October 1922

A community picnic dinner is planned by people of Black River Falls, Merrillan and Neillsville to be held at Merrillan Park at 1 o’clock this week, Friday. Groups of people from the three towns got together at the Jackson County Fair and planned the picnic.  There is a pretty park at Merrillan, with tables, other conveniences and a shelter if it rains.

•••••••••

Henry Empke (Embke?) is tearing down the old Merchants Hotel barn, which he bought and is hauling to his farm in Pine Valley, where he is using some of the material in his new barn to be 36x66 in size.

•••••••••

Atty James Moran and his clerk, George Strachan of Tomah, camped for a few days in Schuster Park last week.  Mr. Moran is attorney for the Braddock estate, which has an interest in what is known as the Marvin farm in Hewett and which will soon to be offered for sale.  Mr. Moran is a grandson of Martin Moran, who ran the first store in Neillsville and carried mail to and from Stevens Point.                                                         

•••••••••

Rev. Henry Fischer, previously of Granton, who served in what is now known as Rev. Reiff’s parish, faithfully and well for a period of seventeen years, died at Springfield, Minn., last Friday of old age and general decline.  His wife and one son preceded him in death by only a few years.  He is survived by several children; Mrs. Ernest Garbisch, being the only one now living near the old homestead.  A daughter, Mrs. Creviston, lives at Humbird, another, Mrs. Hein, lives in Minnesota and one son, Henry lives in Iowa.                                                      

•••••••••

State Prohibition Agents Hewett and Henning made quite a raid on alleged moon-shiners and bootleggers of Clark County the past week.  On Monday, there were six arraigned before circuit court, one of Unity, two of Thorp, one from Riplinger and two men from Curtiss, all charged for violating the state prohibition law.

Agent Hewett and the sheriff of Portage County captured the stills and six moon-shiners at Stevens Point, Saturday afternoon.  Their fines netted the state $1,000.                                  

•••••••••

Two Gypsy women told fortunes about the city of Neillsville last week and incidentally added to their own fortunes by picking the pockets of their patrons.                                                  

•••••••••

The daily newspapers of Tuesday announce the sailing from Gibraltar of the U. S. battleship Utah, which has been cruising in European waters for more than a year past.  Dr. Warren Bradbury is surgeon on board the Utah and will soon return with it to this country.                                                                                   

•••••••••

Byse & Hoesly Ford Garage announces Ford’s Lowest F.O.B. Detroit prices in the history of the Ford Motor Company, effective Tuesday, Oct. 17, 1922.

Ford Runabout reg. $269; Touring Car, reg. $298; 1-ton Truck Chassis $380; Ford Coupe $530 and Ford Sedan $595

•••••••••

Robert McCalvy, for many years a resident of this city and Clark County, passed away suddenly at a ripe old age at the Veterans Home, Waupaca Wisconsin, where he has spent his time for five years owing to declining health, and the excellent provisions at the Home for the care of the veterans of the federal army.

Mr. McCalvy was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, the oldest son of Peter and Mary Reed McCalvy.  The date of his birth was August 29, 1827.  His demise occurred on October 16, 1922, his age being 95 years, 1 month and 18 days.

While yet a child, he, with his parents came to America and settled at Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he remained until 1943 when the family removed to Wisconsin and entered a homestead near Milwaukee.  He grew to manhood on the family farm.  Mr. McCalvy joined the great gold-seekers’ movement to California and drove a yoke of oxen across the country from Milwaukee to the West Coast, walking all the way.

In the year 1849, Mr. McCalvy was united in marriage with Miss Ann Lida Rector, near Milwaukee.  To this union was born 6 children, three sons and three daughters.  Of these, three are living; Thomas, who resides four miles east of Neillsville, Albert, whose home is in Oregon and Mrs. J. H. Bass of Neillsville.  A daughter, Mrs. Andrew Bullard, died in 1915 at Santa Rosa, Calif.  Mrs. Henry Russell, the other daughter, died in 1922, and George, the remaining son, passed away some 10 years since.  Mrs. McCalvy, the faithful wife and mother, the first of the family who was taken, went to her rest September 23, 1905.

Mr. McCalvy moved to Clark County with his family in 1868 and lived on a farm near Greenwood for a number of years. After he left the farm he made Neillsville his home for about 20 years.

The deceased was for many years a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church at Neillsville, having professed faith in Christ and connected himself with that church about 30 years ago.  For many years he was one of the ruling elders of his church, and in his earlier life was very active in all that pertained to his church.  After the Rutger Chapel was established, he was in constant attendance in its services, the church being located not far from his residence.

Mr. McCalvy was in the Federal service of the Civil War about two years and four months, having enlisted in the army in 1863.  He was a member of the 14^th Wisconsin Regiment, Company “G”, and was honorably discharged from service at the close of the war.  He was one of the charter members of the Charles G. Bacon Post, G. A. R., at Neillsville.  He joined the Odd Fellows in 1881 and for many years was a prominent member.

October 1952

The completion of construction of Highway 95 in Clark County, and the opening of the new Black River Bridge on that highway, will be the occasion for a celebration in Neillsville next weekend, Friday and Saturday, October 10 and 11.

Plans are being made under the sponsorship of the Neillsville Chamber o Commerce and its retail committee.  John R. Bergemann, Chamber secretary, has invited Gov. Kohler to attend the dedication ceremonies Saturday morning, October 11; but it is not known at press time whether the governor’s schedule will permit his appearance.  Other officials have been invited.                                                                                                                

•••••••••

Two Muskie were brought into Neillsville Sunday night by William Kurasz and his friend, Dick Kuchar of Chicago.  The two fish were caught Sunday in the west fork of the Chippewa River.  The larger Muskie weighed 21 lbs. and 3 oz and was 45 inches long.  It was caught by Mr. Kuchar, and is his first-Muskie.  Mr. Kuchar says that he has been hunting and fishing around here for several years, coming up from Chicago to enjoy the sports with Mr. Kurasz, whom he regards as a skillful guide and good friend.

For Mr. Kurasz, the smaller Muskie he caught Sunday was his eighteenth.  He fishes practically every Sunday during the season.

Neither of these fishermen will at any part of the two Muskie.  The larger one will be mounted as a souvenir.  The other will be given away.  Neither of them likes to eat fish.  Mr. Kurasz does occasionally eat blue gills, and that is as large of a fish as he likes.

The two Muskie were caught on live suckers, the bait being about 16 inches long.  Plugs were tried, but the fish did not go after them.  The large Muskie was caught after dark, the first time Mr. Kurasz has known of a Muskie striking in the night.

•••••••••

This week, the first issue of the South Side School Gazette came out; it is a new publication of the South Side Public School.  The first issue is quite revealing, such as:

“Arthur Cram brought his pet snake ‘Oscar’ to school one day, and though some of us were afraid of it at first, we found it to be friendly and now are ready to adopt it as our pet mascot.”

Arthur Cram, it appears, runs off with a little more than his share of publicity.  Here is a quotation from the Sports section of the Gazette; “Last Thursday Arthur Cram fracture an arm while at gym.”

From the fourth and fifth grades comes this: “The fourth grade is studying about ants and bees.  In our science corner we have a big picture of different kinds of bees.  Dennis Brown and Larry Smith brought a jar of ants. We watch them make tunnels and houses. We also see the ants carrying eggs.”

Miss Schoengarth, of the fifth and sixth grades, makes this plaintive inquiry:-“Does anyone know where the fifth and sixth grade bat is? The color is reddish-brown.  If you know where it is, will you please bring it to our room?”

May it be inferred that Mrs. Neff of the third grade is not so keen about Miss Schoengarth’s hopefuls recovering their bat.  In her contribution Mrs. Neff states, without comment:-“There have been three windows broken in our room by baseballs.”

It would appear that by the time the children have reached the seventh grade they have settled down some, for the contributions to this section stick to the main points, thus:

“Everyone is already busy reading books, for it is our aim to get as many reports in as possible, and to fill our reading circle chart.  Shirley Schultz leads with five books reported.  Bonnie Krejci was chosen librarian for the first semester.”

But evidently the youngsters have not become old men and women by the time they reached the eighth grade, for this is the leading contribution from that source:

“Mr. Morley has made a new rule in the eighth grade room, because there has been a lot of talking going on while he is out of the room.  He said that if he catches anyone talking or acting up that they will lose a conduct point.”

An excess of boys over girls is noted in some classes.  The first grade has 19 boys against 10 girls. The third grade has 17 boys and seven girls.  In the eighth grade it is the other way around; 24 girls and 11 boys.

The staff of the Gazette is imposing, as follows:

Editor, Mary Hanson; assistant editor, Nancy Holt; circulation manager, Mona Hoesly; art editor, Dean Zickert; treasurer, Donald Shaw; band reporter, Billy Zank; sports and physical education, John Swenson; humor, Paul Manz; advisor, Mr. Morley.  The class reporters are: kindergarten, Miss Tess; first, Mrs. Zille; second, Miss Ott; third, Mrs. Neff; fourth and fifth, Jacelyn Jake; fifth and sixth, Miss Schoengarth; seventh, Donnie Horswill, Wally Wallace; eighth, John Carl; editorial, Mary Hanson.                                                                      

•••••••••

E. F. French and his niece, Viola (Dolly) Youmans, arrived in Neillsville Monday evening.  They were met at Merrillan, by their old friends, the George Zimmermans.  They are here for a reunion with Mrs. Robert French and any of their remaining old friends in the Neillsville community.

E. F. French is the son of B. F. French of local fame, pioneer lawyer and doctor, and colorful character.  The members of the French family were active members of this community at the turn of the century.  Then they departed, mostly to establish themselves in Los Angeles, where one of their number, Dr. John Rollin French, was one of the founders and owners of a hospital.  The brother, E. F. French, had charge of the maintenance of the hospital.

For years, the surviving members of the family lived together in a home owned by E. F. French.  With him were his sisters and his niece, Viola, who was housekeeper and practical nurse.  Finally E. F. and the niece we left alone.  Mr. French sold his home and is now on the loose, though he will probably return to Los Angeles and be near his son, Edwin.  Viola will presently go to live with her sister, Beth, Mrs. Clarence Sturdevant, near Washington D. C.

•••••••••

St. Stephen’s Catholic Church of Chili is celebrating its 50^th Anniversary on Wed. Oct. 22, serving a ham supper, beginning at 5 p.m.                                                                           

•••••••••

Cpl. Harold Stange of Loyal has received his second wound in the Korea fighting, according to news from the war department to his mother, Mrs. Linda Stange.  He has been overseas 19 months.

•••••••••

Memories of the hold days have followed in the wake of the alumni reunion of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Longwood.  This is one of the old organizations of Clark County, dating back informally into the 1880s when meetings were held in the home around Longwood and the ministers came from Stanley and Neillsville.

The formal organizations came in 1894 and the first confirmation took place the next year.  The first confirmation class consisted of six persons.  Of these, three are dead: O Carl W. Sorenson, Carl J. Sorenson and Hana Sophie Hansen.  The three survivors are: Harold Jorgenson of settle, Inga Sorenson Kuester of Colfax, Calif., and Inga Hansen Anderson of Stevens Point.

Since that first class, 185 members have renewed their baptismal vows through confirmation; some in the town hall, some in the small house that stood on the present church site, some in the school house and many in the present church structure, which was dedicated in 1910.                                                            

•••••••••

Charlotte Ayers, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Claude Ayers, has joined the Women’s Marine Corps.  She left October 16 for Milwaukee, where she took her intelligence test and from there went to Chicago for her physical.  She is now stationed at Parris Island, S. C., where she is taking her eight weeks of ‘boot training’.  Mr. and Mrs. Ayers now have three children in the marines: Donald Serving in Korea; Wendell is stationed at San Diego, Calif., and Charlotte.

•••••••••

Don’t forget the Annual Turkey dance at the Neillsville American Legion Memorial Hall, Nov. 20!  (Sounds interesting and makes one wonder what a “Turkey Dance” was all about?  As a fundraiser, tickets were sold with a drawing to win dressed out turkeys for Thanksgiving dining, and back then, dancing was always include in the event. DZ)

•••••••••

The Ladies of St. Mary’s Catholic Church will sponsor a Pillow Case Card Party on Sunday evening, Nov. 2, at 8:00 p.m.  Lunch will be ser4ved.  Admission is 50¢

(The card-playing winners were each given a pair of pillowcases as prizes.  During that era many women hand-embroidered pillowcases in their spare time which made nice gifts for various occasions. DZ)

Guy Youmans is shown with his daughters, who are ready to enjoy a wagon ride being pulled by their ponies.  Photo was taken in early 1900s in front of the house on the northeast corner of State and Fifth Street, Neillsville.

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤