What’s This?
What you have in your hand is a mini-newspaper filled with old news. But this is not just any old news; it is OUR old news. Everything on these pages is straight out of newspapers that were published in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
The writing style of 19th century editors was more eloquent and literate than found in modern papers. And since the editor was expected to be a positive influence on his community he sometimes moralized about life or scolded groups or individual citizens for their untoward behavior. And apparently, in those days there was little concern about being sued for libel. In the 19th century most newspapers had a decided political leaning.
In small towns the editor wore all the hats in his shop, being editor, reporter, ad man and typesetter. That is the case with this publication as well.
FYI: “locofocos”, “free-soilers” and “barnburners” are all political activist groups. Square brackets [ ] contain clarifying comments by myself.
The news in this number is from the first newspaper ever published in Lake Geneva,The Wisconsin Standard,David Keeler, editor.
Enjoy. Denny Teichow
The Pilot Knob, an iron mountain near St. Louis, is about to be brought into profitable use. A company has erected iron works at the base of the knob and on the 2nd instant they commenced the smelting of the ore. The knob itself is one of the greatest wonders, and contains iron ore yielding from 60 to 70 percent, sufficient to supply the world, at present.
Sudden Death.-- A very sudden death happened in this village on Monday evening. It was that of a man by the name of Wm. Capien, who had, but lately come among us. He retired to rest in apparent good health – a short time later a noise was heard by the inmates of the house. When they reached his room he had expired. He died of a fit of apoplexy. Mr. C. was a stranger, and was buried, and met a stranger’s fate.
B
y the Presidentof the United States – I, James K. Polk,do declare that public sales will be held at the undermentioned land offices in the State of Wisconsin, to wit:
At the land office of MINERAL POINT, commencing on the 18th day of June next, for the disposal of of the vacant public lands, viz:
North of the baseline and west of the fourth principal meridian.
Townships fourteen, fifteen and sixteen of range one.
Townships nineteen, twenty, twenty-one, and twenty-two of range two.
[yada, yada, yada] *
*
Lands appropriated by law for the use of schools, military, and other purposes, will be excluded. No sale shall be kept open longer than two weeks, and no private entry of any lands will be admitted until after the expiration of the two weeks.
Given under my hand at the city of Washington, this twenty-seventh day of February, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and forty-nine.
By the PresidentJAMES K. POLK
[There were similar government solicitations for land in other states & bids for supplies--nearly a full page of this stuff.]
The Cholera in its first stages—A physician on the Ohio river says he had been in constant practice during the Cholera in New Orleans. There were fifty cases on the boat in which he came, and nine deaths during her passage – al under his treatment. His remedy was simple but powerful. An ounce of paregoric, mixed with ten grains of sugar of lead, and given freely until the diarrhea is arrested. This to be followed by twenty grains of Calomel. He said this remedy had never failed when the disease was taken in time.
We hope our readers will bear with us for a few weeks. We are unable to give them as much reading matter as we desire – but hope to make up for the deficiency in a few weeks. We also crave the indulgence of our advertising patrons, and hope they will not be angry with us if they should not find their advertisements in this week’s paper. The Government advertisements crowd hard upon us and we are under the necessity of infringing upon the space usually given to the news.
The Coalition
There has been a union formed throughout the State, between the Van Buren-ites and the Cass-ites, or in other words, they have kissed and made up. We notice in the last OshkoshDemocratthe proceedings of these mongrel meetings, where they put forth the platform for future action. The Barnburners after being so completely used up last Fall, and being sunk so low in the political scale that they have nothing to lose by the union, and are in excellent humor to receive overtures from any quarter, and are willing to embrace almost any proposition, however corrupt and unprincipled, that can afford them a prospect of ascendancy in Wisconsin.
The Way It Is Done.—The completion of the Central rail road to New Buffalo, with the fast boats on the lake, and the new arrangements of the railroad companies in New York will enable a person to “sup one day in New York, the second in Buffalo, the third in Detroit, and breakfast in Chicago the next morning.” That’s going it with a rush.
Removals From Office
The editor of the SouthportTelegraph in his usual whining speaks of removals from office:
“We saw through the humbug of all their professions from the start, and would just as soon expect the hungry wolf to forego his meal upon the lamb, as to expect Taylor and his cabinet to forego the appropriation of all the offices to their peculiar friends.”
This is a specimen of the feeling which is doled forth in the opposition prints.—It is not enough that the Democratic(!) party has dealt out office for twenty years to the hacks and drivelers of its party. It is not enough that thousands of notoriously incompetent men have fattened upon “the spoils” to the sacrifice of the public interests under their charge.
The sycophants whom Mr. Polk elevated to station merely on account of their adherence to the dynasty are the very men whom the people have called President Taylorto thrust out.
Clippings with Editorial Sprinklings.
Contrasts.—An Irish paper, received by the steamer Europa; says—
“Last week a man named Thomas Kelly lay for nights on the mail road, where he died of starvation, and lay exposed, a prey to dogs, from Wednesday to Sunday. Within a few perches of said place a man of the name Sweeney died of starvation, in the same week.
In the same paper—
“Large sums of money are raised for the Pope in several districts. The Diocese of Fern gives £860 and others even more.”
Would not this money be better spent in buying food for the famished peasantry at home than in sending it to the Pope, who certainly is not starving? In the eye of God the offering would be far more precious, because it is more acceptable to the suffering poor and needy. Charity is one of the noblest moral gifts bestowed upon man.
Boundary Question Settled.—The Supreme Court of the United States have decided the boundary dispute between Iowa and Missouri, in favor of Iowa. This decision will add Schuyler and parts of other counties which hitherto acknowledged allegiance to Missouri to the State of Iowa.
Emigration to the West.-- A great many families are leaving New York for the West. They cannot remain in New York—the competition in trade is very great distressing. The foreigners come here in such numbers and can live so much more economically than the native Americans [white settlers born here], that the latter is obliged to abandon his home and fireside. This is very hard; but I see no help for it as long as this immense emigration is continued. The misery of the poorer classes in Europe will cause nearly 300,000 this year to leave for the United States. I see no remedy for the New Yorkers but to get lands and turn farmer. New York Mirror
L
ist of Letters remaining in the Post
office at Geneva, April 1st 1849.
Bogardus, FrancisHargrave, Joseph
Bouker, GeoHawley, Alphonso
Bridges, JohnJohnson, James
Burr, Geo TLewis, Valentine
Clark, A.M.Murray, James
Carpenter, Elmina Miss
Cowles, Susannah Mrs.
Danford, Eliza MissPurdy, Nathan
Ennis, SibbePettigrove, Jesse
Gott, WilliamScovil, Daniel W.
Hawver, FranklinSnow, Horace
Hazard, F. A. FERGUSON, P.M.
S
plendid schemes Of Virginia
Monongalia Lotteries – for July, 1849
J.W. Maury & Co., Managers
Class No. 49, to be drawn at Alexandria, Va.
75 Number Lottery – 12 Drawn Ballots
1 prize of ….$40,00010 ……….$1,200
10 of ….……$13,00020 ……….$1,000
30 of ………..…$510129 …….....$200
Whole Tickets $10 – Halves $5
Orders for Tickets in the Splendid Lotteries will receive the most prompt attention, and an official account of each drawing sent immediately after it is over to all who order from us.—Address: J & C Maury, agents for J.W. Maury & Co., Managers, Alexandria, Va.
The Duty of the Whigs.
The Democrats in the Senate are pledged to oppose no factious resistance to Gen. Taylor’s administration. We know well how much weight is to be attached to locofoco pledges of this description. This pledge was made by SenatorDavisof Mississippi, and before the echo of the words had died to the ear, it was wantonly broken, without excuse, by the rejection of McGaughey,nominated as Governor of Minnesota. It is easy to foresee what will be the course of the Senate, under locofoco control – every Whig nominee will have his head knocked off, for whose rejection a decent excuse can be found or fabricated. It is the Whig doctrine that although the Senate can make no nomination, its power of negation is supreme. Remember the locofoco clamor against this doctrine a few years ago? And now they have suddenly discovered what a grand idea it is.
What a Chance!—The number of steamboats on the upper lakes, up to the year 1825, was one. On the opening of navigation in the spring of 1849, there were on the entire length of the lakes 140 steamers, 5 barks, 93 brigs, 548 schooners, and 128 sloops with aggregate tonnage of 12,342,662, one-fifth of the tonnage of the Untied States. Some of the steamboats are nearly 1,000 tons burden of the most splendid and costly construction.
The War in Haiti.—If the latest accounts from Haiti are to be relied upon, there is reason to fear that the black Nero Soliqueand hisebony army have succeeded in overwhelming the Spanish republic of St. Domingo. If such has been the case, there will be a bloody story to tell.
Mackinacwill be a place of resort this summer. The sickness that prevails in the Southern Cities will cause many a traveler in pursuit of pleasure and health, to make a short sojourn to this healthy Island. A large and commodious Hotel, to be called the “O’Malley House” is being fitted up by Mr. O’Malleyand will be ready for the reception of visitors by the first of July.
We hail with sincere pleasure the first number of a very neat quarto Temperance paper, published semi-monthly at Racine by our old friends, Messrs. Bliss & Rounds,and edited with much ability by Rev. A. C. Barry,entitled “The Old Oaken Bucket.” The “Bucket” is the official organ of that most philanthropic and benevolent institution—the Order of the Sons of Temperance of Wisconsin and we recommend it most cordially to the liberal patronage of our Temperance brethren throughout the State.
A Far West Editor.—We had the pleasure of becoming personally acquainted with Mr. David Keeler, one of our editorial brethren. He is a decided Whig, and an able advocate of Gen. Taylor, in his paper, which is a well edited and spirited sheet. Wisconsin will not long remain an anti-Whig State while there are such men in charge of the press in that rapidly growing State. N. Y. Mirror.
AT HOME
Arrangements are now in progress to enlarge the Wisconsin Standard at the commencement of the second volume, within seven weeks. We flatter ourselves that we shall be able to furnish a paper that will be creditable to its position, and worthy of a generous patronage.
We perceive that a number of our State contemporaries are disposed to be facetious at sentences in the editorial department of the Standard during our absence at the east. This is the first, for the past thirteen weeks, that the paper has been under our supervision. Altho’ we discover nothing peculiarly reprehensible in the sentences to which we now allude, they are certainly not the coinage of our language, or the effusion of our pen, and courtesy should intimate to our professional brethren that a “play upon them” at our expense is, on their part a breach of candor and etiquitte.
Adaring attempt at robbery was made at Elkhorn, on the night of Saturday last, by an endeavor to break open the iron safe, containing county funds to the amount of $1200. The thieves effefcted an entrance into the office of the Clerk of the District Court, in which the safe was deposited by breaking out a light in the northwest window. Having effectd an entrance they attempted to blow off the door of the safe by filling the lock with fine powder. The explosion only sprung off the outer face of the door and deranged the lock. It is supposed that the attempt was made shortly after midnight, as about 1 o’clock some of the citizens heard a noise, which was supposed to be distand thunder. Suspicion rests upon no one in particular, although much anxiety exists among the citizens to ascertain the depredators.
Our Village Authorities are displaying a very commendable spirit in their efforts to preserve the public health. In view of the appraoch of the prevailing epidemic [cholera], too much care cannot be takento prevent its prevalence among us. Every species of rubbish and filth should be gathered into piles and burned. Good strong lime should be applied in great profusion, to all impure localities. Poorly ventilated areas should be supplied with fresh air. The first symptom of diarrhea should awaken attention. Plain, simple diet, and a total abstinence of all intoxicating drinks shouldbe rigidly observed. Personal cleanliness, by frequent bathing is highly recommended.
The promptness ith which our Board of Health is acting inthis matter is certainly entitled to commendation and we trust that our citizens will evince an alacrityin assisting our municipal authorities in their philanthropic efforts to preserve the health of the village.
The Elkhorn Brass Band paid our village a complimentary visit on the afternoon of Sunday last, and treated us to the rich strains of their fine music. Elkhorn, as well as Geneva, may be proud of her Band. It is composed of a set of as good fellows as can be found in Walworth county, and theperformance of their music furnishes a forcible illustration that they have been no laggards in acquiring a knowledge of their profession. After playing a number of fine pieces, in the performance of which they acquitted themselves with great credit and elicited the praises of all who heard them, they returned to Elkhorn.
VILLAGE ORDINANCES
Passed by the Trustees of GenevaVillage and confirmed by the voters of said Village.
Be it ordained by the Trustees of Geneva Village
First.Any person who shall take pay for admissions to any show or exhibition, without first having obtained a license, shall forfeit and pay to the Trustee a fine of not less than five dollars nor more than twenty dollars.
Second.No person shall burn any coal-pit within the limits of this village without special license.
Third.No person shall deposit any carrion within the limits of this Village.
Fourth.No person shall lead, ride or drive any horse, ox or mule upon the side walks of any street within this Village.
Fifth.No person, unless clothed, shall in the daytime bathe in the waters of the lake, race or outlet, within the limits of this Village.
Sixth. Any person allowing their swine or poultry to run at large within this Village at any seasons of the year, or their horses, cows, or other cattle, at any time from the 1st of November until the 1st day of April, shall forfeit and pay to the Trustee a fine of one dollar for each offense.
HOTELS
WILLIAM R. WELD
Attorney at law & solicitor in chancery. As Notary Public will take deeds and other transactions. Also Agent for Milwaukee Fire Insurance Co. Office over Griffith & Merrill’s store, Geneva, Wis.
B
roadcloths, Satinets, Casmeres Ferguson & Dewey
B
uckwheat flour--for sale at
Geneva L.B. Goodsell’s
C
otton bagging.—400 yds., heavy bagging, cheap. Goodsell’s
C
andies.—A choice lot for sale by
Geneva T.M. & A.S. Smith
C
offee.---Different qualities sold
Geneva by Ferguson & Dewey
L
ead pipe.—At the Hardware Store of Southport. R. Bain