The story of Corky August 1893

Kaukauna, the oldest recorded settlement in Wisconsin, will be 230 years of age this Saturday, June 13^th. There will be no formal birthday gathering due to the virus. You can celebrate with signs and balloons in your yard. You are also encouraged to go for a drive through the city between 1 and 3 in the afternoon and enjoy this great city.

In honor of the “Birthday of Kaukauna,” This is a story from the past. 

August 5, 1893 - Kaukauna Times

This boy Corky was kind of a roustabout in the newspaper office. He was 14 years old and his real name was Madison Corkhill, but on the very first day of his arrival someone had called him “Corky” and Corky he had been from that time forth. Corky was grateful for the opportunity of earning five dollars a week paid to him at the newspaper office and he didn't mind what they called him. Moreover, every person in the office had a nickname of some kind. Corky was a day worker, he was at everybody’s beckon call and did a little of everything. He picked up the mail from the post office, made the paste for the counters and kept the business office free from dust and disorder of any kind. No one knew much about him except for the fact he answered the help wanted ad. The office manager, Mr. Baynor, remarked to the other employees that Corky was a first-rate errand boy.

Mr. Baynor was late getting to work on payroll day and several persons had been in to see him. It was noon before he sat down to work with the money and envelopes before him. All the other employees at the news office but Corky and the manager had gone out to lunch. A store owner came in and asked him to accompany him to his store about running a full-page ad. Mr. Baynor agreed and told Corky to “Keep an eye on the money” until he got back. “Very well sir”, replied Corky with his usual politeness and readiness to do anything he was asked to do. Mr. Baynor was gone about five minutes when a man came into the office and asked for a copy of the morning paper. Corky handed him a copy but the man did not leave after he paid for it. The man asked to talk to the editor. Corky told him he was not in. He then asked to talk to the foreman of the job printing department as he had a big order to be done. Corky was in the hall with his hand on the doorknob when he suddenly seemed to hear the Mr. Baynor telling him to “Keep an eye on the money.”

Running back to the office he saw the man run out the door and a quick look at the desk he noticed the money was gone. The man was but a few yards ahead of him as he ran out into the street after him. The man noticing Corky chasing him turned and shook his fist at him and warned him to turn back. The man then ran down the alley, around the corner and down to Main Street. When Corky rounded the corner, the man was gone. Corky noticed the door to the department store on the corner and ran inside seeing the man disappearing down one isle. “That man is a thief, stop him” he called as he grabbed the man’s coat to prevent him from escaping. “What you mean boy” he asked laughingly? “I want the money” cried Corky. The man exclaimed “This boy must be crazy.”  “Will someone kindly assist me in freeing myself from this little rascals’ clutches?” the man shouted to the onlookers. At that moment, the door to a private office opened and out stepped Mr. Baynor, the business manager of the newspaper.  “Why Corky, what does this mean?” he asked. “It means this fellow has the payroll money in his pocket.”  The money was found in his pocket and the man was taken away by the police.  It was later discovered that the man was a notorious thief for whom a reward of $500 was offered by authorities in another city. The reward came to Corky and he made good use of it helping his mother and two brothers. Corky worked the rest of the summer at the newspaper as a helper. Corky was required to turn in his report card to Mr. Baynor to insure he was a good student. Corky held his job throughout his entire school term.