Good Old Days 

By Dee Zimmerman

April 8, 1876

Our Neillsville Fire Department – The Hook-and-Ladder Company have organized under an act passed last winter which regulates fire companies in unincorporated villages, and have filed a certificate of incorporation in the office of the Register of Deeds.  At a meeting held on Wednesday evening a constitution and by-laws were adopted and the following officers elected: Chief – R. F. Kountz; Foreman – W. C. Allen; 1^st Asst. Foreman – J. W. Hommel; 2^nd Asst. Foreman – G. E. Watson; Secretary – L. F. Glass; Treasurer – J. F. Canon.

At a meeting held in Neillsville, on Sunday last, the Catholics appointed a church committee consisting of E. H. Markey, president; J. Dwyer, treasurer; Wm. Hughes, assistant; M. Lorenz, assistant, and empowered then to act in conjunction with the Priest, in making arrangements for building a Catholic Church in Neillsville during the present year; to call upon all members and friends of the congregation to subscribe moneys for that purpose, to receive and pay out church moneys, keeping a proper account thereof, to select suitable grounds and to erect thereon a Catholic Church.  L. Spitzlberger, Priest and Pastor of Congregation.

A Change – The Clark County Republican newspaper has been purchased by the proprietor of this paper, and appeared as a separate paper for the last time this week.  It is consolidated with the Press, this issue, leaving but one paper published in the county.

Small Pox Suits – In January 1873, this county was afflicted with that loathsome disease, small pox, which broke out in several lumbering camps.  C. C. Palmer was at that time lessee of the Staffordville property, and among others his family caught the disease.  The Boards of Supervisors of the Towns of Pine Valley and Weston at meeting, decided to close up all avenues of approach to Staffordville and place guards there to prevent, if possible, persons going to or from the place.  They placed nurses in charge of the sick and we believe, sent to the house several persons who were afflicted with the disease.  By the prompt action of the Supervisors the terrible scourge was soon driven from our midst, and peace again restored to troubled minds.  (That house was referred to as the “Pest House” for many years and was located on the southeast section of now intersection Hwy. 73 and Granton Rd.)

Mr. and Mrs. Reddan have brought suit against the towns and against J. B. Jones, Wm. Neverman, A. R. Moffatt, C. W. Hiplip, Jas. Corzette and A. M. Howard, who were Supervisors at that time, to recover damages, alleged to have been sustained form (from) the action of the supervisors in converting the property to the use of the town, for the purposes before mentioned.  The amount claimed for damages is $12,000.

With the coming spring let every person having a homestead in Clark County, do something to adorn it.  If not able to do more, plant a few shade trees.  Do something permanent each year in fitting up your homes, and in a few years you will not only enhance the value thereof, but have something to be proud of.

Lee’s General Store Specials – Pickles in Vinegar; By the Dozen; Vermicelli and Hominy; Dried Sweet Corn; 2 lb. Canned Peaches 5 for $1.00.  Henry Klopf, Dealer in Elgin and Swiss Watches, Clocks and Fine Jewelry

New Boot & Shoe Shop, C. Everett, Prop., in Boyer Building

Wm. Heaslett, Gunsmith, in Neillsville: -- Guns, pistols, powder flasks, shot-pouches, wad-cutters, and everything in the Sporting Lines.

New Hotel – Wm. Seley has opened a hotel in the house formerly occupied by Al Stafford north of O’Neill Creek, Neillsville.  The best of accommodations furnished.  Stables good and sufficient!

April 1896

Farms for sale – 80 acres, 9 miles from Neillsville, 25 acres cleared good house, barn, outbuildings and fences and well watered.  $1,400, terms easy.  Inquire at office.

80 acres in Sherwood Forest, 40 acres cleared, 40 good hardwood, fair buildings, fences, etc.,  $1,200; $500 down and $100 yearly on balance, with interest at 6 per cent.  Call Times office

A good 40 acre farm, with 15 acres cleared, good block house, log barn, with basement, good well, corn crib, fences, etc. 500 maple trees; 1 mile from school ¾ mile from church.  It can be had for $600.  For terms inquire here.

George Rheubeck sold his 40 to a gentleman from Chicago.  Rheubeck has moved to Globe, where he is to be found as postmaster and stage proprietor from Globe to Neillsville.

Dr. W. J. Brewster sold his elegant residence at the corner of Court and Fourth Streets, last week, to Fred Huntzicker of the Neillsville Bank.  He, with his wife shall begin housekeeping in the newly-purchased home in a short time.

Columbia is to have a new creamery operating this season.  That part of our county is phonemically active this season.

Pine Valley voted to have a new town hall.  It will be located at the corner of west of the city, just beyond the river and railroad track.

The first run of logs down Black River took place Monday night, the big rain helping it along.

The Granton Creamery is running now every day after a run of one week and every other day about 1500 lbs. a day.

The dance at Markham’s hall last Friday night, in Humbird, was not very largely attended on account of the rain.

April 1906

Saturday and Monday, Apr. 7 and 9 will be opening days at Mrs. L. Neff’s millinery parlors.  Ladies are cordially invited to call and see the latest styles in spring and summer hats.

G. L. Prescott, manager of the Bruley Steel Fence Post Co., left Tuesday for Milwaukee, where he will open an office for the company in the Miller block.  The business has been growing so fast that it has been thought advisable to have an office in Milwaukee, where the post is manufactured. 

By a recent special act of Congress, Capt. J. W. Tolford of this city has been granted a pension of $30 per month.  This will be good news to the many friends of Capt. Tolford.  He was a brave soldier and made a splendid record.  At the beginning of the war he enlisted in Co. D, 23 rd Wisconsin, as first lieutenant.  Later he was promoted to the rank of Captain and given command of Co. G, of the same regiment, and served until the close of the war. 

Wanted – Half dozen large girls to work in the Furniture Factory in Neillsville.  Apply to Mr. Morrison, Superintendent.

Granton Harness Shop – Geo. Beaver, Proprietor; Heavy and Light Harnesses, Whips, Saddles, Etc. Repairing at Right Prices.  Saloon in Connection

Granton has let the contract for the stone work of the basement of their new school which is to be built at once at the cost of about $6,000.

L. A. Wiggens of Abbotsford has entered into a co-partnership with Wells & Chase of Dorchester for the purpose of establishing a creamery in that place.  They hope to have everything in shape for business by May. 

Stocking the Rivers – Some local sportsmen have sent for and received several cans of trout and distributed them in streams surrounding Neillsville.  A dozen cans of pike were distributed here some time ago, and now this last week seven or eight cans of trout were put out.  Each can contains about 10,000 fish.  They come from the state fish hatchery at Madison.  In time this will afford some good sport along the local streams.  Other parties are also figuring on procuring some stock from the government hatcheries.  These will come along in the fall and will be much larger than those received from the state hatchery.

Rudolph Rabenstein has taken charge of the Deutsch Amerikaner for his uncle, Carl Rabenstein, who will leave Neillsville in about 90 days for a trip to Europe and almost half way around the world.  He will sail early in July.  Rudolph is a hustling young man and we extend him a cordial greeting into Neillsville’s newspaper Dom.  He is a good printer and no doubt will do well.  (The Deutsch Amerikaner, a local newspaper printed in German language, existed in Neillsville for a number of years.)

April 1926

Wm. Schiller came back from Glendive, Montana, last week and on Monday closed a deal with H. H. Eberhardt, whereby he bought the Eberhardt furniture store.

The Post Office Dept. has announced that a Rural Route will be established at Willard and applications may be filed for the position of carrier up to April 28, 1926.  Applications open only to citizens who live in the territory to be served.

May 6, 1926 

Country Club on the River – articles of incorporation for the Neillsville Country Club has been filed with the Secretary of State and the charter was received.  Monday evening a meeting of subscribers for stock was held in the club rooms of the Neillsville Bank.  Officers and directors were elected and constitution and by-laws adopted.  The following directors were elected: Wm. A. Campman, Geo. A. Ure, Kurt Listeman, F. D. Calway, and L. Williamson.  The Country Club proposes to build a nice club house on the river at Dells Dam and which will be used for parties, dances, etc., which the club will give during the golf season.  The golf links will be placed on the railroad company land adjacent to the gravel pit and the course has already been tentatively laid out.  A nine-hole course will be put in for the present, though there is sufficient room on the land for an eighteen-hole course.  The club house will be built on a site which has been promised by the Wis. Power & Light Co., which owns Hatfield Dam and greater part of the shoreline of Lake Arbutus.  The Neillsville Country Club has been incorporated with capital stock at $2,500.

Mr. Fred Dux and Miss Alma Ziglenski were quietly married on April 29, at St. Mary’s parsonage.  They were attended by Mr. Arthur Zank of Pine Valley and the bride’s sister, Miss Rosina Ziglenski.  The groom has been employed on the Leslie Milton farm in Pine Valley and it is reported that the young couple have rented the farm for a year and will make their home there.

Notice to Chicken Owners – The ordinance forbidding chickens to run at large in the city of Neillsville will be strictly enforced from now on!  Gardens will soon be planted, and the violation of the chicken ordinance will not be permitted.  By order of Police

Big Dance at Pischer’s barn on Tuesday, May 11^th; Music by the Virginian of Memphis, Tenn.  Everybody Welcome

April 4, 1946

Saturday opening for Trout and Pike Fishing; Daily bag limits remain the same; trout, 15; walleyed and northern pike, 7; muskies, 1; white bass, rock bass and crappies, 25; perch, no bag limit; bullheads, 25; catfish, 15; and sunfish, bluegills, and roach, 25.

Virgil Dickensen, chairman of Wis. Conservation Commission, went on record before the local Rotary Club here Tuesday evening as “opposed to the sale of forest crop lands for the benefit of corporations or individuals.”  This stand found particular interest in Clark County, for in recent months this question has been presented to Clark County in the form of a tentative inquiry from a nationally known manufacturer of wood products.  “I believe that county forest areas should remain such because that’s the way most people can get the most good of the land,” Dickensen declared.

Class of twenty confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church on Palm Sunday.  Members of the class are: Ardys Cardarelle, Doris Ott, Ronald Wagner, Marvin Klann, Leonard DeMert, Marjorie DeMert, Lowell Gress, Donald Lewerenz, Ellen Borde, Erland Greeler, Donald Bartell, Florence Knoop, Edward Henchen, Barbara Roehrborn, Donald Meihack, Arlene Mills, Carole Wang, Shirley Diercks, Sheldon Moeller and Raymond Henchen.

George A. Ure

Ure served many positions within county and township government, clerk and chairman of his township, chairman of county board and clerk of district court.  In the insurance field, he held various offices as well as positions in the banking circles.  Born in Lynn Township, he grew up on his parents’ farmstead.

Louis Hantke of Grant Township,

 Hantke was Sheriff of Clark County in 1915

Carl C. Berg

Berg, a Town of Fremont farmer, was a native of Norway.  Clearing the land, he eventually built an attractive farmstead.  He still found time to serve various township offices in the early 1900’s.