Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

January 28, 2004, Page 12

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

Index of "Oldies" Articles 

 

 

Compiled by Dee Zimmerman

 

 

Clark County News

January 1884

 

M. M. Post has taken the O’Neill House under lease, from Mrs. C. O’Neill, to start next Monday.  He will continue to run the North Side Hotel, to be assisted in this double venture by his sister, Mrs. Simpson and her husband.

••••••••••

Some young folks had a party Monday evening at Roders’ place, two miles east of Kurth’s corners.  Those from Neillsville, who went there, got back here at 4:30 Tuesday morning.  Robert Zimmerman and Theodore Yankee reported having had a good time.

••••••••••

Reitz & Haugen will soon be found in the new store, recently built by Mr. George Dewhurst, on Main Street, opposite the Neillsville Bank. We will be pleased to see all their old customers and as well, many new customers who will favor the store with their patronage.

••••••••••

Mr. Sechler, of Sechlerville, father-in-law of Thomas Lowe, of the Lowe Brothers’ butcher shop, has bought half an interest in the new meat market of Boyington & McClary.  It is located in the Gates block, now under the firm name of Boyington & Sechler.  The new firm has bought the Lloyd building just vacated by the bankrupt store and will soon be doing a lively business there.

••••••••••

Ernst Eilert now owns the brewery, here, having recently made the purchase.  He is a man of capital, as well as malt and will put foam into the beer business if anybody can.

••••••••••

George Meacham recently received frozen cheeks, chin, and nose to a condition of rawness, due to the cold weather, looking much like that of a boiled lobster.  He has been working as a teamster for Bullard & Ritchie. 

••••••••••

Look out and don’t let your caution with stoves slacken, or your house will go up the chimney one of these disagreeably cold nights.  Then you’ll find yourself running about in the snow, wearing only a nightgown.

••••••••••

On January 3, in the town of Dorchester, the boarding house of A. D. Vandusen & Co. was burned to the ground.  The fire was first discovered between the hours of 2 and 3 in the morning.  The occupants barely had time to make their escape.  Mr. Snell, the proprietor, lost almost all he owned.

••••••••••

The sleigh ride, which was prophesied, came off in spite of the cold weather, last Thursday. The Greenwood folks traveled to Charley Miller’s camp, at Hemlock.  The boys and girls all expressed themselves as having been mighty well entertained.  During their short stay, at the camp, Mr. Charley Cummings and his wife spread a bountiful, delicious and tempting supper for our young people.  Among the delicacies was the very extraordinary mince pie. The boys declare that Charles is an expert in the baking of a mince pie.

 

Christian Vates’ team of horses, while turning the corner on Stove Pipe Alley, in Greenwood Sunday afternoon, upset the cutter sleigh, thus putting Vates on his head in the snow bank.  The team kept running and totally demolished Steve Andrews’ cutter.

 

New Year’s Day was quite a day of incidents and accidents. There was the marriage of Bob Scott; the encounter, near Popple River Bridge, of two gentlemen of that town quarreling about each wanting the attention of the same school ma’am and the burning of Tom Chadwick’s barn and house along the Yellow River.

••••••••••

The C. St. P. M. & O. Railway has placed on sale, at greatly reduced rates, round trip excursion tickets to all winter tourists’ points in the South.  The following is the round trip rate to a few of the many points named: New Orleans, La., $46.15; Jacksonville, Fla., $68.05; Galveston, Texas, $64.15; Cedar Dyes, Fla., $70.65.  Tickets can be secured on two or three days notice by calling an agent and naming the route desired.

••••••••••

Wils Covill moved into his new residence up on the Lindsay Ridge, yesterday.  The historical manse he vacated is temporarily without a tenant.  We hear the F. A. Lee and family are soon to occupy the Blakeslee place.

 

January 1944

 

Will Hein, a rural mail carrier of Humbird, was retired from active duty on December 31, after 32 years of service.  He was honored Saturday night by a banquet at the W. R. C. hall, in Neillsville, which was attended by about forty guests. The meeting was called to order by Percy Free of Withee, president of the Clark County Association of Rural Mail Carriers.  A 7 o’clock dinner was served by the Ladies’ Aid of the Zion Reformed Church.  Following the dinner the double quartet of the Reformed Church sang several selections.  W. E. Forman was toastmaster. Talks were given by John Michaels, postmaster of Humbird, by several of the rural carriers and by Percy Voight, Loyal, who is vice president of the state association.  Mr. Hein was presented with a ring and a corsage was given to Mrs. Hein.

••••••••••

During a period of such mild weather, as we have been enjoying this winter, one often hears stories of the first robin, but here is a true story of the first campers of the season.  It is a story of three out-of-doors youths who wanted to try something new.  The boys are George Crothers, Francis Zilk and Billie Farrand, and the new thing they tried was a camping trip in the middle of a Wisconsin winter.  Last Friday, Jan. 14, the boys transported to the banks of Black River, full tent, bedding, food and cooking supplies.  They spent the night in the tent and prepared supper, breakfast and a dinner on Saturday.

 

An expedition of this kind has been running in the minds of these 13 and 14 year-old boys for some time, but only in the last week did it really reach a definite plan.  A week before the day of the expedition, the boys began assembling supplies and by the Saturday before, the sled was packed with tent, bedding and cooking equipment and all ready in the basement of the Zilk home.  On the last day, foods were packed and here the mothers lent a hand.  George foraged about his mother’s pantry to supply pork chops, a gallon of milk, chocolate, etc.  Francis said that his mother baked an extra loaf of bread for the occasion.  Billie brought the boiled potatoes to fry for supper with the pork chops.

 

When school closed on Friday, the campers started out, drawing their laden sled across the Herian fields to the Black River.  They chose a campsite southwest of the Crothers farm buildings, but on the river’s west bank and crossed over on the ice. George pitched the tent, while Billie and Francis gathered wood and got the fire going.  After this strenuous work; supper of pork chops and fried potatoes, tasted good.

 

To make the sleeping comfortable, a mattress of gunny sacks stuffed with straw was placed under the canvas floor of the small tent and to add to the warmth of the sleepers, a sleeping bag and several thicknesses of newspapers were used.  As the tent furnished only sleeping room, it was necessary to do all cooking over the open fire outside.  For cooking and eating, the boys used mess kits saved from World War I.

 

In the middle of the night, the campers were awakened by the arrival near-by of “visitors.”  But the boys were prepared for just such an emergency and a few shots into the night air from .22 rifles and a shot gun frightened the intruders, presumably two-legged, who took to their heels and the rest of the night passed quietly.

 

George, who seemingly felt the responsibility for the success of the expedition, was up at 4 a.m., to replenish the fire and arrange for a 5 o’clock breakfast, which consisted of bacon and eggs, along with good homemade bread. After breakfast, there was time for a few more winks of sleep before daylight.

 

After a hearty dinner at noon, the boys broke camp reluctantly and returned home, fully convinced that winter camping is swell.  They claim that even 10 degrees below zero would not have changed their plans.  Meals were good, they slept warm and the work was done on the community plan.  The boys are experienced campers, but this was their first camping trip in the wintertime.  It was all for fun and the boys agree that it was worth the effort.

••••••••••

The Tibbett Ice and Fuel Co., is rebuilding their icehouse on O’Neill Creek.  One of the walls having fallen in, the workmen started recently to repair the building, but it was decided then to tear down and rebuild the entire structure.  So there will be a practically new house this year, in which to store the 1944 ice harvest.

 

The first icehouse on O’Neill Creek was a log structure, which stood there for many years. It was later supplemented, as the business demanded, by a frame structure nearby.  On a list, of the earlier icemen, would be placed the names of William Neverman and his son, Otto Neverman and also the late Vet Marsh.

 

James Paulus bought the business of Vet Marsh and made use of two ice houses near the site of the present one.  In 1911, Mr. Paulus and Kurt Listeman constructed the present concrete dam to replace an old wooden dam below the bridge.

 

Charles Goldhammer next acquired the business and was there only a short time, but long enough to build a new ice house, the one recently torn down by the present owners.  That was about 25 years ago.

 

Next in line were Dave and Henry Ross, owners for several years and they, in 1929, sold out to the present owners, George and Jack Tibbett.

••••••••••

Schultz Bros., local contractors, have purchased the Neillsville Garage building on Seventh Street.  They are making some improvements and will occupy and use the building at once.  In part, the building will be used for the storage and repair of their own equipment but as conditions permit, they will engage in the sale and repair of trucks.

 

Their first work with the property, now proceeding, is to install a ceiling. They will also provide modern lighting and will put in a stoker.  The building already has a good steam plant.

 

The purchase was made from the Crocker estate, which has held the property for several years. The local manager of the building has been George Zimmerman, who negotiated the sale to Schultz Bros.

••••••••••

A routine meeting resulted in the re-election of the retiring directors, these being A. M. Steinwand of Colby, Fred Glasow of Neillsville and Anton Micke of Thorp for the Fire Company, and Mr. Steinwand, George Peters and G. V. Weyhmiller of Loyal for the Tornado Company.  Of the Fire Company, Mr. Steinwand and Mr. Glasow were re-elected president and vice-president, respectively.  Of the Tornado Company, H. C. Winter and M. A. Dankemeyer were re-elected president and vice-president, respectively.

••••••••••

Lt. Col. Herbert M. Smith has returned to Neillsville.  Having been again in the hospital and having been ordered before a retirement board because of his wounds, he is now on the inactive list of the Army.  His preference was for continued service, but the official judgment was against it, because of his disabilities.

••••••••••

Eight people played golf last Sunday on the local Golf course.  They were Otto Zaeske, William Whaley, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hepburn, Mr. and Mrs. William A. Campman and Mr. and Mrs. William Chesemore.

 

Golf on January 23rd was something to tell about in central Wisconsin, but Mr. Zaeske says that this is not the show story.  Not far from the third tee, near the old fruit orchard, the players came upon green grass, which had evidently grown considerably and such grass was near the first green also.  A little more of this soft weather and the golf course will look green all over, as these golf enthusiasts see it.

 

In locals’ annals, the story goes that there was one year, long ago, when golf was played in every month of the year.  But even then the soft weather was not as persistent as now.  For instance, Mr. Zaeske played golf on New Year’s Day and on Sunday, January 9, as well as January 23.

••••••••••

The gross cash income of the average farm family in Clark County in 1943 was about $2,700.  The average net cash income, after all costs and proper charges, ranges from $850 to $1,100.

 

These figures are estimates, made carefully by the Clark County Press after a detailed study. The purpose was to ascertain and state just what the condition of the average farmer is at a time when prices are at the top. The result of the study is the demonstration in figures of what all farmers know: that farming is a hard way to make money and that the average farm family is not floating in riches even when there are riches to float in.

 

With this certainty of critical reading, The Press states that the income from milk of the average farm family of Clark County in 1943 was very close to $2,300, an average of a little less than $200 per month; that the cash income from all other sources averaged about $400.

••••••••••

A quiet wedding took place on New Year’s Day, at the parsonage of Immanuel Lutheran Church, of Globe, when Miss Victoria Schoenherr, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Schoenherr, Neillsville, Route 3, became the bride of George Thoma.  The double ring service was used, the Rev. Adolph Schumann, pastor of the Immanuel Lutheran Church, performing the ceremony.

 

The bride wore a blue velvet dress, with matching accessories and carried a bouquet of pink and white carnations.  The matron of honor, Mrs. Lee Mills, a sister of the bride, wore a beige dress and also carried a bouquet of pink and white carnations.  The groom was attended by Lee Mills.

 

Both bride and groom grew up in the Globe community and attended school there.  They will reside in an apartment at the Globe store and the groom will continue to assist with the farming on his father’s farm.

€€€€€€€€€€€

 

A familiar sight throughout Clark County, in the early 1900s, was that of farmers hauling cans of milk to the local cheese factories or creameries.  Lacking a means of refrigeration on the farm, the 24-hour collection of fresh milk required that each farmer make a daily trip to a nearby factory to deliver the perishable product.  Every few miles, usually at the intersection of a country road, there was a cheese factory.  Often, located on the opposite corner from the factory, there would be a rural schoolhouse.  Such locations could serve two purposes, deliver the milk to the factory and give the kids a ride to school.

 

 


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