The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1899-07-21

he Is oXpIO1LlnS as nOm0-lanQ. he
is building homes on it for tenants and
''Gudley Chapel" in honor, of his ia
Their, is place where they may all
worship.
From Trunk Throwing to Presidency
Mr.. Strong was born up in Vermont
and when a boy of IA he came with
his parents to Beloit. That was in
1851. He began his career by carrying
messages for Charles E. Sholes and
learned telegraphy in Beloit Then
he was assigned to the charge of the
GAINESVILLE office. He was agent and
operator at Milton, and found Peter
Tompkins there at work. He is still
at work there-nearly fifty years serv-
ice. Tompkins was a laborer and
Agent Strong told him he would teach
him to telegraph so that he could Sc
cure the job when Strong left. Temp
kins said he didn't think he could learn.
But he did
After those busy years Mr.. Strong
returns to Beloit where his dead are
buried and where his bOyhood was
spent His wife was the first white
girl born to the New England colony
that settled BelOit. He has three chill
dren. The oldest, after twelve years
banking, is to return to Beloit. Mr..
Strong has farm OF $40 acres, two
miles out of the city. His brother,
James w. Strong. is president of Carl
ton college in Minnesota.
There is room for philanthropist
to give a building to house the public
library. It is a collection of 5000 vol
umes, on which the city spends $4,000
a year.
Liked the Church Music.
w. T. Laramy has set a philanthropy
ic precedent. He was active in the
Second Congregational church when
Ed Eaton was choir master and took
liking to the young man. When the
promising youth became president Of
Beloit Mr.. Laramy, who had made
competence at farming and shop-keep-
ing and in blOOded stock, decided $15,-
900 to the institution.
BelOit is an expanding city. Last
year 129 new homes were erected. And
this year, perhaps, 100 new ones are on
the list, mainly to house the employees
of the manufactures. Architect Kemp,
q Madison young man, hit upon the
town as good opening, and he has
been busy ever since.
The main streets are paved with
vitrifed brick, and the citizens are
hearty in it's praise, as are the people
of Rockford.
A paid fire department has been or
ganized and police patrols instituted,
and a patrol wagon picks up the in
ebriated and the sick in true municipal
fashion.
Depositors Own the Bank.
AS is we'll known, the only savings
bank in the state is here-that is, Of
the mutual plan-each depOsitOr shar-
ing in the profits. The expenses of
conducting it are only $1,000 a year,
the only salaried official being the Sec
rotary (and treasurer) who hires his
own clerk The deposits are about
100000 and nearly every family has at
least one deposit book. The institu-
ton has ten trustees, men of distinc-
ton, among them ex-senator Burdge,
and it declares per cent. profits, for
merly 5. 1t is remarkable that such
a good interest rate can be sustained.
BelOit is the nearest approach to
New England in the states. The Puri-
tanic admiXture was once dominant
and is still mighty. The names on the
business signs are down-east names.
The saloons pay $500 license and close
at 1890 at night. And it is hit-Ormiss
whether Or not the place shall vote
nO-lincense. 1t is q church-gOing city.
The great Fairbanks-MOrse concern
was the OutgrOWth Of the Mission
Preacher Wheeler up in the northern
part of the state. He needed wind
mill and he built one. And then a
factory was started to make others.
Some Norwegian, Swedish and German
stock has come in, and with the indus
trial movement the character of the
place is bound to change. The college
has wisely identified itself with the
city Professor E. G. Smith of the
chemistry department has been mayor
for three years and Professors Burr,
Whitney and others sit as aldermen.
Women's clubs abound. There are
three kindergartens in the public
school system, each with three teach
ers and every child between 4 and 6
not only can find room to learn but
is rather expected to come and be bent
to the ways of progress. BelOit is nat
urally proud of it's common schools.
Notables from Beloit.
Beloit abounds in traditions of inter-
esting people, Applety, the inventor,
p0Tl6CIOu LIS UlluSI Ill D6IOIC. OSOIS0
Houston devised a water wheel. the
principal of which the federal govern
ment makes use Of. Horace White,
the financial editor of the New York
Evening Post, was son of the pioneer
physician. Major Jonas Bundy, another
great New York editor, now dead was
his contemporary at the college. Mat
thew Carpenter put in ten years Of
youthful practice here. Governor Har-
vey came from Shopiere, six miles
away, where he operated mill Cham
Ingersoll, editor, postmaster since Lin
coins day and Republican leader, is
part of Beloit's history.
Rock county is one of the choicest in
the state. 1t is chiefly devoted to
mixed farming, with considerable to-
bacco When the country was new
GAINESVILLE and Beloit were rivals to
lead it. GAINESVILLE got the pole. But
Beloit is gaining on it of late years.
Glory of Perfected Manhood.
I took supper at the hotel. The meal
was we'll advanced when an aged man