Name/Title
The History of Waupun/Waubun, WisconsinScope and Content
Time line style history of Waupun 1839 - 1987 by Briton Mohr. The 12 page document highlights events of Waupun from the arrival of Seymour Wilcox and Ackerman and Hiram Walker in 1839, the first wedding, first male child, shops and mills, school houses and hotels, banks and churches, dedications of Waupun Statues,etc. Time line concludes with St. Agnes assuming sponsorship of Waupun Memorial Hospital in 1987.
The History of Waupun/Waubun, Wisconsin
Researched/Compiled by
Brinton Alan Mohr and Heidi M. Antoni
February, 1839 Seymour Wilcox, John N. Ackerman and Hiram Walker arrive in what is now Waupun.
March 20, 1839: The Wilcox family moves to what Seymour Wilcox called"Madrid," but the place was soon called "Waubun," from the Native American name of the place on the Rock River or early morning.
May 20, 1840: Post Office was first inaugurated in Waupun. Seymour Wilcox was appointed postmaster. Wilcox was commissioned through James Duane Doty, Wisconsin's delegate to Congress.
June, 1840: Annette Newton (Mrs. William Walker) was born.
January 9, 1841: First wedding celebrated: William McElroy and Lucina Collins.
April 17, 1841: First white male child born in Waupun: Ira Jason Wilcox.
1841: First sawmill built by Minus Collins and W.G. McElroy in "Upper Town."
1842: Eleven people voted in town election.
1842: James Duane Doty chose to give the township the name "Waubun." When Mr. Wilcox received the commission, he found the spelling had been changed to "Waupun." The name remains.
1842: Grist mill built by S.H. Harris. It later burns and is rebuilt. Harris operates it until 1870.
1842: Fanning mill built by George W. Bly.
1842: Woodworking shop near Stone Mill: Lyman Barrows.
Fall, 1842: Rev. Samuel Smith conducted meetings of the Methodist Church in the "Upper Town," in members' log homes.
1844: The first school house in Waupun built at the present railroad crossing on Main Street. The one room log cabin was large enough to accommodate 30 pupils.
1845: Thomas Snow, a peddling merchant, opened the first store in Waupun.
1845: The Exchange Hotel, built by Seymour Wilcox on Main Street.
July, 1845: First Congregational Church organized by Rev. Stephen Peet. Services were originally held in the schoolhouse.
1846 - 1848: Abraham Lincoln, future President of the United States, came through Waupun on a re-survey of the military road from Fort Howard, in Green Bay (according to field notes made by Lincoln himself).
1845-1847-1855: First Baptist, Disciples of Christ and Free Will Baptist organized in Waupun. Later these would be combined (1897) to form Union Church.
1846: Thomas Oliver manufactures steel plows, the first in the city.
1846: A dam was built on the Rock River, creating an artificial lake on the Horicon Marsh. The dam was removed 23 years later.
1847: Dunlap Hotel built by Rufus Dunlap.
1847: A second schoolhouse built on the location of the present Episcopal Church.
1848: Boston House, built by Calvin Carrington and sometimes known as Carrington House. Burned in 1871, when it was known as the Shipman House.
1851: The State of Wisconsin picks Waupun for State Prison site over five other sites.
July 21, 1851: Temporary wooden building erected after Waupun was chosen as site of new prison.
April 1. 1852: Mr. Henry Brown was elected first State Prison Commissioner.
1853: A two-room schoolhouse is erected on land where the public library now stands. Called the "South Ward School", it was used as the primary school until 1860, when the school district was divided into two parts with Main Street being line between the north and south wards. Later, a 2-story high school was built on the property.
1853: Andrew Proudfit took contract for masonry work. The work was completed in January, 1855.
1855: A new Methodist Church built in "Lower Town."
1856: Waupun Bank opened, L.B. Hills as cashier.
February 15, 1856: Milwaukee and Horicon Railroad rolls into Waupun at 11:30 p.m.
1857: Waupun Bank suspended for a few months but was re-opened.
1857: First election under village charter: 323 votes were cast, indicating a population of about 1,600.
1857: Position of marshall provided for in village charter.
1857: Corn Exchange Bank opened. Prospered until 1875 when cashier went to South America with the money.
March 6, 1857: City Charter. "Upper Town": Mr. Ackerman. "Lower Town": Mr. Wilcox.
Sept. 14, 1857: First issue of "The Waupun Times" published and edited by John H. Brinkerhoff. Printing press owned by Eli Hooker.
1858: Library Association formed by William Euen and Edwin Hillyer. Member paid $2.00 yearly for privilege of drawing out books. Located in Mr. Hillyer's insurance office.
1859: Workshop and chapel finished in the prison.
1859: Waupun Bank officially closed. A pack of cards and a counterfeit $2.00 bill found in safe.
May 29, 1860: Clarence Addison Shaler and his twin sister, Clara A. Shaler are born at Mackford Prairie.
1860: Homer and Charles Bush began the manufacture of cigars in Waupun. By 1868, they were making between 200,000 and 300,000 cigars per year.
1861: North Ward school built in 1861, which would be replaced by a new high school in 1913.
1861: Foundation for almost all of the front wall was laid and ironwork was received. Panels weigh 800 pounds each.
1861-1865: Two companies serve in Civil War. Company B 41st Wisconsin Infantry and a fife and drum corp known as the "Waupun Wide Awakes."
1862: Work started on a female prison.
1862: A small wooden church was erected and would become St. Joseph Catholic Church. It was considered a mission church of Fox Lake until 1866.
1862: Forest Mount Cemetery Association organized and they bought 12 acres of land north of the Mill Pond and west of North Madison Street. W. H. Taylor, first secretary.
October 6, 1862: Sacrament of Holy Baptism administered at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. The church was begun in Waupun before 1860 but there are no official records before this time.
1864: The first cheese factory in Wisconsin was built by Chester Hazen at Ladoga.
1866: Catholic parish formally organized. First parish priest was Father Willard.
1866: The Waupun Leader newspaper established by Oliver & Short.
1866: Zimmermann Carriage Works opened for business.
1867: Simon Heath assumed the position of village marshal, a position he held for nearly 30 years.
1876: 0. A. Morse Jr. erected a factory on the corner of Franklin and Drummond streets for the manufacture of wagons, carriages and sleighs. It was destroyed by fire in 1922.
1868: Thomas Oliver erects the Opera House, which accommodated 500 persons. It had a stage, scenery and a small balcony.
1870: Fire destroyed prison workshop but was immediately replaced by a large 2- story building and engine house.
Sept. 11, 1871: Cornerstone laid for the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.
March 21, 1871: Village Charter was amended to more fully provide for laying out and opening new streets.
December 8, 1871: First fire pump donated to the city by W.G. Oliver, who fitted up a portable force pump capable of throwing a stream to the top of the highest block in town.
1872: Citizens voted $10,000 for a new brick building of two stories and four rooms to replace South Ward School.
1872: "The Prison City Leader" newspaper printed by the Oliver Brothers.
1873: Office of State Prison Commissioner was abolished. A state board of directors was formed who in turn appoint a warden. Dr. H. Butterfield was first prison physician.
January 17. 1879: Founding father Seymour Wilcox died of paralysis. His wife Lucy died August 27, 1895.
1874: Village of Waupun purchas'ed a Champion Chemical fire engine for $2,000.
October 6, 1874: Volunteer fire department organized.
1876: Citizens' Bank opened by Mr. Almon Atwood. The bank lasted one year.
1876: George Jess opened the George Jess and Company's Bank.
March 15, 1878: Waupun receives City Charter.
February 8. 1878: Clara A. Shaler dies in Ripon. She is the inspiration for Shaler's statue "Morning of Life."
1879: Work completed on the Martin K. Dahl residence. Dahl was a blacksmith who arrived in Waupun in 1849 and worked for Bly & Ely, who were starting a blacksmith shop.
1880: First mayor elected: J. N. Ackerman.
1880: First consul: North Ward: W. W. Harris, M. K. Dahl. South Ward: D. Ferguson, G. F. Walker.
1880: First order of business: Granting licenses, a seal and a new set of books procured by S. J. Sumner, the clerk.
February, 1880: J. W. Coliver installed two telephones. In the Leader office and one at home. Kerosene lamps light city streets. Mr. Quinn and Mr.Boland tended the job.
1882: The Rev. John Burkhard conducted the first Lutheran Holy Communion Service in Waupun.
1884: First graduating high school class had three students.
1885: Company's Bank sold to a group of men who organized the First National Bank under a 20-year charter. George Mitchell, president, and George Wheeler, cashier.
1887: First Reformed Church organized.
1890: The National Hotel built on Main Street. Later razed to make a parking lot for the National Bank.
1890: City council took steps toward establishing a free public library.
October, 1894: City Council passed an ordinance for a bond of $33,000 to install a city water system.
1895: Board was appointed to assume management of the library.
1895: Library moved from over the drug store to the east main floor room of theater building, where it would remain until the new library was built with funds from the Carnegie Foundation.
November 1, 1895: Final account for construction was received and allowed, and the Water-Works Ordinance was declared in effect by the council.
1897: First motion picture show at Whiting Theater, Mrs. E. E. Davis, Manager.
July, 1898: Ethan Allan, son of David and Euphrasia Allan, succumed to malaria and was the first American soldier to die during the Spanish-American War. His remains were brought back to Forest Mount Cemetery for re-interment.
June 7, 1899: Pella Lutheran Church organized. First resident pastor was Rev. William Lochner.
1900: Rural postal delivery started. William Dodge was the first carrier. Second route carrier was Clyde Harris.
1902: Carnegie Foundation funds building of library. $10,000 was the amount donated in the wills of various people.
1902: Bryer Brothers, Whiting and Company established. Six employees, increased to 22 employees, all men.
1903: Shaler-Hartgerink Company was formed and the old Waupun Flax Mill, which began in 1892 but failed shortly thereafter, was used for the manufacturing of umbrellas. For a time they operated with one employee, Miss Anna Rikkers. This company was known as the Monarch Umbrella Company and was the first such umbrella factory in this part of the country.
June 3, 1903: First Interstate Bank of Wisconsin chartered. October 1, 1903: The State Bank of Waupun opened its doors.
1904: Four postal routes were opened.
1905: First National Bank reorganized as National Bank of Waupun. L. D. Hinkley and B. W. Davis acting as president and cashier. On the board were W. E. Caldwell, C. E. Hooker, and C. A. Shaler.
March. 1907: New brick church building dedicated for St. Joseph Catholic Church.
1909: Legislature appropriated $100,000 for hospital for the criminally insane to be built in Winnebago. Plan was dropped, later to be.
1910: Patent rights obtained for C.A. Shaler Company's portable vulcanizer, giving the Shaler Company control in the United States of the manufacture of portable vulcanizers, both electric and gasoline.
November 1, 1911: First city postal delivery.
1911: Plan considered to buy 72 acres in Waupun for State Hospital for the Criminally Insane.
1912: Shaler Company adds a new department. A nickel plating plant for finishing the vulcanizers.
1913: Work started on sewer system throughout Waupun, with nearly 9 miles of sewer pipes and 94 manhole covers.
1913: New high school built on the site of the old North Ward School. Additions to the school were made in 1925, 1935, 1939, 1951 and 1958.
1913: Dr. Rock Sleyster, then in charge of the Hospital for the Criminally Insane was appointed superintendent and steward of the new institution. State Board of Control was governing body.
January 12, 1914: First patients admitted to the Central State Hospital for the Criminally Insane located on West Lincoln Street in Waupun.
Nov. 19, 1916: Union Church on Baptist Hill (present-day site of City Hall) destroyed by fire. Since the church was unable to afford a new structure, Union Church joined Congregational Church to form Union-Congregational Church.
1917: Waupun was plunged into the horror and heartbreak of the World War.
1917. The Red Cross, under the direction of W. E. Rank, worked unceasingly in preparing and collecting hospital supplies and service kits, and on knitting for the soldiers. The Counsel of Defense directed practically all of the activities concerned with raising money and conserving foodstuffs to be sent to Europe.
October. 1917: Libby, McNeil and Libby Condensery opened. The tin shop was put in operation in 1918. About 150 people employed. C. E. Alderman, Superintendent when the plant began operation.
1918: Spanish Influenza vied with bullets in taking its toll of lives during World War I, both in the army and at home.
1919: Dr. Sleyster resigned. He was succeeded by Dr. J. F. Brown, who retired in 1926.
Sept. 15, 1923: Oscar Lee, Warden until February, 1938.
1920: Alvin H. Guth and Edwin Yasgar open The Trojan, an ice cream parlor plus. Two years later, Guth bought out Yasgar and the business flourished as Guth Candies. It was "the" place the go after shows and on Sundays.
January, 1921: First Christian Reformed Church, led by Rev. P. Kosten, organized services were held in the Dutch language until 1945.
August 22, 1921: The Teeple Shoe Company succeeded two other companies, the Davies and the Palma Shoe Companies. Short duration of operation. Mr. J. F. Teeple, president. Employed 135 people.
1922: C. A. Shaler Company buildings destroyed by fire. Bessie Koekoek, Mrs. Howard Carney and Mrs. Emma Michels are killed. Damage estimated to be over half a million dollars.
October 11, 1923: Recording Angel statue by Lorado Taft is placed on Blanche Shaler grave in Forest Mound Cemetery. This is the first statue Shaler brought to Waupun.
1926: Dr. William Larrabee established a trust fund of $ 18,000, the income of which paid for the full-time service of a school nurse.
1927: The Waupun Canning Company, with two large plants located in the city, had a yearly output of about 300 carloads of peas, corn, beets and pmpkins. W. G. Glascoff was the owner.
1927: The Bear Brand Hosiery Company operated two large mills with a daily output of 1,400 dozen pairs of hosiery per day. This output consisted almost entirely of ladies silk hosiery. The plant was under the supervision on L. A. Smith.
1928: The new City Hall dedicated on the former site of the Union Church.
June 23, 1929: The statue of the "End of the Trail" dedicated.
1929: First rivet machines are brought to Waupun and set up in the Shaler plant. This was operated as the National Rivet Company.
October, 1929: Stock Market crashed, sending the country into the Great Depression.
1930: Paramount or Bear Brand Knitting. Henry Pope. Prison labor. Bear Brand Company closed the Waupun factories in the early 1930s. City took over the factory building in 1934, and arranged with the Mid-State Shoe Company of Milwaukee to locate a branch factory in it, which is called the Ideal Shoe Company. Plant employed about 350 people and was managed by G. F. Ibach.
1931: Women inmates transferred to Taycheedah.
June 15, 1931: "Waubun, Dawn of Day" statue placed on the terrace of City Hall.
Sept. 13, 1931: Ceremonies held for "Waubun, Dawn of Day."
1932: School was organized in cooperations with the University Extension division.
April 1, 1933: Franklin and Madison streets U.S. Post Office opened.
June 9, 1933: "Doe and Fawn" placed at Rock River Country Club.
August 30, 1936: "Morning of Life" is dedicated on Clara A. Shaler grave at Mackford Prairie.
1939: Addition completed on Waupun High School.
1939: The prison inmate population was 368.
1939: Prison Manufactures highway signs, street signs, paints, rubber door mats, steel filing cases and cabinets, and other steel equipment, which are in turn sold only to tax-supported subdivisions of the state. The largest industry is the binder twine plant, and its product is only sold to buyers in the state.
October 20, 1940: "The Pioneers" is dedicated.
1940: Emmanuel Reformed Church organized. First pastor, Rev. Gerrit Menning installed August 26, 1942.
Dec. 16, 1941: Clarence Addison Shaler, inventor and philanthropist from Waupun, fell to his death in Pasadena, CA. He is buried beside his wife in Forest Mound Cemetery, Waupun.
1943: Waupun sets out to construct a 50-bed, $300,000 hospital but plans are delayed because of lack of funds.
1945: The U.S. Army announced that Waupun, along with 15 other Wisconsin communities, had been selected as a site for German prisoners of war. It was located in a field south of Doty Street and was surrounded by snow fence.
1946: Waupun School district purchases a school bus and hires William Edwards to drive it. The school district sold. the bus the following year to Edmunds who has been contracted to provided bus service to the present time.
1947: School Sisters of St. Francis of Milwaukee agree to assist in the building of a hospital.
1949: Waupun Christian School opened its doors to 107 pupils.
July 5, 1951: Waupun Memorial Hospital, dedicated to those who served in both World Wars, opened its doors to offer patient care. Cost of building and equipment was $1,750,000.
November 4, 1951: Cornerstone laid for St. Joseph Catholic Church school building. School was forced to close in 1969 due to rising operating costs.
August 31, 1952: Waupun Assembly of God meet for the first time. Rev. Erwin Erdmann founder and pastor.
1953: Shaler Company again has a horrific and tragic fire in which three women are also killed.
1954: Washington Elementary School built to replace South Ward School.
February 23, 1955: Trinity Reformed Chruch organized. First pastor: Rev. Chester Meengs.
December 3, 1958: Central Wisconsin Christian High School dedicated.
1958: Jefferson Elementary School built.
February 26, 1961: Bethel Christian Reformed Church held its first Sunday worship services.
1962: The School District of Waupun formed to included Fox Lake Schools. Fox Lake students attend high school in Waupun.
1962: New high school building constructed on Spring Street.
1962: Waupun Baptist Fellowship formed. The first pastor was Rev. Ralph Imhoff.
1968: Waupun Carnegie Library closes after 63 years. Opens as Education Service Center.
1968: Waupun Public Library opens at 120 South Mill Street.
June 14, 1970: Grace Lutheran Church building dedicated.
1971 to Present: Waupun Heritage Museum occupies the Carnegie Library building.
1977: Downtown fire starts in Meenk & Riel Appliance store and soon spread to Jud's bowling alley and other buildings suffered damage. In order to prevent the spread of fire, the historic Exchange Hotel, built by Seymour Wilcox in 1845, was razed.
Dec. 31, 1981: Carl Lackey, a volunteer fireman, died while fighting a fire in the 125 year old building of the Waupun Launders & Cleaners. Another fireman, Shorty Herdrich, was killed in an accident when the cars of two firemen crashed together (date unknown?).
1982: Central State Hospital (formerly Central State Hospital for the Criminally Insane) converted to Dodge Correctional Institution, creating a central reception center for all adult male inmates.
1987: Congregation of St. Agnes, based in Fond du Lac, assumed sponsorship of Waupun Memorial Hospital from the School Sisters of St. Francis.Acquisition
Accession
2016.0069Source or Donor
Waupun Historical SocietyAcquisition Method
Collected by Staff
