Dodge County, Wisconsin - Chapter 10: Watertoayn, 1880

Chapter 10: Watertoayn

First Settlement - Timotht Johnson's Naruative - The Fiiist Location in Dodge County - Li^TiiEu A. Cole's Reminiscence - Growth of Watektown - Pioneers - Schools - Religions - Manufactories - Hotels - Banks - Fire Department - Post Office - Societies - Government - Kewspapers.

As about one-third of the city of Watertown lies in the county of Dodge, this work would be incomplete without a sketch of its history. Timothy Johnson is acknowledged to have been the first settler on that part of Rock River now embraced within the city limits of Watertown. The place was known for some years as Johnson's Rapids. Mr. Johnson, not long before his death, wrote a narrative of his experience here, from which the subjoined facts are taken. He was a native of Middletown, Conn., born June 28, 1792. After traveling over and living in many parts of the South and East, he found himself, in the fall of 1835, in the village of Racine, at that time composed of but a few shanties. In January, 1836, undeterred by the severity of winter storms, he continued his march westward, striking the Rock River A^ alley in the vicinity of Wisconsin City, a " paper village" with one inhabitant, the site of which is now embraced within the limits of Janesville. Going to Rockford, 111., for a supply of provisions, he returned to Wisconsin City, and, in February, renewed his journey, following the course of the river northward. Stopping about two miles below the present site of Jefferson, Johnson erected a small log shanty. He occupied his time by clearing a small spot of ground, and in making short excursions about the country. During one of these exploring expeditions, he discovered what was soon afterward known as Johnson's Rapids (now Watertown). The banks of the river at this point were fringed with a beautiful growth of red cedars, the background being thickly wooded, on the west side with stately oaks, and on the east with a forest of maples, elms and ash. The eastern half of the stream was covered with a sheet of glistening ice, and, felling a tree across the unfrozen current, the solitary adventurer crossed over the rippling waters and returned to his shanty. While on this expedition, Johnson was robbed of the provisions he carried with him, by a band of red-skins, and was without food forty-eight hours.

Johnson visited "the Rapids" again within a few weeks, and staked out a "claim" of about one thousand acres, whereon the principal portion of Watertown now stands. In June, 1836, he made a trip to Milwaukee, where he purchased a fresh supply of provisions, a yoke of oxen and a wagon. He returned to his shanty on Rock River by way of Fort Atkinson, bringing with him Philander Baldwin, Reeve Griswold and Charles Seaton. During the summer, they cut a road from Johnson's shanty up the east side of the river to "the Rapids," and soon afterward built a log cabin on the west side of the river, below the railroad junction, on the side now occupied by Mr. Carlin's residence. In the fall, -Johnson sent word to his family in Ohio, to meet him in Milwaukee, which they did, and on the 10th of December, 1836, the little pioneer party reached the Rapids.

The first settlement, however, in that portion of the city of Watertown lying in Dodge county, was made by Luther A. and John W. Cole and Amasa Hyland. Mr. L. A. Cole thus relates his experience : " Previous to 1836, very little or nothing was reliably known of the spot where the city of Watertown now stands. It is reported that a Frenchman had established a trading-post on the west side of the river, in what is now the Third Ward, on a rise of ground where Timothy Johnson built the first dwelling-house ever erected by an American within the present limits of the city. Near the Frenchman's deserted and decaying cabin, was an Indian burying ground containing several graves. At the head of one of them stood a rude wooden cross, which tradition says was the last resting-place of the solitary trader, wlio had been murdered by the Indians in a fierce impulse of passion to avenge some real or fancied injury, or to get an opportunity to plunder his stock. * * * j jgf^ ^y home in Vermont at the age of twenty-two, and landed at Detroit in 1834. From there I went to Grand Haven, whence, in company with Philander Baldwin and Elisha M. Osborn, I went to Chicago. From that village we started on foot for Milwaukee, following the Indian trail most of the way, and arriving there May 10, 1836. I worked at the carpenter and joiner business until December, with the exception of about two months, which I devoted exclusively to the ague. Taking my blanket and provisions upon my shoulder, I started for Johnson's Rapids, passing over the road which had been cut out by Mr. Johnson a few weeks previous. Amasa Hyland accompanied me. A few months before, I had, through the agency of a friend, made two claims at the Uapids, one covering the farm now owned by John W. Cole, and the other the farm now owned by heirs of Benjamin J. Morey. In January following, I purchased, at Milwaukee, three barrels of flour and three of pork. I paid .$20 dollars a barrel for the flour and $-tO a barrel for the pork. Building a cabin in Dodge County in company with Mr. Hyland and my brother, John W., we commenced keeping what we called 'bachelors' distress.' The peculiar luxury of this method of living can only be appi-eciated by those who have enjoyed it. We made it a point not to wash our dishes until we could count the mice tracks upon them.

" The season of 1837, I worked on the saw-mill and dam of Charles F. H. Goodhue & Son. From that time until the fall of 1839, I was occupied mainly at lumbering and farming. In November of that year, Mr. Hyland, J. A. Chadwick, David GriflSth, William P. Owen, William Stanton, Jr., Brice Hall, John Dimmick and myself went to Arkasas for the purpose of spending the winter in chopping steamboat wood. We floated down Rock River in a skiff, and were eight days reaching the Mississippi. We remained in Arkansas until the following spring, each of us having a clever-sized ' pile,' when we returned to Watertown.

" In 1841, my brother, .John W., and myself erected the building on the corner of Main and Second streets, and opened the first store in Watertown. The next year, Mr. Bailey and myself purchased of Selvay Kidder (he having previously purchased of the Goodhues) 750 acres of land on the east side of the river, included in the present site of the city, with the mill and waterpower. We were to pay 1,000,000 feet of lumber, to be delivered at Beloit within seven years. We associated with us, the next year, Linus R. Cady and my brother, Ebenezer W., and, in three years and a half from the date of the purchase, we made the last payment. In tlie spring of 1838, provisions and money were scarce. We had but little pork in the settlement, and subsisted mainly upon fresh fish, with which Rock River abounded. Our flour having failed us, at one time we were nearly a week without bread.

"The Winnebago Indians committed many petty thefts for some time after Watertown was first settled. One of them liaving stolen a watch from Mr. Griswold, a pair of mittens of Peter V. Brown and a quantity of tobacco from me, we thought it best to make an example of him. Forming a ring and stripping him of his blanket, Griswold and I took turns in applying the lash to his back. But we tempered justice with mercy; no blood was drawn. The expedient workeil like a charm. After that, Indian thefts were hardly known in the settlement."

Growth Of Watertowx

Early in the winter of 1837 (about February) Charles F. H. Goodhue and George J. Goodhue came up the Rock River from Beloit, and purchased the claims of Timothy Johnson and others, on the other side of the stream. In March, 1837, James Rogan and two or three otlier families arrived. In May. the Goodhues imported millwrights, mechanics, etc.; built a double saw-mill ami put a dam across Rock River - the first ever built on that stream, either in Wisconsin or Illinois. The mill was ready for sawing and began to turn out lumber in December following. At that time, tlie inhabitants numbered about seventy persons. The roads were very bad and frequently iuipassable. In the month of July, 1837, a company of fifteen men vpent out east toward Milwaukee, and spent two weeks in the woods in constructing bridges and causeways, so that teams could pass with wagons. In 1841, James Rogan erected another saw-mill on the west side of the river. In the fall of 1842, the property on the east side of the river was purchased by Cole, Bailey & Co., who, during the following year, erected what was long known as the old yellow grist-mill. A part of the city was then laid out in blocks and lots, Milo Jones, of Fort Atkinson, being the surveyor. After that the village took a fresh start, and the surrounding country began to settle up with farmers.

In the spring of 1853, the date of Watertown's incorporation as a city, the place contained 4,000 inhabitants. There were six dry-goods, eleven groceries, two drugs and three hai'dware stores ; fifteen taverns (and saloons), two bakeries, three meat markets, two livery stables, one tobacconist's factory, seven blacksmith, si.Y wagon, two joiner, two jewelry, four tin, six cabinet, one chair, one machine and five shoe shops ; one fork and hoe, one plow, one door and sash and one saleratus factory ; three flouring and four saw mills ; one fanning-mill and two harnessmaker's shops, two bookstores, two barber-shops, one gunsmith, one tannery, one furnace, one pottery, one oil-mill, one carding machine, one rake and cradle factory, one woolen and yarn factory, two printing offices, six schoolhouses, two select schools and one bank. The census of 1855 shows the population of Watertown to have been 8,512, an increase of 7,000 in ten years. In point of population it was the second city in the State.

In 1856, the city of Watertown, among the institutions, contained twelve schools, nine churches, twenty-eight dry-goods, twenty-four grocery, nine hardware, four drug, six clothing, six boot and shoe and three fancy stores; ten hotels and two banks, five livery stables, five meat markets, four millinery establishments, four bookstores, four printing offices, one foundry, nine saw-mills, three flouring-mills, one woolen factory, ten carriage-shops, twenty-nine blacksmithshops, nine cooper-shops, three bakers, seven lumber-yards, seven brickyards and fifteen warehouses. The growth of the city since that time has been of the most permanent character. Schools and churches have increased in number and importance. Manufiicturing establishments have been enlarged to meet the demands of th6 populous territory which invariably and necessarily surrounds a prosperous city. Three railway lines form a junction within the limits of Watertown, affording a convenient outlet f)r the abundance of breadstuffs and other necessaries of life, the fruits of fertile fields and industrious hands.

At the anninl iiieeling of the legal voters of School Ui><ti'ict No. 1, heM at .V. Hoffman's shop, in Watertown. on the first Monday of October, A. D. 18-14, Timothy Johnson svas appointed Moderator. The District ("Icrk being absent, .Jacob J. Hnos was appointed (Jlerk pro tern. The following named persons were then chosen officers for the ensuing year: John C. Gilman, Michael Murphy ami Haven M. Mirrison. Trustees; Jolin Gibb, Collector; Jacob J. Enos, ('Icrk. Ou motion of P. Kogan. it was resolved that the year be divided into two terms, called the winter and summer terms, and that two-thirds of the public moneys be applied to the winter term and one-third to the summer term. On motion, the meeting adjourned sine die. Jacoh J. Enos, Clerk.

At a similar meeting held April 28, 18-15, it was resolveil that "the Trustees hire a male teacher for five months, and, if they deem it expedient, that they employ an assistant female teacher." And thus the foundation of the magnificent school system, now the boast of the citizens of Watertown, was laid.

One frame and three large brick buildings are now in use for the accommodation of those attending school under the union .system. Union School No. 1 contains all the grades, from the first high school to the lowest primary grade. No. 2 commences with the first grammar grade, and No. 3 (in Dodge County) with the first intermediate grade. The First Ward School contains two primary grades. The edifice of Union School No. 1 is in the Second Ward, and was erected in 1863; No. 2 is in the Fourth Ward, and was built in 1867 ; No. 3, Sixth Ward, was completed in 1871, and that in the First, known as the First Ward School, in 1878. The cash value of the school property of Watertown is placed at $31,000. The number of children in the city August 31, 1878, over four and under twenty years of age, was 3,672 ; number in attendance at the public schools, same date, 1,217 ; percentage of attendance on the enrollment, 83; number of teachers employed at that date, 20; average salaries paid male teachers $866.66'| per annum ; female teachers, $350 per annum.

The present Board of Education consists of one Commissioner from each ward, as follows : First Ward, Eugene Wiggenhorn; Second Ward, E. C. Gaebler; Third Ward, A. Solliday ; Fourth Ward, E. Sweeney; Fifth Ward, H. Wilber; Sixth \V;ird, C Reubhausen ; Seventh Ward, J. M. McGoIrick. E. Sweeney is President of the Board, and Charles F. Ninman, City Superintendent of Schools and Clerk of the Boatd. At the last meeting of the Board, the following teachers were appointed: Union School, No. 1 - Principal, Prof. W. E. Stroetzel ; High School Department, Miss Pauline Voss and John Moran ; Graram:ir, Miss Margaret Corbett and Miss Rose Bernhard; Intermediate, Miss Electra Wilder, Miss Mary Lembcke, Miss Maggie McMahon, Miss Ella Cohoe and Miss Ida Kopp. Union School, No. 2 - Principal and Teacher of Grammar, J. M. Turner; Miss Minnie Voss, Assistant; Intermediate, Miss Cora Bradbury, Mi.ss Emma McMahon, Miss Emma Schochert, Miss Lizzie Davis and Miss Sarah McMahon. Union School, No 3 - Principal ami Teacher of Intermediate Department, W. D. Parker; Primary, Miss Attila Stalltnann and Miss Celia Bouton. First Ward Primary School - Principal, Miss Anna Norris: Assistant, Miss Lizzie Price.

One of the ])rincipal educational institutions of Watertown is the Northwestern University, organized in 1861, by the Lutheran Synod of Wisconsin. A large brick structure was erected on the east side of the river, within the limits of the city of Watertown, at a cost of $24,000, and was opened for the admission of students on the 1st of September, 1865, with Dr. Moldehnke as Principal, and Prof Adam Martin as Assistant. There are seven professors now employed, namely: Prof Ernst, Teacher of Moral and Mental Philosophy; Prof. William A. Notz, Greek; Prof Andrew W. E;isterday, Mathematics; Prof Andrew Poller, Assistant in various ilepartments, and, at present, occupying the Latin Chair; Prof. Oscar W. Easterday, Assistant in Natural Sciences; Prof Thomas Snyder, Teacher of English. The school term begins the first Wednesday in September, and ends the last Tuesday in June.

Another is the College of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, opened for the reception of students in September, 1872, under the administration of the Rev. W. Corby, C. S. C. The Rev. Father Colovin is the present President of the institution.

Religious

There are fifteen church societies in Watertown. The first religious organization is believed to have been accomplished by the Catholics in 1841. The large and prosperous parish which now worships in the stately edifice known as St. Bernard's Church is the result; value, $100,000.

The Methodists were the next to organize a society, 1844. The church property of this society is valued at $7,000, free of incumbrance; S. P. Murch, Pastor.

Then we have the First Congregational Church, organized July 1-3, 184.5, by the -Rev. Stephen Peet; Rev. W. A. Hendrickson, Pastor; church property valued at $2,000.

iSt. PauVs {Episcopal) Qhurch, organized in 1847, by the Rev. Melancthon Hoyt; cost of church property, $6,000; without a Rector at present.

St. Henri/' s {Catholic) Church, organized in 1847, by the Rev. Father Gardner; present Pastor, Rev. George Strickner; value of church property, between $9,000 and $10,000.

German Protestant {Evangelical) Church, or giinhed in 1818, by a Milwaukee minister, in the old Buena Vista House; Rev. Edward Knaak; church valuerl at $4,000.

German {Evangelical) Lutheran Church, by the Rev. Christian Sans, in 1854; the Rev. John H. Brockmann is now officiating ; valuation of property, $9,000.

German Lutheran {St. John's) Church, organized in 1855, by the Rev. Louis Geyer ; present Pastor, Rev. C. Strassen ; value of property, $15,000.

Evangelical Reform Church, organized July 14, 1861, by the Rev. P. Joeves ; present incumbent. Rev. H. H. Meyer ; value of property, $1,370.

The Watertown Bible Society was organized in Watertown in January, 1848, by Heber Smith, Rev. Melancthon Hoyt, George W. Breckcnridge, William Dutcher and others, as an auxiliary of the Jefferson County Bible Society. The present officers of the Society are C. B. Skinner, Pi-esident ; Charles Roth, Vice President ; Conrad Dippel, Secretary and Treasurer.

Manufactories, Etc

Since the building of the first saw-mill by the Goodhues in 1837, there has been a perpetual hum of wheels and shafts in the city of Watertown. Among the institutions that have from time to time helped to swell the prosperity of the place, may be mentioned :

The Empire Brick ami Flouring Mills (originally known as the Old Yellow Mill), built by Luther A. Cole and Edmund S. Bailey in 1842, and the Emerald Mill, built by Fay & Cramer in 1848. Both of these institutions are now owned by F. Miller & Co.

Wagon factories have been e.'^ceedingly numerous. Green & Reed are believed to have made the first wagons in the place, about 1841. Those who have engaged in the business since then are Richard Jones, F. Misegades, Charles Krueger, John Koeler, Gotfried Krump, August Krump, G. Sprenger, S. T. & J. H. Bolles, Weisert & Bolles, Bolles & Prochazka, James Killian, J. D. Casey and Edward Davis.

In the cooperage line, Nathan Beckwith was the pioneer. Since his time, George E. Nixon, 0. B. Sanford, Chris. May and Fred Miller (F. Miller &. Co.), D. Kehr, Charles Ahrenberg, Andrea Aramen, Andrew & John Zickert, Bertram & Wegner, B. & H. Nute, S. Buragartner, L. Giese, L. Prochazka and W. Whidoft have manufactured barrels of all -descriptions.

George Washington Griffiith established the first tannery about 1850. In 1856, Jalcob Cech and Martin Hopf engaged in the same business, and, ten years later, A. Wegeman and A. Gardwohl did likenise. It is said that 1880 will be a great year for tanners.

Wiggenhorn Brothers, A. F. Miller, Louis Kehr, Charles Becker and Schlueter Brothers manufocturc an aggregate of 2,000,000 cigars per annum. Of this number, the first-mentioned firm make about 1,500,000.

A planing-mill was established in Watertown in 1861, by R. E. & G. B. Lewis. The firm is now Lewis & Parks. Chris Meyer and Philip Ileinrichs also carry on similar institutions.

S. M. Eaton built the first ice-house, in 1870, and now has two buildings with a capacity of 15,000 tons. A Chicago firm is also engaged in the same business.

Watertown has been lighted by gas for a quarter of a century. A. L. Pritchard, Daniel Jones, Patrick Rogan, W. M. Dennis and William Chappell were the individuals comprising the first gas company. The present managers of the institution are Gustavus Werlich, Theodore Prentiss, Jonas H. Sleeper and W. H. Clark.

L. J. Iligby built the first grain elevator about 1855. It stood at the east end of the Milwaukee & St. Paul bridge. George Peebles engaged in the business in 1856 ; John Betz in 1870. Jonas Sleeper, L. B. Tift"t and E. C. Wickert are the principal wheat-buyers at the present time. Pretzlaff & Betz recently completed an elevator near the North-Western depot.

Hotels, Banks, Fire Department

During the years of 1845-6-7, a mania seems to have broken out in Watertown for budding hotels. But what is stranger still, it was not an unprofitable business. The first in the list was the Lindon House, built by Patrick Rogan, in the fall and winter of 1845-46 ; then the Planters' House, by A. F. Cady and Gov. Farwell. in 1846, destroyed by fire in 1867 ; the Exchange, built in 1846 by a Mr. Savage, now owned by J. B. Van Alstine; the Schweitzer House, built by a man named Bruesch, in 1846 ; the Commercial House, opened as a hotel by Thomas Norris, in 1847, now the property of Manegold Brothers ; the Buena Vista House, by

Owens, in 1849, Christopher Smith, proprietor ; the Washington House, in 1855, by Herman Schroeter, now conducted by Fred Kronitz ; the Wisconsin House, by L. Krueger, the present proprietor, in 1874; tiie Junction House, in 1863, by John Mather, N. W. Piei'ce, proprietor. Among other hotels which have passed away may be mentioned the William Tell House, the Western Star Hotel, Star Hotel, Boston House and Kossuth House.

The first regular banking institution was established in 1853 by Charles G. Hager. Daniel Jones and H. B. Gallup. In 1854, the Bank of Watertown came into existence, A. L. Pritchard, President; W. H. Clark, Cashier. In 1858, the Bank of Wisconsin, with William M. Dennis as President, and P. M. Brown as Cashier; re-organized in 1865, as the Wisconsin National Bank, the present officers being Daniel Jones, President; P. V. Brown, Cashier.

The Fire Department of Watertown was incorporated March 6, 1869, with Leonard Jaehrling as President ; Joseph Miller, Vice President ; Gustavus Werlich, Secretary ; William H. Rohr, Treasurer ; and John Muth, Collector. The present officers are Eugene Wiggenhorn, President; August Fuerman, Vice President; W. Schulte, Chief Engineer; William Stone, Assistant Chief; Chris Becker, Secretary ; and Carl Goeldner, Treasurer. Under the immediate control of the Department are Pioneer Engine Company, No. 1, organized in 1857 and re-organized in 1868; Badger State Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1, organized April 17, 1869 ; Pioneer Engine Company, No. 2, organized May 24, 1876 ; Sack Company, No. 1, organized in 1878 ; and Coal Cart Company, No. 1, organized in 1878.

Post Office, Societies, Etc

A post office was established in Watertown in 1837, with William M. Dennis as Postmaster. Since the time of Mr. Dennis, the following individuals have held the office : P. V. Brown, Patrick Rogan, Benjamin F. Fay, John F. Kimball, J. J. Enos, Myron B. Williams, James Potter, Peter Rogan, Jacob Jussen, Gen. Bertram and Justus T. Moak.

Secret and other societies are very numerous. The names of the different Lodges, etc., and the dates of organization are as follows: Watertown Lodge, No. 49, F. & A. M., June 14, 1854; Watertown Chapter, No. 11, R. A. M., February 10, 1858; Watertown Lodge, No. 31, I. 0. 0. F., September 1, 1848; Watertown Lodge, No. 54, April 10, 1854; Rachel Lodge, (Rebecca) 1869 ; Watertown Encampment, I. 0. 0. F., 1875 ; Guttenberg Lodge, No. 13, S. of H.; Watertown Turnverein, August 21, 1860; Lincoln Lodge, No. 20, K. of P., November 24, 1875; Rock River Lodge, No. 404, Order of Harugari, January 7, 1877; Unity Council, No. 230, Royal Arcanum. January 4, 1879 ; Rock River Lodge, No. 330, Knights of Honor, July 24, 1876 ; Temple of Honor, March, 1877; St. Bernard's Temperance and Benevolent Society, March 24, 1867 ; St. Henry's Benevolent Society, July 15, 1867 ; Fenian Brotherhood, June, 1866 (defunct) ; Concordia Musical and Singing Society, an outgrowth of various similar organizations, July, 1862; Watertown Cornet Band, 1870.

Government

Watertown was under county government until the spring of 1842, when, in April of that year, the first election was held for town officers. On the 7th of March, 1849, an act of village incorporation was passed by the Legislature, and on the 22d of the same month the charter was adopted at an election held for that purpose, by a vote of 119 against 12. The village was divided into two wards. The first village officers were : President, Alcott Cheeney ; Treasurer, Edward .Johnson ; Trustees - J. J. Kier, Aaron Schultz, Asher H. Nichols, Daniel Jones, Patrick Rogan and M. J. Gallagher. Watertown was incorporated as a city January 24, 1853, and at an election held April 5, of the same year, Theodore Prentiss was chosen Mayor, John Kelley, Treasurer ; Joseph D. Pease, Clerk ; J. A. Chadwick, Assessor ; Lucius Brugger, Marshal; Daniel Hall, Superintendent of Schools; and William T. Butler, Municipal Judge. Fred Kusel is the present Mayor, and A. Schumacher, Treasurer.

The Newspapers

J. A Hadley was the Nestor of the press in Watertown. On the 23d of June, 1847, he issued the first number of the Watertown Chronicle, which he edited and published until September, 1853. The Chronicle survived until the fall of 1857.

The Watertown Weltburger, published by D. Blumenfeld, is the outgrowth of the Ameiger, the Weltburger and Ameiger and the Volkszeitung . It was established upon the ruins of these several newspaper ventures, on the 1st day of January, 1859.

The Watertown Repuhlican, published by Julius H. Keyes, was founded June 15, 1860, by J. W. Lawton. Its editor spells nation with a big N, in contrast with the small initial letter used for that word by the editor of the Democrat.

Among other journals published from time to time in Watertown, may be mentioned the Rock River Pilot, the Democratic State Register, Watertown City Times, the Representative, the Independeyit, the Transcript and Horger's Times.

The most recent journalistic venture is the Daily Evening G-azette, a twelve-column quarto, published by George P. Mather, price one cent. It was born on the tenth day of the present year.