June 1895

Andy Redman, from Christie, is a frequent visitor to this side of West Weston. There is some attraction up in the woods, probably a “dear.”

A hop was held at the Globe opera house on Saturday evening and it extended well into Sunday.

Fording Wedges Creek seems like of times. The bridge was removed for repairs.  Fred Seif is filling in the east abutment.

The creamery is receiving 5,000 lbs. of milk daily and there are quite a number yet to hear from.

••••••••••

Black River is as free from logs as it has ever been since the year before logging began.  It is said to be a fact, that the two or three years to come will see but scant piles of logs and those mostly of small size and this will end the days of this river as a logging stream.  Black River has had a notable record as a logging stream and if written up as such, a wild and wooly record it should be and would make racy reading.

Still, with the innumerable millions that have poured from its mouth every spring, it is marvelous how few large fortunes have been built up from the industry.  This circumstance illustrates the great truth that it is not want of opportunity so much as want of capacity in this new country of ours, which prevents all of us from acquiring wealth.

Now that logging is practically a closed chapter on the Black, our energies should be turned to improving its power to turn mill wheels, generate electricity and create a hum of manufacturing industry which shall make its borders thrive as do the borders of the rivers in New York, Massachusetts and other eastern states.

••••••••••

Consulate of U. S. of A. for Leith at Edinburgh, Scotland, May 31^st, 1895:

To the Officers and Members of Chas. G. Bacon Post G.A.R., Neillsville, Wis.; between one and two years ago, a monument of Ex-President Lincoln was erected in the old Carlton burying ground, Edinburgh.  It was dedicated to the memory of the Scottish American soldiers who served in the Union Army during the war of the Rebellion.

The plot of ground under the monument has been set apart as a burial place for soldiers who served in our war and who died in this country.

I thought it highly proper, under these circumstances, that we should have Memorial Day services at the monument which we did yesterday, having a splendid gathering.  The monument was handsomely decorated with flowers and flags.  Hon. Allen B. Morse, U. S. Consul at Glasgow, who served throughout the war in a Michigan regiment and who lost his arm at Missionary Ridge, delivered a most eloquent oration.

Lincoln Post of Newark, N. J. sent here a certain sum of money to buy a laurel wreath and some flowers to place on the monument.  They did not know that we were to have any formal ceremonies.  I added an equal amount of money in the name, of and for, in behalf of the Chas. G. Bacon Post of Neillsville.  Consul Morse, of Glasgow, added a similar amount in behalf of the Wm. H. Borden Post of Michigan.

This being the first regular Memorial Day exercises ever had in Europe, I thought it would be pleasant to have the name of your post coupled with the same.

Yours very truly,

Robert J. McBride,

United States Consul.

••••••••••

A short time after noon on Sunday, the Neillsville Creamery Co.’s creamery plant was burned to the ground, a total loss, with all its content except the boiler.  The loss to the company is about $2,000.  The company lost 15,000 lbs. of butter, B. E. Luethe lost 1,000 lbs and Balch & Tragsdorf lost 450 lbs.  Mr. Luethe had sent up a load of butter as late as 10 p.m. Saturday. These outside parties were not insured.

The fire started, no doubt, from a spark from the smoke stack.  Butter maker Salsburg had gone home at noon, and there was nobody about apparently to save anything.

The company has made arrangements to continue their business at G. A. Austin’s creamery, so not a moment’s delay of business was caused.  The construction of anew building is under consideration.

••••••••••

Last Friday, 30 or 40 girls and boys were bathing at Ross Eddy and not properly dressed.  We protest that parents are not doing their duty in letting their children go out thus unattended. We propose that bathing be prohibited at that place altogether.

••••••••••

Some thieves made a raid on Max Opelt’s store Wednesday night in the Town of Lynn.  Their greatest graving seemed to be for oysters and salmon.  A sack of pennies and a pair of shoes were taken next.  They quietly took themselves away to parts unknown.

June 1950

The story “The Day They Gave Babies Away” will be made into a movie.  The story rights have been bought by Howard Hughes, who will make it into an RKA picture.

This announcement, coming from Hollywood, has a strong local interest, because the story was written by Dale Eunson, son of Neillsville, who is now fiction editor of the Cosmopolitan magazine.  Its hero is Robert Eunson, one-time sheriff of Clark County.

Through the courtesy of Dale Eunson, this story was the feature of the Christmas edition of the Clark County Press in 1948.  Mr. Eunson gave The Press the right to publish the copyrighted story.

It will be recalled by Press readers that the hero of the story was Robert Eunson.  When he was about 12 years of age his mother died.  His father had previously died.  The mother gave Robert the responsibility of finding homes for himself and his five brothers and sisters.  The story tells how in the Christmas season, he went about this difficult task and how successful he was with it.

Louella Parsons, motion picture editor of the International News Service, says that Edmund Grainger will be the producer of the movie version; that Valentine Davis will write and direct; that Bobby Driscoll will be borrowed from Walt Disney for the role of Robert Eunson.

••••••••••

Fourteen-year-old Billy Appleyard is becomingly modest and unassuming.  You’d never pick him out of a crowd as a hero.

Yet, to several people of Neillsville’s North Side, he became a hero last Monday afternoon; for he pulled little Eugene (Genie) O’Brien from the swift waters of Black River as Genie was going under for the third time.

When you talk with Billy about it, he makes the whole action sound quite matter-of-fact. But it wasn’t. Genie, the nine-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold O’Brien of Neillsville, will tell you that he doesn’t remember much about his experience in the water at the Little Eddy, just upstream from the waterworks.

Ronnie Yankee, 12, and Genie’s brother, Jerry, 11, who witnessed the dramatic rescue, will tell you that Genie couldn’t stand when he was pulled from the water.  Although he did not lose consciousness, his legs buckled under him when he was brought to shore.

Billy Appleyard and his pal Bobby DeMert were just about dressed and ready to leave the Eddy swimmin’ hole for home.  Another five minutes and help would have been beyond Genie’s reach, for these two were the only “older boys” within rescue distance at the time.

••••••••••

Walter Reber has sold his cheese factory and business at Kurth Corners to Herman Hediger.  Mr. Hediger took possession May 16 and is operating the factory.  The product will be Swiss cheese, as in the past, making some American cheese, also.

The purchase of the Reber factory puts Herman Hediger back into the dairy business in a substantial way.  He retired entirely a few years ago and had no business other than the management of his ranch in Wyoming.  In consequence of the Neperud failure, he found himself back in business at Christie, and his conclusion was that, since he had to be in the business, he might as well be in it strong.

Walter Reber has been running the factory at Kurth Corners for nearly 14 years.  He has mostly made Swiss cheese.  This was his third factory, owned and managed by himself.

The business deal with Mr. Hediger did not include the farmland owned by Mr. Reber.  This land is rented out and Mr. Reber will continue to hold it.

Mr. Reber is continuing at the factory for a few weeks, while he is curing and marketing the last of the Swiss cheese made under his ownership.  Thereafter, he plans to go for a visit to Switzerland, where he has relatives.

••••••••••

The Stables and Globe baseball teams will battle it out for second place in the Southern Clark County league when they meet Sunday afternoon at Globe.

Both Globe and the Stables have won two games and lost one.  They trail the league with Willard leading by 2 ½ games.  Willard has won all four starts this season.

The only other league tilt will find Grandview and Lynn, the two league tail-enders, facing one another on the Lynn diamond.

••••••••••

Miss Cyrena Van Gorden, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Van Gorden of Neillsville, will become the bride of Robert Deuerhauer, of Alma, at ceremonies Saturday in the Van Gorden home on Park Street.  The young couple will make their home in Wausau, where both will be employed.  Miss Van Gorden will graduate from the University of Wisconsin Friday, the day before her marriage.

••••••••••

La Crosse will be the home of Mr. and Mrs. Walter E. Holt, following their honeymoon in Milwaukee.  The bride is the former Miss Germaine Lindow, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Lindow of Chili.  The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter S. Holt of Madison.

The Evangelical United Brethren Church was the scene of the wedding.  Attendants were Mr. and Mrs. Warren Beil of Chili, brother-in-law and sister of the bride.

••••••••••

Last Wednesday, Trinity Lutheran Church of Loyal was the scene of the marriage of Miss Frances Ann Langholz, daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. John C. Langholz, Loyal and Victor Schulz, Boyden, Ia., son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Schulz of Iowa.  Officiating at the services were the Rev. John C. Langholz, father of the bride, the Rev. Fred A. Meske of Marshfield, grandfather of the bride, and the Rev. August Baetke, Waverly, Ia., an uncle of the groom.

The bride’s attendants were Miss Eunice Langholz, sister of the bride, Mrs. James Behrens, Shawano, and Miss Lois Landdeck of Russell, Kan.

The groom was attended by Robert Benk of Worth, Ill., Ernest Wilcke of Timber Lake, S.D. and the Rev. James Behrens of Shawano.

••••••••••

A warning that America will become a “nation of tramps and parasites unless we wake up” was given by the Rev. Roy Schmeichels of Eau Claire, V.F.W. Department Chaplin, in an address before the Neillsville Kiwanis club, Monday night.

“We are getting the idea that the United States is Santa Claus, and that the government owes us a living,” the pastor of Eau Claire’s St. John’s Lutheran Church declared.  “In 17 years, the New Deal turned into the Fair Deal that is now showing up as the Foul Deal.

“We are losing our sense of character, ethical and moral values.  Today, the need is for big men in the factories, on the farms and in government.”

In his hard-hitting address, the Rev. Schmeichel declared that “instead of being big and fighting an issue, we are beefing and lowering our sights.  We have allowed ourselves to stoop to greed, jealousy and bickering.

Lashing out at what he called “the weakest administration” in America’s history, Rev. Schmeichel asserted that he is amazed at the number of “punks” we have in high places.

••••••••••

A group of ladies of the Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars sponsored a picnic at Tomah, on Wednesday after-noon, for the benefit of 170 patients of the Veterans hospital.  These patients are all boys who are not able to carry on a normal life.  For many patients, this form of entertainment is their only means of getting in touch with the public.  Members of the Wilson-Heintz Auxiliary Post 2241 attended the picnic.

••••••••••

A schedule of tournaments, dinners and other activities at the Neillsville Country club, embracing the next 10 days, was announced this week by officers of the club.

The activities will open Saturday at 3:30 p.m., with a two-ball foursome for men and women.  Saturday’s event will close with a 6:30 potluck supper.

Sunday morning, July 2, a handicap match for men will get under way at 9 a.m.

A flag match for men and women will be held from 8 a.m. until 12 noon Tuesday, July 4; and a four-ball foursome for men and women, on a handicap basis, will be played beginning at 3 o’clock in the afternoon.  A dinner at the clubhouse will start at 7 p.m., to be followed with a bang at 8:30 p.m. when fireworks will be touched off.

Next week, Saturday, July 8, the club is planning a basket social at 6:30 p.m. to replace its usual family dinner.  The social idea is being tried to determine whether members would like to continue it.

••••••••••

The Longwood cheese factory is part of the Ed Zelm estate.  The inventory of the Ed Zelm estate has been filed and makes clear that the factory is part of the Ed Zelm estate.

••••••••••

H. H. Van Gorden & Sons are buying wool for 60c a pound.  There will be a 10c dockage on black or reject wool.  This is the highest price in history!

••••••••••

Stop in at Feirn’s Complete Service Station, 114 East Division St.  See the new 1951 Kaiser, the newest car on the road!  Feirn’s is the areas nearest Kaiser-Frazer dealer!

Back 60 Years Ago—

We made up games, using sticks, discarded wheels, rubber balls, ate mud pies and worms.  Despite being fore-warned as to what could happen to us, no one was seriously injured or became sick; we lived through it. D.Z.

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤

The Robert J. McBride residence was located on one of the finest lots in Neillsville, pictured circa 1890.  Opposite the courthouse lot, it presented a fine view of the north and west part of the city.  The property, consisting of nearly half of a block, was covered with a variety of shrubbery and trees.  McBride was a solicitor for the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railroad Company.  He had other legal business of various courts of the state and later was a United States Consul.  Referred to as the “house of seven gables,” the structure was destroyed by fire some years later.   (Photo courtesy of Bill Roberts’ family collection)