Clark County Press, Neillsville, Wisconsin

January 6, 2010 Page 14

Contributed by "The Clark Co. Press"

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

Index of "Oldies" Articles 

 

Compiled by Dee Zimmerman

 

Clark County News

December 1869

 

The flour and feed store of Myhers & Co. is getting a good run of business.  At any rate they carry in and out a considerable quantity of flour, feed, oats and such mill products.  The newspaper office is upstairs of the mill, so we can vouch for that.  Less noise down there!

•••••••••

Deer are very plentiful in our woods this winter and a good many hunters are after them.  It isn’t everybody that knows how to bring them down; though, Sam Green, one of our best “shots,” went out last week and got five deer in three days.

•••••••••

The weather during the close of last week and the opening of this was quite mild, making it very soft under foot and endangering the total loss of our snow.  It turned cold yesterday and continued to wax colder and colder until this morning, when the thermometer began to indicate a more comfortable state in the weather.  A little more snow now and sleds will slide easy.

•••••••••

Remember Hans Johnson’s dance at O’Neill’s House on Christmas Eve.

 

(It was customary to attend a Christmas Eve Ball with men and women dressing in their finery for the event, at that point in time. D.Z.)

•••••••••

A couple of hunters think they have found a place in this county, with a rich gold mine.  They did find a substance having an appearance of the precious metal.  They say it was in a rock, like quartz and are about to give it a severe test.  One of them enthusiastically remarks that if it is gold there is plenty of it, enough to pay the national debt.  Then it certainly is a most valuable discovery, but, “All is not gold that glitters!”  

•••••••••

On Tuesday, of last week, a Norwegian named Christen Everson, at work in one of Turner’s logging camps, was injured so badly by a tree falling upon him that he died a day after being brought to the O’Neill House.  He was a young man, not over 23 or 24 years of age, and came from Coon Valley, 15 or 20 miles east of La Crosse.

•••••••••

One week ago the stage line between Black River Falls and here commenced carrying the mail daily, except Sundays, for which our citizens are indebted to both the accommodating stage company, and Jr. John Parsons, the obliging postmaster at the Falls.  It is a great accommodation to us here and is the first time we have enjoyed the desired privilege of communicating with the outside world.

•••••••••

The lumbermen in the pinewoods of this section are just now fairly at work.  Men are still coming in town for employment and have little trouble in getting it, though the supply has not been at any time inadequate to the demand for labor.  Camps are scattered along upon nearly every stream in all directions for here and for over thirty miles north.  The bad season during the present year does not seem to check the operations of the coming one and the prospects are that more timber will be cut this winter than last season.  In the southern part of the county not much snow has fallen, and scarcely any hauling has been done, but in the northern part snow is about a foot deep and the loggers are getting along great.  Most are predicting a favorable winter and a rich harvest in the spring.  It surely will be of much benefit to us all if the season is good.  

•••••••••

There were 550 votes cast in this county at the last election and estimating the number of inhabitants at four to each voter we have a population of 2,200. This we may regard as very nearly correct. The county has largely increased in population within the past year and by this time next year we could have a population of between 3,000 and 4,000.  We would not be at all surprised if these figures would be beaten, as we cannot now safely estimate the benefit we shall derive from the West Wisconsin Railroad to Black River Falls and our good prospects of a railroad through the county.

•••••••••

Hewett, Woods, & Co.’s steam mill has a whistle.  They blew it for the first time last Thursday night and as the sound of its shrill notes went out upon the evening air, resembling so much the whistle of the locomotive, we quite naturally imagined such was the case and thought of railcars, depot and warehouses, and the usual hubbub and noise created by an onward bound train, at a railway station, all transpiring here in Neillsville!  Then in our pleasant reverie how easy for us to look still farther and see here a growing and thriving village, surrounded by mills, manufactories and all the real elements of genuine prosperity.  And if it were so now, what a blessed reality!  Will that day come in not far of a distance?

 

December 1954

 

Attorney and Mrs. Tom Dolan and son left Tuesday for Milwaukee, where they will reside at 4934 N. 28th St.  The Dolans have lived in Loyal for the past 15 months, Mr. Dolan serving as assistant district attorney.  They have both taken an active interest in Loyal.  Mrs. Dolan served as president of the American Legion Auxiliary.  During their residence here a son, Thomas Edward Dolan, Jr., was born May 18.

 

In Milwaukee, Tom Dolan together with Ray P. Wherry will take over an office at 310 Burleigh St., the firm to be known as Wherry and Dolan

•••••••••

The deer kill of 1954 in Clark County was smaller than the advance estimate. The present indication is that the total will not be far from 550.  The number tagged in Clark County and killed in the county was 318.  Included in these other stations is Fairchild, where the number of Clark County deer will probably run up to 80 or 90.  Stanley is expected to report 40 or 50 deer killed in Clark County, and Wood County points will have some, with Pray and Black River Falls to be added.

•••••••••

The following members of the Neillsville High School football team earned the school official letter insignia:

 

Seniors: Marvin Aumann, halfback; Bill Cook, tackle; Ronnie Davis, halfback; Merlin Gerber, fullback and captain; Bob Gutenberger, guard; Alan Harder, quarterback; John Hanson, tackle; John Linster, guard; John Nozar, guard.

 

Juniors: Harry Ayers, fullback; Louis Hoffman, end; Howard Krause, fullback; Lynn Jahr, center; Doug Larsen, halfback; Ben Urlaub, end; Tom Wavrunek, end.

 

Sophomores; Jim Krause quarterback; Don Shaw, halfback.

 

Other Seniors who will be missed next year are Ray Wetzel, tackle and Charles Matousek, guard.  These boys had not come out for football until they were seniors and hence did not play sufficiently to earn letters.

•••••••••

Open House was held on Friday afternoon at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Kapfer in honor of their 25th wedding anniversary.  Approximately 30 relatives gathered at the Wilbert Kapfer home on Grand Avenue for supper. In the evening a dance was given at the Legion Memorial Hall.  

•••••••••

Marriage License issued: Frank Arbelovsky, Town of Fremont, and Ardith Lindow, Town of Fremont, to be married at Chili, December 4.  

•••••••••

Friends and relatives held a housewarming for Mr. and Mrs. William Seelow, who just moved into the house they purchased from Alfred Dux on the Northside.  Lunch was served after an evening of card playing and visiting.  

•••••••••

There will be a Creamed Chicken Supper at the Congregational Church Thursday, Dec. 9th. Serving will start at 5 p.m.  Price is 75’ per person

•••••••••

Approximately 200 relatives and friends attended the celebration of the 25th wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Olaf Ystad Sunday, December 12.  Dinner was served in the basement of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church.  Cake and ice cream were served following the program held in the afternoon. The program included songs, accompanied by Cora Mae Turnquist on the piano.  Nancy Rossow played a piano solo.  The entire group sang two songs and Rev. Magnus Egge gave a short talk.

 

Mr. Olaf Ystad, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hans Ystad, and Elsie Rossow, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Rossow, were married in the Lutheran parsonage in Greenwood, December 10, 1929.  They lived on farms in this vicinity ever since.  They now live five miles northeast of town.

 

They have one son, Pfc. Milton Ystad, who has been stationed in Japan since July 3, 1953.  

•••••••••

A Christmas hymn sing will be held Sunday, December 19, at 8 p.m. at the West Side Evangelical and Reformed Church, west of Greenwood.  The program will include special numbers in both the English and German language by the junior and senior choirs.  The Rev. Charles Kock is pastor.

•••••••••

Welcome to the Free Christmas Party at the Neillsville Armory Friday, Dec. 17 at 8 p.m.

 

The Neillsville Bank, your “Old Reliable” is celebrating its 75th Birthday and to show their appreciation to every one of their friends in Central Wisconsin, they invite everyone to attend their big Christmas party to be held at the Neillsville Armory.

 

You will see and hear in person the following:

 

The Nationally Famous Leinenkugel Quartet from Chippewa Falls and Menomonie, Wisconsin; Buck the Magician; The Famous Bergencer Singers Yodelers from the Cheese Capitol of the World, Monroe, Wisconsin, singing Swiss and Folk songs; Howie Sturtz & His Orchestra, featuring “Ertz and Sturtz.”

 

Santa Claus, direct from the North Pole, with 700 bags of Candy for all boys and girls attending! You will have all the Free Ham and Cheese Sandwiches, Coffee and Donuts you can eat, served at 10:30 p.m.

 

Dance from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. to the Music of Central Wisconsin’s Dancing Habit, Howie Sturtz and Orchestra.

•••••••••

Funeral services for John Petkovsek, Sr., 83, who died Friday morning at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Marshfield, were held Monday morning at 9:30 a.m. at the Holy Family Catholic Chruch in Willard.  The Rev. Augustine Svete officiated.  Burial was made in the Holy Family Cemetery.  His six sons were pallbearers. The general Rosary was held Sunday evening at the Hill Funeral Home.

 

He was born December 16, 1870 in Yugoslavia; when he was 16 years old he went to work in the mines.  He was a miner for 23 years.  He went from Yugoslavia to Germany in 1893.  After service in the Austrian Army, he came to the United States in 1897 and went to mining in Springfield, Ill.  He was married there in June 1899, to Mary Germosch.  They came to Willard from Springfield in 1911 and settled on a farm 2 ½ miles northwest of Willard.  He retired in 1947 and has made his home for the past three years with his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Leo Gregorich of Willard.

 

He has been a member of the town board of Hendren for a number of years as assessor and had been a trustee of Holy Family Church.  His wife preceded him in death in 1937.

 

Surviving him are six sons and four daughters: Mrs. John (Mary) Beton of Chicago; John, Jr., Joseph and Anton of Greenwood; Mrs. Pete (Anna) Lassen of Waukegan, Ill.; Mrs. Ray (Frances) Bruske of Melrose Park, Ill.; Frank of Chicago; Martin of Morton Grove, Ill.; William on the home farm in Willard; and Mrs. Leo (Dorothy) Gregorich of Willard; 22 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.  He was the last of his family, preceded in death by two sisters and one brother.

•••••••••

Frank Dobes, retiring sheriff of Clark County, will continue as a peace officer of the county.  He has decided to accept the proposal of Ray Kutsche, sheriff-elect, that he will act as undersheriff.

 

Most readers of The Press will probably say, “Well, sure; that’s what I thought.” But those who say this do not know how close the call was.

 

For Frank Dobes all through the fall had vowed that he would get clear out of the peace business.  He has had eight consecutive years of it, and he felt tired.  Also, he takes police work seriously and worries about it.

 

So Frank Dobes anticipated a complete change.  His farm was being offered for sale, and he had a vision of getting clear away into another part of the country, at least for a time.

 

But as the time drew near, Mr. Dobes listened to other counsels, and he is sticking.  He has arranged for the Kutsche home on the Northside, and he and Mrs. Dobes will move into it just as the Kutsche’s move out.  The two men will exchange both residences and jobs.

•••••••••

Devere Krejci, lanky Neillsville center, captured individual scoring honors here Tuesday night, tallying 16 points; but it fell short of making the Warriors’ meeting with Black River Falls High School a contest.

 

Black River’s cage team tallied 48 points to Neillsville’s 26, for their win, and used 13 men in doing it.  The only bright spot in the picture for Coach Hank Lukes’ boys was Krejci’s fourth quarter spurt.  In that quarter he pumped in three field goals and five free throws for a period total of 11 points.  Until that time the Warriors had scored but four points in the whole first half.

•••••••••

Jerry Quicker, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Quicker, fractured both bones in one of his legs while skating on the ice pond, Monday night.  He was taken to Memorial Hospital where the bones were set.

•••••••••

Fire apparently caused by a defective chimney damaged the Granton post office building about 10:15 a.m. Wednesday.

 

The fire was confined to the roof and attic space above the post office workroom.  Firemen of the volunteer fire department extinguished the blaze with quantities of water; and damage was largely due to water.

 

No mail was damaged, either, by water or the fire.

 

 

 

The above circa 1860s sled load of 23 choice white pine logs is an example of the virgin timber that was harvested from Clark County forests in the first cuttings.

 

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