Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1868-02-26

formerly an Indian burial ground, on
which was still to be seen cross, the
emblem of the religion of the Winneba-
goes-Ca,h6lic-inculcated by that zeal
Gus band Of priests sent out by France,
clad alone il, spiritual armor, love of G cd
and man, seeking the savage in his ma
tive wilds, and endeavoring to teach them
the Gospel of the Saviour, who died for
| the red as we'll as the white man, and
whose suffering and mediation was en-
blemizeo by the rude cross, to which We
! have alluded Those Jesuits suffered all
kinds of privations, and even death. In
promnlgating their faith among the saw
ages. However little they may have ac-
compished in this direction, they certoin-
ly did much toward making this country
known to civilization, and inducing It's
settlement.
In 1887 several settlers came, among
them Hon. Wm. NJ Dennis, Peter '.
Brown, VIM. II. Acker, Peter, James, and
Patrick Rogaa, John G.. Gilman, and
Others, who have been prominent in con-
nectiou wit, public enterprises here
Several log and two frame houses were
erected that year, and Goodhue & Chaplin
erected saw-mill. The following spring
the Government land sales took place,
and during that and the succeeding year
a large amount was entered and settled
upon, though the acquisition to the num-
Der of settlers in the village was not large.
In 1043 grist mill was put up On the
water-power, dam having been built,
which was the first use made of it, and the
first wheel ever propelled by the water Of
Rock river on Wisconsin soil. Two hotels
were here, and the Cole Brothers had
built and stocked the first store in the
place. From the first settlement until
1871 all supplies had been obtained from
Milwaukee Since 1913 the place has
grown gradually and permanently, until
it has become one Of the first In size and
importance in the State, and the surround
ing country densely populated, and highly
cultivated. The following figures will
show the increase inpopulation from time
to time: In 1840 there were 2l8; in
l643, 500; in 1917, 1852 in 1850,
2,776-this apparently small increase is
accounted for by the fact that nine Sec
tions were taken from the town and added
to one adjoining, but have since been re-
ceded; ia 1852, there were $500; in
1855, 1926, in the city alone in 1865,
$500; in 1868, about 10000. The city
has increased rapidly during the past year,
more than during the five years preceding
In 1S44-5, woolen factory, an iroi
foundry, and Catholic church were built
the first of the kind. In lS47 the man
ufacture of brick was commenced, and
the first brick building was erected during
that year. The first lawyer, John Richards,
and the first physician g.. r. Goodnough)
came in 1878 Rev. Mr. Pillsbury,
Methodist, came in 1888, and was the
first missionary. After preaching his
first sermon, he represented to his audi
ence that his coming had been attended
with trouble and expense, and intimated
that he would interpose no opposition to
any efforts the audience might be dispos-
ed to ma e to repleDish his depleted purse.
\ collection was taken which yielded a
liberal amount-s75, apparently But it
is due to coDtemporaneous history to state
that this amount consisted of S74.25 of
Michigan wildcat" currency-entirely
worthless-and three silver quarters.
But this is what Watertown has been.
What it now is, and is destined to become
if her resources are developed fully, her
almost inexhaustahle t..-~-.s. -,-.--
WATER POWER,
used to its full capacity in propelling
machinery is plain to be seen. In dis
tahce of less than three miles, the fall in
the river is about t,oenty-nine feet, within
the city limits. There are three dams,
each giving fall of them eight to ten
feet, with the entire volume of water in
the channel, which, as will appear, is one
of the best aud most extensive powers in
the State. But a small part of it is real
ly used The dams are from 200 to 400
feet long, the river bed and banks are a
limestone formation, making the best and
most permanent foundation for these
structures and for mill-sites. There is
probably no better opportunities in the
Northwest for the investment of capital
in mauutacturing Those seeking such
chances will do we'll to visit W WatertoWn.
Another marked advantage of the city is
its unrivaled.
RAILROAD FACILITIES,
giving it access to all markets, the lum-
Der and mineral regions Of the North,
and the coal mines of Illinois-nidway
between the two. Instead OF transport
ing coal to the ores to reduce them, or
the ores to the coal to be reduced, why
not make one meet the other halt way !?
The city has direct railroad connections
with Chicago, Milwaukee, Green Bay,
Madison and La Crosse, and Iowa and
Minnesota. The Milwaukee and St.
Paul Railroad Company now have road
in operation directly west to Sun Prairie,
and within eleven miles of Madison, and
this link will soon be filled in, opening an