Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

June 24, 1998, Page 9

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

Index of "Oldies" Articles 

Good Old Days

 

By Dee Zimmerman

 

Clark County News

 

June 1913

 

Carl Walk, one of the old residents of Pine Valley, sold his 80-acre farm last week to Frank Keller of Green County.  The sale included nearly all the stock of farm equipment, selling for $10,000.  This is one of the finest eighties in the area.  The Walks will spend some time in visiting their children, othe4r relatives and friends but expect to settle in Neillsville.

 

Mr. and Mrs. Keller have a family of seven sons and four daughters, several of whom (including Mr. Keller) are very fine musicians.  The Keller family will be a valuable addition to this locality.

 

Friday evening, the sheriff’s residence was the scene of one of the happiest gatherings ever seen in Neillsville.  The occasion was in celebration of the twenty-fifth wedding anniversary of the wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hewett.  A little over eighty guests gathered and sat down to a 6:30 p.m. bountiful four-course dinner, after which there was music and old-time dancing.  Another feature accompanied by the music, was a selection of songs, the first song being appropriate for the occasion, “Silver Threads Among the Gold.”

 

Among the guests, was Mr. Robinson who lives on Hewett’s farm in Eaton.  Mr. Robinson playing a violin and Miss Esther Quast, at the piano, aroused the crowd into dancing.  The quadrille and cotillion numbers were under the leadership of Mrs. McBride who called the dance formation changes.

 

Mr. Harry Hewett and Miss Elizabeth McKenzie were married in Neillsville, May 30, 1988 (1888), by Rev. T. W. Hendren officiating.  They lived all their married life on their farm in Eaton except a short time in the city of Greenwood until Mr. Hewett took the office of Sheriff of Clark County.

 

There will be a moving picture show at the Christie Hall on Thursday evening.  The show will include 6,000 feet of film and will probably be the last show there for some time.  The show will be at 9 p.m., price is 10 cents to 20 cents.  There will be a dance after the show, tickets at 25 cents per person.

 

A lively baseball game took place between the Heathville and the Heintown teams at the Heathville-Ball Field.  The score was Heintown, 3, and Heathville, 13.  Several people from Veefkind came to witness the game. 

 

Miss Teressa Haas closed a successful term as teacher at the Columbia School. A large picnic was held last Friday on the school ground which was largely attended by pupils, parents and friends.  The day’s festivities ended in a dance at the school house, which was also a pleasant affair.  Miss Haas left for her home at Spring Valley on Monday.

 

The Columbia Cheese Factory is running smoothly with an increase in the amount of milk being brought in.  This factory is capable of handling much more productions, so farmers, bring in your milk.  Mr. Keller is making number one cheese and it is bringing a top price.

 

Mr. Jacob Speich and Miss Ida Vollrath were married June 12, at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Vollrath, in the Town of Warner.  There were 80 guests present.

 

The groom took charge of the Withee farm Hemlock when he was 19 years old, still carrying on with the farming operation.  He is one of eight brothers, all well respected in the community.

 

The bride’s family is also well known, her father being one of the leading men of Clark County.  She has for some time filled a responsible position in the Rossman-Steiger store at Greenwood.  They will make their home on the Hemlock farm.

 

June 1928

 

Postmaster A. C. Martin received notice from the Post Office Department at Washington that he was to proceed at once with preliminary arrangements for establishing city mail delivery service in Neillsville by August 1st.  At least 85 percent of all prospective patrons, both business and residents, shall provide a suitable receptacle for their mail.  Two routes will be established in the city with two regular carriers.  Auxiliary assistance and provision for delivery of large packages will also be provided.

 

Work on the new grand stand at the Clark County Fair Grounds has begun in earnest.  If good weather conditions continue, framing work will begin next week.  Secretary M. E. Welding has been busy making preparations so that the work will proceed rapidly when started.

 

The new grandstand will be constructed of concrete for foundation with framed superstructure, 220 ft. long and 56 ft. deep with one row of seats in front.  The main structure will accommodate 2,400 people.  Each end will have open bleachers, which will seat an additional 200 more people.  The new structure will be located on the west side of the race track, facing eastward, about opposite the center of the track.

 

The free act stand will be erected between the grandstand and the track, so as to eliminate as far as possible any necessity for either performers or spectators crossing the track.

 

A new well is being drilled conveniently close to the grandstand and the new Midway which is to be laid out nearby.  The old well will still be used to provide water for the livestock and visitors on the other side of the grounds.  Another well is absolutely necessary, last year on Wednesday and Thursday the crowd consumed more water than the livestock, at times consuming the water as fast as the power pump could throw it.  New toilets will also be constructed near the new grand-stand with flushing facilities, a tile drain with good fall being also a part of the new construction work.

 

Two carloads of washed sand and gravel will be required for the foundation and other concrete work.  The carpenter work will be in charge of John Moen of Neillsville and J. M. Philpott of Loyal, with local carpenters assisting.  Mr. Christenson of Granton is now at work drilling the well.  Several new electric light poles will have to be set and some changes made in wiring.

 

A new entrance is also to be made requiring some grading; the dirt to be removed will be used to cover the tile which runs down a ravine. 

 

The Clark County Board at its fall session voted to donate 1,000 yards of shale at the pits, which will be used to surface the new roads and walks.  The entire work project is confidently assured to be completed by July 1st.

 

Last Wednesday A. L. Severn, manager of the Red Owl Store in Neillsville, received a notice that he was to be transferred to another locality.  V. O. Tietz of Menomonie has arrived and taken over the management of the Red Owl Store here.  He has rented the J. L. Neverman house and his family will move here soon.

 

Friday, May 4, was the 60th birthday of Max Opelt, Sr. of the Town of Levis.  He celebrated the day by welcoming into his family two new grandsons, one boy being born to Mr. and Mrs. Max Opelt, Jr. and one boy to Mr. and Mrs. Carl Opelt.

 

The Ford Motor company is making a new car, but it is still proud of the Model T.  It wants every owner of one of these cars to run it as long as possible at a minimum of expense.

 

Because of its policy and because of the investment that millions of motorists have in Model T cars, the Ford Motor Company will continue to make parts until, as Henry Ford himself says, “The last Model T is off the road.”

 

More than eight million Model T Fords are still in active service, and many of them can be driven for two, three and five years or even longer.

 

No matter where you live you can get these Ford parts at the same low prices.

 

Protect your investment in your Model T – by the Ford Motor Company.

 

The preliminary steps toward the erection of a new Masonic Temple were taken Monday, when John Carter began to wreck the old M. C. King residence which stands on the lot, corner of 4th and Hewett St. where the temple will be built.  Carter bought the building and is to excavate for the new temple in exchange of payment.

 

A portion of the Ring residence will be moved to a lot on First Street and rebuilt for Art Flynn. Flynn has bought the lot from Carter, located on First St, between Hewett and Grand Ave.

 

The first services of Rev. Vornholt, the new pastor of the Reformed Church, were conducted last Sunday in English and in German.  After the services, a very cordial reception was tendered for the new pastor and his family.  Dinner and supper were served in the dining room of the Indian School.  Gus Deutsch served as toastmaster.

 

June 19, C. S. Stockwell, one of Clark County’s best known and highly respected citizens, passed away at his home in Neillsville.

 

Cyrus Simeon Stockwell was born at Keockee, St. Claire County, Mich. February 11, 1945.  His father was of Scotch ancestry, coming to America in 1660, and his mother was a descendant of the early Hollanders who settled in New York.

 

Stockwell received a common school education and attended Port Huron High School for a time.  He supplemented his education by private study, until he received a state certificate, and later perfected himself in surveying and civil engineering.  He began to teach school at the age of 18.  When his health became poor, he traveled to Wisconsin, later resuming teaching, becoming the principal of schools at Onalaska.  He was elected County Superintendent of schools in La Crosse County and served several terms.

 

About 1883, Stockwell went to Clark County as a bookkeeper for LaFlesh’s saw mills near Nevins.  In the fall of 1888, he was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court in this county and served in that office for 16 years.  During most of the time he was a member of the Neillsville School Board and took and active part in educational affairs.

 

Stockwell may truly be said to be the founder of Neillsville Public Library.  He gathered all the old books of an early library here; arranged and catalogued them, acting as librarian.  He kept the books for a time in his office at the courthouse.  Later securing additional volumes, appropriations from the city and with the support of others, he helped secure the Carnegie Library building.

 

When not busy with his official duties as Clerk of Court and later, he did a great deal of work as surveyor and civil engineer.  His status as an engineer was that of being very reliable.

 

Stockwell married Mary A. Carless, April 11, 1868.  To them were born eight children: Cyrus D. Stockwell, of Eau Claire, Division Superintendent of the C. St. P.M. & O. Ry; Thomas C. of Dallas, Ore.; Israel M., station agent at Vogel, S. D.; Grace, Mrs. S. F. Thomas, Lisbon, N. D.; Martha, Mrs. E. G. Wanner, Bismarck, N.D.; Ethel, Mrs. Wm. Holway, Madison; Charlotte, Mrs. F. J. Baer, and Arthur R. both of Neillsville.  He leaves 13 grandchildren and three great-grand-children.

 

His first wife died in 1918; he was married to Katherine Barber Alexander, who survives him.

 

Neillsville Brownie Scout Troop 4A posed for a photo in front of the Fire Hall door, 120 West 5th Street, circa 1950-51.  Members of the troop, left to right: Cheryl Harvey, Sue Ann Mallory, Patty Schield, Doris Dux, Lola Buddenhagen, Donna Rychnovsky, Bessi Kapusta, and Dianne Rosenberg.  Absent from the photo were Donna Tompkins and Barbara Vodah.  Louise Tibbett and Susie Feuerstein were Scout Troop 4A leaders for seven years.  (Photo courtesy of Susie Feuerstein)

 

 


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