Worth, who taught district No. 1, near
Thiensville, in 1840, C. E. Chamberlin taught in the town of Grafton in
1842, and George W. Foster in Port Washington about the same time. Other
early day teachers still living are L. Towsley, H. L. Coe, L. Eghart, W. H.
Ramsey and H. B. Schwin.
THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
The Ozaukee County Agricultural Society was
organized at Cedarburg, Jan. 31, 1859. Annual fairs were held on leased
premises at Cedarburg for several years, and afterward at Saukville on land
owned by Joseph Albrecht, but in 1889 after a bitter fight between Fort Washington and Cedarburg the latter
place, by outbidding its rival, was given the preference as the place of
holding the annual county fair. A beautiful park of nearly 30 acres, good
buildings, and a half mile race track not excelled by any other grounds in
the state have been provided by the public spirited citizens of Cedarburg.
The fairs of the society have grown in importance so that they are now
included in the State Fair racing circuit, and this county has also the
proud distinction of having inaugurated the educational department, now so
popular, as well as each year showing the best exhibit. Last year over
$3,000 were paid out by its treasurer in premiums and expenses. Officers
are: President, W. H. Rintleman; secretary, J. Dietrich; treasurer, Louis
Schroeder.
RAILROADS
The people of Ozaukee County first became
interested in the building of railroads in 1856, the first project in this
line being that of the "Milwaukee & Lake Superior Railroad." The plan
adopted for the raising of funds was that the fanners were to mortgage their
farms in return for stock, these mortgages to be used by the company as
security upon which to raise money. This scheme met with considerable favor
from the people of the county; subscriptions, or rather mortgages were
freely made, and the work of grading the road began, the starting point
being Milwaukee. The track was laid as far as Mequon, a distance of fourteen
miles, an engine was ordered from Cincinnati, and a great public
demonstration held at the arrival on the iron steed, which was christened
"Mequon." This jubilant spirit was not destined to be of long duration. The
President of the road, anticipating a crash, and apparently believing in the
more prudent than honorable maxim, "Save himself who can", absconded with
about $30,000 of the company's funds, which act of rascality soon brought
matters to a climax. The company was dissolved and the mortgages distributed
among the directors and a few of the favored office holders, many of them
being paid at 25 cents on the dollar, while others fell into the hands of
speculators, and being carried to the Supreme Court, were there decided
legal, leaving the unfortunate farmers who had been inveigled into giving
them, to pay them in full with interest, the transaction costing many of
them the entire loss of their farms. This swindle discouraged the people of
Ozaukee County from embarking in railroads enterprises for several years.
In February, 1870, a charter was granted by
the Legislature to a company styled the "Milwaukee & Northern Railroad
Company," but previous to the granting of the charter a strife had risen
between the towns of the eastern and western divisions of Ozaukee County as
to the location of the road. Port Washington, anxious to secure the road,
made liberal offers in land privileges, and was willing to pledge $20,000
additional in subscriptions secured by bonds. The railroad company, however,
favored the western route, offering to touch at Saukville, a point three
miles west of Port Washington. This proposition did not satisfy the people
of Port Washington, they desiring to have a railroad of their own or none at
all, and being strengthened in their persistency by the coast towns north,
who would be left in the cold by the proposed western route.
The Milwaukee & Northern Railroad Company
being the stronger party, the lake-shore towns, including Port Washington,
began to despair of having a railroad, when, to their great joy, a new
avenue to the consummation of their wishes was opened by the appearance on
the scene of a contractor or speculator from New York, James Easton, who
made the following proposition to the Port Washington leaders: "Gentlemen,
secure a charter and I will build you a railroad." Encouraged by this
assurance, John R. Bohan, G. W. Foster, James W. Vail and others from Port
Washington, assisted by a strong corps of railroad enthusiasts furnished by
their northern allies, made all possible haste to prepare their claim for a
charter. The Milwaukee & Northern Railroad Company of course opposed the
movement, but finding opposition useless, decided upon a compromise. It was
agreed at a union meeting of the opposing parties, that the rival claimants
should both present their petitions to the Legislature, the Northern having
precedence in point of time, but that neither faction should oppose the
other's claim. With this understanding, the Directors of the Milwaukee &
Northern Railroad were allowed to procure their charter without opposition,
when everything being arranged to their entire satisfaction, they smiled
serenely on their lake-shore rivals, and returned to Milwaukee
to commence work on their road.
When the time arrived for the Port
Washington petitioners to present their claim for the lakeshore railroad,
they found, contrary to their expectations, a strong party of lobbyists at
Madison to oppose the bill, on the ground that the county
of Ozaukee was not of sufficient
width to warrant building two lines of railway running parallel to each
other. A warm fight ensued, and the bill was defeated by one vote. Nothing
daunted, the lake shore party finally succeeded in getting the bill
reconsidered, when it was carried and a charter granted.
There was a great rejoicing in Port
Washington, Sheboygan,
Manitowoc and other lake-shore towns over the result. Easton commenced the
work at once, money was subscribed by the towns along the proposed route,
and about fourteen miles of the road was graded, when the lack of funds
delayed operations for a time, but responsible parties taking the matter in
hand, work was recommenced and the road rapidly pushed to completion. The
road was incorporated under the name of "Milwaukee, Manitowoc
and Green Bay Railroad Company, March 10, 1870.
The Milwaukee & Northern Ry. was completed
and in operation in 1871. It is now owned and is called the Lake Superior
division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Ry. The Milwaukee & Green Hay
Railroad Co., after considerable changes, was re-organized as the Milwaukee,
Lake Shore & Western Ry. and completed in 1873. Several years ago it was
absorbed by the Northwestern Line, and is now known as the Lake Shore
division.
The two roads run parallel with each other,
at an average distance of five miles apart, through the entire country,
north and south. It is not at all improbable that a spur connecting the two
roads will be built between Port
Washington and Saukville at no
distant day as manufacturers of the former city are determined to have
another outlet for shipment of their products.
CHOLERA
History of Washington and Ozaukee Counties Wisconsin (1881) submitted
by Diana Heser Morse
This terrible and malignant disease made its first appearance in Port
Washington during the summer of 1849, when, in the space of two weeks, it
ravaged almost every home in the village. In many cases whole families were
prostrated by its direful influence. The exact number of deaths caused by
the disease during its reign of that year is not given. Some of those who
passed through the trying ordeal claim that the mortality would range
somewhere in the fifties. In the spring of 1854, it again made its
appearance in the village, this time with more fatal results, the number of
deaths in ten days being sixty-five. There was scarcely a family in the town
but was deprived of a member. Its victims were selected from all ages, from
the babe in the cradle to the aged sire. The old settlers who still remain
say that they sincerely hope that it may never be their lot to witness
another such sight as that caused by the dreadful devastation made by the
cholera of 1849 and 1854.
EARLY SETTLERS
History of Washington and Ozaukee Counties Wisconsin 1881; submitted
by Diana Heser Morse
The first white settlers were a company of land speculators and traders led
by Wooster Harrison, familiarly known as Gen. Harrison. This company landed
at Port Washington, September 7, 1835, and during the fall laid out the town
at the mouth of Sauk Creek. The first name given was that of Wisconsin City;
but there being another place of the same name in the State, it was changed
to Washington City. The first post office was established as Washington,
receiving its present name of Port Washington from George C. Daniels, in
1844. The founders of Wisconsin City carried on a brisk trade for a period
of two years. Extortionate prices were asked and paid for all kinds of
produce. Lands quadrupled in value in a fortnight; money was plenty;
speculators wild.
Everybody seemed to swim in a sea of excitement; intoxicated with success,
they rushed blindly into a whirlpool of inflation, only to be swallowed up
by the great financial crash caused by the panic of 1837. The high prices
which had been paid could not be sustained, and the little colony of
fortune-hunters were compelled to succumb to the stern reality of a
contracted currency. They were buried in the general ruin.
The actors who had taken part in this speculative drama soon abandoned the
scene, leaving Waubeka, an old Indian chief and his tribe, in full
possession of the little harbor, where, in their dreams of prosperity, they
had pictured a nourishing city.
A year later, Aurora Adams and Asa Case came to brood over the wreck of the
once proud Wisconsin City. No traces of their predecessors remained, with
the exception of one or two houses, which had been left standing, and a
fresh mound of earth with two plain boards, which marked the last resting
place of Gen. Harrison's wife. Hers was the first death; she died October
10, 1835.
Aurora Adams took possession of one of the deserted houses and opened a
hotel for the accomodation of travelers on their way to Sheboygan. Port
Washington being the half-way point on the trail then used between that city
and Milwaukee.
Asa Case built him a little store-house near the lake. He was an oddity in
his way, but managed to do a fair trade in supplying the men who traversed
the trail with tobacco and provisions. His first invoice consisted of one
barrel sugar, one sack coffee, one gross matches, one jug molasses, ten
pounds tobacco, one keg nails, two boxes crackers, one hoop cheese. When the
settlements of 1843 began, he seemed to realize that his best days were
over. Subsequently, he sold his store and started on foot for Sheboygan,
when he was discovered by a peddler about ten miles north of Port
Washington, lying on the road with a severe gash in his throat. The old man
was brought back to the village, when he stated that he had been waylaid by
two men who had robbed him of all his money. His wound was dressed, but
neither by persuasion or force could he be induced to eat. He died from
sheer starvation.
The first dwelling house built in the village was erected by Gen. Harrison
in 1835. It is still standing apparently in a good state of preservation. It
is a little story-and-a-half frame building, gable end, the sills resting on
the ground. A partition divides the first floor into two apartments, and
also the upper or half story. It was at this house that the first votes of
the town were polled. This old and time-worn structure has become one of the
sacred relics of the past, commanding a prominent place in the history of
the town of Port Washington, not only on account of the relation it bears to
the first white settler of the village, but because it once served as a
shelter to one of America's greatest statesmen. It may be of interest to
mention the fact that the great and martyred President, Abraham Lincoln,
during his days of roughing it, once walked from Milwaukee to Sheboygan, and
stopped a night in this old house. After the defeat of the Merrimac by the
Monitor, Mr. Lincoln, in company with some of his Cabinet officers, visited
Fortress Monroe to get a practical knowledge of the fort. While viewing the
works, desiring some information, he approached an officer, who proved to be
Capt. Beger, from Port Washington. "Well, my man," said Lincoln, "where are
you from?" "Port Washington," replied the Captain. "Port Washington—let me
see: that is in Wisconsin, about twenty-five miles north of Milwaukee, is it
not?" The Captain answered that it was. "I stopped there over night once,"
said the President; "just name over some of the men who lived there in the
early days." The Captain proceeded to name over quite a number, finally
mentioning that of Harrison. "Harrison, that is the man!" said Mr. Lincoln,
"I remember him well." He then walked off to join his escort, leaving Capt.
Beger very much elated to think that his town had been honored by the
presence of so great a man.
In 1843, Wooster Harrison returned in company with Ormnn Coe, Ira C. Loomis,
Solon Johnson, O. A. Watrous, Col. Teall and others, and began to make
permanent improvements. As there was no pier built at that time, they were
compelled to wade quite a distance before they could effect a landing, and
when on shore rough crafts were built on which to convey the women ami
children. Houses were speedily erected, and the establishing of a town began
in earnest. A pier was built out to a point in the lake where boats could
land their passengers and cargoes, after which the vessels touched
regularly.
During the three years which followed, there was quite an influx into the
town of people from the Eastern States. Aurora Adams was superseded in the
hotel business by a man named Thomas, and had taken up quarters in one of
the old houses which had been left standing from 1835. It had been built by
one of Col. Teall's agents, and wishing to take possession of his property,
the Colonel notified Adams to vacate, which he refused to do. Teall then
procured a writ of restitution, and in company with the Constable, proceeded
to the house. On being refused admittance, the officer attempted to force an
entrance, when the report of a rifle and the whiz of a bullet compelled them
to beat a hasty retreat. The shot was supposed to have been fired by Adams's
wife. She was immediately arrested and taken to Milwaukee, where she was
tried for the offense, but acquitted for lack of evidence.
O. A. Watrous was appointed the first Postmaster of the village. Hansen &
Reymert kept the first store after the 1843 settlement. James D. Reymert is
now the recognized Scandinavian lawyer of New York City. The early settlers
experienced numerous hardships in getting provisions and lumber. The nearest
grist-mill was that of Deisner's, near Waukesha, a distance of thirty-eight
miles.
TOWN OF MEQUON
This large and populous town forms the whole of the southern boundary of
Ozaukee
County, and comprises all of Town 9 in Range 21, and a fractional township
in Range 22.
EARLY SETTLERS
The first white settlers of Mequon were Isaac Bigelow and Daniel Strickland,
who emigrated with their families from the British possessions and settled
in the town of Mequon in 1836. The territory at that time was one dense
wilderness, the only thoroughfares, if such they could be called, were the
Indian trails, leading in different directions through the vast country
which lies north and west of the village. The pioneers followed one of these
trails north until they came to Mequonsippi or Pigeon Creek, where they
proceeded to erect for themselves rude shanties out of such material as
could be found until they could replace them with more substantial log
structures. In 1837, James W. Woodworth and his brother Ephraim came and
took up claims near by. In 1838, William Worth, Taylor Haverlin, John
Weston, Peter Tnrek, Reuben Wells, Isham Day, Joseph Loomer and several
Irish families made settlements in the town. During the month of August,
1830, William F. Opitz, in company with his father, mother, sister and
brother-in-law, Adolph Zimmerman, came and settled in what is now known as
Mequon proper, one-half mile south of where the village of Theinsville is
now situated. They were the first German settlers. A month later, they were
followed by five German families, consisting of Andrew Geidel, Michael
Mueller, Andrew Lanzendorf, W. Schumann and Gottfried Baer. During the same
year, the Bonniwells, William, George, James, Charles, Henry and Alfred came
from England and settled that portion of Mequon now known as the Bonniwell
District. Next after the Bonniwells came the Friestadt Colony, numbering
about sixty families. These people sheltered themselves at first in tents.
Timothy Wooden, the first settler in the town of Grafton, and a neighbor of
his, helped the Germans to erect their log houses. A year later, the
colonists erected a log meeting-house, the first structure of the kind built
in old Washington County. In the month of May, 1840, Edward H. Janssen,
Henry Heisen and John Thompson located in Mequon, and at once set about
clearing the lands and interesting themselves in the general welfare of the
community. Edward H. Janssen was the first German school teacher in the
town. He was a man of great enterprise, and soon became an active worker in
the politics of the county. Besides holding important offices in the town,
he was made a member of the Constitutional Convention, was elected for two
terms to the office of Register of Deeds, and, in 1851, was elected to the
important office of State Treasurer. In 1854, he in company with his brother
and a man by the name of Geitsch built the Hamilton Grist Mill, a large
stone structure located on Cedar Creek, a mile south of the village. He was
afterward elected County superintendent of Schools, which office he held at
the time of his death, which occurred during the year 1877.
Poll List for 1846, town of Port
Washington was as follows:
Abram Bates, Abram Ingersoll, Wooster Harrison, William Teale, A. Cuningham,
John Barrett, Jr., R. B. Freeman, O. A. Watrous, Barney S. Kelly, A. C.
Klinglen, Jonathan Loomis, Jacob Anderson, John Chion, Charles Lunderborg,
John Thomas, Andrew Watterstrom, William Rice, Orman Cow, Hugh Owen,
Nicholas Watrey, S. Tallakson, J. Duigl, Benjanin Safford, Hilgen Allendorf,
John Bourtow, Charles Bourtow, Joseph Allendorf, John Schole, M. Persow,
John Suell, Martin Mix, John P. Watrey, Peter Wolf, A. E. Boesswater, L. N.
Loomis, Joseph Loucely, Jean Weycher, Thomas Micheal, Solon Johnson, Harvey
Moore, Henry Schmidt; Francis Opladen, Theodore Stemper, William Mix,
William S. Cow, Nicholas Poncely, John Ditz, Pierre Holtigen, P. Bievier,
John Virland, George C. Daneisl, Stephen Mix, N. Riding R. Griswold, David
Acker, E. Sloutenborg, Theodore Corman, Clark Bourtow, Lemuel Hyde, Jacob
Pors, Lewis Jones, Loring D. Cunningham, Isaac C. Loomis, Allen C. Daniels,
John McLean, W. P. Thomas, S. P. Watson, J. B. Young, F. W. Merritt,
Washington Leonard, Harry Williams, John Longly, B. F. Pidge, George W.
Foster, J. P. De Contres
The foregoing is the poll list kept by me at the town election, held at Port
Washington, on the first Tuesday of April, 1846.
(signed) George W. Foster, Clerk of said Election
I certify that the above is a true copy.
(signed) F. W. Merritt, Town Clerk
PORT WASHINGTON
The natural beauties of Port Washington, the county seat of Ozaukee County,
are unsurpassed by any of the lake-shore towns. The village is built in a
recess formed by Nature, in the shape of the letter U.
Two bluffs, three-quarters of a mile apart from north to south, and with an
elevation of a hundred feet at the lake, recede westward a distance of half
a mile, where they are joined by a bluff, running north and south, forming
walls on three sides, from the base of which the land takes a gradual slope
to the lake, thus shaping a natural basin. Through the west bluff is an
aperture, by which Sauk Creek finds its way to Lake Michigan. Back of this
hill are a number of smaller elevations, extending along the banks of Sauk
Creek; resting on these knolls are handsome residences, many of them having
terraces fringed with shade trees and flower-beds.
To the west of Sauk Creek is a large opening or ravine, which extends back
to the forest beyond. A small tributary of the creek winds through the
ravine, and is fed by a number of springs along its banks. The rivulet cuts
its way through two embankments, a short distance from Sauk Creek; by
walling the channel of the stream level with the banks, an artificial lake
could be formed, which would extend back to a beautiful forest about a mile
beyond.
This lake would have an average width of a quarter of a mile, while its
widest point would be about three-quarters of a mile. When this plan is
carried to completion, with a good summer hotel erected near the grove, on
the shore of the artificial lake, a more inviting place for tourists cannot
be found in the State.
The numerous mounds which exist in and around the vicinity of the village,
lead many to suppose that this quiet retreat was resorted to by the Indians
as a favorite burying ground. There is no doubt that the Jesuits of the
seventeenth century made this one of their stopping points, while
endeavoring to teach the noble red men of the forest to comprehend the
infinite greatness of their God.
Belgium History
Source: "Histories of Washington and Ozaukee Counties", Western
Publishing, (1881) submitted by Mary Saggio, and displayed here with her
permission
The town of Belgium forms the northeast boundary of Ozaukee County, and
comprises all of Township 12, Range 22, and a fractional Township 12, Range
23.
It was set off from the original town of Port Washington, and incorporated
in 1848. Among those who took an active part in the organization were John
Weyker, Nicholas Sosley, Anthony Bartol, S. Wilgen, Nicholas Watry, Nicholas
Reading, Peter Buwer, Theodore Pierson, John P. Watry, Bernard Schomer,
Nicholas Langers and Nicholas Watry. The first regular meeting was held at
the house of John Weyker, July 11, 1848. John Weyker was appointed
Moderator, and Samuel Reynolds, Clerk of the Election. The first school
meeting was also held at the house of John Weyker, when the following
officers were elected: District No. 1 - Trustees, Dominique Wolf, Nicholas
Reading and Anthony Bartol; Collector, John Weyker. District No. 2 was
formed in 1849.
The population of Belgium is composed principally of Germans and
Luxemburgers, who adhere to the customs of their native countries. Their
principal occupation is farming, the products of the soil making up the bulk
of their resources. Next in importance to agriculture, is the manufacture of
cheese. There are five large milk and cheese dairies in the town, which are
pushed with considerable enterprise, adding materially to the revenue,
besides creating a profitable market for the farmers to dispose of their
surplus milk, which otherwise would be of little value to them. While there
are no villages in the town, stores are stationed at central points where
the farmers are accommodated with a market for their produce. There are two
post offices conveniently located; one taking the name of Holy Cross, the
other that of Belgium Station, established on the line of the Milwaukee,
Lake Shore & Western Railroad. The farmers of Belgium are noted for their
industry, and have , in a remarkable short time, changed what was once a
dense forest, into well-cultivated farms, each one possessing a good
dwelling-house and barn. There are two Catholic Churches in the town, this
being the only denomination represented. The meeting-houses are substantial
stone structures, and are designated by the names of Holy Cross and Lake
Church, the latter being located in the eastern part of the town near the
lake, and presided over by Rev. George Leetner. The Holy Cross congregation
numbered, in 1846, twelve families. They held services at first at private
houses; Rev. Anthony Meyer was the first visiting priest. In 1848, a log
meeting-house was erected as a place of worship. This rude structure was
replaced by the present edifice, a handsome stone building, erected in 1865,
under the supervision of Rev. Fusseder, and dedicated by Bishop Henni, of
Milwaukee. In 1881, the congregation added a two-story stone building, at a
cost of $4,000, for school purposes. The school is in charge of three
Sisters of the order of St. Dominique. Both the German and English languages
are taught in the school, the average attendance being about eighty. The
church has also erected, at various points along the public highways,
shrines or places of prayer. These buildings are pained white and are
handsomely decorated throughout with artistically designed crosses and holy
emblems of the church. The public schools of Belgium have not been
neglected. The town is divided into eight districts, each of which contains
either a frame or stone schoolhouse, surrounded with grounds sufficiently
large to accommodate the children, with ample room for their out-door
sports.
Cedarburg History
Source: "Histories of Washington and Ozaukee Counties", Western
Publishing, 1881; submitted by Mary Saggio, and displayed here with her
permission
The town of Cedarburg was set off from Grafton and organized in 1849. Among
those who took an active part in the organization were C.E. Chamberlin, John
McGill, John Roth, John Dunne, John Smith, Frederick Hilgen, William
Schroeder, C. Rentleman, Charles Deberpool, J. Arndt, Reuben Wells, Michael
Gorman, John Seidell, James GAFFERNEY, Dr. H. Boclo, Dr. S. Hartwig, Edward
Nolan, L.L. Sweet and James Ruddy. The Board of Supervisors, composed of the
following gentlemen, William Vognitz, Henreich Krohn and Edward Nolan, met
at the house of George Fisher, in the village of Cedarburg April 23, 1849,
where they proceeded to lay out the different road districts of the town.
The oldest settlement was that known in early days as the New Dublin
District. It derived its name from the fact that the majority of the
settlers had immigrated from Ireland.
As nearly as can be ascertained, Joseph Gardinier, better known among the
old settlers as "Miserly Joe," was the first white man to make an onslaught
and break the solid phalanx of the forests in this section. Joe was employed
by the agents who had charge of the survey and construction of the old
Milwaukee and Green Bay road, and made his headquarters in a little log
shanty near Cedar Creek, where the Hamilton Mills now stand. Samuel Place,
L. Fox, Valentine Hand, I.S. Brown, and Daniel Strickland were the first to
make improvements in the district. Valentine Hand built a hotel, which
served as an excellent rendezvous for the old pioneers in which to crack
their jokes and sample the bourbon of "Mine Host." It was at one of these
meetings that a resolution to change the name of the district was offered.
The proposition met with considerable opposition, but was finally passed,
and, in 1847, New Dublin District was re-christened, and has ever since been
known as the Hamilton District. Of I.S. Brown, an old settler relates the
following: "Brown had evidently met with reverses in the East in money
matters, which was the principal cause of his seeking the seclusion which
the wilds of Wisconsin afforded. He was highly educated, a perfect
gentleman, courteous in his manners and charitable in disposition. These
excellent traits of character won for him the esteem of all who knew him.
But some hidden secret of his past life seemed to weigh upon his mind.
Melancholy had taken full possession of his being, creating a desire for
solitude. The old settlers soon came to understand and respect his feelings,
leaving him to seek, as was his delight, the hidden retreats of the forest
undisturbed, and to seek intercourse with his fellowmen only at such times
as his own inclinations might prompt him.” Of his home, the following lines
of Spenser form an excellent description:
"A little lowly hermitage it was,
Down in a dale, hard by a forest's side;
Far from resort of people that did pass
In travel to and fro."
EDUCATION
The development of the public-school system, and the establishment of school
districts commanded the attention of the early settlers from the first, and
the rapid advancement made in this important branch reflects much credit on
the pioneers. The first School Commissioners in the town were Daniel
Strickland, H.V. Bonniwell and Levi Ostrander.
IMPROVEMENTS
The streams of Ozaukee County afford excellent facilities for water-power.
The early settlers in this section were not slow to discover these natural
advantages, and, as some old writer has put it, “necessity is the mother of
invention,” so these men, cast into the wilderness, out of the reach of
civilization, and destitute of a market or the means of manufacturing
breadstuffs, were entirely dependent on their own exertions to supply the
deficiency. Log shanties were built which served them as a shelter, where
they cracked the kernels of the grain by hand, until saw-mills to make their
lumber and grist-mills to grind their flour could be erected. Reuben Wells
was the first to come to their relief, by erecting a combined saw and grist
mill on Cedar Creek, near where the village now stands. In 1844, Frederick
Hilgen, the father and founder of Cedarburg, in company with William
Schroeder, another worthy pioneer, came out from Milwaukee to Hamilton on
the Green Bay road, from which point they cut a new road to the site upon
which the village of Cedarburg now stands. They found the four Kroth
brothers, Carl Dapperpool, Patrick Smith, Hugo Pool and Thomas Brokaw living
in the vicinity, where they had made for themselves a few small clearings
and erected a number of rude huts. They purchased thirty-five acres of land,
at $35 per acre, from the Kroth Brothers, and immediately set about hewing
timber with which to lay the foundation of a grist-mill, which they
completed the same year - a half log and half frame structure. The following
year they built two or three dwelling-houses, and a building for store
purposes, the first in the village of Cedarburg. In 1847, they added a
saw-mill, and made improvements on the dam which had been affected by high
water. In 1855, the frame mill was taken down and a large stone one, six
stories high, erected in its place. In 1865, Mr. Hilgen sold his interest to
Joseph Trottman, the present partner of Mr. Schroeder. The latter, though
now silvered with age, still retains his position in the mill, which has now
a capacity of 120 barrels of flour per day. The cost of the building was
$22,000. Mr. Schroeder was the first store-keeper, and was also appointed
the first Postmaster of the village.
The Columbia Mill, located three-quarters of a mile east of the village, on
Cedar Creek, was built in 1846 by Dr. Luming & Bros. Objections were made by
some of the early settlers who lived in the close proximity to the mill, to
the dam, which caused the water to overflow their land. This dam was
subsequently torn down, and a new one built further east on the creek, when
everything proved satisfactory. The mill property was purchased by Gustav
Pfiel in 1851, at sheriff's sale. Pfiel made several improvements, and run
the mill for a period of two years, when he sold it to Joseph Trottman, who
held possession until 1864, when he sold out to E. Hilgen, E. Stallman and
Charles Barthel. The latter was succeeded by William Rahn, in 1865. One year
later, E. Stallman disposed of his interest to Hilgen and Rahn. The mill
again changed hands in 1875, Mr. F. Hoehm this time being the purchaser.
Hoehm met with poor success, and the property was foreclosed. It was then
rented for a period of three years to Boedendoefer & Zaun. At the expiration
of the lease, September 1, 1880, the mill was sold at Sheriff's sale, to the
Northwestern Life Insurance Company of Milwaukee. On June 1, 1881, the
company sold to Mr. Zaun, who rebuilt the dam, which had been washed away by
the spring flood of the same year. The mill is now in good running order,
has four sets of stone, and a capacity of eighty barrels of flour per day,
besides custom work. The fall at this point is thirteen feet. Hilgen & Meyer
opened a store at the mills in 1874. This undertaking proved unprofitable,
as their buildings were destroyed by fire two years later, after which
disaster the enterprise was abandoned. There are two other grist-mills in
the town of Cedarburg.
The Excelsior Mill is a large stone structure, built in 1875, by H. Wahausen
& Co., at a cost of $21,000. The property is now owned by Henry Colway. The
power at this point is the finest on Cedar Creek. The fall obtained is
twenty-five feet. The mill is located in Section 26.
The Hamilton Grist-Mill was built by Edward H. Janssen in 1854. It is now
the property of Andrew Bodendorfer.
Ranking high among the manufacturing interests of the village of Cedarburg,
is the Hilgen Manufacturing Company, established in 1872 by Frederick Hilgen
& Son, at a cost of $25,000. In 1879, the business was purchased by the
following-named gentlemen: Diedrich Wittenberg, J.W. Johann, J.H.
Wittenberg, from the F. Hilgen estate. J.H. Winner is President. The company
manufactures doors, sash, moldings, blinds, glazed sash and Straub's Wash
Machines. They also handle lumber in large quantities, and employ regularly
seventy-five men. The mill is run by a forty-horse-power engine, and does a
business of $125,000 annually. The company have warerooms at 458 to 466
Third street, Milwaukee.
The Cedarburg Woolen-Mill, run by water-power obtained from Cedar Creek, was
built in 1865, at a cost of $30,000, by Hilgen & Wittenberg. The business
was carried on under this name until 1872, when the mill was incorporated as
the Cedarburg Mill, D. Wittenburg, President; H. Wittenburg, Treasurer; J.W.
Johann Secretary. The principal productions of the mill are yarns, blankets
and flannels. The company employ on an average about forty-five hands, and
does a business of $100,000 per annum. The mill contains twelve broad and
three narrow looms, three knitting-machines for scarfs and jackets, and
three for other purposes. The floor contains four sets of carding machines;
second floor, weaving and spinning; the upper floor is used for twisting,
reeling and storing goods. This company built a branch mill in the village
of Grafton, in 1880, at a cost of $40,000. This mill manufactures worsted
yarns, and is the only one of the kind west of Philadelphia. The machinery
was imported from England. The mill is in charge of Joseph Isles, formerly
of Philadelphia. he has in his employ sixty hands, and does a business of
$125,000 annually.
The pioneer blacksmith of Cedarburg Village was Joseph Carley, who made a
clearing in 1844 and built himself a shop and dwelling house. He obtained
heat from charcoal burned by himself. The first doctor was Theodore Hartwig,
who came into the village in 1846, and, in company with Hugo Boclo, opened
the first drug store. Mr. Boclo still flourishes under the pharmacy sign.
The brewing interest of the village were started in 1848, by Engles &
Schaeffer.
Frederick Hilgen, the founder of Cedarburg Village, came to this country in
1844, and located in the city of Milwaukee. During the same year, he, in
company with William Schroeder, started on a prospecting tour through what
was then the wilds of old Washington County. They followed the Green Bay
road north until they came to what is now called Hamilton, when they
proceeded to cut a road from that point through the timber to the site where
the village of Cedarburg now stands -- a distance of one mile. Being
favorably impressed with the facilities afforded by the creek at this place
for water-power, they at once began preparations for building a grist-mill.
This enterprise was completed the following year, when both Mr. Hilgen and
Mr. Schroeder decided to make this their permanent abode, and immediately
set about clearing the land upon which to erect homes for themselves and
families. From that time, Mr. Hilgen employed every means within his power
to build up and advance the interests of Cedarburg Naturally enterprising,
he seemed to possess the faculty of inspiring others with the same loftiness
of spirit. Let any new project be started worthy of support, Mr. Hilgen
would be among the first to aid in its completion. In 1864, Mr. Hilgen, in
company with D. Wittenberg and Joseph Trottman, commenced the erection of
the Cedarburg Woolen-Mill. The following year, he exchanged his interest in
the grist-mill with Mr. Trottmann for his share in the woolen-mill, when the
factory was run under the firm name of Hilgen & Wittenberg. In 1872, Mr.
Hilgen engaged with his son in the lumber business, when he built the large
planing-mill now known as the Hilgen Manufacturing Company. The Hilgen
Spring Park, a favorite summer resort, was laid out by him in 1852. The park
comprises seventy-four acres, thirty acres of which is forest. The grove is
one of the finest in this part of the State. There are two good hotel
buildings, a band stand, spring and bath-house, besides several fountains in
connection with artistically designed flower-beds and fine gravel-walks,
which intersect at various points throughout the parks. The grounds and
hotels are now the property of the Hilgen heirs, and are at present in
charge of John F. Hilgen, who is keeping them in repair until a sale of the
estate can be consummated. The spring has become quite popular, and is
visited every summer by people from St. Louis, Chicago and New Orleans. Mr.
Hilgen was also interested in the Bank of Cedarburg, which was organized
March 20, 1868, under his supervision. These are among the principal
enterprises in which he was the prime mover, and which now stand as grand
witnesses of his energetic and useful career, which was brought to a close
by the never-failing agent, March 27, 1879. Mr. Hilgen's death was deeply
deplored by the community in which he lived, and when the imposing obsequies
giving back his remains to mother earth had ended, scarcely a heart in all
the town of Cedarburg but mourned the loss of "Father Hilgen," a name given
to him by the old settlers. Mr. Hilgen was the father of thirteen children,
eight of whom are still living.
This band was organized March 20, 1868, by the following-named stockholders:
Frederick Hilgen, William Schroeder, Henry Wehausen, Frederick Schatz,
Juenjen Schroder, Joseph Trottmann and Adolph Zimmerman. The capital stock
was fixed at $25,000, and divided into 250 shares of $100 each. These shares
were held as follows: Frederick Hilgen, William Schroeder and Juenjen
Schroder, fifty shares each; Henry Wehausen, Frederick Schatz, Joseph
Trottmann and Adolph Zimmerman, twenty-five share each. This institution did
not prove a success financially, and was discontinued at the end of three
years.
VILLAGE OF CEDARBURG
The village of Cedarburg was founded by Frederick Hilgen and William
Schroeder in the year 1845. The village possesses natural advantages rarely
surpassed by a town of its size. Cedar Creek, besides furnishing excellent
water-power, has in connection with its small tributaries, chiseled out
ravines, along which are a dozen or more elevations of greater or less
magnitude, forming grand foundations which have been utilized for resident
sites. The business portion of the village rests on a level tract of land,
the storehouses and public buildings being mostly of stone and brick.
Considerable enterprise has been manifested by the people of Cedarburg in
both their private and public buildings. In the way of manufactures, the
village ranks among the first of its size in the State, the capital invested
in the various manufacturing enterprises being estimated at $250,000. The
village has a population of 1,000, and is afforded an outlet for its
manufactured and farming products by the Wisconsin Central Railroad, which
touches the eastern portion of the town, near to the Hilgen Spring Park, a
favorite summer resort, one of the many enterprises established by “Father
HILGEN,” as he was familiarly termed by the old settlers. The village has
good public schools, several parochial schools, four church edifices, three
Lutheran and one Catholic, the latter being one of the finest buildings of
the kind in the county. It is located on an elevation at the head of Main
street, and forms one of the principal attractions of the village. It is a
magnificent stone structure, and was erected at a cost of #30,000. The
Lutheran Church edifices are neat, unpretentious buildings, one of wood, and
two of stone.
The Fire Company was organized March, 1867, with thirty-one members. The
officers were: Fred Schatz, Chief; William Rettburg, First Assistant; Phil
Roth, Second Assistant; Charles Wilke, Secretary; P. Wehausen, Treasurer;
John Weber, Hose Captain; F. Bergmann, Assistant Hose Captain; A. Graef,
Captain Hook and Ladder Company; John Roth, Assistant; George Strihle,
Janitor. The house now owned by Hugh McElroy, and used as a dwelling, was
built for the company, and for an engine-house. The company had a
hand-engine, with about 500 feet of leather hose; cost $800. Soon after its
organization it was merged in the Turner Society, and remained so until
April 27, 1875, at which time it again became a separate organization, and
in the fall of the same year built their present engine-house, a frame
building 18 x 38, on a lot for which they obtained a perpetual lease from
School District No. 2. The company has discarded the old leather hose, and
now has 700 feet of rubber hose. In 1880, a hook and ladder department was
added at a cost of $250. The present officers are E. Langheinrech, Chief;
Henry Roth, First Assistant; A. Boemer, Second Assistant; G. Burthmann, Hose
Captain; C. Boxhorn, Assistant Hose Captain; P.P. Dietrich, Hook and Ladder
Captain; G.H. Wirth, Assistant; John Bruss, Treasurer; H. Wehansen, Jr.,
Secretary; H.C. Nero, G.H. Hilgen, Robert Pfleger, Treasurer. The company
holds a meeting on the first Friday of each month, and practice the day
following. They have not been called out to a fire for about two years.
The Turn Verein was organized August, 1853, as the Cedar and Hamilton
Society, with forty-five members. In 1867, the Hamilton members withdrew and
formed a separate society, since which time the Cedarburg members have taken
the name of Cedarburg Turn Verein. They built their present hall in 1868. It
is located on Sheboygan street, and is a fine stone building costing over
$5,000. The society hold their meetings on the first Tuesday of each month.
Present officers are Charles VOGEL, First Speaker; Joseph Trottmann, Second
Speaker; G. H. Hilgen, Secretary; A.R. Bomer, Treasurer; P.P. Dietrich,
Assistant Treasurer; H. Wehausen, Jr., First Turn Master; G.A. Bomer, Second
Turn Master; Theo. Krause, Janitor; John Weber, G. Wurthmann, H. Wehausen,
Jr., Trustees.
Astrea Lodge, No. 104, A., F. and A.M. was removed from Port Washington to
Cedarburg in 1863, being organized in the former place on the 24th of March,
1858. Its first officers were: William A. Pors, W.M.; C. Beyor, S.W.; B.
Schommer, J.W.; S.A. White, Treasurer; Ulrich Landolt, Secretary; L. Eghart,
S.D.; C.W. Bials, J.D.; E.J. Dodge, Tiler. On March 4, 1863, a committee,
consisting of Charles Wilke, H. Boels and Dr. Theo. Hartwig, was appointed
to find a new location for the lodge, on account of the disturbance caused
by the draft riot, and Cedarburg was decided upon. The present officers are
Edward Langheinrich, W.M.; Henry Hentsche, S.W.; William Lehmann, J.W.;
Andrew Bodendoerfer, Treasurer; Charles Wilke, Secretary; Gustave Banze,
S.D.; John W. Johann, J.D.; Ehrg. Zschommber, Tiler.
The I.O.O.F. of Cedarburg was organized in Newburg, a charter granted July
13, 1862, and the lodge removed to Cedarburg, December 20, 1873. First
officers were: E.H. Gilson, N.G.; G.E. Vandercook, Vice N.G.; J.B. Kendall,
R. Secretary; E. Frankenberg, P. Secretary; J.F. Collins, Treasurer The
present officers are William Rettberg, N.G.; John Mueller, Vice G.; Charles
Wilke, R. Secretary; Charles Law, P. Secretary; George Anschatz, Treasurer.
The post office was first kept by William Schroeder, then by Hugo Boclo, who
held the office for about fifteen years. Louis Burgstaal was the next
incumbent, succeeded by John W. Johan, who is now Postmaster.
The Hamilton Mill is owned by Andrew Bodendoerfer, who bought the place in
1860. The village has one flour-mill, a marble-yard, one wagon-shop and a
blacksmith-shop.
There are three hotels -- the Cedarburg House, Washington House and Hartford
House.
The Cedarburg House is a stone building built in 1861, by Andrew Kruther,
who has since that time made various improvements and additions to the
property. It is now valued at $4,000. Mr. Kruther still remains proprietor
of the house.
Town of Fredonia
Source: "Histories of Washington and Ozaukee Counties", Western
Publishing, (1881) submitted by Mary Saggio, and displayed here with her
permission
The town of Fredonia was set off from Port Washington, and incorporated in
the month of April, 1847. It comprises all of Township 12 in Range 21. The
first town meeting was held in the spring of 1847, at the house of Hiram
King. The officers of election were chosen, sums were then voted for the
purposes herein mentioned: For incidental expenses, $25; for support of the
poor, $80; for construction of bridges, $80. It was voted further that the
town officers be compensated at the rate of $1 per day. It was also voted
that the fences in the town should be five feet high, and that there should
be no cracks in the fences within two feet of the ground to exceed four
inches in width. The following town officers were then elected: Supervisors,
Isaac Carmen, William Kelly and William H. Bunce; Town Clerk, R.H. Manney;
Justices of the Peace, Lemuel Hyde and Edward Bunce; Collector, Jacob M.
Sutton; School Commissioners, John H. Hovey, J.T. Irwin and Sylvester
Whiting; Assessors, Thomas Irwin, Joseph Mooney and John Wonderly; Highway
Commissioners, Daniel M. Miller, William Bunce and Homer Johnson;
Constables, Alanson Arnold and Hugh Kelly; Sealer of Weights and Measures,
William Bell; Fence Viewers, William R. Davis, Lemuel Hyde and Albert Read;
Treasurer, William R. Davis. The following poll-list taken from the first
election held in 1847 will show who the early settlers and founders of
Fredonia were:
POLL-LIST FOR 1847
William Bunce, Edward Shubert, George Kollor, Joseph Lichart, Joseph Rix,
Frantz Bear, Thomas Ruland, Julius Schubert, George Briedgert, Peter
Nerberst, Adam Wachter, John Kollor, Martin Kollor, George Feirreisew,
William Beger, Charles Beger Christ. Beger, Charles Rudolph, Andrew Liebel,
George Beck, August Ohrling, Charles Milleer William Kelly, Jacob M. Sutton,
William Heinberg, Edward S. Bunce, Thomas McCowen, Joseph McCowen, George W.
Virgil, Jeremiah Lott, Isaac Carmen, Clark Boughton, Hamilton Bunce, William
Hudson, C.S. Griffin, Hiram King, E. Tollett, Henry Orcutt, John Wonderly,
Michael Bratt, Thomas Kelly, Joseph Smith, King Case, Oren Case, Michael
Casler, Joseph Mooney, B. Patch, Hiram Hills, Lemuel Hyde, Hugh Kelly,
Arlanson Arnold, R.H. Manney, W.R. Davis, Thomas Johnson, I.L. Irwin, J.K.
Hovey, Daniel W. Miller, Albert Read, Samuel Shaff, Joseph Shaff and B.S.
Cassell. Total, sixty one.
EARLY SETTLERS
The first white man that settled in the town of Fredonia was Hiram King, who
took up quarters in 1844, in a wigwam located on the Indian trail which
followed close to the Milwaukee River, and now forms the present site of the
village of Waubeka. King was well advanced in years, having served as a
soldier in the war of 1812. He, in company with his wife, fitted up a sort
of hotel for the accommodation of travelers who might chance to pass that
way. The old man took an active part in the organization of the town, and
was elected to several important offices. He remained in the town for a
number of years, when he sold out his property and emigrated to the western
part of the State, where he is still living in the ninety-second year of his
age. The first post office in Fredonia was kept by William Bell, on the line
of the old Fond du Lac road. The office was established in 1848. Previous to
that time, the nearest post office was the one in the village of Saukville,
kept by George Tischbein. In 1846, Clark Boughton and Lemuel Hyde were
appointed to superintend and construct the Sheboygan road, from the
Saukville bridge, north to the Sheboygan line. The road was surveyed by Col.
William Teall, of Port Washington.
The first school district of Fredonia was formed as early as 1846, by the
School Commissioners of Port Washington. The district was called Number 3,
and comprised all that part of Town 12, Range 21, lying east and north of
the Milwaukee River. School district Number 4, was formed March 7, 1847. The
pioneer teachers were: Mrs. Emily Bunce, Miss Harriet Cochran, Mrs. Julia
Orentt, Charles M. Kreysig and Joseph Carroll. The report of the School
Commissioners for the year 1847, were as follows:
Total number of scholars enrolled - 54
Number of districts - 4
Number of schoolhouses - 1
Number of teachers - 2
Amount of money raised for school purposes - $64.75
School Report for the year 1880:
Number of scholars enrolled - 495
Number of whole districts - 8
Number of fractional districts - 2
Number of teachers employed - 11
Number of schoolhouses - 10
Cash value of school property in the town - $6,230.00
Amount of money raised for school purposes $3,399.99
Total expenditures - $2,442.26
Balance on hand August 31, 1880 - $957.73
The pioneers of Fredonia were men of high moral character, and strict
observers of the Sabbath. Representatives of the various sects met in common
fellowship, as no one denomination was strong enough to work independently
of the others. As was common in those days, services were held at private
houses, until the public schoolhouse could be utilized for church purposes.
The Catholics were the first to erect a church building, a long structure,
built in 1849, in the Kollor District, on Section 19. The building was
replaced several years afterward by a handsome stone edifice. The church
numbers about sixty families, and is at present in charge of Rev. A.H.
Reininger.
The Catholics have also quite a large congregation in the village of Wabeka,
numbering about sixty-five families. A stone meeting-house was erected in
1872, at the cost of $3,700. The building was dedicated by Bishop Henni, of
Milwaukee, and Rev. Louis Mueller, from the Holy Cross Church, in the town
of Belgium.
The Methodists and German Lutherans are the only other two denominations now
represented in the town. Both congregations have handsome frame church
edifices in the village of Wabeka. The churches are visited by ministers
residing in the village of Port Washington.
VILLAGE OF WAUBEKA
This romantic little village, resting on the knolls divided by the Milwaukee
River, was named after an old Indian chief who lived in the vicinity for
quite a number of years after the whites began to settle the country.
Waubeka had made several clearings, at various points long the Milwaukee
River, where his tribe cultivated corn patches, their principal occupation,
however, being that of hunting and fishing. The Indians were very fond of
goodnatosh (whisky), and would give the settlers almost any quantity of game
and fish for a demijohn full of the tempting liquor. The village of Waubeka
was surveyed and laid out in town lots by George W. Foster, now a prominent
lawyer of Port Washington. Mr. Foster, in company with H.J. Turner, built
the first dam across the Milwaukee River at this point. They soon discovered
that excellent water-power could be obtained, and at once commenced the
erection of a saw and grist mill. These buildings were erected on the north
bank of the Milwaukee River. The grist-mill was entirely destroyed by a fire
a few years after its completion. The saw-mill is still standing, but in a
dilapidated state. Part of the old relic was swept away by the spring flood
of 1881. The present grist-mill, a large frame structure was built by J.B.
Schauble. The mill has a capacity of eighty barrels of flour per day.
In 1871, Burnett Zindell erected a plow and machine foundry in the village,
at a cost of $12,000. The foundry has changed hands several times; the
building is now standing idle. Korman & Lapham were the last to engage in
the enterprise. In connection with this, the village contains two pump
factories, one cheese-box factory, one cheese factory, owned by J.H. Klessig,
one large tannery, run by M.S. Neuens, three blacksmith-shops, two wagon and
carriage shops, five stores, three hotels and three churches. The bridge
which spans the river at this place, was built in 1870, at a cost of $6,000.
The first Postmaster was John J. Race. The office is now in charge of B.S.
Cassell, who has held it for the last twenty years. Mr. Cassell kept the
first store in the village.
FREDONIA STATION
This thriving little place is situated on the line of the Wisconsin Central
Railroad. It contains two large warehouses, one store, and one hotel bearing
the double name of "Fredonia and Filmore House." The building was erected in
1871 by Peter Martin. It is now owned by John P. Coltax. The post office was
established in this place in the spring of 1880. C.C. Learing was the first
Postmaster. The office is now in charge of John P. Coltax. A large steam saw
and turning mill was erected in 1874, by John J. Race and C.F. Cooley. The
mill is run by a fifty-horse-power engine, and turns out work to the amount
of $25,000 per annum. The population of Fredonia, for the year 1880, was 1,
839. Of this number five sixths are Germans, the remaining sixth being
composed principally of Americans and Irish. Farming is the principal
occupation, and from this source the revenue of the town is obtained.
The town officers of 1881were elected as follows: Town Clerk, C.H. Witt;
Supervisors, J.J. Race, N. Rheingans and Peter Jung; Treasurer, H.
Groteluschen; Assessor, F.E. Oehme; Justices of the Peace, Charles F.
Cooley, Francis Smith, N.E. Becker and Fred Bemer; Constables, John Fuetzen,
B.R. Burrell and August Thompson; Sealer of Weights, Charles Zetter.
The only crime every committed in the town of Fredonia was perpetrated by an
inhuman wretch, bordering on the brute creation by the name of John Conrad,
Sr. Conrad had an idiot son whom he would, on the least provocation, beat
unmercifully, and it was thought this manner of treatment that the boy was
brought to the deplorable state of an idiot. His miserable existence was
terminated May 17, 1880, by his brutal father throwing him down a pair of
stairs. Conrad then fled to Buffalo, N.Y., where he was arrested May 19,
1880. He was brought back and lodged in the Ozaukee County Jail, at Port
Washington, to await his trial. At the June term of the Circuit Court he was
arraigned for murder, and pleaded not guilty. His bail was fixed at $10,000,
which sum he failed to obtain. At the January term of Court, 1881, Conrad's
counsel, Eugene Turner, asked for a change of venue to Sheboygan County,
stating that his client had made an affidavit to the effect that he believed
Judge D.J. Pulling to be prejudiced against him. The prisoner was
subsequently sent to Sheboygan County, where he was tried, and found guilt
of manslaughter in the second degree. He was sentenced by Judge Gilson to
four years in the State Prison.
GRAFTON VILLAGE
History of Washington and Ozaukee Counties Wisconsin (1881) page 530;
submitted by Diana Heser Morse
The village of old Grafton, once the county seat of old Washington County,
is situated on Section 24, in the western part of the present town, on the
Milwaukee River. It has the marks of age upon it. The stone and other
buildings are mostly clustered about the square. Some of them, still
standing, were among the earliest built. The old stone block, built for
county purposes when Grafton had county seat aspirations, is still standing.
The excellent waterpower was early utilized. Between 1842 and 1844 a dam was
built and a saw-mill started, also a flouring-mill. I. Edwards, William
Bonniwell and P. M. Johnson owned the flouring-mill, and it is stated by old
settlers that they built the first dam. John Simon, still living in the
village, gives the following account of it, in 1848, when he first arrived:
"When I came, the stone block was already built, and so was the dam; then
there were two saw-mills, and a grist-mill with three runs of stones. It was
a part of the same mill that is running now. Three old-fashioned limekilns
were burning near where the kilns are now. At that time we got mails by
stage, daily, by line running between Milwaukee and Port Washington, on the
Green Bay road. Datus Cowan drove the stage. There was also business done at
Milwaukee Falls, a mile down the river. Lamson and J. B. Gill had a
turning-shop, and made bedsteads; and on the other side was a chair-factory,
run by George Miller. For many years Grafton lay in a state of rest, showing
little life or enterprise. It has lately awakened from its Rip Van Winkle
slumber, and started into new life with all the vigor of youth."
The principal manufacturing industries of the place are:
The woolen-mill, built in 1880. It is built of stone, contains two sets of
woolen machinery and one of worsted. It manufactures woolen and worsted yams
of the best quality. Its worsted machinery is imported and of the most
modern kind. This is the only worsted mill in the West. It is owned and run
by the Cedarburg Woolen Company. Derdrech Wittenberg is the President and
business manager. It employs, when in full operation, one hundred hands.
The flouring-mill, situated a few rods north on the same dam, is now run
successfully by H. Schmith & Co. It has five runs of stones, all the modern
improvements, and a capacity for the manufacture of one hundred barrels of
flour per day. The products find a constant sale to the bakers of Milwaukee,
the brand, "White Lily," being a favorite with the trade. The mill creates a
constant and reliable market for wheat.
The water-power is one of the best on the Milwaukee River. The fall, at the
dam, is sixteen feet, and at the woolen-mill, a few rods below, 20 feet.
HOME
Copyright © Genealogy Trails