Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

January 14, 1998, Page 24

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

Index of "Oldies" Articles 

 

The Good Old Days

 

Compiled by Dee Zimmerman

 

Clark County News

 

January 1878

 

Frank Eyerly, who is teaching the school in the Town of Weston known as the Warner School, has been spending the holidays in town.  It is Frank’s first enrollment in the work, but he is reported as filling the bill in every respect.

 

Jas. A. Parkhurst, Clerk of the Circuit Court, elect, and his wife became residents of our village this last week.  Parkhurst will enter upon the duties of his office next Monday.  If he succeeds with filling in this place made vacant by L. J. Glass, which is expected he will do – he will prove to be one of the most efficient officers Clark County has ever had.

 

It is reported Ben Thompson is about to open a butcher shop out east of town on the section line.  He has been hauling beef by the wholesale for a few days past.

 

The social event of the season came off last Friday night, at the residence of B. F. Thompson.  Music, mirth and a sumptuous repast were the order of things.  Pictures, fun and old songs gladdened the hearts of the guests.

 

Mr. and Mrs. Hubbell are getting too high toned for anything.  They walked right past their own team and carriage last Friday night.  They plodded up home through the mud while the kindly host followed on with the rig, only to overtake them at their own house door.  “Force of habit, probably.”

 

The most pleasing evening’s entertainment of the season in Neillsville, either public or private, was the meeting of the Episcopal Dime Society at Jas. O’Neill, Jr’s, on Thursday evening.  Their splendid residence was thrown open throughout.  A heart reception was extended to all by Mr. and Mrs. O’Neill, making every heart glad and the occasion was one of general enjoyment.  So pleasantly did the time pass that the wee small hours were well nigh passed before a single guest thought it time for departure.  As they reluctantly left, all were of one mind, that in the art of entertaining, the O’Neill’s have few equals.  Their home is the place to visit for a good time.  May their lives be as full of happiness as that evening spent under their roof was of enjoyment to all present.

 

It is reported that quite a number of the lumbermen of the Chippewa Valley have taken their men out of the woods for the season.  The prospects for an unprofitable winter’s work in this portion of the State at least, seem more so every day.  Unless we are favored with an abundant supply of snow soon, those who broke camp last month will be the gainers.

 

The prospect of a heavy ice crop in this locality is not flattering for this season.  Those wishing to lay in a stock of ice should not depend too much on the cold weather.  Indian summer has been of too frequent occurrence during the past few months.  Such weather conditions make thin ice.  (El Nino must have been around this area then too. D. Z.)

 

Jas. Hewett, on Neillsville’s Westside, states that he has on hand 150 bushels of choice wheat.  It is cleaned and ready for use as seed, of the variety known as the “Lost Nation,” which he wishes to get rid of as he has no suitable room for storing it.  The wheat was raised on his farm near the village.

 

The first of this week Tom Philpott, the boss high sheriff of this county, went to Jackson County in search of a team belonging to Al Brown.  Brown had loaned the team to a Norsk last spring to work during the summer for its keeping.  The Norsk traded away the team and left the country.  One of the horses was traded to five different parties, but Tom tracked them down and they are now in possession of their original owner.

 

The altar manufactured by Sterns, of Neillsville, and presented to the Odd Fellow’s Lodge, is a fine piece of furniture.

 

At an evening session of the County Board, held last Wednesday, a lively discussion was had for a shot time on the question of organizing a new town out of portions of the towns of Hixon and Thorp.

 

A bill providing for the division of the counties of Clark and Marathon, and the erection to the county of Forest, was introduced in the Assembly last Thursday.  It’s the same old saw, but will never get through.

 

January 1908

 

Ladies of the Methodist Church will serve a New Year’s Dinner in the church parlors on Jan. 1, 1908, at 12 noon.  The menu includes: roast turkey, plain dressing, cranberry sauce, apple salad, roast pork, pickles, rutabagas, mashed potatoes, giblet gravy, rolls, butter, plum pudding, mince and apple pie and coffee.

 

Rev. Svanoe spent Sunday in Tioga and vicinity.  He preached in Norwegian at the Blomquist School north of Tioga.  He will hold services on Jan. 5, in Norwegian at the school and in English at the hotel in Tioga. 

 

A certain farmer of this area is known for his absent mindedness.  A story has been told on him, recently.  On his way home from town one day, the thought came to him that he had forgotten something.  He took out his notebook and went through every item on the list, checking it off and saw he had all the purchases.  As the team of horses walked along, pulling the wagon, he continued to feel as thought he had forgotten something, but what?  When he arrived home and drove up to the house his daughter came out to meet him and with a look of surprise on her face, said, “Where is Maw?”

 

The young people in the Tioga area have obtained permission of G.H. Palms to have a dance in the new store building, Jan. 17.  Everyone is invited to attend.  The ladies are to bring refreshments for lunch.

 

There was a watch meeting, at Wm. Gerheardts (Gerhardt’s?) Tuesday evening.  Everyone in attendance greatly enjoyed the evening.  (So called, “watch meetings” were gatherings of people who met on New Year’s Eve to watch the new year arrive at midnight. D. Z.)

 

A case of diphtheria has been reported in the Town of York by health officer William Rowe.  Eddie Dennis became sick last week and the Dennis residence has been quarantined to keep the disease from spreading.  Eddie’s little brother and sister died from the disease a short time ago.

 

A new postal regulation requires all subscriptions to a weekly newspaper be not delinquent more than one year in order to receive the special mailing rate.  This ruling requires every subscriber to pay in advance, as the publisher can’t afford to mail the papers to delinquent subscribers who owe for more than a year.  Delinquent papers must pay the rate of one cent per every four ounces.

 

During the year 1907, Trasdorf (Tragsdorf), Zimmerman & Co. shipped 1,975 cases of eggs to commission houses.  Each case contained 30 dozen eggs.  They paid an average of 15 cents per dozen, making about $9,000 worth of eggs distributed to the poultry raisers.  The store has sold about 1,200 dozen eggs in their store during the year.

 

Joel Noel is very sick with small pox and is staying in the little house with Richard Wedekind and Ed Zeglar, in South Grant.  Zeglar and Wedekind are mostly recovered from the illness are caring for John.

 

One would think Columbia is quite a place by the number of freight cars there on the side tracks.  It is said an old resident of Neillsville who was returning from a visit, came near getting off at Columbia, mistaking it for Neillsville.

 

January 1938

 

Sewing projects employing 200 women WPA workers have produced a total of 196,000 garments for distribution by county welfare authorities in 14 counties of WPA District #8.  The projects are located at the county seats of Buffalo, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Pepin, Barron, La Crosse, Polk, St. Croix, Chippewa, Clark, Monroe, Rusk and Taylor counties. 

 

Gerald Schmidt, who is employed by the Farmers Union Oil Co. has purchased a new Dodge truck and has put a gas tank on it for delivery experience.

 

The Tibbett Ice & Fuel Co. began their annual ice harvest this Wednesday.

 

They plan to store 1,500 ton of ice.  It is an exceptionally fine quality this year, clear, clean and of good depth.  Anyone wanting ice to fill private ice houses notify the Tibbett Ice & Fuel Co. this week.  Phone 292

 

Last Wednesday evening, 15 pounds of fish disappeared from the rear step at the Prochazka Bros. Meat Market.  Prochazka thinks the thief either looks for an early spring or is socialistic in his ideas for there was another box of fish standing out, or maybe the thief took only one box because police headquarters are nearby.

 

F. D. Calway finished sanding his three; two-year old cranberry beds last Thursday, spreading 350 yards of sand half an inch deep on the ice of which covers the plants.  After the sand falls to the beds next spring, it will serve a three-fold purpose – covers the first runner of the cranberry plants, these producing additional uprights.  It discourages weed growth and during spring raises the temperature when there is danger of frost.  It also protects the soil from cracking during the dry season. 

 

Reinhardt Schmidt has three handmade tables on display at Schiller Furniture.  The tables are beautifully in-laid, two of which have checkerboard centers, surrounded by artistic designs, all done in natural woods – English hardwood, West Indian wood, French board walnut, American walnut, rosewood veneer, black ebony and Birdseye maple.

 

Zimmerman Bros. Store holds Winter Clearance Sale this week: men’s felt shoes, $1.69; ribbed Lumberman’s rubber boots, $1.75; boy’s overshoes, $1.69; men’s suede zipper jackets, $2.19; Heavy-weight fancy plaid zipper jackets for men, $3.98; men’s fancy overcoats, half belt or full belt styles in various shades, $9.98; men’s heavy-weight bib overalls, only 88¢.

 

The notorious Brady Gang that held up and robbed the Thorp Bank last summer has been established by the admission of guilt by the last survivor of the gang.  The robbery resulted in the amount of $2,613.79.

 

A new dam at Owen will cost $11,000 and will provide WPA jobs for 32 men.  The project will also add beauty to the city.  The workers have begun clearing the site for a new water conservation dam in the city.  The new structure will be located on the Popple River between the bridge on Highway 29 and the old John Owen mill pond dam.

 

Fred Schroeder and son have been granted a permit to build a brick building for their shoe repair business.  Schroeder’s friends are pleased to know he will be able to spend his latter years of business in a comfortable new building.

 

Neillsville, with two pea canning factories, is interested in the efforts of the government to find a solution to the serious plight of canners of the country who have a surplus of 4,500,000 cases of canned peas.

 

The excess production may be marketed through the Federal Surplus Commodities Corp.  Wisconsin, which packs approximately a third of the nation’s peas, is expected to receive a large share of the federal orders.

 

 The Neillsville Armory built in 1892

 

 E. T. Burch's home, Greenwood -- 1895

 

 


© Every submission is protected by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998.

 

Show your appreciation of this freely provided information by not copying it to any other site without our permission.

 

Become a Clark County History Buff

 

Report Broken Links

A site created and maintained by the Clark County History Buffs
and supported by your generous donations.

 

Webmasters: Leon Konieczny, Tanya Paschke,

Janet & Stan Schwarze, James W. Sternitzky,

Crystal Wendt & Al Wessel

 

CLARK CO. WI HISTORY HOME PAGE