Box 6, Folder 5: Lapham Park

MADE FIRST OFFICIAL WEATHER FORECAST

Interesting phases of the life of Increase A. Lapham, pioneer citizen.

Now proposed to name park in his honor

Distinguished services rendered his country in the development of the resources of the northwest are recounted.

Now that the city owns Schlitz park, the question uppermost in the minds of its owners - the people - is what shall we call it? A few weeks ago while the subject was under consideration by the common council, the Free Press called for expressions of opinion from its readers, and about 100 names were suggested, prominent among which was that of Dr. Increase A. Lapham. Sentiment seems to be crystalizing around the name of this talented pioneer, and for that reason the Free Press presents herewith a sketch of his life and a portrait. The photograph from which the picture is made is one in a highly-prized collection owned by Thomas J. [Pereles?].

Among the illustrations in Americana for September is one of Mt. Cumorah, near Palmyra, N.Y. On the north side of the elevation nearly 100 years ago was born the fifth child in a family of thirteen children. Thoroughly American children they were, too, as both father and mother traced their ancestry in this country back to the middle of the seventeenth century. The name Increase Allen Lapham was given this boy for his maternal grandfather. This name can be traced back to the first Allen who settled in this country. In later years it was said the name seemed a "prophecy of his full life - a life spent that his fellow men might be helped over many a hard point in life." Not far from this old one was the, then, wonderful piece of engineering, the Erie canal. The parents of these children were born and brought up in the Quaker faith, and knew no better law for their daily life or for training their children than the chief doctrine of that faith - "Love Christ and do His bidding, help others and love your neighbor." It early became the duty of this boy to aid in the support of the family, and when his father's work as contractor on the Erie canal called him to Rochester, he, with an older brother, was left to work on the farm until the family was settled in that city. Then the boys walked to Rochester, driving the family cow. There the younger brother found work in a grocery and remained until, the father's work being finished in that city, the family moved to Lockport and were settled there.

Became Interested in Geology. Dr. Lapham's first work on arriving at Lockport was cutting stone for the locks, and the wonderful fossils he found in that stone aroused an interest in geology that that lasted during his life time, and there he collected the first specimens of his large collection that was destroyed by fire in 1884 in Madison, when Science hall was burned. When 14 years old, Lapham commenced work as rodman on the Erie canal under Nathan S. Roberts, chief, and Alfred Barrett, residents engineers, and continued in that service until the canal was completed. Dr. Lapham was naturally an expert with his pencil and his drawings of the "combined and double locks" at Lockport were in great demand by strangers who were attracted from all parts of the country to inspect this new "wonder of the world." When the canal was completed cannon were placed at intervals the whole distance from Buffalo to New York, and when the first boat left Lake Erie for the Atlantic these cannon were fired, one [black and white illustration] after another, announcing the fact. Dr. Lapham well remembered the roar of these cannon. Following the completion of the Erie canal. Dr. Lapham acted as rodman for his brother and Alfred Berrett, who planned, laid out, and estimated a road to be built on the British side of Niagara just below the falls. After a short time spent on the Welland canal, connecting Lakes Erie and Ontario, Lapham in 1827 went to the Miami canal in Ohio under Byron Kilbourn, where their life long friendship began.

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The Ohio and Archaeological and Historical Quarterly for January 1909, has a very full account of Dr. Lapham's life and work in Ohio.

The years 1828-9 were spent on the Louisville and Shippingport canal and his drawings of plans and maps of the city and surroundings were in great demand. During this time he received instructions in drawing from the artist Victor Audubon, son of the ornithologist.

Begins his Meteorological Work.

During the years Dr. Lapham's only opportunity of attending school was when a rainy day or something else prevented work on the canal.

While in Louisville he began his meteorological observations. At first he had no instruments of any kind, merely noted cloudy days, east wind or something of the kind, but later some one gave him a thermometer. His tables were published in The Focus the Louisville paper.

Dr. Lapham's great love of nature made him a close observer, not only of natural objects, but all things and as he had access to few scientific books, he soon learned to apply to men of science to solve puzzles he was constantly meeting.

He corresponded in this way with many prominent men of the country whose letters were a liberal education of him.

Among other correspondents was the elder Benjamin Sullivan whose letters encouraged the young man and aided him in preparing his first scientific paper. " Notice of the Louisville and Shippingsport Canal and Geology of the Vicinity." with maps and illustrations.

This paper was published in the fourteenth volume of Silliman's Journal of Science (now the American Journal of Science) in 1828. He was only sixteen when he wrote this paper.

Dr. Lapham's final work before locating in Milwaukee was at Columbus O., when in 1833 he was appointed secretary of the board of canal commissioners.

He was also an officer and an active member of the Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio and largely through his influence and persistent efforts, the legislature of Ohio authorized a thorough geological survey of that state.

While in Ohio he commenced the herbarium which, after his death, became the property of the University of Wisconsin.

Came here in 1836.

Dr. Lapham arrived in Milwaukee just three days before Wisconsin became a territory. July 1, 1836 He was ten days coming from Detroit by steamboat. They followed the eastern shore of Lake Michig-

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gan to Chicago, thence north to Milwaukee in which city there were about a dozen houses when he arrived.

He came to Milwaukee with the intenttion of making it his permanent home and his life here was spent between the conduct of a business that secured him a competency without superabundant wealth and the scientific study of all that related or could be of interest to the city, the territory and later the state and by various publications made resources and beauties of the new country known to the world.

In 1844 "Lapham's Wisconsin" was published at the Courier office in Milwaukee and many prominent citizens told the author that the book was the means of their coming to Wisconsin. Some of the books were sent.

This was the first book published in Milwaukee, although Lapham’s pamphlet list of plants and shells of Wisconsin had been published in Milwaukee several years earlier.

Surveyed Many of the Streets.

Many of the streets of Milwaukee were surveyed by Dr. Lapham and he was assistant engineer on the Rock river canal, the first great internal improvement undertaken for the city and the state undertaken too late to insure it's success as the era of railroads had come and this project abandoned.

In his work his attention was attracted to the peculiar elevations which he found in every direction. He soon decided that they were the work of the earlier Indians and that many of them were representations of animals and birds. the first account of them was published in the Milwaukee Advertiser and he later wrote an account for Gillman's Journal.

It has been said the people of Wisconsin are better posted in regard to their state than those of any other state, and that is largely due to the books and maps of Lapham.

The Maps, renewed almost annually, made known the geology, geography, climate, increase of population, distribution of forests and many other statistics, and were distributed very generally in the state and elsewhere.

Dr. Lapham was the friend and promoter of the public school system. In 1846 he donated thirteen acres of land to the city for the endowment of a high school, but the common council neglected the matter: the deed was not even recorded; the land was sold for taxes. He again acquired title to the land and reconveyed it to the city. The trust was again neglected by the council and the plan destroyed.

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Lived on Third Street.

In 1838 Dr. Lapham married Ann M. Allcott of Marshall, Mich., whom he met while she was visiting her sister in Milwaukee. Mrs. Henry M. Hubbard. They commenced housekeeping in a small frame house on Third street between Chestnut and Poplar streets. Unless quite recently destroyed the house is still standing. It was moved back to the northwest corner of the old garden to make way for a brick building. Through this old garden many beautiful plants were introduced into Milwaukee, having been sent from the Botanical garden at Cambridge by Dr. Asa Gray, the Kew gardens, England by Sir William Hooker, and others in exchange for native plants of Wisconsin.

The great loss of life and property on the lakes seemed entirely unnecessary, there fore criminal to Dr. Lapham. He believed there was sufficient knowledge of the nature of storms to prevent much of this loss, if it could be collected and some system organized.

He appealed to the state societies and to individuals for financial aid, but was unsuccessful until 1870, when the matter was taken up by the United States government.

In sending his memorial to Hon. H.E. Paine he added a long list of disasters, many of which might have been prevented. This memorial had a large inflence in securing the adoption of measures for the weather predictions which have since become of such importance to the world.

Made First Weather Prediction

The winter of 1870-1 Lapham spent in Chicago taking part in the organization of the storm signal service and while there worked out the first predications and sent them to Washington whence they telegraphed to various stations, especially on the Great Lakes.

Prof. S.S. Sherman said of Lapham: Unostentatious and modest, he instinctively shrank from attentions which his merits sometimes attracted. his reserve amounted to almost timidity, yet in the social circle, surrounded by friends of congenial tastes and sympathies, he was affable and communicative as ready to impart knowledge as to receive it and an opportunity to aid others gave him peculiar pleasure.

"He was proud to perform any public service, provided always it did not require him to appear before an audience. He would do the work cheerfully and well, but if there was talking to be done others must do it."

No applicant for information was sent

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away empty handed, whether it was a question as to the value of certain mines, the possibility of finding gold, oil, or water, or other treasures. If Dr. Lapham did not know he made it his business to find out if possible. Much of this work was gratuitous, he hoping to interest people in these matters by helping them to learn their importance.

P. V. Lawson said: "One secret of Dr. Lapham's eminence was, he was never speculative; he either knew or did not know. The character of truth inherent in his constitution was the nucleus of his life."

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He also spoke of the cities and villages of the state that, due to changing lumbering conditions, have totally disappeared. One of these, Richland City, is now just a waste of sand, hardly a stick remaining to show where the city once stood. Near it is the site of the old lumbering town of Independence. It too, has passed entirely away except for the decaying remains of a building or two, uninhabited by now.

George A. West told of his researches recently among the pipestone quarries of Rice Lake.

Indian Musical Instruments

Dr. Louis Lotz spoke on Indian musical instruments in vogue among the redskins of Wisconsin in the days gone by. He has a collection of these instruments, rude flutes mostly, that he gathered in 1883 during a sojoun among the several tribes of the state.

LAPHAM PARK

Ever since the project of acquiring for city use the piece of property known as Schlitz park has been seriously contemplated, the earnest desire of very many people has been manifest to have it bear the name of an honored citizen of Milwaukee's earlier days, and be known as Lapham park, When, during the past summer, the views of readers of the Free Press were solicited upon the subject of an appropriate name, the responses, over a hundred in number, probably reflected quite accurately the sentiments of the inarticulate public, Many names were proposed, some far-fetched, others well chosen and appropriate, but among them Lapham was the name that recurred oftenest of all and was supported by the most telling arguments.

Assuredly, if a citizen of Milwaukee is to give their popular park name, no one is more deserving of such commemoration than the man who in thought and research was ahead of his generation, whose modesty never preferred his own claims. Dr. Lapham was a quiet, retiring gentleman, but he was a scientist of the finest type, devoted to knowledge for it's own sake and full of ideas for its application to the use of daily life. Appreciated to the uses of daily life. Appreciated by the discriminating among his contemporaries, his fame in his home city is a growing one; it expands as it comes more fully to be understood how much he did, how assured was his standing, and how useful was what he accomplished. Lapham park, then, let it be, and in honoring a man like Dr. Increase A. Lapham Milwaukee honors herself.

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Milwaukee's New Pleasure Ground Lapham Park?

The Council did a good thing for thing for the City yesterday afternoon when it passed the ordinance for the purchase of Schlitz Park. the price paid $72,500 is much below what the property would have commanded a few years ago, and the taxpayers may be satisfied that the city has procured one of the best bargains in real estate it is likely to get for a long time. usually when the city buys realty it is forced to pay a highly inflated price.

The future of the Schlitz Park will be that of a public breathing space a pleasure ground in one of the most congested districts of the city among an immigrant population to which it will be a blessing during the summer months and a convenience no doubt at other seasons of the year. Calculating the physical well-being of the rising generation, the city has made no investment likely to yield richer returns to the community than the $72,500 which has been voted for Schlitz Park. To make the Park fully available, an Eighth street entrance should be opened at once.

Now that the Park has become the property of the city, the discussion over renaming it will be resumed. The designation adopted should have local historic significance. What name can be more appropriate than that of Dr. I. A. Lapham, whose fertile suggestion, adopted by Congress, resulted in the establishment of the Weather Bureau of the United States a noted scientist, a good citizen, whose public services and private character reflected credit on Milwaukee and Wisconsin, and in the early years a resident of the neighborhood of the Park, on the summit of whose remarkable mound he conducted some of his early observations in meteorology?

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(Text runs vertically) HISTORIC SCHLITZ PARK IS NAMED BY CITY FOR INCREASE A.LAPHAM, A FORMER STATE GEOLOGIST

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(Text runs horizontal) LAPHAM IS HONORED; NAME PARK FOR HIM

Schlitx Tract, Historic Playground of Early Milwaukee Officially Christened for Pioneer.

TITLES FOR OTHER TRACTS

Man Recognized by Commission Came Here When City Had Population of but a 1,000.

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KARL QUENTIN AN OWNER

German Resident Laid Out Spot and Was Its Manager Twenty Years Ago

Schlitz park, historic playground of Milwaukee pioneers, has been official christened Lapham park in honor of Dr. Increase I. Lapham, educator and early settler, after the mooted question had kept the park commissioners in a state of indecision for several months. This action was taken Friday afternoon, at which time other tracts also were named. Changes were as follows. Baker tract. Twentieth ward, to Franklin playground.

Lindwurm Now Evergreen. Windlake avenue triangle, Windlake and Tenth avenues, to Mickiewicz triangle. Gordon place, upper Milwaukee river to Riverside park. Lindwurm farm on Milwaukee river to Riverside park. Reynolds grove to Jackson park. Kern tract, north of city, to Highland park. Reynolds grove to Jackson park. Kern tract, north of city, to Highland park. Bay View tract, south of city, South Shore park. Twenty-third and Burleigh street playiground, to Frobel playground. Lincoln park, Eighteenth ward, to Lincoln triangle.

Once Was Quentin Park. Before acquisition by the brewing company from which it was recently purchased by the city, Schlitz park, up to about

twenty years ago was known as Quentin's park, laid out and conducted by Karl Quentin one of the German pioneers. This was the center of Milwaukee's activity in amusement. There was a beautiful grove and a huge grassy knoll that made the spot ideal for pleasure seekers. Their one found music, dancing and diversions provided by Host Quentin. Dr. Lapham was one of the big men of his day in a modest way. He developed into a scientist, following more particularly geological lines and in the service of the government gave invaluable service. He came to Milwaukee in 1836, then a village of 1,000 inhabitants.

Laphan Once State Geologist When but 16 years of age he wrote his

(Second Page) (Second Column) first scientific paper. [?] [?] [?] published a volume of geographical and topographical history of Wisconsin, touching upon history, geology, minerology, natural history, etc. One of his great works was compilation of all grasses in the United States and territories. His most elaborate work wa "Antiquities of Wisconsin".

Dr. Lapham served as state geologist and engaged in much scientific work for the national government. He died in 1875.

Another result's of Friday's meeting was decision to recommend to the common council the addition of threes half blocks to the new Bay View park on Lake Michigan, south of the city. Two of these parcels have been offered by the city by Theobald Otjen and other residents of Bay View. The third will have to be acquired by condemnation. Estimated cost is $75,000.

Now that the council just bought Schlitz Park little is needed by way of finishing touches. It would suffice to provide an adequate Eighth street entrance, change the name to Lapham, and open the new public pleasure ground to the people.

NOTED AS SCIENTIST

Old-timers who are here for the homecoming will remember Increase A. Lapham as one of the notable figures in the life of Milwaukee and of the state of Wisconsin. Mr. Lapham is also one of those who have passed to the beyond. He was probably the greatest scientist that Wisconsin ever produced. Surveyor, civil engineer, geologist, he was for years engaged in the most practical kind of work. He is also acknowledged that he was the first to propound the ideas that have since led to the development of the United State weather bureau.

[Left Page] (Image) Scene in Recently Acquired Schlitz Park

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January 15, 1910 Free Press COMMISONERS NAME THE NEW PARKS; HONOR FOR INCREASE A. LAPHAM

Schlitz Park is Given the Name of the Pioneer Milwaukee Scientist--Riverside, Evergreen, Jackson, South Shore, Highland, Froebel, Franklin, Mickiewicz, Center and Lincoln Are Other Titles Conferred.

The board of park commissioners held a christening yesterday. There was a lot of children that needed names and their sponsors went at the job boldly. So that you will know where you are going next summer on a Sunday afternoon remember the names of the new parks which were bestowed yesterday as follows: Schlitz park-Lapham park. Gordon place-Riverside park. Lindwurm farm-Evergreen park. Reynolds' Grove-Jackson park. Bay View park-South Shore park. Kern tract-Highland park. The playground at Twenty-third and Burleigh streets was named Froebel, after the father of the kindergarten. Franklin square, Teutonia avenue and Twentieth street was named Franklin playground. The triangle at Windlake and Tenth avenues was named after Mickiewisz , generally regarded as Poland's greatest poet. The playground at Thirteenth and Center Streets was named Center Street Playground. What had been called Lincoln park, located in the Eighteenth ward, was named Lincoln triangle. The new names are generally conceded to be satisfactory by city officials, with the exception of eliminating the old name of Gordon place. Mrs. Gordon practically donated that beautiful piece of property to the city at a time when it was sought for manufacturing purposes. She presented her offer to the council requested that the name of Gordon be retained. This was agreed to to tacitly if not formally.

It is suggested that the council request the park commission to rescind its action in this regard. The commissioners used the name of Riverside because the property is across the river from Riverside park, the idea being to make the name suggest the one park idea.

The board recommended the purchase of an addition or additions to South Shore park which will include three half-blocks west of the property on Superior street from Estes to Meridith streets. The two outside half-blocks have been offered to the council by Theobald Otjen. The center half-block is recommended for purchase or condemnation.

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Sentinel June 16 1910 (pencil inscription

LAPHAM PARK Schlitz park will henceforth be called Lapham park. In thus rechristening it the park commissioners have wisely followed a happy and intelligent suggestion.

It is an appropriate recognition of a man of real brains and distinction whom this community should delight to honor--Increase A. Lapham.

It is more than that. It is refreshing evidence that modern and industrial Milwaukee, with its great breweries and manufacturing plants and hustling commercialism, is still able to prize and appreciate the kind of achievement and distinction Dr. Lapham's name stands for.

As a scientist, Dr. Lapham made his mark in the field of original research.

He was no mere book pedant, but a student who went straight to the great book of nature and could read and interpret what he found there. Thinking independently and seeking what was new, his work won international recognition.

Of one of his ventures, Prof. Henry of the Smithsonian Institution said: "Beyond the necessary expenses he desired and received no other compensation than the scientific enjoyment which the prosecution of the work afforded."

That appraisal goes to the rest of Dr. Lapham's success and the wide repute it won for him. In honoring him Milwaukee honors itself.