Clark County Press, Neillsville, Wisconsin

October 22, 2008, Page 19

Contributed by "The Clark Co. Press"

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

Index of "Oldies" Articles 

 

Compiled and contributed by Dee Zimmerman

 

Clark County News

October 1878

 

The Hemlock Island Dam is completed.  We regret that we could not take advantage of the kind offer of a ride to this monster work by its energetic superintendent, Mr. Al Bright.  But the dam is finished and now let Old Probabilities fail to send us rain if he dares.  The loggers of the main river will not be half as solicitous concerning his caprices as they before have been. 

•••••••••

Dan Gates has retired from active business and will be succeeded by his sons, James and Charles.  The former will open a general stock of grocers (groceries) and provisions in the old building, which he has fitted up for that purpose.  Charlie succeeds to the meat market, which has been removed to the new building put up this summer.  The boys are both full of business and their respective establishments will soon become well and favorably known.

•••••••••

Judge Dewhurst returned from his European tour last Friday, looking the better for his trip.  The Judge returned just in time to be informed of his nomination to the Senate by the Greenback Convention at Merrillan, last Friday.

•••••••••

The Clark County Board met on Tuesday and after a session of two days decided upon and let the contract for building a new bridge across Black River at the Dells Dam area, about three miles and a half below the old bridge. The site selected is a natural one that will require but a nominal expense for abutments and another for piers, as but one span of 140 feet will be required.  The bridge will rest at either end on a ledge of rock, 18 feet above low water.  The contract for constructing a combination bridge of iron and wood has been let to the King Iron Bridge Manufacturing Co., Cleveland, Ohio, for $2,550.  The bridge is to be completed by the 1st of January.

 

The change of the location of the bridge will require the construction of three miles and a half of new road, which is to be done by the Town of Levis, at its own expense.  The old road on the east side of the river will be followed by the most part and will be turnpiked in good order for travel.  The committee appointed to draw and attend to fulfillment of the contract is F. D. Lindsay, B. F. Brown and Joseph Gibson.

•••••••••

Hewett & Woods has a large lot of unstrained honey in pound boxes.  It is the whitest and clearest honey we have ever seen.

•••••••••

Ed Eaton is moving his store building at Longwood to a mile north, to the Colby corners.  The building is a large two story, which is being moved by High Hart, of Neillsville, without disturbing a thing in the building.  Ed will go on selling goods below and his family will attend to household affairs above on the second floor as though nothing had happened.  His barn and warehouse will also be moved to the same site.

•••••••••

The Government timber agents are about to begin the prosecution of a considerable number of Black River lumbermen for trespassing, alleged to have been committed during the past ten or fifteen years.  There has probably been, since the commencement of logging operations on the Black River, more or less trespassing, intentional and otherwise and there have been times when it would have paid the government to have had more diligent agents on their job.  But that time has passed, since the professional timber stealers have gone the way of all rogues – to the dogs.  The only prosecution attempted so far, proved a disastrous failure and the only thing the government can now accomplish is to make some useless expenses for itself.

•••••••••

The Neillsville School has one smart pupil, at least.  While receiving her lesson in the formation of sentences from words, recently, a little miss in the primary department was asked, in the usual manner, “What goes with boy,” the teacher meaning, of course, what familiar adjective.  “Girl,” was the prompt reply and the answer had to be accepted as correct.

•••••••••

The tendency of the price of logs is still downward and the small jobbers on the river, at least, are helping to put it still lower.  Some of them are offering logs on the bank for about what ought to be paid for stumpage.

•••••••••

A carload of choice winter apples just received at James O’Neil’s, for sale at $3.00 per barrel.

•••••••••

Do not buy your crockery, glassware and such, until you call at Jaseph & Pond’s and see their new stock just in from market, which they will sell at very low rates.

 

Our grocers are the best in market and we will sell them as cheap as the cheapest.  The Neillsville and Hixton mills flour is also constantly on hand.

 

October 1948

 

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Nemitz of West 19th Street, observed the occasion of their 60th wedding anniversary on Sunday, Sept. 26.  Their anniversary itself fell on Saturday, Sept. 25.  They were married 60 years ago in Germany and five years later moved to the vicinity of Neillsville, where they have lived ever since, for some years on a farm near Globe and more recently in the city.

 

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bardeleben, their son, Frank, all of the Town of Pine Valley and their daughter and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Harland Gehrt of the Town of Grant came on Sunday to celebrate the occasion.  Mrs. Bardeleben is a daughter of the Nemitzes and Mrs. Gehrt is a granddaughter.  Another daughter and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Riedel of Chicago, Miss Delores Riedel and Mr. and Mrs. George Peternel, also of Chicago, arrived for the weekend.  Mrs. Peternel is a granddaughter of the Nemitzes.

 

The Nemitzes, both of whom are in their 80s, are more active than some younger people; still keeping up their interest in gardening and various other outdoor activities.

•••••••••

The entry of W. A. Stewart, Greenwood, won first place in the American cheddar cheese competition at the 36th annual Dairy Cattle Congress, it was announced in Waterloo, Ia., this week.  Mr. Stewart is an officer of the Stewart Cheese Corp., of Greenwood.

•••••••••

Pioneer Days in Neillsville started off with a bang.  By Monday the available space in store windows were full of ancient relics.  On Tuesday evening major Scott’s Amateur Hour had them hanging off the ceiling at the Armory.  On that evening, also, the Rotarians decorated the streets with fall colors.  The Old Home Town had taken on the atmosphere of celebration, an atmosphere, which will continue throughout the week, reaching the climax at the fairgrounds Saturday and Sunday evenings.

 

Carl Opelt and his family of 12 came to town on Pioneer Days and went off with two prizes.  They were the largest family, without a doubt.  There was really no competition and they traveled a harvest float, which they had improvised and which they pulled by tractor, driven by Carl himself.  Carl and his flock received $25 for the best float and $10 for the largest family.

 

The Opelt family and their float were part of the parade, which was the spectacular feature of Saturday afternoon, the center of all eyes. Great interest also attached to the float, which received $15 for being the best float illustrating method of transportation.  This was a covered wagon, offered by Fern Naedler.  The judges’ selection for the most humorous float or exhibit was the 1904 Buick, exhibited by Joe Zilk and the group riding in it.  

•••••••••

Six new members were initiated into membership in the Women of the Moose at their meeting Tuesday night.  They are: Anna Zickert, Viola Sharratt, Marian Linster, Maybelle Meredith, Emma Larson and Lucy Harrington.  Members brought toys, which will be sent as Christmas gifts to children of Mooseheart and the members heard Mrs. Irene Tibbett read a biography of J. J. Davis, founder of the Moose Lodge.

•••••••••

Marcia Nelson Crothers has begun work as a supervising teacher in the office of the county superintendent of schools.  She was released for the work from her engagement in Granton, where she taught history and music in the high school.

 

Mrs. Crothers is a graduate of River Falls, where County Superintendent Drake knew her.  She taught for a time in rural schools and then in the primary department of the city schools.

 

Prior to the appointment of Mrs. Crothers the county schools were entirely without supervising teachers.  Usually there have been two.  One vacancy still exists.

•••••••••

About 20 neighbor friends of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Brewster, who live in the Town of Washburn, had a husking bee for them Saturday to give a neighborly helping hand while Mrs. Brewster is in Sacred Heart Hospital, Eau Claire, recovering from an operation she underwent last week.  There were about 20 men and several young folks and youngsters working.  The girls and children drove the tractors and did their bit, too.

 

A few of the ladies provided the food; and after the dinner the remaining work was finished.  Even some of the ladies lent a hand with the husking, then the corn really flew and that probably accounts for the overcast skies, as no doubt the corn was flying so fast we couldn’t see the sun.  The crew husked several acres of standing corn.

•••••••••

John Samuel Wuethrich has died.  The end came early Tuesday afternoon, after a gallant fight lasting two years.

 

John. S. Wuethrich was one of the leading men of Clark County.  He was selected by The Clark County Press as The Man of the Year in 1942.  The selection was accepted generally as a proper estimate of Mr. Wuethrich’s character and business accomplishment and public service.  He was one of the most useful men of the county.

 

In private business Mr. Wuethrich had made a high record of accomplishment.  Starting with nothing at all and meeting with serious reverses more than once, he built up a butter business of a unique sort, which has grown to a volume in 1948 of three million pounds.  Starting with a few nondescript cattle, he built up a Holstein herd of international reputation and had become a director of the Holstein-Friesian Association of America.  His herd of thoroughbred Holsteins, usually numbering well over 100 choice animals, had been cared for on three farms, which Mr. Wuethrich managed upon business principles.

 

Mr. Wuethrich was a natural salesman, with the tactful manner and the considerate touch, which pleased those with whom he dealt.  He was never the aggressive sort, seeking to push his way, but was watchful of the other’s viewpoint and fitted his approach to the available opening.  Few who did business with him thought of him as a real salesman, but he was that, and the best his salesmanship was that it was unconscious on his part and un-recognized by those to whom he sold.  He sold nearly 200 cheese makers on the proposition that he afforded the best outlet for their byproduct cream; he sold Central Wisconsin on his butter, to such an extent that virtually all of it is consumed in the local area; he sold his fine cattle to breeders variously located in the United States and in Central and South America.  Mr. Wuethrich was also conspicuous in his success as a family leader, which is the height of salesmanship.  He headed a family organization, which was ready and more than willing to take up the load when it became too heavy for him.  The responsibility passed to his two sons, John D. and Lee Allen, and it was his pleasure, in his last months, to watch them operate, successfully adding to the business structure which he had reared.

 

Mr. Wuethrich was conspicuous and very active in many various community organizations, such as county draft board of World War II; member of school board for 25 years; member of Federal Land Bank; Charter and member of Greenwood Rotary Club; member of Wisconsin Cheese makers and Wisconsin Creameries Associations.  He was a member of the Zion Reformed Church in Greenwood.  As a Mason, Mr. Wuethrich was a member of the Blue Lodge at Greenwood; the Commandery at Neillsville; the Consistory at Eau Claire, being president of the friendship class of 1936.

 

Mr. Wuethrich married Vera Alice Drummond in 1909, and she has been his partner ever since, especially in the difficult two years just passed.  They have five grandchildren.

 

Mr. Wuethrich was born in Switzerland, June 10, 1863, the son of Samuel and Kathrine Wuethrich.  There the family went by the name of Horber, that being the name of the mountain up and down which they ranged with their cattle.  The family came to America in 1893.  The parents and two brothers preceded John in death.  He has two living brothers and two living sisters.  They are Fred of Doylestown, Wis., and Alfred of Rio, Wis., Katie, Mrs. O. E. Hoyt of Iron Ridge, and Rosa, Mrs. G. W. Schimmelpfennig of Mayville.                    

•••••••••

Willard community celebrated the 40th anniversary since the first settlers arrived there and also a farewell banquet for the Bishop Dr. Gregory Rozman of Lubljana Slovenia, who last week held a mission at the Holy Family Catholic Church at Willard.

 

A very large crowd gathered at the West Side Hall on Monday night, where a supper was held and several talks were given with Fr. Bernard Ambrozic presiding.  Frank Petkovsek, Sr., secretary of the church, spoke on his pioneer days in Willard.  Ludvik Perushek, Sr. was followed by Rev. Odilo Hajnsek, Rev. J. J. Novak, Greenwood, and Mrs. Johanna Artac and last by Bishop Gregory Rozman.

 

Last Sunday ws also the end of the mission at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Willard.

•••••••••

Shoe Sale Specials at Hunshaw Shoe Co., formerly Ungers: Group of Ladies Shoes, $2.97 with Third Pair for Only 10’; Boys’ Tennis Shoes, 97’, Women’s Overshoes 47’.

•••••••••

 

 

Some ladies strolled down Hewett Street wearing attire of the 1848 fashions during the week of the Oct. 1948 Wisconsin Centennial Celebration.  Far left, first lady looking toward the camera was Edna Russell.  Others aren’t identified. (Photo courtesy of Bill Roberts’ photo collection) (Does any one know who the other ladies are?)

 

€€€€€€€€€€€€

 

 


© 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