Time Machine Trip to January 1890

Kaukauna Times - By Lyle Hansen

January 3, 1890

The water was so low in the river last Friday that all the mills, the Lake Shore shops included, were compelled to shut down and wait for a rise.

The establishment of the high school during the year past is sufficient evidence that the inhabitants of this place are awaking to the fact that Kaukauna will soon be classed among the leading cities of the state. Education is one of the prime necessities to be provided for in any town that expects to rise and have a class of intelligent people.

The woods are full of them and more arriving. It seems that every freight that passes through the city unloads with 2 to 6 of these good-for-nothings. These worthless bungles of rags filth and cheek, they steadily continued to increase, and will be soon become necessary for every city and county in the land to provide some punishment for them other than what they now receive. To obtain a sentence of 30 days in jail is all they desire, they cannot wish for more. This means something to eat drink and a place to sleep for at least a month and all of this without any labor whatever on their part. As soon as any of them are liberated immediately plan some means whereby they have they are returned. Why it the world does not the county board of supervisors take the matter in hand and provides a certain severe punishment for those vagabonds, a punishment that will make them shun the jail of Outagamie County.

The last Confederate war-horse died near Lynchburg, Va., recently. He answered to name Stonewall Jackson or “Old Jack”.

January 10, 1890

There is nothing which we so much need at this time as snow. It would start business forward with a boom and gladden the hearts of all businessmen.

A number of Winnebago Indians, headed by Chief Big Hawk, called on Gov. Hoard and Secretary Thwaites, of the State Historical society, the solicitor aid in securing the Winnebago children the privilege of attending public schools. The governor and secretary promised to render all the aid in their power.

All the finishing touches have been accomplished at the Outagamie County asylum and is ready for occupancy. The insane asylum was declared finished Tuesday, and in the evening of that day the building committee contractors and a few invited friends partake in the first meal served in the building. Space the electric light plant that recently placed into operation was tested the same evening by the committee and pronounced satisfactory.

 
January 17, 1890

A number of the electric streetlights about the city are in running order. The light there from is very brilliant and illuminates the streets for quite a distance thereabouts.

A gigantic locomotive went south Thursday morning, over the Chicago Northwestern railroad. It is the largest ever seen on this line, and was the wonder of all who saw it, even the railroad men on long the service. She weighs 50 tons and has three pairs of drivers; a monstrous boiler and a cab is a house on wheels. She was in the charge of engineer McCormick.

January 24, 1890

It is claimed that the germs of influenza may easily be conveyed in greenbacks. If any of our delinquent subscribers have greenbacks in which they have any idea there are germs, they had better deposit them with us for their own safety. We have had the "grip" and so of course are free to accept most anything.

The gang of 800 Indians on the St. Peter reservation, says of Winnipeg dispatch, has been stricken with the grippe. About 75% of them are down with the epidemic and many have died for want of proper medical attendance.

Mrs. Betsy Wallingford, the only window of a veteran of the revolutionary war who drew a pension at the Milwaukee pension agency, died recently at Mankato, Minn., age 93 years. Mrs. Wallingford’s husband served during the war with a New Hampshire regiment. He was quite well along in years when she, a young girl, married him.

 January 31, 1890

Probably very few residents of Kaukauna are aware that this city boasts a wooden shoe manufacturer. The manufacture of shoes is not carried on extensively, for one-man labors in the shop. His whole time, however, is devoted to this industry. He stated his output averaged six pairs a day and met with ready sale.

Cheyenne, Wyoming, January 28 – At a meeting at the territory Democratic committee, last night, a resolution was unanimously adopted favoring statehood and urging the Congress to take immediate action looking into this end. 

Times reporter was informed by the Lakeshore official that as many as 35 engineers and firemen have been laid up with the grippe at one time within the two weeks past. Last week the number of shop employee sick was so large that the work was nearly abandoned.

City Marshall Kuehn says that the throwing of ashes on to the streets must stop even if he has to make some arrest. Any person who shall throw upon the public streets within the city of Kaukauna, any paper, ashes, rubbish or any slop shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor punishment of a fine not less than a dollar nor more than $10 and imprisonment in the county jail for no more than 10 days.