Jefferson Town (part 2 of 2)

The Independent is of recent origin, having been established by Odell & Hillyer, on the 23d of July, 1879. The paper is a four-column quarto ; its object, or rather the object of its publishers, being to present the news of the day in a condensed form, without any attempt to graduate the quality of the paper by the space filled. The projector of this new journalistic enterprise claims, in the short time during wliich the paper has been in existence, he has received three hundred subscribers and is sanguine of the success of his venture. During August, 1879, Mr. Hillyer withdrew, since when, J. W. Odell has been sole proprietor. Politically, the Independent, as its name indicates, declines any preference, reserving to itself the privilege of advocating the claims of men and principles whom it is assured are beyond reproach. The amount invested is stated at $350.

The Schools

The cause of education early found an abiding-place in Jeiferson, and nurtured and sustained by the liberal patronage of the inhabitants, has grown into features of daily life in this thriving city, the influence of which is not more pronounced than universal.

The first school building, of which there is any existing report, was built in 1839 on a point on the West Side, a few rods west of the present Maydole homestead. It was constructed of logs, supplied by the forests as they then existed, they being the only building material attainable by the hardy pioneers in days when money was scarce and brick and mortar were factors of present improvements, purchasable only in the then growing cities. Dr. Bicknell was the first to undertake the education of the ambitious youth in those times ; and, though but comparatively a brief period of time has since elapsed, few of the fathers and mothers of the pupils who attended yet survive to recall the days when they sat around the household hearth, waiting the return of their boys and girls from the old log schoolhouse with their elementary speller and reader under their arms. The pupils were composed of the children of early settlers, who have since separated, have gone the way of all flesh or are to-day the pioneers who contributed to the building-up of new homes in sections still further west.

The school, according to such information as can be obtained in that connection, prospered for the time, and laid the foundation for futures that have since been realized unto the scholars. But it is difficult to trace the lives of those who taught, or of those wiio listened. They ran the race that was put before them with diligence and profit, and those who yet survive rise up to bless the days when they attended, and were benefited by the impressions they obtained in the old log school.

The next school taught in Jefferson was on the east side of the river, where a modest frame schoolhouse was put up on the lot of land at present occupied by the imposing residence of Charles Stoppenbach. This was early in the forties, when schoolhouses and scholars were exceptions among the settlers who raised their fiimilies in the wilderness. The attendance was small, of course, but, as the fame of the institution came to be bruited abroad, the attendance increased proportionately. During the session of 1848, Clark Walterbury taught the young idea, and curbed the mercurial tendencies of his pupils by wliolesome admonitions and convincing discipline. Among the latter were William H. Hake, Elbert, Egbert, Emma and Elmira Masters, Harriet and Moscow Burton, Mattie and William Sawyer, Aldon, Caroline and Anne Sanborn, Rockwell, Candice, Charles, Milton, Zebulon, Sarah and M. Whipple, Marshal. Edward, Calvin, Grustavus, Harriet and Gloriana Potter, George, Cynthia, Lizette, Lucretia and Anna Crist, Emma and Henry Howe, Lisetta Hannon, and others.

In 1851, as the population increased and the number of pupils seeking to avail themselves of the advantages to be derived from a regular attendance became greater, the school district on the East Side was divided, and a brick school building was erected near the corner of Condire and Main streets. About the same year, a frame schoolhouse was built on the West Side, which was designed to furnish educational facilities to the residents of School District No. 12.

These were continued until 1870, when it again became necessary to enlarge the buildings, when a new brick edifice was erected on Church street, between Sanborn and Center, divided into tiiree departments - elementary, intermediate and high, at a cost, including the price paid for the lot, of $10,000.

District No. 12, emulating the example thus set, built a new sciioolhouse, also, on the West Side, costing, with the property on which it is situated, $7,000.

These were the facilities ofiered, until, in 1879, it became evident that more school room was indispensable for the benefit of the cause of education, and the city, being thereto instructed by a special act of the Legislature, consolidated the city into one district, and purchased the building formerly occupied by the Jefferson Liberal Institute, to be used for the occupation and instruction of the higher grades of pupils.

At present, the schools are under the supervision of a Board of Education, consisting of one member from each ward, appointed by the Common Council, and, as constituted now, consists of W. H. Harke, C. Grimm and Adam Kispert.

The number of pupils enrolled in the city is 249, exclusive of those in attendance upon the schools supported by denominational subscription. The curriculum consists of the regular course of mathematics, physiology, physical geography, history, civil government, etc., and the students are examined at the close of each month and term, the same being conducted in writing. The teaciiers employed for the schools are: One Principal in each, at an annual salary of $700; one teacher in each of the intermediate and one each in the primary departments, at a monthly salary of §30.

The following is the list of teachers employed in the East Side School since 1870: Priacipals - G. A. Williams, from 1870 to 1874 ; B. F. Anderson, to 1876 ; Amos Squier, present incumbent ; Intermediate - Mary Thompson, from 1870 to 1873 ; Miss Kline, during 1874 ; Flora E. Reed, to 1878: E. E. Henry, during 1878. and Charles Fredel, during 1879; Primary - Sarah Brayton, from 1870 to 1874 ; E. E. Henry, 1874 to 1878 ; Lelia Clothier, present employed. West Side: Principals - George Brown, Mr. Hawes, Mr. McConnell. S. S. Cornee, W. F. Bundy, E. Ewing and W. C. Gordon ; Primary, May Perkins, Mary Judd and Ellen Spangler.

The Institute

During the winter of 1865, a meeting of the citizens of Jefferson was held for the purpose of devising means for the promotion of a more perfect system of education than was at that time available. It was largely attended by citizens and friends of the cause, including the Rev. B. F. Rogers, Dr. W. W. Reed, Nelson Bruett, Solon Brown, George W. Bird. C. A. Holmes and G. T. Thorn, but the meeting adjourned without reaching any satisfactory conclusion in behalf of the object for which it had been convened. At a second meeting, held on the 16th of February, 1866, a resolution was adopted favoring the establishment of an institute of learning. Hons. W. W. Reed, G. T. Thorn and Capt. C. A. Holmes, were appointed a committee to draft a charter and procure its granting by the Legislature then in session. The charter of the " Jefferson Liberal Institute," was thus drawn, passed by the Legislature and approved by the Governor April 12, 1866. and within twelve days thereafter scliool was opened with the Rev. B. F. Rogers as Principal, assisted by Mrs. F. B. Brewer. The organization of the corporation under its charter followed by the election of the Hon. G. T. Thorn, President ; Rev. B. Rogers, Secretary, and E. McMahon, Treasurer, with E. D. Masters, Alonzo Wing,, J. W. Ostrander,

At the annual State Convention of the Universalists of Wisconsin, held in Columbus in .June, 18l36, it was formally decided by that body to adopt the "Jefferson Liberal Institute" as a denominational school, and erect suitable buildings, provided the sum of $12,000 for tliat purpose should be subscribed by the citizens of Jefferson. Subscription-books were accordingly circulated, and during the year 1867, the requisite amount having been obtained, plans were procured, ground purchased and preparations for the erection of the building on its present site at the intersection of Milwaukee and Second streets were completed under tlie direction of Capt. Nelson Bruett, Chairman of the Committee on Building.

During the winter, the school was conducted in the Watt Building and Universalist Church, with upward of 100 pupils, and the Rev. A. Vedder was engaged to travel and secure subscriptions.

On the 6th of May, 1868, the corner-stone of the Institute was laid with impressive ceremonies, Col. Thomas McMahon officiating as Marshal, and the Hon. G. T. Thorn, Orator of the day.

Meanwhile the direction of the educational departments was delegated to Prof. Elmore Chase and wife, assisted by an able corps of teachers whose administration was attended by most gratifying results.

In course of time, the expenses incurred in the purchase of ground and the erection of the building, had reached a sum approximating $30,000, a part of which had been obtained by loans, the interest on which, together with the heavy cost of carrying on the sciiool, seriously impaired its usefulness.

To pay this indebtedness, the Rev. James Eastand, of Vermont, was, in the spring of 1872. employed as financial agent of the Institute, and, in the spring of that year, commenced a vigorous and successful canvass of the State. During that year and 1873, the Institute liabilities were all discharged, and the school, which, during the pending embarrassments, had been suspended, was re-opened, on September 10, of the latter year, again under the .administration of Prof. Chase, and with a large attendance of students from all parts of the State.

To aid in support of the undertaking, subscriptions to the amount of $1,500 per annum, for the period of five years, had been obtained from those friendly to its objects, but the financial disturbance of 1873, and the business depression that followed, so far interfered with the collection of this subscription that the school soon became embarrassed again, which embarrassment culminated in the year 1876, in the forced sale of the property, which passed into private hands, and was again discontinued. It so continued until the spring of 1879, when the premises were purchased by the city of Jefferson for school purposes, to which it will be appropriated whenever the necessities of the case reiiuire. Prior to its purchase by the city, a portion of the building was occupied by Edwin Marsh for school purposes, and he will doubtless remain in such occupation until the overcrowding of the city schoolhouse capacities necessitates the city's taking possession of the Institute.

The Post Office

Enoch G. Darling was the first Postmaster in Jefferson. The post office was established early in the forties, and the headquarters of the Postmaster was at the Jefferson House, the property of A. T. Holmes. Mr. Darling carried the mail in his hat during the earlier part of his official career. He was succeeded by Mr. Holmes, who removed the " post office " to a small house which stood on the present site of Brandon's store. A. T. Weymouth was the next individual honored with appointment to this important Federal office. He kept it in the store of James Barr, on ground now occupied by Jacob Breunig's saloon, adjoining the Sawyer House. Mr. Weymouth was succeeded by George Trucks, who kept the office in what is now a part of Schweinler's livery stable ; then at the premises now occupied by the office of the American Express Company, and later, on the opposite side of the street. The removal of the office while Mr. Trucks had it, became so frequent that it was quite a piece of pleasantry foi waggish citizens to refer to the matter as a pardonable eccentricity of the Postmaster, '' th( post office being on Trucks any way." James Berger was the successor of Mr. Trucks, wh( was wheeled out of office in accordance with an edict from President Buchanan. Winslow Blake succeeded' Mr. Berger, and held the office till 1869, when Charles A. Holmes wai appointed by President Grant. Mr. Blake removed the office to a small building which stooc where Bullwinkle's store now stands, and, toward the latter part of his term, relocated where i is at the present time. In 1871, W. P. Forsyth received the appointment, and is the presen incumbent, having been re-appointed to the position by President Hayes.

During the year 1878, the total receipts of the office for stamps, rent of boxes, etc. amounted to ^2,458 ; 2,220 money orders, aggregating $30,114.37, were paid out for the sami period, and 1,.330, amounting to $14,037.G8, issued.