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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT.
SOLOMON JUNEAU,
At the Age of 60.
(From an Oil Tainting.)
SOLOMON JUNEAU
zA BIOGRAPHY
WITH SKETCHES OF THE JUNEAU FAMILY
By ISABELLA FOX
Printed by
Evening Wisconsin Printing Co.,
Milwaukee, Wis.
To the memory of my dear Grand- parents and Parents, this book is dedicated with thoughts of love by the Author.
NOV H !9!B
Copyright 1916
By Isabella Fox.
(All Rights Reserved.)
4*45504
AUTHOR'S PREFACE
N preparing this history, the author has endeavored to portray clearly and authentically the true life and character of Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Juneau. A great deal has been said in various histories regarding them, but few, if any, have penetrated their inner life or ante- dated the year Mr. Juneau settled permanently in Milwaukee.
In placing this volume before the public, the writer wishes to state she has done so at the earnest solicitation of other grandchildren of Mr. Juneau.
The photographic illustrations were made expressly for this work. Mr. M. A. Boardman, Marshal of the Old Settler's Club, Milwaukee, loaned a number of engravings.
The author desires to express deep gratitude to those who kindly assisted in the preparation of this work, among whom are Mr. Henry W. Bleyer, Madison, Historian of the Old Settler's Club, Milwaukee; Mr. John D. Lawe, Kaukauna, whose personal acquaintance with Mr. and Mrs. Juneau, enabled him to give valuable information ; Mr. F. E. Pond, Cincinnati ; Mr. John G. Gregory, Milwaukee ; Miss Olive Jane McGee, Milwaukee, and many others who have given material aid by loaning letters and manuscripts.
Isabella Fox.
FOREWORD.
HE name of Solomon Juneau has long been honored, alike for the sterling integrity, the true nobility of the man, and for his generous benefactions in the upbuilding of the city he founded nearly a century ago, near the Milwaukee bluff on the shore of Lake Michigan. He was the ideal pioneer — heroic in size and character — generous by nature, just in all his dealings, whether as a fur trader with the red man, or in business transactions with his fellow townsmen, through the trying times when early settlers often required fraternal assistance, and the embryo city in the wilderness was ever the gainer through his benevolence, for selfishness was non-existent in him. Had he been governed by avarice he might have become a very wealthy man, but in even greater degree than most of the time-honored pioneers of the great Northwest, he evinced the spirit — fast fading in present day methods of municipal management in many cities — of subordinating self and zealously promoting public welfare.
That Solomon Juneau was honored by Milwaukee in being selected as its first chief executive ; that he in turn was an honor to the city in his administration of affairs ; that he lived to see the transformation of virgin forest and verdant vale into the metropolis of the Badger State; that his passing elicited the unfeigned sorrow of all who knew him — all this is known and recorded in historical records, imperishable. His personal deeds of kindness, unnumbered and for the most part forgotten, presumably, by the benefactor himself during the years of his busy life — these may be to a small
5
degree remembered by the few surviving friends, but form- ing a chapter of rare interest if it were possible to present it, even in brief.
In Henry W. Bleyer's very entertaining "Guide to Mil- waukee," published in 1873, the following appropriate lines appear, in connection with reference to the death of Solomon Juneau :
" 'Twas meet that he should die where swarthy chiefs Could gaze upon the face of their tried friend; Where silent squaws could through the darkness steal To breathe a prayer and kiss his honored head — That they should bury him and think him theirs. And it was meet that he should here be brought For his loved children and the city's sake, That he twice honored and twice buried be, For here his like we ne'er again shall see." "
As a fitting memorial at this time — Milwaukee's centen- nial being near at hand — the present volume by Miss Isabella Fox, a granddaughter of Solomon Juneau, seems especially appropriate, and the information carefully gathered from reliable sources, relating to the pioneer and his descendants, will be found not only interesting, but of practical value as an addition to the local history of Milwaukee and its
founder.
Fred. E. Pond.
(Will Wildwood.)
'The lines were written by B. I. Dorward.
CONTENTS.
Page.
Author's Preface 3
Foreword 5
Solomon Juneau 9
Unveiling of the Juneau Monument 23
Mrs. Solomon Juneau 53
Press Notice on Death of Mrs. Juneau 61
Miscellaneous 64
Biographical Sketches of Juneau Children 71
Inaugural Address of Solomon Juneau as Mayor of Mil- waukee 131
Address of Solomon Juneau on Retiring as Mayor of Mil- waukee 13 4
Address of Hon. Henry W. Bleyer 136
Address of Hon. C. A. A. McGee 139
An Interesting Letter 148
Press Notices on the Death of Solomon Juneau 154
Funeral of Solomon Juneau 156
Incidents 169
Miscellaneous Data 178
Pages from an Old Account Book of Solomon Juneau. ... 187 Brief Biographies:
Ah-Ke-Na-Po-Way, 193; Joseph Le Roi, 193; Jacque Vieaux, 194; O-Not-Sah, 197; Onaugesa, 198; Pierre Juneau, 198; Narcisse Juneau, 199; Angeline Juneau, 200; Charles A. A. McGee, 203; Paul O. Hustiug, 207; Hercules Juneau, 208; Alfred Juneau, 208; Romance of Wa-Pa-No-Kiew, 209.
Chronological Record 215
Derivation of the Word Milwaukee 218
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Page.
Solomon Juneau Frontispiece
Old Log House and Warehouse 11
Diagram Showing Exact Location of Log House and Ware- house 12
Juneau Home, Milwaukee and Division Streets 14
Juneau Monument 22'
Mrs. Solomon Juneau 52
Birthplace of Mrs. Juneau. Old Stone Fireplace 56
Veronica's Handkerchief 60"
Home of Narcisse M. Juneau 66
Granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Juneau in Indian Costume. 88 Sons and Daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Juneau:
Narcisse, 70; Paul, 74; Theresa, 8 0'; Francis Dodge, 84; Elizabeth Josette, 91; Charlotte, 94; Margaret, 98'; Eugene, 104"; Mathilde, 108; Ellen Frances, 112Y Marie, 116; Isabella Rebecca, 122"; Bonduel F., 126.^
Juneau Home, E. Water and Michigan Streets 168'
Trading Post and Log House of Jacque Vieaux 195
C. A. A. McGee 202-
Paul O. Husting 206"
Wigwam, Trading Post, Juneau Store, Ludington Block,
and Pabst Building, E. Water and Wisconsin Streets. 214 N
SOLOMON JUNEAU
THE FOUNDER OF MILWAUKEE
RIO ORE than a century ago, two thousand miles inter- i § vening, two babes were born, a boy and a girl, who
reH were destined to play important roles in the early history of the great Northwest. The boy was born of pure Alsatian French parents, the girl was of French and Indian extraction. The boy was reared in a home of refinement and culture, the girl grew to womanhood amidst the primi- tive surroundings of the frontier. Fate decreed they should meet.
Across the broad expanse of wilderness extending from the St. Lawrence Valley to the beautiful shores of La Baye Verte, (Green Bay,) braving the perils and hardships which lay before him, this young man — in all the strength and beauty of youth — came to seek his fortune in this land of vast commercial advantages. It was at the old Indian trading post in historic Green Bay that he met the noblednearted child of the forest that fate had decreed should be his. Joined in the holy bonds of matrimony, they began their journey through life and together laid the foundation of a city.
At the outbreak of the French revolution, in 1789, Francois and Therese La Tulipe left France and sought refuge in Canada, settling in the little hamlet of L'Asump- tion, near Montreal. As did many others who left France during those troublous times, they changed their name from
9
SOLOMON JUNEAU
La Tulipe to that of Juneau, trying in a way to obliterate all sad memories connected with having to leave the land of their birth and of their honored ancestors.
"The French revolution was a violent reaction against that absolutism which had come in time to supplant the old feudal institutions of the country. It began with an outbreak of insurrectionary movements in July, 1789, in- cluding the destruction of the Bastile. On January 21, 1793, King Louis XVI. was beheaded, the Christian religion was deposed, the sacredness of the republic and worship of reason established, and a disastrous reign of blood and terror followed, which was brought to an end in 1794, when Robespierre, himself, suffered the same fate to which he had condemned countless numbers of his countrymen." — Library of University Knowledge, Vol. XII., p. 598.
Solomon Laurent Juneau, the subject of this sketch, second son of Francois and Therese Juneau, was born at L'Asumption, Can., on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, August 9, 1793, where his boyhood days were spent. On reaching manhood, he became imbued with the spirit of ad- venture so common among the young men of the St. Law- rence Valley in those early days, and during the summer of 1816,* at the age of 23 years, he left L'Asumption to seek his fortune in the great Northwest, arriving in Mackinac in September. Shortly after his arrival at that place, he met Jacque Vieaux, a French trader, who had trading posts at Mackinac, Green Bay and Milwaukee, and into whose em- ploy he entered at the Green Bay and Milwaukee posts as
*Foot Note — The statement frequently made, that Mr. Juneau made two trips to the Northwest, is an error. He made but one trip, 1816, at which time he remained permanently.
THE FOUNDER OF MILWAUKEE
a clerk, which position he held until the year 1818, after which year he was not connected with Mr. Vieaux in a business way.
He attended the village school at L'Asumption, later entering a Catholic college where he completed his educa- tion. He was well educated in French, and was in this country but a short time before he mastered the English language which he spoke fluently, and was well versed in many Indian dialects, especially the Menominee tongue.
Solomon Laurent Juneau was a man of rare personality. Of commanding figure, in height he was six feet four inches, he had brown curly hair, clear cut features, and large grey eyes. While of a jovial temperament, he never for a moment lost his natural dignity; of a kind and benevolent nature, he was the friend and confidant of all. The Indians looked upon him as a father, and whatever advice their be- loved "Solomo" gave them, was accepted and followed in every detail. His word was sacred, and once given, nothing could make him change his promise either in public or private life. ^ ,-^ - , - C^^^e-
LOG HOUSE AND WAREHOUSE OF SOLOMON JUNEAU,
East Water and Wisconsin Streets.
II
SOLOMON JUNEAU
During the year 1818 the American Fur Company estab- lished a trading post at Milwaukee and Mr. Juneau was their authorized agent up to the time of the removal of the Indians in 1838. He, however, continued in business on his own account in Milwaukee until 1852, when he removed with his family to Theresa, Wis.
Mason Street.
|
Warehouse. |
|||
|
Log House. |
|||
Wisconsin Street.
Diagram showing exact location of log house and storehouse, North- west corner of East Water and Wisconsin streets, according to statements made by Mr. Juneau's children in Jas. S. Buck's "Milwaukee Under the Charter," Vol. IV., p. 62. 12
JUNEAU HOME,
Corner of Milwaukee and Division Street.
(From a Painting by Mrs. F. E. Pond, Cincinnati, Ohio.)
THE FOUNDER OF MILWAUKEE
As agent of the American Company he settled in Mil- waukee in 1818, at which time he erected the log house, corner of East Water and Wisconsin streets, which he occupied as his residence until the year 1835, when he erected a dwelling house on the southeast corner of Michi- gan and East Wrater streets, where he resided a number of years, later building the commodious dwelling, corner of Milwaukee and Division (now Juneau Avenue) streets, where he lived until 1852.
During his many trips as an Indian trader between Mil- waukee and Green Bay, he was attracted to a pretty spot on the banks of the Rock River where during the early thirties he established a trading post, which in later years became a prosperous little village. Mr. Juneau named the post Theresa, in honor of his mother, whose memory and early teachings he held sacred and were his guiding spirit in all dealings through life with his fellow-man. Mr. Juneau's mother died Feb. 2, 18 15. His father died in 1828.
In September, 1820, Mr. Juneau married Miss Josette Vieaux, of Green Bay. Seventeen children were born to them, three dying in youth. Seven of their children were born in the old log house. Mr. and Mrs. Juneau resided continuously in Milwaukee for thirty-two years.
White men had visited Milwaukee trading with the In- dians prior to the advent of Solomon Juneau, but their stay was of short duration. To Mr. Juneau must be conceded the honor of being the first permanent white settler, as well as the first land owner, he having acquired title to a large
15
SOLOMON JUNEAU
tract of land. He was known as the most successful of all the Indian traders in and around Milwaukee, being closely connected with the commercial life of that region.
He was closely identified with every step in the progress of Milwaukee. In 1835, when a postoffice was established, he was appointed postmaster, which office he held for a period of nine years. In 1837, when Milwaukee was in- corporated as a village, he was elected president. In 1846, when Milwaukee became a city, he was chosen its first mayor. He encouraged every undertaking that could benefit the community. He was a member of the State Historical Society, and was liberal in his contributions to its archives and picture gallery. Aside from his interests on the East side, he had property on the West side. He and Byron Kilbourn were warm personal friends and close business associates in many enterprises. He assisted Mr. Kilbourn in the platting of the West side. Mr. Kilbourn was an intimate friend of Mr. Juneau's entire family.
Mr. and Mrs. Juneau were generous in their gifts to the city which they founded. He built the first court house, and with the land upon which it stood, they presented it to the county, that the people might have a temple of justice. They gave the land upon which St. Peter's Catholic church stood, (corner of Martin and Jackson streets), and the material for building, that their family, the incoming white population and the Indians might have a place of worship ; they gave largely to St. John's Cathedral, among which was a strip of land between the pastor's house and the Cathedral, for 16
THE FOUNDER OF MILWAUKEE
which they and their descendants were forever to have two seats in the church ; they gave the land for the first govern- ment lighthouse at the head of Wisconsin street ; they gave the land, corner of Milwaukee and Division streets, whereon a college was erected. All this they gave that their city might be as other cities. To those who were too poor to buy, they gave land and in many instances the material for building, that their poor might have homes.
They were fond of entertaining their friends and possessed the virtues of hospitality and that warmth of heart which was characteristic of those good old pioneer days.
The few remaining old settlers look back with fond recollection to those ties of friendship and good cheer which at all times prevailed in and around the Juneau home.
Mr. Jean Pierre Husting, Mayville, Wis., once said of Mr. and Mrs. Juneau : "They united in their personality those qualities of unselfishness, generosity, Christianity, nobility of purpose and good will toward all mankind, rarely, if ever, found in any one individual."
After his removal to Theresa, Mr. Juneau engaged in many business pursuits, among which were a general mer- chandise store, saw and grist mill, trading with the Indians. He was postmaster of the village. At the time of his death he was reputed to have left quite a fortune. Aside from his business enterprises, he had large real estate holdings.
Mr. Juneau lived to see his Indian trading post at Mil- waukee develop into a thriving city, which from the very first had been his highest ideal.
17
SOLOMON JUNEAU
In the early part of November, 1856, Mr. Juneau left Fond du Lac for the Indian reservation at Keshena, near Shawano, Wis., to attend the annual payment of the Indians. He had not been well for some time, the death of his wife had completely crushed his spirit and broken his health. His daughter, Airs. Frank Fox, at whose home he had been visiting in Fond du Lac prior to his departure for the reservation, tried in vain to persuade her father to abandon the trip, but all effort on her part and that of her husband were of no avail. Owing to his indisposition and the in clement weather, he was taken very ill shortly after his arrival on the reservation, and he continued to grow worse until November 14, when he passed away.
All that medical aid and careful nursing could do was done for him. Drs. Heubschmann and Wiley did not leave his bedside until death came. To Dr. Heubschmann he gave his dying messages for his children, and he proved a faithful messenger. With him at the time of his death were Dr. Heubschmann, Indian agent, Dr. Wiley, Hon. Geo. W. Lawe, B. Hunkins, Edward Outhwaite, Wm. Johnson, Wm. Powell, Chas. Corron and others. At the time of his death Mr. Juneau was 63 years, 3 months and 5 days.
When the announcement of his death reached Milwau- kee, it was a great shock to the citizens and in fact to the entire country reaching from Green Bay to Chicago. The Indians were broken hearted over the loss of their beloved
♦Foot Note — Solomon Juneau's grave on the Keshena reservation is still open, and from its center an evergreen tree has grown, a fitting emblem to his revered memory.
THE FOUNDER OF MILWAUKEE
"Solomo". He was buried on the reservation, the Indians would have it so. Had not the "Great Manitou" claimed his spirit. Why then did they not have the right to claim his body. The spot selected by the Indians for his grave was on a knoll just back of the Council house. But there were others who claimed him — his grief -stricken children and the citizens of Milwaukee.
The funeral on the reservation was held from the Catho- lic church, followed by a large concourse of white men and Indians. Four of his pall-bearers were Indians, one of whom was the famous Chief Oshkosh. During the services at the grave, the deep and solemn grief of the Indians, both men and women, over the loss of their "Solomo", was indeed pathetic.
When the news of Mr. Juneau's death reached Theresa, his sons Narcisse and Paul, and his son-in-law, Frank Fox, left for the reservation to convey the remains to Milwaukee, the trip both ways being made by team. The Indians accom- panied them as far as Shawano, loth to give up all that remained of their beloved friend.
On arriving at Milwaukee, his remains were taken to the home of his daughter, Mrs. H. K. White. The funeral was held on November 26, from St. John's Cathedral, Rev. Father Riordan officiating. Interment was in the Catholic cemetery at the head of Spring street.
This, however, was not the final resting place of Solomon Juneau and his wife. After a period of sixteen years, their remains were removed to Calvary cemetery.
19
SOLOMON JUNEAU
The monument erected to the memory of Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Juneau in Calvary cemetery bears the inscription: "In Memory of Solomon Juneau, Founder of Milwaukee, Born August 19, 1793, at L'Asumption, Can." On the reverse side, "Josette Juneau, Wife of Solomon Juneau, Born at Fort Howard, 1803."
In 1906, members of the Old Settler's Club of Milwau- kee, placed marble markers at the head of the graves of Mr. and Mrs. Juneau.
20
I
JUNEAU MONUMENT.
THE JUNEAU MONUMENT
Thirty-one years after Solomon Juneau's death, a noble tribute was paid to his memory by two pioneer business men of the city which he had founded in the wilderness — Messrs. Bradley and Metcalf, who commissioned and paid for the Juneau Monument, which they presented to the city of Milwaukee. The official account of the ceremonies con- nected with its unveiling, written by General Charles King, who acted as presiding officer, is here reproduced, as fol- lows :
UNVEILING OF THE JUNEAU MONUMENT. July 6th, 1887.
In the old days when the white tower of the light- house gleamed from the summit of the bluffs — just where now no sign of bluff remains ; when three long black piers jutted far out into the waters of the bay — just where now no piers are seen at all ; when sloop or shallop, seeking entrance to our winding river, sailed through a rift in the sandy beach — just where all is solid soil today, while the turbid waters go curdling out through a nearer channel as artificial as their own color ; in those old days when there was no Seventh Ward, the bluffs rose bare and bold, and scarred by wave and weather on the bay side, and billowy and rounded towards the nestling town. In those days Milwaukee seemed huddling behind those natural bulwarks and taking shelter from the fierce northeasters that sent the white-capped surges tumbling in foam upon the sweeping curve of the
23
SOLOMON JUNEAU
beach; while on bright afternoons that antique light-house was the Mecca of our people. Here was the chosen prom- enade, here the play-ground of our boyhood, and from these breezy heights we kept watch for the slow coming of the white steamer from Chicago, or, glancing westward and commanding the whole length of Wisconsin Street, that had not dreamed of boring into our fastness then, we looked down into the sloping valley towards the river, and clear over the roofs of the homely, old-fashioned, white frame houses that were so rapidly springing into being.
Long since has the light-house doused its glim and crumbled away. Long since has the bold bluff at Wisconsin street been shoveled into the neighboring squares ; its broad and uncomplaining bosom yielding tribute by the cubic yard to the rescue of surrounding swamp-land ; but farther north, though their crests are shaved away to fill their creases, the bluffs still stand to remind all old Milwaukeeans of their missing comrades. The little huts; the long meshes of the drying nets ; the white-winged fleet of fishing smacks that huddled at their feet, are gone. The white combing rollers that broke in long concave and hissing foam are curbed by the ugly line of wooden break-water, but still there remains much of what was once the tall, rounded bluff at the head of Biddle street. Near it — to the west — there were level fields and green pastures and little frame cottages within the first few hundred yards ; and then, bigger white houses and one or two of brick — what palaces we boys declared them ! — and then the staring walls of the brand new Cathe- 24
UNVEILING OF THE JUNEAU MONUMENT
dral with its marvel of a clock tower and its jangling bells, and the little square belfry of the Court House peeping out beyond. The North Point seemed a long distance away ; the South Point a day's journey, thanks to the wide detour around the Kinnickinnic marsh, and "many a time and oft," coming home from the forbidden swim in the Lake, have we boys clambered the steep pathway up the Biddle Street bluff, and, stopping to rest and gather breath, have stood there at the very verge, looking townward across the intervening field and far over to the wooded heights beyond the river.
And there today — on the summit of that very bluff — just as though he, too, had climbed from the din of the breakers on the beach below and had paused to gather breath and take a long look at the fair city, stands on its granite pedestal the effigy of him whom Milwaukee honors as its first citizen — the pioneer who trod that line of bluff when not a roof was raised between him and the westward stream.
Clad in the garb of the frontiersman, with ready rifle in his hand, "Old Solomo," the friend of the Indian, the trader and trapper and hunter, was known to every man who visited Milwaukee in its early days. Later he donned the dress of civilization, and white and red man hailed him as mayor and magistrate of the struggling town. Year after year he watched it growing, thriving, until the site of his humble cabin became the heart of a bustling city. New men came and new enterprises prospered, but Solomon Juneau kept his hold upon the hearts of those whom he was first
25
SOLOMON JUNEAU
to welcome here, and, as the city grew, so was spread abroad his good name. Milwaukee's father, founder and steadfast friend, he lived his honored life among us, simple, tender- hearted and true; and in his death there fell a pall upon the whole community.
Long years have sped since he was called to his fathers. Here and there in our wide streets and on our archives his name appeared. Here and there the genial and benevolent features beamed from some gilded frame or illumined a page of our history, but not until years had rolled away was there placed upon our sod a lasting memorial of the man first welcomed of the red sons of the forest, whose lodges were thick along these wooded shores.
It is fitting that 'twere done as it was done. No labored municipal appropriation was sought. No appeal to alien ear was made. In all its solid worth the bronze that bears his mien is the tribute of affection and intimate friendship on the part of men who knew him well, of men whose names have been linked with that of our city since its very infancy, and whose own bonds of association are weighted with the records of half a century. The sign-board with their joint names and the first announcement of their enterprise stood within a stone's throw of the site of his old cabin. They were constant visitors at his fireside. To one of them he offered the land that became the homestead of the young merchant who had so won the old trader's esteem. To him, too, sure of sympathy, he came with great tears trickling down his weather-beaten face and with sobs choking his 26
UNVEILING OF THE JUNEAU MONUMENT
utterance, to tell how death had robbed him of the wife who had shared his long exile.
Few men knew of their project until just before the blocks of the massive pedestal were hoisted into place. In the hands of an eminent sculptor and designer every detail of the statute had been completed abroad, and not until all preliminaries were settled was Milwaukee aware that within a coming week would the effigy of its founder be unveiled.
Despite the heat of the midsummer sun, no lovelier day had dawned on the city for years than that on which the ceremonies took place. Far out to sea the waters of the bay shone blue as the unclouded sky. The wooded points seemed nearer and clearer than ever before, as though closing in in sympathy with the purpose of the day. The close-cropped greensward, the graded pathways of the park and all the neighboring streets and homesteads were thronged with an interested gathering of our citizens; while the banner-draped platform and the seats upon the green were crowded with invited guests to most of whom Solomon Juneau had been personally well known. Close at hand, under the bluffs, the graceful lines of the revenue cutter, gay with bunting, and the idly-flapping sails of many a smaller craft were reflected in the placid waters. Not a cats-paw seemed to ruffle the fair surface ; not a breath of air to stir the foliage of the bordering trees. Far to the southward the smoke from the Bay View furnaces rose straight to the zenith, and over all the unclouded sun shone vividly.
27
SOLOMON JUNEAU
Prompt at the hour the procession came in sight, thread- ing its way through files of carriages down the line of bluff. Clauder's ringing, spirited music seemed more jubilant than ever, and the escorting troopers of the Light Horse and the jaunty infantrymen of the Sheridan Guards marched with more than their usual precision. Carriage after carriage dis- charged its load at the entrance to the enclosure; the city officials, the pioneers and old settlers' clubs joined the children and grand-children of Juneau upon the raised plat- form ; and then, with the troops aligned at saluting distance and the black-mouthed guns of the battery unlimbered at the edge of the bluff, the preparations were complete, and all eyes were centered on the tall column draped and concealed in folds of flag ; the music ceased, and the voice of Col. Charles King, Master of Ceremonies, called the assemblage to order with these brief words :
"The object of our meeting here this afternoon calls for no extended explanation. Within the past few years Mil- waukee has compassed the first half century of her existence, and barely two score years have passed away since the sight of the first steamboat anchoring off our shores could call forth but a meagre dozen of spectators.
"Foremost in that group of hardy pioneers stood the stalwart form of him in whose honor this statue gleams for the first time in the sunshine of today. Public spirited and loyal citizens have placed it here — a lasting tribute to his indomitable energy and perseverance.
"And now, in this presence — central figure in this un- 28
UNVEILING OF THE JUNEAU MONUMENT
rivaled picture of earth and sea and sky, unveiled by the fair hands of his own grandchild, the effigy of "Old Solomo" shall look forth upon the scene of civilization and success that has sprung up about the site of the humble cabin he built so many years ago on the banks of 'Mahnawauk Seepe'. "It is fitting that at such a time we invoke the blessing of the Almighty upon our enterprise, and we gladly give ear to one who from the earliest days of the infant city has been prominent in our midst — our pastor and our friend. I present to you the Reverend Doctor Keene."
Invocation.
O, Almighty Father, God of Heaven and Earth, in the order of whose providence, nations and cities are founded for the habitation and government of men, we acknowledge thy goodness in the gift of this fair city, which, under thy merciful leading and guidance, is a pride and joy to the people who inhabit it. Gratefully we acknowledge thy merciful goodness to us, and while this day we assemble to do honor to man, we would not be unmindful of thee, our God. And thou who didst call the patriarchs to be chosen founders, instructors and representatives of a people and cities to be called after thy Name; we this day acknowledge thy goodness and mercy in the choice of thy servant, the founder of this city — a devout worshipper of thy Holy Name, an example of integrity and honor ; of unselfish gen- erosity, and of gentle bearing and character ; the trusted and respected friend of the Indian and pioneer settler.
May the inhabitants of this city always cherish and emulate his virtues, and ever bear the character of God- fearing, righteous people. Bless the donors of the statue about to be unveiled. Preserve their generous gift from
29
SOLOMON JUNEAU
harm and injury, to perpetuate in accordance with their de- sign the historical name of our earliest citizen, and the memory of a good and gracious man.
And we implore thy blessing on all in authority, that they may have grace, wisdom and understanding, so to discharge their duties as most effectually to promote thy glory, the interest of true religion and virtue, and the peace, good order and welfare of this State and City. Continue, O, Lord, to prosper our institutions for the promotion of sound learning, the diffusion of virtuous education, the ad- vancement of Christian truth and the purity and prosperity of thy Universal Church. Bless all who labor in works of mercy. Care for all aged persons, and all little children, the sick and the afflicted.
Remember all who by reason of weakness are overcome, or by reason of poverty are forgotten, and save us from the guilt of abusing the blessings of prosperity, to luxury and licentiousness, to irreligion and vice, lest we provoke Thee in just judgment. Give ear unto our prayers, O merciful and gracious Father, for the love of thy dear Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ, Amen.
Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil ; for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever, Amen.
At the close of the eloquent prayer, escorted by Mr. Richard H. Park, the designer and modeler of the statue, Miss Hattie White, granddaughter of Juneau, stepped for- ward and took her position at the pedestal. The cords were placed in her hands, and then, with a burst of melody from the band and the thundering salute of the guns, the pre-
30
UNVEILING OF THE JUNEAU MONUMENT
sented arms of the line of troops and the cheers of the assembled throng, there flashed into view as the folds fell away the glistening presentment of our pioneer citizen.
Heroic in size, easy and restful in pose, and in the frontier dress of fifty years ago, the figure is strong and marked in its resemblance, and in their placid benignity and kindliness the features are especially true to life. Among the Old Settlers' Club there were many who half arose and scanned the shining bronze with eager interest and eyes that quickly moistened. The applause was renewed again and again until the thunder of the guns had ceased, and then earnest attention was given to the
Oration of Hon. E. D. Holton, at the Unveiling of
the Juneau Monument, Milwaukee, Wis.,
July 6, 1887.
Fellow Citizens, Mr. Mayor, and Gentlemen of the Common Council : Individuals, all along the pathway of man, have stepped forward and directly or indirectly builded cities. We are told in the sacred scriptures that Adam's oldest son went forth and builded a city. David, the stripling king, and sweet singer of Israel, had much to do with the building of that city, standing among the Judean hills, which was beautiful for situation. Constantine, the Great, when he came to stand upon the banks of the Bosphorus, and contrasted it with the narrow, muddy waters of the Tiber, said : "The seat of the Roman Empire shall be changed ; and here on the shore of this great waterway shall it stand ;" and the magnificent city of Constantinople arose at his behest. The capital of Peter the Great was out upon the desolate steppes of Russia, far from the ocean wave, and he said, "That will not do for the great Muscovite
SOLOMON JUNEAU
capital." And forthwith he ordered the city of St. Peters- burg to arise upon the swampy borders of the River Neva, as it enters the gulf of Finland. There it stands today, a mighty monument to the memory of a mighty man.
He whose memory we come to embalm in bronze today, may not have borne so conspicuous a part as these eminent ones, but among us, he must have a name ; among us he must have a history as bright as these ; though less in degree, for he, too, was the builder of a city, a city as beautiful as either of those which have been mentioned ; a city, considering the brevity of its existence, as large as was either of those im- perial cities at a time when they were not older. We cannot enter upon a consideration of early historical sketches inci- dent to our region of country without, in one form or another, being confronted at the threshold with the con- spicuous parts enacted by the French Jesuit missionaries and the American Fur Company; the one the pioneer of religion, the other the pioneer of commerce. The presence of Solo- mon Juneau at the mouth of the Milwaukee, or, as the In- dians called it, Mahnawaukee river, on the 14th of Septem- ber, 1818, was the outcome of these two forces or factors. Romance, poetry, and even history, probably, have yet exhaustive fields in these two great continental epochs. These two forces were largely the forerunners of the civili- zation that has spanned the continent, and as a consequence, we think nothing today, of making the journey from the mouth of the St. Lawrence river to the heads of Lakes Michigan and Superior. But what was that journey of 2,000 miles when Marquette made it two hundred years ago, or, even three score and ten years ago, at the time Solomon Juneau made it? They each performed it by the same con- veyance ; perhaps the same boat song was sung by each, as they plied their oars along that vast waterway. They each forced their boats over the same rapids or carried them by land. We have spoken of the Bosphorus upon which the Emperor Constantine placed his city ; it is not grander than
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the waterway upon which our founder builded his city. We have spoken of the Neva, upon which Peter the Great placed his imperial city ; it does not compare with the site of Milwaukee.
White men had visited Milwaukee before Mr. Juneau came, before the advent of him whom we honor as our founder.
Solomon Juneau was born on the 9th day of August, 1793, at a small village near Montreal. His parents were Alsatian French of pure blood. He was christened Laurent Solomon, but he dropped his first name after he came here to reside. He received, probably in his parish church, some education, so that he was able to offer his services as a clerk. The stories of a hundred years ago, of the great lakes and the rivers leading to, and connecting them ; the stories of the vast transactions of the fur companies ; the thousands of romances of the many trappers and traders connected with these then great and absorbing commercial transactions, pervaded every household all along the St. Lawrence Valley, and constituted the very romance of that French life. Into this romance and the desire to participate in it entered young Juneau, and under its inspiration he reached Mackinac in September, 1816, at the age of 23 years.
At that time he must have been a man of great personal beauty. What a grand companion he must have been on that long journey from Montreal to Mackinac ! With the oars he was the equal of any ; in the storm and dangers of the journey he had no blanched cheek; courage of the highest order was his. I think I hear his voice high above all others as he joins with his brother boatmen, amid the winds and rolling waves :
Row, brothers, row, the stream runs fast. The rapids are near and the daylight's past.
At Mackinac he made the acquaintance of Jacque
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SOLOMON JUNEAU
Vieaux, Sr. This gentleman was a Frenchman, a man of large acquaintance with the Indian tribes, with whom he had extensive dealings, and over whom he exercised great in- fluence. His headquarters were at Green Bay and he also had a store here at Milwaukee. In this gentleman's employ Mr. Juneau entered as a clerk soon after his arrival at Mackinac in 1816, and continued in his employ until 18 18, when he came to Milwaukee. He continued as Mr. Vieaux's head clerk through the years 1818 and 1819, during which time he married Josette, the daughter of his employer. She bore Mr. Juneau seventeen children.
At the time I first saw Mrs. Juneau, she was about 35 years of age, a well-formed, good-sized, matronly, fine looking and well-deported woman. She was what was called a half breed, her mother being from the Menomonee tribe of Indians. At the time I speak of as first knowing Mrs. Juneau, she dressed partly in Indian fashion. She mingled but little with the incoming white population. She was noted for her benevolence and kindness to the poor, giving largely of her care to the throng of Indians, who were con- tinually in the neighborhood of her dwelling, till as late as 1845, and perhaps even later. A true and faithful wife, a true and noble mother, a charitable and kindly neighbor was Mrs. Juneau. Let her memory also be ever cherished by the people of the city which honors her husband as its chief founder.
And now we come to speak of the life of Mr. Juneau when he entered upon a business career of his own, during the year 1820. He was made the agent of the American Fur Company here at Milwaukee. At this time Wisconsin was known only as a part of the Northwest Territory ceded by the state of Virginia to the Federal government. No civil government extended over it other than that relating to the government of the Northwest Territory by Congress. The Menomonees, Pottawattomies, Winnebagoes, Sacs and Foxes occupied what is now the state of Wisconsin. A few
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UNVEILING OF THE JUNEAU MONUMENT
white men were at Green Bay and Prairie du Chien, chiefly French and half-breeds. Other than these two settlements, this state, now so abounding in towns, cities, roads, bridges, schools, colleges and all the insignia of highest civilization, was indeed a howling wilderness. But no, it was not a wilderness. It was full of people, but of an other com- plexion than ours. It was the industry of the chase ; it was the skill and deep sagacity of the hunter. His treasures were found in the precious furs of the beaver, the martin, the fox, the mink, the fox, and other fur-bearing animals; in the hides of the deer, the wolf and the bear. Who for twenty-five years was head man, was chief, was almost imperial guide over this widely-scattered population ? 'Twas he whose memory we come today to commemorate. Con- stantine was emperor over the Roman people and they went and came upon his order. Peter the Great was the father, the Czar, of the Muscovite people, and they came and went at his command.
Scarcely less imperial was Mr. Juneau's influence over the widely scattered Indian settlements of Wisconsin. So noble was he in his bearing, so just was he in his dealings, so true was he to the interests of these Indian tribes, that they reverenced him and accepted his advice and counsel as if he was indeed their chief ruler. When he called for the gathering of the tribes, they came. Long lines of horses laden with precious peltries, could be seen streaming along the Indian trails leading to Milwaukee, and, when they arrived, whole cities of Indian wigwams would be seen planted upon our beautiful highlands surrounding Milwau- kee. Did you think trade was never carried on here until these massive blocks of stores were built that now adorn our city, and which attract the masses of people seen in our streets? You are mistaken. During the period of which I speak, and of these gatherings, very extensive mercantile transactions were carried on. Large stocks of goods had been accumulated, brought chiefly from Montreal and
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SOLOMON JUNEAU
Quebec, to be exchanged for the productions of the Indian. Who was the great merchant ? To whom did this patient and hard working people bring the fruit of their labors, and cast at his feet, saying, "Take these and count their value and give us of what we need in exchange !" Few are the men after all, that have so commanded the confidence of their fellows as to be entirely trusted as did these children of the forest trust their beloved "Solomo."
This trade went on for many days followed by games and festivities. Did you think that athletic sports like our baseball performances, which command so much the atten- tion of the public press of the present time, are but just now played. You are much mistaken. Mr. and Mrs. Juneau, with their children and family friends, the chiefs of the Indian tribes, have gone out upon the bluffs and the end of Wisconsin street and are looking down on the game of lacrosse performed on the green sward where now stretches Michigan and Huron streets, and are witnessing exhibitions of agility, strength and skill, of which our baseball games are but baby playing. And do you think that horse-racing is but now first inaugurated in Milwaukee? In this, too, you are equally mistaken. Look out upon that smooth, beautiful plain which now constitutes our Third Ward. There are a hundred horses in the ring. They are as beautiful and sleek as any you ever saw. They are all ridden by their owners, whose skill and agility are scarcely less attractive than the swiftness of the horse. There are Dexters, Mauds and J. I. C.'s in the ring, and as the victors come in the acclaim comes from throats that could make twice the noise that can the consumptive voices of our present baseball and horse-racing crowds. As for athletes, why there are among those young braves, runners that can outstrip the swiftest horse in a race of a hundred miles !
But now the trading is done, the payments are made, the races are over, the games, the fetes and the revelries are closed. Solomon has said that he must now give attention
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UNVEILING OF THE JUNEAU MONUMENT
to the very important business of the great fur company, and his brethren must depart for their homes.
The wigwams are struck, the pack horses are loaded with them, and the vast amount of goods of one sort and another — blankets, powder, shot, tomahawks, tobacco, and in those days more or less fire-water, and the long cavalcade takes its departure, as it came, for their abode in the wilderness, as we say, but not as they said, but to the loved hunting- grounds — homes ever dear to them — breathing their bene- dictions upon Solomo, their friend, their trusted brother, their true adviser, their peace-maker, their protector, their beloved Solomo.
At Mahnawaukee now all is comparatively quiet and peaceful. The sober and important business now commands attention. This vast collection of peltries, filling great store places, is to be prepared for shipment. Whither is it going, and how ? The great burden bearing Mackinac boat is at its moorings ready to receive its cargo and enter upon its long journey through Lake Michigan and the Straits of Mackinac, by Huron, by the River St. Clair, the Detroit River, by Lake Erie, by Niagara's roaring waters, by On- tario, by the rushing waters of St. Lawrence to Montreal, where its cargo will be reshipped to London and China. Who is the conspicuous figure that summoned the tribes which brought these precious commodities, and who has determined their qualities and value and paid for the same, so that they have departed not only without a murmur, but with benediction on his head? And who now is preparing with consummate skill these precious goods so that they will go in safety from a thousand dangers to their far-off destination ? Who now prepares the invoices for the owners and bills of lading for the consignees so that the great busi- ness goes on without confusion or friction? And who now, in the midst of all the seeming confusion and disorder, brings order and system to all interests, so that in the end and at the conclusion of all, it is found that the scale of
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accuracy and justice has been held with even hand, and those great merchants, the Astors and the Ramsey Crooks, said clear on to the end, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Who, I ask, has borne this conspicuous part?
From 1820 to 1838, nearly a score of years of this kingly ruling passes in the history of Mr. Juneau, and, lo ! a tide rolling like the ocean strikes the western shore of Lake Michigan. It is the first army corps of emigrants from the Eastern States and from Europe. The Federal government now steps into the arena and asks the aboriginal inhabitants, those true owners of the soil, to exchange lands, and go for their hunting grounds beyond the Mississippi. Mourning is in all the wigwams. Here are true men as ever lived, devout worshippers of the Great Spirit, seeking to the best of their ability to conform to His laws. As this message of their "Great Father" at Washington reaches them, they are saddened and sit speechless in their wigwams, and under the shadows of their beautiful forests, or upon the banks of their lakes and rivers. They are dumb, and can only appeal their case to the Great Spirit. The chiefs are loaded with gaudy red blankets and bedizened with trinkets and mock jewelry. Fire-water is not unknown. The treaties are made and the tribes must depart. Ah ! as they go, slow and irreso- lute is their step ; and well it may be, for sorrow and sadness is in their hearts as they pass from the land of their fathers, never to return.
The scene changes. Behold the army of occupation is here. The bugle blast of resolution and high purpose is heard. "We are house-builders," they cry ; we are school and church builders ; we are road-makers ; we are bridge- builders; we are plowmen; we are hewers of stone and moulders of brick and of iron, and workers in wood. Our knowledge of manufactures reaches every department of human want and human skill ; we are printers and students of books ; we make and publish printed laws, observe their
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UNVEILING OF THE JUNEAU MONUMENT
mandates ourselves, and exact the same obedience from all who come."
They enter in. Hear you now the sound of the hammer, the saw and the anvil. Look here, look there, on every hand human habitations and homes of comfort arise. Woman under Christian culture is here. Mark her beauty and sweetness as she stands in the door of her house and bids you welcome to that fresh home adorned by her handi- craft! The forests are cleft. The mighty oaks, the beeches, the elms, the ash, the walnut and the maple go down before the axman's stroke. Highways are cast up and the blessed land yields its abundance to the husbandman's skillful touch. But what of Mr. Juneau in this presence? Can he now face civilization and bear himself as when he was dealing only with the aboriginal inhabitants of this country, with whom he had so long lived almost as one of their own number? Yes, equally well. He was now the same elegant gentleman, manly, handsome, polite, always self-possessed, and, in these particulars, was the inferior of none of all this throng of the best types of the population of the Eastern States. Mr. Juneau, under the federal laws, had acquired one hundred and sixty acres of land on the east side of the river, where is now the very richest part of our city. As a city builder, upon the advent of these new comers, he called to his aid Benjamin H. Edgerton and Joshua Hathaway, able civil engineers, and at once platted this wide extent of land. He was baronial, indeed, in the possession of these thousands of city lots. Generous, liberal to a fault, he rapidly disposed of these lots ; some for money, some on credit, some in ex- change for goods and personal property of all kinds and descriptions, and not a few by gift. He had use for a great amount of merchandise, for there was never a time when there were not many Indians and half-breeds hanging about his house and grounds.
His memory was most remarkable. I think I am not mistaken in saying that he never made a mistake or was at
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a loss to know whether or not he had parted with this or that lot without reference to books.
Neither can I recall that in a single instance he ever had difficulty in any of these many transactions. At an early day, as I am informed, a verbal trade between him and the Hon. Morgan L. Martin was made for the half interest in a body of land for $600. No conveyance was made at the time. The value of the land increased to a large sum. Mr. Martin called Mr. Juneau's attention to the verbal trade. It was at once ratified — though the difference was thousands of dollars. His word was proverbially as good as his bond. In all of the affairs of the city he was an honored and useful citizen. He was its first postmaster and its first mayor. In the discharge of these public trusts he was always modest and deferential to the educated men with whom he came in contact. He built the first vessel. He built the court house (the old one) and with the square in front gave it to the county. He built the Milwaukee House, a large, spacious three-storied hotel, located near where the postoffice now stands.* He was a devout Catholic, and gave liberally to the cause of religion. At one time he was possessed of large wealth, but the characteristics of which I have spoken did not conduce to its retention, and he died a poor man.
He had gone to attend an Indian payment at Shawano in the northern part of the state. His duties were severe — the weather was inclement — he was there overtaken with illness and died on the 14th of November, 1856.
He sleeps in the Catholic cemetery, fronting Grand Avenue, west of the city.
Is he worthy of this gathering? Is he worthy of this monument ? Behold him !
Mr. Mayor and gentlemen of the Common Council, Charles T. Bradley and William H. Metcalf, two of the oldest residents and most respected citizens of this com-
*The present site of the Wells building, corner of Milwaukee and Wisconsin streets.
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UNVEILING OF THE JUNEAU MONUMENT
munity, at whose request I have made this humble effort in memory of the founder of our city, bid me tender this monu- ment, alike so honorable to them, and the distinguished artist who has constructed it in the far distant city of Florence, as a free gift to the city of Milwaukee, and to beg at your hands its acceptance and future custody.
To which oration and in behalf of the city of Milwaukee, there followed the
Address of Acceptance By Hon. Emil Wallber.
Honored Sir : —
With profound gratitude I accept this beautiful monu- ment on behalf of the city of Milwaukee.
It is a happy incident, indeed, that the next statue presented to us after that of the Father of our Country, is the statue of the Father of our City.
Placed on public ground that bears his name, in sight of one of our great inland lakes, in full view of the spot which once was his home, this monument, erected to the memory of Solomon Juneau, leads our thoughts back to the days when Milwaukee was but an Indian village.
What a change since then ! From a mere trading-post Milwaukee, now the metropolis of our state, has in a short space of time grown to be a city of over 185,000 inhabitants. Its area comprises about seventeen square miles. Its assessed valuation is nearly $90,000,000. Over four hundred teachers are employed in our public schools, imparting in- struction to 19,000 pupils. Our large and extensive manu- facturies, representing nearly every industry, have made us famous. Its press is honored and respected throughout the land. The log cabin of the days of Juneau has given way to spacious homes, surrounded by all the comforts of life, and now to all the beauties and attractions of our city is added the monument just unveiled, and I but voice the senti- ment of our people when I say, that the work is beautiful
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SOLOMON JUNEAU
as a product of art, honorable to the donors, and creditable to the artist.
On behalf of the inhabitants of this city, I beg you, sir, to convey their cordial thanks to the donors for this gen- erous gift, and to assure them that their kindness and generosity will not be forgotten.
I sincerely hope that their munificent example will be emulated by other of our public-spirited citizens, confident that their liberality will ever be appreciated.
In the absence of Governor Rusk the following letter was read by his designated staff officer :
July 4th, 1887.
My Dear Colonel : Your second letter, asking me to be present at the unveiling of the statute of Solomon Juneau, is received. I had confidently hoped to have the pleasure of witnessing the interesting ceremonies attending that event, but circumstances are such that I cannot avail myself of the privilege.
Milwaukee is to be congratulated upon having among her citizens public spirited gentlemen, who honor themselves and their city by thus doing honor to the memory of her first settler, and the first mayor of the chief city of our state.
The hardy pioneer, who was the advance guard of civili- zation and enlightenment, and the founder of a great city, deserved to have his name perpetuated, and it is a matter for congratulation that it has been so substantially done.
Please extend to Messrs. Bradley and Metcalf my thanks for their kind invitation and sincere regrets that I am unable to accept it.
Yours very truly,
J. M. RUSK.
Col. Chas. King.
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UNVEILING OF THE JUNEAU MONUMENT
Speech on Behalf of Pioneer Association By Hon. John P. McGregor.
Fellow Citizens : Though the honor of being one of the earliest settlers in Milwaukee is not mine, it has yet fallen to my lot to speak briefly, on this occasion, in behalf of the Milwaukee County Pioneer Association. These pioneers, to-day, have much of which to be proud, and many things for which to be thankful. In the ordinary course of events, it might readily have happened that the wandering, adventurous Indian trader found in the occupation of this point, when the advance guard of regular civilized settlers arrived, should have been one of whose character and con- duct we could not well be proud, and who would not have been a suitable choice for first mayor of our city. It hap- pened otherwise, and the little band was welcomed here by Solomon Juneau, to assist in honoring whose memory we have met today. It is true that Mr. Juneau was not the typical American "settler." He did not come here to make a farm, or to build a city ; but to trade with the uncivilized red men, then in full possession of this whole Northwestern region. We must, however, remember that merchants and traders have always been important agencies in the spread of civilization throughout the world. Mr. Juneau became at once identified in interest with the new colony. The early pioneers yet bear witness to his many virtues, to his hospital- ity, to his largeness and warmth of heart, to his ready sympathy and help, to his manliness of character, and to his full possession of the qualities which make a man a good neighbor, a good friend and a good citizen. We know that so long as he lived he held the respect and esteem of his civilized associates, as well as the intense love and veneration of the remnants of the savage tribes, among whom much of his life was spent, and who followed his body to the grave with demonstrations of the deepest grief. The mem- bers of our Association desire to express their gratitude to
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the eminent firm of pioneer merchants, who honor them- selves, who honor us, and do honor to our city by the erec- tion of this grand monument to Solomon Juneau, whereon are faithfully reproduced the fine physical proportions and the commanding presence of the man, which none who knew him can ever forget. It is most appropriate that this statue of the first Milwaukee pioneer should be given to adorn our city by the oldest mercantile and manufacturing house now existing unchanged in Milwaukee, or perhaps anywhere in the Northwest ; whose business and whose reputation reach from the Lakes to the Pacific, and which has long been a most favorable type of our commercial character and insti- tutions. We thank these gentlemen at once for the gift and for the example. Milwaukee has been a most fortunate city. Early settlers who took part in clearing away the woods and in laying the first foundation have lived to see arise, first a thriving village, then a prosperous town, and then a large and beautiful city. They have witnessed the struggle for a bare existence, then moderate and well-to-do prosper- ity, and finally the accumulation of large wealth. And now, those who came, young men, with small means, to an en- tirely new settlement, and have here prospered and grown rich, are devoting their wealth to improve and adorn and beautify our city with fine buildings for commercial and public purposes, with grand churches and schools, with museums of science and schools of art, with noble art galleries and libraries, with paintings and statuary ; so that Milwaukee bids fair to become an influential center of education, refinement and culture. The work of the pio- neers in this respect, as in all other affairs of this world, is nearly done. A very few years must end it, but they are thankful to have lived to see the dawn of this new era in the development of our city, and they have a confident faith that the coming generations shall carry this development to glorious results. We have lived in a time of unexampled progress, not only in our own country, but throughout the
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civilized world. The history of civilization tells of no such gigantic advances in any other century, nor has any other age given such bright promise for the future welfare of mankind on earth. We are proud, then, of our city of Mil- waukee. We are proud of the grand and beautiful state of Wisconsin of which it is a part — a land of fair broad fields, of bright waters and green forests, a healthful and a happy country, fitted to sustain a healthy and vigorous race of men. We have reason to be proud and thankful that we have lived to see our united republic gradually stretch across the broad continent from one sea to the other, and become con- solidated in our time by increased modern means of inter- communication, and by the rude shocks and throes of civil war, into one nation, one great people with the same hopes and aspirations ; with abundant power to repel all assaults of enemies from without and with abundant strength and wisdom to deal promptly, efficiently and mercifully with all fanatics, misleading or misled, who under any pretense whatever, may undertake to raise rebellion, or establish anarchy anywhere within its wide domains. Our hope and prayer is that this great country may be the undivided heri- tage of our children forever.
At the close of Mr. McGregor's address, which was in- terrupted by frequent applause, all the audience present, led by the band, joined in singing:
AMERICA.
My country, 'tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty, — Of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died, Land of the pilgrim's pride, From ev'ry mountain side Let freedom ring.
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My native country, thee, — Land of the noble free, — Thy name I love; I love thy rocks and rills, Thy woods and templed hills; My heart with rapture thrills Like that above.
Let music swell the breeze, And ring from all the trees Sweet freedom's song! Let mortal tongues awake; Let all that breathe partake; Let rocks their silence break,- The sound prolong!
Our fathers' God, to Thee,
Author of liberty, —
To thee we sing!
Long may our land be bright
With freedom's holy light;
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God, our King.
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Once again the guns belched forth their resonant salute and when quiet was restored, the voice of the revered Dr. Keene was again heard in the final
Benediction.
"The peace of God which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God and of His son Jesus Christ ; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost be amongst you and remain with you always." Amen.
And so closed the ceremonies which transferred to the keeping of the City of Milwaukee the statue of its founder and first civil magistrate. It is a tribute at once to the benevolence and worth of a faithful friend and honored man, and to the fair city which cherishes his memory, and it may be permitted to him whose pleasure it has been to compile this little memoir, to add that in its beauty and in- trinsic value, as well as in the inspiration which gave it being, the statue of Solomon Juneau is fitting souvenir of the character of its donors, whose years of residence in our midst have been crowned with the honors of universal esteem and whose fifty years of mutual association have no parallel in the history of the great Northwest.
List of Juneau's children, grandchildren and great-grand- children, who witnessed the unveiling from the platform :
Frank D. Juneau, Miss Fanny Fox
Mrs. Harriet Juneau Fox, George Walther, Mrs. Mary Juneau Husting, Miss Sarah White,
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Raymond Juneau, Miss Hattie White,
Frank A. Juneau, Mrs. Minnie Cosgrave,
Mrs. Marion Juneau King, Mrs. Josie Reynolds, Mrs. Bertha Juneau Dousman, Miss Florence Cosgrave,
Miss Stoughton Juneau, Otto Husting,
Miss Pauline Juneau, Berthold Husting,
Miss Olive McGee, Henry King. Miss Bella Fox,
The site chosen for the statue is probably the finest in the city. Standing upon the bluff, a hundred feet above the lake, it is visible far from land, and is so placed that viewed from almost any direction its bold outlines are projected against the sky, while from the pedestal there is an unbroken view of Juneau Park from its extreme limit to the depot at its southern end, and as extensive a vista of shore and ter- race to the north.
The monument stands on a solid foundation of stone sunk into the earth several feet below the frost line, and fitted to last for ages. The pedestal, classic in its order of architecture, is of red granite from the state of Maine. It is twelve feet square at the base, and eighteen feet, six inches in height.
Upon the face of the second die and about eight feet from the ground, in bold, raised and polished, letters, is the
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UNVEILING OF THE JUNEAU MONUMENT SOLOMON JUNEAU.
On the opposite side facing the lake, and cut into the polished surface of the granite, is the dedicatory inscrip- tion:
The Gift
of
CHARLES T. BRADLEY
AND
WILLIAM H. METCALF
TO THE
CITY OF MILWAUKEE. 1887.
Upon the two remaining faces of the same die are two bronze bas-reliefs representing episodes in the life of Juneau.
The one upon the north side shows him standing upon the bank of the Milwaukee River. A group of Indians of both sexes surround him, some offering peltries, others engaged in the varied occupations of an Indian camp. The one upon the south side is an illustration of the inauguration of Juneau as mayor of the young city in 1846. Surrounded by prominent citizens, among whom there is seated at least one of the donors of the statue, the honored official is receiving an address of congratulation.
The statue itself is of heroic size — thirteen feet six inches in height, and is most pleasing in its effect. The
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features are calm, dignified and full of the benignity which was so marked a characteristic of the man. The figure is muscular and athletic, clad in the French Canadian costume that has been pronounced historically correct in every par- ticular. The entire work is from the designs of Richard H. Park, of Florence, Italy, where, in the Royal Foundry and under his supervision, the bronzes were cast.
The pedestal, hewn from the quarries of Maine, was erected by and after the designs of the New England Mon- ument Company, of New York City.
SOLOMON JUNEAU.
Born, _-_._- ^o^
Arrived at Milwaukee, - 1818
First postmaster of Milwaukee, - - 1835
First president of the village of Milwaukee, 1837
First mayor of city of Milwaukee, - - 1846
Died, aged 64, at Shawano, Nov. 14, - 1856 Buried in Calvary Cemetery, Milwaukee.
50
MRS. SOLOMON JUNEAU,
In Her 51st Year.
(From a Painting by Geo. P. A. Healy.)
MRS. SOLOMON JUNEAU.
Josette Vieaux was born at Fort Howard, Brown County, Wis., April 16, 1803. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacque Vieaux and was the granddaughter of an Indian chief, Ah-ka-ne-po-way. Her girlhood was spent amidst the primitive surroundings of the frontier. She was taught to read in French. Reared a Catholic, she began at an early age to do mission work among the Indians, which work she continued for many years after her marriage. She was of medium height ; her black hair and eyes, clear olive com- plexion, low sweet voice and courteous manner, gave evi- dence of her French and Indian origin.
In 1820, at the age of 17 years, Miss Vieaux was married at the old mission church in Green Bay to Solomon Laurent Juneau. Their wedding journey from Green Bay to Mil- waukee was made in a bark canoe, paddled by Indians. She received from her parents the customary wedding presents of those pioneer times, consisting of featherbeds, pillows, quilts, blankets, etc. Although young in years at the time of her marriage, she was an adept in the art of house- keeping.
The country at the time Mr. Juneau brought his young bride to Milwaukee was destitute of roads ; nothing but the Indian trail traversed the wide expanse of prairie and forest between Milwaukee and Green Bay, and travel was made on foot or on horseback. There was little to break the monot-
'Foot Note — Josette is the Indian as well as French for Josephine.
53
SOLOMON JUNEAU
ony during the first few years aside from an occasional vessel bringing goods and taking away furs, or the Indian traders passing through that section from Green Bay to Chicago.
Mrs. Juneau exercised great influence over the Indians and was of much assistance to her husband in carrying on his business in the fur trade with the Indians, speaking several Indian dialects. She dressed in Indian costume, which style of dress she wore for many years. Of a retiring nature, she mingled little with the incoming white population and rarely spoke English, French being the language used in the home circle.
Jas. S. Buck in his Pioneer History of Milwaukee, pays the following tribute to Mrs. Juneau :
"She was among women what her husband was among men, one of the noblest works of God. Honest and true, a fitting wife for the noble-hearted man with whom she lived so long.
"Many of the first settlers were indebted to this brave- hearted woman for their personal safety, more than once, in 1836, when the Indians were anxious to destroy them, which they certainly would have done upon one occasion, had she not interferred to protect them, upon which occasion she stood guard over the whites all the night long during her husband's absence."
Mrs. Juneau possessed many noble traits of character. Aside from her many duties to her family, she was ever ready to minister to the wants of the sick and needy. The poor she had always with her.
54
BIRTHPLACE OF MRS. SOLOMON JUNEAU.
Erected in 1776 by Joseph LeRoi, at Fort Howard. The House is
Now Known as the Porlier-Tank Cottage, Union Park,
Green Bay, Wis.
OLD STONE FIREPLACE IN THE LE ROI HOUSE.
MRS. SOLOMON JUNEAU
Her home was a stopping place for ministers of all denominations who passed through the trading post. She made them all welcome.
She might be called the guardian angel of the un- fortunate. Many a poor girl who had started life wrong was taken into her home, given religious instruction, taught to do housework and sew, and positions secured for them.
As years passed, and the tide of immigration continued to flow into the infant metropolis, the inhabitants numbering thousands, where a few short years before the country was but a wilderness, Mrs. Juneau longed for the quiet of the country, and persuaded her husband to remove to their summer home at Theresa. There, surrounded by every com- fort a loving and indulgent husband could provide, she settled down to enjoy the declining years of her life.
After removing to Theresa, she became ill and gradually failed. Mr. Juneau took her to Milwaukee to consult their family physician. Dr. E. B. Wolcott. It was found her malady was of a more serious nature than was at first sup- posed. Dr. Wolcott, assisted by Dr. Hewitt and a specialist from Chicago, held a consultation and it was found neces- sary to perform an operation, which proved unsuccessful, At the time of her death, Mrs. Juneau was 52 years, 7 months and 3 days. Thus closed in perfect peace, a life of love and service to God, November 19, 1855.
The funeral was held from the residence of her daughter, Mrs. H. K. White. Services were conducted by the Rev. Father Riordan at St. John's Cathedral, of which church
57
SOLOMON JUNEAU
she was a devout member during her residence in Milwau- kee. Burial was in the Catholic cemetery at the head of Spring street.
There has always been doubt in the minds of the descendants of Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Juneau, as to just what tribe of Indians Mrs. Juneau belonged to.
The following taken from the enrollment list on the Menomonee reservation, Keshena, near Shawano, Wis., will prove conclusively that Mrs. Juneau was of the Menomonee tribe of Indians.
In 1849, when the mixed bloods were given money by the U. S. Government, Solomon Juneau drew money for his wife and family. Following are those for whom he drew money :
Solomon Juneau, for wife, Josette;
Narcisse, son of Josette ;
Paul, son of Josette ;
Theresa, daughter of Josette ;
Harriet, daughter of Josette ;
Francis, son of Josette ;
Charlotte, daughter of Josette;
Minor children of Josette — 3 boys and 3 girls ;
Madeline, wife of Narcisse and three children ;
Anna Josette Juneau, daughter of Paul ;
Solomon Juneau White, son of Theresa.
"The Menomonees were a tribe of Indians first described near the Menomonee river in Wisconsin, which empties into Green Bay. — The name, both of the river and tribe, is
58
♦THE TRUE IMAGE OF THE HOLY FACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHICH IS PRESERVED AND IS VENERATED IN ROME IN THE HOLY BASCILICA OF THE VATICAN OF ST. PETER."
MRS. SOLOMON JUNEAU
synonymous with wild rice, which was found in great abundance near the mouth of the river, and was an im- portant part of their food. Fathers Allouez and Andre established a mission among them in 1670, and describes them as lighter in complexion than the neighboring tribes. The Menomonees are one of the Algonquin tribes, and were called Folle Avoine, (meaning wild rice, or crazy oats), by the earlv French traders." — Library of Universal Knowl- edge, Vol. III., p. 618.
The annexed picture of Our Lord, (sometimes called St. Veronica's Handkerchief), was sent to Mrs. Solomon Juneau by Pope Leo XII., in commemoration of her charity and mission work among the Indians during the pioneer days of Milwaukee.
The picture, which is from an old wood cut on white silk, is 10x13. The picture and the letter which accompanied it, are the property of Mrs. Fred. Pond, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Pope Leo's papacy extended over a period of seven years, 1823-1830.
The author is indebted to Rev. Joseph Van Bogaert, pastor of St. Anthony's church at Tigerton, Wis., for the translation of the Latin inscription beneath the picture.
Uriel B. Smith pays the following tribute to Mrs. Juneau :
"I was intimately acquainted with Mrs. Solomon Juneau. My child, Milwaukee Smith, was born October 10, 1835. She was the first white child born in Milwaukee, and Mrs. Juneau was present at her birth, and attended upon my wife in such a kind and motherly manner as to win the love and esteem of my wife as well as myself.
"Mrs. Juneau was also an attendant and watcher at the 61
SOLOMON JUNEAU
death bed of my wife some two years after, and during the whole period of our acquaintance we were on the most intimate terms.
"For such services rendered to my wife during her sick- ness, I offered ample remuneration, which was immediately declined — she saying to me, 'Such services were due all, and, that too, without consideration.' Such incidents can never be forgotten. I trust that Milwaukee today, has her equal, — I know it has not her superior." — J. S. Buck's Pioneer History of Milwaukee.
DEATH OF MRS. SOLOMON JUNEAU.
(Milwaukee Sentinel, November 19, 1855.)
DIED.— At the residence of H. K. White, in this city, November 19, 1855 inst., Josette, wife of Solomon Juneau.
The deceased had been in poor health for some time and came here with her husband from their residence in Theresa, Wis., for medical advice and treatment. There was nothing in the nature of her disease calculated to excite alarm, in fact she appeared to be improving, flushed with hope and congratulating herself upon a speedy recovery, she died, so sudden was her exit from this to the spirit land.
The death of this good woman deserves more than a passing notice ; more than a simple record of the fact that she lived and died. Her history is intimately connected with that of our city and state, from their earliest settlement. Indeed her life has been an eventful one, inasmuch as she has been called to pass through all the phases, hardships and trials incident to the settlement of a new country. Mrs. Juneau was the daughter of Jacque Vieaux, late of Green 62
DEATH OF MRS. SOLOMON JUNEAU
Bay, and was born in April, 1803, consequently at death was 51 years. She resided at Green Bay until 1820, when she was married to Mr. Juneau, who was then engaged as a trader on the spot where our city is now located, whither she removed soon after her marriage. Here, in the then lonely wilderness, with no society or sympathizing friends, except what she found in the bosom of her own family, she started anew on the journey of life and with patience shared with her husband the self-denials of a border life; and for thirteen years, up to 1833, there was scarcely an incident to break the monotonous mode of living, the nearest white settlement on the north being Green Bay, and on the south, Chicago. In 1833, the tide of immigration flowing into the Mississippi Valley found its way to this locality, known then, only as a trading post. Very soon, however, the spirit of enterprise, so rife at that day, projected a city, and in a brief period, the advantages of Milwaukee became extensively known, and its progress has been gradual, until the spot marked only by the trader's cabin, has become a populous city and the abode of civilization and refinement. This great change the deceased lived to witness ; and she has done her part toward laying the foundation of society here for future generations. But she has gone to her final rest, and how fitting and consolatory the thought to her friends, that after having from choice removed to a more quiet rural retreat in the country, away from the bustle of a city, still she should return to die upon the very spot from whence she started out upon life's great voyage, and sur-
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SOLOMON JUNEAU
rounded by all the endearing associations of her earlier days.
Mrs. Juneau was educated in the Catholic faith and for many years has been a devoted and consistent member of the church. Her Christian virtues were eminently illustrated by her benevolent acts. Her charities were never confined within the narrow limits of a sect or creed, but the suffering poor, the sick and afflicted of every creed and condition in life, within the range of her acquaintance, were made the happy recipients of her kindness and bounty, and every class of suffering humanity always found in her a warm and sympathizing heart. She was a fond, faithful and devoted wife, an affectionate and loving mother. Her bereaved husband, as he now moves on in his lonely pilgrimage, will cherish with meek remembrance her many virtues, and the numerous children she has left behind, will never forget this fond, indulgent and affectionate mother.
The deceased has also left a large circle of friends, who have known her intimately for the past fifteen or twenty years, and admired her simplicity of character, her truth- fulness and amiability, who will deeply sympathize with the family in their bereavement.
But all are consoled with the belief that what is loss to her family and friends is infinite gain to her.
The funeral will be held from St. John's Cathedral, Fri- day morning at 10:30 o'clock, Nov. 23. Interment in the Catholic cemetery at the head of Spring Street.
"Sweet is the scene where virtue dies, Where sinks a silent soul to rest."
Communicated.
64
HOME OF NARCISSE M. JUNEAU, Theresa, Wis.
MRS. MORGAN L. MARTIN'S TRIBUTE
TRIBUTES TO MRS. SOLOMON JUNEAU AND FAMILY.
(Published in the Milwaukee Sentinel, December 5, 1897.)
"Nor has any mother in Milwaukee ever possessed more refined, lady-like instincts, despite her lowly training through childhood and youth, than Madam Juneau. As the writer remembers the group of children seated at the social domestic table, or gathered about the ingleside of the modest home in Milwaukee, she can speak of it in that primitive day as a household of sweet accord that affected every member of it, and which in those most crude years was phenomenal."
Charles Milwaukee Sivyer, in an address given during the Milwaukee Homecoming, August 9, 1909, pays the fol- lowing tribute to Mrs. Solomon Juneau :
"Solomon Juneau has been lauded to the skies and he is richly deserving of it all. But Solomon Juneau was not alone. He had a helpmate, a loving, loyal wife, and a brave woman. Had she the education of a white woman, she would have shone as brightly as any of her white sisters. Why all these orators don't give that good woman more praise I don't know. Why, the last words of Solomon Juneau were 'dear wife, I come to you.' "
67
NARCISSE M. JUNEAU.
NARCISSE M. JUNEAU
Narcisse M. Juneau, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Juneau, was born at Green Bay, November 14, 1821, while Mrs. Juneau was on a visit to her parents. He received his education in Milwaukee and Detroit, and at an early age became his father's assistant in the fur trade with the In- dians. He also acted as Indian interpreter for his father. October 26, 1842, he was married at Green Bay, Wis., to Miss Madeline Yott. Mr. Juneau resided in Milwaukee until 1852, when he went to Theresa. He was in that year elected register of deeds of Dodge County; was elected to the Assembly from Dodge County for 1855 and again in 1858. In 1864 he was adopted into the Citizens' Band of Pottawattomie Indians ; was interpreter for that tribe, speak- ing seven different Indian languages, Pottawattomie, Me- nominee, Iroquois, Oneida, Chippewa, Stockbridge and Kickapoo. In 1869, in company with Mr. Heubschmann, Indian agent, he took a band of Indians to Oklahoma, be- fore that country was opened up to white settlers. During that year, Mr. Juneau removed with his family to Kansas, where he engaged in farming, five miles from Topeka. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Narcisse Juneau, three dying in infancy. Mrs. Catherine Bertrand, (deceased), the eldest daughter, had four children, three of whom are living in Kansas City. Mo. They are, Mrs. Lena B. Farley, who has eight children, Catherine, Madeline, Frances, Dorothy, Blanch, Sy/illa, Tom, Jr.. and. Josephine. Solomon Bertrand, the son, has three children, Wanetta, Walter and
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SOLOMON JUNEAU
Ruth. Miss Mary Bertrand. Mrs. Frances Holloway, of Grand Rapids, Wis., is the third daughter. There are three children, Bertrand, Ralph and Edith Holloway. Julia Juneau Lazalle, N. Topeka, Kas., has one son, Albert La- zalle, and one grandchild, Judith Anna Lazalle. Mrs. Stella Juneau Kerrn, the third daughter, has one daughter, Catherine, who is married and has one child. Mrs. Kerrn is a resident of Redondo Beach, Cal. Josette Juneau Mitchell, the fourth daughter, is a resident of Asher, Oklahoma. Charles H. Juneau, the eldest son is a resident of N. Topeka, Kas. June 18, 1870, Mr. Juneau was married at Indianap- olis, Ind., to Miss Mary Kinnette. Mr. and Mrs. Juneau have three children, one son and two daughters. Josette Juneau was married June 6, 1890, to Mr. Edward Schwartz, of Topeka, Kas. There are ten children, Charles M., Ed- ward, Elmer, William, Oscar, Clyde, Mary, Gertrude, Irene, Elizabeth. Mr and Mrs. Schwartz have four grandchildren, Virginia and Charles Nelson and Dorothy and Homer Schwartz. Stella Juneau, the second daughter, married Mr. Essington Baird, of Topeka. There are seven children, Robert, Charles, John, George, Mercedes, Stella and Alice Baird. Mr. and Mrs. Essington Baird were married May 1, 1895. Lawrence C. Juneau, the son, has two children, Paul W. Juneau and Madeline Juneau. Leonard B. J. Juneau, the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Narcisse Juneau married Miss Mary Matthews, of Fredonia, Kas. There are four children, Nellie M., Stella R., Charles and Leonard, Jr.
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PAUL JUNEAU.
PAUL JUNEAU.
Paul Juneau, second son of Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Juneau, was born at Milwaukee, April 29, 1822, the first child born in the old log house erected by Mr. Juneau in 181 8. He attended school in Milwaukee, later completing his education at Detroit. He assisted his father in the fur trade with the Indians, also acted as interpreter ; was elected member of Assembly for 1849 an(l again in l&5&, from Juneau, Dodge County, Wis. ; was assistant postmaster dur- ing his father's term of office. On September 21, 1844, when the City Guards Military Co., of Milwaukee, was organized, he was elected 2nd sergeant. He was register of deeds in Juneau, Dodge County, when accidentally shot by a young boy of that city who was engaged in target practice. Mr. Juneau lived but a short time after being wounded, dying August 13, 1858, at the age of 35 years.
Paul Juneau was married February 8, 1848, to Miss Olive Cylinda Buttles, at the home of her parents, eight miles from the city of Milwaukee. (Miss Buttles was born November 29, 1822, at Milton, Pa., being the only daughter of Cephas and Nancy Buttles. She was educated at St. Joseph's Academy, Emmettsburg, Md. Her parents settled in Milwaukee in 1843.) Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Juneau. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Juneau returned to Milwaukee, taking up her residence with her parents on the farm, where her youngest daughter was born. Miss Anna Josette Juneau, the eldest daughter, was married in Milwaukee May 22, 1872, to Mr. James
75
SOLOMON JUNEAU
McGee, of Oconto. (Mr. McGee was born June 18, 1845, at St. Andrews, Charlotte County, New Brunswick. He came to the west in 1866, settling in Oconto, Wis.) Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. McGee, the Misses Olive Jane, Edith Juneau and Pauline Lititia, who are living in Milwaukee with their father. C. A. A. McGee, the son, who is a resident of San Diego, Cal., married twice, his first wife being Mrs. Theiline Mann, of Milwaukee. His second wife was Miss Anna Meyer, of Milwaukee. Mr. and Mrs. McGee have two children, Juneau Theiline Netha, the daughter of Mr. McGee's first wife, and Anna Helene McGee ; also an adopted daughter, Elizabeth Mann, the daughter of Mr. McGee's first wife. Mrs. James McGee died November 5, 1910, and is buried in the family lot, Forest Home cemetery, Milwaukee. Miss Bertha Juneau, the second daughter, was married in Milwaukee, February 8, 1883, to Robert Strong Dousman, a son of the late Dr. John Dousman and of Mrs. Charlotte Crawford Terhune, and a grandson of Gen. Crawford, of Prairie du Chien, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Dousman are residents of Philadelphia, Pa. The third daughter, Miss Marion Juneau, was married in Milwaukee, June 26, 1879, to Henry Rosseau King, a pioneer newspaper and business man of that city. Mr. and Mrs. King have three children. Harry Juneau King, of Chicago, who married Miss Mora Saxe, of that city; Hellen Juneau King, who married William Ott, of Mil- waukee, July 8, 1913, Mr. Ott died August 17, 1914. There is one daughter, Jane Elizabeth Ott; and Corp. Paul
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PAUL JUNEAU
Juneau King. Mr. King is a member of Battery A, First Field Artillery, W. N. G. The two sons are Laurent Buttles and Frank A. Juneau, and the two youngest daughters are the Misses Mary Stoughton and Pauline Juneau, all of Chicago. Mrs. Paul Juneau died February 12, 1875, and is buried in the Buttles family lot, Forest Home cemetery, Milwaukee. Mrs. Juneau was a sister of the late Anson W., Augustus, Orrin, Frederick and Dr. Oscar Buttles.
77
s
/m #>
THERESA JUNEAU.
THERESA JUNEAU.
Theresa Juneau, the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Juneau, was born at Milwaukee in the old log house, March 24, 1825. She received her education in Green Bay and Detroit. Miss Juneau was a noted beauty and social favorite in Milwaukee and Green Bay, as was also her sister Harriet, and the coming of the Juneau girls to the latter city was looked forward to with great pleasure by the older inhabitants of that historic city. On September 16, 1847, Theresa Juneau became the wife of Henry Kirk White. They were married at the old Juneau homestead, Milwaukee and Division streets. (At the time of their marriage, Mr. White was known as one of the ablest lawyers in Wisconsin. He served as quartermaster in Co. "A", 19th Reg. Wis. Vol. Inft., from December 18, 1861, to Septem- ber 11, 1862.) Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. White, five dying in youth. Marie Juneau, the eldest daughter married Mr. W. P. Cosgrave, whose parents were early residents of Milwaukee. There were three children, Florence, Paul, (deceased,) and Genevieve Cosgrave. The daughters are living with their parents at Winona, Minn., where Air. and Mrs. Cosgrave have resided for a number of years ; Josette White, the second daughter, married Mr. J. B. Reynolds, of Milwaukee. They have five children, four daughters and one son, John, Jr., who is a member of Troop E, First Regiment, W. N. G., Marie, Hellen, (Mrs. W. T. Kiernan, of Milwaukee, who has one daughter, 81
SOLOMON JUNEAU
Dorothy) ; Dorothy and Elizabeth Reynolds. Sara White, the third daughter, married Mr. Sales, and is a resident of California; the fourth and youngest daughter is Mrs. Parmalee, of Kansas City, Mo. ; S. J. White, the eldest son, married Miss Dora Sadler, there were two children, Nor- man and Genevieve White; R. C. White, (deceased,) mar- ried and had one daughter, Theresa White. Theresa Juneau White died April 26, 1887, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. W. P. Cosgrave, and is buried in one of the Juneau lots, Calvary cemetery, Milwaukee. R. C. White is buried beside his mother.
82
A
FRANCIS DODGE JUNEAU.
FRANK DODGE JUNEAU.
Frank Dodge Juneau was born at Milwaukee January 18, 1827, the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Juneau, born in the old log house. He attended the Milwaukee schools and learned the tinner's trade with the late Augustus Buttles, the pioneer hardware merchant of Milwaukee. In 185 1 he moved a band of Menominee Indians from Wiscon- sin to St. Mary's, Kas., where he remained two years and where he was employed as Indian interpreter, speaking several different Indian tongues. He returned to Wiscon- sin in 1853, settling in Theresa. January 7, 1857, he married Miss Leocadie Beaudoin, of that place, Rev. Father Rell performing the ceremony. Mr. Juneau was for years en- gaged in the hardware business in Theresa and was treas- urer of Theresa township for twenty-eight years. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Juneau, two sons and three daughters. Raymond Solomon Juneau, the eldest son, was married at Theresa, April 21, 1889, to Miss Jennie Schmidt, of that place. There are four children, two sons and two daughters. Frank Juneau, the eldest son, married Miss Hilda Lippert, of Milwaukee. They have two children, Raymond and Bernice Juneau. Josephine, Elmer and Leona Juneau are at home with their parents. There is one grand- child, Ruth Brochek. Mr. and Mrs. Juneau are residents of Kankauna, Wis., where Mr. Juneau has been in the em- ploy of the Chicago & North- Western road for a great many years. Marie Juneau, the eldest daughter, was married at
85
SOLOMON JUNEAU
Theresa, to Mr. Joseph Husp, of Colesville, Wis. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Husp, Jacob, Mathilde, (Mathilde married Mr. Kippenhahn. There are three children, Elmer, Norma and Edgar Kippenhahn), Frank, John, William, Marie, Henry and Joseph Husp, Jr. Mrs. Husp and family are residents of Milwaukee. Eugene Juneau, the second son, is unmarried and makes his home in Milwaukee with his sister, Mrs. Marie Juneau Husp. Ma- thilde Juneau, the second daughter, was married in Milwau- kee, to Mr. Henry Petri, of Wayne, Wis. Mr. and Mrs, Petri have three children, Ella, Otto and Edgar, who are at home with their parents. Josette Juneau, the third daughter, died in Milwaukee in 19 13, and is buried in that city. Frank Dodge Juneau died in Theresa, February 5, 1890, Mrs. Juneau dying one year previous, February 24, 1889. They are buried in the Catholic cemetery at that place. Mrs. Juneau was born in Canada and came to Wisconsin in the early fifties with her parents.
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ISABELLA FOX, IN INDIAN COSTUME.
HARRIET JUNEAU.
Harriet Juneau was born at Milwaukee, April 26, 1829, being the second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Juneau born in the old log house. She attended school in Milwau- kee, later going to Detroit where her education was com- pleted. She was an accomplished musician on the piano, guitar and harp, and spoke French, Indian and German fluently. Miss Juneau was a member of St. John's Cathedral choir, having a fine tenor voice. April 16, 1856, Harriet Juneau was married at Theresa to Frank Fox, Rev. Father Dale, of Fond du Lac, performing the ceremony. (Frank Fox, a native of Ireland, the eldest son of John and Mary Fox, was born at Castle Daley, County West Meath, July 24, 1825, and came to America with his parents in the early thirties. Mr. Fox was in the employ of the American Ex- press Co. for many years between Green Bay and Fond du Lac, and also on the Mississippi River between St. Louis and New Orleans. For sixteen years he was in the employ of the Western Union railroad as agent at Shannon, 111. He died January 18, 1881, at Hartley, la., and is buried in the Catholic cemetery at Emmettsburg, la.) Nine children were born to Frank and Harriet Fox, six dying in infancy. Marie Josette, the eldest daughter, in 1884, became the wife of C. E. Hartley, of Salem, la., a Quaker by birth. They had one child, Frank Norton Hartley, who was married June 22, 1907, to Miss Theresa Hartley, of Trinidad, Col. Frank and Theresa Hartley have two children, Frances E. and
SOLOMON JUNEAU
Charles Juneau Hartley. C. E. Hartley, with his son and family are residents of Springer, New Mexico, where Marie Fox Hartley died December 7, 1895, and at which place she is buried in the Hartley family lot. Frances Harriet Fox, the second daughter, was married June 22, 1892, to Frederick Eugene Pond, (Will Wildwood), at Milwaukee. Mr. Pond is a writer of note, having published several books on out- door sports, and is a collector of books on outdoor sports, having some eight hundred volumes. For the past seventeen years they have resided in Cincinnati, Ohio, where Mr. Pond holds the position of editor of the Sportsman's Review. The third daughter. Isabella Fox, is a resident of Kaukauna, Wis. Miss Fox is a member of the Woman's Relief Corps, of Kaukauna, and aide to the Indian Woman's Relief Corps on the Keshena Reservation, the only Indian Corps in the world. Harriet Juneau Fox died June 8, 1891, at the home of her husband's sister, Mrs. Wm. Campion, Milwaukee, and is buried in the Juneau family lot, Calvary cemetery, in that city.
ELIZABETH JOSETTE JUNEAU.
Elizabeth Josette Juneau was the third daughter born at Milwaukee, to Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Juneau, in the log house, November 20, 1830. She died at the age of five years. She is buried in Calvary cemetery, her body having been removed from the Spring Street cemetery. 90
ELIZABETH JOSETTE JUNEAU.
CHARLOTTE JUNEAU.
CHARLOTTE JUNEAU.
Charlotte Juneau, fourth daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Solo- mon Juneau, was born at Milwaukee in the old log house in July, 1832. Miss Juneau attended school in Milwaukee, later going to Detroit where she completed her education. She was, like her mother, of a very retiring nature, and did not mingle much in society. After her removal to Theresa with her parents, she was for a time a pupil of the late Col. Geo. W. Featherstonhaugh who conducted a school in French and painting. Miss Juneau spoke French, German and Indian. From April, 1858, she taught school in Theresa Township up to the time of her marriage in the spring of i860, when she became the wife of Charles J. Walthers. (Charles J. Walthers was born in Betzigerode, in the Province of Hesse-Nassau, Germany and came to this coun- try in the early fifties. He enlisted in Co. "K", 35th Reg. Wis. Vol. Inft., February 1, 1864; he was transferred from Co. "H" ; was Sergeant, 1st Sergeant; 2nd Lieutenant, De- cember 6, 1865, not mustered; 1st Lieutenant, March 5, 1866, not mustered; M. O. March 15, 1866. Mr. Walthers died May 19, 19 12, at the National Soldiers' Home, Mil- waukee, at which place he is buried). Charles and Char- lotte Juneau Walthers had one son, Louis Juneau Walthers, who is a resident of Milwaukee. After the death of his mother he was sent to Hesse-Cassel, Province of Hesse- Nassau, where he entered the German High school. Mr. Walthers is quite a linguist, speaking several different lan-
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SOLOMON JUNEAU
guages. He returned to America in 1878. Mr. Walthers was married at Onalaska, Wis., to Miss Helen Druschke in 1891. (Miss Druschke was born at Gollnow, Empire of Germany, in 1874). Six daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Walthers. Hertha Juneau, the eldest daughter married Mr. Hill Bernstein, of Montreal, Can. They are residents of Chicago; Elfrida, the second daughter, mar- ried Mr. Victor Ehrman, of Milwaukee. They have one child, Bernice Ehrman ; the other daughters are Margaret Sophie Juneau, Norma H. Juneau, Helen Juneau and Mildred A. Juneau Walthers, who are at home with their parents. Charlotte Juneau Walthers died April 24, 1869, at Theresa, and is buried in the Catholic cemetery at that place.
The following is a copy of a teacher's certificate issued by Dennis Short, superintendent of schools of the town of Theresa, 1858, to Miss Charlotte Juneau.
I do hereby Certify that I have Examined Charlotte Juneau and do believe that she is Qualified in Regard to Moral Character learning and Ability to teach A Common School in this town for one year From the date hereof Given under my hand this 17, day of
April A D; 1858
Signed, Dennis Short Superintendent of schools Of the town of theresa — On the reverse side of the certificate is the folowing: Charlotte Juneau, Teachers Certificate, 1858 D; Short Town Superintendent of schools of the Town of theresa.
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MARGARET JUNEAU.
MARGARET JUNEAU.
Margaret Juneau, who was born at Milwaukee, Decem- ber 26, 1833, was the fifth daughter and last child of Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Juneau, born in the old log house. She attended the Milwaukee schools, also the Notre Dame Con- vent in that city. She was a fine musician and singer. Petite, vivacious and bright, she was a general favorite with all, and an especial favorite of her father. In 1857, Mar- garet Juneau was married at Theresa, Wis., to George H. Walthers. (George H. Walthers was born at Betzigerode, Province of Hesse-Nassau, November 23, 1829. He was a lieutenant in the Hessian army, resigned in 1854, emigrated to America, where he settled at Theresa, Dodge County, Wis., in 1855. He was county surveyor of Dodge County, and a member of the Dodge County Drainage Commission. In 1861 Geo. Walthers enlisted as captain of Co. "A", 7th Wis. Inft., (Iron Brigade), February 4, 1863, was appointed major of 34th Wis. Inft., and the same year was trans- ferred to the 35th Wis. Inft., was appointed Colonel of the 35th Wis., and was dismissed from service when the regi- ment returned in 1866. He was Revenue Inspector for the First Dist. of Wisconsin in 1875-76; was member of Wis- consin State Legislature ; was a justice of the peace of the ninth and tenth wards in Milwaukee ; removing to the East side, he was elected justice of the peace of the First, Seventh and Eighteenth wards. George Walthers died August 6, 1895. He is buried at Forest Home cemetery, Milwaukee.)
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George and Margaret Juneau Walthers had three children, two sons and one daughter. Ottomar, the second son, died at the age of two and one-half years. Mrs. Walthers died June 3, 1861, and her baby daughter, Alexia, aged one day, was buried in the same coffin with its mother. Mrs. Walthers was buried on the Narcisse Juneau farm, Theresa, but later, her remains, with those of her little son, Ottomar, were removed to the Catholic cemetery and buried by the side of her sister, Charlotte Juneau Walthers, at Theresa.
My dear Mag,
I hope you reach Green Bay safe and in good health. I start tomorrow morning for Milwaukee and will be back Thursday or Friday — a week from tomorrow I will go as far as Oshkosh and Butte des Mortes — so write to me this week and if your mother will be ready by a week from next Thursday I will go from Oshkosh after you unless your friends will come to pay us a visit and come together. Narcisse arrived here last evening he has a very bad cold. He starts again Wednesday and won't be back again before the middle of March. We are well and send much love to all relations and friends. Your father,
S. Juneau. Sunday eve.
Theresa, February 4th, 1855.
Forty-six years ago today, 4th, my poor mother was buried, she died the 2nd.
Louis kisses his mother and grandmother fifty times. Theresa, April 20, 1855. Very Dear Child.
I heard of you yesterday and that your mother was well. Poor Eugene is very sick indeed of his old complaint. We have got to sit up with him all the time, (blurred) you know. Theresa has got a nice little girl, the rest of the
MARGARET JUNEAU
family are well. I am lonesome. I don't think I can go to Fond du Lac tomorrow on account of Eugene. Kind regards to Walther and Paul's family, also to Mr. Douglas — your old father
S. Juneau.
Copies of these letters were taken from the Milwaukee Journal and were loaned for publication by the late Col. Geo. H. Walthers.
IOI
EUGENE JUNEAU.
EUGENE JUNEAU.
Eugene Juneau was born at Milwaukee, December n, 1836, being the first child born in the frame dwelling erected by Mr. Juneau, at the corner of East Water and Michigan streets. He was educated in Milwaukee. After his removal to Theresa, he was Indian interpreter and for several years, was register of deeds of Dodge County. He was married at Theresa to Miss Delia Crotteau, of that place, by the Rev. Father Rell. During the year 1863, Mr. Juneau removed from Theresa to Rudolph, Wood County, Wis., where he held the office of town clerk for sixteen years. Mr. Juneau held other offices of public trust in Wood County. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Juneau, two dying in infancy. The eldest son, Eugene Juneau, Jr., of Rudolph, Wis., has five children, Lydia, Elvia, George, Telespher and Elenore. The children of Israel Juneau, (deceased,) the second son, are : Verna, Isabella, Elmer, Leland, Arthur and Frances Juneau. Mrs. Mathilde Kerningham, the eldest daughter, Park Falls, Wis., has one daughter. The second daughter, Isabella Juneau Cleveland, (deceased,) had one daughter, Mrs. Blanche Cleveland Nelson, of Champaign. 111. Andrew Juneau, the third son, has five children, Howard, Edna, Beatrice, May and Norma Juneau. Mr. Juneau is a resident of Park Falls, Wis. Mrs. Juneau is still living and resides with her son, Eugene Juneau, Jr., at Rudolph, Wis. Mr. Juneau died at Rudolph, Wis., Septem- ber 22, 1883, and is buried in the Catholic cemetery at that place.
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MATHILDE JUNEAU.
MATHILDE JUNEAU.
Mathilde Juneau was born at Milwaukee October 4, 1837, in the Juneau home, East Water and Michigan streets. She attended the public schools and Notre Dame Convent of that city, was a fine musician and singer. She removed with her parents to Theresa, where she resided until their death, when she returned to Milwaukee, making her home with her sister, Mrs. H. K. White, at whose home she died May 22, 1864, after a lingering illness. She is buried in the Juneau family lot, Calvary cemetery, beside her father.
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ELLEN FRANCES JUNEAU.
ELLEN FRANCES JUNEAU.
Ellen Frances Juneau was born at Milwaukee, October 3, 1839, in the old Juneau homestead, corner of Milwaukee and Division streets. She was educated at St. Joseph's Academy, Emmettsburg, Md., and was an accomplished singer. Miss Juneau's beauty, combined with her happy and pleasing disposition, made her a favorite with all whom she came in contact. After graduating from St. Joseph's Academy, she was offered a position by the Bishop of New York City, to sing in the Cathedral of that city, with a large salary and all expenses, but owing to the death of her parents, she did not accept the offer. She taught school and music in Theresa before her marriage which took place October 15, i860, at Theresa, to Mr. Charles F. Wolters. (Charles F. Wolters was born in Pritz, Germany, and came to America when 14 years of age. He died at Beloit, Wis., September 11, 1914, at which place he is buried.) Charles and Ellen Juneau Wolters had ten children, eight of whom are living.
Mrs. Isabella Sheard, the eldest daughter, Beloit, Wis., has five children, Herbert, Sarah, James, Louis and Mar- guerite ; Louis Wolters, the eldest son, Beloit, has seven children, Clifford, George, Jessie, Hazel, Louella and Edward Wolters ; the children of Mrs. Sarah Royce, the second daughter, are Alice, Frederick, Harry, Harriet and Clarence Royce and one grandchild, Mary Alice Thompson ; Mrs. Harriet Lee, Hanover, Wis., the third daughter, has three daughters, Lenora, Gertrude and Lydia, and one grand-
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child, Francis Henry Lee ; Mrs. Grace Smith, the youngest daughter, San Jacinto, Cal., has six children, Floid, Ralph, Margaret, Gertrude, Mildred and Ruth ; Frank Wolters, the second son, Orfordville, Wis., has four daughters, Lyla, Marie, Ruth and Ruby, the two last named being twins; George Wolters, McFarland, Cal., is unmarried ; Mrs. Ellen Page, Brodhead, Wis., has no children. Mrs. Ellen Juneau Wolters died in Beloit, Wis., May 19, 1899, and is buried in the Catholic cemetery at that place.
U
MARIE JUNEAU.
MARIE JUNEAU.
Marie Juneau was born at Milwaukee, March 29, 1841, at the old Juneau homestead, corner of Division and Mil- waukee streets. She attended the Milwaukee public school up to the time of her removal with her parents to Theresa in 1852, when she resumed her studies at a private school conducted by the late Mrs. Nicholas Husting, Miss Juneau taught District School No. 6, in the Town of Theresa, for three years. February 16, 1863, Miss Juneau was married at Theresa to Jean Pierre Husting. (Mr. Husting was born in Lintgen, in the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, August 4, 1838, and at the age of 17 years came to America with his parents, Michael and Anna Husting, settling in Theresa. Mr. Husting was educated in the parochial school of Luxem- burg. Shortly after his arrival here he learned the jeweler's trade at Fond du Lac, which business he followed for a great many years. He was secretary of the German-English Academy at Fond du Lac, postmaster at Mayville, Wis., under Grover Cleveland, also treasurer of the Mayville school district. Mr. Husting speaks English, French, Ger- man and Luxemburg fluently.) Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Husting, all of whom are living. Otto, the eldest son, was a traveling salesman for a Milwaukee clothing firm for twelve years, was city clerk of Beaver Dam for a number of years, and is now acting as private secretary for his brother, Senator Paul O. Husting, at Washington. Mr. Husting married Miss Abbie Costella, of Columbus, 117
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Neb., in 1896. U. S. Senator Paul O. Husting is unmarried and makes his home with his parents in Mayville. Max, the third son, is a resident of Fargo, N. Dak., where he is en- gaged in newspaper work. In 1896 he married Miss Anna Tscharner, of Alma, Wis. There is one daughter, Lucile Husting. Isabella J. Husting, the only daughter, was mar- ried in 1895 to Courtney Wayland Lamoreux, of Mayville. Mr. Lamoreux is county judge of Dodge County. There are two daughters, Vera Rosalind and Marion. Leo F. Husting, the fourth son, has been in the employ of the Chicago & North- Western Railroad since 1891, is a resident of Kaukauna, Wis., where he has charge of the North and South side depots. In 1897 he married Miss Nellie Somers, of Chilton. There were eight children born to Mr and Mrs. Husting, three dying in infancy. Those living are Juneau, Charles, Francis, Madeline Josette and Mary Josephine. Bonduel A., the fifth son, is a resident of Fond du Lac. Mr. Husting entered the University of Wisconsin class of 1900, was admitted to the bar on an examination before the State Board, in December, 1900, and commenced practice at Fond du Lac in 1902 ; was village attorney at the opening up of North Fond du Lac; was secretary of the city and county Democratic committees ; elected district attorney of Fond du Lac county in 1905 and 1906. Mr. Husting is a member of the law firm of Husting & Husting of Fond du Lac and Mayville. He married Miss Kate Anderson, of Eldorado, Wis. There are three daughters, Hellen Harriet, Isabella and Margaret. Gus B., the sixth son, attended the
MARIE JUNEAU
University of Wisconsin law school, was admitted to the bar in 1903, entered on the practice of law at Park Falls, Wis., later going to Kaukauna, where he remained several years. Mr. Hnsting is the junior member of the law firm of Hnsting & Husting at Mayville and Fond du Lac. In 1907 he was married at Mayville to Miss Paula Ruedebusch. There are four children, Paul Laurent, Vivian, Maybelle and Marie Louise. The seventh son is Berthold Juneau Husting. "Pete", as he is known to all his friends, was a page in the Wisconsin legislature in 1891 and 1893. He entered the law school of the University of Wisconsin and graduated in the class of 1900. He played on 'varsity base- ball and football teams and baseball with Milwaukee, Pitts- burg, Boston and Philadelphia professional clubs, the latter team winning the championship in 1902. Mr. Husting retired from baseball to enter the law firm of Husting & Husting as a junior member in Fond du Lac. He was supervisor of the Ninth ward, Fond du Lac ; also chairman of the Democratic county committee. In 1902 he was mar- ried at Mayville to Miss Agnes Sternberger, of that city, a High School classmate. There are two children, Suzanne Madeline and John Jakob Marzell. Mr. Husting is now a resident of Mayville and is connected with the law firm of Husting & Husting, of Mayville and Fond du Lac. Mrs. Jean Pierre Husting is an active member of the Woman's Relief Corps, of Mayville; was one of the ladies on the reception committee to meet President and Mrs. Wilson, on their visit to Milwaukee in 1916. She speaks and writes
SOLOMON JUNEAU
English, French and German fluently. Mr. and Mrs. Hust- ing are residents of Mayville, which place has been their home for nearly half a century.
ISABELLA REBECCA JUNEAU.
ISABELLA REBECCA JUNEAU.
Isabella Rebecca Juneau was born at Milwaukee, Sep- tember 30, 1845, in the old Juneau homestead, corner of Division and Milwaukee streets. She attended a private school in Theresa conducted by the late Mrs. N. Husting, and later the Notre Dame Convent in Milwaukee. After the death of her parents, she made her home with her sisters, Mrs. Frank Fox and Mrs. H. K. White, at whose home she died April 19, 1866. She is buried in the Juneau family lot, Calvary cemetery, Milwaukee, by the side of her mother.
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BONDUEL F. JUNEAU.
BONDUEL F. JUNEAU.
Bonduel Fleurimont Juneau, the second youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Juneau, was born in the Juneau home, Milwaukee and Division streets, May 25, 1844. He attended the Third ward school in that city for a short time, when he removed to Theresa with his parents, where he resided until 1862, when, on November 7, of that year, he enlisted as a drummer boy in Co. "C", 17th Regiment, Wis. Vol. Inft. He was mustered out July 14, 1865 at which time he went to Shannon, 111., where he entered the employ of the Western Union Railroad, making his home with his sister, Mrs. Frank Fox, until 1870. Mr. Juneau was named for the Rev. Fleurimont Bonduel, the pioneer missionary priest, who was a devoted friend of the Juneau family for many, many years. During the year 1870, Mr. Juneau married Miss Adelaide Dougherty, of Shannon. Mr. and Mrs. Juneau had five children, three of whom are living. The eldest daughter, Katherine, (deceased,) married Mr. Fred H. Smith, of Topeka, Kas., and later removed to California. Mr. and Mrs. Smith had one son, Merton E. Smith, of San Francisco, editor of the Sunday Telegraph. Mrs. Smith is buried at San Francisco. The second daughter is Miss Harriet Juneau, of Kansas City, Mo. ; the eldest son, Paul Juneau, is a resident of Avondale, Ohio ; the second son, William Juneau, is a resident of Absarokee, Mont., where he has a large ranch; the third son, Bernard Juneau, died in Chicago, in 19 12, at which place he is buried. In 127
SOLOMON JUNEAU
1873 Bonduel Juneau went west, settling near Manhattan, Kas., where he engaged in farming. He later removed to Topeka, Kas., where he made his home for a great many years. Mr. Juneau died February 27, 191 5, at his home in Oakland, a suburb of Topeka, where he was buried by the G. A. R. Post, of Topeka, of which he was a member. Mrs. Juneau died August 23, 1885, and is buried at Man- hattan, Kas.
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LOUIS JUNEAU.
Louis Juneau, the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Solo- mon Juneau, was born at Milwaukee in the old Juneau homestead, Milwaukee and Division streets, in 1847. After the death of his parents he made his home with his sister, Mrs. Theresa White, Milwaukee, attended the public schools and at an early age learned the printer's trade, which he fol- lowed in that city until the early seventies' when he went south and was last heard from in 1890 in Holly Springs, Miss. He married and had a large family. It is not known whether he is still living.
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SOLOMON JUNEAU
ISABELLA FOX.
Isabella Fox, dressed in Indian costume, showing style of dress worn at the time Mr. and Mrs. Juneau were mar- ried.
The dress is the property of Mr. J. D. Lawe, of Kau- kauna, and was worn by his grandmother, Theresa Rankin Lawe, wife of Judge John Lawe, of Green Bay. Mrs. Juneau and Mrs. Lawe were cousins on the maternal side.
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DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
Inaugural Address Read By Solomon Juneau on En- tering the Office of Mayor of the City of Milwaukee, Friday, April ioth, 1846.
Gentlemen : It is made my duty by the charter under which we have our existence as a municipal corporation, to recommend to you, in writing, such measures as I may deem expedient and calculated to advance the interest of our city.
In performing this duty, I feel conscious that my burden is light, knowing, as I do, that those with whom I am to co- operate are well versed in all matters pertaining to our welfare. However, as it will be expected on this occasion that I should make some general remarks relative to the course to be pursued by us, I shall proceed in as brief a manner as possible to lay before you a few general matters that I think should receive an early attention at your hands.
The confusion incident to a change of government, has rendered it impossible for me to lay before you a correct statement of our financial condition, but prudence would seem to dictate to us the propriety of ascertaining at as early a day as possible the precise state of the financial affairs of the city, and all proper efforts in future should be directed to keeping our expenditures within our means, and if it ascertained that we are in debt at present, no time should be lost in taking such measures as will be best cal-
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culated to insure at no distant period a final liquidation of all just claims against us.
Our commercial interest should receive a proper share of your attention, and every facility should be afforded those engaged in commercial business, to transact the same in a prompt and efficient manner, and nothing should be wanting on the part of the city, to render the whole of the commer- cial part of it easy of access to the vessels navigating our lakes.
Proper measures should be taken to render easy of access our city to every part of the country around us, and a due sense of self-respect would seem to suggest to us the pro- priety of keeping our streets and sidewalks as clear from impediments as the business of the city will permit.
Such measures as in your wisdom you may think meet, should be taken to preserve the health of the city ; and nothing should be left undone that would have a tendency to relieve the distressed and destitute who are incapable of providing the means of comfort and support for themselves.
The Fire Department should receive your fostering care, and everything should be done that is calculated to render those volunteers, serving the city in the capacity, secure from injuries by the explosion of powder or other explosive matter.
The subject of gaming should receive your attention, and
nothing in your power should be wanting to secure the youth
of the city from the wiles and devices of the gambler. Nor
should he who is so far regardless of the morals of a com-
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munity, as to prostitute the energies of his mind and body to gaining a livelihood by openly following the illicit business of gambling, be permitted to range our streets unwhipt of justice.
This much I have thought proper to suggest as being of a public and general nature, trusting fully to your wisdom and experience in rightly directing all things relating to our welfare, and in framing such ordinances as will best be calculated to advance the interest of the city, fully assuring you, that you will have my cordial co-operation in everything tending to promote our common good ; and that all in my power will be done to have the laws of the territory, and ordinances of the city, properly observed and faithfully and impartially executed.
In performing the duties of presiding officer of your body, I shall have to ask your indulgence and assistance, knowing that my want of experience in presiding over deliberate bodies will be sensibly felt by me, and without your indulgence and friendly counsel I can scarcely hope to execute that part of my official duty in a manner satisfactory to myself or the public.
Solomon Juneau.
Written for Mr. Juneau by H. N. Wells.
Wheeler's Chronicles of Milwaukee, pp. 182-183-184.
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SOLOMON JUNEAU
VALEDICTORY.
Solomon Juneau's Address on Retiring as Mayor oe the City of Milwaukee.
Gentlemen : Before I vacate the chair, I wish to make a few remarks to your honorable body.
When I first set foot on this soil, some thirty years ago, I little thought that during my age and generation, I should behold such a sight as now presents itself. Then the "Red man" was supreme monarch of the place on which our delightful city now stands. The plains and rivers of Wis- consin belonged to him, and were subject to his will and control.
But now the scene is changed.
The "war whoop" of the Indian has given way to the mild counsels of civilized and intelligent men. The wigwam is supplanted by massive and ornamental structures. The place of the bark canoe, which was then the only craft which floated upon the waters of the noble river that meanders through the heart of your city, has been filled by the hun- dreds of vessels, propelled by both steam and wind, which now annually visit our shores and enter our harbor, laden with the commerce of the east, and which bears away the surplus produce of Wisconsin.
Here we behold a city of twelve thousand inhabitants, with her beautiful streets and walks, her fair gardens, her splendid buildings, and her intelligent and enterprising popu- lation, where eleven years ago the soil was unbroken.
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VALEDICTORY
I have been a resident of your city since the first com- mencement, to the present day, and I trust, gentlemen, that you will do me the justice to believe that its interests, growth and prosperity have ever been and still are my dearest desire. That it may continue to increase in size and population is my dearest wish, that we may have good laws and the same well administered, will be my constant prayer, when I shall have retired from the honorable and responsible situation, to which the partiality of my fellow citizens has elevated me.
In yielding up the trust reposed in me, I cannot but feel a proud satisfaction that it is to pass into the hands of a gentleman whose ability, integrity, high standing and long tried virtues among his fellow citizens fairly entitles him to the confidence they have reposed in him. Allow me then to tender to you, and through you to my fellow citizens, my sincere acknowledgment for the support, kindness and in- dulgence which I have received at your and their hands.
I was conscious at the outset, that my experience had not been such as to qualify me for the discharge of the duties of the office I now hold, either in a measure satisfactory to the public or myself, but notwithstanding you have received little aid from me, I am satisfied that the public interests have not suffered from want of an able and faithful repre- sentative in the Common Council. And for the prudent, judicious and economical administration of the offices of our infant city the people are indebted to your wisdom and intelligence. I regret that other associations have allowed me to preside so seldom over your deliberations, not that
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I could have hoped to aid or benefit you, or those you have so ably and faithfully represented, but because I fear that my absence may have been construed into an indifference to the interests of our city. Again offering you and particularly the gentleman who has with so much ability presided over your deliberations during my absence my grateful acknowl- edgment, and my best wishes for your individual health and happiness, I cheerfully give up the chair I now occupy
to the gentleman whom the people have chosen to succeed me.
Solomon Juneau.
Milwaukee, April 14, 1847.
Milwaukee Under the Charter, Vol. III., pp. 62-63, by Jas. S. Buck.
ADDRESS OF MR. HENRY W. BLEYER.
At the eighty-fifth anniversary of the arrival of Solomon Juneau at Milwaukee, a banquet was held at the Plankinton house in that city, by the Milwaukee County Pioneers' Asso- ciation, at which Mr. Henry W. Bleyer,* president of the Association, made the following address :
"It is remarkable, that after Mr. Juneau had lived twenty-five years among the Indians and rough engages, he could adapt himself so well to the ways of civilization. Edward Holton, who knew him intimately, said that he was an elegant gentleman, and that his word was as good as his bond, and testified that in all the affairs of the city he was
'Mr. Henry Bleyer is now a resident of Madison, Wis. I36
ADDRESS OF MR. HENRY W. BLEYER
an honored and useful citizen. John P. McGregor added his testimony : 'The early pioneers of Milwaukee yet bear wit- ness to Mr. Juneau's many virtues, to his hospitality, to his largeness and warmth of heart, to his ready sympathy and help, to his manliness of character, and to his full possession of the qualities which make a man a good neighbor, a good friend and a good citizen.'
"During the eighteen years that elapsed between his coming and the arrival of many settlers, he spent the winters at Green Bay and Chicago, and it is related of him that he was at all times an elegant gentleman and a stickler for etiquette. He had his children all educated liberally. He was on a footing with Kilbourn and Walker, and kept pace with them in steps of progression. He built us a court house and gave us a public park. As a merchant he was liberal — too liberal for his own good. He was a sweet singer. On Christmas mornings for years in the early pioneer days the church was crowded to hear him sing the Venite. On other occasions he sang the Marsellaise, and at many a social gathering his Canadian boating songs were called for and sung.
"After the place was settled up he was one of the original political powers of the young city. The original political influences of 1835 were strong in Milwaukee for years after. At the first election (1835) twenty-seven officers were chosen. There were only thirty-nine voters. Only four of these had legal residence, as the law of Michigan, of which
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Milwaukee was then a part, made a year's residence the franchise qualification.
"Juneau and Byron Kilbourn, the first road commis- sioners, signed a number of records as officials. This was a sign that they were good friends personally all the time, and that the fights between the East and West villages did not originate with them. From the first twenty-seven original officers, four mayors, Juneau, Kilbourn, Walker and Chase, were afterwards taken. Walker was the first super- visor and fence viewer.
"The election of Solomon Juneau as the first mayor of Milwaukee is unique. There were four ballots in the con- vention which resulted as follows :
Solomon Juneau. D. A. J. Upham.
H. N. Wells 5
James H. Rogers,. . . 2
"John H. Tweedy was the Whig candidate, but the Dem- ocracy was in the majority in Milwaukee and Juneau was elected. Although he served consistently as mayor, he was not a parliamentarian, and presided at only one meeting of the Common Council."
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ADDRESS OF C. A. A. McGEE
At the; Dedication of the Court of Honor at Mil- waukee's Home Coming Celebration.
(Milwaukee Free Press, Aug. 4, 1909.)
To the east of us, on the brow of the bluff, wrapped in the ceaseless music of Michigan's waters, stands the figure of a man. By day and by night, he keeps his silent vigils over our city. Fashioned in bronze, his gigantic form challenges the immediate attention of the spectator. Behold him, ye 400,000 sons and daughters of Milwaukee ; shoulders strong to bear the brunt of battle, to carry the burdens and responsibilities of his people ; the kindly countenance, crowned by a broad expanse of brow ; the wide set, com- manding eyes ; the straight nose ; the granite chin ; the mouth which at once bespeaks firmness and the tender sym- pathy of a child ; and, reaching across the gulf of half a century, salute him, that golden-hearted pioneer, the founder of your city.
On this festive occasion of our home-coming, let us per- mit our thoughts to revert to the days when wilderness wa- king, to the days of the Northwest territory ; let us invoke the spirit of Juneau, and cause that bronze statue to become instinct with life, compel the soul to live again, the heart to beat, the brain to quicken, the eye to Hash, and the lips to speak, that we may hear his message and receive his bene- diction.
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SOLOMON JUNEAU
Born out of the loins of France, Laurent Solomon Juneau, on the 9th day of August, 1793, first opened his eyes upon the broad valley of the St. Lawrence in the hamlet of L'Asumption, Canada. At the age of 21, urged by the mystery of the unexplored wilds, he took to his canoe, and, singing the songs of the voyagers, followed the course of Father Jacques Marquette, by river and by land, to the Isle of Mackinaw. Here he met that picturesque old trader, Jacque Vieau, who took the young man to his heart and introduced him to his home at the old British fort at Green Bay.
Vieau, being a shrewd judge of human nature, quickly discerned those attributes of mind and body which so emi- nently fitted Juneau for the part he was to play in the settlement of the frontier, and induced the younger man to enter his service, and sent him on a voyage of inspection. Thus, after a journey fraught with peril, through the track- less forests of the uncharted waters of Wisconsin, in the fall of 1814, Solomon Juneau first ascended the bluff at the lake and looked out upon the Venetian bay of America. Turning to the westward his eyes for the first time surveyed the valley reaching to the river, and the wild rice marshes and the wooded heights beyond.
Historians may differ as to the thoughts that crowded upon the mind of the young frontiersman at that hour, but the rapid sequence of events proves that even then, master of the wilderness and unskilled in the ways of cities, he saw the commercial possibilities of this post. Scarcely four years later he returned, and as the representative of John
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ADDRESS OF C. A. A. McGEE
Jacob Astor, the great American fur trader, here, by the sparkling waters of Milwaukee's streams, unmuddied and unsullied by the sewage of civilization, in this temple of God where the wild beauties of nature were unmarred by the hand of man, young Juneau took up his permanent abode.
LaFramboise, and others, may have preceded him as traders, but to Solomon Juneau belongs the distinction of being the first permanent white settler, the pioneer citizen of Milwaukee.
In his 27th year, he mated with Josette Vieau, that gentle maid of the frontier, with whose five-eighths French blood mingled that of the chieftains of the forest, and, together with this Pocahontas of Wisconsin, Juneau builded, from rough hewn logs, the now historic first habitation of the white man.
At a time when the intrigue and perfidy of the French- man, Englishman and American, alike, had aroused the hostility of the savages to fever heat; at a time when Indian outbreaks were common and frontiers were ravished, Solo- mon Juneau, with his own splendid physical prowess and intrepid spirit, than whom none were swifter in the race or more enduring on the march, met these children of the soil, not with arms and force, but with the pipe of peace, with open-hearted generosity, frankness, friendship, and square dealing, until the name of "Friend Solomon," as the Indians loved to call him, became a synonym of all that was best in savage conception and acted as a talisman to guaran- tee the safety of the forest trail and the frontier settlement. 141
SOLOMON JUNEAU
His dominance over the Indian tribes, over Menomonee, Pottawattomie, Winnebago, Sacs, and Fox, alike, marked him as a man of the hour, and caused historians to say of him that no trader on the continent did so much to win the confidence and respect of the red man and to turn him from the pursuits of the wilderness to those of civilization and Christianity as did the young Frenchman from the St. Law- rence.
Thus it was that in 1834 conditions invited the advance guard of that immigration which, from the four corners of the earth, has continued unbroken to the present day, and which has made us the mighty metropolis of a great cosmo- politan state.
Knowing that his destinies were cast with the citizenship of the infant republic, Solomon Juneau, in 183 1, renounced his allegiance to a foreign potentate, and became a natural- ized citizen of the states.
In 1835 he purchased from the federal government a tract of land with a frontage of one mile upon the river, north from what is now Wisconsin street, and reaching to the lake, which, together with his partners, Martin and Dousman, he platted into lots, and thus laid at that early day the first permanent foundation for his future city beauti- ful of the lakes.
Though modest to the point of retirement, his energies
were enlisted in all fields of activity, and, in turn, he was
honored by being made first president of the village, first
postmaster, and, in April, 1846, after Juneautown, or Mil-
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ADDRESS OF C. A. A. McGEE
vvaukee, on the east side of the river, Kilbourntown on the west, and Walker's Point on the south, voted to consolidate as a city, and receiving a charter, Solomon Juneau was again honored by being nominated and elected on the Democratic ticket as first mayor of Milwaukee, carrying every one of the five wards against his Whig opponent, J. H. Tweedy.
Oh, what a life was his, crowded with events, marked with acts of charity, humanity and public spirit. Like a rainbow reaching across the sky, its arches the span of a century from his humble birthplace in the Valley of Ro- mance to the present hour in the city of his dreams, and, like the rainbow, which reflects in per f est harmony all the beauties of the prism, so his life reflects in turn, all the stern and gentle qualities, all the charities, humanities, and emo- tions which made that life worth the living and endears his name to posterity.
And you ask me for his message. Read it in a life's work well accomplished.
While we quibble about park extensions, he gave, and out of the bounty of his generous heart the city has, the Fourth Ward and Juneau park. His message is, live for the better and broader things of life; give to our people breath- ing spots ; extend, embellish and complete our park system.
While we hesitate about building for the future and establishing a civic center, he built the old court house, and, together with the land upon which it stood, and the square fronting it, presented it to the county, a demonstra-
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tion of his public spirit, a monument of his reverence for order, law and justice.
While we talk about greater Milwaukee and seek to en- list public aid, he gave land for churches and for schools, dedicating the sites upon which stood the old female college and St. Peter's church. He furnished the money, on a letter of credit, to Mr. O'Rourke, who founded the Milwau- kee Sentinel, and his message is, be patriotic and grow, keep abreast of the times; give to the world the best you have and the best will come back to you.
While we hesitate about harbor improvements and ex- tending the lines of commerce, he built the first vessel, owned the first steamboat, and, together with such men as Kilbourn, Wells and Walker, connected by a straight cut the river with the lake. I quote you from his inaugural address :
"Our commercial interests should receive a proper share of your attention and every facility should be afforded those engaged in commercial business to transact the same in a prompt and efficient manner, and nothing should be wanting on the part of the city to render the whole of the commercial part easy of access to the vessels navigating our lakes.
"Proper measure should be taken to render easy of ac- cess our city to every part of the country around us."
His message is, forget not your community of interest as a people, be true to your trust, and place ever the public weal above the sordid ambition of the individual.
While some of us today spend our time in decrying civic institutions, and saying how bad are our politics and poli- 144
ADDRESS OF C. A. A. McGEE
ticians, without exercising our heaven-born right of free citizenship, Solomon Juneau, from his busy life, took time to serve his city and his state, and in the manner of his death, speaks to us with mute eloquence on the duties ot citizenship.
In the fall of 1856, he traversed the long rough forest trail from Milwaukee to the Shawano agency. While there, closing out his business with the Menominee Indians, the day of the presidential election dawned dark and cold, and though complaining of fatigue and weariness, and against the importunities of his friends, for twelve miles, over corduroy roads, under the wet dripping pines, he rode in a lumber wagon to cast his ballot for the candidate of his choice. It was ordained that this should be his last act of fealty to the government of his adoption, for, by reason of his exposure, he contracted a fatal malady. He met the crisis with a strong man's fortitude and resignation, and with the light of heaven mantling his countenance, he crossed his hands upon his breast and said: "It is hard to die here. I had hoped to have laid my bones in Milwaukee, but I come to join thee my wife."
He was mourned alike by red and white. No more im- posing funeral cortege was ever known in the wilds of America. The chieftains called their braves in council to pay the last sad tribute to the departed brother, and to his grave marched priests in canonicals, followed by an Indian choir chanting funeral psalms ; ten pallbearers, four white and six Indians, followed by the employes of the agency,
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male and female, while to the rear, two abreast, marched an army of 700 red men. Here he rested, mourned by red and white, man and child, alike, as benefactor, patriot, friend and brother, until two weeks later, when his body was disinterred, and a sorrowing city laid him to rest in the old Spring street cemetery.
And tonight, across the years, comes the voice of Solo- mon Juneau, admonishing us that if ours is to fight the fate of republics, no less confident in the past, it must be by virtue of an alert and militant citizenship; that the greatest menace to any republican form of government is the political shirk, that man who, through laziness or indifference to the needs of state, never takes time from his business, profes- sional or social duties, to participate in the battle of ballots, which with each recurrence, determines the policy of our government, and, in a large measure, the future of our country.
For humanity, not for self. To those of us, narrow and self-centered, who worship mammon and strive for material gain alone, I point to the incidents of his life. At a time when Carnegies, Morgans, Harrimans and Rockefellers, were unknown, he accumulated a fortune in land and money, and died without wealth. He nurtured his city like a mother the babe upon her breast, and no public enterprise, private charity, or case of individual destitution, ever appealed to him in vain. He sowed with a lavish hand and cast his bread upon the waters. Into the discord of material strife he breathed the soft sweet harmony of the golden rule, and 146
ADDRESS OF C. A. A. McGEE
taught that man's greatest good is found in the service of his fellows.
His message, then, is that only those characters are potent for good, and only those institutions endure to pos- terity which labor not for self alone, but for humanity. Rich indeed, if needs be, is that man who dies without wealth as the world counts wealth, wrapped only in the cloak of public esteem.
In closing, I quote you from his valedictory on the occa- sion of the installation of his successor as mayor :
"When I first set foot on this soil some thirty years ago, I little thought that during my age and generation I should now behold such a site as now presents itself. Then the red man was supreme monarch of the place on which our delightful city now stands ; the plains and rivers of Wiscon- sin belonged to him, and were subject to his wild control, but now the scene has changed ; the war-whoop of the Indian has given way to the mild counsel of civilized and intelligent men ; the wigwam is supplanted by the massive and orna- mental structures. The place of the bark canoe, which was then the only craft that floated upon the waters of the noble river that meanders through the heart of your city, has been filled with hundreds of vessels propelled by wind and steam that now annually visit our shores and enter our harbor, laden with the commerce of the east, and bear off the surplus product of Wisconsin.
Here we behold a city of 12,000 inhabitants, with her beautiful streets and walks, her fine gardens and splendid
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SOLOMON JUNEAU
buildings, and her enterprising and intelligent population, where eleven years since the soil was unbroken.
I have been a resident of your city from its first com- mencement to the present day, and trust, gentlemen, that you will do me the justice to believe that its interest, growth and prosperity have ever been and still are my dearest desire; that it may continue to increase in size and popula- tion is my sincerest wish ; that we may have wholesome laws and the same well administered, will be my earnest prayer when I shall have retired from the honorable and responsible station to which the partiality of my fellow citizens have elevated me."
Who, hearing these earnest words, and looking out over our splendid city, with its happy homes, busy factories and beautiful parks, recognizing those things accomplished and hoping for those things yet to be accomplished, can doubt that the spirit of Solomon Juneau is with us tonight, pro- nouncing upon his people and upon his city a blessing and a benediction.
AN INTERESTING LETTER.
Taycheedah, November 23d, 1856. Wm. E. Cramer —
Dear Sir: — My business led me to Keshena, (the Me- nominee Pay Ground), from which I returned a day or two since, having been absent from home six instead of two weeks. The money was not there. Indians move slowly;
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AN INTERESTING LETTER
and I must say, the delays of their White Fathers are not quite as exemplary.
The time, however, passed pleasantly. Gentlemen were there from different parts of the State, on business or pleasure — all exerting their fancies, to make each one as comfortable as possible.
It was generally understood, that this was to be the best specimen of "Indian payment as of the olden time," to occur in this state ; and so, as well as we could, we revived the memories of the few old voyageurs and trappers who were present, "making them fight their battles over again," and when a difference in fact or date arose, and words ran high between old Augustin Grignon, Jacques Porlier, and the other heroes of the hour, an appeal to an old Chippewa and his Squaw, venerable by a century each, usually calmed these angry oracles of traditionary lore.
We had stories and legends of the Great North-West, American and Hudson Bay Co.'s and fairly could see the old Magnates as they feasted and rollicked in their annual progress to their different clerks and trading posts. But Alas ! and alas ! ! we had no libation to celebrate the memory of their wine and wassail. Mr. Hunkins was inexorable — to say nothing of the hourly expected advent of the Super- intendent, that sworn foe of fire-water upon the pay-ground.
I have preserved some recollections of what was said and
done at the last of the gathering of the old traders, which,
if you choose, I will send you for publication in a few days.
Some incidents may amuse you and your readers. I prefer
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now to say something of the illness and death of our friend, Solomon Juneau.
The truth is, Mr. Juneau was too old to encounter the cold and hard fare he endured for days and weeks. His age, (sixty-four, and1 not sixty-six as published), had begun to reflect the toils of his youth. His strength and vigor, as he frequently told me, had, of late years, gradually given way, unfitting him for Indian trade and maturing his pur- pose to return to Milwaukee, and his friends, at an early date. His chief pride was in the city, and certainly his affections were mostly there. The day before his death, expressing a desire to be in Milwaukee, and referring to many of his old friends by name, he observed, "I do not think, I have an enemy in that place."
He evinced great anxiety in the result of the Presidential election, and rode over bad roads, and in a lumber wagon, twelve miles to deposit his vote. The clay was inclement. He returned fatigued and wet, and was not well afterwards. The Menominee payment was made two days before his death. From dawn to midnight, of each day, he was har- rassed by the Indians, while engaged in making collections, and superintending the sales of his two establishments and in retiring to his bunk, which was adjacent to my own, on Wednesday night, declared himself overcome by fatigue. He arose early on Thursday morning, however, aroused his clerks for business, and appeared animated and cheerful in the prospect we both had of a speedy return to our families. Tn a very few moments, he suddenly complained of great
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AN INTERESTING LETTER
uneasiness ; attempting violently and in vain to relieve his stomach. Paroxysms of pain supervened, and his tortures were expressed in groans of agony, and streams of sweat bursting and pouring from his face. We removed him, as soon as a bed could be procured, to the house of Mr. Prickett, and surrounded him with every comfort and atten- tion within our power. The Superintendent, Dr. Huebsch- mann, directed and applied the proper remedies by himself and Dr. Wiley, exhibiting the most kind and anxious care. But in a few hours, the vanity of hope and effort was ap- parent. The stubborn intensity of his malady defied the devotions of skill and affection, and it became evident, that the strong frame of our friend was yielding to the shocks of his last and only enemy.
He repeatedly enquired of his friends their opinion of his case; whose replies were cheering appeals to his courage and constancy. They could not bear to contemplate their own impressions of his danger — and how could they convey them to him?
About 4 o'clock the priest was introduced, and being left together alone, at his own solicitation, the last consoling rites of his church, it is presumed, were administered. The type of his malady became milder at intervals. His reason, which had never forsaken him, became active in directing a dispo- sition of his property on the Pay Ground, and in dictating messages of love to his children.
Turning to me he observed: "It is hard to die here; I had hoped to lay my bones in Milwaukee ;" and immediately
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afterwards directing his eyes aloft, and crossing his hands upon his breast, with a sigh of profound and peaceful languor, he breathed — "I come to join you my wife!"
The slumbers of syncope supervened, as the night moved on ; and at 20 minutes past 2 o'clock a. m., Solomon Juneau breathed his last, in the arms of Benjamin Hunkins, his faithful friend and constant nurse. Thus died a just and good man. Everybody who knew, loved him ; and so I will not eulogize his memory.
Perhaps no trader ever lived on this continent, for whom the Indians entertained a more profound respect. The grim warrior, with stately tread and blackened face, and silent, bending squaw, passed in review the corpse of their dead friend — and the chiefs in solemn council, summoned their braves to attend the funeral. — "Never — said old Augustin Grignon — have I heard of this before."
Many instances occurred of individual homage. In the middle of the night, an old squaw of decent appearance — the wife of a chief — entered the apartment, and kneeling before the body, clasped her hands in silent prayer ; then removing the cloth from his face, impressed her kisses upon his mouth and forehead, and retired as noiselessly as she had entered. Another clipped a lock of his hair, and charged me to deliver it to his children. These poor women were Catholics.
The place of repose was selected by the Indians them- selves, and the order of his funeral entrusted to Mr. Hun- kins.
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AN INTERESTING LETTER Order of the Funeral.
ist. Priest in canonicals, followed by an Indian choir,
chanting funeral forms. 2nd. Ten pall-bearers, four whites and six Indians,
(Oshkosh, Carron, Lancet. Keshenah and
others). 3d. The employes of the agency, male and female. 4th. Indian women, and Indians, two abreast, to the
number of 600 or 700.
Appropriate services were rendered at the grave by the priest, and a few affectionate sentences of farewell in- terpreted to the Indians, at their request, were expressed by the Agent.
Solomon Juneau sleeps upon an elevation far above the Agency, and council house, and burial grounds of the In- dians, commanding a view of the "Wolf," as it defiles away in the wilderness of distant hills, and overlooking the hunt- ing grounds which, in years gone by, he had known and traversed himself, for many a league.
Milwaukee should do something in honor of its first Mayor and best citizen.
I enclose a few lines, written by an old friend, (a lady,) when informed of his death.
Yours truly,
B.
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LINES WRITTEN ON THE DEATH OF SOLOMON JUNEAU.
A solemn stillness reigns around, Dark forms are bending there
In silent grief; — no sob or sound Disturbs the quiet air.
Why bows the red-man's lofty head?
Why is his step so slow? — Death hath a fatal arrow sped —
His long-tried friend lies low.
O, Manitou! why didst thou call
Him to the far-off land? To roam the happy hunting grounds.
And head a spirit-band?
No more will beat his noble heart
His generous hand is cold; We'll sit no longer at his feet
In council, as of old.
And white men's hearts responsive swell
While gazing on the dead — For many loved that sleeper well,
Whose spirit hence hath fled.
Each Chief now summons forth his band.
A man of God is there — And floats o'er all the forest land
The funeral chant and prayer.
And mournfully that num'rous throng
Tread o'er the grassy sod, With him they knew so well and long —
"The noblest work of God."
Upon a lofty spot of ground.
In nature's beauties drest, Place for his manly form they found.
And laid him down to rest.
I Milwaukee Evening Wisconsin. November 28, 1856.) 1 54
"SOLOMO"
"SOLOMO."
The dawn springs slowly thro' the eastern sky, It turns the fleecy clouds to isles of gold. It strikes the cross on John's Cathedral spire, And all the palaces that rise around. Then o'er the bosom of Lake Michigan The quivering bars of many colored light Break into starry tear drops; far away The waters murmur to the pebbly shore Of something lost that can return no more.
The rlags droop half-mast en the harboured ships.
The bells toll solemnly from many a tower,
The grateful cit> sends her thousands forth
To pay the last sad tribute to his dust
Who planted her; for, in one stricken room
Lies powerless and still a mighty frame.
That once enclosed a warm and generous heart
Now heedless of all tears or sobs of woe —
The voiceless ashes of old "Solomo!"
'Twas meet that he should- die where swarthy chiefs Could gaze upon the face of their tried friend. Where silent squaws could through the darkness steal To breathe a prayer and kiss his honored head. That they should bury him and think him theirs; And it was meet that he should here be brought For his loved children and the city's sake. That he twice honored and twice buried be, For here his like we ne'er again shall see.
Ye men with glittering steel and measured tread!
He was a soldier, for he was a man:
Ye men who battle with the element!
He was like you and dared the elements;
Ye veteran pioneers of fertile brain
And iron arm, he was your elder brother.
Bear ye the body into God's own house —
Where lately, too, was borne his noble wife —
Before that altar where he knelt in life!
There let him rest a space, until the Church Reads her appointed prayers above her dead. And sprinkles holy water on the pall
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And burns some grains of blest olibanum,
And lets the prisoned soul of music burst
In terror thro' the "Dies Irae" hymn,
And from the dead unto the living speaks,
And points with steady fingers 'yond the grave
Thro' His strong love who came the world to save!
The rites are paid, the eulogy is said
The secret prayers for his soul's repose
Have upward sped on wings of faith and love,
The lights are out, the long procession moves,
And strains of mournful music swell and fade
Upon the air, and flashing in the sun
Up the far streets the bayonets are seen;
The nodding hearse, of which he makes a throne.
Is out of sight — and "Solomo" is gone!
(Written for the Daily Sentinel, 1856, by B. I. Dorward.)
FUNERAL OF SOLOMON JUNEAU.
"Yesterday we laid in the dust the oldest settler of the city of Milwaukee, and we trust a few comments on this occasion, may not be considered out of place.
"The description of the form and circumstance of the funeral we leave to our contemporaries. We shall content ourselves with a brief relation of the facts, and of what were our own impressions on the occasion.
"The procession was a very long one, the military were out in full force, as were the firemen. The benevolent and civic societies, also, were in the procession, as were likewise a great body of our citizens. In short, the people of Mil- waukee did their utmost to do honor to the oldest settler of the state, Solomon Juneau. And now, allow us to make a
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few remarks that may be of service to those who follow him, and us, in this country.
"His fame is nothing but that of an honest man, and a man of high enterprise, and yet his fame is a great one. His history is not an every day story, but yet it is a history that every man can make his own.
"Mr. Juneau came here to trade with the Indians, and by his integrity, by his singleness of purpose, he gained their confidence and esteem, and opened up a road to the entrance of those immigrants who afterward flooded into the terri- tory of Wisconsin. What he became after that we all know. What facilities he offered to the early settler of Wisconsin, we all know as well. But it is not all who know the full value of those offerings in a new country.
"A cup of water had its blessing, and where it was rare, it was right it should have. He gave that, but it was known that he did more, that he gave of all that he had, not only of his abundance, but of his indigence ; that he shared of what he had in plenty, and of what he had in little. In other words, whatever he had he shared with the newcomer, be he who he might.
"We attended his funeral this day, and Solomon Juneau is but a clod of the earth. He is what we all must be. He has but returned to the dust from whence he came. But he has run his race with honor, and lives in the memory of men, as few of us could hope to live there were we to die now.
"But where is his pre-eminence, He was no great man
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in the vulgar acceptation of the term. True enough he was not. His memory does not rest upon deeds of arms. His conquest was a different one. He came here as a quiet in- dividual, merely to push his own fortune, but in doing that he pushed the fortunes of a state. He conquered nothing by mere force of arms, but he conquered all by force of character and by force of honesty. He went through the various phases of Indian, of frontier, and of civilized life, and in all he held the highest place ; and even when his In- dian Post became a city, he then held the same station, the head of all.
"Yet, Mr. Juneau was an unambitious man ; the honors which he wore were forced upon him. They were not of his seeking, any more than were those that were conferred upon
him yesterday."
J. R. Sharpstein.
The Daily News, Nov. 29, 1856.
THE LATE SOLOMON JUNEAU.
"This morning ushers in an event which cannot fail to cast a melancholy gloom over the city, warning us what frail creatures we are. In yon stately Cathedral lies coffined all that is mortal of one, who may truly be designated The FathKr of Milwaukee, the first man who trod the virgin soil of Wisconsin, and whose clear foresight marked out that spot whose rapid growth has constituted one of the wonders of America. We allude to a city, the growth of
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yesterday, aye, but a few fleeting years since a trading post for the whites, with the red men of the forest ; today, the city of Milwaukee with its 40,000 inhabitants. We had not the pleasure of his personal acquaintance, but the compan- ions and friends of Solomon Juneau speak of him as a man of unimpeachable integrity, sterling worth and generous impulses. His various gifts to the city have proven this.
"A good name is better than precious unction." and the day of death better than the day of one's birth. Mr. Juneau was in the prime of life, and whilst among the children of the forest, the men whom he loved best, for their simplicity of manner, and from his early association with them, was stricken down and in a truly short period his spirit fled from its earthly tenement and winged its way to heaven. "Rcqiticscat in Pace."
"This morning the funeral solemnities take place. Al- though the lamented deceased was not connected with the militia of our state, "the muffled drum and funeral note" will be heard from the military escort, which does itself honor in paying the last sad tribute to the illustrious dead of the State, and Milwaukee, the child of his protection and fostering care, will exhibit her deep sorrow and grief for the good man who has departed. Let us hope, most earn- estly hope, that our bankers, merchants and traders, will, on this solemn occasion, close all places of business for the two or three hours occupied in the funeral obsequies. An- other suggestion we venture to throw out — it has been mooted that the city of Milwaukee should perpetuate the
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many virtues and generous gifts made by Mr. Juneau to the
city in her infancy, by raising a monument to his memory.
"Cold in the dust, this perished heart may lie, But that which warmed it once shall never die."
"This monument will be acquiesced in by all classes. We understand that the Court House square was one amongst the munificent gifts of this generous donor, and no spot could be selected in the entire city where a statuary monu- ment could look more imposing than in the center of the square. Boston has just inaugurated her statute of Frank- lin ; let Milwaukee imitate the act by having her statue of "Juneau" the father of the city. A monument, imperishable, which will perpetuate the character and memory of one whose removal is a source of deep regret to the entire com- munity."
"Virtue's a solid rock, whereat being aimed, The keenest darts of envy, yet unhurt, Her marble hero stands, built of such basis, While they recoil and wound the shooter's face."
(From A. Wellington Hart's Dollar American Weekly, 1856.)
FUNERAL OF THE LATE SOLOMON JUNEAU.
"Yesterday the remains of this lamented gentleman were consigned to the dust in the Roman Catholic cemetery. At an early hour the stores along East Water street commenced draping the fronts of the premises with emblems of mourn- ing. At 10 o'clock the Military and Fire companies formed on Main street, and with the Pioneers of Wisconsin, and 160
THE FUNERAL
one or two benevolent societies, marched to the residence of Henry Kirk White, Esq., on Division street, where the body lay. General Grant acted as Grand Marshal, previous to the solemnities, and when the funeral procession was formed, took command of the troops, who mustered in good numbers. The Milwaukee Light Guards, Union Guards, German Yagers, two companies of the Rifle Corps, the Artillery company, and the Sons of Freedom, with the Washington Corps of Cavalry, formed the military escort. Moving up Division to Jackson street, headed by the respec- tive bands, playing a solemn dirge, the procession reached the Cathedral, where the body was placed on the catafalque, the solemn services being chanted by the choir; the prayers for the dead being read by the venerable Roman Catholic Bishop Henni. in a solemn manner. The Cathedral was crowded to its utmost extent, the ladies rilling all the pews on the north side, the mourners and attendants at the funeral, with the Mayor, ex-Mayors and Common Council, occupying the middle aisle. As soon as the body was placed on its bier, the citizens thronged in, and within a few minutes every remaining seat was filled, and all was hushed, and a solemn stillness chained the congregation. As soon as the funeral chant had been given by the choir, the Rev. Riordan, the Secretary of Bishop Henni, ascended the pulpit and preached a funeral eulogium to the memory of the de- parted Pioneer. His text was from St. Paul's epistle to the Corinthians. He pointed out the shadows of this life, the little thought of concern for that great change which awaits
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us, and marked the current of events which awaited man in this mundane existence till the close of life, when the same lot would befall us, as we now saw in the corpse awaiting burial. Mr. Riordan then delivered a panegyric on the life of him, whose body touched by death, was then receiving in that Cathedral the homage, reverence and respect of the entire city. He dwelt on his virtues, his piety, the claims on his unbounded charity — which were ever kindly met — his love for his family, his generous impulses, his noble at- tributes, all were dwelt on in language as inspiring and eloquent as it was simple, pure and truthful. We cannot do justice to the theme so brilliantly treated as it was by the Reverend gentleman, whose fine voice and purity of delivery permitted every word he dropped from his lips to be heard at the furtherest recesses of the noble Cathedral in which the services were conducted. Many a tear drop paid silent tribute to the excellence of his discourse, and few could listen to it without agitation or a deep impression of its worth and beauty. No occasion has ever presented itself in this state or city, where the death of any man has proven so deeply the grief, sorrow and emotion as at the obsequies of "Solomon Juneau." 'Twas he who marked out the fortunes and prosperity of Milwaukee's children. He was the man who selected the spot which has become his im- perishable monument. His generosity, unbounded as it was, ever extended by him to the needy, for his charity was not strained, but like its sister, Mercy.
(The Dollar Weekly American. A. Wellington Hart, Prop., 1856.) l62
THE FUNERAL THE FUNERAL CEREMONIES.
"The people of Milwaukee did honor yesterday to the memory of the late Solomon Juneau, the founder of their city. Here, where he was the only white man a little more than twenty years ago, thousands of people, representing all classes, professions and avocations, in a population of over forty thousand, turned out to testify their respect to his memory.
"The flags of the shipping in port and of the public build- ings were at half-mast during the day, and East Water street from Mason to Huron street and Spring street for two blocks from the west end of the bridge were draped in mourning, festoons of black and white hanging from the windows, and crossing the street in several instances.
"The weather had moderated so far as to thaw the frozen streets placing them in a very unpleasant condition for pedestrians in the procession. St. John's Cathedral, where the funeral services were to be performed, was opened at 10:30 a. m. for ladies only, and the space reserved for them was speedily filled, while vast numbers were unable to find admission. The bells of the court house and several churches commenced tolling at 10:30 a. m. at which time the Procession
was about forming. The various military and fire com- panies and civic associations assembled on Main street from Oneida to Mason, and the sidewalks in the vicinity were crowded with a dense mass of people, numbering by thou-
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sands. The procession moved from the rendezvous to the residence of H. K. White, Esq., son-in-law of the deceased, where the body, enclosed in a metallic burial case, was received into the hearse, the pall-bearers took their places by its side, and the family and their friends entered the car- riages provided. From thence the procession moved to the Cathedral in the following order :
Military.
"Milwaukee Light Guards, preceded by the North- western Band, with appropriate music; Carroll Guards, Milwaukee Rifles, Green Yagers, Black Yagers, Artillery Co., Dragoons.
Firemen.
"Batallion Band, Chief Engineer and ex-Chief Engineers, Hook and Ladder No. i, Milwaukee Engine Co. No. I, Neptune Engine Co. No. 2, Oregon Engine Co. No. 3, Rough and Ready Engine Co. No. 4, Ocean Engine Co. No. 5, Fillmore Engine Co. No. 6.
The Hearse, with 26 of our oldest citizens as pall-bearers, carriages con- taining the family and friends,
Band. "Pius Benevolent Society, Common Council, Members of the Bar, Citizens.
"The head of the procession having arrived at the Cathe- dral, a halt was made, and the military and fire companies 164
THE FUNERAL
opened right and left, allowing the hearse and carriages to pass through the line, the members of the fire companies uncovering as they passed. The order of entering the Cathedral by those in the procession, was not strictly main- tained after the coffin had been received within, and some degree of confusion ensued, but the vast building was soon crowded with people and the services proceeded promptly.
"After the religious services, an eloquent address was delivered by Rev. Riordan, one of the most graceful and fluent of pulpit orators in the country. His eulogy of the honest and noble character of the deceased commended itself to the hearts of many in that vast audience, who knew him well.
"The procession was formed again in the same order as above, (a carriage containing the clergyman officiating, taking its place before the hearse), and moved down Mason to East Water street, and up Spring street, to the Roman Catholic cemetery near the west limits of the city. Forty- six carriages were in the procession as it passed our office, containing the Common Council, Pioneer's Society, Members of the Bar and others. The line was about 25 minutes passing our office, and the sidewalks on both sides of Spring street, and the windows and balconies of the buildings were crowded with people. As the procession passed up that street, there must have been more than ten thousand people looking on, who will long remember the solemn ceremonies of the day.
The services at the cemetery being concluded, the pro-
165
SOLOMON JUNEAU
cession was again formed, and marched back, the bands playing lively airs, to the place of rendezvous, where the different companies were dismissed.
"Thus did our city pay her testimony of respect to the memory of its pioneer settler. We trust that measures may soon be taken for the erection of a tasteful monument over his remains."
Milwaukee Evening Wisconsin, Nov. 28, 1856.
1 66
= B-SS;-f Jin i I
mllSMm
HOME OF SOLOMON JUNEAU. Erected in 1835, Corner E. Water and Michigan Streets.
INCIDENTS
The woodcut of the second Milwaukee home of Solomon Juneau, on the corner of East Water and Michigan streets, which is one of the embellishments of this book, was made originally for James S. Buck.
Jas. S. Buck, in his Pioneer Hist, of Mil., p. 133. Vol. 1 1.. states that he, with old Saukie, a Menomonee chief, "arc leaning upon the fence, watching the gambols of the bears, as they rolled upon the ground or mounted to the top of the posts, which the}- would do, upon an average, about every five minutes — a sight that no Milwaukeean will ever witness again."
He also relates the following:
"There was an incident which occurred in the spring of 1838. the morning after Scott and Bennett, the murderers of the Indian Manitou, had escaped from the old jail, that not only illustrated the nature of the Indian, but showed the courage of Juneau as well, who, to pacify the Indians at the time of the murder, as well as to convince them that justice should be done to Scott and Bennett, had given security for them, by pledging his own life for theirs, in case they escaped. Consequently, no soooner did the Indians learn of the escape of Scott and Bennett, than a deputation of them, headed by old Saukie himself, went to Juneau's house to kill him.
"Just what happened in the house I do not know, but it was not long before the whole part}- came out on the jump, 169
SOLOMON JUNEAU
each one apparently anxious to be the first ; and as the last one, old Saukie, was passing out, he got a kick from Mr. Juneau that lifted him, and as he struck the ground, he let out a 'waugh!' after which he 'lit out,' and was soon out of sight. There were quite a number who witnessed this little episode, as nearly every one in the place was on the street, the author among the rest, talking about the escape of the murderers, and watching the preparations being made by a party headed by Benoni Finch and Owen Aldrich, to go in pursuit, which was being done in front of what is now 387 East Water street. And for a short time things looked a little squally. The Indians were greatly ex- cited, and a number of them joined in the pursuit.
"B. F. Wheelock, who was passing Mr. Juneau's house just as the Indians were ejected, says he never saw a more determined look upon any man's face than was upon Juneau's as he executed that coup-d'etat upon old Saukie, while through his clenched teeth came a 'Sacre' that fairly hissed. They never tried that game again, though probably Mr. Juneau watched them carefully for a season until the
excitement incident to the affair blew over." \
Verse written by Jas. S. Buck, in his Pioneer History of Milwaukee, Vol. I., p. 32.
"Juneau, so fair, and whose wit was so keen, Came here in the year eighteen hundred and eighteen; An Indian trader of fame and renown, Lived on the east side, called Juneau Town; And in fact, was the king of the place. So manly and bold, with a dark hazel eye; Always told you the truth, and never a lie: This pioneer man of his race."
170
INCIDENTS
The Hon. Judge Geo. W. Lawe, founder of Kaukauna, who was a life-long friend of Solomon Juneau and his family, says of Mr. Juneau :
"1 first saw Juneau in Green Bay when 1 was a boy and Juneau a handsome young man.
"1 remember." said the judge, "he came riding up to my father's house in Green Bay to get supplies to take to Mil- waukee. Jacques Yiean had a trading post at Milwaukee and Juneau worked for him. Yieau used to send him with pack horses to Green Bay, from which place my father used to send supplies to the whole of what was then the North- west, and that was how I came to see him. He was a very handsome man and I said to my father as he rode up to our door, 'That is the finest-looking man I ever saw,' and my father said to me. 'Yes, and he is one of the best.' I remem- ber that conversation well, though 1 was only a boy. and 1 can remember farther back than that. After that I saw him a great many times at my father's house and in Milwaukee. He was a very well-educated man, that is in French."
The judge's first visit to Milwaukee was in 1834. He had been on a trading trip to Chicago. On the way down he had taken the trail leading west of Milwaukee and had not stopped to see Juneau, but he planned the return trip so as to strike the future metropolis. He remained with Juneau three days, during which time he walked over the site of the city, discussing with its founder the prospect of its grow- ing to respectable size. In that connection he makes the very interesting and historically valuable observation that
171
SOLOMON JUNEAU
even at that early day Juneau believed that his trading post was to be the beginning of a big city, though it was then the only structure here except Albert Fowler's house on the opposite side of the river.
"Juneau took me over to the lake and showed me all around," said the judge, talking about his visit, "And he talked a good deal about the big city he was going to have some day. He said to me : 'George, you ought to come to Milwaukee to live, this is going to be a big town.' I laughed at him and said : 'I can't do that ; I must stay at Green Bay to help my father.' Then there was only Juneau's house and another that a man named Fowler had built on the other side of the river. Fowler had built his house on the low ground, almost in the water, and I wondered what he had done that for. I spoke to Juneau about it and he said it would be filled up some day when they got a big city there. I said : 'I guess you can't build much of a city in that hole on the other side of the river,' and he said : 'Oh, that will all be filled up some day.' He was sure there was going to be a big city there." — Interview with Judge Geo. W. Lavve. printed in the Evening Wisconsin, April 27, 1895.
172
INCIDENTS
OLD SETTLER FRIENDSHIP.
Affection of thf Pionefrs for Solomon Juneau. —
Touching Tribute.
Extract from the proceedings at an early banquet of the Old Settlers' Club :
"J- H. Tweedy paid a beautiful tribute to Solomon Juneau. Mr. Tweedy's remarks brought out many expres- sions by old settlers and they all spoke enthusiastically and lovingly of Milwaukee's first white citizen. Ex-mayor W. A. Prentiss said he wanted to speak a word in relation to Mr. Juneau. He then told of his having driven from a far distant state to Wisconsin, having first sent a stock of goods by lake. When reaching here there were no vacant stores and it was necessary for him to put up a building. He called upon Mr. Juneau, who had a lumber yard, and Juneau said, 'there is my lumber yard, go and help yourself; take what you want and settle for it after the store is up.' We commenced work upon the building Monday morning and Saturday night we had it up ready for occupancy. Then I went to Mr. Juneau and told him I was ready to pay my bill, and asked him how much it was. He said, 'I don't know how much it is ; you just pay me what you think is right.' That was the way with Solomon Juneau. He was the largest-hearted, grandest man I ever knew. One day Mr. Juneau stopped me on the street and said, 'I had a surprise this morning. I looked into my desk and found $1600 in bills. Don't know how it got there, nor who it came from.' He never found out where it came from." — Taken from a number of clippings loaned by Mr. Henry W. Bleyer, of Madison, Wis., Historian of the Milwaukee Old Settlers' Club.
*73
SOLOMON JUNEAU AN INTERESTING SUGGESTION.
(Milwaukee Sentinel, Nov. 26, 1856.)
It has been suggested to us that no city the size of Mil- waukee ever before witnessed the funeral rites of its foun- der. We are inclined to believe that no founder of a city ever lived to behold what Mr. Juneau has seen in the growth of Milwaukee, and that too, within the brief space of thirty- eight years.
He came here in a state of fully developed manhood, was the first white settler on the site of Milwaukee, died at the age of sixty-four, and was followed to the tomb by six thousand of the inhabitants of the city which now contains a population of forty thousand, nearly all of whom have resided here less than one-third of the number of years which he passed in it. — We should not be surprised to find that this is without a parallel in the history of cities and their founders.
TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS IN HIS HAT.
A. F. Pratt, in his contributions to the State Historical Collections, says :
"The land craze of 1836, made Mr. Juneau wealthy. About this time he was worth $100,000, with a fair prospect of doubling the amount by the rise of land. I have often seen him in those days go into his store after business hours were over, and take from the drawers the money that his clerks had received during the day for goods and lots,
'74
INCIDENTS
amounting often to $8,000 and $10,000, and put it loose in his hat. Upon one occasion I recollect of his hat being knocked off in a playful crowd, when $10,000 flew in various directions. Money seemed to be of no earthly use to him. If a man called upon him to subscribe for a public improvement or a charitable object, whatever was required, he subscribed, without asking why or wherefore. In the meantime he had looked on and seen others get rich on the rise of property he had sold, and he commenced buying back lots and paying thousands for what he had previously sold for hundreds. He had implicit confidence in everybody."
CURIOUS JUNEAU RELIC.
County Clerk Phelps discovered a curious old Juneau relic in the vault of his office. It is an account book of Solomon Juneau, showing the record of the construction of the early county roads and their respective surveys.
The name of Solomon Juneau appears as public com- missioner of highways on the first page. His first work was the construction of the old Chicago road, now known as First avenue, and the bridging of the Kinnickinnic river. The book also shows the construction of the roads into the interior of the county. Many of them were laid out on the lines of the Indian trails, with which Mr. Juneau was familiar.
The first few years his name appears as commissioner of highways, and then it is mentioned in a committee called the
175
SOLOMON JUNEAU
viewers. The first record signed is dated December 2, 1836, and the last date is January 28, 1840.
Among the names prominent in the volume are those of I. A. Lapham, deputy district engineer; Byron Kilbourn, B. W. Finch, Garrett Vliet, I. C. Loomis and Silas Griffith."
Newspaper clipping loaned by Mr. H. W. Bleyer, Madison, Wis.
TRIED TO ARREST SOLOMON JUNEAU.
(Milwaukee Evening Wisconsin, 1901.)
"An old document bringing to light a long forgotten in- cident in early Milwaukee history, was unearthed in the government office at Madison the other day. It was a remonstrance against the honoring of a requisition from New York for the arrest of Solomon Juneau. Old residents may remember that the founder of the city was once in danger of arrest for the serious offense of stealing a ship, but it will be a bit of interesting news to later generations of Milwaukeeans. It seems, from the contents of the remonstrance, that Mr. Juneau and some others who are not named, had had a controversy over the ('Steam Boat Mil- waukee'), with certain claimants at Buffalo, N. Y., and some time previous to the filing of the remonstrance the Milwau- kee men had gained possession and run the steamer to Milwaukee. For that act indictments had been made upon Gov. Doty. The business men of Milwaukee had sent a long remonstrance against the granting of the requisition and that paper came to light in the course of the work of indexing the contents of the vault in the executive office. 176
INCIDENTS
"It is stained with age, but is still readable. It bears date of September 18, 1841, and has signers enough to make a very respectable petition, even as petitions go nowadays. It covers four pages of foolscap paper, the first page and a half being filled with a recital of the case and the balance with the names of the signers in a double column. The signers number about two hundred and among them are all the prominent men of those days, including: A. Finch, Jr., E. Cramer, Elisha Starr, H. N. Wells, Talbot C. Dousman, h. J. Farwell, Lindsey Ward, Smith Arnold, Calvin Trow- bridge, J. A. Noonan, George Dousman, Alexander Mitchell, W. W. Graham, E. Sanderson, James Holton, John Hustis and many others. Though the document is almost sixty years old at least one man whose name appears on it is still alive. He is John Hustis, of Hustisford."
Foot Note — Mrs. F. E. Pond, of Cincinnati, O., a granddaughter of Solomon Juneau, has in her possession a mirror and chair from the "Steam Boat Milwaukee", which was presented to her mother, Harriet Juneau Fox, by the late Capt. Wm. Caswell, of Milwaukee.
177
MISCELLANEOUS DATA
The following is a tax receipt given Solomon Juneau December 15th, 1838, by L. M. Weeks, tax collector. The receipt is made on a piece of foolscap paper.
Received of Solomon Juneau, Nine cents county tax on Lot No. Two in Block No. one hundred & one ; Nine cents county Tax on Lot No. Eleven in Block No. one hundred & one. Nine cents County Tax on Lot No. Twelve in Block No. One hundred & one. Seven cents on Lot No. Six in Block No. One hundred and two East Ward & Five dollars and eighty cents on Lot No. seven in Block No. Ffty on the
west side of the river also fifteen cents on Lot No.
ten in Block No. Fiftv one.
L. M. Weeks.
Collector.
Milwaukee. December 15th. 1838.
JUNEAU HOUSE OPENED.
When the Juneau House. Juneau. Wis., was built in 1849, by Judge Hiram Barber, Solomon Juneau was one of the guests at the banquet given by Mr. Barber on opening the house, at which Mr. Juneau presented Mr. Barber with a number of oil lamps which were rare in those pioneer days, candles furnishing the light at that time. — Dodge County History.
In 1852, a circus showing in Milwaukee, offered a prize for solving the following riddle, which was answered by Louis Frachere. confidential clerk of Solomon Juneau. 178
MISCELLANEOUS DATA
"Why is Milwaukee one of the most beautiful cities and also the most wise?"
"Solomon founded it, and Juno (Juneau ) shines over it."
Juneau, Wis., the county seat of Dodge County, was named in honor of Solomon Juneau, as was also Juneau County.
OLD LETTER LIST.
Partial list of letters remaining in the postoffice at Mil- waukee, December 31st, 1836, during Solomon Juneau's term of office :
Ackley, Mrs. Jane. Atherton, George O., Bowman, Henry, Blanchard, Joseph, Bailey, Joel, Brown, Rev. Daniel E., Bryant, Zephaniah, Burnet, B.. Bean. James L.. Camp, Henry, Cleveland, Alva, Carpenter, Morgan, Coykendall, B. F., Drake, Sam'l, David, Susan, Doolittle, Lewis, Derbyshire, Isabella. Davenport, Geo. M., Ellsworth, Orlando, Fowler. Albert,
Martin, M., McWhorter, George, Olin, Nelson, Patterson, M., Putney, Moses, Parker, Asa, Phillips, E. D., Robinsin, Mr., Reer, David, Rogers, James H., Sweet, Alanson, Smith, Uriel, Strong & Armsbee, Smith, Lowell, Thurber, Martin. Tuttle, T- E.. Thorp, John F., Tryon, David, Vail, J. S., Viele. J. J.,
79
SOLOMON JUNEAU
Fox, Truman, Vinton, Edward,
Frazer, Sam'l, Warren, Obed Dr.,
Gardner, Rolzamona, White, Ambrose,
Green, Gen'l Abbott, Wells, J. M.,
Green, Pliny, P., Whorter, McM.,
Hubbell, W., Woodman, Aaron,
Judd, Thomas, Wheelock, James H.,
Jambo, Jock, (Jacque Yates, Gerome Y.,
Vieaux), Solomon Juneau, P. M.
Persons calling for the above letters will please say they
are advertised. — Pioneer Hist, of Milwaukee, Vol. I., pp. 49-51-
JUNEAU AND KILBOURN LAND PURCHASES.
(Milwaukee City Directory, 1847-'48.)
At the land sale at Green Bay, in July and August, 1835, Mr. Juneau purchased the N. E. quarter of Section 29, in Town 7, and range 22, on which he resided, and Mr. Kil- bourn purchased the S. E. quarter of the same section. These two tracts, extending along the Milwaukee river a mile in width, constituted the nucleus of the present city of Milwaukee.
The proprietorship was subsequently modified by an arrangement between the two purchasers, in accordance with which Mr. Kilbourn conveyed to Mr. Juneau that part of the S. E. quarter of Section 29, lying east of the river, and Mr. Juneau conveyed to Mr. Kilbourn that part of the N. E. quarter of the same section lying west of the river.
Mr. Juneau subsequently added to the original tracts by 180
MISCELLANEOUS DATA
purchases extending eastwardly and southerly towards the lake, and Mr. Kilbourn by purchases extending westwardly and northerly towards the interior of the state — the entire purchases embracing in the aggregate about six hundred acres, three hundred of which were owned by Mr. Kilbourn and constituted his plat of Milwaukee on the west side of the river.
FROM HISTORY OF THE KILBOURN FAMILY.
(New Haven, Conn.: Durrie & Peck, 1856.)
In 1834 and the beginning of '35, there was no white man's habitation between Chicago and Green Bay, except that of Mr. Solomon Juneau, on the Milwaukee river, who had been settled there many years in the fur trade with the Indians under John J. Astor's Company. Mr. Juneau was one of Nature's Noblemen, and was the very soul and em- bodiment of hospitality and good cheer. His house, or rather his lowly cabin, was a home, and a delightful one to every straggler in that wild region. Among his pleasantest recollections, Mr. Byron Kilbourn often adverted to the cheerful fireside scenes in that wildwood home after days of travel, toil and privations.
HISTORICAL ATLAS OF WISCONSIN.
(Snyder, Van Vechten & Co., Milwaukee, 1878.)
The Juneau-Martin tract occupied what is now the Seventh ward, extending as far north as Division street.*
•Juneau Avenue.
I8l
SOLOMON JUNEAU
Below it an additional tract was pre-empted by Peter Juneau, and was soon afterward purchased by Mr. Martin. Upon these claims the first survey of village lots was made in November 1834, by William S. Trowbridge, comprising four blocks along the river between Oneida and Huron streets, terminating eastward on East Water street. The following year twenty-six blocks were added, extending the plat south to Detroit street, thence along Detroit street to Van Buren street, and with the latter to Oneida, which formed its northern limits. Such were the first surveys on the east side of the river.
INTERESTING LETTERS.
Milwaukee. May II, 1840. Ramsey Crooks, Esq., Dear sir — This day I have a draft on you for one hundred and fifty dollars in favor of James H. Elmore, at 30 days, for a small lot of peltries of a very good quality — and advised by Mr. B. of the same. The country seems to be pretty much drained of skins, as we do not get much now nor hear of many acoming this way. There is a large lot of furs and skins in town unsold belong- ing to a man by the name of Sears. T made him an offer and he would not accept it. He left for the country and will be back in a few days. I shall try him again. Yours respectfully,
(Signed) S. JuxiUr. Milwaukee. May 6, 1840.
182
MISCELLANEOUS DATA
Wm. Brewster. Esq.,
Dr Sr—
Enclosed I give you a copy of the bills of my purchases of yesterday and today of peltries. I had to pay a big price for some of them, but taking them all around they are a very fair lot. I at the same time advise Mr. Crooks of the draft in favor of Ludington, Birchard & Co., of $308.29. I could not yet do anything about Brown & Co's. peltries.
Respectfully yours,
S. Juneau.
Milwaukee, May 16, 1840. Ramsey Crooks. Esq..
Dear Sir — I have this day made a small draft on you for $34, at forty days and in favor of Alexander Mitchell. I will advise Mr. Brewster, of Detroit, of the same. Respectfully yours, etc..
S. Juneau.
Confidential. Milwaukie, Dec. 2j, 1841.
To Lyman Woodworth. Esqr.. Peru, Clinton Co., N. Y. Dear Sir : — Through the acquaintance of your son Austin L. Woodworth, I take the liberty of addressing you in regard of transactions I have with Messrs. Granger & Slocnm in
183
SOLOMON JUNEAU
1836. Your son informs me that you have some knowledge of their business ever since 1836.
Now Sir, I want you to do me the favor of examining the Records whether they have included two certain Promis- sory notes I hold against them, each of $3750 — in the assign- ment they have made of their property. If they have not, my intention is to commence a suit against them on those two notes — as there will be six years the 22nd day of Oct. next I hold those notes for property sold to them in the summer of 1836 bearing interest ever since — I have written them several times and have offered to settle in a manner very advantageously to them, & never had a satisfactory answer. Whether their intention is to elude the time as far as they can & until notes become outlawed and that then I cannot do anything with them, I cannot say, but if there is any chance for me to sue them I will do it as soon as you do me the kindness of a favorable answer, and any expence on your part shall be punctually paid, and any charges for your trouble also.
& remain Respectfully J true copy. Your Obed — Serv —
(Signed) S. Juneau.
P. S. Please also to let me know about their circum- stances, if there is any possibility of getting anything from them and oblige etc.
184
MISCELLANEOUS DATA
Mackinac 5th. July 1842. Solomon Juneau Esq., Milwakie
Dear Sir : Your letter of 25th. June inclosing Memorandum for Goods has been received and I have sent to New York for the same, hope they will reach you at the time you want them. You will receive by the Schooner La Salle Six kegs gunpowder, ea. 25 lbs. Your account current will be made up & sent to you in due time with the Statement of your Furs & Skins received this season. Your otters, minks and foxes are not so good as you expect. I hope however you will be pleased with the prices allowed for each article. Very respectfully your obed. Sev't, Samuel Abbott
Agt. Ame. Fur Co. P. S. Send me down the smoked deer-skins I asked you for.
S. A.
Esq. S. Juneau. Green Ba>- March IO- l842-
Dear Sir. Your kind letter of the 22nd February last was left at my house by Mr. Galerneau. At the time I was on a mis- sion at Manitowak and Twin Rivers, I had the pleasure of seeing him at that place just as I was returning to Green Bay. I have postponed answering your letter until now, impressed with the idea that he would shortly come back to Green Bay. I think different at present, and I presume that,
SOLOMON JUNEAU
when I saw him, he was on his way home. Agreeably to your request, Dear Sir, I called on several persons who are in the habit of making the article which you wish to get. Having understood from every one of them that you couldn't be provided with any of that article in consequence of a pressing demand of the same here. I feel very sorry that the interest you are pleased to exhibit toward the sewing Catho- lic Society of our pdace, met with so unfavorable a return ; though you may remain under a free and full impression that it shall never be forgotten by your most respectful and affectionate friend F. J. BonduEL.
My best respects to all inquiring friends, especially to your dear family, Doctor Hewitt and Mr. Pomeroy.
Mr. Juneau, Dr. Sir —
Mr. Coin being dead I find it my duty to make some arrangements for a temporary burial ground, having a great objection of burying any more belonging to our congregation on prespiterian ground.
Could yon not permit us to use one of your lots — say one-half mile from your house — until next spring when every corps will be removed, which has been interred on it to a place which then will be consecrated for the purpose. Very respectfully, etc.. Yours,
Martin Kundig,
Pastor. Milwaukee. Saturday morning, Dec. 12, 1842.
186
SOLOMON JUNEAU'S ACCOUNT BOOKS.
Oetr. 24th. 1836. Page 25
I Funds Dr To S. Juneau
33 W. M. Gardner $3. 50
21 I. H. Rogers 5.25
117 Leland 1.00
70 Saw Mill Company 21.08
j 06 Patrick Hamel 7.00
$37-83
Milwaukie 16th. August 1837. 89.
133 Peter B. Grignon Dr.
To 3 Linnen Bags last May for Mail on a/c 1.50
Milwaukie Jany. 15th.. 1839. 123
S. Juneau Dr.
/Settled/ To 1 Bus. Peas for Indians (of Ripley)
Milwaukie, Feby. 4th 1839. 125.
75 Louis Franchere Dr.
To 1 White vest 2.50
Milwaukie 22 March 1839. 133.
164 Hamilton Arndt Cr.
By Amt. of Shingles on commission 145.03
187
SOLOMON JUNEAU
1 80 Schooner Solomon Juneau Dr.
To 323 feet Lumber (26th) @ 20.00 6.46
627 " " 27 " " 12.54
y2 lb. tea delivered the Mate 8/ .50
Teaming mouth of the river 4.00
1 Tin Wash Bowl .63 Cash for Privisions (borrowed of
I. Scherm 28.00
do for washing 1.50
134
53-63
24 Milwaukie 20th. April, 1839 180 Schooner Solomon Juneau Dr.
To 15 lbs. Sugar @ 15c. 2.25
" 1 lb. Tea @ 8/ 1.00
" Cash paid to the Mate C.
Stafford 20. so
Page 136.
2375
Milwaukie July 20th 1839
184 Catholic Church Dr.
To 25 lbs. Spikes @ 14c 3.50
" 101 1 feet Lumber clear @ 17.00 17.19
" Cash paid Sheperdson's Bill 9.00
" 13 lbs. Spikes 1.82
Sept. 15
" To Teaming at Sundry times 7.00
" " ditto Sept. 25 1. 00
141
39-51
188
SOLOMON JUNEAU'S ACCOUNT BOOKS.
Page 37
Milwaukie 25th. May 1840.
|
S. Juneau |
) |
||||
|
for Am. Fur Co.) |
|||||
|
Bot. c |
fWn |
1. Brown & Co. |
|||
|
340 Musk Rat |
3 skins |
pn |
UK |
@ 15c |
51.00 |
|
2456 do do |
do |
c |
lo |
@ 1/ |
307.00 |
|
1 01 Racoon |
" |
@ 10/ |
126.25 |
||
|
8 She bear |
" |
" |
@ 6.00 |
48.00 |
|
|
2 he do |
" |
" |
@4-5o |
9.00 |
|
|
7 Cub do |
" |
' |
@ 20/ |
I7-50 |
|
|
2 Fishers |
" |
' |
@ 20/ |
5.00 |
|
|
6 Otter |
" |
' |
(a) 7.00 |
42.00 |
|
|
5 Lynx |
" |
' |
@ 16/ |
10.00 |
|
|
18 Fox |
<t |
' |
@ 10/ |
22.50 |
|
|
142 Mink |
" |
' |
@ 4/ |
71.00 |
|
|
15 Wolf |
@ 62c |
9-30 |
|||
|
718.55 |
|||||
|
Cash to r |
ial |
ce up draft |
i-45 |
720.00
Received Pavmt bv draft on N. Y
30 days Sight, in favor of A. Mitchell May 25th. 1840.
Wm. Brown & Co. per A. Mitchell. 189
SOLOMON JUNEAU
Milwaukie 6th May 1840
|
S. Juneau) |
|||
|
for Am. Fur Co.) |
Botof |
several persons |
|
|
176 Musk Rats Skins |
prime |
@ 15c |
26.40 |
|
727 do do do |
do |
@ 14c |
101.78 |
|
5 Racoons |
" |
@ 80c |
4.00 |
|
2 do |
" |
@ 75c |
1.50 |
|
1 Otter |
" |
@7.oo |
7.00 |
|
17 Mink |
" |
@ 50c |
8.50 |
|
5 do |
" |
@ 45c |
2.25 |
|
1 Fox |
" |
@ 8/ |
1. 00 |
|
4 Deer Skins with |
lair |
ea 5/ |
2.50 |
|
$154-93 |
|||
|
Cash received to make up draft |
11.07 |
$165.00
The above paid by draft on W. Brewster in favor of A. Mitchell (Signed) S. Juneau.
28
190
SOLOMON JUNEAU'S ACCOUNT BOOKS
Page 40 Milwaukie 29th May 1840 Wm. Brewster Esqr. Dear Sir :
Herewith you will receive per the Steamer, Great West- ern, 45 Packs & 4 boxes containing Furs & Skins as fol- lows—
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17261 |
Musk Rat Skins. |
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144 |
Kittens do |
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2159 |
Racoons do |
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820 |
Mink |
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331 |
Foxes |
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76 |
Otters |
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7i |
Martens " |
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38 |
Fishers " |
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22 |
Lynx " |
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34 |
Wildcat |
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171 |
Wolves |
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1086 lbs |
. Deer Skins with Hair |
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40 lbs |
. do do shaved |
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6 |
Fawn " |
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10 |
Dressed deer Skins |
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17 |
Bear |
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14 |
Cub do |
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I will in a few |
days send you a few more and a statement |
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of all my Winter and Spring trade. In haste |
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Respectfully yours etc. |
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S. Juneau. |
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191 |
SOLOMON JUNEAU
Names taken from the pages of an old account book of Solomon Juneau, 1835 — 1842 :
Curtis Reed, N. C. Prentiss & Co., Pettibone & Foster, L. Childs, Enoch G. Darling, Hans Crocker, Daniel Brown, Thomas Lowe, A. S. Hosmer, A. O. T. Breed, D. S. Hollis- ter, Hiram Elmore, W. N. Gardner, G. D. Dousman, George Barber, Dan'l Wells, Lucine Finch, B. W. Finch, Farns- worth & Brush, McDonald & Mallaby, A. B. Morton, A. M. Poff, L. Blanchard, L. M. Dubois, Jas. B. Miller, Joshua Hathaway, John Mullet, Peter Juneau, John Ogden & Douglas, Horace Putnam, Timothy Johnson, Alexis Galar- neau, Geo. O. Tiffany, Hiram Burnham, S. H. Rogers, Jacque Vieaux,John LaPointe, Charles Arsoneault, Pierre B. Grignon, Isaac Atwood, Geo. S. Hosmer, Joseph Precourt, R. Short, Narcisse Delany, Louis Ratel, Capt. Ripley, Dan'l Bigelow, Sr., Eli Bates, Jeridiah Rice, S. A. Hubbell, Abra- ham Bosler, B. H. Edgerton, Willis Noyes, Lee & Thurston, Cornelius Whitney, Capt. Hardell, Justin P. Fordham, Geo. Levier, Wm. Ryan, J. Girard & LeVesque, Levi Ault, Elisha Starr, Francois LeRoi.
192
Brief Biographies.
AH-KE-NA-PO-WAY.
The village of Ah-ke-na-po-way, (Standing Earth), a Menominee Indian chief, was located on the west side of the Fox River, Green Bay, about the middle of the eighteenth century. He was known to have two daughters and one son. Mah-tee-nose, (Madeline), Mrs. Joseph LeRoy, Wau-pa- no-kiew, the wife of Ashawaubomay, and Onaugesa. — Wis. Hist. Coll.
JOSEPH LE ROI.
Joseph LeRoi, an Indian trader, the grandfather of Mrs. Solomon Juneau, was of French and Indian extraction. He married Mah-tee-nose, (Madeline), the daughter of a Me- nomonee Indian chief, Ah-ke-na-po-way, (meaning Stand- ing Earth). Joseph LeRoi, with his wife and six children — two sons and four daughters — and a domestic were one of the first seven families to settle permanently in Green Bay. His home, which he built in 1776, (now known as the Tank Cottage, Union Park, Green Bay), stood on the west side of the Fox River, in Fort Howard. The daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph LeRoi were: Mrs. Angelique Vieaux, Mrs. Margaret Guardipier, Mrs. Madeline Mosseau, Green Bay, and Mrs. Charlotte Campbell, Montreal, Can. The
193
SOLOMON JUNEAU
sons were Francis and Joseph Jr. This house is supposed to be the oldest now standing in Wisconsin. Joseph LeRoi sold the house to Judge Jacque Porlier in 1805.
JACQUE VIEAUX.
Jacque (James) Vieaux, father of Mrs. Solomon Juneau, who was a full blooded Frenchman, was born in lower Can- ada— in Cote-des-neige, (or Snow Court), a suburb of Montreal, May 5, 1757. He died on Private land claim No. 14, (west side of Fox River), at Fort Howard, in what is now the Town of Ashawaubenon, July 1, 1852. His remains lie hurried in Allouez cemetery, Green Bay. He was mar- ried at Michilimackinac, (Mackinac), at the old mission church, by Rev. Dilhet, to Angelique LeRoi, daughter of Joseph and Madeline LeRoi. There were twelve children — Madeline, Paul, Joseph, Jacque, Jr., Louis Amable, Charles. Josette, (Mrs. Solomon Juneau), Andrew, Nicholas, Peter and Mary. Angelique LeRoi Vieaux died at the home of her son Joseph Vieaux, in the town of Lawrence. Brown County, Wis., Jan. 7, 1862, aged 86 years. She is buried in Allouez Cemetery, Green Bay. — A. J. Vieaux in Wis. Hist. Coll., pp. 218-220, Vol. XI.
The house of Jacque Vieaux stood upon the beautiful grassy knoll just southeast of the present cattle yards. It was one of the most beautiful places then, and it is today, about Milwaukee. I often sit at my window and gaze across the marsh to this knoll ; and as I do so, my mind goes back to the time when naught was there but that old log trading house, and in my imagination see the wild scenes that have 194
*
"If;
BRIEF BIOGRAPHIES
been enacted there by the red men in the olden times, all re-enacted again The last corn dance held in Milwaukee by the Indians, was upon that hill, in August, 1836. — J. S. Buck's Pioneer History of Milwaukee, Vol. II., p 39.
O-NOT-SAH,
(French, La Farinne, English, Flour).
This man, a noted Menominee chief, was at least 100 years old when the whites first came to Milwaukee. He was the great uncle of Mrs. Solomon Juneau, upon her mother's side. The writer will never forget the last time he saw this aged warrior, which was at the farm of Jacque Vieaux, in May, 1838. He was totally blind. Some of the family had helped the old man out of the house, and seated him upon a bench in the warm sun. He was perfectly nude, except his breech-cloth, and two young squaws were amusing them- selves by tickling him with straws, he thinking it was flies. The coal black eyes of these Indian belles were glistening like beads, at the futile efforts of the old chief, to rid himself of his imaginary tormentors. Their fun, however, was soon terminated by the appearance of Yieaux. upon the scene, causing them to flee to the woods. A playful smile stole over the old chieftain's wrinkled visage at the sound of Vieaux's voice, as it at once made him aware of the kind of flies he had been fighting. He seemed to enjoy the joke hugely. He went to Council Bluffs, that year, where he died, aged 112 years.
197
SOLOMON JUNEAU
He was the head war chief of the Milwaukee band, and was, when too old, succeeded by his son, Kow-o-sett, who was the acting chief when the whites came, and who died at Theresa, Dodge County, in August, 1847 — Jas. S. Buck's Pioneer Hist, of Mil., pp. 148-149.
ONAUGESA.
Onaugesa was an uncle of Mrs. Solomon Juneau on the maternal side. His village was at Milwaukee. He was married to a Pottawatomie wife. — Wis. Hist. Coll., p. 219, Vol. XL
PIERRE JUNEAU.
Pierre (Peter) Juneau, brother of Solomon Juneau, was born at L'Asumption, Can., September, 1795. In 1819 he came to Milwaukee. Mr. Juneau built a log cabin which stood in East Water street, about 200 feet south of Wiscon- son street. He married Miss Angeline Vieaux. (Miss Vieaux was born November 7, 1813, and died November 7, 1867. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Juneau, two of whom are still living in Milwaukee. In 1835, Mr. Juneau erected a small frame dwelling at the corner of Wis- consin and Jefferson streets, later removing to the Town of Greenfield, where he resided until his death, which oc- curred December 28, 1865.
Joseph Juneau, son of Mr. and Mrs. Pierre Juneau, is a resident of West Allis. Wis. He was married in 1857 to 198
BRIEF BIOGRAPHIES
Miss Josephine Mathey. (Miss Mathey was born in Switzerland and came to America with her parents in 1855). Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Juneau, five daughters and one son. Miss Margaret Cecelia Juneau mar- ried Wm. McFadzen. There are four children. Isabelle McFadzen, the eldest daughter, married Mr. Anderson. There are two children, Margaret and John Anderson ; the other children are, Arthur Ross, Donald and Ellis Juneau McFadzen. Miss Isabelle M. Juneau, married Charles Hathaway. There is one daughter, Eugenia Mary Hatha- way. Miss Mathilde Juneau married Jacob G. Kissinger. There are two daughters, the Misses Loraine and Marion Kissinger. The misses Mary and Maud Juneau reside with their father in West Allis. The son, William Joseph Juneau, the famous football coach of the Wisconsin University, mar- ried Miss Nona Murphy, of Brookings, S. Dak. Mr. and Mrs. Juneau have one son, Robert Joseph Juneau. Mrs. Joseph Juneau died in 1901, and is buried in the family lot at Calvary cemetery, Milwaukee.
The second son, Pierre Juneau, Jr., is a resident of Mil- waukee, his home being on Greenfield Ave. Mr. Juneau is a veteran of the civil war. He enlisted in the Town of Greenfield, May 1, 1864, and was mustered out July 14. 1865. He is also one of the oldest mail carriers in Mil- waukee.
NARCISSE JUNEAU.
Narcisse Juneau, brother of Solomon, was born in L'Asumption, Can. He came to Wisconsin during the sum- 199
SOLOMON JUNEAU
iner of 1848, settling in Theresa, where he engaged in farm- ing. Mr. Juneau was married twice, his first wife being Miss Victoria Marceau, of L'Asumption. There was one daughter, Odella. His second wife was Miss Amelia Shuray. There were five sons. Uchere, Cleophs, Solomon, Joseph and Paul. Paul Juneau was married at Theresa Dec. 28, 1867, to Miss Catherine O'Neal. Mr. and Mrs. Juneau have eight children, one son and seven daughters. They are, Joseph, Mary, Margaret, Charlotte, Elizabeth, Angeline, Eliza and Theresa. Paul Juneau is a resident of Rudolph, Wis., where he is engaged in farming. Narcisse Juneau and wife died at Grand Rapids, Wis. Mr. Juneau in 1875, and Mrs. Juneau in 1889.
ANGELINE JUNEAU.
Angeline Juneau, half-sister of Solomon Juneau, was born in L'Asumption, Can., in 1826. She was married in L'Fontaine, Can., to Mr. Joseph Gothiea, in 1853, and came to Wisconsin that year, settling in Theresa, Wis. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gothiea, Mrs. Nels. Passeneau. of Grand Rapids, Wis., a daughter who is a resident of Chicago and Joseph Gothiea, Jr.. an inmate of the Soldiers' Home in Minnesota. In 1874 Mr. and Mrs. Gothiea left Theresa to make their home with their daughter, Mrs. Passeneau, of Grand Rapids, where Mrs. Gothiea died in 1900. Mr. Gothiea died March. 1916. He had reached the advanced age of 94 years.
200
C. A. A. McGEE.
BRTEF BIOGRAPHIES
CHARLES A. A. McGEE.
Mr. Charles A. A. McGee, only son of Anna Josette Juneau and James McGee, was born at Oconto, Wisconsin, May 25th, 1874. Mr. McGee has three sisters, Olive Jane, Edith Juneau and Pauline Letitia. His early youth was spent in the lumber districts of northern Wisconsin and northern Michigan. He moved with his parents to Milwau- kee in 1890. Mr. McGee was graduated from the Mil- waukee common schools and high school. He attended the State University at Madison, Wisconsin, for five years, specializing in the Civic Historic Course and graduating from the Law Course in 1899. At the University Mr. Mc- Gee was active in athletics, debating and oratory. In 1896, while working on a debate on the subject of "Bi-Metallic Standard," he conceived the idea and, together with three associates, wrote a book, "The Truth About Money," which book was adopted by the Republican National Committee as an official text-book for speakers. In the Presidential cam- paign of 1896 Mr. McGee, although but twenty-two years of age, was sent out by the State and National Republican Committees throughout Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Illinois, discussing the money question and upholding the gold standard, in joint debate with many competitors of National reputation. The teammate of Mr. McGee in this campaign was Mr. Henry F. Cochems. Since his majority Mr. McGee has been active in public life and has cam- paigned from coast to coast, earning National reputation as 203
SOLOMON JUNEAU
a campaign orator. In his college days he was elected Treasurer of the National College Republican League. He started in the practice of law in the City of Milwaukee in the Fall of 1899. In 1909 and 191 1 he was Special Assistant District Attorney and also District Attorney of Milwaukee County. In February, 1913, Mr. McGee moved to San Diego, California, where he is at present engaged in the practice of law with the firm of Henning, McGee and Collier. Mr. McGee is a member of the Delta Tau Delta, Greek letter Fraternity, likewise Phi Delta Phi, Legal Fra- ternity. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, K. P. and Supreme Officer of the Royal Order of Moose. Mr. McGee has been twice married, first to Mrs. Gustave M. Mann and upon her death, later married Anna Meyer, both being daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Adolf H. Meyer of Milwaukee. There are three children, Elisabeth Mann McGee, Juneau Theiline Netha McGee and Anna Helene McGee.
204
PAUL O. HUSTING.
BRIEF BIOGRAPHIES
PAUL O. HUSTING.
Paul O. Hasting, second son of Jean Pierre and Marie Juneau Husting, was born at Fond du Lac, Wis., April 25, 1866. He removed with his parents to Mayville, Wis., in 1876; attended the public schools of Fond du Lac and May- ville, until his seventeenth year, when he accepted a position as clerk in a general store in his home town ; was clerk in the Mayville postoffice ; railway postal clerk ; mail clerk at the Wisconsin state prison and was clerk in the office of Secretary of State Tom Cunningham. It was while acting in this capacity that he decided to take up the study of law and entered the University of Wisconsin in 1895. By passing the rigid state bar examination, he was admitted to the bar in December of that year, and commenced the prac- tice of law at Mayville ; he was elected district attorney in 1902 and again in 1904: was elected state senator in 1906 from the thirteenth senatorial district, and re-elected in 1910; was elected United States senator in 1914. Mr. Hust- ing has the distinction of being the first United States sena- tor elected under the new state primary law,. The Milwau- kee Journal of February 6, 1913, says of him: "Paul O. Husting, of Mayville, is the Stephen A. Douglas of the Wis- consin State Senate, for while he is the most diminutive member of the upper branch of the Legislature, he is a giant in debate." By perseverance, hard work and clean political tendencies, Mr. Husting stands today among the foremost men of the country, a credit to the state which he represents at the National Capital. He possesses many
207
SOLOMON JUNEAU
notable characteristics, chief among which are his love for and devotion to his parents, who have long since passed life's meridian, and who are spending the evening of their life in the old home at Mayville. Mr. Husting is a counselor of the law firm of Husting & Husting at Mayville and Fond du Lac.
HERCULES JUNEAU.
Hercules Juneau, of Dodge City, Kas., nephew of Solo- mon Juneau, was born at L'Asumption, Can., and came to Wisconsin in the forties. There is no doubt but that Juneau, Alaska, was named in honor of Hercules Juneau, as he was successful in securing a territorial code of laws, and was also prominent in securing law and order for Alaska. Mr. Juneau is a veteran of the Civil war. He enlisted as sergeant at Kekoskee, Wis., September 14, 1861 ; was wounded at Perryville and Chickamauga ; was taken prisoner, was dis- charged September 5, 1864, on account of wounds. He is a 32nd Degree Mason, Mt. Juneau Lodge No. 147, F. & A. M., of Juneau, Alaska, being organized by him. Mr. Juneau is engaged in the lumber and hardware business at Dodge City.
ALFRED JUNEAU.
Alfred Juneau, son of Honore Juneau, who was a cousin of Solomon Juneau, was born at St. Paul L'Hermite, Province of Quebec, Can. Mr. Juneau came to Wisconsin in 1883, settling in Marinette, where he married Miss Clarinda St. Amuir in 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Juneau have a large family.
208
ROMANCE OF WA-PA-NO-KIEW
The following is taken from the "Narrative of A. J. Vieaux, Sr." — Wis. Hist. Coll., pp. 234-237, Vol. XL:
I ought to tell you the tradition that exists among the French Creoles, of Green Bay, as to the naming of Ashwau- benon creek and town. A prominent young Ottawa Indian arrived from Mackinaw in early days. He was the son of a chief at L'Arbor Croche, near Mackinaw, and came here with Jacob Franks in 1795. He was apparently much at- tached to the whites and their habits, was peaceable, intelli- gent, brave and handsome. Upon the arrival of the young Ottawa at Green Bay, he courted the acquaintance of Ahkeeneebaway (Standing Earth), who was an old Menom- onee chief on the west side of the river, in what is now Fort Howard; the latter took the newcomer into his family and made much of him, for he had pleasing ways and was indeed a fine fellow.
The Chippewas lived on Lake Shawano, in those days. Occasionally they would come to Green Bay on a spree, for the Menomonees and Chippewas were always friendly. One day in the month of June, a year or two after Mr. Franks came, a number of young Menomonee squaws went out blueberrying. They had quite a frolic among themselves, but finally one of them was missing. The girls made a diligent search for their comrade, but finally gave up in despair and were obliged to return to their village and report the loss to her parents. For several days the search was 209
SOLOMON JUNEAU
repeated, until at last a trail was discovered, going west- ward.
Then the old warriors declared that the girl had been kidnapped by the Chippewas : and so it proved to be. Old Standing Earth at once sent runners through his village and soon there was a crowd at the council house, where the pipe of deliberation was smoked and the affair discussed in all its bearings. It was concluded that a party of fifty warriors should be sent to the Chippewa village on Lake Shawano, to demand the captive and bring her back. Standing Earth, presiding at the council, called for volunteers, asking those who wished to go upon this expedition to come over and sit down by his side. It was not long before there were enough for the purpose. The young Ottawa had been the first to respond. Then said Standing Earth, "It only remains for me to select a leader for the party ;" and turning to the Ottawa, he continued, "My son, you shall take charge of this party and whatever you do will be right." The Ottawa, much confused, replied, "My father, I do not know I am worthy of undertaking such a responsibility ; you have other warriors, and perhaps I ough not to accept; but if it is your will, I will accept and do the best I can." Standing Earth insisted, and all the warriors were glad that the young man was to be their leader.
The party started out. They reached Lake Shawano a little before night and slept in the bush a half mile from the Chippewa village. At daybreak the leader said to his war- riors, "Keep still, I will go myself into the village. Do not
ROMANCE OF WAU-PA-NO-KIEW
stir till I give the war whoop. But when I do give it, then strike, cut and kill. Meanwhile do not stir." So the brave Ottawa crept through the bushes, in the early morning, when the Chippewa hunters had gone out into the woods to kill game for the morning meal. Softly he slid into the silent village and lifted the mat over the door of the first wigwam he came to. Peering in, he could see nothing of the missing girl. And so he lifted the mats and peered in at the doors of several lodges, as he crouched and crept along, until at last he was rewarded. She was sitting at the further end of a long lodge. Several old women were squatting around a fire, between him and the object of his search. He dropped the mat behind him and quickly stepping up to the girl, motioned her to follow him. While he was passing out with his prize, the women did not' stir from their places, but they gave him vicious sidelong looks, full of hate and silent threats. He paused for a moment, on the outside, much tempted to go back and tomahawk them ; but he refrained from doing so, and rejoined his party with the girl.
At Fox Hill, two miles west of the Fox river, they were met by a large party of welcoming Menomonees, whom runners had notified of the result of the expedition. That night, there was great jollification among all the Menomo- nees hereabouts.
A council was held the following day, in the presence of
all. Old Standing Earth gave to the brave Ottawa a new
name, — Ashawaubomay, meaning "Side looks," in remem
brance of the ugly glances which the old Chippewa women
211
SOLOMON JUNEAU
had given him. His name, up to this time, had been Little Crow. Standing Earth, who was noted for his sagacity, greatly praised the forbearance displayed by Ashawaubo- may in not tomahawking the old women and thus opening a bloody quarrel between the Chippewas and Menomonees ; then he said: "My son, you are a young man; I wish to see you prosper ; you are entitled to choose two of the prettiest squaws in the village. Now choose!" Thereupon Ashawaubomay replied : "If I were a double man I would want two wives ; but being single, I want but one." Stand- ing Earth smiled and said: "Choose, then!" And Asha- waubomay then declared, "I take your youngest daughter, Wap-pa-no-kiew (Morning Star)." There was great re- joicing in the camp when Standing Earth ordered his beauti- ful daughter brought forward, and told her that Ashawaubo- may was henceforth to be her husband. That the young chief might not be without a home, Standing Earth gave him a grant of land, running from the Ashawaubenon river to the foot of Depere Rapids, a mile long on the west side of the river, and running back some three miles.
The morning after the council. Ashawaubomay and his beautiful young squaw went in a canoe up the river, to the south side of the creek, quite near its mouth, and located. They raised a large family of children and lived as nearly like whites as possible. Ashawaubomay was indeed a fine Indian, — quite like a white man. He was buried on his little farm, on the shore of the creek.
•Foot Note — Wau-pa-no-kiew (Morning Star), was the great aunt of Mrs. Solomon Juneau.
212
Ill
FROM WIGWAM TO PALATIAL BUILDING. Northwest Corner of East Water and Wisconsin Streets. — 1816-1916.
CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD.
1789 — Francois and Therese La Tulipe, (changed to Juneau), fled from France and sought refuge in L'Asumption, Can.
1793 — August 9, Solomon Laurent Juneau was born at L'Asumption, Can.
1803 — April 16, Josette Vieaux was born at Fort Howard, Wis.
1815 — February 15, Theresa Juneau, mother of Solomon Juneau, died at L'Asumption, Can.
1816 — Solomon Laurent Juneau arrived at Michillimacki- nac, (meaning great turtle), in September, at the age of 23 years.
1818 — Solomon Laurent Juneau appointed agent of the American Fur Company at Milwaukee.
1820 — Solomon Laurent Juneau married at the old mission church, Green Bay, to Josette Vieaux.
1823 — First vessel, Chicago Packet, (schooner, Capt. Brit- ton), landed at Milwaukee with goods for Solomon Juneau and took away furs ; second vessel was the Virginia, (Capt. Wilson.)
1824 — First frame building was erected for Solomon Juneau on the premises now known as lot 1, block 3, Third Ward. It served as a school house, justice office, recorder's office, jail and barber shop.
1828 — Francois Juneau, father of Solomon Juneau, died at L'Asumption, Can.
215
SOLOMON JUNEAU
1833 — Solomon Juneau established an Indian trading post at Theresa, and named the place in honor of his mother ; first Monday in October, first election held at residence of S. Juneau for the purpose of choosing a delegate to Congress.
1 83 1 — Solomon Juneau became a naturalized citizen of the United States.
1835 — First postoffice was established in Milwaukee and Solomon Juneau appointed postmaster, which office he held for nine years; was elected commissioner of public roads ; erected two-story frame dwelling on East Water and Michigan streets.
1835 — S. Juneau erected store building on site of old ware- house.
1835 — August, the first title to land upon which now stands the City of Milwaukee, was obtained by Solomon Juneau at the land sale held at Green Bay.
1836 — Schooner Solomon Juneau was built at Milwaukee by George Barber, for Solomon Juneau ; Solomon Juneau erected store building on Wisconsin street.
1836 — June 13, Solomon Juneau had first ground broken for grading and filling of East Water street.
1835 — Solomon Juneau erected store building. East Water and Wisconsin streets, at what is now known as No. 401 E. Water street and on the site of his old ware- house.
216
CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD
1837 — Milwaukee was incorporated as a village and Solo- mon Juneau elected president ; Milwaukee Sentinel established by Solomon Juneau ; during the month of August the first Catholic services were held at the home of Solomon Juneau. Rev. Fleurimont Bonduel officiating.
1838 — First government lighthouse built on bluff at the head of Wisconsin street, on land donated by Solomon Juneau.
1840 — The Old Settlers' Club of Milwaukee was organized.
1 84 1 — Steamer Milwaukee. Solomon Juneau part owner, was run on the bar at the mouth of the Milwaukee river.
1842 — January 12, Solomon Juneau's house, East Water and Michigan streets, was sold to S. R. Bradley and opened as a hotel.
1844 — Solomon Juneau was elected register of deeds of Milwaukee County.
1846 — Milwaukee became a city and Solomon Juneau was chosen first mayor.
1847 — Solomon Juneau retired as Mayor of Milwaukee.
1850 — Resolution adopted by the Common Council of Mil- waukee to purchase Solomon Juneau's portrait, (by Samuel M. Brooks), for the Council Chamber. Price paid was $400.00.
1852 — Solomon Juneau and his family left Milwaukee to make their home in Theresa, Wis. 217
SOLOMON JUNEAU
1855 — November 19, Mrs. Solomon Juneau died at Milwau- kee from the effects of an operation.
1855 — November 24, old light house razed, the brick being sold to Emanuel Shoyer, and used in the erection of a store building.
1856 — November 14, Solomon Juneau died on the Menom- inee Indian reservation at Keshena, Wis., while attending an annual payment ; was buried on the reservation ; later remains were removed to Milwau- kee and interred in the Catholic cemetery at the head of Spring street.
Foot Note — A number of the above dates were taken from Jas. S. Buck's Pioneer Hist, of Milwaukee.
DERIVATION OF THE WORD MILWAUKEE.
Augustin Grignon in his "Recollections," in Vol. III., State Historical publications, states on the authority of an Indian, that the word Milwaukee is derived from a certain aromatic root, called "Man-wau. ;" hence, "Mah-a-wau-kee," or the land or place of the "Man-wau." Also that it simply means pleasant land, or good land. — Pioneer History of Milwaukee, (Jas. S. Ruck), Vol. II., p. II.
In the Wisconsin Historical Collections, Vol. XII., p. 393, M. Gaudin, says it is from Minwaki, (good land). Mr. Gunroe derives Milwaukee from Minewaki, (a promontory), pr. Mee-nai-wau-kee. Such a promontory does project into the river there, being known of old as Walker's Point. — Chippewa Geographical Names. 218
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