Clark County Press, Neillsville, Wisconsin

September 23, 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

September 1869

 

 L. R. Stafford and J. N. Kemery have become associated together in the livery business at Staffordville.  They keep a good stock of horses and can fit out any kind of a rig on short notice. An institution of this kind has been needed here very much for some time and we are glad these gentlemen have supplied the want. They have gone into the business on no half-way plan, with a lot of broken down “plugs” to hire, but have fine horses.  They expect in a few days two or three nice buggies.  Kemery is always in attendance at the barn and will be found courteous and obliging at all times.

•••••••••

Samuel Calway, a gentleman who lately arrived in this place, has become associated in business with Emery Bruley the blacksmith.  Mr. Calway is a wood-workman and the new firm advertises to make and repair, wagons, sleds, etc. in the best style, and according to order.  The business will be carried on at Bruley’s old stand on the north side of O’Neill Creek. As we think of them as deserving, we bespeak for them a liberal patronage.

•••••••••

Gen. C. C. Washburn, with the genial and wide awake Capt. Tom LaFlesh, came back to town for a trip to the East Fork the other day and left for La Crosse on Monday.                               

•••••••••

Such is the name of a new town just started on the West Wisconsin railroad, which is located near Rocky Mound, in this county, and is now named in honor of Hon. Jacob Humburd, who has been instrumental in building the railroad.  The day is not far distant when Humburd will be quite a lively little town.  It is surrounded by as fine a country as there is in the State.  A vast amount of wheat will be bought at that point. Considerable building is going on there now.

 

Work upon the new road, which connects this place with Rocky Mound has been commenced and will be vigorously prosecuted to the end.

 

Last Monday Messrs. Jas. Hewett and L. R. Stafford put a crew of about twenty men at work upon this end of the section of road between Hewett & Woods and G. W. King’s mills.  Mr. King was to begin operations upon the other end of the section with about the same number of men. They are bound to have a good road through this part of the county at whatever cost.

 

Mentor is considerably interested in this road, having assisted in building out main Black River road.  Our nearest railroad point will soon be in that direction, so it has become of importance and advantage to the whole county. There will be some competition between Wrightsville in Jackson County and Rocky Mound, or Humburd, as it may be called, for the trade of this section and there certainly ought not to be a man in Clark County in doubt as to the best route to take.  No citizen in the county should hesitate to do all he can to encourage the building of a first-class road to Rocky Mound, and thereby increase the wealth and prosperity of Clark County.

•••••••••

The other day our esteemed townsman, Mr. Daniel Gates, went from here to Wrightsville, a new station on the West Wisconsin railroad, and returned with a load of flour weighting 2,200 pounds, the same day, which is the first instance of he kind on record.  Less than a year ago it took five days to go to the railroad and back with a load!  The railroad is getting nearer and nearer.

•••••••••

There was another rousing temperance meeting at the courthouse last night.  Many more signed the pledge, swelling the total to about fifty.

•••••••••

The school money apportioned to this county from the state for this year amounts to $311.61 and it is now in the possession of the County Treasurer.

•••••••••

Mr. Geo. W. Barker, a gentleman from Dodge County, who settled in this county last spring, has put up a turning lathe in Graves mill, about 17 miles north of here.  He has begun the manufacture of chairs, bedsteads, tables and other furniture and it is the intention of Mr. Barker to establish a permanent manufactory of such articles.  Mr. Graves has in his mill a steam engine of 30-horsepower, sufficient to admit an increase to his manufacturing facilities.

 

Hardwood timber is easily obtained at a trifling cost, which enables Mr. Barker to sell at prices to command the exclusive trade of this section in his manufactured stock.

•••••••••

Old Dandy, a chief of the Winnebagos, a once powerful tribe that used to inhabit this northern country, has shuffled off this mortal earth and gone to his long home in the “happy hunting ground.”  His word had been law for a long number of years in his tribe. He died at Dexterville, Wood County a few days ago.

 

 

September 1934

 

Although the rains of Sunday marred the opening of Hawthorne Hills Country Club, a much larger crowd was on hand to try out the new course than had been expected under the circumstances.  All who played were enthusiastic about the grounds and praised Mr. Baer for his industry and efforts in establishing such a fine course for the benefit of this community.  About 30 visitors were served at supper. The course will open daily for the rest of the season.

 

(Hawthorne Hills is now the Neillsville Country Club golf course. D. Z.)  

•••••••••

Misses Leona Verkuilen of Thorp and Genevieve Baker returned to teach at the Eidsvold State Graded School.  Miss Iola Gimmeke of Greenwood is the new teacher at Roger Creek. Miss Mary Hazuga returned to Otter Creek and Misses Stella Jane and Olive Warden began their sixth year of teaching at French Town, north of Withee.

•••••••••

Last Tuesday evening some 125 friends of Clara Piekola enjoyed themselves at a shower given in her honor at the Beaver Town Hall, north of Loyal.  The evening was spent in dancing and a midnight lunch was served.  Clara received many nice gifts and will soon be married to Frank Schwanke of Loyal.

•••••••••

O. W. Lewerenz who is on the Conservation committee of the county board spoke at Kiwanis Club Monday, on the work now going on in the drainage district west of Neillsville.  He stated that 2,400 forties of county lands and other lands are in the Federal Reserve.

 

Dams are now under construction or will soon be started at certain locations to control the water in the ditches so as to raise the water levels, create ponds in certain places and give fire protection to the entire area.  Nearly 25 dams will be built.

 

This work is all being done by relief labor, the only local expense being supervision and equipment.

 

One lake is projected to cover four sections. The conservation Committee will secure wild rice seed to sow in the ponds to furnish feed for wild ducks.

•••••••••

Discovery, Monday, of an old human skeleton by Ferdinand Wittke on his land north of the Neillsville Mounds, brought Sheriff Herman Olson, and Coroner Dr. M. C. Rosekrans, scurrying to the scene where they came to the conclusion that the bones were those of a young Indian woman who died about 25 years ago.

 

According to Mr. Wittke, he and his son, Lester who have been building a fence along an old Indian trail, became curious of a depression in the ground near the fence line.  The earth appeared to have been disturbed recently.  They obtained shovels and found the digging was comparatively easy, confirming their belief that the ground had been removed not long ago.

 

At a depth of a little more than three feet they came across the bones, which looked as though they had been thrown in a pile and covered giving proof to the theory that they had been removed from their original resting place and re-buried in the secluded grave in the woods.

 

The officials, after conducting a thorough examination of the premises, and gathering all the bones together, made an inquiry at several nearby homes.  At the Lester Landgraf farm it was learned that an Indian woman had been buried in that vicinity years ago, and that Linus Frank knew where her grave was situated.  Mr. Frank, whose farm is nearby, informed the officers that the Indian woman, 20 years old, who was a member of a party of Indians, camped in that territory, contracted tuberculosis and after a short illness, died.  She was buried within a few feet of the trail that led down to Black River.

 

Apparently someone recently dug into the grave in the hope of finding Indian relics and then threw the bones back and covered them up.

 

As a result of the skeleton’s discovery residents of the community recalled reports of a ghostly manifestation in that area north of the mound about 10 years ago.  It as rumored at that time that a mysterious-blue, nebulous light was seen to rise from the ground and dance across the landscape always returning and disappearing at the point from which it appeared.  Walter Dangers declared he had seen the diaphanous glow floating among the trees one night and heard what sounded like the low, muffled voice of a woman laughing as the light appeared to sink into the ground.  While Mr. Dangers’ story was discounted at the time, he now points to the skeleton of the Indian Woman as proof that there was a basis for the ghost story.                                                                                                           

•••••••••

Auction Sale: Horses to be sold, sale starts at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at Colby; There will also be 40 head of work and brood mares and some good 2 and 3 year olds, all well broke horses, quiet and guaranteed, weights 1,300 lbs and up.

 

Buy some of these good young horses now as next spring they will be hard to find.  If it weren’t for a feed shortage, these horses could not be bought now.

 

For terms before sale, see C. J. Bane                                                           

•••••••••

 

 The steam pipe running under the O’Neill Creek Bridge, by which the old electric steam plant was supplied by power from the American Stores Dairy Co. boilers, was dismantled Thursday by a condensary crew.  For a time after the Northern States Power Co. took over the electric service here, the old steam plant was kept as an auxiliary unit, and when the high line was out of commission the steam plant was operated by steam from the condensary.  The steam plant was torn down some years ago.

 

 

The above photo is of an early building in the city, first occupied by Neillsville Mills established in 1881 (1891 shows on building front), later with remodeling became Oatman Condensed Milk Co., then American Stores Dairy, and in its last years was known as the Neillsville Condensery. (Photo courtesy of the Bill Roberts’ collection)

•••••••••

The Grand Avenue Birthday Club started a canning bee for the J. D. Cummings family.  Mrs. Cummings has been ill all through the canning season and has just returned home from Rochester, Minn.  Each club member will donate something in the canned food line from her own stock and several groups will meet to put up fruit, still in season, for the Cummings family.

•••••••••

The Bohemian Society of Levis held a State Convention at their hall on Sunday when Members from many societies in Wisconsin sent delegates.  About 200 visitors were served a dinner and in the afternoon 40 new members were initiated into the society. Later plays were presented along with other entertainment, which was given by local and visiting lodges.  Delegates from Cadott, Dartis and other places held a special meeting at the P. Honzik home.  Dancing occupied the evening hours along with other amusements.  Mrs. P. Honzik, Mrs. Kubat and Mrs. Reisner were in charge of the convention program.

•••••••••

The stork will keep his dates. A couple hurrying along Pleasant Ridge to reach their home in Fall Creek, Sunday a.m., had to stop at William Kurth’s place to phone for Dr. Wink and in a short time a little daughter arrived.  They surely fell into kind hands and we know they will be well taken care of.

•••••••••

Mr. Casper Marty was surprised last week by a visit from his brother whom he had not seen since the brother was three years old. He and some other relatives drove here from New York State.

•••••••••

News is that Elgar King has bought a wild 40 in Section 2 of the Town of Hewett and will start to build on it soon.  At present they will live on the place lately vacated by Bill Millu.      

•••••••••

The Reed School opened Monday with Miss Virginia Dall back again as the teacher. The six beginners are: Joyce Scholtz, Katherine Langreck, Gloria Austin, Ray Stanley, Louis Duge and Ronald Elmhorst.

•••••••••

Hereafter when you catch one of the “tigers of the north” you will catch a muskellunge, spelling approved by the Wisconsin Conservation Department. The department has adopted this as the Wisconsin official spelling after all the confusion caused by nine spellings in more or less common use.

 

Other spellings of this same word are “Maskalunge, maskelonge, muskelonge, muskellunge, maskinonge, masellunge, mascononge and maskanong.”  All of these are Anglicized versions of the Chippewa or Ojibwa word, which sounds most like “mashkinonje.”  The department adds that if fishermen have trouble with spelling and want to be on the safe side they should say “muskie” but to be sure to say it with an “ie” rather than a “y.”

•••••••••

Advertisements:

 

Pine Valley Lutheran Church Mission Fest Serving Chicken Dinner 25’

 

Weston Local Meeting, at Globe Hall Tuesday, Sept. 11. Ladies bring sandwiches.

 

Feed Grinding, This Month’s Special, 5’ per sack, Otto Hainz, Phone X 2121

 

Dance?  What about your shoes? Stop at Schroeder’s Shine Parlors, 3 doors east of A & P Store.  Shoes dyed & cleaned.  Leave Repair Work.  Open Sundays!

•••••••••

Janice Elaine West, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James West, was baptized at the Mapleworks Lutheran Church Sunday, Sept. 16. After the christening the following were entertained with a dinner at the West home on Pleasant Ridge: Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Bartz and family, Art Bequette and family of Fairchild, Wm. Happe and family and C. G. Kaddotz and family.

 

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