Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI, May 3, 2017, Page 11

The number of new spring hats to be seen on the streets indicates a revival of the millinery business.

A move is soon to be made to incorporate the Village of Neillsville. It is a move in the right direction and one that should meet with the hearty support of every resident of the place.

The little German Band serenaded at the Rossman House last Wednesday evening, the result of which was the throwing of a portion of a bedstead through the window, but at the wrong crowd.

The last hope of the lumbermen for an early May “log drive” disappeared the first of the month with snow that fell for two days, with manty driving crews then discharged.

The Corner Saloon, which from its having been in a very conspicuous part of a principal street, had ever been an annoyance to the town, capitulated last Tuesday. The building is now occupied by Mr. James O’Neill, its owner, as a grocery store. Mr. O’Neill was offered an enormous rent for the building for the purpose of continuing the sale of liquor therein, but would not consent to the use of his property for that purpose, although in dollars and cents it would have been greatly to his interest to have done so.

During the past week farmers have been the greatest home-bodies in the world; they have been a rarity on our streets.

Fishing in the streams near Greenwood affords a profitable pastime to its residents.

Some very nice fish have been caught in the Cunningham, just below Clark’s dam, during the past week.

Racing horses within the town are thoroughly aired on the track at the Fairgrounds almost every day.

It’s very quiet in this locality; too quiet. Could some deviltry of some noticeable goodness be developed to break the monotony that is becoming tedious?

A very wise act, preventing the destruction of birds, was passed last winter by the Legislature. Anyone killing a bluebird, robin, swallow, meadow lark, or any insect devouring bird, can be fined one dollar for the first offense and five dollars for the second. Boys remember this!

It isn’t safe for the head of the family to go fooling around the front door, now. The best thing he can do is to go around the back way and change his shoes in the woodshed before entering.

Uncle Dan Gates has been the first to remove the rubbish, which accumulated about his premises during the past winter from the streets. This good example should be followed by all.

Mrs. Tibbitts now has the rooms in connection with her restaurant fully fitted up and is prepared to accommodate a limited number of transient guests with comfortable sleeping rooms.

Neverman & Sontag have completed the improvements on their brewery commenced in the winter, and now have one of the best establishments of the kind to be found in the state, outside to the larger towns.

Last Wednesday, Dr. Graham of Iowa City, Iowa, assisted by Dr. O.P. Thompson, of this village, performed a very delicate surgical operation upon Geo. Hanks, a boy fifteen year of age, living about four miles southeast of this village, who had been a cripple from his birth by what is known as clubfoot. Both feet were badly deformed, being turned inward and upward in such a manner that in walking the weight of his body rested almost entirely on the outside of the ankle joints. The operation was performed in a most skillful manner, and the feet put in proper shape. The boy has now every promise of a good pair of feet.

Peter Mitchell & son experienced mill-men of Plainfield. Waushara County, are about to erect an extensive flouring mill at Nasonville. They are said to be men of worth by parties residing here who have been acquainted with them for years, and we congratulate our neighbors on their good fortune.

Lumber and timber for George Lloyd’s building is being hauled from Nasonville, a distance of sixteen miles, notwithstanding the fact that Neillsville is surrounded with pine timber, a portion of which at least should be manufactured here.

A meeting of baseball-ists of this village was held last Thursday evening, and a club organized for the promotion of crooked-fingers and broken bones.

Charley Crocker has been absent during the past week taking orders for Black Ash Sugar and Vinegar, furnished only by Crocker and Brown of this village.

In the death of Martin Lastofka Clark County loses an American individualist, ole-style.

Mr. Lastofka attended very strictly to his own business. A hard worker, he was intent upon his own interests, his own vocation. As a stock buyer, he attended to every call, traveled millions of miles in Clark County. His purpose was never to miss a transaction through neglect. The result was that in his prime he made a tremendous record, being known at the Chicago stockyards as the largest individual stock dealer shipping to that market.

Mr. Lastofka became large interested in real estate. Traveling over a large area, he came to know conditions upon thousands of farms. He saw more than most; knew the values. The result was that, in buying real estate, he bought wisely. His judgement was respected by persons specializing in that field. He made a business of buying run-down city property, repairing it, and restoring its value. In this he was reputed to be successful, a fact which speaks eloquently for his management, for most person, reconditioning old property. Spend more upon it than its final market value.

Mr. Lastofka never sought public notice. He was not an office holder or an office seeker. He was not active in organizations. He was not what is commonly called public-spirited. He did not attend booster meetings or seek to lead in public undertakings. And yet it is interesting to note that this individualist has left his strong mark upon Neillsville and Clark County. Many a house and barn looks better today because Mart Lastofka took hold of it. Many thousand dollars appear upon the assessment rolls, which never would have been there except for his enterprise.

He will be missed, for instance, by those business associates to whom he always gave Christmas presents. He will be remembered by some, who in a difficulty, found Mart Lastofka ready to shave off a little in order that a debt might be tolerable. Indeed, it is surprising, now that he is gone, how many find occasions to say a good word for this American individualist. Perhaps he had something, which is worth retaining in American life.

(Martin Lastofka married Miss Anna Plummer on January 11, 1912. She had grown up in the Town of York. In 1925, he built a new family home on the corner of Fourth and Clay streets. Throughout the years, he has built several new houses within the city as well as remodeling many of Neillsville’s old homes, returning them to a state of beauty and usefulness. DZ)

New stone gates are being erected at the entrance to Schuster Park, replacing old vine-covered wood and wire gates. The new stone gates are patterned after the entrances to the County Asylum Farm at Owen. Other improvements planned by the city for Schuster Park this summer include the installing of two stone fireplaces, the footings for which already have been poured.

Bob Wagner left Monday for Eau Claire, then on to Milwaukee for his physical examination, the young man having enlisted in the air corps.

Baccalaureate exercises for the 47 seniors of Greenwood High School who will be graduated May 15 will be held Sunday in the high school gymnasium. The baccalaureate address will be given by Rev. A. E. Norson, pastor of the United Lutheran Church.

Included in the program will be selections by the Women’s chorus of the United Lutheran Church, the Boys’ Glee Club of the high school, and a vocal solo by Mrs. Herbert Schwarze.

Certificates permitting the purchase of new automobiles were granted by the County Rationing Board last week to: Chris Price of rout two Thorp; William A. Schlinsog of route two, Greenwood; frank J. Lesar, Willard; and Earle W. Kidd, Owen.

The biggest four-day job in the history of Clark County was completed last Thursday night as rationing officials reported county “sugar” registrations of 30,288, and War Ration Books issued totaling 24,755.

Ellis Mortimer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Mortimer arrived home last Monday after a hitch-hike trip of three days and nights from California.

A truck driver in the army stationed in California, Ellis was severely injured in an accident some time ago, and was granted a furlough to visit his home while recuperating.

The planting of more than three-quarters of a million fingerling and yearling fish in Clark County waters was completed last week. Game Warden Alva A. Clump reported that 750,000 walleyed pike fingerlings were planted in Black River and Lake Arbutus. About 40,000 Muskie fingerling Muskellunge were planted in Black River and approximately the same number were put in Lake Arbutus.

Rainbow trout numbering about 6,500, from four to seven inches in length, were put in Hay Creek, the warden said.

The McKinley School, of Hendren Township, tops the list in Clark County for the per capita sale of Christmas seals. This school has been awarded a plaque by the Wisconsin Anti-Tuberculosis Association, in recognition of the accomplishment.

(During the 1930s – 40s, all area grade schools received Christmas seals for students to see within their community, a fundraiser to be used for Tuberculosis research. The seals were the size of our present-day postage stamps, which could be glued to the back of letters and packages, showing support of the cause. DZ) (I remember selling those. DMK)

War conditions have made it imperative that the Neillsville Bottling Works have the advantage of use of bottles and cases, many of which are at private residences, to meet the daily demands of business. We all understand the perplexities of obtaining materials with which to operate in these times of stress, and to whatever materials we have on hand.

With the goodwill of our customers, we ask their cooperation in returning bottles and cases to us. If deposit was made, we will gladly make a refund. Phone 230, and we will send a truck to pick up.

All consumers are asked to return bottles and cases loaned them by taverns either to the place they came from or to the Neillsville Bottling Works. We will gladly return them to their owners.

In accordance with other businesses, The Farmer’s Store Company will be open Friday evening, May 29, and closed all Memorial Day, May 30.

Real sunshine came to Clark County last weekend for the first time since late April. Consequently, farmers turned to their delayed fieldwork.

The first 18 days of the month of May, precipitation of slightly more than four and one-half inches was measured at the official weather station at the Henry Markwardt home in Neillsville.

Opened Under New Management, Former Elmer Counsell Location – Cities Service Station on South Hewett Street.

Cities Service Koolmotor Gasoline & Oils, Washing & Greasing. Try our Service … Your Patronage will be greatly Appreciated. Operated by Jim Hauge.

A 1930s photo of Elmer Counsell’s Cities Service Station that was located at the end of South Hewett Street. At that time, gasoline and fuel oil were transported to Neillsville by railroad with the large receiving tanks near the tracks located between West 7th and 8th Street, where local delivery trucks filled up, transporting fuel to the nearby filling stations. The above photo shows a truck driver tending Cities Service Station’s underground tank near the gas pumps.

George Fluegel and Henry Seltrecht were home over the weekend from Camp McCoy, where they are employed.

The following young people were confirmed in the Corpus Christi Church in Bakerville on Thursday morning, May 21; Helen and Rosetta Paun, Amanda and Paul Rosandich, Jeanette and Elsie Rosandich.

A minimum pay of $42 per month for soldiers and sailors has been agreed upon by a Conference Committee of Congress. The $42 figure applies to Army privates and apprentice seamen. First class privates and seamen of comparable grade will receive $48 per month.

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