Good Old Days

Compiled by Dee Zimmerman 

Clark County News of November 1867

Twenty-two immigrating families arrived here during the last four weeks, planning to live in Clark County.

James O’Neill, member of the Assembly-elect, will give a grand complimentary ball at his home next week.

Last week, several yoke of fine oxen belonging to the firm of Hewett, Woods & Co., were roaming around on the village streets.  They looked as though they had been well fed.

Henry Myers has formed an alliance with George Lloyd in the logging business.  They have contracted to put in two and a half million feet of logs, and left for their camp immediately on Popple River, about 30 miles north of Neillsville.  They will employ 15 men for the job.

Mr. Schneider, who lives a mile south of town, has been busy for two days trying to move his large barn nearer to his residence.  Thirty yoke of oxen have been employed to do the transfer, but up to last evening the combined efforts of man and beast had proved unavailing. Stafford is going to take a hitch to the barn, it will move then.

A good number of people hunt on Sunday.  We don’t.  We would feel, if we should shoot a finger off accidentally while Sunday hunting, that the powers above had sent us a slight warning of our wickedness.  At any rate we should never own up to the fact that the accident occurred while hunting on the Sabbath.  We have our holidays, let the game have theirs.

Hon. James O’Neill Member of Assembly-elect has received the appointment of general agent of this part of Wisconsin for the purchase of all kinds of furs, to be sent to an extensive manufacturing company in New York.  O’Neill is ready to negotiate for all kinds, of fur, from muskrat to otter, for which he will pay the highest cash price.

Last Tuesday morning, O’Neill’s clothes line was robbed of sixteen sheets and two towels, by some unscrupulous thief.  Whoever stole the items has not the honor to work for a living, or the “pluck” to steal on an honorable scale.

Some time ago, an application was made to have a mail route and post office in the town of Loyal.  Now, with logging season at hand, the absence of a post office will be severely felt by the boys in the woods around the Loyal area.

One of Neillsville’s old acquaintances, Capt. Thomas LaFlesh, was in town yesterday.  He was in the Civil War four years as commander of a company in the Second Wisconsin Cavalry.  The captain is now in the logging business on the east fork of Black River.

Wednesday, Nov. 27, will be observed as a holiday by all who desire to capture a turkey for the 28^th, national day of Thanksgiving.  Helon Nichols and J. B. Davies will inaugurate a grand shooting match at nine o’clock on Wednesday morning, at the Lumbermen’s hotel.  This will be a fine sport for our marksmen.

November 1882

Kit Durham’s saw mill on Cawley Creek has been completed and is ready for business.

Ed Eaton’s saw mill at Longwood, started up for the first time, yesterday.  It is a first-class mill and is to be furnished with a planer as well as the newest in other machinery.

Miss Etta Wilding, Town of Grant, was married to Fred Wesenberg, Town of Washburn, on last Sunday evening.  The marriage ceremony was ministered by Rev. W. T. Hendren at the Pleasant Ridge Church.  We acknowledge the receipt of wedding cake and wish the couple a happy journey throughout life.

Bruley’s building was lighted with gas for the first time last Saturday evening.  The store, which is the first one illuminated with gas in this city, is supplied with two-light chandeliers and several bracket burners, besides the four lights for use in the show window.  Every portion of the building, from basement to garret, is abundantly supplied with gas fittings and every-thing works like a charm.  The generator used is known as the Excelsior Gas Machine and is believed to be the best machine of its kind.  The gas-fitting was done by Will Blackman of Chicago.

Energy and push have as much to do with success in business as experience and this have been fully demonstrated by Emery Bruley of this city.  A few years ago, Bruley left the forge and anvil to embark in the clothing trade.  He was an excellent blacksmith and had never previously experienced working with the mercantile business.  When starting the clothing store business, friends predicted Bruley would soon find he could do better pounding iron than attempting mercantile business.  Starting with a very small and rather indifferent stock of goods, in a crazy tumble-down building (and rented at that), he has built a splendid trade.  He now owns one of the best business buildings in the city and carries the largest, best stock of clothing in the area.

Within our city, we have what is known as “The Neillsville Lawyers Ring.”  Below, we list the membership of that ring and what it has accomplished by itself:

M. C. Ring, lawyer, has had a desire to be a member of the state assembly and senate, carrying Clark County’s delegation but was defeated in convention.  He still plans to keep trying for such a position. 

C. A. Youmans, lawyer, has been a Clark County judge and is now district attorney.

James O’Neill, Jr., lawyer strives to have an office in the future.

J. R. Sturdevant, lawyer, has had several offices.  He had eight years as district attorney, and then changed to Clark County judge.  As of now, he has one term in at being county clerk.

L. A. Doolittle, lawyer, has been county judge and is now county superintendent.

An enormous buck, killed in the Town of York and purchased by the Lowe Bros. attracted much attention last Saturday.

It was one of the finest deer seen in this locality for years.  The head and horns were purchased by J. L. Gates and presented to Mr. Cable, of Davenport, Ia., who will have a taxidermist preserve the mount.  The balance of the big deer was sent to the Chicago market.

Christian Vates announces a gift dance to be at his hall in the village of Greenwood, Nov. 30.  He will offer his driving horse as winning prize, as he has sold 100 tickets at $1 each.

The engine, boiler and other machinery for a shingle mill to be put in the Town of Sherwood arrived here.  T. J. LaFlesh had been waiting for the equipment and will transport it to his mill site.

The street lamp put up at the O’Neill House corner by John Carkart and the light in front of Bruley’s store, shed considerable light on Main Street.  A few more business houses on Main Street should follow their example and there would be an abundance of light.  The city would have a metropolitan appearance as well as being a benefit to the public.

A new blacksmith shop on north Main Street, across from Neillsville Flouring Mills, is owned and operated by L. D. Ruddock.  Horse shoeing is his specialty.

November 1937

The new Zilk Villa is one of the finest super-service stations in the northwest and is located here in Neillsville.  Credit goes to Joe Zilk, the enterprising owner, who had a part in the building and furnishing of the fine new station.  The station lot, on the corner of Division and Hewett Streets, is also adjoined by a fine new home and two new, modern cabins, also built by Zilk this year.

Zilk, a resident of Neillsville for the past 24 years, has been at the present location the past six years.  He previously was in the oil distributing business eleven years.  Six years preceding service in World War I, he was a salesman.

The new Zilk Villa is built of artistic stone exterior on a corner lot of 160-ft. square.  The building is equipped with a new type hoist, grease equipment, and has tire service, as well as washing and simonizing cars.  Of the six cabins, three are fully modern and electrically heated.  (Zilk Villa was located on the lot now occupied by Auto Stop. D.Z.)

Zilk Villa, a uniquely designed gasoline and service station occupied the northeast corn (corner) of Division and Hewett Street for a number of years.  Built in 1937, the station, six cabins and Joe Zilk’s home were an impressive addition to Neillsville in that era.

Members of the Christie Methodist Church invite friends to attend their 9:30 a.m. service on Sunday, Nov. 7 as they rejoice and give thanks for improvements made on the building.  Walls and ceiling have been covered with wallboard and paneling, and woodwork was painted.  The church school purchased a picture and placed it on the wall behind the pulpit.  A special program is being planned and the public is invited to attend the worship service.

Starting Saturday and every Saturday after, until next May, the courthouse will be open all day.  All of the law offices will also be open all day.

County Clerk Calvin Mills has received 4,000 deer tags, which will be available for this year’s hunting season.  Last year 3,700 deer tags were purchased in the county.  The deer season this year is Nov. 26, 27, and 28, including a Sunday, which should account for a lot of hunters in the woods. 

Stanley High School’s football team has been declared the championship of the Black River Valley Football conference at a meeting held in Eau Claire last week.

Go roller-skating at the Silver Dome every Wednesday and Sunday evenings.

Card parties are held at Moose Hall, corner of 5^th Street and Grand Avenue, every Wednesday evening.  Everybody is invited.  Bridge, 500 and Schafskopf are played.

The annual plum pudding supper will be held Nov. 12 at Pleasant Ridge Church.  Adults - 50¢, children - 25¢

There will be a “Turkey Dance” at the Moose Hall, Tuesday, Nov. 12.  Music will be by the Hiles Orchestra.  Admission: ladies 10¢, gents 25¢.  Plan to attend and get your Thanksgiving bird.  Sponsored by the Neillsville Chamber of Commerce

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Self-satire, disillusion, absence of prejudice may be freedom, but they are not strength.—Amiel

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Bees are not as busy as we think they are.  They just can’t buzz any slower. – Kin Hubbard

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A quality load of lumber merited a photograph taken on the corner of Main and Mill Streets in Loyal, circa 1900.  A sign posted on the load (of) lumber, is believed to read, “8,000 feet lumber, John Bertz.”  The corner of the building in the background is now occupied by Mill Street Inn.