Good Old Days  

By Dee Zimmerman

The November 8, 1894, Neillsville Times printed the Clark County voting results with a total of 3, 750 who had exercised their voting rights.  Two local residents had made a bet on the election, Geo. Huntzicker and Stub Masters.  The Times had written as follows: On account of the over-whelming defeat of “Roster Peck,” Geo. A. Huntzicker was compelled to wheel Stub Masters through Hewett Street.  The procession was headed by a very enthusiastic Republican, Sam Gollusch, who carried a broom announcing a “Clean Sweep.”

News of the week included details of a new building that served as facility for the Lowe Meat Market. 

Quote: Mr. Thomas Lowe visited Oshkosh, La Crosse and Chicago for the purpose of inspecting meat markets of those cities.  The knowledge gained by these visits, has given Neillsville one of the finest meat markets in the Northwest.  While this is only one of the ten or dozen good buildings that have been completed in our city during the season, it is, all in all, one of the best in our city.  The building is 24 x 80 (feet): Height of first floor 13 ft 4 in; second floor 12 ft.; basement 10 ft.  Floors 2 x 4 birch, the rest of the building finished in Norway pine.

It is furnished with, all modern improvements necessary to a first class meat market.  The counters, tables and show-window benches are covered with the best grade of Italian marble.  The main counter is 14 ft x 2 ft 4 in.  The marble in the show-window is 15 ft x 3 ft 2 in.  The racks are solid nickel-plated, 20 ft. long.  The patent hooks are movable.  The refrigerator extends to the ceiling.  The Reedy patent elevator runs from basement to upper story.  The office is 8 ft. square, with plate glass windows.  The back room is equipped with appliances needed for handling meat.  The sausage grinders and stuffers run by steam power.  The basement floor is cemented.  The building is of brick, pressed brick front, plastered with adamant, steel roof, galvanized cornice, stone trimmings; city water and electric lights on every floor.  To Neillsville this building is a “thing of beauty” and to all who are carnivorously inclined it will be a “joy forever.”  A building like this speaks well for the city, and reflects credit on the enterprise of its owner and upon the skill of all who have been employed in its construction.

The city was alive yesterday with chairmen bringing election returns from their various towns.

Joe Marsh, our next assemblyman, arrived late Tuesday night with election returns from his own town, where he made nearly a clean sweep.

W. G. Klopf, H. A. Pitcher, Tom Robinson and John Servaty hunted deer in northern Clark County last week and brought down two.

The Congregational L. L. will give a real old fashioned New England supper next Thursday afternoon at Mrs. D. Gates. Everybody come.

Geo. Hardison of Alma Center and Mary Neverman of this city were united in marriage by Rev. G. N. Foster on Tuesday, November 6, 1894, at the home of the bride in this city.  The bride is the daughter of Wm. Neverman, a successful teacher, and has many friends who wish them a happy life.

Southern Pine Valley: The anniversary of the party given at Wm. McAdams will be at hand Friday evening, November 23.  It is to take the place of a donation for Rev. Hill.  All elderly ladies are requested to take a pound of butter or a dozen eggs.  The young ladies weighed, their partners paying ¼ cent a pound, which entitles them to supper.  Ladies without partners will provide supper for 10 cents.  An interesting programme will be carried out; a full house is desired.

Unity and Sherman: The Republicans gave a grand barbecue in honor of Maj. Upham’s election.  They roasted an ox, served roast beef, bread and coffee, Saturday p.m.  A good many of the people aren’t hungry yet.

Lynn: A. Pusick of Chicago and Miss Tillie Sternitzky were married November 7.  Mr. Pusick owns a farm in the suburbs of Chicago, where he will soon take his bride and leave Lynn minus one of its most popular young ladies.  A party in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Pusick was given at F. Helm’s Saturday evening.

West Weston: The creamery is almost done working for this fall.  The hunters are killing more time than game.  The Hemp boys have just finished their threshing and are sawing wood.  C. C. Marikle has started up his mill for a few days to clean up his yard.

Columbia: The furniture for the new schoolhouse arrived from Chicago Monday, and when in place will make this one of the finest furnished school houses in Clark County. 

The Neillsville Mills was located on the south bank of O’Neill Creek.  An old bridge is visible on the lower right. This photo was taken in 1865.  It is interesting to see a house, then a farm in the background along a dirt road that is now North Hewett Street.  The land is virtually void of large trees; the logging crews had gone through a few years previous, cutting all the timber.

The home of Homer R. Root, located at 29 Hewett Street, Neillsville.  Root came to Clark County in 1869, working in the lumbering business, engaged in logging off the northern part of the county with a partner, B. F. Thompson.  They also owned a large farm in the Town of Warner, near Greenwood.  In 1888 he was elected county clerk then living in Neillsville.

The little log house replica in this photo was made up for a float used in President Harrison’s campaign tour through Neillsville in the late 1800s.  H. M. Root set the little log cabin up in the backyard of his home afterwards.

Neillsville in its earlier years:  A view from the east side was seen from top of the stand pipe along 4^th Street.  In the foreground is the Schuster house, to its left is Judge O’Neill’s house.  The Hoesly house and old Court House can be seen on the near right.

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Life is not a problem to be solved but a reality to be experienced. – Soren Kierkegaard

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Kill no more Pigeons than you can eat. – Benjamin Franklin

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There is no good in arguing with the inevitable.  The only argument available with an east wind is to put on your overcoat. – James Russell Lowell