Hoard Township, Clark Co., WI

Hoard Township farms are, as yet, all comparatively small, but are now being made larger each year. Many of the settlers are thrifty Germans and Norwegians, and their energy and perseverance, together with other settlers who may move into the town, will soon develop its resources and make it rank among the best in the county.

It already has some large mills, which are doing a flourishing business in the manufacture of pine and hardwood lumber.

The surface of the town is somewhat rolling, though it is more nearly level than many of the towns in the county.

The Popple river flows in a Southeasterly course across the town, and many other smaller streams water the surface.

Hay is a very heavy crop, and cattle and sheep raising is quite profitable, though the farmers are just beginning to turn their attention to that branch of agriculture.

Though there has been much timber cut in this town, by far the larger part of the town is still covered with standing timber, which is each year becoming more and more valuable.

The flourishing little village of Curtiss is in this town - in the Southeastern part, on the line between Mayville and Hoard. The large mills of A. D. Bass are located at Curtiss. A large number of men are employed in the mill, and an immense quality of lumber is manufactured and shipped each year. The mercantile business is well represented in Curtiss, there being several stores in the village. There is also a hotel, two or three blacksmith shops, and many other places of business.

Mr. A. N. Virch is the postmaster in the village, and also runs a large general store there.

Although farming is in its infancy in this locality, there are large quanities of hay shipped from this station during the winter months.

The Wisconsin Central railroad runs through the Southern part of the town, and is doing much in developing the natural resources of the town, as the town was never opened up to civilization until the building of the road. Improvements of all kinds are now being started.

Wagon roads are now being constructed through different parts of the town. New school districts are being formed and new school buildings erected, religious organizations are springing into existence and erecting places of worship, and public spirit is being manifested in many ways.

New settlers are coming in each month and the unoccupied land , of which there are large tracts, is gradually being taken up. The growth of the town cannot be shown in figures as it has been organized since the census of 1885. The growth of the two towns, Hoard and Mayville, which were formerly one, is shown by the following figures: In 1875 the population of the two townships was 487; in 1880 it was 1249; in 1885 it was 1517, and is now 1750.

The town officers for 1890 are H. J. Collier, chairman; Oluf Thompson, clerk;

R. E. Schoenemann, treasurer; John F. Dahlberg, assessor.

Source: "Clark County Illustrated" (1890).