Special Meeting of the County Board of Supervisors
Court House Was Bone of Contention

From the Mauston Star, July 1, 1875

Submitted by Joan Benner jmbenner@tznet.com

The County Board met at the City Hall in New Lisbon Thursday, July 1, 1875 at 11:00 a.m. and were called to order by Hon. Peter ARNTZ, chairman. On motion, the Board preceded to elect a new Chairman, which resulted in J. R. WINKLER, of Fountain, receiving nine votes, and Daniel FOWLER, of Plymouth, ten, and Mr. FOWLER was declared elected.

H. F. C. NICHOLS, of New Lisbon, then offered a resolution that the question of the removal of the county seat to New Lisbon be submitted to a vote of the people at the next general election.

Board then adjourned until half past one p.m. At the appointed hour the Board convened, and on motion of J. T. PATTERSON, of Summit, the Board adjourned to meet at the office of the County Clerk, in Mauston, at four o'clock p.m., so they could have access to the county records.

Upon adjournment, it was announced by Mr. NAUGHTIN that there were carriages at the Georgia House which would convey the members of the Board and officers to Mauston.

At four o'clock the Board again convened at the Clerk's office, and Mr. NICHOLS again presented his resolution in regard to voting upon removal of the county seat. Mr. T. P. NAUGHTIN moved that the same, together with the petition, be referred to a committee consisting of Messrs. HEEREY, WINKLER and PATTERSON, which was carried by a vote of twelve to seven.

Hon. J. T. KINGSTON then offered a resolution to protect the county against any claim of the parties now erecting the building on the county grounds for compensation therefor from the county. This was unanimously agreed to.

Mr. NAUGHTIN offered and was given leave to file certain records and statements of the contractors and citizens of Mauston as well as the resolutions of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Mauston to the effect that the building now being erected on the county grounds was to be the property of the county, and that no compensation from Juneau County should ever be demanded therefor.

The Board appointed a Committee consisting of District Attorney R. A. WILKINSON, F. WINSOR and Richard SMITH, be put in legal form and file a stipulation on the part of the parties erecting the building that the same should not be paid for by the county.

The board then adjourned sine die.

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County Board Members in 1875 were:

Armenia: Thomas Woolard
Clearfield: Wm. Blackburn
Fountain: John R. Winkler
Germantown: Wm. Koehler
Kildare: James Trainer
Lemonweir: Michael Heerey
Lindina: Eddie Cole
Lisbon: H. E. Macomber
Lyndon: Wm. Green
Marion: Peter Ensch
Necedah: John T. Kingston
Orange: Henry Rule
Plymouth: Daniel Fowler (Chairman)
Seven Mile Creek: James Barney
Summit: John T. Patterson
Wonewoc: Egbert Curey
Village of Mauston: Thos. P. Naughtin
Village of New Lisbon: H. F. C. Nichols
Village of Necedah: John H. Armstrong