November 1901

The Connor Mill Co. has men hauling lumber to Tioga.  Those hauling lumber are Will Smith, Ray Sprague, Shephard and Westfall, each making two trips daily.

The Connor Mill is nearly torn down, soon to be a thing of the past.

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The Clark County Board adjourned Saturday, after a session in which much business was accomplished.  As the proceedings will appear in full, in a few weeks, we will give space to mention a few things that were transacted.

Mr. and Mrs. Ebbe have decided not to remain in charge of the poor farm.  A. F. Franz, supervisor from Abbotsford was elected as the new Superintendent of the poor farm.  The salary was fixed at $550.  Ole Samuelson, supervisor from Worden, was elected County Supervisor of Assessment, with a salary of $4.00 per day.  Both Samuelson and Mr. Franz were granted indefinite leave of absence before they were elected to their respective positions, and they went home to resign as supervisors.  A resolution was adopted placing the office of Register of Deeds upon a salary of $1,200, with $500 extra for clerk hire.  This goes into effect at the beginning of next term.

A resolution expressing the satisfaction of the board at the work done by Mr. and Mrs. Ebbe, during their terms of supervision of the poor farm, was passed and signed by all members of the board.

The committee on equalization adopted almost the same basis of values as fixed by the Tax Commission.  Pine Valley and the city of Colby were lowered somewhat from what the basis would have made them.  The board adopted the report of the committee as read, and which will appear in the full proceedings later.  Dr. Viola French was reappointed County Physician.  The claim of the city of Neillsville for a $1,200 rebate on the assistance given to towns on building bridges, was cut down to $376, on the grounds that the city had indirectly received aid in building the Black River Bridge jointly with Pine Valley.  A reward of $100 was appropriated by the board for evidence leading to the apprehension of the party or parties who set fire to the Free Methodist Church in Humbird.

The total county tax levied is over $82,000, probably the largest ever levied in the history of the county.

The Town of Levis was divided, the western township to be known as the Town of Dewhurst, after April 1^st.

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We see no other way but to have that Wisconsin University football team come up to Neillsville and play a game just to take the conceit out of them.

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A force of men is at work in the city stone quarry, blasting out rock for the piers of the Grand Avenue Bridge to be put across Black River.

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Work on Editor Rabenstein’s building is being rushed forward, notwithstanding the cold weather.  The masons have built an oven with which they are able to treat the brick, mortar and sand.

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The hunting party consisting of Jerry Cross, Walter Calway, Walter Dangers, Richard Dickinson and Sol Jaseph camped up in township 26, (Town of Foster), and killed nine deer.  They reported a splendid time. They sold enough venison to pay all expenses of the trip and had six deer left for their own use.

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Geo. N. Phillips has a ten-acre farm, just outside the city limits.  During the past summer, he raised 245 bushels of corn, 125 bushels of rutabagas, 60 bushels of potatoes, 75 bushels of corn and a large amount of garden vegetables.

Two and a-half acres is pasture, this with the house, leaves not over seven acres under cultivation.  Mr. Phillips does not make farming his business, but works most of the time at the carpentry trade.

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Allen Wildish left Monday for Marshfield to sell for Kitchen Economy Grocers.  He and his father, John Wildish, have taken the agency for Wood County.

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One of Krumery’s dray teams got to making up for lost time, one day last week.  As result, a fresh stock of fruit for O. B. Spellum was strung, promiscuously, all over the Third Ward.

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The high school football team will play Augusta High School, here on Gates field, Thanksgiving Day.

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The Luethe Company will be buying Dressed Poultry until Friday, Nov. 22^nd.  Turkeys, 7c, dry picked, not drawn; Ducks 5 ½c, dry picked, not drawn; Geese, 5 ½c, dry picked not drawn; Spring Chickens 5 ½c, scalded and put in cold water; Hens, 5c scalded and put in cold water.

November 1946

The following members of two Southern Clark County areas have good apples for sale.  The members all sprayed their trees eight times, under the supervision of the County Agent and the University of Wisconsin.  Prices range from $2 to $4 per bushel.

York Grange Area: F. Dubes, H. Gardner, E. Schlinsog, Glen Lavey, Neil Downer, Otto Schmidtke, Fred Barta, Chas. Greeler, Otto Warren, Art Imig, R. Benedict, M. Benedict and Ben Garbisch.

Neillsville Area: George Allbaugh, Richard Albrecht, Walter Borde, Herman Braatz, Gust Carl, Donald Crothers, Bernard Dodte, R. J. Dietrich, Gerhardt Foemmel, Herman Hediger, Paul and Ernest Kuhn, Bernard Kuhn, Leslie Milton, Charles Neff and Martin Zilisch.

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Veterans’ Homecoming will be celebrated at Neillsville this coming weekend.  Beginning Saturday morning, November 9, this county seat will belong to the GIs.  They will move in and take possession, with the hearty goodwill of the home folks, who are delighted to have them back.

It will be a big period of celebration with three days of sociability, entertainment, reunions and memories of days and persons that have gone.

The churches of Neillsville have come forward with programs for the morning hours of Sunday.  They have announced services especially intended to honor service persons and to appeal to them.

Coincident with the Homecoming here is the announcement of the observance of Sunday, Nov. 10, as Marine Corps Day.  This date marks the 171^st anniversary of the establishment of the U. S. Marine Corps, an organization which has an (a) unique record of foreign and combat service.

Three parades will feature homecoming.  The first will be put on Saturday, November 8, at 1 p.m.  This will consist of the high school bands of Neillsville and Thorp, as well as pep features originated by members and groups of the high school.  It will be a preliminary to the football game, which begins at 2 p.m.

The parade on Sunday will consist of two or more bands and floats designed and prepared by businessmen of Neillsville.  Thirty or more floats are in prospect.  The parade will begin 2 p.m. at the high school.

Monday’s parade will start at 10 a.m. at the high school; proceed on Fourth Street to Clay; north on Clay to Seventh; east on Seventh to Hewett; south on Hewett to Fifth; east on Fifth to Court; south on Court to the school.

Monday’s parade will start at 10 a.m.  It will be definitely a military parade, with two or three bands, the color guards of both the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the World War One and World War Two; a task force of 140 men and 30 vehicles from Camp McCoy.  Lieut. Col. Tufts is most desirous that this parade should be as complete as possible, with all posts of Clark County out in force.  There are about 2,000 returned veterans of Clark County who are back from World War Two, in addition to the veterans of World War One.

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Claude R. Sturdevant died Sunday evening.  With him passed the last of a family, which has played a large part, for nearly a century, in the making of Neillsville.  He was the son of John Rufus Sturdevant and the grandson of James W. Sturdevant.  The James Sturdevant family came to Neillsville in 1854, when John R. was eight years of age.  They settled in Pine Valley, on a farm. James Sturdevant had married Mary Ann French, and was thus related to the “Doc” French family.  It was a vigorous and active clan, which did a big job in Neillsville in the days of the pioneers.

Claude R. Sturdevant was born in Neillsville September 18, 1871, and was 75 at the time of his death.  He attended the public schools here and was graduated from high school.  He then went to Wisconsin University and completed a law course.  He was an only child, and returned to the old hometown to enter into a law partnership with his father, who was an attorney and county judge.  This partnership continued until his father’s retirement.

Claude Sturdevant was active in public affairs.  He served at various times as city attorney, all together about 20 years.  He was clerk of the Board of Education for 24 years.  He was chairman of the Clark County Board much longer than that.

In home surroundings, Mr. Sturdevant was a man of quiet habits, moving in his well-known circle and modestly attracted little attention.  His mind, however, went out into the larger world.  He and his father had interested themselves in distant investments, including oil and realty in Bakersfield, Calif. and Claude Sturdevant had made occasional trips to the West and to the South.

Although he came of a large and sturdy race of pioneers, Claude Sturdevant was small of stature and handicapped in vitality.  This was in increasing evidence in recent years, and led him to a life of quiet retirement.  He had the constant companionship and understanding service of his wife, Jessie Ruane Flynn, whom he married June 19, 1901, and who survives him.  His death was due to apoplectic seizure.

Claude R. Sturdevant was a descendant of two of Neillsville’s influential pioneer families; the James W. Sturdevant and “Doc” French families.  Claude, an attorney lived with his wife, Jessie (Ruane Flynn) at 312 W. 5^th St. Neillsville.  He is shown standing along W. 5^th Street, in the photo.  (Photo courtesy of Bill Roberts’ collection)

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Word was received Monday, by Mr. and Mrs. George Speich, that their son, Kenneth Speich, Signalman 3/c, will make the trip on his ship the “Cacapon” to the Antarctic.  The “Cacapon” is part of the Atlantic fleet tank force that will leave the United States December 1, to be in “Little America” until April.  Rear Admiral Richard E. Bird will make his fourth expedition to the Antarctic and will have charge of this expedition, which will be composed of 300 scientists and research workers and will be a 4,000-man expedition.

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Joining the modern trend, Neillsville has now acquired a coffee shop in its community hotel, the Merchants.  To arrange for it, the Epdings have cut an outside entrance to the front of the dining room, and have installed on the west side of that room, a long counter.

With this change, the conventional hotel dining room, of the old type, disappears from the Neillsville community.  The popularity of the conventional dining room has waned as the coffee shop idea has forged ahead.  For months past, the dining room of the Merchants has been closed, except for parties and special occasions.

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The teachers, at Thorp, are receiving a cost-of-living bonus of $20 per month, retroactive to the first of the present school year.  This was the outcome of an extensive discussion, culminating Nov. 14 in joint meeting between the teachers and the Board of Education.

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Pfc. Bernard Walker, son of Mr. and Mrs. D. M. Walker of Willard, is a member of the famed “Blue Devil” division now on duty at the Morgan Line in the disputed Venezia Giulia area of Northern Italy, where they are controlling traffic.  He is entitled to wear the MTO, Victory, Occupational and Good Conduct ribbons.  He has had the opportunity for passes to many historical and scenic spots of Italy, including Rome, Naples, Pompeii, Lido, Pisa and Cortina.  At Cortina, the winter sport center of Italy, he spent seven enjoyable days.  He has had the distinction of representing his company and the 88^th Division in an honor guard parade held at Caserta, Italy.  Pfc. Walker will be eligible for discharge on the 18 months law on January 18, 1947.  He received his army training at Camp Wolters, Texas.

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H. H. Van Gorden & Sons are distributors of Wildwood Feeds, in Neillsville.

They are now grinding ear corn, if the husks are removed.

Also selling Murphy’s Cut Cost, 100 lbs. $5.35; Murphy’s Vig-O-Ray, 100 lbs. $5.95

Wanted – Hides, they will be buying Deer Hides.

If you have a Nice Buck Head to be mounted, write or see Earl Holt, Greenwood, Wis.

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The Silver Dome Ballroom, west of Neillsville, will have a Double Wedding Dance, Saturday, November 23, in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Schweinler and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cattanach with the Jolly Dutchmen Band providing the music.

Thanksgiving Day, November 28, come, dance at the Hunters Ball, music by Whoopee John Band.

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Murphy’s Tavern will be serving a lunch of Soup, Sandwiches and Coffee for the Deer Hunters at all hours during the deer season.

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Wednesday night, November 20, will be the Grand Opening of the Stables Nite Club.

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The American Legion Turkey Dance will be held at the Neillsville Armory on Thursday night, November 21.

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Modernize your home with door chimes.  There are many styles now on display.  They can operate from the front or back door, or both, only $2.95 and up at Clark County Electric Shop, 137 S. Hewett St. Neillsville, Phone 261.  Al H. Schafer is the proprietor.

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Headquarters for Standard Products at Christie is the Dakota Club, a neighborhood social center.  Watch for the Standard Oil emblems on the west side of Highway 73, in Christie.

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