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EARLY WHITEWATER

YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

1935

FROSPER CRAVATH, ESQ.

Early
Annals of Whitewater
1837-1867

WRITTEN BY
PROSPER CRAVATH, ESQ.
1837-1857
Continued by SPENCER S. STEELE. 1857-1867
Edited by ALBERT SALISBURY, 1906

Published by
THE WHITEWATER FEDERATION OF
WOMEN'S CLUBS

1906

A FOREWORD
From the Federation of Women ' s Clubs in Whitewater.

We are not willing that this book should go to press
without some word of appreciation concerning the
work done for us by its editor, President Salisbury.
Much of Mr. Salisbury's time for months has been
given to the compilation of the book, and his untiring
effort to gather facts, as well as items of interest, has
been characteristic of the man. The work lias been
done not for possible compensation, but for love of his
native community and a desire to commemorate the
persons and events which made Whitewater one of the
most attractive towns in Wisconsin.
Of Mr. Salisbury's career, we need not speak. It is
known to all, and this book will but add its quota to
the many honors already his. While thanking him for
what he has done for us, as well as for future- genera
tions who will read these "Annals" with pleasure and
profit, we would quote — as apropos — this sentiment of
Lowell's, "The soil out of which such a man as he is
made is good to be born on, good to die for, and good
to be buried in. ' '

in

EDITOR'S PREFACE.

The undertaking of publishing this volume origi
nated in connection with the "Landmarks" movement
of the State Federation of Women's Clubs. Since the
Clubs of Whitewater found little here in the way of
historical landmarks needing preservation, it was pro
posed that they assume the responsibility of republish
ing, in book form, the very valuable reminiscences
written by Prosper Cravath, Esq., in 1858.
Those annals had been supplemented by S. S. Steele
in the way of items culled from the columns of the
Whitewater Register, from 1858 to 1867, with personal
reflections and comment on the same, thus bringing the
history down to the close of the War period. Here was
valuable material fast becoming inaccessible, as it ex
isted only in a few more or less broken newspaper files.
The fact that Mr. Cravath 's sketches had been repub
lished in 1898 was fortunate for the present enterprise.
The undersigned somewhat rashly volunteered to
edit this material and see it through the press. As he
faced the task, the value of his opportunity grew upon
him, and he improved it to the extent of collating new
papers, or articles, on special topics, and inducing oth
ers to do the same. The accumulated material has,
therefore, taken on the following form, viz. :
IV

1. Original Reminiscences by Prosper Cravath, Esq.,
the nucleus of the work.
2. Sketches compiled by S. S. Steele, 1858-1867.
3. Miscellaneous papers by the editor and others.
4. Brief biographical sketches of some of the more
prominent pioneers.
The labor involved in getting this material into
shape for publication in permanent form has been
greater than was anticipated ; but the task has been a
labor of love, since it concerned persons and experiences
so well known to me and so intimately related to my
own life. At the same time, it has been tinged with
sadness through the reminder that so many of these old-
time friends, builders of our community and its institu
tions, have forever disappeared from the scene where
they so laboriously and manfully wrought to transform
the wilderness and make it blossom with a high civili
zation. It is a matter for lasting, regret that this under
taking of recording something of their life and com
memorating their labors was not entered upon at an
earlier date, while more of them remained to tell their
own story, and before memories of that early day had
become blurred by the weakness of age.
Those early pioneers, as will be seen from the bio
graphical data given in Part IV., were principally from
New England direct or by one remove, having tarried
for a time in New York. They came, mostly, in the
early prime of life, and labored with their hands with

an energy hard to realize under our present conditions.
They were, as a rule, men of energy and character,
courageous, original, and often eccentric, not heavily
bound by the conventionalities of society, but genuine
to the core. They lived the simple life, and it was a
vigorous, sanguine life. They loved their neighbors
and helped each other. They brought up their chil
dren, for the most part, in the good old way of industry
and obedience. But nowhere was the sound quality of
Wisconsin's early settlers better exhibited than in the
way that they and their sons rose to the exigencies of
the nation in 1861 and the years immediately following.
I, who reach from the first generation of settlers in
this vicinity over into the third generation, have greatly
appreciated this privilege of gathering up and setting
in order such material as was accessible to me for future
reference by all interested in the early phases of social
life in our beloved Whitewater, and only wish that I
could have commanded more time for the undertaking.
It will doubtless be easy to find errors and omissions,
but the number of them might easily have been greater.
The half-tone cuts used in illustrating the book have
been furnished by descendants or friends of the persons
pictured. The thanks of the Editor are due to all who have
assisted him in the search for definite data, but especial
ly to Mr. D. S. Cook, who has read most of the matter
in manuscript, and has been helpful in many ways.
ALBERT SALISBURY.

vi

TABLE OF CONTENTS

i. Reminiscences of Prosper Cravath, Esq. Page
Introductory, 1836,  1
The Year 1837,  5
The Year 1838  19
The Year 1839,  31
The Year 1840,  40
The Year 1841,  49
The Year 1842,  55
The Year 1843,  60
The Year 1844,  65
The Year 1845,  71
The Year 1846,  73
The Year 1847,  76
The Year 1848,  8L
The Year 1849,  83
The Year 1850,  85
The Years 1851 and 1852,  89
The Years 1853 and 1854  94
The Year 1855,  '. 99
The Year 1856,  103
The Year 1857,  106
The Year 1858  109
n. Reminiscences of Spencer S. Steele  113
The Year 1858  115
The Year 1859,  122
The Year 1860,  129
The Year 1861,  131
The Year 1862,  140
vn

table of contents. — CONTINUED. Page
The Year 1863  146
The Year 1864  152
The Year 1865,  157
The Year 1866  161
The Year 1867  164
m. Miscellaneous Articles and Sketches.
1. — Biographical Sketch of Prosper Cravath, Esq., 169
2. — Memories of By-gone Days, by Mrs. Freeman
L. Pratt,  173
3. — Boyhood Days in Early Whitewater, by
Julius C. Birge,  179
4. — Recollections of a Pioneer Girlhood, by
Mrs. Louise Woodbury Palmiter, . . . 190
5. — Reminiscences of the Pioneer Women of
Whitewater, by Mrs. D. S. Cook, ... 199
6— In War Time, by E. D. Coe,  205
7. — Roster of Whitewater Volunteers, . . . 208
8.— The Coming of the Normal School, by D. S.
Cook,  217
9.— The Old Buildings of Whitewater, by
Albert Salisbury,  224
10. — The Industries that Made Whitewater, by
Albert Salisbury,  228
iv. Brief Biographical Sketches of Prominent
Pioneers,  240

vni

Early Annals
of
Whitewater and Vicinity
Original Reminiscences of Prosper Cravath,
Published in the Whitewater
Register in 1858

Introductory. — Since History, in its deepest and
truest significance, is a record of the inner rather than
the outward life of humanity ; of the aspirations of our
race for something higher and better beyond; of its
successes and failures, its hopes and fears, these
sketches can claim for themselves no such sounding
title, but are a simple narration of the leading events
connected with the settlement of our town and vicinity.
The facts related have been gleaned here and there, as
opportunity presented, from the words and writings of
those hardy pioneers who came to grapple with the
wilderness, and but for whose noble perseverance and
undaunted courage Whitewater, as a village, might
never have had an existence. These fragments, col
lected, in part, from the testimony of these living wit
nesses, in part from memory's storehouse, I have jot
ted down in homely phrase, giving only the principal
events, the bare outlines, but as far as possible, in
strict chronological order.
In offering for publication, through your columns,
this account of the first settlement of our village, I have
been influenced, partly, by the consideration that it
might prove of interest to the older settlers, who have
so kindly furnished many materials for this narrative,
thus to see a condensed statement of those early times,
so fraught to them with care and toil and yet with joy
and pleasu 'o, too — for there were joys and pleasures

even then, and more real and hearty ones, I think, than
many they have tasted since — and partly by the fact
that many articles, purporting to contain veritable
accounts of the early history of Whitewater have ap
peared, both in the Register and other papers, which
are incorrect and have left upon the mind of the com
munity a false impression. I have also been led to
make these communications that those who have come
among us at a later day may know what has been done
by those noblemen who first pitched their tents in this
then wilderness, and that the minds of some who seem
disposed to think those early settlers cared little for
the graces and arts of civilization — that they, the
founders and builders, took no heed for the superstruc
ture that it should be at once strong and beautiful and
pleasant to the sight — may be disabused of their errone
ous impressions, and may know them for what they
were, a band of energetic, noble, strong-hearted men
and women, ever ready to work for public as well as
private good.
No one but he who has from the first kept pace with
the steady march of progress and improvement, can
fully realize what or how much has been done, or how
great is the contrast between Whitewater as it was and
is — between the Whitewater of eighteen hundred and
thirty-six and the Whitewater of to-day.
The Region in 1836 — Then, in all the wide circuit
of country which now comprises the thickly settled
towns of Whitewater, Lima, Richmond, LaGrange,
Palmyra, Hebron, and Cold Spring, not a solitary
white inhabitant could be found ; the red man, the true
"Native American," then reigned sole possessor of the
land. The forests, swept clear of the rubbish of the
year by the annual fires kindled in the red man's path,
were as destitute of any undergrowth of shrubs as the
most carefully kept park, and presented to the eye of
the beholder an unobstructed and extended range of
vision, ever opening to his view delights and fresh beau
ties. No sound of the axe had then invaded these soli
tudes, no plough had turned the virgin soil, but deli
cately tinted flowers bloomed where now are seen
smiling fields of nodding grain or rustling corn.
2

Indian Trails. — Then no habitation met the travel
er's view, giving promise of rest and welcome; no trace
was seen to mark his route, save a little path, seemingly
made by the former occupants of the soil. This high
way of a nation was but a narrow path, scarce fifteen
inches broad and deep-worn by the tread of many feet.
It extended in a continuous line between the cities of
Milwaukee and Galena, sending off at the present site
of this village, branches toward the north and west, one
in the direction of Fort Atkinson, starting from Birge 's
addition; the second from the east side of the creek
toward Bark River. A little below the point where
Birge 's Mill now is, it crossed Whitewater Creek, then
a silver thread half hidden by its grassy banks, its wa
ters unobstructed by opposing dams, but flowing undis
turbed from their fountain head.
Old Indian Village. — On the eastern bank of the
stream, on the first rise of ground, there stood among the
native oaks, about thirty skeleton huts, the' "deserted
village" of a former tribe. ' These huts were circular
in form, each covering an area of about eighteen feet
in diameter. They were formed of poles nearly fifteen
feet in length, placed at a distance of five feet apart and
bent together at the top so as to give it a dome-like ap
pearance. On the west side of the creek, the original
village and that part known as Chapman & Luding-
ton 's addition were then covered with openings, thickly
wooded, as were most of the openings, composed, on the
addition, mostly of bur oaks, and in the village proper
of about an equal quantity of bur and yellow oaks.
*The rise of ground on block fourteen, between Second
and Third streets, extended across block thirteen and
at the point of its greatest altitude, which was in the vi
cinity of Bower's block, it attained an elevation of
about three feet greater than the highest point near
William Richardson's house. 
Note : — On the west side of Second St., back of the Richardson
block, between Center and Whitewater Sts., was originally a knoll, or
mound, about 20 feet high. On this, in early days, stood a "liberty
pole," and there were held 4th of July demonstrations with anvil and
powder. A spur of this knoll extended eastward to the present site
of the City Hall. The earth removed in the grading down of this
elevation was mostly used in filling in front of the railroad station,
where was once a sort of swamp. C. M. Clark tells of breaking
through the ice and nearly drowning, while skating, where the Cort
land House barn now stands. 3

Indian Mounds. — A little distance west of the
village, upon the farm of John M. Clark, and on the
south side of the street usually known as the Prairie
road, was an oblong mound, built upon the summit of
a bluff and extending north and south sixty-five feet
in length, twenty in width, and at the center nearly five
feet in height. -One hundred and twenty rods north
east of this, were found three other mounds, of a cone
like form, about twenty-five feet in diameter at the
base, and nearly seven feet high ; records left behind by
those rude savages who inhabited these regions before
the white man came, to tell the simple story that here
they had lived and died.
Such was the country as found by the first settlers,
who, young, vigorous, full of earnest hopes and bright
anticipations, had left their eastern homes and friends
and come here to pitch their tents and build for them
selves a home and fortune. Difficulties they had to con
tend with, hardships to endure, and obstacles to over
come, but there were encouragements, too, and prophe
cies, full of promise to him who with strong arm and
resolute heart came to do battle with the wilderness.
For neighbors, since all were neighbors then, they had
the Fosters at the Fort; the Walkers, Goodriches and
Chickerings, at Milton ; the Phoenixes at Delavan, and
a few at Troy.
Natural Disadvantages. — They found themselves in
possession of a tract of country rich in resources yet
in some respects disadvantageously situated; for to
ward the east there lay a low wet piece of ground,
bounded by a range of bluffs; toward the south and
north, wide marshes blocked the way, while only to
ward the west was a country easy of access. Then the
question arose, can a place so surrounded become an
eligible spot for establishing a permanent and prosper
ous village ; will it not be left far behind in the rapid
race of progress and improvement, by the more favor
ably situated towns, newly started it is true, but having
fewer of these natural obstacles to contend with ? These
were disadvantages certainly, and gave rise to some
doubts as to the ultimate success of the enterprise, yet
on the other hand, they knew that if the morasses were

once drained and a highway was flung across them,
it would lead into a rich section of the country, of al
most inexhaustible resources, which gave promise of
strong support to any central settlement which should
be started in its midst. Weighing carefully the chances
of failure and success, counting well the cost, yet
looking forward to the rich reward, they entered bold
ly upon the work, nothing daunted by the labors in the
way, knowing well that a ready hand and willing heart,
guided by a clear head and active will, were sure.
pledges of certain success.
Alvah Foster. — Either in the fall of eighteen
hundred and thirty-six, or early in the spring of the
following year, Alvah Foster made the first claim in this
section by marking his name upon a tree on the east
side of the Whitewater. This, in those early times,
was regarded as a sufficient evidence of ownership. But
this can scarcely be considered as the first step in the
establishment of the town, since, as the sequel will
show, the claim was made with no permanent settle
ment. THE YEAR 1837.
Benoni Finch and Party. — About the first of April
in the spring of eighteen hundred and thirty-seven,
Benoni Finch and four of his brothers, together with
Calvin West, William Barron and others to the number
of twenty, came to seek a home among these wilds.
Three of the number — Joseph Nichols, Mr. Kelley and
Mr. Brown — were accompanied by their wives and fam
ilies, who came prepared to bravely endure the many
dangers and hardships inseparable from pioneer life.
They started from Milwaukee with two wagons laden
with their household goods, and upon the sixth night,
after a weary march, they spread their tents upon the
east side of the Whitewater, near the spot where now
stands the #house of Aaron Ostrander. From Fox Riv
er, they found no track to guide them except the Indian
trail, before described, nor was a dwelling seen in all
that distance to cheer their sight, they having made the
•This is the southernmost house on the west side of Wisconsin St.,
as one goes to the Hillside Cemetery.

first wagon-track in the town of Whitewater. Joseph
Nichols was the engineer of the party. He, in com
pany with two or three others, went in advance to
mark the route. With no instruments to guide them,
they pursued their way fearlessly and boldly, relying
alone upon the sure eye of their leader ; for Joseph was
a traveling compass in and of himself. Others soon
followed their lead, and this track, for some years
after, bore the name of "Finch's Track." Its course
was nearly the same as that of the road which now runs
from Whitewater to MukwOnago by the way of Round
Prairie. On the following morning, refreshed by such slum
ber as only the weary emigrant can know, they made
preparations for the renewal of their journey. Leaving
at the camp the women and children and three or four
men of the party, the remainder, provided with two
horses laden with provisions and blankets, started
forth to explore the country and fix upon some point
for settlement. Before starting, William Barron jumped
the claim — as the expression was — of Foster to this
section, by marking his name upon a tree. They fol
lowed down the Indian trail on the east side of the
Whitewater, until they struck the army trail of General
Atkinson, which was below *Horton's Mill. This they
followed to Fort Atkinson, whence they proceeded
to the place where the Finches and Barrons now re
side, about eight miles west of the village of Whitewa
ter. To them, that seemed the "promised land," so
eagerly sought, which, if not literally "flowing with
milk and honey, ' ' at least promised no mean reward to
him who with hearty good will should set to work to
tame its wildness and bring out the hidden riches of the
soil. Here they made their claims and built their cab
ins, laying the foundations of their future homes.
William Barron.— After William Barron had secured
his claim to his new possessions, according to the
squatter sovereignty, his thoughts reverted to his form
er claims, and about the tenth of July he returned here
to more fully secure the same, since by ordinance the
sovereigns had declared that a mark upon a tree was
*At Cold Spring, first called Brinktown, or Brink's Mill.

not sufficient evidence of title. Soon after his return,
he cut about half the trees for the log house which
stands south of the plough factory of Winchester &
Partridge, and the probability is that William Barron
was the first man who felled a tree upon section four,
or jumped a claim in this vicinity. Previous to cutting
the logs, he saw Alvah Foster concerning the claim he
had formerly made, which was readily relinquished by
that gentleman, who remarked at the time that there
was not a sufficient water power for mill purposes, and
being so surrounded by low land a long time must ne
cessarily elapse before it would be settled here, adding
that the Fort possessed many advantages over this
place. Samuel Prince. — The next person who wandered in
to these regions with the intention of permanent set
tlement was Samuel Prince, who came here about the
middle of April. He went from Waukesha to Fort At
kinson; from thence he followedthe Indian trail — which,
crossing the Birge 's addition, extended to Geneva Lake
— until it struck Whitewater Prairie on section six. As
his eye rested upon this, the scene which met his view
more than equaled his imagination; his eyes were sat
isfied, but he was not ready to depart; everything
around charmed and delighted him, and hither he de
termined to bring his household goods, and here to erect
his home. When he had made a claim to the south-east
quarter of section six, as was the custom in those times,
by marking his name, with the date, upon a tree,
he set out to make a circuit of the country, stopping at
Milton, Janesville, Delavan, and Troy, in order that he
might learn what manner of men he had for neighbors,
and also that he might the better satisfy himself in re
gard to the superior attractions of the spot he had chos
en above those of these neighboring places.
The Custom Regarding Land Claims. — According to
the law of the sovereigns, his mark was sufficient evi
dence of possession ; but this custom was open to many
objections and liable to the greatest abuse, forapersonin
search of a claim would often make his mark upon the
first piece of land whose soil and location pleased him,

and then, passing still further on until he found some
place which seemed to him more desirable and attrac
tive, would carve his name upon a second tree, thus
making another claim. Any other person, following
him and wishing to settle upon this former claim, was
obliged to search out the claimant, and often to pay
him from twenty-five to a hundred dollars for his title.
A few, more daring or less conscientious, than the others,
totally ignoring the knowledge of any previous title,
quietly took possession, trusting to the fortune of war
for retaining possession of what they had seized; and
this was called jumping a claim. This mode of proce
dure could give rise to much confusion as well as to
much injustice, for designing, scheming men could
make as many claims as their fancy or cupidity might
dictate, and thus establish a by no means unprofitable
traffic in claims. As immigration increased, the sover
eigns soon perceived that this course of things could
but be highly prejudicial to the interests of the country,
and about this time they amended their code, provid
ing that unless a certain number of acres should be
broken, or logs for a cabin be cut, within a specified
time, the claim should be considered abandoned, and
that, a second being made, the first should be forfeited.
The Birge Brothers. — On the ninth of May, Wil
liam and Leander Birge, in company with Dr. Edward
Brewer, left Milwaukee for the purpose of exploring
the interior. They first went to Mukwonago, and from
that place proceeded to Meacham's, at East Troy, where
they were joined by Rufus Clarke. The four then di
rected their course towards Whitewater Prairie, and
on the second night they camped upon section one in
the town of Lima on the farm *now owned by Stephen
Burrows. Finding their supplies of food some
what scanty, they visited the Finch settlement,
near Lake Koshkonong, but being unable to procure
provisions there, they passed on to the Fosters at
Fort Atkinson. From thence, the Birges went in the di
rection of Cold Spring, and where that village now
stands they made a claim and built a shanty. Having
remained there four or five days, in order to more
*N'ow occupied (1906) by Andrew Warner.
8

firmly establish their claim, and being fully satisfied
that now they had found a site for a future magnifi
cent village, they returned to Milwaukee. Brewer and
Clarke, having separated from their companions, re
turned to Whitewater Prairie, where Brewer made a
claim to section seven in the town of Whitewater, and
having contracted for the breaking of ten acres in the
south-west corner, he and Clarke retraced their steps
to Milwaukee, then the headquarters of all immigrant
parties. Norman Pratt. — The next person who came with the
intention of settling here was Norman Pratt, who,
about the middle of July, claimed, in his own behalf, all
of section eight. At the same time he claimed, in the
name of Freeman L. Pratt, the north half and the south
east quarter of section five, (the latter included what is
now Chapman & Ludington 's Addition, and also Birge 's
Addition), and also the north half of section six for
Dean Williams. He hired Rufus Dodge, of Fort Atkin
son, to break eight acres on section eight, five on sec
tion five, and to cut the logs for a cabin on section six,
that in all points he might satisfy the law, and thus ob
tain a clear and undisputed title to this land. Having
completed all the arrangements for the perfecting of his
claim, he once more turned his face eastward, firmly
persuaded that he had found a home in as nearly per
fect a place as could be discovered upon a globe against
which had been pronounced the curse "thorns also and
thistles shall it bring forth."
At this time, the nearest cabin was at the Finch set
tlement, where the settlers had erected their log houses,
ready to receive their families, whom they had left be
hind at Milwaukee. In returning for these, they made
a track direct from their claim to Whitewater, and fol
lowing their former route, both in going to and coming
from Milwaukee, a track was made quite like a road,
and sufficiently plain to form a guide to future wander
ers. First House in Whitewater. — About the first of July,
Samuel Prince, having gratified his curiosity by visiting
the different settlements around, and being fully satis-
9

fled that his first selection far surpassed in beauty and
desirableness any which he had since seen, returned
to the unmolested, undisturbed possession of the same.
He immediately commenced the erection of a dwelling,
which should be at once his home and his castle. Alone
he toiled until it was completed. When finished it was
about twelve feet square and eight feet high from
the foundation to the eaves, being formed of small,
straight logs. This was the first house built in
the town of Whitewater, a short distance from Mr.
Prince's present Residence ; but although it was then
considered a' dwelling fit for a prince, it has since been
degraded to the ignoble use of a hen-house. In honor
of the man who was the first permanent settler here,
and who erected the first house in town, Prince street,
on Birge 's Addition, has been so named.
During the month of July, Rufus Dodge, in fulfil
ment of his contract with Norman Pratt, sent Calvin
West and another person, with his team, to do the
breaking as agreed upon. They pitched their tent upon
the north-west quarter of the same section. Barron
camped with them while cutting the logs. About the
same time a man named Sawyer claimed the south
west quarter of section five, and employed West to
break for him a sufficient quantity to secure his claim,
in all probability, turning the first furrow in the town
of Whitewater. The Birges Arrive. — Near the middle of July, Wil
liam and Leander Birge, Dr. Edward Brewer, and
Charles Hamilton arrived at Whitewater, and camped
with Samuel Prince. They brought with them seven
yoke of oxen, one wagon, and two breaking plows. They
came amply provided with all the necessaries of life,
their stores consisting of four barrels of flour, two of
Hoosier pork, and a quantity of potatoes, for which
they paid only two dollars per bushel. They were also
supplied with tea and coffee, which were then num
bered among the luxuries of life. They were five days
in coming from Milwaukee to Whitewater. After rest
ing here two or three days the Birges proceeded to
take possession of their Cold Spring estate. Brewer
*On the site now occupied (100G) by Ralph Tratt,
10

and Hamilton went heartily to work in improving the
claim which the former had previously made. They
also claimed the north half of section eighteen. The
Birges, after remaining a short time at Cold Spring,
wisely concluded that they could not found a town
"there which would eventually become the village of
the surrounding country, and returning again to White
water, camped once more with Samuel Prince. William
and Leander then jumped the claim of Norman Pratt,
to the south-east quarter of section five. William also
claimed the north-west quarter of section four,* lying
next north of the village proper, Leander claimed the
west half of the north-east quarter of the same section,
now included in Dann's Addition. The brothers im
mediately commenced ploughing on the south-east
quarter of section five, in order to give them the better
title, since there had been no improvement then made
upon this quarter by the Pratts.
The Settling of Richmond. — Next in the order of
time, is the settling of the town of Richmond. The first
settler there was Morris F. Hawes, who, on the first
day of August, arrived on section one, to the south
half of which he immediately laid claim. The previous
night, they camped upon Rock Prairie ;and now, as
soon as they had halted, preparations were made for
breakfast. They were quite primitive in their charac
ter, and soon finished. The table was formed of a board
laid across some poles, chairs were taken from the
wagon, and all sat down to their first meal in their new
home. The Journey of 'Squire Hawes. — 'Squire Hawes had
removed from Michigan, and as he was among the more
wealthy of the early settlers, and may be supposed to
have traveled quite as comfortably and stylishly as most
of them, a short sketch of his journey and first com
mencement here may not prove uninteresting. His
equipage, when he left Chicago, consisted of four yoke
?Section 4 comprises the greater portion of the present city lying
east of Franklin street, the western line of section 4 being the center
of Franklin street, and its eastern line the center of Newcomb street.
The Barron log house was situated south of the wagon works, be
tween the railroad track and pond, but not a vestige of it is now
remaining. 11

of oxen and three wagons. One of these was boarded
up at the side and back about four feet and a half above
the box and covered at the top. This served them not
only as a family carriage, but also as parlor, bed room,
and pantry. His family consisted of himself, wife, and
six children, young ladies, lasses, and lads. Their daily
progress was from twelve to twenty miles. They found
a track as far as Geneva ; after leaving that place, their
only guide was the Indian trail which led to Fort At
kinson. When they stopped for the night thy "put
up " at no hotel and had no landlord, landlady, or cook
with whom to find fault ; for they were their own hotel-
keepers. When the shades of evening warned them
that it was time to secure a resting place for the coming
night, they selected some spot near which flowed a
stream or spring of clear water, and where wood could
be procured. Their first business was to collect fuel
for kindling a fire. This duty devolved upon the men
of the party. The women then succeeded to the peculi
arly feminine task of preparing the meal. This ready,
they all sat round their rude table in true gipsy style.
Though their fare was simple, yet the feast of an epi
cure could not have been partaken of with a keener
relish ; and I will venture to say that those rude meals,
cooked by an open fire and eaten beneath the forest
shade were far sweeter to their taste than any of the
carefully prepared delicacies which now load their
tables. They fully attested the truth of the old pro
verb, "a good appetite is the best sauce," In the morn
ing, they proceeded upon their way with the rising of
the sun, and after traveling four or five miles would
halt for breakfast. This disposed of, the dishes being
washed and packed away, they would start anew, not
stopping again until night, their dinner consisting only
of a lunch taken in the wagon. If they chanced to be in
the vicinity of a dwelling near dark, they would stop
for the night, using the fire of the house for cooking
purposes. And the strangers were always sure of a
warm and hearty welcome, for a lack of hospitality
could not be charged against the early settlers. Such,
in brief, was the mode of traveling then, at once wild
and fascinating, and yet wearisome and full of toil.
12

The Making of the Home. — But even when their
journey was accomplished, and they had reached their
destination, the prospect before them must have seemed
somewhat dark and dubious. Their surroundings were
certainly little calculated to inspire hope. They had
no roof to shelter their heads, no neighbor within miles
of them, a trackless prairie upon one side and a wood
as trackless upon the other ; huge oaks, trees of a cen
tury's growth, stood thick around, but these were to be
felled and hewn and joined together, before they could
serve for protection and shelter alike from sunshine
and storm. An easily tilled and productive soil lay
ready for their hands, but much labor was required,
and the sun must once again complete his annual round
before they could hope to reap of the fruits of the
earth. Yet nothing daunted, with hopeful hearts and
cheerful faces they went right heartily to work, and
by Saturday night their cabin was so far completed as
to allow of its occupation by the family. The logs were
rough hewn on the inside.; the roof was made of shakes,
which resembled staves, and were about four feet long ;
being riven either from the white or yellow oak. These
were placed upon poles laid lengthwise of the building,
and over them were placed larger poles to keep them
firm. The 'Squire had brought glass and sash for his
windows from Chicago. For frames he took the boards
which, on the road, had formed their wagon home. The
floor was made of the wagon boxes ; and it might seem
strange to the uninitiated to know the different uses to
which these same boxes were put, now being used as
a floor and now as wagon boxes in going to mill, the
ground meanwhile serving as floor and carpet, for in
those days there was no superfluous lumber, and a
board was a treasure.
About this time, also, Burch Utter and Sanborn
came into that region. Utter claimed the south-west
quarter of section thirty-one, in the town of Whitewater
and Sanborn the south-west quarter of section two in the
town of Richmond; and both immediately commenced
to improve their claims.
The Pratts Arrive. — Near the first of September,
Norman and Freeman Pratt accompanied by their
13

wives and Dean Williams, came to take possession of
their western home. Upon arriving at Milwaukee, they
hired a team to bring them here. The night before
reaching their destination, they camped with True Rand
and Elijah Worthington upon Heart Prairie. The
Rands had just made their claim and were then using
their covered wagon and cloth tent as a dwelling. Be
sides, there had settled upon the prairie, Volney, Mc-
Cracken, Noyes and Samuel Niblic. A part of the house
in which McCracken how lives had then been erected
and two of Volney 's sisters, Emiline and Elizabeth,
were keeping house for them.
Dispute Over a Claim. — From the Rands, the Pratts
proceeded to Fort Atkinson, and leaving their wives
at the Fosters', returned to their claim, which they
found unmolested, except that the Birges had jumped
their claim to the *south-east quarter of section five.
The first work was to establish their claim to this, for
which purpose the two parties met, each pleading his
own cause, for in those days every man was his own
lawyer. The point was to decide concerning the con
struction to be given to the sovereigns' code. The
Pratts asserted the validity of their title by virtue of
the claim made to the north half and south-east quart
er, contending that the breaking done upon the north
half was sufficient to hold the whole, and was all that
the code required. The Birges, on the other hand,
maintained that when two pieces were claimed, each
piece should be marked, and improvements made on
each; that the mark, with the date, should be made
near each corner, and in such a manner as to be plainly
visible ; and that the improvements should be made
within the limited time, declaring that at the time
they made their claim, there was no such evidence of a
previous claim. They further asserted that marking
a tree and making improvements upon the north half
gave no title whatever to the south-east quarter. This
was their interpretation of. the code. William and
Leander were both good talkers, Leander rather the
smoother of the two. Freeman Pratt could not speak
quite so fast as the others, but Norman was not a whit

'Between Franklin and South Prince streets.
14

behind in the gift of speech, and could easily talk for
both. The point was warmly argued upon both sides,
but finally resulted in the Pratts withdrawing their
claim, and relinquishing their right to the Birges. This
being settled, the Pratts bought a claim from Sawyer,
and they and the Birges went to work each to erect a
dwelling; the Pratts and Dean Williams boarded at
Prince 's.
Zerah Mead. — In the latter part of September, Zerah
Mead, Esq., arrived at the Prince boarding house,
where he found the proprietor, Samuel Prince, Charles
Hamilton, William and Leander Birge, Norman and
Freeman Pratt, and Dean Williams; here he at once
engaged board. Each, in turn, attended to the domestic
matters, assuming for the time the office of cook and
housekeeper. Their bill of fare consisted of pork, pota
toes, bread, and tea ; then for variety, potatoes and
pork, with cakes — a simple mixture of flour and water
— and coffee. Thus they lived in true bachelor freedom.
"Sole monarchs of all they surveyed."
The most perfect unity and friendship existed be
tween them with the exception of the young men of the
party, between whom there had arisen a slight jealousy
soon after learning of the arrival of the newcomers at
Richmond and Heart Prairie — a pardonable rivalry,
certainly, since it in no wise disturbed their harmony
and good fellowship.
Zerah Mead, after looking around for some place
that suited him, claimed the north-west quarter of sec
tion ten, and immediately commenced erecting a log
house. He was very extravagant, hewing his logs on
the outside as well as Lhe inside, and built a house
which seemed mammoth in its proportions — eighteen
feet by twenty-two, but its crowning glory was a shin
gle roof.
The First Women. — In the middle of October, the
Pratts had so far completed their house that they re
turned to the Fort for their wives, and commenced
living once more. These were the first women who
settled in the town. Their *house is now standing on
•All trace of it is now obliterated. 15

the west side of Janesville road a little north of the
Milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad, on the farm of Sam
uel Noyes. The Birges, also, had their house, which
stood at the south end of Whiton street, ready for
occupation. William Birge, about the middle of Sep
tember, had bargained for the claim of Barron, for
which he had agreed to pay sixty dollars, but about this
time having an offer from Daniel Butts for his interest
in the claim, he sold it to him for two hundred dollars.
Butts soon began building, and in November the log
house south of the plow factory was occupied, being the
first built on section four — Daniel Butts builder.
In the fall, Joseph Nichols claimed the south half
of section one in the town of Lima, and soon estab
lished a cabin about fourteen feet square and covered
with shakes.
At this time Solomon Herrington, Thomas Van Horn,
and Hale were at work building the dam and sawmill
on the west branch of Whitewater creek, in the town of
Lima, about four miles southwest from this village.
Some time near the first of December, Rufus Clarke
returned to Whitewater with his wife, and moved into
the house of William and Leander Birge.
After Squire Mead had raised his house and pre
pared his shingles for his roof, he returned east after
his family and spent the winter there.
Thus closed the year 1837; with the Birges and
Clarke upon section five; Prince upon six; the Pratts
upon eight ; Johnson, Hamilton, and Brewer on seven,
with a family in the house with them by the name of
Collins; Nichols, Herrington, Van Horn and Hale in
Lima; Hawes, Sanborn, and Utter in Richmond; Rand,
Worthington, McCracken, and Niblic at LaGrange;
Loren R. Jones and Churchill at Hebron.
Preparation for the First Winter. — Before the Frost
King had made his annual visit, the settlers had ren
dered themselves comparatively comfortable in their
new homes. Their cabins were mudded and chinked,
and though some cracks and crevices might be found
for the entrance of rude and ill-mannered breezes, yet
by the aid of roaring fires within, and mud without,
they hoped to bid defiance to winter's keenest blasts'

Though there was much to encourage, there was much
to dishearten; they missed the well filled granaries,
bursting with their rich treasures, and the cellars stored
with products of the garden ; they missed the luscious,
golden fruit, and a thousand other of the many com
forts and luxuries to which they had been accustomed,
so accustomed that they almost deemed them the ne
cessaries of life, and were surprised to think they could
live without them. Not less did they miss the busy
market-place and the shops, with the tempting array
and obliging clerk, where all the wants of the outer and
inner man could be immediately supplied. There was
no place nearer than Chicago or Milwaukee where even
the most common articles could be procured, and to
that distance were they obliged to go for all their pur
chases. Shopping was not then the pastime of the
ladies, but something to be undertaken solemnly, with
care and thought, a leaf to be turned down in memory's
book and referred to long afterwards.
But winter was now fast approaching, the first win
ter in a new land. The provisions which they had
brought with them were nearly exhausted, and the de
mand for a further supply, imperative. Accordingly,
Squire Hawes started for mill — then by no means the
common-place thing it now is — -with a wagon and two
yoke of oxen. He went to Elgin, in Illinois, and after
an absence of thirteen days, returned richly laden with
flour and potatoes.
Supplies Run Low. — The Whitewater settlers bought
their potatoes, (for which they paid one dollar a
bushel), of St. John, a settler of '36, who resided near
Janesville. Their stores of flour and pork being great
ly diminished, Norman Pratt started for Elgin, a jour
ney of no little difficulty and hardship at that time, as
the cold weather had then commenced, and there were
lowlands, marshes, creeks, and rivers to cross, without
bridges or highways, and with only a blind track to
guide him, and some of the time not even that, and it
was concealed by a light snow. Before he returned,
pork and flour had entirely disappeared from the set
tlement, and the bill of fare was reduced to salt and
potatoes, and — potatoes and salt. The Pratts, having
17

two cows, possessed an advantage over the others, be
ing able to introduce milk and butter as a variety in
their diet. Pratt not making his appearance, and the
time of his return being uncertain, William Birge and
Charles Hamilton set out for Milwaukee, after break
fasting on the regular potatoes and salt. At Heart
Prairie, while stopping to feed their teams, a cow, with
udder distended, passed along. This they looked upon
as a "special interposition," nor did they hesitate to
appropriate the good gift sent, but filled their tea-kettle
to the brim with the foaming milk, drinking copious
draughts of the same, and thus refreshed proceeded on
their way with fresh life and vigor, and bodily strength
renewed. The day after their departure, Norman Pratt
returned, bringing with him plenty of flour and some
pork, for which he was obliged to go farther south.
Deer and Honey. — Yet in spite of their usual rude
and primitive fare, they were not wholly destitute of
luxuries, for at that time large herds of deer might
often be seen, bearing high their heads, and sweeping
with swift and graceful motion over the prairie, or
through the forest glade. Rufus Clarke was the nim
rod of the party, and many was the stately buck and
timid doe which fell at the crack of his rifle. He had
a generous heart withal, and was not slow to divide
among his neighbors the spoils of the chase, and to his
sure aim and steady hand were they indebted for many
a savory morsel which found its way to their tables.
He possessed, moreover, a peculiar faculty in detecting
the home of the wild bee, and seeking out their store of
sweets, and these too he distributed with a liberal hand
among his many friends.
Joseph Nichols. — Joseph Nichols was also a great
hunter of bees, and being a man of little means, he dis
posed of the fruits of his industry, exchanging the hon
ey-comb for more substantial viands. Having collected
about two hundred pounds of honey, he placed it upon
a hand-sled and drew it into Milwaukee, procuring pro
visions in exchange. Upon his return, he brought with
him a barrel of flour and some pork, being both team
and driver. He was a man of firm, muscular build,
18

nearly equal in strength to any two in the diggings and
to about four in these degenerate days. A most useful
member of society he was, too; at all raisings he was
present, where his good-nature and powerful muscles
made him always welcome, and in his rambles he would
mark out the track for a future highway — in fact near
ly all the principal streets in this vicinity were first
marked by him. THE YEAR 1838.
The chief employment of the men, during the win
ter, was splitting rails for building their fences in the
spring, for as yet there was not a single fence in this
region, and also drawing logs to Herrington, Van Horn
& Hale 's saw milh
The only newcomer during the winter was Curtice
Utter, who claimed the south-east quarter of section
thirty-six in Lima. But when the lakes were once free
from ice, and spring with its warm and genial air had
come again, the tide of emigration flowed westward
once more.
About the middle of May, Squire Mead arrived with
his family, stopping at the Pratts' until he could get
the roof on his house, and could procure lumber for a
floor from Herrington 's mill. By July, he was fairly
domiciled in his new home.
George P. Marston and William Cutter also came,
taking possession of the claim made by Marston the
year before, which is about half way between here and
the Fort. George P. Marston, in writing of '37, says:
"I can hardly realize the fact that I was one of the
early settlers of the state, and that I have passed
through it from the lake to the Mississippi upon an In
dian pony, following the Indian trail and passing not
more than half a dozen dwellings in the whole distance.
A Bachelor's Cabin. — Cutter was from Portland,
Maine, Marston from Boston ; both were then young men,
full of life and vivacity, and right jolly times they had
in their backwoods cabin. They being good company,
generous and whole-souled, their dwelling was not only
a place of frequent resort for the neighbors, but also
for travelers, who were always sure to find here rest
and a cordial welcome. As they had plenty of means

at their command, their dwelling may be takenasa fair
representative of a bachelor's cabin. A description of
it as it appeared upon an evening in December, when
they had become fairly settled and domesticated, may
not be amiss. It was built after the usual fashion, of
logs, with shakes for a roof; its dimensions were four
teen feet by twelve, with loose boards for a floor. At
one end of the room was the stove, at the other were
two boards laid upon pegs driven in the logs, these
served as a table ; upon the same end was a board upon
other pegs, covered with a mattress ; this was their bed.
On one side was" still another board, over which hung a
small glass, this served as a workstand, dressing-case,
etc., etc. Under these and ranged against the wall, they
kept their flour and other provisions, and their trunks
containing their wardrobe, except such portions as
hung upon the logs ; under the table were two dressed
hogs, the lesser part of one being already consumed.
Cutter and Marston were preparing the supper, which
consisted of fried pork, wheat cakes, potatoes, and cof
fee. Sitting on threelegged, slab stools, were two of
the neighbors and a missionary, who had come to be a
light to those sitting in darkness, and to prevent the
Romanists from obtaining a footing here. Supper being
announced, (after various comments made by Cutter,
Marston and the neighbors,) they all drew around the
board (literally) and commenced a vigorous attack up
on the eatables, a blessing having been first pronounced
by the missionary.
It is to be feared, however, that they quite disre
garded the oft-repeated injunction of their mothers,
"let your victuals stop your mouth." After supper
was disposed of, Marston proposed a game of whist,
and, knowing what was required by good manners, first
inquired of the stranger if he would not "take a hand
in." The invitation being refused, the others com
menced and played the remainder of the evening. The
missionary undoubtedly left them fully persuaded that
he had a great work to perform.
Agitation for a Grist Mill.— Early in the spring
the settlers being satisfied that Butts would not, and
could not, improve the water power here, and having
20

already had a practical demonstration of the evils conse
quent upon having so far to go to mill, they remon
strated with him upon the subject, informing him that
he must either immediately erect a mill or surrender
his claim to some one that would. Not having suffi
cient means to comply with the former of these alter
natives, he relinquished his claim to his brother-in-law,
John Shaw. Shaw took possession asserting, like the
railroad men of the present day, that he had the means
and would commence next week.
Settlers on Heart Prairie and Elsewhere. — During
the year 1838, George and Robert Esterly, Jantes Hol
den, Edward DeWolf, William McDougall, and James
Burt settled upon Heart Prairie, all having made their
claims the year before. Gabriel Cornish and tv?k-\®£
his sons, Marshall Newhall, Caleb Morris, and GajS^t
Cornish made claims upon Round Prairie. Joseph
Humphrey,. Joseph Compton, Cyrenus Wilcox and John
Teetshorn came to Richmond, and Samuel anoV George
B. Hall found their way to Lima, George B. claiming
section nineteen. A.-
In the spring, Willard B. Johnson bought out the in
terest of Hamilton & Brewer in the claim on sections
seven and eighteen, and Hamilton made a claim in Rich
mond. About the first of October, Richard Hoppin and
Hon. David J. Powers arrived at Whitewater. Hoppin
claimed the south-west quarter of section one. ?.
David J. Powers. — Mr. Powers in his account of
those early times, writes thus: "Early in October,
1838, myself and wife landed in Milwaukee, direct from
New England, after a long canal and lake voyage of
about three weeks duration, that being the fastest mode
of the times. Happening to make the acquaintance of
W. B. Johnson, Esq., he gave such a glowing descrip
tion of Whitewater that we were led in our first in
terior exploration to visit it. The trip was performed
on foot and alone, and through a country almost wholly
unsettled, there being hardly a dozen houses between
Milwaukee and Rock River on the route of travel, and
many of them hut bachelors' cabins.

DAVID J. POWERS

"On my trip, I got belated in Whitewater Bluffs,
and came near having to camp out solitary and alone
for the night, but luckily, just as it began to be too
dark to keep the trail, the light of a cabin was seen in
the distance. It proved to be the house of Zerah Mead,
Esq.; he hospitably entertained me to my first night's
lodging in the valley of the Rock River.
The next day, by appointment, I met my before-
mentioned friend, W. B. Johnson, at his log cabin on
the site now occupied by the fine mansion of J. M.
Clark. He being a single man and much of the time
absent, I made a bargain with him to occupy his house
for the winter.
"I paid $75 for an ordinary yoke of oxen, $30 for a
cow, 25 cents per bushel for potatoes, 50 cents for corn,
75 cents for buckwheat, $30 a barrel for pork at Mil
waukee, and $1.25 per hundred for hauling our goods
from Milwaukee, but luckily we had only a few. Hav
ing a few tools, a little lumber, and considerable in
genuity, I soon constructed everything needful for
housekeeping, not only for our own little family, but
for half a dozen boarders who sojourned with us during
the winter."
The Second Autumn. — In October of 1838, we find
the condition of the settlers vastly improved from that
of the preceding year. Their cabins were more com
fortable; seed-time and harvest had come and gone, and
they had gathered of the first fruits of the land ; plenty
smiled upon them ; they had sufficient not only for home
consumption, but enough to divide with the stranger
who should come, unprovided, among them. To the
wayfaring man their doors ever stood open, and nightly
were their cabins filled with those who came to find a
home in these broad and fertile regions.. Yet amidst
all this abundance and success, there were clouds to dim
the sunlight of their prosperity. Anxieties and per
plexities arose to harrass and annoy. Government had
advertised that upon the 19th of November, 1838, the
land would be sold to the highest bidder. This would
bring it at a much earlier period than they supposed,
and consequently many found themselves unprepared,
having expended a greater part of their means in im
proving their claims, buying stock, etc.
83

A Mass-Meeting Concerning the Mill-Site.— A source
of additional anxiety was found in the fact that Shaw
had not yet commenced building the mill and it was
¦further ascertained, upon inquiry, that he had not suffi
cient means even to purchase the land, leaving improve
ments out of the question. In this dilemma, a meeting
of the sovereigns was called to devise ways and means
whereby the present condition of things might be reme
died. They assembled, and their business not being
"how not to do it," their deliberations were to the
point. It was resolved "that the interests of the settle
ment demanded the erection of a grist mill on White
water creek, at the mill site on the south half of section
four, and that no one should be permitted to bid off the
said south half at the land sale unless he would give
bond to erect a mill and have it in operation within
one year ; that Shaw should either give the bond or sell
out at a fair price ; and if he would do neither, to drive
him off the premises." A resolution was a law with
them, and to resolve was to do.
They appointed a committee, consisting of W. B.
Johnson, David J. Powers, and Norman Pratt, with in
structions to carry this resolution into immediate execu
tion. This was the first public meeting in the town of
Whitewater. They certainly made a wise selection of
officers, for they could not have found three better men
fdr the execution of their edict. All were young men,
full of action and go-ahead-ativeness, with plenty of
combativeness, and were withal fluent and forcible
speakers. The committee, in turn, were sure of the
hearty aid and co-operation of the people in the en
forcement of the law, even should they be forced to re
sort to the last clause. The settlers of Koshkonong,
Lima, Milton, and LaGrange were scarcely less inter
ested than were those of Whitewater in the erection of
a mill, and were ready to lend a helping hand should it
be necessary to resort to extreme measures, even to
driving Shaw from the premises ; or, should he bid at
the land sale, to giving him an impromptu bath in Mil
waukee River. The settlers had the advantage, inas
much as the state tribunal of the sovereigns was bound
to give force to the laws of the different settlements.
Si

Their decision was final as far as the title was con
cerned. There was not a settler in any of the above
mentioned towns who did not fully endorse the whole
resolution, except William Barron and William Birge,
and they objected only to the last clause ; not having
yet received their pay for the claim, their zeal was nat
urally somewhat abated, as it might endanger their
demand should the last clause be put into effect. Fully
confident of success, and impressed with the importance
of the trust reposed in them, the committee entered
upon their duties, which they effectually and speedily
discharged. Reminiscence by Squire Mead. — In writing of these
times, Squire Mead says, "The speedy erection of a
grist mill absorbed the minds of all, and a meeting of
the settlers, a week previous to the land sale, was held
to devise some plan for having a mill erected. A com
mittee was appointed to look up a capitalist who would
buy Shaw's claim to the water power, and give his bond
to the settlers that a mill with one run of stone should
be put in operation within one year. The committee
proceeded to Milwaukee, and after making proposals
to several men of capital, who were willing to buv the
land and build the mill, but were unwilling to pay Shaw
for the claim, they met Dr. Trippe, who had just land
ed, and made the proposal to him. It struck his fancy,
and although he had never been to Whitewater or seen
the property or country around, yet from the descrip
tion and representations of the committee, he was in
duced to embark in the enterprise." Mr. Powers, in
reference to the same, says, "The settlers being fully
conscious of the importance of the mill power, in the
subsequent development of the country, determined at
an early day that its claimant, Shaw, should bind him
self to erect a good flouring mill thereat or sell out to
someone who would. In pursuance to this purpose a
meeting was called about November, 1838, and steps
taken to effect the purpose. Among other things a
committee was appointed, W. B. Johnson, Norman
Pratt, and myself, and instructed to carry out the public
wishes by either obliging him to build a mill or by "buy
ing him out at a fair price, and if he would do neither,
25

to drive him off the premises. The matter became more
urgent, for the reason that the sale of the land by gov
ernment was just about to ensue (Nov. 19, 1838), and
after he had once obtained a government title, the
chance of squatter sovereignty compulsion in the mat
ter would become difficult if not impossible. The com
mittee on undertaking their task, found said Shaw to be
a regular southern Hoosier and a good deal of a trump,
backed up by certain nephews resident upon Heart
Prairie, by the name of Butts. They proposed to fight
it out unless they could get an exorbitant price. In this
shape the matter dragged, until the sale at Milwaukee,
when after a protracted effort and a great deal of loud
and bloody talk, a trade was finally consummated by
the payment, by the committee, in third parties' hands,
of the sum of $500 for the claim, right to section of the
land, and water power. The next thing was to find a
purchaser who would improve the property.
Dr. James Trippe. — "Asaph Pratt,Esq.,who had just
come on from the east to visit his sons, and with his
pockets full of money, offered to furnish the capital to
his son Norman and me, if we wished to buy and im
prove the property ; but being youthful and distrustful
of our abilities for so large an undertaking, we de
clined, whereupon he suggested to us a certain Dr.
Trippe, who had come around the lake with him and
had spoken of wanting to buy a water power. We at
once looked him up and stated our case. It seemed to
strike him favorably and after a little deliberation he
replied, 'Gentlemen, I have faith in your statements,
though strangers, and will agree to take the property
off your hands, and make the improvements you re
quire, during the next season.' The trade was closed
at once, and Trippe became possessed of one of the
prettiest town sites in the territory, and the town site
of a straightforward and worthy owner."
Contract with Dr. Trippe.— The committee, having
made the contract with Dr. Trippe, executed to him a
quit claim deed of the premises; and they together
executed an agreement as follows: This agreement
made this 20th of November, 1838, between Willard B.
Johnson, Norman Pratt, and David J. Powers of the

first part, and James Trippe of the second part, wit-
nesseth as follows, to-wit :
Whereas, The said parties of the first part, have this
day conveyed by quit claim to said party of the second
part, all their right, title and interest to the south half
of section four, township four, range fifteen, in Wal
worth County, and
Whereas, The sum of $500 has this day been ad
vanced by said Trippe, and placed in the hands of
Elisha Newell, of Rock County, to be paid to John
Shaw, Stephen Butts and Daniel Butts, from whom
said Johnson, Pratt, and Powers purchased said prem
ises, provided they, the said Shaw, Butts, and Butts
shall not in any manner interfere so as to prevent the
said Johnson, Pratt, and Powers from purchasing said
premises at the coming land sale at the minimum price.
Now if the said Trippe shall in any manner be pre
vented from purchasing said premises at said land sale,
then said Johnson, Powers, and Pratt are to refund to
the said Trippe the said sum of $500.
The said party of the second part agrees to and
with the said parties of the first part, that he will erect
or cause to be erected and put in operation on said
premises, and within one year from the coming land
sale in this district, a good substantial grist mill, such
as the wants of the inhabitants of the surrounding
country shall require.
In witness whereof the said parties have hereunto
set their hands and seals, this 20th of November, 1838.
In presence of
W. HOOKER. WILLARD B. JOHNSON (Seal),
NORMAN PRATT (Seal),
JAMES TRIPPE (Seal),
D.J. POWERS (Seal).
The $500 being paid by the doctor, there arose some
dispute between Birge and Butts as to which should
pay Barron, Birge contending that he was to receive
$200 for his interest, and if Barron had any interest it
belonged to Butts to satisfy his claim. This looked
like good logic to Butts, and he accordingly paid $200
to Birge, $60 to Barron and the balance to himself and
Shaw.

On the 21st or 22d day of the month, news came
that the land sale was postponed until the 21st of Feb
ruary, 1839.
Dr. Trippe at Troy Lake. — Dr. Trippe was at this
time residing in the town of East Troy, near the outlet
of Troy Lake, where he had a saw mill in operation. He
settled there in the summer of 1837, and at the time the
committee met him in Milwaukee, was just returning
from a visit to Montgomery County, New York, his for
mer place of residence. W. B. Johnson in writing of
him says: "Early in the winter of '37, going from
Whitewater to Milwaukee, I stopped at the doctor's
over night. My horse was tired out, and there was no
grain in the country; the doctor having brought a
quantity for seed, gave my horse some, which put new
life into him, and from that time on I always stopped
with them going to or coming from Milwaukee, and in
fact it was the only place where they had anything for
one to eat. Their house was always open to everyone — ¦
money or no money — it made no difference. No one
ever went away from there hungry. ' '
Prices in 1838. — From an account book, kept at the
time, of bills paid at Milwaukee, we have the following
list of prices :
Sept. 7th, one barrel of flour, $8.50; 6^ pounds of
coffee, $1.17; liy2 pounds of sugar, $2.16; Nov. 23d,
29 pounds of pork, $4.64 ; 62y2 pounds of butter, $23.52 ; •
two gallons molasses, $1.56 ; one barrel flour, $10 ; cart
ing barrel salt from Milwaukee, $4.75. Sept. 3d, re
pairing plow, $3.11 ; expenses to Janesville to get it re
paired, $10.18 ; 46 bushels of seed wheat, $70 ; expense
in getting wheat, $6.50; iy2 bushels corn meal, $1.50;
one side of venison, $1, showing that the expenses of
living were by no means inconsiderable.
Religious Movements. — Notwithstanding the cares
and anxieties of a temporal nature with which the set
tlers had to contend, they were not unmindful of their
spiritual and moral culture. Through the exertions of
Johnson, Elder James Flanders, a Methodist preacher
who now resides at Baraboo (1858), was engaged to
preach once in three weeks. He fulfilled his engage
ments fully and punctually. His first sermon was
28

preached about the middle of November at the home
of W. B. Johnson, where his meetings were usually
held. Once or twice, he had service in the house of the
Birges. He was a faithful and zealous preacher and
abated none of his zeal on account of the smallness of
his congregation; he probably had faith that it was
seed sown on good ground and would bring forth a
hundred fold; and were he now to visit Whitewater
and see the Christian and moral virtues of the place,
growing from the example of the pioneers, he would be
satisfied that his labors were not in vain.
Willard B. Johnson's Barn Dedicated. — During the
fall, W. B. Johnson raised the frame for a barn, which
was the first frame erected in the town, and of course
was looked upon as quite an event. In the evening, he
gave a splendid ball, at which all the beauty and chiv
alry of the surrounding country assembled. His spaci
ous room of sixteen by twelve was thrown open for the
reception of his guests; as this ordinarily served him
for parlor, dining-room, kitchen, and pantry, now
it was in addition to these, reception-room, drawing-
room, dancing hall and all. There were present of the
ladies, the three Misses Hawes, three Misses Humph
rey, Miss Mott, Miss Keech, Miss Collins, Mrs. Clarke,
and the two Mrs. Pratts.
Norman and Freeman drew the bow and discoursed
sweet music, to which merry feet kept time in the
mazes of the dance. They well knew how to draw forth
those witching strains which set the feet of listeners in
motion. A right jolly, good, old-fashioned dance they had
in the little room, none of your stiff affairs where every
body looks as if he were dancing at his own funeral,
but mirth and frolic led on the hours, and all enjoyed
themselves without trying to.
It may seem strange that twelve ladies could occupy
so small a place and almost incredible that there still
should be room to dance, but we must remember that
the women of '38 to '46 did not require as much space
as those of '58,* their circumference being beautifully
less. ?The day of hoop-skirts. 29

Good-Fellowship Among the Pioneers. — The winter
of '38, like that of '37, was spent, for the most part, by
the settlers in preparing fencing, drawing lumber, and
gathering tamarack poles for rafters in building, for
fences, etc. The men having no ' ' down town ' ' to which
they could go when the labors of the day were ended,
to hear the news, discuss polities, or speculate on the
probable rise or fall of stocks, were glad to meet their
neighbors of a winter 's evening and talk with them of
matters pertaining to their little world; and on many
a moonlit night was the only horse team in the settle
ment (owned by the Buttses) chartered for the occasion
and sent round to gather in the guests for some merry
making. Their gatherings then were necessarily less
conventional than now, for they had left behind them
old associations, and felt in some measure cut loose
from the former rules and stiff conventionalities of so
ciety, and its cold ceremonies and hollow forms seemed
out of place where all was so fresh and vigorous, so
wholly earnest and living. Besides, there was a bond of
sympathy between all in their common pursuits and in
terests, which rendered their intercourse less reserved,
more cordial and frank-hearted.
It was not necessary then for one to build up his
fortune by pulling down that of his neighbor ; the rule
was not "one person's gain is another's loss," for there
was ample room for each to work and grow and in
crease in worldly stores, without crowding his neighbor
or trespassing upon his rights ; consequently those petty
jealousies and rivalries which spring up, it would al
most seem necessarily, in a more advanced stage of so
ciety, were wholly unknown, but brotherly love and
good-fellowship prevailed. Whether it is that the few
ness of their numbers teaches them to prize the privi
lege of society, and develops the kindly and social feel
ing of the heart, or from some other cause, certain it is
that a more whole-souled and heartfelt cordiality exists
between the early settlers of a place, when things are
in the beginning, than at any other time ; a heartiness
and zest, a pure delight and keen enjoyment in social
intercourse, a joy in living, which only pioneers can
know, and which they gradually lose as immigration

augments their numbers, bringing strangers into their
midst and producing amongst them a diversity of aims
and interests. THE YEAR 1839.
The Sovereigns' Court. — During the winter, the set
tlers, in order to give force and effect to their proceed
ings, introduced more order and system into the sover
eigns ' code. They had a court, where all disputed titles
to claims were decided, and from its decision there were
no appeals. An executive was chosen, invested with
full power to enforce the mandates of the court. They
also appointed a person to bid at the coming land sale.
The Land Sale. — When this came off (in February)
each settler was in attendance. The person appointed
to bid off the land was provided with a book, containing
the name cf every settler, together with a description
of his claim. As soon as the piece was offered for sale,
he bid the regular $1.25 per acre, and no one was al
lowed to bid over him or before him. He was fully pro
tected in his office, for at his side stood the high sheriff
of the sovereigns and his deputies, with the whole body
of settlers in the Milwaukee land district for their
"posse," ready, at the word of command, gently and
quietly to convey any intruder to the banks of the
river, and more than one rebel against the law was con
signed to the cold waters of the Menominee as the just
reward of his temerity in setting at naught the will of
the sovereign 'people. The muscular frames and eager,
determined faces-, of that "posse" struck terror to the
hearts of all land sharks, and speedily convinced them
the Milwaukee land .district was no place for them to
operate in. Many of the claimants, being unprovided
with means to pay for their claims, were under the ne
cessity of engaging some one to purchase for them.
Luckily, Martin 0. Walker and Wadsworth & Dyer
from Chicago, were there with means to accommodate
them. To these men, most of those in this vicinity who
had not facilities for buying were indebted for assist
ance. They certainly proved to be men of sterling in
tegrity, and in no ease did they show any disposition to
take advantage of the settlers, and not one among
31

those who became obligated to them has ever cursed
them that they had money.
At the sale, Dr. Trippe purchased the south half of
section four, and all the other claimants of this region
obtained titles to their claims without difficulty and
with the most friendly feeling prevailing between all
parties. The Territorial Road. — During the winter, the Leg
islature passed an act for the laying of a Territorial
road from Rochester, on Fox River, to Madison. Early
in March, the commissioners commenced work. They
were assisted through LaGrange and this town to the
Fort, by the Birges and some others. This was the
first road laid in the town. It commenced at Rochester,
and the record says, "thirtieth mile post in Whitewater
creek — creek two and a half feet deep." Main Street,
west of the grist mill, formed a part of it. Field, of
Waukesha, was the surveyor.
Azor Kinney and Prosper Cravath, Jr. — In the latter
part of March, Azor Kinney and Prosper Cravath set
tled on the north half of section thirteen in the town of
Lima. They found a log house, built for Kinney by D.
J. Powers, ready for their reception. It was eighteen
by twenty-two feet, had a shingle roof, and a floor
formed of green oak boards loosely la:d. It was chinked
but not mudded. Not having any cook stove, all culin
ary operations were carried on by the aid of a fire built
in the open air. They came by land from Huron Coun
ty, Ohio, and were thirty days on the road. Dr. J. A.
Clarke, from the same place, had come in advance and
entered for them at the land sale, the said north half.
He afterwards boarded with them. A young man by
the name of Newton Baker came with Kinney. Cra
vath, by the middle of June, had the log part of the
house now occupied by Daniel Smith so far completed
that he moved into it, and though it may seem strange
to many now, he built the house and made the shingles
with his own hands. He also made a rocking chair for
his wife, an armchair for himself and a small chair for
his little ones; and stranger still, he became a noted
shingle weaver.

About the same time, the Janeses and Keeches ar
rived. William Janes and the Keeches settled in Lima,
the others in Johnstown. D. J. Powers, having bought
the claim of Joseph Nichols, entered the same at the
land sale and took possession of the house on the prem
ises. Abram Brink moved into the house of Willard B.
Johnson ; soon after he entered some land on the Fort
road, near "Oak Lodge."
The Building of the Grist Mill.— About the middle
of April, Dr. Trippe commenced to build the dam and
erect the mill. A young man by the name of Benjamin
Whitcomb was boss carpenter, and a person called Cut
ting was the millwright. On the 27th of June, the
frame to the mill was raised. It was a raising in which
every one felt interested, and all were present, ready,
with a right good will, to lend a helping hand when
ever required. Men came from Lima, Johnstown, Rich
mond, LaGrange, and the Fort, for they felt scarcely
less anxious than the home population for the success
and speedy accomplishment of the work. Near the old
log house, a stone oven had been built, and this was the
occasion of its first trial. Mrs. Trippe was on hand to
superintend its management, aided and abetted by
plenty of female help, and it was astonishing to behold
what triumphs of culinary skill were drawn from its
capacious recesses. When the frame was raised, and
the last rafters properly jointed, all repaired to the
house, where a well-provided repast, gotten up in Mrs.
Trippe 's most inimitable style, awaited them. After
partaking heartily of the good things, and doing full
justice both to their appetites and the dinner, they ad
journed to the prairie, which is now *Birge's Addition,
and dividing into companies, enjoyed a good round
game of hall, varied with other athletic exercises.
New-comers in '39. — About this time, Justus Car
penter and Squire Parsons made a claim f on section
thirty-two in the town of Cold Spring. William Hunt
er, then a lad, came with them. They soon erected a
•Between Summit and South Prince streets, south of the Esterly
school. tThe Carpenter claim was the farm now (1906) owned by Chas.
Church.

THE FIRST RESIDENCE OF DR. TRIPPE
(FROM A PENCIL SKETCH. MRS. TRIPPE MAY BE SEEN BESIDE HER BRICK
OVEN, NEAR THE HOUSE)

house and with their families took immediate posses
sion of their new quarters. Their claim was included
in the Canal Reserve and was not then in market. Not
long after them, Levi Johnson and Alexander Hender
son came. The latter claimed the farm where he now
resides, about three miles northeast from this village,
and commenced making improvements. Joseph Powers
also arrived and stopped with his brother. At this
time, the first blacksmith shop was erected. It was a
log building about fourteen feet square, and stood on
lot one, block nine, just back of where Smith's store
now is.
On the 10th of August, Seth M. Billings and Abra
ham Haekett arrived. Hackett entered the land on
which he now lives, on section seventeen. About the
same time Anderson Whiting settled in Richmond, near
Captain James Humphrey, who had come the year be
fore, and Morris Ensign made a claim near Utter 's
Corners. Zerah Mead Made Justice of the Peace. — At this
time, all of the north-west quarter formed an election
precinct, known as the Town of Elkhorn. The settlers
of the town were not satisfied with their means of re
dress, and petitioned Governor Dodge for the appoint
ment of three justices. In the spring of '39, their peti
tion was granted, and Zerah Mead, Wm. Bowman, and
Jeduthan Spooner were appointed justices in and for
the said Town of Elkhorn, which office Squire Mead has
held from that day until the present time, 1858. He
says of it: "I was totally ignorant of the forms and
practices of justice 's courts and, what was worse, could
get no information, and was unable to procure a copy of
the Statutes, and therefore proceeded to business with
out law. Before doing business, I visited the other two
justices, and found them in the same dilemma as my
self." The first suit was docketed on the 15th of June,
1839. On the 13th day of August, he obtained a copy
of the Statutes.
The First Drover. — About the first of July, a drover
with cattle made his appearance, much to the relief of
the settlers. Cows sold from $18 to $30; oxen from
$50 to $90 a yoke. For five or six years after, some
35

one from the southern part of Indiana or Illinois would
annually come into these regions with a drove of cattle
for sale. They were provided with Hoosier wagons
covered with cloth, and carried with them their own
provisions and lodgings. They would camp at some
convenient place where water and pasture for their
cattle could be readily procured, and there establish
their market ; for '39 and '40, block thirteen was their
camping ground. Occasionally during '39 and for two
years after, a Hoosier would wander this way with
bacon and hams for sale, which was quite an accom
modation to many.
Flour during the spring sold for $2.50 per hundred ;
butter for 50 cents per pound ; potatoes from 15 to 25
cents per bushel ; pork 14 cents per pound.
In October, Oliver C. Magoon and Warner Earle,
Esq., arrived at Whitewater with their families. They
stopped first at Squire Mead's, and afterwards with
Freeman Pratt, until they could erect a house; this
was soon in readiness to receive them; it was the log
part of the house now owned by Horatio Morgan. Dur
ing this month Sidney Workman also came.
About the middle of September, the grist mill was so
far completed that one run of stone was in operation.
William Birge was the first customer to have a grist
ground in the new mill.
Death of Newton Baker.— On the 19th of Septem
ber, Newton Baker died, cut down in early manhood,
having only reached his twenty-first year. He was
buried near where now stands the Methodist* Chapel,
his being the first burial in town. His funeral was at
tended by no relatives, but a few friends there were
to follow him to his last resting place. No priest was
there to remind the living that they too must die, but a
short and feeling prayer was offered by Justus Carpen
ter. His remains now rest in Grove Cemetery, among
many of the old pioneers, and a beautiful head-stone
marks the spot. Nineteen years have passed, but still
friends beautify his grave, and as they visit the spot,
remember that he once lived.

•On Church Street, site of the present German Lutheran Church.
36

Settlers at Milton and Johnstown. — At Milton, were
to be found Joseph Goodrich, Capt. Jonathan Culver,
0. H. Norton, Aaron Walker, Farnam Chickering, Roy
al Case, Thomas Waterman, Nathan G. and Grosvenor
Storrs, and Rev. Daniel Smith.
John A. Fletcher, Elisha and Noah Newell, Capt.
Caleb D. Hill, Henry Spencer, Daniel Philips, and Per
kins J. Childs had settled in Johnstown in '37, and
Jacobs M. Rogers, William Newbury, and Joseph Pren
tiss in '38. Already they had staked out a large num
ber of lots, and were sure they would have the begin
ning of a village which should compare favorably with
any among the marshes.
Settlers at Delavan, Elkhorn, and Troy.— At Dela-
van, there settled in '36, Col. Henry Phoenix and fam
ily ; in '37, Milo Keisey and family ; in '38, Israel Stow-
ell and family, and in '39, Joseph Griggs. About this
time, there was a grist mill built there and put into
operation. At Elkhorn were to be found Samuel Bradley, Le
Grand Rockwell, Hollis Latham, Sheldon Walling, and
Edward Elderman, Esq. This was then the county
seat, it having been, the fall before, left to the people
to choose between Elkhorn, Delavan, Spring Prairie, and
Geneva. Elkhorn received a vote of thirty-five major
ity over all the other places.
At Troy, were Gaylord Graves, Jesse Meacham,
Adolphus Spoor, and Othner Beardsley, settlers of '36:
Jacob Burgett, Cyrus Jenkins, and Gorham Bunker, of
'38, and Augustus Smith and Henry Odell of '39. Sewall
Smith had also made his purchase there, but did not
settle until the following year.
Such was Whitewater, and such were the adjoining
settlements, when the handful of pioneers gathered
here resolved that there should be a village of White
water. Rev. Daniel Smith. — About this time, W. B. Johnson
and Justus Carpenter engaged the Rev. Daniel Smith —
then a missionary of the "Old School Presbyterian
Church — to preach here one-third of the time. He held
his meetings in the fall and winter, at the houses of
Carpenter, Johnson, or Cravath, as Providence seemed
37

to direct. To meet his engagements he was frequently
obliged to travel from Milton on foot.
The First Law Case. — During the latter part of Oc
tober, the first suit was tried in which counselors were
employed by the parties. The summons in the case was
issued June 15th, 1839, and was William Birge vs. W.
B. Johnson, — Warner Earle was for the plaintiff and
Prosper Cravath for the defendant. Cravath, at that
time, made no pretensions to legal knowledge, that be
ing the first suit in which he engaged as attorney. Earle
was a young man, and this was the first of his practice.
Neither produced a great amount of authority, their
only book of reference being a copy of the Statutes of
the Territory, and an old first edition of Cowen 's Treat
ise. The action was in assumpsis for work and labor,
and various articles of produce, all of which the de
fendant denied and claimed a set-off. Each filed a bill
of items. The plaintiff in closing his testimony, had
failed to prove all its items. The defendant then pro
duced his account book and made oath to the facts as
required by law, and then read the items charged. After
the defendant closed, the plaintiff wished to read the
credits, to which the defendant objected. Cravath con
tended that the defendant had only sworn to the cor
rectness of the charges, not the credits ; that the plain
tiff had once closed his testimony and could not intro
duce any more ; that as the statute read the book should
be evidence of such charges, and if there were credits
in the book there was no evidence that they were cor
rect. Earle contended that the book was then a witness
and anything in the book relating to the case he had a
right to have as testimony; that it was not his testi
mony but his defendant's. After the argument, the
court sustained the objection.
Squire Mead says, in regard to his early judicial
acts, "My decisions seemed very satisfactory to the
winner, and no appeal was taken by the loser for a
number of years. There might have been some ruling
that the lawyers of the present day would take excep
tions to; yet I think, on the whole, that justice was
about as evenly dealt out then as now."

Soon after the mill was in operation, Emanuel Caw-
ker moved into the log house and took charge of the
mill. Flour then sold at $3 per hundred, wheat $1 per
bushel, corn 50 cents, buckwheat flour $2 per hundred
at the mill.
Prairie Fires. — The season of the year was now fast
approaching when the prairie fires, which annually vis
ited these regions were to be expected, and woe to the
settler who had failed to prepare for their approach,
or had neglected to defend his property against their
depredation. The means of defense usually employed
consisted in plowing fifteen or twenty furrows around
the houses, fences, and stacks, and then, when the fire
was seen approaching, to kindle counter fires to meet
the advancing foe. If it came before these precautions
were taken, then was the time to try men's nerves, for
fighting fire is no child's play. The fires have been
often and vividly described but all language fails to
convey any adequate conception of their lurid beauty
and wild and fearful grandeur.
First, as the herald of their approach, a warm ruddy
glow, like morn 's first rosy flush, spread over earth and
sky; then a dim glare, succeeded by a dim red line of
light just visible on the horizon, gradually widening
into one broad unbroken wall of flame, ever advancing
and contracting. But even as it drew nearer the wall
was broken, becoming a tumultuous, heaving mass of
fire, ever rolling on and on, like the storm lashed bil
lows of some fiery sea; then a sound as the rushing of
some mighty wind filled the air, as higher and higher
toward the heaven the mad waves dashed in their wild
fury. Above this raging, seething mass, hung a dark
cloud of mingled smoke and flame, casting upon all ob
jects a lurid and ghastly light. But when the fiery tide
came nearer still, until the beholder felt its hot breath
upon his cheek, a dense cloud of smoke, as a thick
mantle of darkness, enveloped him, shutting out from
view all surrounding objects; solitary and alone, in a
darkened world, he seemed to stand, the only sound
the roaring and crashing of the flames. But soon it
was gone, in its onward march sweeping through for
ests and over plains, sending its forked tongues high

over the treetops and ever, as some fell spirit, the dark
cloud of smoke stood above, unfurling its inky folds
and hiding from view heaven's pure blue; but words
are tame, for though -memory may faithfully daguer
reotype the scene, the pen is powerless to describe its
terrific yet fascinating beauty, its wildness and its
grandeur. Deer Hunting. — -During the winter of '39 and '40,
the settlers varied the monotony of their daily business
routine, by occasional hunting parties in search of the
wild deer, of which numbers were to be found among
the woods and openings. A new plan was adopted in
their mode of hunting ; instead of adhering to the time-
honored custom of their fathers, by trudging off on
foot, with shouldered gun, they introduced the very un-
romantic innovation of horses and a sled. Two or three
"good shots," provided with a driver, would set out
on a hunting expedition. The first track espied, they
followed until it led them in sight of the herd, and being
concealed by the sled-box, they were able to drive with
in a very short distance of their game, and frequently
by this fraudulent device and practice they were ena
bled to capture from five to eight out of a single drove.
For several years, did they continue in this underhand
and piratical manner, to slaughter these denizens of the
forest ; like the frogs in the fable, what was sport to the
hunters was death to them. Deer, together with grouse,
ducks, and wild geese, comprised the kinds of game suit
able for food; quails and rabbits were then unknown.
Fishes were then abundant in all our streams, and in
the spring the securing of the finny tribe was a favorite
pastime. Spears and seine were in great demand, and
sometimes even the formality of hook and line was dis
pensed with, a club serving as an instrument of death
to any unwary fish which might venture above the sur
face of the water. THE YEAR 1840.
Deacon Prosper Cravath and the Cortland Colony. —
As navigation opened for the year 1840, emigrants be
gan to arrive ; about the middle of May, Deacon Pros
per Cravath, Levi Kinney, Giles Kinney, Deacon Zerah
Hull, James Hull, and Ara Hardy came, all accompanied
40

by their respective families; there were also among the
company, Oliver and George Salisbury, B. B. Freeman
and family, A. Freeman, and George Brown; all these
settled in Lima. Cravath, having the fall before bought
out Azor Kinney, took immediate possession, Kinney
having previously built a frame house on the south-west
quarter of section eighteen, this being the first frame
dwelling house in the town. Dean Williams was boss
carpenter. At this time, Calvin and Alanson Pike ar
rived and entered some land in Cold Spring; James
Bliss, Richard Chesebro, and Champion Kinney, with
their families, also settled in Cold Spring. The above
were all from Cortland County in the State of New
York. Soon after, Asaph Pratt, father of Norman and
Freeman Pratt, arrived with his family; he built on
section eight a log house, which is still standing. Capt.
Asad Williams and family also came and settled on
the *farm where they now reside. Corydon and Morris
Pratt, who came at this time, also settled in Lima.
The Powerses were employed in building a tavern
upon block one, lot one, and S. S. Workman and Wil
liam Birge had each a dwelling in progress of erection,
one upon lot four, block two, the other upon the north
half of section four, north of lot five, block four.
Founding of the Congregational Church. — On the
3d of July, the Congregational Church was founded by
Rev. Daniel Smith. The meeting convened for the pur
pose was held at the house of Deacon Cravath in Lima.
The church numbered fifteen members, five males, Dea
con Cravath, Deacon Hull, Justus Carpenter, Levi Kin
ney and James Hull. It was called ' ' The Presbyterian
Church of Whitewater," being first established under
a presbyterian form of government.
Opening of the First Hotel. — At this time, Birge and
Workman had their dwellings so far completed that
they moved into them ; they were frame buildings built
by Charles Robinson, and are both still in being. Work
man used a part of his as a cabinet shop. The Powerses
had their hotel so far finished as to admit of its being
occupied; there were no pleasure-seekers then, but
nightly did some weary home-seeker find rest and
?Wlwe FranS Williams, his grandson, now (1906) resides,
41

REV. DANIEL SMITH

shelter beneath its roof. The building was eighteen by
thirty-six, and was the same as that afterwards used
by Joel Clapp as a livery stable. Powers says : ' ' Many
thought at the time that we built too large for many
years to come, but luckily it did not prove so ; we were
compelled into keeping people before the doors were
hung." As we look at the large commodious *hotel
now ('58) being erected by Mr. Wintermute, and com
pare it with the 18x36 building which formerly occu
pied its place, it tells of the changes eighteen years
have wrought, and of the uncertainty of prophesies of
man. The final completion of the house was celebrated
by a grand opening. The dancing hall, which was the
whole size of the upper story, was opened to all lovers
of the dance ; people came from the Fort, Delavan, Elk
horn, and Troy to participate in the festivities of the
occasion. There were, of the dancers, about thirty
couple, and these together with quite a number of out
siders and lookers-on, formed quite a respectable com
pany, numerically considered, even. Music, dancing,
sociability, and fun were the order of the evening.
Indian Alarms. — Although, years before, the general
government had purchased of the Indians their title to
the land, still they lingered, loth to leave their ancient
hunting grounds, their home and the burial place of
their fathers. Their presence was a source of mortal
terror to many of the settlers, who feared lest they
might commit some depredations upon life or property,
although they actually never did injury to any one,
unless it might be to sell them ponies and steal them
afterwards, and a few such harmless eccentricities in
which they occasionally indulged. Some of the pioneer
women, still residents of our village, can, however, tell
thrilling tales of horrible fright and startling adven
tures in which they barely escaped the scalping knife
and tomahawk. The government moved slowly in the
matter. Gov. Dodge organized the militia of the state.
Benoni Finch, of Koshkonong, was appointed colonel,
who had the good sense to select his staff from White
water. Thus early did' Whitewater vindicate her mili-
*The old Montour House, on the site now occupied by Leffingwell's
livery barn. 43

tary spirit, furnishing to the state brave and efficient
officers. One of those early settlers, ranking as colonel,
in writing of the time, says : "Such an array of patri
otic officials, eager to serve their country, was enough
to frighten the Indians and make them 'pukka jee.'
But unfortunately for the patriots, the government
sent General Atkinson and he peaceably removed the
natives. ' '
Establishment of the. Postoffice. — No sooner did the
settlers gain one additional advantage than they bent
their energies to the attainment of some new object;
having now a mill, blacksmith shop, store and hotel,
they next required and petitioned for a postoffice; for
until this time they had gone to Milwaukee for their
mail, and a New York paper was usually received from
eight to ten weeks after its publication. About the 1st
of April, the Whitewater postoffice was established and
D. J. Powers received his commission as postmaster.
A weekly mail was established between Troy and this
village. Mr. Powers says: "For the purpose of ex
ecuting the papers, I walked to Troy, some twenty
miles, on an April morning, staid three hours to trans
act business, and then walked home again before dark,
and furthermore carried the first regular mail in my
coat pocket." About the middle of May, the inhabit
ants began to receive their mail matter at Whitewater
postoffice. Formation of the Town of Whitewater. — There be
ing at the time a special session of the legislature.
Squire Mead circulated a petition to have the Town of
Elkhorn divided, and asking that the portion now com
prised in the Towns of Whitewater and Richmond
should now be formed into a new town to be called
Whitewater. The name was derived from that of the
creek, which was so called by the surveyors who di
vided the county into townships. This petition was
granted by the legislature.
The First School House.— The next thing to be ac
complished for the advancement of the village was the
erection of a school house. There being no moneyed
men, they wisely concluded to dispense with the levy
ing of a tax, but by voluntary labor and donation of
44

materials a house was soon completed, which, if not
large and beautiful, yet sufficed for all the purposes in
tended to be answered in its erection. It was built of
logs. Its dimensions were sixteen feet by eighteen, and
it stood in the south-east corner of the north half of
section five near the place occupied by the present resi
dence of Mrs. Trippe. It not only served for a school
room, but here the devout and pious of the community
were wont to meet and worship.
Muster of the Militia. — During the summer, Col.
Elderkin called together the militia of the Town of Elk
horn. They were commanded, under the pains and pen
alties of the law, to be and appear at the house of
George Esterly, in said town, armed and equipped as
the law directs. They did appear, but not knowing
what the law directed there was every imaginable kind
of equipment. The colonel attempted to form them
into line. His soldiers refusing to obey orders, he
called upon his aid, Warner Earle. He meeting with
no better success, called in Capt. True Rand. Luckily,
Esterly appeared at this juncture, announcing that
dinner was ready. At the word, all marched with quick
and ready step to the bountiful repast which he had
prepared, and without even awaiting the word of com
mand, commenced evolutions which they better under
stood. After dinner, Thomas. Newton, a settler of '37
and a resident of the Town of Whitewater, was chosen
captain. Soon after this they were dismissed, this be
ing the first and last military parade.
Benjamin Whitcomb died on the 13th of August.
His funeral was held at the hall of the hotel, Rev. Dan
iel Smith officiating upon the occasion.
New-comers of 1840. — In August, Matthew Hicks,
Captain Jesse Pease, and Gerard Cutler, carpenter by
trade, purchased lots. Thomas Van Horn had also lo
cated on the east half of the north-east quarter of sec
tion four, and had built part of the dwelling which
George Dann now occupies. Harvey Seymour entered
some land on section two and commenced building.
Maj. Phillips, Thomas H. Webb, and Bradley P. Plato
settled in Lima, Asad Curtice in Cold Spring, and John
Hackett and Edmund Dawes in Whitewater.
45

In September, Henry J. Starin arrived with his fam
ily, and immediately commenced improving his present
beautiful location on the north-east quarter of section
four. Jacob J. Starin (one of the firm of Starin, Cook
& Co.), then but a lad, came with him.
Frederick J. Starin, having purchased in this vicin
ity at the land sale, came here to view his premises;
and while here, in the month of October, surveyed the
lots between Whitewater and Main Streets; also lots
on the east side of the creek (marked block four on
Card's map), at the same time making a plat, which was
the first of the village proper.
In October, the Powerses sold their tavern stand to
Freeman L. Pratt. Joseph Powers had already erected
the present building on lots six and seven of block seven.
David J. Powers soon built a small dwelling on lots
four and five of block six. About this time, I. U.
Wheeler, Esq., and family, and his sons, Egbert and
William, with their families, arrived at the village. Eg
bert and William soon built a blacksmith shop on lot
two of block two. The same is now the Empire saloon.
Patrick McLaughlin also opened a tailor shop in Birge 's
chamber. At the same time, Joseph and Benjamin Stan
ton came and purchased the store of Bosworth. Their
first charge was made Dec. 22, 1840. In the same month,
Dr. Trippe and family moved into the log house. On
the 18th day of November, Julius Birge was born,
he being the first white child born in the Town of
Whitewater. The last of the month, Abram Brink had
in operation his saw-mill at Cold Spring.
Winter, as it came once more, found all in readiness
for its approach. An abundant harvest had furnished
plenty of provisions, the cellars were filled with the
treasures of the garden, and in place of fruit they had
gathered in plentiful stores of the hazel and hickory
nuts. Flour then sold at the mill for $1.50 per hun
dred, buckwheat flour the same, bran 9 cents per bush
el, winter wheat 50 cents per bushel, spring 38 cents,
oats 25 cents. Dried apples could be had at $2.50 per
bushel, peaches and cranberries at $2, butter at 18 cents
per pound, tallow 16 cents, pork $4 per hundred. Wood
brought from 75 cents to $1 per cord. Board could be
procured in the village at $1.50 a week.
46

The county was now preparing to build a court
house, and the tax of the town for the year was $362.87,
of which sum $72.47 was for school purposes. Eight
dollars and thirty-eight cents of it was paid by non
residents. There were twenty-six residents assessed.
The total value of the assessment for the town was
$57,975, the portion included in the corporation was
valued at $5,012, the south half of section four at $3,540,
and paid a tax of $22.19.
The Milwaukee Weekly Sentinel. — The literary
tastes and desire for foreign news of the settlers were
now gratified, to some extent, by the weekly reception
of the Milwaukee Sentinel, of which a copy was taken
by almost every family. Those who come here in this
day of railroads and telegraphs can scarcely realize
with what eagerness this single weekly messenger,
bringing to them tidings of the world without, was
seized upon and perused by those who came in more
primitive times, when a newspaper was a treasure and
the coming of the mail an event of the greatest moment.
To it, were they indebted for many, a pleasant hour,
and much enjoyment did they find in the perusal of its
pages, for it somehow seemed to form a bond of union
between them and the homes and scenes which they
had left; they did not feel so wholly barbarous, so en
tirely shut out from the world of civilization.
Opening of the First School. — "Just as the twig is
bent the tree's inclined," was a cardinal article in the
belief of the pioneer fathers and mothers. The education
of the youth ever held a prominent place in all their
plans and designs, they believing it to constitute an
important element in the formation of character. The
north half of the Town of Whitewater had already
been organized into a school district, and the settlers
having now a comfortable and convenient school room,
employed Sheldon C. Powers, of Troy, as teacher, and
by the 1st of December, 1840, the first school in the
town was in successful operation, where the young
ideas were trained and taught the first steps in their
march scienceward.
A Dancing School. — For the further improvement of
the youth, and that by the cultivation of fine arts
47

coarseness and vulgarity might be prevented from gain
ing a foothold in society, a subscription was circulated,
which read nearly as follows : ' ' We, the undersigned,
believing in the cultivation of the more refined feelings
and graces of our nature, and that a well-conducted
dancing school will promote refinement in society and at
the same time afford innocent amusement for the young,
do agree to pay the sums set opposite our respective
names toward defraying the expenses of a dancing
school, to be held at the house of Freeman L. Pratt, in
the Village of Whitewater, the school to be conducted
according to strictest rules of propriety. ' ' A sufficient
amount was soon raised, and the Murrays, of Beloit,
gentlemen of cultivated tastes and good morals, were
engaged as teachers. Each school passed off pleasantly
and satisfactorily to all; the Pratts furnished refresh
ments gotten up as they well knew how, in style most
grateful to the palate. Although the school was founded
on strictly temperance principles, yet some of the young
men found occasion, under cover of various pretexts,
for calling at the store of the Stantons, upon whose
books, during the winter, are to be found charges
against divers young men, "eggs, liquor, and cigars,
13 cents," a moderate charge certainly, which shows
how modest they were in those days in their aspirations,
and how little was required for them to be jolly on.
The school, however, was allowed in no way to inter
fere with their daily labors, for never was there a more
industrious set of men, or more hard work performed,
than by the settlers during the winters of '40 and '41.
Stealing of Timber in Bark Woods. — Snow fell about
the 15th of November, and by the 25th, Bark River was
frozen over so as to admit of the crossing of teams.
This was the signal for a general rush to the woods,
and was followed by a series of depredations upon the
property of "Uncle Sam," unequalled in the annals of
our town; for never, either before or since, has there
been such immense quantities of timber taken from
government land. All were engaged in this species of
theft, for those who could not consistently with their
conscientious scruples take the lumber themselves stole
by proxy, hiring some one less scrupulous to do it for
48

them. Loads of saw-logs were cut and drawn either
to Bark River or Brink's Mills, at Cold Spring, or to
Whitewater. Each took whatever he wished, hewing-
timber, rails, saw-logs, or rafters as the case might be,
without hesitancy and in unstinted measure. There
were at work each' day from one hundred and fifty to
two hundred men, and from seventy-five to one hun
dred teams ; they came from Rock and Heart Prairies.
With the rising sun, men and teams were astir in the
woods, and now "Loud sounds the axe, redoubling
stroke on stroke, on all sides round the forest hurls her
oaks headlong." Many huts were built and nightly
occupied by their holders who, when the labors of the
day were ended, would kindle a blazing fire in front
and prepare by it their evening meal, living for the
time like backwoodsmen. This was their principal busi
ness until the middle of March, when the snow disap
peared and their lumbering for the year was finished.
Hunting. — Occasionally they would snatch a day
from their more arduous duties to devote to the chase,
and great havoc did they make during the winter
among the deer and other game. Chief among the
hunters, both for skill and success, were Squire Wheel
er and his son, Egbert, Capt. Thomas Newton and Capt.
John Teetshorn. Levi Kinney made some not wholly
unwarranted pretentions, though obliged to yield the
palm to these more successful rivals. There were many
others who fain would have established their reputa
tion as mighty hunters, and would sally forth confident
of success, but when the time came to fire, when a calm
and steady hand was needed, they were suddenly seized
with the "buck fever," a disease peculiar to hunters,
whose most alarming symptoms was a violent trembling
of every muscle, a sudden quaking which prompted
them to fire at random, sending the ball harmlessly
through the air. THE YEAR 1841.
A Ball and Its Consequences. — The time having
come for drawing the dancing school to a close, it was
determined to give a grand ball as the crowning glory
of the enterprise. The scholars and others invited duly
assembled. The Murrays were there with inspiring

music, while the Pratts on their part had everything
prepared in ample quantity and good style. Mirth and
glee led on the winged hours, "and all went merry as
a marriage bell, ' ' when suddenly the tide of mirth was
stayed, as a venturous youth, impelled by a mischief-
loving spirit, dared then and there, with encircling
arm to press upon the lips of a fair young lady present
an unmistakable kiss. Many deemed it a presumptuous
act ; but one of the company, much advanced in years,
a gentleman of olden times, possessed of that nice sense
of propriety and fitness, the chivalric courtesy that
characterized the old school politeness, felt thoroughly
disgusted with the performance, considering it an in
sult to the house and in direct violation of the rules of
the school. Acting from the impulse of the moment,
he ordered the young man to leave the room. His
orders being disregarded, he seized the youth by the
collar, and, a few coming to his assistance, quietly led
him from the room.
The Resulting Law Suit. — This little episode could
but mar the enjoyment of the evening, but rather un
fortunately it was followed by still more disastrous
consequences ; for though of so trifling a nature, it cre
ated quite a stir in the community, and gave rise to
some hard feeling. The young man, considering this
summary expulsion from a ball room as somewhat in
sulting to his dignity, entered a complaint before Squire
Childs, of Richmond, against the movers in his expul
sion, for assault and battery. The complaint was drawn
by Prosper Cravath, of Lima, Earle refusing to take
part on either side. The alleged assailants being ar
rested and brought before the justice, asked time to
procure counsel, which was granted. They immediate
ly started for Judge Noggle, but the complainant, antic
ipating their design, beat them in the race and em
ployed him first. They finally procured the services of
Hon. James H. Knowlton. Immediately upon the ar
rival of the parties at Childs', the jury was summoned
and sworn and the trial commenced. The decision of
the court did not suit Knowlton, and the defendants, at
his suggestion, removed the case to another justice,
Squire Thomas, of Delavan. The jury proceeded thith-
50

er with their papers, but after the case was called and
the jury seated, Knowlton asked that another jury
might be selected, contending that the present one
could not sit in the case ; that when a case was removed,
their power as jurors ceased. Noggle and Cravath as
serted that the law required that on the removal of a
case the papers and all pertaining to the case should be
sent to the nearest justice ; that the jurors, being once
sworn, became part of it, and were bound to go wher
ever the suit went. This seeming logical, the court
overruled the request of Knowlton. After the testi
mony was closed, Cravath contended that the defend
ants were keepers of a public house, open for balls,
parties, etc.; they had no right to expel a person only
for gross, indecent, or abusive conduct, and not as pro
prietors from a ball, in any case, as this right belonged
to the managers only. On the other hand, Knowlton
contended that they were not keepers of a public house,
for although it was open for travelers, balls and parties,
yet having no sign, it was not public ; that this was not
a public dance, but part and parcel of the dancing
school; that part of the agreement in that was "that it
should be conducted according to the strictest rules of
propriety," and that kissing a lady in a ball-room was
considered outrageous and against all rules of decency.
Noggle in reply stated that the defendants were not the
sole managers of the school or ball ; that they had not
the sole right to determine concerning the propriety or
impropriety of any act; that if it was an improper act
they were not proper judges; and further submitted
that there was no impropriety in the act itself; that
kissing-was the first thing taught us by our mothers — ¦
that it was practiced in savage, barbarous, and civilized
lands, in all ages and climes — that each juror had kissed
and been kissed — that it was not forbidden either by
the civil or moral law. After this powerful appeal, the
jury immediately returned a verdict of guilty, thus
judicially deciding the legahty of a kiss, a point which
from that time has remained unquestioned, this decision
having long since become incorporated into the common
law of this vicinity.

Death of Deacon Cravath. — On the 22d day of April,
1841, at his residence in the town of Lima, died Deacon
Prosper Cravath, — an honest man, — and was buried
where now stands the Episcopal Church.
Early in the spring the Bradleys settled in the town
of Palmyra. About the 1st of May, Wm. Wood had a brick-yard
in operation, on what is now Dann's Addition. He
made the first brick in the town, burning about forty
thousand in the first kiln. Until within two years, brick
has been yearly made in that same yard.
The Wheelers then manufactured at their shop cast
steel plows, which were an improvement on the cast or
strap plough and a great convenience to the farmers
around, as well as a source of profit to the makers. They
were sold at $12 apiece.
By May, the Stantons had erected a frame store,
eighteen feet by twenty-nine, on lot two, block one. It
now forms the front of Herbst's clothing store. At
the same time, Matthew Hicks had the house owned by
Sweetland, on lot one of block six, ready to occupy.
A Temperance Society. — Though all the inhabitants
were strictly temperate, yet that this fact might be
made apparent to all newcomers., a meeting was held
for the organization of a teetotal temperance society.
Dr. McNash, of Geneva, addressed the audience, pro
ducing a powerful effect. A great majority signed, but
like those of a later date who sign pledges, each did it
for his neighbor's good rather than for his own, as
would seem from the circumstance that the account
books show the same amount of liquor sold afterward
as before. Such charges as these were occasionally
met with : ' ' Two quarts killall, rhubarb, six cts., cloves
six cents." A mixture of these, moderately partaken of,
was a preventative of the ague. No liquor was drank
except as a medicine, and the presumption is that it was
recommended by their physician. Dr. Clarke, and that
he first tasted of the liquor to see if it was properly
prepared. For the terror of all evil-doers who might come, the
Governor appointed Squire Wheeler Justice of the
Peace in and for the county of Walworth, to reside in

the town of Whitewater, thus furnishing the settlers
with ample means for enforcing obedience to the law.
In June, the Rev. Daniel Smith's engagement with
the Congregational Society having expired, they se
cured the services of Rev. Seth Smalley. During the
summer, the meetings were held in the log school house ;
in the fall and winter, in the chamber of Workman's
house. New-comers in 1841. — The 1st of September, Thomas
K. LeBaron came from Boston with a stock of goods.
He bought the store of the Stantons and the few goods
they had left and by the 15th of the month commenced
selling. Philander Peck came during the summer and con
tracted with David J. Powers to build him a store
twenty-eight feet by eighteen, on lot three block one.
*This now forms part of the store occupied by Starin,
Cook & Co. On the 1st day of November, he com
menced business and having plenty of means, accommo
dated the settlers with long credits, which to many was
a great advantage.
About the same time, Levi Powers arrived with a
stock of goods and opened for business in the log store.
Job D. Bonnell, a tailor, Orville Cooley, Charles E.
Curtice, Robert Earle, and Pliny Muzzy came in the
spring. During the fall, Squire Wheeler completed his
pleasant residence on lot five of block seven, Dr. Clark,
his on lot one of block three, Charles Robinson the
house on lot one of block four, David J. Powers the
dwelling now owned by William DeWolf, on lots four
and five, block six. Henry J. Starin had finished his
present residence, Samuel Prince had erected a building
on lot one of block four, east side of the creek, and
Warner Earle a dwelling on the center of lot four,
block eight, where the postoffice is.
During the session of the legislature of '40 and '41,
the town of Richmond was set off from Whitewater,
the present boundaries of the town being established.
Late in the fall, the Rev. R. Cadle, an Episcopal cler
gyman, came ; he seld his services on the Sabbath in
*The site now occupied by Johnson's saloon, corner q| MfliJl BBfl
North First Streets, 53

PHILANDER PECK

the log school house. Jarvis K. Pike and family also
came. During the fall and winter of '41, Joseph Powers
built a shop on the flats east of the grist mill, which he
used as a gun shop, repairing watches as well as all
other kinds of machinery which did not properly be
long to the province of the blacksmith. He was in
tending eventually to establish a machine shop should
there prove to be a sufficient quantity of water.
In the spring, P. H. Brady commenced as clerk in
the store of Philander Peck. A few improvements be
gan to be made upon the east s'de of the creek. Thomas
H. Webb having moved into the village, built on what
is now lot seventeen, block one, Trippe 's second addi
tion, and went into the shop with Taft, they having
the previous summer built a frame shop on lot one, Wm.
Birge 's addition. Taft also erected a house on lots eight
and nine, block four.
Gerard Cutler in the winter of '41 had completed
his dwelling on the west side of Franklin street, corner
of Main and Franklin streets ; his lot contained one and
a half acres of land for which he paid Birge $30. It is
now owned by Jacob J. Starin.
During the summer, many new-comers had settled
in Lima, Richmond, LaGrange and Cold Spring, and
many are the farmers in tliese towns who da^e from '41.
During the fall, Corydon Pratt opened a shoemak
er's shop in .the house of Matthew Hicks.
In the fall and winter, flour sold for $2.00 per hun
dred; buckwheat flour the same; bran 8 cts. a bushel;
winter wheat 62 cts. ; hay $2.00 per ton ; wood 25 cts.
a load. About the 1st of October, Dr. Trippe had a saw-mill
built and in operation, and the dwelling house now oc
cupied by Orra Ostrander erected, on the east side of
the creek.
THE YEAR 1842.
Until '42, there had been no separate organization
of towns, each county being subject to a system of
county government. In February of '41, the Legisla
ture had passed an Act for the revision of the county
system, authorizing the various counties to adopt, by
55

a majority of votes at the next election, the system of
town government provided in said Act. Walworth
county, having at the election of '41 voted in favor of
the change, the Legislature of February, '42 passed an
Act declaring that Walworth county among others, had
adopted said Act of '41, and appointed the annual town
meeting to be held upon the first Tuesday in April.
The First Town Meeting. — Accordingly, the first
town meeting ever held in the town of Whitewater, was
duly organized upon the first Tuesday of the succeeding
April, by the election of I. U. Wheeler, Moderator, and
Warner Earle, Clerk. They resolved as follows: that
each officer for each day's service should receive $1, that
there should be raised for the support of schools, $30,
$10 for the benefit of paupers, $50 for defraying contin
gent expenses — the following persons were elected for
town officers : James Trippe, Chairman of Board of Su
pervisors; Dr. Oliver C. Magoon, and William Birge.
supervisors; Warner Earle town clerk; Asad Williams
and Azor Kinney, assessors ; Wm. H. Wheeler, collect
or; Zerah Mead, Oliver C. Magoon, and Calvin Pike,
road commissioners ; Dr. Joseph A. Clarke, Harrison
Bishop and Oliver C. Magoon, school commissioners; I.
U. Wheeler, treasurer; Leander Birge, Charles Robin
son, and Wm. II. Wheeler, constables; Norman Pratt,
Samuel Prince, and Thomas Van Horn, fence-viewers;
and Sidney S. Workman, sealer of weights and meas
ures. The officers elect paid, for the year, one fourth
of the tax. The object in this, their first election, was
to choose men for the various offices who would feel
some interest in the future growth and prosperity of the
town, believing that those who owned- the greatest
amount of property in a place would naturally be more
interested in its advancement.
For more than five years, the $10 raised for paupers
remained in the treasury unappropriated, a fact which
speaks volumes for the general thrift and industry of
the settlers. During the winter, the school was taught
by Dr. Magoon. The sleighing was good, snow having
fallen to the depth of from twelve to fifteen inches ; the
weather was mild during most of the season.
The Locating of Grove Cemetery. — Early in the
spring of '42, Judge Pike, Asaph Pratt, and Asad Wil-
56

Hams resolved themselves into a committee of three, to
select a piece of land for a cemetery, it being evident
that the place first decided upon would be too near the
village. They first went to consult Dr. Trippe ; he said
to them, that if they did not consider the present loca
tion the best place for it, they could select a spot on
any land he owned, but stipulated that they should lo
cate it far enough from town so that it should be for
ever out of the way. After looking around and view
ing every place near a highway, they fixed upon one
acre of land in the north-east corner of Grove Ceme
tery. Having drawn a plot with the squares and lots
as they now are, they invited all the men of the vicinity,
on a certain day; to assist in clearing it of rubbish. At
the appointed time, all were on the ground ready to
work with a hearty good will. Under the direction of
the committee they had by evening cleared the north
half of every tree and shrub, not one was left for shade
or ornament. Opening of the Exchange Hotel. — Squire Parsons
during the winter and spring was engaged in building
the Whitewater Exchange on lot one, block two. In
the spring Jedediah Brown, a lawyer, arrived and pur
chased an undivided half of Parsons' interest in the
premises, pretending that he was soon to receive a large
amount of money from Michigan. By the 1st of July,
the building was completed, and was to be opened by
Parsons & Brown. The "Fourth" was to witness this
great event, and preparations were made for a celebra
tion worthy the occasion. Invitations were sent far and
near; Dr. McNash, of Geneva, was to deliver the ora
tion. The house was to be opened on the total absti
nence principle and ever to be a temperance house.
A 4th of July Celebration. — The day came and the
people came from Jefferson, Fort Atkinson, Janesville,
Milton, Beloit, Darien, Delavan, Elkhorn, and Troy.
Whitewater was all astir, and Brown was all smiles and
politeness. The company having duly assembled at the
Exchange, and the line of march being formed, a pro
miscuous crowd of men, women, and children, they pro
ceeded to the sound of the fife and drum, from the Ex-

change to Wm. Birge 's 30x40 feet barn.* There they
listened to the thrilling eloquence of the Doctor; for
two long hours he protrayed the horror, sin, and abomi
nation of slavery and intemperance, closing with a eulo
gy on the temperance house. After the oration, hung
ry, impatient, and weary, they marched at the beating
of the drum, with quick steps toward the Exchange,
where, on the opposite side of the street, a long table
had been spread, bountifully laden with all the substan
tial and luxuries that could'be desired. From fife and
drum came stirring peals of music, while as an accom
paniment, from the clouds above came peals, louder,
more stirring, more exciting far, and as they were de
scending the rise -of ground between Day's and De-
wolf's, the rain came down in torrents. The line of
march was broken, and the phalanx scattered like a
routed and panic-stricken army, destitute of command
er or leader. All their mirth and joy was quenched,
and they found it in sad reality a cold water celebration
— Each one sought shelter where best he could, and
each one took supper wherever it was to be found.
Every house was filled to overflowing. Thus fizzled the
first -grand celebration.
Nothing daunted by this misfortune, the next day the
residents of the village and those of the immediate vi
cinity, without any great splurge, met at the Exchange,*
where they had a good time, good weather, and a good
dinner, on the same table on the opposite side of the
road. Everyone was happy and merry, and really
seemed to enjoy the meeting. Each one was orator,
speaker or listenei, as inclination prompted, and all
went home satisfied that it was the right kind of a cele
bration. Much New Building. — In the summer, Frederick C.
Patterson and A. 0. Babcock went in company with
Warner Earle; they had their office over LeBaron's
store. Joseph Sanford and Solmous Wakeley also ar
rived. Wakeley bought the Bosworth's store and the
lots where he now resides. Wm. B. Sherwood and John
0. Storms came, the latter buying the house of Matthew
Hicks. Freeman Pratt, by the 1st of September, had
•On North Street, where E. D. Coe's barn now stands. This barn
was afterwards moved to a farm south of town.
58

completed a two story front to the house he bought of
Powers, and it was then the Whitewater Hotel. Drs.
Clark and Magoon formed a co-partnership, and built
an office on lot three of block eight. Dr. Magoon bought
three-quarters of an acre of Wm. Birge, and erected a
house north of block four, where G. G. Williams now re
sides. Jesse Pease built the present dwelling on lot
eight, block seven, and Corydon Pratt a shop on lot two
block one, the same building now occupied by Thomas
Bassett as a grocery store. Job Bonnell also built on
lot two, block fourteen, and Seth M. Billings on lots five
and six, block fifteen; he paid $15 for the lots, Egbert
Wheeler put a house on lot three, block two, and Wm.
Wheeler on lot four, block three. Judge Pike built on
lots three and four, block four; Dr. A. Powers on lots
two and three, block ten.
Church Movements. — In the summer, the Baptist
Church was organized by Elder Burgess and Elder
Lake, in Birge 's barn. Soon after, the church engaged
Elder A. B. Winchell to preach for them one half the
time; their meetings were usually held in the upper
story of Judge Pike's house. Occasionally during the
season, Elder Warner, a clergyman of the Methodist
persuasion held service at the school house. In the
spring, the Rev. Smalley entered a quarter section on
thirty-three in Cold-Spring, and during the summer
erected a house thereon. But he, becoming worldly
and not being sufficiently pious, the Congregational
church in July employed the Rev. F. H. Case, who was
then filled with zeal in his Master's cause. In the fall,
he bought out Smalley.
During the same fall, R. O'Connor came with a
stock of goods; Earle had then sold his lot to Squire
Wheeler, and O'Connor rented the building, moving it
near its present location. It is now used as a saddler
shop. About the same time Seth M. Caswell came.
F. C. Patterson, Esq., taught the school during the
winter. For the profit and further advancement of the
older members of the community, the Whitewater De
bating Society was formed; a great number engaged
in the debates. 59

Prices in 1842.— Spring wheat now sold for from 36
to 40 cts. per bushel ; winter from 40 to 46 cts. Spring
wheat flour was $2.50 per bbl., that from winter wheat
$3 per bbl. ; buckwheat flour brought $1.50 per hundred ;
corn 30 cts. per bushel ; butter 16 cts. per pound ; cheese
7 cts. ; eggs 8 cts. per dozen. During this year, there
were no large bills made with the merchants, and but
a small proportion of the charges was against the fe
male portion of their customers. During the months
of May, June, and July, there were sold at the two prin
cipal stores only fifteen dresses, all calico, at prices
varying from 18 to 20, 28, 31, 34, or 37 cts. per yard.
There were also charged during the same three months,
about fifty bonnets at three shillings a-piece, the trim
mings amounting to from one to four shillings per bon
net. Change in the Village Plat. — The new-comers must,
of necessity, have some changes made in the plan of
the village, and to carry into effect the alterations,
which in their opinion would be a great improvement,
a meeting was called at the Exchange. There, after wise
consultation, each having the privilege of fully and
freely expressing his opinion, a large majority decided
in favor of having what is now block nine *laid out into
lots and occupied with buildings. The Doctor informed
then that as there was a majority in favor of the plan
he would consent to the arrangement. Thus was the
beauty and convenience of the original plan greatly
marred, for all will now admit that if the commons had
been left vacant, as first intended, and the splendid
blocks now erected were fronting the open space, the
business part of our village would be much more pleas
ant, beautiful, and convenient.
THE YEAR 1843.
A New Year's Ball. — The 1st of January, 1843, was
celebrated by the observance of such festivities as are
customary upon like occasions, a goodly number as
sembling at the Whitewater Hotel, for the double pur
pose of manifesting their joy at the advent of the new
?From the post-office corner to First St.

year, and of celebrating the completion of the addition
to the hotel. Music and dancing were to be the order
of the evening. About three o'clock in the afternoon,
the company began to arrive, and at the good old-
fashioned hour of seven, the violin sounded and the
first set was in motion, Dr. Trippe and Mrs. Taft lead
ing off. The merry hours flew by unheeded until the
approaching dawn told them they were fairly launched
into the new year and warned them to draw their fes
tivities to a close.
From the 15th of November to the 10th of January,
the sleighing was good; then the January thaw com
menced; at the same time great quantites of rain fell,
causing the waters of the creek to rise to such an extent
that about one-third of the grist mill dam was swept
away, and the flats were completely inundated.
This was the time for collecting taxes; the whole
tax of the town for the first year of its organization,
including the school tax, was $196.03 ; $106.03 of the
same was for county purposes, and $12 of the sum
raised for town purposes remained unexpended. Thus
judiciously and economically did the first board man
age the finances of the town.
During the thaw, Joseph Powers moved his building
east of the mill to lot five, block six, fronting Fourth
street, being the same building now owned by Spears
and used- as a blacksmith shop.
The Double Winter. — Soon after the thaw, snow be
gan falling, continuing to do so every few days, until it
was four or five feet deep. This remained on the ground
until town meeting, the first Tuesday in April. In the
mean time hay, oats, and corn became very scarce ;
these articles bringing whatever price a man's con
science would allow him to take. Dr. Trippe then sold
bran and shorts at an advance of only 2 cents per bush
el, a course which may seem incredible to millers now.
Some of the farmers drove their cattle to the timber
land, keeping them on browse. There was a total sus
pension of the lumbering business and deer hunting,
the snow blockading every track. This was long known
as "the hard winter." 61

First Revival Meeting. — The Baptist and Congrega
tional ministers, together with a few of the faithful,
fitted up the shop Powers had moved to lot five, and
commenced a series of revival meetings, the first held
in this vicinity. Many "came out," acknowledged
their short-comings and ill-deserts, proclaiming at the
same time that they had received full pardon for the
same, and were bound henceforth and forever to for
sake all sin and iniquity — the world, the flesh and the
devil. The officiating clergymen were occasionally as
sisted by the Methodist brother.
Willard B. Johnson having at the land sale con
tracted with Leonard Gibbs, Esq., of New York city, to
purchase his claim from him, and being unable to meet
the payments, was compelled to leave the premises,
losing all the improvements he had made and five
years' labor.
At the same time, David J. Powers sold his lots in
the village to his brother Joseph; that portion of his
land in Lima which he had not previously disposed
of to B. B. Freeman he sold to Stephen Burrows, and
left to found the village of Palmyra. Mr. Powers and
Johnson were both active in promoting the growth and
well-being of our village. One peculiar feature in the
early settlement of our town was that each settler
seemed especially fitted for the place and work allotted
to him. All were workers willing to exert their abili
ties and means to the utmost, but each of a different
stamp with different modes of action, hence all labored
to advantage harmoniously, each in his proper sphere
and department.
It having been decided to build upon the commons,
Wm. Birge proposed that a company should be formed
to build a block the whole length of block nine, at the
same time prophesying that he should live to see it one
solid row of buildings.
Much New Building.— In the spring, 0. A. Weed
had a wagon shop completed on lot two, block three,*
being the upright part of the dwelling now owned by
Squire Hawes. The Congregationalists and Baptists
rented the upper room for their place of meeting. In

•Next lot east of the Walworth Hotel.
62

the spring and summer, on the east side of the creek,
Silas Walker built on lot five, John Woodbury on lots
two and three and H. G. Kendal a blacksmith's shop on
lot ten of block four. Wm. Hammond built a grocery
store on lot two, block nine, where is now the hard
ware store of S. Smith & Co. Henry Printup built
a harness and saddle shop where the post office stands,
and Jedekiah R.Wood a house on lot four, block fifteen.
W. B. Sherwood, a shoe-maker, built on lot seven, block
fifteen, the house now occupied by Mr. Dake, and Al
bert Kendall on the north side of Main street, north of
lot six, block four, now occupied by Dr. Graham. Wm.
Miller also built a small house on the north-east corner
of lot one, block eleven, owned at present by P. H.
Brady, and John Evans one on lot seventeen, block
fourteen, where Squire Pratt's dwelling now stands.
Elder A. B. Winchell erected the brick house on lot
fifteen, block fourteen,* and Warner Earle built a law
office on the south-east corner of lot three, block one ;
the building is now used by Frost as a hat and cap store.
Patrick McLaughlin had built a tailor shop on lot three,
block nine, and Calvin Pike had in the spring com
pleted a house on the north-west corner of Chapman &
Ludington 's addition.
In August, Sheldon C. Hall and Henry C. Leffing-
well came with a stock of goods and opened in the gro
cery store built by Hammond, under the firm of Hall,
Leffingwell & Co. They occupied Hammond's store un
til late in the fall, when they moved into the brick store
on lot nine, block nine, at the corner of Main and First
streets, now occupied by F. B. Hall as a grocery store.
About the same time, Ephraim Conger and Hanford A.
Conger arrived with their families; E. Conger buying
of Dr. Magoon the east half of the south-west quarter
of section three, and part of the west half of the same
quarter. In the summer, Parsons & Brown dissolved partner
ship, Parsons again becoming sole proprietor of the Ex
change, which he soon after rented to Daniel Nieman.
About the same time, Freeman L. Pratt rented- the
Whitewater Hotel to E. F. & S. Davis. There was then
?Opposite the Spiritualist Temple, corner of Center and Third
Streets. 63

established between Milwaukee and Janesville a regu
lar stage line, running through Whitewater, the inhabi
tants having by subscription made quite passable the
highway across the marshes leading to PrairieviUe,
(now Waukesha,) believing that in order to have a vil
lage thrive it was necessary to have good roads leading
into it.
In the fall, the Pratt's had the grist mill now owned
by Ansel Salisbury on section eight, in operation, and
Pliny Muzzy, who is now running the mill, was engaged
as miller. Church Building. — The Congregationalists, on
the 1st day of November, organized themselves
into a society. The preamble to their constitu
tion read as follows: "We, the undersigned in
habitants of Whitewater and vicinity, believing
it our duty to co-operate with the First Presbyterian
church here established in sustaining and perpetuat
ing the gospel ordinances and institutions, adopt the
following constitution." — There were twenty-six who
signed their names to the constitution, eleven of these
were not members of the society. They had already
ereeted a meeting-house where the Brick Church now
stands; it was 26x36 feet, and cost about $400. Dr.
Trippe, in the consideration of the sum of $1, deeded to
the society the lot on which the house stood, it being
eight rods wide.
In the summer, the Methodists formed a society and
class ; there were five members of the class at the time
of its organization. Talma Hamilton was chosen class-
leader. The number during the year increased to elev
en. Elder Gallups and Elder Wood each preached once
in four weeks.
In the fall, James Eaton and James Brass, merch
ants, came to settle in the village ; they built a store on
lot six, block nine, where now stands the store of J. C.
Partridge. Wm. Potts had also built a saw mill* on sec
tion twenty-seven. In the winter, Hanford A. Congar
opened a select school, in the upper room of Weed's
wagon shop. The debating society had again com
menced its weekty meetings, and among the distin-
•Afterwards known as "Dutton's Mill."
64

guished persons who during the winter addressed the
society, was Hon. Moses M. Strong. There was also a
semi- weekly mail established, thus furnishing addition
al literary privileges. The wheat crops were the most
bountiful and productive that have ever been known in
the state. Nelson Salisbury had five acres that yielded
over 53 bushels to the acre ; Miles G. Cravath raised on
ten acres of land belonging to Squire Wheeler over
440 bushels. Wheat in the fall sold for from 44 to 50
cents per bushel, flour from $2.75 to $3.25 per barrel,
corn meal at the mill, for $1 per hundred, buckwheat at
$1.50 ; butter at 16 cents per pound.
Among the new-comers, was Wm. A Harding, a
merchant from New York city, who went into com
pany with R. O'Connor, also Jerome Davis, J. P. Fen-
ner* and family. The whole country around had now
become settled with young, robust and industrious
farmers, and being blessed with a bountiful harvest
they began to seek a market for their grain at Milwau
kee, and weekly almost every farmer made a trip to the
city, or to some of the more northern and more recently
commenced settlements, to dispose of their produce.
Every one was satisfied with his harvest, and not a mur
mur was heard against the Ruler of the times and
seasons. THE YEAR 1844.
Growth and Population. — By the year 1844, the scat
tered hamlet, which a»few years before could boast but
some dozen inhabitants, who had been attracted to the
spot by the beauty of the location and the promised
fertility of the soil, had gradually increased in size and
importance; business had sprung up and men of every
trade and profession had flocked thither until it could
fairly lay claim to the dignified and much coveted title
of a village. Whitewater contained at this time six
stores, one grocery, two hotels, three blacksmith shops,
one tailor shop, two cabinet shops, one wagon shop, one
gunsmith's and one saddle and harness shop and one
cooper shop. It could also boast of one grist mill and
•Two daughters of Mr. Fenner taught a private school. One of
these is still living at West Mystic, Conn.
65

one saw-mill, one law-office, and twenty-nine dwell
ing houses.
Upon its census list, were numbered one hundred and
two male residents over twenty years of age, fifty-four
of these having families and sixty-five of these being
tax-payers. By these, nearly every branch of industry
was represented, for of the one hundred and two, nine
were merchants, one grocer, three hotel-keepers, six
blacksmiths, two tailors, five carpenters and joiners,
two cabinet makers, one wagon maker, one gunsmith
and machinist, two harness makers, one mill owner,
one cooper, five lawyers, three doctors, two students,
two preachers, seven clerks, one mason, four shoemak
ers, two brick-makers, and eighteen farmers. Of this
whole number, twenty-three now reside within the cor
poration limits, eight of the farmers live within three
miles of the village, and nineteen "sleep that sleep
which knows no waking." Fifteen of these have found
a resting place within the quiet precincts of our own
Grove cemetery. Of the women who braved the trials
and privations of a new settlement and came to cheer
and enliven the toil and life of the hardier sex, nine
teen are now dead, and thirteen lie buried in the village
burial ground. There were within six miles of the vil
lage, one hundred and eighty four families, ninety-four
of which still reside within the same distance, and thir
teen of them are residents of the village ; eighteen of
the men and fifteen of the women have since died ; of
these, six men and thirteen women have been laid in
Grove cemetery. There are now living in the village
and within six miles of it, one hundred and seventeen
men who can contrast Whitewater as it was in '44 with
it as it is in '58, who have watched its growth from its
earliest beginning, and have sympathized alike in its
reverses and prosperity.
Among the number of the dead, are many of the
early pioneers, who were active and energetic in build
ing for themselves a fortune, and interested in the
growth and advancement of the village, and assisted
much in its development, both by their counsels and
their open-handed liberality, and who, by their pres
ence, added much to the social circle. And now as the
older residents visit our pleasant burial place and read
66

there the names of the dead of '44, and recollections of
fourteen years ago, with its trials and perplexities, its
friendly greetings and kindly words of cheer are
brought vividly to mind, that olden time when all were
linked in the bonds of a common brotherhood, when
love and good feeling controlled the mind and hearts
of all, seems as a pleasant dream, or as the far-off scenes
of childhood. And then as the eye rests upon the clus
tering homes beneath, and the hum of busy life falls
upon the ear, the scene before one seems more like a
new creation than like the village of '44.
The Building of Highways Across the Lowlands. —
They had already constructed very passable highways
leading across the lowlands, toward the south, south
east, north, and east. These were greatly improved dur
ing the year, but this was not accomplished without
labor. Everyone seemed interested in the work, the
new-comers with the rest; merchants, millers, hotel-
keepers, mechanics, all subscribed liberally, while the
farmers in the vicinity assisted by their labor. During
the year, not a dollar was expended upon the streets of
the village, but all the funds raised were appropriated
to the building of these highways across the lowlands.
People came from Milton, Johnstown, Richmond, Sugar
Creek, Troy, Palmyra, Jefferson, and Sun Prairie, in
Dane county, to do their trading. Our merchants had
all the custom for a circuit of twelve miles, and at some
points much beyond.— Such were the improvements,
where seven years before there were to be found only
the hut and path of the red man ; these had disappeared
making room for the highway, the stores, hotels, and
shops of the white man.
Most of the settlers came with but slender means,
and many of the young men were destitute of any re
sources save a clear head, a stout heart, and active
hands; but most have now sufficient to provide for all
the comforts of life, and many who were then young
men just beginning in life are now worth their thou
sands ; but they made it not at the fashionable saloon,
drinking, smoking, and playing billiards, but behind
the counter, in the shop, or in the office.
67

Early in the spring, the building of stores, shops,
and dwellings again commenced. O'Connor & Hard
ing built a store on lot five, block nine, and Eaton _&
Brass an addition to their store. Squire Brown built
a law-office, with the rear for a dwelling, on lot eight,
block nine. The same building is now occupied by Dr.
Deichman as a drug store. John Woodbury erected a
dwelling house on lots three and four, block four, and
L. A. Winchester, who came in the spring, put up a
blacksmith shop on lot three, block one, Trippe 's ad
dition. The Rev. F. H. Case having become a farmer and
somewhat entangled in worldly affairs, the Congrega
tional society employed Rev. M. P. Kinney as their
minister. He soon after bought lot thirteen of block
fifteen, for which he paid $20, and during the summer
erected the upright part of the building now on the
lot. In the spring, the Rev. Mr. Cadle left, bearing with
him the respect and esteem of all who knew him. Al
though he was fully established in the faith, and a firm
believer in the doctrines of the church, yet he con
demned no one for differences of belief but was friend
ly towards all.
Assessment. — In the spring of '44, there was as
sessed 9,980 acres of land to residents, including the
village, and 3,560 acres to non-residents, leaving 10,300
acres yet government land. The total valuation of the
town was $52,853. The land of residents out of the
village was valued at $33,137, that of non-residents at
$11,774, the village lots at $2,761, personal property
$5,200. Merchandise was the only personal property
taxed, improvements and buildings exempt from tax
ation.' The whole amount of the tax for the year was
$342.53. The tax on the Whitewater Hotel was 84
cents; that on John M. Clark's farm $17.62. The dis
covery that what a corporation or society have to pay,
costs nothing, had not then been made.
Building of the "Little Brick" School-house.— The
town had been divided into school districts. District
No. 1 comprised the north third of the town, and at
their meeting in the winter they had voted to build a
new school house; the log one, having served its day,
68

ceased to answer for school purposes. In the summer,
the present house, 24x28 feet, on lot five, block four,
was built by Thomas Van Horn, for which the village
paid him $240. The only point of difference among
the voters was in regard to the selection of a lot. There
was quite a number in favor of a lot west of the Con
gregational church, but the majority voted for that on
which the house now stands,* thus establishing the
precedent that low lots are the best locations for school
houses. Long may the house stand as a monument of
the energy, economy, and wisdom of the early settlers.
The lot was donated by the doctor to the district, so
long as it should be used as school purposes.
Joseph Rogers came in the summer and went into
company with Winchester. The shop being in readi
ness, they commenced business under the firm name of
Winchester & Rogers.
In the summer, Buckley came with a small stock of
goods and groceries and built a store on lot one, block
nine, where now stands the dry goods store of S. Smith
& Co. Dr. Jones built a house in the northwest corner
of section nine, where Lewis Bennett now resides; he
immediately commenced practicing upon the old sys
tem. About the same time, Dr. Powers opened an
office over Le Baron's store; he practiced upon the
Thompsonian principle, which was then considered the
only ark of safety by all opposers of mercury.
During the summer, George Phillips, a blacksmith.
built a house now standing on lot seven, block four, on
the east side of the creek. Jacob J. Starin commenced
clerking for Philander Peck, and has remained in the
building to the present day.
The Scale of Living. — The harvest of the year was
bountiful, wheat averaging twenty-five bushels per
acre. Produce sold nearly the same as in '43 ; all were
able to add somewhat to their improvements and com
forts. During each successive year, all increased, to
some extent, their worldly stores, yet none indulged in
any of the luxuries and superfluities of the present day.
Though all were comfortably and tidily clad, yet none
were clad in costly apparel, nor were any burdened
•Where the Birge fountain now stands.
69

with an extensive wardrobe, their morning, noon, and
evening dress being the same. The old settlers, when
they compare their family expenses of '44 with those
of '57, will scarcely credit the record. As an example,
the expense of a small and economical family, super
intended by a frugal wife, (and all were such then),
were less than $20 per month ; those of the same family
in '57, amounted to over $70 per month, even though the
strictest economy, for the times, was practiced. Yet in
spite of this contrast there was as much if not more
happiness, enjoyment, good feeling, and contentment
in '44 than in '57 ; all read the third verse of the third
chapter of first Peter and the curse of a violation in
the third chapter of Isaiah, and "governed themselves
according"; perhaps necessity forced obedience.
Death of Dr. Trippe. — The blessings of the early and
later rains had not been withheld, a bountiful harvest
was added to their wealth, the beauty of the village had
been enhanced by many new improvements. Yet over
the sunlight of their prosperity and joy the shadow of
a deep sorrow fell. Death came among them, bearing
from their midst Dr. Trippe. The cherished friend of
all, he died on the 4th of September, 1844. He was a
man in all his business relations of the strictest integ
rity, original in all his plans and actions, independent
in forming and firm in adhering to his opinions. Like
all original thinkers, he was devoid of all sectarian
feeling and ostentation. He was warmly attached to
his friends, a sympathizer with distress, instructive and
social in his intercourse with his friends, and delighting
in the prosperity of all.
Before his death, he was anxious for the formation
of some society, which should frequently call together
the inhabitants of the village, the same to be useful, in
structive, and free from everything sectarian, where
man should meet his fellow simply as a man and not as
the representative of some particular class or ism. His
plan was nearly the same as that of the present "Li
brary Association," and long may it exist upon its
present liberal principles and prove to be one of the
means in restoring all to a friendly and kind feeling, in
doing away with that party spirit and those prejudices
70

which so hem in and contract the soul and so mar the
harmony of a community. THE YEAR 1845.
The winter of '44 and '45, like those which preceded
it, was occupied for the most part, in hauling grain and
pork to Milwaukee, or more northern markets. Those
who were intending to build during the coming sum
mer, improved their opportunity for getting their lum
ber from Milwaukee, as the time for using basswood
and oak for siding was past.
New-comers and Business Changes. — Joseph Powers
had already erected the building on lot three, block
eight, and also a brick building on lot two, block six,
for a gun shop. About the 1st of January, Jas. Worm
rented this and opened a gun shop, Powers leaving to
found the village of Hebron. Early in the spring,
Brass & Eaton erected an ashery on the east side of the
creek, on what is now Wm. Birge 's addition. It was
built of sufficient dimensions to admit of carrying on
quite an extensive business, but the first year it was
found to be an unprofitable investment and the build
ing was taken down; but for two or three years the
leaches remained, a standing proof that business men
are liable to err in their calculations. In the spring
Dr. Rice and George Dann and family came. The doc
tor bought Dr. Magoon 's half of the office, and went in
company with Dr. Clarke, and the firm became Clarke &
Rice, a partnership which has continued to the present
day. George Dann purchased the dwelling house of
Dr. Magoon. The doctor himself, having become con
vinced that a physician's success depends more upon
his chiming in with the whims and caprices of a com
munity than upon his real knowledge and skill, moved
on to his farm on sections two and ten, where he could
better enjoy freedom and independence. George Dann
also bought the north part of lot one, block eleven,*
using the building for a -cooper shop. Deacon Potts
moved here from Geneva, and purchased the house and
lot of Elder Winchell. The elder having left, the
Baptist church employed Elder H. W. Reed, who had
previously moved into the village.
*On Fourth Street, between the Baptist Church and Center Street.
71

Talk of a Methodist Seminary. — Elder Hurlbut was
the minister in charge of the Methodist church. He
used great exertions to have the school of the confer
ence established at this place, but meeting with little
encouragement from the citizens, his well-laid plans
did not succeed ; even then, the other sects were fearful
that should the Methodists found a school here, it
would retard somewhat their growth and influence.
Thus did the petty spirit of rivalry render a failure the
first attempt to establish a seminary here, which should
not only be an ornament to our village, but a source of
wealth and intelligence to the community.
In the summer, J. L. Pratt came with his family to
settle in the village. He soon commenced working at
wagons in the shop of Weed; though "Pratt's Wagons"
were then unknown, as he made at first only the wood
part. Henry Keep of Fredonia, in the state of New York,
came on and immediately went into company with
Philander Peck, under the firm name of Peck & Keep.
This firm still adhering to the practice of giving long
credits, the other merchants were compelled to adopt
the same policy, until this became such a universal and
established custom that it was looked upon rather as a
matter of right than as an accommodation to the cus
tomer. Since this system of long credits had come to
form the basis of business, one with a small capital
could hope for little success as a merchant. The merch
ants even now made frequent settlements by taking
promissory notes at 12 per cent., payable one day after
date, and a few years after, the interest paid annually
to the merchants of the village amounted to more than
$15,000. In the summer Hans Arveson and Thomas Thomp
son settled on sections twenty-seven and thirty-four,
they being the first of the Norwegians who settled in
this vicinity, except Ole Tollefson, who came in '43.
These were soon followed by quite an immigration from
Norway. During the summer, Mr. D. Smith built the upright
part of the house on lots eighteen and nineteen, block
fourteen; in the fall, S. C. Hall rented the same and

moved into it. Orville Cooley commenced the house on
lot sixteen, block fifteen, and Ulysses Woodbury one on
lot four, block fourteen, which he afterwards sold to
Luther Cadman, a settler of '42 ; on the same lot Cad-
man has since built the "American House."*
Among the new-comers during the year, were Mr.
Ament, and A. Sentenn, tailors, each of whom soon
opened a shop; Nelson Coombs, a wagon-maker; Warren
Cole, who soon engaged in the pottery business, and
Madison and Geo. Roberts, who opened a grocery in
the store built by Eaton & Brass, these latter gentlemen
having closed up their business.
Eli King, one of the first settlers in the county, now
moved into the village, taking possession of the house
which he had previously bought of Judge Pike. F.
Cole and C. Billings started a grocery in the store built
by Buckley. In the fall H. C. Leffingwell bought the
lot and office of Brown, and in November, Hon. E.
Wakeley, a lawyer, and now one of the judges for the
Territory of Nebraska, came and opened a law office
in the building formerly owned by Squire Earle, which
his father had purchased a short time before. Esquire
Patterson, having become partial proprietor of the Ex
change, started a livery stable in company with James
Bartholf. This was the first institution of the kind in
town. In December, Prosper Cravath moved from
Lima into the village, in the same office occupied by
Clark & Rice, where they remained together for more
than nine years.
Thus ended the year '45, with no startling events to
mark its course, yet bringing a gradual growth and
improvement to the town, and general comfort and
prosperity to its inhabitants. THE YEAR 1846.
The elements seemed to conspire to render the first
day of the new year as cheerless and uncomfortable as
might be ; yet in spite of this, a few social parties were
given and a scanty band were gathered at the hotel,
now kept by Warner Earle, to celebrate, with the ortho
dox New Year's ball, the advent of '46. But if there
•Site of the present Whitewater Hotel, on Whitewater Street.
73

was gaiety within, without the day was dark, gloomy,
and dismal, and its influence penetrated even to cheer
ful firesides — perhaps Nature thus foretold the deeper
gloom which was to shroud their hearts ; for on the fol
lowing day the usual quiet of our little town was dis
turbed by the occurrence of an event more tragical and
more heart-rending in its sadness than any which had
hitherto broken the tranquility of its life.
Suicide of Thos. K. Le Baron. — About eleven
o'clock in the morning, the report of a pistol was
heard ; the sound was unusual, but little did the startled
listeners deem that it was a voice bearing tidings of the
death of one of their number. A little while after, the
body of Thomas K. Le Baron, from which all life had
fled, was found ; he, who a few brief hours before had
been among them, engaged in the active business of
life, with a friendly greeting and a ready smile for all,
now lay a lifeless corpse before them. But twenty-six,
he had already grown weary of the world, and had
sought with his own hand that death which came all too
slowly for his impatient heart. He was possessed of
keen and sensitive susceptibilities, a refined and culti
vated intellect; a man of deep thought and strong de
votional feelings, scrupulously conscientious even in
the most trivial affairs, he was respected by all who
knew him and sincerely loved by the favored few who
were admitted upon terms of intimate acquaintance
ship. In his Eastern home, he had been a member of
the Unitarian church. He was of slender form and
feeble constitution, and endowed with a vivid imagi
nation and feelings of almost morbid sensitiveness. In
a letter found among his papers, and directed to a
friend, to be opened in case of his sudden death, he
writes: "My fall has been owing, as it appears to me,
to a curious state of mind that has been but partly alive
to the influences that affect people usually — a clear, full
conception of anything, I have not had for years.
Upon landing in Wisconsin, so great was my desire to
succeed in my business, to fulfill my obligations East,
that my business seemed to warp my judgment, so
much so, that it had become insensibly a monomania.
The responsibilities attached to it had so long oppressed
74

me that when I arrived at more easy circumstances, 1
had lost that part which should have been first culti
vated, there having been no religious denominations
like that under whose influences I had been brought
up. From these and other causes and influences that
were thrown around me, I have become the wreck I
am." Shortly before his death, in a conversation, he
said: "I have heard the clergyman of each denomi
nation, and each classes me and all belonging to the
same church, among infidels and disbelievers of the
Bible — and do they believe me the wretch they repre
sent me to be?" But quietly now he rests on yonder
hill. A marble monument marks his resting place, and
there are some upon whose faith there rests no shade of
doubt, but who as they visit the spot, are consoled by
the firm belief, that although this body has returned to
the earth as it was, "his spirit has returned to God
who gave it."
New Buildings. — During the winter J. B. Hunt
taught a select school in the building now occupied as
a saddler's shop in block eight. At the approach of
spring, business received a fresh impulse. Buildings
sprung up on every side, and the hurry and bustle of
life commenced once more. A. Sentenn built a house
on lot one, block ten; John 0. Storms and Loomis one
on lot one, block six. Storms had now in operation a
meat market, it being the first one established. Hall
& Leffingwell built the brick store, used as a dry goods
store by Cushing, Sweetland & Stewart, on lot seven,
block nine. Wm. Richardson put up a dwelling house
on lot one, block fourteen ; Prosper Cravath one on lot
five, block eleven; J. Sharp one on lot twelve, block
fourteen, and Rev. Mr.. Church, a tract agent, one on
lot one, block eleven ; Mr. Madison built a grocery store
on lot four, block nine, where Birge 's store now stands,
and Nelson Coombs a dwelling-house on lot three, block
five. The new-comers were W. Rice and Wm. Richard
son, carpenters; E. H. Wilcox, a school teacher; L. C.
Patch, a mason; Luther Clarke, a millwright; David
Coneray, a carpenter and mason, and R. Gould, a shoe
maker, who afterwards built on lot three, block six.
In the fall, Sanger Marsh and John S. Partridge

came with a stock of goods and bought the store
of Eaton & Brass. In August, A. H. Scoville
came and settled at once at* Oak Lodge, fully deter
mined to improve the same and become a model farmer ;
but after a short experience he concluded he had mis
taken his calling, and in the fall bought the stock in
the grocery of Cole & Billings and moved into the
village. Fever and Ague. — The fall of '46 has, in the annals
of Whitewater and its vicinity, been stigmatized as the
sickly season. The prevailing disease was the ague
and fever; scarcely an individual in all the country
around escaped its grasp. Many Norwegians had set
tled among the bluffs and the disease seemed to attack
them with the greatest severity. Among these, were
many new-comers, so that from two to four families oc
cupied the same house. This often consisted of but one
small room, and in this would be found from three to
six, barely able to move, rendering it as heart-rending
a scene as one can well imagine. In a single room,
there were, at the same time, six lying around the sides
of the room, unable to rise ; all with a dish of water at
their side and a rope extended from a joist overhead in
which to rest their -head when they drank, there being
only two small girls, about seven and ten years old,
able to render any assistance. In the village, few es
caped the plague ; some were unable to leave their beds,
being prostrated by an almost constant fever, some
with chattering teeth, sat shaking, vainly seeking by
the aid of roaring fires to drive away the cold which
penetrated to their very marrow; some were bundled
up and out sunning themselves, anxiously watching
their finger-nails, meanwhile, and others dragging
themselves about with slow and tottering steps, seeking
for friendly sympathy, while all had a yellow, haggard,
and sorrowful look. THE YEAR 1847.
The "Sand Speculation. "—The winter of '46 and
'47 passed off after the manner of winters generally, no
event worthy of note transpiring, unless it might be the
•The Mike Ward farm, on the Fort Atkinson road.
76

"sand speculation," which for a time absorbed a great
share of the public mind and attention. There was a
regularly-organized company engaged in this novel
species of traffic, which consisted in the sale of small
boxes of sand for from $50 to $100 a box. Their mode
of operation was after this manner: they would show
their customers two or three half-dollar pieces fresh
from the United States mint, pretending they were of
their own manufacture, and that these would sell for
about 25 cents a dollar. The customers, keeping these
samples to try if they would pass without detection,
and finding them accepted, were eager to make heavy
purchases. After the bargain was completed, the sup
posed coin was delivered with all possible haste to
avoid detection, and the buyer and seller immediately
parted; but great was the astonishment of the pur
chaser, upon opening his box to find in place of shining
half-dollars, which should answer all the purposes of
genuine coin, only sand or bits of old iron. This com
pany whose business was confined to the sale of sand,
and gambling, had their headquarters at Whitewater,
and for a time gave to the village the reputation of a
hard place. The traffic still continuing, it became nec
essary to adopt some measures by which it might be
stopped ; accordingly it was determined upon to arrest
one of the firm or a sympathizer with them. This was
a signal for a general fight, in which the law-abiding
party came off victorious, Chauncey Brown being the
officer who with his posse succeeded in making the
arrest. Out of this, there arose a succession of law
suits in all of which law and order prevailed. This
finally resulted in breaking up the clique, the firm be
ing compelled to go into liquidation and bankruptcy,
and its members to follow for the future some more
legitimate branch of business.
During the winter, E. H. Wilcox taught a select
school in the Congregational church, which then served
the double purpose of meeting house and school room.
E. B. Leslie, Esq., — now president of the Montieello
bank — went into company with F. C. Patterson in the
law' business, occupying the office then attached to the
Exchange. Squire Earle left our town and took up
his residence in Cambridge. 77

R. O'Connor Inaugurates the Planting ol" Shrub
bery. — At the approach of spring, R. 0 'Connor, having
purchased lot four of block eleven, was seized with a
desire for shrubbery. For the purpose of procuring
this, he went in company with A. H. Scoville, who had
bought lots west of the Congregational church where
he now resides, and was animated by a like laudable
desire, to Bark Woods, in search of ornamental shrubs
and trees with which to beautify and adorn their prem
ises. At early dawn, one bright spring morning, armed
with spade and axe, they sallied forth with horses and
wagons. In the evening, after a day of arduous toil,
they returned, weary, but fully satisfied with their
precious load, for of the great value of their leafy
treasures they had no doubt; but great was their as
tonishment and disappointment at being informed on
the following morning by a neighbor, that their load
consisted of spotted alder, dog wood, wild cherry, bass-
wood, sumac, and a few other like varieties. But
O'Connor, nowise disheartened, made another effort
with perfect success, and the beautiful shade trees
which render so attractive the little place on lot four.
tell with each succeeding summer, of his energy and
perseverance. The maples there were the first planted
in the village, except the large soft maples on the place
of F. H. Starin set out by Henry J. Starin in '42, and
those on lots two and three, block ten, set out by Dr.
Powers in the spring of '46. O'Connor worked hard
to awaken the same spirit of improvement in others ; he
began with block eleven, and in a few years by dint of
much persuasion and considerable personal effort, he
saw it what it has ever since been, the block of the
village, tidy and pleasant in appearance, saying plainly
to others, "Go thou and do likewise," and to-day
Whitewater is greatly indebted to R. O'Connor for
much of its beauty and attractiveness.
During the summer, Mr. O'Connor put up the build
ing on lot four, block eleven, Nelson Coombs the one on
lot three, now owned and occupied by Alexander Gra
ham, Wm. Baker the wing to the house on lot two, and
N. K. Eels, a new-comer, bought lot one, and enlarged
the dwelling thereon. Wm. Birge built his present
78

dwelling on Chapman & Ludington 's* addition, north
of block seventeen ; Job Bonnell built on the north part
of lot one, block three, and Thomas H. Webb bought
on lot two, block three, and by additions converted the
wagon shop into a dwelling house.
At the end of the year, the valuation of all lots was
$2,888, improvements on the same (there being 68 lots
improved), $14,545, and the personal property $22,040,
as appraised by the valuation of the assessors in the
spring of '48. There was then in the village about
one-third more personal property than all the land and
buildings were worth, only $5,300 of it being merchan
dise ; the remainder being money and credits due or to
become due over and above the amount of debts owing,
as the law then read, which would indicate that those
early settlers preferred to have their means drawing
12 per cent, interest, to investing them in costly pal
aces, the assessment showing a solid basis among the
business men of that day.
New-comers and Changes. — John M. Clark moved
with his family on to the farm which he now occupies,
about two miles west of this village, though such
changes have since been wrought and such improve
ments made, that it would scarcely be recognized as
the same place.
Among the new-comers, was George G. Williams
and family. Williams bought the west half of section
eight of Norman Pratt, the lot north of block four of
George Dann, and half of the pottery of Warren Cole.
The pottery business was then carried on by the firm
of Cole & Williams. Geo. Dann bought out Van Horn,
on the east side of the creek, engaging in both the
cooper and brickmaking business. Among the other
arrivals were J. B. Decker, a saddle and harness maker,
who started business in the shop built by Mr. D. Smith,
H. Livingstone, a tailor, who bought lot three, block
eight, of Joseph Powers, and opened a shop, and R. S.
McNeal, a wagon maker, f Albert Keep, who had been
in the mercantile business at Catfish, came into the vil
lage and went in company with Peck & Keep. Soon
•Now known as the E. M. Johnson place, corner of Main and South
Prairie Streets.
tAfterwards President of the Chicago & Northwestern Ry. for some
years. 79

JOHN M. CLARK.

after P. H. Brady went to the pineries in company with
Daniel Smith. Winchester & Rogers had dissolved
partnership, and each set up shop on his own respon
sibility. During the fall, produce still maintained the old
prices, wheat averaging about 50 cents per bushel, but
ter from 10 to 13 cents per pound, pork $3 per hundred.
eggs 8 cents per dozen, chickens from 8 to 12 cents
apiece. The fall of '47 was warm and pleasant, though like
that of '46 it was quite sickly, more especially in the
village. During the month of December, but little fire
was needed for comfort — no heavy rains, no snow, and
but few days cold enough to freeze, until the 1st of
January, '48, when snow fell to the depth of eighteen
inches. In December of '47 the Episcopal parish was or
ganized, and they engaged the services of Rev. Mr.
Hoyt. About this time Charles Brett came and went
into the grocery business in the store now occupied by
T. Bassett. During the winter, Prof. Wilcox still con
tinued his select school.
THE YEAR 1848.
In the assessment of '48, the five lots in block eleven
were assessed $135, block nine at $135, and block one
at $220 ; at that time block eleven was equal in value to
block nine, and the lots on the north side of Main street
more than those on the south side.
There were many stumps within the limits of Main
and Center streets, and early in the spring, O'Connor,
still actuated by the spirit of improvement, by aid of a
few dimes contributed by each resident on Center
street, grubbed the stumps and ploughed two or three
furrows on the north side of the street and cast up a
sidewalk, this being the first depredation committed on
any street in Whitewater by plough, shovel, or scraper.
Business Changes. — In the spring, A. H. Scoville
went into the employ of Hall & Leffingwell as book
keeper. Soon after Hall & Leffingwell dissolved part
nership, and Rufus Cheney, an old settler of Milwau
kee, went in company with Hall. Levi Powers took as
81

a partner Geo. B. Hall, an early settler of Lima; and
Seth M. Caswell and Chas. E. Curtice formed a co
partnership and went into the grocery business in the
store built by Hammond. Among the new-comers, were
Dr. Brewer, who went in company with Dr. George
Lee, who came in '47, Schenart, a saddler, who started
a shop in the building on block eight, Seva Pratt, Ed
ward Leigh, a blacksmith, and L. O. Daney.
During the summer, S. C. Hall and Cheney built the
brick building on lot eight, block nine, now occupied
by Cushing, Sweetland & Stewart as a hardware store.
A. H. Scoville put up the upright part of his present
residence, and J. B. Decker the brick building on lot
four, block ten. The great event of this year was the
final completion of the telegraph line from Milwaukee
to Madison which passed through Whitewater, an office
being established at this place.
In the fall, the inhabitants were called upon to
mourn the death of Capt. Jesse Pease, an early settler
of the village. In the summer, J. L. Pratt, having pur
chased the southwest corner of lot two, block eight, and
also the cabinet shop of John 0. Storms, moved the
shop on to the lot and removed to his present location,*
here he did a flourishing business, and it was not long
before such vehicles as "Pratt's Wagons" were known.
On the 28th of November, 1847 (1848?), a new Tem
perance Society was organized. Article fourth of the
constitution read thus :
"Any person may become a member of this society
by signing for that purpose the following pledge :
" 'We pledge ourselves that we will not use any
alcoholic liquors as a beverage, and that we will exert
our influence to discontinue their use as a drink in the
community'." The Rev. M. P. Kinney was tchosen president, E.
Wakeley, Esq., vice-president, and F. F. Fuller, secre
tary. There were 93 men and 74 women who signed
this pledge. Of the men, only seven have openly and
frequently violated their pledge, and of the youth that
signed, all but two are temperate and respected citi-
•"Pratt's wagon shop" stood on the north-east corner of Center
and Second Streets. 82

zens. Three of the men and six of the women are now
numbered among the dead.
In the fall of '48, Halcyon Lodge, No. 15, of the
Oriental Order of "I. O. 0. F.," was organized in due
and ancient form. For two or three years, the institu
tion flourished, its members being monthly augmented
by the accession of new members.
The Cemetery Association. — On the 20th of Novem
ber, the Cemetery Association was formed; until this
time the ground had been owned by the town of White
water, and was under the control of the Board of Super
visors, who never considered that it was a part of their
duty to interest themselves in fencing and improving
the spot which must soon be their final resting place.
The first officers chosen were John Woodbury, presi
dent ; Prosper Cravath, secretary ; Leander Birge, treas
urer; W. M. Potts and Rev. M. P. Kinney, directors.
Among the most active in getting up the organization,
was Leander Birge, who often spoke of the necessity of
making some effort to fence and beautify the grounds
where all must eventually lie, little anticipating that
there he so soon must rest until the Resurrection morn.
THE YEAR 1849.
As spring approached, improvements began to be
made, and buildings to spring up on every side. Wm..
Potts built on his present residence on the south end of
block five, Wilson's addition ; S. C. Hall his on the north
side of Main street and west side of section four; Ho
ratio Morgan the dwelling west of the Episcopal par
sonage ; Francis Kinney that on lot eight, block twenty-
two, Chapman & Ludington 's addition.
Among the new-comers, were *Dr. Deichman and
family; the Doctor bought lots four and five, block six,
and also the building erected by Esq. Brown; this he
moved on to lot four, and soon after erected a drug
store, where he is still doing business. Septer Winter
mute, who had come into the village the year before,
bought the Whitewater Hotel and moved into it. This
has recently, by putting on another story, and by aid of
•There is evidently some mistake here, there being other evidence
that Dr. Deichman did not arrive until a year or two later.
83

other additions and alterations, been converted into the
Montour House, making it the house of the village. S.
Clark and W. P. Lusk, with their respective families
came ; these gentlemen went into company and opened
a tin-shop and stove and hardware store ; this was not
the first tin-shop in the village, Hall & Leffingwell hav
ing opened one soon after. they commenced business;
Collins Hall and Samuel Hay were the tinners. Clark
& Lusk occupied the store built by Powers, and the
same now used by Clark as a hardware store. Among
other arrivals were E. W. Cornes, a jeweler, who
opened a shop, and Samuel Noyes and family; Noyes
first engaged in putting up the endless chain pumps.
Local Sportsmen. — Long before this, the deer had
disappeared from the forest and prairie, most of them
having fallen before the rifles of our hardy nimrods.
In absence of this more noble game, the hunters of '40
had for the most part, retired on their laurels and now
stood ready to entertain all good listeners with mar
velous tales of the sports of those earlier days, and of
their own wondrous exploits in the chase; still for
those who could content themselves with this "day of
small things," much sport was to be found in the pur
suit of the smaller species of game, such as quail,
grouse, pigeons, etc. These were found in abundance,
and almost daily parties were to be seen sallying forth
with pointers and guns, and returning at night with
well-filled bags, whose contents they liberally distrib
uted among their numerous friends. Prominent among
these for their skill and success, were Sanger Marsh.
James Worm and Wm. Trippe. The test of merit was
to be a good shot on the wing, a feat which the most
experienced hunters find it difficult to accomplish and
one which few could perform.
The Railroad Comes in Sight.— But the great excite
ment, the one event of the year, was the taking of stock
in the Milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad. During the
fall, various meetings were held to excite the interest
of the people and to impress upon the minds of the
community the importance of having the road pass
through Whitewater. Every one was in favor of the
road, the only difference of opinion being that some

were strong in faith that it would be a good investment,
paying a dividend of 15 to 25 per cent., while others
thought it would not prove to be stock paying a very
heavy per cent., but all concurred in the opinion that
it was the duty of each, both for his own and the public
good, to do all that he could, without involving him
self so as to more than counterbalance the benefits to
be derived, to forward its completion. At the first
meeting held for the purpose of taking some definite
measures, Leander Birge, Rufus Cheney, and Prosper
Cravath were appointed a committee to confer with the
Board of Directors to have the road pass through
Whitewater and to ascertain the form of the subscrip
tions. The country around had now become thickly
settled by industrious farmers, but all grain had to be
hauled with horses and wagons to the Milwaukee mar
ket. Of the great amount of travel on this road, some
idea may be gained by the fact that there were alreadv
fifteen taverns on the usual traveler's route between
Whitewater and Milwaukee. All felt the necessity of
having some more expeditious mode by which to con
vey their produce to market than the slow, plodding
one of carrying it over miserable and, at some seasons.
almost impassable roads.
In the summer and fall, D. Carley taught a select
school in the old meeting house, as it was now desig
nated, the Congregational church having at this tim°
completed their present house of worship, at a cost of
$4,300. During the winter the Baptists finished their
house on lot one. block five.
Phinnev and George Pierce purchased the Exchange
and moved into it. Robert Campbell bought F. C. Pat
terson's livery stable, on lot one, block eight, the same
now occupied by Joel Clapp.
THE YEAR 1850.
In the spring of '50, the California fever, which then
raged as an epidemic throughout the whole country
took off many of our citizens. Among the lawyers.
Esquires Earle, Patterson, and Grant, fell victims to
the attack, and Dr. Powers and Dr. Brewer of the
medical fraternity, were among the first to start for the
85

land of promise. The opposers of calomel had lost
their confidence in the Thompsonian system, and had
made the discovery that cold water, such as gurgles
through our limestone rocks, was a full equivalent for
waters of the pool of Siloam. Many of those who at
this time sought the land of gold, are still living there.
These, many years ago, were active citizens of our
town, and oftentime in the quiet hours, must their
thoughts wander back to the Whitewater of their mem
ory, to the scenes once familiar, now, perchance, half
forgotten. Railroad Stock and Farm Mortgages. — Early in the
spring, the directors of the Milwaukee & Mississippi
Railroad re-commenced operations, bringing forward
an entirely new project ; they asked the farmers to take
stock in the road, and to mortgage their farms for the
amount, payable in ten years, the company agreeing
to pay the interest; they insisted in all their speeches,
that the dividend, over and above the interest, would
more than pay the mortgages, and that at the end of ten
years, stockholders would have their stock clear, and
would be in the receipt of a yearly dividend as a sup
port and consolation in their old age. Many believing
these assertions, mortgaged their farms without the
least fear of ever being compelled to pay the same;
among the most active citizens of the town, in procur
ing mortgages, were Hon. Rufus Cheney, Jr., and E.
Wakeley, Esq. There were some who were opposed to
this scheme; they felt willing to pay the amount, but
advised against the mortgaging of farms; these were
stigmatized by the other class as old fogies, and op
posers of improvement, but 1860 will decide which were
right. Fencing of Grove Cemetery. — During the spring,
the Cemetery Association enlarged their grounds by
the purchase of two additional acres ; this formed the
present boundaries of Grove Cemetery. Their next step
was to take measures for the building of a fence. There
had been but a few dollars paid as yet on the lots, for
the majority, having little faith in the grounds being
immediately fenced, were not disposed to pay their
dues. In this dilemma, Leander Birge came forward
86

and volunteered to purchase the fence boards and to
become personally responsible for the hauling of the
same from Milwaukee, as also for the posts and labor.
In the fall R. O'Connor and P. H. Brady were chosen
members of the association, Leander Birge still acting
as president. Soon after, they gave out a general invi
tation for all interested to assemble on a certain day
to assist in clearing up the grounds ; this invitation was
accepted by every man Avho was able to labor, and each
worked with a hearty good-will and to a good purpose.
O'Connor undertook to engineer the work, and to sup
erintend the laying out and embellishment of the
grounds and from that day to this has acted in the
capacity of chief engineer.
In January of '50, there was a division of the Sons
of Temperance organized; many joined who had been
in the habit of frequently indulging in the excessive
use of spirituous liquors, and its numbers were in
creased to more than one hundred. For a year, this
was a temperance place, but since then more than one
has gone astray and violated his temperance pledge.
In the spring, Hall & Cheney dissolved partnership,
and during the summer, Cheney built the store now
occupied by the postoffice, on lot four, block eight, and
having purchased a stock of goods, started on his own
responsibility. Dr. Lee and Dr. Warne went into com
pany, renting the office now occupied by Dr. Warne,
where he has kept possession until the present time.
McLaughlin had taken Robert McBeath as a partner,
and the latter built his present residence on lot four,
block ten. Joseph B. Rogers built the dwelling on lot
thirteen, block fourteen, Busby commenced the house
on lot one, block one, Wilson's addition, and Warren
Cole put up a frame on lot two, block four. Among
the new-comers were C. P. Goodrich and Parker, car
penters. Geo. Redington, then in the employ of S. C.
Hall as tinner, bought the lot north of the school-house
The Methodists had the church which they now oc
cupy raised and enclosed; it was not completed, how
ever, until the following year.
Summary of the Year. — According to the census of
the year, the population of the town was 1,229, that of
87

the village 603 ; outside of the village, there were 111
resident land-owners who were assessed. There were
seventy-nine dwellings built on lots that were assessed
to the owners of the buildings. Of business buildings,
there were six stores, three groceries, two of which sold
liquors, one drug store, though in one of the other
stores drugs were kept, two hotels, two saddle and har
ness shops, three tailor shops, one law office, one jew
eler's shop, five blacksmith shops, one foundry, L. A.
Winchester and Daniel Trippe having started it, two
doctors' offices, two tin and hardware stores, two
wagon shops, one gunsmith shop, two livery stables. Of
the ninety-one who were assessed, forty-six now resid°
in the village ; there were twenty-one voting in the fall,
who were not assessed; of these, six now live in the
village. There were assessed, in the town, 21,022 acres.
valued at $88,880, and 116 lots valued at $21,740 ; the
amount of personal property was $37,450. At the fall
election, there were 196 voters. There were two
churches completed, the Baptist and Congregational,
while the Methodists had theirs partially finished. The
tax of the town for the year, was $294.40 for state tax.
$455.26 for county tax, $347.20 for school purposes, $50
towards paying for cemetery grounds, $155 for town
purposes, and $9.81 for the blind asylum. The tax on
J. M. Clark's farm was $45.68, that on Wintermute 's
hotel $12.56.
The merchants were Peck, Keep & Co., S. C. Hall &
Co., Marsh & Partridge, Rufus Cheney, Jr., Levi Pow
ers, and R. O'Connor; there were engaged in the
grocery business Caswell & Curtis, D. Giddings, and
Robert Campbell ; the saddle and harness makers were
J. Witting, Worm, and Schenhart; tailors, P. Mc
Laughlin, R. McBeath, A. Sentenn and Job Bonnell.
The medical profession was represented by Clark &
Rice and Lee & Warne, the legal by P. Cravath, E.
Wakeley and E. Brown, a new-comer.
Chapman & Ludington 's Addition. — In September,
George W. Chapman and James Ludington, of Milwau
kee, bought of William Birge the east half of the south
east quarter of section five,* excepting such portions
•Between Franklin and Summit Streets, south of Main Street.
88

as Birge had previously sold, and his present homestead
at the corner of Main and Prairie streets, in all about
three acres. There were about seventy acres, which he
sold "for and in consideration of the sum of $4,600,"
as the deed reads, this being the first purchase made in
the village for the purpose of speculation.
Thus ended the year '50, with no great event to
mark its course, nothing occurring either to unusually
elevate or depress the minds of the community, and at
the close we find Whitewater a very cosy and comfort
able place. It had become once more comparatively
temperate and moral, its fallen reputation was in a
great measure restored, its citizens had gradually in
creased in wealth and the public spirit of its inhabi
tants had caused many improvements of a permanent
and substantial nature to be made; all in all it pre
sented to the eye a very pleasing and attractive exte
rior, and was by no means a bad place to live in.
THE YEARS 1851 AND '52.
As the years '37 and '45 formed important eras in
the history of the town, so '50 and '52 stand out promi
nently for the improvements made and advantage at
tained. Since '44, many changes for the better had
been effected, but from '52 to '58 still greater ones were
destined to be made.
From '44 to '51, the inhabitants had not been wholly
engrossed in laying up treasures on earth, but by the
pious and devout, the community were frequently se-
minded that it was the part of wisdom to lay up their
treasures where corruption could not come and where
bars, bolts, and safes would be useless. For this pur
pose, a series of religious meetings was held at the Con
gregational church by the resident clergyman, assisted
by a few from abroad ; among these was the Rev. J. J.
Miter, of Beaver Dam, and many there were who openly
declared they had made a total surrender of all they
were and hoped to be into the hands of their Creator.
Early in the year '47, similar meetings had been held
with nearly the same assistants and crowned with like
success. Of such as shall be saved, many were added
in the different folds, and each flock of the ' ' Shepherd
of Israel" was increased in numbers.
89

A Fourth of July Celebration. — In '46, the people,
animated by a stirring of patriotism, determined to cele
brate the glorious Fourth something after the manner
of our forefathers, and preparations were made accord
ingly. They did not start with the idea of a great and
grand performance, but the inhabitants of the village
and immediate vicinity were to meet, to manifest in the
good old way their love of liberty. On the day, the
people assembled, cheered by the firing of cannon, an
vils, and muskets, the juveniles filling up the pauses
with the incessant firing of their fire-crackers. An
oration was delivered by Esq. Wakeley, in which he por
trayed the blessings of liberty, and the true mode of its
preservation, after which all partook of a well-served
dinner; then followed the usual toasts, drunk amidst
the roar of cannon and anvils, the ceremonies conclud
ing with a ball in the evening. As a usual thing, the
Fourth of July was honored by a Sabbath School cele
bration and a picnic, which were duly enjoyed by the
little folks. Among the other events that excited the
interest of the community were the lectures of the Rev.
Augustus Little John, in the spring of '49 ; they were on
temperance, education, religion, and life in general.
It was during these lectures, after going on Third
street, from Main to Center, that he uttered that mem
orable saying, that "no community could worship God
with such dirty, filthy streets and such old, broken-
down, tiserty-riserty fences as there were in this vil
lage." Poor Crops. — Crops of all kinds had been good until
'49; that year they were quite poor, and in '50 still
worse, but in '51 the most miserable of all ; the summer
was wet, and from August until about the middle of
September it rained almost daily. Nearly one-fourth of
the wheat rotted before harvest time, and was not cut.
Of the wheat harvested, much was greatly injured,
none being good except a few very early pieces. Even
the hogs would not eat it after it was ground, and
would touch neither bran nor shorts. It received the
name of "pink-eye," and those were known as "pink
eye" years.

The. Gazette, under "Janesville prices current Nov.
19th, 1851," reads as follows: Grain, per bushel,
winter wheat, 25 and 35 cts. ; spring, 20 and 25 cts. ;
corn shelled, 20 cts. ; in ear, 16 cts. ; oats, 12 and 15
cts. ; provisions, pork in the hog, $3.50 and $4 ; beef,
3 and 5 cts. per pound; butter in the roll, 12 and 14
cts. ; eggs, 10 cts. per dozen ; chickens, 12 cts. ; potatoes,
44 cts. per bushel ; beans, 75 cts. and $1 ; onions, 50 cts. ;
hay, native, $2.50 per ton ; wood, $1.50 per cord. Dec.
24th the quotations were: Winter wheat, 28 and 45
cents per bushel; spring wheat, 20 and 25 cents; pork
in hog, $3.25 and $3.75 ; other things were the same as
in November. Church Activities. — In February of '51, the Congre-
gationalists, Methodists and Baptists engaged in an
other protracted meeting ; the services were held in the
brick church, each denomination having some of their
brethren from abroad to assist in the good work; the
Methodists securing the services of Elder Puffer, a
notable revivalist ; but the large number which on pre
vious occasions had been added to the list of the faith
ful left but few to be gathered into the fold, so that
numerically considered, their labors did not seem as
richly rewarded as formerly. Rev. L. R. Humphrey
was established as rector over this parish, and in the
summer the Episcopal Society commenced building
their present church.
Up to '50, the representatives sent to the Legisla
ture from the village of Whitewater were Dr. Trippe
in '42 and '43, Warner Earle in '45, and E. Wakeley in
'47. Solmous Wakeley in '46 was a member of the
Constitutional Convention. Prosper Cravath was a
member of the Assembly for the first Legislature held in
June, 1848, Rufus Cheney in '49; E. Wakeley, senator
in '51. The last of March, '51, Peck, Keep & Co. sold their
stock of goods to P. H. Brady, Jacob J. Starin and D.
S. Cook, and rented them the store. Peck, who had
occupied the corner for ten years, soon left for Chicago,
Albert Keep accompanying him, where they started in
the wholesale business, Henry Keep remaining here to
settle up their old business.

Among the buildings erected during the years '51
and '52, Elder L. W. Freeman put up the dwelling
north of block fifteen, Chapman & Ludington 's Addi
tion, now owned by Dr. Warne ; Sidney Sikes, the one
on the lot marked D. Bassett, Birge 's Addition; Wil
liam Hunter the one at the corner of Main and Cottage
streets; John Winnick, Esq., the one west of D. S.
Cook's; Goodrich & Parker one in the angle of Janes-
ville and Franklin streets; Rufus Cheney his present
residence on lot two, block four ; J. L. Pratt his on sev
enteen, block fourteen ; Rev. M. P. Kinney the dwelling
now owned by R. A. Trippe, on Main street ; M. E.
Conger his on lot three, block twelve; R. O'Connor the
dwelling now owned by Lewis Cook on lot four; block
twelve; S. S. Workman the building on subdivision
three, lot nine, block thirteen, and John Bowers one on
subdivision four, now occupied by Van Cott as a saloon.
In the summer of '51, Chapman & Ludington sur
veyed and plotted into lots the land they bought of
Birge, and it was recorded as Chapman & Ludington 's
Addition. During the years '51 and '52, there were
eighty-one lots sold and eleven dwellings erected on the
lots. D. B. Peck, Esq., built the house now owned by
him on lot eight, block fifteen, and Isaac and Abner
Joslin the one on lot one, block fifteen, now owned by
E. Redington. Peck & Joslin first settled in Lima in
'42, afterwards moved to Cold Spring, and eventually
to Whitewater. Thomas Dow put up the dwelling on
lot five, block sixteen, now owned by Seth M. Billings,
Albert Woodbury the one on lot two, block seventeen.
Lots sold on the addition for from $35 to $100, lots
one and two of block fifteen being $100 and the next
highest $85.
In the fall of '51, the Catholics selected the lots
where their church now stands, and completed their
building in '53- In August of '52, the Episcopal church
was finished and consecrated. The average attendance
at the Episcopal church in '52 was about forty, at the
Congregational one hundred, at the Baptist eighty, at
the Methodist forty-five, at the Catholic one hundred
and fifty. The village during '49 and '50 was fre
quently visited by preachers claiming a special revela-
92

tion, uttering fearful warnings and proclaiming that
the end of all things was nigh at hand.
In the summer of '52, Mrs. R. A. Trippe caosed to be
surveyed and platted all of section four, on the west
side of the pond and south of Whitewater street, as
Trippe 's Addition. P. Cravath, with William Trippe
as assistant, did the surveying, and in honor of the lat
ter Kidd alley was so named, Kidd being the title by
which he was known among the early settlers.
S. C. Hall and Sanger Marsh had each finished their
warehouses, on lots five and six, block two, Trippe 's
Addition. The present depot was completed at the
same time and Col. E. Barber was appointed the agent
for this station. During the year H. C. Bull had estab
lished a lumber yard on lots nine and ten, block four
teen. The Janesville Gazette of Dec. 18th, 1852, quotes
Produce — Winter wheat, 65 and 72 cents per bushel
spring wheat, 50 and 60 cents; shelled corn, 40 cents
oats, 25 and 28 cents. Provisions — Pork in hog, $5 and
$5.65 ; beef, 3 and 6 cents per pound ; butter, 16 and 18
cents ; chickens, 12 cents ; potatoes, per bushel 37 cents.
The Sentinel of the 16th quotes: Winter wheat, fair
article, 80 cents per bushel ; club and spring, 76 cents ;
hedgerow, superior, 73 cents; pork, $5.50 and $5.75;
extra, $5.75 and $6.
In the fall of '52, Whitewater was all astir ; produce
and provisions of all kinds and in large quantities were
daily coming in from the north, west, and south. The
old quiet was broken up and the town began to put
on quite a business-like air. All were excited, even the
old fogies expanded a little, and they were forced to
acknowledge that verily there might he something new
under the sun. Many had never before looked upon a
railroad or train of cars, and heard for the first time the
scream of the locomotive ; all rejoiced at the good time
already come, and looked forward to the better times
coming. Death's Inroads. — Although the years of '51 and '52
gave a fresh impulse to our village, yet the business
portion of the inhabitants were sadly reminded that
this was not their permanent abiding place by the
93

death, during the year of '51, of Henry Schenhart and
Seth Caswell; in '52 of F. C. Patterson, who, but just
returned from California, was called from friends and
all the social enjoyments of earth in which he de
lighted, to enjoy the Mansion in his Father's House
prepared for him. In June of the same year, the corpse
of Philander Peck was brought from Chicago and in
terred in Grove Cemetery. Although by strict econ
omy and close application to business he had, without
engaging in any uncertain speculations or any dishon
est transactions, amassed a fortune, yet he could take
nothing with him, for his body, like others, must return
to dust as it was, and "his spirit to God who gave it";
as it was in the beginning, to partake of higher and
purer enjoyments than earth could afford. In the
spring of '54, the living were called upon to mourn the
death of Leander Birge, one of the earliest settlers of
the village; possessing a social and friendly feeling
towards all, he had many friends, but no enemies; be
ing active and energetic, he commanded the respect of
all, but, just as he had reached manhood's prime and
all his bright anticipations seemed about to be realized,
he was called to his final home in a city not made with
hands, complete and perfect.
THE YEARS 1853 AND 1854.
Building of the "Union" School.— The old school-
house, built when the town was in its infancy, had
long since been found insufficient to accommodate all
the youth of the district, and the necessity of a larger
and more commodious building became daily apparent ;
for an overcrowded and uncomfortable room, and as
an inevitable consequence, bad schools, did not seem
materially to aid in the expansion of the minds and
intellects of the rising generation. As early as '52, the
subject had been agitated; but, from want of unanim
ity and concert of action, no definite measure had been
taken, some wishing to build a new house, others think
ing it better to put up an addition to the old one. At
the annual meeting in '52, the subject was again
brought forward with a similar result. Some were in
favor of erecting a splendid building and connecting

with the school collegiate and academic departments,
others preferred a common school with one higher de
partment, while others still would have only the com
mon branches taught, proposing to build a house of
but moderate dimensions. These argued that it would
best promote the growth and interest of the village if
a common school only was provided for by tax, leaving
it for those who might wish to give their children the
advantages of a more liberal education to build an
academy- and sustain the same by individual enterprise.
Neither faction prevailing, the building of the house
was postponed for future action. Soon after, the acad
emy party started a subscription for the erection of a
small building, Chapman & Ludington' having offered
to donate four lots on block eighteen as a site. All
signed from ten to twenty-five dollars each, and in a
short time the sum of eighteen hundred dollars was
subscribed. They even went so far as to procure an
act of incorporation, but, meeting with strong oppo
sition from those who favored the plan of uniting in
one institution the advantages of a college, academy
and common school, the project was abandoned. In
the fall of '53, a compromise was effected, and the
question finally decided, the district voting the means
to build the present school-house on lots one and two,
block twenty-one, and in the summer of '54 the same
was completed.
William DeWolf, an old settler of La Grange, hav
ing moved into the village in the spring of '53, went
into company with L. A. Winchester, in the plow and
foundry business, and this, which first began as a
blacksmith shop, has since grown into the large estab
lishment now numbered among the institutions of the
village. In March, William Birge bought of Mrs. R. A.
Trippe the flouring mill and water power, and made,
during the summer, extensive improvements in the dam
and mill. Mrs. Trippe purchased the house north of
Main street, on section five, of Rev. M. P. Kinney. He
soon after closed his ministerial labors in Whitewater
and removed to Janesville, bearing with him the respect
and esteem of all.

At the town meeting, in the spring of the same year,
R. 0 'Connor was chosen overseer of road district num
ber one, and about one-half of the highway tax was
expended on the streets of the village, it being the first
tax worked out within the village limits. In '52, by
subscription, Main street, the length of blocks eight
and nine, and Center street, across block eleven, had
been graveled.
Building and Business. — R. 0 'Connor sold his store
and lot to M. E. & 0. H. Conger. B. O. Daily started a
store in the building on lot four, block nine; Nelson
Sayles a book store in the law office on lot three, block
one. Thomas Bassett, who, in the fall of '51, had
opened a grocery in the store owned by Le Baron,
bought the east part of lot two, block one, and re
moved his stock into the store on the same, where he is
now doing business. Charles S. Noyes was engaged in
the saddle and harness business, having opened a
shop on block eight, some time in '51. Larson & Hen
derson, merchants, occupied Le Baron's store.
During the summer, Warren Cole erected the "Em
porium Block, ' ' on lots one and two, block nine. This,
at the time, was a great and magnificent structure, and
towering far above the surrounding buildings, was a
great ornament to the village and the pride and delight
of all eyes ; by many the third story was considered a
superfluity, involving a useless expenditure of money.
Eli King put up the dwelling on the corner of Center
and Franklin streets, now occupied by H. A. Conger.
In the summer of '54, the west half of the south
east quarter of section five was surveyed into lots and
recorded as Birge 's Addition. Lots soon began to sell
on this, and during the year '54 one hundred and thir
teen lots were disposed of, nine on Birge 's Addition,
eighty-seven on Chapman & Ludington 's, and twenty-
seven were sold by Mrs. Trippe. In September of '54,
the price of each of the unsold lots on Mrs. Trippe 's,
Chapman & Ludington 's, Wilson's and Birge 's respec
tive additions, was marked upon the lot, and these
have been offered for sale at the same price from that
day to this; none have been sold for more, but a few
still remaining can now be bought for one-third less
96

than what was then their market value. During the
years '53 and '54, there were seventy-seven buildings
erected; fifteen on the old plot, ten on Trippe 's Addi
tion, forty-four on Chapman & Ludington 's, three on
Birge 's, and five on Wilson's. Among the buildings,
Joseph Bower put up the store on lot four, block eight,
now occupied by Wahlstedt; McLaughlin & McBeath
the building now occupied by the latter as a clothing-
store on lot three, block nine; Martin Dake his gro
cery on lot seven, block fourteen; Thomas H. Webb
the saloon, and Morris Ensign the "Badger State" on
lot seven, block fourteen, where he still caters to the
appetite of a hungry public.
Market Quotations. — The quotations for October
28, 1853, at Janesville, is: Wheat, winter, 75@80
cents per bushel ; spring, 70@75 cents ; corn, shelled, 37
cents; oats, 20@25 cents; pork in the hog, $4.25@
5.25 ; beef, 5@7 cents per pound ; butter, roll, 18 cents ;
potatoes, 20 cents; apples, green, $1.26 per bushel;
wood, $2.50 per cord; at Milwaukee, for the 27th of
the same month, the quotations are : Wheat, range of
all kinds, 80(5)93 cents; prime winter, 90(5)93 cents:
spring, red and club, 85(5)87 cents; Black Sea and
hedgerow, 80@82 cents; barley, 42@46 cents; rye, 53
@54 cents; oats, 25(3)27 cents; quotations at Janes
ville December 7th, 1854, are : Winter wheat, $1.10@
1.20; spring, 95c@$1.00 ; rye, 55 cents; corn, shelled,
50 cents ; pork, $3.50@3.75. From the Milwaukee Sen
tinel, September 14th, the quotations are: Prices de
clined 12(5)15 cents on wheat under news by the Niag
ara; winter sold for $1.15@1.30; club, $1.10@1.15;
corn, supply sold before the news at 55@60 cents;
barley, 85(5)90 cents; rye, 85@88 cents; oats, 35@36
cents; potatoes, 50 cents.
Among' the new-comers who engaged in business,
were G. H. & E. A. Smith, merchants, who opened a
store in one of Cole's rooms; J. L. Butterfield, also a
merchant ; J. T. Smith, a jeweler, in '53 ; Dr. Hoadly.
a dentist; L. W. Cutler, who started a grocery store
on lot eight, block fourteen; J. McHose, who engaged
in the produce business, and Mr. Herbst opened a
clothing store. 97

At the close of the year, the town of Whitewater
contained 2,594 inhabitants; of this number 1,825 were
residents of the village. There were in the village 208
persons assessed, and 4S5 lots, valued at $50,490, the
personal property at $24,450.
The Cholera. — In the summer of '54, the cholera,
in its ravages through the country, did not entirely
pass over our village; a few of the citizens fell victims
to the disease; among this number were Eli King, a
former resident of the village, and an active member
of the Baptist church, and Dr. 0. C. Magoon, a man of
the strictest integrity, fully and candidly believing in
the final restoration of the race, and that each would
be judged according to the deeds done and the acts
performed; and by this rule he governed himself
through life.
Tribute to Early Citizens. — There now lie in Grove
Cemetery four of the early settlers, Asaph Pratt, Dr.
James Trippe, Philander Peek, and Dr. O. C. Magoon,
all in many respects alike, being men of original
thought and acting upon their own opinion of things;
each judged men by their manhood, not by their out
ward equipage. They deemed it better to accommo
date their wants to their income, than to issue bonds
and mortgages to keep up appearances, believing it to
be a bad policy either for individuals or corporations
to encumber their realty for improvements ; though
willing to receive interest, they never paid any. believ
ing it, in this case, better to receive than to give, and
each of lliem left to his heirs a large estate unencum
bered with debts for administrators to pay.
General Solvency. — It was by these men, and others
of the same stamp, that our town up to the year '54
was governed ; it was such opinions that had control in
public and private matters, and Whitewater at the
close of '54 as a town was free from debt, and every
society therein, or owed but a very small sum, notwith
standing the wildcat banks of Indiana, Michigan, and
other states were breaking, and business men failing.
At no time, nor in any community, has there probably
been fewer private debts; merchants, mechanics,
tradesmen of every kind, farmers and laborers were all
98

in easy circumstances; courts, sheriffs, and constables
had little or nothing to do, and lawyers were forced
to turn land agents ; farmers did not have to keep out
of town for fear of being dunned; no bonds or mort
gages were lying in Eastern safes against the town or
individuals. Each man felt that his house was his
eastle; nor did he fear losing his tenure thereon, or
have reason to return thanks within his secret heart
for the provisions of the exemption act. On the first
day of January, 1855, men could meet and heartily
wish each other a happy New Year.
THE YEAR 1855.
The year of '55, which proved one of unparalleled
prosperity, was ushered in under the most favorable
auspices. The growth of the town for the two pre
ceding years had been rapid and for the most part of
a substantial kind. Every branch of industry was rep
resented in our midst; the various departments of
trade were brisk and lively, settlers coming in, and
everyone was prophesying marvellous things in the
future. Business Houses. — With the beginning of the year,
the following firms were engaged in the mercantile
business : That of S. C. Hall & Co., the resident part
ners being S. C. Hall and C. E. Hall; S. Marsh & Co.,
partners, S. Marsh and J. C. Partridge; Cheney and
Williams, partners G. G. Williams and Rufus Cheney;
S. H. Smith & Co., partners G. H. and E. A. Smith;
W. Cole & Co., partners W. Cole, Gaylord Graves and
W. Cole, Jr.; Brady, Starin & Cook, partners P. H.
Brady, J. J. Starin and D. S. Cook; A. F. Richmond,
and J. S. Butterfield. There were in the grocery busi
ness Thomas Bassett, C. E. Curtice, L. B. Hunt, M. H.
Drake, and J. Crissman, a saloonkeeper. There were
four public houses, the Whitewater Hotel, S. Winter
mute, proprietor ; the Exchange, kept by J. Emery ; the
Badger State, by M. Ensign; the American House, by
L. Cadman. Of the practicing physicians, there were
Clark & Rice, H. Warne, and J. A. Leonard. The mem
bers of the legal profession were P. Cravath, E. Wake
ley, and H. J. Curtice ; Norman Millard, a young lawyer

who had settled here from Milwaukee, having left.
There were two saddlery and harness shops, the one
kept by C. S. Noyes, the other by J. J. and S. N. Wit
ting. The tailors were P. McLaughlin, R. McBeath, S.
Sharp, and A. Sentenn. There was one jeweler's shop,
kept by John T. Smith.
First Newspaper. — Among the new things which
were to extend the name and fame of our place was the
establishment of a paper styled the Whitewater Ga
zette. On the 5th day of January, 1855, the first number
was issued, H. J. Curtice being at that time editor and
publisher, and A. Valentine local editor. It was a
weekly publication, republican in politics, and devoted
to news generally; it was unassuming in its preten
sions and modest in appearance, yet in no wise did it
do discredit to the town.
The Old Wisconsin Central. — The mania for rail
roads had fully seized upon the people, and for a while
nothing else was talked or thought of. The success
which first attended the completion of the Milwaukee
& Mississippi Railroad did not tend to render them
less sanguine or enthusiastic. Active measures were
taken for the building of another road to run between
Chicago and Columbus, taking Whitewater in its route.
A charter was obtained for this under the name and
title of the Wisconsin Central, and the officers immedi
ately set to work to procure subscriptions to the cap
ital stock of the company. Among the most active and
efficient of the officers were Rufus Cheney, Jr., and E.
\\ akeley, of this place. They entered into the work
heartily and energetically, and were very successful in
obtaining subscriptions, most of the inhabitants taking
from one to five shares. In February, the company
contracted with A. Graham & Brother to grade and
lay the track from Geneva to Columbus; the same to
be completed to Whitewater in one year. In the spring
these gentlemen and A. H. Scoville returned from Ohio,
where they had just completed a heavy job, and com
menced work. Some of the grading between Geneva
and the state line had already been done ; everything
gave promise for the speedy completion of the road,
100

and to all human calculation it would seem that we
were to have a direct communication with Chicago, n:
In addition to the usual district school, there was a
select school taught by B. W. Richardson, assisted by
Mrs. Richardson; they occupied a room in Bower's
Block as a school-room.
Among the outgrowths of this spirit of enterprise
which was in our midst was the Farmers' & Mechan
ics' Club, which held in the fall its annual fairs, on
which occasions our farmers and mechanics have never
failed to bring convincing proofs of their industry and
ingenuity. New Buildings. — As the spring approached, build
ing again commenced ; on block nine, lots one and two,
G. H. Smith and Charles E. Curtice built the Common
wealth Block; S. Marsh the store on lot six; S. C. Hall,
Hall's Block on lot nine, and Joseph Bowers the block
which bears his name, on block thirteen. L. Cadman
put up the upright part of the American House ; E. C.
Hall his present residence north of Main street fronting
Church street, Winchester & DeWolf their present plow
factory on lot five, block one, Trippe 's Addition, and
J. C. Williams & Co. the pottery on lot five, block four.
Most of the warehouses on the railroad grounds were
built during the years '54 and '55. Among the houses
built on Chapman & Ludington 's Addition, was that
of S. S. Workman north of block sixteen, now owned
by Maxon, that of S. Clark on lot eight, block sixteen ;
that of N. L. Eels on lot six, block twenty; that of S.
Fields on lot six, block twenty-one ; that of J. T. Smith
on lot seven, block twenty-seven ; that of Rev. M. Row
ley on lot one, block twenty-seven; that of P. Ondell
on lot nine, block twenty-eight; that of A. B. Lee on
lots three and four, block thirty-one; that of Folsom
on lot four, block eighteen; that of E. C. Wheeler on
lots nine and ten, block twenty-four. There were also
twenty-six smaller buildings put up. On Birge 's Addi
tion E. Wakeley built his dwelling, north of block one ;
Rev. O. Montague the house on lot twenty-nine, block
two; there were four other dwellings built, and five
on Wilson's Addition, William Richardson had in op-
101

eration on lot one, block fourteen, the sash factory
and planing mill now owned by T. S. Abbott & Co.
Among the new-comers, were J. M. Crombie and C.
Thrasher, merchants, who commenced business in Bow
er's building, on block eight; A. Wahlstedt and C. W.
Madden, who bought Henderson's stock of goods ; Butler
G. Noble, who opened a drug store ; M. M. Woodworth,
who built the house on lot nine, block fifteen, and
opened a select school; Dr. Aldenbruch, a physician,
who immediately commenced practice ; A. M. Osborne,
who engaged in the grocery business; J. Root, who
opened a saloon in Bower's Block; Rev. O. Montague,
who was engaged as their minister by the Baptist So
ciety. In the fall, A. Graham and A. H. Scoville opened
an exchange and banking office in Bower's Block,
where is now the Merchants & Mechanics ' Bank. About
the middle of December, G. II. Smith & Co. removed
their stock of goods into their new store ; the occa
sion was celebrated by a festival; at this the subject
of a city or village charter was proposed. Soon after,
a public meeting was called, at which Prosper Cravath
and E. Wakeley were chosen as a committee to draft
and prepare a charter to be submitted to a future
meeting, which they were empowered to call when
ready to report. The committee, after consulting, came
to the conclusion that corporate powers would result
in an injury to the town, and consequently never made
their report.
A Cold Winter.* — About the middle of December
the reign of winter commenced in good earnest, and
never, within the memory of the oldest inhabitants, had
there been such severe and long-continued cold
weather; it will long be remembered as pre-eminently
the cold winter.
Market Quotations. — The quotations from the
Whitewater Gazette for Nov. 8th, 1855, are: Flour,
•Note : — The winter of 1855-6 killed off most of the young fruit
trees that had been planted. Abel Slocum. in Lima, had conducted a
sort of nursery business, bringing in fruit trees from Ohio, of the old
sorts .which flourished at the East. Many orchards had been planted
and had come into bearing with a promising outlook. But this winter
formed a sort of turning point, and fruit trees have never thriven
since as they did in the earlier years. For instance, not a few peaches
were raised in Walworth County when the country was new.
102

Birge 's best, $7.50(5)8.00; wheat, white winter, $1.55@
1.70; red, $1.50(5)1.56; club, $1.35@1.40; other spring
wheat, $1.35(5)1.38; barley, $1.00@1.03; rye, 85(5)87
cents ; oats, 31@32 cents ; corn, 56 cents ; potatoes, 30@
35 cents; butter, 14(5)15 cents; pork, per cwt., $5.50;
live weight, $4.50. During the year '55, there was
shipped by railroad from Whitewater 12,285 barrels
and 1,048 bags of flour, 242,669 bushels of wheat, 18,-
245 of barley, 12,978 of corn, 2,444 of rye, 6,181 of oats,
32,964 of grass seed, pork in hog 504,942 pounds, 2,256
barrels of pork, 401 of lard, live stock 115,540 pounds,
2,055 hides, 36,703 pounds of hops, 3,904 bushels of po
tatoes, 171 of beans, 31,286 pounds of butter, 4,020
dozen of eggs, 20 barrels of quail, other produce to the
amount of 50,979 pounds, 1,200 barrels of high wines,
32 of beer, 70,300 bricks, 6,294 pounds of broom corn,
561 empty barrels, 808 bedsteads, 725 plows, 671 pieces
of castings, and other things not included, 281,988
pounds ; the proceeds of which would amount, at White
water market prices, to $728,000.
In the fall, our young men in accordance with the
then prevailing custom, organized a literary association,
and made arrangements for a course of lectures during
the winter ; several distinguished lecturers from abroad
addressed the association, as well as some from our
own state. THE YEAR 1856.
The first week of January, '55, the new school-house
being fully completed, our district school first com
menced under what is termed a regular system, the su
perintendence of the school being given to Prof. A. A.
Lewis. Wisconsin Central Railroad Bonds. — During the
same month, the officers of the Wisconsin Centrail Rail
road proposed that the town of Whitewater should
issue bonds to the amount of $40,000, these to be used
by the company as collateral security to their own
bonds to give them better credit. In order to convince
the voters that it would be for their interest to do this,
meetings were held at Metropolitan Hall; these were
addressed by R. Cheney and E. Wakeley in favor of the

project. Cheney was at that time Vice President of the
road and was active and energetic in devising ways and
means for the construction of the road. They stated
that more means were required, as the subscription to
the capital stock was small; that it was necessary for
the towns along the line of the road to guarantee a cer
tain amount towards the payment of the bonds which
the company might issue, for thus would they prove to
capitalists, by their works, that they had confidence in
the enterprise. They affirmed that if the road was
built, the freight on the Milwaukee & Mississippi road
would be cheaper, and in proof thereof, stated that the
Milwaukee road carried freight cheaper from Janes
ville than from Whitewater, which was a fact; that
even should the town have the bonds to pay, it would
be a gain in the end, for independent of the rise in real
estate, they would save more than the interest each
year in freight, and furnished a mathematical demon
stration of their assertion, by showing from the above
statement made by E. Barber and A. W. Kenzie, of the
amount shipped that a reduction of but one per cent
on a bushel of wheat, and on other freight in propor
tion, would more than pay the interest. Among those
who opposed the issuing of the bonds, were H. J. Star-
in and Proper Cravath; they admitted all the facts as
stated by Cheney and Wakeley, but were of the opinion
that whatever bonds were issued would have to be paid,
and contended that it would be better for the town to
make calculation upon this, to take stock upon the same
footing as other stockholders, to pay one-fifth every
year until the whole amount was paid, and then at the
end of five years we should, as a town, be free from
debt. In this plan of a town assisting a company in
making improvements, they of course had no prece
dents by which to be governed. As in case of all new
projects, there arose honest differences of opinion which
were hard to reconcile, but the matter was finally de
cided at the town meeting in favor of issuing bonds,
there being about two votes for, to one against it.
Business Changes. — In March, Cheney & Williams
sold their store on block eight and their stock of goods
to H. D. Hull. Soon after, Sanger Marsh sold his store,
104

warehouse, and interest in the stock of goods, to J. S.
Partridge and A. Graham, and Marsh retired to look
after his regular per centum. J. Barker bought out A.
F. Richmond, and opened with a large stock of dry
goods and groceries. Geo. G. Williams, being post
master, took charge of the office, and removed it to
Bower's Block, next east of the Merchants' & Mechan
ics' Bank. Lewis Cook bought lot four in block twelve,
of R. O'Connor, and went into company with Brady,
Starin & Cook.
Expansion of the Village Plat. — George Dann caused
to be surveyed and plotted, as Dann's Addition, the
west half of the south-west quarter of section three;
E. R. Caine as Caine's Addition, part of the east half
of the north-east quarter of section eight ; Freeman L.
Pratt as F. L. Pratt's Addition, part of the east half
of the north-east quarter of section five ; Corydon Pratt
part of the west half of the north-west quarter of sec
tion three ; A. Graham and A. H. Scoville as Graham &
Scoville 's Addition, part of the west half of the north
east quarter of section five, and in the summer Mrs. R.
A. Trippe, as Trippe 's Second Addition, that part of
the south half of section four east of the creek.
During the years of '55 — 56, Mrs. Trippe sold 46
lots ; there were sold on Birge 's Addition 34, and all of
blocks four, five and six; on Wilson's Addition 24. In
'56, S. C. Hall sold 20 lots, George Dann 7, and F. L.
Pratt 4.
New Buildings. — Among the buildings erected were
the stone grist mill by Wm. Birge: Central Block on
lots four and five, block nine, by Wm. Birge, Jas. Worm
and M. E. and 0. P. Congar ; the dwelling on lot eight,
block twelve, by J. C. Dancy; Powers, Allen & Co.'s
stove foundry on lot four, block one, Trippe 's Addition;
J. S. Partridge also built on his present residence, on
lots one and two, block nineteen, Chapman's & Luding
ton 's Addition; D. Chaffee his on lot five, block eigh
teen ; S. Noyes and F. B. Hall theirs on the corners of
Janesville and Walworth streets ; D. S. Cook his on the
lot marked Cook on Main street in F. L, Pratt's Addi
tion ; F. J. Starin his on Fourth street, next west of Wil-
105

son's Addition, and Geo. Esterly the frame part of his
reaper works on S. C. Hall's Addition.
In the fall, N.M. Littlejohn came into the village and
started a lumber yard ; M. P. McLaughlin who engaged
in the produce business, and J. Stalker, a tailor, who
opened a shop in Hall's Block.
Nov. 27th, 1856, the quotations for the Whitewater
market were, wheat winter 73 to 75 cents, barley 75 to
$1, rye 60 to 65 cents ; corn 40 to 45 cents ; oats 28 to 30
cents ; butter 20 to 22 cents ; hogs, live weight, $3.50 to
$4.00, dressed, $4.60 to $5.00; wood, maple, $3.50 to
$4.00. Altogether, these two years brought to our town an
unusual degree of prosperity. The railroad had given
a new impulse to business, strangers flocked in, many
improvements were made, in all departments the ma
chinery of life seemed to work smoothly, nor did there
appear any reason why the good times should not con
tinue for years to come.
During the winter of '56 and '57, there was but little
change in the general order of things. "Hard times,"
it is true, "came knocking at the door" but they had
not, as yet, been admitted as a permanent, though un
invited and most unwelcome guest.
In December of '56, Willard Stebbins and E. F. Tarr
bought of Graham & Partridge, the warehouse built by
S. Marsh, at which place they are still doing a storage,
commission, and forwarding business. F. M. Ely pur
chased of Baker his stock of goods.
THE YEAR 1857.
Farmers' & Mechanics' Club Incorporated. — On the
fourth of March 1857, the Legislature passed an Act of
incorporation, conferring upon the Farmers & Mechan
ics ' Club the powers of a body corporate ; on the 23d of
the same month the society organized under the char
ter, and proceeded to elect their officers. Rufus Cheney,
Jr., was chosen president; J. L. Pratt and E. M. Rice,
vice-presidents; I. S. Bangs, secretary; M. E. Conger,
corresponding secretary, and A. H. Scoville, treasurer.
During the summer, they purchased the land now
owned by the club, and soon set to work to improve the
106

same, that it might be in readiness for the fall exhibi
tion. In the course of the season, a fence was built, the
show-house for the exhibition of fancy articles was
erected, and a track graded. A bee, with the induce
ment of a picnic dinner, was made for the purpose of
clearing the grounds, but although there was a good
attendance, little was done, for they proved much more
successful in clearing the tables than in clearing the
grounds. At the annual election of the Wisconsin Central
Railroad Company, held on the 18th day of March, Ruf
us Cheney, Jr., was chosen president; soon after, Gra
ham & Brother surrendered their contract with the
company, and a -new one was entered into with G. F. &
B. D. Harris, they agreeing to complete the road as far
north as Jefferson.
Early in the year, Partridge & Graham sold their
stock of goods to a firm in Monroe, and Cheney & Wil
liams, having bought back the goods of H. D. Hull, sold
them to the same firm ; Cushing, Sweetland & Stewart
also bought out S. C. Hall & Co., and continued the
business at the old stand.
Whitewater Register. — On the first day of January,
the last number of the Gazette was issued ; it was then
edited and published by J. A. Leonard and A. Emerson ;
these gentlemen soon after removed with their press to
Waukesha, and for a short time no paper was published
here. But soon after another sheet was started under
the auspices of H. L. & L. H. Rann, bearing the name
and title, since become so familiar, of the Whitewater
Register. The first number was issued March 25th,
and weekly since has it chronicled passing events, keep
ing our citizens "posted" on all matters of interest,
both foreign and domestic.
About this time, E. Wakeley received the appoint
ment of judge for one of the circuits in the territory
of Nebraska, and soon after he departed to enter upon
the duties of his office.
A little later, N. S. Murphey, a lawyer, came into the
village and opened an office in Bower's Block; among
other new comers were H. B. Shedd and family, he go
ing into the store opened by William Birge ; George
107

Bunker, who early in the spring started a lumber yard
on lots nine and ten, block fourteen, and Edson Kel
logg, who opened a law office soon after their arrival.
In April, P. H. Brady sold his interest in the store to
the other partners and went in company with Powers,
Allen & Co., in the stove foundry business. In August,
Graham and Scoville organized the Farmers' and Me
chanics' Bank, as a bank of issue, with a capital of one
hundred thousand dollars.
Among the buildings erected during the year, were
the residences of Thomas Bassett, on F. L. Pratt's Ad
dition, corner of Main and Prairie streets; Simeon
Cobb 's on the west half of section eight ; H. C. Phillips's,
on Price street, opposite Highland street; J. F. Dancy's
on lot seven, block two, Dann's Addition, and 0. Gallt's
at the corner of Franklin and Walworth streets. School
district number one built the brick schoolhouse just
east of Grove cemetery, at a cost of $1,600; C. E. Cur
tice put up the brick block on lot one, block two, and
George Esterly the two brick shops in connection with
his reaper factory. P. H. Brady had, in '56, built his
present residence on lot one, block eleven, and this, in
spite of the improvements made in the other parts of
the town, still remained the block of the village.
On the fifteenth and sixteenth of September, the
Farmers' and Mechanics' Club for the first time held
their annual fair on their new* grounds ; although the
days were rainy there was a good attendance, and the
show of fruits, produce, cattle, horses, machines and
other articles, was highly creditable.
The quotations for Whitewater, November 21st,
were: Wheat, winter, 60@65 ' cents, spring, 45(5)50
cents ; corn, 38@40 cents ; rye, 65 cents ; barley, 35@40 ;
cents ; oats, 25(5)30 cents ; potatoes, 18@25 cents ; pork,
$4.50@$5.50; beef, 3(5)5 cents per lb; butter, 20@35
cents ; green apples, $3.00 per bbl.
Financial Crisis. — This was the time of the great
financial crisis, when business men in all parts of the
country were failing; when banks began to break, and
paper with vignette and promise to pav stamped upon
it, became worthless, except as a thing of mere curiosity.

•Now owned and occupied by Dr. Strassman.
108

After four years of unparalleled plenty and prosperity,
the reaction came, and there seemed to be a general
suspension in every department of trade and business ;
riches took unto themselves wings and flew away, and
many that were greatest became least. Happily, up to
'58, there had not been a single failure in Whitewater,
and when the crash came, it found our business men
standing upon a solid foundation ; it is true, there was
some wavering, some faltering, but all succeeded in
weathering the storm, and arriving at last at safe moor
ings. The valuation of the town, including the village,
for the year '57, was $304,221, that of the village alone,
$191,956 ; this was about one-fourth of the true valua
tion, and one-sixth of the asking price. The state, coun
ty and town tax, was $3,210.06, and the school tax for
the village, $4,200 ; $1,600 of this sum being appropriat
ed to the building of the new school-house and $250 to
the payment of arrearages. The tax on John M.
Clark's farm was $245.83. That on the Whitewater
Hotel, $47.52. THE YEAR 1858.
Population. — On the first day of January, 1858,
there were, exclusive of the buildings on blocks one,
eight, and nine, and blocks one and two, Trippe 's Addi
tion, 412 dwelling houses within the corporate limits of
the village; these were on lots held by the owners of
the buildings ; of these 521 had been built since '54. The
population since '54 had increased 1200, there being
now about 3,000 inhabitants. There were 667 males over
twenty-one years of age, of whom 273 were of foreign
birth; of the whole number, 77 were carpenters, 46
blacksmiths, 86 laborers, 25 masons, 13 shoemakers, 7
tailors and 3 lawyers. The others were bankers, merch
ants, mechanics, foundry men, hotel-keepers, saloon and
grog-shop keepers, grocers, book-keepers, clerks, rail
road officers, contractors, agents of all kinds, town offi
cers, money shavers, and gentlemen of leisure.
Business Houses. — The banks were the Merchants &
Mechanics', a bank of issue ; and the Bank of Whitewa
ter, one of exchange and deposit only. The mercantile
109

firms in the drygoods and groceries connected, were
Starin, Cook & Co.; S. Smith & Co., Crombie, Francis
& Co., W. Cole & Co., William Birge, Cushing, Sweet-
land & Stewart, and A. Wahlstedt. Among the number
connected with these firms, were none who were doing
business here as merchants in '50, and eight years had
wrought a complete change. There were engaged in
other branches of trades, Congar & Day, dealers in
books, stationery, and drugs; J. Deichman, druggist;
Thomas Bassett, Charles E. Curtice, F. B. Hall, Branch
& Pratt, S. Lathrop, and M. H. Dake, dealers in family
groceries, Yankee notions, &c. ; S. Clark, a hardware
merchant ; Powers Allen & Co., in the stove and foun
dry establishment ; J. T. Smith, and V. Egloff, jewelers ;
J. L. Pratt, Thomas Dow, John McCollins, Thomas Dan-
cy, and Henry Sharp, wagon and carriage makers; J.
Witting and Wm. Smith, saddle and harness makers;
R. McBeath and J. Stalker, merchant tailors; and M.
Herbst, keeper of a clothing store. There were four
hotels ; the Whitewater Hotel, Exchange, Badger State,
and the American House. Of physicians, there were
Clark & Rice, H. Warne, Belknap, Hawes, Aldenbruch,
Clapp, (Eclectic) Mrs. Joselyn, (Homeopathic.) George
Esterly 's reaper factory was in full operation, and em
ployed about 70 men ; and Winchester & DeWolf in the
plow and foundry works employed about 30 more. The
produce dealers were R. 0 'Connor, J. McHose, Stebbins
& Tarr, S. Hall & Co., Cheney & Williams, S. Smith &
Co., F. S. Bonner, M. P. McLaughlin, and C. Brett. T.
S. Abbott & Co., were connected with the planing mill.
There were three liquor saloons, and eleven grog-shops,
in which liquor was almost the only article of traffic.
In each church, the congregations had nearly dou
bled since '52; the resident clergymen were Wm. A.
Baldwin, Congregationalist ; Milton Rowley, Methodist :
L. R. Humphrey, Episcopal ; 0. Montague, Baptist, and
Richard Dumphy, Catholic. A. D. Hendrickson had
charge, at the time, of the Union School.
Whitewater having had the good fortune to be
settled by an industrious and intelligent class of in
habitants was, in comparison with other villages of the
West, a moral place. Its citizens were for the most
no

part an order-loving and law-abiding people — men of
fixed principles who came here to find a home, not as
roving adventurers, and these it was who gave name
and character to the place. There was little litigation,
but few of those petty misdemeanors, and more serious
crimes so common in a community ; hut few idlers and
rowdies and notwithstanding the number of the grog
shops, but few confirmed drunkards; perhaps, in pro
portion to its inhabitants, there were less of these evils,
and more of the opposite virtues than in any other city
or village. Business Buildings. — On block one, besides the hotel,
there were five buildings of wood, each a story and a
half high ; these were occupied as stores, groceries, etc. ;
on block eight were two brick stores of two stories
each, a wagon shop, a paint shop, a dwelling house, an
office, and the first hotel, used as a livery stable. On
block nine there were nine stores of three stories each ;
Hall's block, three stories high, with three rooms on
the lower floor; two other stores of two stories each,
and one of a story and a half. Of block one, Trippe 's
Addition, was one dwelling of wood, one of brick, one
brick stove foundry, one plow factory and foundry,
two blacksmith shops, one wagon shop, and one grog-
gery. On block two, there was a brick porkhouse and
two warehouses. On block thirteen, was Bower's
block of brick two stories high, containing three lower
rooms, one saloon, three joiners' shops, a shoe shop and
a justice's office; there were also nine warehouses on
the railroad land.
There were then no sidewalks, except on block nine,
and a sort of platform which had been built before
some of the other stores and shops ; none of the streets
had been graded, the surface of all being nearly the
same as found by the first settlers.
Retrospective. — Such was Whitewater in '58 ; a plea
sant, unassuming, thriving country village, it stood
where nineteen years before nature in all her wildness
reigned supreme. If then, in its original state, the visit
or was pleased with the graceful undulations of its sur
face, with the calm beauty of the scene, it was now a
place admired by all, whether from country, village,

or city. With its streets corresponding with nature's
design, with fine blocks, its many beautiful residences,
its cosy, comfortable homes, it could not fail to charm
the beholder. Nature had not been wholly supplanted
by art, but the two were so blended as to mutually em
bellish and set off each other, without destroying the
peculiar beauty of either, leaving upon the mind the
impression of a pleasing and harmonious whole. The
few remaining settlers of '40, as they thought of the
changes made, looked on with amazement, those of '46
with satisfaction, those of '50 and '54 with wonder,
and all with pride.
The pioneer, as he looks in at Whitewater, Fort At
kinson, Milton, Janesville, Delavan, Elkhorn, Troy, Pal
myra, Waukesha and Milwaukee (all cities and villages
now) to seek his former friends and neighbors, finds
but few to extend to him the hand of welcome, and
meet him with that heartfelt greeting which only a
pioneer can give and feel. Many of those Avho were his
companions then have ceased their labors and gone to
occupy a mansion not made with hands. Many, who
then fought manfully with the world, are now in the
decline of life, and with heads "silvered o'er with
age," bend wearily upon their staff; but as you speak
to1 them of early days, the fires of youth seem for a
moment rekindled in their breasts.

PART II.

Historical Sketches of
Whitewater

From 1 858 to the Close of 1 867. Collated for
the Register by S. S. Steele*

Introductory: Pitt Cravath. — A little more than a
year ago, I partly promised to help Pitt Cravath write
up a continuation of his father's Historical Reminis-
censes of Whitewater, as published in the Register last
year, from the Register of 1858. At the time I made
the promise, I had but little intention of keeping it very
accurately, not thinking it would be necessary beyond
getting Pitt into the harness. I am certainly and deep
ly sorry that my friend — our Pitt — did not live to do
this work, most of it at any rate, as we planned and as
I surely intended should be the case. He had gone
through some of the Register files and made some type
written notes, beginning where his father left off at the
close of the year 1857. In the breaking up of his office,
these notes were in some way unaccountably mislaid.
This deprives us of more than the items noted ; we lose
the impulse of his personality. Pitt Cravath had a
large individuality and many qualities worthy of last
ing remembrance. Kind and genial in all his ways, he
filled a peculiar niche in the affections of all who knew
him. No one is more conscious than myself that this
Note : — Spencer S. Steele, the writer of these sketches, came from
New York state to Wisconsin, as a boy with his parents, in 1842,
settling on a farm in the town of Koshkonong a few miles west of
Whitewater. As a boy on the farm, a teacher in the rural schools
of the region, and a resident in later years he has been quite in
timately acquainted with almost the whole history of the town. In
these annals, however, he has not depended so closely upon personal
recollections as did Mr. Cravath in his ; but has relied largely upon
the printed record, a source which was not available for the history
of the earlier years. 113

should have been written by some one more fully iden
tified with the actualities of the time than I was, but as
that person did not come to the front, and the editors
of the Register insisted on my engagement — think of
calling that slender promise an engagement — I have
ventured to go a fishing among my old comrades, those
who were here, and some who were not, and have es
pecially and exhaustively- dragged the columns of the
Register, to which I am largely indebted ; and without
further prelude will go on to make some kind of a re
cord. Wild-cat Money. — The year 1858 opened with
money matters in a worse condition than any man born
since then can possibly conceive. There was a regular
financial blizzard everywhere, and especially in the
great, new. Northwestern Country. Wild-cat paper
money, so nicknamed I suppose because not a little of
it was issued from places where wild cats were the only
inhabitants, was about the only money in circulation. It
was said that one place of issue, not a hundred miles
from Whitewater, was the top of a maple stump not far
from the center of an unsold school section, the banker
remarking that as it was only a bank of issue that was
all the room he needed. None of the banks were any
too responsible. Some of them, perhaps many, strug
gled honestly, but it was against a tide that few could
withstand. There were some survivals, but many dis
appeared never to be heard of again in time, and pro
bably not in eternity. Thus paper money was worth
all the way from par down to zero, with the zero
weather uncomfortably prevalent. And then, too,
strange as it may seem, not a little of this wretched
stuff was counterfeit. It was fitly called a rag currency
and it was a wonder that men could do business with
such money at all, but they did. Everybody was good
natured, and I do not now recall a single instance of
any serious trouble over the "taking back" of bad
money. Geo. G. Williams was postmaster then and a
great deal of the stuff was brought back to him, till
one day, getting out of patience, he fairly balked. "See
here, mister." said he. "I've taken that bill back thir
teen times to-day already, and I tell you right now,
114

don't you bring it here again." That settled it, for
George was just a little emphatic whefl he was roiled.
It was said at one time, in some Milwaukee paper, that
bogus quarter eagles — $2.50 gold pieces — -were plenty in
circulation ; but the fellow lied about that, for no kind
of gold, bogus or genuine, was plenty enough to be
dangerous. One enterprising firm advertised "A hat
ful of groceries for a York shilling, ' ' which was then a
Spanish coin worth 12% cents — at least that is what it
passed for. According to my recollection, there were
not so many of these in circulation as there were of
six-pence (o^ cents) ; but the Spanish 25 cent piece
was the universal standard in making change. These
when worn very smooth, as many of them were, being
made of softer silver than our currency, were taken in
by some of Uncle Sam's agents and marked with a
deep cut full across the smooth side, apparently with
the paternal jack knife. They were then called crossed
quarters and passed for but twenty cents, but as only
one side was crossed they often got themselves passed
on the unwary at full twenty-five cent value. Old
Squire Wheeler remarked drily, that he always looked
at both sides of a question — and a quarter.
THE YEAR 1858.
Patrick McLaughlin, the first tailor to locate in
Whitewater and a thoroughly industrious and good
citizen, died Jan. 10. Robert McBeath, then a young
man, was in company with him in the tailoring and
clothing business and has carried it on continuously
ever since, over forty years. It is now* forty-nine years
since Robert cut his first cloth in Whitewater, and dur
ing that time he has made a great many awkward fel
lows look very decent. William Hamilton was killed at
a small charivari party by Richard N. Pierce Jan. 18.
This was one of the saddest happenings recorded in our
whole history. Pierce was easily convicted and sent to
the penitentiary, at best but poor compensation for a
mangnificent young life snuffed out at the very thres
hold of manhood.
*Now fifty-six years, and Mr. McBeath is still handling the shears.
115

Cushing, Sweetland & Stewart. — Early in the year,
S. C. Hall & Co., were succeeded by Cushing, Sweetland
& Stewart, all then young men trained in Mr. Hall's
employ, full of enthusiasm, and bound to succeed. The
same business, continuously, is now carried on by Mr.
Stewart. It is said that some of the loafers' chairs
turned over to the young firm are still in use and Mr.
Stewart considers them pretty good chairs yet. Later.
— Stewart says that's not so. The chairs he brags on
were some that were made at a very early day by Joe.
Powers in his factory at Hebron. At any rate, the chairs
are venerable, and in their day have been occupied by
some good men. Possibly they are related in some way
to the "One Hoss Shay."
The Village Incorporated. — The first efforts to secure
the location of the Normal school were made early in
February, but it was too soon to secure very energetic
attention, and the movement was quickly displaced by
a call for a public meeting to consider the desirability
of a village charter. This call was printed in the Re
gister of March 6th and was signed by forty-two leading
citizens. The meeting was reasonably unanimous in fa
vor of it, and appointed a committee to prepare a char
ter. A. H. Scoville, N. M. Littlejohn, J. S. Partridge,
Warren Cole, Edson Kellogg, R. O'Connor, and Wm.
DeWolf were the committee. The charter prepared by
this committee was passed by the Legislature then in
session, and the first election of village officers was held
on Tuesday, .May 27th. N. M. Littlejohn was chosen
president and the trustees were A. H. Scoville, George
Esterly, S. Field, and C. E. Curtice. Edward Barber
was treasurer, E. F. Tarr, marshal, and L. H. Rann,
clerk. And thus Whitewater began its corporate exist
ence. But very early in their career these new officials
learned that their official life was not to be altogether
a picnic. The Sidewalk Question. — The sidewalk question
came upon them at all manner of angles and elevations.
Nobody wanted to grade up or be graded down, but
they all thought they were level — headed. The coun
cil had a mind of its own and that mind found its ex
pression through Prosper Cravath 's and F. J. Starin 's

surveys. It took Prop, a good while to set a stake, but
when he did it was no light job to move it. Order, after
a time, came out of chaos, and our sidewalks are about
as unanimous in their general level as in any city in the
country. A few public-spirited citizens had already
laid very good board or plank walks and the matter
•soon became contagious.
Early this spring, when the mud was deeper than
usual, some spirited men gathered one morning, contra
ry to law, and laid the first cross-walk in front of the
public school building on Center street. This was a
startling and notable event. Teachers and students
marched out, down, and across the walk with pride —
and clean feet. There was jubilee and rejoicing, and it
is recorded that J. L. Pratt, Seth Billings, M. Congar
and others make patriotic speeches, and that everybody
was proud and happy. From that auspicious morning,
dates the sidewalk epidemic. It was never again unlaw
ful to lay a crosswalk in Whitewater.
The following local appeared in the Register of Aug.
21: "The thanks of the community are due Mr. Wm.
DeWolf for his steady and vigorous prosecution of the
matter of a sidewalk on the south side of Main street.
An ordinance was passed at the last meeting of our
trustees requiring the construction of a sidewalk from
Cottage street east to First street." How does that
sound in 1899?.
The Saloon Question. — This first village board also
found the saloon license a tough customer to wrestle
with. It was about as near dynamite as anything then
known, and when it was finally touched off the board
was blown to pieces. The majority, however, picked
themselves up and held on by the skin of their teeth,
and finally decided to compromise with the devil and
let the saloons run. And after forty years of debating,
experiment, and compromising, it is still an open ques
tion whether that course is wise — or otherwise. I have
great faith however, that those men did what they
thought for the best when they did it. Mr. Cravath said
in his last article, in 1857, that there were then two
saloons and eight or ten groggeries running in White
water and he did not seem to think it worth while to ex-
117

plain the difference — if there was any. It is very prob
able that we have about held our ground in this matter.
Butler G. Noble represented this district in the
State Legislature that year. He was in every respect a
first-class man, and was afterwards Lieut. Governor of
the state. Mr. Noble refused a re-election and in the
fall N. S. Murphey, then a young attorney of ability,
was chosen to succeed him. Mr. Murphey afterwards
removed to Milwaukee, where he has had a long and
successful career as a lawyer.
The Library Association. — The Library Association
developed its full strength as a literary society this
winter, giving public entertainments all winter, once
in two weeks, in the old Bower's Hall, that held the
right of way over all comers. Home talent was the
only thing ever thought of and the hall was always
packed to the door with eager and interested listeners.
Those old time boys and girls someway seemed to have
a knack of "getting there" themselves. Some of the
stars are still living, and, say, — Why isn 't it possible to
arrange one more meeting of those — now veterans — for
the benefit of our present library? During the spring
of 1858, these meetings were so popular that they were
held weekly up to May 22. Some great questions were
debated and many of them (probably) settled. At the
last meeting this year, the question debated was, "Is
the immortality of the soul proved by the light of na
ture ? " A reporter of the time ventured the opinion that
this question was not settled.
During this and several succeeding winters Prof. H.
K. Lyon conducted a dancing academy, whatever that
may have been, but the Professor and his academy were
not abiding institutions, though the dancing part still
goes on and probably always will.
Sometime this year, the Cemetery Association pur
chased the Hillside lot and began the improvements
which have made it the beautiful place it now is. R.
O'Connor was a leading spirit and was always tireless
in our cemetery work. To him, probably more than to
any other man, we owe the beauty of our cemeteries.
For some time, great expectations were founded up
on the Wisconsin Central Railroad, but they are still
118

expectations (?) after forty years. Rufus Cheney re
signed the presidency of the company this summer and
gave up the job as hopeless. The true inwardness of
this failure has probably never been written and, it is
likely, never will be.
Rev. Wm. A. Baldwin, a very popular pastor of the
Congregational church, resigned his charge and accept
ed a call to Fond du Lac. He was succeeded by Rev.
E. G. Miner.
The Fourth of July was celebrated this year in the
good old-fashioned way; reading of the declaration,
oration, toasts, and general jubilation. Dinner was
served on the old fair grounds and everybody was
patriotic and happy. Saturday, July 10, the first genu
ine Simon Pure Horse Show was held on the fair
grounds. Quite a large number of good horses, and a
large amount of pride among their owners, found a
chance to be seen. The show was creditable for a new
country. The first city lock-up was built under the super
vision of Marshal Tarr. The day it was completed and
he found he could lock it up securely, he went out and
arrested the first drunken man he could find and ran
him in. The poor fellow felt so bad about it — the lock
up, not the drunk — that he tried to hang himself. After
this, the marshal was a little more careful, even par
ticular, about whom he locked up.
The first city directory was compiled and issued by
Smith Du Moulin & Co., of Milwaukee. Who has a
copy of it now after forty years have buried it away —
away in the past ?
The Whitewater Light Infantry was organized (on
paper) and L. A. Winchester was chosen captain.
These were the first — heroes.
The main line of our railroad was completed to
Prairie du Chien and the south branch to Monroe, and
the same was duly celebrated.
Glancing through some of the advertisements of
1858 in the Register, Frank W. Tratt, our now worthy
mayor, advertises pure milk and fresh eggs, daily and
semi-daily, on reasonable terms. Which the same Frank
did deliver faithfully and with smiles which kept every-
119

thing sweet. After a time, he explained his reasonable
terms to mean cash or no milk. If he hadn't made that
explanation he would have been selling milk yet-
perhaps. Advertisements. — Wm. Birge says he will astound
and astonish his customers. He also says, very confi
dentially, that the frost has killed the sugar cane in
the South, and advises everybody to buy before he
raises the price. This was very fair, but then, William
was always very kind and liberal in his deal. Wahl-
stedt fairly makes the types yell — Fish ! Fish ! ! Cod
fish!!! and Brandy cheese for sale. He didn't explain
the connection, which was probably accidental, for
George W. Peck was at that time playing the devil in
the Register office. Bassett also offers to explain Spir
itualism to those who will buy his wonderful Buffalo
overshoes. It is a pity somebody didn't buy a pair of
those shoes and give the world the benefit of that ex
planation. Mr. Bassett was a man of his word, but it
is a little curious that his explanation never leaked out.
Congar & Day advertise a burning fluid for use in
lamps at 70 cents per gallon. To-day we are mightily
exercised (some of us) over the grinding monopoly of
the Standard Oil Company for selling us coal oil at
seven cents. Well, monopolies are fearsome creatures,
but all the same, coal oil at seven cents a gallon will do
very well till the electric light oppressors can do a still
better job of grinding the poor. W. W. Card published
the well-known lithographic map of Whitewater, the
first of its kind.
Union School Teachers. — Rev. A. D. Hendrickson
resigned as principal of the Union school after a very
successful term of service. He was afterwards Super
intendent of Schools for Waukesha county, and Super
intendent of the State Reform School. He was a strong
man and a good man. He was succeeded by H. L.
Sherman as principal of our Whitewater schools, with
Miss M. E. Billings assistant and Miss M. E. Roberts
and Mary Montague intermediate ; and Mary Hamilton
in the old brick school house on Main street.
120

S. Wintermute remodeled his hotel, nearly or quite
doubling its capacity, and making it about the best
hotel west of Milwaukee. He christened it the Montour
House and gave a grand opening party. Septer always
kept a good hotel, for which Mrs. W. deserved a large
share of credit. During this summer and fall, many
new buildings were erected and the following from the
Register of Oct. 23 about tells the story: "The num
ber of new buildings going up in this town at present
astonishes all who visit 'the place. Notwithstanding
the tight times and scarcity of money, people seem to
be building as much as ever, and our town is growing
as rapidly now as at any time since it was first settled.
Manufactures. — S. Smith & Co. sold their stock of
goods to L. A. Tanner in October. Wright & Cash be
gan the manufacture of what was for several years the
best one-horse cultivator used in the West. It was the
first of a long line of improvements in the cultivation
of corn, until, to-day, the farmer very nearly raises his
crop from his front porch without going to the field
more than once or twice a week to oil the machinery.
Winchester, DeWolf & Co. were making plows, scrap
ers, sorghum mills, castings of many kinds, and doing
general machine-shop work for whoever came. They
employed thirty to forty men and did a large amount
of work. Powers, Allen & Co. did a good business in
the manufacture of stoves of various kinds. Wm. Birge
was crowding the stone mill to its fullest capacity in
making flour. Geo. Esterly 's Reaper Works were
steadily on the gain, adding to their shop-room and the
number of men employed, improving their facilities for
work as well as improving their reaper and mower, and
though they sent out a largely increased number of
machines they were still unable to supply the demand.
They employed about one hundred men and as a conse
quence Reaperville needed a large number of new
houses, and many of these were built this fall.
The Farmers ' and Mechanics ' Club held a very suc
cessful fair in September and was supposed to be in
good condition to prosper for many years, but these
hopes were not realized. The Whitewater brass band,
led by T. W. Williams, was much more than a success

about this time. They not only gave us fine music, but
were tireless in their almost unrewarded efforts to give
every kind of public gatherings the benefit of the best
they could do to entertain the crowd. They ought to
have been better paid ; they were appreciated, but that
is rather too light a diet to live on year after year,
though some of the boys are alive yet. They were a
hardy lot.
The Severance & Williams ' quadrille band furnished
an immense amount of good music for dancing parties.
This was all paid for under the old, old rule, "Those
who dance must pay the fiddler." In this connection,
there should be mentioned the Glee Class, as it was
then generally known. It was trained and led by Jos
eph Hawes, and was always deserving of the hearty
applause accorded to its rendering of the popular songs
of that day. It was during this year tjiat Prosper
Cravath wrote his reminiscences of Whitewater bring
ing the history down to the close of 1857, and they were
first published in the Register. The year 1858, was in
nearly every respect a prosperous one for Whitewater.
A pioneer festival was held at the new Montour House
on Dec. 31st at which many of the original first settlers
of this place and vicinity were present to enjoy the
reunion. This was forty years ago and most of them
have gone over to that country from which no pioneers
return. Only a few of us who were rather kiddy then,
remain to tell their story. Well, they did a heroic job,
and may God preserve their memories long and well.
A few prices quoted Dec. 25 were as follows : Wheat
65 cents to $1.00, corn 60 cents to 70 cents ; rye 65 cents
to 70 cents, oats 32 cents to 35 cents, eggs 18 cents to
20 cents, sugar 10 cents to 14 cents, wood $2.50 to $3.00.
The village assessment for 1858 was: Real estate,
$513,555 ; personal, $226,251.
THE YEAR 1859.
The Library Association. — The Library Association
started out again this winter, holding the undivided
attention of the general public. The officers this year
were Daniel Graham, Edson Kellogg, Julius Birge, H.
O. Montague and Edward Barber, names that would
12?

easily carry honor in high places. These officers, with
scores of talented friends and neighbors — -for people
then were friends and neighbors — arranged for public
entertainments equal to any modern lecture course, at
least everybody thought so then. The Whitewater
Brass Band, and the Glee Class furnished more and bet
ter music than has ever disturbed the echoes of White
water since. They kept up with the procession in new
music and did not forget the Auld Lang Syne. The
following from the Register of that time sounds won
derfully modern. H. 0. Montague read a tractate on
the "General Policy of the United States Extending
Its Territory," to which we understood the writer to
be opposed — though he concluded by the recommenda
tion of the scheme advocated by Douglas, "To take
Cuba and negotiate with Spain afterwards." Thus we
see there is^iothing new under the sun, and, that Henry
was a prophet without (much) honor in his own coun
try aud generation.
The labor troubles are not all new, or peculiar to
the present time, for we find a call in the Register of
Jan. 22 for a meeting in the old brick school house on
Main street, of farmers and mechanics to consider ways
and means to dispense with the services of that large
class of middlemen who now live upon our earnings —
signed by J. M. Clark, H. J. Starin, Giles Kinney and
many others. An organization was effected, a consti
tution and by-laws adopted, officers duly elected: — and,
— and still the problem or, conundrum is, how shall
labor secure its just (desirable) share of the profits?
These were all good men but they died several genera
tions too soon to hear the answer.
S. C. Hall & Co. 's packing house was in full blast
packing pork and rendering lard. Hogs were then
butchered by the farmers at home and sold as dressed
pork. Mr. Robert Wilson opened a retail department
there which during the packing season afforded every
body a chance to get tenderloin, pig's feet, etc., at very
reasonable prices. The other markets at the time were
kept by S. Dobell, and Summers & Wilkins. Our re
spected forefathers were not in the habit of going
hungry, evidently. 133

Wintermute & Fuller opened a livery business in
connection with the Montour House, which we believe
has been in continuous existence through all the years
since and is now carried on by Chap. Leffingwell. The
other livery at that time was owned by Joel Clapp and
kept in the old barn on North First street.
A poem written by Robert Sheills, one of the Li
brary Association staff, for the occasion of a Burns'
festival in Milwaukee, was published in the Register of
Feb. 5. Re-reading this after forty years, it is almost
worthy of Burns himself. He was employed as a civil
engineer with the Grahams, married Alex. Graham's
sister, and is still living in Neenah, Wis., a prosperous
banker. J. L. Pratt and two sons, John and Joe, with Parker
Cole and A. Kinne, started with teams and camping
outfits for the. new land of gold — Pike's Peak. Others
talked of going, but there is no record that they went
that year. And we might as well record here as any
where that these all came back before the summer
ended, very rich — in experience.
The Cemetery Association held a sale of lots in the
new Hillside on the 7th of May, and advertised that
Frank Barnes would run a free boat across Cravath
lake for all who wished to attend. This was pretty
near the beginning of the Captain's excursion-boat
business. Business Activity. — S. C. Hall and R. Cheney tried
the experiment of shipping a cargo of black walnut
lumber via the lakes, Wetland canal and St. Lawrence
river to the markets of the Atlantic coast. It was re
ported a moderate success but not worth following
farther. From the Register of April 30th: "Our manufac
turing establishments were never more busy than at the
present time. Geo. Esterly is driving his reaper works
to their fullest capacity and will not be able to meet his
orders. Winchester, DeWolf & Co. are doing all they
possibly can at their plow factory. Cole & Hunter's
pottery is in full blast. The brick yards are doing a
large business. The sash and blind factory is more
than busy, crowded with work. Wm. Birge is run-

ning his mill to its utmost. Wright & Cash will he far
behind their orders, the best they can do, at building
cultivators. Geo. Dann is turning out a large amount
of cooper work. J. L. Pratt is making wagons and get
ting rich every few days, and the Register office, ditto,
except the shekels."
Winchester, DeWolf & Co. opened a large general
store under the generalship of that veteran, J. S. Par
tridge, and opened also a new departure in advertis
ing, actually using a whole column of display type.
City Government. — At the village election held May
3d, N. M. Littlejohn was re-elected president, with Geo.
G. Williams, P. H. Brady, D. C. Trippe, and D. S. Cook,
trustees; L. H. Rann, clerk; E. F. Tarr, marshal; Ed
ward Barber, treasurer. The following items are taken
from the treasurer 's first annual report :
Receipts.
Saloon licenses  $ 430.00
Sundry licenses  54.00
Village pound  13.00
Tax levy  300.00
Fines collected  171.97
Delinquent sidewalks  90.45
Total  $1,050.42
Disbursements.
Total  $ 970.31
Bal. in Treas  80.11
Not a very extravagant government.
The first Fire Wardens were appointed by the Coun
cil May 17, and were : O. Montague, E. W. Pratt, and
R. McBeath. All good men and true, but hardly as
active on foot as our fire laddies of '99.
Sorghum Mill. — Winchester, DeWolf & Co. gave an
exhibition of their new sorghum mill, grinding up hoop
poles — -borrowed, of course, from Geo. Dann — and the
tough hickory poles were ground up very successfully.
Quite a number of interested spectators signed a glow
ing recommendation of its merits, etc., etc. Among
them appears the name of the present writer. The
126

mill, however, was not much of a success as a siigar-
cane grinder, though it did grind Dann's hoop poles
beautifully. At the same time and place, one H. H.
Wilds, of Koshkonong, exhibited some sorghum su
gar^ ?) Great was sorghum in those days, but neither
Mr. Wilds or anyone else has ever found any sugar in
it since that day. The first two or three years, the
syrup was really fair to good, but it soon deteriorated
to — fair to bad, where it has since maintained a Tery
steady reputation. Some previous experiments had
been made by some of our pioneers to extract "sweet
ening" from watermelons, sweet corn, etc., none of
which were very cheerful — or profitable.
Mr. A. F. Knox, Leonard Smith, H. Hemenway, the
Clarks, and possibly some others about this time began
to import from Vermont some choice fine-wool Merino
sheep. Some of these blooded animals brought fabulous
prices and for several years commanded more attention
than any other stock. Whitewater became a center for
choice sheep and also a large wool market. May 21st
winter wheat sold for $1.35 to $1.50 and spring wheat
$1.10 to $1.25.
The last of May, a lot of "our boys" went over to
Lake Koshkonong with tents, boats, fishing tackle, pro
visions, etc. — the etc. was rather in excess, it was said
— to have a general good time, and without a doubt
they had it. Since then the annual outing of the Fun
Hunters has been a matter of course — with some etc.
mixed in.
The Register of May the 28th says: "Our village
now presents every indication of a rapid growth in the
future. We have reason to believe that the amount of
building to be done here this year will far exceed that
of any preceding one. Already many new brick and
wooden buildings are nearing completion, and the busi
ness has but just commenced. The carpenters and ma
sons are all busy at good prices, and the lumber dealers
are having a heavy trade. These are all evidences of
prosperity and we are glad to chronicle a return of
good times." Another item, same date, "One firm sold
over $500 worth of goods at retail last Saturday. Who
says advertising don't pay?" 126

Crombie, Francis & Co. dissolved and were succeed
ed by H. L. & G. G. Francis at the old stand. The old
mill-dam crossing was reconstructed, rebuilt and re
placed by and into a permanent bridge crossing with
railed sidewalk, much as it is at the present day. It
was a much-needed improvement. The old, covered
railroad bridge was also built this year. Beemer's news
stand in the postoffice became one of the institutions of
the young city.
Trippe & Crombie built the paper mill this year, on
the site of the old Trippe saw mill. This was a valua
ble improvement and added another source of revenue
and strength to the community.
Gallt & Cole succeed W. W. Cole & Co., and proceed
at once to do a large and prosperous business. An
item in the Register of Oct. 8th warns the public of a
dangerous place at the corner of First and Main Streets,
and says that several people have lost a good deal of
money there lately — and further, that one John M.
Crombie was more than suspected of having got it in
exchange for his new and cheap goods.
The annual conference of the Methodist Church was
held here this year, Bishop Ames presiding, and of
course a large number of Methodist preachers ate their
annual chicken pie in Whitewater. This was a some
what notable event in church matters. Bishop Ames
was a born leader of men, and battled in the front rank
of the Old Guard, who really believed that all men
would be free.
J. Haubert opened his harness, trunk, and upholster
ing shop on Main Street. This shop came to White
water to stay. Mr. Haubert was an industrious, capable
man and a thoroughly good workman. Mr. D. White
head still has one of Haubert 's first double harnesses,
and David says it is a good harness yet, after forty
years ' of hard service. H. R. Charles is the direct suc
cessor of Mr. Haubert and still makes good harnesses,
and all the rest.
About this time, an effort was made to lay a side
walk from the postoffice to the depot, and several men
were found who did not think it necessary. It wouldn't
do to be too extravagant. One mossback growled that
127

that if that Bill DeWolf could have his way he would
make people build walks all over the city. The expense
would have to be stopped somewhere !
The Wheat Growers Bank was set in operation over
Crombie 's store, corner of Main and First Streets.
Samuel McCord was president and H. F. Wetherby
cashier. The Bank of Whitewater became a bank of
issue and the new bills were soon in circulation. They
bore the names of A. E. Ray, president, and T. Hempel,
cashier. Powers, Allen & Co. became P. H. Brady & Co., and
continued the same business in the same place. First
class stoves of all kinds.
The Library Association opened another season the
1st of November, as popular as ever. The program of
each succeeding meeting seeming to be just a little
better than any preceding one. The music is popular
and the audiences would be larger if the hall was larger
and the indefatigable Joe Bowers responded at once,
' ' It shall be, gentlemen. ' ' And it was in due time.
Cold Summer. — The year 1859 was peculiar in many
respects, but on the whole was a fairly prosperous one
for Whitewater. Nearly all our business men came
through the financial troubles in good shape; all our
factories were doing their utmost to fill orders; our
mechanics were all busy and well paid, and everybody
was hopeful and about as happy as people generally
are. The summer had been the coldest on record. Frost
was seen every month of the season and a good many
gardens and some crops were very near a failure.
There was very little sound corn gathered that year.
The latter part of the season was also very dry and
winter set in with a general scarcity of water. I have
no recollection that there was any real suffering on
these accounts, but there was a deal of talk about bran
bread and prairie hay as a last resort.
Political Portents. — There was beginning to be man
ifest a tremendous feeling of anxiety and foreboding
as to the future of national politics. Very few, even
of life-long Democrats, were hardy enough to appprove
all of President Buchanan's administration. The Reg
ister in an editorial of that time said: "The time has
128

come when the great contest that is to decide whether
this nation and this government are to be devoted to
the interests of freedom or slavery, must be settled — at
the ballot box if possible, but it must be settled. We
believe the great heart of our people pulses for freedom,
and that the election of 1860 will prove it." This
voiced the almost unanimous sentiment of the people
of Whitewater. John Brown was executed on Dec. 2d
by the very unwise governor of old Virginia, and while
his poor body died on that rude gallows, perhaps just
ly, and was sent to a dishonorable grave, his great
white soul was sent marching into immortality. His
raid was clearly unlawful and unjustifiable, but his
death sent a thrill through the hearts of all liberty-
loving people that will never cease to vibrate. "His
soul goes marching on. ' ' The more thoughtful men of
the time dreaded the future, yet braced themselves for
.the evidently coming contest. And so closed 1859.
THE YEAR I860.
This year opened with many peculiar conditions, but
few of which were very noteworthy of themselves, and
yet together they influenced everybody in a greater or
less degree. There was considerable local speculation —
not at all a modern boom — -but an evident willingness
to believe in the future of Whitewater. Property
changed h^nds pretty freely. One cause of this was
the quality of the money; nobody wanted to keep
money that might be worthless to-morrow, and as prices
were fair to good, nearly everybody had some money
that he was willing to let the other fellow have — on fa
vorable terms — to himself of course — about 12 per cent.
On the whole it might fairly be said that so far as our
local interests are concerned we were — prosperous.
Gallt & Cole advertise the new coal oil, kerosene
then, at $1.25 per gallon. This was the first coal oil
sold here and it was rather steep in price.
T. D. Weeks, then a young man, came to Whitewater
to practice law, and from that day to this has not
changed his mind or his vocation. He has put in the
better part of a life time in steady, honorable, success
ful work. He has filled places of trust and honor in a
129

creditable manner and ought to be made governor be
fore he is too old — far ctranger things have happened.
The Library Association continued popular and the
dear public continued to fill the hall. Jan. 21st, the
question for debate was, "Resolved, That the signs of
the time indicate a dissolution of the union." Affirma
tive, R. Cheney, Edson Kellogg ; negative, P. Cravath,
N. M. Littlejohn. There were giants in those days.
And the union was not dissolved that night.
The Wisconsin Fruit Growers' Association held a
session here Jan. 22d and 23d, and seemed both hope
ful of and determined to make Wisconsin a fruit-grow
ing state. It has been found out, however, that associ
ations are not as successful in raising fruit as they are
in raising expectations. This applies to some other
things as well as fruit raising.
A Republican Club was organized, taking for its
motto Webster's memorable words, "The union now
and forever, one and inseparable," but fully de
termined to secure the election of a Republican presi
dent in place of James Buchanan. It was a local ex
pression of the sentiment that was surely erystalizing
throughout the great, free north-land.
The Wide-Awakes. — The Lincoln Wide-Awake Bri
gade was organized with enthusiasm. Uniforms and
lamps were procured and nightly drills in various tac
tical movements were the order. The officers were,
president, J. S. Partridge; vice-presidents, E. L. Cas
well, J. M. Judd ; secretary, J. H. Pratt ; treasurer, Robt.
McBeath; commander, J. L. Pratt; captains, C. E. Cur
tice, J. B. Schrom, S. T. Jefford, Michael Fitz. Well, it
was a jolly, enthusiastic outfit, and we drilled and
burned our fingers trimming smoky lamps — and — were
happy. Later in the season, we all went to Madison,
over one hundred strong, in freight cars, to hear Wm.
H. Seward on the Irrepressible Conflict. There were
probably seven or eight thousand Wide-Awakes in the
state park around the capitol building to hear the great
statesman. Some heard him and many could not, but
when Whitewater's singer, Joseph Hawes, sang his
original campaign song with its expressive Ri-too-ri-al-
loo chorus, there were none who couldn't hear and
130

none who didn't shout. There was enthusiasm, yes,
and there was more. It was all premonitory of the more
terrible ranks of war that were to be so grandly forth
coming before another year should pass. Capt. C. E.
Curtice of the Wide-Awakes went out as the first army
captain from Whitewater, and many of the members
went with him.
Alex.Graham secured a contract to build a new rail
road in the Island of Cuba and went out there this fall,
taking men and some outfit with him.
Joe Bower proceeded to enlarge the hall as he
promised last year, and as soon as it was done the peo
ple filled it as promptly as aforetime when it Was small
er. Among other valuable improvements, were J. J.
Starin 's brick residence on Main Street and G. H. Fos
ter's on Center Street. Thos. Webb erected the block
on the corner of Center and Second Streets. The Meth
odists built on quite a large section on the rear of their
church, giving them more room, which was much need
ed. The enlarged and renovated church reopened on
¦ Thursday, Dec. 27th, afternoon and evening, with ap
propriate and interesting ceremonies.
Shinplaster Currency. — The silver change in current
use in some mysterious way suddenly disappeared. No
body seemed to understand why, or what had become
of it. Everybody denied having any, but it was gener
ally believed that most of them — prevaricated about it.
One thing was certain, it was gone ; and there was no
alternative but to do the best we could without it.
It was very inconvenient and often awkward. Various
devices were tried, and the one generally adopted was
to issue a kind of due ticket "good for five cents," "ten
cents," "twenty-five cents," etc. These were pretty
generally interchangeable among home dealers and
were just lots better than no change at all. The year
1860 closed with a good record for Whitewater, being,
all things considered, the most generally and liberally
prosperous of any in its history.
THE YEAR 1861.
Secession Impending. — The year 1861 opened with
many forebodings as to the national future. South
131

Carolina had seceded — or said she had — and her citi
zens had actually made war on the nation by seizing
everything belonging to the government outside of
Fort Sumter. Nearly everybody hereabouts manifested
a sort of grim determination to wait as patiently as
possible for the 4th of March, when by the grace of God
and the grit of Abraham Lincoln there ¦vvould be a dif
ferent order of affairs — and it came none too soon. Lo
cally, matters were prosperous and generally very hope
ful. The good crops of 1860 and the prevailing good
prices were almost unprecedented. Seeihingly, a good
Providence had prepared us for the stress and strain of
war times in a signal manner. So far as Whitewater
was concerned no better time could haVe been chosen
to withstand the calamity of war. There was often
heard a common expression of a common sentiment,
"It might as well come now as ever." This was not
specially patriotism, it was a prevailing conviction in
view of all the facts.
Quite a general interest was awakened in some plans
to establish a school of high grade. This was to be
christened "The Home Collegiate Institute." A very
elaborate plan of organization was adopted and every
thing was done that could be thought of — except to do
it. It was very satisfactorily shown, proved on paper,
that it ought to be done, but there was a fatal hesitancy
about determining that it should be done. However, it
was all good preparatory work toward securing a State
Normal School when the proper time should come.
The Kokomo Bank. — Some spurious notes of the Ko
komo Bank of Whitewater were sent here for redemp
tion about this time. As near as this writer can learn,
Daniel Graham was president and J. M. Archbald
cashier, and their office was over the old red brick
where the First National now stands. Kokomo was in
Indiana, and Aug. Scoville had been in some way in
terested in a bank there, the plate of whose bills he
had preserved, and it was too costly to be entirely
useless, so it was altered from Indiana to Whitewater,
Wis. The concern was not very popular or profitable
and was soon wound up, honorably so far as now
known. Mr. W. L. R. Stewart has a well preserved
132

daguerreotype of the cashier, J. M. Archbald. The bills
of this and other banks at this time were secured by
the integrity of the men who owned the bank stock
and, odd as it may seem now, the security was gener
ally good. Financial disaster overtook some of them
as it did other men, but very few of them were dis
honest. Spiritualism struck some parts of the community
about this time with considerable force. The Fay Broth
ers giving some interesting and mysterious perform
ances, some parties believed them to be genuine spirit
revelations while others quite as emphatically believed
them to be a silly humbug. It is very unfortunate that
we have no court competent to settle such differences
— and so they will most likely be passed on to the next
generation — unsettled.
H. A. Conger 's nursery had grown by this time to be
no small factor in the business of Whitewater. It was
located on the block southwest of the Normal School,
between Main and Highland and Whiton and Prince
streets, with some other outlying plats. He issued a
very fair catalogue this year, listing nearly all the de
sirable kinds of fruit trees, shrubs, etc.
R. S. Ensign opened a new general store on the
north side of Main Street, and L. A. Tanner & Co. dis
solved, Mr. Coggswell retiring and Mr. Tanner contin
uing the business at the old stand. At the paper mill
the firm became Crombie & Gantley, and they turned
out large quantities of book and news paper. Gallt &
Cole became Gallt & Caine, and the new firm, like the
old one, went on doing a large and profitable business.
S. D. Wright's marble works were very much enlarged
and found customers all over the southern part of the
state and even reached some trade in Iowa.
F. B. Brewer, for some thirty years now Dr. Brewer,
became principal of the village schools, and instituted
a more systematic plan of conducting and grading
them. Under his administration, they attained a degree
of success quite beyond that of previous years.
Deacon Wm. Potts, a leading and most respected
member of the Baptist Church, and equally so of the
community, died suddenly in his carriage on the way
from Elkhorn, April the 4th.

Bad Money Growing Worse. — Paper money became
more than troublesome, it was dangerous. In May the
Chicago banks threw out a large majority of Wiscon
sin money, and Milwaukee discounted over twenty in
terior banks 25 per cent. Nobody knew whether the
stuff he had in his pockets was money or gun wadding
till he tried to pass it. If it was money it would pass —
maybe! if it was gun wadding it would not "go off"
at all. Whoever got hold of any hard money instantly
salted it down, as the saying then was, against what
ever might happen. And the State Legislature passed
an act suspending specie payment, which was theoret
ically all right, whatever Uncle Sam might think about
it, but practically didn't amount to a hill of beans, for
those few who had any — salted down — wouldn't let it
go, and those who had none couldn't get it.
First War Meeting. — April 18th, the war had actual
ly begun; the rebels had fired on Fort Sumter, and a
large and enthusiastic union meeting was held in the
Metropolitan Hall. Patriotic speeches were made by
P. Cravath, R. Cheney, N. S. Murphy, and others.
Whitewater was sound and loyal to the very core. Par
ty was practically forgotten and all classes united in
expressions of loyalty and patriotism. During the week
following, war was the only thing Whitewater had to
eat, drink, or wear, and a full company of the best men
we had were enrolled and the officers chosen. Capt. C.
W. Steele had preserved the original enlistment paper '
as signed by them all at that time, till, a few years ago,
it mysteriously disappeared from a private drawer in
his residence together with some other war papers. The
following is the original roster:
First Company of Volunteers. — Captain, C. E. Cur
tice ; lieutenants, first, L. L. Kiser, second, L. H. Rann ;
sergeants, first, A. E. Chaffee, second, J. C. Birge, third,
W. Harrington, fourth, H. M. Buckley ; corporals, first,
•W. R. Farnsworth, second, James Mead, third, Henry
Hicks, fourth, E. J. Pratt ; drummer, Jacob Haller ; pri
vates, M. O. Sentenn, G. H. Beckwith, J. F. Brown,
William Ludeman, Thomas Gill, E. C. McLaughlin,
Charles Hewitt, Isaac Miller, Charles W. Steele, J. M.
Hallowes, J, J. Criger, E. D. Converse, Stephen Prady,
• 134,

G. P. Criger, J. C. McManus, H. S. Nyce, H. M. Dake,
W. G. Barber, Henry Freyer, B. M. Ensign, Ben Sen
tenn, C. S. Lovejoy, L. W. Sentenn, C. S. Branch, N. C.
Francisco, Clinton Child, N. A. Kinney, W. H. Brewer,
J. H. Buck, D. E. Simmons, Charles Green, Charles Vo-
drie, Ole B. Oleson, Nelson Johnson, J. S| Gibbs, Frank
Kief, J. G. Rowe, Franklin Robinson, W. M. King,
Charles Kuhn, J. R. Hackett, F. B. Hamilton, 0. 0. Al
len, George Williams, Alonzo Meracle, M. E. Boswell,
J. G. Conklin, John Boltz, Philander Allen, F. L. Smith,
S. Duffy, William Dake, Gulliver Oleson, M. P. Webb,
Wm. Groshoney, James Ennis, Geo. Holden, Silas C.
Phelps, George McVeigh, A. W. Atwood, W. G. Esterly,
Samuel Bidwell, Mike McManus, P. A. Castle, Lucius
Palmer, Nelson Nielson, Frank Faust, J. A. Chamber-
lin, F. McGuire, James Scott, Oscar Dunbar, Alexander
Craig, H. West, Hiram King, Jr., James Adams, James
Kidd, Henry C. Powers, 0. K. Eaton, Anson Willis, B.
A. Callahan, Peter Hunter, M. Duncomb, Jacob Phil
lips, J. G. Castle, Austin Kettleson, Sam. Stillman, Jno.
Tessien, S. C. Smith, Jas. Scott, Ashbell Patterson,
Moses Ranney. One hundred and three officers and
men. Some of these were rejected oh final examination
and did not go out with the company, others being en
listed in their places.
A large subscription fund was raised to give aid to
the soldiers' families if it should be needed, and the
town voted to raise $1,000 by tax for the same purpose.
There was no end of enthusiasm, indeed there was little
else just then worthy of historical notice.
The spring was cold and backward and crops as well
as gardens looked sickly and doubtful the 1st of June,
but later they came on all right and a full average crop
was harvested.
Thurlow W. Brown, the editor of the Wisconsin
Chief and great apostle of temperance, gave a lecture
in Metropolitan Hall under the auspices of the Sons of
Temperance. Mr. Brown was a popular lecturer and
was in deadly earnest as a temperance lecturer.
Dr. Hoadley, who had pulled teeth here for several
years, took H. H. Greenman as a partner, and for sev
eral years they tinkered the teeth of the community.
They were both good dentists for their time, but people
135

did not buy as many store teeth then as they do now.
E. Roethe also took a partner in the furniture business
and the firm was Streng & Roethe.
The First Boys go to the War. — June 15th, Company
A, Fourth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers, Capt. C. E.
Curtice, was ordered into camp at Racine. On Friday
night, a public meeting was held in the hall to give the
boys a good send-off. Capt. Curtice was presented with
a fine officer's sword and sash, and Mrs. Geo. Esterly
gave the company a fine silk flag. This flag is still in
the possession of Capt. C. W. Steele, it having been with
the company in all their campaigns for over four years.
The departure, Saturday morning, was an event never
to be forgotten by the thousands of young and old who
fairly crowded the streets to see the boys "go to the
war." It was a sad and yet it was a unanimously pa
triotic crowd. Many of the brave fellows never came
back, but a few are still living with us.
The Whitewater Lyceum (late Library Association)
secured the beginning of a public library. R. McBeath
was chosen librarian, and it was opened for drawing
and exchanging books on Friday evenings.
New sidewalks were built on the south side of Cen
ter Street from Church Street each and from Main
Street to the Hillside Cemetery on the East Side. This
was considered liberal.
In August, the Register office was moved to the third
story in Hall's block, entrance on First Street. This
was one of the ways the Register got up in the world.
George W. Peck and Harvey Houghton pulled the lever
of the old Washington press, and George Beckwith car
ried water up the two flight of stairs to wash the forms
and keep things clean. Beemer moved his news stand
from the postoffice room to his new room in Metropoli
tan Block and greatly enlarged his stock of notions,
while a young man by the name of E. H. Norton opened
a new stock at the old stand. The postoffice stand was
quite a convenience to some and a general nuisance to
others. One Wm. Ladd opened a barber shop next door
west of the Exchange Hotel, and the local editor re
marked dryly that perhaps by close shaving the Ladd
might succeed.

CAPT. J. L. PRATT

Rufus Cheney was appointed a paymaster in the
volunteer army with the rank of major, and this is how
he became Major Cheney; but he always was the best
Sunday school superintendent Whitewater ever had.
Pitt Cravath, George Marsh, James Birge, E. M. Con
ger and G. W. Esterly were the Whitewater boys in at
tendance at the State University.
A Second Military Company. — Early in September,
J. L. Pratt was commissioned to raise another company
of volunteers from Whitewater, which he proceeded at
once to do, enlisting for three years or during the war.
Capt. Pratt's company, afterwards Co. H, Thir
teenth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers, was ordered
into camp at Janesville on Oct. 30. The officers were:
Captain, J. L. Pratt; lieutenants, first, Chas. S. Noyes,
second, Robert Glover; sergeants, first, C. C. Graham;
second, Geo. H. Beckwith, third, Wm. Marskie, fourth,
Josiah Pattison ; fifth, Nat. Weed, Jr. ; corporals, first,
G. N. Manning, second, Simon Henry, third, Hiram
Boyington, fourth, Ed. J. Pratt, fifth, A. J. Smith ; musi
cians, Ozias Elliott, Melvin Webb, Andrew Larson, Chas.
Ellis, James Slocum, Joel Pratt ; privates, A. L. Castle,
Harvey Gunderson, Fred Herzog, Wm. Milne, M. L.
McCarthy, Simon Nelson, Martin Oleson, D. E. Perkins,
Paul Ramberg, J. C. Salverson, Dan. Yeomans, 0. A.
Cheney, David Collins, Frank Anderson, J. W. Gilson,
Wm. H. Hall, S. 0. Larkin, John McGee, Oliver Nelson,
Ole Oleson, Wm. Roloff, Wm. Parsons, Robt. Smith,
L. H. Rann, W. H. Andrews, W. J. Cook, John Collins,
C. L. Clark, Peter Elphick, A. Marskie, J. E. Coaklev,
Ira Webb, J. M. Burnham, G. S. Case, J. S. Herson,
S. H. Trade, J. P. Barney, J. M. Babcock, Henry Mc-
Gowan, A. P. Boyington, Robt. Bridge, John Hannah,
Marius Fuller, Frank Hudson, David Seeley, M. W.
Weed, N. Weicher, John F. Moore, A. Stillman, Edward
Shield, Louis Shield, John Barber,. Wm. Foote, C. H.
Klitzkie, Jed. Carnes, D. Binkert, John Jennings, Wm.
Williams, Henry Smith, Richard Dwight, Adam Mc
Donald, Myron Hollis, S. T. Sherman, H. H. Porter, L.
C. Welton, E. H. Smith— 85 officers and men.
Business Houses. — The business of the town at the
close of this year was represented by the following
138

firms: General stores, Cook & Shedd, A. Wahlstedt,
Cushing, Sweetland & Stewart, Rice & Peck, B. A. Jen
kins, Gallt & Caine, L. A. Tanner, T. A. Stevens, II. L.
Francis ; groceries, Thomas Bassett,. F. B. Hall, J. A.
Ferrall, J. S. Lathrop, T. A. Stevens, R. S. Ensign; jew
elers, John T. Smith, Victor Egloff; clothing and mer
chant tailors,R. McBeath, M. Herbst, J. Stalker, C. Gun-
derson & Co., A. Sentenn & Storms, C. E. Robbins;
boots ( shoes, and shoemakers, G. & P. Trautmann, D.
Frost, Niels Nelson, A. F. Knight; furniture, coffins,
etc., H. F. Thiele, Henry Dierfeld, Streng & Roethe, J.
P. Cutler ; banks, Merchants ' Exchange Bank of White
water; millinery, Mary McBeath, Mrs. S. A. Ferris,
Mrs. J. F. Coss, Mrs. E. Cummings; hardware, S.
Clark, Cushing, Sweetland & Stewart; drugs, Con
ger & Day, Dr. J. Deichman; dentists, Hoadley
& Greenman, H. S. Klein; bakery and restaurant,
Towsley Brothers; meat markets, Dobell & Lawrence,
E. C. Hall; manufacturers, Geo. Esterly, Winchester,
DeWolf & Co., Whitewater Mill, Planing Mill, Chaffee
Bros., P. H. Brady & Co., Whitewater Paper Mill, John
SchoU's cooper shop, Geo. Dann's cooper shop, Cole &
Hunter, pottery ; physicians, Drs. J. A. Clarke, Willard
Rice, E. G. Horton, D. D. Belknap. Exit 1861 with
thirteen saloons in full blast.
Soldiers' Aid Societies were organized here and in
adjoining towns, tributary to the National Ladies' Aid,
and patriotism was not confined to the male persuasion
then more than now.
The year 1861 drew to a close with a e;reat deal of
uncertainty in almost everything. He was either a
brave man, a fool, or a prophet who would venture to
predict any solution of the terrible war situation of the
financial troubles of the country. The only thing in
sight was to hold on by grim faith in God and Abraham
Lincoln and wait for time and Providence to clear away
the clouds. So far as purely local business was con
cerned, this year had been on the whole fairly prosper
ous, yet there were fears and doubts about the future
that made everyone cautious.

THE YEAR 1862.
With the new year, came news of the death of the
first soldier, George Chalfant, hospital steward of the
Fourth Regiment, at Baltimore, Md., of cholera morbus.
Gen. Tom Thumb and wife, the noted dwarfs, made
world-famous by the great showman, P. T. Barnum,
visited Whitewater and gave an entertainment in Met
ropolitan Hall. It was not a very great occasion, but
perhaps worthy of mention. The Lyceum — Library
Association — still held the right-of-way, giving popular
programs to full houses.
The Thirteenth Regiment at Janesville. — The Thir
teenth Regiment was still in camp at Janesville, and
like more modern soldier boys getting very impatient
to be sent to the front. They left Janesville Jan. 18,
for Leavenworth, Kan. That Janesville camp was a
useless outrage that seems utterly incredible in the light
of after-experience. To take a regiment of men from
comfortable homes within easy reach and put them into
cloth tents on an open, bleak prairie and hold them there
for three months in the dead of a Wisconsin winter
should have subjected some one to penalties worse than
being criticised. And yet at the time there was little
or no disposition to do even that.
There was a heavy fall of snow early in this year,
in many places too deep for comfortable use. There
was good sleighing most of the winter and it was used
to good purpose.
Company A., Fourth Regiment, Capt. Curtice, was
reported in good health and spirits at Baltimore, Md.,
and Company H. of the Thirteenth Regiment, Capt.
Pratt, at Fort Scott, Kan., with many sick and in the
hospital. These reports came home in February.
Notwithstanding the topsy-turvy condition of poli
tics, finance, and the absence of so many in the army,
our home factories, and indeed most of our local busi
ness interests began the year fairly hopeful. There was
a general disposition to be neighborly, accommodating,
and helpful among all classes, which went very far to
wards tiding over what otherwise might have been ugly
times. 140

A. F. Knox and L. C. Smith sold some blooded mer
ino ewes for $30 per head, while good native cows could
be bought at $15 to $25. Fine-wooled sheep held a
strong lead over the dairy business at that time.
Dr. E. G. Horton went out as a surgeon with the
Thirteenth Regiment, an item that might have been
recorded sooner, as he went when the regiment did.
After serving five years, he came home utterly broken
in health, never to know another well day. He is still
living, having given thirty-five years more of ship
wrecked life to his country. Early in March, came news
of the second death among our boys in the army, that
of Adam McDonald, of Capt. Pratt's company. And
after these two there came a long, long list of as good
boys as ever wore the blue.
A. J. Cheney the First County Superintendent. — The
county superintendency of the public schools was in
augurated with A. J. Cheney, of Delavan, as superin
tendent. The first examination of teachers in White
water was held April 21. It was quite different from
the old township examination. Three years before this,
a certain pedagogue went to one of these township su
perintendents for a certificate to teach in his town. He
was a farmer and was found digging potatoes in the
old-fashioned way, with a hand hoe, and proposed that
the teacher should join him and dig potatoes while the
examination went on. This was agreed to and the ex
amination and digging went on together. Both were
satisfactory and the teacher got his certificate. This is
history, for the writer was there.
The spring season was late, cold, and too wet to
permit early work on farm or in gardens, and the first
of May found but little done at out-door work.
Gen. Grant began to be heard from in the dispatches
from the army. Letters from our hoys in the Fourth
and Thirteenth Regiments were cheerful and hopeful,
though there was a good deal of sickness. The Fourth
was at Ship Island in the Gulf of Mexico, and the Thir
teenth was still in Kansas — what of them were not in
the hospitals.
As the spring advanced and the weather came into
line with the season, everything became more hopeful.

There was a good deal of new building, and many real
improvements were undertaken. Gardens came for
ward in promising shape, and the many shade trees
that had been set during the spring nearly all grew
finely. It was about this time that people generally
acquired the habit of setting the trees that have made
the streets of Whitewater so pleasant.
Capt. J. L. Pratt of Co. H, Thirteenth Regiment,
finding the life of a soldier too hard for a man of his
age, resigned his commission and returned to civil life.
His son, Joe Pratt, being under military age, was dis
charged and also returned home.
Hoop skirts — ladies' hoop skirts — this season
reached the climax of their expansion, and ridiculous
as they were in their fullness, the ladies of Whitewater
all wore them to the utmost.
Prof. F. B. Brewer, principal of the city schools,
was stricken with some kind of palsy June 20, and his
work was carried to the end of the year by Capt. E. B.
Gray. Julius C. Birge ran the flouring mill this year
himself and proved his right to success in life — busi
ness life — which none of his neighors had ever doubted,
and which right he still maintains, though he has been
wrong in living away from Whitewater all these years.
It was said of George Dann at this time that he was
(w)hooping up a staving business at his cooper shops,
and was probably heading in barrels of money. He
employed a large force of men.
Thos. Bassett, N. S. Murphey, and L. H. Rann en
tered into some kind of a secret conspiracy about this
time and suddenly disappeared — left for parts un
known, leaving the boys to run their respective business
operations. For some time, it was a mystery what had
become of them. They returned, however, just in time
to save their property and reputations, explaining,
rather lamely, that they had only taken a vacation. This
was not satisfactory, but it was all the world ever knew
about the mystery.
Some Free Thinkers — so they called themselves —
held a grove meeting at the old fair grounds, Aug. 2d.
It was not a great success, and about the only thing
they made plain was that they were free to think as
142

they pleased, while other people were not, unless they
agreed with them. Nothing very new about that — or
free either.
A Third Company Enlisted. — The Register of Aug.
1 says: "Things are bad enough in the way of news
from the army. There is nothing to encourage lovers
of the union cause. Let us, however, continue to hope,
fear God, and enlist as fast as we can." The great call
of President Lincoln for 600,000 more men startled
everybody. A great meeting was held in Metropolitan
Hall and large subscriptions to a bounty fund were
started and everybody was tested to the last ounce.
Only a few were found wanting. E. S. Redington was
commissioned and began recruiting Whitewater's third
company. The various bounties offered for volunteers
amounted to $150. Mary V. Hall offered to take the
place of any clerk who would go, she to receive out of
his wages only enough to pay her board. Her example
was quickly followed by Myra L. Dann, Mary Esterly,
Mary Ellis, Kate B. Jessup, Louise J. Starin, Jennie L.
Cole, Clara Kellogg, Mary Montague, Augusta Griffin,
Lilla O'Connor, Mary A. Clark, Fannie L. Dann, Julia
A. Harris, Sarah Mulks, and Maggie Starin. These girls
meant business and it made some of the clerks — sick.
It is needless to say that Capt. Redington 's company
was quickly filled up. The Register office up to this
time had sent nine of the best boys who ever stood at
a case into the ranks of the volunteer army.
The Mechanics' Club having at that time thirty
members sent thirteen of them into the service. Among
them were Oscar Smith, John Grant and C. W. Rock
well, who are still on duty in Whitewater's veteran
corps. It is utterly impossible to put on paper any
adequate idea of how deeply our community was
stirred by the experiences of those war times. Capt.
E. B. Gray was commissioned major of the Twenty-
eighth Regiment and put Capt Redington 's and Capt.
Kenyon's companies — the latter of La Grange — into
regular daily battalion drill preparatory to going into
active service. 143

Roster of Capt. Redington 's Company. — The follow
ing is the company roster as it then stood of Capt. Red
ington 's company:
Officers of company — captain, E. S. Redington; lieu
tenants, first, H. N. Hayes, second, James M. Mead;
sergeants, first, Henry H. Watts, second, Jas. H. Hodge,
Jr., third, Frank C. Myer, fourth, Jerome Magill, fifth,
Wm. G. Palmer; corporals, first, C. W. Rockwell, sec
ond, Henry Busch, third, Aaron Mountford, fourth, G.
E. Nickerson, fifth, Oscar Smith, sixth, Gilbert Oleson,
seventh, A. W. Hayes, eighth, T. J. Dancy ; privates, G.
L. Lawrence, Chas. W. Schroble, James B. Schrom, Pat
rick Keenan, Edward Troy, Jas. J. Caward, Isaac Nel
son, J. H. Myers, Donald Henderson, Wm. J. Dawley,
Peter J. Nelson, W. D. Dowling, W. S. Branch, John
Taylor, C. A. Hendrickson, John McCready, E. Carver,
John Grant, Chas. Kuhn, Thomas Ducey, Hiram Ed
wards, Thomas Wray, J. W. Harrison, J. H. Lasher,
Patrick Timlin, Geo. Trautmann, Henry Lingemann,
George Corkett, Joseph Weiss, D. M. Goodrich, John
Schultz, Thos. Conry, Andrew Selight, Chas. A.
Homes, Chas. Ware, N. Wheelock, Cyrus Yeomans, Robt.
Frith, Francis Kinney, J. H. Torrey, Fred Hoage, Jacob
Thomas, M. Ostermar, Chas. Bennett, Frank Faust,
Chris. Scholl, Isaac Miller, Jas. Quirk, A. L. Strong,
Chas. Z. Price, S. A. Baldwin, Edward Dann, Jacob
Hiller, Benjamin Fisk, Geo. M. Winslow, Lewis Carpen
ter, John Fero, H. N. Wilkinson, James Taylor, Geo. F.
Tucker, J. Kynaston, Samuel Clement, J. F. Brown,
John Early, Johnson Curtis, S. H. Clark, J. W. Rogers,
H. W. Pester, J. R. Bowen, Henry Hicks, Michael Lar
kin, Chas. Hodson, Silas Connell, Peter Dulman, Jacob
Walker, Mathias Smith, Silas Fero, Geo. De Groat,Thos.
Stinson, Henry A. Cox, Chas. Scholl, Henry Gunn, Geo.
Hills, George Criger, C. H. Simpson, H. Trowbridge,
H. F. Smith, E. S. Calkins, J. A. Nelson, G. W. Eaton,
DeWitt Palmer, Geo. E. Dye, Jesse Hare.
Capt. C. E. Curtice, Major Cheney, and Surgeon
Horton were home on sick leave. Dr. L. K. Hawes was
appointed surgeon in the Twenty-fourth Regiment, and
Dr. J. P. Wheeler assistant surgeon for the Twenty-
eighth Regiment. The Twenty-eighth went into camp
144

at Milwaukee Sept. 15. Ira C. Day was appointed U. S.
assessor for the district, and Milton Rowley received
the appointment of collector of internal revenue and
income taxes.
On Tuesday, Oct. 7, at a special town meeting it was
voted to levy a tax of $6,000 for the support of the fami
lies sending volunteers upon whom they were dependent
into the army. This was administered by the town su
pervisors, and was in addition to large liberality al
ready raised by subscription. Late in September, came
the great proclamation by the great Lincoln. This was
recognized by every loyal heart as the beginning of the
end. Indeed it seemed to put heart into the commonest
events of life and to give assurance to our future — pub
lic and private. The sin of the people was taken away
and a great thanksgiving went up from every loyal
heart. The Continentals, a quartette of trained and excel
lent singers, contributed not a little to the interest of
patriotic meetings this fall by their campaign songs.
T. M. Watson was basso and T. Martin Towne the tenor.
Julius C. Birge was chosen president of the Lyceum
and E. D. Converse secretary, but the overwhelming
war excitement cast all lighter entertainment into the
background — there were some good programs given but
they failed to attract very much attention. A rousing
teachers' meeting was held in connection with the fail
examination of teachers. A. J. Cheney, the county su
perintendent, was the leading spirit, aided by the state
superintendent, J. L. Pickard, and others.
Musical. — H. R. Palmer conducted a musical con
vention in the Baptist Church, closing with a concert
in the hall. In after years, Mr. Palmer became noted as
a leader and composer.
A new Glee Club made its first formal bow before
the Lyceum this fall. It was composed of H. H. Green-
man, Mrs. Greenman, Mrs. F. B. Brewer, and Raymond
Shepard, a combination of voice and talent hard to
equal in those days. John Vincent came into posses
sion of the postoffice news stand, in a small way. This
was one week, the next week Geo. W. Peck, late bad
145

boy, later governor of Wisconsin, etc., bought the con
cern and intended to there lay the foundations of a
great fortune. His intentions were good enough, but
unfortunately like many other good intentions, were
never realized, and but for his failure he might never
have been governor. The bad boy part he was always
sure of without much doubt.
S. M. Billings was elected sheriff of Walworth coun
ty. He had been a terror to evil-doers as constable,
deputy sheriff, etc., for several years previous.
The Gloom of War Time. — This year came to a close
with nothing special to record beyond the general an
xiety concerning our boys in the army. Almost every
family was represented in the ranks by one or more of
its members or near relatives. Not a few already
mourned the loss of those who would never come home
again, and all were anxious yet fearful to hear the next
news that might come. It was not pleasant. Local
business was fair, wages good, help scarce, and money
rather uncertain, but good for 12 per cent, when any
borrowing was indulged in. Considerable building had
been done during the summer and some sidewalks had
been laid. The schools were in excellent condition un
der Prof. F. B. Brewer as principal.
THE YEAR 1863.
The first of the year 1863 brought the news that
President Lincoln had made his final proclamation, end
ing slavery forever in the nation. And the great free
heart of the north country, in unison with the poor
freed bodies of the south land, said, "Thank God — at
last." Giles Kinney traded for the Badger State Hotel on
Whitewater Street, and as Giles had brought with him
from York State an inherited bent to fix things up, he
proceeded to rebuild and refit the whole concern from
cellar to garret. He christened it the Cortland House,
and, with Mrs. Kinney to manage the interior depart
ment, made it a reasonable success.
Milton Rowley, U. S. tax collector for this district,
reported the amount of special war taxes collected in
Whitewater for that year to be very nearly $4,000. This

was our first experience in paying a direct national tax.
The market prices of farm products steadily advanced
in price, as in fact did almpst everything else. Wheat
was quoted at $1.00 to $1.20, and other things about in
proportion. " The U.S. postal currency came into circulation early
this year. At first it was hailed with delight, and really
was a very great convenience in making change, but it
soon came to be almost a universal nuisance. It was a
rag baby at best, it took a pocket full to do any good
with, it got dirty awful quick, and it reverted to its
original raghood in a short time. There was, however,
always its one redeeming quality, it would go as long
as it held together.
Treasury notes — greenbacks — began to circulate as
lawful currency, a vast improvement over the miserable
wild-cat uncertainties of the past. A man could sleep
comfortably with a few of these in his pocket and wake
up with assurance that they would "pass" at par.
Julius Birge overhauled and improved the machin
ery of the flouring mill and kept his optput of flour ful
ly up to the times both in quality and quantity. Wood
sold for $3.00 per cord, which was then considered a
high price. There was general inquiry for houses to
rent and there were not found enough to supply the de
mand. This was remedied in a good many cases by
doubling up, two or more peaceable families finding
shelter under the same roof.
A Soldiers' Aid Festival was held in the hall, March
14, which netted $329. The ladies of that time knew
how to get the shekels sure.
The Fourth Regiment was reported at New Orleans,
the Thirteenth in Tennessee, and the Twenty-eighth at
Helena, Ark. The death of Lieut. J. M. Mead brought
the exigencies of war to the hearts of all who had boys
in the army. He was greatly respected by all who knew
him for his many excellent qualities of mind and heart.
His whole young life, at home, in school, and in public
gave promise of rare manhood. Probably no richer life
was sacrificed during the war.
The Register of March 29, in closing its sixth year,
said : ' ' These have been years of extraordinary finan-
147

cial troubles of every conceivable kind, all branches of
business have suffered from interruption of trade, from
uncertain prices, from depreciation of public stocks, and
above all, from the shinplaster substitutes for money.
We may now begin to look forward hopefully to better
times. Our government money will surely displace the
wretched stuff we have suffered from so long and make
a vast improvement. ' '
John Bridge took the news stand in the postoffice
away from George Peck ; just how is not recorded, but
John was honest and George was — well, abundantly
capable of taking care of himself — so it is presumable
it was a fair deal. At any rate, George went back to his
' ' case ' ' and saved his reputation. Miss Augusta Baker
and Miss Theodora Hare each tried a term of select
school. While they were both excellent teachers yet
there was no chance of their founding a young ladies'
seminary in Whitewater at that time.
Cook & Shedd dissolved and D. S. Cook continued
the business in the same place.
During the spring of this year there was an unusual
amount of sickness in the community, mostly a low
form of fever. Dr. Clarke said the only thing he knew
about it was that it was a great deal more prevalent
than manageable. It, however, was not fatal in very
many cases.
S. Barns and C. M. Sikes tried the "ready-made-
coffin" business in connection with their carpenter
shop. There were not enough burials in Whitewater
at that time to warrant this venture, and so the car
penter end of the shop absorbed most of their time and
attention, and, besides this, Fred Thiele could suit folks
enough better to get most of the trade.
During the spring of this year, one of the notable
events was a sugar party given by the principal of the
High School, Prof. Brewer, to his students and a few
friends. At his invitation, they all "took to the bush"
over near Hebron via numerous wagon loads and carry
alls — pellmell. Whether the professor owned the sugar
bush or only rented it for the occasion is immaterial,
he ran it that day at a lively gait. There was gather
ing sap and boiling in big kettles, and sugaring off,
148

and candy pulling galore. The jolly crowd had a gen
eral good old time, one long to be remembered by the
happy boys and girls who put it through. How many
of that company are living in Whitewater to-day?
The noted Parson Brownlow, of Tennessee, gave one
of his original and stirring patriotic lectures in Metro
politan Hall. He fairly captured the hearts of all who
really believed in God and an undivided country.
At the corporation election, May 4, Wm. DeWolf
was elected president, H. L. Rann, F. L. Kiser, Edson
Kellogg and C. C. Danforth, trustees ; T. Hempel, treas
urer; I. U. Wheeler, Jr., clerk, and C. G. Fay, marshal.
T. Hempel resigned as cashier of the Bank of White
water and was succeeded by Nelson Salisbury. S. C.
Hall was president. Capt. Barnes returned from a win
ter in Cuba, where he with others had been with Alex.
Graham. This was all the boys — Fun Hunters — were
waiting for, and all hands started at once for Lake
Koshkonong to have -a general good time, tell stories,
catch fish, and — drink spring water. Pitt Cravath was
among the graduates at the State University this year,
ranking well up to the top of the list. The assessor,
R. O'Connor, reported that he couldn't find a single
dog-owner in Whitewater. The dogs were all orphans
on account of a special tax.
Prof. Brewer resigned as principal of the High
School, and Prof. J. A. Badger was employed as his
successor. Enrollment for the Draft. — In July, the enrollment
of all citizens subject to military duty was completed,
preparatory to a draft if it should become necessary,
They were divided into two classes. The first class in
cluded all males between the ages of 18 and 35 and all
unmarried men below 45. The second class included
all other persons subject to military duty; this class
were practically exempt, as they were not to be called
on till the first class was exhausted. Strange as it may
seem, a good many were rather over-anxious to be rated
as second-class men. The whole number found in the
village subject to enrollment was 634. First class, 412.
Second class, 241. A few corrections were made, but
the figures are nearly correct. Whitewater had sent

out something over 200 men already, or about one-third
of her really able-bodied men. It is not easy to realize
how much this means to a small community, or indeed
to any community.
Aug. 29 and 30, there was a heavy frost throughout
the northwest. Whitewater escaped with less damage
than some places farther south, but most of the garden
truck and a large part of the corn crop were nearly
ruined. There was very little sound corn marketed
that year.
The Register of Oct. 9 says : ' ' There are now in this
place, a town of 3,000 inhabitants, twenty saloons, or
places where liquor is sold, which is one licensed dram
shop for 150 people, or one for every twenty-one voters.
Now taking out one-half of these as men who never
drink at all, we have a saloon supported each by about
ten men. Stop and think of this." And they are still
thinking of it — perhaps.
It began to be noticed about this time that the pen
nies, the old-fashioned big copper ones, began to be
scarce, and then practically disappeared as mysterious
ly as the silver change had done something over a year
before. Brass advertising tokens of various kinds were
devised and soon passed current in making small
change. They made no pretense to being money, but
passed about as the Cannibal Island sea shells are said
to, because there was nothing else.
The Draft. — The long-dreaded draft at length struck
hard. Of the whole number enrolled in the township,
412 men, 113 drew prizes. These all had then the
choice of entering the army ranks, or sending a substi
tute, or paying $300 for exemption, this being the sum
supposed to be enough to induce some other man to go.
Most of them paid up promptly, a few secured substi
tutes in one way and another, a smaller number still
went into the service as drafted men. One or two were
sharp enough to have enlisted a day or two before the
draft occurred, but forgot to tell about it till after the
list was published. These saved their $300 and got about
that much bounty, making the deal worth $600. With
the large bounties paid, men were found in some way
to fill the quotas, but it was not pleasant. Several of
150

the boys from the Fourth and Thirteenth regiments,
having re-enlisted, visited home on veteran furlough.
These received about $400 bounty. Altogether it was
a time that tried men to the very core, and a few were
found to be somewhat unsound.
Heavy snow fell early in December and travel was
pretty well blockaded for some time. In places, the
drifts were about even with the fences.
During the last week of this year, a meeting of all
interested was called to try once more to see what
could be done to secure the building of the Central Rail
road. The meeting was large enough and anxious
enough but resulted in nothing more than deferred
hope. Business Conditions. — The year had been a trying
one in many respects. Everybody felt the strain of
continued war excitement in more ways than can be
told thirty-five years afterwards. Locally, there was a
fairly prosperous condition. Prices were good, crops
of all kinds a fair average, manufactures in good de
mand, trade was hopeful, and wages high. Money was
plentiful enough but there was not yet in circulation
enough of greenbacks to displace the wildcats. There
was a reasonable increase of prosperity and accumula
tion of personal property. Several good business
blocks or stores had been completed and improvements
made in every part of the town. North Prairie Street
was greatly improved by grading, shade trees, and new
residences of a good class. Reaperville had also done
a good deal of improvement and many new homes had
sprung up as if by magic. Some of the men who worked
in the reaper factory all day worked part of the night
on their own houses, and in this way not a few modest
homes were secured. There was also considerable build
ing of moderate-priced homes in the west and south
parts of the village. On the whole, it was not a bad
year for the material prosperity of Whitewater. There
was undoubtedly a moderate gain. The war cloud and
its train of inevitable consequences were the only draw
backs. The year closed as most other years have, at mid
night of Dec. 31, but with the mercury away down
151

among the 20 's below zero, and the wind a moderate
gale from the northwest. THE YEAR 1864.
This year opened where '63 left off, with the mer
cury lost somewhere away below zero. It was said
that Jan. 1st was the coldest day ever known by the
muskrats of this vicinity — 28 degrees below zero. The
mail was delayed four days from Chicago. The only
news from the army was that they were mostly in win
ter quarters — which was considered sensible. A town
meeting was held Jan. 13 and a town tax of $8,000 was
voted to pay bounties that would secure volunteers
enough to fill out our quota and prevent a further draft.
A Local Freedman's Aid Society was organized to
secure clothing and general relief for the "contra
bands" who were drifting north in destitute circum
stances. Internal revenue stamps made their appearance
about this time, and then, as now, 1899, were a general.
nuisance, or annoyance.
Most of the Thirteenth Regiment re-enlisted and
came home on a short furlough. Some, however, pre
ferred not to stay on to the end.
Geo. Esterly bought the E. Wakeley place at the head
of Center street. This was then, as it has ever been, the
finest location in the city in many respects. Mr. Esterly
made his home here till he died, shortly after which it
became public school property.
The boys who enlisted in the Milwaukee Battery last
fall report their battery, the 13th, at Baton Rouge La.
The writer has no record of any names. Sergt. Geo. H.
Beckwith of the 13th regiment, home on furlough, be
gan a new company by marrying Miss Rosalia A. Stowe.
George served his time faithfully as a good soldier, and
came home to die of disease contracted in the army.
L. H. Rann was commissioned to enlist men for the
37th Regiment,Wisconsin Volunteers, under the last call
for 20,000 more men. Whitewater's quota was about
30 men. This was about the middle of March and the
next draft was set for April 15.
152

The First National Bank of Whitewater was put in
operation this spring, Sanger Marsh, President, C. M.
Blaekman, Cashier.
D. S. Cook advertised to exchange all or any part of
his goods for Whitewater Volunteer Fund Scrip. This
indicates several things that those interested may guess
out to suit themselves. Mr. Cook certainly had faith in
Whitewater. The merchants all went to New York in those times
to purchase annual or semi-annual stocks of goods.
Each trip was a somewhat notable event in the com
munity and to the individual who made it. It was not
far from this time, however, that some of them, though
they started for New York, stopped in Chicago; but
they didn't tell of that for some years.
About the middle of April, the 4th Regiment, having
most of them re-enlisted for the war, came home on
thirty days' furlough, the 13th Regiment having just
returned to duty at and near Nashville, Tenn.
About the last of April, there was quite an exodus
for the new mines of Idaho. 0. H. Conger and Albert
Sweetland were the first to start. J. L. Pratt and two
sons, H. Dann, Hill Whitmore, Nelson Fryer, Lewellyn
Clapp, Dan. Mulks, A. S. Kinne, R. W. Knox, Dr. G. S.
Hoadley, and some others started out with various out
fits of mules, oxen, or horses, all determined to get gold,
or experience. It is hardly to be presumed that Idaho
was any poorer for their labors there, and if Wisconsin
was much richer for what they brought back certainly
few of us ever knew it.
The Governor of Wisconsin, with those of several
other Western states, offered to raise several regiments
of three-months men for garrison and guard duty. This
offer was accepted by Pres. Lincoln and 100,000 such
men called for. Wisconsin's quota was 5000, and White
water furnished about 30.
N. S. Murphey was commissioned to raise a com
pany of 100-day men.
On the 16th of May, Capt. Asad Williams and John
M. Clark, two of our oldest settlers, died at their homes
just west of town, both of them worthy and notable
men. 153

Capt. Frank Barnes opened a ship yard and built
the first of those popular cruisers for the lake excursion
trade. The captain carried all who came his way, giv
ing them their full money's worth of both boating and
fun, transferring his flag proudly from boat to boat and
from lake to lake, until he was admiral of the four lakes
around Wisconsin's capital.
A sheep-shearing festival was held at L. Vincent's
about the middle of May, at which a large number of
full-blooded Spanish merino sheep parted with their
fleeces in pretty sharp competition, the highest weight
of single fleece being 21% lbs. from a two-year-old
buck owned by H. Williams. Others were heavy but not
quite up to this. In connection with this, fine wool was
quoted as high as 80 cts. per pound, though this was
above the ruling price ; $17.40 was a pretty good figure
for one sheep's wool.
The week of June 6 to 11 was devoted to the "Lake
Koshkonong Piscatorial Association," or in other
words a general outing by the boys and all their
friends. And it wasn 't all outing, — but Frank Barnes
was there with his new steamer, proudly named the
Scutanawbequon. It was said that "fun" was the only
prevailing disease and that was contagious. The White
water Brass Band was there, and there "was music in
the air" — there is no use talking; some of those old
outings were immensely genuine.
A letter from one of our boys in the army of the
Potomac says, "We have marched, and fought, and
slept on the ground, for thirty days ant thirty nights
without changing a rag of clothing, through dust and
heat and rain ; and this is the line we are to fight it out
oh, so says the General. ' '
Chas. W. Steele received his commission as Captain
of Co. A., 4th Regiment. He left here three years be
fore, a private with Capt. Curtice's original company.
Gold was quoted as high as 2.30, 2.50, etc., but as
Whitewater had no gold to sell and didn't want to buy
any, it affected us but very little.
S. C. Hall & Co. shipped one consignment of wool
that brought back twenty-five thousand dollars — the
price per pound not given, but James Holden, of Heart
154

Prairie, reported that forty-four fleeces brought him
$291, almost $7.00 per head.
Julius Birge was accused of raising the price of flour
by the barrel one dollar a day for several weeks — rais
ing the tariff, as he said, to save himself from the rapa
cious farmers who sold wheat at fabulous prices.
Geo. Esterly 's improved machines for this year were
in greater demand than he could supply. The shops
were driven to their utmost capacity, employing a larg
er force of men and having better facilities than ever
before. Winchester, DeWolf & Co., fearing to be over
stocked, shut down for a time in mid-summer.
Nearly two months of solid drouth about used up
the gardens and ruined the majority of farm crops. Late
rains helped out in some things, but at the best there
was a short crop.
Day of Fasting and Prayer. — A proclamation from
President Lincoln appointed the 4th day of August as
a day of fasting and prayer, and another one called
for 500,000 more men, which if not forthcoming were to
be drafted on the fifth day of September.
The day of fasting and prayer was observed by many
and the others kept still. The call for 500,000 more
men was also observed by all — who were subject to
draft. A large and anxious public meeting was held
and steps were taken to raise Whitewater's quota. It
was estimated that $14,000 would pay the bounties
necessary to secure the men. The enrollment showed
481 men subject to draft and the committee found that
$14,000 would not be enough money into some three or
four thousand dollars. However hard it seemed at the
time, and it was hard, the money was raised and our
quota of 66 men was filled without another draft. Sev
eral good mechanics went into the service of the gov
ernment in the quartermaster's department, among
them the writer of these sketches.
About the middle of September, some of the leading
citizens made a raid on the postoffice and in spite (?)
of all the postmaster, H. L. Rann, could do, or say, they
took possession and cleared everything out in short
order. They carried it all over to the office of the old
Exchange Hotel and set it up there rather loosely. John
155

P. Cutler and a few other mechanics went to work in
the vacated room and set up Whitewater's first set of
"boughten" furniture, boxes, etc., and after it was
completed they gave Postmaster Rann permission to
move back, S. C. Hall paying for the improvements.
There weren't any Yale outfits in those days and we
didn't need any, our home mechanics could do work
equal to any in the land. We were all proud of the out
fit and there was quite a rush for choice of boxes. N.
D. Williams, 0. T. Hamilton, and doubtless others, se
cured their old numbers, and have kept them through
all the changes from the beginning.
The first registry law came in force this year, re
quiring all voters to register. A Lincoln Club was or
ganized with J. S. Partridge, president and T. D.
Weeks, secretary, and a vigorous campaign was inaug
urated — not only inaugurated, but pushed through with
unabated vigor till the votes were all counted.
The Ladies ' Benevolent Society gave a festival
which netted $200 for the benefit -of the poor. Our fore-
mothers could move things when they wanted to.
Whitewater went still more determinedly Union at
the November election, giving Col. Halbert E. Paine
337 majority for Congress. Milwaukee again outvoted
us, but the vote of our boys in the army set this right
and the gallant Paine was elected to Congress.
During this year, the Register printed some very in
teresting army correspondence from Geo. W. Steele,
Albert Salisbury, and some others. These two made
some pretty sharp guesses as to the general situation,
which have since crystalized into fairly good prophecy.
Lieut. H. 0. Montague, of the 1st Wisconsin, having
served his three years, came home to stay. He bought
the Baldwin place for a home, and was appointed In
ternal Revenue Assessor vice I. C. Day, resigned on ac
count of ill health. Mr. Day died very shortly after re
signing. He was a good citizen and a man of generous
heart, respected by all. Dr. E. G. Horton also returned
to resume his practice, having served faithfully as sur
geon with the 13th Regiment his full three years. His
health is far from good.

Wood sold during the early winter from $5.00 to
$6.50 per cord and many hundred cords found their way
to the railroad, which then burned wood altogether in
stead of coal.
Geo. Esterly put in a saw mill at the reaper works
to cut a good deal of his own lumber, and some for
customers. He also started quite an extensive furniture
factory. Altogether, his works were, a busy place where
more than one hundred men found profitable employ
ment. The other factories, though all doing something,
could not find it profitable to run at their fullest capa
city, owing to the high prices of material and the uncer
tainties of collections. Still all things were hopeful
and nobody failed.
Gold was going up, that is, it was so reported, —
little enough went up in Whitewater, but our paper
money went down, or the things that it would buy went
up. At any rate, business was generally not a little
dizzy and uncertain.
And here comes a call for 300,000 more men and
everybody began to figure again on the number re
quired to fill our quota and how to get them.
There was also another spasm of academy building
in the air and this time there was an actual proposition
to locate it where the Normal was afterward built. All
preparation for the coming state institution.
THE YEAR 1865.
Winchester, DeWolf & Co. bought L. A. Tanner's
stock of hardware and Wm. DeWolf put himself behind
the counter to push the business. The plow factory
went on as though nothing had happened.
Little was done — but talk — to fill the last call for
men, up to the first of February, when the township
was notified to furnish twenty-seven men immediately.
Then all who were subject to draft wished they had
done something besides talk. A vigorous effort was at
once made by subscription and by town tax, and the ne
cessary money was raised ; $3,070 were subscribed and
$4,8000 levied as a tax, for which bonds were sold. It
was a close call, but the draft was avoided. The boun
ties paid were about $300 per man.
157

Mrs. Miriam Cravath, the aged mother of Prosper
Cravath, died early this year, aged 87 years. She came
here with her family from Cortland, N. Y., in 1840.
Gov. Lewis appointed Judge S. A. White one of the
State Normal School Regents. That was the beginning
— the rest came in due time.
There was considerable local excitement this spring
about finds, and possible finds, of coal oil. A few specu
lators anxious to forestall fortune 's smiles secured num
erous conditional leases of land in several suspicious
localities. Palmyra folks thought they had it sure at
one time, but none of them "struck ile. "
The news from Grant and Sherman and the army
generally was cheering and everyone felt encouraged
to believe that the end of the war was not far away.
And in consequence business of all kinds was more
hopeful. The postal currency by this time had developed all
its capacity for general want of ability. It was a nuis
ance of the first grade but there was nothing to take
its place except more of the same kind, and a portion of
that was now found to be counterfeit. In addition to
this, our State Bank bills were a little shaky, and some
of them were spurious. Would the money trouble
never end 1 Yes, in time.
E. J. Pratt, Geo. W. Steele, Geo. Beckwith and A. J.
Smith, of the 13th Regiment, all received commissions
by promotion.The National Income Tax Assessor found seventy-
six men in the township whose income was over $1000
and who paid taxes on the excess. They didn't like it
worth a cent.
Lee's Surrender. — Spring really came about the first
of April and with it the glorious news of Lee's surren
der and practically the end of the war. The long strain
was at last over and all could now devote them
selves to the new spring's life, to the regeneration of
the forces that had been scattered and demoralized by
four long years of war — terrible war. Places were va
cant that would never be filled, but those who remained
took up anew the activities of life with very much the
same irrepressible energy manifested by the springtime

of all nature around them. ' ' Let the dead past bury its
dead" seems to be an immutable law. Bonfires illumin
ated the streets, processions were formed and marched
to martial music, with general rejoicing. Speeches were
forced by the laughing crowd from all who could speak
and many who could not. Songs were sung by men who
never tried to sing before and never dared to again.
Gov. Lewis proclaimed a day of thanksgiving for vic
tory gained and peace at last. And every heart was
ready for the great commander's "Let us have peace."
Death of Lincoln. — And almost in the midst of this
general rejoicing there came upon us the awful report
of the assassination of Lincoln. This was our last and
most terrible sensation. The 19th day of April was set
apart for funeral services throughout the country.. All
business was suspended and services were held in the
churches and evidences of mourning were seen every
where the eye turned. It was a rainy day here and no
procession was formed as had been proposed.
The academy enterprise was still alive in the talk of
a respectable number of good men, and the petroleum
speculators organized an association of rather indefinite
dimensions on paper.
Prosper Cravath undertook to discover and develop
a mine of iron ore somewhere east of town. The petrole
um men said it was all in envy of their prospects.
Dr. Fish was succeeded in his homeopathic practice
by Dr. A. G. Leland, and Dr. Leland has continued it
with his never-tiring energy, patience and skill up to
this time, thirty-four years.
The annual meeting of the Wisconsin Wool-Grow
ers' Association was held here the 9th of May and was
largely attended by men from different sections of the
state. There was a sheep-shearing contest at which O.
A. Cravath 's buck sheared 18 lbs. 7 oz. of wool. C. Al
drich and C. M. Clark were close seconds. There was
much interest manifested and some information gained.
Early this year, Mr. S. C. Hall, and with him the
Bank of Whitewater, suspended. This was a serious
matter and involved a great deal of loss. Mr. Hall had
been one of the most energetic and successful business

men Whitewater ever had. His failure was more than
a loss, it was a calamity.
The street sprinkler started out for the first time
this year.
The state census, taken by W:' H. Lull, showed 2958
inhabitants in the village ; in the township 4006. This
was a fair gain for five war years.
R. Cheney had the old nursery, planted some years
before by Dwight Bassett — and which had been neglect
ed till it was a nuisance, — cleared off and planted to
corn, redeemed and civilized once more. It was the
twenty acres west and northwest of the Normal on the
Cold Spring road. There was some tall corn there.
The State Teachers' Convention was held here this
year, Aug. 1 to 4. Prof. W. C. Whitford, of Milton was
president and J. K. Purdy, of Ft. Atkinson, secretary.
There was a large attendance and such enthusiasm as
only those old-timers knew how to shake loose was
manifested throughout the four days' session. J. A.
Badger, C. H. Allen, A. J. Craig, 0. F. Bright, J. G.
McMynn, E. B. Gray, A. J. Cheney, and others of the
old guard who knew how "to teach school and board
around," were mixed up in it.
Bonus Voted For a Normal School. — Aug. 30th, a
special election was held and the sum of $20,000 voted
to secure the location of a State Normal School. It was
also arranged to offer the site, to be paid for by sub
scription. To make a long story short, this was the be
ginning of success and the Normal — our Whitewater
Normal school, was located in Whitewater on Normal
Hill. Edson Kellogg, while hunting on Blackhawk Island,
was mortally wounded by the accidental discharge of
his own gun and died at the residence of Halsey Beem-
er a few days later, on the 20th of October. Mr. Kellogg
was a first-class lawyer, a genial and public-spirited citi
zen. He had lived in Whitewater eight years and was
a thorough worker in all that could possibly advance
the good of our community. He was buried by the
Masonic fraternity.
The Catholics began the erection of their new church
late this fall and a move was made by the Evangelical

Germans to build on Janesville street, both of which
were successful in due time.
This year, 1865, closed with a good deal of uncer
tainty, yet everybody had something to say, and nearly
all were hopeful of better times coming soon. There was
no stagnation here, but on the contrary a general will
ingness to expand in almost any direction. Money was
not scarce but the quality was not yet entirely settled,
for the State Banks were in process of liquidating. Rates
were high and money-lenders were having a good time
generally at about 12 per cent.
Prices quoted were : flour, $7.50 to $8.50 ; wheat, $1.20
$1.30; corn, 30c, 35 cents; clover seed, $5.50, $6.00; but
ter, 20 cents, 22 cents; beef, live, $3.50, $4.00; pork,
$7.00, $9.00, dressed. THE YEAR 1866.
Capt. E. S. Redington, having got home from the war
safely, immediately made war on the cord wood market
and coolly asked for 1000 cords. Later on, Railroad
street looked as if he got even more than he called for.
Cap. was always a hustler.
Jan. 23d, Mr. Levi Kinney, one of our pioneers, died
of cancer. He was a good man and universally re
spected. At last, the State Board of Normal School Regents
located a Normal school in Whitewater, provided White
water furnish a suitable site : nd $25,000 cash bonus.
The tax was voted, the site was secured by subscrip
tion, and the building of the school assured early in
March of this year. A very desirable culmination of a
long-continued effort to secure some kind of a high
school. Capt. Barnes having sold his excursion boat, the
Scutanawbequon, again opened his navy yard on the
margin of Cravath lake for the construction of a new
and larger boat for his Madison Steam Passenger
Packet Line, and he built it.
John Wilson, S. C. Birge, Hill Whitmore, Ben Frees
and some others again fitted out for the gold regions of
the Rocky Mountain country.

When that little party got ready to start for Mon
tana, lo and behold, there was a train of some thirty
wagons and about half of a regular military company
recruited from among our best citizens to leave us in
search of gold instead of glory. Well, everybody wished
them success, though a little doubtful about their realiz
ing it in that way.
Prop. Cravath got his dander up and went down to
the Red River country to investigate the condition and
temper of things there.
A Young Men's Christian Association was organized
April 23d with Dr. A. G. Leland president, W. S.
Branch, secretary and Geo. Marsh, treasurer. And so
began the work of the Y. M. C. A. in Whitewater.
Major Chas. E. Curtice died June 4th of disease
contracted in the service. He left here in 1861 as captain
of Co. A., 4th Regiment, and served faithfully all
through the war. During the last year, he was a pay
master and, as he was already a desirable, genial, and
popular comrade, our Grand Army Post was named in
his memory.
There was a large amount of building done this year.
Every mechanic was busy and at good wages.
The modern game of baseball "as she is now play
ed," struck the town for the first time, and was exceed
ingly contagious. Mannering DeWolf was captain and
all the boys enlisted. No bounties.
The veritable Colorado potato bug made its appear
ance this year and immediately proceeded to business.
He came to stay.
Capt. J. L. Pratt sold his wagon shop with tools and
all his interest therein to E. O. Converse, who contin
ued the business.
A Bad Fire. — Aug. 10th, Chaffee 's planing mill and
sash and door factory burned with all its contents. The
fire soon spread across the street to Thiele's furniture
store, which went up in flames with all its contents, in
cluding household goods, clothing, and pretty much
everything he and his family had in the world. J.
Koelzer 's meat market shared the same fate. Henry
Lingemann 's blacksmith shop was torn down to prevent
the spread of the fire, which was finally got under con-

trol barely in time and manner to escape a general con
flagration. It looked for a time as though the whole
town would share the fate of the planing mill. Thiele
had some insurance, the balance was a total loss. We
didn't have our fire laddies then, it was only a bucket
brigade. In less than a week, Fred was again doing
business, this time in the Ensign store on the north side
of Main street. When the planing mill was rebuilt it
went out to its present location, south of the railroad on
Trippe street.
Whitewater Baseball Nine played at Madison and
won by a score of 65 to 18. Think of that you kids of
a degenerate generation. Frank Tratt was left field.
A short time afterward, they 'played the Elkhorn boys
at the County Fair and won by a score of 74 to 22.
There was some running done in such games
J. M. Crombie sold the paper mill to John W. Deni-
son and L. A. Tanner for $37,500.
Work was actually begun on the foundation of the
New Normal school building.
The first cheese factory enterprise was inaugurated
north of town in Cold Spring by Messrs. Pike, Case and
Horton. This was a move in the right direction — the
real beginning of dairying.
P. H. Brady, Joshua Cobb, A. F. Knox, and Simeon
Cobb, all well known and highly respected citizens here
for many years, died early in October.
The third and fourth special meetings for the pur
pose of compromising with the bondholders of the
town's Central Railroad Bonds was successful and a
large majority voted to compromise. The exact terms
are not recorded.
This year closed with considerable prosperity for
Whitewater. There was a wide-spread speculative feel
ing that stirred the blood of even conservative men.
There had been an unusual amount of building and yet
there was scarcely a house for rent, and plans were
being talked of for a large number next year. The fac
tories were doing their utmost to fill orders and realiz
ing good prices with, however, a serious drawback in
the long-credit system that the war times had entailed.
It was not easy to change "slow collection" habits.

THE YEAR 1867.
Building of the Normal School. — The year 1867
opened happily for everybody in Whitewater.
The Normal school building was to be erected un
der the supervision of a committee -and not by contract,
N. M. Littlejohn and Judge White being the active
managers. Some $30,000 were carefully expended,
which the home business and labor got the benefit of,
while the state got rather more than value received.
There was some kicking about the tax levy, but on the
whole it was a remarkably well executed business from
first to last. This, with other improvements, made every
thing hopeful.
Winchester, DeWolf & Co., dissolved, Mr. DeWolf
taking the hardware store and Winchester, Partridge
& Co. the extensive manufacturing plant. The business
was in no way interrupted but pushed with vigor to
meet a growing trade.
Solmous Wakeley died on the 12th of January, aged
72 years. Mr. Wakeley came to Whitewater in 1842 and
had therefore been identified with about all of White
water. He was a member of the first Constitutional
Convention and, later, a member of the Legislature. He
was a man of strong intellect, clear and logical, genial,
social, moral, — a good man.
A destructive fire broke out in John Walsh's store
and burned everything there, as also nearly everything
for Kinne & Polhemus adjoining. The losses were heavy.
No fire laddies, but everybody worked with a will and
to pretty good purpose. Mr. Polhemus lived over the
store and saved part of his clothing and furniture.
Some of their goods were saved in a damaged condition.
They had a fair insurance which was quickly paid and
they moved temporarily into the Allen Starin building
on Center St.
Daniel Graham, a former resident, one of nature's
noblemen, died in Montreal. The body was buried
here. Fred Douglass drew a large crowd to hear him
speak on "The Sources of Danger to the Republic."
Hon. Alanson Pike died March 5th. Though living
across the line in Cold Spring he was always counted

one of Whitewater's thorough-going, good men, honor
able, benevolent, true.,
Willard Stebbins traded his Lima farm to L. E.
Hawes for property on Janesville street and at the cor
ner of First and Center streets. Mr. Stebbins was a
famous debater in his day and an all around good man.
A special charter was secured from the Legislature
incorporating the Whitewater Peat Company. Up to
this writing 1899, nothing more has been heard of it.
At the time town election, one Willis Clarke, a fair
sample of the colored man, was duly elected to office in
Whitewater, succeeding Julius C. Birge as sealer of
weights and measures. This assured us a front seat in
the re-construction business. It established a principle
even though it may not have become a political prac
tice. Mr. Asaph Pratt bought the Exchange Hotel proper
ty of Mrs. C. E. Curtice and made an effort to rejuve
nate the building, but it was not very successful.
April 15th, Samuel Prince, who built the first dwell
ing in the township, died at his home just west of town.
He was not only a pioneer but he was an honest man
and a good citizen.
The new Catholic church was dedicated May 19th
by Bishop Henni, assisted by visiting clergy. It had
then the largest audience room in the city and a real
credit to its people.
Village Politics. — At the annual election this spring,
W. L. R. Stewart was chosen president with Geo. W.
Esterly, I. U. Wheeler 2d, Geo. T. Ferris and Pitt Cra
vath trustees. This election, almost without forethought
or intention, involved the high license or no license is
sue. At any rate, the question was forced on this board
by circumstances quite beyond their wish or control.
But they were not the men to halt or shirk a square deal
in the line of duty. They had been fairly elected, and,
as it happened, on an issue not of their choosing. It was
awkward, but they proposed to be the trustees for one
term without fear or favor. Excitement ran pretty high,
the temperance men demanded too much — and the sa
loon men swore too hard — while between them, some
165

were indifferent and others got "skeered". The trust
ees kept reasonably clear-headed and tried to do right.
Well, the same old issue in one shape or another
is with us still, and we have not improved much on the
action of "the boys" 32 years ago.
Improvements were the order in every part of the
town. Everybody was busy early and late.
The beautiful young oak grove on the East Side
disappeared before the march of improvement. Some
efforts had been made to secure this for a public park
but they were unavailing and the whole hill was soon
planted to moderate homes, potatoes, and cabbage, —
rather more useful, it is true, but not nearly as orna
mental as a well kept park.
The very last day, or night, of May, Esterly 's reaper
works were discovered to be on fire, but too late to save
that part or much of its contents — the machine shop and
furniture works were soon in ruins and only by the
work of the bucket brigade the other shops were saved.
The loss over and above insurancewas probably$25,000,
besides the interruption of the regular work of the men
and the filling of orders, etc. It was a heavy loss for Mr.
Esterly, for his employees, and for the town. The most
strenuous efforts were made by all to quickly repair
the damage.
The Whitewater post-office became a money order
office. Col. E. B. Gray being postmaster.
An attempt was made to secure the old fair ground
as a public park, but somehow there was not quite
enough energy behind the movement to make it succeed
— this was also too bad.
Charley Hudson put up a small shop next east of
the Montour-Mosher House. This was a surprise, for
everybody considered that ground open to the public.
The wool market was quoted up to 40 cents a pound,
and farmers were quite unwilling to sell at such starva
tion prices.
Capt. J. L. Pratt sold his interest in the planing mill
to S. H. Tuttle; the new firm was Tuttle & Chaffee
and they were doing a large business.
In July, work began in earnest on the Normal school
building, N. M. Littlejohn superintending.
166

Rev. E. W. Kirkham was returned. as pastor of the
Methodist church for the third year. He was the first
third-year minister of that church in Whitewater. He
was an eloquent preacher. A year later, he went to
Janesville where he was stricken by a peculiar form of
insanity of which he eventually died.
The Congregational Society raised three hundred
dollars for the education of Freedmen in the South and
Miss Amelia Rockafellow volunteered to go as a mis
sionary teacher.
On Sunday morning, the 10th of November, another
destructive fire burned out everything on the north side
of Main street from Buseh's block east. But little was
saved, so rapid and uncontrollable was the spread of the
fire. The fire broke out first in the store of Lyman Ma
lory, dry goods. The insurance was as follows: G. A.
Mosher, hotel, $5,200; Chas. Hudson, gun shop, $350;
George Streng, furniture, $1,000 ; J. Walsh, barn, $200 ;
Thos. Bassett, building, $600; L. Malory, dry goods,
$10,000 ; Mrs. Dahlen, stock and building, $1,500 ; An
dersen & Halverson, clothing, $2,000; Christensen &
Nelson, shoe stock, $900 ; J. C. Mason, groceries, $1,000.
Total, $22,750. The loss, of course, was much greater
than this. Ihwas said to be the heaviest loss that the
village had sustained by any one fire.
Cole & Hunter's pottery establishment was burned
out on the last day of November. The small office build
ing was the only remnant saved. Insured for $3,000,
about half valuation.
Rev. A. B. Green, pastor of the Baptist church, re
signed his charge here and went to Augusta, Wis.
Another spasmodic attempt was made to get some
kind of a fire department organized but it was short
lived. There was a wide difference of opinion about build
ing a new public school-house, though nearly all were
agreed that something must be done soon.
The Normal school building was approaching com
pletion and was, for that time, a fine structure. Elias
Bonnett, then a young man, worked on the stone wall
and laid the first water-table course of stone. George
Birge was foreman of the carpenter work. W. H. J.
167

Hewitt, M. McHugh, Ben Warne, and Oscar Smith,
all yet living here, worked on it.
The wild geese, the muskrats, the corn husks, and
some other infallible foretellers of weather all united
— or were said to — in their auguries for a cold winter ;
but up to December 31 their prophecy had been no bet
ter than a moderately poor guess. Snow fell early in
December and the sleighing was enjoyable. The year
closed with prices ruling high, largely on account of the
uncertainty of greenback redemption, some really be
lieving it could not be done.

PART III
MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS
PROSPER CRAVATH, ESQ.
Since the main feature of this book consists in the
historical sketch elaborated by Mr. Cravath in 1858,
and since he was, moreover, for many years really the
foremost citizen of Whitewater, it seems fitting to pre
sent a concise account of the man and his career.
Prosper Cravath, Jr., was the oldest son of Deacon
Prosper Cravath and Miriam Kinney. He was born
in Cortland, N. Y., May 28, 1809, and was one of a
family of sixteen children. His parents were of the old
New England stock and his early training was what
that fact implies.
At twenty years of age, he began the study of law
in the office of Mr. Hawks, a prominent lawyer of Cort
land ; but the necessity for self support caused frequent
interruptions of his studies. He accordingly taught
district school besides hiring out, at times, to the neigh
boring farmers in the busier seasons.
On March 28, 1834, he married Maria P. Noble, a
young " schoolma 'am " of the vicinity. She was born
in Massachusetts and was the daughter of Solomon
Noble. At Cortland, was born to them a daughter,
Emma, afterwards the wife of Dr. Rice, of Whitewater.
Shortly after the birth of their daughter, they removed
to Northern Ohio, where Mr. Cravath engaged in farm
ing until 1839, when he came to Wisconsin, entering
the farm in the east edge of Lima, recently owned by
Chas. W. Nickerson.
In the following year, 1840, he was followed by his
parents with his brothers, most of his sisters, and their
husbands or prospective husbands, who settled in Lima,
forming the "Cravath neighborhood." On this Lima
farm, was born Pitt Cravath, the only son, in 1844.
169

(TISYK XNQT)
hxvavhd aaasoaj -saw

While living on the farm, he intermittently prac
ticed surveying and dabbled in law. In 1840, he sur
veyed and platted the village of Whitewater for Dr.
Trippe, the. original proprietor of the town site. The
peculiarity of this original survey has often been com
mented on. Taking Trippe 's grist-mill, now the Stone
Mill, as a center, the several streets radiated from it like
the spokes of a wheel. This plan was, in time, broken
up and departed from ; but it accounts for some of the
peculiarities in the streets of the city.
In 1843, Mr. Cravath was admitted to practice in
the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Wis. ; and in
1845 he removed to the village, where he built the house
at the corner of Center and Church Streets which was
his home for more than forty years, and which was a
well-known center of benevolence and wise counsel.
When Wisconsin was admitted as a state, he was
elected a member of the first Legislature, which con
vened June 5, 1848. He held various local offices at
, times, and in later life was postmaster of Whitewater
for a term of eight years, from 1872 to 1880.
When T. D. Weeks came to Whitewater, as a young
man, he formed an office connection with Mr. Cravath,
which was continued for some years.
Mr. Cravath was a man of strong and unique per
sonality. Physically, he was tall and strongly built,
with broad shoulders slightly stooping and surmount
ed by a large head with a wealth of hair. In tempera
ment, he was kindly and large-hearted, slow of speech
at the start, but forcible and often eloquent in expres
sion, and gifted with a quaint, homely humor which al
ways secured him eager and attentive listeners. At
public gatherings, there was never lack of an audience
if it was known that "Prop." Cravath was going to
speak; and managers of political meetings often kept
him back until the last in order to be sure of holding
the audience. He was a man of absolute honesty in
thought and deed, a good lawyer, and a wise counselor.
It was always his policy to bring litigants to a mutually
advantageous settlement rather than to expensive con
tests in the courts. His absent-mindedness and other
eccentricities grew upon him with the years, but these
171

only made him the more interesting as an interlocutor
and as a citizen.
Though conservative in regard to many things, he
was never indifferent to the public welfare; and he
was never a trimmer or an uncertain factor. He sus
tained, indeed, a relation to the history and develop
ment of the social life of the community, in its first
forty years, such as was held by no other and which
can not well be appreciated by those who were not his
contemporaries. His own life was largely interwoven
with it, and he held a warm place in the hearts of the
people, whether they always fell in with his views or
not. To the needy, he was always a friend ; of the public
interests, a faithful guardian; to his neighbors, a valued
and generous-hearted friend; and to the whole world,
an honest man.
Though never a church member, he was always deep
ly interested in the welfare of the Congregational
Church. He drew up the constitution of the Congre
gational Society, and was a very useful member there
of for many years. While not accepting all the tenets
of old-time orthodoxy, he was in his inner experience
a very religious man. He was a diligent reader of the
Bible and had no question of its value in the conduct
of human life. He was also a great lover of Homer's
Iliad. But his intellectual and religious life and tastes
were seldom aired unless to a few intimate friends.
All in all, he was an exceedingly interesting type of
the pioneer generation now gone from their earthly
scene, which was rich in the variety and sturdiness of
its "characters." Men were not all of one type or
mold in that generation, and few of them were of a
weak type, however sharp their angles might be.
But no account of Prosper Cravath would be com
plete which neglected mention of his noble helpmeet,
"Aunt Maria." Coming to Whitewater as a young
wife before Whitewater as yet existed, endowed with
a wise, kindly, and self-sacrificing nature, she entered
into the life of the community as a potent, enduring
element of good. She was one of the pillars in the
church, and a leader in all its social and benevolent
activities. She became, in fact, the chief almoner of

public charities, and for many years the poor and
needy of Whitewater were her especial care. And many
a woman past the prime of life to-day looks back to the
kindly offices and counsels of Mrs. Cravath as having
helped to shape her life in useful ways. It was a sor
row to the whole community, as well as a calamity to
herself and family, that failing mental powers should
have so mysteriously clouded her later years. It is
probably too much to hope that any man and wife will
ever again render to Whitewater such genuine service
through so many years as did Prosper and Maria Cra
vath. "They rest from their labors and their works
do follow them." A. S.
MEMORIES OF BY-GONE DAYS.
(Written in June, 1904.)
MRS. FREEMAN L. PRATT.
In July, 1837, Norman Pratt came from New York
State and claimed for himself the north half of section
8, and the north half and south-east quarter of section 5
for his brother Freeman, and the north half of section
6 for Dean Williams, his wife 's brother. Having made
arrangements to have land broken on each section, in
order to protect the claims, he returned East for his
family. When he came back to his Wisconsin home,
he was accompanied by his brother Freeman, the two
Mrs. Pratts, and Dean Williams. We came on the old
steamer "De Witt Clinton" from Buffalo, and were
eleven days making the trip. By mistake, the boat ran
by Milwaukee, ran to Chicago, laid there one day, and
leisurely returned. At Milwaukee, we hired a team,
came out 15 miles the first day, and stayed all night
with a family named Plumb. The next day, we came as
far as Heart Prairie, stopping over night with True
Rand and E. Worthington. They were making use of
their covered wagon for a sleeping-room, cooking by a
"prairie stove," of which they kindly gave us the use.
The next day, we went to Ft. Atkinson, where we were
carried over the river in a canoe, D. Foster, a man
weighing 250 pounds, sitting in one end, paddling the
canoe; at the other end myself and baby boy. Those

MRS. FREEMAN PRATT
(AUNT MELINDA)

who have had any experience with this kind of craft
will not need further detail as to the state of my feel
ings when landed on the other side of Rock River. This
was but a few years after the Black Hawk War, and
some parts of the fort and tents were still standing.
Mr. Alvah Foster's house, where the Mrs. Pratts
were left to board, was built of rough logs, one room
below, and a part of a floor above, reached by a ladder.
The house accommodated seven families for a short
time, five of them having one child each. Most of the
time it was either sunshine or sorrow.
When the Pratts had completed their log house on
the prairie, F. L. Pratt came with an ox team and
moved the two families and their baggage, which con
sisted of two trunks and two children, one of them C.
A. Pratt of this city. We were delighted when we
came in sight of our log cottage. The door was smooth,
and the latch and handle showed the skill and
work of no common carpenter. The lower floor was
loose, rough boards, the upper floor was rails, or pun
cheon, more properly. Our windows were three half-
sash, and they were often curtained by the Indians,
blankets over their heads, looking in. Oh, the horror
we had of those Pottawatomies and Winnebagoes, the
dirty, disagreeable creatures! One time, we Pratt
women were alone. We saw one of those noble speci
mens coming towards the house. After looking in the
window, not stopping to ring the bell, he hastily pulled
the latch string, came in, said "Bouzhoo" (Bon jour,
good day) ; then quietly seated himself, holding his
gun in his hand. He was in ' ''full dress, ' ' his hair was
ornamented with bright red feathers, and squirrel tails
braided in a long braid and hanging down his back.
He had on a blanket with a girdle tied around him, and,
on his feet, moccasins that completed his costume. We
had our dinner on the table. I said to Mrs. Norman
Pratt, "Let him eat, and then he will go." This ar
rangement seemed to strike him favorably. He made
no excuse, gently put his gun on the floor, and pushed
his blanket aside so that he could have free use of his
hands, as he had no use for a knife and fork. For din
ner, we had "prairie slap jacks," as the Badgers call
175

MRS. NORMAN PRATT
(aunt janb)

them, as large as a dining plate, covered with butter
and maple sugar. This luxury we had only on certain
occasions. We were chatting and waiting for our cof
fee to boil when our visitor first made his appearance.
We surely thought the final end had come, and so it
had to our slap jacks, as they passed on to their "happy
hunting ground. ' ' After eating butter with a teaspoon,
the only dessert he saw, he finally got up, stretched
himself, and said it was "goot. " On looking around
he saw some bottles on a shelf and said, "Whiskey?"
We told him "no whiskey," but the persistent son of
the forest was not satisfied. A full bottle of pepper
sauce was handed him. We thought that after tasting
it he would be glad to give it back, but no, the Potta
watomie swallowed its contents, rubbing his stomach
and smacking his lips as if under the impression that
he had tapped a brand of fire-water which went right
to the spot. Now, to the relief of us frightened women,
the red man left, his face expressing satisfaction with
the good social time he had had, both of body and mind.
We had heard it said that an Indian always remem
bered a favor. This was proved true by the fact that
this one soon returned, bringing his squaw with him
for a fashionable call. At the same time, he brought a
pail of honey for Mrs. Norman Pratt, and a pair of
moccasins for Mrs. F. L. He wished me to be seated,
then gently pulling off my shoes, he put the moecasius
on and tied them, as buttons were not yet in use. It
has taken the fashion which the red men then had of
kneeling and putting on a lady's shoe a long time to
become the white man's custom. In the early days, we
received many frights from the Indians, but never any
harm. F. L. Pratt, with wife and son, Morganta, and
Nathan Williams, in September, 1843, started from
Whitewater in their own conveyance and drove to Mad
ison County, N. Y., to spend the winter in the homes
of their childhood. In the spring, Mr. Pratt sold his
horses, shipped his carriage, and the party returned
by the lakes, a number of families coming with us for
homes in Wisconsin. After we returned, we bought
the Whitewater Hotel. Wm. A. Harding came from

New York City with his bride and boarded with us.
R. O 'Connor, with his young wife, also boarded with us.
I think this was in 1845.
Nathan Williams, on returning from his winter's
visit, made up his mind that God did not make man to
live alone ; so he brought a wife with him to enjoy the
blessings and the sorrow which will surely come to each
and all. When we came in 1837, deer could be seen in
droves of twenty or more, prairie-hens were plentiful,
and also quails.
The country was beautiful, the Indians having
burned it over every fall so that there was no brush to
be seen. The bur-oak trees looked like old orchards,
the wild flowers were in bloom, and the whole country
looked much more beautiful than does our city park
on Main street. The first store was built in 1839 by B.
Bosworth, of Illinois. It was where N. Kinney's resi
dence now stands. The frame of the city flouring mill
was raised on June 27, 1839, when men came from
Lima, Johnstown, LaGrange, and the Fort to assist.
Trippe 's log house was on the land near the pond
south of the wagon factory, and near the house a large
stone oven was built for the occasion. It was filled with
prairie chickens, quail pies, venison, pork and beans,
corn bread, and rice pudding, all in the oven at once,
baking for the raisers. You can judge of the length of
the table, which of course was set out of doors, as it
took almost a whole piece of sheeting for the table
cloth. The women of the village, six in number, assist
ed Mrs. Trippe in feeding the hungry. There was no
changing plates for dessert. After the men had done
justice to both their appetites and the dinner, they
went out and played ball* and other games.

*0n the prairie, west of Summit St.

178

BOYHOOD DAYS IN EARLY WHITEWATER.
BY JULIUS C. BIRGE.
"Such was the tenor of the second act
In this new life
Imagination slept,
And yet not utterly. I could not print
Ground where the grass had yielded to the steps
Of a generation of illustrious men
Unmoved. I could not always lightly pass
Through the same gateways sleep where they had slept,
Wake where they had waked, range that enclosure old,
That garden of strong men, undisturbed."
We are asked to write a few words .concerning boy
hood life with the pioneers. The valuable reminiscences
of Prosper Cravath were written only twenty years
after the occurrence of the first events which he nar
rated. Nearly fifty years more have rolled by since
those annals were first published in the Register.
Were it within the scope of this paper, we would
offer a tribute to that author, a man of strict integrity
and endowed with many remarkable qualities. He,
with other strong men and women, who in the years
1837 to 1839 blazed their way through a pathless wil
derness and built the first log cabins in the Whitewater
valley, have nearly all passed on to the Beyond. The
camp fires of their neighbors, the Pottawattomies, have
long since died out on the shore, and even the places
where the wigwams stood are forgotten, except to a.
few. We watched the last remnant of that tribe make
its silent march through Whitewater onward toward
the setting sun more than half a century ago, destined
to its reservation. Even the first frame house, built
in 1840, has been relegated, to humbler uses down by
the sleepy bank of the creek where the boys used to
wade. Many of the old landmarks have
"Gone glimmering through the dream
Of things that were."
Even the generation which presented the second act
of this drama is represented by but a few silvered
heads. Although it seems strange, it is nevertheless true,
that the majority of the pioneers themselves, when they
reached the West, were mere boys and girls, not more

JULIUS C. BIRGE
(THE FIRST WHITE CHILD BORN IN WHITEWATER)

than 18 to 24 years of age. Yet, in view of the work
which they performed and the civilization which they
established, they stand out as heroes. Like the fabled
shadows of the Brocken, they grow more colossal as
they recede.
True, there was some worthless driftwood on this
first tide of immigration, which left but little impress
on the character of the community, but there was a
stronger sentiment, like that which dominated the Pil
grim Fathers, which soon made law and order to rule.
The most vigorous and industrious young men and
women from the North East, endowed with powers of
initiative and the faculty of self-government, peopled
Wisconsin, moulded its life and built its schools and
churches. Under such influences, the boys and girls of
whom we write were reared.
In giving some sketch of their doings, we must
descend from the serious level of history to the trifles
of child life, and must deal in many personalities.
The Wisconsin child of sixty years ago was not
given the prominence accorded to children of to-day.
Children might be "seen, but not heard." Silence was
a virtue. Industry was required. There were hours
of fixed work before and after school. There were
chores and errands always to be done. Franklin's
maxim, "Early to bed and early to rise," was enforced,
especially in the morning, and in the gray dawn the
boy with the lantern in the stables was a common
sight. The boys and girls, of course, thought that
Franklin ought to have attended more to his lightning,
rather than to have gone into the precept business.
The stores were generally open at 6 a. m., and did not
close until the last indolent customer was through play
ing checkers at night.
Although we were rude in many respects, yet we
were taught deference to superiors. We would rarely
sit at the table until our elders were seated. In some
of the early schools, we were required to salute the
teacher on leaving the room, also to bow to passers-by
on the highway. In many of our families, the observ
ance of the Sabbath was very strict. In some cases, the
181

cider was drunk on Saturday nights so that it would
not work on Sunday.
There was no trouble with the Indians, as they were
friendly. Their ignorance of civilized customs, how
ever, sometimes produced a slight shock. Now and
then, while sitting by the open fire at evening, the flat
nose of an Indian might be seen pressed against the
window pane. In entering the white man's house, they
would never knock, but would pass in without cere
mony; and on more than one occasion we have seen
+hem file in and go to our cupboard and help them
selves to what they desired. Why not ? It was their
code and they meant no harm. They had little sense
of humor. My parents' first cabin was where Whiton
and Walworth streets now join. Some Winnebagoes
with their chief called one day and my father, point
ing to my mother, jestingly said to the chief, "Swap
squaw?" The chief gave an "Umph" and they soon
disappeared. The next day, looking out of the door,
my mother discovered the same chief approach with his
squaw, evidently to conclude the bargain. Slamming
the door, she pulled in the latch string, slid out of the
little back window, and, with her infant boy under her
arm, made by the back way for Freeman Pratt's cabin.
As early as 1840, a little log house was built on what
is now the Trippe lot on Main Street, to be used for
general purposes, and a school was held there for a
brief period. In 1842, a school was opened by J. B.
Hunt in a barn on the Power's lot, east of where the
Baptist Church now stands. Though only three years
of age, having learned my letters by the aid of the
Milwaukee Weekly Sentinel, I was sent to that school
to help fill it up, and was at once initiated into Peter
Parley's geography, committing the first page which
begins "This world on which we live, is round
As any apple ever found."
The attic of the barn was filled with hay, and Mary
Billings or Sophie Workman might tell who killed the
garter snake which one day fell from the attic to the
floor, while the girls scrambled for the top of the
benches. A large pond in front of the barn afforded

good sliding when it was frozen over. It was con
sidered the finest sport to break a pathway through
the ice, fill our high top boots with water and empty
them on the school room floor. Hunt subsequently
opened a school in a little frame building on the south
side of Main Street. Two rows of seats were on each
of two sides of the little room, the front ones having
no backs to them, nor desks in front, and were used
by us little ones.
A copy of "Olney's Modern Geography," loaned
to me daily by Ans. Storm, absorbed much of my time.
The thrilling picture on the last page, entitled "A Croc-
codile Seizing an Ox," was especially interesting. The
study of that engraving possibly aided in the develop
ment of our high appreciation' of that style of art. It
followed that, in their effect upon us, the circus bills
on Wintermute 's barn far surpassed in beauty and
splendor the possible effect of any works in the Vati
can or Louvre, and prepared all who were able to do
so, on the morning of the great show, to go out three
miles and meet the real thing. Those beautiful yellow
wagons were like the chariots of the blessed, and the
elephant was the realization of a boy's love for big
things. Hunt persistently practised oratory upon the pupils.
On Monday mornings, his deliverances were magnifi
cent and awe-inspiring. They were invariably addressed
from a little square in the center of the room. One
morning, while in the midst of an eloquent appeal to
our higher natures, the little section of the floor on
which he stood suddenly slumped into a hole beneath,
and Hunt for a moment disappeared. He was extracted
unhurt by the willing hands of the big boys. Inves
tigation disclosed the fact that a rope attached to a
temporary support of the scuttle and extending out
side to the hands of some bad boy caused the mischief.
He failed to ferret out the author of the crime. Both
he and the boy have doubtless by this time gone to
their reward.
In 1844, the brick school house was built west of
where the new library now stands, and C. E. Curtice
Was an early teacher there. On the north end of the
183

room, the multiplication table was painted in large
figures and was almost daily repeated in unison. On
Saturdays, Curtice would lead the entire school in
single file through intricate curves, and to the com
mand, "Everybody sing," the room would ring with
the inspiring songs
"Children go to and fro'
In a merry, pretty row,"
and
"O come, come away from labor now reposing.'
The usual punishment was to put a fool's cap on a
boy and stand him in disgrace before the school. Ebe
nezer Wilcox taught in the old frame Congregational
Church in 1844. To describe the things that Ebenezer
could not see, and which were before his eyes, would
require a volume. During his administration, nearly
every boy's bench in the room was perforated with
small holes through which a pin attached to a spring
beneath could be made to rise by the agency of a con
necting string and some bad boy far removed. The
effect was to cause any one sitting over one of the
selected holes to jump into the air and disturb the
school. Frequently a shower of light darts, having
pins at the points and paper inserted at the tail, would
gently float from the high choir seats in the rear and
produce a panic on the front seats. Ebenezer never
discovered the cause, although Charley Irish, Si. Whit-
comb, Kidd Trippe, John Maynard, and other big boys
sat in the high seats. Emma Cravath learned her
lessons so readily that she had time to burn. Borrow
ing a pair of boy's big boots one day she put them on
and asked Ebenezer if she might hunt a lost book.
The request being granted, she skuffed around the
entire room to every seat, time and again, consuming
half an hour. Wilcox repeatedly chided the scholars
for their laughter, but never seemed to suspect the real
cause. His great success was an exhibition with which
he closed the school year. "The School for Scandal"
was presented with a powerful cast. Harriet Sylvester
was the star actress. Charley Irish delivered an
eloquent oration on the text ' ' God made man and man
made money, God made bees and bees made honey."
184,

There were declamations and recitations. In that
sehool we used the old English Reader, Adams' Arith
metic, and Brown's Grammar.
Among the early school boys, was Charley Niemann,
whose father managed the Exchange Hotel when the
first big stages ran through from Milwaukee. Charley 's
father went to Milwaukee and built the Fountain and
Menominee houses on West Water Street, and died
leaving a fair estate. Charley soon ran through his
patrimony and was stranded, with little left except a
fiddle, the ability to play it and to sing a song well.
He was a jolly good fellow. He soon joined a minstrel
troupe and became well known as Harry Wilson. Dur
ing a theatrical summer vacation, Charley found himself
in Whitewater, singing and playing, on a wagon to
advertise Hamlin's Wizard Oil. It had been twenty-
five years since Charley had visited his old home. At
the close of the concert, we sat with Joe Cushing and
one or two others on a store step answering Charley's
questions. What has become of John Busby, Dan Con-
eray, Sylvester Dann, and, finally, where is Hen. Sen
tenn? "You ought to know about Hen," we replied,
"he also went with a negro minstrel company." "He
couldn't have amounted to much," Charley replied,
"what was his stage name?" "It was Harry Pell,"
was our answer. "Harry Pell! Good Heavens! Pell
and I were the end men in the same company for three
years, and I never knew it was Hen. Sentenn, but he
will shake the tambourine no more." Charley has also
gone, long ago.
It was D. Carley who taught in the meeting house
in 1849, and later with M. Montague in the Academy.
He was a terror. Toddy Pratt, having been marked
for punishment, ran to the Pratt barn, put a sheep
skin under his shirt, buttoned up his roundabout and
was able to take his medicine like a soldier. It was
Carley who, long before Grant stood before Vicksburg,
repeatedly declared that he would make us learn frac
tions "if it took all summer."
During those halcyon days, certain individuals stood
out prominently by reason of some personal quality or
accomplishment. Jack Taft was the greatest fighter.

Charley Birge was the finest skater. Charley Storm
made the best kites. Bill Farnsworth was the best
runner. The Bluff (now Normal Hill) was the best
place for coasting. The baptizing hole was the handiest
place for swimming. The most available, almost empty,
sugar hogsheads were back of Peck's store. Henry J.
Starin had the best apples. -When passing his high
picket fence it was
"Sweet to hear the watch dog's honest bark
Bay deep mouthed welcome"
because the bark told whether the dog was safe in the
barn or loose on the place. Bob Williams had remar-
able strength and daring, and Payson Kellogg, who
died on the ¦ field of Antietam, was always high in
scholarship. In the early, strenuous days, when we knew nothing
of what is now called "summer outings," the trip to
Milwaukee, which from infancy was given to me an
nually, was something never to be forgotten. It was
usually made on a load of wheat. The scenery changed
when we reached Fox River, and here we would rest
for a few moments on the long corduroy bridge which
spanned that stream and the adjacent marsh. While
the horses were being watered, we would watch the
wild fowl which in great numbers found a happy home
in the wild rice which bent down that stream. Passing
eastward, we at once entered the primitive forest, as
dense as any in Wisconsin — but now gone.
Through most of the course, the rough, rooty, and
often muddy road was a very narrow lane, bordered
on either side by the tall forest trees. Here and there
was a small clearing, where magnificent logs of fine
sugar maple and other woods, now so valuable, were
rolled close enough together to be burned; and thus
was destroyed much of the wealth which nature had
created. Those who now stop at the Plankinton and
the Pfister possibly forget what were their pleasures
when they put up at the old-time taverns on the Muk-
wonago and PrairieviUe roads.
On one of my trips, at the close of our first long
day's drive, we turned our team into Uncle Prude Par-

sons' big barn. The horses being stalled, we went into
the tavern, and finding that we could get a bed we
went out to the bench where the tin wash basins were,
and where hung the towel which had done so long
service that it was well saturated with water and
perspiration. Having taken our suppers we soon re
tired. The day had not yet come when every traveler
expected a private room with bath at Wisconsin hos
telries. We were happy to accept one of the many
beds which filled the ball room, leaving only a narrow
passage between them. A tin wash basin, a piece of
hard soap and a pail of water on a box at each end of
the room was ready for the morning toilet. My father
and I had a private bed to ourselves ; every other bed in
the room was occupied. Garments were hung on nearly
every bed post. The chorus which is usually heard
when many weary men are sleeping in a room had been
well started, when the light of a candle at the door
awoke me as Parsons' assistant appeared escorting a
late arriving guest. Looking over the rows of beds,
the escort pointed to one having but one occupant, and
said to the guest, "You take that." Now this hap
pened in about the year 1845, when the first epidemic
of what Dr. Clark might have called "Scabies," had
become prevalent. The original occupant of the bed
referred to, noticing the new-comer, as he put down
his candle, said, "Are you going to get in here ?" The
newcomer replied in the affirmative, as he began to pull
off his boots behind the middle of his leg. "Say,"
says the original occupant, "it's only fair for me to tell
you that I have got the itch. " " Oh, that is all right, ' '
says the new man, "if you have got it any worse than
I have, I am sorry," and in a moment was ready to
crawl in, when the original occupant jumped from the
bed, seized his clothing and rushed down stairs, evid
ently to see Prude Parsons. He did not return, and I
have never seen him, so far as I can remember, to this
day. The demand for sulphur was very large in those
days. On one of these trips, the Milwaukee taverns
being crowded, my father and I slept on the buffalo
robes in Uncle Ben Throop 's warehouse, on East Water
street. The skins, laid out flat, were piled in many
187

places to the ceiling, and represented more buffaloes
than now exist on the face of the earth.
Returning once early in the spring, while down on
the Palmyra Road in the Scuppernong Marsh, it be
came apparent that a big fire had been started off in
the south, and was driving northward before a stiff
south wind. The grass was exceedingly rank, in many
places six feet high, and in the early spring especially
dry. It was important for safety that we move rapidly
for the openings. The fire was coming by leaps and
bounds. As it approached, the crackling and roaring
was ominous and threatening. The birds which had
been lurking, and perhaps nesting, in the grass were
flying before the flames, which sent up their tongues
to a great height. I have seen several fires on the broad
prairies of Iowa and Nebraska, but nothing which was
as fierce as those which annually swept over the Scup
pernong Valley, and which during those nights lighted
our eastern sky.
We had some other diversions. Captain Jesse Pease,
who lived at the corner of what is now Main and Sec
ond streets, was supposed to be a hero of the War of
1812. The political campaign of 1844 was still stimulat
ing patriotic instincts, and it was apparently thought
best to revive the declining military spirit by holding
what was known in New England as a General Train
ing. The processes which led to the bringing of the
Whitewater yeomanry together are unknown to this
writer, but as war has a kind of fascination for nearly
every young man and small boy, all of these classes in
the vicinity gathered on Main Street on the appointed
day to witness the demonstration. Close to Captain
Pease's house, the assembled citizen soldiery crowded
for orders. Hours passed and no organization apparent
to the small boy could be discovered, except that in
the absence of even a flint lock rifle a number of persons
were arming with sticks and any old thing which would
enable them to respond to shoulder arms. The Captain
had shouted to the men until he was hoarse, and the
troops were finally ordered to report at a later hour.
In the meantime, as we are told, the Captain and officers
secured some refreshments, after which they returned

in excellent spirits. In due time, the company being
formed (but not in a very straight line) it proceeded a
little way up Main Street amidst cheers, and in a few
minutes returned and stacked arms, and then the
' ' general training ' ' was on. ' ' Not a gun was fired, not
a funeral note," and although the training, it is said,
continued late into the night it was probably the only
one of its kind ever held in Whitewater.
It was about two or three years later that a tem
perance movement was organized among the children
by Rev. M. P. Kinney in the old frame church. Al
though unable to write legibly, I received my first
honor by being elected secretary of the society. The
pledge which we were asked verbally to indorse was
the following: "I do not think I'll ever drink brandy
or gin, whiskey or rum, or anything else that will make
drunk come."
There was probably no part of the United States
which afforded finer opportunities to the sportsman
than did Wisconsin. The flocks of pigeons were almost
indescribable in extent. Rising from the southern hori
zon in the spring of the year, they were often seen to
fly in a broad, vast body towards the north. The van
guard would there disappear before the rear of the
'flock had risen into view. This statement is literally
true, but the pigeon has passed away. The home of the
canvas back duck was in the wild celery of Lake
Koshkonong. Prairie chickens and quails were not
strangers in the door yards. Wild, geese were common
in the early corn fields and on every lake and stream.
Jim Worm and Kidd Trippe knew where to find the
deer. The boys generally were not sportsmen, but
every one of us had access to a shot gun, and in sight
of our homes found all the game we needed. The fish
were abundant in every stream. Speckled trout, how
ever, were not known in waters south of the Wisconsin
River. Three of us in one day caught what was said
to be a wagon load of pickerel and bass from White
water Lake by fishing through the ice. The big wagon
box was certainly half full, and many of the fish were
large. 189

The most interesting hunt, however, that I recall in
Wisconsin was with Captain Doubleday, the object
being honey. With a span of horses and a wagon, in
which was a ladder, pails, etc., we drove out toward
"the Island," and, hitching nearly a mile south of
Pratt's mill, we entered a little wood on the west side
of the road. The Captain at once placed a little honey
on a log and watch developments. Soon a bee, dis
covering the prize, loaded up and sailed off into the
woods. Doubleday had ordered silence and in a few
minutes it became apparent that the news had been
conveyed to all the workers in the bee colony, for bees,
in an absolutely straight bee line through the air,
extended from the bait to a big hole in a tree forty
rods away, all evidently engaged in transportation. It
seemed a regular confidence game on the Captain's
part. The ladder was brought and reached the hole.
Mounting it with a tin pail in hand and a rope attached,
Doubleday rolled up his shirt sleeves, leaving his arm
bare, thrust his hand into the hollow of the tree, as the
bees poured out around him in a dense swarm. Appar
ently unconcerned, he took out the combs filled with
honey, letting them down in the pail which I emptied
into other vessels. This was repeated several times.
I never learned what caused Doubleday to be immune
to the sting of the bee.

RECOLLECTIONS OF A PIONEER GIRLHOOD.
[Written for the Whitewater Register, in 1884, by MBS. LOUISE
WOODBURY PALMITEE, then living at Augusta, Wis.]
My first glimpse of Whitewater was taken from the
old "dugway" (which then existed at the east end of
the mill dam) in the Fall of 1842.
In the spring of that year, my father and two elder
brothers caught the western fever, and joined the
human tide that was then flowing steadily from the
Eastern states to the famous prairies and groves of the
West — that land where the ' ' rivers ran honey and pan
cakes grew on trees," ready to drop for the shaking.
Their journey ended at Whitewater, where they se
lected a building spot, immediately erected a house
190

and, when it was nearly completed, father returned for
the rest of his family, my mother and seven younger
children. After a rather tedious tour of the lakes, we
landed at Milwaukee. The journey from thence we
were obliged to make in a lumber wagon, which, I
think, occupied three days, and we were much relieved
when, as we came out on the marsh west of the old
cemetery, father pointed to a building on the rise of
ground beyond, and told us that was home; and, as
we halted in the "dugway," my two brothers came
from the house to meet us. But the view from that
point did not speak very favorably of "the prom
ised land," to my nine-year-old eyes at least; for all
that was visible was the back-side of the grist mill
(then a very small building, compared with the present
one) and two or three log houses which stood on the
opposite shore of the mill-pond, one of which was occu
pied by the miller and family, another by Judge E.
Wakeley 's father and family, and the other by Dr.
Trippe 's family. The latter gentleman was the owner
of the mill, and an extensive -property holder besides.
Our own house not being quite ready for occupation,
we passed on and entered the "city," and found per
haps a dozen dwelling houses, scattered around like
lost sheep. On the north side of Main street, were two
stores, one occupied by Philander Peck, the other by
T. K. LeBaron, a small hotel, I think where the "Kin
ney House ' ' now stands, and one blacksmith shop. On
the south side Mr. Levi Powers was building another
store. Dr. Clarke's office, Henry Printup 's harness
shop, and Mr. Wakeley 's shoe shop, complete the list,
so far as my memory serves me, unless it be the old
"town-well," which stood at the corner of Main and
First streets, proffering its cup of cold water alike to
rich and poor, never afraid to advocate its firm tem
perance principles, to all around. I presume it is now
among the things that were, or may be its generous
throat is choked with a gaily painted, modern pump,
compelling it to yield its crystal water in polite little
gasps, like the breathing of a fashionably dressed belle.
There was no church edifice, but the members of differ
ent denominations all worshiped together in Deacon
191

Workman's unfinished chamber. I do not remember
the names of any of the pastors except Rev. Mr. Case ;
but it seemed to make little difference whether they
listened to a "stiff Presbyterian" or "hard-shell Bap
tist," it appeared to be satisfying to know that they
all believed in and worshipped the same God; and it
is doubtful if there was not as much genuine religion
gathered in Deacon Workman 's chamber as in some of
the great churches that flourish in the place now, al
though, I dare say, some never got any higher than
that chamber.
There were two or three houses besides our own on
the east shore of the mill-pond, some of which were
built with a "cellar-kitchen" on the west side, making
them three stories high on that side and two on the
street which ran north and south on the east side. The
first building south of the "dugway" was owned by a
Mr. Prince, ( ?) and I think some of his descendants still
live in the vicinity of Whitewater. The underground
story was used by Mr. Oscar Weed (late of Palmyra)
for a wagon shop ; the upper stories on the street were
rented to families. Our own came next, and where the
railroad now runs was once a beautiful garden filled
with plants and precious shrubs, brought from our east
ern home, there being scarcely one that did not have
some pleasant memory mingling with its fragrance and
bringing to mind the face and form of a dear absent
friend. But progress never pauses to sentimentalize,
and the cars now rush past with an exultant shriek,
seeming to glory in the ruin which was wrought for
their advancement.
The next house was not a house but a sort of wig
wam, made by placing the ends of a long pole in the
crotches of two trees which stood the required distance
apart, and leaning boards on each side of it like a roof,
giving it the appearance of a house just sprouting from
the ground. A few boards were laid down for the beds
to lie on, otherwise the bare earth was all the floor
indulged in. A blanket hung at one end and the stove
pipe ornamented the other. No daylight was afforded,
except what struggled through an occasional crack, no
furniture worth mentioning, none of the luxuries and
192

but few of the necessaries of life. The imagination can
picture what such a home must have been. Yet a fam
ily of six and a tame sand-hill crane occupied the hum
ble quarters amicably, and Avere as fat, black, and saucy
and nearly as intelligent as the Pottawattomie Indians
in this region. I must not omit the flock of geese, which
were as Avell worthy of attention as the human bipeds
and shared the same roof whenever they felt disposed.
The flock consisted of both tame and wild fowls. The
wild ones were very ill-natured and, through fear of
them and the crane, the dogs and children made a wide
detour by the premises.
The next house was owned by a Mr. Taft, and occu
pied by his family of six. Then came one which be
longed to Dr. Trippe, the home of his man of all work,
Orra Ostrander, who had a large family, mostly girls,
the youngest of whom was the bosom friend of my
girlhood. Farther on, where the paper mill now stands, was
the old saw-mill, also owned by Dr. Trippe, then in full
operation, and the favorite resort of all the idlers in
town, old and young. About half a mile beyond, near
the head of the grist-mill pond, stood a log house which
was the residence then of Mr. Orville Cooley, but soon
exchanged owners and Mr. Thompson Ferris moved his
family into it, building the frame house north a few
years after, and deserting the old one entirely. Mr.
Ferris had a large and agreeable family, and some of
the most pleasant memories of my girlhood are con
nected with that old log house and the hours spent
with his children and others, searching for shells on the
shore of the pond, for wild flowers and curious mosses
in the woods, or resting our tired limbs in the great
pole swing which was suspended from the giant oaks
by the roadside, in the edge of the woods.
Our rambles generally extended as far as the old
saw-mill, near which we always found the rarest flow
ers, the most graceful ferns, and the most curious as
sortment of mosses of any place that was favored with
our notice. And I venture to say that the haunts that
were not known to us were few and far between. To
our older eyes no "moccasins" are as golden, no blue-

bells as blue, and no ferns quite as graceful, as those
we found growing along with the crimson columbine,
in the hidden nooks around the old mill. Our pleasure
was sometimes marred by a striped snake gliding sud
denly through the grass, like a stray rainbow flash, or
the advent of a great, awkward mud turtle waddling
in the path before us, frightening the timid ones, and
causing a general stampede, but forgotten the next
moment in our zeal for unearthing Nature's treasures.
The programme was occasionally varied by a shower-
bath taken under the waste-weir, or catching minnows
with a pin hook in the brook below the dam, winding
up our adventures with a visit to Mr. Brown, the
sawyer. On the north side of the ' ' dugway ' ' the first -house
and the only one at the time, I think, was owned by a
Mr. Thomas Van Horn, who also owned a brick-yard.
He was a somewhat comical character with a quizzical
look in his eyes which gave the impression that he was
always poking fun on the sly. It proved very annoy
ing to my rather bashful and sensitive self, for, being
an intimate playmate of his daughter, I was often
brought in contact with him, sometimes too close to
suit my idea of propriety; for nothing delighted him
more than to draw his daughter on one knee, .and my
self on the other (if he could get the chance), which
proceeding usually brought on a storm of indignation
that he pretended to admire exceedingly.
Yet we were pretty good friends, notwithstanding,
and I enjoyed visiting there, spending many a pleasant
hour watching the brickmakers, or in my favorite
pastime, that of rambling in the woods near by with
his daughter in search of Nature 's hidden beauties.
Beyond the cemetery and near where the reaper
factory now stands, was the home of Mr. Ephraim Con
ger, a fine old gentlemen and an intimate friend of my
father's. The two used to enjoy themselves dearly
with their bass viols and old-fashioned singing books,
and the quaint sol, mi, fa's represented by quainter
characters. I wonder why, in the present rage for the
antique, those old, angular quavers and semi-quavers
do not come into fashion again. They would be just

lovely. Mr. Conger had a large family of boys and
girls. He came West after my father did, in '43, I
think. I may be mistaken, but among my earliest rec
ollections, is that of the merry times which the young
people of the three families, (Messrs. Ferris, Conger,
and my father's) used to have together. They made
quite a barge party alone, but the circle never seemed
complete and satisfactory all around until they were
joined by C. E. Curtice, Joseph Sanford and Oscar
Weed, said gentlemen afterward proving the cause of
the mutual attraction by marrying the three finest
girls of the group.
Nearly all were good musicians, either vocally or
instrumentally, and often met at one or other of the
three homes to enjoy the favorite pastime of all, that
of music. I used to look forward with great pleasure
to the time for them to meet at our house, for, being
an ardent lover of the art, no greater favor could be
granted me, than to be allowed to sit in some remote
corner to listen, sometimes venturing to try my own
voice in a feeble sort of way, afraid of making a loud
noise, as experience had taught me early that "chil
dren should be seen, not heard;" for no sooner did
"Charley Curtice" or "Doc Ferris" hear one of my
"strains of melody," than I would be immediately
brought out from my corner by one of them into a
more conspicuous position. But love of music generally
conquered my timidity, and my whereabouts was soon
forgotten. I wonder if there are any of my old school-mates
living who remember the log school-house that used
to stand on Main Street west of town, nearly opposite
the site of J. J. Starin 's present residence? A family
by the name of Cutler occupied a small, red frame
house, which stood where the *brick building now
stands. Our first school was taught in that little rustic
building, by Mr. F. C. Patterson, a long, lean, lank,
limber lawyer, whose gait was always a source of
amusement to the scholars. (We were young, remember,
and therefore excusable.) He walked as though afraid
of too close contact with mother earth, and with wings
*The old "little brick," on "the flat-iron."
195

half plumed for flight. He was a good teacher and
pleasant gentleman, notwithstanding his peculiarities.
The old school-house was afterward degraded to a
cooper's use, and was obliged to admit Mr. Spooner's
barrels to the places once occupied by the young hope
fuls of the pioneer town, and gradually it sank lower
in the social scale until it was finally razed to the
ground. Not even a log left upon which one could sit
and muse over its fallen glory. Our next school was
taught by Mr. John Dunn, in a small frame building
which stood a little south of Freeman Pratt's, who
then lived on the hill, east of where the Baptist Church
now stands. It answered the double purpose of barn
and school-house, the loft being used for storing hay,
and we Avere uncomfortably startled one day to see a
striped snake dangling its head downward, like a tra
peze performer, from a crack in the floor overhead, and
after calmly surveying the scene, as if enjoying our con
sternation, dropping gracefully to the floor, where it
was speedily dispatched by the teacher. Mr. Dunn was
not done enough to be a good teacher, for about all that
Ave Avere taught that season was to spell "Ticonderoga"
forward and backward at the same time, commencing
Ti — con, con — ti, and so on through the whole word,
adding a syllable each time; the last rendering Avould
be Ti-con-de-ro-ga, Ga-ro-de-con-ti. It was rather hard
on the memory of some, but it did not begin to equal
the ' ' abominable - bumble - bee - with - his -tail-cut-off, ' '
which my mother used to spell for our edification in
those days.
I suppose the readers of the Register are waiting
patiently all this time, to hear who was our favorite
teacher in the by-gone days, and I think the "old set
tlers" Avill acquiesce in the opinion that the late C. E.
Curtice was as popular in that capacity as he was in
society. He was the first teacher Avho tried the merits
of the old brick school-house, which Avas built about
that time, and stood opposite the Baptist Church.
How well I remember his kind, genial face, lighted
by the smiling gray eyes, that, somehow, never could
assume that stern, dignified expression so becoming to
one who teaches the "young idea how to shoot." He

did not need to rule Avith a "rod of iron," for we all
loved him well enough to obey his rules without com
pulsion. He usually adopted the old Quaker's plan,
who coaxed his stubborn donkey to draAv his load, by
holding a turnip before his nose just out of reach until
the required task was performed, then rewarded him
with the coveted mouthful, thereby saving his time,
strength, temper, and Avhip-lash. Mr. Curtice was a
good singer and very fond of vocal music. He taught
us his favorite songs, of which he seemed to have a
never-failing supply, and the most pleasant occupation
of the day Avas the singing of some cheerful school song
or rollicking round, which was joined in heartily by
large and small; and we always seemed to resume our
studies with renewed ardor after each musical feast.
Such simple songs as "Children go to and fro," or
"Old chairs to mend," would not be considered "the
thing" for this aesthetic generation, but their memory
is SAveet to old-fashioned people. We had teachers in
after years, good, bad, and indifferent, but no one ever
quite "filled the bill," in the estimation of the young
people, so well as "Charley Curtice."
But the memories of those early days are not all
pleasant to recall. Some are sad and even tragic. The
saddest event of my childhood was the death of a little
brother, only three years of age, who lost his life in the
burning of our house, April 14th, 1844. It happened in
the forenoon, after the men of the family had all gone
to their work for the day, and mother had gone out to
see a sick neighbor, leaving myself (only eleven years
old) and three younger children playing in the summer
kitchen. Little Eugene went in search of her, thinking
she had gone into the chamber, although we did not
miss him until we heard him crying. I ran up the first
stairway which opened into an unfinished room that
father was using temporarily for a shop, and found
shavings and lumber all in a blaze, and the child 's cry
ing came from the chamber above, where it was then
dangerous for me to venture. Poor little fellow, he
had gone to a cruel death instead of the safety of his
mother's arms. I was too frightened to think of any
thing but running into the street and rousing the neigh-
197

bors. Every citizen Avas soon on the spot, and left no
means untried to rescue him or extinguish the flames,
but it was not to be.
A blackened, shapeless thing was all they found
after the fire had done its Avork. But kind hands lift
ed it just as tenderly, heads were bared just as rever
ently over the poor remains as though there had been
blue eyes to close, or dimpled hands to fold. We sup
posed he must have set the shavings on fire by putting
some in the shop stove, then went up stairs to find his
mother and did not dare to return.
Another sad incident was the death by drowning
of Mrs. Sherwood, my mother's youngest sister, in the
mill-pond just below our house. It was Sabbath even
ing, and herself and husband were on their way to at
tend prayer-meeting, which had been appointed at our
house, on account of mother's health, and father being
unwilling to leave her. It being early in the spring,
the pond was still frozen OArer, with the exception of a
strip on our side which had been worn away by the
action of the Avater in the channel of the original creek.
The ice Avas still intact on their side and, to shorten
their walk, they started to cross, as had been their wont
through the winter, unaware of the danger, as it was
quite dusk, until they Avalked off into the Avater. Their
cry was heard by a neighbor, who happened to be out
of doors, and who soon roused the village. They were
rescued from the water, after some trouble, and Mr.
Shenvood soon recovered. Every means was tried that
could be thought of to resuscitate his wife, but all to no
avail. Life's joys and sorroAvs were over for her, and
no anguished cry of husband, children, or sister could
call her back. It was a sad blow to my mother to be
bereft of the sister for whose sake she had left the old
eastern home and all its comforts, and had followed her
to a strange land.
Dear patient mother ! I was too young then to think
of anything but my OAvn childish troubles, but when
looking back, uoav, Avith a woman's eyes, the trials that
have crossed my own pathway (and they are not few),
seem very small, compared with hers. Trial after trial
followed each other thick and fast until her cup must
198

have been full to the brim. Yet she always wore such
a placid, cheerful face, ever ready to sympathize with
and do for others, seldom speaking of her own troubles,
that none but those who loved her best knew of the
undercurrent of sorrow flowing beneath. But her trials
were over long since, and a white headstone, which
can be seen from my window, gleaming in the winter
sunshine, marks the spot where she sleeps.
REMINISCENCES OF THE WOMEN OF EARLY
WHITEWATER.
BY MRS. D. S. COOK.
Years ago, a meeting was held in Boston to com
memorate the landing of the Pilgrims. A dinner was
given and toasts were in order. The Pilgrim Fathers
had been properly toasted, their strength of character
lauded, their trials and hardships commiserated, when
' ' Fanny Fern, ' ' a noted writer of that day, offered the
following toast: "The Pilgrim Mothers, who not only
had their full share of the hardships and privations of
pioneer life but had also the Pilgrim Fathers to en
dure. ' '
Perhaps something similar might be said of the pio
neer mothers of Wisconsin; though possibly the stern
qualities of character which distinguished the Pilgrim
fathers had been softened somewhat since those early
days when hardness and sternness typified the attri
butes of the Divinity, in whom they firmly and devout
ly believed. Fortunately, the pioneers of Wisconsin were, as a
rule, young and full of hope and courage, otherwise
the life would have been less endurable. The Great
Lakes, lying between them and the comforts they had
once enjoyed, made it impossible for them to get fresh
supplies, and their privations were many. Added to
the intense cold of winter, and the many discomforts
of summer, there were Indians and wild animals to
fear, and fever and ague was their ever present enemy.
Sometimes, there were not enough well ones to care
for the sick; and often the cup of cold water, carried
from house to house by the hands of a child, was the

MRS. ROSEPHA TRIPPE
(WIFE OF DR. JAMES TRIPPE)

only comfort and aid that the suffering ones received.
In short, all the varied experiences that came into the
lives of pioneer women, were theirs, and they were
bravely borne. The unceasing toil that marked the
lives of the stronger sex, was theirs, and together they
enjoyed the recompense. Such pleasures as came to
them were accepted with grateful hearts, and when
sorrow was their portion they were strong to endure.
In later years, it was a rich treat, to listen to the
reminiscences of such women as Mrs. Rosepha Trippe,
Mrs. Melinda Pratt, Mrs. Maria Cravath, Mrs. Clarissa
Peck, Mrs. Delilah Kinney, and others, as they met in
social gatherings of the neighborly sort.
It was affirmed by these narrators that Mrs. Trippe
held herself superior to the others because she had a
parlor and they had none. To be sure, she had but one
room in her cabin by the side of the pond, but half of
her rough floor was covered by a yarn carpet and as a
protection from the mosquitoes, her bed had draperies
of heavy bobbinet lace. In one corner of this carpeted
space, was a locked cupboard which contained a tradi
tional set of French china; but it was too precious a
possession for their common little tea-drinkings and
never was it brought out, until upon the memorable
occasion when a protege of the family, Miss Fanny
Ostrander, was married to Leander Birge. Mrs. Trippe
also had a set of chairs with four legs and. a back,
while some of the others had only three-legged stools,
their seats being cross-cut sections of oak trees. She
also had a stone oven outside her kitchen door, a pos
session much coveted by those whose bakings were
done in Dutch ovens and bake-kettles in front of the
old-time fire-place. Mrs. Pratt's pride and superiority
were manifested in the possession of a cat, the only cat,
so far as known, in the Territory of Wisconsin. Melin
da 's cat was borrowed by her friends from time to time
when the mice became too aggressive in their little
homes, and of course he was treated like a prince.
Once upon a time, Mrs. Leander Birge borrowed him,
giving her promise that he should be carefully guarded
and safely returned. In their yard stood an empty
barrel, and one sad day the cat had taken possession
301

of this. Mr. Birge, not knowing that the cat Avas
there, chose the bunghole of the barrel for target prac
tice and, by some hocus pocus, shot off the poor cat's
tail close to its body. Speechless with remorse, Mr.
Birge took the mutilated cat on his arm, the severed
tail in his hand, and returned them to their owner with
regrets and apologies. The cat survived, and after
careful treatment, resumed his warfare on rats, mice,
gophers, and snakes, but never again was he loaned to
the neighbors.
Mrs. Cravath had a great love for children and, cor
ralling them whenever she could, she taught them the
alphabet as well as songs and Scripture texts, and re
galed them with her delicious doughnuts, which were
made fresh every day for her rather exacting husband ;
for Prosper — if Ave must say it — was a true Pilgrim
father, and his good wife Maria Avas not only a true Pil
grim mother, but a mother in Israel as well ; and all, .
old or young, AArho came under her influence were bene
fited in many ways.
And there were others. I cannot mention all, but I
have in mind Mrs. Marcena Peck, Mrs. Giles Kinney,
Mrs. Seth Billings, Mrs. Henry Keep, Mrs. Workman,
Mrs. Jane Pratt, Mrs. Dr. Clarke and her sainted moth
er, Mrs. Stedman, Avhose very presence in the sick room
Avas like the balm of Gilead to those Avho received her
ministrations. Her handsome, cap-crowned face and
her cheery voice brought untold comfort to the sick
and weary, and her devoted Christian life Avas an ex
ample and an inspiration to many who otherwise would
have fainted by the way. Mrs. Stedman 's last act of
mercy was the care of a sick friend who was suffering
frorh a contagious disease. The friend recovered, but
Mrs. Stedman contracted the disease and died, regret
ted by all who knew her.
Mrs. Billings was another of the very earliest set
tlers Avhose life, though a very retiring, unobtrusive
one, was a benediction to the sick and poor. At births
and deaths and in days of illness and misfortune, she
was ever a ready and skilful helper. She was a busy
Avoman but always found time to do good. With tire
less feet and willing hands, she Avent on her errands of
soa

MRS. S. M. BILLINGS

mercy. No night was too dark or cold ; no day too
rough and stormy to keep her from a mission of help
fulness, especially to the unfortunate and neglected.
Her training was love, patience, and good sense. She
exemplified in her OAvn life the "virtuous woman" de
scribed by Solomon. She passed peacefully to her re
ward on her eightieth birthday.
When Philander Peck and Avife first came to White-
Avater, they boarded with Giles Kinney, who lived on
what is known as the Starin farm, on Walworth Ave
nue. Mrs. Peck used often to come to the hamlet rid
ing on horseback, seated on a sheep-skin behind her
husband 's saddle ; and there was never a merry-making
or a tea-drinking that was not made the more enjoy
able by her presence. One day, some of the ladies were
invited by Mrs. Peck to take tea Avith her at the farm.
The only steeds available for their transportation across
the prairie were oxen, and their vehicle was a lumber
wagon. The journey to the farm was made in safety
and the visit was a most enjoyable one, but on starting
for home, one of the ox-bows became loosened and, to
the consternation of the women, the ox escaped and
refused to be caught by the unskilled teamsters. But
these pioneer women were fruitful in resources and
(what would we not give for a photograph) one by one
the women *in turn bent their heads to the yoke, while
those who rode encouraged her as best they could by
their witticisms and cheers.
Another time, they visited at the same place, this
time going on foot. On the way home, a thunder storm
threatened and they tried to hasten, but Pitt Cravath
who feared neither thunder, lightning, nor the threats
of women, refused to budge. Grasping his hands, they
strove to drag him along, but the boy dug his little
heels into the ground and sang :
"Here we go, to and fro',
In a merry, pretty row.
Footsteps light, faces bright,
'Tis a happy, happy sight," etc.
It was a happy sight and occasion for the young
ster, but the poor women preferred the ox episode.
*The editor does not guarantee the literal truth of this particular
part of the incident.

Needless to say, they were drenched before reaching
home, as no possible shelter presented itself save an
occasional oak tree, and oak trees were not considered
a safe refuge in a thunder storm.
When these women were living, it was vastly en
tertaining to listen to these reminiscences, both grave
and gay. As a rule, the strenuousness of the early pio
neer days was seemingly forgotten while they reveled
in the memories which made that life endurable and
enjoyable. HoAvever, the reminiscences were some
times grave as well as gay. One woman, after her chil
dren were grown and grandchildren were her glory and
pride, related this story:
"When John and I were first married and settled
on our little prairie farm, we were so happy that we
were almost afraid that we didn't enjoy religion. Then
the twins came. They were sickly babies and peevish,
and night and day they needed our care. But the fa
ther had to work in the fields ; I had all the indoor work
to do and the garden to look after, and all the time the
.twins claimed my attention and needed it. I tell you
I then had to live close to the Lord. ' '
But who shall say that those days of toil and priva
tion were not richer and fuller than were later days
when riches had come to some and comforts to all?
Youth, with its hopefulness and courage had now left
them, death had robbed some of them of their choicest
treasures. And yet, in their luxurious sunset days, they
could look back over the hills and valleys of memory
and see the lingering brightness of those early days
which still made in their hearts a glad, sweet song.

WHITEWATER IN THE WAR.
BY HON. E. D. COE.
Whitewater came up to the war period with lamps
trimmed and burning. The citizens were nearly all of
Eastern origin, and had for the most part been raised
in an atmosphere of strong anti-slavery sentiment.
Some had been schooled in the severe radicalism of the
Liberty party, some came from the anti-slavery wing
of the Democratic party of New York, known as "Barn-
205

burners," and many had given loyal support to the
candidates of the well-purposed but short-lived Free
Soil party. The aggressions of the slave power for the
previous two decades had irritated and angered the
general sentiment of the North. The repeal of the Mis
souri compromise, which threw open the western terri
tories to slave occupation where it had been forbidden
in case Missouri were permitted to come into the Union
as a slave state ; the enforcement of the Fugitive Slave
Law in Northern communities; the personal violence
offered Senator Sumner and other Northern leaders!
the border ruffian outrages, in Kansas ; the hanging of
fanatical John Brown, and many other incidents of a
tendency to embitter sectional feeling, had set up an
inflammatory condition generally, and nowhere more
than among the earnest, honest people of Walworth
County. It was not believed until the very last that
the South would persist to the point of actual separa
tion. The ordinances of secession and the open prepar
ations for Avar were looked upon as mere bluff. But
when Sumpter was fired on there was no longer doubt-
or hesitancy ; the tension was broken and no community
came to the front more alive with patriotic fervor and
more ready to do full patriotic duty than did White
water. A meeting of citizens filled Metropolitan Hall
pursuant to a call following immediately upon Presi
dent Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteers. Both po
litical parties Avere represented in the chairmanship, in
the persons of Geo. G. Williams and J. L. Pratt, thus
indicating the absolute unity of local sentiment upon
the great isue of the hour. It was determined, after
numerous rousing speeches had been made, to raise a
whole company at Whitewater. This was accomplished
before the month was over, and Charles E. Curtice,
principal of the public schools, Avas chosen captain, and
Frank L. Kiser first lieutenant. Alfred E. Chaffee was
made second lieutenant in September, after serving as
first sergeant. The company, knoAvn as "The White
water Light Infantry," mustered 103 strong, was in
spected by Col. S. A. Bean, June 12th, and on the 15th
of June it joined the Fourth Regiment at Camp Utley,
Racine, as "Co. A." Before going, it received a beauti-

ful flag, the gift of Mrs. George Esterly; a Bible was
furnished each man by Rev. E. J. Miner ; pin cushions,
needles, and pins were given by the ladies, and bou
quets by Miss Frank Cheney. One citizen, A. Sentenn,
saAV the last two of his five sons go with the company,
the three others having enlisted previously.
At a meeting held at Metropolitan Hall, April 20th,
it had been voted to pay to the wife of each volunteer
$5.00 per month and $2.00 for each child. In two days,
the necessary fund had reached a total of $7,000, ex
clusive of $1,000 given from the village treasury. This
spirit of liberality and of readiness to stand by the gov
ernment and its defenders, knew no abatement at
Whitewater until the last rebel had laid down his arms
and the flag floated unchallenged over every foot of the
country's domain.
In September, 1861, another call for troops was
made, and J. L. Pratt was commissioned by the gov
ernor of the state to raise a company. He set to work
with energy, and in November reported a full com
pany, knoAvn as the ' ' Lander Guards, ' ' named in honor
of Congressman John F. Potter's second in his famous
affair with Pryor of Virginia. Several adjoining towns
contributed to the raising of this company. It was fur
nished with a flag and other needful gifts, the same as
its predecessor. It went to Janesville, November 2d,
and became Co. II of the Thirteenth Regiment, with J.
L. Pratt as captain, C. S. Noyes first lieutenant, and
Robert Glover second lieutenant.
Two more calls were made for troops in the summer
of 1862, and E. S. Redington was commissioned to
raise a company. On the 16th of August, the company
went into camp at Milwaukee and became Co. D of the
Twenty-eighth Regiment. H. N. Hayes went out as
first lieutenant and James M. Mead as second lieuten
ant. The latter died six months later at Helena, Ark.
His funeral at WhiteAvater was attended by an immense
concourse of mourning friends, as he was widely and
most favorably known.
Several other organizations received recruits from
Whitewater, as will be seen by the list appended here
to. It is to the credit of the toAvn that it ahvays kept
207

ahead of the calls upon it, and at one time, when the
county was 581 behind its quota, Whitewater was fif
teen to the good. By subscription and tax, fully $50,-
000 was raised in Whitewater to pay bounties and
support the families of volunteers. On balancing the
books, it was reported that "only $75 of the bounty
fund had been uncollected, that Asher Castle 's cow was
nor used and Rev. 0. Montague's house was returned."
This venerable patriot had enlisted but could not pass
the doctors, and so had offered his house to the cause.
The zeal for going to the front even reached down
among the boys, and one sturdy little fellow came away
from the recruiting office in tears because it was dis
covered that he had pieced out his small stature by
packing an inch of paper in the heels of his shoes. An
other bunch of half a dozen boys ran away to Milwau
kee, later on, and were accepted as recruits, because the
test was not so severe as at the beginning. They
feared that they might be followed by one or more of
their fathers, and Fred L. Day was put on guard at the
depot in Milwaukee because he claimed to be immune,
as his father had said often and with emphasis that if
he should run away to enlist he would not be followed.
But when the train stopped the first man to descend
was Day, Sr. ; the kid was promptly collared, the whole
lot of young patriots was rounded up, and all were on
their homeward way the same afternoon.
Whitewater plainly did its full duty in those days
of anxiety and sonow, and the Avork of the men was
nobly seconded by that of the women. Many who went
to the front were never seen at home again, and many
came back to carry through life the burdens of wounds
and broken health. It is probable that the missing are
represented in every national cemetery, some with
headboards suitably inscribed, and many remembered
and honored only by those pathetic monuments, of
which one is to be seen in our own Hillside, "To the
Unknown Dead. ' '
ROSTER OF WHITEWATER VOLUNTEERS.
The following roster shows the enlistments credited
to Whitewater during the Civil War according to offi
cial records : 208

First Wisconsin Cavalry.
Dr. Henry Cansdell, also in 22d Inft. and 1st Battery.
Rev. Geo. H. Fox, Avas also captain in the 16th.
L. H. Rand, Bat. Q. M. William Noel, Co. E.
Jesse B. Hamilton, Co. A. Paul C. Stillman, Co. E.

Third Wisconsin Cavalry.
Capt. Fernando C. Kiser, James Nolan, Co. H.

Co. D.
Paul Colburn, Co. D.
James P. Crego, Co. D.
Henry L. Royce, Co. D.
LaFayette Stone, Co. D.
John Storm, Co. D.

James K. Scoville, Co. H.
Henry L. Royce, Co. L.
Albert Shugart, Co. M.
Herman Wilbers, Co. M.
John Winer, Co. D.
James Nolan, Co. G.

Fourth Wisconsin Cavalry.
Charles E. Curtice, Adjt. -Captain Co. A.

Frank L. Kiser, 1st Lt. Co.
A.
Philo A. Castle, 1st Lt. Co.
A.
Alfred E. Chaffee, 1st Lt.
Co.A.
Gilbert B. Finch, 1st Lt.
Co.A.
Orlando 0. Allen, Co. A.
Homer W. Beckley, Co. A.
Amos H. Beekhart, Co. A.
Newcomb Bingham, Co. A.
Marshall E. Boswell, Co.A.
Charles L. Branch, Co. A.
Wilber N. Brewer, Co. A.
John W. Bridge, Co. A.
John Burnham, Co. A.
Joseph F. Brown, Co. A.
Jerome H. Buck, Co. A.
Charles Cadman, Co. A.
LeAAns Castle, Co. A.
Joseph A. Chamberlain,
Co.A.

James G. Conklin, Co. A.
Jehiel J. Criger, Co. A.
Wm. H. Dake, Co. A.
Thomas Duffy, Co. A.
Oliver Keaton, Co. A.
Wm. R. Farnsworth, Co.A.
John Felch, Co. A.
Chester E. W. Felch, Co.A.
Samuel D. Ferguson, Co.A.
Jacob Freelar, Co. A.
Walter Goodenough, Co.A.
Charles A. Green, Co. A.
Fred'k B. Hamilton, Co.A.
John W. Harrington,Co.A.
Franklin Keith, Co. A.
Clark M. Kenyon, Co. A.
Austin Kettleson, Co. A.
Walter M. King, Co. A.
Charles Kribs, Co. A.
Calvin S. Lovejoy, Co. A.
Wm. T. Ludeman, Co. A.
Fred'k W. Ludeman,Co.A.
William W. Mallo, Co. A.

209

Josiah C. McManus, Co. A.
William H. Moffit, Co. A.
Marcus M. Morton, Co. A.
John Murphy, Co. A.
Nelson Neilson, Co. A.
Alanson Plumb, Co. A.
Stephen Preedy, Co. A.
Daniel A. Proctor, Co. A.
Franklin L.Robinson,Co A.
John Rowe, Co. A.
James Scott, Co. A.
Frederick Shaller, Co. A.
David E. Simmonds, Co.A.
Ira Swim, Co. A.
Jerome Swim, Co. A.

Charles Vodre, Co. A.
Major P. Webb, Co. A.
Wm. H. Wenham, Co. A.
Ole Wilson, Co. A.
Gideon J. Wire, Co. A.
Charles F. Simmons, Co. B.
Obediah Doriskill, Co. B.
Jerome B.Humphrey,Co.B.
Wm. Newton, Co. B.
Daniel A. Proctor, Co. B.
Peter Elbers, Co. E.
Martin II. Dake, Co. F.
Charles Simmons, Co. F.
Martin H. Dake, Co. K.

First Battery, Light Artillery.
Henry Berges. William Criger.
Thirteenth Battery, Light Artillery.

Geo. L. Cross, Sr. 1st Lt.
Alfred E. Chaffee, Jr. 1st
Lt.
Samuel Bond,
Felix Boyle,
Willard S. Branch,
Robert A. Campbell,
Edward F. Clark,
George E. Dancy,
Lucien H. Fisk,
James Fryer,
Addison Green,
Charles A. Green,
William Hall,
John J. Holcomb,
Charles P. Hunt,

Americus W. Jones,
Henry L. Jones,
Spencer T. Redford,
Morris E. Rockwell,
Michael Saunders,
August W. Schultz,
George Sewright,
Thomas Simpson,
Henry C. Stevens,
Hiram Stoner,
George D. Thatcher,
William Walsh,
William West,
William Westphall,
Thomas Wickett,
George N. Wing.

First Regiment, Heavy Artillery.
John Demroe, C. L. Lars Oleson, Co.
August Karhetski, Co. L. Samuel Dutcher (Recruits
William Kinyon, Co. L. not on Co. rolls).

First Regiment Infantry (3 months).
Louis W. Sentenn, Co. C.
First Regiment Infantry (3 years).
Edson Moore, Co. B. Henry Wandall, Co. B.
John C. Skillen, Co. B.
Third Regiment Infantry.
Lorenzo D. Johnson, Co. I. James Fery (unassigned)
Sixth Regiment Infantry.
William G. Allen, Co. D. John W. Rogers, Co. D.
Seventh Regiment Infantry.
Menander O. Senteen, Co. Benjamin Sentenn, Co. G.
I. Ninth Regiment Infantry.
Leonhardt Holl, Co. D.
Tenth Regiment Infaniry.
George F. Alverson, Co. K.
Eleventh Regiment Infantry.
Henry Fryer, Co. C. John Tessin, Co. C.
Seldon Huntley, Co. C. Philander Wilber,
Frank A. Huntley, Co. C. Richard B. Lynn, Co. D.
Alonzo Meracle, Co. C.
Thirteenth Regiment Infantry.
Maj. Chas. S. Noyes (from John F. Moore, Co. A.
Capt. Co. H.) James Slocum, Co. B.
Elisha G. Horton, 1st Asst. Melvin M. Webb, Co. B
Surg. (trans, to Band)
Erick Knudson (Band) David S. Lane, Co. C.
Andrew Larson (Band) Capt. Jos. L. Pratt, Co. H.

Edgar J. Pratt, Captain
Co. H.
Robert Glover, 1st. Lt. Co.
H.
Charles C. Graham, 2d Lt.
Co. H.
Frederick Bullock, Co. H.
Alonzo L. Castle, Co. H.
John C. Dobie, Co. H.
Ossias Elliot, Co. H.
Charles Ellis, Co. H.
John W. Gilson, Co. H.
Harvey Gunderson, Co. H.
William H. Hall, Co. H.
Frederick Herzog, Co. H.
Ole Jacobson, Co. H.
Sylvanus 0. Larkin, Co. H.
Garret Lasher, Co. H.
Gilbert N. Manning, Co. H.

Mountford L. McCarthy,
Co. H.
John McGee, Co. H.
William Milne, Co. H.
Simon Nelson, Co. H.
Oliver Nelson, Co. H.
Ole Olson, Co. H.
Martin Olson, Co. H.
Ole Osmonson, Co. H.
William Parsons, Co. H.
Daniel E. Perkins, Co. H.
Joel A. Pratt, Co. H.
Paul Ramberg, Co. H.
Lalemand H. Rand, Co. H.
Geo. H. Rankin, Co. H.
William Rolof, Co. H.
John C. Salverson, Co. H.
Robert Smith, Co. H.
John Smith, Co. I.
DeWitt C. Green, Co. K.

Fifteenth Regiment Infantry.
Hans C. Sorenson, Co. C.
Sixteenth Regiment Infantry.
Geo. H. Fox, Capt. Co. B. Randolph A. Fox, Co. B.

Seventeenth Regiment Infantry.

John Keenan, 1st — Co. F.
John Keenan, 2d — Co. F.
John McBride, Co. F.

John Roach, Co. F.
Thomas Walsh, Co. F.

Twentieth Regiment Infantry.

Edgar E. Ellis, 1st Lt.
Co. D.
William H. Farnsworth,
2d Lt. Co. D.
William Cox, Co. D.
Charles H. Drake, Co. D.

Edgar C. Delano, Co. D.
W. G. Jennings, Co. D.
George W. King, Co. D.
Freeman T. Knowlton,
Co. D.

Twenty-second Regiment Infantry.
Henry W. Cansdell, Surg. Jerome Barbank.
Twenty-fourth Regiment Infantry.
EdAvin W. Cheney, Co. A.
Twenty-seventh Regiment Infantry.
Ole Nelson Falk, 1st Lt. Louis Ammon,
Co. H. John Hanson, Co. H.

Twenty-eighth Regiment Infantry.

Edmund B. Gray, Lt. Col.
Jerome B. Magill, Adj.
Lewis K. Hawes, 1st Asst.
Surg.
James B. Schrom.
William Durant, Co. A.
Henry Heiden, Co. A.
Joseph Shabino, Co. A.
Edward S. Redington,
Capt. Co. D.
Hiram N. Hayes, 1st Lt.
Co. D.
James B. Schrom, 1st Lt.
Co. D.
Henry H. Watts, 1st Lt.
Co. D.
James M. Mead, 2d Lt.
Co. D.
James A. Baldwin, Co. D.
Charles Bonnett, Co. D.
Lewis Carpenter, Co. D.
James J. Caward, Co. D.
Garret Clement, Co. D.
Samuel Clement, Co. D.
Thomas Conroy, Co. D.
Henry A. Cox, Co. D.
George Criger, Co. D.
Thomas Dancy, Co. D.

Edward Dann, Co. D.
George DeGroat, Co. D.
Peter Deilmann, Co. D.
Wm. D. Dowling, Co. D.
William Durant, Co. D.
John Early, Co. D.
Hiram Edwards, Co..D.
Franz Faust, Co. D.
Benedict Feiss, Co. D.
Robert Firth, Co. D.
David N. Goodrich, Co. D.
John Grant, Co. D.
Frederick Haage, Co. D.
Jesse Hare, Co. D.
John W. Harrison, Co. D.
Alonzo W. Hayes, Co. D.
Clesson A. Hendrickson,
Co. D.
George Hills, Co. D.
James A. Hodge, Co. D.
Charles Holmes, Co. D.
Charles Hudson, Co. D.
Patrick Keenan, Co. D.
Job Kershaw, Co. D.
Francis Kinney, Co. D.
Charles Kuhn, Co. D.
John Kynaston, Co. D.
Michael Larkin, Co. D.

213

Garret Lasher, Co. D.
John H. Lasher, Co. D.
Henry Lingermann, Co. D.
Francis X. Mayer, Co. D.
William Maynard, Co. D.
Isaac Miller, Co. D.
Aaron Montford, Co. D.
Peter J. Nelson, Co. D.
Gilbert E.Nickerson, Co. D.
Gilbert Olson, Co. D.
Michael Ostermier, Co. D.
Charles Z. Pierce, Co. D.
John J. Redmond, Co. D.
Charles E. Robbins, Co. D.
Charles W. Rockwell, Co.
D.
John W. Rodgers, Co. D.
Henry Burch, Co. D.
AndreAv Saright, Co. D.
Charles Scholl, Co. D.
Christopher Scholl, Co. D.
Chas. W. Schroble, Co. D.
John Shulz, Co. D.
Chas. H. Simpson, Co. D.
George Smith, Co. D.
Oscar Smith, Co. D.
Salmon L. Strong, Co. D.
Mathias Smith, Co. D.
James Taylor, Co. D.
John Taylor, Co. D.
Jacob Thomas, Co. D.
Patrick Timlin, Co. D.
George Trautman, Co. D.
Edward Troy, Co. D.
George F. Tucker, Co. D.

Charles A. Ware, Co. D.
Jacob Warker, Co. D.
Joseph Weiss, Co. D.
Norman Wheelock, Co. D.
Horatio N. Wilkinson,
Co. D.
Geo. M. Winslow, Co. D.
Thomas Wray, Co. D.
Cyrus Yeomans, Co. D.
Charles Cox, Co. E.
Henry O. Dutton, Co. E.
Francis P. Knowlton,
Co. E.
James Langstaff, Co. E.
Edwin C. Lyman, Co. E.
Michael Moore, Co. E.
John B. Robinson, Co. E.
Ed. H. Snow, Co. E.
Emery Z. Thwing, Co. E.
Hiram J. Welch, Co. E.
Henry Heiden, Co. H.
John Organ, Co. I.
Jos. Shabino, Co. I.
James J. Caward, Co. K.
Thomas Conroy, Co. K.
Silas Cornell, Co. K.
Silas Fero, Co. K.
John H. Lasher, Co. K.
Louis W. Sentenn, Co. K.
John Bell, not on roll.
William Clement.
Michael Hogan.
George Smith.
Samuel Zeigler.

Thirty-sixth Regiment Infantry.

Henry Wandell, Co. G.
Henry Carman, Co. H.
Carroll M. Peck, Co. H.

George L. Cross, Co. I.
Edgar Lyon, Co. I.

Thirty-seventh Regiment Infantry.
George Barron, Co. G. Joseph E. Clark, Co. G.
Thirty-eighth Regiment Infantry.
James Brennan, Co. F. John White, Co. F.
Henry C. Ellis, Co. F. Michael Ryan, Co. G.
Michael Ryan, Co. F. John White, Co. G.
Fortieth Regiment Infantry (100 days).
Charles Birge, Co. D. James Gleason, Co. I.
Pitt Cravath, Co. D. Thomas Jefford, Jr., Co. I.
Edward Andrews, Co. I. Peter B. Lasher, Co. I.
Charles L. Black, Co. I. Henry Reap, Co. I.
William Brennen, Co. I.
Forty-second Regiment Infantry.
Edmund Rand, Co. G. James Thomas, Co. K.
Forty-third Regiment Infantry.
Joseph Birkenmeyer, Co. Jermiah Holcombe, Co. A.
A. John Rasmuson, Co. A.
Horace P. Brownell, Co. A. Leroy Stanton, Co. A.
Charles J. Goodale, Co. A. Charles E. Thomas, Co. A.
Nathan H. Hatch, Co. A. John H. Freeman, Co. C.
Forty-fourth Regiment Infantry.
Simon Hanf, Co. G. Joseph Lederer, Co. G.
Forty-sixth Regiment Infantry.
Johannes Hanson, Co. E.
Forty-seventh Regiment Infantry.
Albert Butz, Co. E. Matthew Conlin, Co. H.
James Gleason, Co. E. James Hayden, Co. H.
Edgar C. Hamilton, Co. E. Abram Meracle, Co. H.
William O'Brien, Co. E. Thomas O'Brien, Co. H.
215

Forty-eighth Regiment Infantry.
Godfrey Loefert, Co. F. Christian Smith, Co. F.
Fritz Miller, Co. F. William Fess, Co. F.
Harvey Santas, Co. F.
Forty-ninth Regiment Infantry.
Oliver Gunderson, Co. C. Ludwig Buening, Co. H.
Fifty-first Regiment Infantry.
John Coleman, Co. E.
Fifty-second Regiment Infantry.
Charles C. Graham, Q. M.
First Regiment U. S. V. V. Engineers.
Frederick M. Brown. Michael Mitchell.
Adam Fener. Twenty-ninth U. S. Col. Troops.
Unassigned recruits —
John Gilum. Aaron Moore.
Recruits Regular Army, Wisconsin.
Stephen Brockway. Ranson Munn.
John Mellon. Joseph Roberts.
William Moore. Michael Ryan.
SUPPLEMENTARY.
Below is given a supplementary list which may very
properly be added, containing the names of volunteers
who went to the front from near-by towns, and who
since the war have been residents of Whitewater for
longer or shorter periods, and more or less identified
with its soldier element :
Andrew Arwood, Co. E, Robert Bridge, Co. H., 13th
28th, La Grange. Koshkonong.
James Bridge, Co. H, 13th Samuel Barfoot, Co. G.,
Koshkonong. 4th Wis., Palmyra.
216

Geo. H. Beckwith, Co. H.,
13th Wis., Elkhorn.
Henry Billings, Co. B., 40
Wis., Beloit College.
Augustus Coonrod, Co. L.,
1st H. Artillery, La
Grange.
Daniel S. Ewing, Co. A.,
H. Artillery, Palmyra.
Ambrose Elphick, Co. I.,
13th, Lima.
John Garbutt, Co. I., 13th,
Palmyra.
Dr. Jos. Green, Asst. Surg.
11th Regt.
Harlan P. Goodman, Co.
A., Heavy Artillery, Pal
myra.
James M. Hallowes, Co.
E . , Heavy Artillery, Cold
Spring.
Sidney A. Hart, Co. E.,

Heavy Artillery.
William J. Holden, Co.
40th Wis., LaGrange.
Capt. W. A. Knilans, Co.
G., 13th Wis., Sugar
Creek.
Geo. Knilans, Co. D., 22d
Wis., Richmond.
Albert Marskie, Co. H.,
13th Wis., Lima.
Albert Salisbury, Co. H.,
13th Wis., Lima.
Gilbert Scott, Co. H., 13th
Wis., Center.
Capt. C. W. Steele, Co. A,
4th Cavalry, Lima.
Capt. G. W. Steele, Co. K.,
13th Inf., Lima.
James H. Lawton, Co. G.,
42d, LaGrange.
J. Byron Taylor, Co. E.,
28th, Sugar Creek.

THE COMING OF THE NORMAL SCHOOL.
[A Paper read by D. S. COOK at the Quarter-Centennial of the Normal
School in June. 1893.]
I was greatly gratified when President Salisbury
asked me to prepare a paper to read before you on this
important day in the history of the Whitewater Normal
School. I was gratified that he should think me com
petent to do the work assigned me, though my con
fidence in his good judgment was somewhat shaken.
Much that I shall present to you is traditionary, but,
while open to criticism, is mainly correct, as correct
as man 's unreliable memory usually permits. Certainly
much of it is not a matter of record, and some of its
statements may be disputed. The right to be disputed
is an inalienable one.
I have carefully examined the proceedings of the
Board of Regents, from the day of its organization up
217

to the year 1870, aud the record is remarkable for
that Avhich is not recorded.
Sept. 26, 1860, it is entered on the minutes that
Major Rufus Cheney, H. L. Rann, and others, appeared
before the Board, urging the claims of Whitewater for
a Normal School, and offering lands and buildings, and
asking the Board to say on Avhat terms their request
could be granted. No action Avas taken by the Board.
On May 26, 1865, the Board of Regents instructed the
officers to advertise for sealed proposals for donations
in money, lands, buildings, etc., the time for receiving
proposals to extend to Sept. 1, 1865. On Sept. 7, 1865,
Hon. C. C. Sholes, Hon. Wm. E. Smith, and Hon. J. G.
McMynn Avere selected to visit the localities making
proposals. The Board met in Milwaukee, May 2, 1866.
Hon. S. A. White reported that the title to the present
site Avas nearly completed, and gave evidence that the
necessary bonds had been deposited Avith the State
Treasurer, thus complying Avith the laAv. Sept. 6, 1866,
the Board instructed the building committee to proceed
with the Avork of building the Normal School at White-
Avater, according to plans and specifications prepared
by Architect Randall, of Chicago, and to employ a
suitable superintendent. Noa-. 21, 1866, the sum of
$3,000 Avas appropriated to be expended under the
direction of Supt. N. M. Littlejohn, and the president
and secretary Avere authorized to draAv warrants for
such moneys as might be due for Avork clone on the
WhiteAvater Normal School.
March 23, 1867, the sum of $8,000 was appropriated
to finish the Normal School at Whitewater. Sept. 24,
1867, the Board authorized the Governor and Regent,
William E. Smith, to employ a principal for the school.
and the building committee to put in heating appara
tus, for the purpose of protection, and that the work
might continue during the cold Aveather that the build
ing might be finished during the Fall. Dec. 31, 1867,
the committee on employment of 'principal reported
that they had selected Prof. Oliver Arey, with a salary
of $2,500, and had appropriated the sum of $300 to
pay expenses of his moving from Buffalo to White
water. Said committee were authorized to select the

faculty. Jan. 28, 1868, Regents Starr and White were
appointed committee to select books, apparatus, and
things needed for the Whitewater Normal School. Jan.
28, 1869, President Arey presented before the Board
the question of laying out the grounds, and the sum of
$100 Avas appropriated for that purpose. Superintend
ent Littlejohn reported that the sum of $54,390.52 had
been expended, and debts remained unpaid, $2,519, and
needed for completion, $1,500. July 15, 1869, bills
presented by Regent S. A. White show an expenditure
of $552.20 in beautifying the grounds, and of that
amount the citizens of Whitewater had donated $392.72.
As the foregoing was taken from the secretary's books,
it must be worth its face; but who can read between
the lines ?
Over forty years ago, men were turning over, in
their minds, plans for better educational advantages
than could be had in the little brick school house
located in the park opposite the residence of Mr. Coe.
The little red school house was then, and still is, a
power, outside of politics. Little did Governor Peck
imagine, when he and his mates were planning mis
chief "in the little red brick," that they were making
history. At different times, efforts were made to build
up an academy, a seminary, a young ladies' boarding
school, but none of them materialized.
During the year 1865, Hon. S. A. White was ap
pointed a member of the Board of Normal Regents ;
and here let me say to those who are, and those who
are not, familiar with the events of those days, that
through his determined and persistent efforts, and the
generous use of his means, we are more indebted to
Judge White for the locating and building of this
Normal School than to all other influences combined.
Some of you remember how he labored in season and
out of season, with hand on his purse, and with tongue
eloquent with conviction, coaxing, persuading, and
almost driving us, to take the step Avhich he felt would
bring to Whitewater and its people greater good than
any other ever presented for our acceptance. Today
is his prophecy fulfilled.

Hon. W. H. Chandler, then State Senator, spent
Sunday, the 19th day of February, 1865, Avith Judge
White; and the question of Normal School building
was fully discussed. Mr. Chandler was an enthusi
astic friend of the Normal School. In 1870, he Avas
appointed member of the Board of Regents, and for
tAventy-one years gave his time and talent to the ad
vancement of its interests, earning, deserving, and
still holding an honored place in the heart of every
citizen of Wisconsin. Other members of the Board
may be equally deserving, but none of them has been
so long and so familiarly known to our people.
During the month of April, 1S65, steps were taken
toward establishing an academy in WhiteAvater, but the
project was given up as soon as the question of locat
ing a normal school came before the Legislature. Two
plans for its location were presented. One was to
establish a normal school, par excellence, at Racine,
having every needed equipment, in building and facul
ty, to make it the school of the State, leaving all
thought of other schools in abeyance. The other plan,
presented and ardently supported by Judge White, was
the establishment of a normal school in each congres
sional district, beginning Avith tAvo, and following Avith
others as soon as they Avere needed, the buildings and
equipments to be moderate, but sufficient for the needs
of the time. The locations talked of Avere Mihvaukee,
Racine, Whitewater, Oshkosh, Stoughton, Sheboygan.
and Platteville. As members from each district Avere
present, and felt a personal interest in the location, the
plan presented by Judge White Avas adopted. At the
suggestion of Hon. J. G. McMynn, a committee Avas
appointed to visit and report upon the desirability of
any location that might be presented, taking into con
sideration everything tending toward the welfare and
success of the school. That committee in their report
rated Racine higher than either WhiteAvater or Platte
ville. The Board of Regents gaA-e notice that they
would receive proposals for money, lands, buildings,
etc., till the folloAving September. In the month of
August, the citizens of Whitewater voted to raise by
town tax the sum of $20,000 and donate it with a site,

as an inducement to locate a normal school in White
water. The Mihvaukee people Avere dilatory. After
the time for receiving proposals had expired, they
asked to haA^e the bids reopened, and pledged the faith
of their city to pay annually the sum of $4,000 for five
years, and that Avealthy citizens of Mihvaukee would
donate a site. Platteville agreed to donate grounds,
buildings, library, etc., estimated to be Avorth $25,000.
The committee, consisting of Hon. J. G. McMynn, Hon.
C. C. Sholes, and Gov. W. E. Smith, made their report
the folloAving March. The Board then decided to locate
a school in Whitewater, provided we would donate the
sum of $25,000 and a suitable site.
A citizens' mass meeting was called at Metropolitan
Hall. William DeWolf called the meeting to order.
John S. Partridge Avas chosen chairman, and T. D.
Weeks secretary. Remarks were made in favor of
accepting and complying with the proposition by
Major R. Cheney, Hon. N. M. Little John, and Hon. S.
A. White. Resolutions were finally passed thanking
the committee, Messrs. Littlejohn, Rann and White,
Avho had the matter in charge, for their efforts in
securing the location of a normal school in WhiteAvater,
and pledging the town to carry out the propositions
presented by the Board of Regents. The plans of the
proposed building, drawn by Architect Randall, of
Chicago, Avere on exhibition.. The tax Avas voted and
levied in July, 1866. It Avas bitterly opposed by many
outside the village, Avho said it was a scheme to build
up the village at the expense of the toAvn. Time has
shoAvn that the town has been as largely benefited as
the village. A few of the village people opposed the
movement, but a large majority of village and country
were enthusiastic for it ; and today no one regrets the
sacrifices made.
The season was rapidly passing, and many feared
the Avork of building would be delayed another year.
August 8th, the Board gave notice to the contractors
that they would receive bids for building, time to ex
pire Sept. 4th. The architect's estimate was $33,000.
When the bids were opened none were found within
the limit of the estimated sum. The building committee
221

were instructed to go ahead with the work, without
contract, and to meet the following week at White
Avater. At that meeting, the Hon. N. M. Little John was
selected to superintend the construction of the build
ing, and work was begun on the foundation Oct. 2d.
As we gathered around and watched the huge boulders
lie down in their beds of cement, to sleep the dream
less sleep of ages, our hopes grew bright and our faith
grew strong. Our brightest hopes, our fondest antici
pations have been more than realized.
"And yet ! and yet ! ! The twenty-five years that have passed away
Are but the rosy dawn of the coming day."
The building, as it now stands, after twenty-five
years of service, is gratifying evidence of the ability
and faithfulness of the superintendent. Before the work
could be commenced, it was necessary that the money
donated by our people, $25,000, should be paid into the
State treasury ; and though the tax was levied, and sure
to be paid, it could not be collected in time to meet
the demand. To obviate this difficulty, Judge White
and others deposited with the State treasurer, as
security, their private government bonds. The bonds
were redeemed by Mr. Littlejohn, then chairman of
the Board of Supervisors, as per vouchers in the State
treasury. The town officers decided to issue town
bonds to the amount of the tax, 250 bonds of $100 each.
These Avere readily sold at par, Lyman Goodhue taking
110 shares, S. A. White fifty shares, Zerah Mead forty
shares, Lewis Cook thirty-five shares, Wm. H. Wright
five shares, Mrs. W. H. Wright ten shares. A private
subscription was circulated to raise funds to pay for
a site, the locating committee having decided to accept
the one now occupied. Several others were talked of;
one where the water-tower stands, one just north of
the paper-mill, and one known as Geo. Dann's hill.
The subscriptions were large, and were made readily.
Several were $500 each. Of those who gave freely and
liberally, a large proportion have paid their last debt,
notably, Samuel Prince, Lewis Vincent, S. A. White,
Lyman Goodhue, N. H. Allen, L. A. Winchester, J. S.
Partridge, Zerah Mead, Wm. H. Wright, E. S. Reding-

ton, R. O'Connor, Mrs. R. A. Trippe, Geo. Esterly,
Major Rufus Cheney, and many others. I am greatly
disappointed in not being able to place my hand on
that subscription list. My impression is that the site
cost between $5,000 and $6,000. Deacon Bush owned
and occupied a portion of the front of the lot. Mr.
Prueger lived in and owned a small house just east of
the Normal School building, and the balance of the
land, in all about ten to thirteen acres, was deeded by
Geo. G. Williams.
Cold Aveather put a stop to the Avork, and it was
not resumed till July, 1867, at which time it was
pushed vigorously. In the interval, the voice of the
croaker was heard in the land, saying, "the building
will not be finished ; we have thrown away our
money. ' '
The Racine people were up in arms because their
claims to a Normal School were ignored, and threat
ened to appeal to the courts for redress, saying they
had raised more money than WhiteAvater, and charging
that undue influences had been brought to bear on the
locating committee, the Racine Advocate being the
mouthpiece of the disaffected parties.
In December, '67, the Board secured the services of
Prof. Oliver Arey as principal. He and his family ar
rived in WhiteAvater in January, '68. April 10th, the
Legislature authorized the sum of $8,000 to be used in
completing the school. The formal opening took place
April 21, 1868. Dedicatory services were opened by
the Hon. Wm. Starr, president of the Board, folloAved
by music by the glee class, the membership of the class
being Mr. and Mrs. H. O. Montague, H. II. Greenman,
Mrs. E. Dewey, Miss Hattie Birge, and H. H. McGraw.
Prayer by Rev. J. McNamara. Solo: "It will be
Summer Time Bye and Bye." President Starr made a
brief address. President Arey followed, showing the
importance of an education, the value of the Normal
school, and its history. A dedicatory song, written by
Mrs. Arey, with music written by Dr. Greenman, was
sung by the glee class.
Among those present, were President Allen, of
Platteville, President Chadbourne, of the State Univer-
223

sity, by whom impressive remarks were made, followed
by short talks by Mr. Pomeroy, city superintendent of
Milwaukee, J. L. Pickard, city superintendent of Chi
cago, Rev. T. G. Colton, Rev. Mr. McNamara, Hon. H.
Robbins, of Platteville, Hon. J. E. Thomas, and Hon
A. J. Craig, superintendent of public instruction, the
exercises closing Avith the singing of Old Hundred by
the entire audience.
Then began an epoch in the history of Whitewater
of growth and usefulness such that coming years only
can tell the full value thereof. Great credit is due the
men who thus brought to a successful completion a work
more productive of lasting good than language can
portray. We hear of fruit that is hand-picked, without
a blemish. There are people who are hand-picked,
without flaws, up to the stature of perfect manhood.
Not perfect when measured by the Great Standard, but
perfect of their kind, and we claim for Wisconsin and
for Whitewater our full share. We are proud of Wis
consin ! Proud of Whitewater ! Proud of our Normal
School ! whose work from its opening day, has been one
of unbroken and ever-increasing usefulness.

THE OLD BUILDINGS OF WHITEWATER.
BY ALBERT SALISBURY.
In the year 1844, according to Prosper Cravath 's his
tory, the hamlet of Whitewater contained twenty-nine
dwelling houses and twenty-two business buildings, in
cluding mills, shops, stores, and offices. In these, were
domiciled fifty-four families and forty-eight men with
out families. What has become of those pioneer build
ings which housed the Whitewater of '44?
My inquiry in the Register of April 6, 1906, brought
one man to the front, and little more. But that man
seems to serve the purpose pretty well. Chas. M. Clark
came to WhiteAvater Avith his father, John M. Clark, in
1846. He was then a boy of only 13 years, but evi
dently with a keen eye for locality. He declares that
he can now distinctly remember every building then
standing in the village — how it looked, where it stood,
and who lived in it. In this article, I have combined

his recollections Avith the record of Prosper Cravath as
far as possible.
Of course, the number of thvellings in '46 was
greater than in '44 ; but the majority of them have dis
appeared from the scene altogether and many others
haAre been moved from their original sites. Of those
still discoverable, some account is here given, as the
result of a tour of the town made under the pilotage
of Mr. Clark.
Beginning at the mill, which was the original center
of the town, we find the first grist mill, built by Dr.
Trippe in 1839, still standing as the framed annex to
the Stone Mill. Across the street, towards the rail
road, is a little wooden dwelling long known as "the
mill house." Of this house, Mrs. Trippe was the occu
pant in '46. Their original dwelling, part log and part
framed, in which Dr. Trippe died in 1844, stood be
tween the railroad and the pond, just south of where
the old wagon factory now stands. This was still
standing until 1893, when O'Donnell started up the
wagon business. In the course of his cleaning up
process, the old house Avas demolished. None of the
log houses of the village now remain.
In the block extending westward from the mill on
the south side of Main street, on the site noAV occupied
by Finch's store, once stood a wooden building occu
pied by Eaton & Brass as a store, from 1843 to 1846,
when they sold it to Marsh & Partridge. This building-
is now doing duty as a dwelling, or rather as two dwell
ings, on North street. The front half is now the house
two doors east from George street, on the north side of
North street. The other half is part of the dwelling
one door farther east, noAV occupied by Dr. Horne.
At the corner of North and Second streets, to the
rear of Hotel Wahvorth, is a one-story house, now
OAvned by Mrs. M. A. Klein, which stands where it was
occupied by Job Bonnell, a tailor, in 1846. The house
standing on Second street, next to the Walworth Hotel,
was built by Dr. J. A. Clarke on the present hotel site,
in 1841. It was then, and long afterwards, one of the
finest houses in town. Mrs. Clarke has been a continu
ous resident of Whitewater from that day to this.
225

The house with a balcony, north of Ward's livery
barn, on the east side of Second street, once stood on
the corner on Main street now occupied by the Bower
House block. It Avas built by David J. Powers and Avas
occupied by Levi Powers as a drug store and dwelling
combined. Later, it Avas occupied for many years by
John T. Smith as a jewelry store, up to the time when
Joe Bowers moved it away.
The house on North street near Fremont street, now
owned by Miss Ella Williams and long the residence of
her father, George G. Williams, Esq., was built by Dr.
Oliver C. Magoon in 1842. He sold it to George Dann
in 1845, Avho lived in it for a time.
Returning to Main street, the upright part of the
dwelling at the corner of Second street, known as the
Aleck Simmons house, Avas built by Jesse Pease in 1842.
He was the oldest man in the village at that time.
Passing up the street, the west part of Dr. Chaffee 's
house, occupied by her office, was built by I. U. Wheeler
the first, "Old 'Squire Wheeler," in 1841.
Across Third street, on the corner, the Sweetland
house Avas built by Matthew Hicks in 1841, and was
sold by him to John 0. Storms in 1843.
A part of the one-story brick building a little farther
up was built by Joseph Powers and was first occupied
by James Worm as a gun shop in 1846. Here he kept
"bachelor's hall" until he was married, when the re
maining, or western part was erected.
The dAvelling at the corner of Fourth street, now
owned by Scott Salisbury, was built by David J. Powers
in 1841, but Avas owned and occupied by Freeman Pratt
in 1846. This house is one of the few which retain
practically their original form and dimensions.
The house across the street, at the rear of the White
library, and now OAvned by Clarence Partridge, was
built by Judge Jarvis K. Pike in 1842. Religious ser
vices were often held in the upper story of this dwell
ing in the early years.
On the north side of Main street somewhat back
from the street, on the lot now owned by A. P. Aldrich
and known as the G. W. Esterly place, once stood the
old homestead of the Pratt family, built by Asaph Pratt
226

and occupied by him and sundry of his sons. This build
ing extensively remodeled noAV stands at 117 North
Prairie street, and is occupied by Rev. E. C. Barnard.
Farther up on Main street, out in the country, so to
speak, were a few houses. Of these, the house now oc
cupied by Mrs. R. C. Shepard, at 803 Main street, was
built by Calvin Pike in the spring of 1843. This house
retains practically its original form.
On the hill just opposite the Normal School, was the
house of Leander Birge, the western outpost of the vil
lage. A part of that house still remains in the present
structure, it having been enlarged in all directions.
Crossing to Center street and returning towards the
mill, we come at No. 405 upon one of the early houses,
now owned by Phil Trautmann, the middle part of
which was built by Rev. M. P. Kinney in 1844. Next be-
Ioav, is the house, Avhich was built by John McCollins
in the early forties, and is still occupied by members
of his family.
The house at 311 Center, corner of Fourth street,
Avas occupied in '46 by Joel Clapp, who for many years
conducted a livery business here. Just below, at 309
Center street, is a house occupied in '46 by Joseph
Rogers, a blacksmith, aa'Iio formed a partnership with L.
A. Winchester in 1844. Perhaps none of these early
houses shows its age, externally, so little as this one.
The small brick building at the corner of Center and
Third streets, long known as the Dobell house, Avas built
by Elder A. B. Winchell, first pastor of the Baptist
church, in 1843. It was, doubtless, the first brick build
ing erected in Whitewater.
The house next to the Richardson block, recently
known as the Dr. Bagley place, was built by D. Smith
and rented in 1845 by Sheldon C. Hall, for many years
a leading merchant and promenent citizen of the place.
On the west side of Fourth street, next to the site of
the old "lock-up," and one door off from Whitewater
street, is a dwelling, the main part of which was once
the first meeting house of the Congregational Society.
It then stood where the Congregational church now
stands, the present church being the fourth which has
occupied that site.

On Whitewater street, one building remains, No. 414,
the east wing of which Avas built by Seth M. Billings in
1842 and occupied by him for some years.
On the east side of the creek, there Avere but few
buildings in '46. The most notable of those uoav re
maining is the George Dann house on Cravath street.
The Avest part of this house was built by Thomas Van
Horn in 1840, and sold to George Dann in 1847, Avho
enlarged it. The little gravel house still standing on
Jefferson street, north of the breAvery, was built by
Deacon William Potts, a pillar in the Baptist church.
The road from the grist mill to the sawmill (paper
mill) once ran much nearer to the pond, on high
ground. Tavo houses built on that road may now be
seen standing well back from the present line of Wis
consin street. One of these was built by John Wood
bury in 1844 ; the other one, farther south and next to
the Rob Purcell place, belonged to Nick Taft in '46.
Still farther south, the last house on the west side
of the street, is a house of Avhich the front part was
owned by Aaron (Orra) Ostrander. It Avas, says Mr.
Clark, an old house in '46.
Mention may be made in closing, of one building
which does not date back into the "forties." The brick
building on Main street, opposite the head of Franklin
street, now owned by Mrs. Wm. Trippe, Avas built in
1851 by Rev. Martin P. Kinney, then pastor of the Con
gregational church for educational uses. The front
part of it was occupied for a time by the "WhiteAvater
Academy," of Avhich Rev. M. Montague, also a Congre
gationalist, was the principal. In 1853, on the depart
ure of Mr. Kinney, the property was purchased by Mrs.
R. A. Trippe, Avho resided there during the remaining
years of her life.

THE INDUSTRIES THAT MADE WHITEWATER.
BY ALBERT SALISBURY.
It has seemed desirable to put in order for preserva
tion some brief account of the early industries of
Whitewater, those that gaA7e it its prosperity and made
it what it is. 228

WhiteAvater, to-day, is suffering from a dearth of
manufacturing enterprises. Whether this is due to a
lack of ambition and energy on the part of her present
citizens or to changed conditions in the industrial world,
it might be hard to say. But conditions were not al
ways thus. The early settlers were an active, energetic
class, and they looked out sharply for openings for in
dustrial enterprise. It may be Avorth Avhile, before it
is altogether too late, to gather up the main facts with
regard to these early ventures. The reminiscences of
Mr. Cravath, supplemented by the recollections of other
longtime residents of Whitewater, furnish the data for
this modest undertaking.
Milling. — The first manufacturing industry devel
oped here was, naturally, that of milling. The first man
ufacturing plant in WhiteAvater, as is generally knoAvn,
Avas the grist-mill, built by Dr. James Trippe in 1839 ;
though Herrington 's saw-mill three miles southeast of
town, on the Lima branch of Whitewater creek, Avas in
operation a year or two earlier. A saw-mill was built
by Dr. Trippe on the site since occupied by the defunct
paper-mill, which began operations in the fall of 1841.
The wooden grist-mill built by Dr. Trippe was sold-
to William Birge in 1853. The stone building, now the
mill proper, Avas built by him in 1856. The mason work
Avas done, in chief part at least, by James Freeman, an
Englishman, residing in Lima. After the death of Mr.
Birge, the mill was sold to John Lean and Byron Brown
in 1866. Since then, it has met with numerous changes
of fortune and ownership.
What has been known in recent years as "the Red
Mill' was built by Asaph Pratt in 1843, and was long
known as Pratt 's Mill. Pliny Muzzey was its first mill
er. It was purchased by Ansel Salisbury in 1857, and
was thereafter known as the Branch Mill. In later years,
Posey & Chesebro put in modern roller machinery, and
for some years it did a large business in milling Dakota
wheat. The old grade of the spur track put in by the
railroad still speaks of an activity which has become
only a tradition of the past.
First Blacksmith Shop. — The first blacksmith shop
was opened in 1839, a log building fourteen feet square.
229

A second shop was built by William and Egbert Wheel
er in 1840, on Main Street directly opposite where the
First National Bank now stands. In 1841, the Wheelers
were making steel plows, which they sold at $12 each.
L. A. Winchester opened a blacksmith shop in 1844.
Brick-Making. — The manufacture of brick was one
of the earliest, as it is one of the latest,'of Whitewater's
industries, since clay of the best quality is found here
abouts in abundance. The first brickyard was started
by William Wood, May 1, 1841, on the south side of the
railroad, near the pond. The brick produced was red.
He burned 40,000 in the first kiln.
In 1847, George Dann had a brickyard in operation
near Cravath street, east of Jefferson. The kiln was
located Avhere. the residence of A. E. Scholl now stands.
The clay-pit was to the rear, in front of the brewery
site. This yard was still in operation as late as 18 — ,
or thereabouts. A third brickyard was opened on the west side of
Fremont street, by Albert Kendall about 1852. Anoth
er, close by this, Avas established by A. Y. Chamberlin
in 1866 for the manufacture of brick and drain tile.
This Avas operated until 1875, though the farmers of
that day could not be enlisted in the general use of
drain tile for wet lands. Kendall's yard also continued
in operation till some time in "the seventies." A great
quantity of brick must have been produced at these
yards, for the work of filling up the great clay-pit has
been gradually going on for the last thirty years.
About 1879, a fourth yard was started by Joseph
Dann and Edward Roethe, behind the hill north of Cra
vath street. After one year, Roethe dropped out, and
the business was continued by Dann until 1891, when he
sold the yard to Charles Martin, who finally closed the
yard in 1893, after the closing of the Esterly works.
The fifth and last venture was inaugurated in 1903
by the Whitewater Brick and Tile company on their
present site near the creek, east of the water works
pumping station.
Cooper Shops. — When the writer of this was a boy
on the farm, some miles out on the Janesville road, a
frequent but always interesting sight was the passage

GEORGE DANN

along the highway of "barrel wagons" and "pottery
wagons". The "pottery wagon" had a large, high-
built box, and was the best substitute for a "circus
wagon" containing wild beasts. But the "barrel wag
on" was a still bigger sight. Its rack was perhaps
twenty-four feet in length, flaring upward to a width
of perhaps ten feet. Empty barrels stacked in tiers to
a height of perhaps twelve feet made an imposing cargo
to be drawn by one span of horses.
George Dann started the first cooper shop in 1845 on
Fourth street, back of the Baptist church. From this
site, the business was transferred, after a year or two,
to the east side of the creek near the residence since
knoAvn as the George Dann place. Later, the business
occupied two buildings on the site now held by the cold
storage plant of the Union Produce company. Both
are still standing, one having been moved back from its
former position.
About 1855, John Scholl, who had previously work
ed for Dann, set up a shop of his own on the north side
of Cravath street, near Jefferson. Later, his shop occu
pied the present site and building of Criger's marble
works. His business consisted chiefly in the manufac
ture of pork barrels and Avhiskey barrels; whereas,
Dann produced flour barrels principally. The pork bar
rels were sold, partly, to S. C. Hall's packing house, or
shipped aAvay ; the whiskey barrels were supplied to
Tuttle 's distillery. For some years, between 1860 and
1870, S. C. Hall & Co., maintained a cooper shop in con
nection" with their packing house. It was located be
tween the railroad and the pond.
The timber for the barrel manufacture Avas obtained,
in the early years, from Bark Woods ; later, it Avas ship
ped in from northern points, chiefly Oshkosh. The hick
ory hoop-poles were got, largely, from Bark Woods;
though, at one time, some were cut in the vicinity of
the Lauderdale lakes. The last barrels made in White
water were set up in 1886, or thereabouts, by Charles
Scholl. But for over thirty years, the barrel manufac
ture was one of the productive industries of the place.
Potteries. — The pottery business was inaugurated by
Warren Cole in 1845, or soon after. The first pottery

was located on the northwest corner of North and Fre
mont streets, on a lot now vacant. Geo. G. Williams,
Esq., took a half interest in 1847. In 1855, the estab
lishment was located just south of the freight depot,
with J. C. Williams & Co. as proprietors. In 1859, it was
doing an active business under the firm of Cole & Hunt
er. This plant was finally burned out, November 30,
1867. In the neighborhood of 1859, a pottery was started
in the hollow on Summit street, by M. Ohnhaus and
John Milz, which operated for six or seven years.
Sometime after the burning of the pottery south of
the depot, it Avas rebuilt by Dan. Cole, who ran it for two
or three years. It Avas then run by M. Ohnhaus with
various partners for a few years more. Eventually T.
S. Abbott bought the building from Dan. Cole and used
it in the manufacture of cheese-boxes for a time. In the
later years of the pottery business here, flower pots were
a prominent item in the manufacture ; but in the earlier
years, under the Coles, the larger forms of pottery were
supplied to a great part of Southern Wisconsin from
this point.
Wagons, Etc. — Another industry inaugurated at an
early date was the building of wagons. This was in the
days when wagons were made by hand, in a "wagon
shop ' ' instead of in a large factory. A wagon shop was
started by O. A. Weed in 1843, on the lot next east of
the Walworth Hotel site. J. L. Pratt worked with him
in 1845, but set up a larger shop of his own in 1848 on
the northeast corner of Center and Second streets.
Pratt continued the manufacture of wagons on a con
siderable scale until 1866, when he sold his plant to H.
D. Converse, who continued the wagon and carriage
business for several years.
The larger enterprise developed by L. A. Winchester
and his several partners, and which made Whitewater
famous for its wagons, grew out -of other branches of
manufacture which may be briefly mentioned. L. A.
Winchester and Dan. Trippe opened a foundry in 1850.
In 1853, the manufacture of plows was being developed
in connection with the foundry, and William DeWolf
came into the business. In 1855, a new building was
233

erected. In 1857, John S. Partridge entered the firm.
The manufacture of plows and scrapers was the leading
line for some years. Just when the manufacture of
wagons was taken up is not easy to discover; but in
1865 a large addition was made to the plant, doubtless
for that purpose. In 1866, they were making wagons by
the carload, and employed about 100 men. In the "sev
enties" they were making as high as 5000 wagons a
year. In 1867, DeWolf left the firm, which now became
Winchester, Partridge & Co. The manufacture of plows
was continued as late as 1873. The production of wag
ons was continued until 1888, when conditions had be
come such that it could not be continued with profit.
But for many years the "Whitewater Wagon" was a
staple commodity. They were made in various styles
and sent to remote parts of the world. The death of
both of the leading partners brought the business to a
close in 1892. But many a man in Whitewater got his
start in life, or even made a modest competence, in the
employ of Winchester & Co.
In 1857, a stove factory was put in operation by
Powers, Allen & Co. In 1859, the firm became P. H.
Brady & Co., who continued the business for several
years, selling out in 1865 to Winchester & DeWolf. It
does not appear that they continued the manufacture of
stoves. A feed-mill for grinding corn and cob together
was one of their ventures.
Paper Mill. — The paper mill, on the site of Trippe 's
saw-mill, was built by Trippe and Crombie in 1859. In
1866, it was sold to Denison & Tanner for $37,500, who
operated it profitably for many years. In 1884, Mr.
Denison withdrew, selling his interest back to John
Crombie. In 1888, or thereabouts, Tanner sold his share
in the business to Charley Allen, and not long after
Crombie sold to Ben Frees. Allen and Frees, as the
Whitewater Paper Co., greatly enlarged and improved
the plant, more than doubling its capacity, but sold to
the Columbia Straw-Board Co., or trust, in 1894.
But, by this time, the growing scarcity of straw in
this region and a decreased demand for straw paper,

L. A. WINCHESTER

along with other reasons, brought about the closing of
the mill and a cessation of the industry.
Pork-packing. — Hoav many people now resident here
know that Whitewater was once a center of the meat
packing industry? Probably not one in a hundred. Yet
from 1855 on to the neighborhood of 1870, S. C. Hall
with various partners, and under changing firm names,
carried on an extensive pork-packing business. The
packing-house was the brick building on WhiteAvater
street, near the depot, noAV occupied by the blacksmith
and repair shop of John Malone. They kept a buyer,
also, at McGregor, Iowa, buying dressed hogs to be sent
here for packing and rendering.
For several years, they maintained a cooper shop in
connection with this packing business, which was locat
ed someAvhere south of the railroad tracks. This was in
active operation as late as the year 1867.
The Distillery.— One Avho travels to "the Red Mill,"
after turning from Janesville street into the Richmond
road, may notice, in the pasture to the east of the road,
an old building now seemingly abandoned to decay.
This was once the Whitewater Distillery, which may be
accounted as one of the early industrial enterprises of
the town. It was built about. 1849, by Freeman and De-
Lorma Pratt, Avho carried it on for several years. They
had a four-horse team employed in the distribution of
their product to the surrounding region. An important
part of the business was the fattening of cattle, feeding
them, in long sheds, on the Avaste product, or swill.
In October, 1856, the Pratts sold out to Tuttle &
Shultz. In 1858, Shultz sold his interest to A. W. Cur-
tiss, who remained a partner until the close of the enter
prise. In April, 1859, the plant burned doAvn, and was
not rebuilt until 1862. The imposition of the war tax
caused a very active production in the months before
the law went into effect; but after that the business
ceased to be profitable, and was discontinued July 1,
1864. A few years later, the building was sold to Fred
Coburn, who fitted it up as a cheese factory.
The Esterly Harvester Works. — One of the major
enterprises Avhich built up Whitewater and gave it a
name as a manufacturing center was the Esterly Har-
236

vester Works. George Esterly was one of the earliest
settlers on Heart Prairie, but his mechanical genius
would not alloAV him to remain a farmer, even on the fat
lands of Heart Prairie. An authentic account of his
early experiments in the direction of harvesting ma
chinery Avould be interesting if it were now obtainable ;
but current report has it that his first invention in that
line was a "header", thus anticipating by many years
the idea which has since proved practicable in the Far
West. The manufacturing plant which he finally built up in
Whitewater began with a modest frame building in
1856, with which was conneected a machine shop near
the paper mill. Two brick shops were added on the site
near the railroad in 1857. In 1858, the establishment
was employing seventy men.
In the course of the years, his reaping machine
evolved from the primitive "hand-raker" through the
"dropper" and "self -raker" to the elaborate "tAvine-
binder," and was recognized as one of the most efficient
machines on the market.
In the "sixties" and "seventies", a large business
was done in the manufacture of reapers and seeders. The
making of "harvesters", or "self-binders", was begun
in a small way in 1879 and 1880 ; but after 1880 nothing
else Avas made except mowers. During most of these
years, from 200 to 300 hands were employed. The
heaviest business was in '83 and '84 ; though the largest
monthly pay-roll occurred in '89 or '90, Avhen 525 pay
checks were given out at one time. The greatest output
of harvesters in one year was perhaps in 1889, the num
ber being about 5000 machines. In 1893, however, the
whole business was transferred to Minneapolis, under
a new organization, to run a short and disappointing
career, and the plant at Whitewater was closed.
The Coffin Factory, Etc.— In 1875, A Y. Chamberlin
& Co. built a large building on Milwaukee Street to the
west of the Esterly Works, and began the manufacture
of furniture. After a short time, the manufacture of
coffins became the main feature. This continued Avith
only partial success till 1880, when the Esterlys took it
over, and changed the product from coffins to furniture.

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GEORGE ESTERLY
But in 1881 the furniture experiment was discontinued,
and the building became the wood-shop of the Harvest
er Works. Other enterprises might well receive mention did
space permit. Thus Wright & Cash began, in 1858, the
manufacture of an excellent style of corn cultivators,
with which they supplied a considerable territory for
some years. H. A. Conger's Nursery was also an enter
prise of considerable magnitude, which furnished em
ployment to a goodly number of men and boys from
about 1860 on to 1880.
The manufacture and shipment of dairy products,
noAV so prominent a part of Whitewater business, be
longs to a later period of its history than that under
present consideration. The first cheese factory in the
Ancinity was opened in 1866 by Messrs. Pike, Case and
Horton.

PART IV.
Brief Biographical Sketches of Early
Pioneers of Whitewater.
The following condensed sketches of some of the
more notable early settlers of Whitewater have been
compiled in part from those given in the History of
Walworth County, and partly from a large number of
obituary notices preserved by the late Mrs. Philena
Salisbury. The list has been necessarily confined to
those Avho came to Whitewater not later than 1850;
and the limitations of space have also compelled a close
condensation in most cases.
It is a matter of regret, however, that some who
deserve to be commemorated in this manner have neces
sarily been omitted, for the reason that no materials are
now available for the construction of such memorial
sketches without greater labor than the editor was able
to bestow. Among those who have thus passed beyond
present reach, I may name, especially, Deacon Justus
Carpenter, Willard B. Johnson, Deacon Albert Kendall,
Sidney Workman, Warren Cole, Sr., and others, who
helped to make the wdiolesome, budding Whitewater, of
sixty years ago. •
These sketches are arranged, as will be seen, in
alphabetical order, for greater convenience in refer
ence. In the list are included a number of the pioneer
boys, those who were born here in the earliest years or
who came to WhiteAvater as children, at the first.
Harvey Arveson. — Began pioneer life early. Born
in Norway, May 28, 1841, he came Avith his parents to
Whitewater in 1844. They settled on a farm five miles
southeast of the village. In 1879, he took up the boot
and shoe business in town, which he carried on success
fully until 1895. He was married July 4, 1871, to
Carrie Mason, who was born in Norway and emigrated
to America in 1845. She died in 1905.
240

S E.T H M. BILLINGS

Seth M. Billings. — Was born in Rutland, Vt., in
1814. Married, Feb. 16, 1835, to Miss Lena Markle.
Came to Whitewater in 1839, living here continuously
until his death in 1880. He was Sheriff of Walworth
County in 1861- '62, and frequently held other positions
of trust. In all matters of public interest, he was ac
tive and liberal. In private and social life, he was
courteous, kind, and generous, and a faithful member
of the Congregational church.
William Birge. — William Birge was a direct lineal
descendant of Richard Birge, who as a boy was a mem
ber of the first colony which landed at Dorchester,
Mass., in 1630, and, later, founded Windsor, Conn. He
was the oldest of a family of thirteen children and was
born in Hartford, Conn., Nov. 18, 1813. Shortly after
his birth, the family went to Susquehanna County,
Pennsylvania, and thence to Ithaca, New York, where
he worked in a small woolen mill which his father
operated. In the winter of 1833-34, having previously "bought
his time ' ' from his father, Mr. Birge engaged with Rev.
Mr. Harrison to drive two yoke of oxen to Jackson,
Michigan. They went through the woods of Canada,
crossing Lake St. Clair on the ice, which proved a very
hazardous undertaking. Mr. Birge at once entered
eighty acres of land near Jackson. His brother Henry
having arrived at Waterford, Mich., in 1836, William
walked to that point from Jackson, and finally induced
his brother to accompany him to Wisconsin. Return
ing by the way of Jackson, William sold his claim, and
the two brothers started out on foot, blazing their way
through the forests and reaching the mouth of the St.
Joe River. There they hired a man having a sail boat,
Avho for the sum of $5.00 carried them to Chicago,
where they connected Avith a larger boat for Milwau
kee. At Milwaukee, they met their brother, Leander
Birge, who had preceded them a few days. They were
joined by Chas. Hamilton and Dr. Ed. Brewer. This
party Avith seven yoke of oxen started westward. After
several days' travel, it camped on' the present site of
Whitewater. Proceeding farther, they built a shanty
at the forks of Whitewater and Bark Rivers, plowed a

strip of land, where they did some planting, chiefly of
white turnips. This was in the early spring of 1837.
The Birges soon built a log cabin where Whiton and
Walworth streets now join, and named the place White
water, because of the very Avhite sand on the bottom of
the stream, where the ford was usually made. Henry
Birge remained nearly a year, and then returned to
Waterford, Michigan, where at this writing, June, 1906,
he is still living in mental and physical vigor.
On Jan. 9, 1839, William Birge was married to Mary
Alvina Nobles in Milwaukee. The Nobles family had
settled in that village in 1835, coming originally from
Connecticut. For a time, Mr. Nobles, as a merchant,
had only Solomon Juneau as a competitor.
On May 22, 1860, Avhile the Republican Convention,
Avhich gave to Abraham Lincoln his first nomination as
President, was in session in Chicago, he died at his
residence at the age of forty-seven. William Birge was
a man endowed with extraordinary physical strength,
energy, and endurance. He was strictly temperate in
his habits. Although a severe disciplinarian, he was
kind and indulgent in his home, liberal in all public and
private matters, aggressive in all, and especially in the
advancement of educational and business interests of
WhiteAvater. Mr. Birge was an active, enterprising man, and was
engaged, during his residence in Whitewater, in many
business enterprises.
He was a Whig in the old days and a Republican
after that party was organized. He was a member of
the Building Committee Avhich erected the first and sec
ond church edifices for the Congregational Society in
Whitewater, and was a member of that church at the
time of his death.
Julius C. Birge. — "Jule Birge" was born in White
water, Nov. 18, 1839, being the first child born in the
new settlement. In his earlier years, when not in
school he worked on the farm, in the flouring mill, and
the store of his father, William Birge. When he was
twenty years of age, his father died, leaving property
much encumbered, owing to the financial depression
following the year 1857. Julius assumed the entire
243

charge of administering the estate, paying all its obli
gations, and for five years conducted the flouring mill
with success. In 1865, an attack of typhoid fever led
him to cross the Western plains for purposes of recup
eration, spending nine months in camp, before the day
of trans-continental railways. In the spring of 1867,
he settled in St. Louis, Mo., and assisted in organizing
the Semple & Birge Manufacturing Co. For a time, he
Avas vice-president of the Winchester & Partridge
Manufacturing Co. Since the year 1880, he has been
continuously president of the Seymour Manufacturing
Co., and the St. Louis Shovel Co. He is vice-president
and a director of the Ames Shovel & Tool Co., having
its general offices in Boston. He has been, for two
years, president of the American Hardware Manufac
turer's Association, and is a director in various finan
cial institutions. He has been a member of the Pilgrim
Congregational Church of St. Louis since 1873 and con
tinuously on active boards of that church and of vari
ous social organizations.
He was married in 1873, to Mary Patrick of St.
Louis. Five children are now living as a result of that
union. The beautiful fountain in front of the White
Memorial Library is a token of Mr. Birge 's regard for
his native town.
Joseph C. Bower. — Was born in Yorkshire, England,
in 1821. Came to America Avith his parents in 1827,
settling first in Dutchess County, NeAV York. Came to
Raymond, Racine County, in 1841, and folloAved farm
ing until 1843. Then Avent to Milwaukee and learned
the mason's trade. In 1846, he came to WhiteAvater
and helped to build the first brewery here. He became
a contractor and builder and constructed many of the
brick buildings of the place. At one time, he owned
tAvelve brick business buildings, including the Bower
House (Hotel Duquesne), and Bower's Hall (Firemen's
Hall). He Avas married in 1853, to Miss Adelia A.
Marsh. Mr. BoAver served for many years as town
treasurer. He is well remembered by all old citizens
of the place as a man of enterprise and tireless energy.
Peter H. Brady. — P. H. Brady was born in New

York, Jan. 3, 1821. He came to Whitewater from
Aurora, 111., in 1841, and engaged as clerk in the store
of Philander Peck. In 1848, he was admitted to the
firm of Peck & Keep, which, in 1851, was dissolved and
the new firm of Brady, Starin & Cook formed. In
1857, he left this firm and entered into the firm of
Powers, Allen & Co., in the manufacture of stoves, etc.
In 1865, he withdrew and went to Piano, 111., but re
turned to WhiteAvater in the folloAving year, where he
died Oct. 10, 1866. He was married April 22, 1852, to
Margaret U. Rameau, Avho bore him two sons, Howard
R. and George P. Her death occurred Feb. 9, 1861.
He Avas married again, Oct. 16, 1865, to Harriet A. Wil
kinson. One daughter, Anna C, was born of this mar
riage. Conscientious and upright in all business trans
actions, genial and courteous in his intercourse with all,
he Avas universally liked and Avas one of the most popu
lar merchants who ever did business in Whitewater.
Luther Cadman. — Was born in Saratoga County, N.
Y, Jan. 18, 1810. Came to Whitewater in 1843 and
actively engaged in his trade of carpenter and builder,
building a large proportion of the early structures. He
built the American House (on the site now knoAvn as
Dunstone's), and kept it for over twenty-tAvo years,
beginning in 1853. He was a member of the Fourth
Wisconsin Cavalry, serving two and one-half years, till
the close of the Avar. He died April 9, 1891.
John M. Clark. — Was born in Pawlett, Vt., March
3, 1803. Was brought up on a farm. Married to Julia
A. Beckwith, in 1837. Came to WhiteAvater in 1835
and purchased a fine farm of 800 acres, Avest of the vil
lage. Returning to Vermont, he brought his family to
the neAV home in the following year, 1846. The next
year, he bought a flock of 270 Merino sheep and thus
laid the foundation for that branch of farming, which
received so much attention here in later years. Mr.
Clark had three children, Henry B., Charles M., noAV
living in Whitewater, and Frances, who was first mar
ried to Leander Birge, and after his death to Judge C.
R. Gibbs. Mr. Clark remained on his original home
stead until his death, May 18, 1864. He was an enter
prising, thrifty, upright citizen, always right on ques-
245

tions of public interest, liberal in encouraging the sup
port of schools and churches, and a zealous member of
the Congregational church.
Charles M. Clark. — Was born in.Pawlett, Vt., Nov.
25, 1833. He came to Whitewater with his father, John
M. Clark, in 1846, and remained on the paternal acres
until 1903, when he moved into town. He was mar
ried Nov. 4, 1859, to Ellen Bassett of Plainfield, Mass.,
who bore him one son, Henry L. Mrs. Clark died Dec.
30, 1864. Mr. Clark was again married Feb. 22, 1866,
to Miss Ellen Holbrook, of Orwell, Vt. Two daughters
were born to them, Jennie and Julia. As a farmer, he
gave much attention to the breeding of thorough-bred
stock, first Merino sheep, then Short-horn cattle, and
fine horses. He is now enjoying a well-earned leisure
in the little city which he has seen grow from a rustic
hamlet to its present state.
Dr. Joseph A. Clarke. — Was born in Stowe, Vt.,
Sept. 23, 1814. When he was seventeen years of age,
his father removed to Townsend, Ohio. After studying
medicine for three years with Dr. Lathrop, of Belle-
view, 0., Dr. Clark came to WhiteAvater, on horseback,
in 1839, returning to Belleview the same year. In July,
1840, he was married to Mary Jane Stedman, who had
come to Belleview from Cortland, N. Y., with her fam
ily in 1837. After marriage, they took steamer from
Sandusky to Milwaukee, coming thence in a lumber
wagon to the house of Azor Kinney in the Cravath
neighborhood. There they remained while their house
was being built, on the site now occupied by the Hotel
Walworth, a home in which Mrs. Clarke lived for fifty
years. In 1845, on the coming of Dr. Willard Rice,
they formed a partnership which continued until the
death of Dr. Clarke, in 1873. He was "the beloved
physician" of many pioneer families. His wife, still
living, is the oldest resident of Whitewater, having
lived here continuously for sixty-six years.
Hanford A. Conger. — Was born in Attica, N. Y.,
September 23, 1821. Was married in May, 1843, to
Lurancy Demary, and came to Whitewater shortly
afterAvards. During his first Avinter here, he taught
school, using an unfinished dwelling house, which he
246

had helped to construct, on the lot where Dr. C. I.
Miller's house now stands. He afterwards taught in
Palmyra, and then lived on a farm to the north of that
village. He was called East for a few years to aid in
the care of relatives, but returned to Whitewater in
1854. He engaged extensively in the nursery business,
occupying, at first, the tract bounded by Main, South
Prince, Highland, and Whiton streets. Later, his
plantings covered the greater part of a farm just out
of the city on the Elkhorn road. He was always an in
telligent, outspoken, and public-spirited citizen. His
last years were saddened by the death of his only chil
dren; his son, Eugene, and daughter, Mrs. Juliette Win-
gate. He died July 3, 1893.
Daniel Seymour Cook. — Was born in Homer, Cort
land County, N. Y., in 1827. At the age of fifteen, he
began his life work behind the counter and kept at it
forty-five years. In 1844, he went to Augusta, Oneida
County, N. Y., remaining till 1849, coming to White
water in the fall of '49. Was in the employ of Peck,
Keep & Co., till the spring of 1851, at which time, he
with P. H. Brady and J. J. Starin bought out Peck,
Keep & Co., and began business under the name of
Brady, Starin & Cook. In July, 1853, he was married
to Rachel 0. Shepard, of Augusta, N. Y. To them were
born two children, Cornelia E. and Seymour S. Cor
nelia, best known as "Nena," was married to Prof.
Geo. S. Hendrickson, in 1890, and died in Madison,
Wis., in 1895. Seymour S. is now a resident of Minne
apolis. In 1856, his brother, Lewis Cook, came from
Horicon and bought an interest in the firm. In 1857,
Mr. Brady sold his interest; and in 1858, the Cooks
sold their interest to Mr. Starin. In the spring of 1860,
he formed a partnership with H. B. Shedd, and rented
the store of Jas. Worm. In 1863, he bought Mr. Shedd 's
interest. From the spring of 1860 to the fall of 1887,
he occupied the same store, and during the time had
business relations with nearly every one living within
ten miles of Whitewater. Mr. Cook built his present
residence on Main street, in 1856. He has' been clerk of
the Congregational Society since 1853. No man who
has lived in Whitewater for more than half century
247

carries his years so well, and no man has more warm
friends in all the country side than "Seymour" Cook.
The generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Cook in support of the
City Library, and every other good cause, merit the
good will which they enjoy.
Miles G. Cravath. — Miles Goodyear Cravath Avas
born in Cortland, N. Y., April 5, 1822, of good Con
necticut stock, being the fourteenth child of Prosper
Cravath and Miriam Kinney. In the spring of 1840,
Mr. Cravath, wishing to find more room for his large
family, followed his oldest son, Prosper Cravath, Jr.,
to Wisconsin. The majority of his sons-in-law came
with him, and formed the settlement in the town of
Lima, southwest of Whitewater, long known as "the
Cravath neighborhood." It was in the commodious
log house of Deacon Cravath that what is now the Con
gregational church of Whitewater, Avas first organized,
in July, 1840.
Deacon Cravath died in 1841, but Miles remained
with his mother on the homestead. In 1848, he mar
ried Hannah May of Ashtabula County, Ohio, and
brought her to the Lima home, in which they lived for
fifty years. Here a son, Clinton D., and four daughters
Avere born to them. It is a striking fact that the family
has remained unbroken until this time, there having
been no marriage and, till now, no death to break the
home circle. About five years ago, Mr. Cravath and
family left the old farm on which he had first turned
the virgin sod, and moved to Whitewater, thinking to
enjoy a feAV years of well-earned leisure, though he
could never get out of the habit of work and found
plenty of it to do in his new place of residence on the
western edge of town. It Avas only during the past
few months that his health showed marked signs of
failing. Living to the ripe age of 83, Mr. Cravath was the
last survivor of a family of sixteen children. He had
seen all his relatives and neighbors of the same genera
tion pass from the scene of their labors. Yet he never
seemed an old man and never got out of joint with the
times in which he lived. His spirit was always youth
ful, genial, and hopeful. He enjoyed life, loved his
248

MILES G. CRAVATH

friends, and served his country as a faithful citizen.
His cheery, contagious laugh will never be forgotten
by any who knew him. His thoughtfulness for others,
his modest integrity, and his freedom from any sort
of crankiness made him a model neighbor and a well-
beloved friend. No man will be more deeply missed by
his circle of acquaintances.
Prosper Cravath, Esq. — An extended sketch of Mr.
Cravath Avill be found on page 169.
Orville A. Cravath. — Orville Augustus Cravath,
youngest son of Deacon Prosper Cravath, was born in
Cortland, N. Y., Oct. 1, 1823. In 1840, he came with
his father's family to Wisconsin, making the entire
journey with horses and wagons. In 1847, he Avas
married to Almeda Sweetman. To them two sons were
born, Melvin A., now living in Pasadena, Cal., and
Austin, deceased. He continued to live on his fine farm
in Lima, until 1893, when, after one or tAvo winters
spent in California, he came to Whitewater to reside
through his remaining years. He died Nov. 4, 1890.
He was a man of moderate, even temper, scrupulously
honest, a man of excellent judgment, and of an original,
independent mind, a man who prospered by sound
methods and got results without haste or worry.
Mrs. Maria Cravath. — Maria Prudence Noble was
born in Blandford, Mass., Aug. 20, 1813. She Avas mar
ried, March 27, 1834, to Prosper Cravath, Jr., in Cort
land, N. Y. In the following year, they removed to
Lyme Ridge, Ohio, remaining there till 1839, when they
came to the vicinity of Whitewater.
Mrs. Cravath was one of the original members of
the Congregational church here, and during her long
residence in Whitewater proved herself indeed "a
mother in Israel." She was a friend to young and old,
and especially a helper and counselor to the poor. For
many years, she was a sort of general almoner of the
charities of the town. The last years of her life were
clouded by the loss of memory and other results of a
sIoav process of cerebral degeneration ; but her memory
Avill remain bright in the minds of everyone who knew
her. She entered into rest, Feb. 11, 1890.
250

Pitt Cravath. — Was born in Lima, Wis., Aug. 1,
1844. Moved to WhiteAvater, with his parents, in 1845.
He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in
1863, and from the Albany (N. Y.) Law School in 1865.
He began the practice of law in Whitewater in connec
tion with N. S. Murphey, Esq. In 1868, he went to
NeAV Orleans, Avhere he became Assistant Secretary of
State of Louisiana, holding that office two years. Re
turning to Wisconsin, he spent a year or more in the
office of Carpenter & Murphey, in Milwaukee. He then
went to Algona, Iowa, where he practiced law and ran
a newspaper, the Upper Des Moines. Remaining there
five year's, he returned to Whitewater in 1879, starting
a paper which he, at first, called The Puddingstick, but
afterwards changed the name to the Whitewater
Chronicle. He also formed a law partnership with
Samuel Bishop, Esq. He was married in Waukesha,
Wis., Oct. 20, 1867, to Miss Marcia Dowd, a niece of
Marvin H. Bovee. His later years were largely de
voted to the care of his aged mother, who became a
helpless charge and received his constant and tender
care. After the death of his beloved Avife in 1898, he
brooded over her loss. His professional career had been
broken into by devoted service to his family, and life
seemed to him not worth living under the changed con
ditions. And so, by the use of charcoal fumes, he
sought escape from sorrow and disappointment in the
night of November 28, 1898. A young man of brilliant
promise, genial and beloved by all who knew him, ten
der and loyal to kindred, his tragic end was a source
of grief to a wide circle of friends.
Dr. John Deichman. — One of the unique and inter
esting characters of early Whitewater Avas Dr. Deich
man, the apothecary. He was born Dec. 12, 1806, in
Northampton County, Pennsylvania, though most peo
ple doubtless supposed him to be a German by birth.
He received a thorough medical education at the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania, and practiced medicine in his
native county until 1849, when he moved to Whitewater
and established a drug store, which he ran until age
and failing health compelled him to retire from the
business. He gave much time and money to the mak-
251

ing of a collection of curiosities Avhich gradually came
to occupy much of the space in his store and most of
his time and interest. He was a man of strong convic
tions, upright, intelligent, and eccentric. He died
Dec. 2, 1879.
George Dann. — Was born in Stamford, Conn., March
28, 1807, and spent all his early life on his father's
farm. He Avas the oldest of a family of fourteen chil
dren. He was married to Lucretia Jane Clason, March
27, 1827, one day before his 20th birthday. He had to
buy the remaining time before he was tAventy-one from
his father. After tAvo or three years, the young couple
moved to Troy, N. Y., Avhere they remained about nine
years, and then removed to Oneida Co., N. Y. In June,
1845, Mr. Dann came to WhiteAvater and engaged in the
barrel manufacture and brick-making. Later, Avith his
son Sylvester, he manufactured barrels and barrel stock
in Fort Atkinson, until timber became scarce in Bark
woods, when the mill was moved to Wonewoc, Wis.
He retired from active business a feAV years before his
death, Avhich occurred, Dec. 2, 1880. He was one of
the strong, rugged pioneers of Whitewater, a man of
remarkable vigor and energy. He Avas industrious and
frugal, a generous friend, a kind neighbor, a lenient
creditor, and an honest, public-spirited citizen.
William DeWolf. — Was born in Oneida County, N.
Y., July 21, 1821. At the age of twenty-one, he mi
grated to Wisconsin, arriving in Milwaukee with 75
cents in his possession. The next day, he went to
Heart Prairie, May 15, 1842. He there bought 250
acres of land for $1,000, all on credit. By working
out, he earned money to improve his farm and pay off
his indebtedness. He Avas married in November, 1845,
in the town of Richmond, to Miss Eunice L. Hawes,
daughter of Squire HaAves. In 1852, he moved into
Whitewater, and entered into partnership with L. A.
Winchester in the manufacture of plows and in hard
ware merchandizing. In 1865, they dissolved partner
ship, DeWolf taking the hardAvare business. In 1877,
he took up the manufacture of Avire cloth, Avhich, Avith
his sons, he carried on for several years. He is still

living, in reduced health, in the family of his son-in-
law, H. H. McGraw.
George Esterly. — Was born in Ulster County, N. Y.,
Oct. 17, 1809. He Avas brought up on a farm. In 1837,
he came to Wisconsin and settled on Heart Prairie,
where he purchased 1,120 acres of land. As early as
1843, he had 300 acres under Avheat. The difficulty and
expense of harvesting by hand led his mind towards
the problem of harvesting by machinery. His inven
tive mind undertook the solution of the problem, to
which, eventually, he gave the best of his years and
strength. The extensive establishment known as the
Esterly Harvester Works, marked the success of his
efforts. But Mr. Esterly was not simply a mechanical in
ventor. A man of irrepressible mental activity and
great physical energy, there Avas scarcely a subject
which he had not studied and upon which he had not
radical opinions. His strong originality was evinced in
everything which he took up, whether of business or in
tellectual labor. His energy was indomitable. No re
verses, and he had his share of them, were sufficient to
damp his courage ; no problem Avas so great or intricate
as to deter him from attempting its solution. He was
especially interested in the financial questions of the
nation, and he wrote several pamphlets on the Currency
question which commanded attention and evinced a
clear mental grasp of the subject. All in all, he was
one of the most forceful and remarkable men, of the
many strong ones, Avho have made Whitewater their
home in times past.
Mr. Esterly was three times married. His first
wife, Jane Lewis, bore him eight children, five of whom
are living, viz. : George W. of Washington, D. C, who
was long associated with his father in the manufactur
ing business; Mrs. Crites and Mrs. Chamberlin, of San
Jose, Cal. ; Mrs. J. H. Page of Whitewater, and Mrs.
Nichols of Charlevoix, Mich.
He died at Hot Springs, S. Dak., in his 84th year.
George T. Ferris. — George Ferris is one of the
pioneer boys of Whitewater who are still residents with
a good prospect of continuance, one of those who have

seen the pristime wilderness gradually transformed into
the beautiful city of to-day. He was born in Yates
County, N. Y. He came to Wisconsin in 1841, with his
father and family. They resided in various homes dur
ing the first few years. In 1845, they purchased the
farm now owned by Mr. Ferris, just south of Hillside
Cemetery. George Avas clerk for Curtice & Caswell
while but a boy. Later, he Avas Avith F. B. Hall for a
few years, and then Avith Cushing, SAveetland & Stew
art. In 1887, he Avith Daniel Alvord bought the stock
of goods of D. S. Cook and took over his business,
which they continued until 1901. Mr. Ferris was mar
ried in 1870 to Susan Mclntyre, daughter of Capt. John
Mclntyre. With the exception of Mrs. Dr. Clarke, Mr.
Ferris has had the longest continuous residence in
Whitewater of any citizen.
Deacon George Gleason. — George Gleason was never
a resident in Whitewater, but he was so intimately
connected with its life and interests, that he deserves
mention here. He Avas born near Hartford, Conn., Nov.
11, 1810. At the age of nine, he moved with his par
ents to Cortland, N. Y. Jan. 13, 1833, he was joined
in wedlock to Laura Cleveland, Avho survived her mar
riage but tAvo years, leaving a motherless babe, who is
now Mrs. Mary Jane Kinney, of this place. On June
9, 1839, he was again married, to Lovina Cravath,
daughter of Deacon Prosper Cravath. By this mar
riage, he acquired not only a devoted wife but also a
large circle of new relatives, Cravaths, Kinneys, and
Salisburys. In the spring of 1842, he folloAved these
new connections to the Cortland County Colony in far
away Wisconsin, settling on the Lima farm which was
his home until his death, and where his son, Norman
M., still resides.
Mr. Gleason was a quiet, unassuming man of warm,
sympathetic nature, quick to feel but slow to speak,
especially where speech could Avork aught of harm to
the feelings of others. He was always the kindest and
most helpful of neighbors, ready to do good and lend.
The respect and confidence of his neighbors kept him
for many years, in his modest Avay, in public service
and neighborhood responsibility. He was for thirty
254

DEACON GEORGE GLEASON

years assessor of the town of Lima. He was a member
of the State Legislature in 1876.
He had a deeply religious nature. He could not
talk religion, but he lived it. He, with his wife, united
with the Congregational church in 1842, and from that
time was one of its most devoted members, becoming
a deacon, the height of his ambition, in 1872. He de
parted this life May 13, 1892, in the 82d year of as
worthy a life as man can lead.
David Hamilton. — Was born in Tompkins County,
N. Y., July 18, 1802. He was a carpenter by occupa
tion, and a teacher in the public schools for several
years. He was married March 9, 1827, in Lansing, N.
Y., to Belina Brown, who bore him nine children, of
whom the two eldest, Mrs. J. J. Starin and Mrs. Roxana
Hamilton, are noAV living in Whitewater. The eldest
son, N. Augustus, now a lawyer and prominent citizen
of St. Joseph, Mich., was for many years a prominent
school teacher in and about Whitewater, and a master
of his art. It was a teaching family, several of the
sisters having attained high repute in that calling.
The shooting of William H. Hamilton at a charivari
party, was one of the few memorable tragedies in the
early history of this region.
Mr. Hamilton came to Wisconsin in 1842. He located
on a farm to the south of the village in the district
which early acquired the name of "the Island," but
worked much of the time at his trade.
He was a man of simple and devout religious faith ;
he knew that he should see his Lord, face to face. He
knew the Bible almost by heart. When to be an Abo
litionist was almost to be an outlaAv, he was one of the
first three in this town to vote the Abolitionist ticket.
Deacon Francis Kinney. — Was born at Homer, N. Y.,
April 5, 1823. He came to Whitewater early in 1846.
His brother, Rev. Martin P. Kinney, was one of the
early pastors of the Congregational church, for a period
of nine years. Francis was a deacon in the same church
for seventeen years. In 1863, he enlisted in the Twen
ty-eighth Wisconsin Regiment. Sickness contracted in
the service rendered him an invalid for nearly all the
remainder of his life. A pension was granted him, but

he voluntarily surrendered it at a time Avhen his health
seemed sufficiently restored to enable him to live with
out aid. On the subsequent failure of his health, the
pension Avas restored Avith back pay. By occupation,
he was a carpenter. He died in 1887, leaving a wife,
two sons, and a daughter, Mrs. Eva Kinney Miller. He
Avas a man of more than ordinary intelligence, of earn
est convictions, and great faithfulness to duty, but ill-
health greatly hampered him in the later years and
cheated him out of the career to Avhich his abilities and
character Avould have entitled him.
Giles Kinney.— Was born Feb. 9, 1808, in Cortland,
N. Y. He was married, Jan. 1, 1833, to Miss Delilah
Armstrong. He came to Whitewater in 1839, and
brought on his family in 1840. His son, Norman A.,
then two years old, is a Avell-known citizen of White
water to-day. A daughter, Annette, is now Mrs. Cald
well of Mason City, IoAva. They also adopted Rosetta,
the infant daughter of Azor Kinney, noAV Mrs. Geo.
Caward of Owatonna, Minn. Mr. Kinney first settled
on a farm about two miles west of town on Walworth
avenue. Later, he moved to the farm now owned by
Clarence Steele on the Cold Spring road. He moved
into town in 1862, taking possession of the old "Badger
State" Hotel, Avhich he renovated and named the Cort
land House. Here he kept hotel until his. death, Oct.
17, 1863. He was a man of genial nature and active
disposition, and was highly esteemed as a neighbor and
citizen. Robert McBeath. — Was born in Paisley, Scotland,
March 15, 1828. He served an apprenticeship to the
tailor's trade in his native town, and came, in 1847, to
America. In April, 1850, he came to Whitewater and
went into business in partnership with Patrick Mc
Laughlin. In 1854, they built the first three-story
brick building in Whitewater. He was married in
Cambridge, Wis., Nov. 13, 1856, to Mrs. E. A. Bell,
daughter of Alexander Stewart, an officer in the British
army. His partner, Mr. McLaughlin, dying in 1858,
Mr. McBeath continued the business, as the leading
merchant tailor of the place, for many years. He is an
intelligent, well-read man, and a respected citizen.
257

Sanger Marsh. — Was born in Alexander, N. Y., Aug.
27, 1815, and was brought up on a farm. After reach
ing his majority, he turned to mercantile pursuits, do
ing business in Nunda and Attica, N. Y. In 1845, he
came to Whitewater in company with John S. Par
tridge, a near friend, and they opened a general store,
in which enterprise he continued for the next ten years.
In 1863, Mr. Marsh and C. M. Blackman organized the
First National Bank of Whitewater which has con
tinued as one of the stable institutions of the place
until the present day.
Mr. Marsh was tAvice married, first to Harriet M.
Horton of Nunda, N. Y., in January, 1841, who died
Jan. 22, 1843, leaving an infant son, George S. Marsh.
In January, 1851, he married Miss Chelsea Pratt, by
whom he had three daughters. His life was brought to
a close by an unfortunate accident, Oct. 29, 1872.
Zerah Mead. — Zerah Mead, one of the most promi
nent and most respected of the early citizens of White
water, was born in Rutland, Vt., June 4, 1800. He
spent his boyhood days on a farm. Removing to Wad-
ington, N. Y., in 1825, he built a Avoolen factory, Avhich
he operated until 1832. He Avas married Oct. 6, 1835,
to Miss Fama Mott. He came to Whitewater in 1837
and built a house on the farm where he afterwards re
sided, on the La Grange road. He was made the first
Justice of the Peace in this part of Walworth County,
and was afterAvards known as "Squire" Mead. His
only son, James M. Mead, a lieutenant in Co. D. of the
Twenty-eighth Regiment, died at Helena, Ark., Feb. 13,
1863, and Avas deeply mourned by the Avhole com
munity. Squire Mead died of pneumonia March 23,
1875. Richard O'Connor. — Was born in New York city,
March 17, 1816. While a young man, he gained a busi
ness education as salesman in a dry goods house. He
came to Wisconsin in 1846, and selected Whitewater as
his future home. Returning to Ncav York soon after,
he Avas married to Miss Elizabeth Morgan. Returning
to Whitewater, he engaged in business as a druggist
and bookseller, a business now continued by his sons
Fred and Harry J. He built up a prosperous business
258

and firmly established himself in the confidence of the
community. He was assessor of the town for more
than a score of years. He was prominently identified
with the establishment and beautification of the ceme
teries of Whitewater, and did much, at an early day, to
inaugurate the making of sidewalks and the planting of
trees, that habit, the adoption of which did so much to
create the present beauty of our city. Death came to
him Dec. 27, 1881.
John S. Partridge. — Was a native of Covington,
Genesee County, N. Y., born June 28, 1819. His parents
Avere descended from old New England families. As a
young man, he Avas employed for several years as a
merchant's clerk in Nunda and Attica, N. Y. In the
fall of 1846, he migrated to Whitewater with Sanger
Marsh, where they engaged in mercantile business.
When the railroad arrived, they erected what was long
known as "the Big Warehouse," and bought grain and
produce extensively. In 1857, he closed out these lines
and purchased an interest in the manufacturing busi
ness of Winchester & DeWolf, Avhich became, later, the
Winchester & Partridge Manufacturing Company.
With this he was actively connected up to the close of
its operations in 1892. When the Citizen's National
Bank was organized in 1883, he was chosen president,
continuing that relation until 1891. Few men have
held so warm a place in the hearts of this community
as Mr. Partridge. An active and trustworthy business
man, a kind neighbor, and a good conversationalist, he
mellowed with age, and grew only the more genial and
companionable as the years crowned his head with
gray. He had a cordial interest in people ; no man
could ever feel his warm hand-clasp and look into his
sincere, kindly eyes without feeling that he was a man
worth knowing. To his public spirit, generosity, and
love for humanity, Whitewater owes much. An apo
plectic attack suddenly removed him from the friends
he loved, July 3, 1892.
Mrs. Henrietta M. Partridge. — Mrs. Partridge was
the daughter of Hon. Uriah Johnson of LeRoy, N. Y.
She was born in March, 1823, and in her early life re
ceived the best advantages of education and culture
259

JOHN S. PARTRIDGE

which the region afforded. In April, 1848, she was
married to John S. Partridge and came with him to his
new western home. From the first, her mental endow
ments and active sympathies made her a leading influ
ence in the community. An active, bright-spirited, in
tellectual Avoman, she made an impress which could
but be lasting in its unconscious effects. But pain and
suffering marked her for their own. For nine long
years, a mysterious and incurable disease wasted her
health and finally ended her earthly existence. Rest
came Dec. 13, 1890. Four sons were born to her, of
whom only two, Clarence J. of this city, and J. Ashley
of St. Louis, are now living.
Jarvis K. Pike. — Was born in Dutchess County, N.
Y, Dec. 19, 1781. In 1793, the family moved to Nor
wich, N. Y., where his father died in 1799, leaving him
as the mainstay of a large family at the age of eighteen.
When he was twenty years of age, he received a com
mission as ensign in the New York State Militia, and
subsequently held commissions as captain, major, and
colonel. He was united in marriage with Rebecca Mead
in December, 1800, at the age of nineteen, in which
relation they continued for over sixty years. In 1814,
he was aide-de-camp to Maj. -Gen. King, and went with
the militia to Sackett's Harbor, remaining there till
relieved by' the army of Gen. Brown. In 1821, he was
a delegate to the New York state convention for the
revision of the State Constitution. In 1830, he was a
member of the New York Legislature, and at various
other times held positions of public trust. In 1837, he
was made one of the judges of the County Court in
Cortland County, from which fact he acquired the title,
"Judge Pike," by which he was afterwards designated.
, In the spring of 1841, he came to Whitewater and built
the house now occupied by C. J. Partridge just east of
the City Library. Two years later, he purchased a
farm north of town, in Cold Spring, which he occupied
jointly with his son Alanson, who had married Fidelia
Cravath. He was a member of the Wisconsin Legis
lature from Jefferson County in 1849, and for several
years thereafter held the position of local magistrate.
261

He was a man of strong religious faith, a member of
the Baptist church. He died January 16, 1863.
David J. Powers. — Born in Windham County, Ver
mont, June 3, 1814; he grew up on his father's farm,
receiving his education in a district school. He learned
the machinist's trade; and, although very proficient
and able to command superintending positions with
what was then a good salary, he became tired of work
ing for others, and in the fall of 1838, with a young
wife and a few hundred dollars, he emigrated to what
was then the far West, coming via Erie Canal, and a
lake steamer from Buffalo to Milwaukee, where he left
his wife and started out on foot to find a suitable loca
tion. When partly through the Milwaukee woods, he
was overtaken by Mr. Willard B. Johnson on horse
back, who told him of the beauties of WhiteAvater
prairie, and offered him the use of a log house on his
thousand acre farm until he should be able to fix him
self better. Going to the prairie, he found it very
lightly settled on the eastern side, by the Pratts, the
Birges, and a few others. Returning for his wife, he
took possession of the Johnson house and purchased a
claim for 320 acres of land nearly opposite.
After the erection of the Trippe Mill, the next move
was to survey a village plat, and Prosper Cravath, then
living upon the west side of the prairie, was called upon
to do this work, Mr. Powers being his "chain man"
while thus engaged. As the country was filling up
with people, a hotel seemed to be a necessity, and one
was erected by Mr. Powers, an acre of ground near the
river being given him by Dr. Tripp for this purpose.
This hotel was taxed to its utmost capacity on the
Fourth of July following, when the people from far
and near came in attendance upon the first celebration.
Soon tiring of keeping hotel, Mr. Powers sold out an'T
erected and occupied a house, which still stands in good
condition on the corner of Main and Fourth streets,
opposite the Baptist church.
He was appointed postmaster by Martin Van Buren,
and went on foot to Troy where he Avas sworn in. He
walked back the same day, carrying with him the first
mail that ever came to Whitewater. 262 -

The village grew and prospered, but in 1842 he
purchased with his brother, Samuel R. Powers, a mill
site at what is now the village of Palmyra. They
erected a saw mill, and D. J. Powers platted the village.
He lived there about ten years; and, being elected to
the Legislature, Avas so well pleased with Madison that
he moved to the Capital city in 1853, and remained
about fifteen years, during which time he was editor
and publisher of the ' ' Wisconsin Farmer, ' ' and for sev
eral years the Secretary of the State Agricultural So
ciety, taking a very active part in the state fairs of
that period. He then went to Chicago and engaged in
an extensive manufacturing business, where he still
lives in good health, and with keen intellect, at the
green old age of ninety-two. A prolific and successful
inventor, he has by legitimate manufacturing, accumu
lated a modest fortune, and has always been known as
a large-hearted man who takes more pleasure in giving
money to the needy than in spending it foolishly.
Freeman L. Pratt. — Freeman Pratt was born July
31, 1814, in Madison County, N. Y. He was married,
March 24, 1836, to Melinda Mack, who, in later years,
became one of the best known and best loved women
of this community. Mr. Pratt, with his brother Nor
man and his wife, nee Jane Williams, came to White
water in 1837, being the first families to establish resi
dence here. His father, Asaph Pratt, with other sons,
came later, building what is now known as "the Red
Mill," and inaugurating other early enterprises. For
three years, he engaged in farming. In 1840, he pur
chased the new hotel from David J. Powers. In 1845,
he sold the hotel to Warner Earle, and resumed farm
ing in which he continued till 1873. His death occurred
Feb. 18, 1880. Two sons, Morganta and William II., are
still living. His widow, affectionately known to a
large circle of friends as "Aunt Melinda," survived her
husband until recent years, dying in July, 1898.
Capt. E. S. Redington. — Edward S. Redington was
born in Montreal, Canada, Nov. 1, 1820. His parents
were New England people, and his grandfather was a
soldier in the Revolutionary War. In childhood, his
parents moved to St. Lawrence County, N. Y., where
' 263

he was brought up a farmer and lumberman. In 1847,
he came to Wisconsin and located in Cold Spring. In
1850, he joined a party bound for the gold fields of
California, by way of the plains, driving a four-horse
team from WhiteAvater to California. Returning to
Wisconsin, he Avas married in February, 1852, to Mrs.
Mary A. Brink, Avidow of Abram Brink, and daughter
of William Greenleaf. To them Avere born a son, Wil
liam R., and three daughters, Lilla G, Juliette J., and
Sarah B.
In 1853, Mr. Redington moved into Whitewater, and
then made a second trip to California with a four-horse
team, returning in 1854. In August, 1862, he recruited
' a company for the Avar, and became captain of Co. D,
28th Wis. Infantry. He Avas in the battle of Helena,
July 4, 1863, took part in the Yazoo Pass expedition,
and was engaged in many other active operations. He
returned to Wisconsin in September, 1865, and engaged
in farming and the produce business. He was a good
citizen and a man of wide and active interests, being
peculiar in the fact that hardly anything came within
his ken Avhich did not arouse his interested attention.
He was a genuine lover of nature and had a rich and
ever available knowledge of things to be found in the
fields, woods, and Avaters. He died suddenly on Nov.
18, 1888.
Dr. Willard Rice. — Was torn in Greensboro, Vt.,
Dec. 18, 1816. While yet a young man, he
moved to Ohio and engaged in the study and
practice of medicine. In 1845, he came to White
Avater and entered into partnership with Dr. J. A.
Clarke, the partnership continuing until the death of
Dr. Clarke in 1873. In those days, to be a physician in
this section, where undrained marshes bred the germs
of disease, Avhere settlers Avere scattered far and wide,
and only accessible over roads scarcely Avorthy of the
name, was a far different thing from Avhat the profes
sion encounters at these times. And full Avell, so far as
the medical science of their day Avould permit, did
these pioneer physicians perform their duties as mis
sionaries to the sick and suffering ; so Avell, in fact, that
they lost their own health in the effort to restore that

DR. WILLARD RICE

boon to others. Dr. Rice was a physician of the old
school, heroic in his methods, but very successful in his
practice. He was married, Dec. 17, 1861, to Emma F.
Cravath, only daughter of Prosper Cravath, Esq., a
woman of unusual brilliancy and strength of mind.
They had two children, Aaron, who died at the age of
seventeen, and Maria, now Mrs. Howard Salisbury.
After some years of declining health, Dr. Rice passed
away, April 16, 1887.
Ansel Salisbury. — Was born in Cortland County,
New York, May 15, 1809. Son of Silas Salis
bury and Lydia Dodge. In May, 1837, he came
to Spring Prairie, Walworth County/ He was
married at Northport, Mich., in 1843, to Olive Dame.
They had seven children, Egbert and Edgar, twins, W.
Scott, Stella (now Mrs. C. J. Partridge), Effie (now Mrs,
Mannering DeWolf) , Willard, and Jessie.
In 1846, Mr. Salisbury moved to Lima, where he en
gaged in farming until 1854, when he moved to White
water. In 1858, he purchased the Branch Mill proper
ty, which he owned for seven years. He died Nov. 24,
1884. He was a man of good judgment and had la
bored hard in his earlier years, thus securing a compe
tence. His sense of honor and justice was simple but
very keen. He was never known to take advantage of
ignorance nor claim a legal right at the expense of hon
or. A single example out of many may illustrate this.
Having mistakenly set the figures on some property at
$1,000.00 less than it was worth, he went to the pur
chaser, before any papers were drawn or any legal
obligation on his part had arisen, and offered him
$1,000.00 for a cancellation of the verbal agreement. The
purchaser not being inclined to forego his purchase,
even on such terms, Mr. Salisbury deeded the property
to him at the original figures. Integrity and he were
one. Nelson Salisbury. — A brother of Ansel Salis
bury. Born in Marathon, N. Y., Dec. 31, 1812.
In 1828, he and his brother Ansel worked on
the Delaware and Hudson Canal, he as steers
man and Ansel as driver. At the age of sixteen,
he came to Cortland, N. Y., and resided in the family
266

ANSEL SALISBURY

of Deacon Prosper Cravath, along with his brothers
Oliver and Ansel. For five years, he worked as a farm
laborer and saved up six hundred dollars. In 1834,
he commenced peddling dry goods and notions with a
horse and wagon. In 1839, or thereabouts he, with his
brother Oliver, made a trip to Wisconsin Territory,
selling goods from a pedlar's wagon. One incident of
this venture was the acquisition of a considerable
amount of the bills of the famous, or infamous, Mineral
Point Bank, one of the first and worst of the "wild
cats." In 1841, he purchased a farm in the "Cravath
neighborhood," and was married to Esther Cravath,
Feb. 24, 1842. She died April 16, 1845, leaving him an
infant daughter, Helen, afterwards wife of Prof. L. L.
Clarke. In 1856, he sold his farm and moved into
Whitewater, engaging in the lumber business for a
time. Later, he became interested in banking. He was
married again in January, 1880, to Mrs. Julia Hemen-
way. At different times, they built several commodious
brick residences on Main street. He died after a lin
gering illness, Sept. 14, 1880.
Mr. Salisbury was a man of superior intelligence and
sterling integrity. He was an interesting conversation
alist and of a cheerful, neighborly disposition, full of in
terest in all public matters, just and honorable in all his
relations. He was successful in every undertaking, but
especially excelled all his neighbors as a farmer and
gardener. No other man could raise so big a crop of
wheat from the same seed ; no one else could equal him
in making a tree grow as he wished it.
George Salisbury. — Of the three Salisbury broth
ers who became residents of Whitewater, George
was the youngest. He was born in Marathon,
N. Y., April 10, 1819, and moved, with his
family, to Spring Prairie, Wis., in 1840. The
following year, he removed to Lima, when he engaged
in farming, living, for a time, in the household of Dea
con Prosper Cravath. In 1849, he married Philena Kin
ney, daughter of Levi Kinney and Adah Cravath Kin
ney. In 1854, he moved to Whitewater, purchasing a
small farm just out of town on the Janesville road,
where he resided until his death, on April 7, 1889. Of
268

a family of twelve brothers and sisters, he was the last
survivor except one sister, Mrs. Lydia Joslin. His only
child was Howard S. Salisbury, well known to this
community, and whose untimely death still saddens the
memory of so many warm friends.
If any man has lived without making an enemy, it
may have been George Salisbury. His genial, warm
hearted, neighborly nature kept him from all intoler
ance or unfairness, though he was a man interested in
all public affairs and unhesitating in pronouncing his
opinion. Professing no particular creed, his life was a
practical illustration of Christian virtues.
Albert Salisbury. — Was born in Lima, Wis., Jan.
24, 1843, being the first white child born in
the town of Lima. He was the oldest of six
children born to Oliver Salisbury and Emily
Cravath, who both came to Wisconsin before they
were married, Avhich event occurred April 27, 1841.
His father was one of the seven Salisbury brothers
who spent more or less of their lives in the nighborhood
of Whitewater. He built the first frame house between
Whitewater and Milton, and to this took his bride, one
of the nine grown-up daughters of Deacon Prosper
Cravath. Albert grew up on the Lima farm, experiencing all
the responsibilities of the oldest child in a pioneer fam
ily. About 1855, his father added the nursery business
to farming, and to this the boy served an apprentice
ship of twelve years. He entered the Union Army as
a recruit in the 13th Wis. Infantry in December, 1863,
serving in the Army of the Cumberland. After the war
was ended, his Army corps, the 4th, was sent to Texas
under Gen. Sheridan, to enforce the Monroe Doctrine.
During this summer (1865), he was detailed by Major
General Stanley as Military Postmaster of the Dept.
of Texas, with headquarters at New Orleans.
He was married Nov. 20, 1866, to Abba A. Maxson,
daughter of Dr. John Maxson. By her, he had four
children, Gertrude L., Oliver M., Grace E., and Wini
fred A. His father dying in November, 1866, he spent
the next two years in managing two farms and closing
out the nursery business. His education, begun in "the
269

white school house," where his first teaching was also
done, and prosecuted intermittently at Milton College,
was resumed in 1868, and he graduated in 1870. He
next became principal of the Brodhead High School. In
March, 1873, he was called to the newly established
position of Conductor of Institutes for the Whitewater
Normal School, which he held until July, 1882, when he
resigned to become superintendent of schools for the
American Missionary Association, in the South and
West, with residence at Atlanta, Ga. For the next
three years, he traveled 30,000 miles a year in the in
spection of schools, doing the travel chiefly nights and
Saturdays. During the third of these years, his fam
ily resided in Montclair, NeAV Jersey. Being called
to the presidency of the Normal School, he returned to
Whitewater in July, 1885, to take up the office which
he has now held for twenty-one years, in which time
the Normal School building has been three times en
larged, the number of graduates, meantime, increasing
from 355 to 1,300. His experience in the nursery busi
ness had bred a taste for trees and gardening which has
found scope in the care and ordering of the school
grounds. His first wife dying in 1881, he was again married
Aug. 28, 1883, to Miss Agnes Hosford, who bore him a
son, Albert H., who died May 15, 1905, just as he was
about to graduate from the Normal School, a sad fate
which had also befallen the youngest daughter, Winnie,
eight years before.
Henry J. Starin. — Was born in the state of New
York in 1807 or 1808. He came to Whitewater in Sep
tember, 1840, settling on a farm on the north edge of
the village, where he spent forty years as a farmer and
horticulturist. He gave especial attention to the plant
ing of shade trees and fruit trees. It gave him great
satisfaction to inaugurate and carry out landscape im
provements, to recover and beautify waste and marshy
places, and make them blossom as the rose. The grove
of large evergreens adjoining the City Park on the
south is one of the remains of his planting. He was a
man of marked peculiarities, but held in high esteem
by the community. He was found dead in bed on the
270

morning of May 3, 1880. His son, Henry Allen Starin,
long a resident here, was born in November, 1842.
Another son, Duane, who lost both legs in the War of
the Union, is also Avell knoAvn to the people of this city.
Jacob J. Starin. — Was born in Montgomery County,
N. Y., Aug. 16, 1825. He came to Whitewater in Sep
tember, 1840, with his uncle, Henry J. Starin. In 1844,
he engaged as a clerk in the store of Philander Peck.
Later, he was one of the partners who succeeded to the
business of Peck and Keep, under the name of Brady,
Starin & Cook. He was engaged about nineteen years
in that business. He was married Oct. 2, 1852, to Miss
Frances E. Hamilton. Two sons were born to them,
Philander P. and William A. He died Jan. 4, 1899.
Mr. Starin was a kind and accommodating neighbor.
In particular, it became a habit with him to be present
at all funerals within the range of his wide acquaint
ance, ready to render any service which the occasion
permitted. Frederic J. Starin. — Was born in Fultonville, N. Y.,
April 17, 1821. When seven years of age, he lost his
father. At the early age of nineteen, he came West
and entered upon the occupation of surveying and civil
engineering, at Dubuque, Iowa. Later, he taught school
at Racine, Wis. In 1843, he returned to New York, and
on August 24th of that year was married to Jane M-
Groat. For the next ten years, he followed farming,
but in 1853 he again came West, settling in White
water. Here he resumed his early occupation and in
1870 assumed business relations with the Chicago &
Northwestern Ry., taking, in addition to surveying and
engineering, the duties of right-of way agent. This con
nection lasted for twenty-three years, taking him away
from home much of his time, notwithstanding which he
was recognized as an influential and respected citizen.
His revered wife, Mrs. Jane M. Starin, still lives in the
beautiful old homestead Avith two daughters, Mrs. Birge
and Mrs. Stump, blessing all who meet her by her sweet
and joyous spirit. Mr. Starin died Oct. 2, 1896, after a
long illness attended by great suffering.
Dr. James Trippe. — Was born in Schenectady, N. Y.,
Sept. 5, 1795. He received his medical education in the
271

College of Physicians and Surgeons at Albany, from
which he graduated about 1817. He engaged in prac
tice in Mobile, Ala., but returned in 1819 to New York.
He was commissioned surgeon of the 60th N. Y. V. I.,
June 11, 1822. Jan. 4, 1825, he was married to Rosepha
Ann Comstock. He continued the practice of medicine
till 1835, when he decided to turn farmer. In 1837, he
migrated to Wisconsin and located in Troy, where he
built a saw-mill. In 1839, as related in the earlier pages
of this book, he moved to Whitewater and became the
proprietor of the town site, building a grist-mill in 1840
and a saw-mill later on. After coming to Wisconsin,
he only practiced medicine when called as counsel in
critical cases. A heartfelt tribute to the worth of Dr.
Trippe as a man and citizen may be found on page 70
of the reminiscences of Prosper Cravath. He died, la
mented by all, Sept. 4, 1844.
Mrs. Rosepha A. Trippe. — Rosepha Ann Comstock
was born in Laurens, Otsego County, N. Y., Nov. 2,
1802, and was married to Dr. Trippe in 1825. The
young couple moved first to Montgomery County, N.
Y, but finally saw their star in the West. They ac
cordingly moved to East Troy in 1837, Mrs. Trippe
bringing with her a comfortable little fortune. In 1839,
they transferred their home to Whitewater, as already
related. They had two sons, Daniel C. and William J.
Mrs. Trippe was a woman of strong will and quite re
markable business capacity. She assisted her husband
in many ways in establishing the village of White
water, and when he died, she continued the work he
had left undone. As one of the pioneer women of
Whitewater, she will be long remembered by all who
knew her as neighbor and friend. She was a leader in
schemes of benevolence and reform. All her life, she
was a staunch member and supporter of the Episcopal
Church; and when she died, Feb. 2, 1881, her zeal in
its cause was recognized by Bishop Welles, who con
ducted the funeral services. She was, all in all, a
woman of mark, strong, self-reliant, hospitable, fond
of society, and fond of doing good. Only the oldest
settlers can realize her value to early Whitewater.

272

Solmous Wakeley. — Was born in New Milford,
Conn., March 17, 1794. His youth was spent in culti
vating an unkindly soil, picking up a few scraps of
education, and learning the shoemaker's trade. In
1818, he married Hannah Thompson, a woman of un
common purity and stability of character. He migrat
ed to New York, where he resided till 1836. He then
removed to Lorain County, Ohio, where he remained
seven years, coming to Whitewater in the spring of 1843.
He became a member of the Constitutional Conven
tion in 1846, where he made up in common sense what
he lacked in schooling. In 1855 and 1857, he also rep
resented Whitewater in the State Assembly. Mr. Wake
ley is remembered by those who know him as a man of
acute mind, with a remarkable ability in debate.
Though his school training was limited, his native pene
tration and reflective mind made him a broad-minded
citizen, firmly grounded in his beliefs and able to main
tain them. He died of pneumonia Jan. 12, 1867, leav
ing a wife, two daughters, and three sons. One of these,
Eleazer Wakeley, Esq., was one of the early lawyers of
the place, a very prominent and highly honored citizen,
avIio attained great prominence in his profession, be
coming eventually a Federal Judge in Nebraska.
Isaac U. Wheeler, Esq. — ' ' Old 'Squire Wheeler, ' ' as
he came to be familiarly called, was a notable charac
ter in early Whitewater. He was born at Oyster Bay,
Long Island, in 1787. His father was a Baptist minis
ter. When I. U. was eleven years of age, he went to
Dutchess County, N. Y., where he learned the carpen
ter's trade. He was married in 1817 to Miss Lavina
Duncan, who bore him six children. Sarah, the oldest,
was the wife of Jesse R. Kinne of Sugar Creek; Mary
A. became the wife of Gaylord Graves ; Harriet was the
first wife of Daniel Salisbury of Spring Prairie ; Betsey
A. was the first wife of S. B. Edwards. Two sons, Eg
bert and William H., were well-known citizens of
Whitewater in the early days.
Before leaving New York, Mr. Wheeler held many
positions of public trust. In 1812, he was captain of a
volunteer rifle company. Later, he was constable and
deputy sheriff, and then justice of the peace. He came to
273

Whitewater in 1840, and in the following year was
appointed justice of the peace by Gov. Doty. He held
this office continuously until his death except during
four years that he Avas postmaster, under Taylor and
Fillmore. He Avas a man of clear judgment, and his
long experience had made him familiar Avith points of
laAV ; so that his judgments Avere rarely appealed from.
He discharged the duties of this office up to within
a few days of his death in his 84th year.
His first Avife, mother of his children, died in Sher
burne, N. Y., in 1835. He Avas married again Jan. 26.
1837, to Miss Nancy Palmer. Lie died Feb. 9, 1870'.
His grandson, I. U. Wheeler (2d), has been connected
Avith the banking business in Whitewater for many
years past.
Asad Williams. — One of the men who loomed large
among the early settlers about Whitewater as a man
and neighbor, Avas Capt. Asad Williams. He was born
in Stonington, Conn., Sept. 26, 1781, and was, there
fore, one of the. oldest of the early comers. He Avas
married in Massachusetts, Oct. 13, 1808, to Miss Jennie
McOee. About 1814, they moved to Herkimer County,
N. Y. They had eight children, six of Avhom lived to
mature years. He arrived in Whitewater June 11,
1839, and located on a farm just beyond the village on
the Fort Atkinson road, Avhere he lived until his death,
May 16, 1864. He had a musical gift which was hand
ed on to several of his sons, the yougest, Thomas W.,
becoming famous in this part of the state as a band
leader. The eldest daughter, Eliza Jane, married Nor
man Pratt, at the East, in 1833. She was one of the
tAvo first women to come to Whitewater and was ever
held in high regard up to her death in 1904, being affec
tionately called "Aunt Jane" by a wide circle of ad
miring friends. The Williams homestead is one of the
few hereabouts still remaining in the family of the
original settler, being noAV held by a grandson, Frank
H. Williams. Mrs. Jenny Williams. — Jenny McGee was born in
Colerain, Mass., Sept. 27, 1781. She was therefore one
day younger than Asad Williams, Avhom she was to
marry in the course of time. She Avas of Scotch and
274

Irish descent. She and her husband lived together for
nearly fifty-six years, and then she lived on for sixteen
years more, dying Feb. 11, 1880, in her 99th year.
When "Aunt Jenny Williams" died, all Whitewa
ter, all who had ever been sick or unfortunate, felt, if
they had been anywhere within the kind soul's reach,
that a common mother had passed away. She was one
of the original members of the Congregational Church,
and on the occasion of its organization in 1840 made a
prayer which was long remembered by those present.
But church lines Avere lost from sight when anyone was
sick, hungered, or in distress of body or soul and need
ed to be ministered unto. Intelligent, refined, with
positive convictions of right and wrong, it was always
a pleasure to hear her converse. Until her eyesight
failed so that she could not read, she took a lively in
terest in all the political and social questions of the day.
As old age crept upon her, she gave up the cares of life,
and knew no ambition but the good of her loved ones.
For many years, she had seen that her -children and
grandchildren were supplied with stockings from her
own hands. When in her 97th year, she knit forty
pairs of stockings ; and but a few days before she was
taken sick she called for more yarn, which, however, .
she never used, for her busy hands grew weary and she
folded them to rest.
Jonathan M. Williams. — Jonathan McGee Williams,
son of Asad and Jenny Williams, was born in Stock-
bridge, Madison County, N. Y, March 17, 1820. He
came to Whitewater with his parents in 1839. He was
married Nov. 27, 1854, to Miss Sarah M. Hamilton: They
had three sons, Leo A., a lawyer in Fond du Lac, Frank
H., and Charles M. He was a man greatly esteemed by
all who knew him. Of quiet, friendly disposition, his
whole life presented a worthy example of conscientious
well-doing in the every day affairs of life.
Nathan D. Williams. — A son of Asad Williams, born
in Madison County, N. Y., March 9, 1823.' Came to
Wisconsin with his parents in June, 1839. Having a
natural talent for music, he and his brother, Thomas
W., began practicing Avind instruments, while making
maple sugar on the banks of Bark River. Later, they
275

were instrumental in organizing the Whitewater Cor
net Band, which had high musical repute for many
years. He was also a member of the Severance and
Williams String Band, which existed for more than
thirty years without a break or change in its member
ship. He was married in Stockbridge, N. Y., May 2, 1844,
to Betsey A. Allen, who bore him five children, George
W., Alma, Cassius C, Linn A., and Leona B. Mr. Wil
liams is still living, but in a weakened condition of
health, and no longer able to mingle with his fellow-
citizens as was his wont.
George G. Williams. — Was born Oct. 15, 1803, at
Cornwall-on-the-Hudson. He was married at Athens,
on the Hudson, Nov. 7, 1824, to Harriet C. Fitch. He
came to Whitewater in 1847, and bought the farm ly
ing between Walworth and Janesville streets. Later,
he became interested in the pottery business, the plant
being located on the west side of Fremont street, north
of North street. He was one of the early magistrates
of the village, his experience in that office continuing
about fifteen years. He was appointed postmaster of
Whitewater by President Buchanan in March, 1860,
which office he held for seven years. He had two sons,
James C. and Robert, and three daughters, one of whom,
Miss Ella Williams, still occupies the old homestead
on North street. During his active life, " 'Squire
Williams ' ' was one of Whitewater 's most widely-known
and influential citizens. He was an old-time Democrat,
but when the South seceded, he took a prompt and pub
lic stand among the supporters of the Union. He died,
after long continued ill-health, August 8, 1889.
Lucius A. Winchester. — L. A. Winchester was born
in Hartford, Vt., Sept. 22, 1821. When seventeen years
old, he learned the blacksmith's trade, and in 1843
came to Milwaukee, where he worked at his trade till
March, 1844, when he came to Whitewater, and with
Joseph Rogers established a general blacksmithing bus
iness. In 1850, he arranged with Dan C. Trippe to
manufacture plows, but this partnership continued only
a short time. In 1853, Wm. DeWolf added his capital
to the enterprise, and four years later John S. Part-
276

INDEX.

Pages.
Arey, Oliver  21S, 223
Arveson, Hans  72
Arveson, Harvey  2-10

Babcock, A. 0  58
Baker, Newton . . .¦  32, 36
Baker, Wm  7S
Baldwin, Rev. Wm. A.. . 110, 119
Ball, A New Years'  60
Banks  128, 132, 133
Barber, Edward  93
Bark AVoods  48, 78, 232
Barnes, Capt. Frank.149, 154, 161
Barron, Wm. . .5, 6, 7, 10, 16, 29
Bsrtholf. Jas  73
Bassett, Thos  96, 108
Beckwith, Geo. H  136, 152
Billings, Seth M...35, 59, 146,
 228, 242
Billings,' Mrs'. S.' ii.'.".'. 7.202,' 203
Birge, Julius C. .46, 142, 145,
 147, 155, 179, 180, 243
Birge. Leander. .8. 10. 11, 14,
. .56, 85, 86, 94, 201, 242, 241 5
Birge. William. .8. 10, 11, 14,
16, 27, 41, 62, 78, S3,
 .'.88, 95, 105, 229, 242
Blacksmiths  229, 230
Bonnell, Job D. . . :  53. 59, 79
Bower, Joseph C  97, 131. 244
Brass, James.  64, 71
Brett, Chas  81
Brewer, Dr. Edward . . 8, 10,
 21, 82, 85, 242
Brewer, F. B. . . 133, 142, 146,
.  148, 149
Brick-Making  230
Brady, P. H...55, 81, 87, 91,
.  108, 163, 235, 244
Brink, Abram  33, 46, 264
Brown, George  41
Brown, Jedediah  57
Bull, H. C  13
Bunker, George  108
Burgess. Elder  59
Bunows, Stephen  62
Butterfield, J. L  97
Butts, Daniel  16, 20, 26, 27

Cadle, Rev. E  53, 68
Cadman.- Luther  73, 245
Pampbell. Robert  85, 88
Carley. D  85, 185
Carpenter, Justus . . 33. 36,
.  37, 41. 240
Case, Rev. F. H  59, 68
Caswell, Seth M  59, 82, 94
Catholic Church  92, 160, 165

Pages.
Cawker, Emanuel  39
Cemetery Association. . 83, 86,
 118, 124
Chaffee, Alfred E  206
Chamberlin. A. Y  230, 238
Chandler, Hon. W. H  220
Chapman and Ludington's
Addition  88, 92, 96
Cheney, A. J  141. 144, 160
Cheney, Rufus.. 81, 85, 86,
.87, 91, 100, 104, 106, 107,
 124, 138, 218
Cholera  98
Clark, C. M  3, 224. 246
Clark, John M.4, 79, 123, 153, 245
Clarke, Dr. J.A.. .32, 53, 71,
 225, 246
Clarke, Luther  73
Clarke, Rufus  8, 9, 16, 18
Coe, E. D  205
Coffin-Making  238
Cold Summer  128
Cold Winters  61, 102, 152
Cole, Dan  234
Cole, Warren.. 73, 79, 87,
 96, 232. 240
Coneray, David  75
Conger, Ephraim  63, 194
Conger, M. B. & O. H. 96
 133, 239, 246
Conger, M. E. and O. H. . 96
Congregational Church. . .41,
 64, 172, 227
Converse, H. D  234
Cook, D. S...91, 105, 148,
153 217 247
Cook,' Mrs.' D.' S..7  '.199,' 248
Cook, Lewis  105, 247
Cooley, Orville  53, 73, 193
Coombs, Nelson  73, 75, 78
Cornes, E. W  84
Cortland County Colony. 40
Coopering  230, 232
Cravath, Adah  268
Cravath, Emily  269
Cravath, Emma.... 169, 184, 26R
Cravath, Esther  268
Cravath, Mrs. Maria.. 169,
 170, 172, 201, 202, 250
Pravath, Miles G  65, 248
Cravath, Orville A  250
Cravath, Pitt. .113, 149, 165,
 169, 204, 251
Cravath, Dea. Prosper. .40,
 41, 52, 169, 248, 254
Cravath, Prosper, Jr. . 32, 38,
50, 73, 74, 85, 91, 102,
 162, 169, 179, 262, 268
Crombie, J. M..102, 127, 133,
 163, 235

279

PAGES.
Curtice, Charles E. . . 53, 82,
101, 108, 130, 131, 136,
..144, 162, 183, 195, 196, 206
Curtice, H. J  99, 100
Cushing, Sweetland &
Stewart  116
Cutler, Gerard  45, 55
Cutler, L. W  97
Cutter, William  19, 20

Dailey, B O 
Dake, Martin 
Dancing School  47,
Dancy, L. O 
Dann, George.. 71. 79, 105,
. .125, 228, 230, 231, 232,
Davis, E. F. and S 
Davis, Jerome 
Day, Ira C. . .•  145, 156,
Decker, J. B 
Deer Hunting  18,
Deichman, Dr. J  83,
Denison & Tanner 
De Wolf, William.. 95, 117,
128, 157, 164, 221, 234,
 252,
Disadvantages of Location
Distillery 
Doubleday, Capt 
Dow, Thomas 
Draft, The  149,
Dunn, John 

96974982
252 6365
208 82
40
251235

276 4
237 190 92
150196

Earle, Robert  53
Earle, Warner.. 36. 38, 50,
53, 56. 63. 73, 77, 85, 91, 263
Eaton and Brass  64, 225
Ensign, Morris  35, 97
Episcopal Church  81
Esterly, George . . 21. 45, 106,
108, 110. 121. 152. 155,
 157, 166, 236, 237, 253
Evans, John  63

Farmers' and Mechanics'
Club  101, 106, 119, 121
Fenner, J. P  65
Ferris, George  165, 253

Ferris, Thompson
Fever and Ague.

193 76
¦ Finch. Benoni  5, 6, 43
First House  9
Flanders. Rev. James. ... 28
Foster, Alvah  5, 7, 175
Foster, D  173
Fourth of July Celebra
tions  57, 90, 119
Freeman, Alex  41
Freeman, Benj. B  41, 62
Freeman, James  229
Freeman, Rev. L. W  92
Fun Hunters  126, 149, 154

Gallt & Cole  127, 129, 133
Giddlngs, D  88
Gleason, George  254

Gold Hunters  85,
Goodrich, C. P 
Graham, Alex.. 102, 108,
Graham, Daniel 
Gray, Col. E.B 
Green, Rev. A. B 
Greonman, H. H 

Hackett, Abraham. .
Hall, George B 
Hall, Sheldon C. .63. 72,
81. 82, 87, 93. 123.
. .154, 156, 159, 227,
Hamilton, Charles. . .10.
 18,
Hamilton, David 
Hamilton, N. A 
Hamilton, Sarah AI 
Hamilton, Talma 
Hamilton, William 
Plarding, William A . . da,
Hardy, Ara 
Harvesters 
Haubert, J 
Hawes, Joseph 
Hawes, Morris F  11,
Henderson, Alex 
Hendrickson, A. D 
Herrington, Solomon . 16.
Hicks. Matthew.45, 52, 55
Hoadley, Dr 
Honey. Wild 
Hoop- Skirts 
Hoppin, Richard 
Horton, Dr. E. G 
Hotels  41,
Hull. Dea. Zerah 
Humphrey. Rev. L. R. . . .
Hunt, J. B  75,
Hunter, William 
Hunting  18, 40, 49,
Hurlbut, Elder  •. .

Indian Alarms 
Indian Mounds 
Indian Trails  3
Indian Village 
Indian A'isitors 

Jefford. S. T 
Johnson. Levi 
Johnson, Willard B. . .21
 28, 29, 62,

Keep, Albert 
Keep, Henry 
Kelloge. Edson 
Kendall- Albert  63.
King, Eli  73.
Kinney, Azor. 32. 41, 56,
Kinney, Mrs. Delilah. . . .
Kinney, Francis 
Kinney, Giles  40,
Kinney, Levi. . . .40, 49.
Kinney, Rev. M. P. . . 68,
 92, 95, 189. 227,
Kirkham, Rev. E. W....

Pages.

153,

161

87

131,

149

va?,

164

143,

166

167

135,

223

35

21,

82

, 74.

124,
232,
237
15,
21,
242
250
256
275
64
115,
256
. 68,
177
40
238
127
121,
130
17,
252
35
11(1
120
19.
229
¦• 5H,
22fi
97,
135
18,
190
141
21
141.
156
85.
110
40,
41
110
182,
183
33,
92
, 84,
ISO
72
43
4
7,
12
3,
179
176,
182
130
35.
37
. 24,
240,
262
79,
91
72
91
108,
160
230,
240
96,
98
246,
257
201
83,
256
123,
146
161,
268
82,
228,
256
167
280
Laud Claims  7, 3i
Land Sale  31
Larson & Henderson . . .7 96
Lawsuits, Early  38. 50
Le Baron, Thos. K...53 74 191
Lee. Di-  82, 87
Leffingwell, II. c  §3
Leland. Dr. A. <;  inn
Leslie, E. B  77
Lewis. Prof. A. A  lo:;
Library Association . 118, 122
,  128, l:;o, 136
Literary Societies  lo::, lis
Littlejohn, Rev. Augustus HO
Littlejohn, X. Jr. .106. 116.
 125. 164. 218, 222
Lusk, W. 1'  84

McBeath. Robert. 87. 97.
McHose. J 
McLaughlin, Patrick. .46,
 87,
Magoon, Dr. O. <'. ..36.
 59, 71,
Marsh. Sanger... 75. 84.
 104.
Marston. George P 
Mead, J. M  147.
Mead. Zerah. .15, 10. 19,
 35. 38. 44. 56.
Merino Sheep  120.
Miter, Rev. J. J 
Methodist Church .... 64.
Military Companies . . .
 140
Mill, Raising of 
MHl-Site 
Miner. Rev. E. G 
Money . . .114. 131. 134
Alontague. Henry U . . . .
Montague, Rev. O 
Morgan. Horatio 
Murphey, N. S.107, 142
Muzzy, Pliny  .">:

113. 63.97.56.

153,

141

134. 143,

24,
119,147.123.101,
153, 64,

97
115
226 258 19
25S25 S
154 8987
144
229207 150
156102 S3
251229

Natural Disadvantages. . 4
Newspapers. Local  100. 107
New Year's Ball  60
Nichols, Joseph. .5, 6, 16, 18, 33
Niemann, Charley  185
Niemann. Daniel  63
Noble, Butler G  102, 118
Normal School. 160. 101, 103.
 104, 166, 167. 217, ff.
Noyes, Charles S  96, 138, 207
Noyes, Samuel  84

O'Connor, R..59. 08. 78. 81.
 87, 96, 178, 258
OTinhaus. M  234
Ostrander, Orra (Aaron)
 5, 55, 193, 228

Paper Mill  235
Parsons. Squire  57, 63. 186
Partridge, Mrs. Henrietta 259

Pages.
Partridge, John S. ..75, 120,
 235, 259, 275
Patterson, F. C. . . 58, 59, 73,
 77, 85, 94, 195
Pease, Jesse. .45, 59, 82, 188, 226
Peck, Mrs. Clarissa  201, 204
Peck, D. B  92
leek. Geo. W..120, 136,145,
 148, 219
reck, Philander. .53. 72, 91,
 94, 98. 191, 204
Phillips. George  69
Pierce, George  85
Pike, Alanson.. 41. 163. 164. 239
Pike. Calvin  41. 56. 63, 227
Pike. Jarvis K. . . .55, 3tS.7S,
. .  22*'.; 261
Pork-Packing  237
Potteries  232
Potts, AA'illiam. . .64, 71, 83,
 133, 128
Powers. Allen & Co  105. 121
Powers, David J.. 21. 24.25,
32. 33, 41, 43. 44. 40, 53,
 02. 220. 262, 263
Powers, Joseph. . . 35, 46, 55,
 01. 71, 226
Powers, Levi. 53. 81. 8,x, 191, 226
Powers, Sheldon ( '  47
Prairie Fires  39. 188
Pratt. Asaph  26, 41. 56.
 98, 226, 229, 263
Pratt, Corydon  41, 55, 59
Pratt. ('.A  175
Pratt, De Lorma  237
Pratt. Freeman L. .9, 14, 46,
48, 58, 63, 105. 173, 175.
 177. 263
Pratt. .Airs. Jane... 173, 174,
 176. 274
Pratt. Mrs. Melinda. ... 173,
 174, 201, 263
Pratt. Morganta  177
Pratt. Morris  41
Pratt, Norman. .. .9. 10, 11,
 14, 17, 24, 25, 50, 173
Prince. Samuel..", 9. 10, 15,
 53, 56, 165
Printup. Henry  63, 191
Railroads. . .84. 86, 100. 103, 107
Rand, True  14
Rann. II. L  107, 152, 155
Redington. E. S  143. 144,
 161, 207, 263
Redington, George  87
Reed, Rev. II. AV  71
Rice, Emma Cravath .... 184
Rice, Dr. Willard. . . .71. 264, 265
Richardson, B. W  101
Richardson, AArilliam. . . . 75. 101
Roads  4. 34, 67
Robinson, Charles. . . .41. 53, 50
Roethe, E  230
Rogers. Joseph. . 69. 87, 227, 276
Rowley, Rev. Milton. . . . 110, 146
Salisbury, Albert. .. 156, 217,
 224, 228

28t

Pages.
Salisbury, Ansel.... 04, 229,
 200, 267
Salisbury, George  41, 268
Salisbury, Howard S . . . . 269
Salisbury, Nelson. .. .05. 149, 266
Salisbury, Oliver. .. .41, 268, 209
Salisbury, Mrs. Philena. . 240, 3C8
Sand Speculation ..'.... 76
Sanford, Joseph  58
Sayles, Nelson .  96
Schenhart, Henry  94
Scholl, John  232
Schools. .47, 81, 85, 101, 132, 217
Schoolhouses. 44, 68, 94, 108, 182
Schrom, J. B  130
Scoville, A. H.76, 78, 81, 102, 132
Sentenn, A  73, 75, 88
Sentenn, H  185
Sentinel, .Milwaukee . . . 182
Severance & AArilliams . . . 122
Shade Trees  78
Sharp, J  75
Shaw, John  21, 24, 26
Shedd, H. B  107
Sheep, Merino. 120, 141. 154, 159
Sherwood, William B.58, 03, 198
Sherwood, Mrs  198
Shin Plaster Currency. . 131, 147
Sikes, Sidney  -92
Slocum, Abel  102
Smalley, Rev. Seth  53, 59
Smith, D  72, 81, 227
Smith, Rev. Daniel. . .37-, 41, 53
Smith, G. II. & E. A  97, 102
Smith, John T  97, 100
Smith, Oscar  143, 16S
Sovereign's Court  31
Stalker, J  106
Stanton, Joseph & Beni. . .46,
 48, 52, 53
Starin, Frederic .1  46, 271
Starin, Henry J  46, 53,
 78, 123. 186, 270
Starin, Jacob J. . .46, 09, 91, 271
Starin, Mrs. Jane M . . . . 271
Stealing Timber  48
Stebbins, AVillard  106, 165
Stedman, Airs  202
Steele, Chas. W  136, 154
Steele, Spencer S  113
Stewart, W. L. R  116, 165
Storms, John U..58, 75, 82, 226

Trippe, William
Tuttle, S. II . . .

I'AGBS.
.84, 189, 272
 166, 237

Taft, N  55, 193,
Tanner, L. A.. 121, 133, 157,
Temperance Societies. 52, 82,
Territorial Road 
Trails, Indian  3, 7,
Tratt, Frank AV 
Trippe, Dr. James. . 25, 26,
28, 31, 33, 40, 53. 56,
57, 60, 70, 91, 98, 171,
191, 225, 229, 262,
Trippe, Dan. C..88, 93, 234,
 235. 272,
Trippe, Mrs. Rosepha A. . 33,
93, 95. 105, 178, 200, 201.
 228.

22S 163 873412
119

271 276

Utter, Burch  13
Utter, Curtice  19
Van Horn, Thomas. . .16, 45,
 56, 69, 79, 194, 228
Volunteers  134, 208, ft.

Wagon-making 

234

Wablsted, A 

102

Wakeley, Eleazar. .73, 8:

:. 86,

90, 91, 100, 102, 104,

107,

273

Wakeley, Lucy A 

277
Wakeley, Solmous  >8
. 91,
 164,
191,
273
Walker, Silas 
03
Warne, Dr. H 
87
War Times. . . . 131, 134,
139,
. .143, 145, 146, 155,
158,
200
Webb, Thomas H.45. 55
, 79,
97
Weed, 0. A. . . .62, 192,
195,
234
Weeks, T. D 
129
171
AVheeler, Egbert.. 46, 52
. 50,
59
230
Wheeler, I. U.. Esq. .46
, 52,
220,
273
Wheeler, AVilliam.46, 52
56,
230
Whitcomb. Beniamin . . .
.33,
45
White, Hon. S. A. . . 158,
104,
'.'19
...,n
130
Wilcox, Ebenezer 
184
AA'ilcox, E. H  7
3, 77
, 81
114
Williams, Asad.. 41, 56.
153,
271
AVilliams, Dean. 9, 14, 15
41,
173
Williams, Geo. G. . .79.
105
 114, 206, 223,
234,
27fi
AVilliams, Mrs. Jenny. . .
274
AVilliams, Jonathan M. .
','75
Williams, Nathan.. 177,
178
275
Williams, Thos. W 
1"1
''74
Winchell, Rev. A. B. . . 59
, 63.
71
"•'7
Winchester, L. A. . 68. 69
81,
88, 110, 121, 125.
164,
230,
234,
276
Winnick, John 
92
Wintermute, Septer. 83,
121,
124
"77
Winters, Cold  61 ,
102,
152
Women, First 
15
Wood, Jedekiab R 
63
Wood. William 
5?
230
Woodbury, Albert 
92
Woodbury, John. .63, 69
, 83,
190
094
Woodbury, Louise 
190
Woodbury, Ulysses ....
73
Woodworth. M. M 
10'^
AA;orkman, Sidney. 36, 41
, 56,
240 1 89
, 84
Wright & Cash 
121
¦"'30
Wright, S. D 
133
282
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Page.
Seth M. Billings, . . .241
Mrs. S. M. Billings, .
. 203
Julius C. Birge,
. 178
John M. Clark, .
. 80
Miles G. Cravath,
. 249
Prosper Cravath, Esq.,
frontispiece
Mrs. Prosper Cravath,
. 170
George Dann, .
. 231
George Esterly,
. 238
Deacon George Gleason,
. 255
John S. Partridge,
. 260
Philander Peck,
. 54
David J. Powers,
. 22
J. L. Pratt,
. 137
Mrs. Freeman Pratt, .
. 174
Mrs. Norman Pratt, .
. 176
Dr. Willard Rice,
. 265
Ansel Salisbury,
. 267
Rev. Daniel Smith,
. 42
Mrs.. Rosepha A. Trippe,
. 200
Residence of Dr. Trippe,
. 34
L. A. Winchester,
r
. 235
283