Madison City (part 6 of 20)

"Madison, the Capitol of Wisconsin, is exhibiting signs of business and prosperity really surprising. During a stay of two days at the Madison Hotel, last week, we found an average of one hundred persons at the table at every meal. It is the most lovely location imaginable , and nothing can prevent its becom¬ ing at an early day, a city in population and business, as well as in name. Some idea may be formed of the progressive strides of the town and adjacent country, from the fact that in 1842, the whole county contained but about seven hundred inhabi¬ tants, which it is expected the census of the present month will make ten thousand."

"We take leave to add, that besides having three well conconducted newspapers, the town has many valuable stores. The library of the Territory is there and is excellent - and the Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians and Catholics all have regular worship in that town. Reposing, as it does between two as lovely lakes as are to be seen anywhere, Madison is one of the most enchanting spots in the Republic. As the poet has it :

A plan for the University buildings, drafted by J. F. Hoyne, was submitted to the Board of Regents, and was accepted. A central edifice and four dormitories were embraced within the scope of this plan. The central building was to be 150 by 60 feet on the ground, to contain thirteen public rooms, and two dwellings for officers. Of the dormitories, two were to be on each side of an avenue two hundred and forty feet broad, leading from the front of the main structure in the direction of the Capitol. Each dormitory was to he 110 by 40 feet on the ground, four stories high, and to contain thirty-two studies, each fourteen by fifteen feet, and each study to have attached two bedrooms and a wood-room. It was estimated that these buildings, together with sundry improvements to the grounds would cost about $90,000. The actual cost of the two dormi¬ tories and the University Hall is shown by the records to have been $101,631.57. The plan was so far improved that the erection of one dormitory in accordance with it was authorized, and proposals were advertised for its construction, to he com¬ pleted by January 1, 1851.

Thirteen bids were received by the committee, the most fa¬ vorable of which was found to he that presented by Varhey & Parker, who proposed to complete the building of stone, according to the specifications, at the aggregate cost of $17,800.

The lower story of the Madison Academy was occupied by the preparatory department of the University from February to August, 1850, and here the first collegiate class completed their preparation. In the fall of that year, the first dormitory building was completed, and the third session of the prepara¬ tory school was held here. The first class then entered upon the college curriculum, and Chancellor Lathrop began the dis¬ charge of his duties as instructor.

In July of the same year, the Board of Regents directed that a portion of the Vahderpoel purchase, not needed for a site, should he laid out in village lots, and put in the market. A sufficient amount was realized to replace the original cost of the tract, and yield a profit of $7,682.70 besides. Hon. Hehry Dodge, United States Senator from Wisconsin, made a valua¬ ble donation to the library, and Chancellor Lathrop a condi¬ tional loan of his private library.

The Wisconsin Express , of February 26, 1850, in speaking of the prosperity of the village and its future prospects, says: 44 At no former period of time has our beautiful town presented so strong evidences of prosperity as at present."

The sale of school and university lands in Dane county took place ron the 11th of November; 5,320 acres were sold, and brought $29,280.03. These lands comprised many valuable pieces of property, and were mainly purchased by those pro¬ posing to make them their homes, and brought good prices.

The first number of the Wisconsin Statesman appeared Au¬ gust 1, 1850. W. W. Wyman & Sons (W. H. and A. U. Wy¬ man) publishers. It was an eight column weekly, well printed, Whig in politics. It belonged to what was known as the Sil¬ ver Gray branch of that party. For a time Wm. Welch was associated in the editorial management.

44 To those who have hitherto been skeptical in regard to the expediency of improving the water power of Lake Mendota," says the Express , 44 we would recommend a visit to that improve¬ ment, and all doubts in reference to the feasibility of the work will be removed. We visited the works of Farwell & Co., and were surprised to find so much work had been accom¬ plished. We found, in successful operation, a saw mill turning out lumber at a rapid rate ; a grist mill is also about ready to commence operations, of sufficient dimensions to supply the wants of the surrounding country until another mill can he constructed; a turning lathe is also making bedposts, etc. A brewery has also been put in operation. The power is ample to propel eight run of stone, besides such other machinery as may be desired."

L. J. Farwell commenced building his large grist and flour mill, May 1, 1850. It was finished the following autumn, and contained eight run of stone. He also opened Williamson street and the Fort Winnebago and Milwaukee road across the Yahara or Catfish this season. The valuable improvements made by this enterprising citizen did much to call attention to the desirability of Madison as a place of business and of resi¬ dence. Mr. Farwell's large pecuniary means at that time were devoted to the improvement of his real property at this place. He also advertised largely, and spent large sums in dis¬ seminating information of this section, which, previous to his coming, was almost an unknown country.

A meeting of the legal voters of School District No. 1, town of Madison, was held on the 20th of March, 1850. D. H. Wright, then Town Superintendent of Schools, called the meeting to order, and the following district officers were elected: Wm. C. Wells, Director; Benjamin Holt, Treasurer; and Simeon- Mills, Clerk. The census taken April 1, of the same year, shows the number of children residing in the dis¬ trict over four and under twenty years, to be 317 ; whole num¬ ber attending school, 153. May 11, of this year, James L. Enos was engaged to teach the District School three months, at $30 a month, at the expiration of which term he was reen¬ gaged, and continued for two years. It seems that efforts were here made by Mr. Enos to inaugurate the Graded School sys¬ tem. The school was divided into two departments, Mrs. Church having charge of the primary.

The Wisconsin Argus, of November 19, 1850, says: "As nearly as we have been able to estimate, over 100 (W. N. Sey¬ mour says 117) new buildings have been erected this season, and numbers contemplated could not be commenced for want of material."

The Wisconsin Statesman of September 19, 1850, says of the mill: " Far well's mills are now nearly completed; the building is fifty feet square on the ground, five stories high, and presents to the eye the appearance of beauty, durability and strength. The first tree was cut from the stump about the middle of May last, and by October 15th the building is expected to be complete. The mill is estimated to flour 500,000 bushels of wheat per year. Geo. Yeoman was the master framer of the building, J. L. Roundy architect, W. A. Wheeler has charge of the mill-wright department."

September 1st, S. Mills, Esq., Clerk of School District No. 1, comprising the village, made a report, showing that the whole number of persons of school age was 503; that a school had been taught by James L. Enos for three months, since the formation of the district, as made in March, at $30 per month.

The corporation officers elected in the spring of 1851 were: Simeon Mills, President; J. R. Brigham, Clerk; B. Holt, H. A. Tenney, W. Welch, D. H. Wright, L. J. Farwell and A. A. Bird, Trustees; Jas. Richardson, Assessor; Darwin Clark, Treasurer; A. Bishop, Marshal. The annual receipts into the treasury of the village for 1851, were $994.77, and dis¬ bursements $908.52. The assessed valuation of real property, $122,780; personal property, $26,050; total $148,830.

The most notable improvements during the year 1851 were the erection of the two fine stone dwellings of Hon. Levi B. Vilas and Jere. T. Marston, on opposite corners of Henry and Langdon streets. That of Judge Vilas was at that time regarded as the most elegant private residence in the state. It is 48 feet front on Henry street, extending 100 feet on Lang¬ don street, and cost about $15,000.

In the spring of 1851, Messrs. Atwood & Buck, then pub¬ lishers of the Madison Express , commenced the erection of a double house, or two houses under the same roof, on Wis¬ consin Avenue, block 85. A solid center wall divides thes-e houses, and there are no connecting doors leading from one to the other. The building is of red brick, manufactured in the city by Peter H. Vast Bergen, Esq. The main part is two stories high, with a roomy attic. There is a wing on each side of the main building, one story with high attic rooms. Each house contains, on the first floor, a hall, parlor, sitting room, dining room and kitchen, with various pantries, closets, etc. The second floor contains five good sleeping rooms, with closets for each, and on the third floor there are three sleeping rooms with closets for each. The brick mason work was done by the day, under direction of Mr. A. Viall, still a resident of Madison. The carpenter work was done under contract by Messrs. John D. Welch and John 0. Hogg. Mr. Welch died some two years ago, and about a dozen years ago, Mr. Hogg removed to Missouri. The plastering was done under the direction of Mr. Geo. M. Oakley, now a resident of Chicago; and the painting by Messrs. Michael and Samuel Francomb, both deceased. The owners removed into their respective houses in December, 1851. Mr. Royal Buck occu¬ pied his house less than one year, when, on the death of Mrs. Buck, he removed to Fond du Lac. He now resides in Nebraska. In 1853, David Atwood purchased Mr. Buck's house, and has owned them both since that time, and has resided in the one he moved into in 1851. The building was substantially constructed, and is now (1874) a very creditable block, affording good room for two families.

The annual election of town officers this spring (April 1), 1851, resulted in the election of L. J. Fakwell, J. P. Mann and R. T. Davis, Supervisors; J. T. Wilson, Assessor; J. J. Starks, Clerk; N. S. Emmons, Treasurer; D. Noble Johnson, Superintendent of Schools; W. N. Seymour and G. C. Albee, Justices of the Peace. The receipts of the town to March 26th were $3,268.06, and expenditures $2,579.47.

The Madison Mutual Insurance Company was incorporated by act of the legislature, approved March IT, 1851. The fol¬ lowing were the first Board of Directors: L. J. Farwell, Simeon Mills, John Catlin, N. B. Eddy, A. J. Ward, W. N. Seymour, N. W. Dean, E. B. Dean, Jr., Wm. Welch, Wm. C. Wells, David Atwood, F. G. Tibbits and B. F. Hopkins. Officers: Simeon Mills, President; N. B. Eddy, Vice President; B. F. Hopkins,* Secretary; L. J. Farwell, Treasurer.

*Hon. Benjamin F. Hopkins was born at Hebron, Washington county, New York, April 22, 1829. His early life was spent upon a farm, and he was for a time clerk in a country store. While yet a youth, the telegraph was brought into use, and after a short experience he became an accomplished operator. In October, 1849, he came to Wisconsin and stopped first at Fond du Lac for a short time, and in November, he removed to Madison and had charge of the telegraph office. In 1851, he procured the passage of a law incorporating the Madison Mutual Insurance Company, which company was duly organized in April and Mr. Hopkins was elected Sec¬ retary. He served in this capacity five years and was a director to the day of his decease. In 1855, mainly through his influence, the Madison Gas Light and Coke Company was incorporated, and organized in the spring of 1856, with Mr. Hopkins as Secretary. This company was subsequently leased to him for five years and became a success, and he became the owner of a majority of the stock which proved very valuable. He took an active and prominent part in the establishment of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home, and was always a leading member of the Board of Trustees. On Governor Bashford's taking the executive chair, he appointed Mr. Hop¬ kins his Private Secretary, which position he held in 1856 and 1857. I*1 the fall of 1861, he was elected to the State Senate and served two years, and in 1865 he was elected Member of the Assembly. He was an unsuc¬ cessful candidate of the convention that met to nominate a congressman in 1862 and 1864. In the convention of 1866, he received a nomination on the 136th ballot and was duly elected. In 1868, he was renominated.

Mr. Hopkins had just completed his first term in congress when disease took a severe hold upon him. He sufficiently recovered to take a trip over the Pacific Road to San Francisco, but in the fall of 1869, he was again taken sick and lingered until the morning of the first day of Jan¬ uary, 1870, when he died, in the 41st year of his age.

Mr. Hopkins was married first to Miss Ethelinda Lewis, May 25, 1853, who died about two years thereafter. He married second, Mrs. Mary E. Willicutt, September 14, 1857, w^° survives him, and has since been mar¬ ried to Hon Arthur McArthur, Judge of the United States District Cour at Washington, District of Columbia.

The usual celebration on the 4th of July this year (1851) was held, the following persons being the officers: J. C. Fairchild, President; A. Botkin, Vice President; Hon. Jas. Arm¬ strong, Orator; A. A. Bird, Marshal; Beriah Brown, Reader; and Rev. W. Lattin, Chaplain. The celebration was brought to a conclusion by a sad accident which occurred to Mr. DeLancy Thayer, a journeyman printer in this place. While tiring the cannon, the gun made a premature discharge, tear¬ ing off all his clothes, blowing both of his arms literally to pieces, ruining one eye, tearing and mutilating his face and head in the most shocking manner, and otherwise injuring his body, although not seriously. He was taken to the residence of his father-in-law, Mr. Daniel Mallo, when his arms were amputated near the shoulder by Dr. A. J. Ward, and his wounds dressed.

The Madison Sacred Music Society was organized Sept. 11, 1851, by the election of the following officers: John Y. Smith, President; David Holt, Jr., Vice President; Daniel S. Durrie, Secretary and Treasurer; Caleb Jewett and A. S. Wood, Yocal Conductors; WilletS. Main, Eri S. Oakley and Leon¬ ard S. Hill, Board of Managers. This Society gave a concert at the Assembly Hall January 28, 1852, and one at the Court House May 26, 1852. The exercises were referred to in the vil¬ lage papers as highly commendable. The Society, however, had but a brief existence.

The following account of the organization of the Presbyte¬ rian church, is taken from the records of that church. At a meeting of the Presbytery of Dane, held October 3, 1851, du¬ ring the sessions of the Synod of Wisconsin at its first meet¬ ing in Fort Winnebago, a petition from several ehurch mem¬ bers resident in and near Madison, Wis., and formerly con¬ nected with the Presbyterian, Reformed Dutch, and Associate Reformed churches, asking to be organized into a Presbyterian church, and received into the Presbytery, was presented by Rev- H. B. Gardiner to the Presbytery of Dane, whereupon the

Presbytery appointed a committee consisting of the Rev. Messrs. D. C. Lyon and Thomas Fraser, to visit Madison, and, if in their judgment the way should be deemed clear, to effect the organization of a church in connection with the Presbytery, with the privilege of inviting clerical members from the other Presbyteries belonging to the Synod to take part in the discharge of the duties of their commission.

The committee met at Madison, October 4, 1851, Saturday evening, and after divine service, organized a church consisting of the following members:

John Y. Smith, from the Reformed Dutch church, formerly existing in Madison, of which he was an Elder, and the only remaining member resident here, DanielS. Durrie and Anna Holt Durrie, his wife, by letter from the Third Reformed Dutch Church of Albany, N. Y., Mary E. and Clara Gardi¬ ner, by letter from the South Presbyterian church, Galena, Ill., and Jane McFarland, by letter from the Presbyterian church of Mansfield, Ohio. An election of officers was held, and Rev. John W. Sterling, Professor in the State University, and John Y. Smith were elected Ruling Elders, and D. S. Durrie, Deacon. On the succeeding day, Sunday, October 5, after pub¬ lic worship at Lewis Hall, these persons were ordained and in¬ stalled. Rev. H. B. Gardiner* was engaged as stated supply of the pulpit.

On the same day, in the intermission between the hours of public worship, the session received four additional members; James McBride, and Mrs. Mary Ann McBride, his wife, from the associated Reformed church of Milroy, Indiana, Mrs. Eliz¬ abeth Jane Fox, from the Presbyterian church of Greenfield, Wis., and William Fox, her son.

The church thus organized, occupied for a while, rooms in the second story of Lewis1 Hall, opposite the site of the pres¬ ent church building, subsequently the building owned by C. Abbott, corner of Mifflin and Carrol streets, and used as a gro¬ cery, or more recently by B. D. Miner as a bakery.

Rev. Mr. Gardiner made a successful effort to obtain funds for the erection of a church edifice the year after his location Jhere, and a framed building was erected, forty by sixty feet on the corner of Wisconsin avenue and Johnson street, with a spire 110 feet above the ground. A bell of the weight of 1,000 pounds was afterwards procured. An election for Trustees was held March 18, 1852, and Rev. H. B. Gardiner was elected President, and J. Y. Smith, D. S. Durrie and J. T. Clark, were elected Trustees.

Rev. Mr. Gardiner resigned October 21, 1855, and Septem¬ ber 21, 1856, an unanimous call was extended to Rev. Wi. L. rGREEN, of Greenville, Kentucky, to become pastor, which was accepted, and he preached until April 2, 1865, when, owing to ill-health, he resigned. On the 17th of September, 1865, the church invited Rev. Edward G. Read, of Princeton, N. J., to become their pastor, which was accepted, and he was ordained and installed October 11, 1865, with impressive services, in which Rev. J. M. Buchanan, D. D., of Milwaukee, and Rev. Messrs. Fox and Day participated. Mr. Read resigned 1869, and Rev. Richard V. Dodge, of Wheeling, West Virginia, was elected pastor, which position he retained until March, 1871, when he accepted a call to a church in San Francisco, Cal. In the spring of 1873, Rev. L.Y. Hays, of Ottawa, Ill. was elected, and is the pastor at this date, 1874.

"The first German preaching in Madison, while Wisconsin was a Territory, was in the year 1844, by the Rev. J. G. .Miller, from Ohio, who was appointed by the Evangelical Association of that state, and sent by their annual conference in 1844, as missionary to Galena Mission - which field of labor included a part of Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin.

Rev. John Seibert (the first and then only Bishop of the Evan¬ gelical Association), to Platteville, Potosi, Beetown, Mineral Point and Prairie du Sac. They were the first German minis¬ ters who crossed the Wisconsin river. The Bishop leaving him at this point, he continued on to Portage City, Fond dn Lac, Calumet, Green Bay, Two Rivers, Milwaukee, Prairieville and Jefferson to Madison, where he found a few German families from Pennsylvania, by the names of Mallo and Stoner, also a few other Europeans, to whom he preached from time to time in private houses.

u In 1845, the Illinois Conference assigned him the entire Ter¬ ritory of Wisconsin, named Winnebago Mission. His field of labor extended over four or five hundred miles, in which he found many Germans who had not heard the Gospel preached from two to six years. He traveled from four to five thousand miles annually; his salary for the first year amounted to $40.98, and the second year to $47.52.

" In 1846 the conference saw fit to change the name of Win¬ nebago Mission to Madison Mission, and owing to the then pre¬ vailing custom of the Evangelical Association of changing min¬ isters every one or two years, they appointed the Rev. Benj. Eply, from Illinois, as missionary, who, in consequence of sick¬ ness and other causes, was obliged in part to neglect Madison.

"About this time, the German population of Madison com¬ menced increasing quite rapidly, and in 1848 and '49, they were often visited by Rev. J. G. Miller, who preached to them, but during his absence of five years to Pennsylvania and Maryland, the conference appointed Rev. C. A. Schnake, who in 1853, was ordered to organize the society and to commence the build¬ ing of a church, which was erected the following year, in charge of Rev. W. Strasberger, and finished in 1856 by Rev. J. G. Miller, the membership being then about fifty.

" The church being somewhat out of the way, the conference ordered the erection of the second church - the present white brick building at a cost of about seven thousand dollars, includ- u The present membership, numbering about one hundred and fifty, is in charge of Rev. C. F. Finger and is in a prosper¬ ous condition. The following are the names of the ministers of the Association: Rev. J. Esslinger, Rev. A. Hitlster, P. Held, G. Fritsche, J. Hallacher, W. F. Kaufman, F. Zim¬ merman, - - Von Essen, F. Hudster."

The corporation election of 1852 was held March 1, and the following officers elected: Chauncey Abbott, President; HA. Tenney, J. H. Lewis, F. G. Tibbits, E. L. Varney, P. H. Van Bergen and Michael Friend, Trustees; R. L. Ream, Clerk; J. J. Starks, Treasurer; A. Bishop, Assessor; J. D. Welch, Marshal. The town election was held April 7, the same year, when the following persons were elected: Philo Dun¬ ning, X. Jordan and J. R. Larkin, Supervisors; James Donnellon, Town Clerk; C. Zwicky, Treasurer; M. Joyce and R. L. Ream, Assessors; D. Clark, Superintendent of Schools, and William Welch and A. Ogden, Justices of the Peace.

On the 25th of May proposals were advertised to be received for the erection of the new hotel for the Madison Hotel Com¬ pany, to be completed by December 1, signed by L. J. Farwell, L. B. Vilas and E. B. Dean, Jr., Executive Committee. The building was to have sixty-six feet front on Main street, and eighty-six feet on Wisconsin avenue, five stories high, built of brick with stone fronts, to contain ninety-six rooms. The work was commenced and the walls of the foundation and the first story of the Capital House were laid this season. The hotel Company as originally composed, proved a failure; they were un¬ fortunate in letting their contract, and the work was suspend¬ ed, when Messrs. Vilas, Fairchild, and Farwell bought the property in the spring of 1853, and completed the Hotel the same season. The cost of the same was about $25,000.

The celebration of July 4, was carried on this year without any serious^accident. The officers of the day were: Gov. L. J. Farwell, President; E. Brigham, A. Botkin, J. C. Fairchild,

N. B. Eddy, John Gray, Vice Presidents; Beriah Brown and B. F. Hopkins, Secretaries; D. Atwood, Marshal, with W.*N. Seymour and N. W. Dean, aids; John H. Latiirop, LL. D.; Chancellor of the University, as Orator; and Rev. Chas. Lord, Chaplain.

Williams and Noland, who had leased the grounds of N. W. & E. B. Dean, on Wisconsin Avenue, near the present res¬ idence of Prof. S. H. Carpenter, had an impromtu celebration, at which Leopold Lathrop delivered an address. Fireworks in the evening.

The year 1852, was marked by a number of important im¬ provements, owing to the near advent of the railroad to this place and the advantages to be gained thereby. It gave an in¬ centive to all branches of business enterprise, and lots were in demand and new buildings almost if not equal to the ability of mechanics to put up. Among the important improvements may be noticed the stone building erected by Marshal & Ilsley on Pinckney street occupied by the State Bank. This was the first bank organized under the general banking law of the state, and issued the first bank bill put in circulation; the large stone block three stories high, built by John Catlin and Simeon Mills, the same being forty-four feet front on King street; the upper part being occupied as a theatre by Mr. Langrishe; G. C. Albee's brick store on Pinckney street; and about eighty private residences erected.

Gov. Farwell commenced the work of reclaiming the low wet land northwest of the Capitol, ditched and planted Wash¬ ington avenue, and planted some six thousand forest trees, mostly cotton-wood and soft maple from the bottom lands of the Wisconsin river, along the streets. The low, moist nature of the ground is well adapted to these trees, and they have had a fine growth. The lands referred to, which were previous to this time, wet and marshy, have become so much improved and benefited that they are at this time quite valuable. Some sixty hands were employed in this improvement.

Farwell & Co.'s large grist mill, one saw mill and turning latlie, machine for wool carding under charge of Dawson & Co., a brewery by J. Keyes; and by steam - a sawmill by Ilsley & Co.; planing mill by H. C. Parker; oil mill, Dean, Ruggles & Co. ; machine shop and foundry, by Barnes & Co.; bedstead and chairs, Conger, Green & Co.; printing press, Brown, Carpenter & Co.; Noland & Co., hominy manufac¬ turers. The following were some of the prominent merchants in the year 1852: Tibbits & Gordon, Wells & Hoyt, Donald¬ son & Tredway, Gray & Starks, N. W. Dean, Jas. R. Mears, Lewis & Holden, Thos. Reynolds, Wright & Tenney, Platt & Chapman, Weed & Eberhard, D. Holt, J. T. Marston.

On the 15th of June, 1852, the two Democratic papers, The Argus and The Democrat , were merged in one, and Beriah Brown and Steph. D. Carpenter became joint editors and proprietors of the consolidated paper, which retained the name of both the old ones. The year following, Mr. Carpenter retired and Elias A. Calkins was associated with Mr. Brown until 1855, when the latter sold his interest to James K. Proudfit. Calkins & Proudfit were partners in the publi¬ cation until May, 1857, when Proudfit was succeeded by Geo. Webb, and was continued until the summer of 1859, with some other changes, when it was discontinued, and the printing ma¬ terials were purchased by the Patriot and State Journal offices.

The Wisconsin State Journal was established by David At¬ wood, in September, 1852, and the first number of the daily bears date September 80, and was a five column paper. The furniture was entirely new, and the fixtures purchased ex¬ pressly for the office. It was first issued as a Whig paper, but, on the reorganization of parties, became an advocate of the principles and measures of the Republican party. Horace Rublee was connected as associate editor in 1853, and in 1854 was interested as a partner. George Gary came May 1, 1855, but retired in 1856. Harrison Reed was interested in its pub¬ lication, 1859, retiring in 1861, since which last date the paper has been successfully published by Atwood & Rublee, and At¬ wood & Culver, the latter gentleman purchasing the interest

The Wisconsin Patriot was issued on the 17th of June, 1854,, by J. T. Marston and H. A. Tenney, editors and proprietors. It was a Democratic paper and edited with force and ability. It was published, with numerous changes in its management* until November 14, 1864, when its publication was suspended, George Hyer was connected with Mr. Carpenter for a while, and also Prof. S. H. Carpenter, now of the State University,

The assessed valuation of the property of the village was, (1852), real estate, $162,785: personal, $39,780; total, $202,565, The amount of tax, $1,012.82. The number of votes polled at the spring election was 300.

The first public meeting of the Madison Young Men's Asso¬ ciation was held at the Court House on the 9th of February, 1853, with an address by J. N. Jewett, and a discussion on the annexation of Cuba, in which H. J. Northrop, C. T. Wakeley, A. D. Gray, B. F. Hopkins, J. H. Lewis and J. N. Jew¬ ett were disputants. On the 11th of February, the Statesmans announces that arrangements are being made to have a course of free lectures during the year; Dr. A. P. Ladd, H. S. Orton, J. H. Lathrop, O. M. Conover, Rev. W. Thompson, S. H, Carpenter, A. F. Carman, J. R. Baltzell and others have proposed to assist in carrying out the plan. The first lecture was delivered February 15, 1853, by Harlow S. Orton, Esq., on "Human Equality."

The annual town meeting was held April 5, and the follow¬ ing persons were elected: J. T. Marston, W. D. Bird and DV A. Barnard, Supervisors; James Donnellon, Clerk; C. M, Rouse, Assessor; J. W. Hunt, School Superintendent; and J, R. Larkin and W. N. Seymour, Justices of the Peace. The annual election for corporation officers resulted as follows:

On the 6th day of February, a meeting of the members of the Baptist church was held at the Court House, to organize said church under the laws of the state, at which meeting Deacon Daniel Gorum was chairman. Rev. M. D. Miller, Daniel Gorum, John W. Hunt, Elisha W. Keyes and Willett S. Main, were elected Trustees, and the meeting empowered the Trustees to purchase a lot for a church, and to raise means by subscription for the erection of a church building. At a sub¬ sequent meeting of the Trustees, held February 14, Rev. M. D. Miller was appointed agent of the Society to purchase the lot, circulate subscriptions and to superintend the erection. On the 25th of August, the sum of $3,300 was subscribed, the lot pur¬ chased (lot 5 in block 74), and considerable progress made in the building. The work was vigorously prosecuted under the di¬ rection of Rev. M. D. Miller, who had been elected pastor of the church, and the building was ready for occupancy in Septem¬ ber, 1854, and was dedicated on the 3d of that month, Rev. J. A. Smith, of Chicago, and Rev. Dr. R. A. Fyfe, of Milwaukee, as¬ sisting. At this time, the church membership was forty-one. The church building was constructed of brick, forty-eight by sev¬ enty-eight feet in size, with a basement, fitted up for a lecture room, having seventy pews of black walnut neatly finished. The church was at that time the best building of the kind in the village. Mr. Miller continued as pastor until his resigna¬ tion in 1855, when he was succeeded by Rev. James Cooper, who supplied the church for one year, and in December, 1856, was succeeded by Rev. Wm. R. Brooks, of Perry, N. Y., who occupied the pulpit until December, 1858. The church was supplied by various ministers until the summer of 1866, when Rev. W. H. Brisbane, of Cincinnati, Ohio, was invited to be¬ come pastor, who accepted the same and served until the time of the troubles at the South, when he resigned, and was appointed chaplain to the First Wisconsin Cavalry Regiment- In 1863, Rev. J. E. Johnson accepted a call to preach, and oc¬ cupied the pulpit until 1865, when he retired, owing to ill health. He was succeeded by Rev. J. C. C. Clarke, of Chi¬ cago, who preached until 1871, when Rev. Mr. Paige, of the State of Maine, was engaged for about a year, since which time the church has had no settled minister.

The " Madison Guards," a military company of 50 men, was formed August 25, 1853, of which J. D. Bradford was Cap¬ tain, J. D. Welch and C. Habich, Lieutenants.

The Madison Institute was incorporated by act of the Legis¬ lature, approved July 13, 1853. Its object was "for the pur¬ pose of establishing and sustaining at Madison a reading room and library, and providing for and instituting literary and sci¬ entific lectures, and other means of moral and intellectual im¬ provement."

The Madison Encampment, I. 0. 0. F., was instituted, March 3, 1853, with the following officers: David H. Wright, C. P.; C. B. Chapman, H. P.; Jas. Halpin, S. W.; E.Ilsley, Scribe; H. Nye, Treasurer; E. S. Oakley, J. W.; L. Cannon, S.; A. P. Ladd, G. E.; Chapman, Ilsley and Halpin, Trustees.

The officers selected for the 4th of July celebration were L. B. Til as, President; D. Atwood and W. N. Seymour, Vice Presidents; H. S. Orton, Reader; A. F. Carman, Orator.

The improvements of the village for the year were large and valuable. Col. J. C. Faiechild erected his large stone block on the corner of Morris and Pinckney streets. It is built of cream colored sandstone, sixty-six feet on Morris or Main street, and seventy feet on Pinckney street, designed for three stores on the first floor, the second story for offices, and the third, a large and commodious hall, 60 by 66 feet. The base¬ ment rooms are entered by a stone stairway on Pinckney street. W. D. Beuen, Esq., of New Jersey, erected his elegant block on Pinckney street and Washington avenue. It is four stories high beside the basement, 80 feet on Pinckney street and 90 on the avenue, built of sandstone, well dressed, and tooth-chiseled style; the basement is reached by stone stairs, and divided into five rooms. The first floor, divided into five large stores, the walls 12i feet between the joists, fronts of double flint French glass, 36 by 46 inches, supported by 12 stone and iron pillars. The second floor is reached by a five foot entrance on Pinckney street, with a flight of stone stairs, and from the avenue by the two flights of iron stairs, and iron balcony, 40 feet long - divided into ten large and convenient offices. The third floor into three large rooms or offices; and the fourth story in one large concert room, with ante-chambers; with an observatory, and was considered the most beautiful and costly block in the State at the time. J. L. Roundy was the architect and builder: Andeus Viall, master mason; A. S. Wood, stone cutter. A new jail, nearly completed, fronts on Henry streetT and nearly in the rear of the Court House. It is 36 feet by 56 feet, two stories high; the front part and basement used as the jailor's residence; the jail proper is divided into fourteen cells, eight below and six above, those in the second story being con¬ siderably larger than those in the first. It is built by the county of Dane. Jona. Laekin, A. A. Bied and J. R. Laekin, contractors, receiving $6,900. The lot cost $400, with fencing, etc., making in all about $7,500. The Presbyterian church edifice was this year (1853) completed.

Bishop Henni, May, 28, 1854, on the grounds opposite the Court House on Main street. It is to be 120 feet in length by 60 in width, of fine cut stone. The edifice when completed will be a magnificent structure of great architectural beauty. The spire is designed to have a height of 150 feet.

During the fall, the Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad Company selected their depot grounds, and the depot build¬ ing put under contract; the building to be one hundred and fifteen long by fifty feet wide, walls eighteen feet high, piazza and platform ten feet wide on each side - to be built of stone, and to be completed by January 1, 1854. The contract was awarded to Bird and Larkin' who faithfully performed the work. The freight depot, engine house and other buildings were soon after erected.

At the time the grounds were selected, which are now sprinkled over with warehouses, dwellings, etc., they were covered with a thick growth of coppice wood, and the whole tract between the freight depot and the lake was a dense thicket of poplar and crab and plum trees.

During the year, spiles were driven, and a beginning made at building the railroad bridge over the bay of Lake Monona. The bridge was finished in the spring of 1854 and the depot com¬ pleted.

In the fall of the year, we find that the Court House was used on Sunday as a house of worship. On the 10th of Octo¬ ber, Rev. Henry Powers of the Protestant Episcopal Church, preached at 10L o'clock A. M.; Rev. M. D. Miller, Baptist, at 2i P. M., and Rev. H. B. Gardiner, Presbyterian, at 4 P. M. No notice of its being occupied in the evening.

near the University grounds, during the year. It was bought by I. E. Brown in 1856, and changed to a foundry - pur¬ chased by P. H. Turner in 1859, and by him sold to E. W. Skinner. Mr. 0. S. Willey, became a partner in 1861 and Hon. S. D. Hastings in 1865. This establishment did a large business in the manufacture of sugar mills; in the year 1865 upwards of 500 of these mills were sold.

Dr. J. Warren Hunt, in his Wisconsin Gazetteer , pub¬ lished in 1853, says of Madison: u The present population is about 3,500, with 700 dwellings, 26 stores, 15 groceries, 11 taverns, 2 large printing offices and a book bindery - a grist mill with eight run of stone, 3 saw mills, one iron foundry, a woolen factory, an oil mill, 2 steam planing mills, a hominy mill pro¬ pelled by steam; a bank, the first organized in the State; three churches, with three others to be built during the present season ; and mechanical shops of all kinds."

1854. On the 8th of April, a meeting was held to organize the Madison Institute, under the new charter, at which time a system of by-laws was submitted, and an election held to select officers for the year. The following persons were elected: J. H. Lathrop, LL. I)., President; G. P. Delaplaine, J. R. Baltzell and W. A. White, Vice Presidents; Frank H. Fir¬ min', Recording Secretary; B. F. Hopkins, Corresponding Sec¬ retary; J. J. Starks, Treasurer; H. A. Tenney, Librarian, with a board of twelve Directors. A spacious reading room was opened in the third story of Bruen's Block, and the tables well supplied with the periodical and newspaper press of the day. A department for debate was organized and a series of lectures to be delivered during the winter months.

The village corporation election took place in March, and the following persons elected: Simeon Mills, President; P. H. Van Bergen, G. C. Albee, G. M. Oakley, resigned, and Chas. Weed, elected, Michael Friend, J. Livesey, A. Bishop, Trustees; D. Noble Johnson, Clerk; D. Clark, Treasurer; D. C. Bush, Assessor; and I. E. Brown, Marshal; and at the election of town officers, on the 5th of April, Jehu H. Lewis, E. Summers and H. J. Hill were elected Supervisors; J. Donnellon, Clerk; E. Doerschlag, Treasurer; David Holt, Superintendent of Schools, and A. Ogden and A. B. Braley, Justices of the Peace.

In April, 1851, Damon Y. Kilgore was engaged as Princi¬ pal of the public school, and commenced his labors in the small brick school house on Washington avenue, now known as the " Little Brick School House." On the first day there were twenty-three pupils present, of different grades, speaking different languages and presenting a variegated appearance. For various reasons, several of the pupils were sent home the first day to be prepared for school in a proper manner (a judicious use of soap and water), most of whom returned in the afternoon very much improved in appearance. The number gradually increased until the house would not accommodate the pupils, and the school was removed to the basement of the Methodist church. Here the school was no less crowded than before. In the winter term, there were two hundred sixtyseven pupils in one room. This term, he was assisted by his sister, Miss Abby L. Kilgore.

In the mean time, efforts were being made to incorporate the village of Madison into a separate school district. On the 25th of September, 1854, a meeting was held and a committee con¬ sisting of W. B. Jarvis, C. Abbot, D. J. Powers, G. P. Delaplaine, S. G. Stacy and W. A. White was appointed, whose duty it was to procure the passage of an act by the next legislature for the more efficient and permanent organization of the vil¬ lage of Madison as a school district.

" School Meeting. - Notice is hereby given, that, pursuant to an act entitled 1 an act incorporating the village of Madi¬ son into a separate School District,1 approved February 13, 1855, a meeting of the qualified voters of said district will be held at the school room, in the Vestry of the Methodist church on Tuesday February 20, 1855, at 7 P. M., to select six persons as the Board of Education of said village, and for tlie transac¬ tion of such other business as may come before them under the provisions of said act. D. S. Durrie,

David H. Wright was elected Chairman of this meeting, and Frank H. Firming Clerk. Six School Directors were elected, who should constitute the Board of Education of the village of Madison, comprising the following gentlemen: Sim¬ eon Mills, W. B. Jarvis, L. J. Farwell, J. Y. Smith, D. H* Wright and W. A. White.

In the month of May, 1854, a fire proof stone building was put on the grounds belonging to the Court House, for the offices of the county clerk, register of deeds and judge of pro¬ bate. The building was of stone, one story high, 44 feet in length by 27 feet in width. The work was performed by A. A. Bird, the contractor.

The Capital House was completed* and occupied this season. Mr. T. Stevens took charge as landlord on a lease for a term of years. He furnished the house in a superior manner.

The railroad bridge of the M. and M. Railroad Co., begun the previous year, was finished in the spring of 1854, and the first train of passenger cars came across the bridge on Thursday the 18th of May. The track, however, was not laid up to the depot until the Monday succeeding; and on Tuesday the 23d, thecelbration took place.

"Never was a day more auspicious. The heavens were cloudless, the air warm but not sultry, and in the golden floods of sunlight, the wide landscape of lake and forest and prairie, which forms the charming environment of our village, was 4 like a bright eyed face that laughs out openly.1 We trust that this is an omen of the success and future prosperity of the rail¬ road, and the enterprising, public spirited men under whose auspices it has been thus far steadily pushed forward.

anticipated. By 10 o'clock, our streets were filled with teams, and the sidewalks crowded with people. A great many of them were men who had settled in the country at an early day and had never seen a locomotive railroad.

" By one o'clock P. M., the grounds about the depot were thronged with people anxiously obeying the injunction so com¬ mon along railroads, and looking out for the engine. We should judge that at least two thousand persons from the coun¬ try were about the depot and at the end of the bridge where the railroad crosses the bay. There were conflicting reports respecting the time when the cars would arrive, and the people had assembled rather earlier than they would otherwise, for that reason. Bright colored parasols, ranged in groups along the shore, lent liveliness to the scene.

" The train did not arrive until a little after two o'clock, and many were growing impatient at the delay. At length, the unmistakable whistle of the engine was heard, and the long train, with two locomotives at its head swept grandly into sight - thirty-two cars crowded with people, and drawn by two locomotives. At the rear of the train were several racks, oc¬ cupied by the Milwaukee Fire Companies in gay red uniforms, with their glistening engines. Bands of music attended them, and, at intervals, as the train moved slowly across the bridge, the piece of artillery, brought along by the firemen, was dis¬ charged. It was a grand but strange spectacle to see this mons¬ ter train, like some huge, unheard of thing of life, with breath of smoke and flame, emerging from the green openings - scenes of pastoral beauty and quietude - beyond the placid waters of the lake.

" From two thousand to two thousand five hundred people were on the train. On reaching the depot they were welcomed, in a brief address by A. A. Bird, Esq., the President of the Day, which was responded to in appropriate manner by A. Finch, Jr., the attorney of the railroad company. E. B. Dean, Jr., and Thomas Reynolds were the marshals. A procession was formed, and the multitude proceeded to the Capital Park, where tables were spread and a dinner prepared. The comple- tion of this road has infused fresh vitality and energy intoevery channel of business, and has already doubled the trade and will speedily double the population of Madison. It is to be continued on to the Mississippi and completed at the earliest time practicable."

The Regents of the University, at their meeting in Februaryr 1854, appointed a committee to advertise for bids for the con¬ struction of the second dormitory building on the plan of the first. The contract was awarded to Messrs. A. A. Bird and W. Larkin, who, with good and sufficient sureties, undertook to complete the building on or before the 1st of June, 1855, for the sum $18,000.

The north half of the edifice wfill contain sixteen study rooms, with bed-rooms and closets attached. In the other portions of the building, north of the south entry, are four public rooms, one in each story, thirty-six by twenty-three feet; on the lower floor, the laboratory; on the second, the cabinet of minerals and specimens in other departments of physical science; on the third, the philosophical chamber; and on the fourth, the lib¬ rary. The extreme south wing is to be finished for residence, or for occupation for such studies as may be deemed expedient.

In this year, Gov. L. J. Farwell sold to the State one hundred acres of land on the north side of lake Mendota for the location of the u Hospital for the Insane." It is about three miles from Madison by a direct line across the lake and six miles by car¬ riage road. The grounds also adjoin the track of the Chicago and Northwestern railroad. By an act of the legislature, ap¬ proved March 30, 1854, the Governor was authorized to appoint commissioners to prepare plans and let a contract for the erec¬ tion of a lunatic asylum, substantially on the plan of the asylum in Worcester, Mass., both in respect to design and ex¬ pense. In pursuance of this act, Gov. Barstow appointed com¬ missioners and a superintendent. The contract was awarded to Andrew Proudfit, and the work commenced. On the as¬ sembling of the legislature in 1855, that body annulled the contract on the ground that the plan adopted was much more extensive than had been authorized, and bore no particular re- semblance to the Worcester Asylum, as well as for other reasons. The result of this action was that the work was suspended. It was revived in 1857, as will appear hereafter.

During the year 1854, a new bridge was built across the Yahara, or Catfish; and Ex-Governor L. J. Farwell extended Washington avenue through his lands to the distance of a miletowards the northeast. This magnificent avenue, which has been opened by the individual enterprise of Governor Farwellis now more than two miles in length, graded to a level, eight rods in width, and has a double row of trees - the inner row, cotton wood, and the outer, maples - upon each side. It ter¬ minates at a point where the various roads coming into town from the east, northeast and southwest, converge. When with¬ in a quarter of a mile of the Capitol Park, it ascends by a smooth and easy grade, the summit of the elevation crowned by the Capitol.

The erection of the " Lake Side Water Cure," by Delaplaine & Burdick, was commenced in November, 1854, to be com¬ pleted June 1, 1855. The site selected for this institution is one of surpassing beauty, not equalled in this countr}r, if in any other. The grounds comprise a beautiful oak grove of fifty acres, situated immediately across the west point of Lake Monona or Fairy Lake, about two miles south of the Capitol, and one mile by water, and commanding a fine view of the city of Madison, the lakes, and the surrounding country. Over the grounds, just on the edge of the grove, flows a large and beautiful stream of water, long known for its purity, from which the institution will be supplied. This stream has its source in never failing springs.

The building stands upon an eminence about fifty feet above the water, and six hundred feet distant from the shore. The main building is ninety-two feet in length by forty in width,, and four stories above the basement, capable of accommodating from eighty to one hundred guests. There are piazzas extend¬ ing the whole length of the building on the first and second stories. There is also a wing forty feet by thirty-eight, and two stories in height, which is principally devoted to bath- rooms. The house is warmed throughout by steam heat - there is also connected with the engine, apparatus for cooking, washing, drying, ironing, supplying reservoir, etc., only one fire being necessary for the whole establishment.

Dr. James E. Gross was resident physician at its opening. For some reason, the institution was not a success, and was .subsequently altered and adapted for a public house; as such, it has been well patronized. It is occupied only as a summer hotel, and is a favorite resort for visitors from St. Louis and other southern cities.

In the month of February, the Madison Hydraulic Company was chartered, and was fully organized. Its object was to fur¬ nish the inhabitants a full and certain supply at all times of pure fresh water. In doing so, arrangements were to be per¬ fected to take water from Lake Mendota of a depth of at least twenty feet, and, by steam or other power, force it into a re¬ servoir upon a hill in the rear of the University buildings - this hill being about forty feet higher than the Capitol park. A six or eight inch pipe to convey the water east - the whole length of State street - sending off smaller branches at the intersection of streets. It was supposed that water could be conveyed into the third stories of every building about the park, and much higher on the lower grounds. It was also proposed to have two or more fountains in the University grounds, facing the village, and four within the Capitol park. The whole ex¬ pense not to exceed $40,000. The officers of the company were, H. A. Tenney, President; Wm. A. White, Secretary, and Leonard J. Far well, Treasurer.

It is to be regretted that the company did not succeed in carrying out their plans. There was not a sufficient amount of stock subscribed to warrant the undertaking, and the pro¬ ject was abandoned.

The Bank of the West was organized March 20, 1852, with a capital of $100,000. S. A. Lowe, President, and W. L. Hins¬ dale, Cashier. The bank commenced business on the second floor of Bruen's Block.

About 1,000 buildings have been erected here since 1847; a portion of them of dressed stone and elegant style, with some of the finest blocks in the west. The projected number this year (1854), is 350.

Chapter Vii

Horace Greeley's Visit 1855. - Elections 1855-'61 - Gas Light and Coke Co. - Grace Church History, Continued - Schools, 1855-6 - Public and Private Improvements - Congregational Church History, Continued - Fourth of July Celebrations, 1855-61 - Incorporation as a City, 1855 - Business Firms - Peat Beds - City Hall - University Buildings - Hospital for Insane Commenced, and New State Capitol Projected - Organization of Military Companies - Notice of Hon. T. W. Sutherland - Of Col. James Morrison - City Improve¬ ments - Rebellion History, 1861.

In the month of March, 1855, Horace Greeley visited Madison, and in May, Bayard Taylor made a visit. Both of these gentlemen wrote flattering letters of their impressions, to the New York Tribune. Mr. Greeley writes:

" Madison has the most magnificent site of any inland town I ever saw, on a r graceful swell of land, say two miles north and south by a mile and a half east and west, rising gently from the west hank of one of a chain of four lakes, and having another of them north northwest of it. These lakes must each be eight or ten miles in circumference, half surrounded by dry, clean oak forests, or rather ' timbered openings,' which need but little labor to convert them into the finest parks in which fair homes ever nestled. A spacious water-cure estab¬ lishment has just been erected in one of these forests across the lake south-eastwardly from Madison, and shows finely both from the city and the railroad as you approach it. The Capitol is toward the south end of the built up city, in a fine natural park of twenty acres, and is not worse planned than most of our public buildings. The University crowns a beautiful emi¬ nence a mile west of the Capitol, with a main street connecting them a lq Pennsylvania avenue. There are more comfortable private mansions now in progress in Madison than in any other place I have visited, and the owners are mostly recent immi- grants of means and cultivation, from New England, from Cincinnati, and even from Europe. Madison is growing very fast. * * * 514 She has a glorious career before her."

In consequence of the numerous favorable reports regarding Madison as a place of business, published in eastern papers, no western town was more prominently brought before the pub¬ lic. Some of these newspaper correspondents were so profuse in their compliments about the beauty and advantages of Madison as a place of settlement, that a marked effect was no¬ ticed in the increase of population and the advancement in the prices of real property, not only in the village, but in the ad¬ joining country.

The following persons were elected corporation officers for the year 1855: P. H.Van Bergen, President; L. J. Farwell, H. A. Tenney, Wm. Carroll, L. W. Hoyt, J. G. Griffin and J. Sumner, Trustees; D. Noble Johnson, Clerk; Alonzo Wil¬ cox, Treasurer; D. C. Bush, Assessor, and I. E. Brown, Mar¬ shal. At this election, 522 votes were polled. The contest, although warm in some respects, had nothing to do with politics.

On the 17th of January, an act of the legislature was approved incorporating the Madison Gas Light and Coke Com¬ pany; L. J. Farwell, Simeon Mills, Julius P. Atwood, Fran¬ cis G. Tidbits, Dayid Atwood,. Henry Parkins, Samuel Marshall, N. W. Dean, B. F. Hopkins, Levi B. Vilas and David J. Powers, being the corporators, and who were consti¬ tuted the first Board of Directors. The directors, at their first meeting, elected J. P. Atwood, President; B. F. Hopkins, Sec¬ retary, and L. J. Farwell, Treasurer. At the same meeting, held January 20th, a contract was entered into with H. Park¬ ins & Co., to erect the necessary buildings for the sum of $35,000. The work was faithfully performed, and on the 10th of July, a celebration was had in the village, at which time, two two thousand to twenty-five hundred persons attended in front of the Capitol. Speeches were made by M. H. Orton, W. N. Seymour, J. W. Johnson, C. Abbot, A. A. Bird, and L. B. Vilas.

The gas works were located on the low ground, northeast of the Capitol, on lots 1, 2, 3 and 4 of block 151. This enterprise, in the hands of the company, did not succeed as well as had been anticipated. The works were subsequently leased by the company to B. F. Hopkins, under whose energetic and skillful management, the gas was soon conducted through the prin¬ cipal streets of the town, and within two years, had over five miles of pipe laid, and the enterprise became a decided success.

The election of town officers took place, April 4, with the following result: H. J. Hill, Chairman; R. T. White and R, T. Davis, Supervisors; Willet S. Main, Clerk; C. G. Mayeks, 1^ Reynolds and Geo. A. Bar wise, Assessors; G. C. Albee, Treasurer; Darwin Clark, School Superintendent; Wm, Welch and W. F. Baker, Justices of the peace.

In the month of May, Ex Gov. L. J. Farwell commenced building an octagon house, three stories high, each side twenty-five feet in length, making the whole circumference two hundred feet - of dressed stone. It is situated on Lake Monona, three-quarters of a mile from the capitol. The barn and stable is of similar architecture, of stone, one hundred and sixty feet in circumference, the walls of which were early com¬ pleted. John T. Martin, Esq., commenced building nearly the same time, a fine two story stone residence a short distance east of the former. Gov. Farwell occupied his residence for a few years when it was sold to Samuel Marshall, and subsequently was enlarged and altered for a " Hospital for Wounded Soldiers" during the war, and more recently occu¬ pied as the " Soldiers' Orphans' Home."

In April, 1855, the Rev. J. B. Britt an, of Dayton, Ohio, vis¬ ited Madison, and was invited to take charge of the parish of Grace church. The invitation was accepted, and he entered upon the duties of his charge June 1, 1855. The chapel, en¬ larged and refitted at an expense of $1,000, was occupied for the first time on Sunday, the 17th of June, 1855. The chapel being soon found inadequate to the wants of the parish, a sub¬ scription was set on foot, headed by a generous friend in the amount of $1,200, and soon reaching the sum of eight thou¬ sand dollars, for the erection of a church edifice. A plan was agreed upon, and on the 25th of September, the same year, the foundation was commenced.

The following account of the building is given in the newspapers of that time. It is in the Gothic style, and com¬ posed of a tower, nave and chancel. The main entrance is through the tower by two large and massive doors. The tower is twenty-two feet square, forming a spacious vestibule. It will be a prominent feature of the structure, and is located at the corner of the nave - fronting on the corner of Carroll street and Washington avenue. It is supported at the angles by mas¬ sive buttresses, diminishing as they ascend, and terminating in handsome panneled and foliated pinnacles, at a height of eight/ feet from the sidewalk. The whole height of the tower and spire is one hundred and forty feet wide, and the building will comfort¬ ably seat six hundred persons. The walls are thirty-three feet high, and the highest point of the gable on which is fixed a neat Greek cross, is fifty-six feet. The east front is lighted by a large trillioned window, twelve feet by thirty, and supplied with stained glass. The sides and ends are supported by heavy buttresses which add to its strength and symmetry. These buttresses terminate in foliated pinnacles. The chancel is twenty-two by eighteen feet, and flanked on respective sidesby an organ room and vestry, and is connected with the nave by a broad and high arch. It is lighted at the end by a triple lancet-window, with stained glass like the one in front.

The interior is to be furnished in tasteful and costly style; the ceiling to be an elliptic Gothic arch, richly adorned with stucco work, composed of heavy ribs - interlaced Gothic arches running from the apex of the ceiling to the springing, and ter¬ minating there on elegantly carved corbels. The interstices of the ribs are to be ornamented with carved bosses. The pulpit is of octagonal form, and located on the south side of the chan-

arch, and is entered from the vestry; on the north side of the chancel arch is the reading desk and organ. The nave is thirty-six feet high from the floor to the apex of the ceiling. The plan was designed by Messrs. J. & A. Douglas, of Milwau¬ kee, and the whole is estimated to cost, when completed, $16,000. It is to be of cut stone, and when finished, will be one of the finest edifices in the country.

The building was in readiness for public worship early in .1858; the tower, however, being incomplete and the basement unfinished. The cost of the church, as then completed, was about $22,000. In October, 1861, the Rev. Mr. Brittau having having accepted an appointment as chaplain in the army, ten¬ dered his resignation as rector, to take effect November 1, which was accepted.

" Never before was the building mania in Madison more ap¬ parent than now. Go where you will - visit whichever part of town you may - and you see on all sides - in every nook and corner - apparently upon every lot, the most active busybustle preparations for building. You pass an untouched, vacant lot in the morning, and at night you will find it strew¬ ed over with building materials - a foundation laid, frame raised for a good sized house, nearly clapboarded, and partly painted. This is what we saw last week. There are now no less than 150 and perhaps 200 buildings commenced and in the various stages of completion, in this town, to-day, and yet building has barely commenced. It seems that everybody is coming to Madison, and everybody who does, must build. One stimulus to building this season, is the fact that materials, etc., are much cheaper, as we are informed, than usual."

Another paper says: " Business in real estate in our city is becoming lively. We have before us the operations of a single individual, during the week last past. From this, it ap- pears that this person was one party to sales amounting in the aggregate to $33,000. This is simply the operations of one man, in one week, and the property that changed hands is all within the city limits. Others, no doubt, have done as much, and perhaps more, of which we have no account. There has been no time when the business prospects of our place were brighter than at present. Strangers are flocking into the city in large numbers; all delighted with the place, and taking up their residence among us. In addition to an active business in sales of lots and lands, the building of stores, shops and dwel¬ lings is unusually active this spring. New buildings are being erected in every direction, and some of them of a superior order. It is truly gratifying to witness such indisputable evi¬ dences of prosperity. Long may it continue."

Mr. D. Y. Kilgore, Superintendent of the village schools, in his report for the year 1855, says, the. whole number that have attended school during the year is 750; that the whole number of children, by the last census, is 1,600; that the only build¬ ing owned by the village for educational purposes is a small brick school house - fast becoming obsolete and incapable of accommodating one-thirtieth part of those entitled to public .school instruction, and attributes the fact that so large a pro¬ portion of pupils attend no school whatever, to the shameful lack of school accommodations and strongly urges on the Board of Education and the village authorities the necessity of four ward schools and one High School.

R. S. Bacon, of Cincinnati, Ohio, during the year, made a purchase of the lot on the corner of Mifflin and Pinckne3r streets, for a Commercial and Business College, and Simeon- Mills built a block of four stories adjoining those previously built by Mills & Catlin on King street. They were of stone, uniform with the other.

S. R. Fox made a purchase of the grounds on the corner of Main and Carroll streets, for a block of stone buildings, to be erected the succeeding year. Willet S. Main put up his stone block, corner of Mifflin and Carroll streets; Leonard Nolden, a similar building on State street, on the block west toward the University, to be occupied as a hotel; and the elegant resi¬ dences of J. E. Kendall, corner of Langdon and Pinckney streets, and W. B. Jarvis' octagon house on Wilson street r were erected; and among others, were the residences of N. B. Van Slyke, Mr. Ashmead, I. N. De Forest, H. H. Hayes, A. Botkin and H. B. Staines. Much attention was bestowed this season upon sidewalks, many miles of which were laid in differ¬ ent parts of the village.

The Board of Education established three grades of schools:, the High School, the Intermediate and the Primary, under the immediate supervision of a Superintendent, and the general supervision of the Board, and the system has continued with¬ out material change to the present time. By the act of incor¬ poration, the Board was authorized to borrow $10,000 on thecredit of the village, and the Board of Trustees authorized toissue bonds for the amount, for the purpose of erecting Union school houses. But the Board of Education were unable to* induce the Board of Trustees to issue the bonds, the latter be¬ ing of the opinion that $10,000 was a larger debt than the vil¬ lage ought to incur at one time, and nothing was done in the way of building that year.

In the summer of this year, the Congregational church in¬ vited Rev. N. H. Eggleston of Plymouth church, Chicago,, to become pastor, and its call was accepted. The spirit¬ ual and material prosperity of the church rapidly increased, and within a year, nearly fifty were added to its membership. The church room becoming too narrow for the needs of the congregation, in 1856, they moved first into the large hall of Bacon's Commercial College, which was then ready for occu¬ pancy, and then built a brick chapel which they occupied until 1873-4. This chapel is situated on the east side of Washington avenue, on lots 5 and 6, block 66, with accommodations for about 500 persons. It was built at the expense of $4,400, with the hope of soon adding to it a church building. In May, 1858, Mr. Eggleston retired from the pastorate and soon after re¬ turned east, where he has been for a number of years pastor of the church in Stockbridge, Mass., so long honored by the min-

The usual anniversary services of the 4th of July were this year changed. Under the direction of Charles G. Mayers, Esq., a regatta was held on Lake Monona, open to sail boats and row boats. It is supposed some three thousand persons, were present. This was the first regatta held on the lake. Horn L. J. Farwell, Alex. T. Gray, G. P. Delaplaine, Dr. Otis Hoyt and Hon. A. McArthur, judges. The whole went off very satisfactorily, and was a decided success.

The members of Grace Church (Episcopal) held a meeting on the 6th of August, Rev. J. B. Brittan presiding, and J. G. Knapp, secretary, at which time a committee was appointed,, consisting of Hon. L. J. Farwell, William A. Mears and H, K. Lawrence, to solicit subscriptions for the erection of a» church edifice.

The real property of the village was assessed this year at; $284,700; personal, $39,300. The corporation receipts were $5,836.09. Liabilities unpaid, $963.56.

The amount of tonnage received at the Madison depot, over the Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad, and forwarded front there, as shown in the tabular statement published, exhibits the amount of business greater, perhaps, than any other town, in Wisconsin, in proportion to its size. The whole amount of merchandise transported over the road westward, was 27,580,318? lbs; the amount received here was 12,596,023, almost one-half of all shipped over the road. The whole number of bushels of wheat shipped eastward was 1,931,407, and from this place, 604,624, almost one-third of the whole.

On the 2d of February, 1856, the Board of Trustees of the village appointed a committee, consisting of A. A. Bird, Simeon Mills, Dr. Thos. O. Edwards and J. P. Atwood, to draw up a city charter, and to procure its passage before tho legislature then in session. The bill was drawn, and Madi- son became a City by an act approved Marcli 4. On the 11th of March, the first city election was held. Jairus C. Fairchild* being an Independent, and Julius P. Atwood the Democratic candidate for Mayor; the former received 711 votes, and the latter 506, electing Col. Fairchild by a majority of 205. Abraham B. Braley received 784 votes for Police Jus¬ tice, against 419 cast for Wm. Welch; Johnson J. Starks, 632 votes for Treasurer, against 370 for Alfred Main; Fred Mohr, 503 votes for Marshal, against 383 for Stephen Gr. Ben¬ edict.

*Col. Jairus C. Fairchild, was born at Granville, Washington county, N. Y., December 27, 1801. He removed to Ohio in 1822, settling first at Hudson, then at Franklin Mills, Portage county, in 1826, where he was engaged in business as tanner and currier, having for a partner the celebrated " Capt. John Brown. He removed to Cleveland in 1834, and was engaged in merchandise, and was Secretary of the Cleveland and Newburgh Railroad Company. He removed to Wisconsin, with his family, in June, 1846, and at the organization of the State Government was elected State Treasurer, which office he held from August, 1848, to De¬ cember 31, 1851.

Col. F. was prominently identified with the business enterprises of Mad¬ ison, and died here July 18, 1862, aged about 61 years. He left four chil¬ dren: Lucius, who has served six years as Governor of the State, and was distinguished for his services in the late rebellion ; Cassius, who died at Mil¬ waukee of wounds received in the war; Charles, now of Boston, connected with the Navy Department during the war, and a daughter, Mrs. E. B. Dean, of this place. Mrs.J.C. Fairchild died at Madison, October 21, 1866, aged 65 years.

The officers of Grace Church advertised, February 8, for four hundred cords of stone, with a view to commence the erection of their church edifice.

The Daily Argus , of April 28, in speaking of the improve¬ ments commenced for the year, says: "We notice five firstclass dwellings going up, five brick dwellings, forty framed dwellings, and sixteen stone and brick buildings for stores, in progress." The evidence of thrift and enterprise was very ap¬ parent. The number of new comers was large and increasing, and the prospects for the growth and prosperity of the city were never so promising. The State Journal , of June 3, gives the names of the more important business firms and institu¬ tions in the city, as follows: The brick block built by W. D. Brueh, and known as Brueh's Block, occupied by the Dane County Bank, and J. Richardsom & Co., on the corner, as land agents; Hale & Harris, dry goods; D. S. Durrie, books and stationery, and D. Holt, jeweler, and Wright & Mayers as land agents and agents of American Express Company, all on the first floor. The second floor by Ortoh & Hopkihs, At¬ wood & Haskell, and Hood& Tehmey, attorneys; Drs. Bowem & Bartlett, physicians; Maul & Grimm, book binders; State Agricultural Society, Powers & Skihher, publishers, and State Journal editorial rooms. The third story by the Madison Mutual Insurance Company, Madison Gas Light Company, S.

W. H. Wymax, insurance agent, and Western Telegraph Com¬ pany. The fourth story, the State Journal printing office; Museum of the Wisconsin Natural History Association, and Mr. Bronsoh, artist. The basement by Hale & Harris, as an eating saloon. The building adjoining, on Pinckney street, by S. Marshall, as the State Bank, on the main floor; Delaplaihe & Burdick on second floor, and by ex-Gov. Farwell as a real estate office. The frame building next east, by L. Guild & Co., dry goods; similar building adjoining, by Colwell & Co., drug¬ gists; next, G. W. Gilmah, boots and shoes, the second floor by Dr. J. C. Howells, dentist. The next building of brick, known as the Badger Building, first floor, Catlin, Williamson and Barwise, land office and exchange dealers, and Smith & Keyes, as attorneys. The upper part used by the United States Hotel, which adjoins it on the east. The basement by W. H. Noland, barber, and P. L. Mohr, real estate dealer. The United States Hotel, kept by Gilbert Dutcher. In Fairchild's block, on Main street, S. Klauber & Co., dry goods, occupied two stores on the first floor, and H. B. Merrill, cloth¬ ing; the second floor as the St. Julien saloon; the third floor by Langrishe & Atavater, as a theatre. In the basement, A. P. Dcerschlag, as a saloon. The adjoining frame buildings, by Gleason & Memhard on the first floor, dry goods and hard¬ ware, and G. E. Woodward, attorney; the next, by Isaac Bonnell, stove store, and A. Neuhoff, clothing; adjoining, by Donaldson & Tredway, dry goods, and second floor by Abbot, Clark and Coit, attorneys, the banking house of M. T. Mar¬ tin; B. U. Caswell's hat store and French as a saloon. The next brick store, owned by J. C. Fairchild, occupied by D. C. Poole, dry goods and crockery, and second floor by Vilas, Roys and Pinney, Drs. Gray and Brown, Col. Fairchild's office, and that of Wm. Welch, Justice of the Peace. The adjoining building, the Capitol House, kept by Nelson and Russell, and by Cook and Belden, jewelers, and M. Strauss, as tobacconist. Across Wisconsin avenue, the next business firm is R. T. Curtis & Co. (T. Reynolds), dry goods and gro¬ ceries, in the brick store built by W. C. Wells in 1851; the next by W. B. Jarvis, land agent, and T. S. Woodward, drugs and medicines, and S. R. Fox, hardware; and across Carroll street, Miss McMahon, milliner, A. Abbott, marble shop, and Sanderson, milliner, Reuil Noyes, land office. The adjoining building across Fairchild street being the County Court House.

Among other buildings erected this year, was P. H. Van Bergen's block, corner of Clymer and Pinckney streets; R. S. Bacon & Co., commercial college building; Billings & Car¬ man's plow manufactory; city engine houses; Fox & Atw'OOd's elegant stone block, occupied by S. R. Fox; Mrs. Trevoy and A. Rasdall, stone block on King street; James Campbell,

The Merchants' Bank of Madison was this year organized under the general banking law. Hon. A. A. Bliss of Ohio, President, and C. T. Flowers, Cashier. It commenced busi¬ ness in Bruen's block, July 2.

There was no celebration on the 4th of July. An excursion was had to Mazomanie, in which many participated. There was also a regatta on Lake Mendota.

The post office was removed, Jul}^ 27, to their new rooms in P. H. Van Bergen's block. The office is twenty feet wide by sixty-five feet deep and twelve high. Has 1,100 letter boxes and 100 private drawers. The usual daily mail matter received is from 20 to 50 bushels, and during the sessions of the legisla¬ ture, one to three hundred bushels.

The " Madison St. George's Society," was organized and held their first meeting, August 13. The officers for 1856 were: Dr. Jos. Hobbins, President; W. B. Jarvis and R. Shorrocks, Vice Presidents; H. Wright, Treasurer; J. W. Mayhew, Recording Secretary; Wm. Welch, Corresponding Secretary; Dr. Wm. Hobbins, Physician.

R. S. Bacon's commercial college was opened in January, 1856, and was very successful. In the fall of 1858, it was pur¬ chased by D. IT. Tullis. It was continued without interrup¬ tion under his charge until 1865, when, by mutual arrange¬ ment, it passed into the hands of Worthington & Warner, by whom it was continued in Young's block, on Main street, .and more recently in W. J. & F. Ellsworth's building on Pinckney street.

The Dane county peat beds were discovered this year. Mr. Hough, County Surveyor, made a plat of the peat bog lying on the lands of Cols. W. B. and Geo. H. Slaughter and Wm. Green, lying six miles west of Madison, and immediately on the Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad There are three irregularly shaped beds contiguous to each other, which lie in depressions of the surface; the whole outline gives unmis¬ takable evidence of having been, at a remote period, covered with water. Mr. Hough estimates that the one hundred and fifteen acres contain nearly 350,000 solid cords of peat. Efforts have been made to manufacture the article to be used for heat¬ ing purposes, but for some some reason they have not been en¬ tirely successful.

In 1856, the village having become a city, the Common Council, on the 20th of August, appropriated $24,000 for the erection of school houses in the four wards of the city. Here the matter rested, with some trifling progress in the selection of sites, until after the council had raised from the sale of city bonds, and had at its disposal a large amount of money. The sites for school houses having been selected or assented to, and paid for by the Common Council out of the money set apart for that purpose, at a cost of $6,887.50, the Board of Education immediately thereafter advertised for proposals for the erection of the four school houses, to be built of stone, forty by fifty feet on the ground, and two stories high. When, however, the proposals were received, the season for building had so far passed, that it was deemed advisable to construct but two houses during the season (1856), leaving the remaining two to be erected the following spring. Accordingly, contracts were entered into for the erection of school houses in the First and Third Wards, to be completed by January 1, 1857. After the work had so far advanced that it became necessary tomake payments to the contractors, the Common Council were applied to for money for that purpose, but refused for some reason never made known to the Board. In consequence of this action of the Council, the Board of Education were deprived of the means of continuing the work, or meeting the engage¬ ments they had entered into, and the contractors brought suits to recover pay for work performed and for damages for non¬ performance on the part of the Board.

From the report of the Superintendent, we learn that thewhole number of scholars attending school during the year, is 694; less by 56 than the number reported last year. The cen¬ tral or High School was kept in the old Congregational church, and has 133 pupils, of which number 67, are in the higher Eng-

The annual election of city officers for 1857, took place in April. For Mayor, A. A. Bird received 763 votes, and F. G^ Tibbitts, 672 - the former was elected. Fred. Sauthoff was elected Treasurer, receiving 735 votes, and C. H. Billings 683. The Aldermen elected were: Thos. Heeran and C. Zwicky, 1st ward; David J. Powers and J. T. Clark, 2d ward; J. C. Griffin and David Hyer, 3d ward; and Dr. Jos. Hobbins and T. Kinney, 4th ward.

The First and Third ward school houses were completed and occupied this year. They are fine two story stone buildings, built after the same plan, and costing the sum total of $9,500, exclusive of furnishing. In each building, the second story has one large study room, capable of seating one hundred pupils, with a recitation room adjacent to and leading out of the main room. The lower story is divided into two rooms communicating vtith each other, used for primary and inter¬ mediate departments. The}^ are each capable of seating sixtyfive pupils.

The City Superintendent, Mr. D. Y. Kilgore, in his report says: " At this time, 1857, there are eleven separate schools, in which are employed fifteen teachers. The whole amount expended for rent of school houses, repairs, fuel, incidental expenses and teachers' wages, is less than $6,000; and that, according to the school census, 1,865 children between the ages of four and twenty, reside within the city limits."

On the 4th of July, the Germans had an extempore celebra¬ tion. Aug. Kreur, Orator. The firemen had also a celebra¬ tion; the Declaration of Independence read by Prof. E. S. Carr, and addresses by Myron H. Orton, Chauncey Abbot, J. W. Johnson and S. D. Carpenter. A circus performance, with caliope music, was a feature in the celebration.

The City Hall building was in process of erection in 1857. The size of the same is fifty by one hundred feet, three stories ]iigh, with a front on Mifflin and Wisconsin avenue. Dok- 3IELL & Kutzbock, architects. The first story, above the base¬ ment, designed for stores; the second floor for the use of the .city council and city officers, and the third floor, in one large joom, for public meetings, concerts, etc.

The chapel of the Congregational Church, on Washington .avenue, was commenced in September. The building is fortythree by seventy-two feet. Jas. Jack & Co., carpenters, and J. W. Harvey, masons.

The German Catholic Church on Johnson street, between Carroll and Henry streets, and the German Evangelical Luth¬ eran, on Main street, between Broome and Bassett streets, were also erected this year.

An act was passed by the legislature, approved February 28, 1857, enabling the Board of Regents of the State University, to borrow $40,000 from the principal of the University Fund, for the construction of the main edifice of the University, to .contain all the public rooms required in an institution of learning of the first class. After much consultation, the board adopted a plan for the edifice, of the Roman Doric style of architecture, combining beauty of outline with convenience of internal arrangement. The drawings were furnished by William Tiksley, Esq., of Indianapolis, an architect of experience and reputation. The edifice to contain a chapel, a lecture room for each department with study annexed for the use of the Pro¬ fessor; apartments for library, apparatus, cabinet, and for col¬ lections in natural science and in art.

The plan was accepted, and the contract for the building awarded to James Campbell for the entire work complete at #36,550, he being the lowest bidder. The stone work of the basement story was in an advanced state of forwardness in the fall of 1857, and it was expected that it would be completed .before winter, so as to enable the building committee to com-

The committee in their report say: "The exterior plan of the building is a model of architecture, imposing and massive; and the internal arrangements are such as to most fully meet the wants and necessities of the institution in all its several departments."

The ground was broken for the construction of the building on the first of June, 1857. The following is a brief account of its arrangement: It stands on the highest point of ground in the University Park, one hundred feet above the level of the lake, and the water table of the structure will be more elevated than the dome of the present (the old) Capitol. The general design of the building is a parallelogram, one hundred and forty by seventy feet, and about sixty feet to the cornice; to be sur¬ mounted by a dome whose extreme height will be nearly one hundred and fifty feet. It is not, however, a building of plain surface, like those now erected, but is broken by angles and projections, securing additional convenience and higher archi¬ tectural effect - giving adequate space for its cabinet collec¬ tions, laboratory, scientific apparatus, libraries, reading rooms, society rooms, etc.

The old log house on Butler street - the first dwelling erected in Madison - built in the spring of 1837, and occupied by Ebek Peck, the pioneer settler, as a hotel, was torn down to make way for some handsomer if not better structure, in the month of May. It was old, decayed, and must have tumbled in at no distant day, had the work of destruction not been hastened.

Very soon after the organization of the State government, the Capitol building became inadequate to the proper accom¬ modation of the several departments, which had been brought into being, and the business of which rapidly increased with the growth of the State. Still, by renting rooms in other buildings, it was made to answer the purpose for ten years after Wisconsin was admitted into union.

to a proposition, in the legislature of that ^ear, to remove the seat of government from Madison to some other points Whether there was any real danger of the success of the proposition or not, the people of Madison became alarmed and voted to donate to the State $50,000 in city bonds to aid in the construction of a new capitol upon the old site. This propo¬ sition was accepted by the legislature, and on the third of March, an act was passed authorizing the enlargement of the State Capitol. By this act, the Commissioners of School and University Lands, were directed to sell the ten sections of land appropriated by Congress u for the completion of the public buildings," and apply the proceeds towards enlarging and improving the State Capitol. The State also appropriated $30,000 for the same object. The Governor and Secretary of State were made commissioners for conducting the worlw The plans of Messrs. Donnell & Kutzbock, then architects living at Madison, were adopted, and the east wing was put under contract, and John Ryecraft of Milwaukee, received the award, being the lowest bidder, at $92,000. Mr. Ryecraft subsequently gave up the contract and it was awarded to A. A, McDonnell. The work was completed and occupied by the Assembly in 1859. The following is a brief account of the building: The basement is divided into two rooms, twentythree by thirty-five feet, and two, twenty-six by forty-five feet. In the first stor}^ the same - all these being fire proof, or covered with fire proof arches, the latter to be the governor's and his secretary's, and the secretary of state's appartments. In the upper story an assembly chamber,* sixty-five by sixtyseven feet; one room for the speaker of the house, a clerk's room, a postoffice, and a cloak and hat room; and the ladiesT and gentlemen's galleries, two separate galleries leading to the latter. In front of this projection, a massive stone platform ten feet wide. The roof above it being supported by ten columns fiftyr feet high and about four and a half feet thick.

* This chamber was used by the Assembly in 1859, anc* on the completion; of the west wing, that body removed to it, leaving the east room for the use of the Senate.

By an act of the legislature, approved March 6, 1857, the State Hospital for the Insane was established, and L. J. Farwell, John P. McGregor and Levi Sterling were appointed by the Governor as commissioners. The commissioners, at their first meeting, on the 5th of May, elected L. J. Farwell, President; J. P. McGregor, Secretary; and Levi Sterling, Building Superintendent, and employed S. V. Shipman as architect. After the adoption of plans, specifications and detail drawings, notice was published in every city in the State, that proposals would be received until September 1st, A. D. 1857, for doing all the work and furnishing all the materials in accordance with the plan and specifications.

On the first of September, the bids were opened and the contract awarded to Nelson McNiel of Portage City, for building the central or main building, one longitudinal and one traverse wing for the sum of $78,500.

Mr. McNiel, after making some progress on the work, finally failed entirely, and threw up his contract, which caused much delay in the completion of the building; and it was not until some time in 1860, that it was turned over to the Board of Trustees for the reception of patients.

The following is a synopsis of the plan of the buildings, as drawn by the architect, Col. S. V. Shipman: The structure to consist of the centre or main building, with two longitudinal and two traverse wings - the main building to be sixty-five by one hundred and twenty-seven feet; the longitudinal, each fortyone by ninety-two feet, and the traverse wings forty by eightysix feet; the main building and traverse buildings are to be four stories high - cellar eight feet, first story twelve feet. The second, of the main building, fifteen feet; the third story, thirteen feet; and the fourth stor}^ eleven feet. The first, second and third stories of the wing, will be twelve feet each - the walls of the fourth, or attic story, will be ten feet. The main building and each of the traverse wings are to be sur¬ mounted by a cupola; that of the main building being fifty feet, and of each wing, twenty-seven feet above the roof.

in October. Officers: Wm. Wallace, Foreman; Geo. B. Mc- Gie, Assistant Foreman; J. H. McAvoy, Treasurer; Manning Teedway, Secretary. It has sixty members.

Mendota Fire Engine Company, No. 1, was organized July, 1857, and has over fifty members. Officers: W. Babcock, Foreman; Chas. Billings and Thos. Thomas, Assistants; J. C. Rudd, Treasurer, Wm. H. Holt, Secretary; C. C. Mears,, Steward.

Madison Engine Company, No. 2, was organized soon after. Officers: Geo. Memhaed, Captain; J. Wisler and F. Dingleman, Assistants; Rich'd Baus, Secretary; Fred. Sauthoef, Treasurer; and M. Henrichs, Steward. The company consists of sixty-one members.

The year 1857, will be remembered by many as a disastrous one, in a financial point of view. Early in the fall, what is known as a u monetary panic," came over the country, and the western states felt it severely - Wisconsin as a state, as Madison as a city. A number of merchants were obliged to yield to the pressure and scarcity of money, and close up their places of business. The private improvements of the city were much affected.

During the sessions of the Legislature of 1858, an effort was made to remove the capital to the city of Milwaukee. A bill was introduced into the Assembly, and on its being read a third time, there was a tie vote. Hon. J. H. Knowlton, who had opposed the bill, changed his vote for the removal, which car¬ ried the bill. He then moved to reconsider the vote and to lay that motion upon the table, which was adopted, thus virtually killing the bill for the session.

At the city election held March 1, Hon. Geo. B. Smith re¬ ceived 978 votes and Neely Gray 600 votes - the former was elected, and also the following aldermen: Albert Sherwin and Simon Seckels, First ward; Eri S. Oakley and James Jackt Second ward; Darwin Clark and C. Henrichs, Third ward; and Cassius Fairchild and P. L. Dowling, Fourth ward; D. H. Wright, J. W. Hunt, H. L. Foster and P. D. Barry^, Ward Justices; J. K. Proudfit, Treasurer, and A. B. Bealey, Police

On the 4th of July, the usual anniversary exercises were held, Hon. E. Brigham, President; the Vice Presidents selected from various towns; Wi. R. Smith, Reader; Hon. H. S. Orton, Ora^* tor; Rev. N. H. Eggleston, Chaplain, and W. T. Leitch, Mar¬ shal.

On the 22d of February, the City Hall was opened for the' first time in the evening, and illuminated by gas. The Hall is a spacious room, fifty feet wide by one hundred feet deep, and twenty-four feet from the floor to the ceiling. Exclusive of the gallery and rostrum, it is forty-six feet by seventy-eight; feet; lighted with fourteen large windows, containing over four hundred lights of glass, and in the evening, by one hundred and fifty gas burners, extending around the room just below the cornice, and two large chandeliers and a number of smaller ones. The whole number of burners in the entire edifice is three hundred and fifty.

On the 18th of February, a meeting was held to organize the "Governor's Guards," and the following persons were elected: Julius P. Atwood, Captain; F. D. Fuller, 1st Lieut.; Chas. L. Harris 2d, and S. H. Donnell 3d; Geo. E. Bryant^ 1st Sergeant, H. Conley 2d, H. Meredith 3d, and Georgia Bacon 4th; V. W. Roth, 1st Corporal, E. T. Sprague 2d, E.^ B. Crawford 3d, Ira W. Bird 4th, and J. K. Proudfit, Bnsign ; J. P. Atwood, President, with E. W. Keyes and C. T. Wakeley, Directors; W. S. Main, Treasurer, and J. K. Proud-- fit, Secretary. A number of changes were made in the officers during the year.

On the 25th of February, another military company was or-* ganized, called the " Madison Guards," composed mainly of Irish citizens. The officers first elected were: John Willans^ Captain; Thos. Heeran, Matthew Smith, Lieutenants, and J. R. Hyland, Sergeant.

On the 12th of July, a meeting was held at the Court House,, to organize a cavalry company, at which meeting A. Bishof was Chairman, and D. S. Curtis, Secretary, to be known as-

Rev. N. H. Eggleston, who had been invited to be pastor of the Congregational church in 1855, resigned on the 8th of May 1858, and in November of this year, Rev. Jas. Caldwell was called to supply the pulpit; but after remaining nearly a year, he returned to Illinois, when the pulpit was. supplied by Prof. ,J. D. Butler, of the State University.