Incidents and Anecdotes of Early Days and History of Business in the City and County of Fond Du Lac From Early Times to the Present, Personal Reminiscences, Remarkable Events, Election Results, Military History, Etc.

              A FEW OF THE FIRSTS
A Few Remembrances of First Things in the History of the City^
and County.
The first brewery in this county was a small one built by Mr. De Hass, on the shore of Wolf Lake, in the town ^f Marshfield. Ex-Sheriff Kimz knows something about it.
The first newspapers sold from a news stand in Fond du Lac, was in 1852, by Geo. W. Weikert after he became postmaster.
The first term of court in the old court house was held by T. O. Howe.    The first term held in the new one was by N. S. Gilson.
The first stone sidewalk in Fond du Lac was laid by Joseph Stow in front of the bank of Darling & Co., late the Wells Bank, corner of Main and First streets.
The first farm machinery sold in Fond du Lac was by Lyman Phillips, at the corner of Main and Forest streets, in a long shed. H. P. Brown was afterwards in the same business at the same place.
The first type writing machine used in this county was doubt¬ less the one brought to Ripon in 1864, by William Dawes. It was made by C. L. Sholes, of Milwaukee. It was a crude affair, but Mr. Dawes used it.
The first type set in Fond du Lac was in 1846, when Henning & Hooker impacked the material for the Fond du Lac Journal, by Mood Case, an Ohio printer visiting Edward Beeson.
The first fountain pen worthy of the name, appeared here about 1883. Before this the miserable stylograph pen was used some, but is now gone out.
The first bread baked for the public in a bakery, was by William Chandler about 1848. He had a small bakery and pie shop on Main street.
The first carriage and wagon blacksmithing done here and making of steel plows, was by R. M. and Asa Pierce, who started their shop on Division street in 1846. They had a fine shop in later years on Macy street.
The first sale made at Curran's drug store, when it was opened in 1847, was a box of Brandreth's pills and W. A. Dewey was the purchaser. Dewey used to tell Curran that he opened his business here.
The first six wheel truck passenger car on the Northwestern road, was put out of the old car shops in Fond du Lac in 1854. The writer of this rode in it nearly to Oakfield with Mr. Strong, Mr. Hull, Mr. Manley and Mr. Peabody, to test its running. Previous to this the trucks had but four wheels.    Ben Garvin ran the engine.
The first news stand was started by Geo. W. Weikert, when he was postmaster.   The New York Ledger was the principal paper sold.