The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-11-20
Rev. ]. Lathrop, Kenosha
Pioneer, Had Third
Plant in State.
PIKE RIVER VILLAGE
Milwaukee Journal Recalls Two
Incidents in Early History
OF Kenosha.

Two almost forgotten episodes in the
early history of Kenosha were recalled
in the Sunday edition of "The Milwau-
kee Journal" an edition. celebrating
the opening of the new $2,000.00o
plant of that paper in Milwaukee, when
in recounting the history of the print
ing industry in Wisconsin, it was told
how the Rev. Jason Lathrop, a pioneer
of .Kenosha, owned and operated the
third printing press in the state and
how the first paper, issued in the state,
first printed at Green Bay was later
moved to Kenosha.
The paper in question was the
"Green Bay Intelligencer," printed first
on Dec. IL, 1888, at Green Bay, and
several years later moved to Kenosha
where it became "The Telegraph" This
paper has continued in publication and
is now published as "The Telegraph
Courier" a weekly paper printed by
the Kenosha News Publishing COM
pany.
Had Third Printing Plant.
The article gives an interesting &C.
count of the piece of printing done by
the Rev. Jason Lathrop, one Of the
pioneers of Southport and Kenosha
and the grandfather of C. S. Lathrop
now a resident of Kenosha. This reads
as follows:
"Wisconsin's third printing plant was
owned by the Rev. Jason Lathrop, a
member of a group of settlers who
came to Pike river, Kenosha county
from Oswego, N. Y, and the product
of this press is associated with some
of the struggles of early land squat
ters" In February, 1886, this band OF
settlers formed the Claimants Union
and drew up constitution by which
they were to be governed until appli-
cation could be made to congress fol-
proper presumption laws. 1t was
hoped by this means to iron out ques-
tions between squatters. Because the
territory had not been surveyed, no
one knew precisely where his proper
ty began or ended and disputes fire.
quently ensued.
proceedings of the Pike River meet
ing together with those of gather
ing at Racine were printed and copies
of these are exceedingly rare. The
only known copy Of the Pike River
meeting is rejected printers proof
now said to be preserved at the State
Historical library. In his Early Days
at Racine, H. H. Hurlbut thus pic
lures this simple printing establish
ment:
cat my right hand there lays q
genuine and valuable relic of squatter
days in these parts. 1t is printed
pamphlet, being The Constitution of
the Milwaukee Union, which was the
settlers law formed by the convention
at Root River. ~. / may say that
this little Constitution pamphlet, COM
prising nine pages, in type, which is an
early specimen from the first printing
press in Milwaukee county (Which
county then included all southeastern
wisconsin,, and the sthird press in the
territory, albeit, it was a rude affair
resting on a stump.
"'This printing office was at Pike
River Gold Kenosha of the Indian's)
one mile north of the present Kenosha
and subsequently a part of Racine
county; the printer was the late Rev
Jason Lathrop.'
Printer Gives Own Account.
"The printer himself has left US q
description of his press. In A Sketch OF
the Early History of Kenosha County
he tells of the Pike River meeting and
of his typesetters' equipment.
"'The Pike River and Racine pro-
ceedings I printed at the time = the
former on large slip or broadside
and the latter in pamphlet or nine
pages. This printing I did on rude
press of my own construction, placed
on a stump. A wooden box was made,
about 12x24 inches in size, with sides
rising above the base on which the
type were made to stand, of the height
of the type; l made my own ink, and
used the old-fashioned ball with which
to distribute the ink on the type, and
then a roller passed over the paper
on the form, resting on the sides of the
box or table, that did the press work
The whole expense of my printing ma
terials, including type, could not have
been $40. 1t was with such limited ac-
comm odations that i did this early
printing at Pike River"