Milwaukee County Wisconsin Genealogy

 News and Notes from Old Milwaukee County Newspapers

For the Year 1865

Correspondence of the New York Observer Chicago Feb. 3d, 1865

Milwaukee Daily Sentinel (Milwaukee WI) March 09, 1876; Issue 56; col C

The winter in that part of the country of which this city is the metropolis has been thus far moderato and pleasant. We have had a few intensely cold days; but in general the weather has been less severe than last winter. We have not had any deep snow although a good deal of sleighing; and there have been fewer sudden changes and more of moderately cold dry weather than usual.

I have been making a little excursion into the neighboring State of Wisconsin. I visited Waukesha the seat of Caroll College and gave one of a course of lectures for that Institution. I arrived upon the evening of the day upon which the venerable and beloved Dr. Savage the former President and founder of Caroll College was laid in the grave. His death cast a shadow over the community of that beautiful village; for he was much revered and beloved. Induced some fifteen years ago to leave a beloved flock in the State of New York and to undertake an educational enterprise in Wisconsin he toiled and suffered and traveled in this service more than any one except himself and his Master will ever know; until worn down with care and toil he sank to his rest. He was a man of great excellence and I trust that some one well acquainted with his character and labors will prepare a memorial of his life and his works. Waukesha is a beautiful town pleasantly located amongst rolling hills and watered by a beautiful little river that babbles sparkling through the village and gives name to it - Waukesha - Anglice Little Fox. The College is looking up under the energetic Presidency of the Rev. Wm. Alexander: it has a large number of students; and if relieved from some pecuniary embarrassments would be still a greater power for good in this Northwest.

One of the most beautiful cities of Wisconsin and indeed of the Northwest is Milwaukee through which I passed upon my return. It is beautifully situated upon bluff lands that roll up from the shore of Lake Michigan and its site is in refreshing contrast with the low and dead level of our own city. Built of the far-famed Milwaukee bricks which when burned are of a delicate straw color (on account of the absence of the oxide of iron from the clay of which they are made) the stately buildings of Milwaukee present a very elegant appearance - so tasteful in its architecture
so neat and cleanly in its streets and drainage and so picturesque in its tout ensemble. Well appointed churches meet the eye as you pass through the city and prominent amongst them are those of Rome. Rev. J. M. Buchanan was the founder and is still the pastor of the Old School Presbyterian church and has maintained a long (for the West) and useful pastorate; having come to this field some 17 years ago. We have two German Presbyterian churches here as a large proportion of the population speak that language. Here is one of the largest nunneries of the Roman Society in the country. It covers with its cloisters and its tall and stately houses almost an entire square; and occupying elevated ground it presents a very imposing appearance. Why is it that Rome the most sombre relic of the dark ages manages to push her enterprises so vigorously:
even in the midst of growing light putting to shame the sluggish movements of Protestants? Milwaukee however has long been the theatre of their operations. This site was a missionary station of French Jesuits as early as the days of La Salle - long before an English word was spoken upon the shores of Lake Michigan.