THE WAUPACA COUNTY POST

December 22, 1992

 

WHEN THEN WAS NOW

By Wayne A. Guyant

 

            The Waupaca County Post lost perhaps one of its most ardent admirers at the time of the death of William J. Bendixen, in Green Bay on March 21, 1932.

In the February 12, 1931, issue of the Waupaca County Post, there was an article about Mr. Bendixen, who was a resident of the Odd Fellows Home in Green Bay, and every time that he was in Waupaca he took the opportunity to visit the office of the Waupaca County Post to talk over old times about Waupaca.

            William J. Bendixen was born in Grestad, Denmark, in 1854, and came to Waupaca in 1870 when he was only 16 years of age.  He became a continual subscriber to the various Waupaca papers for 50 years.

            He was a charter member of the Danes Home when it was organized in 1877, and was elected its first treasurer.  At the time of his death, he had the distinction of being a continual member since its beginning.

            On one occasion, Mr. Bendixen told the Waupaca County Post that the only business building that was still standing, then in 1931, that was in operation in 1870, when he came to Waupaca, was the little building located across the street to the north of the City Hall.  Here Jens P. Mortenson operated a barrel factory for many years.

            The obituary that was found in the local paper in August of 1918 also verifies the fact that Mr. Mortenson did operate a barrel factory at this location.  Jens Peter Mortenson was born on the Island of Moen, Denmark, on January 11, 1837.  He came to America in 1867, and in 1869 he built the cooper shop next to the city hall in Waupaca.

            The obituary for Kristine (Hansen) Mortenson indicates that she was born on the Island of Moen, Denmark.  Kristine Hansen was born March 29, 1844, and came to Waupaca on May 18, 1872. She was united in marriage to Jens Peter Mortenson in Scandinavia, June 3, 1872.

            Jens Peter Mortensen passed away August 29, 1918, and his wife Kristine passed away January 31, 1924. Both are buried in the Waupaca Lakeside Memorial Park Cemetery.  One daughter, Meta, Mrs. Sophus J. Danielsen; and five sons:  Mourtis, Henry, Carl, Walter and William, all survived their parents.

            Another subject that was discussed by Mr. Bendixen was about the big fire in 1872 that destroyed all but two of the buildings in one block; 17 buildings in all went up in smoke.

            It was believed that the fire started in the livery stable, which was located on the south side of a hotel.  This hotel location is now Bank One.  Buildings in those days were of wooden construction, and there was very little equipment to fight fires, so often a fire proved disastrous.  The two buildings that were saved were a blacksmith shop that stood where the Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce building is today, and a bank building that was on East Union Street, east of where Bank One is today.

            The bank building did not burn because it was torn down to prevent the flames from spreading!  A new bank building was rebuilt on the same location and later was moved to the south of the old E.E. Browne Law Office on Jefferson Street. I wish to add that this building was the Mead Bank (where H.C. Mead was murdered) before it was moved from Union Street to Jefferson Street.

            When the new bank was built on Union Street after the fire, it was rebuilt to fit the doors and windows of the original bank.

            Mary, wife of William Bendixen, was born in 1849, and passed away in 1917.  They were the parents of Annie, Hattie, Emma and Oscar. Both are buried here in Waupaca.