Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

May 12, 1999, Page 28

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

Index of "Oldies" Articles 

The Good Old Days  

Compiled by Dee Zimmerman

 

Clark County News

 

May 1869

 

The proposition to build a church here this summer has been received with favor.  We believe it is necessary for those most concerned in the matter to make the proper exertions.  We must go into this project with energy and spirit – success will crown our efforts.  James O’Neill will give the ground for a good site to build a church. Some of the town’s saw mill men have offered lumber and others will give cash, enough to set things in motion. There are several citizens who will give all the encouragement they can.  (The church was built as planned and provided a worship place for those of the Methodist faith in Neillsville.  The Fifth [Fourth] and Court Street corner has remained as the location of the church for what is now 130 years. D.Z.)

 

Numerous citizens have called our attention to the bad condition of our village cemetery and have made some suggestions that should be followed.  Changes should be made, the respect due to our village, ourselves, and to the memory of our departed friends.  It is a fact, too, that the present grounds are unsuitable for a burial place, not only because of the nature of the soil but also because it is too near the village.  Some are in favor of purchasing other grounds, but before doing that, it ought to be shown that proper care and attention can be paid to the grounds we have now.  A small sum of money expended in building a fence and making other improvements would make it a creditable looking place.  (The first Neillsville Cemetery was located on the site now occupied by the water tower between Fourth and Fifth Streets, {to the south of Fourth Street, Dmk] near the Neillsville High School. D.Z.)

 

C. L. Carr, of Pennsylvania, but now a resident of the town of Loyal, has been and is conducting a series of singing classes at the King school house in Loyal.  He has created a considerable interest in music in the neighborhood where he is teaching, and is spoken of as an excellent teacher.

 

Clark County Sheriff Covill informs us that the courthouse will be closed to all kinds of meetings while repairs are being made upon the building.  It will take several weeks to do the work.  Some of the improvements recently made upon the public square have been ordered by Sheriff Covill’s responsibility.  The Clark County Board will undoubtedly sanction the action of the sheriff, by allowing all bids on the projects.

 

Among the Norwegian emigrants who passed through Wisconsin the other day was one immense individual.  His name was Lars Olson, whose height is seven feet, eight inches, weight 332 pounds, and age of 35 years.  He was on his way to Minnesota.

 

Lynn is the name of a new post office recently established in the township by the same name.  Alonzo Brooks is the post-master.

 

There is talk in town about raising sufficient funds with which to purchase a cannon to be used by the village for special occasions.  This is a good idea.  The cost to buy one suitable cannon for our purposes would be small.  Forty or fifty dollars would get a cannon delivered here and we would be prepared to make a big noise upon our celebrations. We should also consider that we have no heavy ordnance.  In the event of an attack upon our town, our situation as now for defense is decidedly precarious.  Let’s be prepared for the greatest emergency.

 

Third Street, from the courthouse down to Lynch’s corners has been plowed, scraped and fixed so that it is now a good and smooth thoroughfare.  (Transcriber believes this should be Sixth Street as the courthouse square was between Fifth and Sixth Streets. Dmk)

 

May 1919

 

Clark County will raise $5,000 with which to welcome home her soldier boys from across the seas.  The County Board has appropriated $4,000 and the remaining $1,000 will be raised by subscription. After all, these returning soldiers kept our $25,000,000 worth (of) tangible property in the county from being worth less by their valorous deeds abroad.

 

Tuesday evening, the government train, exhibiting war trophies, was in Neillsville.  A large crowd of people took the opportunity of visiting the exhibit. With the train was a 22-piece Jackie Band and also one of the celebrated Whippet tanks. The tank was the center of attraction and was run uptown where it was put through its paces on Main Street.  Capt. Manley of the 32nd Division was the first speaker of the day.

 

On Thursday afternoon, the Wasserburger store was burned out.  The fire started in the basement of the store in some unknown manner.  Leo Wasserburger discovered the fire and found it had gained such headway that the fire fighters had difficulty getting at it.  The flames were contained to the store.  Most of the Wasserburger store’s stock of general merchandise was ruined.  The Seidelmann hotel and soft drink parlor was also a victim of the blaze, but much of the furniture and stock was removed.  The building will be repaired and put in order for business.

 

Youmans and Counsell are shipping in another load of fine dairy cows.  The cows may be seen at the stock yards Thursday afternoon.  After that, the animals will be taken to the Youmans or Counsell farms.  Farmers who need more good cows should look over this fine bunch.

 

Nic Linster and his crew are back home from Lac du Flambeau, having finished sawing the Wilding Bros. logs.

 

Two cars for sale, cheap – an Overland roadster, call or write: Elizabeth Kennedy, Owen, Wis.  Also; a nice big 48 hp. car, good tires, in good shape, cheap for quick sale, inquires at Neillsville Times office.

 

Warren Bennett is punching tickets these days out in the East Weston area on Roy Sischo’s milk route.  Sischo was so anxious to get at the work on his farm, his fields needed to be planted. We have had to detail someone to hold him down.  His neighbors say he is so busy, they can see him in any directions as they look over the landscape.

 

Now that “Tubbie” (Herbert) Lowe is building a home on East Ninth Street, it may not be altogether amiss to make the statement that he and Miss Ella Frisby were married last summer.  Lowe is a trifle indefinite as to the time place they were married, as he said it did take place last summer in Michigan.  The couple has kept the secret quite well, although their friends surmised that the event had occurred some time ago.

 

Lowe is engaged in the furniture business with his father, in Neillsville.  His bride is formerly from Oshkosh and has successfully taught the stenography course in the Neillsville schools for the past three years.

 

A capable young man, Lowe is a business man of great ability.  His wife is a most winsome and pleasant young lady. The couple has the earnest congratulations of their many friends here.

 

Yesterday, the work of decorating the business streets was started.  The first phases will constructing four large Victory arches.  Plans are to have an arch at each corner of Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Streets in Neillsville.  The arches will be semi-permanent construction and they will rest on concrete bases, which were put in this week.

 

The Victory Arches appeared on Hewett Street in Neillsville after the close of World War I.  The Arch on the South Side was located at the Fourth Street intersection.

 

The Victory Arch on North Hewett was on the Seventh Street intersection with one post near the Merchants’ Hotel. (Photo courtesy of the Strangfeld family)

 

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There have been three weddings performed here recently.

 

Last week, Alva Howard and Miss Merwyn Hiles were united in marriage by Rev. Longenecker (Longnecker).  The young couple is residents of Pleasant Ridge and will farm in the area.  The groom’s parents are Mr. and Mrs. George Howard; the bride’s parents are Mr. and Mrs. Otto Hiles of Grant.

 

The marriage of Albert Wegner and Miss Hulda Dux was solemnized by Rev. Brandt on May 7, attendants being Otto Dux and Miss Helen Wegner.  The groom’s mother is Mrs. Fred Wegner of Pine Valley.  He has chosen the vocation of farming.  His bride’s parents are Mr. and Mrs. Fred Dux of Pine Valley.  The newly-weds will be farming on the Herman Wegner farm.

 

On May 21, Joseph Walters and Miss Margaret Hauser were united in marriage.  The ceremony was performed by Rev. Weber at St. Mary’s Church.  Attending couples were Miss Gertrude Hauser and Miss Anna Hazlett, Otto Schmidt and Peter Esser.  At the conclusion of the ceremony, the wedding party went to the Hauser home at Christie, where the event was celebrated by a large number of guests.  The groom is a young farmer of the vicinity of Heintown and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Walters.  His wife, a fine young lady is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Hauser of Christie.  The young couple has set up housekeeping on the groom’s farm in Heintown.  We extend our best wishes to these fine young people.

 

Monday evening, the Royal Neighbors Lodge No. 78 gave a delightful entertainment in honor of the returning soldiers.  The boys, together with families, partook of a fine banquet at 6 p.m., followed by dancing and socializing.  Nearly a hundred soldier boys responded to the invitation for the event in their honor.

 

 

The above photo was labeled as “The Heintown Gang.”  Left to right, (back row): Joe Walter, John Kronberger, Louie Walter, Wm. Seidelmann, Geroge Kronberger, and Carl Schecklman.  Front row: Leo Kronberger, Frank Kronberger, Art Kronberger and Carl Sischo.

 

Heintown was a community located one mile North of Cty. Hwy H and one mile west of Hwy. K, where the Heintown saw mill was located in the late 1800s.  The east and west road still has the name, “Heintown.”

 

The “dapper” young men grew up in the same neighborhood and apparently were lifetime friends.  Some of them made their livelihoods farming and settling on farmsteads within the same area they grew up.

 

Leo Kronberger was a World War I veteran who married Lua Benedict and they eventually returned to farm in the Heintown area, one-fourth mile west of the Hwy. K & H intersection.  Joe Walter and Margaret Hauser farmed in the area after their marriage in 1919.

 

Wm. Seidelmann at one time owned and operated the Heintown Store which was one-half mile west of Cty. K on Heintown Road.  (Photo courtesy of Wayne Kronberger)

 

 


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