Sheboygan County, Wisconsin - Chapter 4: Sheboygan County, 1912

Chapter 4: Sheboygan County

A BOARD OF COM Mil SSIONERS - CHANGED TO SUPERVISOR SYSTEM* - FIRST TERM OF COURT IN SHEBOYGAN COUNTY - CREATION OF TOWNSHIPS - ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.

What is now the county of Sheboygan was owned by the Indians until taken possesion of by the French in the seventeenth century. It so remained until it passed to Great Britain as a result of the Seven Years war in 1763. At the close of the Revolutionary war, in 1783, it became the possession of the United States. In 1789 it was made a part of the Northwest Territory, and in 1800 a part of Indiana Territory. In 1809 it was included in Illinois Territory and so remained until 181 8, when it was attached to Michigan Territory. On April 20, 1836, it was included in the territory of Wisconsin. By the act of January 11, 1805, all territory east of the line due north from the south end of Lake Michigan to the northern boundary of the United States was constituted Michigan Territory. By the act of congress approved April 18, 1818, "all that part of the Illinois Territory which is situated north of and not included within, the boundaries described by this act (creating the state of Illinois) to the state thereby authorized to be formed, shall be and hereby is attached to and made a part of the Michigan Territory from and after the formation of the said state (of Illinois), subject nevertheless, to be hereafter disposed of by congress according to the right reserved in the fifth article of the ordinances as aforesaid."

Brown county, Michigan Territory, was given the following boundaries : "Bounded on the north by the county of Michilimacinac as established by an act of the governor of said territory of this date; on the east by the said county of Michilimacinac, and by the western boundary of the said territory as the same was established by the act of congress, passed January 11, 1805, entitled 'An act to divide the Indiana Territory into two separate governments;' on the south by the states of Indiana and Illinois; and on the west by a line to be drawn due north from the northern boundary of the state of Illinois, through the middle of the portage between the Fox river and the Ouisconsin (Wisconsin) river to the county of Michilimacinac, into a separate county to be called the county of Brown, October 26, 1818."

at such point on the Fox river and within six miles of the mouth thereof, as may be selected by a majority of the judges of the county court of said county. Lewis Cass,

In 1824 a bill was drawn by J. D. Doty, dividing Michigan Territory into two separate ^governments, one of which was to be called Chippewa. One section was as follows : "That the seat of government of said Territory shall be established at or near the village of Munnominnee (so-called), on the east bank of the Fox river, eleven miles above Fort Howard (Green Bay). Atad the legislature of said territory shall cause the public buildings to be erected at such point near the said village as they deem most suitable ; and five thousand acres of land located by the governor to be below the Grand Kaukalan, on said river, is hereby given to the said legislature for the use of the territory, the proceeds of which shall be applied to the erection of the said territorial buildings."

In May, 1832, Morgan L. Martin was councilman from the seventh district, composed of the counties of Chippewa, Michilimacinac, Brown, Crawford and Iowa. There was introduced in congress about this time a bill to establish the territory of Huron or Ouisconsin.

The act of December 9, 1836, fixed the seat of justice for Brown county, either at Navarino, Astor or De Pere, as might be decided by the voters.

On September 6, 1834, the boundaries of Brown county were fixed. All that part of Brown county to which the Indian title had been extinguished was attached to and constituted a part of the township of Green Bay. South of Brown county to the Illinois line was made Milwaukee county, which was attached to Brown county for judicial purposes. Approved September 6, 1834.

I>ecember 7, 1836, the county of Sheboygan was created, set off from Brown county and attached thereto for judicial purposes. The boundaries of the new county under the creative act of the legislature were described as "all that district of country lying within the present limits of Sheboygan county," and from its earliest organization, the county of Sheboygan has embraced the same territory as at present, and for the first ten years after its formation the town of Sheboygan occupied all the territory included in the county. Hence, as new towns were formed, they were all set oflF from the town of Sheboygan. It might be well here to state that Sheboygan has always been the county seat.

The first known presence of white men in Sheboygan county is shown by a narrative now in the collection of historical data of the Wisconsin Historical Society, at Madison. The narrative states that Jacques Vieau, in the employ of the Northwest Fur Company, left Mackinaw on one of his regular expeditions in 1795, with a supply of merchandise to explore and establish trading posts on the west shore of Lake Michigan. The goods were contained in a large Mackinaw boat heavily loaded, and manned by twelve men. Vieau, with his family, consisting of his mother, Madeline, Paul and Jacques, followed in a large bark canoe, in which was also camp equipage. His clerk was Mike le Petteel. The first important camping place furnishing a good harbor was where Kewaunee is now situated. Here he established a "jack knife" trading post and left a man in charge. The flotilla paddled to various places on the lake and eventually landed at Sheboygan, where Vieau established a trading post.

In 1818 Governor Lewis Cass, then the chief executive of Michigan territory, while on an exploring expedition, landed here with his fleet of canoes. In the same year, William Farnsworth, a hunter, trapper and fur trader, lived here on the banks of the lake a few months and afterwards became the pioneer of the county. History also has it, that in 1818, Andrew Vieau, son of Jacques, built a hut on the east side of the river and to him was bom a child at about that time.

The First Actual Settler

From the records now at hand it is learned that William Paine and Colonel Oliver C. Crocker came to this locality in the fall of 1834 and built a sawmill at the first rapids in section 28. They then built two log houses, one in the city of Sheboygan, not far from the present location of the courthotfee, and. the other near the mill. The pioneers then began the construction of a dam across the river at a point later known as the "Ormsbee Mill" property. After this work had been well on its way a large band of Indians assembled before the workmen and protested against the improvement, the gist of their grievance being that the dam would prevent the fish from ascending the river, and some time was spent in negotiations before the consent of the Indians could be obtained to go on with the work. Not long after its completion the waters tore part of the dam away, but soon thereafter the obstruction was repaired. Paine and Crocker, however, soon became disgusted with their undertaking and the locality and in September, 1835, disposed of their holdings to William Farnsworth, the trapper and fur trader heretofore mentioned. In the following November the government survey of the county having been completed, the lands were placed on the market and for that purpose the government opened an oflice at Green Bay. It was then that William Farnsworth became owner of a half interest in the village plat of Sheboygan, part of which he sold at a most generous profit. After purchasing the mill Farnsworth went to Chicago and engaged Jonathan FoUett and his wife to assist him in the embryo settlement. This worthy couple came to Sheboygan and Mr. FoUett managed the mill, while Mrs. FoUett supplied the comforts of life for the settlers, who took up their abode in the log house near the mill. Mrs. Eliza FoUett was the first white woman to become a permanent resident of the county, and did not see another woman of her color until the f oUowing year, for at this time the only settlers in the county were those at the mill.

of Marinette. She had spent part of her time among the Chippewas at Sheboygan and while here Farnsworth wooed and won her. It was probably about this time that Farnsworth committed some offense, which so angered the red skins that they gathered with the intention of killing him. Being aware of their intentions and feeling that only heroic measures should be adopted to save his life he sat down upon an open keg of powder with a lighted candle in his hand. The courage of the man and his unanticipated bravado so astounded the Indians that they conceived the idea he must be under the special protection of the "Great Spirit." Their anger was appeased and Farnsworth was never again molested by them.

Strung along the lake, however, was an Indian village, the habitations of which were constructed of bark. Mr. Follett entered land not far from the mill and on the left bank of the Sheboygan river, near the mouth of a stream known as Follett's creek, he built the first log farm house in the county. During the fall of 1835 a number of persons visited this county, some of whom later settled here and took quite an active part in the development of the community, prominent among whom were Silas B. Stedman and David Giddings.

Early in the summer of 1836 Charles D. Cole and family settled on the present site of the city of Sheboygan, and about the same time A. G. Dye arrived at Sheboygan from Chicago under an engagement with William Farnsworth t9 build a warehouse. William Ashby entered the village on foot from Green Bay in the fall of 1836 and engaged in lumbering. InT)ecember of that year the Gibbs brothers, James H., John D., and Benjamin L., settled in the present town of Lima. They were eight days cutting their way through the woods from Milwaukee, a distance of fifty miles.

At the close of 1836 Sheboygan had become a village containing fifteen or twenty buildings, including two stores, two warehouses and a blacksmith shop, which was increased somewhat in 1837. At that time the spirit of speculation became rampant and the prices of land and village lots took on such fictitious values that made a collapse in the progress of affairs inevitable. At the close of the year 1837 the bubble burst and the young city was given a body blow. All business stopped. Those who could remove from the place did so and those who could not get out of the county settled on land previously purchased. It is said that at one time, in 1839, Mr. and Mrs. James Farnsworth were the only persons living in what is now the city of Sheboygan.

In the early part of 1840 the only persons living in Sheboygan county, of which any record has been preserved, were James Farnsworth and family and John Johnson and family, the last mentioned locating near the present cemetery at Sheboygan. Near the sawmill built by Paine & Crocker lived Albin Rublee, Adonikan Farrow and William Ashby. At Sheboygan Falls, where a sawmill and three houses had been built, were Colonel Silas B. Stedman, C. D. Cole, David Giddings, a shoemaker named McNish, and a Mr. Palmer. William Trowbridge and son Benjamin had located two miles west of the Falls. In what is now the town of Lima were A. G. Dye, J. D., E. L. and James Gibbs, Dr. Hoffman and Benjamin Firrman. These settlers had planted their stakes for homes amidst the primeval forests, in which little clearing had been done at that time. Their nearest neighbors on the north were at Manitowoc Rapids. On the south, with the single exception in Washington county, there were no settlers nearer than within six miles of Milwaukee. The nearest inhabitants on the west were at Lake Winnebago. Supplies were mostly obtained in Milwaukee and brought in an Indian canoe. A little wheat was raised in 1840 but there was no mill to grind it. The blacksmith shop at Sheboygan, having been abandoned, that of Deacon Trowbridge's at Sheboygan Falls was the only one in the county. Nor was there a school or store in the county at that time. The financial crash of 1837, the direct heir of the publication of Jackson's famous specie circular, had done its work well.

By 1842 settlements in the county had increased very encouragingly. That year George C. Cole, a brother of Charles D. Cole, arrived. He found here Captain N. W. Brooks, wife and domestic; Stephen Wolverton with his wife, son and daughter ; Joshua Brown and wife ; John Glass and wife ; Don Fairchild ; David Wilson and family ; Alber Rublee and family ; David Evans and wife; Hiram G. Squires; William Ashby and wife; Aaron Ritter and family; Aldonikan Farrow; and Wentworth Barber. These were located in Sheboygan and along the lake in the town of that name. At the Dye settlement were Asahel G. Dye and family ; the widow Farmin and son Benjamin; Newell Upham and wife; Chauncey Hall and family; Wendell Hoffman and wife ; Elizabeth Cady and brother Edwin. The Gibbs brothers, with their families, were at Gibbsville, in Lima town; Mr. and Mrs. John Johnson and children, George, Michael, Robert, John, William, Ann and Maria ; Peter Palmer and wife ; William and Leroy Palmer, and Allen W. Knight and wife. At Sheboygan Falls there were Albert Rounseville, wife and two children; Benjamin C. Trowbridge, wife and family; Alvira O'Cain, Maria Dieckmann, Seth Morse, Samuel Rounseville, Harmon Pierce, Nelson Bradford, and George O. Trowbridge. The seven persons last named lived with Mr. Trowbridge at this time. There were also here Silas Stedman and wife; David Giddings and wife; Charles D. Cole, wife, and George T., William H. and James R. Cole, his sons. William Trowbridge, his wife and sons, William S., James T., Thaddeus and John.

In 1840 the only postoffice in the county was at Sheboygan Falls. From an extract of the records at Washington it appears that William Paine was the first one to be appointed postmaster in the county. The office was then named by the authorities in Washington Chebowagan. Paine received his appointment April 18, 1836, giving way to his successor, Joel S. Fisk, July 21, 1836, who was succeeded by Charles D. Cole, November 25th of the same year. November 20, 1839, the office was discontinued, and not revived until October 25, 1844, when Samuel D. Ormsbee was appointed to the office by the Polk administration. Charles D. Cole was postmaster at Sheboygan Falls in 1840, having removed there from Sheboygan the previous year. This settlement was the principal one in the county at this period, had the largest number of inhabitants and was the most prosperous.

From 1845 and on up to 1850 immigration into the county increased rapidly and many who took an active part in developing the county and its cities, building up its institutions and making for the community an enviable reputation throughout the state, settled here during those years and became prominent and influential citizens. Dr. J. J. Brown was one of the pioneers of this period. Others whom we are able to mention were Henry S. Auable, Evan Evans, Dr. S. M. Abbott, H. Conklin, E. F. Cook, A. H. Edwards, L. W. Davis, Judge William R. Gorsline, Thomas C. Homer, J. F. Kirkland, General H. C. Hobart, Rev. H. Lyman, A. P. Lyman, Dr. Jairus Rankin, John Maynard, William Seaman, H. N. Ross, H. N. Smith, Judge David Taylor, D. C. Vosburg, J. R. Sharpstein, John H. Roberts, George M. Gillett, Frank Stone.

From the character of the names heretofore recorded pn these pages, the reader will see at a glance that Sheboygan county was opened for settlement by native born American citizens. It was not until the latter part of 1846 that the sturdy and industrious Germans set their eyes upon this land of peace and plenty and began to settle here. However, a few Hollanders had gone into that section which later became the town of Holland, in 1845, but the great influx of the foreign element, principally Germans and Hollanders, arrived in 1847 ^^^ 1848, many of those coming in the latter year being refugees from Germany, leaving the fatherland to escape the rigors and penalties of a revolution that swept their native country that year. The truth of the saying, "its an ill wind that blows no one good," was exemplified much to the benefit of this country when this people were compelled to leave their homes and firesides across the water to seek a haven and new homes in the United States. A great share of the German immigrants came to Wisconsin and no better selection of that share could have been made than the ones who threw in their lot with those who rocked the cradle of the infant, Sheboygan. H. C. Heide, of Milwaukee, is given credit for starting German immigration to this section. A brother of his with Diedrich Logeman, George Thieman and Diedrich Bartels, were the first comers to the county and settled in the town of Sheboygan Falls. They were soon followed by many others until their number so increased that they became the predominant nationality in Sheboygan county and remain so to this day. The state immigrant agent in one of his reports states that during the summer of 1853, 13,400 immigrants landed at Sheboygan. Many of them are mentioned in the various articles relating to the history of the towns.

In 1840, four years after the creation of Sheboygan county, the population totaled 133 people, which in 1842, had been increased to 227. In 1846 the population was 1,637. In 1847, the year in which the German immigration into the county first began to show its strength, the population had increased to 5,580; in 1850, 8,370; in i860, 27,082; 1870, 31,749; 1880, 34,260. For the last three decades the population is here given by townships and incorporations, the table showing a steady and gratifying growth :

. The county was created by an act of the territorial legislature, approved December 7, 1836, and organized only for county purposes, and, on the 4th of March, 1839, an election was held, in pursuance to a legislative act passed and approved the previous December, and officers chosen for the new bailiwick. Section thirty-three of this act provided that: "All that district of country lying within the present limits of Sheboygan county, shall be a separate town by the name of Sheboygan, and elections shall be holden in said town at the schoolhouse in Sheboygan, and at *Giddings' Mill.' "

When first organized the county was separated from Brown county only for county purposes, but remained attached to the mother organization until 1846 for judicial purposes. On the first day of May of the year last above mentioned Sheboygan became a full-fledged county, with all the dignities and privileges thereto belonging.

The election for the first officers of the newly created county was held, no doubt, on the day and date designated by the legislature and it is to be presumed, by the light of following events, that the men took up the duties and dignities of their offices and performed them well and diligently. But it is here that the historian is miserably handicapped in his endeavor to place before the public details so essential to a complete exposition of the proceedings of these early officials, their names and their characteristics. Very unfortunately and greatly to the loss of the county and lovers of local history, the records of all the offices of the county, with the exception of that of register of deeds, were destroyed by fire, in the month of January, i860. The county clerk's office, with others at that time, was in the Otten block. Fire broke out in the building and. everything was lost, placing the county at a great disadvantage and to considerable expense. It is known that the first governing body was composed of three commissioners and that the offices then provided for by law were filled by certain of the able men who early cast their lot with the pioneers of the community. It is also to be presumed that these men were leaders, as were their successors, and gave the best that was in them to strengthen the new and growing organization and further its interests.

In 1848 important changes took place pertaining to the methods of running the affairs of the county. The board of commissioners was abolished by law and the township system of government established.

The first governing body, as has been related, was a board of three commissioners, who became, in a fair measure, rather autocratic in power and authority; so much so, in fact, that dissatisfaction arose here and there. A law had been passed in 1841, making it optional on the part of counties of the territory adopting the township system but, in 1848, the act was so amended as to make the system compulsory, so that, in the spring of 1849, supervisors were elected. From this time on until 1870, the county was governed by a board of supervisors, selected by districts, varying in its membership from three to seven.

In 1870, the present system was adopted and since that time each town has been represented on the board of supervisors, certain of the villages and each ward in the cities. Elsewhere is given a complete list of the members of the body from 1870 to 1912.

First Court

After Sheboygan county had been given a judicial status. by the legislature, the final act of separation from Brown county designated June i, 1846, as the time for holding the first term of circuit court at Sheboygan. The most convenient place for the purpose was the schoolhouse, and on the day mentioned a number of the settlers had gathered there, only to be disappointed by the nonappearance of the judge. On the following day, however. Judge Andrew G. Miller, member of the territorial supreme court, arrived, and opened the first session of the first term of court in Sheboygan county. The other members of the court were, John S. Rockwell, United States marshal; William P. Lynde, United States district attorney; D. U. Harrington, territorial district attorney; James Rankin, clerk; Silas Stedman, sheriff; Thomas C. Homer, bailiff. Grand and petit jurors were empanelled and if the former returned any indictments, no record of them exists. It is known, however, that the petit jury of that term failed to agree in a single instance, and any issue that was left for them to decide was either passed on to a future term or dropped for want of resuscitation. Nimierous places were used for the sittings of the court; among them are remembered: The schoolhouse, the academy, Congregational church, an assembly room, Presbyterian church, first floor of what was known as the New York block, Turner hall and Zaegel block. When the courthouse was completed in 1868, as a matter of course, suitable rooms were set apart and used for a courtroom from that time on.

The Jails

In 1851 the first jail was built in the county. It was a small affair and stood on the ground now occupied by the courthouse. Long before it was torn down the old building had practically become useless and inadequate. In 1893 ^^^ present handsome and substantial jail was erected. The structure stands east of the courthouse, facing Center street and is only separated from the courthouse grounds by a driveway.

The Courthouse

After the fire of i860, in which the greater part of the county archives were forever lost, makeshift offices were built on Pennsylvania avenue and Hickory street, and it was not until the year 1868 that the first and only courthouse was erected in Sheboygan county. The building, for its day, was conveniently arranged, attractive from an architectural view-point and stands upon a commanding site on the corner of Center and Sixth streets. It is constructed of gray brick and is topped off by a tower. The original cost was $65,000. No arrangement had been made in the building for fireproof vaults or heating and these necessities were absent until in 1893 ^^^ board issued $46,000 in bonds and with the proceeds built the jail and added a north and south wing to the courthouse, in the latter of which were constructed four steel fire-proof vaults. Other improvements to the courthouse were made, not the least of which was a heating plant. The preliminary red tape necessary to inaugurate the improvements here noted are shown in the paragraphs below, which are extracts from the minutes of the board of supervisors:

At the regular session of the board of supervisors, held Thursday, May 5, 1892, Carl Zillier presiding, a committee was appointed, consisting of the chairman, Henry Walvoord, and George W. Wolff, for the purpose of investigating the condition of the courthouse and jail and report to the board their findings. This special committee had the following to say pertinent to the subject:

"Gentlemen: - The undersigned, appointed by the presiding board a committee to make a thorough examination of the present condition of the courthouse and the accommodation and protection afforded the public rec- ords therein from loss, damage by fire or water in case of fire in the courthouse, and to make a full and thorough investigation of the present condition of the county jail from a sanitary and remedial point of view, have attended to their duty and beg leave to report as follows :

"We employed Mr. H. C. Koch, of Milwaukee, an architect of considerable experience, especially as regards the erection and arrangement of county and other public buildings, who has carefully considered the matter, and we submit herewith his conclusions and recommendations. There is no question but that the valuable records deposited in the several county offices are under present arrangements more or less in danger of being destroyed by fire at any time and should such a calamity ever befall us, it would result in endless expenditure and great inconvenience to the citizens of the county, for which the county board would justly be held responsible, as it is expected of this body that it should provide for the safe keeping of the records.

"That our present jail is in a very bad and unhealthy condition is a fact generally conceded, and the matter certainly requires the immediate attention of your honorable body.

"We do not feel authorized to make any special recommendations but submitting herewith the report of the architect, will leave the matter in your hands, having no doubt that it will receive the fair consideration it deserves."

In the report of the architect mention is made of the condition of the jail and courthouse and a remedy was suggested to adopt one of three different plans, first to build a new and strictly fire-proof county office building, with vaults and other conveniences, and change the first story of the courthouse to a modem jail, the improvement in accordance with this proposal to cost as follows: County office building, $42,000; remodeling jail, $16,000.

The second proposal was to build a new jail and sheriff's residence and new fire-proof vaults to the county offices in the courthouse. This improvement was estimated to cost: New jail, $25,000; new fire-proof vaults and steam heating plant for the courthouse, $23,500.

A third proposal was to build an entirely new fire-proof courthouse, with steam heat, steel shelving and new furniture at a cost of $75,000; a new jail with steel cells, and sheriflf's residence, at a cost of $25,000.

In accordance with resolutions bids were advertised for proposals of a suitable site for a new courthouse and jail building, also of plans and specifications for a courthouse building and jail and sheriflf's residence. Several offers of lots were made, ranging in price from $3,000 to $20,500.

The only members of the board at this time who were in favor of a new courthouse building were Brand, Festerling, Freimuth, Guessenhainer, Lutze, Oetking, Renzelmann, Reyer, Strains and Zillier. The others were in favor of remodeling the old building, and of course the majority prevailed.

On the 2d day of December, 1892, an ordinance was passed which empowered the chairman of the county board and county clerk to issue bonds to the extent of $46,000 for the building of a new jail and remodeling of the courthouse - $25,000 for the jail, and $21,000 for the courthouse, the main feature of the improvement of the courthouse being four vaults and a steam heating plant. The ordinance was adopted by a unanimous vote of the board.

In tHe early fall of 1909, to be exact, from the 9th day of August to the 14th, the period was designated as "Home Coming Week," upon which occasion Sheboygan city was given over to extending the glad hand of welcome to the sons and daughters of Sheboygan, who had found new homes in various parts of the land. Five days of jubilation, "talking over old times," and festivities were the results of a careful and elaborate plan. A beautifully illustrated "Official Souvenir" was printed under the auspices of the Business Men's Association and that part of the "Souvenir" devoted to the foreign (no longer) element, which so largely makes up the citizenship of the county, portrays so lucidly and comprehensively the early settlements in Sheboygan county of the Germans, Hollanders and others of near-kindred races, that a desire to quote the article, verbatim et literatim, is appeased by its reproduction below:

The Hollanders

"In 1846 Sheboygan county had 1,637 inhabitants. In 1847 ^^e number had grown to 5,580. The cause of this remarkable increase was the heavy immigration of Dutch and Germans during those years.

"The Hollanders were the first to turn their attention to this county. Under the leadership of G. H. Te Kolste a large settlement was made in the present town of Holland as early as 1846. The following year two hundred fellow countrymen who were bound for this port lost their lives within sight of their horror stricken friends on shore, in the burning of the propeller Phoenix.

"The Germans, with their inherent love of freedom, political and religious liberty and equality, had for a long time looked upon America as the haven of refuge from the troubles of their native land. But, although they desired to gain political liberty, they also wanted to preserve their nationalism. In 1832 a society was formed for the foundation of a German America. But this met with such strong opposition on the part of native Americans that the plan was given up. Niles Register for that year says: *We shall give all such as these a hearty welcome, but the idea of settling in a large compact body cannot be approved.' In 1857 another society was organized in New York, which had for its object the maintenance of a strong German character, customs and education. They asked the government for a grant of land but this was refused for obvious reasons.

"So another plan was arranged. This was to direct emigrants to one state in the Union. There was some disagreement as to what state this should be, the choice being between Texas, Oregon and a great lake state. Wisconsin finally became the choice for the following reasons : There was free land, the constitution of the state was liberal, approximating the ideals of the leaders of their liberal party, the soil and climate were similar to those of their native land and the population as yet was scarce. Gradually a different spirit began to pervade the Germans regarding the segregation and isolation of German colonies in America. This was ably expressed by Carl Schurz some time later. He said : *Let us never forget that we as Germans are not called upon here to form a separate nationality, but rather to contribute to the American nationality the strongest there is in us and in place of our weakness to substitute the strength wherein our fellow Americans excel us and to blend it with our wisdom.' The advantages of Wisconsin were urged by numerous books and pamphlets distributed throughout Germany. In 1849, for instance, a pamphlet was disseminated through the Rhine region by Gustav Richter, a citizen of Manitowoc, recommending Sheboygan and Manitowoc counties in particular.

The Germans

"The settlement of German emigrants in Wisconsin began as early as 1839. From that time on to 1845 those who left the fatherland did so primarily to escape persecution for their opposition to the union of the Lutheran and Reformed churches, and to establish communities where their religion would be tolerated. The North Germans began the movement. In 1839 about a thousand of them, coming chiefly from Pomerania, departed for America and settled almost wholly in Milwaukee and Ozaukee counties. Cedarburg and Freistadt were founded by them. Between 1850 and i860 a large number of the settlers of these villages sold out and moved to the town of Sherman in Sheboygan county. In 1843 another emigration was made from Brandenburg and Pomerania. This was the last great emigration from those parts for some time, for by 1845 the religious strife had abated to some extent. Germans from other provinces of North Germany, however, continued arriving in great streams.

"In 1847 a group of several families from Hameln settled in Herman town and about a hundred families from Lippe Detmold, under the leadership of Frederick Reineking, took up lands in various parts of this and Manitowoc counties. The western part of Herman, the eastern part of Rhine, the neighborhood of Johnsonville and the village of Sheboygan became their homes. Others from this same region continued to come for the next five years. The first settlers were poor and were compelled to work in the sawmills. They bought government lands and mortgaged them. These mortgages, however, were soon paid off, due to their industry and thrift. The Lippers were members of the Reformed church and established at Franklin a mission house upon the German plan. At this time, too, a body of Hanoverians arrived and settled in the towns of Sheboygan and Sheboygan Falls.

The Rhinelanders

**Meanwhile emigrants from Rhenish Prussia, chiefly from the districts of Cologne and Treves, were settling in small groups along the lake shore. In Sheboygan county they were among the earlier settlers, coming in 1846. The town of Rhine was settled by a large colony of Rhinelanders from whence it took its name. In 1847 economic conditions in the Wupper Valley were very bad and three hundred inhabitants of Elberfeld and. Barmen, chiefly handcraftsmen and tradesmen of some means, went to America. A large niunber of them settled in Sheboygan.

"In 1848 a body of Luxemburgers settled in the extreme southern part of this county near Dacada, and by the following year nearly eighty families were living there. Five years later, owing to the failure of the harvests, a large number of their fellow countrymen emigrated and settled along the lake shore between Milwaukee and Sheboygan. They were young men with little means, nearly all of them belonging to the peasant class. Their farms were usually small because of the prevalence of the old custom of dividing the land equally among their sons.

"A few Bavarians, Swabians and Rhinelanders followed in the steps of their German brethren and settled in Wisconsin, a few joining the German settlements in this county, the majority, however, going to the southem and south central counties.

"The Saxons settled in Wisconsin as early as 1839, when seven families purchased a half section of Mequon. After they were prospering, they induced larjg^e numbers of their fellow countrymen to join them. In this way the present town of Mosel was settled. After 1854 the immigration oi Germans to Wisconsin was checked to some extent. Some came almost each year, but another high water mark was not reached until about 1880.

" The attraction in Sheboygan to German settlers,' says Dr. Levi, 'has probably been the rapid growth of the manufacturing city of Sheboygan,' It is estimated that there are about 15,000 North Germans in the county, settled chiefly in the towns of Mosel, Sheboygan, Plymouth, Greenbush and Mitchell.

"As the Dutch and Germans had looked upon Wisconsin as the land of promise, so did the Belgians. On May 18, 1853, 325 of them from Grez Doician, county of Wavre, set forth for America. After they arrived in New York, where the state of Wisconsin was represented by a commission of immigration, they decided to make Wisconsin their home. All but two families went to Milwaukee, arriving in July. They then proceeded northward along the shore until they arrived at Sheboygan, where they decided to settle. But as none of them could speak anything but French and Walloon, they met with some annoyance at not being able to communicate with the people of Sheboygan. On this account they were induced to go to Green Bay by a native of those parts.

"Meanwhile a few Norwegians had settled in this county, principally in the city of Sheboygan, while a small group of Irish had taken up farms in the western part of this county. It was this hardy population of Germans, Dutch, Norwegians and Irish therefore that carried on the work

"Another period of immigration began with the close of the nineteenth century. The Austrian Slavs were the advance guard of this army of immigrants. In 1888 Frank Starich, a native of Carniola, moved to this city. He was the pioneer of this group. In 1895 Anton Starich arrived here and these two men induced a large number of their countrymen to immigrate to this section. About 800 Camiolians are now living in this city. In 1897 and thereafter about 150 Steyers moved here under the leadership of Frank Schwartz. Four years later a large colony of Croatians settled in this city. They now number about 250 men. Most of the earlier Austrian settlers have become naturalized and a majority of the others have signified their intentions of becoming United States citizens. Since 1900 about 400 Greeks, chiefly from the provinces of Arcadia and Olympia, have settled in this city under the leadership of Dmetrius Shyriacopolos and William Adamopolos. A large number of Russians from the province of Lithuania also arrived during these years."

It is a far cry from the inception of things material and governmental in Sheboygan county to the present time. When this region was first chosen by white men as a place for their activity it was a wilderness of primitive forests, inhabited by wild beasts. The shores of the lake first caught the eye of the settler and here he pitched his tent and later on erected rude cabins. The fish of Lake Michigan was made to pander to his desire for gain, and then the mighty oak, pine and other valuable timber came under his ax, fit food for a crude sawmill. Soon the husbandman cleared a patch of ground here and there back from the waters of Lake Michigan, tilled the fertile soil and garnered crops of corn, wheat and potatoes, for which he had no market. But these industries grew. Money, of which there was little in the start, became more plentiful and the future of the newly-made and newly-settled county was assured.

For the first few years of the county's existence, immigration to its confines was slow. In 1840 there were but 133 souls in the county all told; and by 1844 the number had not increased over three-fold. In the latter year the expenses of running the affairs of the county was $1,014; the taxes assessed were $1,019; amount of cash in the treasury, $892.20. That was sixty-eight years ago and as compared to European countries, with their centuries of civilization, the period covered is but a mere bagatelle. But when we consider the rapid strides made in peopling this community and the steady, almost incredible, increase of the wealth and prosperity that have come to it, the older worlds sink into insignificance and are only to be used as mediums of comparison.

The growth in wealth and population of Sheboygan county make a splendid showing when other counties of the state are in the equation; and when all is told and boiled down into a single sentence, one finds that the present conditions are due to the sturdy, painstaking, frugal and industrious character of the people, who came here into the primeval forests and metamorphosed the land into fertile fields, magnificent farms and homes; building villages and cities at the same time.

The county has grown. There are now almost 60,000 people within its luxuriant borders. In 1844 the assessed valuation of property was but a few hundred thousand dollars; today it is $44,791,976. In the year above mentioned there probably was not a horse or mule in the county, few cows, no sheep and no mention of hogs. Today there are 12,240 horses, valued at $1,046, 990. Cattle, 48,499, value, $1,429,714. Mules, 44, value, $2,920. Sheep,^ i,343» value, $4,169. Hogs, 12,823, value $73,382. Automobiles, $213,000; carriages, wagons, etc., $230,000. Pianos, $200,000, which latter speaks well for the musical tastes of Sheboygans.

County Asylum For The Insane

In 191 1, the board of trustees for the insane asylum in submitting its report to the board of supervisors inserted in the report the following historical sketch of that institution :

The keeping of the chronic insane outside of the state hospital in the county jail at an expense of from $6 to $7 per week not only proving unsatisfactory, but the ever increasing number also making the providing of other and more suitable quarters for them an absolute necessity, the county board in 1875 entered into contract with G. S. Jewett, residing at Winooski. to keep and care for the chronic insane belonging to this county, in a suitable building to be erected by him, for a term of three years, beginning June I, 1876, at $4 per week each, the expense of clothing to be paid by the county.

June I, 1876, the building erected by Mr. Jewett being completed, the eight insane then in the county jail were transferred to Winooski. In the course of a year this number gradually increased to twenty, the state hospital being cramped for room, requiring the county to care for a number of cases pronounced incurable. On the night of February 19, 1878, the building was burned to the ground and of the twenty-one unfortunate inmates, four perished in the flames, namely: Lucretia Toothacre, Ellen McDonald, August Athorp and one other, called Billy Doe, an idiot, whose proper name was unknown. The building was immediately reconstructed, the seventeen inmates in the meantime finding shelter at neighboring houses.

The contract with* Mr. Jewett expiring June i, 1879, and the latter having died in the meantime, a new contract was entered into with C. W. Prescott, the administrator of the Jewett estate, for another term of three years, the price to be paid for keeping the inmates being reduced to $2.75 per week and $4 for a few aggravated cases.

At the sessions of the county board in 1880 and 1881 various plans for better and less expensive ways of caring for the chronic insane belonging to this county were suggested and considered, but without accomplishing the desired result. The state legislature at the session of 1881 having passed an act authorizing counties to erect asylums for the care of the chronic insane, plans for same to be approved by the state board of charities and re- , form, counties erecting such building to receive from the state the sum of $1.50 per week for the maintenance of its own insane, the county board at a special session, held in July, 1881, concluded to proceed under this act. A committee consisting of Chairman Zillier and Supervisors White, Oliver, Mclntyre and Sharpe, were directed to select a site for building of not less than ten nor more than twenty acres and to obtain plans and specifications for such building, adapted to the care of not less than forty persons, the committee to report at an adjourned meeting to be held July 28.

This committee, having advertised for proposals for a site, submitted a number of such proposals received at the adjourned session and recommended the selection of a plat of ground containing nineteen acres, the same on which the asylum is now located, the city of Sheboygan having oflFered to furnish this land free of expense to the county. The committee also submitted plans and specifications for the building prepared by Architect H. C. Koch, of Milwaukee, which had the approval of the state board. The county board adopted the recommendations of the committee and directed the latter to proceed without delay to erect the buildings and furnish same ready for occupancy, appropriating the sum of $20,000 to cover cost of same.

The contract for the erection of the building was awarded to Luecke & Roeder, and Mueller & Ackermann, for the sum of $13,325. Hot air furnaces were provided at a cost of $1^465.

The following is a summary of all expenses incurred by the conmiittee in the erection of buildings and furnishing same ready for occupancy :

Of the asylum building, one of the first erected under the act of 1881, A. O. Wright, secretary of the State Board of Charities and Reform, wrote the building committee under date of June 5, 1882 : "The board were very much pleased with the building when they visited it in April. If it is as well managed at it is constructed, it will be a credit to Sheboygan county and to the state."

The building being completed and furnished throughout by the first day of June, it was turned over to the standing committee on insane, consisting of Supervisors E. Mclntyre, William Elwell and John Kaestner, who were to supervise the management of the asylum. The committee employed A. J. Whiffen and wife as superintendent and matron, respectively, at a salary of $700 per year, and B. M. Evans as assistant, at $30 per month. Dr. Almon Clarke was employed as attending physician at a salary of $100 per year. Only two other persons were employed the first year, two servant girls at $2.50 per week each.

On June 7th the institution was opened to 40 inmates, being all those kept at Winooski and 20 others transferred from the Northern Hospital. Before November ist the number increased to 42. This being more than the building was calculated to accommodate, it was found necessary to provide more room at once. The committee was therefore directed to cause an addition to be erected, which was completed in 1883 at a cost of $8,495.86. The capacity of the asylum was thus increased to 90 inmates, which was then thought ample for yearg to come.

In 1886 twenty acres of land lying adjacent to the asylum grounds were purchased at a cost of $3,800, thus giving more of the inmates an opportunity for healthful employment.

Chapter 138, Laws of 1887, providing for the government of county asylums by a board of three trustees to be elected by the county board, the latter, at the regular session in 1887, chose the first board of trustees as

The number of inmates steadily increasing, the county board in 1888 appropriated the sum of $10,000 for a further addition, which was completed the following year at a cost of $8,386.97.

In 1890 a line of pipe connecting the buildings with the city waterworks was put in at the expense of the county and two fire hydrants were provided. But for this timely improvement the asylum would probably have been totally destroyed and many lives lost, when in the night of December 29, 1892, fire broke out in the drying room connected with the laundry. The fire was first detected by the faithful night watchman, Chester Carver, who at once » awakened Superintendent Whiffen and then rushed back to the laundry, where he was suffocated by the dense smoke. Mr. Whiffen arriving a few minutes later, was also overcome by smoke, nearly losing his life before he was discovered by the firemen lying unconscious on the floor of the laundry. It was a number of weeks and after skillful medical attendance and careful nursing before he recovered from the hot smoke inhaled. In this connection due credit must be accorded Mrs. Whiffen for the presence of mind manifested in at once calling the city fire department by telephone. In an almost incredibly short time the city hose company arrived on the ground and soon had the flames under subjection before they could spread to other parts of the building, few, if any, of the inmates, becoming aware of the danger threatening their comfortable home. The damage, amounting to $450, was paid by the insurance companies.

On the morning of July 14, 1893, the new bam erected in 1883 was struck by lightning and with all the contents, some eighty tons of hay, one hundred bushels of potatoes, etc., totally destroyed by fire. The loss was estimated at $1,600; no insurance.

In 1899, another tract of twenty acres, lying north of the Howards road, was added to the farm, costing $1,300. In 1901 an entirely new heating plant was installed at a cost of $5,607.15.

As the number of inmates kept increasing from year to year it was found not only desirable to acquire more land for their employment and for raising the necessary food to keep them, but also to provide more room to house them. Consequently in 1905 the county board purchased the so-called Taylor farm, consisting of two hundred and fifty acres, together with the buildings thereon, for the sum of $37,650, and further arranged for remodeling the asylum buildings and for the erection of the necessary additions to acconmiodate a greatly increased number of inmates. This work required an expenditure of $71,262.64, or, together with the cost of the land, a total of $108,912.64.

To provide the necessary funds the board authorized an issue of $90,000 four per cent bonds, the first $9,000 to fall due June i, 1910, and the same amount each year thereafter, until the last installment is paid June i, 1919. These bonds were sold at a premium of $1,584.

The current expenses for the twenty-nine years amounted to $342,692.- 97; deducting from this the various amounts received from the state, the amounts collected from property of inmates, and receipts from sale of farm produce, etc., leaves a balance of $49,816.66 as the total cost to the coimty for maintaining its chronic insane during these twenty-nine years. Add to this the cost of permanent improvements and it shows a total of all expenditures taken direct from the county treasury of $228,238.16, or an average of $7,870.28 a year. The number of inmates chargeable to this county, maintained during this period, averages 98 per year, which gives us the net amount of $80.31 as the cost of maintenance per year of each of our chronic insane up to the present time, including all expenditures of whatever nature. The sum of $90,000 raised by the issue of bonds and expended for the purchase of land and for permanent improvements is included in the foregoing figures.