Sauk County, Wisconsin - Chapter 9: County Affairs, 1918

Election While in Crawford County - Prairie du Sac, First County Seat - First Election - First Meeting op the County Board - Road Districts and Election Precincts - Territorial County Officers - Third Election Precinct Created - Final Organization Under Township Government - Juneau County Attachments - Creation op Other Towns - County Roster Continued - Court House at Prairie du Sac - County Seat at Baraboo - First Bararoo Court House - The Brick Court House - Two Court Houses Burned - The 1905-06 Court House - County Poor Farm and Insane Asylum - County Jail and Sheriff's Residence - Statistical Population, 1875, 1880 and 1885 - Population, 1890, 1900 and 1910 - National Distribution in County - Dr. Kate Levi on the German Element - Property Valuation, 1880-1916 - First Events in Sauk County.

It appears from the records that nearly a decade passed after Sauk County had a separate political existence before a town organization was effected. The eastern counties of the territory were generally favorable to the township system, and voted for it when the legislative act was submitted in 1-841 "to provide for the government of the several towns in this territory and for the revision of county government," but the southern and southwestern counties, such as Green, Crawford and Iowa, favored the old system of county commissioners, which had been in force since 1837.

In the fall of 1839, while Sauk Prairie was yet a part of Crawford County and there were only a few settlers in that locality and at the Baraboo Rapids, an election was held at Prairie du Sac. Fourteen votes were cast, and the returns were made to Prairie du Chien, the county scat, the ballots being taken by a messenger who took a canoe down the Wisconsin River. At the session of the Territorial Legislature of 1839-40 the Sauk Prairie settlers petitioned to have a county named Sauk set off from Crawford. Their petition was granted the following year, and in

1841 a new voting precinct was created including the Valley of the Baraboo. It is said that at the fall election of 1842 the settlers in that part of the county were first represented at the polls. As the new county had been attached to Dane for judicial and political purposes, the returns of that election were made to Madison.

At the session of the Territorial Legislature of 1843-44, the voters of Sauk Prairie petitioned that body to fully organize Sauk County, but the residents of the Baraboo Valley remonstrated on the ground that there were not enough voters in the county from which to draw a jury list and fill the county offices. Besides the foregoing objections they did not desire the county to be burdened with the expense of a county organization. The remonstrance availed nothing, the bill went through the Legislature and was approved March 10, 1844. After looking over the county the commissioners appointed to locate the county seat decided upon one of the Sauk villages, the one that would make the largest donation. Sauk City came forward with the Bryant-Harszthy House valued at $3,000 and Prairie du Sac offered some village lots supposed to be worth more than the property tendered by Lower Town.

Some months later the people of Prairie du Sac offered the deeds of the donated lots to the county board. It was then discovered that they contained a clause that the land was revertible to the original owners in case of the removal of the county seat. In the summer of 1845 a rousing meeting was held in the town of Sumpter and a committee was appointed to explore the interior of the county to see if the land was suitable for habitation. In October the committee consisting of Count Harszthy, and Edmund Rendtorff of Sauk City, Levi Moore, Abe Wood, Thomas Remington and William H. Canfield of Baraboo.

An election was held at the house of Samuel Shaw, on the 11th of March, 1844, at which the following persons received the number of votes mentioned : For sheriff, Joshua E. Abbott received 39 votes, and Burke Fairchild, 1 vote; for county commissioners, John Hoover, 43 votes, Levi Moore, 44 votes, William G. Simons, 46 votes, Arba M. Seymour, 1 vote, and Thomas B. Cowles, 1 vote; for clerk of the board of commissioners. Burke Fairchild, 38 votes, and William Eikey, 1 vote; for register of deeds, Eben M. Hart, 46 votes, and Samuel Riggs, 1 vote; for treasurer, Nathan Kellogg, 38 votes, and William Eikey, 1 vote; for district surveyor, William H. Canfield, 44 votes; for coroner, John C. Kellogg, 44 votes, and H. P. Kclsey, 1 vote; for collector, James I. Waterbury, 46 votes ; for school commissioners, Cyrus Lcland. 46 votes, W. IL Canfield,

45 votes, and A. M. Seymour, 43 votes; for assessors, Harris Searle, 45 votes, Jonathan Hatch, 46 votes, Luther C. Peek, 43 votes, George Williams, 2 votes, A. M. Seymour, 1 vote; for justices of the peace, Cyrus Leland, 43 votes, Prescott Brigham, 43 votes, Alvin Crane, 34 votes, Burke Fairchild, 1 vote, A. M. Seymour, 1 vote, and Daniel B. Crocker; 1 vote; for constable, John B. Skinner, 38 votes, A. M. Seymour, 1 vote, Samuel Kelsey, 1 vote, and John Hoover, 1 vote; for judge of probate, Prescott Brigham, 44 votes, and Samuel Kelsey, 1 vote. The judges of election were Lyman Crossman, Prescott Brigham and Daniel R. Baxter; clerks, George II. Howard and Henry Wagner. There were 47 votes cast.

The first meeting of the board of county commissioners was held at the house of Joshua E. Abbott, at Prairie du Sac, the county seat, on the first Monday of April, 1844 ; present, John Hoover, William G. Simons and Levi Moore. Mr. Hoover was elected chairman of the board, and Andrew Garrison was appointed clerk, as Burke Fairchlid, who had been elected to that position, did not appear.

The lirst business of importance disposed of was the organization of the county into five road districts and the appointment of the supervisors over them. District No. 1 began at the north line of township 9, extended west and south to the county line; thence east to the county line, along the Wisconsin River, to the place of beginning. Jonathan Hateh was named its supervisor.

No. 2 began at the line of township 9, ran west to the line between sections 34 and 35, town 10; thence north, three miles, into town 11; east to the county line and south, to the place of beginning. Philip Blodgett, supervisor.

No. 3 began on the section line between 34 and 35, town 10, was extended west to the county line, thence north three miles into town 11, east to the corner of district No. 2, and south to the place of beginning. William Johnson, road supervisor.

No. 4 commenced half a mile east of the northeast corner of No. 3, running north to the county line, thence east to the county line, south to district No. 2 and west to the place of beginning. Chester P. Matson was appointed supervisor.

No. 5, which began half a mile east of the northwest corner of No. 2. ran north and west to the county line, south to the northwest corner of No. 3, and east to the place of beginning. McCager Thatcher, road it was then ordered that Sauk Prairie Election Precinct consist of road districts Nos. 1, 2 and 3, and Baraboo election precinct of Nos. 4 and 5. The judges and places of election were also named. Three assessors were moreover appointed for the different road districts - Jonathan Hutch, Harris Searle and Luther Peck.

Another item of interest: The clerk of the board was directed to procure a seal from Milwaukee, or elsewhere, for the use of the commissioners, "the design of which, shall be an engraving of a breakingteam, with one or more yoke of oxen and plow in the foreground, with the words surrounding the margin ' Seal of the Board of County Commissioners, Sauk County, Wisconsin Territory.' " Upon the introduction of the township system in 1849 the seal was remodeled so as to conform to the size of a silver dollar and bearing a sheaf of wheat, a plow and a grain rake, the design being surrounded by the words, "Board of Supervisors of Sauk County, Wisconsin."

Lyman Crossman, Cyrus Leland and Daniel B. Crocker entered into bonds, with accepted sureties, to erect a two-story frame court house, 20 by 30 feet in dimensions, on the public square at Prairie du Sac. A jail was ordered built at a later date, but, with the loss of the county seat, the latter enterprise was never carried out.

A second election for county officers took place on September 23, 1844, resulting as follows: Sheriff, John B. Woodruff; county commissioners, Prescott Brigham, John Russell and I^evi Moore; assessors, Jonathan Hatch, Abraham Wood and Harris Searle; collector. James J. Waterbury ; register of deeds, E. M. Hart ; treasurer, Charles O. Baxter ; surveyor, W. H. Canfield; clerk. Andre Garrison ;. judge of probate. Lorrin Cowles; coroner, Thomas L. Clarke.

- Sheriff, II. P. Crassman : ropister, Prescott Brigham ; treasurer. Curtis Bates; commissioners, James Christie, A. Jameson and Ephert Cary: clerk. R. II. Davis; judpe of probate, Oeorpe Carpel: collector. .Tames H. Haines ; coroner, Lewis Benson; surveyor. Charles O. Baxter; assessors, Edward Cadwell. J. B. Crawford and Francis Webster.

Maxwell; collector, Charles Ilalasz; coroner, Andrew Hodgctt; assessors, J. II. Haines, Uriah Kendall, Cyrus Hill and J. B. Crawford. At this election a vote was taken on the ratification of the proposed state constitution and the extension of negro suffrage. Vote on the matter of the constitution in Sank County : For, 111 ; against, 157. As to giving the colored man equal suffrage with the white: 08 for, and 143 against.

IMS - Commissioners, Charles Kearns, Charles Ilalasz and Jacoh Slentz: sheriff, William Dunlop; treasurer, Harvey Canficld; clerk, \l. II. Davis; judge of probate, William II. Clark; clerk of circuit court, Hoswell K. Clement; register, K. P. Spencer; district attorney, C. C. Remington; surveyor, Charles 0. Baxter; coroner, Philip Slaymatcs. Tho cause of the new constitution had gained, so that the vote cast in 1848 favored it by 245 to 12.

Until Wisconsin was about to enter the union of states, Sauk County continued to be divided into two election precincts - Sauk Prairie and liarabon - but on April 5, 1848, a third was created called Bluff Precinct. It was bounded as follows: Beginning at the town line between towns 10 and 11, running south two miles; thence commencing with the county line and running west to the west line of towns 10 and 11; thence north five miles and east to the easterly line of Sauk County. The County of Adams was also elected into an election precinct.

On the 10th of January, 1S49, under the new state government, Sauk County was divided into the six towns of Honey Creek, Prairie du Sac, Kingston, Eagle, Brooklyn and Baraboo. The accompanying outline map indicates their boundaries more definitely, to the average reader, than any word description could convey. Elections were ordered to be held in each township on the 3d of April following.

The house of Jonathan W. Harris was designated as the place for holding the first election in the town of Honey Creek, which resulted in the choice of the following: Supervisors, James Cass (chairman), Hewitt Houghton and Joseph Davis; clerk, n. B. Staines; treasurer, J. A. Taylor; assessor, Henry Kcifer; school superintendent, J. N. Cassel. - The Upper Town was designated as the place for holding the election in Prairie du Sac. Nathaniel Perkins, Samuel Kelsey and Charles Ilalasz were chosen supervisors, the first named chairman; Cyrus Leland, clerk; Archibald Hill, assessor; P. B. Slaymates, treasurer; J. B. Woodruff, school superintendent.

man), Samuel Shaw and Isaac Gibbs; clerk, Prescott Brigbaui ; assessor, S. Mather; Cyrus Hull and David Randall tied for treasurer; R. E. Stone, school superintendent; James Moreland, sealer of weights and measures.

The election for the Town of Eagle resulted: Supervisors, James Christie (chairman), J. W. Henthom and Reubcu Ward; clerk, L. B. Swallow; treasurer, Hiram Hubbard; school superintendent, Josiah Hunter; assessor, George Randall.

It was ordered by the commissioners that the first election for the town of Brooklyn be held in the court house in the village of Adams (Baraboo-). The choice of the electors fell upon John B. Crawford (chairman of the Hoard of Supervisors), Solomon Soule and Lyman Clark, members; I). K. Xoyes, town clerk; William Griffiths, treasurer; election for officers of the Town of Baraboo. and resulted in the selection of the following: Supervisors, 1). C. Heed (chairman). William Adams and Irfwis Butterfield ; clerk, William McClung; assessor, Don Carlos Harry: treasurer, Thompson Shepard; school superintendent, Patrick Mickey.

Under the new system of civil organization, the chairman of the town boards of supervisors became menders of the county board. The following, its first members, met in special session on the 13th of August, 1840: James Christie, John B. Crawford. James Cass, James J. Waterbury, Nathaniel Perkins and David C. Reed. On the 13th of" November an election took place for county officers resulting in the choice of Alexander Ostrander for district attorney. Charles Uala&z for treasurer, George Cargel for clerk of the board, and W. H. Canfield for surveyor. At this election twenty-six votes were cast in favor of equal suffrage for colored people and eighty-one against.

At the session of the Legislature of 1849, all of township 15 and the south half of township 14, extending from the west line of the present County of Juneau, east to the Wisconsin River, were attached to the County of Sauk, and so remained until the session of 1853. This ninemile strip in width, north and south, included nearly all the settlements at that time in the Lemonweir Valley. The first election of officers in that district was held at Delton, Sauk County, in 1851, when Chauncey

B. Strong was elected justice of the peace - and was probably the first justice to serve either in that valley, or what was afterward Juneau County.

County, to which Adams and Juneau were then attached. An election for state and county officers was held the same fall. At this election Sauk County polled quite a heavy democratic majority, but Adams County, thinking best to act a little independent in political matters, cast nearly a unanimous vote for the whig candidates for county officers, electing the latter by a fair majority. This result, not proving satisfactory to the democratic politicians of Sauk County, hastened the organizatiou of Adams as an independent county.

On the 8th of January, 1850. were created the new towns of New Buffalo and Flora, irregular divisions in the northeastern part of the county. Several sections were also taken away from Brooklyn and added to Eagle. In November, Honey Creek received an addition, after which it was divided by the erection of Spring Green, and Dellona was set off from Baraboo; in the following month Reedsburg was created from parts of Baraboo and Eagle, the Town of Freedom erected and Eagle blotted from the map.

The year 1851 was also prolific in township changes. Lemonweir was set off from territory in what is now Juneau County ; what is now the Town of Woodland was annexed to the Town of Reedsburg; Marston was formed out of what are now Woodland, La Valle, lronton and Washington ; what is now the southeast section of Delton was taken from Flora and annexed to New Buffalo ; Dells was organized from territory in the Juneau County of today, and the boundaries of Lemonweir also underwent a change.

In 1852 the Town of Greenfield was organized from Brooklyn, and Jackson and Quiney were formed in what is now Juneau County ; other ehanges were made in Dells ami Lemonweir, of that county; the present Town of W infield was set off; Dells was changed to the Town of Kildare: Freedom was increased by two sections; an effort to divide the Town of Prairie du Sac was defeated. In December of this year three sections belonging to the Town of New Buffalo were annexed to the Town of Flora ; Hillsdale, which was taken from Lemonweir, then embraced the north half of the towns of La Valle and Woodland. At the same session of the l>oard of supervisors the name of Brooklyn was changed to Baraboo. and the southern division of the Town of Prairie du Sac was christened Lower Prairie du Sac

Reedsburg was divided in November. 1854, and West field created; Kingston pave place to Merrimack; which had been set off from Reedsburg. and Franklin was set off from Honey Creek.

Woodland was set off from Marston in January, 1857, and in December of the same year Troy was organized from Honey Creek and Spring Green and Excelsior from Dellona and Freedom ; Baraboo also drew six sections from Freedom at about the same time.

In November, 1859, the Town of Ironton was created from parte of Marston and Washington, and in November, 1861, the name of the Town of Kingston was changed to that of Sumpter.

From time to time there have been other slight changes in the boundaries of the towns, but no new ones have been created since 1861, the number remaining at twenty-two.

1850 - Board of supervisors (elected in April) - Lewis Butterfield, Ebenezer Martin, Joseph Davis, Harvey Hulbert, Diah Remington, Lyman Clark (chairman) ; succeeded by Cyrus Leland in November; Calvin Danforth, and Leonard Thompson. County officers (elected in November) - Sheriff, David F. Baxter; register, E. P. Spencer; clerk of the board, James T. Moseley ; clerk of the court, Boswell R. Clement ; district attorney, Alexander Ostrander; surveyor, W. H. Canfield; coroner, John Marshall.

1851 - Board of supervisors (elected in April) - James B. Avery (chairman), William Huntington, James Christie, Solomon Soule, Q. F. Albertus, Samuel Shaw, Diah Remington, Joseph Lester, John H. Rork and Daniel B. Young. County treasurer, Richard H. Davis.

1852 - Supervisors (chosen in April) - Bela Warner, Patrick Hickey, James Heany, Solomon Soule, James Waddle, Henry Myres, Ransom E. Stone, Chauneey B. Strong, Rtniben Thornton, John Marshall, Joseph Lester, John H. Rork and John Wilson. County officers (chosen in September) - Sheriff, Daniel W. Wheeler; treasurer, Curtis Bates; clerk of the board, James S. Moseley ; register, Edward P. Spencer ; clerk of the court, George Mertens; district attorney, J. B. Quimby ; surveyor, W. H. Canfield; coroner, Royal C. Gould. At this election, there were 1,013 votes east for and 150 against the business of banking.

1853 - Supervisors (chosen in April) - R. H. Davis, Lemuel Thompson, Putney Fuller, Diah Remington, Samuel Northrop, Ebenezer Martin (chairman), E. G. Wheeler, Ezra Gregory, A. H. Brownell, J. I. Waterbury, G. F. Albertus, Alexander Stewart and Joseph Lester.

of the board, J. S. Moseley; register, Edward P. Spencer; clerk of the court, John Bear; district attorney, J. B. Quiraby; surveyor, G. Stevens; coroner, Charles Halasz.

1855 - Supervisors (chosen in April) - James A. Maxwell, Samuel Northrop, Harvey Lippitt, P. Chapman, Nathaniel Mitchell, Lemuel Thompson, William Benham, John Dennett, A. H. Brownell, S. W. Hobey, E. B. King, J. B. Woodruff, John II. Rork, Evan Evans, Ezra Gregory and James A. Thompson.

1858 - Supervisors (chosen in April) - E. Martin, M. Temple, J. Monroe, J. S. Tripp, John Bear, G. Nippert, W. Palmer, C. H. Rice, A. W. Starks, J. Cottington, C. Root, J. G. Blakeslec, Alexander Stewart, N. Wheeler, R. E. Stone, E. Evans, A. R. McCoy, P. Chapman, A. B. Bradley and H. W. Andrews. County officers (chosen in November) - Sheriff, Ebenezer Martin; register, James M. Clark; treasurer, Thomas D. Lang; district attorney, Smith S. Wilkinson; clerk of board, J. J. Gattiker; clerk of court, F. M. Stewart; surveyor, E. Norris; coroner, B. W. Strong.

1862 - Supervisors (chosen in November, 1861, in accordance with an act of the Legislature providing for the division of the county into three districts, and the election of a supervisor from each to serve two years) - J. I. Waterbury, B. U. Strong and Jonas Tower. At this election, J. W. Morley was chosen superintendent of schools. County officers (chosen in November, 1862) - Sheriff, N. Stewart; register, J. G. Train; treasurer, T. D. Lang; clerk of board, J. J. Gattiker; clerk of court, F. M. Stewart; district attorney, S. S. Barlow; surveyor, Josiah Dart; coroner, B. L. Brier.

1863 - Supervisors (chosen in November) - First district, B. U. Strong; second district, J. I. Waterbury; third district, Jonas Tower. County superintendent, J. W. Morley.

1866 - Supervisors (chosen in November) - First district, J. S. Walser; third district,' J. G. Blakeslee. Sheriff, Eli Jones; register, M. Pointon; treasurer, R. M. Strong; district attorney, S. S. Wilkinson; <lcrk of board, Anton Fischer; surveyor, J. Dart; coroner, N. Wheeler.

B. Swain. Sheriff, N. Stewart; register, M. Pointon; treasurer, R. M. Strong; clerk of board, A. Fischer; surveyor, H. Muehlberg; coroner, N. Wheeler. All chosen in November.

1870 - Supervisors (chosen in April, in accordance with an act of the Legislature providing for the election of one county supervisor, chairmen of the town board from each town) - George Mortens, D. D. Thompson, Thomas Timlin, Charles H. Williams, D. Felt, William Hudson. A. R. McCoy, Amos Johnson, Henry Ochsner, William All, William

Rathbun, Iliram Bailey, J. N. Vanderveer, J. I. Waterbury, Austin Seeley, James A. Taylor, W. W. Perry, Alexander Stewart, R. S. Imnan, William P. Noyes, Nicholas Rossiter, Uriah Gregory. Village representatives in the board - Baraboo, T. D. Lang ; Sauk City, J. S. Tripp ; Reedsburg, T. S. Mackey ; Spring Green, B. U. Strong. County officers (chosen in November) - Sheriff, Benjamin G. Paddock; register, M. Pointon; treasurer, R. M. Strong; clerk of board, Anton Fischer; clerk of court, Philip Cheek, Jr. ; surveyor, H. Muehlberg; coroner, A. West.

1875 - Supervisors (chosen in April) - James Dykins, R, II. Thurber; D. E. Welch, Patrick Timlin, Fred Baringer, Royal Ayers, Anthony Rick, John Dickie, A. F. Kellogg, II. Ochsner, N. Stowe, John TardofT, Levi Wright, George Owen, A. P. Ellinwood, John R. Lewis, H. B. Knapp, Peter Schneller, A. C. Harris, D. B. Hurlhurt, Amos Cottington, Chr. Meffert. School superintendent and district attorney (chosen in November) - James T. Lunn and John Barker.

1883 - Supervisors (chosen in April) - R. A. Morley, John Walsh, Michael Donahue, Jacob Lawsha, E. P. Richardson, A. Christie, E. M. Davies, Chas. Hirschinger, Ames Johnson, Ulrich Buehler, David Bryden, E. A. Miller, Geo. A. Gross, F. A. Oertel, H. J. Smith, W. T. Hayes, H. B. Knapp, Sam Babington, B. L. Myers, E. G. Christman, Martin Conway, N. C. Harvey. Baraboo City representatives - D. E. Welch, J. J. Gattiker and C. H. Williams. Village representatives - La Valle, Lyman Beery ; Reedsburg, W. A. Wyse ; Sauk City, Francis Magerlein ; Spring Green, E. W. Evans.

1884 - Supervisors - R. A. Morley, J. Walsh, M. Donahue, J. Lawsha, E. P. Richardson, A. Christie, E. M. Davies, Chas. Hirschinger, Pat Kellcy, H. Grotophorst, D. Bryden, E. A. Miller, George Gross, F. A. Oertel, Edw. Blank, S. Jones, H. E. Stone, Samuel Babington, H. R. Newell, E. G. Christman, A. Cottington, W. 0. Canon. Baraboo City - Frank Avery, J. J. Gattiger and C. H. Williams. Villages - La Valle, Lyman Beery; Reedsburg, W. A. Wyse; Sauk City, F. Magerlein ; Spring Green, E. W. Evans.

B. Gibeant. Cities - Baraboo, Frank Avery, John M. True and H. H. Hulbert; Reedsburg, William Riggert and W. A. Wyse. Villages - La Valle, WT. T. Kinney ; Prairie du Sac, J. S. Tripp ; Sauk City, Frank Magerlein.

County Officers Elected in November, 1892: County clerk, Ulrich Buehler; county treasurer, L. W. Stone; sheriff, B. S. Doty; coroner, G. B. Gibbons: clerk of court, Charles Coleman; district attorney, II. N. Winchester; register, N. G. Blakeslee; surveyor, D. B. Hurlburt; superintendent of schools, W. H. Schulz.

County Officers Elected in November, 1894 : County clerk, N. Buehlcr; county treasurer, Leander W. Stone; sheriff, H. II. Hulbert; coroner, Geo. B. Gibbons ; clerk of court, Edward F. Dithmar ; district attorney, Richard D. Evans ; register, Mark L. Patterson ; surveyor, David B. Hurlburt ; superintendent of schools, John S. Roeseler.

County Officers Elected in November, 1896 : County clerk, If. Buehler; county treasurer, John S. Hall; sheriff, Conrad J. Meyer; coroner, Paul Lachmund; clerk of the court, Edward F. Dithmar; district attorney. Frank R. Bentley ; register, William Faller; surveyor, David B. Hurlburt : superintendent of schools, John Roeseler.

County Officers Elected in November, 1900: County clerk, Ed H. Huebing; county treasurer, Edgar J. Battles; sheriff, Wm. Stackhou.*; ; coroner, George B. Gibbons; clerk of the court, Ulysses C. Keller; district attorney, James L. Bonham ; register, Stuart A. Pelton j surveyor, David

County Officers Elected in November, 1902: County clerk, Charles Junge; county treasurer, Edgar J. Battles; sheriff, Seneca Corbin; coroner, George B. Gibbons; clerk of the court, U. C. Keller; district attorney, James L. Bonham; register, S. A. Pelton; surveyor, D. B. Hurlburt ; superintendent of schools, George F. Snyder.

County Officers Elected in November. 1904: Bd C. Gottry, district attorney; Harry Thornlow, register; J. E. Witwen, county treasurer; U. C. Keller, clerk of the court ; Charles Junge, county clerk ; W. C. Hill, sheriff; Gustav Scharnke, surveyor; George B. Gibbons, coroner.

County Officers Elected in November, 1906: County clerk, S. II. Wood ; county treasurer, J. E. Witwen : sheriff, W. W. Stackhouse ; coroner, George B. Gibbons; clerk of court, J. II. Hill; district attorney. Ed. C. Gottry; register, Harry Thornton; surveyor, Gustav Scharnke: superintendent of schools, Geo. W. Davies.

County Officers Elected in November, 1908: County clerk, S. II. Wood ; county treasurer, Carl M. DuBois ; sheriff, Grant Dryer ; coroner, George B. Gibbons; clerk of the circuit court, James H. Hill; district attorney, John A. Malonc; register, S. Z. Hudson; surveyor, Gustave Scharnke ; county highway commissioner, John T. Donaghey ; supervisor of assessments, Samuel Babbington; superintendent of schools, George W. Davies.

County Officers Elected in November, 1910: County clerk, S. II. Wood ; county treasurer, Carl M. Du Bois ; clerk of circuit court, Albert H. Clark ; coroner, Otto E. Westedt ; district attorney, John A. Malone ; register of deeds, Samuel Z. Hudson ; sheriff, Leonard Meyer ; surveyor, Oustav Scharnke; highway commissioner, George F. Post ; superintendent of schools, George W. Davies.

County Offieers Elected in November, 1912: County clerk, S. H. Wood; treasurer, James H. Mastiu; clerk of circuit court. A. II. Clark; coroner, Otto E. Westedt; district attorney, James n. Hill; register of deeds, Carl M. Du Bois; sheriff, William Welk; surveyor, G-ustav Scharnke; highway commissioner, G. F. Post: county superintendent of schools, G. W. Davies; income assessor, Charles II. Stone.

County Officers Elected in November, 1914: County clerk, S. H. Wood ; treasurer, James H. Mastin ; clerk of circuit court, A. H. Clark ; coroner, Otto E. Westedt ; district attorney, James H. Hill ; register of deeds, Carl M. Du Bois; sheriff, H. L. Hale; surveyor, Nathaniel Darrow ; highway commissioner, G. F. Post ; superintendent of schools, G. W. Davies; income assessor, Charles H. Stone.

A. Cooper j treasurer, James II. Mast ill (died July 29, 1917; E. M. Doll, of Prairie du Sac, elected by county hoard on August 16, 1917, to succeed him; Mr. Doll sworn into the office August 18, 1917); clerk of circuit court, A. H. Clark ; coroner, Otto E. Westedt ; district attorney. James H. Hill; register of deeds, Carl M. Du Bois; sheriff, William Welk ; highway commissioner, John Gunnison ; county surveyor, W. A. Gattiker; superintendent of schools, George W. Davies; income assessor. Charles H. Stone.

In the meantime, through many years following 1844, county scat fights had been waged and subsided, and various court houses in the county seats of government, had come and gone. After the usefulness of the little temple of justice at Prairie du Sac had been outlived for the purposes to which it was originally dedicated, the building was converted into a school house and Judge W. T. Kelsey, of Baraboo, was a pupil there. He recalls that a private school was afterwards organized in the building and remembers the teacher with his feet upon the table and a cigar in his mouth as he expounded the principles of education. Judge Kelsey says that the building was a 2-story structure and looked similar to the residence that was occupied by I. L. Humphrey on Ash Street, Baraboo. It faced the south, had the county offices below and the court room above. In after years the building was moved to the northern part of the village and was used by Mr. Meyers as a shop. Later it was torn down and parts of the timbers used in building the bam standing on the lot where George Schneller resides.

William H. Canfield of Baraboo. plunged into the forest and emerged after many startling experiences. He made a favorable report, the legislature had been petitioned to re-establish the county seat and on April 7, 1846, by a popular vote, it was decided to change the location to Baraboo. Prescott Brigham furnished the money to purchase a quarter section of land where the City of Baraboo is now located, the ground was platted by Charles O. Baxter and from the public sale of lots the sum of $4,000 was realized for a new court house and jail.

box. This temporary wooden building was erected because the citizens were afraid that at some time the county seat might be moved. Sure enough about 1850 Reedsburg became an aspirant and the contest became so warm that Dietz-like the people of Reedsburg refused to pass logs over their dam. This was known as the "Reedsburg war." A United States marshal settled the dam question and a vote of the people in 1852, decided that Baraboo should remain the county seat.

Soon after it was decided that the county needed a more suitable structure and P. A. Bassett was given the contract to put up a brick building at a cost of $5,000. Those who remain to tell us say that everybody thought it would bankrupt the county to build such a structure. A large portion of the money was contributed by the public. The building was 40 by 20 and was the east portion of the old court house.

In after years Frederick Baringer, of Baraboo, was given the contract to build what was known as the west addition to the brick building. The addition cost $6,000.

The old court house that stood on the north side of the public square burned on the night of July 4, 1857. A writer in the Sauk County History (1880) says that when first erected in 1847 it'was the wonder of the pioneers. It was called the "elephant" of the place and was used for school purposes, as a church, dances and an occasional funeral was held there. E. X. Marsh related before his demise that on one occasion the court room was engaged by one of the churches in order to hold a meeting and was also booked for a dancing party. This fact had not become generally known and at the appointed hour the worshipers and dancers began to assemble. It soon became apparent that there was a mistake somewhere and all began to wonder how it would terminate. The question was an easy one to solve for very soon a tiddler by the name of Badger brought forth his violin and as he tore off a tune the dancers tripped the light fantastic and the church folks disappeared. After the county deserted it, D. K. Noycs used it as a printing office and later Peter Van "VVcndall converted it into a saloon. It no doubt felt some humiliation and went up in fire and smoke which cleansed it of all its impurities.

On the night of December 27, 1904, the old brick building which stood in the park was discovered to be on fire and a few hours after was a mass of ruins.

In November, 1904, a month before the old brick court house burned, the board of supervisors had passed a resolution to erect a $100,000 structure to represent the dignity of the county, politically, civilly and judicially. In March of the following year the bonds issued to cover the cost of its erection were sold to the Bank of Baraboo and the contract for its construction let to T. C. McCarthy, of Madison, for $83,384. Ferry & Clas, of Milwaukee, had prepared the plans. The other steps taken in the enterprise were as follows: Building site located by City Kngineer French, April 3, 1905; excavation begun by Frank Farwell, April 8th following; concrete work on basement begun on the twentyseventh of the month; first stone laid, May 1, 1905; Charles Hirschinger places individual cornerstone at southwest corner, May 25, 1905; county places a cornerstone at the southeast corner June 7th of the same year; county officers, led by County Clerk Junge, move into the new structure, August 9-15, 1906, and on August 18th the courthouse was formally accepted from the contractor by the board of supervisors, and was formally dedicated to the purposes for which it is so well adapted. John M. True was chairman of the board and of the building committee which had active charge of the work, and presided at the dedicatory exercises. Speeches were made by Associate Justice II. G. Siebecker, Circuit Judge E. Ray Stevens and other distinguished members of the profession ; and the courthouse was then considered ready for use according to old-time American custom.

In appearance it is very simple in its outline and in style what is known as classic. The pilasters on the front are in the Ionic order and the walls are surrounded by a cornice in harmony with these pilasters. The stone used is a limestone from Southern Indiana, of a warm gray color, and is considered the best building stone we have in the country outside of the marbles and granites.

The roof, the structure of which is composed of iron beams and terra cotta, is covered with a green glazed terra cotta tile having the ridges and angles laid with copper, making an agreeable color contrast to the stone work. The cupola surmounting the roof is of the same construction entirely covered with copper.

The general effect is that of a dignified, restful structure in harmony with the uses for which it is intended and one which in itself will be persistent for good in its influence upon the community. Approaching the main entrance by steps to a terrace the eye reads the simple Latin word Lex upon the frieze of the main cornice, and entering we find a staircase hall executed in a dull finish, dark reddish brown Tennessee marble with a floor in Illinois limestone; this follows throuph the corridors of the first and second stories and the toilet rooms.

entrance hall, lengthwise of the building, and from them open the various offices. On the first floor to the right are the county judge and county clerk, opposite the entrance the county treasurer and to the left the register of deeds and clerk of the court. The vaults for storage of documents are fireproof, three stories in height and have an iron staircase in each and outside light. *

The second story has the main court room 31 by 52 feet and 21 feet high with a coved ceiling and high wainscot. The finish of woodwork is in white enamel, wainscot, window and door trims.

The furniture is dark stained birch and the walls are colored in a tone of yellow brown. Adjoining the court room is the judge's room connecting with the library as well and toilet accommodations and a private stair is provided to the first story. The supervisors have a large and commodious room, 29 by 42, with two committee rooms. The district attorney 's room adjoins the jury room. Outside of the court room these rooms have a dark oak finish. The lower story has offices for the sheriff, superintendent of schools, poor commissioner, assessor, janitor, vault accommodation and heating apparatus. Coal vaults are at the rear below the ground and can be filled from the wagons overhead. The floors are of concrete on fireproof arches between beams finished with a layer of smooth cement and on this is laid cork carpet, giving a soft, warm floor covering of pleasing color. The basement floor is finished in what is known as monolith, a composition waterproof, durable and easy to walk upon.

A change and a decided improvement in the architectural comeliness of the court house was made in 1915, when the upper part of the tower was rebuilt to accommodate the fine chime of bells installed therein as a memorial to J. J. Gattiger, a pioneer resident of the county, county clerk for eight years and for years a leading merchant.

About 4V« miles south of Reedsburg, 5 miles west of Ableman and 3 miles northeast of Ijoganvillc, is an imposing, but at the same time, comfortable appearing array of buildings which stand for the county poor house and insane asylum, with the superintendent's residence between and the large farm barn at one extremity. C. Christensen and wife, superintendent and matron, have done much to make the institution a charity and a true reformatory of the highest grade. The inmates of both institutions are taught, industry and self-respect to the extent of their intellectual and physical abilities, and the patients do nearly all the work about the farm and in the buildings. In accord with the modern ideas, also, the sanitary standard, both of structures, surroundings and individuals has been maintained at the same high level as the administrative methods. A clear running brook winds through the farm and finds its way into Narrows Creek. In its course it widens into a pond, and the two form pleasant fishing grounds for the patients when their allotted tasks are done.

The first purchase of land for the poor farm was made in 1871, and in the following year a 2-story brick building, 30 by 40 feet, was erected - for the. care of the poor. Later, a southern addition wag made. For the insane, a wooden 1-story building was used for a few years, but the accommodations were so poor that the county board transferred the patients to Dane County by order of the State Board of Charities and Correction. The building was remodeled in 1893 and made into a 2-story structure, being turned over to the male poor. The resident buildings that were on the farm when it was purchased were moved back and used for laundry purposes. Such other outbuildings were added as a carpenter shop, barn, silo, carriage house, buildings for hogs and hens, cattle sheds, and ice house.

The original building of the large structure known as the insane asylum was erected in 1886, and was of hrick, two stories and basement, 40 by 60 feet. The first admissions (five) are recorded for January 1, 1887. In 1893 a system of waterworks and sewerage was installed. The water supply was formerly furnished by a spring on the grounds, which in 1898 threatened to decrease in volume and furnish an inadequate supply. Then a windmill was brought into play to pump the surplus water into a small reservoir seventy-two feet above the ground level of the buildings. Still later a larger reservoir was erected, and the cold storage facilities of the plant were greatly extended and improved.

Since Mr. Christensen assumed the superintendency of the institution not a few radical reforms have been instituted. The fields of the farm have been laid out anew and one section has been set apart for an agricultural demonstration plat. The same thing has been done at Mendota and Oshkosh and in Vernon County. In that section of the farm is shown what can be done in the way of breeding corn, growing alfalfa, raising high-class oats and other produce. Mr. Christensen obtained samples of corn from different parts of the county and these were planted and the nature of the crops raised from them carefully noted. When the stalks were ripe and the ears turned golden, all the farmers within convenient distance of the farm were invited to gather in a sort of picnic and note the results; and, on several occasions, professors from the agronomical department of the state university gave instructive lectures. Thus the experimental field at the poor farm became a source of education to the agricultural community, and the inmates themselves became interested.

Stone is always needed on the farm and through the investigation and enterprise of the superintendent a quarry was discovered and opened on the grounds. The patients do most of the work of get tin tr the stone out and building it into the foundations of any structure which needs to be erected. Their work is supervised by an expert. There is, of course, no great hurry to complete any building and the ox team and the men labor leisurely, but in the end there are good results, and the patients have accomplished something and feel that they are of some account in the world.

But even the work of quarrying, building, taking care of the stock and ' ' doing house work, ' ' does not occupy the leisure time of the inmates, possessed of all grades of intelligence and physical capabilities. Many of them would have been obliged to spend many weary and unprofitable days had not Mr. Christensen provided a means of light employment for them; and he was one of the first in the state to inaugurate this feature in the Sauk County institution. An old loom was obtained for a trifle and a patient was given a chance at rug weaving. He was anxious to get busy in the first place, and, as his work progressed, became so interested in it that he could scarcely take time to eat or sleep. Early in the morning and late at night, the old-fashioned shuttle was thrust back and forth, and the nig slowly came into being. That was the start of the industrial department.

Possibly the most interesting and valuable work has been done in the upholstering department. Many pieces of furniture have been turned out, durable and attractive. A broken or a worn-out settee is no longer carried away to the attic, but is given new cloth or leather, and, with a little varnish, is made almost as good as new. A wheel from an old com shelter and another from an antiquated binder were pressed into service in constructing a turning lathe. An old organ was found in an attic and this was converted into tabourets. When a broken piece is found in a chair, another is turned by some patient and the article of furniture is repaired.

From the character and comparative helplessness of the patients of the poor house, it will readily be understood that that institution is not self-sustaining, but as many inmates of the asylum are only mentally unsound within sharply defined limits, and often otherwise remarkably bright, the receipts from that institution have, for a number of years more than met the deficiency caused by the expenses incurred in maintaining tne poor house. Patients in the asylum outside of Sauk County must each pay $3 per week, and even those who are residents of this county pay the same when they are able. Thus, in some cases, the receipts per patient are as much as $6 weekly. This source of income is therefore considerable. About 75 per cent of the patients arc usually from Sauk County. The capacity of the asylum is about 100, which has. at times, been overtaxed.

The census takers and assessors who have been busy in Sauk County for the past forty years or more have collected a mass of information hen ring on its progress which is very valuable and interesting, if considered with some care. Its most important features arc shown in the tables which follow, which, in themselves, are condensations of more elaborate statistics. If the reader is anxious to pursue any special line of investigation, he can, of course, follow it to the fountain heads among the county archives. It should be noted at this point that any figures relating to the schools of the county are reserved for a special chapter covering pages which follow.

The population of Sauk County by towns in 1875, 1880 and 1885, the census enumerations of the odd years being taken by the state, was as follows :

In connection with the population of Sauk County, there is no feature more interesting than the sectional distribution of the nationalities, and the mast evident fnet has been, for many years, the preponderance of the German element . Tn the state census of 1885, compiled hy J. 1\ Witwcn, county clerk, it was found that of the total population numbering 30,359, 22,917 were born in the United States, 5,530 in Germany, 752 in Ireland and 680 in Great Britain. At that time there were only 147 Scandinavians; 88 were born in France, 84 in British America, and

26 iii Holland. As there were many German-Americans in tlie numlicr credited lt> t In* United States, the preponderance of the German element was sell' evident, iis it is today. No other "proof is needed than a simple scanning nl* any eity or village directory and a noting of the names which appear - literally thousands of them of German derivation.

In view of the remarkahly large German element in the entire State of Wisconsin several historians of the Badger state have thoroughly investigated the "geographical origin of German immigration" in this section of the country. All residents of Wisconsin freely acknowledge their indebtedness to the industry, efficiency and innate honesty of the German, and none more so than the citizen of Sauk County whose birth may have been within the boundaries of the United States, and whose ancestors, for generations, may also have been native Americans. Probably none has made a more thorough literary investigation in this field than Kate Everest Levi, Ph. D., an alumnus of the State University, whose papers have been published in the collections of the Wisconsin Historical Society. A sifting of her statements, made in 1S98 (and which still virtually stand), indicates that the Pomeranians and Mecklcnburgcrs, of Northeastern Germany, arc most numerous in Honey Creek, Troy, Greenfield and Fairfield, in the southern and northeastern portions of Sauk County. The towns of Westfield and Reedsburg are almost entirely settled by people from Hanover, while the emigrants from Holstein have generally selected the towns of Fairfield and Greenfield. These Germans came from the northwestern part of the empire. Many Bavarians and emigrants from southern and middle Germany are also scattered through Sank County. Rhenish Prussia is also well represented, its people being among the first Germans to immigrate to this section of the state. In 1840 Count JTnras/.thy opened I lie way to German settlement along the Wisconsin at Sank City, for, although a Hungarian himself, nearly all the colonists whom he induced to accompany him were small peasant farmers and workmen from the vine regions of the Rhine.

The towns of Troy, Honey Creek and Prairie du Sac also contain a large Swiss element from the cantons of Graubunden, Zurich and Berne. The presence and labors of these emigrants have been of great benefit to the dairy industries of Southern Sank County. Almost ton mini, woman :tu<l chihl, these people are members of cither the (Jcrman Methodist or the Ueroutn Reformed churches, and they arc noteworthy for their indtitttry and sohricty.

For many years the Quakers, or Friends, were very strong in the extreme northwestern part of the county, where the native American clement has long predominated. For forty years there was a largo Quaker settlement about three miles northwest of Ironton, in Woodland Township, but in 1888 it was almost obliterated on account of a wholesale exodus to Califoruia.

The assessors returns for 1880 pave a fair idea of the material wealth and resources of the different sections of Sauk County. The total value of real and personal property by townships was as follows:

Fay Locke was the first in the county to enlist in the Civil war. -'The first hops in the county were raised by Count DTaraszthy at Sauk City, about 1843.

The first postal.savings bank was opened in Baraboo, April 1, 1912. The first county educational board was organized April 7, 1914. The first car of ore from the North Freedom iron field was shipped, March 16, 1904.

First German M. E. Church, Baraboo, organized, February, 1872. First services held in Trinity Episcopal Church, Baraboo, 1854. Free Methodist Church organized at Baraboo, September 10, 1887. Presbyterian Church organized at Baraboo, February 26, 1851.

B. M. Hart taught the first school in the Baraboo Valley. The first drive of logs on the Barahno River was in 1844. The first dam on the Baraboo River was built by Wood & Rowan. The first person to attempt to settle at Baraboo was Archibald Barker. V, was the first woman to eross the Baraboo bluffs, 1839.

First physician in the county was J. B. Woodruff, Sauk City, 1843. The first newspaper published in the county was at Sauk City, November 23, 1843.