Clark County Press, Neillsville, Wisconsin

May 13, 2009, Page 17

Contributed by "The Clark Co. Press"

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

Index of "Oldies" Articles 

 

Compiled by Dee Zimmerman

 

Clark County News

May 1909

 

The new copper cent coin, which is now being manufactured in the mint, will bear the head of Abraham Lincoln instead of the familiar Indian Head.  This will be the first instance in which the portrait of a president has been used in the coinage of the United States.

 

The act of 1792 establishing the mint and regulating the coin of the United States, provided that upon one side of each coin should be an impression or representation of the head of the president for the time being, his name, the succession of the presidency numerically and the year of the coin.  This raised a storm of opposition because it was the practice in monarchies whereas the United States was a republic and an amendment was adopted striking out the objection clause and inserting in lieu thereof “an impression emblematic of Liberty.”  The large copper cent originally coined bore the head of the Goddess of Liberty, subsequent one-cent pieces bore the flying eagle and the latest device was that of an Indian Head, which is now to be superseded by the head of Lincoln.

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My ideal of a boy is one who will grow up and be able to support himself, as well as his wife and children. 

 

To be fit to be an American citizen, he has got to preserve his self-respect and conduct himself so as to wrong no one.  Fathers need the most preaching.  Frequently the mothers, who have had hard lives, take the unwise course in attempting to benefit their daughters and sons by bringing them up free from hard knocks.  Next to hardness of heart the least desirable quality is softness of head and the mother or father should not try to bring up their child that way.  Bring them up to work so that they shall recognize an obstacle is not something to be shirked but to be overcome. 

 

(Words of Ex-President Theodore Roosevelt)

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Fifty year ago, Mr. Sam Hutchings, in the prime of vigorous and energetic young manhood took to the altar Miss Margarete McKeand, being married on May 8, 1859, by Rev. J. M. Walker, at Milwaukee.  At the time of their marriage Mr. Hutchings was 20 years of age, having been born in 1839, in Peekskill, N. Y., and Mrs. Hutchings was 17 years old, having been born at Wauwatosa, Wis., in 1842.

 

Ten years after their marriage, in the year 1869, they came to Clark County and settled in the Town of Pine Valley, about four miles south of Neillsville and  there they have lived ever since, laboring that they might amass a competence for the old days that cannot be held off.  To illustrate the stability and perseverance of Mr. and Mrs. Hutchings, it may be noted that they have lived on their present farm for 40 years and during that time every farm between theirs and Neillsville has changed ownership at least once and in many cases more often.  Seeing as this couple’s farm is one of the oldest landmarks in Clark County, so is the location of Hutchings Corner, which is as well known as Neillsville.

 

Three children have added to their joy: Mrs. J. W. McAdams, Miss Mamie Hutchings and John E. Hutchings of Milwaukee.

 

As a memorial of their long years together, last Saturday, Mr. and Mrs. Hutchings celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with the entire neighborhood and many towns-people joining their occasion in a befitting manner.

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Tony Schiller, who is working for the Owen Telephone Co. will play baseball with the Owen league team.  The Owen Enterprise last week said: Tony Schiller, who will play an infielder position with the Owen League, arrived early in the week and will play in the game next Sunday.  He will have good company with the home candidates and the baseball rooters will not have occasion to be disappointed in the performance when they line up against Cadott.

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Thirty-five miles west of Grand Rapids says the Reporter, on the Green Bay and Western Railway there is a jumping off place called Pray.  One mile west of that place, near the railroad track, in the midst of burned pine stumps, stands a little cottage in which there was a funeral service last Saturday. A man named George Reif had died there at the age of 93 years.  He was a graduate of Augsburg College and Munich University, a man who amused himself during his spare moments by reading the poems of Homer and the philosophical writings of Aristotle in the original Greek and the history of Tacitus in Latin.  In 1848 he took part in the unsuccessful insurrection against the absolutism of Maximilian II. During the anti-liberal reaction that followed this insurrection he fled to the United States.  For 40 years he served as a clergyman in the Lutheran Church, but his last years were spent in that desolate jumping off place called Pray.

 

When you go west on the Green Bay railroad you may see the little cottage in which this Democratic scholar died, an exile from his native land on account of his political liberalism.

 

May 1939

 

Graduation exercises for approximately 600 eighth grade students in Clark County’s rural schools will be held May 20 in Withee, Loyal and Neillsville.

 

The announcement was made Wednesday by County School Superintendent L. M. Millard, who said that the music festival would be held in conjunction with the exercises.  Originally it was hoped that the musical program could be held separately.

 

The county superintendent’s office today was busy determining schools to be in each of the three graduation districts and was making other preparations for the exercises.

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The name of the Neillsville Milk Pool cooperative was discarded and the new name Neillsville Milk Products Cooperative adopted at a recent meting of stockholders.  The stockholders also voted to act as an individual cooperative.

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The folks here are very glad to hear that Warren Hake is going to open his dance hall located in Jack Creek Square.  The opening for the season will be Sunday night.  He is giving a free dance for everyone. The young folks here always look forward to this event.  Jack Creek Square wishes Mr. Hake a very successful season. We will be there Sunday night, Warren!

 

(Hake’s dance hall was located about 2 ½ miles southeast of Neillsville. D.Z.)

er

 

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Crews started work Wednesday morning on the preliminary paving of Sixth Street between south Hewett and Court and the block of Court Street between Fifth and Sixth.  Mayor Henry J. Naedler said the city crew would make certain that all underground piping, sewers and water mains are in first class condition before the concrete is poured.  He said WPA crews plan to remove excess dirt from Sixth Street Monday.  It is believed that the two blocks of pavement will be completed before the end of June.  The county board of supervisors has appropriated $1,500 toward paving Court Street.ebryHenr

 

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Any unusual event, which occurred May 10, is easily remembered by members of the F. W. Winn family of Granton, as that date is the birthday anniversary of two members of the family.

 

Mrs. Winn recalls that in 1902 on May 10, there was an unusually heavy fall of snow in this community and again in 1923 the ground was covered with snow.

 

On May 10, 1916, this part of Clark County was visited by its first dust storm.  The hazy condition of the atmosphere was a matter of great concern among residents and it was not until several days later that the people learned that the dust had been blown here from the western states.  The dust that year was of a peculiar red color.  May 10, 1934, is easily recalled by nearly everyone. Dust from the western states was intensified with the dust from our own extremely dry fields and labor of all kinds was almost at a standstill.  The dust storm on May 20 this week was not as severe as those in the past.

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The Neillsville City Council, in special session meeting last Friday night, voted to purchase a General Motors Corp. three-quarter ton truck from the Reinhard-Davis Co. of Neillsville for $465.

 

The purchase includes the trade-in of the old Dodge truck used by the street department for several years.  The new truck will be painted red to conform to the other city’s trucks now in use.

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Pouring of the wings on Snyder’s dam on Wedge’s Creek, about six miles west of the city is planned to start during the fore part of next week, according to Ernie H. Snyder, who is in charge of the work.

 

Workmen at present are constructing forms for the wings.  Blasting of granite bedrock, in which the wings will be anchored, was completed early this week.  Seven hundred dollars has been allocated for the construction of the dam by the county board supervisors.

 

The wings are to be poured to connect with the middle portion of the old dam, which was left standing when the original wings were washed out five or six years ago.

 

The center portion will be built up two feet above its present height, with the wings built two feet above the middle portion.  Thus, the middle portion, which will be about 110 feet long, will form a spillway. The old structure will be resurfaced, Mr. Snyder said.

 

The dam will be eight feet thick at the bottom, three feet thick at the top of the spillway and two feet thick at the top of the wings. The dam will rest entirely on bed-rock.

 

Mr. Snyder estimated that the dam would create a lake two miles long and 500 feet wide at the widest point.

 

It is expected that the dam will be completed within a short time and the bed of the lake to be can be cleared at that time. The lake can be used for swimming and will be stocked with fish, Mr. Snyder said.

•••••••••

Leslie Holmes of Neillsville started to sweep on South Hewett Street at 2:40 a.m. Decoration Day.  He was joined by Adolph Schaub, the regular street sweeper, at 4 a.m. They had made a good start in cleaning the downtown streets before many people were astir.  The result was that the city’s pavements looked spick and span for Memorial Day.  Mr. Schaub has regularly been at work sweeping by 6 a.m., but is setting his time forward to 5 a.m.

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Lightning late Saturday night struck a barn on the farm occupied by Howard Struebing in Washburn Township, which destroyed the building, silo, about 12 tons of hay and several farm implements. Damage was estimated by August Struebing, owner of the place, at more than $2,000.

 

This week, Mr. Struebing and his two sons, Howard and Raymond, were busy cleaning up the debris, in preparation to build another barn on the old foundation and a new concrete stave silo. The loss was partly covered by insurance.

 

The bolt of lightning struck the barn about 11 p.m. shortly after Howard and his wife and family had returned from Neillsville.  A moment after they heard the crash, Howard said, the barn was almost completely enveloped in flames.

 

A young team of horses, the only animals in the barn, was trapped for a time; but Howard’s father, who was summoned, managed to enter the flaming building, release the horses and drive them out unharmed.

 

Only a steady downpour of rain kept the flames from spreading to the farmhouse and other outbuildings nearby.

•••••••••

Greenwood was the Mecca Friday evening for friends and well-wishers, who joined with 29 Greenwood men in celebrating the presentation of a Rotary Charter.  Nearly 200 persons were there from Rotary and other clubs over a wide area.

 

The meeting was held in the high school gymnasium.  The banquet was served by the organization of the band parents of Greenwood.  The chairman was O. P. Deuel, superintendent of the Greenwood Schools, who is the first president of the Rotary Club.

 

The officers of the new Rotary Club at Greenwood are: O. P. Deuel, president; P. W. Gullord, vice-president; L. G. Giswold, Secretary; A. H. Schwarze, treasurer.

 

The members of the new club are: M. V. Overman, P. W. Gullord, A. W. Heinze, T. F. Schiller, H. R. Baird, H. L. Flatz, A. D. Lyons, H. L. Corey, L. G. Giswold, Adolph Schwarze, L. G. Hinkle, R. L. Deuel, John Wuethrich, O. P. Deuel, H. M. Bergemann, W. C. Steiger, D. A. Armstrong, W. A. Olson, J. W. Braunels, George Speich, Elmer Jacobson, R. W. Schwartz, W. F. Neuenfeldt, P. E. Peterson, E. P. Michels and P. G. Vinger.

•••••••••

Schultz Brothers 39’ Aluminum Kitchen Ware Sale: Covered Kettle, Coffee Percolator, Round Roll Rim Dish Pan, Double Boiler, Baking and Roasting Pan only 39’ each.  Any of these would make great June Bride Gifts.

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Hatfield Roller Rink Open for Roller Skating Every Wednesday, Friday, Sunday Night and Sunday Afternoon.  A pair of new wooden wheel Chicago rollerskates will be given away every Wednesday night.

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Anniversary Special at Wagner’s Restaurant & Tap Room: – Ice Cream, all flavors 25’ per quart.  We will feature a special Anniversary Dinner June 4th & 5th.

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Boston Fried Chicken: Every Saturday Night at the Mint Tavern, Granton.  Carl Storm, Proprietor.

•••••••••

Zimmerman Bros. Sale:  Men’s Wash Slacks, pleated or plain, 98’ to $2.25; Men’s Fancy Anklets, Lastex tops, Cotton, Rayon or Silk, 10’50’; Men’s & Boy’s Tennis Shoes, 59’ to 98’.

•••••••••

Betty’s Root Beer Stand Opens Saturday, May 20.  Located in Neillsville’s city limits on Hwy. 10 east.

•••••••••

 

 

A circa 1900 photo of George Sontag, a druggist at Sniteman Drug Store, who was traveling by horses and buggy over the North Grand Avenue Bridge.  A sign posted on the bridge’ overhead truss read: “$50 fine for anyone traveling more than 5 miles an hour over this bridge.”  (Photo courtesy of the Sontag family collection)

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