Clark County Press, Neillsville, Wisconsin

January 19, 2011, Page 9

Contributed by "The Clark Co. Press"

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

Index of "Oldies" Articles 

 

Compiled by Dee Zimmerman

 

Clark County News

January 1881

 

Last Monday, a young man named W. S. Bessenger was brought to this place from Joe Briselbois’ logging camp on the East Fork for medical treatment, his feet having been frozen on the 22nd of last November while at work in the woods. The right foot was found to be healing up, but it was found necessary to amputate the great toe on the left foot at the second joint.  The operation was performed on Tuesday, by Drs. Morley and Crandall.  Mr. Bessenger was raised in Washington County and is known to several of our citizens, who are formerly residents of that County.  He is now at the O’Neill House where he will probably be compelled to remain for some time.

•••••••••

An oyster supper and sociable is announced at the residence of Robert Schofield, at Greenwood, next Wednesday evening January 12.  The proceeds of the evening are to be applied on the salary of Rev. C. C. Swartz, pastor of the Methodist Church there.                                                                                                

•••••••••

The records in the office of Herman Schuster, Register of Deeds, show 84 marriages, 62 births and 22 deaths in Clark County during 1880.                                                                             

•••••••••

Jacob Pashelles is expecting his mother from the old country some time during the present winter.  She is now a resident of Prague.                                                                                                      

•••••••••

A necktie and apron party will be given at Society Hall, in this village, Wednesday evening, January 12, 1881, under the auspices of the Good Templars.  For entertainment, there will be singing, speaking, recitations and something to eat.  All the ladies wearing aprons and gents wearing neckties, with 15 cents each, are invited.

•••••••••

The sickness prevailing in some of the lumbering camps on the Black River, for several weeks past, principally measles, has about had its run and a general state of health is again reported.      

•••••••••

The past few days the railroad has been within hearing distance and for the past two days many of our citizens have been lending a helping hand in assisting to complete the laying of the track. The Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway Company have not been as energetic in the matter as the emergencies of the case seem to demand.  It is possible that the bonds voted by several of the towns will be forfeited by the failure to comply with the terms upon which they were granted, viz: that the road should be completed today, January 21, 1881, unless an extension is granted.

 

News a few days later:

 

A bill extending the railroad bonds granted the Black River Railroad by several towns in Clark County passed both houses of the Legislature last Wednesday.                                                       

•••••••••

Preliminary steps are being taken towards building an Episcopal Church here. The site selected is opposite the Methodist Church, adjoining Firemen’s Hall.                                                         

••••••••

A well-loaded fishpond has been discovered near Ed Tolford’s logging camp in the upper regions. Fish are so plentiful, that they can be had by picking them up out of the water.                    

•••••••••

The throttle valve exploded in the Rose Saw mill at Heathville last week, tearing several holes through the building, but fortunately doing no more serious damage.  However, one man was injured somewhat by being struck by a bolt-head blown off by the explosion.                                                                                    

•••••••••

Mail service will go into effect on the Wisconsin & Minnesota railway from Eau Claire to Abbotsford Junction, on the first of next month. This arrangement will prove a great benefit to the residents of the northern part of this County, who have heretofore been poorly supplied to that respect.                                                                                                                                        

•••••••••

The undersigned, one and one-half miles west from Black River Falls, announces to the people of Clark County that he is prepared to card wool into rolls and to spin and weave it.  I will endeavor to fill orders to the best of my ability according to agreement and that strict honest will be observed in dealing with all customers. Respectfully yours, Niri Hanson, Black River Falls, Wis.                                                                                            

•••••••••

The past week has been one in which the chapter of accidents in the lumbering regions has seldom been equaled, two fatal accidents and many more or less serious having been reported.

 

Last Saturday a yoke of oxen, used in skidding logs, was killed by a falling tree in one of Harry Mead’s camps. The oxen driver got a broken arm in the incident.

 

A man who works in John Dwyer’s camp had one of the bones in a leg broken.  He was brought to the Reddan House, here, and placed under the care of Dr. Templeton.  His injuries are not serious, but will keep him quiet for several weeks.

 

January 1931

 

Last week, William Schiller purchased the home formerly occupied by the Kunert Treatment Rooms from Mrs. Mattie A. Hebron and he will remodel it into a funeral home, he announced this week.  Mr. Schiller plans on making extensive improvements, including gardening and landscaping, with a concrete drive around the premises.  He will occupy a portion of the building as a home. The home was formerly known as the L. B. Ring residence and originally was built by Dr. W. J. Brewster.                                                                                                      

•••••••••

Mr. Arthur Meyers and Miss Lillian Ehlers were married at Winona, Minn., Jan. 31. This worthy young couple has many friends with whom the press joins in wishing them success and happiness. They have begun housekeeping in the John Carter house on South Grand Avenue.                                                       

•••••••••

The range in “The House by the Side of the Road,” a restaurant carried on by Mr. and Mrs. Albert Kreisch, at the south end of Hewett Street, exploded Thursday morning with terrific force, but fortunately no person was injured. Ice had formed during the night in the waterfront of the stove and when the fire was built the water could not circulate. The range was wrecked, one piece of steel lodging in the ceiling.                                            

•••••••••

Julius Hagedorn, who suffered serious injuries in an accident a week ago, is reported doing well according to Dr. J. H. Frank, who is attending him.  Julius was injured in an accident on County Trunk G, near the Ackerman farm, last Sunday morning when riding in a milk truck driven by his father, Paul.  The milk truck collided with a passenger car that was operated by Harold Prock.  Mrs. Linus Prock, a passenger who also was injured, is doing well from her injuries as stated by her physician, Dr. H. W. Housley.  Mrs. Prock’s daughter, Delores, age 10, who was riding in the rear seat, received numerous cuts.                                                                                          

•••••••••

The Clark County Bankers Association held a meeting at the Merchant’s Hotel Monday night and gave a banquet to the vigilantes of the County, the sheriff, undersheriff, district attorney and other officials.  There was a large attendance from all parts of the County and a bountiful dinner served by hotel management.

 

F. V. Hiebsch of Dorchester, president of the Bankers Association, presided at the meeting, which followed the dinner. Geo. E. Crothers spoke a few words of welcome on behalf of the Neillsville members.  Attorney C. R. Sturdevant, chairman of the County Board, spoke on the history of the vigilante movement in Clark County and the apparent good effect it has had. District Attorney Haight spoke on several of the legal phases of the vigilantes’ duties, which was also supplemented by a talk by ex-district attorney Nehs, and Judge O. W. Schoengarth, and the methods used by holdup men in planning and carrying out their work.  Sheriff Bradford made a short address before calling up members of the vigilantes’ organization and swearing them in as deputy sheriffs.  A year ago those men were presented with rifles, shotguns and ammunition. Some vacancies in the force occurred during the past year, which were filled with other men.  A number of the organization men are American Legion members.

 

Judge Crosby, who could not be present, sent through Geo. Ure, an invitation to the members of the organization to attend a party some time next summer at the Riverside Country Club golf grounds, where the vigilantes will have an opportunity for target practice and a dinner will be served. The date will be fixed later.

•••••••••

Lucas Strangfeld, whose farm is four miles north of Neillsville, looked out of the window last Thursday night and saw a fire blazing brightly in the woods back of his house, upon second glance he saw someone dancing around the flames and heard revolver shots.  With visions that a wild man had invaded his premises Mr. Strangfeld called the sheriff’s office.  Leo Miller, undersheriff, strapped on his heavy artillery, summoned police Chief Fred Rossman, and started for the region of mystery.

 

The two officers looked at the blaze from the Strangfeld yard and agreed that either a maniac or a witch was at work in the forest. They tiptoed back into the woods where the weird figure jumped around the fire and shot his revolver. At the proper moment Miller stepped from behind a tree with a sawed-off shotgun and ordered the figure to throw up his hands.  The “ghost” refused and it was not until Miller had shot a charge over his head that he “stuck ‘em up”. 

 

The captive proved to be C. Guillard of Neillsville, who stated he had gone to the Strangfeld farm to frighten his friend, one of the Strangfeld boys.  He said the “revolver shots” were .22 shells exploding in the fire.  He was taken to the County Jail and Hugh Haight, district attorney, released him the following morning after delivering a stern lecture against “practical jokers.”                                                                                                                                                           

•••••••••

The Neville Brothers saw mill has been set up at Phil Neville’s forty in the Town of Weston where they will be doing custom sawing.  This coming spring they will setup in Neillsville.     

•••••••••

Those who have marveled at the warm thawing weather that has prevailed this winter are reminded by Mr. H. M. Root that during the winter of 1877-78 the roads from Neillsville to Greenwood were impassable that entire winter because of mud. Then years later the community experienced temperatures that went down well below zero.

 

A rainstorm passed over Neillsville early yesterday, January 28th.  The community enjoyed it first rainfall of 1931. The rain fell starting about 7:50 a.m. and continued for several minutes. 

•••••••••

The Sanitary Market, operated by George May and William Ruchaber, has leased the Dewhurst building next to the Sweet Shop and will move into the place about March 1. The business of the Sanitary Market has enjoyed a continuous growth under the leadership of Mr. May and Mr. Ruchaber and they have found their present quarters too small.  It is the plan to make the new quarters up to date in every way and rival the markets of the larger cities.  Work of remodeling has been under way for the past week.                                                              

•••••••••

The movie, “With Byrd at the South Pole” drew capacity crowds while it was shown in Neillsville last week and many were disappointed last Saturday in not being able to get into the theater. D. E. Peters, principal of Neillsville Schools, under whose auspices it was shown, stated that the rural teachers, reported about 400 students would be in last Saturday to see the show.  Instead more than 800 came.  Mr. Peters said he regretted the inability of many to see the picture, but that it was due to the hundreds who came without letting their teachers know in advance.

•••••••••

On Tuesday, Mr. Gustafson, proprietor of Eddie’s Quality Bakery, donated 60 loaves of bread to the Community Club.  Street Commissioner Farning took the city truck and distributed the bread to families of the unemployed, one of the members of the club going with him.                                                            

•••••••••

Abie Turner received a telegram Sunday informing him that his sister, Mrs. Mary Garvin of Portland, Oregon, passed away Saturday afternoon.  At one time she lived in this neighborhood and then moved to Loyal about 29 years ago, then 22 years ago, moved to Portland, Oregon. She leaves her husband, T. H. Garvin and four daughters: and four brothers, Frank of Kelso, Wash.; Warren of Owatonna, Minn., and Ben and Abie of York.

•••••••••

The Granton basketball team defeated the Greenwood High School team at Neillsville, Friday evening, 17 to 21. The Granton Black Hawk and Greenwood Red Bird game ended in a squabble; and they are going to play it off with a neutral referee at the armory in Neillsville this Sunday afternoon, Feb. 1st.  Let’s all see the game.

•••••••••

A rural extension of the Northern States Light and Power Co. line, running out from Loyal, was put in operations Monday.  The line runs to Spokeville and around through Heintown in the Town of York.  Some 40 farmers are on the line.  About half of this number clubbed together and bought the wire for wiring their home premises at wholesale and collectively hired electricians to do the work, saving a considerable amount on the jobs.

•••••••••

Sneak thieves came upon the John Sonheim farm in the Town of Levis Christmas night and made off with a portion of a Buick car, taking the top, front wheels and axle, and a spring.

 

The car, which had not been used for some time, stood in a garage on a part of the farm some distance from the residence.

•••••••••

The 1930 wedding and funeral statistics reveal that Rev. G. W. Longnecker of Neillsville performed one-twelfth of all the wedding ceremonies in the County and one-fifth of all the funeral rites.

•••••••••

Last week, Albert Davis of Granton shipped out three carloads of hardwood logs from Kurth siding and is buying more.  Prices have gone off considerably since last year.  Mr. Davis is buying for the Plywood Corporation of New London.

 

 

This January view of the 500 block of Hewett Street was captured sometime in the late 1940s. The snow banks tended to narrow the Street’s traffic lanes back then.  The big Buick, second car on the left, may have been that of Dr. Rosekrans, whose offices were on the second floor of the Hewett & Woods building.

 

 

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