Clark County Press, Neillsville, Wisconsin

April 28, 2010, Page 24

Contributed by "The Clark Co. Press"

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

Index of "Oldies" Articles 

 

Compiled by Dee Zimmerman

 

Clark County News

April 1875

 

The question of dividing Clark County is still before the Legislature and with chances in favor of its becoming a law.  The friends of that measure have displayed considerable activity and have allowed no means for its accomplishment to go unimproved.

 

From the time the members of the Legislature began to assemble at Madison up to the present time, they have kept good lobby force on the ground and many members from the eastern part of the state were pledged to its support before either branch was organized.  All that can prevent the passage of the pending bill, if anything can avert it, is to send reliable men of influence to state the exact condition of affairs.  We do not pretend to know enough about this county to decide to what extent either the old or new county is to be injured or benefited, but it is claimed by those well posted, non-residents at that, that a division of the county at this present time would almost be ruinous to both sections.

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The breaking up of the lumber camps has filled our village chuck full of men for the past week, which has had a tendency to make business lively, particularly for the hotel keepers.  Most of the men we have seen coming from the woods are looking hale and hearty and appear to enjoy their return to civilization hugely, especially where they have hoisted in a supply of benzene.

 

Aside from a few black eyes and the enlargement of a nose and then there are no other visible effects of the breaking up of a hard winter.

 

The river has been in a good driving stage for the past week, and all that prevents a good run of logs is the ice, which will hold them. The prospects are favorable to a good drive.

 

Every man, not otherwise employed, who can ride a log or handle a handspike has gone on the drive.

•••••••••

The ice in O’Neill Creek still lingers and the bridges have not been swept away, although we think they will be destroyed when the ice goes out. 

 

It is reported that a log and ice jam has formed in the Black River about six miles above here, with a backup, which extends for seven miles.

 

In relation to the log jam near Black River Falls, the Badger State Journal states:

 

“The great jam of logs, which commenced in Black River, at the bend half-a-mile north of this village, on Tuesday of last week, was finally all cleaned out on Wednesday of this week.  It was said, by those who ought to know, to have been the largest jam ever known on the river and it is estimated that it contained from the time of its first formation until it was entirely broken, not less than 50,000,000 feet of logs.  There were from 50 to 80 men employed on this gorge of logs for eight days and most of the time these men worked faithfully in trying to free the jam.”

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The newspaper will take eggs or maple syrup on subscription to any extent.

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During the past week we have noticed many farmers in town purchasing farming implements or having old machinery repaired.  The prospects now are that it will not be long before they will have use for them.

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Sidewalk building appears to have become a mania in Neillsville.   

•••••••••

Last Saturday we visited the machine shop of Mr. L. W. Gallaher and were surprised at the amount of business done in that establishment.  During the past few months they have manufactured several hundred fanning mills and milk-safes for Potts & Myers, besides doing a vast amount of other work in various branches of woodwork. The sash and door manufactory in that establishment is quite complete and Myers, Eyerly & Breed are tuning out a vast amount of work that cannot be excelled anywhere.

•••••••••

The new bridge over Popple River floated off from its abutments during the spring rise of water, but was securely anchored near where it belongs by some men who saw it in time to prevent it being carried away with the flood.

•••••••••

Last Tuesday night and soon after their destinies were united, Mr. and Mrs. P. B. Tolford were serenaded by the Neillsville Brass Band. May their wedded lives be as free from discord and as full of harmony as the music discoursed in honor of the occasion.

•••••••••

A meeting of the citizens of Neillsville will be held at the Courthouse on Tuesday, April 27th, at 7 o’clock p.m., for the purpose of taking action towards the Incorporation of the Village of Neillsville.

 

April 1930

 

The Tibbett Fuel and Ice Co. bought from the city the old lockup and last week moved it to the depot grounds near the company’s office, to be used as a kind of retail icehouse. During the summer a supply of washed ice cakes will be kept there to supply emergency calls and orders.

 

This old jail has stood empty for many years behind the city hall.  It was originally the Clark County jail and was built in 1857 in the rear of the original courthouse, which was moved in 1895, having since been used as the express office.  At the same time the old jail was bought by the city of Neillsville and was moved down from the courthouse square to the place where it has since stood until it was moved last week as stated.  It is built of 2 by 8 inch planks, dove-tailed at the corners and spiked one upon the other.  Its interior was dungeon-like and forbidding in appearance, and for a good many years local prisoners have been taken to the county jail.

•••••••••

 

 

Clark County’s first “lock-up” was built in 1857, located behind the county’s first courthouse.  The crudely built structure was made up of 2x8 inch oak planks, dove-tailed on the corners and spiked together.  When the old courthouse building was moved to the county square in 1895, the old jail was purchased by the City of Neillsville and moved to a site behind city hall.  While behind the city hall, the old structure served as an occasional meeting site for groups that were in desperate need of a place.  Tibbett Ice & Fuel purchased the building in 1930, setting it up on the corner of Grand Avenue and West Eighth Street, and used it to store blocks of ice for the convenience of providing customers with emergency orders of ice on summer weekends.  The old building was used for many purposes within the city for over 100 years.

•••••••••

A traveling man for a tire company suffered a broken arm in the wee small hours Tuesday morning when a poker game he joined in with several of Neillsville’s “night-hawks” and one or two visitors from the surrounding territory, became heated and resulted in a physical contest of considerable magnitude.  In the fracas one of the men suffered a black eye, but whether the traveling man’s arm was broken with that punch or in a tumble it was not learned.  A substitute policeman, who was on duty, was called, but failed to make any arrests. The traveling man left town after a doctor had straightened out his arm and applied the necessary splints.

•••••••••

The Inter-State Oil Company has opened a Service Station at the South end of Hewett Street.  They will appreciate any and all patronage.

 

F. J. Hatch and L. J. Skiels of Chicago, representatives of the Schaefer Oil and Refining Co., were in Neillsville Monday and announce that the name of the Company will be changed to Deep Rock Corporation. The Deep Rock Oil Co. of Wisconsin, one of its subsidiary units will come under the new name.

•••••••••

The robbery of the Wisconsin Bank in Polk County and another Minnesota Bank indicates that the bank bandits have crawled out of their holes and opened their spring campaign. The continued operation of bank robbers in the southwest part of Wisconsin and northern Minnesota last year makes it seem probable that a well organized gang centering in the Twin Cities were active in last year’s operations.  A local man in Neillsville who has studied the situation, states that there is no doubt that the outlaws made their headquarters during the summer season at certain lake resorts being well known there by their free spending of money.

 

It is stated that the vigilantes of Clark County will soon make preparations for activity, the sooner the better.

•••••••••

Thursday afternoon, two armed men entered the bank at Fairchild, and forced the cashier, assistant cashier and a customer into the vault, locking them in and helped themselves to about $2,000 in cash.  After a short delay, the people were released from the vault by the station agent, whom they called from a telephone within the fault.  The alarm was spread widely by telephone.  Some of the Neillsville vigilantes went out on Highway 95 and others on the Humbird Road. Evidently the bandits turned west.  No trace of them has been reported.  The bank is heavily insured and no loss will be sustained.

•••••••••

The heaviest single piece grave marker ever raised in the Neillsville cemetery is expected to be in place at the grave of Mrs. Frederick D. Underwood by Decoration Day.  William Huntley of the firm of Huntley and Kutchera, made the announcement last week. The dark Barre granite gravestone was brought from Vermont and weighs 18,000 pounds.  The dimensions are 5 feet high, 8 feet long and 2 feet 2 inches thick. The names Stafford and Underwood will appear on the front with the names of the children on the rear face.  Mrs. Underwood’s maiden name was Miss Alice Stafford of this city.  She died last year and was brought here from New York for burial.  Her husband is the retired president of the Erie Railroad.

•••••••••

Mr. George Farning and Miss Catherine Lohse were married in Blue Island, Ill., April 5, Rev. G. H. Dorhman officiating; the ceremony took place at the parsonage. The groom was attended by a friend, Mr. William Habich of Blue Island; and Miss Elizabeth Carl of Neillsville, now employed in Chicago was bridesmaid.

 

After a ceremony a wedding supper was served at the home of the bride’s parents. Among the guests present were Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Trumbull, uncle and aunt of the groom.

 

The groom is the son of Mrs. Wm. Farning of Neillsville.  He grew up here and graduated from Neillsville High School in the class of 1925. Sometime later he went to Blue Island where he secured employment and for the past two years he has had a position with the Wesley A. Smith Wholesale Candy Co., and is now in charge of their store in Blue Island.

 

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gus Lohse of Blue Island and has been employed by the Koehler Paper Co.

•••••••••

A law enacted by the last State Legislature and which went into effect September 1, 1929, makes it unlawful to uproot certain flowers and plants growing on the land of another, without the consent of the owner of the land.  Among flowers so protected are trailing arbutus, trilliums, and all of the orchid family, including lady slippers.  It is also forbidden to pick these flowers for sale. This does not seem to forbid picking the blossoms on one’s own land or on the land of another with his consent, providing the plant is not uprooted or otherwise injured.

•••••••••

Christ Ev. Lutheran Church at Chili, of which the Rev. V. M. Keiper is pastor, will dedicate its new bell, just installed at a cost of $400, next Sunday.  Two services will be held.  In the afternoon at 2:00 Rev. Carl Hoeh, associate pastor to the Rev. V. M. Kelper, will deliver a dedicatory sermon in the German tongue and in the evening at 8:00 p.m.  The Rev. S. Ratke of Auburndale will conduct a service in the American tongue. The Rev. V. M. Kelper will have charge of the dedication.

 

The congregation numbers ten voting members. Although small in number, much credit is due the brethren there.  Last year the entire interior of the church building was remodeled and redecorated. At the close of the year all debts were paid having gone over the top of missions.  It is estimated that only a small debt will remain on the bell after its dedication.

•••••••••

Postmaster Ben J. Brown received a letter Wednesday morning from Congressman Merlin Hull informing him that Route 1, Neillsville, had been extended to 29.4 miles. This extension covers certain roads in the Town of Washburn to be a great convenience to a number of patrons.

•••••••••

It’s wise to choose a six-cylinder motor for smoothness, a Chevrolet, Roaster or Phaeton at R. H. Welsh, your Chevrolet dealer, for only $495.

•••••••••

The Wallace Brothers, Henry of Neillsville and Darvid D. and Clarence of Stevens Point have entered into a contract for the purchase of the John O’Brien farm in Levis, owned by Mr. W. L. Smith, and plan to open a sand, gravel and concrete block business on the place. The farm borders the river and has fine deposits of both sand and gravel. The Wallace’s have been in the concrete business at Stevens Point and have equipment for everything in that line.  They have a contract to supply the sand and gravel for the additions to the J. B. Inderrieden Co. canning factory, which will require about 500 yards.

 

The O’Brien place is excellent farming land, which will no doubt be carried on by the Wallace Bros.

•••••••••

Because of the insistence of a little five-year-old-boy that the Northside School was afire Monday the city of Neillsville has been spared the possibility of building a new school building.  While playing in his yard across from the school, Leo Neville saw smoke and flames breaking through the roof of the building and ran in to tell his mother, saying, “Mama, the school house is on fire.”

 

Mrs. William Neville, his mother, who was busy wall papering thought the youngster was joking, but the little fellow stuck to his story until Mrs. Neville went to the door and saw smoke pouring from the roof.  She turned in the alarm and the fire department succeeded in confining the blaze to the roof and attic despite a high wind that threatened to fan the fire out of control.

 

The value of the fire drill, which the children go through every week proved its worth when the children under the direction of the four teachers, Eva Woodbury, Bertha Ahola, Bernadine Taylor and Ruth Hale, were marched out of the building in an orderly manner and without the slightest confusion.

 

The fire, which started from a spark in the shingles did damage estimated at $1,500. The repairs will include a large part of the roof and rafters, new electric wiring in the attic and replastering in the halls due to water damage.

 

Temporary work has been done on the roof and classes are again being held in the building.

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