Shaw, N. G. Moore, A. E. Wilson, Mrs. S. A. Sabin, Mrs. George Farnam, Mrs. E. D. Dudley, Mrs. A. S. Williams, Mrs. W. H. Smith, Mrs. J. A. Bawkus, Mrs. J. L. Holmes, Mrs. N. Jarvis, Mrs. A. E. Wilson, Miss Hattie Willis, Miss Lizzie Barber, Miss Minnie Sabin, Miss Nellie Dudley, Miss Nellie Holmes, Miss Lillie Howel, H. O. Kelsey and others, whose named appear on the back of the charter, in all seventy-six.

The first officers were S. A. Sabin, G. S.; Mrs. S. A. Sabin, Queen; W. H. Smith, G. P.; Miss Nellie Dudley, Priestess; Mrs. George Farnam, Treasurer; W. S. Williams, F. S.; J. A. Bawkus, Guide.

The officers for 1881, are as follows: George Farnam, G. S.; Mrs. A. E. Wilson, Queen; William Taylor, G. P.; Mrs. E. D. Dudley, Priestess; D. B. Worthington, R. S.; W. H. Smith, F. S.; Mrs. W. H. Smith, Treasurer; A. C. McMillan, Guide.

The society now numbers 105 members, and meets every Monday evening in the Temperance Hall, corner of Main and Fifth streets.

Woman's Christian Temperance Union-Was organized in June, 1880, for the purpose of promoting the cause of temperance, with a large membership, and the following officers: Mrs. E. Y. Garrette, President; Mesdames A. McMasters, Charles Irish, L. W. Hayhurst, Joseph De Forest, L. W. Brigham, J. Irwin Smith and William Irish, Vice Presidents; Mrs. R. E. Osborne and H. O. Durand, Secretaries.

The union is still in existence, though inquiry failed to elicit the present status.

MISCELLANEOUS SOCIETIES.

Turners' Society.-During the summer of 1855, a number of young German Turners from different sections of the country came to La Crosse with the intention of making this place their future home. According to prevalent custom wherever some of them live together, they resolved to organize a society, and on the 21st day of October, 1855, twenty-two of those young German citizens assembled at the boarding house of Charles Schaefer, on State street, and organized the "Gymnastic Society," with Henry Hunt as President, William Krueger as Secretary, A. Wehausen as Treasurer, snd Herman Luithlin as Gymnastic Leader. The names of those organizing the society have not been recorded, but we will mention those that are recollected by the old members now living here, they are: Ch. Koenig, Franz Muller, William Minor, Ch. Haege, Adam Hard, H. Lostraeter, Emanuel Newhof, Frederick Berger, Dr. Johannes, Carl Gesell, John Jung, Joseph Hauser, C. I. Scharpf, J. B. Jungen. In the year following they commenced to practice in the yard of John Gund's Brewery, on Front street, below Division. In 1859, the society bought a lot of John M. Levy, on Fifth street, between Ferry and Market, and in the course of the next two years they added the other four lots, the balance of the half block, and erected a hall thereon, known as "Turner's Hall," which building now stands back and west of the present Germania Hall, and is still used for gymnastic exercises. The members with their own hands planted the shade trees that now ornament the present Germania Park, and these trees stand as a memento of their industry as long as they live. The society had added a great many members from other nationalities, and was in a flourishing condition, when, in 1861, at the outbreak of the war of the rebellion, the younger and active members enlisted, and the others had to strive hard to keep the organization intact. After the war, the interest in the welfare of the society revived and several classes continued active practice, and a gymnastic school for boys was added. In 1869, the first festival of the "Wisconsin Turner Bund" was held at La Crosse, under the auspices of this society, and it was a great success, being attended by a large number of turners from Milwaukee and other places. In 1874, the society resolved to unite with the German Singers' Society, known as "Liederkranz," under the name of "Deutscher Verein," and to continue as a section within said society with a seperate organization, which enabled them to keep a special teacher and extend the gymnastic classes for boys and girls. As a section of the "Deutscher Verein," the Turners' section is in excellent condition, and has done a great deal toward development of body and mind and installing life into society, and deserves well for providing for a healthy recreation for young men.

Liederkranz.-The year 1856 brought to La Crosse and immediate vicinity a large German emigration, consisting mainly of mechanics and business men, who, being favorably impressed with the locality, concluded to make this their future home. Endowed with great sociable qualities, for which the Germans are noted, those fond of music and singing and of literary pursuits resolved to organize into a "singers' society," for the purpose of cultivating the art of music and the finer enjoyments, and recreation among themselves. Accordingly, on the 11th day of August, 1856, being a Sunday, the following gentlemen-John Ulrich, Jacob Kohlhaus, Isaac Tuteur, Ch. Koenig, Henry Schroeder, Fred Frey, A. Reiher, Ch. Schaefer and Ch. Freibergassembled at the locality of Mr. Freiberg, on Pearl street, and formed a society under the name of La Crosse Maennerchor (male chorus), which name was afterward changed to La Crosse Liederkranz. On that occasion, Charles Schaefer was elected President; John Ulrich, Secretary; Isaac Tuteur, Treasurer, and Ch. Freiberg, leader.

From that day, the society held regular meetings twice a week, for musical rehearsing and social entertainments, with more or less zeal and regularity, for twenty-five years, up to the day of this writing. The society soon gained in numbers, and took a leading part in social gatherings and public entertainments and demonstrations, especially after Messrs. Adalbert Moeller and P. Weiss, two accomplished musical directors and singers, joined the same, the second year after the foundation of the society. The first public concert was given at Mr. Freiberg's hall in December, 1857.

In the fall of 1858, the society rented the hall in the old Pearl Street Block, and erected the first stage for theatrical performances in La Crosse, and which was inaugurated by the amateur members of the society with a good deal of eclat. From that time, the amateur theatrical performances were regularly kept up by the society during winter seasons up to the present day, and they, together with the occasional concerts given by the Liederkranz, gradually became the main sources of pleasure and amusement to the people of La Crosse, and especially the German population. In 1861, the society, after many of the leading business men had joined as members, acquired a valuable piece of ground on the corner of King and Third streets, erected thereon, in 1862, the hall now known as the old Singers' Hall, and in which the activity of the members went on with renewed vigor. In that year, the society incorporated by act of the Legislature, approved June 17, 1862, under the name of La Crosse Liederkranz Society, for the purpose of the cultivation of music, vocal and instrumental, affording encouragement to literary and scientific improvement, advancement of art, and for aiding students and professors in these enumerated pursuits by providing an ampler hall and larger amount of funds, and to maintain and perpetuate said society. In 1866, the society held the first singers' festival, at which many singers' societies from abroad participated, and on this occasion the Wisconsin and Northwestern Saengerbund was organized, which now comprises thirty-eight societies of Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois. Another general singers' festival, on a larger scale, was held, under the auspices of the Liederkranz, in 1870. In 1874, with the intention of enlarging its usefulness, it united with the Turners' Society and the German Independent School Society, and changed its name to that of Deutscher Verein (German society), retaining the name Liederkranz for the musical section of the society in general. As a part of the Deutscher Verein, the German singers maintain the culture of music and song, give from time to time regular concerts, and render productions of operatic composers in conjunction with a mixed chorus, under the auspices of the general society.

Deutscher Verein.-The leading society among the German population of La Crosse is at present the "Deutscher Verein," composed of different sections, namely, the turners, the singers, the dramatic and the school sections.

Each of these sections maintains a special organization, and all of them are subordinate to an executive committee, which is annually elected by the whole society.

TheDeutscher Verein" was formed by the "Liederkranz," in 1874, and the junction of the Turner's Society and Independent School Society afterward, as stated in the histories of said societies.

The property which those societies were possessed of was then transferred to the "Deutscher Verein." In 1877, the society, so strengthened, erected the large and commodious structure on the corner of Fifth and Ferry streets, known as the "Germania Hall," and which affords all the facilities required by the different sections for the culture of their laudable objects, and providing a suitable place for recreation, self-culture, bodily exercise and education, dramatic performances, culture and enjoyment of music and song, and for maintaining a German Sunday school and kindergarden for the children of members as well as others not members, and the cultivation and preservation of the German language. There is not a society in the United States that unites so many different useful problems and objects, and which can show a social activity superior to that of the German Society (Deutscher Verein) at La Crosse.

Norden Society-Was formed by the union of two societies, the "Scandanavian Society and the "Normanna Sangerkor." The Scandanavian Society was founded March 30, 1866. Its aim was co-operation, with a view to mutual support, where real need existed, assistance in cases of sickness, as also to give its members chances of improvement and cultivation by procuring books and periodicals, as well as by singing, lectures, music, debates and social entertainments. In June, 1869, "Normanna Sangerkor" was established as a singing society, which principally, through the efforts of its able instructor, Mr. Emil Berg, gained the well-deserved reputation of being one of the best singing societies in the Northwest. In May, 1874, these two societies were united, and adopted the name of "Norden," with the same aim in view as the "Scandanavian Society" had.

In April, 1876, a few of the members of the "Norden" Society were incorporated as "Normanna Sangerkor," and still maintain a separate existenee.

The singing section, which constitutes a part of the society, is also called "Normanna Sangerkor" of the "Norden." Any one who speaks one of the Scandanavian languages-who has a good name and reputation-and who is not under sixteen or over sixty years of age, may become a member of the society. The society now numbers somewhat over fifty members; has a good library; a good stock of music; a stage, and is in a flourishing condition. The social entertainments of the society are of a private character.

Norwegian Workingmen's Society.-This was organized February 4, 1874, with E. Evenson, O. C. Waugen, O. Nyhus, C. Nyhus, John O. Nyrhe, L. Lee and Peter Olson as the charter members. The first officers were E. Evenson, President; O. C. Waugen, Secretary; Nyhus, Treasurer. The present officers are Peter Olson, President; M. O. Wig, Secretary; A. Peterson, Treasurer. The society now numbers 150 members, who meet the first and third Wednesdays of each month, in the Singer's Hall, on King street between Third and Fourth. This, like a majority of societies, is a benevolent society, and, upon the death of a member, $3 a month is paid to the widow. The members are all very active, and the society itself in a prosperous condition, as they have a surplus fund in their treasury of about $1,300, and a library of about 270 volumes, together with a stage and apparatus valued at $200. Amusements of many descriptions are held, and theatrical performances are engaged in. Their amusements in general are of a private character.

Normanna Sangerkor.-Organized June 1, 1869, with Emil Berg, Musical Director, H. G. Haugen, President; C. R. Jackwitz, Vice President; L. Coren, Secretary; Emil N. Borreson, Treasurer. At the time of organization it embraced about twenty-five members. time the "Sangerkor" prospered and attained great popularity, but by reason of various circumstances, was forced to disband. It was again organized under the same name in April, 1876, with H. G. Haugen as President, and N. G. Hillestad Secretary and Treasurer. In April, 1880, they were incorporated under the name of "Normanna Sangerkor." The present officers are: H. G. Hangen, President; S. Borreson, Vice President; Emil M. Borreson, Secretary; Gerh. Buthne, Treasurer; E. B. Rynning, Musical Director. Now number thirtyeight members. Meets every Monday and Thursday evenings in Sanctum Hall, opposite Postoffice corner Fourth and Main.

La Crosse Shooting Society.-The target shooting society (Schuetzen Verein) was started in 1867, by Dr. J. A. Renggly, Louis Runckle, Jacob Nalher, John Wacker, A. Schilling, Peter Lehnen and others. The first shooting grounds and primary buildings were erected on the prairie east of the city, but in 1869 the society leased forty acres of ground of Milton Barlow, located south of the city, on the east bank of the Mississippi River, whereon they erected commodious buildings, and which the society now occupy. The members of the association practice regularly once a week, and hold yearly tournaments. They aided in starting the West Wisconsin and Minnesota Shooting Club, which organization holds yearly festivals, alternating with either of the societies belonging to the club in La Crosse or elsewhere. The La Crosse "shooters" number, at present, about forty members, of which there are many Americans. The present officers are John Pamperin, President; John Fox, Secretary; Ben. Ott, Shooting Master; Henry Heil, Treasurer.

Chosen Friends.-This order was organized February 24, 1881, with fifty-three charter members. The present officers, being also the same ones that were elected at its organization, are: John M. Levy, C. C.; Benjamin F. Bryant, V. C.; O. L. Smith, Recorder; George Scharpf, Financier; George B. Rose, Treasurer.

Cremeix Lodge, I. O. O. B.—Organized March 13, 1870, in the Masonic Hall. The first officers were as follows: Isaac Cantrovitz, President; John M. Levy, Vice President; Joseph Gutman, Recording Secretary; Nathan Iseman, Financier; S. Newman, Treasurer. The society now numbers thirty-eight members. They meet on the first and third Sundays of each month, in the hall of the Jewish Congregation. The present officers are: D. Mitchell, President; M. Gutman, Vice President; Sigmund Gutman, Recording Secretary; N. Stern, Financier; I. G. May, Treasurer. This is a secret, benevolent and endowment society pertaining to the Jews, called "Bene Berith "-Sons of the Covenant. They derived the name of their Lodge, from their eminent evangelist, Adolph Cremeix, the world-renowned French jurist. One of the principal objects of this society being the maintenance and support of an orphan asylum located at Cleveland, Ohio, to which all members of that organization, residing in Ohio and west of it, are contributing.

La Crosse Lodge, No. 166, K. S. B.-This Lodge was instituted June 3, 1877, in the hall of the Cremeix Lodge by G. L. Eppstein, of the District Grand Lodge, No. 4. The charter members numbered thirteen, as follows: A. Hirshheimer, I Cantrovitz, M. Gutman, L. Wachenheimer, S. Newman, L. Hirshheimer, B. L. Strouse, H. Fox, A. Patz, John M. Levy, N. Stern, M. Hirshheimer and H. Hoff. The first officers were: A. Hirshheimer, President; L. Wachenheimer, Vice President; B. L. Strouse, Treasurer; J. M. Levy, Secretary; H. Fox, Guardian; Morris Gutman, Conductor. This society, called the "Kesher Shell Barsell "The Band of Iron-is a Jewish order. Besides the obligation of assisting each other in sickness and distress, and an endowment to widows, upon the death of their members, are erecting now a home for the aged and infirm. In fact, all the Jewish organizations are based on Charity, ceremonies being a secondary consideration, as they have here what is by them called only Reform Congregations, that is, leaving out all superfluous orthodox ceremonies. In connection with this society is a Sabbath school and a Lady's Benevolent Society, of which Mrs. Isaac Tuteur is the very efficient and active President; their object being gatherings for the purpose of devising means for the poor and needy wherever heard from. The present officers of the K. S. B. are: L. Wachenheimer, President; M. Gutman, Vice President; J. J. Hirshheimer, Secretary; H. Berger, Treasurer; N. Stern, Guardian. They now number nineteen members, which meet on the second and fourth Sunday of each month in the Jewish Synagogue.

The Northwestern Horticultural Society-Was organized on the 26th of December, 1879. One week previous, a meeting was held in the Council Chamber for the purpose of proposing arrangements in the same behalf which was largely attended. Charles Otillie presided, and the Rev. L. W. Bingham officiated as Secretary. Addresses were made by J. S. Harris, E. Wilcox, and others, and a committee, consisting of Mons Anderson, F. Tillman, J. W. Losey, E. Wilcox and J. S. Harris was appointed to draft a constitution, etc.