Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

October 11, 1995, Page 28

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

Index of "Oldies" Articles 

 

 

Good Old Days

 

By Dee Zimmerman

 

October 1895

 

A letter written to the Neillsville Times dated Oct. 13, 1895 from James McKinley:

 

“The fall of the year, especially October, reminds me of the many Octobers I have spent in Clark County, and like the Israelites of old, I long for the fresh pots of Clark County.  Clark County in an early day was noted for its fine meaty potatoes.  The new virgin soil was porous, and all you had to do was to make a large hill – the larger the hill the more potatoes.  If you made a hill the size of a bushel basket you would be sure to get three pecks of potatoes.  In the spring of 1854, I cleared off one acre and planted it to potatoes.  I had 400 bushels from that acre, all medium size.  I called them Irish potatoes.  I have never since raised such a crop of potatoes.  Potatoes, pheasant and deer were the diet.  The pheasants were as thick as bed bugs that used to infest the hotels.  The deer were fat in the fall, and very plentiful, the good potatoes, pheasants and deer – well, I submerged myself in that diet for 30 days.  I never forgot it.”

 

The scaffolding in front of the new Sniteman block has been taken down and the front of the plate glass, oak sash cherry finished and iron painted with aluminum, with pressed brick and iron cornice in aluminum and gold, a fine mortar-and-pestle sign in the center above the store, makes a most striking and showy appearance.  The deep recessed entrances, surrounded with plate glass, are a noticeable feature.  The last stick of old building has disappeared.  

 

Two Prominent Citizens Gone – Jones Tompkins and Judge Richard Dewhurst.  Thompkins, 69 years, died at his home in Eaton Township.  He came to the county in 1866, worked in the pineries, became S. F. Weston’s manager and settled on his present farm in 1866.  He was postmaster of Greenwood for one term, served on town and county boards. 

 

Judge Dewhurst was one of our wealthiest citizens, a pioneer, locating here in 1856.  He represented his district in legislature four terms, in 1859, 1865, 1875, and 1887; was county judge at one time, late in ‘70’s, and filled many positions of trust.  At age 69, the time of his death, he was president of the Neillsville Bank, of German – American Bank at Marshfield, a stock holder in the American National Bank at Milwaukee, with interests in other enterprises.

 

The Pleasant Ridge post office will soon be moved from Fred Vines to Mrs. Kurth’s.  The new German Lutheran Church at Nasonville was dedicated last Sunday.

 

Geo. R. Brooks and H. B. Holmes, of Lynn, accompanied by their wives, passed through town Tuesday, enroute to Diamond Lake on a fishing expedition. 

 

Mrs. John Stewart of Greenwood won a valuable hat by the expertness of her wrist, defeating a dozen other ladies in peeling one – half peck of potatoes at the County Fair.  Greenwood to the front every time!

 

John Barth drove from the town of Fremont, last week, to purchase a new wind mill in Neillsville.

 

Fred Benedict is home, in Wilcox community, returning from Plainfield due to homesickness.

 

Over 200 people, who live in Loyal, traveled to the Clark County fair to view exhibits and attractions on Thursday and Friday.

 

October 1920

 

A dozen cars of Neillsville people drove to Loyal Friday, to attend the “Loyal Day” celebration, held there Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  They report a fair attendance and good exhibits of livestock and agricultural products.  A ball game between Loyal and Greenwood was enjoyed in the afternoon. 

 

There will be a carpet rag social at the Woodman Hall at York Center on Thursday.  Each lady shall bring a ball of carpet rags with her name inside and lunch for two.  Everyone come!

 

Joe Felser and Mrs. Emma Garbush were married on Tuesday afternoon by Rev. Longnecker.  They will reside on East 9th Street.  The groom is a world war veteran and employed at the Korman & Ghent Shop.

 

The Ladies Auxiliary of the Presbyterian Church will hold a chicken pie supper in the church basement Tues. Oct. 26, from 5:30 until all are served.  Menu: Chicken pie, mashed potatoes, baked squash, cabbage salad, beet pickles, jelly, rolls, pumpkin pie and coffee.  Price 50 cents

 

The church going ladies out at Shortville occasionally get up a regular old fashioned supper consisting of everything that one might wish to eat and by gee, they have got some cooks out there and when you sit down to their table you will wish your belly was as big as the war debt.  You can eat until you are heaped up and they only charge 35 cents for it, which goes to show there might be a remedy to this high cost of living if people used a little more Christianity in their daily routine. However, those like the good ladies of Shortville will have a little sunshine in the hereafter.

 

Leo Kronberger of the Town of York had the misfortune to get his arm badly hurt while cranking his father’s car.

 

There was a “big doings” at Rollie Benedict’s home last Wednesday.  Well, it wasn’t a wedding nor a corn roast, but there were lots of young folks there – such as Frieda Wiernzenski, George Mortimer, Lulu Benedict, Harvey and Jim Palmer who all had a dickens of a time, we heard.

 

October 1945

 

Headline news of Clark County Press dated Oct. 11 – “New Industry Comes Here” – Nelson Muffler Corporation to operate locally.  It will be located in a building just west of the present Weidenhoff plant, and will at first use floor space of 4,200 square feet.  It will employ 15 to 35 men with expansion a possibility.  The concern is headed by C. E. Nelson, who came out of the Burgess Battery operation in Madison.

 

Neillsville makes plans to welcome a convention of state cheese-makers on Oct. 25.  Service clubs will decorate the armory, a welcome banner will be hung across Main Street and letters of invitation will be sent out to members.

 

Lucille Mueller and Sgt. Wilber Joyce were married October 10, by Rev. William A. Baumann at a double ring ceremony at the St. John’s parsonage.  Lucille is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Mueller, Neillsville.  The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Joyce of rural Greenwood.  He has served in the army for the past two years.  Maid of honor was Miss Alice Beyer.  The groom was attended by his brother, Pvt. Walter Joyce.  A reception was held at the home of the bride’s parents.  Mrs. Joyce intends to resume her employment at the Moderne Beauty Shoppe and the groom will return to Fort Bliss, Texas, where he is stationed.

 

October 1970

 

FFA Winners at the state soil judging contest during Farm Progress days was a team of four Greenwood high school students; Mark Lindner, Delbert Dearth, Ken Herdrich and David Boe.

 

Bali Hai Supper Club features dancing in the Bamboo Room every nite.  Saturday Nite, music by the Starliters.  Sunday menu special is ½ golden brown chicken; with potatoes, salad, relish, rolls and beverage for only $1.75.  Halloween Masquerade Ball Saturday, Oct. 31.  Lots of costume prizes.

 

Granton FFA Chapter was awarded a medal as one of the 100 outstanding FFA Chapters out of 9,000 in the nation at the recent Kansas City, MO Convention.  Members accepting the award were: Gary Dahl, Martin Hillert, Dan Shaw, Duane Wagner, Ron Vandeberg, Lubo Hanuszczak and adviser, Frances Steiner.  This is the sixth national honor in seven years.

 

 The annual community theatre Halloween Party will be held at the Neillsville Theatre, W. B. Meier, manager, announced.  There will be a showing of a special cartoon, first showing 6:15 p.m. for younger children and 7:20 p.m. for older children.  Party is under sponsorship of the Modern Woodmen.

 

There are thousands who can see that a statement is nonsense and yet are quite unable to disprove it formally. – G. C. Liehtenberg

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If you try to cleanse others – like soap, you will waste away in the process! – African Proverb

 

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The most exhausting thing in life is being insincere. – Anne Morrow Lindbergh

 

The farm residence of Robert Schofield was located on the edge of Greenwood, believed to have been built for a cost of $12,000; it was classed as the finest in that area during the 1890’s.  Schofield was very influential with developing the Greenwood area.  His 200 acre well stocked excellent farm had fine buildings and a beautiful home with the latest conveniences, representing his success.  A native of New York, he traveled to Wisconsin as a young adult, became involved in farming, lumbering and developed a saw mill at Greenwood.

 

Neillsville Country Club’s Top 10 Lady Golfers of the mid 50’s posed for the photographer on a sunny summer day:  Left to right; Caroline Gustman, Nellie Quicker, Sadie Haight, Alice Flynn, Geri Magnuson, Donna Stoll, Connie Holum, Doris Eisentraut, Buddy Langreck and an unidentified lady.  (Photo contributed by Buddy Langreck)

 

The Neillsville High School Band Walked the parade route up 5th Street through West Street intersection, past the Congregational church on one corner and the Neillsville Dairy Bar on the other corner, during the 40's. (Courtesy of Clark County Historical Society, Jail Museum.)

 

 


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