Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

March 7, 2001, Page 16

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

Index of "Oldies" Articles 

 Good Old Days 

Compiled by Dee Zimmerman

 

Clark County News

 

March 1876

 

There are but few lumbermen on the river who have not done better during the present season that they anticipated before the lumbering season started.  This has been the best logging drive to be known on the Black River.

 

Samuel Gibson, of the Town of York, was seriously injured last Wednesday while engaged in putting up a log building. Gibson was using harnessed cattle to roll logs up the skids, when the fastenings gave-way letting the log roll back upon him, passing over his entire body.

 

The jolliest time of the season, in the southwestern part of Clark County, was had on Friday evening, March 3.  At about 7 p.m. that evening, a dozen or more couples, comfortably seated in sleighs, behind fast horses, left quiet Humbird to attend a surprise party at Hewettville.

 

After their arrival, two violins were found at Mr. Hewett’s establishment; then with Whitcomb and Halstead handling the bow strings, the violins produced the most delightful music. With Whitcomb and Halstead as musicians and Charles Hackney managing the dance floor, a success was absolutely certain. After dancing for three hours, everyone was ready for a rest.

 

Supper was then announced and a better meal could not be found elsewhere, the best since Christmas.  Some guests tried to pay Zene Smith, who was clerk for the occasion, but he refused payment.

 

A few people, besides our floor manager, didn’t dance but they seemed to enjoy the evening as much as the rest of us.  A couple more sets of dances and then all went home, tired and happy.  No party was ever enjoyed more than this, the night was warm and pleasant, sleighing conditions were ideal and the moon just old enough to last until we reached home.

 

If Hewett ever decides on having another party and such a supper, several of us will be ready to attend.

 

There will be a meeting at the Clark County courthouse today, at 2 p.m., for the purpose of organizing a company to explore the Black Hills’ gold fields.  Quite a number of our citizens are talking of visiting that locality during the next few months.  It seems a great advantage if arrangements could be made for a group of people to travel together.

 

Last Saturday, a hog belonging to Jas. Reddan was strolling by the side of the mill pond when suddenly he slid down the icy bank into the water and was carried over the O’Neill Creek dam.  The creek’s water was very high at the time and full of ice, but the porker made it over the riffle to a safe landing, a few rods below.  He was a wetter and colder pig, but none the worse for his adventure.

 

T. J. LaFlesh has moved his family to his farm on the East Fork of the Black River, where he intends making their home in the future.

 

During the late session of the County Board an appropriation of $200 was made to the Town of Levis to aid in repairing the piers and putting railings on the Black River Bridge situated in the township.

 

A dance and supper will be given at the new court house next Tuesday evening, under the auspices of the Friendship Hook-and-Ladder Company.

 

The dance will be held in the spacious hall intended for the court room. The room will accommodate the dancing enthusiasts of Clark County and still leave room for our friends of adjoining district.  Supper will be served in the County Clerk’s office for those who wish to eat.

 

The various court house offices will be fitted up for parlors, dressing rooms and such; all set in good shape and no effort shall be spared in making the occasion pleasant for everyone attending.

 

The supper will be served by Mrs. Tibbitts, on the European plan.  Anything from a cup of coffee to a square meal can be served at any time from the beginning of the evening to the end of the party.

 

Music will be furnished by Whitcomb’s Quadrille Band.  Tickets will be $1.50 for the dance.  (The fine maple hardwood floor of the court room provided an ideal dance floor.  D. Z.)

 

The new edifice of the Presbyterian Church will be opening for divine services on Saturday evening, April 8, at which time the dedication sermon will be preached.  The services will be continued on the Sabbath, with preaching morning and evening.  The Lord’s Supper will be celebrated in the afternoon of the same day at half past two o’clock.

 

Dr. O. P. Thompson, of Hampton, Franklin County, Iowa, has become a resident of Neillsville, where he will practice his profession. The doctor is a gentleman of culture, of pleasing manners and graduate of the Medical Department of the Iowa State University.  During the past four years, he has been practicing in Iowa City, working in that city’s hospitals, gaining experience in surgery.

 

D. H. Haner of Humbird wants to purchase 4,000 feet of seasoned white ash flooring.  Any person having the desired amount of this fine lumber, will find a good sale in providing Haner’s lumber needs for his building plans. 

 

The Clark County Board of Supervisors met pursuant to adjournment at the County Clerk’s office on March 21st, the following towns being represented by: Thomas Shanks, Unity; M.B. Warner, Warner; S. B. Hewett, Jr., Hewett, James Hewett, Pine Valley; John S. Dore, Grant; John R. Cowdery, Perkins; H. W. Renne, York; A. Brooks, Lynn; S. R. Short, Washburn; Orin Wilson, Mentor; John Sufficool, Weston; Wm. Welsh, Loyal; Ezra Tompkins, Levis; John Stewart, Eaton; Wm. Darton, Beaver; Philo Byrnes, Mayville; G. A. Taylor, Colby; H. Heath, Fremont; N. H. Withee, Hixon; O. D. Denson, Sherman.

 

March 1931

 

Chas. Hogue, one of the few Civil War veterans living in Clark County, passed away at his home in Greenwood last week.  He was buried with military honors, the American Legion having charge of the ceremonies.

 

Some inquiries were being made as to who paid for pea gravel which went on Federal Highway No. 10 between Granton and the Clark County line adjoining Wood County.  County Highway Commissioner O. J. Weyhmiller states that the funds for the gravel were provided by the State of Wisconsin.  At the time the pea gravel was put on, it was not expected that this portion of Highway 10 would be covered with concrete so soon, rather years later. The change of plans now indicates that concrete will be laid on Highway 10 from Trimberger’s corner, on Granton’s south side, to the county line. This contract will include scraping off that pea gravel into stock piles to be used later for the wide shoulders or margins along the concrete, an area for the teams and wagons to travel on.  A part of the expense incurred last year for the gravel, private entrance, culvert placements and the several new culverts placed will be reused in the permanent highway.

 

Last week, Gus Borde of Pine Valley, bought the Methodist parsonage on Grand Avenue and plans to move to the city of Neillsville in the near future.  The Methodist pastor, Rev. Paul H. White and family, will move to the Lambert house on the east side of the church.  This modern home was bequeathed to the church by the late Hayes Lambert.

 

Mr. and Mrs. Borde, who moved here from Illinois, Oct. 18, 1905, have been very industrious and successful farmers. They have rented their farm to their son, Walter and wife, who will carry on the farm operation.

 

J. D. Cummings is having material delivered for a new filling station which will be built on his lot at the corner of Grand Avenue, where highways 73 and 95 enter Neillsville. The building will be constructed of concrete and tile.

 

Five homes in Neillsville have been put under quarantine for scarlet fever, Dr. E. L. Bradbury reported Tuesday.  The cases are very mild, he stated, as the victims are only ill a few days.  However, they must stay in quarantine six weeks to prevent contagion.

 

Farmers desiring to plant trees on idle land, for windbreaks, to establish a tree growth on forest crop lands or for forest production purposes may now purchase planting stock from the Wisconsin Conservation Commission.

 

Prices for seedlings rang from $3 to $7 per 1,000.  Seedlings of the White pine, Norway pine, Jack and Scotch pine as well as White and Norway spruce and transplants of the White Pine and Norway spruce varieties are listed as available and will be shipped from the state nursery about April 20th.  The only limitation placed by the commission upon the use of this planting stock is that it shall not be used for ornamental purposes and that they shall not be resold as live trees.

 

James Nesbitt of the Town of York received word last week of the death of his mother who lived in County Managhan, Ireland.  His mother was 85 years old at the time of her death.  

 

A special Saturday Bargain is offered by R. Hake Dairy.  On Saturday only, purchase 3 quarts of Pure Guernsey milk and receive half a pint of sure-to-whip cream, all for 25 cents. The rest of the week, milk will be sold for 6 cents a quart, cash.

 

Stop or can’t you?  You may need hydra moulding brake lining for internal or external brakes.  It is waterproof, long-wearing and will not score or squeak, measuring 2x3/16 inches in width, at 43c per foot.  This good bargain is available at the Marshfield Gambles Store.

 

Seventeen students will graduate from the Neillsville Teachers Training Course in June.

 

The following list of students in the graduating class is: Iola Gemmeke, Lenore Bartz, Anita Jacobi, Nellie Johnson, Carol Matheson, Gertrude Liebzeit, Russell Gardner, Francis White, Mildred Williams, Clara Skar, Della Lawrence, Christine Daniels, Cecelia Nenaho, Virginia Doll, Ruth Belter, Edna Falk and Nina Scharf.

 

All of these students have completed the regular four-year course in high school and are receiving in addition the professional training to fit them for rural school work.  In connection with this training they are all doing some practice teaching in public schools.

 

The Railroad Commission of Wisconsin has upheld the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railroad Company in its discontinuance of the two passenger trains coming through Neillsville as of last September.

 

A reservation, however, keeps the decision open for further action in case the star mail route and bus service is discontinued.  In that event, the commission indicates that its attitude might favor restoration of the two trains.

 

At the same time A. R. Stuve of Whitehall, Wis., was given permission to operate a motor bus line between Wausau and Merrillan.

 

It was brought out by the railroad company that in the last year’s run the company earned $8,215 from the discontinued passenger trains while the expenses were $11,543.55, or a loss of $3,328.55.

 

A group of singers from Hylandale Academy of Rockland, Wis., will give a program at the Chili Methodist Episcopalian Church on Friday evening at 8 p.m.; at the Granton Windfall Church on Saturday morning at 11 a.m. and Saturday evening at the Granton Union Church.  The program will consist of sacred selections in song and readings.

 

The purpose of the tour, aside from giving the gospel in song and story, is to solicit funds to put a water system in the school buildings.  Donations will be taken at the programs.

 

Hylandale Academy is an industrial boarding school for high school students. Its aim is to train young people to be practical workers and good citizens with an emphasis on their having high moral character.  These qualities will prepare these young people in helping their fellow mankind.

 

A. W. Hallock, the principal, and Mrs. Nellie Hallock Sheppled, wife of one of the teachers will be remembered by the old settlers in the Granton area.  They were the children of Norman Hallock and Percy Hallock, whose parents lived near Chili.  The Hallocks are in charge of the Hylandale singers.  At one time A. W. Hallock was the schoolmaster of the Meadow View School, south of Neillsville.  Two of the Academy Singers, Carolyn Mabie and Dorothy Bealer, are from Granton.

 

At the caucus held in the Town of York last week, Mrs. O. J. Warren and W. E. Benedict were placed on the ballot as candidates for town clerk and also as candidates for Justice of Peace.  Voters will decide the contest at the polls on April 7.  Benedict has held both of these offices for a number of years.

 

There will be a Grand Opening and Easter Ball at Hake’s Pavilion on Monday, April 6, one mile east of Neillsville, then south one-half mile. Music will be provided by the “Revealers” of Wausau.  With every ticket sold at the opening dance, you will receive a free ticket for the April 11 dance.  From now on there will be a dance every Saturday night.  In case of cold weather during April, scheduled dances will be held at Paulson’s Hall in Neillsville.  Everyone is welcome to attend.  Ladies will be admitted free.

 

A. Hauge & Son are your fuel merchants in Neillsville. They have just unloaded a fine car of genuine 3rd vein Pocohantis coal.  This is the coal for light firing – no soot and it will hold a fire over many hours when required.  Reduced Prices!

The Clark County Teachers Institute, Class of 1909, was in conjunction with the Neillsville High School.  The one-year training class, after high school, prepared many teachers who later taught in the rural schools.  The building in the background is the (South Side) Graded School and the building at the right is the Neillsville High School, both were located in the 200 block of East 4th Street.

 

 


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