The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1860-01-27
Milwaukee and Solomon Ju-
neIu.


1.-The following interesting sketch of
Mil waukee and its frs. white settlers, we
find in the State Historical Report, to
which it was contributed by A. F. Pratt,
of Waukesha 1t will be interesting to
our readers who have never seen the re-
port. all over the State -EDs GAZETTE.
Solomon Juneau was the first white set
tier in Milwaukee. He was a native of
Canada, and immigrated to that place in
1878, and built him a log cabin among
the natives. At that time his family con-
sisted of wife and one child. His near
est white neighbors were at Chicago,
Green Bay, and Prairie du Chen. He
kept few goods suitable for the Indian
trade, and for the first seventeen yearshe Was
not only the single merchant in the place,
but the only white man. During that pc
Rod. few Indian traders were occasional
" there, but not permanently located -
In the spring of 1885, land Office having
been previously established at Green Bay,
this land was brought into market, and
Mr.. Juneau purchased small tract con-
ssting of about 130 acres, lying on the
east side of the river, directly north Of
Wisconsin street Previous to this time,
Geo. Fl. Walker, Esq, had come and made
claim on what is now called Walkers
Point" which he subsequently obtained
title to. Byron Kilbourn, Esq, about
that time purchased tract on the west
side of the river, which has been known
by the name of " Kilbourn Town" Dan
iel Wells, ir, w. W. Gilman, Geo. d.
Dousman. Z. w. Edgarton, T. c. Dous-
man, Geo. O. Tiffany, D. II. Richards,
William Brown, jr., Milo Jones, Enoch
Darling, and others, immigrated about the
same time, and made large purchases Of
lands. In the course of the summer of
1885. a number of good building were
erected, and great many eastern specula
tors came and bought lands at high prices.
Mr.. Juneau about this time, sold an I'M
divided interest in his lands to Morgan
L. Martin. lie built a fine dwelling house
on the lot where Mitchell's Banking house
now stands; also a large store and ware
house on what is now known as "Luding
tons Corner" In 1886, when we came,
he was doing large business both in sell
ing goods and lots. During that season,
some two or three hundred thousand dol
lars worth of goods had been brought
there to sell Ground rent was nearly as
high as it is now. A merchant, with
stock of goods would arrive one day, and
by The next day noon he would have
store completed to open in. Things were
done on the California principle. They
were usually built of rough boards, with
" grass floor" and in many instances blan
kets were hung up for partitions, and one
half of tenement rented for dollar a
day. Thetown was flooded with spectators
and all made money until the non residents
left and navigation closed, when sudden
change "came DER the spirit Of their
dreams"
The town was left with large stock Of
goods, and but few inhabitants. Mer-
chants, and other business men, enjoyed
the winter in the best possible manner.
During the fall quite large number of
actual settlers had arrived, of the right
stamp, among whom was N. Ii. Wells, j.
E. Arnold, Henry Williams, Hans Crocker,
J. II. Tweedy, L. Blossom, J. ". Pixley,
S. II. Martin, Geo. p Delaplaine, George
Reed, Cyrus Hawley, Fed. Wardner, A. 0.
T. Breed, Eliphalet Cramer, Rufus Parks,
Curtis Reed, Orson Reed, William NJ.
Dennis, Truman L. Smith, Edmond u.
Clinton, A. A. Bird, and many others,
whom time will not allow US to mention.
All had been doing Gland office busi-
ness" and had plenty of money left to
winter on. At this time our friend Jun
eau was supposed to be worth at least
100000 with fair prospect of its being
doubled by the rise Of land in the spring.
We have often seen him in those days, 90
into his store, after business hours were
over, and take from the drawers the mon
ey his clerks had received during the day
for goods and lots, amounting to eight or
ten thousand dollars, and put 1t loose IN
his hat and upon one occasion we recol-
lect of his hat being knocked off in play
ful crowd, when some $4,000 flew IN va
rious directions. III short, money seemed
to be of no earthly use to him. If man
called upon him to subscribe for either a
public improvement or charitable object
whatever was required, he subscribed,
without asking why or wherefore. In the
meantime he had looked on and seen 9th
ers get rich in the rise of property he had
sold, and he commenced buying back lots
and paying thousands for those he had
previously sold for hundreds. We recol-
lect very well one circumstance: his re
purchase Of the corner lot, near 1oung's
Hall, for S3,700, which he had sold the
year previous for s475. He was truly in
the language Of the poet, "the noblest
work Of God, an honest man." lie had
implicit confidence in everybody.
The spring Of 1887 disappointed all our
anticipations. A general stagnation in
business prevailed in every direction. I'm
migration had almost entirely fallen Oft.
Our currency. which was mostly Of the
Michigan Wildcat" stamp, was no
longer a legal tender There was 10 sale
for real estate The second payments
were becoming due on purchases of real
estate, and all who supposed themselves rich
in lands, were not only destitute of money
but of the means to raise it. Some who
were able to hold on, kept their property
until they could get a handsome advance.
whi1o tho m pa;orftv were cornnellei to sell