Thursday, April 4, 2024

Time Machine Trip to April 1894

Kaukauna Times – April 1894

By Lyle Hansen

 

April 6, 1894

Antigo, Wis., March 30 – In the circuit court here late yesterday a most peculiar incident occurred. On December 29, 1893, William Nonnemacher, a farmer, killed his wife and three children with an ax.  The family was very poor, not having enough money for food. Becoming discouraged William told his wife it be better to kill her and the children and himself and put an end to their struggle with poverty. One morning soon after, he killed the entire family which consists of his wife, a boy 12 years old, a girl seven years old and a baby in a crib. He then climbed to the top of his barn and jumped off, not dying but injuring his spine causing paralysis. Yesterday he was brought into the courtroom on a cot. The cot was sent down within the box of the courtroom and an immense crowd had gathered. Two doctors examined Nonnemacher, finding him perfectly sane. He pled guilty and was sentenced to Waupun for life.   

 

Two Indians trapped muskrats and skunks so industriously all winter that the sale of the pelts netted them $98 in Janesville.


Dr. H. B. Tanner, the Republican nominee, goes to the Mayor's chair with the majority of 104 votes. One of the warmest campaigns that Kaukauna has ever passed through is gone, and for the first time in the history of the city, the Republican flag floats at city hall. During the week preceding the election several rallies and torchlight processions were held and large audiences gathered at the halls to hear the speakers. Last spring Peter Reuter was elected Mayor by 203 vote majority on the Democratic ticket. 

 

April 13, 1894

Tuesday was “Republican” day all over the state leading off with a sweeping Republican victory in Milwaukee and it was re-echoed in Kaukauna, Marinette and in nearly every other city in the state. Showing that the people are prepared to take back having enough of Grover’s four more years of “clover” and waiting for this fall to get the old ship righted on the wares of progress with McKinley as captain.

 

The Rev. George W. Patrick, late pastor of the Baptist church of Kaukauna, was brought before Justice Ming, Appleton. He is being charged with using abusive language toward John Hyde on the street of Kaukauna on Election Day. Patrick pled guilty and paid a fine and cost amounting to $12. 

 

Mayor Tanner's decree to the saloonkeepers on assuming office of Mayor, I have sworn to be watchful, and to see that all the laws are faithfully executed. I find ordinance No. 9 is not enforced and have ordered the police to see that the provisions of this ordinance are strictly carried out. That is that all saloons shall close every day from 11 o'clock in the evening until 4 o'clock in the morning.

 

April 20, 1894

The new bids for the construction of Hotel Brothers were opened last Monday and the contract was awarded to August Knuppel, of Appleton, whose bid, $18,050 was the lowest filed. The building will be three stories high, built with all the modern improvements and be a grand and imposing structure for Kaukauna. The hotel, when completely ready for occupancy, will cost about $25,000.

Capt. Jack Crawford, the soldier, poet, scout and orator, has been engaged by Paul H. Beaulieu Post G.A.R. to give one of his excellent entertainments at the Opera house next Monday evening. His entertainment can hardly be termed a lecture but a remarkable frontier and war medley particularly his own.  The places will be priced at 25c, 35c and 50c and it is hoped that the house will be filled.

 

Saturday last a genuine muskellunge, 4 feet long, weighing 96 pounds, girth 21 inches, was taken from the old government quarry in Kaukauna. A spear was used to capture this game fish. Only a few specimens have ever been taken from the Fox River waters. An Appleton angler closely examines the head of the fish thinking that it could be a pickerel but claimed it to be a true muskellunge.

 

A petition of residents of Fremont County, Wyoming, has been referred to the Secretary of War praying that additional companies of United States troops be at once stationed at Fort Washakie. Because of the strict rules enforced by Indian agent Capt. Ray and outbreak is feared. The young bucks of both tribes stationed there as well as those of the Shoshones and Arapahoe’s are becoming restless. 

 

One of the grinder stones in the pulp mill at Kimberly burst last Monday afternoon and John Vanderhoovel, of Little Chute was so severely injured that he died Tuesday morning. He died of severe head injuries. The explosion was due to a flaw in the grinder stone. 

 

April 27, 1894

Perry, Ok. April 19 – News was received here this morning by messenger of a terrible fight that occurred about 40 miles east of here last night. The noted outlaw's, Bill Dalton and Bill Doolan and another outlaw along with a woman, her little girl, and two deputy marshals were killed. Marshall Nix of Oklahoma had been planning for some days to catch the Dalton gang. He and a crowd of 14 deputy marshals left some days ago for the Western part of the Cherokee Strip in pursuit of the Dalton's. The price on Bill Dalton's head, dead or alive, is $2500 and the price on Bill Doolan's head is $1500. The Dalton gang had terrorized the Oklahoma and southern Kansas area for the past four years.




But for the arrival of Sheriff Kraby there might have been a lynching in the town of Vinland, Winnebago County. A number of farmers were about to attack August Smoody, who is charged with having assaulted a little girl. The Sheriff had to use his revolver in order to protect the prisoner.

 

For paying too much attention to a woman, not his wife, George Keim, of Deshler, O. was nearly hanged by a mob, while the obnoxious female was drenched with water and driven out of town.  

 

Appleton - Representatives of the company operated electric railways at Toledo, Ohio and St. Louis, Missouri appeared and addressed the County Board of Supervisors during the session last week relative to an electric road from Neenah to Kaukauna by way of Appleton.

 








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