New Glarus Town (part 1 of 2)

New Glarus Town

In July, 1845, f°ur men5 Armstrong, Greenwood, Slater, and Jackson bv name, had claims in what is now called New Glarus. There was not a single inhabitant there who owned the place on which he lived ; but the time had come when the long waiting of the unoccupied township was to be rewarded. Here w7as to be shown, as it was to be shown in no other township in the county, how the superfluous- and poverty-stricken children of the old word are transformed in the United States into prosperous and useful citizens. Early in 1S45 *-ne Emigration Association of Glarus determined to relieve the crowded population of that canton by sending a colony to the United States, and Fridolin StreifF and Nicholas Duerst were delegated to come in advance of the colony and select a place for the settlement. They left Switzerland March 8, 1845. At the conclusion of a long voyage they were met in New York by friends of the society, and on the nth of May they started with Joshua Frey of Pennsylvania, on their search for a home for the colony. They arrived at Chicago the morning of the 19th of May, and here the search began. They traveled over Illinois and a large part of Missouri, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Their aim was to rind a place with a healthful climate, convenient markets, good soil and water, and plenty of timber. They selected the township named by them New Glarus, and on the 25th of July they purchased twelve hundred acres in sections fourteen, fifteen, twenty-two, twenty - three, and twenty-seven of that township. The purchase was made at Mineral Point, where Mr. StreifF took the first step towards becoming a citizen of the United States. Not being sufficiently acquainted with the language to take the usual oath, the ceremony, so far as he understood it, consisted in kissing the bible.

The first work of the commissioners was to lay out a road from Green's Prairie to the prospective village, after which, on the 6th of August, Mr. Frey left them to return home. Meanwhile, Messrs. Duerst and StreifF had hastily erected a few shanties for the colonists who were daily expected. The society had not wished to send the colony so soon, but the emigrants became so impatient that it was impossible to restrain them, and they were permitted to start the 16th of April. Some communities paid the traveling expenses of those of their emigrants who could not pay for themselves, and during the night of the 15th and 16th of April, charitably disposed persons raised the money to pay for the passage of a number of families that wished to come but for whom no provision had been made. The colonists went to St. Louis and thence to New Glarus, where thev arrived August 12. Their progress had been delayed by some misunderstanding, on account of which the commissioners were looking for them in Chicago while they were waiting in St. Louis for instructions from the commissioners. At first they were crowded together in a few shanties. Then, as they were able, they built log houses; and whenever a house was built, a shanty was taken down and the lumber used to make the floor and the door of the new house. Few of the houses had two windows, none had more than two. The doors had wooden hinges that Mr. Streiff made himself. Two months after the land was bought, Mr. Duerst, who had never intended to remain in this country, returned to Switzerland, shaking as he went with the ague. The whole care of the colony now devolved on Mr. Streiff. Some of the colonists had a little money, but most of them were so poor that, as one of them expressed it, "if they had to pay six cents for a cat, they couldn't buv it." A few went to Thompson's settlement to work, and a few others spent the winter in Galena; but as a whole the colony was so helpless that Mr. Streiff was compelled to ask for help. The Association sent him <£ 1,000, with which he bought provisions, oxen, seed, agricultural implements, and whatever else was indispensable before the people could take care of themselves. Provisions were bought by the quantity, and sold to families at the lowest possible price. There was little in the houses, and little room for anything besides the folks and the beds. One stove and a few chairs were bought. Bedding had been brought from Switzerland, and beds were made on the floor so close to each other that a housekeeper who confesses to many tears because the men stuck their dirty boots against them, says that while she made her bed she always stood on some other woman's bed. In the mountainous land of their birth, the people had never known such winds as swept through their cabins that long, first winter; and sometimes when they crept shivering to bed they had to take their few umbrellas with them. Fearful of being deceived by the harmless appearance of the Indians who visited them occasionally, timid men and women told till they trembled with terror the stories they had heard of Indian perfidy and cruelty. No wonder. that whereever Mr. Streiff turned he found a woman in tears; no wonder that his incessant labors excited little gratitude, and that he wrote home, " I shall remember the year 1845." The wonder is that on a thousand dollars he could keep nearly a hundred persons from fall to spring in such a way that they should be grateful to him in after year's. He did this, but, though often urged, he has never consented to take charge of another colonv from Switzerland. Through the winter, the men were busy cutting wood and splitting rails. In the spring, the work of breaking prairie began. The Association sold each man twenty acres at three florins an acre, on ten years' time without interest. Some men bought more land, and some claimed land adjoining them, and paid for it in 1855, when the deeds were given by the Association. The commissioners divided the land so that the shares were as nearly as possible alike in their advantages in wood and water, and then, when all had promised to abide by the result, the shares were drawn by lot. Rules for the government of the colony provided that no one should cut wood from another's land, but all might cut from the road. During the first year, two families at least should live in one house, and colonists should help each other in building houses and barns. Until their land was paid for, they were not to dig for mineral. After it was paid for, they might dig; but if lead was found, the land was to be given up to the society, in which case the owner was to be paid the original cost of the land and the value of his improvements in cultivation and buildings, but nothing for the lead.

The reports that went back from the colony were so encouraging that several times in the summer of 1846 recruits came from the mother country. One of them was J. Jacob Tschudy, who was sent to assist in the care of the colony. A report of the condition of the colony dated November 20, '46, and printed for circulation in Switzerland, contains the following: The owners of lots were Fridolin Hoesli, John' Kundert, Paulus Kundert, Henry Hoesli, Leonard Hammerli, Mathias Smith, George Legler, Mrs. Barbara Hoesli, Abraham Schindler, Balthasar Durst, Niklaus Durst, David Schindler, Markus Hoesli, Mathias Duerst, Fridolin Hefti, Fridolin Legler father, Fridolin Legler son, John Caspar Legler, Oswald Babler, Fridolin Babler, Henry Aebli, Hilarius Wild, Mathias Hoesli, Jost Triimpi, Jost Becker, Fridolin StreifF, Gabriel Baumgartner, Caspar Zwicki, Fridolin Oertli. Six men with their families had gone away, and three men, J. Jacob Tschudi, Peter Hoesli, and Jacob Ernst had not yet drawn their lots. There had been two births and seven deaths, and the colony numbered at that time 125 persons. There were twenty houses, of which thirteen were in the village. One hundred and nine acres had been broken, seven hundred bushels of corn and " more than enough potatoes " had been raised. The live stock owned by individuals consisted of two horses, ninety-seven head of cattle including eighteen oxen, one hundred and ninety-nine pigs, and nine sheep. Fowls were still owned in common. A few orchards had been set out. A few garden vegetables, "as peas, chiccory, cabbages and tobacco, also pumpkins were planted bv way of trial." Fortunately, the experiment succeeded, especially in peas and pumpkins. The ground was thought to be too new for wheat, and there was complaint that the potatoes "were not so good as in Switzerland. There were as yet but few fences, and the crops were much injured by the swine as well as by field mice. The prairie fires destroyed hay stacks and fences, and some of the colonists lost their hair in saving their hay-covered houses. Published extracts from Mr. Streiff's letters show that the people were well, but, on account of the hard work they had done, very ragged, also that there was a general desire for a minister and a school. After Mr. Tschudy's arrival, he was, until the people were able to pay for all services rendered, overseer, minister, physician, and teacher. In the summer of '46, the first Swiss school was taught. The next school was Eng- lish. The first frame house in the colony was a school house, though previous to its erection some of the log houses had been boarded over. The people showed no great anxiety to learn the English language, but the children learned it at school, and it gradually made its way in the colony. More efficacious than the schools in Americanizing the people was the habit of the young men and women of going out to service. For years all the hired girls in Monroe were from the colony, and with the language they also acquired in their various homes many of the ideas and customs of the countrv. Married women sometimes left their families, walked to Monroe, washed three or four days, took their pay in flour, old clothes, or whatever they could £et and carried it home on their backs. The men were naturalized very soon. Usually before an election each party had an agent at the colony who offered to pay the naturalization fees of all who would vote for his candidate. The second or third year after the arrival of the colony, Conrad Ott opened a store in the village. Mr. Frederick Egger, who succeeded Mr. Tschudy as agent of the Emigration Society, was the second merchant. The third store was that of Mr. Tschudy, who soon sold it to Mr. Gus. Alder. About the time of its appearance, Dr. Samuel Blumer, the first physician, and the Rev. Wm. Streisgood, the first clergyman, came from Switzerland. In 1855, a stone church was built. For five or six years there was no blacksmith in the colony, and for ten years the people went to Winnesheek to mill. Mark Luchsinger was the first blacksmith, and David Klassy built the first mill. One of the colonists has had the curiosity to search the county records to see how early and how often the names of New Glarus and her citizens appeared. The result is as follows: April, 1847, New Glarus school district was credited with forty children and school three months. Frederick StreifF was appointed road supervisor. January, '48, said supervisor made his report and was paid. A road was laid out from Exeter by way of New Glarus and Green's Prairie to the Mineral Point road. July, '48, J. Jacob Tschudy was allowed an account for bringing; witnesses to United States Court. February, '49, J. Jacob Tschudy was petit juror. November 16, '49, a petition from township 4 north, range 7 east, asking to be set off from the town of York as the town of New Glarus was granted, and it was ordered that the first town meeting should be held at the school house in the village of New Glarus the first Tuesday in April, 1850. January, 1S50, J. Caspar Legler was paid $2 for a wolf scalp. November, 1850, the result of the first assessment of the town was recorded, to which is added by way of contrast the assessment of '76 :

The hotels of S. Luchsinger and H. Marty, the cheesefactory of the New Glarus Cheese Manufacturing Co.,, the saw and flour mills of F. Kundert, the brewery of Hefty and Elmer, the stores of F. E. Legler, F. Tschudy, and A. Kundert, with their various minor accompaniments, enable the village to meet all ordinary wants of the township. At the cheese factory in the village of New Glarus, Mr. Wilder made in 1S76, 136,000 pounds of American cheese. For several years cheese has been shipped directly from this factory to England.. In their old home the Swiss were accustomed to the care of herds and the making of cheese, and as soon as they saw the uneven surface and innumerable springs and brooks of New Glarus, they rejoiced over the adaptation of their new home to the industry learned in the old. From the very first they made cheese to use at home and sell in the county, but its manufacture in large quantities was delayed until some five or six years ago when Mr. Nicholas Gerber started two factories in southern New Glarus and one in Washington. At first only Swiss cheese was made, but of the two lines of industry the manufacture of Limburger cheese is now the more important. Besides the factory of American cheese already mentioned, there is one other, that of Hoesly & Lenherr.

The following: table shows about the amount of Swiss and Limburger cheese made in 1876 by the largest manufacturers in New Glarus and Washington::

Source changes here: from History of Green County, Wisconsin, by Union Publishing Company, Springfield, Ill., Pub. [from Old Catalog], published 1884; 15,278 words in this source stream.

Topography

The town of New Glarus is the second in the northern tier of Green county, beginning from the west. It is bounded on the north by tlie town of Primrose, Dane county; on the east by the town of Exeter; on the south by the town of Washington; and on the west by the town of York. The country is hilly and broken. A bird's eye view of the town might suggest the idea that a gigantic hand had strewed the hills on the surface, hills of the most diversified construction, although generally of about the same height. They are from 200 to 300 feet from the foot of the valley. The ascents to these hills are generally gradual, so that they are accessible with teams from almost any side. The country is very well watered, almost every farm having springs and running streams. The main stream is the Little Sugar river, which is formed in this town by the confluence of a large number of little brooks. The main branch enters the town on the northwest of section 4, takes its course in a southeasterly direction, and makes its exit on section 25. The numerous little streams arising in the westerii and southwestern part of the town flow through the northern part of the town of Washington, in an easterly direction, and unite with the Little Sugar river in the town of Mount Pleasant. The valleys are winding around in all possible curves and angles, not unlike one of those ancient labyrinths, and just as well adapted to mislead a stranger. They are now widening and now contracting, in obedience to the freakish fancies of those lively promontories, projecting here and there into the valley ground. There is one exception to this rule. The " Shmurzi Thale,"* running nearly due west of the village of New Glarus, is not only straight, but even without springs.

The land is well adapted for stock farms. The rich, well watered meadows in the valleys guarantee a heavy crop of hay, even in dry summers, and afford a rich pasture for the Switzer's favorite, the cow, even at times when on the prairies all the grass is singed by the drought. The blessed timber-clad hills are the progenitors of innumerable springs, which send the refreshing element through those cozy valleys, that never fail to make the Switzer and his "Lobeli"f feel at home. The soil on the hills and slopes is a white clay, with a limestone foundation, whilst in the valley it is a rich black loam. The most common kinds of timber growing are: Oak, poplar, hickory, elm, walnut, and cherry. Limestone quarries are numerous. Mineral has never been found.

Early Settlement Of New Glarus

The settlement of New Glarus is perhaps more peculiar and more interesting than that of any other town in the county, because the social, political and religious conditions of the old and of the new world have come into immediate contact here. It has been remarked very maTiy times in a superficial manner, that those experts, who were sent here from old Glarus in 1845, had selected a very poor locality, at a time, when all the land of the great northwest was open to them. It has been considered strange, that intelligent men, after traveling through the States of Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, should recommend these trough-like valleys, these rough, stony hills as being the most suitable place for a settlement. Many a visitor of this colony has received the impression, that if the same amount of work had been applied on some rich, fertile plain, the result would have been much better, the wealth of the population would now be much greater. Would it? It is indeed quite an interesting occurrence.

Were those experts deep, thorough historians, reasoning from historical facts, that the most energetic, enterprising and enduring people have been educated in and by such localities, where nature mostly depends on human labor and perseverance to do any good for man?

Did they compare the civil virtues of those people living in the naturally richest parts of the world with those living in the poorest? Did they ponder the fact that nature is modifying man, as well as man is modifying nature, and that this reciprocal modification is the natural source of the character of a community, and that consequently the physical disadvantages of a country, challenging his industry and stimulating his energy, are more favorable to man's ultimate progress, than the mere agency of a fertile soil, which tends to make the occupant unwilling to perform even the small amount of labor necessary for the reproduction of a rich harvest? Or have they simply been attracted by the similarity of this region with landscapes in Switzerland?

We do not know what idea was predominating in their minds. But one thing we do know, and that is, that no other class of people were as well adapted for this district, or could have made New Glarus what it is to-day. And we feel confident in saying that not only *"mar-

It is an act of great self-denial, a self-sacrifice, a sort of re-generation, that is forced upon every grown person, who undertakes to make a home in the new world. Did you ever notice a foreigner move through the streets of your city or village the first few days after he came across the ocean? Did you ever observe his embarrassment, arising from the consciousness of being different in manners, clothes, appearance, language, in most all the objects of interest, pleasures or aversions? Did you ever stop to think, that every one of these has been taken away from relations and connections, that liave become a part of his nature? He has grown up in a country, where the government, the Church, the school, the society, the family, - in short all the public and private relations hpve virtually guided, directed, superintended and carried him in the way he should go, and prescribed the course that his individual life had to take, leaving hardly any question for him to decide. Did you ever realize that these foreigners had to conform their whole being, physically and mentally to a new world? They have to abandon their old, form new habits, learn a new language, a new way of living and thinking. This is the gravest of all the sufferings that an emigrant has to endure, the root and foundation of home-sickness, which is the most intense of all sicknesses; and the more a person is attached with piety to the venerable customs of the society of the fatherland, the harder will be the combat.

This sacrifice has been offered by the first settlers of the town of New Glarus. They were perfect strangers in every respect. Not even Ofie of them knew how to handle a plow, or faow to sow wheat, or to plant corn, or to build a grain stack, or to do anything of the kind that was daily required of them in their occupation as farmers. They only knew how to tend cows. It will never be fully understood by any one who has not had a similar experience, what privations, inconveniences and humiliations they suffered. "We often cried," says one of the old ladies now, jokingly, "until our heads were like *Laegele, and wished we were at home again, even if we had nothing else to live on but fSchotte and Clirut." But it was worse with them than with the Helvetians of olden times, who tore down the bridges and burnt the villages behind them when they started out to take possession of Gallia. They could come back and restore things, and were glad to do so, whilst the New Glarusers were very much in the dilemma of the bird in the adage: J*'Vogel, friss oder stirb!" They had to stay and try.

It would take up too much room to give a full description of the journey of the first settlers, which took up nearly the whole summer of 1845; but in order to give an idea of what traveling was in that day, we will select some of the dates of a day book which Mathias Durst, one of the fellow travelers, has left us.

We started from Biasche, on the lake of Wallenstadt, in Switzerland, on the 16th day of April; 155 persons were expected to assemble there, but when we were ready to start our number was 193. We understood that our contract was including our board, but our captain told us that he had nothing to do with it. This created quite an animated dispute between our leaders and the captain. But we could not take what was withheld from us. When we arrived at Zurich, those of us that had to stay on deck were half frozen, and those who found a standing room in the cabin were half lame. There we learned that there was no room for all of us in the ship that was to take us to Basel. In great haste and during a heavy rain we had to procure four wagons, in which we put our women and children, and were afterwards glad that they could not find room on the ship, because we men suffered greatly of wet and cold. We came to Laufenburg that day, and stayed over night in a large hall of a hotel, where we laid on straw during one part of the night, and walked through the streets of the village during the other, in order to keep warm. We came to Basel at the same time with the wagons. The landlords in the city were very friendly, and took very good pay for their frieudliness. From Basel we started next morning on the Rhine, and came to a place in the evening where there was a very big hotel, but they only offered beds to single persons, and would not allow a family to come into the house. I, however, was quick enough to run into the house and take the key from a room with two beds, where I put my family to bed after dark without being noticed by any one in coming or in going. In Mannheim we had to wait two days for the steamer. All our money, that we termed the "beginning fund," was used up for the journey, and still we slept on boxes and benches for many a night. From Dordrecht we were transferred to Rotterdam in two small boats, which were so overcrowded that none of us could lie down, or even fall down.

At New Dieppe we were to embark for Baltimore, but we had to wait one week until the ship was fitted up for us. We slept in the ship, but we had to do our cooking on the shore, like the gypsies. On the 13th of May we bade good bye to old lady Europe, and trusted our lives to God and the ship. Any sea-sickness? Yes, lots of it, but excuse me from describing it; it is altogether too personal, and can only be understood when at sea. On the 21st we had a storm, which lasted nearly a whole week, and was fiercest on the 25th. The ship was laid over from one side to the other, dipping up tons of water, and dispatching the same down into the middle deck. Our trunks became living, every one of them traveling on its own risk now east, now west. A bag of potatoes fell ovei-, and the potatoes were in a hurry to find the lowest place on the floor, but were unable to do it in spite of their running to and fro. A little cask of wine, that some careful passenger has slyly hidden in the corner below his berth is coming forth lively to join the general promenade. A large basket-bottle with still higher graded contents follows the irresistable law of attraction and tumbles clown-like on the battle-field, to be crushed the next moment by two colliding trunks. Another pot of a more prosaic nature rolls forth and upsets. The wine keg of course loses its bung on the way, and mixes its contents with the indescribable chaos. The floor of the deck is inclining at an angle of 45 degrees, and the occupants of the berths have to brace themselves up with all their power, in order to avoid an involuntary soramerset. "O, I wish I was at home!" was heard from many sides. But we were on the open sea, and the danger comparatively small.

We had poor board. Our crackers were made of middlings and bran, too hard for wolf's teeth, and coarse enough for a wolf's stomach. It often moved my heart with pity to see the children tire their jaws at them, to no purpose. We were actually suffering from hunger. This morning (June 5) the captain had a pig butchered, and treated every passenger to a ration of fresh pork, for which we were very thankful.

On the forty-sixth day of our sea-voyage we heard the joyous cry: "Land, land!" I tell you it made the roughest thank God. In the evening we saw the lights of the beacon. It made us all rejoice when the pilot came on board our ship. The next morning we were ordered to throw our straw beds into the water, and cheerfully we obeyed; but yet we had to stay two nights on the ship. We landed on the 30th of June at Baltimore.

From Baltimore to Columbia, Peiin., we were forwarded by railroad, for the first time on our journey. But we had hardly time to realize the glorious manner of flying through the country, until our glory was at its end again. In the evening we had to leave the cars and walk over a bridge, two miles long, over the Susquehanna. We were placed in canal boats again, like a flock of sheep, from thirty to thirty-five persons in a boat of twelve feet length and about seven feet width. We could not all of us sit down at the same time. Our boats were each drawn by one horse. At Harrisburg the boats with all the freight on them were loaded on cars, which was done by running the cars into an excavation under the canal. At Huntingdon our boats were again set into their element. We moved through laughing fields, over some hills and through others. We saw log-houses and finely dressed ladies in front of them, milking cows. At first we thought that it must be some holiday; but later we learned that American women always wear their Sunday clothes.

Whenever any of our party stepped out to buy victuals, the boatsmen used to let them walk along side the boat for three or four miles, before they would give them a chance to step in again. On one of these occasions, when several of the victims were completely tired out, I took a hatchet and threatened to cut the rope instantly, to which the horse was hitched. This made them stop, and from this time this trouble was ended. On the morning of the 0th we reached Pittsburg. As we moved into the city, we sang one or two of our Swiss songs, which drew the windows full of hearers. A great fire has destroyed about 1,200 buildings of this city this spring. But if the work goes along for a few months more, as it has done so far, there will hardly be a trace of the destruction left. Americans are quick,

A steamboat forwarded us from Pittsburg to Cincinnati in one week, and our captain gave us an opportunity here to witness the barbarous custom of running one steamboat into another, much to our terror and indignation. The other ship was badly damaged. Cincinnati has now *72,000 inhabitants, they say. A great many of our party, misled by the cheapness of meat, bought more mutton here than could be used, and we had to throw it into the river next day. The last two nights we have also made intimate personal acquaintance with another Araericah evil, the musquitoes. They are little, long-legged flies, which draw the blood out of a body, and leave a certain poison in exchange, of which the parts will swell up.

On the 23d of June we came to St. Louis. Here we expected to receive news from the two experts, that had been sent before us to select a place for colony. But instead of that we heard that they were probably killed by the Indians. We rented rooms in the city for a month, and moved into them, with all our baggage, two or three families into one room. After some days however we received a letter from W. H. Blumer, of Allentown, that our experts had gone to Peru, 111., and it was thought best to send two messengers after them. Jacob Grob and I were chosen. We took passage on a steamboat that went up through the Illinois river. But we made more experience in suffering than we liked. The water was low and our steamer run aground many times, which caused long delay. We had no money to pay for a cabin, and had to lay on trunks or on the floor, the mosquitoes feasting on us and nearly killing us. Mornings we were as swollen, tired and scabby as poor Job. We lost several days, sticking fast in the sand at five or six different places; only an iron patience could keep our spirits up. Finally the captain concluded that the ship had to be left altogether. Eight sailors entered a rowing boat and brought us in this way the last five miles to Peoria. The fact that several of them were drunk and required the help of others to keep them in the boat, did not accelerate our progress any. From Peoria we were obliged to walk seventy-five miles to Peru. The fare by stage was|5, which we could not afford to pay, and no boats were going. We traveled through a country, the sight of which is able to encourage the most down-hearted. We saw innumerable herds of cattle grazing on the rich prairies, corn fields in full splendor, pleasant groves and charming little log houses, scattered here and there. But however modest the place of abode may be, the people are able and willing to furnish a good meal on short notice. We arrived in Peru the 3d of August, and learned that Messi-s. Durst and Streiff had been here, but had gone to Wisconsin. Now we were indeed in a worse situation than ever. No money, no friends, no knowledge of the country. But we found a helper in our distress. The Lord has gleaners all over his earth. A certain J. Freuler, working there, was not only willing to lend us the necessary money to go by stage to Galena, but he also concluded to go with us. We went by the way of Dixon, Forreston and Freeport to Galena, on a miserable wagon, but drawn by excellent horses. (In Europe they have luxuriant stage coaches and very poor horses.) At Galena the aim and object of our search was again thirty miles from us. They have gone to Mineral Point, we were told. And when we came to Mineral Point the same thing was repeated.

But the directions became more certain and definite. They have bought land on the Little Sugar river, thirty-two miles east of here. There we found them. And in the meantime the colonists at St. Louis had received news of the whereabouts of Durst & Streiff, and they came up the Mississippi to Galena, and reached tliere the same night that we returned - the seekers and the seekers' seekers. Hail, Columbia! O, the joy of meeting again! We all made for our new home, the men on foot, the women and children on wagons. Even this second tour had its diflficulties. We missed the road, or rather the direction (there was no road) several times. But at last we got there. It was the 15th day of August, 1845. Every earthly trouble has its end, but most generally a new trouble links its beginning to that end."*

* Here Mr. Durst's day book closes. It was of course written for friends in the old country, and describes things from an European stand point.

Little Sugar river is full of fishes, that feel very much like being at home in spite of the absence of the "Lord of creation," or perhaps because of the fact. Deer with number, rabbits in abundance; they came to inhabit these hills and valleys long ago, without the leadership of any Switzer. Walnuts, hickory nuts, black berries, wild grapes are in great plenty. There is no need of starving. "Our meat market," says one of the settlers, "was round about us in the woods and in the water. Our cooking was done under the great dome of heaven. But our first house was a poor concern. It was a shanty 12x50 feet, just wide enough to hold two rows of sleepers. It was quite a spectacle to see us go to bed. Those that slept on tlie hind end had to lay down first, and this respective order had to be observed, until all were disposed of for the night. If one had the misfortune to have to step out in the night (which occurred very frequently, for our stomachs naturally revolted against unsalted fish), it always created quite an uproar. 'Can't you keep off from my pillow?' 'O, you stand on my toes!' 'Ou! ouch!

would be thrown at him both ways, and by them we could hear how far or near he was. The shanty was built in a hurry. The boards were hauled from Galena. All the fresh air that we cared for had access through the slits. The sides warped in and out, giving the wind a chance to blow all kinds of minor melodies, reminding us of home. Some of us had brought umbrellas from Switzerland, and we were glad to use them 'in the house' every time it rained. But we erected quite a number of log cabins before winter set in, which were occupied by two or three families each, and gave better satisfaction.

"For our clothes we were dependent on what we could earn or find at other places. Many a woman went to Monroe to wash, and carried her wages back in the shape of old clothes for her family. Even several years after, when we first assembled at our log church, the men went in shirt sleeves, through which their elbows looked out inquisitively. And one of the most accomplished ladies made lier appearance at a funeral service in a pair of old men's boots, that had been picked up in the streets of Galena, and brought to her as a present by a gallant landsman. Children's clothes were economically cut out of old bed clothes."

There were several squatters in the neighborhood - Armstrong, Greenwood, Slater, Morley, Britton, Harvey, Lemon, who are often gratefully mentioned by the colonists, as having aided them in many respects during the first years. But the fight for an existence was a hard one, although it did not require more than one year, until they could live on the products of their own land. They broke small pieces of land and raised wheat, which they threshed with hickory sticks. But as soon as they had a surplus, they tried to find a market. And what did they find? Wheat sold for thirty cents a bushel in Milwaukee, and it cost twenty-five cents to get it there. This was slow business to make up money for even a pair of boots. This they stood for several years, and the general impression was, that they could not stay and make any headway, other than merely providing for their daily wants in the most primitive manner. But in ]850, wlien the railroad came as near as Janesville - forty miles - they commenced to think that the land was worth having. Than the entering jjeriod came. Fifty dollars would buy a forty acre piece at the land office in Mineral Point, and every $50 that could be raked up went to the Point. This excitement must be observed in order to be understood. Several neighbors would often cast their eyes on the same forty. The one that could make up $50 first was the victor. Sometimes it was a close shave. It happened more than once, that a man, after he got wind that his neighbor was about going to the Point the next day, started in the night and bought the land before the other came. The land entering

The school at New Glarus was commenced under great difficulties. One of the scholars of the first English school describes the same as follows : The place where the school was taught was the largest and best house in tlie settlement, that is to say, a log-house about 18x20, a private house, the one room being kitchen, sitting room and dining-room of a large family, and school-room at the same tiiue. The bed in it was the general depository of all the scholars' books, slates, dinner pails, hats, caps, mittens, etc. Mr. Kilroy, the teacher, had us seated on benches all around the room. He ordered us to learn all together at once. Every scholar studied spelling, reading and writing after his own method, and at his own time. The only command of the teacher was, Chineselike, that every scholar must learn aloud. He walked up and down in tlie room, stick in hand, and punished the disobedient, who did not speak up loud. When he was lired, he would demand and take room of the length of his body on one of the benches, and try to sleep, then we would learn pretty loud, so loud that Mrs. Schmid, who was cooking and taking care of her children, would emphatically raise her large wooden pot-ladle, and declare in full force and earnest, that she would certainly put a stop to this noise.

The teacher was boarded around, and was treated as nobly as possible. One of the ladies remembers now, that she borrowed a coffee cup for him, so he might drink his coffee from acup, instead of dipping it with a spoon out of the pan with the family. Whether tins was sincere courtesy, or whether sl)e was afraid of the tobacco juice, hanging on his mustache, would surely be an impertinent question. Mr. Kilroy did not teach but two terms. Since that the schools of New Glarus have advanced with the times. A new school house was built in 1840, and a fine bell was presented for it, by friends of the colony from the old home. When the bell was rung for the first time, on a Sunday morning, just after it had been hauled from Milwaukee, by Mr. Baumgartner, it was on the ground, on an elevation just behind the school house, and the people, standing around it were moved to tears. Now-a days, it must be said, there is a great amount of bell-ringing done at New Glarus; but it leaves the great majority of the people cold, up to the heart. Worldly matters are predominant.

The town of New Glarus has been a wheatgrowing district for many years. Those hillsides and plateaux have in many instances stood the abuse of being plowed and sowed with wheat for twelve or fifteen successive years. Little else was raised during the time of twenty years, from 1 850 to 1870. But when the price of wheat came down, after the close of the war, when the hill-sides were cut up by numerous ditches, when the arable portion of the fields was washed away in many places, and above all, when the "chinch bugs" appeared, and ate up the wheat crop year after year, then the farmers were forced to think of the next thing on the programme. The old system had to be abandoned. "Aut Caesar aut nihil!" was the alternative of the captives of the old Romans, when the point of the sword was on their breast. So it was with the farmers of the hilly part of Green county. "Either cheese or nothing!" and happily we got the cheese. The old wheat fields were seeded with clover and grass. Cows were put on them. Cheese factories were built. After the fact was proved, that there was a ready market for cheese, it only took five or six years until cheese-making was the main branch of work for the whole farming population. At present, no less than 800,000 pounds of cheese are annually manufactured in the town of New Glarus during six or seven months. This does not only pay better, but the farms are constantly made more productive.

available piece of land is plowed and turned into meadow. Fortunately nature has furnished some stony bill-sides and ravines, where they can do no better than let the timber grow, or else they would shave the whole town bald. An another important fact, tending to leave some bunches of timber, is, that the sons and grandsons of the first settlers are not quite so ambitious to change the face of the earth, as their fathers were in their days. Fruit trees have never done well. As a rule untime frosts will destroy the blossoms of the apple trees, and the trees themselves will die soon.

A vineyard was started in 1860, by Mr. North, formerly of Alsace, a great grape district in Germany. Mr. North's vineyard has been a success. It now counts 1,800 plants covering about one acre, and has yielded as much as 500 gallons of wine in one season, 300 being the average. The many large and commodious barns are another pleasant feature of the town of New Glarus. Generally these barns are built on hill sides, with drive-ways from the backside into them, some twelve or fourteen feet above the hay floor, thereby greatly reducing the work of unloading hay. In the stone basement there is room for sixty or seventy, and sometimes over 100 head of cattle.

All practical, agricultural pursuits have been crowned with success. The good improvement oi the soil, the fine buildings, the large herds of fine cows, the numerous cheese factories, the well patronized saloons, the comforts and luxuries in every house, the grave-yards with their numerous costly monuments, all unanimously prove the wealth of the population, and even the annual tax roll sometimes involuntarily confirms the general conviction.

But a historian, in order to be of any value, must be truthful, and present both sides. The progress in New Glarus has been one-sided. 'I'he nobler ideal pursuits have not kept pace with the materialistic. The society of Nevv Glarus suffers from insutlicient circulation. The social pulse is low. We are missing the stimulating influence of other social elements. This is the case with all colonies, where people from one and the same district of the old world, exclusive of all others, are transplanted into the new world. Their moral and social development becomes suspended, owing to the fact, that they are sec'uded as well from the new world as from the old. They have no opportunity of observing their peculiarities and infirmities by comparing their conduct with that of others. They are all so familiar with each other, that they fail to see the necessity of restraining those many improprieties that are commonly easily subdued in a society made up of different nationalities. Thus it has been with us. We stand right there, where society stood forty years ago in the canton of Glarus, with the only addition of the new impulse of making money, that was imparted to us by the superlative of good chances, which we found in this country for that impulse. And in a great many this is the predominant trait of character, and perhaps the only one capable of manifesting itself to the outside world. Apparently no other exertion is made. If this confession is humiliating, it is at least true. And if it is true, a wise man may learn by it.

Organic

'J'he first town election in New Glarus was held April 2, 1850. The following were officers of the election: John Westcott, chairman; J. F. Westcott, clerk; Rudolph Baumgartner and Joseph Trogener, inspectors. The following town officers were elected: John Westcott, chairman, Joseph Trogener and Oswald Baumgartner, supervisors; J. F. Westcott, town clerk; Henry Hoe-^ly, assessor; J. F. Westcott, treasurer; Jdhii Westcott, superintendent of schools; Oswald iiaumgartner, Joseph Trogener, Peter ' oung and John Westcott, justices of the peace; Henry I ruempy, Henry Hoesly and J. F. Westcott, constables; Joseph Trogener, Henry Albly and J. F. Westcott, road overseers.

Becker and Jacob Stuessy, supervisors; Matthew Stuessy, town clerk; Adam Schraid, treasurer; Christian Lucbsinger, assessor; Christian Luchsinger, Thomas Hefty and Fred Luchsinger, justices of the peace.

Schools Of New Glarus

There are but three full school districts in this town - District No. 1 has a two story frame school house located in the village, valued at $2, J 50. Number of pupils 124. District No. 2, a good frame house located on section 33, valued at $400. Number of pupils, thirty-three. District No. 3, stone school house on section 9; valued at |i400. Number of pupils, fifty. There are six joint districts - Joint district No. 2, with New Glarus and York,school house in York. Number of pupils in New Glarus, eighteen. Joint district No. 3, New Glarus and York, with house in York. Pupils in New Glarus, fifteen. Joint district No. 4, New Glarus and W^ashington, house in Washington. Number of pupils in New Glarus, twelve. Joint district No. 4, New Glarus and Exeter, house in Exeter. Number of pupils in New Glarus, eight. Joint district No. 4, New Glarus, Primrose and Exeter, stone school house in New Glarus, section 1, valued at $400. Number of pupils in New Glarus, eight. Joint district No. 9, New Glarus and Primrose, house in Primrose. Number of pupils in New Glarus, three.

Physicians Of New Glarus

Dr. Samuel Blumer was the first resident physician of this town. He came here in 1848, and practiced until 1852, when he went to California. Returnin<>; to New Glarus, in 1855, he liad an extensive practice until 18(;8, when he left here, and after a few months residence in Monroe, he went to Galena, and later to Sioux City, Iowa, where lie died in 1871. The doctor is well remembered as a conservative, old school practitionei-. During liis residence in California, this town was without a doctor, but the minister of the Swiss Reformed Church, Rev. Mr. Streissgurth, who liad a limited knowledge of

During a portion of the years 1861 and 1862, Dr. Fred Hees, who came here from Switzerland, practiced medicine. In 1862 he enlisted in the army and died in the service.

Dr. J. J. Blumer, a son of Dr. Samuel Blumer, located here in 1869, and. is now the resident physician. He has the confidence of the people and is in every way worthy of it.

In 1884 there were three cemeteries in the town of New Glarus. The oldest one is adjoining the church of the colonists. The grounds forming this quaint church yard, becoming filled with the dead of the congregation, a new cemetery was laid out about eighty rods west of the village, which is well cared for. The grounds are dotted with memorial monuments; for it is the universal custom of the people to mark the graves of their dead.

The third cemetery is located on the same road, about half a mile from the village, and belongs to the German Evangelical Society. It is neatly arranged.

Cheese Factories

The town of New Glarus is noted throughout southern Wisconsin for its dairy products. Especially is it noted for its manufacture of cheese, including almost every variety of cheese known to the trade. Eighteen factories are in operation here, and each year notes new enterprises of this kind.

The village cheese factory in 1884 was operated by Henry Holdrich. This establishment uses the milk of about 425 cows. It is owned by a stock c(Mnpany, the officers of which are: Fred Kundert, president; Mathias Stuessy, secretary; Jacob Streiff, treasurer. The product is American and Limburger cheese. This is the largest factory in the town. It was built in 1873.

The Spring Valley cheese manufacturing company built a factory on section 2 in 1876. The company hire the workmen and use the milk of about 200 cows in producing Limburger cheese.

On section 6 a factory was built by tlie farmers in 1877, called E. Erickson factory. Jacob Blom was operating the factory in 1884, buying the milk of 100 cows and making Limburger and brick clieese.

The Fred Streiff factory, also on section 6, owned by a stock company, with Nicalaus Zentner, president. This factory is one of the largest in the town. It uses the milk of about 300 cows in making Limburger cheese.

On section 10 a stock company with Fred Becker, president; Adam Schmid, secretary; and Jacob Ott, treasurer, are manufacturing the milk of 300 cows into Limburger cheese. This company have one of the most conveniently arranged factories in the town.

A stock company own a factory on section 13, near the residence of Conrad Zimmerman. This factory was built in 1875. During the first five years it made Limburger cheese. The past four years they have manufactured American cheese, selling their milk to Thomas Hauser, nKuiuf;icturer.

On section 19 Joseph Schindier for tlie manufacture of Swiss cheese from the milk of his own farm, has erected a factory. He has thirty-five cows.

In 1877 a sto<'k company b'lilt a factory on section 20. The managers in 1884 were: John Marty and Julius Eichelkraut. This estahlishnuMit makes Limlnirger cheese, and uses the milk of about 130 cows.

Mathias Elmer, who lives on section 22, owns a private factory, and makes up the milk of his own cows, about forty in number, into Swiss cheese.

Dietrich Stauffacher, living on section 35, for his own use in manufacturing of Swiss cheese, has built a factory. He uses the milk of sixtyfive cows.

A stock company own a factory on section 29, which was built in 1879. Jacob Bloom operates this factory, buying the milk of about 120 cows. It makes brick and Limburger cheese.

On section 32 Peter Klassy lives and owns a factory. He uses the milk of his own cows and buys some of neighbors. He manufactures Swiss cheese.

David Hefty built a cheese factory in 1881 on section 33, for the manufacture of Limburger and brick cheese. He uses the milk of about eighty cows.

The Legler factory is also on section 33. Jacob Regetz operates this factory and buys the milk of 200 cows from the stockholders. This company was formed in 1877. They make Limburger cheese.

The first and only saw mill in this town was built in 1851, on the branch of Sugar river which passes through the town, a little east of New Glarus village. This mill site is but a short distance north of the village, the water power was used by the flour mill; the saw mill w."is built by Joshua Wild. Three years later he sold to David Klassy, who, in I860 built the grist mill which now (18x4) is owned by Fred Kundert. I'liis mill lias four run of stone, two for flour and two for feed. The building is 26x30 feet, in size, two and one-half stories high, with small wing for ollice. The stream furnisiies eight head of water here. David Klassy sold the property in 1864 to S. and H. Hoesly, who sold in 1868 to Mathias Schraid. One year later he sold a half interest to Rudolph Kundert. In 1873, upon the death of the latter, his son, Fred, inherited his interest, and later bought the interest of Mr. Schmid. Mr. Kundert rents the property. The saw mill has for long years been among the things that were. The grist mill is now (1884) rented to A. N. Beeny, an English miller of twenty-five years experience - a thoroughly practical man.

Fredolin Kundert, one of the solid men of New Glarus financially, lives about one-half mile north of the village. He owns the mill property and a fine farm of about 500 acres. He is a son of the late Rudolph Kundert, and was born Jan. 28, 1854. His father and mother, Elizabeth, were born in canton Glarus, Switzerland, and came to this town in 1848, first settling on section II, but sold there in 1850 and bought on section 14, the place now owned by Fredolin. Of the family, one child was brought from Switzerland - Elizabeth, wife of John Klassy. Three were born here-Barbara, now the wife of Thomas Hefty; Fredolin and Adam, who died when six years old. The father, Rudolph Kundert, died April 8, 1871; his widow was married to J. U. Summer, of Monroe, and was living in 1884. Fredolin Kundert, the subject of this sketch, was married to Maria, daughter of Joshua Wild, March 19, 1873, They have six children - Fred, born in 1874; Barbara, born in 1876; EUeti, born in 1878; John II., born in 1879; Edwin, born in 1881, and Rudolph, born in 1883. Mrs. Kundert's father, Joshua Wild, came from Switzerland in 1845 with his family, and lived five years in Syracuse, N. Y., where he was employed in the machine shops of a railroad company. In 1850 he came to New Glarus, and built the only saw mill the town ever owned. In 1854 he bought the general store in the village and continued in trade a few years, then moved to Paoli, Dane county, but after a short residence there, returned to this town, and being out of health, retired from active business life. He died Sept. 24, 1878 His widow still resides in the village. Five of his children are living - Mrs. Catharine Eichel Kraut, Mrs. Barbara Streiff, Mrs. Mary Kundert, John, and Mrs. Ellen Hoesly. Fredolin Kundert is the present chairman of the town board of supervisors.

Albert N. Beeny was born in Herstmonceux, Sussex Co., England, April 21, 1847. His father was a miller and a grain dealer, following this business for about forty years before his death. He was also a manufacturer of brick and ornamental tile. He did an extensive business in both industries. He died in England in 1872, aged sixty-nine years. His wife died many years before him. There were twelve children who lived until the youngest was over thirty years of age before a death occurred among them. The youngest son, Albert N., was educated to the milling business, commencing work at twelve years of age, and under the thorough system of his father, he became proficient in the business. After his father's death, he conducted an extensive business on his own account for five years. . He came to the United States in February, 1878. He engaged in the State of New York for two years or more in adjusting buhr's in a flouring mill. He then came west and operated a mill at Pittsburg, Van Buren Co., Iowa, part of one season. He was a short time after in Nebraska. From there he went to Rushford, Minn., and rented and operated a mill eighteen months. He came to New Glarus in the spring of 1884 and rented the mill owned by Fred Kundert. Mr. Beeny is a thorough master of his trade, and is also engaged in the manfacture of yeast-cakes, which are a great favorite with the house-wives.

First Events

Death is never welcome, but very sad it is when striking one out of a family. After having passed the privations and hardships undergone by the colonists on their journey from Switzerland here, almost in sight of the land of their adoption, between Wiota and the end of their journey, a young son of Mathias and Katrina Schmid was called to the eternal home. Sadly the parents carried the mortal remains of their boy to the end of the journey, and buried liim tenderly - their first sacrificial offering to God in "New Glarus."

The first birth in the new colony made the family number full again, for Dec. 12, 1845, Thomas, son of Mathias and Katrina Schmid, was born.

. Among the first (if not the first) marriages in this town was that of Henry Albly and Mary Becker, which was celebrated in the Swiss style, Oct. 26, 1847.

Not after the manner of buying and platting of a village site so usual in our west was new Glarus village started. The colonists, after tiie fashion at home, clustered here, their lands more or less remote. Next came their church building and school house, and soon the wants of the new colony demanded trade and exchange. A store was opened here in 1850 by three brothers, James, George and Conrad Ott. The building which they erected is now occupied by Hefty <fe Kundert. They sold not long after to J. J. Tschudy (now of Monroe), who sold to F. Egger. He was succeeded in trade by F. E. Legler, who continued in trade until 1882, and then sold to the present proprietors, Hefty & Kundert.

Fritz Tschudy opened a store in 1866, in a building erected by him in that year. He has occupied this building, with some additions, and conducted the business of general merchandising from that time to this date (1884). He was born in canton Glarus, Switzerland, March 1, 1832. At the age of sixteen years he came to the United States, and directly to Green county, by the way of Buffalo and the lakes, to Milwaukee. He was accompanied by Barbara Hottenger, the betrothed wife of J. J. Tschudy, who met them at Milwaukee and was there married to Miss Hottenger. The trio then proceeded to New Glarus. Fritz Tschudy, in

1854, returned to Switzerland, and was married in the church where he was christened, to Araalia Blumer, on the twenty-third anniversary of his birth, and returned to America in 1855. They have four children - Joshua, who is married and living in New Glarus village; Fredolin, Catharine, wife of Henry Luchsinger, and John Jacob. Mr. Tschudy has been in trade at his present location since 1866. He is an enterprising and public spirited citizen. He has served many terms as justice of the peace, and many years upon the school board.

Thomas Hoesly, Jr., erected for trade and residence a building in 1880, and opened a stock of general merchandise. He has continued to this date. He was born in Barcelona, Spain, Nov. 9, 1851. Mr. Hoesly is of Swiss descent. His father died while he was a babe. His mother married again, and died in Spain in 1864. Thomas left his mother when he was but nine years of age and went to Switzerland. After living there three years he came to the United States with a party of emigrants. In the year of 1864 he came to this town. Several years after coming here he lived with his uncle, Andrew Hoesly, on a farm. After he became of age he learned the harness maker's trade, with Henry Muiichean, of Evansville, and in the year 1875 he opened a harness shop in New Glarus, and followed this business until 1880, when failing health compelled him to change his avocation. He then erected a building for a residence and store, and opened a general merchandise store, and yet continues in that business, having built up by honesty and energy a good trade. Mr. Hoesly married Ellen Kundert Nov. 23, 1876. She is a daughter of Thomas Kundert, and was born in this town June 21, 1857. They have had four children - Amalia, born November, 1877, died at two years of age; Louisa, born in April, 1879, died in infancy; Araalia C, born in June, 1882; and Thomas A., born in March, 1884.

The first hotel was called the New Giarus House. It was built in 1854, by M. &R. Baumgartner, who sold to Joe Genal, who now keeps the William Tell House at Madison. After several changes it came into the hands of S. Luchsinger, who kept it many years. It is now (1884) kept by Henry Marty.

The Wisconsin House was built for a store, about 1862, by Gustavus Alder, who traded about two years, when Henry Marty bought the building and added to it, and opened a hotel, which he kept about fourteen years. Henry Hoesly and Ulrich Kubly have been landlords. It is now well kept by Henry Albly,Jr.

Henry Albly, Jr., son of Henry and Mary Albly, was born June 7, 1850. His father was a farmer, and to this avocation the son was reared. He lived with his father, in his employ, after becomhig of age, until he was married, Jan. 14, 1874, to Mary, daughter of Samuel and Barbara Durot. They came from Switzerland in 185.T. Three years after the marriage they lived in the family of Henry Albly, Sr. Then he bought 108 acres of land of his father, on section 18, town of Exeter. In the fall of 1883 he sold his land and bought the Wisconsin House in New Giarus, which he now keeps - and very satisfactorily to his guests - making it a traveler's home. Mr. and Mrs. Albly have four children - Ann Mary, born in 1875; Henry N., born in 1877; Barbara E., born in 1878; and Magdalina I., born in 1881.

In 1872 Marcus Hoesly bought the store and saloon business of Peter Zweifel, and added largely to the building, and now does a hotel business and also keeps a meat market. He was born in the canton of Giarus, Switzerland, Feb. 14, 1844. His father, Matthew Hoesly, with his wife and two sons, Yost and Marcus, were among the first colonists, who came to New Giarus in 1845. Matthew Hoesly was a farmer, and Marcus was reared upon a farm. Yost enlisted early in the year 1863, in the 31st Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry and died in the service, Nov. 3, 1 864, at Madison, Wis. He had been home on a furlough, granted on account of sickness, and was returning to his regiment when he was again prostrated by sickness from which he never recovei'ed. Marcus Hoesly was married Oct. 13, 1864, to Anna, daughter of Thomas Kuudert, who came from Schweitzerland in 1847, and died here in May 1882. Mrs. Kundert (his widow) and her mother, Mrs. Anna Schindler, are living in New Giarus. The latter is eighty-five years of age. Marcus Hoesly, at the time of his marriage was working at his father's farm, which he continued until the fall of 1872, when he bought the business of Peter Zweifel, store and saloon. The grocery store he kept up about two years. He then abandoned that business and opened a meat market. He has. made large additions to his building in the past few years, and as before stated, keeps hotel, also a saloon and meat market. Mr. and Mrs. Hoesly have had seven children - Matthew, born in 1865; Thomas, born in 1866; Marcus, born in 1867; Barbara, born in 1869; Amalia, born in 1870, and died in infancy; Amalia, born in 1872, and John M. born in 1879. Mr. Hoesly has served six years as assessor of New Giarus, and two terms on the town board.

Fred Schindler keeps boarding house, meat market and saloon, (the only saloon aside from the hotels). Mr. Schindler has been in the business since 1880. He was born in canton of Giarus, Switzerland, Aug. 20, 1844. His father, Fred Schindler, Sr., came to Wisconsin in 1853, He was a blacksmith. The first year he worked at Monroe, and came to this town in 1854. In 1855 be sent to Switzerland for his family to come to him, and his wife, Elizabeth E., and five children came. The children were - Regiila, Barbara, wife of George Legler, now deceased; Kate, wife of Thomas Mitchell, of Monticello; Fred, the subject of this sketch, and Abraham. One sister, and her husband, Leonard Hammerly, came from Switzerland in 1853. They live near Mound Sterling, in Crawford county. Another sister, Dorothea, and her husband Casper Knobel, came 1860. He enlisted in the 3l8t Wisconsin Volunteers, and died in the hospital in 1864. His widow married a brother of her first husband, Abram Knobel. Fred Schindler, subject of this sketch, married Rosina, a daughter of John J. Durst, in 1866. She was born in Switzerland in 1842. Her father was one of the colonists of New Giarus. He died in 1876, Her mother died in Switzerland. Fred Schindler, Sr., father of the subject of this sketch, died in 1872, his widow survived him and lives with Fred. Mr. and Mrs. Schindler have five children - Elizabeth, Rosa, Barbara. Kate and Fred. They commenced married life on a farm of 200 acres which Fred owned on section 34. He sold this farm to his brother Abram in 1882, Fred bought his property in the village and occupied it in 1880, where he keeps a boarding house, saloon and meat market. He has served two terms on the town board, and is one of the prominent men of the village.

A building was erected in 1867, by Jacob Hefty and Samuel Blumer, intended for a distillery, but never used in that business. The ownership passed into the hands of Jacob Hefty, in 1871, who converted it into a brewery. In 1879 he added to the building largely and continues in the business, manufacturing from 600 to 700 barrels per annum.

J. Jacob Hefty was born in the canton of Giarus, Switzerland, May 8, 1834. His father and family were part of the first colony, coming here in 1845. His father's name was Fridolin Hefty. His mother, Rosina Hefty, died in Switzerland in 1841, His father was married to his second wife when he came to New Giarus. He died in 1854. His widow survived until 1872. The subject of this sketch was married in Switzerland, June 28, 1850, to Margaret Ortle, who was born Jan. 20,1842. They have .five children - Fred, born in 1861; Margaret, born in 1862; Rosa, born in 1864; Casper, born in 1867, and Jacob, born in 1878. Mr. Hefty, in the early, colony days, did a great deal of land breaking with five and six yoke of oxen. The price for breaking was $2.50 per acre. He was was afterwards engaged in drawing farm produce to the markets of Janesville and Madison, but has for many years devoted his time entirely to his brewery. Mr. Hefty's recollections of the journey here, made when he was eleven years of age, are vivid. He says, "I had much trouble in biting the 'hard-tack', our regular food. I remember the slow climbing of hills, while canal boats were passed through the lock in Pennsylvania, how we were lodged in a cellar in St. Louis, for weeks, while waiting for the agents to come and pilot us to New Giarus, the tired worn out condition in which we reached our new home, the passing of our first night under a tree, and the next day how father put up a hut covered with boughs, in which we lived for months. Fortunately we had umbrellas, brought with us from our old home, and we used them in our new home every time it rained. Father made a log house before it was very cold and many of the other settlers would come to us daily to get warm, during the following^ winter. Pumpkins and corn mush comprised our daily food. When I look about now and see the abundance of everything and the comfortable houses everywhere, I almost doubt my own memory."

Shops Of New Glarus

The cemeteries of this town are adorned by marble work, the manufacturer of which is John Peter Schmid, who learned his trade while young in Switzerland.

Glarus, Switzerland, Aug, 11, 1846. When thirteen years old he began learning the marble cutter's trade and at sixteen years of age, was earning wages at that work. He came to the United States in 1877, worked a few months in Philadelphia, and from there went to St. Louis, where he was employed a short time, then spent a short time in Ohio, after which he came to New Glarus, where he has since resided. He opened a marble cutter's shop the first year of his residence here, and still continues that business, doing all the marble cutting for New Glarus and surrounding towns. Mr. Schmid was married in Switzerland, Feb. 16, 1867, to Mary Kundert. They have six children - Maggie, now the wife of John Rieder; Melchior, Anna and Mary, who were born in Switzerland; John Peter and Albert Rudolf, born in the United States. Mr. Schmid is an excellent workman and strictly honest and conscientious in all of his dealings.

Gabriel Schindler, proprietor of the wagon and blacksmith shop in New Glarus, commenced in a small way in 1876. His business increasing, he rebuilt in 1881, making a two story building, 22x36 feet in size, and in 1883, added to this of the same height, 22x24 feet, renting the upper room to the United Workmen's lodge. Mr. Schindler is doing a prosperous business. He is a son of Abraham and Anna Schindler, and was born in New Glarus, Jan. 24, 1847. Abraham Schindler, with his wife and three sons, came to New Glarus with the colony of 1845. They were natives of the canton of Glarus, in Switzerland. The three sons were - Andrew, Abraham and Fred. The father and two of the sons, Andrew and Abraham, died with the cholera in 1854. Fred had died previous to that time. The mother died in 1861. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Schindler in New Glarus - Gabriel, subject of this sketch, Jacob, who lives in Ohio, and Anna, widow of Oswald Elmer, living in the village of New Glarus. Gabriel Schindler was married April 15, 1869, to Barbara Hefty, daughter of Sebastian Hefty. She was born in Switzerland, where her parents died. She came to New Glarus in 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Schindler have two children - S. Albert, born in 1871, and Anna, boi-n in 1873. Mr. Schindler is one of the active business men of the town. Mrs. Schindler keeps a millinery store in the village and is a woman of much energy and business capacity.

Melchoir Schinid, one of the mechanics of the village, has been in tiie blacksmith business since 1874. He is a son of Mathias and Catharina Schmid, who settled in New Glarus with the colony, in 1845, and was born in this town Feb. 10, 1850. His parents were both born in the canton of Glarus, Switzerland. Their first location here was upon a piece of land onehaif mile south of the present village. Mathias Schmid died in 1854 and his wife in 1877. Four of their children, who came with them from Switzerland, are now living - Mathias lives in Dakota; Henry, Adam and Catharine, who is married to Caspar Heuser, reside in this town. Two children were born in New Glarus - Thomas, born Dec. 12, 1845, was the first born child of the New Glarus colonists and Melchoir, the subject of this sketch. Thomas resides in Exeter. Melchoir Schmid was united in marriage with Rosa Durst, Nov. 13, 1873. She is a daughter of Mathias and Verena Durst, also colonists of 1845. Rosa was born May 28, 1854, Mathias Durst died in 1857. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Durst who came with them from Switzerland, two are living - Sebastian and Fanny, wife of Henry Marty. Of those born here two are living - Rosa and Nicholas. The first death among the colonists after their arrival in Wisconsin, was a young son of Mathias and Catharina Schmid, who died after leaving Galena and before they reached their destination. Melchoir Schmid is in the blacksmith business, liaving owned a shop since 1874.

History Of Green Coun'J Y.

New Glarus postoffice was established in 1850. The first postmaster was a Frenchman named Panchouz. He was succeeded by Joshua Wild, and he in turn by J. J. Tschudy; then F. Egger. F.E. Legler and Thomas C. Hefty, who is the present postmaster. The office is in Hefty & Kundert's store.

Thomas C. Hefty, of the firm of Hefty & Kundert, was born in this town, and is a son of Caspar and Elizabeth Hefty. Caspar Hefty was born in Switzerland, and came to Green county and settled in the town of Washington, about 1847. Elizabeth Hefty, also a native of Switzerland, came to this county one year previous to her husband. They were married in the town of Washington, and a few years later came to New Glarus to reside, locating on section 28, where Mr. Hefty bought 250 acres of land. Caspar Hefty died in April, J 876. His widow now lives with a married daughter, Mrs. Jacob Elmer, in Mount Pleasant. They had ten children - Marcus, deceased; Henry, living in Washington; Caspar, living at the homestead; Peter, living in Jefferson Co., Kansas; Melchoir, living in the same county, where they own a large farm of 500 acres; Thomas C, subject of this sketch; Barbara, wife of Anton Richards, of Jeffei'son Co., Kansas; John and Elizabeth, deceased. Thomas C. Hefty was born March 2, 1859, and was married April 8, 1880, to Elizabeth, daughter of Paulus Kundert. She was born Dec. 30, 1861. They have two children - Lillian E., born in 188!, andEsthaS., born in 1883. Mr. Hefty is postmaster of New Glarus. The firm are doing a prosperous business. Although young, Mr. Hefty has the qualifications necessary for a successful business career.

The United Workmen lodge was organized Aug. 25, 1883, with the following officers: M. Hoesly, W. M.; Oswald Babler, P. W. M.; Oswald Elmer, foreman; G. Schindler, overseer; M. Schmid, financier; E. J. Eisner, receiver; T. C. Hefty, recorder; Yost Hoesly, guide; Fredaline Schindler, J. W.; Jacob Hefty, O. W. Cliarter membership, twenty-six; present membership, thirty-eight. The death of Oswald Elmer, the foreman, occurred shortly after the organization. The vacancy in the ofiicial staff of the lodge was filled by the election of Thomas Hoesly.

The religion of the people of New Glarus is of the denomination called the Swiss Reformed Church. The first church was a log building erected in 1849, and used as a church and school house. The first pastor was Rev. Mr. Streissgurth, who located in 1849 and remained until 1855. In 1884 he was still living, and at the Mastei-'s work. He was succeeded by Rev. John Zimmerman, who came from Switzerland in 1852, and came here in 1855. He remained with this people until 1859. He is now the pastor of a German Church in Burlington, Iowa. In 1859 the present church replaced the log church of the colonists. In that year the present pastor was located here. Rev. John T. Eltee. He was born in Switzerland, in 1832. The son of a clergyman, he was educated to the work from his youth. He came to the United States in 1850 and studied English in a university at Chambersburg, Penn. His first charge was in Tennessee, and later he was settled at Sauk City. Going for that purpose, he was married in Switzerland, in 1855. He has only two children living, both now residents of Monroe - Robert and John T. About 1873 the society built a school house for imparting denominational education. The house is also used for an independent school, in which German is taught by Fabian Knobel.

Biographical Sketches

Among the Swiss colonists of New Glarus can be found no more enterprising people than the following, of whom biographical sketches are given.

Oswald Babler, son of Oswald and Ursula Babler, was born June 11, 1835. His parents came here with the colony of 1845. '1 he other children of Mr. and Mrs. Babler, who came with them, were - Elizabeth, deceased wife of John Streiff; Esaias deceased; Nicholaus, who was killed by lightninsr, in 1853; and Anna, wife of Henry Holsby, living in Oregon. Thefatlier died the second year of his residence here. The mother lived with her daughter, Mrs. Streiff, many years before her death, which occurred in 1873. The subject of this sketch, Oswald Babler, went to Madison in 1856, to learn the trade of cabinet maker. He remained there three years. He then commenced improving his share of the land coming to him through the claim made by his father and paid for by the family, eighty acres of which came into his possession. 'J'his land is on section 25, and is now a part of his farm of 135 acres. He was married June 15; 1860, to Sarah Kundert, daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth Kundert, and sister of Mrs, John Luchsinger, of Monroe. Her father died in Switzerland, when she was quite young. Her mother, who came here in 1855, lives with Mr. and Mrs. Babler. Feb. 2, 1865, Mr. Babler enlisted in company I, of the 46th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served until the regiment was mustered out. He was mustered out as corporal. Twelve children have been born to Mr, and Mrs. Babler - Henry Lincoln, Emma E., wife of J. Hoesly, of Monroe; Ellen E., Edwin A., Otto H., Victor A. (deceased); Emil E.

John Legler was born in the canton of Glarus, Switzerland, April 16, 1837. His father, Fred Legler, with his family, were a part of the colony that came to New Glarus in 1845. His twenty acre lot was on section 22. He gradually added to his landed estate until he owned a fine farm of 200 acres. At the time of their arrival in New Glarus, Mr. Legler's family consisted of his wife and six sons - Fred, now living in the village of New Glarus; Melchoir, deceased; Nicholaus, deceased; George, now living in this town; Andrew, deceased; and John, the subject of this sketch. The father died about 1871. His widow died three years later. John Legler and Dorothea, daughter of Peter Speich, were married in 1861. She was born in Switzerland, June 24, 1844, and came to New Glarus with her brother, Peter, and sister, Barbara, in 1852. Her parents died in Switzerland about 1849. Mr. and Mrs. Legler have ten children - Fred, Peter, Barbara, Dorothea, Elsbeth, Anna, Emma, Mary, Lena and John, all of whom are living with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Legler, for several years after their marriage, lived on the farm of Mr. Legler's father, which they inherited. He afterwards sold the place to his brothers and settled on his present home on section 33, where he owns 160 acres.

Werner Elmer lives on section 2, where he owns a farm of 240 acres, a portion of wliich is on section 1, His parents, Werner and Ann Maria Elmer, were born in the canton of Glarus, Switzerland, and came to New Glarus in 1847. Five of their children who came with them are living - Fanny, wife of Jacob Ott; Mary, wife of John Tasher, of Dane county; Euphemia, wife of Nicholaus Zentner; Werner and Jacob, who live in Dane county. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Elmer after tlieir arrival in New Glarus - Caspar and Nicholaus, who are living at the homestead, and Anna, who lives with her sister, Mrs. Ott. Werner Elm«r, Sr., settled in 1847 upon section 11, where he added to his first purchase until he owned 400 acres of laud. He died Feb. 6, 1883, aged seventy years. His wife died April 5, 1881, aged sixty-eight years. Werner Elmer, Jr., and Barbara Durst were united in marriage Nov. 17, 18(54. She is a daughter of Nicholaus and Maria Durst, who came from Switzerland to New Glarus in 1846, and settled on section 10, where Mr. Durst died April 19, 1869. Mrs. Durst still lives at the homestead with her son, Jacob, who now owns the property. Mr. and Mrs. Durst brought seven children to this country with them - Magdalena, who died one year later; Jacob, Henry, living in Monroe; Anna, deceased wife of Samuel Luchsinger; Mary A., wife of Adam Schmid; Margaret, wife of Jacob Streiff, and Barbara (Mrs. Elmer). Five children were born to them afte^ tiieir arrival in New Glarus, only one of whom is now living - Nicholaus, who resides at Monroe. Mr. and Mrs. Elmer have six children - Mary, Werner, Barbara, Nicholaus, Fanny and J. Herman.

Melchoir Stuessy, the owner of one of the fine dairy farms of New Glarus,lives upon section 25, and has large and conveniently arranged buildings. His farm contains 264 acres of good land, 1 20 acres of which, with his residence, is on section 25, sixty acres on section 36, and eighty-four acres adjoining on the east, in Exeter. Mr Stuessy was born in the canton of Glarus, Switzerland, Aug. 20, 1823. He came to the United States in 1845, and spent the following winter in New Jersey and two months of the next season in Pennsylvania. He then returned to New Jersey, where he was employed in a cotton factory nearly two years. In May, 1848, he came to New Glarus and bought 160 acres of his present farm. He was married in 1852 to Catharine Legler, daughter of David Legler. Ten children have blessed their union - Jacob, born in 1853; Samuel, born in 1854; Barbara, born in 1857, and died in infancy; Melchoir, born in 1858; David, born in 1861; Anna, born in 1864; Catharine, born in 1867; Fred, born in 1870; Henry, born in 1874, and John, born in

1877. Mr. Stuessy's father, Jacob Stuessy, died in Switzerland in March, 1856. The July following his wife came to this town to reside with her son, Melchoir. Mr. Stuessy is one of the solid men of this New Glarus. He has held the ofiice of chairman of the town board ten or twelve terms, and always satisfactorily to the people. His brother, Jacob Stuessy, lives on an adjoining farm, and owns 120 acres, with residence, on section 25, also 220 acres on section 36. He also has fine improvements. He was born in Switzerland Jan. 19, 1829, and came to New Glarus in 1850. He was married in November, 1856, to Catharine Zumbrunnen, a native of Berne, Switzerland. She died in 1873, leaving two children - Catharine and Emma. Jacob Stuessy was again married in 1875 to Verena Marty. By this marriage there are five children - Jacob, Mathias, Samuel, Anna M. and Walter.

Andrew Hoesly owns a very fine farm of 167 acres on section 4. He has erected fine buildings upon his farm. He was l;Oin in the canton of Glarus, Switzerland, March 14, 1830. He came to this county, a poor lad of seventeen years, with a brotherin-law, Henry Durst, for whom he worked to pay the cost of his coming, remaining with him nearly six years, in the meantime preparing for a start in life, with some means. He wa's married in 1853 to Barbara, daughter of Jacob Durst. She was born in Switzerland, and in 1848 came to this county. Mr. Hoesly bought his farm in 1857. He is an honest and prudent farmer, and much respected by all. Mr. and Mrs. Ploesly have three sons - Jacob, living in this town; Andrew, living in York, and David, who is at home with his parents.

Mathias Elmer was born in the town of Washington, Green county, July 10, 1849, the same year in which his parents, John U. and Verena Elmer, came from the canton of Glarus in Switzerland to the New Glarus in America. They brought five children witli them - Barbara, now the wife of Abram Kulby; Conrad, now living in Monroe; Magdalena, now the wife of Isaiah Stanffacher, of Sylvester; John, living in Sylvester, and Ulrich, living in Mount Pleasant. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Elmer after tliey came to tliis county - Mathias, Verena, now the wife of Chris Brunko; Henry and Jacob, who live in Mount Pleasant; Mary, wife of Peter Stauffacher, of Sylvester; Adam, living in Mount Pleasant and Euphemia wife of Peter Elmer. The subject of this sketch, Mathias Elmer, and Mrs. Anna Marty, widow of Joachim Marty, were married Oct. 14, 1875. She is a daughter of George and Anna Legler and b)' her first marriage had four children - George, John, Otilla and Fred. Mr. and Mrs. Elmer have had three children born to them - Clara, Samuel and Augusta. Mr. and Mrs. Elmer own one of the best farms in the town. It is located on section 22, and formerly belonged to Mrs. Elmer's father, George Legler, who was one of the colonists of 1845. The farm contains 366 acres and is under good cultivation. They have fine buildings and other improvements.

David Hefty is the owner of a fine stock farm on section 33, of New Glarus. It contains 265 acres. His father, John Jacob Hefty ,came from the canton of Glarus, in Switzerland, in 1847, and settled upon section 29, of New Glarus, where he resided until his death in 1881. His widow resides at the homestead with one son, Melchoir, and three daughters - Margaret, Mary and Madaline. There are also six other children - John Jacob, who lives in New Glarus; David, subject of this sketch; Rosina, wife of J. Becker, of Washington; John, in New Glarus; Barbara, wife of Fred Vaegle, and Elizabeth, wife of Henry Legler, All of the children were born in New Glarus. The homestead contains 140 acres. David Hefty was born June 4, 1851, and married Nov. 2, 1876, to Rachel, daughter of Albert Babler. She was born June 18, 1857. They have two children - John Jacob, born in 1877, and Anna Barbara, born in 1879. Mr. Hefty is one of the most

Fredolin Becker, Jr., owns a fine farm of 298 acres on sections 10 and 11. His father, Fredolin Becker, was one of the colonists of 1845, His parents were married shortly before coming to New Glarus. They settled on section 2, and made a farm of 284 acres. One of the children whom they brought to this town, Barbara, is now the wife of Esaias Babler, of Mount Pleasant. The other, Jost, lives in York. Fredolin, Jr., Jacob and John were born in New Glarus. The subject of this sketch was born June 13, 1851. When eighteen years of age he learned the carpenter trade and in 1870, went to Kansas and remained four years, working there at any employment which offered. From there he went to Colorado and herded cattle one season. After this he worked on a farm in Illinois one year, then in 1876, returned to New Glarus. April 4, 1878, he was married to Fanny Kundert, daughter of Thomas and Amalia Kundert. Mr. and Mrs. Becker now reside on the homestead of her father, Mr. Kundert. They have two children - Fred, born in April, 1879, and Thomas, born in April, 1882. Mr. Becker is a member of the town board. The parents of Mr. Becker are living with their son, Jacob, on section 14. John Becker lives on the old homestead.

Christian Luchsinger was born in canton Glarus, Switzerland, Aug. 20, 1820. In his youth he worked in cotton factories, but at the age of sixteen years, was apprenticed to the watch maker's trade. This work he followed seven years, then was made village clerk. He was in that position until 1852, in which year he came to the United States, and to this town with two of his children - Thomas and Elizabeth. The following year he sent for his wife and the other son, Samuel. Mr. Luchsinger was married in 1842 to Margaret Wild, in Switzerland. He left New Glarus in 1864 for Mineral Point, where he worked in the mines, zinc smelting etc., a portion of the time, and at clock repairing a portion of tho time. In 1864 he enlisted in the ]42d Illinois Volunteers, (100 day service) and served nearly six months. The regiment was discharged, and he enlisted again in the 50th Wisconsin Volunteers and served fifteen months. He was mustered out with the regiment and returned to New Glarus, where lie bought a home, upon which he now resides. Five children have been born in America - J(ihn, born in 1856; Susan, wife of Charles Sheple, of Dayton, born in 1858; Margaret, born in 1860; Mary, born in 1863, and Sophie, born in 1867. Samuel, who cume over with his mother, was accidentally killed at Austin, Minn., May 24, 1881, while in discharge of his duty as yard master, in tho employ of the C. M. & St. P. R. R. Company. Christaiji Luchsinger has served as town clerk of this town ten years, and when not in this position has been almost continuously acting as justice of the peace. He is one of the prominent public men of the town. Genial and kindly in his intercourse with others, he has hosts of friends.

Thomas Luchsinger, son of Christian Luchsinger, was born April 5, 1844, in the canton of Glarus, Switzerland, and came to New Glarus wilh his father in 1852. He grew to manhood here and making the best use of his limited advantages, acquired a good education, which with a mind by nature studious, and a retentive memory, have made him a well-informed and useful citizen. He enlisted in February, 1864, in company H, of the 35th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served creditably until the regiment was mustered out of service. He came home an orderly sergeant. After the war he was married, in 1868, to Salome Hoesly, daughter of one of the first colonists, Mathias Hoesly. Both of her parents are living. After coming from the army, Mr. Luchsinger learned the wagon maker's trade, which he followed until 1882, when he moved to Dayton and bought the store and stock in trade of William Green. He continued in business there until the spring of 1884, when he closed out his stock and returned to New Glarus. Mr. and Mrs. Luchsinger have had live children. The first born, Margaret, died at the age of one year. The living are - Christian, Barbara, Margaret and Salome. Mr. Luchsinger is vvell and favorably known throughout Green county. He has been the candidate of his party, (democratic) for the legislature, also for important county offices. That party being the minority party, he, though receiving a flattering vote, has never been elected.

Caspar Hauser was born in canton Glarus, Switzerland, Nov. 12, 1838. He came to this country in 1853 with his parents, Oswald and Anna Hauser and three other children - Anna, wife of Thomas Schmid; Oswald lives in the town of York; and Rudolph, deceased. His mother died in 1854. His father is living with Oswald in the town of Y'ork. The subject of this sketch, Caspar Hauser, and Catliarine Schmid, were united in marriage in January, 1865. They have six children - Catharine, Anna, Fanny, Margaret, Oswald and Louisa. Mr. Hauser owns a fine farm of 220 acres, whicli is under good improvement. About 150 acres of the farm is on section 5. The other part is on section 4, where he resides.