Stout Music

Russ Stout School of Music was bought by June Lefever, and she operated Stout Music for many years.  Recently she sent to the Fond du Lac Historical Society numerous photos and clippings about Stout Music.

This is a photo of trophies (and student photos) that were on display in 1954.

undated photo.

June Lefeber behind the counter of Stout Music.

Aug. 21, 1954 at the annual Chicagoland Music Festival.

Left to right: Linda Beyer, Anna Jo Loehr, Sandra Neilsen, audrey Wollitz, Sue Beyer, Carol Lefeber (barely seen), Marie Haensgen, Delores Kunasch, Pat Jameson, Alma Robbins, Carolyn Posey, Sandra Pittler, Donna Zeigenhagen, Judy Schmitz, Wilma Coonley (barely seen), Devota Gilgenbach.

(Imagine if they all played at once)

There always was a Home Show every year at the Fond du Lac County Fair, with entertainment in the Merchants Building!

Looks like they have a jam session going!

More  Home Show entertainment.

Wolf Lake play equipment

In scanning in some old slides from Fond du Lac county, I came across a few pics of old playground equipment, probably the products of BCI Burke Co.  These pictures were taken at Wolf Lake in August 1968.

Fairgrounds

Came across some old photos of the fairgrounds, and I can actually remember some of these older buildings, now long gone.

The old Merchant building, as well as the old horse barn can been seen in this aerial view.

The Old Horse Barn

Palmers, Bannisters and dulcimers

The Palmer dulcimer, on display at the Galloway House & Village

Birney & Carrie Palmer with their dulcimer

Bingham Lake

Dec 18^th, 1932

Dear Mae & All.

This, while mostly business like is also a Christmas greeting to you all and I wish you a very bright and happy day. As you doubtless know before this time I came up here to attend Charley Siem’s funeral who died the 3^rd of Dec. It is a very sad family for they loved him very much and had cared for him so long that it was very hard to give him up.

Once, when the family were visiting us at Valley Springs Charley wanted to see the dulcimer and we got it down out of the barn. The wrench was with it then so we could see how the tuning was done. And we never saw it after that till just a few minutes ago when Laura went and got it from Charley’s things. He had put it in his pocket and brought it home with him. I am sending it to you and as it is old you may want it for a pattern to make a newer one.

By now you will know that there are to be five or six bass strings which go over the top of the short bridge & through the holes in the long bridge. The bass strings are of brass but the other ones are of wire (steel wire) Bass strings are only two strands just from their keys over across to the nails on the left hand side. I do not know whether you can get the right kind of wire or not. Mary used to try to use different kinds of wire – fiddle strings, mandolin strings etc. But none of them gave the same satisfaction as the regular dulcimer wire which I doubt if you can get. Now, as to the history of this dulcimer. I can not tell in what year Erastus Bannister came to Wis to sell dulcimers but it was between 1850 and 1856. The Manning family were in Wis then from N. Y. state and had settled in Adams Co. at a place called Roche-a-Cree, an Indian name. Then Gaston Bannister & Jasper went to the same place. It was in the summer of 1856 that my sister Carrie worked for a family by the name of Dr Cruthers who lived about a mile west of where the town hall and the Methodist church used to stand in the town of Byron, Fond du Lac Co. This family were singers and music lovers. And when Erastus Bannister came along selling dulcimers and was himself a singer with a grand good bass voice, they had royal good times and of course he sold them a dulcimer, and as he traveled around the country selling them, he made the Dr’s home his headquarters, thus getting acquainted with your Aunt Carrie Bannister  who sang alto with the family. Your uncle Will Palmer was a baby that year born the 4^th of Apr. Erastus & Carrie were married in the fall and went to Roche-a-Cree to live. And before going he gave your Aunt Mary a dulcimer for she took to it at once, thought Aunt Florence played some. And it is her picture taken with your father with the dulcimer on her lap. So you see the Bannisters – three brothers, and the Mannings all lived up there which we used to call the “Injun Land”. And Manning’s folks bought this dulcimer that you have. When the  moved to this country they brought it along, and when they went to calif the left it to Aunt Jennie. And when they moved in their new house they put it up in the barn where it stayed until charley wanted to see it that time. And now you have it. After your father came home from the war, he went up to Adams Co. to visit the Bannisters and Aunt Mary had already gone up there. She & Birney played together for dances etc. And she there met & married Frank Munn when they all came down to Byron in 1865 or 66.

Now I hope you enjoy the old thing and learn to play on it – I only wish I was there to see the old thing renew itself and to hear you play. A very merry Christmas to you all from my heart and Laura & Myrtle send their greetings too.

Lovingly

Aunt Rosina

Johny's on the Lake

Just received an email from someone out of state, who came across some photos of Johny's on the Lake, which the family had owned at one point.

Rick is the youngest of the Nagy “kids” whose parents John and Dolores Nagy owned the restaurant.   Dolores was a cook there and John also bartended.  Their home was also located at the restaurant.  My husband gained his love of boats growing up there and as kids got to help bring patrons’ boat to dock.  

John and Dolores eventually moved to Arizona where they retired and eventually passed on.

Gene Autry

Here are some fun photos of a time when Gene Autry visited Fond du Lac.  Of course, he received a key to the city, but on this occasion he also got to visit some safety patrol students.  Does anyone recognize themselves in these pictures?

Gene Autry receives key to the city from Clarence Sheridan

Mom

Today marks one year, that my mom finally was re-united with my dad, so I decided to go through some of the many little papers of anecdotes that she wrote, which gives me a glimpse into days long gone.

[My mother was born Jan. 24, 1914, and her early days were spent on Morris St.  Her next-door neighbor was Mrs. Shirley, the last of the freed slaves who moved to Fond du Lac after the civil war.  Mom's playmate when she was little, was Mrs. Shirley's grandson.]

Here is a little piece that she wrote about her early childhood:

Thoughts about my Mother

By Emma Berghandler Reinhardt

Seems more difficult to recall things about my mother than my father, as he seemed to dominate my childhood more than she did. Perhaps the word dominate isn’t appropriate. Let’s say he impressed me more by the things he did when he was at home after work and on weekends and Holidays, not that he engaged in activities that included me and my younger brothers. I was more like a bystander, watching and learning and admiring things that he did. A small part of my memories of my mother dwells on her hard work, our kitchen floor in the house on Morris Street was of hardwood boards, laid by my dad, but my mother it was who scrubbed the varnish off of those boards, till they finally shone white. She was 34 years old when I was born, and 39 when brother Herb was born, he being the last in the family. As brother Bill (William Otto) was born in 1907, our mother bore 8 children in 12 years. The reason I remember her scolding when we tracked up her clean floor is very clear to me now. 

However, my first memories of her, which I’ve related in another paper, were of her standing in our parlor with Dr. Waldschmidt. I was standing on the table being wrapped in bandages from head to toe, so it seemed, after I’d been burned by scalding hot coffee. I must have been just 3 years old, as it was wintertime and my birthday is in January. I remember our kitchen in the Morris street house very well, and I’ve been told the story by others, so I can picture how the accident happened, but the only clear picture I have is my concerned mother, the doctor and me. 

Our property went back to the Chicago and Northwestern railroad, and there was a deep ditch running alongside the tracks over which dad had put planks for a footbridge so we could get up onto the tracks. The summertimes when I was 4 to 7 years old seem to be easy to remember, as sisters and brothers were home from Franklin school, and there was always something going on.  There was a pond across the tracks  kitty-corner from our place, and south of a huge stock pavilion, where cattle sales were held at times.  There was a long side track spur running for about a half a mile, and when the circus came to town the wagons and animals were unloaded there. This was always a great treat. People came from all over just to watch the elephants pull the circus wagons off the railroad cars, sometimes going long into the night. There were lanterns on poles to light the way as the men worked. Sometimes the living-quarters cars were shunted on that siding later on, and we would see the circus people come and go. Of course there was the huge informal parade to the Fairgrounds. I remember a lot of horses and costumed ladies, but we were cautioned and kept from mixing with the roust-a-bout circus workers. I never remember going to the circus in the tent; I’m sure we couldn’t afford that luxury. Brother Bill may have crept under the tent to see the shows, but it was always a grand and exciting time for us. 

The pond was a drawing spot for me especially, with its pollywogs and minnows, no big fish as I remember. Another pastime was watching the trains go by while dangling our feet from the plank bridge over the ditch, then walking out the tracks with a pail to pick up lumps of coal thrown off the coal cars by the momentum of the train. My mother as well as some of our neighbors picked coal, and thus saved on fuel bills. On special days Irma, Frieda and I would cross the fields and journey over to Grandma’s house on Military Road. Her place was just opposite Seymour Street. The entire plot that she and Grandpa Keilberg bought was just over ten acres, which were divided into home plots, and Uncle Paul built 3 homes, one on Military St., just opposite Seymour St., which is where Grandma lived in the upstairs apartment, she went in by the front door and up the stairs. Slaters lived downstairs. I especially remember the beautiful buffet and the grand piano, which was a duplicate of the one we had.  Needless to say, they took up a lot of room;  later on, when I was a teenager, dad dismantled ours and made a library table with the mahogany wood.

Mom meets dad and other notes

My parents’ home, ether I grew up, was on a 2 acre plot at the edge of the city, on Military Road. The Milwaukee St. Paul Railroad track ran south on the edge of the property. My father, a carpenter, was very industrious, and always busy improving the place. I guess I took after him, raking the lawn each spring, while he made a large mounded flower bed, with a tall caster bean plant in the center. He planted sweet peas along the chicken yard fence. My older brother Bill, and sisters left home at an early age, so I became special, and tried to do my best to help out at home, helping with my three younger brothers. As a teenager, in the summertime I often hiked a mile out the tracks, climbed onto a haystack, and read my book!

A near neighbor, Margery Hill and I, became fast friends; I joined her dancing class. Our teacher was Helen Fagan. Classes were held in the Moose Building on Forest Ave. We learned tap and toe dancing. Our group of nine girls performed at the theater twice a year with Arch Adrian’s band. We even put on a show at a Beaver Dam Theater one year. We were always competing with Cleo Smith’s dance studio. At that time, KFIZ was only on the air for 1 hour, with their studio in the Haber Print Shop building. After the news, Ev. Williams played the piano. One afternoon he had Marge Hill and I harmonize 2 songs on his show “Drifting and Dreaming” and “Dream Train”.

I planned to attend the Rural Normal School for teachers, but the school was closed the year I graduated from High school. I went to work at the Bonita Candy Factory on East First St. I became one of a group of young people who went to dances and roller rinks, where I met Neil, the love of my life. After he bought the South Side Dairy business from Walt Sievert, we married in 1936. I continued to work; the milk-bottling business was all hard work, long hours, little money. When we heard of an opportunity to go farming in the town of Springvale, we took it. We had 2 foster babies at the time, and (because) I was expecting our own first baby,  they were placed elsewhere.  I still remember those two babies.

 

We ran Allie and Eva Stearns farm for two years, but came back to this area after Neil’s dad died suddenly.  Neil’s mother moved to town, and Neil ran the farm.  His brother Jim stayed with us. The subject of the Army came up, and Bob R. said something. Neil decided to move out. After farming at two places (Varings and Kelroys) we settled on the Mullins farm, which we bought 5 years later.

Here is another little piece written about the farm that I grew up on, and she starts it off in her usual way....with a poem

As you’ve been digging into long-ago days, here is something I must have written a while back:

There’s Blessings left for me

Of days that used to be

I live in memory

Of days on Reinhardt Road

An old unpainted barn

That kept the cattle warm

A corn-crib that told the reason

Full or empty you’d know the season

Water pipes below the frost line

Kept water-cups filled for thirsty cows

High on a pole an automatic yard light

Kept wild critters away through the night

The granary was a two-story building

The upper floor was reached by a stairs

Whose wooden steps hugged the outer side

Beneath was the hen-house, kept in fresh straw

Tracy drove the pick-up truck full of grain [she did not…it was Peggy]

From the combine to the granary to be emptied

By dad, into grain bins.

The granary was the place where gunny bags were filled with grain to be ground for cattle feed. This job needed two people. The girls helped willingly. [we did?] The boys were too young to help as yet. When dad came in with a load of corn to be fed into the belt of the silo-filling machine, the girls kept the boys on the porch, away from that area. In all of our farming years the only accident was when Dick stuck his finger into some moving part. He cried a lot, so we took him to Doc. Thiesen; it was bruised but not broken. A good record for few mishaps, which were mostly whooping cough, chicken pox, mumps or measles. Am I just remembering the good times???? We worked together, getting all the farm chores done, sharing the driving kids to St. Joes school in Fond du Lac. The brooder-house in the grove near the house got a lot of attention in the spring. The baby chicks had to be closely watched for diseases, the house kept warm and clean, and kept supplied with water and chick mash. There was a huge old blossoming Black Locust tree in the grove near the house, which perfumed the air.  Melrose school, near Pier cemetery, was 2 miles from the farm, so we drove them the last extra mile to town to St. Joes Grade School.

The Hazen Martial Band

Anyone interested in local history, knows the name Chester Hazen. He is credited with building the very first cheese factory in the State of Wisconsin.

But if you dig a little deeper, you will find another amazing story of the Hazen family. There actually were NINE Hazen brothers who all made the trek to Wisconsin in very early days.

Their claim to fame actually starts in New York, growing up in Lewis Co. New York. Their father was a drum major during the War of 1812, and he was determined that all of his sons would learn to play a musical instrument. His enthusiasm carried the family to the Presidential elections of the time.

In 1840 William Henry Harrison finally succeeded in receiving his party's nomination for President. The campaign slogan "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too" was heard throughout the land. Tippecanoe referred to Harrison's military defeat of a group of Shawnee Indians at a river in Ohio called Tippecanoe in 1811. Democrats laughed at Harrison for being too old (at age 67) for the presidency, and referred to him as "Granny," hinting that he was senile. Said one Democratic newspaper: "Give him a barrel of hard cider, and ... a pension of two thousand [dollars] a year ... and ... he will sit the remainder of his days in his log cabin."






The opposition's taunting actually backfired. Harrison's Whig party took advantage of this and declared that Harrison was "the log cabin and hard cider candidate," a man of the common people from the rough-and-tumble West. They depicted Harrison's opponent, President Martin Van Buren, as a wealthy snob who was out of touch with the people. (deceptive campaign tactics even back then, because Harrison was really the wealthy aristocrat, while Van Buren came from poverty)

Never-the-less, the "Log Cabin" campaign gained momentum, and it caught the attention of the Hazen family. Campaigning in 1840 was a large social event not to be missed, and the Hazen Martial Band was formed. It was composed of the nine Hazen brothers, and Warren Florida.

The Hazen Band was an important factor in the log cabin campaign of 1840, traveling through Western New York in a log cabin on wheels and playing almost continuously for public meetings, winning the reputation of being the best martial band in that state.

This undated photo of the Hazen Band, shows a team of horses pulling the log cabin that the Hazen Band used all over New York, during the 1840 campaign of William Henry Harrison. Image from a photocopy. 

Harrison won election as President, caught a cold and died a month after his inauguration. By the time of the next election, the Hazen family was planning a move to Wisconsin.

In 1844, a company of twenty-four from New York state, among whom were the Hazen brothers of the famous martial band of Springvale, landed at Milwaukee in June. A team of three pairs of oxen was purchased, wagon decked, boxes and trunks loaded, when it was found that but three could ride. There were eight women in the company. Did they wait for a parlor car? No, indeed. They uncomplainingly took turns in walking. They left Milwaukee Monday morning and Saturday night found them within three miles of what is now Oakfield, the wagon stuck in the mud and the oxen too tired to travel further. One of the men remained with the team and the others bravely resumed their journey. Every rod seemed a mile to the weary, foot-sore company. After what seemed to be hours, the log cabin of Lorenzo Hazen came in sight and the company were gladly received. Too tired for supper, they took boots, bundles of clothing, foot rests, anything they could lay hands on for pillows, and with puncheon floor for feather beds, were soon oblivious to their surroundings. Three of the Hazen brothers were soon keeping house in single room shanties with puncheon floors and troughed roofs, which had the faculty of letting most of the rain find its way to the room beneath. Their furniture was homemade and the good housewives did all their work for one summer out of doors by camp fires. Their bread was baked in a kettle. As the summer of 1844 was very rainy, such outdoor work was no light task.

The Hazen brothers first settled near Oakfield, but within a year they had moved to Springvale township.

Each of the nine Hazen brothers made a name for themselves, as evidenced by the reunion article found from 1884, forty years after they first came to Wisconsin.

The Hazen Reunion

"The past week has been one that will be long remembered by the different members of the Hazen family in this vicinity and all their numerous friends. The Hazen family consisted of nine boys and it was thirty years on Christmas Day since they were all together at Calvin Hazen’s in Springvale. The day and evening was an enjoyable one and many were the pranks and jokes of by-gone years that were retold. Many costly and valuable presents were made. One of the brothers gave all the rest elegant gold pens. The occasion will never be forgotten by those who participated. The day following they met at the residence of John Hazen, and among other things they re-organized “Hazen’s Martial Band” and filled the air again with fife and drum music. Their father was a drum major in the War of 1812, and took delight in teaching _____ use of those warlike instruments of torture. In 1840 the nine boys (one brother died since) were pronounced by General Worth to be the best military band in the United States. But glory was cheap in those days."

"On Saturday last they all met at Sanford Hazen’s in this city and for the first time in forty years all lodged under the same roof. While in the city they went in a body and had themselves photographed in a group.

"The Hazen families are well known here and for that reason we know it will interest our readers to learn something of their history

"The great-great-grandfather of the present family, Edward Hazen, was born in Rowley, Mass., 1660, “9th mo., 10th day.” Samuel, the great grandfather, was born 1698, “7th month 20th day;” Edward, the grandfather, was born at Groton, Mass., 1737 “5th mo. 2nd day” John, the father of the present family, was born at Swansey, New Hampshire, 1786, “6th mo. 17th day” His family consisted of 9 boys, eight of whom are yet living. They were all born at or near Copenhagen, Lewis Co., New York. Lorenzo, the 5th son, with his family came to Wisconsin in 1843 and the remaining eight brothers came the next year landing in Milwaukee on the 2nd of July, and on the 4th left Milwaukee with two ox teams, and as there were 22 in the party, most of them made the entire journey on foot to Oakfield – then known as “Wilkenson’s settlement” where they arrived on the 9th of July after camping one night near the center of a piece of woods twelve miles in extent and the last day were ….dled to cut their way through the stand of timber.

"At that time Government land was plenty in this Co. and all preempted and settled near Oakfield, where they resided some time. Sewell B. moved to Minn., in 1859 and has lived at Winona most of the time, until the past summer; he now lived in Madison, Wis., with his son George B. When a young man he made the first chilled car wheel at Troy, NY. Calvin, in 1846 sold his place and moved into the town of Springvale, where he now lives. During one of the storms of last July his barn was blown down and he and Sewel narrowly escaped with their lives, being buried under the falling timber.

"Alonzo in 1846 also moved into Springvale and from there in 1857 to Brandon where he bought a mill, and in 1860 he moved to Eau Clair Co., where he has since resided. He has an interest in the woolen mills and has built some of the best mills in Eau Claire Co.

"James, a physician, returned to Milwaukee in 1846 where he practiced two years, when he moved to Waukesha. After staying there two years he moved into this county and died in Fond du Lac in 1853.

"Lorenzo, after farming two or three years moved into Fond du Lac, where he has lived about ten years. He was a delegate to the first Constitutional Convention of Wis. In 1846. He next moved to Ripon, where he lived some ten years, holding the office Justice of the Peace most of that time. In 1864 he moved to Medford, Minn., and in 1876 was elected County Judge of Steele Co., which office he still holds.

"John, in 1846 moved into Springvale where he now lives. He has been quite a magnetic healer and has done much good.

"Sanford, after one year in Oakfield, returned to Copenhagen, NY. In 1857 he again came to Wis. And settled in Green Lake Co. In the fall of 1872 he moved into Ripon, his present home.

"Chester, in 1845 settled on the farm in Springvale, where he now lives. He was the pioneer dairyman of Wis., having put a dairy of 20 cows on his farm in 1849. In the summer of 1850 he commenced the manufacture of cheese, which he has always continued. In 1864 he built the first cheese factory in Wis. And in 1868 the first Dairymen’s Association in the state was organized in this county, of which he was elected president. In 1872 the Wis. State Dairyman’s Association was organized, he being president the first three years. At present he is president of the Northern Wis. Agricultural and Mechanical Association, and is a very successful farmer. His PO address is Brandon.

"Loren E. is a professor of music and an inventor. His occupation has been varied, and he has lived in Wisconsin, Minnesota and New York. His present residence is in Beaver Dam, where he is practicing medicine and giving medicated and electric baths.

"The ages of the eight brothers range from Sewel B., 74 years and 1 month, to Loren E., 54 years, 5 months and _ days. The aggregate ages of the eight – 525 years and 4 months. The heaviest one weighs 206 pounds, and the lightest 141 pounds. Aggregate weight of eight, 1,332 pounds. The tallest is 5 feet 10-1/4 inches, the shortest is 5 feet 5-1/2 inches. The eight can count 35 children and 47 grandchildren.

'We challenge the state of Wisconsin or any other state, to produce a family of eight brothers of equal height, weight and age, or eight boys who have made better men.

Ripon, Wis. January 3, 1884.

label those photos!

Once in a while I stumble across a photo that is a real treasure........not because of the picture itself, but because of what is written on the back of the photo.

This photo of a large group of women, is filed in the Alto Township file.  What is the group?  I really don't have a clue, but when I flipped the photo over, there in all it's glory, is a list of the people in the photo.

and here is the back

The back reads:

Back row: 1. Mrs. John Prange, 2. Mrs. Dirk Dykstra, (Our Missionary in Arabia) 3. Mrs. Henry Bossenbroek, 4. Mrs. Albert Loomans, 5. Mrs. Rudolph Kastein, 6. Mrs. Harvey Kastein, 7. Mrs. Will Veleke, 8. Mrs. B. G. Vande Zande, 9. Mrs. Will Glewen from Mina, 10. Mrs. Mose Vande Zande, 11. Mrs. Frank Straks.

2nd row: Mrs. Will Wessels, Mrs. James Westerveld, Mrs. Henry Vander Bosch, Mrs Henry Boersen, Mrs. John Kemi, Mrs. Tom Neevel, Mrs. Aalt Schouten, Mrs. J. W. Kastein, Mrs. Henry Lemmenes, Mrs. Ed Bruins, Mrs. H. J. Pietenpol (in back of her is her daughter-in-law Henry's or Will's wife), Mrs. Matt Duven, Mrs. Lydia Ter Beest, Mrs. Dick Schouten, Mrs Matt Rens, Mrs. Dick Hartgerink, Mrs. Dores Kastein, Mrs. Manus Scholten, Mrs. Chris Boom (Bertha V.Z. mother) Mrs. Henry J. Bruins, in back of her is Mrs. Henry Veenendaal, Mrs. J. W. Westerveld, Mrs. Wm. Schouten, Mrs. J.H. Straks, Mrs. Manus Veleke.

3rd row: Mrs. Dick Mouw, Mrs. Henry Prange, Mrs. B.W. Glewen, Mrs. G. J. Hekhuis (his 2nd wife), Auntie Vande Ber (she lived with Mose V.Z.s), Mrs. Gerrit Te Beest, Mrs. Reyer Schouten, Mrs. Dirk Bruins, Mrs. Dirk Ter Beest, Mrs. J. W. Glewen, Mrs. Johannes Bruins Gr.Granpas 2nd wife, Mrs. Dirk Straks, 

Front row: Mrs. Anthony Boom from N.D., Mrs. Henry Veleke, Mrs. Ed Lemmenes, Mrs. Garrit Vande Bosch, Mrs. Bert Vossekuil, Mrs. J. G. Neevel, Mrs. Gerrit Vande Zande, Mrs. Aaron Hagens, Mrs. Chris Glewen, Mrs. J. H. Kastein, Mrs. Adolph Neevel, Mrs. Hattie Meenk, Child Gordon Vande Zande, Mrs. Ed Van Beek, Mrs. Jake W., Mrs Gerrit Damsteegt.

This picture was taken by Great Uncle Gerrit Vande Zande's place on Hwy. 49 (now Roger & Catherine Kasteins home). My mother A(g)nes Duven Vande Zande wrote this on May 6, 1953

cream collector pic

This photo fell out of a book as we were working in the library this morning.  The back is labeled "Cream Collector, 1913".

The signposts read  "Eden 5 mi.     Oakfield 5-1/2 mi."

Lead Poisoning

It is a rare day when someone comes to the Historical Society library with a tantalizing story that seems incredible, and difficult to confirm its accuracy.  That's how I felt last fall, when two women from Oregon visited me with a tale of lead poisoning.  Their ancestors had lived near Mt. Calvary, and family lore said that several of the children in their family had died young, supposedly from lead poisoning, and that the poison was in the flour they got from the mill. They were looking for any documentation of this family lore.

I knew I had heard that story before somewhere, but could not put my finger on just where......so of course, I decided to dig.  I was determined to check this out.

I found a story in the book "Wisconsin Heritage" by Bertha Kitchell Whyte, about this poisoning, but even though this confirmed the same story, it still did not give me a date to look for further evidence or at least, a newspaper clipping.  The story related how a Doctor Cary, from Greenbush, was treating a patient, and as he was leaving the sickroom, he spotted a pan of dough sitting on a window sill to rise, and he noticed something glinting in the dough. Upon closer examination, he discovered the lead impurities, and immediately sent out a rider to warn all the people in the neighborhood to stop eating the flour.

When I sent this story to the two ladies from Oregon,  they replied that they had found proof of the story in the mortality schedule for 1860.   Great.  Now I had a date to focus on.

The 1860 mortality schedule for the town of Marshfield, lists the deaths of Mathias Gesellschen age 9, John Gesellschen age 8 and Gertrude Gesellschen age 4, Mary Kramer age 4 and Henry Kramer age 7, all dying of lead poisoning.  In the town of Forest, Richard Hampton age 3 and John Gobel age 9 died of lead poisoning. In the town of Empire, Thomas Byrnes, age 68 died of lead poisoning.

At the bottom of the mortality schedule, the census taker wrote an explanation
"From line 31 to 35 inclusive and at any subsequent line, where lead poison is inserted as the cause of death, death ensued by lead being poured into the grooves of the millstone, innocently, by a miller in the town of Forest, which in grinding diffused itself into the flour, and through the consumption of the flour, perhaps from 300 to 400 people became seriously ill and about 10 to 15 died in my District and in the adjoining District."

Then I found this:

Wholesale poisoning - A singular case of accidental poisoning in the eastern part of this county has just been related to us as follows: In the town of Forest, Marshfield and that vicinity there have been during the winter, numerous cases of a disease, which from its extent was supposed by the people to be a kind of epidemic. The symptons were, intense pain through the lower part of the stomach and bowels. It is said that as many as a hundred have been attacked in this manner, and in some cases with fatal results. Suspecting there might be something wrong, about the food they were using, parties visited the flouring mill that does the custom work for the neighborhood, and ascertained that the miller under the impression that the grooves in the stones were too deep, was in the practice of filling them up with a preparation of white lead, and when it wore or came out, of refilling as occasion required. Some of the flour has been brought to this city to be analyzed, and we are informed it has been found to contain a considerable quantity of lead. There is now no doubt among the people of that section, that their sickness was caused by the use of this poisoned flour.

Democratic Press, January 25, 1860

Then I found another story
"Give him a Legal Examination - The board of health of the town of Forest, Fond du Lac county, have visited the mill from which the poisoned flour came, and report that miller had concluded to mix no more lead with the flour, and that the flour may hereafter be eaten with safety.  Last week we published a case of poisoning in Fond du Lac county, where a miller mixed lead with the flour. A correspondent of the Sheboygan Times says, that up to the 18th, Dr. Cary had treated upwards of seventy cases of the poisoned; and that in one family, the parents both lie ill, while three lovely children have been torn away by this act of inexcusable ignorance."

Trempealeau Representative, Friday March 2, 1860

Both of the family legends that I found, indicate that the miller had an assistant, who added the lead.  One story says that the assistant disappeard that same night and was never heard from again.  The second story says that the people were so upset because so many children had died, that they stormed the mill and hung the assistant.

I found yet another paper, with another news item:
"LEAD POISONING - Quite an excitement and not a little consternation has been created in the towns of Forest and Empire by the discovery that flour ground at the Forest Mills was mixed with lead ground to powder, in consequence of the miller pouring lead into a broken spot in the grinding surface of the stones. As it wore away he filled it anew, and so on, for several times in succession. The people consumed the flour manufactured there for some time, ignorant of its poisonance contents. The whole neighborhood nearly, were sick, many most dangerously. At last a lady discovered some shining particles in the bottom of her yeast dish, when a thorough investigation took place, which traced the cause to the millstone, unmistakably. Not less than from one hundred and fifty to two hundred persons have been affeccted by eating the flour. Vague rumors have reached this city that several had died but we learn from physicians that practice in the cases, that not one has yet died, where death could be distinctly traved to that cause, though many are very sick and came near to death's door, who will probably recover. It is a pretty serious affair and if not coupled with boundless stupidity on the part of the miller, we would like some one to coin a word that would express it more mildly, and yet truthfully described. We are told that some of the flour has been brought to this city and been exposed for sale by some of our dealers in the article, before they knew its character. Of course every honest dealer will withhold it from sale now. Let the people beware of the brand unless they are fully satisfied it was ground quite recently, as we are informed the defect is now remedied, and the owner of the mill is seeking to make all possible restitution to those who have been injured.

The Fond du Lac Commonwealth, January 25, 1860

[Here's my editorial note on this story]

This tale is one of the rare stories of early hardship of those sturdy pioneers. We all reflect on the good times and tend to bury the bad memories, but this makes history a bit lopsided. From our comfy chairs of today we read the local history books, and see only how each person prospered after coming to the area with nothing, and life was good. We read the biographical histories of Fond du Lac county, and don't stop to realize that not everyone supplied a biography to the publisher. So the picture can't be complete. The books don't mention the barns and stores that burned, the failed crops, the people who lost everything and had to start over, and finally the people who despaired and took their own lives.

It is good to share a story of hardship to balance out the scales, to make us all realize from history, that our own hardships are not unique. A life full of unexpected challenges is the norm, and how we deal with those challenges is what makes up our life's journey, as it did that journey of our ancestors.

Campbellsport history

Here is another item about the history of Campbellsport

Village of Campbellsport

By Catherine Weld, September 1954

The history of our village is rather unique because of the fact that for a number of years there were actually two small villages within the same area --  the division having been made by the town line between Ashford and Auburn. Each had its own Post Office for a number of years and the first newspaper edited by a Mr. Johnson was named “The Twin-village News”.

The first group of pioneers settled in the eastern part of the town of Auburn near the river in 1843. They named their little village Crouchville, in honor of Ludlam Crouch, one of their leaders. This group had come from the East and were of Yankee origin.

A few years later, in 1849 and 1850, a group of German emigrants, including the Breymans, settled there. They came from Kassel, Germany, and they changed the name of Crouchville to New Cassel in memory of their former home in the ‘vater landt’. Mr. Breyman built the dam and erected a grist mill to be run by water power. After his death, J. H. Reysen became owner of the mill and he enlarged it to meet the demand for flour and feed. Later on Mr. Colburn became its owner who, with his sons All and Will, operated it successfully for many years. In the meantime young men interested in farming came from the East, and emigrants from Ireland, Germany, and other European countries settled in this area. They purchased land from the Government and immediately began clearing it. They cut down the trees to build log cabins for their families and shelters for their stock. They broke up the sod and planted crops and because of their hard work, the land became more fertile and yielded better crops year after year.

This added to the growth and prosperity of New Cassel, which during the next twenty years that followed the first settlement, had grown into a thriving little village. During these twenty years three churches with parsonages were built – the Reformed, the Baptist and the Catholic church. The Catholic congregation also built a parochial school which was taught by the Sisters of St. Francis, who, a few years later built the original convent which also served as a girls boarding school where the sisters taught music, art, and needle-work.

The one-room public school was a stone building located on Forest Street. One of the first business places was the New Cassel Brewery, built and operated by John P. Husting. Directly opposite the brewery, Casper Schneider planted a vine-yard modeling it after the vineyards of his hometown in Germany. He and his brother-in-law John were coopers by trade.

The most imposing structure on Main Street was the ‘Adams House’, a hotel conducted by Adam Holzhauer. The upper story contained a hall and ballroom which was the scene of all social activities, not only of the village, but surrounding country as well. Next to this the Findeisen general story was located, which also housed the Krembs and Schulten millinery shop. Then came the Martin Herbert Boot and Shoe shop, and at the corner James Kremer (Notary Public and Realtor) conducted a harness shop as a side line.

On the northern side of Main Street a meat market, a tailor shop, the Paul Tillack hardware store, and the Pool and Harter general store were located. The New Cassel Post Office was in this building at all times except during Cleveland’s administration (second) when J. P. Husting was appointed Postmaster and moved the office across the street into the original Husting building.

Beyond the bridge Orson Raymond conducted a blacksmith and wagon maker shop; and W. R. Folts, a veterinarian, had his office and livery stable there also.

New Cassel’s first doctor was Rudolph Zimmerman, who, after his retirement was succeeded by a young graduate of a Chicago medical School, Dr. Louis Eidemiller, whose spacious home on upper Main Street, which contained both office and living rooms, was considered the show place of the town for many years.

Shortly after the Civil War had ended there were rumors that a railroad would soon be built in this area; and New Cassel had dreams of becoming a large city sometime in the future. Building a railroad those days was an arduous task for most of the work had to be done by hand, with pick and shovel. After months of waiting the Railroad Company finally reached this area, but by this time, they had decided to route their road on the west side of Lake Winnebago to go through Fond du Lac and Oshkosh. This meant that right here the road would be located one mile to the west of where it was originally planned to go and New Cassel was passed by.

The Railroad Company purchased the land for its right-of-way and the location for the depot from Stuart Campbell, who laid our plans for the future village which was named Campbellsport in his honor. Mr. Campbell was born in North Ireland in 1818 and at the age of 23 he sailed for America and located in Orange County, New York. There he married Julia Southern in 1848, and 1850 the young couple came to Wisconsin and settled on a farm in the town of Ashford.

While the railroad was under construction many young farmers sought employment with the company. Among them was James McCullough son of Michael and Ann McCullough, natives of Ireland, who after living in Duchess county New York, emigrated to Wisconsin and settled on a farm in the town of Auburn in 1849. While working for the railroad James met with a serious accident, while unloading timbers. One of them fell on his leg, breaking the bones and injuring the flesh to such an extent that amputation was necessary. After his recovery, he decided that he would not be able to continue farming so he broke the first sod and established the first business in Campbellsport. In 1873 he opened a grocery sto4re on a small scale but with his natural thrift and close attention to business he soon had an extensive trade. In 1882 his younger brother Michael joined him as salesman and bookkeeper, after which James devoted most of his time to operating the large grain elevator which he had built near the depot. He was Campbellsport’s post master during both of the Cleveland administrations. He was born in Duchess county New York in 1848 and died in his home here in 1910.

The railroad no doubt contributed much toward the development of Campbellsport for soon trains were running north and south, loaded with freight, grain and cattle; and sheep and hogs were being shipped to the stockyards in Chicago. Daily passenger trains were soon added to accommodate transients and pleasure-seeking travelers. The first station agent was T. M. Johnson, and Martin Boeckler was the first baggage man. S. L. Marsden was the first doctor in the new village. He was succeeded by Dr. S. S. Stack, the founder of Sacred Heart Sanitarium in Milwaukee. When he left to study in European universities, Dr. P. A. Hoffmann took over, who, with two of his sons, practiced medicine here for many years. He lived to celebrate his 50^th anniversary as organist of St. Matthew’s Church.

As time went on new places of business sprung into existence. On the Main Street, the first place of business next to the depot was the Jacob Degenhart saloon and hotel, then the Kohler shoe store, the Wedde Hardware and Tinshop, the drug store operated by Platt Durand, who also was postmaster. At the corner Jacob Schlaefer Sr. had a jewelry store and also did watch and clock repairing. The First National Bank occupied the corner rooms in this building.  Diagonally across the street a Mr. Ziegelbauer owned and operated a large hotel which was destroyed by fire in the mid-eighties. The two lots were vacant until 1894 when the McCullough Brothers built the two-story brick store, one side of which was used for groceries and the other for dry goods. There were a number of blacksmiths, wagon makers and harness makers in Campbellsport at this time. The Loebs and Knickels general store, the Helmer grocery store, the C. R. Vande Zande Insurance agency which was established in 1895, and which he operated successfully until his death in 1921, when the business was turned over to his two sons, Alfred and Charles, the Boeckler Hardware store, two meat markets, the Durand and Paas Drug store, the Becklinger Furniture Store and the E. F. Martin Lumber Company – all these were doing business in the new village. In 1901 the Brittingham and Hixon Lumber Co. bought the Martin property and has conducted a lumber yard there continuously. In 1903 W. Warden established a soda pop factory near the bridge, which at the age of 84, he is still operating.

In 1875 the Methodist church was erected on land donated by Stuart Campbell. The Good Templars Hall was built on the corner of Main and Poplar Streets, where the Weld home now stands. The Odd Fellows Hall located on Main Street, was destroyed by fire in the early winter of 1911. The Odd Fellows rebuilt the hall and the first floor has been continually occupied by the Postal Department. Due to their small membership, the top floor has been remodeled into two apartments.

In 1902 the two villages decided to unite, and as a result, they incorporated as one under the name of Campbellsport. Since the incorporation Campbellsport has progressed in many ways. The population at the present time is about 1250. Cement walks have replaced the old wood sidewalks and electric lights have been installed on every street. Recently all of the village streets have been black-topped and most of them have curbs and gutters. Sewer and water works were constructed in 1935 and 1936. The Wisconsin General Telephone Company installed a new dial system in 1953.

A new Methodist church was constructed on the old site, under the direction of Rev. A. N. Henne, in 1904. The Immanuel Lutheran congregation was organized in 1918, but their church was not built until 1942. It is located on the corner of Forest and Elm Streets, and on December 20, 1942 it was dedicated with three special dedication services. In 1900 the Rev. B. July became pastor of St. Matthews Catholic congregation and during his long pastorate the present church and a new parsonage were built.

In 1932 the [School] Sisters of St. Francis built the new five-story home for retired sisters of their order, on property purchased from the Reformed Church congregation, and the Husting estate. On January 6, 1933 the first sisters moved into their beautiful new home. The convent, with its landscaped grounds and well-kept gardens is one of the beauty spots of our town.

After the old Reformed church had been razed, the congregation united with the Elmore congregation and together they built a new church and rectory on Forest Street. It was dedicated November 20, 1932.

There was no public school in Campbellsport, so the children of school age who lived in the township of Ashford had to attend the district school located on the Fellenz farm one mile west of the village. This building was destroyed by the second of July wind store in 1882. It was replaced by a gray frame building east of the railroad tracks, which was remodeled into a home in 1895, when a new 4-room grade school was built. In 1907 the first high school classes were organized in that building by George Ritter, who was the first high school principal. Classes were discontinued in this building in 1936 and begun in the new high and grade school in the fall of 1937. A course in Agriculture and Shop was added with Lyle Viney as teacher.

In 1949 several districts consolidated and formed the Campbellsport Union Free High School District. A new addition was built and a Home Economics course was added with Miss Mildred Sackett as teacher. We now have a modern up-to-date high school with a large gymnasium and class rooms for all courses. There are four grade teachers, each teaching two grades. In high school there are eight teachers besides Mr. Leo Lang, the principal. About 250 students are enrolled in the high school this fall.

Many beautiful new homes, modern in every detail have been built and new business places have been constructed. The old time smithies have been replaced by auto show rooms and modern garages. The modern Bauer Hotel stands on the site of the former Schoofs saloon. The hotel has become famous throughout the state because of its culinary art and its genial host, Ed. M. Bauer. The Campbellsport News, owned by Harlow Roate, occupies the former Kohler building, which has been re-built to contain the three modern apartments besides the print shop.

The Campbellsport cheese factory originally owned by Sam Grossen, maker of American cheese, was sold to the Stella Cheese Company in 1927. The Castiglianos enlarged, re-built and remodeled the factory to suit their purposes for the manufacture of Italian cheese with markets all over the United States. In 1950, L. D. Schrieber Inc. became the owners of the company. Dante Camilli is the present manager.

The First State Bank replaced the former First National Bank about 1908. A new building was erected on the site of the Loebs and Knickel store which had been destroyed by one of Campbellsport’s worst fires. The bank was completely remodeled in 1952 and now is one of the most modern bank building in the state. Loebs and Knickel erected a new building on Fond du Lac Avenue. This building now houses the spacious Guenther IGA super-market. A Funeral Home was added to the Smith Furniture Store in 1937, when A. E. Berge purchased this business place. Its present owner is David J. Twohig.

Some of our later industries include the Elwing broom factory, the Time and Jewel shop, established by Herbert Wehner, Hensen’s modern store and Tinshop built in 1940, the Gilbert Shoe Co., the Campo Theater established by Mr. & Mrs. W. C. Fisher, the Campo Grill, the Melody Inn, Raymond’s Grocery, Know-Mahl Grocery, Barnes Appliance Shop, and the Locker Plant. The Thoma Bakery and the Howard Variety store are located in the Frank J. Bauer building; and an apparel store and Sports Shop are located in the Schill building.

Campbellsport’s most recent recreation spot is the King Pin Bowling Alleys built in 1949 by the Salajas. Socially, the men have their Lions Club, which was organized in 1931. They devoted their early efforts to promoting the installation of waterworks and sewer in the village. For many years they have sponsored the Halloween and Christmas parties for the children and have contributed toward the swimming program in the summers. The Mothers Club was organized in 1927. Their object was primarily to promote child welfare in the community, and to bring closer relationships between the home and school. They sponsor the library and contribute to many charitable institutions. Since joining the Federation of Women’s Clubs their name has been changed to the Campbellsport Women’s Club.

The Village’s latest public improvement is the new municipal building which was completed this year. It is located on the corner of Main and Poplar Streets and contains the clerks’ office, council room and library. It also houses the fire department’s engines, the village trucks and the ambulance.

The fire department has done much to beautify the Village with its park at the west limits. They have added slides and swings and other playground equipment for the children and sponsored the building of the Boy Scouts’ Cabin.

Campbellsport Schools

I just came across a few stories about the history of Campbellsport, along with some old post cards.  I have never before seen a photo of the original school, and since my kids all graduated from Campbellsport High School, this was an interesting discovery.  Here are some of the postcard images, plus the first written history - that of the history of Campbellsport Schools.   I sure wish that other areas had such a great written history.

The History of the Campbellsport School

by Harold Doss

Feb. 21, 1960

The first school taught in New Cassel (lower town) was in 1848 in the house of Mr. Crouch (Crouchville) by Miss Marie Bristol. Later a one-room schoolhouse was built between Gillard’s & Serwe’s property. In 1896 Margaret Fellenz and Ella Calhoun shared teaching duties, followed by Gilbert Hardgrove, Celia Goss, C. McCormick. J. P. Husting was the treasurer of Jr. No. 12 school and James Bannon the clerk. In 1904 the Columbus School was built at approximately $7,000, the land being purchased from C. S. Raymond. Peter Terlinden was Dist. 12 treasurer, James Bannon clerk, Henry Leibel director. Tuition for one month was $1.50.

In 1952 school Dist. No. 12 was dissolved and consolidated with the dissolved Dist. No. 2 to form a new school district No. 13. Thus, the village of Campbellsport now has one graded school district for the entire village instead of the east half being one district and west half being another. Final officers for Dist. 12 were Ed Terlinden, Edward Curs and Gordon Raymond.

The Campbellsport Public School (Dist. 2) first held classes in the house now occupied by Mrs. Marie Burgert, just east of the railroad tracks. This was previous to 1895 when a new schoolhouse on the site of the present high school and grade school building was erected. Board members were Wm. Scheid Sr., L. C. Kohler and Gottlieb Schmidt. Mr. H. A. Wrucke was the first principal of the grade school in this building assisted by Mrs. Lucy Thatcher. They were followed by a Mr. Hy. Bowe, Margaret Fellenz and Olive Wickert.

George Ritter organized the first high school classes and became the first high school principal, with the first graduating class in 1911 being Margaret Paas, Lilyan Knickel Van De Zande and Edna Wrucke Fritz. Classes were discontinued in this building in the spring of 1936 and begun in the new high school and graded school erected back of this building in 1937. In 1938 the old school building was dismantled.

In 1949 several districts consolidated and formed the Campbellsport Union Free High School. Up to that time District No. 2 had been maintaining both the high school and graded school. Instrumental in promoting the consolidation of the high school to better handle the tremendous increase in enrollment were the county school committee of which Dr. C. F. Guenther was a local member; Mr. Leo Lang, principal of the high school and grade school then and now; school board of District 2, namely Harlow Roate, R. J. Hensen, Mrs. Leo Uelmen. Members of the Union Free High School board were Oscar Braun, Leo Twohig, Treas., Daisy Uelmen, clerk; Alex Thelen and R. McDougal.

Further expansion to the 1937 original school building took place in August of 1951, when contracts were let out. It provided for ten new rooms, which included five regular class rooms, a combined library-study room, industrial arts shop, band room, home economics room and an enlarged gymnasium-lunch room. The cost of constructing the new addition was $340,000. Completion and dedication of the structure was on November 21, 1952.

Architects of the addition were Auler, Dreger, Wiley and Wertsh of Oshkosh. The Ben Tennies Construction Co. of West Bend was the general contractor. Heating and ventilating equipment was installed by the Plymouth Plumbing and Heating Company. All electrical work was done by Starkweather Electrical contractors of Fond du Lac.

Members of the Union Free District board of education who guided the building expansion program were Oscar Braun, Town of Eden, president; Leo Twohig, Town of Osceola, treasurer; Mrs. Daisy Uelmen, Campbellsport, clerk for the last 12 years; Rubin McDougal, Town of Auburn, and Alex Thelen, Town of Ashford. Other members of the building committee were Ben Ablard, Henry Guell, Joseph Flitter, Frank Thiel and Laus Whitty, all from the Campbellsport district.

Meantime, more consolidation of school districts in the county demanded a new building program by the grade school board members Mrs. LaVerne Senn, treasurer; Edward Ours, director; Bruce Knickel, clerk; and Principal Leo Lang. Ground breaking took place in the spring of 1956 for three grade school classrooms, a washroom and janitor’s room, at a reported cost of $75,000. This made room for the 1960 enrollment of 225 pupils in the grade school, staffed by seven grade teachers, one high school music instructor, and a county speech correction instruction who visits one day a week.

County school districts which have joined with Campbellsport Joint 13 District are  Ashford Districts 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11; Eden Districts 7 and 11; Osceola District 6; Auburn Districts 1, 3, 7, 9 and 12.  Auburn School Districts 9 and 1 were the last to enter the Campbellsport District.