Hixon Township

Hixon Township was the first of the townships on the northern county line. It was organized by act of legislature in the year 1873. It encompassed the two townships west of it until 1880 when the town of Withee was formed.

It was sparsely settled until the railroad of Wisconsin Central came through the town and a railroad station was established in the central part of the town. Some large lumber mills were built which eventually led to the clearing of land the development of the first farmsteads. Manufacturing was primarily limited to the processing of timber products, principally lumber.

Several small streams, two large streams, the Black River and Popple flowed through the township. There was a stage line running from Neillsville through Christie. Greenwood, Hemlock and Longwood, ending at the Village of Withee. There was a large general store at Longwood where the post office was also located. It was owned and managed by Joseph Gibson. The postmaster was Mr. G. F. Lantz. The Longwood locality was the oldest part of the township.

The first and largest general store to be owned and managed in Withee was that of W. S. Tufts. Other businesses were another general store, a grocery/confectionery store, a hotel, a blacksmith shop and a saloon. There was a large lumber yard which was supplied by the mills along the railroad nearby. The large mills of D. J. Spaulding were located on the Black River, about two miles from the village.

The railroad's existence through the township proved a great benefit. Building of mills and producing lumber was a valuable asset to the township's development.

In 1875, the population of the township was 260 and five years later it hit 500! In 1895, Mr. W. S. Tufts was postmaster of the Village of Withee. The chairman of the town of Hixon was Wm. Mead, the clerk was C. W. Funk; treasurer, Philo Mead and assessor, Pat Sheehan.

The township of Thorp was divided from west Hixon April 3, 1876 and the township of Hoard was formed from east Hixon, March of 1889.

Source: "Clark County Illustrated" Clark Co., WI; by Saterlee, Tifft & Marsh (1890)

On this 1874 Clark County, WI Township Map, Hixon encompasses today's townships of Hixon, Withee & Thorp as well as portions of Hoard, Longwood, Reseburg & Worden. (Map of the Current Township Boundaries)