Page 3, Peter Laun’s research

Page 3, Peter Laun’s research

Plymouth Reporter – Jan 15, 1891

W. Anson Barnes, of Cedar Lake has just returned from trip to New York City. He reports an uncommon amount of snow in the metropolis.

Sheboygan Cty News --- Jan. 29, 1891

Items of Interest

Algernon Sartoris, is very near his end somewhere in France, from delirium tremens, vulgarly know as snakes, also jim-jams. He owns much land in this sate especially about Green Bay and some in this county. At one time the land on the south side of Cedar Lake was his. He will be best remembered as the Englishman who married Nellie Grant. Why the Genl. then President Grant, ever permitted it is a mystery. Not long before the wedding, Sartoris stopped at the Beekman House here for some weeks. The writers sat as his left at table. Taking him all in all, he was the blackest sheep we ever met. The Sartoris’s were an old English family and very wealthy. Algernon’s father came to America and married an actress, taking her back to the old country. There were two boys, Algernon being the youngest son and wild. He was furnished plenty of money and bought much Wisconsin land. While he was here, the elder boy was killed in England, by being thrown from a horse and the youngest went back, taking Nellie Grant as his wife. The family home was one of the most beautiful in England, it is said. Algernon proved anything but a nice husband but the family did all they could for Nellie and the two or three children. For several years he has been at home very little.

Plymouth Reporter --- April 30, 1891

Mr. W. Anson Barnes was in town after some lumber to finish his buildings on the island at Cedar Lake. A force of carpenters will begin Monday.

Plymouth Reporter --- May 28, 1891

W. Anson Barnes, the proprietor of the Schwedler Lake summer resort, made a business call t the city yesterday.

Sheboygan City News -- July 8, 1891

Elkhart Lake

Any of the readers of the News who have not visited for a year or two that popular and charming summer resort of Sheboygan County, Elkhart Lake, would be greatly surprised to see the numerous improvements that have been made about its shores within a year. The well-known Sharpe resort retains all of its charming attractions provided by nature with the addition of house room and accommodations for guests. The old main house has had its wing clipped and the uplight moved back a short distance. In front of and adjoining this, has been erected a two and one-half story frame building 32x60 ft. with broad piazzas across the front and both ends at the first and second floors, commanding a fine view of the lake. The first floor is all in one room, except that a small portion at one end is partitioned off, but provided with large sliding doors. This entire floor is occupied as a dining hall. With high ceiling and good light it is a very pleasant room indeed. The floor of 2-1/4 inch hardwood, is smooth and well calculated for a dancing floor. A native cedar with trunk and branches stripped of their bark adorns the center of the dining room and affords a convenient hat rack, while at either end of the room is a large fireplace capable of taking in a stick of fire wood of generous size. The upper rooms are large, light and airy and with the cottages Mr. Sharpe has about twenty-five sleeping rooms. The old bucket well with its pure and whole-some water continues to be one of the features of this place.

The familiar figure of venerable Peter Sharp, is one of the missing feature-he having gone to his final rest about a year ago and is now sleeping in his narrow house on the farm where he lived so happily for many years. Mrs. Sharpe, his aged widow, who has done much in years gone by to make it pleasant for guests of the house, and who is held in the highest esteem y all, is still about though quite feeble and almost entirely deprived of her eyesight. Mr. and Mrs. T. C. Sharpe, who conduct the resort, are giving general satisfaction to the public and are meeting with good success.

Another of the oldest and well know resorts is that of J. R. Tallmage, known for years as Rural Home. This is also a delightful place. Vast improvements have been made at the larger hotels, such as Pettibone’s, Osthoff’s and Schwartz’s and a number of private parties from Milwaukee, Chicago and elsewhere have purchased sites on the lake shore and erected summer cottages, the most noticeable of which is that of M. Gottfried a wealthy Chicago gentleman, an elegant mansion on the site of the old Swiss Cottage. Every convenience is provided about these premises, even to a private gas and electric light plant. We understand the gentleman will expend in the neighborhood of $50,000 in perfecting this beautiful summer home

Over at Cedar Lake about a mile south of Elkhart, we were astonished at the venture of an enterprising Chicagoan by the name of W. Anson Barnes, who will his family are domiciled in a new and cozy cottage perched on a little island that lies about thirty-five feet above the level of the lake. Mr. Barnes and his estimable and accomplished wife were exceedingly curious and we heartily enjoyed the brief visit. Mr. Barnes owns the two islands and owns or controls all the land bordering on the lake. The island where they reside is reach by a rope ferry. Besides his residence a small hotel on the island is nearly completed and is of artistic design. Windmill power draws water from the middle of the lake to elevated tank from which pipes lead to the buildings and various parts of the grounds. A professional gardener is busy beautifying the grounds and improvements are making on every hand, several thousand dollars having already been expended. “Warwick Park”, the charming place has been christened and Mr. Barnes is very sanguine that there are “millions in it”. The News offers its most fervent prayer that his fondest hopes may be fulfilled.

Plymouth Reporter – August 20, 1891

Same article appear in the Sheboygan Cty News on August 1, 1891.

Cedar Lake Curiosities

H. W. Bailey, a carpenter who is living on an island in Cedar lake, has made two table tops which show great skill and taste in workmanship. One of those is 19x28 inches and is made of 6,800 pieces, there being several varieties of wood. Another is 20,x30 inches and composed of 11,000 pieces. They both contain a variety of designs, the different colors adding much to the general effect. There is also a checker board which is 18x18 inches square and made up of 3,500 little pieces of wood. The tables and board are certainly worth seeing and it would pay any one the time to go to Cedar Lake and see them. Mr. Bailey is always ready to welcome visitors.