The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1910-07-28
A VISION OF old SOUTHPORT
Charles H. COTE Recalls Many Incl
dents in the Early Life of the City
Before Southport Became the City of
Kenosha.

y
is only natural that an ttOld Timer
will revert to early days, and natural
too, that the present generation would
find pleasure, in hearing something of
the times when their sires and grand
sires were young, and in living, active
evidence, amidst the scenes and ac-
tivities of sixty years ago.
Pardon me then, if / venture to turn
back the hands upon the dial Of time,
and give you Moving Picture" les
son in dissolving vision of the home
of my boyhood.
We are again in the snug little vii
lage of Southport. Nearly sixty miles
away to the south is Chicago. (The
reaching out of corporate lines has
brought it nearer,) Chicago is the
metropolis of the great west; con-
glomeration of irregular buildings,
principally Of wood, and of bangsup
shanties, spread out in the worst and
most offensive mud hole OIL the con-
tinent. No paint, no whitwash; few
buildings other than frame; and build
ings, and people, dogs and cats, all
dingy with coal dust and dirt; streets
Doggy and impossible much of the
time; and yet bustling mart of trade.
There are no railroads west or north
from Chicago, yet the metropolis has a
population at this time estimated at
$4,000. Thank fortune we are here in
the clean pretty village of Southport,
and the year is 1880 Let us walk
down past the park to the business CEN
ter. Notice this lovely park is en-
closed by a substantial fence, and be-
| meath those grand old oaks, are held
all the popular local gatherings and
celebrations. There is the band stand,
from which the 4th Of July orations are
made That force of men at work
there, just now, indicate preparations
for some important function. We
will ask this large portly man with the
cane, as to the cause of this activity.
This is Sprague Elkins, one of the bust
ness men of town. He says the new
city charter has come and that tomor-
row new municipality will be chris
| tened, and the name will be "Ken.
osha.0 Here are Father Deming and
/ Deacon Sholes The former is one of
the strong personalities of the burg, a
pillar in the Methodist church close
by; and the latter is superintendent Of
the Baptist Sunday school, and the
father of two of the brainiest men of
Wisconsin. Sturdy old pioneers are
Father Deming and Deacon Sholes
and they have seen this village grow
from a mere trading settlement, and
little wonder they are feeling happy on
this occasion Of municipal development
They tell us that the program Of ex.
ercises tomorrow, will be something
fine There will be firing of a salute
at day break from Bob Whitaker Is
anvils; procession will form at 1C
o 'clock a. m, preceded by the local
band with sold Phelps leading, fol
lowed by civic bodies and men of prom
inence, orators, etc. Hon. Charles Dur
kee, Col. Michael Frank, j. B. Jilson
Fred Lowell, Geo. H. Paul, and others
Then will come school children in line
Masonic and Odd Fellows in regalia
the fire department with hose-carts and
hand-bra machines, all drawn by mer
in red shirts, and citizens on foot.
Oh, its going to be big day, all
right. And they will march up the
principal streets to the park, where the
new city charter will be read Prayer
will be offered by DR.. Grizzly, and
speeches by distinguished citizens, and
happy congratulations all around, will
conclude the exercises.
| l6I6 VIZ dd6 Ill lIUub DI the nun
ais House, and that tall wide awake
man is Eli. e. Runals himself, talk
ing with Col. Quarles and Wallace NV
gait, they are all substantial citizens
Here comes John T. Sheppard, on that
dray load of boxes, just driven up from
the pier, with load of drygoods con
signed to Hubbard & Blinn. Uncle
John Sheppard is popular character
and sings gospel hymns, as he drives
through the street, saluting passers by
| with pleasant salutations. That large
portly man, he just hailed, is John v
Aver, the heaviest man in Wisconsin
| He weights $50 pounds they say. That
is Samuel Hale, his partner, with him
and they own the large ware houses
and elevator by the lake Those two
men on the corner are Chauncy Davis
and Gideon Truesdale, both heavy deal
ers in lumber. Their mills are at Mus
4 kegon.
DO you see those farmers wagon:
| just beyond Jake Godfredsen So They
lbelong to farmers who have just come