Buffalo County, Wisconsin - The whole text, 1888 (part 9 of 13)

Although I have in the above pointed out the improbability of our becoming much more of a manufacturing communit}' than we now are, it would still be wrong to say that there is no chance for some improvement in this direction. Among other things we ought to have a flouring mill at Alma; not, of course, in opposition to any other mill, but for the accommodation of farmers and others in different ways. I might urge the necessity of this or any other enterprise on the plea that it would provide work for a number of people; and I do not see why we should not act upon such a plea. There are, nevertheless, some people who seem to think that we are too many of us already, and that it would be wrong to do anything that might attract any more. People of that sort always do their share to verify their own assertions by obstructing any public, or discouraging private enterprise, unless it should be to their exclusive advantage. One thing, however, is always overlooked by such economists; it is the fact that a town which does not, or will not, progress, will soon be compelled to retrench and to shrink. What I have said of a town, village or city applies with equal force to the county, and every citizen of it should encourage any enterprise in the direction mentioned and indicated above.

In the absence of reliable statistics on our manufacturing interests we must be excused for not doing more than enumerate fee different establishments according to their classification.

Or Locality

The mill ^in the town of Alma was long in possession of August Grams, now of La Crosse county. - The mill at Gilmanton usually called Mann's mill, was operated by Joel Mann for some time, afterwards by others, and among them Harvey B. Farrington and Otis F. Warren, who were succeeded by Mr. Howard.

In the mill of Glencoe Henry Kessler, John Maurer, Peter Grass, and I believe a man by the name of Keller were in the course of time interested.

The mill in Milton was started by Henry Goehrke and Fred. Binder as a saw mill as early as 1855, but after Ferdinand Fetter arid Ferdinand Mehrmann had bought into the partnership it was converted into a flouring mill, and did for many years considerable business, though interrupted every summer by the backwater from, the Mississippi.

The mill at Misha Mokwa proved the financial ruin of its projector, went through several hands, was rented to different parties so for instance to Peter Kleiner, was owned by J, Thoeny, now again at Wabasha, for several years, and sold by him to the present owners.

borhood. From the builders named in the table it passed to Mr Walter Brown, the father of Hon. Orlando and of Harvey Brown, deceased, who sold it to Samuel Newton, of whom ]^r. J. T. Brownlee bought it.

In regard to Mr. Fisher's mill, which is a sawmill and gristmill, I can not remember exactly when it was commenced, although it must have been built during 1877, at which time I was frequently at Mondovi; but as it is marked in the "Atlas" published 1878 I can not be very far wrong. There is, also, in Mondovi another mill, usually operated by wind-power, but in case of need by steampower, belonging to a Mr. Fisher, whether the same or not, I can not say.

The mill of Mr. Ochsner in Waumandee is situated in the most fertile valley of this county, and has the advantage of plenty of water at all times.

Most of these mills do custom work, and none has attained commercial importance except in local trade. The one in Fountain City is most favorably situated for transportation of material and products. This is the only mill in this county run entirely by steam power; all the others use water power by turbine wheels.

A mill is considered a profitable investment, yet we have learned from the history of some of 'the mills in this county that the building thereof was the ruin of the owners. It would be wrong to suppose that this was in every ca.^e attributable to imprudent management, and perhaps impossible and useless to investigate the causes.

The first mill in this county was the steam mill of Buehler and Clarke in Fountain City. It^-was erected 1856, and for some time worked by the owners, afterwards sold, and rented to different parties, until it became the property of Sigmund Kam merer, in whose possession it was when it burned down in 1885. It was not rebuilt.

About the year 1858 J. P. Stein made an attempt to build a mill on the creek which bears his name. The enterprise had to be given up, partly on account of the obstinacy of the mill-wright, Ulrich Mueller, who had an unconquerable prejudice against tur bine wheels.

Ii. Saw Mills

Saw-mills depend in our parts on logs from the pineries; hard wood is only a small fraction of the material manipulated. Hence it is only along the Mississippi and its navigable sloughs that we may expect to meet saw-mills.

The first saw-mill in the county probably was that of Goehrke and Binder on Waumandee Creek, the, same place where the Eagle Mills now stand. It was dependent almost entirely on hard wood. But at nearly the same time the lower saw-mill at Fountain City was built by Bishop and Carpenter. It passed into the hands of Levi. Slingluf, now in Eau Claire, and afterwards became the property of Henry Teckenburg, Esq. In 1857 Hon. A. Finkelnburg built the upper sawmill at Fountain City at the place where the sash and door factol-y of Roettiger & Co. now stands. It was soon abandoned for its purpose.

In 1858 the Colonization Society of Cincinnati, which had laid out Buffalo City, built at that place, a sawmill, to which a gristmill was also attached. The arrangement being faulty, the supply of logs precarious, and the expectations of the residents and the members of the Colonization Society somewhat disappointed, this mill was abandoned after the mill of Bueker & Co. was started in the same place 1859. The latter mill was mainly managed by F. Lane together with Adolf Bueker, who were the resident members of the company. In 1865 F. Lane and C. Schaettle, sen., purchased the old Buffalo City mill, and worked it for some time, when, having purchased land of R. Beiner iust below the village of Alma, they removed the engine and boiler to that place and began the first mill of P. Lane, at first in company from which Mr. Sehaettle after a while retired. The business now belongs to Mr. Lane alone, and he is still working the engine that was brought to Buffalo City in 1858. - Before any extensive settlement was made at and around Alma, somebody had started up a sawmill above town, but I do not remember its operation, though I have seen trace of a log-carriage upon the place. In 1870 the property passed into the hands of John Bretthauer and Fred Fisher, who- built a sawmill on the spot. This afterwards passed into the hands of Gottfried Waelty, who with Mr. Geo. Williams and Dick Loveridge formed the " Alma Manufacturing Company " which, of course, manufactured lumber, lath and shingles. The concern passed by Sheriff's Sale into the hands of a certain Keller of whom Hon. R. R. Kempter purchased it. He leased the mill and adjoining land to the Meridean Lumber Co. and that company operated the mill under the management of Mr. S. V. Holstein. Mr. Kempter sold out to the Mississippi Logging Co. The place af- . fording the most eligible situation for a railroad depot, it was sold to the Chicago, Burlington & Northern R. R. Co. Building and machinery were removed. About the time when Mr, Lane moved to Alma, Frank Mattausch built a sawmill in the northern part of Fountain City, which, after several years of successful operation, was destroyed by tire and not rebuilt.

Adolf Rauch and Henry Erding built a sawmill 'at Buffalo City some short distance below the site of the old sawmill. It is not now in operation.'

Iii. Wine

The manufacture of wine is carried on in a number of towns in the lower part of the county, of which Fountain City, Belvidere, Waumandee and the City of Alma are the most prominent, but not the only ones. But in our climate this industry is too unreliable to ever to amount to much, although the cultivation of the grape will be continued perhaps indefinitely.

Location

Although these are all the breweries at present in working condition, it must not be supposed that others have not existed since very early dates in our history. The first attempt at Fountain City in the brewing business was made by a man named factory and machine shop of Mr. John Clarke. In 1857 Mr. J. G. Ziegenfuss started the City Brewery, and about the same time the Eagle Brewery was put in operation by Fred Richter and Valentine Eder. In the Eagle Brewery the following succeeded each other: Richter & Eder, Xaver Ehrhardt, Ewe & Krueger, Mrs. Pistorius, John Koschitz.

At Alma, the Union Brewery, being built at about the same time as the first brewery at Fountain City, remains still in possession of its founder, who has now every arrangement for success in his business. The other brewery is only in the second hand. A feeble attempt was made some fifteen years ago by Charles Zengel to establish another brewery above the lime. kiln and on the , same land, but was soon abandoned. At the time when great expectations were the rule at Buffalo City, Mr. Schaettle built and furnished a brewery at the Spring Lake. At that time a deep, cool cellar was an indispensable attachment to every successful brewery. Such a cellar could not be furnished at the spot, and after sinking considerable money Mr. Schaettle gave up the enterprise.

At Fountain City there was somewhere about 1870 a new and very large brewery erected and furnished, in which Henry Fiedler Otto Bodmer and Mike Lenhardt were concerned. It burned down and was not rebuilt. In its neighborhood, and on ground formerly belonging to it, stands now the brewery of the Fountain City Brewing Co. This is well arranged and well managed.

Seeing that these breweries were all undertaken in the lower part of the county, some of them even at a time when the population was yet very thin, it can readily be imagined that there must have been, and there still is, a considerable demand for their product. As a matter of fact we have to record that these breweries could not always supply the demand, and that beer was largely imported from Milwaukee and La Crosse. The arrangements for an improved product, and a sufRciency of it at all times being now on hand, we can but regard it with satisfaction, since, the demand for beer existing, it is certainly preferable to supply it by home industry, for which we have the principal material on hand. It must not be supposed that the demand for beer is entirely confined to the southern part of the county. A "good wee drop" is also appreciated by a good many in the northern part, in spite of prejudice and opposition.

This is one of the articles which might be manufactured here, as well as in other places, though we do really not produce the material for it. What little tobacco may be grown here, has to be sold, for there is not enough of it to start a factory on. Wholesale production has driven manufacturers of this article in smaller places out of the business.

The only extensive factory, using and producing the articles at the head of this, is in Fountain City, the plow factory and machine shop of Mr. John Clarke. Of course, it does not compare with such factories in the large cities, but for our neighborhood is considerable enough, and affords many advantages, to farmers especially. Mr. Simon Mueller of Buffalo City has a similar arrangement on a small scale. There may be such an institution in Modena, but if there is, I think it finds its mate in Gilmanton, and more than that at Mondovi. I only mention this because there is no result reported for Gilmanton and Mondovi not mentioned at all in the table. Every blacksmith shop might come within the scope of this table, and every town could be named in it. Perhaps the instructions justified the report, but a mistake must be somewhere.

Vii. Leather And Articles Manufactured Of It

Leather is not manufactured here. Shoes snd boots, and harnesses are certainly made in the coun.ty, though, perhaps, many of them, or most, are imported. It is rather curious that nothing of the kind is reported from Alma, since we have two saddlers, and harnessmakers, Mondovi one, Gilmanton and Modena perhaps one each, perhaps not.

Viii. Wagons, Carriages And Sleighs

Why there should no such things be manufactured in Alma, I do not know, but could not assert any activity in the matter. I have already made remarks on that point and dislike to be forever criticising the census report. Wagons and sleighs have been made at numerous places in the county, but not in sufficient number to call it manufacturing.

Ix. Creameries And Cheese Factories

Their products, butter and cheese, have to some extent been discussed under the head of Agriculture. This discussion, based upon the lucid statements of the census tables, did not mention any facts concerning creameries, although at least one of them, at the city of Alma, was in operation, and possibly the one in Fountain City also, at the time of taking the census. We have two creameries. The one at Alma, built early in spring 1884, commenced operations in May of the same year; the other at Fountain City commenced operations about one year later. We have no statistics on hand in regard to these institutions, and could not enter in a detailed description of processes, etc., under any circumstances, but think that they are doing good service to the farmers in many ways, besides buying their cream. They ought to be a success, but I understand that up to present times this is not assured. Cheese factories are more numerous than creameries, but not, perhaps, as numerous as they were some years ago. An inspection of the table given under Agriculture shows that only the factory at Mondovi reported any results in 1885. These factories do not require so much cash capital as creameries, and are, therefore, not such dangerous ventures. I think that our county should be able to furnish all the cheese needed for consumption, and have considerable surplus for export. Cheese is, as an article of commerce, subject to great fluctuations in prices, but as it is much less perishable than butter, and, if of good quality, is much improved by age, the changes of the market must not necessarily be injurious to factory enterprises. There is at present but one considerable cheese factory in the county, that at Mondovi, which reported in 1885 a product of 32,684 pounds, at a value of $3,595.00, or something over lO cents per pound. If my memory serves me right this factory must have been in operation for 12 or more years, though its patrons sometimes deserted it, and it had to suspend. Small factories, working up the milk of 50 cows or less, have been started up in many localities, by which the transportation of milk for long distances is avoided, an item of importance to our farmers at almost any season. It is not to be expected that the very best quality of cheese should be produced at these small factories, but an acceptable one is usually lurnished by them. I have just now, by a mere accident, learned that a cheese factory, exists at Gilmanton, which produces a daily average of 250 pounds of cheese. How this iterii could have escaped my attention I am at a loss to explain, since I am a reader of both the "Journal" and the "Herald" of this county.

X. Other Industries

I might now say somethmg about other industries, for instance about lime kilns and brick yards. Of the first I have said something in " Geology" and consider it sufficient. The most important of the second are at Alma and Fountain City. The one at Alma is situated contiguous to the new Bluff Road about half a mile east of the lower end of the town and is owned and conducted by Julius Wilk. The one at Fountain City belongs to J. B. Oenning and is situated at the eastern end of North Street. I have no means of giving any figures in regard to the annual output of either, but I think it varies greatly according to the season and the demand for the product.

The above sketch of our manufacturing enterprises may not be as perfect as might be desirable, but it is all I could gather from available sources of information on the subject.

Population

Speaking of the population of Buffalo County, we have no accessible means of ascertaining its number, or, indeed, anything else about it, until the time when the county had been organized, and in working order for more than a year. Even if we should investigate the census reports of Crawford county for 1840, or earlier, and those of La Crosse county for 1850, we would hardly be any the wiser for it. It is very probable that the lower part of our county, that part below the Bufl'alo River, that is to say south and east of it, was nominally considered as a town or part of a town, and that an organization existed .somewhere to govern that town, probably down at Monteville, now Trempealeau village, and that an effort was made at the usual times, to take an account of population, if anybody knew anything about people living above Trempealeau River; but if such a population existed, it musthave been enumerated along with those who lived outside of our limits. The upper part of the county on the right bank of the Buffalo River, belonged to Chippewa county until 1854, and we might as well hunt a needle in a hay stack as ascertain from report of censustakers whether there was any population in those- parts or not. Circumstances point.to the probability that there was none, or at least but a transient one. There might have been people at 'work near the mouth of the Chippewa River every winter to chop wood and bank it for the use of the occasional boats then beginning to run up to Mendota and afterwards to St. Paul, but they would most probably withdraw to the other side at Read's Landing or some other place in the spring. From its mouth to the head of Beef Slough, a distance of about 12 miles there was no place on the Chippewa which would tempt any one to settle upon it. About a mile above that place our northern boundary line passes of to the east.

From the notes on " Pioneers " and their lives we find that in 1840 Thomas A. Holmes, and Major Hatch must have been living at Holmes' Landing (Fountain City) and might have been enumerated. Holmes was probably there in 1845 also, and there were others at the place then and in 1850, but if enumerated at all, were included in some large district between Black and BufiCalo Rivers. In the iollowing enumeration I have used the -Census Report of 1885, suppleujented by inquiries made at othei sources.

Total

The only thing correct in the above is the addition. It is true, the distribution is quite ingenious, and offers a handsome opportunity to hide the more important facts behind statements that may or may not be correct, and are hardly worth while disputing, A person born of German parents is certainly of German descent, though born in the United States. The part of our population of German descent must be set down as between seven and eis;ht thousand. Ten of the towns and corporations of the county are almost entirely inhabited by Germans, while in Nelson one third, in Cross perhaps one half, and Glencoe and Canton and other towns quite a number must be added. In this we must, of course, count in the Swiss, since they have no separate column, and can not very well be placed anywhere else. Most of them are actually of German descent, since the German is their native language. As with the Germans, so it is with the Scandinavians and the Irish. As to the natives of France, I would like to see the twenty-two Frenchmen, whose native language is the French, and who have lived in this county in 1885. Fifteen years before, there might have been that many persons born in the empire of France, but just about that time they were forcibly expatriated,, their native country being annexed to Germany. If there are thirty-nine Hollanders, genuine Dutch, in this county, it is strange, that I never got acquainted with any one of them. There may be some, who understand that language, or are from a part of Germany under Netherland sovereignity, the principality of Limburg, for instance. As for natives of Bohemia, I think I can count upon my fingers more than fifty, of whom about ten are of Czechish descent, the remainder of German. Who, then, is a Bohemian? And who are those of all other nativities? For the historian this table is of no value.

There would be some excuse for this repoit, if a politician could gather any instruction from it, but even for that it is unfit. There is but little purpose in analyzing our present population according to the nativity of each individual, but something might be said of the locution of the different nationalities. By nationality I only mean to indicate people of the same descent, using habitually the same language in their family intercourse and their religious assemblies, this being the only true distinction between Americans, Germans, Norwegians, Irish and Scotch among our population, for although the Irish and Scotch use the same English among themselves as Americans do, there is still the diifference of descent, which among those two classes is just as tenaciously remembered, as if theirs were a different language. In giving the location of the different nationalities it can not be expected that every individual or family should be accounted for. The similarity of language and habits tends everywhere to the formation of smaller or larger centers, as is exemplified in this county by the fact that the lower part of it is principally inhabited by Germans, whole towns being entirely occupied by people of that descent, who form south of the line between townships 23 and 22 the great bulk of the population. The town of Glencoe furnishes the only exception to that rule, but even there the Germans are probably as numerous as either the Irish or the Scotch. In the town of Cross there are a number of Scotch families, but perhaps not one fifth of the population is of that origin. There are some Scotch, and more Irish in Waumandee and Montana, not enough to influence a general estimate, Milton and Belvidere are entirely German, Buffalo and Fountain City very nearly so. The City of Alma may be considered as three-fourths German, the Town of Alma as entirely so. In the lower part of Nelson the permanent population, the possessors of the soil or at least the tillers of it, are German, the floating population and those who do not cultivate farms, are of different nationalities, of which, however, the American, taking the word in its usual and limited application, is not so very prominent. The prevailing nationality on the West side of township 23, Range 13 and the inhabitable part of Range 14 is almost entirely peopled by Germans, as well as those parts of the town about Bygolly Creek and the upper portion of the Trout Creek Valley. In that part of the county consisting of townships 23 and 24 in their several ranges from 10 - 14 it is not very easy to decide whether the Americans or the Norwegians are more numerous.

In the Town of Dover the Norwegians seem to form the majority, in Gilmanton the Americans prevail, in Modena, especially in the western part of the town, the Norwegians are certainly very numerous, and in the Town of Nelson, that is, especially the eastern and northern part of it, they have always been regarded as numerous enough to carry an election their own way, if they combined. The town of Maxville contains a very mixed population, Scotch, Irish, a few Germans, some Norwegians, but probably a majority of Americans. Almost the same might be said of the town of Canton, although I know of no Scotch lamily in it, and the Germans are much more numerous llian in Maxville. The Town of Mondovi has a populous settlement of Norwegians in its southwestern part with some in the southeast corner. There are a few Irish faraihes also, but the town is certainly American in its character. The town of Naples contains a majority of Norwegians, the southern and eastern part being almost entirely settled by them, while they are scattered along the north end also. This is as nearly as I can give it the ethnographical distribution of the population of this county, with perhaps the exception of the Poles or Polanders. They are scattered along the edge towards Trempealeau Count}' in which they are certainly more numerous than in ours. A population may, of course, be arranged or distributed on other principles, but this should be done in discussing other topics, for instance agriculture- and manufacturing, or perhaps religion or politics. A few comparisons are perhaps of some interest.

The militia, that is those men who are fit and would be liable for militia service in case of necessity, jis 17 J per cent of the population. Resident veterans number about one-tenth of the militia or II per cent of the population.

According to the census of 1885 there are 8887 males and 7595 females, an excess of 1292 males. I am indebted to the State Historical Society for an abstract of every census taken since Buffalo County had a separate political existence. Census of 1855^ 832 gain.

" 1880 " 1885 = 1 1 " It being a rule established by experience that the population of a free country, in times of peace and ordinary conditions of life, would increase about 2J per cent every year, or 25 per cent in ten years, we are naturally curious as to what may have caused the startling decline in the increase of our population. One of these causes is the direct emigration from our county to points farther west, where it helped to create such gains in population as we have had in "that blissful, never to be forgotten age, when everything was better than it has ever been since, or ever will be again," as Diedrich Knickerbocker says in his "History of New Yprk." Another cause was the rapid falling off of European immigration since 1870, especially from Germany. The former large gain in every year could not come from any other source than immigration, natural increase amounting at that time to but little, when many of the settlers were unmarried men, and there was some difficulty to get married, for a partner was not very easily found. By the time immigration began to decline we might have hoped for a natural increase, but then, or soon thereafter, the rush for the western country began. From about 1880 until 1884 there was, for instance, an actual decrease in the number of persons of school age; that is, of the age from 4 to 20 years. Emigration, though not entirely stopped, is now no longer alarmingly numerous, and as people of all kinds of creeds or opinions conform to the biblical precept to "increase and multiply," we may hope to see the standard of increase in our population elevated to the normal level after a while.

and in the town of Dover it is a little under twenty persons to the square mile, or about 32 acres to every person. In the town of Naples the density is twenty-six and one-half; in that of Mondovi, outside of the village, for which I made allowance of one square mile, it is but 17 and one-fourth. Of other towns, which are irregular in shape, it is not very easy to calculate the density, and, after all, the calculation of the average amounts practically to but little, except for the purposes of comparison.

Something perhaps, is expected to-be said of the character of our population, though on the other side it must be remembered, that as a unit, or taken altogether, it can scarcely be expected to possess such a thing. Having grown to twenty times its original bulk during thirt^ years, it has continually changed the relative proportions of its constituent elements, and although the last census claims that the greater part of it was born in the United States, there was perhaps not more than one-third of it actually born in Buffalo County. To write a characteristic of the preponderating nationalities seems like carrying "coal to Newcastle," or, to use a more local comparisoti, ^' water into the Mississippi." When the county has once grown twice as old as it now is, there will be some occasion for analyzing the character of its population, as by that time the amalgamation of the elementary constituents has had a reasonable time for its accomplishment. If, however, we would characterize the population with regard to the occupations or industries by which they are living, or which are carried on by them, we may set down the great majority as farmers or cultivators of the soil, and the remainder as engaged in such manufactures and employments as are intimately connected with agriculture, either in working up its produce, or in disposing of its surplus, and furnishing means for carrying it on. The only exception is the Beef Slough Company, whose business is to handle logs in transit, while our local saw mills do not much more than furnish lumber required in housing the agricultural population and the products of its industry, be the same grain or live stock. The part of the population which is in no way connected with agiiculture or the manipulation of its products is very small. Merchants we have in sufficient number, but very few of them have entirely cut off the trade in all kinds of produce, while mills, breweries, creameries and cheese factories draw their raw material directly froni the farmer. Blacksmiths and wagoniiiakers work for the farmers and depend mostly on direct custom. In a word, we are an agricultural community, and the few and rather small villages or cities do not change this general character. If in the preceding remarks I have seemed reluctant in expressing ray opinions of the general character of our population, I do not wish to be understood that no character exists, but that this character is not so very distinct from the character of tlie people of other counties as to be the particular subject of description, apd that it can not well be BO very different from characters formed under similar conditions. Our population is peaceable, frugal, honest, diligent, and on the whole rather conservative. There is, except during the time of elections, but very little excitement in any part of the county, and even at such times a spirit of toleration has been man ifested for many years. Not that we are not patriotic, but our political education has been by degrees advanced to the point, wheie we can see the possibility of different opinions on any point, while we consider the liberty of free speech and independent thought of more consequence, than what is facetiously termed " harmony of political action," but what is really " rigid party discipline." There is, especially among Germans, a steady opposition against so-called " sumptuary laws," and while it is admitted that the majority rules, it is also maintained that majorities are not always right, nor minorities always wrong, and that personal or individual "liberty should not be sacrificed to any political party or system . Indeed, this principle is the only safe-guard for toleration and freedom, and while we are ready to submit to the laws, and to pre vent and suppress crime and disorder, we are opposed to the creation of imaginary crimes and misdemeanors by the simple enactment of statutes, which violate the spirit of the constitution of the United States, and disturb the peaceable and amicable relations of those, who are by circumstances compelled to be neighbors, and would otherwise, as they have done in the past, maintain the most extensive toleration to each other's views and practices. I hope that this trait of character will ever remain, and manifest itself, as hitherto, in a legal and loyal way, and that we shall never experience those disturbances, which in other places have tended to an interruption of good feelings, and to petty annoyances not at all compatible with the spirit of liberty in America or any where, else.

New Years Ball

Wherever there is a considerable population there is what is facetiously called "society." This is not the voluntary or involuntary association of individual persons for mutual benefits usually called human society. This form or grade of society has long ago been superseded by the state and organizations connected therewith. "Society" is actually not so much an association as the efifect of an assumption, that certain persons are by some criterion to be recognized as suitable companions, and that this recognition is to be mutual and exclusive.- Hence not everybody belongs to "Society." The criterion or standard of decision for or against recognition as a member of "Society" is a certain submission, more or less exacting, to a code of manners and habits of thought and expression rather arbitrarily adopted or thoughtlessly imitated. Somebody has defined manners as minor morals, but to the impartial observer, and to the student of history, it is doubtful whether any kind of morals had particular influence on a person's standing in what is to be understood by "Society" as defined above. I will not, however, increase the number of those who rail at Society; it is sufficiently large already, and its labors have but seldom had the desired efl'ect. I intend merely to put on record that "Society" existed at an early period in our county. The doings of Society at that time were, as very often at the present, manifested by and at social gatherings called balls. In order to distinguish these balls from the concurrence of other people fof dancing and drinking. Society issued "invitations." A proof of this is the following relic found among papers of Mr. Peter Polin : NEW YEARS BALL.

Sir: - The company of Yourself and Lady is respectfully solicited to attend at a Ball given at the alma house on fkiday evening, december 31st, 1858.

I am indebted to Mr. Martin Polin for communicating the above. There are a few curious features in it, and most of the names suggest reminiscences of persons and things now almost forgotten. A few explanations and corrections are needed to make the matter intelligible to the younger generation.

Mr. Palen meant Mr. Polin; Mr. S. Loomis may have been at Alma, but was probably at Gilmanton, the "Loomis' Settlement" as it was then called; Buffalo V. probably meant Buff'alo Village, the beginning of the City of Belvidere, which has now disappeared, except Irom the record. I don't remember any F. Brown in that place, although I came to Buffalo City about three months after the date of the above. J. S. Lewis meant John D. Lewis; Mr. Gaser was J. J. Gasser, a native of Unter-Hallau, Canton of Schafthausen, Switzerland, to which place he afterwards returned. He was a son-in-law of. Dr. Wm. Spuehr, then living on the Sand Prairie in the town of Eagle Mills. I do not recollect much of him, although I probably saw him before he departed with his wife in a skiff', intending to go to Cincinnati, as I was told. His wife died on that trip. John Lagore is John Legore, still living at the town of Naples, lof which at present he is chairman. The other names are given all right, and well known to most old settlers with the exception of Wm. Coon of Eau Claire. I do not consider any one of those named on the invitation as a typical society man. The Alma House mentioned in the invitation is the same built and kept als early as 1855 by John R. Huriburt and his wife, well and gratefully remembered by many of the pioneers. It was afterwards kept by W. H. Gates, then by Squire J. A. Hunner, and after him by S. S. Cooke. Under the latter two it was called the American House. It passed into the hands of Jacob VVarninger, and served as a tenement house until it burned down August 23, 1885, It has not since been rebuilt.

From the general tenor and form of the invitation it must be inferred that the proposed ball was an American arrangement, for if it had been a German one there would have been more German names on the invitation, and those probably spelled correctly. The wide range over which managers had been picked up also indicates the same, and I venture to say that neither the Fountain City people nor any outside of Alma attended,' except, perhaps, Mr. Loomis and Mr. Legore. As for the execution of the invita- tion, it was passingly well printed on the first and embossed leaf of a small sheet, much as such things are done now-a-days. It must not be concluded from the issue of this invitation that only those were admitted who received it, for in that case the affair would not have paid. But whether it did pay or not the historian is not informed. Naturally, Society has prospered and multiplied among us, and an elite exists, for which, of course, the cities and villages afford the best opportunities of growth and display. It has well been said that it takes a great many different people to make the world, and there is evidently room enough for them, and still some left for those who consider themselves entitled to especial privileges, because they are not like other people. After all, the exclusiveness claimed and practiced by this so-called "Society" is harmless enough, and easily kept up, sinc^ the wise will not intrude into it. The great majority of our population agree with the wise.

One great difference between society arrangements of to-day and thirty years ago is, that managers for balls need not be picked up over three counties, they are to be had in abundance in every village, and sometimes those try to manage the ball or the floor, who can not manage themselves temporaril}'. Whether anything similar to the last named circumstance happened in earlier times, may be suspected, but evidence is wanting. There is one cause, which is now at the bottom of the above mentioned " Society " movement. It is the growing j^revalence of young people. There 'have never been two persons, no matter how nearly they were related.. who in every respect agreed in thought and action. We do not even always agree with ourselves. But when the differences of age are combined with those of education, of experience and of numberless other conditions, it would be very singular, if they would not manifest themselves. The fact is that our young folks have never experienced the hard times of their fathers, and do not believe in their modes of thinking and procedure. They consider themselves much wiser, or at any rate smarter, and they also consider everything smart, that differs from ordinary ways and ideas. Whilfe it is laudable to strive for progress, it is also not without good reason, to think of the exertions by which the foundations of all progress had to be built up. The possession of the means for an easier life, for more extended enterprises, is, however always a source of conceit rather than of actual wisdom. The ease with which many of our young people acquired their education has led them to think that it is much superior to that possessed by older persons. As one conceit is very apt to beget another, it is quite natural that the " Society " conceit should show itself evry prominently, that is, that some of our young folks should not only consider themselves above all of the older generation, but above those less favored by fortune among theii> own also. I am not inclined to censure any one for being young, nor for indulging in the follies of youth, but I confess that I am prone to laugh at those who grow exclusive, because they cannot agree with other people, and do not"; wish to learn from those who had by patience, labor and suffering to acquire experience. Admitting the right of every individual to select his own companions, and to choose his own pleasures, I nevertheless claim my right of private judgment, so provocatively exercised by " Society " people, and the privilege o f

"Nomina sunt odiosa," even when their owners are proud of them; but if I had the choice of names from the society of thirty years ago, or from society of to-daj , I think I know where the bet- .ter material was to be found. This being out of the question we will dismiss the subject.

Lest anybody should infer from the above remarks that I was striking at those voluntary associations of persons called societies, and distinguished as secret and public, as Masons, Odd, Fellows, etc., or Singing Societies, Shooting Societies, etc., I beg leave to refer the reader to the chapter on "Lodges and Societies." My aim ought to be clear enough from what I have said. The society of which I spoke above probably considers itself ornamental, for it is conceded all round that it is not useful.

Much that might seem' to belong into this chapter had to be treated of in other chapters, and may be said to be scattered over the whole book. To repeat it here was unnecessary.

Education

EDUCATION. Theoretically, education means the development of all the human faculties, but in the application of this definition there are so many differences as there are heads to , digest the aim and devise the means of accomplishing it. The popular, not to say vulgar, idea of education is that of an accumulation of knowledge without much regard to its intrinsic value, its logical correctness, and its general utility. And in practice education is very often the restraint of human minds by straight-jackets of many fashions, by shackles and manacles worked out by cranks and fanatics, and denominated sciences and systems. These systems and pretended sciences are born of definitions, hatched and pampered by more definitions and finally die of a surfeit of definitions, if they escape being strangled by common sense. Some people hare an idea that education is synonymous with scholarship, and that, there-- fore, it begins and ends in the schoolroom. Men of experience, possessed of the necessary candor to confess the mistakes they mMy have committed in common with other folks, will speak differently. Thej' know and will admit, that education is begun long before the child is old enough to enter school, and that there are but too many children for whom in school hardly more can be done than to conquer their perverse habits, especially their thoughtlessness and restlessness. Nor does education end in the schoolroom, if it ever ends during a person's life. There are pupils who are docile andimjiressible enough, who will cram their heads full of all kinds of scholastic material, but never acquire the habit ol keeping it fresh, bright and available by making use of it, while there are others who are perhaps not passive enough to rereive and retain a great quantity of information, but who, either for natural combativeness and ambition, or sometimes by force of adverse circumstances develope into very useful and even dis- tinguished members of human society. Some are profound and slow, others are shallow and quick, many are ambitious and unscrupulous, sn that there are as many shades and colors of mental difiference as there are individuals to be educated. Perhaps the same facts appear different to different observers, and as there is neither a yardstick nor a microscope to determine with any exactness who is right or wrong, every one adheres to his or her own opinions, occasionally seeking to defend the same by skulking behind a bulwark of systems and throwing invectives at every opponent. But returning to facts and history, I have to state that I shall not inquire into the possible presence or absence of education of the supposed pre-historic and the waning race, having disposed of these under the proper heads of Moundbuilders and Indians. Hence we have only to inquire into the ways and means of education provided by the permanent settlers, the beginning) progress and present status of all the arrangements developed for the purposes of education, as it is understood among the people, whether this understanding is entirely correct and comprehensive enough or not. Every one of the early settlers came from a civilized country and had such an education as opportunity, had afforded to him, and there were not a few among them, who felt and deplored what apeared to them a total or partial want in that matter, and all were generally determined that their children should have as good or better oportunities as they themselves had had. It is, however, clear to everybody, that a few men, or a few families, could not begin to start a school, and it is equally clear that we must live, before we can study. The population, rapidly as it increased during the first five or seven years (1853-1860) was at the time of the organization of the county small and dispersed over a large district, so that there were actually but few in the same place or neighborhood. An inquiry made at the office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction reveals the fact that the first report to that office of the schools of Buffalo County was made in 1856, three years after the initial steps for the organization of the county. Every citizen knows, or ought to know, that the constitution of our state provides for the education of all the. children of proper age living within its boundaries.

It being a constitutional provision that the revenues of the State School Fund were to be divided according to the number of persons of school age, or from 4 to 20 years, a census had to be taken annually in every district, and as there is no such census extant previous tq,;M^ it is probable that no school district was formed before 18-'^.'^S|n looking up the real estate transactions of Jos. Berni I find; feHR"not earlier than 1856 he transferred a certain piece of land tc^^Jffool District No. 1 of the Town of Belvidere, one of the earliBst districts, certainly one of the three reported the same year^.^^Tiere is some reason to suppose that school was kept in the diMnct during the winter 1855-56. The same must be considered fSr the other two districts, of which one was in the Town of Belvidere, and the other in the town of Buffalo, the latter evidentl}'' at Fountain City. It would be a historical curiosity to know who acted as town-superintendents in the two towns. In the town of Belvidere, for instance, there were always but very few who were competent for that ofhce, and I apprehend that this was at that time generally the case, even in towns settled almost exclusively by Americans. It is true that everybody feels competent to criticise the teacher, but that is not to be wondered at, since most citizens feel competent to exercise their dearest privilege of criticisingevery thing and everybody from the President and the whole government of the United States down to his humblest neighbor.

Criticism, then, is a habit, and sometimes it is very thoughtlessly applied. The sj'stem of town superintendency had a good many faults, one of which I have already hinted on. Another was the local pressure which could so easily be brought to bear upon a neighbor if he refused a certificate to a favorite school ma'am. Then, of course, it was a post of honor, hence without pay, and naturally more of .aji annoyance ,to the possessor than anything else. Experience finally showed the folly of the system, and in 1861 the legislature created, by Chapter 17.9 of the General Laws, the office of county superintendent of schools. The changes contemplated and in time produced by this law were as follows:

2. The school district clerks had now to report to the town clerk, and he to the county superintendent, who, in his turn, had to report to the state superintendent.

3. The division of towns into school districts and what pertained to that, was transferred from the town superintendent to the town board of supervisors.

4. The examination of teachers was more definitely specified, both as to quality and time, and was made a public affair, at least in general.

5. The county superintendent had jurisdiction over the teachers and schools in general, but none, not even in case of an appeal, on formation of districts.

6. A minimum salary was determined by law, and competent men found at least some compensation for the time and pains bestowed upon the office of county superintendent of schools.

Aside from the fact that the new system was manifestly-better in its whole organization, it was especially an improvement in regard to selection among so many more. In a whole county, except, perhaps, during the time of its organization and early settlement, there was a much greater possibility of finding a competent man, and a greater probability of actually electing him, than in single towns. - In the same proportion the county superintendent was removed trom local influences. He must live in some one town or corporation, but would not live in more than one at a time.

With the extended circle of jurisdiction and operation an increasing experience was furnished, by which greater perfection in the practical capacity of any incumbent of the office might follow. The objectionable point in the law was that it did not provide for a sufficient salary to allow a man to spend aU his time in and for his official work. This has since been remedied.

officers. To analyze the work of each, to praise or to blame, can hardly be expected of me, for of the number all but two are still residents of this county, and probably all of them are yet alive. Having had the longest terms of all, I may be excused from criticising myself and my predecessors and successors. Like everything else education had some beginning in this county bnt it did not grow so very fast at first. The reasons for this delay I indicated above. Inquiries at the office of the State Superintendent showed :

Beividere 2; one whole and one joint district. Buffalo 1. The location of the j )i_.!;-district does not clearly appear, but it being reported for the town of Beividere, the school house must have been in that town. After this beginning school districts multiplied rapidly and the report for 1866 is as follows: Number of districts 52.

Comparing the school population of 186G with that of 1876 we find that it increased very nearly 140 per cent during the ten years or nearly 14 percent, in every year. This decade marks the greatest increase in the school population although in the general aggregate of the population the increase was but 13 per cent, per annum for the first, and only 6 per cent, per annum for the second half of the decade from 1-865 to 1875. This may seem paradoxical, but it may be satisfactorily explained by rpference to the tables given under the chapter of " Population." To" do this here I think rather unimportune, and leave it to those who are fonder of statistics than most of my readers. The statistics of our schools for 1885 are as follows:

Comparing the school population of 1876 with that of 1886 we find an increase of only 485, or but little over 8 per cent, for the whole decade. There was, however a period in it when for three, and perhaps four years, the school population decreased.

Most people will understand that the difference between the number of school districts, and the number of teachers required to teach the schools arif>es from the fact of there being a number of graded schools. I can not tell exactly how many, if any, graded schools were established in 1866. But in 1872, at my first visit to the schools as County Superintendent there were only two, one in Fountain City, with two teachers, and one in Alma, with

I state that from memory and may be, though not necessarily, mistaken. In 1885 and 1886 the number of teachers required exceeds that of school districts by 10, of which the distribution is as follows:

The foregoing explanations show the advances made towards a higher grade of schools, according to the requirements of the increase in the school population and the elevation of the popular standard of education.

A school needs a house, at least in our climate, and the schoolhouse is in fact the first visible effort at education in most districts. Every reader remembers some one or more of the primitive schoolhouses in our county. The schoolhouses were somewhat in keeping with the other houses of the period, and no one will blame the builders of either class of houses, for we know why they were no better, and we also know, that that generation fel.t as happy in them, as we do now in the better and stylish ones. Yet we would not return to them, nor do we believe that either then or now such good results in instruction, and in education in general, could be obtained in the old schoolhouses with the old benches and the three by four feet blackboards. Of course, we know that some good scholars were educated or started in education in very poor schoolhouses and under very unfavorable conditions. But while we admit this and on the other side do not claim that our superior houses and arrangements will make first class scholars of all pupils, we are nevertheless proud of our improvements.

I will not go further back than my own first experiences with the schoolhouses of this county in j.872. What I found then had been constructed during previous y-sars.

Alma and Fountain City had brick houses, Mondovi a large and rather stylish fiame building. Out in the country there were more log-houses than others though 'Waumandee had one schoolhouse of brick, and frame houses began to appear, especially where large timber was scarce or boards conveniently procurable. A log house properly built s b}' no means a despicable structure even for a schoolhouse, but in most schoolhouses, and in most other houses built of logs, at least as far as my observations went, there was neither skill nor diligence enough expended to make Ihe edifice a success. In most places, however, there was a desire to patch and mend so as to keep the room at least warm, but this was not always possible, and now and then totally neglected, in which case ventilation prevailed to an uncomfortable degree. And' then the long benches, which among many uncomfortable qualities had the one, especially annoying, to compel the whole school to get into a commotion when a class of three or four pupils was wanted upon the floor. Usually those benches had not made any acquaintance with a smoothing plane and to write a decent line in a copybook, if indeed writing was practiced at all was a feat not to be accomplished without great caution and care. The temperature of the schoolroom was very variable, both as to the parts of it and as to the time of the day. Near the stove the pupils were almost roasted, in the corners and along the walls they shivered. In the morning it took a full hour or more to get the fire up to eflSciency, about noon the heat grew stifling, especially if ventilation was poor or totally neglected, and at that heat the room was kept during the whole afternoon, the only reduction occurring at recess. Of ventilation we will say nothing, we will not waste our breath about what never had any existence in most schoolhouses, notwithstanding the stereotyped report of numerous townclerks that all their schoolhouses were properly ventilated. But as I said, I do not wish to be too severe in my judgment upon schools and their surroundings as I found them. I do not, however, feel so lenient, when I remember the struggles I had with some~ofthe district boards in trying to do my duty in advising and urging improvements. It is impossible to go into particulars, and it would be useless to cite cases of that kind by town and number, but I remember one district which had pre-eminently the meanest schoolhouse in the whole county, and which had been threatened with condemnation of the same by my predecessor. That district begged and hesitated, expostulated and prevaricated during six long years, until finally, just as I went out of office, the new schoolhouse was up, but not yet ready to be used.

I would not be fair to the people of this coynty, if I would not state, that, although during the period of three consecutive terms, or six years, I had never actually attempted to secure the condemnation of any schoolhouse for being unfit for its purpose, I yet had the satisfaction of seeing many new schoolhouses built and others greatly improved. My successor had two schoolhouses condemned, the only instance on' record of such proceedings. At present, after a period of 15 years, there is but one old and one new building constructed of logs used for school purposes. As a matter of history I W'ill mention, that the city or rather school district, of Alma has this year built a new schoolhouse according to the best known model, with furnaces and ventilation accordin'g to the Ruttan System. That a new schoolhouse w-as needed hardly any one will deny. Years ago, in 1882, it was found necessary to employ a fifth teacher. As there was no chance to construct a fifth room in the old schoolhouse, the little Singers' Hall wrs bought, and the primary department instituted therein. But that room was entirely too small, and for no more than 48 pupils seats could be provided in it, in which I actually counted at one of my visits 74 pupils, there being in the neighborhood of 100 on the register. The cost of the new schoolhouse and all its arrangements I might easily state, but I will leave that to be ascertained by those, who can not value anything except by dollars and cents. A high school department has been introduced and six teachers are now employed at the school.

Another fight was that for the introduction of better furniture. Patent furniture was indeed in earlier times so high in price, that the objection to its purchase was excusable. But it was not long so.

Regarding books there was some trouble to effect a uniformity in some districts, mostly because of the carelessness of the district boards, but such cases were so rare, as not to be particularly remembered.

Maps, blackboards and other apparatus were sometimes wanting at other times defective and in most cases neglected. There isa curious experience in regard to such matters, and it shows, how little most school-officers are capable of discriminating in their purchases. Some times maps, charts and other things are sold by agents in almost every district, even regardless of price, then again it is almost impossible to sell anything of the kind. One instance of a prodigious sale of such a character deserves to be mentioned Some time in 1872 or 73 an agent went around with tablets of arithmetical formulas issued by one Wood, pretending to teach arithmetic perfectly by their use. There were some thirty or more tablets mounted on pasteboard, both sides, and at some places they were sold for $30.00 at others for less. The double tablet, if the formulas had been reliable would have been worth about 25 cents, but as this condition was not observed the whole of them were not worth even that.

Every one knows that this is true only when the measurements have been taken and expressed by rods, in all other cases it is false, and even when rod measure has been used, the division by 160 will only give the acreage and not the area of a piece in general.

But it is useless to say more about it, and it is only mentioned to show the gullibility of some schoolboards, and their readiness to throw away money at useless things, while they are but too often short of funds, when competent authority recommends improvements.

In this connection I may mention school libraries, of which we find a few, the only ones of some importance being at Fountain City and Alma. While the library at Fountain City and the mineral and other collections attached thereto have been growing in number and value every year, the one in Alma has almost disappeared and the books in it are few and neglected. In connection with collections at Fountain Cit}' I think that many valuable specimens in the same have been donated by Mr. William A. Finkelnburg, Attorney at Law, now at Winona, Minn., but formerly a pupil of the school at Fountain City, his birthplace. On the whole it is a credit to the schoolboard and the successive principals of the school to find the library in such good order and completeness. Let others take an example. Besides houses, furniture and other requisites, schools need teachers. In fact the other paraphernalia might be accidentally absent, and a teacher, one who deserves the name, present, a school would be in operation as soon as the teacher would meet pupils. 'This, however must not be contorted into the assertion that a good teacher is all that is wanted, on the contrary the best teacher, though capable of working effectively with the least arrangements and apparatus and other auxiliaries, is well aware of their usefulness, and always eager to have, and to use the best of them.

Not only in the history of new settlements, but everywhere we find that mankind makes use of the material on hand much rather than look for better. This applies very forcibly to the employment of the first teachers in our county and certainly in any new county. The school teacher, who in such places does not have more than three or four months of employment during the 3'^ear, and poor pay for that time, can not be expected to represent the highest type of the profession, if, indeed, a professional teacher happens to lose himself into such a place. But schools are to be taught, and so the person who ofi'ers to teach, is usually employed without asking many perplexing questions. Most of the town superintendents were equally innocent of any intention of bother- ing the teachers in that way. But-these primitive times of happiness of schoolma'ams and schoolmasters were not destined to last forever. With the introduction of the county superintendency a change of system, a more vigorous examination and supervision began to prevail. It was, of course, impossible to change everything at once, and to recast the old material into new forms and to make it available in these forms. Nor was the county superintendent placed into the position to enforce the laws in their apparent strictness. The "private examination"' and the "limited certificate" afforded the sly and indolent one or the other chance to escape from the dreaded ordeal. Indeed, the material had yet to be imported or to grow up. Imported material had to be tried, the growing'material had to mature. All this required time. The people, also, required time to get familiar with and .accustomed to the county superintendency. Personally I did not make any acquaintance with that institution during the time I was teaching at Buffalo City, being under the superintendenc)'' of the City Superintendent Chas. Schaettle, sr., Esq. But the system began to tell upon teachers and schools for the advantage of either. The annual examination, though by no means a perfect criterion of a teacher's actual efficiency, compelled all alike to come up to at least some medium standard, or to let people know by their certificate that they were unable to reach it.

The law creating the office of county superintendent does not specify the branches of instruction over which the examination had to extend; hence it is to be supposed that a law in that regard existed for the direction of town superintendents. There was, however, as I know from documents, a practice of granting first, second, and third grade certificates, before 1872 upon much the same examinations as now, but in 1871, after the 1st day of September of that year, examijiation in the Constitution of the United States and of the State of Wisconsin was added in all grades of certificates and made obligatory. A standard of attainments was really never determined and superintendents were left to the indications of the partial digest of the sehool laws published with these laws from time to time. A standard of a different kind, however, prevailed. It was required for full third giade to answer correctly at least one-half of the questions in each branch or fifty per cent. This seemed to me insufficient, and I required 65 per cent for full third grade certificates, and 80 per cent in common, or third grade branches, for either second or first grade certificates, besides the extra branches demanded for the higher grades. This created at first a sort of panic among applicants, but the justice of the deman,i was finally acknowledged and the standard so fixed has been retained ever since. This enabled the superintendent also to fix a minimum standard for limited certificates, which was equal to the old standard for full grade, at 50 per cent. Although I set my face from the beginning against private examinations, it took some years until people understood, that such would not be granted if they could be refused, (and in most cases they should and could be refused), and applications for such became fewer, and at last nearly ceased. Whatever may have been the intention of the law in creating third grade certificates, it must be confessed that the permission of a difference in these, some being limited, made this class r grade the general standard. In fact there were but very few schools in this county, in which a teacher was required to teach any of the branches in which he had to be examined for a second grade certificate, and it was of superior importance to have teachers well qualified to teach the common branches. A significant example of how a teacher with a second grade certificate might prove incompetent in teaching these common branches, I had in a gentleman holding such a certificate when I went into office, and to whom at first I granted one of the same grade myself, but was finally compelled to refuse any certificate on account of his flagrant deficiency in orthography and grammar. It is not necessary to give his name, but some of the older teachers will know him from this description. The legislature of 1885 passed a law requiring physiology and hygiene to be taught in every school, with especial reference to the effects of stimulants and narcotics upon the human body. This law, injudicious as I consider it, required an examination in these two branches, which, however, as very closely connected, I considered as one and the same. This is the present status of examinations as far as quantity is concerned. My 'own views of examinations in general I have so often laid down in the Educational Column of the "Journal" and the "Republikaner" that it will be sufficient to mention them here but very briefly. Examinations are necessary, and they have under existing conditions been the means of elevat- ing the standard of scholarship among teachers, and in turn of the schools. That they are as efficient or sufficient for all purposes as they should be, I doubt, but I do not therefore agree with the crude and antiquated notions of those, who think that a minimum of scholarship with a knack of governing a school, is all that should be demanded of a teacher, insinuating thereby, that a high grade of scholarship is rather unfitting a teacher for his duties. My maxim is, and always has been, that no one can teach anything which he has not learned, and that a more perfect knowledge enables any person to teach more perfectly.

Without flattering, or without intending to detract from the merits of teachers of other counties, I think I am justified in saying that the teachers of this county are at present as well fitted for their duties as those of any adjoining counties, and that even the pupils of some Normal Schools might find their match among them. We have some among them too, who have been at the Normal School at River Falls in this state.

As everywhere in this country we have a number of persons among our teachers, who do not intend to make teaching a profession, and for whom itdoes not pay to spend much more money in the preparation for their duties as teachers than it will cost to furnish them a thorough common school education. This is perhaps to be deplored, though it has some redeeming features, especially in preventing the profession from becoming too pedagogical or rather pedantic, and in furnishing a number of young people a valuable experience. Applicants for certificates, and also for situations as teachers, were always numerous enough, usually about 120, but in 1886 there were 139 in spring, and every year about 60 in the fall. In the spring examination there were alwaj's some pupils of the common schools, who did not so -much desire to receive certificates, than to see what they were able to do towards earning such. Admitting that this has sometimes been rather annoying to the superintendent, especially as some crowded in who had no business to come, it was encouraged as a means of emulation. In connection with teachers and the improvement in their attainments we must mention the Teachers' Institute. The law organizing the county superintendency requires every superintendent to hold at least one Teachers' Institute during each year. I have heard of but one short institute having been held previous to 1871. The great impediment to these institutes was that neither superintendents nor teachers in the new western counties had much of an idea what was to be done. It was found necescary to assign the lead in the institutes to some persons who had been practically engaged at normal school work.

In 1871, in the first institute I ever attended, and which was held at the schoolhouse at Fountain City, Prof. Charles Allen was the conductor. The attendance was, notwithstanding the location not being very central, still considerable.

The following year Prof. Allen was again assigned to our county, but, owing to his pending reitioval to California, did not come, and I had to shift for myself. The institute remained in session for about three days when it disbanded.

In 1873 Prof. D. McGregor, then as now of Platteville Normal School, was our leader; in 1874 Prof A. 0. Wright, now Secretary of the State Board of Charities. During the ensuing three years Prof. Albert Earthman, then of Rirer Palls Normal School, was the conductor of our institute. During the first year .of Mr. Rathbun's administration of the office Prof. J. B. Thayer, then of River Falls Normal School, conducted the institute. The following year Prof. Troining was the conductor and State Superintendent Whitford delivered a lecture. I think Prof. Thayer came again the two years afterwards, as also in 1882 and 1883. In 1884 Prof. Barker, formerly county superintendent of Pepin County, conducted the institute. He was followed the next year by Prof. C. H. Keyes, who waa then principal of .the public schools at River Falls, and in 1886 Prof. Thayer came again. Mr. Rathbun had introduced institutes of two weeks duration, but under my next administration we returned to those of one week for the reason that the attendance,* though perhaps not more numerous, was more regular, so that probably as much efficient work was done as would have been accomplished in two weeks.

The attendance at the institute was not uniform as to numbers. It was sometimes held at inconvenient dates, during harvest, or when teachers were prevented by other occupation during vacation months. The highest number was reached in 1884 when the ladies expected to be entertained free of charge by the citizens of Alma, an expectation largely realized for some years. This practice being finally abandoned, the attendance declined to little more

The regular custom was to have one evening during the week for lectures, one of which was delivered by Mr. Geo. Harper and one by myself, as long as I was superintendent.

Sometimes Dr^ Seller volunteered an essay especially on hygiene connected with schools, a theme not only very interesting but also of great practical importance, especially after the legislature went into converting people by temperance lectures to be delivered by the teachers.

The institute of 1887 was conducted by Prof. Brier, principal of the Sauk City High School, Superintendent Geo. Schmidt assisting. I attended every afternoon, but did not take part in anything except History. I consider Prof. Brier well qualitied for the position of institute conductor. The lectures were on Tuesday Aug. 30, by Dr. Seller on Instruction in Physiology and Hygiene in the Schools. The Doctor forgot to touch on some articles of stimulation in general use, especially upon tobacco. He probably thought it was not necessary to teach the boys to smoke and there I agree with him.

Mr. Harper read on "English as she is spoke." The lecture was remarkable for quotations of far-fetched word-derivations by sundry authors, among them Prof Stephen Carpenter, late of the State University. But there was one good point in it, of which some of the young wielders of the birch might take note - (of course, I know they won't) - about the Scotchman who prided himself on his English - or rather not Scottish - accent but was told by a drunken "Cockney" that he was "a bloody Scotchman." Among the wonders happening at this institute was the appearance of Dr. Stearns and his delivering a lecture. The "Doctor" is competent, though missing it in some of the details, when speaking about future certificates. Regarding the principle of not employing any one who had no experience, I will not say anything; but I thought of the fellow, who would not go into the water, until he had .learned to swim. Dr. Stearns lectured on the ''Teacher'" on Thursday night. The attendance at the institute was 57 all told.

Among the duties of the Superintendent is the one that he ^should visit every school once in each year and oftener if required. This duty is not specifically imposed upon him by the law of

1861 above referred to, but simply that he should "visit and inspect schools." I wonder whether the legislature thought he could inspect without visiting them! In practice, however, it was the reverse, the superintendent was expected to visit, but not to inspect the schools. At least he ought not to show any marks of his inspection; though he might praise, he wag not expected to criticise. Some schoolboards who were so ready to resent the shaking of a finger at their school and its fixtures, were almost as sensitive at the most casual neglect to visit their district. It has before been remarked that the powers of the superintendent were not adequate to the enforcement of the laws in their apparent strictness. He soon found that the people were applying the law against himself, much more punctiliously, than they were tolerant to his application of the laws as the same were directed against the carelessness, negligence and obstinacy of some school boards.

But the law was probably obeyed by every superintendent according to his estimate of the necessity of the visits. It was no easy task to visit from 76 to 93 schools during a winter term, and to the latter number had the schools grown in 1882, considering that the visits had to be made during the months of December, January and February. Winter schools, graded ones excepted, began about the first of November or later. Giving the teacher about one month to get his school into working condition, would put the beginning of visitation to about December 1st, which would leave three weeks in that month, since vacation was as sure as holidays. To delay beyond the 1st of March would often make travel dangerous if not impossible. To merely look in at the schoolroom, without observing or having time to observe, any great part of the work going on, might be a visit, but certainly no inspection or visitation, and would amount to scarcely more than nothing.. To spend more than half a day or the better part of it in any school was out of the question, since, even with the greatest caution and diligence not more than eight schools per week on an average could be visited, allowing for interruption by impassable roads or extremely cold weather. Summer schools were usually between 50 and 60 in number and travel easy enough, if not always delightful. The short terms and the scattered situations of the schools very often prevented a visit to all, h,nd might have excused ocoasional slights. The question whether the official visits of the County Superintendent were of any considerable benefit to schools and teachers, must be answered affirmatively, although now and then they were time and ^tiouble wasted. I introduced a system of term reports, not to be made monthly, but delivered to the Supei-intendent at the time of his visit, and by him completed, criticised, accepted or rejected. A copy being usually left with the teacher and by him or directly by the Superintendent delivered to the district board, served at once as a notice of the visit and its result, and as an admonition for desirable improvements. Though partially abandoned by Mr. Ra|;hbun (78 to 82) it has found favor with the people as an honest attempt of giving them the desired information. We have seen from the foregoing that in 1856 there were but three districts, one of them a joint district. I have diligently inquired into the location of that joint district, and found that even the first chairman of the town of Belvidere from which the said district was reported, could not enlighten me on the subject. So we have only two authentical districts, in which school has been taught during the winter term of 1855 - 56. The district in the town of Buffalo had its schoolhouse in Fountain City. The following were the teachers before 1861:

1859 - 61. Henry Kessler, who afterwards went to the war with Comp. H. of 6th Inf. He returned and taught again in Fountain City and other places.

The district No. 1 of the Town of Belvidere, in which school was taught as early as at Fountain City, had then and has now its schoolhouse on the northern line of the Southwest Quarter of Section 9 of Tshp. 20, Rge. 12, at the fork of the Alma and Fountain City and the Probst Valley Road. The first teachers, from 55 to 59 were: in this county. Died. It is, of course, imposible to give lists of teachers of all districts as they were successively established. One instance, however, may find a place here. The town of Alma is not mentioned in the first report on the schools of this county. But during the winter of 1856 - 57 the first school was taught by Dr. John Ehing, who received his certificate of Mr. Philipp Kraft. Both of these gentlemen are yet living, Dr. Ehing at the city, Mr. Kraft in the town of Alma.

After Dr. Ehing, C. Moser, jr., kept the ochool and was succeeded by Mr. Weisshaupt, who, I believe started the first Singing Society in the village.

In the following table I have endeavored to give the first or pioneer districts in every one of the present towns and corporations. This was an extremely tedious and in its results very uncertain undertaking, since it is now more than twenty, sometimes nearly thirty years since schooldistricts were formed, and twentysix years since the old proceedings were" abandoned, so that the people have forgotten all about these old occurrences.

The same may be said in regard to first or pioneer teachers in the towns. Few or non^ of them are at present residents of the county. Further remarks will be found after the table.

First Teacher

Most statements in the above table were made up from inquiries of old residents. In some places nothing could be obtained, except the statements in the Atlas of Buffalo and Pepin County, a very unreliable authority, havjng been hastily compiled by strangers from hearsay, as far as the historical part is concerned. In the town of Gilmanton, for instance, the "Atlas" says as stated in the table. But all inquiries on the point leave it to be inferred that, possibly the first school might have been taught on the west ade of Beef River in Gilman Valley. One authority says that JMiss Dora Cook, now Mrs. John Hunner of Eau Claire, taught the first school on the east side in a little loghouse between Mr. R. E. Fuller's and J. M. Hutchinson's. (This is now in Dist.

No. 4 of Gilmanton,) Afterwards the little schoolhouse was built near Gilmanton and a Mr. Peso taught there first; after him Miss Georgiana Lockwood, afterwards Mrs. G. W. Giltcey; after her Albert Southworth of Mondovi, brother of Ryland Southworth, and after him Miss Louisa Lockwood.

I can and will not dispute any authority, but quote the instance as one of the perplexities experienced in collecting information. So I was in doubt about the first school in the Town of Lincoln, it being possible that the School District at Mattausch's having existed at about tjie same time, if not earlier than the lower district, now called No. 1. I have, however, good authority for stating that in 1863 Mr. John Mair taught the first school in the latter district, the schoolhouse standing on the land of F. F. Schaaf between his own house and. that of M. Profitlich. In District No. 2 the first school was taught in the house now belonging to M. Hammer, and the first teacher was Miss Henrietta Ainsworth. In consideration of the above circumstances, which must be applicable to most towns I - beg the pardon of every reader, who might feel slighted or neglected by being omitted from the table. It will not be expected that I should give the time of formation and the first teacher of every district.

So far we have been considering public education, or education in the public schools with' all its concomitant arrangements. There are, however, some schools not of a public character in regard to their support, though, perhaps, not exclusive with regard to the admission of pupils. We designate all'schools not public in our sense of the word as private schools. In this county the private schools are all denominational, but may be divided into three classes; 1. Those with a full course of instruction, similar to that of the public schools, including religion as one of the important branches-of this course.

2. Those entirely devoted to religious instruction, cultivating a foreign language for, the purpose of instruction in religion and using rituals and songbooks.

3. Sabbath Schools of different denominations, sqme using, the German, others the English lan^guage, instruction being mostly of a religious kind.

These schools have a full course of instruction, using, however, books which do not conflict with the doctrines of the church. I believe that there is, at least for girls, a course of instruction in such manual labor as may be useful in households, as sewing, knitting and ornamental work. There has never been any complete and reliable report on the attendance of these schools, and in the absence of such I forbear further discussion. The German language, I understand, is an essential branch of instruction in thes'6 schools. A boarding institute is connected with each school. Temporary private schools are held every year during the latter part of the winter and in early spring in all the churches of this denomination for the instruction of those who desire to go to the first communion. TheSe latter schools do really belong to thQ second class.

Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Schools

Rev. F. A. Moeller who furnished me the history of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregations of which an extended account will be found under the head of "Religion," says of these schools:

"The above mentioned four congregations are dividfed into school districts according to local convenience. In these districts there is annually a religious school taught for a few weeks or even for three months."

He names as Teachers in those schools S. Odegard, John Am* dal, Lars Kjos, John T. Ness, A. Hillestad, E.' N. Bloom, and M. Garthe; he also mentions some others, but not by name.

These schools begin by teaching readine; and writing the Norwegian language, as all the religious books used are in that knguage. Sometimes it happens that these Norwegian schools, as they are popularly called, interfere with the attendance in the public schools, and I remember at least once that I blundered into one of them, intending to visit the public school in the school house in which it was kept.

Other Protestant Schools

of those members of such churches, who desire to pass through this ceremony. I think that, Rev. Nommensen, when he was in charge of his church at Fountain City, maintained a school with a more extended course of study, but I am not precisely informed about the facts in the case.

Sunday Schools Art Education

There is one kind of instruction, which though found in all parts of the county to a certain extent, is not furnished by schools, and not usually in classes. This is the instruction in Music. Bands and their members usually receive instruction by their leaders, at least in the performance of a limited number of pieces, further instruction being only incidental, notes and musical notation being only used as an auxiliary for the special purpose.

But everybody is aware that all the music is not made by the bands. Instruction in playing the piano and the organ has become necessary and is performed by numerous persons. Formerlj' these instructors, almost exclusively ladies, came from abroad and staid only for a short time. At present " home talent " is patronized. Some of this home talent has been improved and developed by a course of instruction at Milwaukee and other places.

Instruction in playing the violin, the flute and the guitar and other instruments is sometimes given by gentlemen having acquired some skill in performing on the instruments named.

Graphic Arts

we can not boast of much progress. The only success in quality is in Photography. In former times this art was practiced mainly by itinerant artists, who withjtheir outfits went from place to place, and whose performances were, to say the best of them, mediocre. In 1876 Gerhard Gesell established his gallery at Alma, he being even at that time a man of taste and ambitious of improvement, and he may now be ranked as as a first-class artist, who would certainly compare favorably with those of his profession in much larger places than we can boast of in our county. It might be questioned what photography had to do with education, but as it is one of the graphic arts, and as it has considerable influence in educating the taste of the public, I think I need not apologize for introducing it in this place. Drawing and painting have not yet made any progress among us, though the first should and could very well be introduced into the public schools as a regular discipline or branch of study. In both of these arts I have endeavored to transmit what little of knowledge and accomplishment I .possessed , and there have been a few willing to learn. Of late a number of dilettanti, mostly working up patent processes, have done their best to spoil the public taste, if possible. They were all "professors," a title with which the people of this country are very ready to decorate any one, who knows something, or pretends to know, what not everybody has learned. Typographic art will be considered in the chapter on the " Press."

To the question: "What is the result of all our educational endeavors, establishments and arrangements ?" We may fairly anwer: "Success." It is true we have not yet produced any intellectual prodigies, no genius in art or science has been awakened among us, but we have thoroughly formed the common mind and prepared it for the purposes of a c mmon life, and we have opened the road to higher pursuits. It is true that our young men have still to attend business colleges to acquire a business education but it is also true that they enter these colleges so well prepared that they are soon able to graduate with honor and to assume responsible situations.

It might be objected that some one or another discipline or branch of study has not always been properly taught, or even totally omitte in the schools. This complaint has frequently been made with regard to writing, or, as it is usually styled, penmanship, but our schools are not to blame for the prejudice of the people of some sections of the county, who, for instance, delight to see the itinerant writing master come among them to dazzle them with his curvatures and flourishes, with his birds and other impossible animals on paper, and who always insist that writing was not, and could not be, well taught in school. Where such prejudices do not exist the people demand, that the teacher should

Higher schools than the highest departments in our graded schools not existing in our county, such schools in other counties were frequently attended by pupils from this county, and in former times Galesville University had some influence on Buffalo County education, as being the preparatory school of a number of our teachers. My first contact with pupils and graduates of said university produced a very unfavorable impression upon me^ which has not yet been entirely eradicated, although a few instances have come to my knowledge, which prove, that the school might produce good results.

Very similar impressions were produced upon me by what I saw of some of the pupils of the Arcadia High School. I hope to be spared a similar experience with the pupils of our own incipient high school at Alma.

I really think that this chapter on education, as far as schools are concerned, is long enough. But, as I have already intimated, education does neSt end in the schoolroom. It is continued through life involuntarily and intentionally. All must and do learn involuntarily, but only the dull and stupid learn in no other way. Intentional study and self-education take so many devices, ways and means, that no book could ever account for all. But the greatest factor in education after school years is certainly the " press."

Of this we will speak in an other chapter as far as our own publications arc concerned, and perhaps a little, also, on other papers maost in circulation among our people.

Other factor are the Pulpit, Debating Societies, Lectures, Exhibitions, Theaters and Concerts, and finally Libraries. Ot the first, the ipulpit, we] will speak under the head of "Religion." Debating'Sooieties have from time to time been slarted and k(ipt up at different points -with some temporary success, but being u.sually the -fruits of some enthusiasm and rivalry among young people of a town or school district, they always expire naturally by the changes that are taking place among the participants, who are either scattered by emigration or become dissatisfied with their juvenile efforts.

times well patronized, especially those gotten up by , home talent. None of our larger-, places are, however,, large enough to encourage troupes of the better sort to venture into - them, and so we can hardly pretend to an educational character in theatrical performances by traveling combinations.

Howard Library Association

of Gilmanton. The idea of starting a library in that town seems to have originated with Mr. Sidney Howard,.whp donated the sum of $500.00 as a fund the interests of which were to be used for the purchase of suitable books. It is stated that the scheme went into operation in 1864, and I think there is also a membership fee of one dollar to be paid by each person who .wishes to be entitled to the privileges of the institution. The use of books is put up at auction if there is a particular demand for- certain works, other fees are not collected. , This library is doing much for the dissem^ ination of good literature. , Ten years ago there were abojit five hundred volumes, but there must now be more.