Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI, October 17, 2018 Page 9

Last week, a deal was completed by which the Youmans farm on Ridge Road was sold to C.S. Altemus of Evansville, Wis. Mr. Youman, taking in the deal on a smaller farm near Neillsville. Mr. Altemus is here in charge of the farm and stock all of which he bought.

He is said to be a progressive, up-to-date farmer, and he certainly has secured one of the finest farms in Clark County. His son-in-law, Mr. Casper Martiz, will be with him on the farm. Mr. Youman’s plans are not settled for the future.

(The Youmans’ farm was located two miles east of Neillsville along USH 10. Possibly the spelling of “Martiz” was changed to “Marty,” as some immigrating families did eventually change name spellings after arriving in America. There are local people who remember Casper and Emma Marty and their family when they owned and lived on the former Youmans’ farm. DZ)

Down near Columbia, in Clark County, lives a small grey-haired man, who when the Civil War broke out, was a Dutch boy just over from the old country. He was offered $1,000 to fight in the war as a substitute, which he refused with scorn. He then bought his own gun and went in and served his New Land. Will the public shake hands with Mr. Kopp?

(That Mr. Kopp, who died in 1918, was my great-grandfather, and grandfather of my mother. He and his family lived east of Columbia, just inside Levis Township on a farm. DMK )

Three new autos, “The Everett Six” were landed here this week, one for S.M. Marsh, one for J.C. Marsh and one for W.I. Smith. They are handsome and perfectly constructed machines. J.C. Marsh came over from Marshfield Monday and drove his new machine home.

Miss Hutton had a visitor in German class the other day, Mr. Kjorstad’s dog, Rags. Funny isn’t it that some dogs can come to school and behave?

Miss King gave the school a talk on Equal Suffrage Thursday, which was greatly enjoyed by all. She discussed the question from a historical point of view.

The freshmen and sophomore classes will have a Halloween party at the high school Thursday night.

The juniors will be entertained by Mrs. Sears and Mrs. Crothers at a Halloween party at the Maple Glen Farm.

(The Maple Glen Farm, owned by the Crothers family, is the first farm on the left, going south out of Neillsville along state highways 73-95. DZ)

If you have money enough to pay fancy prices for sagebrush land in the far West and a promise of water when the irrigation ditch is finished, if you want to be three thousand miles from a market, go west by all means.

If, on the other hand, you have only a little, good horse sense, plenty of ambition, a stout heart and a clever wife, stay in Wisconsin.

Forty-acres of land and a few cows are enough to get a start here. No part of the country offers better inducements to the man of limited means that are offered him right here, where he now lives.

Seif & Stelloh have bought the corner lot of the Boardman property, including the Eberhardt Bar, north of Mead Bros. Livery and east from Evens Blacksmith Shop. It is a fine location for a machinery business, fronting on Grand Avenue and Sixth Street and coming out close to Seventh, Depot Street. Ground has been broken and grading is now going on with a large crew, for building a machinery warehouse, which will be about 42 x 90 feet, with three floors. Considerable concrete construction will be used in the building. Seif & Stelloh recently bought the Evan Shop and Warehouses directly across the street and will secure possession in the spring, by which time the new building will be completed and the entire plant will be ready to receive their machinery business.

(The building remains on the Grand Avenue-West Sixth Street northeast corner, although it has been many years since a machinery shop business has occupied its edifice. DZ)

One of the busiest places these days is the Neillsville Planing Mill. The crew has lately completed a new set of pews for the German Lutheran Church, and this week, they are working on a set of pews for the new Union Church at Shortville. Some nice workmanship is being done on these jobs.

For Sale: the farm known as the Thos. Garvin farm, one mile from Main Street, Neillsville, with 74 acres, all cleared; one of the best farms in Clark County. Practically in town, it has a fine 9-room house, a new 36’ x 60’ basement barn, granary, sheds; with spring water in pasture; a good neighborhood to live in and an ideal home. The land is of heavy clay soil with no wasteland. Address or see Dr. W. A. Leason.

In the early 1900s, the Foster Railroad tracks ran along the village of Willard with depot station service. A “pickle station,” with large wooden barrels at the left is shown behind the depot. Farm families grew patches of cucumbers in the summer, as a much-needed cash crop. Daily, cucumbers were picked and taken to the pickle station , where the barrels were filled with freshly picked cucumbers, which were then placed in barrels of salt-brine, to be shipped out on the train to pickling companies.

This story could be entitled: “North is moving south.” Or it might take much more kicking around than that. But, it boiled down to ordinary language, Herman North is having his cottage on Lake Arbutus moved south seven feet.

The cottage was built this summer; completed about a month ago. Then it was discovered that it rested five feet north of the north line of the North property. Ouch!

The entry of W.A. Stewart, Greenwood, won first place in the American cheddar cheese competition at the 30th annual Dairy Cattle Congress, it was announced in Waterloo, Ia., this week. Mr. Stewart is an officer of the Stewart Cheese Corp., of Greenwood.

Quilted Jackets, Genuine Mouton fur collar; rayon wool quilted body and sleeve lining. Knit bottom and cuffs, wind resistant, Tackle twill for only $13.75.

Hunting Coats, All Wool, Red and Black Plaid, Rubberized; game pockets; fully-lined body and sleeves, Knit wristlets, special priced $12.75. At Zimmerman Brothers Clothing – Work Clothes – Shoes, in Neillsville.

(I remember my dad wearing a red and black plaid coat for deer hunting. Once, when a child, I tried carrying that jacket to place it over a chair; it was so heavy I couldn’t get it up on the chair back. Dad had to have been worn out after walking and wearing that heavy hunting coat while hunting all day. DZ)

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 along County Trunk B and walked into the Wildcat Mound Park for a drink of water.

The pump there stands just a couple of paces to the north of the shelter, which is fully open on 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 very wide, giving Mr. Hopfensperger an opportunity to look down at 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 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 was looking down the bear’s throat.

Carl Opelt and his family of 12 came to Neillsville on Pioneer Days and went off with two prizes. They were the largest family, without a doubt. There was really no competition, and they traveled on a harvest float, which they pulled by tractor, driven by Carl himself. Carl and his flock received $25 for the best float and $10 for the largest family represented.

Opelt and their float were part of the Pioneer Days parade, which was the spectacular feature of Saturday afternoon, the center of all eyes. Great interest also attached to the float, which received $15 for being the best float illustrating method of transportation. This was a covered wagon, offered by Fern Naedler. The judges’ selection for the most humorous float or exhibit was the 1904 Buick, exhibited by Joe Zilk, and the group riding in it.

The parade was long and full of interesting features, with the picturesque costumes of the Indians vying with the pioneer costumes went to Slim Bruhn, who impersonated Paul Bunyan, and who offered a realistic portrayal of that mythical character. Second prize for men’s costume went to Jess Scott, who was attired in striking formal garb of another day, with a very stylish plug hat. Third prize for costume went to Rev. Ben Stucki, who wore a derby hat and met the formal attire of a preacher of the early days, such as was worn by his father, the Rev. Jacob Stucki.

First for the women’s costumes went to Mrs. Rose Eberhardt, who attracted the attention of the judges for the fidelity and thoroughness in which she carried through an old style. Second prize went to Mrs. Marion Calway, and third to Hilda Kurth.

Of the children, Sally Mary Free took first; Charlotte Covell and Mona Hoesly second and Sharon Kaye Malone third. Tastes vary greatly, and it would be difficult to make acceptable selections for mention here. Perhaps it is safe to say that all present enjoyed the Indians, and that of these to be mentioned, may especially be Jesse Mike and his travois, pulled by the pony belonging to the Manz children.

Bringing up the rear of the parade was the local Service Company with its equipment. The display of equipment was an eye opener to local persons, those who had an opportunity to size up the extensive motor equipment now in use.

The Willard Community celebrated the fortieth anniversary since the first settlers arrived in the Willard area and also for the Bishop Fr. Gregory Rozman of Lubljana Slovenia, who last week held a mission at the Holy Family catholic Church at Willard.

A very large crowd gathered at the West Side Hall on Monday 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. Following speakers were Ludvik Perushek, Rev. Odilo Hajinsek, Rev. J.J. Novak, Mrs. Johanna Artac and Bishop Gregory Rozman.

A crew started Wednesday pouring the concrete basement floor in the new American Legion Hall here, and toilets were installed there the latter part of this week. The work is being pushed to have the building ready for the holding of the annual Legion Turkey Dance in the new building this year. The dance is scheduled for Thursday, November 18.

A crowd of 1,200 farmers attended the “Clean Plowing Contest” held on the Spencer Johnson farm near Greenwood. The winners were: William Bleecker, Granton and Lawrence Firnstahl, Loyal, who tied for first place.

Extra officers in plain clothes will be on duty during the Halloween season. It is announced by Lawrence Drescher, chief of police. They and the regular officers will make it their concern to limit Halloween activities to harmless fun.

They seek the cooperation of parents, who are asked to make sure that their children are well conducted at this season, and especially that they observe curfew.

Parents are asked to take notice that the officers are under instructions to take action in case of depredations or property damage.

(Burlap bags! Back in the 1940s, every farmer had a supply of those in the granary; he couldn’t have farmed without them, as they were needed in bagging potatoes, small grain, or ground corn and feed. Now it would be difficult to find a burlap bag, as everything is plastic. DZ).

(Georgas Funeral Home, which was later sold, is now Gesche Funeral Home, in Neillsville. Through all of these years, that funeral home business has continued to sponsor the weekly Community Calendar of Events in The Press! A longtime record! DZ.)

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