Clark County Press, Neillsville, Wisconsin

October 28, 2009, Page 18

Contributed by "The Clark Co. Press"

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

Index of "Oldies" Articles 

 

Compiled by Dee Zimmerman

 

Clark County News

October 1869

 

 Last Monday night the clothes line of Mr. Hans Johnson at the O’Neill House was robbed of seventeen sheets, four shirts and some other articles.  Mr. John F. King’s place, a mile east of town, was visited the same evening and the line was robbed of four shirts and some infant’s clothing.  There is some low, mean, petty thief or thieves in town who make these hauls regularly every two or three months.  We hope they will be caught, in tar and feathers and whipped with a clothes-line until the sight of a line will be distasteful.

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We have been requested to state the Rev. J. J. Walker will preach at Renne’s schoolhouse, Town of Weston, next Sabbath morning at 10:30 o’clock.  In the afternoon he will be at the schoolhouse near John Nichols’ in the Town of Grant and at Palmer’s schoolhouse on the west side of the river in the evening.

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A new newspaper has just been started at Durand, Wis., called the Lean Wolf, George Van Waters, editor and proprietor.  Van Waters said Aesop’s Fable of the Lean Wolf suggested the adoption of this title, because he was “a glorious, freedom-loving wolf.”  The paper is eight columns in size and well edited.  

•••••••••

The State Tax apportioned to Clark County for this year is $2,864.10, which, added to the county indebtedness of $3,292.99, makes a total tax of $6,157.15.  The amount is nearly $400 smaller than the tax of last year.

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Arch Day advertises to have a dance at his hotel on Friday evening, Nov. 5th.  Of course there will be a good attendance, because everybody can enjoy themselves at Arch’s.   

•••••••••

Loggers are already preparing for their winters’ work.  We learned of several crews that have gone into the woods to make roads, build camps and get ready for the work before them.

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We saw a strange sight the other day; an Indian was carrying a papoose upon his back on one of our streets.   This is an encouraging sign to those who advocate “Women’s Rights.”

•••••••••

There is a set of boxing gloves at a certain place here in town and quite a number of guys have been practicing in the “manly art,” a statement that can be verified by a good many sore noses, swelled lips and black eyes now about town.  It is good exercise and anyone can have a chance to show his skill with the gloves.  We’ve been there.

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Lloyd & Myers have rented the first floor of the new building of Hutchinson & Merritt and put in stock of flour, food and other merchandise.   

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O’Neill’s Hall, last Thursday night, was the scene of a fine ball thoroughly German in its character and nearly so in attendance.  The Germans, as it is well known, are lovers of good music and are adept in the ‘poetry of motion.”  We could not help noticing particularly the ease and grace with which an “old country” lady 62 years of age waltzed around the room, out doing even those in maiden years and of fairer form.  Everything passed off in the most pleasant and agreeable manner.   

•••••••••

The new road to Humbird is getting better every day. In its present condition it is not a hard drive, to go over and back, with a team of horses and buggy on the same day.  Clark County is already beginning to derive great benefits from the West Wisconsin railroad going to Humbird.

•••••••••

The Mail Route to the “Twenty-Six” post office according to Mr. W. T. Hutchinson, the postmaster at that place, has been notified that service upon the new mail route from there to John Graves’, in town 26, 1 east, will begin about the first of next month.  The mail will leave here on Friday and return on Saturdays.  It is possible that the first trip will be made next week.  The post office at George Hunsicker’s is called “Lumberman” and at Graves’, “Loyal.”  Our subscribers living in that direction should notify us as is convenient, at which post office they wish to receive their papers.

•••••••••

The weather has been unusually cold for this season of the year, during the past few days.  Last Monday we had a blustering snowstorm.  Yet we don’t hail the coming of winter as a dreary epoch in Time’s history.  It is with us a season of busy thrift, cheerful sleigh rides, happy gatherings around the warm firesides, pleasant parties and a time for enjoyment and prosperity.

 

October 1959

 

Graduated September 25 from the Navy’s Officer Candidate School in Newport, R. I., and commissioned an ensign, was James J. Wavrunek, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph J. Wavrunek of Neillsville.  He is a graduate of Wisconsin State College and Neillsville High School.                                                                     

•••••••••

William Frederick Dahnert, 75, Neillsville tavern operator and long-time fire chief, died here early Monday morning.  Funeral services will be Thursday at 2 o’clock from the United Church of Christ.

 

Mr. Dahnert, son of he (the) late Carl and Alvina (Symdon) Dahnert, was born April 4, 1884, in Stoughton.  He attended Dane County schools and at the age of 17 came to Clark County with his parents, who settled on a farm in the Town of Levis.  He worked for the Lathie Implement Co. and later International Harvester Co.

 

During the 1920s he and his brother, Ben, went into the garage business in Neillsville, which they operated until 1934.  At that time he made the garage into a tavern, the Green lantern, which he had operated since.

 

He is survived by the following brothers and sisters: Mrs. Wm. (Lena) Heiking, Charles, Albert, Herman, Ben, Henry, Mrs. Arnold (Dorothy) Wilkie, and Mrs. K. (Ethel) Pedder

•••••••••

Work is proceeding on a 100-acre marshland area on the former old Abbot Ranch in the Clark County Forest, Town of Foster.  The area will be turned into a habitat for waterfowl.  There is a convergence of two drainage ditches, which was built during CCC days on the upper dam of the Abbot Ranch development.  Present project is being carried out by the WINX club of Neillsville, a limited-membership club of local waterfowl hunters, along with the State Water Regulatory board and the Clark County Forestry Department.

•••••••••

Northwest Wisconsin will hold dedication ceremonies for 59 miles of Interstate Route 94, between Hudson and Eau Claire, October 29. 

 

State Highway Commission officials said it is the largest single section of T-road in the state to be opened at one time and is believed to be the largest in the nation since the I-system program was begun in 1956.

 

The ceremony will start at 8 a.m. with a kickoff breakfast in Hudson sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce.  Ribbon-cutting ceremonies will begin 9 a.m. a short distance east of Hudson at the junction of County Trunk U and I-94, with Wisconsin’s Governor Nelson and Minnesota’s Governor Freeman invited to officiate.

•••••••••

Mr. and Mrs. John Reinart spent the weekend in Milwaukee, where they attended the wedding Saturday of her cousin, Beverly Seelow, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Seelow of Cudahy, formerly of Neillsville, and Terry Snyder, at Our Father’s Lutheran Church.  A reception was held in the evening.      

•••••••••

A coin-metered, self-service Laundromat will make its debut in Neillsville next Tuesday.  Haenel’s Laundromat, owned and operated by Mrs. Julia Haenel of Fairchild, is located in the building formerly occupied by the Bowman Egg Company, opposite Van Gorden’s feed mill.

 

Containing 19 automatic coin-metered washers and seven dryers, the Laundromat will be open 24 hours a day.  The nature of the machines makes this possible, because they do not need to be attended.

•••••••••

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Braatz celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last weekend, with the immediate family joining in a dinner at Club 10 Saturday evening, and with relatives and friends gathering at their home Sunday evening.  Sunday also was the birthday of Mrs. Braatz.

 

Henry Braatz, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Braatz, was married to Edith Kurzrok, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kurzrok, in Zion Lutheran Church, Town of Grant on September 29, 1909.  The Rev. Jacob Reiff officiated.  Arthur Braatz now of Milwaukee and Miss Flora Kurzrok, now of Racine, attended the bridal couple.

 

Henry Braatz was born December 25, 1877, in the Town of Grant, at the residence known for many years as “the Carl Braatz home,” and now owned by Clarence Braatz.  Mrs. Henry (Edith) Braatz was born October 4, 1881, in Burlington.  Mrs. Braatz came to Clark County in 1907 and, in partnership with her sister, Flora, operated a millinery store in Granton.  Mr. Braatz, before his marriage, was a builder and for several years built homes and farm buildings throughout southern and central Clark County, building as many as six houses per year.

 

Houses still standing, constructed under his supervision and labor, include the John Diethrich residence where the Dale Short family now lives, the Herman Braatz residence where the Victor Bratz family now resides, the Julius Lautenbach residence now occupied by the Hubert Dudei family, and the George Howard, Norman Braatz, Glen Short, Ted Beilke, Bill Schmidt and Al Nonhof houses.

 

After their marriage the couple took up farming one-fourth mile south of Kurth corners, on a farm, now owned by Walter Reber.  They lived there for 36 years.  In 1945 they moved to Neillsville, purchasing the former Joseph Counsell residence from Mrs. Nina (Counsell) Olia, where they have lived since.

 

They have two children: Leonard, now living with his wife and three daughters in Milwaukee; and Roberta Davis of Watertown.

 

Mr. and Mrs. Braatz were members of Zion Lutheran Church in Grant from 1909 to 1945 and of St. John’s Evangelical Church in Neillsville since 1945.

 

Mrs. Braatz has spent much of her leisure time as a seamstress.  Mr. Braatz has fished since he was strong enough to carry a fishing pole and has been an active hunter since he was 12 years old. While a resident of the Town of Grant, he cleared 35 acres in Grant and Lynn, in addition to carrying on the work at his farm.

 

When 16 years of age, his father presented him with a heavy Winchester .40-82 rifle and the first year he brought down a large bear and four deer. Since that time, down to 1958, he hunted deer, small game and did considerable fishing each year.

 

A room in his home on Oak Street displays some of his marksmanship.  They include many deer trophies.  In the early days neighbors got together and camped in the deer country during hunting.  He usually went southeast, near the East Fork of the Black River.  A picture in his living room shows nine hunters and nine deer.  Henry is pictured with Alvin Eisentraut, Chris Feutz, Herman and Carl Braatz and other residents of Southern Clark County.

 

“We usually hung the deer up in the woods where we shot them,” said Mr. Braatz, “and then drove around and gathered them up the last day of hunting.  No one ever stole a deer.  The law of the hunt gave the man who did the shooting the title to his kill.”

•••••••••

Arthur Hubing and his brothers, Charles and George Hubing of Neillsville, are leaving today for Circle, Mont., where they will be guests of their brother, Bert Hubing and his family.  They will also visit nieces and nephews in Terry, Mont., and will hunt big game.  Another brother, Henry Hubing of Neillsville, left last week by train for Montana.  En route he visited in Norfolk, Nebr., with his daughter, Mrs. Marvin Westphal and family.  Mrs. Westphal is the former Ursula Hubing.

 

Mrs. Clara Coppins, Ft. Atkinson, and her son, Bill of Columbus, Ohio, will arrive this forenoon at the Arthur Hubing home and accompany her brothers on their trip.                   

•••••••••

Eight mule deer and two antelope were the prize kill of Ernest Kissling, Alfred and Bob Speigel, who returned Sunday evening from an eight-day big game hunt in the Powder River Country of Northwestern Wyoming.

•••••••••

Fifty years of service to the Loyal area will be observed by the Citizens State Bank at Loyal, at a public open house Saturday afternoon from 1 to 5 p.m.  Paul A. Davel, executive vice president and cashier announced this week.

 

Refreshments and souvenirs will be available for all who visit the bank during the open house.

 

The Citizens State Bank, which operates a branch at Granton, has enjoyed an excellent growth of deposits during its 50 years of service.  In its first year, 1909, deposits amounted to $5,016.82.  In 1918 they had grown to $200,487.19, and now stand at an all time high.  The 1958 deposits reached $1,780,634.97 and now are approaching the $2 million mark.

•••••••••

Members of the Loyal American Legion Auxiliary who attended the 11th District Convention in Park Falls Saturday were: Mrs. Agnes Dobbe, Mrs. Sara Catlin, Mrs. Ann Catlin, Mrs. Mae Bremer, Mrs. Hilda Newman, and Mrs. Lesta Hales.

•••••••••

Sometime Sunday residents of Neillsville and Granton will pick up their telephone receivers and hear an unaccustomed “humming” sound instead of an operator’s voice.

 

That will be the tip-off that the telephones of the Badger State Telephone and Telegraph Co. have been switched over to dial.

•••••••••

For Sale: 180-acre farm; barn with basement and driveway, granary, workshop, garage, chicken coop, corn crib, brooder house, and 7-room house with bath, hot & cold water and furnace.  $20,000

 

 

Charles and Wilhelmina (Gandt) Kurth purchased 180 acres of land in Grant Township in 1`873. The following year, they built a large 2-story brick building consisting of 12 rooms, having a tavern, rooms for overnight travelers and facility to hold town meetings.  This became known as “Kurth Corners,” which is referred to as such yet today as the brick building, now a family home, still remains on the site along Hwy 10 between Granton and Neillsville.

 

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