Delafield Town (part 1 of 3)

Delafield Town

to dust, there appeared the lever, the fulcrum and the place whereon to stand to move the world. For good or for evil the influence of newspapers is felt everywhere ; and it is generally for good, because, being always before and depending upon the public, anything wrong or antagonistic to the best interests of the people, in any publication, always results disastrously to itself.

Waukesha County has always been blessed with newspapers of more than ordinary honesty, ability, influence and respectability. The general intelligence and prosperity of a communitv may be fairly measured by the character of the newspapers published therein, and the liberality with which they are supported. An intelligent, thrifty and enterprising community demands newspapers of the same attributes, and sooner or later that demand is always supplied. Waukesha County has not been in advance of her newspapers, from the days of the first American Freeman, down to the present publications, and possibly has not been up to them in liberality and enterprise. The county had very good local newspapers before she had many schoolhouses, churches or many inhabitants to support them. They have kept fully up to an excellent standard ever since; always praising and pointing out to the world, without money or price, the advantages of soil, health, climate, location, growth, society, education, culture and enterprise of the place; inciting new improvements and enterprises, where they did not already exist, and wielding, in the case of one or two of them at least, a strong influence in shaping political and State, as well as local, affairs. They have, therefore, played a very important part in the development and growth of the locality and the State, and the best history would rightly be considered far from complete if it contained no accounts of the various newspaper publications of the county.

Waukesha County is particularly prosperous and famous as a summer resort. Her position in this respect would have been far less advanced had it not been for the aid received from her newspapers, which are always eager to say a good word for the community where they are published. It is hardly necessary to except the schools and the churches in pointing out that the most powerful and influential agents in the civilization, advancement, history, public welfare, growth, prominence and prosperity of any community, is its cordon of newspapers. Their labors are unceasing, their efibrts tireless. They have always a paragraph for the climate, location, soil, inhabitants, schools, churches, manufactories and natural advantages, thus attracting continually new settlers and increased capital. If the public stood by the newspapers as the newspapers have ever stood by the public, editors and publishers would be as forehanded as any other business class, instead of dying early and poor, which is very frequently the case. But Waukesha has done tolerably well by her newspapers, for most of them are more than ordinarily prosperous. But they should be rich, as to their unceasing praise of the locality as a summer resort and desirable location for the sick, more than to all things else combined, does it owe its present wide notoriety and prosperity. t

First Newspaper. - The first newspaper not only in the village of Waukesha, but in what is now the county, was the A77ierican Freeman. The material on which the Wisconsin Enquirer, the first paper published in Madison, was printed, was taken to Milwaukee and used by C. C. Sholes to publish the Milwaukee Democrat, which he began in 1843. He continued his paper for six months, and becoming dissatisfied with the position of the Democratic party on the slavery question, changed its name to the American Freeman, and espoused the cause and principles of the Liberty party, then just beginning to attract public attention. A few months - just twentyeight weeks - sufficed to demonstrate to Mr. Sholes that Milwaukee would not support an antislavery publication, so a stock company, consisting of the friends of the Anti-slavery cause everywhere in the State, but mostly at Waukesha, was formed, and the paper moved to Waukesha, then Prarieville, in September, 1844, where the Anti-slavery doctrines more strongly prevailed. To be more particular, Mr. Sholes sold his entire newspaper outfit to the Territorial' Liberty Association, and entered into a contract to publish the Freeman at Waukesha during the next three years, solely in the interest of the Abolition party. The Executive Committee of the Liberty Association leased the printing material to Mr. Sholes for the purpose mentioned. The property of the association was divided into equal shares, and each member subscribed and paid for as much as he couW afford of this stock. In August, 1844, when the Freeman was purchased of Mr. Sholes, the Liberty Association publishing stock was held and owned by the following persons :

New shares were sold as fast as the men interested could get the necessary funds. In February, 1845, forty-three shares were sold, and so on at subsequent Liberty meetings.

Mr. Sholes continued as editor about one year, and in 1845 Rev. Ichabod Codding became editor. Although the paper eked out a precarious existence, occasionally levying upon its friends for the support that was absolutely necessary to keep its head above water, it never wavered from its strong Anti-slavery principles, urging their adoption with a vigor, faithfulness and ability that made its influence felt wherever it was perused. Finally, C. C. Olin, still a resident of Waukesha, became possessed of a majority of the stock, and ultimately the whole of it. On the 3d of November, 1846, T. D. Plumb became C. C. Olin's partner in the publication of the paper, that date beginning the first number of Volume III. Just one month later, Ichabod Codding bought out Plumb, the publishers being Olin & Codding. On the 18th of January, 1847, Mr. Codding withdrew from the firm and C. C. Olin became sole proprietor. In April appeared an article congratulating the readers of the Freeman that "henceforth Sherman M. Booth, of New Haven, Conn., a graduate of Yale College, and who, with I. Codding, had edited the Christian Freeman, will have charge of the editorial department of the paper. He (Booth) has been a Liberty man always, and an Abolitionist twelve or fifteen years."

On the 24th of May, the Freeman was issued from Milwaukee, and July 19, 1848, the firm of Olin & Booth was changed to Codding & Booth. The latter was noted afterward as the rescuer of Joshua Glover, an alleged escaped slave, and the former as the most eloquent and powerful speaker in the whole Northwest. The paper was published, while at Waukesha, in the third story of what is now Blair's stone machine-shop, then owned by its builder, W. D. Bacon. Mr. Olin and Mr. Codding went about the country together in the interest of their paper and the Anti-slavery cause, the latter rousing the people by his wonderful oratory, and the other singing Antislavery songs and taking subscriptions. It was the ablest paper in the great Northwest, and was constantly assailed in the most virulent manner by the pro-slaveryites. North and South. Mr. Codding is dead; Mr. Booth is in Washington; Mr. Olin is a real-estate and insurance agent in Waukesha ; C. C. Sholes is feeble with age, and a large number of the Freeman's early shareholders are dead.

While at Waukesha, the Anti-slaveryite residents of the vicinity were obliged to board the type-setters and employes of the Freeman, its income not being suflScient to even pay their boardbills, which, in those days, were small as compared to the present. But that its employes were compelled to live upon the charity of the people was of little consequence ; the paper must be published, as the cause it advocated with such eloquence, bravery and ability as is rare even in this advanced newspaper age, would be without means or channel through which to reach the people, if it should suspend.

Wauhexha Advocate. - This paper, begun after the bill to divide Milwaukee County passed the Legislature, was the liveliest newspaper ever published in Waukesha County. It was printed on the material in the American Freeman oflBce at Waukesha, and was published just as fast as possible - not daily, but oftener than once a week. It was continued until after Milwaukee had been cleft, and sixteen of her towns erected into the county of Waukesha. Old settlers still keep copies of this paper as specimens of early red-hot journalism.

Waukesha Democrat - The first purely local paper Waukesha County ever had, started a» a business venture, and with an idea of permanency, was the Democrat, founded by George Hyer July 20, 1848. Mr. Hyer was a man of ability and came with an experience in the publishing business extending over a period of fifteen years. His paper was Democratic in politics, and was able, eloquent and dignified rather than radical or rabid. Although Mr. Hyer made the paper pay as well as any one could, it was not a great financial success, though a largeshare of the people then living in the county, who were able to do so, patronized it. He sold the ofiSce in July, 1851, to Henry D. Barron, and gave up possession in August. Mr. .Hyer was one of the ablest editors in Wisconsin, and, while he resided in Waukesha, did all he could for the county. Mr. Barron continued the Democrat until 1853, when he changed it to the Chronotype.

The first number of the Democrat under Mr. Hyer, supported Cass and Butler for President and Vice President, but he said : " When the principles of the Wilmot Proviso shall divide the North and South, as it will probably soon do, we shall take that stand which a free and liberal education has inculcated in the mind of every citizen of the Free States."

Waukesha Ohronotype - In August, 1851, the Democrat was sold to H. D. Barron, who changed its name to the Ohronotype. The history of the paper is told in the following letter from Henry D. Barron, now a resident of St. Croix Falls, Wis.:

"There was to me, in boyhood, a charm and attraction about type and press that no other occupation, profession or business presented. There was a grand, great mystery there that created an awe, a curiosity that is yet fresh in memory. I remember well .slipping into printing offices on my way to and from school, tg see type gathered by nimble fingers from case to stick, and at times to see the old hand press strike ofiT the Balston Spa Grazet.te, the Saratoga Sentinel, in Eastern New York, and after that the Cayuga Patriot and Cayuga Tocsin, in Western New York. It seemed \,o me that my dream of ambition would be full when I could become a printer and an editor. And had not Franklin, who Was sage, philosopher and patriot of the New World, and the associate of kings and scholars in the Old World, been a printer's apprentice ? I drifted to the type-case and press at the age of fourteen. When I came to Wisconsin, newspapers were few, and newspaper publishers had to struggle for an existence. I succeeded in the purchase of a press at Waukesha in this State, twenty-five years ago. I picked up my type and worked press, because I preferred it to all else, and from August, 1851, to June, 1857, at Waukesha, in this State, tried to be a respectable and well-behaved printer and editor.

" I came to Waukesha when I was nineteen years of age, with Edward H. Baxter, an Englishman, and a printer by trade. He was about twenty-five years old. I had worked at printing about three years, and read law at Auburn, N. Y., and at the law school at Balston Spa, in that State. We started together from Auburn for Wisconsin, and Wisconsin only, to purchase or establish a newspaper. We found a split in the Democratic party at Waukesha, and -dissatisfaction with George Hyer, the editor and proprietor of the Waukesha Democrat, upon the part of our faction. After a week's negotiation, v,e bought him out in the month of August, 1851. We paid him $600 (as much as $1,200 now), for old type, old press and material worth, in all, about $200. The balance of the $600, I suppose, was for ' good will ' and subscriptions due, but never colle cted, a failure which was not his fault. Silas Chapman, of Milwaukee, 'trusted' us for some new type. In three months, Mr. Baxter, a most changeable man, got weary, and I bought him out 'on time,' and afterward paid for his half out of the proceeds of the office. The $600 paid Hyer exhausted the amount we brought with us - all we had in the world - the proceeds of work at the type-case and press.

" The only paper preceding this Democrat was the Freeman, the old type of which came to us from Mr. Hyer. In 1853, I was appointed Postmaster at Waukesha by President Pierce, and changed the name of the Democrat to that of Ghronotype - the name of a radical paper that I admired very much, though I was a Democrat, once published in Boston by Elizur Wright. In 1857, I think, 'falling out' with 'Barstow and the balance' - not agreeing with the dictatorial spirit of the friends of Barstow, I proposed a sale to them of the paper. They purchased it, paying me, I think, $1,200. In the meantime, a paper had been established in Waukesha, called the Waukesha Independent Press, by C. C. White and I. M. Bean, to the columns of which the hoy, 'Gush Davis,' now 'ex-Gov. Davis,' of Minnesota, contributed. Dominick Casey followed the Press with a paper called the Waukesha Democrat. It was bitterly personal.

"When we purchased of Hyer, the Democrat was located in a wooden, cheap building, owned by J. M.Hurlbut, brother of E. Hurlbut, of Oconomowoc, over hi,s paint-shop, next to the stone drug store of Zerrye Hatch, near Barker's Hotel. I afterward moved it into Cutler's building, over the post office, opposite Birchard, Newton & Totton's store. (My brother-inlaw, Capt- Andrew G. Bennett, had charge of the post office for me, as clerk.)

Waukesha County Herald. - This paper is not remembered with feelings of pleasure by its projectors and managers. The Whigs of the county thought they needed an organ, and they banded together for the purchase of material necessary in publishing a paper. Stock was taken at $10 per shave, and a person named Ezekiel Stoddard was engaged to do the editing and printing. A few prominent men, among them Talbot C. Dousman, were the responsible officers of the concern. The paper had been published only a short time when all at once, editor, presses and type were missing. Where either of them were might have always remained a mystery if Andrew E. Elmore, while on the way to Madison with a reprieve for David Bonham, the murderer ofKeene, had not, in poking about on a cold night in the fall of 1845, for somo straw, found the type concealed in a barn in Waukesh^ Village. This material thus found, a few years later, went into A. F. Pratt's first' printing office. The debts contracted by the Herald were sued and the Sheriff collected them, with costs, of Mr. Dousman and one or two others. They have never since entered into the publishing business on the joint-stock plan.

Independent Press. - This paper, which was short-lived and devoted wholly to the local interests at Waukesha, was started in 1853, by C. C. White and Sidney A. Bean. It was edited in the most elegant and finished literary style, as its editors and contributors were gentlemen of ability and polish. Its life was short, lasting hardly a single year. The last number was issued in March, 1854, after which the material was bought by Dominick Casey.

Waukesha Republican. - This was the first Republican newspaper printed in Waukesha County. It was started August 6, 1856, by W. D. Bacon, at Waukesha, as a county campaign paper. He, as Chairman of the Republican County Committee,' continued its publication until the middle of November, of that year. The subscription list was, some time later, given to Curtis & Emmerson, who continued the paper under the same name. The Rep'-hlican was an exceedingly good newspaper, but never paid its publishers any large dividends. Finally, early in 1859; the office outfit was sold under chattel mortgage to the Milwaukee type foundry. This mortgage took with it the last remains of at least three different papers which had preceded it.

well as one of the leading, representatives of the fearless, wide-awake and withal able, Western weekly newspapers. It was the Democratic child of a Democratic father. It was begun by A. F. Pratt and lived but a short time after his head and hand had forever ceased to guide it. The first number, with the motto, " Hew to the line, let the chips fall where they may, " was issued in July, 1854, on the old Herald material. It took at once a leading part in politics, and never failed to have something to say upon every subject before the people, and soon had a large circulation. In the spring of 1856, the Plaindealer office, with its entire contents - files, type and valuable papers - was destroyed by fire. The publication of the paper was not then revived, Mr. Pratt entering into other business, and, soon after-the breaking-out of the Rebellion, entering the army. At the close of the war, he again began the publication of the Plaindealer, issuing the first number July 25, 1865. It was a seven- column folio, and as spicy a sheet as A. F. Pratt could make it. His opening announcement was this :

" The proper object of a newspaper is to disseminate information as to all matters of local and public interest, to the end that the people may more fully appreciate their relations to their neighbors, and to the government under which they live.

"Not forgetting this general duty, it shall be our chief purpose, in publishing the Plaindealer, \a advance the local interests of Waukesha County, and, to the full extent of our influence as a journalist, contribute to the prosperity of all its citizens, regardless of partisan and religious distinctions. In this manner, we hope to make our paper an acceptable visitor at every family fireside, and to insure for it the generous patronage and active friendship of every good citizen.

"We profess no blind allegiance to any political party, but it would be impossible, as well a positive disregard of duty, to wholly avoid a fair and candid discussion of the many political questions now prominent in the public mind. But in doing this, n e shall eulogize no man unless we think him worthy of the confidence of the people, and we shall support no measure which we do not believe conducive to the public good. Slavery to party, and the passions of party are the fruitful source of many of the gigantic evils which have afflicted the country during the past five years. In view of the experience of the past, men should now act honestly, candidly and wisely. If the bitter and destructive war through which we have passed has not taught us this lesson, we have learned nothing of which we can boast.

"Through the undaunted bravery and invincible courage of our citizen soldiery, the armed enemies of the Government have been crushed and the Union of our fathers is preserved. It remains to us now to defend that Government from the future dangers with which partisan fae - tions may threaten it, to invigorate with new life the restored form of the old Union, and to cultivate that spirit of fraternity and concord among the American people which furnishes the only certain guarantee of a permanent and prosperous peace. We believe such to be the present object of the President of the United States [Andrew Johnson], and so long as that faith is sustained by his future actions, we shall feel it our duty to plead his cause, and we are confident that all patriotic men of every party will approve this determination.

" We have a habit of sometimes saying what we think bluntly. We believe the truth should be told on all occasions with bluntness of speech, and this is the custom of the honest advocates of truth the world over. We may not abandon this habit now, but if we should unfortunately ofiend any of our readers in this particular, while conducting the Plaindealer, we bespeak their patience, and trust they will attribute it to our sincerity in the advocacy of our own opinions, and not to any design on our part to offend those who may honestly differ with us as to the current questions of the day."

Mr Pratt did, as he anticipated, speak the truth bluntly, and his opposition to the Republican party was always vigorous. The new Plaindealer reached a greater circulation, and was a more profitable concern than the old one, which prestige was retained until Mr. Pratt's death in 1874. It was continued for a time by the administrator, and then sold to parties who disposed of the material and discontinued the paper, its good will, subscription list and appurtenances falling to the possession of the present Waukesha Democrat, in 1876.

Waukesha County Democrat. - This paper, as it exists to-day, is not, and never was, the successor, legitimately, of the first local paper in the county, started by George Hyer, under the same name. Its first material was that on which C. C. White and S. A. Bean printed the Independent Press, a Whig paper. Late in March, 1854, they sold to Dominick Casey and P. H. Carney, who at once began the publication of a thrifty, straight-out Democratic newspaper. Mr. Carney had but little to do with the paper until 1856, when he became sole editor and publisher, and during the next ten years it was the only permanent Democratic newspaper in the county. In 1865, Mr. Carney sold the Democrat to J. ,B. Hunt, since deceased, who very shortly afterward sold to Alexander F. Pratt. It then became the Plaindealer, and there no Democrat published until January, 1872, when E. L. Spencer and J. A. Gaynor were induced by a large faction of the Democratic party which did not like the Plaindealer, to start a new paper under the old name of Waukesha County Democrat, which they did. It was a successful newspaper from the beginning, and has always maintained a leading position among the Democratic weeklies of the State. In 1874, Mr. Gaynor sold his interest in the establishment to Mr. Spencer, who continued to be editor and proprietor, purchasing, in 1876, all the material, subscription list and good will of the Plaindealer. The valuable portions of the two were used to make a better office and publish a better paper, while the balance was disposed of to the type foundries. Very early in 1877, the Democrat passed from Mr. Spencer to P. H. Carney, who had been its editor, in earlier days, during about a dozen years. He was thereafter editor and proprietor until April, 1879, when F. A. Eastman, ex-Postmaster of Chicago, and a writer of rare culture and ability, purchased the establishment and became, and continues to be, sole editor and proprietor. The paper is clean, dignified and scholarly ; a means of instruction as well as a medium for the dissemination of news. It deals briefly but ably with national and State affairs, devoting its attention and space mainly to local matters. The theory of its editor is that a local newspaper should do all within its power to advance the interests of the locality in which it is published, believing that the two are mutually dependent upon each other for prosperity. The Democrat is a nine-column folio newspaper,- published every Saturday at $2 per annum, with the usual deduction of 50 cents for advance payment. Its motto is: " Devoted to Democratic principles and to the local interests of all the people."

Waukesha Freeman. - The first number of the Waukesha Freeman was published on March 29, 1859, as a seven-column folio, by M. Cullaton, who had. during the preceding year, disposed of his interest in the Beaver Dam Citizen, with the intention of leaving the newspaper business entirely. His predilections toward journalism, however, induced him to return to the field and start a paper at Waukesha - occupying rooms forthat purpose in Aitkins' Block, whence he removed to Barnes' Block, now owned by Charles Cork, August 7. He furnished a good newspaper during the six months of his management of the Freeman. On the 27th of September, he published his valedictory, having disposed of the journal to L. B. Wright. The lastnamed gentleman was not a fiery writer, but a cool, industrious business man, with a good knowledge of printing. He gave his patrons the news in readable shape, was careful and prudent, and usually found on the right side of all public questions coming before the people during his editorial administration. April 7, 1863, Mr. Wright removed his office from the Barnes Block to the Alexander Block (now a part of the Opera House Block), which had just been completed. He added to the printing facilities of the office from time to time, enlarged the paper to an eight-column folio and accumulated money, investing it in real estate, with the intention of retiring from business as soon as practicable. In pursuance of this purpose, he sold a half-interest in the paper to T. B. Reid, now United States Consul at Funchal, Madeira Islands, in November 1867, and in November, 1868, he disposed of his remaining interest to Nicholas Smith, the present editor of the Janesville Grazette. The paper was conducted by this firm until August 18,

1870, Mr. Smith disposed of a half-interest to T. W. Haight, who purchased the remaining half a few weeks later, and removed the establishment to Robinson's Block. During the same year, the paper was enlarged to a seven-column quarto, and a new Fairhaven press, the first power press brought to the county, was made to take the place of the old Washington hand-press that had done duty since the founding of the paper. New type and a new job press were also added. The editorial management of the Freeman at this time was more marked for the ability exhibited than at any previous date, while the business was very prosperous. While editor of thfe Freeman, Mr. Haight did a great deal to acquaint the citizens with the geology of the locality, and briefly with its history. On the 1st of February, 1872, H. M. Youmans, the present proprietor, purchased a half-interest in the Freeman, and, shortly after, the publication office was changed to the ^tna Block. January 1, 1874, the size of the paper was changed to a sevencolumn folio, accompanied by a reduction in price from $2 to $1.50 a year.

Messrs. Haight & Youmans published the Freeman for two years and eight months, the first-named member of the firm taking charge of the publication and editorial work, and the latter superintending the mechanical department. This arrangement was continued until September 24, 1874, when Mr. Haight sold his interest to his partner, although he has since been a frequent contributor to its editorial and local columns.

On January 1, 1875, the Freeman was enlarged to eight columns to the page, was supplied with a new dress of type, and made to pay largely during the year, so that early in 1876 the proprietor was enabled to add to the facilities of the office, a new Cottrell & Babcock cylinder press, a large-sized job press, together with steam power, all of which had been found necessary in order to keep pace with the largely increased demands upon the business, caused principally by a wonderful growth in the mineral-water trade of Waukesha. The intervening time up to 1879 witnessed an increase of patronage and prosperity beyond that usually enjoyed by country newspapers, being such at the opening of the above-mentioned year, that Mr. Youmans determined to erect a building for the accommodation of his business. Accordingly, a lot 20x66 feet in the business center of the village, on Grand avenue, was purchased for $800. Early in March ground was broken, and on June 1, 1879, the new building, a handsome brick structure, 20x60 feet, was occupied. Simultaneously with the occupation of the new office the form of the paper was changed to a quarto, six columns to the page, and an entire new outfit of type was supplied. Following the large expenditure was an increase of business, which is gradually «xtending, accompanied by a corresponding increase of influence among the best classes of citizens in Waukesha County. The Freeman has ever been prominent in the discussion of all subjects of local importance, and has constantly labored for the advancement of the best interests of society; especially has it been an important factor in the furtherance of the summer resort interests of the entire county, at all times devoting space to the publication of such matters as are likely to attract the attention of health and pleasure seekers.

The Freeman was established as a Republican journal, the principles of that party being at all times maintained, though censure has been unsparingly bestowed upon its representatives whenever facts warranted it, or justice demanded it. By this course it has secured that respect which is ever due to a determined adherence to principle and right. In this paper the name of the American Freeman, the first newspaper in the county, is perpetuated.

Oeonomowoo Free Press, Badger, La Belle Mirror, and Times. - It may be always safely predicted of a town, that when its papers cease to flourish, the place ceases to grow to any material extent not only, but falls into a sort of rut in opinion and development, from which, too often, it never diverges. Fortunately for Oconomowoc, its founder and a majority of its first settlers were so irrepressible, that its future was insured from the first. Year after year, in the rapid march of their progress, brought successive improvements until at last a want arose that only the newspaper could satisfy. No sooner was this want apparent than there were willing hands, purses and brains ready to supply the necessity. Accordingly, during the first week of October, 1858, the first paper, the Oconomowoc Free Press, was established and published by D. W. Small and John S. Rockwell, as editors and proprietors. A Washington hand-press, a small job press and other furniture made throughout as complete a newspaper oflBce as was then generally found, and costing about $1,400; the office was in a frame building that stood nearly opposite the mill, on the ground where Mr. Lalerberg subsequently built his first hardware store. They had two printers, Abram Small and William Messenger. The politics of the paper were then Democratic, but the chief object which the publishers had in view was the promotion of the general interest of the village without regard to parties or party differences; and that they did much in this direction may be readily believed, for in a very few years after this it began to be noised abroad that Oconomowoc was a splendid place for fine scenery and rare fishing and hunting, as well as the needed accessories of excellent water and good climate. After running the paper for a time, Messrs. Small & Rockwell leased the establishment to D. S. Curtis, who continued to publish the paper until the great Rebellion demanded men, then he laid aside his " pencil and stick " for a position among the boys in blue. From 1862 until 1866 the village had no paper. During that year, the office was purchased of Small & Rockwell by Thomas Reid, who had his ofiice in the old oil-mill building. He bought the whole outfit for f500. The paper, its name having been changed to the Badger State, was conducted by Reid & Brother until about 1867, when it passed into the hands of Dr. E. J. Benjamin. It had been enlarged and the politics changed from Democratic to Republican. Benjamin sold the paper and good will of the business to Lawren Edwards & Co., after running it until 1869. Edwards & Co. changed the name of the publication to the La Belle Mirror. Very soon after they sold to Alexander McGregor and D. H. Sumner, the latter assuming editorial control for a short time. He was succeeded in \he management of the paper by Mr. McGregor, continuing its publication until 1870.

In August, 1870, Ashley D. Harger purchased the Mirror and published his first number on the 6th inst. of the latter month. In his salutatory he said, among many other beautifully worded sentiments and expressed intentions : "In politics we bid for the Republican party, believe in the men and measures that crushed the Rebellion and saved the' Government. As a consequence, we shall be guided and governed politically by the party we represent, and support their nominations to the best of our ability." How well he did this afterward appears. August 31, the paper appeared under a new name, having fairly run the gamut of , different titles. It was now called the Oconomowoc Times, and continued to be published under that title until it subsided.

When Mr. Harger took charge of the paper, it was mortgaged for $800, which liability he assumed. He went to work with a will and by his industry, perseverance and eminently good qualifications as an editor, won hosts of friends from the start, and soon wielded an influence throughout the surrounding country of no small magnitude. He apparently was not satisfied to wait patiently for the reward of industry, for, after slashing his party opponents in a masterly manner, suddenly, about the opening of the Greeley campaign, to the surprise of a majority of his patrons, the Times turned and began working with might and main the other way. Notwithstanding this change, at such a time, Mr. Harger evidently prospered. Six or eight prominent Democrats from various parts of the county, subscribed the ^800 which Mr. Harger owed on' the institution, and paid off the Aehi gratis. From this on the Times was Democratic, and for a time increased in circulation very rapidly. He had at one time six men and a foreman working hard to do the business. Suddenly a loved child died ; to drown his grief he took to drinking, then his foreman died, and from that time everything went at " sixes and sevens." His friends came to the rescue; a fund was voted by the town authorities to pay him for nominal printing, but to no purpose. Tide had turned and its flow could not be changed. After a brief but unfortunate career the Times was suspended, and Mr. Harger moved first to Watertown and .then to Milwaukee. He was one of the most brilliant newspaper writers Waukesha County ever had.

Oconomowoc Local. - On the 4th of September, 1874, the first number of the Oconomowoc Local was issued, with F. W. Coon and A. C. Macrorie, publishers. Mr. Coon was fresh from college, the latter a practical printer; and, coupling the enterprise of these two young men, a newspaper was produced, that at once grew into public favor and secured a handsome patronage. In the following summer, Mr. Macrorie withdrew from the paper, and the present editor has conducted it in the capacity of both editor and proprietor since that time. The Local was first issued as an Independent paper, but in the fall of 1875 it espoused the cause of Republicanism, which it has since sturdily adhered to. It has a good advertising patronage, and is one of the prosperous newspapers in the county. The subscription price is $1.50 per year, in advance, and advertising rates reasonable. A good job office is now in connection with the paper, and the proprietor prides himself upon turning out artistic work. The newspaper is issued each Friday morning during the year. It is an eight-column folio, and the only Republican paper in the north and northwest portion of the county, and has an ample field in which to labor.

Wisconsin Free Press. - This is one of the influential, esteemed and well-patronized papers of the county ; has led, for a paper of its age, a very checkered career as well ; having been the victim of several tag and rag newspaper bobtails. The paper dates its initial number from May 15, 1875, and is indebted to C. C. Bowsfield, now a partner in the Milwaukee Evening Ghronicle, as its founder. The first paper came before the public at a very inauspicious time, as the Oconomowoc Times, with Ashley D. Hager as editor, was in a flourishing condition, and the Oconomowoc Local had been established a little over ten mdnths, and was also doing a fair business. The pertinent question was asked, what can Bowsfield do with his prodigious semiweekly infant. Mr. B. made, as he termed it, an "ideal paper," and a nine-column, entirely home-manufactured, semi-weekly folio country newspaper was the result. The attempt was a bold one, and deserving of a better fate than befell it, for in the future, as the sequel proves, Mr. Bowsfield lost everything he had, and more.

In the salutatory, a brief summary of which is given, it is announced that the paper shall be devoted to the dissemination *of local and general news and choice literature.

Its chief aim shall be the prosperity of the young city. That, although the editor expects to encounter incredulity and discouragements, nevertheless he launches out fearlessly, and shall publish, twice a week, nothing but valuable intelligence. He has an ideal which he intends now to illustrate, and he would rather make an ignominious failure than to publish a single number that the people would be ashamed of.

In the discussion of all social and political questions, which come before the public, he shall take an independent and conscientious course, aloof from the behests, or dictates, of any man or party, and endeavor, at all times, to promote purity in legislation, the prosperity of all practical systems of education, and a higher standard of morality in our common life.

Mr. Bowsfield continued to issue the paper for two or more months, but at last the time came when, if he would avoid a collapse, he must get help. He sought help, which he obtained from Messrs. E. Hurlbut, C. M. Smith, and Chauncey L. Innis, who signed a note with him, secured by mortgage on his stock and printing fixtures, to obtain the money required, some $300. These gentlemen did this, not only from a feeling of personal interest, which the young man had aroused in his favor, but because they were public spirited, believing it would be a good thing for the city and community at large, to keep the paper running.

Mr. Bowsfield, with the money borrowed, managed to stem the tide for a time, but soon found himself in the same dilemma in which he had been before, and with less prospect of final success. Again he went to Mr. Hurlbut for funds. The money was advanced, but with some misgivings, for it certainly seemed to him that nothing less than a miracle could now save the iostitution from ruin. But he was determined that the young man should have another chance, whatever might be the result. After this, Mr. Bowsfield formed a partnership with R. B. Rice, a practical printer, who had been connected with the Commercial Times of Milwaukee. On the 14th day of August, 1875, one day less than three months from the time of starting, the first paper bearing the names of Bowsfield & Rice as associate editors and proprietors, was issued, reduced to an eight-column paper, but to be still published twice a week. In the salutatory it was announced, somewhat to the surprise of a portion of the readers, and to the gratification of the remainder, that " The Free Press will now take its place in the ranks of the Democratic Reform party of Wisconsin."

The partnership had not gone on long, before Mr. Bowsfield discovered that he had not made a desirable acquisition, and he determined to give up the ship, which he did, leaving Mr. Rice in command.

Wednesday, October 6, R. B. Rice announced that the management of the paper had been taken by him, and would be maintained on the same platform. Mr. Hurlbut consented, being in hopes that he might get out of his newspaper interest. Moreover, the Presidential canvass was then brewing, and the Democratic party wanted an organ that would maintain the claims of their candidates. Mr. Rice was to continue the paper through the canvass, as it had been, in size and politics. He went on with the paper from this time until the following spring ; but not having any money, was obliged to get help several times to pay for stock. This money came from the same source as the other. The last paper which Mr. Rice issued was on April 15, 1876, when, without warning, he went to Waukesha, and began working on the Plaindealer. Mr. Hurlbut, who was away at the time, returned and consulted with Mr. C. M. Smith, who had a tangible interest in the concern, and they decided that Mr. Smith should assume management. He conducted the paper from April 22 until July 8, 1876, at a loss of $150. He declares if " some one had not come along just at this time, and relieved him, he believes he would have pitched the entire institution out of doors." Charles A. Feistcorn, who claimed to have money from the sale of a paper in Blue Island, 111., expressed a willingness to buy the Free Press, and finally, through Mr. Bowsfield, did contract for it. He took charge in July, 1876, but was not allowed to publish the paper as his until he had paid something on it. Mr. F. changed his tactics, by collecting all of the old outstanding bills, and adding to the list of advance paying subscribers, as largely as possible, and on September 20, while Mr. Hurlbut was away, determined upon a withdrawal of his forces. Mr. Hurlbut has not seen him since, nor the money collected for the paper. On Wednesday, the day following Mr. F.'s departure, Mr. Hurlbut returned, to find several disconsolate workmen about his oiBce, wondering what was going to happen next. Said he, " Boys, go to the office, I'm going to run the paper." Just then Thomas Spence. former editor of the Waukesha Democrat, came in, and on invitation went to the ofiice, and looked over the fixtures and stock, with Mr. Hurlbut, which they found entirely at sixes and sevens. Mr. Spence explained what was necessary to be done, and Mr. Hurlbut started for Chicago that afternoon, without saying a word to his townsmen about the trouble, and returned with a large stock of necessary articles the next day. The next Saturday, the paper appeared as usual, with the following salutatory address to the citizens, under the title "Absconded."

"Charles A. Feistcorn, late of this city, and former manager of the Frte Press, having taken French leave for parts to us unknown, it becomes necessary for some one to take charge of the paper, who has a more substantial interest in its success than the mere dollars and cents realized from its publication from week to week. Consequently, hereafter the paper will be managed and controlled by us. We shall endeavor to act in perfect good faith with all the patrons of the paper, and contract no debts but which we are able and willing to pay.

The Free Press, as heretofore, will be a consistent Democratic Reform paper, with "no friends to reward nor enemies to punish ;" but truth and justice shall be its guide in all things. Everything that will tend lo advance the welfare and prosperity of this city, county, State and nation will find a faithful advocate in ua. Friends, take the paper, read it, and give it a fair trial ; then if you are not satisfied with it - stop it. Edwin Hurlbut.

The " barn door," as the paper was at first called, was at last hung on a substantial hinge, and the people knew it ; for when in the afternoon Mr. H. started out with subscription-book in hand- there was no laCk of subscribers. He worked until 9 o'clock that night, and was rewarded by an addition of 111 names to the before meager list, and from that time, September 27, 1876, until the present, the Free Press has gained friends and influence. Mr. Hurlbut also reduced the price of the paper at that time to $1.50 from $3, per year. The office was also transferred from the old place, in C. M. Smith's block, to its present place, and throughout, a new order of things was instituted. Some time ago, an improved Fairhaven press costing $1,000' was purchased, the old Washington hand-press being too small for the largely increased business. Also, as have been needed at different times, the best appliances for labor saving and job printing have been added, until the office is now thoroughly equipped.

Pewaukee Standard. - As Pewaukee and vicinity began to become famous as a summer resort, witb hotels, cottages, fishing grounds, springs and boats to be noticed and patronized, they felt the need of a newspaper. Various inducements were held out to whoever would locate a publication office at that place, which resulted in the founding of the Standard, in 1877, by C. P. Smith. The paper, which was well received in the neighborhood of Pewaukee, was a six-column quarto, " patent on six pages, and Republican in politics. Mr. Smith soon received a good run of job work, and had. a larger business than he anticipated. Finally, after the death of his father, he sold the good will and subscription list of the Standard to H. M. Toumans, of the Waukesha Freeman, in May, 1880, and the patrons of the former are served with the latter publication. Mr. Youmans maintains a Pewaukee department in the Freeman, and has an office in that village for the accommodation of advertisers and other patrons of the paper, so that the people of that village, although with a newspaper printed precisely on the ground, are still pretty well served. Mr. Smith now publishes a paper in Minnesota.

Fruit-Growing In Waukesha County

The first apples ever grown in Waukesha County, except the wild fruit, were probably taken from two trees planted by David Jackson, the first Postmaster in the county, in the village of Waukesha. These trees have long been dead. There were 112,982 apple-trees in orchards in 1879, of which 109,116 were of bearing size. The number of bushels produced was 54,822. Of pear-trees there were 1,684 of bearing size, which produced 1,321 bushels of mature fruit ; of grapevines there were 4,418 of bearing size, and 10,642 growing, which produced 1,684 bushels of fruit ; of cherry-trees there were 9,654 of bearing size - 43,000 in all - which produced 1,112 bushels of fruit. The product of smaller fruits, such as strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries and currants, was about 1,400 bushels for 1879.

Most of the apples and pears were grown in the east tier of towns joining Milwaukee County, which are from eight to eighteen miles distant from Lake Michigan. In the second tier west, some apples and pears were fruited. The third and fourth tiers had but little large fruit; but their grapes and berries were good, and most all the smaller fruits were from those towns. More than one-third of the apple and pear trees are within the towns of Menomonee, Brookfield, New Berlin and Pewaukee. The towns having the least are Otawa, Summit, Delafield and Genesee, there being less than 12,000 trees for those four towns. Those towns are farther from Lake Michigan, and also have a peculiar soil. It is of the glacial drift more or less, and is not suited everywhere for fruit trees, except where there is more or less clay and a northern slope to the land, which are not on every farm. Yet Waukesha County can and will raise as much fruit as any county in the State, and perhaps as many different varieties as are to be found anywhere in the State. . Owing to the great number of varieties, the amount of fruif is less than it should be, because many sorts are not suited to this climate, and will only grow for a time. Whenever we have had a very dry and hot summer or severe, cold winter, or both, old Eastern favorites will get killed, or hurt so they will not fruit any more. Now, if those varieties that are tender would be discarded, and trees substituted that are hardy and will bear well, we could, in a bearing year, furnish nearly 500,000 bushels of apples, besides those required for home use ; but that will never be, as there are so many worthless trees always imported to our country, and set out year after year, that nearly one-half the trees growing cannot be counted upon to bear enough to pay for the room they take up, and the time spent to grow them.

A list of apples that have paid, and are hardy and profitable, are Duchess of Oldenburg, Wealthy, Fameuse or Snow, Alexander, for fall and early winter. For summer use Fetofsky, Washington or William's Favorite. For winter, Tolman Sweet, Pewaukee, Golden Russet, Westfield, Seek-no-Further, Ben Davis. This list can be extended, but it is the best-paying list, on as many years' trial as varieties named.

The soils for horticultural purposes are as follows : The east half of Waukesha County, which is in part, red, marly clay soil and limestone loam. A strip of land two to two and one-half miles in width, extends ftom northeast to southwest, belonging to the kettle range (and is of glacial drift more or less), where all kinds of soil can be found, and where occasionally a very fine orchard could be grown with profit. Grapes and small fruits are at home on those lighter soils. The chief fruit grower of Waukesha County, is George P. Peffer, of Pewaukee, who furnished the two preceding paragraphs. A recent writer said of his fruit farm :

" He has one hundred and thirty-two varieties of apples, many of them on trial, but only twenty to twenty-five of them he recommends as suflBciently hardy for this climate. Among his forty-three varieties of pears, he considers but five of them adapted to this country. He has never lost a tree of the Flemish Beauty, and the Ananas d'Eta varieties, by frost. He is confident they can be raised in this country without any danger of fi-ost. Of his forty different kinds of grapes, he recommends but five for this climate. He has some thirty-three varieties of plums, but warrants from four to five kinds only. He raises his peaches from the seed, and has had remarkable success, having lost but two years out of twenty. His nursery consists of eighteen acres, and contains, besides a well-grown orchard, 35,000 apple-trees, 3,000 pear-trees, 6,000 plum-trees, 10,000 grape-vines, in addition to an almost endless variety of gooseberries, raspberries, strawberries, and all of the hardiest varieties."

This association of the property-owners of the county has been a valuable one to all concerned. Before its organization, scarcely a week passed that the newspapers did not contain reports of horses or valuable property being stolen ; but since it got into complete working order, thieving has been almost entirely unknown, especially in the neighborhoods where members of the association reside. Alexander F. Pratt, one of the best detectives who lived in this portion of the State, was the founder of the detective society. The first organization was formed in 1865, as the following call will show :

The Executive Committee of the Waukesha County Detective Society (which includes all the officers) will meet at the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Waukesha, on Saturday, the 14th inst., at 1 o'clock, P. M., for the purpose of adopting by-laws and rules for the government of the society. It is important that the officers shall all be present, as the success of the society will depend very much upon its by-laws, without which the society is no protection to its members.

This did not result in such a complete and permanent organization as was desirable. The following, which is the present constitution, was adopted March 5, 1870 :

Art. 2. Its officers shall consist of a President, Treasurer, Secretary, and two additional officers, as an Executive Committee, who shall be elected annually, and hold their offices until their successors are elected and quali6ed.

Art. 4. The Officers of the Society, including the Executive Committee, shall constitute an Executive Committee for the transaction of business of the Society, with power to audit accounts and direct generally in all expenditures.

Art. 5. Whenever any horse, mare or gelding of the value of |30 or more, is stolen from any member of the society, it shall be the duty of each member to aid and assist in recovering it and capturing the thief or thieves; but no person shall be allowed pay for such services unless he acted by the advice and authority of the Executive (Jommittee.

Art. 6. The Executive Committee shall have power to assess an equal tax upon all the members of the Society, for the purpose of defraying its expenses, or to pay for stolen property that cannot be recovered, whenever the same will be necessary, but shall never pay more than two-thirds the value of the horse, mare or gelding, which shall have been stolen, nor more than $200 for any one loss. Provided. That to entitle any member to recover compensation for stolen property, every loss must be notified to the President hereof within twenty-four hours after the same shall occur.

Art. 7. The headquarters of this Society shall be kept at the county seat ; but whenever twenty-five or more persons join the Society, from any town, except Waukesha, the Executive Committee may appoint a town committee of three, from those members, who shall have all the power within their town of the Executive Committee, except auditing accounts.

Art. 8. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to keep the funds of the Society in some safe depository, and shall not use or pay out the same for any purpose eicept upon the order of the Clerk, with the names ol a majority of the Executive Committee indorsed thereon, and shall receive such pay for his services as the Executive Committee may direct.

Art. 9. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to record all proceedings of the Society in a book to be kept by him for that purpose, which book shall also contain the constitution and by-laws of the Society and the names of its members, and the Executive Committee may allow him for his services such compensation as they may deem proper.

Art. 10. The annual meeting of the Society shall be held at the court house on the second Monday in December, of each year, at 2 o'clock, P. M., and each member shall be entitled to a yote.

Art. 11. Special meetings of this Society may be held at any time' whenever ordered by a majority of the Executive Committee, hy giving notice in a newspaper published in Waukesha.

In 1870, A. F. Pratt, founder of tte society, wrote as follows in his paper, the Plaindealer : " Many of our farmers are not aware of the fact that we have a well organized and efficient county detective society, that insures two-thirds the value of all losses by thieves. Any person, by paying the paltry sum of $5 and signing the constitution, can become a member. Every farmer or business man should become a member. When it is understood that we have such an organization, with two or three hundred members to back it, no professional thief will ever come to this county to steal ; if he does, he'll certainly be captured, for money will CATCH ANT THIEF. Among its members may be found the most wealthy and substantial farmers in the county. We have not the list of members before us, but among them are Capt. George Lawrence, A. C. Nickell, John Porter, M. Barber, R. B. McCumber, William Blair, Orson Tichenor, Daniel Brown, C. A. Blodgett, E. S. Purple, R. M. Jameson, John Aitken, W. R. Blodgett, Hendrick Gregg, James McDonough, Benjamin Smart, Andrew Snyder, and others."

Professional horse-thieves give this county a wide berth ; one horse was stolen soon after the society was organized, but it was recovered four miles from the place where it was taken. The treasury now contains $170 in cash, and the society is stronger than ever before. Its officers have been as follows: President - John Porter, 1870; A. F. Pratt, 1871-74 ; A. 0. Nickell, 1875; John Porter, 1876-78 ; R. B. McGumber, 1879-.80. Secretary - W. V. Tichenor, 1870-72 ; Frank H. Putney, 1873-75 ; R. M. Jameson, 1876-78 ; Orson P. Clinton, 1879-80. Treasurer - William Blair, from its permanent organization to date. The society has an Executive Committee composed of some the best men in the county, whose business it is to look after the general welfare of the organization.

Feeling the necessity of good accommodations for agricultural and stock exhibitions nearer home, the citizens of the northwestern part of the county held a meeting April 2, 1867 for the purpose of organizing an association, the chief object of which should be to advance the agricultural, mechanical and stock-raising interests of Oconomowoc and surrounding towns. It was resolved by those present that shares of $100 each per member, should be subscribed, to be used in a common fund for joint-stock purposes, and that a tract of eighteen acres be purchased from Cooledge Eastman and Calvin C. Palmer, the same lying south of the highway, and south of David W. Small's hop-yard, to be used for fairs as the association might designate. The charter members and shares taken were as follows, viz.: D. W. Small, one share; G. Winton, one share ; A. B. Hale, one share ; William Wentworch, one share ; C. H. Hartwell, one share ; J. A. Henshall, two shares ; D. McL. Miller, one share ; D. H. Rockwell, one share ; A. C. Rockwell, one share ; J. Weltner, one share ; Louis F. Rowell, one share ; Cooledge Eastman, one share; Samuel Buck, one share ; C. C. Palmer, three shares ; A. M. Bruce, one share ; J. C. Hitchcock, one share ; D. McArthur, one share; Thomas Chandler, one share; E. W. Barnard, one share. On April 17, 1867, a meeting was held, and the following officers elected temporarily : President, D. W. Small; Secretary, J. C. Hitchcock; Treasurer, A. B. Hale; Directors, Louis F. Rowell, C. C. Palmer, and Cooledge Eastman. The Directors and President were authorized to make such assessments, from time to time, on the capital stock, as might be necessary ; and on motion it was decided that shares should not, in the future, exceed $25. Fourteen shares represented, constituted a quorum for transacting business.

A short time after this, D. H. Rockwell, D. McL. Miller, and C. H. Hartwell, Ezra Wing and George A. Winton, were elected Vice Presidents, and it was decided that the President and Directors already elected should conduct the affairs of the association, until a meeting of the Legislature, when they would obtain a special charter.

During the summer, the fair grounds were fitted up, and inclosed with a fence from seven to eight feet high. The first annual fair of the association was held during the autumn of 1867. At the first regular election of officers, D. W. Small was elected President, and continued to be at each election ; J. A. Henshall, Vice President ; J. C. Hitchcock, Secretary ; A. B. Hall, Treasurer ; J. A. Henshall, L. F. Rowell and G. A. Winton, Directors ; and J. A. Henshall, L. F. Rowell, and D. W. Small, were appointed a committee to draft constitution and by-laws. By report of the President, July 25, 1868, they were in debt $1,300, and a resolution was adopted to levy an assessment on the shareholders and sell shares to pay this indebtedness.

As early as 1870, it was thought best that the association grounds should be platted and sold to pay the debt on them, and the residue of the funds be employed to purchase cheaper and more lands, as the grounds then in use were not sufficiently large.

During the spring of this year a sura of money was borrowed to pay the indebtedness of the association. At a meeting of the stockholders, in December, 1871, a motion was made and carried, that the grounds should be surveyed and platted, and sold to the highest bidder. The lots were platted as directed, and sold to the highest bidder among the members of the association. The sale came oif in July, 1875, and shares previously purchased applied on the purchase of lots. The fence and other property was sold by Mr. Hall as agent.

The last record of an election or other meeting being held was in April, 1876. After the division and sale of the property, the interest formerly sustained died out, and with it the society. During the existence of the spciety, agriculture, stock-raising, and kindred matters received an impetus which is illustrated by the fine farms and stock now to be found in this vicinity.

The benefits of such an organization cannot be too highly appreciated by any community. While the society was in operation, fine stock exhibitions and races were of frequent occurrence, splendid annual fairs were given, and handsome prizes distributed ; now if the farmers, inventors, or stock fanciers would exhibit their productions, they must seek some other place where proper facilities for this purpose are furnished.

There is hardly a county in the State where old settlers' clubs could be more easily organ" ized and maintained, and in which the age of their members would more fully entitle them to the name. Unfortunately, however, the two societies, which had brief but pleasant and profitable existence in Waukesha County, are dead now, apparently past all resurrection. The papers presented by the members of each are made use of elsewhere; that is, those which have not been lost, or destroyed by fire.

Waukesha County Old Settlers' Club. - In December, 1870, several of the pioneers of the county had an informal talk about the desirability of an old settlers' club. This resulted in a call, which was circulated by various parties, until it assumed the following form and dimensions :

The old settlers of Waukesha County are requested to meet at the " Exchange,'' in the village of Waukesha, on Saturday, February 4, at 2 o'clock, for the purpose of making arrangements for an " Old Settlers' '' meeting. It is^ expected that this preliminary meeting will decide upon the programme for a large gathering.

At the meeting held at the Waukesha Exchange, on Saturday, the 4th inst. (February, 1871), pursuant to call published in the last issue of the Plaindealer , Alexander Cook was called to the chair, and E. Enos chosen Secretary. The Chairman stated the object of the meeting to be the making of the necessary arrangements for the organization, of an association of the early settlers of Waukesha County, and fixing the time and place of the first meeting of the association.

On motion of William McWhorter, the following-named gentlemen were appointed by the Chair a committee to report apian for such organization, and to fix the time and place of the meeting as above stated; A. F. Pratt, Waukesha; Elon Fuller, Pewaukee ; John Gale, Merton; James McDonough, Muskego ; R. C. Robertson, Vernon; J. S. Nickell, Summit.

The committee reported, recommending that the first meeting of the Early Settlers Association be held in the afternoon and evening of February 22, 1871, at Waukesha, and also recommended the appointment of the following Committee of Arrangements for such meeting: A. F. Pratt, Henry Totten, A. Cook, William White and F. M. Putney, to which the meeting added William A. Xickell, Manville Barber, William S. Barnard and E. Enos.

On motion, a committee consisting of A. Cook, Frank H. Putney and E. Enos were appointed to draft a constitution for the association, to be presented for the consideration of the meeting, and also prepare a historical sketch of early incidents of the settlement of Waukesha County.

According to the above recommendation, a very large and enjoyable meeting was held, in Robinson's Hall, in the village of Waukesha. It is well described by the Secretary's official report, which is as follows :

Robinson's Hall, February 22, 1871. Meeting called to order ; Alexander Cook in the chair ; E. Enos, Secretary. The proceedings of the preliminary meeting was read. The report of Committee on Constitution and By-Laws was read, and after some discussion was adopted. Enrollment of names was then begun by calling the towns. The Waukesha brass band then played several tunes. Permanent officers were then elected, as follows ;

Section 1. The name of this society shall be " The Old Settlers' Club of Waukesha County." Sec. II. The objects of this club are to revive and foster sentiments of kindly feeling and good fellowship among the old settlers of this county, and to gather and preserve incidents connected with its early history.

Sec. III. Any male inhabitant of this county, who shall have resided in the Territory or State of Wisconsin for twenty years, may become a member of this club by subscribing lo this constitution, giving the date of his settlement, and paying an initiation fee of 50 cents ; and each member shall have the privilege of recording the female members of his family as honorary members of the club.

Sec. IV. The iirst class shall be composed of all those whose settlement dales prior to the year 1840, and shall be known as " The Pioneers ; " the second class shall be composed of all those whose settlement dates between the years 1S40 and 184.5 inclusive ; the third class shall be composed of all other members of the club.

Sue. VI. The officers of the club shall be a President, one Vice President for each of the towns in the county except the one from which the President shall be chosen, a, Secretary, a Treasurer, and Executive Committee of such number as the by-laws of the club may prescribe.

Sec. VII. The ofiicers of this club shall be chosen annually by the members at their regular meeting, and a majority of all the votes cast shall be necessary to a choice.

Sec. I. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at the meetings of the club, and preserve order, and he shall be px officio, the Chairman of the Executive Committee.

Seo. II. It shall be the duty of the Vice President to assist the President in the discharge of his duties, and in his absence the Vice President having the oldest settlement shall act as President joro tern.

Sec. III. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep a record of the proceedings of the club, to file and preserve all historical sketches and other papers presented to it, and keep a register of the members of the club and their age, nationality and date of settlement ; his records, books and papers shall always be open to the inspection of the members of the club.

Sec. IV. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to receive all moneys paid into the club, to keep a true account of the same, and to pay them out upon the order of the Pre-ident.

Sec V. The Executive Committee shall consist of five members, and it shall be their duty to Inake the necessary provisions for the annual meeting of the club, and to hear, audit and allow claims.

Seo. IX. Upon the death of any member of the class designated as " Pioneers." it shall be the duty of the Secretary to notify the members of the club of the death of such member, and of the time and place of burial.

Fred W. Monteith then read a sketch of the early settlement of Muskego. After some discussion by the " old 'uns" as to times, places, and men, he read a letter from Hon. J. D. McDonald, of Summit, giving this gentleman's early experience. The committees of Eagle and of Merton furnished summary histories of their respective towns. A. E. Gilbert and Judge Field followed with an account each of his own town. New Berlin and Mukwonago. Club then adjourned to supper, which was furnished at the Exchange and the American. In the evening, the hall was well filled with old settlers, and a fair sprinkle of young settlers. All enjoyed themselved in the dance or social chat as suited their fancy. I. N. Stewart, Secretary.

This club held three meetings - all pleasant and more or less profitable - but nothing has been done toward reviving these annual gatherings during six or seven years, and it is feared never

Bark River Valley Old Settlers' Olub. - The old settlers of Hartland, Pewaukee, Merton, and vicinity, held a preliminary meeting at the Burr Oak House, at Hartland, February 3, 1870, having in view the permanent organization of an old settlers' club. There were seventythree persons present, and all had a very enjoyable time.

The second meeting was held on Thursday afternoon and evening, January 12, 1871, at the same place, when 124 of the old settlers of Waukesha County put in an appearance, and became

M U K Wan Ago

Resolved, That the male member of this club who is the oldest settler, shall be the President, until removed by inability or death ; and that the male member of the club, who is the next oldest settler, shall be Vice President, under the like conditions.

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed, whose duty it shall be to determine when and where eaeh anrual meeting of the club shall be held ; make the necessary provisions for attending funerals of members, and procure circulars, and see to their distribution ; collect statistics, and arrange any and all matters, for the information and eiiifioation of the club ; such committee to act for the current year.

The following persons were chosen officers of the club : Ralph B. Allen, President ; Thomas Redford, Vice President for Lisbon ; Stephen Warren, Vice President for Delafield ; C. G. Williams, Vice President for Waukesha ; W. C. Gates, Vice President for Pewaukee, and F. S. Capron, Vice President for Oconomowoc ; Chauncy Simonds, Secretary, and Elisha Pearl, Treasurer. On motion, it was decided to hold the next annual meeting at Hartland, the second Thursday in January, 1872.

One who was present, and who seems to have been well fed, furnishes the following description of the supper, which is always a prominent feature of all pioneer gatherings :

" At 7 o'clock, P. M., business was dropped, and all hands turned into the dining hall of our friend, and prince of hotel-keepers, G. W. Nourse, whose genial disposition, gentlemanly conduct and qualities eminently fit him for the position of landlord. But while the outside arrangements were so admirably conducted, Mrs. Nourse presided with a queenly grace over that more difficult and delicate department that is always counted first at a hotel, the satisfying of the inner man. No one escapes her attention, and a welcoming recognition is sure to greet all of her guests.

" The tables were loaded down with the substantials of life and all those delicacies and dainties which melt upon the tongue and ravish the palate with delight. But oysters stewed, and oysters fried, and oysters pickled, and oysters raw, were the favorite dishes. Until 10 o'clock the caterer held sway, and well did he do his duty. Then the crowd assembled in the hall and took up that order of business 4hat all were so much interested in, the relation of historical incidents and reminiscences of pioneer life.

" Messrs. Thomas Redford, James Weaver, Ralph B. Allen, Rev. E. H. Chapin, Rev. N. A. Spooner, M. L. Skinner and Chauncy Simonds addressed the club with such hearty good will, eloquence, and relation of witty anecdote, that the audience were loath to break up the meeting, even at the midnight hour. Several gentlemen presented written accounts of the early settlement of the towns in which they Ijve, which were left with the Secretary for publication.

The second was also a successful meeting, as were one or two following ones ; but as the novelty wore off this interest seemed to die out, and the Bark River Valley Old Settlers' Club is now a thing of the past. Most unfortunate of all, however, was the destruction by fire of the records of the club, at the burning of the depot at Hartland.

The following communication to this club, from the first Circuit Judge for the circuit of which Waukesha County forms a part, will be interesting to pioneers everywhere :

Dear Sir : - Your proposed gathering carries me back through nearly twenty-eight years, to my first acquaintance with Waukesha County forests, which then covered many a field that has long since yielded to the plow; and faces were then youthful and forms erect that now bend under a snowy covering. All is changed. It would require a book to record all the instances of courage, enterprise, perseverance, and privation which have brought about these changes. One of the greatest diSBculties, perhaps the greatest met with in those pioneer days, was the want of good roads. The roads to Milwaukee, your chief market, were not only unimproved, but some seasons, nearly impassable Who does not remember being "stuck in the mud" in the Milwaukee woods? It cost nearly all a load of wheat would sell for to drag it through from Oconomowoc to the lake. But during the year 1848, the plank-road

(thanks to its enterprising builders) was opened, to the great benefit of both city and county. Not only Waukesha, but Bodge, Jefferson and Dane Counties shared largely in this improvement, and the prices of lands and produce rose together.

In the grand march of improTement, railroads soon followed. Waukesha could have got along without them, but the rest of the State could not. We all well know what they have done to benefit the whole country. Give them their due ; they are the offspring of civilization. But while they have monopolized the business of carrying passengers and freight they must be guarded and watched ; though useful as servants they may be bad masters, and must be made to feel and know that there is but one sovereign, the people. Looking back at many changes and improvements which twenty-eight years have effected, I am filled with pride and admiration. So rapid has been the growth of the country far and wide, that we scarcely ^realize the advancement that has been going on under our own eyes. I remember, when I was a boy, in Saratoga Co., N. Y. , one man, who was said to be worth five or six thousand dollars, was looked up to as the richest farmer in the town. Probably twenty-eight years ago there was not a farmer in Waukesha County who was worth as much over and above his debts. Now we count farmers by the score, and hundreds, in every town, who are worth from five to fifty thousand dollars. If property confers bliss, your people ought to be very happy. The old settlers of Waukesha County did not bring to their new homes a miser's spirit, but they did bring prudence, pluck, good sense and strong arms, and they made good use of them. They know and appreciate the uses of wealth ; they have provided their ferms with all the best agricultural implements furnished by modern invention, and they have surrounded their homes and filled their houses with comforts and luxuries ; they have erected factories, schoolhouses and churches, and have connected their material prosperity with intellectual culture and a wholesome moral and religious sentiment. Such is the scene which will present itself to the old settlers when they come together to exchange greetings and renew their friendship on Tuesday next. Well may they look back with pride and satisfaction at the work of their own hands, while they thank God for His manifold blessings upon them and our common country.

Please offer the following sentiment in my behalf: The old settlers of Oconomowoc, Summit, and vicinity - they have made their heritage what it is, let their successors better it if they can.

Premium Farm

During the year 1860, premiums were offered by the State Agricultural Society for the three best farms in the State, and a committee was appointed to travel through the country and visit the farms of the different applicants, to decide on their merits and report on the condition of the country generally. During that year, the year before the " late unpleasantness," it will be remembered by farmers that grain crops were never better throughout the State ; so the report of the Commissioners was a glowing one. They placed the yield at twenty-five bushels per acre on the average. This created a great amount of criticism throughout the Eastern States, and finally Ohio sent a person to see if the report was not exaggerated. Contrary to their expectations, he said the crops were underestimated.

Among the applications was one from Mr. Edgerton, who then owned the tract now known as the Van Brunt farm, in Summit, and who entered it in 1837. When the Commissioners came on they found the buildings comparatively nothing to what they now are, there being only a rambling one-story house, such as farmers sometimes build by piecing on to the first old log house in every direction, until nothing is to be seen of the original structure but the chimney (and maybe not that) and the interior. Of outbuildings, there was a carriage-house, built in a substantial manner, of stone, the upper part being dedicated as a chapel, to gratify the wishes of Mrs. Edgerton. This was the only chapel in the neighborhood until the little Church of St. Maria was erected, a short distance east of the house, on land which belonged to the farm. Beside the carriage-house, there was a large pantry, with cellars for milk, a cheese-room, smokehouse, ashery, etc. There were three stone buildings, gothic in style, fronting toward the south, and connected by wooden structures. These buildings were the only ones on the farm worth mentioning. But the farm itself was, as it now is, almost perfect. To attempt to describe it as it then appeared would be impracticable, as it has since been largely improved in every particular, by the expenditure of about $25,000 by Mr. Van Brunt, who came into possession of the property in 1873. The farm is one mile long and half as wide, and is intersected by but one public road, which runs through it from east to west, leaving one-third on the south side, and the remaining two-thirds on the north side, on which are erected the splendid family mansion and capacious outbuildings. Directly back from these buildings, a lane runs north, dividing this part of the farm in the center, by which the fields, twenty acres in area each, are reached on either side, in a most convenient manner. This part of the farm is devoted principally to raising grain and grasses. About sixty acres of the southern third of the farm, on the west, are covered by a fine forest, besides seven acres in the northwest corner. The remainder of this portion is divided into fields and used principally for pasturage. The farm is splendidly watered by Bark River, which starts in on the eastern central side and runs southwesterly almost across it, having a gravel bottom. To get anything like a fair idea of the real beauty and complete natural, as well as artificial, arrangement of the place, one must go up into the cupola of the house. From this point a fine view is obtained of this superb farm and the magnificent country around, than which nothing better or more beautiful can be found anywhere. The surface soil is a rich loam and limestone marl, mixed with a very little sand and gravel, which has a heavy clay subsoil, and is therefore well adapted to various agricultural purposes. The surface is not quite level, but just about right in wave and swell to drain nicely ; and when covered with a luxurious growth of crops, dotted here and there by clumps of green trees, presents as rich and attractive a picture as can be desired. In 1874, Mr. Van Brunt began hi& improvement in building by erecting a horse barn, the front built of stone, being 40x48 feet, two stories high, the north rear attachment to the above being a frame building 36x120 feet, two stories, making this building 160 feet long. The interior front is divided into a carriage room and ofiSce, and two box stalls sixteen feet square. The rear has a long passage-way through to the center, and the sides are divided into box stalls from twelve to sixteen feet square, and all are ceiled and finished in the most approved manner. When this stable was built, Mr. Van Brunt expected to engage extensively in raising blooded horses, but finding that it does not pay, the stalls are to be converted into sheep pens. This barn is connected with the ashery and other buildings, before mentioned, by a long poultry house and apartments for broodmares and sheep, making the whole southern front from outside corner of chapel to outside corner of carriage and horse barn, 250 feet in length. Connected with the chapel, and running back south, is an ice house and wagon and machinery sheds, 16x110 feet ; then directly south of this, and running east and west, is a building containing granary, corn-crib, room for boiling feed, and a hog pen. The granary is 20x30 feet, two stories high, the outside walls being lined with brick. Thecorn-crib is 18x48 feet ; the room for boiling feed is 18x24 feet ; the hog pen 18x48 feet, making a building 150 feet long. Besides these various buildings, there is also a cattle barn 46x48 feet, two stories high, with basement. It is estimated by the proprietor that there are ample accommodations for forty horses, fifty cattle, fifty hogs and five hundred sheep. It may be added that these various buildings are completely finished throughout and painted. Thedwellinghouse, which is approached from the south by graveled drive-ways, is built of Milwaukee brick, and gotten up throughout in a very elaborate manner. Mr. James Douglass, architect, planned, in this case, a model country residence, with a handsome exterior and convenient interior. About fifty or sixty yards southeast of the house, under a clump of fine trees, is a magnificent spring, the Ajalon, which supplies the house with water. This spring is ten or twelve feet in diameter, has a wonderful flow, and is extremely cold and very pure and healthful. A short distance farther south, on the bank of Bark River, are two more springs bursting out of the ground within a few feet of each other, one being clear and pure, the other an iron mineral spring - such are nature's freaks. The flow from these springs is also very liberal. The analysis of the Ajalon Spring, by G. Bode, of Milwaukee, is as follows :

In comparing the population of Waukesha with other counties, it should be borne in mind that she has no large cities or centers of population, and only two places that really ar6 entitled to consideration in computing the population of towns. And also, that she has but sixteen towns and a very large area of water. With these facts taken into consideration, the growth of her population has been steady, and' as rapid as a healthy growth can be. In 1834, the county contained three persons, Morris D. and Alonzo R. Cutler and Henry Luther. In 1835, it was about fifteen, though whether more or less, it is difficult to determine, as several persons came for the summer and returned to the East during the winter. The census of 1838 may be found elsewhere ; that of 1840 shows the following numbers : Genesee, 238 ; Lisbon, 116 ; Menomonee, 59 ; Mukwonago, 172 ; Muskego, 130 ; New Berlin, 199 ; Pewaukee, 222 ; Prairieville, 450 ; Summit, 335 ; Vernon, 187 ; total, "2,108. This represents an influx of over 2,000 persons in less than five years, for there was not a single white person spent the winter of 1834-35 in Waukesha County, and the census of 1840 was taken early in the year. The amount of increase was therefore about 500 per year.

The county contained 24 colored persons - 14 in Prairieville, 7 in Brookfield and 3 in Lisbon. The greatest dfscrepancy between the male and female population was in Genesee, where there were 115 more males than females ; and the least in Brookfield, where there were only 20 more men than women.

The United States census of 1850, showed that Waukesha County contained 19,258, of whom 75 adults could not read or write. Sixty-eight of those who were unable to read and write were foreigners; the balance were born in America. The report, more in detail, is as follows:

In 1855, the population of the county was 24,012 ; in 1860, 26,831, and in 1865, 27,029. The following table shows the population by towns, as returned at the last three enumera-

Thus, the total loss in the county during the last five years is the difference between 425, (the gains in towns of Lisbon, Merton, Pewaukee, village of Waukesha and city of Oconomowoc), and 897, the losses in the balance of the towns, which is 472. This loss is owing to the emigration of the younger portion of the population to the cities, and the unoccupied lands of the West. When, however, the West is more generally filled, the increase in population will go on again in Waukesha County.

Hardly a county in Wisconsin has a longer list of men distinguished in politics, war, the State and the nation, than Waukesha. The list is not here complete ; but as many sketches as the friends of the dead would furnish are inserted. The chapter is somewhat lengthy, but it will be both valuable and interesting. Any history is necessarily a narration of the achievements of men; for without men this book could not have been made, and Waukesha County would still have been a wilderness.

Jacob L. Bean was born in Williston, Vt., March 17, 1809. His childhood and youth, up to his sixteenth year, were spent in his native place. He was descended from a Scottish family bearing the name of McBean, the prefix to the name having been dropped by the branch of the family that came to America. He had the misfortune, while yet a child, to lose his father, an estimable man, respected and beloved in the community in which he lived, and was left to his own guidance and thrown upon his own resources. After completing an elementary education in the public school, he entered a mercantile house as a clerk. A short experience in this capacity, however, was all that he required. He soon became an expert in business methods, and ambitious to establish for himself an independent career. His first venture as a business man was as a manufacturer of iron, in Clinton County, N. Y., being at the same time extensively interested in the lumber traflSc. It was quite apparent from the first that he was destined to succeed, as he soon developed in his character and methods all of the elements of success. Untiring industry and an energy both of mind and body, seldom equaled, marked him as an exceptionally superior man of affairs. He brushed away obstacles that would have appalled other men, and, once having undertaken an enterprise, he knew no such word as fail. The great West offering, as it did, a boundless field for enterprise and pluck, lured him hitherward. After disposing of his business interests in the State of New York, he came with his family to Milwaukee, in the spring of 1840, and became at once engaged in business as a merchant, and in various enterprises in the direction of laying the foundation for that beautiful city. Among them was the building of a large hotel known as the "American House." This commodious structure will be well and pleasantly remembered by all early settlers. It was burned in 1860, and superseded by the present " Plankinton House." Mr. Bean was prominent among that small band of sagacious and enterprising citizens of the State who first undertook the construction of a railway leading from Milwaukee westward ; and in connection with Byron Kilbourn, E. D. Holton and other pioneers, distinguished for their zeal and ability in developing the resources of this State, he was largely instrumental in setting on foot that great enterprise Tvhich resulted in the construction of a railway two hundred miles in length, from Milwaukee to Prairie du Chien on the Mississippi River. Subsequently, he was even more intimately connected the project of building the Milwaukee & La Crosse Railway. He was the first President of the company, and in that capacity, with marked ability and business tact, directed its affairs until the road was completed to the station known as Iron Ridge. The great deposit of iron ore in that locality attracted his attention, and surrendering the control of the railroad aehome into other hands, he purchased a large interest in this mine, and for a second time in his business career became engaged in the manufacture of iron. Here again he was successful, and in a short time established a flourishing and prosperous business. It was while thus engaged that his life was brought to a sudden close. He had been absent from home, and returning on the 5th of May, 1855, he complained of a severe pain in his head. This soon developed into congestion of the brain, and on the 8th day of the same month, and in the forty-sixth year of his age, he died. His untimely death was not alone an irreparable loss to his family - it was a loss as well to the community and State in which he lived, for he had been in a most conspicuous way a public-spirited man - helpful, zealous and capable. He was the father of a large family, and in his own home v/^as a light and a blessing. To the world, he was justly known as a man of high character, of kindly impufses and of good deeds.

Pitts Ellis. Among the noted ofiicials of Waukesha County, was Pitts Ellis, a native of Genesee County, N. Y., born February 29, 1808. He was educated and spent his early life in Cayuga County, N. Y. ; was married in Cattaraugus County, in that State, to Lucia M. Balcom, a native of Ontario County. In 1841, Mr. Ellis settled at North Prairie, in this county, where he began farming that year. In 1843, he built the first frame house in Genesee Village, and engaged in the shoemaking business, in which he continued for a number of years. Mr. Ellis was a stanch and steadfast Democrat ; was the first Justice of the Peace in Genesee ; was Register of Deeds two years during the war, and has held various town oflices. He was a member of the Territorial Legislature in 1844 ; a member of the First Constitutional Convention and of the Legislature of 1850. While a resident of Genesee, he relinquished shoemaking and devoted his attention to farming and speculating in grain, associating with Tredway & Barker, well known merchants of that village. Mr. Ellis also operated as speculator in Milwaukee, for four or five years, in which business he lost every dollar of his property. The last few years of his eventful life were spent in Genesee, where he died February 1, 1875. The frame house built by Mr. Ellis is still standing, and is occupied by the Lee family. Mrs. Ellis, a well-preserved and intelligent lady of sixty-six gave the above facts, and is prouder of nothing done by her husband than that he cast his vote for Horace Greeley in 1872. Whatever his faults, Pitts Ellis had the name of being an honorable man, and was respected most by those who had known him best and longest.

Few men have a greater claim to a distinguished position among the illustrious dead of Waukesha County than Dennison Worthington, though he gave but a comparatively small portion of his life to the public, and never obtained, or sought to obtain, many of the higher positions of honor and trust which were within his reach. In the absence of better and more specific data as to his life and career, extracts from several newspapers, printed where he was well known, will here be presented and preserved in his honor. The following is from the Madison (Wis.) State Journal of April 24, 1880 :

" The telegraph brings the sad and unlooked-for tidings of the death of Hon. Dennison Worthington. He died suddenly, at the home of his son, William C. Worthington, in Denver, Colo., Friday, April 23, 1880."

Mr. Worthington was born in Connecticut, but lived in Albany, N. Y., after he had grown to man's estate, for many years, and was a highly esteemed citizen of that place ; he was the second President of the Albany Young Men's Association, and served as a member of the Common Council some years. In 1847, he removed to Wisconsin, and bought a farm near Summit, Waukesha County. He was a member of the Assembly in 1852 and 1854, and a Senator from 1855 until 1861, taking part in the investigation of the La Crosse Land Grant scandal, as Chairman of the Investigating Committee. In 1861, he was elected Secretary of the Madison Mutual Insurance Company, and filled that position until 1874, when he was compelled to resign on account of poor health. Since that time his home has been in Chicago, but latterly he has been making trips to the West in pursuit of health, and has been living in Denver for some time.

" The deceased was a brother-in-law of Hon. Andrew Proudfit, of Madison City. He was an active and consistent member of the Episcopal Church, and while in that city was an earnest communicant of Grace Church.