The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1910-02-17
FIRST SCHOOL STARTED HERE
Kenosha County Led the State in Num-
Der of Soldiers in Mexican War and
Many Went From This County in the
Rebellion-Tribute to Benefactor.
(By 1t. Col. J. A. Watrous)
In The Milwaukee Sentinel

the most notable in Wisconsin. Lit has
taken the lead in many ways. The city
changed from Root River to Southport,
and in 1850 to Kenosha.
It was in Kenosha that our public
school system was set in operation in
the territory, early in the 0's. It was
not only the first of the system for Wis
consin, but the entire Northwest, the
Eastern and New England states, only,
being in advance of Kenosha. The
first teacher, the introducer of the sys-
tenn, the late Col Michael Frank, was
for many years editor of the Kenosha
and later held official sta
tions in Washington.
Kenosha county sent to the Mexican
War 100 soldiers, greater number
than any other county in the state
The commander of the
company, Captain Quarles, an uncle of
Judge Joseph V. Quarles, was killed.
Kenosha erected the first and only
public monument in Wisconsin to the
memory Of soldiers who fought in the
Mexican War.
In the town of Paris, Kenosha coun-
ty, the first public monument in Wis
consin, to the memory of soldiers who
died in the Civil War, was builded. It
was dedicated in 1866.
While there has always been a ques-
tion as to whether company in Ke-
nosha, or a company in Madison was
first to tender it's services for the war
to Governor Randall, in 1861, thespeo-
pie of Kenosha, and not few outside
of that city, firmly believe that the
first company rendered for the war of
the rebellion from Wisconsin, was the
Kenosha Grays. At once, after the
flashed news that Fort Sum
ter had been attacked, the late Major
D. G. McVean, then captain of the
Grays, rendered to Governor Randall,
the forenoon of April IS, the services
Of his company. President Lincoln s
proclamation calling for troops did not
reach the state until the afternoon of
that day. There is a record that the
Madison company Of which the late
General George E. Bryant was captain,
rendered it's services, in case Of war,
early in January, 1861. But there is
no record to show that after the war
had begun, hostile guns had been fred,
the Kenosha company was not the first
of the forty companies rendered the
governor, with promptness that it
is delightful to recall, when only ten
were wanted.
It was citizen of Kenosha, who
nearly sixty years ago, believing that
there was better way than writing
with pen or goose-quill to place
thoughts upon paper, began to study
at an invention which he completed
some years later while a resident of
Milwaukee. That citizen was the late
G. Latham Sholes, who gave the world
it's first typewriter, an invention that
has given dignifed employment to mill
ions of men and women, and so simpli-
fed the preparation of all classes of
legal papers and the writing of hun
dreds of millions of letters every year,
that we all may wonder why such an
invention had to wait until the 10th
century. Mr.. Sholes was distinguish
ed man in other regards. He was an
editor of papers at different times in
Kenosha, Green Bay and Milwaukee.
For a time he was editor of the Mil
waukee Sentinel. He was territorial
printer at "a time when there was not
printing house within our borders or
in Chicago supplied with sufficient ma
terial to do even the small amount of
work that was needed, and he was OBJ
hged to gather up copy for blanks,
books and stationery and
take it to Philadelphia, where the print
ing was done. On one of these occas-
ions he found it necessary to remain
through the winter in Philadelphia.
and he sought and was given cases as
a compositor to work on the blanks and
publications that were being prepared
for Wisconsin
Kenosha has always been rich in
men of real worth 1t has given Wis
consin two governors. and Utah one.
More than sixty years ago handsome
young fellow made his home in Keno
sha and lived there for time, then
going to Waukesha. He. served a
term as secretary Of state and was
elected governor William A. Barstow
who was colonel Of our Third Wis
consin cavalry.
+. P. Harvey was a resident and a
lawyer in Kenosha He served as
secretary of state and was. governor
at the time he lost his life while look
ing after the comforts Of sick and
wounded Wisconsin soldiers at the
south. Charles Durkee, who served in