Winnebago County, Wisconsin - Chapter 60, 1880

Chapter 60

Situaiion, Soil and Face of Co'imry - Productions - Organization and First Election of Town and County Officers - Early Settlers - First Roads in the County - Incidents in the Early Settlement - Changes in Boundaiies - Northern Hospital fur the Insane - County Poor Farm.

jHE Town of Oshkosh is bounded north by the Town of Vinland, east by Lake Winnebago, south by the City of Oshkosh and Lake Buttes des Morts, and west by Lake Buttes des Morts, and comprises about si.\ sections in the northern portion of Township 18, north, of Range 16, east, a fraction of.Town 18, Range 17, of about one section, a fraction of Town 19, Range 17, of about three sections, and some five sections of the southern portion of Town 19, Range 16, making a total of not far from twenty sections.

The surface is well elevated above the lakes, and, in the southern part, quite level, slightly undulating through the middle, and more rolling and broken in the north; but no prominent elevation.

The soil is also varied; in the south-east is a deep clay, generally covered with a rich vegetable mold; in the south and west, clay and loam predominate with small areas of loam and sand. Ridges and knolls of gravel are frequent, as indicated by a thorough system of hard gravel roads in all parts of the town.

At the time of the early settlement, the timber was burr-oak, in the form of "openings," which had attained an enormous size, and, as is common with burr-oak "openings," forming a landscape unrivaled for beauty in the western world. The shores of Lake Winnebago were fringed with a narrow strip of forest, of the usual varieties of hardwood timber. Since the settlement and the consequent prevention of annual fires, other varieties of timber have sprung up and now occupy the place made vacant by the general destruction of those old monarchs that had withstood the storms and the elements for centuries. Black and white oak, hickory and many smaller kinds are now found in small groves or belts.

Organization

March 8, 1839, the Territorial Legislature passed an act as follows: "Townships Eighteen and Nineteen, Ranges Fifteen and Sixteen, and fractional Eighteen and Nineteen, in Range Seventeen, shall be a separate town by the name of Buttes des Morts, and the election in said town shall be holden at the house of Webster Stanley. "

First me'eting in Town of Buttes des Morts, April 4, 1842. On motion, Chester Ford was chosen chairman, and sworn by T. Lee, coroner, and Jason Wikins, clerk, and sworn by the same. On motion, all candidates shall be by elected by ballot; there shall be two assessprs, two constables, and three fenceviewers; the supervisors and commissioners of highways'shall have one dollar per day, for actual service, and no more. The chairman adjourned until one o'clock on the fifth of April. Signed by Jason VVilkins, clerk.

Tuesday, April 5, 1842. Met according to adjournment, and the clerk, Jason Williams, declining to serve, Clark Dickinson was appointed and sworn in. Attested by Clark Dickinson, clerk, signed by Chester Ford, chairman.

The result of the election on the fifth was declared as follows: Chester Ford, chairman; Chester Gallup and Wm. C. Isbell, supervisors; John Gallup, town clerk; Thomas Lee and Louis B. Porlier, assessors; Webster Stanley, treasurer; Thomas Evans, collector; Robert Grignon, Ira F. Aiken and Shipley A. Gallup, commissioners of highways; John P. Gallup and Clark Dickinson, school commissioners; Henry A. Gallup and Louis B. Porlier, constables; Jason Wilkins, sealer of Wrights and measures; Ira F. Aiken, Henry Moore and Archibald Caldwell, overseers of highways; Robert, Grignon, Chester Ford and Chester Gallup, fence viewers. David Johnson, Wm. Powell, James Knaggs, Augustine Grignon, William W. Wright and Wm. A. Boyd, were also candidates, or, at least, received some votes for these offices.

At this election there were twenty-three votes polled, or that number of voters present, who voted; there were twenty-one offices distributed, and yet six got away without any office; probably they did not adhere to strict party lines.

Isbell was chosen chairman, and sworn in by W. A. Boyd, clerk. (Query: By whom was the clerk sworn?) On motion, that a committee of three be appointed, S. Brooks, Ira F. Aiken and C. Dickinson, said committee to examine the current expenses for the ensuing year, and we jointly approve of the first and third appropriations of the current expenses, and also the contingent expenses for the ensuing year, amounting to fifty dollars. On motion, the compensation of officers the ensuing year be fifty cents per day, not otherwise provided by law; that there shall be two constables and two assessors. On motion, that a lawful fence shall be tour and a half feet high.

February 18, 1842, by an act of the Legislature, the counties of Winnebago and Calumet, were organized for the purpose of county government; but to remain attached to Brown County for judicial purposes. This act to take effect from and after the first Monday in April, 1843, the first election to beheld at the school-house in Manchester, Calumet County. An election was, however, held on the first Tuesday, April 5, 1842, (which see) which, being contrary to this act, and in fact, wholly unauthorized ( as this act did not take effect until a year later), was legalized by the Legislature, March 29, 1843.

The first legislature of the territory of Wisconsin passed an act, amendatory of certain acts passed by the Territorial Legislature of Michigan, dated April 17-22, and March 6, 1833, which was approved, December 6, 1836, as follows:

Be it enacted, by the Council and House of Represeniatives of the Territory of Wisconsin, That each county within this erritory, now organized, or that may hereafter be organized, and the same is hereby declared one township; for all purposes of raising taxes and providing for defraying the public, and neccessary expenses in the respective counties, and to regulate highways, and that there shall be elected, at the annual town meeting, in each county, three supervisors, who shall perform, in addition to the duties assigned them as a county board, the duties heretofore performed by the township board.

It also provides that the clerk shall act as both town and county clerk. In conformity with that law, the Legislature passed an act, which was approved April i, 1843, as follows:

The Town of Buttes des Morts shall hereafter be known by the name of Winnebago, and said town shall embrace all territory within the limits of Winnebago County. All future elections shall be held at the house of Webster Stanley.

As already shown, an election was held for the Town of Buttes des Morts, on the 4th, of April, at which William C. Isbell was elected chairman; L. B. Porlier and Chester Ford, supervisors; George F. Wright, clerk, who by virtue of the act of December 6, 1836, were constituted the county board, in which capacity they acted, as will be seen by reference to the organization of Winnebago County.

April 2, 1844, the annual town meeting for the Town of Winnebago was held at the house of Webster Stanley, when Harrison Reed was elected chairman; Wm. C. Isbell and C. Luce, supervisors; C. Ford, G. F. Wright, Jason Wilkins and W. C. Isbell, justices.

December 13, 1845, it was voted unanimously, that the place of holding town meetings for the Town of Winnebago at the house of Webster Stanley be discontinued, and hereafter be held at the house of Augustine Grignon.

August 7, 1848, at a special town meeting, at the school-house in the Village of Oshkosh, a tax of two hundred dollars was voted, for the completion of the Town House.

At a meeting of the Town Board of Supervisors, convened January 27, 1846, at the house of J. Jackson, present, Joseph Jackson, chairman; Chas. and W. C. Isbell, supervisors; ordered that there be a poll opened for the reception of votes, at the next annual town election, to be held on the first Monday in September, 1846, at the following places, to wit: At the house of H. Gifford, section 22, Town 18, Range 15 (present Town of Omro), at the house of Ira Baird, Section 20, Town 20, Range 17 (nowNeenah), also at the house of Webster Stanley.

February 11, 1847, by an act of the Legislature, five towns were set off. (See Winnebago County.) The Town of Winnebago comprising Township 19, Range 15, north of Fox River, the south half of Township 19, Ranges 16 and 17, and fractional Towns 18, Ranges 16 and 17; the first town meeting to be held at the house of L. M. Miller, "and for temporary township purposes, Township 20, Ranges 14 and 15, be attached to the Town of Winnebago."

At the first election in pursuance of this act, held April 6, 1847, Edward Eastman was elected chairman; James H. Ward and William N. Davis, supervisors; J. H. Smalley, clerk, and Greenberry Wright and Wm. C. Isbell, justices.

By an act dated March 11, 1848, the Town of Winneconne was set off from the Town of Winnebago, and temporarily organized, by which the fractional parts of Township 18, Ranges 16 and 17, lying north of Fox River, fractional Town 19, Range 17, Sections 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26,27, 28,33,34, 35 and 36, Town 19, Range 16, comprised the Town of Winnebago. G. W. Washburn was elected chairman; Wm. C. Isbell and J. L. Brooks, supervisors; H. A. Gallup, clerk

By act of March 22, 1849, Township 18, north, Range 16, east, constituted the Town of Winnebago, the first election to be held in the Village of Oshkosh the first Tuesday in April, 1849. (Fractional Town 18, Range 17, seems to have been overlooked.)

February 5, 1850, it was ordered by the County Board of Supervisors, (in pursuance of an act of August 21, 1848, authorizing county boards to set off, organize and change the names of towns), that all of Township 18, Range 16, lying south of Fox River and west of the west line of Sections 24, 25 and 36, shall be organized as the Town of Algoma, leaving to the Town of Oshkosh all of Township 18, Ranges 16 and 17, lying north of Fox River, and fractional Sections 24, 25 and 36, Township 18, Range i6, south of the river.

By resolution of the County Board, dated February 8, 1856, all that part of Township 19, Ranges 16 and 17, lying south of the south line of Sections 19, 20, 21 , 22, 23 and 24, was taken from the Town of Vinland and attached to the Town of Oshkosh, establishing the boundaries of the latter as they now exist, except

The officers of the town in 1878 were, C. L. Rich, chairman, (and by virtue of that office a member of the County Board); Nelson Allen and John Ryf, supervisors; J. B. Alcott, clerk; Thomas Grundy, assessor; Isaac S. Cox, treasurer.

The first white settler in the town was Mr. J. L. Schooley, who located on Section i, Township 18, Range 16, in the fall of 1839, that is, within the present limits. Ira F. Aiken located the same fall near the present Asylum dock.

The earliest permanent settlements in the county were made in this vicinity, but not within the boundaries of the present town. Mr. Schooley is now a resident of Neenah.

In 1840, or 1 841. Wm. C. Isbell settled on fractional Section 6, Township 18, Range 17, and was for many years quite prominent in the official circles of the town and county, and we are informed is now residing at Fremont, on the Wolf River.

Dr. Christian Linde, now a resident of the City of Oshkosh, a native of Denmark, emigrated to the United States in 1842, and came directly to this town. A brother, named Carl, had accompanied him from their home, and on the 17th of July they purchased from Colonel Charles Tuller two hundred and eighty acres of land, now occupied by the Northern Insane Asylum, and built a log house very nearly where the Asylum now stands. Section 31, Township 19, Range 17-

Samuel Brooks, who became a resident in 1842, locating a farm on Section Twenty-five, Town Nineteen, Range Sixteen, which he retained until 1846, making improvement, but erecting no buildings. In 1846, disposing of this place, he purchased his present residence. Mr. Brooks states that, on the fifteenth of April, 1843, he crossed the lake to Stockbridge, on the ice, with a team, and that the team returned again the same day, and making another like trip on the sixteenth; but, when within about six rods of the western shore, on their return, the team broke through, but the water being shallow, they were rescued with little difficulty. Gilbert Brooks and Jason Wilkins were with the team. Mr. Brooks was a land surveyor, and as such, had unequalled opportunities of acquainting himself with the surrounding country.

In 1843, Jacob and Fredrich Heinson settled on Section Thirty, Town Nineteen, Range Seventeen, where Fredrich still remains, his brother having died.

County, New York, in 1820, where he resided until 1843, when, with the prevailing fever of emigration he came to Milwaukee, thence to Fond du Lac, by team, over a road just cut through that season. Leaving his family at the first hotel built at that place, and kept by Thomas Green, he started on the trail for Oshkosh. Directed to keep the main trail, he was led far to the west, which he discovered too late to reach either place, but, returning to where he had left his course, he laid down beside a log until morning, when he resumed the direct trail which led him to Chester Ford's (present residence of Wm. Wright), where he stopped a short time, after which he crossed Fox River, at Stanley's ferry, and proceeded on his way, to the neighborhood where he has since resided; removing his family onto a tract of eighty acres, that fall. Adding one hundred and forty acres to his farm, he subsequently sold one hundred acres for the Northern Insane Hospital.

In December, 1843, Mr. Eaton, with Amos Gallup and Stephen Brooks, as commissioners, and Samuel Brooks, as surveyor, laid out the first road in the county - being from Stanley's ferry to Neenah, and called Road Number One.

In 1844, the second road was laid out on Town line, between Townships Eighteen and Nineteen, from Lake Winnebago to Lake Buttes des Morts; Road Number Two.

About 1846, he assisted in laying a road from Oshkosh, via present Algoma Street, to Winneconne; Road Number Three. Also, the road from Oshkosh (at Main Street bridge) to Waupun; this was Road Number Four.

Mr. Stephen Brooks, father of Mrs. J. Eaton, was born in Middletown, Connecticut, in 1781. At sixteen years of age, he removed to the State of New York, and in May, 1837, to Green Bay, Wisconsin. Residing here and at Neenah, he assisted in cutting out the road from Fort Howard to Fort Winnebago, and in May, 1839, located at Clifton (north end of Lake Winnebago); but, purchasing a farm in Section One, Town Eighteen, Range Sixteen, where he removed his family in 1842, and after holding many places of public trust, and receiving a full share of public confidence. He died February 26, 1864.

Charles Derby was born in Downpatrick, seat of County Down, Ireland, in August, 1819, and emigrated to the United States (by himself, having lost both parents), at the age of eighteen, in search of two uncles, who had preceeded him by many years. On his arrival in this country, his first sojourn was in Massachusetts, where he worked at his trade (that

In 1849, about eight years from his arrival, having accumulated about fifteen hundred dollars, and, with the desire to secure a home, he migrated to this country, and purchased a preemption right to his present farm.

Here he found the logs rolled up for a house. This was June 11, 1849. The first year of Mr. Derby's farming he cleared twenty acres, and the same fall (1849) he sowed nine acres to winter wheat, without plowing, and the next season harvested three hundred bushels ol wheat, which he sold for thirty cents per bushel, on ninety day's time.

Oliver Libbey, S. S. Keese and Mr. Derby were the principal men in this school district at this time, and caused a school house to be erected.

Mr. E. W. Allen was born in Wayne County, New York, in 18 14; femoved to Michigan, thence to Wisconsin, residing for a time in the southern portion of the State, and, in 1846, purchased a farm adjoining the Town of Oshkosh, where he resided until 1856, when he sold to Mr. Eli Stilson, and purchased a farm about one mile further north, where he resided until 1876, when he retired to the city, where he still remains, leaving his son Albert, as successor on the farm.

The northern portion of the town, including two miles in width, was, from 1849 to 1856, a part of the Town of Vinland, and the first settlements in the original town were within the present limits of the city; the reader is therefore referred to the history of the city for early mcidents and experiences, not here alluded to.

The lands in this town were included in the purchase from the Menomonee Indians, of September, 1836; and were surveyed by David Giddings, in 1839, oft'ered for sale in April, 1840, and along the shore of Lake Winnebago were generally purchased by non-residents, as a speculation.

County Poor Farm Post-Offices

The first post-office in the county was established in 1840, within the present limits of the city, prior to any town organization, and John P. Gallup was appointed postmaster. June 2, 1847, the Vinland Post-office was established, and Samuel Brooks appointed postmaster, a position he has ever since retained. This office is within the present limits of the town ( northeast corner Section 26, Town 19, Range 16). A post-office was also established at the Insane Hospital, June 26, 1876, and Wm. W. Walker appointed postmaster. This office was named Winnebago.

In 185s, the town comprised only that portion of Town 18, Range 16, lying north of Fox River, and the fraction of Town 18, Range 17, exclusive of the city, and then contained one school, seventy-seven scholars, and three hundred and forty-five inhabitants. Population in 1875, eleven hundred and twenty-four; in 1878 there were three schools and two hundred and seventy-six scholars.

Commodore Rogers

Commodore Roger's beautiful farm, which is situated on the shore of Lake Buttes des Morts, in the Town of Oshkosh, contains 312 acres, and is one of the best wheat soils in the country. His wheat crop in 1877, averaged twenty-two bushels per acre. One piece of land in this farm, has been cropped with wheat for twenty-three successive years, and has frequently yielded from thirty to forty bushels per acre; and last year, which was the twenty-second crop, yielded thirty bushels. This is particularly remarkable, from the fact that the crop last year was unusually light throughout the country. The same piece of land this year has produced its usual large crop. On that portion of the farm, sloping to the lakeshore, there is an admixture of shell lime (marl) one of the best wheat fertilizers, and which is probably one of the causes of its great productiveness.

Mr. Rogers moved from Crawford County, Ohio, and settled on this farm in 1854, and is one of the most successful farmers in the county. By judicious management and well directed industry, his farm has been made to yield bountiful crops, and reward him with a substantial prosperity. His farm is most eligibly situated, being only two miles from the business center of Oshkosh, and commands a fine view of Lake Buttes des Morts and the

C. L. Rich

C. L. RICH. Among the illustrations of the Town of Oshkosh will be found a view of the farm of Hon. C. L. Rich. As Mr. Rich was one of the first settlers of the county, a description of his fine farm, and a relation of his settlement is given on pages 118 and 119, in His tory of Winnebago County, in this work.

The Late Mark Plummer

Mrs. Mark Plummer, the view of whose residence is here given, is the relict of the late Mark Plummer, who was one of the well known and highly esteemed pioneer settlers of Winnebago County.

Mr. Plummer was a native of England, from whence he migrated at eight years of age, to the State of New York. From the latter state' he moved to Illinois, in 1841, where he resided until 1846, in which year he settled in this county. He was for some time in the employment of Webster Stanley, and acted in the vocation of ferry-man at Oshkosh.

In 1847, he settled on the beautiful farm, which he has left as an inheritance to his family. This place was at this time a wilderness, and settlers were just building their log houses. Neighbors were from one to two miles apart, with a plentiful supply of Indian wigwams. Mr. Plummer, through his enterprise and well directed industry, soon became one of the leading and substantial farmers of this county, and left as the result of his labor, this highly improved farm of four hundred acres. He died in December, 1874, greatly lamented in the community in which he had so long and usefully lived. Six of the children are now living with Mrs. Plummer, on the homestead. This is one of the finest farms in the county, and its appearance gives every evidence of good management and thrift. The residence is a very handsome brick structure, and is the home of an orderly and well conducted family, who are making a good use of the advantages which surround them, and are held in high esteem by their neighbors and a large circle of acquaintances.

George Rogers

The farm of George Rogers, a view of which is here given, is situated on the shore of Lake Buttes des Morts, in the Town of Oshkosh. It contains 400 acres of as fine land as can be found in the county, in a high state of cultivationr This is one of the leading dairy farms of the county. The cheese factory supplied exclusively with milk from the cows kept on the farm, produces from eight to ten tons of cheese, and one thousand pounds of butter, per annum; all of which finds a ready home market in Oshkosh. The wheat crop on this farm has, for late years, averaged over twenty bushels per acre. It contains an inexhaustible supply of one of the best of fertilizers, in the large deposits of shell lime (marl) on the lands adjacent to the lake. The location affording a fine view of Lake Buttes des Morts and the distant perspective, is one of the most beautiful in the county.

Mr. Rogers settled here in June, 1853. The country was comparatively new at the time, and the settlers in the immediate vicinity had for some years felt discouraged at the failures of the wheat crop, occasioned by a luxuriant growth of wild sun-flower, which choked the wheat growth and destroyed the crop. After Mr. Rogers purchased, it was frequently remarked among the knowing ones that the weeds would soon starve him out; but he was not that kind of a farmer, and as soon as the sun-flowers appeared in full force and asserted possession of his wheat-fields, it occurred to him that to mow ofT their heads would check their enterprise. He did so, and a splendid crop of wheat was the result - over thirty bushels to the acre. His neighbors adopted the same process, and wheat-growing became a success; this section having now the reputation of being one of the best wheat districts in the State.

John Ryf

A view is given in these pages of the fine farm and cheese-factory of John Ryf, in the Town of Oshkosh. This farm contains 240 acres, and is kept in a high state of cultivation. Forty milch cows are kept on the place, the milk from which is used in the cheese-factory. A large quantity of milk is also purchased of the neighboring farmers. Mr. Ryf manufactures 28,000 pounds of Switzer cheese per annum, which finds a ready sale; as the product of this factory stands high in the market, and much of it is purchased for foreign shipment.

Mr. Ryf emigrated from Switzerland to Rome, New York, in 1853, and from the latter place to this county in i860, when he settled on his farm in this town, which he has converted into one of the best dairying farms in the county, and is now enjoying a substantial prosperity. He has a fine little vineyard which he cultivates very successfully, and from the product of which he makes an excellent wine for home consumption. The farm is a very handsome one, with excellent soil and good buildings, and is a place where the visitor is received with the heartiest welcome, and the most generous hospitality. Mi*. Ryf is highly esteemed by a large circle of friends, as a generous-hearted man, a kind neighbor, and useful citizen.

George M. Wakefield

One of the early settlers of this county is George M. Wakefield, whose parents moved to the now Town of Nepeuskun in the fall of 1849, and were among the early residents of that section, and also among the most highly respected and influential.

In 1866, Mr. George M. Wakefield embarked in business in Eureka, where he had a wheat elevator and a store - dry goods and mixed merchandise. He conducted those branches of business until 1869, when he moved to the City of Oshkosh and purchased the flouring mill on the site of the present Wakefield Mills. This was destroyed by fire in May, 1870, and shortly after this occurrence he erected the fine large brick mill on the same site, now known as the Wakefield, and engaged largely in the manufacture of flour. Having subsequently purchased a large quantity of pine and mineral lands, among others a large tract on the Ontonagon, he engaged on a large scale in the manufacture of lumber, and in dealing in pine lands; and had an extensive milling interest in Ontonagon. This so much occupied his attention that he sold out his flouring mill in Oshkosh. In addition to his lumbering and pine land business, he entered largely into mineral land operations, and became possessed of many valuable tracts. The late business revulsion depreciated the value of mineral, and pine and hard wood lands, to such an extent that it involved him in serious losses; but with a most commendable energy and courage, that deserves the highest success, he has struggled manfully against the tide, and bids fair to recover his lost ground.

His beautiful residence, a view of which is here given, is situated in the Town of Oshkosh, a short distance from the city limits, and is one of the many handsome places on the outskirts of the city.

Northern Hospital For The Insane

This mammoth pile of buildings is situated on the lakeshore, in the Town of Oshkosh, four miles north of the city, on a handsome tract of land belonging to it, and which contains three hundred and eighty acres. The frontage of the buildings, on a straight line measurement, is one thousand feet; and the total cost of the land, buildincrs, improvements, furniture, apparatus and fixtures of all kinds, is $658,300.

This hospital is situated about four miles north of the City of Oshkosh, on a farm embracing about three hundred and sixtyseven acres, bounded on the east and south by Lake Winnebago, and extending westward near to the track of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad.

The bill which authorized the location and commencement of the work, was approved March 10, 1870; it appropriated $125,000, but provided that not more than $40,000 should be expended during that year.

Subsequent appropriations were made to complete and furnish the hospital, gas-works, water supply, sewerage, barns, and out-buildings, which, including the first appropriation, amount in the aggregate to $571,700.

On the twenty fifth day of November, 1870, the site for the hospital was fixed on the most accessible and highest point on the farm, being one thousand seven hundred feet west, and twenty-one feet above Lake Winnebago. It is constructed on the most approved plan, consisting of a series of transverse and longitudinal wings on both sides of a center building, the latter being connected with rear buildings by a brick corridor, eighty -seven feet in length; the wings and center building extending north and south en echalon about eight hundred feet, cover one and three-quarters acres of land. The basement is constructed of quarry stone ; the superstructure and partition walls of brick ; the water-table, belt-course, door and windowsills, caps and quoins of Cleveland sand-stone, an iron verandah, galvanized iron cornice, and a slate and tin roof.

It is well lighted with coal gas, has an ample supply of water, a perfect system of heating and ventilation, which is now being imitated in public buildings in our own and other States.

It was completed and accepted on the eleventh day of uary, 1875, within the amount appropriated therefor, and has a capacity for the care and treatment of five hundred and fifty patients.

The construction of the hospital has cost the State $495,484.80; for farm, outbuildings, and furnishing $129,- 765.20. Total cost, $625,250.

The apparent small cost compared with the magnitude of the work, has been the subject of common remark by those who have examined it, with a view to building similar institutions in other States. This has been achieved by extensively advertising for proposals, awarding contracts to the lowest bidder, in all cases requiring adequate security, and, above all, ignoring materials controlled by monopolies, and by arranging and publishing specifications, so as to admit the greatest freedom in the purchase of materials consistent with the character of the work. For boldness of design, workmanship, economy of construction, strength and durability, this institution is second to none ; for those more unfortunate than others it provides a safe and often times curative home, of which every citizen in the State has reason to be proud.

During the brief period the hospital has been in operation, its progress in usefulness has been most gratifying. Under the treatment of the present skillful superintendent, a large percentage of the patients have been sent to their homes restored to reason.

The whole number of admissions up to the date of this report is seven hundred and fifty-seven, of which number seventy have been discharged fully recovered ; sixty-six discharged so that in many instances their recovery has been completed at home.

Its usefulness in the future depends upon the generous support of a competent superintendent. The school for investigating the cause and treatment of insanity, now conducted by the medical superintendent of the hospital, gives assurance that it will yield important results so long as it has a competent head to guide its progress and direct its course.

After the completion of the south wing, the governor and the presidents of the boards of trustees of the two hospitals, met in the executive office, on the twenty-fourth day of November, 1875, ^"'^ changed the bounds of the districts.

The list of counties assigned to the northern district, with the quota of patients, may be found in the accompanying report o( the medical superintendent.

This hospital was constructed for the purpose of the treatment and cure of the more hopeful cases of insanity ; there are, however, a large number of chronic cases now in the hospital, which might be comfortably cared for by the erection of two additional wings as recommended in our last annual report ; the plans and estimates, therefore, may be found in the office of the Secretary of State.

Our charitable institutions are built from the wealth and capital of the State ; their doors should be open to all our unfortunate, without discrimination. The insane ought to be treated as the wards of the State. The people are able and willing to care for all the unfortunates. No complaint has been made against the economical expenditure of money for public charity ; on the contrary, we have heard of no instance where counties have charged patients or their relatives with the maintainance authorized by law ; we therefore recommend the abolition of the law which authorizes the State to charge counties with a portion of the maintainance of patients, and recommend that the insane be supported at the expense of the State, without discrimination.

We especially call your attention to the elaborate and interesting report of Dr. Walter Kempster, medical superintendent of the hospital. The advanced rank which this hospital holds among other similar institutions, is largely attributed to his eminent services.

As an instance of the wise policy of the State in fostering the scientific investigation inaugurated by him, we call your attention to the fact, that the work which he has accomplished in the laboratory of this hospital, was made the subject of an address, prepared at the request of the Centennial Medical Commission, and delivered before the International Medical Congress, held in the City of Philadelphia in September last, which address was published in the transactions of that body.

It shows that the work thus begun is fully appreciated by the highest medical authorities, and should be regarded as a direct compliment to the people of the State, and is worthy of their continued support.

Accompanying this report are the reports of the secretary, and treasurer, showing the receipts and disbursements of the hospital during the year, and also the reports of the committees of the board.

Experience has demonstrated to us that the lead-safes placed under the water-tanks afford no protection from the drip caused by the condensation from the atmosphere, the drip being the same from the safe as it is from the tanks. It will be necessary to have this remedied, as the water destroys all plastering

The hospital proper consists of a central building with wings on each side. The central building is one hundred and six feet long, and sixty feet wide, and is four stories high. The building is used for administrative purposes and contains the business offices and apothecary shop, the living-rooms of the house-staff, and rooms for subordmates; it also contains a room fifty-seven by thirty-six feet which is used as a chapel and lecture-room. In the attic of this building there is an iron tank of three hundred barrels capacity, into which water is pumped to supply this building and some of the adjoining wings, and from which there is a pipe having outlets on the several floors for hose connections.

The wings on each side of the center building are so nearly alike that the description of one will suffice for both. Adjoining the center building is a section of the wing, one hundred and seventeen feet long by fifty-two feet wide ; each story containing fourteen single rooms and two associate sleeping-rooms. The single rooms are twelve feet high, nine feet wide, and eleven feet six inches deep. Each room contains one or more windows, seven feet six inches high, by three feet wide. At one end of this section there are rooms for visitors to see friends in, and at the other end a sitting-room, twenty-two by twentyfive feet. At right angles to this section, and connected with it, is another section one hundred and eighteen feet long and forty feet wide, which contains dining rooms, twelve by thirty feet ; bath-rooms nine by thirteen feet ; and water-closets, rooms for clothing, and the attendant's room. Connecting with this building, and running parallel to the first section, is another building sixty-five feet long by forty-two feet wide, which contains eleven single sleeping-rooms and two associate dormitories, the single rooms being all the same size as those above described. The next section runs at right angles again, and is eighty-eight feet long by thirty-six feet wide and contains dining-rooms, bath-rooms and water-closets. Then comes another section parallel to the first, sixty-six feet long and thirty feet wide. This has six single rooms and an associate dormitory. Then comes another section, again at right angles, which is seventy- two feet by thirty-six, containing eight single fOoms and one associate room, also containing bath-rooms and water-closet. All the longitudinal wings aie three stories high; two transverse wings are four stories and one transverse three stories high. The fourth stories of the transverse wings have been arranged to accommodate patients and are as light and cheerful and comfortable as any part of the building. In each of the bath-rooms there is a full-length bath-tub, hand wash-bowls, and in appropriate places sitz baths, and a needle-bath, all being arranged for hot and cold water.

Near the bath-rooms are situated the water-closets, so arranged that each hopper is connected with an independent waste-pipe, this iron pipe, five inches in diameter, is connected without bends or elbows directly with the sewer-pipe, where it is properly trapped to prevent the return of g.ases ; the same five-inch pipe is continued directly upwards into the foul-air flue, where it has free opening to discharge all foul odors into the foul-air duct, which empties itself out of doors. There is but one hoppei on each pipe, so that there is no possibility of bad air finding an exit on some other floor; the only opening into the pipe from sewer to foul-air duct is the one where the hopper opens into it ; the pipe is trapped at the bottom in the catch-basin, by bending it upon itself so that there is always three inches of water standing in the pipe, and in addition to this the opening of the pipe is underneath two inches of water in the catch-basin. Into the hopper-pipe all the water used in the bath-rooms, wash basins, etc., discharges, and each hopper has in addition its own flushing-pipe so that a great quantity of water constantly passes through the hopper-pipe, thoroughly cleansing it. The branch sewers into which the catch-basin empties, are also trapped before they enter the main sewer; all traps are provided with hand holes so that they can be cleansed readily without the necessity of tearing away masonry or digging up the ground.

Water-closets are sometimes great sources of discomfort, and even diseases in hospitals, and no pains or expense should be spared to make them sweet, and prevent the noxious gases likely to arise from them, from entering the wards and sleeping rooms.

Recent researches demonstrate conclusively that emanations from sewage are prime factors in the causation of a class of malignant diseases embraced in the term Typhoid. It is, therefore, absolutely necessary to procure entire exemption from this evil, if we want a healthy hospital. In the arrangement above described it is believed that we have provided thoroughly against sources of contamination from this direction. Each water-closet has its own independent system of ventilation, both upwards and downwards, without aid from the system of forced ventilation, to be described hereafter.

In each dining-room there is a closet to keep crockery and table-ware in; there is also hot and cold water, and an iron steam-table three feet long bv twenty-two inches wide, which has a hollow bottom, into which steam may be turned from the steam pipe, so that the meat, vegetables, etc., which are cooked in the kitchen, can be kept as hot during the meal as when it left the range. Underneath the hot table there is a small shelf, made out of one-half inch steam pipe, on which all plates, dishes, etc., can be warmed, and in which extra diet for the sick can be kept hot during the day, as well as to give additional warmth to the dining room.

This little contrivance, which is inexpensive, adds materially to the comfort of all concerned. A per»on is on better terms, with himself and everybody else after a hot meal, served well in a warm room, and it tends to allay irritability among the insane, no less than among the sane.

The dining room tables are furnished in all respects the same as the tables of any well-regulated household, knives and forks being made use of as freely here as elsewhere. There are but very few patients who cannot use knife and fork, and these are so insane as not to be intrusted with anything. These dishes are the white ware in use in all families. It is the aim to makg the table cheerful and comfortable. * 'i *

Connecting with each floor of the hospital there are two pairs of iron stairs, with doors opening into the landings from two sides, so as to facilitate escape from the building, should we ever be obliged to pass through the terrible ordeal of fire. On each ward, or in fourteen places in the new south wing, there is a three inch pipe devoted especially to fire purposes. The pipe is connected with a pump directly in the engine room, which is especially adapted for use in case of fire. The supply of water to this pipe is controlled by a valve in the basement, so that any part of the building may be flooded in a few moments. At least one hundred feet of hose should be attached to each hose connection on the diff'erent floors, thus providing every safeguard with which to fight fire, should it ever befall us. This matter I would particularly urge as one of the gieatest importance. Nothing more dreadful can well be conceived than a fire in an institution devoted to the care of the insane.

A hall is devoted to amusements, in which concert and dramatic exhibitions are frequently given, for the entertainment of patients, and these diversions are attended with the most beneficial results.

The law provides that the wards of the hospital shall be carefully inspected each month, by a competent physician, accompanied by one of the trustees. The reports of those physicians who have visited the institution for the purpose of inspection, invariably declare that they find every evidence of the most skillful and faithful management; and the trustees in their report of 1868, say:

The report of the medical superintendent. Dr. Walker Kempster, is full of instruction. It speaks for itself. He needs no eulogy from the board of trustees, for his success as superintendent is demonstrated by the high rank this hospital holds among other similar institutions. Reports of his scientific investigations instituted in the laboratory of this hos pital are not confined to the limits of this country. They have been made the subject of discussion by the International Medical Congress, and their utility conceded by men liolding the highest rank in the medical profession.

The number of patients in the hospital on November i, 1879, was five hundred and sixty-one, and the number of einployes, including officers, average one hundred and twenty. A large piece of land is cultivated, . on which is raised field crops; and twenty . acres is cultivated as a vegetable garden. Large crops are produced, as the result of skillful tillage. Among the productions for the year 1878 were: Two thousand five hundred and fifty-one bushels of beets; ninetyfour bushels of green beans; seven hundred and fifty bushels of dry corn; three hundred and thirty-nine bushels of green corn; one thousand nine hundred and twenty-one bushels of] carrots; one thousand four hundred and eighty- two heads of cabbage; one thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight heads of celery; three thousand seven hundred and twentyseven bunches of onions; five hundred and fifteen bushels of dry onions; one thousand three hundred bushels of oats; one thousand one hundred bushels of potatoes and twelve tons of winter squash. These, with other productions, furnish the chief portion of the vegetable used in the establishment.

Those of the inmates who are able and willing to assist in any of the departments of the farm, garden, kitchen or laundry, etc., are permitted to do so, care being taken that only a limited amount of work is permitted.

From the Superintendent's report it appears, that there are, on an average, more than sixty male patients who come in and go out as they choose, without being accompanied by attendants, and as many more who arc permitted to in and out a part of each day, without attendants accompanying them. The grounds about the institution, especially along the lakeshore, are admirably adapted for purposes of recreation, and the advantages thus enjoyed by the patients are fully appreciated. Ncirly all summer long, the woods on the premises are filled with wild flowers, and the wards, dining-room tables, and sick rooms, contain ample evidences of floral beauties, gathered by our patients in their daily rambles. Much taste is often displayed in the decoration of the walls with autumn leaves, variegated grasses and ferns, abounding hereabout, furnishing tasteful and agreeable enjoyment for many hands that would otherwise be idle, perhaps destructive. In the autumn and winter months, the humble structures, which have been dignified with the name of greenhouses, have afforded great enjoyment to a majority of the household. The most disturbed among them enjoy a visit to the "greenhouse," and rarely have they even touched a flower. One of the structures furnishes lettuce, etc., in the winter for those who are unable to leave their beds, and the daily visit of the gardener with the relishes supplied, and a flowering plant for a sick room, are hailed with delight by many who hardly express an emotion at any other time. "