/Wisconsin IF Magazine of History

Courts and Judges in Wisconsin Territory ALICE E. SMITH Prohihition and Democracy: The ]S[pbIe Experiment Reassessed PAUL A. CARTER "My Long and Somewhat Eventful Life": Frederick G. HoUman's Autohiography Edited by WILLIAM C. MARTEN

Published by the State Historical Society of Wisconsin / Vol. 56, No. 3 / Spring, 1973 THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WISCONSIN

JAMES MORTON SMITH, Director

Officers E. DAVID CRONON, President GEORGE BANTA, JR., Honorary Vice-President JOHN C. GEILFUSS, First Vice-President E. E. HOMSTAD, Treasurer HOWARD W. MEAD, Second Vice-President JAMES MORTON SMITH, Secretary

Board of Curators Ex Officio PATRICK J. LUCEY, Governor of the State CHARLES P. SMITH, State Treasurer ROBERT C. ZIMMERMAN, Secretary of State JOHN C. WEAVER, President of the University MRS. GORDON R. WALKER, President of the Women's Auxiliary

Term Expires, 1973 THOMAS H. BARLAND MRS. RAYMOND J. KOLTES FREDERICK I. OLSON DONALD C. SLICHTER Eau Claire Madison Wauwatosa Milwaukee E. E. HOMSTAD CHARLES R. MCCALLUM F. HARWOOD ORBISON DR. LOUIS C. SMITH Black River Falls Hubertus Appleton Lancaster MRS. EDWARD C. JONES HOWARD W. MEAD NATHAN S. HEFFERNAN ROBERT S. ZIGMAN Fort Atkinson Madison Madison Milwaukee

Term Expires, 1974 ROGER E. AXTELL PAUL E. HASSETT ROBERT B. L. MURPHY MILO K. SWANTON Janesville Madison Madison Madison HORACE M. BENSTEAD WILLIAM HUFFMAN MRS. WM. H. L. SMYTHE CEDRIC A. VIG Racine Wisconsin Rapids Milwaukee Rhinelander REED COLEMAN WARREN P. KNOWLES WILLIAM F. STARK CLARK WILKINSON Madison Madison Nashotah Baraboo

Term Expires, 1975 E. DAVID CRONON JOHN C. GEILFUSS LLOYD HORNBOSTEL FRANCIS PAUL PRUCHA, S.J. Madison Milwaukee Beloit Milwaukee SCOTT M. CUTLIP BEN GUTHRIE ROBERT H. IRRMANN J. WARD RECTOR Madison Lac du Flambeau Beloit Milwaukee ROBERT A. GEHRKE MRS. R. L. HARTZELL JOHN PIKE CLIFFORD D. SWANSON Ripon Grantsburg Madison Stevens Point

Honorary Honorary Life Members EDWARD D. CARPENTER, Cassville MRS. ESTHER NELSON, Madison RUTH H. DAVIS, Madison DOROTHY L. PARK, Madison MRS. MARGARET HAFSTAD, Rockdale MONICA STAEDTLER, Madison PRESTON E. MCNALL, Clearwater, Florida BENTON H. WILCOX, Madison WILLIAM ASHBY MCCLOY, New London, Connecticut PAUL VANDERBILT, Madison

Fellows VERNON CARSTENSEN MERLE CURTI ALICE E. SMITH

The Women's Auxiliary Officers MRS. GORDON R. WALKER, Racine, President MRS. DAVID S. FRANK, Madison, Vice-President MRS. JAMES S. VAUGHN, Milwaukee, Secretary MRS. HUGH HIGHSMITH, Fort Atkinson, Treasurer MRS. GEORGE SWART, Fort Atkinson, Ex Officio VOLUME 56, NUMBER 3 / SPRING, 1973 Wisconsin Magazine of History

WILLIAM CONVERSE HAYGOOD, Editor WILLIAM C. MARTEN, Associate Editor

Courts and Judges in Wisconsin Territory 179 ALICE E. SMITH

Prohibition and Democracy: The Noble Experiment Reassessed 189 PAUL A. CARTER

"My Long and Somewhat Eventful Life": Frederick G. Hollman's Autobiography 202 Edited by WILLIAM c. MARTEN

Book Reviews 234

Book Review Index 258

Accessions 259

Contributors 264

Published Quarterly by The State Historical Society of Wisconsin

THE WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY is published Microfilms, 313 North First Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan; quarterly by the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, reprinted volumes available from Kraus Reprint Company, 816 State Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53706. Distributed 16 East 46th Street, New York, New York. Communica­ to members as part of their dues (Annual membership, tions should be addressed to the editor. The Society does $7.50, or $5 for those 65 or over or members of affiliated not assume responsibility for statements made by contribu­ societies; Family membership, SIO.OO, or $7 for those 65 tors. Second-class postage paid at Madison and Stevens or over or members of affiliated societies; Contributing, $25; Point, Wis. Copyright © 1973 by the State Historical Business and Professional, $50; Sustaining, $100 or more Society of Wisconsin. Paid for in part by the Maria L. annually; Patron, $500 or more annually). Single numbers, and Simeon Mills Editorial Fund and by the George B, $1.75. Microfilmed copies available through University Burrows Fund. Wisconsin Before Statehood

LINEAGE OF WISCONSIN Northwest Territory 1787-1800 Indiana Territory 1800-1809 Illinois Territory 1809-1818 Michigan Territory 1818-1836 Wisconsin Territory Created July 3, 1836 State of Wisconsin Entered Union May 29, 1848

CAPITALS OF WISCONSIN Belmont 1836 Burlington (Iowa) 1837-1838 Madison 1838-present

GOVERNORS OF WISCONSIN TERRITORY (date of oath-taking) Henry Dodge July 4, 1836 James Duane Doty June 9, 18411 Nathaniel Tallmadge September 16, 1844 Henry Dodge May 13, 1845

SECRETARIES OF WISCONSIN TERRITORY (date of oath-taking) John S. Horner July 4, 1836 William B. Slaughter March 4, 1837 Francis J. Dunn February 18, 1841 Alexander P. Field c. May 3, 184P George R. C. Floyd November 15, 1843^ John Catlin March 14, 1846

JUDGES OF WISCONSIN TERRITORY (date of oath-taking) William C. Frazer July 13, 1836* Charles Dunn^ August 16, 1836 David Irvin September 8, 1836 Andrew G. Miller December 11, 1838

REPRESENTATIVES TO CONGRESS FROM WISCONSIN TERRITORY George W. Jones December 5, 1836-January 14, 1839 James Duane Doty January 14, 1839-March 3, 1841 Henry Dodge December 7, 1841-March 3, 1845 Morgan L. Martin December 1, 1845-March 3, 1847 John H. Tweedy March 4, 1847-May 29, 1848

^ The date on which Doty arrived in Madison and assumed office. ^ Field's certification states that he took his oath of office between May 3 and May 5, 1841. ^ Floyd stated that he accepted his appointment on this date. * Died in office on October 18, 1838. " Chief justice.

178 COURTS AND JUDGES IN WISCONSIN TERRITORY

By ALICE E. SMITH

Seven years of research and writing preceded The selection and support of this branch the recent publication of the first of six vol­ of government lay almost wholly outside umes, each by a different author, which when popular control. The organic act established completed will constitute the first definitive three district courts and assigned their juris­ history of Wisconsin. In this initial volume diction and their functions,^ the legislature Alice E. Smith tells the story of how an unex­ laid out the districts; the President appointed plored wilderness evolved into a functioning the judges, a prosecuting attorney, and a state. The following, excerpted from the chap­ marshal; the federal government paid salaries ter entitled "Building a Government," deals and a part of the operating costs. Each judge with the colorful and disparate men who rode circuit among the county seats in his represented the ultimate law in the territorial district, and the three met annually as a su­ era. preme court to hear and adjudicate appeals W.C.H. from their own courts. For these services they received annual salaries of $1,800. The or­ ganic act also established probate and justice 'X'HE THIRD of the co-ordinate branches of the peace courts. In the first years the -•- [in addition to the legislative and exe­ governor, with the council's approval, ap­ cutive], the judiciary, was probably the least pointed these lower judicial officers. familiar to the general population, yet as The single controlling force, except, of statehood became imminent, everyone was course, the United States Supreme Court, was proposing "judicial reforms." Without inter­ the territorial supreme court. Within their ruption the system of courts that had been own districts, the judges were virtually auton­ inaugurated under the rule of Michigan Ter­ omous. Their appointments provided "good ritory was superseded by the more elaborate behavior" tenure. No higher authority existed framework devised for the new Territory of to help or hinder the judge in the exercise of Wisconsin, and the new judiciary began to what he conceived to be his duty, or to assist build up a body of doctrine governing public him if those duties grew beyond his ability and private affairs within its geographical to handle them effectively. A change in po­ jurisdiction. litical administration might cause him some uneasiness; a carping governor might report

The History of Wisconsin, Volume I: From ^ The Wisconsin Territorial Act, incorporating in a single enactment the experience of the forty-nine Exploration to Statehood. By ALICE E. SMITH. years since the passage of the Northwest Ordinance, (State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Madi­ became the model for future territorial organic acts. See John Porter Bloom (ed.). The Territorial Papers son, 1973. Pp. xiv, 753. Illustrations, maps, of the United States: Vol. 27, Wisconsin (Washing­ essay on sources, index. $15.00.) ton, 1969).

179 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973

judicial shortcomings; dissatisfied residents of a county might petition for his removal; but during the twelve years of Wisconsin Ter­ ritory, the single change in the district judi­ ciary was brought about by death.^ The four territorial judges sent to Wiscon­ sin were probably typical of appointees sent to a remote frontier. The formation of Iowa Territory in 1838 necessitated a redistricting in Wisconsin that held for the duration of territorial existence. Chief Justice Charles I Dunn retained the first, or western, district, comprising Crawford, Iowa, and Grant coun­ ties, and counties that were formed from the three before 1848. In all respects Judge Dunn was in accord with his turbulent mining con­ stituency. Born and educated in Kentucky, he had practiced law in Illinois and served in the Black Hawk War. Through George W. Jones he received President Jackson's ap­ pointment as chief justice of the court of Wis­ consin in 1836.^ He settled at Belmont, where he remained until his death in 1872. The Dunn family entered into the social and professional life of the new community. The chief jus­ tice's wife was the daughter of a United States judge in Missouri; his brother Francis was, Society's Iconographic Collections like the judge, a Democrat and a lawyer and Territorial Judge Charles Dunn, father-in-law of Nel­ son Dewey, the state's first governor. practiced in the district; his daughter married Nelson Dewey, a Cassville lawyer and legisla­ where he was chairman of the judiciary com­ tor who became the state's first governor. mittee.* The district was initially the most populous in David Irvin served the second district, a the territory and probably produced the most region not populous, but growing. He might litigation. A convivial soul. Judge Dunn was be termed a holdover from Michigan Terri­ fond of liquor and found time to indulge in tory. A native of Virginia, he succeeded hunting and fishing. He served as a delegate James Duane Doty as additional judge for to the Second Constitutional Convention, Michigan Territory and was continued on the bench of Wisconsin Territory. A bachelor who "detested all vices," his favorite companions ° Donald P. Kommers, "The Development and Re­ organization of the Wisconsin Court System" (2 were his horse, his gun, and his dog; his con­ vols., doctoral dissertation. University of Wisconsin, cept of duty at his frontier post was something 1963), examines the Wisconsin system in some de­ to be hurried through so he could return to tail. Robert G. Siebecker, "The Supreme Court of Wisconsin Territory," in State Historical Society of more congenial southern haunts. Attempts to Wisconsin Proceedings, 1912, pp. 221-226, com­ oust Judge Irvin failed. Doty, while he was ments on the work of the court. For a general over­ view of courts and judges see James Willard Hurst, governor, notified the Department of State of The Growth of American Law: The Law Makers (Boston, 1950), 85-195. 'Parker M. Reed, Bench and Bar of Wisconsin: ^' George Wallace Jones of Grant County, a dele­ History and Biography (Milwaukee, 1882) 26, 40^2; gate to Congress from Michigan Territory, was in­ John R. Berryman (ed.). History of the Bench and strumental in securing the organization of Wisconsin Bar of Wisconsin (2 vols., Chicago, 1898), I: 68-77. Territory and served as its first congressional delegate John S. Horner to Martin, November 15, 1838, in the in 1836 but was defeated by James Duane Doty in Morgan L. Martin Papers, State Historical Society the election of 1838. After 1848 he made his home of Wisconsin, and J. C. Parrish, George Wallace in Dubuque, where he died in 1896. Dictionary of Jones (Iowa City, 1912), 111-112, among others, Wisconsin Biography (Madison, 1960). speak of Dunn's intemperance.

180 SMITH: COURTS AND JUDGES IN WISCONSIN TERRITORY

Irvin's failure for two years to hold court at distant St. Croix County or even to ap­ point a clerk of court there, and complained to the legislature about the judge's prolonged absences. In 1845 a joint legislative resolu­ tion requested the judge to attend to his duties or resign, but he did not resign. The most publicized criminal trial in Wisconsin terri­ torial history, in which James Vineyard was acquitted on charges of manslaughter in the slaying of Charles C. P. Arndt in the capitol, took place in Irvin's courtroom in Monroe, Green County. Moses M. Strong, the defend­ ant's lawyer, drank "long and frequently" from a pitcher of whiskey during his three- hour-long appeal to the jury. The absence of any remonstrance suggests that the presiding judge closed his eyes to such frontier prac­ tices, and thereby retained the good will of the public—and his seat. In Virginia, Irvin had practiced law; in the makeshift courthouses of the far Northwest where there were often Society's Iconographic Collections no statute books or lawbooks of any kind Judge Andrew G. Miller; no portraits are known to available, he heard the arguments and made exist of Judges Frazer or Irvin. common-sense decisions that were generally satisfactory to the bar and to the public; on Miller's jurisdiction extended from Green Bay the supreme court he wrote his share of opin­ to the Illinois boundary; it was the fastest ions; and until 1848 he retained his judicial growing region in Wisconsin, and each new post, and then removed to Texas.^ county which was created added to the burden of the judge, obliging him to ride his circuit The sudden death of William C. Frazer in almost continuously. He held court twice an­ October, 1838, brought a decided change in nually in each county (three times in Mil­ the situation in the third, or eastern district. waukee), besides attending the July supreme Some members of the lakeshore bar had taken court sessions in Madison. In the spring of a violent dislike to the judge, declaring him 1839 Judge Miller found 1,200 cases awaiting to be dissolute and incompetent, and had pub­ trial, and during his nine years of service he licly demanded his dismissal. President Mar­ adjudged some 7,500 court cases. He unfail­ tin Van Buren's new appointee, Andrew G. ingly opened his sessions on schedule and held Miller of Pennsylvania, personified decorum them open until all business was disposed of. and strict adherence to judicial protocol and At the establishment of statehood he was ap­ dedication to the public good. When he took pointed federal judge for Wisconsin.^ office in 1838 he was thirty-seven years of age. (His predecessor, Frazer, had been sixty In their administration of the law, the Wis­ years old in 1836; at that time Dunn was consin judiciary was greatly aided by the re­ thirty-seven, and Irvin forty-two.) Judge vised statutes of 1839. Since most of the laws

^Reed (ed.). Bench and Bar, 42-43; Berryman •Reed (ed.). Bench and Bar, 43-50; Berryman (ed.). Bench and Bar, I: 74-79; Doty to J. C. Spen­ (ed.). Bench and Bar, I: 79-84. For demands for cer, August 9, September 28, 1842, in Records of the Frazer's dismissal, see Milwaukee Advertiser, No­ Department of State, Record Group 59, National vember 18, 1837; J. S. Fisk to President Van Buren, Archives; Bloom (ed.). Territorial Papers, Wiscon­ May 19, 1838, in the Martin Van Buren Papers, Li­ sin, 429-430; Wisconsin House Journal, 1845, 416; brary of Congress; and Hans Crocker to George W. Kenneth W. Duckett, Frontiersman of Fortune: Jones, January 10, 1838, in Bloom (ed.), Territorial Moses M. Strong of Mineral Point (Madison, 1955), Papers, Wisconsin, 901-903. Additional information 59-63. on Frazer is in ibid., 79n, 885-886, 895, 906, 1018.

181 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973 were copied from the statutes of New York, the decisions made by the courts of that state proved very useful to Wisconsin judges in construing and interpreting the laws. By far the major work of the district court was in civil cases. Under the organic act the district •';^ and supreme courts possessed both chancery and common law jurisdiction; while they rec­ ognized the distinction between law and equi­ ty, they in substance, for reasons of economy, merged in one trial all types of jurisdiction.^ rpRONTIER CONFLICT with the law and -"- the practice of seeking direct revenge for injuries did not cease with establishment of the territorial court system. The southwestern corner of Wisconsin in particular had a repu­ tation for turbulence. The picture may have been overdrawn, but at times one is tempted to believe, with the Milwaukee Sentinel, that "the Devil had a firm foothold in Mineral Point." An English traveler, who enjoyed enlivening his narrative with accounts of the Society's Iconographic Collections crudities and eccentricities of backwoods char­ Harrison Reed, who as Florida's Reconstruction gov­ acters, wrote a caricature of the setting of a ernor, was thrice impeached and acquitted. murder trial conducted by a frontier judge, who must have been Charles Dunn. "It was in Madison during a special session of the but a sorry exhibition of a court of justice, legislature held in August, 1840, to redistrict dark, and filled with filthydooking men, spit­ the territory, Harrison Reed was attacked on ting about in every direction. The prisoner the streets by a man named Jenkins. Accord­ was an impudent, ill-looking fellow. . . . The ing to Reed, the assailant was a special friend prosecuting attorney, who summed up, ex­ of the governor's, who customarily referred to ceeded all the pleaders I ever listened to for him as "My friend. Major Jenkins—a hero absurdity of language and bad grammar." of the Sac war—as brave as Julius Cesear, The request of the new receiver at the land by. . . !" Reed brought suit for assault and office at Mineral Point, Pascal Bequette, in battery in the district court for Dane County 1845, for greater security for public funds and was awarded $300 damages. That same entrusted to his care from robbers such as "a year Henry B. Welsh and Charles Bracken gang in a neighboring State just ensnared by took up their pistols to settle a long-time feud, the public authorities" points up the serious­ which had been intensified by the Democratic ness of conditions.* editor's branding the Walnut Grove Conserva­ Personal and political hostilities at times tive as a "Liar, Scoundrel and Coward."^ found outlet in fist fights and gunfire. While Criminal cases that brought death sentences and executions were relatively infrequent. Two Indians found guilty of murder—one of 'Silas U. Pinney, Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of the Territory of Wisconsin (3 vols., Chicago, 1872-1879), I: 38-40. " Milwaukee Sentinel, August 18, 1840; Wisconsin * George W. Featherstonhaugh, A Canoe Voyage Enquirer, November 27, 1841; Miner's Free Press, up the Minnay Sotor; with an Account of the Lead November 24, December 1, 1840. Welsh was senior and Copper Deposits in Wisconsin ... (2 vols., editor of the Miner's Free Press; Bracken, an aide London, 1847), 2: 81-84; Bequette to Robert Walker, to General Dodge during the Black Hawk War, December 1, 1845, in Records of the Department of served in the territorial legislature in 1839-1840. the Treasury, Record Group 56, National Archives; For an account of their altercation see Wisconsin Milwaukee Sentinel, March 3, 1840. Historical Collections, 15: 366-367.

182 SMITH: COURTS AND JUDGES IN WISCONSIN TERRITORY

Pierre Paquette at Portage and one of Ells­ judges and officers supplied with means to worth Burnett west of Milwaukee—received promulgate and enforce a system of proce­ pardons. Two murder trials that resulted in dure such as prevailed in older states and conviction and death by hanging are reported which had been evolved under more favor­ during territorial years. At Lancaster Judge able conditions.'^ Dunn sentenced Edward Oliver to death in By contrast to the relative inactivity and October, 1838, for a slaying at Cassville. Four short sessions of the legislature, the judicial years later the trial of William Caffee was officers had heavy workloads and long terms held at Mineral Point and a huge crowd of court. Moses M. Strong, attorney for Wis­ gathered to observe death on the scaffold. consin Territory, reported that there were Laws prescribing heavy fines or confinement 2,010 cases in the dockets for the three courts were virtually impossible to enforce. Jails in 1837-1838; of these, the United States was were insecure and there was no territorial pri­ a party to about one fourth. After about 1842 son. The trial described by the English travel­ courts in the first and third districts were er ended in the imposition of a $300 fine. The open a large part of the year. A great deal of prisoner was to be held in the county jail litigation in district courts was brought on until he paid the fine, but "in the course of by land contracts and land controversies such the night he evaporated, and so ended the af­ as occurred in the opening years of all areas fair." Between the arrest and the trial of of the public domain. Although, on the whole, Caffee, four men were ordered to guard him American citizens were becoming accustomed at night; after sentence, the village blacksmith to the idea of litigation in courts of law, they riveted irons on his legs to prevent escape.^" often settled their differences out of court, Wisconsin Supreme Court Judge Robert G. sometimes by private cost-sharing or other Siebecker, looking back at the course of crim­ agreements. It is likely, too, that a large num­ inal justice in territorial years, explained pro­ ber of civil actions commenced in court were cedures on grounds of sheer expediency: settled without trial.'^ An example of settlement that was eventual­ Transgressions against the security of life ly arranged out of court after a long series of and limb were by force of circumstances dealt with in a summary way, in order to proceedings was the controversy known as the restrain offenders from violations of the territorial suits. In its prolonged delays and peace and good order. Under these circum­ postponements the matter can scarcely be con­ stances the power conferred by the Ordin­ sidered a typical case of settlement, but it was ance of 1787, to promulgate civil and crimi­ of great interest to the public. The attempt nal law, could not readily be executed, for of the new capitol commissioners appointed an employment of orderly procedure in the by the legislature early in 1839 to recover customary ways was materially hampered from Doty, John F. O'Neill, and Augustus A. and restricted by the prevailing primitive Bird the remainder of the two unexpended state of affairs. Nor were the territorial $20,000 appropriations for building the capi­ tol was carried into court in Iowa County in the name of the Territory of Wisconsin. The '^"Miner's Free Press, October 9, 1838; George Fiedler, Mineral Point: A History (Mineral Point, 1962), 76-79; Jack E. Eblen, The First and Second United States Empires: Governors and Territorial " Siebecker, "Supreme Court of Wisconsin," 223. Government, 1784^1912 (Pittsburgh, 1968), 135. See ^'^ Strong to Forsyth, November 12, 1838, in Bloom Elwood R. Mclntyre, "A Farmer Halts the Hang­ (ed.). Territorial Papers, Wisconsin, 1089; Kom­ man: The Story of Marvin Bovee," in Wisconsin mers, "Development and Reorganization of the Magazine of History, 42:6 (Autumn, 1958), for in­ Wisconsin Court System," 168-169; James Lake, stances of death penalties. Mclntyre erroneously Law and Mineral Wealth: The Legal Profile of the reports that the men convicted of killing Paquette Wisconsin Mining Industry (Madison, 1966), 77. and Burnett were hanged. According to a contem­ Edward L. Kimball, "Criminal Cases in a State Ap­ porary, the judgment on the murderer of Paquette pellate Court: Wisconsin, 1839-1959," in American was "reversed by the supreme court"; Satterlee Journal of Legal History, 9: 95-117 (April, 1965), Clark, "Early Times at Fort Winnebago," in Wis­ has inventoried more than 1,400 opinions in crimi­ consin Historical Collections, 8: 319. Governor nal cases in Wisconsin between 1839 and 1959. A Dodge pardoned the slayer of Burnett; Bloom (ed.). few of his generalizations apply to the situation be­ Territorial Papers, Wisconsin, 126-127. fore 1848.

183 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973 case was continued from term to term until each party to the suit gathered and heard the September, 1841, when on application of the harangues of the lawyers, addressed as much defendants, the court ordered that it be to them as to the jury, if there was a jury. changed to Walworth County. Again there The proceedings in the Vineyard trial were were postponements until April, 1843, when probably not exceptional: the defense law­ judgment was rendered for the defendants. yer's emotional appeal to jury and spectators; Thereupon the plaintiff (the Territory) asked the judge quiescent, functioning as little more for a writ of error, which the supreme court than an umpire between prosecution and de­ granted, and ordered a retrial. The judge of fense; the verdict reflecting public sentiment the Walworth County court then ordered the as much as evaluation of evidence.'* case transferred to Milwaukee County, but that court refused to take jurisdiction and the TN VIEW of the conditions under which law- supreme court was asked to settle the dis­ -•• yers and courts had to operate, the sur­ puted jurisdiction. prise is that so much was accomplished. A At the July term of the supreme court in newly arrived lawyer could not know what 1845 the majority (Judge Miller dissenting) laws were in effect in Wisconsin and had no decided it was the duty of the Milwaukee way of finding out. Charles M. Baker de­ court to hear the case. By that time emotions scribes the first criminal trial in Walworth had perhaps quieted. At any rate the legisla­ County, held at Geneva in 1838. Two men re­ ture early in 1846 tried to put through a turning from the mill had stolen and butchered joint resolution to discontinue action on the a fat ox and hidden it under their meal bags. case. The measure failing, the attorney gen­ Caught and convicted, the older of the two eral, A. Hyatt Smith, took charge. He pro­ was fined forty dollars and ordered to work posed to the legislature that the controversy out the fine on the highway. "It was said," be submitted to arbitration. In the impending Baker writes, "that the decision to work out a advance to the status of a state in 1848, the fine on the highway was authorized by the legislature provided that if the defendants statutes of Michigan then in force here. But would pay the costs of prosecution to date, all whether this was so or not, nobody knew with claims would be dropped. With the acceptance certainty, as we had then no statute book, nor of the conditions, the subject of the territorial any other law book in the county, to my suits was officially concluded." knowledge."'^ At each session of the district courts grand The laws of the territory and public notices and petit juries were called. Cases involving were printed in a limited number of local the United States were taken up first, and the newspapers that had the good fortune to hold federal government paid the costs of jurors the appointment of official printers, and the and witnesses for the first week in court; laws were also issued in pamphlet form at the thereafter the county in which the court sat end of each legislative session, but back num­ was tabbed for expenses. In the First Dis­ bers were scarce. Federal statute books were trict in 1840 grand jurors received $1.05 per even less obtainable, as newly appointed Judge day of attendance; petit jurors were paid Miller discovered in August, 1839, when he $1.25, and all received five cents mileage. asked the Department of State for copies of The jurors were often a diverse array. The laws of the United States and decisions of the Vineyard jury included four farmers, a farm Supreme Court, none of which, to his knowl­ laborer, a preacher, a miner, and a millwright; edge, were to be found in his district. In re- the twelve men originated in five American states and Germany and Wales. Court hear­ " Hurst, Groivth of American Law, 295-297; Duc­ ings were community events. Adherents of kett, Frontiersman of Fortune, 61. The records of the General Accounting Office, Record Group 217, National Archives, contain considerable information "Finney's Reports, I: 569-580; Moses M. Strong, on such matters as length of sittings, expenses, grand History of the Territory of Wisconsin from 1836 to jurors, etc., relating to the district courts of Wis­ 1848 (Madison, 1885), 283-284, 494, 585-586; Wis­ consin. consin House Journal, 1845, 308-323; Alice E. Smith, " Charles M. Baker, "Pioneer History of Wal­ James Duane Doty: Frontier Promoter (Madison, worth County," in Wisconsin Historical Collections, 1954), 235-237. 6: 462-463.

184 SMITH: COURTS AND JUDGES IN WISCONSIN TERRITORY

Collections 'Wisconsin's three territorial governors: (left to right) Henry Dodge, who served two terms; James Duane Doty; and Nathaniel P. Tallmadge, formerly a U.S. Senator from New York.

ply to his letter he was informed that "there exceed fifty dollars and if the title or boun­ is no authority under which the Secretary of daries of land were not involved, the contro­ State can furnish you with the laws and re­ versy was threshed out in the justice of the ports therein requested." peace court. Popular interest in political par­ It seemed to be standard practice for of­ ties was stimulated when the government ficials who had been replaced to carry away allowed voters to choose their own justices the law books supplied to them, leaving their and sheriffs. The justice was a person of con­ successors to fend for themselves. And, as sequence in the community and in the judicial Moses Strong, newly appointed attorney gen­ structure. He was not necessarily learned in eral for Wisconsin in 1840, pointed out, it the law, but he was readily accessible to hear was impossible to purchase law books in this and decide disputes, and he tried to bring part of the country. In this respect Dane about an equitable settlement of the minor County was better off than its neighbors, for civil and criminal cases that were brought be­ the law library in the capitol was well stocked fore him. Appeal could be made from his at an early date through the use of federal decision to the district court, but the untrained funds, and was placed in charge of a librarian, justices decided cases involving a large cata­ who also served as custodian of public prop­ log of injuries to persons and property in erty in the capitol.'^ territorial Wisconsin. Petty civil and criminal If the amount in dispute in a case did not cases were added to the probate court's cus­ tomary jurisdiction over estates and inherit­ " Andrew G. Miller to John Forsyth, August 6; ance. The justice of the peace was on a fee Forsyth to Miller, August 19, 1839; Strong to For­ basis, as was the probate judge. Fees for both syth, June 25; and Forsyth to Strong, July 23, 1840; all in Records of Department of State, Record Group courts were set by law, and were very low. 59, National Archives. The same record group con­ In the former, they ranged from six and one- tains numerous requests and recommendations for quarter cents for swearing a witness to twenty- appointments as official printers of the laws in Wisconsin. Reports of the law librarians are found five cents for issuing a warrant; in the latter, in the annual published journals of the council and the charge for proving an uncontested will house. See, for example, Wisconsin Council Journal, 1837-1838, pp. 232-235, and 1842, pp. 532-541. was fifty cents. Vincent Roberts, who served

IRf, WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973

hung out their shingle in Mineral Point in 1844, engaged extensively in real estate. They found the combination of law and land busi­ ness "a steady grind of travel, painstaking record-keeping, long correspondence with ab­ sentee owners, and constant work on the 'everlasting landbooks.' "^* Unremunerative though the legal profession may have been for beginners and seasoned members of the bar as well, it attracted num­ bers of practitioners to territorial Wisconsin. They inclined to locate at the sites of public land offices, in the capital city, in county seats, and in rising urban centers. A national registry for 1850 reported some forty law firms in Milwaukee, and more than a dozen in Madison. A record of the attorneys known to have been admitted to practice before the supreme court during the years from 1836 to 1847 totaled seventy-five. These lists by no means told the whole story. There must have Societ, s l^unu^raphic Collections been many other residents of the state with John H. Tweedy, last territorial representative to some smattering of the law, for the federal Congress before statehood. census for 1850 reported 471 lawyers in the state, or one for every 647 inhabitants.'^ as justice in Emmett, Dodge County, in the The supreme court, in which the three 1840's usually imposed fines of around ten judges reviewed cases appealed from their dollars or less. His justice's fee ranged from own courts, heard civil cases almost exclu­ fifty cents to a dollar; the constable's fee was sively, for in practice, virtually all trial court usually nineteen cents or multiples of the decisions in criminal cases were final. Nor figure.^'' did more than a tiny fraction of civil cases The fee book of Charles M. Baker of Gene­ come up from the district courts. The supreme va, who practiced during the same years as court had appellate jurisdiction only, but for Justice Roberts, shows only a slightly higher a brief time its docket was crowded with cases range of charges. To serve a subpoena fifteen conferred upon it by the federal bankruptcy miles away, including the use of a horse and act of 1841. This act took effect February 1, carriage, Baker charged one dollar; for trying a suit before a jury, three dollars; for collect­ ing a debt, 5 per cent. Even for a successful "Reed (ed.). Bench and Bar, 35-38; Alfons J. lawyer the income must have been small. Beitzinger, Edward G. Ryan: Lion of the Law Edward G. Ryan of Racine had an annual in­ (Madison, 1960), 14; Larry Gara, Westernized Yan­ kee: The Story of Cyrus Woodman (Madison, 1956), take of about five hundred dollars, assuming 47-50. Baker's account book, 1845-1847, is in the fees of 10 percent. Most lawyers of the era Archives-Manuscripts Division, State Historical So­ carried on some business on the side. Baker ciety of Wisconsin. See also Elisha W. Keyes, "The Wisconsin Bar in the Territorial Period," in Re­ ran a store, and served at times in the terri­ ports of Wisconsin State Bar Association (1899), 2: torial council and in the first constitutional 345-349. convention. Washburn and Woodman, who ^^ Seventh Census of the United States, 1850, Ixxi; John Livingston (ed.). The United States Lawyer's Directory and Official Bulletin for 1850 (New York, " Frank Flower, History of Waukesha County, 1850), 109-110. The list of attorneys admitted to Wisconsin (Chicago, 1880), 611-612; Laws of Wis­ practice is found in Pinney's Reports, 1:1-3. How­ consin, 1837-1838, 153-191, 266-278. The Roberts ard Feigenbaum, "The Pioneer Lawyer in Wiscon­ fee book is in the Archives-Manuscripts Division, sin" (master's thesis. University of Wisconsin, 1969) State Historical Society of Wisconsin. For the pro­ discusses migration to Wisconsin, education and bate court and its functions, see Wisconsin Terri­ training, business and financial conditions, and torial Statutes, 1839, 296-310. the social relations of the Wisconsin lawyer.

186 SMITH: COURTS AND JUDGES IN WISCONSIN TERRITORY

1842, and was repealed thirteen months later. The judges followed traditional patterns The law was designed to provide means by and methods of procedure. They interpreted which insolvent debtors, presumably victims statutes, guided in many instances by earlier of depression and inflation, might be saved decisions made in other states on some of the from ruin. Its passage had been eagerly same laws; and applied rules of justice that sought in all portions of the country, and had been devised by English common law cen­ Wisconsinites joined in appeals for its enact­ turies before and shaped to meet the needs ment and praise of its benefits. Under its of the western world. They were principally operation 315 cases involving some $2,000,000 occupied in redressing wrongs and enforcing were adjudicated in Madison, and all but fif­ rights. In the expanding economy it was na­ teen applicants were discharged from their tural that the courts should develop a sense debts.20 of concern for individual affairs, rather than The supreme court met with a full bench those devoted to the public interest. In this for the first time in 1839. The judges adopted they reflected the tendency to make use of rules of practice for the court, which were the law for the release of individual creative used for the nine terms ending in August, energy in order to meet the pressing demand 1847. During those years the court tried 135 for opening the wealth of natural resources cases, of which two were carried to the Unit­ to the uses of man. The early courts fashioned ed States Supreme Court. At first the pre­ a body of common law for the main affairs ponderance of cases argued and determined of everyday life and commerce, defining basic were carried from the western district, but in legal rights and principles in the areas of real time a fair balance developed. A case of con­ property, business contracts, and commercial siderable significance was decided in the July instruments, and shaping doctrine in newly term, 1842, on appeal from the district court important fields such as the law of negli­ of Brown County. The controversy was over gence.^^ title to ownership of private land claims at Green Bay by heirs of Pierre Grignon, who HTHE STRUCTURE of law and administra- were of part-Indian blood, and involved ques­ -•- tion of justice established for Wisconsin tions of legality of marriage arrangements Territory seemed to satisfy the needs of the and court jurisdiction during preterritorial people and no serious criticism of the courts years. The Wisconsin court held that the Grig­ was raised until the time for statehood ap­ non claims were valid and that the county proached. Then citizens began to study the court of Michigan Territory which had first limitations of the existing framework and to adjudicated the claim was a "court of com­ ponder ways of reforming the judiciary. The petent jurisdiction." The case was appealed need for improvement of two irritating con­ to the United States Supreme Court, where in ditions not peculiar to Wisconsin was brought 1844 the judgment of the Wisconsin court was up: delays in the administration of justice and affirmed. The other case appealed to the the high cost of judicial operation. Inevitably highest court was that of Parish v. Gear over the nisi prius system, whereby the circuit- the settlement of an account. The Wisconsin riding judges met to hear appeals from their Supreme Court (Miller dissenting) upheld the own individual decisions, came under scrutiny. decision of the Iowa County District Court A senior member of the bar, Henry S. Baird but the appellant carried the case to the Unit­ of Green Bay, intimated that there had been ed States Supreme Court, which reversed the logrolling among the supreme court judges decision.^' to sustain each other's opinions, right or wrong. The advisability of separating the '"Pinney's Reports, I: 39. For some appeals and circuit and appellate functions was seriously comments from Wisconsin citizens, see Milwaukee considered, raising the question of relative Sentinel, November 6, 1841, September 28, 1842; Madison Express, June 23, 30, December 29, 1842; Senate Journal, 27 Cong., 1 sess., 49, 69. ^ Cases for the territorial period are recorded in Pinney's Reports, I: 57-696; 2: 21-74. The case ^Kommers, "Development and Reorganization of of Jackson v. Astor et al. is found in I: 137-164; the Wisconsin Court System," 156, 168-169; Hurst, of Parish v. Gear, I: 261-276. Growth of American Law, 185.

187 advantages of "parchment judges" who lost contact with the public and those who might subvert the bench by too intimate association with political and economic pressure groups. Another question, the term and selection of judges, brought up American traditional dis­ like of any official being imposed on them. As early as 1840 a movement had begun to limit the term of district judges to four years. Since 1843 justices of the peace and probate judges had been chosen by popular vote; per­ haps the practice should be extended to the higher echelons. In New York state, the Mil­ waukee Sentinel pointed out, members of the highest as well as the lowest judicial tribunals had been elected by the people since 1821. Such a break with tradition was unthinkable to many staid members of the bar and laymen as well in Wisconsin, and reforms in the judi­ ciary were among the most hotly debated is­ sues in the constitutional conventions.^^ Wisconsin's twelve years of territorial de­ pendency were well spent. A skeleton govern­ ment outlined by Congress was fleshed out, and the essentials of an emerging common­ wealth provided. While the laws stressed con­ tinuity from English and early American prac­ tices, there was conscious recognition of the cultural and environmental needs of a frontier civilization, and even some attempts at inno­ vation. There had been some attempt to make government more responsive to the citizens. Leaders who would take their places after statehood as governors, legislators, and judges on all levels received training. Citizens in their home communities learned something of the practices and issues of a republican form of government, and were ready to offer im­ provements in the constitution of the pros­ pective state. The years left the electorate as well, if not better, prepared than those of most emerging states.

Society's Iconographic Collections Three views of the original territorial capitol building ^Milo M. Quaife (ed.). The Convention of 1846 at Old Belmont, Governor Henry Dodge's unpopular (Madison, 1919), 504, 506; Milo M. Quaife (ed.). and ill-starred choice for the seat of government. The Movement for Statehood (Madison, 1918), 199- (Above) as it appeared in 1870; (center) in use as 202. Kommers, "Development and Reorganization a barn in 1906; and (below) in its restored condi­ of the Wisconsin Court System," summarizes the tion as an historic site. main demands for reform measures.

188 PROHIBITION AND DEMOCRACY: THE NOBLE EXPERIMENT REASSESSED

By PAUL A. CARTER

ly/riDDLE AMERICA, writes James H. was a factor in the powerful and eventually ITA Timberlake, enacted Prohibition "out successful drive for Prohibition repeal, and of an earnest desire to revitalize and preserve by the logic of hindsight we have tended to American democracy."' Like other efforts to apply that disillusion retroactively, as a his­ revitalize and preserve democracy at about torical judgment of our own. Nevertheless, that same time—such as Woodrow Wilson's alongside the democratic "wet" liberals like declaration of war against Germany—this cru­ Clarence Darrow and the antidemocratic sade was destined for repudiation. The Eight­ "wet" cynics like H. L. Mencken, throughout eenth Amendment took effect at midnight on the twenties there were some "dry" Americans January 16, 1920, as a decade opened in who maintained that by their efforts American which Americans soon realized that any form­ democracy had not only been revitalized and erly existing democratic common front had preserved but also given a great push forward. been shattered. Some in that decade affirmed Harry S. Warner, writing in 1928 under their belief in a revitalized democracy, while the imprint of the World League Against Al­ also insisting that if that goal were to be ac­ coholism, entitled one such argument Prohi­ complished. Prohibition would have to go. bition, An Adventure in Freedom. The Vol­ Others, equally opposed to Prohibition, denied stead Law, Warner contended, had not been even the desirability of democracy's preserva­ imposed upon an uncomprehending electorate tion, and cited Prohibition as a dreadful by a well-organized fanatic minority in a brief example of the consequences to which un­ period of war hysteria, as "wet" folklore supervised democracy could lead.^ Disillusion so often claimed. Quite the contrary; it was the climax of "one hundred years of trial and error," during which the temperance forces NOTE: This essay was originally presented as a paper had tried every other possible approach to at the annual meeting of the Western History Asso­ liquor control and found them all ineffective. ciation, New Haven, Connecticut, October 14, 1972. Prohibition met all the tests of proper demo­ ^' James H. Timberlake, Prohibition and the Pro­ gressive Movement, 1900-1920 (Cambridge, Massa­ cratic action: the test of time, the test of full chusetts, 1963), 184. discussion, the test of decisive majority ex­ ' Herbert Agar, for example, saw in the enactment pression (forty-six of the forty-eight states of Prohibition a demonstration that the majority is incompetent to decide a question in its own best had, after all, ratified the constitutional interest, and concluded that the right to vote should change.)^ By the time this "dry" rationale be sharply restricted; in short, democracy can be saved only by its partial denial. Agar, "Prohibition was written, Walter Lippmann had already and Democracy: A Plea for Limiting the Suffrage," published his cautionary essay The Phantom in English Review, LII:556-566 (May, 1931). Com­ pare Mencken's fulminations against the "democra­ tic pestilence," which had reached its fullest develop­ ment in America and resulted in "such obscenities as Comstockery, Prohibition, and the laws against ^ Harry S. Warner, Prohibition, An Adventure in the teaching of evolution." H. L. Mencken, Treatise Freedom (Westerville, Ohio, 1928), 51, 57-77, 85- on the Gods (New York, 1930), 296. . 88, 103-123.

189 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973

simplistic, for they obscure the self-image of the reformer as underdog. As Harry Warner saw the matter, the "wets," by playing Goliath to the "drys'" David, had inadvertently boosted the temperance cause. The year-in, year-out hostility of the Eastern metropoli­ tan press and of the organized liquor inter­ ests, "with millions of dollars invested year­ ^•fe ly in wet news, publicity material, speakers and in the influencing of public officials, legitimately and illegitimately," had success­ fully "retarded prohibition," and thereby "helped to insure the democratic process against hasty action."^ Warner was not alone in his judgment that Prohibition had been a political triumph of the popular over the powerful. In radical lan­ guage jarringly out of phase with its usual dowager tones, then or today, the Ladies' Home Journal for March, 1923 declared: "The prohibition embroilment is shaping its course as an inevitable class issue. The fash­ ionable rich demand their rum as an inalien­ able class privilege," crying " 'To hell with the benefits to the poor there may be in prohibi­ tion!' "'' In similar vein Roy A. Haynes in his Hammell, Passing of the Saloon book Prohibition Inside Out, also published Harry S. Warner, secretary of the Intercollegiate in 1923, expressed scorn for "the remnant of Prohibition Association. the old organization of manufacturers and Public;'^ and today, wiser in the ways of pub­ dealers of liquor in pre-prohibition days, lic relations, we may be more skeptical than learning nothing by experience, forgetting Harry Warner was about the import of elec­ nothing, wearing in its heart a Bourbon hope toral majorities, however decisive. On the of its return to the throne of debauchery from other hand, any historian who has labored in which it was hurled by the wrath of the the vineyard of the twenties must conclude American people." Endorsed in a "Foreword from the mountainous remains of "wet"- by the late President Harding"—an irony versus-"dry" polemic that Warner's test of full many Americans would not have perceived discussion, at least, is one which Prohibition at the time—Haynes's book concluded: "It is passes with flying colors. the beverage liquor interests, the criminals, For organizing the "dry" side of that dis­ the vice-capitalists who fear we shall succeed. cussion, the categories suggested in Joseph It is the leaders of the world who wonder if Gusfield's Symbolic Crusade, of "assimilative" we shall succeed. It is the 'little people' of the as against "coercive" social reformers—the world who hope we shall succeed."* one perceiving the drinker as a deviant who Here the wisdom of hindsight may be a must be persuaded to accept the reformer's values, and the other judging the drinker as an enemy who must be prevented from flout­ "Joseph Gusfield, Symbolic Crusade: Status Poli­ ing those values^—seem to me altogether too tics anil the American Temperance Movement (Ur­ bana, 1963), 6-7, 69-70. * Walter Lippmann, The Phantom Public (New " Warner, Prohibition, 131. York, 1925). Compare also Lippmann, Public ' [Barton W. Currie, editor] "Soft Morals," in Opinion (New York, 1922), especially the chapters Ladies' Home Journal, XL:32 (March, 1923). on "the making of a common will" and "the image * Roy A. Haynes, Prohibition Inside Out (Garden of democracy." City, New York, 1923), 166, 308.

190 CARTER: PROHIBITION AND DEMOCRACY positive handicap. From a post-Depression dismissed as elitist and undemocratic; "the perspective, the historian is aware that a group with an alcoholic appetite," whose great many of the "little people" who voted problem he saw as transitory ("most of these for Franklin Roosevelt in 1932 probably also men are well along in life; they will pass voted for Repeal the following year. The on") ; those with "adventure or bravado mo­ theme song of the 1932 Democratic national tives," which he also saw as transitory ("be­ convention, "Happy Days Are Here Again," ing prompted by adventure, it tends to be has often been described as prophetic of a temporary . . . young men and women do grow forthcoming new deal for the American peo­ older") ; the "self-privileged," who chose for ple,^ but to some in that joyous hall it may themselves which laws they would obey, a have meant primarily the prospect of legal position Warner also saw as fundamentally beer. Moreover, in studies like Virginius undemocratic; and finally "the trade, form­ Dabney's Dry Messiah or Andrew Sinclair's erly legal, now illegal." For all the newfound Prohibition: The Era of Excess we have been affluence of entrepreneurs like Al Capone, reminded that the "wets" had, to say the least, Warner affirmed that drinking in America no monopoly on high-handed or unethical be­ was doomed; the Noble Experiment was here havior." On this point the "dry" advocates to stay. Its remaining "wet" opponents, he during the twenties were placed on the de­ conceded, were free to use the same methods fensive. Still, they might have argued, one of persuasion the "drys" had had to adopt be­ must put the matter into historical perspec­ fore gaining the sanction of constitution and tive; if "dry" politicians had often engaged law, but they must not engage in undemo­ in tactics similar to those of the "wets," per­ cratic short-cuts such as nullification.-'^ haps it was a case of fighting firewater with fire. In effect, Harry Warner told his "wet" "DUT THERE REMAINED the nagging opponents in 1928, we have both played in •*-' question of personal liberty, even against the same game of marshalling public opinion decisions democratically made on behalf of for a democratic decision, and our side won. decisive majorities. The Prohibition contro­ As Lord Bryce had put it long before in his versy illustrated the old dilemma so painfully Modern Democracies, "The prohibition move­ recognized by Abraham Lincoln during the ment has not proceeded from any one class Civil War: "Must a government, of necessity, or section of the community"; it had grown be too .strong for the liberties of its own peo­ "mainly because it appealed to the moral and ple, or too weaJc to maintain its own exist­ religious sentiments of the plain people."'^ As ence?"^^ Prohibitionist Harry Warner tried such, Warner concluded, its victory called to turn the argument in a different direction: for democratic acquiescence by the "wet" "Is 'personal liberty,' not in the abstract but minority. definitely in the lives of men, women and Who were the members of this "wet" mi­ children, greater where drink goes out, even nority? Warner divided them into the with the aid of the heavy hand of the law, "missed"—those whom the "drys" had not yet than it is where drink remains?"'^ To sup­ reached to educate or persuade—and the "op­ port his own answer to that question he cited position." In the latter category he grouped a writer as far from the usual godly, church- the "social drink users," whose position he going, "uptight" stereotype of the "dry" as could well have been imagined, namely Ber­ nard Shaw:

" See, for example, Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., The If a natural choice between drunkenness Crisis of the Old Order, 1919-1933 (Boston, 1964 and sobriety were possible, I should leave [copyright 1957]), 314. "A careful study of Prohibition in the state of Washington, for example, concluded that "the poli­ tics of the dry decade had been only slightly more ^^ Warner, Prohibition, 150, 156-161 passim, 123. clean than the politics of the saloon era." Norman " Message to Congress in special session, July 4, H. Clark, The Dry Years: Prohibition and Social 1861, as reprinted in T. Harry Williams (ed.), Abra­ Change in Washington (Seattle, 1965), 219. ham Lincoln: Selected Speeches, Messages and Let­ "James Bryce, Modern Democracies, II: 158; as ters (New York, 1957), 155. quoted in Warner, Prohibition, 136. " Warner, Prohibition, 137.

191 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973

THE PASSING OE THE SALOON Workers president, Tom L. Lewis, as having said that "there is no easier way possible to make the unfortunate man, or the oppressed worker, content with his misfortune than a couple of glasses of beer."-'^ If the working- man in America of that period had largely left the church, as the statistics indicate he had, then perhaps religion had been displaced by a more powerful—or at least more con­ genial—opiate for the people! Historically, Warner pointed out, the ques­ tion of personal choice had been raised in the first place not by the "wets" but by their "dry" opponents. Paradoxically, prohibition- ism had grown up in the first place among that sector of the population, the old-stock WASPs,

1916 J917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 which traditionally had been regarded as the most individualistic.''^ Within the temper­ ance movement itself, the debate over "per­ 27. AEEESTS FOB USING PROFANE LANGUAGE sonal liberty" had been intense ever since In New York City Foul langu

192 CARTER: PROJIIBITION AND DEMOCRACY

The modern view, Warner argued—for all the world like an academic sociologist—is that the claims of the individual must be balanced against those of family and society. Man is not an autonomous atom; "he is also a mem­ ber of a community, a citizen, a father, a taxpayer, a fellow worker. ... Or he is an auto-driver . . . whose freedom and happiness are limited by the sobriety of other drivers." The trouble with the "personal liberty" argu­ ment was that the consequences of the excesses of drink could "not be confined to the drink­ er; that the worst burdens fall, not upon him who becomes intoxicated, but upon those who suffer because of the toxic habits of others."'" In short, this "dry" advocate put down the Tietsort, Temperance or Prohibition? "rugged individualism" of the drinker in The distinguished panel of Catholic and Protestant much the same fashion that the New Deal's clergymen, members of Congress, and public servants who served as fudges in Hearst's Temperance Prize advocates would later put down the "rugged Contest in 1929. individualism" of that conscientious "dry," Herbert Hoover. If the "drys" little realized some of the crusades and confrontations of that an effort to be one's brother's political the 1960's may have inclined us to sympathy keeper had sinister statist implications, neither with such a statement from the 1920's. But as did most of the New Dealers. historians we must also carefully identify a To be sure, this particular experiment in quotation by its source, in this case the elder social control—or, if one prefers, social lib­ William Randolph Hearst, then at the height eration—failed; and the "drys" themselves of his Red-baiting and Oriental-hating career, conceded that an important component in that and a man not ordinarily identified in po­ failure was "the disintegration of popular litical folklore as a tribune of the people. support."^" But they tended to attribute that Hearst said those provocative words on April loss of support to public misunderstanding, 26, 1929, as he launched a temperance essay abetted by well-financed "wet" propaganda. contest in the New York American. The first Here again our post-Repeal perspective can prize of $25,000 was won by Franklin Chase be a historiographic pitfall. Indeed, 3.2 beer Hoyt, presiding judge of a children's court in was one of the earliest fruits of Franklin New York City, who advocated leaving the Roosevelt's Hundred Days, and Jim Farley Eighteenth Amendment intact but amending did make ratification of the Twenty-First the Volstead Act to define "intoxicating Amendment a matter of party regularity in liquors" as "all alcohol products of distilla­ the Democratic state organizations. But some tion"—in effect a return to the old "ardent "dry" observers at the time were inclined to spirits" definition of Lyman Beecher and see Repeal as the handiwork not of insurgent Benjamin Rush.^' popular democracy but of the economic royalists. TT IS a truism that social action in America "If the American people had had respect •*- requires organization, and organization for all laws, good or bad, there would have costs money. Methodist Board of Temperance been no Boston Tea Party." Sympathy with ^Francis J. Tietsort (ed.). Temperance—or Prohi­ bition? (New York, 1929), ix, xviii. This move was "Warner, Prohibition, 172, 221, 25, 147. something of a defection on the part of Hearst, who ™ Deets Pickett, Temperance and the Changing at one stage had been "at least mildly sympathetic Liquor Situation (New York, 1934), 18. Compare to prohibition," albeit with a pragmatic hedge on ibid., 61: "There is no doubt that the majority of behalf of the California wine industry. Gilman those willing to express themselves at all were, in Ostrander, The Prohibition Movement in California, 1933, in favor of the replacement of Prohibition by 1848-1933 (University of California Publications in some other way of dealing with the liquor traffic." History, Berkeley and Los Angeles, 1957), LV1I:191.

193 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973 spokesman Deets Pickett estimated afterward Dobyns also neatly reversed the "wets'" that of the total contributions received in 1929 old argument that Prohibition had been foist­ by the Association Against the Prohibition ed upon the masses by minority pressures dur­ Amendment, 75 per cent was given by only ing an abnormal wartime situation. It was fifty-two men.^^ Fletcher Dobyns in a book rather the "wets," he contended, who had entitled The Amazing Story of Repeal, pub­ pushed Repeal through to ratification in 1933 lished in 1940, dug a little farther into the while the Depression was still at its peak and historic antecedents of the AAPA. The Asso­ the people desperate, ready to listen to any ciation's first president, William H. Stayton, promise—before they had had a chance for had been executive secretary of the old Navy (so to speak) sober second thoughts. And they League, an industrial elite group whose do­ had been duped, Dobyns intimated, by the ings have been probed many times by progres­ men of the AAPA, for whom Repeal was not sive and Left historians. In 1926, according a struggle for popular liberty but rather a to Dobyns, a new group took over the leader­ "struggle to save themselves hundreds of mil­ ship of the Association Against the Prohibi­ lions of dollars by substituting for the income tion Amendment, while retaining Stayton as tax a liquor tax to be paid by the masses."^^ president. Prominent in this group were Battling in 1930 against the rising tide of Pierre, Irenee, and Lammot DuPont; John Repeal, the assistant pastor of one busy urban J. Raskob, of General Motors (in dissent, as parish emphatically concurred: "The power usual, from Ford) ; and Charles H. Sabin, of the church really unleashed can overcome director of sixteen large corporations and any 40 billion dollar clique of business men chairman of Guaranty Trust of New York, a who want to get revenue for the government Morgan bank. (Other, more obviously self- and dodge their corporation taxes." Conced­ interested contributors included Fred Pabst, ing that "good people who want prohibition the Schaefer Brewing Company, Colonel have been fooled into voting against their Jacob Ruppert, W. Fred Anheuser, and August own convictions," he argued that in the long A. Busch.)23 run the popular will would prevail, and that With telling effect, Dobyns quoted a letter that will, in spite of apparent evidence to the dated March 24, 1928, from Wilmington, contrary, was "dry."^^ Delaware, by Pierre DuPont, addressed to Politically liberal historians nurtured un­ William P. Smith, director of the AAPA: der the New Deal may have overlooked some artlessly Marxist implications in this type of Dear Bill: I shall be glad if you will make reasoning. They may have done so in part known to the officials of the Saturday Eve­ ning Post my personal interest in the affairs because crusading radical bitterness against of the Association Against the Prohibition Amendment, also the interest of my brothers Irenee and Lammot. I feel that the Saturday '* Dobyns, Amazing Story of Repeal, citing Lobby Investigations: Hearings Before a Subcommittee of Evening Post is intimately related to both the Judiciary, United States Senate, 71st Congress, the General Motors Corporation and the 2nd Session, Pursuant to Senate Resolution 20 DuPont Company and that the aim of this (Washington, 1929), IV: 4236. However, further questioning by the investigators indicated that in paper is to promote the welfare of the people this instance the Association had failed of its ob­ of the United States. As I feel that the jective: "Senator WALSH of Montana. Do you know prohibition movement has failed in its origi­ what the present atttude of the Saturday Evening nal aim and has become both a nuisance Post is on the subject? and a menace, I hope that the officials of "Mr. STAYTON. No. I assume, Sir, it is dry. It has generally been, and I know of no change in it." the Saturday Evening Post will join in a '^"Dobyns, Amazing Story of Repeal, 26; on the move toward better things. . . .^* same point see Pickett, Temperance, 16. *" Manfred A. Carter, "The Tide of Prohibition," unpublished sermon manuscript in the possession of the writer (duplicate of copy in the Manfred A. ^ Pickett, Temperance, 15. Carter Collection, The George Arents Research Li­ ^ Fletcher Dobyns, The Amazing Story of Repeal: brary, Syracuse University), 4. Marginal notation An Expose of the Power of Propaganda (Chicago, by the author states that this sermon was written in 1940), 8. Regionally the AAPA enlisted other mil­ 1930, and internal evidence indicates it was preached lionaires; in the state of Washington William E. shortly before the Congressional elections and state Boeing, for example. Clark, The Dry Years, 221. liquor referenda of that year.

194 CARTER: PROHIBITION AND DEMOCRACY

those "vested interests" which supported Re­ peal merged unexpectedly into Old Guard Re­ publican bitterness against the Roosevelt Ad­ ministration which actually accomplished Re­ peal. Fletcher Dobyns's case was argued with restraint and backed by substantial documen­ tation, but for perspective it must be set along­ side a similar book by Ernest Gordon pub­ lished in 1943, The Wrecking of the Eigh­ teenth Amendment, the tone of which was al­ most hysterically anti-FDR. Yet even that less savory tract for the times contained a lengthy chapter on "Wall Street and Repeal," followed by a chapter on "The Press and Prohibition"; the latter takes on added sig­ nificance in more recent years, marked as they have been by even greater exposure to mass- media manipulation.^'^ A cartoon by a liberal Methodist minister of the pre-Repeal period vividly captured that aspect of the contro­ versy: it depicted a roly-poly figure labeled "the real repealer" hiding behind a cadaver­ ous dummy attired in "Puritan" costume com­ plete with high-crowned hat and buckled shoes. This scarecrow was labeled "Caricature of the Dry Cause." Cartoon published in Church News, parish bulletin In short, the victory for personal liberty of the Washington Park Methodist Episcopal Church, Providence, Rhode Island, ca. l932. contained in the Twenty-First Amendment was more ambiguous than it seemed; not all In addition to the Association Against the the right-wing elitism was on one side, nor Prohibition Amendment, its organizational was all the left-wing democratic liberalism heir the American Liberty League, founded in on the other. In other words, the fight over August of 1934, must share in this historical Repeal was a more normal kind of American ambiguity.^* The name "Liberty League" political controversy than historians have might have had a "liberal" connotation when usually assumed. these tycoons' energies were being directed toward the overthrow of Prohibition; but ^ Ernest Gordon, The Wrecking of the Eighteenth scant months later it carried quite another, as Amendment (Francestown, New Hampshire, 1943), they were directed into a last-ditch defense of chaps. IV, V. Gordon thought the anticlerical image of the ministry that one finds so strikingly in the unhampered private enterprise against the as­ media of the twenties, e.g., the best-selling Elmer saults of the New Deal. In particular we Gantry, was specifically and consciously the work should remember that Al Smith, so symbolical- of "wet" interests: "The Protestant ministers have for years been the ones to clean up after the distillers and brewers. They have helped the alcohol-sick at "' On the continuity of organization and personnel their own doors and in little missions," and for this between the Association Against the Prohibition they have suffered "an attack . . . unparalleled in Amendment and the American Liberty League, see American history, in movie and theatres, in novel and George Wolfskill, The Revolt of the Conservatives: magazine and newspaper" (p. 137). This charge A History of the American Liberty League, 1934- strikingly resembles the "conspiracy" thesis that had 1940 (Boston, 1962), chap. II: "The Constitution in been so dear to the hearts of the Populists, and it a Bottle." Note, however, Wolfskill's cautionary ob­ is subject to the same historical criticisms that have servations, on page 254: "What the Liberty Leaguers been made of that thesis. (On the other hand, it did not understand was that in the fight over liquor should not therefore be assumed without further they were not leading the parade, they were running examination that the charge is entirely unfounded.) along in front. The steelworker in Pittsburgh who For the political consequences to which this kind of wanted a cold mug of fermented grass seeds was defensiveness on behalf of temperance could lead, for them in that fight, not because of who they see Gusfield, Symbolic Crusade, 149-160. were but because of what they advocated."

195 WISCONSIN M.4GAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973 ly important a political figure in the America To "dry" apologist Fletcher Dobyns, it was of the twenties, was active both in the AAPA inconceivable "that the women of America had and in the Liberty League. Sometimes his transferred their intellectual and spiritual al­ activity in the latter has been charged off to legiance from women like Frances E. Willard, personal pique at Roosevelt over the outcome Jane Addams, Evangeline Booth, Carrie Chap­ of the 1932 convention, and in any case his­ man Catt and Ella Boole"—"dry" champions torians like David Burner have sharply ques­ all—"to such women as Mrs. Sabin, Mrs. tioned whether the traditional clear-cut "lib­ DuPont, Mrs. Belmont and Mrs. Harriman." eral" image of the pre-1932 Al Smith can It was, rather, a public relations triumph en­ hold.^^ But there is a chicken-and-egg problem gineered by fashionable society. "If . . . the here. Was Smith's activity in the American members of this set have something they Liberty League merely a sign that his latent want to put over, they have only to issue in­ conservatism—sensed by Walter Lippmann as vitations to teas and meetings at their houses, early as 1925—had at last come to the fore? or request people to serve on committees with Or did it show, rather, an urban liberal's them, and the social climbers will fall all over intuitive concern that illiberalism might lurk themselves in the enthusiasm of their re­ behind the New Deal's liberal facade? sponse."^' Once more the struggle of "wets" and "drys" was seen as a struggle of the ONE OF THESE ambiguities are resolved classes and the masses, at least from the N by the fact that the "wets," like the standpoint of the "drys." "drys," contrived to make their case sound In fact, one of the most effective weapons "underdog." "We are working against a high­ a WONPR spokeswoman could use was an ly-organized, well-financed body of Drys," elitist put-down of her opponents. "If the declared Mrs. John B. Casserly on April 14, WCTU and the Anti-Saloon League had ever 1931, "who have made it their business to ob­ had opportunity to observe the power of an tain control of the key positions in our whole intelligent woman of the world," wrote Grace system of government." But this is of course Root in 1934, ". . . they must . . . have seen a standard gambit of the "outs" against the the Repeal handwriting on the wall as soon "ins," of whatever stripe; Mrs. Casserly was as Mrs. Sabin took leadership in the field speaking before a highly organized, well- against them."^^ Driving the point home, Mrs. financed body of "wets," the Women's Or­ Root's book Women and Repeal contained a ganization for National Prohibition Reform. pair of photographs showing the presidents Its founder and president was Mrs. Charles of the rival women's organizations. Mrs. Sa­ H. Sabin, and her husband, as has been seen, bin of the Women's Organization for Na­ was a leading figure both in the equivalent tional Prohibition Reform, her well-groomed association for men and in the national busi­ socialite goods looks enhanced by the lighting ness establishment. Other founders of the and printing techniques used at that time also WONPR included Mrs. Pierre DuPont, Mrs. in portraits of motion-picture stars, contrasted August Belmont, Mrs. J. Roland Harrison, most cruelly with Mrs. Boole of the Woman's Mrs. Coffin Van Rensselaer, and Mrs. R. Christian Temperance Union, whose robust Stuyvesant Pierrepont^"—hardly the represen­ countenance, split by a wide and toothy grin. tatives an American democrat in the Jackson- Bryan tradition would have chosen to typify "the little people of the world." "^Ibid., 116. ^Root, Women and Repeal, 7. Norman O. Clark in his study of Prohibition in Washington conclud­ ed that the Repealers after 1929 did not engage in "any significant expression of class-consciousness or ^ David Burner, "The Brown Derby Campaign," in any of the subtle enticements toward class identifi­ New York History, XLVI:356-380 (October, 1965). cation that were so prominent in 1914." But Clark See also Jordan A. Schwarz, "Al Smith in the Thir­ also noted that "Mrs. Sabin's lieutenant in Washing­ ties," ibid., XLV:316-330 (October, 1964). ton State was Miss Agusta Ware Webb Trimble, re­ ^° Grace N. Root, Women and Repeal: The Story cently returned from London where, in a twenty of the Women's Organization for National Prohibi­ thousand dollar gown, she had met the Queen"—a tion Reform (New York, 1934), 47, 5, 9. Compare leader who surely appealed to some element of class Dobyns, Amazing Story of Repeal, 105. emulation! Clark, The Dry Years, 223, 222.

196 CARTER: PROHIBITION AND DEMOCRACY

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Root, Women and Repeal In this bit of public relations manipidation, the caviar elegance of Mrs. Charles H. Sabin, chairman of the Women's Organization for National Prohibition Re­ form, is made to contrast with the meat-and-potatoes simplicity of Mrs. Ella Boole, National President of the WCTU. branded her as the stereotype of the Eternal observers and historians of Prohibition have Frump.^^ considered it a bourgeois attempt to impose But had not the Woman's Christian Tem­ WASP values upon the recalcitrant American perance Union drawn from elite leadership masses. And yet, on the list of state officers also, though perhaps from a less glamorous and committees of the Women's Organization elite? Biographers of Frances Willard, for for National Prohibition Reform, the names example, who headed the WCTU from 1879 were also overwhelmingly Old American. until her death in 1898, have made much of Meanwhile, the WCTU was losing some of its her New England Puritan lineage,^'' and many former elite status. In the state of Washing­ ton in 1910, writes Norman H. Clark, it "had '^ For recent comment on the psychological prin­ attracted the wives of prominent physicians, ciple involved in such juxtaposition, see Ellen Ber- scheid and Elaine Walster, "Beauty and the Best," lawyers, and men of commerce. In 1930, it in Psychology Today, V: 42-46, 74 (March, 1972). could list only the wives of morticians, chiro­ ^ See for example Mary Earhart, Frances Willard: practors, tradesmen, and ministers of minor From Prayers to Politics (Chicago, 1944). A recent study of the WCTU in Rockford, Illinois, the second- distinction."^^ largest city in that state, collated the organization's But the rivalry between the two women's early membership lists with the occupations of the ladies' husbands. A striking correlation with the organizations also went down to the grass city's local power structure—banking, manufactur­ roots. By 1930 the WONPR was able to chal­ ing, newspaper publishing, hotel-keeping—was ap­ lenge the WCTU for the allegiance of the parent. However, there was also a striking occupa­ tional spread; the list included a fair sprinkling of same constituencies, and was placing booths lower white-collar and even working-class involve­ ment. The sociology of the pre-1920 temperance movement evidently still needs to be worked on. ^Root, Women and Repeal, 182-211; Clark, The Dona J. Helmer, "The Rockford Central WCTU," Dry Years, 223. On this thesis of the decline of the unpublished seminar paper. Northern Illinois Uni­ WCTU as an elite, see also Gusfield, Symbolic Cru­ versity, 1972. sade, 129-131, especially Table IV, p. 130.

197 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973 opposite the time-sanctioned WCTU booths Mrs. Root, who was official historian for at state and county fairs. One industrious the Women's Organization for National Pro­ member of the WONPR's Kentucky branch hibition Reform, noted that when the Nine­ scored a breakthrough in the "dry" South by teenth Amendment, giving women the right discovering in a second-hand store a scrap- to vote, passed Congress in 1919 "not a wom­ book of newspaper clippings dating from 1887 an's voice had ever been raised against Pro­ that disclosed the antiprohibitionist views of hibition," whereas the WCTU at that time the sainted Jefferson Davis. After verifying had been in business for fifty years. The the sources, the Louisville Courier-Journal Anti-Saloon League—run, of course, by ran the story on page one, and the action men—generally supported woman suffrage in seems to have been helpful to the "wet" the pre-prohibition years, on the assumption cause throughout the domain of the Old that women would overwhelmingly vote dry.^* Confederacy. Mrs. Root suggested that her As the news of Mrs. Sabin's defection be­ organization won support away from the came known, one can imagine political pro­ WCTU in part because it presented a more fessionals all across the land heaving a col­ attractive lifestyle: "Our women were more lective sigh of relief. In the words of Paul amiable and laughed with the crowd instead Conley and Andrew Sorensen, "as long as of preaching to them," though a cynic might women kept a united voice in favor of Pro­ have concluded that the power elite had mere­ hibition, no politician would dare cast a vote ly learned a softer sell.^^ which would offend at least half his electorate. In any event, despite the snipings of "dry" Now that most formidable united front had defenders like Gordon and Dobyns—who, in been broken."^^ effect, dismissed the women opponents of Pro­ The impact of the WONPR could be attri­ hibition as barflies!—the activity of the buted, of course, not only to its leaders' mar­ WONPR clearly had destroyed a major com­ ital ties to the power elite but also to the ponent of the entire "dry" mystique: the no­ "emancipation" of women during the twen­ tion that the women of America constituted ties. Part of the disrepute in which the old- a massive and undivided opposition to bever­ time saloon had been held, wrote Herbert age alcohol. When Mrs. Sabin spoke on April Agar in the English Review for May, 1931, 3, 1929, at a lunch given in her honor by "came from the fact that the saloon was a the Women's National Republican Club and man's world, from which women were ex­ announced she had resigned as Republican na­ cluded, and which they therefore distrusted. tional committeewoman because she wanted In the speak-easy women are admitted on an to work for a change in the prohibition law, equality with men."*" But from the stand­ she took note of that mystique: "It has been point of women's liberation it could be argued repeatedly said that the women of the coun­ that the political price women had had to pay try favored the prohibition law. I believe for this act of personal liberty was disastrous­ there are thousands who feel as I do." The ly high: the loss of any fear by politicians president of the men's group, the Association that their united support of Prohibition might Against the Prohibition Amendment, was be symptomatic of their potential as a bloc quick to agree: "The women of America do not believe in prohibition," Henry H. Curran declared that same day. "They need only to ^ Mrs. Sabin's statement was published in the New York Times, April 4, 1929, pp. 1, 12; Mr. Cur- be organized to make this perfectly clear." ran's, in ibid., 12. With the exasperating unconscious condescen­ ^ Root, Women and Repeal, 1. The idea that men sion so usual in the male, Curran conceded (including drinking men!) ought to support woman suffrage because "when the women get the ballot, that the ladies could even be permitted to do they will vote for prohibition" was picturesquely the organizing for themselves: "I understand expressed by Jack London in his semi-autobiographi­ cal, semi-fictional, somewhat Mailerish musings titled that Mrs. Sabin's organization is to be inde­ John Barleycorn (New York, 1913), 3, 4, 335-336: pendent, and that is right. Our association "It is the wives, and sisters, and mothers, and they will help in every way possible.^'' only, who will drive the nails into the coffin of John Barleycorn." ^ Conley and Sorensen, Staggering Steeple, 75. ^ Root, Women and Repeal, 26, 33-34. "Agar, "Prohibition and Democracy," 561.

198 CARTER: PROHIBITION AND DEMOCRACY

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199 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973 vote on all issues. Rightly or wrongly it has ply lost in the shuffle. "Once Prohibition was been said that the women (in those states enacted," as Conley and Sorensen have put which had already given them the vote prior it, "the drys saw the alcoholic only as a re­ to the Nineteenth Amendment) re-elected minder of a bad dream that would soon dis­ Woodrow Wilson in 1916. Can they be plaus­ appear; to the wets, the alcoholic was an em­ ibly said to have done the same for any of barrassing source of dry propaganda." Nor his successors? did matters significantly improve after Re­ Perhaps Ella Boole sensed that more was at peal. Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in stake than persuading American hostesses to 1935, and enjoyed some spectacular successes serve unspiked fruit punch, although she en­ with individuals who could be persuaded to gaged in that sort of activity also. But go that route, but the appeal of that quasi- throughout her book, Give Prohibition Its religious organization had some obvious built- Chance, published in 1929, readers were force­ in limitations. Otherwise, these authors con­ fully reminded that the author spoke for a cluded, "even today, the care of the homeless Woman's Christian Temperance Union, which alcoholic is still viewed in most cities as the had engaged for many years in activities— exclusive province of the churches and mis­ caucusing, lobbying, electioneering, direct sions." In other words, the care of these un­ action—for which American men had tradi­ fortunates has been relegated back to where tionally deemed women temperamentally un­ it was prior to the Volstead Act, and for cen­ suited, perhaps even biologically unfit. Mid­ turies before that—to "the church and the way through the book Mrs. Boole played her jail." trump card: Meanwhile, modern clinical psychology had begun to recognize that alcoholism was a pub­ A little girl ... on returning from school lic health problem, since individual therapy one day said, "I don't like history." "Why?" asked the mother. The child an­ had been so staggeringly inadequate to the swered, "It is all about men. There is need; Conley and Sorensen cited one recent nothing in it about women." It is a fact estimate that "if every psychiatrist and every that until women organized in societies of social worker in the United States were to their own, there was little to record of wo­ work in alcoholism there would not be enough man's work except where women ruled their to treat the alcoholics in the state of Califor­ countries as queens.*^ nia."*^ But Prohibition—for all its neglect So far as direct political rule was concerned, of the individual alcoholic—paradoxically two women were elected governors in the was an attempt to treat alcoholism as a public decade of the twenties, both "drys." Is it en­ health problem, replacing individual treatment tirely an accident that since that dry spell was (for example, persuading people to "take the broken, no woman (with the debatable ex­ pledge") with a crude kind of preventive ception of Lurleen Wallace) has ever again action. served in her own right as governor of an Without forgiving or denying the mean- American state? spiritedness, hypocrisy, legal repressiveness, and hysterical propaganda that so often TF "WOMAN POWER" perhaps suffered a marked the "drys' " cause, perhaps today we -*- setback in the struggles of the Dry Decade, can concede their point that Repeal overthrew the same may be said, even more tragically, this effort at prevention without putting any­ of the alcoholic, who in this debate was sim- thing in its place. In 1934, the year after the Noble Experiment ended, Deets Pickett wrote: "We come now face to face with the original problem, which is not Prohibition, but al- cohol."« Although the WASP churches had " Ella A. Boole, Give Prohibition Its Chance (Evanston, Illinois, Icopyright by Fleming H. Re­ vell, 1929]), 142. Those fruit-juice recipes, which do indeed appear in the book's Appendix, might easily divert a present-day reader from the shrewd *" Conley and Sorensen, Staggering Steeple, 107, feel for partisan organization that underlies Mrs. 5, 116, 17. Boole's bland "churchy" language. " Pickett, Temperance, 21.

200 CARTER: PROHIBITION AND DEMOCRACY worked long and hard for Prohibition, and although the Anti-Saloon League had called itself "the Church in action against the sa­ loon," in another sense the Eighteenth Amend­ ment was an attempt to secularize a kind of social concern that had hitherto been left in private and religious hands, and to make it the responsibility of the state—a process which had long since taken place in educa­ tion and would soon, during the 1930's, take place in public welfare. As early as 1884 Archbishop John Ireland, one of the rare Roman Catholic advocates of Prohibition, told the Citizens' Reform Asso­ ciation of Buffalo that "the state only can save us," because it alone was competent to control the sale of liquor, as distinguished from its consumption.*'' In 1926 the Methodist Christian Advocate, militantly "dry," rea­ soned that the political logic of such a position led from local option to national control, using arguments not unlike those that "wet" politi­ cal liberals would employ a decade later in dealing with other issues: "If New York may legally define intoxicants so as to break The Cleveland Press through the Amendment which prohibits the Congressional hypocrisy was a favorite target for liquor traffic, why might not South Carolina cartoonists in the 1930's. —should she so desire, as most assuredly she does not—define 'involuntary servitude' in rights claims during the thirties and forties such terms as would nullify that other Pro­ by ardent New Deal advocates, and it reminds hibition Amendment which outlawed slav­ us that the Noble Experiment was among ery ?"« other things an enormous augmentation of the power of the federal government. From a Although perhaps overly generous to the perspective on that experiment which incor­ motives of some South Carolinians, this judg­ porates the decades since the twenties, post- ment does contain echoes of the quick dis­ Repeal and also post-New Deal, it may have missal of Southern and Republican states'- been perfectly natural that Liberty Leagues would form, work vigorously to secure one form of personal liberty, and then savagely oppose the national government in defense of •" Quoted in Conley and Sorensen, another. "Freedom" is a horse that everybody Steeple, 55. It is beyond the scope of this paper, wants to ride, whatever his other ideological but one might inquire whether Ireland's dictum that "the state only can save us" was in essence con­ commitments. So in more recent years we trary to the doctrines of his own church: it does have seen a Barry Goldwater speechwriter of not easily square with Rerum Novarum, for example. Perhaps the theological "Americanism" so abhorred 1964 afterward turn New Leftist, and the in conservative European Catholic circles at the end rightist slogan about "extremism in the de­ of the nineteenth century was not a "phantom heresy" fense of liberty" transmute into a rallying cry ^'Christian Advocate, CI:804 (July 1, 1926). for radical reform.

201 MY LONG AND SOMEWHAT EVENTFUL LIFE" FREDERICK G. HOLLMAN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Edited by WILLIAM C. MARTEN

T^HE MIXTURE of the historical and the person. He was continually at the right place -*• personal in Frederick G. Hollman's rem­ at the right time when other men were launch­ iniscences combines well for a fascinating ac­ ing careers which led to political prominence, count of how one man's pursuit of the Ameri­ social standing, and wealth, but "Providence can Dream worked out. Sometime in 1870 interfered again" and again in Hollman's own Hollman, an eighty-year-old resident of Platte­ life. What he did record of his experiences ville, responded to questions asked him by was a painful task for Hollman because it the Society of the Old Settlers of Grant Coun­ brought to mind not only his successes but ty, Wisconsin. The result is a narrative which his misfortunes. The personal crises he de­ carries him from a relatively secure situation scribes seem overwhelming, and one marvels in Germany to Vandalia, the newly established at Hollman's perseverance. There were some capital of Illinois, in 1819, and then to the events, however, which even Hollman could frontier lead-mining region around Platteville not face again, and he concludes his original in 1827. Many of his friends from Vandalia manuscript with the lament that: "There oc­ came to Wisconsin, and Hollman relates in­ cured some unpleasant transactions and cidents which give insights into the character casuallity, which I will cover with a Vail." of two of the more famous: an 1828 brawl Twenty pages of the original manuscript, in which J. R. Vineyard's hot temper almost covering Hollman's life in Illinois, are now killed a man, and the generosity of territorial in the possession of the Vandalia Historical chief justice Charles Dunn when Hollman was Society; the remaining fifty pages of the orig­ at his nadir. Hollman also describes his day- inal and another, slightly different and incom­ to-day life in the two frontier communities; plete, version are part of the Archives-Manu­ observes the establishment of law and order, scripts Division of the State Historical Society justice, and government in Illinois and Wis­ of Wisconsin; and a third, again slightly dif­ consin; participates in encounters between In­ ferent, version of the autobiography was pub­ dians and whites; suffers through epidemics lished in the Grant County News and as a and pioneer medicine; and mines lead in book. Auto-biography of Frederick G. Holl­ Wisconsin and gold in California. In gen­ man, Settled in Platteville, Wisconsin in 1828 eral, his recollections prove to be remarkably (Platteville, 1922). The original manuscript, accurate; Joseph C. Burtschi, for many years apparently in Hollman's own handwriting, the leading historian of Vandalia, calls Holl­ was given to the Vandalia society and to the man's autobiography "the most trustworthy State Historical Society during the late 1950's personal chronicle of the early months of by Mrs. George Kindschi of Platteville, Holl­ Vandalia's infancy." man's great granddaughter. The second, pos­ Hollman's account rises above the usual sibly edited by Hollman's grandson Robert I. reminiscence because his personal difficulties Dugdale for his Platteville newspaper, was draw the reader into the story of a very human also given to the State Historical Society

202 MARTEN: HOLLMAN AUTOBIOGRAPHY by Mrs. Kindschi. The third, which is quite histories, contemporary newspapers, or state similar to the second but complete, has been and federal censuses. For those who are over­ used as the foundation for this article. The ly concerned with the purity of documentary three manuscripts have been collated, and reproduction, it may be recorded that Hollman words, phrases, and paragraphs deleted at one never fully mastered the English language and time or another have been reintroduced when that his original manuscript is burdensome they provide greater or more specific detail. reading; his grandson tidied up much of the Bracketed information has been added, some­ autobiography without great distortion or times based on an educated guess and some­ gloss, the current editor did minimal tamper­ times based on dovetailing facts from local ing.

A CCORDING to the Register of the Michael year and was then sent to the Domain of Can­ -^*- Church in the city of Brunswick, in the ton Mayer [Mayen?] for the period of three Dukedom of Brunswick, I was born on the years for practical instruction. Here I resided twenty-fourth day of December in the year of for three years with one Ferdinand Ernst and our Lord 1791. My father's name was George his amiable family. At the end of that time Frederick Hollman, and my mother's maiden my father sent me an offer of the superinten- name was Amalie Boeckel [Bocekel?]. My dency of the large domain at Gutenstadt parents were blessed with four children as [Giitersloh?], with a very liberal salary. Af­ follows: Carl Hollman, August, Julia Holl­ ter some delay I accepted the position and was man, and myself, Frederick Hollman, I being installed as superintendent. My situation was the youngest. My mother died when I was a remarkably pleasant one and the years rolled less than four years of age. pleasantly away until a circumstance occurred Neither my brothers nor my sisters and my­ which changed the current of my life. self were sent to any public school, but as our One day I rode to the city of Hildesheim to parents were able to employ private tutors sell a large quantity of grain. I there, by and as they were greatly interested in our chance, met my old and esteemed friend, proper education they employed teachers, and Ferdinand Ernst .... "My dear Fred," he we all received instruction at home in the vari­ said to me, "you are the very man I am in ous branches being necessary to a good edu­ search of. I have sold my possessions for cation at that time. My sister was under the forty-five thousand dollars and I am going to care of a governess, and she became a high­ America to found a colony, and I wish you ly educated, accomplished lady. She was mar­ to go with me. You shall have a good share ried to a merchant by the name of Henry in the enterprise. Make any sacrifice in or­ Beyer. der to be able to accompany me. My wife will My eldest brother, Carl, after completing be delighted if you will promise to be one of his education as far as general studies are our party. We must be ready to start in two concerned was sent to the agricultural college or three weeks." where he continued two years, after which he To make a long story short, I accepted emigrated to Courtland, Russia, where he re­ Ernst's proposition to emigrate to America. ceived an important appointment. I but lately I resigned my superintendency and, as many received the intelligence that he [is] dead. persons were eager to secure the place, my August, my second brother, was a merchant resignation was accepted and I was free to and died, unmarried, in the city of Brunswick. start upon my pilgrimage to the new world. And now in relation to myself, I had de­ Mr. Ernst wrote to me to meet him at Ham­ termined to become an agriculturalist like my burg on the first day of March A. D. 1819. brother, Carl, and consequently when I ar­ On that day we met there but found no ship rived at the age of sixteen I was sent to the ready to sail for America from that port, so agricultural college to study the theory for one we went next to Bremen. There we found two

203 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973 vessels: A brig to leave on the seventh of companions could not help me and had lo March and a ship with an American captain leave me; but two pedestrians, who had made to sail on the seventeenth. The consul advised the journey afoot from Baltimore in this man­ us to take the ship which was to sail on the ner, proved friends in need. They went back seventeenth. We concluded to do so and at three miles to get a tree trunk which we had the time designated we bid adieu to the old seen lying there by the road. With great diffi­ country and European civilization. We had a culty we then took the wagon to the next comparatively prosperous voyage and arrived house. These honest Americans repaid me at Baltimore on the fifteenth of June follow­ evil with good. They had been in our com­ ing. We left Baltimore for Illinois soon after­ pany for some time, and at the crossing of wards. the river I did not wish to permit them to take a place in my wagon. On the IIth cf July, (1819) I, in company When we arrived at the next tavern the re­ with ten travelers on horse, crossed the Wa­ maining traveling companions had already bash and entered the State of Illinois. If the sent for a wheelwright, and thus through the traveler from the coast of the Atlantic Ocean kind aid of my comrades it was possible for to this point has grown weary of the endless me to continue the journey with them on the journey in the forests, then he believes him­ next morning. Toward noon the heat became self transferred to another region of the world oppressive and the flies so intolerable that we as soon as he crosses the Wabash and beholds resolved to make a halt. Not until towards those great prairies alternating with little 6:00 o'clock did we continue our journey. wooded districts. Yet, this is one of the largest Traveling at night time in these prairies is prairies and, on account of the scarcity of very much to be preferred. One can, without wood, not very well adapted to cultivation. the aid of the moon, find the beautiful level After a journey of 22 miles through these road, and the horses are not tormented by prairies we reached the tavern; it was full of either heat or flies. travelers. Nevertheless each one was served The landlord at the next tavern received us well enough, the horses were well cared for, with the remark that tavern keeping was only and only with respect to the lodgings was the a secondary matter with him, and he requested comfort not great. Each one had to prepare of his guests that they accommodate them­ his own bed upon the floor as well as he could, selves to his wishes, and whoever would not and even here the American shows a peculiar consent to this might travel on. The company ease which is the result of his noble freedom. of travelers regarded the words of the land­ Everything is done without ado and without lord as very strange, but resolved to put up ceremony. This manner of living, which was here as the next tavern was quite a distance to me at first very strange and disagreeable, off, and men and horses were very tired. Af­ soon received my entire approval—little by ter supper the landlord with his family began little one feels himself free among free, hon­ to pray and sing so that the ears of us tired est people. The character of the Americans, travelers tingled. Many of the travelers would which at first was so little agreeable to me, is, have gladly requested them to desist from this nevertheless, on the whole, good. This opinion entertainment if the landlord had not taken may be due to the fact that my living with the above precautions upon our entrance. Af­ them has, little by little, changed my judg­ ter prayers the landlord related to me that ment, or that the people themselves here are he had often been disturbed in his religious better than in the eastern states. exercises, and even been shamefully ridiculed The road leads through prairies where one by travelers; he therefore had been obliged all day long sees no house, no, not even a to make that condition upon the reception of tree, so that protected from the burning heat guests. He was a Quaker. of the sun, one could rest in the shade. In On the 23 of July I entered Edwardsville. the middle of this prairie, 24 miles wide, an The most remarkable curiosity which met me axle of my wagon broke, whereby I got into here was the camp of the Kickapoo Indians no small difficulty. My mounted traveling who were now sojourning here in order to

204 MARTEN: HOLLMAN AUTOBIOGRAPHY conclude a treaty with the plenipotentiaries of severe weather would set in I contracted with the United States, whereby they renounced all an old squatter to build me a cabin, sixteen their rights and claims to the lands on the by fourteen feet in dimensions. This was the Sangamon, Onaquispasippi, and in the entire first dwelling house which was built in Van­ State of Illinois; ceding the same to Congress, dalia, the capital of Illinois. Previous to the and to immediately vacate the State of Illinois. building of this cabin Frantz and I were shel­ Their color is reddish-brown; their face ir­ tered by a habitation which consisted of a regular, often horribly colored with bright framework of poles covered with brush. red paint; their hair is cut to a tuft upon the About this time a number of squatters and crown of the head and painted various colors. their families arrived at Vandalia with the in­ Very few are clothed, in summer a woolen tention of taking up claims and improving the covering, in winter a buffalo skin, is their only same, and as the State House was to be built it covering. They seem to be very fond of was supposed that mechanics would flock to adornments, as of silver rings about the neck the new city. and arms. They likewise carry a shield be­ My first step was to engage good axmen to fore the breast.^ fell timber, first for log houses and second for two or three frame houses. I had no dif­ TN DUE TIME I arrived at the spot where ficulty in finding men who desired employ­ -•- the capital of the state of Illinois, the city ment, and there was an abundance of the very of Vandalia, was located, but instead of find­ best of timber. However, as there were no ing a city we found an unbroken wilderness.^ pine trees in that vicinity, I, in company Soon after this Mr. Ernst left me to go back with an expert woodsman by the name of to Germany by way of New Orleans. When Ravis [Charles Reavis], went into the woods parting he said to me, "I feel assured that and selected the finest walnut trees from which you will do the best you can during my ab­ to saw boards. We selected about forty and sence. Within a year from this time I expect blazed them, which mark was sufficient to to be back with my family and colonists." secure them as my property until they were A young man by the name of Frantz had cut down. We also marked in the same man­ accompanied us from Germany in the capacity ner such other trees as I deemed necessary for of servant. He remained with me. My situa­ my future operations. At this time I found tion was not enviable. Here I was alone in that we should need a place wherein to store a country so thinly settled that it might with provisions for our subsistence, and I conclud­ propriety be called a wilderness, and unable ed to build an addition to my cabin to be to communicate with the few persons with used as a storehouse. This I did and then whom I came in contact on account of being went to St. Louis to lay in a supply of such unacquainted with the English language. My articles as were indispensible to our com­ young man Frantz acted as cook and made fort.^ My first stock of goods consisted of one himself handy and indispensible in a thousand hundred pounds of tobacco, fifty pounds of different ways. coffee, fifty pounds of sugar, ten pounds of As it would be three or four months before tea, one bolt brown sheeting, one bolt bleached, two bolts of shirting, one bolt drill­ ing, one bolt flannel, one bolt sattinet, a small stock of books and shoes and some tin­ ^ The paragraphs set off above are from Hollman's diary and were originally published in Ferdinand ware and also crockery for my house keepings. Ernst, Observations Made upon a Journey Through At the same time I purchased the necessary the Interior of the United States of North America utensils for use in my own house. I also pur­ in the Year 1819 (Hildesheim, Hanover, 1823). They were translated by E. P. Baker in 1903 and printed chased one pine table, six chairs and one small in Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society looking glass. On my return home from St. for the Year 1903 (Springfield, 1904), 156-157. The Louis, I stopped at a sawmill and purchased treaty with the Kickapoo was signed on July 30, I8I9. Charles J. Kappler (comp.), Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties (Washington, 1904), II: 182-183. ^ Vandalia, about midway between Terre Haute, Indiana, and St. Louis, was the capital of Illinois ^ St. Louis is about seventy miles southwest of from 1820 to 1839. Vandalia.

205 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973 lumber for flooring in my cabin and store­ kinds of work and soon the young men were room. On the fourteenth of October my cabin busy sawing up the splendid trees which my was completed—a miserable construction of axemen had felled. Thus the work for the win­ splitted logs—and in two weeks more the ad­ ter was in full blast. The limbs and tops of dition was made. When all was finished I the trees were cut up into fire wood and cord­ moved my furniture into the dwelling depart­ ed up. Providence favored us with fine weath­ ment and the goods into the storeroom. Frantz er for seven months and at the end of that was as busy as a bee and soon had everything time I found that we had completed much in nice order. Thus commenced our life of more work than I could have possibly expect­ civilization. Emigrants were arriving daily ed. and building themselves primitive habitations. The store which I had opened for the ac­ About this time Esquire [John] Baugh and commodation of the workmen soon proved to family arrived and soon thereafter opened a be too small. I was forced to replenish quite boarding house in a double cabin. Mr. often, and also to increase the quantities of Baugh's family consisted of himself, his wife my purchases. I, however, limited my pur­ and three daughters, fine looking young ladies. chases to such articles as were strictly neces­ About this time two young Englishmen sary. A flouring mill was operating in the named Seemore came to me and desired to vicinity which afforded a supply of bread- be employed during the winter in sawing lum­ stuffs; game of all kinds consisting of bear, ber for building purposes with whipsaws. elk, deer, wild turkeys, wild geese, wild ducks, They represented that they could saw scant­ and fish were to be fond in astonishing quanti­ ling, sheeting, flooring, and siding. We soon ties. Beef, pork, and flour were quite cheap, agreed in regard to the prices for the various all things considered.

Burtschi, Documentary History of Vandalia The first building in Vandalia, Illinois, built by Frederick Hollman.

206 MARTEN: HOLLMAN AUTOBIOGRAPHY

TN THE SPRING of 1820 the gentleman mind was often troubled at the thoughts of the -*- who had the contract for the erection of experience which awaited the colonists who the State House arrived at Vandalia. He was were soon to arrive in this out of the way part accompanied by a dozen or more mechanics. of the world, as I did not yet know whether Several state officers came also for the pur­ they were farmers, mechanics, or laborers who pose of making the necessary arrangements. could maintain themselves or not. A Mr. McCollum [John F. McCullom] Summer had now arrived, however, and I commenced to build a hotel and business was was happy, cheerful, and hopeful of the future. brisk in all departments. As I needed brick In the admonitions and advice which I re­ for about a dozen chimneys and for a cellar ceived from my dear father, great stress was wall I concluded to burn a small kiln. I en­ laid upon honesty, integrity and the principle gaged the services of a man who understood of the strictest honor. Here in the wilderness the business of brickmaking and as wood was of Illinois, surrounded as I was by strangers abundant the business was soon commenced. and uncultivated backwoodsmen, I found that Ground was broken on the fifth day of May. the teachings of my reverenced father were as About this time contracts were let for the beneficial as they could have been in the busy building of three log houses, sixteen by haunts of cultivated men. My evenings dur­ eighteen feet each, a small frame house near ing the past winter and spring I had passed the store, and a frame house for Mr. Ernst's in the study of the English language. I pro­ family, eighteen by twenty-four feet square cured a supply of French and English books and one story and a half high. To this was to when in St. Louis. I was a good French be added a shed, twelve by twenty-four feet scholar and read that language for pastime square, to serve as a kitchen. With these im­ and amusement and studied the English lan­ provements I stopped until I should receive guage for profit and instruction. Without any further instructions. assistance I found the acquirement of the lan­ guage a difficult matter, but by the end of On the fifteenth of June I received a letter spring I had mastered it sufficiently to read from Mr. Ernst, dated February 14, 1820, in it but not to pronounce it. In doing my busi­ which he directed me to build as many houses ness in St. Louis I used the French language, as possible as he had engaged about one which was spoken by most of the inhabitants. hundred colonists and would charter a vessel to bring them to America. He also authorized In July my brick kiln was burnt and proved me to draw upon him for such money as I a success. When it was opened I found that needed. After the receipt of this letter I con­ I had fifty thousand splendid cherry-colored cluded that I would build a large frame build­ bricks. ing before the legislature convened. Three of the log houses and the small frame I consulted with a Mr. Woods, a master were now finished and the chimneys were built mechanic, in regard to the undertaking. He also. The frame of the larger frame house for agreed for a specified price to put up a build­ Mr. Ernst's family was raised, but it de­ ing which was to be thirty-six feet long and manded a great deal of energy and industry twenty-four feet wide, two stories high. The to secure its completion in time for the ex­ price did not suit me, but I felt convinced that pected arrival. It will be seen from what I if accommodations of some sort were not pro­ have here set forth that the young dutchman vided for the members of the legislature it in the wilds of Illinois had enough on his would be a death blow to Vandalia. Events shoulders to crush him. But that I bore the which transpired in a short time proved that load and came out of the ordeal triumphantly I was right. I finally concluded that the house my old fellow citizens, Frank Kilpatrick, F. must be built and so went to work in earnest. Kirkpatrick, and James Durley, still living The timber which I had was all green and can bear witness. that intended for frame, etc., had to be kiln The frame of the State House and the dried. At a saw mill some twenty miles away, frames of several other houses having been I purchased fifteen hundred feet of dry wal­ raised the place began to assume the appear­ nut planks. This served a good purpose. My ance of a veritable village. Blacksmiths, shoe-

207 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973 makers, tailors, and other mechanics were as what had been done in anticipation of their busy as bees. There was a young Irishman arrival they had no excuse for doing as they by the name of John Folley* who was a tailor. had intended. I took twelve members of the I mention his name especially from the fact legislature as steady boarders and four clerks that he afterwards came to the territory of who slept in the State House. The session Wisconsin and was a member of the legisla­ of the legislature opened and progressed ture which met at Belmont several years af­ quietly, there being no complaining from any terwards. He married the second daughter of quarter so far as I could hear. Esquire Baugh whom I mentioned as having settled in Vandalia. Folley has been dead for T^HE LEGISLATURE had been in session many years. •*- for about four weeks. The members had I had still six months before me before the adjourned for dinner. At this moment the legislature would convene. I had not received sound of music was heard. Everybody was any additional intelligence from Mr. Ernst. on the watch in an instant to ascertain what Furniture and household goods had to be pre­ it could mean. The mystery was soon ex­ pared for the houses which were being built. plained, for a moment afterwards a wagon I had the necessary material for bed quilts, containing a band performing "Hail Colum­ sheets, etc., but they had to be made up and bia" was driven into the village followed by consequently I had to procure the services of Mr. Ernst and his family in a carriage. Im­ sewing women. A certain widow [Elizabeth mediately after them came three wagons full Brown] Thompson, with her sons and three of women and children and sixty or seventy grown daughters, had settled upon a farm emigrant men on foot. I directed them to about a mile from Vandalia. I arranged with drive up to the State House and give three her to do the necessary sewing. She also un­ rousing cheers for the legislators and three for dertook to arrange things in the large house the State of Illinois. The scene was affecting which I had built for the accommodation of and as the band played "Yankee Doodle" I the legislators and state officers and also openly shed tears of thankfulness and joy af­ agreed to act as landlady during the session. ter the long months of hardship and anxiety. I considered myself very fortunate in secur­ Mr. Ernst, his family, Mr. Smith, a Luther­ ing the services of so competent a person for an preacher, and some of the women who were the station. Mrs. Thompson had immigrated to act as domestics were soon domiciled in with her husband [Abram], who died at the house prepared for them. The remainder Carlisle, Illinois, and family from Kentucky of the party were made as comfortable as pos­ and was quite an intelligent lady. sible in the three log houses. After the long About the time that winter set in the state sea voyage and fourteen hundred miles travel officers and their families arrived in Vandalia. across the country they had reached their The state officers consisted of the auditor, destination at last. To most of them it seemed the treasurer, the registrar and receiver of the a paradise indeed. Mrs. Ernst, as well as the land office, and clerks of the supreme and three children, were delighted, and they, as circuit courts. The members of the legislature well as Mr. Smith, were full of hope in the arrived from day to day and to their surprise future of the colony which commenced its found good and ample accommodations. There career under such pleasing auspices. But all had been a general understanding among them their bright hopes, as the future shows, were that they would meet at Vandalia and then naught but a sad delusion. adjourn to Edwardsville on account of a want of suitable accommodations. After finding Two weeks had now passed since the great accession to our population. The legislators passed the bank bill (a swindle) and consti­ tuted Mr. Ernst one of the directors and as he * Foley moved to the Galena area in 1825 and in 1836 served as one of the Iowa County, Wisconsin, was thereby entitled to a loan of ten thousand representatives in the territorial legislative assembly. dollars the action of the legislature was con­ History of Grant County (Chicago, 1881), 405; Jour­ sidered as quite complimentary to our citizen, nal of the Council of the First Legislative Assembly of Wisconsin (Belmont, 1836), 3. Mr. Ernst.

208 MARTEN: HOLLMAN AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Mrs. Thompson's oldest daughter had been married to Mr. John A. Wakefield,^ and her second daughter was to be married on the fifteenth to Mr. Starnes [Stearns?], a farmer. On account of these marriages Mrs. Thompson informed me that she would have to give up the superintendency of the boarding house. I spoke to Mrs. Ernst about the matter. Inas­ much as she had plenty of assistance at her command, and there were now only eight boarders I advised her to move into the large house herself and take charge of it, as she would then be brought in contact with edu­ cated and refined people and would therefore be able to pass her time more pleasantly than where she then resided. In addition to this she would be able to learn the English lan­ guage. She was a most elegant and refined lady and as she was very fond of society the suggestion met with her hearty and joyful ap­ proval. She sent two of her assistants to Mrs. Thompson for instruction in regard to Ameri­ can cookery and all progressed peacefully and pleasantly. My settlement with Mr. Ernst was made with mutual and entire satisfaction. He paid me in US Notes. After settling with Mr. Ernst Wakefield, Black Hawk War I told him that I needed rest, that I intended John A. Wakefield, Hollman's brother-in-law. to buy a farm of eighty acres with a cabin on it and ten acres of the land in a state of cul­ eigners. Anyone could understand by his tivation situated three miles from Vandalia. manner and style that he was an eloquent In conversation with Mr. Ernst I stated casual­ orator. ly that it was my intention to marry soon. And now a few words about the more hum­ When Mrs. Ernst was informed of this, she ble colonists. They comprised forty-five men, was delighted and insisted I should bring my thirty-five women, and about fifteen children. wife to live with her. This would have been Among the men were two carpenters, two a difficult feat at that time, as I had not yet blacksmiths, two butchers, and one baker. even proposed to anyone. These all went to work and did well during Mr. Smith held divine services in the State the continuance of the legislative session. The House on every Sabbath, and, although he glaziers, watchmakers, tinners, plasterers, and spoke in German and consequently could not brick masons were idle. So were most of the be understood by Americans, the house was females. About half a dozen young girls who always well filled by natives as well as for- were both pretty and neat got good situations and most, if not all of them, grew up to womanhood and were married to American ^ Wakefield was born in South Carolina in 1797, residents. moved to Illinois in 1808, and was admitted to the bar in Vandalia in 1818, the same year he married I was married on the thirty-first day of Eliza Thompson. His history of the Black Hawk War December, 1821, to Martha Thompson. I had was published by Calvin Goudy of Jacksonville, Illi­ nois, in 1834. Wakefield lived in Jo Daviess County, purchased the farm which I spoke of to Mr. Illinois, and in Iowa County, Wisconsin, at various Ernst, and there my young wife and myself times from 1828 to 1849. He died in Kansas in 1873. Frank Everett Stevens (ed.), Wakefield's History of lived peacefully and happily for the next three the Black Hawk War (Chicago, 1908), 9, 11. years.

209 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973

I had long known that a want existed in army) presided. It was here that I first de­ Vandalia for a good hotel, and I was often clared my intentions to become a citizen of importuned by my friends to open one. Col. the United States. W. H. Brown was clerk [Thomas] Cox, registrar of the land office, and H. Corner, marshal at that time. I shall had built a large frame house, stables, etc. He have to refer to these personages again before offered to exchange this property for my farm. I close this sketch. The exchange was made and soon thereafter About this time a Masonic hall was built. I opened the Columbian Hotel. This hotel I was initiated and became a Master Mason. under my superintendence became well known About this time a tragedy occurred which over all of the settled portions of the state. should be spoken of as it transpired under my A fine brick bank building was put up by immediate observation. One night the bank the state, and as the bank had been in opera­ was robbed of seven thousand dollars in specie tion for some time money was abundant. in seven one-thousand-dollar boxes. The rob­ About this time Mr. Ernst commenced to build bers dropped one of the boxes in the outskirts a mill, but as he had not first made the of the town where it was found. James Kelley necessary arrangements he met with a thou­ [Kelly], a young and intelligent man, was sand unforeseen difficulties. cashier of the bank and the porter was a man The first United States Court met in Van­ by the name of W. Branch. The robbery was dalia in 1824. Judge [Nathaniel] Pope followed by the greatest excitement. A num­ (father of General John Pope of the federal ber of persons who were suspected were ar-

i^onoL^iaphic Collections Frederick G. and Martha Thompson Hollman, 1828, photocopy of an original wash drawing made by W. L. Knowles.

210 MARTEN: HOLLMAN AUTOBIOGRAPHY rested and roughly treated. A young lawyer dead in his bed. The doctors claimed that his by the name of John Botsford openly ex­ death was the result of a stroke of paralysis, pressed the belief that Kelley and Branch were but it is my opinion that his heart was brok­ concerned in the robbery. Kelley, the cashier, en through the misfortunes which he saw with a pistol in his left hand and a cowhide crowding upon the unfortunate colonists and in his right, went to the store where he was which it was not in his power to avert. He sure to find Botsford and attacked him with was greatly beloved by all his parishioners the cowhide. Botsford was prepared, however. and his death cast a gloom over the survivors He drew a knife and stabbed Kelley in the which time alone could dispel. back twice as he was retreating. The wound One after another of the most skillful of must have paralyzed Kelleys left arm for he the colonists sickened and died until there re­ never attempted to use the pistol. He retreated mained of all that once helpful and hopeful about fifty steps, dropped the pistol, and fell party but the blacksmith, the shoemaker, the dead.^ watchmaker, two gardeners and two field I picked up the pistol before anyone else hands, besides fifteen or twenty able-bodied had observed that he had dropped it. I kept young men. it safely in a drawer until the time of Bots- At this juncture Mr. Ernst was himself ford's trial when I produced it. Upon exam­ prostrated with the billions fever. He sent ination it was found to be heavily loaded. for Col. [Elijah C] Berry, W. H. Brown, his Botsford was acquitted. Kelley and Branch lawyer, and myself and appointed us his ad­ boarded with me at the time of the unhappy ministrators. In case his death occurred he occurrence. Kelley's corpse was brought to desired that Messrs. Berry and Brown should the house in the morning. In the afternoon settle up his estate and that I should protect the body of Branch, who had cut his own his dear wife and children and protect their throat on account of the suspicion which rest­ interests in the final settlement. ed upon him, was discovered. The mystery of He spoke so calmly and pleasantly that we the robbery was never fully explained nor the assured him that he would soon be in a guilt of any person fully established. condition to see to his own affairs in person. We assured him that in case his illness proved j^OR SOME TIME after the arrival of the fatal that we would carry out his desires ac­ -*• colonists they enjoyed average good cording to his directions. He died three days health and for several months but two deaths after he was taken sick. He became delirious occurred, both of the victims being women. and with the assistance of others I attended But the dark days of death, disease, and mis­ him until death ensued. fortunes were rapidly approaching. During The estate was finally settled up satisfac­ the years of 1824 and 1825 twenty deaths oc­ torily, not however without some considerable curred among the colonists and all was dismay trouble on account of [the] mill dam having and hopelessness. The kind and devout as well broken and swept the mill and mill property as learned Mr. Smith was found one morning away, destroying the whole. Thus, on account of the ravages of disease and other misfortunes which foresight could " According to another version of the incident, not avert, the German colony of Vandalia be­ $6,000 to 17,000 in specie was taken from the state came a disastrous failure. The result had bank in April, 1823. James Kelly suspected that Moss Botsford had had a part in the robbery and on July been for some time anticipated. The surviving 10 took him into the woods, tied him securely, and colonists scattered into the adjoining country tried, unsuccessfully, to whip a confession out of him. Botsford's brother, Russel, who threatened revenge, to seek livelihood for themselves. Their lead­ was attacked by Kelly on the streets of Vandalia. er and friend Mr. Ernst being dead and hav­ Kelly tried to whip him while holding a pistol in his ing no one but themselves to depend upon, other hand. Botsford drew a knife and stabbed Kelly to death. Gershom Flagg to Artemus Flagg, they went in different directions and the Van­ July 20, 1823, in Transactions of the Illinois State dalia German Colony was a thing of the past, Historical Society for the Year 1910 (Springfield, living only in history. To make matters worse 1912), 172-173. Hollman provides additional infor­ mation and speculation on the robbery on page 212. business was almost entirely prostrated. Dur-

211 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973 ing the sessions of the legislature which oc­ the whole of the property which was loaded curred but once in two years business was upon the teams was not worth as much as pretty good, but at all other times Vandalia was paid to the teamsters for hauling. And was a most dull and miserable village. Village yet this miserable lot of plunder was brought property became almost worthless. The bills across the ocean, then by land to Pittsburgh, of the state bank which when issued passed then by water and land to Shawneetown, but at their full face value fell to fifty cents on the the colonists cared but little for the expendi­ dollar and finally to thirty cents on the dollar. tures as the money did not come from their On account of the many disagreeable changes pockets. The robbers ransacked every chest that had taken place in Vandalia I resolved and parcel and when they discovered that they to leave it forever and seek a new field of had made such a desperate effort with such operation in the Galena lead mines which a miserably profitless result, in their anger were now looming into prominence. I came they scattered the contents of the chests in to this conclusion during the winter of 1826 every direction and fled to parts unknown. and 1827. During the session the legislature The teamsters gathered such portions of the passed a bill to organize the new county of property as they could find and came on to Jo Daviess. Gov. [Ninian] Edwards sent my Vandalia. There was considerable excitement name to the senate as Justice of the Peace for at the time of the outrage but it finally calmed the new county. I was confirmed. I was en­ down and the robbery was forgotten without trusted with the commissions of five other any arrests being made. Some parties in Mad­ persons who had been appointed and whom ison County were suspected of being con­ I was to swear into office. nected with the robbery, but there were not I left my wife, a young lady cousin of hers, sufficient proofs of their complicity to war­ and my two children with Mrs. Thompson and rant their prosecution for the offense. I have took my departure from Vandalia the capital mentioned this matter on account of the prob­ city of the state of Illinois and have never ability that the same parties who robbed the revisited it from that day until this, some forty- bank at Vandalia committed the robbery of three years. which I have just spoken. And now before I take leave finally of Illi­ I had my suspicions in regard to who com­ nois matters I will touch on a few more inci­ mitted the bank robbery and after events fast­ dents of interest. About the time of my arrival ened my former conclusions firmly in my at Vandalia in 1819 and for some years there­ mind. There was a certain oily, sneaking, after a gang of robbers, counterfeiters, horse rather ill-reputed man in the community who thieves, and land pirates operated between Vin­ kept a tavern. He was related to certain par­ cennes and the Mississippi River. Upon the ar­ ties who were strongly suspected of being rival of Mr. Ernst and his colonists we had to members of the gang of robbers of whom I send four or five ox teams to bring the colo­ have spoken. I strongly suspected this man nists' property from Shawneetown.'^ The teams of being concerned in the various robberies. were loaded with heavy, unwieldly German I inquired in confidence of my friend, W. H. emigrants' chests and they started on their re­ Brown, whether I had better make known my turn journey. About the Saline River the rob­ suspicions to the bank directors. As I had no bers attacked the teams and got possession of direct proof against the man, he advised me the chests, which were broken open and exam­ to let the matter drop. The day after the bank ined with the expectation that they contained was robbed this man went into the woods to treasure to a great amount. What must have get some building material. While there he been their chagrin and disappointment when was struck with paralysis, became helpless in they discovered nothing but iron pots, rusty all his limbs, [and] entirely speechless. He kettles, old axes, worthless chains, crockery was taken home where he received medical ware, bedding, wearing apparel, etc. Indeed aid, but he remained speechless until his death. He made efforts to speak as though to reveal something important to his wife, but ' Shawneetown, Illinois, is about 100 miles south­ east of Vandalia, on the Ohio River. of course was unable to do so. After his death

212 MARTEN: HOLLMAN AUTOBIOGRAPHY his wife continued to keep the same tavern. room he had a box containing one thousand About two years afterwards a mulatto boy dollars in specie. The river was very low and who was employed by her was about to build we sailed about four knots an hour. The a fire and went into the barn yard to get some captain endeavored to get over the rapids, kindling. Seeing what he supposed to be a but failed, and had to tie up on the west bank board sticking out of the ground he gave it a of the river. Here he unloaded half his freight, kick, when greatly to his surprise out flew but failed again. He now proposed that the the shining dollars. Upon examination two next day the passengers should all go ashore boxes of specie, each containing one thousand and should meet the boat again when he had dollars, with the mark which the officers of passed the "rapids," which would be three the bank had placed upon them, were dis­ miles above. This was agreed to, but at day­ covered there in the manure.* The supposi­ light the next morning the discovery was made tion is that one of the guilty parties had buried that Mr. Gratiot had been robbed of his box a portion of the funds without even informing of specie. Immediately upon the discovery his wife of the facts and that immediately af­ being made the captain set a guard so as to terwards he was stricken with death. Such prevent anyone leaving the boat. are the workings of Providence with Godless A committee consisting of two from among men. The remainder of the money secured the deck passengers and one from among the from the bank undoubtedly went to Madison cabin passengers was appointed to investigate County. the matter and search persons if found neces­ sary. Probably because I was known to be a N the twenty-seventh day of March, 1827, public officer, I was selected from those in the O I left Vandalia for St. Louis in company cabin. The committee went to work at once. with J. R. Vineyard, F. Reesman [Frederick We first had the names of all passengers called Reamer], George Rosemeyer, and others. I by the clerk from his list. All the cabin pas­ took passage on the steamboat Indiana.^ The sengers were found to be present, and but one steamer was heavily loaded with merchandise. of the deck passengers failed to respond when There were also twenty cabin and three hun­ his name was called. This was found to be a dred deck passengers aboard so it will be seen young man named Gordon [Gorden?]. The that the boat was greatly crowded. We left members of the committee next proceeded to St. Louis for the region of the lead mines four search the persons and baggage of all the days after our arrival there. passengers. This was, of course, cheerfully Among the cabin passengers was a Mr. submitted to, for every one was desirous to Byron Gratiot, an uncle to our esteemed fel­ have his innocence established. After three low citizen, Mr. [Henry] Gratiot. In his state hours of diligent search [ing] we failed to discover the lost money. The committee next proposed that the " It may have been as long as twelve years later search should be continued on shore. We saw that Jonathan Ward uncovered three boxes contain­ ing $3,000 in silver in John F. McCuUom's brick a keelboat lying about three hundred yards stable. McCullom died in 1823, the same year as below the steamboat, and some of the pas­ the bank robbery. Robert W. Ross, Historical Souve­ sengers went in that direction. One party dis­ nir of Vandalia, Illinois (Effingham, Illinois, 1904). ° The Indiana had been making trips up the Mis­ covered the treasure box, which was empty of sissippi River since 1824. Captain John Newman course, about two hundred yards below the of the Indiana was the first, on February 1, 1827, keelboat, among some driftwood where it had to advertise his schedule to the lead mines. There was a stampede of miners going north that year and no doubt been thrown by the thief after he the river was low. In June the Indiana's schedule had rifled it of its contents. called for departures from St. Louis every Sunday morning and promised there would be a sufficient We met the captain of the keelboat on shore number of keelboats to take passengers and cargo and told him of the robbery and of the neces­ from the Lower Rapids, at the mouth of the Des Moines River (Keokuk, Iowa), to the lead region. sity for searching his boat and men. "Gen­ The Lower Rapids are about 200 miles from St. Louis tlemen," said the captain, "you have my per­ and 225 miles from the lead mining region. William J. Peterson, Steamboating on Upper Mississippi mission to do so, but before you commence I (Iowa City, 1968), 147, 174, 215, 222-223, 335-336. can give you some information which per-

213 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973 haps will be of interest and benefit to you. it to his nose to detect the scent of the wal­ Last night a young man came from your boat nut box in which they had formerly been and said that as the steamer could not get over packed. This was a rather novel way in which the rapids he wished to take passage with me to detect and identify stolen coin. The mem­ on the keelboat. I told him that he could do bers of the committee were perfectly satisfied so, and he went off for his baggage. He soon that the money belonged to Mr. Gratiot. Ac­ after returned with his trunk and again went cordingly we took possession of it and de­ away. When he next returned he had a sack livered it to him, in spite of the ravings and which appeared to contain something heavy. threats of Gordon. He asked for a few nails and a hammer. Now, The captain of the steamboat now prepared gentlemen, let us go aboard my boat and make to make his third attempt to get above the a search without informing anyone aboard rapids. All hands went ashore, the attempt that I have given you any information in re­ was made, and a failure was again the result. gard to this young man's strange conduct." I now lost all hopes of the boat being able to The captain, as will be seen from the above pass the rapids, and in company with eleven proposition, was a clever fellow. When we other young men concluded to finish the went aboard the keelboat, we gravely inform­ journey on foot. We were accordingly carried ed the captain in the presence of his five men by the yawl to the Illinois shore. Each of us what had transpired and that a search of the carried a supply of coffee, sugar and other boat and all aboard would be necessary. "As provisions for a ten days march. We formed for my men," answered the captain, "I can ourselves into three messes, each mess hav­ boast for their entire innocence, and in order ing a coffee pot and four tin cups. that what I assert may be proven, we will We started up the river and stayed at the all deliver our keys to you, and you can first woodyard we came to for rest and sleep. examine our baggage in the most thorough The next day we had some very heavy and manner. But before you proceed further I trying traveling, but again managed to reach must inform you that I have a passenger a woodyard. So far we had a trail to follow, aboard. Mr. Gordon, come forward, and de­ but beyond this point we would find no house liver your keys to these gentlemen, in order or shelter until we should reach Plum River.'" that your baggage may also undergo a The man at the woodyard, a Kentuckian, was very kind. He gave us a great deal of infor­ search." At this Gordon, our missing passen­ mation in regard to our route which we re­ ger, crawled slowly and unwillingly out of his corded in duplicate so that if one copy was lost berth. I informed him of what had occurred, we should have the other. The man advised and why we were there. After having done so, up to keep within two miles of the Mississippi I politely asked him to deliver his keys to River, whenever we were not forced farther me. "I deliver my keys to no man," answered away to avoid sloughs and swamps, as the Gordon pompously. "But by G , you bluffs of the river would be the best land shall," answered the captain of the keelboat. marks which we could have by which to steer "I am master of this boat, and if you do not our course. He advised us to be particularly deliver your keys to these gentlemen, I shall careful of our provisions for our journey, break your trunk open by force." "I defy you [which] even under the direction of a guide, to do so," answered Gordon. "You well know would consume five or six days to Plum what the consequences will be if you thus River. Without a guide, as we were, [it] serve my private property." "D—m the con­ might last eight or ten days. "You cannot get sequences," answered the captain, and seizing lost as long as you keep within sight of the an ax he burst open the trunk, and we pro­ Mississippi bluffs, but you will have to en­ ceeded to make the search. After removing dure horrible hardships," said the kind Ken- some clothing we found the thousand dollars, wrapped up, and securely fastened by a piece of plank, the length of the trunk, which had been nailed fast. Mr. Gratiot was wild with " The Plum River enters the Mississippi at Savan­ na, Illinois. The distance from Keokuk to Savanna joy. He took handfulls of the coin and held is about 180 miles.

214 MARTEN: HOLLMAN AUTOBIOGRAPHY tuckian when we took leave of him. He also three Kirkpatricks, J. and J. R. Vineyard. advised us: "Make your camps at night on We considered ourselves quite fortunate in a slough for you will have plenty of firewood getting a room six by eight feet in dimensions and the sloughs are filled with so many small in the hotel of which I have spoken. The day fish (horny catfish) that by throwing a few after our arrival, which I believe was the crumbs of bread on the water you can gather fourth of July, 1827, Galena was in a state with your hands as many fish as you want." of intense excitement. Two keelboats arrived Away we went into the wilderness, and with five or six men aboard who had been found from day to day that the land marks of seriously wounded by the Winnebago Indians, which the Kentuckian had spoken had been who had attacked them while they were ascend­ properly located and described by him. After ing the river. The boats had been employed to a march of nine days and after suffering most carry provisions from St. Louis to the forts at terribly and approaching very nearly to actual Rock Island and Prairie du Chien, and had starvation, we reached Plum River. We soon been attacked on their upward or downward satisfied ourselves that we were above the trip (I do not now remember which) by In­ ferry, so we went down the river until toward dians on both banks of the river, and by sav­ evening when we discovered the ferryman's ages in canoes. The boats were on shore be­ house on the opposite side of the river. We tween two fires. The captains and crews of made signals, and were soon ferried over. both boats defended themselves desperately None of us had been sick, but we were all with firearms and long boathooks to keep the footsore and worn out. Having satisfied the Indians in the canoes from boarding. The ferryman that we were prepared to pay for cables which held the boats were cut, the boats all that he would furnish us, we made arrange­ floated in the current out of the range of fire, ments to recuperate before again starting upon and they were able to keep off the canoes. our journey. We remained at the ferry for They had rigged the main sails and by a fair several days, had our linen washed, and were breeze managed to outrun their savage ene­ soon again in condition to undergo further mies and make their escape. This was the story hardships. told by the captain of the boats, and the sight of the wounded men convinced those who A GAIN we started northward, and five days otherwise might have been ready to express -^-^ after leaving the ferry, we arrived at doubts in regard to what had been told.'^ Galena. We met with a joyous welcome from General Samuel Whiteside of the Illinois our friends, from whom we had parted at the Militia, and Col. Henry Dodge, a brave man rapids and who had reached Galena a week before us, on the small steamer Shamrock.^^ Galena consisted, at the time of our arrival "Red Bird, a Winnebago chief, frustrated in an of a few log huts. There was one long build­ attack on the Chippewa, turned against the whites. On June 28, 1827, his war party killed Registre Gag­ ing, made up of a number of small cabins nier (who, according to one source, was a mulatto) placed end to end, which was occupied as a and Solomon Lipcap, an old soldier who lived at Gagnier's home about three miles east of Prairie hotel. Those in Galena at that time with whom du Chien. Red Bird's band then gathered at the I was intimately acquainted, were, W. Wallace mouth of the Bad Axe River and attacked two keel­ and wife, John Folley and wife, W. Margrave boats returning from having taken provisions to Fort Snelling. The Indian's first volley downed a black [H. Maguire?] and wife, and two other cou­ named Peter, who later died; the second volley killed ples. Of young and unmarried men there were another member of the crew named Steward. Before the keelboats could slip away two men were killed, those who made the journey over land with two mortally wounded, and two slightly wounded. me. Mr. C. Davis, Tom Higgins, the renowned The arrival of the boats at Prairie du Chien started Indian fighter, J. Connor [Corner?], two or the panic which soon spread throughout the lead mining region. History of Grant County, 458; Thomas L. McKenney, "The Winnebago War," in Wisconsin Historical Collections (Madison, 1868), V: 198-202; William J. Snelling, "Early Days at "• Captain James May brought the Shamrock all the Prairie du Chien and the Winnebago Outbreak of way from Pittsburgh to Galena in 1827, possibly 1827," in ibid., 143-152; Peter Lawrence Scanlan, carrying Hollman's friends on the last leg of their Prairie du Chien: French-British-American (Mena­ journey. Peterson, Steamboating, 446. sha, 1937), 130-131.

215 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973 from the State of Missouri, were in Galena was guilty of the blasphemy and misconduct at the time. A committee was formed to call the day before. All of those who swilled the for volunteers to fight the Indians, who it was whisky, and afterwards indulged in so much supposed had inaugurated a war which might objectionable language, as well as those who assume some magnitude and importance. joined in the fights, were of that class known The news of the attack upon the keelboats as "Pukes" from Missouri, and that class had spread like wild-fire, and by noon the known as "Suckers" from Southern Illinois. flat space of ground between the river and the Colonel Dodge had soon collected about twen­ village was crowded with men, horses, and ty rifles and muskets, and a like number of wagons. There were soon enrolled about one horses. He selected as many men as he had hundred names of volunteers, including those horses, and dismissed the remainder of those of my traveling companions and my own. Now who had volunteered until muskets and am­ the question of leadership arose and caused munition could be secured from Rock Island, a tremendous amount of excitement and feel­ and until more men were known to be needed. ing. Whiteside claimed the right to command Almost all of those who were selected by Col. on account of his position in the state militia, Dodge for immediate service were "Pukes." while Dodge had his supporters for the lead­ Colonel Dodge and his command scoured the ership on account of the reputation for brav­ country from Galena to the Blue Mounds; ery which had followed him from Missouri. thence to the Wisconsin River; thence down The matter had to be settled and arrangements that river to the Mississippi; thence down that were made to arrive at a decision without de­ river toward Galena, which they reached after lay. Two barrels of whiskey were taken out five days absence and arduous duty. They upon the flat where the volunteers were as­ failed to find any Winnebagoes, simply a few sembled, the heads were knocked out of the lodges of Potawatomi, and so the "Indian barrels, tin cups were supplied, and then all War" of 1827 ended in smoke. those present were invited forward to drink as often and as freely as they pleased. After the liquor had been freely imbibed and had oper­ TTOUR of the young men who had arrived ated in its usual manner upon the brains of -•- at Galena a week before I did had gone those who had partaken of it so freely, the immediately on to "New Diggings" where volunteers were called upon to select their they had made a discovery of lead ore, had leader by dividing off, the Whiteside men tak­ built them a cabin, and were mining with a ing their position on one side of the flat, good prospect of success. As soon as they while the Dodge men placed themselves on the heard of the Indian outbreak they all came opposite side. The confusion and turbulence to Galena. While there they offered my three which ensued is indescribable. Cries of companions and myself quarters in their cab­ "Whiteside," "Whiteside" from one party, in, whenever it would be safe to return there. and of "Dodge," "Dodge" from the other were Immediately after the return of the scouting perfectly deafening. Drunkenness caused the party, we all bid adieu to Galena, and soon crowd to indulge in yelling, cursing, and fight­ afterwards arrived at "New Diggings," in the ing, until the scene became horridly disgusting Territory of Michigan. It was easy at that to me. The rain commenced to fall in torrents, time to strike a prospect. We succeeded, there­ but finally by the greatest exertion the lines fore, and found a perpendicular sheet of three- were formed and the voters counted. The re­ quarter inch which went down five to six feet, sult was that Henry Dodge was elected to com­ was profitable, and was easily worked. We mand the volunteers. This closed the first day were satisfied that we would have work for all of the so called "Winnebago war" of 1827, the following winter, and so I concluded that as far as Galena was concerned. I would go to Vandalia for my family. Before doing so I made arrangements to have logs cut On the following morning all guns and and a cabin built for their occupancy when horses that could be found in the vicinity were they should arrive. pressed into the public service. I now dis­ I took a steamer at Galena, and just as we covered for the first time who it was that were starting on our journey, we passed an-

216 MARTEN: HOLLMAN AUTOBIOGRAPHY other boat which was on its way to Galena. and their families, and young and unmarried Opposite St. Louis I took a horse and the men by the hundred. They all came with the next day I arrived at the residence of my design to mine for lead ore, or to enter into mother-in-law, Mrs. Thompson. But think of the business of supplying the mines with such the intense chagrin and disappointment which articles as they would naturally stand in need I endured when Mrs. Thompson informed me of. Scarcely a single man thought at that time that my wife and children had taken their of opening farms, and following agriculture as departure for the mines, to join me, seven a means of livelihood. The government of the days before. Indeed, the very steamboat which United States sent out agents to attend to the passed us shortly after our departure from leasing of timbered land and for the per­ Galena had aboard the members of my fam­ formance of certain other specified duties. ily! Upon receiving this unwelcome intelli­ The whole of the land upon which grew good gence, I hastened back to St. Louis, took pas­ timber was under the control of the agent. sage on a large steamboat, [and] again failed He would lease it or grant it in some way to pass the rapids. In company with some to those who smelted the lead ore, and if a twenty other persons, [I] started on foot and miner desired any more timber than would with the assistance of a good guide made the supply his firewood, he had to get the privi­ trip in nine days and arrived once more safely lege to cut it from the smelter who controlled in Galena. I found my wife and children, my it. This arrangement was very distasteful to the miners and was thought by them to be brother-in-law, and my wife's cousin just re­ very illiberal in the government. The gov­ covering from the measles, from a severe at­ ernment agent was, to all intents and pur­ tack of which they had all been suffering in­ poses, an autocrat of the first water. tensely. My old friend Foley had taken them into his house, which consisted of two rooms As there were no civil tribunals to try only, and, as they were well supplied with cases and settle disputes, all controversies were funds, they had everything that was necessary settled by arbitration, and the agent would to their comfort. My brother-in-law went out issue his printed order for such arbitration to New Diggings and found that my com­ when it was deemed necessary. After the or­ panions had raised considerable lead ore and der was issued, each party was permitted to that the mines were still being worked profit­ choose one of the arbitrators, and if they ably. Next time I also went to the diggings could not agree upon a settlement, the agent with my brother-in-law. The boys were great­ would choose the third. The honesty of the ly rejoiced to see me safely returned. We early settlers in the lead mines was proverbial. now made arrangements to build the cabin, You might, with perfect safety, leave money which had not yet been raised. I left my or other valuables, exposed and unguarded, brother-in-law to superintend, while I went with a perfect certainty that they would be back to Galena to procure planks for a cabin secure and unmolested. This state of rectitude floor. Flooring I was unable to get for love among the people continued until civil tribu­ or money. I was fortunate enough, however, nals were organized and civil law held sway. to get clapboards for the roof and gables. Every person of any respectability had credit In about a week from that time my family at the stores and shops and but few if any of the debts contracted in those early days was domiciled in a cabin with a dirt floor. were ever repudiated. This was rather startling to a person who had but a short time before built eight comfort­ About this time my partners and myself able residences in the capital city of the state sent about three thousand pounds of lead ore of Illinois. We were all young, healthy, and to Galena to be sold to Tilton and Parker,-'^ hopeful, however, and were consequently quite smelters, the money for which I was to expend happy.

The mining region was now rapidly filling '= Lemon Parker, William P. Tilton, D. B. More­ up with men seeking their fortunes in the house, and Robert P. Guyard organized the Galena newly discovered El Dorado. Every boat that Mining Company, which smelted using several log furnaces and sold miners' supplies. History of Grant arrived was heavily laden with married men County, 406.

217 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973 for provisions and such other necessaries as land and had squatted close to us to make a were wanted at the time. After receiving the farm. John H. Rountree and J. B. Campbell money for the ore, amounting to fifty-four were also living a mile from us, and were dollars, I was making some purchases, when raising some lead ore. Mr. Campbell was, Mr. Parker addressed me as follows: "Mr. however, not satisfied with their success, and Hollman, I understand that you are married with another man started to explore the and living at New Diggings. Now it is the "Platte Country," or region near the Platte wish of our firm to extend its business, and rivers. By lucky accident they came across you can do us a great favor by assisting us two men who had made a new discovery of to do so. We understand that you, and three lead ore. Mr. Campbell bought the "pros­ young men named J. R. Vineyard, F. Reamer, pect" for about three hundred dollars, I think. and George Rosemeyer are mining together al­ He then sent for his partner, J. H. Rountree.^* though not actual partners. Your names are Thus was discovered a lode which finally pro­ all good on our books for any amount of goods duced five or six millions of pounds of lead which you may deem necessary. If, at any ore. Mr. Rountree, after some time, purchased time, any of you order articles which we are Mr. Campbell's interest, and the mine was out of or which we do not deal in, we will buy ever afterward known as "the Rountree lead." them for you. Now all that we ask in return I shall speak of this rich mine again hereafter. for what we offer you is that you and your In March, 1828, our ore being seemingly exhausted, my companions concluded to visit three friends shall trade with us. I think that the "big Rountree lead." I instructed Vine­ after doing so you will find that we conduct yard to purchase a cabin for my family, and, our business in a liberal and honorable man­ if possible, a "prospect" or mineral discovery ner. If you had not come in today it was the for the company. He succeeded in doing both, intention of one of our firm to visit you and of which he informed me. I was informed that make the proposition which I have just made they were at work in the "prospect" and that to you. We will pay for all lead ore which the cabin would be put in order for my fam­ we purchase in silver and will not deduct what ily, as soon as possible, so that it should be you may be owing at the time in the store, ready upon our arrival. This arrangement but will permit you to settle your store bills was satisfactory, and on the ninth day of in as long or short a time as to you may be April, 1828, we arrived at Platteville. The most convenient. One thing more. Our team­ new region in which the Platteville lead mines ster goes into your neighborhood tomorrow. were situated [was] at the time a part of the We will deliver to each of you four one hun­ Territory of Michigan, but as Congress had dred dollars in silver, for which we will take passed an enabling act for Michigan to be­ lead ore when you have it, at the market come a state, the region which afterwards price." I accepted of the liberal proposition formed Wisconsin was not organized. Prairie which is above set forth but expressed the du Chien was a military post, and there were surprise which I felt at the liberality and con­ a few civil officers there also. In the fall fidence manifested by the firm toward com­ of 1828 I received a commission from Gover­ parative strangers. His answer was that such nor [Lewis] Cass, but I did not act under its terms were only extended to parties who had authority, as it was considered certain that been highly recommended by their agent. We the Territory of Wisconsin would soon be dealt with the firm for many years, with per­ organized. Near Rountree's lode were located fect satisfaction to all concerned.

E LIVED comfortably and contentedly " Campbell and Rountree purchased Emanuel Med- W through the summer, fall, and winter. calf's claim in late 1827. Verne S. Pease, The Life Early in the spring of 1828 our family was in­ Story of MafoT John H. Rountree (Baraboo, Wiscon­ sin, 1928), 24, agrees the purchase price was $300; creased by the birth of a little daughter, whom an anonymous history of Platteville in the Indepen­ we called Julia. John A. Wakefield, who had dent American and General Advertiser, January 25, married my wife's sister, had moved up from 1845, puts the price between $1,000 and $2,000; the History of Grant County, 675-676, indicates the Illinois with his family with an ox team by price was $3,600.

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Society's Iconographic Collection In 1829 R. W. Chandler of Galena drew and had published in Cincinnati a map of the lead-mining region in Wisconsin and Illinois. Many of the sites on Chandler's map are mentioned by Hollman: (1) Plum River, (2) Galena, (3) New Diggings, (4) Tilton and Parker's store, (5) Rountree's mine or Platteville, (6) Irish Digs, (7) Blue Mounds, (8) Hamilton's Station, and (9) Sinsinawa Mound.

219 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973 three or four cabins. To this insignificant vil­ a sweet place, but also a most horribly dirty lage was given the name of Platteville. I had one. Of course it was impossible for women not the least idea, at that time, that the then and children to occupy such a place until it wild and solitary mining village would be had undergone a thorough cleansing and re­ the scene of most of the events in my long novation. and somewhat eventful life. . . . While we were deliberating as to what There was a plain road in the direction to should next be done, Mr. Rountree came out Platteville, made by the teams which hauled to us, and very kindly conducted the ladies the lead to Galena for shipment, which could and children to the store. Mr. Campbell, al­ be followed without trouble twelve miles from ways full of fun as he was, seemed to enjoy New Diggings. I had been instructed that our predicament greatly. "This is a pretty when I arrived in the vicinity of the mines at kettle of fish," said he. "We will now have Platteville that I would have to pass to the to fiddle, in order that the ladies may dance." right hand of two log furnaces and to the left But a moment afterwards he said more seri­ of the double cabin used as a store in order ously, "We must remedy the matter as far as to reach the cabin which I and my family possible, and make the best of it. The back were to occupy. I followed the directions and end of our store is filled with empty boxes, without difficulty drove my Dearborn wagon barrels, and other rubbish, which I will have to the cabin door. removed, and after the room is cleaned up a At the moment of our arrival a man looked little, you and the ladies and children can out of the window, and, perceiving who had occupy it until the cabin is put in proper order." arrived cried out to the other occupants of the cabin: "Run boys! Run! Here are some This kind proposition was carried into im­ ladies!" With a great noise, confusion, and mediate effect, and in about two hours we bustle four or five young men tumbled out were occupying a comfortable room, in which of the cabin door and ran into the bushes to was a large fireplace. About dusk the ox-team hide themselves. This was rather a startling arrived with our furniture, and in a couple manner in which to receive lady visitors. of days we were as comfortably situated as They were probably not dressed to receive though we had resided there for months. company. Mary Ann, my wife's cousin, a pret­ Ten days from that time we moved into our ty young lady about sixteen years of age, cabin which was completed, and for the wil­ jumped from the wagon to take the baby derness it was not only neat but luxurious. At from my wife, ran to look in at the cabin least we so thought at the time. Everything door, which was left wide open by those who now progressed finely. J. R. Vineyard and had so ingloriously fled at our approach. Harrison Thompson, my brother-in-law, and "Oh," exclaimed the startled girl, "we cannot another miner boarded with us, sleeping in stay here." I got out of the wagon and went the attic. They raised considerable lead ore to the cabin door and looked in. The sight in the "prospect" which we had purchased, that met my eyes I shall never forget! The but we did not get a great deal more for the cabin was one mass of filth from end to end; mineral raised than we paid for the discovery when the startled young men had so hastily re­ in the first place. The ladies had all that they treated to the woods they had overturned the could do in sewing for the store, at good table and benches, and there they lay in con­ prices, and were thus able to supply themselves fusion upon the dirt floor; cups, plates, knives with such articles as they chose to purchase. and forks, and other table furniture was scat­ Thus passed the summer of 1828. tered around in the greatest confusion; in one corner of the cabin was a heap of frozen po­ T N THE FALL we had an election for town tatoes and turnips; and in the other corners -*- officers. Benjamin Coates was elected one were troughs full of honey in the comb, and of the supervisors, and I was elected town kettles and pans full of strained honey, which clerk. While the voting was progressing we had been procured by the miners from "bee heard the hum of voices, and the sound of trees" found in the vicinity. It was certainly music. Looking in the direction from which

220 MARTEN: HOLLMAN AUTOBIOGRAPHY the sounds proceeded we saw . . . about twen­ ty Irishmen with shillalahs on their shoulders like guns marching in double file with a big Irishman as their captain carrying his club like a sword. They were all strangers to most of us. They advanced to the polls, formed in line, and voted the same ticket without an exception with the expectation that they would be able to elect their own countrymen to all the offices. We, however, beat them badly, at which result they were greatly angered, and having imbibed quite freely of poor "rot gut" whisky, they soon became quite noisy and quarrelsome. Rountree and Campbell em­ ployed about fifteen men and the other miners and squatters numbered thirty-five or forty. A young "Sucker" had hauled out some pro­ visions and other articles from Galena for one of the Irishmen present, and he asked him for his pay for the service. The Irishman be­ came very angry and commenced to abuse the young man, and soon others of the Irish party commenced to complain of insults being of­ fered them by the miners. The miners protest­ Society's Iconographic Collections ed that they had not offered any insults, and John Hawkins Rountree, pioneer lead miner and that it was not their intention to do so. This founder of Platteville. however did not satisfy the Irish, who con­ tinued their demonstrations. One of the hands Vineyard struck one of the Irishmen on the employed in one of the furnaces who was a back of the head with an axe and felled him giant in his proportions, being over six feet like a bullock to the earth. We all thought that high, stepped up to the Irish captain and he was killed, but fortunately he was only se­ said, "Sir you will please throw down your verely stunned. The Irish soon became panic club, and order your men to do the same." To stricken at the manner in which the miners this the Irish replied with the greatest arro­ and smelters paid their respects to them and gance, "We would like to see any one who is fled ingloriously from the field, and in ten able to take them from us." At this juncture minutes from the termination of the fight not the Irishman who had been quarreling about an Irishman was in sight. The spoils of the the freight struck the young "Sucker," and victory consisted of the shiUalahs which the there immediately ensued a "rough and tum­ Irish left behind them. ble" fight between about a dozen Irishmen Rountree, as smelter under the system of and as many of our friends. The Irish were surveys of which I have before spoken, had clinched by our men and were consequently control of large tract of the finest oak timber, unable to use their clubs. Our giant soon with trees two, three, and four feet thick, and had the Irish captain upon his back on the extensive mineral land. From Rountree, Vine­ ground and pummeled him most unmerciful­ yard, Rosemeyer, Reamer, and myself leased ly. The tumult was heard in the store, and certain "mineral lots," two hundred feet Mr. Campbell, who understood the condition square, and no one ever endeavored to tres­ of things in an instant, smashed a table to pass upon the same.. The immense amount pieces, seized one of the legs, and rushed of lead ore which had been raised by the heroically to the assistance of his friends and great number of miners engaged had glutted neighbors, and in less time than it takes to the market, and lead ore, about this time, fell relate it, he laid six or seven Irishmen with from twenty to eighteen dollars per thousand bleeding heads upon the grass. pounds, then from eighteen to sixteen dollars.

221 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973

from sixteen to twelve dollars, and finally nine with their infernal concert. As no one in the dollars per thousand pounds and even less. house took any notice of them, they entered Inasmuch as we were able to get good provi­ without invitation, but not with an intention sions in any quantity, the fall and winter of or desire to do anyone any personal violence. 1828 passed quite pleasantly. But in the spring Meredith inquired what brought them there, of 1829, and indeed during the most of that when Nixon seized the rifle which Joe Dixon year, things were sadly changed. Everything had in his hand and shot Meredith through in the way of eatables was terribly scarce, and the body. This unexpected and desperate act held at enormous figures. We had to pay ex­ of Nixon alarmed and horrified the miners, travagant prices for spoiled flour and stink­ and they all fled to their cabins. Meredith, af­ ing meat even. We had to cut the flour from ter living in terrible agony for two hours, was the barrel with an axe, and then had to pound released from pain by death. up the lumps and finally sift it before we As there were no judicial officers nearer could use it. We had to parboil the meat than Prairie du Chien, no arrests were made in saleratus water before cooking it, and, even for some days; and finally, those most inter­ after that process, it was in such a condition ested came to the conclusion that no notice of that we would not now offer it to our dogs. the matter would be taken by the authorities. But they were doomed to be sadly disappoint­ T must now refer to an incident which, al- ed, for early one morning as I stepped out of -*• though commenced in sport and reckless the cabin door, I saw that a squad of United fun, ended in calamity and murder. A family States soldiers had surrounded the cabin of rather bad reputation lived about two miles where Rountree's hands lodged and that those south of Platteville, at the time of which I who were present when Meredith was killed write. There was a rumor that a young miner were prisoners was plain. Upon inquiry this who boarded with the family was living on was found to be the fact. The soldiers had terms of criminal intimacy with the woman. also already arrested Nixon, the murderer, The young man, whose name was Meredith, and Joe Dixon who carried the rifle with met Joseph [Frederick] Dixon, one day at which the deed was done. The sheriff from the blacksmith shop, and while in conversa­ Prairie du Chien had made the arrests with tion with him made some disparaging remarks the assistance of a squad of soldiers to act in regard to the wife of a certain Mr. Nixon, as his posse. Those who were arrested were who lived in the immediate vicinity; and as immediately marched off to Prairie du Chien, the remarks reached the ears of Nixon, per­ although it was terribly cold at the time and haps somewhat added to and exaggerated, he the snow was two feet deep upon a level. was greatly angered. Of the circumstances They suffered great hardships on the route, which I have detailed, my immediate friends but finally all reached the fort. At Prairie du and neighbors knew nothing at the time. Chien they were brought before a justice of One evening when most of the young miners the peace for examination. All except Nixon and smelters were together, Nixon proposed and Dixon were liberated and arrived at home that they should have a frolic. "Boys," said about a week after their departure in a most he, "let us give those people below a chari­ woeful condition, some of them being severe­ vari." The boys were ready for any kind of ly frostbitten. sport, so the next evening they started with Nixon and Dixon were put in jail to await tin pans, tin horns, cow bells, and other such their trial at the next term of court. Before musical instruments, for the habitation of the court convened Nixon managed to open the family of unenviable reputation, with whom jail door and escape. Dixon had an oppor­ Meredith boarded. Joseph Dixon, who was tunity to escape at the same time, but knowing a great sportsman, had that day borrowed Mr. himself to be entirely innocent he refused to Rountree's rifle (known as "old Twist") and, do so and was found by the jailer in his cell, being one of the company, carried it with him. although the door was open. The grand jury When they arrived at the home all was still found a true bill against Nixon for murder as death, but they soon made night hideous in the first degree and against Dixon as being

222 MARTEN: HOLLMAN AUTOBIOGRAPHY

accessory to the act. Dixon had but little refuge in case of attack upon the part of trouble to establish his entire innocence and "Blackhawk" or his followers. In Platteville was discharged. Nixon was again arrested the miners and others built a blockhouse of and, being found guilty of willful murder, considerable strength, with [a] stockade out­ would have been executed, but he again side. It was two stories high; the upper story mysteriously escaped from jail and disap­ was to be occupied by the women and chil­ peared.^^ dren; the lower story was for the armed men In the year 1830 I bought the claim which who were to defend the fort and the occu­ he [Dixon] had improved at the upper end pants.^'' A blockhouse was also built on the of Elk Grove, of James C. Wright, for one stream south of Platteville, now known as hundred and ninety dollars. About this time "Blockhouse branch," but was not used. A I struck a lode, afterwards known as the blockhouse was also built at Elk Grove, but, "Old Dry Bone," which turned out several being full soon after the first alarm, I con­ hundred thousand pounds of ore, but, with the cluded to go with my family to Platteville. We low prices of ore, about five dollars per thou­ left everything on the farm as Mr. Rountree sand pounds, and the exhorbitantly high prices had kindly invited myself and family to his of everything which we had to purchase, it house, which was near the fort, which was was difficult to get ahead as far as money known as "Fort Dodge." A military company matters were concerned. After purchasing the was formed, and a Mr. [Irwin] O'Hara named farm from Wright, we moved immediately to as captain, but as it was somewhat loosely Elk Grove. I took George Rosemeyer along formed it was never received and mustered as partner in the farming enterprise. I still into the United States service. retained my interest in the mines at Platte­ One night an alarm was given of the ap­ ville. To commence farming operations I had proach of the Indians. All hastened toward one cow and calf, one brood sow, and soon the blockhouse, and soon it was crowded with thereafter purchased a yoke of oxen, five men, women, and children to suffocation. The calves, and a lot of fowls consisting of chic­ night passed away, however, without any In­ kens, turkeys, and geese. We lived comfort­ dians making their appearance. I was satis­ ably through the winter. About this time fied from the short experience that we had my son John was born. in the blockhouse that this was no place for J. R. Vineyard married my wife's cousin, my wife and four children. I therefore took Mary Ann, and went to Vandalia to work at them to Galena, placed them on a steamboat his trade, that of printer, during the session bound to St. Louis under the care of the of the legislature.^^ captain. They reached St. Louis in safety and from there they went to Mrs. Thompson's, my wife's mother, to remain until the troubles TN THE YEAR 1832 the Blackhawk War should cease and the Indian war should ter­ -'- broke out with all the horrors which usual­ minate. I was relieved of care and anxiety ly attend Indian wars. All the inhabitants of in regard to the safety of my family, and as the lead mine region immediately prepared for Mr. Rountree was endeavoring to raise a com­ their own safety by building log forts, or pany of mounted volunteers, to fight the In­ "blockhouses" as they were termed, near the dians, I joined his company. There were about settlements, inside of which they could take twenty-five of us, well armed and mounted and Mr. Rountree was elected our captain. We drilled a while, then scouted to some extent.

" According to the anonymous history of Platte- vUle in the Independent American, February 1, 1845, a man named Nix killed Meredith. All the men in Platteville, except Rountree and Hollman, were ar­ " A combination blockhouse and stockade was built rested but only a Kelly, Nix, Dixon, and a Johnson on Rountree's property. The circular stockade was were tried; the former two broke jail, the latter two 100 feet in diameter and the blockhouse was 20 feet were acquitted. square. History of Grant County, 679; James A. " The marriage took place in Hollman's home on Wilgus, "History of Old Platteville, 1827-1835," in August 20, 1828. History of Grant County, 484, 677; the Wisconsin Magazine of History, 28: 68 (Septem­ Independent American, January 25, 1845. ber, 1944).

223 WISCONSIN M.4GAZINE OF HISTOItY SPRING, 1973 and finally joined forces with Captain Gen­ try's company at Belmont.'^ From Belmont we all went together to the rendezvous at Mineral Point, where we were joined by Col­ onel Dodge's command, recruited for the ^•1^#- same service against Blackhawk and his bands in which we were enlisted. All the commands together, when united, amounted to less than three hundred men. It was known that there was a strong force of Winnebago Indians in camp at Blue Mounds and great anxiety was felt to know whether they intended to join Blackhawk or remain peaceable. It was deemed necessary . 1' that the white men should ascertain without delay whether these Indians were for war or m- peace, and for that purpose Colonel Dodge moved his command to Blue Mounds to have a "talk" with the Winnebagoes. There were two blockhouses at Blue Mounds and two or f three men had been killed and scalped, no doubt by Winnebagoes. It was soon ascer­ tained that the Winnebagoes would remain peaceable and would not ally themselves with Society's Iconographic Collections Blackhawk. This determination upon the part William Stephe Hamilton, son of Alexander of the Indians at Blue Mounds caused great Hamilton. rejoicings upon the part of the white settlers. Colonel Dodge's command occupied a very settled that the Indians at the Mounds were perilous position during the continuance of to remain peaceably at home, we marched in the council, for in case they had seen fit to the best of spirits toward Wm. S. Hamilton's act in an unfriendly manner and to have at­ Station. tacked our little force with their overwhelming Colonel Dodge, about this time, selected force of dusky warriors, it being estimated two young men, one of whom was George as being fifteen hundred strong, they could Willard, to undertake the very hazardous duty easily have defeated, scattered, and, perhaps, of communicating with General Atkinson, entirely destroyed the entire command of Col­ who with his command was moving up from onel Dodge, and thus at one blow they could Fox River, Illinois. Atkinson's command con­ have placed the settlers in the lead mines sisted of regulars and volunteers. The young at their mercy, and freely and without ma­ men were to deliver dispatches, receive Atkin­ terial hindrance finished up the contest with son's answer, and return to Dodge's command the tomahawk and scalping knife. It was a as quickly as possible. The distance from most critical moment, and when it was finally one command to the other was supposed to be fifty or sixty miles, and the intervening coun­ try was supposed to swarm with blood-thirsty " James H. Gentry, a native of Kentucky and a and watchful savages. The two brave young principal smelter in the Mineral Point area before men, taking their lives in their hands, started the Black Hawk War, commanded one of the five upon their perilous journey. In about nine companies under Dodge. During the preliminaries of the Battle of the Pecatonica, Gentry's horse be­ days they returned in safety with General At­ came mired in the mud, his gun got wet, and he kinson's answer and orders, having shown missed the actual fighting. In 1836 he was sheriff of great ability as scouts and performed all that Iowa County. Frank E. Stevens, The Black Hawk War, including a Review of Black Hawk's Life was expected of them in such a masterly man­ (Chicago, 1903), 131, 183; Wisconsin Historical ner as to fully satisfy both General Atkinson Collections, 2: 334, 346-347, 348; 4: 374; 6: 303; 8: 286. and Colonel Dodge.

224 MARTEN: HOLLMAN AUTOBIOGRAPHY

TVTHILE we were yet at Hamilton's station, you can reach timber, take shelter therein. '^' Colonel Dodge received intelligence that Select as large a tree as possible to protect two men had been killed in a field near Sin­ your person, and in case you can reach no sinawa Mound, and that in consequence of the tree, take your position behind your horse. approach of danger, all the inhabitants in See that your carbine is well loaded. Be off Platteville and vicinity were on the move to­ early and act with the greatest caution." A ward Galena as the nearest place of safety.^^ young man presented me with a pistol, remark­ Mr. Rountree, finding his command too small, ing at the time that it was loaded and that offered his resignation, which was accepted by I might stand in need of it. Colonel Dodge, and at the same time directed At four o'clock in the morning, after bid­ him to communicate personally with John At­ ding "good bye" to Doctor Davidson^" and chison, esq., of Galena and to deliver [to] other friends, I took my departure for Platte­ him an order from Dodge to furnish sufficient ville. The weather was pleasant and I rode arms, ammunition, and provisions to those forward rapidly. By two o'clock in the after­ who were in Fort Dodge at Platteville, as they noon my horse showed signs of great fatigue, should stand in need of. and being near a spot where water and grass Colonel Dodge then ordered me to report was abundant, I thought I would rest him and to him for orders. He addressed me as fol­ permit him to graze. Knowing that he would lows: "Mr. Hollman, it has been reported not leave me, I slipped the bridle from his to me that the settlers at Platteville and in head and turned him loose. I now partook that vicinity are about to break up and leave of some food which I had for the occasion and for other localities which are considered more then threw myself upon the grass to rest. In safe. This must be prevented, and I have se­ a moment I was sound asleep. lected you to go to Platteville in order that This was near the spot where Belmont Sta­ this stampede of the inhabitants may be stop­ tion now stands. Thoughts of Indians dis­ ped. Tell them for me that inasmuch as they turbed my sleep. I was soon awakened by have a strong blockhouse that I want them hearing loud shouts. I sprang to my feet, and to stay and defend it, and in order that they on a ridge, three or four hundred yards off, may be able to do so, I have ordered that pro­ I beheld two Indians approaching me, one visions, arms, and ammunition in sufficient some distance ahead of the other and yelling quantities be furnished them. In addition to at the top of his voice. I was cool and col­ this I will keep a watch over their welfare, lected, but felt perfectly certain that five min­ and if danger should threaten them, I shall utes more would end my earthly existence. In endeavor to protect them. Here is your com­ an instant I had determined what to do, as I mission as commissary of subsistence. You had resolved to sell my life as dearly as possi­ will retain your position in the company to ble. I took shelter behind my horse and leveled which you belong, but will be detailed to act my carbine at the first Indian, with the inten­ as I now instruct you to. You must start for tion of wounding or killing him and then re­ Platteville by daylight. The distance is about serving the pistol shot for the other. When fifty miles, you have a good horse. Ride hard. the foremost Indian came sufficiently near to If you kill your horse, get another one and go perceive that I was prepared to shoot him, he forward. By all means get to Fort Dodge by yelled at the top of his voice, and in perfectly tomorrow evening. Take as straight a course pure English, "Don't shoot! Don't shoot! It as possible. You will see the east and west is me, Fred Dixon." My feelings of relief mounds. Keep near them, but to the left of were entirely indescribable. I felt, no doubt, them. Avoid all thickets and keep in the open much as does an innocent man who is upon prairie. If you see Indians at a distance and

"" Hollman is probably referring to William David­ son, who arrived in Galena in 1828 and mined lead " John Thompson and James Boxley were killed in Wisconsin around Hazel Green and Mineral Point. in a cornfield near Sinsinawa Mound on June 29; W. Davidson, "Personal Narratives of the Black their companion escaped. History of Grant County, Hawk War," in Wisconsin Historical Collections, 464; Stevens, The Black Hawk War, 187. V: 317-330.

225 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973 the scaffold, ready to be executed, and is The rations consisted of two pounds flour, and pardoned at the last moment. The supposed one and one half pounds of pork. The young Indian approached and proved to be Fred men drew their supplies daily, while the mar­ Dixon, indeed, an Indian trader and the very ried men drew sufficient each Saturday to man of whom I had purchased my cabin.^^ last during the week. The arms and ammuni­ He was in command of some Potawatomi tion was divided among those who were to scouts at ShuUsburg. Of course we were both garrison the fort. The company drilled occa­ equally rejoiced at this strange meeting. We sionally, but as no Indians appeared in the now sat down and took a hearty meal together. vicinity, the interest slackened somewhat. Soon afterwards Dixon and his companion started in the direction of ShuUsburg, and I \ S plowing and general farm work must resumed my journey to Platteville, which I -^^ be done, it was done by a few men in finally reached, although I thought when I rotation who worked with guns on guard. As encountered the supposed Indians that I had there was no molestation everyone returned seen it for the last time. When I arrived at to work. I started to work on my drybone Platteville, I met with a joyous reception. diggings with a man who worked with me on The excitement had already somewhat sub­ shares. sided, as the news that the Winnebagoes were We raised one hundred thousand and sold friendly had already reached the inhabitants. at five dollars a thousand. The diggings look­ The promised supplies from Galena soon after­ ed fine. My man asked that we stop working wards arrived, and I soon had a warehouse while he went after his family in Missouri. full of arms, ammunition, and provisions. I agreed and he left. Men, women, and children were registered, As I never wanted to be idle I engaged a and also the daily rations to which they were young man by the name of [Thomas?] Cun­ entitled, which were one ration for each man ningham to prospect on shares. I was to or woman, and half a ration for each child. board him and do half the work, and he was to receive one-third of [the] mineral raised. He worked for eight or ten days with a boy '^It seems most likely that the Dixon referred to I sent to operate the windlass, and they here and on page 222 was Frederick. Fred Dixon and his partner named Rope had a lot or prospect in the found some pieces of float in two or three Platteville area in 1827 which Hollman and Vine­ holes, perhaps eight or ten pounds.^^ He be­ yard purchased in 1828. The roster for Rountree's came tired of the job and left without saying Black Hawk War contingent lists J. H. Dixon as first sergeant and Missouri Dixon as a private. The form­ a word. er, Joseph H. Dickson, subsequently commanded a My farm at Elk Grove was well attended by spy company and was active in the battles at Wis­ consin Heights and Bad Axe; the latter was prob­ George Rosemeyer but it required direction ably Fred Dixon. There are conflicting reports on from me. A pretty grove south of my cabin Fred Dixon's activity during the war. According to provided a fine building situation. I con­ the standard account Dixon, Edmund Welch, and a young Kirkpatrick, while carrying dispatches from cluded to build a house for my permanent resi­ Galena to Dixon's ferry in Illinois, arrived at Apple dence. I had a set of logs neatly hewed, thir­ River Fort (Elizabeth, Illinois) about noon on June 24. Since there was a drenching rain they had not ty-four by twenty-four, and we carefully raised loaded their guns. A short distance beyond the fort the body and sawed off the corners. Black Hawk and about two hundred warriors am­ Five or six months may have passed when a bushed them, wounding Welch. Dixon and Kirk­ patrick managed to bluff the Indians with their emp­ young man named [B.H.?] Duncan applied ty guns and get Welch back to the fort. Dixon, how­ to me to prospect on my common terms. I ever, was locked out and forced to flee, first to John McDonald's farm where he encountered more In­ went out with him, selected a place, and told dians, and finally to Galena where he sounded the alarm. The more obscure account, a letter from John Flack to John Wakefield, claims that the three mes­ sengers were so drunk that they had not loaded their guns, and that Dixon fled in terror all the way to ^ Float is ore which lies on the earth's surface or Galena. Independent American, January 25, 1845; has been separated from the parent vein or strata Wilgus, "History of Old Platteville," 69, 72-73; Ste­ by weathering agencies. Paul W. Thrush (comp.), vens, Black Hawk War, 186; Donald Jackson (ed.). A Dictionary of Mining, Mineral, and Related Terms Black Hawk: An Autobiography (Urbana, 1964), Compiled and Edited by Paul W. Thrush and the 129; Wakefield, Black Hawk War, 66-68. Staff of the Bureau of Mines (Washington, 1968), 441.

226 MARTEN: HOLLMAN AUTOBIOGRAPHY him to commence and that I would send the boy with the windlass since I expected the hole to be twenty or twenty-five feet deep. The third day they struck mineral and by my examination I was satisfied it would make a lead. We had raised about 5,000 pounds of min­ eral when Cunningham returned and claimed one-third on account of the few pieces of •Ci.<' mineral he had found six months earlier. The case was so ridiculous that I thought he spoke '«ta only in fun. He was, however, in earnest and got very angry about my coolness. He swore he would have his right. I told him that his leaving had dissolved all connection between us and that his saying that the mineral was in the range of the mineral he had found was erroneous. I told him good naturedly, "Cun­ ningham, if you persist in your complaint it can be settled easily according to our mining rules by arbitration." He said he would have nothing to do with arbitration. "I will see who will keep me from my right." I told him there was certainly some way to settle the mat­ [!(,^i iphu i iiiiecnons ter. This was in the evening. Traces of Grant County's surface lead mines linger on. I requested five of my friends to stay at the "diggings" the next day as I was going to Galena to consult the agent. The next morn­ his advice. He replied, "Cunningham will not ing at ten o'clock I was in Galena, to see Ma­ be so foolish as to disobey the orders of the jor Legate, the agent.^^ I explained the situa­ agent, but you must be prepared. Here is a tion. "Cunningham refused arbitration," said pistol well loaded. It is true at 40 or 45 yards the Major, and added in his official impor­ with hair trigger, and here also is a double- tance, "He will not disobey my orders. Here barreled pocket pistol for close contact." Af­ are the orders, they are sealed and are to be ter having dinner at his house I started for opened by the arbitrators." Platteville, reaching there by dusk. I went at "But," said I, "Major, what must I do if he once to J. R. Vineyard to get him to read the refuses your orders?" "In my official posi­ order of the agent to Cunningham. Cunning­ tion," said the Major, "I can give you no ham still insisted that he would not arbitrate. advice. I can only refer to Clopten who was Mr. Vineyard gave him a final warning. killed in a similar case to yours and the man "As a friend I warn you not to go near the who killed him was examined by twelve of the mine. If you do you are a dead man. Mr. best citizens and was honorably acquitted for Hollman is a peaceable man, but on this he justifiably protecting his property." With this is very determined, and he is strongly arm­ I left the agent. ed." This last statement seemed to make an I then went to Major Stephenson, receiver impression. of land office, explained my case, and asked Cunningham went to Rountree's Store, where the matter was discussed. One ob­ served, "Cunningham may kill Hollman, and he will be hanged, because he refused the ^Thomas C. Legate, the first resident superinten­ order of the agent; on the other side, Hollman dent of the Upper Mississipi lead mines, served from may kill Cunningham, and he will be cleared 1829 to 1836. James E. Wright, The Galena Lead District: Federal Policy and Practice, 1824-1847 as justified." (Madison, 1966), 31, 34, 43. The following morning I went with my man

227 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973

Duncan to the diggings. I kept the pistol and stock at the farm and made needed improve­ gave Duncan the double barrel gun. ments. My family returned during the sum­ Our arrangements were to shoot Cunning­ mer from St. Louis and we lived on our farm ham if he came nearer than a certain point. during the summer in great comfort. When We both sat near the windlass. We saw a man the land came onto the market we entered a approaching that we thought to be Cunning­ quarter section and as there were two of us, ham, but it proved to be Mr. Rountree, who we had the right to a float for eighty acres. came with a message from Cunningham. The float was laid on the finest timber in Elk Mr. Rountree gave Cunningham's offer of Grove. So we were proprietors of 240 acres of a compromise, which was that he would relin­ undivided land. quish all claim to the diggings for twenty-five George Rosemeyer, whom I had taken in dollars. as a poor boy, was now a land holder. We We were delighted to pay the twenty-five built a house and all other buildings for his dollars, though Cunningham had no claim homestead. He married my wife's cousin upon the mine. We gave thanks to Major Fanny, a pretty girl of sixteen.^^ They moved Rountree and told him that we would as cheer­ into this new house, but as his wife could not fully paid two hundred dollars, for we were live in the country he sold his undivided part determined to kill him if he had come to the to Judge Dunn and they went to Platteville. mine. Major Rountree had saved us from kill­ Everything seemed to prosper with me. I ing a man by making arrangements for us to had two large farm horses, two breeding pay twenty-five dollars. mares, two colts and four yearling colts, hogs, two cows and some sheep and plenty of poul­ T^HE YEAR 1831 passed without further try. My land was paid for, but still I was -*- excitement. The new discovery of mineral somewhat in debt. My determination through proved large, but the price was low. Lead life was always to pay my debts, even if it was one dollar a hundred, with no sale for was to the injury of my family. mineral. Mr. Rountree had more mineral As I said. Providence showered prosperity than he could smelt in his two log furnaces. on me. I made another splendid strike of min­ In 1832 the Indian War was over and we eral close to my land that turned out 70,000 were all mustered out of service. Everybody pounds of lead in six months that I sold for returned to his line of work. $18 a 1000 lbs. Mr. Rountree was building an ash furnace, As the territory of Wisconsin was organ­ and as he was running one log furnace, he ized, I received a commission as justice of the offered to let me have the other, if I would peace, for Iowa County from Governor smelt my own mineral. This offer I thankful­ Horner.^^ Under the commission I acted un­ ly accepted. I smelted about 200,000 pounds, til the territory became a state. The county but with poor results. The mineral, the best in included the present counties of Iowa, La­ a blast furnace, would fly to pieces in a log fayette and Grant, a very large county. furnace. I had a fine lot of lead, which if I I now concluded to finish my new house. could have kept a year would have brought I got good seasoned pine timber, and the a good price. But I was compelled to sell at house was well finished, the woodwork and one dollar per hundred to pay expenses, which large windows painted and the body inside were heavy. and out carefully white-washed. We bought In 1832 business revived.^** The Suckers simple but neat furniture. When all was fin- came in droves with hogs, cattle, and horses. The steamers came loaded with provisions, goods, etc. Mineral raised to $10.00 a thou­ sand and in 1833 to $16. We had a fine year, ^ George Rosemeyer and Fanny Jones were mar­ ried in 1835 in Platteville. History of Grant County, and had good crops. [We] replenished our 688. " John S. Horner became secretary of Michigan Territory in September, 1835, and, since the office of governor was vacant, Horner was acting governor. ^ It has been impossible to unscramble Hollman's Alice E. Smith, James Duane Doty: Frontier Pro­ chronology for 1831 and 1832. moter (Madison, 1954), 152, 156.

228 M/\RTEN: HOLLMAN AUTOBIOGRAPHY ished and my wife completed the household improvements, comfort was before us. At the time James was born, I was at the height of my prosperity, and the six years we lived here were the happiest of our lives. Four of us, Messrs. Madin, Willard, Seeley and myself, contributed $100 a year for school purposes, and others subscribed according to their means. Mr. Madin was director. We had good schools.^'^ Nothing particular transpired except the killing of George Willard by McCumber. In political matters Congress passed an en­ abling act for Wisconsin to form a state gov­ ernment. A state convention for a state con­ stitution had been held with Major Rountree and Vineyard as members. Here I must re­ mark that Vineyard had in some way got the mineral ground of Gredley [Sylvester Grid- ley], had struck a large lead, and was getting wealthy. The first territorial legislature met at Bel­ mont in 1836. The first meeting of the legis­ Society's Iconographic Collections lature at Madison was November 26, 1838. During the season of 1840, James R. Vine­ Frederick G. Hollman in his later years. yard, who had come from Vandalia, Illinois, cheerfully received and all his numerous with me, and who had been at PlatteviUe and friends who came to see him were kindly en­ represented Grant County as a member of the tertained. He stayed with us six months and legislature, deliberately killed Charles C. P. he never forgot our acts of kindness, as my Arndt, another member, from Brown County. sequel will show. Both Vineyard and Arndt were friends and The legislators met at Belmont. The organ­ up to the time of the murder boarded with ization of the state was the greater part of Judge Arndt, father of the victim. Vineyard business considered. I was nominated by the was unpunished, and went to California, where governor and confirmed by the senate as the he resided until his death.^' first justice of peace for Iowa County. The Judge Dunn had been appointed judge of division of the county was not made until the the District Court. He arrived and hearing of next session, and I was directed to swear in me, his old friend at Vandalia, he came and other officers that would be appointed in the requested that I should take him as one of counties of Iowa and Crawford. the family until his family arrived.^^ He was Our oldest daughter, in her tenth year, took cold which settled in her lungs. Medical aid

"The first school in the township of Elk Grove was held in the former boardinghouse of James C. Wright for about six students with Miss Mary Warn­ er as teacher. Alexander Willard, David J. Seeley, and William I. Madden, the latter being Dodge's son-in-law, were all early settlers of Elk Grove. His­ ''^ Charles Dunn (1799-1872) was a native of Ken­ tory of Lafayette County, Wisconsin (Chicago, 1881), tucky who practiced law in Illinois before moving 603, 604. to Wisconsin in 1836 when he was appointed chief ^This paragraph was probably added by R. I. justice of the territorial supreme court. As chief Dugdale when he published the manuscript. The justice from 1836 to 1848 he was also presiding judge Arndt murder has been described many times. See over an appellate court and nisi prius judge of one Milo M. Quaife, "Wisconsin's Saddest Tragedy," in of the three districts into which the territory was Wisconsin Magazine of History, V: 264-283 (March, divided. Dictionary of Wisconsin Biography (Madi­ 1922). son, I960), 110; Dictionary of American Biography.

229 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973 could do nothing for her and she died. She At the convention held to nominate members was considered very beautiful and endowed to the senate and assembly Mr. Rountree was with a brilliant mind. Our grief cannot be de­ nominated to the senate and I for the lower scribed. My wife was distracted. For days house. The nomination was at that time equal and weeks she sat in a darken [ed] room cry­ to an election. ing. It was the first bereavement and our daughter had been her idol. I reasoned with TTERE PROVIDENCE interfered again. her. She said, "I have tried and do try to get -*--•- My house had been finished for some reconciled hut I feel that it is impossible at time when Mr. Vineyard informed me that this place. We must leave this beautiful place about twenty couples had concluded to give us where we have been so happy." a surprise party and have a dance in our new In short, we sold the place to a Mr. Walter house on the next evening. We fully prepared [Walter?] for eighteen hundred dollars. I for it. Next evening I told Octavius that we now had to look for a place for my stock. could not risk our young horses with the Mr. Daniel Wann in Galena owned a small horses that would be there but to turn our place close to us with a double cabin and ten stock into the new field before the guests ar­ acres in good corn and vegetables. I bought rived. The guests came and danced until near­ the crop, with occupation of the place til ly daylight. I bought another home, for $100. I paid all After breakfast I told the boys to bring debts, amounting to about $200, and moved on the horses back from the field. They went the place and we spent a most comfortable and found them all dead. They had stumbled winter. into three shallow mineral holes and broke I was looking in the meantime for a larger their necks. Here were five dead horses and place. Mr. R. Waller of Dubuque had a place one so crippled that he died the same day. three miles south of Platteville that he would For five years I had taken the best care of sell for $500 down and $1,000 on mortgage these horses, for they were the best blooded for four years at 10 per cent interest. As he stock in the country, and in just one night to would sell only on terms of leaving $1,000 on lose them all. the place with interest at 10 per cent, I final­ I was ruined. I withdrew my name as a ly accepted. I [would] much rather have paid candidate for the assembly, to the great sur­ for the place at [the] time of purchase. prise of my friends. The ticket was elected This move proved to be our downfall. We by a large majority. The loss of $1,000 was had a fine home, but our greatest loss was the so heavy that it would almost set a man crazy. school we left, as our children were without One evening we sat in our cabin and the school advantages for four years. children were playing in the new house, when I contracted to get 40 acres of prairie land a fearful scream startled us. When I ran into the house I found our son Justus in full blaze. broke and get part completely fenced. It cost His clothes had caught fire. I extinguished me $500.00. My good luck in mining followed me again. I struck a fine bunch of mineral that brought me $800.00. '° The Platteville Academy was initially chartered My stock was of the finest. I had two farm in 1839 and survived, with varying degrees of suc­ horses, one mare and colt, and five two- and cess, until 1866 when the state accepted the property for the normal school. The smallpox epidemic broke three-year-old blooded young horses that I out in mid-November, 1843, and continued through valued at $1,000 [with which] I had planned February, 1844. Dr. J. W. Clark, who was secretary on paying off the mortgage. I built the needed of the board of trustees of the Academy, was one of the three Platteville doctors the Grant County Herald barns and house. We lived three years in hap­ editor referred to as grossly incompetent. He diag­ piness. We sent Mary (Mrs. Burke) to the nosed the first smallpox cases as a "new type of eruption." Richard G. Gamble, "From Academy to Academy. She boarded at Dr. [J. W.] Clark's. University: Wisconsin State University-Platteville After she had been there three months small­ (1866-1966)," in Walker D. Wyman (ed.), History pox broke out and the Academy was closed.^" of the Wisconsin State Universities, 1866-1968 (River Falls, Wisconsin, 1968), 22-23; Grant County The political situation of the county was Herald (Lancaster), December 16, 23, 30, 1843; His­ divided between the Whigs and Democrats. tory of Grant County, 691, 699-700.

230 MARTEN: HOLLMAN AUTOBIOGRAPHY the fire and was also badly burned myself. ed most of the farm to Dietrich [Dedrick] and I thought I had saved the boy's life. Dr. Clark John Harms. In the meantime I tried to get a was called. He dressed the burns and hurried buyer for the farm, but without success. We away. During the night the child grew worse. decided that we would move to the village of The doctor was again called, but he would Platteville. not come as it was no use as the child would We decided that we should be compelled not live until morning. He died at 5 A.M. I to let the farm go back to Mr. Waller. We thought my wife was not badly affected. The could not agree upon a settlement, so we second day we buried him, without alarming selected two men to arbritrate. I selected Mr. grief on the part of my wife. Rountree and he Henry Snowden. Mrs. Deseelhorst stayed at our house (the I stated my case that I had expended $1,500 boy had been called Justus after Captain De­ for improvements on the place during the five seelhorst) .^"^ We went to bed early. In the years. Mr. Waller, who held the mortgage, middle of the night my wife waked with an replied, "I do not deny what Mr. Hollman says awful scream. "Send quick for the doctor," about the improvements, but at the present I called to Mrs. Deseelhorst. My wife called price of real estate with all its improvements to her, "Send the children to Metcalf and get [it] is not worth as much as the land was five some women." She fell into spasms and con­ years ago." Mr. Rountree proposed that Mr. vulsions. The boy went after the doctor. Such Waller pay me $800, while Mr. Snowden con­ awful confusion. We did not know what to sidered $200 the right amount. We finally do. The convulsions increased and it took came to a settlement when I accepted $250. two women to hold her in bed. Mrs. Deseel­ We moved to Platteville where we rented horst was very collected and useful but what the hotel. We left the farm in care of the could she do, the doctor was needed the most. Harms. Three of the children were sent to the Two fearful and horrible hours passed before Academy and three to the district school. the doctor arrived. He gave her medicine, but My wife felt that a field of usefullness laid it gave no relief. before her and was very happy. Her health The doctor called me into an adjoining was restored and she seemed to be another room and told me that the penned up grief at being. the death of her boy had affected her nervous One disappointment occurred when the system in her delicate condition and would un­ teacher at the Academy resigned and the doubtedly bring on a premature birth. "If school closed for a time. The older boys, not the child is born alive there is hopes for the to be idle, went to digging. mother; if dead, which I fear, under these ter­ Six months passed. If we had made little rible convulsions I tremble for the life of the money, we had at least supported the family mother. Prepare yourself for the worst." The and business was increasing. next morning the child was born (Cynthia) alive. My wife was saved. Thank God. Here providence interfered again. My wife was stricken with a fever, which was slow at The fourth year on this farm passed without first but increased violently. Dr. Clark was any trouble, but everything was reduced to very attentive but was baffled. She sank into nothing. Real estate fell 40 to 50 per cent in a stupor that the doctor could not rouse her value. Produce was too low for the farmer to from^ and she lay with her eyes closed like make a living, corn 20 cents, wheat 60, oats death. 10 cents per bushel. My wife had recovered and was in excel­ The doctor was distracted. Everyone lent health. We both considered that it would thought she would die. Once she opened her be imprudent to continue here longer. I rent- eyes and asked for her sister, Eliza. It was evening, but we sent a messenger to ride all night to Apple River, Illinois, to Squire Wake­ '"• Justus de Seelhorst had been postmaster at Elk field. Mrs. Wakefield, the sister, arrived the Grove, and the community fort during the Black next day. My wife knew her and only said, Hawk War had been on the Seelhorst farm. Wilgus, "My children," and dropped off to sleep "History of Old Platteville," 75; Stevens, The Black Hawk War, 143. again.

231 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973

The doctor and Mrs. Wakefield had a long boarded at your house for six months without conversation. He said, "I have treated her paying a cent, now let me return [the favor]. sickness as lung fever, but by some signs such I have a plan. My brother Frank is making up as the picking with her fingers make me be­ a train for California. If you and Oak will go, lieve it is nervous fever." Mrs. Wakefield, I will promise you conveyance. Your family sagacious in family matters, had made a dis­ with Octavius can move onto my farm that covery which she told the doctor. My wife was my son cultivates. They can live as one fam­ in an early stage of pregnancy. A light broke ily and Octavius can farm as much as he over the doctor. He gave my wife some medi­ pleases until you return from California." cine. Whether it was the medicine or the "There is another thing, you must get presence of her sister, she rallied from the through the winter. Here are three orders on stupor by degrees and her life was saved. E. Baily, I. Hodges, and Moore,^^ each for It was considered absolutely necessary to fifty dollars in goods. You can pay for these get her out of the hotel business into a private when you return from California." dwelling. There was four months remaining It was all arranged. I was ten fold paid for on my lease. I, however, arranged with my all the friendship I had given Judge Dunn in landlord and rented a house of Fletcher Kirk­ 1836. The family was comfortably installed patrick on Slabb Street to which we moved. in the new quarters, and I and Oak left Elk Now look at my situation, I had a wife in Grove in 1849 for California without one ill health and seven children to support, and dollar in our possession. I was without any income. I had some money, The voyage to California and how we got but it would soon be gone. My wife gained there can be of no interest. We might have her strength. The boys made some money by been lucky if my son had not been taken sick. working on old diggings. With calmness and We were doing well at the mine, but when despair I looked to the future. Well I might, Octavius was stricken I took him to the doc­ for the worst was yet to come. tor at Sacramento. Expenses were high, $15 Six months had passed and one piece of for board for each and $16 for every visit property after another had to be sold. I sold from the doctor. Dr. Cronin was kind and my two horses and wagon for $175. This was his charges moderate.^* I secured a clerk­ in 1846. ship at McWinter [Mr. Winter?] Hotel at Twins were born to us, Joseph and Charles. $75.00 a month, so we got along for two This made nine children to be cared for. months when my son could work again. We moved into a larger house in 1847, We returned to our mine again, but found west of the Vanderbie shop. It later burned. it taken. My son drove a team of mules for I now was engaged in mining with the boys. four months. He thought so much of his em­ Thus with a few boarders we managed to get ployer that he had not taken his wages, $325. the best we could, but we grew poorer and I urged him to settle up, but it was too late. poorer every day. In 1848 I was so poor that He lost all. I had to sell a dozen silver tablespoons (the One day at the hotel I met Aaron Davies teaspoons I reserved) to Benjamin [C] East­ of Platteville. He offered me the job of being man .^^ superintendent of his store at Parks Bar at a month. I worked for him until I re- UDGE DUNN heard of this and came to J our house. He said, "Hollman, I know your condition. You were a friend to me. I ^ Elijah Bayley was a merchant in Platteville; Isaac Hodges, a banker and merchant; Samuel Moore, a merchant. History of Grant County, 690, 709, 899, 914. '^Ben C. Eastman (1812-1856), a native of Maine, ^ Edward Cronin, a native of Pennsylvania, first moved to Wisconsin in 1840 and eventually settled in came to Platteville about 1844 and stayed until he PlatteviUe. He was secretary of the territorial legis­ moved to Sacramento in 1850, where he treated vic­ lative council from 1843 to 1846, served as district tims of a cholera epidemic and discovered two good attorney for Grant County, and was elected to two gold claims. In 1853 he moved to Galena, moved terms in Congress, 1851-1855. Dictionary of Wiscon­ around a bit more in the 1860's, and finally settled sin Biography, 113. in Platteville in 1872. Ibid. 903.

232 MARTEN: HOLLMAN AUTOBIOGRAPHY turned to Platteville. I was induced to hurry Here I must observe that James who had home by the news that my family had left the assisted the family for ten years, to the last farm and returned to Platteville. dollar of his scanty salary, still continued to I had sent $100 to my wife by Hamilton do so and . . . the passage of the Bible, "Throw Willard. your bread upon the water," was verified. We had $1,100 when we left Sacramento for He became accidentally part owner of a great Platteville, but this was reduced to $600 by lead mine which enabled him to commence the time we reached home. I paid Judge Dunn business for himself, and he developed into $100, Frank Dunn $75. The remainder I one of the prominent business men of Platte­ divided with the boys, and I was left with ville.''^ just $125. I come now to the ten years, up to 1870. All three boys returned to California. Octa­ Oak and John went to California by land with vius went by water. the Willards. John died on the plains by Never depressed in spirit, I tried every­ drinking alkali water. The two oldest boys got thing. I gave music lessons, made out docu­ along fairly well and sent home as much as ments, settled estates. I bought a house by $300, but this ceased as Octavius was killed paying part and giving a mortgage for the when the ground caved in where he was work­ rest. ing. Later I had the chance to rent the Clinton In 1866 my dear wife, who had been the house, so I leased our house for $5 per month. sharer of all my joys and sorrows for forty- We opened a private boarding house and five years, died. kept the Clinton house for five years. The In 1868 my son Charles, twenty-three years first three years we made money. I paid old old, was drowned in the Pecatonica River, so debts, I had given I. Hodge a note for $50 in I had lost four sons by untimely deaths. 1849 which was now $85.00 and Octavius had One consolation that was always with me left an account of $35.00 that was now $50.00, was that I had the best children ever born to which I paid together with other debts, total parents. I now live retired. My daughter $200.00. Maria, keeps house for James and myself. Mrs. Wayne who, with her children boarded We live comfortably. I am now in my with us, owed me considerable. [She] re­ eightieth year, healthy in body and mind. ceived a draft for $100 and gave the same to me and I paid her the balance. I received also a land warrant of 80 acres for my services in the Black Hawk War. With this and some assistance from James the mortgage on the house was paid. T^REDERICK HOLLMAN died on March By the desire of my wife, the house was -*- 23, 1875, five years after he completed deeded to Mr. Block and by him to our son these reminiscences. Lyman Copeland Draper James, who, now, made fine improvements. noted in volume seven of the Wisconsin His­ He raised the second story on the house, put torical Collections that Hollman was remem­ a porch in front and painted it, built a barn, bered for "his correct business habits, promp­ kitchen, woodhouse, and fence. titude and open-heartedness," traits which ap­ The withdrawal of $500 out of a business pear repeatedly in his autobiography. where cash is wanting every day naturally cramped me. I had to run accounts and the house was not so well supplied. The business ^W. H. Diffenbacher was a dentist who moved from Pennsylvania to Platteville about 1858. Ibid., declined. The rent was raised as Dr. Deffen- 903. backer^^ offered more. I fell in debt $60 for "° One of the six memorial windows in the 1878 rent and as James had the house, he invited Methodist Episcopal Church was donated by James Hollman, a dry goods merchant, in memory of his us to it and we left the Clinton house. parents. Ibid., 727; U. S. manuscript census, 1870.

233 REVIEWS

American Communism in Perspective: A Review

By George Charney

T T IS STRANGE to recall that in the mid- and the large flow of world events. The -*• 1930's the Communist party, for a brief passage of the years has provided a broader moment under Earl Browder, seemed des­ perspective to recapitulate the history of the tined to transform the radical tradition in party in its years of crisis. America. It was not to be. The party disin­ The period under review extends from tegrated within a decade as a result of its own 1943 to 1957. The focus is on the change­ contradictions. Starobin's account of the de­ over in leadership from Earl Browder to Wil­ cline and fall of the party is an outstanding liam Z. Foster and the formal reconstitution contribution to this history. It is a rare, al­ of the party in 1945. Browder had a postwar most impossible combination of independent perspective of national unity and peaceful co­ scholarship and the insights of one who shared existence. Foster had a Leninist view of Amer­ this experience. This enabled him to deal with ican imperialism seeking world domination, the life of the inner community in the period of inevitable war with the Soviet Union, and of its spectacular growth and how this com­ of the sharpening of class conflict at home. munity carried the burdens of the Cold War When Jacques Duclos, leader of the French with the same expectation of socialism within Communist party, condemned Browder as a a generation, the same undiminished sense of revisionist and upheld the position of Foster, guiding history. it was recognized as a signal from Moscow to As foreign editor of the Daily Worker the American party to depose Browder and Starobin sought to influence, not just to clari­ to follow the orthodox leadership of Foster. fy, party policy and to transcend the severe The organization of the Cominform in Oc­ limitations imposed on all leading cadre to tober, 1947, to unify Communist strategy, deal only with tactical matters. The strategy the spectacular speech of Andrei Zhdanov, originated in Moscow. Starobin's position Stalin's political deputy, dividing the world gave him an extraordinary vantage point to into the camp of imperialism and war headed observe the micro-experience of the party, by the United States and the camp of anti- leaders finding their places in the vanguard. imperialism and peace headed by the Soviet Union, and the harsh criticism by the Yugo­ slavs of the failure of the French and Italian parties to achieve power in the postwar up­ American Communism in Crisis—1943-57. heaval, gave irrefutable proof of the new di­ By JOSEPH R. STAROBIN. (Harvard University rection of Communist policy. The Browder- Press, Cambridge, 1972. Pp. xvii, 331. Por­ Foster controversy reflected and quickened trait, bibliography, index. $12.95.) the change-over. Just as Marx asserted that

234 BOOK REVIEWS

the history of the class struggle illuminates ficial and self-serving. These repressions un­ the history of civilization, so the inner party doubtedly reduced the membership and the struggle illuminates the history of the Com­ party's capacity to function, but the cadre munist movement. In summing up this epi­ and the basic structure held firm. The collapse sode, Starobin expresses the view that Browder was the product of disillusionment from with­ erred in his expectation of national unity and in rather than attacks from without. peace—though he had grasped something that The final phase of the book deals with the was new—and that Foster, "who judged more "struggle of the re-examinationists" led by accurately in the short run, clung to an apoc­ John Gates to reform the party and achieve its alyptic view which history eventually reject­ independence from Moscow. Foster was ed." This judgment will, no doubt, serve as viewed as the American Stalinist and held ac­ a subject of continuing controversy among countable for the state of the party. He stood Marxists. In all events, Foster's victory in his ground, yielded not an inch, and in time 1945 marked a new stage in the evolution managed to form an alliance with the center, of American Communism and led to its de­ represented by Eugene Dennis, in opposition cline and fall. In an earlier period the party's to the Gates wing that was now denounced as ties with the Soviet Union constituted a source revisionist. Independence from Moscow was of strength. The October Revolution repre­ tantamount to treason. This involved and sented the great breach in the system of triangulated struggle soon reduced itself to capitalism, the emergence of a new society the overriding task, backed by Moscow, of that would reshape the world. The soul of the the defeat of revisionism. The majority that party—the dedication of its members—de­ backed reform in the spring of 1956 drifted rived more of its inspiration from the Soviet away when it perceived that it was predicated Union than from faith in its own capacity on unity with Dennis, subject, as before, to to win the American working class to social­ Soviet hegemony. The events in Poland and ism. The expansion of Soviet power, the sub­ Hungary speeded the exodus. sequent victory of Communism in China, and With the victory over Gates, the new mass the New World alignment dominated the mood party of socialism envisaged by Dennis at the within the party and obscured its growing outset of the struggle was soon forgotten. difficulties at home. The party concentrated Starobin's chapters on the decline and fall on its primary task: to struggle against Amer­ combine drama with political analysis. The ican policy. Its ties with the Soviet Union, text is supplemented by ample notes that il­ once a source of strength, became its Achilles luminate the issues and the role of the lead­ heel. ing personalities of the party. The campaign of the Progressive party Inevitably there are questions. There is with Henry Wallace in 1948 marked a criti­ no community in the Diaspora or old cadre cal juncture in the life of the party. The that looks back at this period with an undif­ heavy defeat suffered by the Progressives was ferentiated point of view. For example, Staro­ accompanied by a split in the CIO which iso­ bin depicts the Progressive party campaign lated its left-wing that at one time commanded as the climactic moment of crisis. One is a membership of a million workers, the aliena­ bound to speculate if a different strategy—• tion from the Negro liberation movement that one of opposition within the Democratic party had contributed a large and influential con­ by Wallace—would have altered prospects of stituency to the party, and other losses. The the peace movement and the Communist party. Smith Act trials brought new burdens that One cannot speak of the former; but as to weakened the organization. Its decision to the latter, the logic of its postwar position, set up an underground apparatus to guide the the irreconcilability of the two camps, and party under conditions it anticipated of il­ the readiness of the party to expend itself legality and fascism, contributed untold con­ on behalf of Soviet policy led irresistibly to fusion in the ranks. the debacle. The 1948 campaign only has­ Starobin describes these events in the chap­ tened the process. The irony is that under ter on "Incoherence and Agony." The party Browder or Foster, despite their large differ­ had lost its way and was incoherent. The ences in outlook, the party with its limited agony came with the shattering impact of working-class base could not, even partially, Khrushchev's revelations in 1956 of the ty­ resolve the contradiction between its aspira­ rannical role of Stalin. Foster attributed the tion to serve as an indigenous radical party party's debacle to objective causes, principally and its subservience to the policies and leader­ the Cold War, but his explanation is super­ ship of the Soviet Union.

235 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973

Fifteen years have elapsed since the up­ lished in 1968 under the title, A Long heaval. Starobin allows himself a few mo­ Journey. Since then Mr. Charney has ments of quiet reflection in the closing pages written articles for the New Republic of the book on the problem of reform and and the Nation, including an essay revolution in the modern world. It is too on the "Crisis of European Com­ brief, tantalizingly so in light of the mount­ munism—Tremors After Prague.") ing problems of world communism. What of Marxism, of Marxism-Leninism and the con­ cept of scientific socialism? Isaac Deutscher predicted a renaissance of Marxism follow­ ing the death of Stalin in 1953. This predic­ STATE AND REGIONAL tion seems to have gone awry. The late George Lukacs, Hungarian Marxist philoso­ pher, observed that "socialism as well as Frederick Jackson Turner: Historian, Scholar, capitalism needs a continual critical analysis, Teacher. By RAY ALLEN BILLINGTON. (Ox­ a de-mystifying analysis. And note well that ford University Press, New York, 1973. Pp. this must be done on a world scale. No one X, 599. Notes, bibliography, index. $17.50.) is doing it, no one thinks of it. . . . We stopped with Lenin. After him there has been Love's labor is not always lost. Rather, no Marxism. Even in the socialist countries as in the case of this biography, a labor of the lack of theory, and especially the lack love can produce a handsome, compelling por­ of a Marxist analysis of capitalism today, im­ trait of a man and his career. Billington ad­ pedes the construction of true socialism." mits at the outset that "I wanted to tell all Perhaps the issue of Marxism and its rele­ about Frederick Jackson Turner." When he vance in the modern world did not lie within began writing, "I had fallen under his spell, the purview of Starobin's book, or the con­ as must anyone who reads his letters and nection between the crisis of the American nothing would do but a full-length portrait of party and the future of Communism was too the man and his ideas. But how to justify vague or tenuous. And yet there is a con­ such an extravagance with words?" The an­ nection between the people Starobin describes swer came when Billington posed the problem with the nonideological term of re-examina­ to a group of fellow scholars. Leon Howard, tionists in the upheaval of 1956 and the con­ a distinguished literary critic and biographer flicting trends in the Communist world today. of Herman Melville, suggested, "Why not These re-examinationists, in a modest way, write a biography of a college professor. . . . provided the initial impulse towards reform, Why not, just once, a realistic life of a class towards a concept of socialism based on de­ room teacher?" (pp. v-vi) By following mocracy. There is a line, albeit discontin­ that advice Billington has presented a richly uous, that links the early ideas of Browder to detailed account of the life of the person who the American debates of 1956-1958 on Stalin­ ranks as both the most influential thinker yet ism and the Czech spring of 1968. It is a part produced by the state of Wisconsin and the now of the most important trend in Com­ most distinguished scholar and teacher thus munism today, the Reformation that begins far associated with the University of Wiscon­ by discarding the dogma of the unitary dic­ sin. On both accounts, this biography should tatorship. hold absorbing interest for all readers of this Starobin's book provides a deep insight into magazine. the American experience and its world im­ Turner's contribution to American thought plications. In the preface he speaks of the lay in his influential interpretations of the ultimate illusion that something can be passed nation's history. His "frontier thesis" still on. Something has been passed on. It could stands as the single most important key to not be otherwise. In this sense this book is understanding the peculiar development of a part of the making of history. democratic politics and society in the United States. In a chapter that is reminiscent of James Watson's account of the discoverv of (George Charney was a member of the model for the DNA molecule in The Dou­ the American Communist party for ble Helix, Billington describes the feverish twenty-five years. In 1958 he left creative outburst that led Turner to propound the party and subsequently wrote a the frontier thesis when he was only thirty- memoir which Quadrangle Books pub­ one. Turner also had other claims to great-

236 BOOK REVIEWS ness as an historian. Not only did he reject institution. Happily, Turner's well-publicized simple, unitary explanations of historical de­ departure did have some effect in moderat­ velopments (except for a sometimes excessive ing Regent criticisms. reliance on the frontier), he also demanded In addition to portraying Turner's careers that a bevy of scholarly approaches be used as historian and professor, Billington depicts in studying the past. Turner urged his fellow his personal life deftly and tenderly. Turner historians to examine geography, statistics, possessed, as Billington notes, an "immense economics, literature, art, and sociology in at­ charm" which stemmed from his combining tempting to probe the totality of people's ex­ "the qualities of the scholar with those of a perience at particular moments in time. More­ warm, outgoing, fallible, human being." His over, he intuitively grasped the need for com­ human fallibility showed nowhere better than parative perspectives in studying national his­ in his renowned inability to write books. Dur­ tories. When he traveled in Europe in 1900, ing his lifetime. Turner published only two he deliberately spent the greater part of his books. One was wrung from him by the re­ trip in Switzerland and Italy, because he be­ sourceful browbeating of his editor, A. B. lieved that those countries offered sufficient Hart; the other was a collection of previously contrast to sharpen his perceptions about the published essays. His scanty production did United States. In all of these approaches, as not stem from any lack of desire to write Billington emphasizes, Turner was so far books. Turner spent the last fifteen years of ahead of his time that he would have found his life working on a history of the United himself at home among historians today. States from 1830 to 1850, which he dubbed Turner's academic career extended over "THE BOOK." Published posthumously, "THE nearly forty years, from shortly after his grad­ BOOK" appeared at all, in Billington's estima­ uation from the University of Wisconsin in tion, only because death prevented Turner 1884 until his retirement from Harvard in from puttering away at it forever. From early 1924. Except for brief periods away, to at­ in his graduate student days, Turner displayed tend graduate school for a year at Johns Hop­ the combination of perfectionism, diligence at kins and on an occasional semester's leave, he research, and procrastination that always taught continuously at Wisconsin for over blocked sustained effort. The paper in which twenty-five years. His experiences here pro­ he propounded the frontier thesis came as vide an alternately amusing and chilling ex­ the result of a frantic push, completed just position of how little has changed in basic hours before Turner was scheduled to speak. features of this university and American high­ Yet perhaps what he lacked in austere com­ er education since the 1890's. Faculty poli­ pulsion to produce extended works did have tics formed one of Turner's major occupations, the compensation of making him a more ac­ as he successfully built up the history depart­ cessible and agreeable companion to his fami­ ment and helped get his friend and neighbor ly, colleagues, and friends. This biography Charles R. Van Hise chosen president. Less would have had a less personally appealing pleasing outcomes met other efforts. From subject if Turner had practiced the devotion 1906 to 1908 he sought unsuccessfully to re­ to writing that he never stopped longing for. form and de-emphasize college football, which On all these aspects of Turner's life—as a was even then burgeoning into a semiprofes- practicing historian and professor and as a sional enterprise; shortly afterward, he had person—• Billington has executed a truly fine to defend his own position as primarily a biography that should amply requite his labor graduate teacher who had done so much to of love. It would give me great pleasure if give the university a national and interna­ tional scholarly reputation. In 1909, a con­ I could conclude this review with that obser­ servative Board of Regents started attacking vation and thus utter nothing but praise for the Madison campus as an impractical, expen­ this book. Unfortunately, two serious defects sive operation, where too much faculty time have to be pointed out. One is that Billington went to research and not enough to the class­ has surrendered too freely to his desire "to room. Never a spellbinding lecturer with a tell all." He has made the biography at least large undergraduate following. Turner recog­ seventy-seven pages too long by adding three nized that he and his reduced teaching load closing chapters, after having completed the offered tempting targets to the Regents' on­ story of Turner's life. Those three chapters— slaught. Accordingly, he resigned and moved on his personality, thought, and influence— to Harvard in 1910, as a gesture designed to mainly repeat matters already well explored, highlight the university's role as a research and, like vagrant afterthoughts, they mar the S5rmmetry of the book. The other, more dam-

237 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973 aging flaw is the failure to supply "a full- heavily upon the publications of the Illinois length portrait of . . . [Turner's] ideas." Bil­ State Historical Library and the Journal of lington conveys at best a hazy image of Tur­ the Illinois State Historical Society. The ner's ideas, treating his writings almost en­ greatest strength of the volume is in political tirely as activities rather than expressions. history, reflecting, doubtless, Howard's long Billington might have done well to have career as a political reporter for the Asso­ heeded Leon Howard's example as well as ciated Press and the Chicago Tribune. Gen­ his advice. The proper model for a biography erally in political matters, Howard's judge­ of an historian like Turner—whose major im­ ments are good, although one might detect portance lay in his ideas, not his activities (as a slight Republican bias in the descriptions of in the case of his friend, J. Franklin Jameson) recent campaigns. If such a bias is there, it —is a critical biography of a poet or novelist, is indeed slight, and for the most part Howard in which an examination of the subject's writ­ is a good and dispassionate reporter. ings is intertwined with the story of his or her There are a few questions of balance. The life. For that kind of treatment of Turner, twentieth century gets only 153 pages. It the best place to turn is still the section on would seem to this reviewer that there is too him in Richard Hofstadter, The Progressive little social and intellectual history. The Historians (1968). Springfield race riot gets only one sentence, These criticisms are not meant to suggest the race riots in East St. Louis and Chicago that this is not a fine work and well worth each get only a paragraph. These episodes reading. It is both of those. I, for one, re­ appear more important than others that are gret that Billington did not write the great given more space. The reviewer, sensitive to critical biography which Turner deserves. But the magnitude of the Illinois history and the this book still provides a continually fascinat­ pressure of trying to get it all into a single ing account of the life of an historian, profes­ volume, notes that these are necessary mat­ sor, and engaging human being. ters of judgement. Howard has turned out a very readable JOHN MILTON COOPER, JR. book. The annotation is somewhat erratic. University of Wisconsin—Madison The notes, sensibly at the bottom of the pages, are fuller in the earlier portions of the book. In some places the reader will wish that the author had indicated his sources more fully. Illinois: A History of the Prairie State. By As an example, there is an excellent section ROBERT P. HOWARD (William B. Eerdmans on automobile manufacturing (pp. 491-493), Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michi­ but there is no indication of the source of gan, 1972. Pp. xxiv, 626. Illustrations, notes, these statistics. The reader who wants to ex­ appendix, bibliography, maps, index. $10.95.) plore the subject further will want a note or two. The bibliography and index are first rate. Anyone interested in Illinois history will welcome this volume. Aside from a few slim This is an example of state history at its elementary school textbooks, the only single best. It should find a welcome place on the volume history of Illinois was Theodore Cal­ shelf of everyone interested in Illinois. vin Pease's The Story of Illinois, first pub­ lished in 1925 and revised in 1949. Profes­ DONALD F. TINGLEY sor Pease contributed brilliant interpreta­ Eastern Illinois University tion but little information. Other than this there have been some multivolume works such as Governor E. F. Dunne's History of Illi­ nois (Chicago, 1933) and the Centennial His­ Wisconsin Death Trip. By MICHAEL LESY. tory (6 vols., 1918-1920). The Centennial With a Preface by WARREN SUSMAN. (Pan­ History is now being brought up-to-date but theon Books, New York, 1973. Pp. 262. Il­ a multivolume work reaches a limited audi­ lustrations, notes, bibliography. $5.95.) ence. Robert P. Howard has filled a gap in the literature of Illinois history. Between 1890 and 1910, in and around the Howard has produced a solid piece of town of Black River Falls, Jackson County, scholarship, representing a synthesis of the Wisconsin, a photographer named Charles existing literature. He has pulled together the Van Schaick made something like 30,000 pic­ best of the secondary materials, depending tures of men, women, and children, living and

238 BOOK REVIEWS dead; of livestock, buggies, and pets; of barns, Suicide is rife. The people of Wisconsin houses, stores; of train wrecks, fires, floods, hang, shoot, stab, and drown themselves; they parades. Of this vast collection of fragile glass blow themselves up with dynamite or lay their negatives, about 3,000 were ultimately deemed heads on railroad tracks; they swallow mor­ worthy of preservation as historical docu­ phine, carbolic acid, paris green, strychnine, ments. Today the photographs of Charles match heads, cigar butts, bedsprings. These Van Schaick—needle-sharp, intelligent, mun­ ghastly rites, as reported in the local press, dane—are among the chief jewels of the Icono­ "permitted people to share their misery by graphic Collections of the State Historical So­ turning strangers into relatives. They attri­ ciety of Wisconsin, where they may be viewed, buted and articulated the motives of the most and used, as a means of enjoying, or re­ secret and private of undertakings, the act of creating, or analyzing the past. suicide, and so permitted desperate people to Michael Lesy, whose doctoral dissertation be solaced by others' despair. . . . Such weekly at Rutgers University is the basis of Wiscon­ articles and notices served purposes similar sin Death Trip, believes that Van Schaick's to those of commercial photography: they photographs contain veiled but unmistakable were symbolic ways of dealing with an in­ clues to the dark, troubled psyche of rural human fate that made some men helpless by America during the crucial decade from 1890 making them suddenly and inexplicably poor, to 1900. He says that these were not merely and that drove some women mad with grief snapshots of things that caught a man's eye, and remorse by quickly killing their children." nor the product of a contract between photo­ Perhaps so. Undeniably the last decade of grapher and client; rather, "their deepest the nineteenth century was tense and difficult, purpose was more religious than secular . . . in Black River Falls as elsewhere. Probably not so much a form of applied technology as these pictures tell part of that story. Sort ... a semimagical act that symbolically dealt through them, backward or forward, and you with time and mortality." Parents, their minds seem to inhale the very dust of their bones— riven by grief and guilt, preserved their dead those babies snug in their tiny coffins, those children on silvered sheets of glass; farmers starched families frozen in front of their and businessmen, ruined overnight by banks homes, those loggers and farmers and barbers or railroads a thousand miles away, found pausing (or rather posing) at their work. solace in pictures of their tangible property: Stare at them long enough and you may be­ picket fences, steam threshers, stud horses. gin to see despair and madness in every eye. Like relatives attending the funeral of an But is this truly the coded message of Charles earlier, happier America, they stared into Van Schaick's extraordinary photographs? Charles Van Schaick's lens and dispatched Michael Lesy dared greatly. The mission their messages into time. he set himself was not so much to describe Like other, more conventional historical or analyze a select group of people at a par­ materials—letters, diaries, public documents ticular place and time as it was to distill their —these images of faces and houses whisper essence from a large, seemingly nondescript and mumble in many voices, leaving it to body of historical materials. Because the pho­ each successive auditor to decide what they tographs of Charles Van Schaick assayed very truly mean. To help us understand what they high, he came close to succeeding. The pity are saying, Lesy has selected approximately is not that Wisconsin Death Trip is a failure, 150 of Van Schaick's photographs and juxta­ but that it is a less-than-honest failure. posed them with excerpts from the Black Since he obviously could select only a hand­ River Falls Badger State Banner, case his­ ful out of 3,000 photographs, Lesy tended to tories of local persons committed to the Men- choose the grotesque, the shocking, the sur­ dota State Hospital for the Insane, snippets real. Fair enough: every historian must from the novels of Hamlin Garland and Glen- choose between one item of data and another. way Wescott, and his own coy interpolations What Lesy did next, however, was to crop, as "town gossip" and "local historian." These cut apart, repeat, reverse, or arrange many documentary passages, arranged more or less photographs in montage, so that in some in­ chronologically, deal almost exclusively with stances the image displayed bears no relation­ social aberrations and economic disasters: ship to the original. He anticipated the criti­ murder, arson, insanity, bankruptcy, incest, cism that he had thereby distorted Van transvestism. Schaick's pictures, writing: "The insertions The effect is rather like Spoon River in and additions were rationalized in this way: full flood. Madness and horror stalk the land. the only way to go against a photographer's

239 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973

Photographs from the Society's Van Schaick Col­ lection used to illustrate Wisconsin Death Trip. Those of the coiffured show horse (above) not only reappear elsewhere in the book, but also demonstrate how negatives were reversed and the picture cropped to produce desired effects. The picture of the woman on the sofa (middle right), with its Whistler-like balance of space and shapes, does not appear in the book. The frozen, half-stricken attitudes of the two farm families (middle left and right below) reflect the rigidities of turn-of-the-century photography.

240 BOOK REVIEWS

intentions is to destroy his negatives. . . . Watson, Dwight Perkins, George Maher some­ The thing to worry about is meanings, not times, and of course Sullivan and Wright. appearances." This may be so. The effect in Their achievement was to develop a horizon­ Wisconsin Death Trip, unfortunately, is to tally oriented structure suitable to the prairie render some pictures obscure, to load others and adaptable to all building types, charac­ with Meaning, and ultimately to lose the way. terized by extensive fenestration under low What is beautiful and exciting about the book gabled or hipped roofs, by stucco or brick is almost wholly the creation of a long-dead construction sparingly trimmed with stained photographer; what is turgid or flippant is wood, and by imaginatively interpenetrating the invention of the historian. In fooling interior space. Their goals were elimination, around with Charles Van Schaick's pictures, simplification, practicality, and common sense Michael Lesy somewhere lost sight of Black without dependence on historic styles. Wright River Falls, and rural America, and (his was the major innovator but others also did words) "people who were once actually alive." memorable work. Instead he has created a mythical place called According to Brooks the movement had Crazytown, where the townspeople play tricks three stages. Prior to 1902 a group of young­ on Zen historians. er Chicago architects who admired Sullivan, some with offices in the same building and PAUL H. HASS members of the Chicago Architectural Club, State Historical Society of Wisconsin attempting to design without precedent, found themselves working along similar lines. Their buildings met with favor from a public pre­ pared by the Arts and Crafts Movement, the vogue for bungalows, the homemaker maga­ zines, and by a local cultural self-conscious­ The Prairie School: Frank Lloyd Wright and ness in which the Chicago client "felt less His Midwest Contemporaries. By H. ALLEN social pressure to conform to historic styles BROOKS. (University of Toronto Press, To­ than did his Eastern counterpart." The sec­ ronto, 1972. Pp. xxiii, 373. Illustrations, ond phase of the Prairie School extended from notes, bibliographical essay, index. $25.00.) 1902 to 1909 at Wright's Oak Park, Illinois, studio. Here the forms and philosophy were hammered out under his direction, here in­ Modern American architecture in large part fluential structures took shape, and here the originated in greater Chicago between the principals received apprenticeship training. 1871 fire and World War I. The careers of The third phase began in 1909 when Wright Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright have closed his studio, removing his overpowering been extensively explored along with the com­ personality and freeing his draughtsmen for mercial and skyscraper architecture of Sulli­ independent effort. Before its demise the van, Burnham and Root, Holabird and Roche, Prairie School shone most brightly from 1912 and others, but until now there has been no to 1914 when it spread across the Midwest in comprehensive analysis of the largely resi­ a great burst of collective activity. Brooks dential work associated with Wright and his amply illustrates this corpus with 247 general­ twentieth-century contemporaries. Distin­ ly excellent reproductions (many by the au­ guishing between the "Chicago School" (the thor) and gives concise descriptions of scores city's late nineteenth-century skyscraper de­ of buildings, many of which were heretofore signers) and the "Prairie School" (twentieth- undocumented. Not the least of the dividends century Midwestern architects). Professor from this impressive book is the reader's Brooks of the University of Toronto traces discovery that many more significant struc­ the rise, maturation, and decline of "one of tures than he might have imagined are await­ the most native, original, and dynamic devel­ ing his visit to the small cities of Iowa, Min­ opments in the history of American architec­ nesota, and Wisconsin. ture." Of the fifteen to twenty young design­ ers (undoubtedly more remain undiscovered) Ironically, The Prairie School suffers from who worked in a similar manner from the its own comprehensiveness. Five chapters with mid-1890's to about 1916, the best known are the bulk of Brooks' interpretations average Walter Burley Griffin, George Elmslie, Wil­ only seventeen pages, whetting the appetite liam Purcell, Barry Byrne, Hugh Garden, for more, while Chapters 5-7 with most of Richard Schmidt, Robert Spencer, Jr., Wil­ the raw data average sixty-nine pages, and liam Drummond, Thomas Tallmadge, Vernon after a while become dulling. As the reader

241 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973 pores over project after project by a dozen The University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee: An or more designers he loses continuity, for in Urban University. By J. MARTIN KLOTSCHE. order to follow a particular architect through (The University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee, time he must jump from chapter to chapter, Milwaukee, 1972. Pp xiii, 151. Illustrations, requiring a considerable amount of broken- notes, appendix, index. $5.00.) field reading. The author has correctly or­ ganized his book around the ebb and flow of "At the end of 15 years there can no longer the movement, fitting in the personnel where be any doubts about UWM's future. Its mis­ appropriate, a necessary strategy but one sion is clear and unmistakable, and its unique which obscures the individuality and evolu­ place in Wisconsin's scheme of higher edu­ tion of the several designers. The importance cation is now generally accepted. . . . Now of the interpretations is threatened by the recognized as the second major public uni­ wealth of material which almost makes the versity in the state, its future cannot be denied. book a catalog. Hopefully, it will not be used Not only has it exceeded the expectations of that way. those who established it in 1955, but with a Brooks attributes the movement's demise mission substantially different from that of to the Midwest's loss of cultural identity dur­ the Madison campus, it now seeks to become ing World War I, and to rejection of the one of America's great urban universities" Prairie Style by wives of clients, presumably (p. 105). Thus writes the man who served under the influence of eastern oriented in­ as the University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee's terior decorators and magazines. The ques­ first provost and chancellor in a book copy­ tion Brooks does not explore to substantiate righted by himself and apparently published his thesis is why Midwestern women, seeking by the University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee. independence from their husbands and self- I say "apparently published by the university" affirmation in other ways (feminism, suf- because the university's name on the title page fragism), would so willingly adopt Eastern is so ambiguously placed that it may serve standards of taste, a trap their own mates had as identification of either Mr. Klotsche's po­ avoided earlier when they embraced the Prai­ sition or of the publisher, in the former case rie Style. An alternative explanation for the indicating that the book is published at Mr. rise and fall of the movement is that the Klotsche's expense, in the latter that his uni­ prairie house, through its symbols and physi­ versity is the publisher. However that may cal requisites, reassured a middle-class clien­ be, a statement on the back flap assures us tele new to the city in the early twentieth cen­ that the book is "not printed at state expense." tury and intimidated by its ways. Then with For anyone whose interest in Wisconsin's the city more familiar and manageable by institutions of public higher education has the 1920's, and with roots established, clients been piqued by the current debates over Gov­ were less in need of homes that emphasized in­ ernor Lucey's merger program, Mr. Klotsche's ternal intimacy, privacy vis-a-vis the larger first chapter will provide an enlightening sur­ community, shelter, permanence, durability, vey of previous merger efforts. Attempts at closeness to nature, and other values familiar merger of the state teachers colleges and the and supportive to families beginning the pro­ University of Wisconsin date back to Senator cess of acculturation in a new city and an Foster Porter's 1948-1949 Commission on the unsettled region. But all this is a matter of Improvement of the Educational System and interpretation, not a criticism of Brooks' fine to Dean Ingraham's 1948 proposal to merge study, which is now the definitive work on into a four-year undergraduate college the the Prairie School and is likely to remain so Milwaukee State Teachers College and the for many years. activities of University Extension in Milwau­ kee. By 1955 the various interested parties ROBERT C. TWOMBLY and the legislature arrived at a compromise City College of New York solution. This preserved the separate existence of the two boards of regents, but created the Coordinating Council for Higher Education which was to align the priorities and budgets of the two systems. In Milwaukee the merger proposed by Ingraham created a new four- year college called the University of Wiscon­ sin—Milwaukee. The campus was to be under the authority of the university regents and to

242 BOOK REVIEWS

fA':*s:~j,',i. The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, an aerial view.

be headed by Provost Klotsche. It opened tive and at least once in a while to see the its doors to students in September of 1956, comic-opera quality of these debates and reso­ offering undergraduate degrees in letters and lutions. His attention, I suppose, is not cen­ science and in education and master's degrees tered on writing history but on chronicling in education, social work, commerce, engineer­ the achievements of his administration. So he ing, and mathematics. goes on to tell us of his successful struggle In subsequent chapters the author chronicles "to achieve autonomy and win freedom from the university's expansion. It becomes evident Madison domination," of rising enrollments, that in Mr. Klotsche's view the institution's resource allocations, and expanding physical major problem was to cut its apron strings to facilities. Madison. Thus he defines as the special mis­ The growth mentality that characterizes sion of the Milwaukee campus the task "of this book becomes strikingly evident in its last seeking excellence in its own right rather than chapter. Here Klotsche uses the "uniqueness" simply mirroring the parent campus in Madi­ of Milwaukee's urban campus as an argument son." Being located in the state's largest city, for rejecting an enrollment ceiling and for UWM was to "develop a national identity" as claiming special obligations of a Milwaukee an urban university. In 1963 University Presi­ extension program. He acknowledges that dent Fred Harrington and Milwaukee Provost there is an oversupply of Ph.D.'s in the coun­ Klotsche proposed "major university status" try, but concludes that it "has little bearing for UWM to be achieved within twenty years. on the Milwaukee situation" because, he In higher education's boom years of the sixties writes, "in an urban situation graduate work they proceeded to enlarge the Milwaukee in­ in professional schools that prepares people stitution until it included in 1966 a total of for careers other than those of academic teach­ ten schools and colleges. By 1969 the univer­ ing and research deserves special attention." sity granted the doctoral degree in eleven As one reads this volume one cannot but fields. "It came as a distinct shock," writes wonder about the "uniqueness" of the Mil­ Klotsche, when the staff of the Coordinating waukee situation. Mr. Klotsche sounds at Council for Higher Education in June, 1968, times as though he presided over the country's rejected "major university status" and pro­ first urban university. The phenomenon of posed instead that the campus become "a high higher education in the cities, however, dates quality urban university." The end result of back to the colonial period. Where but in the debate was a compromise that cynics cities were located the University of Pennsyl­ might have predicted. CCHE endorsed a "ma­ vania, King's College (Columbia), and jor urban university," and Klotsche reports Brown? And what of newer schools like The that this formula "was generally viewed as a Johns Hopkins and the University of Chicago? victory for the university." Perhaps it is ask­ And what are we to make of cities like Cincin­ ing too much of Mr. Klotsche to place the nati, Detroit, New York, and San Francisco who all, at various times, created their munici- events of his narrative into historical perspec­

243 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973

pal universities? The emphasis on growth This position generally reflected not only his and the stress on the urban campus all fall need to participate in the new bureaucracy into place when we recognize Mr. Klotsche's but often his awareness of a particular status volume for what it is: A report on his steward­ and social position." ship, an apologia pro vita sua. It is not a Like the work of R. Jackson Wilson in In work of history. Quest of Community, Gilbert, in this introduc­ tory section, sensitively portrays the poignant JURGEN HERBST dilemma of these intellectuals: by projecting University of Wisconsin—Madison their personal and group interests they came to believe that they had discovered their long sought after "national community." If to his­ torians they now appear to have been the basis of a new bureaucracy, they nevertheless GENERAL HISTORY considered themselves as a "professional pub­ lic interest group" above politics and class conflict. Designing the Industrial State rein­ forces the notion that these intellectuals de­ Designing the Industrial State: The Intellect­ veloped a national intellectual reference group, ual Pursuit of Collectivism in America, 1880— replete with a shared view of the world, 1940. By JAMES GILBERT. (Quadrangle norms, and vocational interests. Books, Chicago, 1972. Pp. ix, 335. Notes, note on sources, index. $10.00.) In the biographical portion of his book, however, Gilbert is less convincing. Earlier, James Gilbert, in his new book, Designing in the preface, he rhetorically asks if Jane the Industrial State, further refines the argu­ Addams is merely to be written off as a "cor­ ments of James Weinstein in The Corporate porate liberal." Gilbert is sophisticated enough Ideal in the Liberal State and Gabriel Kolko not to describe his intellectuals as the unwit­ in The Triumph of Conservatism, both of ting stooges of the new corporations. But, his whom have stressed the depth of involvement choices for subjects leave one wondering and of American intellectuals and reformers as the finally disappointed. King Gillette, creator rationalizing and bureaucratizing agents of of the safety razor and company which bears American industrialization from the late nine­ his name, Edmond Kelly, an international teenth century through World War I. lawyer, and Charles Steinmetz, a laboratory whiz kid owned by General Electric, are hard­ Gilbert deals with a group whom he calls ly complex enough to stand in the same com­ "collectivist intellectuals": men who believed pany with Jane Addams or John Dewey; their in and used the new corporations — "the ties with wealth and corporations are too new industrial order" — to produce an effi­ strong to permit their use as convincing types cient, highly organized society devoted to for intellectual reformers of the period. Only social justice with themselves operating as its Gilbert's choice of William English Walling, leadership elite. "Their own careers and their who made a career as a major Socialist re­ relationships with other intellectuals" moved former, could have served as a proper model. these "social entrepreneurs," Gilbert asserts, Unfortunately, Gilbert does not adequately as much if not more than their commitment to deal with the motivation for Walling's break reform in terms of specific ideas and roles. with the Socialist Party, his attacks on leftists After an admittedly generalized analysis of the during and after the first World War, or his entire period which lasts well over one hun­ condemnation of the Russian Revolution while dred pages, Gilbert attempts to buttress his moving to the right. At times, Gilbert even thesis with six biographical studies. hints at a sell-out: "The rewards of Walling's Curiously, this extensive introductory anal­ new position were temporary power as an ysis is far more interesting and convincing adviser in the Wilson administration and than the biographical section. Gilbert ably recognition as an anti-Soviet expert." handles the effects of changing social and eco­ nomic patterns on intellectuals as a group. The last two studies really do not belong Their group's experiences and position in in this book, which should have terminated American society, he insists, controlled their with the close of World War I. Reinhold Nie­ political ideas: "A key element in the forma­ buhr and James Burnham represent a later tion of collectivist thought was therefore the generation of intellectuals. Gilbert seems to position which the intellectual carved out for use them to demonstrate in a more current himself in the contemporary social structure. political context the dynamic, tragic power of

244 BOOK REVIEWS

"collectivism" — a force that seemingly en­ totally ignores, while the question of whether gulfed American intellectuals, pushing them Nagasaki was necessary requires Divine om­ away from the left. niscience. The fact that the second bomb Gilbert's selection and treatment of these was dropped before Japan's leaders had ab­ men does not further his thesis, so ably pre­ sorbed the shock of Hiroshima, or the shock sented in the first half of his book. He writes and implications of the Soviet declaration of well and his subjects are interesting individ­ war on August 8, precludes our ever know­ uals, but he does not satisfactorily explain the ing whether the second bomb was necessary. behavioral motivation of complex men like As Robert J. C. Butow points out in Japan s Walling, Niebuhr, and Burnham. As a result, Decision to Surrender (a classic study which the book is useful when it might have been Marx obviously relied upon, but did not acknowledge), "The machinery of government had ground to a halt [on August 9] not be­ cause it had been damaged but because it had MICHAEL LEVINE been thrown off balance. The factors which University of Wisconsin — Madison should have urged speedy and smooth opera­ tion had engendered exactly the opposite re- suh." Marx's conclusions are as confused and Nagasaki, The Necessary Bomb? By JOSEPH ambiguous as his questions. After complet­ LAURENCE MARX. (Macmillan, New York, ing his popularized version of the events lead­ 1971. Pp X, 239. Illustrations, glossary, in­ ing to Japan's surrender, he admits that the dex. $6.95.) bombing of Nagasaki did not end the war. Nevertheless, he concludes that it was neces­ On the morning of August 9, 1945, only sary. It gave "the Emperor a means by which three days after the destruction of Hiroshima, to convince the military that the Potsdam an American B-29 exploded a second atomic terms had to be accepted [and] it gave some bomb over Nagasaki. The combined death of the military a way out . . ." But Marx can toll from the two raids may have exceeded neither demonstrate that Nagasaki was a 250,000. Despite the fact that most studies necessary prerequisite to the Emperor's un­ of these events focus on Hiroshima, Nagasaki precedented intervention into State affairs, has not become "The Forgotten Bomb," as a nor that it was instrumental in bringing the recent title proclaims. Many who accept the military to accept the Imperial decision. In­ exigencies of war as the terrible rationalizer deed, several chapters are devoted to "The for the first atomic bomb condemn the sub­ Plotters," military fanatics who refused to sequent one as an act of barbarism without obey the order to surrender. A benign view precedent. What was the rationale for pro­ of the American past, rather than historical gramming two successive attacks? Why were evidence, led Marx to his conclusions. Could only three days allowed to pass between the this passive approach have led to any other two raids? conclusion? Journalist Joseph L. Marx, author of Seven In the early morning hours of August 10, in Hours to Zero, an earlier study of the bomb­ the Emperor's bomb shelter. Premier Suzuki ing of Hiroshima, seeks to resolve these dif­ startled his divided colleagues with the an­ ficult questions by tying them to an impos­ nouncement, "Your Imperial Majesty's deci­ sible one: Would the war have ended at sion is requested. . . ." That decision brought about the same time without the destruction the war to its conclusion—on the condition of Nagasaki? Combining several of David that the United States guarantee the survival Hackett Fischer's question-framing fallacies, of the dynasty and the Emperor. Acting Sec­ Marx asks: "Was the Nagasaki bomb neces­ retary of State Joseph C. Grew had suggested sary, or was it used because two bombs had such a guarantee as early as May, 1945. He been programmed and no one thought to stop informed President Truman that the policy the second one after the success of the first?" of unconditional surrender had to be modi­ Marx obscures the issues by dividing a com­ fied to incorporate these guarantees before plex problem into a choice between answers the war could end. On July 13 American in­ that are neither exclusive nor exhaustive. The telligence intercepted and decoded Foreign problem of why two atomic attacks were pro Minister Togo's message to Ambassador Sato grammed requires a study of the decision in Moscow: ". . . Unconditional surrender making process in Washington, which Marx is the only obstacle to peace. . . ." That it

245 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTOR'i SPRING, 1073 remained an obstacle to peace in the wake of man or Senator for forty consecutive years. Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and the Soviet declara­ Not surprisingly, Cassell devotes much of the tion of war—until the United States recanted remainder of his book to national politics. —suggests the possibility, which even Secre­ The author finds the key to his subject's activi­ tary of War Henry L. Stimson came to recog­ ties the encouragement of commercial inter­ nize, that neither bomb may have been nec­ ests, rather than political ideology or party essary. loyalty. Ironically, the support which made this possible and made Smith the most power­ MARTIN JAY SHERWIN ful political figure in Baltimore for quite some Cornell University time did not come from the merchant commu­ nity. The author intelligently explains Smith's political affiliation with the Jeffersonian Re­ publicans. Merchant Congressman in the Young Repub­ Because of Smith's long tenure in office, lic, Samuel Smith of Maryland, 1752—1839. this biography serves in part as a review of By FRANK A. CASSELL. (University of Wis­ many major events in early United States consin Press, Madison, 1972. Pp. xiii, 283. political history. The debates revolving about $15.00.) troubled foreign affairs in the 1790's, the tensions surrounding the election of 1800, Samuel Smith led an eventful and often fas­ the problems of trade, defense, and foreign cinating and significant life. During his long relations in the period leading to the War of years of public service to Baltimore, Mary­ 1812 receive attention focused through the land, and the United States, he gained con­ perspective and participation of this merchant. siderable renown and respect. Frank Cas- As if this were not enough to fill any man's sell's well-written biography once again places life. Smith continued an active political career this successfid politician, businessman, and even through the emergence of the second military hero before the public. Because of American party system. Throughout, Smith the nature of existing manuscript sources, Cas­ remains intriguing. Always a forceful figure, sell deals mainly with Smith's public and Smith took an independent course within the political career. The author's extensive re­ party. Both the advantages and penalties search and careful and critical evaluation of which accompanied this stance receive prob­ his subject produce a useful account. ing treatment. As one might expect, this mer­ chant's relationship with his party was often Toward the middle of the eighteenth cen­ strained, and Cassell carefully develops the tury the Smiths established the foundations drama involved. Smith enjoyed the pleasure of which enabled them to play a dominant role being sought after by Presidents for advice in Baltimore's economy and politics for many and support and the agony of ostracism by decades. Samuel Smith's intelligence, courage, other Presidents and party leaders. and organizational abilities continually served him well in both civilian and military capaci­ One unfortunate aspect of this study of a ties. Cassell's treatment of Smith's heroic merchant Congressman is that the author actions in the American Revolution during the provides few details about Smith's commercial battles of Long Island, Brandywine, and the activities. Evidently only slight evidence about Delaware River, for example, makes exciting one of the largest commercial enterprises in reading. Smith remained interested in mili­ the young republic survives. Although Cas­ tary affairs throughout his life, and for much sell effectively utilizes some existing informa­ of it commanded the Baltimore militia. The tion, nevertheless, in light of the his thesis and author gives General Smith the greatest credit emphasis upon the interrelationship of busi­ for the successful defense of Baltimore against ness and politics, the absence of more specific the British invasion during the War of 1812. information about Smith's commercial activi­ Indeed Cassell uncovers conditions which ties remains lamentable. made General Smith far better suited to suc­ Along this line of thought, additional clari­ ceed at this task than anyone else. The story fication of the nature and diversity of com­ surrounding this crisis is fascinating. mercial interests in early United States his­ The militia was also an important element in tory would seem desirable. For example, al­ Smith's political success and enabled him to though "the only continuous thread in Smith's enter national politics. In 1792 Samuel Smith political career was a commitment to protect­ was elected to the House of Representatives. ing commercial interests" his actions conflict He remained in Congress as either Congress­ with many generalizations usually made about

246 BOOK REVIEWS

merchants. During the 1790's Smith became work certain strengths. Going to America an Anglophobe, criticized the Federalist ad­ shows considerable literary as well as some ministrations, and favored an embargo. In scholarly value. Through his ability with the Baltimore, the "merchant oligarchy" fought written word, Coleman is able to recapture Smith, who by the end of the decade became the exciting drama of the epic, the burgeon­ a leader of the Jeffersonian-Republicans. In­ ing port of Liverpool at mid-century, the deed, as Cassell remarks, a Jeffersonian mer­ hubbub of the place, and the wretched con­ chant seemed a paradox. As the War of 1812 ditions migrants had to face as they went approached. Smith, unlike many merchants, on their way to America. Chapter IX en­ supported Jefferson's embargo, and when that titled "Plague Year, 1847" stands out par­ device failed, favored war as the only honor­ ticularly vividly as it conveys the utter desti­ able alternative. tution, wretchedness, and misery of steerage Merchant Congressman is a good political life in port, aboard ship, and arriving in the biography and well written; regrettably the New World. Coleman elicits great sympathy exorbitant price for a book of this length from his readers for the weakened passengers which is neither profusely illustrated nor em­ as they disembarked that year at their Cana­ bellished by charts and graphs will unduly dian destination, the quarantine station at limit its circulation. Grosse Island near Quebec. The passage was so hard that passengers were dying aboard RANDOLPH SHIPLEY KLEIN the ships while awaiting inspection. The au­ University of Wisconsin—Stevens Point thor makes an educated guess that about one- half of all the Canadian arrivals that year probably died from the effects of the voyage. Traveling in 1847 was almost a "middle pas­ sage" for the white arrivals in the New World. Going to America. By TERRY COLEMAN. In addition Coleman demonstrates his en­ (Pantheon Books—Random House, New thusiasm for his account by an impressive York, 1972. Pp. 317. Illustrations, notes, use of some primary materials. He exploits appendices, index. $8.95.) generously the newspapers of the day as well as official British and American reports, Some years ago when transatlantic travel especially the several hearings of legislative by ship was still popular, Britain's Cunard and parliamentary investigations. In addition Line would advertise widely the slogan that he had the advantage of utilizing the sensi­ with their service "Getting there is half the tive contemporary impressions of notable lit­ fun." Terry Coleman in his book. Going to erary personalities, Charles Dickens, Nathan­ America (published in England as Passage iel Hawthorne, and Herman Melville among to America), looking at emigrant passage others. One regrettable omission is the lack around 1850, would certainly reject that de­ of any reference to the papers of the shipping scription. In the genre of writers who have lines themselves, a file probably inaccessible. stressed the shattering psychological effects In any event Coleman has attempted the kind of the crossing as well as of the entire migra­ of investigation that Professor Frank Thistle- tion experience, Coleman concludes his study thwaite of East Anglia urged European re­ with the comment, "For the individual emi­ searchers to undertake in a 1960 speech at a grant (the going to America) was often a historians' congress. personal tragedy. A man had to survive a However, despite the virtues of Going to lot even to get to America. . . ." However, America, this reviewer must advise profes­ while Coleman tries throughout to depict the sional historians to approach the work cau­ passage as taking an enormous human toll in tiously. It falls far short of being the stan­ lives and mental anguish, this reviewer felt dard work on mid-nineteenth century immi­ that the work discusses only a limited seg­ grant passage from England, even failing to ment of the transatlantic experience. The meet its stated objective, "a history of the empathy of the author, a Manchester Guar­ emigrants who left Great Britain and Ire­ dian journalist, with the least fortunate of land, 1846-1855." Going to America is really the passengers, the lowly Irish, distorts his much more limited in scope; it is essentially attempted presentation of the crossing as a a discussion of the hazards of transatlantic whole. travel as they affected the Irish. Coleman's close identification with those It is unfortunate that Coleman is preoccu­ "poor and huddled masses" does give to his pied with only one nationality, the sons of

247 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973

Erin who suffered the most in the transfer. that "any immigrant who had been used to a The author says nothing about the masses of decent diet on land would have found them­ other nationalities who traversed the port at selves badly off at sea," displays a certain the mouth of the Mersey, the Welsh, English, historical naivete. Few inhabitants anywhere and Scotch travelers, as well as the nationali­ had a "decent" diet then, and the unwholesome ties from the Continent who transshipped food on board ship as well as the hard life there. Neglecting to treat these groups at all is in steerage may not have been as psychologi­ puzzling; one explanation may be that their cally a shock as Coleman concludes. experience weakens Coleman's tale of unre­ In sum. Going to America does tell its read­ lieved misery. For example, he did not use ers graphically the most serious problems the well-known published collection of Welsh some migrants may have encountered in the immigrant letters, Alan Conway's Welsh in days of late sail and early steam travel; it America (1961). This work has an entire still does not shed much light on the more im­ section on the crossing which suggests far portant issue of the role of the crossing in the more continuity than disruption. In fact an­ mid-1800's. other serious criticism of Coleman's work is his omission of the role of the immigrant let­ ter itself. A result of the extensive correspon­ VICTOR GREENE dence on both sides of the Atlantic may have University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee been to prepare the potential traveler with information about the passage and thus help moderate its disturbing psychological effects. However, again Coleman does not deal with The Meaning of Freedom of Speech. By PAUL this factor. A. MURPHY {Contributions In American His­ An additional curious omission, equally as tory Number 15. Greenwood Publishing Co., glaring, is the author's complete disregard Westport, Connecticut, 1972. Pp. x, 401. of secondary material on the topics he dis­ Notes, note on sources, index. $14.50.) cusses. The fact that his citations do not in­ clude the published studies of Arnold Schrier, Paul A. Murphy, the author of this learned Emmet Larkin, Oscar Handlin, or Cecil Wood- book on controversies about free speech dur­ ham-Smith who have dealt with the Irish ing the 1920's, is professor of history and emigrants, the ones Coleman is most concerned American studies at the University of Min­ with, also weakens his conclusions. The nesota. Beginning with the application in reader can only surmise that the author is 1919 of federal legislation enacted during more obsessed with describing the perils of World War I, Murphy takes his story down the crossing than giving a complete picture to the beginning of the first administration of the experience. of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933. This excessive concern with the sensational A concluding epilogue (Chapter 14) describes, rather than the general appears all too fre­ in a very sketchy way, the subsequent history quently. The chapter entitled "Drownings" of free speech concepts, largely to make the is a representative example. Here the author point that the civil rights movement of our asserts that fifty-nine ships were lost at sea times owes much to the free-speech crusade in the seven years after 1846. In addition a of the post-War and depression period. long passage dwells on the spectacular burn­ Murphy limits his discussion of the evo­ ing of one vessel in the Mersey in 1848. Such lution of the law of free speech to a single events were indeed tragedies for the traveler chapter (13), his basic view being that free as were the other examples of exploitation, speech law can be understood only after re­ mistreatment, and deception practiced by ship­ constructing the general milieu "by probing ping lines, runners, boardinghouse keepers, through the entire spectrum of public opinion and the ships' crews which pervade the work. on the proper meaning of free speech and its Yet, still Coleman neglects to show the reader correct social utilization." To accomplish how normal or exceptional these conditions this the author consulted an impressive va­ were. riety of original sources, including national Of course one would agree with Coleman and local newspapers, the specialized organs that on the whole very likely the overseas mi­ of labor, business, patriotic associations and grant did not receive satisfactory medical at­ religion, magazines, radio scripts, pamphlet tention, adequate accommodations, or whole­ literature, the files of the American Civil some food. But to conclude in one passage Liberties Union, learned journals, particu-

248 BOOK REVIEWS larly law reviews, addresses of leading public series of "Contributions in American His­ figures. Congressional materials, records of tory." The story is basically a familiar one nonpublic associations, school textbooks and by now, but it is told here in a competent debate subjects, sermons and other public and readable way, though I have one reserva­ addresses, and the general literature of the tion. I doubt whether the clear and present decade. danger standard still holds the commanding With great professional skill and accuracy. place in free speech law which Murphy seems Murphy analyzes the on-going conflict dur­ to ascribe to it, and I believe that a more ing the 1920's between civil libertarians and thorough review of free speech cases of the repressionists. Since public speech does not past quarter of century would show that other operate in a vacuum, the author describes in tests, notably the balancing test, are now great detail what it was that various people being used. The moral would seem to be that wanted to talk about, and what sort of re­ the author would have been well advised to sistance they ran into. Much of the contro­ stop where his research ended. versy over the limits of free speech in this period grew out of persistent conflicts be­ DAVID FELLMAN tween employers and labor, though there was University of Wisconsin—Madison a great deal of controversy over many other subjects, beginning with a spirited debate over the treatment of political prisoners, and ending with the heated dispute over the Sac- co-Vanzetti case. There were other items on Politics Without Parties: Massachusetts, the firing line in the 1920's, such as the con­ 1780-1791. By VAN BECK HALL. (University troversy over teaching evolution in the pub­ of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, 1972. Pp. lic schools, the debate over birth control, and xvii, 375. Tables, notes, bibliographical in­ the activities of the Klan. But, generally dex, index. $14.95.) speaking, the principal tensions grew out of the fear which conservative interests felt for The rise of modern, institutional political all shades of radicalism, and accordingly parties did not occur in the United States Murphy pays a great deal of attention to the until the 1790's. Yet the preparty politics of many patriotic societies which functioned so the nation and of the states often was charac­ actively in the period under examination. terized by conflict. Van Beck Hall notes that Murphy's analysis of the leading free speech historians traditionally have argued that poli­ law cases of this decade is, for the most part, tics during this period featured contending accurate, though perhaps lacking somewhat in factions which were united by personal or amplitude of treatment. The only error I de­ familial ties or by particular religious, social, tected was his statement (at p. 5) that it was or economic interest. Other interpretations in 1931 that the Supreme Court, for the first have stressed ideological differences and sec­ time, read the First Amendment into the tional conflicts. Hall's purpose is to set forth Fourteenth as a nationally enforceable limi­ a new technique for analyzing preparty poli­ tation on the states. This is not true, as the tics by using Massachusetts from 1780 to author himself notes several scores of pages 1791 as an example. later on (p. 262). It was in the Gitlow case, In Massachusetts, representation and politi­ decided in 1925, that the Supreme Court first cal participation focused upon individual ruled squarely that the liberty protected by towns. Thus Hall attempts to define the eco­ Fourteenth Amendment due process includes nomic and social characteristics of 343 towns liberty of speech. Of course, Gitlow lost his and relate this information to the political appeal, and the decision of the New York conflicts of the period. Quantitative tech­ courts was affirmed, but from this point of niques are used to establish a "commercial- view the significant aspect of the case was cosmopolitan" continuum on which each that the Supreme Court agreed to take it, and town is ranked. A commercial index is com­ did consider it fully on its merits. This is not, bined with a social index to produce a com­ however, a major matter. On the whole, this mercial-cosmopolitan index number for each is a well-written, well-conceived book, rest­ town. These commercial and social indexes ing upon thorough research (the footnotes, are derived by measuring such variables as unfortunately printed separately at the back, tonnage of vessels, money lent at interest, and run to 87 pages), and it will undoubtedly hold the number of newspapers, lawyers, and min­ a commanding position in the Greenwood isters. Once each town is assigned a com-

249 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973 mercial-cosmopolitan index number, it is this book was written solely for scholarly placed in one of three groups with Group A consumption. Academicians will enjoy it; representing the most commercial-cosmopoli­ laymen should avoid it. tan cities and Group C representing the most self-sufficient, parochial towns. The Group PAUL F. LAMBERT B towns are those with some commercial and Oklahoma State University social connections whose representatives often occupied a middle position on political issues. Hall thus derives a functional means of evaluating factional conflict in preparty Mas­ sachusetts. He asserts that the struggles be­ tween the Hancock and Bowdoin factions were Eisenhower and the American Crusades. By based upon conflicting socioeconomic inter­ HERBERT S. PARMET. (Macmillan, New York, ests which evinced a remarkable stability. The 1972. Pp. xi, 660. Illustrations, notes, bib­ basic issue causing contention between these liography, index. $12.95.) interests during this period was how the state debt was to be managed. Throughout the Historians have devoted surprisingly little period the commercial-cosmopolitan interests attention to the Eisenhower administration; controlled state policy on this issue to the thus Herbert S. Parmet's study is especially detriment of the more isolated, self-sufficient welcome. Competently researched, fair and interests. This situation was particularly dan­ judicious, the book is a detailed and readable gerous. Hall asserts, because there were no narrative of Ike's decision to run for the parties to effect compromise. Hall's analysis nation's highest office in 1952, his tense bat­ is particularly effective when he is able to tle with Senator Robert A. Taft for the Re­ match roll-call votes in the general assembly publican nomination, the campaign against to the constituencies of the representatives, Stevenson, and the general's two terms as showing a strong, consistent correlation be­ Chief Executive. Parmet presents little in­ tween socioeconomic interests and political formation that will surprise the specialist, behavior. The struggle in Massachusetts over but as the first major synthesis of the Eisen­ the debt question was resolved when the hower presidency, this is a valuable contribu­ first federal Congress provided for the as­ tion. sumption of state debts by the national gov­ The author offers several important inter­ ernment. Thus a period of political harmony pretations. One is suggested in the title. descended upon the commonwealth until na­ Eisenhower was elected as the leader of a tional partisan divisions began to obtain Republican crusade "to eradicate from Wash­ about 1794. ington the corrupt 'five percenters,' halt the Several questions arise despite the strength progress of 'creeping socialism,' and dislodge of Hall's research design. For example, the the disloyal from their sanctuaries along the political conflict in Massachusetts from 1780 Potomac." But though Ike was a crusader in to 1791 seemed to revolve around one issue— the sense that he delighted in reminding his the debt question. When this was resolved by fellow citizens of the higher purposes of the national government, harmony was re­ America, he was no self-righteous true be­ stored to the state. Indeed, when compared liever. His instinct was clearly for modera­ to the turbulent politics generated by a wide tion. The result, Parmet writes, was that range of issues in states such as New York "The man whose election had promised 'a and Pennsylvania, the politics of Massachu­ great crusade' had led not a crusade but a setts may have been more that of consensus holding action." and more oriented toward the town rather More interesting and controversial is the than the state. Moreover, a curious anomaly author's portrayal of Eisenhower as a shrewd is that the most commercial-cosmopolitan in­ and masterful leader. Parmet sharply chal­ terests opposed nationalistic programs prior lenges the idea that Ike was little more than to 1787, and many in this group had consid­ a kind, bumbling national father-figure ma­ erable doubts about the Federal Constitution. nipulated and maneuvered by strong-willed Hall's book is a stimulating and valuable advisers. Quite the reverse, argues Parmet. contribution, however, and should be read Ike's reputation for action by indirection was by specialists in the field. Despite its quan­ but a clever strategy. He deliberately ap­ titative orientation, it is easily comprehended. peared to be overly cautious and indecisive. The clarity of Hall's writing notwithstanding. He did rely upon the counsel of others more

250 BOOK REVIEWS familiar with given issues, and only in mat­ jority of his fellow Americans. In many areas ters of national defense did he personally his leadership was less than brilliant or en­ claim to possess any degree of expertise. But lightened. Yet it may be, as Parmet concludes, he did not accept advice blindly. Intelligent, that "to label him a great or good or even a experienced in the handling of massive pro­ weak President misses the point. He was grams from his military days, and confident merely necessary." of his ability to lead and evaluate, the Presi­ dent, net his advisers, quietly but firmly JIM F. HEATH made the critical decisions. For example, Portland State University contrary to popular opinion. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles followed Eisenhow­ er's preferences in foreign affairs, not vice versa. Ike's low-key leadership profile both suited his personality and reflected his cool appraisal Foundations of American Independence, 1763- of political realities. Although he knew little 1815. By J. R. POLE. (Bobbs-Merrill, Indian­ of the nuts-and-bolts side of party operations, apolis and New York, 1972. Pp xix, 275. he had demonstrated during his years as com­ Photographs, notes, bibliography, maps, in­ mander of Allied forces in Europe a remark­ dex. Paper, $3.25.) able political talent for managing diverse na­ tional egoes and personal vanities. He pur­ Foundations of American Independence is posely cultivated his reputation as a simple, the second of a seven-volume History of unsophisticated man, sensing correctly the American Society series edited by Professor favorable response this image would create Jack Greene. The purpose of the series is to with the majority of Americans. Eisenhower move beyond the "traditional pre-occupation recognized that his party—and America in with political history" in order to "look at general—was torn by dissension between lib­ the American past from the wider perspec­ erals and conservatives, and his goal was to tive of the development of American society heal division, to moderate. To do so would as a whole." require quiet, humble, yet firm, leadership. This volume deals chronologically with the In making his case for Ike's skill as a lead­ period from 1763-1815. In it Pole seeks to er, Parmet is a bit too generous. Ike's direc­ analyse the impact of the American Revolu­ tion of national affairs was fumbling and tion upon "American economic, cultural and erratic on many occasions. The best that social life." In order to evaluate the impact can be said for his handling of civil rights of the Revolution, Pole examines the politi­ is that he was amazingly insensitive. He stum­ cal systems which were created as a part of, bled, almost pathetically, in presenting and in response to, and as a result of, the Revolu­ defending his domestic and foreign aid pro­ tion. He does this because he sees this period grams in 1957. His strategy of patiently al­ as one unified by repeated attempts to create lowing Joe McCarthy to overreach, and hence a political system capable of governing the destroy, himself worked—finally. But it must thirteen mainland English colonies. The Brit­ have been of small consolation to those whose ish Imperial program enunciated in 1763 was careers were ruined while the Wisconsin Sena­ the first such attempt and provoked isolated tor rampaged during 1953 and 1954. In for­ colonial responses which only gradually eign affairs Ike sometimes accepted the safe evolved into an intercolonial political system anticommunist position—as in the Guate­ capable of achieving independence. Neither malan crisis of 1954—much too readily. Fur­ the Articles of Confederation nor the state thermore, his attempt to move the Republican governments, however, were capable, in Pole's party into agreement with his own preferred view, of securing the results of independence moderate philosophical stance achieved mixed and were supplanted by the Constitution of success, though, as Parmet emphasizes, he 1787. Even then it was not until the 1790's did at least prevent the right-wingers from that a workable order of politics evolved; taking control of the party during the 1950's. one capable of holding the nation together Damned by the left for being too conserva­ while stimulating it to expand and grow. tive and condemned by the right for being Pole's view of the Revolution is then pri­ too liberal, Eisenhower held staunchly to his marily a political one, and this is reflected position in the middle. And, significantly, by the extent to which politics dominates his he reflected the values and goals of the ma­ work. The first six chapters carry the reader

251 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973 through the conclusion of the war in 1783. Labor Organizations in the United States and Only chapter one, of these six, deals with Mexico: A History of their Relations. By primarily nonpolitical material, offering an HARVEY A. LEVENSTEIN. {Contributions in overview of the thirteen mainland colonies, American History, Number 13. Greenwood their populations, geographies, and social or­ Publishing Company, Westport, Connecticut, ders. Similarly, of the final six chapters, four 1971. Pp. X, 258. Notes, bibliography, index. deal essentially with political topics, includ­ $11.00.) ing separate chapters on the Constitution of 1787, and the formation of the party system in the 1790's. This is the first history of American and Mexican labor diplomacy to go beyond a nar­ Implicit in his treatment of these topics is rative of events and examine the motives of the argument that they were manifestations major labor organizations on both sides of of American society and that changes in the the border. Their efforts to establish and political structure reflected and stimulated maintain relations bilaterally and within in­ further social change throughout the nation. ter-American labor confederations were the Unfortunately, there is little attempt to probe result of both ideological and pragmatic con­ this relationship between politics and society, siderations. The ideological framework of or to delineate the impact of political change the relationship went through several phases. on the social order. During Samuel Gompers' reign as president Even when Pole deals with a social topic of the American Federation of Labor, the he focuses on its political impact. Thus, in Mexican labor movement's commitment to describing the population of the thirteen colo­ the ideal of international solidarity coincided nies, he mentions the large slave population with Gompers' desire to prove that economic in the South. He also states that there was unionism and international solidarity were considerable assimilation on the part of both not incompatible. Labor federations in both master and slave; notably the development of countries (especially the CIO and the Con- a peculiarly southern accent and the incor­ federacion de Trabajadores de Mexico) were poration of phrases like "OK" from African drawn together in an international united into the American language. Aside from this front against fascism during the late 1930's. cultural influence, however, Pole concentrates After World War II the decline of left-wing on the political ramifications of slavery in the unionism paved the way for international Continental Congress, the Federal Conven­ labor co-operation rooted in anticommunism. tion and the Constitution. This is not to say that slavery had no effect on these meetings Within this shifting ideological framework of prominent political elites, but that in a the viability of the Mexican-American labor purportedly social history the social and cul­ alliance at any given moment depended upon tural impact of slavery merits more extensive each sides' perception of the political and treatment. economic benefits to be gained. Mexican and American labor leaders both sought to in­ Such a concentration on political men and crease their political power at home by dem­ events raises questions about the social reper­ onstrating their ability to win and influence cussions of the Revolution. At the outset, friends abroad. American leaders hoped to Pole states that the political ferment he is heighten their influence in Washington by going to describe had little effect on the "style demonstrating their ability to obtain, through and pace" of the lives of most Americans, who their Mexican labor connections, the Mexi­ were small farmers scattered across the land. If can government's endorsement of American the American Revolution had so little impact aims during both world wars. Mexican lead­ on these Americans, who comprised the bulk ers hoped to enhance their political position of American society, why is it made the focal by demonstrating that their influence with point of interpretation? Or, at least, why is American labor leaders could be parlayed this volume included in the History of Ameri­ into influence over American foreign policy can Society series? It is, in its conception —particularly during the interwar years and execution, a history of the politics of when the United States periodically threat­ American society rather than the society it­ ened to intervene militarily or allow arms self. sales to insurgent groups in Mexico. Labor organizations on both sides of the STEVEN R. BOYD border endeavored to promote their own self- University of Wisconsin—Madison interest through bilateral agreements. Ameri-

252 BOOK REVIEWS can federations continually aimed to elimi­ in the pre-1925 period. The discussion of nate job competition in the southwestern the IWW is grossly inadequate. Levenstein states by having Mexican unions support a does not examine the motives behind IWW program of voluntary restraints on immigra­ interest in Mexico and Mexican workers, and tion. The AFL hoped that by exerting its underrates the significance of IWW organiz­ influence upon the Mexican labor movement ing efforts. IWW activity in the Tampico oil­ it could prevent rival IWW and communist fields, the establishment of a Mexican na­ unions from gaining a foothold in Mexico. tional administration of the IWW in 1919, During and after World War II both the and IWW strike leadership in the Mexican CIO and the AFL saw the spread of economic mining industry are ignored. Levenstein unionism as a means of raising wages and might also have contrasted the AFL's dis­ increasing the standard of living in Latin criminatory treatment of Mexican workers America, thereby reducing the threat of job in the United States with the IWW policies losses (which might result from the migra­ of actively recruiting Mexican members, pub­ tion of U.S. capital in search of cheap labor) lishing Spanish-language newspapers and while increasing the potential market for pamphlets, and hiring Spanish-speaking or­ American exports. ganizers. Still, this otherwise excellent vol­ Mexican labor organizations also sought ume is certain to become the standard work direct benefits. One high-priority objective on relations between the major labor federa­ was the establishment of a system of inter­ tions of the United States and Mexico. national union membership transfer. The Mexicans continually urged AFL action to ROBERT J. HALSTEAD combat discrimination against Mexican citi­ University of Wisconsin—Madison zens in the United States by AFL-affiliated unions. At one point the Confederacion Re­ gional Obrera Mexicana (CROM) pressured Gompers to use his influence to end govern­ ment prosecution of IWW members in the U.S., hoping in this way to win support for Securing the Revolution: Ideology in Ameri­ the CROM among Mexican IWW members. can Politics, 1789-1815. By RICHARD BUEL, Mexican federations used their American con­ JR. (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, 1972. nections to engage well-known labor leaders Pp. xii, 295. Notes, index. $14.50.) (like Gompers and John L. Lewis) as con­ vention speakers. During the Cold War years Securing the Revolution is a study of pub­ Mexican unionists found that American labor lic opinion, which the author believes "was leaders could be helpful intermediaries in the single most important ingredient in the obtaining U.S. aid for technical training in­ politics of the first party system." Buel looks stitutes and union housing projects. at public opinion from two perspectives: first This study is based largely upon research he reveals what were the popular political in American manuscript collections, particu­ attitudes of the time; and then he examines larly the AFL-CIO Archives in Washington, the wihingness of the parties and their lead­ and the AFL Collection in the State Histori­ ers to be responsive to those attitudes (which cal Society of Wisconsin. Levenstein has ef­ is largely what he means by ideology). fectively used the U.S. Department of State Buel's investigation of public opinion al­ "Papers Relating to Mexico, 1910-1929," most exclusively depends upon such "public and U.S. public documents. In Mexico he sources" as newspapers, published accounts consulted the major labor periodicals and of the debates in Congress, presidential ad­ Mexico City newspapers, Mexican public docu­ dresses. Other expressions of public opinion ments, and secondary works, and interviewed such as electoral results and town meeting labor leaders. IWW publications, however, records are not used; state legislative pro­ are noticeably absent from his list of sources ceedings and private papers are only rarely consulted, and Levenstein apparently did not examined. This nearly complete reliance on examine several relevant manuscript collec­ selected public sources seriously weakens the tions in Mexico, such as the CROM Archives book, for it discounts the possibility that and the labor materials in the Archivo Gen­ these sources are more often attempts to eral de la Nacion. create public opinion than they are reflec­ The major limitation of this study is its tions of it, and it becomes all but impossible overemphasis on the AFL and the CROM to measure public opinion with any precision.

253 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973

For instance, Buel asserts that immediately had a popular issue. Conversely, when the after the Revolution people were aroused Republicans were politically embarrassed, they more by fear of revived monarchy and aris­ either sought to hide the facts from the peo­ tocracy than of anarchy. Even in the late ple, or they demeaned the electorate's ability 1780's antifederalist rhetoric indicates that to understand the issues. Despite Buel's ef­ the majority of the people cared more for forts to prove otherwise, both parties were liberty than for stability. Only in the 1790's susceptible to the influences of public opinion, did the menace of anarchy become the tran- and the ideological differences between them scendant public concern. Clearly, this inter­ were less a matter of substance than of style, pretation depends upon antifederalist rhetoric, rhetoric, and emphasis. but had the author looked at federalist rhe­ Securing the Revolution must be consid­ toric, which did raise the specter of anarchy. ered a failure, primarily because Buel's meth­ he might have come to very different con­ odology is inadequate for the purposes of clusions. The sources consulted certainly re­ this study and renders dubious many of his veal that some people feared a revival of conclusions. If the book has any real value, monarchy and others were more concerned it derives from the author's inability to sus­ with the dangers of anarchy, but they do not tain his theory of the ideological differences reveal which attitude was dominant and de­ between the parties. That might be worth cisive. Neither can it be determined whether further investigation. this rhetoric was an authentic expression of common anxieties rather than propaganda; RICHARD LEFFLER nor whether it had any substantial effect on University of Wisconsin—Madison public thinking. This is a serious flaw in a work dealing with public opinion. Buel also employs a faulty methodology in his discussion of ideology. His technique is to view leaders, not as individuals, but as The United States and the Origins of the "representatives of political principles," and Cold War, 1941-1947. By JOHN LEWIS GAD- parties as if they were homogeneous, coher­ Dis. (Columbia University Press, New York ent systems of political thought. This unusual and London, 1972. Pp. xiii, 396. Notes, bib­ conception of American parties and leaders is liography, index. Hardbound $12.50; paper­ required because "that is how the public saw back $3.95.) them." But local parties, local issues, and personalities have always been crucial in the The heated and voluminous historical de­ American system, probably more important bates which followed quickly upon the heels than the image of the national party. And it of American entry into the two world wars is particularly difficult to understand how may soon pale in comparison with the debate people in the early 1790's could be so sensi­ over the origins of the Cold War. With less tive to the ideologies of the national parties, than thirty years of historical hindsight, we since those parties were still quite indistinct, are witnessing a virtual torrent of books, ar­ and politicians generally refused to be con­ ticles, essays, and arguments which already sidered members of any party. Buel assumes carries far beyond the rather narrow confines a sophistication among the voters which sim­ of the historical profession. Most of these ply did not exist. His simplistic approach writings, moreover, have been published dur­ seriously distorts the historical realities and ing the past decade, and it would be an under­ is another critical defect in his work. statement to point out the importance of Buel's assessment of party ideology is un­ Vietnam in influencing the new generation surprising. The Republicans, he says, be­ of historians. The present historical debate lieved that government should be responsive may, in fact, prove to be a primary source to public opinion. The Federalists distrusted for future historians seeking to examine the the idea of popular government and tried to impact of the Indochina war on the American consciousness. insulate themselves from the people. However, as Buel surveys the political struggles of the Into this heated debate now steps John period he reveals that the Federalists were Lewis Gaddis with a revised version of his indeed sensitive to the constraints public doctoral dissertation done under Robert Di­ opinion placed upon government, and they vine at the University of Texas. Utilizing were perfectly willing to appeal to the public much newly opened material, Gaddis has at­ on those occasions when they believed they tempted a grand synthesis of the traditional

254 BOOK REVIEWS and revisionist points of view. His work is But it is in the overall approach, rather than well researched and interesting. It definitely specific instances, that I find myself seriously provides a very important point of view, but questioning this work. It is true, as Gaddis not the grand synthesis. points out, that narrow economic determi­ Gaddis' thesis is that the origins of the nism cannot explain the Cold War. But the Cold War lie in a complex series of interact­ revisionist Open Door thesis includes the ing factors—domestic issues, bureaucratic in­ much broader idea of equating American ertia and infights, personality quirks, faulty economic prosperity with political freedom perceptions of intentions, ghosts of the past and the general well-being and peace of the —which severely limited the range of alter­ entire world. Such a world view does much natives open to American policymakers. While to explain a 1943 State Department commit­ accepting many of the revisionist findings, tee statement, cited by Gaddis, to the effect he rejects the "Open Door" framework as that a restoration of world trade would be "too narrow" an explanation of the conflict. essential "to the attainment of full and ef­ fective employment in the United States and Gaddis is at his best in explaining the elsewhere, to the preservation of private en­ "complex series of factors" previously men­ terprise, and to the success of an international tioned. Many ideas "in the air" for the past system to prevent future wars." It is indeed few years are fully explored in print for the curious that American historians have tra­ first time: the contradictory nature of Frank­ ditionally ignored this larger aspect of eco­ lin D. Roosevelt's domestic and foreign goals; nomic determinism when dealing with the the bureaucratic infighting in Washington Beardian approach to history. Events can­ which formed a minor "Cold War" of its own not be fully explained through men's pocket- and heavily influenced the major one; the books, but that does not really deal with the incorrect perceptions of intentions both sides question of generations of pocketbooks de­ maintained; the obsession with thinking in fining reality in the world. terms of past mistakes rather than present realities (history does not really repeat it­ If the Open Door theory is to be ques­ self, but the belief by policymakers that it tioned, one would be on much safer ground does contributes to the present reality and in attacking its broadness rather than its thus the history of the present). But while narrowness, for one could claim that such a all these factors are vitally important in ex­ view encompasses so much that it cannot plaining the origins of the Cold War, they really explain specific actions (Open Door do not explain everything. On a narrow level, could be used to explain an anti- or pro-Peking Gaddis' refutation of certain specific revi­ policy, for example). But even if this broad sionist claims is unconvincing. On a broader economic overview cannot answer specific level, his definition of the Cold War in terms questions, it poses basic ones which are sel­ of the abovementioned factors does not really dom asked from other viewpoints, Gaddis' disprove the revisionist theory. Rather, it included. Granted the realm of possible ac­ attempts to shift the point of departure in tion was severely limited by bureaucratic beginning the debate. infighting and public opinion, one is still left While Gaddis usually presents the various with the problem of executive control over sides of the issues involved, his conclusions do the bureaucracy and the opinion. Can one not always follow from his evidence. In re­ seriously claim, after the events of the past gard to Allied actions in Italy, for example, decade, that a President has no power to ef­ he states that "it seems likely" that a more fect and change institutional and public be­ open Allied policy would not have affected liefs? Shall we conclude that bureaucracies, Russian actions in Eastern Europe; such a made up, after all, of human beings, have a statement is nothing more than surmise, and logic of their own which overpowers logical cannot be proven. His dismissal of the Ran­ human behavior? Is there an ideology to kin plans as being directed against the So­ American foreign policy which is dictated viets is not justified by the evidence he cites. in the long run by the American economic Nor is his contention that Americans showed system? Such questions must be answered "little concern" over the idea of freely elected when dealing with the Cold War. Yet they Communist governments in Eastern Europe. seldom are asked. It appears that ideological His explanation of the Iranian crisis relegates preconceptions play a role here in determin­ to a footnote the Iranian refusal to comply ing whether or not one even considers these with the terms of the 1946 agreement regard­ ideas to be valid questions. How, for exam­ ing evacuation by the Red Army. ple, can Gaddis attempt to answer the ques-

255 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973 tion of ideology in American foreign policy tinue working for them until they eliminated after he asserts the now dubious theory that their debt. A thin line divided a cropper Americans, "influenced by a domestic tradi­ from a peon. In the early twentieth century tion which attaches little importance to politi­ federal investigators found peonage thriving cal theory . . . tended to underrate the im­ in the cotton belt, in the turpentine areas along portance of ideological considerations in other the Gulf Coast, and in some railroad construc­ countries"? tion camps. A Justice Department investigator The United States and the Origins of the who had spent much time working in the Cold War is an excellent piece of scholar­ lower South estimated in 1907 that a third ship, with many important insights; I plan of the large planters in Georgia, Alabama, to use it next semester in my diplomatic his­ and Mississippi held their Negro employees tory course. But it is definitely not a grand in a condition of peonage. synthesis or the final word on this issue. It In The Shadow of Slavery Pete Daniel probably classifies as one of the better works traced the origins and development of peon­ of the traditionalist school. age in the South. Much of his study focused on the campaigns against peonage during the MARK A. STOLER first decade of the twentieth century. By that University of Vermont time most southern states had passed con­ tract labor laws that resembled the Black Codes of Reconstruction. Under those laws a person who broke a contract could be arrested The Shadow of Slavery: Peonage in the South, and then given the choice of either working 1901-1969. By PETE DANIEL. (University of out his obligation or going on a chain gang. Illinois Press, Urbana, 1972. Pp. xii, 209. Progressive reformers were moderately suc­ Illustrations, notes, bibliography, index. cessful in attacking the peonage system; not $7.95.) only did they convict a number of peon mas­ ters, but they also had some of the state Peonage, a condition in which an employer contract labor laws declared unconstitutional. forces an employee to work for him because As was true in other realms of progressive re­ of debt, first came to public attention in 1901 form, however, the problem of peonage per­ sisted long after the reform era. In 1921, for when a federal grand jury in Florida indicted example, federal authorities discovered an Samuel M. Clyatt, the owner of a turpentine unbelievably barbaric case in Jasper County, farm, for working black laborers against their Georgia, in which a white planter murdered wills. The prosecution based its case on an eleven black laborers in a desperate attempt 1867 federal statute that outlawed peonage in to destroy evidence that he had held them in the New Mexico territory. After the court peonage. As late as the 1960's investigators declared Clyatt guilty, the defense appealed still reported instances of peonage. the ease to the Supreme Court with turpen­ tine operators in northern Florida and south­ The evil has proven so difficult to elimi­ ern Georgia contributing nearly $90,000 to nate because it is deeply imbedded in the Clyatt's cause. They had much at stake, for society and customs of the South. The root of if the court ruled the federal peonage statute the problem lay in the "long-practiced abuse unconstitutional the lumbermen could pre­ of black laborers." In the cotton belt, for serve their debt-labor system and continue to example, county sheriffs and judges sometimes practice peonage with no threat of federal allowed white planters to pay the fines of prosecution. In 1905 the court upheld the black felons and then work them as they constitutionality of the 1867 statute and there­ pleased. Frequently class lines became tight­ by opened the door for the federal government ly drawn in peonage cases; the peon, at the to take action against peonage. bottom of the economic and social scale, was Peonage in the American South grew out pitted against men of wealth and power at of the labor system that developed after the the top. Usually southern juries displayed destruction of slavery. Under the share crop little sympathy for the peons. Men with vested system many black tenants signed annual con­ interests in the system used threats and vio­ tacts and following the year-end settlement lence to intimidate jurors and to thwart Jus­ they frequently discovered that they still owed tice Department investigators. The fact that a debt to the planter. While a high degree of the federal government rarely conducted vig­ mobility characterized the share crop system, orous campaigns against peonage also con­ some planters demanded that croppers con­ tributed to its persistence. Time after time

256 BOOK REVIEWS the Justice Department promised to investi­ asserts, that there were numerous similarities gate complaints of peonage, but few "cases between the French and Spanish institutions, revealed any follow-up action." Thus Daniel there are areas of wide divergence such as in did not have a large number of proven cases the degree of local autonomy within each of peonage with which to work, and he was colony. For example, she helps to destroy further hampered by the fact that the rec­ the age-old myth about the moderating effect ords of the Federal Bureau of Investigation that Catholicism had upon slavery within are still closed to researchers. these two areas. Unlike the Tannebaum-Elkins The scarcity of sources contributed to an school she does not accept at face value the imbalance in this work. The majority of protective laws passed by a sympathetic, but peonage cases were prosecuted early in the distant and often unknowledgeable govern­ 1900's, but one gets the impression from this ment thousands of miles away. The author work that the problem continued to be wide­ shows that the spirit as well as the letter of spread up to the middle of this century. The the law were quite often ignored. For exam­ discovery of new sources may support that ple, the Code Noire, often praised as an ex­ contention, but at this time it appears that ample of enlightened government, was rarely the author reached conclusions concerning enforced upon the plantations in St. Domingue. southern labor conditions that are too sweep­ And even after its adoption in a modified form ing. in Cuba, the planters protested so successfully Despite his tendency to overgeneralize, Dan­ that its execution was suspended there and iel has written a sound study which affords never reinstated. valuable insight into the history of blacks in Hall points out the ever-present contradic­ the South. One of his most telling themes is tions of human beings holding others as chat­ that in the early twentieth century the lives tel property. All efforts by church and civil of many southern blacks-—especially those authorities to provide the slave with a legal in rural, isolated regions—closely resembled place in society were doomed to failure. The those that slaves had known in the antebellum church's attempt, for example, to force plant­ era. "If there was a New South," Daniel con­ ers to stimulate the growth of slave families cluded, "one had to look to urban areas to pushed the planters instead to work to death catch a glimpse of it." groups of predominantly male slaves. Re­ ligious guilt may have drawn pious statements WILLIAM F. HOLMES about the good effect of normalizing family University of Georgia relations among slaves, but piety never inter­ fered with planters in either colony in deter­ mining that at best the value of slave families represented only possible future wealth. Con­ Social Control in Slave Plantation Societies: sequently many steadfastly resisted this policy. A Comparison of St. Domingue and Cuba. One puzzling contradiction in Hall's work By GWENDOLYN MIDLO HALL. (The Johns emerges when she states that the overwhelm­ Hopkins Press, Baltimore, 1971. Pp. xiv, 165. ing majority of slaves in Latin America were Notes, bibliography, index. $8.00.) adult males, yet discusses somewhat at length the treatment of women slaves, during preg­ The Slave Community: Plantation Life in the nancy, childbirth, and the rearing of young Antebellum South. By JOHN W. BLASSINGAME. slaves. This might be taken to indicate that (Oxford University Press, New York, 1972. slave families were more widespread than Pp. ix, 262. Illustrations, notes, bibliography, she elsewhere suggests they were. But such index. $7.95.) minor flaws aside, this book should be val­ uable for scholars interested in Latin Ameri­ Gwendolyn M. Hall's Social Control in Slave can or other studies dealing with slavery be­ Plantation Societies is an institutional study tween the seventeenth and nineteenth cen­ of slavery in two Latin American societies. turies. Although there are numerous studies on sla­ Unlike Hall's, John Blassingame's Slave very in Latin America, the author corrects Community is a sociocultural study of slave many distorted views about the slave insti­ life in the antebellum United States. Re­ tutions outside the continental United States. markably, Blassingame makes the enslaved Professor Hall compares two different colo­ come alive. For this reason alone, this work nies, eighteenth-century St. Domingue and is a first. It differs from both the two major nineteenth-century Cuba. While it is true, she traditional perspectives of viewing slavery:

257 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973 the apologists, led by such contemporaries as of black Southerners. The masters and offi­ Fitzhugh and professional historians such as cials are of concern only as they relate to U. B. Phillips, and the moralists such as 01m- the life of the slave. This work, however, is stead, Frederick Douglass, Kenneth Stampp, more than an addition to recent literature on and others. While certainly affirming the mo­ the slave's personality, it also discusses oth­ ral approach in looking at slavery, Blassingame er important points. Like Hall, Blassingame presents a fully humanistic account by prob­ shows that slavery was not always as static ing black culture and society as perceived by an institution as once imagined. Many laws the slaves themselves. Through the use of were harsh in language, but sometimes rarely numerous slave narratives he is able to re­ enforced. On the other hand he cautions, store the moral perspective sometimes over­ while not all slaves suffered every evil imagin­ looked by those cynics who have been skepti­ able, neither were most as contented and cal of the objectivity of "crusading aboli­ carefree as portrayed in Gone With the Wind. tionists." Although most of the accounts and The one serious weakness of Blassingame's narratives used are well known, Blassingame work is that like every other slave study in does not use them to apologize for or explain the continental United States, it begins near away apparent inferior character traits mani­ the end of slavery—in the antebellum period. fested by some slaves. Unlike Elkins who es­ It does not include much information about sentially affirmed the "Sambo" complex, the slavery's origins and the colonial accultura­ author used several narratives to show that tion of black Americans, admittedly a diffi­ there can be no stereotyped or "average" cult thing to trace. But this does not detract slave. The narratives and folklore demon­ significantly from his work. Blassingame's strate that probably most slaves were con­ pioneer approaches: including slave folklore, siderably more intelligent than perceived by religion, social status, song, as well as a study whites. The ability to "put on old massa" was as much a theme as that of accommoda­ from the enslaved's perspective, recommend tion and submission. Slave Community as a primer for further studies of the history and culture of black Blassingame's major strength is that his people in the United States. work is not the typically institutional study but a view of the slaves themselves. To gain this unusual perspective he employs folklore RAPHAEL CASSIMERE, JR. with many narratives. Like other analysts Louisiana State University he has also made imaginative use of artifacts in New Orleans

BOOK REVIEWS Billington, Frederick Jackson Turner: Historian, Hall, Gwendolyn, Social Control in Slave Plantation Scholar, Teacher, reviewed by John Milton Cooper, Societies: A Comparison of St. Domingue and Jr 236 Cuba, reviewed by Raphael Cassimere, Jr 257 Blassingame, The Slave Community: Plantation Life Hall, Van Beck, Politics Without Parties: Massa­ in the Antebellum South, reviewed by Raphael chusetts, 1780-1791, reviewed by Paul F. Cassimere, Jr 257 Lambert 249 Brooks, The Prairie School: Frank Lloyd Wright Howard, Illinois: A History of the Prairie State, re­ and His Midwest Contemporaries, reviewed by viewed by Donald F. Tingley 238 Robert C. Twombly 241 Klotsche, The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee: Buel, Securing the Revolution: Ideology in American An Urban University, reviewed by Jurgen Politics, 1789-1815, reviewed by Richard Lef­ Herbst 242 fler 253 Lesy, Wisconsin Death Trip, reviewed by Paul H. Cassell, Merchant Congressman in the Young Re­ Hass 238 public, Samuel Smith of Maryland, 1752-1839, re­ Levenstein, Labor Organizations in the United States viewed by Randolph Shipley Klein 246 and Mexico: A History of Their Relations, re­ Coleman, Going to America, reviewed by Victor viewed by Robert J. Halstead 252 Greene 247 Marx, Nagasaki, The Necessary Bomb?, reviewed by Daniel, The Shadow of Slavery: Peonage in the Martin J. Sherwin 245 South, 1901-1969, reviewed by William F. Murphy, The Meaning of Freedom of Speech, re­ Holmes 256 viewed by David Fellman 248 Gaddis, The United States and the Origins of the Parmet, Eisenhower and the American Crusades, re­ Cold War, 1941-1947, reviewed by Mark A. viewed by Jim F. Heath 250 Stoler 254 Pole, Foundations of American Independence, 1763- Gilbert, Designing the Industrial State: The In­ 1815, reviewed by Steven R. Boyd 251 tellectual Pursuit of Collectivism in America, Starobin, American Communism in Crisis—1943- 1880-1940, reviewed by Michael Levine 244 1957, reviewed by George Charney 234

258 ACCESSIONS

dividuals in the anti-Vietnam War movement, ACCESSIONS including correspondence, clippings, leaflets, and other materials concerning local and na­ Services for microfilming, xeroxing, and tional demonstrations, presented by the Com­ photostating all but certain restricted items in mittee, New York, New York; papers, 1935- its manuscript collections are provided by the Society. For details write Dr. Josephine L. 1966, of William W. Finlator, a Baptist clergy­ Harper, Manuscripts Curator. man in North Carolina concerned about such issues as civil rights, ecumenism, prison re­ form, and labor-management relations, con­ taining articles and addresses, responses from Manuscripts the general public, book reviews, and miscel­ laneous clippings and letters, presented by General Collections. Records, 1907-1966, of William W. Finlator, Raleigh, North Caro­ the Wisconsin Section of the American Chemi­ lina; the Lenora Balis Fleck papers, contain­ cal Society, including a history, constitution, ing genealogical notes and charts plus origi­ minutes, newsletters, correspondence, and nal documents concerning the Balis, Batchel- other materials mainly concerning lectures der, and Fleek families of Rock and Green sponsored by the Section, presented by the counties, including Civil War orders, clip­ Section, Madison; records, 1944-1965, of the pings, and a muster roll, an 1867 farmer's American Federation of Teachers, Local ii35, diary, poetry, and an eye-witness account of Madison, a public school teachers' union, in­ Chile's 1891 civil war by Ben W. Wells, a cluding a constitution, correspondence, min­ U.S. sailor, presented by Mrs. Francis St. utes, a treasurer's book, and a subject file Peter, Beloit; papers, 1964^1971, of Carolyn including much mimeographed material from Goodman concerning the 1964 murder of her the American and Wisconsin Federations of son Andrew while working on a civil rights Teachers, presented by Garrison L. Lincoln, project in Mississippi, and subsequent mem­ Madison; papers, 1845-1891, of the William orials and legal proceedings, including con­ L. Boughan family, Stringtown, Illinois, con­ dolence correspondence, clippings, eulogies, taining letters written by William and his son and statements, and memorabilia, presented Henry while serving in the Civil War, Wil­ and loaned by Mrs. Goodman, New York, liam's diary which also includes financial ac­ New York; papers, 1934-1957, of the Joint counts and copies of sermons, and occasional Committee on Education in Wisconsin, a non­ letters from friends, presented by Mrs. Aileen profit organization of citizens' groups con­ Gesell, Two Rivers; field books, 1919-1945, cerned about quality education, including or­ kept by Hal Craig, General Land Office sur­ ganizational material, correspondence, min­ veyor, and reports on two surveying projects: utes, workshop materials, publications, and a 1921 survey of the Red River in Texas and clippings, presented by Mrs. Henry Meigs, Oklahoma, and a 1921 survey of Cross Lake West Allis; papers, 1966-1972, of Joan Jor­ near Shreveport, Louisiana, presented by Hal dan, an activist in the women's liberation Craig, Ripon; record book, 1905-1925, con­ movement, including correspondence, articles, taining incorporation materials, minutes of and a subject file on California and national board of directors and stockholders meetings, women's organizations, abortion, child care agreements, and financial reports of the Deer- centers, employment, racism, and other topics, field Telephone Company, presented by James presented by Joan Jordan, San Francisco, Cali­ McDonald, Madison; sermons, 1884-1924, of fornia; papers, 1941-1965, of labor econo­ the Reverend Henry Faville, minister of the mist David Kaplan, including personal corre­ First Congregational Church of La Crosse, spondence and lecture material, correspond­ 1888-1913, who earlier served the Methodist ence, newsletters, reports, legal and subject Episcopal Church, also including an 1899 ad­ files regarding his work with the Teamsters dress, an account book of benevolences, sum­ Union, and material concerning the Econom­ maries of sermons, and biographical informa­ ics of Distribution Foundation which he head­ tion, presented by Mrs. Joseph Maloney and ed, presented by Mr. Kaplan, New York, New Henry Faville, Madison, and Hugh Faville, York; additions to the Charles King papers St. Paul, Minnesota, via the Wisconsin Confer­ consisting of diaries, 1872, 1879-1895, 1903- ence of the United Church of Christ; papers, 1923, and one account book, 1894, listing 1965-1971, of the Fifth Avenue Vietnam daily expenditures, presented by Rufus King, Peace Parade Committee, a New York City Newport, Rhode Island; records, 1925-1939, coalition of peace groups and prominent in­ of the Madison Bus Company, including min-

259 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973 utes, reports, correspondence, lists of em­ and the Republican Party's 1952 campaign, ployees and of stockholders, and financial including correspondence, articles, addresses, records, presented by W. H. Straub, Madison; and clippings, presented by Mrs. H. Barton papers, 1903-1960, of Roy L. Matson, editor Farr, Greenwich, Connecticut; files, 1904^ of the Wisconsin State Journal, Madison, 1971, kept on deceased members by the State mainly concerning a controversy over an un­ Medical Society of Wisconsin, including cor­ derpass on West Washington Avenue, 1944r- respondence relating to each member's death, 1948, a 1952 tour of European defense sites, government forms, and clippings, presented and a 1958 teaching trip in India, presented by the Medical Society, Madison; papers, by Mrs. Matson, Madison; papers, 1942-1956, 1917-1967, of Arthur W. S. Thomas, profes­ of the Washington, D.C, chapter of the Con­ sor of food chemistry at Columbia University, gress of Racial Equality (the Washington In­ including inspection reports on nutrition and terracial Workshop) and its chairman Albert sanitation in World War I Army camps, Mindlin, including material on the chapter's broadsides concerning wartime food ration­ general operations and on specific campaigns ing and diets, and correspondence and wri­ to integrate Washington facilities, especially tings from his academic career, presented by the Rosedale Playground, presented by Albert Arthur L. Thomas, Huntington, West Vir­ Mindlin, Bethesda, Maryland; papers, 1967- ginia; records, 1839-1968, of various bodies 1970, of the New Mobilization Committee to of the Congregational Church and the Evan­ End the War in Vietnam, a coalition of anti­ gelical and Reformed Church in Wisconsin war groups involved in organizing marches plus documents concerning their merger into on Washington in 1967 and 1969 and anti- the United Church of Christ and scattered draft demonstrations in 1970, including cor­ later activities, including correspondence, min­ respondence, mailings, press releases, and utes, financial records, reports, programs, and printed and near-print materials, presented by other materials, presented by the Wisconsin the New (National) Mobilization Committee, Conference of the United Church of Christ, New York, New York; papers, 1903-1957, the Reverend David L. Hanner, and the Wis­ of the Northeastern Wisconsin Education As­ consin Fellowship of Congregational Christian sociation, a teachers' organization, including Women via Mrs. Fred Risser, Madison; rec­ minutes, annual meeting programs, newslet­ ords, 1916-1946, of the United Women's Club, ters, financial records, correspondence, re­ Madison, a group concerned with social events ports, and clippings, presented by Francis and political issues, including minutes, a Sundberg, Green Bay; the Charlotte Partridge membership book, a constitution, and five collection of ephemeral materials, 1918-1968, letters, presented by Agness Melentine, Madi­ concerning art groups and art-related sub­ son; papers, 1969-1970, of the Vietnam Mora­ jects, including clippings, announcements, torium Committee, a national group which brochures, bulletins, catalogs, and reports, organized at a local level debates, vigils, and presented by Miss Partridge, Mequon; rec­ other nonviolent activities protesting U.S. in­ ords, 1962-1965, of the Physicians Commit­ volvement in Vietnam, including correspond­ tee for Health Care for the Aged Through ence, printed materials, speeches, press re­ Social Security, a lobbying group which dis­ leases, clippings and photographs, presented banded at the 1965 passage of Medicare, in­ by David Mixner, Washington, D.C; papers, cluding correspondence, health insurance in­ 1965-1968, concerning the legislative terms formation, clippings, lists of supporters, tax served by Republican State Senator Robert records, and Congressional testimony, pre­ W. Warren, including correspondence, pri­ sented by the Group Health Insurance Asso­ marily from constituents, subject files on ciation of America via Louis Segadelli, Wash­ legislative topics and committees, and books ington, D.C; papers, 1907-1968, of David J. listing constituents' opinions, presented by Saposs, labor economist, historian and teach­ Mr. Warren, Madison; papers, 1956-1966, er, including biographical material, general of the Wisconsin Association of Mental Health correspondence, writings, speeches, research Clinics, an organization uniting community files, and a teaching file, presented by Mr. psychiatric clinics, the State Board of Health and Mrs. Saposs, Washington, D.C; papers, and the State Department of Public Welfare, 1917-1955, of George Arthur Sloan, a New including correspondence, minutes, commit­ York City businessman active in the Cotton tee reports, financial records, and member Textile Institute, the Business Advisory Coun­ clinic histories, presented by the Association cil of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the via Joseph Schiro, Janesville; clippings, 1959, New York Metropolitan Opera Association, and notes prepared by Ada B. Lothe concern-

260 ACCESSIONS ing the history of the Wisconsin Home Eco­ points, source unknown; six items concerning nomics Association, 1920-1945, including in­ the Civil War service of Emerson F. Giles, formation on other home economics groups captain of Co. D, 7th Regiment Wisconsin and on home economics education at Milwau­ Volunteer Infantry, including two letters to kee-Downer College, Stout Institute, and Ste­ his family in Stoughton, and a decorative vens Point State Teachers College, presented Company roster, presented by Mrs. C Ralph by the Association, Madison; records, 1933- Clark, Muskegon, Mich.; genealogies compiled 1972, of the Wisconsin State Employees by Mrs. Ellen Harrington on the Trogner Union, formerly named the Wisconsin State family and the Haider family, residents of Employees Association and from 1933 to Wisconsin, South Dakota, Illinois, and other 1941 Local #24 of the American Federation states, presented by E. M. McConley, Monona; of State, County, and Municipal Employees miscellaneous papers, 1888-1941, of Louis (AFSCME), including subject, local union, McLane Hobbins, a Wisconsin Conservation and public information files, records of Lo­ Commissioner, 1929-1937, and an active cal #809, Oshkosh, and records of the Wis­ hunter, consisting of notebooks recording consin State Council of AFSCME Locals, pre­ game killed and shooting expenses, 1888-1912, sented by Chuck Gibson, Madison; records, and scattered letters, presented by Mrs. Dean 1947-1955, of the Wisconsin Veterans Coun­ Frasche, Greenwich, Conn.; copy of the Civil cil, a lobbying organization, including a his­ War discharge papers of John Hopfield, Co. K, tory, constitution, correspondence, minutes, 30th Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and resolutions, presented by the Council, with additional biographical information sup­ Milwaukee; specific genealogical information plied by his granddaughter, presented by Mrs. collected by Margaret Coppess on several fam­ Maudene Parker Schroeder, Dixon, Cal.; gene­ ilies who once lived in Garden, Michigan, in­ alogical information, with entries dating to cluding the family names Blunt, Dotsch, Haas, 1969, on the descendants of John Kaap, a Hennessey, and Squires, presented by Mrs. German immigrant to Little Grant, Wisconsin, Coppess, Garden, Mich.; genealogical chart in 1865, presented by Jessie Kaap Brande- of the Thorowgood Family of Princess Ann muehl, Fennimore; a genealogy prepared by County, Virginia, prepared by John Harvie Joseph J. Kerwin of the Brisbois family from Creecy in 1971, presented by Mr. Creecy, 1630 to 1865, including information on several Richmond, Va.; copy of letter, 1919, written early residents of Wisconsin, presented by Mr. by G. Curran, Merrill, to the U.S. Indian Kerwin, Madison; copies of letters, 1864- Agent, Lac du Flambeau, protesting the ru­ 1866, from William J. Ketner serving in the mored intention of the government to buy a Virginia area with Co. A, 6th Regiment Wis­ home in Merrill for an Indian family, pre­ consin Volunteer Infantry, written to his fam­ sented by Bruce C Harding, Chicago, 111.; ily in Grant County, Wisconsin, plus an obitu­ article, written ca. 1964 by an unknown auth­ ary and a report on the 1922 reunion of the or, tracing the development, activities, and Iron Brigade Association, loaned by Mrs. demise of the Democratic Advisory Council, Bessie Ketner Ranson, Richland Center; bio­ the policy-making body of the Democratic graphical sketches written or transcribed by Party between 1956 and 1960, presented by Ethel M. King, including sketches of her Rosser Reeves, New York, N.Y.; miscellaneous parents and grandparents, residents of Minne­ papers, 1914-1955, of Robert B. Dickie, North sota after the 1870's, loaned by Miss King, Freedom farmer, banker, and Assemblyman, Eau Claire; four documents, 1861, 1864, con­ including biographical clippings, letters from cerning the service of Rufus King as U.S. Charles McCarthy, and materials concerning Minister to Rome, including a passport, two a University of Wisconsin alumni committee State Department letters of instruction, and report on the regents' 1925 decision to reject his certificate of appointment signed by Abra­ gifts from educational foundations, presented ham Lincoln and William H. Seward, pre­ by Mrs. Dickie, Madison; an essay on the sented by Edmund M. Socec, Augusta, Me.; short-lived logging community of Emerson, two letters, 1967, from Alfred M. Landon, Iron County, Wisconsin, and a glossary of Republican political leader, to Charles R. technical terms and expressions used in log­ Fowler, journalism professor, containing com­ ging camps, both prepared by Hugh R. Emer­ ments on Presidential elections and the past son about 1966, presented by Mr. Emerson, and future importance of television and other Newman, Cal.; two short letters, 1884, written mass media in political campaigning, pre­ by Wendell Phillips Garrison, literary editor sented by Mr. Fowler, Madison; transcription of The Nation, concerning specific editorial of a record book kept by Jacob Lischy, a Re-

261 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY SPRING, 1973 formed Church pastor in York, Pennsylvania, of the Congress of Racial Equality, including including statements of his principles and the information on lunch counter sit-ins, pre­ rules of the Church, and a list of baptisms he sented by Mr. Reichert, Bowling Green, Ohio; performed, 1744-1769, in German (original genealogical chart of the descendants of John owned by the Historical Society of York A. Roebling, builder of the Brooklyn Bridge, County), loaned by Mrs. James Hitselberger, compiled by George R. and Margaretta Roe­ Fond du Lac; letter, 1971, from Joseph Lyle bling Cook in 1971, presented by Mr. Cook, McCorison, Jr. in which he reminisces about Princeton, N.J.; correspondence, 1963-1964, logging and railroading along the Flambeau concerning the New Haven, Connecticut chap­ River at Ladysmith, Wisconsin, ca. 1910, pre­ ter of the Congress of Racial Equality and a sented by Marcus A. McCorison; transcript of power struggle within the chapter, presented an interview, 1970, with Herbert March, by Gene Schulze, Guilford, Conn.; a memorial labor organizer in the 1930's for the Young account of William Lete Shearer, pioneer Communist League and then for the United Omaha, Nebraska, oral and plastic surgeon, Packinghouse Workers, prepared as part of born in Fennimore, Wisconsin, presented by Roosevelt University's Oral History Project Merle M. Musselman, Omaha, Neb.; papers, in Labor History by Betty Balanoff, presented 1936, concerning British Day at the Wisconsin by Leslie F. Orear, Chicago, 111.; paper en­ Territorial Centennial Celebration, preserved titled Trade Unions as a Product of Environ­ by Margaret Smith, secretary of the British ment: Norway and the United States by Bruce Day committee, including minutes, programs, H. Millen, submitted to the University of and lists of Welsh, Scotch, Irish, English, and Canadian descendants living in Wisconsin, Wisconsin and to the Foreign Service Insti­ presented by Miss Smith, Madison; resolution tute, Department of State, April, 1959, pre­ to dissolve the Southern Student Organizing sented with the David Saposs Papers; article Committee, an organization of white Southern­ written about 1968 by Mrs. Ronald Nash on ers concerned with the civil rights, student the history of Valton, Sauk County, Wiscon­ power, and anti-war movements, adopted June sin, a town known for its murals painted 8, 1969, containing information on the activi­ 1898-1899 by Ernest Hupenden, a traveling ties of the Committee and on charges that it folk painter, presented by Mrs. Nash, LaValle; was a failure and an anachronism, donor un­ papers, 1956-1959, of Lowell A. Nelson, As­ known; papers of and about Samuel Mattison semblyman from Polk and Burnett counties, Stone, a Methodist Episcopal circuit rider in including mainly constituent correspondence, Wisconsin and a founder of Lawrence Uni­ plus bills Nelson introduced, campaign ma­ versity, including letters, 1851-1881, re: in­ terials, 1956, two speeches, articles about him, vestments in Appleton, a biography, an ac­ and a family history written by his father, count of an 1847 journey, and other materials, presented by Mr. Nelson, Grantsburg; four presented by Frank van Gilluwe, Pasadena, letters, 1877, to and from Henry Ogden of the Cal.; copies of letters, 1861-1864, written to First National Bank, Fort Atkinson, concern­ Benjamin Franklin Strong by his brothers ing the sale of Wisconsin tobacco by consign­ Lewis and James while they served in the ment in Germany, from the Robert M. La Civil War in the 5th Regiment Wisconsin Vol­ Follette Papers; biographical sketch by Fred­ unteer Infantry, presented by Mrs. Steve Mc­ erick I. Olson of labor economist Helen Sum­ Namara, Fond du Lac; history of the Chapin ner Woodbury, presented by Mr. Olson, Mil­ family in England, Massachusetts (during the waukee; speeches and articles, 1945, 1952- Revolutionary War), New York, and Wiscon­ 1966, of William Papier, director of the sin, prepared by Margaret Chapin Whitnall in Division of Research and Statistics, Ohio 1960, presented by Mrs. Whitnall, Menasha; a Bureau of Unemployment Compensation, on translation of the parish registers, 1803-1861, topics concerning employment in Ohio, trans­ of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, Woods- ferred from the Industrial Relations Research boro, Frederick County, Maryland, presented Institute, Madison; letter, 1930, from H. H. by Mrs. James Hitselberger, Fond du Lac. Peterson, a YMCA worker in India, enclosing his annual report in which he discusses his observations of rural India and his ideas for aiding its development, presented by Mrs. Manuscripts Accessioned for the Mary A. Lescohier, Madison; papers, 1958- Area Research Centers 1960, of William 0. Reichert, political science professor, concerning the organization and At Eau Claire: scattered records, 1877-1949, activities of the Lexington, Kentucky, chapter of the Episcopal Diocese of Eau Claire includ-

262 ACCESSIONS ing a parish register and reports and letters er active in educational, civic, and Roman from SL Luke's Mission, Neillsville, and serv­ Catholic affairs, including correspondence, ar­ ice record books from churches in Owen, Med- ticles, addresses and reports, clippings, and ford, Westboro, Mellen, Park Falls, Luger- photographs, presented by William C Bruce, ville, and Prentice, presented by Ralph W. Milwaukee; scattered records, 1900-1956, of Owen, Eau Claire; essay by Martha Martin­ Congregation Beth Israel of Milwaukee in­ son on Porter's Mills, a lumbering commu­ cluding annual reports, financial records of nity from about 1873 to 1903 in Eau Claire the congregation and its clubs, a memorial to County, presented by Clara A. Nelson, Port­ the dead, and a brief subject file, presented by land, Oregon; papers, 1881-1920, of Peterson Rabbi Joseph L. Baron, Milwaukee; records, Grocery Store, Eau Claire, consisting mainly 1955—1965, of the Great Lakes Commission, of financial records plus personal and busi­ a joint agency of eight states concerned with ness correspondence in Danish and English Great Lakes water resources, consisting of and lists of orders filled for the city's poor, correspondence with related materials, pre­ presented by Thomas Barland, Eau Claire; sented by Harry Brockel, Milwaukee; records, records, 1918-1945, of the Owen branch of 1926-1970, of the Great Lakes Harbors Asso­ the United States Red Cross containing finan­ ciation, a joint agency of local government cial records plus a small amount of corres­ units and of business, labor, and educational pondence and minutes, presented by Ralph groups interested in promoting the use and Owen, Eau Claire. development of the Great Lakes, including minutes, correspondence, photographs, and subject files, presented by Harry Brockel, Mil­ At La Crosse: papers, 1942-1947, of the waukee ; records, 1942-1949, of the Miniature La Crosse Citizens Airport Committee, a Camera Club of Milwaukee consisting of min­ group instrumental in establishing a mu­ utes and announcements, attendance and dues nicipal airport in La Crosse, including cor­ records, and miscellaneous other items dating respondence, reports, topographical surveys to 1957, transferred from Iconography; pa­ and maps, and other materials, presented by pers, 1894-1969, of SL Mary's School of Nurs­ Quincy H. Hale, La Crosse; two letters, 1862, ing, Milwaukee, containing administrative, written by Private John W. Fonda, Co. C, 6th faculty, accreditation, curriculum, student, Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, ex­ alumnae, historical and miscellaneous files, pressing his eagerness for battle, and a receipt, plus photographs, clippings, and lantern slides, 1861, given at La Crosse by the law firm presented by Sister Priscilla, St. Mary's Bishop and Cameron, presented by George R. School, and the Alumnae Association of St. Gilkey, La Crosse; genealogy compiled by Mary's via Mrs. William Koehn, Oak Creek. Genevieve McHugh of the descendants of Bernard McHugh, 1858 settler in Holmen, in­ cluding information on the LaFleur, Van At Platteville: an article by /. W. Murphy Loon, and Tuininga families and accompanied about cemeteries in the Platteville area with by copies of accounts of Dutch immigrants' a letter, 1971, from his son giving the location travels and settlement of New Amsterdam, of several local cemeteries, presented by Mrs. Wisconsin, presented by Genevieve McHugh, Esther Nelson, Madison; notes copied from Chicago, Illinois; diary, 1862-1863, of Pri­ the diary, 1877-1910, of Elisa A. Studley, wife vate Peter S. Moore, Co. A, 25th Regiment of Frank K. Studley, farmer and businessman Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, recording his in Monroe, recording visits, business events, service during Indian campaigns in Minnesota and quotations to be remembered, presented and later in Tennessee, accompanied by by Albert D. Geigel, Monroe; information genealogical notes, presented by Jean Francis compiled by Earl J. Tower on the John Han­ Rolfe, LaFarge; genealogical information on cock Tower family of Vermont and their de­ the ancestors of Bradley Skinner, residents of scendants, and on Towerville, the town they La Crosse in the late 1800's, and sketches of La founded in Crawford County about 1855, Crosse scenes and people drawn by Skinner's presented by Earl J. Tower, St. Petersburg, mother, presented by Bradley Skinner, Bart­ Florida; copy of a letter, 1850?, from Jube lesville, Oklahoma. Williams, ShuUsburg, to George Evans, Springfield, Ohio, describing the prosperity, growth, and prospects of the ShuUsburg area and encouraging Evans to join him there, pre­ At Milwaukee: papers, 1843-1949, of WiUiam sented by Robert Irrmann, Beloit. George Bruce, Milwaukee writer and publish­

263 late William B. Hesseltine, and in 1962 moved to Springfield, Illinois, where he served for Contributors two years as historical markers supervisor and two and a half years as an assistant editor for the Illinois State Historical Library. He PAUL A. CARTER, a native New Englander returned to Madison and the State Historical molded also by the Rocky Mountain West, Society of Wisconsin in March, 1967, where received a Columbia Ph.D. in 1954. He has he is associate editor of the Magazine of His­ taught American history on campuses rang­ tory and assistant editor of the Society Press. ing from the Connecticut Valley to California, Mr. Marten has published historical articles with his longest assignment at the University in popular and children's magazines in Illinois of Montana (six years, 1956-1962) and and has contributed book reviews to the his­ Northern Illinois University (1966 to the torical journals of Illinois, Michigan, and present). Mr. Carter is the author of The Wisconsin. According to his wife, two chil­ Decline and Revival of the Social Gospel dren, and colleagues, he spends an inordinate (1956: revised edition 1971), The Twenties in amount of his spare time in running, and he America (1968), The Spiritual Crisis of the himself claims a unique combination of Wis­ Gilded Age (1971), and editor of The Un­ consin AAU titles—120-yard high hurdles certain World of Normalcy: The 1920s. He (1961), 220-yard low hurdles (1961), and has contributed to Wisconsin Magazine of twenty-six-mile marathon (1968). History and to the Pacific Northwest Quarter­ ly, the Journal of Popular Culture, and Church History, among others. He is married to a 1962 graduate of the University of Mon­ ALICE ELIZABETI-I SMITH, who tana, and they have four children. His article now makes her home in Lagu- in this issue is a chapter from a forthcoming na Hills, California, is a na­ book entitled Another Part of the Twenties. tive of Grantsburg. Her bach­ For additional biographical information and elor's and master's degrees a photograph of Mr. Carter see the Summer, were obtained from the Uni­ 1963, issue. versity of Minnesota, where she worked as an assistant at the university press. At the Min­ nesota Historical Society she served as a re­ search and editorial assistant on the multi- WILLIAM C MARTEN was born volume History of Minnesota, and from 1929 in Beatrice (Be-a<-riss), Ne­ until 1946 was chief of the maps and manu­ braska, in 1936. He attended scripts division of the State Historical Society the University of Nebraska of Wisconsin. In 1947 she became the So­ ^ where he was elected to Phi ciety's director of research, a post she held 1 - ...... i - Beta Kappa in 1957 and was until her retirement in 1965. Her The History awarded his bachelor's degree in 1958. That of Wisconsin: From Exploration to State­ autumn he began graduate work in history at hood, a portion of which is excerpted in this the University of Wisconsin on a Woodrow issue, is the initial volume of the six-volume Wilson Fellowship. Working under Professor history of the state, each written by a different William Appleman Williams, Mr. Marten author, which the Society will issue over the wrote his master's thesis on the Curtiss-Wright next few years. For additional biographical decision of the U.S. Supreme Court and its af­ information and a bibliography of Miss fect on American foreign policy. In addition to Smith's distinguished contributions to state receiving his master of science degree in 1960, and regional history see the Winter, 1965- he spent several years studying under the 1966, issue.

264 T..^.||r;^„Vif]"W|flfff*'"™^' Tyr^^^:^h

Old Wade House, a stagecoach inn at Greenbush, of­ fered a welcome respite for travelers along the plank OLD mi HOUSE road from Sheboygan to Fond du Lac. Today visitors find Wade House and Butternut House, a residence just behind the inn, painstakingly restored to appear as they did more than a century ago. Also on the grounds is the Wesley W. Jung Carriage Museum, which features one of America's finest carriage col­ lections.

Old Wade House, one of the State Historical Society's six historic sites, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from May through October. Admission is $1.50 for adults and 30 cents for children. Society members are admitted for half price. To promote a wider appreciation of the American heritage The Purpose with particular emphasis on the collection, advancement, of this and dissemination of knowledge of the history of Wisconsin Society shall be and of the Middle West.

State Historical Society of Wisconsin 816 State Street Second-class postage paid at Madison, Wisconsin 53706 Madison, Wisconsin, and at Return Requested additional mailing offices.