May 1902

W. H. Lowery has rented his big farm, in the Town of Levis, to Claude Schilling from Chippewa County.  Lowery and his family have moved to Frank Raether’s house on Court Street.  We hope Lowery will see to it that his big melon patch down on the farm does not go by default.

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Wm. and Mert Graves, of Spencer, came over to Loyal, Sunday, on their new motorcycle.  This machine is quite a curiosity as it is the first machine introduced in this section.  It weighs about 75 pounds and gasoline produces the motive power.  On good roads, remarkable fast time can be made in traveling.  In case of an accident to the mechanism, riders have no trouble in reaching home as the motorcycle is equipped with pedals.

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Neillsville has two excellent trained nurses, Miss Lottie Manes and Miss Edith McIntyre.  That means a great deal to a community to have at hand skillful nurses available.  Their services should be highly appreciated.

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What is probably the last large log jam to be seen on this part of the Black River, was lodged last week a short distance above Ross Eddy.

Frank Aiken, of La Crosse, was in charge of the drive.  He had a crew of 25 or 30 men under the direction of foreman Walters who were engaged in breaking the jam.

For many years this has been a common sight along the river, yet it is a thrilling spectacle to the on-looker.  Log after log is rolled off or pried loose from the front of the jam, until at last the one that is the key to the situation is set free.  After it is free, a ponderous mass starts with irresistible force and is swept down by the rushing current. Frequently, one or more of the plucky men working as drivers must scramble for their lives over the tumbling ruin.

As we stood watching the drivers at the jam last Friday, this very thing happened.  One of the men was unable to reach the shore, but succeeded in keeping on top of the billows of logs that tossed and rolled like straws in a millrace.  Eventually, he was able to jump to a big rock on the middle of a small island in the river.  Immediately, he set to work rolling in logs lodged on the rocky island.  He then waited to find the right log to suit his needs, mounting it on his spiked shoes, rolling it dexterously as it floated until he gained the shore.

But the days of the log driving are passing. It is probable that the Black River Improvement Co., which drives all the logs, will dissolve its business this fall.  The company has been in business since the early 1850s and has driven millions of feet of pine down the river.

In the early days, skillful drivers received large wages and most boys living near Black River soon learned to ride a log and made the best drivers.  It was harsh and dangerous work, full of hardships, but had an element of excitement.  That, along with the good wages, brought plenty of recruits to the ranks.

The stories of the log drives will soon be a tradition.  The big flood dams, where not used, will fall into decay or be washed away.  But along the river where the spiked shoes have worn a pathway for nearly half a century, is likely to be the path that the railway will take.  The railway will then, in the distant day, carry freight and passengers on this route.

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John Beaver, Jr., of Loyal was among the young men that went to Greenwood on Sunday.  They rode the railroad hand car from Loyal, visited friends at Greenwood, and then returned home the same way they came.

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Marriage licenses issued in Clark County this month are: Frederick Dankemeyer and Luceille Fields, both of Fremont; Emil Hansen and Elizabeth Miller, both of Hixon; Albert E. Mead and Betsey S. Beldon both of Mead.

Fred Bredlau, of the Town of Sherman, and Miss Emma Riedel of Grant, were married at Granton on Wednesday, May 22.  They will reside on the groom’s farm in the Town of Sherman.

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A wrestling match has been arranged between Fred Beell of Marshfield and Ed Adamson of Chicago.  The event is to take place at Marshfield on May 31.

May 1937

Judge O. W. Schoengarth proved himself to be a good real estate dealer last week.  He sold a creamery at Riplinger for $16,000 cash to help settle the estate of the late James C. Abegglen of Riplinger.  The creamery was purchased by E. W. Marten of Spencer.  The deal came under the supervision of Judge Schoengarth in his capacity as the judge of probate.

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Arnold Noll, Town of Grant, and Ermine Sternitzky, Town of Lynn, were married Sunday at the Clark County court house.  Judge O. W. Schoengarth performed the wedding ceremony with Mr. and Mrs. Paul Bieneck as witnesses.

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A large crowd of invited guests attended the dancing party at Keller’s Silver Dome on Sunday night.  The dance was held in celebration of the recent marriage of Henry Keller of Neillsville and Gertrude Meyers of Loyal.

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The month of June is approaching, it’s the wedding month and that causes the traditional boom in marriage applications.  The following licenses were issued to: Victor Albrecht, Lynn, and Marian Hendrickson, Wood County; Harold Prock, Town of Weston, and Pearl Hansen, Town of Levis; Arthur Laabs, Curtiss, and Bernice Eide, Neillsville; Frank Kowieski, Withee, and Marie Herman, Thorp; Marley Vine, Longwood and Clara Stowe, Warner; Milburn E. Troutner, Chicago and Florence Zickert, York; William H. Rottjer and Emma Noeldner, Loyal; John B. Mulrayan, Maywood, Ill. and Eva Reams, Pine Valley; Charles Sackett, Seif and Anna Pozego, Hendren; Clarence Geiger and Lucy Keller, Mayville; John F. Zaller and Mary Florence Metcalf, Humbird; Milo R. Mabie, Neillsville and Leona A. Chase, Pine Valley; Daniel Wolter, Sherman and Nina Castner, Loyal; Lester Steinhilber, Grant and Aloysia T. Raab, Oshkosh; Leonard Jensen, Hixon and Mable Schlinsog, Mead.

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Mr. and Mrs. Al Sollberger, of this city, Frank and Clarence Hnetvosky, Alice and Frances Sollberger, Bertha Laager and Frank Thomas, of the Town of Hewett, planted 1,000 two-year old Norway and white pine seedlings, Sunday.  The seedlings were planted on Sollberger’s forty in the Town of Hewett.  The trees were purchased from the state conservation commission.  Sollberger has set out about 5,000 of these small trees during the past few years. Although about 40 percent of those trees were killed by the drought last summer, he feels that his reforestation efforts are quite worthwhile.

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On Tuesday night, the Neillsville City Council decided to have a street oiling ordinance drawn up with the cost of oiling being charged to the benefited property.  The action was taken following the reading of a petition in which a number of Grand Avenue property owners asked to have the streets oiled and the cost paid for from the general fund.

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Emil Matson, street commissioner, was ordered by the Neillsville City Council, to drain O’Neill Creek pond for the purpose of removing the accumulation of mud.  This would prepare the creek for swimming purposes during the summer.  It was stated by Arthur Kunze, first ward alderman that he believed the pond could be made into an excellent swimming place with this attention.  He asserted that the pond had not been cleaned out for a number of years.

It is possible that a concrete bottom will be laid in the portion of the pool used by the small children.  Some work also will be necessary on repairing the retaining wall.

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Dr. E. L. Bradbury, for many years prominent as a citizen and physician in Neillsville, passed away at his home on State Street, May 13, 1937.

Edwin Lewis Bradbury was born in New Bedford, Mass., Nov. 19, 1861.  When he was about 15 years-of-age, he came with his parents to Jackson County where the family settled on a farm. There, he grew to manhood, and on Nov. 15, 1888 he was united in marriage to Miss Minnie D. Warren, at Sechlerville.

In the 1890’s, he entered Rush Medical College in Chicago, graduating in 1900.  For one year, he practiced medicine at Melrose and then moved to Neillsville, taking over the practice of Dr. I. E. Lacey, deceased.  At that time, the highways were not well developed, especially in the rural townships and his calls took him over many difficult roads.

In his efforts to keep pace with the demands of his practice, he was the first man in this locality to purchase and drive an automobile.  He was deeply devoted to his profession and never hesitated to sacrifice his own ease or comfort for the sake of his patients.  For many years he was the Clark County physician and Neillsville City physician, which position he held at the time of his death.

In his early life, he received an excellent musical education.  During his young manhood, he gave music lessons on the organ and piano.  Before the family came west and although only a boy, he played the organ in the Episcopal Church in New Bedford.  He was, however, extremely modest in regard to his talent and in recent years played only within his home, for his family’s enjoyment.

It is reasonably certain that Dr. Bradbury had not a single enemy during all his years of practice here.

Besides his wife, he leaves three sons: Dr. Warren Bradbury, who has been in the naval service for a good many years, now stationed at Bremerton, Wash.; Wendell Bradbury of Philadelphia and Lewis in Neillsville.  His youngest son, Marion died about seven years ago, when a young man.  He leaves also, three grandchildren.

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The Neillsville City baseball team will give the fans a chance to see it in action against the Greenwood club at the Fair-grounds diamond on Sunday afternoon.  This will be the season’s opening game.  Stubby Gerhardt will do the hurling and Walter Zank, the receiving.

Season tickets can be purchased at either bank in Neillsville or from the players.

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A 15-year-old hitchhiker had the good fortune in happening to “thumb” a ride with Homer Ralph of the Town of Grant.  It resulted in restoring a runaway youth to his distracted parents in St. Paul, Saturday.

Friday afternoon, a youth signaled Ralph for a ride as he was starting out of town, going home.  Ralph stopped and offered the boy a ride. Although the lad told Ralph that he was from St. Paul, he refused to tell his last name.  Ralph then became suspicious that the youth had run away from home.  Finally, he succeeded in persuading the youth to stay over night in the Ralph’s home.

It was not until 10 p.m. that evening, when the young fellow admitted his name was Charles McDevitt, Jr. and that he had run away from home that morning.  Ralph telephoned his parents in St. Paul and informed them where their son was.  Mrs. McDevitt said she had been crying for several hours over the disappearance of her son.

Mr. and Mrs. McDevitt arrived Saturday to get their boy.  It was learned he had had a little difficulty with a teacher and decided to take the open-road to escape returning to school.  When the lad left, he told the Ralph’s he would like to return for a visit sometime this summer.

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The Girl Scout Troop planned the entertainment for the Boy Scouts who were their guests at their last meeting.  A humorous skit by the Ghost Patrol opened the program, after which two talented little tap-dancers, Joan Brown and Wilmette Russell, performed.  Games were played and some singing was enjoyed before the serving of refreshments.  The meeting was then adjourned.

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Mr. and Mrs. Oluf Olson had a surprise visit Sunday, when their niece, whom they had not seen for 15 years, called on them.  She is Mrs. Richard Moore of Havre, Mont., who with her husband, have come back to Wisconsin to find a location.  Mrs. Moore, nee Alvina Olson, went to Montana 17 years ago to teach.  Mr. Olson saw her 15 years ago at Tripoli, when she returned to attend her mother’s funeral.  For the present time, Mr. and Mrs. Moore are living at Abbotsford.

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Oluf Olson lived in Abbotsford, working as the city constable, in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.  He moved, with his family, to Neillsville and worked many years as custodian in the Clark County courthouse.  (Photo courtesy of his grandson, Larry Olson)