Clark County Press, Neillsville, Wisconsin

November 25, 2015, Page 9

Contributed by "The Clark Co. Press"

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

Index of "Oldies" Articles 

 

Compiled by Dee Zimmerman

 

Clark County News

 November 1900

 

At this time 50 years ago, the accent was on Christmas.  The Walk Bros., in a half page advertisement in the Neillsville Times, told about their “Vast Exposition of Beautiful Holiday Goods;” and Tragsdorf had “Winter and Holiday Merchandise at Interesting Prices.”   

 

Walk Brothers store was a well-established Neillsville business for several years.  The above photo shows an early building, which was located on the southwest corner of Hewett and W. Fifth Street Intersection. (Photo courtesy of Bill Roberts)

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Jas. Campbell has bought the iron-sheathed building of Mrs. Boardman that stands west of the Boardman residence, and has employed Anthony Gress to put it on sleds and haul it to the Gullackson property, which he recently purchased, where it will be used in connection with the poultry business.                       

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The population of Clark County is, according to official count, 25,848, a great increase over the population in the days when every man, woman and child in the county was known to every other one.

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Neillsville businessmen ought to organize an advancement association, to look up and encourage new industries here, and induce the citizens themselves to organize canning factories, pickle factories, etc.

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John Wolff has bought the Heffran place near the north city limits.       

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An item reprinted from the Loyal Tribune:

 

E. Weaver is a very careful driver and there is one team in the barn that he doesn’t trust the boys to drive, so goes along himself as a precaution against accident or runaway.  One instance we have in mind is a drive to Neillsville Monday by Atty Rush, Jas. Paulus, C. Buhlman and E. Weaver as the driver.  On the return trip the team became frightened and ran away, throwing the entire load in the snow bank.

 

November 1930

 

Rev. Paul Franzmeier, who is pastor of Westside Emanuel Reformed Church at Greenwood, was discovered he had considerable explaining to do when he got back to Greenwood last week after visiting the Court House in Neillsville.

 

Rev. Mr. Franzmeier was accompanied by his fiancιe, Miss Esther Humke, and a reporter for a nearby daily took it for granted that the pastor and Miss Humke were married.  It published a story the next day about Rev. and Mrs. Paul Franzmeier “being visitors at the circuit court.”

 

The result was that ever since, Rev. Franzmeier has been using up valuable time he should be devoting to church affairs in broadcasting denials of the marriage.                                                 

•••••••••

The Neillsville High School football team, after its splendid showing a week ago against Galesville, met a set-back in its game last Friday at Medford when it lost 46 to 6.  The Medford squad has a big, fast team and proved to have too many guns for the local team.  The Medford game closed the season for the high school team.

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An interesting case came to trial in circuit court Monday, a suit for damages for breach of promise of marriage.  The plaintiff was a 17-year-old girl from Curtiss and the defendant was a 27-year-old man from Abbotsford.

 

The defendant did not deny the promise of marriage, but set up in his answer that he was subject to epileptic fits, which he alleged was a good and sufficient reason for his refusal to carry out the agreement.  It appeared, however, that he let the girl go on and make full preparations for the wedding, even to issuing the invitations.

 

The jury found in the plaintiff’s favor and set the damages at $725.      

•••••••••

The O & N Lumber Co., which has made extensive improvements and built a new store on their location near the depot, announces a grand opening for Saturday.  A lunch will be given to all the visitors.

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The Shell Company is building a new oil station at the north end of Hewett Street on the Chandler property.

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Mr. William Marg and Miss Edna Scheeler were united in marriage at 2 o’clock, Tuesday, Nov. 18, at the Fischer Church in the Town of Grant.  Rev. J. G. Buth officiated.

 

Mr. Fred Marg, brother of the groom was bestman and Miss Hilda Garbisch was bridesmaid.  After the ceremony, a fine wedding supper was served at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Scheeler of the Town of Grant. 

 

The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Marg of the Town of Lynn.

•••••••••

Dancing on Sunday nights in Clark County has been authorized by the county board following the appearance of Clarence Hell before the board members last Wednesday, who argued that Sunday night dancing now is permitted in nearly all localities.  The board added a stipulation, which requires that dance promoters must obtain permission for Sabbath dancing from the chairmen of the towns or supervisors of the cities and villages in which the dance it to be given.

•••••••••

Twenty-five dollars will be paid by the Kiwanis Club of Neillsville for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person guilty of shooting pheasants.

 

This action was taken by the club last Monday at its luncheon following a report that outlaw hunters were seen last Sunday, shooting some of the pheasants recently turned out by the local sportsmen, west of the city.  More than 300 of the birds were released this year by R. E. Schmedel and Lyman Smith, and it is there hope that the pheasants will become plentiful enough in a few years to warrant an open hunting season on them.

 

The Kiwanis Club also listened to an address on Thanksgiving by Rev. E. H. Vornholt, who pointed out the need for faith and spiritual guidance in carrying one through a useful life and the many things the people of America and especially this community have, for which they owe a debt of gratitude to their creator.

 

The chicken dinner and mince pie made a hit with the members and completed the holiday note.

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More than $18,000 worth of Cities Service stock was purchased by residents of Neillsville and vicinity during the campaign put on by Ed Hauge last week.  Many of the investors are farmers.

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Scherer and Wagner’s new laundry building is practically completed and nearly all the new machinery is here and ready to be installed.  The building is practically fireproof with stone basement, brick and tile superstructure.  Much of the credit for the rapid work done in pushing the laundry to completion, and the excellent workmanship that has gone into it, is due to Charles Thompson, who has had charge of the work.

 

November 1950

 

Raymond B. Colby has been discharged as special administrator of the estate of his father, Bert W. Colby.  The late Mr. Colby ended his days in Crystal Lake, Ill., and his will was probated there.  Included in the estate was the store property occupied by R. B. Colby in Loyal, and this business property went to the son, R. B. Colby, under the terms of the will.  This store building has been occupied by his son since 1928.  He paid his father a yearly rental, but had made extensive improvements in it, at his own expense, including a locker plant.                     

•••••••••

Charles Pralguske and his wife Rose have taken title to the Merry Ol’ Gardens property in the Town of Longwood.  The grantors of the property were George J. Pabich, Jr., and his wife, Betty L.

•••••••••

Marriage Licenses:

 

John Dittner, Spencer, Beverly Hause, Colby, to be married at Colby November 11

 

Kenneth G. Vollrath, Town of Mead, Janis L. H. Langfeldt, Thorp, to be married at Loyal, November 11

 

Norman Ernest Lautenbach, Town of Grant, Betty Seltrecht, Town of Granton to be married at Granton, November 4

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Wanted! Ducks, Geese & Chickens - by the American Legion in Neillsville; We want the largest Turkey in Clark County for our Annual Turkey Dance, Nov. 16.  For this turkey we will pay premium price.  Kindly leave weights at the Legion Dugout Bar.

•••••••••

Joe Hanus, founder of Hatfield, has gone to Hot Springs, Ark., for the winter.  He hopes to find there relief from a heart ailment, which has sent him to the hospital in Black River Falls three times in recent weeks.  He was taken to Hot Springs by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Olson of Black River Falls.

 

The Banner Journal of Black River Falls contains the following article about Mr. Hanus:

 

“Joe Hanus may well be said to be the Father of Hatfield.  He saw the possibilities there nearly a half century ago and never lost faith in the place.  That faith has been vindicated a hundred times over and now when he sees the many homes, the activities of the region he has a feeling of satisfaction.  He has contributed greatly to that progress. He has owned 250 acres, which he sold reasonably, in five acre lots on the highway for $125 and $150 per lot because he wanted to see people settle in there.  He was interested in roads and progress.  He gave a right-of-way for the REA, which advanced the progress of the place as much as any one thing.  We couldn’t resist asking him if it troubled him any when he compared prices received for lots and property now compared to what he received for it then.  He said he got his price at the time and he liked to see people get along.  At one time he owned all the land from the Hatfield Cemetery to the Arnold Creek Bridge in Clark County.  Now he owns only his own home, just over the line in Clark County.

 

“We had never had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Hanus until we saw him in the hospital a few weeks ago.  He will never know what a surprise he was to us.  Someway, we had heard so long about Joe Hanus that we expected him to be the patriarch type, maybe a Paul Bunyan beard, or at least a walrus mustache.  He is a fine looking man.  He insisted on our having the only chair in the room at the moment and he sat on the edge of the high hospital bed.  We know we only scratched the surface of an interesting lifetime of experiences, but we did get this.

 

“He came to Hatfield July 18, 1896, from Chicago.  His father, Joseph Hanus, bought a homestead there.  Like all the others, he farmed.  The soil was not good but because the soil was cheap they settled.  Some made good, some didn’t.  The Hanus family first stayed with John Uceny, father of Mrs. Joe Prusa, who is still living in Hatfield with is daughter.  To help his parents Joe started to work when 11 years old, doing anything to help them make ends meet.  His early experiences consisted of working in the woods, on the river with the late Joe Walters, and as a section hand on the Green Bay railroad.

 

“In 1905 he went to Alberta, Canada, where he proved up a homestead.  He spent four years there, never home during that time.  Along about holiday time, 1909, he came back to visit his parents.  he saw an opportunity in Hatfield.  He built his first little store, 16 x 20, and opened it for business May 1, 1910.  In 1926 that store building burned; and he built the present one.  In 1928, he sold it to Clarence Hell.  In 1931, he acquired it again.  In the meantime, completed June 6, 1931, he had built Arbutus Pavilion.  The late J. J. McGillivray was the contractor and the late Jake Hubert put up the building.  It was something new in the way of pavilions here for it had steel springs under the floor.

 

“He operated Arbutus Pavilion during the hard years of prohibition.  As he said, I always tried to run it clean.  He must have succeeded.  We checked with I.S. Hollenbeck, sheriff at the time, who said of Joe Hanus, “He is an awful nice man.  He ran a nice business there.  He would not permit drinking during prohibition and all the best people in the country used to go there.”  Mr. Hanus said that both he and Mr. Hollenbeck were threatened to be shot, but we never were.

 

“He built a two-story home for his parents in their later years. It is of interest to know that their original farm a half-mile northwest of Hatfield is still operated as a farm by Peter Meyers.  The Hatfield Sportsmen Club raises ring-necked pheasants there as well as the feed for them.

 

In 1935, he sold the store to Mr. and Mrs. Joe Prusa.  In 1938, he sold the pavilion to Joe and Vi Vieau.

 

Mr. and Mrs. Hanus had spent four winters in Florida, a couple of winters in McAllen, Texas, where Mrs. Hanus died very suddenly December 12, 1947.  After that, he disposed of the remainder of his Hatfield property.

 

“Few people know that all during World War I and II, he has sent a steady stream of gifts and packages to Czechoslovakia, the home of his mother, and he continues to help them there.  We have no doubt but that his gifts have been gratefully appreciated.

 

“Although he has retired, he feels that he has been well repaid for the years by the friends he has gained during the time he was in business.  He says that he values them more than anything, friends he might otherwise not have made.  He admits to being disappointed in life as a whole, but firmly maintains that there are still good people in the world and that he still believes in human nature.  As long as he can do that, he will be living the good life.”

•••••••••

There will be a Deer Hunters’ Mass at 5:00 a.m. Sunday, November 19, 1950, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church at Neillsville.

•••••••••

Union Thanksgiving Services for the Methodist, Congregational, Evangelical and Reformed churches will be held on Wednesday, November 22, at 8 p.m. at the Congregational Church, with the Rev. William Koehler preaching.  The Congregational Choir will sing.                                                             

•••••••••

The FHA of Greenwood held a barn dance party at the gymnasium Tuesday evening.  Barn dance clothes were worn.  The program included a talent show and grab-bag.  Cider and doughnuts were served.  Attendance was confined to high school students and to a few invited guests.                                                            

•••••••••

Steve Figura and his wife Lucille have bought from Glenn W. Marden and his wife Anita the garage property in Humbird described as Lots 17 and 18, Block 8.

 

This property is located on King Street, in the first block east of the railroad, a business location.

•••••••••

McCain’s Specials! They’re Here, They’re Popular! Sheik Hats!  They wrap around the head, & they tie in front, with roll or visor, all colors & white, $1.39 and $1.98!

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