Grant County, Wisconsin - Chapter 4: Platteville, Special History, 1900

Chapter 4: Platteville, Special History

In 1860 there was strong agitation for a railroad from Platteville to Calamine, and a survey w^s made in the faU of that year, but the war coming on, the project languished. However, the railroad com¬ pany was incorporated March 15, 1861, with M. M. Cothren, D. W. Jones, Hanmer Robbins, E. Baylev, Samuel Moore, John H. Rountree, N. H. Virgin, Nelson Dewey, and others as incorporators, and a cap¬ ital stock of $500,000. In 1863, the charter was amended to allow the construction of the road from Monroe to the Mississippi River, and in that year some of the towns subscribed for some stock.

In Januarj', 1867, Hanmer Robbins introduced a bill into the legis¬ lature, authorizing the citizens of Platteville, Lima, and Harrison, to vote aid to the Platteville & Calamine Railroad on condition that the cars should be running through to Platteville by September 1, 1868, In August, 1867, the people of Platteville, Elk Grove, and Kendall subscribed for $270,000 stock in the road, and grading was begun. The people of Platteville were so impatient for the railroad that they made a bee to work on the grading, and 113 of the citizens worked No¬ vember 19 and 20. Four of these men were more than 70 years of age and five others more than 60. Work proceeded slowly, however, and it was not until the latter part of 1867 that the track-laying began. Governor Dewey was of great assistance in building the road. He made two trips to New York at his own expense to procure money for the iron. The road was completed into Platteville July 1, 1870. For the month of November, 1870, the outgoing carloads of freight were: hogs, 20; cattle, 14; zinc ore, 16; powder, 1.

ville. It was projected by Galena capitalists. On November 14, 1872, Platteville voted $32,000 in bonds to aid the railroad, on condition that the cars should run into the city by one year from the date of the election. The time was extended to January 1, 1875. The road was built by the the time stipulated, but in so hasty a manner that much of the track had to be relaid. The Galena Company attempted to build the road northward from Ipswich, leaving Platteville out on a spur, but the Platteville people objected, and the whole matter was tied up. Not until the Chicago & Northwestern Company bought out the Galena Company in 1879 and completed the road from Ipswich to Montfort, making it a standard gauge, did Platteville have direct connection with Milwaukee and northeastern points by that road ; and after all, the city was left out on the spur.

In 1866 the firm of J. Augustine & Co. (L. McCarn being the Co.), brokers, was reorganized by the substitution of Isaac Hodges for Mr. Augustine, and the new firm I. Hodges & Co., began a general bank* ing business. The firm occupied a building on Main Street since occu* pied as a store by David Wilson. This building was badly damaged by the fire of 1870, and the bank was removed to the building on the corner of Main and Third Streets, since occupied by the post-office. In the fall of that year they erected a commodious brick building on the opposite corner which they afterward occupied. In March, 1873, Mr. McCarn died, and O. S. Griswold entered the firm, but he retired January 1, 1880, leaving Mr. Hodges to continue the business alone. The business was conducted with apparent prosperity until February 8, 1884, when the bank failed. The liabilities were $164,554 ; the nominal assets were $235,719, but they consisted mostly of over¬ drafts which were practically worthless. The bank had enjoyed the entire confidence of the community and the failure created no less sur¬ prise than consternation. It was a decided blow to the prosperity of Platteville, and reputations as well as fortunes were damaged.

The banking firm of W. S. Northrop & Co. (George Eastman being the other partner) was formed April 1, 1880, and soon had a large business. The firm withdrew from business in August, 1884, a few months after the failure of Hodges & Co.

The present banking business of Platteville is conducted by two companies: The First National Bank of Platteville with a paid-up capital of $50,000, George W. Eastman President, J. B. Evans Vice President, W. M. Hetherington Cashier, Clinton DeWitt Assistant Cashier, Geo. W. Eastman, Thomas Jenkins, W. T. Jennings, J. H. Evans, W. M. Hetherington, C. DeWitt, A. W. Kemler, Thomas Shep¬ herd, Eibe Reige, E. P. Newton, Directors. The other is the Platteville State Bank, with a capital of $60,000, J. P. Huntington Presi¬ dent, Duncan McGregor Vice President, A. J. McCarn Cashier, Frank Burg, M. P. Rindlaub, Duncan McGregor, Charles Roselip, Nadab Eastman, H. C. Doscher, J. P. Huntington, B. F. Huntington, Di¬ rectors.

Educational

As before stated, the first school in Platteville, and perhaps iu the county, was taught in a log cabin in Section 16, now included in the city limits. The teacher was Samuel Huntington, who remained in the settlement and taught about two years and drifted away out of the knowledge of his Platteville patrons. It is hard to say whether he was a professional teacher and an amateur prospector, or vice versa ; at any rate, his prospecting is said to have interfered with his success as a teacher.

The next school was begun in 1836 in a house on the Deffenbacher lot. It was taught by Dr. A R. T. Locey and his sister. They had about forty pupils In May, 1837, Hanmer Robbins opened a school in a log house near the present Congregational church. He had about sixty pupil§. The common school branches were taught at the rate of $4.50 for a term of sixteen weeks. He taught successfully until the spring of 1839. In that year the Methodist church was built with a view of having the basement for a school-room, and it was so used. Rev. A. M. Dixon, who came to Platteville, in 1838, opened a school in the basement of the M. E. church as soon as it was completed and taught there till 1840. The attendance in 1839 was 149 pupils.

By an act approved January 21 , 1842, the Platteville Academy was incorporated with the following trustees : Joseph Basye, David Kendall, John Bevans, James Durley, Henry Snowdon, William David son, Charles Dunn, William J. Madden, Benjamin Kil bourn.

Plattbvillb, Special History

principal builder. The school in this building was opened some time in 1843 with Prof. D. R. Carrier, A. B., as principal. School was con¬ tinued there until near the close of 1853, when the stone building was ready for occupancy. In the fall of 1845 Prof. George F. Magoun succeeded Prof. Carrier as principal. Meanwhile a common school was kept in the basement of the Methodist church, the teachers being Rev. Nolan, Miss Annette L. Goodell, A. L. Burke, and probably others. In 1846 the brick school-house>on Pine Street was built A The same year or the next the brick school-house in the north district was built. Thus it will be seen that Platteville was early at the front in providing educational facilities for its youth.

The academy and the two common schools were not the only means of education in the progressive young community. Through the efforts of Major Rountree and others, kindergartens for the very small children were provided, taught by Miss Julia Be vans, Mrs H. A. Nixon, and perhaps others.

In the academy Prof. Magoun was succeeded by Prof. J. L. Pick¬ ard whose reputation as an educator soon became broader than the State, and the academy rooms were crowded with pupils, not from Platteville alone, but many from considerable distances. More room was needed and the trustees decided to build a large stone building On the 5th of July, 1852, the corner stone of this building was laid with appropriate ceremonies. Major Rountree wa$ president and the address was delivered by W. R. Biddlecome, of Potosi. A box was inclosed in the stone, containing a copy of the charter of the academy, the subscription book, the names of the trustees and build¬ ing committee, a history of the academy, a copy of the Independent American , and a map of Wisconsin. Work on the building was prose¬ cuted that year as long as the weather permitted, but it was not com¬ pleted till late in the fall of 1853. In this building was housed the Platteville Academy as long as it existed as such.|\Under the principalship of Profs. Pickard, A. K. Johnson and George M. Guernsey, it obtained a high reputation throughout the State.

The Normal School

The constitution of the State adopted in 1848 provided for the support by the State of Normal Schools, primarily for the purpose of training teachers for the common schools. The Regents of the State University established a Normal department in 1849, but for lack of fends no Normal Schools were established. In 1857 Hon.

J. Allen Barber introduced a bill in the State Senate to create and establish a literature fund from the proceeds of the sale of swamp lands. At the same session a bill was introduced into the Assembly to establish a Normal School and Teachers' Institute. A special com¬ mittee reported a substitute providing that "the income of twentyfive per cent. of the proceeds arising from the sale of swamp and overflowed lands shall be appropriated to Normal Institutes and Academies, under the supervision and direction of a Board of Regents of Normal Schools appointed in pursuance of a provision of that act." The act passed. In 1865 the Normal School Fund was further increased by giving it one-half the proceeds of the swamp land sales. The trustees of the Platteville Academy decided, at a meeting held in July, 1865, to offer the academy building to the State as a Normal School building for $25,000, the State to assume the $4,000 debt of the corporation. On the 19th and 26th of August meeting of the citizens of Platteville were held to determine what inducements the town would offer for the location of the Normal there. At the second meeting the trustees were authorized to offer the academy building for a Normal School at a fixed price, the citizens of Platteville assuming all liabilities except the amount due the State. On the 29th of August a resolution was adopted for the levy of a tax to pay the debt of the academy. In September, 1865, the Board of Normal Regents appointed a committee to visit and examine the various sites pro¬ posed for the Normal School. This committee came to Platteville November 19, and met the citizens in the hall of the academy. Hon. Hanmer Robbins presided over the meeting. The subject was dis¬ cussed but nothing decided upon. On February 23, 1866, a public meeting was held in Platteville, presided over by G. K. Shaw, and a resolution was adopted, petitioning the legislature to direct the town clerk to insert on the town tax-roll a sum sufficient to pay the debts of the academy and leave a surplus of $5,000 to be appropriated by the Board of Regents of Normal Schools for building purposes. On the 28th of February the Board of Regents decided to locate one of the two Normal Schools of the State at Platteville. The transfer of the necessary titles was made May 2, and the building committee was instructed to proceed with the necessary improvements.

The first session of the Normal School was opened October 9, 1866, with appropriate exercises. There was a large attendance of the citi¬ zens of Platteville and the surrounding country. The exercises were opened with prayer by Rev. P. E. Mather. Then followed remarks by the Principal, Prof. C. H. Allen, and an able address by Prof. J. L. Pickard. At the close of the address an elegant silver service, consist¬ ing of a coffee urn, caster, and cake basket, was presented to Hon. Hanmer Robbins, as a testimonial by the citizens of Platteville for his untiring and finally successful efforts to have the Normal located there. The presentation address was made by W. B. Carter. The gift was received with appropriate remarks by Mr. Robbins. The exercise con¬ cluded with a reunion supper to the old students of the academy.

The faculty of the School consisted of Prof. C. H. Allen, Principal ; Prof. Jacob Wernli, assistant; Prof. George M. Guernsey, Professor of Mathematics; Fanny F. Joslyn, Instructor in History, Geography and Physiology ; Esther M. Sprague, Principal of the Model Department.

During this term there were 60 pupils in the Normal Department, and 38 in the Model School. The next year there was an attendance of 219 besides the Model School.

In 1867 the building of a new wing was begun to accomodate the large attendance. This wing was finished in 1868, at acostof $20,000. The dedication took place September 10, 1868, the address being de¬ livered by State Superintendent Craig. Speeches were made by Mayor Rountree, Hanmer Robbins, J. C. Cover, Prof. Allen, and Revs. Pond and Parmelee. General Grant was also present and made a few remarks.

The completed buildings consisted of the main building three stories in hight, 70X40 feet, and the wing 40X60 and two stories high, connected with the main building by a corridor 32X40. The building material is blue limestone. In 1863, a two-story addition 20X40, also of limestone, was built to occupy the west front of the corridor. It cost $2,000. In 1881 an addition to the Main Street front was completed at a cost of $20,000.

The coarse of the Normal is designed to train teachers for the com¬ mon schools. It consists of a review of the branches taught in com¬ mon schools ; with lectures upon«the best methods of teaching these branches; upon the organization, classification and government of common schools ; and upon school law. There is an advanced course to fit teachers for the higher departments of graded schools.

The first class was graduated in June, 1869, and consisted of Mel¬ vin Grigsby, Andrew J. Hutton, Edward H. Sprague, Louis Funk, Richard H. Jones, James Roit,Ella Marshall, and Alvena E.Schroeder.

Plattev1Ixe, Special History

as Principal and Mrs. Charlton became assistant. In 1874 the Board provided that the time of the elementary course should be two years, and the advanced course four years.

The Normal gives free tuition to students from all parts of the State. Each assembly district is entitled to eight students, and in case vacancies exist in the representation from any district, the vacancy may be filled by the President of the Board of Regents. The candi¬ date for admission is nominated by the County or City Superintend¬ ent, must be of sound health and good moral character, and pass a satisfactory examination in the branches required by law for a thirdgrade certificate. Upon the completion of the course the student re¬ ceives a diploma which entitles him or her to teach. The school year is divided into three terms of sixteen weeks each, beginning on the first Tuesday of September, the first Tuesday of January, and the second Tuesday of April. The total enrollment of 1897-98 was 658, of which 403 were in the Normal course. The total number of graduates up to 1898 was 134 in the elementary course and 535 in the advanced class. The number of graduates for the class of 1897-98 was 21 in the elementary course and 56 in the advanced course.

The Platteville Normal School enjoys a high reputation and is ac¬ knowledged as a most valuable aid in placing Wisconsin in its high educational rank.

Professor Charlton was succeeded by Prof. Duncan McGregor in 1878, and the latter in June, 1894, by Dr. James Chalmers, who re¬ signed in June, 1897, and was succeeded by Professor McGregor. The present faculty is :

Normal Department. - Duncan McGregor, M. A., Litt.D., President, Psychology, Science and History of Education ; Albert Hardy, M. A., English Literature and Institute Conductor; William H. Dudley, Biol¬ ogy and Chemistry; James A. Wilgus, M. A., History, Civil Govern¬ ment and Political Economy; E. C. Perisho, M. S., Physics and Geol¬ ogy 1 W. H. Williams, M. A., Geometry, Trigonometry, and Higher Algebra; Philip Kolb, Ph. M., Music; Martin P. Rindlaub, Jr., B. L., Latin ; H. H. JLiebenberg, B. S., Arithmetic and Elementary Al¬ gebra ; Thomas H. Gentle, Assistant Psychology, Pedagogy, and Re¬ views; Emma S. Wyman, B. I., Drawing; Isabella Pretlow, Geography, Grammar, Orthoepy and Reading; Alice E. Gifford, B. A., German; Ella N. Allen,. Methods and Supervisor of Practice ; Nina A. Page, Physiology and Physical Culture; Rosa M. Cheney, B. L., American

History ; Bee A. Gardner, Literary Readings and Reading Room Li¬ brarian; Emma E. Graham, Clerk and Text Book Librarian ; Lau¬ ra J. Rountree, Pianist, Instrumental Music.

Training School. - Myrtle L. Carpenter, Principal and Critic Gram¬ mar Grades'; Maud M. Averill, B. L., Assistant Grammar and Prepar¬ atory Grades; Edith A. Purdy, Principal and Critic Intermediate Grades ; Carol Goff, Principal and Critic Primary Grades.

To return to the district schools : Platteville was divided into two school districts until 1857, when they were combined into one. In that year it was decided to erect another and a larger school-house. After a great deal of discussion as to the location, a. site was finally chosen near the east end of Main Street and the contract was let for what has since been known as "the Stone School-house." It is a twostory building, begun in 1857, but not completed until 1860, and then only the lower storv.

The village was again divided into two districts and another schbol-house of brick was erected on Adams and Chestnut Streets, completed in 1863. The total cost of both houses was $12,000. The city now has a third school building called the Cottage School-house.

The two districts have been again consolidated. The principal is Prof. Oliver E. Gray, a graduate of the Normal School and of the State University.

The Northern Badger. - The first newspaper printed in Grant County bore this name. The first number was issued July 30, 1840. It was a four-page paper, five columns to the page, printed in brevier. It may seem remarkable that a county of nearly four thousand inhab¬ itants should be without a paper at the county seat ; but papers were not so easily printed then as now. Thomas Eastman was the editor and publisher. The first number contained, besides general news and congressional proceedings, considerable local intelligence and a short editorial on "Our Southern Boundary," a matter then of great interest to the people of Wisconsin (see page 136). The principal local article bears the title, "The Broken Head," and says: "Weare happy to hear from high authority that William Rogers is entirely out of danger and able to walk out. He could easily attend to his labors, but his med¬ ical attendant deems labor too early as yet. The legal proceedings, however, are going on, and should the- person aggrieved think proper to prosecute the action in the name of the people, or try a civil suit for damages the case must come before a jury. If we might offer a word of advice, we would say, keep the case out of court. We have understood, however, that a gentleman of great legal ability has been spoken of as likely to be retained for the defense. Should the case take such a direction it is probable that our young but highly gifted townsman, B. C. Eastman, will have an opportunity of entering the forensic arena with a veteran adversary in a highly interesting suit. That he will be retained in the pending trial we infer from the very deep impression he has made on the public mind by his efforts in the preliminary investigation before the justice's court. " The paper contains the announcement of the following candidates for office : Dr. A. Hill, of Lafayette, Cyrus K. Lord, Miles Hollingsworth, Samuel Lewis, Thomas P. Burnett, and Dr. Crockwell for the legislature: Stewart McKee, of Platte Mills, Norman McLeod, Darius Bainbridge, and Robert Langley for County Commissioners; William Macauley for Treasurer; Ira W Brunson for Collector of Taxes. It contained a few advertisements - three of them "legal ads," one a Sheriff's sale by Harvey Pepper. The others were the card of Ben C. Eastman, attorney, W.

Roulette, dealer in lime, J. Reynard, tailor, and Miss Longsden, teacher of piano music. Of course, the publisher occupied considerable space with a prospectus of the Badger . He also printed the prospectuses of the Phila¬ delphia Saturday Courier and the Brother Jonathan. Those who were readers in the forties and early fifties will remember this latter mammoth sheet, with pages much larger than those of any newspaper of these days.

The Badger owed its existence to the aid afforded by a subscription of money by the citizens of Platteville, Major Rountree being the leading spirit. The other subscribers were: Sylvester Gridley, W. Farmer, Thomas Parnsh, James Bass & Co., A. M. Dixon. G. M. Price. A., C. Inman, J. R. Vineyard, William

Thomas Eastman

Davidson, J. Allen Barber, Stewart McKee, Nelson Dewey, Jonathan Craig, James Groshong, Irvin O'Hara. There were Lancaster and Potosi men, as well as Platteville men, among the subscribers. The sub¬ scribers stipulated that the paper should be neutral in politics. The material was purchased in St. Louis for $754.41. The office was in a frame building' on Second Street, one door north of Pascoe's store.

The Badger was short-lived - just how short it is difficult now to learn,. as the only copies in existence, as far as the editor can learn, are those of the first four numbers, in the library of the Historical Society at Madison. The Wisconsin Whig and the Wisconsin Register, printed on the material of the Badger , followed ; but they were both very short-lived. For some unaccountable reason, a paper could not be kept up in the Lead Region outside of Galena. The Whig was pub¬ lished for a few months by Alonzo Platt, who sold it to J. L. Marsh and Dr. L. C. McKenney, who continued the publication about a year and then suspended it. The Register was published by Charles Mallet. It was Know-Nothing in politics. Only two or three numbers were published.

In March, 1845, J. L. Marsh (since well known in Grant County) started the Independent American and General Advertiser at Platte¬ ville. These double titles were then much in vogue. The American was a six-column paper of four pages, very well printed. It was neu¬ tral in politics and devoted itself to news and to efforts? to promote the development of the Lead Region and Platteville in particular. Contrary to the usual course of country papers at that time, it de¬ voted much space to local matters and preserved much of the early history of Platteville in a series of articles devoted to the early settle¬ ment of the place. It was quite worthy of the patronage it received, which enabled it to live, although (unlike its predecessor, which had a clear field) it had a competitor in the Herald at Lancaster, and later in the Republican at Potosi. Mr. Marsh published the paper alone until January 14, 1848, when he took in E. F. Bayley and the publish¬ ing firm became Marsh & Bayley. The paper was suspended in 1849, the publication being resumed September 13, 1851, by Mr. Marsh alone. The paper had a new dress of type and was very well printed and ably edited. The office was in Moore & Hodges's block. On Oc¬ tober 6, 1854, soon after the beginning of the ninth volume, Page & Chatterton became the proprietors and Harlan M. Page editor. Un¬ der Mr. Marsh, whose instincts were commercial rather than political.

the paper had been neutral in politics, but Mr. Page espoused thecause of the young Republican party, which that fall triumphed in Grant County. Mr. Page became the sole proprietor January 11, 1856. He published an excellent local paper, hard times of 1857 were too much for him, and on October 30, 1857, he suspended publication, and this time it was never renewed. The publisher subsequently became As¬ sistant State Superintendent of Schools.

J. T. Lindley published a few numbers of a paper called the Ex¬ aminer on the material of Page's defunct American , but it cannot properly be called a revival of that paper. Platteville was then for nearly two years without a news¬

Harlan M. Page

Grant County Witness. - The first number of this paper was is¬ sued in Lancaster, May 26, 1859, by Israel Sanderson ; but on July 14 of that year the paper was removed to Platteville, the removal being accomplished without missing an issue. Mr. Sanderson remained pro¬ prietor for about three years when he sold to George K. Shaw and Daniel Bockius. The latter withdrew in November, 1863, and in De¬ cember Mr. Shaw sold his interest to F. S. Houghawout. In less than a year Mr. Houghawout sold the office back to Mr. Shaw, w*ho con¬ tinued to run the paper until March 1, 1867, when he sold out to Martin P. Rindlaub, who has continued in entire control since that time. Mr. Rindlaub had been for years assistant editor of the Herald and was a practical printer. Under his management the Witness has been financially successful and for its full local news a valued visitor in nearly every household in the southern part of the county. He has always taken a great interest in the newspaper press of the State and has been for some years President of the Wisconsin Press Association. For some time the labors of publication have in great part fallen on the shoulders of the associate editor, Will M. Rindlaub, son of the publisher, who was brought up in the newspaper business and has be- come very efficient in it. The Witness has always been Republican in politics. It was successively enlarged from a sev£n-colutnn to an eight-

Martin P. Rindlaub. George K. Shaw

Der Correspondent , a German weekly, was started in Platteville in the fall of 1879, by Herman Melster and Ferdinand Reinsberger. It was an eight-column folio and obtained a profitable patronage. The partnership continued for several 3rears, when Mr. Reinsberger sold his interest to his partner, who continued the publication alone. In a few more years a more profitable field presented itself at Helena, Mon¬ tana, and the paper at Platteville was discontinued and the material shipped to Helena.

Platteville Times. - This paper was started October 27, 1881. It was a nine-column folio, Greenback in politics. It was published for about four years and then discontinued and the material moved away W. A. Thompson was the editor and publisher.

Grant County Democrat. - This paper was started at Platteville September 26, 1884, by W. H. Peck, formerly editor of the Mineral Point Democrat. He continued publishing it until May 2, 1889, when he sold it to L. C. McKenney, formerly of the Bloomington Record and later of the Boscobel Dial , who changed the name of the paper to the Grant County News, which name the paper still retains. In May,

1893, McKenney sold the paper to R. C. Huntington, who continued as its publisher until Septemb'er, 1895, when W. L. Washburn became the publisher and remained such until May 24, 1897, when he sold it to R. I. Dugdale, who is now its publisher. It is a six-column quarto.

Grant County Advocate. - This paper was started in Platteville in the fall of 1895 by R. C. Huntington, who published it a few months and discontinued it. It was followed by the Mound City Advocate , published for a short time in 1896 by James Conley.

Platteville Journal. - This paper was started February 25, 1899. B. F. Huntington is editor and publisher, and Roy C. Huntington is associate editor. It is independent in politics.

The Powder Mills

The great, demand for blasting-powder in the mines of the Lead Region was the inducement for establishing these mills near Platteville in 1848 by F. A. and E. H Stowell and D. Marble. They purchased the Griffith saw-mill on the Little Platte a mile and a half west of Platteville. The necessary buildings were erected and the plant got into operation in 1849. The first of the many explosions the plant has suffered occurred the very next year. It was in July, 1850, that the citizens of Platteville were startled by a dull, heavy roar that shook the ground. They at once surmised that an explosion at the powder mills had occurred, and hundreds of them hastened thither. They found the dibris of the packing-house scattered around and also some fragments of the body of J. R. Marble, who was in the packing¬ house when the explosion took place. The unfortunate young man had an engagement to take a buggy ride with the Misses Vineyard that very afternoon.

The destroyed building was replaced and business resumed. In the spring of 1855 the plant was purchased by Elijah Bayley and Laflin & Smith, the celebrated powder-makers of Saugerties, N. Y. Pre¬ vious to this purchase the annual output of the mills had been about 8,000 kegs of blasting powder, worth from $3 to $3.75 a keg. The firm had at first made considerable sporting powder, but this manu¬ facture was not found profitable. After the purchase just mentioned the output was increased to 12,000 kegs a year.

Mr. Bayley withdrew after about a year and the firm was com¬ posed of Dwight Laflin, S. H. Lafiin, F. Laflin, and Solomon A. Smith. This continued until 1869, when the Laflin & Smith and the Rand companies consolidated, forming the since famous Laflin & Rand

Powder Company, owning mills in various parts of the country. The firm consisted of the Laflin Brothers, A. T. Rand, Solomon and John Turck, with A. T. Rand president.

The mills are situated on a tract of 175 acres of land, the rough hills of the Little Platte, wild and unreclaimed, except in the immedi¬ ate vicinity of the buildings. These are scattered along the valley and hillside, seemingly without design, but really intended to be so placed that an explosion in one will not injure the other; but it has.sometimes done so. The buildings are low and plain, grimy with powder stains. At a distance from the buildings are the kilns for the burning of char¬ coal. This is made mostly from white poplar or quaking aspen. Wil¬ low is thought to make a superior' quality of charcoal, but it cannot be obtained in large quantities. The bark is peeled from the wood, which is corded up till it is thoroughly seasoned. It is then put into the kilns or retorts each 12X14 feet, built of brick, with openings in the sides for the escape of the smoke and steam. The fires are then lighted. and the mass left to burn slowly, or rather char, when the drafts are closed and sealed and the kilnful left until wanted for use at the mills.

The next important ingredient, in fact 75 per cent, of the whole, is niter or saltpeter. This attracts moisture very readily and w;hen moist cannot be ground up with the charcoal and sulphur. Therefore there is a furnace over which the niter is dried in an iron pan 6x12 feet, capable of holding a thousand pounds of niter, in which it is stirred up until thoroughly dry. It is then carefully weighed and transferred in canvas bags on cars running on a narrow track to the cylinder mills, about a quarter of a mile from the furnace. There are two of these mills, 20x30, each containing ten cylinders 2V&x7 feet. Into each of these cylinders is placed four hundred pounds of niter, charcoal, and sulphur, in proper proportions, and the cylinders are set to revolving at the rate of fourteen revolutiqns a minute, and kept at it for forty or fifty hours. The pulverizing is effected by two hundred and fifty copper balls which roll about in the composition and crush it. The crushing was formerly done with an iron wheel on an iron bed, but the iron was apt to strike fire and an explosion would follow. Even the copper balls have of late years been discarded for wooden ones. When ground as fine as flour and thoroughly mixed, the pow¬ der is taken from the cylinders and carried in tubs on a railroad to the pressing rooms, about a thousand feet distant.

In the pressing-room the powder is pressed into cakes by a hydro¬ static press of enormous power. A copper sheet about two feet square covered with a piece of canvas of the same size is first laid down and powder to an inch in depth is laid on; then another canvas and an¬ other copper sheet, and so on until the layers are about three feet high ; then the pile is pushed under the press, the platen of which is brought down with enormous power until the mass Will no longer yield to the pressure. After a few moments of rest the settling together of the par¬ ticles in the mass allows of still further compression. These intervals of rest and renewed pressure continue for about two hours, when the compressed mass is taken out and another is put in. The copper and canvas sheets are then removed, leaving the powder in thin, hard sheets called press-cake.

The pr&s-cake is taken to the graining-house, which is also dis¬ tant from the other buildings. It contains ten cylinders, each of which will hold twenty-five kegs of powder. The press-cake is broken up by cogged wheels driven by water-power. The broken powder falls upon a horizontal wire screen which is shaken like the sieves of a fan¬ ning- mill. The particles sufficiently small pass through the screen, while the larger ones pass off and are again put under the crushers. It is then placed in cylindefs which revolve for some time, in which the grains of powder are polished by rubbing against each other. It is then assorted into sizes by being pressed through screens, and taken in barrels to the drying-room.

The drying-room is of brick 20x40. The powder is placed in wooden trays with pasteboard bottoms, the trays stacked up eight or ten feet high, and for seventy hours it is dried by a current of hot air sent from a furnace some distance away. When dry the powder is put up in kegs and placed in the magazine to await shipment and sale.

All possible precautions are taken against accidents. The work¬ men are selected for their skill, judgment, and carefulness. When com¬ ing to work they change their clothes, their working-clothes never leaving the mill. Shoes without a particle of iron about them must be worn and the tools arc made as far as possible of materials which will not strike fire. Yet with all the precautions, explosions have oc¬ curred.

The first explosion has been described. The second occurred on the night of November 7, 1870. About two hundred pounds of pow¬ der in one of the cylinder mills exploded, blowing away all the build- in g and machinery except the water-wheel. Many of the copper balls in the cylinders were found a mile away. A clock in one of the work¬ shops was stopped by the shock of the explosion, indicating its time as 10:15. As no one was in the mill at the time, no one was hurt. The damage was estimated at $5,000.

On Friday morning, February 8,1877, the coining-mill was blown up, killing John Stout, who was working in the mill. There was about 250 pounds of powder in the room, but as some of it was damp perhaps it did not explode. The origin of the fatal spark was un¬ known. The side of the building was blown out and the roof blown off, but the machinery remained in place and continued to run. The body of Mr. Stout was found outside of the mill, lying partly in the water, with all his clothing stripped from him except his boots and stockings. The hair was burned off and the body badly burned. The loss was estimated at $3,000.

On November 8, 1877, the press-mill was blown up. James N. Me- Granahan was in the bath-house and, seeing the flash, plunged under the water in the mill-race, barely escaping death. He was severely in¬ jured, but upon his recovery he resumed work in the mill.

On Monday evening, September 16, J878, the most disastrous ex¬ plosion occurred. The report was so loud as to startle the residents of Platteville and hundreds flocked to the scene. The drying and pack¬ ing house, containing about eleven tons of powder, had blown up, leaving hardly a piece of the building, not even the foundation stones, in place. All the buildings were more or less injured ; the house for drying lumber, the keg factory, coining-mill, old keg factory, wash¬ house, old sorting-room, and store-room were completely destroyed. One of the cylinder mills was considerably damaged, as were the press and saltpeter houses. The coining-mill, at least two hundred yards from the drying-house, was badly damaged. James McGranahan was in the wash-house, taking his bath after his day's work, just as in a previous explosion. The wash-house was knocked to pieces and he was buried under the ruins. His cries were heard and he was rescued with great difficult}" from the mass of rubbish. He was'badly-cut and bruised on the head, shoulders and thigh. Jacob Kramer was in the old store-house and was somewhat injured on the shoulders. Mr. Toppes with his team was near the charcoal towers ; and the horses were so stunned that they fell down and the wagon was overturned. Daniel Schaffer, in company with some other workmen, was at work near the coining-mill, and, though the building was badly damaged, the men were not hurt. Henry Dobson, the engineer, was in his house just across the river, about two hundred yards from the dry-house. His wife had just asked him to eat his supper, before he was to go to his engine on the night shift. He and his wife were thrown out of their chairs to the floor. The house was badly riddled, the windows all broken and the plastering knocked from the walls and ceiling. A stone of a hundred pounds' weight came through the side of the house, struck the floor and the ground, and bounded up, passing out of the house near the ceiling. The bedstead was broken and the chair of Mrs. Dob¬ son was shivered to pieces. George Dobson was in a building a few rods from his father's house, painting kegs. The side of the building was blown out, the paini-keg tipped over and the contents thrown in his face. The trees for several hundred yards were stripped of their leaves, and one tree, more than a hundred yards from Dobson's house, was torn up. Daniel Schaffer lived in a house on the hill about four hundred yards from the explosion, and the windows and doors were nearly all broken and much of the plastering knocked off. The chim¬ ney on B. A. Jacob's house, nearly half a mile from the mills, was knocked off The explosion was heard and felt at Warren, Ill., more than thirty miles away. The cause of the explosion was uot known. Mr. Smith, who worked in the packing-house, had left it about an hour before the explosion and said that everything was all right when he left. The loss was about $10,000.

Just before the explosion J. L. Rewey had visited the works and was at the superintendent's house. "There," said the superintendent, "You have seen all there is to a powder-mill except an explosion, and if you want to see that I'll ring up the curtain." Without waiting to give Mr. Rewey a chance to decline the invitation, the explosion oc¬ curred. We may be sure, however, that the superintendent didn't press the button. Mr. McGranahan recovered and went to work in the mills again. He experienced another explosion in 1891. His experi¬ ence furnished the ground for a good bit of humor by a local writer. Describing a game of base-ball by a fat men's club, he said that when the heaviest one made a run "the ground trembled as it does when the powder mill is blowing up Jim McGranahan." Mr. McGran¬ ahan retired at last and afterward served as treasurer of the city of Platteville.

24, 1886, with three hundred kegs of powder. No one was on the grounds except the engineer, George Higley, who was severely shocked but otherwise unhurt. Trees were torn up and great pieces of metal were thrown a mile or more. The great column of smoke reddened with flame that rose up hundreds of feet and spread out like an um¬ brella was a grand sight.

On Monday morning, July 17, 1891, there was another explosion of a cylinder mill. John Lorey, who was working in the mill, was killed. He was blown a quarter of a mile away and the body struck the ground with such force that it rebounded about fifteen feet. The head was almost blown off and all the clothing stripped off. Work¬ men McGranahan and Hayden were near the mill, but were not injured otherwise than a severe shock. The engineer, George Higley, was at his post; the concussion threw him against the boiler, bruising his head. About 7,500 pounds of powder exploded. Theloss to the com¬ pany was about $2,500.

On Monday afternoon, June 18, 1894, a shock which shook the buildings of Platteville like an earthquake, and a volume of smoke ris¬ ing over the powder mills told that another explosion had occurred there. It was in the same cylinder mill that had been twice before de¬ stroyed. Scarcely a stick of timber was left on the spot and the trees were stripped of foliage. The saltpeter house, about a hundred yards distant, and the charcoal mill about the same distance in another direction, were badly damaged. Fortunately no one was on the grounds at the time except the engineer, Mr. George Higley, and he escaped unhurt.

The last and worst of these explosions occurred a little after three o'clock in the afternoon of February 24, 1900. The cylinder mill, the usual place for the origin of such explosions, was the first to explode. The fiery dibris thrown from this mill caused an explosion in two of the press-mills. The pulverizer caught fire and burned up. The engine room and other buildings were badly damaged. Thomas D. Bass, who had charge of the cylinder mill, had finished charging the cylinders and had given the engineer the signal to start the engine. A few seconds more and he would have left the building, but in these few seconds the explosion came. His body was blown to a considerable distance and badly mutilated, *all the clothing being burned off. William Rottiker and Fred Genthe, who worked in one of the press-mills, were also killed. H. S. Deck, a civil engineer in the employment of the company, was badly injured. He was superintending the replacing of some pld machinery with new and was in one of the press-mills at the time of the accident. E. P. Newton, the superintendent of the works, had just returned from a visit to the works at Pleasant Prairie. He had entered the grounds, but before he could reach any of the buildings the explo¬ sion occurred and the body of Mr. Bass dropped within a few steps of him. Several of the employees had narrow escapes.

Other Manufactories

Butler's Carriage Factory. - This establishment was the develop¬ ment of a small wagon-shop by one Mahaffy , in a small frame building near the present factory, begun sometime in the forties. It was pur¬ chased by Calvin Russell in 1848. J. Cheever was carrying on a wagon-shop in 1847, but he also sold out to Russell. The latter built the large frame building (afterward occupied as the paint-shop estab¬ lishment), employed eight hands and manufactured about two hun¬ dred wagons a year. In 1863 Alexander Butler, who had been for some years an employee of Mr. Russell, bought the business, and con¬ tinued to carry it on. Finding his building too small, in 1869 he erected a large brick building of two stories forty feet square, and put in new and more extensive machinery. The building cost $3,000. For years Mr. Butler employed ten hands and did business to the amount of about $25,000 a year. But he found himself unable to compete with the great factories in the cities in carriage-making, and so he gradually withdrew from the business, and now has a modest blacksmith and wagon-shop a little north of the old factory, which is now occupied as a hardware store and dwelling.

Hawley & Son's Carriage Factory. - In 1846 Gideon Hawley came to Platte ville and began work as a wagon-maker. He soon associated with Henry C. Lane, a blacksmith, and carried on work in a shop on Main Street on the site of P. D. Hendershot's harness-shop. In 1847 P. B. McIntyre bought Lane's interest. In 1848 the firm built a brick building of two stories 24x30, and in 1859 and subsequent years made additions to it. In 1855 Mr. Hawley bought out Mr. McIntyre's interestfand continued the business alone. In 1867, F. A. Hawley was admitted to partnership and the business was enlarged. In 1871 the junior Hawley took charge of a branch house which had been estab¬ lished at McGregor, Iowa. The firm manufactured every description of vehicle from the lightest to the heaviest and employed thirty-three hands, and did a business of $33,000 a year. Mr. Hawley withdrew from the carriage business, and in 1870, with the advent of the rail¬ road, he built an elevator opposite the depot, and in company with his sons and other partners, did a large business in handling grain and produce, having branch houses in several other towns. With the de¬ cline of wheat and flax culture in the county this business declined. In 1887 the elder Hawley sold out and removed to Denver, Colo.

Bass's M/7/. - This was built by N. W. Bass in 1847, on the Little Platte, about three miles southwest of Platteville. It is a frame build¬ ing, 30x40, and cost $4,500. At the time of the erection bolted wheat flour was a Sunday luxury in Grant County, and this was the first mill in this part of the county to furnish it. McKee's mill, about five miles from Platteville in the town of Harrison (for a sketch, see His¬ tory of Harrison on a subsequent page), was only a "corn -cracker" The machinery was brought from New Orleans and was up to the times, but was afterward replaced by more modern appliances. It had two runs of stones. After many years of operation Mr. Bass leased the mill for a year to Henry Pearce, and several years afterward to F. C. Folts. In 1880 new and improved machinery was put in.

Cheever's Mill. - This mill, on the road to Potosi, but within the city limits, was begun in 1859 by J. Cheever, and finished in May, 1860. The original building was 32x18, two stories high, but in 1865 an addition 14x32 was built on, and in 1866 another 8x32. The total cost was about $3,500. The mill at one time had two runs of stones, but one run was afterward taken out. In April, 1881, the mill with forty-three acres of land was sold for $2,000 to H. B. Phillips, who operated it a short time and then abandoned it.

Platteville Woolen Mills. - This establishment, a mile and a half north of the city, was established in 1848 by Davidson & Fairchild, and called the Limestone Carding Mills. In 1855 it was bought by B. A. Robinson. It was burned during the war and rebuilt in 1865 by N. W. Bass. In 1866 it was owned by Bass & Nye. The building is a frame with a stone basement. In 1880 the mill employed eight hands and was worked principally on blankets and flannels. The annual sales were about $25,000. Like Platteville's other manufactures, it

Plattey1Lle, Special History

Snowden's Foundry and Machine Shop. - This establishment was begun early in 1850 by R. & G. Snowden. It was located on Second Street, between Rountree and Cedar. At this time there was a small foundry at Galena, but none in Dubuque nor anywhere else in the Lead Region. The Snowden Brothers started in on a considerable scale, building a steam engine the first year. The shop was of brick 25x36. The firm manufactured engines, pumps, turbines, castings for mills and machinery and a great variety of work. At one time their work went all over the State, but with the building up of large cities with immense plants, the Platteville foundry was obliged to restrict its work to local demands. Robert Snowden went West in war time and Randolph Snowden, the remaining member of the firm, committed sui¬ cide in 1883* making an end of the business.

Straw's Furnace. - This old furnace is on the Dubuque road inside the city limits. It was built in 1838 by James R. Vineyard and Leon¬ ard Coates, and was 20x40, with one shaft and a capacity for smelt¬ ing two "shifts" of mineral a day. After operating the furnace day and night for four years, the proprietors sold it to O'Hara & Hopper for $4,000. In about five years more the latter firm sold to Leonard Coates and Robert Chapman. Henry Snowden was also a silent partner. The new proprietors put in another shaft at a cost of $1,500, and did an immense business. Prom 1848 until 1851 Mr. Coates con* ducted the business, when he sold it to Straw, Spenseley & Staley. Staley was killed by accident and Straw & Spenseley continued to carry on the business. In 1880 the furnace was turning out 350 pigs a week. An account o*" the output of this furnace will be found on pages 238 - 9. It ceased operations in 1892, and in 1893 Mr. Straw died.

Rickard's Machine Shop. - This shop was established about I860, on Furnace, near Mineral Street by Rickard & Son. The firm engaged in building engines, saw machines, fan-blowers, turning-lathes, etc. In 1874 the establishment was moved into a new shop at the east end of Mineral Street. About 1880 it engaged in the manufacture of the Gratiot Patent Heater, a device invented by a resident of Platteville for drying grain preparatory to grinding. The firm turned out fifteen of the heaters a week, employing four hands. This industry

Hi8Tory Of Grant County

The Plattevilk Brewery. - This was built in 1868 by Dennis Centliver. In 1871 John Kemler became the possessor through foreclosure of a mortgage. Immediately afterward the brewery was destroyed by fire. In 1872 the main building was rebuilt. It is of stone fiftysix feet square, two stpries high. There is an ice-house, of stone 25x56, and a barn 20x30 with two stories and basement; also a brick dwell¬ ing 20x30, two stories.

In the fall of 1875 the brewery was sold to Richard Briscoe and H. F. Rehmsted, who conducted the business until 1878, when the estab¬ lishment went into the hands of a receiver, John Kemler, who after¬ ward became half owner of the property.

Genesee Mill - This was built in the spring of 1851 by N. H. Vir¬ gin, on the Little Platte near the Lancaster road, two miles from the city. The building is of stone 36x40, two stories high. It had three runs of stones. In 1864 Mr. Virgin sold to Julius Augustine for $7,- 500. The latter carried on the business till 1869, when he sold to Stephen Carhart for $10,000. A year afterward Carhart sold to Burley Jacobs, and in 1879 J. C. Holloway became the owner under the foreclosure of a mortgage. The mill was operated only at inter¬ vals after that and was at last abandoned.

Virgin's Flour Mills. - In the fall of 1838 J. H. Rountree, N. H. Virgin, and Neeley Gray formed a partnership for the erection of a grist-mill. Platteville then depended on McKee's "corn-cracker" five miles distant. In the spring of 1839 the firm began putting up the frame of a mill building, the timbers having been cut and hewn the previous winter. The work went on slowly and was not completed until the spring of 1840, and the machinery was not got into working order till the fall of that year. It was a three-story frame building 36x40, with two runs of stones driven by an overshot wheel ; capacity 150 bushels a day. In 1843 Mr. Rountree withdrew, and in 1849 Mr. Gray did likewise, and Mr. Virgin became sole owner. In 1863 the old building was torn down and a new stone building of the same dimen¬ sions erected on the site. The cost of the new mill was $10,000.

Butter Tub Factories - In 1870 A. Potter established a butter tub factory on Elm Street, and for a time it employed six hand': and turned out about two thousand tubs a month. b:it in a tew years the business declined. Conrad Weitenh:.!!^x succeeded Mr. Potter in a modest busi- It: 1890 John D. Plapp established a shop near Butler's factory,

The manufacture in Platteville probably employing more hands than any other branch is that of cigars. M. S. Sickle & Co. have a factory employing about twenty-five hands, and Knebel & Steffens have one somewhat smaller.

The city has a system of waterworks constructed in 1896. The contract for the works, exclusive of the well, was let to Fairbanks, Morse &Co., of Chicago, for $13,635. The well is 1,740 feet deep, go¬ ing down into the Potsdam Sandstone for soft water.

A system of electric lights was put in a few years ago under a fran¬ chise to private parties. In winter the plant heats several buildings with st* .:r.. Tr.* street lamps are of the incandescent type.

1 .atteville Cemetery Association - The first cemetery of Platte¬ ville was laid out on land donated by Rountree & Virgin, south of Virgin's mill. Here the dead of Platteville were buried until about 1850, when the space became.all occupied with graves and a new cem¬ etery became necessary. The old one was deeded to the village on condition that the village should forever care for it. A cemetery asso¬ ciation was formed September 15, 1855, with the following officers: John Lewis, president; I. S. Clark, secretary; V. P Eastman, treas¬ urer; N. Goodrich, J. L. Pickard, H. C. Lane, H. Perry, John Lewis, and William Butler, trustees. Ten acres of land in Section 16*, west of the city, was purchased and laid out and handsomely adorned.

Methodist Episcopal Church - In the spring of 1832 Major Roun¬ tree and his wife and W. B. Vineyard and his wife met in a log cabin on Major Rountree's grounds and organized a Methodist class, the first in what is now Grant County. Rev. Smith L. Robinson preached a few times, but on the outbreak of the Black Hawk War he left the lead mines. Rev. John Mitchell came in the fall of 1832 and preached in the log house referred to. The next year both he and Rev. Barton Randall were assigned to this circuit and meetings were held at Platte¬ ville with some regularity. When the log school-house was built on the east side of Section 16, it was used as a meeting-house. There was preaching by Revs. Hooper Cruse, John Hadley, James Mitchejl, and

Lorenzo Bevans, who united the calling of exhorter with those of law¬ yer and prospector. In the early winter of 1836 Rev. Janies Mitchell had a great revival, services being held in a log house on the corner of Furnace and Fourth Streets. The population of the settlement having largely increased, the need of a more commodious church building was felt. Rev. Samuel Mitchell, an old but energetic man; came to Platteville in the spring of 1837 and succeeded in raising a subscription of $1,500 for building a Methodist church, but the amount was not suffi¬ cient and the work was postponed. In January, 1839, Major Roun¬ tree deeded to the trustees of the M. E. Church a lot on condition that the basement of the church building to be built on it should be used for a school. The trustees were Samuel Mitchell, John F. Lyttle, James Mitchell, Robert Chapman, Peter Bell, J. H. Rountree, Bennett At¬ wood, A. R. T. Locey, and William C. Smith. The building was erected in the summer of 1839. It was a frame 30X40, capable of seating three hundred persons. Rev. Wellington Weigley preached the dedi¬ catory sermon. The building cost $2,600. It has been repeatedly stated in print that this church was built in 1837, but the conditions of the deed of the lot show that it was not built before 1839.

In 1837 a Methodist preacher named B. Weed came to Platteville and in a short time got into trouble with the resident preacher, James Mitchell, who combined the pursuit of lucre as a merchant with, the preaching of the gospel. Weed preferred charges against Mitchell and a long-drawn trial disturbed the Methodist society for two years, when the tribunal decided that Mr. Mitchell was not guilty of - what¬ ever it was.

The amount raised by subscription had not been sufficient to pay for the church building at the time it was built, and Major Rountree advanced the rest on a mortgage, which he was obliged to foreclose some years later. By 1845, however, the society had become suffi¬ ciently wealthy to begin the erection of a brick church on the corner of Main and Chestnut Streets. The veteran Samuel Mitchell was still the leading spirit in raising the money and spending it, supervising the details of building. The church was of brick, 40X50, with a steeple. It served as a place of worship for about thirty years. In 1877 it was decided to have a new church. Rev. G. W. Case, Major Rountree, and Captain John Grindell were appointed a building committee. They visited Oregon, Illinois, and decided to adopt the plan of the church there with some changes and improvements. The old church was de- molished to clear the site for the new one. While the latter was being built the congregation held services in the Stone School-house. The corner-stone of the edifice was laid in July, 1877, Revs. Bonson and Knox officiating. The building was roofed and the lecture-room pre¬ pared for services that fall and the whole building completed the next year. The dedicatory sermon was preached on Thanksgiving Day,

Methodist Episcopal Church, Platteville

1878, by Rev. Dr. Hatfield, of Chicago. The edifice is on the corner of Main and Chestnut Streets, fronting on the former. It is of brick, 60X90, of the Queen Anne style of architecture. It has one tower one hundred teet and another seventy feet high above the pavement. Its seating capacity is one thousand and it is practically fire-proof. Be- fore the establishment of the electric light plant the church was lighted with gas manufactured on the premises. In one of the towers is a clock that cost $1,025. There are six memorial windows : one at the southern front to the memory of Mrs. Mary Grace Rountree, by her family ; two on the eastern front, one in memory of the veteran Sam¬ uel Mitchell and his wife Eleanor, contributed by John H. Rountree, J. S. Mitchell, J. F. Mitchell, and John T. Hancock - the other to Fred¬ erick V. H oilman and his wife, contributed by their son, James Hollman; two at the western end, one to Mr. and Mrs. John McMurty, and the other to Mrs. Hannah Howdle; also one to Mr. and Mrs. David Cook.

Primitive Methodist Church . This society was organized in Platteville in 1847, by Rev. Mr. Lazembee. The original society consisted of John Trenary, John Chapman, John Clayton, Mark Waters and his wife, Mrs. Mary Bonson, Mrs. Verran, and Henry Snowden and his family, and perhaps a few others. The members first attended church at Shullsburg. About 1850 a small church building was erected near the comer of Cedar and Second Streets, and about ten years later a brick building about thirty-five feet square, with a seating capacity of two'hundred, was erected on the site of the old church. Since then the scoietv has built a parsonage. The following are some of the pastors : Revs. Frederick Dobson, James Evans, John Sharpe, Charles Dawson Charles Doughty, George Wells, Henry Lewis, Christopher Hendra, JosephfHewitt, John Harrington, James Arnold, and Aaron Breeze.

The Congregational Chtjrch. - Next to the M. E. Church this is the oldest church society organized in western Wisconsin. It was organ¬ ized as a Presbyterian congregation, August 17, 1839, with nine mem- bers. The first year it had no preacher and no church building- In August, 1840, the Rev. Solomon Chaffee began to preach in Platteville on alternate Sundays. The same fall Rev. James Gallagher, an itinerant evangelist of the Presbyterian faith, came to Platteville and held protracted meetings in the Methodist church. He converted about thirty who joined the church, and in a short time collected $85, and, while rumors began to come in that he was a " blackleg," he dis¬ appeared. There was never any confirmation of the rumors. For a time the society held worship on the ground floor of the new academy building completed in 1842. Rev. A. M. Dixon preached in 1841 and 1842 ; in November of that year Rev. E. G. Bradford began preaching and continued till early in 1844. In the summer of that year Rev. J. D. Stevens became the pastor of the society and continued as such about three years. In 1844 the society bought two lots as a church site, and the next year began the erection of a church building, which was completed and dedicated December 20, 1846. On September 1, 1847, Rev. John Lewis began a long and successful pastorate. In July, 1849, the society, by a unanimous vote, and in accordance with a special act of the legislature, changed its name and form of govern¬ ment from Presbyterian to Congregational. The society grew consid¬ erably, principally from accessions during revivals in 1849, 1851, and 1855. The health of Mr. Lewis having becbme very poor, the congre¬ gation gave him a recess of a year, his place being filled by Rev. D. W. Pickard. In 1860 the church accepted his repeatedly tendered resig¬ nation, and five months afterward he died. In the interim the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Charles Jones and occasionally others, until De¬ cember, 1861, when Rev. J. E. Pond accepted the pastorate. In 1868 the second church building was torn down to clear the site (at the corner of Bonson and Furnace Streets) for the erection of a new build¬ ing. The plans were proposed by George Nettleton, to cost $11,000, and the building promptly put up. The dedicatory sermon was preached July 19, 1869, by Rev. Dr. Whiting of Dubuque. At the close of the sermon the matter of the church debt was brought up and in less than an hour's time a sufficient sum to pay it off was subscribed. Mr. Pond's ministry continued until 1872, and was fpirly prosperous. In November of that year Rev. A. P, Johnson, of Woodstock, Ill., ac¬ cepted the pastorate on six months' trial, and at the end of that time became the permanent pastor, continuing in that capacity until 1886. He was succeeded by Rev. W. H. Carter, who remained until 1893 and was succeeded by Rev. Charles Wight, the present pastor.

St. Mary's Catholic Church . - In the fall of 1842 the Rev. Janies Causse established a mission at Plattevilleand said mass in the houses of John Morrison, Bernard McKernan, and John Micka. He sueceeded in raising money to begin building a church that year and complete it in 1843, but for some reason it was not dedicated nor used until 1844, mass being said meanwhile at private houses. The church was a frame 24x36. Many contributions were made by non-Catholic residents, Major Rountree donating the lot. The members of the con¬ gregation in 1844 were John Morrison, John Micka, Bernard McKer¬ nan and the families of these, Edward Dorsey, David Gardner, Patrick Bannagan, Anthony Hallagan, Owen Gallagher, James McLaughlin, Michael Maher, Peter Carroll, Frank Fies, J. Droulette, Philip Reilly, Patrick McMahon, Cornelius and Joseph Schutner, Casper Hermann, Mrs. Pitts, James Savage, Patrick O'Malley, the Hennessey brothers, the McGovern brothers, and others. The church was a mission at¬ tached to the Potosi and Mineral Point parishes for some years, but afterward became an independent parish. In the spring of 1871 the foundation of a church building was laid. The corner-stone was laid May 13, with appropriate ceremonies, Rev. H. P. Albrecht preaching the sermon. The construction was pushed with vigor, and on Novem¬ ber 21 of the same year the building was dedicated, the Right Rev. Bishop Henni officiating. The edifice is of brick 40x80, with a seat¬ ing capacity of 400 and cost complete $15,000. The following pre¬ lates have been in charge: Rev. Fathers James Causse, Doherty, Fran¬ cis di Vivaldi, Martin Hobbes, M. W. Gibson, P. A. Vorssen. Charles Exel, Joseph Prasch, M J. Goerger, Philip Albrecht, J. M. Cleary, J. Gmeiner, W. Miller, Gerhardt, Wibbert, and E. Allen.

Trinity Episcopal Church. - Before 1862 the limited number of Episcopalians in Plattevllle did not justify the establishment of a parish there and those of that faith worshiped at Lancaster and else¬ where. In that year Rev. L. C Millette established a mission at Platteville. At that time there were only two adult communicants of that faith in the place : George R. Laughton and Miss Wilhelmina Hooper. For a year or more services were held in the houses of mem¬ bers; then the Stone School-house was obtained as a meeting-place until the growing congregation was able to build a church. In 1863 Rev. C. H. Rice superseded Mr. Millette and remained until November, 1864. After an interim he was succeeded by Rev. Francis Moore. As early as 1863 attempts were made to raise funds for a church by subscription, but not succeeding, Mr. H. Kimball went East and raised the money. In 1865 the building was begun, but it proceeded slowly. A debt of $1,200 prevented the consecration of the church until Eas¬ ter Sunday of 1867, when money to pay the debt was raised. The building was formally dedicated in August of that year, Right Rev. Wm. E. Armitage preaching the dedicatory sermon. The edifice is of brick, of Gothic style, 40x70 and has a seating capacity of 250. The society has a parsonage which cost $1,800 and other church pro¬ perty the whole valued at $12,000. The church was soon again left without a rector or regular service until June 24, 1868, when the Rev. S. W. Frisbe took charge of the parish. Since then the church has had regular services. It has had the following rectors since Mr. Frisbe: the Revs. James S. McGowan, from Februar\f 23, 1874, to July, 1876 ; Samuel D. Pulford from November 6, 1876 to 1882; 1882-90, Rev. R. B. Whipple; 1891-92 - Rev. Charles H. Lemon; 1892-94 - Rev. H. W. Perkins; 1894 - Rev. W. B. Magnan ; 1895 - 1900 - Rev. Octavius Edgelow.

The Free Methodist Church. - This was at first a part of the Mount Valley Conference and was organized as a separate charge in June, 1871, by Revs. Louis Bailey and G. C. Coffee. The original members were William Hart and his wife, John Capels, Mrs. Nasmith, Lizzie Capels, and a few others. For about a year services were held in residences and school-houses. In 1872 a frame church was erected on Cedar Street between Hickory and Chestnut Streets. It has a seat¬ ing capacity of three hundred and cost $1,000. The congregation has grown considerably. The pastors have been Revs. G. C. Coffee, C. E. Harroun, James Scott, John A. Murray, E. Z. Thwing, L. Whitney,

The Church of Christ. - This society was organized in 1847 by Rev. J. P. Lancaster. It was at first composed of Dr. James Campbell and his wife and mother, William Tibboot and his wife, J. W. Smelker and his wife, Messrs. Whitaker and Chatfield and their wives, and L. H. Wannamaker and his wife. Others were added in time. In 1865 the society bought the church building of the German Methodists for $500. Previous to that they held services at the houses 'of the mem¬ bers. The society has had the following pastors: Revs. J. P. Lancas¬ ter, Calvin Smith, Mr. Dixon, Charles Levin, John Sweeney, William

The German Evangelical Church. - Platteville has always had a large German population, and a large proportion of them are Luther¬ ans. Before they had a church of their own they worshipped at the German Presbyterian church. In 1855 a Society was organized con¬ sisting of A. Groath, H. Martens, Messrs. Johnson, Mehren, Gilbert, Knebs, and others and it employed Rev. S. Fritschel as pastor. Ser¬ vices were held in the Brick School-house. In 1856 Henry Carl donated two lots on "Dutch Hill," and the erection of a church was begun. It was completed in the spring of 1857, Rev. Grossman, of Iowa, preaching the dedicatory sermon. The building is of brick, 30X 50, with a seating capacity of 150, and it cost $2,800. In the spring of 1857 Rev. Mr. Burk came as pastor. He soon became unpopular by his advocacy of the private confession of sins and the use of an of¬ fensive form of absolution. Part of the congregation withdrew and employed Rev. C. Starck as pastor. Eight families stood by Mr .Burk and erected a church building for him on the lot opposite the old church. In 1859 a parsonage was built and in 1862 Rev. Dr. Neu¬ mann became the pastor and continued until 1868 when the society was left without a pastor. Revs. Bartlett and Thiele served short terms and after an interval without a pastor Rev. Reichenbacher came in July, 1870. Again factional troubles ensued and the society united with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. The factional bit¬ terness was so great that on the night of July 17, 1875, the house of Mr. Reichenbacher was attacked by a mob, the windows broken, and five shots fired through the door. Rev. Dr. Sveringham, President of the Wartberg Synod, came to Platteville in 1876, reorganized the congregation and procured the appointment as pastor of Rev. J. Sal¬ inger, who was succeeded in 1880 by Rev. C. Starck, who had before been pastor of the church. He remained until 1884 and was succeeded by Rev. E. 0. Giesel, the present pastor. There is a parish school con¬ nected with the church, with from twenty to thirty pupils.

St. PauTs Evangelical Lutheran Church. - This society was organ¬ ized April 17, 1876, by Rev. E. Naltz, then Vicar of the Wisconsin Syn¬ od, who held services in the Stone School-house. Before this date the congregation* had formed part of the Lutheran Church of Platteville, but a difference of opinion on certain doctrines arose and many mem¬ bers seceded. A new society was formed, electing for trustees R. Barz- mann, W Goeke, J.H.Weise, A.Besers, A. Beutz, and F. Goeke. Work on a new church was begun in May, 1876. Being a frame house, it was finished the same season and dedicated, the services being by Revs. Ungrest and Stregenmeier. The edifice is on Broad Street, is 36X60, well finished and cost $4,000. In July, 1876, the congregation was incorporated and Rev. L. Jaeger installed as pastor and remained until August, 1878. He has been succeeded by Revs. B. Hoyer, M. Hinsel, E. John, and E. Reul. The last one has been the pastor for the last three years.

The German Presbyterian Church. - This was organized in 1850 as the German Evangelical Church of Platteville. The original members were : Valentine Fitz and his family, John P. Kolb and his family, Christian Schlegel and his family, Heinrich Landsberg, John Carl, J. J. Brodbeck, Augusta Brodbeck, C. N. Doscher and his family, Maria Brucker, Maria M. Carl, Catherine M. Fert, and others. In 1850 the present church building was erected and John Bantley installed as pas¬ tor. The following pastors succeeded Mr. Bantley: Revs. Jacob Schwartz, John Van Derlass, John Fechudy, John Grab, Joseph Wittenberger, Lucas Abel, August Hilkeman, and W. R. Mundhenke, who came in November, 1899.

The German Methodist Church. - This society was organized in 1848 with Rev. H. Whitthorne pastor. During the next year a frame church building was erected near the corner of Cedar and Second Streets at a cost of $500, the lot having been donated by Major Roun¬ tree. In 1862 the building was sold to the Christian Church for $500 and a new church built at the corner of Furnace and House Streets, costing $3,300 for the building and $500 for the lot. The original members were John Spink, Rebecca Spink, A. H. Spink, Meta Spink, E. F. Nehls, John F. Nehls, Nicholas Nehls, Henning Nehls, Anna Nehls, Dietrich Boldt, Helena Boldt, Minnie Wellers, Henning Reige, Nicholas Niehaus, and some others. The following have been the pastors : Revs. John Braener, F. Henz, L. Kunz, Henry Voshall, C. Schuler, R. Fregenbaum, John L. Schaefer, F. Rinder, Charles Weinreich, E. Felzner, P. Hellweg, F. Fischer, C. Hess, F. Schmidt, J. Schmidt, John C. Miller, Charles H. Priebe, Daniel Pfaff, John F. Steiner, Louis J. Bren¬ ner, A. M. Brenner, and Gottlob E. Kienle, the present pastor.

Secret Societies

1843, with the following officers: B. F. Kavanaugh, W. M.; Hugh R. Colter, S. W.; W. C. Fillebrown, J. W.; Louis W. Link, Sec.; J. H. Rountree, Treas.; Rufus Spalding, S. D.; John W. Wiley, J. D.; David Rich, Tiler. For nearly a year the lodge worked under a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Missouri. For a few months meetings were held in the hall of the academy, when a log building built by Samuel Moore was bought and converted into a temple. It stood on the cor¬ ner of Mineral and Bonson Streets. Early in the year 1846 the grow¬ ing lodge concluded to build a hall and Samuel Moore, W. G. Spencer, and Joel C. Squires were appointed a building committee, a lot was bought on the corner of Court and Pine Streets, and on June 24, 1846, the corner-stone of the new temple was laid and the building was completed and dedicated the same year. It. was of brick, 24x40. The total cost was $2,200. January 17, 1844, the lodge was reorganized under a charter from the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin. The present of¬ ficers are: William Marcusson, W. M.; Loren Nye, S. W.; William Snowden, J. W.; A. J. McCarn, Sec.; J. H. Evans, Treas.; O. H. Ben¬ nett, S. D.; Charles Weittenhiller, J. D.; N. P. Rice, Tiler; Samuel M. Jones and George W. Briggs, Stewards.

Washington Chapter , No,2yR.A.M. - This chapter was instituted August 14. 1844, under a dispensation from the General Grand Chap¬ ter of the United States to B. F. Kavanaugh, Moses Meeker, Marcus Wainwright, Ephraim F. Ogden, Thomas C. Legate, William R. Smith, Eleazer Smith, Hugh R. Colter, and Charles Knight. B. F. Kava¬ naugh was High Priest, Moses Meeker, King, and Marcus Wain¬ wright, Scribe.

Lily of the Mound Lodge , No. 6, I. O. O. F. - This lodge was insti¬ tuted January 6, 1846, under a dispensation by the Grand Lodge of the United States, to Edward Symmes, J. L. Marsh, A. M. Holliday, J. W. Basve, H. L. Bevans, and A. S. Bennett. The following were the first officers: J. W, Basye, N. G.; Edward Symmes, V. G.; A. M. Holliday, R. S.; J. L. Marsh, P. S.; I. Hodges, Treas.

On February 1, 1848, a charter was granted by the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin to R. Chapman, N. H. Virgin, R. Milton, John N. Jones, A. M. Holliday, and Noah Hutchens. .The following officers were elected : N, H. Virgin, N. G.; A. M. Holliday, V. G.; J. N. Jones, R. S.; Robert Milton, P. S.; N. Hutchens, Treas. The society remained in the Masonic Hall until 1858, when it fitted up a hall in the third story of Kellogg's building, corner of Main and Pine Streets. The present officers

The following are the officers of the Rachel Rebekah Lodge: Miss Kate Stein, N. G.; Mrs. L. Vanderbie, V. G.; Mrs. S. W. Traber, R. S.; Miss Hinkins, P. S.; A. A. Stevens, Treas.; W. J. Funston, R. S. to N.

Platteville Encampment, No. 47, 1. O. O. F. - Was instituted De¬ cember 6, 1871, under a dispensation to Patriarchs B. F. Chase, John Grindell, J. L. Nye, Alexander Butler, B. F. Dugdale, Geo. M. Guernsey, S. M. Tracy, and E. M. Wilson. The first officers were: William Grin¬ dell, C. P.; C. H. Nye, H. P.; F. R. Chase, S. W.; S. M. Tracy, Scribe; Alexander Butler, Treas.

W. T. Sherman Post, No. 66, G. A. R. - The post was organized in March, 1883, with thirty-one charter members and the following officers: H. J. Traber, Commander; W. H. Beebe, Senior Vice Com¬ mander; F. Libert, Junior Vice Commander; H. H. Virgin, Officer of the Day; W. H. Funston, Adjutant; D. McGregor, Chaplain; C. Weittenheller, Q. M.; M. T. Camp, Officer of the Guard. The present officers are: I. C. Smelker, Po9t Commander; Dr. E. E. Berry, Senior Vice Commander; Wm. Schneider, Junior Vice Commander; W. F. Grindell, Chaplain; Dr. Loy, Surgeon; C. H. Wanemaker, O. D.; W. J. Funston, Adjutant; C. G. Doelz, Q. M.; S. W. Traber, Sergt.-M.; S. B. Spencer, Q. M. Sergt.; Wm. Craven, O. G.

Connected with the post is the W. T. Sbermatt Women's Relief Corps, No. 75, with the following officers : Anna McGregor, President ; Flora McCoy, S. V. Pres.; Maria Traber, J. V. Pres., Lydia A Wood¬ ward, Secretary; Rosa Bennett, Treasurer; Oteria Wilson, Chaplain; Mary Snowden, Guard; Jane Petty, Ass't Guard; Nettie Hale, 1st C. B.; Alice Doelz, 2d C. B.; C. Schroder, 3d C. B.; J. Bondurant, 4th C. B.; Jennie Weittenbeller, Press Cor.

The Mail

The first post-office in the county was at Platteville and John H. Rountree was postmaster. His commission, signed - William T. Barry, Postmaster-General," was dated March 10, 1829. Mr. Roun¬ tree opened the office in a house on grounds on which his lifelong resi¬ dence was afterward built. No mail route was then established to Platteville, the mail being brought by private hand, when convenient, from Galena. In 1831 a semi-weekly stage route from Galena to Prai¬ rie du Chien via Platteville was established. Afterward the route was changed to run from Galena to Mineral Point. It was the best service Platteville had for many years. Not until the spring of 1854 could the American boast that Platteville had a tri-weekly mail from Galena by the express of Noah Hutchens. In the fall of 1855 Jud Hurd began competition with Hutchens and put on a daily stage between Galena and Praine-au Chien and after a while obtained the contract to carry the mail. In 1835 the post-office was removed to Rountree's new store on the corner of Third and Main Streets. In 1838 Rountree was succeeded as postmaster by N. W. Kendall, who kept the office in his store on Grocery Street. About 1841 Sylvester Gridley was ap¬ pointed postmaster and kept the office in his store on the site of Hodges's bank forty years later. In 1845 Thomas Eastman was ap¬ pointed and kept the office in a building near where Wright's drug- store stands. In 1849 Dr. James Rnssell came in under Zach Taylor. In 1853 there was another turn in the political wheel and Hopkins Hurlbut came in and removed the office to Rountree's Block on the corner of Main and Bonson Streets. In 1857 John H. Rountree was again appointed and remained in office until 1861, when B. P. Wyne was appointed. For several years he occupied the present site of Bondurant's confectionery store ; in 1879 he removed the office to the cor¬ ner of Main and Third Streets, where it still remains on the site to which it was taken in 1835.

Wiliam Elgar held the office for four years from March 1, 1886, when he was relieved by Martin P. Rindlaub, editor of the Witness. Thomas Jenkins, Jr., held the office during Cleveland's second admin¬ istration and was followed by Benjamin Webster, the present in¬ cumbent.

The Fire Department

Before the great fire of 1874 the means of fighting fire in Platteville was quite primitive. That disaster clearly showed the necessity of better means, and a meeting of the citizens was called to organize a fire department. A committee was appointed to organize a hook and ladder*company. Another meeting was held May 18, 1874, at which a company was organized with the following officers : H. J. Traber, foreman; H. H. Virgin and John Grindell, assistants; A. W. Bell, sec¬ retary ; Thomas Shepherd, treasurer.

Mound City Engine Company No. 1. - .-.* it was evident that a hook and ladder company alone w as not a sufficient defense against fire, in the fall of 1871 an engine company was organized with thirty members and John Grindell foreman. An excellent chemical engine was purchased and an engine-house built. At present the company has sixty-eight members. George Schramm is foreman and C. H. Gribble secretary. There are two hose companies made up from the hook and ladder company and the engine company.

A regular fire department was organized in 1874 with Alexander Butler chief, H. J. Traber and H. G. Chase assistants, John Grindell treasurer and W. J. Punston secretary. The present officers are: D. J.

Platteville Agricultural Society

This society was organized in 1853 with George R. Laughton as president, Thomas Chapman treasurer, and C. C. Clinton secretary. The first fair was held May 20, 1853. For more than twenty years successful fairs were held, but bad weather during several successive fairs bankrupted the society and the mortgage on the grounds was foreclosed. The society was revived and several fairs, most of them only horse fairs, were held, after which the society was dissolved.