THE WAUPACA REPUBLICAN

January 3, 1896

 

Volume 43.

 

            With this issue we commence a new milestone in the publication year of THE REPUBLICAN.  The WAUPACA SPIRIT first saw light in the little village now city of Waupaca, December 11, 1853, consequently the paper is forty-two years of age.

 

LOOKING BACKWARD.

 

            A glance at a copy of the SPIRIT, dated December 19, 1854, just about one year after its first publication (the only copy we have of the earliest date) shows that the SPIRIT was a six- column folio, four pages, all printed at home.  It was pretty well filled with miscellany, but few locals, and a good showing of business ads for the size of the place.

            J. B. and C. E. Redfield were the editors and publishers of the SPIRIT at this date.

            J. D. Scott advertise drugs, dry goods, groceries and notions.

            Chase & Phillips, a mammoth stock of new goods at the “Indian Land Store.”

            Wilson & Holt advertises that “All persons having money to pay can have the biggest pile of goods for it, than the wildest imagination in Northern Wisconsin ever pictured to its possessor in its loftiest flights.”

            David Parish advertises boots and shoes.

            W. C. Lord & Co. “take pleasure in announcing to the citizens of Wisconsin and the surrounding states and territories, not forgetting foreign powers that having made vast improvements in our mill, with new stones, new bolts, will furnish first quality of flour, etc.  Also one run of stone for grinding coarse feed, corn meal, buckwheat flour, etc.”

            Brainard, Reed & Silverthorn advertise the excelsior saw mill in complete running order, and they are ready to ”exchange lumber for wheat, rye, oats, corn, hay, etc.”

            C. L. Bartlett, dealer in general merchandise, including hardware, advertise a whole column.

            A. Vanduzee advertises the re-opening of the Waupaca House; also says there will be a grand New Year’s ball Monday evening, Jan. 1, 1855, and every good person is invited to attend.  Fare $2.  Good music in attendance.

            E. I. Putnam advertises dry goods, hats, caps, boots, shoes, hardware and pure brandies and wines for medical purposes and will not be undersold by any of his neighbors.  His card was dated November 15, 1853, showing that it went in no doubt with the first issue of the SPIRIT.

            Peter Mitchell advertises that he has rented one half of the Waupaca mills, has an experienced miller and all mistakes will be rectified.  Also will pay cash for wheat.

            There are several legal notices:  one sheriff’s sale, Thomas Crawthus vs. Bradford F. and Abraham Vanduzee, who had levied upon one frame house, thirteen by twenty-one.  It was to be sold in front of the Tremont House December 30, 1854.  William G. Thompson, sheriff; S. L. Moon, undersheriff.

            R. Parfrey advertises the Parfreyville Rough and Ready Mills.

            J. H. Jones offers for sale a valuable water power, tavern stand and farm at Junction Lake,  P. O., Nepawan, (Rural).

            O. E. Druetzer run a large insurance agency card, representing the State Mutual of Harris-burg, Pa., capital $500,000; the Hudson River Marine and Fire of Crescent, N.Y.; the National Protection of Saratoga; the Washington Union of Cleveland; the Western of Olean, N.Y.  The above having capital of $150,000 to $250,000 each and the Hartford Life of Hartford, Conn., capital $500,000.  The above names are not very familiar these days.  Here is Mr. Druetzer’s warning:

            “Now, for a small amount, paid annually, a policy can be had from one or more of them, which in case of accident will save you from ruin.  Then do not put it off until too late.  Fires are occurring all around you.  Your turn may come next; if not from your own neglect, it may from the carelessness (or something worse) on the part of your neighbors.”

            Caleb S. Ogden over date of July 17, 1854, Ogdensburg, advertises, having jut opened a general store at Ogdensburg near the geographical center of Waupaca County.

            A. Dunham advertises blacksmithing.

            Wm. H. Beedle and G. A. Tinkham advertise that they have purchased the stand of the “Live Blacksmith” and will pay particular attention to the construction of plows and the shoeing of horses and oxen.

            T. A. Butterfield has a land agency ad of a quarter column.

 

            In the business directory cards, E. L. Browne, Attorney, Counselor and Solicitor, Land Agent and Notary Public, has an office for law and land business at the printing office in Judson’s building.

            J. H. Jones was a lawyer at Nepawan (Rural).

            Geo. A. LaDow was an attorney at Weyauwega.

            O. E. Druetzer was court commissioner for Waupaca County, Attorney and Counselor at Law, etc. Also Register of Deeds.

            W.A. Bugh, of Berlin, under a card dated June 1, 1854, associated with O. E. Druetzer in joint law practice.

            E. Higgins, W. B. Hibbard and M. Chamberlain were justices of the peace and notary publics.

            L. B. Brainard M.D.

            S. L. Moon carpenter and builder.

            C. C. Hosford advertises a new tailor shop.

            S. Miller & Sons advertise that they will furnish farmers with good substantial fanning mills.

            J. A. Chesley, druggist; shop in Bartlett’s old store.

 

            Among the local items Ehiha Higgins had just opened the Tremont House, west side of Main street opposite Waupaca Public Square.

            The Waupaca House.  Mr. A. Vanduzee had again taken possession and was prepared to receive all patrons with courtesy and furnish them with comforts and luxuries necessary to the welfare of our eternal selves.

            A young man by the name of Cyrus Horton committed suicide by shooting himself.  A love affair.  Part of his property he willed to the girl who had jilted him.

            A Mr. Osborn was buried in a well while taking out curbing.  It took forty-four hours to rescue him.  The article says he left a wife and seven children to mourn the loss of a protector.  The wife and two children found shelter at Mr. Hearn’s in Farmington.  The rest were placed in other families.

            The foreign land holder and a majority of the county board gets a roast because of their action which prevented getting state school money.

SELECT SCHOOL.

            Miss A. A. Browne commenced a select school in the second story of Gothic Hall.  Females and small boys will be received as pupils.  The editor remarks:  “We hear Miss Browne very highly spoken of both as a teacher and an accomplished lady.”

            The foundation of Waupaca’s school system must have been started this year for under the heading “District School” the SPIRIT says:  “The new district school house is finally completed and Mr. E. C. Sessions engaged to teach the winter school.  We are much pleased to know that the absence of money for school purposes is not permitted to interfere with our regular term of school.”

            Eratus Lester, of Willow Creek, and Amelia Clayton, of Waupaca, were married on the 17^th by Hon. S. F. Ware.

            Weyauwega has a fine send off for its enterprising business activity from the Stevens Point Pinery.

            Under the head of “The Weather” – during the whole fore part of last week it was very mild and the snow all disappeared.  It commenced snowing Saturday and now it is about three inches deep.  The weather is cold but comfortable.

            The household furniture of William Rice will be sold Dec. 25, at the house of Dana Dewey.

            The above shows that our old friend, Dana Dewey, was there and on deck.  “O.K.”

            The general news gives advices of the Crimean War.

            The feeling in Honolulu, Sandwich Islands, was in favor of annexation, but the British consul protests against it.

            There is a column article on the coming French Industrial Exposition, a poem on “The Motherless Child,” by Fales, and another  poem “Bingen on the Rhine.”

            The market quotations were as follows:

            Wheat, spring, 80@8t; winteer, 90@95; flour from witner wheat $2.75 per 100 lbs.; spring $2.50; potatoes, 25 cents; onions 75 cents; beans 67-1/2 c; corn 40c in the ear; port, in the hog, $3.50@$4.00 per hundred; butter, 20c per lb.; venison, 3@4c per lb.

            Delos Luce has an interesting California letter.

            Here is a relic of slavery days under date of Chicago, Dec. 8, 1854.

            “Last night eighteen fugitive slaves arrived from Missouri and were immediately followed by men from St. Louis in pursuit.  This morning warrants were taken out and presented to the U.S. Marshal who was directed to make the arrest at the McArdel House.  Having failed to obtain a posse the marshal called out the militia companies. The national guard came out armed.  Their presence caused great excitement, the street filled with citizens.

            The Appleton Post Crescent says:  “A fight occurred between an Indian and a white man near New London, the Indian being killed.  The row occurred because the Indian tried to take a pony away from the white man.

            25,000 was the number of settlers who pitched their tents in Minnesota this past season.

            Waupaca village is hereafter the county seat of that county by a vote of the people.  It is a most beautiful site for a town, and it is well that perplexing question of locating the count seat is finally settled. – Wis. Pinery, Nov. 15

            That settles it.

            We will be glad to give our readers other extracts from some of the old files in the future.