Colonel N.P Iglehart and the Oakton Springs, Pewaukee, WI

In May of 2014, this presentation was made at the Pewaukee Historical Society. A couple from Pewaukee, the Sampson’s, brought this jug to the event. It had been part of a collection of heirlooms that had been moved from a farm house southwest of Pewaukee about one mile out of town. In comparing, the various jugs that are known, this is probably the most pristine and best stenciled example. They plan on donating it to the Historical Society at some point in the future.

The Oakton Springs Jugs were made by in Greensboro, Ohio. Look at the similarity between this jug and the Oakton Springs jugs. What's remarkable is the even with the high cost of transporting these that Ingelhart opted not to have them made in Milwaukee by the Charles Hermann stoneware company.

LEFT TO RIGHT: A 3-GALLON JUG FOUND IN THE 1980S AT A PEWAUKEE ESTATE SALE. A 2-GALLON JUG FOUND AT MAXWELL STREET DAYS IN MUKWONAGO, 1972 BY MIKE SCHWARZ, A 3-GALLON JUG BOUGHT AT BELOIT AUCTION, 2011 BY GREG AND CINDY MARKOVIC FROM THE HENRY HECKER COLLECTION

For a number of years, this 3 gallon jug was the only one known by the author from the Oakton Springs Co. This piece is also part stenciled and part hand slip decorated. Now there are at least 5 others known. No one gallon jugs have been found but they likely exist as they were advertised.

3 Gallon jug with repair undoubtedly by a local Cooperage. My great-great grand-father, Theo.Hecker was a cooper in Pewaukee at the time. The bands and rivets are blacksmith forged. (Courtesy Steiner Collection)

Oil Painting of Nicholas Iglehart, Courtesy of Bill Moller, Descendant

Oil Paintings of Francis Iglehart, Courtesy of Bill Moller, Descendant

Saratoga style bottle from Oakton Springs. The embossing on the front reads: “THE OAKTON SPRINGS CO. WAUKESHA CO, WIS, DEPOT PEWAUKEE” From the Henry Hecker Collection There is a faint slug plate circle around the “A,” evidence that there may be Spring “B” bottle variants.

Saratoga style bottle from Oakton Springs. The embossing on the back reads: OAKTON SPRINGS WATER

(Source: George Ritzlin Maps & Prints, Evanston, Illinois)

Circa 1875 Brochure for Oakton Springs Hotel.

“Pewaukee August 4th/73 Oakton Springs The Oakton Springs water (Co.) has every thing in Pewaukee It has errected (sic) a fine Hotel and has done every thing as man can ask except softeni- ng the Beds in the Oakton Hotel Yours illegible (Courtesy Waukesha County Historical Society: Spence Archive And John Schoenknecht)

1875 Cover for the Oakton Springs Hotel

(Letter from the Hotel Manager to E. L. Spence, Editor of the Waukesha Democrat) “Pewaukee, May 22nd, 1876 E.L. Spence Esq. Dear Sir, Enclosed find Blank Bill of Fare as Copy for 500 which please get out for as soon as possible and left out as marked. Send by Express. Send Bill by Mail whereupon I will remit upon Receipt of same. Nothing new or startling. Business is beginning to open finely. Fishing is getting to be very good. I think that Newspaper enter- prise is postponed untill the next Centennial by which time some of our enterprising citi- zens will be ready to come down with the necessary impetus. If they are ready by that time you will probably get the notice. Truly Yours. J.P. Vedder (Courtesy of the Waukesha County Historical

This letter, handwritten by the Colonel, seems to indicate a discrepancy in the way his mortgage was recorded when he purchased his Pewaukee properties in 1872. An old mortgage had not been paid before the transfer of the deed. Being very astute in real estate, it is surprising Iglehart overlooked this aspect at closing. He was in ill health when he moved to Wisconsin. (Courtesy John Shoenknect)