History: History of Abbotsford 
 

Poster: Marla Zwakman 
 

Email: dzwakman@msn.com 
 

Surnames: Wing, Schmirler, Wilms, Redner, Herbert, Cochrane, Baehr, Moecker, Lupient, Treat 
 

----Source: Abbotsford Tribune (Abbotsford, Clark County, Wis.) 09/04/1952 
 

Compiled by F. B. Wing 
 

Across the street from the Tony Schmirler barber shop, formerly Frank Wilms’ about where Harry Treat’s building now stands, was a nice, flat space, cleared off, which was a well used croquet grounds. Joe Redner, Bobby Herbert, Bob Cochrane, railroad employee, conductors, round house foremen, and engineers could be found playing the game. 
 

William Baehr is now librarian at Kansas State College, Manhatten, Kansas. His father was Otto Baehr, who lived on the original farm, bought from the railroad company, four miles northwest of Abbotsford. Otto Baehr was a brother of Arthur Baehr, who was the father of Walter Baehr, who lived on the farm left by his father, until recently when he sold the farm and moved to Milwaukee. Arthur Baehr is a brother of William Baehr, and lives on the farm on which they grew up. Mrs. Arthur Baehr is the daughter of Rev. F. H. Moecker, who was pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran church, Dorchester, from 1900 to 1922. Mrs. William Baehr is a sister of Fred Moecker who was book keeper at the Abbotsford bank for a number of years. Fred married Lucille Lupient, and have one son now living in Milwaukee, employed by the state. 
 

William Baehr writes that he often walked barefooted to Abbotsford and more than once stopped for refreshments at Wing’s Drug store, which is remembered as one of the permanent things about Abbotsford. He says he did not see the light of day in those Wisconsin woods until the fall of 1899.  
 

Recalling an event of many summers ago, probably in the early 20’s, when the linen duster and gauntlet glove were the styles and the three pedal car job – better known as the Model T Ford – was rolling along the Yellowstone trail; then known as Highway 16, now 29, one of the main highways crossing the state: 
 

One day a car parked at the head of Main street, a man got out and made his way across the street to the corner drug store. It was the noon hour and he sat down beside the druggist in front of the store. During the conversation, he asked if the store sold Edison records. Soon it was learned that *** Note: The rest of the article was cut off and was not available at the time of transcription.