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.

              FROM EARLY DAYS TO THE PRESENT 101
minority column and defeated Blaine and Logan. In Fond du Lac, no candidate for the presidency ever had a more enthusiastic follow¬ ing than James G. Blaine had in that great campaign of 1884.
Coming of Salvation Army.
In 1885, with their voices and a big bass drum for music, the Salvation Army first appeared on the streets of Fond du Lac. The movement was in charge of two Swedish women from Minneapolis, whose personality as -well as work was most attractive, and these with the novelty of the w^ork, drew^ crowds to the meetings. Their method of work took them out to street corners for a short prayer and exhortation service, and thence to their hall for a preaching and general service. Unfortunately, for the success of the meetings, the Minneapolis women became homesick and others were sent to lead from time to time, some of them quite noted people in the ranks of the army, but they could not succeed and the army struggled along until 1894, when its efforts were abandoned here. Hall rent, fuel, lights and other local bills had to be met from the collections and they finally became largely insufficient, and the Salvation Army ceased its work in Fond du Lac. Their charity boxes may be seen in i^iost business places and the collections in this way are understood to be largely in excess of those received here before. These boxes appeal to the generosity of the people in places and at times that small change is at hand, and an empty charity box is not often seen. No one questions the sincerity of the Salvation Army people or have serious doubts of the good work they do among the poor and in the slums of the large cities. They do not make the noise and stir they once did, but who will say their work is not as efficient.
Frost Every Month in the Year.
Old timers who cultivate the soil, have not forgotten the year that there was a frost every month. It was i860, but there have been years besides this that came very near the same result. In i860, however, there was a frost every month severe enough for the people to know it. The lightest was the frost in August, but the work of that one could be seen on the leaves of tomatoes and beans. In June and July those who had gardens suffered unless they covered their vegetation. Farmers suffered severely. The writer had a nice garden in June, but not much in September. It was the year of killing frosts every month.
Known as the Big Fountain.
The Big Fountain, so long the pride of the people of Sixth and Marr streets. It threw nearly a full four inch stream of as clear water as ever came out of the earth. But after a few years it began to fail and in one year the stream decreased nearly one-half. In 1872 the stream was lowered three feet, and a few years later two feet more, and about 1890 it ceased to flow altogether and was filled. Not a drop of water has come from it since.