Clark County Press, Neillsville, Wisconsin

January 3, 2018 Page 10

Contributed by "The Clark Co. Press"

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

Index of "Oldies" Articles 

 

Compiled by Dee Zimmerman

 

Clark County News

January 1868

 

For some reason, the Christmas and New Year holidays just past were not celebrated in Neillsville to the same extent as is usually the custom.  Our village was well represented at other places, however, the slight fall of snow a few days before Christmas undoubtedly had great influence in determining the acceptance by our young folks in invitations to attend parties a few miles out of the village, who were over anxious to enjoy the pleasures of a sleigh ride.  A large number attended the Christmas dance at the Mormon Ripple House between here and Black River Falls.  Fifty or sixty couples were present, and although the ballroom was somewhat crowded, all experienced a happy time.

 

The next night a few went to “Kingston,” a place that has just witnessed its first Christmas Day, and in honor of the occasion, a ball and oyster supper were given.  There were none too many present, and we doubt whether this new settlement will ever contain a more pleasant and agreeable party than the one gathered together that evening.  Before the first day of the New Year , another snow storm improved the sleighing considerably, which was participated in by a few on New Year’s Day.  In the evening, a private party at the residence of Mr. G. Sterns, passed off very pleasantly.                                                

•••••••••

“Kingston”

 

The other day we visited King’s mill in the Town of Mentor, now commonly styled as the heading above, and to which we referred in the article above.  The place contains thirteen buildings.  The mill is in full operation and has filled a yard full of the best lumber we have ever seen in this country.  Its enterprising owner, Mr. G. W. King, has shown good judgment in locating his mill at that point, it being but a few miles from a large prairie commencing a short distance west of “Kingston.”  A store will soon be erected, and people in that vicinity will find a convenient place.                                                                           

•••••••••

Two young fellows went out in a new and fancy cutter, driving a fast horse, last Saturday afternoon to enjoy the good sleighing, and on their way back to town from Staffordsville, the cutter struck a tree root beside the road and capsized.  The fellows were measuring their length in the snow before they had time to realize what had happened, and the horse became frightened and ran into town at a rapid rate.  He made for the sidewalk of Adam’s drug store, but the space between the building and a stout hitching post would not permit the passage of both horse and cutter, hence a collision occurred, which converted the cutter into many fragments.  The horse halted a little further off, injured but slightly.                                        

•••••••••

The people of the Windfall, in the Town  of Weston, celebrated the first day of the New Year by a grand supper and ball, which took place in the evening at the splendid new residence of Mr. Hiram Renne.  The meeting had a double purpose, to dedicate the new residence as well as to celebrate the New Year.  The company, which was large, partook of a splendid supper, consisting of oysters and other rarities, served up in good style by the ladies, after which dancing was commenced in earnest, and kept up till the wee, short hours beyond 12 midnight.                                                                                      

•••••••••

We noticed a great many teams loaded with wheat, corn and feed, coming in town every day from Trempealeau prairie.  Eighteen loads arrived in town the other evening, in one long line.

•••••••••

A movement is on foot to have Nasonville, Wood County, annexed to this county.  This is very much desired by the people of that place, and the acquisition would be a valuable one to this county.  Their interests are identical with our own.  The citizens of  that part of Wood County do all their trading in Neillsville, and it is hoped the annexation will be made, that they may be able to cooperate with those in the eastern part of the county in building roads and making other necessary improvements.                      

•••••••••

A large eight-pail kettle, with two legs broken off, has been missing for some time, and it is supposed that in making its usual rounds amongst the neighbors it has fell into the possession of someone who knows not the owner, nor who can possibly realize the anxiety felt by the person claiming the kettle for the recovery of the same.  By returning it to the Neillsville House, a great favor will be conferred.  Who’s got it?

•••••••••

The new barber shop in our village came very near being destroyed by fire Tuesday afternoon.  A stovepipe is used in the place of a chimney and getting very hot set fire to the roof.  Fortunately, it was discovered in time to prevent any serious damage.  This is the second instance here since cold weather that a stovepipe running through the roof has endangered the loss of property.

 

January 1943

 

The perpetrators for the charivari for David and Esther Parry last Tuesday night worked the thing out on a business basis.

 

The young couple who kept their marriage secret for nine and one-half years were caught in a trap during the Rotary-Ann party; and here is the way payment was figured.

 

Fifteen dollars for getting married, and $1 for each year they were married and kept it a secret.  The discordant din subsided when Parry shelled out $25 for the amusement of the noise-makers.

 

(It was a common practice during the early 1900s to have a charivari for a couple who were married secretly, and who didn’t invite anyone to witness their ceremony or have a reception afterwards.  Once the word of the marriage was made public, a group of friends and family members would plan a charivari.  They all would gather to arrive at the same time with noise-makers and surprise the young wedded couple, extending their congratulations.  They expected the newly married couple to serve them a lunch.  Often family members came with some prepared dishes to help the young couple in serving a lunch. DZ)

•••••••••

Five Chrysler employees have been car-sharing since 1937, cutting transportation expenses 80 percent of their 50-mile daily round-trip work.                                                         

•••••••••

News of Our Servicemen:

 

Pvt. Lawson, now stationed in England, told of an incident in a recent letter to his parents.  He and a buddy had gone to a nearby village one night to look the place over.  By the time they started back for camp a heavy fog had enveloped the countryside.

 

“We got lost,” he wrote, “and we never would have got back if it hadn’t been for a couple of British soldiers who saw us and escorted us all the way.”

 

England in December, Pvt. Lawson wrote, reminds him of September in Wisconsin, for at that time the leaves on trees were turning.

 

Pvt. John H. Roberts, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Roberts of this city, has been transferred from Kessler Field, Biloxi, Miss., to Chanute Field, Ill., where he is taking a weather observation course.

 

Frank Zank of Neillsville is now a sergeant.  He is stationed in a camp close to the coast, having been moved there from Santa Ana, Calif.

 

Pvt. Everett Skroch, who has been stationed at Camp Callan, San Diego, Calif., has been transferred to Inglewood, in that state where he is on guard duty.

 

A letter from Adelbert Struble, son of Mrs. Lulu Struble, formerly from Neillsville, who is stationed in new Guinea: “a buddy and I went out on the ocean in a rowboat to stop a bigger boat before it got into enemy territory.  We planned to dive overboard if attacked by enemy planes.  But, when we got out there our path to the shore was spoiled by a shark we saw cruising around.  Neither of us said anything to the other until we got back.  I asked my buddy if he saw the shark, too.

 

He said, “Yes, did you?”

 

“And we both laughed.”

 

“While we were out there, the fellows were shouting for us to come back, but we couldn’t hear them.  We got the boat back before she got into trouble, but it was close.

 

“In a time like that, a man doesn’t think of danger unless it is staring him right in the face.  And even then, it is cast aside.

 

“The men are determined and hard “pluggers,” and that’s half the battle.”

•••••••••

Every time an inch of snow flies, $43 of Neillsville city’s cash flies with it.

 

That is the estimate of Emil Mattson, city street commissioner.  For several years, Mr. Mattson has kept cost records on snow removal in Neillsville, and the $43 per inch average cost is the figure his records indicate.

•••••••••

The last remaining Civil War Veteran of Clark County and of Wisconsin, was laid to rest in the Greenwood Cemetery during a heavy snow storm Sunday afternoon.

 

Funeral services for Albert Darton, 98, were held in the Methodist Church there.  The church was crowded to capacity for the Masonic rites, and in spite of the snowstorm, a large procession accompanied the body to the final resting place in the Greenwood Cemetery.

 

Veterans’ organizations of Clark County were represented at the services.

 

Mr. Darton, who died December 30, was an active and highly respected resident of Loyal.  During the later years of his life, he was known for his frequent visits to shut-ins and calls upon the ill.  his greatest enjoyment in later years was a good game of sheepshead, and he was considered a fine player.

•••••••••

At least 15 Neillsville young youth were inducted into the army at Milwaukee Monday, according to records at Loyal.  The records weren’t complete Wednesday, and the final count may give a larger number.

 

Those who are known to have been inducted into the army, were:

 

Keith Bennett, Walter Beyer, Harold Francis, Gordon Frantz, Robert Free, Donald Gress, James Hauge, Charles Kauffman, Theodore Kunce, Loren Mallory, Glen Marden, Kenneth Olson, Milton Schoenfeld, Wallace Schwellenbach and Robert Sischo.

 

Others from nearby known to be among the group are: Steve Rosandich, George Sternitzky and Henry Hasz of Granton; Wesley Schwarze, Robert Carl and Raymond Ackerman of Greenwood.

•••••••••

Herbert W. Smith has been elevated to the rank of lieutenant colonel in Australia, according to a letter written by Maj. W. B. Tufts and received this week by Harland Kintzele, circuit court reporter.  The letter was dated January 12.                                                                                          

•••••••••

Platform Rockers – You’ll enjoy home much more if you have comfortable furniture to create restfulness.  These platform rockers are the last word in comfort!  Available in wines and blues, for only $29.95!

 

A Complete Line of Furniture for the Home is at – “The Gamble Store.”

•••••••••

Mrs Gerhard Schroeder and daughter, Glenda, left by train Saturday night for Kenosha to be with her husband for a time.  Mr. Schroeder is employed in the Nash plant there.  Gary is staying with his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Schroeder.                                                                                                                                                 

•••••••••

‘Ere long, we may have to go back to the old-time wooden bathtubs, sinks, water buckets and tanks and the dozens of other containers, which have so freely been manufactured from the various metals in the past.  At a local carpenter shop last week there was, in the process of construction, an all wood sink for the Neillsville Milk Products Cooperative, to be used for washing the equipment in the cheese room.  The sink is fitted with parting stops at the seams to make it absolutely waterproof.  When asked what they were going to line it with, Ted Gall answered, “Nothing, and it won’t leak a drop.”                                

•••••••••

With attendance of 94%, the Kiwanis Club of Neillsville took first attendance honors in the Wisconsin-Northern Michigan District in 1942.  This is the fifth consecutive year in which the local club has held the attendance record.

 

This fact came out at the Kiwanis session Monday evening, when a report of the convention held in Milwaukee last week, was made by Calvin Mills, president of the local club, and Jess Scott, secretary, both of whom had attended the Milwaukee meeting.  Mr. Mills said that membership in Kiwanis International is maintained in wartime at about the normal 112,000, notwithstanding that some 7,500 Kiwanians are in military service.

 

The good attendance at the local club was attributed by Mr. Scott to the attention given to the program, to the good food, to starting on time and to the effort made to close on time.

 

A tribute was paid to the local leaders who organized Kiwanis in Neillsville in 1921.  Three of these, still active, were early presidents of the club: Victor Nehs, A. L. Devos and George Zimmerman.

 

(It is interesting to note that the Kiwanis club of Neillsville will be celebrating their 100th anniversary in three more years!  DZ)                                                                           

•••••••••

Eino Louma of Owen and Floyd Cook of Thorp were appointed deputy sheriffs last week, as Ray Kutsche completed organization of his department.  The appointments bring to six the number of deputies in Clark County.  In addition to Louma and Cook are: Joe Hartung of Pine Valley; Fred Dangers, county identification expert; and Harry Frantz and Kenneth Mathewson, county highway motor police

 

Bruce Mound as it appeared during its early years of operation.  A small warming house, mounted on skids so that it could be moved to another location, and a maintenance machine with tracks are visible in the photo.  There were many enthusiastic skiers on the particular day.

 

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