At the start of the Civil War, Belgian settlers had been in Kewaunee County for 2 or 3 years. Few could speak English. They had neither the cash to hire substitutes nor purchase a disability that would enable escape from the draft and a war that was not theirs. Exemptions could be purchased for $300.00. Substitutes serving for drafted men were credited to the county's quota and were paid anywhere from $150 - 500 dollars. Both the substitute and recruiter received the bounty money in a process by which the substitute made money for himself and for the state school fund. Section 2, Article X of Wisconsin State Constitution refers to education and income: "All moneys which may be paid as an equivalent for exemption from military duty...."
Belgians were often hired as substitutes by Germans who had money. And to county officials - most whose native language was English - Belgian names sounded alike and were incorrectly pronounced. There were instances in which drafted men actually served under a name belonging to someone else! The Belgians felt they were being unjustly treated, a charge historians see as having merit.
A few days before Thanksgiving 1862, Draft Commissioner William Finley announced a drawing to meet the county quota. Having had enough, angry Belgians, armed with pitchforks and clubs, marched on Kewaunee armed. In an attempt to secure their rights, they advanced along Main Street to the corner of Main and Ellis, the site of Finley's store, which they promised to destroy.
As the story goes, when Finley heard the mob coming, he fled to the harbor to jump aboard the Comet as it was just casting off for Milwaukee. While Finley was taking refuge aboard ship, Mrs. Finley was left to deal with the angry farmers. She calmed them by feeding them from barrels of crackers and boxes of cheese. Others pleaded with them to obey the law. When reason finally prevailed, the day's draft was halted and the men returned to their homes.
In the meantime, Finley brought Capt. Cunningham and Kewaunee County's Company A, 27th Inf. from Milwaukee. There was no trouble that day (the following Saturday) because Co. A was parading in the streets of Kewaunee. Although the company made a few raids into the country searching for delinquents, the men had a good time in Kewaunee where residents gave them and dinner and dance. Families were reunited.
Edward Decker and Finley were cousins so it is not surprising that Decker told a slightly different story in the November 26, 1862 Enterprize.* Decker's report was that the rumors of disturbances on draft day were greatly exaggerated by those outside the county and that Finley was not really driven off. The report continued saying Finley left aboard the Sunbeam of his own accord, going to Madison for quota and other information, in addition to securing assistance in quelling unlawful destruction and violence to citizens or property on the day of the draft. It was also said there was no violence to persons or property the day the Belgians marched.
Readers were told that during the draft that followed a blindfolded Sheriff Whitney drew names that Mr. Finley read. Judge Cory and E.P. Carter served as clerks and recorded the names. Federal officers conducted future drafts.
Most Kewaunee County residents were foreign born and, as so many other immigrants to Wisconsin, had left Europe to escape mandatory military service. Eastern counties with heavy German and Belgian populations saw more than one kind of draft resistance. Excitement and bitterness were running high when the Legislature appointed Edward Decker as Deputy Provost Marshall. Later it was said that Decker's "wise counsel avoided bloodshed." Some of the story, apparently, went untold.
Just a few days before the war's end, Red River's Constable Michael Bradael had a problem when delivering a draft notice. The entire affair was spelled out in a letter to Edward Decker dated in Green Bay on April 6, 1865. As Bradael delivered a notice, he was "compelled" to take it back under threat of being killed with an ax to his head. Bradael said he had a choice to make, and he chose to run away. The draftee in question had been advising others to do the same thing when served. On the following day the draftee went to the Provost's office in Green Bay where he told a story about Bradael's brother paying a doctor $25.00 for an exemption. The same doctor pronounced the draftee in question fit.
Bradael went on to tell Decker that he was glad not all the Belgians were inclined to forsake military service. A few days after Bradael wrote the letter the war ended, leaving history to show that the Belgians distinguished themselves in the Civil War and beyond.
Note: For more about the Wisconsin Belgians, see John Henry Mertens' The Second Battle : A Story of our Belgian Ancestors in the American Civil War, 1861-1865. Soon to be released is Mertens' new book listing all of the U.S. Belgians who served.
* Enterprize was changed to Enterprise in 1865.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Philolithean: Wolf River's 1855 Literary Society
It has been written that culture came to Wolf River with the arrival of Simon Hall and his wife Desiah, however they did not appear to be members of the Philolithean, a literary society. A little research on the word reveals three separate spellings. Each reflects a secret or private literary society focusing on such subjects as history, religion, ethics and politics. Wolf River's Philolithean appears to have primarily dealt with politics.
It was Joseph Anderegg who served as secretary of the short-lived society. At its first meeting on November 29, 1855, the attendees elected Samual Chapell as president, David Price as vice-president, Joseph Remington as secretary, Nelson Smith as corresponding secretary and Andreas Eveland as treasurer. L. Shepherd nominated Mary A. Price as editor and George Hines Scott was chosen to dedicate a paper which was to be "denominated," or named.
Shepherd, Scott, Alexander McLellen and Nelson Smith were chosen to draft the society's constitution and by-laws. When the above organizational business was concluded, the society needed a name thus choosing Philolethean to be "denominated as the Philolethean Society of Ahnapee."
At that first meeting Shepherd moved that subscriptions be taken to defray expenses between Kewaunee and Wolf River throughout the winter. Eleven dollars was collected. It was also decided to meet at Chapell's.
After considerable discussion at the Saturday, December 8 meeting, Mr. Chapell was elected as a prepresentative to the County Board. Next came offers by John Hughes and Mr. Rowse to carry mail between Kewaunee and Wolf River. Hughes was elected and was given a contract. There were other things to discuss. Chapell reminded the group that officers had been elected for the first meeting only and that an election was needed. Orin Warner was elected to the presidency. Eveland was chosen as vice-president and Anderegg was voted in as secretary. Then Scott requested to be excused from the consititution committee though he did not offer a reason that was recorded in the minutes. Mrs. Price read a poem and Shepherd read an article about life in Wolf River and the necessity for regular mail service. Shepherd planned to have it published in the Manitowoc Herald but Orin Warner objected. Warner moved to appoint Eveland's as the drop-off site for mail. Outgoing mail would leave town on Friday. By return route, incoming mail would be at Eveland's on Saturday. Then the men began taking subscriptions for the road to Kewaunee. Orin Warner was appointed to circulate road and mail subscriptions along both branches of the river. It was decided that 1/4 of the mail subscriptions would be paid into the treasury.
Organization of the Philoletheans provides a glimpse into Wolf River's early residents who were obviously able to read and write. Shepherd, Scott, McLellen and Smith do not appear on the Kewaunee County1860 census so apparently didn't live in the community very long. Joseph Remington is listed in Forestville on the Door County 1860 census. Interestingly, the society's name included Ahnapee when the hamlet was called Wolf River or, sometimes, Wolf River trading post. Wolf River became Ahnapee in 1859, four years after the society's inception.
As the county was organized judicially a few years later, roads, mail and the political questions discussed at meetings became the role of government. Philolethean faded from Wolf River though its residents continued to discuss politics which, in a few years, would strongly divide the fledgling community,
It was Joseph Anderegg who served as secretary of the short-lived society. At its first meeting on November 29, 1855, the attendees elected Samual Chapell as president, David Price as vice-president, Joseph Remington as secretary, Nelson Smith as corresponding secretary and Andreas Eveland as treasurer. L. Shepherd nominated Mary A. Price as editor and George Hines Scott was chosen to dedicate a paper which was to be "denominated," or named.
Shepherd, Scott, Alexander McLellen and Nelson Smith were chosen to draft the society's constitution and by-laws. When the above organizational business was concluded, the society needed a name thus choosing Philolethean to be "denominated as the Philolethean Society of Ahnapee."
At that first meeting Shepherd moved that subscriptions be taken to defray expenses between Kewaunee and Wolf River throughout the winter. Eleven dollars was collected. It was also decided to meet at Chapell's.
After considerable discussion at the Saturday, December 8 meeting, Mr. Chapell was elected as a prepresentative to the County Board. Next came offers by John Hughes and Mr. Rowse to carry mail between Kewaunee and Wolf River. Hughes was elected and was given a contract. There were other things to discuss. Chapell reminded the group that officers had been elected for the first meeting only and that an election was needed. Orin Warner was elected to the presidency. Eveland was chosen as vice-president and Anderegg was voted in as secretary. Then Scott requested to be excused from the consititution committee though he did not offer a reason that was recorded in the minutes. Mrs. Price read a poem and Shepherd read an article about life in Wolf River and the necessity for regular mail service. Shepherd planned to have it published in the Manitowoc Herald but Orin Warner objected. Warner moved to appoint Eveland's as the drop-off site for mail. Outgoing mail would leave town on Friday. By return route, incoming mail would be at Eveland's on Saturday. Then the men began taking subscriptions for the road to Kewaunee. Orin Warner was appointed to circulate road and mail subscriptions along both branches of the river. It was decided that 1/4 of the mail subscriptions would be paid into the treasury.
Organization of the Philoletheans provides a glimpse into Wolf River's early residents who were obviously able to read and write. Shepherd, Scott, McLellen and Smith do not appear on the Kewaunee County1860 census so apparently didn't live in the community very long. Joseph Remington is listed in Forestville on the Door County 1860 census. Interestingly, the society's name included Ahnapee when the hamlet was called Wolf River or, sometimes, Wolf River trading post. Wolf River became Ahnapee in 1859, four years after the society's inception.
As the county was organized judicially a few years later, roads, mail and the political questions discussed at meetings became the role of government. Philolethean faded from Wolf River though its residents continued to discuss politics which, in a few years, would strongly divide the fledgling community,
Um-um Good: Adeline Schwenderman and Badenzer Cheese
When Mrs. Adeline Schwenderman died in March 1935, it was
thought to be an end of an era in cheese making. Few remember the name today that 80 years ago was as connected with cheese making in Kewaunee
County as Trega Foods, once Krohn’s, is today.
Angeline Federspile was born in Thiensville in 1846. As a girl, she began making cheese and was the originator the Badenzer cheese, which it is assumed was named for Baden-Baden, Germany, birthplace of her husband Joseph. She made the cheese for Alpine Dairy, located in the basement of the Soucek building at what is now 112 Steele Street in Algoma.
The late Hank Englebert remembered Mrs. Schwenderman years after her death. Englebert described her basement operation saying there were curing shelves on all four walls. Badenzer loaves were 2” thick, 6” long and about 3 pounds. During the four month curing period, each loaf was turned over and washed. Marketing was not aggressive and the public could stop whenever convenient to purchase the cheese delicacy.
Englebert told the story about a day Angeline gave him a loaf of cheese. He tucked it under his arm and carried it on his meter reading duties, barely unable to wait the two hours for noon. Englebert didn’t keep the prized cheese for himself, but took it to the Stebbins Hotel where Mrs. Jack Slaby helped Hank treat his noon companions. At the appointed time, Mrs. Slaby walked out of the kitchen with the wonderful cheese properly sliced and ready to enjoy. The aroma - some said odor - was safeguarded under a glass dome, and Hank was able to pull off his surprise. His friends never smelled the precious cheese coming.
Hank also told a Depression era story when a railroad man
often came to Algoma, trying to spend as much time as he could in the Soucek
basement. He even tried to help. After so many visits, people got suspicious
and felt he was after the recipe for use in the dining cars. Continuing to allow
the man into the basement seemed dangerous, and he was denied further entrance.
At Mrs. Schwenderman’s death, her daughter Rose continued producing the cheese. Over 100 years after its introduction, Badenzer cheese is a part of Algoma's history. Its recipe remains a closely guarded secret.
Note: Photo is taken from Algoma Record Herald.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Income Taxes and Edward Decker in the 1860s
April 15 looms as a day dreaded by many Americans. The day that offers so much debate is something most are used to because, in one form or another, taxes have always been around. Even the Bible recounts stories of taxes and loathing for tax collectors.
Ironically, taxation in the U.S. began not with U.S. imposed taxes but with protests against the British in the 1760s. School children remember hearing about the Boston Tea Party, orator Patrick Henry is remembered for delivering the line, "Give me liberty, or give me death," and "Taxation without representation is tyranny" became the cry of the American Revolution.
In Kewaunee County's early days, there were poll taxes, road taxes and property taxes. Poll taxes were at times worked off. County farmers maintained roads past their property, roads that had been surveyed as early as 1853 by County Board supervisors such as Orin Warner, Abraham Hall and John Hughes. Wolf River's first real surveyor, George Elliott, arrived a few years later. As for property taxes, they resulted in hundreds of foreclosures in the 1860s. Some lost property not knowing they were in arrears for only a few cents.
A U.S. income tax proposed during the War of 1812 never got off the ground. But it did during the Civil War, and it was levied on those, such as Edward Decker, whose incomes exceeded $800. A year or so after the law was enacted it was revised, and then eliminated in 1872. Twenty years later William Jennings Bryan was leading the Democratic Party when it advanced an income tax. Such a tax became part of the party's platform in the 1908 presidential election. This year - 1913 - marks the 100th anniversary of the income tax. The 16th Amendment was ratified in 1913 and the U.S. has had an income tax without interruption ever since.
Kewaunee County's Edward Decker was paying income taxes before many of his fellow citizens even knew what such taxes were. Decker's income taxes of the 1860's have survived, thus providing a glimpse into the man and the U.S. Internal Revenue of the period.
Tax documents indicate that the yearly income taxes were to be paid before the first Monday in May. Shirking one's duty added 25% to the tax due. Guardians and trustees were also charged with filing the papers. Questions needed answering. Did one's wife or minor child have an income during the year? Did one have stocks, sell property, have gold or government securities, keep an account book, claim deductions and so on?
During 1865 Mr. Decker paid employees $2,300, and said he earned $100 on building rents for which he could deduct $25 in repairs. He reported earning $100 in profits from property sold but there was nothing about farming operations or livestock. Decker reported earning $800 from private business and $400 from his work as a government employee. He had an income of $950 that was a debt or income considered lost in a previous year and he paid tax on that. Decker's real estate investments lost $500 and he paid out $275 in interest. Decker was also able to deduct $200 as a salary paid out to a person in the U.S. military. It is likely this was paid to Edward Carl, his Civil War substitute who served in the 22nd Infantry.
When filling out a list of taxable articles, Decker declared a tax of $2.00 on his gold watch as his was "wholly or in part of gold or gilt, kept for use, and valued at above one-hundred dollars." His tax would have been a dollar had the watch been worth $100 or less.
Decker did not report any kind of carriage, or pianofortes, organs, melodeons, a billiard table, gold or silver plate or a yacht. And when he had the papers filled out, his signature attested to his truth under the laws of the United States. For an unidentified reason, Mr. Decker was assessed $3.89 payable on the last day of March in 1869. Had he not paid the tax by that time, 5% would be assessed with an additional 1% per month. Edward Decker paid Internal Revenue's Special Tax for the year ending on May 1, 1871. This $10 tax was due from the milling business at Tisch Mills owned and operated by Decker and Voyta Stransky.
No doubt there were a few other Kewaunee County men who paid income taxes during the Civil War. If their papers did survive in the recesses of an attic, they could have easily gone out during the paper drives supporting the World War ll effort, a time when so much personal history was lost.
As for gold watches, carriages, pianos and other luxury items, they showed up on census forms. One census showed Kewaunee County having very few gold watches, prompting the Door County Advocate to question the accuracy of the reporting as it felt Kewaunee County was much wealthier than Door and surely had many more gold timepieces. Not much has changed in 150 years: everybody wants to be rich, but nobody wants to pay taxes.
Sources: Decker Collection, ARC, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay; An-An-api-sebe:Where is the River?; Door County Advocate.
Ironically, taxation in the U.S. began not with U.S. imposed taxes but with protests against the British in the 1760s. School children remember hearing about the Boston Tea Party, orator Patrick Henry is remembered for delivering the line, "Give me liberty, or give me death," and "Taxation without representation is tyranny" became the cry of the American Revolution.
In Kewaunee County's early days, there were poll taxes, road taxes and property taxes. Poll taxes were at times worked off. County farmers maintained roads past their property, roads that had been surveyed as early as 1853 by County Board supervisors such as Orin Warner, Abraham Hall and John Hughes. Wolf River's first real surveyor, George Elliott, arrived a few years later. As for property taxes, they resulted in hundreds of foreclosures in the 1860s. Some lost property not knowing they were in arrears for only a few cents.
A U.S. income tax proposed during the War of 1812 never got off the ground. But it did during the Civil War, and it was levied on those, such as Edward Decker, whose incomes exceeded $800. A year or so after the law was enacted it was revised, and then eliminated in 1872. Twenty years later William Jennings Bryan was leading the Democratic Party when it advanced an income tax. Such a tax became part of the party's platform in the 1908 presidential election. This year - 1913 - marks the 100th anniversary of the income tax. The 16th Amendment was ratified in 1913 and the U.S. has had an income tax without interruption ever since.
Kewaunee County's Edward Decker was paying income taxes before many of his fellow citizens even knew what such taxes were. Decker's income taxes of the 1860's have survived, thus providing a glimpse into the man and the U.S. Internal Revenue of the period.
Tax documents indicate that the yearly income taxes were to be paid before the first Monday in May. Shirking one's duty added 25% to the tax due. Guardians and trustees were also charged with filing the papers. Questions needed answering. Did one's wife or minor child have an income during the year? Did one have stocks, sell property, have gold or government securities, keep an account book, claim deductions and so on?
During 1865 Mr. Decker paid employees $2,300, and said he earned $100 on building rents for which he could deduct $25 in repairs. He reported earning $100 in profits from property sold but there was nothing about farming operations or livestock. Decker reported earning $800 from private business and $400 from his work as a government employee. He had an income of $950 that was a debt or income considered lost in a previous year and he paid tax on that. Decker's real estate investments lost $500 and he paid out $275 in interest. Decker was also able to deduct $200 as a salary paid out to a person in the U.S. military. It is likely this was paid to Edward Carl, his Civil War substitute who served in the 22nd Infantry.
When filling out a list of taxable articles, Decker declared a tax of $2.00 on his gold watch as his was "wholly or in part of gold or gilt, kept for use, and valued at above one-hundred dollars." His tax would have been a dollar had the watch been worth $100 or less.
Decker did not report any kind of carriage, or pianofortes, organs, melodeons, a billiard table, gold or silver plate or a yacht. And when he had the papers filled out, his signature attested to his truth under the laws of the United States. For an unidentified reason, Mr. Decker was assessed $3.89 payable on the last day of March in 1869. Had he not paid the tax by that time, 5% would be assessed with an additional 1% per month. Edward Decker paid Internal Revenue's Special Tax for the year ending on May 1, 1871. This $10 tax was due from the milling business at Tisch Mills owned and operated by Decker and Voyta Stransky.
No doubt there were a few other Kewaunee County men who paid income taxes during the Civil War. If their papers did survive in the recesses of an attic, they could have easily gone out during the paper drives supporting the World War ll effort, a time when so much personal history was lost.
As for gold watches, carriages, pianos and other luxury items, they showed up on census forms. One census showed Kewaunee County having very few gold watches, prompting the Door County Advocate to question the accuracy of the reporting as it felt Kewaunee County was much wealthier than Door and surely had many more gold timepieces. Not much has changed in 150 years: everybody wants to be rich, but nobody wants to pay taxes.
Sources: Decker Collection, ARC, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay; An-An-api-sebe:Where is the River?; Door County Advocate.
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