Saturday, January 2, 2016

Time Machine Trip to January 1886

Hello Fellow Time Travelers,

Well it’s time to fire up the old “Time Machine Chair” and travel back in time to January of 1886.

For today’s trip Betty Simon-Wochinski will be sitting in the front seat operating the Time Machine.  The big wheel is spinning, the years are clicking back and in no time we are back on Wisconsin Avenue on Kaukauna’s Northside.

 
  • Happy New Year 1886.
  • Very cold temperatures keep people indoors
  • The Badger Mill has installed electric lights  
  • A new postmaster for Kaukauna
 


 Charles Raught, Times owner, has left the newspapers for us on the chair.

  
Your old newsman - Lyle 

January 1, 1886
About 1,600 pounds of pike, pickerel and bass have been received here within a few days. They were speared through the ice in lakes in the vicinity of Chetek by Indians. The Indians make a profitable deal by disposing of the fish to second dealers at a rate of 3 to 4 cents per pound.

There are good prospects for two chemical pulp manufactures being built here sometime within the next few months, though nothing definite is known. One of these is contemplated by Oscar Thilmany, of the American Pulp Company and other members of the syndicate, who have recently purchased the state right to manufacture by the Michtelich process, a new process widely used in Europe.

Mr. Thilmany, we learn, is making great efforts to have a mill erected on the American Pulp Co.’s power and in the next issue of THE TIMES we hope to be able to state more definitely the possibilities of the mills locating in Kaukauna.

The Badger Paper Company has placed an Edison electric light plant in their new mill and on last Tuesday, both the office and the mill were brightly illuminated by this light.

Williamsburg, Ky. - The moral effect of hanging as a preventative of crime received a novel illustration a few days ago. Some of the crowd were drunk, a row was started and two pistol shots fired under the gallows while a victim was upon it saying to the hangman, “I am ready when you are.”

Wyoming - The governor of Wyoming has begun early demands of his territory for admissions as a state. In 1870 the population was 9118 now it is estimated to be 68,000. Wyoming is mostly mining and grazing country. In any case, Wyoming should wait until Dakota and Washington are admitted, before pressing her claim.

Syracuse, N.Y. – The Fisk University jubilee singers consisting of thirteen men and women were in town to perform a concert with the proceeds given to the sufferers by the great Chicago fire but were refused accommodations in two hotels on account of their color. They obtained shelter in a third only on condition that “We would hide ourselves from the other guests”.   As the group traveled across the country singing they were forced to sleep in barns and sheds and were subjected to gross indignities.

January 8, 1886
Two young boys died this past week in this city each from inflammation of the bowels. The town’s people share in the sorrow of the two families.

New York City – The Grants are living quietly in the old home on Sixty-Six Street. The Frederick and Jesse are engaged in bringing out the second volume of the General’s memoirs. President Grant had died July 23rd of last year. Mrs. Grant goes out seldom. She is not in good health. 

Dallas, Tex., - Joe Parker, colored, died last week at the poor farm, at the age of 126 years. He was a slave for a century, most of the time in Tennessee, where he was fortunate in having kind masters.

A million dollars, it is said, will weigh 1 2/3 tons in gold.

January 15, 1886
A hook and ladder truck would be a decidedly valuable addition to our fire protection. Some are even inclined to believe that Kaukauna should be possessed of two such outfits. -one on each side of the river. Our city fathers should take this matter under consideration.

East St. Louis – The police are greatly dissatisfied at the inability of the municipal treasurer to pay them the last two months’ wages due to no money in the police fund. Officers have made no arrests for the last forth-eight hours and the whole force threaten to resign if they are not paid in a short time. 

Not a stone or memorial tablet marks the grave of John Brown.

January 22, 1886
We have learned this week that a new postmaster has been appointed at  Kaukauna, and Jos. J. Wirtz is the fortunate candidate for this position.  Hon. Geo. W. Lawe, the present P.M. has filled this office since February 1878 thus serving a term of eight years.

The average wages in this country at the beginning of the century was $65 a year with food and lodging. Six dollars per month in summer and $5 in the winter was the rule in Pennsylvania.

Helena, M.T. – The residents of Montana are quite enthusiastic over the prospects of its admission as a state. It is generally regarded as a Democratic state and will offset the Republican Dakota.

January 1886


1886 - Benz Patent Motorsport

Lemberg, Bavaria – An enormous haystack used by a congregation of tramps as a lodging house, was burned in the night. Twenty dead bodies were taken from the ashes and it is thought others were entirely consumed. 

Joliet, Ill - The sheriff of Johnson County, Wyoming, arrived here with a gang of territorial convicts, consisting of cowboys and Indians. There were two powerful-looking Arapahoe Indians bound together by heavy chains and irons. The two Indians were young men fully six feet in height with raven black hair that hung half way down their backs. They were convicted of killing beef in the mountains near the Buffalo agency. It is said that the Indians are in a starving condition owing to the small amount of supplies furnished by the government. Although they have the sympathy of everyone at the agency they were given a year for the crime. 

January 29, 1886
Officer Conlon gave lodgings in the cooler to several tramps this week.  The north side schools were shut down Friday last, on account of the cold weather.


The terms today for a laborer in Germany is as follows:  For thirteen hours a day in summer and from sunrise to sunset in winter, he gets use of a garden patch together with about $20 a year in cash.  

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