Janesville City (part 2 of 5)

" The institutions of this village are young but flourishing, and of a character that would honor the most famous city of Europe or America, consisting of 2 common, 3 select and 1 academy school, a Methodist Episcopal Church, numbering 82 ; an Episcopal Church, numbering 40 ; a Presbyterian Church, 63 ; a Baptist Church, 55, and a Primitive Methodist Church, numbering 15. There is a Division of the Sons of Temperance, No. 101 ; a Lodge I. 0. 0. F., No. 100; an Encampment, No. 40, and a Masonic Lodge, No. 35."

Janesville As A City

Arrangements which had been in progress for some time, looking to the incorporation of Janesville as a city, were concluded early in 1853, and, on the 19th of March of that year, " An act to incorporate ' the city of Janesville " was duly approved. The act provided that the territory lying in the county of Rock, and known as Sections 1 and 2 in Township 2 ; Sections 25, 26 and 36 in Township 3, north of Range 12 east, together with the west half of Section 6 in Township 2 north, of Range 13 east, and the west half of Sections 30 and 31 in Township 3 north, of Range 13 east, should constitute the city of Janesville, be a municipal corporation and have the general powers possessed by municipal corporations at common law in addition to special powers, specially granted.

It was provided further that the Mayor, Clerk, Superintendent of Schools, Treasurer, Attorney and Marshal, and one Justice of the Peace for each of the four wards into which the city was divided, should be elected annually on the first Tuesday of April, his terra of ofiice commencing on the second Tuesday of April.

In accordance with the provisions of this act, an election was held on the first Tuesday of April, 1853, with the following result, the Aldermen being chosen two for one year and one for two years from each ward, respectively :

Mayor, A. Hyatt Smith ; Clerk, J. H. Ogilvie ; Superintendent of Schools, C. P. King ; Treasurer, J. W. Hobson ; Attorney, C. S. Jordan ; Marshal, W. E. Tompkins ; Aldermen - B. F. Pixley, E. L. Roberts and W. P. Burroughs,, of the First Ward; J. J. R. Pease, Timothy Jackman and George Barnes, of the Second; B. A. Howland, B. B. Eldredge and Charles H. Conrad, of the Third, and George H. Williston, George W. Taylor and John Carlin, of the Fourth. Justices of the Peace - Moses S. Prichard, for the First Ward ; Abraham C. Bailey, for the Second; Lucius Field, for the Third, and D. Clow, for the Fourth.

The first meeting of the Common Council was convened on the evening of the 12th day of April, 1853, in the ofiice of the Rock River Valley Union Railroad Company (corner of Main and River streets, on the present site of the First National Bank), organized by the election of B. F. Pixley as President of the Board, and the following Constables : S. J. Belton, for the First Ward ; Ira Burnham and Calvin Chapin, for the Second ; Thomas H. Brogan, for the Third, and Charles L. Weed, for the Fourth.

Citi/ Officers elected April 4-, 1854- - Mayor, J. Bodwell Doe ; Clerk, Amos P. Prichard ;, Superintendent of Schools, James Sutherland ; Treasurer, John W. White ; Marshal, Charles Yates ; Assessor, John L. liimball ; Aldermen - James H. Ogilvie and R. B. Treat, of the First Ward ; Timothy Jackman and Edward L. Dimock, of the Second ; Lewis E. Stone and Henry 0. Clark, of the Third, and Ira Miltimore and William P. Cobb, of the Fourth. Justices of the Peace - Samuel J. Belton, of the First Ward ; A. C. Bates, of the Second; J. N. Corson, of the Fourth. Constables - Calvin Story, of the First Ward ; Hiram A. Vosburg, of the Second ; Thomas H. Brogan, of the Third, and J. G. Alden, of the Fourth.

Oity Officers elected April 3, 1855. - Major Edward L. Dimock ; Clerk, Amos P. Prichard ; Treasurer, Freeman A. Kimball. Aldermen - David Noggle and John L. Kimball, of the First Ward ; James B. Crosby and S. C. Burnham, of the Second ; Ellery A. Howland and Levi St. John of the Third, and John H. Vermilye and F. S. Lawrence, of the Fourth. Justices of the Peace, Samuel J. Belton, of the First Ward ; L. Field, of the Third, and Franklin Whitaker, of the Fourth.

On the 29th of March, an act of the Legislature amended the city charter, by which the offices of Marshal, Constable, Assessor, School Commissioner and Superintendent were selected by the Common Council (having previously been elected), and, at the meeting held April 14, 1856, the following appointments were made : Marshal, T. C. Sleeper ; Assessor, H. 0. Wilson ; School Commissioners, J. Sutherland, of the First Ward ; S. W. Smith, Second Ward ; M. C. Smith, Third Ward, and Andrew Palmer, Fourth Ward. Constables - John Sparling, of the First Ward ; Ira Burnham, Second Ward ; Thomas H. Brogan, Third Ward, and J. G. Alden, Fourth Ward.

City Officers elected April 1, 1856. - M&jor, John J. R. Pease ; Clerk, A. P. Prichard ; Treasurer, Gilbert Dolsen ; Aldermen - J. A. Sleeper and R. B. Treat, of the First -Ward ; A. C. Bates and C. W. Dow, of the Second Ward ; B. B. Eldridge and Lyman Smith, of the Third Ward, and William Hume and Thomas Thornton, of the Fourth Ward ; Justices of the Peace - Hiram Taylor, oi the Second Ward, and E. R. Tice, of the Fourth Ward.

At a special meeting of Council convened April 15, the following officers were elected : Marshal. Thomas C. Sleeper ; City Attorney, I. C. Sloan ; Assessor, Charles H. Conrad ; School Commissioners - Hiram Foot, First Ward ; S. W. Smith, Second Ward ; G. W. Lawrence, Third Ward, and Henry W. Collins, Fourth Ward; Constables - John Sparling, First Ward; H. A. Vosburg, Second Ward; T. H. Brogan, Third Ward, and Daniel McDougal, Fourth Ward.

In 1857, two additional wards were created by Legislative enactment; the Fifth Ward from territory included in the Third and Fourth Wards, and the Sixth Ward from territory included in the Second Ward. The act providing for the creation of the Fifth Ward also created the office of Street Commissioner, the election of which was ordered at the election for city officers next ensuing, which fell on the 7th day of April, 1857, and resulted as follows ;

Mayor, A. Hyatt Smith ; Clerk, Felix Barrere ; Treasurer, Ira Justin, Jr. ; Street Commissioner, Edward Harper. Aldermen - S. J. Belton and F. A. Kimball, of the First Ward ; A. Newhofi' and S. Hutson, Second Ward ; L. Smith aud C. H. Conrad, Third Ward ; J. H. Vermilye and D. Clow, Fourth Ward ; Ira Miltimore, T. Thornton and W. Hughes, Fifth Ward, and A. W. Bunster, J. Bobbins and S. Martin, Sixth Ward. Justices of the Peace - M. W. Fish, of the First Ward; L. Field. Third Ward; J. N. Corson, Fourth Ward: S. H. Kellogg, Fifth Ward, and Z. S. Doty, Sixth Ward.

The new Council convened in regular session for the first time on the evening of April 29, and organized by the election of B. B. Eldredge, President, after which the city officers subject

The Constables elected April 30, were John Belton, of the First Ward ; Peyton Russell, Second Ward ; P. Baker, Third Ward ; Daniel McDougal, Fourth Ward ; J. Rook, Fifth Ward, and S. C. Burnham, Sixth Ward. Ezra Miller was elected City Surveyor.

At a special meeting convened May 2, the Board of School Commissioners was elected as follows : Hiram Foot, of the First Ward ; S. W. Smith, Second Ward ; G. W. Lawrence, Third Ward ; 0. J. Dearborn, Fourth Ward ; W. W. Mclntyre, Fifth Ward, and Isaac Woodle, Sixth Ward. At the same meeting, H. Taylor was elected Assessor.

In 1858, the old order of things was restored by an act, approved March 25, of that year, consolidating the act incorporating the city and the acts amendatory thereto, by the provisions of which the city was again divided into four wards.

City Officers elected April 6, 1858. - Mayor, William A. Lawrence ; Clerk, Felix Barrere; Treasurer, Ira Justin, Jr.; Police Justice, J. W. D. Parker; Justice of the Peace, James Armstrong. Aldermen - Volney Atwood and Moses S. Prichard, of the First Ward ; A. M. Pratt and A. C. Bates, Second Ward ; L. E. Stone and I. C. Sloan, Third Ward, and P. H. Grant and H. S. Shelton, Fourth Ward.

The first meeting of the new Council was held on Thursday evening, April 22, at which Moses S. Prichard was elected President of the Board and the following city officials appointed : School Commissioners - James Sutherland, of the First Ward; S. W. Smith, Second Ward; B. B. Eldredge, Third Ward, and H. W. Collins, Fourth Ward ; Assessors, Nathaniel Parker, Charles R. Gibbs and George H. Williston. Constables - William H. Parker, of the First Ward ; S. C. Burnham, Second Ward ; C. C. Gillett, Third Ward, and J. L. D. Eycleshimer. Fourth Ward.

August 5. - Resolutions appropriate to the occasion were adopted and 100 guns ordered to be fired in honor of the laying of the Atlantic Cable.

September 20. - At an election held this day, Sanford A. Hudson was elected Mayor to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of William A. Lawrence, and Charles H. Conrad, Alderman from the Third Ward, to succeed L. E. Stone, resigned.

At the annual election held April 5, 1859, but one Alderman was chosen from each ward, in accordance with the amendment to the charter, approved March 25, 1858. School Commissioners and Constables were also elected by the wards instead of by Council, in accordance-with the amendment, approved March 17, 1859.

Mayor, S. A. Hudson ; Clerk, Felix Barrere ; Treasurer, Ira Justin, Jr. ; Justice of the Peace, H. A. Patterson. Aldermen - S. J. Belton, of the First Ward ; J. J. R. Pease, Second Ward ; J. P. Dickson and J. C. Fredendall (to fill vacancy). Third Ward, and H. S. Shelton and J. H. Vermilye (to fill vacancy). Fourth Ward. School Commissioners - A. Graham, of the First Ward, and Hiram Bowen, Second Ward. Constables - Wm. H. Parker, of the First Ward ; S. C. Burnham, Second Ward; C. G. Gillett, Third Ward, and Thomas Whalen, Fourth Ward.

At the inaugural meeting of the Board, held on Thursday evening, April 21, J. P. Dickson was elected President and the following city officials chosen : School Commissioner from the Fourth Ward, James Armstrong ; City Attorney, Isaac Woodle.

City Officers elected April <?, 1860. - Mayor, R. B. Treat ; Clerk, F. Barrere ; Treasurer, George . A. Young ; Police Justice, H. N. Comstock ; Justice of the Peace, Hiram Potter. Aldermen - William M. Tallman, of the First Ward ; A. C. Bates, of the Second ; Lyman Smith, of the Third, and Prosper A. Pierce, of the Fourth. School Commissioners - Henry Palmer, of the First Ward ; H. A. Patterson, of the Second ; S. W. Smith, of the Third, and James Armstrong, of the Fourth. Constables - J. W. Plato, of the First Ward ; S. C. Burnham, of the Second; C. G. Gillett, of the Third, and A. H. Johnson, of the Fourth.

City Officers elected April S, 1861. - Mayor, J. B. Doe; Treasurer, G. A. Young; Clerk, Felix Barrere ; Justice of the Peace, H. A. Patterson. Aldermen - N. Parker, of the First Ward ; George Barnes, of the Second ; W. H. Collins, of the Third, and H. S. Shelton, of the Fourth School Commissioners - William B. Strong, of the First, and G. W. Lawrence, of the Third "Ward. Constables - J. W. Plato, of the First Ward ; H. A. Robertson, Second Ward ; C. G. Gillett, Third Ward, and Michael Mulvihill, Fourth Ward.

J. W. D. Parker served a portion of the year as Attorney for the city, and H. A. Patterson as Police Justice during the absence of the regular incumbent.

Oity Officers elected April 1, 1862. - Mayor, J. B. Doe ; Treasurer, S. Foord, Jr. ; Clerk, Andrew Boss ; Police Justice, H. N. Comstock ; Justice of the Peace, John Nichols. Aldermen - D. H. McChesney and W. Robinson, of the First Ward ; A. C. Bates, Second Ward ; L. F. Patten, Third Ward, and H. E. Pattison, Fourth Ward. School Commissioners - E. F. Spaulding, of the First Ward ; James Armstrong, Fourth Ward, and William A. Lawrence, at large. Constables - J. W. Plato, of the First Ward ; Jacob Robbins, Second Ward ; Phillip Baker, Third Ward, and John Lawler, Fourth Ward.

Oity Officers elected April 7, 1863. - Ma.jor, R. B. Treat; Treasurer, S. Foord, Jr.; Clerk, George H. Williston ; Police Justice, S. A. Hudson ; Justice of the Peace, H. A. Patterson. Aldermen - W. B. Strong, of the First Ward; S. C. Burnham, Second Ward; J. C. Fredendall, Third Ward, and H. S. Shelton, Fourth Ward. School Commissioners - 0. J. Dearborn, of the First Ward ; S. W. Smith, Third Ward, and C. R. Gibbs, at large. Constables - J. W. Plato, of the First Ward; A. W. Parker, Second Ward; A. B. Douglass, Third Ward, and J. Mahoney, Fourth Ward.

City Officers elected April 6, 1864-. - Mayor, John Mitchell; Treasurer, S. Foord, Jr. ; Clerk, G. H. Williston; Police Justice, S. A. Hudson; Justice of the Peace, Joseph Baker; Sealer of Weights, William Macloon. Aldermen - A. A. Jackson and A. Graham (to fill vacancy), of the First Ward ; A. C. Bates^ Second Ward ; H. L. Smith, Third Ward, and A. McDougall, Fourth Ward. School Commissioners - A. S. Jones, of the Second Ward; B. F. Pendleton, Fourth Ward, and C. R. Gibbs, at large. Constables - J. W. Plato, of the First Ward ; A. W. Parker, Second Ward ; P. Baker, Third Ward, and A. H. Johnson, Fourth Ward.

Oity Officers elected April 4, 1866. - Mayor, John Mitchell ; Treasurer, Sylvester Foord, Jr. ; Clerk, George H. Williston ; Justice of the Peace, C. G. Gillett ; Sealer of Weights, e! H. Strong. Aldermen - Alexander Graham, of the First Ward; Hiram Jackman, Second

Ward ; C. H. Conrad, Third Ward, and F. S. Eldred, Fourth Ward. School Commissioners - C. L. Thompson, of the First Ward ; S. Holdredge, Jr., Second Ward, and 0. J. Dearborn, at large. Constables - J. W. Plato, of the First Ward ; A. W. Parker, Second Ward ; P. Baker, Third Ward, and A. H. Johnson, Fourth Ward.

City Officers elected April 3, 1866. - Mayor, Henry Palmer ; Treasurer, S. Foord, Jr. ; Clerk, G. H. Williston ; Police Justice, S. A. Hudson; Justice of the Peace, J. Baker; Sealer of Weights, N. Griswold. Aldermen - C. T. Webber, of the First Ward; A. C. Bates, Second ; S. Holdredge, Jr., Third Ward, and H. S. Shelton, Fourth Ward. School Commissioners - H. A. Patterson, of the Second Ward ; G. R. Curtis, Fourth Ward, and C. R. Gibbs, at large. Constables - J. W. Plato, of the First Ward ; A. W. Parker, Second Ward ; P. Baker, Third Ward, and A. Barrett, Fourth Ward.

City Officers elected April ^, 1867. - MayOr, H. Palmer ; Treasurer, S. Foord, Jr. ; Clerk, G. H. Williston ; Justice of the Peace, Mo^es S. Prichard ; Sealer of Weights, William Macloon. Aldermen - S. G. Williams, of the First Ward ; Robert Hodge, Second Ward ; C. H. Conrad, Third Ward, and J. James, Fourth Ward. School Commissioners - H. N. Comstock,- of the First Ward ; S. Holdredge, Jr., Third Ward, and W. A. Lawrence, at large. Constables - J. W. Plato, of the First Ward ; A. W. Parker, Second Ward ; Philip Baker, Third Ward, and A. H. Johnson, Fourth Ward.

April 22. - A. C. Bates elected President of the Board; John Winans, City Attorney ; C. G. Gillett, City Marshal, and S. D. Locke, City Engineer.

City Officers elected April 7 ., 1868 . - Mayor, A. A. Jackson; Treasurer, S. Foord, Jr.; Clerk, J. H. Williston; Police Justice, S. A. Hudson; Justice of the Peace, William Smith, Jr.; Sealer of Weights, William Macloon. Aldermen - Alexander Graham, of the First Ward; Anson Rogers, Second Ward, and Samuel Rolston, Fourth' Ward. School Commissioners - H. A. Patterson, of the Second Ward ; G. R. Curtis, Fourth Ward, and William A. Lawrence, at large. Constables - J. W. Plato, of the First Ward ; A. W. Parker, Second Ward ; P. Baker, Third Ward, and A. H. Johnson, Fourth Ward.

April 28. - Ira Miltimore elected President of the Board ; Richard K. Lee, City Engineer; H. N. Comstock, A. K. Cutts, R. T. Pember and Merritt Case, Constables.

City Officers elected April 6, 1870. - Mayor, J. B. Doe; Treasurer, F. S. Lawrence; Clerk, C. L. Valentine ; Juatice of the Peace, James M. Burgess ; Police Justice, William Smitli, Jr. ; City Attorney, J. W. Sale ; Sealer of Weights and Measures, G. K. Collins. Aldermen - J. C. Metcalf, of the First Ward ; Anson Rogers, Second Ward ; Ira Miltimore, Third Ward, and J. A. Blount, Fourth Ward. Supervisors - J. D. Rexford, of the First Ward ; J. J. R. Pease, Second Ward ; H. R. Richardson, Third Ward, and J. W. St. John, Fourth Ward. School Commissioners - H. A. Patterson, of the First Ward, and G. R. Curtis, Second Ward.

By act of the Legislature, approved March 10, 1870, provision w;is made for the representation of each ward in the Board of Supervisors of the county in which such ward was situated, and the charter of Janesville was amended agreeable to such provision.

April 26. - Ira Miltimore elected President of the Board ; J. W. Plato, M. Schuyler, A. W. Parker and Merritt Case, Constables, and Edward Ruger, City Engineer.

Qity Officers elected on the first Tuesday in April, 1871. - Mayor, Anson Rogers ; Treasurer, F. S. Lawrence ; Clerk, C. L. Valentine ; City Attorney, John Winans ; Justice of the Peace, M. S. Prichard ; Justice of the Peace (to fill vacancy), J. M. Case ; Sealer of Weights and Measures^H. Knoff. Aldermen - E. G. Fifield, of the First Ward ; J. J. R. Pease, Second Ward; B. B. Eldredge, Third Ward; 0. P. Robinson, Fourth Ward, and L. F. Smith and E. Lewis, Fifth Ward. School Commissioners - L. J. Barrows, of the First Ward ; 0. R. Smith, Third Ward ; C. Skelly, Fifth Ward, and William A. Lawrence, at large. Supervisors - S. A. Hudson, of the First Ward ; A. Hoskins, Second Ward ; H. Richardson, Third Ward ; Andrew Palmer, Fourth Ward, and J. B. Carle, Fifth Ward.

May 3. - J. H. Balch and G. H. Williston elected Assessors ; Edward Ruger, City Engineer, and W^. Jeflfers, Abrahain Parker, 0. Brooks and John Spalding, Constables.

City Officers elected April 3, 1872 : Mayor, James Sutherland ; Treasurer, F. S. Lawrence ; ' Clerk, C. L. Valentine ; City Attorney, J. W. Sale ; Police Justice, W. Smith, Jr. ; Justice of the Peace, C. G. Gillett ; Sealer of Weights and Measures, H. Knoff. Aldermen - J. C. Metcalf, of the First Ward; C. L. Martin, Second Ward; D. E. Fifield, Third Ward; W. Casar, Fourth Ward; W. Knoff, Fifth Ward. School Commissioners - J. H. Balch, of the First Ward, and J. G. Orcutt, Fourth Ward. Supervisors - H. N. Comstock, of the First Ward; H. Richardson, Second Ward; Cyrus Bliss, Third Ward; D. Jeffries, Fourth Ward.

April 18. - J. C. Metcalf elected President of the Board, and George Heild, A. K. Cutts, A. W. Parker, D. McDougall and Maurice Smith, Constables.

City Officers elected April S, 1873. - Mayor, James Sutherland; Treasurer, F. S. Lawrence ; Clerk, C. L. Valentine ; City Attorney, J. W. Sale ; Justice of the Peace, M. S. Prichard ; Sealer of Weights and Measures, H. Knoff. Aldermen - Magnus Hanson, of the First Ward ; Charles W. Stark, Second Ward ; J. B. Moon, Third Ward ; George C. McLean, Fifth Ward. School Commissioners - L. J. Barrows, of the First Ward ; G. W. Lawrence, Third Ward ; Charles Skelly, Fifth Ward ; W. A. Lawrence, at large. Supervisors - Hiram Bump, of the First Ward; Jesse Miles, Second Ward; Cyrus Bliss, Third Ward; Randall Williams, Fourth Ward ; Thomas M. Lynch, Fifth Ward.

The election for Alderman in the Fourth Ward between 0. P. Robinson and Levi B. Carle having resulted in a tie, the same was determined by order of Council by casting lots, resulting in the choice of 0. P. Robinson, who took his seat as a member.

April 23. - J. C. Metcalf elected President of the Board ; G. W. Wheeler, John J. Cornstock, A. W. Parker, J. W. Carman and Merritt Case, Constables, and N. Cratzenburg, Marshal.

City Officers elected April 7 , 1874- - Mayor, Hiram Merrill; Treasurer, J. M. Haselton; Clerk, C. L. Valentine ; City A.ttorney, John Winans ; Justice of the Peace, Hiram Taylor ; Police Justice, L. F. Patten ; Sealer of Weights and Measures, 0. Brooks. Aldermen - D. Davis, Jr., of the First Ward ; Anson Rogers, Second Ward ; James Church, Third Ward ; J. A. Blount, Fourth Ward, and J. Fitzgibbons, Fifth Ward. School Commissioners - F. P. Schicker, of the Second Ward, and E. C. Smith, Fourth Ward. Supervisors - B. Leavitt, of the First Ward; S. Hutchinson, Second Ward; 0. Guernsey, Third Ward ; E. C. Smith, Fourth Ward, and T. M. Lynch, Fifth Ward. Constables - William J. Porter, of the First Ward ; John J. Comstock, Second Ward ; A. W. Parker, Third Ward ; Henry Doty, Fourth Ward, and Merritt Case, Fifth Ward.

City Officers elected in April, 1875. - Mayor, J. W. St. John ; Treasurer, J. M. Haselton ; Clerk, Joseph Wallace ; City Attorney, Pliny Norcross ; Justice of the Peace, F. Whitaaker; Sealer of Weights and Measures, J. Lawler. Aldermen - W. B. Britton, of the First Ward; A. C. Bate?, Second Ward; J. M. Bostwick, Third Ward ; 0. P. Robinson, Fourth Ward, and W. Hemming, Fifth Ward. School Commissioners - L. Hunt, of the First Ward ; J. B. Whiting, Third Ward ; G. C. McLean, Fifth Ward, and J. Shearer, at large. Supervisors - E. Levitt, of the First Ward ; J. Miles, Second Ward ; 0. Guernsey, Third Ward ; L. B. Earle, Fourth Ward, and T. M. Lynch, Fifth Ward. Constables - W. J. Porter, of the First Ward; J. J. Comstock, Second Ward; A. W. Parker, Third Ward; H. Doty, Fourth Ward, and M. Case, Fifth Ward.

City Officers elected in April, 1876. - Mayor, J. W. St. John ; Treasurer, J. M. Haselton ; Clerk, B. L. Dimock ; City Attorney, Pliny Norcross ; Justice of the Peace, M. M. Phelps ; Police Justice, L. F. Patten ; Sealer of Weights and Measures, Herman Knoff. Aldermen - D. Davis, Jr., of the First Ward ; S. S. Judd, Second Ward; J. A. Blount, Fourth Ward, and J. B. Fitzgibbons, Fifth Ward. School Commissioners - J. C. Burnham, Jr., of the Second Ward, and M. M. Conant, Fourth Ward. Supervisors - J. C. Metcalf, of the First Ward ; J. J. R. Pease, Second Ward ; Fenner Kimball, Third Ward ; L. B. Carle, Fourth Ward, and B. Ratheram, Fifth Ward. Constables - J. H. Taylor, of the First Ward ; J. J. Comstock, Second Ward; A. W. Parker, Third Ward ; J. F. Drake, Fourth Ward, and Merritt Case, Fifth Ward.

Sealer of Weights and Measures, E. Richardson. Aldermen - F. S. Lawrence, of the First Ward; S. Hutchinson, Second Ward: H. D. McKinney, Third Ward; John T.Wilcox, Fourth "Ward, and William Hemming, Fifth Ward. School Commissioners - Lewis Hunt, First Ward ; J. B. Whiting, Third Ward; G. C. McLean, Fifth Ward, and James Shearer, at large. Supervisors - J. C. Metcalf, First Ward ; 0. F. Nowlan, Second Ward ; Fenner Kimball, Third Ward ; L. B. Carle, Fourth Ward, and E. Ratheram, Fifth Ward. Constables - J. H. Taylor, First Ward; A. W. Parker, Third Ward; J. F. Drake, Fourth Ward, and M. Case, Fifth Ward.

City Officers elected April f , 1878. - Mayor, Pliny Norcross ; Treasurer, J. M. Haselton ; Clerk, James M. Burgess ; City Attorney, Horace McElroy ; Justice of the Peace, A. D. Wickham; Police Justice, M. S. Prichard ; Sealer of Weights and Measures, E. Richardson. Aldermen - D. Davis, of the First Ward ; W. T. Vankirk, Second Ward; James Church, Third Ward ; Patrick Joyce, Fourth Ward, and J. B. Fitzgibbon, Fifth Ward. School Commissioners - S. C. Burnham, Jr., of the Second Ward, and J. W. St. John, Fourth Ward. Supervisors - J. C. Metcalf, of the First Ward; 0. F. Nowlan, Second Ward; B. B. Eldredge, Third Ward ; L. B. Carle, Fourth Ward, and E. Ratheram, Fifth Ward. Constables - John H. Taylor, of the First Ward ; John J. Comstock, Second Ward ; A. W. Parker, Third Ward ; J. F. Drake, Fourth Ward, and Merritt Case, Fifth Ward.

City Officers elected April 1, 1879. - Mayor, Samuel C. Cobb ; Treasurer, J. M. Haselton ; Clerk, Jame^ M. Burgess ; City Attorney, E. F. Carpenter ; Justice of the Peace, Frank Brooks ; Sealer of Weights and Measures, E. Richardson. Aldermen - T. T. Croft, of the First Ward ; W. Cox, Second Ward ; George Barnes, Third Ward ; 0. P. Robinson, Fourth Ward, and James H. Burns, Fifth Ward. School Commissioners - James Shearer, of the First Ward ; W. D. Hastings, Third Ward ; B. J. Daly, Fifth Ward, and Stanley B. Smith, at large. Supervisors - J. C. Metcalf, of the First Ward ; 0. F. Nowlan, Second Ward ; B. Eldredge, Third Ward ; L. B. Carle, Fourth Ward, and E. Ratheram, Fifth Ward. Constables - John H. Taylor, of the First Ward ; A. K. Cutts, Second Ward ; A. W. Parker, Third Ward ; J. F. Drake, Fourth Ward, and George Rook, Fifth Ward.

Janesville is the chief manufacturing center in Southeastern Wisconsin. The populatiort is given at 14,000 souls. The city limits cover five sections, or 3,200 acres of land. It is almost in the center of Rock County. The principal business portion is on the east side of theriver on a flat from one to two hundred yards in width lying between the river and a range of hills covered with beautiful groves. The city is growing very rapidly on the West Side, and at present quite a rivalry is developing between those owning property on the East Side and those with interests on the West. It is a good-natured rivalry, though, and can do injury t» neither.

The Janes Correspondence Letter No. 1

Uniontown, Cal., April 17, 18-5.5. Editnr JnntsvilU Gazette, Dear Sir: I found a stray Chicago paper from which I have cut the following: "Janesville - The population of Janesville according to the census just tajsen, is 6,029; number of voters 1 27-5. The Gazette slates that ten years ago the population of the entire township was less than 800."

Fronj the above, I conclude that there is a paper published in Janesville called the Gazelle, and not having seen it, I don't know that U has the scent of sulphur on it, so that I could tell which of the defunct political partie^ it has affinity to, and shall on that point plead " Know-Nothingism," only I suppose that no Democratic weed could ever vegetate to any degree of perfection in so pure a place as Janesville was, when I was a youngster. I naturally suppose that among 6,000 inhabitants, there may be some a little curious to know by whom and how the place owes its origin, and who gave it the name, etc. In the first place, I would say that Amos Kendall, Postmaster General under Van Buren, gave the name of .Tanesville to the post office, and appointed H. F. Janes the tirst Postmaster at that place long, long ago. as old Dr. Jaynes, of Philadelphia, has claimed the name for the sale of his quack medicines. I appeal to A. T. Walker, G. H. Williston, D. Smiley, Charles Stevens, Gen. Sheldon, and others, who weie in Rock County at an early day. On the 15th day of January, 1836, I cut the initials of my name on a " black jack" on the city plat and called it my claim. At that time, Samuel St. John was the only resident in the county. When I left Janesville, the stump of the old "black jac'i" was standing in the street between the house built by myself and Charles Stevens and the river, on the north side of the street. Please respect it on my account, as it was awful cold when I made the claim. Since that time I have been constantly working westward fill the nasty Pacific has made a stop to further progress in that direction. In the fall of 1849, my western progress was suddenly stopped by the Pacific, and yet the sun sets west of me, and my wife positively refuses to go to the Sandwich Islands, and the bark is starting off ray rails and that is longer than I ever allowed myself to remain on one farm, so that I am at loss how to act in the present dilemma.

My son, Jasper N. Janes, was born in Janesville May 15, 1838, and was the first child born in the place.* He is now in his seventeenth year, is tall and slim and partakes rather strongly of Voung America. If any of the " Wauhoos" of Janesville who have not the good or bad fortune to be acquainted with me desire more information, I can inform them that I am now in my fifty-second year, weigh two hundred and ten pounds, stand six feet and two inches in my socks, and have rambled with my family over more of the western country and to less purpose than any other man in it. If any of my old comrades should yet be living and think enough of me to send me a line, they can do so by directing to Uuiontown, Humboldt Bay, California.!

In the paragraph that put me to scribbling this epistle, it appears that ten years ago there were not eight hundred inhabitants in the whole township. Well, at the annual election in the fall of 1836, the whole number of votes cast in the county, or what is now Rook County, was 32, all told. Of these, Gilbert Knapp received 32 for the Council ; Alanson Sweet, William Lee and Mr. Reed had about an equal number, each for the same office, two to be elected ; Charles Durkee, Gen. Sheldon and Dr. Cornwall got the votes for the Assembly. I am satisfied that at that time the entire population of Rook County would not have reached one hundred inhabitants. The first election was held at the house of Samuel St. John, about one mile below Janesville, or below where Janesville was, in August, 1839.

Should any of my old cronies wish to know what I am doing in California, I can only say thq,t I am doing well, am well pleased with the country and in the enjoyment of excellent health. H. F. Janes.

In another column will be found a highly interesting letter from Jlr. Janes, the founder of this city, and after whom it was named. We extract it from the Gazelle, to which paper it was written by the author. We do not care to quarrel with the old gentleman in his far- off home, because of his political principles. If we are not wrongly informed, however, he was a candidate upon the Democratic ticket at one time for the Legislature from this county, and was beaten by the present Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of this State, who was a Whig. The letter is well worthy a perusal, and we can only wish it may stir up some of our older citizens, to whom he alludes, to freshen their recollections and give to our people some of their reminiscences of the past.

The old stump to which he alludes was on the bank of the river for a long time after our advent here, and served as a high-water mark. Mr. Janes would have it preserved a? a memento of the past for his sake ; but the hand of improvement has long since demolished it, and a stately edifice is in progress of erection upon the spot where it stood.]

LTniontown, Humboldt Bat, Cal., November 10, 1855. Dear Sir : I have been in the receipt of your useful paper for some time past, and am not aware to whom I am indebted for it ; but be he whom he may, he has my heartfelt thanks for his kindness, as' it is received with gratitude by me, and is one of the greatest treats that falls to my lot. Previous to the receipt of the Gazelle. I seldom heard of Janesville, except once in a great while I happened to meet a Wisconsin man, aad we generally have a pleasant chat about the growth and prosperity of Wisconsin in general and Janesville in particular. I have received one paper from Janesville called the Slandard, in which the editor has copied my letter to the Gazelle, and, in his remarks, appeared to have been under a mistake in regard to my political faith. What I said in that letter, I said in a joke, not knowing that my scribbling would ever appear in print. I was at that time and still am a Whig in politics, and Calhouu and Clay have each said in some of their great speeches in the United States Senate that '- Wise men sometimes change their opinions, but fools never do," and that may account for my opinions never having undergone a change. It is true that Judge Whiton beat me for the Legislature, not on political, but on local grounds. At that time, in 1836, or 1837, Janesville was the " Sebastopol," and Beloit, Wisconsin City, St. George's Rapids, Rockport and Hume's Ferry were the allied powers that besieged it. I was put in nomination by the Janesville party, and,

- By the word " place," Mr. Janes means the vUlage of Jan 'eville ; but Seth B. St. John waa the first born in wliat are tww the city limits. tMr. Janes is now (1879) living above Humboldt City, Cal.

after ti*o or three caucuses, the " allies " selected Judge Whiton, knowing that he "blew hot and cold," and would carry some of ihe Janesville votes, and all the combined opposition. They took him on the principle of availibility, and elected him. I was not then or at any time in my life a politician, and since the old lines have been abolished, 1 have rather leaned toward the Republican party. There is one point, however, that I am radical on, and tliat is the subject of slavery. On this point, I think I am fixed, settled and confirmed - am bound to raise my voice against it in all its phases and forms. I have long since come to the determination to make no compromise with it, but to make war with it to the handle wherever t meet it. I think I can speak advisedly on this subject. I was brought up in a Slave State, and lived, besides, in Missouri from the 15th of May, 1840, till the 22d of April. 1849, making twentyfour years and a half of my life in the midst of the curse of slavery, and, so far as Missouri is concerned, were it not for the curse of slavery, she could, in twenty years, be the Empire State, but it hangs as an incubus on her destiny. It is the vampire that feeds upon her vitals, and, like a funeral pall, enshrouds her in darkness. Her location, her mineral resources, her vast agricultural wealth being washed by the Mississippi nearly one-h.alf the distance round her, with the Missouri through her center - Nature could do no more for her, and all she wants is enterprise to develop her vast resources, and I would venture the prediction that, if slavery were done away, that in ten years, the price of real estate would increase to twice as much as all the negroes that are in it would sell for at this time, to say nothing of the increase of population, manufactures, arts, sciences, commerce, education, etc.

I cannot help relating one circumstance that occurred in the township that 1 settled in at the Presidential election in the fall of 1840. It will give you some idea of the sagacity of some of Maj. Phelps' constituency. It was his Congressional District and near his residence. On the naorning of the election, there was much trouble among the voters lo know who to vote for for District Attorney. The trouble appeared to be to know which was the Democratic candidate, and they had, to use a California gambling phrase, to " go it blind," for, at that time. I am certain that there had never been a newspaper in the township, and one-half of them would not have known it had there been one, and the other half would not have known whether it belonged to the vegetable or animal kingdom. In this dilemma, they selected their man and voted for him. Late in the evening, one of the citizens of the place that had been absent, no doubt electioneering hard all day, rode up ; and, in fact, he was the " big dog in the tanyard," and inquired how the election went. "All well," responded a dozen voices; "108 for Van. and S for Tippecanoe." "Who did you run for Prosecuting Attorney?" "J. S. Waddle." "J. S. Waddle ! ' responded the citizen, at the same time looking persimmons. "Yes, we run him." "Why, he was the only Whig on the ticket." " Well, we did not know it." "But didn't you know he was a Kentuckian ? " "Yes." "Did you ever know a Kentuckian that knew enough to be a lawyer that was not a Whig ? " You could have had some idea of the length of the 119th Psalm, if you could have seen their faces about that time.

The Standard man seems to think that I would be lost in amazement if I were to visit the city at this time. No doubt such would be the fact, as he says truly I was monarch of all I surveyed, from the bank of the river to the bluff, and up and down as far as the bends in the river would permit. There was not a mark of cullivaiion lo be seen when I first marked out my location, where now stands the city- of Janesville. Should I ever find myself in a condition to pay the city a visit without crampipg myself for means, I shall surely make it a visit for no other reason than to see what an enterprising people can do in twenty years. Now, some of your readers would probably think it strange that twenty years have scarcely gone by since the entire population of Janesville consisted of one family - myself, wife and four children - and the only improvements were one log cabin, 18 feet square, without door, or window, and no tloor but Mother Earth, and, instead of paved sidewalks and graded streets there was an Indian trail which wound its serpentine course through what is now probably the heart of the city, and all the land on the flat and the sides of the blufls back from the river were covered with scrub oak, timber, and instead of the whistle of the railroad cars, or the hum and bustle of the thousands that daily throng yourstreets, we had the croaking of the coyote, or the midnight yell of the drunken Indian. At that time there were no houses, farms or improvements as far as the eye could reach, and traders took their course and traveled where it suited their purpose, and were at home where and when night overlook them. Twenty years ago I owned the only grindstone in Rock County, and people came from the remotest parts of the county to grind their axes, shares, etc. 1 have never been able lo learn where you built your Court House. £ had selected a block to put it on, on top of the hill, back of where Harvey Story's blacksmith-shop stood when I left Janesville.

I must conclude this letter, having spun it to a much greater length than I intended, or your patience would admit, without touching upon one-half of what I should like to say. in fact, the Gczelte brings to mind vastly more incidents connected with the early settlement of Janesville. than would fill a half-dozen such sheets as this. I should like to give you and my old friends, a birds-eye peep at this country through your paper.

Should this scribbling or any part of it be deemed worth the space it would occupy in your columns, you are at liberty to use it ; if not, dispose of it as you please. If you publish it, please dress it up in such language as will make it readable - it is unnecessary for me to tell you that I am not a scholar. Yours truly.

Letter No. 3

Uniontown, Cal., March 21, 1857. D'ar Sir: In reading the [Janesville] Gazette, I am not a little surprised to see the difference that twenty years has made in the appearance of things in and around Janesville. At this time twenty years ago,the present city of .Janesville was just putting on its swaddling clothes, and, I believe, it was not dignified with a name. Now, through the Gazelle, I hear of railroad arrivals and new railroads running into it from all parts of the State, of telegraph despatches, of ponderous three and four story buildings going up as if by magic, and lots selling for more money than I ever saw at one time. Some of your citizens wilL hardly credit the story, that but little over twenty yenrs ago, there was but one log cabin, .and one family was the sum total of the inhabitants of the present city of Janesville; and now, while I pen this scrawl, the first child born in the city [village], is sitting in Ihe room with me - a tall.

slim lad in his nineteeath year. As to politics, he is Republican throughout, body, breeches, boots ; and, for that matter, there is no difference in the pioneer family of Janesville.

Your railroads, telegraphs, etc., may be spry and quick for anything that I know, but they were not quick enough for me. I have kept ahead of all such slow concerns and have never got in sight of one yet, and, at present, there is no danger of their overtaking me. * * * Yours iruly, H. F. Janes.

Letter No. 4

I was born on the 12th of February, 1804, in Pendleton County, Va., on Straight Creek, one of the extreme head branches of the South Branch of the Potomac. In 1819, my father moved to Ohio, and settled on the Scioto shore at Ghillicothe, where I remained till the loth day of April, 1825, when I left the parental roof, on an old oneeyed horse, with two shirts and $i in my pocket, all told.

At about the end of a week, I reached the vicinity of where La Fayette, Ind.. now stands. At that time, La Fayette had no existence, except in name. There I married my wife on the l-5th day of March, 1827. I remained in that country till September, 1832, when I moved with my wife and two children to La Porte County, Ind. I remained tliere till April 18!?.5, when I moved to Wisconsin with my family and settled in Racine County, six miles due west from the city of Racine. The February previous, I went to Wisconsin to select a location, and found but one white family in Racine County, being that of Elam Beardsley. There was not a house nor any signs of civilization between Grosse Point, twelve miles north of Chicago, and Skunk Grove, now Mount Pleasant, in Racine County We were at home wherever night overtook us ; our fare was rather hard, but the bills were not high at that time Oapt. Gilbert Knapp had some men at work in Racine, and I think he had a log cabin built, or partly built at the time I first saw the place where the city now stands. I selected a situation for a farm on a branch of a stream, to which I gave the name of Hoosier Creek; and, so far as I know, it retains that name yet. I landed on my claim with my family about the 1st of May, and went to work in good earnest. On the 1st day of August, 1835, my son, J. W. Janes, was born, and was the first white child born in Racine County; he is now grown and is a hale and 4ictive J oung man.

At that time, there were no surveys of the land by the United States Surveyors, and we all had to run the risk of the lines cutting us to advantage or disadvantage. Some time that fall, the lines were run - that is the town and range lines, and I ascertained that all my claim and improvements were on the Sixteenth or School Section. This caused me to look around for a new location. By this time, most of the choice claims were taken or supposed to be taken, and 1 concluded to make a trip to Rock River, and started late in October, in company with Levi Harness, a young man that I took to the country with me. We had little or no knowledge of the country, and started on foot as adventurers.

We reached Prairie Village (now Waukesha), on Fox River, the first day, and there learned that a company hud gone out from Milwaukee but a short time before, and were still not far ahead; so we pushed on in good spirits, and camped between Mukwanago and where Troy now stands. Having been misinformed about the distance to Rock River at Prairie Village, we supposed that we were not more than ten miles from the river. We started with light hearts, -as soon as we conld see the Indian trail (for there were no other roads in the country at that time), one carrying our bed, -consisting of a buffalo-skin and a blanket, and the other the gun and knapsack with our grub. We ate no breakfast, expecting to be at the camp of our predecessors in two or three hours at the most. We had not got out of sight of our camp-fire when it commenced raining, and, by the time we arrived at the place where Troy now stands, everything, including ourselves, was completely thatched over with sleet. In this condition we trudged on, expecting on seeing each hill that we would be sure to see the camp of our friends, but we were doomed to disappointment. At length, cold, wet and fatigued we reached the Rock Prairie, and seeing the trail, struck into it; we resolved to camp, having eaten nothing all day. We tried to strike fire and found that all our fire apparatus, like ourselves, was wet ; even the powder in the horn would not ignite. In this dilemma, we concluded to make one more effort to find the camp or river. Accordingly we started on the trail, and took a kind of dog-trot, and kept it up until it got so dark that we lost the trail, and finally my man declared he could go no further. I got him to his feet, and told him we must get to the brush for shelter, or we would perish with cold or hunger. We then took the wind for our guide, and, after some time, reached the brush, where we sat down on the wet ground, and spread our buffalo-skin and blanket over us. In this way, I spent the first night I ever spent in Rock County. Our camp, if such it may be termed, was some eight or ten miles east of Janesville, and near where D. A. Richardson lived when I left the place. The next morning found us in a bad fix - cold and wet - the ground frozen hard enough to bear a horse, and snowing beautifully. After holding a council, we concluded to retrace our steps to Root River. We started, and in the afternoon reached Turtle Lake, where, after some three hours' hard work, we succeeded in getting a fire and dried ourselves, and camped for the night.

We reached Jiome without accomplishing our object, and remained till some time in December of the same year. I started again, in company with a Mr. Glen, from Racine, and a man by the name of .7. C. Knapp. This time I took a horse, and we got through without any accident worth noting, and found Samuel St. John and W. A. Holmes living in a log cabin on Rock River, one mile below what is now Janesville. The ground was covered with snow some inches deep, and we could get nothing for our horses to eat ; we therefore left them here and explored the country on foot up to Fort Atkinson and around Lake Koshkonong, and concluded to purchase the land at the outlet of the lake on the west side of the river, and marked out- claims on the east side with a view of settling there. We accordingly returned, and in a few days, I started, in company with Alfred Cary, of Racine, for Green Bay. At that time there was not ahouse between Call's Grove and Rock River, and but one between Milwaukee and Green Bay, and that was Farnsworth's Mill, on the Sheboygan River.

On the first day out from Milwaukee, we were overtaken by _a young man of the name of Roark, who informed .ii< that Dr. B. B. Cary had been shot the night previous, and wanted his brother to return. He accordingly returned, and Roark and myself went on. In four or five days, we reached our destination without any accident worth relating. We had plenty of snow to make a soft bed to sleep on, and wolves enough to howl us to sleep at all times of the night.

We found the members of the first Legislature of Wisconsin, or the last Territorial Legislature of Michigan, at Green Bay, waiting for Gov. Horner to put them in motion ; but that dignitary was among the missing, and the whole matter ended in smoke. I found on examining the books at the town office, that all the land we had selected was sold, and I had my trip for my pay. So, after looking at the town of Navarino, Fort Howard and the sights we thought worth seeing, we laid in a stock of crackers, cheese, ham and tobacco, not forgetting some of the " critter," made our adieu to Green Bay, and in due time landed safe home. Having made two trips to Rock River, and one to Green Bay for nothing, and thinking, perhaps, the third one the charm - I star ed the third time for Rock River in company with John Janes, a cousin of mine, who now lives in Bad Axe County [now Vernon], Wis., and crossed Rock lliver (somewhere near where Rochester now stands), and continued on and explored the country north of .lanesville to near the mouth of Whitewater; then turned down to St. John's and replenished our provisions; then e.'iplored the wesi side of Rook River up to the mouth of the Catfish, and up that to or near the First Lake ; we then directed our course for Camp & Collins' Diggings, on the Sugar Creek, and made Mitchell's Grove in our route. We were some days traveling and exploring, and, having run out of provisions, we concluded to repair to Camp & Collins' Diggings for supplies. Just at night, we found the section and quarter-section that we were informed that they were on; but they were not thijre.

It had become dark and very cold, and we were tired and hungry ; so, we concluded to make to some timber and build up a fire and do the best we could. After we reached the timber, and commenced dragging some limbs out of the snow, we saw a spark of fire rise and, after some circles in the air, disappear. Soon after, we saw others ascend in the same manner, and concluded it was Indians, and that we would go and camp with them rather than build a fire and lie in the snow all night, hungry and tired as we were. But judge of our surprise, on reaching the place, to find it occupied by a white man, Michael Welch, who received us with all the hospitality with which a Wisconsin miner could receive a stranger, and any attempt on my part to describe that, would be but a failure to do justice to that noble-hearted class of the citizens of Wisconsin. We were now snugly ensconced in a warm cabin, by a roaring fire, and soon had a stool placed between us, on which was a pyramid of potatoes, and a dish of pork swimming in a miniature lake of gravy, and each a tin cup of coffee. Ye upper tens ! How does your nonsense sink into utter insignificance when contrasted with the pure, genuine hospitality of the frontier adventurer. Nearly twenty years have passed since the time of which I am now speaking ; I do not know whether Mr. Welch is yet alive or not, but, whenever I think of his kindness, it makes my heart throb with grateful pleasure.

We then went over to where New Mexico was afterward laid out, explored there two or three days, and then to Hamilton's Diggings, and finally back again to Rock River. I then selected the claim that Janesville is built on, and marked it as my claim on the 15th of February, 1836, In my letter to the Janesville Gazette, I gave the time as the 1.5th of .lanuary through mistake, February is the correct time. By this time, I had become snow-blind, and had to lay by some ten days before I could see'to travel ; my friend went to work for Mr. St. John, and as soon as I could see to travel I started for home. I took the line at the south end of .Janesville, and followed clear through to Call's Grove without seeing the face of a human being, or any trace of one except the marks of the surveyors that had run the line that I was following.

Previous to leaving Rock River, 1 employed Mr. St. John to put me up a cabin, and on the 19th of May, 1836, about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, 1 threaded my way to my cabin along an Indian trail that passed up the river, through the present city of Janesville. .My family now made about the fourth family in the county. It may, and doubtless will, appear rather strange to some of the citizens of .Janesville that, nineteen years and a half ago, the whole city consisted of one family, and one log cabin eighteen feet square, with the bark on the logs, and no floor in it or shutter to the door-way. I had, at this time, not the least idea of ever building up a town; but, on moving to .Janesville, I opened a track, and all the travel followed that route to Rock River. At that time, Wisconsin City, Bockport, and I know not how many more paper towns, were in existence along Rock River.

Some time in the fall of 1836, I went to Camp & Collins' mines and purchased two wagon-loads of lead, and that completed a communication from Racine to the lead mines by my house, and there was a constant throng of travel on it, and no way to cross the river only to swim the horses alongside of a canoe, and cross wagons in the same way. The traveling community were constantly besetting me to build a ferry-boat, and I at length concluded to do so, and I built one, at no small expense. After I had got it done, I went to Belmont, while the Legislature was in- session, to get a charter, and, not dreaming of any opposition, I took no pains to get a petition largely signed; and the proprietors of Rockport, Wisconsin City and Humes' Ferry united in a remonstrance. This then began a war between the three points. I, by this time, concluded to lay out a town, and accordingly did so. The next sum. mer, two of the other places found it was " no go" with them, and they compromised as far as Janeiville was concerned, and dropped their towns, and took up a place they called St. George's Rapids, about halfway between the other towns, and made common cause against me in general and Janesville in particular. I attended tlie Legislature at Burlington, Iowa, and at Madison, for some three or four years, got all the roads, mail routes and all the legislation I asked for. But in getting the county seat located at .Janesville, the county took a pre.emption on that and swept It from under me; and, having expended all my means in trying to build up the place; and all my improvements with it, to use a California phrase, I was completely " strapped," and on the '24th of August, 18-39, I left the town to its fate. On the 15th day of May, 18:;8, my son .Jasper was born, in Janesville, the first male child born in the place.

After leaving Janesville, I had been drifting around, until 1849 found me in this Und of gold and big potatoes. The ladies of Janesville would probably think it strange to hear that, in July, 1836, my wife and four small children were the only inhabitants of J.anesville for twenty-one days at one time. Such is the fact, for I, with all the meu that were about me, went up to where .Jefferson is situated for a raft of rails, expecting to return in a few days ; but the river had got too low, and we were detained in consequence,, and were gone twenty-one days, Mrs. Janes and her children remaining alone, and the Indians were scarcely ever out of hearing.

This, dear sir, comprises, as nearly as my scanty means of collecting materials will allow, the incidents relating to the first settlement of Janesville. I had first given it the name of Black Hawk, it having been one of the old warrior's camping-grounds, and sent up a petition to the Post Office Department for a post office of that name, and recommended myself as Postmaster. Amos Kendall, at that time Postmaster General, refused to establish an office by that name, as there was one already bearing that name in what is now Iowa, but then a part of, Wisconsin Terri. tory, and g.*ve the name of Janesville to the post office. H. F. Janes.

Mr. Janes is still within hearing distance of the Pacific surf. Who knows but that he secretly prays that the great ocean may dry up and he be permitted to continue his westward tramp ? He left Janesville, as he says, in 1839, goihg to Missouri, and finally to Humboldt County, Cal., where the iron horse had not yet penetrated. It was his boast that railroads could not be built fast enough to catch him. Many years ago, he commenced his march upon the outskirts of civilization, treading closely on the heels of the revengeful savage. His western resilience is in the crags of a formidable mountain range - a congenial home for the bold and restless pioneer.

Public Schools

Janesville enjoys scholastic advantages equal to any city of proportionate size and wealth in the Northwest. The growth of her public schools has been marked by nothing, however, that is not a part of the history of similar institutions everywhere. Of course, there was a "first schoolhouse " built ; the population increased ; new and enlarged accommodations soon became a necessity ; they were also built, and in turn became too small, being replaced by still larger quarters. And so the public schools of Janesville progressed. The details we shall leave to be related by the City Superintendent of Schools, R. W. Burton, who, in November, 1877, wrote a paper on the subject, of which the following is a synopsis :

In her early settlers, Janesville was most fortunate. In their love for schools and educational advantage<, they were truly American. Scarcely had they reared their own rude dwellings ere they sought places and persons for the mental training of their children. Private houses were invaded by the pedagogue and his disciples when the luxury of a log schoolhouse could not be indulged.

The first school building erected within the city limits was a log one, and stood opposite the present home of Mrs. Judge Bailey. The second was of brick, and of b iwling-alley proportions, located on Division street, in ihe vicinity of the Harris Works. The fourth was of the same material, and was located near the railroad crossing, on Franklin street.

In 1843, a charter for the establishment of a free academy was obtained, and in 1844 a stone building of modest pretensions was erected for academic work upon the lots mw occupied by the imposing Central Schoolhouse. Under the charter, the school became a most important factor in our municipal affairs.

About 1856, the present buildings of the Second and Fifth Wards were erected, and the public schools were more perfectly graded, the old Academy becoming the central and high school of the system. With its several departments, in each of which such studies were pursued as are usually taught in our best academies and higher seminaries - with its ability to graduate pupils with a thorough English and classical education, the old Academy constituted an educational magnet of superior force, lifting to a higher plane the schools about it.

An imperative demand for additional school room secured the erection of the present High School building in 1858, at a cost of about $33,001), and in 1859, with Mr. Cass at its head, the High School was transferred from the Academy building to its present sightly quarters. City extension and increase of population soon rendered the First and Fourth Ward buildings a necessity. The former was erected in 1866, and the latter in 1873. When the lastnamed was completed, it was thought that our city had schoo.l accommodations sufficient for many years; but a favorable turn in the business affairs of the city created the necessity for additional school room. An application was made for the requisite appropriation, and to-day the neat and commodious structure in the Central District stands, the embodiment of the hearty response of the City Fathers. This building was first occupied in September, 1876. Thus, year by year, our school property has increased, until now its value is estimated to be |175,000.

Mr. Burton then proceeded to give the increase in school population in fourteen years. In 1842 (date of first census), there were 75 school children in Janesville; "in 1845, 273; 1850, 1,000 ; 1853 (date of first charter), 1,600 ; 1856, 2,560. Of this last number, 858, or 33| per cent, are reported as enrolled in the public schools, while the census of 1877 shows a school population of 3,775 children, of whom 1,751, or about 46 per cent, have attended the public schools. The professor also submitted the following interesting table :

The first scliool meeting under the charter, of which we have no reliable record, was held May 31, 1855. and composed of the following gentlemen :, Andrew Palmer, Presideut ; S. W. Smith, Secretary, and James Sutherland and Rev. G. W. Lawrence, Committee.

During the intervening period, the following gentlemen have at different times filled the office of President or Secretary of the Board of Education : H. W. Collins, Rev. H. Foote, Levi Alden, 0. J. Dearborn, B. B. Eldredge. Hiram Bowen, James Armstrong, H. A. Patterson, W. B. S.trong. E. F. Spaulding, H. N. Comstock, Chnrles R. Gibbs, F. Pendleton, A. S. Jones, S. Holdridge, .Jr., W. A. Lawrence, L. F. Patten, G. R. Curtis, Dr. J. B. Whiting, Dr. L. J. Barrows, E. C. Smith, James Shearer, Lewis Hunt and S. C. Burnham. Isa.ac Woodle, A. Graham, Henry Palmer, E. G. Fifield, M. M. Conant, Charles Skelley and J. G. Orcutthave also been members of the Board.

The records for 1861 show a remarkable struggle for educational preferment. Candidates for the Presidency were the Rev. G. W. Lawrence and H. A. Patterson. On the eiglithb.allot, the latter gentleman was declared elected. The candidates for the Secretaryship were E. F. Spaulding and .Tames Armstrong. Three adjournments and twelve ballots were had before Mr. Armstrong was made Clerk.

Mr. .James Sutherland was the first Superintendent of City Schools, under whose administration much was -done toward gradation, the adoption of a course of study and list of text books. Rev. H. Foote succeeded him as Superintendent. Afterward, the Principal of the High School performed the duties of Superintendent. Mr. Hiram H. Brown was the first to teach school within our city limits. C. B Woodruff was probably the first teacher of our graded schools. J. Russell Webb succeeded him.

Following is a list of educators who, from 1857 to the present management, have acted in the double capacity of Principal of the High School and City Superintendent : 0. F. Gorton, Prof. Cass, John James McKindley, Prof Lockwood, Miss Byrnes, Prof. Hutchins, Prof 0. R. Smith (now dead). Dr. E. A. P. Brewster, W. D. Parker, R. W. Burton. (Mr. Burton still continues in office I.

In January of 1855, Mr, James Sutherland began the publication of the Educational Journal, and, after conducting it one year, transferred it to the State Teachers' Association. It now ranks among the ablest educational organs of the Northwest,

There is a commodious school building in each of the five wards of the city, besides the Central School, in addition to the regular school, in the Fifth Ward. The High School, in the Third Ward, is divided into three departments - the High School Department, the Grammar Department and the Third Ward Department, In- the Grammar Department, there are four classes instructed in this branch of study. There are seven grammar schools in the city.

The present Board of Education is composed of the following gentlemen : Stanley B. Smith, Commissioner from the city at large ; James Shearer, Commissioner from the First Ward ; S. Clark Burnham, Second Ward ; W. D. Hastings, Third Ward ; J. W. St. John, Fourth Ward ; B. J. Daly, Fifth Ward. J. W. St. John is President of the Board, and James Shearer, Clerk.

Prof Burton's report for 1878, to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, shows that, during that year, out of 3,610 children, between the ages of four and twenty years, 1,665 were enrolled in the public schools. The number attending church and private schools is estimated at 350, thus leaving about 45 per cent of the children of school age as non-attendants. The Professor attributes the "causes operating to reduce the attendance in our public schools" to the private schools and the local manufacturing interests. The wages offered by the factories " prove strong inducements for parents to deny their children even an ordinary amount of school training."

The percentage of attendance oii the number enrolled is given at 76.9, while upon the number of members it is 94. The percentage of prompt attendance is 99.7. Thirty-five teachers are employed, fifteen of them being graduates of the High School, while most of the remaining twenty received their education in the city schools.

The course of study in the High School is as follows: First year - Algebra, word analysis, composition, physiology, higher arithmetic and Latin. Second year - Higher arithmetic, philosophy, political economy, physical geography and Latin. Third year - Geometry, civil government, state constitution, universal history, chemistry, botany and Latin. Fourth year - English literature, rhetoric, mental philosophy, geology, Latin and review of elementary branches.

Commercial Colleges And School Oe Telegraphy

The Janesville Business College was established in 1866, by Edm.und C. Atkinson and Albert L. Reed, in Bennett's Block. In 1872, Mr. Atkinson sold his interest to Frank E. Fellows. In 1876, Messrs. Fellows & Reed disposed of the school to Mr. Burkey, who afterward disposed of it to W. C. King. The latter sold a half-interest to E. Inman, which was subsequently bought by King and J. B. Silsbee. The school finally came into the possession of King and Fellows, the former disposing of his interest to Mr. Rice.

In April, 1877, the institution known as the Silsbee Commercial College was incorporated and organized under the management of J. B. Silsbee, and is now in successful operation. It is located in Smith & Jackman's Block. Directors for three years, James Sutherland, W. A. Lawrence, H. S. Hogoboom ; Directors for two years, Dr. Henry Palmer, Rev. T. P. Sawin, J. B. Silsbee; Directors for one year, J. P. Haire, A. A. Jackson, Pliny Norcross. Officers for one year - Dr. Henry Palmer, President ; W. A. Lawrence, Vice President ; J. B. Silsbee, Secretary and Treasurer.

The Western School of Telegraphy is an institution peculiar to Janesville, and, it is claimed, the only one of the kind in the United States. It was first established in Eldred's" Block, but was removed from there at the end of the first month of its existence to the Y. M. 0. A. building, where it remained two months. Thence it was taken to its present location in Smith & Jackman's Block. Richard and A. M. Valentine, two experienced telegraphers, are the proprietors and teachers. W. B. Cushman is their assistant. The average attendance of pupils is about sixty. One hundred and ten telegraph offices in Chicago are supplied with operators from this establishment. The pupil is taken with the guaranty that a situation will be provided for him at the end of his term.

Religious Institutions

Religion has progressed and prospered in Rock River Valley, keeping pace with the most rapid improvements. From the time of the earliest records there is evidence of its presence and influences. Its advance is plainly marked, requiring no deep research to trace it. An eminent divine has said that "eternity alone can reveal the spiritual results of religion." But, even to the casual observer, there can be no doubt about its temporality in Janesville. On every hand are its fruits ; in every path of life its footsteps. The towering church steeple has grown upon the spot where once the devout and devotional worshiped in the open air with nothing save the frail branches of a friendly oak to protect them from torrent and temnest. The melodious organ and cultured voice have taken the place of the untutored choir, and every phase of religious history denotes remarkable enterprise on the part of those at the head of the various churches, and liberal support from the members.

The Methodists. - The Rev. W. G. Miller, a Methodist Episcopal minister, in his " Thirty Years in the Itinerancy," gives some vivid sketches of early religious history in Wisconsin, and we quote liberally from this very excellent work. He says :

1837. Brother Halstead, then on Aztalan circuit, on coming to this place, found a small log house which enjoyed the appellation of a tavern. He accepted entertainment in common with other travelers, but, it being soon known that he was a minister, he was invited to preach. He consented, and the services were held in the bar-room. The liquors were put out of sight, and the minister made the bar his pulpit. The audience consisted of a dozen persons.

1838, in an oak grove on one of the bluffs east of the village. I am not able to find any one who can furnish me the name of the preacher, but am assured that he was a Methodist, and that he did not neglect that special feature of a Methodist service, the collection. This last part of the exercises, I am assured, made a vivid impression on the mind of the party to whom I am indebted for this item of history. Arid it came in this wise : When the hat was passed he threw in a bill - an act so generous that it could not fail to call attention to the contributor. The next day he received a call from the minister, who desired him to replace the ' wildcat ' bill by one of more respectable currency, as those kind of bills were beginning to be refused throughout the Territory.

''In 1839, Rev. James F. Flanders made an occasional visit to Janesville and preached to the people. His first sermon was delivered in the bar-room of the public house which stood on the present site of the Myers House. Subsequently, he preached in an unoccupied log house opposite where Lappin's Block now stands. The services were next held in schoolhouses, some log, and others frame, until the erection of the Court House in 1842. Thereafter the court room was occupied .and used alternately by the different religious denominations.

"The Rev. James McKean was the first minister who preached regularly in Janesville The place was taken into the Troy circuit in 1840, and Brother McKean visited it once in four weeks. This year the Rev. Julius Field held the first quarterly meeting in Janesville. In the spring of 1841, he formed a class and appointed J. P. Wheeler leader, but during the following winter the members all left the place."

The First Methodist Episcopal Church. - Janesville appears first in the minutes as the head of a charge in 1841, with Rev. Alpha Warren as Pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. Boyd Phelps, who organized a class of nine members in 184:3, with John Wynn as leader. Wynn subsequently went over to the Congregationalists. The Rev. Lyman Catlin was the first -T-esident Pastor. Then followed the Rev. T. W. Perkins, S. Adams, J. Lucock and Wesley Lattin. The latter was very popular, and, during his pastorate, the society erected a small frame church, 35x25 feet in size, on the east side of Center street, nearly opposite the present edifice. It was opened in the fall of 1848.

Mr. Lattin was followed successively by J. M. Snow, 0. F. Comfort, Daniel Stansbury, a Mr. Mason, Joshua W. Wood and Henry Requa, who afterward went to South America for his health. It was during the incumbency of these last-mentioned divines that the present place of worship, on the corner of Center and Jackson streets, was designed and built. It is of brick, 75x45 in size, and was dedicated in July, 1853, by the Rev. John Clark The Rev. Alpheus Hamilton followed Mr. Requa, and was himself succeeded by the Rev. Dr. Miller, author of " Thirty Years in the Itinerancy," and now of Milwaukee, who, during his pastorate, " preached nearly every night, and sometimes in the afternoons." Among the laymen who assisted Mr. Miller was J. L. Kimball, who, with his daughter Emily, had been for years the principal reliance in the choir. The reverend gentleman relates a pleasing incident in reference to Mr. Kimball :

" Brother K. had long been recognized as the financial man and the singer of the Church, but could never take a part in the social services with any comfort to himself In one of these meetings, I suggested that, in these matters, as in others, practice would relieve the case. He concluded to try it, and for two weeks spoke a few words, as opportunity offered. But he finally told the congregation that my recipe would not work. Others might be able to talk their way to heaven, but he was satisfied that, as for himself, he would have to pay his way if he ever got there."

Mr. Kimball was ever a generous contributor to the cause of Christianity. Succeeding Mr. Miller were the Revs. H. C. Tilton (who died in this city last winter). J. H. Jenne, R. B. Curtis, A. C. Manwell, W. H. Sampson, D. W. Compt, E. W. Kirkham, C. N. Stowers, Steven Smith, Samuel Lugg, Thomas Clithro and Henry Sewell, the present Pastor.

When Mr. Sewell took charge, he found a membership of about one hundred and fifty. It now numbers 260, including probationers. The Church is almost out of debt, and has a Sunday-school class of 200. Economy is the motto. Congregational singing has superseded an expensive choir, and the results are highly satisfactory.

The Court Street Methodist Episcopal Church. - The history of this institution is brief. Its members had their Christian fortitude tried beneath other roofs. It is simply an oifshoot of the First Church, and was organized in 1867. The place of worship, corner Main and Court streets, bears date of 1868. The First Church had a membership of about four hundred, which fully tested the seating capacity of their building. There was material for two congregations, and one-half of the flock, with the sanction, of the other half, quietly took its leave. Several of those who left the original Church have returned, and been admitted by letter. The Rev. G. M. Steele was the first Pastor of the Court Street Church. He was followed successively by 0. B. Thayer, H. C. Tilton, E. D. Huntley, li. Stone Richardson, N. Wheeler and Henry Faville, the latter being the present Pastor. The Church has a membership of 150, with a Sunday-school class of 100. It is almost free from debt. The Rev. Dr. Huntley will be remembered as having materially aided in relieving the property of most of its incumbrance.

The Oongregationalists. - The history of this denomination dates back to 1843, when a few sparsely attended meetings were held in the Court House, the schoolhouse, or at the residence of some member when the temple of Justice or seat of learning were otherwise occupied. The Rev, C. H. A. Buckley commenced stated preaching earlj^ in 1844, and on the 11th of February, 1845, assisted by the Rev. Samuel Peet, he organized the First Congregational Church of Janesville. The number of communicants entering into covenant on that occasion was fifteen, viz. : Joseph Spaulding, Erastus Dean, Benjamin Morrill, Chester Dean, Mrs. Elmira H. Dewey, Mrs. Lamira Culver, Miss Susan French, Mrs. Lydia Spaulding, Mrs. Judith Dean, Mrs. B. Morrill, Mrs. Hannah T. French, Mrs. Lydia Sears, Mrs. Eleanor Strunk, Miss Elmira A. Styles and Luke Cheesebrough. Rev. Mr. Buckley continued to supply the pulpit until July, 1846, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Hiram Foote. Subsequent successions to the charge were the Revs. William C. Scofield, M. P. Kinney, G. W. Mackie, F. B. Norton, Lyman Whiting, George Williams and T. P. Sawin, Jr., the present incumbent. In 1856, there were one hundred and ninety members in the congregation.

In 1849, a brick church was erected, and, in the summer of 1851, an addition was made to its length, the cost of the building, exclusive of the lot, being $4,500. In 1865-66, this structure was torn away and a magnificent temple erected on the site, at a cost of $57,000, including an organ worth $6,500. The congregation grew rapidly, and was in a prosperous condition until May, 1^75, when the church took fire and was wholly consumed. The great organ was entirely destroyed. Insurance to the amount of $10,000 was collected on the smoldering ruins, and a movement at once set on foot by the members for rebuilding their beloved house of worship. The result of their elTorts is the tallest church spire on the West Side, and, perhaps, the most commodious church in Rock County. The cost of reconstruction was $25,000. Mr. Sawin places his congregation at 500. The aggregate of the Sabbath school is 250 members. The institution is entirely out of debt. The officers of the Church are : Rev. T. P. Sawin, Pastor; Senior Deacons, Josiah Wright, James Sutherland, .J. A. Cunningham, T. L. Hollister, J. V. Hugunin ; Junior Deacons, W. G. Wheelock, A. A. .Jackson. J. C.. Echlin, Lewis Jerome ; Trustees of the Society - J. B. Cassoday, President ; J. H. Wingate, Secretary: J. W. Nash, Treasurer; James Dennison, J. C. Echlin, J. A. Blount. Two each, Senior and Junior Deacons, and two Trustees, are elected annually. The membership of the church at present is something over 300.

The Catholics. - Among the first settlers in Janesville was a fair proportion of the disciples of the Roman Catholic faith, and, as early as 1846, Catholic missionaries prosecuted their labors here, braving the dangers of frontier life and spreading the Gospel. Father Morrisy, one of three missionaries then in Wisconsin Territory, with headquarters in Milwaukee, was the first Catholic priest to visit Janesville. He came on horseback, carrying the conventional saddle-bags, and made a circuit of this and other towns along Rock River. He held services and performed marriage ceremonies and baptisms at the private residence of James Torny, the genial upholsterer now located on River street. In 1847, the Rev. Patrick Kernan succeeded Father Morrisy, calling at Janesville once a month. He continued his visits for a year, and, during the early part of his term, assembled a small flock of the faithful in the old brick schoolhouse nO* far south of the site of St. Patrick's Church, on Center street. A few months later, a small brick buildinw was constructed on the above site for the accommodation of his congregation, which, be it said to the credit. of the reverend gentleman, before the year was out, grew so large that many were compelled to stand outside the church during services for lack of room within. The Rev. Michael McFaul was the next priest who came to minister to the spiritual wants of the Janesville Catholics. He held forth in the little brick church, but soon enlarged it. Rev. ^ Michael Smith followed McFaul, but, at the end of one year, Father Kernan returned, remaining until some time in 1864. when the Rev. John Conroy superseded him in the charge.

Father Conroy at once saw the necessity for increased accommodations, and soon commenced agitating the subject of constructing the edifice which now adorns Cherry street. A contract was made with Peters & Patterson for $12,000, and no time was lost in beginning the work. Services continued to be held in a hired hall, while the walls of the new structure were going up. The old place answered the purpose of a scaffolding for the workmen. The new church was completed and finished by 1864. Father Conroy resigned the flock to the Rev. James M. Doyle, who has since presided over their spiritual destinies. Father Doyle, upon taking charge, paid off a debt of $10,000 left by Father Conroy, and proceeded to fully tarry out the original contract, finishing the church according to its terms, and some additions made by him cost $5,000. Laborers and mechanics were thereafter employed by the day. Father Doyle acting as the nominal superintendent of construction. The original debt of the church was about $20,000, one-half of which has been liquidated. Dr. Boggs holds a mortgage on the institution for $10,000. This church will seat about one thousand persons. It has a pipe organ which cost $1,200.

St. Mary's Church. - In the spring of 1876, several members of St. Patrick's Church left the fold and took measures for the organization of a new congregation. A lot was purchased on North First street, and a contract made with Shopbell & Norris for the erection of a building, at a cost of $2,400. The result is St. Mary's Church, Rev. John Munich, a German, Pastor, with a congregation of one thousand. An addition was recently made and a parsonage built at an aggregate cost of $2,300. Patrick Connors holds a mortgage on the property for $2,000, at 10 per cent interest, which is donated to the Church as fast as it falls due. In their application to Archbishop Henni, of Milwaukee, for authority to establish a church, the petitioners set forth that the increase in the number of Catholics in Janesville and the lack of accommodation in St. Patrick's Church, together with certain disagreements with its Pastor, justify their request. Among the signeis were Thomas Leech, William A. Norton, Patrick Connors, Patrick Collins, and many others.

The Unitarians. - Universalism made its appearance in Janesville as early as 1842, at which time clergymen of that denomination paid the people occasional visits. Among them were the Rev. S. Barnes, Rev. G. W. Lawrence, Rev. C. F. Le Fevre and Rev. Frank Whitaker. The latter preached alternately in Janesville and Beloit. In 1850, the " First Universalist Society " was organized, with Rev. J. Baker as Pastor. He continued his labors about two years, and was succeeded by the Rev. C. F. Dodge, of Palmyra, who filled the pulpit for one year. After this period there seems to have been a sort of suspension of Universalism in Janesville. Occasional meetings were held, however, until January, 1864, when the Rev. F. M. Holland, a Unitarian, came upon the scene, and on the 16th day of the following month a meeting was held at Lappin's Hall, which was attended by individuals of various denominations. The Unitarians seem to have predominated, however, and the Universalists present permitted themselves to be swallowed without a struggle. " The First Independent Society of Liberal Christians of Janesville" is the corporate title of the organization formed at that meeting. The Trustees elected on the occasion are as follows : Orrin Guernsey, Samuel G. Bailey, Levi Alden, James M. Burgess, George W. Bemis and Jonathan Church. During Mr. Holland's pastorate, services were held in Hope Chapel, now the German Lutheran Church, on West Milwaukee street. The congregation, composed for the most part of the liberal Christian element of Janesville, soon became quite numerous, and more commodious quarters being ai> evident necessity, measures were taken for the erection of a church building, resulting in the construction of All Souls' Church, on West Court street, at a cost of about $10,000, including various improvements since made. The church was dedicated in 1866, by the Rev. Robert CoUyer, during the pastorate of the Rev. Silas Farrington, who succeeded the Rev. Mr. Holland. Mr. Farrington is now in Manchester, England. He was followed in the charge by the Rev. Charles F. Balch, Rev. J. Fisher and Rev. Jenk. LI. Jones, the latter being the present incumbent. Mr. Jones has been in charge since 1871. He has a congregation of about one hundred and fifty, and a prosperous Sunday school. The present Board of Trustees consists of F. C. Cook, I. C. Brownell, Clarence W. Baker, Charles Norris, C. W. Kibbee and A. W. Baldwin.

The Baptists. - Occasional meetings of the followers of St. John were held in Janesville as early as 1842, but it was not until October, 1844, that the First Baptist Church of Janesville was organized. Rev. Jeremiah Murphy preached to the congregation, which consisted of thirteen persons, until some time in 1846. The Rev. J. D. Eldredge also occupied the pulpit on stated periods. During the latter part of 1847, the Rev. .Otis Hacket was called to the pastorate, and he was followed successively by the Revs. 0. J. Dearborn, William H. Douglass, Galusha Anderson (now President of the Northwestern University of Chicago), E. J. Goodspeed, M. Gr. , Hodge, F. W. Bakeman, J. P. Bates, W. S. Roberts and F. L. Chapell (the present incumbent). During the first few years of the society's existence, meetings were held in the Court House, but in 1851, a church was erected on the corner of Cherry and Pleasant streets, now occupied by Tallman's Laboratory works, costing, for the building alone, $4,728. In 1867, the society's present house of worship, on the West Side, was erected, at a cost, including an organ, of f38,000. The present membership is given at 325, with a Sabbathschool class of 250. Stanley J. Smith, Charles B. Conrad, W. Kelley, R. Wiggih, C. Sexton and A. J. Leland compose the present Board of Trustees.

The Presbyterians. - In March, 1855, the Rev. Moses W. Staples visited Janesville for the purpose of organizing a congregation. His efforts were attended with some success, and, on May 5, of the same year, the First Presbyterian Church of tlie city of Janesville was organized, with the following members : Warren Norton, J. D. Rexford, Dr. J. L. Barrows, Austin E. Burpee, Joseph A. Graham, Samuel Lightbody, Mrs. Mary Miller, Mrs. Lydia B. Norton, Mrs. Cynthia M. Rexford, Mrs. Caroline J. Barrows, Mrs. Eliza Burpee and Mrs. Elizabeth Graham. Services were held in the old Stone Academy building until the latter part of 1855, when a new house of worship was dedicated, and thereafter occupied by the society. The cost of the building was about $1,500, but it has been considerably enlarged on two occasions since. The Pastors who have had charge are the Rev. Moses W. Staples, Rev. Oliver Bunson, Rev. George C. Hechman, Rev. Charles L. Thompson, Rev. D. G. Bradford, Rev. T. C. Kirkwood and Rev. J. W. Sanderson, the present incumbent. The present Board of Trustees is composed of the following gentlemen : Edward Ruger, Robert Hodge, Silas Hayner, James Shearer, L. J. Barrows and F. S. Lawrence.

The Episcopalians. - In August, 1844, the Rev. Thomas J. Ruger came to Janesville as a missionary, sent out by the Domestic Board of Missions, from the diocese of New York. On the 18th day of the following month, a meeting, composed of those who believed in " the succession of bishops," was held for the purpose of organizing an Episcopal Church. After some discussion of the subject, the following Wardens and Vestrymen were elected : Wardens, William Lupton and J. Bodwell Doe ; Vestrymen - William B. Sheldon, A. Hyatt Smith, John J. R. Pease, Guy Stoughton, Joseph Croft, A. S. Wood, A. C. Bailey and Isaac Woodle. From the time of Mr. Ruger's arrival to January, 1816, services were conducted in a small brick schoolhouse, on the southeast corner of Milwaukee and Bluff streets. At the end of two years, a parish was fully organized, and Mr. Ruger became Rector, remaining as such until 1855. Durinc 1845, the Vestry were instructed to select a lot on which to erect a church edifice. William B. Sheldon offered as a gift a lot on the east side of the river, while A. Hyatt Smith manifested his generosity by proffering a site on the west side. The latter was accepted, and subscription papers were at once circulated ; but the necessary amount to erect a building could not be obtained, and the project was abandoned for the time being. Accessions to the faith were frequent and numerous, however, and it was only a matter of time when the parish would be able to build a church. At a Vestry meeting held July 5, 1847, it was voted that a brick church, 45x72 feet, should be constructed without further delay. John Mitchell, Charles de Roe and J. B. Doe were appointed on the Building Committee, and at a social gathering held at the residence of John Kimball, a few evenings later, at which A. Hyatt Smith, Andrew Palmer and J. B. Doe, were present, preliminary steps toward raising the necessary funds were taken, which proved more successful than previous efforts in that direction. Lot 83 in Smith & Bailey's Addition was donated by A. Hyatt Smith, and the work of constructing Trinity Church begun. The edifice was consecrated in June, 1848, and still stands an ornament to the West Side, and a monument to pioneer Christian enterprise. From -January, 1846, until the date of consecration, services were held in a stone building known as the Janesville Academy, on Lot 135, in Smith, Bailey & Stone's Addition. The original cost of Trinity Church was $.3,000, but many improvements have since been made, and a parsonage built, and the property is now valued at about $1.5,000. The Rectors called to the parish are as follows : Rev. Thomas Ruger, Rev. Samuel S. Ethridge, who recently died in San Jose, Cal. ; Rev. J. W. Coe, Rev. Hiram Beers, now in San Francisco ; Rev. Fayette Durlin, of Ripon ; Rev. George Wallace, Waterloo, N. Y. ; Rev. T. W. McLean, the present Rector, who has been in charge since July 17, 1878. There are 150 communicants, while the congregation is estimated at about four hundred and fifty. The Sunday-school class numbers ninety pupils. The present Vestry is as follows : J. B. Doe and S. A. Hudson, Wardens ; Vestrymen - Hiram Merrill, J. C. Metcalf, Hiram Bump, John C. Fox, E. Gr. Harlow, Horace McElroy, Edwin T. Foote and 0. B. Ford. During the incumbency of the Rev. Mr. Durlin, the parish entered upon the experiment of a parish school, the Rector taking charge of it, being assisted by the Rev. William E. Wright. A lot was purchased, and a school building erected thereon. The experiment was in a fair way of being a lasting success, but after the resignation of Mr. Durlin the parishioners lost interest in it, and the school was discontinued.