Town of Loyal, Clark County, Wisconsin History

Contributed by the Loyal Public Library; Transcribed by Stan

Loyal was a vast territory of wilderness with a description Commencing at the SE corner of Township 26 North Range 1 East, thence running north on the Range line between Range 1 East and Range 2 East to the NE corner of Township 31 North Range 1 East. Thence running west on the north line of Township 31 to the NW corner of Township 31 North Range 2 West, thence running south on the Range line between Range 2 West and Range 3 West, thence running east on the town line between Township 26 and 25 to the SE corner of Township 26 North Range 1 East, the place of beginning.

This included the present Towns of Easton, Loyal, Sherman, Unity, Beaver, Warner, Longwood, Green Grove, Colby, Mayville, Hoard, Hixon, and six more townships in Taylor County.

It was agreed to pay one-half the indebtedness if there be any after deduction of amount of delinquent tax due Town of Weston from the county for the year 1864. This was to be effective March 1, 1865. It was signed by James Hewett, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors and James Sturdevant and Samuel Cawley, Supervisors.

On April 4, 1865, Henry Sitts became the first Town Chairman, Henry Huntzicker and John sharp were Supervisors, William B. Hallock was the Treasurer with William Welsh as Clerk. Jacob Huntzicker, O. H. Hills, and S. C. Honeywell were assessors of the 432 square miles. There were four justices: S. C. Honeywell, C. King, Henry Sitts, and Elisha Eaton. The constables were C. C. Downs, John Sharp, and George Huntzicker.

It may be noticed that the chairman, clerk and treasurer were all from the immediate Loyal area.

The next year a Sealer of Weights and Measures was added to the list of officers.

In 1866 an entire new slate of officers appeared. L. G. Stow became chairman, with W. B. Mitchell and George Huntzicker as supervisors. Charles Smith was the Clerk and Henry Huntzicker was the Treasurer. Only one name, D. W. Smith, was given as assessor. L. G. Stow, Wm. Welsh and L. Allen were the justices of peace and Edward Smith, Jacob Huntzicker, and Clark King became constables. James Kin was given the new office of Sealer of Weights and Measures.

By 1868 John Graves became a supervisor and S. Duane Graves was Sealer of Weights and Measures in 1869.

The annual meeting of 1870 was held in the schoolhouse of District No. 1, Town of Loyal. New settlers were coming in each year and new problems were coming up. In 1882 Pathmasters were elected for fourteen districts. A pathmaster was to collect a tax for voting or the man could work on the road to pay this tax instead. His duty was to record the work time or tax of each voter. They were to raise $1000. This title changed as time went on.

Along with the business of the day they voted to get a safe for the treasurer. A motion prohibiting sheep and hogs from running at large lost. There were thirty-eight voters at the election.

In 1883 it was voted to raise $150 for an incidental fund. This indicated they were learning the value and not over-tax willing workers.

At this time a Town Record of Marks and Brands was started, but soon petered out.

They also voted as to whether people labeled paupers were to receive aid. The word "welfare" hadn't been coined yet.

By 1884 the Town of Loyal had been whittled down to its present size of six mile long and six miles wide, the thirty-six sections or thirty-six square miles.

At the time it was voted to build a Town Hall in the Village (unincorporated) of Loyal, and not to exceed $500 in cost. Immediately it was amended to not exceed $700, the $500 was to come from taxes and the $200 from the incidental fund. Then in turn they were to raise $250 taxes for the new incidental fund.

The title "Overseers of Highway" was included in the election of officers. If someone had refused the office of pathmaster, someone qualifying would be appointed. There were 152 voters.

The next year (1885) there must have been more roads as they had 16 road districts.

For some reason they raised $100 for the purchase of a Town Hall. There must have been a real spirited inters in something as 488 votes were cast!

Maybe it was because they voted not to grant a liquor license that year or maybe because the insurance on the town hall had been upped as a blacksmith shop had been built too near since the original policy was issued.

They also voted to put up "Guide Boards" and the chairman was to decide the placing in four or five locations, and also the lettering and numbers. The place was getting crowded so it became necessary to have a way to tell where to go!

The Town Hall was also rented out for a fee of $2 to $5. There were evening dances and parties. When no admission was charged, such as speakers and justice courts, there was no fee.

On June 15, 1885, the first liquor license specified liquor to be drunk on said premises in quantities less than one gallon! It was granted for the sale of strong, spirituous, ardent, and intoxicating drinks. There was to be no gambling with cards or dice or other devices or implements for that purpose within his grocery, saloon, shop, or building, yard, house, or shed. That was located at Lot 4, block 2 of the original platting. This is the location of the latest Class B. Liquor license to be issued in the City of Loyal. Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Trzebiatowski have recently purchased the building.

The location has been a saloon, restaurant, café and tavern through the years. The money from the first license ($100) went to the Highway and Bridge Fund.

In March of 1886 it was decided to present a resolution to the voters as to whether they should establish and maintain a high school.

The first Board of Health was organized with Dr. J. S. Mulvey as Health Officer and the Town Supervisors to make up the Board.

In May 1886, it was resolved not to grant a saloon license to anyone in the town of Loyal. There must have been some misgivings for the decision and a possible temptation to serve laced coffee.!

A Weed Commissioner of the early 1890's signed with an X. Bless him for taking a public office! At least he could tell the farm crops from the weeds and do his public duty to promote the beauty of the countryside. He had refused other offices.

The Baptist Society was granted the privilege to hold meetings in the Town Hall at any time except the first and third Saturday evenings of the month or when not in use for town purposes.

Nearly all the town taxpayers singed a petition asking that the town buy a road machine. The Town board was to appropriate and use the proper amount to buy the machine. This may have been a road grader. It must have been needed.

Henry S. Mulvey was granted a liquor license as a pharmacist. Some people probably had their medicine changed!

There had been a bridge over Bear Creek on the Spencer Road (Elm Drive), and there had been a hassle about the repairs. During a delay the travelers had to go out of their way through the woods.

Now a new bridge was to be built. It would be 64 feet long. There were to be three new piers with the bed sills on solid ground.

The west pier to be 12 feet high and measuring 8 x 14 feet; the middle pier to be about 10 feet high; and the east pier to be 8 x 14 feet also; The logs on said piers to be not less than 12 inches in diameter at the top. The west and center pier to be filled with stone. Timbers in piers to be good sound white oak or pine.

There were to be four stringers with the bark off, 32 feet long and not less than 14 inches at the top end. It was to be covered with 2-inch planks. There was a railing 3 1/2 feet high.

The approaches were to be filled with one course of logs and the balance of the fill to be made of brush and dirt. Like all road projects of the day, it was to be in good workman like manner. The town was to furnish the materials. John Clow got the job with the low bid of $60.

The present bridge over Bear Creek is much small because of the lack of water.

A retail liquor license was granted to M. Mic of Neillsville Lot 5, Block 2, of the Village and to Andrew Braun to sell in the frame building known as the Lyons Schoolhouse. This was probably the original Braun Building.

The license was $100 and regulations the same as issued before. Then Mrs. Matilda Curis was also granted a license to keep a saloon. Peter and Theodore Heckel also applied for a liquor license north of the original platting of Loyal. E. Mic was granted a license for Spokeville. Then a $25 pool table license was issued.

It was proposed to put a sidewalk to the depot on Mill St. A. A. Graves would furnish the work if the town furnished the wire rope which was to make some kind of bridge over the mill yard, high enough to allow horse to pas under. It was quite an idea, but never seem to have been put into use.

Up to this time (1893) the peace and justice had been in the hands of Town Officials. Little skirmishes never made the record although there must have been some.

Incidents of issuing a search warrant to have a wagon searched for a certain gun which the man "did felonious by take and carried away a Repeating Rifle." The man was moving away and the search took place in Pine Valley and no rifle was found.

There were little cases of indecent language, one man chasing another (and out ran the culprit as nothing else was claimed) and such. They were usually dropped with the charges "taxed to Clark County."