Clark County Press, Neillsville, Wisconsin

October 16, 2013, Page 11

Contributed by "The Clark Co. Press"

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

Index of "Oldies" Articles

 

Compiled by Dee Zimmerman

 

Clark County News

September 1893

 

A stone foundation has been put under R. M. Campbell’s livery stable barn, corner of Fifth Street and Grand Avenue.

•••••••••

G. W. Allen and D. J. Kinney, of Loyal, left Tuesday morning for the northwestern part of Lincoln County where they will look over their timber interests.  They have recently purchased 74, 40s of land and are looking over another tract, which if purchased, will give them about 5,000 acres of valuable timber land in that part of the state. The nearest railroad is at Rib Lake, but the owners believe the railroad track will be extended in a few years.  It is estimated that the tract will cut 15,000,000 feet of hemlock, and as tanneries are locating in that section, the product is sure to increase in value.

•••••••••

Monday night at about 10 o’clock, a fire started in a rough board shed back of M. F. Beaulieus’s store, and when discovered was burning in a brisk and vigorous manner. An alarm brought a crowd and in a moment two streams of water were sprayed on the flames. In a very few minutes the fire was put out. The shed was wrecked and the rear of the store building was charred, but no other damage was done by the fire.  The stock was considerably damage by water, with partial removal to the street.  The shed was but a few feet from the Wells Tin Shop, which is close to Radke’s and it is fortunate indeed for the entire neighborhood that the fire was so promptly squelched.  The cause of the fire is unknown. The building was insured for $200 in Frank Hewett’s name; the goods were insured for $800.

•••••••••

Near Kempton, on the Omaha railroad, south of Augusta, Monday night, two efforts were made by miscreants to wreck trains, by placing planks on the tracks.  A freight train engineer discovered and removed the plank the first time and a passenger engineer the second time. The big crowds going to the World’s Fair make extra trains necessary and the wreckers know that, and figure on a big harvest.  They should be hunted down and shot on the spot.

•••••••••

August Schoengarth has been enlarging his house next to the brickyard and when veneered it will be as stylish in appearance as any house in town.  (The Schoengarth house was located at 302 Oak Street. DZ)

•••••••••

Monday night at about 12 o’clock, three burglars attempted to enter the house of Chris Christopherson, on the north side, but Christopherson was awake, on deck with a rifle, which he fired at them, scaring them away.  One would-be robber lost his hat in the yard and left it there, so the transaction was a losing one for the enterprising three.

•••••••••

A gentleman of this city and a leading merchant were at the World’s Fair the other day.  While sitting on a settee to rest, they engaged a stranger in conversation, a Chicagoan, who upon learning that the Neillsville men were from this city stated that he had a lot in at Columbia, a nice corner lot worth $60, but which he had secured for $40.  The lot, he said was diagonally opposite a large furniture and box factory.  He also spoke in flowing terms of the splendid waterpower at Columbia, on Fall River.  Our interested townsmen told him that Wedge’s Creek was what we called the little stream, but there wasn’t a bit of power there and that the town was jokingly called Markeyville that the whole affair was on paper only.  The Chicagoan lamented that the recent fires had destroyed the superb timber, when he was told that there wasn’t enough timber in the whole neighborhood to build a fire with.  There are lots being sold there yet, however, and Columbia is no more Utopian than lots of other unprofitable schemes in which men delight to invest.

•••••••••

Yesterday morning, four families, with a number of small children, arrived at the railroad station on their way to Columbia.  They were met at the train by men employed by promoters of the scheme and taken out to the slashings. It would be a study to see their faces as they look for the big factories, hark for the thundering water fall and the hum of revolving spindles.  No doubt they will promptly return back to the homes they left.

•••••••••

Forest fires raged back of Andrew J. Bullard’s, Sunday, and he lost about 40 rods of rail fence.

•••••••••

Merikel’s shingle mill was moved Monday from its old location on Wedge’s Creek to George Bullard’s farm, where it will be started some time soon.                                                                      

•••••••••

A party of Neillsville Citizens of the North Side, taking pies and cakes and musical instruments and a good “fat Dutchman” gave Milt Snyder and family of York a surprise last Thursday evening.

 

(Could the “fat Dutchman” have been a keg of beer? DZ)

 

October 1948

 

The entry of W. A. Steward, Greenwood, won first place in the American cheddar cheese competition at the 36th annual Dairy Cattle Congress; it was announced in Waterloo, Ia., this week.  Mr. Stewart is an officer of the Stewart Cheese Corp, of Greenwood.

 

The Stewart Cheese Corporation, then under the name of Redville Cheese Co., originated in the Redville community, six miles north of Withee, which included a saw mill and general store. In 1945, Arthur and Wilbur Stewart moved the business to a vacant pea canning factory in Greenwood, conveniently located next to the railroad track. Another brother, Robert Stewart, and Harlan Brux, cheesemakers, joined the business and the Stewart Cheese Corporation was formed.

 

Pioneer Days in Neillsville started off with a bang.  By Monday the available space in store windows were full of ancient relics.  On Tuesday evening, Major Scott’s Amateur Hour had them hanging off the ceiling at the Armory.  On that evening, also, the Rotarians decorated the streets with fall colors.  The Old Home Town had taken on the atmosphere of celebration, continuing throughout the week, reaching its climax in the Indian show at the fairgrounds Saturday and Sunday evening.                                                                                          

•••••••••

It is probably a toss-up who was the most frightened.  It might have been Ervin Hopfensperger.  Or it might have been the black Bear. Mr. Hopfensperger didn’t wait around to find out.

 

The surprise meeting occurred last week at Wildcat Mound.  Mr. Hopfensperger, a patrolman for the county highway department, was thirsty.  He left his patrol grader on County Trunk B and walked to the Wildcat Mound Park for a drink of water.  The pump there stands a couple paces to the north of the shelter, which is fully open to the south.

 

When he had drunk his fill, Mr. Hopfensperger turned and walked to a small window in the shelter wall.  He peered inside.

 

A black bear peered right back at him through the window.  As it peered, so the story goes, it opened its mouth wide, giving Mr. Hopfensperger an opportunity to look down his tonsils.

 

By that time, Mr. Hopfensperger was no longer there.  He took off cross-country, slashing through the brush as fast as he could travel, making a bee-line for his machine.  He got to the patrol grader and quickly put it in motion.

 

Whether the bear took off in the opposite direction is not known, Mr. Hopfensperger told cohorts at the highway garage later that he didn’t look around.

 

When he reached the highway garage here at the end of the day, he was still excited; but he told the story fully and with a show of amusement he no doubt did not feel at the time he looked down the bear’s throat.

•••••••••

There will be a gigantic Shoe Sale, starting Thursday, October 14, at 8 a.m.  Unger’s Shoe Store, after a half-century of exclusive shoe retailing, has sold out to the Hinshaw Shoe Co.  Hinshaw’s will remodel and restock the store after the sale.

 

Good Shoes, but not all sizes are on the Sale Racks at Slashed Prices!

 

Two racks of Men’s and Boy’s Shoes $1.97 pr; Two racks of Women’s shoes, only $2.97 pr!

 

Also new stock of Rubber Footwear Specials on: Men’s 15-inch Lace Boots $2.98; Men’s Work Rubbers $1.77; Men’s 5-buckle Overshoes $2.98                                                                                        

•••••••••

The Willard community celebrated the fortieth anniversary since the first settlers arrived here and also a farewell banquet for the Bishop Dr. Gregory Rozman of Ljubljana Slovenia, who last week held a mission at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Willard.

 

A very large crowd gathered at the West Side Hall on Monay night, where a supper was held and several talks were given with Fr. Bernard Ambrozic presiding.  Frank Petkovsek, Sr., secretary of the church, spoke on his pioneer days in Willard. Ludvic Perushek, Sr., was followed by Rev. Odilo Hajinsek, Rev. J. M. Novak, Greenwood, Mrs. Johanna Artac, and last by Bishop Gregory Rozman.                                                                        

•••••••••

Six new members were initiated into membership in the Women of the Moose at their meeting Tuesday evening.  They are: Alma Zickert, Viola Sharratt, Marion Linster, Maybelle Meredith, Emma Larsen and Lucy Harrington.

•••••••••

About 20 neighbor friends of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Brewster, Town of Washburn, had a husking bee for them Saturday to give them a neighborly helping hand while Mr. Brewster recovers from an operation. There were about 20 men and several young folks and youngsters. The girls and children drove the tractors and did their part, too.

 

A few of the ladies provided the food; and after dinner their work was finished. Even some of the ladies lent a hand with the husking, then the corn really flew and that probably accounts for the overcast skies, as no doubt the corn was flying so fast we couldn’t see the sun. The crew husked several acres of standing corn.

•••••••••

R.D. Dickinson, son of Neillsville, is back in the Old home Town to visit friends and relatives.  His present home is Menlo Park, California, and he is the guests in the home of his cousin, Mrs. W. L. Hemphill.

 

Mr. Dickinson, interested in Pioneer Days, recalled two incidents typical of the olden times.  His father known as “Dick” Dickinson ran a store in the Hemphill building on South Hewett Street, now occupied by the Parrish store.  It was the old style country store, with groceries and piece goods, and with the open cracker barrel and handy hunks of cheese, common to those days.

 

Handled also by the elder Dickinson was fine-cut chewing tobacco, to which “Doc” Marsh, veterinarian, was addicted. The fine-cut was kept in the cellar, and it was the custom of “Doc” Marsh to go down there and fill his pouch. This was well known to the proprietor, and it was sanctioned by the free-and-easy custom of the times.

 

But, it irked the younger Dickinson to see his father’s fine-cut disappear without a penny in the till. So he took a mouse-trap and covered it with fine-cut, just at the top of the container.  Soon after old “Doc” Marsh made one more trip to the fine-cut and after that he quit patronizing that source of supply.

 

When the elder Dickinson learned what his son had done, he chided him, saying, “Doc” Marsh has been getting his fine-cut from that pail for the last 30 years.  It was not friendly to set a trap for him.”

 

On another occasion, Mr. Dickinson was in a restaurant when Mr. Dudley, father of the late city judge, was eating his food.  This elder Dudley, the harness-maker, was a real eater, weighing perhaps 250 pounds and he had a front that was difficult seeing over. As young Dickinson watched, Mr. Dudley elevated above his mouth a triangle piece of custard pie, preparatory to adding it to his already generous proportions.  But the pie missed its mark and utterly disappeared.  Mr. Dudley looked for it all over the place; on his pants, on the floor, everywhere he could think of.  Sometime later, he met young Dickinson on the street.

 

“I found that pie,” he said, “It was in my vest.”                                

•••••••••

Marcia Nelson Crothers had begun work as a supervising teacher in the office of county superintendent of schools. She was released for this work from her engagement in Granton, where she taught history and music in the high school.

 

Mrs. Crothers is a graduate of River Falls, where county Superintendent Drake knew her.  She taught for a time in rural schools and then in the primary department of city schools. 

 

Prior to the appointment of Mrs. Crothers the county schools were entirely without supervising teachers.

•••••••••

Arthur and Marion Epding have purchased the Robinson Hotel in Colby and will operate it in conjunction with the Merchants Hotel here. They will take possession November 1st.

 

The transaction was completed last week. The hotel has been under the ownership of James Robinson since 1925.  He was forced to sell because of poor health. The hotel has 40 rooms, a dining room and a bar.

 

Mr. Epding plans to manage the Coby property, while Mrs. Epding will remain in Neillsville to manage the Merchants Hotel. The couple’s two daughters will remain here.                            

•••••••••

A crowd of 1,200 farmers attended the clean plowing contest held on the Spencer Johnson farm near Greenwood.  The winners were: William Beeckler, Granton, and Lawrence Firnstahl, Loyal, who tied for first place.

•••••••••

The marriage of Fay Quicker to Jerry Opelt was solemnized Saturday, Oct. 16, at the Union Church in Granton with Rev. Virgil Nulton officiating at the double ring ceremony. The bride wore a white satin gown with a long train. The gown was trimmed with orange blossoms.  She carried white chrysanthemums and Pompons.  Maid-of-honor was Barbara Holnbach of Loyal, cousin of the bride. And the bridesmaid was Mrs. Thomas Rosandich of Milwaukee, sister of the groom.  Junior bridesmaids were Romelle Quicker, sister of the bride and Marlene Jakowski, cousin of the bride.  Best man was Ronald Quicker, brother of the bride. The bride was given away by her father, Roland Quicker.

 

A reception was held at the village hall of Granton, with about 150 guests present.

 

The young couple made a wedding trip to southern Illinois, and now is at home in Granton.

 

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roland Quicker of Granton. Jerry Opelt is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Max Opelt.  He works at the Trimberger Implement Service at Granton.             

•••••••••

Whoopee John and his Famous Radio and Decca Recording Orchestra at the Silver Dome Ballroom, Wednesday, Oct. 27; Admission, 75¢ plus tax.

 

 


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