Beaver Dam City (part 1 of 3)

Beaver Dam City

The Garden City - Its History froji the Pens and Tongues of Early Settlers - Growth- Manufactures - The Aborigines - Bursting of the Dam - Conflagrations - The Postoffice - Hotels - Steamboats - Government - Schools - Churciies-Tiie Vita Spring - Banks - Perry's Car-Coupler - Public Halls - The Race Course - The Fire Department - Societies - The JfEW City Hall - Cemeteries.

The Garden City

Upon the eastern shore of a placid lake, nestling beneath the brow and along the crest of a semicircular hill of such gradual elevation and gentle slope that the housetops in the dimpled valleys on either side are scarcely hidden one from the other ; shaded by the branches of lovely m;iples, elms and oaks, clustered here and there together in veritable Eden bowers; wrapped in an atmosphere whose balmy, life-prolonging breath fans you in the face at every step and meets you round the corner like a perfumed zephyr escaped from Paradise, lies the city of Beaver Dam - the Garden City of Dodge County - noted for its palatial residences, and enterprising citizens, and famed for its beautiful women and chivalric men.

Such is the picture. What the place has been, who the individuals that built it, what their privations and tribulations, we leave to abler pens, to whiter heads, to those who bore a part in the grand undertakings and achievements that have resulted in the phenomenal growth of Beaver Dam, and made its founders illustrious.

In 1871, the following able and interesting paper was read before the Sewing Society of the ladies of theBaptist Church, at their quarter-centennial anniversary, by ex-Congressman S. D. Burchard. It is replete with incidents of the early history of Beaver Dam :

" In looking back over the last quarter of a century, at the city in embryo, you will, I know, be willing to go one step further, where you can look upon its inception. In the month of March, 1841, five years before the time of which I may properly speak, Thomas Mackie came to what is now the site of the city of Beaver Dam, with the purpose of making for himself a home. The nearest settlement upon the north, at that time, was at Fox Lake, where three or four families (in all, about ten souls) had located. East, the nearest settlement was at Hyland Corners. Amasa Hyland, Luther and John Cole, and a brother of Mr. S. M. Stanton, had settled themselves; and their cabin, with its bachelor comforts, offered a welcome restingplace for the pioneer settler seeking a home. South, between here and Watertown, the first evidence of civilization was a log shanty, about four miles this side of Watertown. West, at Columbus, Maj. Dickson had located, and, between this place and his settlement, there were no white inhabitants. Mr. Mackie at once proceeded to build a house, locating it near and a little west of the Mackie Spring, the head of Spring Brook, which runs through the city. Since the stars sang together, the spring which now bears his name had sent its sparkling waters on their way to slake the thirst of the red deer, or cool the brow of the tawny hunter who pursued it; and now, for the first time, its crystal surface mirrored back the face of the white man, as Mr. Mackie stooped to quench his thirst in its liquid coolness. Here, he built the first house wliich was built in Beaver Dam. The old house may still be seen where he placed it, and its builder is still a citizen in our midst. The one was always open and welcome to the tired traveler; but age and the march of improvement have robbed it of its usefulness; gray hairs luive silvered the head of its builder, but the heart of the old pioneer is still young - is still open to the appeals of humanity. All honor to Thomas Mackie, the pioneer of Beaver Dam ; for, through all the changes of these many years, in his conquest of the virgin soil, and his more recent struggles with men wiser and more avaricious than himself, he has never swerved from his devotion to principle ; he has never been cast down by the reverses of fortune. He may and did brush the mist from his eyes, as the fruit of all this sacrifice and toil was wrested from him by the strong arm of the law; the great heart was for a moment broiien and stirred to the bottom, until it ran over with great drops of bitterness; but it was only for a moment, and the serene spirit of contentment, which reigned in his household and in his heart through those early days, returned and dwelt with him again. Another altar is reared under the roof-tree which he established ; another seeits shelter from the noonday sun beneath the vine which he planted; but, rich in that contentment which money cannot purchase - proud in the knowledge that he stands charged with no man's misfortune, crowned with the confidence and respect of all who know him - who shall say that Thomas Mackie hath not by far the most abundant and the most enduring riches ?

'- But time and space allowed me will not permit further digression from my theme. One by one, attracted by the beauty of the location, and its natural advantages, men settled here, and the forest which covered the present site of the city was gradually cleared away to make homes for tlieir fomilies. The population increased slowly, for the price required to be paid for a home was sufficient to deter ftll but men of strong and willitig hands, and stout hearts. Not in money, for the land was subject to entry at a nominal price, but in toil and hardship, in privation and all of the inconvenience incident to the life of the pioneer. The nearest lake port was Milwaukee, the nearest grist-mill Oconomowoc. To take wheat to mill and return required eight days of tedious travel, and on the trip five nights were required to be spent in the open air.

'- In 184:0, twenty-five years ago, the population of Beaver Dam consisted of not more than 120 souls. It may be of interest to you to know the occupation and place of residence of these early settlers. Abraham Ackerman, recently deceased, lived near the spring, west of the barn upon the Ackerman place in the Second Ward. He was at this time engaged in farming, and also held the office of Probate Judge of the county. Henry Stultz lived on the site of the house reciently occupied by C. W. Daniels, Esq. He also was engaged in farming, and also worked at his trade of blacksmithing. Mr. S. was the first blacksmith in the city, and one of the first settlers, having settled here in 1842. Jacob P. Brower lived where the brick building recently occupied by Warren & Bailey as a hardware store now stands, and kept the E.xchange Hotel. Moses Ordway, whose form was familiar to most of you, lived upon what is now Madison street. He was the same zealous worker in business and in the church then as more recently, when we had the pleasure of his ac(iuaintance. He supplied by his experience a want which had pressed sorely upon the little community, and erected the first grist-mill upon the stream. It was a small affair as compared with its successor, but the necessities of the people vested it with an importance which we of this day find it difficult to realize. There was great rejoicing and hand shakings, and congratulation, as the snowy flour escaped from between the upper and nether stones of Ordway's mill for the first time. The original building is now used by William Fox as a blacksmith-shop, it having been removed in 1848 to give place to a larger structure. Mr. Goetscliius lived just east of the Mackie Spring, across the Fox Lake road, which then passed near to and east of the residence of Mr. Mackie. Asa Jenkins lived with Mr. Mackie, and Mr. A. Horn lived where A. P. Lawrence's store now stands. J. M. How and Gideon How lived on what is now Madison street, on the site at present occupied by Joseph Hummel's saloon. Here, in the spring of 184(3, my informant attended the first prayer-meeting which he was present at in Beaver Dam. The house built by the Hows, from which twenty-five years ago ascended the voice of prayer and praise to heaven, has been removed, and in its place is seen a commodious brick edifice known as Hummel's saloon, where thirsty souls imbibe copious draughts of lager beer on Sundays. The garments of the Genius of Prayer, sometimes in her march, are soiled with the dust of travel. It seems so here. Rev. Mr. Montgomery, Presbyterian minister, built and occupied the house now owned and occupied by Mr. G. B. Chatfield. Rev. Mr. Pillsbury, Baptist, lived north of the present depot, and near Sylvester Cole's residence. Dr. Kimball, whom many of you will recollect, resided in the house now owned and occupied by William Wade. The house was then by far the most extensive and expensive private residence in the village, and so remained for many years. We do not learn that its owner assumed any airs of superiority for this reason. Dr. Manchester lived in a house which stood on the present site of William Wade's carriage factory. Willium Weed lived over the old mill store, and was the first foundryman in Dodge County. Malcolm Sellers and wife boarded with him. James Connor lived in the west end of the house in which Mrs. W^aldliier now resides, on Madison street. Sumner Cole lived in a house which stood on the present site of Spuhler & Schluckabier's store. W. T. Bidwell occupied the house in which Mr. R. C. Gaton now lives. The house then stood on the present site of R. V. Bogart's residence. D. E. Hays lived in the house now owned and occupied by Joseph Brownlow, in the First Ward. Mr. La Jess lived on Madison street, and Nelson Brobriant boarded with him. William Savage kept a wagon-shop where Adam Caspiar now follows the same business, and lived in or over his shop. C. S. Snow lived in a part of Bidwell's house, and sold goods in a one-story building near where the Music Hall now stands. Hiram Dodge, a resident of this city at this time, was clerk for him, and boarded at the Exchange Hotel. Mr. Putney cared for the understanding of the people by making and mending their boots and shoes in a small building east of the old mill store, and near the present residence of Mr. J. A. Williams. John Van Eps kept for sale a general assortment of goods in a store west of and near where the Washington House now stands, and lived in the house now occupied by Louis Kress, in the First Ward. Mr. Manahan lived on the lot adjoining Van Eps' store, and also kept a small stock of merchandise in a building adjoining his house. Mr. Manahan was also Postmaster, and kept the post office in his store. Frank Blodgett was a partner of Mr. Van Eps, and lived west of and adjoining Horn's, near the old Haight Block. Dan Benjamin made himself illustrious by building the Eagle tavern over Spring Brook, where Stultz & Carroll now have, a paint-shop. The building still stands near its original site, and is used by Smith & Ellis as a marble-shop. Mr. Benjamin was a tinner by trade, and made the first stove-pipes manufactured in the city. His stove-pipe and tinware were fashioned on a piece of round iron driven into a tree. A piece of square iron also driven in the tree served as an anvil. His pipe possessed this peculiarity, that, while it could not be drawn out to any desired length, it could be shortened at will by telescoping, as he had no machinery for swedging check-rings on it.

" The Angel of Hate cast the shadow of his wing for the first time over the community at this point, and in the basement of Dan Benjamin's tavern the devil developed the skirmish line of the grand army which destroys mankind with rum. The cloven-footed gentleman soon after sufi'ered an ignominious defeat. A party of ladies, filled with righteous indignation, and led by Mrs. Bremnan, attacked the saloon, smashed decanters, broke glasses, and sent the liquor to mingle with the purer element that flowed beneath. This was, I believe, the first public assertion of the rights of women in the community, and the astonished Dan, ruefully gazing upon the wreck of his worldly possessions, was forced to admit that in this instance, at least, her cause was just.

" Charles S. Bristol, better known as Charley Bristol, lived opposite Beaver street bridge on Madison street, in the house at present owned by Mrs. Spuhler. He was a lawyer, and kept his oflSce in the west wing of his residence. G. W. Green, also a lawyer, had his office in the ofiice of Jacob P. Brower, who was at that time Register of Deeds of Dodge County. The ofiice stood on the south side of Front street, oik the site at present owned and occupied by John Mc- Hugh. G. A. Thompson lived in the house now occupied by Mr. Liebig ; it is the first house west of the new schoolhouse in the First Ward. Mr. Thompson was employed in the grist-mill, and was the first miller in Beaver Dam. Mr. Vine Taylor, his father-in-law, lived on the lot now owned by James A. Williams, in the First Ward. Joseph McNeil occupied the house adjoining Mr. Hosmer's residence, and worked about the saw-mill. Our townsman, Samuel

Hodgman, lived with his father, Asa Hodgman, on the lot now occupied by the new schoohouse in tlie First Ward, and both worked at coopering in the shop where Mr. R. N. Banks now pursues the same calling. Mr. Ager kept the Exchange Hotel, a marvel of elegance and com£ort at tiiat time, and by far the most aristocratic and noted public house within a radius of many miles. William Fisher, who is now a resident of the town of Burnett, and Mr. Brobriant were partners in the blacksmithing business, in a shop which stood where Howell's foundrv and agricultural implement works stand now. L. H. Marvin and E. W. Goodnow established a cabinet-shop near the present site of lioyt's Mill, and lived in a house adjoining. The shop is still used by Mr. Marvin for the same purpose, but now stands near the north end of Beaver street bridge. Amos Grattan lived in the house with Dr. Kimball, and was a partner of Weed in the blacksmithing business. The tailoring business was represented by Stephen Horn, who kept a shop about where the Clark House stands now. John Thomas worked in the shop with him at times. Truman Parker kept a grocery in the building now occupied by Mr. Weimer as a glove-factory. His stock consisted of crackers and cheese, a few herring, a small stock of sugar, a few pounds of tea, pepper, salt, salaratus, soap, candles, some fly-specked candy, pipes and tobacco. He also manufactured a beverage known as " burr-oak cider," a base imitation of apple-juice. It is related of this individual, that a customer one day called at his store and asked for a pound of cheese, but was informed by the astonished Parker that he only sold cheese at retail.

"In the spring of 1846, Abner Thompson commenced to build what is known as the Sewell Haskell House on Front street. Dr. Noyes at the same time was boarding at the Exchange, and building the house now owned and occupied by Mr. S. T. Carroll.

"In the same spring, the community was gratified by the arrival in their midst of Mr. William Gowdey and his family. Mr. G. at once purchased a site and proceeded to build a house near where Dr. Hoyt resides at present. Mrs. Gowdey entered with zeal upon the church work of the Baptist society, and it was mainly through her efforts that the society, whose quartercentennial anniversary you now celebrate, was organized. We are not informed as to the employment of the youthful David at this time. It is probable, however, that he was then exploring the brooks of knowledge, in search of some small pebbles with which to slay the Republican giant, whose shadow, coming before, was even then seen in the land.

" The record of the first settlers would be incomplete without a brief notice of 'Big John ' Hooper. Six feet four inches in height, and well proportioned, he possessed the strength of two ordinary men. He, too, was a blacksmith, and many are the tales of his wonderful strength, of iron bars broken and twisted as reeds in his hands, of restive horses held firmly as in a vise in his heavy arms; and yet, with all his strength, his disposition was gentle as a child's. His voice was a marvel of depth and power, and, in ordinary conversation, was the terror of timid strangers, so loud and coarse, and when his boisterous laughter echoed through the valley, it brought back to the memory of his neighbors recollections of the labored puffs of the strained steam engines in the villages they had left in the East. He built a portion of the Stevens House, soon after the time of which I write. There was at this time but one church in the place, a small building which stood immediately south of Mr. Alfred Loomis' house. It was built by the Presbyterian society, but occasional services were held in it by Rev. Mr. Pillsbury, Baptist. At other times, the Baptists held meetings in private houses. Meetings were held regularly each Sabbath and the entire community attended, women bringing their children, even to the babe at the breast. No groups of idlers were seen lounging on the streets upon the Sabbath, no shouts of drunken men, no sound of revelry. The foot of civilization seems to have slipped here and gone backward.

"The present site of the city was at this time embraced in School District No. 3, of the town of Beaver Dam. The schoolhouse was situated near the present site of Mr. J. C. Hall's residence upon an acre of ground which had been donated to the district for that purpose by Mr. J. P. Brower. The schoolhouse was a small building about 20x20 feet, one story high, and was built in 1844, being used as a schoolhouse until 1852, when, the district having failed to comply with certain conditions necessary to secure a perfect title, the property reverted to .Mr.

Brower. The building now stands on Mill street. Twenty-five years ago, the only school in Beaver Dam was taught by Mr. G. W. Green, of whom mention has been previously made. He is said to have been eminently well fitted for the position, and always felt a deep interest in the education of youth. Mails were received once each week, via Watertown, and were generally brought on horseback.

" I have thus, as briefly as possible, located the residence of every resident of Beaver Dam twenty-five years ago. They were few in number, as compared with the present population, but there were no drones in the hive. All worked harmoniously and energetically, with a unity of purpose that gave their efforts the force of greater numbers. The lust of political ambition and the greed of gain had not covered their hearts with the thick rust of selfishness, and hid the bright jewels of their better nature. There was little need of courts or lawyers. Moses Rowley, who lived on the firm now owned by Mr. William Parker, near Mr. Parker's present residence, was the first, and for a long time the only Justice of the Peace in the community. He dispensed justice, much as physicians now do medicine, carrying his docket-books and papers under his arm, and holding his court as near the scene of the difficulty to be adjudicated as possible. In his decisions of points of law and settlement of difficulties, he was as impartial as a man of his strong prejudices could be, and his long continuance in office is strong evidence of the fiivorable estimation in which he was held by his neighbors.

" The appearance of the village at this time may be imagined from the following summary : The population did not exceed one hundred and twenty souls. On the territory now embraced by the First Ward of this city there were but twenty-one buildings of all kinds ; in the Second Ward four : in tlie Third Ward three, and in the Fourth Ward ten, making in all thirty-eight buildings, including private residences, stores, shops, hotels and mills. A small cluster of houses on Madison, and a few on Front street, was all of Beaver Dam that could then be seen at one view. All of what is now the First Ward, except that portion lying along Madison street, and perhaps one-fourth of an acre where Rowells' factory now stands, was covered with heavy timber. The Second Ward was entirely covered with timber, except a small space where Mr. J. C. Hall now resides, which had been partially cleared to make room for a schoolhouse, and the clearing made by Messrs. Stultz and Ackerman, east of the Ackerman Spring. The road ran over the hill diagonally across Mr. S. M. Stevens' lot and the Union Schoolhouse grounds, past Mr. Ackerman's, and an Indian trail followed down the river near the edge of the pond. As late as the fall of 1848, my informant saw three wild deer quietly lying in the bushes near Edgerton's livery stable. In Lewis' mill-pond, the original timber was still standing, dead and unsightly. This entire block and the one on which the Presbyterian Church stands was a pasture, with no improvements upon it except a small clearing made in the spring of 1846, by Mr. Gowdey, where Mr. Hoyt now lives, the Mackie farm and a narrow strip along Front street. The Fourth Ward was entirely covered with heavy timber. There was little or no underbrush, except upon the low ground, where an impenetrable thicket was formed by wild plums, grape vines, prickly ash and all the varieties of sjnall timber which are still seen in the timber south of the city.

" There was little or no underbrush or small timber to obstruct the view or prevent the settlers from driving their wagons where the ground seemed most favorable. In these old oaks and in these first settlers we trace a sad and striking similarity. One by one, the old oaks have disappeared by gradual decay or the lust of men, and in their stead is seen in unmolested spots a thick growth of young and vigorous timber. Here and there may still be seen within the city limits one of the same old monarchs which nodded a welcome to the pioneer as he passed beneath its shade, but most of them have disappeared, and the existence of the remainder will be brief.

" So with the men who made the first entry in this book of Nature, where since then so many pages of beauty have been written. One by one, they too have passed away to other scenes of earthly usefulness, or been hurried on by death to that undiscovered country whence they may never return. But few remain, and who can say how many will be left at the close of another decade ?

" The first child born in the community was Mr. George Stultz, our young townsman, and the settlers were first reminded that Death too was here, by the removal of a little child of Mr. Goetschius, and a grandchild of Mr. Mackie. The first wedding was attended by most of the community ; a Mr. Charles Smith, who lived on Ackerman's farm, was the victim. A noted wedding took place soon after at the neighboring settlement of Waupun, whicli many of our people attended. A sister of Mr. Smith was to be married, and at her request Mr. Abraham Ackerman went to Waupun, where the parties resided, to perform the ceremony. Many of the people from here accompanied him. Upon their arrival at Waupun, they found an arbor prepared, sufficient to shelter a large party, and an ample collation spread. All were in readiness, and the happy couple presented themselves for obligation, when an unforeseen difficulty presented itself. The parties to be united, and the good cheer spread were in Fond du Lac County, and Judge Ackerman was only authorized to perform the ceremony in Dodge. The difliculty was speedily removed by the blooming bride, who led her future lord and guests about eighty rods, within the limits of Dodge County, and the twain were made one beyond any legal doubt. There are those present who remember the pleasant gathering at this wedding. It is almost painful to hear these incidents recounted by the old settlers, and listen to their evidence with reference to their early days. All agree that these were the halcyon days of Beaver Dam, and in their peaceful flow the poetical idea of Arcadian happiness was almost realized. There were burdens grievous and heavy to be borne, and, shared by all, they were light to each. If there was joy in one household, smiles wreathed the face of the entire settlement ; if there was grief, tender and sympathetic counsel and words of cheer robbed sorrow of its gloom. A grief thus shared is lighter to the stricken heart. Those were truly happy days, and to them the eyes of more than one of the early settlers of Beaver Dam still turn with longing, even as the eyes of an exiled angel turn toward the heaven which he has forfeited. Between the twilight and the candles, when memory with all of us takes its widest range, even yet the tear of regret for those good old times will steal down the furrows in cheeks that then were smooth, and the long-drawn breath and sigh attest that memory is at work on the old man's heart. With a community of interest, an entire unselfishness, a freedom from restraints and formalities which society imposes, in the fierce struggle with Nature, man turned aside for awhile from battling with himself, and joined in the common purpose of utilizing the gifts of God. But in the comparison of then and now, who shall regret the change? These men saw only the good which the gods did then provide, and did not then, nor do they now, see the evil which did then exist. Mankind are seldom optimists, and seldom invest with romance scenes as they pass, but looking back as they go down the hill, they see the years tinged with the radiance of the sun setting before them, and do not see the shadows which lie beneath its sheen. In the struggle of conflicting interests, in the tumult and confusion and cares of business, the worst side of man's nature is oftener uppermost. But I am not willing to believe that man was by nature or education better then than now. There may be more base metal in circulation now, bearing the image of the great model, than then, but there is also more of pure gold ; there may be more weeds, but there is also more golden grain ; there may be more vice and immorality, more wicked, base designing men, but there is also a mightier host of greathearted, noble men and women to counteract and check these evils.

" Of the Beaver Dam of to-day you all know. Many of you have known it in every stage of iis progress. You have seen the little one-run grist-mill, barely sufficient to supply the wants of the little community of 1846, give place to a larger one, whose revolving shafts and rumbling machinery are capable of grinding flour for an army, and other mills have been added, until fourteen runs of stone within a radius of two miles and their production tell the story of their work in all the principal markets of the Union. The little blacksmith-shop of Brobriant & Fisher has modestly stepped aside, and instead of the merry ring of Brobriant's hammer, as it struck the anvil in the morning, you now hear the steam-whistle calling a hundred men to labor in Rowell's factory. The modest retailing establishments of Snow & Van Eps and Manahan, not forgetting our friend Truman Parker, have disappeared, and in their stead we have stores as elegant and spacious as any that Milwaukee can boast.

of the Holy Sepulcher, and the result of their researches afford but little light, and is in fact but little more than tradition. Our country, with its freshness and recent discovery, is more fortunate ; its earliest settlements are well defined, and the student has only to devote himself to a few days of study to become acquainted with our early history as a nation. And it is now only as the star of empire wends its way to the Western world, and new settlements, new towns and new cities are, as if by magic, springing into existence, thrift and importance, that the history of such new locations becomes interesting. And to-night the Old Settlers' Club of Beaver Dam meet for the first time, as has been said, ' for the purpose of reviving old acquaintance, renewing the ties of former years,' and to look about for the men and women who marched forth to the attack upon the forest ; cleared, improved and cultivated the land, and planted themselves as free American citizens in this Western world ; reared their log cabins, bridged the streams, drained the swamps and founded a system of education and free thought. And as time speeds on, those who succeed in the footsteps of the early pioneer and whose lot has been cast in pleasant places, will for centuries to come look back with kindly heart and tender memories of those who struggled with hardships, doubt and want, and who paved the way for their comfort and prosperity.

" It is a matter of great sorrow to me and misfortune to you, that he who had been chosen to address you to-night is now numbered among the dead. He had spent days and weeks in gathering together, from time to time, facts and reminiscences connected with the early settlement of this city and the surrounding country. He was, beyond all question, with his eminent abilities, more capable of interesting you than any one in our midst ; and for many of the facts and data which I shall present to you this evening, I am indebted to the late Rev^John J. Miter, and in many instances copy literally from his manuscript."

" Prior to 1841, no white man had made his home here ; the Indians alone occupied the ground and were the lords of the forest and the prairie. The first white man who made it his home here was Joseph 'Goestchius, which was in the spring of 1841, when he put up a shanty by the side of the Mackie Spring. Mrs. Goetschius, now Mrs. William Holt, was the first white woman who found a shelter and a home in Beaver Dam. When Mr. Goetschius had completed his shanty, he left his wife alone while he made a trip to Fo.x Lake. Mrs. Goetschius becoming alarmed by the presence of many Indians around the house, locked the door, put out the fire and thus spent a weary and lonely day awaiting the return of her husband. The same spring, and second in order, came Thomas Mackie and wife, and built a log cabin, which still stands near the spring. It will thus be seen that .Joseph Goetschius and Thomas Mackie were the first brave and sturdy pioneers who performed the part of resolute a.x-men, to fell the tree and prepare the way for the founding of our city. The third settler was Morris Furmin. He built his cabin near where the barn of William Ash now stands, on Railroad avenue. The fourth was Jacob P. Brower, who moved his fiimily here in the fall of 1841, and built his cabin on the north side of Front street, where the bank building now stands. On the 22d day of February, 1842, Abram Ackerman located in this place, and in April following came Henry Stultz and family ; Mr. Ackerman being the fifth and Mr. Stultz the si.xth original settler of Beaver Dam. "

"Mr. Miter, in his manuscript, says: 'In this connection, it should be mentioned that Rev. Moses Ordway was among the first who surveyed with his personal eye the grounds on which our city stands. In the winter of 1840-41, on his way from Green Bay, he visited this region and discovered its natural advantages. In the spring of 1842, he made a second visit here, and it was during this visit that he held meetings in some of the cabins of the first settlers. To him, therefore, belongs the distinction of being the pioneer missionary of the Presbyterian denomination of Beaver Dam. He removed here with his family in the spring of 184-3, and died suddenly at Cambria January 24, 1870, and was buried at Milwaukee, where his only son,

David S. Ordway, now resides. He had left the border of civilization thirty-five years ago to penetrate the wilderness, bearing his life in one hand and the symbol of the Christian religion in the other. In the fall of 1842, he purchased of David Drake the water-power (now owned by Dr. Hoyt) and the saw-mill which Drake had built the preceding summer. On this visit he also held religious meetings in the settlement and thus prepared the way for the organization of the Church.' From these historical reminiscences, it will be seen that the city is mainly indebted to the same venerable pioneer for the improvement of its water-power, and the founding of the Christian Church.

-'The First Presbyterian Churcii was organized on the 1st day of June, 1843, in the cabin of Thomas Mackie. It was a bright and beautiful summer day. The windows of the cabin were raised, the unmolested birds were warbling their wild carols in the overhanging branches of native trees, clothed in their tender foliage, and the air was freighted with the fragrance of innumerable wild flowers. At its organization, the Church consisted of but eight members. You will be interested to hear their names. I will repeat them in the order in which they stand on the records. Thomas Mackie and Ann his wife, Hanna Maria Goetchius, Rufus Lounsberry and Mary Ann his wife, Julia A. Arms, Lucy Ordway and Lucy Finch. It thus appears that thename of venerable Thomas Mackie occupies the first place among the living founders of the town, and our stands first on the records of the first church organized in the county of Dodge, or in the region north of Milwaukee and west of Green Bay. He is justly entitled to the distinction of being recognized by the generations to come as the Patriarch of the city."

" Mr. Ordway supplied the infant Church with preaching for two years. At the close of his labors, the Church numbered but twenty-three members. But there was work done which neither appears on the surface nor in the records. Mr. Ordway was mainly instrumental in securing for the Church its first house of worship. That building was improvised after that oft-hand fashion which characterized the pioneers of the West. Thomas Mackie went to the woods, selected the timber and hauled it on the ground. This was in the spring of 1844. On the Monday or Tuesday following, the settlers were called together to build the meeting-house. All responded to the call. The timber was hewed, the frame raised, the floor laid, the windows put in, temporary seats made, and the building ready for occupancy on the next Sabbath. Such was the process of building the first house of worship. AH the materials were furnished by Mr. Ordway, except the timber for the frame, and four pounds of nails. These nails have a history which must not be lost. Mr. John Manahan, and the first Irishman who settled here, and a pioneer ' Catholic,' was the proprietor of the second store that was opened in the town. Observing this general stir about the new building going up, he inquired of the minister the meaning of all this enthusiasm. ' We are building a meeting-house,' replied Mr. Ordway. ' Then,' responded the Catholic neighbor, ' I must have a nail in it,' and presented the four pounds of nails. That pioneer sanctuary stood on the east side of Spring street, directly on the town line and nearly in front of Mr. Loomis'. In 1847, it was purchased by Christopher Bogart. who removed it to the corner of Spring and Third streets. The building now stands on the north side of Madison street, near Beaver street bridge."

"In 1846, the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized with the Rev. H. P. Allen as Pastor. Reuben Dexter and wife and Mary A. Baldwin were among the first member.s ; its first place of worship was in the cabinet shop of your President, L. H. Marvin, near the mill of Dr. Hoyt ; which building is removed to the north end of Beaver street bridge, and is now used for a basket factory. L. H. Marvin was its first class leader.

" St. Mark's Episcopal Church was also organized in the same building in 1846, and held services there for several years; its present church was built in 1856.

" The Baptist Church was organized November 27, 1844, Rev. T. S. Pillsbury was the first Pastor, and Israel Root, Truman Parker, James M. How and wife were among its first members. Their first church building was built in 1847, and was located at the corner of Second and Third streets, and is now standing, and is the present residence of Dr. Hitchcock. In 1852, they erected a new edifice on the site of the present church, which was destroyed by fire in 1866, and replaced the next year by the present brick building.

" St. Peter's Church was organized in the fall of 1853 ; up to that time the Catholics had no fixed place of worship ; a priest from Columbus and Watertown came here occasionally and held religious services.

" The four leading events of the first three years of the new settlement are the following : The first was the death of Mr. Goetschius' son John, the first death of a white person in the town. It occurred March 6, 1842. The second was the birth of George Stultz. This memorable event in the early history of Beaver Dam transpired on the 5th of May. 1842. This was the first white child born in the town. The third was the organization of the First Presbyterian Church, by Rev. Mr. Ordway, in the cabin of Thomas Mackie, June 1, 1843. The fourth notable event was the Christian baptism of Ann Amelia, infant daughter of Joseph and Hannah M. Goetschius. This first sacred rite was performed by Rev. Mr. Ordway February 25, 1844.

" Of the original pioneers who entered some portions of the land on wliich the finest parts of the city stand, three are still living. I will name them : Thomas Mackie, Henry Stultz and Morris Furmin. To this record of the living must be added the sad records of the dead. These are Joseph Goetschius, who died September 30, 1846, in his cabin, which stood a few rods north of the Mackie cabin ; Jacob P. Brower, died November 28, 1846 ; Paul Brower, died in September, 1855 ; David Drake, died July 16, 1865, and Abraham Ackerman, on the 9th of March, 1867. just fifteen days over a quarter of a century from the time he moved into his cabin by the side of the little brook. To this list must be added Moses Ordway and Ann Mackie.

" It is an historical fact, tnat of all the courageous women who followed the adventurous pioneers into the wilderness, none are living except Mrs. William Holt, Mrs. Ackerman and Mrs. Stultz. Perhaps to this record I should add the name of Mrs. James Madison How, who came in the spring of 1842, in company with Mr. and Mrs. Drake.

" The commencement of our large German population was in 1847 ; the first who came was Gotlieb Gunther, now of Calamus, his brother, Leonard Gunther, now of Marathon County, and George Hieleg, who died in the western part of the State four or five years ago."

" Our present valuable common schools had a small beginning, and all who realize the fact of their importance and the favorable maturity they have attained cannot fail to be interested while I trace for a few minutes their early history. On the 23d day of July, 1842, a meeting was called by the citizens at the house of J. P. Brower for the purpose of selecting a site for a schoolhouse. At that meeting there were twelve persons, and it appears from the minutes of that meeting that there was a diversity of opinion as to the location - there were five points insisted upon by the different persons present ; finally, after several ballots, it was decided that the schoolhouse be located ' east of J. P. Brower's house, within twenty rods east of Spring Creek, on the south side of the road,' which point is upon the lot now owned by Mrs. John C. Hall. In a few months after, another meeting was held, and the ofiicers were elected, with Morris Furmin, Clerk, and it appears that the duties of the office were so burdensome, or from some other cause, that on the 6th day of February, 1843, he resigned his office. By a census taken March 6, 1843, it appears there were twenty-four scholars in the district.

" Nothing further appears to have been accomplished until the meeting of 10th of March, 1845, when, on motion of J. P. Brower, it was resolved that the schoolhouse ' be commenced and progress as far as funds can be collected.' And now the work commenced in earnest ; a subscription paper is circulated to obtain lumber, labor and the material for a frame schoolhouse, the ' paper ' says the house not to be less than 23 feet by 30, and ' for exclusive literary purposes.' Moses Ordway gave all the lath; Abram Ackerman $5 worth of timber; Rufus Loun,sberry, $1 worth of lumber ; Joseph Groetschius, two days' work ; Thomas Mackie, 500 fuet of lumber and four days' work with team ; J. M. How, six days' work ; Dr. Bradley Noyes, tlireo days' work ; John Craig, $3 in joiner work ; David L. Booth, three days' work ; Henry W. Finch, five days' work ; Henry Stultz, ten days' work ; J. P. Brower, the lot, 1,000 feet of lumber and ten days' work ; John Van Eps, $2 in lumber; L. H. Marvin, two dfiys' work, and C. S. Bristol, cash $3, he being the only lawyer then here, and gave the only money ; perhaps some may think he was too lazy to work, and had rather deal out the hard cash. On the 4th day of October, 1845, a tax or rate bill was issued under the hand and seal of L. A. Donaldson, Jo'hn Craig and Joseph Goetschius, for the collection from the inhabitants of the sum of $13.44, to pay the wages of Miss Adaline \V. Ladd for teaching nine weeks' school, and the Collector was in the name of the ' United States ' commanded to collect the same.

" In October, 1846, another subscription paper was circulated to raise means for the ' purpose of furnishing the inside and painting the outside of the schoolhouse.' Upon this list, the only persons who paid cash were the lawyer Bristol and Dr. Kimball. They, probably, were the only idle ones in the settlement, and how they got the money wherewith to pay was then, and will always remain a mj'stery. In September. 1844, a rate bill was also issued to collect $18 to pay Mrs. Margaret J. Buck for twelve weeks 'tuition' at $1.50 per week, as appears from her school register. From this it will be seen that the early settler was fully imbued with the spirit of education, and that the small beginning of those years has grown to be a power in the land."

" Prior to 1844, the mails reached this place once in two weeks, and about 1846, the people were supplied with a tri-weekly mail, and brought herein a four-horse stage. I am informed that the first arrival of that sta^e occasioned great rejoicing, men tossed their hats in triumph, women waved their handkerchiefs (those that had any) in delight, the dogs barked in anger, and children hid in fear and amazement. I have no time to follow further the first settlement and growth of this city ; a volume might be written and then the story be but half told.

" Some of those old pioneers are with us this evening, and many are here who soon followed them, and whose settlement dates back to 1845-46-17. That they were a noble type of mankind will ever be conceded. Those wanting in energy and perseverance never seek. new countries - for the work of the pioneer is always laborious, often perplexing and never remunerative. He spends the winter in felling forest-trees, and the spring in plowing among green stumps and tough roots. When autumn comes, he is satisfied if the product of his labors is sufficient to keep his family from starvation. The pioneers are mostly gone: the harvest has ripened with them; their days are numbered, and soon the remaining ones will be gathered with those who have preceded them ; but while they live, let each of us extend a kindly hand, a gentle and cheering word, and an earnest wish for God's blessing to follow them."

At the conclusion of Mr. Lander's address, the members of the Club, with their families, repaired to the Boylan House, where a banquet was held. The feast finished. President Marvin called up the ne,xt order of business - " Reminiscences " - which met with apt and interesting responses from the following : Judge S. L. Rose, of Fort Dodge, Iowa (now of Beaver Dam) ; Hon. ' Q. H. Barron, of Fox Lake ; N. E. Allen, Esq., of Trenton; S. Thomas, Esq., of Beaver Dam ; Hon. Charles Burchard, Beaver Dam ; James F. McCoUum, Esq., of Trenton ; Eldridge Smith, Esq., of Rolling Prairie. But one of these interesting papers has been preserved - that of Mr. Allen. It is as follows:

'' In taking a retrospect of the past thirty-two or thirty-three years, since the early settlement of Beaver Dam and vicinity, how many thoughts come crowding upon the memory. Scarcely a home or heart into which has not come the messenger of Death. In my own, a brother and our three oldest children lie in yonder cemetery. With almost every one, in a greater or less degree, the same experiences. In recalling the names of thirty-two and thirty-three years ago of the early settlers of Beaver Dam and vicinity, I ask, where are they ? Nearly all gone I Dead. But yet not dead, for they live in the memories of the people. They live in the monuments erected by their skHl and industry ; they live in the highways, the public roads ; they live in every living tree and shrub, planted by their hands ; they live in the great moral influences they exerted to lay the foundations of good society, and, most of all, they live in the generations that have followed them. Here a most pleasing and gratifying reflection. In my effort to recall the names of the inhabitants of that early time and their children, I cannot think of any who have disgraced themselves. Honored and honorable members of society, whether still among us, or some other chosen location is now their home. Here, too, a reflection. The"hiecessitie3 of those early times compelled industry in order to live; they learned to earn a living, instea<l of simply learning to get a living. There is a vast difference in the future of boys or girls, whether they are taught to earn a living, or simply learn to get it."

"It is not my purpose to moralize on' this occasion, but to give some of the personal incidents of those early times. My first coming to Beaver Dam was October 8, 1842, thirty-two years ago last October. There were here, at the time of my coming. Mr. Thomas Mackie, wife and daughter ; Mr. Henry Goetschius and wife, daughter of Mr. Mackie, who lived near the spring that forms Spring Brook, that runs through your city. Mr. Abraham Ackerman, who' lived near what is known as the Ackerman Spring, together with his wife and five children. Mr. Henry Stultz, who lived near where Mr. F. Hempel now lives, his wife and three children. Mr. Jacob P. Brower, who lived on the ground now occupied by the Williams Block, in your city, wife, and, I think, seven children; his father and mother, I think, also lived with him. Mr. David Drake and his wife, who lived nearly opposite Ho^'t's mill, or whore the old store now used for a blacksmith shop. Mr. Madison Howe, who lived on the northeast side of the river, about twenty-five rods above the dam, his wife and three children. Mr. Morris Furmin, who lived near where Mr. Trask lives, together with his wife and two cliildren. These constituted all the people in what is now the city of Beaver Dam. Mr. Israel Root, wife and nine children, lived about one mile northeast of the depot, on the place now owned by Mr. Rose. Mr. David Snyder lived on the farm owned by Mr. Reuben Dexter, together with his wife and one child. Mr. Eldridge Smith came in the fall and settled on the land now owned by Mr. J. C. Hunt ; he had a wife and one child. Mr. Amasa Hyland, the first settler in Dodge County, lived about four miles east of your city, on the farm now owned by his nephew, George Hyland, and Stanton on the place owned by the late Thomas Marshal. Hyland and Stanton lived together and kept bachelors' hall. William Griffin had a claim on the south end of the prairie, now owned by Mr. Phillips ; Mr. Isaac Noyes lived on the farm now owned by i\Ir. Burgit, and Maj. Pratt at Oak Grove. Mr. Jaine.s and Timothy Williams carae in the fall and settled on what is now known as H. B. Sherman's Spring Brook Farm. These, with their families, constituted all the inhabitants of Dodge County at the time of my coming, except a casual stopper, among whom I remember Mr. D. Blauvelt."

" Communication with the outside world was expensive and inconvenient. The only post office in Dodge County was at Fox Lake, and the postage on a letter was 25 cents. There was a sub post office at Beaver Dam, and the inhabitants took turns in going after the mail once a week. I well remember when my turn came ; it was one of those cold days in January, and vou know we have some cold days in Wisconsin. Well, on one of those cold days, with the snow a foot deep or more, and no track, I went, through the woods, or openings, near where the 'openings road' now runs to Fox Lake, and back again and brought the mail - not a house, but only now and then a friendly blazed tree to guide me.

" In the early winter came a company from Waukesha, or Prairieville, as it was then called, for the purpose of forming a colony and establishing a college school. During the winter, the population was much increased, but, passing that, I will confine my remarks to the general incidents and events of that first winter and spring. The fall of 1842 was one of those remarkable Indian summer, smoky times, so common in Wisconsin in the fall, until near the middle of November, when about six inches of snow fell and continued with increasing quantity till January, when there was a thaw, and the ground was nearly bare for ten days, when it snowed again, and the snow continued on the ground until the middle of April, making the most remarkable winter in the history of Wisconsin, equaled only by the past, but very much more severely felt, because the inhabitants were so poorly prepared for such weather, either in their dwellings or feed and shelter for their stock. So terribly cold and long-continued was the winter that, by the middle of March, everything eatable for stock was consumed, and, as the only means to keep their stock alive, the inhabitants clubbed together and hired a man (Mr. Harrison Root), to go down into the woods, south of the lower woolen-factory, and so along the river for a mile on the east side, and chop down basswood trees for the cattle to browse, and continued it for fully five weeks, when the cattle could pick a scanty living on the marsh with only one browsing a day.

" In the fall, pork was very cheap, from the wild hogs that had been allowed to run wild and breed in the woods, and living on acorns. I well remember seeing a man buy some very good dressed pork for $1.75 per hundred. But oh ! such poor, starved creatures as they became in the winter, so very hungry as to devour each other, and, although hogs were plenty in the fall, I think they have not been so scarce since as they were the next spring, literally starved to death, or killed to keep them from starving. The great effort of the inhabitants was to procure fencing to secure the crops the coming season, and every available man and team was brought into requisition, and although labor was in great demand money was scarce, not only in Wisconsin but in the United States. It will be remembered it was during the great financial crisis of 183(3 to 1844 of the 'wild-cat' bank speculation."

" Provisions were scarce and high, as well as money, as a few incidents will show. I well remember Mr. John Putnam taking a job of Mr. Abraham Ackerman to cut and split for him 10,000 rails, at 50 cents per hundred, and he did it, too ; he cut the timber on the ground now occupied as Oak Wood Cemetery, and further south on the same ridge. He boarded with Mr, David Snyder, and paid $1.50 per week for board. (I also boarded at the same place most of the time that winter.) He received $50 in gold for the job. In April, the Root boys and myself took a job of Uncle Seymour Wilcox, at Waupun, to split for him 5,000 rails and 10,000 stakes, at 31 cents per hundred for the rails and 20 cents per hundred for the stakes, and took our pay in potatoes, at $1 per bushel, he furnishing us board. The timber was cut and drawn out on the ground where the city of Waupun now stands. After the potatoes were earned tlie next thing waste get them. Mr. Root had two teams of horses, but they wore so very poor they could hardly draw an empty wagon, and nothing to feed them on excepting browse, so, in an emergency like this, something must be done. Mrs. Root took the marsh hay from the bed on which the femily had slept all winter, to make feed for the team, so they could go and get the potatoes. Whiie gone, Mr. Root traded the poor creatures to Mr. Wilcox for a pair of old oxen and a pair of three-year-old steers, and managed with both pair of cattle to get home with the load of potatoes."

"The pond - well, that was the absorbing subject of conversation during that winter. The ]ieople wanted lumber, and they could get none until the mill started, and the mill could not start until the pond would fill. So the history of the pond will be in order. The water was stopped in July, and the pond did not fill to run over until June, or nearly one year, and to Eastern chaps brought up among the mountains, where a mill-pond would fill in' one night, and generally in an hour or two, it was incomprehensible. All sorts of conjectures were indulged in, some believed it filled so as to run into Lost Lake, others still believed it set back into Fox Lake, others that there was some subterranean passage where the water went off. So, to satisfy the curiosity and anxiety of the people, they employed Mr. J. V. Brower, who was a surveyor, to make an examination and report, which he did: that there was no other outlet, but the pond was going to cover more surface than first supposed, as it would set back almost to Fox Lake, but he owned a water-power at Fox Lake, and it had not affected that yet, so we waited for the pond to fill. But to make the matter more certain, Madison How set a gauge in the water and watched it for a month, and at last reported the water had raised an inch, thus settling our doubts."

"The first death occurring in Beaver Dam, or the first one buried, as my recollection serves me, was a stranger by the name of Soddy, who died in my shanty on the farm where I now live. He came along traveling, and was taken sick with colic, and before a doctor could be obtained he died, or was so far gone as to be impossible to help him. The next was my own brother, Edwin C. Allen, who died on the 27th of August, 1845. That was a terribly sickly fall, and many persons died. Among the number were Mrs. Henry Goetschius, Mr. Jacob P. Brower, and others, all with the same fever.

"Another incident in which I was an interested party. Mr. Thomas Mackie and myself (I was working for Mr. Mackie), went one of those cold days, about two miles on the Columbus road, to cut saw-logs ; after cutting until noon, we stopped to eat our dinner, which was frozen as hard as stone, almost. While standing, my feet became terribly cold, as I only had on boots and Mr. Mackie had on moccasins. It seemed certain that I must freeze my feet, and told him so. Says he. Pull off your boots and stick your feet in the snow. It seemed a poor remedy for freezing feet, but something must be done; so off with my boots and took a run of twenty or thirty rods, came and sat down, and Mr. Mackie helped rub my feet for a short time, when I pulled on my boots and went to work, and in a short time my feet were burning hot and continued so through the day. I mention this that others may be benefited in a like emergency."

"A few of the personal characteristics of those pioneers : And to commence, we take Amasa Hyland, the first settler of Dodge County. He was a character in his way - possessed an iron constitution, and a will that knew no such word as fail. Hyland was just the man for a pioneer. I might tell you of his conveying the mail from Green Bay to Fort Winnebago, for one year, traveling the whole time on foot, with no settlement oftener than twenty to thirty miles. My recollections of him were as I knew him on his place on Hyland Prairie. He was a man of kind and generous nature, and no man applied to him for assistance if he was needy, and was turned away. He would take work or any way to accommodate. But woe betide the wretch who tried to play oft" on Araasa Hyland. He would take him by the nape of the neck, and set him up in the boot and leather business and command him to leave, and he would go, too, for he had the power to enforce obedience. Another incident as characteristic of the man : After they had started the mill in Beaver Dam - among the proprietors were ministers, merchants, lawyers, but none of them remarkably good teamsters - it was necessary to have some heavy timber removed, so they got three yoke of oxen and hitched them on to draw the timber. Well, thev squalled and squalled and whipped, trying to make the oxen pull ; one would pull and then another, and so for some time. Hyland happened to be there looking on, he stood it as long as he could, so going to the man trying to drive the team, he said, I can make them draw it. Well, they did not believe anybody could do it, but he might try. Well, he said he would go and cut him a whip, so going down a little toward where Rowell's shop stauds, he cut an ironwood stalk, and putting on a lash he had in his pocket, he would crack the whip and it could be heard two miles. Coming up to the cattle, he indulged in some not very complimentary language toward them ; after swinging the whip a few times over the backs of the oxen, and giving them some earnest denunciations, and telling them of the wrath to come, he told them to go, and away they went as if their lives depended on the effort, and timber too; so after snaking the log all around the street and yard, he laid down the whip and said, You are too pious here in Grubville to drive.

" Here a matter personal to myself I had made a claim on the land now occupied by the Gould Nursery, and where Mr. Noyes now lives, but turned it over to this company for a mere nominal consideration, as they were desirous of getting all the land within a certain distance. Afterward, I made a claim on the land owned by Mr. Reesman, better known as the Stewart farm ; and here may be mentioned the discouragements of the early settlers. There were four wells dug on the prairie, trying to find water, but, of course, coming to the rock in every instance. There was nothing known of a drilling-machine in those days, so we tried to blast, and we knew as little about that, almost, as a cow would know about loading a gun. Of course, our eiforts were failures, and our ambition became very much demoralized, working upon land where we could get no water ; so I sold my claim to Mr. Reuben Dexter, and went where I now live."

Original Farms

" It may be interesting to the citizens of Beaver Dam, who came here at a much later date, to know the location of the original farms which were owned by these first settlers. I shall not attempt to draw the lines with the exact precision of the Government surveys. A general outline vk'ill be suflicient to fix their location in the mind of the intelligent reader. I shall make the southwest terminus of Railroad avenue our standpoint. It was near this point where the four original farms of Messrs. Ackerman, Brower, Mackie and Goetschius cornered. It should also be stated that it is at this point where the Hue passes which runs east and west, dividing Town 11 from Town 12. If we extend this town line west from the corner of Division street and Railroad avenue, it will pass through the house of Mr. Loomis, on Spring street. If, from the same point, we extend it east, it will pass along the rear of the lots which front on Third street. This is the line which forms the north boundary of the Ackerman and Brower farms, and the south boundary of the Mackie and Goetschius farms. If we now extend Division street north till it unites with De Clark street, it will form the west boundary of the Ackerman and Goetschius farms, and the east boundary of the Brower and Mackie farms. These are the lines which separated these four farms.

"Let us next look at the extent of territory which they covered. Mr. Ackerman's farm embraced all that part of the city which lies south of the town line, east of Division street, and north of South street, together with forty acres, which embrace all the ground on both sides of the river, which lies west of Division street, north of a line extended west from the corner of

Division and South streets, east of Center street, and south of a line which would run through the middle of that tier of blocks which lie between Washington and Henry streets. From this, it will be seen that this west forty of Mr. Ackerman's original puixhase embraced all the valuable water-power owned by the proprietors of the Empire Mills and Beaver Dam Woolen Factory.

"The Brower farm covered all that part of the city which lies west of Division street, south of the town line, east of West street, and north of a line running west from Division street, through the tier of lots lying between Washington and Henry streets. This was the original Brower estate. But, in addition to it, Mr. Paul Brower, the father of Jacob P. Brower, owned a forty, lying west of West street, and e.xtending to the pond. It is on a part of this land that Judge Rose located his tastefully arranged and ornamental grounds, and where his cottage still stands.

"The original farm of Mr. Mackie extended over that part of the city which lies north of the town line, west of a line running north from Division to De Clark street, south of Burnett street, and east of West street; and Mr. Goetschius' embraced that part of the city which lies north of the town line, west of .College street, south of Burnett street, and east of a line running north from the foot of Railroad avenue.

"The Stultz farm joined Mr. Ackerman's on the south. The former residence of George H. Stewart, just south of St. Peter's Church, stands near its north line. This line extends west till it crosses the river south of the Empire Mills, and takes in a few acres on the west bank ; or, if Center street were extended south till it crossed the river, it would form the west line of Mr. Stultz's original purchase. His south line was the north line of Mr. Robert Johnson's farm. This farm originally embraced a few feet of the valuable water-power now belonging to the Empire Mill Company.

" In the spring of 1842, Mr. David Drake purchased the forty acres which embrace the present water-power of Messrs. Smith ct Lauder. This forty extended south a little beyond the present residence of Moses Ordway. The forty lying still west of this was taken up by Mr. James Conner. It is over these two forties that Madison street now passes diagonally to the southwest. Mr. Drake built the dam and put up a saw-mill in the summer of 1842. In the following November, he sold the forty acres, which took in the water-power, to Rev. M. Ordway. Mr. Conner also sold the other forty to a company of Germans, and thus Madison street has passed almost exclusively into their possession.

"The eighty acres which lie north of the town line west of College street and south of Burnett street, embracing the cemetery, was originally entered by Mr. Tunis T. Blauvelt. He erected a cabin on the site now occupied by the homestead of the Widow Ide, and cleared ten acres. He soon after sold the whole eighty to Rev. M. Ordway. In turn, Mr. Ordway, not long after, sold the south forty to Henry W. Finch, and the north forty to Rufus Lounsbury. Mr. Finch took possession of the original Blauvelt cabin, and thus nicely domiciled, he lived for several years in true patriarchal style. Mr. Blauvelt also entered the three forties, embracing the heavily timbered bottom lands, lying between Madison street and the river. This land he subsequently sold to Mr. Ordway. '

" From the foregoing outline it will be seen that our beautiful city stands on portions of all the lands which were originally taken up by these seven first settlers, Messrs. Goetschius, Mackie, Brower, Ackerman, Stultz, Blauvelt, Drake and Conner. It does not appear that Mr. Morris Furmin did anything more than to build a cabin and make a claim which he never entered.

" The Brower estate, then, has given to us the business street and all the fine building lots which lie on Front, Middle and Third streets, between Division and West streets. The Ackerman estate has given to the city all that undulating and romantic part of it which lies east of Division street, and extending north to the west end of Railroad avenue, south to St. Peter's Church, and taking in Wayland University on the east. Out of the Mackie farm have been carved all those commanding sites which embrace that large group of beautiful residences

MRS. FiLIZABETH ANTONE, widow, Sec. 20; P.O. Beaver Dam; her maiden name was Elizabeth Pye ; born in Wisconsin. Married, in Oneida Co., N. Y., Mr. Thomas Antone, a cabinetmaker, who was born in Chenanp;o Co., N. Y. ; they came to Wisconsin in 1853 ; located at Menasha, where he worked at his trade until his death, Feb. 1, 1854 ; they had five sons, four of whom entered the army during the rebellion ; Benjamin and Cornelius enlisted in Pond du Lac, in W. V. I. ; Abraham and Joseph enlisted in Co. D, 'itJth N. Y. V. I. ; Benjamin was lost in the army ; Charles H. died, and the others are still livins;; Mrs. Antone died in the fall of 1879.

WILLIAM ASHTON, blacksmith ; born in England July 30, 1820, and came to Wisconsin July 17, 1849, locating at Beaver Dam; he served an apprenticeship of seven years at his trade in England ; he then went to New York City, and worked as journeyman for three years ; he then came to Beaver Dam, and bought out Shaw & Haskell's wagon and blacksmith shop, and carried on blacksmithing until the breaking-out of the war; in the ftill of 1862, in connection with Wm. Kcieger, under the firm name of Ashton & Keieger, bought out John Thompson, and continued for three years ; he then sold out, and, in partnership with Mr. Hanson, firm of Hanson & Ashton, bought a bankrupt stock of dry goods and groceries, and continued in this business for three years ; he then bought a lot of Mr. Bower, on Front street, built a blacksmith-shop, and is now carrying on the business at this place. He enlisted May 10, 1861, in Co. D, 5th W. V. I., Col. Cobb, and was engaged in the battles of Lee's Mills and Williamsburg ; he was then detailed into the brigade blacksmith shop, in the shoeing department ; on account of rheumatic fever, he received his discharge June 21, 1862; in 1878 he was elected Alderman of the Third Ward, which ofiice he now holds. He married, Aug. 12, 1847, Mary Feron, of New York City; he has three children - William G., Mary E. and Isabella E. Mrs. Ashton is a member of the First Presbyterian Church.

I>R. J. H. BABCOCK was born in Brookfield, Madison Co., N. Y., on Sept. 19, 1826, and came to Wisconsin June 5, 1848, locating at Noyes' Corners, where he engaged in the practice of medicine for one year ; he graduated at the Castleton Medical College, Castleton, Vt., and in 1850, came to Beaver Dam, where he engased in the practice of his profession ; in 1855, he was elected Town Treasurer, and in 1856, he was City Treasurer of Beaver Dam ; in 1850, he started a drug store, which was burned down in 1862; in 1862, he was appointed U. S. Collector for the Fourth Collection District of Wisconsin; in 1865, he was elected a member of the SchoolBoard, which position he has held for twelve years. Dr. Babcoek married, Sept. 23, 1849, Mary M. Whitaker, of ftlassachusetts ; he has two children living - Mary Jeanettc and Benj. F. Butler.

SVLYESTEK H. BAILEY, railroad contractor; born in Townsend, Windham Co., Vt., May 20, 1829; resided in Vermont until, he was 21 years of age, then went to Ohio; was a resident of Cleveland about six years. Married, at V/aynesburg, Stark Co., Ohio, Jan. 8, 1856, to Sarah Jane lloss ; they liave two children - James R. and Jeinie E. Mr. Bailey came to Beaver Dam in April, 1858; he has been engaged in railroad contracting, construction, etc., most of the time since he came to Wisconsin.

J. H. BARRKTT, book-keeper; born iu Cavendish, Windsor Co., Vt., on Feb. 2, 18.56, and came to Wisconsin in May, 1856, locatina; at Beaver Dam ; he received his early education in Jefl'erson Co., and the Denmark Academy, in Lewis Co., N. Y. ; in Denmark he ran a stationary engine in summer and taught school in winter, until 1856, when he came to Beaver Dam, wliere he at first engaged in buying wheat ; this he continued twelve years; in 1870, he took the position of book-keeper in (he First National Bank of Beaver Dam, which position he now holds ; was, for four or five terms, Alderman of Beaver Dam ; in 1866, was Treasurer of Beaver Dam; iu 1878, was elected School Commis.sioner of the Third Ward, which ofiice he now hold.s. He married, Sept. 20, 1851, Abby E. Clark, of Denmark, N. Y. ; he has four children - Charles 11. C., Frankie L., Edward E. and John H.

IflATHIAS BAI<}R, deceased, was born in Germany April 8, 1817; at the age of 14 he began the carpenter and joiner's trade, which he followed till 1853; in 1853, he came to America, and settled in South Beaver Dam, Dodge Co., Wis., tor one year, then removed t > the town of Calamus for ten years and followed farming ; in 1870, he bought a farm of seventy-seven acres in Sec. 35, town of Beaver Dam, where he made his home till his death, Sept. 21, 1879. April 11,1847, lie married Miss Catharine, daughter of Jacob and Mary Rabach, of Germany, whom he left a widow with eleven children - Joseph, Mathias, George, Katie (now Mrs. Frank Uher, of Beaver Dam, Wis.), Mary (Mrs. Herman), Kressa, Peter, Paul, Francis, John, Annie and Jacob. They are members of the Catholic Church of Beaver Dam.

ALONZO W. BEIiliOWS, agent, Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Co.; born in Tully, Onondaga Co., N. Y., Oct. 29, 1829; when be was about 0 years of age his parents removed, with their family, to Homer, Cortland Co., N. Y. ; resided there sis years, then located for two years at East Homer; afterward lived at McGrawville. in Cortland Co., until he was 24 years of age ; in March, 1856, he cane to Hartford, Wis., and remained there eleven years, agent of the railroad company at that point during this period ; after spending a few months in Fond du Lac, and about one year in Milwaukee, he came to Beaver Dam in October, 1868, and has been engaged in business as agent for the railway company ever since ; while a resident of the State of New York, he worked at his trade, chair-maker ; iu addition to his railroad business here, he deals in salt, cement, lime, plaster, etc. He was married at McGrawville, N. Y., June 17, 1851, to Miss Clara S. Holmes; .she was born in Solon, N. Y. ; they have one son - Willie Grant.

P. BIBIZEL, brewer, Beaver Dam ; born in Germany July 4, 1833; came to Wisconsin in June, 1857, locating at Milwaukee ; he learned the brewery business in Milwaukee, with Jos. Schlitz and Valentine Blatz ; he then worked in a brewery at Two Rivers, for Mr. Miller; on Oct. 1, 1863, he started a brewery at Waupun, which burned down ; in April, 1866, he went to Beaver Dam, and bought the Farmers' Brewery, from Mr. Schutte, which he is now running; in 1870, he was Alderman of the First Ward, and, with the exception of one term, has been Alderman ever since. He married, in July, 1863, Louisa Martz, of England ; he has six children - Edward H., Mary Clotilda, John Alvin, Philip Rudolphe, Alma Louisa and Hellmuth Philip.

H. BOOTH, inerchant tailor; born in Moravia, Cayuga Co., N. Y., March 25, 1825, and came to Wisconsin Sept. 2(i, 1846, locating in Beaver Dam ; he learned his trade in Moravia; on moving to Beaver Dam he opened a merchant tailor's establishment, which he is continuing still ; in the spring of 1852, he was elected Treasurer of Beaver Dam Township; was also Alderman of the Second Ward one term ; in I860, was Treasurer of the city of Beaver Dam ; in 1876, he was Alderman of the Fourth Ward one term. He married, June 24, 1847, Sarah G. Ordway, of Hancock, N. H. ; he has five children - Helen Leona, Clara Lydia, Sarah Bell, Willis Hiram and Charles. Mr. and Mrs. Booth are members of the Episcojial Church.

R. V. BOGKRT, Postmaster; was born in (Maverick, N. Y., July 3, 1819, and came to Wisconsin the fore part of October, 1849, locating in Beaver Dam ; in Chenango Co., N. Y., he received his early education, and assisted his father on the farm ; in Tioga Co., he was a clerk in a general store, after which he moved to Owego, N. Y., and hired out to a firm to lumber-it up and down the Susquehanna River; this he continued for eight years ; from Owego he moved to Beaver Dam; in 1849, started a general store ; bouaht an interest in a flour-mill in 1854, also an interest in the woolen-mills ; this was continued seven years, under the firm name of Lewis & Bogert ; he then entered the banking business, opening the Dodge County Bank, under the State law, which he continued until 1861 ; in 1860, he started the Waushara County Bank, at Wautoma, which he continued until 1861 ; Mr. Bogert has held the following oflBces: In 1851-52, was Town Treasurer; in 1862, was appoin:«d U. S. Assistant Assessor for Dodge Co., which he held until 1865 ; in about 1868, he was again U. S. Assistant Assessor, and held that office until its expiration ; in 1861, he was Mayor of Beaver Dam ; n 1876, he was appointed Postmaster of Beaver Dam, which position he now holds ; Mr. Bogert also represents the following fire, life and accident insurance companies: Liverpool t*c London & Globe; the Royal, of Liverpool ; the Lancashire, of Manchester; the Queen, of London ; Continental, of New York ; Connecticut, of Hartford ; Pennsylvania, of Philadelphia ; Fireman'.s Fund, of California ; Westchester, of New York ; Watertown, of New York ; Northwestern National, of Milwaukee ; Northwestern Mutual Life, of Jlilwaukee, and the Travelers' Accident of Haitford. Mr. Bogert was married in iNLirch, 1844, to Celinda Lsonard, of New York ; he has eis;ht children livinp;, named Agnes, Robert, Henrietta, Henry, Lucy, Nellie, Charles and Lottie. Mr. and Mrs. Bogert are attendants of the Congregational Church.

W. H. BRACKIN, carpenter, joiner and build(!r; is a native of Madison Co., N. Y. ; born in 1818. At the age of 22, he began the carpenter and joiner's trade, which he has since followed ; in 1855, became to Beaver Dam, Wis., where he has been connected with the erection of some of the most prominent buildings of the city. In 1848, he married Mar^a L. Cowen, of Madison Co., N. Y. Tliey attend the Presbyterian Church.

(MRORdrE A. BROWX, proprietor livery stable, was born in Newark, N. J., March 24, 1840, aud came to Wisconsin in 1842, locating in Racine; from Racine he moved to Beaver Dam, at first assisting his father, and after firming it on his own account until 1872, when he went into the livery, sale and boarding stable business in partnership with his brother, under the firm name of JIann, Brown & Co. Mr. Brown married, Jan. 1, 1862, Ellen H. Porter, of Londonderry, Ireland ; he has four children - William Porter, Georgia May, Maggie Julia and Anna Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the First Presbyterian Church.

JOHX BROWIV, fiirmer ; See. 33 ; P. 0. Beaver Dam. The subject of this sketch is a native of Argyle, Wai-hington Co., N. Y., .son of Archibald and Fannie Brown, ure Horth ; born in October, 1824. When he was quite youne his parents removed to Livingston Co.,N. Y. ; here be received a common school education, and led the life of a farmer till 22 years of age; in 184C, came to Dodge Co., Wis., aud settled on a farm in the town of Trenton, which was his home till 1865 ; in 1857-58, ho was employed as guard and overseer in the stone-shop of the State Prison at Waupun, under Gen. Starks. At Ripon, Wis., in October, 1861, he enlisted in Co. K, of the 1st W. V. C, under Col. Daniels; was in the battles of Cape Girardeau, Mo., Chickamauga, Tcnn., Marietta, Stony Face, Buzzard's Roost, and Atlanta; was mustered out of service at Calhoun, Ga., Oct. 31, 1804, when he returned to Trenton and continued farming for one year; in 1865, on account of ill health, he sold that farm and purchased 14 71-100 acres in Sec. 33, and within the city limits of Beaver Dam, where he has led a more retired life ; in 1847, he returned to York, Livingston Co., N. Y., where, June 12 of that year, he married Mrs. Mary A., daughter of Robert P. and Sarah McGlashan iiee Holmes, and soon came again with her to enjoy his Western home. They have had three children - America L., deceased, Frank D. of Gary, Deuel Co., Dak., and Fannie N. Relisiiouslv, Mr. Brown is a Universalist.

REV. J. BUCKLEY', Pastor of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Beaver Dam; was born in the town of Mallow, County Cork, Ireland, November, 1846, and came to Wisconsin September, 1870. locating in Milwaukee; he received his early education in the Abbey of Mount Mellery, Ireland; he took his classical course there and his theological course in All-Hallow College, Dublin ; he was ordained June 24, 1869, and his first charge was as Assistant Pastor of St. Vincent de Paul's Catholic Church, in Logansport, Ind.; he then went to Milwaukee as A.ssistant Priest of St. John's Cathedral; in 1871, he came to Beaver Dam as Pastor of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, which pastorate he now holds.

HON. SAMrEIi D. BrRCHARI>, farmer; P. 0. Beaver Dam; was born in Leyden, Lewis Co., N. Y., July 17, 1835, and came to Wiscon.-in in 1843, locating at Waukesha; in 1856, he commenced his business life by driving a stage on the overland route for Wells, Butterfield & Co., and in the same year took charge of a plantation in Central Missouri, and was engaged in stock-raising for five years; after which he purchased a coal mine in Johnson Co., Mo., and from it supplied the Missouri Pacific R. R., Leavenworth, Kan.sis City, Sedalia. and intirmrdi:ife points, selling to the above railroad the first coal they ever burnt in a locomotive; in 1858, he went to Beaver Dam, and, in connection with Mr. McFetridge, under the firm name of McFetridge, Uurchard & Co., commenced the manufacture of woolen goods. This he continued until 187!), when he purchased a farm of 200 acres in Trenton Township, where he commenced farming on a large scale and with the most jileasing success. During the l:ite war, he was Master of Transportation of Central Mi.ssouri until March 24, 1862, and until Sept. 18, 1862, was Master of Transportation of the Fifth Division of Grant's Army : in the fall of the same year, he was placed in charge of the receipt and distribution of the supplies for the Army of the Potomac; in the fall of 18G3, he was sent by the Government to New York City to purchase forage, in the open market, for the .supply of all the armies operating on the seaboard ; his disbursements, while on duty in New York City, readied the enormous figure of $1,800,000 per month ; he sent in his resigaation in July, 1865, and it was not accepted until Oct. 31, 1865. Mr. Burchard has held the following offices, viz. : Mayor of Beaver Dam, one term; State Senator, two terms, and, in 1874, he was elected to Congress and served one term. He was married June 9, 1859, to Mary Jane Simmons, of Missouri ; he has eight children living, named William T., Charles A., Martha P]., Agnes M., Samuel F., Jennie, Esther, Susan.

A. F. BLIR<jrESS, farmer, Sec. 23 ; P. 0. Beaver Dam ; born in Windham Co., Conn., Aug. 29, 1818 ; came to Wisconsin in 1845; located at Beaver Dam Township, at his present place of residence, where he has since continued farming; he has been Assessor several years, also, Town Treasurer and Supervisor; is a member of the I. 0. 0. F., and of the Grange ; married in the State of New York, Sept. 22, 1846, Miss Rebecca Beackus, a native of Clienango Co., N. Y. ; has family of five children - Jay, Frank, Ruth A., Sarah J. and Ralph ; is owner of 320 acres.

MRS. AFFIA BURNS, physician ; was born in Deposit, Broome Co., N. Y., on May 27, 1839, and came to Wisconsin in June, 1876, locating in Janesville. From Deposit she moved to Luzerne Co., Penn., where, at that place and Philadelphia, she received her literary education. In 1861, she commenced to read and study medicine; in 1863 to 1865 attended medical lectures at the Eclectic Medical College of Pennsylvania, graduating in June, 1865 ; her specialty being the diseases of woman ; in June, 1867, she commenced the practice of medicine and has practiced in the following places : Mount Pleasant, Henry Co., Iowa ; St. Paul, Minn.; Janesville, Wis., and in December, 1878, moved to Beaver Dam, and has since continued her practice with marked success. Mrs. Dr. Burns married, Sept. 20, 1860, Dr. J. J. Ely, of New Y^ork ; second marriage at Dixon, Ky., April 5, 1871, to C. R. Burns. She is a member of the First Presbyterian Church at Beaver Dam.

A. M. BURNS, painter, Beaver Dam ; was born in Curllsville, Clarion Co., Penn., Nov. 24, 1847, and came to Wisconsin in April, 1856, locating in Plattsville, Grant Co., Wis., where he received his education at the Normal School; after leaving school, he, in connection with Mr. Ayres, under the firm name of Ayers & Burns, went into the grocery business, which he carried on for about eighteen] months, when, in May, 1867, he moved to Beaver Dam and engaged with the Beaver Dam Agricultural Works as foreman in the painting department. Mr. Burns was Adjutant General and Inspector in the Order of the Grand Army of the Republic of the State of Wisconsin ; he is also one of the Trustees of the Red Ribbon Club of Beaver Dam. He enlisted in the army in September, 1861, in Co. I, 10th W. V. I., Col. A. R. Chapiu, and was in the battles of Bridgeport, Ala., Perryville, Ky., Stone River, Tenn., Chickamauga, siege of Chattanooga, Dallas, Ga., Burnt Hickory, Peach Tree Creek and siege of Atlanta ; he was wounded in the knee at the battle of Chickamauga ; was mustered out in 1864 ; he was the youngest soldier in the State, having enlisted when but 13 years of age. He married, March 31, 1870, Betsy L. Whitaker, of Beavor Dam ; he has three children - Nellie, Nettie and Luvia. Mr. Burns is a member of the M. E. Church at Beaver Dam.

GEORGE S. CAMPBELL., miller, Beaver Dam ; was bora in Kenosha, Wis., Jan. 7, 1842 ; from Kenosha he moved to Columbus, Wis., and was, with his brother-in-law, in the milling business ; in 1873, he moved to Beaver Dam and engaged with the Beaver Dam Flouring Mill as Superintendent. He enlisted in the army in August, 1 862, in Co. G, 23d W. V. I., Col. J. J. Guppy, and was engaged in the battles of first Vicksburg, Arkansas Post, siege of Vicksburg, Port Gibson, Champion Hills, Black River Bridge, Fort Morgan, Ala., second Fort Morgan, and also in a number of skirmishes ; he received his discbarge July 4, 1865. He married, Jan. 22, 1867, Harriet E. Butterfield, of Smith's Basin, Washington Co., N. Y.; he has one child - -James Franklin. Mrs. Campbell is a member of the First Presbyterian Church at Beaver Dam.

a. W. CHANDLER, woolen manufacturer, Beaver Dam; was born in Warren Co., N. Y., Nov. 9, 1826, and came to Wisconsin May 22, 1853, locating in Beaver Dam; he learned the trade of woolen manufacturer in x\.mber, Onondaga Co., N. Y.; in 1850, he engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods in connection with Mr. G. H. Stewart, under the firm name of Stewart & Chandler, and after, in partnership with his two brothers-in-law, bought a farm of 280 acres in Oak Grove and continued farming for eight years; he then returned to Beaver Dam and for three years was business manager for G. H. Stewart & Co., woolen manufacturers, after which, in connection with Mr. G. B. Congdon, he bought out the interests of Stewart & Co., since which time he has been engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods under the firm name of Chandler, Congdon & Co. In Clyman, he was Supervisor for one year. He married, Jan. 10, 1852, Marcia Griffin, of Amber, N. Y., who died March 18, 1860. He again married, Feb. 3, 1803, Moriah Hambright, of Oak Grove; he has six children living - Jenevieve, Mabel, Charles, William, Arthur and Harley.

DR. A. S. CHILDS, Beaver Dam, was born in Moretown, Washington Co., Vt , May 6, 1843, and came to Wiscon.sin Oct. 10, 1855, locating at Omro, where he received his common school education; in 18(;S, he published the Omro Union, a weekly newspaper ; this he continued for one year and then sold it out; in the fall of 1868, he went to St. Joe, Mo., and afterward to Shclhyville, Mo., where he published the Shelby Co. newspaper ; he also commenced the study of medicine to prepare himself for a course in the medical college, which course he afterward took at the Hahnemann Fluniccopathic College at Chicago, in 1874; he then removed to Beaver Dam in 1878 and has since been engaged in the practice of medicine. He enlisted in October, 1801, in Co. C, 14th W. V. I., Col. Wood, and was engaged in the battles of Shiloh; luka, 31i.ss.; Corinth, Jlis.s. ; Vicksburg, Natchez, Red River expedition; Augusta, Ark.; in the Missouri campaign after Price, and at Nashville, Mobile, and also in about fitteen skirmishes ; during all these battles, he was wounded but once, and that but slightly in the scalp. Dr. Cliilds enlisted a-s a private and gradually rase through the grades of his company until he reached the position of Caplain ; he was mustered out Oct. 9, 18t)5, at Mobile, Ala. In Omro, in 18GG, he was Ciiy Marshal for two terms. He married, Dec. 21, 18t)5, Harriet A. Hamilton, of Cambridge, Me.; he has two children - Myrtle and Ralph.

<irEOKti}K B. COKGDOK, woolen manufiicturer, Beaver Dam ; was born in Otisco, Onondaga Co., N. Y., April L), 1835, and came to Wisconsin in May, 1853, locating at Beaver Dam; from Otisco ho moved to Beaver Dam and engaged in the woolen-mills as spinner ; then as book-keeper in Coe & Schuyler's dry-goods store, and also as book-keeper with Hoyt & Smith, dry-goods merchants, and after, in George Smith's warehouse as book-keeper ; he then took the position of teller in the Dodge County Bank and afterward cashier of the same; in 1859, in connection with Mr. Bogcrt, started a bank in Waushara, called the Waushara County Bank; in 1861, he moved to Madison, Wis., and was employed in the Quartermaster General's office as assistant book-keeper; then as clerk in the U. S. Mar.shal's oflBce at the same place; iu May, 1863, he was appointed Payma.ster in the U. S. army, which po.sition he held until October, 1865, when he entered as partncr'in the woolen-mill in connection with Mr. Chandler and S. P. K. and C. E. Lewis, under the firm name of Chandler, Congdon & Co. Mr. Congdon married, July 11, 1859, Celia Flanders, of Copenhagen, Lewis Co., N. Y.; he has two children - Frank F. and George G. Mrs. Congdon is a member of the First Presbyterian Church at Beaver Dam.