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HISTORY  OF 

LANGLADE  COUNTY 

WISCONSIN 


From  U.  S.  Government  Survey  To  Present  Time, 
With  Biographical  Sketches 


By  ROBERT  M.  DESSUREAU 

Member  of 

Wisconsin  State  Historical  Society 

Wisconsin  Archeological  Society 

Langlade  County  Historical  Society 

\ 


/" 


ILLUSTRATED 


COPYRIGHTED  1922 
(Robert  M.  Dessureau) 


BERNER  BROS.  PUBLISHING  CO. 
ANTIGO,  WISCONSIN 


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DEC  I5iy2^ 


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ipitiraltnn 

So  Uir  ruggrJi  vionrrr  mlioar 
uiirmuiucrahlr  B;jirit  braurti 
the  trials  au^  DatigrrB  of  tlip 
'Ntm  Jfortl]  tl^al  pflBtrrttg 
mtgl]t  brnrfit,  thts  uinrk  ia 
rpB^Jfrlfully  iiriiiratrii. 


SQl'lRE  A.  TAYLOR 

The   Founder  of  Langlade  Count}'. 

Born,  1806. 

Died,  Feb.  22,  1902. 


PREFACE 

It  should  be  stated  that  the  primary  motive  of  the  writer  has  not  been  to  pre- 
sage the  future  development  of  the  county,  l.)ut  to  set  down,  without  personal  mter- 
pretation.  to  the  l)est  of  his  ability,  the  story  of  the  Langlade  County  pioneer,  who 
blazed  the  trail  for  those  who  followed. 

Time  passes  swiftly.  There  is  approachins'  that  hour  when  the  last  pioneer  will 
pass  to  his  reward,  and  ^^■.th  this  thought  as  his  inspiring  motive,  the  writer  began 
the  task  of  setting  down,  while  yet  there  are  a  few  from  whose  lips  the  story  can  be 
told,  the  deeds,  trials,  tribulations  and  monumental  efforts  of  that  vanguard  of  mor- 
tal souls  who  first  trod  the  soil  of  Langlade  County. 

If  the  Wisconsin  Geographical  Society,  organized  in  the  village  of  Antigo  in  lS8:j 
had  followed  out  its  purpose  as  its  leaders  intended  it  should,  the  achievements  of 
the  early  settlers  of  Langlade  County  would  be  as  fresh  as  if  occurrences  of  yester- 
day and  an  accurate  and  complete  link  between  the  past  and  present  could  easily  be 
obtained  But  such  was  not  done.  The  golden  opportunity  has  passed.  Complete 
records  of  early  county  and  township  affairs  are  in  many  instances  not  properly  in- 
dexed or  not  to  be  found.  Nevertheless  the  writer  is  indebted  to  school  district. 
township  city  of  Antigo  and  County  officials,  a  host  of  pioneers,  the  State  Histori- 
cal Socie'ty,  the  Wisconsin  Archeological  Society,  the  press  and  others  for  invalu- 
able  assistance   rendered. 

Where  data  was  not  obtained  through  creditable  records  statements  of  pioneers 
have  been  relied  on;  where  they  have  differed  as  to  facts  a  reconciliation  of  differ- 
ences has  been  made  according  to  the  preponderance  of  evidence. 

Space  has  been  devoted  to  recent  history  and  attention  has  been  given  to  recent 
industrial  and  social  progress. 

Rather  than  fuse  the  entire  manuscript  into  one  conglomerated  mass  the  writer 
has  divided  the  work  into  four  sections:  1— Langlade  County  as  a  unit;  2— The 
City  of  Antigo;  :3— the  Townships  distinctly  apart  from  the  County  as  a  unit,  with 
school  district   subdivisions;   and,   lastly,   4— the   Biographical  element. 

The  progress  of  the  county  and  its  institutions  is  given  in  a  narration  of  those 
leadino-  historical  events  selected  because  of  their  outstanding  importance  after  a 
lapse  of  almost  a  half  century.  If  this  humble  and  unassuming  compilation  of  those 
events  shall  give  any  pleasure  to  pioneers  still  living  or  to  posterity,  the  writer  will 
have  attained   all  it   should  be  his  privilege  to  anticipate. 

Inaccuracies  and  omissions  may  have  crept  in.  Lack  of  records,  the  inexperi- 
ence of  the  writer  or  the  fact  that  no  one  living  were  associated  with  certain  events 
would  be  the  reason  for  such.  Therefore  the  writer  meekly  asks  the  indulgence  of 
the  reader  for  while  it  is  human  to  err  it  is  divine  to  forgive. 

The  writer  does  not  feel  satisfied  that  this  volume  adequately  expresses  the  per- 
iod of  expansion  in  Langlade  County  since  1S5::!  to  date.  However,  it  is  hoped  that 
the  charitable  reader  and  critic  will  recognize,  at  least,  this  first  attempt  made  to  de- 
pict intelligently  the  leading  occurrences  that  have  during  less  than  a  half  century 
laid  the  immoyal)le  foundation  upon  which  progressive  Langlade  County  builds  for 
a  greater  tomorrow. 


MAY,  1922. 


'-^iJeA/<^c/ce^U'CiA/L^^i^ 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  I 

THE  INDIAN-EPITOME  OF  WISCONSIN  HISTORY 

Aborigines — Mound  Builders — Habitat — Missionaries — Wisconsin  Ter- 
ritory— The  Badger  State 1 

CHAPTER  II 

SIEUR  CHARLES  DE  LANGLADE 

Augustin   De   Langlade — Birth   of  Charles  —  Prestige    over    Ottawas — 

His  Life  and  Death... 5 

CHAPTER  III 

GEOGRAPHY 

Location  of  Langlade  County — Boundary — Population — Area  6 

CHAPTER  IV 

THE  PIONEER 

Hardships  —  Life  —  Hospitality  — Their   Homes — Christian   Charity....        9 

CHAPTER  V 

ORGANIZATION  OF  LANGLADE  COUNTY 

Rule  of  Four  Nations — Territorial  Government — Land  Districts — New 
County  —  S.  A.  Taylor  —  Langlade  County  Created  —  Boundary 
Error  —  County  of  Keeps  —  Matt  Carpenter  County  —  Terri- 
torial   Changes 12 

CHAPTER  VI 

FINANCIAL  AND   OFFICIAL 

Early  County  Finances — Comparative  Financial     Statements  —  County 

Officials,    1881-1922 16 

CHAPTER  VII 

TAVERNS,   OLD  STOPPING  PLACES,  HOTELS 

Famous  Log  Cabins — Ranches  on  Lake  Superior  Trail — Old  Dutch 
Frank's — Military  Road  Stopping  Places — Early  Antigo  Hotels — 
Present  Antigo  Hotels  ..  18 

CHAPTER   VIII 

INDIAN  TRAILS,   ROADS,  TRANSPORTATION 
Lake    Superior    Trail — Military    Road — Tote    Roads — Wholesale    Land 
Grants — Pioneer  Life  on  Military  Road  —  Road  Petitions  —  Rail- 
roads— Trunk   Lines — Commissioners 21 

CHAPTER  IX 

PIONEER   LUMBERING   ON   WOLF    AND    EAU    CLAIRE    RIVERS 
Improvement    Concerns  —  Great    Log  Drives  —  Early  Lumbermen — 

Dams  on  Rivers — Maine  Timbermen   in  Langlade 30 


CHAPTER  X 

COUNTY  POLITICS  AND  PARTIES 

Political  Parties — Old  Leaders — Personal  Politics — Political  Wigwam 
—  Women  in  Politics  —  Breaking  of  Ties  —  County  Presidential 
Vote,   1884-1920 33 

CHAPTER  XI 

SCHOOLS  AND  EDUCATION 

Ordinance  of  1787 — First  County  School  —  Pioneer  Methods — Antigo 
Schools — Antigo  Superintendents — Historical  Society  —  Graduates 
of  Antigo  High  School  and  County  Normal  37 

CHAPTER  XII 

INDUSTRIES,  1873-1922 

First  Saw  Mill  in  County — Antigo's  First  Mill  —  Review  of  Industries 

Since 50 

CHAPTER  XIII 

BANKS  AND  FINANCES,  LANGLADE  COUNTY 

Early  Charters  —  Banking  Laws  —  National  Bank  Act  —  First  County 

Bank — First  National  Bank — Antigo  Banks — County  Banks 55 

CHAPTER  XIV 

COURTS,  LAWS,  LAWYERS 

First  Circuit  Court — Judges — Jury  Trials — Murder  Cases  —  Municipal 

Court  Act — Grand  Jury    ^  57 

CHAPTER  XV 

MILITARY  HISTORY 

De  Langlade  Recruits  Indians — Civil  War  Veterans — Spanish-Ameri- 
can War — Fred  Springstead — The  World  War  61 

CHAPTER  XVI 

TEMPERANCE,  PROHIBITION 

Dry  Regime  in  Antigo,  1878  -  1885— The  Fight  of  1886— Blind  Pigs- 
Good  Templars — Anti-Saloon  League  in  Antigo — County  Prohibi- 
tionists— The  Campaign  of  1884 — W.  C.  T.  U. — Moonshine — Law 
and  Order 82 

CHAPTER  XVII 

METEOROLOGY 

Coldest   Season — Dryest — Warm   Years — Meteoric     Phenomena — Fires 

— Cyclones    84 

CHAPTER  XVIII 

AGRICULTURE  AND   DAIRYING 

First   Farm   in   County  —  Difficulties  and   Impediments — Homesteaders 

— County   Fairs,  Dairying  and  Breeders'  Associations  88 


CHAPTER  XIX 

MEDICINE,    DOCTORS,    CHIROPRACTORS 

First  Hospital — Writings  of  Hypocrates — Medical  Societies — First  Doc- 
tor— Present   Physicians — Dentists — Chiropractors    — 92 

CHAPTER  XX 

SOIL   FORMATION   IN   LANGLADE  COUNTY 

General  Character  of  Surface  —  Glacial  Drifts  —  Ledges  —  Elevation 

Above  Sea  Level 95 

CHAPTER  XXI 

ANTIGO,   THE   COUNTY   SEAT 

Surroundings — F.  A.   Deleglise's  Plans  —  Population  —  Village  —  City 

— The  Fight  to  Incorporate  — .      98 

CHAPTER  XXII 

HON.    FRANCIS    A.    DELEGLISE 

Birthplace  —  Early  Life  —  Parentage  —  Military  and  Public  Career  — 

Marriage  —  His  Death 103 

CHAPTER  XXIII 

CITY  OF  ANTIGO  OFFICIALS 

First  Mayor  —  City  Clerks  —  Treasurers  —  Engineers  —  Health  Of- 
ficers —  Attorneys  —  Aldermen  —  Chiefs  of  Fire  and  Police  De- 
partments     - 105 

CHAPTER  XXIV 

ORIGINAL  CHARTER  OF  THE  CITY  OF  ANTIGO 

Wards  —  First  Election  —  Power  of  Council  —  Ordinances  —  Char- 
ter of  1905  -. -- 109 

CHAPTER  XXV 

CITY  ADMINISTRATIONS,  1885  -   1922 

Mayor  Thomas  W.  Lynch  —  M.  M.  Ross  Administration  —  Adminis- 
trations of  Every  Mayor,  Including  Mayor  Charles  J.  Hanzel 128 

CHAPTER  XXVI 

NEWSPAPERS  OF  NEW  AND  LANGLADE  COUNTIES 

New  County  Republican  —  Langlade  Republican  —  Woodland  Homes 
Weekly  News  Item  —  The  Special  —  The  Forward  —  Herold  — 
Antigo  Republican  —  Antigo  Daily  Journal  —  Antigo  Herald  — 
Antigo  Banner  —  Press  Meetings 144 

CHAPTER  XXVII 

THE  ANTIGO  POSTOFFICE 

First  Established  Antigo  Postoffice  —  Niels  Anderson  —  Rural  Routes 

—  Old  Locations  —  New  Postoffice  —  Postmasters  147 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 

ANTIGO  CHURCHES 

Congregational  —  Methodist  —  Catholic  —  Adventist  —  Unity  Evan-     ■ 
gelical  —  Peace   Evangelical  —  Baptist  —  Episcopal  —  Zion  — 
Christian  Science  —  Kahaal  Adaas  Yesiu  149 

CHAPTER  XXIX 

LITERATURE,  ART,  MUSIC 

Unwritten  Literature  of  the  Pioneer  —  Antigo's  First  Singing  Mas- 
ter —  Neighborhood  Entertainment  —  Early  Bands  —  Antigo  City 
Band     155 

CHAPTER  XXX 

COMMERCIAL  ANTIGO 

Business  Firms  of  Today  —  Location  —  Association  of  Commerce 158 

CHAPTER  XXXI 

PIONEER  MERCHANTS  AND  BUILDINGS 

Merchants  of  1879  —  Fifth  Avenue  a  Wilderness  —  Real  Estate  Of- 
fices —  Business  Conditions  —  Old  Opera  House  —  The  Approach 
of  a  New  Era 163 

CHAPTER  XXXII 

PUBLIC  UTILITIES 

Volunteer  and  Paid  Fire  Departments  —  Telephone  Industry  —  Elec- 
tric Systems  —  Antigo  Water  Department  —  Police  —  City  Fi- 
nances     165 

CHAPTER  XXXIII 

ANTIGO    LODGES,   CLUBS,   SOCIETIES 

Odd  Fellows  —  Masonic  —  K.  of  C.  —  K.  cf  P.  —  Labor  Organizations 

—  Beavers  —  Eagles  —  Moose  —  M.  W.  A.  —  Others 169 

CHAPTER  XXXIV 
U.  S.   GOVERNMENT  SURVEY   OF  LANGLADE  COUNTY 
Rolling  Surveyed  in  1854  —  Other  Civil  Divisions  Surveyed  174 

CHAPTER  XXXV 

ACKLEY  TOWNSHIPS  No.  31  N.,  R.  9-10  E. 

Area —   Organization —   Location —   School  Districts —  Early  Settlers      176 

CHAPTER  XXXVI 

AINSWORTH  TOWNSHIPS  No.  33-34  N.,  R.  12  E. 

U.  S.  Survey  —  Organization  —  Cleveland  Township  —  Officials 184 

CHAPTER  XXXVII 
ANTIGO   TOWNSHIP    No.   31,   N.,   R.    11    E. 
Town  of  Springbrook  —  Early  Roads—  Districts  —  Settlers  —  Schools     188 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII 

ELCHO  TOWNSHIPS  No.  34,  N.,  R.  10-11  E. 

Lakes  —  Timber  Belt  —  Village  of  Elcho  —  First  Election  —  Early  In- 
dustries —  Districts 195 

CHAPTER  XXXIX 

ELTON  TOWNSHIPS  31,  32,  33,  N.,  R.  14  E.,  Etc. 

Largest  Civil  Division  —  Area  —  First  Town  Meeting  —  Langlade 
Fights  Elton  —  Langlade,  White  Lake,  Markton  Called  Dobbs- 
ton  —  Hollister 200 

CHAPTER  XL 
EVERGREEN  TOWNSHIP  No.  31   N.,  R.  13  E. 
Wolf  River  Township  —  Village  of  Elton  —  Districts  of  Evergreen 206 

CHAPTER  XLI 

LANGLADE  TOWNSHIPS  No.  32-33,  N.,  R.  13  E. 

The  Famous  Lost  Nation  —  Organization  of  Langlade   —    History  of 

Pickerel,  Elm  Grove  and  Kent  Districts   209 

CHAPTER  XLII 

NEVA  TOWNSHIP  No.  32,  N.,  R.  11  E. 

Derivation  of  Name  —  Early  Settlers  —  Officials  —  Districts  —  Indus- 
tries —  Schools  —  Churches  —  Agriculture    214 

CHAPTER  XLIII 

NORWOOD  TOWNSHIP  No.  30,  N.,  R.  12  E. 

Phlox  Settlers  —  Organization  of  Districts —  Riverside —  Maple  Grove 

Apple  Grove  —  Sugar  Bush  —  Mayking 220 

CHAPTER  XLIV 

PECK  TOWNSHIP  No.  32  N.,  R.  10  E. 

Location  —  Area  —  Organization  —  First  Officials  —  Survey  of  1860 
—  Ormsby  —  Badger  District  —  Friebel,  Blue  Bell,  Rose  Dale  Re- 
gions  226 

CHAPTER  XLV 

POLAR  TOWNSHIP  No.  31  N.,  R.  12  E. 

Survey  of  1857  —  H.  B.  Polar,  Indian  Trader  and  Pioneer  —  Detach- 
ments from  Original  Polar  —  Districts  —  Industries  231 

CHAPTER  XLVI 

PRICE  TOWNSHIP  No.  32  N.,  R.  12  E. 

Congressman  W.  T.  Price  —  Town  of  Eagle  —  Davis  Mill  Ticket  — 

Officials  of  Price  —  Malcolm  —  Bryant  Village 235 


CHAPTER  XLVII 

ROLLING  TOWNSHIP  No.  30  N.  R.  11  E. 

Pioneer  Settlers  —  Organization  —  Industries  —  Milltown  —  School 

Districts  —  Elmhurst  Village 240 

CHAPTER  XLVIII 

SUMMIT  TOWNSHIPS   No.   33-34  N.,  R.  9  E. 

Survey  of  1860  and  1864  —  Timber  Belt  —  Summit  Lake  —  Parrish 
Township  —  Sleepy  Hollow  —  Sunny  Slope  —  Rocky  Glen  —  Call- 
sen  —  Parrish  Village 247 

CHAPTER  XLIX 

UPHAM  TOWNSHIP  No.  33  N.,  R.  10-11  E. 

Early  Assemblage  of  Pioneers  —  Organization  —  Industries  —  Schools 

—  Districts  of  Upham 252 

CHAPTER  L 

VILAS  TOWNSHIP  No.  32  N.,  R.  9  E. 

Government  Survey  of  1860  —  Township  Organization  —  School  Dis- 
tricts —  Pioneers  —  Industries 257 

CHAPTER  LI 

HISTORICAL  NOTES 

Chairmen  of  County  Board  —  Vacated  Townships  —  S.  A.  Taylor, 
Booster  of  a  New  County  —  How  Larzelere  Paved  the  Way  — 
Miscellaneous   261 

CHAPTER  LII 

COMMEMORATIVE   BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 

Importance  of  Biography  —  The  Life  of  W.  L.  Ackley,  First  Settler  in 

Langlade  County  —  Sketches  of  Pioneers  and  Present  Settlers..-.  266 


History  of  Langlade  County 


CHAPTER  I. 

The  Indian 

Epitome  of  Wisconsin  History 

Aborigines  in  Wisconsin — Mound  Builders — Habitat — Custom — Post  Lake — The  Wolf  River — Wis- 
consin and  Fox  River  Valleys — Missionaries — The  Badger  Territory  from  Nicolet  to  1848 — 
Wisconsin  As  A  State — Wisconsin  In  The  World  War. 


While  it  is  the  purpose  of  confining  this  work  ex- 
clusively to  Langlade  County,  yet  the  reader  may  be  in- 
terested in  a  brief  sketch  of  our  state  from  the  time 
when  the  Indian  roamed  at  will  to  date. 

When  the  first  Europeans  settled  on  American  soil 
they  found  the  Indians  occupying  the  country.  It  was 
then  the  prevailing  opinion  that  the  Indian  was  of  one 
common  family,  possessing  similar  habits  and  speaking 


the  conclusive  opinion  among  anthropologists  that  the 
various  people  inhabiting  the  American  continent 
sprang  from  one  common  stock,  the  Mongolian,  in 
Eastern  Asia. 

The  Indian  possessed  marked  peculiarities  of  fea- 
tures, high  cheek  bones,  long  straight  black  hair,  a  red 
or  copper  colored  skin,  black  eyes  and  was  erect  in 
stature. 


CHIPPEWA  INDIANS  AND  THEIR  WIGWAM. 
These  Indians  of  the  famous  .Algonquin  Tribe,  are  restless  and  nomadic.  This  group  was  encamped 
near  Otter  Lake,  Elcho  township.  Note  the  skins,  construction  of  the  wigwam  and  the  birch  bark 
canoes — "We-ka-see-gee-mon."  The  high  powered  rifle  in  the  hands  of  the  "Chief"  is  a  striking  con- 
trast to  the  weapons  used  by  those  savage  warriors  shown  in  the  picture  of  De  Langlade's  battle  with 
the  English  under  General   Braddock. 


identically  the  same  tongue.  This  error  was  soon  dis- 
pelled with  a  more  extended  observation  and  intimate 
relations  with  these  people  in  different  sections  of  the 
country.  Slowly  it  was  disclosed  that  there  were 
many  tribes  and  combinations  of  tribes  or  nations,  so 
to  speak,  differing  radically  in  language,  habit,  custom 
and  degree  of  civilization.      As  time  passed  it  became 


The  villages  of  the  Red  Men  were  composed  of  very 
rude  huts  or  wigwams  made  of  poles  driven  into  the 
ground  and  then  tied  at  the  top  with  buckskin  lacing. 
Except  to  exhibit  as  trophies  or  to  torture  to  death,  few 
prisoners  were  taken  in  battle.  The  Indian  was  haugh- 
ty and  taciturn.  He  disliked  a  coward  and  it  was 
fortunate  for  the  Whites,  if  when  Indians  visited  their 


HISTORY    OF    LANGLADE  COUNTY. 


cabins,  they  did  not  show  any  evidence  of  fear.  The 
Indian  was  quick  to  admire  those  Whites,  who  were 
bold  and  defiant. 

The  belief  of  old  that  there  was  not  a  good  Indian 
but  a  dead  one  is  erroneous  and  is  one  of  the  wrongs 
the  Red  Men  have  suffered  at  the  hands  of  the  invad- 
ing Whites.  Greed  and  lust  for  land  and  power  may 
account  for  the  remainder.  That  the  Indian  was  sav- 
age and  cruel,  crafty  and  often  treacherous  is  doubtless 
a  fact;  but  the  truth  is  our  ancestors  wanted  the  val- 
leys of  the  Rock,  the  Fox,  the  Chippewa  and  the  Mis- 
sissippi rivers  for  their  exploitation.  It  was  neces- 
sary to  dethrone  the  original  owners  and  this  was  often 
accomplished,  not  by  honorable  purpose  of  treaties,  but 
by  superior  forces,  skill  and  the  flint-lock.  We  can 
learn  little  of  our  first  inhabitants  from  the  few  left 
within  our  borders,  for  the  Indians  are  a  people  of 
legend  and  tradition,  handed  down  from  gen- 
eration to  generation,  and  not  of  recorded  his- 
tory. We  must  go  to  the  records  of  the 
French  Missionaries,  who  first  lived  among  them 
to  acquaint  ourselves  with  their  lives,  manners, 
customs  and  beliefs.  From  the  journals  of  these  men 
we  learn  that  Wisconsin  was  once  the  home  of  differ- 
ent nations  of  three  great  Indian  tribes — Iroquois, 
Sioux  and  Algonquins.  We  have  only  to  cite  the  fact 
that  Powhatan,  King  Philip,  Tecumseh,  Pontiac  and 
the  famous  Black  Hawk,  were  all  leaders  of  these  na- 
tions. The  Pottawattomies  on  Green  Bay  Island  were 
the  most  restless  of  the  Algonquin  tribes.  The  Sacs, 
Fox,  and  Outagamies  lived  first  in  the  Fox  River  Val- 
ley, but  later  were  pushed  west  and  their  trails  and  vil- 
lages cover  the  valley  of  the  Wisconsin. 

The  Mound  Builders  of  Wisconsin  are  known  by  rea- 
son of  the  remains  they  have  left.  As  the  scientists 
of  today  study  the  relics  and  bones  of  a  vanished  peo- 
ple they  find  the  presence  of  numerous  mounds,  chief- 
ly in  southern  Wisconsin.  These  Mounds  were  locat- 
ed usually  on  natural  lines  of  travel  and  the  places 
where  groups  of  them  have  been  found,  indicates  an 
early  occupation  by  considerable  number  of  people. 
The  mounds  are  of  all  sizes  and  shapes  and  we  sup- 
pose they  were  classified  according  to  purpose.  Man 
has  faithfully  searched  and  contrived  in  his  desire 
to  answer  these  questions. 

THE  INDIAN  IN  LANGLADE  COUNTY. 

There  is  no  question  that  before  the  settlement  of 
Langlade  County  missionaries  and  Indian  traders  utiliz- 
ed the  old  Indian  trails,  the  Lake  Superior  Trail  and 
parts  of  the  Wolf  River  for  transportation.  Their 
canoes  and  bateaux,  small  and  light,  were  propelled 
by  oars.  Only  small  articles  could  be  carried.  Post 
Lake  was  once  a  trading  post  between  French  and 
Indians.  Large  trees  have  grown  up  about  the  ruins 
of  an  old  trading  post  there,  thus  establishing  abundant 
proof  of  its  existence.  Settlers  residing  at  Upper 
Post  Lake  can  recall  olden  days  when  the  east  bank  of 
the  lake  was  dotted  with  the  wigwams  of  the  Potta- 
wattomies. David  Edick,  pioneer  Wolf  river  settler, 
has  identified  a  Jesuit  missionary  ring  bearing  the  in- 


signia, "I.  H.  S."  and  a  small  cross  found  on  the  east 
shore  of  the  lake. 

But  a  fev.'  years  ago  the  main  street  of  Antigo  was 
visited  by  many  Indian  braves  and  their  squaws,  who 
went  among  the  merchants  and  residents  selling  blue- 
berries, maple  sugar,  black  cherry  bark,  wild  ginseng 
or  shipping  bales  of  evergreen.  They  still  come  to 
Antigo  from  the  Indian  reservation,  but  only  to  sell 
baskets. 

Langlade  County  had  among  its  early  settlers  many 
adventurers  and  prospectors,  the  most  of  whom  were 
industrious  settlers.  They  moved  into  the  wilder- 
ness, erecting  cabins  or  shacks  near  a  creek  or  river, 
and  in  their  trading  with  the  passing  Indians  often 
met  and  married  young  Indian  maidens  who  proved 
faithful  and  devoted  wives.  These  men  are  some- 
times called  "Squaw  Men." 

MISSIONARIES  AND  EXPLORERS. 

A  half  century  before  Philadelphia  was  settled  by 
white  men,  Jean  Nicolet,  professional  French  inter- 
preter and  explorer,  was  dispatched  from  Quebec  by 
Samuel  de  Champlain.  Nicolet  no  doubt  landed  on 
the  shore  of  Green  Bay,  negotiated  with  the  Indians, 
made  explorations  and  returned  to  Canada.  In  1655 
Pierre  Espirit  Raddison  and  Medard  Chourrt  des  Gro- 
selliers,  fur  traders,  went  down  the  Fox  River  as  far 
as  the  present  site  of  Portage  and  crossed  over  the 
Wisconsin  river.  Reinforced  by  a  band  of  Huron 
Indians  these  same  roving  fur  traders  explored  the 
south  shore  of  Lake  Superior  and  built  a  crude  water- 
side fort  between  the  present  sites  of  Ashland  and 
Washburn. 

In  1661  Father  Pierre  Menard,  Jesuit  Missionary 
came  to  Kewaunee  Bay  and  while  descending  the  Wis- 
consin river  was  lost  and  probably  perished  in  the  wild- 
erness or  met  death  at  the  hands  of  the  Indians.  Four 
years  later  Father  Claude  Allouex  was  sent  here  to 
re-open  a  mission  at  Chequamegon  Bay,  which  place 
he  named  "La  Pointe  Du  Saint  Espirit,"  (The  point 
of  the  Holy  Ghost.)  In  1669  he  was  relieved  by  a 
younger  Jesuit,  Father  Jacques  Marquette.  Nicholas 
Perrot,  prominent  adventure  and  fur  trader,  vis- 
ited Wisconsin  in  1666  and  dealt  with  the  Indians  at 
Green  Bay.  In  1763  by  the  treaty  of  Paris,  Wiscon- 
sin came  under  the  control  of  England  and  after  the 
Revolution  was  attached  to  the  United  States. 

During  the  Revolutionary  War,  the  Indians  and 
French  in  Wisconsin  were  hostile.  In  the  War  of  1812 
the  Indians  actually  participated  against  the  United 
States.  After  the  Black  Hawk  War  and  the  discovery 
of  lead  mines  in  Southern  Wisconsin,  there  was  a  great 
influx  of  immigrants.  The  state  was  in  succession  a 
part  of  Indiana,  Michigan,  Illinois,  finally  the  Wiscon- 
sin territory  in  1836.  Wisconsin  was  admitted  into  the 
Union  May  29th,  1848.  Among  the  chief  historical 
events  in  its  earlier  history  as  a  state  were  the  whole- 
sale granting  of  lands  to  railroad  companies,  the  politi- 
cal gathering  at  Ripon  leading  toward  the  organization 
of  the  Republican  party  and  the  part  Wisconsin  took 
in  the  Civil  War,  where  it  raised  more  than  its  quota 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


of  men  and  money.  Wisconsin  has  been  a  strong  Re- 
publican state  politically. 

After  the  Civil  War  the  state  grew  rapidly  in  pop- 
ulation. Its  soil  by  far  its  greatest  natural  resource 
became  the  field  of  intense  cultivation  and  today  the 
products  of  Wisconsin  exceed  $250,000,000  in  value 
annually. 

When  the  United  States  entered  the  World  War, 
Wisconsin  National  Guards  won  praise  everywhere. 
The  32nd  Division,  Wisconsin  and  Michigan  troops, 
were  designated  "Les  Terribles"  by  General  Mangin, 
French  Commander.  The  people  at  home  maintained 
a  spirit  not  seldom  exhibited,  gave  their  general  and 
hearty  support  in  all  Liberty  Loan  and  other  drives. 
Red  blooded  Americans  left  their  business,  their  homes 
and  those  dear  to  them  to  don  the  uniform,  thus  dem- 
onstrating as  War  Governor  Emanuel  L.  Phillip  said, 
"The  love  of  country  and  flag  is  strong  among  the 
people."  In  another  section  we  discuss  the  part 
Langlade  County  played  in  the  World  War. 

The  financial  expenditure  in  the  World  War  daily 
was  approximately  $117,000,000.  At  that  rate  the 
total  cost  of  the  entire  war  was  $183,339,000,000. 
Taxation,  international  credits,  floating  of  foreign  and 
domestic  loans  was  the  means  whereby  such  vast  sums 
of  money  were  raised.  The  reader  can  turn  to  the 
chapter  on  military  history  of  Langlade  County  to  find 
what  amount  the  citizens  raised  in  the  various  bond 
loans  during  the  great  conflict.  When  the  first  Liber- 
ty Loan  was  offered  for  subscription  May  14,  1917, 
reports  poured  into  general  headquarters  at  Washing- 
ton, D.  C,  from  every  section  of  the  country.  The  is- 
sue, amounting  to  $2,000,000,000  was  raised  success- 
fully. 4,000,000  more  than  the  necessary  number  of 
subscribers  came  forth  to  assist  Uncle  Sam. 

Six  months  elapsed  and  on  October  1,  1917,  the  sec- 
ond Liberty  Loan  was  launched.  It  met  with  popular 
favor.  The  issue  was  over-subscribed  in  one  of  the 
greatest  national  campaigns  ever  held  in  the  United 
States.  9,500,000  citizens  subscribed  to  the  issue, 
which  called  for  $3,000,000,000. 

April  6,  1918 — the  anniversary  day  of  America's  en- 
try into  the  war — was  celebrated  by  the  Third  Liberty 
Loan  in  which  $3,000,000,000  was  offered.  The  drive 
was  one  of  the  memorable  events  connected  with  the 
war.  May  4,  1918,  it  was  closed  with  an  over  sub- 
scription of  $1,176,516,850. 

Twenty-two  million  American  citizens  subscribed 
for  Liberty  Bonds  in  the  Fourth  Loan  launched  Sep- 
tember 28,  1918,  and  ending  October  19,  1918.  The 
appeal  was  for  $6,000,000,000  and  was  over-subscrib- 
ed. This  was  the  greatest  financial  undertaking  ever 
recorded. 

The  last  drive — the  Fifth  Liberty  Loan  was  launch- 
ed April,  1919,  and  ended  May  10,  1919.  Amid  pa- 
triotic fervor  seldom  exhibited  America  sent  the  Vic- 
tory Loan  over  the  top  and  made  the  ultimate  defeat  of 
the  enemy  possible  sooner. 

In  these  financial  drives  Wisconsin  played  its  part 
admirably,  subscribing  a  total  of  $333,633,800  in  the 


five  drives.       Langlade  County  subscribed  a  total  of 
$1,678,150  in  all  Liberty  Loan  drives. 

But  Wisconsin  accomplished  many  other  notable 
achievements  besides  backing  up  the  Liberty  Loan 
drives.  The  Red  Cross,  The  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  the  Knights 
of  Columbus,  the  United  War  Work  drives,  soldier's 
aid,  soldier's  dependents  aid,  the  four  minute  men,  the 
states  man  power,  enlisted  men  and  drafted  men,  the 
state  public  service  reserve,  the  community  labor 
boards,  federal  employment  offices,  food  and  fuel  ad- 
ministration, the  non-war  construction  organizations, 
the  county  councils  of  defense,  the  Wisconsin  draft 
administration,  the  legal  advisory  boards,  the  district 
and  local  Boards  of  Exemption,  the  war  savings  and 
thrift  stamp  campaigns,  the  activities  of  the  public 
and  parochial  schools, — these  and  others  were  vital 
factors  in  the  winning  of  the  great  war. 

The  raising  of  the  National  Army  in  Wisconsin  was 
one  of  the  outstanding  feats  in  state  history.  Provost 
Marshal  Crowder,  the  head  of  the  Selective  Service 
Department  in  Washington,  D.  C,  in  this  connection 
said:  "It  remains  the  ultimate  test  and  proof  of  the 
intrinsic  political  idea  upon  which  American  institu- 
tions of  Democracy  and  local  self-government  are  bas- 
ed." He  was  not  mistaken  in  what  the  outcome  would 
be.  Major  E.  A.  Fitzpatrick,  state  draft  administra- 
tor, received  the  following  message  from  General 
Crowder,  when  the  armistice  was  signed  November 
11,  1918:  "I  take  this  opportunity  to  convey  my  con- 
gratulations upon  the  vigorous  and  systematic  man- 
ner in  which  the  whole  administration  of  the  Selective 
Service  System  has  been  conducted  in  the  State  of 
Wisconsin."  And  these  words  from  General  Crowder 
are  a  testimonial  as  to  the  efficiency  of  all  war  organ- 
izations in  each  county — for  without  a  sense  of  cour- 
age and  responsibility  and  cooperation  by  all  organi- 
zations the  success  of  the  Selective  Service  Law  would 
have  been  imperiled. 

With  the  signing  of  the  armistice  the  fate  of  a 
mighty  empire  was  doomed  and  before  six  months 
passed  the  soldiers  of  Wisconsin  began  to  return  home 
— to  be  once  more  absorbed  into  the  economic  and  in- 
dustrial life  of  the  state. 

September  29,  1919,  Wisconsin  voters  by  a  vote  of 
165,762  for  and  57,324  against  accepted  the  amend- 
ment to  Chapter  452  of  the  Laws  of  1919,  which  pro- 
vided for  the  creation  of  a  Service  Recognition  Board 
and  the  payment  of  what  has  since  been  known  as  the 
Soldier  Bonus  Act,  which  provided  for  the  raising  of  a 
sufficient  sum  to  assure  each  soldier,  sailor,  marine 
and  nurse,  including  Red  Cross  nurses,  who  served  in 
the  armed  forces  of  the  United  States  during  the 
World  War  against  Germany  and  Austria  and  who,  at 
the  time  of  their  induction  into  service  were  residents 
of  Wisconsin,  a  sum  of  not  exceeding  ten  dollars  for 
each  month  of  service  with  a  minimum  of  fifty  dol- 
lars, as  a  token  of  appreciation  of  the  character  and 
spirit  of  their  patriotic  service  and  to  perpetuate  such 
appreciation  as  a  part  of  the  history  of  Wisconsin. 
Langlade  County  went  on  record  in  favor  of  the  Sol- 
dier Bonus  Act  by  the  overwhelming  vote  of  1,294  for 
and  258  against  the  proposal. 


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HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  II. 
Charles  De  Langlade 


Before  a  historical  discussion  of  Langlade  County  is 
undertaken  it  will  not  be  amiss  to  give  an  account  of 
the  exploits  of  Augustin  De  Langlade  and  his  illustrious 
son,  Charles,  in  honor  of  whom  Langlade  County  bears 
its  name. 

Augustin  De  Langlade  was  born  about  1695.  While 
still  a  young  man,  lured  to  the  unconquered  and  unex- 
plored northwest  of  the  new  world  he  settled  near 
Mackinaw  (Michigan)  and  traded  with  the  Ottawa 
Indians.  He  became  very  friendly  with  the  Ottawas 
and  married  a  sister  of  King  Nis-so-wa-quet  of  that 
famous  tribe.  After  this  union  he  gained  wonderful 
prestige  over  the  Ottawas. 

Charles  De  Langlade  was  the  second  child  and  was 
born  in  1724  at  Mackinaw.  At  the  age  of  twenty-five 
he  moved  with  his  parents  and  their  younger  children 
to  the  settlement  at  Green  Bay.  Here  Sieur  De  Lang- 
lade continued  as  a  trader  among  the  Indians,  living  a 
peaceful  life  which  ended  when  he  was  76  years  old  in 
1771. 

Sieur  Charles  De  Langlade  married  Charlotte  Bou- 
rassa,  the  daughter  of  Rene  Bourassa,  a  retired  voy- 
ageur,  who  then  lived  at  Mackinaw,  August  12,  1754. 
The  ceremony,  performed  by  Father  M.  L.  Le  Franc, 
Roman  Catholic  priest,  was  vouched  for  by  M.  Herbin, 
then  leader  and  commandant  of  the  Green  Bay  post. 
Mme.  De  Langlade  moved  to  Green  Bay  from  Macki- 
naw six  years  after  her  marriage.  It  was  at  the  Green 
Bay  settlement  that  De  Langlade's  hardy,  noble,  im- 
pulsive, but  dangerous  career  began. 

Sieur  Charles  De  Langlade  gained  a  reputation  for 
bravery  and  strategy  second  to  none.  Before  the  out- 
break of  the  French-Indian  war  in  1754  he  had  led  a 
force  against  the  Sac  Indian  nation  and  succeeded  in 
pushing  them  back  from  their  holdings  in  the  Fox 
river  valley  to  the  banks  of  the  Wisconsin  river. 

Because  of  his  knowledge  of  the  Indian  tribes  of  the 
northwest,  his  winning  personality,  intelligence  and 
wonderful  influence  over  the  Red  Men,  Marquis  Vau- 
dreuil,  Governor-General  of  New  France  and  Louisi- 
ana, selected  De  Langlade  to  recruit  a  powerful  force 
from  the  ten  Indian  nations,  Ottawas  (to  whom  he  was 
personally  related),  Chippewas,  Menominees,  Hurons, 
Winnebagoes  and  others.  ^  The  force  of  Indians  was 
merged  with  a  body  of  French  frontier  fighters  with  De 
Langlade  assuming  full  command. 

The  fearless  young  warrior  of  just  thirty  years  pro- 
ceeded at  once  to  Fort  Du  Quesne  ^  where  a  defense 
against  the  British  was  planned.  General  Braddock, 
vainly  attempting  to  take  Fort  Du  Quesne  with  his 
picked  soldiery,  was  decisively  defeated.  The  victory 
of  the  French  and  Indians  was  due  to  the  persistant 
appeals  of  De  Langlade  to  induce  De  Beaujeu,  French 
commandant,  to  commence  the  attack.  Beaujeu,  after 
repeated  requests  refused  to  give  the  order  to  com- 
mence battle.  De  Langlade  then  called  a  council  of 
the  Indian  chiefs  and  they  demanded  that  Beaujeu  give 

1 — De  Langlade's  agents  recruited  Indians  for  this  battle  from  w. th- 
in the  limits  of   Langlade  County. 


the  order  to  fight  while  the  British  were  feasting  or  be- 
fore they  crossed  the  river  (Ohio).  The  French  com- 
mandant, disheartened  and  fearing  that  he  faced  de- 
feat, yielded  to  De  Langlade  and  gave  orders  to  bat- 
tle. Beaujeu,  brave,  but  pessimistic,  was  killed  in 
the  affray.  Braddock  lost  twenty-six  officers  and  714 
of  his  men  were  killed  or  wounded.  George  Washing- 
ton, young  Colonial  leader,  saved  the  retreating  troops 
by  his  masterly  conduct.  The  force  under  Beaujeu 
and  De  Langlade  lost  but  three  officers  and  thirty  men. 

Dumais,  Commandant  of  Du  Quesne,  then  ordered 
De  Langlade  to  proceed  with  his  force  on  August  9, 
1756  to  strike  at  Ft.  Cumberland  and  obtain  informa- 
tion about  the  movements  of  the  British  in  the  Ohio 
river  valley. 

In  1757  De  Langlade  participated  in  battles  in  Cana- 
da under  the  brave  and  beloved  Montcalm.  De  Lang- 
lade aided  in  the  capture  of  Ft.  William  Henry  at  the 
head  of  Lake  George. 

September  8,  1757,  Governor  General  Vaudreuil  or- 
dered De  Langlade  to  start  from  Montreal  for  the  post 
of  Michilimackinac  to  serve  as  second  in  command  un- 
der orders  of  M.  De  Beaujeu,  post  commandant.  A 
year  later  he  returned  to  Canada,  fought  at  Ticonderoga 
with  the  French-Indian  force  against  General  Aber- 
crombie,  British  leader,  who  suffered  severe  reverses 
in  killed  and  wounded. 

After  the  battle  at  Ticonderoga,  De  Langlade  went 
back  to  Ft.  Du  Quesne,  then  threatened  by  the  enemy. 
The  gallant  George  Washington  drew  near  the  fort. 
Rather  than  face  disaster  the  defenders  set  fire  to  It. 
In  November  1758  the  Dragon  of  St.  George  took  the 
place  of  the  Lilies  of  France  and  floated  over  the  Ohio 
river  valley  unmolested.  De  Langlade  returned  to 
the  post  at  Green  Bay. 

Here  De  Langlade  proved  himself  a  faithful  servant 
of  France.  He  could  see  that  the  power  of  the  French 
was  slipping,  but  he  rendered  faithful  and  efficient 
services  until  the  end.  In  the  battle  for  possession 
of  Quebec,  when  both  Montcalm  and  Wolfe  were  mor- 
tally wounded,  De  Langlade  fought  furiously,  coming 
out  of  the  conflict  wounded.  Two  of  his  brothers  fell 
on  the  plains  of  Abraham. 

In  1760  he  was  commissioned  a  Lieutenant  by  the 
King  of  France  and  received  instructions  to  return  the 
Indians  under  his  command  to  their  respective  villages 
and  he  to  locate  at  Mackinac.  The  French-Indian  war 
ended  with  the  tri-color  of  France  hauled  down  and 
De  Langlade  was  given  an  appointment  as  Superin- 
tendent of  Indians  at  Green  Bay.  While  he  did  not 
actively  participate  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  his  mor- 
al assistance  alone,  was  worth  much  to  the  English. 

However  he  received  valuable  grants  of  land  and  an 
annuity  from  the  British  for  his  services  in  the  Revo- 
lution. He  passed  away  in  January,  1800,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  75  years  and  was  laid  to  rest  beside  his 
father. 

2 — Ft.  Du  Quesne  was  built  at  the  junction  of  the  Allegheny  and 
Monongahela  rivers,  and  was  named  in  honor  of  the  Governor  of 
Canada. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  III. 
Geography 

Location — Boundary — Population   by    Comparative  Statement — Area — Civil   Divisions — Rivers    and 
Streams — County  Farm  Statistics — Summary  of  Development. 

A  relief  map  of  Wisconsin  shows 
that  Langlade  County  is  situated  in  a 
north  central  position  and  is  located 
very  near  the  geographical  center  of 
the  State.  Langlade     County     is 

bounded  on  the  north  by  Oneida  and 
a  part  of  Forest  county;  on  the  south 
by  Shawano  and  a  part  of  Marathon 
County;  on  the  west  by  Lincoln  Coun- 
ty and  on  the  east  by  Oconto  and  a 
part  of  Forest  County.  The  territory 
of  Langlade  County  embraces  the  fol- 
lowing governmental  sub-divisions 
viz.  all  townships  numbered  31,  32,  33 
and  34  in  ranges  9,  10,  11  and  12;  also 
townships  numbered  30  in  ranges  11 
and  12;  also  townships  numbered  31, 
32  and  33  in  ranges  numbered  13  and 
14;  also  the  west  twelve  sections  of 
township  numbered  31  in  range  num- 
bered 15.  The  ranges  all  being  east 
of  the  4th  principal  meredian. 

This  territory  before  the  establishment  of  Langlade 
County  was  a  part  of  the  counties  of  Shawano,  Oconto 
or  Lincoln.  In  another  chapter  the  changes  affecting 
the  county  from  1880  to  date  will  be  discussed.  The 
boundary  of  Langlade  County  forms  a  regular  course. 
Commencing  at  the  northwest  corner  it  runs  east  twen- 
ty-four miles;  thence  six  miles  south;  thence  twelve 
miles  east;  thence  south  twelve  miles;  thence  two 
miles  east,  completing  the  northern  boundary;  thence 
six  miles  south;  thence  sixteen  miles  west;  thence  six 
miles  south;  thence  twelve  miles  west;  thence  six  miles 
north;  thence  nine  and  three-fourths  miles  west  and 
thence  twenty-four  miles  north  to  the  place  of  begin- 
ning. It  includes  within  its  borders  876  square  miles 
or  560,640  acres  of  which  approximately  90  per  cent  is 
reported  for  taxation.  Non-taxable  area  includes 
lakes,  rivers  and  streams. 

The  following  statement  gives  a  comparative  report 
of  the  population  of  Langlade  County  for  the  ten  year 
periods  since  1880: 

Population  in  1880—685. 

Population  in  1890—9,465. 

Population  in  1900—12,553. 

Population  in  1910—17,062. 

Population  in  1920—21,471. 
The  per  cent  of  increase  in  population  is  as  follows: 
From  1890  to  1900—32.6  per  cent;  1900  to  1910—35.9 
per  cent;  1910  to  1920—25.8  per  cent.  This  phenome- 
nal growth  during  a  span  of  forty  years  is  a  simple  tes- 
timonial of  what  can  be  expected  for  the  future.  The 
intelligence  and  initiative  of  the  citizens,  their  thrift 


Scene  on  tlie   Eau  Claire   Kucr.   Lany'ailc   Lounty. 

and  integrity,  the  great  diversity  of  industry  and  occu- 
pation, the  vast  resources,  the  accessibility  of  raw  ma- 
terials necessary,  but  not  produced  within  the  borders 
of  Langlade  County,  the  excellent  transportation  facil- 
ities, the  splendid  network  of  highways,  radiating  from 
Antigo  to  all  sections  of  the  county,  prosperous  farms, 
and  unsurpassed  dairying  communities  are  some  of  the 
responsible  reasons  for  a  steady,  healthy  increase  in 
new  settlers  from  year  to  year. 

RIVERS,   LAKES   AND    STREAMS. 

Langlade  County  is  at  the  door  of  the  great  lakes 
and  rivers  of  tourist  fame  in  Wisconsin.  The  larg- 
est rivers  are  the  Wolf  and  the  Eau  Claire  {east  ana 
west  branches.)  These  two  bodies  of  water  together 
with  numerous  creeks,  small  rivers  and  rivulets,  drain 
and  water  the  county.  The  principal  river  is  the 
Wolf,  which  has  its  source  in  Forest  County,  flows 
through  Langlade  County  in  a  south-easterly  direction 
through  the  townships  of  Elcho,  Ainsworth,  Langlade 
and  Elton.  Its  receives  many  rivulets,  rivers  and 
creeks,  the  most  important  being  the  Lily  River,  Hunt- 
ing River  and  Pickerel  Creek.  The  Eau  Claire  river 
has  its  headwaters  (western  branch)  in  the  northwest- 
ern section  of  the  county,  draining  the  southeastern 
part  of  the  Town  of  Summit,  the  southwestern  part  of 
Upham  township  and  Peck  township.  The  east 
branch  of  the  Eau  Claire  river  drains  the  south  eastern 
part  of  Upham  township,  all  of  Neva  township  and  a 
section  of  Peck  township.  It  joins  the  western  branch 
in  the  northwestern  part  of  section  28  of  East  Ackley 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


township.  The  west  branch  of  the  Eau  Claire  river 
receives  Clear  Water  Creek,  and  Sucker  Creek  from 
the  northeast  in  Peck  township  and  Black  Creek  from 
the  west  in  Ackley  township.  The  east  branch  re- 
ceives Sucker  Creek  from  Bass  Lake  in  sections  10  and 


Scene  on  the   Red   River,  which   flows  through 
Norwood    Townsliip. 

11  of  Neva  township  and  a  few  smaller  creeks    and 
streams  in  Peck  and  Ackley  townships. 

Other  rivers  of  importance  in  the  county  are  the 
Trappe  River  of  the  west  Ackley  township,  the  Prairie 
River  of  north  Summit  township.  Red  River  of  Nor- 
wood township,  Springbrook,  with  its  headwaters  in 
Neva  township,  flowing  through  Antigo  township, 
through  the  City  of  Antigo  and  also  through  Rolling 
township.  McCloud  Creek,  Pine  River,  Lloyd  Creek, 
Pratt  Creek,  all  in  the  west  part  of  Vilas  township,  flow 
in  a  southwesterly  direction. 

GOVERNMENT  CIVIL  DIVISIONS. 

Langlade  County  is  subdivided  into  sixteen  civil  di- 
visions. They  are  Summit,  Vilas,  Elcho,  Peck,  Neva, 
Antigo,  Ainsworth,  Price,  Polar,  Norwood,  Rolling, 
Langlade,  Upham,  Evergreen,  Elton  and  Ack- 
ley. Elton,  the  largest  civil  division  is  128 
square  miles  in  area.  Summit,  Upham,  El- 
cho, Ackley,  Ainsworth  and  Langlade  are  each 
72  square  miles  in  area.  The  other  town- 
ships, Vilas,   Polar,  Antigo,  Rolling,  Norwood,  Peck, 


Neva,  Evergreen  and  Price  are  36  square  miles  in  area 
respectively.  The  most  densely  populated  townships 
are  Antigo  and  Norwood.  The  most  sparsely  popu- 
lated are  Summit,  Vilas  and  Ainsworth  townships. 

61  per  cent  of  the  people  of  Langlade  County  are 
residents  of  rural  districts. 

This  county  has  some  of  the  most  beautiful  lakes  in 
the  state.  The  largest  lakes  are  Post,  Pickerel,  Sum- 
mit, Enterprise,  Richs'  or  Rolling  Stone  and  Bass  Lake. 
Post  Lake  is  about  four  miles  long.  Enterprise  Lake  is 
almost  two  miles  at  its  widest  point.  Richs'  Lake 
from  its  farthest  northern  shore  to  its  most  remote 
southeastern  shore  is  about  two  miles  long.  Summit 
Lake,  Bass  Lake,  Lawrence  Lake,  Moose  Lake,  Twin 
Lakes,  Mueller's  Lake,  Lower  Bass  Lake  and  Rose 
Lake,  also  White  Lake,  are  all  lakes  of  good  size. 
There  are  570  lakes,  streams  and  rivers  in  the  county. 
The  average  annual  rainfall  is  about  40  inches  and  the 
variations  of  temperature  are  from  30  degrees  below 
zero  to  90  degrees  above  (Fahrenheit.) 

Langlade  County  is  drained  by  the  St.  Lawrence 
river  and  the  Mississippi  river  drainage  systems,  the 
Wolf  river  and  its  tributaries  in  the  former  and  the  Eau 
Claire  (east  and  west  branches)  river  in  the  latter. 

RURAL  LANGLADE  COUNTY. 

The  information  herein  does  not  tell  the  reader  all 
there  is  to  be  known  about  the  geography  of  Langlade 
County.  Important  matters  come  up  every  day  and 
there  are  scores  of  new  things  relative  to  the  county 
with  which  all  intelligent  and  active  citizens  should  ac- 
quaint themselves. 

Langlade  County  is  closer  to  the  border  of  Michigan 
than  to  any  other  state  border.  It  is  just  southwest  of 
Forest  County,  touching  the  Michigan  border.  There 
was  a  day  when  the  county  did  touch  the  border  line 
of  Michigan  before  detachments  of  1885. 

It  may  be  interesting  to  the  student  of  county  his- 
tory to  know  that  in  the  State  of  Wisconsin  there  are 
over  seven  hundred  million  eggs  laid  annually  of  which 
the  hens  in  Langlade  County  laid  3,626,080  eggs  in 
1921.  Recent  statistics  show  that  in  Langlade  Coun- 
ty there  are  approximately  42,280  hens  laying  on  an 
average  of  86  eggs  each  year.  Assuming  that  eggs 
are  retailing  at  44  cents  per  dozen  the  selling  price  of 
all  eggs  produced  in  Langlade  County  is  approximate- 
ly $136,553  annually.  Hundreds  of  crates  are  ship- 
ped from  the  county  to  Chicago  and  other  points  where 
they  are  held  in  "cold  storage"  houses.  The  "can- 
dling" of  eggs  is  carried  on  in  the  county  quite  ex- 
tensively also.  Exclusive  poultry  farms,  modern  and 
profitable,  are  rapidly  making  their  appearance  in  dif- 
ferent townships  in  the  county.  This  holds  good  for 
the  future  welfare  of  this  particular  industry. 

Wisconsin  is  the  leading  dairy  state  in  the  United 
States.  The  milk  cows  of  Badgerdom  produce  an 
average  of  over  140  quarts  of  milk  per  second.  There 
are  11,518  milk  cows  in  Langlade  County  producing 
an  average  of  4,935  pounds  of  milk  each  per  year  with 
a  total  of  50,391,250  pounds  of  milk  during  one  year. 


8 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


Langlade  County,  as  we  have  stated,  has  a  popu- 
lation of  21,471  inhabitants.  A  quart  of  milk,  weigh- 
ing two  pounds,  could  be  given  to  every  man,  woman 
and  child  in  Langlade  County  three  times  per  day  if 
the  annual  total  milk  production  of  the  county  was 
evenly  divided  among  the  people. 

The  potato  industry  is  the  most  important  in  pro- 
ductivity in  Langlade  County.  Some  of  the  larg- 
est potato  fields  under  cultivation  in  Wisconsin  are 
located  in  Langlade  County.  The  most  advanced 
methods  of  cultivation  are  followed  by  the  experts  en- 
gaged in  that  phase  of  agriculture.  Homer  Beattie, 
the  Prosser  Brothers,  C.  Sorenson,  John  Morrissey,  J. 
W.  Smith,  of  Kent,  Peter  Krier  and  others  are  well 
known  as  leading  potato  men.  There  are  approxi- 
mately 4,435  acres  of  land  used  for  potato  cultivation 
annually  in  the  county.  The  average  yield  per  acre 
is  127  bushels.  Langlade  County  holds  a  rank  near 
the  top  in  the  total  amount  of  car  loads  of  potatoes  ex- 
ported yearly.  The  average  annual  potato  crop  is 
563,245  bushels.  The  actual  land  area  of  the  coun- 
ty is  555,414  acres.  Thus  the  average  farm  value  of 
an  acre  of  potatoes  in  Langlade  County  is  $130.81.  The 
reader  can  gain  an  idea  of  the  vast  potato  industry 
of  Wisconsin  when  it  is  realized  that  the  county  pro- 
duces but  one  fiftieth  of  Wisconsin's  total  annual  yield 
of  27,200,000  bushels.  Langlade  County  potato 
growers  cultivate  about  one-sixtieth  of  the  total 
amount  of  potato  acreage  of  Wisconsin.  Langlade 
County  raises  about  twenty-five  bushels  of  potatoes 
for  each  inhabitant  every  year.  The  principal  pota- 
toes cultivated  in  the  county  are  the  Rural  New  York- 
ers, Russetts,  Triumph,  Irish  Cobbler,  Green  Mountain 
and  Early  Ohio's  and  other  varieties.  Extreme  cau- 
tion is  taken  in  the  county  to  guard  against  potato 
blight  and  the  potato  beetle.  Langlade  County  grow- 
ers export  seed  potato  to  every  section  of  the  United 
States. 

Recent  statistics  produce  the  fact  that  446  silos  are 
being  used  in  Langlade  County.  Every  year  new 
silos  are  erected  to  care  for  the  increasing  yields  of 
the  farmers.  There  are  now  about  five  hundred  silos 
in  the  county  or  one  silo  to  about  every  fourth  farm. 
Langlade  County  has  1717  acres  annually  producing 
10,908  tons  of  corn  silage.  The  figures  given  are 
based  on  a  five  year  average.  Thus  there  are  about 
thirty-six  silos  in  each  civil  division  (section)  in  the 
county  or  an  average  of  nearly  one  silo  to  every  square 
mile. 

While  the  county  is  not  in  the  corn  belt  of  the  Uni- 
ted States  it  produces  a  fair  yield  of  corn  used  as  a 
grain.  There  are  704  acres  of  land,  according  to  sta- 
tistics producing  five  year  averages,  yielding  annual- 
ly in  Langlade  County  19,800  bushels  of  grain  corn. 

Langlade  County  is  within  that  area  of  land  which 
the  United  States  governmental  officials  declare  will 


make  the  greatest  developments  during  the  next  few 
decades.  Since  1855  its  area  has  been  gradually,  but 
surely  developed  into  an  important  and  essential  part 
of  the  great  commonwealth  of  Wisconsin.  From  the 
day  when  the  squatters  and  early  homesteaders  push- 
ed back  the  forests  from  an  acre  or  more  of  ground, 
new  land  has  been  constantly  cleared,  broken  or  drain- 
ed from  year  to  year.  842  acres  of  land  were  clear- 
ed or  brushed  off  during  the  year  ending  April  1,  1920. 
The  farm  value  of  nineteen  principal  Langlade  Coun- 
ty crops  during  the  years  1919  and  1920  were :  $2.- 
474,422  and  $1,927,443.  15,771  acres  of  land  have 
been  added  to  the  total  area  under  cultivation  in  the 
county  since  1909. 

The  growth  of  the  county  has  been  gradual  and 
without  the  "boom"  of  the  mushroom  variety.  No 
better  index  to  the  general  progress  of  a  community 
could  be  related  that  a  comparative  statement  giving 
figures  which  cannot  be  denied  and  which  tell  the 
amazing  story  of  the  expansion  of  the  county. 

LANGLADE  COUNTY  FARM  STATISTICS. 

In  1910  there  were  but  2,823  apple  trees  in  bear- 
ing in  the  county  as  compared  with  8,584  in  1920. 

42  tractors  were  in  use  in  the  county  in  May,  1920. 

From  fifteen  acres  the  county  has  forged  ahead  so 
far  that  now  243  acres  of  land  are  producing  root  crops 
other  than  sugar  beets. 

There  were  less  than  fifty  acres  of  peas  for  can- 
ning cultivated  in  1909  as  compared  with  251  acres  in 
1920. 

From  137  acres  the  wild  or  marsh  hay  has  decreas- 
ed from  1909  to  1920  to  but  97  acres — a  sure  indica- 
tion that  agriculture   is  developing   scientifically. 

Clover  and  timothy  production  has  increased  from 
17,942  to  23,715  acres  in  ten  years— 1909-20. 

256  more  acres  of  rj'e  were  planted  in  1920  than  in 
1909  in  the  county. 

In  1909,  2,597  acres  of  barley  were  cultivated.  The 
acreage  of  the  same  crop  was  practically  the  same  ac- 
cording to  1919  statistics. 

151  acres  were  under  spring  wheat  production  in 
1909  as  compared  with  1,074  acres  in  1920. 

The  increase  in  acreage  sown  in  oats  was  approxi- 
mately 3,000  acres,  U.  S.  statistics  indicate. 

A  general  summary  of  rural  development  shows  that 
the  county  has  made  rapid  increase  in  production  of 
crops  considered  grown  for  strictly  commercial  pur- 
poses. 

The  first  record  of  tractors  used  on  Langlade  Coun- 
ty farms  was  called  for  by  the  United  States  govern- 
ment in  1920.  With  a  return  to  normal  conditions  of 
production  and  consumption  and  an  equilibrium  of 
price  levels  the  tractor  will  no  doubt  be  more  exten- 
sively used. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  IV. 
The  Pioneer 

Hardships — Mode  of  Life — Hospitality — How  They  Came — Their  Homes. 


After  the  great  war  of  the  rebellion  the  dense  un- 
broken wilderness  of  Upper  Wisconsin  was  explored 
by  an  almost  unceasing  army  of  timber  estimators, 
lumbermen,  prospectors  and  homestead  seekers.  With 
the  construction  of  the  Military  Road  through  Ains- 
worth,  Langlade  and  Elton  Townships,  the  opening  of 
Eastern  Langlade  County  began.  With  the  pioneer 
came  the  saw  mill.  As  the  result  the  heavy  timbered 
hills  and  valleys  where  once  only  the  red  man  and  wild 


miles  of  splendid  highways  over  which  high  powered 
motor  vehicles  travel  swiftly  linking  city,  village  and 
hamlet. 

Brave  and  courageous  were  the  families  that  moved 
into  this  country  infested  with  wild  animals  and  In- 
dians. In  early  years  our  first  settlers,  particularly 
in  Norwood  Township  and  the  Wolf  River  Country 
came  into  this  land  of  hope  after  enduring  many  hard- 
ships from  long  exposure.       The  journey  was  always 


lodern   Langlade   County   farm   with  its   pure  bred  cattle  and  lu.xuriant  meadows,  presenting  a  vivid 
contrast    to   the    log   cabin   of   the   old   homesteader   of   nearly   a    half    century    ago. 


beasts  fought  for  supremacy,  a  thriving  industry  de- 
veloped. 

What  a  contrast  today.  Then  the  Indian  was  master 
of  the  land.  Where  his  camp  fire  burned  brightly  in 
the  valley,  on  the  plains  and  hilltops,  we  see  hundreds 
of  cultivated  farms  today.  We  see  the  ideal  farm- 
house with  its  water  works  and  electric  lights,  its  au- 
tomobile garage,  machine  shop,  huge  barns  and  tractor 
sheds  and  silos,  where  once  the  Indian  tepee  comfort- 
ed the  restless  and  impulsive  red  man.  Where  the 
Indian  made  his  temporary  abode,  we  find  today  pros- 
perous farms  and  contented  communities,  factories  and 
mills,  churches  and  schools.  Instead  of  the  old  In- 
dian trails  over  which  mail  and  provisions  had  to  be 
"toted"  or  "man  packed"  from  Shawano,  Wausau  or 
Appleton,  the  nearest  trading  points,  we  have  today 


tiresome  and  tedious.  Travel  was  done  with  oxen  or 
horses  and  the  wagons  were  crude  and  heavy.  Many 
miles  of  wilderness  were  passed.  The  rough  cordu- 
roy roads  were  few  and  boggy.  Many  a  pioneer  wa- 
gon that  trekked  into  this  country  was  upset  or  dam- 
aged due  to  miry  roads  or  pits.  Some  pioneers  did 
not  even  have  a  wagon  or  cart  with  a  yoke  of  oxen, 
but  trudged  along  on  foot,  carrying  their  personal  be- 
longings on  their  backs.  Such  jourreys  lasted  days 
and  days.  Langlade  County's  first  settlers  suffered 
hardships,  trials  and  tribulations  of  which  the  present 
generation  is  not  at  all  familiar.  Many  a  family  lost 
one  of  their  loved  ones  after  they  had  staked  their 
claim  in  the  woods  of  the  county.  Very  often  on  the 
journey  children  would  become  ill  and  not  having  any 
medical  attention  close  at  hand  would  die.       In  such 


10 


HISTORY    OF    LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


instances,  the  bereaved  parents  would  place  their  lov- 
ed one  in  a  grave  dug  under  the  boughs  of  the  forest 
trees. 

Before  the  Civil  War,  white  men  penetrated  Lang- 
lade County.  From  1870  to  1890,  this  part  of  Wiscon- 
sin, which  had  long  been  looked  upon  as  adapted  for 
nothing  but  the  undisturbed  home  of  the  Indian  and  the 
journeys  of  venturesome  speculators,  became  the  mec- 
ca  for  immigrants  from  every  section  south  and  east 
of  Wisconsin.  The  belief  that  this  country  possessed 
only  one  factor  of  wealth — its  pineries — became  a 
myth.  With  the  death  of  that  idea,  there  was  born 
a  new  period  of  expansion — in  upper  Wisconsin,  which 
wonderfully  contributed  to  the  development  of  Lang- 
lade County.  In  the  period  of  1870-1875,  after  the 
trail  of  the  Pine  hunter  had  been  blazed,  hardy  sons  of 
toil,  whose  greatest  asset  was  health  and  muscle,  began 
to  erect  log  cabins,  "Homes  of  Peace  and  Plenty." 
Thus  began  the  settlement  of  the  picturesque  new 
north,  with  Antigo,  then  an  unrealized  ideal,  and  Lang- 
lade County,  as  the  pivotal  point  of  progress. 

The  pioneer  cabins  and  shacks  were  often  times  sepa- 
rated by  miles  of  unbroken  virgin  forests.  This  lone- 
liness naturally  made  the  homesteaders  and  squatters 
very  hospitable  and  cordial.  Visitors  were  always 
welcome  and  were  given  the  best  that  the  little  cabins 
could  afford.  Everyone  was  neighborly  and  a  spirit 
of  mutual  helpfulness  approaching  perfection  was  man- 
ifest. They  were  kind  and  always  willing  to  lend  a 
helping  hand  to  any  settlers  in  distress.  Mrs.  Anna 
Morrissey,  daughter  of  Mrs.  F.  A.  Deleglise,  has  told 
how  her  mother  would  go  long  distances  to  aid  and 
comfort  some  sick  person.  It  was  truly  a  land  of 
equality  here  in  the  wilderness.  No  racial  distinc- 
tions, no  sects,  creeds,  coteries  of  people  secluded — 
but  all  on  one  common  plane.  Sometimes  we  think 
that  in  our  day  of  extolled  progress  and  civilization  we 
have  attained  the  acme  of  benevolence,  but  the  chris- 
tian charity  of  the  pioneer  far  surpassed  that  of  society 
today. 

When  notice  that  an  itinerant  preacher  would  be  in 
the  county  to  dwell  upon  the  gospel  the  pioneer  set- 
tlers would  come  from  miles  around  to  hear  him. 
Some  came  on  foot,  horseback,  horse  and  wagon,  and 
with  oxen  carts,  all  eager  to  participate  in  the  worship 
of  God. 

The  cabin  or  shacks  of  the  first  settlers  were  made 
of  logs,  sometimes  covered  with  boards.  The  crude 
dwellings  were  usually  of  three  rooms,  all  comfortably 
but  plainly  equipped.  Rough  sawed  lumber  was  used 
for  flooring.  The  settlers  would  store  their  winter 
supplies  in  the  cabin.  There  are  still  many  log 
cabins  used  in  Langlade  County  and  while  the  log 
cabin  was  the  start  of  prosperity  for  the  county,  it 
holds  a  high  place  among  those  things  worthy  of  his- 
torical preservation. 

Neighbors  were  not  plenty  but  they  made  up  a  lack 
of  numbers  by  a  hearty  good  wholesome  exchange  of 
courtesies  and  "good  turns."  When  the  long  winter 
evenings  arrived,  the  oxen  were  hitched  to  the  "jump- 
er" and  the  buxom  lads  and  lassies  "snugged  in"  and 


sought  a  neighbor's  cabin  by  sleigh  road  winding 
through  the  forest,  slow,  it  is  true,  but  speed  was  not 
desired  as  so  much  of  the  fun  was  "being  together." 
When  the  turnouts  would  arrive  at  their  destination, 
the  occupants  of  the  cabin  home  would  cordially  greet 
them  and  all  would  make  merry  while  games,  music  on 
the  old  organ,  accordian,  or  violin  was  enjoyed. 

The  howl  of  the  timber  wolf  often  broke  forth  near 
the  pioneer  cabin  accompanying  the  master  of  the  ac- 
cordian or  the  old  violinist.  It  is  different  today. 
The  wolf  has  been  pushed  back  by  civilization  and  but 
in  few  places  can  his  bark  be  heard.  Time  has 
brought  forth  a  wonderful  change  in  the  past  forty 
years  or  more. 

FORTY  YEARS  AGO. 

In  what  a  wonderous  age  we  live 

Not  many  seem  to  know. 
But  few  the  mighty  change  perceive, 

Since  forty  years  ago. 

Then  the  farms  were  covered  o'er 

With  forest  trees  aglow. 
And  the  red  man  held  full  sway 

Over  forty  years  ago. 

The  bear,  the  wild  cat,  wolf  and  lynx 

Were  the  red  man's  only  foe 
When  the  pioneer  settlers  came 

Over  forty  years  ago. 

But  the  red  man  was  driven  out. 

And  the  forests,  too,  must  go 
Before  the  ax  of  the  pioneer 

Over  forty  years  ago. 

The  youngsters  dressed  in  homespun  clothes 

And  made  but  little  show. 
And  Lindsey-woolsey  dressed  the  girls. 

Over  forty  years  ago. 

The  "warmeses"  and  "round-a-bouts" 

Gave  plenty  room  to  grow. 
And  boys  were  strong  and  rugged  then. 

Over  forty  years  ago. 

The  girls  could  spin,  knit  and  weave. 

And  have  as  good  a  beau 
As  any  lady's  heart  could  wish 

Since  forty  years  ago. 

And  grandpa's  heart  was  always  green. 

Although  his  locks  were  snow. 
And  grandma  knit  and  darned  the  socks. 

Over  forty  years  ago. 

Our  fathers  never  had  a  dream. 

When  things  moved  on  so   slow. 
Of  what  their  boys  would  do  by  steam 

Since  forty  years  ago. 

Automobiles  and  electric  cars. 

And  airships  on  the  go, 
Would  open  the  eyes  of  the  pioneer 

Of  forty  years  ago. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


11 


The  telephone  and  wireless. 

The  music  in  the  air. 
How  different  from  the  olden  days 

When  messengers  were  rare. 

Our  giant  ships  and  railroad  trains 

With  goods  from  every  clime; 
How  wonderful  when  compared 

With  the  ox  cart  of  olden  time. 

But  time  has  deadened  many  a  tree. 

And  "logged"  up  many  a  row, 
Since  they  began  to  clear  the  land 

Over  forty  years  ago. 

And  when  the  covered  wagon  comes. 

And  we  are  called  to  go, 
We'll  settle  in  a  better  land 

Than  forty  years  ago. 

With  all  its  drawbacks  the  pioneer  log  cabin  was  a 
happy  home.  As  saw  mills  became  numerous  the 
doors  and  floors  of  the  log  cabins  were  made  of  rough 
wood.  With  trade  increasing  the  prosperity  of  the 
homesteaders  and  pioneers  became  more  apparent  and 
frame  dwellings  were  erected.  Many  of  the  cabins  In 
the  county  were  covered  by  clapboards  slit  from  na- 
tive timber  and  weighted  down  by  poles. 

It  was  not  uncommon  for  the  pioneer  settlers  to 
sleep  out  under  the  boughs  of  a  forest  tree  during  the 
time  when  a  cabin  was. being  "rolled  up."  The  oxen 
or  mules  were  then  allowed  to  graze  in  the  forest  na- 
tural clearings  around  the  temporary  camping  place. 
Many  of  the  pioneers  were  without  funds  to  purchase 
any  of  the  luxuries  of  that  time.  Even  if  they  did 
have  funds  the  trading  posts  were  so  far  away  that  it 
was  only  with  great  difficulty  and  trouble  that  even 
necessities  were  purchased.  Courage  and  unlimited 
energy  were  the  chief  assets  of  the  first  settlers. 

Once  a  cabin  home  was  started  it  was  but  a  few 
days  before  it  was  completed.  Two  to  three  families 
often  settled  in  the  various  townships  in  groups. 
Thus  by  mutual  assistance  many  of  the  trials  and 
hardships  were  successfully  coped  with.  Food  was 
usually  "toted"  in  to  the  new-comers,  but  before  then 
they  were  compelled  to  gather  wild  berries,  herbs,  kill 
wild  game,  the  deer,  rabbits,  ducks,  prairie  chickens 
and  other  wild  animals  of  which  there  was  then  an 
abundance. 

Some  of  the  old  cabins  first  rolled  up  are  yet  in 
-  existence.  If  the  decaying  logs  of  these  old  land 
marks  could  tell  the  story  of  their  existence  history 
would  be  much  more  interesting.  The  days  when  the 
"bee"  or  the  log  rolling  was  conducted  were  important 
to  the  first  settlers.  It  was  a  courtesy  generally  re- 
spected by  all,  for  every  able  bodied  man  who  lived 
within  an  easy  walking  or  "ridin'  distance"  to  attend 


the  bee  or  log  raising  event.  He  was  expected  to  as- 
sist the  new  settler  about  to  become  his  neighbor  in 
the  all  important  task  of  erecting  his  little  domain  in 
the  wilderness.  If  the  new  settler  lived  in  a  section 
of  the  county  where  a  number  of  pioneers  could  gather 
quickly  the  occasion  was  made  a  distinct  social  fea- 
ture. 

The  hardy  men  folks  would  busy  themselves 
throughout  the  entire  day  felling  the  trees,  trimming, 
sawing  and  hauling  the  logs  to  the  site  of  the  proposed 
cabin.  Oxen  were  often  used  to  aid  in  hauling  the 
logs.  When  the  logs  were  placed  in  proper  position 
the  cracks  in  the  walls  were  filled  with  moss,  sticks, 
mud  and  plaster,  if  it  could  be  obtained.  This  pre- 

vented the  wind  and  rain  from  entering  into  the  cabin 
home. 

When  the  work  would  be  about  complete  the  pio- 
neers attending  the  "bee"  or  log  raising  would  feast 
out  in  the  open  air.  The  women  folks  were  as  essen- 
tial at  such  a  pioneer  gathering  as  were  the  men,  for 
the  hard  labor  was  forgotten  as  the  feasting  and  merri- 
ment connected  with  the  event  began. 

The  first  pioneers  did  not  have  furniture  such  as  is 
found  in  the  modern  home  of  Langlade  County  today. 
In  fact  only  the  necessary  articles  were  found  in  the 
homes  of  the  homesteaders  and  other  pioneers.  When 
they  came  into  the  country  the  roads  were  nothing  but 
trails  and  it  was  thus  very  hard  to  bring  any  furniture 
with  them  except  those  things  absolutely  necessary. 
Many  of  the  household  necessities  were  made  by  the 
older  boys  or  the  father.  Chairs  usually  consisted 
of  stools  or  benches  made  out  of  rough  material  se- 
cured in  the  forests. 

During  the  week's  labor  the  father  of  a  family 
found  it  difficult  to  make  ends  meet,  so  to  speak,  and 
as  money  was  not  plentiful  he  was  always  anxious  to 
barter  commodities.  Thus  after  a  church  session  on 
Sunday  the  people  would  stand  around  trading  pro- 
duce, exchanging  one  article  for  another  which  they 
needed  most.  The  people  supported  the  church  by 
sending  in  corn,  potatoes,  rutabagas,  cord  wood,  etc., 
to  the  pastor.  If  they  subscribed  to  a  paper  the  edi- 
tor often  allowed  them  to  pay  for  the  subscription  in 
some  product  of  the  homestead.  And  it  was  for  a 
long  time  that  produce  was  regarded  equally  with 
money  as  the  standard  of  value. 

The  cabins  of  the  early  settlers  were  exceptionally 
simple.  Nothing  but  needed  household  articles  could 
be  found.  No  art  decorations  or  beautiful  paintings 
adorned  the  walls  of  these  homes. 

The  ax,  the  augur,  saw  and  awl 

Hang  on  pegs  upon  the  wall. 
And  kitchen  utensils — bright  and  clean 

May  also  on  the  wall  be  seen. 


12 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  V. 
Organization  of  Langlade  County 

Under  Rule  of  Four  Nations — Spain,  France,  Great  Britain  and  U.  S. — Territorial  Government — 
Land  Districts  Created  in  1834 — County  of  New  Organized  by  S.  A.  Taylor — Langlade  County 
Created  in  1881 — First  County  Board — Public  Buildings — Opposition  to  Boundary  Changes — 
Boundary   Error — First   County   Officials — County  of  Keeps — Territorial  Changes  1881-1885- 


The  territory  comprising  Langlade  County  has  serv- 
ed successively  under  the  flags  of  four  powerful  na- 
tions, Spain,  France,  Great  Britain  and  the  United 
States.  Originally  a  part  of  the  Northwest  territory,  it 
became  a  part  of  Indiana  district  in  1800.  In  1809  it 
became  a  part  of  Michigan  territory,  detached  from  Il- 
linois territory,  and  was  governed  by  William  Henry 
Harrison.  Not  until  33  years  after  Wisconsin  was  ad- 
mitted into  the  union  was  Langlade  County  establish- 
ed. 

Long  before  the  advent  of  the  white  man  in  Langlade 
County,  there  were  no  land  claims  made  upon  the  fed- 
eral government  to  affect  this  region.  The  Green  Bay 
land  district,  created  June  26,  1834,  by  an  act  of  Con- 
gress, did  not  include  Upper  or  Northern  Wisconsin. 
Thus  the  reader  can  realize  that  for  nearly  a  half  cen- 
tury more,  until  1855,  Langlade  County  was  a  paradise 
of  nature,  unmarred  by  the  woodman's  axe;  a  virgin 
forest  where  God's  cattle  fed  "upon  a  thousand  hills;" 
where  streams  and  glacial  lakes  abounded  unmolested 
in  fish  and  game;  a  country  where  the  melodious  war- 
ble of  the  feathered  songster  intermingled  with  the 
soft  sigh  of  the  giant  pine. 

THE  FOUNDER  OF  LANGLADE  COUNTY. 

The  founder  of  Langlade  County  was  Squire  A.  Tay- 
lor, a  well  educated  and  progressive  c'tizen  of  Lily, 
Langlade  township.  He  was  engaged  in  lumber  and 
logging  operations  for  years  on  the  Wolf  and  Lily  riv- 
ers. It  was  he  who  changed  the  name  of  the  little 
village  to  New.  He  led  an  eventful  life  and  was  one 
of  the  picturesque  pioneers  of  Wisconsin's  wild  north. 
He  passed  away  at  the  old  Springbrook  House,  Antigo 
land  mark,  February  22,  1902.  Through  the  efforts 
of  Squire  A.  Taylor,  the  Committee  on  Town  and  Coun- 
ty Organization  of  the  State  Legislature  recommended 
the  passage  of  Chapter  114,  Laws  of  1879,  creating  the 
"County  of  New." 

The  county  was  named  "New"  because  it  was  a  New 
County  if  we  are  to  take  the  statements  of  pioneers, 
and  Chicago  officials  of  railroad  concerns  as  accurate.* 

THE  COUNTY  OF  KEEPS— MATT  CARPENTER. 

In  1882,  S.  A.  Taylor,  Founder  of  Langlade  County, 
attempted  to  organize  the  County  of  Keeps.  The  pro- 
posed county  would  include  all  of  Langlade  County  as 
it  then  existed  except  Norwood  and  Rolling  townships. 
They  were  to  be  evacuated  and  attached  to  Shawano 

*  New  County  was  organized  when  Marinette  County  was  created. 
It  was  attached  to  Shawano  County  for  County  and  Judicial  purposes- 
The  Act  of  Organizing   New  County  was  approved   February  27.    1879. 


County.  The  bill  was  introduced  in  the  Wisconsin 
Legislature  by  Mr.  H.  Button,  who  opposed  it.  The 
Lost  Nation  was  included  in  the  proposed  county.  In 
March,  1883,  at  the  time  of  the  defeat  of  Keeps  Coun- 
ty, the  Lost  Nation  was  attached  to  Langlade  County. 
In  1884  Taylor  tried  to  organize  Matt  Carpenter  Coun- 
ty.     It  was  defeated  by  the  State  Legislature. 

LANGLADE  COUNTY. 

Langlade  County  was  named  in  honor  of  Sieur 
Charles  De  Langlade,  brave  and  impulsive  leader  of 
the  French  and  Indians,  who  has  been  heralded  as  the 
first  citizen  of  Wisconsin.  In  February,  1880,  the  leg- 
islature passed  an  act  changing  the  name  of  New,  to 
Langlade  County.  The  change  was  proposed  by  Ly- 
man C.  Draper,  Secretary  of  the  State  Historical  So- 
ciety. One  year  later,  February  19,  1881,  the  bound- 
aries of  Shawano,  Oconto  and  Langlade  counties  were 
changed.  The  County  of  Langlade  was  created  and 
perfected  and  "certain  towns  were  therein  establish- 
ed." Langlade  County  included :  "All  that  portion 
of  the  counties  of  Shawano,  Oconto  and  Langlade, 
within  the  following  boundaries,  to-wit:  Commencing 
at  the  southwest  corner  of  township  30  north,  range  11 
east  of  the  4th  principal  meridian,  running  thence  north 
on  range  line  between  ranges  10  and  11,  to  the  third 
correction  line,  thence  east  on  the  said  correction  line 
to  the  southwest  corner  of  township  31,  range  11  east, 
thence  north  on  range  line  between  ranges  10  and  11 
of  the  4th  correction  line;  thence  west  on  the  said  cor- 
rection line  to  the  southwest  corner  of  township  41  of 
range  11  east;  thence  north  on  range  line  between 
ranges  10  and  11  to  the  Michigan-Wisconsin  boundary 
line;  thence  southeasterly  on  said  boundary  line  to  the 
range  line,  between  ranges  14  and  15  east  of  the  4th 
principal  meridian;  thence  south  on  said  range  line  to 
the  4th  correction  line;  thence  east  on  the  said  correc- 
tion line  to  the  northeast  corner  of  township  40  of  range 
14  east;  thence  south  on  range  line  between  ranges  14 
and  15  to  the  southeast  corner  of  township  34,  range 
14  east;  thence  west  on  the  town  line  between  town- 
ships 33  and  34  to  the  northeast  corner  of  township  33, 
range  12  east;  thence  south  on  range  line  between 
ranges  12  and  13  to  the  third  correction  line;  thence 
west  on  said  correction  line  to  the  northeast  corner  of 
township  30,  north,  range  12  and  13  east,  to  the  town 
line  between  townships  29  and  30;  thence  west  on  said 
town  line  to  the  place  of  beginning. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE  COUNTY. 


13 


POWERS  AND  PRIVILEGES  OF  COUNTY. 

Section  3  of  the  act  creating  Langlade  County  specifi- 
cally granted  all  rights,  powers  and  privileges  legally 
granted  other  counties  to  Langlade.  Section  4  stipu- 
lated that  within  ten  days  after  passage  and  publica- 
tion of  the  act  of  organization  Governor  J.  M.  Rusk 
shall  appoint  in  and  for  Langlade  County  all  officials 
excepting  the  Chairman  and  members  of  the  County 
Board. 

County  officers  appointed  were  to  hold  offices  until 
the  first  Monday  in  January,  1883,  until  their  succes- 
sors were  elected  and  qualified.      County  Superintend- 
ent and  County  Judge 
held  office    until    the 
first  Monday  in  Janu- 
ary, 1882. 

SALARIES  OF 

FIRST  COUNTY 
OFFICERS. 

The  salaries  of  the 
first  officers  of  Lang- 
lade County  were  fix- 
ed as  follows :  Coun- 
ty Clerk)— $600; 
County  Treasurer — 
$600;  County  Judge 
—$100;  County  Su- 
perintendent o  f 
Schools— $300 ;  Dis- 
trict Attorney— $100. 
The  first  Langlade 
County  officers  were : 
County  Judge — J.  W. 
Morse;  District  At- 
torney— George  W. 
Latta;  Circuit  Judge 
— George  H.  Meyers 
of  Appleton;  Clerk  of 
Court— D.  S.  Olm- 
sted; Sheriff  — 
Charles  Herman; 
County  Clerk — J.  J. 
Simpson;  County 
Treasurer — F.  A. 
Deleglise;  County 
Supt.  of  Schools — 
George  Ratcliffe; 
Register  of  Deeds — R 
Gee ;  Coroner 


41  and  fractional  part  township  42  of  ranges  11  and  12 
east;  Carpenter  township  consisted  of  townships  35, 
36,  37,  38,  39,  40  and  fractional  township  41  of  ranges 
13  and  14  east. 

A  study  of  the  map  of  Wisconsin  indicates  that  the 
towns  enumerated  extended  to  the  state  boundary  and 
included  parts  of  Forest,  Oneida  and  Vilas  Counties,  as 
they  now  exist.  The  county  was  not  permitted  to 
raise  more  than  $1,500  in  any  one  of  the  first  five  years. 

FIRST  TOWN  MEETINGS. 

The  first  annual  town  meetings  were  held  strictly  ac- 
cording to  legal  pro- 
visions. Norwood 
and  Rolling  town- 
ships held  their  first 
assemblages  in 
places  previously 
provided        by       the 


Shawano 

Board. 

township 


County 

Antigo 

held        its 


JOHN  JANSEN   OF   NORWOOD  TOWNSHIP. 
Elected  first   Chairman  of   Langlade   County   Board,   May, 


1881. 


G.   Webb;   Surveyor- 
Dr.  J.  H.  Dawley. 


-Harvey 


first  meeting  in  the 
old  log  store  of  Niels 
Anderson.  Polar 

township  held  its 
meeting  at  the  quaint 
farm  house  of  Moritz 
Muller,  section  16, 
township     31,      lange 

12  east.  Carpenter 
township  conducted 
its  first  annual  meet- 
ing at  the  Charles 
Van  Zile  residence, 
lot  two,  rcction  31, 
township     36,      range 

13  east.  The  farm 
house  of  Louis  Motz- 
feldt  was  the  scene 
of  the  first  town 
meeting  in  Gagen 
township.  Motz- 
feldt's  place  was  lo- 
cated at  Freeden- 
land,  near  Post  Lake, 
on  section  26,  town- 
ship 35,  range  12 
east. 


TOWNSHIP  LIMITS. 

Langlade  County  was  divided  into  six  townships, 
Rolling,  Norwood,  Antigo,  Polar,  Carpenter  and  Gagen. 
Rolling  consisted  of  township  30,  N.  of  Range  11  east; 
Norwood  consisted  of  township  30  North  of  Range  12, 
east;  Antigo  township  consisted  of  townships  31,  32, 
33,  34,  35,  36  and  37,  all  of  range  11  east;  Polar  town- 
ship consisted  of  townships  31,  32  and  33  North  of 
Range  12  east  and  townships  34  of  ranges  12,  13  and 
14  east;  Gagen  township  consisted  of  townships  35,  36 
and  37  North  of  range  12  east  and  township  38,  39,  40, 


COUNTY  SUPERVISORS  MEET  . 

The  first  County  Board  meeting  was  held  at  Niels 
Anderson's  store  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  May,  1881.  As 
Langlade  County  was  a  vast  wilderness,  extending  to 
the  state  line,  it  was  difficult  for  the  more  remote  Su- 
pervisors to  get  to  the  county  seat  to  attend  this  his- 
toric session.  These  were  days  before  the  advent  of 
the  railroad.  Indian  trails  and  tote  roads  were  few 
and  the  country  used  as  many  oxen  as  horses.  Never- 
the-less  these  delegates  of  the  hardy  pioneer  home- 
steaders diligently  attended  to  their  duties  at  the  cru- 
cial moments  when  the  moulding  of  a  county  destined 


14 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


to  lead  Upper  Wisconsin  in  many  diversified  indus- 
tries was  in  the  making. 

The  Supervisors  present  at  the  first  session  were  Dan 
Gagen  of  Gagen  township;  J.  Jansen  of  Norwood  town- 
ship; James  Quinn  of  Rolling  township;  A.  Van  Zile 
of  Carpenter  township;  J.  Schufeldt  of  Polar  township 
and  V.  Simmons  of  Antigo  township.  Mr.  Jansen  was 
elected  first  Chairman  of  the  Board. 

BONDS  OF  OFFICIALS  FIXED. 

The  oath  of  office  was  administered  by  Niels  Ander- 
son, who  climbed  the  rough  stairs  leading  to  the  sec- 
ond floor  of  his  log  cabin,  to  act.  The  first  act  of 
the  Supervisors  was  to  fix  the  bond  of  county  officers 
in  the  following  sums:  County  Clerk — $5,000;  County 
Surveyor— $1,000;     County      Superintendent— $1,000; 


THE  FIRST  COURT  HOUSE. 

Until  the  county  provided  suitable  buildings  it  was 
necessary  to  hold  court,  board  meetings  and  house  of- 
ficials in  the  tiny  hall  and  dingy  rooms  over  the  old 
Niels  Anderson  store.  The  hall  was  plainly  furnish- 
ed with  "three  tables,  four  common  chairs  and  two 
rocking  chairs."  These  quarters  cost  $250  annually. 
But  the  progress  of  Langlade  County  was  the  inspir- 
ing motive  of  its  pioneer  builders  and  immediate  plans 
were  made  for  a  court  house.  The  county  seat  was 
at  once  officially  established  by  ordinance  on  the  west 
I2  of  the  NW  I4  of  Section  29,  Township  31  N,  Range 
11  E.  A.  Van  Zile  and  James  Quinn,  Supervisors, 
and  three  citizens  at  large — Charles  Herman,  archi- 
tect, Henry  St.  Louis  and  George  Ratcliffe,  were  se- 
lected  to    draft    specifications    and    ascertain    feasible 


Langlade    County    Court    House,    erected    in    I'.iUJ 
at  a  cost  of  $71,080. 


Sheriff— $5,000;  Clerk  of  Court— $5,000;  Register  of 
Deeds— $3,000;  District  Attorney— $1,000. 

FIRST  COUNTY  AGENT— FIRST  COMMITTEES. 

The  first  County  Board  appointed  George  D.  Rat- 
cliffe, "A  committee  to  act  as  Purchasing  Agent."  The 
resolution,  introduced  by  Supervisor  V.  Simijions,  gave 
the  Purchasing  Agent  power  to  "purchase  and  contract 
for  all  books,  blanks,  safes,  stationery,  fuel,  furniture, 
lights,  etc.,  for  the  use  of  county  officers  as  provided  by 
law."  He  was  authorized  and  did  secure  a  county 
seal  for  county  officers  and  courts.  Bills  and  con- 
tracts rendered  were  reported  by  Mr.  Ratcliffe  at  the 
first  session  thereafter.  •  He  was  retained  until  May 
19,  1881. 

Chairman  Jansen  appointed  five  committees  as  fol- 
lows :  Finance — Dan  Gagen,  A.  Van  Zile  and  V.  Sim- 
mons; Pauper  Accounts — James  Quinn  and  V.  Sim- 
mons; Sheriff,  Constable's  and  Justice's  Claims — J. 
Schufeldt  and  Dan  Gagen;  Public  Property — Dan  Gag- 
en and  A.  Van  Zile;  Roads  and  Bridges — James  Quinn 
and  Dan  Gagen. 


plans  for  securing  funds  to  erect  a  court  house.  The 
committee  reported  in  June,  1881,  proposing  a  $5,000 
building.  The  board  delayed  the  matter  until  August, 
1881,  when  they  adopted  the  committee's  report  to 
erect  a  court  house  at  $3,000.  Immediate  steps  were 
taken  to  prepare  for  the  contractor,  E.  A.  Stickney. 
The  court  house  square  was  cleared  of  dead  trees,  de- 
cayed windfalls  and  brush.  Three  county  bonds  of 
$1,000  denominations  bearing  8  per  cent  interest  an- 
nually were  issued  and  $500  was  at  once  levied  as  a  di- 
rect tax  to  pay  interest  charges.  The  building  com- 
mittee, James  Quinn,  G.  W.  Latta,  Eli  Waste,  V.  Sim- 
mons and  G.  D.  Ratcliffe,  was  appointed  August  4, 
1881.  The  first  court  house  was  completed  in  May, 
1882. 

THE  PRESENT  COURT  HOUSE. 

Langlade  County,  making  wonderful  development 
each  decade,  since  1879,  needed  a  modern  court  house 
to  keep  in  accord  with  its  growth  otherwise.  The  first 
court  house  served  continuously  for  over  a  quarter  of 
a  century.      The  present  commodious  court  house  was 


HISTORY    OF    LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


15 


erected  by  the  Prince  Construction  Co.,  Minneapolis, 
Minn.,  and  accepted  March  30,  1905,  on  recommenda- 
tion of  L.  E.  Frederickson,  County  Superintendent  of 
Construction.  The  first  proposal  to  build  came  in 
November  1903.  On  January  19,  1904,  a  remonstrance 
signed  by  many  citizens  urged  the  erection  of  a  build- 
ing not  to  exceed  $60,000  in  costs. 

George  W.  Hill,  John  Byrne,  M.  D.  Besse,  Chris 
Wunderlich  and  H.  C.  Stewart,  building  committee, 
succeeded  in  having  the  archiect  lower  the  cost  $28,000. 
Three  separate  bids  were  called  for  February  16,  1904. 
District  Attorney  Max  Hoffman,  John  Byrne,  Geo.  W. 
Hill,  T.  W.  Hogan,  Edward  Cleary,  committeemen,  se- 
lected to  approve  plans  and  specifications,  recommend- 
ed a  court  house  not  to  cost  more  than  $75,000.  The 
third  committee  was  then  appointed  consisting  of 
Leonard  Frieburger,  Sr.,  Chris  Wunderlich,  George  W. 
Hill  and  H.  C.  Stewart.  New  plans  were  secured  and 
a  contract  was  virtually  entered  into  with  Schmidt 
Bros,  of  Superior,  when  the  entire  project  was  thrown 
back  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

The  Prince  Construction  Company  was  paid  $71,080 
for  the  court  house.  The  building  committee  in  charge 
of  the  work  was  composed  of  the  following:  L.  D. 
Hartford,  John  Byrne,  W.  J.  Knott  and  L.  F.  Culver. 
Kinney  &  Detweiler  of  Minneapolis  were  the  archi- 
tects. V.  P.  Rath,  County  Clerk,  and  R.  J.  Morgan, 
Chairman  of  the  County  Board,  for  the  county  and  C. 
E.  Prince,  President  of  the  Prince  Construction  Com- 
pany signed  the  contract.  District  Attorney  Hoffman 
and  A.  J.  Nowotny  were  signatory  witnesses. 

Port  Wing  Brown  stone  was  used  in  body  construc- 
tion. The  two  base  courses  are  made  of  raindrop 
stone.  The  court  house  contains  the  office  of  Munici- 
pal Judge,  Circuit  Judge,  court  room,  offices  of  Clerk 
of  Court,  Court  Reporter,  Register  of  Deeds,  County 
Judge,  Superintendent  of  Schools,  County  Treasurer, 
Highway  Commissioner,  County  Clerk  and  law  library. 
It  is  situated  in  block  13,  City  of  Antigo.  It  is  sur- 
rounded by  the  most  beautiful  park  in  Langlade 
County. 

LANGLADE  COUNTY  JAILS. 

The  first  County  Board  passed  an  ordinance  select- 
ing James  Quinn,  J.  Jansen  and  J.  Schufeldt  as  a  com- 
mittee to  draw  plans  and  let  a  contract  for  building  a 
"lock-up  or  jail"  for  Langlade  County.  It  was  speci- 
fied that  the  jail  not  exceed  $150  in  costs  and  should 
be  erected  in  the  court  yard.  The  committee  enter- 
ed into  a  contract  with  J.  W.  Morse,  Norwood  town- 
ship, June  15,  1881,  for  the  erection  of  a  log  jail  16x20 
feet  and  nine  feet  high.  Lumber  and  shingles  were 
purchased  from  F.  A.  Deleglise  and  paid  for  out  of  the 
$150.  What  was  left  went  to  contractor  Morse.  James 
Quinn  accepted  the  jail  for  Langlade  County,  in  Au- 
gust, 1881.  It  cost  $4.00  to  clear  the  land  of  trees,  de- 
bris and  brush  before  the  erection  of  this  rude  jail. 

Antigo  grew  miraculously  from  1879  to  1886.  As  a 
consequence  law  enforcement  became  more  hazardous 
and  law  breakers  became  more  numerous.  The  old 
jail  was  inadequate.  It  did  not  provide  for  a  Sheriff's 
residence. 

Pat  Murphy  of  Deerbrook,  a  character  of  pioneer 
days,  when  confined  in  the  log  jail  for  some  trivial  of- 


fense, would  climb  over  the  transom  over  the  door  and 
run  up  to  5th  Avenue  through  the  woods,  shouting  that 
the  jail  was  on  fire.  The  old  volunteers  would  rush  to 
the  log  jail  put  out  the  fire,  presumably  started  by 
Pat,  and  return  to  their  routine  work.  This  demon- 
strates the  security  of  the  first  jail. 

January  9,  1885,  Charles  Gowan,  Henry  Peters,  Wal- 
ter Guile,  E.  Raddatz,  and  Joseph  Duchac  were  select- 
ed from  the  County  Board  as  a  building  committee  to 
erect  a  new  jail.  Bids  were  received  until  February 
4,  1885.  The  contract  for  a  two  story  combined  jail 
and  Sheriff's  residence  was  let  to  J.  E.  Clancy  for 
■$6,884.  $7,000  in  bonds  of  $500  denominations  were 
issued  by  the  county  at  7  per  cent  interest  for  ten  years 
to  meet  the  cost.  The  new  jail  was  accepted  by  the 
final  committee,  Ed.  Daskam,  E.  R.  Van  Buran  and  W. 
H.  Dawley,  January  1,  1886.  The  cells  were  placed 
by  Pauly  Jail  Bldg.  &  Supply  Co.,  St.  Louis,  Mo.  The 
Sheriff  is  the  custodian  of  the  county  jail. 

TERRITORIAL  CHANGES— 1881  TO  1885. 

The  territorial  changes  affecting  Langlade  County 
were  made  between  1883  and  1885.  The  legislature 
detached  the  territory  in  ranges  13  and  14  and  the 
west  12  sections  of  township  31  from  Shawano  County, 
known  as  the  Lost  Nation  and  attached  the  same  to 
Langlade  County  in  1883.  Territory  cut  from  Lang- 
lade County  by  the  Provisions  of  Chapter  7,  laws  of 
1881,  was  also  attached  to  Langlade  County.  In  1885 
the  state  legislature  again  directed  the  territory  in 
township  31,  range  14  and  15  east,  known  as  the  Lost 
Nation  be  detached  from  Shawano  County  and  attach- 
ed to  Langlade  County.  In  1885,  Chapter  436,  laws 
of  Wisconsin,  detached  territory  in  ranges  9  and  10 
from  Lincoln  County  and  attached  the  same  to  Lang- 
lade County  (Ackley,  Peck,  Upham  and  Summit  town- 
ships.) Forest  County  was  created  in  1885  from  the 
territory  north  of  the  present  northern  Langlade  Coun- 
ty boundary.  For  the  story  of  "The  Lost  Nation  and 
its  Chiefs"  consult  the  history  of  Langlade  township. 

The  County  Board  on  February  7,  1882,  met  in  spe- 
cial session  and  passed  a  resolution  opposing  any 
changes  and  attempted  disturbances  in  boundary  lines 
and  declared  itself  not  in  favor  either  of  detachments 
or  additions  of  territory  to  Langlade  County.  January 
10,  1883,  a  similar  resolution  was  passed  after  intro- 
duction by  Supervisor  H.  Peters.  Copies  were  sent 
to  Assemblymen  and  Senators. 

BOUNDARY  ERROR  IN  STATUTES. 

Chapter  2,  section  5,  paragraph  5,  Wisconsin  Laws 
of  1898,  gives  a  description  of  Langlade  County  com- 
mencing at  the  southwest  corner  of  township  31,  range 
9  east  and  describing  Langlade  County  correct  with 
this  exception:  "thence  south  on  section  lines  to  the 
township  line  between  townships  30  and  31 ;  thence 
west  to  the  place  of  beginning.  This  description  cut 
off  Norwood  and  Rolling  townships.  It  was  not  dis- 
covered and  changed  until  1907  when  E.  F.  Nelson, 
Rolling  township,  represented  Langlade  County  in  the 
Assembly.  Legally  Assemblyman  Nelson  did  not 
represent  Langlade  County  because  he  was  a  resident 
of  a  township  that  for  nine  years  was  inadvertantly 
cut  off  from  the  county. 


16 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  VI. 
Financial  and  Official 

Early  County  Finances — Comparative  Statement  Ten   Year   Period — The    County     Officials     from 

1881-1922. 


While  the  early  records  of  Langlade  County  were  not, 
at  all  times  complete,  and  were  in  certain  instances  im- 
properly kept,  in  fact  some  reports  were  never  record- 
ed while  others  were  at  times  crude  and  unintelligible, 
yet  one  can  present  a  comparative  statement  of  finan- 
cial conditions  of  Langlade  County  since  1880  to  1920, 
ten  year  periods  to  date. 

The  principal  source  of  revenue  of  Langlade  County 


Treasurer,  and  from  it  the  reader  can  gain  an  idea  of 
the  amount  of  county  business  during  that  period. 
The  report  is  as  follows : 

1881. 

LANGLADE    COUNTY 

DEBTOR: 

July  28 — To  drainage  money  from  state $1,934.54 


GEORGE  \V.  LATTA. 

First  .'\ttorney  to  locate  in   Langlade   County.       Selected   first 

District  .\ttorney  in  1881. 

has  and  continues  to  be  by  direct  tax  levies.      The  re-  October  28 — To  suit  tax  received  from  Clerk 

ceipts  and  disbursements  of  the  county  are  an  interest-  of  Court  1-00 

ing  key  to  the  progress  and  growth  of  the  county  since  November  28 — To  fines  received  from  Justice 

its  organization.  Mendlik    50.00 

The  first  financial  report  of  the  county  was  made,  

November  18,   1881,   by  Eli  Waste,  Deputy     County  Total  Receipts $1,985.54 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


17 


CREDIT: 
August  14. — Paid  Drainage  money  to     Town 

of  Carpenter   $1,218.16 

August   19 — Paid  drainage  money  to     Town 

of  Polar   95.81 

September  16 — Paid  drainage  money  to  Town 

of  Gagen   50.00 

September  6 — Paid  drainage  money  to  Town 

of   Antigo    470.57 


Total  disbursements $1,834.54 

Balance  on  hand  on  date  of  settlements  with  county 
settlement  committee.  District  Attorney  George  W. 
Latta,  James  Schufeldt  and  James  Quinn,  $151.00, 
which  was  presented  to  the  committee  and  "same 
was  counted  and  found  to  be  correct." 

The  county  tax  levy  for  all  county  purposes  for  the 
year  1882  was  $11,213.48.  Compare  that  levy  with 
$340,461.71,  the  tax  levy  for  county  purposes  in  1921. 

Receipts  and  disbursemens  of  Langlade  County  from 
all  sources  from  1880  to  1922  are  given  as  follows  for 
the  ten-year  periods. 
Year.  Receipts.         Disbursements. 

1880 $     1,985.54  $     1,834.54 

1890 50,577.42  46,973.60 

1900 116,119.84  114,605.47 

1910 159,489.75  110,968.63 

1920 499,630.87  478,921.58 

1921 555,190.28  536,422.28 

The  balance  on  hand  at  the  first  of  the  year,  1922, 
in  the  office  of  County  Treasurer  John  Callahan  was 
$18,768.00.  Compare  that  with  the  balance  of  $151.00 
of  1881. 

COUNTY  OFFICERS— 1881-1922. 
*   (Present  incumbent.) 

CIRCUIT  JUDGES. 
George  H.  Meyers— 1881-1891 ;  John  S.  Goodland— 
1891-1915;  Edgar  V.  Werner— 1915-1922.- 

MUNICIPAL    JUDGES. 

F.  J.  Finucane— 1891-1895;  M.  M.  Ross— 1895-1899 
John  E.  Martin— 1899-1906;  W.  F.  White— 1906-1910 
John  A.  Ogden— 1910-1912;  T.  W.  Hogan— 1912-1919 
Arthur  Goodrick— 1919-1922.* 

COUNTY   JUDGES. 
J.  W.  Morse— 1881-83;  John  E.  Martin— 1883-86;  Eli 
Waste— 1886-92;  A.  C.  Conway— 1892-94;  M.  G.  Flan- 
nagan— 1894-1902;  J.  W.  Parsons— 1902-22.* 

DISTRICT  ATTORNEYS. 
George  W.  Latta— 1881-84;  J.  H.  Trever— 1885-87; 
T.  McCarthy— 1887-88;  George  L.  Schintz— 1889-91 ; 
T.  W.  Hogan— 1892-96;  J.  E.  Martin— 1896-98;  T.  W. 
Hogan— 1898-1900;  H.  F.  Morson— 1901-02;  Max 
Hoffman— 1903-04;  Henry  Hay— 1905-12;  C.  J.  Te- 
Selle— 1913-18;  A.  N.  Whiting— 1919-20;  T.  J.  Reinert 
—1921-22.* 


CIRCUIT  COURT  REPORTERS. 

F.  S.  Bradford— 1889-1908;  William  Kriess-1908- 
22.*  (If  any  cases  were  tried  before  1889,  W.  C.  Kim- 
ball, first,  and  then  Robert  Sawyer  were  the  official  re- 
porters.) 

SHERIFFS. 

Charles  E.  Herman— 1881-83;  D.  F.  Butler— 1883- 
84;  George  W.  Hill— 1885-86;  T.  H.  Robbins— 1887- 
88;  George  Wunderlich— 1889-91 ;  Jerome  Gallagher— 
1891-92;  J.  B.  McCormick— 1892-93;  James  McHale— 
1894-96;  C.  H.  Thompson— 1897-98;  A.  R.  Billings— 
1899-1900;  A.  M.  Boll— 1901-02;  H.  J.  Seamon— 1903- 
04;  John  Driggs— 1905-06;  Joseph  Spoerl— 1907-08; 
C.  E.  Jones— 1909-11;  Joseph  Spoerl— 1911-12;  C.  E. 
Jones— 1913-14;  Thos.  Ford— 1915-16;  Ed.  Buchen— 
1917-18;  Louis  Porlier— 1919-20;  Ed.  Buchen— 1921- 
22.* 

COUNTY   CLERKS. 

J.  J.  Simpson— 1881-82;  J.  Jansen— 1883-85;  A.  B. 
Millard— 1885-86;  F.  Hayssen— 1887-93;  Henry 
Strauss— 1894-96;  Henry  Smith— 1896-98;  Fred  Hay- 
ssert— 1899-1902;  V.  P.  Rath— 1902-22.* 

REGISTERS   OF   DEEDS. 

R.  G.  Webb— 1881-83;  M.  M.  Ross— 1883-86;  Henry 
Smith— 1887-90;  John  Menting— 1891-94;  George  W. 
Bemis— 1895-98;  J.  W.  Parsons— 1899-1900;  William 
Reader— 1901-08;  H.  A.  Friedeman— 1909-22.* 

COUNTY   TREASURERS. 

F.  A.  Deleglise— 1881-83;  H.  A.  Kohl— 1884-86;  J 
C.  Lewis— 1887-89;  C.  H.  Larzelere— 1889-90 ;  F.  P 
Kennedy— 1891-94;  S.  W.  Chamberlain— 1895-97 
.Tames  McHale— 1899-1902;  A.  P.  Church— 1903-07 
Frank  Dvorak— 1908-1911 ;  Henry  P.  Ings— 1912-15; 
John  Callahan— 1915-22.* 

ASSEMBLYMEN. 

Herman  Nabei'— 1879-81 ;  George  W.  De  Lano— 
1881-83;  Alex  Brazeau— 1883-85;  Wm.  H.  Young— 
1885-87;  Charles  F.  Hall— 1887-89;  L.  S.  Baily— 1889- 
91;  E.  A.  Edmonds— 1891-93;  F.  A.  Deleglise— 1893- 
95;  George  W.  Latta— 1895-99;  John  McGreer— 1899- 
1901;  Leroy  McGill— 1901-03;  R.  J.  Morgan— 1903-05 ; 
E.  F.  Nelson— 1905-07;  Wm.  Reader— 1907-11 ;  Ed- 
ward Nordman— 1911-19;  F.  J.  Olmsted— 1919-21 ;  B. 
W.  Rynders— 1921-22.* 

CLERKS  OF  THE  CIRCUIT  COURT. 

D.  S.  Olmsted— 1881-84;  Charles  Teipner— 1884; 
A.  D.  Rice— 1885-86;  T.  H.  Ward— 1886-95;  E.  A. 
Peterson— 1895-98;  A.  J.  Nowotny— 1899-22.* 

MUNICIPAL  COURT  REPORTERS. 

Robert  Zobel — Miss  Gertrude  Tibitts — James  Gagen 
— Clarence  01k.* 


18 


HISTORY  OF  LANGLADE  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  VII. 
Taverns,  Old  Stopping  Places,  Hotels 

Famous  Log  Cabins — Ranches — Stopping  Places  On  Lake  Superior  Trail — Old  Dutch  Frank  Place 
At  Strauss  Crossing — Military  Road  Stopping  Places — Early  Antigo  Hotels 
Hotels. 


Present  Antigo 


The  story  of  the  lumberman's  conquest  of  eastern 
Langlade  County  would  not  be  complete  without  a 
chapter  on  the  old  stopping  places  and  "log  cabins" 
that  dotted  the  Lake  Superior  Trail  and  Military  Road 
between  1860  and  1885. 

The  first  stopping  place  was  erected  by  "Old  Dutch 
Frank,"  a  jovial  fellow,  whose  surname  cannot  be 
found,  even  pioneers,  who  have  been  fifty  years  in 
Langlade  County  have  not  known  his  identiy.       "Old 


were  erected  in  1874.  The  partnership  continued  un- 
til 1880,  when  Mr.  Hill  continued  alone.  He  sold  to 
Mr.  Whitehouse,  who  in  turn  sold  to  Mark  Roax.  It 
was  here  that  Arthur  Janes,  a  boy  of  seventeen  years, 
was  employed  by  Christopher  Hill  and  from  the  cabins 
he  wooed  and  won  the  hand  of  Miss  Jeannie  Hill, 
youngest  daughter  of  Landlord  Hill.  On  February 
13,  1879,  they  drove  from  the  cabins  to  Shawano, 
where  the  nuptial  ceremony  was  performed. 


THE    I.Oc;    CABINS    OX    MILITARY  RO.AD— ERECTED  IN   ISTl. 
The  man  standing  at  tin-  left  of  the  third  cabin  from  the  left   is   Christopher   Hill,   proprietor.       Opposite   him   at   the 
right  of  the  office  door  of  this  cabin  is   Mrs.  Christopher   Hill.         To   her  right  is  Jennie    Hill,    a     daughter — now      Mrs. 
.Arthur  Janes.         Her  sister,  Lovina  Hill,  stands  at  her  right.         The  other  lady  is  not  known.       Horace   Rice  is  standing 
back  of  the  great  log  and  just  in  front  of  the  cook  cabin  and  dining  room   (fourth  cabin   from   the   left.)  Over  to  the 

left  where  the  two  teams  are  resting  can  be  seen  Matt  Bray  and  Leander  Choate,  pioneer  lumbermen  of  Oshkosh,  Wis. 
They  are  seated  in  the  cutter.  The  snow  covers  the  military  road  that  passed  in  front  of  the  cabins.  Seymour  Mills 
of  Shawano  is  watering  the  horses.  Note  the  hemlock  boughs  on  the  second  and  third  cabins.  These  boughs  were 
used  to  keep  (nit  the  wild  blasts  of  the  north  winds  that  cut  in  from  the  tops  of  the  giant  trees  in  the  background. 


Dutch  Frank"  settled  on  section  17,  Township  33, 
range  13  east,  near  Lily.  He  had  his  stopping  place 
on  the  Lake  Superior  Trail. 

Christopher  Hill  and  Horace  Rice  had  a  stopping 
place  or  "log  cabins"  just  off  the  Menominee  Indian 
Reservation  on  section  31,  township  31,  range  15  east. 
This  place  was  popular  with  woodsmen  and  became  a 
tourist  resort  of  renown.  Visitors  came  to  it  from  the 
Atlantic  coast  and  from  points  in  southern  United 
States.  Fishing  and  hunting  in  the  Oconto  and  Ever- 
green river  territory  was  the  attraction  for  these  folks. 
Thus  the  Hill  and  Rice  cabins  became  the  first  of 
northern  Wisconsin  fishing  resorts. 

The  cabins,  three  in  number,  all  one  story  structures. 


George  Gardner,  full  blooded  Stockbridge  Indian, 
owned  a  stopping  place,  first  on  the  old  Lake  Superior 
Trail,  located  on  section  26,  township  31,  range  14  east 
and  later  on  the  Military  Road  on  section  30,  township 
31,  range  15  east.  His  first  stopping  place  on  the  trail 
was  used  until  the  Military  Road  was  built.  This  ar- 
tery diverted  traffic  from  the  trail  and  Gardner  built 
his  second  place.  He  stayed  on  the  Military  Road 
some  time,  taking  in  transients,  lumbermen,  derelicts, 
and  prospectors,  and  then  sold  to  Amessey  Smith,  who 
in  1878  sold  to  Chris  Wheeler.  Gardner  then  went 
back  to  the  Indian  Reservation. 

Charles  Larzelere,  early  settler  in  the  Wolf  river 
country,  opened  a  ranch  or  stopping  place  in  1872  at 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


19 


Langlade  on  section  10,  township  31,  range  14  east. 
The  same  year  John  Yates,  an  easterner,  came  to  Lang- 
lade County  and  opened  a  stopping  place  one  hundred 
rods  down  the  Wolf  River  from  the  Larzelere  place  on 
section  10,  township  31,  range  14  east.  Robert  Gil- 
ray  bought  the  place  from  Mr.  Yates  and  he  in  turn 
sold  to  Albert  Wood.  Amessey  Smith  had  a  stop- 
ping place  on  section  27,  township  33,  range  13  east 
near  Lily. 

Henry  Strauss,  an  intelligent  merchant  and  trader, 
compelled  to  flee  from  Germany  because  of  his  con- 
nection with  the  rebellion  of  1848  engaged  in  import- 
ing, mercantile  and  saw  mill  businesses  in  America. 
He  failed  because  of  poor  collections.  Then  he  went 
into  the  upper  Wolf  river  country  hoping  never  to  see 
another  white  man.  This  was  in  1867.  He  pur- 
chased the  "Old  Dutch  Frank"  stopping  place  and  for 


in  this  chain  of  stopping  places  stretching  from  Shaw- 
ano to  Lac  Vieux  Desert  at  state  line. 

William  Johnson  and  Henry  Strauss,  partners.  Hi. 
Polar  and  Louis  Motzfeldt,  proprietors  of  stopping 
places,  were  also  Indian  traders. 

The  early  log  cabins,  ranches  and  stopping  places 
between  1863  and  1885  served  the  lumbermen  and  set- 
tlers for  years  before  the  arrival  of  the  railroad.  When 
cattle,  oxen  and  supplies  were  sent  north  from  Shaw- 
ano and  Green  Bay  to  the  Michigan  copper  region  the 
old  Lake  Superior  Trail  was  very  picturesque.  For 
many  days  cattle  would  slowly  move  over  the  rough 
trail,  while  convoyed  by  sturdy  cattlemen  mounted  on 
fleet  steeds  or  pushing  forward  afoot. 

These  early  stopping  places,  while  roughly  con- 
structed of  logs,  were  very  comfortable  and  cheerful,  in 
spite  of  their  great  distance  from  civilization.       In  win- 


jjBISiliMli.lllifflW^^ 


First   accommodation    for   travelers    was    provided    for   in    1879   by    Niels 

Anderson,  whose  "hotel"  is  shown  above.       The  Springbrook  House 

was  erected  but  a  short  time   later. 


years  before  and  after  the  building  of  the  Military 
Road  was  its  proprietor.  Wm.  Johnson  of  Marinette 
was  associated  with  Henry  Strauss  for  a  while.  Hi. 
Polar  erected  a  stopping  place  on  section  34,  township 
34,  range  12  east  at  Pickerel  Creek.  Both  the  Strauss 
and  Polar  places  were  originally  on  the  Lake  Superior 
Trail,  which  route  crossed  the  Wolf  river  at  the  Henry 
Strauss  place. 

Fred  Dodge  built  a  stopping  place  at  "Nine  Mile 
Creek,"  now  HoUister,  located  on  section  19,  town- 
ship 32,  range  14  east  in  1877. 

The  only  stopping  places  or  log  cabins  on  the  Lake 
Superior  Trail  before  the  construction  of  the  Military 
Road  were  the  Old  Dutch  Frank  and  the  George  Gard- 
ner places.  Other  stopping  places,  it  is  true,  were 
built  on  the  trail  route,  but  not  until  after  the  coming 
of  the  Military  Road,  which  followed  the  course  of 
the  trail  in  many  places. 

The  Mag  Law  stopping  place  at  Keshena,  the  James 
Law  place  at  5  Island,  north  of  Keshena,  Indian  reser- 
vation village,  and  John  Corn's  Indian  log  cabin  were 


ter  evenings,  when  the  wild  north  gale  sent  its  chilly 
blasts  against  the  moss  covered  logs,  the  pioneers 
would  gather  in  the  main  cabin  for  merriment  and  en- 
tertainment. Thus  the  log  cabins  and  stopping  places 
played  an  important  part  in  laying  the  foundation  for 
the  great  progress  made  in  opening  up  to  the  outside 
world  the  resources  of  Langlade  County. 

EARLY  ANTIGO  HOTELS  AND  TAVERNS. 

Although  the  Teipner  Hotel,  commonly  known  as 
the  Springbrook  House,  was  erected  in  1879  it  was  not 
the  first  accommodation  for  travelers  in  the  village. 
Almost  at  once  after  Niels  Anderson  came  to  Antigo 
he  provided  sleeping  rooms  in  the  second  log  house 
he  erected  in  1879.  True,  it  was  not  exclusive,  but 
was  cheerful  and  weary  settlers  and  transients  were 
always  welcome  and  were  given  a  warm  hand  by  the 
genial  landlord. 

Julius  and  Charles  Teipner  came  to  Antigo  in  1879 
from  Oshkosh.      They  erected  the  Springbrook  House, 


20 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


now  Market  Square  Hotel.  This  was  the  first  Antigo 
hotel,  and  for  years  was  the  headquarters  for  drivers, 
lumbermen  and  teams  going  into  the  eastern  part  of 
the  county  for  the  spring  log  drives.  The  original 
hotel  was  of  logs. 

The  Twin  Valley  Inn  was  built  in  1880  and  has  al- 
most dropped  from  the  memory  of  early  pioneers. 
While  in  existence  it  was  the  largest  structure  in  An- 
tigo. Its  life  was  short  as  it  burned  down  six  months 
after  it  was  built.  S.  L.  Waite  was  proprietor  and 
owner.  The  hotel  was  located  on  the  southeast  corn- 
er of  5th  Avenue  at  Superior  Street. 

The  important  historical  fact  connected  with  the 
Twin  Valley  Inn  was  the  first  social  gathering  between 
the  county  supervisors  and  the  citizens  of  Antigo. 
May  3,  1881,  the  citizens  of  Antigo,  anxious  to  extend 
to  the  county  solons  an  appropriate  welcome,  charac- 
teristic of  the  spirit  of  the  village,  presented  a  writ- 
ten invitation  to  the  county  supervisors  in  which  "they 
took  pleasure  in  soliciting  their  attendance  at  the  viand 
board  of  the  Twin  Valley  Inn  at  5.30  o'clock  this  eve- 
ning." The  invitation  was  signed  by  George  W.  Lat- 
ta,  F.  A.  Deleglise  and  George  Ratcliffe.  It  is  suffi- 
cient to  state  that  the  meeting  was  a  harmonious  one 
and  paved  the  way  for  amiability  and  mutual  helpful- 
ness between  city  and  county.  We  shall  observe,  how- 
ever, that  in  the  fight  to  incorporate  Antigo  as  a  city 
that  this  mutual  cooperation  was  broken  by  a  battle 
of  political  retorts,  charges  and  counter  charges  issued 
by  enemy  and  friend  of  incorporation. 

The  last  logs  of  the  Niels  Anderson  boarding  house 
were  razed  and  the  old  relic  of  pioneer  days  gave  way 
to  a  frame  structure  after  five  years  of  service. 

Other  important  early  hotels  were :  Charles  Raesse 
hotel,  west  of  the  A.  Goldberg  Store,  built  in  1882  and 
ran  successively  by  Charles  Raesse,  "Big  Nels,"  An- 
drew Anderson  and  J.  Hatley,  who  sold  to  I.  Suick.  It 
was  once  known  as  The  Waverly  and  now  is  called 
The  Club. 

The  Antigo  House  was  located  on  the  corner  of  5th 
Avenue  and  Edison  street,  present  site  of  A.  Gold- 
berg's store.  It  was  opened  in  1883  by  R.  H.  Mc- 
Mullen.  After  years  of  service  in  which  changes  were 
made  in  ownership,  it  finally  burned.  It  was  the 
largest  Antigo  hotel  in  1886  when  operated  by  P.  J. 
Koelzer  and  John  Mullowney. 

R.  Warren,  following  the  railroad  from  Aniwa,  came 
to  Antigo  in  1881  and  built  a  frame  hotel  on  the  site 
of  the  present  Antigo  Hotel,  Morse  street  and  Sixth 
Avenue.  It  was  owned  and  managed  by  Walter  Guile 
and  J.  W.  Pitcher,  and  finally  torn  down.  A  part  still 
stands,  however,  and  was  for  years  used  as  the  Pabst 
Brewing  Company  headquarters  in  Antigo. 

Ben  Spencer  came  to  Antigo  from  Maine  state  in 
1882  and  erected  a  two  story  frame  hotel  on  the  pres- 
ent site  of  the  Geo.  W.  Hill  building,  5th  Avenue. 
Here  he  conducted  a  hotel  until  his  property  was  pur- 
chased by  George  W.  Hill.  Mr.  Hill  conducted  it  as 
the  Hoo!  Hoo!  Hotel.  D.  P.  Corbett,  a  Mr.  Garvey 
and  Jos.  DuBois  managed  it  under  Mr.  Hill.  It  was 
called  the  Windsor  Hotel  before  torn  down  to  make 
way  for  the  Hill  building,  two  story  brick  structure. 


The  Lake  Shore  House  was  built  in  1884  on  the  site 
of  the  present  Hoffman  House.  It  has  been  con- 
tinually under  the  management  of  Joseph  Hoffman  and 
Frank  Hoffman.  In  1903  the  hotel  was  rebuilt  and  re- 
modeled into  a  three  story  hotel,  one  of  the  best  in 
Upper  Wisconsin.  The  name  was  changed  from  The 
Lake  Shore  House  to  The  Hoffman  House  in  1893 
when  the  M.  L.  S.  &  W.  Ry.  was  sold  to  the  C.  &  N. 
W.  Ry.  Co. 

The  Winn  or  Central  Hotel  was  opened  in  May, 
1890,  by  Lowell  A.  Winn.  For  years  it  was  used 
as  a  Y.  M.  C.  A.  and  for  a  time  was  vacant. 

It  is  now  managed  by  John  Hanousek,  Jr.,  and  is 
known  as  The  Hanousek  Hotel.  Arthur  Koch  man- 
aged it  when  it  was  called  the  Kasson  Hotel.  Original- 
ly a  two  story  frame  building,  it  is  now  brick  veneer- 
ed. It  is  located  at  the  intersection  of  5th  Avenue 
and  Lincoln  street. 

The  Langlade  House  was  moved  into  Antigo  from 
the  Edward  Cody  corner,  Langlade  Road  intersection 
at  east  5th  Avenue  and  has  been  operated  by  J.  Jenss, 
Citizens  Brewing  Company,  Wm.  Berner,  Joseph 
Spoerl,  J.  Fleischmann,  Jos.  Zoern,  purchased  by  W. 
A.  Maertz  and  sold  since  to  John  Benes,  who  conducts 
it  under  the  name.  Northern  Hotel. 

The  American  House  is  conducted  by  Hon.  B.  W. 
Rynders,  present  Assemblyman,  and  is  a  two  story 
structure  located  on  5th  Avenue.  It  is  well  manag- 
ed and  enjoys  a  good  patronage. 

The  Vivian  Hotel,  now  the  Schneiter  Hotel,  was 
built  in  October,  1887,  by  E.  N.  Mellor,  W.  W.  Hutch- 
inson and  A.  W.  Larsen.  It  has  operated  almost  con- 
tinually since.  In  1920  it  was  purchased  by  E.  F. 
Schneiter  who  has  remodeled  it.  D.  P.  Corbett  ran 
it  for  a  number  of  years  before  1920.  It  was  once 
known  as  the  Farrell  House.  E.  N.  Mellor,  ore  of 
its  builders,  killed  himself  in  the  hotel. 

The  Hotel  Martiny  was  purchased  by  Hynek  Mar- 
tiny  in  1901  from  John  Sipek,  who  ran  it  for  a  number 
of  years  before  then. 

The  Bacon  House  is  located  on  west  Edison  street 
between  Fifth  and  Sixth  Avenues  and  is  operated  and 
owned  by  Charles  Bacon. 

The  Market  Square  Hotel  is  the  oldest  Antigo  hotel. 
William  Reader  has  been  its  proprietor  since  1911.  He 
has  remodeled  and  made  extensive  additions. 

The  Hotel  Antigo,  6th  Avenue  and  Morse  Street,  was 
erected  by  Paul  Von  de  Schoeppe,  a  chiropractor,  who 
conducted  a  school  of  Chiropractics  in  the  building, 
1912.  Von  de  Schoeppe  went  into  bankruptcy  and 
W.  E.  Butterfield  came  into  possession  of  the  build- 
ing, which  he  still  owns. 

The  Hotel  Butterfield  was  built  in  1899  by  John 
Friend,  who  had  been  a  passenger  conductor  out  of 
Antigo.  He  sold  the  hotel  to  Charles  Long  of  Mer- 
rill in  November,  1903.  Mr.  Long  conducted  it  un- 
der the  name  of  Hotel  Friend  until  1905,  when  he  sold 
to  W.  E.  Butterfield.  Mr.  Butterfield  changed  the 
name  to  the  Butterfield  Hotel.  He  remained  proprie- 
tor for  thirteen  years  until  1919  when  he  retired  from 
active  management.  It  is  now  conducted  by  R.  T. 
Marson,  able  and  experienced  hotel  man. 


HISTORY    OF    LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


21 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Indian  Trails,  Roads,  Transportation 

Old  Lake  Superior  Trail — Tote  Roads — Oxen  Carts — Famous  Military  Road — Wholesale  Grants 
Of  Public  Lands — Land  And  Timber  Conspiracy — Pioneer  Life  Along  the  Military  Road — 
First  Road  Appropriation — First  Road  Petition — State  Trunk  Lines — State  Aid  Roads — High- 
way Commissioners. 


The  old  Roman  roads  marked  a  development  and 
extent  of  civilization  of  an  ancient  people  who  de- 
pended upon  transportation  facilities  as  important  to 
their  welfare.  Good  roads  are  characteristic  of  a 
progressive  people. 

The  first  roads  in  Langlade  County  in  1853  when 
the  first  white  man  erected  a  log  cabin  on  the  Eau 
Claire  river  were  nothing  but  Indian  trails.  No  such 
a  thing  as  a  tote  road  could  be  found  then.  The  first 
settlers  came  into  the  county  afoot  or  on  horse  back 
along  the  Indian  trails.  Some  followed  the  courses 
of  the  Wolf  and  Eau  Claire  rivers. 

The  Indian  trails  ran  from  place  to  place  over  the 
best,  but  not  the  shortest  route.  They  were  used  be- 
fore the  government  survey  and  therefore  followed  a 
course  irrespective  of  section  lines.  The  early  pioneer 
"blazed"  his  trail  by  barking  a  tree  here  and  there 
along  his  journey.^ 

Indian  trails  in  Langlade  County  ran  through  the 
following  township  sections :  Southwest  and  northeast 
in  township  34,  range  9  east;  through  sections  34,  24, 
22,  15,  16,  9  and  4,  north  of  Ackley's  trading  and  log- 
ging camp  in  township  31,  range  10  east;  township  34, 
north  of  range  12  east,  had  Indian  trails  running 
through  sections  36,  35,  26,  22,  15,  10,  3  and  4.  A 
trail  ran  northwest  in  township  34,  range  11  east, 
in  township  32,  range  13  east,  through  township  33, 
range  13  east  and  township  31  range  14  east  running 
through  sections  36,  35,  34,  33,  32,  31  and  30. 

These  trails  were  used  for  many  years  even  as  late 
as  1885.  The  main  Indian  trail  from  Oconto  to  Wau- 
sau  was  used  frequently.  Ackley's  trail  in  Ackley  town- 
ship and  the  Pickerel  Creek  trail  were  adjuncts  to  it. 

THE  LAKE  SUPERIOR  TRAIL. 

Farmer's  sectional  map  of  Wisconsin,  published  in 
1866  shows  a  trail  beginning  in  township  31,  Range  14 
East  and  running  in  the  same  general  direction  as  Wolf 
River  on  its  west  side.  This  trail  crossed  the  Wolf 
River  in  section  28,  Township  33,  Range  13  East  and 
continued  to  an  Indian  village  at  Lake  He  Nosheca, 
Pickerel  Lake  of  today. 

On  the  east  side  of  Wolf  River  a  trail  started  in  the 
middle  of  section  14,  Township  30,  Range  15  East. 
It  crossed  the  east  end  of  Pickerel  Creek  and  ran  un- 
certainly among  the  northern  lakes  to  Lac  Vieux  Desert 
and  beyond. 

The  famous  old  Lake  Superior  Trail  was  used  only 
during  the  winter  months  to  haul  mail  and  drive  cat- 
tle and  supplies  to  the  great  copper  mines  of  Michigan. 
The  trail  started  at  Shawano  and  followed  the  west 


side  of  the  Wolf  River  north  to  the  state  boundary 
line.  Two  of  the  first  stopping  places  in  Langlade 
County  were  located  on  the  trail  (before  the  building 
of  the  Military  Road.)  Much  of  the  old  route  was 
impassable  during  the  summer.  It  was  built  in  the 
years  1861-62.  It  ran  straight  north  to  White  Lake 
and  followed  the  west  bank  of  the  Wolf  River,  cross- 
ing to  the  east  side  of  the  river  in  section  17,  town- 
ship 33,  Range  13  East,  at  what  is  commonly  known  as 
the  "Henry  Strauss  Crossing."  The  trail  then  ran 
between  Twin  Lakes  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Town- 
ship 33,  Range  13  East,  entered  township  34,  Range 
12  East,  crossed  Pickerel  Creek  and  then  continued  on 
to  Rockland,  Michigan. 

When  the  pine  hunter  penetrated  Langlade  County 
it  was  urgent  that  he  be  in  contact  with  his  base  of 
supplies,  usually  at  Wausau,  Appleton  or  Shawano. 
This  opened  the  "tote"  road  era.  The  hardy  lum- 
berjack cut  out  a  narrow  path,  barely  accessible  for 
the  yokes  of  oxen  and  horses.  These  roughly  cleared 
tote  roads  were  used  to  haul  provisions  to  the  log  driv- 
ers' camps  in  the  pine  timber  belt. 

Straightening  of  roads  did  not  begin  in  the  county 
until  long  after  the  section  lines  were  surveyed.  The 
old  trails  of  the  Indians  were  gradually  forced  out  of 
existence.      Even  the  tote  road  is  a  thing  of  the  past. 

THE    MILITARY    ROAD. 

The  famous  Military  Road  is  one  of  the  most  his- 
toric subjects  of  Langlade  County.  It  was  built  to 
"transport  military  forces  from  Fort  Howard,  Green 
Bay,  Wis.,  to  Fort  Wilkins,  Keweenaw  County,  Michi- 
gan." 

Sympathy  of  higher  classes  and  government  officials 
in  England  was  in  favor  of  the  Confederacy  at  the 
outset  of  the  Civil  War.  "They  have  made  an  army 
— more  than  that  they  are  making  a  Nation,"  said 
Gladstone,  British  statesman.  Britian's  financiers 
purchased  $10,000,000.00  worth  of  Confederate  bonds 
in  the  spring  of  1863  when  the  cause  of  the  South 
looked  favorable.  The  North  had  no  way  of  trans- 
porting troops  from  the  interior  to  the  Canadian  line 
in  the  event  of  trouble  with  the  Indians,  spurred  on  by 
friends  of  the  South. 

Thus  on  March  3,  1863,  Congress  passed  an  act  ap- 
proving the  construction  of  a  military  road  from  the 
points  mentioned.  Public  lands  were  granted  to  Wis- 
consin and  Michigan  to  aid  in  construction. 

The  Wisconsin  legislature,  April  4,  1864,  accepted 
the  grant  of  land  and  Commissioners  were  appointed 
by  the  state  to  lay  out  the  said  road,  advertise  for  bids 


1 — There  is  a  birch  tree  growing  on  section   14,  Township  32,   Range 
13    East    on    which    United    States    surveyors   placed    the    date    1866. 


22 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


and  let  the  contract  to  the  lowest  bidder.  All  work 
was  paid  for  in  grants  of  land,  three  sections  for  each 
mile  of  completed  road. 

James  M.  Wintlow  secured  the  road  contract  from 
the  Commissioners  on  August  24,  1864.  He  trans- 
ferred it  over  to  the  U.  S.  Military  Road  Company,  a 
corporation,  organized  under  Wisconsin  laws.  This 
company  assigned  the  contract  to  Jackson  Hadley, 
transfer  being  approved  by  the  legislature.  March  2, 
1867,  Hadley  died.  He  had  completed  thirty  miles , 
of  the  road  from  Fort  Howard.  Ninety  sections  of  land 
were  turned  over  to  Mrs.  Augusta  Hadley,  wife,  and 
administratrix  of  the  deceased's  affairs.  July  30,  1867, 
the  administratrix  turned  over  the  90  sections  of  land 
granted  her  by  the  state  to  A.  G.  Crowell.  Previously, 
on  July  18,  1867,  Mrs.  Hadley  entered  into  a  contract 
with  John  W.  Babcock,  A.  G.  Crowell  and  G.  N.  Fletch- 
er, assigning  to  them  all  interest  in  the  road  not  con- 
structed. 

John  W.  Babcock  entered  into  a  contract  with  the 
Commissioners  August  24,  1868,  to  construct  the  in- 
completed road  in  accordance  with  terms  made  out 
with  Jackson  Hadley.  Meanwhile  Congress  extend- 
ed the  time  of  completion  of  the  road  from  August  24, 
1868  to  March  1,  1870.  Babcock  completed  52i2 
miles  of  the  road  by  January  1,  1869.  He  then  en- 
tered a  contract  with  Alanson  J.  Fox  and  Abijah  Wes- 
ton of  Painted  Post,  N.  Y.,  giving  them  half  interest 
in  the  road  incompleted.  On  February  20,  1870,  the 
Commissioners  certified  to  Governor  Fairchild  that 
Babcock,  Fox  &  West  had  completed  the  unconstruct- 
ed  portion  of  the  road  commencing  one-half  mile  from 
the  82nd  mile  post  and  ending  on  the  state  line,  sec- 
tion 5,  township  42,  north  of  range  11  east,  within  time 
limited  by  Congress. 

Amolons  G.  Crowell  and  heirs  were  granted  38,017.17 
acres  of  land  in  Langlade  County  (then  part  of  Ocon- 
to County)  in  even  numbered  sections. 

The  Military  Road  enters  Langlade  County  in  sec- 
tion 32,  township  31,  range  15  east,  runs  in  a  north- 
west course  through  Elton,  Langlade  and  Ainsworth 
townships,  entering  Forest  County  from  section  4, 
township  34,  range  12  east.  More  than  any  other 
wagon  road,  "the  old  militaire"  opened  up  a  vast  ex- 
panse of  the  Wolf  River  country  to  early  traders  and 
stimulated  and  increased  the  momentum  of  the  great 
lumbering  industry  in  eastern  Langlade  County. 

While  the  stated  intent  of  the  Military  Road  was 
for  military  purposes  in  defense  of  the  nation,  old 
Langlade  County  woodsmen,  who  worked  in  the 
pineries  for  Ex-Senator  Philetus  Sawyer  and  other  well 
known  Wisconsin  lumber  kings  of  a  half  century  ago, 
refute  this.  They  insist  that  the  Military  Road  was  a 
land  and  timber  conspiracy. 

PIONEER  SETTLERS  OF  1880. 

Most  of  Whom  Settled  Along  the  Historic  Military 
Road. 

The  historic  Military  Road  opened  up  the  wild  north 
to  a  great  number  of  new  setders.  By  February, 
1880,  New  County  h^d  approximately  seven  hundred 


settlers.  Their  names  are  given  herewith  from  the 
original  census  as  taken  then.  Because  most  of  them 
were  in  the  eastern  section  of  New  County,  with  a 
fair  number  in  Norwood  and  Springbrook  (Antigo) 
townships,  they  are  given  in  this  section  as  follows : — 
Joseph  Cruger,  Mrs.  Joseph  Cruger,  Mrs.  M.  A.  Scott, 
Jane  E.  Scott,  Mary  C.  Scott,  May  Scott,  Loly  Scott, 
Agnes  Scott,  Joseph  Quimbey,  Mrs.  J.  Quimbey,  Min- 
nie Quimbey,  George  Scott,  Mrs.  M.  Scott,  Hattie 
Scott,  George  Sherin,  Mrs.  George  Sherin,  George 
Sherin,  Jr.,  John  Emiland,  Mrs.  John  Emiland,  Hatty 
Emiland,  A.  0.  D.  Kelly,  Mrs.  A.  O.  D.  Kelly,  Alsina 
Kelly,  James  Brenan,  Pat  Byrnes,  Emil  Brenan,  Mrs. 
Pat  Byrnes,  James  Atwood,  James  Atwood,  Jr.,  Mary 
Atwood,  Eugene  Toplin,  Alexander  McMartin,  Mrs. 
A.  McMartin,  Bur  McMartin,  Daniel  McMartin,  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  O'Connor,  Charles  O'Connor,  Peter  O'Con 
nor,  James  O'Connor,  Mary  O'Connor,  Dominic  Gold- 
en, Mrs.  M.  Golden,  Bridget  Golden,  Anna  Hughes, 
Robert  Sheriff,  Joseph  Sheriff,  Anna  Sheriff,  Charles 
Sheriff,  Nicholas  Hawley,  Robert  Webster,  Mrs.  Ro- 
bert Webster,  John  Jones,  Josephine  Eldridtre,  Mrs.  J. 
Eldridge,  Thomas  Eldridge,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  "Doc"  01m- 
stead,  Harry  Olmstead,  W.  J.  Olmstead,  Caroline 
Olmstead,  Susan  Olmstead,  Charles  Beemer  and  wife, 
Eurica  Beemer,  James  Beemer,  William  Beemer,  Eras- 
tus  Beemer,  Rauf  Beemer,  Walter  Beemer,  Robert 
Beemer,  H.  E.  Baker,  Mrs.  E.  Baker,  Ella  Baker,  Lola 
Baker,  Ephram  Stephens,  Mrs.  Ephram  Stephens, 
Charles  Stephens,  Mary  Stephens,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jos- 
eph Moser,  Sarah  Moser,  Isaac  Nobles,  Mrs.  I.  Nobles, 
Thomas  Nobles,  Albert  Nobles,  Luther  Nobles,  A. 
Nobles,  Meranda  Nobles,  William  Miller,  John  Evans, 
Mrs.  John  Evans,  Lyman  Wax,  Joseph  Wax,  Michael 
Wax,  Henry  Wax,  August  Wax,  "Baby"  Wax,  Frans 
Compton,  Mrs.  Frans  Compton,  Sada  Compton,  H. 
Compton,  Clark  Waldreth,  Elizabeth  Waldreth,  Mrs. 
C.  Waldreth,  Harvey  Gee,  John  Gee,  William  Jones, 
Mrs.  W.  Jones,  William  Stark,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles 
Starks,  Mrs.  William  Starks,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  M.  Muller, 
Beca  Muller,  Mary  Muller,  Baby  Muller,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
W.  Schoefeldt,  P.  Simons,  Mrs.  P.  Simons,  Sarah  Si- 
mons, Henry  Simons,  Michael  Maloney,  Mrs.  Kate 
Maloney,  Bridget  Maloney,  Lizzie  Maloney,  James 
Maloney,  Dick  Maloney,  Thomas  Maloney,  Phil  Ma- 
loney, Patrick  Maloney,  Michael  Ford,  Mrs.  Michael 
Ford,  Caty  Ford,  Royer  Ford,  Michael  Carney,  J.  W. 
Hooker,  J.  Wideburgh,  Henry  Wideburgh,  Alex  Mc- 
Mullen,  Mrs.  Alex  McMullen,  Joseph  Debrower,  Jake 
Debrower,  Ed.  Teipner,  Ada  Bell  Teipner,  Jule  Teip- 
ner,  William  Teipner,  John  Teipner,  George  Morley, 
Mrs.  George  Morley,  Mamy  Morley,  Baby  Morley, 
Charles  Moser,  Mrs.  Charles  Moser,  Erastus  Moser, 
Julius  Moser,  Hiram  Moser,  Peter  Moser,  Julie  Moser, 
Vern  Moser,  Caty  Moser,  Nicolas  Golden,  Danield  Mc- 
Taggart,  Frank  Burn,  Mrs.  Rosy  Burn,  Bridget  Burn, 
Caty  Burn,  May  Burn,  Lewis  Burn,  James  Burn,  Ja- 
cob Johnson,  Mrs.  J.  Johnson,  Sherman  Johnson, 
Blaine  Johnson,  Lucy  Johnson,  M.  Johnson,  Gus  Lind, 
Wesly  Dorson,  Joseph  Krause,  Charles  Honzik,  Mrs. 
Joseph   Krause,   Mike   Stidel,    Mrs.    M.    Stidel,   Louis 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


23 


Stidel,  Abram  Gaplanik,  Mrs.  A.  Gaplanik,  Gabe  Ga- 
planik,  Edward  Gaplanik,  Mrs.  R.  Nattanie,  Gabriel 
Nattanie,  Anton  Nattanie,  Mary  Nattanie,  Joseph 
Liminger,  Mrs.  Liminger  and  baby,  Niels  Anderson, 
Louis  Novotny,  John  Novotny,  Burt  Novotny,  F.  A. 
Deleglise,  Jo.  Deleglise,  Mrs.  F.  A.  Deleglise,  Malin- 
da  Deleglise,  Albert  Deleglise,  Alex  Deleglise,  Edmond 
Deleglise,  Amelia  Deleglise,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Cherf, 
Maxwell  Cherf,  Gleason  Cherf,  Rebecca  Cherf,  AUace 
Cherf,  James  Nowotny,  Julina  Nowotny,  Jake  Holley, 
Joseph  Holley,  Wencel  Holley,  Mrs.  Jake  Holley, 
John  Doersch,  Mrs.  Mary  Doersch,  Baby  Doersch, 
Scott  Hale,  Mrs.  D.  Hale,  Alex  McCloud,  Charles 
Gowan,  Mrs.  Chas.  Gowan,  Eugene  Gowan,  Frank 
Gowan,  Daniel  Gowan,  Baby  Gowan,  Woodley  Hale, 
Chris  and  Mary  Hanson,  Charles  Brunther  and  wife, 
Lizzie  Brunther,  Kenton  Brunther,  Anna  Brunther,  Oscar 
Brunther,  Ripley  J.  Richards,  Mrs.  Ripley  J.  Richards, 
Mary  Richards,  W.  Richards,  William  Richards,  George 
Richards,  Baby  Richards,  W.  A.  Wheeler,  Mrs.  W.  A. 
Wheeler,  G.  Bridgeman,  Mrs.  G.  Bridgeman,  John  Mc- 
Closkey,  Mrs.  John  McCloskey,  Grace  McCloskey, 
Frank  Churchouse,  Ben  Colwell,  Nellie  Colwell,  Hat- 
tie  Colwell,  Bessie  Colwell,  Herman  Colwell,  Sim 
Post,  Eel  Post,  Eugene  Rumery,  Mrs.  Eugene  Rumery, 
D.  Rumery,  John  Murphy,  Thomas  Hutchinson,  Mrs. 
Thomas  Hutchinson,  Mina  Hutchinson,  Eugene 
Hutchinson,  Jessie  Hutchinson,  Orman  Hutchinson, 
Steven  Hutchinson,  Malcolm  Hutchinson,  George 
Hutchinson,  Allen  C.  Taylor,  Mrs.  Allen  C.  Taylor,  O. 
J.  Yates,  Mrs.  0.  J.  Yates,  Walter  Yates,  Baby  Yates, 
John  Yates,  John  Haron,  James  Folin,  Isaac  Farrow, 
Mrs.  Isaac  Farrow,  Etta  Farrow,  G.  Farrow,  Edgar 
and  Mrs.  Neff,  Pina  Neff,  Ulu  Neff,  Willard  Neff, 
Mike  Willit,  Grace  Willit,  Mike  Willet,  Jr.,  Etie  Willit, 
Charles  H.  Larzelere,  Mrs.  Charles  H.  Larzelere,  Alta 
Larzelere,  Vernie  Larzelere,  Carrie  Larzelere,  Rosy 
Larzelere,  Baby  Larzelere,  Mary  Murtolf,  Charles  W. 
McFarland,  J.  J.  Springer,  John  Gibson,  Mrs.  John 
Gibson,  Leta  Gibson,  E.  Cole,  Fred  Dodge,  Mrs.  Fred 
Dodge,  Fred  Dodge,  Jr.,  Anna  Dodge,  Walter  Dodge, 
William  Dodge,  Theodore  Dodge,  Baby  Dodge,  Mary 
Turtillotte,  Hull  Gromoson,  Baby  Gromoson,  William 
Frisby,  L.  J.  Marsh,  Mrs.  L.  J.  Marsh,  Eugene  Marsh, 
Sarah  Marsh,  Baby  Marsh,  Charles  Van  Zile,  Abraham 
Van  Zile,  C.  Quindlund,  Robert  and  Mrs.  Gilray,  Baby 
Gilray,  Louis  Pison,  Stephen  A.  Austin,  Stephen  Aus- 
tin, Jr.,  Mrs.  M.  Austin,  Clery  Austin,  Mary  Austin, 
Lucretia  Austin,  William  Austin,  Harry  Austin,  Ella 
Austin,  Bert  Getchell,  Mrs.  E.  Getchell,  Thomas  D. 
Kellogg,  Nellie  Kellogg,  Mary  Kellogg,  Haty  Kel- 
logg, Polly  Kelley,  M.  Kelley,  H.  Colnel,  Mrs.  H.  Col- 
nel,  H.  Preston,  M.  Faliny,  Edward  Born,  F.  Wescott, 
Mrs.  A.  Smith,  Lily  Smith,  August  B.  Miller,  Thomas 
M.  Dobbs,  J.  J.  Commiskey,  B.  Barto,  L.  M.  Gray, 
Caspar  Bosh,  Mrs.  C.  Bosh,  Baptist  Bosh,  Henry  Price, 
Sarah  Price,  William  Price,  William  Smith,  Joseph 
Bunyard,  Mrs.  Joseph  Bunyard,  Louis  Bunyard,  R. 
Johnson,  David  B.  Edick,  Mary  Edick,  H.  Hayter,  H. 
Hayter,  Jr.,  Sam  Scribins,  Herman  Sperburgh,  Ira 
Lathan,  John  Lathan,  Alton    Lathan,    John     Keyhoe, 


Mrs.  John  Keyhoe,  Magg  Keyhoe,  Jason  Howard,  John 
McNair,  Harvey  Sawtell,  Thomas  Lett,  Charles  Lett, 
Edward  Allen,  Jacob  Grutchens,  Will  Grutchens,  Mrs. 
Will  Grutchens,  Anna  Grutchens,  Charles  Culling,  Jos. 
Gibbs,  Edward  Marden,  Henry  Peck,  Robert  Hayter, 
Philipp  Labell,  Annie  Labell,  Thomas  Labell,  Mrs. 
Thomas  Labell  and  baby,  John  Atridge,  James  John- 
son, Harlowe  Lawrence,  Will  McDonald,  John  and 
James  Morse,  John  Gardner,  John  Wunderlich,  Abram 
Wunderlich,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Caligan,  George  Wil- 
son, Miles  Lutsy,  Nels  Dristal,  Patsy  Dristal,  John 
Mature,  William  Gary,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Cregg, 
Trean  Cregg,  Sylvester  Cregg,  Amos  Cregg,  Jap  Sears, 
Thomas  Lutsy,  P.  Lutsy,  Theodore  Sholts,  Christopher 
Ludlo,  August  Ludlo,  Henry  Miller,  John  Miller,  Aman- 
da Miller,  Theressa  Miller,  Frank  Thompson,  H.  Bur- 
dow,  William  Johnson,  Mrs.  William  Johnson,  Anga 
Johnson,  Nina  Johnson,  N.  Lake,  H.  Conors,  Edward 
Bisby,  Joseph  Jackson,  George  Jackson,  John  Jackson, 
Cary  Jackson,  Fred  Stanca,  Mrs.  Fred  Stanca,  Albion 
Cole,  Levit  Smith,  L.  Pendleton,  Thomas  Ainsworth, 
Jr.,  John  W.  Ainsworth,  William  Tipkey,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
George  Gilmore,  Burdy  Gilmore,  Baby  Gilmore,  James 
Roberts,  Philip  Melona,  William  and  Mrs.  Simons, 
James  Simons,  Walter  Simons,  Magg  Simons,  Thomas 
Lima,  Michael  Kepner,  Albert  Fingler,  William  Star- 
kucother,  August  Caston,  James  McCloud,  Deba  Mc- 
Cloud, Mary  McCloud,  Angus  and  James  Cason,  Wil- 
liam Parks,  Mrs.  William  Parks,  M.  Parks,  George 
Culiner,  Jerry  McDonald,  John  Miller,  Angus 
McCloud,  Demona  McCloud,  Anna  McCloud, 
Nancy  McCloud,  Daniel  McCloud,  Sandy  McCloud, 
Mike  McDonald,  Albert  McMillan,  John  Johnson,  Ed- 
ward Morgan,  Martin  Echtner,  William  Gauge,  Thom- 
as Gauge,  Martin  Erisi,  Herman  Wurl,  Daniel  Mc- 
Cary,  David  Getchel,  Mrs.  David  Getchel,  George 
Getchel,  Thomas  Simons,  Louis  Horn,  John  Gordon, 
Thomas  Oconnel,  Joseph  Winters,  H.  B.  Polar,  Mrs. 
H.  B.  Polar,  Barney  Polar,  James  Polar,  Giles  Polar, 
George  Polar,  John  Polar,  Emma  Polar,  Pheba  Polar, 
Sarah  Polar,  Gip  Bagby,  James  Olmstead,  Joseph  Cor- 
net, Andrew  Burnett,  John  Harmon,  Archa  Beggs, 
Henry  Zimmerman,  William  Merical,  Lorenzo  Meri- 
cal,  Herman  Merical,  James  Buckstaff,  Oscar  Buck- 
staff,  Louis  Motzfeldt,  Mrs.  Louis  Motzfeldt,  Tepa 
Motzfeldt,  Hanna  Motzfeldt,  Patsy  Shay,  Dewood  Bery, 
Winson  Williams,  Daniel  Gagen,  Mrs.  Daniel  Gagen, 
Jack  Gagen,  James  Gagen,  Henry  Gagen,  William 
McDonald,  William  Fundow,  Leonard  Thomas,  Mrs. 
L.  Thomas,  Pearson  Thomas,  AUace  Thomas,  Emma 
Thomas,  Ada  Thomas,  James  Thomas,  Mrs.  J.  Irwin, 
Ryan  Irwin,  Lota  Irwin,  Sallie  Irwin,  Adams  Irwin, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Hones,  L.  Hones,  Anton  Hones, 
Henreitta  Hones,  Samuel  Stobard  and  wife,  Saby 
Stobard,  Albert  Bernet,  Herman  Bernet,  Daniel  Quade, 
Charles  Tomas,  Edward  Tomas,  Mrs.  Edward  Tomas, 
Mary  Tomas,  John  and  Ernest  Dagat,  Elliott  Dagat, 
Henrietta  Dagat,  Antinett  Dagat,  Mical  Kenby, 
Charles  Kenald,  Norman  Hide,  James  Austin,  Mrs. 
James  Austin,  Robert  Austin,  Agnes  Austin,  Horatio 
Austin,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Nichols,  George  Nichols, 


24 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


Mary  Nichols,  Ancy  Yakes,  Ranki  Scott,  W.  H.  Allen, 
John  Smith,  Willis  Peck,  Lucy  Peck,  Charles  Peck, 
Henry  Peck,  Charles  Knapp,  Thomas  Martin,  Seman 
Smith,  Alphonso  Stephen,  Mertin  Johnson,  George 
Holland,  James  Dell,  Edward  Savaga,  William  Wil- 
kins,  Elbrage  Wilkins,  Mary  Wilkins,  Wallace  Wil- 
kins,  Robert  Wilkins,  Edward  Peckham,  Hurburt 
Bush,  Henry  Wix,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  P.  Wix,  Emily  Wix, 
Charles  Hiat,  Thomas  H.  Jenkins,  John  Blyman,  Esra 
Read,  H.  Emka,  Arthur  Perry,  A.  Spencer,  John  Spen- 
cer, Charles  Judd,  S.  Anderson,  Marshal  FuUerton, 
Mrs.  Harshal  Fullerton,  Albert  Fullerton,  John  De 
Lamatra,  A.  Hurdiny,  H.  A.  Lee,  J.  Jascam,  Julius 
Melrich,  J.  Baskirk,  Mike  Moran,  Mrs.  C.  Moran, 
George  Olmstead,  William  McGinnis,  Abe  Kiny,  Wil- 
liam Livingston,  Nicholas  Acous,  Mrs.  Nicholas 
Acous,  Julia  A.  Acous,  Martha  Acous,  Masco  Acous, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hiram  Parkherst,  Albert  Parkherst,  Adi- 
son  Parkherst,  Helen  Parkherst,  Julia  Parkherst,  Mar- 
garet Hanes,  William  Livingston,  Edward  Lacy,  Mrs. 
Edward  Lacy,  Louis  Lacy,  Agnes  Lacy,  Harriett  Lacy, 
Wad  Wilber,  William  Kilisass,  Jane  Armstrong,  Roy- 
ers  Armtsrong,  Henry  Aural,  R.  R.  Smith,  Thomas 
McNutt,  Michael  Kennedy,  Thomas  Bolton, 
Frank  Zaler,  Charles  Fischer,  Edward  Fisch- 
er, Dexter  Luce,  Joseph  Faliny,  Frank  Oka,  Elmer 
Ward,  Criss  Olson,  Thomas  Caton,  Charles  Murser, 
Mrs.  Charles  Murser,  Hiram  Murser,  "Old"  Murser, 
Sefrona  Murser,  Justin  Butterfield,  Samuel  Nolton, 
Roda  Hacock,  John  Cobler,  Mrs.  John  Cobler,  Sefrona 
Cobler,  Milton  Cobler,  Fineus  Cobler,  Amo3  Caring- 
ton,  Mrs.  Amos  Carington,  Anace  Carington,  Alnerd 
Carington,  Samuell  Carington,  Gus  Frunbaw,  R.  Park- 
er, J.  H.  Laystreet,  Adam  Brunker,  David  Chapman, 
William  Ale,  Thomas  Shehan,  Oly  Swanson,  Sandy 
Stronic,  Ramsey  Denby,  Walter  Shat,  Richard  Du- 
rand,  Mrs.  Richard  Durand,  Erica  Durand,  Richard 
Durand,  Jr.,  Frederick  Stotson,  Joseph  Elmwood,  H. 
S.  Wood,  J.  A.  Frebum,  Tom  Maham,  Squire  A.  Tay- 
lor, Burt  Sheldon,  Charles  Sheldon,  Frederick  Semore, 
Charles  Abrams,  Peter  Nelson,  Max  Riter,  Frank  Rit- 
er,  Frank  Hopkins,  Henry  Housuyer,  Albert  Skinner. 

The  census  was  taken  by  Thomas  M.  Dobbs  and 
Joseph  M.  Gray,  who  stated  in  explanation  that  the 
above  list  "is  correct  of  the  people  of  New  County  as 
far  as  we  have  gone.  But  there  are  many  we  have  not 
got."  The  western  part  of  Langlade  County  as  it  is 
today  was  not  included  in  this  census  because  it  then 
belonged  to  Lincoln  County. 

PIONEER  LIFE  ALONG  THE  MILITARY  ROAD. 

The  old  Military  Road  has  been  the  source  of  many 
a  poem  and  pioneer  song.  Its  history  has  been  inter- 
woven with  the  pioneer  lumbering  of  eastern  Lang- 
lade County.  The  Squaw  Man  and  the  pine  hunter 
both  played  their  part  with  the  early  adventurer  in  the 
development  of  this  country.  Dan  Gagen,  Louis  Motz- 
feldt,  Henry  Strauss,  "Old  Dutch  Frank,"  Hiram  B. 
Polar,  Charles  Larzelere,  Dave  Getchell  and 
William  Johnston,  were  either  traders  or 
pine  loggers  of  that  section  of  the  county  first  settled. 


For  several  years  before  the  construction  of  the  Mil- 
itary Road  mail  was  carried  by  men  on  foot  in  the  sum- 
mer and  by  dog  teams  during  the  winter,  following  an 
Indian  trail  (old  Lake  Superior  Trail)  along  the  same 
route  as  the  government  Military  Road.  Log  houses 
or  stations  were  erected  every  thirty-five  miles.  These 
mails,  though  somewhat  slow,  were  regular,  as  only 
men  accustomed  to  the  wilderness  and  familiar  with 
the  wild  frontier  life  were  employed  in  this  service. 

They  seemed  to  be  equal  to  any  emergency,  and 
when  it  became  necessary,  on  account  of  deep  snow, 
to  abandon  the  dog  team  they  would  put  on  their  snow 
shoes,  slap  the  mail  sack  on  their  back  and  make  thir- 
ty or  forty  miles  per  day.  Darkness,  storm  or  hunger 
had  little  terror  for  them.  They  seemed  to  realize 
that  the  tireless  mail,  the  evangel  of  the  wilderness,  the 
mission  of  civilization  and  the  herald  of  a  progressive 
era,  could  not  brook  delay.  They  were  the  brave 
young  men  whose  love  of  adventure,  principally,  led 
them  away  from  their  haunts  of  civilization,  and  whose 
untamed  nature  found  keen  zest  and  enjoyment  in  the 
dangers  and  excitement  of  the  daring  frontier  life. 

Thus  month  after  month  and  year  after  year,  these 
pioneers  of  the  wilderness  trod  their  lonely  beat.  Then 
the  wave  of  war  with  its  bloody  issue  rolled  in  sullen 
gloom  over  the  entire  nation.  For  several  years  they 
had  driven  their  dog  teams  in  the  great  pine  forests  in 
the  interest  of  peace  and  now  they  set  off  to  drive  their 
war  horses  in  battle  armed  with  gun  and  sabre. 

The  mail  carriers  faded  from  the  trail  and  passed 
into  history;  the  trail  became  grass  grown  and  the 
abandoned  stations  stood  like  ghosts  of  silent  cities. 

The  fur  trader  in  the  employ  of  the  American  Fur 
Company  was  the  pioneer  of  the  new  north,  as  he  pen- 
etrated the  pine  forests  very  much  in  advance  of  the 
lumbermen,  who  could  see  but  little  wealth  in  the  giant 
pines  and  still  less  in  the  hardwood  forests.  The  fur 
industry  was  established  in  northern  Wisconsin  over 
one  hundred  years  ago.  It  has  been  half  a  century 
since  the  lumberman  or  logger  began  cutting  pine  tim- 
ber on  the  upper  waters  of  the  Wolf  and  Wisconsin 
rivers.  It  seemed  to  be  his  ambition  from  the  start 
to  begin  at  the  top  or  headwaters  of  a  stream  and  cut 
down.  Extensive  lumber  camps  were  established 
where  now  the  thrifty  little  City  of  Eagle  River  (once 
in  Langlade  County)  stands,  which  soon  became 
the  center  of  attraction  for  the  woodsman  and  river 
driver.  Wages  were  very  high  and  money  was  plenti- 
ful. This  soon  attracted  a  rowdy  element  which  rep- 
resented all  that  was  bad  and  vicious. 

After  the  completion  of  the  Military  Road  the  moral 
tone  of  society  in  towns  along  its  route  was  improved 
but  little.  The  towns  were  typical  of  the  western 
mining  town,  where  the  frontier  element  held  full 
sway.  Hotels  and  travelers  would  spring  into  exis- 
tence in  a  day.  A  bank  and  an  opera 
house  would  rise  simultaneously  side  by  side.  Stores 
and  outfitting  establishments  of  every  variety  would 
line  the  main  streets  with  their  quaint  signs  and  em- 
blems of  trade. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


25 


Mechanics  and  artisans  poured  in  from  other  parts 
of  the  state  and  with  them  came  the  lawyer  and  the 
doctor,  both  great  healing  mediums  with  peculiar 
methods.  The  morning's  dawn  was  not  greeted  by 
the  daily  newspaper,  the  first  to  herald  the  name  and 
fame  of  the  new  town,  but  night's  blackness  would  be 
dispelled  by  flaming  campfires  built  in  front  of  sa- 
loons and  dance  houses,  where  men  and  women  stood 
within  the  vestibule  of  Hades  and  drank  fiery  liquids, 
danced  to  the  wheezing  tune  of  the  "Hurdy  Gurdy," 
sang  their  songs  and  laughed  merrily  at  their  ribald 
jests.  Verily  they  were  of  their  day  and  generation. 
They  were  a  part  of  the  rude  civilization  of  wild 
frontier  life,  which  paved  the  way  for  the  purer  and 
gentler  influences  that  followed  to  mould  the  morals  of 
the  race  that  peopled  the  cities  of  the  wilderness. 
Every  store  in  the  village  on  the  Sabbath  contracted  and 
carried  on  more  business  than  upon  any  other  day  in 
the  week.  The  river  driver,  the  woodsman,  the  team- 
ster, the  Indian,  the  fur  trader,  all  gathered  here,  and 
to  each  and  all  it  was  a  gala  day. 

Drunkeness,  brawls,  and  fights  became  the  amuse- 
ment and  smote  the  peace  and  order  of  the  communi- 
ty. But  civilization  brought  thither  a  finer  feeling; 
order  arose  from  chaos  and  bloodshed;  refinement  ap- 
peared with  the  wives  and  daughters  of  the  pioneers, 
who  came  like  angels  to  create  homes  from  the  haunts 
of  vice.  The  light  of  love  banished  the  mildew  and 
rot  of  depravity  and  a  better  manhood  dawned  upon 
the  brave  rough  diamonds  of  the  northern  pine.  The 
church  came  with  the  bold  missionary,  who  was  the 
bravest  of  them  all,  and  then  the  school  house  and  the 
court  house  weeded  out  the  dance  hall,  and  the  for- 
lorn outcasts  moved  farther  on  in  the  race  of  life  until 
dissipation  entombed  their  ghostly  shadow. 

Of  course  there  was  a  broad  and  deep  gulch  between 
the  Sunday  rattle  of  the  auctioneer  and  the  sweet 
chimes  of  the  Sabbath  bells,  and  in  the  rude  element 
of  frontier  society  the  violence  of  the  bad  was  often 
checked  by  the  violence  of  the  good. 

The  region  along  the  old  Military  Road  was  very 
rich  in  natural  resources  before  white  men  came  to  ac- 
cumulate wealth,  with  and  without  capital. 

It  was  not  uncommon  for  one  of  the  many  fur  trad- 
ers to  purchase  ten  thousand  dollars  worth  of  fur  from 
the  Indians  in  a  single  season.  The  fur  consisted 
largely  in  bear,  wolves,  beavers,  otter,  fisher,  martin 
and  mink.  But  little  cash  was  paid  the  Indian.  Blank- 
ets, beads  and  tobacco  played  a  prominent  part  in  the 
purchase.  They  demanded  the  best  grade  of  blank- 
ets and  fifty  dollars  a  pair  was  often  paid  by  the  In- 
dians. The  white  man  as  a  hunter  and  trapper  was 
more  industrious  and  energetic  than  the  Indian,  and 
with  his  improved  methods,  the  fur  industry  was  des- 
troyed in  a  very  few  years.  The  fur  bearing  animals 
have  largely  disappeared;  a  few  black  bear  and  gray 
timber  wolves  remain.  The  wolf  is  an  enemy  to  civ- 
ilization, an  outcast  and  a  vagabond,  despised  alike  by 
the  white  and  the  red  man.  The  increase  of  the  deer 
keeps  pace  with  the  annual  slaughter. 

The  choice  white    pine    is     now     extinct.         The 


silence  and  solitude  along  the  old  Military  Road  has 
disappeared  forever;  the  red  man  and  the  pine  for- 
ests have  faded  together.  Along  the  great  lines  of 
railroad  plowing  through  these  once  vast  solitudes,  all 
is  life  and  activity.  Towns  and  cities  have  invaded 
their  paths.  Men  who  have  followed  the  faint  trail 
of  civilization  have  themselves  beheld  the  great  tide 
roll  over  their  own  foot  prints  and  view  with  wonder 
its  ever  advancing  waves.  Schools,  churches  and 
happy  homes  have  appeared  to  enlighten  the  multi- 
tude and  mould  the  morals  of  a  new  born  community. 
The  Anglo-Saxon  spirit  of  enterprise  laid  the  hand  of 
industry  upon  the  pine  forests;  the  pioneers  of  the 
north  woods  came  as  a  mighty  army;  they  were 
soldiers  of  industry,  drilled  by  labor  and  hardship, 
and  went  forth  only  to  industrial  conquests.  The 
fruits  of  the  old  pioneer  ripen  into  the  full  measure  of 
wealth  and  refinement;  their  names  may  not  live  in 
history;  no  monument  of  the  everlasting  hill  will  bear 
their  fame.  Some  of  them  lie  in  the  graveyard  at  the 
edge  of  the  pine  forest  by  the  side  of  the  torrent 
streams  that  forever  sing  a  wild  dirge  to  their  memory; 
some  in  green  graves  covered  by  the  flowers  of  re- 
membrance, far  beyond  the  crags,  over  which  they 
strode,  more  like  Gods,  than  men;  some  sleep  in  their 
own  home  valley;  some  of  the  gallant  band  are  yet  in 
the  active  busy  world,  awaiting  the  final  summons  be- 
yond the  snow  and  the  frost  line.  Wherever  they 
are  they  will  be  recalled  as  heroes  of  the  storm  beaten 
north. 

THE  RAILROADS— C.  &  N.  W.— M.  L.  S.  &  W. 

The  story  of  how  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  rail- 
road secured  absolute  control  of  86,215.03  acres  of  val- 
uable timber  and  agricultural  lands  within  the  present 
limits  of  Langlade  County  is  also  the  story  of  the  de- 
velopment of  railroad  facilities  in  Upper  Wisconsin. 

By  an  act  of  Congress,  June  3,  1856,  thousands  of 
acres  of  public  lands  were  granted  to  the  state  to  aid 
construction  of  railroads.  October  11,  1856,  the  state 
approved  incorporation  of  the  Wisconsin  &  Superior 
Railroad,  which  was  granted  all  immunities  and  privi- 
leges for  the  purpose  of  aiding  in  railroad  construc- 
tion from  Fond  du  Lac  to  the  state  line. 

The  Wisconsin  &  Superior  consolidated  with  the 
Chicago,  St.  Paul  &  Fond  du  Lac  Railroad.  On 
March  14,  the  legislature  passed  an  act  to  facilitate 
and  authenticate  formation  of  a  corporation  by  the 
purchasers  of  the  Chicago,  St.  Paul  &  Fond  du  Lac, 
which  has  since  been  known  as  the  Chicago  &  North- 
western railroad.  This  new  organization  became  at 
once  entitled  to  all  land  grants  to  the  state  to  aid  in 
railroad  construction  if  they  would  build  a  road  to  the 
state  line,  which  they  did.  The  Chicago  &  North- 
western was  completed  to  the  mouth  of  the  Menominee 
River,  certification  of  the  same  was  made  by  the  Gov- 
ernor and  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior  and  the  lands 
were  deeded  over  to  the  railroad  company.  Odd  num- 
bered sections  were  selected.  It  is  interesting  to  note 
that  between  the  contractors  of  the  Military  Road  and 
the   Chicago   &   Northwestern   railroad   approximately 


26 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


125,000  acres  of  Langlade  County  territory  (one-fifth 
of  the  total  area  of  the  county)  passed  into  the  hands 
of  a  few.  For  many  years  later  tax  deeds  on  Chi- 
cago &  Northwestern  railroad  lands  in  Langlade  Coun- 
ty were  signed  by  Samuel  Tilden,  Democrat  Governor 
of  New  York,  who  attained  fame  for  his  exposure  of 
the  Tweed  Ring  and  his  contest  for  the  Presidency  with 
General  Rutherford  B.  Hays,  Ohio  Governor,  and  Re- 
publican President  of  1877. 


village  plat  bordering  on  the  line  of  the  road,  together 
with  the  right-of-way  over  all  lands  in  which  he  was 
interested.      Truly  he  was  public  spirited. 

The  first  "mixed"  train  arrived  in  Antigo,  Novem- 
ber 9,  1881,  with  Conductor  Sylvester  Graves  in 
charge.  The  Milwaukee,  Lake  Shore  &  Western  was 
sold  to  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  railroad  August 
19,  1893.  All  Langlade  County  property  of  the  old 
Lake  Shore  system  was  taken  over  then. 


.AN  OLD  "WOOD  BURNER"  OF  THE  U.  L.  S.  &  \V.  RV. 
This  type  of  engine  was  used  for  many  years  in  and  out  of  Antigo  on  the  Lake  Shore  road.  The 
work  train  was  at  Summit  Lake,  I'phani  township  when  this  picture  was  taken  years  ago.  Among 
those  in  the  crew  were  .Vlbert  Stats,  Sr..  Herman  Walter,  Joseph  Cardaphe,  Charles  Wojan,  Anton 
Reinsch,  Dennis  Greening,  Theodore  Kupper,  Albert  Kupper,  .Mhert  Koles.  William  Draeger.  Jacob 
Kunz,  Frank  Daskam,  August  BecVnian,  Wencel  Cherwinka,  Sr.,  .\1.  Hillings.  Conductor.  Julius  I'e- 
trowski,  Peter  Petrowski,  Rudolph  Helby,  Ed.  Walch.  Charles  Lcnt.schc,  Jacob  Ko'achek  and  Adam  GUi- 
gla.  Engines  No.  2!),  :w.  .'il,  32  and  :!:!,  New  York  Central  property,  were  used  for  eight  years  in  and 
adjacent   to   Antigo.       They   were   converted    wood  burners.       Pioneer  engineers  can   remember  them. 


THE  MILWAUKEE,  LAKE  SHORE  &  WESTERN. 

August  15,  1881,  the  first  train  pulled  into  Antigo 
and  the  old  Indian  trail,  tote  road,  ox  team  and  pack 
horse,  marks  of  progress  and  development,  diminished 
in  usefulness.  Demands  for  rapid  transportation  were 
about  to  be  met.  As  the  small  engine  No.  31  of  the 
Milwaukee,  Lake  Shore  &  Western  railroad,  with  its 
work  car  and  caboose  pulled  into  the  wilderness,  a 
band  of  villagers  gathered  around  the  Engineer, 
Charles  Abrams,  his  fireman,  James  O'Connel  and 
Conductor  John  Gordon.  Antigo  was  then  a  strong 
temperance  village.  Thus  the  citizens  did  not  fea- 
ture Marse  Henry  or  "hard  lickker"  of  the  Volstead 
violaters  of  today.  Instead  a  great  barrel  of  lemon- 
ade was  provided  by  the  womenfolk  and  the  feasting 
on  sandwiches  and  the  rejoicing  and  merriment  of  the 
pioneers  centered  about  the  large  barrel.  There  were 
no  brass  bands  nor  the  flare  of  the  bugle  to  herald  this 
epochal  event  in  Antigo's  history.  Less  important 
things  have  occurred  since  in  Antigo  and  have  been 
given  inflated  publicity. 

Hon.  F.  A.  Deleglise,  after  considerable  negotia- 
tions, succeeded  in  inducing  the  railroad  officials  to 
change  the  survey  of  the  Milwaukee,  Lake  Shore  & 
Western  to  its  present  route.  Originally  they  had  sur- 
veyed two  miles  west  of  the  present  site  of  Antigo. 
Mr.  Deleglise  gave  the   railroad  eight  blocks  of  the 


THE  WISCONSIN  &  NORTHERN. 

The  Wisconsin  &  Northern  railroad  was  built  origi- 
nally to  serve  the  timber  products  of  the  Menasha- 
Woodenware  Company  in  eastern  Langlade  County.  It 
was  completed  in  1907  or  thereabout  and  has  since 
been  purchased  by  the  Soo  line.  The  road  has  been 
surveyed  into  Antigo  but  nothing  definite  about  a  spur 
into  Antigo  from  Phlox  can  be  stated.  It  is  interest- 
ing in  this  connection  to  note  that  since  1883  citizens  of 
Antigo  have  constantly  talked  about  "another  railroad 
coming  in." 

CHICAGO,  MILWAUKEE  &  ST.  PAUL. 

The  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  railroad  runs 
through  sections  19,  30,  31  and  32  of  west  Ackley  town- 
ship, but  serves  no  beneficial  territory  in  Langlade 
County. 

THE  CHICAGO  &  NORTHWESTERN  ENGINE 
HOUSE. 

January  25,  1883,  the  first  engine  house  of  the  Mil- 
waukee, Lake  Shore  &  Western  railroad  was  complet- 
ed at  Antigo.  It  was  a  two  stall  structure  located  be- 
tween Third  and  Fourth  Avenues,  east  of  the  railroad 
main  track.  In  1893,  when  the  Milwaukee,  Lake 
Shore  &  Western  was  sold  to  the  Chicago  &  North- 
western railroad  the  engine  house  was  moved  to  the 
present  site,  northeast  of  block   1.       The  new  house 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


27 


was  built  with  twelve  stalls.  In  1905,  owing  to  the 
increased  importance  of  Antigo  as  a  Division  point, 
fifteen  stalls  were  added,  making  a  twenty-seven  stall 
roundhouse.  The  turn-table  operates  by  electricity. 
A  yard  office,  weighmaster's  office,  machine  shops,  de- 
pot, freight  depot  and  warehouse,  lumber  yard  and 
purchasing  agent's  office  constitute  the  other  railroad 
buildings. 

THE  ANTIGO  DEPOTS. 

The  Chicago  &  Northwestern  depot  was  completed 
at  a  cost  of  approximately  $65,000.00,  October,  1907. 
Division  offices  were  moved  into  the  new  headquart- 
ers then.  The  contract  was  let  to  Charles  W.  Gin- 
dele  of  Chicago.  Work  commenced  in  March,  1907. 
The  depot  was  built  in  two  sections,  one  containing 
waiting  and  ticket  rooms  with  offices  of  telegraph  op- 


meter.  These  bicycles  tipped  easily  and  many  mis- 
haps resulted.  John  Blinn,  son  of  W.  H.  Blinn,  first 
Antigo  jeweler,  owned  the  first  bicycle  in  the  county. 
Bicycles  soon  became  popular,  tournaments  and  races 
were  held  in  Antigo,  but  with  the  approach  of  the  au- 
tomobile the  bicycle  era  passed.  It  is  now  used  whol- 
ly as  a  business  convenience. 

THE  FIRST  ROAD  PETITION. 

George  Ratcliffe,  Charles  Herman  and  twenty-eight 
settlers  of  Antigo,  Carpenter,  and  Rolling,  petitioned 
the  first  county  board  to  establish  a  road  commencing 
at  the  southwest  corner  of  section  21,  township  30  N. 
of  Range  11  east  and  running  in  a  northeast  course. 
The  petitioners  prayer  was  granted  and  the  first  com- 
mittee on  roads,  consisting  of  James  Quinn,  A.  Van 


THE  OLD  iMILWAUKEK,  LAKE  SHORE  &  WESTERN  DEPOT. 
The  man  standing  near  the  engine  holding  a  white  flag  in  his  hand  is  James  Driscoll,  a  well  known 
Antigo  man  in  his  time.  Engine  No.  2(1  was  used  for  a  long  time  in  this  region.  The  faithful  old 
"Dobbin"  of  the  American  Express  Company  which  cooperated  with  "Lon"  House  in  the  distribution  of 
the  cit5''s  express  can  be  seen  near  the  depot.  A  small  group  of  Indians  are  gathered  in  a  circle  near 
the   waiting  passenger  train.        Observe   the  old   fashioned  bicycle  of  that  time. 


erators,  dispatchers,  clerks  and  Division  Superintend- 
ent above  and  the  other  containing  a  lunch  room,  bag- 
gage and  express  rooms  and  employes  dressing  room 
on  the  first  floor  with  offices  of  the  Division  Engineer 
on  the  second  floor. 

The  depot  was  formally  dedicated  November  5, 
1907.  A  banquet  was  given  at  the  Hotel  Butter- 
field.  Those  present  who  spoke  were :  W.  A.  Gard- 
ner, Vice-President  of  the  road,  E.  H.  Heyser,  Wiscon- 
sin Attorney  for  the  road,  George  W.  Latta,  Antigo 
Attorney  for  the  road,  J.  C.  Lewis,  banker.  Attorney 
W.  H.  Mylrea  of  Wausau,  Ex-Congressman  E.  A. 
Morse,  R.  C.  Richards,  General  Claim  Agent,  Attorney 
F.  J.  Finucane  and  Mayor  George  W.  Hill. 

Contrast  the  new  modern  depot  with  the  little  frame 
two  room  depot  of  the  old  Lake  Shore  system  which 
was  remodeled  once  before  its  career  ended. 

THE  BICYCLE  ERA. 

In  1884  the  first  bicycle  made  its  appearance  in  An- 
tigo. The  front  wheel  was  a  large  one  to  which  pedals 
were  attached.    The  rear  wheel  was  very  small  in  dia- 


Zile  and  V.  Simmons,  were  selected  to  report  damages 
for  lands  taken  preparatory  to  construction.  The  road 
was  needed  as  it  afforded  settlers  of  Rolling  and  Nor- 
wood better  facilities  to  get  into  Antigo,  the  county 
seat. 

The  second  road  petition  was  received  from  James 
Kennedy,  W.  C.  Battrell  and  thirty-one  others,  resi- 
dents of  Polar  and  Antigo  townships  (18  from  Polar — 
15  from  Antigo)  asking  for  a  county  road  from  the 
east  I4  post  of  section  25,  township  31,  range  12  east 
and  following  the  Y^  line  west  to  the  Village  of  Antigo. 

FIRST  ROAD  APPROPRIATION. 

The  first  actual  road  construction  appropriation  was 
made  by  the  county  June  15,  1881.  $500.00  was  ap- 
propriated to  the  Town  of  Norwood  to  open  and  im- 
prove a  road,  commencing  at  the  SW  post  of  section 
35,  then  running  north  on  the  Y4  line  of  sections  36  and 
26;  thence  to  the  center  of  said  section  26,  then  west 
to  the  west  ^4  post  of  section  26;  thence  north  on  sec- 
tion line  to  the  SE  corner  of  Section  22;  thence  west 
on  the   section  line  to  the  SW  corner  of  section  20. 


28 


HISTORY  OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


$300.00  was  applied  to  opening  and  improving  a  road 
running  on  or  near  to  the  section  line  running  from 
the  southwest  corner  of  section  20  to  the  northeast 
corner  of  section  6,  all  in  township  30,  north  of  range 
12  E. 

FIRST  COUNTY  ROAD— 1881. 

The  first  road  built  by  the  county  in  1881  commenc- 
ed at  the  southwest  corner  of  section  21,  township  30, 
north  of  range  11  east  and  then  went  north  to  Neva; 
thence  east  one  mile;  thence  in  a  northeastern  course 
to  section  16,  township  33,  range  12  east;  thence  to 
section  34,  township  34,  range  12  east;  thence  by  the 
Military  Road  to  a  point  three  miles  north  of  Freeden- 
land  P.  0.  and  then  on  a  route  between  ranges  14  and 
15. 


dren  were  amazed  to  see  this  marvelous  machine  so 
easily  propelled  by  some  invisible  power. 

The  automobile  has  demonstrated  its  value  and  is 
in  constant  use  everywhere  in  Langlade  County.  An- 
tigo  has  eleven  garages  where  able  mechanics  repair 
automobiles.  Every  township  has  its  garages.  The 
number  of  automobiles  owned  in  Langlade  County  is 
1,536.  Five  hundred  and  forty-nine  of  these 
are  owned  by  Antigo  residents.  Antigo  township  has 
more  automobiles  than  any  other  township,  159  being 
its  total. 

The  aggregate  assessed  value  of  the  automobiles  in 
the  county  is  $640,083.00. 

The  motorcycle  has  come  into  general  use  within 
the  period  of  the  automobile  era  and  many  people  own 
and  operate  a  motorcycle  as  a  convenient  method  of 
travel. 


I  hiiaKii  i^  Xuitluvs->lern  Depot.  .Antigo.  Wis. 
cost  of  $(>.>, uoo. no. 


Mrictcil  in   I'.KIT  at  a 


THE  AUTOMOBILE  INDUSTRY. 

The  most  advanced  means  of  travel  on  highways  is 
the  modern  automobile.  The  first  to  appear  in  Antigo 
came  in  1902  and  was  owned  by  W.  L.  Elliott,  Antigo 
business  man.  It  was  a  "one  lunger"  Oldsmobile 
with  a  high  odd  looking  top.  It  aroused  townsfolk 
with  its  odd  Chug!       Chug!       Men,  women  and  chil- 


\V.  L.  ELLIOTT'S  OLDSMOP.!  LR. 
l-'irst     Anlonioliilc     in     Langlafie     Connty. 


THE  AEROPLANE  AND  LANGLADE  COUNTY. 

Langlade  County  has  many  experienced  aviators 
who  served  in  the  World  War,  but  it  has  no  aero- 
planes. The  first  flying  exhibition  in  Langlade  Coun- 
ty was  held  by  John  Schweister  in  1910  at  the  county 
fair.  A  great  crowd  gathered  to  see  him  perform, 
.lohn  Kaminski,  Milwaukee  aviator,  was  the  second  to 
exhibit  in  an  aeroplane  in  Antigo.  The  best  aeroplane 
flight  ever  witnessed  by  Langlade  County  citizens  was 
during  the  county  fair  of  1912,  when  the  late  Lincoln 
Beachey,  renowned  aviator,  went  into  the  clouds  be- 
fore thousands  of  thrilled  spectators. 

Today  airplanes  are  used  extensively  in  warfare  and 
in  arts  of  peace.  It  is  not  uncommon  to  see  them  pass 
over  Antigo.  The  county  fair  grounds  are  frequently 
used  as  a  landing  place.  The  day  will  come  when  air 
lanes  will  be  regulated  everywhere  as  highways  are 
today. 

HIGHWAYS— ROAD     COSTS— MACHINERY. 

Highways  No.  47,  39  and  64  traverse  Langlade 
County.  Thousands  of  tourists  from  every  section  of 
the  union   pass  through  Antigo  on  their  way  to  and 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


29 


from  the  great  tourist  resorts  of  the  Badger  state. 

Langlade  County  spent  $188,007.78  on  road  con- 
struction and  improvements  in  1921.  Contrast  this 
with  $500.00  spent  the  first  year  the  county  was  or- 
ganized. There  are  160  miles  of  state  aid  and  62 
miles  of  state  trunk  lines  in  the  county.  The  average 
cost  of  ordinary  graded  roads  in  Langlade  County  is 
$2,000  per  mile. 

AUTOMOTIVE  DEALERS  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Langlade  County  Automotive  Dealers  Associa- 
tion was  organized  May  1,  1920  at  Antigo.  Annual  au- 
tomobile shows  are  given  by  it. 

LANGLADE  COUNTY  BRIDGES. 

As  Langlade  County  has  within  its  borders  two  large 
rivers,  the  Wolf  and  Eau  Claire,  together  with  numer- 


FIRST  COUNTY  BRIDGE. 

December  11,  1883,  the  county  board  was  petition- 
ed to  build  a  bridge  across  Wolf  river  at  the  lower 
Post  Lake  dam  in  section  16,  township  33,  range  12 
east.  The  petition  was  signed  by  Jos.  M.  Jackson, 
H.  B.  Polar  and  16  others.  After  reference  to 
the  Road  and  Bridge  Committee,  the  county  voted 
$1,200.00  to  build  the  bridge.  Bids  were  received  by 
Supervisor  Joseph  Duchac.  The  contract  was  award- 
ed to  Hi.  Polar,  March  6,  1884  for  $925.00. 

IMPORTANT  BRIDGES. 

The  most  important  bridges  in  Langlade  County  are 
located  at  Langlade,  over  Wolf  river;  at  Lily,  over 
Wolf  river;  at  Pearson,  at  Elton,  at  Rezula,  Ackley 
township.  They  are  all  steel  bridges  except  the  last 
named.      The  Rezula  bridge  cost  $12,000.00.       It  was 


THE  REZULA  CONCRETE   BRIDGE 
Oil   Highway  No.  64,  over  the  west  branch  of  the   Eau   Claire   River. 


ous  rivulets  and  smaller  streams,  bridges  have  played 
a  very  important  part  in  its  development. 

It  was  difficult  for  the  early  homesteaders  to  travel 
in  their  day.  They  lost  no  time  in  erecting  bridges 
to  cross  rivers  and  streams.  The  first  bridge  was 
probably  built  by  W.  L.  Ackley  over  the  Eau  Claire 
in  1853,  as  it  is  safe  to  presume  that  he  needed  one  to 
log  and  get  back  into  the  country  known  now  as  west 
Ackley. 

The  first  bridge  we  have  record  of  was  built  in  1874 
by  S.  A.  Taylor  near  lower  Post  Lake  over  the  Wolf 
river.  Many  bridges  were  built  and  destroyed  before 
then,  no  doubt.  The  Indians  bridged  the  streams  in 
their  primitive  way. 

The  S.  A.  Taylor  bridge  was  constructed  of  heavy 
timber  and  rough  sawed  lumber.  When  Langlade 
County  was  organized  Mr.  Taylor  sent  a  bill  to  the 
County  Board  declaring,  that  inasmuch  as  he  had  built 
the  bridge  and  it  was  a  public  necessity  the  county 
ought  to  reimburse  him  for  his  labors,  which  they  did 
to  the  extend  of  $1,400. 


erected  in  1916-17,  and  is  of  concrete.  The  longest 
bridge  in  the  county  spans  the  Wolf  river  at  Lang- 
lade. 

Many  small  wooden  bridges  of  minor  importance 
span  small  streams  and  rivers  through  various  parts  of 
the  county.  When  the  first  settlers  came  to  Antigo, 
Springbrook  was  spanned  by  a  wooden  bridge  put  in 
by  John  Cherf.  It  has  since  been  replaced  by  con- 
crete. 

The  ruins  of  many  pioneer  bridges  can  be  located  on 
various  streams  throughout  Langlade  County.  Some 
of  them  have  been  obsolete  for  the  past  quarter  of  a 
century  or  more. 

HIGHWAY  COMMISSIONERS. 

Langlade  County  has  had  two  County  Highway 
Commissioners.  The  first  T.  W.  Humble  was  select- 
ed by  the  County  Board  in  1911.  He  served  until 
1916  and  was  followed  by  Charles  Olson  of  Elcho, 
who  is  still  in  the  service.  Wm.  Wolfe  is  Mr.  Ol- 
son's assistant. 


30 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  IX. 
Pioneer  Lumbering  on  the  Wolf  and  Eau  Claire  Rivers 

Improvement  Concerns — Pioneer  Lumbermen — The  Great  Log  Drives — Dams  on  the  Wolf  and  Lily 
Rivers — Maine  Timbermen  in  Langlade  County — A  Pioneer  Camp. 


Lumbering  was  the  principle  industry  in  Langlade 
County  for  many  years  after  its  organization  and  twen- 
ty years  before  1880,  the  first  prospectors  and  early 
settlers  engaged  in  that  industry.  Only  pine  was  cut. 
River  channels  were  improved  by  various  private  im- 
provement companies  and  logs  were  driven  down  the 
streams  to  Shawano  and  Oshkosh  on  the  Wolf  River, 
and  to  Wausau  on  the  Eau  Claire  River. 

The  Wolf  River  Improvement  Company  was  owned 
by  Oshkosh  people.  The  River  Improvement  Co.  was 
a  firm  created  to  improve  the  west  branch  of  the  Big 
Eau  Claire  River.  It  was  organized  February  26, 
1894,  by  A.  C.  Campbell,  A.  M.  Lanning  and  G.  W. 
Hogben.       The   Big   Eau   Claire    River   Improvement 


Dodge  of  Shawano,  cut  the  first  pine  north  of  the  In- 
dian Reservation  on  Section  7,  township  31,  Range  15 
East  for  L.  Beecher  of  Boston,  Mass.  Other  pioneer 
lumber  operators  were:  Dewey  George  of  Shawano, 
Weatherby  &  Crowe  of  Oshkosh;  T.  Crane  of  Shaw- 
ano; Welcome  Hide,  land  locater,  from  Embarrass, 
Waupaca  County,  who  came  first  into  Langlade  County 
with  his  fifteen  year  old  son  and  then  moved  to  Vir- 
gin Lake,  five  miles  east  of  Three  Lakes;  George 
Gery  of  Appleton,  George  Gilkey  of  Oshkosh  and 
Choate  &  Bray  of  the  same  place.  Logs  of  each 
operator  were  marked  and  boomed. 

The    river    drives    meant    an    influx    of    woodsmen, 
cruisers   and   operators    into   the   Wolf   river   country. 


Hf^.: 


THE  GARDNER  DA.M  SITE 

On  the  Weill'   River  near  the  old   log  cabins  on   the  Military    Road. 

The  (lan>  was  named  in  memory  of  the  Stockbridge  Indian. 

who   first   condneted  a  stopping   place  on   the   Lake 

Superior  Trail. 


Company  was  organized  by  John  D.  Ross,  Walter  H. 
Bissell  and  J.  S.  Clements.  Its  object  was  to  im- 
prove the  Eau  Claire  River  course,  to  handle,  sort  and 
deliver  logs  and  timber  in  the  territory  adjacent  to  the 
river  in  Lincoln  and  Langlade  Counties.  The  Deer- 
skin Log  Driving  and  Improvement  Company,  organiz- 
ed by  Alexander  Stewart,  Walter  Alexander,  Thomas 
Scott  and  F.  P.  Hixon,  improved  Deerskin  River  from 
Section  24,  Township  42,  Range  11  to  Section  13, 
Township  40,  Range  10  East  at  which  it  then  "flowed 
into  a  lake  in  the  counties  of  Langlade  and  Lincoln." 
Pioneer  lumberman  who  operated  extensively  in  the 
Wolf  River  country  in  Langlade  County  as  early  as 
1875  were:  Philetus  Sawyer,  Seymour  HoUister, 
George  Buckf.taff,  George  Rich,  Lyman  Rumery,  Kel- 
logg 8f  McCoy,  Asa  C.  Hicks,  all  of  Oshkosh;  Daniel 
Fitzgerald  and  Col.  Hansen  of  Oshkosh.       Theodore 


Often  the  drives  were  not  completed  until  August. 
Many  logs  would  sink  and  frequently  log  jams  were 
costly.  A  jam  of  logs  would  hold  the  entire  drive  up 
and  it  was  necessary  many  times  to  break  up  the  jam 
for  miles  on  the  river.  The  work  was  strenuous  and 
exceedingly  dangerous  and  many  a  pioneer  lumber- 
jack and  river  driver  was  drowned  or  suffered  a  broken 
limb  during  one  of  the  exciting  drives.  Logs  were 
frequently  intentionally  jammed,  during  low  tide, 
to  raise  the  water  and  thus  take  in  the  rear.  The 
improvement  companies  were  under  a  heavy  expense 
to  maintain  clean  river  channels  to  transport  the  thou- 
ands  of  feet  of  logs  that  moved  down  stream. 

The  Wolf  river  and  other  Langlade  County  streams 
were  equipped  with  dams  to  facilitate  log  movement. 
Important  dams  on  the  various  rivers  of  eastern  Lang- 
lade  County   were :     The  first   dam  was   below   Pine 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


31 


Lake,  followed  by  another  just  below  Rice  Lake.  The 
next  was  at  Pelican,  known  as  the  Pelican  dam.  Near 
Crandon,  Forest  County,  the  Little  Chute  dam  was  lo- 
cated and  below  it  we  come  into  Langlade  County, 
where  the  Upper  Post  Lake  dam  is  found.  The  wa- 
ters from  Upper  Post  Lake  formed  the  principal  res- 
ervoir dam  for  log  driving  on  the  entire  Wolf  river 
south  of  it.  The  flood  started  in  the  Upper  Post  Lake 
and  until  the  logs  were  nearing  Shiocton,  dams  were 
necessary.  Other  dams  were :  Lower  Post  Lake 
dam,  Lily  river  dam,  Larzelere  dam,  George  Gardner 
dam,  Keshena  Dells  dam.  On  Lily  river  there  were 
six  dams  on  the  main  stream  and  one  on  Bob  Brook. 


a  ways."  A  regular  mat  of  ground  and  cedar  had 
grown  over  the  river  south  of  Gardner's  dam  from 
which  he  drew  his  conclusion  that  the  river  "flowed 
out  of  the  ground." 

ISAAC    FARROW'S    MISTAKE. 

Isaac  Farrow,  pioneer  settler  in  the  Lost  Nation, 
wanted  to  drain  White  Lake  and  make  a  natural  hay 
meadow  out  of  it.  He  started  a  drain  at  the  out- 
let of  White  Lake  (N.  E.  part).  The  bottom  of  the 
lake  was  found  to  be  white  marl,  used  to  clean  silver- 
ware, etc.,  and  would  be  of  no  value  for  hay  meadow- 
ing.     His  deed  is  now  called  Isaac  Farrow's  mistake. 


"NOT  AS  A  CONQUEROR  COMES, 
Oxen,  horses  and  sturdy  men  played  their  part  in  the  si 
ers  of  Louis  Sands  of  Manistique,  Michigan,  and  W.  B.  Bon 
nel  camps  were  located  on  section  li.'i,  township  HI,  Range  11 
son,  Superintendent,  who  came  from  the  Pine  Tree  State 
ter  shanty.  The  first  building  at  the  left  is  the  cook  shant 
the  right  are  hovels  used  to  house  the  oxen  and  horses.  T 
ations  in  188.'),  20,200,000  feet  of  pine  had  been  cut.  A  shin 
by-product  was  manufactured.  The  great  forest  of  pine  an 
been  replaced  by  modern  farms.  The  pine  from  this  camp 
Weed  mill  in  .Antigo  township.       The  old   Sands   &   Bonnel 

They  were  Lake  Dam,  at  Robert's  Lake;  eighty  rods 
below  was  Lake  Dam  No.  2;  one-half  mile  below  was 
Bowser  dam,  named  after  John  Bowser  and  next  was 
the  Choate  &  Bray  dam,  Turtillotte  dam  and  Big 
Roll  dam,  Hayter  dam  and  Craine  dam.  There  was 
a  dam  on  the  east  branch  of  the  Lily  River.  On  Pick- 
erel Creek  there  were  two  dams;  on  Swamp  Creek 
there  were  two  dams,  and  above  and  below  Freedenland 
(Louis  Motzf eld's  place)  on  Swamp  Creek  two  dams 
were  erected.  The  Keshena  Improvement  Company 
owned  many  of  the  dams  in  Langlade  County. 

GILMORE'S   MISTAKE. 

A  Civil  Engineer  and  surveyor  whose  surname  was 
Gilmore  surveyed  the  course  of  the  Wolf  River  in 
1868  for  Oshkosh  lumbermen  and  reported  that  "no 
pine  could  be  driven  on  the  river  as  it  ran  underground 


THEV,  THE  TRUE  HEARTED  CAME." 
aughter  of  Langlade  County  pine.  The  camping  headquart- 
nel  of  Chicago,  III.,  are  reproduced  here.  The  Sands  &  Bon- 
East  on  the  site  of  the  J.  J.  Laughlin  farm.  Henry  Hud- 
is  shown  back  of  a  snow  covered  stump  in  front  of  the  cen- 
y,  the  second  is  the  sleeping  shanty  and  the  log  structures  at 
he  camps  shown  were  erected  in  188t  and  at  the  close  of  oper- 
gle  mill  was  then  erected  and  in  188(;-87.  25,000.000  feet  of  the 
d  hardwood  shown  back  of  the  camp  buildings  has  long  since 
and  many  others  in  Langlade  County  was  hauled  to  the  J.  H. 
camp  granary  is  still  in  existence. 

WOODSMEN  SCOFFED  AT  ANTIGO  FLATS. 

In  1874  two  hardy  woodsmen  journeyed  over  the  In- 
dian trails  from  Wausau  through  the  present  limits  of 
Langlade  County  to  the  camp  headquarters  of  Moore 
&  Galloway,  three  miles  east  of  Dobbston.  They 
told  the  Camp  Superintendent,  the  timber  prospectors, 
cruisers,  lumberjacks  and  drivers  of  the  wonderful  re- 
gion to  the  west.  One  of  the  men  remarked  to  Henry 
Hudson:  "The  country  is  full  of  pine  and  splendid 
tracts  of  hardwood,  but  it  would  take  a  whole  year  to 
get  1,000  feet  of  the  product  to  the  Wolf  River."  He 
never  realized  that  the  "Iron  Trail'  'as  the  pioneer  call- 
ed the  railroad,  would  penetrate  into  that  same  terri- 
tory before  seven  years  passed,  and  that  in  fifty  years 
the  same  region  would  be  the  most  productive  agricul- 
tural section  of  the  territory  now  comprising  Langlade 
County. 


32 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


PIONEER  LUMBERMEN  FROM  MAINE. 

Maine  has  long  been  known  as  the  Pine  Tree  State, 
because  of  the  vast  areas  of  pine  forests  within  its 
limits.  Years  ago  the  woodland  area  of  Maine  cov- 
ered over  three-fourths  of  the  total  area  of  the  entire 
Commonwealth.  With  the  passing  of  the  primeval 
forests  of  that  state  many  of  its  native  sons  moved 
westward.  Thus  the  pine  forests  of  Maine  furnished 
to  Langlade  County  many  of  the  pioneers  in  the  logg- 
ing, river  driving  and  lumbering  industry  of  the  Wolf 
River  country.  These  sturdy  followers  of  the  stately 
pine  often  took  up  lands  and  homesteads  in  the  re- 
gions slashed  with  the  result  that  the  descendants  of 
many  are  still  living  along  the  route  of  the  Military 
Road  or  in  other  sections  of  the  county.  Many  of  the 
Maine  pine  men  moved  on  westward  and  their  progeny 
are  found  at  this  day  in  the  great  forests  of  Canadian- 
British  Columbia. 

With  the  pine  slashed,  the  purpose  of  the  pioneer 
lumberman  was  accomplished.  Hardwood  was  a  bur- 
den and  an  expense.  The  knotty  and  poorer  grade  of 
logs  were  usually  left  in  the  forests  to  become  a  prey 
to  future  raging  forest  fires.  At  first  only  the  pine 
timber  along  the  banks  of  the  Wolf  and  Lily  rivers 
was  cut,  but  with  timber  operations  increasing,  the  ex- 
tent of  the  slashed  area  also  increased.  The  "cut- 
over"  land  of  that  day  was  then  placed  on  the  market 
to  be  taken  up  by  the  first  settlers.  Often  they  be- 
came discouraged  and  would  abandon  their  "hole  in  the 
woods"  as  the  first  clearings  were  called.  Land  was 
then  considered  worthless.  It  would  not  in  many  in- 
stances yield  sufficient  products  to  pay  taxes.  Thus 
the  land  speculator,  the  tax-title  lawyer,  great  land 
agencies  and  many  who  invested  "pine  profits"  took  up 
the  lands  of  the  county.  They  paid  the  munificent 
sum  of  from  fifty  cents  to  two  dollars  per  acre  for 
land  that  today  could  not  be  purchased  for  $150.00  per 
acre.  The  delicate  problems  envolving  the  owner- 
ship and  the  title  to  thousands  of  acres  of  land  demand- 
ed expert  attention.  Thus  the  tax  title  attorney  be- 
came a  necessity.  Attorney  W.  H.  Webster  of  Ocon- 
to and  Attorney  George  W.  Latta  of  Antigo,  were  the 
acknowledged  tax  title  experts  in  the  vicinity. 

The  story  of  the  pine  hunter  is  now  but  a  memory  on- 
ly to  the  oldest  settlers.  The  lumberman  and  timber 
cruiser  of  that  era  are  passing  away  swiftly.  Only 
through  the  story  teller  of  tomorrow — "the  art  preser- 
vative of  arts"  will  the  traditions  of  the  early  lumber 
districts  be  preserved. 

And  the  tales  they  will  tell  the  people 
Will  be  of  logging  camps  and  saw  mills 

At  a  time  by  few  remembered 

When  this  land  was  dense  with  forests. 

Tales  of  swamping,  sawing,  skidding. 
Rafting,  driving,  logs  and  lumber. 

How  they  felled  the  forest  timber. 


Tell  of  lumber  jack  and  camp  boss, 
Of  the  cook  and  sleeping  shanties. 

Of  the  horse  and  oxen  stables 
By  the  forest  trees  surrounded. 

Of  the  peavy  and  the  cant  hook 
Now  no  longer  seen  with  workmen. 

Stories  of  the  timber  cruising. 
Bearing  trees  and  section  corners, 

Tramping  woodland  shod  in  snow  shoes 
Seeking  merchantable  timber, 

Looking  ever  at  the  tree  trunks. 
Never  noting  soil  they  grew  on 

Though  the  richest  ever  planted. 
Tell  the  tales  of  timber  stealing. 

Liens  for  labor,  suits  for  trespass. 
To  a  wondering  pastoral  people. 

Tell  of  shingle  bolts  and  saw  logs 
And  the  timber  cut  for  pulp  wood; 

Of  the  log  jams  in  the  river. 
And  the  ice  roads  to  the  landing 

Of  the  circular  and  band  saw. 
How  they  ripped  the  logs  and  lumber. 

When  his  father  was  a  youngster; 
They  will  tell  of  mills  dismantled, 

Of  the  knives  that  changed  the  huge  logs 
Into  long  sheets  called  veneering. 

Of  the  hubs  made  for  the  wagons 
Turned  and  mortised  by  the  carload, 

And  the  staves  and  hoops  for  barrels, 
Manufactured  by  the  million; 

They  will  tell  of  mills  that  vanished. 

When  no  timber  grew  to  feed  them. 
Where  they  stood  the  lawn  mowers  clicking 

Seems  faint  echo  to  their  noises. 
Tell  how  forests  were  denuded 

Of  all  timber  having  value. 
When  the  farmer  of  the  southward 

Came  to  clear  the  timber  slashings, 
Built  of  logs  their  house  and  stables, 

Toiling  hard  for  crops  to  gather. 
How  the  timber  farmer  wondered, 

Shook  his  head  and  smiled  with  pity 
Said  it  was  the  height  of  folly 

Trying  to  force  from  stumps  a  living; 

But  the  sneers  were  all  unheeded 
By  a  farmer  at  his  clearing. 

Late  and  early  toiling  conquered. 
Field  on  field  was  cleared  and  planted 

Garnered  grain  rewards  his  labors. 
Dairy  cattle  browse  contented 

In  the  pastures  once  the  forest. 
Well  content  the  prosperous  farmer 

Tells  with  mirth  of  timber  settler 
Who  once  owned  his  smiling  acres. 

How  he  followed  lumbering  northward 
To  the  verge  of  civilization 

And  was  never  heard  from  after. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


33 


CHAPTER  X. 
County  Politics  and  Parties 

Political  Parties — Federal — Whig — Democrat — R  epublican — Green  Backs — Socialists — Non-Parti- 
san  League — Progressives — Retirement  of  Old  School  leaders — County  political  henchmen — 
Personal  Politics  in  County  Affairs — Political  Wire  Pulling — Langlade  County  Women  in  Pol- 
itics— The  Political  Wigwam  of  1896 — War  with  Germany  Breaks  Party  Ties — Labor  to  the 
Front — Weakening  of  Party  Lines — The  Battle  Line  of  1924 — Presidential  Vote  of  County 
1884-1920. 


In  the  Colonial  period  of  American  history  there  ex- 
isted no  political  parties  such  as  are  prevalent  today. 
Not  until  1760,  when  the  English  insisted  upon  a  severe 
policy  toward  the  Colonies  did  two  factions  develop, 
one  favoring  self  government  and  the  other  favoring 
obedience  to  the  crown  government.  Thus  was  born 
the  Colonial  Whig  and  the  Tory  groups  and  with 
their  birth  American  political  history  began. 

The  initial  party  organization  commenced  in  op- 
position to  measures  sponsored  by  Alexander  Hamil- 
ton, which  included  the  establishment  of  a  National 
Bank.  In  this  conflict  of  ideas  developed  the  Feder- 
al and  Anti-Federalist — the  former  led  by  Alexander 
Hamilton,  the  latter  by  Thomas  Jefferson.  The  Fed- 
eralists gained  control  of  the  new  United  States  gov- 
ernment with  the  election  of  George  Washington,  but 
in  1801  were  overthrown  by  the  Anti-Federalists,  who 
during  their  quarter  of  a  century  of  power,  changed 
their  party  label  from  Anti-Federalist  to  Democratic- 
Republican,  Republican  and  finally  Democrat. 

The  National  Republican  party,  created  during  the 
Monroe  "Era  of  Good  Feeling,"  the  Anti-Masonic 
party  of  1832,  the  Whig  party  of  1836,  the  Liberty 
party  of  1840,  the  Free  Soilers  of  1848,  the  American 
or  Know-nothing  party  of  1856,  the  Republican  party 
of  1856,  the  Green  Backs  or  Nationals  of  1876,  the 
Laborites  of  1884,  the  Peoples  Party  of  1892,  the  So- 
cialists of  1892,  the  Populists  of  1896,  the 
Socialist-Labor  Party  of  1896,  the  Prohibition- 
ists commencing  in  1896,  the  Progressives  of  1912,  the 
Farmer-Labor  Party  of  1920,  all  have  been  organized 
as  a  result  of  divided  opinions  on  some  burning  princi- 
pal or  issue  of  national  interest. 

POLITICAL  LANGLADE  COUNTY. 

Political  history  of  the  county  began  when  Squire 
A.  Taylor  made  his  fight  for  the  County  of  New,  in 
1879.  A  year  later,  as  we  know,  in  February,  1880, 
the  name  of  the  county  became  Langlade.  The  Wolf 
River  settlement  and  its  leaders  opposed  the  establish- 
ment of  the  county-seat  at  Springbrook  or  Antigo. 
Francis  A.  Deleglise  and  his  followers  accepted  the 
creation  of  New  County  nonchalantly.  This  is  evi- 
denced by  the  following  petition  to  the  Oconto  County 
Board  of  Supervisors :  We,  the  undersigned  inhabi- 
tants and  electors  of  that  part  of  Range  eleven  (11) 


that  lays  in  Oconto  County*  do  hereby  make  applica- 
tion to  you  to  establish  and  organize  a  town  out  of  and 
comprising  the  above  mentioned  territory  and  to  call 
said  town  the  name  set  opposite  the  majority  of  the 
signers  hereto. 

Dated  at  Antigo  this  sixth  day  of  November,  1880. 

Names  of  Petitioners  and  the  name  preferred  for 
proposed  town : 

F.  A.  Deleglise — Antigo. 

Gus  Lind — Antigo. 

George  Ratcliffe — Antigo. 

Remington — Antigo. 

Niels  Anderson — Antigo. 

Richard  Healy — Antigo. 

John  Erkling — Antigo. 

Joseph  R.  Sheriff — Antigo. 

Charles  Mosher — Antigo. 

William  Miller — Springbrook. 

Charles  Teipner — Springbrook. 

S.  L.  Wait— Antigo. 

Daniel  M.  Taggart — Antigo. 

D.  M.  Randall— Antigo. 

D.  S.  Olmsted— Antigo. 
James  Novotny — Antigo. 
Joseph  Kraus — Antigo. 
Jozeph  Nowotny — Antigo. 
Joseph  Novotny — Antigo. 
Louis  Novotny — Antigo. 
Joseph  Duchac — Antigo. 
Philip  Novotni — Antigo. 
Thomas  Vochoska — Antigo. 
Antone  Honzik- — Antigo. 

E.  R.  Whitmore — Antigo. 
Joseph  Mattek — Antigo. 
Joseph  Plzak — Antigo. 
John  Carlson — Antigo. 
Wenzel  Smetana — Antigo. 
J.  C.  Maloney — Antigo. 

J.  W.  Goodwin — Antigo. 


*  The  territory  which  the  petitioners   sought   to   have   detached   from 
Oconto    County    d'd    not    then    belong      to       Oconto       County.  The 

petit  oners  desired  townships  31,  32,  33,  34,  35  36.  37,  38,  39,  40.  41 
and  42.  North,  Range  11  East  "be  detached  irom  all  previous  town 
organizations  existing  under  authority  of  the  Oconto  County  Board 
and  that  the  townships  be  organized  and  named  Antigo."  The  first 
town  election  was  to  be  held  April  5,  1881.  A.  D.,  at  Niels  Anderson's 
store.  This  was  directly  in  conflict  with  the  Chapter  7,  laws  of  1880, 
approved  February  19,  1880,  in  which  New  County  was  changed  to 
Langlade  County,  (with  Antigo  township  as  a  part  of  it)  and  in  which 
Oconto  County  had  no  jurisdiction  since  1879.  It  demonstrates  the 
livalry  between  the  Squire  A.  Taylor  group  on  the  Wolf  River  and 
the   settlers   in  and    adjacent   to   Antigo. 


34 


HISTORY  OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


Alex  McMillan — Springbrook. 

E.  Holly — Antigo. 

Jos.  Holy — Antigo. 

M.  W.  Waite— Antigo. 

Alexander  McMartin— Antigo. 

Albert  Brown — Antigo. 

Frank  Byrne — Springbrook. 

Peter  O'Connor — Springbrook. 

James  O'Connor — Antigo. 

Thomas  W.  Leslie — Antigo. 

Oliver  Leslie — Antigo. 

R.  J.  Richards — Springbrook. 

John  Cherne — Antigo. 

Lawrence  Walk — Antigo. 

Stephen  Dauet — Antigo. 

Joseph  Debrewer — Antigo. 

Patrick  Byrne — Springbrook. 

John  Deresch — Antigo. 

T.  Ekart — Antigo. 

Michael  Weix — Antigo. 

Frank  Campton — Springbrook. 

Nick  Golden — Antigo. 

Total  number  voting — 59.  50  for  Antigo — 9  for 
Springbrook.  "Two  would  not  sign  on  account  of  the 
majority  being  for  Antigo,"  said  the  petition. 

POLITICAL  CAMPAIGNS— 1884-1924. 

The  campaign  of  1884  was  Langlade  County's  first 
dip  into  Presidential  politics.  September  25,  1884,  a 
Blaine  and  Logan  Club  was  organized  with  W.  H. 
Blinn  as  President  and  A.  L.  Ross,  Commander. 
October  16,  1884,  a  great  celebration  and  torch  parade 
was  held  by  the  Blaine  and  Loganites  in  Antigo.  The 
procession,  headed  by  a  brass  band,  proceeded  from 
the  Antigo  House  (corner  of  5th  Avenue  and  Edison 
street)  to  the  Opera  House  (south  of  site  of  Vivian 
Hotel),  where  Hon.  W.  C.  Bailey  of  Green  Bay  spoke 
in  ringing  terms  for  over  an  hour  on  impending  is- 
sues. The  Republicans  appealed  to  Civil  War  vete- 
rans to  support  Blaine  and  especially  Logan,  soldier 
and  G.  A.  R.  Commander. 

The  Democrats  were  very  active  in  support  of  Cleve- 
land and  Hendricks.  A  Cleveland  and  Hendricks 
Club  was  formed  with  Attorney  Thomas  W.  Lynch  as 
President  and  W.  H.  Dawley  as  Secretary.  Their 
street  parades,  torch  processions  and  county  campaign- 
ing kept  the  Plumed  Knights  of  the  Blaine  and  Logan 
Club  on  the  alert.  Many  prominent  speakers  visited 
Antigo  and  spoke  on  the  paramount  issue,  the  tariff. 

After  the  election  the  people  of  the  village  throng- 
ed to  the  Milwaukee,  Lake  Shore  depot,  where  tele- 
graphic returns  were  received.  The  bulletins  were 
scanned  with  eagerness  to  cheer  or  lament  as  the  re- 
port dictated.  Rivalry  was  not  over  when  voting 
ceased  as  the  Republicans  charged  the  Democrats  with 
"being  too  boisterous  while  awaiting  returns." 

Newspapers  played  an  important  part  in  the  cam- 
paign. The  Langlade  Republican  was  strong  for 
Blaine,  while  the  News  Item  was  for  the  Cleveland- 
Hendricks  ticket. 


Pioneers  are  of  the  opinion  that  Antigo  has  never 
since  witnessed  such  earnest  political  torch  parades, 
pow  wows  and  active  political  campaigning  as  the 
great  election  of  1884.  While  Blaine  carried  the 
county  it  was  only  by  126  votes. 

THE  CAMPAIGN  OF  1888. 

The  campaign  of  1888  turned  the  tide  in  favor  of 
the  Republicans  and  Benjamin  Harrison,  with  free 
trade  as  the  paramount  issue,  went  into  the  President's 
chair.  Langlade  County  endorsed  Cleveland  in  the 
campaign  by  1192  votes  as  against  774  for  General 
Harrison. 

The  election  was  equally  exciting  as  that  of  1884. 
When  the  returns  showed  Harrison  and  Morton  as  the 
victors  a  great  log  cabin  demonstration  was  arrang- 
ed, Saturday,  November  10,  1888.  Music,  a  pro- 
cession, banners,  horsemen  and  a  general  "bang  up" 
prevailed.  An  amusing  incident  of  the  1888  fight 
was  related  by  an  old  timer  telling  how  William  Mar- 
thinson  carried  David  Clements  from  Weed's  mill  to 
Clement's  residence,  a  considerable  distance,  as  pay- 
ment of  a  losing  end  of  an  election  bet. 

THE  GREAT  FIGHT  FOR  FREE  SILVER. 

The  most  exciting  campaign  in  the  history  of  the 
nation  for  years  was  the  McKinley-Bryan  contest  of 
1896.  The  coinage  of  free  silver  at  a  16  to  1  ratio 
was  the  dominant  issue.  McKinley  carried  Langlade 
County  by  approximately  five  hundred  votes.  The 
campaign  held  sway  over  the  entire  nation  from  the 
time  nominations  were  made  until  the  inauguration 
of  President-elect  McKinley.  Bryan,  magnetic  ora- 
tor, toured  the  country  speaking  to  great  crowds  every- 
where. Republican  and  Democrat  leaders  were  sent 
into  Langlade  County  to  aid  their  respective  parties. 
Rallies,  torchlight  parades,  political  speeches  and  bar- 
becues enlivened  the  campaign  in  which  party  lines 
were  broken  and  crossed  in  so  many  ways  making  its 
local  phase  notable  in  Langlade  County  political  his- 
tory. 

THE  POLITICAL  WIGWAM  OF  1896. 

The  citizens  of  Antigo,  chiefly  Republicans,  with 
the  aid  of  some  Gold  Democrats  and  free  silver  pro- 
ponents alike,  realized  the  need  of  a  large  meeting 
place  during  the  political  election  of  1896.  Accord- 
ingly carpenters,  laborers,  politicians  and  office  seek- 
ers all  joined  hands  and  erected  a  monstrous  wigwam, 
as  it  was  called,  on  the  present  public  library  grounds. 

The  great  poles  were  hauled  from  the  Kingsbury  & 
Henshaw  land  just  west  of  Neva  road,  opposite  the 
McHale  farm,  north  of  Antigo.  Most  of  the  labor 
and  material  was  donated.  The  framework  of  the 
wigwam  was  erected  with  great  speed.  A  substan- 
tial building  paper  covered  the  rough  wall  boards. 
The  interior  was  equipped  with  plank  seats  and  a  plat- 
form. The  seating  capacity  was  between  fifteen 
hundred  to  two  thousand.  Antigo  had  a  Bryan  Club 
and  a  McKinley  Club  during  that  hot  fought  contest. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


35 


Republican  and  Democrat  campaign  speeches  alike 
were  given  in  the  wigwam.  More  interest  was  evinc- 
ed by  the  women  of  the  county  than  ever  before. 

McKINLEY  CARRIES  LANGLADE. 

Bryan  was  defeated  but  as  he  said  "the  year  1900 
is  not  far  away,  the  campfires  of  patriotism  still 
burn"  and  the  great  Commoner  to  this  day  is  a  leader 
in  American  politics.  The  campaign  of  1900  resulted 
again  in  the  victory  of  McKinley  and  the  Republicans. 
Langlade  County  gave  McKinley  five  hundred  majori- 
ty, the  vote  being  1596  for  McKinley  and  1084  for 
Bryan.  The  paramount  issue  was  the  monetory  sys- 
tem and  the  tariff. 

In  1904,  Alton  B.  Parker,  Democratic  presidential 
nominee  was  defeated  by  Roosevelt.  Parker  charged 
his  defeat  to  followers  of  Bryan.  Roosevelt  carried 
Langlade  County  by  a  thousand  votes. 

The  campaign  of  1912  is  notable  for  developing  the 
Bull  Moose  or  Progressive  Party  under  the  leadership 
of  Roosevelt,  who  defeated  LaFollette  of  Wisconsin 
for  Presidential  nominee.  William  Howard  Taft, 
eminently  qualified,  was  nominated  at  Chicago  by  the 
Republicans.  Some  thought  the  nomination  to  be  un- 
fair and  the  Progressive  party  was  the  result.  Sena- 
tor La  Follette  broke  with  Roosevelt  after  the  latter's 
nomination.  Meanwhile  the  Democrats,  through  the 
influence  of  Bryan,  nominated  Governor  Woodrow 
Wilson  of  New  Jersey  and  with  the  Republican  forces 
divided  the  results  were  easy  to  forecast.  Wilson  was 
elected.  He  carried  Langlade  County  by  five  hun- 
dred votes.  Roosevelt  lead  Taft  in  Langlade  Coun- 
ty and  gained  a  greater  vote  than  Taft  in  the  nation. 

In  1916  with  Europe  at  war,  the  United  States  neu- 
tral, Woodrow  Wilson  was  swept  into  office  on  a  plat- 
form, "He  kept  us  out  of  war."  Langlade  County  en- 
dorsed Wilson,  giving  him  two-hundred  more  votes 
than  Charles  Evans  Hughes,  Republican  nominee. 

The  campaign  of  1920  was  one  of  the  most  memor- 
able in  the  history  of  the  nation.  President  Wilson, 
broken  in  health,  his  ideals  of  a  League  of  Nations 
shattered,  looked  on  as  James  M.  Cox,  Ohio  war  Gov- 
ernor, leading  the  Democrats  in  a  remarkable  uphill 
battle,  was  overwhelmingly  defeated  by  the  Republi- 
cans, who  nominated  Warren  G.  Harding,  U.  S.  Sena- 
tor from  Ohio. 

Langlade  County  went  Republican  by  two  thou- 
sand votes.  The  paramount  issue  was  the  League  of 
Nations  and  America's  foreign  policy.  The  Farmer- 
Labor  party,  new  born,  made  a  creditable  showing. 
The  Non-partisan  League  gained  a  following  in  Lang- 
lade County.  The  campaigns  of  1884-1896  and  1920 
are  considered  the  most  remarkable  in  American  poli- 
tical history.  We  can  only  await  the  year  1924  to  see 
if  these  contests  are  not  superceded. 

THE  YEAR  1924  IS  NOT  FAR  AWAY. 

The  battle  lines  of  politics  are  beginning  to  be  ar- 
rayed at  this  writing.  The  Democrats  have  many 
leaders  as  McAdoo,  Pomerene,  Bryan,  Cox  or  Walsh, 


Presidential  possibilities,  but  a  dark  horse  has  ample 
time  to  come  up.  Warren  G.  Harding,  if  alive,  will  un- 
questionably be  the  Republican  choice  again.  The  So- 
cialists may  replace  Debs  with  a  man  younger  than 
he.  Soldiers  of  the  World  War  and  the  women  will 
play  an  important  part  in  the  contest.  The  dead  pro- 
gressives of  1912  may  be  reborn  under  a  new  title. 
Borah,  La  Follette,  (who  will  be  re-elected  in  Novem- 
ber, 1922),  Johnson  of  California,  James  A.  Reed  and 
France  of  Maryland  would  be  the  timber  for  the  new 
political  coterie.  The  conservative  policies  of  the 
Republicans  are  now  a  target. 

PERSONAL  COUNTY  POLITICS. 

Langlade  County  since  its  organization  in  1880  has 
had,  in  its  past  and  present  political  history  many 
leaders  who  acquired  their  controlling  influence 
through  their  own  personal  prestige  and  cordiality 
rather  than  through  party  principles.  The  day  is  pass- 
ing when  men  adhere  to  the  narrowness  of  a  one  policy 
or  party.  Party  lines  are  weakening.  A  man's 
character,  his  ability  and  his  honesty  figure  largely  in 
local  politics.  For  that  reason  Langlade  County  may 
be  Republican  on  national  issues,  but  largely  Demo- 
cratic on  local  affairs. 

DOMINANT  PARTIES  IN   COUNTY. 

The  dominant  parties  in  the  county  have  been  Dem- 
ocrat and  Republican.  In  1884  and  afterward  for 
sometime  the  Prohibitionists  or  "third  party"  element 
was  strong.  The  Socialist  Party  has  been  stronger 
in  late  years.  There  candidate  for  U.  S.  Senate,  Vic- 
tor L.  Berger,  received  420  votes  in  the  county  in  1918. 
The  Non-Partisan  League  organized  in  the  county  in 
1919.  Allied  with  various  labor  organizations  in  a 
Farmer-Labor  League  this  party  swept  the  county  in 
the  1920  primaries,  but  was  defeated  in  the  general 
election.  The  Republican  McCoy  Club  (Col.  McCoy, 
of  Sparta  was  then  Democrat  candidate  for  Governor 
against  J.  J.  Blaine,  Progressive  Republican,  whom 
the  standpat  Republicans  repudiated)  of  Langlade 
County  played  an  important  part  in  the  defeat  of  the 
Farmer-Labor  group.  The  Republican  county  com- 
mittee was  captured  by  the  Farmer-Labor  League  and 
is  still  in  their  control.  Issues  resultant  from  the 
World  War  broke  party  ties.  Democrat  county  offi- 
cers have  been  retained  almost  without  exception,  save 
for  Sheriff,  for  many  years.  In  1922  the  important 
battle  in  the  county  appears  to  be  between  the  Progres- 
sives and  the  Stalwarts  for  control  of  Republican  party 
affairs.  "Rings,"  political  aspirants,  so-called  ama- 
teur political  "bosses"  and  "one  man  power"  are  talk- 
ed of  in  the  county. 

LANGLADE    COUNTY    PRESIDENTIAL   VOTE 
SINCE  ORGANIZATION  TO  DATE. 

In  1880  there  is  no  record  of  a  Presidential  vote  in 
New  County,  but  in  1881  a  record  of  a  Gubernatorial 
vote  is  given  in  Langlade  County.  Langlade  County 
has  voted  Republican  majorities  six  times  and  Demo- 
cratic majorities  in  Presidential  elections  four  times. 


36 


HISTORY    OF    LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


The  first  Presidential  vote  was  during  the  great  Blaine 
and  Logan  and  Cleveland  and  Hendricks  campaign  as 
follows : 

1884 — Grover  Cleveland,  Democrat— 559  votes; 
James  G.  Blaine,  Republican — 685  votes. 

1888 — Grover  Cleveland,  Democrat — 1192  votes; 
Benjamin  Harrison,  Republican — 774  votes. 

1892— Grover  Cleveland,  Democrat— 1299  votes; 
Benjamin  Harrison,  Republican — 877  votes;  J.  B. 
Weaver,  Peoples  Party — 13  votes;  Bidwell,  Prohibi- 
tionist— 31  votes. 

1896— William  J.  Bryan,  Democrat— 957  votes;  Wil- 
liam McKinley,  Republican— 1445  votes;  J.  W.  Palmer 
— 21  votes. 

1900— William  J.  Bryan,  Democrat— 1084  votes; 
William  McKinley,  Republican — 1596  votes;  Wooley, 
Prohibitionist — 48    votes;    Eugene    Debs,    Socialist — 5 


votes;  J.  F.  Malloney,  Social  Labor— 5  votes. 

1904 — Theodore  Roosevelt,  Republican— 2105  votes; 
A.  B.  Parker,  Democrat — 1018  votes;  Swallow,  Prohi- 
bitionist— 46  votes;  Socialist — 31  votes;  Social  Labor 
Party — 1  vote;  Peoples  Party — 2  votes. 

1908— William  J.  Bryan,  Democrat— 1340;  William 
H.  Taft,  Republican— 1921  votes;  Chafin,  Prohibition- 
ist— 64  votes;  Debs,  Socialist — 33  votes. 

1912 — Woodrow  Wilson,  Democrat — 1387  votes; 
William  H.  Taft,  Republican— 710  votes;  Theodore 
Roosevelt,  Progressive — 810  votes;  Chafin,  Prohibi- 
tionist— 36  votes;  Debs,  Socialist — 91  votes. 

1916 — Woodrow  Wilson,  Democrat — 1730  votes; 
Charles  Evans  Hughes,  Republican — 1524  votes. 

1920 — James  M.  Cox,  Democrat — 1619  votes;  War- 
ren G.  Harding,  Republican — 4059  votes;  Debs,  So- 
cialist— 189  votes;  Watkins,  Prohibitionist — 46  votes. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


37 


CHAPTER  XL 
Schools  and  Education 


State  Land  Grants — Ordinance  of  1787 — First  Langlade  County  School — Pioneer  Teaching  Meth- 
ods—Early Teachers — Graded  and  Consolidated  Schools — Antigo  High  School — Public 
Schools — Parochial  Schools — County  Superintendents — Antigo  Public  Library — City  Super- 
intendents— Antigo  Pioneer  Club — Wisconsin  Geographical  Society  of  Antigo — Langlade 
County  Historical  Society — Graduates  by  Classes  from  1885-1922,  inclusive,  Antigo  High 
School — Langlade  County  Normal. 


"That  religion,  morality  and  knowledge,  being  nec- 
essary to  the  government  and  happiness  of  mankind, 
schools  and  means  of  education  shall  be  forever  en- 
couraged," declared  the  Ordinance  of  1787.  At  once 
the  founders  of  this  nation  encouraged  and  fostered,  in 
the  organic  law  of  government,  education  among  the 
people. 

Thirteen  years  before  Congress  carved  Wisconsin 
from  the  Northwest  Territory,  it  set  aside  every  six- 
teenth section  within  the  limits  of  the  proposed  state 
for  common  school  purposes,  estimated  at  1523  sec- 
tions. Later  72  sections  were  set  aside  as  a  Univer- 
sity fund.  72  addi- 
tional sections  were 
granted  the  Universi- 
ty fund.  This  grant 
was  assigned  to  sa- 
line lands,  but  other 
lands  were  substitut- 
ed. Various  grants 
of  land,  too  numer- 
ous to  mention  here 
and  not  of  assistance 
in  revealing  the  mo- 
tive of  this  chapter, 
were  granted  to  the 
state  for  school  funds 
at  varying  periods 
from  1848  to  1922. 
All  lands  and  moneys 
were  given  to  the 
state  in  trust  in  order 
to  create  a  fund,  the 


li 


-  ^         **-^*"f  ,»'"ifi. 


AN  OLD  LOG  CABIN  SCHOOL 

Typical  of  pioneer  education  in  Langlade  County.       This  school  has  been 

replaced  by  a  modern  brick  structure.       See  photo  in  Forest 

District,   Upham   township. 


Bay.  James  Porlier,  ancestral  relative  of  Louis  Por- 
lier,  ex-Sheriff  of  Langlade  County,  was  the  instruc- 
tor. There  were  many  private  and  religious  schools 
in  the  state  before  1836.  Edward  West  taught  the 
first  public  school  in  Town  Kilbourn  (now  a  part  of 
Milwaukee).  The  first  Wisconsin  high  school  was 
established  in  1846.  Eleazer  Root  was  the  first  State 
Superintendent  of  Wisconsin  Schools.  A  free  high 
school  law  was  passed  in  1875,  five  years  before  the 
organization  of  Langlade  County,  and  carried  with  it 
an  appropriation  of  $25,000.00. 

THE  BENNET  LAW 
—ITS  REPEAL. 

Under  the  Terri- 
torial government 
state  schools  were 
under  the  jurisdiction 
of  county  commis- 
sioners, who  were  re- 
placed by  the  town 
superintendents. 
School  boards  of 
three  members  were 
later  organized. 
Town  superintend- 
ents were  then  re- 
sponsible to  the 
County  Clerk.  This 
was  an  improvement. 
In  early  years  Coun- 
ty Superintendents 
carried   teacher's  cer- 


"v 


a-     j'   f 


income  of  which  might  be  added  to  other  sources  of 
revenue,  with  which  public  schools  were  maintained. 

Thus  the  total  number  of  acres  of  land  grants  to  the 
state  aggregated  nearly  five  million  acres.  Yet  the 
income  derived  from  such  a  vast  area  is  far  below 
what  it  should  be.  Powerful  combines,  making  pleas 
for  immigration,  purchased  thousands  of  acres  of  pub- 
lic school  land  grants  and  laid  the  foundation  for  large 
private  fortunes. 

THE   FIRST   WISCONSIN   SCHOOL. 

Pierre  Grignon,  son-in-law  of  Charles  De  Langlade 
opened  a  private  school  for  French  families  at  Green 


tificates  and  promiscuously  distributed  them  to  friends, 
regardless  of  teaching  qualifications.  The  first  man- 
ual for  common  schools  was  issued  by  State  Superin- 
tendent Graham  in  1882.  Since  then  the  annual 
school  manual  is  published  by  the  State  Department 
of  Education. 

In  1889,  by  the  passage  of  the  Bennet  Law,  making 
it  compulsory  for  all  children  between  ages  of  7  and 
14,  to  attend  school  at  least  12  weeks  and  not  more 
than  24  weeks,  the  educational  system  of  the  state  be- 
came embroiled  in  politics.  The  Bennet  Law  was 
repealed  in  1891  and  a  new  compulsory  law  was  in- 
stituted. 


38 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


THE  ORIGIN  OF  ARBOR  DAY. 

Setting  aside  a  day  for  the  annual  planting  of  trees 
was  first  proclaimed  by  the  Governor  of  Nebraska  in 
1872.  Hon.  B.  G.  Northrop,  Secretary  of  the  Con- 
necticut Board  of  Education  in  1865  was  the  first  to 
suggest  such  a  day.  Observance  of  Arbor  Day  in 
Wisconsin  on  the  first  Friday  of  May  is  annually  pro- 
claimed by  the  Governor.  Arbor  Day  is  also  as- 
sociated with  Bird  Day,  when  children  are  instructed 
in  the  care  and  protection  of  birds. 

The  Arbor  Day  manual  of  exercises  and  instructions 
is  annually  published  by  the  State  Department  of  Ed- 
ucation. Arbor  Day  has  been  the  means  of  planting 
millions  of  trees  throughout  the  United  States.  Since 
the  World  War  many  of  the  trees  have  been  dedicated 
to  fallen  American  heroes. 

LANGLADE  COUNTY  SCHOOLS. 

The       dominating 

thought  of    the     first 

settlers    in    Langlade 

County  was  to  secure 

means   and   education 

for  their  children.    It 

was     not    more    than 

six   months   after   the 

first  permanent  set- 
tlers came  into  east- 
ern Langlade   County 

when  the  first   schoo' 

house  was  erected. 
The     first       school 

was  located  on  sec- 
tion  3,   township    31, 

north,     of     range    14 

east.       The  little  log 

cabin,    built    in    1873, 

was   roughly     thrown 

together.        While    it 

was  primitive   it  was 

the  beginning  of  education  in  Langlade  County.  Miss 
Addie  Wescott  of  Shawano  was  probably  the  first 
teacher.  In  this  one  room  log  structure,  surrounded 
by  dense  forests,  the  children  of  the  early 
settlers  were  taught  the  "three  R's."  The  first  pupils 
to  attend  school  in  the  county  were :  Waldo  A.  Yates, 
Elton  C.  Larzelere.  Levi  R.  Farrow,  Etta  B.  Farrow 
and  Carrie  J.  Larzelere.  The  teacher  made  arrange- 
ments to  get  a  blackboard  from  Shawano.  The  stu- 
dents ranged  in  ages  of  from  five  to  eighteen.  Text 
books  were  not  uniform  yet  from  the  "backwoods" 
schools,  such  as  this  one,  were  produced  some  of 
Langlade  County's  leading  citizens.  Lessons  taught 
were  Reading,  Writing,  Spelling,  Arithmetic,  History 
and  Geography.  The  first  schools  had  no  maps. 
School  terms  were  usually  eight  to  nine  months.  The 
second  school  in  the  county  was  established  at  "Nine 
Mile  Creek,"  now  Hollister,  and  the  third  was  erected 
at  New,  now  known  as  Lily. 


He 


THE  FIRST  SCHOOL  HOUSE  IN  ANTIGO. 
Miss   .\nna    Sheriff   held    sway   during   the    first    term.        Xott 
scooped  roof,  the  forest  in  the  background  and  the  o.xen. 
Guenthner  is  standing  near  the  oxen. 


Ed. 


THE  FIRST  ANTIGO  SCHOOL. 

The  first  school  in  Antigo  was  constructed  of  logs 
by  a  young  man  named  Joseph  Krause.  He  intend- 
ed to  reside  at  the  place,  but  instead  took  up  a  home- 
stead at  or  near  Kempster.  The  school  was  located 
where  the  P.  F.  Kelly  Implement  Store  is  now,  corner 
of  Third  Avenue  and  Superior  Street  and  was  opened 
in  1879.  Miss  Anna  Sheriff,  now  Mrs.  Peter  O'Con- 
nor of  White  Lake,  Elton  township,  proved  capable 
and  efficient  as  the  first  teacher. 

Other  early  teachers  in  Antigo  were:  Miss  Sophia 
Deleglise,  now  Mrs.  Sophia  Leslie,  Miss  Carrie  Her- 
man, Miss  Nellie  Williams,  now  Mrs.  C.  S.  Leykom, 
Mrs.  Maggie  Hughes,  Byron  J.  Oakley,  the  late  F.  J. 
Finucane,  Elizabeth  McGill,  Virginia  Pierson  and  Liz- 
zie Borgman.  By  1883  Antigo  had  a  graded  school 
with  three  departments. 

The  first  Antigo  school  was  typical  of  the  pioneer. 

It  had  only  two  half 
windows  in  which  to 
let  light.  The  floor 
was  made  of  rough 
odds  and  ends 
boards.  The  seats 
were  made  of  bass- 
wood  trees,  "split  in 
twain."  The  round 
sides  were  perforated 
with  holes  to  receive 
pegs.  Back     rests 

and  book  shelves 
were  absent. 

The  little  1  o  g 
school  was  warmed 
by  a  box  stove  that 
drove  out  the  frost 
in  the  long  dreary 
winters  and  smudged 
out  the  mosquito  and 
fly  in  the  spring  and 
summer. 


THE  FIRST  HIGH  SCHOOL. 

The  High  School  department  was  established  in  the 
Village  of  Antigo  in  October,  1883.  C.  O.  Marsh, 
first  Principal,  arrived  in  Antigo  Tuesday,  September 
25,  1883.  41  pupils  were  enrolled  before  the  1883 
term  closed.  Miss  Agnes  Donohue,  the  first  gradu- 
ate, June  20,  1885,  read  an  essay,  "Character"  as  one 
of  the  numbers  of  the  first  high  school  exercises.  Oth- 
ers who  participated  were:  Lizzie  Caldwell,  Sybil  Cor- 
nish, George  Porter,  Edith  Logan  and  Dr.  H.  V.  Mills, 
leader  of  the  Forest  City  Orchestra.  High  School 
was  first  conducted  in  a  frame  building  on  the  site  of 
the  public  library.  Not  long  after  a  two  story  frame 
building  was  erected  on  the  site  of  the  Second  Ward 
School  from  which  Miss  Agnes  Donohue  graduated. 
This  frame  building  was  used  until  the  first  brick 
structure  was  erected  in  block  63,  present  site  of  the 
Antigo  High  School.      When  it  was  proposed  to  erect 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


39 


a  brick  high  school  on  that  site  it  was  covered  with 
a  thick  growth  of  timber.  It  was  owned  by  Hon. 
Francis  A.  Deleglise  who  presented  it  to  the  village 
for  school  purposes. 

February  9,  1890,  the  city  council  approved  plans 
for  the  erection  of  the  school.  The  building  original- 
ly cost  $16,500,  but  improvements  and  additions  were 
made  after  its  construction  to  keep  pace  with  the  in- 


Antigo's    First    High    School. 
This   building   was    located    on   the 
site   of  the   present    public    library. 


THE  NEW  HIGH  SCHOOL. 

Time  was  not  lost  to  provide  facilities  for  school 
purposes  after  the  burning  of  the  high  school.  Citi- 
zens, business  places,  lodges,  and  churches  unani- 
mously came  forth  and  offered  rooms.  Most  of  them 
were  accepted.  A  special  meeting  of  the  Board  of 
Education  was  called.  President  E.  J.  Goodrick  ap- 
pointed a  committee  consisting  of  N.  R.  Babcock,  R. 
S.  Healy,  Sr.,  and  Walter  Below  to  assist  Superintend- 
ent H.  S.  Simmons  secure  rooms. 

The  first  building  plans  were  discussed  at  once.  E. 
J.  Goodrick,  W.  B.  McArthur,  N.  R.  Babcock,  Edgar 
Neff  and  George  Palmiter  were  chosen  as  the  Ways 
and  Means  Committee  on  construction.  Robert  Mess- 
mer,  Milwaukee  architect,  was  selected  to  prepare 
plans  and  specifications  for  a  new  school  to  cost  not 
more  than  $100,000.  This  was  in  accordance  with  a 
resolution  passed  at  a  regular  meeting  of  the  city 
council,  April  26,  1916.  May  18,  1916,  bids  were 
opened  and  the  contract  for  erecting  the  building  was 
awarded  to  the  Immel  Construction  Company  of  Fond 
du  Lac  for  $96,000.  Heating  and  ventilating  appara- 
tus was  installed  by  the  General  Heating  &  Ventilat- 
ing Company  of  Milwaukee.  Louis  Peters,  Antigo 
plumber,  was  awarded  the  plumbing  contract. 

The  corner  stone  of  the  high  school  was  laid  amid 


THE   PRESENT   ANTIGO    HIGH  SCHOOL  ERECTED  IN  iyiG-17 


In  less  than   fifty  years  the   school   population   of  Ant 

three 

crease  in  enrollment  from  year  to  year.  The  school 
served  the  rising  generations  faithfully  until  that  bit- 
ter cold  morning,  January  6,  1916,  when  fire  turned  it 
into  a  heap  of  smouldering  ruins.  The  Philakean  De- 
bating Society  held  the  last  meeting  in  it,  January  5, 
1916.  Valuable  school  records  and  trophies,  most  of 
which  cannot  be  replaced,  were  burned. 


igo    has    grown    from    twenty    pupils    to    approximately 
thousand. 

impressive  and  appropriate  ceremonies  in  July,  1916. 
The  high  school,  modern  in  every  respect,  was  first 
used  in  the  spring  of  1917.  It  was  officially  accept- 
ed before  the  opening  of  the  1917-18  school  term.  The 
building  committee  consisted  of  N.  R.  Babcock,  R.  S. 
Healy,  Sr.,  Walter  Below,  and  Dr.  F.  C.  Kestly.  The 
flag  pole  was  donated  by  N.  R.  Babcock. 


40 


HISTORY    OF    LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


WARD    SCHOOLS. 

The  contract  for  the  erection  of  a  two  story  brick 
school  building  in  the  1st  ward  was  awarded  to  Thom- 
as Solar,  September  18,  1905,  at  a  cost  of  $10,247. 
The  school  was  completed  and  accepted  in  October, 
1906.  J.  D.  Chubb  was  the  architect.  The  1st  ward 
school  was  named  the  T.  D.  Kellogg  school  in  honor 
of  T.  D.  Kellogg,  then  President  of  the  Board  of  Ed- 
ucation.      It  is  located  in  Daskam's  2nd  sub-division. 

February  7,  1896,  bids  were  received  for  erecting  a 
four  room  two  story  school  in  the  second  ward.  Thom- 
as Wright  was  awarded  the  contract  at  $6,868.  Con- 
over  &  Porter,  Madison,  Wis.,  architects  drafted  plans 
and  specifications  for  the  building  which  was  com- 
pleted in  August,  1896.  The  school  is  at  the  inter- 
section of  Clermont  street  and  Second  avenue. 

In  1899  the  city  authorized  the  issuance  of  $8,000 
in  bonds  to  build  a  two  story  school  in  the  third  ward. 
A  one  room  frame  building  was  used  before  then. 
The  present  school  was  completed  and  accepted  in 
1900.  It  is  located  in  block  1  of  the  Mary  Deleglise 
addition.       It  cost  about  $8,000. 

The  fourth  ward  building  contract  was  let  to  Thomas 
Solar  at  $11,630.  (  He  was  also  given  a  contract  to 
build  an  addition  on  the  high  school  at  the  same  time, 
June  15,  1904.)  The  fourth  ward  was  completed  and 
ready  for  school  purposes  by  the  fall  of  1904.  The 
old  frame  structure  was  moved  away  by  R.  M.  Briggs. 
The  fourth  ward  is  located  in  block  1  of  Daskam's 
addition. 

All  classes  in  the  fifth  ward  are  conducted  i.i  the 
high  school  building  in  block  63. 

On  June  5,  1896,  the  Board  of  Education  adopteJ  a 
resolution  requesting  the  city  council  to  submit  tD  a 
referendum  a  proposition  to  borrow  $7,003  from  the 
state  for  a  ten  year  term,  $4,000  to  be  used  to  erect 
the  sixth  ward  and  $3,000  to  meet  a  part  of  the  con- 
tract price  of  the  second  ward.  The  resolution  was 
rescinded  June  19,  1896.  March  1,  1897,  the  school 
board  passed  a  resolution  requesting  the  same 
loan.  Meanwhile      the      Jaekel       building      (M. 

Krom  Building)  was  used  for  school  pur- 
poses. May  8,  1897,  W.  H.  Nelson  of 
Merrill  was  awarded  the  contract  to  build  the  sixth 
ward  at  $6,450.  Conover  &  Porter  were  the  archi- 
tects. The  building  was  completed  October  1,  1897. 
It  is  located  in  block  59,  7th  avenue  and  Virginii 
street. 

PAROCHIAL    SCHOOLS. 

In  1890,  under  the  regime  of  Rev.  William  Takken, 
the  St.  John's  Parochial  School  was  erected.  The 
cost  was  approximately  $8,000.  The  increased  en- 
rollment and  growing  demands  necessitated  additions 
and  improvements  that  have  been  made  during  Rev. 
Conrad   Saile's    pastorship.  These      improvements 

have  cost  between  $12,000  and  $14,000.  Enrollment 
at  St.  John's  parochial  school  in  1922  was  487 — 255 
boys  and  232  girls.  The  school  is  in  charge  of  Fran- 
cisan  Sisters,  ten  of  whom  teach  the  various  grades. 


It  is  located  at  the  corner  of  Fulton  Street  and  Sev- 
enth Avenue,  block  57. 

St.  Hyacinth  parochial  school  was  erected  in  1908. 
It  is  in  charge  of  two  Sisters.  The  average  attend- 
ance is  84  pupils  in  grades  ranging  from  the  first  to 
the  eighth.  This  school  is  located  on  Edison  street 
in  block  23,  original  plat  of  Antigo. 

The  Phlox  parochial  school  is  discussed  in  Nor- 
wood township. 

The  Antigo  Evangelical  Peace  parochial  school 
was  established  in  1897.  Since  1902,  the  old  church, 
north  of  the  present  edifice,  has  been  used  as  the 
school.  Two  teachers  are  in  charge.  The  old  school 
was  located  west  of  the  present  church  site.  Grades 
range  from  first  to  eighth. 

COUNTY    SCHOOLS. 

The  first  Langlade  County  Superintendent's  report 
was  made  November  17,  1881  by  George  T.  Ratcliffe. 
It  was  a  well  written  review  of  the  rural  schools.  The 
schools  of  the  county  were  then  in  a  chaotic  condition. 
Rolling  and  Norwood  townships  were  credited  with  the 
best  schools  in  the  county  in  1881.  Sixteen  teachers 
had  charge  of  the  entire  rural  school  system  at  that 
time.  In  1881,  there  were  but  nine  school  districts  as 
compared  with  eighty  in  1922.  The  first  school  dis- 
ti'icts  were  subdivided  into  12  sub-districts.  The  first 
county  teacher's  institute  was  held  in  October,  1881. 
A  Langlade  County  Teacher's  Association  was  organ- 
ized but  never  functioned  successfully  at  that  early 
date. 

The  total  enrollment  in  the  rural  schools  in  1921  was 
3285  pupils.  The  number  of  teachers  engaged  in  rur- 
al and  graded  schools  exclusive  of  Antigo,  was  107  ac- 
cording to  1921  official  reports. 

Langlade  County  has  three  consolidated  schools: 
Parrish  District  No.  1  of  Summit  township.  Summit 
Lake  District  No.  1  of  Upham  township  and  District 
No.  1  of  Kent,  Langlade  and  Price  township  districts 
consolidated. 

Two  union  free  high  schools  were  recently  establish- 
ed. One,  the  Union  Free  High  School  of  Districts  1,  4 
and  5  of  Langlade  township  is  located  at  White  Lake. 
The  other  was  erected  in  1921  at  Elcho.  Both  offer 
four  year  courses. 

The  cost  of  educating  the  pupils  in  the  rural  schools 
of  Langlade  County  is  approximately  $58  per  pupil. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  Langlade  County  Superin- 
tendents of  Schools  since  1881 :  George  Ratcliffa — 
1881-1885;  A.  H.  Morris— 1885-1887;  Dr.  J.  H.  Daw- 
ley— 1887-1888;  Edward  Nordman— 1888-1895 ;  H.  F. 
Morson— 1895-1896;  Edward  Nordman— 1896-1901 ; 
C.  0.  Marsh— 1901-1903;  A.  M.  Arveson— 1903-1919; 
Bertha  Moss — 1919-1922,  (present  incumbent).  Mis; 
Mattie  McMillan  elected  in  1919  did  not  qualify. 

THE   PUBLIC  LIBRARY. 

The  first  free  library  opened  in  Antigo  April  17, 
1897.  in  the  F.  A.  Millard  building,  now  711  Fifth  Ave- 
nue. 172  volumes  were  in  use.  In  1898,  Mrs.  A.  K. 
Brush,  most  influential  in  organizing  the  library,  aided 


HISTORY    OF    LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


41 


in  increasing  the  volumes  to  450  in  number.  The  li- 
brary was  open  two  times  a  week,  Tuesdays  and  Sat- 
urdays. Camilla  Thrall  was  Secretary.  Rules  were : 
1. — No  one  allowed  behind  desk  except  librarian.  2. — 
No  cards  issued  to  children  under  12.  3. — Unneces- 
sary conversation  prohibited. 

The  semi-annual  anniversary  of  the  opening  was 
celebrated  November  5,  1897.  A  book  social  was 
held  at  the  Congregational  Church.  All  present  do- 
nated a  book  to  the  library.  New  quarters  were  pro- 
vided in  the  City  Hall  in  October,  1900.  At  this  time 
Friendship  Union,  W.  C.  T.  U.,  which  had  reading 
rooms  over  Molle's  Jewelry  Store,  donated  tables, 
books  and  magazines  to  the  newly  created  library 
board. 

THE  FIRST  LIBRARY  BOARD. 

When  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  agreed  to  turn  over  their  tables 
and  equipment  to  the  city  provided  the  city  would  ex- 
pend $500  for  necessities  for  a  public  library  the  first 
step  toward  the  practical  solution  of  the  library  pro- 
blem was  taken.  The  city  agreed  and  the  library  was 
formally  opened  December  29,  1900,  in  the  City  Hall. 
The  first  librarian  in  the  city  hall  library  was  Miss  Jane 
Ogilvie.  The  library  remained  there  until  the  Carne- 
gie Library  was  erected  in  1904.  C.  F.  Dallman,  An- 
tigo  contractor  and  architect,  erected  the  present 
library. 


neely.  President;  Mrs.  E.  A.  Morse,  Vice-president; 
Mrs.  Charles  La  Blonde,  City  Commissioner  Frank 
Dvorak,  Superintendent  of  City  Schools,  A.  M. 
Arveson,  Ernest  Hirt,  C.  W.  Van  Doren  and  Miss 
Edith  Rectygl,  librarian,  who  is  secretary  of  the  board. 

OLD  SETTLERS  CLUB. 

The  Antigo  Pioneer  Club  was  formed  by  Jessie  Arm- 
strong, S.  E.  Leslie,  D.  F.  Chandler,  Jule  Grant,  H.  M. 
Chandler,  A.  P.  Menting,  W.  H.  Dawley,  and  G.  J. 
Schintz,  November  22,  1891.  The  purpose  of  the  club 
was  to  "maintain  and  manage  fishing  and  sporting  fa- 
cilities at  Moose  Lake,  Norwood  township." 

WISCONSIN  GEOGRAPHICAL  SOCIETY. 

The  Wisconsin  Geographical  Society  organized  in 
1883  to  collect  and  diffuse  geographical  data,  books, 
pamphlets,  old  and  new,  for  the  benefit  of  posterity, 
was  active  for  many  years.  Its  first  officers  were : 
President— L.  W.  Bliss;  Vice-President— F.  A.  Dele- 
glise  and  Secretary — W.  H.  Dawley. 

LANGLADE   COUNTY   HISTORICAL   SOCIETY. 

The  Langlade  County  Historical  Society  was  organ- 
ized at  the  City  Hall,  May  14,  1921.  Mayor  Charles 
J.  Hanzel  opened  the  meeting.      Officers  elected  were: 


THE  .\XTIGO  PUBLIC  LIBRARY  ERECTED  IN  1U04. 

Equipped   then   with   but   152!)   volumes,   it   now   has   11,525   voknnes   at   the 

command  of  the  Langlade  County  reading  public.       The  County 

Normal  is  located  in  the  library  building,  second  floor. 


The  first  library  board  and  directors  were  appoint- 
ed by  Mayor  I.  D.  Steffen.  Members  were  :  Mrs.  E. 
P.  Bridgeman,  F.  J.  Finucane,  Frank  Ringsmith,  C. 
S.  Leykom,  Mrs.  J.  F.  Albers,  Mrs.  M.  F.  Crowe,  Miss 
Anna  Kelly,  Frank  Glugla  and  C.  0.  Marsh.  The 

board  elected  these  officers:  President — F.  J.  Finu- 
cane; Vice-President — Mrs.  J.  F.  Albers  and  Secretary 
— Miss  Anna  Kelly. 

The  library  board  meets  the  first  Tuesday  of  each 
month.      The  present  board  is  as  follows :    G.  K.  Me- 


President — George  W.  Latta;  Vice-Presidents*— Judge 
J.  W.  Parsons,  Mrs.  Anna  Morrissey  and  Frank  Dvor- 
ak; Secretary — Robert  M.  Dessureau;  Treasurer — 
Mrs.  Sophia  Leslie;  Board  of  Directors — Edward  Goe- 
bel,  John  McGreer,  Mrs.  Sophia  Leslie,  Mrs.  Anna 
Morrissey,  Charles  Hoeffler,  George  W.  Latta  and 
Robert  M.  Dessureau.  The  Advisors  selected  were: 
J.  C.  Lewis,  Edward  McCandless,  Anton  Nowotny,  W. 
H.  Dawley  and  William  H.  Wolpert. 

Besides  collecting  historical  data  the    society     will 


42 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


place  markers  and   tablets   at  locations   of   historical 
note  in  Langlade  County. 

ANTIGO  SUPERINTENDENTS  OF  SCHOOLS. 

The  history  of  Langlade  County  would  be  incom- 
plete without  the  names  of  the  City  Superintendents  of 
Antigo  and  also  the  principals  of  the  Antigo  High 
School.  They  are  given  herewith  with  the  dates  they 
served.  Up  to  the  year  1915-16  the  City  Superin- 
tendent also  acted  as  principal  of  the  High  School.  For 
that  reason  his  name  is  not  repeated  under  the  list  of 
principals. 


C.  O.  M.\RSH. 

Who  came  to  Antigo  in   188.'!  and  liccanie  the   first  City 

Superintendent  of   Schools. 

Year.         City  Superintendent. 


1884-1885 
1885-1886 
1886-1887 
1887-1888 
1888-1889 
1889-1890 
1890-1891 
1891-1892 
1892-1893 
1893-1894 
1894-1895 
1895-1896 
1896-1897 
1897-1898 
1898-1899 
1899-1900 
1900-1901 
1901-1902 
1902-1903 
1903-1904 
1904-1905 
1905-1906 
1906-1907 
1907-1908 
1908-1909 


C.  O.  Marsh 
C.  0.  Marsh 
John  O'Hara 
John  O'Hara 
John  O'Hara 
John  O'Hara 
J.  E.  Hoyt 
W.  H.  Williams 
W.  H.  Williams 
C.  0.  Marsh 
C.  0.  Marsh 
C.  0.  Marsh 
C.  O.  Marsh 
C.  0.  Marsh 
C.  0.  Marsh 
F.  F.  Showers 
F.  F.  Showers 
F.  F.  Showers 
F.  F.  Showers 
Myron  E.  Keats 
W.  H.  Hickok 
W.  H.  Hickok 
W.  H.  Hickok 
W.  H.  Hickok 
W.  H.  Hickok 


1909-1910 

W.  H.  Hickok 

1910-1911 

W.  H.  Hickok 

1911-1912 
1912-1913 

W.  H.  Hickok 
R.  A.  Brandt 

H.   S.   Principal 

1913-1914 

R.  A.  Brandt 

Edward  F.  Merbach 

1914-1915 

R.  A.  Brandt 

Edward  F.  Merbach 

1915-1916 

H.  S.  Simmons 

Edward  F.  Merbach 

1916-1917 

H.  S.  Simmons 

Edward  F.  Merbach 

1917-1918 

Ernest  Her 

Edward  F.  Merbach 

1918-1919 

Ernest   Her 

Edward  F.  Merbach 

1919-1920 

Ernest    Her 

Edward  F.  Merbach 

1920-1921 

R.  A.  Brandt 

H.  H.  Theisen 

1921-1922 

R.  A.  Brandt 

H.  H.  Theisen 

1922-1923 

J.  F.  Waddell 

H.  H.  Theisen 

AN  EARLY  ANTIGO  SCHOOL  REPORT— 1884. 

December  5,  1884,  C.  O.  Marsh  of  the  new  Antigo 
High  School  reported  as  follows  regarding  school  con- 
ditions. The  report  is  given  to  show  the  change  in 
the  schools  during  the  past  thirty-eight  years. 

HIGH  SCHOOL  DEPARTMENT. 

Number  of  pupils  enrolled 31 

Average  daily  attendance 28 

Aggregate   attendance 230 

Names  of  pupils  neither  absent  or  tardy:  Agnes 
Donohue,  Lucy  Bliss,  Viria  Mellor,  Emmo.n  Badger, 
Carrie  Censky,  Kalie  Donohue,  Maggie  Donohue,  Wil- 
lie Dresser  and  Marion  McDona'd. 

C.  0.  MARSH,  Principal. 

GRAMMAR    DEPARTMENT. 

Number  of  pupils  enrolled 24 

Average   daily   attendance 22 

Aggregate   attendance 412 

Names  of  pupils  neither  absent  or  tardy:  Mina  Ba- 
con, Itola  Baker,  Tracie  Censky,  Elizabeth  Flynn, 
Emma  Heller,  Anna  Locks,  Josie  McKusker,  Louisa 
Romeis  and  Mamie  Sheriff. 

EMMA  L.  ATWOOD,  Teacher. 

"B"  GRAMMAR  AND  "A"  INTERMEDIATE  SIDE. 

Number  of  pupils  enrolled 57 

Average   daily   attendance 49 

Aggregate   attendance 931 

Names  of  pupils  neither  tardy  nor  absent:  Willie 
Roake,  Annie  Jensen,  Abbie  Hoffman,  Martin  Marek, 
Lela  Baker  and  George  Beemer. 

INTERMEDIATE  DEPARTMENT. 

Number  of  pupils  enrolled 48 

Average   daily   attendance 38 

Aggregate   attendance 761 

Names  of  pupils  neither  absent  nor  tardy:  Eva  Bow- 
man, Minnie  Burdick,  Burr  McMartin,  Clayton  Nickel, 
Simmie  Warren,  Maggie  Spencer,  Lena  Rusch,  Ira 
Meaghers,  Lily  Fishback,  Tressa  Ball,  Johnie  Good- 
win, Charlie  Klopper,  Anna  Smith,  Millie  Moody,  Ada 
Gibbs  and  Lizzie  Mader. 

LIZZIE  McGILL,  Teacher. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


43 


FIRST  PRIMARY  DEPARTMENT. 

Number   enrolled 35 

Average  daily  attendance 28 

Aggregate  attendance 535 

Names  of  pupils  neither  tardy  nor  absent:  Eddie 
Long,  Johnie  Santners,  Eddie  Fishback,  Wentzel  Wan- 
ninger,  Wentzel  Cherf,  Lillie  Jensen,  Evert  Webley, 
Frances  Sheriff. 

EMMA  J.  CRONE.  Teacher. 

SECOND    PRIMARY   DEPARTMENT. 

Number    enrolled 49 

Average   daily   attendance 43 

Aggregate  attendance 819 

Names  of  pupils  neither  tardy  nor  absent:  Ella 
Rosh,  Amanda  Zilkey,  Tilly  Hoffman,  Lydia  Rush, 
Nellie  Anderson,  Carrie  Robinson,  Anna  Johnson,  Kit- 
tie  Sipes,  Georgie  Neff,  Irvie  Rice,  Marion  Spencer, 
Daniel  Driscoll,  Bertie  Allen,  Artie  Nichol,  Allek  Mc- 
Martin,  Georgie  Zilkey,  Artie  Webb,  Henry  Berner  and 
Maggie  Ball. 

MRS.  R.  G.  WEBB,  Teacher. 

WEST  SIDE  SCHOOL. 

Number  of  pupils  enrolled 58 

Average   daily  attendance 45 

Aggregate  attendance 869 

Names  of  pupils  neither  tardy  nor  absent:  Eddie 
Kelly,  Ella  Kelly,  Frank  Marek,  Mat  McCarthy,  Jos- 
eph Tomany,  Barbara  Tomany,  Lena  Wood,  Alice 
Mills,  Barbara  Fa  Vortsky. 

BELLE  McCUSKER,  Teacher. 

SUMMARY. 

Whole  number  of  days  taught 19 

Whole  number  of  pupils  enrolled 302 

Average  daily  attendance 253 

Whole  number  neither  tardy  nor  absent 79 

Among  the  names  of  the  pupils  are  some  of  the  now 
prominent  citizens  of  Larglade  County. 

TOTAL  NUMBER  HIGH  SCHOOL  GRADUATES, 

From  but  one  graduate  in  1885  the  Antigo  High 
School  has  grown  to  be  one  of  the  best  known  of  Wis- 
consin schools.  It  has  turned  out  1,147  graduates  in 
the  time  from  1885-1922  inclusive.  The  largest  class 
in  the  history  of  the  school  was  the  1922  class.  The 
class  of  1921  ranks  second.  No  better  statistical  index 
can  be  produced  than  this  to  prove  the  steady  and  con- 
tinued progress  of  a  community. 

GRADUATES  OF  THE  ANTIGO  HIGH  SCHOOL 
BY  YEARS  FROM  1885-1922  INCLUSIVE. 

In  a  work  of  this  character  it  is  difficult  to  compile 
that  data  which  is  essential  and  which  posterity  will 
find  of  value.  January  6,  1916,  the  Antigo  High 
School  was  destroyed  by  fire  and  with  it  all  valuable 
records  including  the  list  of  the  high  school  graduates 
from  1885  to  1915.  The  writer  has  therefore  with 
great  difficulty  gathered  an  accurate  list  of  the  high 
school  graduates  by  classes,  which  is  given  herewith. 


CLASS   OF    1885. 
Miss  Agnes  Donohue.       First  Antigo  High  School 
graduate. 

CLASS   OF    1886. 

June  11. 

Sybil  Cornish,  Lucy  W.  Bliss,  Mary  A.  Otto,  George 

E.   Porter,  Emma  R.   Molzberger,    Viria     E.     Mellor, 

Louis  D.  Chamberlain,  Esther  M.  Springstead,  Edith 

M.  Logan.— Total  9. 

CLASS    OF    1887. 
July   1. 
Marion  McDonald,  Clara  Alton,  Andrew  McQueen, 
Russell  Wheeler,  lone  Ross,  Mary  McQueen. — Total  6. 

CLASS  OF  1888. 

June  15. 
Marion  McDonald. 
The  course  was  changed  in  1888  to  a  four  year  term. 
Miss  McDonald  remained  in  High  School  after  grad- 
uating in  1887  and  "re-graduated." 

CLASS  OF  1889. 
Louis  Romeis,  Itola    Baker,    Margaret    Kavanaugh, 
Lizzie  Caldwell,  Willie  Dresser. — Total  5. 

CLASS  OF  1890. 
June  20. 
Kittie   Donohue,   William   Kennerd   and   Anna   Jen- 
sen.— Total  3. 

CLASS  OF  1891. 
June  17. 
Michael    Donohue,   Harley   C.    Logan,   Hulda   Nue- 
man,  Lydia  Romeis,  Mamie  Sheriff. — Total  5. 

CLASS  OF  1892. 
June  10. 
J.  Joseph  Flynn,  John  P.  McHale,  F.  William  Olden- 
burg.— Total  3. 

CLASS  OF  1893. 
June  16. 
Blanche   B.   Friend,  Anna   B.  Chicks,   Margaret  W. 
Hessel,  James  Kavanaugh. — Total  4. 

CLASS  OF  1894. 
June  14. 
May  Cornish,   Pearl  Drew,  Mabel    Hafner,     Jessie 
Henshaw,  Louise  Henshaw,  Theresa  Sloan. — Total  6. 

CLASS  OF  1895. 
June  5. 
Rosalind  B.  Hogben,  Hattie  B.  Goessling,  Mary  E. 
Locks,  Cora  Mabel  Palmiter. — Total  4. 

CLASS  OF  1896. 
June  10. 
Mary  J.  Spencer,  J.  R.  Williams,    M.    Vaughn    Mc- 
Mullen,  Roy  K.  Dorr,  Amy  R.  Mason,  Leslie  M.  Fow- 
ler, Lily  A.  White.— Total  7. 


44 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


CLASS  OF  1897. 
June  10. 
Alvin  Sylvanus  Chamberlain,  James  Lawrence  Dono- 
hue,  Daniel  Patrick  Driscoll,  Theresa  Katherine  Dris- 
coll,  Orlando  H.  Frick,  Oliver  Berr.ard  Kohl,  James 
Henry  Hopkins,  Emma  Marion  Kupps,  Maud  Abigail 
Latta,  Richard  John  McMullen,  Harriette  Abbey  Sax- 
ton,  Marie  Stengl,  Clara  Harrington  Wooledge,  Gaius 
Sibley  Wooledge. — Total  14. 

CLASS  OF  1898. 
June  10. 
Fred  L.  Berner,  Myrtle  Elsa  Dawley,  Frank  T.  Don- 
er, Eugene  J.  Donohue,  Theresa  Donohue,  Fred  C.  Du- 
chac,  Peter  J.  Dunn,  R.  Gertrude  Hanks,  Nellie  A. 
Nelson,  Arthur  L.  Strasser,  Charles  L.  Willard,  John 
B.  Wooledge.— Total  12. 

CLASS  OF  1899. 
Bessie  Janes,  Clara  Kunst,  Pearl  Beattie,  Payson 
Bridgman,  Harry  Dawley,  Zura  Fowler,  Mabel  Frick, 
John  Friend,  Myrtle  Merrill,  Ida  Nelson,  Caleb  Ogden, 
May  Robinson,  Tillie  Schuetz,  Arthur  Strong,  Emma 
Strong,  Daisy  Bussum. — Total  16. 

CLASS  OF  1900. 
June  14. 
Roxana  May  Baxter,  Lizzie  M.  Besancon,  Alice  Julia 
Brandow,  Louis  W.  Bridgman,  Francis  Frederick 
Brush,  Hilda  A.  Carpenter,  J.  D.  Webb  Chamberlain, 
Erwin  Couch  Dawley,  James  P.  Driscoll,  Arna  Eliza- 
beth Fischer,  Jennie  Vivian  Goessling,  Harriet  Ann 
Hill,  Everet  D.  Humphrey,  Lottie  Mae  Sweeney,  Pearl 
A.  Williams.— Total  15. 

CLASS  OF  1901. 

June  7. 
Edward  Brush,  Josephine  Donohue,  Ida    Meaghers, 
Edward  St.  Clair,    Emma    Sipek,    Lee     Taylor,     Ray 
Walch,  Delbert  Williard,  Harry  Wooledge.— Total  9. 

CLASS  OF  1902. 
June  11. 
Anna  Beard,  Edith  Beard,  Irene  Day,  Alice  Donohue, 
Winnifred  Donohue,  Frances  Duchac,  Ruth  Dorr,  Mary 
Flanagan,  Blanche  Frick,  Euphemia  Hill,  Florence 
Hudson,  Jennie  Humphrey,  Selma  Kunst,  Grace  Lat- 
ta, Meda  Lewins,  Bessie  Lewis,  Amelia  Matthias, 
Laura  Millard,  Verna  Pardee,  Theresa  Reindl,  Albina 
Sipek,  Alice  Smolk,  Bernice  Steffen,  Claire  Thursby, 
Eslie  Webley,  Otto  Berner,  John  Cleary,  Jesse  Conway, 
Ernest  Dawley,  Irving  Hull.— Total  30. 

CLASS  OF  1903. 
June  11. 
Floy  H.  Allerton,  Elsie  Hirt,  Clara  A.  Horn,  A. 
Barbara  Michaelson,  Dagmar  M.  Nelson,  Joseph  Nei- 
genfind,  John  Novotny,  M.  Edith  St.  Clair,  G.  W. 
Stengl,  Joseph  Stengl,  Louis  E.  Wahl,  Winifred  G. 
Watson,  William  E.  Donohue. — Total  13. 


CLASS  OF  1904. 
June  10. 
George  D.  Crowe,  Grace  J.  Stewart,  William  F.  Mey- 
ers, Burt  L.  Tradewell,  Henry  J.  01k,  Arthur  McCarey, 
Clara  M.  Kramer,  Edith  Trusdell,  Pearl  A.  Dalton, 
Doris  E.  Baxter,  Oscar  H.  Seaman,  Anne  E.  Weix, 
Theodore  J.  Dunnewald,  Adolph  Shipek,  Mary  A. 
Brandt,  Blanche  M.  Nelson,  Joseph  Shapiro,  Harry  G. 
Andrews,  Alice  E.  Jensen. — Total  19. 

CLASS  OF  1905. 
June  15. 
Agnes  Marie  Cleary,  Marjorie  Theresa  Hall,  Erma 
Edith  Hessel,  Myrtle  Viletta  Kellogg,  Georgiana  Wini- 
fred Latta,  John  Wallace  Leykom,  Roland  Osborne 
Marsh,  Ada  Belle  Morgan,  Lyman  Allen  Steffen, 
Arthur  Frank  Trever,  Ralph  Edwin  Krause,  Ivah 
Jeanette  Dobbs,  Esther  Louise  Byerly,  Pearl  Harriet 
Nelson,  Olin  Albert  Ladwig,  Ida  May  Hudson,  Wini- 
fred Emma  Below,  Fred  Albert  Novak,  Clara  Andrea 
La  Mere.— Total  19. 

CLASS  OF  1906. 

June  7. 
Laurinda  Anna  Albers,  King  Myron  Bacon,  William 
Dudley  Burton,  Harry  Frank  Humphrey,  Mabel  Flor- 
ence Jewell,  Mary  Celestia  Ladwig,  John  Paul  Rauen, 
Elizabeth  Marie  Day,  Theresa  Vera  Bretl,  Gertrude 
Mathilda  Deierlein,  Clara  Alvina  Brockhaus,  Wesley 
Dolphus  Goodwin,  Lettie  Edith  Jamieson,  Catherine 
Irene  Kennedy,  Annie  Nora  Kaven,  Claudia  Agnes 
McKinnon,  Amable  Medard  Miller,  Hope  Angela  Mul- 
loy,  Edwin  Eugene  Palmer,  Mary  Catherine  Riley, 
Ethel  Irene  Roberts,  George  Jule  Schoblasky,  Char- 
lotte Mary  Tobey,  Norman  Irvy  Tollefson,  Nannie  J. 
Congleton,  Walter  Peter  Nelson,  Lillian  V.  Nelson, 
Alfred  C.  Winters.— Total  28. 

CLASS  OF  1907. 
June  6. 
John  Albers,  Julia  Andrews,  Hugh  Campbell,  James 
Charlton,  Theodosia  Goodwin,  Eva  Hoffman,  Malinda 
HoUey,  Faye  Kingsbury,  Earl  Laughlin,  Glenn  Millard, 
Edith  Rudolph,  Neva  Stewart,  Violet  Stout,  Bessie 
Taylor,  Veronica  Weeks,  Emma  White,  Wilbert  Wil- 
son, William  Hughes,  William  Andrews,  Maud  Aucutt, 
William  Bard,  Cyrus  Beard,  Mary  Borth,  Arbelle  Bran- 
dow, Vesta  Byerly,  Emma  Belsky,  Harry  Clements, 
Edward  Fischer,  Lucy  Gilman,  Cora  Hungerford, 
Agnes  Johnson,  Av.  Klever,  Stephen  Kozarek, 
Anna  Mattek,  Mary  Moss,  Emil  Novak,  Charles  Novot- 
ny, J.  N.  Prokupek,  George  Raymond,  Mary  Schmitz, 
Joseph  Schultz,  Rose  Singer,  Harry  Stasek,  Joseph  J. 
Tessar,  Emily  Johnson,  Anton  Schmutzer. — Total  46. 

CLASS  OF  1908. 
June  4. 
Clara  Ideal  Waterman,  Grace  Helen  Robinson, 
Martha  Valeria  Petrofsky,  Walter  A.  F.  York,  Homer 
Curtis  Beattie,  Raymond  Walter  Cleary,  Frances  May 
Hessler,  Le  Roy  George  Hoffman,  William  George 
Krause,  Jessica  Catherine    Madsen,     Marshall     John 


HlSTO!iY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


45 


Miller,  Mary  Anna  Reindl,  Kathryn  Frances  Wage, 
Mae  Maggie  Taylor,  Neal  Francis  Crowe,  George  Jos- 
eph Miller,  Joseph  Victor  Duchac,  Elizabeth  Mary 
Healy,  Elizabeth  Mary  Knox,  Archie  Borg  Lendved, 
Myrtle  Isabel  Maltby,  Clarence  C.  Fenn,  Harold  Vin- 
cent 01k,  Rudolph  John  Stengl,  Otis  Oliver  Wheeler, 
George  Washington  Schmitz,  Everette  Kellogg  Mor- 
gan, Madge  F.  Hoyt,  Russell  Carhart  Hall,  Ida  Clair 
Schaefer,  Paul  Wilterding  Dunnewald,  Mabelle  Elliott 
Henshaw,  Anietta  Ross,  Thomas  Buffum  Kellogg,  Elsa 
Herman  Goebel. — Total  35. 

CLASS  OF  1909. 
June  10. 
Le  Roy  Gordon  Cunningham,  Ruth  Hazel  Allerton, 
Arthur  William  Brandner,  Eleanore  Pauline  Buchen, 
Irene  Mary  Byrne,  Daniel  Albert  Dallman,  Lillian  May 
Dobbs,  Vera  Estelle  Briggs,  Jesse  Theodore  Drake, 
Elizabeth  Mae  Duchac,  Eileen  M.  Duggan,  Lulu  Irene 
Garrett,  John  Daniel  Gillis,  Ethel  Ellen  Gillman,  May 
Elizabeth  Guenthner,  Harry  Helmuth  Heidman,  Har- 
riet Margaret  Houck,  Ida  Mae  Humble,  Harry  Frank 
Jewell,  Beth  Pearl  Judson,  Nellie  Irene  Kitt,  Elmar 
August  Kohl,  Blanche  Bessie  Lewins,  Kathryn  Marie 
Valeria  Loos,  Nannie  Loretta  Maloney,  Ella  May  Ran- 
dall, Winnie  E.  Lore,  Clarence  Alfred  Mader,  Hazel 
Mildred  Reynolds,  Earl  Vilas  Rudolph,  Lillian  Mar- 
guerite Sargent,  Anna  Marie  Schroeder,  Dorothy 
Louise  Schultz,  Kathleen  Virginia  Dana,  Edna  Made- 
leine Hoffman,  Veda  Sue  Marsh,  Arnold  Burton  Mil- 
lard, Gladys  Clare  Mills,  Alice  Marie  Pardee,  Dexter 
Culver  Van  Ostrand,  Irvin  Arnold  White,  Frank  Joseph 
Pliska.— Total  42. 

CLASS  OF  1910. 
June  9. 
Jessie  E.  Arentsen,  Guy  L.  Aucutt,  Edna  Louise 
Beattie,  Erna  E.  Below,  Margaret  E.  Bonnell,  Velma 
Julia  Brooks,  Lann  Bryant,  Gilbert  W.  Burnet,  George 
A.  Carley,  Elizabeth  B.  Cleavland,  Marie  Antoinette 
Dana,  Edith  L.  Daskam,  Paul  H.  Dawley,  Ruth  Ethel 
Dobbs,  Nellie  E.  Dresser,  Walter  H.  Ebert,  Emma  Mae 
Fischer,  William  H.  Fischer,  Minnard  F.  Frederickson, 
Paul  J.  Glugla,  Helene  G.  A.  Hanson,  Minnie  A.  Hel- 
bich.  Alma  Hoffman,  Arthur  A.  Hoffman,  Harriet 
Electa  Holley,  John  F.  Honzik,  John  A.  Jacobus,  Mary 
Edith  Janes,  Mary  C.  Keelan,  Louis  L.  Koles,  John  L. 
Laughlin,  Blanche  Eleanora  Leslie,  Mable  Louise  Malt- 
by,  Clara  M.  Meyer,  Ella  Rose  Meyer,  Paul  Vilas  Mil- 
lard, J.  Harold  Morris,  Leona  McDonald,  Charles  A. 
Norem,  Gordon  F.  O'Connor,  Clarence  L.  01k,  Leo 
Lyle  Otis,  Bernard  P.  Pliska,  Anna  C.  Podlewski,  Or- 
nie  A.  Preston,  Maud  E.  Prosser,  Gertrude  Sparks, 
Frank  C.  Stewart,  Mollie  E.  Stewart,  Mary  Laura  Tay- 
lor, A.  Mortimer  Van  Ostrand,  William  H.  Wall, 
Florence  Claire  Waste,  Amelia  Kathryn  Weix,  Lena  B. 
Wendorf,  Helen  C.  Wierek,  J.  Herman  Yentz,  Blanche 
E.  Zahl.— Total  58. 

CLASS  OF  1911. 
June  8. 
Lee  Briggs,  June  Barber,  William  Brown,  Edmund 
Byerly,  Katherine  Byrne,  Effie  Chute,  Shirley  Camp- 


bell, Emmet  Cleary,  Ruth  Clements,  Emily  Driggs, 
John  Driscoll,  Esther  English,  James  Flannagan,  Edna 
Frederickson,  Nellie  Fowler,  Floyd  Frink,  Clarence 
Gray,  Dora  Heckman,  Ralph  Hudson,  Eva  Jewell, 
Julius  Jordon,  Martha  Kaske,  Carl  Lee,  William  Lord, 
Victoria  Madison,  Kenneth  Maxwell,  Elwyn  Nelson, 
Hazel  Betters,  James  Prosser,  John  Pliska,  Elizabeth 
Preston,  Walter  Rowlinson,  Laura  Relyea,  George 
Reader,  Nellie  Rammer,  Bessie  Rockwood,  Peter  Sleet- 
er,  Agnes  Spychalla,  Paul  Stengl,  Harry  Shapiro,  Edna 
Schultz,  Wencel  Stasek,  Glynden  Steffen,  Bernice  Ste- 
wart, Mary  Strong,  Marion  Tosch,  Ruben  Tollefson, 
Mae  Van  Vleet,  Lynn  Weaver,  Claire  Wedeman. — 
Total  50. 

CLASS  OF  1912. 
Margaret  Mary  English,  Harvey  Weaver,  Eva  Jane 
Church,  Carroll  Quinlan,  Claire  Alice  Laughlin,  Mayme 
Lombard,  John  Sipek,  Helen  Janaszak,  Joseph  Gold- 
berg, Harriette  Elizabeth  Streich,  Hugh  William 
Byrne,  Anna  Martin,  Hermis  Francis  Dionne,  Lyda 
May  Leutsker,  Robert  Leslie,  Irma  Marie  Wunderlich, 
Edward  Shipek,  Agnes  Marie  Bonnell,  John  Wright, 
Inez  Sparks,  Hazel  Elizabeth  Kelly,  George  A.  Jicha, 
Alice  Jane  Doucette,  William  Michael  Keelan,  Mary 
McFadden,  Dorothea  Elizabeth  Birdsell,  Frank  Jacob 
Koutnik,  Ida  Grosow,  Earl  W.  Messinger,  Hazel  Mae 
Cunningham,  Lloyd  Chester  Raymond,  Mercy  Adelyn 
Rockwood,  Roy  Vernon  Gilmore,  Mary  Alice  Healy, 
Arthur  Edward  Clegg,  Earl  Vincent  McCarey,  Anna 
Shapiro,  Bemis  Daskam,  Jane  Marie  Crowley,  Edward 
William  Franzke,  Frank  W.  Plzak,  Minnie  Caroline 
Kaska,  Harold  Boll,  Mary  Kloida,  John  Irving  Wall, 
Sylvia  Cornelia  Anderson,  Robert  Wing  Hemingway, 
Irene  Gwendolyn  McKenna,  Harold  John  Rayworth, 
Madge  Sisel,  Stanislaus  Stephen  Jordon,  Fred  A.  Kol- 
erus,  Joseph  Henry  McClelland,  Hiram  Gustave  Horn. 
—Total  54. 

CLASS  OF  1913. 

June. 
Lillian  Louise  Libert,  Martha  Margaret  Weix,  Ed- 
ward Trippe,  Fern  Robinson,  Fay  Robinson,  Theodore 
LeRoy  Sloat,  Margaret  M.  English,  Phillip  Hoffman, 
Georgia  Burton,  Carl  0.  Duchac,  Harland  Andrew 
Marceau,  Marguerite  Allegra  Eversz,  George  W.  Gib- 
son, Eleanor  E.  Larzelere,  Howard  Wallace  Jaekel, 
Edward  J.  Koudelka,  Ruby  Fehring,  Anna  Louise  Hirt, 
Glendola  M.  Bryant,  Walter  Robert  Voight,  Lillian  R. 
Censky,  Edward  C.  Zellmer,  Noble  E.  Guile,  Robert 
C.  Dewey,  Julia  Edeal  Wade,  Lloyd  Eugene  Fitzgerald, 
Myra  M.  Leslie,  John  Kakes,  Mary  Phoebe  Campbell, 
Alice  Alberta  Farnham,  Mary  Loraine  Holley,  Frank 
Tweedie  Lynde,  Florian  Agnes  Sims,  Irving  Charles 
Green,  Esther  T.  Wanninger,  Kathleen  Genevieve  Dug- 
gan, James  Ira  Pentony,  Louise  Anna  Maltby,  Bert  Er- 
rington  Hale,  Mary  Belsky,  Frank  Duchac,  Mable  Ruth 
Evenson,  Lloyd  Stone  Brooks,  Leonore  Lavoy,  John 
Phillip  Oxley,  Alice  Elizabeth  Hull,  Elmer  Harry  Frey, 
Stella  Irene  Hickey,  George  Benjamin  Griffiths,  Mar- 
tha Gertrude  Pliska,  Vira  Marclette  Briggs,  Homer 
Walter  White,  Polina  Antoinette    Benishek,    Joe     W. 


46 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


Gillis,  Lola  Dean  Frink,  Grace  Gwendolyn  Edee,  Ella 
Harriet  Wigderson.  Harry  John  Kelly,  Marie  A.  Ray- 
worth,  Anna  Novotny,  Esther  Judson. — Total  61. 

CLASS  OF  1914. 

Gertrude  Marcel  Congleton,  Katherine  Kunegunda 
Bierzynski,  Grace  Rosalind  Finucane,  Lillian  Griffiths, 
Daniel  Francis  Healy,  Anna  Rachel  Hughes,  William 
Henry  Kohl,  Margaret  Florence  Manthey,  Joseph  B. 
Feil,  Esther  Marie  Raschke,  Alexander  Houck,  Helen 
Annette  Benishek,  Ruth  Anna  Feller,  Harold  Sargent, 
Bertha  Elma  Hirt.  Robert  William  Hughes,  Florence 
Pauline  Madsen,  William  McNamara,  Jessica  Rosalind 
Riley,  Lawrence  Sargent,  Vernon  J.  Quigley,  Mabel 
Christeen  Beyer,  Frank  D.  Winter,  Clara  May  Hull, 
Donald  White.  Anita  Eleanor  Howard,  Roy  Messen- 
ger, Gratia  May  Moss,  Alma  Loretta  Polar,  Arthur 
Louis  Bacon,  Mayme  Ziegelbauer,  Harry  Roy  Green, 
Catherine  Anna  Crowley,  Fred  Benjamin  Stacek,  Mary 
Imogene  Ralph,  Erwin  Henry  Yentz,  Mary  E.  Tomany, 
James  Schultz,  Mary  A.  Kalouner,  John  Anthony  Spy- 
challa.  Vera  May  Wunderlich,  Elma  Marguerite  Bard- 
well.— Total  42. 

CLASS  OF  1915. 

Doris  Evelyn  Allerton,  Reney  Olive  Apker,  George 
Gordon  Bemis,  Elmer  James  Boll,  Blanche  Gladys 
Briggs,  Clara  Edythe  Censky,  Mabel  Luella  Clark, 
Margaret  Daskam,  Margaret  Blanche  Donohue,  Frank 
Joseph  Dvorak,  Clarence  Michael  Elliott,  Louis  Orland 
Evenson,  Quirin  George  Ewen,  Clement  M.  Flanagan, 
Rose  Henryetta  Friebel,  Luella  Marie  Garrity,  Archie 
Edward  Gillis,  Benjamin  Goldberg,  Evelyn  Marquerite 
Gray,  Raymond  Scott  Griffith,  Helen  Louise  Hayner, 
Lewis  Tillman  Hayner,  Irma  Charlotte  Hayssen, 
Gladys  Marie  Herman,  Blanche  Marie  Jewell,  Arthur 
Alexander  Johnson,  Alice  Adele  Jordon,  John  Alois 
Jordon,  Horace  Bauter  Kellogg,  Eugene  Ogden  Kiefer, 
Florence  Marion  Larzelere,  Lois  Juanita  Leykom,  Roy 
Delbert  Lindsay.  Sanford  Fred  Marsh,  Margaret  Cath- 
erine McMillan,  Kathryn  Mercedes  Miller,  M.  Virginia 
Morrissey,  Pearl  Margaret  Murphy,  Regina  Margaret 
Novotny,  Helen  Grace  Paull,  Valerie  Althea  Poshinski, 
Rusk  Potter,  James  Ralph,  Esther  Katherine  Rayworth, 
Irene  Margaret  Reader,  Arthur  James  Romeis,  Henry 
George  Schroeder,  Adolph  Bernard  Skibba,  Margaret 
Lois  Steffen,  Ethel  Margaret  Tillotson,  Marion  Rose 
Ver  Bryck,  Lucille  Gertrude  Wigderson,  Maitland  Pape 
Williams,  Margaret  Marie  Wright.  Arthur  Christian 
Zimmerman. — Total  55. 

CLASS  OF  1916. 

Marion  A.  Duchac,  Klara  Lukas,  Frank  Wojtasiak, 
Bert  Nixon,  Hugh  L.  Lewis,  Edward  Winter,  Elizabeth 
B.  Benishek,  Agnes  Kevan,  Eugene  McKenna,  Merton 
McNamara,  Warren  Williams.  Anne  Marion  Burnet, 
Bernard  Keelan,  Vivian  H.  McCandless,  Christina  A. 
Koutnik,  Nora  Irene  Wirig,  Earl  Frey,  Ethel  Beryl 
Gilmore,  Francis  Hurley,  Nettie  Follstad,  Guy  E. 
Janes,  Blanche  M.  Martin,  Earl  Crowe,  Ethel  Helen 
Rezek.  Elmer  B.  Arentsen,  Margaret  A.  Quinlan,  Harry 
E.  Moss,  Margaret  Moss,  Raymond  Rutherford  Clegg, 


Grace  Wright,  Reuben  Kenneth  Monroe,  Agnes  Stengl, 
Robert  D.  Millard,  Marion  Irene  Hull,  Raymond  J. 
Wagner,  Gertrude  Berner,  Bert  M.  Turney,  Irene  Dele- 
glise,  Arthur  Raymond  Wall,  Helen  Patricia  Crowley, 
Joe  Loper,  Estelle  Bennington  Bryant,  Noble  Ander- 
son, Louise  Annette  Kohl,  Pearl  A.  Lindsay,  Laurence 
Gaudette,  E.  Ilene  Mustard,  Herbert  W.  Frisch,  Jane 
Elizabeth  Weeks.— Total  49. 

CLASS  OF  1917. 
Helen  Apolena  Belsky,  Evelyn  Blanche  Boll,  Mar- 
quette Seraphine  Cleary,  William  Elmer  Coddo,  Cary 
C.  Couch,  Grace  Marie  CuUen,  Gladys  De  Loye,  Robert 
M.  Dessureau,  Ida  Frances  Feil,  Irene  Fierst,  Annette 
Catherine  Fitzgerald,  Mary  Frederick,  James  Cletus 
Garrity,  Harriet  Elizabeth  Hammond,  Marie  Hecker, 
Alice  Genevieve  Helmbrecht,  Rose  Roberta  Hermann, 
Gladys  Marie  Hopkins,  Byron  Willard  Hunter,  Vernon 
Lloyd  Hunter,  Rose  Clare  Kalouner,  Flora  May  Kaske, 
James  Koutnik,  Howard  Krueger,  Raymond  Carl  Lang, 
Evelyn  Eleanor  Laughlin,  Mabel  Ethlyn  Leslie,  Ray- 
mond Loper,  Emma  Marcella  Mattek,  Harry  Eugene 
Mills,  Terrill  Morson,  Kenyon  Moyer,  Edward  McDon- 
ald, Mayme  Albert  McArthur,  Vernon  James  McHale, 
Mayme  Virtue  Novotny,  Olga  Olson,  Emma  Paiser, 
Harold  Woodford  Pond,  Roy  Herman  Rezek,  Marie 
Agnes  Sheehan,  Dora  Agnes  Sisel,  Marian  Caldwell 
Strong,  Blanche  Wilamine  Teske,  Mildred  Alice  Uhl, 
Ruth  Mildred  Wunderlich,  Ralph  John  Yentz,  Jessie 
Regina  Young. — Total  48. 

CLASS  OF  1918. 
Marion  Kathryn  Hudson,  Lewis  William  Kruger, 
Kathryn  Marion  Kiefer,  Orville  Chester  Green,  Eva 
Lindsay,  Marjorie  Hecker,  Frank  J.  O'Bester,  Irene  E. 
Dumas,  Howard  Warren,  Orpha  Babcock,  Mildred 
Beatrice  Viel,  Earl  E.  Evenson,  Mildred  Pauline  Potter, 
Paul  James  Kavanaugh,  Marian  Frances  Jones,  Eliza- 
beth Marquerite  Folk,  Edward  Hallada,  Minnie  Luella 
Grassel,  Edward  William  Mattek,  Louise  M.  Buerger, 
Vivian  Merie  Apker,  Dewey  Johnson,  Leona  Hilla  Van 
De  Wall,  Wiley  Peter  Koelzer,  Lillian  Sipek,  Frances 
Marian  Reznichek,  Arthur  Rynders,  Edna  Otelia 
Nagel,  Earl  E.  Craine,  Theresa  Walsh,  Frar.ces  Cle- 
mantine  Modi,  Raymond  Richard  Kitt,  Margaret  Caro- 
line Mosher,  William  Morgan  Knott,  Agnes  Prastil, 
Irma  Leola  Weeks.  Charles  A.  Capek,  Eileen  Mc- 
Namara, Dennis  Sylvester  Donohue,  Eloise  Pauline 
Valentine,  Marquerite  Estelle  Driscoll.  Charles  Leo 
Gardaphe,  Agnes  Ann  Hickey,  Frank  Schwartz, 
Blanche  Eleanore  Bonnell,  Clara  Angell  Larzelere,  Vera 
Lorene  Young. — Total  47. 

CLASS  OF  1919. 
Alex  Fierst,  Verna  Ploeger,  Irene  McCormick,  Marie 
Mumme,  Meyer  Shapiro,  Patricia  Garrity,  Charles 
Wall,  Josephine  Augustyne,  Lawrence  Guenthner, 
Dorothy  Berner,  Genevieve  Riley,  Robert  Lynde, 
Goldie  Madsen,  Edwin  Norem,  Audrey  Doner,  Helen 
Hilton,  Herman  Boll,  Margaret  Rasmann,  John  Jicha, 
Mabel  Schultz,  May  Nowotny,  Dorothy  Parsons,  Ed- 
ward Belsky,  Clara    Poss,     Leona     Polar,     Margaret 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


47 


Fehring,  Earl  Tobey,  Marine  Javorsky,  Thomas  Hum- 
ble, Laura  Woodcock,  Edward  McClean,  Mary  Mc- 
Kenna,  Dorothy  Kiefer,  Margaret  Koudelka,  Frank 
Suick,  Julia  Hoffman,  Edmund  Tink,  Beatrice  Ander- 
son, Leonard  Mosher,  Marjorie  Reif,  Audrey  Doner, 
Sadie  Lipman,  Eldie  Packard,  Belva  Higgins,  Ger- 
trude Young,  Ethelyn  Martin,  Floyd  Michaelson, 
Loretta  Lloyd,  Earnest  Fuszard,  Lela  Rynders,  Chris- 
tine Townsend,  Herbert  Fischer,  Margaret  McNamara, 
Newton  Jones,  Edith  Gardaphe,  Helen  Fessenden,  Ted 
Duchac,  Mary  Wright,  Harold  Porter,  Bessie  Barrick, 
Lela  Pleoger,  Orville  Olson,  Bernice  Howe,  Ruth 
Wirig,  Maymie  Jachimsthal,  Gaylord  Barnes,  Irma 
Vorass,  Eugene  Cleary,  Sadie  Stabe. — Total  69. 

CLASS  OF  1920. 

Florence  Howe,  Agnes  Swoboda,  Erwin  Goebel, 
Carolyn  McCarthy,  Gerald  Donohue,  Ruth  Quinlan, 
Blanche  Reising,  Maurice  Arveson,  Lodema  Kuhl, 
Elizabeth  Knott,  Pearl  Arndt,  Irwin  Randall,  Emma 
Joles,  Henry  Hess,  Cora  Sowers,  Lyle  Dalton,  Erna 
Bruss,  Gerald  Hopkins,  Alice  Dessureau,  Herbert 
O'Donnell  Martha  Rauen,  Wallace  Ryan,  Genevieve 
Flanagan,  Martha  Leutsker,  Alice  Cavert,  Josephine 
Perry,  Harold  Dixon,  Elizabeth  Moyer,  Dorothy  Ray, 
Clara  Folstad,  Merrit  Jennings,  Clara  Weix,  Wiley 
McGee,  Macaslyn  Hill,  Margaret  Callahan,  Mildred 
Popkey,  Theodore  Krueger,  Cecelia  Wagner,  Carolyn 
Petrofsky,  Delphos  Michaelson,  Elsie  Hoffman,  Lu- 
cile  Laughlin,  Fred  Rasman,  Mildred  Dessureau,  Myr- 
tle Schufelt,  Harry  Merrill,  Marie  Blood,  Vance  Urness, 
Sadie  Hoover,  Helen  McCarthy,  Marres  Wirig,  Hilda 
Lukas,  Erma  Berner,  Endre  Norem,  Kathryn  Ford, 
Marie  Wall,  Richard  Rynders,  Claire  Schoepke,  Joe 
Antoniewez,  Verna  Brush,  Edith  Conachen,  Joe  Stein- 
fest,  Etta  Bishop,  Harold  Fuzzard,  Thressa  Fell,  Liala 
Boldt,  Linda  Klessig,  Frank  Manthey,  Alice  Them, 
Gertrude  Skibba,  Alma  Severson,  Harold  Maier,  May 
Morrissey,  Lyle  Daskam,  Clara  Wagner,  Ward  Hickok, 
Regina  Skibba,  William  Strong,  Olga  Petrofsky,  Loret- 
ta Friedl,  Fern  Vandervest. — Total  8L 

CLASS  OF  192L 

Lester  Novotny,  Doris  Maxson,  Ruth  Stengel,  Lil- 
lian McKinnon,  Lorraine  Hopkins,  Frank  Stasek, 
Earl  Smith,  Eva  Rose,  Frances  Cleveland,  Soly 
.Stamper,  Marie  Beyer,  Earl  Doersch,  Henry  Berner, 
Elva  DeLoye,  Mona  Burns,  Earl  Hoiem,  Lillian  Kou- 
delka, Sylvia  Buboltz,  Walter  Mumme,  Cecil  Ray- 
mond, Mildred  Isberg,  Fred  Kelly,  Luella  Joles, 
Audrey  Schoepke,  Myer  Lipman,  Norma  Hutchinson, 
Evren  Bessey,  Merrit  Palmer,  Lila  Boll,  Helen  Ahler, 
June  Craig,  Cyril  McKinnon,  Laurette  Friebel,  Mar- 
ion White,  Fred  Schwartze,  Gladys  Olson,  Inez  Fowl- 
er, Erwin  Wiegert,  Catherine  Frederickson,  Esther 
Nowotny,  Raymond  Novotny,  Linda  Fuller,  Margar- 
et Gillis,  Merrit  01k,  Arnold  Neufeldt,  Edna  Stein- 
bach,  Violet  Huycke,  Artemas  Berner,  Arthur  Stro- 
schan,  Winnifred  Johnson,  Catherine  Johns,  Donald 
McArthur,  Norma  Othersall,  Lois  Hammond,  Charles 
Larzelere,  Kathleen  Wright,  Margaret  Collins,  Fran- 
cis Finucane,  Helen  Hay,  Marie  Franzke,  Will  Lip- 


man, Hazel  Driscoll,  Edith  Finnell,  Endre  Norem, 
Ralph  Schroeder,  Edris  Driscoll,  Shurbie  Shannon, 
Fred  Koelzer,  LaFayette  Thompson,  Selma  Neufeld, 
Raymond  Mattka,  Christian  Heyl,  Eleanor  Javorsky, 
Justin  McCarthy,  Julius  Guenthner,  Verna  Doucette, 
Cecelia  Jordon,  Ronald  Moss,  Frank  Pawlak,  Gladys 
Elliott,  Jerome  Riley,  Laura  Green,  Gordon  Schoblas- 
ka,  Gerald  Morrissey,  Zenaida  Fierst,  Stuart  Hayner. 
—Total  86. 

CLASS  OF  1922. 

Janet  E.  Beattie,  W.  Helmet  Gropp,  Bernice  Lucile 
Moscrip,  Virginia  B.  Hathaway,  Ted  Dvorak,  Alida 
Mary  McGlone,  Pearl  A.  Johnson,  Clyde  Lewis  Teske, 
Ann  Frisch,  Walter  Patzer,  Catherine  R.  Callahan, 
Mildred  L.  Bessey,  William  Charles  Morrison,  Hilda 
Eleanor  Buchen,  La  Verne  Reynolds,  Frank  Russel, 
Irene  Marie  Salchert,  Archie  George  Douglas,  Ruth 
Elizabeth  Olson,  Agnes  Lenzner,  Peter  Jackimstahl, 
Lillian  M.  Zangl,  Hazel  Mattka,  Albert  W.  Spencer, 
Viola  Margaret  Helbick,  Cyrus  G.  Reznichek,  Mary 
Welnetz,  Rose  M.  Schwingle,  Jake  Lipman,  Adeline 
Jones,  Eleanor  M.  McCarthy,  William  Peterson,  Mar- 
ion Stewart,  Elliot  Arveson,  Estelle  Fuller,  Evelyn 
Keen,  Lynn  H.  Matthias,  Beatrice  Cherwinka,  Wino- 
na Lenzner,  Donald  Richard  Craine,  Agnes  June  Pe- 
trofsky, Clarence  Tikalsky,  Martha  Wolf,  Verna  Wei- 
gert,  John  F.  Millard,  Freda  M.  Wetzel,  Harriet  A. 
Utnehmer,  Neal  E.  Baker,  Inez  L.  Moss.  Paul  Demar- 
est,  Helen  Mauer,  Ethel  Jane  Greenland,  Harold  Chap- 
man, Olive  A.  Kubiaczyk,  Malinda  M.  Strehlow, 
August  Mecikalski,  Frances  Hilton,  Avery  Hill,  Mary 
Lorraine  McCarthy,  Angeline  Jones,  William  Patrick 
Curran,  Eleanor  M.  Mullen,  Marcella  Mildred  Mettler, 
Leon  Ervin  Fisher,  Mildred  Novotny,  Robert  Fessen- 
den, Faye  L.  Marshall,  Marion  J.  Kebble,  John  Bur- 
ney,  Dorothy  L.  Merrill,  John  R.  Prosser,  Vivian 
Lovisa  Loper,  Gertrude  Ginsberg,  Edward  Wolf, 
Helen  F.  Hallada,  Amelia  Jewell  Echart,  Idris  Davis, 
Eleanor  Louise  Seidl,  Marion  E.  Maloney,  Philip  E. 
Reif,  Donna  Marie  Nelson,  Milton  Loper,  Margaret 
Vorass,  Florence  M.  Culbertson,  Francis  James  Mc- 
Cormick,  Beatrice  Wella  Murton,  Margaret  Reif,  Le- 
land  Hoke,  Lois  Wilma  French,  Elmer  A.  Donohue, 
Arlo  McKinnon,  Eugene  Cody,  Dorothy  E.  Schwartz- 
burg,  Russell  Cavert,  Kenneth  Moscrip. — Total  95. 

LANGLADE  COUNTY  NORMAL. 

The  founding  of  the  Langlade  County  Normal  is 
due  largely  to  the  untiring  efforts  of  A.  M.  Arveson, 
former  County  Superintendent  of  Schools,  who,  in 
the  fall  of  1905,  succeeded  in  securing  an  appropria- 
tion for  the  establishment  of  the  school.  T.  W.  Hum- 
ble, Richard  Koebke,  and  A.  M.  Arveson  were  the 
fi/st  members  appointed  on  the  Langlade  County 
Training  School  Board.  The  second  floor  of  the  An- 
tigo  Public  Library  was  remodeled  and  equipped  for 
suitable  class  rooms.  C.  0.  Marsh,  then  City  Super- 
intendent of  the  Antigo  schools,  was  engaged  as  prin- 
cipal  of   the   new   school   and   Miss    Maud    Brewster 


48 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


(now  Mrs.  L.  L.  Gibbs)  was  engaged  for  Supervisor 
of  Practice. 

The  Langlade  County  Normal  entered  upon  its  first 
year  of  training  rural  teachers  August  27,  1906,  with 
an  enrollment  of  about  thirty-five  students.  The  first 
class  was  graduated  June  20,  1907.  The  school  con- 
tinued under  the  leadership  of  its  first  faculty  for 
six  years  until  in  1911  Miss  Brewster  resigned  to  ac- 
cept a  position  at  Stevens  Point  Normal.  Miss  Mattie 
McMillan  was  then  selected  Supervisor  of  Practice. 
A  year  later  Mr.  Marsh  resigned  to  be  succeeded  by 
W.  E.  Switzer,  who  served  efficiently  for  five  years. 
In  1915,  a  third  teacher,  Miss  Florence  Marsh,  was 
added  to  the  faculty.  Her  successors  have  been  Miss 
Matilda  Horn  and  Miss  Jessie  Thorp,  each  holding 
the  position  of  assistant  for  two  years.  W.  E.  Switz- 
er was  followed  by  W.  E.  Smith,  who  resigned  after 
two  years  of  creditable  service.  He  was  succeeded 
by  J.  H.  Lasher,  the  present  principal.  Under  Mr. 
Lasher's  administration  the  institution  has  maintain- 
ed its  former  high  standard  of  excellence  and  has 
made  itself  an  indispensible  factor  in  county  educa- 
tional and  community  advancement. 

In  1918  appropriations  by  the  County  Board  made 
possible  the  establishment  of  a  school  dormitory  and 
a  model  rural  school,  both  of  which  have 
aided  in  increasing  the  efficiency  of  the 
school.  Previously     to     that     year     all     prac- 

tice teaching  had  been  done  in  the  city  grades.  Miss 
Beulah  Kobler,  who  succeeded  Miss  McMillan  as  Su- 
pervisor of  Practice,  organized  the  Model  School  and 
also  acted  as  first  matron  of  the  dormitory. 

The  present  faculty  consists  of  J.  H.  Lasher,  Prin- 
cipal; Pearl  Blanding,  Supervisor  of  Practice;  Inez 
McGeaham,  Assistant.  The  members  of  the  present 
Training  School  Board  are  Leonard  Freiburger,  Sr., 
W.  J.  Mattek,  and  Miss  Bertha  Moss.  The  school  to 
date  has  graduated  281  students,  most  of  whom  have 
taught  in  the  rural  schools  of  Langlade  County  or  in 
the  Antigo  public  schools.  Eighty-six  per  cent  of  the 
one-room  rural  schools  of  this  county  are  taught  by 
graduates  of  the  school  at  present.  Many  of  the  alum- 
ni have,  since  graduation,  continued  their  profession- 
al training  in  other  institutions  so  that  they  are  now 
found  in  varied  teaching  positions. 

The  alumni  roll  of  the  Langlade  County  Normal 
contains  the  names  of  County  Superintendents,  Rural 
School  Supervisors,  and  High  School  Instructors  as 
well  as  rural  and  city  grade  teachers.  In  addition  to 
its  work  of  training  the  rural  teacher  ,the  school  has 
developed  its  extension  service  which  is  making  its 
influence  for  better  schools  felt  in  every  rural  com- 
munity. 

GRADUATES    OF    THE    LANGLADE    COUNTY 

NORMAL  FROM  1907  TO  CLASS  OF  1922 

INCLUSIVE. 

CLASS  OF  1907. 

Jessie  Elnora  Bottrel,  Anna  Elizabeth  Brennan, 
Bessie  Censky,  Pearl  Margaret  Dalton,  Pearl  A.  Davis, 
Edna  Anna  Day,  Emma  Margaret  Elack,  Alma  Olive 


Ellison,  Libbie  J.  Gillett,  Lulu  Ford,  Mary  Edith  St. 
Claire.— Total  11. 

CLASS  OF  1908. 
Daisy  Bell,  Katie  Agnes  Doucette,  Flora  Louise 
Goebel,  Elsie  Melissa  Gillett,  Agda  Marie  Johnson, 
Maud  Johnson,  Nellie  Margaret  Kevan,  Ida  M.  Morn- 
son,  Monico  Sarah  Riley,  Anna  Elizabeth  Weix,  Mary 
Cecelia  Wurzer,  Anna  Emelina  Yindra,  Elizabeth  E. 
Byrne.— Total  13. 

CLASS  OF  1909. 
Kathryn  Wege,  Helen  Sullivan,  Lottie  Stoker,  Pearl 
Harriet  Nelson,  Annettie  Ross,  Edyth  M.  Sandner, 
Agnes  Mary  Schumitch,  Katherine  Elizabeth  Steger, 
Susie  Dailey,  Ruth  Katherine  Ford,  Matie  Gibson, 
Ruby  Marion  Huggins,  Anna  Marie  Kennedy,  Pearl 
Ellen  McNutt.— Total  14. 

CLASS  OF  1910. 
Edith  Blood,  Agnes  Kennedy,  Anna  Swanson,  Stella 
Zaloudek,  Theresa  Smith,  Clara  Johnson,  Eleanore 
Fellner,  Minnie  Brandow,  Gertrude  Wirth,  Sophie 
Hovey,  Lydia  HoUsted,  Florence  Horton,  Margaret 
Healy,  Frances  Hessler,  May  Guenthner,  Anna  Grant, 
Veda  Marsh,  Dorothy  Borth.— Total  18. 

CLASS  OF  1911. 
Nannie  Maloney,  Clara  Monette,  Amelia  Weix,  Eva 
Schultz,  Anna  Schroeder,  Sadie  Hoffman,  Yarda 
Pearson,  Zelma  Preston,  Agnes  Walter,  Jessie  Mc- 
Gregor, Neta  Ings,  Hattie  Wirth,  Lulu  Garrett,  Lil- 
lian Steger,  Margaret  Byrne,  Elizabeth  Healy,  Edna 
Brakemeyer. — Total  17. 

CLASS  OF  1912. 
Edna  Frederickson,  Harriet  Kohl,  Verna  Spencer, 
Zelma  Sheldon,  Anna  Sailer,  Nellie  Rammer,  Eva 
Jewell,  Evelyn  Ackerman,  Anna  Kobernat,  Lena  Wen- 
dorf,  Agnes  Crummey,  Ruth  Filiatreau,  Sadie  Walch, 
June  Barber,  Grace  St.  Louis,  Inez  Hall,  Elsie  Stro- 
schan,  Jennie  Lade,  Edna  Beattie. — Total   19. 

CLASS  OF  1913. 
Bessie  Regina  Augustyn,  Ruth  Alberta  Barker, 
Mildred  Marie  Blood,  Agnes  Mary  Bonnell,  Myrtle 
May  Boothe,  Margaret  Ryan  Deleglise,  Irene  Gwen- 
dolyn McKenna,' Mabel  Ella  Agnes  Miller,  Lola  Reeve 
Mills,  Vivian  May  Napier,  Mayme  Agnes  Raymark, 
Daisy  Louise  Shanks,  Laura  May  Way,  Kathryn 
Hauenstein,  Mary  Kloida. — Total  15. 

CLASS  OF  1914. 
Martha  Weix,  Kathleen  Duggan,  Julia  Wade,  Wil- 
helmine  Riley,  Blanche  Leslie,  Rosaline  Marleau, 
Alma  Stromberg,  Mary  Belsky,  Hattie  Congleton, 
Catherine  Abler,  Lily  Winter,  Olga  Gram,  Vita  Young, 
Stella  Hickey,  Rose  Stacek,  Otelia  Person,  Alice  Hull, 
Martha  Pliska.— Total  18. 

CLASS  OF  1915. 

Anna  Cernoch,  Genevieve  Grignon,  Maude  Smith, 
Christina  Folk,  Laura  Allen,  Rozella  Armstrong,  Mary 
Tomany,  Anna  Cusick,  Celia  Shanks,  Evelyn  Janes. — 
Total  10. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


49 


CLASS  OF  1916. 


Sophia  Augustyn,  Faye  Brown,  Margaret  Daskam, 
Alvina  Dvorak,  Mabel  Earlandson,  Margaret  Follstad, 
Helen  Hayner,  Hattie  Horton,  Ernestine  Kopischka, 
Florence  Larzelere,  Katherine  Miller,  Margaret  Mc- 
Millan, Gene  McArthey,  Regina  Novotny,  Virginia 
Pearce,  Margaret  Richter,  Jessica  Riley,  Lila  Standi- 
ford,  Esther  Wegner. — Total  19. 

CLASS  OF  1917. 

Delila  Weikel,  Nettie  Walker,  Lillian  Libert, 
Blanche  Martin,  Margaret  Moss,  Elfreida  Bruss, 
Gladys  Herman,  Gladys  Gardner,  Louise  Kohl,  Norma 
Hess,  Rose  Freibel,  Martha  Wirth,  Helen  Crawley, 
Blanche  Raymark,  Ella  Timm,  Marion  Duchac,  Klara 
Lukas,  Claire  Censky,  Helen  Young,  Nora  Wirig,  Hel- 
en Hittle,  Ada  Carlson,  Sylvia  Chadek,  Jane  Weeks, 
Ethel  Gilmore.— Total  25. 


Sisel,  lone  Preston,  Elizabeth  Folk,  Flossie  Robinson. 
—Total  13. 


CLASS  OF  1920. 
Clara  Clark,  Edith  D.  Gardaphe,  Mayme  E.  Jack- 
imsthal.  Marine  C.  Javorsky,  Margaret  Johnson,  Doro- 
thy M.  Kiefer,  Anna  J.  Kauschinger,  Claire  A.  Larze- 
lere, Irene  A.  McCormick,  Golda  Madsen,  Ethelyn  B. 
Martin,  Mae  T.  Nowotny,  Ruth  F.  Olmsted,  Iva  E. 
Pennings,  Leona  E.  Polar,  Marjorie  Reif,  Ethel  N. 
Sanders,  Eva  M.  Schultz,  Mabel  A.  Schultz,  Fannie 
W.  Shannon,  Irma  L.  Vorass,  Alice  0.  Warg. — Total 
22. 

CLASS  OF  1921. 
Bernice  Wood,  Wymoga  Lenzner,  Marie  Kelly,  Edna 
Swanson,   Blanche   Bonnell,    Liala    Boldt,    Genevieve 
Flanagan,  Gerald  Donohue,  Kathryn  Ford,  Nancy  Fry- 
er, Linda  Klessig,  Leona  Kotchi,  Lodema  Kuhl,  Lydia 


THK   OLD   A\TIGO    HIGH    SCHOOL. 

Erected  in   ISiiO.       It  was  totally  destroyed  by  fire  Janiiar\'  li,   lUKj. 

J.   E.   Hoyt   was  the   first   City   Superintendent   to   take 

charge  at   this  building. 


CLASS  OF  1918. 
Elna  S.  Augestad,  Palma  M.  Cosgrove,  Alive  Gene- 
vieve Helmbrecht,  Irene  L.  Hoyt,  Dorothea  R.  Kru- 
ger,  Armella  M.  Lindsay,  Nellie  M.  McDougall, 
Delia  M.  Powers,  Ursulla  M.  Puth,  Ethel  H.  Rezek, 
Marie  A.  Robinson,  Mae  M.  Schoepke,  Edna  D.  Tay- 
lor, Bertha  C.  Wetzel,  Hazel  H.  Wetzel,  Clara  Bertha 
Winter,  Helen  Apolena  Belsky,  Irene  S.  Schultz,  Mar- 
ion C.  Strong. — Total  19. 

CLASS  OF  1919. 
Elfrieda    Pautz,    Stella    Jacobus,    Marion    Hudson, 
Anna   Klitz,   Ruby  T.   Thorn,   Vera   Young,   Margaret 
Feigley,    Eleanore    Greenland,    Hattie    Verch,    Doris 


Lukas,  Hilda  Lukas,  Carolyn  McArthey,  Helen  Mc- 
Arthey, Josephine  Perry,  Delphos  Michaelson,  Myrtle 
Schufelt,  Cora  Sowers,  Evelyn  Stein,  Clara  Wagner, 
Alice  Thern.— Total  24. 

CLASS  OF  1922. 
Marie  Blood,  Celia  Darling,  Mildred  A.  Dessureau, 
Helen  Dickman,  Helen  Elsholtz,  Laurette  Friebel, 
Linda  Fuller,  Margaret  Gillis,  Norma  Hutchinson, 
Luella  Joles,  James  Koutnik,  Lillian  McKinnon,  Doro- 
thy Nequette,  Esther  Nowotny,  Merna  Peterson,  Echo 
Robbins,  Esther  Salter,  Audrey  Schoepke,  Gladys 
Schuh,  Fred  Schwartz,  Shurbie  Shannon,  Sadie  Stabe, 
Minnie  Tolford,  Francis  Wilmot. — Total  24. 


50 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XII. 
Industries,  1873-1923. 

Thomas  Dobbs  Saw  Mill — John  Evans  Saw  Mill — Novotny  Brothers — Clithero,  Putnam  & 
Strong,  1883— Herman,  Becklinger  &  Herman— Weed  Mill— T.  D.  Kellogg — Antigo  Hub  & 
Mfg.  Co. — Hoop  &  Stave  Co. — Antigo  Lbr.  Co.  of  1883 — Pioneer  Iron  Works — Badger  Hub 
Factory — Clancy  Factory — Goodwin's  Broom  Factory — Hoxie  &  Mellor — Excelsior  Factory — 
Canning  Company — Building  Supply — Wis.  Handle  &  Mfg.  Co. — River  Improvement  Co. — 
Screen  Door  Co. — English  Mfg.  Co. — Antigo  and  City  Gas  Cos. — Antigo  Mfg.  Co. — Wunderlich 
and  Krause  Lumber  Cos. — Faust  Lbr.  Co. — Antigo  Lbr.  Co. — Mattefs  Bros. — Frost  Veneer — 
Tractor  Corporation — Fish  Lumber  Company — Langlade  Lbr.  Co. — Hirt  Bros. — Kingsbury  & 
Henshaw — Henshaw-Worden    Lumber    Co. — V.  Wolf — Lincoln  Box  Co. 


One  of  the  most  interesting  phases  of  the  develop- 
ment of  the  county  has  been  the  rise  and  expansion  of 
industries  that  flourished  and  then  for  various  reasons 
halted  operations  and  passed  into  oblivion.  The  cause 
for  these  changes  in  the  industrial  life  of  a  communi- 
ty opens  up  a  philosophy  of  history  producing  a  wide 
and  interesting  field. 

The  first  industry  established  in  the  county  was  the 
old  portable  saw  mill  of  Thomas  M.  Dobbs,  a  Pennsyl- 
vanian,  who  came  into  the  county  in  1873.  Dobbs  be- 
gan to  clear  out  a  space  in  the  wilderness  for  his  home 


lage;  it  gave  the  settlers  a  market  for  their  timber, 
provided  employment  and  supplied  the  growing  de- 
mand for  lumber.  Mr.  Deleglise  gave  the  Novotny 
Brothers  the  right  to  erect  a  dam  with  a  seven  foot 
head  and  overflow  any  of  his  lands  for  a  pond.  In 
April,  1883,  the  legislature  passed  a  law  authorizing 
Joseph  and  Louis  Novotny  to  construct  a  dam  across 
Springbrook  on  the  west  i  2  of  the  northeast  and  the 
east  ^2  of  the  northwest  I4  of  section  29,  township  31, 
range  11  east.  The  two  brothers  erected  a  grist  mill 
also.       The  saw  mill  averaged  30,000  feet  per  day. 


HOW  LOfiS  WERE  OXCE  HAULED  TO  .-WTIGO  NULLS. 
Contrast  the  aliove  "Caterpillar"  tractor  method  of  hauling  logs,  once  used 


hv  the  T.   D. 


Kellogg   Lumber  and    Manufacturing   Company, 
pioneer  method   shown  on   page  31. 


with   the 


immediately  after  his  arrival.  His  mill  was  on  sec- 
tion 30,  township  31,  range  15  east.  He  stayed  there 
but  a  short  time  when  he  moved  to  the  junction  point 
of  the  Lily  and  Wolf  rivers,  known  since  as  the  Lily. 

The  second  saw  mill  in  the  county  was  probably 
owned  by  John  Evans,  who  first  operated  on  the  Ever- 
green River  south  of  White  Lake  about  1879. 

FIRST  ANTIGO  SAW  MILL. 

Louis  and  Joseph  Novotny  came  to  Antigo  in  De- 
cember, 1878,  from  Manitowoc,  consulted  with  Hon. 
F.  A.  Deleglise  and  agreed  to  erect  a  saw  mill  in  the 
village.  They  moved  their  equipment  from  Wausau 
in  1879  and  erected  "Novotny's  Mill"  on  the  site  of  the 
Faust  mill  of  today.  Louis  Novotny  erected  Antigo's 
first  frame  building. 

The  Novotny  mill  was  an  asset  to  the  embryo  vil- 


THE  WEED  MILL. 

In  January,  1882,  A.  Weed  of  Oshkosh  erected  a 
large  saw  and  planing  mill  one  mile  south  of  the  Vil- 
lage of  Antigo.  This  mill  had  a  capacity  of  75.000 
feet  per  eleven  hour  day.  Approximately  20,000  feet 
of  lumber  was  cut  into  shingles  by  the  shingle  mill. 
Booming  facilities  were  provided  by  backing  up 
Springbrook  with  a  37  rod  long  dam  providing  ample 
storage  for  ten  million  feet  of  logs.  One  hundred 
persons  were  employed  on  an  average  by  Weed's  mill, 
which  operated  until  1899,  when  it  was  destroyed  by 
fire.  When,  in  1885,  the  city  was  incorporated  the 
Weed  mill  property  was  excluded  because  of  high 
taxes.  A  store  and  boarding  house  was  operated  in 
connection  with  the  mill.  F.  J.  Hopkins  was  in  charge 
of  this  for  many  years. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


51 


HERMAN,  BECKLINGER  &  HERMAN. 

In  1881  Fred  and  Julius  Herman  came  to  Antigo 
from  Milwaukee  and  erected  a  saw  mill  on  the  site  of 
the  Crocker  Chair  Company  plant.  The  mill  operated 
until  March  22,  1883,  when  it  was  destroyed  by  fire. 
The  Herman  Brothers  rebuilt.  They  also  opened  a  fur- 
niture factory,  June  23,  1882.  The  firm  was  then  known 
as  Herman,  Becklinger  &  Herman.  A  60  horse  power 
engine  drove  the  mill  machinery.  The  plant  was  sold 
to  the  Crocker  Chair  Company,  December  9,  1890. 
The  new  owners  rebuilt  and  reconstructed 
the  plant,  which  they  still  operate.  They  manufacture 
chair  parts. 

T.  D.  KELLOGG  BUYS  OUT  NOVOTNY  BROS. 

In  March,  1883,  T.  D.  Kellogg  moved  to  Antigo  from 
New  (Lily),  where  he  had  operated  a  saw  mill.  He 
purchased  Novotny  Brothers  saw  mill,  grist  mill,  pow- 
er dam  and  14  acres  of  land  in  1885.  The  mill  burned 
down  in  1886,  but  was  rebuilt.  Mr.  Kellogg  then 
took  D.  D.  Kellogg  (not  a  relative)  of  Green  Bay  into 
partnership,  operating  as  Kellogg  &  Kellogg.  In  1889, 
D.  D.  Kellogg  sold  his  interest  to  T.  D.  Kellogg  and 
two  years  later,  1891,  the  T.  D.  Kellogg  Lumber  & 
Manufacturing  Company  was  organized.  The  saw 
mill  was  sold  in  1905  to  J.  H.  Worden.  For  a  time 
the  T.  D.  Kellogg  Lumber  &  Manufacturing  Company 
operated  three  mills — Polar  mill,  Antigo  Hoop  &  Stavs 
mill  and  the  T.  D.  Kellogg  mill. 

ANTIGO  HUB  &  MFG.  CO. 

The  Antigo  Hub  &  Mfg.  Company  was  organized 
September  19,  1892,  by  Henry  J.  Frick,  W.  Morgan  and 
A.  Wiltderding.  A  plant  was  erected  and  operated 
with  fair  success  for  a  while  but  finally  failed.  The 
property  was  taken  over  by  the  First  National  Bank. 
H.  B.  Kellogg  was  selected  to  operate  it  for  the  bank 
in  1901  and  did  so  until  April  18,  1903,  when  it  was  re- 
organized as  the  Antigo  Hoop  &  Stave  Company  of 
which  H.  B.  Kellogg  was  the  principal  owner.  The  in- 
dustry was  sold  April  1,  1919  to  Henshaw-Worden 
Lumber  Company,  who  used  the  yard,  but  wrecked  the 
machinery. 

ANTIGO   LUMBER   COMPANY  OF    1883. 

The  first  "Antigo  Lumber  Company"  was  organized 
in  November,  1883,  by  E.  R.  Van  Buran,  Antigo  man, 
and  Chicago  associates.  The  company  did  a  broker- 
age business  and  had  an  office  located  where  the  Lang- 
lade County  Normal  dormitory  is  now  located.  Five 
years  later  it  disbanded,  Mr.  Van  Buran  leaving  for 
Chicago. 

PIONEER  IRON  WORKS. 

The  Pioneer  Iron  Works  was  organized  January  1, 
1884,  by  W.  B.  Johns,  who  came  here  from  Brillion, 
Calumet  County,  Wisconsin.  He  erected  the  plant  at 
4th  Avenue  and  Dorr  Street.       He  formed  a  partner- 


ship with  J.  Kerling  of  Manitowoc.  Kerling  soon 
sold  his  rights  back  to  Mr.  Johns,  who  took  D.  D.  Kel- 
logg into  partnership  with  him.  The  Pioneer  Iron 
Works  flourished  in  its  early  history.  For  a  long 
time  W.  B.  Johns  operated  it  alone,  he  being  followed 
by  W.  S.  Morgan. 

BADGER  HUB  FACTORY. 

W.  D.  Badger  came  to  Antigo  from  Fort  Atkinson, 
Wisconsin  and  on  December  7,  1883,  erected  a  hub 
factory  in  the  northern  part  of  the  Village  of  Antigo, 
across  from  the  C.  &  N.  W.  Round  House  location. 
The  frame  timbers  used  in  the  excelsior  factory  of  C. 
B.  McDonald  &  Co.,  was  the  first  product  of  the  hub 
factory.  Mr.  Badger  operated  the  mill  but  a  short 
time  when  Louis  Buckman  became  his  partner.  He 
was  from  Green  Bay.  The  mill  burned  in  1886  and 
Mr.  Badger  went  three  miles  north  to  "Shadeks"  sid- 
ing, Antigo  township,  and  erected  a  mill. 

CLANCY  BUILDING  FACTORY. 

From  1883  to  1889,  E.  Clancy,  a  well  known  con- 
tractor of  Antigo,  ran  a  building  factory  north  of  the 
Pioneer  Iron  Works.  It  was  an  auxiliary  to  his  con- 
tract business. 

CITY  PLANING  MILL. 

Fred  Herman  of  the  Herman,  Becklinger  &  Herman 
firm,  erected  a  planing  mill  in  Antigo  in  1881.  It 
was  located  in  block  64,  across  from  the  Antigo  Public 
Library  grounds.      It  operated  until  about  1889. 

R.  M.  GOODWIN  BROOM  HANDLE  FACTORY. 

The  R.  M.  Goodwin  Company  of  Union  Pier,  Michi- 
gan erected  a  broom  handle  factory  in  Antigo  in 
August,  1885.  They  operated  until  1893,  when  the 
plant  was  sold  to  W.  H.  Pardee  and  others.  John 
T.  Thursby  was  the  manager  of  the  plant.  8,000 
handles  were  turned  out  daily.  It  burned  down  in 
1895. 

J.  C.  HOXIE  &  E.  N.  MELLOR. 

J.  C.  Hoxie  and  E.  N.  Mellor,  known  over  the  middle 
west,  did  a  volume  of  lumber  business  in  the  county 
until  their  failure  in  1890.  They  had  all  their  logs 
cut  in  Langlade  County  mills,  not  operating  mills  of 
their  own.  They  leased  the  Weed  Mill  for  a  while, 
however,  and  ran  a  building  material  mill  of  their  own 
south  of  Clithero  &  Strong's  mill,  across  from  the  pres- 
ent Antigo  Canning  Company.  Mr.  Mellor  shot  him- 
self in  the  Vivian  Hotel,  December  22,  1892,  the  morn- 
ing he  was  to  appear  at  a  "three  cornered  deal"  hear- 
ing in  the  bankruptcy  proceedings  at  Oshkosh.  Mellor 
was  once  Vice-President  of  the  Wisconsin  Valley  Lum- 
berman's Association.  The  Hoxie  &  Mellor  failure 
involved  millions  of  dollars  and  was  given  first  page 
publicity  in  metropolitan  newspapers. 


52 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


EXCELSIOR  FACTORY. 

C.  B.  McDonald  and  George  T.  Ratcliffe  opened  an 
excelsior  factory  providing  a  market  for  basswood  pro- 
ducts, December,  1883.  In  the  spring  of  1885,  the 
original  owners  sold  to  Rassmussen  &  Co.  Rassmus- 
sen  was  influenced  to  come  to  Antigo  by  Niels  Ander- 
son. The  plant,  located  across  from  the  Henshaw 
Lumber  Company  office,  on  Sixth  Avenue,  was  clos- 
ed in  August,  1885,  as  a  result  of  litigation.  Niels 
Anderson  then  took  it  over  and  operated  it  for  a  while 
later.  In  1907  the  property  was  remodeled  into  a 
planing  mill.  Those  who  were  interested  in  the  busi- 
ness were  John  P.  Nelson,  P.  F.  Kelly,  John  A.  Ogden 
and  J.  J.  Laughlin.      The  mill  burned. 

CLITHERO  &  STRONG-PUTNAM-BANGS. 

George  Clithero  and  L.  K.  Strong,  pioneers,  formed 
the  Clithero  &  Strong  patrnership  in  1885.  They 
operated  a  planing  mill  on  south  Morse  street  across 
from  the  site  of  the  Antigo  Canning  Co.  The  mill 
operated  until  1887  when  it  burned.  Mr.  Clithero 
went  to  Hurley  and  Mr.  Strong  entered  the  real  estate 
business  in  Antigo.  George  Clithero  first  had  E.  R. 
Putnam  as  a  partner  in  1883.  Putnam  and  he  ran  a 
sash  door  factory  on  south  Morse  street  from  Novem- 
ber 1883,  until  1885.  In  September  1884,  N.  Bangs 
became  associated  with  the  two  and  the  concern  was 
then  known  as  the  Antigo  Planing  Mill  Co. 

In  1885,  Hans  Anderson,  a  Dane,  opened  a  machine 
shop  in  Antigo.      It  was  a  small  industry. 

WISCONSIN  HANDLE  &  MFG.  CO. 

The  Wisconsin  Handle  &  Mfg.  Company  was  organ- 
ized September  5,  1893.  by  W.  H.  Pardee,  E.  P.  Bridge- 
man  and  Charles  Kellogg.  The  Company  took  over 
the  R.  M.  Goodwin  Broom  Handle  Factory.  It  ope- 
rated until  1895. 

IMPROVEMENT  COMPANIES. 

The  River  Improvement  Company  organized  Febru- 
ary 26,  1894,  by  A.  C.  Campbell,  A.  M.  Lanning  and 
G.  W.  Hogben  and  the  Big  Eau  Claire  River  Improve- 
ment Company  organized  by  J.  D.  Ross,  W.  H.  Bissell, 
and  J.  S.  Clements,  were  both  organized  to  improve 
the  Big  Eau  Claire  River,  the  first,  the  west  branch, 
and  the  last  named  concern,  the  river  course  in  Lincoln 
and  Langlade  counties  "adjacent  to  timber  territory." 

ANTIGO  SCREEN  DOOR  COMPANY. 

The  Antigo  Screen  Door  Company  was  organized  by 
G.  W.  Hogben,  H.  C.  Humphrey  and  A.  M.  Lanning, 
June  25,  1897.  The  concern  went  bankrupt  after  ope- 
rating a  few  years  on  the  site  of  the  English  Mfg.  Co. 

ANTIGO  MINING  AND  OIL  CONCERNS. 

In  an  early  day  many  prominent  Antigo  men  were  in- 
terested in  mining  companies  such  as:  The  Phoenix 
Mining  Co.,  organized  December  27,  1886;  The  Iron 


Vein  Mining  Company,  organized  February  10,  1887; 
The  Antigo  Mining  Company,  organized  about  then 
also.  Leaders  were  Nick  Bangs,  M.  ToUefson,  War- 
ren and  George  Hill,  W.  W.  Warner,  Pat  Day,  H.  A. 
Kohl,  R.  J.  Leutsker,  P.  J.  Koelzer,  M.  M.  Ross  and  J. 
E.  Mullowney. 

In  1921-22  a  number  of  Antigo  people,  more  parti- 
cularly John  Brown,  Jr.,  John  Hanousek,  W.  B.  Mc- 
Arthur,  C.  J.  Courtney,  Harry  Meyers  and  others  be- 
came interested  in  an  oil  well  at  Roundup,  Montana, 
called  the  Devils  Dome  Oil  concern. 

ANTIGO  CANNING  CO. 

The  Antigo  Canning  Company  was  organized  Octo- 
ber 12,  1907,  by  PI.  C.  Head,  R.  B.  Johns  and  Sarah 
A.  Head.  The  company  operates  extensively  each 
year,  its  products  being  sold  everywhere.  A  tremen- 
dous volume  of  vegetable  products  are  canned  at  their 
factory  south  of  the  city  and  just  west  of  the  C.  &  N. 
W.  tracks. 

ANTIGO  BUILDING  SUPPLY  CO. 

The  Antigo  Building  Supply  Company  organized 
October  28,  1902,  with  the  following  officers :  Presi- 
dent— Robert  Miller;  Vice-President — Herman  Behn; 
Manager — G.  A.  Hirsch;  Secretary-Treasurer — W.  A. 
Maertz.  Present  officers  are :  President — Robert 
Miller,  Clintonville;  Vice-President — Henry  Leppla, 
Brillion,  Wis.;  Secretary-Treasurer — C.  O.  Miller, 
Antigo;  Manager — T.  A.  Brenner.  Offices  and  factory 
are  at  817  Fulton  Street. 

INTERNATIONAL  HOIST  CO. 

The  International  Hoist  Company  was  originally  the 
result  of  the  activities  of  C.  F.  Dallman,  Joseph  Wirig 
and  Leonard  Frieburger,  who  on  November  12,  1910, 
filed  articles  of  organization  for  the  concern.  The  in- 
dustry was  created  to  manufacture  hoists  designed  by 
Mr.  Dallman.  A  plant  was  erected  on  north  Minola 
Street,  Antigo.  For  years  the  industry  was  operated 
by  the  Beavers  Reserve  Fund  Fraternity,  Dr.  J.  C. 
Wright,  and  Mayer  Brothers  of  Mankato,  Minn.,  when 
it  was  sold  to  the  Murray-Mylrea  Machine  Company. 
In  1919  the  buildings  were  sold  to  the  Antigo  Tractor 
Corporation. 

ENGLISH  MANUFACTURING  CO. 

The  English  Manufacturing  Co.,  with  factories  and 
offices  at  805  Hudson  Street,  was  organized  October 
28,  1907.  The  company  deals  in  pails,  ice  cream 
freezers,  packing  tubs,  staves,  heading  timber,  etc. 
John  English  is  head  of  the  institution. 

ANTIGO  GAS  CO.— CITY  GAS  CO. 

The  Antigo  Gas  Company  was  organized  February 
10,  1910  by  J.  C.  Spencer  and  R.  Koebke.  The  indus- 
try went  through  reverses  and  a  period  or  re-organiza- 
tion and  litigation  until  March  12,  1914,  when  the  City 
Gas  Company  was  organized.       June   1,  1919,  C.  O. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


53 


Somdahl  took  active  control  of  the  plant,  stock  of 
which  is  now  owned  by  six  individuals.  Extensive 
improvements  and  many  new  patrons  has  resulted. 
Offices  are  in  the  Masonic  Temple  building.  The 
plant  is  located  on  south  Clermont  street,  between  9th 
and  10th  avenues. 

ANTIGO    MFG.   CO. 

The  Antigo  Mfg.  Co.  was  organized  in  Nov.,  1891, 
by  Messrs.  H.  A.  Babcock,  John  Holley,  G.  H.  Maxwell 
and  G.  K.  Meneely.  The  plant  located  on  10th  Ave- 
nue burned  October  31,  1893.  It  was  rebuilt  and  still 
operates.  Excepting  H.  A.  Babcock,  the  original 
owners  still  control  the  industry. 

WUNDERLICH-KRAUSE-EDGAR  &  MARTIN- 
DAWLEY  NORTHERN  YARDS,  INC. 

The  Wunderlich  Lbr.  &  Mfg.  Co.  was  organized  in 
1905  by  Chris.  Wunderlich,  who  was  associated  with 
his  brother,  George  Wunderlich.  A  mill  erected  on 
south  Clermont  street  was  destroyed  by  a  boiler  explo- 
sion, February  24,  1905.  May  10,  1918,  George  Wun- 
derlich, C.  H.  Krause  and  R.  E.  Krause  organized  the 
C.  H.  Krause  Lumber  Co.,  which  operated  until  the 
concern  went  into  bankruptcy.  The  property  was 
purchased  by  George  Wunderlich  from  the  bankruptcy 
referee  and  then  sold  to  Edgar  &  Martin,  who  operated 
until  1922.  Dawley-Northern  Yards,  Inc.,  of  Wausau, 
Wis.,  then  purchased  the  planing  mill  and  property  and 
still  own  it.      H.  F.  Harmon  is  local  manager. 

WOLF  RIVER  LUMBER  COMPANY. 

The  Wolf  River  Lumber  Company,  organized  March 
18,  1912,  by  J.  H.  Worden,  President,  has  offices  on 
Superior  street,  Antigo.  Its  operations  in  lumber, 
white  and  Norway  pine,  hemlock  and  hardwood  pro- 
ducts, logs  and  pulp  wood,  are  extensive. 

WISCONSIN  BARK  &  LBR.  CO. 

The  Wisconsin  Bark  &  Lbr.  Co.  took  over  the  saw 
and  planing  mill  property  of  the  T.  D.  Kellogg  Lumber 
&  Mfg.  Co.,  in  1905,  after  the  mill  had  been  sold  to  J. 
H.  Worden. 

Principal  owners  were  J.  H.  Worden,  and  Edward 
Faust.  Until  1909  the  industry  operated  as  that  con- 
cern and  then  re-organized  as 

THE  ANTIGO  LUMBER  COMPANY. 

We  have  heard  of  the  Antigo  Lumber  Company  of 
1883.  Twenty-six  years  later  another  Antigo  Lumber 
Company,  which  operated  from  1909  until  1912,  came 
into  existence.  The  concern  went  bankrupt  in  1912 
and  J.  H.  Worden,  Caspar  Faust  of  Oshkosh,  Charles 
Malug  of  Marion,  Wis.,  and  J.  B.  Lesch  of  Chicago, 
took  over  the  property.       The  new  concern  became 

THE  FAUST  LUMBER  COMPANY. 

The  Faust  Lumber  Company  operates  a  saw  and 
planing  mill  in  Antigo.       The  annual  cut  of  lumber 


is  about  six  million  feet.  Principal  owners  are:  J. 
H.  Worden,  L.  P.  Tradewell,  J.  B.  Lesch,  John  Hessel 
and  Caspar  Faust. 

MATTEFS  BROTHERS  COMPANY. 

Mattefs  Brothers  Company  was  organized  February 
7,  1917,  and  is  the  successor  of  the  Mattefs  Construc- 
tion Co.,  organized  in  1904.  Principal  owners  are  Gust 
and  August  Mattefs.  The  company  operates  a  plan- 
ing, building  supply  and  interior  finish  mill,  lot  13, 
Lincoln  street.  It  engages  extensively  in  contract 
building.      A  new  mill  is  being  erected. 

FROST  VENEER  SEATING  COMPANY. 

The  Frost  Veneer  Seating  Company  was  one  of  the 
early  industries  to  locate  in  Langlade  County,  coming 
first  to  Elmhurst  and  then  at  Elcho,  from  where  in  1890 
they  moved  to  Antigo.  A  plant  was  erected  on  the 
north  end  of  Novotny's  (Kellogg's)  pond  where  40 
men  are  employed  on  an  average.  The  Antigo  mill 
devotes  itself  exclusively  to  cutting  and  drying  veneer. 
Chris.  Janes,  Superintendent,  was  appointed  May  1, 
1921.  Main  offices  are  at  50  Union  Square,  New  York 
City. 

THE  ANTIGO  TRACTOR  CORPORATION. 

The  Antigo  Tractor  Corporation  was  organized  Janu- 
ary 13,  1921,  by  a  group  of  citizens,  chiefly  of  Lang- 
lade County.  Capital  stock  is  $1,000,000.  The  cor- 
poration is  the  outgrowth  of  the  original  Antigo 
Tractor  Company,  organized  with  a  capital  stock  of 
$100,000,  June  12,  1919.  The  corporation  engages  in 
the  manufacture  and  distribution  of  the  Quad-Pull 
Tractor,  principal  of  which  was  designed  by  D.  S. 
Stewart,  Antigo  man.  Factory  and  offices  are  located 
on  north  Minola  street,  Antigo.  The  plant  was  pur- 
chased in  1919.  Officers  of  the  Antigo  Tractor  Cor- 
poration are:  President — John  Manser;  1st  Vice-Pres- 
ident—Ernest Hirt;  2nd  Vice-President— J.  R.  McQuil- 
lan; Secretary — Dr.  E.  R.  Murphy;  Treasurer — Ernest 
Hirt.  Board  of  Directors  consist  of  the  officers  and 
W.  H.  Wolpert,  George  Foster  of  Wausau,  John  Han- 
ousek,  Charles  W.  Fish,  Morris  Robinson  and  R.  C. 
Dempsey. 

THE  CHAS.  W.  FISH  LUMBER  COMPANY. 

The  Charles  W.  Pish  Lumber  Company,  main  office 
at  Elcho,  cut  their  first  log  at  the  Antigo  mill.  No.  3, 
July  11,  1917.  The  plant  was  started  May  1,  1917, 
after  a  popular  campaign  was  made  to  induce  Mr.  Fish 
to  build  in  Antigo.  The  institution  employs  100  men 
the  year  around.  The  cut  averages  12  million  feet  an- 
nually. Offices  and  plant  are  located  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  city.  M.  H.  Keenan  is  the  foreman.  The 
Chas.  W.  Fish  Lumber  Company  has  five  mills,  two 
of  which  are  in  Langlade  County. 


54 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


THE  LANGLADE  LUMBER  COMPANY. 

The  Langlade  Lumber  Company  was  organized  Jan- 
uary 2,  1916,  and  on  April  1,  1916,  ground  was  broken 
for  the  erection  of  their  saw  mill  on  Clermont  Heights, 
Antigo.  The  first  log  was  cut  December  20,  1916. 
The  modern  planing  mill,  started  May  1,  1917,  was 
completed  in  August  the  same  year. 

The  Langlade  Lumber  Company  purchased  the  tim- 
ber holdings  of  the  defunct  Paine  Lumber  Company  of 
Oshkosh.  The  company  operated  five  camps  and  had 
fifteen  jobers  logging  in  the  1922  season.  All  of 
their  timber  west  of  the  C.  &  N.  W.  right-of-way  in 
Upham  township  has  been  cut.  The  store  and  camps 
of  Bass  Lake  and  Pearson  are  discussed  in  Upham 
and  Ainsworth  townships. 

Officers  of  the  Langlade  Lumber  Company  are:  L. 
K.  Baker,  Chicago,  President;  George  E.  Foster,  Wau- 
sau,  1st  Vice-President;  Frank  Boutin,  Minneapolis, 
2nd  Vice-President;  J.  R.  McQuillan,  General  Manager 
and  Secretary;  H.  L.  Fitze,  Assistant  Secretary;  A. 
R.  Owen,  Owen,  Wis.,  Treasurer;  Fred  H.  Shaw,  Super- 
intendent and  L.  A.  Maier,  Land  Department  Manager. 
Offices  are  at  1625  Clermont  Street. 

The  Company  employs  130  men  annually  on  an 
average  and  has  a  cut  of  approximately  20  million  feet 
of  lumber.  Much  of  the  product  is  sent  direct  from 
the  camps  to  the  paper  industries  in  the  Fox  River 
Valley. 

HIRT  BROTHERS  MILLING  CO. 

The  Hirt  Brothers  Milling  Company  opened  their 
Antigo  mill  on  9th  Avenue,  December  15,  1917.  The 
company  is  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  wheat,  rye 
and  buckwheat  flour,  grind  feed  for  farmers  and  con- 
duct a  wholesale  and  retail  business  in  flour,  feed,  hay 
and  grain.  Officers  of  Hirt  Brothers  Milling 
Company     are:  President — Ernest     Hirt;       Vice- 

President — L.  L.  Gibbs;  Secretary-Treasurer — Miss 
Elsie  Hirt. 

The  average  daily  production  of  flour  on  a  24-hour 
run  basis  is  150  barrels. 

KINGSBURY  &  HENSHAW  LUMBER  CO. 

The  Kingsbury  &  Henshaw  Lumber  Company  was 
organized  in  1892  by  C.  E.  Henshaw  and  J.  J.  Kings- 
bury. They  erected  a  saw  mill  on  Field  street,  Antigo. 
The  business  flourished  until  the  death  of  J.  J.  Kings- 
bury, August  2,  1917.  The  concern  re-organized  with 
C.  E.  Henshaw  and  J.  H.  Worden  associated  in  the 


HENSHAW-WORDEN  LUMBER  CO. 

The  Henshaw-Worden  Lumber  Company  was  organ- 
ized December  4,  1917,  with  a  capital  stock  of 
$100,000.  January  12,  1922,  the  firm  name  was  chang- 
ed to  Henshaw  Lumber  Company.  C.  J.  Te  Selle  is 
secretary  and  manager  of  the  concern,  which  has 
offices  on  Field  street  and  6th  avenue. 

V.  WOLF  MILLWORK  CO. 

The  Vincent  Wolf  Millwork  Co.  was  opened  in  May, 
1914,  at  628  Sixth  Avenue.  The  concern  deals  in 
building  material,  interior  and  exterior  finishing,  sash 
doors,  etc. 

LINCOLN  BOX  COMPANY. 

The  Lincoln  Box  Company  of  Merrill,  Lincoln  Coun- 
ty, opened  a  factory  in  Antigo  on  Hudson  street  recent- 

ly. 

THE  LANGLADE  LAUNDRY  CO. 

The  present  Langlade  Laundry  Company  was  form- 
ed by  C.  E.  Home  and  O.  R.  Frisby,  who  in  the  fall  of 
1916  purchased  the  plant  from  F.  A.  Hecker,  when  it 
was  then  located  on  Fifth  Avenue  in  the  Neff-Roberts 
flat.  In  the  spring  of  1919,  the  business  was  sold  to 
William  A.  Lange  and  Ed.  Stoddard,  Wausau,  Wis- 
consin, men.  A  half  year  later  E.  C.  Stoddard  sold 
his  interest  to  C.  E.  Home  and  since  that  time  the 
business  has  been  owned  and  operated  by  the  Lang- 
lade Laundry  Company,  of  which  Wm.  A.  Lange  and 
C.  E.  Home  are  proprietors.  The  business  continued 
in  Neff-Roberts  building  until  the  spring  of  1921,  when 
because  of  increased  business,  and  need  of  larger  quar- 
ters, a  modern  two  story  brick  structure  was  erected, 
which  houses  a  laundry  and  dry  cleaning  and  dyeing 
establishment.  The  proprietors  added  new  machinery 
and  equipment,  a  soft  water  installation,  with  a  capaci- 
ty of  12,000  gallons  a  day,  water  being  pumped  from 
a  deep  well  in  the  plant.  The  plant  employs  four 
male  and  twelve  female  employes. 

The  Langlade  Laundry  plant  is  a  model  institution. 
By  a  special  ventilating  system  the  air  in  the  entire 
plant  is  changed  every  seven  minutes.  Windows  on 
both  sides  of  the  plant  make  ideal  working  conditions. 
It  is  safe  to  infer  that  the  plant  is  the  most  modern  one 
of  Northern  Wisconsin.  The  laundry  work  is  of  ex- 
ceptional high  grade  and  is  under  the  efficient  super- 
vision of  C.  E.  Home.  Mr.  Lange,  associate  of  Mr. 
Home's,  has  personal  charge  of  the  dyeing  and  clean- 
ing department.  The  laundry  has  added  rug  cleaning 
to  its  field  and  with  this  new  venture  they  are  meet- 
ing with  success. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


55 


CHAPTER  XIII. 
Banks  and  Finances,  Langlade  County 

Early  Bank  Charters — First  Banking  Law — National  Bank  Act — First  Langlade  County  Bank — The 
Bank  of  Antigo — Langlade  National  Bank — The  First  National  Bank — The  Fidelity  Savings  Bank 
— Elcho,  Neva,  White  Lake  and  Phlox  Banks — Comparison  1881-1922. 


The  Territorial  Legislature  of  Michigan  granted  a 
charter  to  the  Bank  of  Wisconsin  at  Green  Bay  in  1834. 
(Before  Wisconsin  was  detached  from  Michigan  Ter- 
ritory.) This  bank  was  in  existence  until  1838,  when 
upon  demand  it  was  liquidated. 

Bank  charters  were  granted  to  the  Miner's  Bank  of 
Dubuque,  la.,  then  in  Wisconsin  Territory,  the  Bank  of 
Milwaukee  and  the  Bank  of  Mineral  Point  at  the  Wis- 
consin Territory  Legislature's  first   session. 

Louis  Grignon,  Green  Bay,  kin  of  Charles  De  Lang- 
lade, possessed  the  first  bank  bills  in  Wisconsin.  No 
doubt,  they  were  for  service  with  the  British  in  the 
War  of  1812. 

The  first  general  banking  law  in  Wisconsin  was 
adopted  in  1852  and  has  since  been  frequently  amend- 
ed. All  changes  are  made  by  the  legislature  with- 
out submission  to  the  electorate. 

The  National  system  of  banking  was  organized  by 
law  in  1863.  The  first  monetary  system  was  estab- 
lished in  the  United  States  by  an  act  of  Congress  on 
April  2,  1792.  First  coinage  began  at  the  government 
mint  at  Philadelphia.  The  single  gold  standard,  as  a 
unit  of  value,  was  adopted  in  1873.  State  and  Na- 
tional banks  are  required  to  keep  on  hand  a  certain 
per  cent  of  their  deposits  to  meet  all  ordinary  drafts 
and  such  special  emergencies  as  may  arise. 

LANGLADE  COUNTY'S  FIRST  BANK. 

The  first  bank  in  Langlade  County  was  organized  as 
a  private  institution  in  1881  by  L.  D.  Moses,  pioneer 
Antigo  merchant.  This  bank  was  located  just  east  of 
what  is  now  A.  A.  Lueck's  Drug  Store.  It  was  called 
The  Langlade  County  Bank.  L.  D.  Moses  was  presi- 
dent and  Irvin  Gray,  later  an  employee  of  the  First 
National  Bank,  was  cashier. 

The  deposits  never  exceeded  six  thousand  dollars 
and  the  bank  possessed  no  capital  stock. 

H.  C.  Humphrey  of  Sheboygan  Falls  and  F.  W. 
Humphrey  of  Shawano  purchased  the  bank  from  its 
original  owners  in  1883  and  continued  it  under  the  same 
name  and  as  a  private  institution. 

In  February,  1888,  the  Langlade  County  Bank  was 
re-organized  with  a  capital  stock  of  $30,000.  C.  S. 
Leykom  was  chosen  President,  Louis  Mendlik,  Vice- 
President  and  H.  C.  Humphrey,  Cashier.  Few  changes 
took  place  until  its  re-organization  as  a  National  Bank 
in  August,  1901,  when  it  was  changed  to  The  Lang- 
lade National  Bank. 

THE  LANGLADE  NATIONAL  BANK. 

The  capital  stock  of  the  Langlade  County  Bank  was 
increased  $20,000  to  $50,000  when  it  was  made  a  Na- 


tional Bank.  J.  F.  Albers  was  chosen  president  and 
H.  C.  Humphrey  as  cashier.  In  January,  1902,  H.  C. 
Humphrey  resigned  and  0.  P.  Walch  was  elected 
cashier.  Mr.  Walch  had  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Langlade  County  Bank  when  he  was  a  lad  of  fifteen 
in  1889  and  grew  with  the  institution.  In  1918,  Mr. 
Walch  was  forced  to  retire  from  the  cashiership,  be- 
cause of  ill  health.  He  was  chosen  second  Vice-Pres- 
ident. Upon  the  death  of  F.  J.  Finucane,  he  was  made 
first  Vice-President,  in  1919.  F.  G.  Wanek  of  Menom- 
inee, Mich.,  was  elected  cashier  in  July,  1918. 

The  Langlade  National  Bank  increased  its  capital 
stock  to  $100,000  in  January,  1920.  Its  Trust  De- 
partment was  created  in  1919,  immediately  after  the 
state  legislature  had  passed  a  law  allowing  this  depart- 
ment to  be  associated  with  national  banks  in  Wiscon- 
sin. Officers  at  present  are:  President — Dr.  I.  D. 
Steffen,  Vice-President— 0.  P.  Walch;  Cashier— F.  G. 
Wanek;  Assistant  Cashiers — N.  J.  Raiche  and  W.  J. 
Schultz;  Board  of  Directors— 0.  P.  Walch,  John  Man- 
ser, John  01k,  I.  D.  Steffen,  W.  A.  Grant,  Robert  W. 
Zobel  and  Charles  H.  Avery. 

THE  BANK  OF  ANTIGO. 

In  January,  1888,  D.  E.  Jones,  Col.  Woodard,  Dr.  A. 
H.  Solliday  and  Amos  Baum  of  Watertown,  Wis.,  with 
E.  N.  Mellor  organized  The  Bank  of  Antigo.  Dr.  Solli- 
day was  elected  president,  E.  N.  Mellor,  vice-president 
and  Amos  Baum,  cashier.  The  bank  was  located  east 
of  Cody's  Shoe  Store  on  Fifth  Avenue  and  progressed 
without  a  mishap  until  the  following  summer  of  1888, 
when  $5,500.00  was  stolen  from  it.  The  discrepancy 
was  met  by  the  stockholders.  In  1890  The  Bank  of 
Antigo  was  closed,  its  affairs  were  liquidated  and  de- 
positors were  paid  one  hundred  cents  on  the  dollar. 

On  January  6,  1891,  the  name,  books,  good  will,  etc., 
of  the  bank  were  sold  to  H.  G.  Borgman,  C.  B.  Mc- 
Donald, Ed.  Daskam,  C.  F.  Smith  and  three  Water- 
town,  Wis.,  men.  The  capital  stock  was  restored  to 
$25,000  in  cash.  H.  G.  Borgman  was  elected  Presi- 
dent, C.  B.  McDonald,  Vice-President,  and  L.  E.  Buck- 
man,  Cashier.  In  1897,  the  bank  again  closed  its 
doors  but  to  the  credit  of  the  stockholders,  the  deposi- 
tors were  paid  one  hundred  cents  on  the  dollar. 

L.  D.  Moses,  pioneer  Antigo  merchant  and  first 
banker,  together  with  Oshkosh  men,  organized  the 
First  State  Bank  of  Antigo  in  April,  1898,  using  that 
name  until  a  First  National  Bank  charter  could  be  se- 
cured from  the  government. 

THE  FIRST  NATIONAL  BANK. 
A  charter  for  the  First  National  Bank  was  secured 
August  31,  1898,  and  the  institution  was  commenced 


56 


HISTORY  OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


with  a  capital  stock  of  $50,000.  L.  D.  Moses  was  its 
first  President  and  Fred  T.  Zentner,  its  first  cashier. 
Its  growth  was  phenomenal.  In  January,  1901,  W. 
B.  McArthur  of  Waupaca  was  elected  cashier  to  suc- 
ceed Mr.  Zentner.  In  1902,  January,  Leander  Choate 
was  elected  President  and  upon  his  death  J.  C.  Lewis, 
Vice-President,  was  chosen  President.  He  remained 
as  President  until  1919,  when  he  was  selected  Chair- 
man of  the  Board  of  Directors,  Dr.  F.  V.  Watson  being 
chosen  President.  H.  B.  Kellogg  was  chosen  presi- 
dent of  the  bank  after  Dr.  F.  V.  Watson  resigned. 

In  August,  1910,  the  First  National  Bank  increased 
its  capital  stock  to  $100,000  and  its  surplus  to  $20,000. 
W.  B.  McArthur  resigned  as  cashier  in  January,  1919, 
and  was  succeeded  by  J.  E.  Enquist  of  Shell  Lake, 
Wis.,  who  was  followed  by  W.  W.  Smith,  Jr.,  of  Sleepy 
Eye,  Minnesota,  who  assumed  this  position  in  July, 
1919. 

THE  FIDELITY  SAVINGS  BANK. 

The  Fidelity  Savings  Bank  was  organized  January 
20,  1909,  under  the  general  banking  laws  of  Wisconsin 
and  the  United  States,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $50,000. 
Its  first  officers  were  Henry  Hay — President;  Anton 
Molle — Vice-President;  Walter  Daskam — Cashier. 
The  Board  of  Directors  consisted  of  the  three  named 
together  with  J.  A.  Rudolph,  John  Benishek,  C.  S. 
Pierce  of  Milwaukee  and  W.  J.  Mattek. 

The  Fidelity  Savings  Bank  has  had  exceptional  suc- 
cess and  has  always  been  commandeered  by  a  strong 
official  roster.  In  June  1919,  the  bank  purchased  the 
building  in  which  it  is  located.  The  Fidelity  Savings 
Bank  building  was  completely  remodeled  in  the  fall 
of  1919.  Walter  Daskam,  Cashier  of  the  Fidelity 
Savings  Bank  has  served  continually  as  such  since  its 
organization.  The  members  of  the  Board  of  Direc- 
tors are  Anton  Molle,  Vice-President;  J.  A.  Rudolph; 
J.  R.  McQuillan,  President;  Henry  Hay  and  Walter 
Daskam,  Cashier. 

FARMERS'  STATE  BANK  OF  PHLOX. 

The  Farmers'  State  Bank  of  Phlox  was  organized 
June  1,  1920.  The  capital  stock  was  $10,000  and  re- 
mains the  same.  The  present  officers,  also  the 
original  officers  of  the  bank  are  as  follows :  Pres- 
ident*— W.  B.  Kramer,  Vice-President — M.  J.  Ellstad, 
Cashier — A.  J.  Reinert.  Members  of  the  Board  of  Di- 
rectors consist  of  the  three  named  officers  together 
with  George  Jansen,  W.  B.  Dresser  and  W.  F.  Meagher. 
The  bank  is  located  at  Phlox,  Norwood  township.  Its 
present  deposits  are  approximately  $38,000.  Its  sur- 
plus is  about  $1,500  and  undivided  profits  were  $887.14 
at  the  close  of  business  January,  1922. 

NEVA  FARMERS  STATE  BANK. 

The  Neva  Farmers  State  Bank  was  organized  Octo- 
ber 1,  1915,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $10,000.  Its  first 
officers  were :  President — W.  J.  Mattek,  I.  D.  Wood 
— Cashier  and  John  F.  Schultz — Vice-President.  The 
members  of  the  first  Board  of  Directors  were :  W.  J. 


Mattek,  John  F.  Schultz,  Fred  Schwartz,  Anton  Gallen- 
berg,  August  Carlson,  Fred  L.  Berner,  and  A.  J. 
Nowotny.  The  present  officers  are :  President — John 
F.  Schultz,  Fred  Schwartz,  Anton  Gallenberg,  Fred  L. 
Berner,  Gust  Schmidt  and  Henry  Buboltz.  The  pres- 
ent deposits  amount  to  $199,000.  The  surplus  was 
$14,000  and  the  undivided  profits  $500  in  February, 
1922.  The  resources  are  approximately  $220,000. 
This  bank  is  located  at  Neva,  in  Neva  township. 

WHITE  LAKE  STATE  BANK. 

The  White  Lake  State  Bank  was  organized  in  1921 
with  a  capital  of  $15,000.  The  first  officers  have  been 
retained  to  date  as  follows :  President — W.  D.  Cavers, 
Vice-President — E.  G.  Woodford;  Cashier — V.  H. 
John;  who  with  Peter  O'Connor  and  W.  W.  Gamble, 
constitute  the  Board  of  Directors.  Present  deposits  are 
$75,687.55.  Surplus  is  $1,000,  undivided  profits 
$337.90  and  resources  $93,227.21.  The  bank  is  locat- 
ed at  White  Lake  village,  Langlade  township. 

STATE  BANK  OF  ELCHO. 

The  State  Bank  of  Elcho  is  located  in  the  thriving 
and  bustling  village  of  Elcho,  Elcho  township,  and  was 
organized  April  3,  1912,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $10,000. 
Actual  business  was  commenced  April  9,  1913. 

The  first  officials  of  the  bank  were :  Charles  W. 
Fish,  President;  W.  D.  Burton,  Vice-President;  George 
H.  Bauer,  Cashier.  Original  directors  were :  Charles 
W.  Fish,  W.  D.  Burton,  John  F.  Singer,  L.  W.  Filyes, 
Charles  Beard,  Julius  Follstad,  R.  P.  Guptil;  E.  S. 
Tradewell  and  Bernhard  Follstad.  The  present  offi- 
cers are:  John  F.  Singer — President;  0.  C.  Fish — 
Vice-President;  George  H.  Bauer — Cashier.  Present 
directors  are :  Charles  W.  Fish,  John  F.  Singer, 
Charles  Beard,  Julius  Follstad  and  0.  C.  Fish. 

Capital  stock  is  now  $10,000  with  surplus  and  un- 
divided profits  aggregating  $8,000.00. 

Antigo's  three  banking  institutions  have  a  combined 
total  capital  stock  of  $250,000.  Their  total  resources 
amounts  to  over  three  millions  of  dollars.  Add  to  this 
the  resources  of  the  State  Bank  of  Elcho,  the  Neva 
State  Bank,  The  Farmers  State  Bank  of  Phlox  and  the 
White  Lake  State  Bank  and  sum  up  the  deposits  of 
the  banking  institutions  of  the  county  and  an  idea  of 
the  volume  of  business  and  accumulated  wealth  in 
Langlade  County  can  be  gained. 

The  total  amount  of  surplus  and  undivided  profits  of 
Antigo  banks  at  the  close  of  business,  December  31, 
1921,  was  $157,265.23. 

Today  the  reader  can  carry  money  or  check  to  any 
corner  of  the  world.  Money  can  be  deposited  with 
a  certainty  that  it  is  safe  and  that  your  bank  deposit 
slip  will  be  honored  thirty  days  or  a  year  later  as  it 
pleases  you.  This  is  a  contrast  to  conditions  in  early 
days,  when  banking  laws  were  less  stringent  and 
when  much  of  the  commerce  was  through  the  medium 
of  farm  produce.  Langlade  County  official  orders,  at 
the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  Langlade  County 
Bank,  were  worth  but  eighty  cents  on  the  dollar. 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


57 


CHAPTER  XIV. 
Courts,  Laws,  Lawyers 

First  Term  Circuit  Court — Judge  George  H.  Meyers — First  Circuit  Court  Case — First  Jury  Trial — 
First  Murder  Case — Early  Criminal  Cases — County  Court — The  Henry  Still  Murder — Court  at 
Shedd's  Store — Municipal  Court  Act — Judge  F.  J.  Finucane — Judge  J.  W.  Morse — First  Grand 
Jury. 


Langlade  County,  when  organized  in  1880,  was  plac- 
ed in  the  10th  Wisconsin  Judicial  Circuit.  The  first 
Circuit  Court  records  are  very  meagre.  George  H. 
Meyers  of  Appleton,  Outagamie  County,  was  the  first 
Circuit  Judge  of  Langlade  County.  Circuit  Court 
cases  of  importance  were  not  heard  in  Antigo  until  the 
March  term  of  1883.  i 

The  first  Circuit  Court  session  was  held  in  the  old 
frame  court  house.  Formal  announcement  of  its  open- 
ing was  made  by  Sheriff  Charles  Herman.       Dr.  D.  S. 


Graham  vs.  Emma  Graham.  The  decree  was  grant- 
ed upon  grounds  of  desertion.  The  third  action  was 
Ernest  Roseberg  vs.  Daniel  Pillsbury.  A  charge  of 
venue  was  granted  and  the  case  was  taken  to  Mara- 
thon County. 

THE  FIRST  JURY  TRIAL. 

The  law  suits  mentioned  previously  in  this  chapter 
were  trivial  actions,  only  important  because  they  were 
the  first  of  their  kind  to  occur  in    Langlade     County. 


THE  FIRST  L.-WGLADE  COUNTY  COURT  HOUSE 

Where  the  first  Circuit  Court  session  was  held  in  1883.       Hon.  George 

H.  Meyers  was  then  sitting  as  Circuit  Judge. 


Olmsted,  first  Circuit  Court  Clerk,  produced  his  com- 
mission and  began  the  task  of  keeping  and  preparing 
records  of  proceedings  and  determinations  of  the 
court. 

The  first  official  Langlade  County  Circuit  Court  seal 
is  still  in  use.  It  represents  justice.  A  sword  and 
dagger  are  crossed  in  the  background.  The  outline 
of  an  open  book  appears  in  the  fore. 


land  ejectment 
It  was  heard 


FIRST  CASE. 

The  first  Circuit  Court  case  was  a 
action,  Gabe  Bouck  vs.  S.  A.  Coleman 
and  disposed  of  March  27,  1883.       In  its  wake  came 
the  first  divorce  action  in    Langlade     County — Daniel 

1.  September  5,  1882.  Circuit  Judge  Meyers  came  to  Antigo  and 
a  day's  court  session  was  held.  Gabe  Bouck  and  Attorney  Gerry  of 
Oshkosh,  Attorney  CoU'ns  of  Menasha,  William  Kennedy  of  Appleton 
and  William  Kimball,  Circuit  Court  reporter,  were  in  attendance. 
The  cases  were  against    men  who   sold   liquor  without   town   licenses. 


The  fourth  case  ever  tried  was  not  an  insignificant 
controversy.  This  was  the  first  action  in  the  county 
demanding  a  jury.  The  contending  parties  were 
prominent  in  the  early  history  of  the  county. 

Henry  Mitchell  of  Milltown,-  Norwood  township, 
was  suing  J.  W.  Morse,  later  County  Judge,  for  slander. 
At  a  town  meeting  in  Norwood  Mr.  Morse  was  charged 
with  having  said :  "Henry  Mitchell  was  a  robber  and 
swindler,  who  took  $300  from  Hutchinson  township." 
Mr.  Mitchell  asked  $5,000  damages. 

The  action  was  filed  in  Shawano  County  as  Norwood 
was  then  a  part  of  Shawano  County.  On  June  30, 
1881,  by  court  order  the  place  of  trial  was  moved  from 
Shawano  to  Antigo.  Judge  George  H.  Meyers  sat  in 
the  case.      Mr.  Mitchell,  the  plaintiff,  was  a  millwright 

2.  Milltown  was  a  settlement  in  Norwood.  It  was  at  this  place 
that  Henry  Mitchell  operated  a  mdl  for  years  before  moving  into 
Antigo.        Consult   Norwood   township   history. 


58 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


and  farmer.  He  was  represented  by  Collins  &  Pearse, 
Appleton  lawyers.  J.  W.  Morse  was  defended  by 
George  W.  Latta,  pioneer  Antigo  Attorney.  Wit- 
nesses called  were:  F.  Topping,  R.  Vaughn,  Charles 
Herman,  N.  Sennsenbrenner,  C.  Schroeder,  P.  Schweit- 
zer, S.  D.  Chappel,  A.  Boetke,  G.  W.  Jurret,  C.  W. 
Moss,  Geo.  W.  Bemis,  J.  J.  Simpson  and  W.  Haffen- 
becker.  Eli  Waste  was  then  Court  Commissioner. 
J.  W.  Goodwin,  the  Jury  foreman,  made  the  following 
statement  when  a  verdict  was  reached:  "We,  the  jury, 
find  for  the  defendant."  The  plaintiff  paid  costs 
amounting  to  $174.44.  The  verdict  was  reached 
March  28,  1883.  D.  S.  Olmsted  was  then  Clerk  of 
the  Court. 

THE  FIRST  LARCENY  CASE. 

January  11,  1884,  Adolph  Tuekurky  was  sentenced 
to  three  years  in  the  state  penitentiary  at  hard  labor, 
being  convicted  of  larceny. 

THE  FIRST  MURDER  TRIAL. 

The  first  murder  case  brought  to  the  attention  of 
the  Langlade  County  Circuit  Court  was  during  the 
March  term  of  1886.  Mrs.  Mary  Chadek  of  Reeve 
(Deerbrook)  was  charged  with  killing  her  husband, 
Thomas  Chadek.  Monday,  November  30,  1885,  Dr. 
J.  H.  Dawley,  Antigo  physician,  was  called  to  attend 
Mrs.  Chadek,  who  was  badly  wounded.  Her  husband 
was  dead  from  revolver  shots.  Mrs.  Chadek  main- 
tained that  her  husband  shot  her  and  killed  himself. 
She  was  held  for  murder,  however.  George  W.  Latta, 
her  Attorney,  secured  a  change  of  venue.  The  case 
was  heard  in  Milwaukee  Circuit  Court.  District  At- 
torney J.  H.  Trever  was  assisted  in  the  prosecution  by 
Attorney  Wm.  Kennedy,  of  Appleton.  Mrs.  Chadek 
was  acquitted. 

LOWELL  A.  WINN  MURDER  TRIAL. 

While  the  Chadek  murder  trial  was  the  first  to  se- 
cure the  attention  of  Langlade  County  courts,  it  was 
not  until  the  fall  of  1889,  when  the  first  murder  case 
demanding  a  jury  was  held  in  Langlade  County. 
Lowell  A.  Winn  was  charged  with  murdering  Thomas 
Coats — the  culmination  of  a  liquor  debauche  in  a  sa- 
loon located  where  Muttart-McGillan  Company  is 
now  in  business,  (L.  Krom  Building.)  Albert  De 
Foy,  bartender,  refused  Winn  several  times  when  the 
latter  demanded  whiskey,  during  the  afternoon  of 
October  23,  1889.  Winn,  enraged,  returned  in  the 
evening,  engaged  De  Foy  in  a  quarrel,  which  resulted 
in  the  shooting  of  Thomas  Coats.  Mortally  wounded. 
Coats  incriminated  Winn  in  a  dying  statement  to  Dis- 
trict Attorney  George  L.  Schintz.  Winn,  charged  with 
first  degree  murder,  was  acquitted.  He  was  tried 
again  on  a  charge  of  assault  with  intent  to  kill,  and 
was  declared  guilty.  He  was  senter.ced  to  serve 
seven  years  at  Waupun,  but  he  was  released  before  his 
full  time  was  up. 


AN  EARLY  CRIMINAL  CASE. 

September  28,  1888,  Peter  Becker  made  a  complaint 
before  Justice  J.  W.  Wines,  charging  James  Collins 
with  wilfully  and  feloniously  assaulting  him  with  a 
double  bitted  axe.  Becker  suffered  a  disabled  right 
arm.  The  case  was  somewhat  similar  to  the  Lowell 
A.  Winn  case.  Becker  refused  to  give  Collins  a  drink 
of  whisky.  Collins,  an  indigent  person,  demanded  a 
jury  trial.  He  was  represented  by  Attorney  J.  E. 
Martin,  appointed  by  Judge  Geo.  H.  Meyers.  Dis- 
trict Attorney  George  L.  Schintz  represented  the  state. 
On  March  19,  1889,  Collins  was  arraigned  and  was 
found  guilty  of  intent  to  maim.  He  received  this  sen- 
tence: "Confinement  in  the  common  jail  from  12 
o'clock  noon  this  day  for  one  calendar  month."  By 
the  court— March  28,  1889. 


COURT  AT  SHEDD'S  STORE. 

The  early  lawyers  of  Langlade  County  had  much  to 
contend  with.  They  were  usually  not  over  supplied 
with  financial  strength,  but  possessed  much  energy. 
They  would  often  walk  miles  in  response  to  the  call  of 
a  client.  Rough  roads,  trails,  crossing  swamps  and 
wading  streams  were  the  usual  difficulties  they  con- 
fronted. 

The  fees  of  the  pioneer  lawyers  would  probably  pro- 
voke a  smile  from  the  modern  Attorney-at-Law.  A 
complete  administrator's  report  could  be  made  for  the 
princely  sum  of  three  dollars.  Cases  of  great  import- 
ance were  conducted  for  but  a  few  dollars.  The  early 
lawyers  possessed  a  self-reliant  spirit  and  a  keen  in- 
genuity that  made  them  formidable  and  dramatic  as 
trial  lawyers.  Cases  in  pioneer  times  did  not  extend 
over  many  months.  Victories  were  won  swiftly  or 
defeat  came  suddenly.  The  battles  between  the  op- 
ponents would  bring  out  all  the  old  pioneers  who  took 
delight  in  hearing  the  sarcasim  and  humor  of  the 
lawyers. 

In  the  early  days  local  disputes  were  usually  settled 
in  the  township  "court."  Henry  Mitchell  and  Ross 
Young  of  Norwood  township  had  an  argument  in  which 
Mitchell  charged  Young  with  making  certain  remarks 
about  his  honesty  and  character  as  a  citizen.  The  dis- 
pute was  apparently  ended  when  Young  apologized. 
Mitchell  would  not  be  satisfied  as  he  was  confident  his 
humiliation  had  not  been  overcome  by  the  personal 
retraction.  A  law  suit  resulted.  J.  W.  Morse,  pio- 
neer Justice  of  the  Peace  and  Judge  presided  at  the 
"court"  held  in  the  Charles  Shedd  store  in  Norwood 
township.  George  Bemis  was  chosen  to  act  as  coun- 
sel for  Mr.  Young.  "Doc"  Olmsted,  picturesque  Jus- 
tice and  pioneer,  was  the  Attorney  for  Mitchell.  The 
case  was  dismissed  by  Judge  Morse  who  gave  the  par- 
ticipants a  lecture  on  the  duties  of  good  citizens.  Mr. 
Young  apologized  to  Mr.  Mitchell  by  saying,  "I  am 
sorry,  but  every  bit  of  it  was  the  gospel  truth."  It 
was  an  apology  with  a  string  attachment. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


59 


THE  NOTED  STILL-POLAR  MURDER. 

All  of  the  citizens  of  Langlade  County  were 
startled  when  news  reached  them  that  Henry 
Still,  an  esteemed  resident  of  the  Town- 
ship of  Gagen  had  been  murdered  by  Barney 
Polar.  Many  conflicting   stories    have    been    told 

about  the  murder.  According  to  a  statement  attribut- 
ed to  Louis  Motzfeldt  of  Gagen  township,  the  unfor- 
tunate Mr.  Still  met  his  death  after  he  had  refused  to 
give  Polar  whisky  from  a  jug  of  the  drink  that  Polar 
was  said  to  have  brought  from  Shawano  the  same  day 
for  Mr.  Still.  Mr.  Still  refused  to  give  Mr.  Polar 
any  whisky  and  at  ten  o'clock  Tuesday  evening,  June 
12,  1883,  Motzfeldt,  who  lived  in  the  rooms  adjoining 
those  of  Mr.  Still  (the  building  was  owned  by  Mr. 
Motzfeldt)  was  awakened  by  what  he  thought  was  the 
report  of  a  gun.  He  rushed  into  the  rooms  of  the 
Still  family  and  found  Mrs.  Still — a  squaw — crying 
and  moaning  that  Barney  Polar  had  killed  her  hus- 
band. The  murderer,  however,  never  was  apprehended. 
He  lurked  about  Motzleldt's  place  in  the  woods  the 
following  day,  a  menace  to  all  citizens  about,  but 
made  his  escape. 

As  soon  as  the  news  spread  to  Antigo  that  Polar  had 
fled  a  posse  consisting  of  Attorney  Bliss,  Walter  Daw- 
ley,  Geo.  W.  Hill,  and  many  others  went  to  Rice  Lake, 
"armed  to  the  teeth"  to  apprehend  the  criminal,  but  by 
the  time  they  had  reached  the  vicinity  of  the  crime. 
Polar  was  no  doubt  well  on  his  way  to  a  place  of  safe- 
ty- 
July  6,  1883,  Supervisor  Duchac  presented  the  fol- 
lowing memorial  to  the  Governor,  which  was  adopted 
on  motion : 

"We,  the  County  Board  of  Langlade  County,  do 
hereby  most  respectfully  petition  his  honor  the  Gover- 
nor of  the  State  of  Wisconsin  that  he  offer  a  reward 
(according  to  law  in  such  cases  provided)  for  the  ar- 
rest of  Charles  Polar,  who  murdered  Henry  Still  on 
the  12th  day  of  June,  1883,  in  the  Town  of  Gagen, 
Langlade  County,  and  who  is  at  large  and  supposed 
to  be  in  the  woods  of  Shawano  County.  The  county  has 
already  spent  considerable  money  to  effect  the  arrest 
of  said  Polar.  He  has,  before  and  since  the  murder 
of  H.  Still  threatened  to  take  the  lives  of  other  persons 
in  that  section  of  the  state;  that  he  is  a  desperate  char- 
acter and  should  be  captured  as  soon  as  possible  and 
the  intervention  of  your  authority  is  most  earnestly  re- 
quested. 

County  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Langlade  County." 
The  petition  was  recognized  by  Gov.  Jeremiah  M. 
Rusk,  but  nevertheless  Still's  murder  went  unavenged 
as  Barney  Polar  was  never  found.*^ 

COUNTY  COURT. 

The  first  term  of  County  Court  was  held  in  the  hall 
over  Niels  Anderson's  store.  J.  W.  Morse,  builder  of 
the  log  jail  of  1881,  was  the  first  County  Judge.  The 
first  case  was  an  application  for  letters  of  guardian- 
ship by  B.  F.  Hall.       The  guardianship  was  to  J.  H. 


Hall,  Sara  J.  Hall,  Charles  E.  Hall,  Benjamin  Hall 
and  Solon  Hall,  Jr.  The  letters  were  issued  July  16, 
1881.       Bondsmen  for  the  guardian  were  Julius  Her- 


HON.  J.  W.  MORSE 

.SeK-ctcd    first    County   Judge   of    Langlade    County   in    1881 

hy  Governor  J.  At.  Rusk. 

man  and  Niels  Anderson.  The  guardian  died  shortly 
afterward  and  the  estate  was  settled  between  the 
heirs. 

ADOPTION  CASEh-SECOND. 

The  second  case,  February  2,  1882,  was  an  adoption. 
Jesse  Maud  Jacobs,  "whose  father  was  dead  and  moth- 
er supposed  to  be"  was  adopted  by  Martin  Weather- 
wax.  No  testimony  was  taken.  The  third  case  oc- 
curred June  11,  1882.  In  November,  1882,  the  fourth 
case  was  heard.  The  fifth  case  was  a  petition  and 
order,  without  report  of  physicians,  placing  a  man  in 
the  Outagamie  Insane  Asylum.  On  March  27,  1883, 
the  first  letters  of  administration  were  issued  in  Lang- 
lade County.  It  was  three  years  after  the  court  was 
organized  that  the  first  estate  was  probated. 

Judge  J.  W.  Parsons  served  longer  than  the  com- 
bined terms  of  his  predecessors.  During  the  twen- 
ty-two years  of  his  regime,  2,311  cases  have  been  dis- 
posed of.       Three  hundred  sixty  cases  were  heard  by 

3.  Barney  Polar  hid  in  the  forests  and  was  protected  by  Indians, 
who  befriended  him.  When  years  passed  he  came  from  his  seclusion 
frequently.  He  died  at  an  advanced  age  in  the  spring  of  1914  and  is 
buried  in  the  Pol.Tr  cemetery  in  Ainsworth  township,  nrar  Pearson. 
The  house  where  Henry  Stil!  was  murdered  still  stands,  a  monument 
to  forgotten  days.  It  is  located  on  the  east  side  of  the  Military 
Road.    Section    26,    Township    36,    Range    12    East.    Forest    County. 


60 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


the  first  County  Judges,  J.  W.  Morse,  J.  E.  Martin,  Eli 
Waste,  A.  C.  Conway  and  Michael  G.  Flanagan. 

County  Court  is  held  in  the  court  house  building  at 
Antigo  in  the  northwest  room  on  the  second  floor. 


HON.  V.  J.  FIXUCANE 

Who  was  elected   first   Municipal   Judge  of   Langlade 

County  after  the  creation  of  that  Court  in  1801. 

MUNICIPAL  COURT  ACT  OF  1891. 

The  Municipal  Court  was  created  by  Chapter  96, 
Laws  of  1891.  It  is  composed  of  two  branches — Up- 
per and  Lower  Municipal  Court.  The  Upper  branch 
has  jurisdiction  equal  and  concurrent  with  Circuit 
Court  in  all  cases  except  homicide  and  crime  and  in 
all  civil  actions  in  which  the  sum  sought  does  not  ex- 
ceed $100,000  exclusive  of  interest  and  costs.  This 
court  has  jurisdiction  over  all  actions  brought  for  the 
breach  of  any  recognizance  returned  or  given  in  it. 

Circuit  Court  Jury  Commissioners  act  for  Municipal 
Court  also.  Chapter  320  of  the  Laws  of  1921  chang- 
ed the  term  of  Municipal  Judge  from  four  to  six  years, 
taking  effect  after  the  April,  1923,  election.  Hon. 
F.  J.  Finucane  was  the  first  Municipal  Judge.  The 
present  Municipal  Judge,  Hon.  Arthur  Goodrick  was 
appointed  by  Governor  E.  L.  Fhilipp  after  the  death  of 
Hon.  T.  W.  Hogan.  Judge  Goodrick  was  the  unani- 
mous choice  of  the  Langlade  County  Bar  Association. 
He  has  since  been  elected  to  the  bench. 

Municipal  Court  is  held  in  the  court  room,  third 
floor,  of  the  court  house.  The  private  office  of 
Municipal  Judge  is  west  of  the  Court  Room.  Munici- 
pal Court  was  first  held  in  the  Jaekel  Building  (M. 
Krom  store  building)  when  the  court  was  established. 


THE  FIRST  GRAND  JURY. 

The  first  Grand  Jury  of  Langlade  County  was  select- 
ed November  30,  1920,  following  a  conference  be- 
tween Judge  Arthur  Goodrick,  District  Attorney  A.  N. 
Whiting  and  City  Superintendent  of  Schools  R.  A. 
Brandt.  The  selection  of  a  grand  jury  was  consider- 
ed the  best  means  of  clearing  the  local  atmosphere  of 
prohibition  law  violations.  It  had  a  moral  benefit. 
Jurors  were  selected  from  the  following  petit  list: 
Anton  Schultz,  W.  B.  McArthur,  John  G.  Prokupek, 
Joseph  Jirtle,  N.  R.  Babcock,  Al.  Duchac,  L.  H.  Hil- 
ton, August  Vogel,  W.  J.  Gallon,  W.  J.  Herbst,  F.  D. 
Leavens,  L.  D.  Hartford,  L.  C.  Sorenson,  William 
Shank,  F.  W.  Ophoven,  L.  E.  Farnham  and  A.  N. 
Anderson.  The  jury  convened  December  6,  1920,  and 
received  instructions  from  Judge  Goodrick.  Thirteen 
indictments  were  returned  against  liquor  dealers  and 
"bootleggers."  The  grand  jury  adjourned  December 
27,  1920. 

ROLL  OF  ATTORNEYS. 

The  following  is  a  complete  roll  of  attorneys  who 
have  practised  or  are  now  practising  in  Langlade 
County:  George  W.  Latta,  L.  W.  Bliss,  Thomas  W. 
Lynch,  M.  M.  Ross,  J.  E.  Martin,  J.  H.  Trever,  George 
H.  Peters,  S.  A.  Cronk,  W.  F.  White,  J.  B.  Loomis,  T. 
F.  McCarthy,  George  H.  Ramsey,  C.  Werden  Deane, 
John  A.  Ogden,  F.  J.  Finucane,  S.  S.  Hamilton, 
— Grossman,  A.  C.  Conway,  Max  F.  Hoffman,  H.  F. 
Morson,  0.  Weinandy,  A.  J.  Lobb,  Henry  Hay,  Walter 
J.  Hammond,  Thomas  W.  Hogan,  E.  A.  Morse,  0.  H. 
Foster,  G.  C.  Dickenson,  E.  J.  Goodrick,  Arthur  Good- 
rick, O.  G.  Erickson,  S.  J.  McMahon,  R.  C.  Smelker, 
E.  S.  Tradewell,  J.  T.  Sims,  C.  J.  Te  Selle,  G.  J. 
Bowler,  A.  N.  Whiting,  Charles  Avery,  Ray  C.  Demp- 
sey,  George  Y.  King,  T.  J.  Reinert,  Earl  Plantz,  W.  C. 
Brawley,  Vernon  J.  McHale  and  Irvin  White. 

The  Langlade  County  Bar  Association  was  organiz- 
ed in  1895.  The  Association  has  all  of  the  attorneys 
in  the  county  as  its  membership.  Annual  meetings 
are  held. 

FIRST  CITIZENSHIP  RECORD. 

The  first  Langlade  County  residents  to  be  made 
United  States  citizens  were:  Albert  Boeltcher,  Wil- 
liam Hafferbecker,  August  Darnlow,  Herman  Schmeis- 
ser,  Wm.  Flemming  and  J.  B.  Lorent  in  March,  1883. 
The  hearings  were  conducted  before  Circuit  Judge 
George  H.  Meyers  and  a  U.  S.  Examiner. 


histohy  of  langlade  county. 


61 


CHAPTER  XV. 
Military  History 

Indians  with  De  Langlade — Grand  Army  of  the  Republic — Spanish-American  War — Langlade  Coun- 
ty Heroes  of  1898— Antigo  Guard  Company  of  1888— Guards  of  1901— The  14th  Wisconsin  In- 
fantry— The  Mexican  Expedition — Organization  of  Antigo  Militia  League — Co.  G.  Wisconsin 
National  Guards — America  at  War  with  Germany — The  Farewell  of  August  11,  1917 — 57th  Field 
Artillery  Brigade — 107th  at  Pontinazian  Barracks — Camp  De  Coetquidan — In  Alsace  Sector — 
Vesle  River — Soissons — Argonne  Offensive — Officers  Promoted — Reese  Sparks — ToUefson,  Bal- 
lard and  Alft  Killed — Antigo  Home  Guards — Liberty  Loan  and  Victory  Fund  Drives — Schools 
in  Wartime — The  Women  in  War — Board  of  Exemption — Advisory  Board — The  Red  Cross — 
Great  Armistice  Celebration — Return  of  Soldiers — Casualties — American  Legion — Veterans  of 
World  War — Battery  "A" — Memorial  Park  at   Polar — Council  of  Defense — Memorial  Hospital. 


The  citizens  of  Langlade  County  are  ever  peaceful 
and  law  abiding,  willing  to  be  neighborly  and  live  hap- 
py and  contented.  They  are  on  an  average  progres- 
sive, thrifty  and  industrious.  Ready  to  defend  the 
right  they  are  equally  willing  to  condemn  the  wrong 
to  the  extent  of  taking  up  arms  for  the  upholding  of 
right,  if  in  the  defense  of  their  country,  such  must  be. 

Langlade  County  has  nobly  performed  its  duty  in 
time  of  distress,  when  war,  rebellion  or  insurrection 
against  the  peace  and  civil  dignity  of  our  common- 
wealth  has   imperiled   national   respect. 

Langlade  County,  or  the  territory  compris- 
ing it,  has  actively  participated  in  at  least 
three    of    the    seventeen    American     wars.  They 

were  French-Indian  War  of  1756,  the  Spanish-Amer- 
ican War  of  1898,  and  the  World  War,  1914-1919. 

Long  before  Langlade  County  was  organized,  years 
before  the  Northwest  territory  was  legally  defined 
and  when  the  French  had  control  of  Wisconsin  terri- 
tory, bands  of  Indians  roamed  within  the  present  lim- 
its of  Langlade  County.  Charles  De  Langlade,  noted 
leader  of  the  French  and  Indians  in  their  battles  with 
the  British  and  colonial  troopers,  drew  recruits  from 
within  Langlade  County. 

The  force  under  command  of  De  Langlade,  besides 
the  French,  was  composed  of  Ottawas,  Chippewas, 
Menominees,  Winnebagoes,  Pottawottamies,  Hurons 
and  Wyandotts  and  perhaps  others.  This  force  de- 
fended the  French  fort  Du  Quesne  against  the  English 
and  Colonists  under  the  leadership  of  General  Brad- 
dock  in  1754  and  included  within  the  ranks  were  In- 
dians from  the  territory  now  known  as  Langlade 
County.  They  were,  no  doubt,  Chippewas,  Menom- 
inees or  Pottawottamies.  Thus  the  military  history 
of  Langlade  County  begins  and  it  has  since  been  one 
of  loyalty,  faith  and  gratitude  to  country. 

THE  GRAND  ARMY  OF  THE  REPUBLIC. 
The  John  A.  Kellogg  Post  No.  78,  G.  A.  R.,  was 
organized  by  District  Commander  J.  H.  Woodnorth 
of  Waupaca,  May  15,  1883,  and  was  named  in  honor 
of  General  John  A.  Kellogg  of  Wausau.  Charter 
members  were :  W.  H.  Blinn,  B.  F.  Dorr,  S.  W.  Cham- 


berlain, William  Brainard,  John  A.  Long,  F.  M.  Sher- 
man, Henry  Smith,  John  B.  Bruner,  A.  L.  Russell, 
Edward  Daskam,  Charles  Beadleston,  Edward  R. 
Dudley  and  H.  Springstead.  First  officers  were : 
Commander,  W.  H.  Blinn;  Senior  Vice  Commander, 
B.  F.  Dorr;  Junior  Vice  Commander,  S.  W.  Chamber- 
lain; Surgeon,  J.  A.  Long;  Officer  of  Day,  F.  M.  Sher- 
man; Quartermaster,  J.  Beemer;  Adjutant,  H.  Smith; 
Quartermaster  Sergeant,  Abel  Russell. 

Civil  War  veterans  are  dying  fast.  The  once  flour- 
ishing membership  of  the  John  A.  Kellogg  Post  has 
dwindled  down  to  fifteen  comrades.  October  2,  1921, 
the  John  A.  Kellogg  Post  No.  78  elected  Robert  M. 
Dessureau  first  honorary  member  for  "meritorious  de- 
votion to  the  G.  A.  R."  He  is  the  youngest  honorary 
member  in  the  United  States  and  one  of  two  in  Wis- 
consin. 

June,  1913,  and  again  in  June,  1921,  the  State  En- 
campments of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and 
auxiliary  patriotic  organizations  were  held  in  Antigo. 
Distinguished  visitors  were  present  at  both  conven- 
tions and  were  accorded  splendid  receptions.  W.  S. 
Carr  and  R.  C.  Dempsey  were  General  Chairmen  of 
the  1913  and  1921  encampments  respectively. 

VETERANS  OF  THE  CIVIL  WAR. 

Daniel  Webster  once  said,  "When  my  eyes  shall 
turn  to  behold  for  the  last  time  the  sun  in  Heaven, 
may  I  not  see  it  shining  on  the  broken  and  dishonor- 
ed fragments  of  a  once  glorious  union."  He  could 
see  that  the  conflict  between  the  North  and  the  South 
was  irrepressible.  The  three-cornered  presidential  fight 
of  1860  in  which  Abraham  Lincoln,  Republican,  who 
maintained  that  slavery  must  not  only  be  curtailed, 
but  destroyed,  was  elected,  forced  the  issue  square- 
ly before  the  American  people.  The  South  supported 
John  C.  Breckenridge  of  Kentucky.  Stephen  A.  Doug- 
las, formidable  debater  and  opponent  of  Lincoln  in 
the  election,  was  the  choice  of  the  moderate  Demo- 
crats. When  the  storm  broke  this  distinguished 
statesman  rushed  to  Abraham  Lincoln  and  pledged 
unswerving  allegiance  to  the  Union.     Lincoln's  words. 


62 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


"The  nation  cannot  exist  half  slave  and  half  free," 
was  a  warning  to  those  who  sought  to  perpetuate  slav- 
ery at  the  expense  of  a  united  nation.  When  Fort 
Sumter  was  fired  upon  in  the  harbor  of  Charleston, 
S.  C,  April  12,  1861,  the  entire  North  was  solidified 
into  one  unit,  whose  purpose  was  to  save  at  all  costs 
the  union  of  the  states.  President  Abraham  Lincoln 
called  for  75,000  volunteers  April  15,  1861,  and  de- 
clared the  coast  of  the  Confederacy  to  be  under 
blockade.  Young  men  rushed  to  the  colors  in  the  de- 
fense of  their  country  and  for  four  years  the  world 
looking  on,  stood  aghast  as  the  contending  armies  of 


the  Blue  and  Gray  struggled.  Langlade  County  was 
then  a  wilderness  and  had  but  few  settlers  at  the  out- 
break of  the  war. 

Twenty  years  later  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Repub- 
lic became  a  vital  factor  in  the  village  of  Antigo.  W. 
H.  Blinn  was  its  first  Commander.  The  following 
Civil  War  veterans  are  now  or  have  been  members  of 
the  John  A.  Kellogg  Post  No.  78,  G.  A.  R.  The  date 
of  their  enlistment,  the  date  of  their  honorable  dis- 
charge, and  the  unit  in  which  they  enlisted  are  given 
also: 


GRAND   ARMY    MOXUMEXT. 

Erected  in  the  .Aiitigo  Cemetery  by  the  \\'.  R.  C.  in  cooperatiuii  with 

tile  Langlade  County  Board. 


Name 


Date  of  Enlistment 


Discharge 


Unit 


F.  E.  Allen August,    1863 August   10,   1865 Co.   D..   15th  N.  Y.  C. 

John    Atwood October  15,  1864 July,  1865 Co.  G.,  1st  Wis.  H.  A. 

David    P.   Andrews April    11,   1865 August  4,  1865 Co.  G.,  154th  111. 

J.    B.    Beemer February,    1865 November  ,1865 Co.  C,  46th  Wis. 

W.   B.    Brainard September,    1862 September,  1865 Co.  G.,  21st  Wis. 

C.    Beadleston June  14,  1861 September  5,  1865 Co.  E.,  4th  Wis.  Inf. 

W.  H.  Blinn July.   1861 May  20,  1863 Co.  C,  9th  N.  Y.  Inf. 

W.   D.    Badger July  12,   1862 July  12,  1865 Co.  F..  32nd  Wis.  Inf. 

Ed    Boyle September  23,  1864 June  29,  1865 Co.  D.,  19th  Wis.  Inf. 


HISTORY    OF    LANGLADE    COUNTY.  63 

Name  Date  of  Enlistment  Discharge  Unit 

H.  0.  Beard August    18,    1862 August  17,  1865 Co.  D.,  32nd  Wis.  Inf. 

S.   Lloyd   Breck August  14,  1862 May,  1865 Co.  C,  28th  Wis.  Inf. 

C.    G.    Burdick October  18,  1861 September  7,  1864 Co.  E.,  10th  Wis.  Inf. 

C.  M.  Beattie September  13,  1861 October  25,  1865 Co.  F.,  14th  Wis.  Inf. 

E.    Barrett September  21,  1864 June  20,  1865 Co.  K.,  4th  Wis.  Cav. 

J.   E.   Bickman September,    1864 June,  1865 Co.  L..   1st  Wis.  H.  A. 

John    B.    Balch August  14,  1862 June,  1865 Co.  A.,  141st  N.  Y.  Inf. 

E.   P.   Bridgeman August  15,  1862 August  15,  1862 Co.  G.,  37th  Mass.  Inf. 

Edwin    Beard August  11,  1861 July  11,  1865 Co.  A.,  64th  111.,  Inf. 

John  Bahr,  Sr February  3,   1863 August  29,  1865 Co.  K.,  27th  Wis.  Inf. 

A.  J.   Brown October,    1864 August  22,  1865 Co.  C,  211th  Pa.  Vol. 

John    Bernier September    1,    1861 July  17,  1865 Co.  A.,  8th  111.  Cav. 

Washington    Brown March,    1864 October  9,  1865 Co.  E.,  14th  Wis.,  Vol. 

R.  C.  Briggs October  3,  1862 June  20,  1865 Co.  J.,  32nd  Wis.,  Inf. 

Geo.    W.    Bemis February  7,  1862 September  15,  1865 3rd  Wis.  Cav. 

Abel  L.  Bedell February  14,  1864 1865 Co.  D.,  1st  Wis.  L.  A. 

Andrew    Bovee February  3,  1864 May  17,  1865 Co.  B.,  5th  Wis.  Inf. 

Rufus    Barcus May  23,  1864 July  6,  1865 Co.  J.,  113th  Ohio  Vol. 

S.  W.  Chamberlain August   6,    1862 June  8,  1865 Co.  G.,  21st  Wis.  Inf. 

A.  J.   Calkins August,    1862 June,  1865 Co.  G.,  21st  Wis.  Inf. 

George   Costley May  28,  1864 May  25,  1865 Co.  D.,  2nd  Pa.  Cav. 

J.  0.  Conner October  24,  1861 November  20,  1865 Co.  F.,  14th  Wis.  Inf. 

H.   M.   Carpenter October  3,  1864 July  18,  1865 Co.  A.,  18th  Wis.  Vol. 

Patrick    Corbett August  11,  1862 August  9,  1865 Co.  J.,  32nd  Wis.  Vol. 

Theodore   W.   Cornell August  8,  1862 June  8,  1865 Co.  E.,  21st  Wis.  Inf. 

Lorenzo  D.  Cone August  27,  1864 June  2,  1865 Co.  D.,  16th  Wis.  InL 

Peter   Colton October  9,  1861 September  1,  1865 Co.  F.,  67th  Ohio 

Frank    Clark August  25,  1864 August,  1865 Co.  D.,  27th  Wis.  Inf. 

John    Clark December  22,  1864 July  18,  1865 Co.  E.,  18th  Wis.  Inf. 

Warner  S.   Carr February  14,  1864 Co.  G.,  21st  Wis.  Vol. 

James  H.  Craine Co.  F.,  3rd  Iowa  Cav. 

Henry   Calkins August    11,    1861 June  18,  1864 Co.  G.,  21st  Wis.  Inf. 

Orlo    Cheever June  17,  1864 June  5,  1865 Co.  A.,  14th  N.  Y.  Art. 

Avery  Colburn September  23,  1863 July  3,  1865 Co.  C,  Wis.  Battery 

B.  F.    Dorr February,    1864 October  5,  1865 Co.  G.,  2nd  Iowa  Cav. 

E.   R.  Dudley 

E.  Daskam September  16,  1861 October  9,  1865 Co.  G.,  14th  Wis. 

F.  A.   Deleglise July,    1861 July,  1864 Co.  E.,  6th  Wis.  Inf. 

John  Dixon February  24,  1864 October  9,  1865 Co.  G.,  14th  Wis.  InL 

David    Dicks September  1,  1861 1862 Co.  L.,  9th  Pa.  Cav. 

H.   H.    Dudley February  22,  1864 January  24,  1865 Co.  B.,  36th  Wis.  Inf. 

C.  Werden  Deane October  13,  1862 July  6,  1865 Go.  J.,  6th  Mich.  Cav. 

George   F.    Dailey May  7,  1861 July  10,  1865 Co.  K.,  3rd  Wis.  Vol. 

Chriss   Dehersberger 1864    July  17,   1865 Co.  B.,  45th  Wis.  Inf. 

Chas.    Decanter February,    1864 May  7,  1865 Co.  10th  H.  A.  New  York 

Davis    Eben June,    1861 1863 Co.  A.,  11th  Ind.  InL 

Jack    Dowd June  23,  1864 May  3,  1865 Co.  F.,  38th  Wis.  InL 

W.  J.   Empey December,   1861 September,  1865 Co.  H.,  3rd  Wis.  Cav. 

Martin  V.  Elliott September  11,  1861 February  20,  1863 Co.  H.,  14th  Wis.  InL 

William   Fife 

S.  S.  Ferguson April   21,   1861 September,  1865 Co.  K.,  4th  Wis.  Cav. 

Francis  Fryer October  11,   1861 September,  1865 Co.  C,  3rd  Minn.  InL 

Charles    Furgeson January  24,  1864 January,  1865 Co.  E,  35th  Wis.  Inf. 

Dominicus  Fowler February  6,  1862 February   17,   1865 U.   S.  Navy 

George   Fehl April   21,   1861 August  5,  1864 Co.  G.,  12th  Mo.  InL 

John  A.  Finney ...February,  1862 March  16,  1865 Co.  D.,  10th  W.  Va. 

John   M.   Fischer August  27,  1861 May   12,  1865 Co.  F.,  29th  N.  Y. 

L.  L.  Foster October  1,  1864 June  2,  1865 Co.  K.,  17th  Wis.  InL 

Charles    Gosha December  23,  1863 September  2,  1865 Co.  E.,  4th  N.  H.  Inf. 

D.  Graham December  24,  1862 August  10,  1865 3rd  Wis.  Battery 

John  W.  Goodwin August  4,  1862 June  4,  1865 Co.  G.,  109th  N.  Y. 


64  HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


Name  Date  of  Enlistment  Discharge  Unit 

Theodore  Graves August  26,  1864 June  6,  1865 1st  Michigan  Engrs. 

E.  W.  Gallagan April  6,  1862 April  5,  1865 Co.  H.,  14th  Wis.  Inf. 

B.   Garrity March  30,   1864 October  27,  1865 Co.  G.,  3rd  Wis.  Cav. 

G.   W.   Garrett April  9,  1863 October  2,  1865 Co.  B.,  3rd  Wis.  Cav. 

Thomas    Gleason July   17,  1863 September  5,  1863 U.  S.  Navy  (Landsman) 

Charles   Graves October  6,  1862 July  30,  1865 Co.  D.,  6th  Iowa  Cav. 

Charles  E.  Goodnow November,    1861 April  6,  1863 Co.  J.,  3rd  Mo.  Inf 

Joseph   Gotchey June  1,  1861 August  8,  1863 Co.  K.,  3rd  Wis.  Inf. 

Peter   Hilger October  28,  1864 June  4,  1865 17th  Wis.  Inf. 

W.    H.   Higgins July,   1862 March  9,  1863 Co.  H.,  20th  Me.  Inf. 

J.  H.  Heath January,  1864 June,  1864 Co.  E.,  40th  Wis.  Inf. 

W.    J.    Hagen November,    1864 July,  1865 Co.  J.,  32nd  Wis.  Inf. 

R.  J.   Hitchcock September   24,    1861 September  4,  1865 Co.  K.,  11th  Wis.  Inf. 

Z.  Hammond August  21,  1861 February  20,  1866 Co.  M.,  11th  Pa.  Cav. 

Nelson   Hobart August  13,  1862 August  15,  1865 Co.  F.,  27th  Ind.  Vol. 

A.   J.   Hooker August    24,    1861 August  29,  1864 Co.  B.  1st  N.  Y.  A. 

A.  P.  Hull January  1,  1861 July  19,  1865 Co.  B.  8th  Minn.  Inf. 

Wm.   Hampton August  21,  1862 June  12,  1865 Co.  H.,  32nd  Wis.  Inf. 

W.   C.  Hubbard October    15,    1863 September  28,  1865 Co.  H.,  1st  Mich.  Eng. 

Patrick   Hickey October,   1863 July  1,  1865 Co.  H.,  2nd  Mass.  Cav. 

Frank  A.  Huff December,   1863 August  17,  1865 Co.  A.,  3rd  Wis.  Cav. 

Frederick    Hillman 1864    July,  1865 Co.  K.,  17th  Wis.  Inf. 

Frank   Hoyt December  1,  1863 August  17,  1865 Co.  A.,  3rd  Wis.  Cav. 

George    Jones August  15.  1862 July,  1865 Co.  K.,  21st  Wis.  Inf. 

W.   B.  Johns May,  1864 September  30,   1864 Co.  G.,  39th  Wis.  Inf. 

H.   W.  James August  21,  1861 July  17,  1865 Co.  C,  16th  Wis.  Inf. 

A.   Juneau lune  13,  1861 August  5,  1865 78th  U.  S.  Battery 

Ed   Jarvis February  11,  1864 August  10,  1865 8th  Wis.  Battery 

William    James 

James    Kennedy August  22,  1862 January,  1863 Co.  K.,  103rd  Ohio  Inf. 

A.  O.  D.  Kelley July  20,   1862 July  8,  1865 Co.  C,  85th  Ind.  Vol.  Inf. 

J.  N.  Kiefer July  13,  1862 June  15,  1865 Co.  H.,  24th  Wis.  Inf. 

A.    Kling August,    1862 June  18,  1865 Co.  D.,  21st  Wis.  Inf. 

F.  P.  Kennedy February,    1865 December,  1865 Co.  E.,  42nd  Wis.  Inf. 

Chas.  W.  Knapp February  2,  1865 September   21,   1865 Co.   A.,   153rd   111.   Inf. 

Davis   Kirk April,    1861 July  2,  1866 Co.  B.,  14th  Ohio  Inf. 

J.   A.   Long March,    1862 1865 Co.  G.,  9th  Ind.  Inf. 

John  R.  Leykom March,    1861 July,  1865 Co.  A.,  5th  Wis.  Inf. 

Edw.   LaLonde August  28,  1862 June  2,  1865 Co.  A.,  18th  Wis.  Inf. 

Ira    Lake November    24,    1863 June  23,  1865 Co.  H.,  21st  Wis.  InL 

Beng.  F.  Lillie September   2,    1862 Aug.  10,  1865 Co.  —  2nd  Ohio  Lt.  A. 

Henry   Lloyd February  25,  1864 Sept.  4,  1866 Co.  G.,  Uth  Wis.  InL 

Franklin    Locke August  14,  1862 June  8,  1865 Co.  G.,  21st  Wis.  Inf. 

Robert   Lewins February  18,  1865 June  18,  1866 Co.  F.,  50th  Wis.  Inf. 

M.  J.  Lower Co.  C.   122nd  Ohio  Inf. 

W.    Laing June  2,  1862 September  5,  1865 Co.  K.,  3rd  N.  J.  InL 

H.    M.    Lord October  15,  1865 July  2,  1865 Co.  G.,  1st  Wis.  Art. 

August  C.  Ludkey November  17,  1863 July  19,  1865 Co.  G.,  Wis.  Cav. 

Homer   W.   Lake March   3,   1864 July  26,  1865 Co.  A.,  38th  Wis.  Inf. 

John   Merchant January  1,  1864 January  22,  1865 Co.  G.,  10th  N.  Y.  Inf. 

Moritz  Mueller August  21,  1862 June  12,  1865 Co.  A.,  32nd  Wis.  InL 

Thomas    McDonald October,  1864 Co.  D.,  12th  Inf. 

E.  H.  Mellor August,    1864 June  1,  1865 Co.  E.,  5th  Wis.  InL 

Andrew    Michaelson February  20,  1865 June  12.  1866 Co.  C,  50th  Wis.  InL 

John  W-  Merrill August  11,  1862 September  20,  1865 Co.  D.,  30th  Wis.  Inf. 

D.   A.    Morgan September   2,    1864 July,  1865 U.  S.  S.  St.  Western 

William   Meller September    6,    1862 July  18,  1865 Co.  G.,  92nd  N.  Y. 

M.  Simon  Matheny February    18,    1864 June  22,  1866 Co.  C,  1st  Bat.  Cav. 

Charles   Mosher May  8,  1861 November  14,  1861 Co.  H.,  20th  111.  InL 

H.  A.  Mills December  6,  1863 August  31,  1865 Co.  D.,  1st  Wis.  H.  Art. 

William  Madder August  26,  1864 June  17,  1865 Co.  D.,  Wis.  Vol. 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


65 


Name  Date  of  Enlistment  Discharge  Unit 

D.  M.  Maxon July  29,  1861 July  28,  1862 Co.  B.,  4th  Wis.  Inf. 

John   Newberry August  16,  1864 July  19,  1865 Co.  G.,  169th  N.  Y.  Inf. 

John   S.    Nelson September    2,    1864 June  14,  1865 Co.  A.,  2nd  Wis.  Cav. 

C.  O'Neil August  2,  1862 August  2,  1865 Co.  C,  16th  U.  S.  Inf. 

D.  W.  Olin February,    1865 June,  1865 Co.  G.,  50th  Wis.  Inf. 

Benjamin  O'Deal August  21,  1862 June  12,  1865 Co.  F.,  32nd  Wis.  Inf. 

R.   B.   Olmsted January  4,  1865 September  14,  1865 Co.  D.,  47th  Mass. 

Daniel    O'Brien September  19,  1862-. January  5,  1865 Co.  G.,  92nd  III.  Inf. 

J.   Phelps August    11,    1862 June  16,  1865 Co.  D.,  31st  Wis.  Inf. 

Joel  E.   Parker May  5,  1862 May  5,  1865 Co.  G.,  11th  Ohio  Vol. 

E.  W.   Pride January  1,  1862 ^-September,    1863 Co.   G.,   1st  Wis.   Inf. 

John  H.  Reader September   8,    1864 g^June  2,  1865 Co.  D.,  16th  Wis.  Inf. 

Henry    Rust April   23,   1861 July  27,  1865 Co.  E.,  14th  Ohio  Inf. 

Austin    Robinson February  10,  1865 ..February  9,  1866 Co.  F.,  34th  N.  Y.  Vol. 

Alexander    Rogers September  10,  1861 October  30,  1864 Co.  F.,  16th  Ohio  Vol.  Inf. 

A.   D.   Rice March   17,   1864 August  12,  1865 Co.  B..  38th  Wis.  Inf. 

Henry   Smith July  20,   1863 November  8,  1865 Co.  H.,  2nd  N.  Y.  Vol.  Inf. 

F.  M.    Sherman April   19,   1861 January  18,  1865 Co.  I.,  9th  Ind.  Inf. 

J.  A.  Spencer March   25,   1862 September  1,  1865 Co.  I.,  3rd  Wis.  Vol.  Inf. 

Stephen    Scott March,    1863 Co.   B.,  37th  Wis.   Inf. 

August    Schoepke December  20,  1861 April  4,  1865 Co.  K.,  17th  Wis.  Vol.  Cav. 

H.    C.    Shipley September,    1861 April  14,  1865 Co.  C,  1st  Wis.  Cav. 

J.  F.  Saxe February,  1864 July  11,  1865 Co.  M.,  3rd  W.  Va.  Cav. 

William    Stacy September    1,    1862 June  15,  1865 Co.  K.,  21st  Ohio  Inf. 

Gates    Saxton April   30,   1861 May  23,  1862 Co.  H.,  14th  N.  Y.  Inf. 

E.  D.  Stewart February  16,  1864 December  1,  1865 Co.  H.,  15th  Ohio 

C.  H.  Steele August  6,  1862 August  7,  1865 Co.  A.,  72nd  111.  Inf. 

Robert    Sheriff August    28,    1864 June  28,  1865 Co.  E.,  5th  Wis.  Inf. 

George  W.  Stanley September  21,  1861 May  28,  1862 Co.  B.,  14th  Wis.  Inf. 

Frederick  Spoehr September  29,  1864 June  3,  1865 Co.  B.,  9th  Wis.  Inf. 

J.    C.    Spencer April   19,   1864 June  24,  1865 Co.  F.,  37th  Wis.  Inf. 

Albert  L.  Stowe August  14,  1862 June  25,  1865 Co.  G.,  21st  Wis.  Inf. 

Charles   H.   Sprague August    18,    1862 May  20,  1865 Co.  E.,  100th  Ohio  Inf. 

Loren  M.  Shew January  19,  1864 May  24,  1865 Co.  K.,  10th  N.  Y.  H.  Art. 

J.  Spurgeon May  7,  1861 September,  1865 Co.  K.,  3rd  Wis.,  Vol. 

Dan  Sweeney February,    1864 July  15,  1865 Co.  K.,  64th  111.  Inf. 

J.   P.   Sanders November  19,  1861 July  12,  1862 Co.  H.,  1st  Wis.  Inf. 

A.  D.  Stowe August,    1864 June   1865 Co.  H.,  5th  Wis.  Inf. 

James    Thurber May    26,    1864 Sept.  23,   1864 Co.  G.,  41st  Wis.  Vol. 

R.  S.  Thompson June  11,  1861 November   15,    1861 Co.  —  2nd  Wis.   Inf. 

Israel    Wood December,   1863 July  11,  1865 Co.  K.,  34th  Mass.  Inf. 

H.   B.  Woodhouse December  18,  1864 May  18,  1865 Co.  D.,  14th  Wis.  Inf. 

W.  W.  Wheeler June  12,  1861 June  23,   1862 Co.  C.  7th  Ohio  Inf. 

E.  I.  Whitney 1864    June,  1865 Co.  A.,  38th  Wis.  Inf. 

William  N.  Wilson February    4,    1865 September  4,  1865 Co.  I.,  47th  Wis.  Inf. 

Nicholas  Weaver September  18,  1862 May  29,  1865 Co.  D.,  97th  N.  Y.  Inf. 

Thomas    Williams August,    1864 Co.  F.,  145th  P.  A. 

D.  A.  Willard September  18,  1861 October  31,  1864 Co.  G.,  1st  Wis.  Cav. 

Hiram  H.  Ward February  1,  1864 May  26,  1866 Co.  K.,  4th  Wis.  Cav. 

Andrew    Webley 1861    June  13,  1865 Co.  K.,  50th  N.  Y.  Inf. 

Michael  Weix September,   1861 June  13,  1865 Co.  A.,  15th  Inf. 

L.   Zahn April   11,  1862 April  29,  1865 Co.  K.,  19th  Wis.  Inf. 


THE  SPANISH-AMERICAN  WAR. 

Langlade  County  was  still  in  its  infancy  when 
President  William  McKinley  issued  a  call  for  125,000 
volunteers  on  April  23,  1898,  after  the  blowing  up  of 
the  ill-fated  Maine  in  Havana  harbor.  Yet  Langlade 
County  citizens  were  ready  to  do  their  part.  Ed 
Kiefer  enlisted  at  Portage,  Wis.,  in  the  3rd  Wiscon- 
sin Infantry;  John  McGinley  enlisted  in  Co.  D.,  49th 


Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry,  Waterloo,  la.  He  saw  serv- 
ice in  Cuba  and  was  mustered  out  at  Savanah,  Ga., 
May  13,  1899.  George  Doersch  served  in  a  South  Da- 
kota regiment;  Frank  Lyons  served  with  Co.  L  of 
the  U.  S.  Cavalry;  Dan  O'Brien  served  in  the  34th 
Michigan  Regiment  with  an  Ironwood  Co.;  John  Mol- 
litor  served  with  Company  "E"  of  the  2nd  Wisconsin 
Volunteers,  a  Fond  du  Lac  unit;  Charles  Clark  serv- 
ed with  "G"  Co.,  2nd  Wisconsin  Volunteers  from  Ap- 


66 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


pleton,  Wis.  Both  Mr.  Clark  and  Mr.  Mollitor  sol- 
diered in  Porto  Rico.  Willis  Otis  enlisted  January 
10,  1899.  with  Co.  "D"  of  the  4th  U.  S.  Infantry.  He 
was  mustered  out  in  1901  after  service  in  the  Philip- 
pines.   Fred  Springstead  enlisted  in  May,  1898. 

FRED  SPRINGSTEAD— HERO. 

Fred  Springstead,  son  of  Mrs.  Jane  Springstead,  of 
Antigo,  was  the  only  Langlade  County  man  to  be  kill- 
ed during  the  Spanish-American  War.  He  was  killed 
in  action  August  1,  1898,  before  the  entrenchments  of 
Cavite,  P.  I.  by  a  sniping  sharpshooter.  He  died 
while  fighting  with  "D"  Company  of  the  1st  Colorado 
Volunteers. 


FRED  SPRINGSTE.^D 

The   first    LaiiKlade   County   soldier  to  be  killed   in   action, 

while  lightinK  for  his  Country.       He  enlisted  in  Colorado 

during    the    .Spanish-AmcricaTi    War. 

A  bust  of  Fred  Springstead  now  appears  in  the 
state  capitol,  Denver,  Colorado,  as  young  Spring- 
stead was  the  first  Colorado  soldier  to  fall. 

His  military  funeral  at  the  Antigo  M.  E.  Church, 
March  29,  1900,  was  the  largest  gathering  that  had 
to  that  day  ever  assembled  to  pay  homage  to  a  Lang- 
lade County  hero. 

ANTIGO  GUARD  COMPANY. 

After  the  Spanish-American  War  a  military  unit 
known  as  the  Antigo  Guard  Company  was  organized, 
March  21,  1901.  Officers  chosen  were:  Captain, 
George  H.  Doersch;  1st  Lieut.,  William  C.  Ross;  2nd 
Lieut.,  Thomas  F.  Thompson;  Secretary,  R.  C.  Lillie. 

The  muster  roll  of  enlisted  men  was  as  follows:  H. 
Baldwin,  Herman  Brecklin,  Peter  P.  Chadek,  F.  C. 
Duchac,  A.  E.  Dove,  F.  Doner,  C.  W.  Frick,  George 
Fehring.  R.  H.  Ford,  W.  P.  Fessenden,  P.  H.  French, 
P.  H.  Flanagan,  J.  W.  Flanagan,  Will  Flynn,  Ernest 
Fondow,  Walter  Guile,  E.  L.  Goff,  J.  H.  Hopkins, 
William  H.  Hackett,  E.  D.  Humphrey,  Paul  Heller, 
H.  B.  Heinemann,  Colon  Hutchinson,  F.  G.  Hoffman, 
Alfred  Klock,  August  Kurz,  John  Kebble,  A.  B.  Kra- 
mer, Harry  F.  Kohl,  Otto  Molle,  J.  W.  Mader,  J.  P. 
McHale,  C.  H.  Rice,  R.  Rounds,  F.  J.  Rhode,  C.  W. 
Rock,  Julius  Strauch,  Max  Steinhauer,  G.  H.  Wan- 
ninger    and  Louis  Zern. 

The   roll  was  augmented  by  new  members   during 


the  six  months  following  organization.  The  company 
was  reorganized  with  a  change  in  officers.  Thomas 
Thompson,  J.  H.  Hopkins,  D.  Meyer  served  as  Cap- 
tains successively.  When  the  company  disbanded, 
because  it  was  not  possible  to  be  admitted  into  the 
Wisconsin  National  Guards,  it  had  the  following  offi- 
cers: Captain,  J.  H.  Hopkins;  1st  Lieut.,  Harry  F. 
Kohl,  and  2nd  Lieutenant,  Otto  F.  Berner. 


THE  ANTIGO  GUARDS  OF  1901. 
Camping  on   the   banks   of   the    Eau   Claire    River. 

The  old  Antigo  Guards  was  a  live  unit,  much  more 
so  than  the  Antigo  Light  Guards  of  1888,  who  dis- 
banded shortly  after  their  organization.  Many  an  In- 
dependence Day  celebration  and  sham  battle  were 
given  by  the  Antigo  Guards.  The  Battle  of  Crocker's 
Landing  was  a  thrilling  mock  battle  staged  by  Antigo 
Guards  at  a  July  4th  celebration. 

THE  14TH  WISCONSIN  REUNION. 

The  old  14th  Wisconsin  Regiment  of  Civil  War 
fame  held  a  reunion  in  Antigo  in  June  1902.  Antigo 
was  lavishly  decorated.  A  welcome  address  was  giv- 
en the  veterans  by  Mayor  Thomas  W.  Hogan.  Beauti- 
ful arches  were  erected  at  Edison,  Clermont,  and  Su- 
perior streets  and  near  the  depot.  Antigo  people  en- 
rolled at  the  reunion  headquarters  were:  George 
Jessie,  "A"  Co.,  14th  Wis.;  Lieut.  C.  M.  Beattie  and 
wife;  Edward  Daskam,  "G"  Co.;  M.  V.  Elliott,  "H" 
Co.,  and  E.  Galligan,  "H"  Co.,  all  of  the  14th  Wis- 
consin. 

ANTIGO  BOYS  WITH  PERSHING  AT  BORDER. 

Pancho  Villa,  bandit  chieftain,  in  his  desire  to  wage 
guerilla  warfare  against  the  United  States,  ransacked 
the  border  town  of  Columbus,  New  Mexico.  Presi- 
dent Wilson  ordered  General  John  J.  Pershing  into 
Chihuahua  and  other  northern  Mexican  states  in  pur- 
suit. State  militia  was  called  out  to  patrol  the  bor- 
der and  excitement  was  high.  Langlade  County  boys 
in  Co.  L.,  Rhinelander,  Oneida  County  military  unit, 
were  Louis  Maybee,  Archie  and  Curtis  Carpenter  of 
the  city  of  Antigo,  Charles  Gehrke,  Summit  Lake, 
Oscar  Hertell  of  Bass  Lake,  and  Otto  Staats.     They 


HISTORY    OF    LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


67 


returned  home  after  eight  months  of  border  service, 
February  28,  1917.  Truck  drivers  were  necessary  for 
border  warfare  and  Bert  Nixon,  Lester  Tosch,  Ben 
Pliska  and  Ward  Walsh  enlisted  in  that  branch  of 
service. 

RECRUITING  FOR  WORLD  WAR. 

When  it  became  apparent  that  the  United  States  had 
no  alternative  but  to  enter  the  war  against  Germany, 
a  recruiting  office  was  opened  in  Antigo.  It  was  lo- 
cated in  the  rear  of  the  Rogers-McCollister  fruit 
store,  Voight  Bldg.,  and  later  located  in  the  Manthey 
bldg.,  corner  of  Fifth  Avenue  and  Edison  Street. 

Edward  Cody,  Postmaster,  and  Otto  F.  Berner  were 
the  men  most  influential  in  organizing  plans  for  an 
Antigo  military  unit.  They  were  working  quietly  on 
the  matter  as  early  as  June,  1916. 

First  volunteers  to  sign  the  roll  on  April  6,  1917, 
were  as  follows:  O.  A.  Miller,  William  H.  Leslie, 
Mike  Skibbins,  George  Kolerus,  Orville  Green,  Ezra 
Knapp,  John  Gesiorek,  George  Chadek,  Leland  May- 
otte,  Henry  Tenant,  Leland  A.  Tollefson,  Frank  T. 
Lynde,  Stanley  Talarcyzk,  John  Chadek,  Edwin  Walk- 
er, Edwin  Menting,  Richard  Hugnin,  Bill  Now,  AI 
Menting,  F.  M.  Hopkins,  Floyd  Topping,  E.  Krauk,  F. 
Stidel,  Silas  Baird,  J.  Sharon,  Jr.,  Evan  Martin,  Otto 
F.  Berner,  Alex  Skibba,  Leo  Mountain,  Al  Dixon,  B. 
Hogan,  A.  McGregor,  P.  J.  Sleeter,  Hermis  F.  Dionne, 
Leo  Bowens,  William  Bonier,  Henry  Edwards,  Frank 
Schyzyski,  Henry  Kawalski,  O.  G.  Brandow,  Hugh 
Nelson,  S.  V.  Noble,  F.  Hersant,  Leo  Ottman,  Bert 
Mayerl,  Lester  Parkhill,  Floyd  Burdin,  Clarence  No- 
wotny,  Robert  M.  Dessureau,  George  P.  Rath,  Albert 
B.  Arnold,  C.  D.  Leslie,  Harold  Huntoon,  George  Rabi- 
deau.  Otto  Weiher,  John  Shadick,  Edwin  Boettcher, 
James  Schultz,  J.  B.  Zodrow,  Robert  Mattmiller,  J.  H. 
Hopkins,  Norman  Preston,  Merritt  Reader,  Raymond 
Lange,  R.  S.  Griffith,  George  E.  Brown,  Ray  Clegg, 
Daniel  Hayes,  George  McArthur,  John  Maltby,  John 
Wall,  I.  Hoffman,  Will  Rice,  I.  C.  Green,  D.  0.  Rich- 
ter,  George  Edee,  J.  Churney,  Charles  Bonnell,  W.  C. 
Peterson,  C.  H.  Anderson,  Charles  McArthur,  Anton 
Bosacki,  W.  Neary,  Dan  Kehlnofer,  Jerome  Riley, 
Frank  Luckowicz,  John  Cherek,  William  Reif,  F. 
Bahr,  E.  G.  Winters,  Walter  Lange,  James  Garvey, 
and  Theodore  Sloat. 

ANTIGO  MILITIA  LEAGUE. 

The  Antigo  Militia  League  was  organized  April  18, 
1917,  two  weeks  after  war  was  declared.  Henry  Hay 
was  elected  President;  Edward  Cody,  Vice  President; 
Fred  L.  Berner,  Secretary,  and  J.  C.  Lewis,  Treasurer. 

The  object  of  the  league  was  to  promote  the  organ- 
ization of  an  Antigo  military  unit;  to  give  moral  and 
financial  aid  to  the  unit  in  its  embryo  stages.  An 
executive  committee  consisting  of  G.  J.  Quigley,  R. 
B.  Johns,  S.  B.  UUman,  Fred  L.  Berner,  and  John 
Hanousek,  was  appointed.  The  Antigo  Militia  League 
applied  for  state  aid  for  an  armory  under  the  Wilcox 
Law  after  John  Hanousek,  a  member  of  the  executive 


committee,  purchased  the  Antigo  Opera  House  and 
presented  it  to  the  city  for  an  armory.  This  work,  to- 
gether with  a  great  patriotic  meeting.  May  16,  1917, 
when  Col.  Guy  D.  Goff  and  General  Charles  King 
spoke  and  the  organization  of  Company  "G,"  4th  Wis- 
consin Regiment,  practically  completed  the  purpose 
of  the  Militia  League. 

The  Antigo  Militia  League  performed  a  commend- 
able service  in  an  anxious  time  in  the  history  of  Lang- 
lade County. 

CITIZENS'  TRAINING  CAMP. 

The  Antigo  Citizens'  Training  Camp,  a  home  mili- 
tary unit,  recognized  in  war  on  an  equal  status  with 
the  state  militia,  was  organized  October  26,  1917.  A 
Board  of  Governors  consisting  of  C.  J.  TeSelle,  James 
Cody,  S.  B.  UUman,  J.  D.  Mylrea,  and  Fred  L.  Berner 
was  appointed.  J.  D.  Mylrea  was  elected  Captain,  C. 
J.  TeSelle,  1st  Lieutenant,  and  Edward  Faust,  2nd 
Lieutenant  of  the  unit.  Captain  Mylrea  resigned 
shortly  after  his  selection.  C.  J.  TeSelle  then  became 
Captain,  Edward  Faust,  1st  Lieutenant,  and  Charles 
Cody,  2nd  Lieutenant. 

The  Citizens'  Training  Camp  drilled  regularly  and 
performed  a  service  of  importance  at  home.  The  or- 
ganization took  its  oath  and  was  inspected  by  a  repre- 
sentative of  the  Adjutant  General.  No  definite  ter- 
mination was  made  of  the  home  guards,  as  they  were 
called.     Drill  ceased  when  war  ended. 

ORIGINAL  ROSTER  OF  THE  107TH  TRENCH 

MORTAR   BATTERY  AS   COMPANY  "G" 

4TH  WISCONSIN  INFANTRY. 

Captain — 0.  A.  Miller. 

First  Lieutenant — Otto  F.  Berner. 

Second  Lieutenant — Vernon  J.  Quigley. 

First  Sergeant — Frank  T.  Lynde. 

Supply  Sergeant — Harry  Zuehlke. 

Mess  Sergeant — William  E.  McNamara. 

Stable  Sergeant — Louis  J.  Maybee. 

Sergeants — Robert  C.  Dewey,  Hermis  F.  Dionne, 
Robert  E.  Mattmiller,  George  A.  Bates,  Raymond  R. 
Clegg,  William  L.  Andrews,  Floyd  E.  Fitzgerald. 

Buglers — Ralph  H.  Berner,  Earl  W.  Huntoon. 

Corporals — Abner  J.  Rolo,  Frank  A.  Cherek,  Harvey 
E.  Goebel,  Leonard  Rolo,  Lester  N.  Parkhill,  George 
E.  Brown,  Harry  L.  Zwickey,  Howard  E.  Beldin,  Wil- 
liam H.  Wessa,  Alex  P.  Skibba,  Joseph  Wojtasiak, 
Frank  L.  Smith,  Joseph  Rath,  Frank  C.  Fischer,  Amos 
J.  Maltby,  Edward  J.  Bernier,  James  I.  Prosser. 

Privates,  1st  Class— Albert  B.  Arnold,  Willard  J. 
Bernier,  Orlin  G.  Brandow,  George  E.  Buerger,  George 
G.  Edee,  Frank  D.  Fierst,  Ira  D.  Finley,  Frank  W. 
Fischer,  Roy  Goodwill,  Daniel  D.  Hayes,  Francis  A. 
Hersant,  Clarence  Horn,  Charles  W.  Hotchkiss,  Rich- 
ard A.  Hugunin,  Nestor  C.  Humblet,  Roy  A.  Joles, 
Edward  H.  Koles,  John  B.  Maltby,  Bert  L.  Mayerl, 
Edwin  Menting,  Bernard  Miller,  Anson  G.  Mueller, 
Neal  A.  McArthur,  Terrence  A.  McCann,  Hugh  B. 
Nelson,     Edmond     Noel,      Clarence      H.     Nowotny, 


68 


HISTORY  OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


Thomas  F.  O'Brien,  William  E.  Page,  William  Pas- 
suelo,  Jay  W.  Plopper,  George  A.  Rabideau,  George 
P.  Rath,  Amos  A.  Rice,  William  I.  Rice,  Walter  B. 
Scott,  Frank  Skibba,  Reese  D.  Sparks,  Orson  F.  Stone, 
Leland  F.  Tollefson,  Raymond  J.  Wagner,  Julius  N. 
Weinberg,  Ira  Zwickey. 

Privates — George  P.  Ackerman,  William  W.  Adget, 
Joe  Alft,  Harry  Aim,  William  F.  Auclair,  Frank  J. 
Bahr,  William  T.  Ballard,  Edward  D.  Bardwell,  Ed- 
ward Blaha,  James  Blaha,  Edward  G.  Blahnik,  Joseph 
F.  Blahnik,  Harry  H.  Bohse,  Charles  Bonnell,  John 
F.  Borowczyk,  Leo  M.  Bowens,  Harold  D.  Bovet,  Mar- 
tin J.  Brennan,  Robert  S.  Brown,  Ray  L.  Carpenter, 
Joseph  F.  Chadek,  Stanley  A.  Christian,  Benjamin  H. 
Clark,  Henry  Cornelius,  Charles  Couveau,  Wallace 
Curran,  Lyle  A.  Dalton,  Roy  E.  Drew,  Arleigh  L. 
Dudley,  Frank  Fischer,  Frank  J.  Gugla,  Leo  J.  Glugla, 
William  D.  Grigson,  Andrew  M.  Halminiak,  Bernard 
R.  Hogan,  Anton  W.   Homola,    Fayett    M.    Hopkins, 


().  A.  .MILLER 

Captain  of  original  Co.  G.     Promoted  to  Major  Octol)i.r  I, 

li)lS.       Overseas  from   February  IT,  1!IIS  to   lamiary 

1,  1!)1S.       Major  Miller  participated  in  the  Alsace 

defensive.     Cliateau-'riiierry.     Jnvigny     and 

Mnese-.\rgonnc  battles.      Major  Miller 

was  awarded  the  Croix  de  (luerre 

for   bravery   by   the    I'^rench 

(ioveninient. 

Lynn  E.  Hull,  Joseph  V.  Jagla,  Frank  Janness,  August 
Jaster,  Richard  Kaplanek,  Frank  H.  Keen,  Andrew 
Kielhofer,  Louis  Klinner,  George  Kolerus,  Walter  Ko- 
zarek,  Frank  J.  Kotavy,  George  A.  Kotchi,  Frank  W. 
Kubiaczyk,  John  A.  Lebek,  Joseph  Leindecker,  Felix 
Lepinski,  Cyril  D.  Leslie,  Gordon  Maloney,  Roscoe 
Manning,  Frank  Manthey,  George  E.  Martin,  Richard 
H.  Martiny,  Cliff  Middleton,  Clarence  C.  Morse, 
George  W.  Mulhern,  Frank  Muraski,  Frank  J.  Novak, 
William  H.  Now,  Erwin  Nowotny,  Charles  Olson, 
Frank  Opichka,  Burnie  L.  Orr,  Francis  E.  Othrow, 
William  Peters,  Samuel  Potts,  Floyd  C.  Rath,  Merrit 
W.  Reader,  Wallie  Remington,  Hiram  W.  Renfro, 
William    Rief,    Alfred    Robinson,    William    Schielke, 


Peter  Schramke,  George  Schwentner,  John  W.  Seis, 
Earl  W.  Shanks,  Archie  W.  Shannon,  Vernon  F.  Shan- 
non, Frank  Spychalla,  Otto  Tiegs,  Roy  J.  Thompson, 
Harold  C.  Tenant,  Ora  N.  Tidd,  Grant  J.  Turney,  Jr., 
Joseph  M.  Van  Dyke,  Adles  A.  Willams,  Hilery  B. 
Wineberger,  Emil  H.  Wojan,  Walter  Wojeck,  George 
A.  Zehner,  John  D.  Zemske,  Joseph  A.  Zima,  John  B. 
Zodrow. 

COMPANY  G,  4TH  WISCONSIN. 

The  application  for  creating  an  Antigo  military  unit 
was  forwarded  to  the  Adjutant  General,  Orlando  Hol- 
way,  at  once  after  the  necessary  volunteers  had  en- 
listed and  other  arrangements  made.  April  22,  1917, 
at  the  Antigo  High  School,  sixty-five  recruits  were 
sworn  into  service  as  soldiers  of  Company  G.,  4th  Wis- 
consin National  Guard.  Otto  A.  Miller  was  elected 
temporary    Captain,    Otto    F.    Berner,    temporary    1st 


OTTO   F.  BERNER 

Captain     of     the     lOTth     Trench    Mortar    Battery,   was    1st 

Lieutenant   of  the  original   Co.   G.     He  was  promoted 

October   l(i,  I'.ns.     Captain   Berner  enlisted  .April  21, 

I'.llT   as   a   private.        He   served   overseas   from 

February  17,   191S  to  February  27,   lill!)  and 

participated    in    the    Alsace    defensive, 

Chateau-Thierry,  Jnvigny  and 

Muese-.^rgonne  battles. 

Lieutenant,  and  Vernon  Quigley,  temporary  2nd  Lieu- 
tenant. Captain  Miller  was  permanently  commission- 
ed May  17,  1917.  Lieutenants  Berner  and  Quigley 
were  permanently  commissioned  July  12,  1917. 

The  new  company  drilled  at  the  ball  park  in  ear- 
nest from  July  15,  1917,  to  August  11,  1917,  when  it 
was  ordered  to  Camp  Douglas,  Wisconsin.  Amid  im- 
pressive scenes  and  farewells  that  were  heart-rending, 
the  boys  entrained.  Thousands  of  people  were  at  the 
Antigo  depot  at  seven  o'clock  that  eventful  morning  to 
bid  farewell  to  Langlade  County's  military  unit.  Who 
knew  but  what  they  would  not  return? 

Company  G  conducted  itself  admirably  at  Camp 
Douglas,  from  which  place   it  was  ordered  to  Camp 


HISTORY    OF    LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


69 


McArthur,  Waco,  Texas  (with  the  32nd  Division). 
The  4th,  5th,  and  6th  Wisconsin  regiments  were  re- 
organized at  Camp  McArthur  and  Company  G  be- 
came the  107th  Trench  Mortar  Battery. 

107TH  TRENCH  MORTAR  BATTERY. 

The  107th  Trench  Mortar  Battery  was  a  unit  of  the 
57th  Field  Artillery  Brigade.  Lieutenant  Otto  Ber- 
ner  was  ordered  to  Ft.  Sill,  Oklahoma,  to  take  a 
three  months'  field  artillery  course.  The  battery  left 
Camp  McArthur  February  8,  1918,  proceeded  to  Camp 
Merrit,  N.  J.,  and  on  February  16,  1918,  boarded  the 
U.  S.  S.  President  Grant  and  a  day  later  sailed  from 
New  York  harbor.  They  arrived  at  Brest,  France, 
March  4,  1918.  While  Langlade  County  citizens  were 
aware  that  the  Antigo  unit  would  sail  soon,  they  did 
not  know  it  had  embarked  from  New  York  until  noti- 
fication of  the  unit's  safe  arrival  at  Brest  was  given 
out  by  the  War  Department. 

From  Brest  the  battery  proceeded  to  Pontinazian 
Barracks  and  after  a  few  days'  rest  marched  to  Camp 
de  Coetquidan,  near  Guer,  France.  Some  of  the  An- 
tigo soldiers  were  ill  and  remained  at  Brest.  Private 
Ora  N.  Tidd,  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elmer  Tidd  of  Neo- 
pit,  Wisconsin,  a  member  of  the  107th,  died  at  Brest 
in  March,  1918.  He  was  26  years  old  at  the  time  of 
his  death.    He  enlisted  July  18,  1917. 

The  107th  Trench  Mortar  Battery  evacuated  Camp 
de  Coetquidan  for  the  Alsace  Sector,  near  the  Swiss 
border,  June  10,  1918.  Captain  Miller  and  Lieuten- 
ants Berner  and  Quigley  returned  May  10,  1918,  to 
the  107th  headquarters,  after  attending  a  trench  mor- 
tar school  at  Langres  en  Marne.  Lieut  M.  V.  Griscom 
of  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  had  charge  of  the  battery 
during  their  absence. 

IN  ALSACE— REESE  SPARKS  KILLED. 

The  107th  was  in  action  in  the  Alsace  Sector  on 
June  29,  1918,  and  it  was  here  that  Reese  Sparks  fell 
fighting  for  his  country.  Reese  Sparks,  first  Langlade 
County  soldier  to  be  killed  in  action,  was  the  son  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Sparks  of  Olive  Hill,  Kentucky, 
and  enlisted  in  the  Antigo  unit  in  June,  1917. 

ALFT  AND  BALLARD  KILLED. 

The  107th  Trench  Mortar  Battery  was  located  in  a 
French  fort  and  attached  to  French  Mortar  Batteries 
while  in  the  Alsace  Sector.  Here  Joseph  Alft  and 
Thomas  Ballard  were  killed  by  a  premature  explosion 
on  July  8,  1918.  Joseph  Alft  was  the  son  of  John 
Alft  of  Shawano,  Wis.  He  enlisted  April  23,  1917. 
Thomas  Ballard  was  the  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John 
Ballard,  Elton,  Wis.  He  was  born  August  12,  1895, 
and  enlisted  May  6,  1917.  John  Baetz  and  Jackimo 
Gambino  of  Detroit,  Michigan,  were  wounded  by  the 
same  explosion. 


AT    CHATEAU  THIERRY. 

July  20,  1918,  the  107th  Trench  Mortar  Battery  was 
ordered  to  Chateau  Thierry  and  there  participated  in 
the  Vesle  River  engagement.     The  unit  used  captured 


A  TRENCH   MORTAR 
Used  l)v   the   liirth  Trench   Mortar   Battery 
World   War. 


in  the 


German  trench  mortars  in  the  skirmish.  The  107th 
was  under  fire  from  July  27  to  August  23,  1918,  while 
in  this  section.  When  not  in  the  lines  the  men  were 
engaged  in  burying  the  dead  and  in  salvage. 

CORPORAL  L.  A.  TOLLEFSON  KILLED. 

In  the  Vesle  River  engagement,  where  the  Ameri- 
can army  won  undying  glory  by  pushing  the  German 
army  back  for  miles.  Corporal  Leland  ToUefson  was 
killed  on  August  17,  1918.  He  was  delivering  an  im- 
portant message  to  brigade  headquarters  in  the  Cha- 
teau Thierry  Sector  and  sacrificed  his  life  while  on 
that  duty.  Corporal  Tollefson  was  the  son  of  Mrs. 
A.  M.  Tollefson  and  was  born  May  30,  1894. 

IN  THE  ARGONNE  FOREST. 

August  25,  1918,  the  107th  moved  north  of  Soissons, 
just  previously  captured  by  the  French  and  Ameri- 
cans. September  15,  1918,  the  battery  was  ordered  to 
the  historic  Argonne  forest.  The  unit  arrived  at  its 
destination  September  24,  1918.  The  battery  was  split 
into  two  groups  and  assisted  two  French  mortar  bat- 
teries in  the  Argonne  offensive,  which  was  launched 
with  a  terrific  attack  upon  the  Germans  September 
26,  1918.  The  end  of  war  was  now  in  sight,  as  the 
German  army  was  retreating  all  along  the  entire  front. 

107TH  OFFICERS  PROMOTED. 

On  October  1,  1918,  Captain  O.  A.  Miller  was  pro- 
moted to  rank  of  Major  and  assigned  to  a  trench  mor- 
tar battalion.     Fifteen  days  later  Lieutenants  Berner 


70 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


and  Quigley  were  promoted  to  Captain  and  First  Lieu- 
tenant respectively. 

The  107th  Trench  Mortar  Battery  assisted  the  89th 
Division  Trench  Mortar  Batteries  in  a  drive  against 
the  Germans  at  Bantherville,  twenty  miles  northwest 
of  Verdun,  October  25,  1918.  Thirteen  days  later, 
November  17,  the  Antigo  unit  left  the  front  lines. 

November  9,  1918,  the  57th  Field  Artillery  Brigade 
was  ordered  to  Bar  Le  Due  because  of  a  shortage  of 
horses  needed  to  haul  battery  equipment.  The  bat- 
tery equipment  of  the  107th  was  disposed  of  at  Vitrey 
in  December,  1918,  and  the  Langlade  County  soldiers 
were  now  ready  to  embark  for  America.  Joy  spread 
over  the  entire  unit  at  the  thought  of  home  and  loved 
ones.  But  it  was  a  long  wait  ahead  of  the  now  sea- 
soned veterans  of  the  greatest  war  in  history  before 
they  would  trod  on  American  soil. 

The  107th  was  detained  at  Angers,  France,  in  the 
early  part  of  January,  1919.     Angers   is  a  short  dis- 


James  A.  Cody,  Charles  W.  Fish,  William  H.  Brown, 
C.  J.  TeSelle  and  Fred  L.  Berner,  were  in  charge  of 
the  great  celebration,  program  and  parade.  Langlade 
County  made  it  a  holiday  such  as  the  children  of  its 
citizens  of  the  coming  generations  will  ask  questions. 
Thousands  of  mothers,  weary  and  overstrained  be- 
cause of  war,  sweethearts,  wives,  fathers,  brothers  and 
sisters  beseiged  the  passenger  coaches  of  that  historic 
train.  The  Antigo  band  struck  up  the  tune  "On  Wis- 
consin" as  the  boys  stepped  from  the  train.  Rousing 
cheers  were  given  them  from  the  huge  mass  of  hu- 
manity. It  was  a  day  Langlade  County  will  not  for- 
get. God  had  delivered  back  to  the  folks  at  home 
the  soldiers  who  had  bid  farewell  August  11,  1917. 
They  marched  to  the  Antigo  Armory  where  John  Han- 
ousek  had  prepared  a  regular  meal,  "the  kind  mother 
makes,"  for  them.  And  although  Uncle  Sam  fed  his 
soldiers  the  best,  the  107th  soldiers  thought  much 
more  of  "what  mother  cooked." 


RETURN'   OF  THE   lOTTH   TRENCH    MORTAR   B.\TTERV 

May  17,   1919,  thousands  of  relatives  and  friends  greeted  the  boys,  who 

served  in  the  World   War,  as  they  inarched   down   Fifth   .Avenue, 

Antigo,  Wis.      .\ntigo  has  never  since  been  in  such  gala  attire. 

It   was  a   notable   event  in  the  history  of 

Langlade  County. 


tance  from  St.  Nazairre  and  here  the  107th  was  on 
detail  duty  until  the  early  part  of  April,  when  orders 
to  proceed  to  St.  Nazairre  for  embarkation  were  given. 

HOMEWARD  BOUND. 

April  20,  1919,  the  107th  boarded  the  U.  S.  S.  Mer- 
cury and  ten  days  later,  April  30,  1919,  landed  at 
Philadelphia.  The  boys  were  mustered  out  of  serv- 
ice at  Camp  Grant,  111.,  on  May  15,  1919,  and  arrived 
in  Antigo  on  a  special  train  at  11.30  a.  m.,  May  17, 
1919. 

THE  GREAT  WELCOME  HOME. 

Never  in  the  history  of  Langlade  County  will  there 
be  witnessed  such  a  welcome  as  that  accorded  the 
valiant  soldiers  of  the  107th  Trench  Mortar  Battery. 
The  flag-bedecked  special  train  pulled  into  Antigo 
near  noon.        The    citizens'  committee,  consisting  of 


TWO  PROGRAMS. 

After  the  monstrous  parade,  second  to  none  in  the 
county's  history,  was  reviewed  by  civic  leaders  and 
Civil  War  veterans,  two  programs  were  given.  The 
Armory  program  was  presided  over  by  Judge  T.  W. 
Hogan  and  that  in  the  Beavers'  Hall  was  presided 
over  by  Judge  J.  W.  Parsons.  Officers  and  men  of 
the  battery  talked  of  their  experiences  and  sang 
trench  songs.  When  the  program  closed  that  evening 
the  boys  began  at  once  to  turn  their  attention  to  the 
arts  of  peace,  and,  like  Cinncinnatus,  took  up  their 
tasks  where  they  left  off  almost  two  years  before. 

THE  COUNCIL  OF  DEFENSE. 

The  Langlade  County  Council  of  Defense  was  or- 
ganized April  10,  1917,  with  the  following  member- 
ship chosen  by  the  State  Council  of  Defense:  Chair- 
man, Leonard  Freiburger;  M.  T.  Canfield,  Food  Ad- 


HISTORY    OF    LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


71 


ministrator;  C.  J.  TeSelle,  Secretary;  Agricultural  De- 
partment, F.  G.  Swoboda;  Transportation,  G.  J.  Quig- 
ley;  Banks,  W.  B.  McArthur;  Red  Cross,  Edward 
Cody;  Labor,  Edward  Gibbons;  Press,  Fred  L.  Ber- 
ner;  Public  Nurse,  Elizabeth  Cornish;  Women,  Mrs. 
H.  V.  Mills;  Executive  Committee,  Leonard  Freibur- 
ger,  Edward  Cody  and  C.  J.  TeSelle. 

The  Council  of  Defense  had  as  its  many  duties 
registration  of  the  Antigo  Militia  unit,  supplying  or- 
ganization and  expense  for  the  war  registration,  en- 
couraging food  production  and  conservation,  distribu- 
tion of  funds  to  various  committees  and  aided  in  meet- 
ing all  labor  emergencies,  promulgated  ideals  of  loyalty 
and  Americanism,  furnished  speakers  to  every  Lang- 
lade County  community  in  all  war  drives,  co-ordinated 
the  women  organizations  to  war  conditions,  gave  their 
support  to  the  State  Council  of  Defense  in  mobiliza- 
tion, executed  the  supply,  distribution  and  welfare  of 
labor  in  the  county,  acted  to  curb  disloyalty  and  sedi- 
tion, assisted  U.  S.  secret  service  agents  in  a  campaign 
of  education  among  the  few  who  were  disloyal,  pro- 
vided for  the  protection  of  public  health,  assisted  the 
federal  government  in  floating  the  various  loans  and 
war  drives,  encouraged  community  and  patriotic  sing- 
ing with  the  aid  of  rural  and  city  schools,  distributed 
wheat  and  corn  seed  in  car  lots  with  the  aid  of  the 
county  agent,  the  Farmers  Co-operative  store  and  Hirt 
Brothers  Milling  Company,  cared  for  the  food  and  fuel 
supplies  of  the  county,  aided  War  Savings  Stamp  and 
Red  Cross  drives,  executed  the  Victory  Fund  drive, 
and  received  whole-hearted  support  from  the  public 
in  the  "war  garden  and  back  yard  poultry  flock"  cam- 
paigns of  1917. 

C.  J.  TeSelle,  District  Attorney,  Edward  Cody, 
Postmaster,  and  W.  J.  Gallon  were  the  local  committee 
that  acted  on  all  sedition  charges. 

The  Langlade  County  Board  unanimously  approved 
the  action  of  the  Council  of  Defense  and  without  soli- 
citation appropriated  money  to  aid  it.  The  Council 
of  Defense  automatically  ceased  its  work  six  months 
after  armistice  day.  Thirty-four  cases  of  disloyalty 
were  reviewed  by  the  organization.  Apprehension  of 
slackers  was  accomplished  by  the  U.  S.  District  At- 
torney through  the  local  committee. 

FIRST  MEN  TRANSPORTED. 

The  first  men  transported  by  the  Council  of  Defense 
was  November  1,  1917,  when  John  Chadek,  Charles 
Dean,  William  Schatschneider,  Edward  Boerner,  Lad- 
die Bierczynski  and  Earl  Hodgson  joined  a  group  of 
volunteers  at  Rhinelander  and  proceeded  to  Texas. 

HISTORIC  POSTERS. 

The  Council  of  Defense  was  charged  with  register- 
ing every  male  inhabitant  of  draft  age.  Governor  E.  L. 
Philipp  was  anxious  that  Wisconsin  be  first  to  report 
complete  registration.  He  sent  the  following  wire  to 
C.  J.  TeSelle  through  the  State  Council  of  Defense : 
"Every  point  must  be  worked  out  carefully  in  each 


precinct.  Wisconsin  must  be  first" — Melville,  State 
Council  of  Defense. 

The  Langlade  County  Council  then  posted  large 
cards  everywhere  bearing  the  words :  "Work  or  Fight," 
"Register  or  go  to  Jail."  The  State  Historical  Society 
has  one  of  each  of  the  posters  in  its  archives. 

C.  J.  TeSelle  was  appointed  Government  Appeal 
Agent  by  President  Wilson  at  the  opening  of  the  war 
and  was  honorably  discharged  March  31,  1919.  He 
worked  with  the  Board  of  Exemption. 

FOUR-MINUTE  SPEAKERS. 

C.  J.  TeSelle,  T.  W.  Hogan.  J.  W.  Parsons,  W.  J. 
Gallon,  Fred  L.  Berner,  Arthur  Goodrick,  Henry  Hay, 
Robert  M.  Dessureau,  F.  J.  Finucane,  Charles  H. 
Avery,  T.  J.  Reinert,  A.  N.  Whiting,  H.  Morson,  E.  A. 
Morse,  A.  M.  Arveson  and  F.  G.  Swoboda. 

OTHER  WAR  ACTIVITIES. 

Antigo  had  a  Labor  Bureau  in  charge  of  A.  A.  Gar- 
land and  much  was  accomplished  by  it.  The  United 
States  Public  Service  reserve  was  represented  in  Lang- 
lade County  during  the  war  by  Edward  Cody.  A.  M. 
Arveson  had  charge  of  the  Boys'  Working  Bureau. 
Peter  Krier  had  charge  of  the  bureau  for  returning 
soldiers  and  sailors  as  early  as  December,  1918.  The 
Community  Labor  Board  consisted  of  the  following 
members :  Peter  W.  Krier,  Charles  W.  Fish,  Esther 
English,  for  employers;  Fred  W.  Luebke  and  Miss 
Althea  Wade  for  employes.  Peter  Krier  was  examiner 
and  John  H.  Menting,  junior  examiner  of  the  Antigo 
war  employment  office.  County  Fuel  Administrators 
were:  R.  Koebke,  James  Cody  and  C.  H.  Avery  suc- 
cessively. Food  Administrators  for  Langlade  County 
in  order  of  service  were :  Charles  Metcalf ,  M.  T.  Can- 
field,  David  Stewart  and  Mose  A.  Jansen.  F.  J.  Finu- 
cane had  charge  of  the  war  history  work  for  the  Wis- 
consin War  History  Commission  in  Langlade  County. 
The  County  Non-War  Construction  Committee  con- 
sisted of  Endre  Norem  of  Bryant,  Leonard  Freiburger 
and  Mose  Jansen  of  Antigo. 

LEGAL  ADVISORY  BOARD. 

The  Langlade  County  Legal  Advisory  Board  ren- 
dered efficient  service  gratuitous  to  drafted  men  in 
filling  out  questionairres.  The  board  had  the  following 
membership :  Chairman,  Henry  Hay,  Charles  Avery 
and  Arthur  Goodrick.  They  were  often  assisted  by 
other  citizens,  including  members  of  the  bar,  school 
officials  and  ministers. 

BOARD  OF  EXEMPTION— SELECTIVE  SERVICE 
LAW. 

The  Selective  Service  Law,  section  four,  authoriz- 
ed the  creation  of  a  Board  of  Exemption  in  each 
county  in  the  State  or  one  board  for  every  thirty  thou- 
sand inhabitants  in  a  large  city.  The  Board  of  Exemp- 
tion of  Langlade  County  was  appointed  by  President 
Wilson,  membership  consisting  of  the  following:  J.  C. 


72 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


Lewis,  Valentine  P.  Rath,  Miss  Carrie  Collins,  Fred 
Jacobus,  Henry  Hersant,  Edward  F.  Buchen,  Dr.  J.  C. 
Wright  and  F.  J.  Finucane  (deceased). 

The  Board  of  Exemption  had  power  to  hear  and  de- 
termine, subject  to  review,  all  questions  of  exemption 
under  the  Selective  Service  Act  and  all  questions  or 
claims  for  including  or  discharging  individuals  from 
selective  draft,  made  under  rules  and  regulations 
prescribed  by  the  President,  except  for  persons  who, 
under  the  provisions  of  the  Selective  Service  Act,  were 
legally  exempt  because  of  their  being  engaged  in  in- 
dustry or  agriculture  found  necessary  to  the  mainten- 
ance of  military  forces  and  national  interest  during  the 
emergency. 


DRAFT  PLAN  CHANGED. 

The  original  draft  method  was  changed  in  Septem- 
ber, 1917,  and  all  future  registrants  were  required  to 
fill  out  questionairres  in  which  general  questions  rela- 
tive to  physical  fitness,  citizenry,  divinity,  military 
service,  federal  or  municipal  service,  dependency,  re- 
ligious conviction  against  war,  industrial  and  agricul- 
tural occupation  and  numerous  other  matters  were  an- 
swered. 

Draft  ages  were  extended  to  all  youths  who  had  at- 
tained twenty-one  years  of  age  between  June  5,  1918, 
and  August  24,  1918.  Registration  took  place  August 
24,  1918. 


TH1-:  HOARD  OF  EXEMPTION'  OF  LAXGL.XDE  COfXTV. 


J.  C.   Lewis 


Valentine   V.   Katli. 


Miss    Carrie    Collins. 
Fred  Jacobus. 


Henry    Hersant. 

Edward  F'.  nuchcn. 


C.  Wright. 

F.   I.   Finncane. 


The  order  of  military  liability  of  registrants  was 
determined  by  lottery.  The  serial  numbers  of  all  reg- 
istrants drawn  for  service  were  published  in  local  pa- 
pers. Notice  was  given  at  once  to  registrants.  This 
list  was  often  referred  to  as  the  "red  ink  list."  The 
local  Board  of  Exemption  fulfilled  the  purpose  of  the 
Selective  Service  Law  in  leaving  at  home  in  national 
interest,  married  men  who  were  actually  supporting 
families. 


September  12,  1918,  all  Langlade  County  male  in- 
habitants not  in  service  between  the  ages  of  eighteen 
and  forty-five  registered  in  accordance  with  a  state 
executive  proclamation. 

THE  LAST  DRAFT. 

November  11,  1918,  news  and  rumors  were  current 
in  Antigo  that  the  armistice  was  signed.     The  local 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


73 


Board  of  Exemption  was  instructed  to  proceed,  how- 
ever, with  mobilization  of  men  who  were  ordered  to 
embark  for  camps  beginning  with  the  five  day  period 
starting  November  11.  A  telegram,  as  follows,  was  re- 
ceived by  the  local  board :  "Work  of  Local  Boards  will 
proceed  uninterruptedly."  About  four  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  of  November  11,  1918,  a  telegram  was  re- 
ceived at  the  local  exemption  board  cancelling  the 
last  draft  contingent  that  would  in  a  few  hours  have 
been  on  "their  way  to  camp"  had  not  these  words — 
"armistice  signed — cancel  draft,"  been  received. 

The  Exemption  Board  thereupon  gradually  complet- 
ed its  work  in  the  county.  A  total  of  4,579  regis- 
trants were  passed  upon  during  its  existence.  The 
total  registration  on  June  5,  1917,  was  2,024;  June  and 
August,  1918,  total  registration  in  Langlade  County 
was  180  men;  September  12,  1918,  2,555  were  regis- 
tered. Of  those  registered  in  Langlade  County  530 
were  accepted  at  camp,  611  were  chosen  for  general 
service,  38  were  classed  as  remediables,  47  were  plac- 
ed in  limited  service,  51  were  disqualified  from  serv- 
ice, 680  were  granted  deferments  because  of  depen- 
dency claims,  122  because  of  agriculture  claims,  and 
20  because  of  industrial  service. 

VICTORY  FUND. 

The  Langlade  County  Victory  Fund  Campaign,  or- 
ganized to  consolidate  all  war  drives  without  waste 
or  unnecessary  effort,  into  one  great  fund  raising  cam- 
paign, was  launched  July  14,  1918.  The  organization 
perfected  to  raise  this  fund  was  under  the  supervision 
of  the  Council  of  Defense  of  Langlade  County.  Offi- 
cers and  trustees  held  office  for  one  year  and  directed 
the  disbursement  of  funds  upon  orders  approved  by 
the  Executive  Committee.  The  total  amount  collect- 
ed during  the  campaign  was  $33,506.98,  of  which 
$25,000  was  collected  by  the  time  the  armistice  was 
signed.  The  first  subscription  was  $25  by  the  Com- 
munity Welfare  Association.  Charles  W.  Fish  con- 
tributed the  largest  individual  subscription  of  $500. 
With  the  exception  of  $1,349.25  used  for  remodeling 
the  Armory,  $334.02  appropriated  for  the  homecom- 
ing celebration  of  the  Langlade  County  Soldiers, 
$8,771.96  turned  over  to  the  local  Red  Cross  Chapter, 
together  with  a  small  amount  for  current  expenses, 
the  balance  was  turned  over  to  the  state  headquarters 
of  the  United  War  Work  Campaign  at  Milwaukee. 
Organizations  participating  in  the  Victory  Fund  were 
Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Y.  W.  C.  A.,  National  Catholic  War 
Council,  K.  of  C,  Jewish  Welfare  Board,  War  Camp 
Community  Service,  American  Library  Association 
and  Salvation  Army. 

Headquarters  of  the  Victory  Fund  were  in  the  City 
Hall  at  Antigo,  managed  by  Mose  A.  Jansen.  The 
fund  was  capably  supervised  under  the  direction  of 
the  Chairman  and  Town  Committees,  a  complete  ros- 
ter of  which  appears : 

LIST  OF  CHAIRMEN. 

Executive — C.  J.  Te  Sella. 
Publicitj' — S.  Ullman. 


Speakers — Ami  Whiting. 

Industries  and  Employers — G.  K.  Meneely. 

Wards:  1st — Edward  Cody;  2nd — W.  J.  Hammond; 
3rd — Joseph  Tessar;  4th — James  McKenna;  5th — W. 
J.  Zahl ;  6th— H.  E.  Sargent. 

TOWN  COMMITTEES. 

Ackley — John  O'Brien. 
Ainsworth — John  Aird. 
Antigo — Wm.  Brennecke. 
Elcho— G.  W.  Bauer. 
Elton— Wm.  Alft. 
Evergreen — H.  P.  Juetten. 
Langlade — Hugh  St.  Clair. 
Neva — John  Schultz. 
N9rwood — E.  A.  Moss. 
Peck — Wm.  Wegner. 
Polar — Herman  Parson. 
Price — Endre  Norem. 
Rolling — Gustav  Schroeder. 
Summit— North— Alfred  Hurlbut. 
Summit — South — Geo.  E.  King. 
Upham — Wm.  Pfeister. 
Vilas — Geo.  Marshall. 

TOWN  OF  ACKLEY. 

Chairman  of  Town — John  O'Brien. 

District  No.  1— Walter  Heyl;  District  No.  2— John 
Bahr,  Jr.,  District  No.  3 — Art  Goodman;  District  No.  5 
— Frank  Fisher;  District  No.  6 — J.  Schmutsch,  Jr.; 
District  No.  7— Otto  Klessig. 

TOWN  OF  AINSWORTH. 

Chairman  of  Town — John  Aird. 

District  No.  3 — John  Aird;  District  No.  4 — John 
Harvey;  District  No.  5 — C.  A.  Swanson;  District  No. 
6 — Archie  Spencer;  District  No.  7 — E.  S.  Tradewell. 

TOWN  OF  ANTIGO. 

Chairman  of  Town — William  Brennecke. 

District  No.  1— E.  D.  Gould;  District  No.  2— Harry 
Ralph;  District  No.  3 — John  Olson;  District  No.  4 — 
Oscar  Peterson;  District  No.  5 — Claude  Jensen;  Dis- 
trict No.  6— Ed.  Hruska;  District  No.  7— J.  G.  Urness. 

TOWN  OF  ELCHO. 


Chairman  of  Town — G.  W.  Bauer. 
District  No.  1 — William  Fenton;  District  No.  2- 
C.  Maney. 

TOWN  OF  ELTON. 


-W. 


Chairman  of  Town — William  Alft. 

District  No.  1— W.  D.  Cavers;  District  No.  4 — G.  H. 
Shannon;  District  No.  5 — H.  E.  Dempster;  District  No. 
6 — Ray  Kielczewski. 

TOWN  OF  EVERGREEN. 

Chairman  of  Town — H.  P.  Juetten. 

District  No.  1 — M.  E.  Taylor;  District  No.  3 — John 
Thornberry;  District  No.  4 — Geo.  Fraley;  District  No. 
6 — Roland  Combs;  District  No.  7 — Frank  Tabor. 


74 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


TOWN  OF  LANGLADE. 

Chairman  of  Town — Hugh  St.  Clair. 

District  No.  1 — Robert    Braun;     District     No. 
James  Orr;  District  No.  7— Christ  Priem;  District  No. 
8 — Grant  Gilray. 

TOWN  OF  NEVA. 

Chairman  of  Town — John  Schultz. 

District  No.  2— Frank  Chadek;  District  No.  3— Fred 
Honzik;  District  No.  5 — John  Behm;  District  No.  1, 
Jt. — Ernest  Anderson;  District  No.  3,  Jt. — Chas. 
Rusch. 

TOWN  OF  NORWOOD. 

Chairman  of  Town — Ernest  A.  Moss. 

District  No.  1— E.  A.  Moss;  District  No.  2— Geo.  W. 
Geurtz;  District  No.  3 — Walter  Lloyd;  District  No.  4 — 
Henry  Nauman;  District  No.  5 — Earl  Hill;  District  No. 
6 — Norman  Koch. 

TOWN  OF  PECK. 

Chairman  of  Town — William  H.  Wegner. 

District  No.  1 — John  Walker;  District  No.  3 — John 
Wegner;  District  No.  4 — Ludwig  Strum;  District  No. 
6 — Chas.  Jicha;  District  No.  5  Jt.— J.  A.  Barker. 

TOWN  OF  POLAR. 

Chairman  of  Town — Herman  Parsons. 

District  No.  1 — Wm.  Schuman — District  No.  2 — 
Henry  Lade — District  No.  3 — D.  A.  Mader;  District 
No.  4 — A.  Herman;  District  No.  5 — Sam  Reeves;  Dis- 
trict No.  6 — Louis  Peters;  District  No.  7 — J.  J.  Creech. 

TOWN  OF  PRICE. 

Chairman  of  Town — Endre  Norem. 

District  No.  1 — Fred  Hartman;  District  No.  2 — 
Chas.  Dalton;  District  No.  3 — Frank  Furry;  District 
No.  4 — Richard  Moller. 

TOWN  OF  ROLLING. 

Chairman  of  Town — Gustav  Schroeder. 

District  No.  1 — Frank  Schroeder;  District  No.  2 — 
Chas.  Vorass;  District  No.  3 — J.  E.  Monroe;  District 
No.  4 — Joseph  Modi;  District  No.  5 — H.  A.  Carley; 
District  No.  6 — H.  P.  Wheeler. 

TOWN  OF  SUMMIT. 

Chairman  of  Town — Alfred  Hurlbut. 

District  No.  1 — Robert  Cummings;  District  No.  2 — 
Conrad  Simon;  District  No.  3 — George  King;  District 
No.  4— John  Callsen;  District  No.  1  Con.— J.  H.  Wick- 
er. 

Chairman  of  South   Upham  township — Geo.    King. 

TOWN  OF  UPHAM. 

Chairman  of  Town — Wm.  Pheister. 

District  No.  1  Con. — F.  J.  Koszarek;  District  No.  6 
— Emil  Person;  District  No.  7 — Geo.  Quick;  District 
No.  2  Jt.— F.  M.  McKenney. 


TOWN  OF  VILAS. 

Chairman  of  Town — Geo.  Marshall. 

District  No.  1 — Rueben  Hess;  District  No.  2— Frank 
Kobylinski;  District  No.  3;  Chas.  Hubbard;  District 
No.  A — John  Yopes. 

LIBERTY  LOAN  CAMPAIGN. 

Langlade  County  responded  nobly  in  the  Liberty 
Loan  Campaigns  made  during  America's  participation 
in  the  World  War. 

The  total  amount  subscribed  for  in  each  loan  in 
Langlade  County  was  as  follows: 

First    Campaign $138,750.00 

Second   Campaign $434,300.00 

Third  Campaign $425,400.00 

Fourth    Campaign $701,100.00 

Fifth  Campaign $396,950.00 

Total $2,096,500.00 

The  Liberty  Loan  drives  were  directed  by  J.  C. 
Lewis,  Chairman,  who  served  throughout  the  war.  He 
was  assisted  by  Sam  B.  Ullman,  selected  Vice-Chair- 
man, Attorney  A.  N.  Whiting  was  Chairman  of  the 
Speakers'  Bureau.  Fred  L.  Berner  was  in  charge  of 
publicity.  The  women  workers  were  directed  by 
Mrs.  F.  V.  Watson  and  Mrs.  Howard  Bishop. 

The  success  of  the  Liberty  Loan  drives  in  Langlade 
County  was  due  to  the  energetic  activity  of  the  Liberty 
Loan  workers  and  to  the  unflinching  patriotism  of  the 
citizens,  who  from  every  walk  of  life  bought  bonds, 
"until  it  hurt." 

THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS. 

Langlade  County  Chapter,  American  Red  Cross  was 
organized  May  15,  1917,  with  the  following  officers: 
Chairman — Edward  Cody;  Secretary — John  W.  Brown; 
Vice-Chairman — Sam  B.  Ullman;  Treasurer— W.  B. 
McArthur;  Membership — Mrs.  T.  J.  Kavanaugh;  Hos- 
pital Supplies — Mrs.  R.  Koebke ;  Instructions — Miss 
Elizabeth  Cornish;  Motor  Transportation — C.  W.  Van 
Doren;  Finance — 0.  P.  Walch;  Executive  Committee 
—Judge  T.  W.  Hogan,  S.  B.  Ullman,  Walter  Gallon, 
Fred  L.  Berner  and  C.  J.  Te  Selle. 

A  membership  campaign  was  launched  and  proved 
successful.  This  was  followed  by  organization  of  a 
Junior  branch  of  the  local  chapter. 

Langlade  County's  Red  Cross  Chapter  reached  the 
high  mark  of  4,581  members  in  1919  and  had  a  war 
fund  totaling  $14,602.80.  Various  methods  were  tak- 
en to  raise  funds  for  the  Red  Cross,  such  as  a  white 
elephant  sale,  church  benefits,  baseball  games,  bazaars 
and  membership  drives. 

Antigo  young  women  who  served  as  Red  Cross 
nurses  during  the  World  War  were:  Miss  Mable  Les- 
lie, Anna  Burnet,  Miss  Claire  E.  Censky,  Miss  Anna  B. 
Honzik,  Miss  Clara  Hull,  Miss  Paulina  Benishek  and 
Miss  Mary  Kalouner. 

Valuable  local  service  was  performed  by  Mrs.  Wil- 
liam Knott,  Mrs.  S.  B.  Ullman,  Mrs.  F.  V.  Watson, 
Mrs.  Fred  L.  Berner,  Mrs.  M.  S.  Hurless,  Mrs.  E.  R. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


75 


Krause,  Mrs.  W.  J.  Gallon,  Mrs.  E.  A.  Morse,  Mrs.  P. 
W.  Krier,  Mrs.  R.  B.  Johns,  Miss  Margaret  Healy,  Miss 
Ethel  Tillotson,  Miss  Lillian  Censky,  Mrs.  R.  Koebke, 
Mrs.  Edward  Cody,  Mrs.  T.  W.  Hogan,  Mrs.  John  Han- 
ousek,  Mrs.  A.  N.  Whiting,  Mrs.  F.  P.  Kelly,  L.  W. 
Filyes,  Chapter  Chairman  in  1917,  A.  N.  Whiting,  Miss 
Theresa  Driscoll,  Mrs.  T.  J.  Kavanaugh,  all  of  the 
rural  and  city  school  teachers,  Mrs.  L.  L.  Gibbs,  Mrs. 
N.  Holmes,  Mrs.  John  HoUey,  Mrs.  A.  H.  Anderson, 
Mrs.  James  A.  Cody,  Mrs.  Otto  Eshbach,  Mrs.  J.  T. 
Fitzgerald,  Mrs.  Charles  W.  Fish,  Mrs.  Emma  Gully, 
Mrs.  E.  J.  Goodrick,  Miss  Annette  Gleason,  Mrs. 
Mayme  O.  Glassow,  Mrs.  W.  J.  Hammond,  Mrs.  P.  J. 
Millard,  Mrs.  A.  R.  Treat,  Miss  Ella  Kiefer,  Mrs.  M.  H. 
Keenan,  Mrs.  H.  R.  Dawley,  Mrs.  X.  Reese,  Erna 
Bruss,  Mrs.  Frank  P.  Ver  Bryck,  Mrs.  L.  H. 
Abendschein,  Mrs.  John  Burnet,  Mrs.  R.  L.  Denton, 
Mrs.  N.  Granger,  Miss  Grace  Dessureau,  Mrs.  H.  W. 
Jackson,  Mrs.  W.  S.  Jewell,  Mrs.  G.  K.  Meneely,  Mrs. 
John  Mumme,  Miss  Lillian  McGreer,  Mrs.  William 
Rowlinson,  Mrs.  D.  H.  Sargent,  Mrs.  Ella  B.  Wilson, 
Mrs.  William  Dodge,  Mrs.  John  Leykom,  Mrs.  Jule 
Libert,  Mrs.  H.  V.  Mills,  Miss  Nellie  Christenson,  Miss 
Kathleen  Dana,  Miss  Ethel  Gilmore,  Miss  Jane  Weeks, 
Miss  Nora  Wirig,  Miss  Amelia  Sabin,  Miss  Irene  Read- 
er, Miss  Willamine  Riley,  Miss  Jessica  Riley,  Miss 
Mattie  McMillan,  Miss  Ida  Mornson,  Mrs.  Laura 
Granger,  Miss  Catherine  Griswold,  and  Sisters  M.  Hy- 
acinth, M.  Agnello,  M.  Alberta,  M.  Louis  and  M. 
Modesta. 

Officers  of  the  Red  Cross  have  been  re-elected  an- 
nually since  1917.  The  original  officers  remain  in 
charge  of  the  work.  910  members  are  listed  for  1922 
in  the  local  chapter. 

WOMEN  AND  THE  WAR. 

The  great  burden  of  the  war  fell  upon  the  women 
back  at  home.  They  labored  incessantly  while  their 
brothers,  husbands,  sons  and  sweethearts  crossed  the 
Atlantic  and  faced  the  foe  on  the  battlefront.  They 
were  helpful  in  maintaining  here  in  the  county  the 
necessary  morale,  courage  and  sense  of  responsibility 
to  keep  the  home  fires  burning.  The  last  farewell  and 
the  terrible  suspense  did  not  leave  until  November  11, 
1919,  when  the  vigil  ceased.  The  women  of  Lang- 
lade County  played  their  part  at  home  and  in  service. 
Future  generations  should  concede  all  honor  to  them. 

ADOPTING  WAR  ORPHANS. 

Fifty-five  war  orphans  were  adopted  by  Langlade 
County  lodges,  individuals  and  societies.  The  war 
orphans  communicate  with  their  benefactors. 

Y.  M.  C.  A.— K.  of  C. 

Y.  M.  C.  A.  work  in  Langlade  County  during  the 
World  War  was  in  charge  of  E.  H.  Palmer.  Langlade 
County  subscribed  $5,528.28  in  1917  for  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
purposes.  William  Reese  Dixon,  Pastor  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church  served  with  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  from 
February  23,  1918  to  July  3,  1918.  Langlade  County 
was  in  District  No.  3  of  the  ten  Wisconsin  Y.  M.  C.  A. 


districts.  Besides  the  good  work  for  which  the  funds 
were  raised  Langlade  County  citizens  were  educated 
during  the  drive  about  the  "Y"  and  its  merits. 

The  Knights  of  Columbus  contributed  to  the  sup- 
port of  all  patriotic  contributions  among  which  was 
the  K.  of  C.  war  activities.  Antigo  Council  No.  1002, 
K.  of  C.  raised  a  total  of  $4,242.22  prior  to  the  United 
War  Work  Campaign  in  the  fall  of  1918.  Their 
assessment  then  was  $506.00. 

PUBLIC  AND  PAROCHIAL  SCHOOLS. 

The  Public  and  Parochial  schools  of  Langlade  Coun- 
ty demonstrated  their  loyalty  and  patriotism  to  the  na- 
tion during  the  World  War  by  purchasing  Thrift  and 
War  Savings  Stamps,  Liberty  Bonds,  and  in  the  High 
School,  the  classes  adopted  war  orphans.  The  stirring 
patriotic  songs,  the  patriotic  essays  written  by  the 
pupils  and  the  student  four  minute  topics  on  war  cam- 
paigns all  aided  in  maintaining  a  high  morale  at  home. 
The  school  children  played  their  part  in  the  home 
coming  celebrations,  patriotic  demonstrations  and 
parades. 

THE  AMERICAN  LEGION. 

After  the  World  War  the  returned  soldiers  rapidly 
organized  as  did  the  veterans  of  the  Civil  War.  The 
American  Legion  became  permanently  established  in 
Antigo  in  October,  1919.  The  local  post  took  for  its 
name,  "Reese  Sparks  Post,"  in  honor  of  Reese  Sparks, 


REESE   SPARKS 

The   first   Langlade   County   soldier  to  be   killed   in   action 

and  in  whose  honor   Reese  Sparks   Post   No.   3, 

.American   Legion,   was   named. 

the  first  soldier  of  Langlade  County  to  be  killed  in  ac- 
tion in  the  World  War.  First  officers  were  Com- 
mander, Otto  F.  Berner;  Vice-Commander,  Ray  C. 
Dempsey;  Adjutant,  William  Wessa;  Historian,  Harry 
Zuehlke;  Chaplain,  George  Y.  King;  and  Post  Finance 
Officer,  Ben  Bradley. 

Present  officers  of  the  post  are  :  Commander — Edgar 
Van  Gorder;  Vice-Commander — William  Kohl;  Adju- 
tant— E.  E.  Cherf ;  Historian — Ed.  Bernier;  Chaplain — 
William  Wessa;  Post  Finance  Officer — Fred  Kolerus; 
Executive  Committee — Frank  Lynde,  Otto  F.  Berner, 
E.  Koles  and  Harley  Schaefer,  with  Commander,  Vice- 
Commander  and  Adjutant.  Meetings  are  held  at  the 
Adraktas  Hall  every  first  Monday  of  each  month.  The 
local  post  has  a  membership  of  about  one  hundred. 


76 


HISTORY  OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


It  takes  a  prominent  part  in  civic  and  patriotic  affairs 
of  Langlade  County. 

PROSSER  POST  NO.  11,  WORLD  WAR 

VETERANS. 

The  Prosser  Post,  No.  11,  World  War  Veterans,  was 
organized  at  a  meeting  at  the  Ullman  Hall  on  February 
11,  1922.  The  meeting  was  presided  over  by  State 
Commander  Rebenstorff,  who  was  introduced  by  W. 
H.  Fuller.  Officers  chosen  were  :  President,  T.  Cher- 
ek;  Vice-President,  A.  Carlson;  Secretary,  H.  Rich- 
ards; Treasurer,  T.  Mentch;  Sergeant-at-Arms,  Paul 
Chase.      There  were  ten  charter  members. 


WILLIAM   PROSSER 

Veteran  of  the  World  War.  who  was  killed  near  Verdun. 

France.        I'rosser   Post,   World   War   Veterans,   was 

named  in  his  memory. 

Meetings  are  now  held  the  second  and  fourth  Tues- 
days at  Brunswick  Hall.  Ten  members  are  now  in 
the  auxiliary  to  the  post.  The  post  was  named  in 
honor  of  William  J.  Prosser,  son  of  Charles  Prosser, 
Antigo,  Wis.  Prosser,  a  Wagoner,  was  killed  Novem- 
ber 24,  1918,  by  being  crushed  between  two  trucks  near 
Verdun,  France. 

BATTERY  "A"  120th  F.  A. 

Antigo's  post  war  military  unit  is  a  part  of  the  120th 
Field  Artillery,  designated  as  Battery  "A."  It  was 
organized  on  May  8,  1920.  Frank  T.  Lynde  and 
Robert  Dewey  were  Captains  in  succession.  They 
resigned  and  Otto  F.  Berner  was  appointed  Captain, 
resigning  in  May,  1922.  He  was  succeeded  by  First 
Lieutenant  E.  H.  Koles.  Other  officers  are  First 
Lieutenants  George  Edee  and  Alvin  H.  Damm. 

ROSTER  OF  BATTERY  "A,"  120th  FIELD  ARTIL- 
LERY, WISCONSIN  NATIONAL  GUARDS. 

Captain — Edward  H.  Koles. 

1st  Lieutenants — Alvin  H.  Damm,  George  Edee. 

1st  Sergeant — A.  B.  Arnold.  Chief  Mechanic — H. 
Friedeman.  Supply  Sergeant — K.  Moscrip.  Stable 
Sergeant — Dr.  A.  B.  Jorgenson. 


Sergeants — Ted  Dvorak,  Robert  Lynde,  Endre  Nor- 
em,  Donald  McArthur. 

Corporals — Julius  Guenthner,  Earl  Juhl,  James 
Maltby,  Ronald  Moss,  Herbert  O'Donnell,  Charles 
Wall,  Marres  Wirig. 

Buglers — Harold  Porter,  Earl  Tobey. 

Cooks — Lee  Bowens,  J.  Olson. 

Saddlers — Frank  Van  Dyke. 

Horseshoers — Joseph  Fuchs. 

Mechanics — Ray  Ostermeir. 

Privates,  1st  Class — H.  Abel,  R.  Brenner,  A.  Doug- 
las, W.  Fessenden,  Leon  Friede,  E.  Johnson,  E.  Kava- 
naugh,  F.  Lynett,  J.  Maloney,  M.  Quade,  F.  Schlundt, 
F.  Schwartz,  A.  Stroschan,  G.  Wells. 

Privates — Dale  Bauter,  Jos.  Bosacki,  F.  Bures,  B. 
Chapman,  D.  Chapman,  Earl  Day,  Aloysius 
Duquette,  Fred  Duquette,  Francis  Finucane,  G. 
Hopkins,  W.  Hanneman,  C.  Jenesen,  R.  Hand- 
lers,    J.     Kavanaugh,     A.      Keen,      J.      Kielczewski, 


CAPTAIN    EDWARD    IL    KOLES 

In   command   of    Battery   "A."   Langlade   County's 

present    Military   unit. 

N.  Koss,  G.  Leonard,  A.  Lipman,  L.  Magelund,  L. 
Maltby,  H.  Maier,  H.  Merrill,  L.  Miller,  H.  Moss,  Mer- 
ritt  01k,  Earl  Othrow,  W.  Peterson,  F.  Rassman,  J. 
Rennert,  R.  Rynders,  F.  Schoblaski,  W.  Strong,  Clyde 
Teske,  L.  Tradewell,  L.  Weix,  H.  Wright. 

Battery  "A"  has  its  headquarters  at  the  Antigo  Ar- 
mory. The  horses  are  stabled  in  barns  at  the  Lang- 
lade County  fair  grounds. 

MEMORIAL  HOSPITAL. 

At  the  January,  1922  session  of  the  Langlade  County 
Board,  a  committee  consisting  of  Supervisors  L.  A. 
Maier,  J.  W.  Mattek,  and  August  Goeman  was  appoint- 
ed to  confer  with  a  general  citizens  committee  on  the 
feasibility  of  constructing  a  hospital  to  be  dedicated 
as  a  memorial  to  the  soldiers,  sailors  and  marines  of 


HISTORY   Of   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


77 


Langlade  County,  who  served  in  the  World  War.  The 
citizen's  committee  consisted  of  M.  T.  Canfield,  J.  R. 
McQuillan,  Edward  Cody,  R.  Koebke,  and  Mose  A. 
Jansen.  The  County  Board  committee  reported  at  the 
April,  1922  session  and  presented  ways  and  means 
whereby  the  proposed  hospital  could  be  erected.  A 
referendum  vote  will  be  taken  on  the  proposed  hospi- 
tal in  the  1922  November  election,  this  being  the  wish 
of  most  of  the  members  of  the  County  Board. 

MEMORIAL  PARK  AT  POLAR. 

On  July  4,  1919,  a  Soldiers  and  Sailors  Memorial 
Park  was  dedicated  by  the  citizens  of  Polar  to  the 
memory  of  the  men  who  served  from  Langlade  County 
during  the  World  War.  \  Addresses  were  given  at  the 
dedicatory  celebration  by  Ray  C.  Dempsey,  Sam  B. 
Ullman  and  Robert  M.  Dessureau.  Hon.  Edward 
Nordman  acted  as  Chairman.  The  Memorial  Park 
is  at  Mueller's  Lake,  one  of  the  beautiful  and  pict- 
uresque spots  of  northern  Wisconsin.  The  citizens  of 
Polar  and  their  Town  Board  are  credited  for  the 
initiative  taken  in  the  project.  The  Town  Board  pur- 
chased the  property  and  turned  it  over  for  public  use  as 
a  Soldiers  and  Sailors  memorial.  The  Reese  Sparks 
Post,  American  Legion,  held  their  Independence  Day 
Celebration,  July  4,  1921,  at  the  Park.  The  original 
Park  Board  in  charge  of  the  park  project  consisted  of : 
Herman  Parsons,  Herman  Bruening,  Herman  Dallman, 
Charles  Lade,  Charles  Rusch,  John  Groth  and  Richard 
Bloedorn. 

LANGLADE  COUNTY  SOLDIERS  WHO  GAVE 

THEIR  LIVES  FOR  THEIR  COUNTRY 

AND  FLAG. 

"Rest  on  embalmed  and  sainted  dead, 

Dear  as  the  blood  ye  gave; 
No  impious  footstep  here  shall  tread 

The  herbage  of  your  grave." 

That  posterity  may  know,  the  names  and  a  brief 
record  of  Langlade  County  soldiers  who  gave  their 
lives  for  their  country  during  war  are  given  here. 

THE  SPANISH-AMERICAN  WAR. 

Fred  Springstead,  son  of  Mrs.  Jane  Springstead.  He 
was  killed  August  1,  1898,  before  the  entrenchments 
of  Cavite,  P.  I.  Private  Springstead  was  the  first 
soldier  from  Langlade  County  to  die  for  his  country. 

THE  WORLD  WAR. 

MAITLAND  WILLIAMS— Son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C. 
C.  Williams,  Antigo,  Wis.  Private,  Aviation  section. 
Enlisted  in  November,  1917.  Born  April  13,  1896. 
Died  in  discharge  of  duty  while  in  service  of  his  coun- 
try. Buried  at  Antigo,  Wis.  He  was  the  first  of 
Langlade  County's  soldiers  to  die  in  the  World  War. 

REESE  SPARKS— Son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George 
Sparks,  Olive  Hill,  Ky.  Enlisted  June,  1917.  Private 
107th  Trench  Mortar  Battery.  Born  March  10,  1890. 
Left  U.  S.  February  17,  1918.       Killed  in  action  June 


29,  1918,  the  first  Langlade  County  soldier  to  be  killed 
in  action  in  the  World  War. 

ORA  N.  TIDD— Son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elmer  E.  Tidd, 
Neopit,  Wis.  Born  June  29,  1892.  Enlisted  July  18, 
1917.  Left  U.  S.  February  17,  1918.  Died  at  Brest, 
France,  March,  1918.  He  was  the  first  of  the  soldiers 
in  the  107th  Trench  Mortar  Battery  to  die. 

ALFRED  J.  BRIGGS— Son  of  Burt  Briggs,  Antigo, 
Wis.  He  was  born  October  3,  1891.  He  enlisted  July 
22,  1918,  as  a  private,  1st  Class,  in  the  343rd  Infantry, 
86th  Division.  He  died  in  service  overseas,  October 
7,  1918.  He  was  returned  for  burial  to  Antigo,  Wis., 
in  1920. 

JOHN  P.  MORGAN— Son  of  Hamlet  D.  and  Char- 
lotte Church  Morgan,  was  born  in  1897.  He  served  as 
a  private  in  "G"  Co.,  110th  Infantry.  He  was  killed 
in  action  September  27  in  the  famous  Muese-Argonne 
offensive. 

JOHN  NETZELMAN— Private,  1st  Class,  the  son 
of  Mary  Netzelman,  Elcho,  Wis.,  was  born  January 
22,  1889.  He  enlisted  in  Co.  C,  53rd  Machine  Gun 
Battalion,  July  6,  1918.  He  died  at  Camp  Trevis 
Texas,  February  8,  1919. 

ANTON  CARLSON— The  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gust 
Carlson,  now  of  Velvet,  Washington,  was  born  Septem- 
ber 27,  1892.  He  enlisted  May  13,  1918,  in  the  4th 
Trench  Mortar  Battery  "C,"  New  Port  News,  N.  J. 
He  died  October  10,  1918  at  New  Port  News.  He  was 
buried  at  Polar,  Wis.,  October  20,  1918. 

JOSEPH  LEIDHEISL— Son  of  Sebastian  Leidheisl, 
Deerbrook,  Wisconsin,  was  born  September  19,  1889. 
He  enlisted  July  22,  1918,  serving  as  a  private  in  Bat- 
tery E,  36th  Field  Artillery,  9th  Division.  He  died  of 
pneumonia,  January  5,  1919  at  Camp  McClellan,  An- 
niston,  Alabama. 

NOBLE  L.  ANDERSON— The  son  of  Mrs.  Sam 
Nelson,  Antigo,  Wisconsin,  was  born  October  16,  1897. 
He  enlisted  April  1,  1919  as  a  landsman  for  electrician, 
1st  Class,  Radio  School,  U.  S.  Naval  Training  Station, 
R.  I.  He  died  in  service  at  the  U.  S.  Naval  Hospital 
at  Newport,  R.  I.,  Sept.  21,  1918.  Buried  at  Antigo, 
Wis. 

RALPH  KUHL— Son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Andrew  Kuhl, 
Parrish,  Summit  township.  Wis.,  was  born  May  6, 
1894.  He  left  the  U.  S.  in  the  spring  of  1918  as  a 
Wagoner,  Headquarters  Company,  12th  Machine  Gun 
Battalion.  He  had  served  previously  three  years  in 
the  cavalry  on  the  Mexican  border.  He  died  in  a 
hospital  in  France,  September  20,  1918. 

JOSEPH  ALFT— Son  of  John  Alft,  Shawano,  Wis- 
consin, was  born  October  23,  1897.  April  23,  1917,  he 
enlisted  in  Co.  G.  4th  Regiment,  later  the  107th  T.  M. 
B.  He  was  killed  in  the  Alsace-Sector  by  a  prema- 
ture explosion  on  July  8,  1918. 

HARRY  NEWBERRY— Son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John 
Newberry,  was  born  April  13,  1883.  He  saw  service 
from  December  24,  1906  to  November  17,  1918.  He 
was  a  Chief  Gunner's  Mate  four  years  before  his  death, 
December  11,  1918  at  St.  Elizabeth  Hospital. 


78 


HISTORY  OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


PETER  GALUSKI— Son  of  John  Galuski,  Antigo, 
Wis.,  was  born  December  29,  1891.  He  enlisted  May 
25,  1918,  serving  as  a  private  in  Veterinary  Hospital 
No.  9.  He  left  for  overseas,  July  25,  1918.  He  died 
at  St.  Nazairre,  France,  August  30,  1918. 

LELAND  A.  TOLLEFSON— Son  of  Mrs.  A.  M. 
Tollefson,  was  born  May  30,  1894.  He  enlisted  April 
21,  1917,  serving  as  a  Corporal  in  the  107th  Trench 
Mortar  Battery.  He  was  killed  while  delivering  a 
message  to  Brigade  Headquarters  in  the  Chateau- 
Thierry  Sector.  August  17,  1918. 

BRADLEY  HALL— Son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  C.  Hall, 
Antigo  township,  was  born  August  25,  1895.  He  en- 
listed as  a  private  in  the  2nd  Casual  Co.,  A.  S.  S.  C, 
Vancouver  Barracks,  Vancouver,  Washington,  Febru- 
ary 19,  1918.  He  died  April  8,  1918.  He  was  buried 
at  Antigo.  Wis.,  April  15,  1918. 

DONALD  WHITE— Son  of  Mrs.  Emma  White,  of 
Manitowoc,  formerly  of  Antigo,  Wis.  Served  as  a 
Lieutenant.  He  was  killed  in  action  November  1, 
1918,  in  the  noted  Argonne  Forest  fighting. 

ROY  F.  HECKER— The  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J. 
Hecker,  was  born  October  6,  1895.  He  served  as  a 
private,  1st  class,  Co.  M.,  356th  Infantry,  89th  Di- 
vision, enlisting  April  26,  1918.  Participated  in  the 
St.  Mihiel  and  Argonne  Forest  drives.  Was  wound- 
ed with  shrapnel  October  1,  1918.  Died  February 
16,  1919  at  Hospital  No.  11,  St.  Nazairre,  France.  Re- 
turned to  Langlade  County  in  1920  for  burial. 

ANTON  PRASALOWICZ^Son  of  Joseph  Prasa- 
lowicz.  Antigo,  Wis.,  was  born  in  January,  1891.  He 
enlisted  as  a  Private  in  Co.  C,  361st  Infantry,  90th 
Division.  He  left  the  U.  S.  May  22,  1918,  participat- 
ing in  the  Alsace  Sector,  St.  Mihiel  and  Muese-Ar- 
gonne  sections  of  fighting.  He  was  killed  in  action 
October  6,  1918,  in  the  Argonne. 

GEORGE  CROWE— Son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Michael 
F.  Crowe,  Antigo,  Wis.,  was  born  May  27,  1885.  He 
enlisted  in  October,  1917.  He  served  in  the  M.  C, 
Medical  Detachment,  81st  Field  Artillery.  Was  2nd 
Lieutenant,  when  he  died  October  30,  1918  at  Camp 
Mills.    Body  returned  for  burial  to  Antigo,  Wis. 

ALEXANDER  SKIBBA— Son  of  John  Skibba,  Junc- 
tion City,  Wis.,  was  born  January  8,  1889.  He  enlisted 
April  21,  1917,  serving  as  a  Corporal  in  the  107th  T. 
M.  B.  He  participated  in  the  Alsace  Defensive, 
Chateau-Thierry,  Juvigny,  and  Meuse  Argonne  Offen- 
sives. He  died  of  pneumonia  March,  1919,  in  a  hos- 
pital at  Angers,  France. 

LEWIS  M.  WEED— Died  while  overseas. 
JULIUS  LEO  JORDON— Son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Louis  Jordon,  Antigo,  Wis.,  was  born  April  10,  1890. 
He  enlisted  July  22,  1918.  At  the  time  of  his  death 
at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  October  15,  1918,  he  was  a  gas  in- 
spector, attached  to  the  Chemical  Warfare  service. 

FRANK  TOUSCH— Son  of  William  Tousch.  was 
born  May  17,  1896.  He  enlisted  outset  of  war,  serv- 
ing as  a  Corporal,  Headquarters  Co.,  355th  Infantry, 
89th  Division.  He  served  overseas  and  saw  service 
in  the  St.  Mihiel,  Argonne  and  Vosges  defenses.        He 


was  wounded  October  22,  1918  in  the  Argonne  Woods. 
Five  days  later,  October  27th,  1918,  he  died. 

ED.  BOERNER— Son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boerner,  en- 
listed November  27,  1917.  He  served  as  a  Private  in 
the  128th  Hdq.  Infantry,  32nd  Division.  He  was  kill- 
ed in  action  October  23,  1918,  in  the  Argonne  Forest. 
His  remains  were  returned  to  America  and  were  interr- 
ed in  the  Arlington  National  Cemetery.  He  was  one 
of  two  Wisconsin  heroes  to  be  thus  honored  in  death. 

PAUL  J.  MARMES— Son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter 
Marmes,  Antigo,  Wis.,  was  born  February  20,  1892. 
Enlisted  April  30,  1917,  Private,  Co.  G..  26th  U.  S.  In- 
fantry, 1st  Division.  Left  U.  S.  February,  1918. 
Killed  in  action,  July  19,  1918,  Soissons  offensive.  His 
honorable  record  of  service  is  preserved  in  the  archives 
of  the  A.  E.  F.,  signed  by  General  Pershing. 

LEON  PRESTON— Was  born  February  25,  1895. 
Son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sam  Preston,  Pearson,  Wis.  En- 
listed July  22,  1918,  Private,  Co.  H..  343rd  Infantry, 
86th  Division.  Left  the  U.  S.  September,  1918.  Died 
of  pneumonia,  October  7,  1918,  at  Bordeaux,  France. 

WILLIAM  F.  GRIMM— Son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A. 
Grimm,  Antigo,  Wis.,  was  born  February  27,  1890. 
Private,  enlisted  as  Machinist  at  Chicago,  transferred 
to  S.  T.  C.  Carnegie  Institute  of  Music.  Enlisted  July 
15,  1918.  Died  of  pneumonia  October  14,  1918  at 
Pittsburg,  Pa.    Buried  at  Antigo,  Wis. 

LEWIS  SCHRAML— Born  December  4,  1892.  Son 
of  John  Schraml,  Antigo,  Wis.  Enlisted  July  19,  1918, 
as  Cook,  6th  Co.,  M.  G.  Co.,  Tr.  Bn.,  Group  No.  1. 
Died  November  26,  1918  at  Camp  Hancock,  Ga. 

THEODORE  MONNOT— Son  of  Julius  Monnot, 
was  born  at  Pearson,  Wis.,  February  3,  1897.  Enlisted 
Private  Med.  Replac.  Unit  No.  63,  Aug.  26,  1918. 
Left  the  U.  S.  Sept.  23,  1918.  Died  Nov.  18,  1918  at 
Brest,  France.    Returned  to  Antigo  for  burial,  1920. 

WILLIAM  J.  PROSSER— Son  of  Charles  Prosser, 
Antigo,  Wis.  Enlisted  May  2,  1918.  Killed  Nov.  24, 
1918,  being  crushed  betwen  two  trucks  at  Verdun, 
France. 

HAROLD  J.  SARGENT— Son  of  Mrs.  Lily  Sar- 
gent, Antigo,  Wis.,  was  born  September  25,  1895.  He 
left  the  U.  S.  January  10,  1918.  He  was  a  2nd  Lieuten- 
ant, Co.  H.,  369th  Infantry,  93rd  Division.  Lieutenant 
Sargent  participated  in  the  Ypres  and  Argonne  Forest 
battles.  He  was  killed  in  action  September  28,  1918 
in  the  district  of  Champagne.  He  was  decorated  with 
the  Croix  de  Guerre  by  General  Retain,  French  Com- 
mander-in-Chief. 

THOMAS  BALLARD— Son  of  Mrs.  John  Ballard, 
Elton,  Wis.,  was  born  August  12,  1895.  He  enlisted 
as  a  Private  in  the  107th  Trench  Mortar  Battery,  32nd 
Division.  He  was  killed  by  a  premature  explosion 
in  the  Alsace  Sector,  France,  July  8,  1918. 

JOSEPH  HELL— Son  of  Jos.  Hell,  Antigo,  Wis., 
was  born  August  10,  1892.  He  served  as  a  Private 
in  the  Veterinary  Corps,  Hospital  No.  9.  He  left  the 
U.  S.  June  31,  1918.  He  died  at  Base  Hospital  No. 
101,  in  France,  March  19,  1918.  His  body  was  return- 
ed to  Antigo  for  burial. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


79 


FRED  M.  ST.  CLAIR— Son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  M. 
St.  Clair,  Lily,  Wis.,  was  born  November  25,  1891.  He 
enlisted  June  2,  1918,  serving  as  a  Private  in  the  86th 
Division,  234th  Infantry,  Co.  H.  He  died  of  pneu- 
monia at  Bordeaux,  France,  October  15,  1919.  His 
body  was  returned  to  Lily,  Wis. 

PETER  POLAR— Son  of  Mrs.  Pat.  Monray,  Post 
Lake,  Wis.  He  enlisted  in  the  46th  Co.,  Machine  Gun 
Bat,  Camp  Hancock,  Georgia.  He  died  in  France. 
Private  Polar  left  the  U.  S.  in  September,  1918. 

JOHN  FRANK  WENZ— Son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
George  Wenz,  Watersmeet,  Michigan,  was  born  De- 
cember 15,  1899.  He  died  September  21,  1918,  at  the 
Great  Lakes  Naval  Station.  He  was  a  2nd  Class  Sea- 
man, U.  S.  N.  R.  F. 

EMIL  GLEICH — Son  of  John  Gleich,  Deerbrook, 
Wis.  Died  in  France  while  in  the  U.  S.  service.  His 
body  was  returned  to  Neva,  Wis.,  for  burial. 

JOHN  J.  SCHWARTZ— Son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J. 
Schwartz,  Antigo,  Wis.,  was  born  April  28,  1890.  He 
enlisted  June  15,  1918,  serving  as  a  Private  in  Battery 
E,  139th  Field  Artillery,  38th  Division.  He  died  Octo- 
ber 17,  1918,  while  crossing  the  Atlantic  Ocean  on  the 
U.  S.  S.  Cedric  and  was  buried  in  Everton  Cemetery, 
England,  November  4,  1918,  with  full  military  honors. 
Private  Schwartz  left  the  U.  S.  October  5,  1918. 

DANIEL  J.  PLZAK— Seaman,  2nd  Class,  U.  S. 
Navy,  U.  S.  S.  Montona,  was  born  May  20,  1896.  Son 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Daniel  J.  Plzak,  Deerbrook,  Wis.  He 
entered  the  service  May  11,  1917,  and  made  17  trips  to 
France.  He  was  accidently  killed  on  boat  when  Hear- 
ing France  on  the  17th  trip.  His  body  was  returned 
to  Antigo,  Wis.,  for  burial,  1920. 

GLENN  DeBROUX— Son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Michael 
DeBroux,  Phlox,  Wis.,  was  born  February  6,  1895.  He 
enlisted  as  a  Private  in  Co.  G.,  343rd  U.  S.  Infantry. 
He  left  the  U.  S.  September  8,  1918.  He  died  Oct. 
2,  1918  at  Bordeaux,  France. 

FRED  INGALLS— Private  Co.  F.,  344th  Infantry, 
89th  Division,  enlisted  July  22,  1918.  He  was  born 
September  10,  1895,  the  son  of  Frank  Ingalls,  Elm- 
hurst,  Wis.  He  was  reported  missing  in  action  after 
taking  part  in  the  St.  Mihiel  and  the  Argonne  Forest 
combats. 

THOMAS  INGALLS— Another  son  of  Frank  In- 
galls, Elmhurst,  Wis.,  was  born  June  15,  1894.  He 
enlisted  July  22,  1918.  He  was  in  the  same  unit 
as  his  brother,  Fred,  Co.  F.,  344th  Infantry,  89th  Di- 
vision. He  participated  in  the  St.  Mihiel  and  Ar- 
gonne Forest  battles.  He  was  killed  while  fighting 
in  the  Argonne  Forest,  November  2,  1918. 

HONOR  ROLL  WORLD  WAR  VETERANS, 
LANGLADE   COUNTY.^ 

George  Ackerman,  Paul  F.  Adamski,  William  W. 
Adget,  Raymond  J.  Adget,  Ernest  Adraktas,  Anton  H. 
Abler,  Fred  W.  Albright,  Joseph  Alft,  Harry  L.  Aller- 
ton,  Arthur  E.  Altmann,  Noble  L.  Anderson,  Wm.  Le 
Roy  Andrews,  Stanley  Anthony,  Ed.  Antoniewicz,  Al- 


bert B.  Arnold,  Chester  A.  Arrowwood,  Frank  Bahr, 
Jos.  Bahr,  Jr.,  Ralston  Fitch  Baker,  Silas  L.  Baird, 
Thomas  Ballard,  John  Baraniak,  Edward  D.  Bardwell, 
George  J.  Basl,  Oscar  Bauknecht,  Lewis  Bauman, 
Georg  A.  Bates,  William  Baxter,  Edward  L.  Beckman, 
Arnold  F.  Beirsdorf,  C.  S.  Beard,  Otto  Behm,  William 
Behm,  Howard  F.  Beldin,  Frank  Belott,  Edwin  Louis 
Bemis,  Erwin  Bendey,  Julius  Bergman,  Otto  F.  Berner, 
Ralph  H.  Berner,  Williard  J.  Bernier,  Edward  I.  Ber- 
nier,  Bernard  A.  Biersdorf,  James  Blaha,  Edward  Bla- 
ha,  Andrew  Blaha,  Edward  Blahnik,  Jos.  Blahnik,  John 
C.  Blahnik,  E.  L.  Blodgett,  Edward  Blodgett,  Warren 
Blodgett,  Arthur  A.  Bloedorn,  Ed.     Boerner,     Edwin 


PRIV.\TE    EDWARD    BOERNER 
Langlade  County  soldier  killed  in  the  World  War^  whose 
remains  were  buried  in  the  Arlington  National  Ceme- 
tery,  with    high    military    honors.  Private 
Boerner  was  one  of  two  Wisconsin 
heroes  thus  honored. 

Boettcher,  Charles  Bohlman,  Harry  Bohse,  Harold  T. 
Boll,  Elmer  R.  Boll,  Richard  A.  Boll,  Charles  H.  Bon- 
nell,  William  Bonnell,  Daniel  Borneman,  John  Borow- 
cyzk,  David  J.  Borth,  Geo.  G.  Bowen,  Leo  M.  Bowens, 
Benjamin  Bradley,  Arthur  W.  Brandner,  Orlin  G. 
Brandow,  Herman  K.  Brandt,  George  P.  Bremer, 
Charles  Bremer,  Clarence  Bretl,  Alfred  J.  Briggs, 
Arthur  Brittenham,  Robert  S.  Brown,  William  Henry 
Brown,  P.  J.  Brown,  George  Erwin  Brown,  Edgar 
Brown,  George  Brunette,  Willard  R.  Brush,  Lann  Bry- 
ant, Vernon  Buck,  John  L.  Budzenski,  George  E.  Buer- 
ger, John  F.  Burkhart,  Gilbert  W.  Burnet,  George  C. 
Calkins,  Anton  Carlson,  Edward  Calkins,  Ray  L. 
Carpenter,  Fred  Kolerus,  Archie  B.  Carpenter,  Curtis 
Carpenter,  Harley  M.  Cary,  Howard  Case,  Claire  E. 
Censky,  George  W.  Censky,  Chester  Censky,  Jos.  F. 
Chadek,  Frank  Cherek,  Emil  E.  Cherf,  Leo.  F.  Ches- 
lak,  Oscar  Christenson,  Lawrence  Christenson,  Ralph 
L.  Clark,  Benjamine  Clark,  Benjamin  H.  Clark,  Em- 
met V.  Cleary,  Raymond  Walter  Cleary,  Raymond 
Clegg,  Harold  E.  Clough,  Henry  Cornelius,  John  Cor- 

1.  This  list  is  incomplete.  Both  U.  S.  Senators  R.  M.  La  Follete 
and  I.  L.  Lenroot,  as  well  as  Adjutant  General  Orlando  Holway,  de- 
clare that  due  to  failure  of  Congress  to  appropriate  money  to  give  the 
War  Department  an  opportunity  to  complete  this  data  for  each  state, 
it  has  been  neglected. 


80 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


nelius,  Jr.,  Neil  Crowe,  George    Crowe,     George     F. 
Crummey,  Wallace  Curran,  John  Julius  Danberg,  Wal- 
ter  P.   Dallman,  Arthur   C.   Dallman,   Fred   Dallman, 
Daniel  A.  Dallman,  Lyle  A.     Dalton,     Frank     Peter 
Damos,   Elmer    Davenport,    Paul    H.    Dawley,   Ernest 
Dawley,  Arthur  M.  Day,  Leo  T.  Day,  Glenn  De  Broux, 
Wilbert  J.  De  Broux,  Lewis  J.  De  Broux,  Ralph  Dem- 
low,  Ray  C.  Dempsey,  John  Demske,  Bruno  Demske, 
Leo  Des  Jarlais,  Alvin   Devore,    Robert    C.    Dewey, 
Harold  J.  Dewey,  Ed  W.  Dexter,    Bery    Y.    Diercks, 
Noe    Everett    Dillman,    Hermis    F.    Dionne,    Albert 
Dobbs,  Alexander  H.  Dobbs,  Harold  Donohue,  Arthur 
L.  Doolitde,  Andrew  Drabek,  William  J.  Drake,  Bur- 
ton A.  Drake,  Harry  Dresser,  Roy  E.  Drew,  John  A. 
Driscoll,  Vincent  Drzewiecki,  Carl  0.  Duchac,  Frank 
Duchac,  Joseph  V.  Duchac,  Arleigh  L.  Dudley,  Arthur 
F.  Duernberger,  Floyd  T.  Duncan,  Frank  J.  Dvorak, 
Irving   James   Eckles,   Wellington    Edee,    George    C. 
Edee,    Edward    E.    Edick,    William     Jackson     Edick, 
Hirman   G.   Edwards,  Henry    W.    Edwards,    Charles 
Elam,   John    Engels,    Leo    Ensle,    Louis    O.    Evenson, 
George  Falkenhagen,  Walter  Falkenhagen,  James  Far- 
rand,  Charles  F.  Fell,  Joseph  B.  Feil,  Lester  F.  Feller, 
Claude  Fenton,  Frank  D.  Fierst,  Paul  P.  Figel,  Anton 
Figel,  Chester  Filyes,  Stanley  S.  Filyes,  Ernest  Fin- 
ger, Ira  D.  Finley,  Frank  C.  Fischer,    D.    D.    Fish, 
Glenn  H.  Fish,  Lloyd  Fitzgerald,  Joseph  Fleischman, 
George     Fleischman,     Frank     Fleischman,     Richard 
Fleischman,  Evert  Fouch,  Edward  W.  Franzke,  Joseph 
R.  Frederick,  Vernon  H.  Freiburger,  Edward  Friebel, 
Charles  Frimark,  Floyd  Frink,  C.  O.  Fuller,  Edward 
F.  Fultz,  Charles    G.    Furlott,    Clarence    F.    Fuszard, 
— Galarowicz,  Brascue  Gallion,  Claude  Gallion,  Peter 
Galupski,   James   E.   Garvey,    Charles    Gerhke,    Guy 
Gerhke,  Ralph  M.  Getchell,  Frank  J.  Guertz.  James  P. 
Gillis,  John  D.  Gillis,  Joseph  E.  Gillis,  Emil  Gleich, 
Paul  J.  Glugla,  Frank  J.  Glugla,  Leo  J.  Glugla,  Harvey 
E.  Goebel,  Winfred  Goeman,  Roy  Goodwill,  Charles 
T.  Gorham,  Marton  Gossen,  Fred  W.  C.  Grabowsky, 
Walter  Grabowsky,  Joseph  J.  Grail,  Dan  Grant,  Eln^er 
Graves,   Neal   Gray,  Orville    C.    Green,    Harry    Roy 
Green,   Erving   C.   Green,   Harry   Greenberg,  William 
Grigson,  William  F.  Grimm,  Frank  Grossman,  Leo  F. 
Guenthner,  Melvin  E.  Gurnee,  George  W.  Hafemeis- 
ter,  Erwin  Haferbecker,  Andrew  M.  Halminak,  Brad- 
ley Hall,  Wensel  F.  Hallada,  Richard  J.  Hansen,  Wil- 
liam Harbeck,  Henry  C.  Harp,  Guy  Hartman,  Daniel 
D.    Hayes,   Thomas    Hayes,    Lewis    Tillman    Haynei, 
Dan   Healy,   Roy  F.   Hecker,  Elmer  Hecker,  Roy   B. 
Heckert,  Joseph  L.  Helmbrecht,  Joseph  Hell,  Leo.  J. 
Heller,   Charles  Anton   Herold,   Francis   A.    Hersant, 
Joseph  J.  Hersant,  Clarence  F.  Heyse,  John  F.  Hew  itt, 
Ira  R.  Hicks,  Frederick  C.  Higgins,  Arthur  A.  Hoff- 
man, Carl  Hoffman,  Floyd  Hoffman,  James  A.  Hoff- 
man, Frank  Hoffman,  Bernard  R.  Hogan,  Herman  F. 
Hohensee,  Albert  Hohensee,  Gustave   Hohensee,  Ar- 
thur R.  Hoke,  Anna  B.  Honzik,  Fayette  M.  Hopkins, 
Arnold   Hoppe,   Gust   Hoppe,   William   Hoppe,   Clar- 
ence  Horn,   William   Hoppe,   Charles   W.   Hotchkiss, 
William    Howard,    Floyd    Huggins,    William    Robert 
Hughes,  Richard  A,  Hugunin,  James  B.  Hunter,  By- 


ron Hunter,  Earl  W.  Huntoon,  Myron  E.  Hurlbut,  Fran- 
cis X.  Hurley,  Lawrence  Huybers,  Hubert  William 
Huybers,  Edwin  S.  Iceberg,  Thomas  Ingalls,  Fred  In- 
galls,  Edward  Ingalls,  Porter  Ingram,  Charles  0.  Irish, 
Oscar  L.  Isberg,  Russel  Jacobs,  Edmund  Jagla,  Claude 
James,  Reuel  R.  Jamieson,  Guy  E.  Janes,  Harry  F. 
Jewell,  M.  F.  Jewell,  George  A.  Jicha,  James  B.  Jilek, 
Alois  Jirovec,  Palmer  Johnson,  Roy  Johnson,  Dewey 
Johnson,  Roy  O.  Joles,  Howard  M.  Jones,  Julius  Leo 
Jordan,  Thomas  Louis  Jordan,  John  A.  Jordan,  Steve 
S.  Jordan,  Frederick  B.  Joyce,  Edward  P.  Joyce,  Henry 
J.  Juetten,  Lawrence  Juetten,  John  P.  Juetten,  Joseph 
L.  Kakes,  Richard  R.  Kaplanek,  Joseph  Kaplanek,  Leo 
Karniewski,  Elmer  John  Kaufman,  Frank  R.  Kaven, 
William  M.  Keelan,  Bernard  J.  Keelan,  Frank  H.  Keen, 
Louis  F.  Keen,  Harry  J.  Kelly,  John  D.  Kelly,  Otto 
Kelnhofer,  Horace  B.  Kellogg,  Thomas  B.  Kellogg, 
Eugene  Ogden  Kiefer,  Sidney  Kindle,  William  Kirker, 
William  A.  Kitt,  Harry  Klaves,  Fred  Klechwitz,  An- 
drew Kielhofer,  Charles  E.  Klever,  D.  E.  Klever,  Al- 
vin C.  Klever,  Elmer  Kloida,  Karl  E.  Kluge,  Frank  J. 
Kneiszel,  Russell  Stanley  Knight,  Ernest  L.  Knoke, 
William  Morgan  Knott,  Leonard  Koch,  Wiley  Koel- 
zer,  R.  P.  Koenig,  Aurel  Koepenick,  William  H.  Kohl, 
Michael  Kohler,  George  Kolerus,  Edward  H.  Koles, 
Walter  Kozarek,  George  A.  Kotchi,  Frank  J.  Koutnik, 
Raymond  J.  Krall,  Harry  Krall,  Harold  C.  Krall,  Emil 
T.  Krall,  Allen  J.  Kramer,  John  J.  Kramer,  Rudolph  L. 
Kramer,  Charles  J.  Kramer,  Robert  Krueger,  Rhine- 
hart  Krueger,  Frank  W.  Kubiacyzk,  Ralph  Kuhl,  Her- 
man Kunza,  Emil  Kupper,  Ray  M.  La  Belle,  Vernon 
La  Belle,  Walter  H.  Lange,  Raymond  C.  Lang,  Ernest 
J.  Lang,  Ephraim  Langlois,  John  L.  Laughlin,  Harvey 
Lawrence,  Joseph  Leidheisl,  John  Leidheisl,  Charles 
L.  Leidheisl,  Joseph  Leindecker,  James  W.  Leindeck- 
er,  Robert  W.  Leslie,  Cyril  D.  Leslie,  Roy  J.  Leutsker, 
Hugh  L.  Lewis,  Sumner  C.  Leykom,  Eric  M.  Linden, 
Roy  D.  Lindsay,  Francis  S.  Lingle,  Henry  T.  Lins- 
dau,  Erwin  Loche,  William  Dell  Lord,  Leonard  Lyon, 
Frank  T.  Lynde,  Jack  Lytton,  Arthur  Mader,  Clar- 
ence A.  Mader,  Irwin  P.  Maloney,  Gordon  C.  Maloney, 
John  B.  Maltby,  Amos  Maltby,  James  Maly,  Everette 
Maney,  Roscoe  Manning,  Frank  R.  Manthey,  Albert 
S.  Marciniak,  Jr.,  Joseph  W.  Maresch,  Paul  J.  Marmes, 
Peter  Marmes,  George  E.  Martin,  Richard  H.  Mar- 
tiny,  Robert  E.  Mattmiller,  Louis  J.  Maybee,  Bert 
Mayerl,  Neil  McArthur,  Charles  W.  McArthur,  George 
A.  McArthur,  Vivian  Harold  McCandless,  Terrence  A. 
McCann,  Caleb  R.  McDonald,  Charles  R.  McFar- 
lane,  John  N.  McKenna,  Harry  T.  McKinney,  A.  R. 
McMaster,  William  E.  McNamara,  Merton  J.  Mc- 
Namara,  William  McNutt,  Charles  X.  McNutt,  Donald 
A.  McPhail,  Archie  L.  McPhail,  T.  H.  Meinert,  Wil- 
liam H.  Melchert,  Carl  J.  Memminger,  Edwin  Menting, 
William  J.  Menting,  Roy  F.  Messinger,  Thomas  Me- 
taxas,  Pete  Michaels,  Ray  Mikkelson,  Paul  V.  Millard, 
O.  A.  Miller,  Bernard  E.  Miller,  Perie  J.  Miller,  Hiram 
J.  Miner,  William  J.  Mitchell,  Theodore  Monnot,  Reu- 
ben Monroe,  Carl  Monroe,  Frank  William  Montabon, 
John  P.  Morgan,  W.  L.  Morris,  John  F.  Morrissey, 
Gerald    D.    Morrissey,    Clarence    C.    Morse,    Douglas 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


81 


Morson,  Theron  D.  Morson,  Terrill  Fredrick  Morson, 
Fred  Moss,  Kenyon  Moyer,  James  Mucha,  Anson 
Mueller,  George  W.  Mulhern,  Frank  Muraski,  John 
Muraski,  Walter  Muraski,  Edwin  R.  F.  Murphy,  Har- 
old R.  Murphy,  M.  J.  Murphy,  Oscar  D.  Murphy, 
George  C.  Naumann,  Roy  E.  Nelson,  Hugh  B.  Nelson, 
Shirley  Nelson,  John  Netzelman,  William  Netzelman, 
Harry  Newberry,  William  Nightingale,  Arthur  Nonne- 
macher,  Elways  Nonnomacher,  Charles  A.  Norem, 
Harold  E.  Norem,  Mathew  E.  Norem,  Godfrey  Nor- 
man, Frank  Novak,  Alvin  E.  Novak,  W.  H.  New,  Clar- 
ence Nowotny,  Ervin  N.  Nowotny,  Thomas  F.  O'Brien, 
Guy  F.  O'Brien,  Frank  P.  O'Conner,  Harold  01k,  Ar- 
thur Oliver  Omholt,  Rudolph  A.  Opichka,  Frank  C. 
Opichka,  Francis  Othrow,  Frank  Pacer,  Anton  Pacer, 
Fred  L.  Packard,  Dewey  J.  Packard,  Walter  0.  Pack- 
ard, Harry  Page,  William  E.  Page,  John  Pagel,  Wil- 
liam A.  Pagel,  Edwin  E.  Palmer,  Dudley  Palmer,  Noel 
Lester  Parkhill,  Walter  Parson,  John  Patnode,  Gus- 
tave  E.  Patzer,  Ray  F.  Pavlichek,  Albert  F.  Pawlak, 
Arthur  Pennings,  Henry  J.  Pennings,  Albert  Pennings, 
Joseph  Pennings,  John  Pennings,  Luther  Pennington, 
Clarence  Perrott,  Mathew  Person,  Frank  B.  Pesl, 
Frank  Peterlick,  W.  J.  Peters,  Leo  Peters,  Roy  C. 
Peters,  Arthur  G.  Peters,  Edward  Peters,  Eric  Peter- 
son, Joseph  Peterson,  Paul  Peterson,  John  Petrowski, 
Alex  Petrowski,  Paul  F.  Fetters,  Albert  Petzoldt,  Ar- 
chie M.  Piper,  James  Plotz,  Daniel  J.  Plzak,  Peter 
Polar,  Ralph  H.  Polar,  Fred  Poss,  Rusk  P.  Potter, 
Frank  Pozak,  Anton  Prasalowicz,  Leon  Preston,  Ches- 
ter C.  Preston,  Clarence  Price,  Charles  W.  Price, 
Richard  Priem,  W.  J.  Prosser,  Charles  B.  Prosser, 
James  L  Prosser,  Marvin  Prosser,  V.  J.  Quigley,  James 
Ralph,  Walter  Ralph,  Will  M.  Rath.  George  P.  Rath, 
Joseph  Rath,  John  H.  Rath,  Thomas  E.  Rath,  Adrian 
Reynolds,  Henry  T.  Raymark,  John  Raymark,  William 
M.  Raymark,  John  Reader,  George  Reader,  Merritt 
Reader,  John  E.  Reeves,  Walter  Earl  Reeves,  Morris 
E.  Reif,  Wallies  E.  Remington,  Willis  V.  Remington, 
Edward  Remington,  Roy  Remington,  Hiram  W.  Ren- 
fro,  Wensel  Rettinger,  Roy  H.  Rezek,  Anton  0.  Rez- 
nichek,  Amos  Rice,  William  L  Rice,  William  Rief, 
Royal  Riek,  A.  J.  Robinson,  Leonard  Rolo,  Abner  J. 
Rolo,  Arthur  J.  Romeis,  Elmer  Romeis,  Monroe  M. 
Ross,  Peter  Rouman,  Walter  S.  Rowlinson,  Robert 
Rusch,  Patrick  A.  Ryan,  Francis  Ryan,  Francis  A. 
Rynders,  Alvin  A.  Sage,  J.  F.  Sajtar,  Harold  J.  Sar- 
gent, Lawrence  Sargent,  J.  J.  Sazama,  Frank  G. 
Schleinz,  N.  D.  Schleis,  Frank  Schleis,  George  W. 
Schmitz,  Frank  Schoblasky,  W.  J.  Schoenfeldt,  Peter 


Schramke,  Lewis  Schraml,  Floyd  E.  Schroeder,  Tony 
Schuh,  Earl  E.  Schultz,  Arthur  Schuman,  Frank  A. 
Schumitsch,  Edward  J.  Schumitsch,  Robert  Schuster, 
John  R.  Schuttee,  J.  M.  Schutts,  John  J.  Schwartz, 
Frank  Schwartz,  George  Schwentner,  J.  W.  Seis,  Er- 
vin Seipba,  L.  J.  Seller,  Harry  Mills,  Michael  E.  Sen- 
senbrenner,  John  Servi,  Wenzel  J.  Servi,  Mike  Servi, 
John  Shadick,  Harley  W.  Shafer,  Earl  Shanks,  Edgar 
Shanks,  Archie  Shannon,  Vernon  Shannon,  J.  J.  Shim- 
eck,  Edward  Shipek,  George  Siebert,  Walter  Siebert, 
Frank  Simmon,  Michael  Simon,  John  Skarlupka,  Alex 
Skibba,  Frank  Skibba,  Adolph  Skibba,  R.  A.  Skid- 
more,  Mike  Skore,  Albert  Smith,  Samuel  Smith,  John 
Soman,  Harley  A.  Space,  Reese  Sparks,  John  Spearo, 
George  Spencer,  Harvey  G.  Spencer,  John  F.  Spencer, 
R.  W.  Spotzel,  Alex  Spychalla,  Leo  Spychalla,  Robert 
L.  Stanley,  Floyd  Stark,  Fred  M.  St.  Clair,  Edward 
F.  Steber,  James  L.  Steele,  Lyman  A.  Steffen,  George 
Steger,  William  Steinfest,  Robert  Stanley,  Orson 
Stone,  B.  Strasser,  Frank  Strauss,  George  Strobel,  Jr., 
Adam  Strobel,  Herman  Strube,  E.  G.  Struck,  Felix 
Suick,  Paul  Swanson,  Chester  Sweeny,  Earl  L.  Tay- 
lor, Harold  Tenant,  John  C.  Tenant,  Walter  Ludwig 
Teske,  Rudolph  M.  Teske,  Leo  Theisen,  Ray  Thomp- 
son, Ora  N.  Tidd,  Leland  A.  Tollefson,  Fred  Tomany, 
R.  G.  Tourtillotte,  Frank  Tousch,  Adam  Trieglaff, 
James  M.  Tucher,  Grant  J.  Turney,  Jr.,  Bert  M.  Tur- 
ney,  Hiram  Turney,  A.  J.  Urban,  Henry  F.  Vanderhei, 
Joseph  M.  Van  Dyke,  John  Verhaagh,  Frank  Ver- 
haagh,  Henry  L.  Verhasselt,  Herman  Verhasselt, 
Charles  Veselak,  Alfred  Vogel,  John  Volkman,  Ray- 
mond Wagner,  George  C.  Wahleitner,  Carl  L  Walk, 
W.  R.  Walker,  Arthur  R.  Wall,  John  L  Wall,  Bert  M. 
E.  Walters,  F.  J.  Walters,  John  C.  Wanninger,  How- 
ard V.  Warren,  Arthur  A.  Weber,  Elmer  Weedman, 
George  Wellner,  Frank  Weir,  Charles  T.  Weix,  Walter 
A.  Weix,  Alfred  John  Weix,  E.  Welch,  John  Frank 
Wenz,  William  H.  Wessa,  Donald  White,  I.  A.  White, 
Kurt  Weigert,  Samuel  J.  Wierschke,  Benson  L.  Wig- 
derson,  A.  J.  Wildman,  Maitland  Williams,  Warren 
Williams,  Andrew  Williamson,  Edward  G.  Winter,  F. 
D.  Winter,  Emil  Wojan,  Frank  Wojtasiak,  Joseph 
Wojtasiak,  Henry  A.  Wolhaupt,  John  J.  Wright,  Joseph 
Wurzer,  Adolph  Wurzer,  Julius  Wurzer,  Rudolph  Yon- 
kee,  William  N.  Yentz,  Ervin  H.  Yentz,  J.  H.  Yentz, 
Ralph  Yentz,  Thomas  Youngbauer,  Anton  Zelazoski, 
George  A.  Zehner,  Charles  E.  Zehner,  Albert  J.  Zig- 
linski,  Joseph  Zima,  Jr.,  Harry  Zuehlke,  Harry 
Zwicky,  Ira  Zwicky. 


82 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 
Temperance,  Prohibition 

F.  A.  Deleglise,  Radical  Prohibitionist— Dry  Regime  of  1878-1885— The  Fight  of  1886— "The  Blind 
Pig" — Good  Templars  Organize — Anti-Saloon  League  In  Langlade  County — County  Prohibi- 
tionists in  1885 — B.  F.  Dorr  and  Congressman  W.  T.  Price — W.  C.  T.  U. — Antigo  Prohibition 
Club — The  Prohibition  County  Ticket  in  1884 — Order  of  Camels — Moonshine  Era  Since  Vol- 
stead Act — Breweries — Pioneer  Rallies — The  Law  and  Order  Plea. 


Hon.  Francis  A.  Deleglise,  radical  Prohibitionist, 
inaugurated  the  first  Prohibition  movement  in  Lang- 
lade County.  Mr.  Deleglise  was  determined  that  not 
a  drop  of  liquor  should  be  sold  in  the  village  of  An- 
tigo. With  this  view  in  mind  the  first  officers  were 
chosen  at  the  first  election.  The  issue  was  not  "repeal 
the  18th  Amendment"  or  "liberalize  the  Volstead  Act," 
but  was  whether  the  town  board  should  grant  retail 
liquor  licenses  or  not.  Antigo,  as  a  village,  was  offi- 
cially as  dry  as  the  great  Sahara.  Not  until  after  in- 
corporation as  a  city  in  1885  was  the  first  sale  of  liquor 
made  under  a  municipal  license. 

While  Antigo  was  legally  dry  it  was  many  times 
actually  wet  during  the  prohibition  regime  of  1878 
to  1885.  A  blind  pig  operated  on  the  west  bank  of 
the  Spring  Brook  in  a  log  cabin.    Another  way  to  de- 


RLIND    PIG   SALOON    IN    ANTIGO 
Which  operated  on  the  banks  of  Springbrook  in   iss:!. 

feat  the  purpose  of  local  prohibition  was  explained 
by  James  Smolk:  "We  had  a  tent  where  great  ex- 
citement prevailed.  Announcement  was  made  that  a 
bear  would  climb  a  pole  and  then  dance  inside  the 
tent.  A  small  fee  was  charged.  Those  who  were  ad- 
mitted received  a  nip  o'  rye  that  took  away  th' 
glooms."  J.  C.  Lewis  tells  how  the  purpose  and  in- 
tent of  the  prohibition  law  was  defeated  when  a  man 
hid  his  "likker"  in  the  hollow  of  an  old  stump  near 
the  M.  L.  S.  &  W.  depot.  Any  person  desiring  a  drink 
would  place  a  dime  in  a  cup  in  the  stump,  dip  in  a 
pail  for  a  glass  of  spirits  and  "go  about  your  business." 
The  proprietor  was  where  he  could  witness  his  busi- 
ness from  a  distance.  Thus  the  law  was  unjustly  vio- 
lated then  as  it  is  today. 

Retail  liquor  licenses  were  granted  in  the  city  until 


1886.  In  the  spring  election,  April  6,  1886,  the  voters 
declared  for  "No  license."  The  anti-liquor  forces 
fought  valiantly  and  honestly  and  won. 

The  opposition  to  the  temperance  folks  worked 
earnestly  and  fairly  and  did  not  give  up  until  the  vote 
was  counted.  M.  M.  Ross  was  chosen  Mayor.  In 
the  county  election  of  1886  the  Prohibitionists  put  up 
a  complete  ticket.  Not  a  man  was  elected.  The  Re- 
publicans charged  the  Prohibitionists  with  splitting 
their  normal  vote. 

While  Antigo  was  dry  in  1886  Casino  clubs  flour- 
ished. Members  in  good  standing  were  allowed  beer 
and  whisky,  by  applying  at  club  headquarters.  Whisky 
co'ild  also  be  secured  from  druggists.  This  privilege 
was  abused  then  as  it  is  today. 

Antigo  citizens  voted  overwhelmingly  for  license 
in  1887.  From  then  until  the  enactment  of  the  Vol- 
stead Act  the  city  granted  license.  The  question  was 
frequently  voted  on  since  1887,  but  each  time  went 
down  to  defeat.  Many  old  saloon  keepers  went  out 
of  business  when  the  Volstead  Act  was  passed.  The 
annual  municipal  license  for  operating  near  beer  par- 
lors in  Antigo  is  $100. 

The  Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Society  was 
organized  in  Antigo  in  1883.  It  became  a  force  in 
the  little  community.  Years  later  Friendship  Union, 
W.  C.  T.  U.,  was  reorganized.    It  is  still  intact. 

The  Anti-Saloon  League,  active  temperance  organ- 
ization, still  fights  on.  It  opposes  attempts  to  liber- 
alize the  Volstead  Act.  The  League  was  a  force  in 
Antigo  before  Prohibition  became  law.  Its  chief  pur- 
pose was  to  secure  restrictive  temperance  legislation. 

F.  C.  Fuller  was  the  leader  of  the  Langlade  County 
prohibitionists  in  1885  .  The  party  opposed  granting 
license  and  sought  to  defeat  anti-prohibitionist  can- 
didates. They  had  a  complete  ticket  in  the  county 
field. 

Antigo  Lodge  No.  11,  Good  Templars,  did  much  in 
pioneer  days  to  create  favorable  public  sentiment  for 
prohibition.  D.  S.  Olmsted,  F.  C.  Fuller,  Gus  Lind, 
and  A.  B.  Hanks  were  its  leaders. 

November  13,  1883,  Rev.  Father  Cleary,  noted  Pro- 
hibition speaker,  addressed  a  large  crowd  at  the  coun- 
ty court  house.  Father  Cleary  then  organized  a 
branch  of  the  Catholic  Total  Abstinence  Society  of 
America. 

The  first  members  were:  Hon  F.  A.  Deleglise,  Mike 
Hafner,  John  McGahn,  John  Hafner,  Joseph,  John, 
and  Mike  Kennedy  and  Marvin  Maloney. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


83 


B.  F.  Dorr  was  probably  a  more  ardent  Prohibition- 
ist than  Hon.  F.  A.  Deleglise.  He  energetically  es- 
poused the  cause  of  temperance  at  all  times,  contri- 
buting many  articles  to  the  press.  Responding  to  a 
letter  from  B.  F.  Dorr,  Congressman  W.  T.  Price  of 
Black  River  Falls  said :  "The  whole  fight,  Mr.  Dorr, 
is  an  uphill  one.  We  shall  never  succeed  in  destroy- 
ing the  traffic,  but  we  can,  and  ought  to  lessen  its 
baneful  influence."  Almost  a  half  century  has  pass- 
ed since  then  and  National  Prohibition  has  become 
the  law  of  the  land. 

On  April  2,  1888,  a  Prohibition  Club  was  organiz- 
ed in  Antigo.  W.  R.  Brown,  state  organizer,  presided 
at  the  first  meeting,  which  initiated  42  members.  Of- 
ficers were:  President,  R.  C.  Dresser;  Vice  President, 
W.  D.  Badger;  Secretary,  Julia  Bliss;  Treasurer,  E.  P. 
Bridgeman. 

TEMPERANCE  TICKET  OF  1884. 

During  the  Blaine-Cleveland  presidential  campaign 
of  1884  Langlade  County  temperance  leaders  put  the 
following  ticket  in  the  field:  Treasurer,  B.  F.  Dorr; 
Sheriff,  John  Goodwin;  District  Attorney,  J.  H.  Tre- 
ver;  County  Supt.  of  Schools,  L.  K.  Strong;  County 
Clerk,  George  Clithero;  Register  of  Deeds,  M.  M. 
Ross;  Clerk  of  Court,  F.  C.  Fuller;  Surveyor,  G.  W. 
Bliss;  Coroner,  John  F.  Saxe.  The  ticket  was  some- 
times referred  to  as  the  "Third  Party"  ticket.  J.  H. 
Trever  and  M.  M.  Ross,  successful  nominees,  were 
the  only  two  on  the  ticket  elected. 

The  Langlade  County  Prohibitionists  have  always 
been  active  at  the  polls,  ever  striving  to  elect  men, 
who  were  proven  leaders  and  supporters  of  the  tem- 
prance  movement. 

THE  ORDER  OF  CAMELS. 

In  1920  the  Grand  Caravan,  Order  of  Camels,  an 
anti-Prohibition  order,  sent  A.  R.  Diegle,  Grand  Sec- 
retary, of  Milwaukee,  to  Antigo.  He  installed  tem- 
porary officers  of  the  Antigo  Order  of  Camels.  The 
first  and  only  meeting  was  held  in  Skibba  Hall. 

THE  MOONSHINE  ERA. 

Much  was  said  before  Prohibition  relative  to  the 
evil  environment  of  a  saloon.  All  of  that  doubled 
cannot  lessen  the  pernicious  damage  that  the  illicit 
traffic  in  moonshine,  "sour  mash,"  has  accomplished. 
This  home-made  product  has  ruined  many  men,  caus- 
ed the  death  of  many  and  has  made  law  breakers  out 
of  those  who  manufacture  it.  It  has  brought  disgrace 
and  sadness  into  many  a  good  home. 

December  24,  1921,  three  federal  Prohibition  offi- 
cers with  Deputy  Sheriff  Harry  Morse,  went  to  Elton 
where  Julius  and  Joseph  Wurzer  were  alleged  to  have 
operated  a  moonshine  still.  The  officers  surprised  the 
Wurzer  brothers  and  Luther  Pennington  in  a  shack. 
In  the  commotion  Julius  Wurzer  was  killed.  The  of- 
ficers were  held  on  a  charge  of  manslaughter.     The 


case   attracted   national   attention.      It   is   now    in   the 
hands  of  the  U.  S.  Eastern  District  Federal  Court. 

RESPECT  THE  LAW. 

The  many  temperance  organizations  mentioned  in 
this  chapter  have  had  their  influence  in  not  only  turn- 
ing men  from  the  whisky  glass,  but  they  have  also 
created  a  public  sentiment  in  favor  of  civic  virtue, 
cleanliness  and  sobriety  in  living — all  of  which  the 
saloon  did  not  aid.  The  temperance  cause  grew  as  it 
was  based  upon  a  noble  purpose.  The  traffic  that 
brought  distress  and  degradation  to  thousands  of  peo- 
ple has  been  legally  banished. 

In  this  age  we  need  organizations  that  will  uphold 
law  as  it  exists — men  and  women  with  red-blooded 
Americanism — those  who  are  ready  to  stand  by  and 
defend  a  law  and  condemn  the  citizen  who  does  not. 
Dissatisfaction  with  a  law  can  be  settled  by  the  elec- 
torate through  the  ballot  box,  not  through  disrespect 
and  defiance. 

PIONEER  TEMPERANCE  RALLIES. 

March  22,  1883,  Theo.  D.  Kanouse,  Appleton, 
Wis.,  spoke  at  the  court  house.  No  license  advocates 
held  a  jubilee. 

November  13,  1883,  Rev.  Fr.  Cleary,  noted  Catho- 
lic Abstinence  Leader,  spoke  at  court  house. 

October  15,  1882,  Hon.  H.  H.  Woodmance,  Prohi- 
bition candidate  for  Congress,  spoke  at  court  house. 

October  27,  1890,  Hon.  B.  E.  Van  Keuren  of  Osh- 
kosh.  Prohibition  candidate  for  Attorney  General, 
spoke  in  Antigo. 

The  last  speech  given  by  a  Prohibition  leader  be- 
fore the  18th  amendment  was  made  by  John  Strange 
of  Neenah,  ex-Lieut,  governor.  He  spoke  in  the  An- 
tigo Opera  House  before  a  fair  sized  crowd. 

THE  ANTIGO  BREWERY. 

The  Antigo  Brewing  Company  was  organized  Sep- 
tember 25,  1896,  by  Albert  Koles,  Frank  Hanzel, 
Frank  Riendl,  Albert  Fisch,  Thomas  Schmitz,  John 
Kestly,  William  Krier,  Joseph  Hoffman,  Max  Hoff- 
man and  A.  Jenss.  The  plant  and  office  were  located 
on  south  Edison  street.  Near  beer  was  manufactured 
for  a  while  after  the  18th  amendment  was  passed. 

THE  CITIZENS  BREWERY. 

The  Citizens  Brewing  Company  was  incorporated 
September  15,  1899.  John  Sipek,  Wencel  Sipek, 
Frank  Boyanowski,  and  Frank  Cherf  were  the  incor- 
porators. John  Benishek  was  one  of  the 
active  men  in  this  industry  also.  Articles 
of  incorporation  were  amended  June  6,  1907, 
and  the  capital  stock  was  increased  from 
$25,000  to  $100,000.  Chris  Wunderlich,  deceased, 
was  then  president  of  the  concern.  May  27,  1913,  the 
name  was  changed  to  the  Great  Northern  Manufac- 
turing Company.  The  plant  was  located  on  Superior 
street  north  of  the  office.  The  office  was  at  the  inter- 
section of  Sixth  avenue  and  Superior  street. 


84 


HISTORY  OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 
Meteorology 

Coldest    Season — Dryest    Season — Warmest    Season — Meteoric  Phenomena — Weather  Observers 
Cyclones  of  1881-1898-1922— Floods— Fires,  1880  to  1922. 


The  Elfreth  family,  Quakers  of  Pennsylvania,  pre- 
served a  diary  indicating  the  coldest  weather  since 
1790  to  be  in  1812.  The  summer  of  1816  is  the  cold- 
est on  record.  Killing  frosts  were  prevalent  each 
month.  June  16,  1816,  a  shepherd  searched  for  his 
sheep  in  a  blinding  Vermont  snow  storm.  The  most 
appalling  blizzard  on  record  in  the  United  States  was 
in  February,  1817. 

The  coldest  winter  in  Langlade  County  was  that  of 
1917-1918.  Winter  set  in  early  in  November  and  zero 
weather  prevailed  until  April.  The  winter  of  1899 
was  a  hard  one.  Pioneers  still  living  can  recall  days 
of  biting  cold  then.  Years  before,  in  1876,  the  ear- 
ly settlers  on  the  Wolf  River  recall  the  long  winter 
siege  when  mail  carriers  found  it  difficult  to  make 
their  "stretches"  between  the  stopping  places. 

The  coldest  day  on  record  in  Antigo  was  February 
10,  1899,  when  the  thermometer  registered  40  degrees 
below  zero.  Woodsmen,  trappers,  and  Indians  de- 
clared it  was  dangerous  to  attempt  outside  work  that 
day.  The  fall  of  temperature  that  day  is  without  pre- 
cedent in  Langlade  County. 

The  summer  of  1915  is  the  coldest  on  record  in 
Langlade   County.  Potatoes,    corn   and   vegetables 

were  frozen,  especially  in  the  lowlands.  The  sum- 
mer of  1863  was  very  cold,  but  as  Langlade  Coun- 
ty had  but  few  settlers  then,  every  one  of  whom  were 
sturdy  prospectors,  adventurers  and  land  hunters,  lit- 
tle is  known  of  it.  The  settlers  were :  Hi  Polar,  Dan 
Gagen,  Henry  Strauss,  Louis  Motzfeldt,  "Old  Dutch 
Frank,"  George  Gardner,  and  W.  L.  Ackley. 

The  winter  of  1920-21  was  the  warmest  winter  in 
the  county.  There  was  little  snow  and  automobiles 
ran  the  year  round.  Very  little  ice  was  cut  and  a 
shortage  resulted  in  the  summer  of  1921. 

Robins,  meadow  larks,  horned  larks  and  swallows 
made  their  appearance  unusually  early.  Farmers  be- 
gan breaking  ground  in  March.  The  snow  was  light 
the  entire  year,  about  one  foot  deep. 

The  hottest  summer  recorded  in  Langlade  County 
was  that  of  1921  when  the  temperature  was  95.7  de- 
grees Fahrenheit. 

The  longest  drouth  probably  occurred  in  1862. 
However,  official  records  show  the  year  1894  as  the 
dryest  for  Langlade  County.  The  spring  of  1894  was 
"early"  and  the  summer  was  very  hot.  There  was  a 
severe  drouth  in  1856,  but  as  the  county  had  but  one 
white  settler  within  its  boundary  then  we  learn  noth- 
ing of  it. 

Antigo  is  situated  in  what  is  known  as  Twin  Valley, 
with  Springbrook  running  in  a  southeasterly  direction 
and  the  Eau  Claire  River  four  miles  west.     Spring- 


brook,  while  small,  has  caused  considerable  damage 
as  a  result  of  overflowing  its  banks.  This  is  particu- 
larly true  at  the  dam  to  the  rear  of  the  Neff-Roberts 
flat  on  Fifth  avenue,  where  in  the  summer  of  1921 
many  families  were  forced  from  their  homes  by  the 
rapid  rise  of  the  little  brook. 

For  many  spring  seasons,  not  including  1922,  but 
more  notably  the  spring  of  1913,  many  portions  of 
Antigo  were  inundated  when  storm  sewers  were  un- 
able to  carry  off  flood  waters.  Minola  street,  a  part 
of  the  Third  ward.  Fourth  ward,  and  the  north  part 
of  the  city  were  affected.  It  was  not  uncommon  to 
visit  a  neighbor  by  boat  in  the  regions  flooded.  Resi- 
dences were  isolated.  Often  the  fire  department  was 
enlisted  into  service  to  aid  the  beleaguered  residents. 
Rainfall  was  no  greater  during  these  years  than  nor- 
mal. Floods  are  sure  to  occur  even  where  storm  sew- 
ers, tiling,  and  ditching  has  been  installed  to  facili- 
tate in  the  discharge  of  water. 

W.  P.  Stewart,  meteorologist,  in  charge  of  the  U. 
S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture  weather  bureau  at  Milwaukee, 
in  response  to  a  series  of  questions  regarding  the  cli- 
matological  history  of  Antigo,  says: 

"With  reference  to  your  inquiries  regarding  the  sta- 
tion at  Antigo : 

1 — The  Weather  Bureau  does  not  maintain  an  office 
at  Antigo,  but  we  have  had  an  observer  there  since 
May,  1894,  who  has  kept  a  record  for  us  of  the  tem- 
perature, rainfall,  and  weather  conditions.  Our  first 
cooperative  observer  at  Antigo  was  Mr.  John  McGreer. 
Mr.  E.  C.  Larzelere,  our  present  observer,  has  kept 
records  there  since  May,  1905. 

2 — The  average  annual  rainfall  for  Antigo  is  30.02 
inches. 

3 — The  greatest  24-hour  rainfall,  3.70  in.,  July  23, 
1912. 

4 — The  wettest  year,  37.94  in.,  in  1919. 

5 — The  mean  annual  temperature,  coldest  year,  38.7, 
1917. 

6 — The  mean  annual  temperature  for  the  warmest 
year,  45.7,  1921. 

7 — The  warmest  day  on  record,  100  degrees,  July 
2.  1911. 

Respectfully, 
Signed : 

W.  P.  STEWART, 

Meteorologist. 
March  22,  1922." 

In  1883,  L.  W.  Bliss  was  an  unofficial  weather  ob- 
server in  Antigo.  The  winter  of  1922,  when  in  Febru- 
ary one  of  the  worst  snow  storms  and  blizzards  tied 
up  traffic  for  many  days,  will  long  be  remembered. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


85 


It  was  the  worst  tie-up  in  the  history  of  the  Ashland 
Division,  C.  &  N.  W.  Ry. 

THE  CYCLONE  OF  1881. 

In  September,  1881,  a  cyclone  struck  the  south- 
eastern part  of  the  county  and  severe  damage  result- 
ed. Trees  were  uprooted  in  the  village  of  Antigo. 
The  G.  W.  Latta  residence  was  damaged.  No  lives 
were  lost. 

THE  DESTRUCTIVE  CYCLONE  OF  1898. 

At  7  o'clock  Wednesday  evening,  May  18,  1898,  a 
cyclone  struck  the  northwestern  part  of  Antigo,  caus- 
ing the  loss  of  three  lives  and  approximately  $35,000 
worth  of  damage  to  property.  Those  killed  were 
Frank  Billings,  who  had  a  box  car  thrown  against  him; 
Goldie  Sheldon,  7-year-old  daughter  of  Homer  Shel- 


house  and  contents  damaged,  I.  E.  Buckman, 
A.  Goldberg,  G.  Parker,  Will  Botrell,  Dr.  H. 
V.  Mills,  Mrs.  Harris,  P.  J.  Millard,  C.  O.  Marsh, 
W.  Kenyon,  Allan  Taylor,  Al  Billings,  L.  K.  Strong, 
H.  C.  Mumphrey,  J.  H.  Trever,  Ralph  Briggs,  Joseph 
Bainiaj,  Bruno  Krowlinski,  Alex  McMillan,  Ed  Gra- 
bowsky,  Wm.  Heckman,  Edward  Boettcher,  Frank 
Valnets,  Mike  and  Frank  Lynski,  Joseph  Hoffman, 
August  Reige,  Joseph  Holle,  Mrs.  Hayes,  A.  Kolte, 
J.  A.  Weaver,  T.  Bradnock,  August  Frieburger,  and 
H.  Ward  all  suffered  either  residence,  barn,  or  house- 
hold damages,  some  both  household  and  residence 
damages.  The  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railway  suf- 
fered considerably  also. 

Many  farmhouses,  barns,  and  sheds  were  destroyed 
in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county.  Trees  were  up- 
rooted and  broken  off  and  forests  were  laid  low.  The 
path  of  the  cyclone  was  small,  but  very  destructive. 


THE  PATH  OF  THE  CYCLONE  OF  MAY  18,  1898. 
The  street  shown  is  Martin  Avenue  looking  from  the  C.  &  N.  W.  railroad  track.  The  ruins  in  the 
foreground  at  the  left  shows  what  the  cyclone  did  to  the  Whitney  residence.  The  Conway  residence, 
corner  of  Martin  Avenue  and  Clermont  Street  is  shown  at  the  left  also.  It  was  badly  damaged.  Just 
north  of  it  the  residence  of  Dr.  Fetters  was  located.  It  was  also  badl}'  damaged.  The  residence  of 
H.  B.  Kellogg  can  be  seen  in  the  center  of  the  picture.  The  windows  were  broken  and  this  residence 
suffered  slight  damages  otherwise.  John  E.  Martin,  then  District  Attorney,  lived  on  Martin  Avenue. 
The  ruins  of  his  residence  are  in  the  rear  to  the  right  of  the  picture.  If  one  looks  close,  the  small  space 
from  out  of  which  the  Alartin  family  crawled  can  be  seen.  Timbers  prevented  the  roof  from  crushing 
them.       There  were  other  sections  of  Antigo  where   the  cyclone  did  equally  serious  damage. 


don,  and  Ignatz  Barr,  struck  while  standing  in  front 
of  the  F.  Ringsmith  residence.  Seriously  injured 
were:  Mrs.  Alex  McMillan  and  daughter,  Mamie,  Mrs. 
J.  Kolte,  Mrs.  Martin  Lynski,  Dr.  Frank  I.  Drake, 
Mrs.  Francis  Kaplanek,  and  Mrs.  H.  H.  Ward. 

Property  damage  was  as  follows:  Electric  light  plant, 
water  works  power  house,  Isaac  Cople  residence,  John 
E.  Martin  residence,  and  E.  Houck  residence  demol- 
ished, household  goods  of  Frank  Newberry  damaged, 
L.  C.  Bemis  residence  damaged,  F.  Ringsmith  resi- 
dence demolished.  Homer  Sheldon  household  goods 
damaged,  Mrs.  A.  Tollefson  residence  and  household 
goods  damaged,  Joseph  Steidle,  two  houes  damaged, 
Gus  Urbank  household  goods  damaged,  L.  Frederick- 
son  house  demolished,  Horace  Kellogg  house  damag- 
ed, W.  Putnam  residence  damaged,  Henry  Feindeisen 
house  moved  off  foundation,  C.  H.  Fetters  residence 
damaged,  A.  C.  Conway,  W.  Whitney,  Olaf  Gold- 
strand,  and  C.  Hungerford  residences  damag- 
ed   or    they    were    demolished.  George     Bemis 


Mayor  Dailey  immediately  issued  a  proclamation 
calling  upon  the  Antigo  citizens  to  aid  the  suffering 
and  homeless.  A  Citizens'  Relief  Committee  was  ap- 
pointed. The  Jones  Lumber  Company  of  Elcho  donat- 
ed $50  for  relief.  Food,  clothing  and  financial  aid  was 
distributed  fast.  The  city  council  appropriated  $1,000 
for  relief  purposes  and  offers  for  assistance  came 
pouring  in  from  every  section  to  the  sorrowing  and 
stricken  community.  Never  before  or  since  has  Lang- 
lade County  witnessed  such  a  holocaust. 

THE  TORNADO  OF  JUNE  16,  1922. 

At  2.20  p.  m.  Friday  afternoon,  June  16,  1922,  a 
destructive  tornado  entered  Langlade  County  from  the 
southeast  corner,  causing  thousands  of  dollars  of  dam- 
age, endangering  the  lives  of  scores  of  people  and 
creating  havoc  that  will  be  discussed  by  generations 
to  come.  The  path  was  almost  the  same  as  that  of 
the  tornado  of  May  18,  1898.  In  fact  the  basement 
of  a  house  (just  opposite  the  John  Bahr,  Jr.,  farm)   is 


86 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


but  a  few  feet  from  where  the  tornado  did  much  of 
its  destruction. 

The  George  Wachal  farm  lost  heavy.  Two  barns,  a 
granary,  a  machine  shed  and  minor  buildings  were  des- 
troyed.      The  estimated  loss  was  $10,000. 

Felix  Adamski  had  a  barn,  valued  at  $5,000  des- 
troyed. His  silo,  the  windows  of  his  residence  and 
many  shade  trees  were  destroyed. 

The  farm  of  Charles  Kloida  was  a  heavy  sufferer. 
The  great  barns,  machinery  sheds,  silo  and  other  build- 
ings, implements  and  other  property  were  destroyed. 
The  residence  of  Mr.  Kloida  was  also  badly  damaged. 
The  family  went  into  the  basement  just  before  the 
storm  approached. 

The  brick  veneer  residence,  the  barn,  silo  and  ma- 
chinery buildings  of  Anton  Zima  were  levelled  to  the 
ground.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zima  were  in  Antigo  shopping 
when  the  storm  came  up. 


zens.  Homes  and  business  properties  were  laid  low. 
A  strong  southwest  wind  swept  the  city  during  the 
day.  The  fire  department  was  called  twice  to  extin- 
guish a  fire  in  a  swamp  along  the  Weed  mill  spur 
track.  The  volunteers  were  unable  to  cope  with  the 
second  fire  as  it  gained  considerable  headway.  Weed's 
saw  and  planing  mills  were  ignited.  Burning  cinders 
and  shingles  were  blown  through  the  air  and  landed 
on  other  buildings.  Dwelling  houses  were  destroyed, 
one  after  another.  Many  families  managed  to  save 
their  household  contents,  however.  Losses  were  sus- 
tained by  the  following:  J.  H.  Weed's  mill— $20,000 
to  $30,000.  Residences  destroyed  with  losses  rang- 
ing from  $200  to  $3,000  were  those  of :  A.  W.  Cook, 
James  Weaver,  0.  H.  Williams,  Rufus  Payne,  Mrs.  L. 
E.  McCorckle,  Fred  Able,  Jule  Grant,  Wm.  Oldenburg, 
Fred  McBain,  Caleb  Morse,  E.  D.  Davis,  T.  H.  Ward, 
Mike  and  Jos.  Servi,  L.  Berner,  Max  Kalouner,  Mar- 


W  RECKED  i-AR.M  HU.ME  OF  AXTOX  ZIMA 
On    Highway   (54,  a   short   distance   from   Fifth   .-Xveiiue,   .\ntigo.   Wis. 
This  was  one  of  the  four  farms  completely  or  partially  destroyed 
by  the  tornado,  June  K!,  1022. 


The  granary  and  the  barn  of  John  Bahr,  Jr.,  suffered 
heavily.  The  roof  of  the  granary  was  torn  away. 
Barn  doors  were  torn  from  their  hinges. 

Live  stock  belonging  to  Charles  Kloida,  Joe  Herman, 
Joe  Koudelka,  Charles  Kloida  and  Anton  Zima  was 
either  killed  or  injured. 

Telephone  poles  in  the  path  of  the  tornado  were 
pulled  from  the  ground  for  a  distance  of  about  one- 
half  a  mile.  The  tract  of  maple  owned  by  John  Bahr, 
Jr.,  was  torn  to  splinters. 

Many  Antigo  people  watched  the  white  "twister"  as 
it  approached.  None  realized  that  it  was  but  a  mile 
from  Fifth  Avenue,  Antigo's  main  street.  The  scene 
of  the  tornado  was  visited  by  thousands  of  people  who 
drove  through  the  muddy  roads  in  the  rain.  It  was 
an  incident  in  the  history  of  Langlade  County  that  will 
be  talked  of  for  many  years  to  come. 

THE  WORST  FIRE  IN  ANTIGO  HISTORY. 

The  most  appalling  fire  in  the  history  of  Antigo  oc- 
curred on  the  afternoon  of  May  20,  1893,  and  losses  to 
the  extent  of  $75,000  were  sustained  by  scores  of  citi- 


tln  Crash,  Mrs.  Jos.  Grignon,  Rube  Paint,  H.  Schuer, 
A.  J.  Webley  and  David  Clements,  ($2,000  worth  of 
wood,  barn  and  household  goods).  The  Prosser  Livery 
Company  lost  sleighs,  cutters  and  livery  apparatus. 

Many  had  just  time  to  flee  from  their  homes.  One 
old  lady  fled  carrying  a  hen  in  each  hand,  all  she  could 
save  from  her  premises.  Another  lady  fled  with  a 
curtain  pole  and  two  pups.  Sewing  machines,  bureaus, 
organs  and  choice  pieces  of  furniture  were  carried  into 
the  streets  only  to  be  burned  to  ashes. 

ANOTHER  BIG  FIRE. 
January  5,  1893,  a  serious  fire  occurred  when  the  M. 
Binder  saloon,  C.  B.  McDonald  store,  0.  H.  P.  AUerton 
store,  I.  Silbar  store  and  contents  were  ruined  or  com- 
pletely destroyed.  Origin  of  the  fire  is  unknown. 
The  total  estimated  loss  was  approximately  $20,000. 
In  October,  1893,  the  Antigo  Manufacturing  Company 
mill  was  destroyed  by  fire. 


OTHER  IMPORTANT  FIRES. 
1880— Twin  Valley  Inn,  M.  L.  Waite,  prop, 
to  ground. 


burned 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


87 


September  5,  1883 — Catholic  church,  Antigo,  total- 
ly destroyed. 

June  29,  1885— J.  H.  Weed's  mill  fire.  Losses  to 
the  following:  J.  H.  Weed,  S.  Bryant,  L.  Sands  &  Co., 
A.  Weed,  McElwe,  Billings  &  Carney,  Methudy  & 
Meyers,  Paine  Lumber  Co.,  P.  Weed,  H.  Hewitt  and 
H.  Ried.      Total  loss— $340,500. 

October  27,  1886 — Antigo  Lumber    Company     mill 


million  feet  of  lumber  and  store  building,  also  C.  & 
N.  W.  depot  burned  at  Elmhurst. 

August  1,  1899 — Davis  Bros,  mill  at  Bryant  burn- 
ed.     Loss  $20,000.     Re-built. 

February  2,  1897~John  Dailey  Mill  at  Strassburg 
burned  to  ground.      Loss  $12,000. 

December  14,  1910 — M.  Krom  building  burned.  Loss 
partially  covered. 


SMOULDERING  RUINS  OF  THE  ANTIGO  HIGH  SCHOOL 
Which  was  totally  destroyed  by  fire  on  January  (i,  lilKi.       A  week  later  the  walls 
stood  up  against  the  ravages  of  fire  were  blasted  from  their  foundation. 


that 


burned.  Henry  Bangs,  L.  K.  Strong  and  John  Mit- 
chell, owners.       Loss  about  $20,000. 

May  12,  1887 — J.  H.  Weed's  planing  mill,  operated 
by  Hoxie  &  Mellor,  burned  with  a  $6,000  loss. 

December  6,  1891— $53,000  fire  in  Antigo.  L. 
Strasser,  Edward  Cleary,  Lee  Waste,  Masonic  Lodge 
and  J.  A.  Ogden,  properties  burned. 

July  26,  1894 — Fire  started  at  Crocker  Chair  Co. 
yards.  Rhinelander  fire  engine  called.  Losses  to 
Crocker  Chair  Co.,  Thielman  Brothers,  Herman,  Beck- 
linger  &  Herman,  Marsh  Brothers  &  Chase,  Charles 
Thompson,  Hessel  &  Leykom,  Kohl  &  Tollefson,  Henry 
Smith  and  O'Donnell's  Livery. 

September   12,   1894 — Wunderlich's  lumber  yard,  2 


April  19,  1916— English  Mfg.  Co.,  kiln  struck  by 
lightning.       Destroyed.     Re-built. 

January  6,  1916 — Antigo  High  School  completely 
destroyed  by  fire. 

August  30,  1922 — Faust  Lumber  Company  Saw  Mill 
totally  destroyed  by  fire.        Will  rebuild. 

BRILLIANT  METEOR. 

On  March  10,  1905,  at  about  9.30  p.  m.,  the  citizens 
of  Antigo  were  almost  blinded  by  a  very  brilliant  flash- 
like illumination  of  the  entire  sky.  A  heavy  clap  of 
thunder  followed.  The  cause  was  a  meteor  which 
struck  southwest  of  the  city  in  Rolling  township. 


88 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 
Agriculture  and  Dairying 

The  First  Farmer — Difficulties  and  Impediments — Homestead  Immigration — Progress — Agricultural 
Society — First  County  Fair — Poultry  Association — Potato  Grower's — Breeder's  Associations — 
Cow  Testing — Short  Courses — County  Agents — Dairying — Patrons  of  Husbandry. 


The  beginning  of  agriculture  in  Langlade  County 
dates  back  to  the  year  1853  when  the  first  permanent 
white  settler  located  within  the  limits  of  the  county. 
The  first  white  settler  to  clear  away  a  space  in  the 
forest  on  which  to  cultivate  a  few  crops  was  W.  L. 
Ackley.  Mr.  Ackley  settled  on  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  28,  township  31,  range  10  east.  Here  he 
cultivated  potatoes,  corn,  and  other  necessary  food- 
stuffs. In  the  winter  months  he  busied  himself  in  the 
forest,  where  both  hardwoods  and  pine  prevailed. 

H.  C.  Fellows,  U.  S.  Deputy  Surveyor,  surveyed  the 
region  about  Ackley's  place  in  August,  1860,  and  re- 
ported "good  crops  on  Ackley  &  Hogarty's  farm." 
Hogarty  was  never  a  resident  of  Langlade  County, 
but  was  interested  in  business  with  Ackley.    The  vil- 


Eau  Claire  banks  were  many.  Here  in  this  primitive 
wilderness  W.  L.  Ackley  lived  until  his  death  in  1894. 
He  was  well  known  and  respected  by  all. 

Agriculture  developed  slowly  between  1860  and 
1875.  Settlers  did  not  arrive  in  great  numbers  in  that 
fifteen  year  period.  A  man  named  Boyington  had  a 
farm  and  logging  claim  on  section  4,  township  31, 
range  10  east,  and  another  settler  named  Stone  had  a 
small  farm  with  a  number  of  buildings  on  the  north- 
west quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  9, 
township  31,  range  10  east,  in  1860.  Boyington  left 
the  country  because  of  the  depressed  state  of  the  lum- 
ber market  at  that  time. 

The  first  farmers,  Ackley,  Boyington,  and  Stone, 
were   followed   by  others   coming   into   eastern   Lang- 


THE  FIRST  LOG  C.'\BIN  ERECTED  I.\  L.\XGL.\DE  COLXTY. 
These  cabins  on  the  banks  of  the  Eau  Claire  river,  near  the  junction  of  the  cast  and  west  branches,  were 
built  by  W.  L.  Ackley,  the  first  permanent  white  settler  in  Langlade  County.  Mr.  Ackley  came  up  the  Eau 
Claire  river  in  a  canoe  in  1S53  and  was  in  this  county  at  least  eight  years  before  "Old  Dutch  Frank"  of  the  Wolf 
River  country.  He  cleared  the  first  farm  in  the  county  near  the  site  of  the  once  thriving  village  of  Heine- 
niann. 


lage  of  Hogarty,  stopping  place  between  Wausau  and 
Antigo  territory  between  1853  to  1886,  was  named 
after  him. 

Mr.  Ackley  came  into  Ackley  township  from  Wau- 
sau following  the  course  of  the  Eau  Claire  river  up 
to  the  forks  of  the  east  and  west  branches,  where  he 
settled.  He  married  a  Chippewa  Indian  maiden'  and 
she  proved  a  capable  and  thrifty  housewife.  After 
erecting  his  cabin  and  rude  shacks  he  began  the  nu- 
cleus of  the  Ackley  trading  post.  This  was  at  his 
farm.  He  traded  chiefly  with  the  Indians  passing  over 
the  trails  in  western  Langlade  County  as  well  as  river 
drivers,  lumbermen  and  homestead   seekers. 

The  trials  and  difficulties  of  this  first  settler  as  he 
pushed  back  the  timber  and  erected  a  cabin  on  the 


lade  County  and  to  Norwood,  Antigo  and  Rolling 
townships,  between  1870  and   1880. 

Charles  Larzelere,  driving  a  span  of  horses,  came 
down  the  Military  Road  from  Lac  Vieux  Desert,  bor- 
der settlement,  to  the  Wolf  river  country  in  the  win- 
ter of  1870-71.  He  settled  on  his  claim  on  sections 
3  and  10,  township  31,  range  14  east.  Mr.  Larzelere 
erected  a  small  dwelling,  made  a  clearing  and  cultivat- 
ed crops  the  following  spring. 

Agriculture  still  progressed  slowly.  The  great  for- 
ests, where  only  pine  was  cut,  and  the  great  amount 
of  labor  necessary  to  clear  a  farm  and  remove  logs 
and  stumpage  were  the  chief  obstacles.  Poor  roads 
and  long  distances  from  trading  posts  and  cities  fig- 

1,      Consult   life  of   W.    L.    Ackley   in   biographical   section. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


89 


ured  as  principal  impediments.  Then  the  farmer  did 
not  have  the  modern  equipment  of  the  agriculturist 
of  1922.  Markets  were  lacking,  therefore  no  incen- 
tive to  produce  more  than  needed  for  family  consump- 
tion was  stimulated.  Natural  meadows  were  often 
found  for  hay  and  grasses. 

The  giant  forests  abounded  in  game,  deer,  bear  and 
wild  fowl  of  every  description.  The  streams  were 
filled  with  fish.  When  the  pioneer  farmer  and  settler 
desired  meats  for  his  table  he  took  his  rifle  or  by  use 
of  his  traps  supplied  the  family  wants  with  the  choic- 
est meats. 

The  pioneer  relied  chiefly  on  his  own  resources. 
He  could  not  do  otherwise.  The  housewife  aided  her 
husband  clear  ground  and  cultivate  crops;  she  knitted 
his  mittens  and  sox  and  made  his  home  comfortable 
and  cheerful.  As  time  passed  the  housewife  became 
the  patron  of  the  trading  post  or  village  stores  of  An- 
tigo,  which  became  a  fair  settlement  in  1881.  The 
farmer  began  to  cultivate  hay,  timothy,  clover  and 
truck  products.  He  became  more  scientific.  Live- 
stock became  more  common  and  a  general  change 
from  the  methods  of  1853  to  those  of  1922  gradually 
took  place.  His  neighbors  became  numerous,  forests 
thinned,  a  greater  acreage  was  tilled  and,  in  short,  the 
farm  community  became  a  reality. 

COUNTY  AGRICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 

The  Langlade  County  Agricultural  Society  was  or- 
ganized August  21,  1886,  under  the  laws  of  Wiscon- 
sin. A  mass  meeting  of  citizens  was  held  at  which 
a  committee  was  selected  to  draw  up  a  constitution 
and  by-laws,  which  were  adopted.  Charles  Gowan, 
prominent  farmer,  and  A.  B.  Millard,  publisher,  were 
elected  President  and  Secretary  respectively.  The 
first  county  fair  was  held  October  4  and  5,  1886,  at 
the  old  Opera  House.  W.  H.  Hoard,  later  Governor 
of  Wisconsin,  was  the  principal  speaker. 

The  success  of  the  first  fair  created  greater  interest 
in  the  agricultural  possibilities  of  the  new  county  and 
steps  were  at  once  taken  to  secure  permanent  grounds 
for  an  annual  exhibition.  The  County  Board  appro- 
priated $1,500  for  which  a  site  of  40  acres  was  pur- 
chased. In  June,  1887,  $1,000  was  appropriated  by 
the  county  for  erecting  buildings  and  by  October  1, 
1887,  a  fine  exhibition  building  was  erected  for  $1,300. 
Agriculture  exhibitions  have  been  supported  since; 
farmers  and  citizens  generally  have  taken  a  keen  in- 
terest in  the  annual  fair  and  its  success  is  a  source  of 
civic  pride.  The  fair  is  now  held  three  days,  usually 
early  in  September.  Present  officers  are :  Presi- 
dent, John  Bowen;  Vice  President,  A.  L.  Hayner;  Sec- 
retary, Henry  Berner;  Treasurer,  Leonard  Freiburger, 
Sr. ;  Executive  Committee,  all  officers,  together  with 
W.  H.  Wegner,  R.  S.  Healy,  Sr.,  James  McKenna  and 
John  O'Brien.    Officers  are  elected  annually. 

DAIRYING  AND  HORTICULTURE. 

Langlade  County  is  rapidly  forging  to  the  front  in 
Wisconsin  as  a  distinctive  dairying  district.  The  in- 
creased demand   for  milk  and  butter  by  the  rapidly 


growing  urban  population  and  the  large  number  of 
cheese  factories  in  the  county  have  created  a  rivalry 
and  continued  development  in  the  industry. 

James  Cherf,  Ed  H.  Marsh  and  other  horticulturists 
in  the  county  will  organize  a  Langlade  County  Horti- 
cultural Society  in  1922.  The  cultivation  of  fruits, 
vegetables  and  ornamental  plants  can  be  practiced 
in  Langlade  County  for  commercial  as  well  as  pleas- 
ure purposes. 

BEE  KEEPERS'  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Langlade  County  Bee  Keepers'  Association  was 
organized  in  1918.  Then  it  was  known,  however,  as 
the  Northwestern  association.  Reorganization  took 
place  January  14,  1921,  when  the  name  was  changed 
to  the  present.  Meetings  are  held  annually  with  inter- 
vening special  sessions.  Officers  are  a  President,  now 
James  Cherf,  who  owns  a  large  orchard  and  farm  east 
on  Fifth  Avenue,  Antigo;  Vice  President,  Otto  Kles- 
sig;  Secretary,  Mrs.  D.  A.  Blanchard,  825  Langlade 
Road;  Treasurer,  Otto  Wirth,  Rolling  township. 
Board  of  Directors,  D.  A.  Blanchard,  chairman,  Her- 
man Wirth  and  Joseph  Ramer.  James  Cherf,  E.  H. 
Marsh  and  H.  H.  Schroeder  were  active  in  organiza- 
tion of  the  association. 

COW  TESTING  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Langlade  County  Cow  Testing  Association  was 
active  from  1913  to  1918  inclusive.  It  was  reorganiz- 
ed in  January,  1915,  by  F.  G.  Swoboda,  County  Agent. 
Testing  was  performed  by  an  expert  responsible  joint- 
ly to  the  local  association  and  the  State  Dairyman's 
Association.  Eight  farmers  at  Friebel's  school.  Peck 
township,  and  twelve  at  Elcho  weighed  their  milk  regu- 
larly and  made  monthly  tests. 

SHORT  COURSE  FOR  BOYS. 

That  the  young  man  might  acquaint  himself  with 
scientific  methods  of  modern  farming,  short  courses 
were  held  in  townships  and  at  the  court  house  since 
1915.  Then  three  were  held — one  at  Friebel's  school. 
Peck  township,  attended  by  twenty-five;  one  at  Phlox, 
Norwood  township,  attended  by  fifty-four,  and  an- 
other, a  six  weeks'  course,  at  the  court  house,  attended 
by  eleven.  The  course  was  continued  at  the  court 
house  while  the  County  Agents  were  retained.  They 
are  now  conducted  under  the  auspices  of  the  County 
Normal. 

THE  COUNTY  AGENT. 

The  County  Agricultural  Representative  movement, 
born  in  Oneida  County,  Wisconsin,  has  expanded  over 
the  entire  nation.  Langlade  County  has  had  three 
County  Agents.  The  first,  F.  G.  Swoboda,  now  Gener- 
al Manager  of  the  Wisconsin  Cheese  Federation,  com- 
menced duties  in  1913. 

During  his  tenure  in  office,  75  meetings  were  held 
the  first  ten  months.  In  the  same  time  395  farms  were 
visited,  2,726  letters  were  written  to  farmers,  2,113  of- 


90 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


fice  visits  were  made  by  farmers  and  41  committee 
meetings  were  attended.  The  pure  bred  cattle  organ- 
izations, short  courses,  cow  testing  association,  com- 
munity fairs,  bee  keepers'  association  and  potato  grow- 
ers' association,  were  either  organized  or  developed 
during  his  tenure.      He  resigned  in  June,  1918. 

J.  J.  Garland,  Emergency  Demonstration  Agent, 
took  up  the  work  after  the  resignation  of  F.  G.  Swo- 
boda.  During  his  regime  potato  growers  were  induc- 
ed to  treat  seed  before  planting;  membership  in  the 
potato  growers'  association  was  increased;  Dr.  Ball, 
State  Entomologist,  examined  potato  fields  attacked 
by  leaf  hoppers;  boys'  and  girls'  clubs  were  organized 
in  29  schools;  272  members  joined  the  sheep  club; 
poultry  contests  were  conducted;  a  land  clearing  dem- 
onstration was  held  in  Little  Chicago  district,  sheep 
raising  was  encouraged  and  in  1918,  26  pure  bred  sires, 
5  Guernseys  and  12  Holstein  breeds  were  brought  into 
the  county  through  the  agent. 

W.  M.  Bewick  took  charge  of  the  County  Agency 
in  April,  1918.  During  his  tenure,  3,345  letters  were 
written  to  farmers,  1,849  conferences  were  held,  151 
days  were  spent  in  field  work,  the  township  agricul- 
tural committee  system  was  partially  operative,  land 
clearings,  live  stock  improvement,  potato  inspection, 
sheep  club  work,  calf  clubs,  and  poultry  contests  were 
conducted.       Mr.  Bewick  resigned  in  November,  1920. 

POTATO  GROWERS. 

The  Langlade  County  Potato  Growers'  Association 
was  organized  in  1914.  The  most  enthusiastic  mem- 
bers of  the  unit  are:  Homer  Beattie,  J.  W.  Smith  of 
Kent,  famous  for  his  Smith  strain  of  Triumphs,  best  in 
the  U.  S.,  Peter  Krier  and  C.  Sorenson.  Local  exhi- 
bits have  been  conducted,  the  most  important  in  1916. 
The  association  has  not  been  active  in  late  years. 
There  is  no  reason  why  Langlade  County  should  not 
be  the  banner  potato  county. 

PURE  BRED  CATTLE  ORGANIZATIONS. 

Langlade  County  has  three  pure  bred  cattle  or- 
ganizations, whose  objects  are  to  promote  and  im- 
prove the  quality  of  stock  possessed  by  Langlade 
County  farmers. 

The  Langlade  County  Jersey  Breeders'  Association 
was  organized  in  March,  1914,  by  F.  G.  Swoboda, 
County  Agent.  First  officers  were:  President,  Blaine 
Stewart;  Vice  President,  Harry  Lyons;  Secretary,  P. 
T.  Gillett;  Treasurer,  Charles  Schotte.  Present  offi- 
cers are:  President,  Charles  Schotte;  Vice  President, 
Harry  Lyons;  Secretary,  John  Maichen;  Treasurer, 
A.  Oldenburg.  The  first  meeting  was  held  at  the  court 
house.     Twenty  members  are  now  active. 

The  Langlade  County  Holstein  Breeders'  Associa- 
tion was  organized  by  F.  G.  Swoboda,  County  Agent, 
in  1915.  First  officers  were :  President,  George  Wun- 
derlich;  Vice  President,  Walter  Lloyd;  Secretary,  F. 
G.  Swoboda ;  Treasurer,  Adam  Guenthner.  First  meet- 
ings were  held  at  the  court  house.  Business  sessions 
are  held  in  the  winter  and  an  annual  summer  outing 


and  picnic  is  enjoyed.  Present  officers  are:  President, 
Henry  Diercks,  Bryant;  Vice  President,  Theodore 
Miller,  Antigo  township;  Secretary,  Clemans  Bemis, 
Rolling  township;  Treasurer,  Adam  Guenthner.  Thir- 
ty-five progressive  breeders  are  members  of  the  or- 
ganization. 

The  Langlade  County  Guernsey  Breeders'  Associa- 
tion was  organized  in  May,  1915.  First  officers  chos- 
en were :  President,  Anton  FoUstad ;  G.  Schroeder, 
Treasurer;  F.  G.  Swoboda,  Secretary.  Present  offi- 
cers are:  President,  R.  P.  Guptil;  Secretary-Treasurer, 
Anton  Follstad.  Eighteen  Guernsey  breeders  in  Lang- 
lade County  are  members. 

POULTRY  ASSOCIATION   ORGANIZED. 

The  Langlade  County  Poultry  Association  was  or- 
ganized by  A.  B.  Goodrick  and  E.  J.  Goodrick,  Novem- 
ber 12,  1912.  The  object  of  the  association  is  to  en- 
courage and  assist  breeding  and  raising  pure  bred 
poultry,  pigeons  and  pet  stock  and  the  public  exhibi- 
tion thereof. 

SOIL  TESTS  ON   COUNTY  FARMS. 

Four  factors  are  considered  in  soil  fertility.  The 
crop  producing  ability  of  a  soil  depends  upon  the 
amount  of  Nitrogen,  Phosphorus,  Potash  and  acidity 
there  is  in  the  soil. 

Soil  tests  have  been  made  by  the  state  soils  labora- 
tory. University  of  Wisconsin.  Field  examinations 
and  chemical  analysis  was  made  by  H.  W.  Ullsperger 
and  E.  J.  Graul  of  the  College  of  Agriculture.  Tests 
were  made  on  the  following  farms :  Carl  Follstad, 
George  Moss,  Casper  Jilek,  Walter  Heyl,  Joseph 
Guenthner,  S.  B.  Ullman,  H.  W.  McDougall,  Earl 
French,  Homer  Beattie,  D.  C.  Dewey,  Herman  Wirth, 
Prosser  Brothers,  Charles  Johnson,  Charles  Motts, 
William  Pheister,  Head  &  Jackson,  Edward  Nordman, 
B.  Berendsen,  Moss  &  Levis,  George  Grossman,  E.  S. 
Tradewell,  Albert  Kelly  and  Knight  Brothers. 

1,842  FARMS  IN  COUNTY. 

In  1909,  30,000  acres  of  land  were  under  cultivation 
in  the  county.  In  1910,  128,828  acres  were  such  as  to 
be  classed  as  farm  lands.  Ten  years  later  farm  lands 
increased  to  152,683  acres,  or  an  increase  of  27.3  per 
cent.  In  1920  there  were  5,833  acres  of  county  plow 
land  in  pasture.  Statistics  reveal  that  in  1920  there 
were  1,842  farms  in  the  county,  1,776  of  which  were 
managed  by  their  owners.  Today  Langlade  County 
has  farms  classified  as  follows :  775  farms  between  50 
to  99  acres;  368  farms  between  100  to  174  acres;  49 
farms  between  175  to  259  acres;  24  farms  between 
260  to  499  acres;  4  farms  between  500  to  990  acres; 
2  farms  over  1,000  acres;  7  farms  under  3  acres;  34 
farms  between  3  and  9  acres;  76  farms  between  10  and 
19  acres  and  503  farms  between  20  and  49  acres. 

The  average  Langlade  County  farm  is  82I2  acres. 
Contrast  the  number  of  farms  in  the  county  in  1922 
with  the  year  1881  when  there  were  two-thirds  less  in- 
habitants in  the  county  than  there  are  farms  today. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


91 


Although  the  entire  acreage  of  Langlade  County  is 
far  from  under  cultivation  there  is  not  a  great  amount 
of  waste  land.  Agriculture  is  diversified,  farmers  not 
being  confined  to  one  single  crop,  therefore  they  must 
not  rely  on  the  results  of  one  product. 

1921  STATISTICS. 

No.  of  horses  and  mules  in  Langlade  County 5,467 

No.  of  neat  cattle  in  Langlade  County 19,689 

No.  of  sheep  in  Langlade  County 3,006 

No.  of  swine  in  Langlade  County 3,739 

The  assessed  value  per  acre  of  land  without  im- 
provements is  by  townships  as  follows: 

Ackley    18.62 

Ainsworth     16.32 

Antigo     56.99 

Elcho     15.35 

Elton    19.57 

Evergreen     14.64 

Langlade    , 15.84 

Neva    31.87 

Norwood     21.32 

Peck    15.07 

Polar   15.73 

Price    15.97 

Rolling    26.49 

Summit   11.17 

Upham    14.77 

Vilas    14.91 

The  first  thresher  used  in  Langlade  County  was 
bought  by  Willard  L.  Ackley,  the  first  settler,  in  1883. 
from  the  J.  C.  Lewis  Hardware  Company  of  Antigo. 

PATRONS  OF  HUSBANDRY. 
Langlade   County,   Wisconsin,    is   one   of    the   most 


active  grange  centers  in  the  United  States.  At  the 
1922  session  of  the  Wisconsin  Granges  at  Rhineland- 
er,  Oneida  County,  Wisconsin,  Langlade  County  grange 
leaders  took  a  prominent  part. 

Edward  Utnehmer,  Polar  Township,  member  of  Po- 
lar Grange,  is  State  Overseer;  Chaplain  of  the  state 
unit  is  J.  H.  Howe  of  Winner  Grange,  Antigo  town- 
ship; Gatekeeper  of  the  state  unit  is  Floyd  Frederick- 
son  of  Antigo,  and  Fred  Swenson  of  Langlade  County 
is  a  member  of  the  state  executive  committee. 

Pomona  Grange,  No.  20,  Patrons  of  Husbandry, 
was  organized  by  State  Organizer  John  F.  Wilde. 
Rhinelander.  The  Pomona  Grange  is  the  parent  unit 
over  the  subordinate  granges  in  Langlade  County. 
Its  purpose  is  to  solidify  subordinate  granges  for  mu- 
tual helpfulness  and  to  discuss  such  questions  of  gen- 
eral benefit  tending  to  educate  and  elevate  the  Lang- 
lade County  farmer. 

First  officers  of  Pomona  Grange,  No.  20,  Langlade 
County,  were:  Master,  P.  T.  Gillett;  Overseer,  A.  F. 
Goodman;  Lecturer,  George  Sloat,  Sr.;  Steward,  Jacob 
Price;  Assistant  Steward,  Chester  Nelson;  Lady  As- 
sistant Steward,  Jessie  Dudley;  Chaplain,  Mrs.  Mal- 
colm Hutchinson;  Treasurer,  William  Shanks;  Trea- 
surer. J.  H.  Howe;  Gatekeeper,  Theodore  Kieper; 
Ceres,  Amanda  Koch;  Pomona,  Delia  Naumann;  Flora, 
Mrs.  J.  H.  Howe;  Trustees,  William  Hafecker.  David 
Mader  and  Norman  Koch. 

The  present  Master  is  Fred  Swenson;  H.  H.  Schroe- 
der  is  Overseer;  Alex  Henry,  Treasurer;  Mrs.  Cora 
Utnehmer,  Secretary;  Chaplain,  Mrs.  Fred  Swenson; 
Lecturer,  Mrs.  Jess  Dudley.  Trustees  are  P.  T.  Gil- 
lett, H.  H.  Schroeder  and  Otto  Hanke.  Meetings  are 
held  every  two  months  at  a  designated  subordinate 
grange  and  occur  on  the  fourth  Thursday. 


AN  EXCITING  MOMENT  IN  A  MOTORCYCLE  RACE   AT    THE   LANGLADE    COUNTY    FAIR. 

The  Langlade  County  Fair  Association  has  held  races  in  connection    with    its    annual    agricultural    exhibitions    sitice 
1886.       The   old   Antigo   Trotting  Association   was  the     first     organization     to     use     the      race     track. 


92 


HISTORY  OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 
Medicine,  Doctors,  Chiropractors 

First  Hospital — Writings  of  Hypocrates — First  Autopsy — Medical  Associations — Langlade  County 
Doctors — Trials  and  Tribulations — Drugs  and  Instruments — Medical  Statutes — First  and  Sec- 
ond Langlade  County  Medical  Societies — Dental  Association — Dentists — School  of  Chiropractics 
— List  of  Physicians — Chiropractors. 


Before  the  time  of  Hypocrates,  the  healing  of  the 
sick  or  the  art  of  medicine  was  joined  with  the  mis- 
sion of  Gods  and  priests.  Religion,  medicine  and  the 
superstition  of  the  people  combined  into  a  so-called 
science  of  the  ancients. 

The  writings  of  Hypocrates  were  standard  guides 
for  the  medical  profession  for  centuries  after  his 
death.  Galen  in  130  A.  D.,  Andrew  Vesalius  in  1514, 
William  Harvey  in  1628,  each  were  epochal  medical 
writers.  Edward  Jenner,  discoverer  of  vaccination 
against  smallpox.  Dr.  Morton  of  Boston  in  1846,  dis- 
coverer of  anaestheti.x  properties  of  suphuric  ether, 
all  of  these  and  others  since,  have  done  much  to  ad- 
vance medical  and  surgical  science. 


tez,  Spanish  conqueror  of  Mexico.  February,  1752, 
the  first  hospital  was  opened  in  the  United  States  by 
Drs.  Benjamin  Franklin  and  Thomas  Bond  in  Phila- 
delphia. 

LANGLADE  COUNTY  HOSPITALS. 

Antigo  and  Langlade  County  are  served  by  two 
hospitals.  The  City  Hospital,  owned  by  Dr.  E.  J. 
Donohue,  located  at  the  intersection  of  First  Avenue 
and  Superior  Street,  and  the  Antigo  Hospital,  owned 
by  Drs.  G.  E.  and  G.  W.  Moore,  located  at  1404  Fifth 
Avenue. 

The   first    Langlade   County   hospital    was   a    frame 


THE  .WTIGO  HOSPITAL 
Located  at    14(14   Fifth   .\venue.         It  was  purchased   by   Dr.   G.  W. 
former  .Antigo  physician  on  January  :!,   IHIS. 


Moore, 


During  the  past  quarter  of  a  century,  particularly 
during  the  World  War  (1914-19)  great  strides  were 
made  in  surgery. 

The  first  autopsy  held  in  America  was  upon  the  re- 
mains of  John  Bridge  of  Roxbury,  Massachusetts,  who 
died  of  "Winde  CoUicke,"  August  20,  1674.  The  first 
doctors  in  the  United  States  were  Dr.  Thomas  Woot- 
ten  of  Jamestown,  Virginia,  in  1607,  Dr.  Walter  Rus- 
sell, 1608,  and  Dr.  Lawrence  Bohun  in  1610.  The 
first  hospital  in  the  world  was  built  at  Jerusalem  by 
Helena,  mother  of  Constantine,  about  350  A.  D.  The 
first  American  hospital  was  built  before  1524  by  Cor- 


structure  situated  between  Milton  and  Superior  Streets 
where  now  the  Langlade  County  Normal  dormitory  is 
located.  It  was  organized  by  Dr.  I.  D.  Steffen  in  1889. 
He  conducted  it  for  three  years. 

Dr.  I.  D.  Steffen  purchased  a  piece  of  property  in 
Antigo  from  Theresa  Hirtz,  March  11,  1897,  and 
opened  the  Antigo  Hospital.  He  sold  the  property 
to  Mayme  Boyle  in  1917  and  she  in  turn  sold  it  to 
Dr.  G.  W.  Moore,  January  3,  1918.  Dr.  G.  W.  Moore 
has  since  associated  with  Dr.  G.  E.  Moore,  his  fo'mer 
pri-tner,  in  conducting  the  hospital 

Dr.  E.  J.  Donohue  purchased  a  two  story  brick  struc- 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


93 


ture  from  Osca  Daskam,  June  3,  1911.  The  proper- 
ty, located  in  block  2  of  Daskam's  subdivision,  was 
converted  into  the  City  Hospital.  It  is  in  charge  of 
the  Misses  Agnes  and  Theresa  Donohue. 

FIRST  COUNTY  PHYSICIANS. 

The  first  Langlade  County  doctor  was  Dr.  E.  Smith, 
who  came  to  Antigo  from  Little  Suamico,  Oconto 
County.  Dr.  Smith  did  not  remain  long  in  Antigo.  He 
was  immediately  followed  by  Dr.  F.  J.  Despins,  who 
stopped  for  a  time  at  the  Springbrook  House.  Dr. 
Smith  came  here  in  1880.  Other  pioneer  doctors  were 
Dr.  E.  A.  Beckel,  Dr.  G.  W.  Moody,  Dr.  G.  W.  Rem- 
ington, Dr.  J.  H.  Dawley,  Dr.  M.  J.  Lower,  Dr.  F.  J. 
Doyle,  and  Dr.  Mills,  dentist. 

TRIALS  OF  EARLY  PHYSICIANS. 

Today  we  cannot  imagine  the  trials  and  vicissitudes 
that  confronted  the  pioneer  physician  of  1880.  Be- 
fore Langlade  County  was  organized  it  was  necessary 


remedies.  These  ordinarily  consisted  of  herbs,  barks, 
liniments,  ointments,  secured  by  stage  from  Shawano 
or  Wausau.  The  families  would  "stock  up"  on  such 
medicine  as  St.  Jacob's  Oil,  Seller's  Cough  Syrup, 
burdock  and  pleurisy  root  and  other  home  remedies. 

The  pioneer  housewife  was  always  on  hand  when 
illness  overtook  a  neighbor  or  a  member  of  her  own 
family.  She  usually  had  a  remedy  for  most  any  dis- 
ease and  when  her  remedy  failed  a  doctor  was  called. 
His  methods  were  crude  compared  with  modern  medi- 
cal methods,  but  in  justice  to  the  pioneer  doctor,  he 
brought  relief  to  as  many  a  patient  and  exhibited  as 
much  resourcefulness  and  common  sense  as  do  the 
modern  physicians.  Many  of  the  herbs  and  medicines 
of  early  days  did  not  possess  pleasing  tastes.  "I 
can  taste  some  of  the  medicine  yet,"  remarked  a  pio- 
neer of  1879. 

If  Drs.  E.  Smith  and  F.  J.  Despins,  the  first  doctors 
in  the  county,  could  come  back  to  earth  and  witness 
the  wonderful  progress  made  in  Antigo  and  vicinity, 


THE  CITY   HOSPITAL,  AMTGO,  WIS. 

Purchased  from  Osca  Daskam  by  Dr.  E.  J.  Donohue  on  June  3,  1911.       This 

hospital  is   located   at  the  corner  of  Superior  Street  and   First   Avenue. 


for  settlers  to  send  to  Shawano,  Wausau  or  Clinton- 
ville  for  a  physician.  Many  a  life  was  in  the  bal- 
ance while  the  doctor,  far  away,  with  poor  roads, 
wound  his  way  through  the  forests,  either  on  horse- 
back or  with  his  "buckboard"  and  pony.  When  calls 
were  made  in  evenings  in  later  years  many  a  doctor 
would  lose  his  way  in  the  dark  wilderness.  Over  on 
the  Wolf  River,  Jeannie  Hill,  now  Mrs.  Art  Janes,  and 
Mrs.  Charles  Larzelere,  who  nursed  many  a  sick  per- 
son, recalled  sending  to  Clintonville  for  a  doctor,  who 
would  often  be  two  to  three  days  on  the  way. 

DOMESTIC  MEDICINES. 

It  is  only  reasonable  to  see  that  because  of  these 
conditions  so  prevalent  in  New  County  and  Langlade, 
afterwards,  every  household  was  provided  with  home 


see  the  flying  machine,  the  automobile,  the  roaring 
20th  century  passenger  train,  the  great  farm  tractors 
and  observe  doctors  talking  with  patients  miles  dis- 
tant, prescribing  treatment  by  radiophone  or  tele- 
phone and  giving  other  medical  advice,  they  would  be 
thunderstruck,  so  to  speak.  If  they  could  visit  the 
late  meetings  of  the  county  Medical  Society,  hear  the 
papers  read  and  the  medical  terms  created  since  their 
day,  they  would  be  amazed. 

Many  instruments  and  necessary  appliances  could 
not  be  secured  by  early  physicians.  The  pioneer  doc- 
tor acted  as  nurse,  interne,  attendant  and  operator. 
His  hospital  was  a  room  in  the  home  of  the  patient. 
The  X-ray  and  other  electrical  apparatus  were  un- 
known. Asceptic  surgery,  as  practiced  today,  was  in 
embryological  stages. 


94 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


THE  FIRST  LANGLADE  COUNTY  MEDICAL 
SOCIETY. 

The  first  Langlade  County  Medical  Society  was  or- 
ganized April  19.  1897,  with  the  following  officers: 
President,  M.  E.  Williams;  Vice  President,  Dr.  M.  J. 
Lower;  Secretary,  Dr.  B.  F.  Harris,  and  Treasurer, 
J.  H.  Dawley. 

LANGLADE  COUNTY  MEDICAL  SOCIETY. 

The  present  Langlade  County  Medical  Society  was 
organized  in  the  municipal  council  chambers  by  Dr. 
J.  M.  Dodd,  councilor  of  District  No.  10,  now  Dis- 
trict 11  (La  Crosse  District),  of  the  State  Medical 
Society,  October  9,  1903.  Officers  elected  were :  Presi- 
dent, Dr.  I.  D.  Steffen;  Vice  President,  Dr.  M.  J. 
Donohue;  Secretary,  Dr.  F.  I.  Drake;  Board  of  Cen- 
sors, Dr.  F.  V.  Watson,  Dr.  M.  A.  Flatley,  and  Dr.  M. 
J.  Donohue.  Meetings  were  set  at  the  first  Friday  of 
December,  March,  June  and  September.  Present  of- 
ficers are:  President,  Dr.  L.  A.  Steffen;  Vice  President, 
Dr.  E.  R.  Murphy;  Secretary-Treasurer,  Dr.  J.  C. 
Wright. 

The  purpose  of  the  society  is  to  bring  into  one  or- 
ganization the  physicians  of  the  county,  so  that  by 
frequent  meetings  and  full  and  frank  discussion,  in- 
terchange of  views,  they  may  secure  such  intelligent 
unity  and  harmony  as  will  elevate  the  opinion  of  the 
profession  in  all  scientific,  legislative,  public  health, 
material  and  social  affairs,  to  the  end  that  the  pro- 
fession may  receive  that  respect  and  support  within 
its  own  ranks  and  from  the  community  to  which  its 
honorable  history  and  achievements  entitle  it. 

The  county  unit  is  a  part  of  the  state  society  and 
the  American  Medical  Association,  parent  organiza- 
tions. 

The  annual  meeting,  with  banquet,  was  introduced 
in  1910.  The  society  did  commendable  service  dur- 
ing the  World  War  as  a  unit  as  also  did  its  members. 

The  first  medical  banquet  was  held  February  9,  1910. 


LIST  OF  PHYSICIANS. 

Langlade  County  physicians  who  have  served  re- 
spective communities  since  1880  to  date  are:  Dr.  E. 
Smith,  Dr.  F.  J.  Despins,  Dr.  G.  W.  Remington,  Dr. 
F.  A.  Beckel,  Dr.  J.  H.  Dawley,  Dr.  M.  J.  Lower,  Dr. 
C.  Munn,  Dr.  E.  A.  Craine,  Dr.  M.  E.  Williams,  Dr. 
J.  W.  Moody,  Dr.  B.  F.  Harris,  Dr.  G.  R.  Shaw,  Dr.  J. 
Weiss,  Dr.  E.  P.  Cook,  Dr.  M.  J.  Donohue,  Dr.  E.  J. 

Donohue,  Dr.  J.  F.  Doyle,  Dr.  I.  D.  Steffen,  Dr. 

Frank,  Dr.  H.  T.  Field,  Dr.  G.  W.  Moore.  Dr.  G.  W. 
Develaar,  Dr.  G.  H.  Williamson,  Dr.  C.  L.  Cline.  Dr. 
H.  P.  Beattie  (woman).  Dr.  G.  L.  Bellis.  Dr.  N.  Kahn, 
Dr.  H.  G.  Westphal,  Dr.  J.  P.  Percival,  Dr.  W.  H. 
Ellis,  Dr.  T.  J.  Fladey,  Dr.  M.  A.  Flatley,  Dr.  0.  G. 
Wolfgram,  Dr.  E.  E.  Couch,  Dr.  J.  M.  Sattler,  Dr.  L. 
A.  Leysner,  Dr.  Clayton  Charles,  Dr.  F.  V.  Watson, 
Dr.  E.  A.  King,  Dr.  E.  R.  Murphy,  Dr.  G.  E.  Moore, 
Dr.  J.  P.  Gillis,  Dr.  P.  J.  Dailey,  Dr.  Lyman  Steffen, 
Dr.  Edward  Zellmer,  Dr.  E.  G.  Bloor,  Dr.  J.  C.  Wright 
and  Dr.  F.  Drake. 

CHIROPRACTORS. 

Present  Antigo  Chiropractors  are:  Harry  Zuehlke, 
J.  J.  Healy,  Julius  Below  and  Miss  Alma  Hanson.  In 
1912-13  the  Antigo  School  of  Chiropractics  conducted 
by  Paul  Von  de  Schoeppe  enjoyed  state  and  nation- 
wide reputation.  The  school  graduated  many  chiro- 
practors. 

LANGLADE  COUNTY  DENTAL  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Langlade  County  Dental  Association  organized 
June,  1919,  with  the  following  officers:  President,  Dr. 
F.  C.  Kestly;  Vice  President.  Dr.  C.  B.  Baker;  Secre- 
tary-Treasurer. Dr.  A.  A.  Hoffman.  Meetings  are  held 
every  two  months.  Present  officers  are :  President. 
Dr.  C.  B.  Baker;  Vice  President.  Dr.  John  Prokupek; 
Secretary-Treasurer.  Dr.  A.  N.  Anderson. 

Dr.  H.  V.  Mills,  first  Langlade  County  dentist,  came 
to  Antigo  in  1882.  Present  Antigo  dentists  are :  Dr. 
H.  V.  Mills.  Dr.  F.  C.  Judson.  Dr.  F.  C.  Kestly.  Dr.  J. 
Prokupek.  Dr.  N.  P.  Kelly.  Dr.  Jos.  Gillis.  Dr.  A.  N. 
Anderson.  Dr.  A.  A.  Hoffman,  Dr.  Harry  B.  Dresser 
and  Dr.  C.  B.  Baker. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


95 


CHAPTER  XX. 
Soil  Formation  in  Langlade  County 

General  Character  of  Surface — Glacial  Drifts — Merrimac  Silt  Loam — Gloucester  Series — Igneous  and 
Metamorphic  Rocks  of  Archean  System — Spencer  Silt  Loam — Peat  Formations — Wolf  River 
Ledges — Elevation  of  Antigo  and  Summit  Lake. 


Langlade  County  owes  the  general  character  of  its 
surface  to  glacial  action.  Geologists  have  divided  the 
time  required  to  develop  the  earth  to  its  present  state 
in  cycles  or  ages.  Thus  where  rocks  predominate 
they  can  be  studied  and  their  geologic  age  can  be 
ascertained. 

Two  distinct  periods  of  glaciation  are  represented 
in  Langlade  County.  The  older  drift  is  confined  to 
the  southwestern  part.  The  surface  is  gently  rolling 
with  no  lakes  and  only  a  few  undrained  tracts.  The 
newer  glacial  drift  covers  the  rest  of  the  county.  The 
surface  is  more  irregular,  the  drainage  system,  while 
developed,  has  not  become  so  well  established.  Lakes 
and  swamps  abound.  Thus  the  soils  of  the  entire 
county  are  the  result  of  glacial  drifts. 

In  northeastern  Langlade  County  a  small  tract  of 
land  is  underlain  by  igneous  and  metamorphic  rocks 
of  the  Archean  system,  consisting  of  granite,  gneis 
and  schist,  with  subordinate  greenstone,  porphyries 
and  syenites.  Here  numerous  outcrops  occur  and  the 
formation  has  contributed  extensively  to  the  overly- 
ing soils. 

Gloucester  silt  loam  is  an  important  soil.  Elton  and 
Langlade  townships  have  important  areas.  This  type 
consists  of  a  brown  or  light  brown,  friable  loess-like 
silt  loam,  which  extends  to  an  average  depth  of  from 
12  to  14  inches.  Much  organic  matter  is  present,  the 
amount  of  silt  is  higher  and  the  percentage  of  coarse 
material  lower  than  in  the  rolling  phase  of  the  same 
type.  The  subsoil  becomes  heavier  with  depth.  Be- 
low 30  inches  the  subsoil  grades  into  a  bed  of  un- 
assorted glacial  till  of  sand  and  gravel. 

Stones  and  boulders  are  present  on  the  surface.  As  to 
distribution,  while  not  uniform,  they  range  in  diame- 
ter from  12  to  14  inches.  In  the  Gloucester  silt  loam 
territory  of  the  county  there  are  many  stone-free 
areas  of  considerable  size  and  with  liming  and  in- 
noculation  of  soil,  livestock,  dairying,  potato  culture 
and  small  grain  growing  have  been  developed. 

EASTERN  AND  CENTRAL  LANGLADE 
COUNTY. 

The  Gloucester  silt  loam,  rolling  phase,  predomin- 
ates in  the  eastern  and  central  portions  of  Langlade 
County.  Associated  with  it  are  the  typical  soil  and 
numerous  areas  of  the  Gloucester  sandy  loam.  The 
rolling  Gloucester  phase  consists  to  an  average  depth 
of  10  to  12  inches  of  a  grayish  brown,  friable  silt 
loam,  with  smooth  feel.  It  contains  organic  matter 
in  a  moderate  degree.  This  soil  has  somewhat  the 
appearance  of  loess.    The  sub-soil  of  the  rolling  phase 


consists  of  yellow,  yellowish  brown  or  slightly  gray- 
ish yellow  silt  loam  becoming  heavier  in  texture  with 
depth,  extending  to  a  depth  of  20  to  26  inches.  Be- 
low this  depth  the  percentage  of  sand  and  gravel  in- 
creases. In  sections  16,  17,  18,  19  and  20  of  Town- 
ship 34,  Range  10  east  and  in  sections  4,  5,  6,  7  and  8 
in  Township  33,  Range  11  east,  of  the  county, 
there  is  a  considerable  amount  of  fine  sand  incorpor- 
ated in  both  soil  and  sub-soil,  so  that  the  soil  ap- 
proaches a  fine  sandy  loam.  Rolling,  Norwood,  Polar 
and  Evergreen  Townships,  in  the  Gloucester  silt  loam, 
rolling  phase,  are  all  extensively  developed. 

Gloucester  fine  sandy  loam  is  found  in  the  county 
where  crystalline  rocks  make  up  the  underlying  geo- 
logic formation.  The  general  occurrence  of  this  type 
of  soil  is  in  irregular  belts  running  in  a  northeast 
and  southwest  direction,  following  the  trend  of  the 
glacial  ice  sheet. 

The  Gloucester  fine  sandy  loam  surface  soil  consists 
to  an  average  depth  of  12  inches  of  light  brown  or  yel- 
lowish brown  mellow,  friable  sandy  loam.  The  sub- 
soil consists  of  a  light  yellowish  brown  to  yellow  fine 
sandy  loam  coarser  in  texture  with  increased  depth. 
Gravel  occurs  below  a  depth  of  20  inches.  Stones  and 
boulders  are  plentiful  on  the  surface  and  through  the 
soil  section,  ranging  in  size  up  to  three  feet  in  diam- 
eter. They  are  not  as  numerous,  however,  as  on  the 
Gloucester  silt  loam,  rolling  phase.  In  section  33  and 
34  of  township  34,  range  10  east,  the  surface  is  only 
undulating  and  the  material  is  derived  from  an  out- 
wash  plain.  This  type  of  soil  owes  its  origin  to  the 
weathering  of  glacial  till  which  was  deposited  over 
the  crystalline  rocks  and  it  consists  of  material  which 
was  derived  largely  from  this  geologic  formation 
through  the  grinding  action  of  the  ice  and  subsequent 
weathering.  A  part  of  this  type  may  consist  of  lateral 
or  recessional  moraines. 

There  are  only  a  few  square  miles  of  Gloucester 
fine  sand  in  the  county.  The  surface  soil,  to  an  aver- 
age depth  of  9  to  10  inches,  consists  of  loose,  friable, 
yellowish  brown  fine  sand.  The  surface  inch  on  vir- 
gin tracts  is  often  darker  due  to  the  accumulation  of 
organic  matter,  where  the  land  has  been  burned  over. 
The  subsoil  is  a  yellow  fine  sand.  Gravel  is  not  plen- 
tiful in  within  36  inches  of  the  surface.  Where  this 
soil  is  found  in  the  county  stones  and  boulders  are 
present  in  moderate  quantities  on  the  surface  and  mix- 
ed with  the  soil.  The  surface  of  this  type  of  soil 
varies  from  undulating  to  gently  rolling  while  some 
areas  consist  of  low  hills  giving  a  hummocky  appear- 
ance.    It  owes  its  origin  to  the  weathering  of  glacial 


96 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


drift  derived  chiefly  from  the  grinding  action  of  the 
ice  sheet  over  the  crystalline  rocks. 

Gloucester  sandy  loam  has  been  extensively  devel- 
oped in  Langlade  County.  The  surface  soil  consists 
to  an  average  depth  of  about  12  inches  of  a  brown  or 
yellowish  brown  medium  textured  sandy  loam  of  a 
rather  loose  and  friable  structure.  The  subsoil  is  grad- 
ually lighter  and  often  coarser  in  texture  with  depth. 
Below  22  inches  it  consists  of  an  unstratified  mixture 
of  medium  to  coarse  sand  and  fine  gravel.  Stone  and 
boulders  up  to  three  or  four  feet  in  diameter  are  scat- 
tered over  the  surface  and  mixed  with  the  soil  mate- 
rial but  they  are  not  numerous.  The  most  numerous 
boulders  range  from  ten  to  eighteen  inches  in  diameter. 

ROLLING  TOWNSHIP. 

In  Rolling  Township  the  soil  is  somewhat  heavier, 
less  rolling  and  has  fewer  stone  sand  and  is  a  better 
agricultural  soil  than  Gloucester  sandy  loam  else- 
where. Gloucester  sandy  loam  in  Upham  Township 
is  more  gravelly  than  usual  and  the  texture  is  variable 
within  short  distances.  In  places  it  is  a  loam  or  a 
gravelly  loam  while  again  it  may  be  a  fine  sandy  loam 
or  gravelly  sand.  In  the  extreme  northwestern  cor- 
ner of  Langlade  County,  in  township  34,  range  9,  and 
in  the  extreme  southeastern  part,  in  township  32, 
range  14  east,  and  township  31,  range  14  east,  Glou- 
cester sandy  loam  is  more  stony,  gravelly  and  rougher 
than  usual  and  has  a  lower  grade  of  agricultural  value. 
In  some  places  it  is  a  gravelly  sand.  Excavations  and 
well  records  show  that  the  subsoil  of  sand  and  gravel 
extends  to  bedrock,  and  that  the  huge  boulders  occur 
to  a  depth  of  20  to  30  feet. 

The  surface  of  the  Gloucester  sandy  loam  varies 
from  rolling  to  rough  and  hilly.  Over  the  greater  part 
of  this  type  of  soil  the  surface  is  not  too  steep  for  cul- 
tivation, but  there  are  exceptions  to  this  where  the 
topography  is  so  broken  and  the  slopes  so  steep  that 
cultivated  crops  probably  could  not  be  produced  with 
profit.  In  the  vicinity  of  Edith  and  Rose  Lakes,  town- 
ships 32,  range  14  east,  and  in  the  northwestern  part  of 
the  county,  township  34,  range  9,  except  in  sections 
17  and  18,  the  surface  is  very  rough  and  the  land  has 
not  a  high  agricultural  value. 

The  surface  frequently  appears  as  a  series  of  paral- 
lel ridges  varying  in  elevation  from  15  to  40  feet  above 
the  intervening  valleys  and  occurring  from  20  rods  to 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  apart.  These  slopes  are  some- 
times very  steep  and  in  a  general  outline  they  have  an 
appearance  of  eskers,  but  the  material  is  not  stratified. 

The  material  composing  the  Gloucester  sandy  loam 
consists  of  glacial  debris  deposited  over  crystalline 
rock  by  the  ice  sheet.  The  supply  of  organic  matter 
in  this  soil  is  low.  There  is  a  probability  that  little 
of  the  material  forming  this  soil  has  come  from  the 
immediate  region  and  it  therefore  has  the  same  rela- 
tion to  the  underlying  rock  that  a  residual  soil  would 
have. 

Gloucester  sand,  of  minor  importance,  is  found  in 
the  townships  of  Elcho  and  Ainsworth  in  small  tracts. 
It  is  a  light  brown  surface  soil  extending  to  about 


eight  inches.  The  material  is  loose,  has  an  acid  condi- 
tion and  contains  but  little  organic  material.  The  sub- 
soil is  a  yellow  medium  sand.  Fine  gravel  occurs 
over  the  surface  occasionally  and  in  the  deep  subsoil. 
Few  stones  appear  on  the  surface  and  none  hinder  cul- 
tivation. No  limestone  material  is  present  as  the  ma- 
terial composing  this  type  of  soil  consists  of  glacial 
debris  not  transported  from  any  great  distance.  Farm 
crops  do  not  yield  as  much  on  this  soil  as  on  silt  loam 
and  fine  sandy  loam,  potatoes  doing  the  best. 

GLOUCESTER  STONY  SAND  ALONG  WOLF 
RIVER. 

Gloucester  stony  sand  is  found  in  small  patches  in 
northern  Langlade  County  along  the  Wolf  River.  This 
is  a  loose,  incoherent  sand  of  medium  texture  at  a  sur- 
face depth  of  8  to  10  inches.  The  amount  of  organic 
matter  is  very  small.  The  subsoil  is  lighter  as  depth 
becomes  greater.  It  is  yellow  in  color.  Stones  are 
plentiful  on  the  surface  and  boulders  frequently  ap- 
pear. Kames  and  eskers  make  up  a  great  portion  of 
the  surface,  which  is  very  irregular  and  rough. 

The  material  of  which  Gloucester  stondy  sand  con- 
sists is  glacial  debris  deposited  as  kames,  eskers  and 
probably  as  lateral  and  recessional  moraines.  The 
gravel,  stones  and  boulders  are  largely  of  crystalline 
rock.  No  trace  of  limestone  can  be  found  and  the 
soil  and  subsoil  are  acidic.  It  is  of  little  value  for 
agricultural  purposes,  but  is  well  adapted  for  fores- 
tration. 

The  Spencer  silt  loam,  a  most  important  and  exten- 
sive soil  type,  is  confined  to  the  western  part  of  Lang- 
lade County  where  it  occurs  as  one  continuous  tract  in 
Summit,  Vilas,  Ackley  and  the  western  part  of  Peck 
and  Upham  Townships. 

The  surface  of  this  type  of  soil  to  an  average  depth 
of  10  inches  consists  of  a  light  brown  or  grayish  silt 
loam  with  a  reddish  shade  and  contains  a  small 
amount  of  organic  matter.  The  percentage  of  silt  is 
very  high  and  the  soil  has  a  smooth  feel  characteris- 
tic of  silt  loam.  This  soil  is  heavy  and  compact  be- 
cause of  the  high  clay  content  and  at  places  approaches 
a  silty  clay  loam  in  texture.  The  subsoil  consists  of 
a  yellowish  brown,  buff  or  grayish  silt  loam  which  is 
heavier  with  depth  and  grades  into  a  silty  loam  at 
16  to  20  inches.  Below  this  depth  and  at  times  above 
it  the  material  is  mottled  with  yellow,  brown,  bluish 
and  reddish  brown,  indicating  poor  internal  drainage. 
The  lower  subsoil  below  24  and  30  inches  has  a  red- 
dish brown  color.  There  are  but  little  stones  on  the 
surface.  The  amount  of  organic  material  is  greater 
in  the  depressions.  The  depth  to  bedrock  ranges  from 
4  to  50  feet.  The  surface  generally  is  undulating  and 
gently  rolling.  Elevation  differences  between  high- 
est and  lowest  points  do  not  exceed  over  forty  feet. 
Slopes  are  long  and  gentle.  There  are  some  places 
where  the  surface  is  wet  most  of  the  time,  but  the 
natural  surface  drainage  is  fairly  good. 

This  soil  is  formed  from  the  weathered  product  of 
the  ground-up  rock  left  upon  the  surface  early  in  the 
Glacial   Period.     It  has  been  derived  almost  entirely 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


97 


from  the  old  ingneous  rocks  which  make  up  the  under- 
lying formation  through  this  part  of  the  county.  The 
soil  has  some  of  the  characteristics  of  a  residual  soil. 
The  small  number  of  stones  and  boulders  present  is 
due  to  their  disintegration  and  breaking  up  into  soil 
during  the  long  period  that  has  elapsed  since  the  old 
drift  formation  was  deposited.  This  drift  has  been 
eroded  and  washed  by  streams  and  rains  for  so  long 
a  period  that  depressions  in  the  surface  have  been 
largely  drained  or  have  been  filled  by  wash  from 
adjoining  slopes.  There  are  seldom  any  peat  bogs, 
swamps  or  lakes  in  this  section  of  the  county.  All 
the  region  is  excellent  for  crops. 

The  level  phase  of  Spencer  silt  loam  is  found  in 
Ackley  Township.  In  texture  the  soil  is  a  silt  loam, 
but  it  has  a  lower  position  and  poorer  drainage.  The 
organic  material  is  great.  Drainage  is  not  very  good 
as  the  surface  is  so  level  and  the  texture  of  the  soil 
so  heavy  that  natural  drainage  is  deficient.  The  most 
important  consideration  in  the  improvement  of  this 
soil  is  drainage  after  which  the  level  phase  is  good 
for  agricultural  purposes. 

Merrimac  silt  loam  is  an  important  soil  from  the 
standpoint  of  productivity  and  agricultural  develop- 
ment. The  most  extensive  tract  in  Langlade  County 
is  found  in  the  southwestern  part  where  there  is  an 
unbroken  area  covering  approximately  150  square 
miles.  Antigo,  Deerbrook,  Bryant,  Elcho  and  Ormsby 
are  all  located  in  this  tract.  The  surface  of  this  soil 
is  light  brown  or  grayish  brown,  friable  silt  loam, 
which  extends  to  an  average  depth  of  12  inches.  The 
content  of  the  silt  is  high,  organic  material  is  very 
small,  but  the  soil  as  a  whole  is  in  an  acid  condition. 
The  subsoil  is  yellowish  brown  and  at  a  depth  of  22  to 
30  inches  it  grades  into  beds  of  stratified  sand  and 
gravel.  West  of  Antigo  the  silt  covering  in  some 
places  is  five  feet  while  in  other  places  east  of  Anti- 
go,  particularly,  gravel  and  sand  sometimes  are  turned 
up  by  the  plow. 

This  soil  is  lighter  east  of  Antigo  than  that  west  of 
the  city.  Where  this  type  of  soil  is  best  developed 
there  are  few  stones  and  but  little  gravel.  However, 
on  a  small  area  two  miles  north  of  Ormsby,  stones  are 
thickly  embedded  in  the  soil.  This  surface  is  level 
or  gently  undulating  and  usually  has  a  very  gentle 
slope  toward  the  water  course  along  which  it  occurs. 
Streams  that  have  cut  through  these  areas  have  their 
channels  5  to  20  feet  below  the  general  level  of  the 
adjacent  land.  Flood  plains  along  such  streams  are 
from  a  few  rods  to  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  width.  East 
of  Antigo  and  also  north  is  a    prairie-like    plain    in 


which  the  elevation  differences  do  not  exceed  6  to  10 
feet  in  distances  of  several  miles.  This  country  is 
commonly  called  "The  Antigo  Flats"  and  is  very  pro- 
ductive. The  gravel  and  sand  generally  comes  close 
enough  to  the  surface  in  this  part  of  the  county  to 
make  for  good  drainage.  The  Merrimac  silt  loam  is 
composed  of  alluvial  material  and  is  the  result  of  out- 
wash  plains  and  stream  terraces  by  streams  issuing 
from  the  ice  sheet  during  the  gracial  period.  Beds 
of  stratified  sand  and  gravel  below  the  surface  extend 
to  a  considerable  depth,  known  to  be  as  high  as  58 
feet  at  Antigo.  The  underlying  rock  is  granite  and 
the  gravel  found  in  this  section  is  usually  from  gran- 
ite and  other  crystalline  rocks.  The  fine  surface  soil 
is  the  result  of  the  grinding  action  of  the  glacial  ice 
formation  and  the  action  of  water,  weather  and  wind 
upon  glacial  debris.  Stones  and  boulders  were  car- 
ried in  by  floating  ice  or  by  the  advance  of  an  ice 
sheet  after  the  stratified  material  was  first  deposited. 
The  area  of  this  type  of  soil  about  Antigo  is  the  larg- 
est in  the  state  and  is  some  of  the  finest  agricultural 
land  in  the  state. 

Merrimac  sandy  loam,  a  type  of  soil  of  minor  im- 
portance, is  found  in  Langlade  County  northeast  of 
Antigo  in  a  narrow  belt  of  7  or  8  square  miles.  The 
surface  soil  is  sandy  loam  to  a  depth  of  one  foot.  The 
subsoil  is  loose  and  coarser  with  depth.  This  soil 
warms  up  early  in  the  spring  and  general  farming 
produces  fair  yields  from  it.  The  parent  material  from 
which  the  type  of  soil  was  derived  consists  largely  of 
crystalline  rock  with  a  small  quantity  of  material  from 
limestone. 

Peat  is  found  in  small  tracts  through  Langlade 
County  and  consists  of  vegetable  matter  in  various 
stages  of  decomposition.  Muck,  consisting  of  well  de- 
composed matter  with  which  there  is  incorporated  an 
appreciable  amount  of  mineral  matter,  is  also  found 
in  the  county  in  small  areas. 

There  are  some  ledges  in  eastern  Langlade  County 
along  the  Wolf  River. 

The  most  important  weed  pests  in  Langlade  County 
are  Canada   thistles,  quack  grass    and  wild  mustard. 

Antigo  is  922  feet  above  Lake  Michigan  and  1,483 
feet  above  sea  level.  Summit  Lake  is  1,697  feet  above 
sea  level  and  is  officially  the  highest  body  of  water  in 
Wisconsin.  There  is  a  small  body  of  water 
just  north  of  Summit  Lake  declared  to  be  much 
higher  than  Summit  Lake.  Rib  Hill,  Marathon 
County,  highest  land  point  in  Wisconsin,  is  1,940  feet 
above  sea  level.  Koepenick,  Upham  Township,  Lang- 
lade County,  is  1,683  feet  above  sea  level. 


98 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 
Antigo,  the  County  Seat 

Surroundings — Hon.  F.  A.  Deleglise — Rich  Timber  Belt — Influx  Of  Homesteaders — Famous  Run- 
away Election — Population — Village  Plat — The  Fight  To  Incorporate  A  City. 


Within  the  memory  of  the  older  settlers  of  Antigo, 
was  a  time,  not  so  many  years  ago,  when  the  great 
Badger  country  north  of  a  line  running  west  of  Green 
Bay  was  denominated  by  a  howling  wilderness.  Two 
streaks  of  rust  and  a  right-of-way,  the  iron  trail  of 
the  new  north,  through  densely  unbroken  forests,  were 
the  only  evidences  that  civilized  man  had  ever  pene- 
trated a  land  so  wild  as  to  be  practically  worthless  to 
humankind  save  to  the  sturdy  woodsman  and  the  hunt- 


ly  timbered,  known  as  "the  hills."  From  thence  east, 
the  land,  to  the  county  line,  was  heavily  covered  with 
basswood,  maple,  birch,  rock  elm  with  pieces  of  choice 
oak,  ash,  cherry  and  butternut  scattered  through  other 
timber.  From  "the  hills"  to  the  east  Eau  Claire  riv- 
er across  the  Antigo  flats,  now  hailed  as  the  most  pro- 
ductive soil  in  the  state,  the  timber  was  as  thick  and 
heavy  as  on  the  higher  ground  but  not  as  valuable. 
The  city  of  Antigo  was  located  on  Spring  River,  a 


HOW  FIFTH  .WEXUE,  ANTIGO.  WIS..  LOOKED  IX   1882. 
Only  a  path  through  the  great  forests  was  then  evidence   of   pioneer   settlers.  This   picture   was   taken 

just   cast   of   what   is   known   as   the   "Hclt   line."  Contrast  this  picture  with  a  bird's  eye  view  of  .Antigo  in 

ISSfi  and  the  advancement  of  the  village  in  that  four-year  period  will  be  easily  noted.       1  hen  turn  to  page  101 
and   compare  with  a   Fifth  .'\venue  scene  taken   in   .August,  1022 — Forty  years  later. 


er  of  game.  If  the  captious  critic  and  explorer  of  fifty 
years  ago  could  stalk  across  this  country  today  he 
would  be  amazed.  Here  he  would  find  white  flocks 
feeding  upon  a  thousand  hills;  he  would  see  scores 
of  stately  cities,  with  great  rivers  flowing  beneath  their 
walls;  cities  with  the  best  accommodations,  thriving 
and  prosperous,  railroads,  manufacturing  establish- 
ments towering  toward  the  sky,  churches,  schools, 
libraries  and  scores  of  happy  and  contented  people. 

It  was  through  this  progressing  section  45  years  ago 
that  the  city  of  Antigo,  county  seat  of  Langlade  Coun- 
ty, was  staked  by  F.  A.  Deleglise,  the  surrounding 
aiding  him  materially  in  reaching  that  conclusion.  The 
city  was  wisely  located  in  the  valley  of  the  Eau  Claire 
river,  three  miles  east  of  it  being  an  area  of  land,  heavi- 


branch  of  the  Eau  Claire  river  and  originally  was  a 
mile  and  a  half  long,  east  and  west,  by  a  mile  in  width, 
north  and  south.  The  attention  of  homesteaders  was 
first  attracted  to  this  country  and  its  surroundings  by 
the  exceptional  quality  of  its  soil  and  its  adaption  to 
agriculture,  then  progressing  under  the  Homestead 
Act.  F.  A.  Deleglise  located  the  site  of  Antigo  in  1877 
and  later  moved  his  family  to  it.  With  him  came 
his  brother-in-law  John  Doersch.  They  were  then 
the  only  white  men  at  or  near  what  is  now  the  city  of 
Antigo. 

The  far  sighted  Mr.  Deleglise  at  once  set  out  to  plat 
a  town,  his  life  ambition  being  to  found  a  city.  It 
was  his  purpose  to  build  a  town  of  500  or  1,000  inhabi- 
tants and  he  felt  that  the  amount  of  timber  in  the  ter- 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


99 


ritory  adjacent  to  his  embryo  village  would  in  short 
time  require  a  mill  to  cut  it.  Thus  a  rising  inland 
town  would  grow  from  out  of  the  wilderness.  The 
country  demanded  it  and  would  therefore  sustain  it. 
Mr.  Deleglise  was  an  able  civil  engineer  and  he  had  his 
own  notions  about  platting  the  village  and  having  it 
look  well.  And  it  may  be  added  that  his  notions  were 
good.  Acting  on  his  own  theories  he  stuck  a  stake 
at  what  he  presumed  to  be  a  good  center,  without  re- 
gard for  section  lines,  and  covered  it  with  brushes  so 
as  it  would  be  unmolested  by  the  new  inhabitants  ar- 
riving. In  the  meantime  he  spent  much  time  perfect- 
ing his  plat  on  paper. 

When  the  founder  of  Antigo  first  arrived  in  the 
wilderness  where  he  later  plated  the  village  of  Antigo, 
the  Milwaukee,  Lake  Shore  &  Western  Railroad  Com- 
pany were  pushing  their  line  north  from  Clintonville 
with  the  city  of  Wausau,  then  a  small  hamlet,  known 
to  be  its  objective.  Beyond  that,  its  course  was  a 
mystery.  The  first  survey  north  from  Eland  Junction 
was  not  made  until  the  fall  and  winter  of  1879-1880. 

F.  A.  Deleglise  began  his  first  survey  of  the  intend- 
ed village  of  Antigo  at  the  south  end  of  what  is  known 
today  as  Virginia  street  on  October  12,  1878,  with  the 
single  assistance  of  his  daughter,  Virginia,  who  was 
born  after  the  return  of  F.  A.  Deleglise  from  the 
Civil  War. 

The  original  plat  of  the  village  of  Antigo  was  filed 
with  the  Register  of  Deeds,  R.  G.  Webb,  at  5.30  p.  m., 
July  10,  1882,  in  the  name  of  Mary  Deleglise,  wife  of 
the  founder  of  the  city.  Niels  Anderson  was  the 
notary  public  who  affixed  his  seal  to  the  historic  plat. 
B.  F.  Dorr  and  Charles  Gowan  were  witnesses.  The 
plat  ran  north  and  south  from  First  to  Tenth  Avenue 
inclusive  and  east  and  west  from  Aurora  street  to 
Lincoln  street,  inclusive. 

The  first  addition  to  the  village  of  Antigo  was 
made  on  March  16,  1883,  when  M.  M.  Ross  was  Regis- 
ter of  Deeds  and  was  called  Daskam's  addition.  The 
second  addition  was  Jone's  first  addition,  made  August 
30,  1883. 

It  may  be  interesting  to  readers  to  know  how  the 
streets  of  Antigo  within  the  original  plat  of  the  vil- 
lage received  their  names  and  why.  This  is  explain- 
ed as  follows : 

THE  CITY  OF  ANTIGO. 

Antigo  received  its  name  from  Nequi-Antigo-Seebeh, 
the  Chippewa  Indian  name  of  Spring  River,  signify- 
ing balsam  evergreen  river  from  the  balsam  evergreen 
that  bordered  the  river. 

THE  STREETS  OF  ANTIGO. 

Aurora — East  boundary  of  original  plat — meaning 
dawn  of  day. 

Watson — Named  after  an  eminent  Wisconsin  astron- 
omer, discoverer  of  the  planet  Vulcan  and  others. 

Virginia — Named  after  Virginia  Deleglise,  daughter 
born  to  F.  A.  and  Mary  Deleglise  after  the  return  of 
the  former  from  Virginia,  where  he  had  served  un- 
der General  Bragg  in  the  Civil  War. 


Hudson — Named  after  Henry  Hudson,  discoverer  of 
Hudson  Bay. 

Arctic — Most  northern  street  in  the  Village  of  An- 
tigo. 

Field — Named  after  C.  H.  Field  to  whose  persever- 
ance mankind  owes  the  laying  of  the  Atlantic  cable. 

Milton — After  the  famous   English  poet,  author  of 
Paradise  Lost  and  Paradise  Regained. 

Weed — Named  after  J.  H.  Weed's — the  largest  saw 
mill  in  Langlade  County. 

Superior — Leading  thoroughfare,  north  and  south — 
on  highway  to  Lake  Superior. 

Clermont — In  honor  of  Robert  Fulton's  steamboat, 
The  Clermont. 

Fulton — After  Robert  Fulton,  inventor  of  the  steam 
boat. 

Edison — After  the  great  inventor,  Thomas  A.  Edi- 
son. 

Reed — After  the  Vice-President  of  the  M.  L.  S.  & 
W.  Railroad. 

Morsel — After  Samuel  F.  B.  Morse,  inventor  of  the 
telegraph  system. 

Dorr — After  B.  F.  Dorr,  assistant  surveyor  of  the 
village  of  Antigo  in  1881-1882. 

Lincoln — After  Abraham  Lincoln — emancipator  of 
four  millions. 

Adantic — After  Atlantic  Ocean. 

Pacific — After  Pacific  Ocean. 

The  Atlantic  was  the  block  between  Fifth  and  Sixth 
Avenues  east  of  the  Milwaukee,  Lake  Shore  &  Western 
railroad  depot.  The  Pacific  was  the  street  between 
the  same  avenues  on  the  west  side  of  the  depot.  Both 
streets,  Atlantic  and  Pacific  and  the  territory  between, 
included  of  course  (the  depot  and  its  grounds),  were 
called  America.  This  no  doubt  signified  that  be- 
tween the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  was  America,  the  con- 
tinent. 

LONG  PLANNED  SETTLEMENT. 

Regarding  the  founding  of  the  city  of  Antigo,  Mr. 
Deleglise  said:  "As  early  as  1857,  I  believed  that 
there  were  openings  in  this  neighborhood  for  several 
prosperous  settlements.  Looking  over  the  map  of 
Wisconsin,  I  came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  valley 
of  the  upper  Embarrass  river  and  of  the  upper  Eau 
Claire  river  would  afford  sites  for  at  least  two  central 
commercial  points,  one  to  be  located  in  the  Embarrass 
country  and  the  other  in  the  Eau  Claire  river  coun- 
try." 

Mr.  Deleglise  had  in  view  a  location  within  a  radius 
of  a  few  miles  around  the  southeastern  corner  of  town 
27,  range  13  east  and  another  in  the  vicinity  of  section 
15,  town  27,  range  12  east,  as  the  eligible  points  in  the 
valley  of  the  Embarrass  river.  He  also  had  in  view  a 
point  at  the  fork  of  the  Eau  Claire  river,  known  as  the 
Ackley  trading  post,'  another  at  Bear  Lake  (now  Elm- 
hurst)  in  town  30,  range  11  east,  also  another  on  sec- 
tion 21,  township  32,  range  11  east  and  another  near 
Mueller's  Lake  in  township  31,  range  12  east. 

1.  The  city  of  Antigo  should  have  been  located  at  the  forks  of  the 
cast  and  west  branches  of  the  Eau  Claire  river.  The  Milwaukee.  Lake 
Shore  &  Western  Railroad  Company  originally  planned  to  construct 
their  road  through  what  is  now  Ackley  Township,   Langlade  County. 


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HISTORY    OF    LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


101 


After  considerable  deliberation,  while  at  Appleton, 
in  the  summer  of  1876,  Mr.  Deleglise  mapped  out  the 
present  plan  of  the  city  of  Antigo  and  determined  up- 
on its  location  as  the  point  for  the  upper  Eau  Claire 
river  valley.  Most  of  the  land  was  entered  in  the 
name  of  his  wife,  Mary  Deleglise,  in  the  fall  of  1877, 
with  $300  received  from  her  parents.  Entry  was 
made  upon  a  contract  with  the  state.  "We  paid  about 
$16  per  forty  acres  down,"  said  Mr.  Deleglise. 

The  founder  of  the  city  built  a  log  shanty  on  lot  13, 
block  35,  of  the  future  village  and  moved  his  family 
into  it.  Thus  his  was  the  first  family  and  the  first 
building  in  the  original  plat  of  the  place.  The  first 
shanty,  however  in  the  neighborhood  was  that  erected 


and  delay,  as  they  could,  the  diversion  of  the  lumber 
business. 

Pioneers  of  Shawano  had  succeeded  in  inducing  the 
legislature  in  1879  to  attach  Antigo  and  New  County 
to  Shawano  County  for  county  and  judicial  purposes. 
This  actually  bound  Antigo,  hand  and  foot,  to  Shawano. 
Twenty  miles  of  woods  separated  Antigo  from  the 
Wolf  River  country,  where  the  town  board  of  Langlade 
township  met.  The  town  board  was  also  antagonistic 
to  citizens  of  Antigo.  This  was  unbearable  and  the 
settlers  of  Antigo  thereupon  devised  a  plan  to  over- 
throw the  town  board  and  elect  officers  with  sympathy 
for  Antigo  and  who  would  afford  the  city  the  op- 
portunity to  grow  that  it  was  entitled  to  by  law. 


LOOKING  EAST  ON  FIFTH  AVENUE  FROM  EDISON    STREET,     ANTIGO,     WIS.,    IN    1922. 

Where  the  oxen  slowly  trudged  in  1870,  the  molerii  automobile  spins  in  1922.  The  Pioneer  "picked 
his  way"  through  marsh  and  mud  by  the  light  of  an  oil  lantern  then.  Forty-three  years  later  Antigo's 
main  street,  lined  with  splendid  brick  buildings,  and  e.xcellently  paved,  is  illuminated  by  a  beautiful  orna- 
mental lighting  system. 


by  Michael  Weix  in  what  is  now  Weix's  addition  to 
the  city  of  Antigo.  In  1878,  there  were  just  eighteen 
people,  including  laborers  and  transients  in  Antigo.  The 
village  of  Antigo  was  originally  included  within  the 
Town  of  Langlade,  Oconto  County.  The  nearest  town 
officers  were  twenty-one  miles  away. 

Mr.  Deleglise  engaged  in  lumbering  operations  and 
as  a  land  and  real  estate  agent  having  had  control  of 
10,000  acres  of  land  within  a  radius  of  ten  miles  of 
Antigo. 

FAMOUS   POLITICAL  EPISODES. 

During  the  early  years  of  the  settlement  of  Antigo, 
the  people  were  apprehensive  of  trouble  with  their 
neighbor,  the  city  of  Shawano.  Antigo  was  destined 
to  rival  and  ultimately  surpass  Shawano  as  a  business 
and  commercial  center.  Shawano  citizens  believed 
that  a  great  deal  of  the  Wolf  River  lumber  business 
would  be  diverted  to  Antigo.  Consequently  this  serv- 
ed as  an  incentive  to  the  people  of  Shawano  to  spare 
no  means  to  prevent  Antigo's  prosperity  and  growth. 


THE  SURPRISE  VOTERS. 
The  Antigoites  kept  very  quiet  on  election  day,  thus 
leading  the  Wolf  River  party  to  think  that  Antigo  citi- 
zens would  not  vote.  The  Antigo  citizens,  starting 
the  day  before  election,  in  that  fine  spring  of  1879, 
camped  out  during  the  night  along  the  road  and  put 
in  their  appearance  late  in  the  afternoon  of  the  fol- 
lowing day  and  won  by  superior  numbers.  The  Lang- 
lade settlement  was  defeated  by  about  six  votes,  their 
strength  being  divided  by  dissension. ^  It  has  been 
said  by  an  old  pioneer  that  the  Langlade  settlers  could 
have  defeated  Antigo  by  challenging  the  vote,  which 
they  did  not  do.  The  total  vote  was  less  than  one 
hundred. 

THE  FIGHT  TO  INCORPORATE  ANTIGO. 

In  1883  an  unsuccessful  fight  was  made  before  the 

State  Legislature  to  incorporate  the  city    of    Antigo. 

The  defeat  was  due  to  dissension  among  the  people  of 

Antigo.       Members  of  the  county  board  not  from  the 

1.  If  the  Langlade  voters  knew  of  the  approach  of  the  Antigo  citi- 
zens they  would  have  temporarily  buried  their  differences  to  save  to 
the  Wolf  River  region  that  political  prestige  which  they  held  so  many 
years. 


102 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


village  of  Antigo  were  opposed  to  its  incorporation 
because  they  disliked  the  idea  of  greater  representa- 
tion of  the  village  on  the  county  board. 

Proponents  of  the  plan  for  incorporation  declared 
that  the  village  should  be  incorporated  as  a  city  be- 
cause the  pro  rata  of  electors  to  each  chairman  of 
the  county  townships  exclusive  of  the  Town  of  Antigo 
was  in  1883,  51  inhabitants.  Thus,  they  argued,  if 
the  village  becomes  a  city,  each  of  the  four  ward  su- 
pervisors would  represent  53  electors.  The  four  su- 
pervisors of  the  city  and  the  Chairman  of  Antigo  town- 
ship would  each  represent  63  electors  and  that  even 
with  the  four  city  supervisors  on  the  board,  that  the 
county  members  opposed,  the  per  cent  of  representa- 
tion would  still  be  in  favor  of  the  townships. 

Two  years  later  in  1885,  Antigo  citizens  led  a  fight 


City  Clerk* — J.  E.  MuUowney. 

Assessor — Frank  M.  Sherman. 

Treasurer — R.  H.  McMuUen. 

Justices  of  the  Peace — Eli  Waste,  John  W.  Wines 
and  E.  R.  Colton. 

The  election  of  Thomas  W.  Lynch,  an  attorney,  as 
Mayor  was  practically  unanimous,  he  receiving  483 
votes  to  3  for  W.  H.  Blinn,  a  jeweler. 

FIRST  ALDERMEN  ELECTED. 

The  first  aldermen  elected  in  Antigo  were  as  fol- 
lows : 

1st  ward — P.  A.  Robinson,  two-year  town;  Louis 
Novotny,  one-year  term. 


THE  OLD  CITY  HALL  AXD  FIRE  DEPARTMEXT 

Of  the  city  of  Antigo  arc  shown  herewith.  This  picture,  taken  in  ISiiO  bj-  C.  B.  McDonald,  shows  the 
frame  building  at  the  intersection  of  Clermont  Street  and  Fifth  .Avenue  (now  the  site  of  the  First  Nation- 
al Bank).  Just  north  of  it  on  Clermont  Street  was  the  store  of  Henry  Berner.  Sr..  and  north  of  that 
building  was  the  old  city  hall  and  fire  department,  (the  building  with  the  steeple  and  bell).  This  photo 
was  taken  on  Memorial  day.  Clermont  Street,  north  of  Third  .Avenue  was  then  being  opened.  The  old 
Tiblu-t   place   (nnw  the   Mnrten  residence)   is  seen   north  of  the  old  city  hall. 


to  have  the  city  incorporated  and  were  successful.  The 
city  was  incorporated  under  chapter  79  of  the  laws  of 
1885  with  four  wards.  The  first  election  was  held 
on  the  first  Tuesday  in  April,  1885.  Inspectors  of 
ward  elections  selected  by  the  act  incorporating  the 
city  were:  1st  ward — H.  G.  Borgman.  2nd  ward — 
B.  F.  Dorr;  3rd  ward — August  Schoepke  and  4th  ward 
— Louis  Mendlik. 

The  first  polling  places  were  held  at:  1st  ward — 
Clithero  &  Strong's  lumber  office  on  Superior  street; 
2nd  ward — Spencer's  Hall  on  5th  Avenue;  3rd  ward — 
At  Sherman  &  Dawley's  office  on  Fifth  Avenue;  4th 
ward — At  Louis  Mendlik's  office  on  Superior  street. 

The  first  officers  elected  under  the  city  charter  were : 

Mayor — Thomas  W.  Lynch, 


2nd  ward — George  Clithero,  two-year  term;  P.  A. 
Koelzer,  one-year  term. 

3rd  ward — D.  W.  Keen,  two-year  term;  John  Saxe, 
one-year  term. 

4th  ward — C.  Taubner,  two-year  term;  G.  C.  Wil- 
liams, one-year  term. 

George  Clithero  was  chosen  first  President  of  the 
city  council  at  the  first  city  council  meeting  held  at 
Spencer's  Hall,  April  13,  1885.  The  first  act  of  the 
council  was  to  create  by  resolution  the  city  of  Antigo 
pursuant  to  the  provisions  and  in  compliance  with 
chapter  79  of  the  laws  of  1885. 

Antigo's  progress  as  a  city  is  discussed  in  another 
chapter,  as  the  opening  of  the  new  form  of  govern- 
ment closed  a  vivid  chapter  in  early  pioneer  life. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


103 


CHAPTER  XXII. 
Hon.  Francis  A.  Deleglise 

Birthplace — Parentage — Early  Life — Coming  To  America — Fought  in  Civil  War — His  Marriage  to 
Mary  Bor — Children — His  Coming  to  the  Valley  cf  the  Eau  Claire  River — His  Death  March  25, 
1894— The  Death  of  Mrs.  Mary  Deleglise. 


On  March  25,  1894,  the  city  of  Antigo  lost  its  most 
illustrous  pioneer,  Hon.  Francis  A.  Deleglise,  known 
widely  to  the  public  as  the  "Father  of  Antigo."  Hon. 
Francis  Augustine  Deleglise  was  born  on  February  10, 
1835,  in  Commune  of  Baynes,  Canton  of  Valais, 
Switzerland,  the  son  of  Maurice  Athanase  and  Cath- 


Township,   Dodge    County,    Wisconsin,   where    she    is 
buried. 

The  father  then  moved  with  his  family  to  Gibson, 
Manitowoc  County,  shortly  after,  moving  to  Belle 
Plain,  Shawano  County.  Maurice  Deleglise  farmed 
here  until  1878  when  he  was  called  by  death.    He  was 


HON.  FR.WCIS  A.  DELEGLISE 

THE  FOUNDER  OF  THE  CITY  OF  ANTIGO 

Born  February   in,   1835.       Died   March  25,  1894. 


erine  (Lang)  Del'Eglise.  The  father  of  Mr.  Dele- 
glise was  one  of  four  brothers  of  the  old  and  highly 
esteemed  Catholic  families  of  Valais  vineyardists. 
Maurice,  the  father  of  the  founder  of  Antigo,  was  a 
teacher  and  surveyor,  he  not  following  the  occupation 
of  his  ancestors.  In  1848  Maurice  Deleglise  emigrat- 
ed to  America,  coming  to  Wisconin  where  he  engag- 
ed in  agriculture.  Pioneer  life  was  hard  and  new  to 
the  teacher  and  surveyor  and  after  five  years'  resi- 
dence his  wife  passed  away  at  their  home  in  Theresa 


buried  in  the  village  of  Antigo,  the  home  of  his  son, 
Francis  A.  Deleglise. 

Francis  A.  Deleglise  was  the  eldest  of  the  three 
children  brought  to  America.  An  older  daughter, 
Catherine,  remained  in  the  native  land.  Young  Fran- 
cis, an  intelligent  student  in  the  Swiss  Canton,  found 
it  necessary  to  aid  his  father  in  their  new  home  in 
America,  and  he  was  largely  responsible  for  much 
of  the  earnings  emptied  into  the  family  purse. 

On  November  29,  1856,  he  was  united  in  marriage 


104 


HISTORY  OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


to  Mary  Bor,  at  Two  Rivers,  Wisconsin.  Mrs.  F.  A. 
Deleglise  was  born  January  1,  1835,  in  Taus,  Boheniia. 
Her  father  died  in  Antigo  in  the  year  1881. 

Francis  A.  Deleglise  answered  the  call  of  President 
Lincoln  for  troops  during  the  Civil  War.  He  enlisted 
June  28,  1861,  in  Appleton,  Wis.,  in  Company  E  of 
the  6th  Wis.  Vol.  Inf.,  under  Captain  Marston.  He 
was  promoted  to  Corporal  and  in  July,  1862,  when 
the  regiment  became  attached  to  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  he  participated  in  many  of  the  struggles  of 
the  famous  "Iron  Brigade"  of  General  Bragg.  At  An- 
tietam,  bloodiest  Civil  War  battle,  he  was  wounded 
September  17,  1862.  During  the  first  day's  fighting 
at  Gettysburg,  he  was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner, 
but  was  later  rescued  by  Union  forces.  On  July  16, 
1864,  he  was  honorably  discharged,  after  gloriously 
serving  the  colors  of  the  North  and  leaving  behind 
a  record  of  a  valiant  soldier.     Mr.  Deleglise  suffered 


be  remembered  as  the  most  public  spirited  Antigo  citi- 
zen of  his  day.  Mr.  Deleglise  was  a  member  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  Church  all  of  his  life.  He  died 
Easter  Sunday,  March  25,  1894,  in  the  loyal  profes- 
sion of  that  faith.  Mrs.  Deleglise  survived  her  hus- 
band fourteen  years,  dying  December  20,  1907. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Deleglise  were  survived  by  five  chil- 
dren of  the  eight  born  to  them.  Those  who  died 
were:  Francis  Joseph,  John  E.,  Henry,  and  Edmond. 
Mrs.  Mary  Teresa  Deresch,  eldest  child,  was  the  first 
white  settler  to  enter  a  government  homestead  in  the 
wilderness  adjacent  to  Antigo.  Mrs.  Deresch  was  for 
many  years  the  only  white  woman  within  a  radius  of 
twenty  miles. 

Mrs.  Sophia  Leslie,  the  wife  of  Sam.  E.  Leslie,  was 
one  of  the  first  Antigo  school  teachers  and  assisted 
her  father  in  platting  the  village  of  Antigo.  She  has 
two  children.  Loyal  I.  and  Cyril. 


THE  F.  A.   DELEGLISE  HOMESTEAD 

The  first  house  in  .Xntigo.  erected  in  1ST7  by  Hon.  Francis  A.  Deleglise. 

The  historic  log  cabin  is  now  preserved  on  the  Antigo  Public 

Library  grounds. 


much  from  exposure  and  wounds  during  the  war  and 
lost  in  weight  from  180  pounds  to  less  than  100 
pounds. 

After  the  Civil  War  he  started  locating  lands  in 
north  central  Wisconsin  and  it  was  then  that  he  se- 
lected the  future  site  of  Antigo.  He  brought  his  fam- 
ily to  Antigo  in  1877,  located  and  platted  the  village, 
more  of  which  is  told  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

Mr.  Deleglise  dealt  largely  in  real  estate  in  Antigo. 
He  was  an  early  Town  Chairman,  the  first  County 
Treasurer,  and  was  elected  to  the  Assembly  in  1892, 
a  Republican  victor  in  the  Democratic  landslide.  Dur- 
ing his  legislative  career  he  made  a  brilliant  record, 
manifesting  his  intelligence  and  his  welfare  for  the 
constituents  whom  he  represented.  He  was  liberal  in 
all  things,  donated  many  sites  to  industries,  churches, 
and  business  interests  in  Antigo.  He  secured  the  first 
storekeeper,  the  first  mill  proprietor  and  banker  who 
came  to  Antigo.     He  was  farsighted  and  will  forever 


Anna  E.  Morrissey,  as  a  girl  of  ten,  accompanied 
her  father,  Antigo's  founder,  to  Langlade  County, 
when  he  brought  with  him  the  first  vanguard  of  set- 
tlers. She  was  the  first  white  child  to  come  to  what 
later  became  the  city  of  Antigo.  Anna  E.  Morrissey, 
wife  of  Thomas  Morrissey,  has  four  children,  Mar- 
garet Virginia,  John  Francis,  Gerald  Deleglise,  and 
May. 

Adelbert  Deleglise  is  unmarried  and  lives  in  Min- 
neapolis. 

Alexius  L.  Deleglise  is  an  able  civil  engineer  and 
has  for  many  years  been  City  Engineer  of  Antigo,  but 
at  the  present  time  is  City  Engineer  at  Merrill,  Wis- 
consin. He  has  three  children,  Margaret,  Irene  and 
Germaine. 

The  Deleglise  family  have  enjoyed  the  respect,  con- 
fidence and  esteem  of  the  citizens  of  Antigo  and  Lang- 
lade County  and  their  place  as  pioneers  is  equalled  only 
by  their  standing  as  citizens. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


105 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

City  of  Antigo  Officials 

First  Mayor — City  Clerks — City  Treasurers — Civil  Engineers — City  Sealers  of  Weights  and  Meas- 
ures— City  Health  Officers — City  Attorneys — Presidents  of  Board  of  Aldermen — City  Marshals — 
Justices  of  the  Peace — Assessors — Street  Commissioners — Chiefs  of  the  Antigo  Paid  Fire  Depart- 
ment— Aldermen — Supervisors. 


ANTIGO  CITY  OFFICIALS— 1922. 

Mayor — Charles  J.  Hanzel. 

City  Clerk — George  O.   Palmiter. 

Treasurer — Frank  Dvorak. 

Deputy  City  Clerk — Edith  Beard. 

City  Attorney — R.  C.  Dempsey. 

City  Nurse — Esther  Bayliss. 

City  Engineer — Frank  Quimby. 

Supt.  of  Water  Dept. — H.  W.  Jackson. 

Councilmen — G.  O.  Palmiter  and  Frank  Dvorak. 

Assessor — John  Menting. 

Marshal — William  Coblentz. 

Deputy  Marshals — Nels  Madsen,  Harry  Morse, 
Robert  Ford  and  John  Utnehmer. 

Health  Officer  and  City  Physician— Dr.  L.  A.  Stef- 
fen. 

Commissioner  of  Poor — Mrs.  H.  V.  Mills. 

Chief  of  Antigo  Fire  Department — Elwin  Billings. 
Asst.  Chief  of  Antigo  Fire   Department — Guy  Rice. 

Board  of  Public  Works — Mayor  Charles  J.  Hanzel, 
G.  O.  Palmiter  and  Frank  Dvorak. 

City  Police  and  Fire  Commissioners — Fred  H. 
Shaw,  M.  T.  Canfield,  Hon.  B.  W.  Rynders,  L.  P. 
Tradewell  and  J.  F.  Weix. 

Unofficial  Advisory  Board  selected  by  the  Mayor — 
A.  K.  Potter,  Wm.  H.  Wolpert,  J.  R.  McQuillan,  Ed- 
ward McCandless,  James  Cody,  Edward  Daskam,  P. 
J.  Dunn,  Al  Duchac,  O.  P.  Walch,  W.  W.  Smith, 
Francis  Brush  and  John  Hessel. 

MAYORS. 

Thomas  W.  Lynch,  1885-86;  M.  M.  Ross,  1886-87; 
D.  W.  Keen,  1887-88;  Thomas  W.  Lynch,  1888-89; 
Dr.  J.  F.  Doyle,  1889-90;  Dr.  I.  D.  Steffen,  1890-91; 
Cassius  F.  Smith,  1891-92;  Dr.  J.  F.  Doyle,  1892-93;  J. 
F.  Albers,  1893-94;  George  W.  Hill,  1894-95;  R.  H. 
McMullen,  1895-98;  John  F.  Dailey,  1898-99;  Dr.  I. 
D.  Steffen,  1899-01;  R.  H.  McMullen,  1901-02;  Thomas 
W.  Hogan,  1902-04;  Fred  Hayssen,  1904-06;  George 
W.  Hill,  1906-08;  Fred  Hayssen,  1908-10;  Burt  W. 
Rynders,  1910-12;  George  W.  Hill,  1912  until  April 
20,  1913,  when  he  died;  Leonard  Frieburger,  1913-14; 
Dr.  L  D.  Steffen,  1914-15;  C.  F.  Calhoun,  1915-17; 
John  Benishek,  1917-20;  Charles  J.  Hanzel,  1920-22, 
(term  unexpired.) 

CITY  CLERKS. 

J.  E.  Mullowney,  1885-87;  Ed.  La  Londe,  1887-89; 
Edward  Case,  1889-90;  Ed.  La  Londe,   1890-91;  Lee 


Waste,  1891-92;  J.  E.  Mullowney,  1892-93;  D.  J.  Ma- 
honey,  1893;  W.  H.  Dawley,  1893;  D.  J.  Mahoney, 
1893-94;  Fred  Hayssen,  1894-95;  D.  J.  Mahoney, 
1895;  Anton  Schultz,  1896-97;  Peter  Chadek,  1897- 
1900;  M.  M.  Ross,  1900-01;  F.  A.  Michaelson,  1901- 
02;  A.  M.  Arveson,  1902-05;  G.  0.  Palmiter,  1905-22 
(term  unexpired). 

CITY  TREASURERS. 

R.  H.  McMullen,  1885-86;  J.  W.  Wines,  1886-87-88- 
89;  George  Schutz,  1889-90;  L.  D.  Dana,  1890-91;  D. 
W.  Keen,  1892-93;  John  McCarthy,  1893-94;  D.  Cle- 
ments, 1894-95-96;  H.  A.  Friedeman,  1897-98;  John 
Wagner,  1899-1900;  J.  J.  Laughlin,  1900-02;  Edward 
Cody,  1902-04;  John  Rezek,  1904-11;  Frank  Dvorak, 
1911-22   (term  unexpired). 

CITY  CIVIL  ENGINEERS. 

B.  F.  Dorr,  1891-1910;  Alex  Deleglise,  1910-12; 
Henry  01k,  1912-16;  N.  H.  Smith,  1916-17;  Alex 
Deleglise,  1917-22;  F.  Quimby,  1922. 

CITY  SEALER  OF  WEIGHTS  AND  MEASURES. 

C.  S.  Leykom,  1914-20;  Alex  Deleglise,  1920-22 
(resigned). 

CITY  HEALTH  OFFICERS. 

Dr.  I.  D.  Steffen,  1889;  Dr.  J.  F.  Doyle,  1891;  Dr. 
J.  H.  Dawley.  1891;  Dr.  J.  F.  Doyle,  1892-93;  Dr.  I. 
D.  Steffen,  1893-94-95;  Dr.  T.  L.  Harrington,  1896; 
Dr.  M.  J.  Lower,  1897;  Dr.  I.  D.  Steffen,  1898;  Dr. 
M.  J.  Lower,  1899;  Dr.  T.  L.  Harrington,  1900-01;  Dr. 
F.  V.  Watson,  1902-03-04-05;  Dr.  G.  C.  Williamson, 
1905-06;  Dr.  G.  L.  Bellis,  1906-07-08;  Dr.  G.  W. 
Moore,  1908-12;  Dr.  J.  C.  Wright,  1912-14;  Dr.  G. 
W.  Moore,  1914-20;  Dr.  L.  A.  Steffen,  1920-22  (term 
unexpired). 

CITY  ATTORNEYS. 

W.  F.  White,  1889-90;  F.  J.  Finucane,  1890-91-92; 
W.  F.  White,  1893-94;  C.  W.  Deane,  1894-95;  F.  J. 
Finucane,  1896-97;  Max  Hoffman,  1898-99-1900-02- 
03;  Henry  Hay,  1903-04-05;  E.  A.  Morse,  1905-06- 
07;  0.  G.  Erickson,  1907-08;  S.  J.  McMahon,  1908-10- 
12;  H.  F.  Morson,  1912-14;  R.  C.  Smelker,  1914;  Geo. 
J.  Bowler,  1914;  F.  J.  Finucane,  1914;  Charles  Avery, 
1914-20;  R.  C.  Dempsey,  1920-22  (term  unexpired.) 


106 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


PRESIDENT  OF  BOARD  OF  ALDERMEN. 

George  Clithero,  1885-86;  D.  W.  Keen,  1886-87;  L. 
Mendlik,  1887-88-89;  W.  H.  Dawley,  1889-90;  J.  E. 
Martin,  1891-92;  T.  D.  Kellogg,  1893-94;  A.  M.  Lan- 
ning.  1895-96;  James  McKenna,  1897-98;  T.  D.  Kel- 
logg, 1898-99-1900-02-03;  Leonard  Freiburger,  Sr., 
1903-04;  W.  F.  White,  1904-05;  James  McKenna, 
1906-07;  James  Steber,  1910-12.  (Automatically  dis- 
pensed of  when  government  by  commission  was  adopt- 
ed.) 

CITY  MARSHALS. 

W.  L.  Crocker,  1885-86;  E.  McKenna,  1887-88-89 
T.  H.  Robbins,  1889-93;  Peter  O'Connor,  1893-94 
Frank  Cunningham,  1895-96;  John  McArthur,  1896-97 
A.  M.  Boll,  1898-99-1900;  John  McArthur,  1902-06 
George  Drake,  1906-08;  William  Coblentz,  1908-22 
(present  incumbent). 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 

Eli  Waste,  E.  R.  Colton,  L.  Mendlik,  1885;  J.  Wines, 
Eli  Waste,  E.  R.  Colton,  1885-86-87;  E.  A.  Challoner, 
1888-89;  D.  S.  Olmsted,  E.  R.  Colton,  A.  D.  Rice, 
1889-91;  J.  Wines,  A.  D.  Rice,  John  O'Hara,  1891;  W. 
F.  Bowman,  1892;  W.  C.  Peterson,  A.  D.  Rice,  James 
Smolk,  1895-96;  W.  C.  Hill,  W.  C.  Peterson,  A.  O. 
Reed,  1897;  J.  V.'.  Wines,  L.  K.  Strong,  1898;  Ed 
Peterson,  John  Ber.ishek,  A.  D.  Rice,  1893;  J.  E.  Buck- 
man,  1900;  A.  D.  Rice,  J.  W.  Merrill,  A.  L.  Ross,  1901- 
02;  Henry  Berr.er,  190^-06;  A.  D.  Rice,  John  Benishek, 
John  Merrill,  1903-04;  B.  W.  Rynders,  Charles  Raess, 
1905-06;  Charles  Raess,  G.  C.  Dickenser,  1907-09; 
Charles  Raess,  John  Benishek,  1910-11-12;  W.  S.  Carr, 
1913-20;  John  Benishek,  1914-22   inclusive. 

ASSESSORS. 

Frank  M.  Sherman,  1885-86;  Ed  Daskam,  1887-88; 
Frank  Allen,  1888-89;  James  Porter,  Joseph  Duchac, 
1889-90;  J.  N.  Kiefer,  John  Benishek,  1891;  J.  H.  Por- 
ter, Joseph  Duchac,  1892;  A.  B.  Hanks,  Charles  Dall- 
man,  1893;  J.  H.  Porter,  Joseph  Duchac,  1896;  A.  M. 
Miller,  John  McGreer,  1897;  Charles  Dallman,  John 
Menting,  1898;  A.  M.  Miller,  John  Hafner,  Joseph 
Duchac,  1899;  J.  W.  Allerton,  1899;  J.  Hafner,  Joseph 
Duchac,  1900;  John  McGreer,  A.  M.  Miller,  1901;  W. 
C.  Hill,  Henry  Mitchell,  1903-04;  John  Benishek,  1904; 
George  French,  John  Benishek,  1906-08;  Edward  La 
Londe,  James  Mitchell,  1908-10;  John  Menting,  George 
Bemis,  1910-12;  John  Menting,  Alex  Rodgers.  1913- 
14;  John  Menting,  1914-1922. 

CITY  STREET  COMMISSIONERS. 

First  Ward,  Chas.  Teipner;  Second  Ward,  Dennis 
McCarthy;  Third  Ward,  Edward  Boyle;  Fourth  Ward, 
John  Riede,  1885;  First  Ward,  Chas.  Teipner;  Second 
Ward,  Jos.  Firminhac;  Third  Ward,  Edward  Luce; 
Fourth  Ward,  John  Riede,  1886;  First  Ward,  Chas. 
Teipner;  Second  Ward,  Jos.  Firminhac;  Third  Ward, 
John  Riede;  First  Ward,  E.  Newberry;  Second  Ward, 


Chas.  Teipner;  Third  Ward,  James  Brennan;  Fourth 
Ward,  John  Mader;  Fifth  Ward,  P.  Fishback;  Sixth 
Ward,  Chas.  O'Connor,  1889;  First  Ward,  B.  Stage; 
Second  Ward,  Chas.  Teipner;  Third  Ward,  Chas.  Clif- 
ford; Fourth  Ward,  Edward  Boyle;  1890;  L.  Corrigan, 
1893-1905;  J.  E.  Barker,  1905;  L.  Corrigan,  1905-07; 
H.  Byrnes,  1908-12;  Charles  McCandless,  1912-14; 
Henry  01k,  1914;  Fred  Schmeisser,  1920-22. 

CHIEFS  OF  ANTIGO  PAID  FIRE  DEPARTMENT. 

G.  O.  Palmiter,  1902-04;  Daniel  Leonard,  1904-05- 
06;  F.  Ebert,  1907-12;  Elwin  Billings,  1912-22. 

ALDERMEN,  CITY  OF  ANTIGO,  1885-1914. 

Supervisors  served  as  Aldermen  of  the  city  as  we'l 
as  on  the  County  Board.  Therefore  the  Supervisors 
are  not  listed  again  with  the  Aldermen  herewith  giv- 
en, but  are  recorded  separately.  Aldermen  from  1885 
to  1914  when  the  government  by  commission  was  in- 
stituted were :  First  Ward,  P.  A.  Robinson,  Louis 
Novotny;  Second  Ward,  George  C'ithero,  P.  A.  Koel- 
zer;  Third  Ward,  D.  W.  Keen,  John  Saxe;  Fourth 
Ward,  C.  Taubner,  G.  C.  Williams— 1885.  First  Ward, 
W.  F.  Bowman;  Second  Ward,  J.  S.  Clancey,  Ben  Spen- 
cer; Third  Ward,  N.  Boll;  Fourth  Ward,  S.  E.  Leslie— 
1886.  First  Ward,  Louis  Novotny;  Second  Ward,  W. 
F.  Bowman;  Third  Ward,  F.  C.  Meyers;  Fourth  Ward, 
F.  Randall— 1887.  First  Ward,  lohn  Thursby;  Second 
Ward,  J.  Weinfeldt;  Third  Ward,  Wm.  B.  Johns; 
Fourth  Ward,  C.  Becklirger;  Fiah  Ward,  P.  J.  Koel- 
zer— 1888-89.  First  Ward,  Gabe  Kaplane't;  Second 
Ward,  H.  C.  Humphrey;  Third  Ward,  M.  F.  Crowe; 
Fourth  Ward,  C.  F.  Dallman;  Fifth  Ward,  W.  C.  Peter- 
son; Sixth  Ward,  Leonard  Freiburger — 1889.  First 
Ward,  J.  Wines;  Second  Ward,  H.  C.  Humphrey; 
Third  Ward,  M.  F.  Crowe;  Fourth  Ward,  Jas.  B.  Mc- 
Cormick;  Fifth  Ward.  C.  M.  Beattie;  Sixth  Ward,  M. 
McNeil— 1890.  First  Ward,  W.  S.  Morgan;  Second 
Ward,  Charles  Teipner;  Third  Ward,  John  Kevin; 
Fourth  Ward,  F.  C.  Meyer;  Fifth  Ward,  George  Perry; 
Sixth  Ward,  Samuel  Roake— 1891.  First  Ward,  P.  J. 
Millard;  Second  Ward,  J.  E.  Buckman;  Third  Ward, 
R.  Rice;  Fourth  Ward,  C.  F.  Pohlman;  Fifth  Ward, 
George  P.  Perry;  Sixth  Ward,  Ed  Gunnon— 1892-93. 
First  Ward,  Ed.  Cleary;  Second  Ward,  A.  M.  Lanning; 
Third  Ward,  M.  F.  Crowe;  Fourth  Ward,  Fred  Ebert; 
Fifth  Ward,  G.  O.  Palmiter;  Sixth  Ward,  C.  0.  Marsh 
—1893-94.  First  Ward,  F.  P.  Ver  Bryck;  Second 
Ward,  A.  M.  Lanning;  Third  Ward,  John  Folk;  Fourth 
Ward,  Fred  Ebert;  Fifth  Ward,  F.  C.  Meyer,  A.  Mil- 
lard; Sixth  Ward,  James  Clements— 1895-96.  First 
Ward,  F.  P.  Ver  Bryck;  Second  Ward,  Henry  Findei- 
sen;  Third  Ward,  D.  Driscoll ;  Fourth  Ward,  William 
Yentz;  Fifth  Ward,  J.  C.  Phelps;  Sixth  Ward,  J.  J. 
Laughlin— 1896.  First  Ward,  F.  P.  Ver  Bryck;  Sec- 
ond Ward,  A.  R.  Billings;  Third  Ward,  D.  Driscoll; 
Fourth  Ward,  William  Yentz;  Fifth  Ward,  J.  C. 
Phelps;  Sixth  Ward,  J.  J.  Laughlin— 1897.  First 
Ward,  Louis  Beyer;  Second  Ward,  A.  R.  Billings; 
Third  Ward,  J.  Below;  Fourth  Ward,  A.   P.  Church; 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


107 


Fifth  Ward,  F.  C.  Meyer;  Sixth  Ward,  William  Ber- 
r.er— 1898.  First  Ward,  F.  P.  Ver  Bryck;  Second 
Ward,  M.  F.  Crowe;  Third  Ward,  Frank  Wagner; 
Fourth  Ward,  Theodore  Kupper;  Fifth  Ward,  Carl 
Krause;  Sixth  Ward,  Henry  Mitchell— 1899.  First 
Ward,  F.  P.  Ver  Bryck;  Second  Ward,  J.  W.  AUerton; 
Third  Ward,  Julius  Below;  Fourth  Ward,  Leo  Hittle; 
Fifth  Ward,  Carl  Krause;  Sixth  Ward,  N.  R.  Bab- 
cock — 1900.  First  Ward,  Wm.  Carrier;  Second  Ward, 
J.  W.  Allerton;  Third  Ward,  R.  M.  Briggs;  Fourth 
Ward,  George  Basl;  Fifth  Ward,  H.  Brecklin;  Sixth 
Ward,  John  Rezek— 1901-02.  First  Ward,  F.  P.  Ver 
Bryck;  Second  Ward,  M.  F.  Crowe;  Third  Ward,  J.  J. 
Tessar;  Fourth  Ward,  Theodore  Kupper;  Fifth  Ward, 
John  Benishek;  Sixth  Ward,  John  01k— 1902-03.  First 
Ward,  F.  P.  Ver  Bryck;  Second  Ward,  M.  F.  Crowe; 
Third  Ward,  Herman  Schlundt;  Fourth  Ward,  Theo- 
dore Kupper;  Fifth  Ward,  John  Benishek;  Sixth  Ward, 
John  01k— 1903-04.  First  Ward,  George  French;  Sec- 
ond Ward,  Fred  Moses;  Third  Ward,  James  Steber; 
Fourth  Ward,  Hugh  Byrne;  Fifth  Ward,  G.  O.  Palmi- 
ter;  Sixth  Ward,  John  01k— 1904-05.  First  Ward,  F. 
P.  Ver  Bryck;  Second  Ward,  Fred  W.  Bauter;  Third 
Ward,  Frank  Glugla;  Fourth  Ward,  George  Basl;  Fifth 
Ward,  George  Drake;  Sixth  Ward,  John  01k— 1905- 
06.  First  Ward,  J.  H.  Hopkins;  Second  Ward,  H.  A. 
Baldwin;  Third  Ward,  James  McCormick;  Fourth 
Ward,  Leo  Hittle;  Fifth  Ward,  W.  E.  Butterfield;  Sixth 
Ward,  Jos.  Wirig- 1906-07.  First  Ward,  R.  M.  Kutch- 
ins;  Second  Ward,  John  McGreer;  Third  Ward,  James 
McCormick;  Fourth  Ward,  Leo  Hittle;  Fifth  Ward,  J. 
W.  Pitcher;  Sixth  Ward,  Joseph  Wirig— 1907-08.  First 
Ward,  John  Ainsworth;  Second  Ward,  John  McGreer; 
Third  Ward,  James  F.  McCormick;  Fourth  Ward,  Leo 
Hittle;  Fifth  Ward,  J.  W.  Pitcher;  Sixth  Ward,  Joseph 
Wirig— 1908-09.  First  Ward,  J.  W.  Hopkins;  Second 
Ward,  Joseph  Dubois;  Third  Ward,  James  Steber; 
Fourth  Ward,  James  McKenna;  Fifth  Ward,  J.  G.  Kou- 
delka;  Sixth  Ward,  B.  W.  Rynders— 1909.  First  Ward, 
R.  Healy,  Sr. ;  Second  Ward,  Lee  Waste;  Third  Ward, 
James  Steber;  Fourth  Ward,  James  McKenna;  Fifth 
Ward,  J.  Herman;  Sixth  Ward,  John  A.  Ogden— 1910. 
First  Ward,  Walter  Guile;  Second  Ward,  Lee  Waste; 
Third  Ward,  James  Steber;  Fouth  Ward,  Harvey  Nel- 
son; Fifth  Ward,  T.  J.  Roberts;  Sixth  Ward,  Joseph 
Wirig— 1911.  First  Ward,  Walter  Guile;  Second 
Ward,  John  McGreer;  Third  Ward,  James  Steber; 
Fourth  Ward,  Harvey  Nelson;  Fifth  Ward,  V.  O'Con- 
nor; Sixth  Ward,  Joseph  Wirig — 1912.  First  Ward, 
R.  Healy,  Sr. ;  Second  Ward,  John  McGreer;  Third 
Ward,  James  Steber;  Fourth  Ward,  Harvey  Nelson; 
Fifth  Ward,  V.  O'Connor;  Sixth  Ward,  Joseph  Wirig — 
1913.  First  Ward,  R.  Healy,  Sr.;  Second  Ward,  John 
McGreer;  Third  Ward,  James  Steber;  Fourth  Ward, 
Frank  Reindl;  Fifth  Ward,  Charles  Tuma;  Sixth  Ward, 
Joseph  Wirig — 1914. 

(Government  by  Commission  adopted  by  referen- 
dum vote  of  people,  thus  abolishing  Aldermanic  sys- 
tem of  government  after  29  years'  service.) 

WARD  SUPERVISORS,  CITY  OF  ANTIGO, 
1885-1922. 
Supervisors  of   the  various  wards  of  Antigo   since 


1885,  when  the  city  was  incorporated,  were  as  follows: 
First  Ward,  J.  C.  Lewis;  Second  Ward,  E.  Daskam; 
Third  Ward,  W.  H.  Dawley;  Fourth  Ward,  E.  R.  Van 
Buren — 1885.  First  Ward,  J.  C.  Lewis;  Second  Ward, 
Ed  Daskam;  Third  Ward,  W.  H.  Dawley;  Fourth 
Ward,  N.  Bangs— 1886.  First  Ward,  A.  B.  Millard; 
Second  Ward,  J.  E.  Martin;  Third  Ward,  A.  L.  Ross; 
Fourth  Ward,  W.  H.  Dawley;  Fifth  Ward,  S.  E.  Les- 
lie— 1887.  First  Ward,  George  L.  Schintz;  Second 
Ward,  George  W.  Latta;  Third  Ward,  J.  B.  McCor- 
mick; Fourth  Ward,  W.  H.  Dawley;  Filth  Ward,  S. 
E.  Leslie— 1888.  First  Ward,  George  W.  Hill;  Second 
Ward,  G.  W.  Latta;  Third  Ward,  Joseph  Fermanich; 
Fourth  Ward,  J.  B.  McCormick;  Fifth  Ward,  W.  H. 
Dawley;  Sixth  Ward,  H.  A.  Kohl— 1889.  First  Ward, 
Edward  Cleary;  Second  Ward,  R.  H.  McMuUen;  Third 
Ward,  A.  McMillan;  Fourth  Ward,  J.  B.  McCormick; 
Fifth  Ward,  W.  H.  Dawley;  Sixth  Ward,  S.  E.  Les- 
lie—1890.  First  Ward,  R.  J.  Morgan;  Second  Ward, 
J.  E.  Martin;  Third  Ward,  W.  B.  Johns;  Fourth  Ward, 
M.  M.  Ross;  Fifth  Ward,  J.  L.  Klock;  Sixth  Ward,  S. 
E.  Leslie— 1891.  First  Ward,  George  W.  Hill;  Second 
Ward,  I.  D.  Steffen;  Third  Ward,  James  Steber; 
Fourth  Ward,  A.  P.  Church;  Fifth  Ward,  J.  L.  Klock; 
Sixth  Ward,  M.  A.  McNeil— 1892.  First  Ward,  T.  D. 
Kellogg;  Second  Ward,  J.  C.  Lewis;  Third  Ward, 
James  Steber;  Fourth  Ward,  J.  McKenna;  Fifth  Ward, 
A.  M.  Millard;  Sixth  Ward,  H.  G.  Borgman— 1893. 
First  Ward,  T.  D.  Kellogg;  Second  Ward,  J.  C.  Lewis; 
Third  Ward,  J.  Nickle;  Fourth  Ward,  James  McKenna; 
Fifth  Ward,  John  Benishek;  Sixth  Ward,  H.  G.  Borg- 
man— 1894.  First  Ward,  W.  S.  Morgan;  Second  Ward, 
L.  K.  Strong;  Third  Ward,  James  Steber;  Fourth 
Ward,  M.  V.  Elliott;  Fifth  Ward,  A.  M.  Millard;  Sixth 
Ward,  Leonard  Freiburger,  Sr. — 1895.  First  Ward,  P. 
J.  Koelzer;  Second  Ward,  Charles  Teipner;  Third 
Ward,  A.  McMillan;  Fourth  Ward,  James  McKenna; 
Fifth  Ward,  G.  O.  Palmiter;  Sixth  Ward,  L.  Freiburg- 
er, Sr.— 1896-97.  First  Ward,  T.  D.  Kellogg;  Second 
Ward,  J.  L.  Klock;  Third  Ward,  George  Schafer; 
Fourth  Ward,  Frank  Reindl;  Fifth  Ward,  James  Mc- 
Hale;  Sixth  Ward,  Leonard  Freiburger,  Sr.— 1898-99. 
First  Ward,  T.  D.  Kellogg;  Second  Ward,  John  Mc- 
Greer; Third  Ward,  James  Steber;  Fourth  Ward,  Fred 
Ebert;  Fifth  Ward,  John  Kestly;  Sixth  Ward,  Leonard 
Freiburger,  Sr.— 1900-01.  First  Ward,  C.  E.  Hen- 
shaw;  Second  Ward,  Charles  Teipner;  Third  Ward, 
W.  B.  Johns;  Fourth  Ward,  James  McKenna;  Fifth 
Ward,  J.  C.  Phelps;  Sixth  Ward,  L.  Freiburger,  Sr. — 
1901-02.  First  Ward,  Louis  Beyer;  Second  Ward,  G. 
W.  Hill;  Third  Ward,  J.  J.  Tessar;  Fourth  Ward,  F. 
Riendl;  Fifth  Ward,  J.  Schlemmer;  Sixth  Ward,  L. 
Freiburger,  Sr.— 1903-04.  First  Ward,  W.  F.  White; 
Second  Ward,  W.  J.  Knott;  Third  Ward,  Edgar  Neff; 
Fourth  Ward,  F.  Riendl;  Fifth  Ward,  L.  D.  Hartford; 
Sixth  Ward,  Thomas  Morrissey — 1904-05.  First  Ward, 
J.  J.  French;  Second  Ward,  R.  Koebke;  Third  Ward, 
Edgar  Neff;  Fourth  Ward,  M.  M.  Ross;  Fifth  Ward, 
R.  J.  Morgan;  Sixth  Ward,  L.  Freiburger,  Sr.^ — 1905- 
06.  First  Ward,  J.  J.  French;  Second  Ward,  R.  Koeb- 
ke; Third  Ward,  James  Steber;  Fourth  Ward,  James 


108 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


McKenna;  Fifth  Ward,  Thomas  Schmitz;  Sixth  Ward, 
J.  L.  Klock,  1906-07.  First  Ward,  J.  J.  French;  Second 
Ward,  R.  Koebke;  Third  Ward,  James  Steber;  Fourth 
Ward,  James  McKenna;  Fifth  Ward,  Thomas  Schmitz; 
Sixth  Ward,  J.  L.  Klock— 1907-08.  First  Ward,  J.  H. 
Hopkins;  Second  Ward,  Joseph  Dubois;  Third  Ward, 
James  Steber;  Fourth  Ward,  James  McKenna;  Fifth 
Ward,  H.  A.  Friedeman;  Sixth  Ward,  B.  W.  Rynders 
—1908-09.  First  Ward,  R.  Healy,  Sr.;  Second  Ward, 
John  McGreer;  Third  Ward,  Julius  Below;  Fourth 
Ward,  Frank  Riendl;  Fifth  Ward,  G.  J.  Buchen;  Sixth 
Ward,  Joseph  Wirig— 1909-10.  First  Ward,  Walter 
Guile;  Second  Ward,  John  McGreer;  Third  Ward,  Jul- 
ius Below;  Fourth  Ward,  Frank  Riendl;  Fifth  Ward, 
T.  J.  Roberts;  Sixth  Ward,  Joseph  Wirig— 1910-11. 
First  Ward,  Richard  Healy,  Sr. ;  Second  Ward,  John 
McGreer;  Third  Ward,  Julius  Below;  Fourth  Ward, 
Frank  Riendl;  Fifth  Ward,  Charles  Tuma;  Sixth  Ward, 
J.  J.  Laughlin— 1911-12.  First  Ward,  Walter  Guile; 
Second  Ward,  Lee  Waste;  Third  Ward,  Julius  Below; 
Fourth  Ward,  Frank  Riendl;  Filth  Ward,  Charles 
Tuma;  Sixth  Ward,  J.  J.  Laughlin— 1912-13.  First 
Ward,  W.  A.  Maertz;  Second  Ward,  Lee  Waste;  Third 
Ward,  Julius  Below;  Fourth  Ward,  Frank  Riendl;  Fifth 
Ward,  Charles  Tuma;  Sixth  Ward,  J.  J.  Laughlin — 
1913-14.  First  Ward,  W.  A.  Maertz;  Second  Ward,  H. 
A.  Baldwin;  Third  Ward,  Julius  Below;  Fourth  Ward, 


A.  L.  Lauby;  Fifth  Ward,  L.  D.  Hartford;  Sixth  Ward, 
Leonard  Freiburger,  Sr. — 1914-15.  First  Ward,  Rich- 
ard Healy,  Sr. ;  Second  Ward,  Lee  Waste;  Third  Ward, 
Julius  Below;  Fourth  Ward,  A.  L.  Lauby;  Fifth  Ward, 
L.  D.  Hartford;  Sixth  Ward,  Leonard  Freiburger,  Sr. 
—1915-16.  First  Ward,  R.  E.  Krause;  Second  Ward, 
H.  A.  Baldwin;  Third  Ward,  Julius  Below;  Fourth 
Ward,  A.  L.  Lauby;  Fifth  Ward,  Charles  Tuma;  Sixth 
Ward,  Leonard  Freiburger,  Sr. — 1916-17.  First  Ward, 
Richard  Healy,  Sr. ;  Second  Ward,  H.  A.  Baldwin; 
Third  Ward,  Joseph  Stengl ;  Fourth  Ward,  A.  L.  Lau- 
by; Fifth  Ward,  Charles  Tuma;  Sixth  Ward,  L.  Frei- 
burger, Sr.— 1917-18.  First  Ward,  R.  Healy,  Sr.;  Sec- 
ond Ward,  H.  A.  Baldwin;  Third  Ward,  Joseph  Stengl; 
Fourth  Ward,  James  McKenna;  Fixth  Ward,  Charles 
Tuma;  Sixth  Ward,  Leonard  Freiburger,  Sr. — 1918-19. 
First  Ward,  Richard  Healy,  Sr.;  Second  Ward,  H.  A. 
Baldwin;  Third  Ward,  Joseph  Stengl;  Fourth  Ward, 
James  McKenna;  Fifth  Ward,  Charles  Tuma;  Sixth 
Ward,  Leonard  Freiburger,  Sr. — 1919-20.  First  Ward, 
Richard  Healy,  Sr. ;  Second  Ward,  H.  A.  Baldwin; 
Third  Ward,  Joseph  Stengl;  Fourth  Ward,  James  Mc- 
Kenna; Fifth  Ward,  L.  D.  Hartford;  Sixth  Ward, 
Leonard  Freiburger,  Sr.— 1920-21.  First  Ward,  Rich- 
ard Healy,  Sr. ;  Second  Ward,  L.  A.  Maier;  Third 
Ward,  James  Steber;  Fourth  Ward,  James  McKenna; 
Fifth  Ward,  L.  D.  Hartford;  Sixth  Ward,  Leonard 
Freiburger,  Sr.— 1921-22. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


109 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 
Original  Charter  of  the  City  of  Antigo 

Ward  Boundaries — Four  Wards — Elective  Officers — The  First  Election — General  Elections — Pow- 
ers and  Duties  of  the  Common  Council — Poll  Tax — Oificers — Their  Duties  and  Powers — Ordi- 
nances— Procedure  for  Violation  of  Ordinances — Schools — Streets — The  General  Charter  of 
1905. 


The  original  charter  of  the  city  of  Antigo  is  to  the 
citizens  of  Antigo  what  the  Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence is  to  the  nation  at  large  or  what  the  constitution 
of  Wisconsin  is  to  the  citizens  of  the  state  in  general. 
The  original  charter  of  the  city  of  Antigo  is  the  very 
foundation  upon  which  the  city  was  created.  The  gov- 
ernment of  Antigo  has  and  continues  to  be,  in  most- 
respects,  in  accord  with  this  original  document.  As  a 
matter  of  record  the  complete  charter  is  given  here- 
with. 

THE  ORIGINAL  CHARTER  OF  THE  CITY  OF 
ANTIGO. 

CHAPTER   I. 

Section  1.  All  that  district  of  territory  in  the  Coun- 
ty of  Langlade  hereinafter  described  shall  be  a  city 
by  the  name  of  Antigo,  and  the  people  now  inhabiting 
and  those  who  shall  inhabit  said  district,  shall  be  a 
municipal  corporation  by  the  name  of  Antigo,  and  shall 
have  the  general  powers  possessed  by  municipal  cor- 
porations at  common  law,  and  in  addition  thereto  shall 
have  and  possess  the  powers  hereinafter  specifically 
granted,  and  the  authorities  thereof  shall  have  perpet- 
ual succession,  and  shall  be  capable  of  contracting 
and  being  contracted  with,  suing  and  being  sued,  plead- 
ing and  being  impleaded  in  all  courts  of  law  and  equi- 
ty, and  shall  have  a  common  seal  and  may  change  and 
alter  the  same  at  pleasure. 

Section  2.  All  the  district  of  the  county  included  in 
section  number  twenty-nine,  in  township  number  thirty- 
one  north,  of  range  eleven  east  of  the  fourth  principal 
meridian,  and  also  the  east  one-half  of  section  number 
thirty,  in  township  number  thirty-one  north,  of  range 
eleven  east  of  the  fourth  principal  meridian. 

CHAPTER  II. 

WARD     BOUNDARIES. 

Section  1.  The  city  of  Antigo  shall  be  divided  into 
four  wards,  as  follows  : 

First  Ward. — The  first  ward  shall  comprise  all  that 
part  of  section  number  twenty-nine  aforesaid,  which 
lies  north  of  the  center  line  of  Fifth  Avenue,  prolong- 
ed to  the  east  line  of  said  section,  and  east  of  the  center 
line  of  Clermont  Street,  prolonged  to  the  north  line  of 
said  section. 

Second  Ward. — The  Second  Ward  shall  comprise  all 
of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  number  thirty  afore- 
said, with  all  that  part  of  section  number  twenty-nine 


which  lies  north  of  the  center  line  of  Fifth  Avenue,  and 
west  of  the  center  line  of  Clermont  Street,  prolonged  to 
the  north  line  of  said  section. 

Third  Ward. — The  Third  Ward  shall  comprise  all  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  number  thirty  aforesaid 
with  all  that  part  of  section  number  twenty-nine,  which 
lies  north  of  the  center  line  of  Fifth  Avenue,  and  west 
of  the  center  line  of  Clermont  Street. 

Fourth  Ward. — The  Fourth  Ward  shall  comprise  all 
that  part  of  section  number  twenty-nine  aforesaid 
which  lies  south  of  the  center  line  of  Fifth  Avenue,  pro- 
longed to  the  east  line  of  said  section,  and  east  of  the 
center  line  of  Clermont  Street. 

CHAPTER    III. 

ELECTIVE   OFFICERS. 

Section  1.  The  elective  officers  of  the  said  city  shall 
be  a  mayor,  clerk,  treasurer,  assessor,  one  school  com- 
missioner, and  three  justices  of  peace,  from  the  city 
at  large,  and  two  aldermen,  two  school  commissioners, 
one  supervisor,  and  one  street  commissioner  from  each 
ward. 

Section  2.  All  the  officers  elected  from  the  city  at 
large,  except  justices  of  the  peace,  shall  hold  their  of- 
fices for  one  year,  or  until  their  successors  are  elected 
and  qualified.  Justices  of  the  peace  shall  hold  their 
offices  for  two  years. 

Section  3.  All  the  elective  officers  from  the  city  at 
large,  and  the  aldermen,  school  commissioners  and  su- 
pervisors from  each  ward,  shall  be  qualified  voters, 
electors  and  freeholders  in  said  city,  and  the  ward 
officers  shall  be  freeholders  in  the  ward  where  elected. 

Section  4.  The  school  commissioners  from  the  sev- 
eral wards  and  aldermen  shall  hold  their  offices  for  two 
years,  and  the  street  commissioner  and  supervisor  for 
one  year. 

Section  5.  At  the  first  election  in  said  city  one  of 
the  aldermen  and  one  of  the  school  commissioners  in 
each  ward  shall  be  elected  for  one  year,  and  one  for 
two  years,  the  ballots  to  designate  the  term  of  office 
of  each.  Thereafter  at  the  annual  municipal  election 
each  ward  shall  elect  one  alderman  and  one  school 
commissioner,  who  shall  hold  their  respective  office  for 
two  years. 

Section  6.  Whenever  a  vacancy  occurs  in  the  office 
of  mayor,  aldermen  or  justices,  each  or  such  vacancy 
shall  be  filled  by  a  new  election,  which  shall  be  ordered 
by  the  common  council  within  ten  days  after  such  va- 
cancy shall  occur.      Any  vacancy  happening  in  any  of- 


no 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


fice  shall  be  filled  by  the  comnnon  cour.cil.  The 
person  elect  to  fill  in  any  such  vacancy  shall  hold  the  of- 
fice and  discharge  the  duties  thereof  for  the  unexpired 
term,  and  shall  be  subject  to  the  same  liabilities  as  the 
person  whose  office  he  may  be  elected  or  appointed  to 
fill. 

Section  7.  Every  officer  or  agent,  who  shall  be  ap- 
pointed by  the  common  council,  may  be  summarily 
removed,  by  a  vote  of  two-thirds  of  all  of  the  members 
of  the  common  council  elect,  and  the  office  declared 
vacant.  No  other  officer  shall  be  removed  from  office, 
except  for  good  cause,  nor  unless  furnished  with 
charges,  and  an  opportunity  given  such  officer  to  be 
heard  in  his  defense.  The  common  council  shall  have 
power  to  compel  any  and  all  persons  in  said  city  to  ap- 
pear before  it  and  testify,  in  any  hearing  or  proceed- 
ing instituted  to  remove  from  office  any  officer  men- 
tioned in  this  act,  or  any  agent  under  said  city  govern- 
ment for  any  violation  of  duty,  or  of  any  provisions  of 
this  act,  or  of  any  ordinarxe,  resolution  rule,  order, 
regulation,  or  by-law  of  the  common  council  of  said 
city,  either  of  omission  or  commission  and  such  viola- 
tion shall  be  cause  for  removal,  and  to  revoke  and  va- 
cate any  license  granted  under  this  act,  and  for  that 
purpose  said  council  may  make  its  order  command- 
ing. The  person  or  persons  therein  named  to 
appear  before  it  and  testify,  which  order  shall 
be  certified  by  the  clerk  of  the  said  city,  under 
the  corporate  seal  thereof,  and  personally  served  on 
the  person  or  persons  therein  named  by  delivering  to 
each  a  true  copy  thereof,  and  for  the  purpose  of  com- 
pelling such  appearance  before  it,  and  the  giving  of  the 
testimony  on  such  hearing  or  proceeding  the  said  com- 
mon council  is  hereby  vested  with  the  same  power 
and  authority  possessed  by  any  court  of  record  in  this 
state,  and  any  violation  or  disobedience  to  the  com- 
mands or  requirements  of  a  subpoena  issued  out  of 
any  court  of  record  in  this  state.  The  common 
council  shall  proceed  to  said  hearing  within  ten  days 
•from  the  service  of  the  charges  upon  the  officers  as 
charged,  and  may  adjourn  from  time  to  time,  as  may 
be  deemed  necessary  and  if  such  officer  neglects  to  ap- 
pear and  answer  to  such  charges,  or  if  such  charges 
are  sustained,  then  the  common  council  may,  by  a  two- 
thirds  vote  of  the  whole  council,  remove  such  officer 
and  declare  such  office  vacant. 

ELIGIBILITY    TO     OFFICE    AND    QUALIFICA- 
TIONS OF  OFFICERS. 

Section  8.  No  person  shall  be  eligible  to  any  office 
of  said  city  unless  he  shall  be  a  resident  elector  of  said 
city,  nor  to  any  of  the  ward  offices,  unless  he  be  a  resi- 
dent elector  and  freeholder  of  the  ward  for  which  such 
officer  is  to  be  chosen,  and  otherwise  qualified  to  per- 
form the  duties  of  office  to  which  he  may  be  elected  or 
appointed;  and  whenever  any  person,  elected  to  any 
city  office,  shall  remove  from  the  city  or  any  ward  offi- 
cer shall  be  removed  from  the  ward  in  which  he  holds 
office,  he  shall  be  deemed  thereby  to  have  vacated  his 
office. 

Section  9.     Every  person  elected  or  appointed  to  any 


office  of  said  city  or  the  wards  thereof  shall,  before, 
he  enters  upon  the  duties  thereof,  take  and  subscribe 
the  oath  of  office  required  by  the  constitution  of  the 
state,  before  some  proper  officer,  and  file  the  same 
with  the  city  clerk,  within  ten  days  after  notification 
of  election. 

Section  10.  The  city  clerk,  city  treasurer,  city  mar- 
shal, justices  of  the  peace,  and  such  other  officers 
as  the  common  council  may  direct,  shall  severally,  be- 
fore they  enter  upon  the  duties  of  their  respective  of- 
fices, execute  to  the  city  of  Antigo,  a  bond,  with  at 
least  two  sufficient  sureties,  which  bond  shall  contain 
such  penal  sum  and  such  conditions  as  the  common 
council  shall  prescribe.  Such  bonds,  together  with 
the  affidavits  of  the  sureties  hereinafter  provided,  shall 
be  filed  with  the  city  clerk  and  recorded  in  books  in 
his  office  for  that  purpose. 

Section  11.  Sufficiency  of  the  snreties  upon  bonds, 
provided  for  in  the  next  preceding  section,  may  be  de- 
termined by  the  affidavits  of  the  sureties,  severally 
taken,  in  which  affidavits  it  shall  appear  that  said  sure- 
ties, in  the  aggregate,  are  worth,  in  property,  over  and 
above  all  debts,  exemptions  and  liabilities,  the  penal 
amount  of  such  bond,  or  the  common  council  may,  in 
any  other  manner,  aside  from  the  affidavits  of  such 
sureties,  determine  their  responsibility  and  sufficiency, 
and  either  accept  or  reject  such  sureties,  or  require 
other  additional  sureties. 

Section  12.  The  common  council  shall,  at  any  and 
all  times,  have  the  power  to  require  other  or  addition- 
al official  bonds,  over  or  additional  sureties  thereof,  at 
any  time  during  the  official  term  of  any  officer  of  said 
city. 

Section  13.  Every  person  elected  or  appointed  to 
any  office  in  said  city,  who  shall  neglect  to  take  and 
file  with  the  city  clerk  his  oath  of  office,  as  herein 
required,  or  neglect  to  file  his  official  bond  as  provid- 
ed by  this  act,  or  as  may  be  required  by  the  common 
council,  within  ten  days  after  notification  of  election 
or  appointment,  such  office  shall  be  deemed  vacant, 
and  the  vacancy  shall  be  filed  as  provided  in  this  act. 

Section  14.  No  member  of  the  council  shall  be  ac- 
cepted as  surety  upon  any  bond,  note  or  obligation 
made  to  the  city. 

Section  15.  No  alderman  or  member  of  the  com- 
mon council,  while  holding  office,  shall  be  appointed 
to,  or  be  competent  to  hold  any  office,  of  which  the 
compensation  is  paid  by  the  city. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

FIRST   ELECTION. 

Section  1.  The  first  election  for  said  city  of  An- 
tigo, for  the  election  of  city  officers,  shall  be  held  in 
the  respective  wards  of  said  city,  on  the  first  Tues- 
day in  April,  1885,  as  follows: 

1.  The  polls  of  the  election  for  the  first  ward  shall 
be  held  at  the  lumber  office  of  Clithero  &  Strong,  on 
Superior  Street,  at  which  election  H.  G.  Borgman,  R. 
H.  McMullen  and  A.  B.  Millard,  shall,  if  present,  be 
the  inspectors  thereof. 

2.  The  polls  of  the  election   for  the  second  ward 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


Ill 


shall  be  held  at  Spencer's  Hall  on  Fifth  Avenue,  at 
which  election  B.  F.  Dorr,  J.  E.  Mullowney  and  J.  E. 
Clancey  shall,  if  present,  be  the  inspectors  thereof. 

3.  The  polls  of  the  election  for  the  Third  Ward 
shall  be  held  at  Sherman  &  Dawley's  office,  on  Fifth 
Avenue,  at  which  election  F.  M.  Sherman,  August 
Schoepke,  and  Gilbert  Bacon  shall,  if  present,  be  in- 
spectors thereof. 

4.  The  polls  of  election  for  the  Fourth  Ward  shall 
be  held  at  the  office  of  L.  Mendlik,  on  Superior  Street, 
at  which,  election  L.  Mendlik,  James  Porter,  and  J. 
Herman  shall,  if  present,  be  the  inspectors  thereof. 

Section  2.  The  polls  shall  be  opened  in  each  of  said 
wards  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  and  be  kept  open 
continuously  until  five  o'clock  in  the  evening. 

Section  3.  The  inspectors  present  at  the  opening  of 
the  polls  shall  appoint  two  suitable  and  competent 
persons  to  act  as  clerks  of  election. 

Section  4.  The  inspectors  and  clerks  of  election  in 
each  of  said  wards  shall  take  the  oath  of  office,  and  in 
all  things  be  governed  by  the  several  laws  of  the  state 
for  holding  and  conducting  election  and  shall  without 
adjournmert  publicly  canvass  the  votes  cast  in  their 
wards  for  the  different  offices  and  propositions  voted 
for  and  make,  sign  and  seal  a  statement  in  writing  of 
the  number  of  votes  cast  for  each  candidate  and  for  and 
against  any  proposition  voted  for,  and  announce  the 
result. 

Section  5.  H.  G.  Borgman,  from  the  First  Ward,  B. 
F.  Dorr,  from  the  Second  Ward,  August  Shoepke,  from 
the  Third  Ward,  and  L.  Mendlik  from  the  Fourth  Ward, 
shall  constitute  a  city  board  of  canvassers  to  canvass 
the  vote  of  said  election,  shall  meet  at  the  office 
of  L.  Mendlik  on  the  Tliarsday  after  election,  at  nine 
A.  M.  in  said  city,  and  there  publicly  canvass  and  count 
the  votes  cast  in  each  of  said  wards  for  the  officers  to 
be  elected,  and  shall  then  and  there  publicly  announce 
the  result  of  said  election  and  issue  and  sign  dupli- 
cate certificates  of  election,  declaring  and  naming  the 
persons  elected  to  each  of  the  offices  required  by  this 
charter.  One  of  said  certificates  shall  be  delivered 
to  the  person  elected,  city  clerk,  and  the  other  to  the 
clerk  of  the  county  board  of  supervisors  of  Langlade 
County,  to  be  there  filed  and  preserved  in  that  office. 

Section  6.  The  town  clerk  of  the  town  of  Antigo 
shall  give  notice  of  said  first  election  by  publication 
thereof  in  two  newspapers  published  in  the  city  of 
Antigo,  for  two  weeks  next  preceding  the  holding 
thereof,  and  the  inspectors  named  in  this  act  shall  post, 
or  cause  to  be  posted,  in  three  public  places  in  each 
ward,  a  notice  of  the  time  and  place  of  holding  said 
election,  at  least  ten  days  before  election. 

CHAPTER    V. 

GENERAL    ELECTIONS. 

Section  1.  The  annual  municipal  election  of  said 
city  shall  be  held  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  April,  in 
each  year,  for  which  purpose  one  place  in  each  ward 
shall  be  procured  and  designated  as  election  polls,  by 
the  aldermen  of  the  proper  ward,  and  notice  shall  be 
given  by  the  said  aldermen  for  at  least  ten  days  prior 


to  said  election  by  publication  in  two  newspapers,  if 
there  be  so  many  printed  in  said  city,  and  by  posting 
the  same  in  three  conspicuous  places  in  each  ward, 
which  notices  shall  be  signed  by  the  aldermen  of  the 
ward  in  which  the  same  are  to  be  posted,  and  shall  des- 
ignate the  time  and  place  where  the  polls  will  be  open- 
ed. 

Section  2.  All  male  inhabitants  of  said  city,  who 
shall  have  resided  therein  for  thirty  days  next  pre- 
ceding any  election  therein,  and  who  are  otherwise 
qualified  to  vote  under  the  general  laws  of  the  state, 
shall  be  entitled  to  vote  at  such  election,  in  the  ward 
in  which  he  lives. 

Section  3.  The  aldermen  in  each  ward  and  the  su- 
pervisor therein,  shall  be  the  inspectors  of  all  elec- 
tions held  in  said  city,  and  at  the  opening  of  the  polls 
therein,  at  the  general  or  special  election  the  inspectors 
present  shall  appoint  the  clerk  or  clerks  of  election. 

Section  4.  All  general  or  special  elections  held  in 
Eaid  city  shall  be  held  and  conducted,  and  the  votes 
canvassed,  sealed  and  returned  in  all  respects  under 
and  in  accordance  with  the  general  laws  of  the  state. 
And  the  inspectors  and  clerks  of  said  elections  shall 
possess  the  same  powers  and  authority  as  are  prescrib- 
ed by  the  general  laws  of  the  state  in  regard  to  elec- 
tions. 

Section  5.  The  polls  of  election  in  each  ward,  shall 
be  kept  open  from  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning  until 
five  o'clock  in  the  evening,  without  intermission  or  ad- 
journment, and  when  the  polls  shall  have  been  closed, 
the  inspectors,  without  adjourning,  shall  canvass  the 
votes  received  at  such  polls,  and  make  returns  thereof 
in  writing,  duly  signed,  stating  therein  the  number  of 
votes  received  for  each  person  for  a  designated  office, 
and  the  whole  number  of  votes  received,  and  such  re- 
turns shall  be  by  them  delivered  together,  with  the 
oaths  of  the  inspectors  and  clerks,  and  the  polls  lists 
kept  by  them  to  the  city  clerk,  to  be  filed  in  his  office 
within  twenty-four  hours  after  closing  the  polls. 

Section  6.  All  elections  shall  be  by  ballot;  a  plural- 
ity of  votes  shall  constitute  an  election  and  the  names 
of  all  officers  voted  for  shall  be  upon  the  ballot. 

Section  7.  Except  as  herein  otherwise  provided, 
so  far  as  the  same  are  applicable,  all  of  the  laws  relat- 
ing to  general  elections,  as  to  the  qualifications  of  elec- 
tors, the  manner  in  which  election  shall  be  conducted, 
the  making  of  poll  lists,  and  returns,  and  the  punish- 
ment of  illegal  or  fraudulent  voting,  or  attempting  to 
vote  and  for  fraudulent  or  illegal  returns  and  any  other 
fraud  or  wrong  designated  under  the  general  election 
laws,  shall  apply  to  all  elections  provided  for  by  this 
act. 

Section  8.  On  Thursday  next  after  the  elections 
herein  provided  for  in  each  year,  at  7.30  o'clock  P.  M., 
the  common  council  shall  meet  at  the  council  rooms  in 
said  city  and  the  returns  of  the  inspectors  of  the  vari- 
ous wards  shall  be  produced  by  the  city  clerk  where- 
upon the  common  council  shall  forthwith  canvass  and 
returns  determine  and  declare,  by  the  greater  number 
of  votes  appearing  by  said  returns  to  have  been  cast 
at  said  election,  who  are  elected  for  each  of  the  city 


112 


HISTORY  OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


and  ward  offices  as  were  voted  for,  or  any  other  or 
either  of  them,  and  the  council  shall  thereupon  cause 
a  report  of  such  determination  to  be  made  and  entered 
upon  the  minutes  of  said  determination,  the  city  clerk 
shall  cause  certificates  of  election  to  be  served  upon 
the  persons  so  declared  to  be  elected  personally,  or  by 
depositing  the  same,  enclosed  in  an  envelope,  with  the 
postage  paid  and  properly  directed,  provided,  that  the 
city  clerk  shall  at  the  same  time  certify  to  the  clerk  of 
the  circuit  court  the  names  of  the  persons  so  elected 
justices  of  the  peace,  and  all  officers  authorized  to 
administer  oaths  and  take  acknowledgements  of  in- 
struments in  writing  and  the  terms  for  which  they  were 
respectively  elected  when  they  have  qualified. 

Section  9.  When  two  or  more  candidates  for  an 
elective  office,  shall  receive  an  equal  number  of  votes 
for  the  same  office,  the  election  shall  be  determined  by 
casting  lots,  in  the  presence  of  the  common  courcil  at 
such  time  and  in  such  manner  as  said  council  may  di- 
rect. 

Section  10.  Every  justice  of  the  peace  elected  or 
appointed  by  virtue  of  this  act,  shall  file  such  oath  of 
office  and  bond  necessary  to  qualify,  before  entering 
upon  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  such  office,  as  is 
prescribed  by  the  general  statutes  for  such  officers  in 
the  several  towns. 

Section  11.  Upon  the  filing  the  oath  of  office  and 
the  filing  and  approval  by  the  common  council  of  any 
kind  by  any  officer  of  the  city,  as  in  this  act  required, 
the  city  clerk  shall,  upon  demand,  execute  and  deliver 
to  the  persons  so  entitled  a  certificate  of  his  election 
and  qualifications  to  the  office  to  which  he  has  been 
elected  or  appointed. 

Section  12.  In  addition  to  the  amount  herein  lim- 
ited for  taxes  for  general  city  purposes  special  taxes 
may  be  levied  for  the  purchase  of  fire  engines,  ceme- 
tery grounds,  public  square  and  other  objects  of  public 
utility;  but  no  such  tax  shall  be  levied,  unless  the 
same  shall  first  be  recommended  by  the  common  coun- 
cil and  afterwards  submitted  to  a  vote  of  the  people, 
and  approved  by  them.  Whenever  the  council  shall 
recommend  such  a  tax,  it  shall  specify  the  amount  to 
be  raised  and  the  object  thereof  and  cause  notice  there- 
of, and  of  the  time  and  the  place  of  voting  thereon,  to 
be  published  in  the  same  manner  as  in  case  of  the  an- 
nual city  election. 

Section  13.  At  such  special  elections  so  called,  no 
such  special  tax  shall  be  raised  or  levied  unless  the 
whole  number  of  votes  cast  shall  equal  two-thirds  of 
the  whole  number  of  votes  cast  in  said  city  at  the  last 
preceding  municipal  election;  nor  unless  two-thirds  of 
the  votes  cast  at  such  special  election  shall  have  been 
cast  in  favor  of  the  tax  so  voted  for. 

Section  14.  At  each  special  election  no  person  shall 
be  entitled  to  vote  unless  he  be  a  freeholder  in  said 
city. 

CHAPTER    VI. 

POWERS  AND   DUTIES  OF  THE  COMMON 
COUNCIL. 

Section  1.  The  municipal  government  of  said  cor- 
poration shall  consist  of  a  common  council,  composed 


of  the  mayor  and  the  two  aldermen  from  each  ward. 
The  common  council  shall  annually  meet  on  the  first 
Monday  after  the  annual  municipal  election,  at  7  o'clock 
P.  M.  and  at  such  other  times,  not  less  than  once  in 
each  month,  as  it  shall  by  resolution  appoint.  The 
mayor,  or  in  his  absence  or  inability  to  act,  the  presi- 
dent of  the  council,  for  any  good  reason,  may  call  spe- 
cial meetings  by  notice  to  each  of  the  members,  to  be 
served  personally,  or  left  at  their  usual  place  of  abode 
by  the  city  clerk.  The  common  council  at  any  regu- 
lar or  special  meeting  shall  have  power  to  adjourn  the 
same  to  such  time  as  it  may  deem  proper. 

Section  2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  common 
council  at  said  first  meeting  to  elect  by  ballot,  one  of 
its  members  president  of  the  council. 

Section  3.  The  mayor,  when  present,  shall  preside 
at  all  meetings  of  the  common  council,  and  in  his  ab- 
sence or  inability  so  to  do  the  president  of  the  com- 
mon council  shall  preside. 

Section  4.  In  the  absence  of  the  mayor,  and  presi- 
dent of  the  common  council,  the  aldermen  present,  if 
there  be  a  quorum  shall  elect  one  of  its  members  as 
president  protem,  of  the  common  council  who  shall 
have  and  possess  all  the  powers  of  mayor  while  so  pre- 
siding. 

Section  5.  In  the  proceedings  of  the  common  coun- 
cil each  member  present,  including  the  mayor,  shall  be 
entitled  to  a  vote;  but  no  appropriations  nor  appoint- 
ments to  office,  shall  be  made  except  by  the  vote  of  a 
majority  of  all  the  members  elect. 

Section  6.  The  common  council  shall  determine  the 
rules  of  its  proceedings  not  inconsistent  with  any  of 
the  provisions  of  this  act.  A  majority  of  the  mem- 
bers elect  shall  constitute  a  quorum  for  the  transac- 
tion of  business,  and  may  compel  the  attendance  of 
absent  members,  and  in  case  of  the  refusal  of  absent 
members  to  attend  for  three  successive  meetings,  the 
common  council  may  declare  the  office  of  the  member 
so  refusing,  vacant. 

Section  7.  If  required  by  one  member  present  at 
any  meeting  of  the  common  council,  the  vote  upon  any 
ordinance,  resolution,  or  question  pending  before  each 
meeting,  except  the  appointment  of  officers,  shall,  when 
taken,  be  taken,  by  the  yeas  and  nays  of  all  the  mem- 
bers present,  and  a  record  of  such  vote  shall  be  entered 
at  large  in  the  minutes  of  the  common  council. 

Section  8.  The  common  council  shall  have  the  pow- 
er, from  time  to  time,  to  require  other  and  further  du- 
ties to  be  performed  by  any  officer,  whose  duties  are 
herein  prescribed,  and  to  prescribe  the  duties  of  such 
other  officers  as  may  be  appointed,  whose  duties  are 
not  herein  prescribed. 

Section  9.  The  common  council  shall  have  the  gen- 
eral control  of  all  the  property,  both  real  and  personal, 
belonging  to  the  city. 

Section  10.  The  common  council  shall  also  have 
power  to  organize  a  board  of  health,  and  to  provide 
measures  for  the  preservation  of  health  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  said  city,  and  to  prevent  the  spread  of  in- 
fection or  pestilential  diseases  therein.  The  board 
of  health  shall  consist  of  the  junior  alderman  of  each 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


113 


ward,  the  mayor,  who  shall  be  its  president;  each  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  health  shall  have  power  and  per- 
form such  duties  as  the  common  council,  by  ordinances 
or  otherwise,  shall  direct.  The  city  clerk  shall  be  ex- 
official  clerk  of  the  board  of  health.  The  common 
council  may,  by  ordinances,  authorize  the  board  of 
health,  or  any  member  thereof,  to  make  and  enforce 
such  orders,  rules  and  regulations  not  inconsistent  with 
the  charter  of  any  ordinance  of  said  city  as  they  shall 
deem  most  effectual  for  the  preservation  of  the  public 
health;  but  no  order,  rule  or  regulation  of  said  board, 
imposing  a  penalty,  shall  take  effect  and  be  in  force 
until  the  same  shall  have  been  published  in  a  news- 
paper published  in  said  city,  as  required  for  the  publi- 
cation of  ordinances. 

Section  11.  The  common  council  shall  have  the 
power  to  make,  modify  and  repeal  such  ordinance,  res- 
olutions, regulations,  or  by-laws  as  may  be  necessary  to 
carry  into  full  effect  all  the  powers  conferred  upon  it  by 
this  act.  In  every  such  ordinance,  resolutions,  regu- 
lations, or  by-laws  passed  by  said  council,  it  may  im- 
pose such  penalty  for  the  violation  thereof,  any  part 
thereof,  by  fine,  not  exceeding  two  hundred  dollars,  and 
if  not  paid  with  the  costs,  by  imprisonment  in  the 
county  jail  for  Langlade  County,  not  exceeding  six 
months,  or  by  imprisonment  in  any  other  place  pro- 
vided by  the  common  council  for  the  detention  or  im- 
prisonment and  punishment  of  persons  committing  of- 
fenses, not  exceeding  three  months,  and  shall  have 
power  by  such  ordinances,  resolutions,  regulations,  or 
by-laws  and  with  such  penalties  aforesaid; 

1.  To  preserve  peace  and  good  order,  and  to  re- 
strain and  prevent  vice,  immorality  and  every  kind  of 
fraudulent  device  and  practice. 

2.  To  restrain,  prevent  and  suppress,  houses  of  ill- 
fame,  and  all  places  of  prostitution,  and  disorderly  and 
gambling  houses,  billiard  tables,  and  all  instruments 
and  devices  for  gambling,  and  to  authorize  the  des- 
truction and  demolition  of  all  instruments  used  for  this 
purpose  of  gambling,  and  to  punish  the  occu- 
pants and  frequenters  of  such  houses  and  places, 
and  to  prohibit  the  occupation  of  any  room,  building,  or 
any  part  thereof,  within  said  city,  for  that  purpose. 

3.  To  restrain  and  punish  vagrants,  mendicants, 
street  beggars,  drunkards,  and  persons  soliciting  alms, 
keepers  of  houses  of  ill-fame,  common  prostitutes, 
bawds,  and  disorderly  persons,  and  to  prevent  drunken- 
ness and  disorderly  and  immoral  conduct,  and  obsceni- 
ty in  public  places  and  streets,  and  to  provide  for  ar- 
resting, removing  and  punishing  any  persons  or  per- 
sons who  may  be  guilty  of  the  same. 

4.  To  prevent  any  riots,  noises,  or  public  disturb- 
ances, and  all  disorderly  assembles. 

5.  To  license,  prevent,  or  regulate  the  sale  and 
giving  away  of  ardent,  spirituous  wines,  malt,  ferment- 
ed and  intoxicating  liquors,  and  drinks  within  the  city, 
under  the  provisions  of  this  act. 

6.  To  prohibit  or  regulate  the  erection  or  contin- 
uance of  slaughter  houses  in  said  city,  and  to  cause  the 
removal  thereof. 

7.  To  compel  the  owner  or  occupant  of  any  grocery, 
meat  market,  tallow  chandlers  shop,  soap  factory,  tan- 


nery stable,  privy,  sewer,  drain  or  other  unwholesome 
or  nauseous  house  or  place,  to  cleanse,  remove  or  abate 
the  same  as  often  as,  and  whenever  the  common  coun- 
cil or  board  of  health,  shall  deem  it  necessary  for  the 
health,  comfort  or  convenience  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
city,  and  for  the  prevention  of  diseases. 

8.  To  require  the  removal  of  any  putrid  or  unwhole- 
some meat,  fish,  hides  or  skins,  or  any  decaying  sub- 
stance of  any  kind,  by  any  person  owing  or  occupying 
the  premises  on  which  the  same  may  be  found  and  in 
case  of  his  default  to  do  so,  within  time  as  may  be 
prescribed  by  the  council,  to  cause  the  removal  there- 
of, and  the  expense  thereof  shall  be  a  lien  upon  the 
lot  or  premises  upon  which  the  same  were  found,  to 
be  enforced,  as  hereinafter  provided. 

9.  To  prevent  restrain  remove  and  abate  nuisances. 

10.  To  prevent  any  and  all  persons  from  casting 
into  Spring  Brook  within  the  limits  of  the  city  or  leav- 
ing upon  the  banks  thereof  any  offal,  dead  animals, 
filth  or  rubbish,  and  to  punish  any  person  or  persons 
doing  the  same. 

11.  To  prevent  the  digging,  excavating  or  making 
holes  or  places  below  the  natural  surface  of  the  ground, 
wherein  stagnant  waters  or  other  noxious  or  unwhole- 
some matter  may  accumulate,  and  to  cause  the  filling 
up,  cleansing  or  purifying  of  any  such  hole  or  place  by 
any  person  who  may  have  caused,  made,  or  in  any 
way  assisted  in  making  the  same,  and  in  case  of  the 
default  in  the  filling  up,  cleansing  or  purifying 
thereof,  within  such  time  as  may  be  prescribed  by  the 
common  council,  to  cause  the  same  to  be  filled  up, 
cleansed  or  purified,  and  the  expense  thereof  shall  be 
a  lien  upon  the  lot  or  premises  upon  which  the  same 
existed  to  be  enforced  as  hereinafter  provided. 

12.  To  prohibit  any  person  from  bringing  or  deposit- 
ing, within  the  limits  of  said  city  the  dead  carcass  of 
any  animal,  filth  or  rubbish  or  any  unwholesome  thing. 

13.  To  prevent  and  prohibit  the  manufacture  keep- 
ing or  storing  of  nitro-glycerine,  and  to  regulate  the 
keeping  and  storing  of  gun  powder,  gun  cotton,  burn- 
ing fluids,  coal  oils,  and  other  dangerous  explosives 
material  in  said  city,  and  to  provide  for  the  inspection 
of  illuminating  oils  and  fluids. 

14.  To  prohibit,  restrain  or  regulate  the  discharge 
of  firearms,  and  the  explosion  of  gun  powder  and  gun- 
cotton,  and  the  firing  of  fire  crackers,  and  fireworks  of 
any  kind  within  the  city. 

15.  To  regulate  the  use  of  candles  and  lights  in 
barns,  stables,  shops  and  out  buildings. 

16.  To  compel  all  persons  to  remove  the  dirt,  snow 
and  ice  from  the  sidewalk  in  front  of  the  premises  oc- 
cupied or  owned  by  them,  and  to  keep  the  streets  swept 
in  front  of  such  premises  and  to  prevent  the  encumber- 
ing of  the  streets,  sidewalks  and  cross  walks  with  car- 
riages, wagons,  carts,  sleds,  sleighs,  wheelbarrows, 
boxes,  wood,  lumber,  timber,  or  other  substances  or 
materials  whatsoever,  and  to  prohibit  excavating  on 
streets,  or  the  raising  or  lowering  the  surface  of  streets, 
crosswalks,  or  sidewalks,  above  or  below  the  estab- 
lished grade,  or  the  interference  in  any  manner  with 
the  established  grade  of  the  streets,  and  to  prohibit 
the  raising  of  any  portion  adjoining,  unless  with  the 


114 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


II 


consent  of  the  common  council,  and  to  prohibit  injury 
to  sidewalks. 

17.  To  prohibit  the  leaving  of  any  horse,  mule  or 
team  on  any  street  without  being  securely  fastened  or 
hitched. 

18.  To  regulate  and  control  the  erection  of  awn- 
ings and  awning  posts,  to  prevent  the  erection  of  signs 
and  sign  posts  in  the  streets  or  over  the  sidewalks;  and 
to  provide  for  and  compel  the  hitching  posts  and  places 
for  fastening  teams,  at  such  point  or  points  as  the  coun- 
cil may  deem  necessary. 

19.  To  prevent  and  regulate  the  running  at  large 
of  dogs,  and  to  destroy  them,  and  to  impose  a  tax  upon 
the  owners  or  possessers  of  dogs. 

20.  To  require  and  cause  the  removal  from  thick- 
ly inhabited  parts  of  the  city,  of  all  persons  having 
contagious  diseases. 

21.  To  prohibit,  restrain  and  regulate  all  exhibi- 
tions of  natural  or  artificial  curiousities,  caravans  of 
animals,  theatrical  shows  or  performances,  circuses, 
and  all  other  public  exhibitions  or  performances  for 
money,  and  to  require,  fix  the  amount,  and  provide  for 
the  collection  of  license  fees  for  any  and  all  such  pub- 
lic exhibitions  or  performances. 

22.  To  regulate,  restrain  and  prohibit  the  ringing 
of  bells  and  the  crying  of  goods,  wares  and  merchan- 
dise or  other  commodities  in  the  streets  of  said  city. 

23.  To  impose  and  collect  license  fees  of  each  auc- 
tioneer, and  commissions  on  the  sale  of  goods,  wares, 
merchandise  or  other  personal  property  by  auction, 
and  to  punish  any  person  acting  as  auctioneer  without 
a  license,  or  refusing  to  report  sales  by  auction. 

24.  To  regulate  and  restrain  hawking  and  peddling 
in  streets. 

25.  To  establish  and  regulate  a  market  or  markets 
in  said  city,  to  restrain  and  regulate  the  sale  of  fresh 
meats,  fish  and  vegetables,  and  to  select  places  for  the 
sale  of  hay,  wood,  straw,  grain,  lumber,  lime,  and  all 
other  articles  offered  for  sale  from  wagons,  sleighs  or 
vehicles,  and  cause  the  same  to  be  weighed,  measured 
or  inspected,  and  to  establish  and  collect  fees  for  such 
weighing,  measuring,  or  inspection,  and  to  prohibit 
under  penalties  the  sales  of  such  articles  at  any  other 
place  or  places. 

26.  To  establish  and  regulate  public  pounds. 

27.  To  restrain  and  prohibit  the  running  at  large 
of  cattle,  horses,  mules,  sheep,  swine,  geese  and  fowls 
in  said  city,  and  to  cause  such  as  may  be  found  run- 
ning at  large  to  be  impounded,  and  to  have  a  lien  there- 
on for  all  fines,  penalties,  costs,  poundage  and  dam- 
age done  thereby,  and  to  cause  the  same  to  be  sold, 
to  discharge  the  said  liens,  and  to  punish  the  owners 
of  such  animals  or  fowls  found  running  at  large. 

28.  To  prevent  and  punish  horse  racing  and  im- 
moderate driving  or  riding  in  the  streets  or  highways; 
to  require  all  persons  driving  horses  with  sleighs  or 
cutters  in  the  streets  of  said  city,  to  carry  bells  either 
upon  the  horses  or  other  animals,  to  warn  other  per- 
sons using  said  streets,  and  prevent  and  punish  per- 
sons playing  any  game  or  doing  any  act  having  a  ten- 
dency to  frighten  horses,  or  annoy  persons  passing  in. 


or   along   the   streets   or  highways,   or   endanger  pro- 
perty. 

29.  To  compel  railroad  companies  and  other  cor- 
porations and  persons,  to  do  all  needful  and  proper 
draining,  grading  and  filling  up  the  lands  owned  or 
occupied  by  them,  within  the  limits  of  said  city  to 
compel  railroad  companies  to  construct  and  keep  in 
repair,  suitable  street  crossing  and  carriage  ways  over 
their  several  tracks,  and  place  flagmen  at  such  street 
crossings,  in  said  city,  as  said  common  council  may 
designate;  to  regulate  and  restrain  the  speed  of  cars 
in  passing  through  said  city,  and  to  prevent  such  cars 
from  passing  at  a  greater  rate  of  speed  than  six  miles 
per  hour  through  said  city,  and  to  prevent  the  obstruc- 
tion of  streets,  lanes  and  highways  by  the  cars  of 
said  companies,  and  to  regulate  the  putting  up  of  all 
necessary  signs  to  beware  of  the  cars,  at  railroad  and 
street  crossings. 

30.  To  prevent  the  use  of  false  weighing  or  meas- 
ures. 

31.  To  direct  and  require  the  keeping  of  records 
of  mortality  by  physicians,  sextons,  and  others. 

32.  To  protect  shade  trees  and  direct  and  compel 
and  regulate  the  planting,  rearing  and  preservation  of 
shade  or  ornamental  trees  in  the  streets  and  public 
grounds  in  said  city. 

Section  12.  The  common  council  shall  have  author- 
ity, by  ordinances,  resolution,  or  by-laws;  regulate, 
preserve  and  dispose  of  the  property,  real  and  person- 
al, belonging  to  the  city. 

2.  To  purchase  all  real  estate,  or  other  property, 
as  may  be  required  for  the  use  of  such  city,  for  public 
uses,  provided,  the  cost  thereof  shall  not  exceed  the 
amounts  previously  limited  therefor. 

3.  To  adopt  all  legal  and  requisite  measures  for 
levying  taxes   and   assessments,  general   and   special. 

4.  To  purchase  and  lay  out  public  parks,  squares, 
or  grounds,  and  improve  same. 

5.  To  establish,  make,  regulate,  preserve,  and  pro- 
tect public  reservoirs,  pumps,  wells,  hydrants  and 
fountains  in  said  city,  supply  them  with  water  and 
construct  all  necessary  water  works  for  such  purposes, 
and  to  pay  for  the  same,  and  to  prevent  the  unneces- 
sary waste  of  water  therefrom  and  regulate  and  con- 
trol the  use  thereof. 

6.  To  establish,  construct  and  build  all  necessary 
drains,  sewers,  and  gutters,  and  maintain  the  same. 

7.  To  fix  up,  widen,  straighten,  deepen,  drain, 
dress,  or  otherwise  improve  or  abate  any  and  all 
sloughs,  ravines,  water  courses  and  wet  places  in  the 
limits  of  said  city. 

8.  To  compel  the  owners  or  occupants  of  houses 
or  other  buildings  to  have  scuttles  in  the  roofs,  and 
stairs  or  ladders  leading  to  the  same,  and  suitable  fire 
escapes  for  same. 

9.  To  prevent  the  deposit  of  ashes  in  unsafe  places, 
and  to  cause  all  buildings  and  enclosures,  as  may  be 
in  dangerous  state,  to  be  put  in  a  safe  condition. 

10.  To  regulate  and  prevent  the  improper  construc- 
tion and  unsafe  condition  of  chimneys,  fire  places, 
hearths,  stoves,  stove  pipes,  ovens,  boilers,  and  appa- 


I 


1 


1 


HISTORY    OF    LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


115 


ratus  now  in  and  about  any  buildings  or  manufactory, 
and  to  cause  the  same  to  be  removed  or  put  in  a  safe 
condition. 

11.  To  regulate  and  prevent  the  carrying  on  of 
manufactories  dangerous  in  causing  or  promoting  fires. 

12.  To  authorize  the  mayor,  aldermen,  police,  fire- 
men and  other  officials  of  the  city  to  keep  away  from 
the  vicinity  of  any  fire  all  idle  and  suspicious  persons, 
and  to  compel  all  persons  in  said  city  to  aid  in  the 
extinguishing  of  fires  and  the  protection  and  preserva- 
tion of  property  thereof. 

13.  To  authorize  and  require  any  person  appointed 
for  that  purpose  to  enter  buildings  and  enclosures  at 
proper  times,  to  ascertain  whether  the  arrangements 
for  fire,  or  the  preservation  of  ashes  are  dangerous, 
ard  to  cause  such  as  are  dangerous  to  be  put  in  a 
safe  condition. 

Section  13.  The  common  council  shall  let  by  pro- 
posals to  the  lowest  bidder  and  not  otherwise,  all  con- 
tracts for  services  or  work,  and  materials  or  supplies, 
and  other  payment  for  the  same,  except  as  is  specific- 
ally otherwise  provided  by  this  act,  and  may,  from 
time  to  time,  require  any  officer  to  furnish  reports,  in- 
formation or  estimate  and  to  perform  other  and  furth- 
er duties  than  herein  prescribed,  if  the  council  shall 
deem  that  the  interests  of  the  city  so  require. 

Section  14.  The  common  cour.cil  shall  have  power 
by  ordinance  or  resolution,  to  cause  all  out  and  in  lots 
within  said  city,  of  less  size  than  ten  acres  each,  that 
have  not  been  platted  and  recorded  by  the  owner  or 
owners  thereof  as  required  by  the  laws  to  be  platted 
and  recorded,  and  to  tax  the  charges  for  the  platting 
and  recording  thereof  against  the  lot  or  lots  so  plat- 
ted and  recorded,  to  be  collected  in  the  same  manner 
as  other  special  city  assessments  and  taxes. 

Section  15.  The  common  courcil  may  cause  all 
streets,  highways,  alleys,  lanes,  side  and  crosswalks, 
culverts,  drains,  sewers,  public  places  in  the  said  city, 
to  be  surveyed  and  described  and  the  established 
height  of  all  grades  of  streets  or  sidewalks,  to  be  re- 
corded in  a  book  to  be  kept  by  the  city  clerk  for  that 
purpose,  and  to  cause  maps  to  be  made  and  filed  with 
the  city  clerk.  Such  records  and  maps,  when  so  filed, 
shall  be  primafacie  evidence  of  the  facts  therein  de- 
scribed and  portrayed,  in  all  actions  and  places  be- 
tween the  city  and  other  persons,  touching  their  loca- 
tion and  the  facts  therein  or  thereon  represented. 

Section  16.  The  common  council  of  said  city  shall, 
by  proper  resolution,  levy  all  taxes  to  be  raised  in 
said  city,  itemizing  the  amount  so  as  to  show  the 
amount  raised  for  school  purposes,  and  for  general 
purposes. 

Section  17.  The  school  tax  shall  be  based  on  an 
itemized  estimate  of  the  amount  required,  such  esti- 
mate to  be  furnished  to  the  council  by  the  board  of 
education  of  said  city  at  the  regular  monthly  meet- 
ing of  the  council  in  July,  each  year,  but  they  may, 
by  a  two-thirds  vote  of  the  whole  council,  levy  more 
or  less  tax  for  school  purposes  than  the  amount  so 
estimated  by  the  board  of  education. 

Section    18.     The    common    council    shall,    annually 


at  its  regular  meeting  in  April,  levy  taxes  on  all  the 
taxable  property  of  said  city,  not  exceeding  five  mills 
on  the  dollar,  for  highway  purposes,  such  tax  to  be 
known  and  designated  as  the  general  fund. 

Section  19.  The  common  council  shall,  annually 
at  its  November  meeting,  levy  a  tax  not  exceeding  five 
mills  on  a  dollar,  on  all  the  taxable  propery  of  said 
city  for  all  general  purposes  of  said  city,  to  be  known 
and  designated  as  the  highway  fund. 

Section  20.  Such  highway  tax  shall  be  levied  and 
carried  out  immediately,  and  the  tax  roll  placed  in 
the  hands  of  the  city  treasurer  for  collection  on  or 
before  the  tenth  day  of  May,  in  each  year.  The  trea- 
surer shall  forthwith  proceed  to  collect  the  highway 
tax  so  levied  and  shall  collect  the  same  on  or  before 
the  first  day  in  June,  in  the  next  year. 

Section  21.  The  common  courcil  shall  at  its  last 
regular  meeting  before  the  annual  municipal  elec- 
tion, by  resolution,  fix  the  salaries  and  compensation 
to  be  paid  to  such  of  the  city  officers  and  employees, 
to  be  elected  or  appointed  under  the  provisions  of 
this  act  as  are  entitled  thereto;  provided  no  salary  or 
compensation  having  been  once  fixed,  shall  not  be 
increased  to  any  officer  or  employee  during  his  term 
of  office  or  employment,  unless  by  the  unanimous  con- 
sent of  all  the  members  of  the  common  courcil  elect; 
provided  that  the  salaries  for  the  first  year  shall  be 
fixed  at  the  first  meeting  of  the  council. 

Section  22.  The  common  council  of  the  city  of  An- 
tigo  shall,  annually  at  the  spring  election  therein,  sub- 
mit to  the  voters  of  said  city  the  question  of  granting 
license  for  the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquor,  or  refusing 
to  grant  license  for  the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors 
therein,  for  the  ensuing  year.  The  question  when  sub- 
mitted to  the  voters  shall  be  upon  a  separate  ballot, 
and  the  ballots  on  the  license  question  shall  be  in  the 
following  form :  Those  in  favor  "For  License,"  those 
against  "No  License,"  and  they  shall  be  deposited  in 
a  separate  ballot  box  provided  for  that  purpose  and 
whenever  a  majority  of  the  voters  shall  declare  by 
their  votes  as  aforesaid  in  favor  of  license  then  the 
common  council  shall  grant  licenses  according  to  the 
provisions  of  the  laws  of  the  State  of  Wisconsin  on 
that  subject,  and  in  case  the  majority  of  the  voters 
shall  declare  for  no  license,  as  aforesaid,  then,  and 
in  every  such  case,  the  common  council  shall  have  no 
power  or  authority  to  grant  licenses  for  the  sale  of  in- 
toxicating liquors  and  drinks  in  said  city;  and  all 
such  licenses  granted  shall  run  from  the  first  day  of 
May  in  each  year  to  the  first  day  of  May  following; 
provided,  however,  that  when  any  such  license  may 
be  applied  for  after  that  date  the  same  may  be  granted 
to  expire  on  the  first  day  of  May  of  each  year  on  ap- 
plicant paying  pro  rata  therefor;  but  no  license  shall 
be  granted  for  a  longer  period  than  one  year. 

POLL  TAX. 

Section  23.  The  common  council  of  said  city  shall 
have  and  it  is  hereby  granted  power  to  tax  annually 
each  male  inhabitant  within  the  corporate  limits  of 
said  city,  not  by  law  exempt  from  such  labor,  between 


116 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


the  ages  of  twenty-one  and  fifty  years,  a  sum  not  to 
exceed  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents,  to  be  denominated 
a  poll  tax,  and  to  be  appropriated  to  the  improve- 
ment of  the  streets,  roads,  alleys  and  crosswalks  of  the 
city. 

Section  24.  On  or  before  the  twentieth  day  of  May 
in  each  year  the  street  commissioner  in  each  ward 
shall  make  out  a  list  of  the  names  of  all  male  persons 
over  the  age  of  twenty-one  and  under  the  age  of  fifty 
years,  liable  to  pay  such  poll  tax,  with  the  amount 
thereof  set  opposite  to  each  person's  name,  and  sub- 
mit the  same  to  the  common  council  for  correction. 
When  such  list  is  correctly  made  out,  and  on  or  before 
the  first  day  of  June  in  each  year,  the  board  shall  by 
order  (signed  by  the  mayor  and  clerk  and  annex- 
ed thereto)  direct  the  same  to  be  delivered  forthwith 
to  the  street  commissioner  in  each  ward  for  collection. 

Section  25.  The  street  commissioner  shall  notify 
each  male  inhabitant  to  whom  a  poll  tax  shall  be  so 
assessed,  to  appear  at  a  certain  time  and  place  in  his 
ward  with  such  tools  as  the  street  commissioner  shall 
direct;  such  notice  to  be  less  than  three  nor  more 
than  five  days.  If  the  persons  so  notified  shall  appear 
and  work  for  one  day,  agreeably  to  the  order  of  such 
street  commissioner,  he  shall,  if  he  demands,  receive 
a  receipt  for  the  poll  tax  so  assessed,  provided,  how- 
ever, that  the  person  so  assessed  may,  at  his  option, 
pay  such  poll  tax  in  money.  And  if  any  person 
neglects  to  pay  the  same  for  two  days  after,  the  street 
commissioner  shall  in  the  name  of  the  city,  sue  for 
and  collect  such  tax  with  fifty  percenium  damages  on 
the  same  with  costs  of  suit,  before  the  justice  of  peace 
of  said  city,  and  in  default  of  payment  of  such  judg- 
ment execution  shall  issue  against  the  defendant  as 
in  cases  of  court,  and  the  first  process  in  such  action 
shall  be  by  civil  warrant;  and  the  street  commissioner 
shall  account  for  such  taxes  by  him  collected,  in  the 
same  manner  as  for  other  moneys  coming  into  his 
hands  by  virtue  of  his  office.  And  the  street  commis- 
sioner, while  said  list  is  in  his  hands  for  collection, 
may  be  put  upon  the  same,  the  names  of  all  such  per- 
sons liable  to  such  tax,  as  may  have  been  omitted 
therefrom,  who  shall  then  be  liable,  the  same  as  if 
their  names  were  originally  placed  in  such  list. 

Section  26.  Every  street  commissioner  shall,  before 
entering  on  the  duties  of  his  office,  give  a  bond  to  the 
city  of  Antigo,  with  one  or  more  sureties,  to  be  approv- 
ed by  the  common  council  in  the  penal  sum  of  not  less 
than  five  hundred  dollars,  conditioned  to  render  an 
account  to  the  common  council,  whenever  required  by 
law,  or  the  ordinances  of  said  city,  or  by  vote  of  said 
common  council,  to  safely  keep  and  account  for,  and 
deliver  over  when  lawfully  required,  all  property  of 
said  city  that  may  come  into  his  hands;  to  use,  dis- 
burse or  pay  over  as  required  by  law,  or  the  ordinances 
of  said  city,  all  moneys  that  may  come  into  his  pos- 
session as  such  officer,  and  to  faithfully  discharge  the 
duties  of  his  said  office. 

Section  27.  The  common  council  of  said  city  shall 
at  its  first  meeting  after  election,  elect  a  city  marshal 
of  said  city,  who  shall  before  he  enters  upon  the  dis- 


charge of  the  duties  of  his  office  take  the  constitution 
oath  of  office  and  give  a  bond  to  said  city,  and  to  each 
and  every  person  entitled  thereto,  for  all  moneys  that 
may  come  into  his  hands  by  virtue  of  his  office. 

Section  28.  The  city  clerk  and  city  assessor  shall 
be  paid  a  salary  to  cover  all  services  rendered  by 
them;  the  common  council  may  also,  in  its  discretion, 
pay  the  marshal  a  salary,  in  which  case  the  salary 
so  fixed  shall  be  in  full  for  all  services  which  the  mar- 
shal may  render  by  direction  of  the  council,  and  shall 
also  be  payment  in  full  for  any  and  all  services  ren- 
dered by  him  in  or  for  which  the  city  mayor  shall 
eventually  become  liable. 

Section  29.  The  common  council  may  by  a  two- 
thirds  vote  of  the  whole  council  make  temporary  loans 
at  such  rates  of  interest  as  it  shall  decide  for  the  gen- 
eral purpose  of  said  city,  and  may,  in  its  discretion, 
in  anticipation  of  the  highway  tax  levied  but  not  paid 
in  the  month  of  June  in  any  year,  make  temporary 
loans  for  highway  purposes,  but  no  such  loan  shall,  in 
any  event,  exceed  the  amount  of  tax  levied  for  high- 
way purposes,  and  all  moneys  so  loaned  by  the  city 
for  highway  purposes,  if  any,  shall  be  apportioned  to 
the  wards  on  the  basis  of  the  tax  levied. 

Section  30.  The  common  council  shall  annually  fix 
and  limit  the  per  diem  of  the  several  street  commis- 
sioners in  said  city. 

CHAPTER  VII. 

OFFICERS,  THEIR  DUTIES  AND   POWERS. 

Section  1.  The  mayor  shall  be  the  chief  executive 
officer  of  the  city.  He  shall  see  that  all  laws  relat- 
ing to  the  peace  and  good  order  of  the  city,  as  well  as 
the  ordinances  of  the  city,  are  enforced,  and  shall 
exercise  a  constant  supervision  over  all  other  officers 
of  the  city.  He  shall  receive  and  examine  into  all 
complaints  against  all  subordinate  officers  for  mis- 
conduct, inefficiency  or  neglect  of  duty,  and  may, 
when  the  interests  of  the  city  are  in  danger  of  being 
impaired,  summarily  suspend  such  officer  until  the 
next  meeting  of  the  common  council,  at  which  time 
the  mayor  shall  make  report  to  the  common  council 
of  his  action  in  writing,  setting  forth  all  the  facts  and 
circumstances  in  relation  thereto,  and  the  common 
council  may  dispose  of  the  matter  in  the  same  man- 
ner as  hereinbefore  provided,  for  the  removal  of  per- 
sons from  office.  He  shall  recommend  from  time  to 
time  to  the  common  council  such  measures  as  he  shall 
deem  expedient  and  necessary  for  the  welfare  of  the 
city.  He  shall  possess  all  the  power  and  authority 
conferred  upon  mayors  of  cities  by  the  general  laws 
of  the  state.  He  shall  have  power,  with  force  if  ne- 
cessary, to  suppress  all  tumults,  riots  and  unlawful 
assemblies,  all  revelling,  quarreling,  or  other  disor- 
derly conduct  to  the  disturbance  or  annoyance  of  the 
peaceable  inhabitants  of  the  city.  He  shall  have  con- 
trol, subject  at  all  times  to  be  restricted  by  the  com- 
mon council,  of  the  city  marshal  and  the  entire  police 
force  of  the  city.  He  shall  have  power  to  admit  to. 
or  discharge  without,  bail  any  and  all  persons  ar- 
rested by  the  police  force  of  the  city  without  warrant. 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


117 


He  shall  have  power  to  administer  oaths  required  in 
the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his  office.  He  may  call 
special  meetings  of  the  common  council  by  order  in 
writing  specifying  therein  the  object  for  which  such 
meeting  is  called,  to  be  filed  with  the  city  clerk  and 
when  such  order  is  filed  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
city  clerk  to  serve  or  cause  to  be  served  on  all  the 
members  of  the  common  council  a  copy  thereof,  per- 
sonally or  by  leaving  the  same  at  the  place  of  resi- 
dence or  business  of  each  member  to  be  served.  And 
at  such  special  meeting  of  the  common  council  so 
called  the  common  council  shall  not  transact  any  other 
business  than  that  so  specified  in  the  call.  He  shall 
nave  power,  for  cause  to  pardon,  any  person  convicted 
for  violation  of  any  city  ordinance.  He  shall  com- 
municate to  the  common  council  as  soon  as  practic- 
able after  his  election,  and  as  often  thereafter  as  he 
may  deem  expedient  a  general  statement  of  the  af- 
fairs of  the  city  in  relation  to  its  finances,  government 
and  improvement.  He  shall  possess  all  such  other 
powers  and  perform  all  such  other  duties  as  are  inci- 
dent to,  or  necessary  for,  the  faithful  discharge  of  his 
duties  under  this  act. 

Section  2.  The  president  of  the  common  council 
shall  possess  all  of  the  powers,  and  perform  all  the 
duties  of  the  mayor,  in  his  absence  or  inability  to  act. 

Section  3.  The  city  clerk  shall  attend  all  the  meet- 
ings of  the  common  council,  and  keep  a  correct  record 
of  its  proceedings.  He  shall  have  custody  of  the  cor- 
porate seal,  and  of  all  the  papers  and  records  of  the 
city,  that  by  provision  of  law,  or  by  direction  of  the 
common  council  are  required  to  be  kept  in  his  office, 
or  filed  by  him.  He  shall  see  that  all  ordinances,  or- 
ders, resolutions,  notices  and  other  matters  requiring 
publication,  are  promptly  and  correctly  published  in 
such  paper  or  papers  as  the  common  council  may  have 
directed,  and  that  due  proof  thereof  be  made  and  re- 
corded as  in  this  chapter  provided.  He  shall  record 
all  papers  and  proceedings  required  by  any  of  the  pro- 
visions of  this  act,  to  be  recorded  in  his  office.  He 
shall  serve  in  the  capacity  of  clerk  of  all  such  boards 
or  committees  as  the  common  council  may  direct.  He 
shall  attest  all  orders  drawn  upon  the  treasury,  and 
sign  all  licenses  granted  by  the  common  council,  and 
keep  correct  record  thereof,  in  books  provided  for 
that  purpose,  in  such  a  manner  as  may  be  designated 
by  the  common  council.  He  shall  keep  a  detailed  ac- 
count of  the  financial  condition  of  the  city  and  of  the 
amounts  expended  through  orders  drawn  upon  the 
treasury;  of  all  balances  remaining  unexpended,  of  the 
condition  of  any  fund  or  separate  appropriation  for 
particular  purposes,  of  the  amounts  received  into  the 
city  treasury,  as  appears  by  the  reports  of  the  trea- 
surer, and  all  other  facts  desired  by  the  common  coun- 
cil at  any  regular  meeting  or  at  any  time.  He  shall 
do  and  perform  any  other  or  further  act  or  service  in 
relation  to  any  details  in  the  matter  of  keeping  books 
of  account,  records  or  proceedings  which  the  common 
council  may,  by  ordinance  or  resolution  require.  He 
shall  make  copies  of  the  assessment  roll  of  the  city, 
as  may  be  required  by  the  law  of  the  state  by  the 
common  council.     He  shall  keep  a  record  in  detail  of 


the  bonded  indebtedness  of  the  city,  in  such  a  manner 
as  will  show  the  amounts  required  to  be  paid  each 
year  for  interest  and  principal,  or  to  invest  in  a  sink- 
ing fund.  He  shall,  before  the  levy  of  any  annual  tax 
by  the  council  make  report  of  all  amounts  in  detail, 
which  the  city  will  be  required  to  pay  towards  any 
indebtedness  and  such  facts  and  statements  of  past 
expenditures  as  will  enable  the  council  to  make  pro- 
per estimates  for  tax  levies.  He  shall  keep  a  record 
of  all  the  proceedings  in  matters  relating  to  the  con- 
demnation of  private  property  for  public  use  all  pro- 
ceeding in  any  improvement  by  which  the  expense  or 
any  portion  thereof,  shall  be  chargeable  to  any  real 
estate.  He  shall  at  the  regular  meeting  each  month, 
make  a  report  to  the  common  council  of  the  amount  of 
money  belonging  to  the  general  fund,  in  the  city  trea- 
sury at  the  last  meeting,  the  amount  of  orders  drawn 
on  said  fund  since  the  last  meeting,  and  the  balance 
on  hand  at  the  date  of  meeting.  He  shall  have  power 
to  administer  oaths  and  affirmations  in  the  discharge 
of  the  duties  of  his  office,  and  may,  when  authorized 
by  the  common  council,  appoint  a  deputy  city  clerk, 
who,  when  so  appointed  shall  possess  all  the  powers 
and  authority  of  city  clerk.  The  city  clerk  may,  in 
addition  to  his  salary,  receive  such  fees  as  the  common 
council  may  prescribe  for  filing  chattel  mortgages  and 
making  certified  copies  of  the  same  or  for  any  service 
in  connection  with  his  office  not  in  this  act  specified, 
or  hereafter  required  by  the  common  council. 

Section  4.  The  city  treasurer  shall  receive,  and 
safely  keep  until  lawfully  paid  out,  all  moneys  be- 
longing to  the  city,  and  keep  accurate  accounts  there- 
of with  an  accurate  account  of  all  disbursements  in 
such  a  manner  as  the  common  council  direct.  He 
shall  collect  all  licenses,  duties,  commissions  and 
moneys  due  the  city,  all  general  and  special  taxes, 
assessments,  which  may  be  lawfully  charged,  levied 
or  assessed  upon  the  real  and  personal  property  in  this 
city,  and  chargeable  therewith,  and  exercise  the  same 
powers  and  be  subject  to  the  same  liabilities  as  trea- 
surers of  towns,  except  when  special  directions  and 
duty  imposed  by  this  act.  He  shall  pay  all  orders 
drawn  upon  the  treasury,  by  authority  of  the  common 
council,  or  as  may  be  required  under  any  special  pro- 
vision of  this  act.  He  shall  report  to  the  common  coun- 
cil, at  the  end  of  each  month  the  actual  amount  of 
money  in  the  treasury,  together  with  the  amount  re- 
ceived and  paid  out.  He  shall  accompany  such  re- 
ports with  all  others  redeemed  and  paid  by  him,  which 
said  account  and  orders  with  any  and  all  other  vouch- 
ers held  by  him,  shall  be  delivered  over  to  the  city 
clerk,  and  filed  in  his  office,  after  the  same  shall  have 
been  examined  by  the  common  council.  And  all  such 
orders  so  presented,  when  credited  to  the  treasurer, 
shall  be  cancelled  by  the  common  council  in  such  a 
manner  as  the  common  council  shall  direct.  He  shall 
at  the  end  of  his  official  term,  or  oftener,  as  may  be 
required  by  the  common  council,  make  a  detailed  re- 
port of  all  the  transactions  of  his  office,  and  at  the  end 
of  his  term  of  office  shall  thereupon  deliver  over  to 
his  successor  in  office  all  money  or  property  belonging 
to  the  city,  as  well  as  all  books,  records,  papers,  or 


118 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


documents,  in  any  way  pertaining  or  belonging  to  the 
office.  The  treasurer  shall,  in  addition  to  the  duties 
herein  enumerated,  do  and  perform  all  the  duties  pro- 
vided to  be  done  and  performed  by  him  in  any  por- 
tion of  this  act.  The  fees  of  the  city  treasurer  shall 
be  as  follows :  For  collecting  the  highway  tax  he  shall 
receive  two  per  cent  on  the  amount  collected,  for  all 
taxes  in  the  general  tax  roll  collected  on  or  before  the 
tenth  day  of  January  in  each  year  he  shall  receive  one 
per  cent,  on  the  amount  collected  for  all  taxes  collect- 
ed between  the  tenth  day  of  January  and  the  tenth 
day  of  February  in  each  year  he  shall  receive  two 
per  cent,  on  the  amount  collected,  and  for  all  taxes 
collected  after  the  tenth  day  of  February  in  each  year 
he  shall  receive  three  per  cent,  on  the  amount  collected. 

Section  5.  The  city  marshal  shall  perform  such  du- 
ties as  shall  be  prescribed  by  the  common  council  for 
the  preservation  of  the  peace.  He  shall  possess  all 
the  powers  and  authority  of  constables  of  towns,  and 
be  subject  to  the  same  liabilities.  It  shall  be  his  duty 
to  execute  all  writs  and  processes  to  him  directed,  and 
when  necessary  in  criminal  cases,  or  for  the  violation 
of  any  ordinance  of  said  city,  or  laws  of  this  state, 
may  pursue  and  serve  the  same  in  any  part  of  the 
state.  It  shall  be  his  duty  to  suppress  all  riots,  dis- 
turbances and  breaches  of  the  peace,  and  to  remove 
all  obstructions  in  the  streets  and  alleys  of  said  city,  to 
apprehend  with  or  without  warrant,  any  person  in  the 
act  of  committing  any  offense  against  any  ordinance 
of  said  city  or  the  laws  of  this  state,  and  forthwith 
bring  such  persons  before  a  justice  of  the  peace  for 
examination  or  trial,  and  for  such  service  he  shall  re- 
ceive such  fees  as  are  allowed  by  law  to  constables 
for  like  services  in  this  state;  provided  that  if  said 
city  marshal  perform  any  labor  by  direction  of  the 
common  council  or  required  by  law,  for  which  no  fees 
are  allowed,  he  shall  receive  such  compensation  as 
the  common  council  shall  determine.  He  shall  have 
power  to  appoint  one  or  more  deputies,  subject  to  the 
approval  of  the  common  council,  but  for  whose  official 
acts  he  shall  be  responsible  and  for  whom  he  may  re- 
quire bonds  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  their  duties. 
Such  deputies  shall  also  take  and  subscribe  the  pro- 
per oath  of  office  which  will  be  filed  in  the  office  of 
the  city  clerk,  and  when  duly  qualified  as  aforesaid 
such  deputies  shall  possess  all  the  powers  and  author- 
ities and  be  subject  to  the  same  liabilities  as  the  mar- 
shal. 

Section  6.  The  supervisors  elected  under  this  act 
shall  be  members  of  the  county  board  of  supervisors, 
and,  as  such,  shall  have  powers  of  the  chairmen  of  the 
board  of  supervisors  in  the  several  towns  of  this 
state,  except  as  qualified  by  the  provisions  of  this 
act;  and  in  case  of  any  vacancy,  in  either  of  the  wards, 
in  said  office,  or  inability  of  the  supervisors  elect  to 
act,  the  senior  alderman  from  such  ward  shall  be  and 
act  as  such  supervisor  until  the  vacancy  is  filled  or 
disability  removed,  and  such  alderman  shall  have  all 
the  powers  and  discharge  all  the  duties  of  the  office  of 
supervisor. 

Section  7,     The  assessors  elected    under    this    act 


shall,  in  all  things  pertaining  to  their  offices,  be  gov- 
erned by  the  same  laws  as  assessors  under  the  gen- 
eral laws  of  this  state,  and  their  compensation  shall 
be  established  by  the  common  council. 

Section  8.  The  board  of  review  shall  consist  of 
the  mayor,  clerk,  assessor  and  senior  alderman  from 
each  ward.  They  shall  meet  on  the  day  fixed  by  law 
for  that  purpose,  and  in  all  things  be  governed  by  the 
general  laws  of  this  state.  The  members  of  the  board 
of  review  shall  receive  five  dollars  each  for  their  serv- 
ices during  all  the  sessions  of  the  board  for  the  year, 
and  no  more. 

Section  9.  Each  of  the  justices  of  peace  provided 
for  in  this  act  shall  hold  a  court  for  trial  and  de- 
termination of  such  actions  civil  and  criminal,  as  they 
have  jurisdiction  of  as  justices  of  the  peace  under  the 
general  laws  of  the  state  or  the  provisions  of  this  act. 
All  the  general  laws  of  the  state  of  Wisconsin,  rela- 
tive to  the  proceedings  in  justice  courts  in  civil  and 
criminal  proceedings  shall  apply  to  the  courts  of  such 
justices  except  as  otherwise  provided  in  this  act. 

Section  10.  The  justice  of  the  peace  of  said  city 
shall  have  exclusive  original  jurisdiction  of  all  crimin- 
al cases  arising  in  said  city,  to  try  and  determine,  or 
commit  for  trial,  as  may  be,  any  or  all  cases,  civil  or 
criminal,  arising  under  the  ordinances,  rules  or  regu- 
lations of  said  city.  All  the  general  provisions  of  law 
concerning  the  trial  of  criminal  offenses,  and  the  con- 
ducting of  criminal  prosecutions,  appeals  from  the 
judgments  of  the  justice,  the  fees  of  officers  and  pro- 
ceedings in  which  upon  trial  the  justice  finds  he  has 
not  final  jurisdiction  of  the  case  shall  govern  trials 
under  this  act.  When  an  act  or  omission,  declared  to 
be  an  offense  by  the  general  laws  of  the  state,  is  also 
made  an  offense  by  the  provisions  of  this  act  or  the 
ordinances  of  the  city  passed  pursuant  thereto,  a  con- 
viction or  acquittal  in  a  prosecution  under  the  gener- 
al laws  shall  be  a  bar  to  a  prosecution  under  this  act, 
or  such  ordinances.  The  persons  accused  shall  have 
the  same  right  to  a  removal  of  the  case  for  prejudice 
as  provided  by  the  general  laws  of  the  state.  All  fines 
collected  on  convictions  for  such  acts  or  omissions 
shall  be  paid  into  the  city  treasury,  and  become  a  part 
of  the  general  fund  thereof. 

Section  11.  The  common  council  shall,  annually  be- 
fore any  highway  taxes  are  expended,  appropriate  and 
set  apart  from  the  whole  amount  of  highway  tax  le- 
vied such  sum  or  portion  as  it  shall  deem  necessary, 
not  to  exceed  one-fourth  of  the  amount  so  levied,  to 
be  expended  by  the  common  council  on  Fifth  Avenue 
and  the  extension  thereof  to  the  city  limits  east  and 
west,  and  Clermont  Street  and  the  extension  thereof 
north  and  south  to  the  city  limits,  all  other  boundary 
streets  between  wards  in  said  city.  All  highway  taxes 
shall  be  expended  in  the  wards  where  raised  and  paid 
except  the  amount  which  may  be  appropriated  by  the 
common  council  for  the  streets  above  mentioned.  The 
city  clerk  shall  deliver  to  the  street  commissioner  in 
each  ward,  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  June  each 
year,  a  statement  of  the  amount  of  the  highway  taxes 
belonging   to   his   ward,   and   file   a   duplicate   thereof 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


119 


with  the  city  treasurer.  The  aldermen  and  street 
commissioner  in  each  ward  shall  constitute  a  commit- 
tee for  the  purpose  of  laying  or  expending  the  high- 
way tax  therein.  Same  committee  shall  direct  the  ex- 
penditure of  all  highway  taxes  in  its  ward,  and  the 
street  commissioner  shall  have  charge  and  control  of 
all  work  so  directed  and  for  that  purpose  shall  have 
authority  to  employ  men  and  teams,  and  to  procure 
such  tools  as  shall  be  necessary,  but  the  committee 
shall  fix  and  limit  th^  wages  to  be  paid,  and  in  all 
cases,  and  make  all  purchases  of  tools  or  implements 
used  or  bought.  The  street  commissioner  shall  pre- 
pare and  submit  to  the  aldermen  of  his  ward,  a  month- 
ly statement  of  the  amount  expended  by  him,  show- 
ing the  number  of  days  work  done  by  men,  the  num- 
ber of  days  team  work,  the  names  of  the  men  and 
owners  of  teams  so  employed,  and  all  other  work 
done.  When  such  statement  shall  be  approved  by 
the  aldermen  of  such  ward,  by  indorsing  their  approv- 
al thereon,  the  street  commissioner  shall  file  the  same  ' 
and  with  the  city  clerk.  The  city  clerk  shall  issue  or- 
ders to  all  persons  named  in  such  statement  for  the 
amount  to  which  each  person  named  therein  shall  be 
entitled  and  when  such  orders  are  countersigned  by 
the  mayor,  they  shall  be  delivered  to  the  persons  nam- 
ed therein  and  the  amounts  charged  to  the  highway 
fund  of  said  ward. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

ORDINANCES. 

Section  1.  Ev/ery  ordinance  of  the  common  council 
shall,  before  it  takes  effect,  be  duly  signed  by  the 
mayor  and  attested  by  the  city  clerk;  provided,  how- 
ever, that  no  ordinance  shall  be  in  force  until  it  shall 
have  reached  at  least  one  publication  in  a  newspaper 
published  in  the  city  of  Antigo,  and  proof  of  such  pub- 
lication, by  the  affidavit  of  the  publisher,  printer  or 
foreman  of  such  newspaper  be  filed  with  the  city 
clerk;  and  the  ordinance  and  the  proof  of  publication 
thereof  shall  be  recorded  in  a  book  kept  for  that  pur- 
pose. 

Section  2.  The  style  of  all  ordinances  shall  be 
"The  common  council  of  the  city  of  Antigo  do  ordain 
as  follows,"  etc. 

Section  3.  A  printed  copy  of  an  ordinance  passed 
by  the  common  council  and  published  in  a  newspaper, 
or  in  a  pamphlet,  or  book  form,  purporting  to  be  pub- 
lished by  authority  of  the  common  council  of  said 
city,  as  certified  by  the  clerk  prima  facie  evidence  of 
its  passage  and  publication,  and  shall  be  received  in 
evidence  on  the  trial  of  all  cases  cognizable  before 
any  court  in  the  state. 

CHAPTER  IX. 

PROCEDURE  FOR  VIOLATION  OF  ORDI- 
NANCES, LAWS,  ETC. 

Section  1.  The  city  of  Antigo  may  sue  for  to  re- 
cover any  and  all  penalties,  or  forfeitures,  under  the 
charter  of  said  city,  or  any  amendment  thereto,  or  the 
ordinances,  by-laws,  police  or  health  regulations,  made 


in  pursuance  thereof,  in  the  corporate  name  of  said 
city  of  Antigo,  any  general  law  of  the  state  to  the  con- 
trary notwithstanding,  and  such  action  shall  be  com- 
menced by  complaint,  substantially  in  the  following 
form : 

State  of  Wisconsin, 
City  of  Antigo,  and 
County  of  Langlade. — SS. 

being  duly  sworn  complains  on 

oath,  to a  justice  of  the  peace 

in  said  city,  that on  the 

day  of ,  18 ,  violated  the 

section  of  an  ordinance,  by-law  or  resolution  ( describ- 
ing it  by  its  title  and  number  of  section,  which  said 
is  now  in  force,  as  this  deponent  ver- 
ily believes,  and  prays,  that  said 

may  be  arrested,  and  held  to  answer  to  the  said  city 
of  Antigo  therefor.     Sworn  and  subscribed  to  before 

me  this day  of ,  18 It  shall 

be  sufficient  to  give  the  number  of  the  sections  or  sec- 
tion, and  the  chapter  or  title  of  the  ordinance,  by-law, 
regulation  or  resolutions,  or  of  the  law  violated,  in 
such  complaint,  with  the  number  of  section  or  sections. 
Upon  the  filing  of  said  complaint  with  the  justice  hav- 
ing jurisdiction  a  warrant  shall  issue  thereon  substan- 
tially as  follows: 

State   of   Wisconsin,   City   of   Antigo   and   County   of 

Langlade — SS. 

to 

The  State  of  Wis.,  the  city  marshal  of    said    city    of 

Antigo,  or  the  sheriff  or  any  constable  of  said  county, 

greeting : 

Where has  this  day  complain- 
ed to  me  in  writing  on  oath  that 

did  on  the  the day  of A.  D.  18_-_, 

violate  the section  or  sections  of  an  ordi- 
nance, by-law,  regulation  or  law  (describing  it  by  its 

chapter   or   number),   which    said is 

now  in  force  and  effect,  as  said  complainant  verily  be- 
lieves; therefore,  in  the  name  of  the  state  of  Wis- 
consin you  are  hereby  commanded  to  arrest  the  body 

or  the   said and   him   forthwith   bring 

before to  answer  to  said  city  of 

Antigo  on  the  complaint  aforesaid.  Given  under  my 
hand    this day    of ,    18 

Section  2.  Witnesses  and  jurors  shall  attend  in 
all  city  prosecutions  without  the  payment  of  fees  in 
advance,  upon  process  of  the  court,  duly  served,  and 
in  default  thereof,  their  attendance  may  be  enforc- 
ed by  attachment  in  case  the  jury,  after  being  kept 
a  reasonable  time,  should  disagree,  they  shall  be  dis- 
charged, and  thereupon  the  court  shall  adjourn  the 
cause  to  a  day  certain,  and  issue  a  new  venire  as 
aforesaid. 

Section  3.  In  city  prosecutions  the  finding  of  the 
court  or  jury  shall  be  "guilty"  or  "not  guilty."  If 
guilty,  the  court  shall  render  judgment  thereon  against 
the  defendant  for  the  fine,  penalty  or  forfeiture,  and 
where  the  same  is  not  to  exceed  a  certain  sum,  and 
not  less  than  a  certain  other  sum,  shall  fix  the  amount 
of  such  fine,  penalty  or  forfeiture  as  he   shall  deem 


120 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


best,  within  the  provisions  of  such  ordinance,  by-law 
or  resolution,  for  the  violation  of  which  the  person 
or  persons  shall  have  been  adjudged  guilty,  and  for 
the  costs  of  suit.  If  not  guilty,  the  costs,  as  in  ac- 
tions in  justices  court,  shall  be  taxed  against  the  city, 
but  no  attorneys'  fees  shall  be  taxed  for  or  against 
the  defendant  in  any  such  suit.  Execution  shall  is- 
sue forthwith  upon  the  rendition  of  the  judgment  un- 
less the  same  be  stayed  or  appealed  as  hereinafter 
provided,  and  the  fine  or  penalty  imposed  by  the 
court  may  be  enforced  and  collected  by  levy  and  sale, 
on  execution  of  the  property  of  the  defendant,  as  pro- 
vided by  law  in  civil  actions  before  the  justice  of 
the  peace. 

Section  4.  The  execution  upon  the  judgment  recov- 
ered in  any  such  action,  may  require  that  in  case 
nothing  shall  be  found  from  which  the  amount  can 
be  collected,  the  defendant  shall  be  taken  and  impri- 
soned in  the  jail  of  Langlade  County,  for  the  term 
not  exceeding  six  months,  or  in  the  police  station,  not 
exceeding  three  months,  unless  the  judgment  be  soon- 
er paid  and  the  term  of  such  imprisonment  shall  be 
inserted  in  the  execution  and  commitment.  And  said 
execution  and  commitment  may  require  the  defendant 
to  perform  hard  labor  during  the  term  of  such  im- 
prisonment. In  case  nothing  be  found  from  which  the 
amount  can  be  collected,  the  defendant  shall  be  im- 
prisoned in  the  jail  of  Langlade  county,  or  in  the  po- 
lice station,  according  to  the  terms  of  the  execution. 
Such  execution  may  be  in  the  following  form: 
State  of  Wisconsin, 
City  of  Antigo, 
County  of  Langlade — SS. 

The  state  of  Wisconsin  to  the  sheriff  or  any  constable 
of  said  county  of  Langlade,  the  city  marshal  of 
said  city,  the  keeper  of  the  common  jail  of  said 
county,  or  the  keeper  of  the  police  station: 

Whereas,  the  said  city  of  Antigo,  on  the day 

of ,    18 ,   recovered    a   judgment 

before  the of  said against 

for  the  sum  of dollars, 

together  with dollars,  cost  of  suit,  for 

the  violation  of  (here  insert  the  number  of  section, 
chapter,  the  title  of  the  ordinances  and  offenses,  as 
set  forth  in  the  complaint).  These  are,  therefore,  in 
the  name  of  the  state  of  Wisconsin,  to  command  you 
to  levy  distress  on  the  goods  and  chattels  of  the  said 

{excepting  such  as  the  laws  exempt) 

and  make  sale  thereof  according  to  law  in  such  case 
made  and  provided,  to  the  amounts  of  said  sums  to- 
gether with  your  fees,  and  twenty-five  cents  for  the 
execution;   and  the   same  return  to  me  within  thirty 

days;  to  be  rendered  to  the  said for 

said  judgment  and  costs,  and  for  want  of  such  goods 
and  chattels  whereon  to  levy,  to  take  the  body  of  said 

and  him  convey  and  deliver  unto 

the  keeper  of  the  common  jail  of  said  county,  or  to 
the  keeper  of  the  police  station  of  the  city  of  Antigo, 
who   is  hereby  commanded  to   receive  and  keep  the 

in  safe  custody  in  said , 

and  at  hard  labor  for  the  term  of , 


unless  the  aforesaid  sum  and  all  legal  expenses  be 
sooner  paid  and  satisfied,  or  until  he  be  discharged 
thence  by  due  course  of  law. 

Give  under  my  hand  this day  of , 

18-—. 


Section  5.  All  penalties,  forfeitures,  fines  of  claim 
due  to  said  city,  where  or  when  paid  to  the  magis- 
trate authorized  to  receive  same,  shall  be  paid  by  him 
to  the  city  treasurer,  within  one  month  after  the  re- 
ceipt thereof,  by  him.  Whenever  execution  shall  be 
issued  upon  any  judgment  in  favor  of  the  city,  the 
same  shall  be  returned  by  the  officer  receiving  the 
same,  to  the  judge  or  justice  who  issued  it,  on  or  be- 
fore the  return  day  thereof,  and  if  such  officer  neglect 
to  return  same  for  two  days  after  the  return  day  there- 
of, the  judge  or  justice  shall  report  the  fact  to  the 
city  treasurer,  who  shall  cause  an  action  to  be  brought 
in  the  name  of  the  city,  against  the  officer  and  his 
sureties  for  the  default. 

Section  6.  Appeals  shall  be  allowed  in  all  said 
cases  to  the  circuit  court,  and  taken  in  the  same  man- 
ner as  appeals  from  justices  of  the  peace.  The  de- 
fendant in  all  city  prosecutions  may  appeal  to  the 
circuit  court  of  Langlade  County,  by  filing  an  affidavit 
and  bond,  and  complying  with  the  requirements  of 
appeals  shall  be  taken  and  perfected  within  forty- 
eight  hours  from  the  time  the  judgment  is  rendered 
in  the  suit.  Upon  any  appeal  being  taken  and  allow- 
ed, the  judge  or  justices  shall  stay  all  fuither  pro- 
ceedings in  the  case  and  the  defendant,  if  in  custody, 
shall  be  charged,  and  the  judge  or  justices  shall  trans- 
mit the  papers  in  the  case  so  appealed,  with  a  tran- 
script of  his  docket,  and  the  circuit  court  within  the 
time  and  in  the  manner  prescribed,  in  cases  appealed 
from  the  justice  of  the  peace. 

Section  7.  The  jail  fees,  and  officers  fees,  if  any, 
commitment  or  prosecution  in  behalf  of  the  same  shall 
be  audited  and  allowed  by  the  common  council  when 
the  same  cannot  be  collected  by  the  defendant,  be- 
fore his  discharge,  and  said  common  council  may  by 
resolution  direct  the  justice  to  discharge  from  the  jail 
any  person  confined  for  a  judgment  of  said  city,  but 
such  discharge  shall  not  open  as  a  release  of  the  judg- 
ment, unless  said  common  council  shall  direct  in  their 
resolution.  On  filing  a  certified  copy  of  such  resolu- 
tions assisted  by  the  city  clerk,  the  judges  or  justices 
shall  order  such  defendant  discharged  from  custody 
and  make  an  entry  of  such  discharge  on  his  docket, 
an  execution  may  issue  or  be  renewed  by  an  en- 
dorsement from  time  to  time,  before  or  after  the  re- 
turn day  thereof,  and  before  or  after  the  commitment 
of  the  defendant;  until  the  judgment  is  satisfied  or  re- 
leased; but  after  the  defendant  shall  have  been  once 
committed,  no  execution  shall  be  issued  against  the 
body  of  the  defendant  in  the  same  action. 

FINANCE  AND  TAXATION. 

Section    1.     The  fiscal   year  of   the  city  of  Antigo 
shall  commence  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  April. 
Section  2.     All  moneys  credited  and  demands   be- 


HISTORY    OF    LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


121 


longing  to  the  city  of  Antigo  shall  be  kept  by  and  de- 
posited with  the  city  treasurer,  and  be  under  control  of 
the  common  council,  and  shall  only  be  drawn  upon 
orders  signed  by  the  mayor  and  city  clerk,  duly 
authorized  by  a  vote  of  the  common  council,  and  in 
no  other  manner,  provided,  that  the  school  fund  may  be 
drawn  out  as  provided  by  other  provisions  of  this  act, 
and  all  resolutions  adopted  by  the  common  council 
authorizing  the  expenditure  of  moneys,  shall  appro- 
priately specify  the  amount  to  be  expended  and  no 
extra  or  additional  compensation  shall  be  allowed  or 
paid  on  any  contract,  or  on  account  of  any  contract, 
or  to  any  contractor,  person  or  persons,  for  any  serv- 
ice or  work  done,  or  material  furnished  to  or  for  the 
city. 

Section  3.  No  debt  shall  be  contracted  against  the 
city  or  certificate  of  indebtedness  be  drawn  upon  the 
city  treasurer,  unless  the  same  shall  be  authorized  by 
a  majority  of  all  the  members  elect  of  the  common 
council,  and  the  vote  authorizing  the  same  shall  be 
entered  ayes  and  r.ays,  upon  the  jourra^  o'  the  com- 
mon council,  provided  that  the  common  counc'l,  shall 
not,  in  any  case,  or  under  any  pretext,  or  any  purpose 
whatever,  contract  debts  or  liabilities  of  any  kind, 
name  or  nature,  exceeding  the  amount  which  it  is 
authorized  by  the  provision  of  this  act  to  levy  for  the 
recent  year. 

Section  4.  All  forfeitures  and  pera'tiei  accru'n^ 
to  the  city  for  violation  of  this  act,  or  any  of  the  or- 
dinances, by-laws,  rules  ar.d  regu'a'iors  of  the  city, 
passed  thereunder,  or  for  any  act  of  onis  i^n  or  com- 
mission forbidden  or  made  punishable  by  or  under 
the  general  laws  of  the  stats,  which  act  oi  omission 
or  commission  is  also  forbidden  or  made  punishable 
by  any  ordinance,  by-law  or  regulation  of  said  city, 
and  all  moneys  received  for  licenses  an  insurance  per- 
centage, and  from  all  other  sources  for  the  city,  shall 
be  paid  into  the  city  treasury  and  become  a  part  of 
the  general  fund,  and  all  moneys  received  for  tuition 
of  scholars  under  this  act,  shall  be  paid  into  the 
treasury,  and  become  part  of  the  school  fund. 

Section  5.  All  orders  drawn  upon  the  treasury  of 
the  city  shall  be  made  payable  to  the  order  of  the 
person  in  whose  favor  they  may  be  drawn  and  shall 
be  transferred  only  by  indorsement.  Each  order  shall 
specify  upon  its  face  the  purpose  for  which  it  was 
drawn,  and  the  same  shall  be  payable  out  of  the  pro- 
per fund,  and  all  such  orders  shall  be  received  in  pay- 
ment of  any  municipal  tax  levied  and  assessed. 

Section  6.  No  interest  shall  be  allowed  or  paid  on 
any  city  clerk  order  or  certificate  of  indebtedness,  un- 
less the  same  is  expressly  authorized  by  the  common 
council,  by  a  vote  of  a  majority  of  all  members  elect. 

Section  7.  All  corporations,  companies,  and  as- 
sociations, by  their  respective  underwriters  or  agents, 
engaged  in  said  city  in  effecting  fire  insurance,  shall 
account  and  pay  to  the  city  treasurer,  the  two  per 
cent,  upon  the  amount  of  all  premiums  which  shall 
be  received  or  agreed  to  be  paid  for  insurance,  at  the 
times  and  in  the  manner  and  form  prescribed  or  pro- 


vided for  by  section  19-6  revised  statutes. 

Section  8.  Real  estate  exempt  by  the  laws  of  the 
state  from  general  taxation,  shall  be  subject  to  spe- 
cial taxes  for  the  building  of  streets,  sewers,  side- 
walks, repairing  and  cleaning  of  sidewalks,  removal  of 
nuisances,  and  such  other  work,  walks,  and  labor,  for 
which  a  special  Hen  is  given,  and  the  making  of  local 
and  general  improvements,  and  all  the  property  of  the 
city  shall  be  subject  thereto,  provided  that  the  pro- 
perty of  the  city  shall  be  exempt  from  all  taxation, 
except  such  special  tax,  when  known,  and  give  the 
amount  of  such  tax  so  levied  and  assessed  upon  each 
such  lots  or  part  of  lots,  or  lands.  On  or  before  the 
f':st  day  of  December  of  each  year,  the  city  clerk 
of  said  city,  shall  insert  in  a  separate  column  in  the 
tax  list  of  his  city  next  there  after  to  be  delivered  to 
the  city  treasurer  of  said  city  for  collection  and  op- 
posite to  the  description  therein  of  each  of  said  lots,  or 
part  of  lots,  or  lands,  the  amount  of  such  special  tax 
properly  chargeable  thereto  as  appears  by  the 
aforesaid  resolution  adopted  by  the  common  council, 
and  then  said  special  taxes  shall  be  collected  or  re- 
turned delinquent  in  the  same  manner  as  town,  coun- 
ty and  state  taxes  are  collected  or  returned  delinquent 
by  law,  and  the  lots,  or  part  of  lets,  or  lands,  upon 
which  such  special  taxes  may  be  so  lev'eJ  and  assess- 
ed may  be  sold  and  conveyed  for  the  non-payment 
thereof,  in  the  same  marner  and  with  the  same  effect 
3.3  if  sail  special  tax  had  been  a  ge,  era!  town,  county 
cr  state  tax. 

Section  9.  When  it  shall  be  necessary  in  the  opin- 
ion of  the  common  council  to  repair  or  reconstruct  any 
sidev.a^k  the  common  council  ma/  cause  such  side- 
v. alk  to  be  repaired  or  reconstructed  at  the  expense 
of  the  owners  of  the  lot  or  lots  or  lands  abutting  on 
such  sidewalk  in  the  same  manner  as  is  authorized  to 
construct  new  sidewalk,  provided,  however,  that  dan- 
gerous sidewalk  shall  be  in  immediately  the  same 
condition  and  the  cost  of  repair'ng  shall  not  ex- 
ceed three  dollars,  the  street  commissioner  abutting 
will  notify  the  owner  of  the  lot  or  lots  of  said  on 
dangerous  sidewalk,  if  a  resident  of  said  city,  to  re- 
pair such  sidewalk,  and  if  such  owner  shall  not  at 
once  proceed  to  repair  same  the  street  commissioner 
shall  at  once  repair  such  dangerous  sidewalk,  and  the 
cost  of  such  repairs  shall  be  levied  upon  and  collect- 
ed from  the  lot  or  lands  abutting  on  such  dangerous 
sidewalk,  in  the  same  manner  as  the  cost  of  construct- 
ing new  walks  are  levied  and  collected  from  the  lots 
and  lands  abutting  thereon. 

CHAPTER  X. 

MISCELLANEOUS  PROVISIONS. 

Section  1.  All  work  for  the  city,  including  all 
printing  and  publishing,  shall  be  let  by  contract  to 
the  lowest  bidder  and  due  notice  shall  be  given  of 
time  and  place  of  letting  such  contract  and  the  coun- 
cil shall  have  the  right  to  reject  any  bid,  when  it  is 
deemed  for  the  interest  of  the  city  to  do  so. 

Section  2.  No  penalty  or  judgment  recovered  in 
favor  of  the  city  shall  be  remitted  -or  discharged,  ex- 


122 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


cept  by  a  majority  of  the  aldermen  elect. 

Section  3.  No  real  or  personal  property  of  any  in- 
habitant of  said  city,  or  of  any  individual  or  corpor- 
ation, shall  be  levied  on  and  sold  by  virtue  of  any 
execution  issued  to  satisfy  or  collect  any  debt,  obli- 
gation or  contract  of  said  city. 

Section  4.  When  the  city  of  Antigo  deeds  or  leases 
any  real  estate  or  any  interest  therein,  owned  by  said 
city,  the  party  of  the  first  part  shall  be  the  city  of 
Antigo,  and  the  person  or  persons  authorized  to  exe- 
cute such  deed  or  lease  need  not  be  named  in  the  body 
thereof. 

Section  5.  The  mayor  of  said  city  is  hereby  author- 
ized, when  the  common  council  shall,  by  ordinance  or 
resolution,  for  that  purpose,  (describing  the  real  es- 
tate and  interest  to  be  conveyed)  order  and  direct 
him  so  to  do,  to  execute  a  deed  or  lease  of  such  real 
estate,  or  interest  therein  belonging  to  said  city;  the 
said  deed  or  lease  shall  be  signed  by  the  mayor  of 
said  city  and  countersigned  by  the  city  clerk,  and 
sealed  with  the  corporate  seal  of  said  city,  and  duly 
witnessed  and  acknowledged,  as  is  provided  by  law 
for  the  execution  of  deeds  and  leases. 

Section  6.  When  any  such  deed  or  lease  is  so  exe- 
cuted, the  city  clerk  shall  attach  to  such  deed  or  lease 
a  true  and  attested  copy  of  such  ordinance  or  resolu- 
tion, and  the  same  shall  be  recorded  by  the  register 
of  deeds  with  the  said  deed  or  lease,  and  such  copy, 
so  attached  and  recorded,  shall  be,  in  all  the  courts 
of  this  state,  prima  facie  evidence  of  the  authority  of 
such  mayor  to  make  and  execute  such  deed  or  lease. 

Section  7.  When  judgment  is  rendered  against  any 
person  for  the  violation  of  any  city  ordinance,  and 
such  person  shall  be  committed  for  the  non-payment 
thereof,  including  his  board,  shall  be  added  thereto, 
which  he  shall  be  required  to  pay  in  case  of  payment 
of  said  judgment. 

Section  8.  The  keeper  of  the  common  jail  of  the 
county  of  Langlade  is  hereby  required  to  receive  and 
keep  all  persons  who  shall  be  arrested  by  the  proper 
officers  for  the  violation  of  any  city  ordinance,  or 
committed  for  the  non-payment  of  any  judgment,  fine 
or  penalty. 

Section  9.  No  member  of  the  common  council  shall 
be  eligible  to  any  other  office  provided  for  by  this 
act,  during  the  term  for  which  he  shall  have  been 
elected  or  appointed.  No  member  of  the  common 
council  shall  vote  upon  any  question,  matter  or  reso- 
lution in  which  he  may  be  directly  or  indirectly  inter- 
ested. 

Section  10.  No  member  of  the  common  council 
shall  be  a  party  to  or  interested  in  any  job  or  con- 
tract with  the  city,  or  any  department  thereof ;  and 
any  contract  in  which  any  such  member  may  be  so 
interested  shall  be  null  and  void.  No  member  of  the 
common  council  shall  sign  any  bond  as  surety  for  the 
performance  of  any  contract  or  agreement  with  such 
city,  or  official  bond  to  such  city  during  his  term  of 
office. 

Section  11.     Every  license  issued  by  the  authority 


of  this  act,  or  the  ordinances  of  the  city,  shall  be  sign- 
ed by  the  city  clerk  and  sealed  with  the  corporate 
seal,  but  no  such  license  shall  be  issued  by  said  clerk 
until  the  person  applying  for  the  same  shall  have  de- 
posited with  the  clerk  the  receipt  of  the  city  treasurer 
for  the  amount  to  be  paid  therefor. 

Section  12.  Every  member  of  the  common  council 
of  the  city  of  Antigo  who  shall  directly  or  indirectly 
vote  to  himself,  or  knowingly  to  any  other  person,  any 
sum  of  money  for  any  other  purpose  whatever  in  vio- 
lation of  the  city  charter  or  any  amendment  thereto, 
or  shall  ask  or  receive  any  compensation  for  doing 
any  official  act,  except  as  inspectors  of  elections,  mem- 
bers of  the  board  of  registry,  and  as  members  of  the 
board  of  review;  any  member  of  the  common  council 
or  other  city  officer  who  shall  be  directly  or  indirectly 
interested  in  any  contract  made  with  or  in  behalf  of 
the  city,  and  any  member  of  said  council  or  other  city 
officer  who  shall  directly  or  indirectly  purchase  or  be 
interested  in  the  purchase  of  any  city  order  or  city 
indebtedness  for  less  than  the  full  amount  thereof, 
shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor  in  office,  and 
may  be  prosecuted  by  complaint  before  any  justice  of 
the  peace  in  the  city,  and,  upon  conviction  thereof, 
shall  be  punished  by  a  fine  not  exceeding  one  hundred 
dollars  nor  less  than  twenty  dollars,  or  by  imprison- 
ment in  the  county  jail  not  more  than  thirty  days  nor 
less  than  ten  days,  or  both,  at  the  discretion  of  the 
court. 

Section  13.  No  action  in  tort  shall  lie  or  be  main- 
tained against  the  city  of  Antigo,  unless  a  statement 
in  writing,  signed  by  the  person  injured  or  claiming 
to  be  injured,  of  the  wrong  and  circumstances  there- 
of, and  amount  of  damages  claimed,  shall  be  present- 
ed to  the  common  council  within  ninety  days  after  the 
occurring  or  happening  of  the  tort  alleged. 

Section  14.  Whenever  any  grave  or  heinous  crime 
shall  have  been  committed  in  said  city  against  life  or 
property,  the  mayor,  with  the  concurrence  of  the  com- 
mon council,  may  offer  a  reward  for  the  arrest  and 
conviction  of  either  of  the  perpetraters  of  such  of- 
fense, provided  that  such  reward  shall,  in  no  case,  ex- 
ceed one  hundred  dollars. 

Section  15.  The  office  of  mayor,  aldermen,  and 
school  commissioners  shall  be  filled  by  their  incum- 
bents without  fee. 

CHAPTER  XI. 
STREETS  AND  HIGHWAYS. 

Section  1.  The  common  council  of  the  city  of  An- 
tigo shall  have  the  power  and  authority  to  lay  out, 
alter,  widen  or  discontinue  any  street  or  highway  with- 
in the  limits  of  said  city,  that  is  now  or  may  hereafter 
be  conferred  on  the  supervisors  of  towns  in  this  state, 
and  all  streets,  highways  or  alleys,  within  the  limits 
of  said  city  hereafter  laid  out,  altered  or  discontinued 
by  the  common  council  of  said  city,  under  the  provi- 
sions 01  chapter  52  in  the  revised  statutes,  and  in  all 
respects  in  the  same  manner  as  is  provided  in  said 
chapter  52  for  the  laying  out,  altering  or  discontinu- 
ing highways  in  the  towns  of  this  state. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


123 


Section  2.  The  common  council  shall  have  power 
to  lay  out  and  open  alleys  within  the  limit  of  said 
city,  in  the  same  manner  as  highways  upon  petition 
of  a  majority  of  the  property  holders  abutting  the 
proposed  alley,  provided  that  any  damages  awarded 
to  any  property  holder  abutting  said  alley  shall  be 
assessed  on  all  property  abutting  said  alley,  in  equal 
proportion,  according  to  the  number  of  feet  fronting  on 
said  alley. 

CHAPTER  XII. 

BOARD  OF  EDUCATION. 

Section  1.  The  city  of  Antigo  shall  constitute  a 
school  district,  and  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  con- 
trol, management  and  government  thereof  shall  be 
vested  in  the  board  of  education,  consisting  of  two 
school  commissioners  from  each  ward  and  one  from 
the  city  at  large,  which  said  board  shall  be  a  body  cor- 
porate, by  and  under  the  name  of  the  board  of  educa- 
tion of  the  city  of  Antigo,  with  power  of  contracting  and 
being  contracted  with,  of  suing  and  being  sued,  and 
shall  have  perpetual  succession  by  and  under  that 
name. 

Section  2.  The  board  of  education  shall  meet  at 
the  council  rooms,  in  the  city  of  Antigo,  on  the  second 
Tuesday  after  the  charter  election,  at  seven  o'clock 
P.  M.,  and  at  such  meeting  shall  choose  one  of  its 
members  president;  it  shall  also  elect  a  secretary  of 
the  board  who  may  or  may  not  be  a  member  of  the 
board,  and  the  secretary  shall  receive  such  salary  as 
the  board  may  direct,  not  to  exceed  fifty  dollars  per 
annum. 

Section  3.  The  president  of  the  executive  office  of 
the  board,  shall  preside  at  all  meetings  of  the  board 
and  decide  all  questions  of  order  subject  to  appeal 
to  the  board.  He  shall  countersign  all  orders  drawn 
by  the  secretary  for  the  payment  of  teachers  and 
janitors'  wages,  and  all  other  incidental  and  neces- 
sary expenses  of  said  board  of  education,  and  in  all 
suits  brought  by  or  against  the  school  district,  he  shall 
appear  on  behalf  of  the  district,  unless  some  other 
provision  is  made  by  the  board  of  education.  He 
shall  declare  all  votes  taken  on  questions  coming  be- 
fore the  board,  provided,  that  on  all  questions  requir- 
ing the  appropriation  of  money,  or  the  adoption  of 
new  text  books,  the  vote  shall  be  taken  by  ayes  and 
nays,  and  on  other  questions  the  ayes  and  nays  shall 
be  called  when  any  member  shall  request  it. 

Section  4.  The  secretary  shall  attend  all  meetings 
of  the  board,  keep  a  true  record  of  all  the  proceedings 
thereof,  take  the  school  census  of  the  city  annually, 
assist  in  grading  the  schools  and  visit  and  report  the 
conditions  of  any  school  in  the  city  when  directed  by 
the  board,  make  all  reports  required  by  law  to  be 
made  by  such  board  and  record  same,  to  safely  keep 
and  preserve  all  records  of  the  board  and  deliver  the 
same  to  his  successor  in  office  and  do  and  perform 
any  and  all  other  services  that  may  be  required  of 
him  by  the  board. 

Section  5.  The  board  of  education  may  make  all 
necessary    rules    and    regulations    for    its    government 


and  proceedings,  and,  in  the  absence  of  the  president 
of  the  board,  may  elect  from  its  own  number  a  presid- 
ing officer  protempore. 

Section  6.  The  board  may  meet  from  time  to 
time,  and  at  such  place  in  the  city  as  it  may  desig- 
nate, and  a  majority  of  the  commissioners  shall  al- 
ways be  required  to  constitute  a  quorum. 

Section  7.  The  clerk  of  the  board  shall  keep  a  rec- 
ord of  the  proceedings  of  the  board,  in  a  book  to  be 
provided  for  that  purpose,  and  shall  record  copies  of 
all  official  reports  made  by  the  board,  or  the  superin- 
tendent of  schools.  He  shall  also,  under  the  direction 
of  the  board,  take  the  annual  enumeration  of  scholars 
residing  in  the  city  at  the  time  prescribed  by  law,  and 
shall  keep  and  preserve  all  books,  records,  papers, 
or  other  property  belonging  to  his  office  and  deliver 
the  same  to  his  successor  in  office. 

Section  8.  The  board  of  education  shall  have  pow- 
er: 

1.  To  organize  and  establish  such  and  so  many 
schools  in  the  city  and  in  the  several  wards  as  it 
may  deem  necessary  and  required  for  the  public 
good,  and  alter  or  discontinue  the  same  at  pleasure. 

2.  To  have  the  custody  and  safe  keeping  of  the 
school  buildings  and  lots,  the  books,  furniture, 
school  supplies,  apparatus,  and  appendages,  and  all 
the  property  belonging  to  the  schools. 

3.  To  contract  with,  and  employ  in  behalf  of 
the  city,  all  teachers  in  the  schools  of  said  city,  un- 
der the  direction  of  said  board,  and  who  shall  have 
been  licensed,  and  at  the  pleasure  remove  them. 

4.  To  hire  buildings  suitable  for  school  houses, 
and  lease  sites  for  the  same,  and  to  purchase  neces- 
sary fixtures,  furniture  and  apparatus  for  the  schools 
of  the  city,  but  only  with  the  coasent  of  the  com- 
mon  council   as   hereinafter  provided. 

Section  9.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  board  of  edu- 
cation, before  the  commencement  of  the  school  year, 
annually  to  determine  in  the  amount  of  salaries  or 
wages  to  be  paid  to  the  teachers  in  the  several  schools 
and  grades  respectively,  for  the  year  then  next  ensu- 
ing, and  report  the  same  to  the  common  council  for 
its  action. 

Section  10.  The  comm.on  council  shall  consider  the 
report  or  reports  so  made,  and  shall  act  thereon,  and 
by  resolution  fix  the  salaries  or  wages  to  be  paid  to 
the  teachers  of  the  several  schools  respectively,  ac- 
cording to  grades,  which  resolution  shall  be  certified 
by  the  city  clerk,  to  the  board  of  education,  and 
thereafter  such  board  shall  not  contract  for  the  pay- 
ment of  any  salary  or  wages  greater  than  the  sum  fix- 
ed in  said  resolution  except  by  special  order  of  the 
common  council. 

Section  11.  The  board  of  education  shall  also,  an- 
nually, before  the  close  of  the  school  year,  make  esti- 
mates of  the  expenses  for  necessary  repairs  to  school 
buildings,  furniture,  apparatus,  schoolroom  fixtures, 
incidentals,  fuel,  cleaning  and  care  of  rooms,  and  rent 
of  buildings  necessary  to  be  incurred  the  next  ensuing 
year,  and  file  the  same  with  the  city  clerk. 

Section  12.     The  board  of  education  shall,  from  time 


124 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


to  time,  make  such  rules  and  regulations  for  the  gov- 
ernment and  organization  of  schools,  for  the  reception 
and  instruction  of  pupils,  and  their  transfer  from 
school  to  school,  and  for  the  promotion  and  good  or- 
der and  discipline  in  schools,  as  to  it  shall  seem  ex- 
pedient, and  also  for  the  care  and  management  of  the 
several  schoolrooms,  fixtures,  furniture,  and  apparatus, 
and  shall  establish  the  text  books  to  be  used  therein. 

Section  13.  The  board  of  education  shall  have  povif- 
er  to  allow  the  children  of  persons  not  resident  of  said 
city  to  attend  any  of  the  schools  therein,  upon  such 
terms  as  the  board  shall,  by  resolution,  prescribe,  fix- 
ing the  tuition  therefor;  provided,  that  no  such  pupil 
shall  be  received,  under  or  until  he  or  she  shall  have 
paid  into  the  city  treasury  in  advance  for  the  current 
term  the  amount  of  tuition  fixed  by  said  board  to  be 
paid  therefor. 

Section  14.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  board  of 
education  to  report  to  the  common  council  on  the  first 
Monday  of  August  in  each  year,  the  condition  of  the 
several  schools  in  said  city,  the  average  number  of 
pupils  in  attendance,  the  names  and  rate  of  compensa- 
tion of  the  several  teachers,  the  cost  of  supporting  each 
and  all  of  said  schools,  since  its  previous  report,  and 
also  to  do  and  perform  all  other  duties  that  may  be 
required  by  any  general  law  of  this  state,  to  entitle  the 
schools  of  said  city  to  participate  in,  and  enjoy  the 
benefit  of  school  money,  or  school  fund,  apportioned 
among  the  schools  of  the  state. 

Section  15.  Teachers'  wages,  and  all  moneys  due 
upon  the  contract  under  this  chapter,  shall  be  audited 
by  the  board  of  education  and  paid  by  an  order  of  the 
treasury  signed  by  the  president  of  the  board  and  the 
secretary,  and  specifying  on  its  face  the  purpose  for 
which  it  was  drawn. 

Section  16.  All  the  supplies  on  the  several  school 
houses,  and  schools,  exceeding  $50.00  shall  be  furnish- 
ed by  contract  let  to  the  lowest  bidder,  by  the  board 
of  education,  subject  to  approval  of  the  common  coun- 
cil. 

Section  17.  No  member  of  the  board  of  education 
shall  have  any  interest,  directly  or  indirectly,  in  any 
contract  made  by  said  board,  and  every  contract  so 
made  in  which  any  member  of  said  board  shall  have 
such  interest  shall  be  absolutely  void. 

Section  18.  The  title  of  the  school  houses,  sites, 
furniture,  apparatus  and  appurtenances,  and  all  other 
property  herein  mentioned,  shall  be  vested  in  the  city 
of  Antigo,  and  the  said  city  may  accept,  hold  and  dis- 
pose of  any  real  or  personal  estate  transferred  to  it 
by  gift,  grant,  bequest  or  devise,  for  the  use  of  the 
schools  of  said  city,  whether  the  same  shall  be  trans- 
ferred in  terms  to  said  city  by  its  proper  style,  or  by 
other  designation,  or  to  any  person  or  persons  or  body 
for  the  use  of  said  schools. 

Section  19.  No  member  of  the  board  of  education 
shall  receive  any  compensation  whatever  for  services 
rendered  as  a  member  of  said  board,  or  for  services 
rendered  on  any  committee  of  said  board,  under  any 
pretext  whatever,  except  when  a  member  of  said 
board  shall  be  elected  secretary  thereof  he  may  re- 


ceive such  salary  as  is  herein  provided  for  said  secre- 
tary. 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
FIRE  DEPARTMENT. 

Section  1.  The  common  council,  for  the  purpose  of 
guarding  against  the  calamities  of  fire,  shall  have  the 
power  to  prescribe  the  limits  within  which  wooden 
buildings,  or  buildings  of  other  materials  that  shall  not 
be  considered  fireproof,  shall  not  be  erected  or  re- 
paired and  to  direct  that  all  and  every  building  with- 
in the  limits  prescribed  shall  be  made  and  construct- 
ed of  such  fireproof  materials,  to  prohibit  the  repair- 
ing or  rebuilding  of  wooden  buildings  within  the  fire 
limits  where  the  same  shall  have  been  damaged  to  the 
extent  of  fifty  per  cent  of  the  value  thereof,  and  to 
prescribe  the  manner  of  ascertaining  such  damages 
and  to  prescribe  the  penalties  for  the  violation  of  any 
resolution  or  ordinances  passed  under  this  section. 

Section  2.  The  common  council  shall  have  power  to 
prevent  the  dangerous  construction  and  condition  of 
chimneys,  fireplaces,  hearths,  stoves,  stovepipes,  ovens, 
boilers,  and  apparatus  used  in  and  about  any  building, 
and  to  cause  the  same  to  be  removed  or  placed  in  a 
safe  and  secure  condition  when  considered  dangerous, 
to  prevent  the  deposit  of  ashes  in  unsafe  places,  to  re- 
quire the  inhabitants  to  provide  as  many  fire  buckets, 
and  in  such  manner  and  time  as  it  shall  prescribe  and 
to  regulate  the  use  of  them  in  case  of  fire,  to  regulate 
and  prevent  the  carrying  on  of  manufacture  danger- 
ous in  causing  or  promoting  fires,  to  regulate  and  pre- 
vent the  use  of  fireworks  and  firearms,  to  compel  the 
owners  and  occupants  of  buildings  to  have  scuttles  in 
the  roofs,  and  stairs  on  inside  leading  to  same.  To 
authorize  the  mayor,  aldermen,  fire  wardens  and  other 
officers  of  the  city  to  keep  away  from  the  vicinity  of 
the  fire  all  idle  and  suspected  persons,  and  compel  all 
bystanders  to  aid  in  the  extinguishing  of  fires,  and  in 
the  preservation  of  property  exposed  to  danger  there- 
at, and  generally  to  establish  such  regulations  for  the 
prevention  and  extinguishment  of  fires  as  the  common 
council  may  deem  expedient  and  to  provide  penalties 
for  the  violation  of  any  resolution  ordinance  passed 
under  this  section. 

Section  3.  The  common  council  shall  have  full 
power  to  purchase  fire  engines  and  other  fire  appara- 
tus and  to  authorize  the  formation  of  fire  engine,  hook 
and  ladder  and  hose  companies,  and  to  provide  for  the 
due  and  proper  support  and  regulation  of  the  same, 
and  to  order  such  companies  to  be  disbanded,  and 
their  meetings  to  be  published  and  their  apparatus  to 
be  delivered  up.  Each  company  shall  not  exceed  for- 
ty able-bodied  men,  between  the  ages  of  eighteen  and 
fifty  years,  and  may  elect  its  own  officers  and  form 
their  own  units  not  inconsistent  with  the  laws  of  this 
state  or  the  ordinances  and  regulations  of  said  city, 
and  shall  be  formed  only  by  volunteer  enlistments. 
Every  member  of  said  companies  hereby  authorized 
to  be  formed  shall  be  exempt  from  highway  work, 
and  the  poll  tax,  and  from  serving  on  juries  and  mili- 
tary duty,  except  in  cases  of  wars,  insurrection  or  in- 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


125 


vasion,  during  the  continuance  of  such  membership, 
and  any  person  having  served  for  the  term  of  seven 
years,  in  either  of  such  companies,  shall  be  forever 
thereafter  exempt  from  poll  tax  and  military  and  jury 
duty,  except  as  in  case  before  mentioned. 

Section  4.  The  mayor  shall  appoint  two  fire  war- 
dens for  each  ward  subject  to  confirmation  by  the 
common  council,  who  shall  perform  such  duties  as  the 
common  council  may  prescribe,  and  they  may  at  any 
time  enter  into  any  building,  house,  store,  barn  or  en- 
closure, for  the  purpose  of  inspecting  same. 

Section  5.  When  any  person  shall  refuse  to  obey 
the  lawful  order  of  any  engineer,  fire  warden  or  alder- 
man of  the  city,  or  the  mayor  of  the  city,  or  marshal, 
at  any  fire,  it  shall  be  lawful  for  the  officer  giving 
such  order  to  arrest,  or  direct  orally  the  city  marshal, 
constable,  or  watchman  or  any  citizen  to  arrest  such 
person  and  to  confine  him  temporarily  in  any  safe 
place  until  such  fire  shall  be  extinguished  and  in  the 
same  manner  such  officers  or  any  of  them  may  arrest 
or  direct  the  arrest  and  confinement  of  any  person  at 
such  fires  who  shall  be  intoxicated  or  disorderly  and 
any  such  person  who  shall  refuse  arrest  or  aid  in  ar- 
resting any  person,  shall  be  liable  to  such  penalty  as 
the  common  council  may  prescribe,  not  exceeding 
twenty  dollars. 

Section  6.  The  common  council  shall  have  power 
to  organize  a  sack  company  or  to  countenance  any  such 
company  now  organized,  which  shall  be  known  by 
such  name  as  it  may  select,  and  shall  consist  of  not 
more  than  thirty  members.  Such  company  shall  con- 
stitute a  part  of  the  engineers.  The  members  of  said 
company,  either  collectively  or  individually,  are  here- 
by authorized  and  empowered  to  act  as  a  special  po- 
lice in  and  for  the  city  of  Antigo,  and  are  hereby  vest- 
ed with  all  the  power  and  authority  which  now  is  or 
may  hereafter  be  vested  in  any  other  police  officer  of 
said  city,  and  shall  be  entitled  to  all  the  rights  and  im- 
munities of  members  of  the  fire  department,  except 
exemption  from  jury  duty.  At  fires,  it  shall  take 
charge  of  all  property  which  may  be  exposed  or  en- 
dangered, and  shall  as  far  as  may  be  in  its  power,  pre- 
serve the  same  from  injury  or  destruction.  Such  com- 
pany may  from  time  to  time  adopt  such  laws  as  it 
deems  necessary,  not  inconsistent  with  the  laws  of 
this  state,  or  the  ordinances  of  said  city.  The  mem- 
bers shall  be  entitled  to  any  compensation  for  any 
service  rendered  in  their  official  capacity.  They  shall, 
in  case  of  riot  or  other  disturbance  of  the  peace,  have 
access  to  all  licensed  places  of  amusement  in  the 
city,  and  shall  perform  such  services  as  may  be  ne- 
cessary for  the  peace  and  good  order  of  the  same. 

Section  7.  The  treasurer  of  the  fire  department 
shall  receive  and  pay  out  all  moneys  belonging  to  said 
department  and  shall  secure  the  faithful  performance 
of  his  duty  by  his  bond  to  said  city  in  such  penal  sum 
as  shall  be  required,  and  with  the  sureties  to  be  ap- 
proved by  the  common  council.  Such  moneys  shall 
only  be  paid  out  on  order  signed  by  the  chief  engineer, 
or  acting  city  engineer,  and  countersigned  by  the  clerk 
of  said  department. 


Section  8.  There  shall  be  elected  by  the  members 
of  each  company  aforesaid,  annually,  at  their  annual 
meeting,  a  clerk  or  secretary  and  a  treasurer,  who 
shall,  on  or  before  the  first  Monday  of  May  in  each 
year,  return  to  the  city  clerk  a  list  containing  the  name 
of  each  member  of  their  respective  companies,  and 
when  any  member  of  eit-Tier  of  said  companies  shall 
cease  to  be  a  member  thereto  by  resignation,  expul- 
sion or  otherwise,  notice  thereof  shall  be  given  to 
the  city  clerk. 

Section  9.  The  city  clerk  is  hereby  required  to 
keep  a  record  of  the  members  of  the  several  compan- 
ies organized  under  this  chapter  and  such  record  shall 
consist  of  the  returns  made  by  the  several  clerks  or 
secretaries  as  above  provided,  and  no  person  shall  be 
exempt  from  jury  duty  unless  the  name  is  entered  on 
such  list,  in  case  any  person  shall  for  any  cause,  cease 
to  be  a  member  of  either  of  said  companies,  the  clerk 
shall  note  the  fact  thereon,  and  shall  return  to  the 
clerk  of  the  board  of  supervisors  of  the  county  of  Lang- 
lade a  list  of  all  persons  who  are  members  of  either  or 
all  said  companies  exempt  from  jury  duty,  on  or  be- 
fore the  day  now  appointed,  or  which  may  hereafter 
be  appointed  for  the  annual  meetings  of  said  board 
and  said  board  shall  not  place  the  names  of  such  per- 
sons on  the  jury  list  for  the  ensuing  year. 

Section  10.  The  officers  of  the  fire  department  shall 
be  a  chief  engineer,  an  assistant  engineer,  a  secretary 
and  treasurer.  The  several  fire  companies  shall  hold 
at  least  one  annual  meeting  for  the  purpose  of  elect- 
ing department  officers,  the  first  meeting  to  be  called 
by  the  mayor.  Each  member  of  the  several  com- 
panies, in  good  standing,  shall  be  entitled  to  a  vote  in 
the  election  of  department  officers,  and  a  majority  of 
the  votes  cast  shall  elect.  The  officers  so  elected  shall 
be  subject  to  confirmation  by  the  common  council. 

CHAPTER   XIV. 

CONSTRUCTION,  REPAIR  AND   RECONSTRUC- 
TION OF  SIDEWALKS. 

Section  1.  The  common  council  shall  have  power  to 
order  the  building  construction,  reconstruction  or  repair 
of  sidewalks  in  the  city  of  Antigo  in  such  a  manner  it 
may  deem  proper  provided,  however,  that  when  any 
member  of  the  common  council,  shall  offer  a  resolu- 
tion for  the  construction  of  any  sidewalk  in  the  city, 
the  resolution  shall  be  referred  to  the  proper  commit- 
tee and  held  over  until  the  next  regular  meeting.  Such 
resolution  shall  describe  the  street  or  part  of  street 
along  with  and  the  block  opposite  where  it  is  pro- 
posed to  construct  such  sidewalk.  The  city  clerk 
shall,  within  five  days  after  such  resolution  is  intro- 
duced and  referred,  serve  a  copy  of  such  resolution  on 
each  and  all  of  the  residents  or  occupants  of  lots  on  the 
street  or  streets  along  which  it  is  proposed  to  build 
such  sidewalks. 

Section  2.  At  its  next  regular  meeting  after  such 
resolution  shall  have  been  so  offered  and  referred,  ac- 
tion shall  be  had  by  the  common  council  thereon,  and 
if  such  resolution  be  adopted  by  the  common  council, 
an  order  shall  be  entered  among  its  records  requiring 


126 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


a  sidewalk  to  be  constructed  along  such  street  or  part 
of  street  or  lands  described  in  said  resolution.  The 
common  council  in  such  order,  shall  designate  and  de- 
termine the  street  or  part  of  street  along  which  such 
sidewalk  shall  be  constructed,  and  the  time  within 
which  the  owner  or  owners  of  the  property  along  such 
streets  shall  build  the  same.  If  the  owner  or  owners 
of  any  such  lot  or  lots  or  such  lands  shall  fail  to  so 
construct  such  sidewalks  opposite  the  lot  or  lots,  or 
lands  so  owned  by  him  or  them  within  the  time  limited 
in  said  order,  the  city  shall  construct  such  part  thereof 
as  such  owner  or  owners  have  so  failed  to  construct  and 
charge  the  cost  thereof  to  the  lot  or  lots,  or  lands,  op- 
posite which  the  city  shall  have  so  constructed  such 
sidewalk. 

Section  3.  Within  three  days  after  said  order  shall 
have  been  entered  as  aforesaid  the  city  marshal  of 
said  city  shall  serve  a  copy  of  such  order  upon  the  resi- 
dents or  occupants  of  the  lots  or  lands  opposite  which 
such  sidewalk  is  to  be  constructed  personally  or  by 
leaving  a  true  copy  thereof  at  the  usual  place  or  abode 
of  such  owner  or  occupants  in  said  city.  In  case  any 
owner  or  owners  of  any  such  lot  or  lots,  or  such  lands, 
shall  not  reside  thereon,  or  in  the  city  of  Antigo,  or  his 
or  their  name  shall  be  unknown  to  the  city  marshal, 
then  such  order  shall  be  served  on  such  non-resident 
or  unknown  owner  or  owners,  by  publishing  the  same 
in  some  newspaper  published  in  said  city,  at  least 
once  and  at  least  ten  days  before  the  expiration  of  the 
time  limited  in  said  order  for  the  construction  of  such 
sidewalk.  As  soon  as  the  city  marshal  shall  have 
completed  the  service  of  said  order  as  herein  provided, 
he  shall  make  and  file  with  the  city  clerk  his  return 
service,  in  which  he  shall  state  the  time,  place  and 
manner  of  service  thereof,  and  in  case  the  order  shall 
have  been  published,  as  hereinafter  provided,  he  shall 
attach  to  his  return,  and  file  therewith  the  affidavits 
of  the  publication  thereof  in  the  usual  form,  subscrib- 
ed and  sworn  to  by  the  printer  or  publisher  of  the 
newspaper  in  which  such  order  shall  have  been  so 
published. 

Section  4.  At  any  time  after  such  order  shall  have 
been  so  entered  by  the  common  council  as  hereinbe- 
fore provided,  and  within  the  time  therein  limited, 
therefor,  the  owner  or  owners  of  the  lots  or  lands  op- 
posite which  such  sidewalk  is  to  be  constructed  may, 
at  his  or  their  own  expense,  and  in  the  manner  and 
of  the  width  and  material  designated  in  such  order, 
construct  such  sidewalk  opposite  the  said  lots,  or  lands 
owned  by  them  respectively. 

Section  5.  Within  the  three  days  after  the  expira- 
tion of  the  time  limited  in  such  order  for  constructing 
said  sidewalk,  the  street  commissioner  of  the  ward  in 
which  said  sidewalk  is  ordered  to  be  built,  shall  ex- 
amine the  street,  part  of  the  street  or  block,  along  said 
sidewalk  shall  have  been  ordered  to  be  so  constructed, 
and  within  said  three  days  shall  make  and  file  with  the 
city  clerk  a  report  in  writing,  signed  by  him,  as  to  the 
construction  of  the  same.  He  shall  state  in  such  re- 
port what  part  of  said  side  walk,  if  any,  has  been  and 
what  part,  if  any,  has  not  been  constructed  in  con- 
formity with  such  order,  and  shall  describe  the  lots  or 


part  of  lots,  or  lands,  if  any  opposite  within  the  side- 
walk has  been  so  constructed  as  well  as  the  lots  or 
part  of  lots,  or  lands,  if  any,  along  which  said  side- 
walk has  not  been  so  constructed. 

Section  6.  If  it  shall  appear,  by  such  report  of  the 
street  commissioner  that  any  part  of  such  sidewalk  has 
not  been  constructed  in  conformity  with  the  order 
aforesaid,  the  common  council  shall  at  its  next  regular 
meeting  after  such  report  shall  have  been  made  and 
filed,  direct  the  street  commissioner  to  proceed  at  once 
to  construct,  in  conformity  with  said  order,  such  part 
of  said  sidewalk  as  said  report  shows  has  not  been  con- 
structed, and  the  said  street  commissioner  shall  there- 
upon proceed  at  once  so  to  construct  such  part  of  side- 
walk. 

Section  7.  Immediately  upon  completion  of  his  work, 
the  street  commissioner  shall  make  and  file  with  the 
clerk  a  statement  in  writing,  subscribed  and  sworn  to 
by  him,  in  which  he  shall  state  the  total  expense  actual- 
ly incurred  by  him  in  so  constructing  that  part  of  such 
sidewalk  in  front  of  each  lot,  or  lots  or  land,  opposite 
which  it  appears  by  his  report,  the  owner  or  owners 
of  such  lot  or  lots,  or  land  has  failed  as  aforesaid  to 
construct  sidewalk. 

Section  8.  At  its  next  regular  meeting  after  such 
statement  shall  have  been  so  filed,  the  common  coun- 
cil shall  by  resolution  levy  and  assess  upon  each  lot  or 
part  of  lot,  lands,  opposite  which  any  sidewalk  or  part 
of  sidewalk  shall  have  been  constructed,  by  said  street 
commissioner  as  appears  by  his  said  statement,  a  spe- 
cial tax  sufficient  to  pay  actual  expense  incurred  in  so 
constructing  the  same  as  appears  by  said  statement, 
and  said  resolution  shall  describe  each  such  lots  or 
part  of  lots,  or  lands,  state  the  names  cl  the  owners 
thereof,  and  compensation  of  salary  for  any  services. 

MISCELLANEOUS   PROVISIONS. 
(Concluded) 

Section  16.  All  city  or  ward  officers,  at  the  ex- 
piration of  their  own  term  of  office,  or  upon  their  resig- 
nation, removal  or  vacation  from  office,  shall  imme- 
diately deliver  to  their  successor  in  office  all  property, 
moneys,  books,  papers,  and  effects  of  every  descrip- 
tion in  their  possession  belonging  to  the  office  they 
may  have  held.  Any  person  who  may  have  held  an 
office  neglecting  or  refusing  so  to  do  for  twenty-four 
hours  after  the  presentment,  by  his  successor,  of  the 
city  clerk's  certificate  of  his  successor's  election  or  ap- 
pointment and  qualifications  to  the  office  shall  forfeit 
and  pay  to  the  use  of  said  city  twenty-four  hours  re- 
fusal, the  sum  of  one  hundred  dollars  and  all  damages 
and  costs  incurred,  either  by  the  said  city  or  his  suc- 
cessor by  reason  of  such  neglect  or  refusal. 

Section  17.  The  common  council  of  the  city  of 
Antigo,  or  a  committee  thereof  to  be  appointed  there- 
by for  the  purpose  shall  meet  with  the  board  of  su- 
pervisors, of  the  town  of  Antigo,  at  the  common  coun- 
cil rooms  in  the  city  of  Antigo,  upon  six  days  notice 
given  by  either  party  to  the  other,  by  service  thereof 
on  the  town  or  city  clerk,  for  the  purpose  of  appro- 
priating and  dividing  the  credits  and  indebtedness  of 
the  town  of  Antigo,  as  the  same  shall  be  found  to  be  on 
the  first  Tuesday  of  April,  1885. 


HISTORY    OF    LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


127 


Section  18.  All  the  credits  and  liabilities  of  the 
town  of  Antigo,  as  they  shall  be  found  to  exist  on  the 
first  Tuesday  of  April,  1885,  shall  be  apportioned  to 
the  city  and  town  of  Antigo  on  the  basis  of  the  last 
assessment  of  said  town. 

Section  19.  A  certified  copy  of  such  apportion- 
ment signed  by  said  town  board  and  said  common 
council  shall  be  filed  in  the  office  of  the  town  clerk  of 
the  town  of  Antigo,  in  the  office  of  the  city  clerk  of 
the  city  of  Antigo,  in  the  county  of  Langlade,  in  the 
county  clerk's  office  and  in  the  county  treasury  offices 
and  the  proportion  of  the  indebtedness  due  from  Lang- 
lade county  to  the  town  of  Antigo,  which  shall  be  ap- 
portioned to  the  city  of  Antigo,  shall  be  paid  to  the 
treasurer  of  said  city,  and  become  part  of  the  general 
fund  thereof. 

Section  20.  The  city  clerk  of  the  city  of  Antigo 
shall  insert  and  levy  in  the  tax  roll  of  said  city,  for 
the  year  1885,  the  amount  of  the  indebtedness  of  the 
town  of  Antigo,  which  shall  be  apportioned  to  said 
city  and  the  treasurer  of  said  city  and  the  treasurer  of 
the  town  of  Antigo,  take  the  receipt  therefore,  and  file 
the  same  in  the  office  of  the  city  clerk,  and  thereupon 
and  thereafter  the  city  of  Antigo  shall  stand  released 
of  and  from  any  and  all  liabilities  of  said  town  of 
Antigo. 

Section  21.  This  act  shall  take  effect  and  be  in 
force  from  and  after  its  passage  and  publication. 

Approved  March  14,  1885. 

GENERAL  CITY  CHARTER  ADOPTED. 

June  27,  1905,  the  patent  of  the  general  city  charter 
which  was  then  adopted  by  the  city  of  Antigo  was  re- 
ceived by  the  city  from  the  Secretary  of  State.  It 
brought  a  number  of  important  changes  in  city  govern- 
ment. The  Board  of  Public  Works  became  a  more 
important  body.  All  public  work  or  city  improve- 
ment jobs  exceeding  $200  in  value  were  placed  under 
the  direction  of  this  board.  The  power  of  eminent 
domain  was  greatly  extended  by  the  general  charter 
and  its  operation  much  more  complete.  Six  years  be- 
fore the  adoption  of  the  general  charter,  in  1899,  the 
ordinances  of  the  city  of  Antigo  were  ably  revised  by 
the  then  City  Attorney  Max  Hoffman  and  were  pub- 
lished in  book  form.  No  revision  followed  until  when 
on  August  2,  1905,  the  city  council  directed  the  City 
Clerk,  A.  M.  Arveson  and  City  Attorney,  E.  A.  Morse, 
to  re-write  and  revise  the  ordinances  and  have  them 
issued  in  book  form.  They  at  once  complied  with  the 
directions  of  the  city  council  and  on  March  22,  1906, 
the  revised  ordinances  were  published.  Since  the  re- 
vision of  1906,  103  ordinances  have  been  passed  by  the 
law  making  body  of  the  city  of  Antigo. 

PRESENT  CITY  WARD  BOUNDARIES. 
Chapter  1  of  the  general  ordinances  of  the  city  of 


Antigo  as  revised,  consolidated  and  amended  give  the 
boundaries  of  the  city  to-date  correct  as  follows,  with 
the  exception  of  eighty  acres  of  land  attached  to  the 
city  at  the  time  the  Langlade  Lumber  Company  was 
established. 

Section  1. — All  that  district  of  territory  in  the  coun- 
ty of  Langlade  hereinafter  described,  shall  be  a  city  by 
the  name  of  Antigo,  and  the  people  now  inhabiting,  and 
those  who  shall  inhabit  said  district,  shall  be  a  munici- 
pal corporation  by  the  name  of  Antigo,  and  shall  have 
the  powers  hereafter  specifically  granted,  and  the  au- 
thorities thereof  shall  have  perpetual  succession,  and 
shall  be  capable  of  contracting  and  being  contracted 
with,  suing  and  being  sued,  pleading  and  being  im- 
pleaded, in  all  courts  of  law  and  equity,  and  shall  have 
a  common  seal,  and  may  change  and  alter  the  same  at 
pleasure. 

Section  2. — All  that  district  of  country  included  in 
the  south  half  of  section  nineteen,  south  half  of  sec- 
tion twenty,  all  of  section  thirty,  all  of  section  twenty- 
nine,  north  half  of  section  thirty-one,  except  that  part 
of  the  east  half  of  the  north-east  quarter  lying  south 
of  the  north  bank  of  Spring  Brook,  and  the  mill  pond, 
and  the  north  half  of  section  thirty-two,  all  in  town- 
ship thirty-one  north,  range  eleven  east,  in  Langlade 
County,  Wisconsin,  shall  comprise  and  constitute  the 
city  of  Antigo. 

Section  3. — The  city  of  Antigo  shall  be  divided  into 
six  wards  as  follows :  All  the  territory  lying  north  of 
the  center  line  of  Fifth  Avenue,  extended  to  the  east 
city  limits,  and  east  of  the  center  line  of  Superior 
Street  and  Neva  Road  continued  northeasterly  as  now 
used  and  traveled,  to  the  north  limits  of  the  city,  shall 
constitute  the  First  Ward.  All  the  territory  lying 
north  of  the  center  of  Fifth  Avenue,  west  of  Superior 
Street  and  Neva  Road  continued  northeasterly  as  now 
used  and  traveled,  and  east  of  the  main  track  of  the 
Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railway  company,  shall  com- 
prise the  Second  Ward.  All  the  territory  lying  west 
of  the  main  track  of  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  rail- 
way company,  and  north  of  the  center  line  of  Fifth 
Avenue,  extended  to  the  western  city  limits,  shall  con- 
stitute the  Third  Ward.  All  the  territory  lying  south 
of  the  center  of  Fifth  Avenue,  and  west  of  the  main 
track  of  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railway  com- 
pany, shall  constitute  the  Fourth  Ward.  All  the  ter- 
ritory lying  east  of  the  main  track  of  the  Chicago  & 
Northwestern  Railway  company,  south  of  the  center 
of  Fifth  Avenue,  and  west  of  the  center  of  Superior 
Street,  continued  to  the  southern  limits  of  the  city, 
shall  constitute  the  Fifth  Ward.  All  the  territory  ly- 
ing east  of  the  center  of  Superior  Street  continued  to 
the  southern  limits  of  the  city,  and  south  of  the  center 
of  Fifth  Avenue,  continued  to  the  eastern  city  limits, 
shall  constitute  the  Sixth  Ward. 


128 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


u 


CHAPTER  XXV. 
City  Administrations— 1885-1922 

Mayor  Thomas  W.  Lynch — Mayor  Munson  M.  Ross — Mayor  Daniel  W.  Keen — Thomas  W. 
Lynch's  Second  Administration — Mayor  J.  F.  Doyle — Mayor  I.  D.  Steffen — Mayor  Cassius  F. 
Smith — Mayor  J.  F.  Doyle's  Second  Administration — Mayor  J.  F.  Albers — Mayor  George  W. 
Hill— Mayor  R.  H.  McMullen— Mayor  John  F.  Dailey— Mayor  I.  D.  Steffen's  Second  Adminis- 
tration— R.  H.  McMullen's  Second  Administration — Mayor  Thomas  W.  Hogan — Mayor  Fred 
Hayssen — George  W.  Hill's  Second  Administration — Fred  Hayssen's  Second  Term — Burt  W. 
Rynder's  Administration — George  W.  Hill's  Last  Term — Mayor  Leonard  Freiburger — The  Ad- 
ministration of  Dr.  I.  D.  Steffen — Government  by  Commission  Adopted — C.  Fred  Calhoun's  Ad- 
ministration— The  Administration  of  John  Benishek — The  Present  Administration  of  Mayor 
Charles  J.  Hanzel. 


A  review  of  the  administrations  of  the  Mayors  of 
Antigo  is  the  most  feasible  way  to  cover  municipal  ac- 
tivities in  a  span  of  years  from  1885  to  1922.  This 
review  of  Antigo,  as  a  city,  commences  with  the  ad- 
ministration of  Thomas  W.  Lynch,  the  first  Mayor,  who 
was  elected  on  April  7,  1885. 

THE  ADMINISTRATION  OF  THOMAS  W.  LYNCH 
—1885-1886. 

Thomas  W.  Lynch,  a  Democrat,  lawyer  and  resi- 
dent of  the  village  of  Antigo  two  years  before  its  in- 


THOM.^S  W.   LYNCH 
First    Mayor   of    .\ntigo — 188.5-86. 

corporation  as  a  city,  was  elected  first  Mayor  of  Anti- 
go,  April  7,  1885,  with  practically  no  opposition,  pur- 
suant to  the  provisions  of  Chapter  79,  Wisconsin  laws 
of  1885.  The  first  meeting  of  the  Aldermen  elected 
from  the  four  wards  and  the  Mayor  was  held  at  Spen- 


cer's Hall,  the  site  of  the  Hill  Building,  Fifth  Avenue, 
April  13,  1885.  The  city  of  Antigo  was  formally 
created  then. 

George  Clithero,  Alderman  from  the  Second  Ward 
was  elected  President  of  the  first  city  council,  on 
the  second  ballot.  He  defeated  D.  W.  Keen  and  P. 
J.  Koelzer. 

The  first  ordinance  passed  prescribed  the  width  of 
board  sidewalks  and  the  manner  in  which  they  should 
be  constructed.  This  ordinance  was  passed  April  16, 
1885. 

April  13,  1885,  a  poll  tax  of  $1.50  was  made  upon 
every  male  inhabitant  in  the  city  of  Antigo  between 
the  ages  of  21  and  50  years,  the  said  fund  to  go  into 
the  street  improvement  fund. 

The  salary  of  City  Marshal  was  fixed  at  $50  and 
W.  L.  Crocker  was  chosen  first  marshal  on  April  14, 
1885.      The  salary  of  the  city  clerk  was  fixed  at  $250. 

May  1,  1885,  the  city  awarded  to  Messrs.  Wood  & 
George  the  contract  for  pulling  stumps  from  the  prin- 
cipal Antigo  streets  for  $84,  the  work  to  be  completed 
in  June,  1885. 

Mayor  Thomas  W.  Lynch  issued  the  first  public  pro- 
clamation ever  issued  by  an  Antigo  Mayor  on  August 
6,  1885  in  which  he  said: 

TO  THE  CITIZENS  OF  ANTIGO : 

"On  the  8th  of  August  will  occur  the  funeral  of 
America's  great  chieftain.  General  U.  S.  Grant.  An 
event  of  equal  universal  regret  has  not  occurred  in  our 
day,  nor  is  likely  to  happen  again.  The  preparations 
being  made  throughout  this  great  country,  to  pay  the 
final  tribute  to  our  world  renowned  fellow  citizen,  but 
feebly  speaks  the  affections  of  the  people  for  the  de- 
ceased. Nor  is  the  regret  confined  to  this  country;  it 
prevails  throughout  the  world  co-existence  with  his 
fame;  from  the  humblest  village  to  the  grandest  metro- 
polis, from  the  farm  to  the  cabinet,  the  people  are  pre- 
paring to  observe  the  obsequies  of  General  Grant.  It 
is  to  meet  therefore,  that  our  young  city  should  join  in 
the  National  event  with  appropriate  ceremonies. 

I  therefore  request  that  all  business  be  suspended 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


129 


and  all  business  houses  close  from  twelve  o'clock  noon 
to  four  in  the  afternoon,  August  8,  1885,  and  that  the 
citizens  meet  at  the  Odd  Fellows'  Hall  at  2  p.  m.  and 
proceed  from  there  to  the  Antigo  Opera  House,  where 
appropriate  funeral  ceremonies  will  be  held. 

The  exercises  will  be  given  under  the  auspices  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.       All  civic  societies 
are  requested  to  be  present. 
(Signed) 

THOMAS  W.  LYNCH, 

Mayor  of  Antigo. 
April  6,  1885. 

Mayor  Lynch  officially  welcomed  the  Wisconsin 
Press  Association  to  Antigo  on  August  18,  1885.  This 
was  the  first  state-wide  gathering  of  people  who  every 
visited  Antigo. 

September  15,  1885  at  a  special  election  the  first 
vote  was  taken  in  the  city  of  Antigo  on  the  license 
question.  The  question  was  whether  $500,  $350  or 
$200  should  be  the  annual  license  to  be  paid.  The 
voters  declared  in  favor  of  a  $500  license  by  a  vote  of 
42  majority.  The  total  vote  was  181  for  $500;  19  for 
$350  license;  and  120  for  $200  license. 

June  7,  1885,  the  city  purchased  fire  apparatus  for 
the  volunteer  fire  department  from  Bailey  &  Gleason 
by  a  vote  of  7  to  1.  The  fire  apparatus  was  accepted 
on  July  3,  1885,  and  a  hook  and  ladder  truck  was  pur- 
chased for  $350. 

W.  F.  White  was  elected  first  Antigo  City  Attorney 
on  August  6,  1885. 

Sixteen  ordinances  were  passed  during  the  Ad- 
ministration of  Mayor  Thomas  W.  Lynch.  The  last 
meeting  of  the  common  council  under  his  administra- 
tion was  held  April  12,  1886,  when  Mayor  elect  M.  M. 
Ross  and  the  new  city  officers  qualified  and  took  the 
oath  of  office. 

ADMINISTRATION  OF  MUNSON  M.  ROSS— 
1886-1887. 

Munson  Monroe  Ross,  the  second  Mayor  of  Antigo, 
was  elected  to  the  office  April  6,  1886,  over  Geo.  W. 
Latta.  Mayor-elect  Ross  lead  the  Democratic  city 
ticket.  The  election  was  very  exciting  the  chief  con- 
troversies were  between  the  Mayoralty  candidates  and 
the  vote  on  the  license  question.  The  license  of  sa- 
loons was  discontinued  in  the  city  by  a  very  large  vote. 
Mayor  Ross,  born  August  22,  1853,  came  to  Antigo  in 
June,  1881,  and  permanently  located  in  the  village  in 
September,  1881.  He  was  elected  by  a  vote  of  353  as 
against  200  for  Mr.  Latta.  A^-ril  12,  1886,  Mayor 
Ross  presided  for  the  first  time  over  the  city  council. 
D.  W.  Keen  was  elected  President  of  the  council,  Ed. 
McKinney  was  selected  City  Marshal,  at  this  first  ses- 
sion. George  Schintz  was  elected  the  second  City  At- 
torney of  Antigo  on  April  19,  1886. 

In  June,  1886,  the  city  purchased  a  second  hand 
steamer  for  fire  fighting  purposes  from  the  city  of 
Appleton.  The  apparatus  proved  very  necessary  and 
paid  for  itself  in  one  fire. 

Mayor  Ross  issued  an  order  closing  all  "Casino"  and 


other  club  rooms  where  liquor  was  sold  in  violation  of 
the  city  government  November  24,  1886. 

In  February,  1887,  the  Milwaukee,  Lake  Shore  & 
Western  railroad  decided  to  locate  its  shops  and  ma- 
chine factory  at  Antigo  after  the  Ross  administration, 
with  the  assistance  of  many  public  spirited  citizens, 
made  arrangements  for  an  $8,000  appropriation  to  pur- 
chase the  necessary  grounds  for  the  industry.  This 
action  meant  much  to  Antigo — in  fact  if  not  then  accom- 
plished, Antigo  probably  today  would  not  be  the  im- 
portant railroad  center  that  it  is. 

A  public  subscription  was  started  to  raise  money  to 
purchase  the  grounds  for  the  railroad  property  and 
$4,300  was  obtained  in  that  way. 


MUXSWN   M.  ROSS 
Mayor  of  .'Vntigo — 1886-87 

The  contributors  were :  Hessel  &  Leykom,  C.  G. 
Adkins,  C.  H.  Thompson,  M.  L.  Bacon,  E.  A.  Grain, 
H.  G.  Borgman,  G.  C.  Williams,  J.  H.  Dawley,  Herman 
&  Becklinger,  G.  J.  Schutz,  M.  Weix,  W.  H.  Blinn,  Irvin 
Gray,  Henry  Smith,  J.  L.  Jensen,  Mark  W. 
Waite,  James  Chadek,  J.  C.  Lewis  &  Co.,  S.  Neuman, 
T.  H.  Robbins,  W.  L.  Giffin,  F.  M.  Sherman,  W.  H. 
Dawley,  August  Kropp,  Louis  Wahl,  Joseph  Hoffman, 
J.  W.  Wines,  John  A.  Ogden,  S.  Buerger,  Fred  C.  Mey- 
er, D.  Berard,  A.  C.  Clark,  H.  J.  Frick,  Johns  &  Kel- 
logg, J.  Brennan,  Nicholas  Boll,  J.  E.  Mullowney,  Ben 
Spencer,  Henry  Berner,  Sr.,  John  Doersch,  Gus  Ulrich, 
Silbar  Sf  Goldberg,  Robinson  &  McDonald,  Thomas  W. 
Lynch,  R.  Otto,  H.  V.  Mills,  W.  S.  Morgan,  F.  Manthey, 
P.  J.  Koelzer,  W.  F.  Bowman,  M.  J.  Lower,  S.  E.  Les- 
lie, George  L.  Schintz,  John  E.  Martin,  Niels  Anderson, 
L.  K.  Strong,  Charles  Teipner,  A.  Logan,  W.  H.  Stacy, 
Leutsker  &  Wilterding,  Frank  Wanninger,  R.  H.  Mc- 
Mullen,  L.  Mendlik,  W.  E.  Jones,  P.  J.  Millard,  J.  H. 
Trever,  C.  M.  Beattie,  Con  Donohue,  Dennis  McGuire, 
Louis  Novotny,  A.  H.  Morris,  H.  L.  Ferguson,  W.  F. 
White,  J.  F.  Doyle,  E.  N.  Mellor,  Fred  Herman,  C.  F. 
Smith,  Gates  Saxton,  H.  A.  Kohl,  G.  W.  Latta,  W.  J. 


130 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


Zahl,  T.  D.  Kellogg,  D.  W.  Keen,  Edward  Daskam,  H. 
C.  Humphrey,  R.  L.  Webster,  A.  D.  Rice,  Fred  Hay- 
ssen  and  Philip  Wessa. 

Mayor  Ross  was  an  efficient  Mayor.  When  elected 
he  was  at  Sheboygan,  Wisconsin,  but  took  charge  of 
city  affairs  with  vigor  upon  his  return.  His  adminis- 
tration was  handicapped  due  to  the  lack  of  funds,  how- 
ever. Nevertheless  during  his  term  of  office  consid- 
erable street  improvements  were  made  and  the  city  in 
general  made  good  progress. 

Mayor  Ross  was  succeeded  in  office  by  Daniel  W. 
Keen,  who  was  the  first  Mayor  to  be  elected  under  the 
city  charter  after  its  first  revision. 

THE  ADMINISTRATION  OF  DANIEL  W.  KEEN— 
1887-1888. 

Daniel  W.  Keen,  former  Alderman  and  public  spirit- 
ed citizen,  was  the  first  Mayor  elected  after  the  first 
revision  of  the  original  city  charter.  He  defeated 
Charles  S.   Leykom,  who  was  nominated  at  a   meet- 


DANIEL  W.  KEEX 

Mayor   of    Antigo — 1887-88. 

ing  held  at  the  headquarters  of  trie  Antigo  Business 
Men's  Association  on  April  15,  1887.  The  Business 
Men's  Association  and  those  affiliated  with  it  were  "for 
economical  and  conservative  government  and  for  the 
election  of  men  who  will  faithfully  discharge  the  du- 
ties devolving  upon  them."  Mr.  Keen  lead  the  Union 
Tax  Payer's  ticket,  in  opposition  to  the  Business  Men's 
Citizen's  Ticket. 

Mayor  Keen  presided  at  the  first  council  meeting  un- 
der his  administration  on  May  9,  1887.  Alderman  L. 
Mendlick  was  elected  President  of  the  city  council. 

The  first  ordinance  passed  under  the  Keen  adminis- 
tration was  one  granting  L.  K.  Strong  and  his  asso- 
ciates the  privilege  of  erecting,  operating  and  main- 
taining a  system  of  electric  lighting  in  Antigo. 

A  municipal  well  was  authorized  constructed  in  June, 
1887.       This  well  was  located  at  the  intersection  of 


Fifth  Avenue  and  Daskam  (Morse)  Street  and  B.  P. 
Hopkins  of  New  London,  Wisconsin,  secured  the  con- 
tract to  dig  the  well,  the  first  municipal  one  in  Antigo. 

Upon  petition  of  many  citizens  an  ordinance  was 
passed  May  17,  1887  discontinuing  the  following 
streets  in  Antigo.  Commencing  at  the  southeast 
corner  of  Pacific  street,  running  thence  northerly  along 
the  west  line  of  the  right-of-way  of  the  Milwaukee, 
Lake  Shore  &  Western  railroad  to  a  point  in  the  north 
line  of  lot  nine  (9)  in  block  forty-one  (41),  extended 
thence  westerly  on  the  line  of  lot  9,  extended  twenty- 
two  feet,  thence  southerly  to  the  place  of  beginning. 
Also  the  east  twenty-two  feet  of  Pacific  street  from  the 
north  line  of  said  lot  9  extended  to  Fifth  Avenue,  the 
easterly  twenty-two  feet  of  all  that  part  of  Reed  Street 
lying  between  Fifth  and  Fourth  Avenues,  the  east 
twenty-two  feet  of  that  part  of  Reed  Street  between 
Fourth  and  Third  Avenues;  all  of  Reed  Street  lying 
between  Tliird  Avenue  and  the  north  line  of  First  Ave- 
nue; all  that  part  of  First  Avenue  between  the  westerly 
line  of  lot  1,  block  2,  extended  northerly  to  the  north 
line  of  said  First  Avenue  and  the  east  boundary  of  lot 
4,  of  block  1,  extended  north  to  the  north  line  of  said 
First  Avenue;  all  that  part  of  Second  Avenue  lying 
between  the  west  line  of  lot  1,  block  12,  extending 
northerly  to  the  west  line  of  lot  10,  block  2,  and  the 
east  boundary  line  of  lot  4,  block  11,  extended  norther- 
ly to  the  east  line  of  lot  15,  block  1 ;  all  that  part  of  the 
alley  lying  between  blocks  9  and  10,  block  1  and  lying 
between  lots  9  and  10,  block  11. 

These  streets  and  alleys  were  discontinued  to  make 
room  for  the  extensive  improvements  of  the  Milwau- 
kee, Lake  Shore  St  Western  railroad. 

In  1887  the  common  council  passed  an  ordinance 
exempting  all  manufacturing  plants  from  taxation  for 
a  period  of  five  years,  that  would  locate  in  the  city  of 
Antigo  and  would  quarantee  steady  employment  to  at 
least  twenty  men. 

Mayor  Keen  served  until  the  election  in  April,  1888, 
when  Thomas  W.  Lynch,  Antigo's  first  Mayor,  was 
elected.  He  was  nominated  by  a  coalition  of  Demo- 
crats and  Republicans.  He  defeated  W.  E.  Jones  and 
W.  B.  Badger.  The  latter  was  the  Prohibition  candi- 
date. 

THE  SECOND  ADMINISTRATION  OF  THOMAS 
W.  LYNCH— 1888-1889. 

Thomas  W.  Lynch  began  his  second  administration 
of  Antigo  municipal  affairs  on  April  9,  1888.  Mayor 
Lynch  delivered  his  message  to  the  new  city  council 
and  made  many  specific  recommendations  regarding 
important  city  questions.  He  said  among  other  things : 
"We  have  agreed  to  assume  the  trust  of  administering 
the  affairs  of  the  city  for  the  coming  year.  In  per- 
forming that  trust  the  welfare  and  best  interest  of  the 
city,  present  and  future,  should  be  our  sole  aim.  Public 
money  is  just  as  sacred  as  private  money.  Between 
necessary  and  unnecessary  expenses  we  should  use  the 
judgment  that  any  prudent  business  man  would  use  in 
his  own  business." 

April  9,  1888,  W.  H.  Dawley  was  elected  President 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE  COUNTY. 


131 


of  the  city  council,  defeating  J.  A.  Thursby. 

Saloon  licenses  were  granted  for  the  first  time  since 
the  first  administration  of  Mayor  Lynch. 

Ed.  McKenna  was  appointed  Marshal  of  Antigo  by 
Mayor  Lynch  after  the  various  municipal  committees 
were  appointed. 

The  Wisconsin  Press  Association  made  its  second 
visit  to  Antigo  on  July  25,  1888  and  a  public  reception 
was  given  the  editors.  Mayor  Lynch  delivered  the 
address  of  welcome.  Among  the  visitors  were  Editor 
W.  D.  Hoard  of  Ft.  Atkinson  and  John  Hicks,  Presi- 
dent of  the  Association.  Mayor  Lynch,  P.  J.  Millard, 
A.  B.  Millard,  J.  C.  Lewis,  W.  H.  Dawley,  J.  A.  Ogden, 
G.  W.  Latta  and  H.  G.  Borgman,  accompanied  the  edi- 
tors from  Antigo  to  Rhinelander. 

Applications  for  sidewalks  (plank)  were  granted  at 
every  meeting  of  the  city  council  during  this  admin- 
istration. 

In  1889  the  matter  of  making  certain  amendments  to 
the  city  charter  was  taken  up  by  the  Mayor  and  the 
city  council. 

The  Sixth  Ward  was  created  as  a  result  of  revision 
of  the  charter  and  the  boundary  of  the  city  was  ex- 
tended one  half  mile  each  way. 

The  Lynch  administration  of  1888-89  was  less  mo- 
mentous than  that  of  1885-86  when  that  citizen  who 
played  such  an  important  part  in  Antigo  municipal  af- 
fairs first  piloted  the  municipal  ship.  Mayor  Lynch 
was  succeeded  by  Dr.  J.  F.  Doyle.  The  proposed 
amendments  to  the  city  charter  were  endorsed  by  the 
electorate. 

THE  ADMINISTRATION  OF  MAYOR  J.  F.  DOYLE 
—1889-90. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  city  council  under  the  Doyle 
administration  was  held  on  Monday,  April  8,  1889. 
Mayor  Doyle  made  some  important  suggestions  to  the 
Aldermen  of  the  various  wards,  his  address  following 
the  farewell  speech  of  the  outgoing  Mayor  Thomas  W. 
Lynch. 

One  of  the  important  achievements  of  this  adminis- 
tration was  the  appointment  of  a  committee,  consisting 
of  the  Mayor,  W.  H.  Dawley  and  H.  C.  Humphrey  to 
investigate  the  matter  of  water  works  for  the  city  of 
Antigo.  This  was  not  the  first  time  the  water  works 
question  was  brought  to  the  attention  of  the  city,  but 
this  was  the  first  practical  step  toward  the  solution 
of  the  problem. 

June  28,  1889,  a  mass  meeting  was  held  at  the  city 
council  rooms  for  the  purpose  of  discussing  the  water 
question.  H.  G.  Borgman  and  W.  B.  Johns  were  ap- 
pointed to  look  over  city  water  works  in  other  cities. 

H.  C.  Humphrey,  J.  H.  Trever  and  Hon.  Thomas  W. 
Lynch  were  selected  to  represent  the  city  of  Antigo  to 
confer  with  officials  of  the  M.  L.  S.  &  W.  R.  R.  Co.  re- 
garding alleged  rumors  that  the  Antigo  shops  would  be 
moved  to  Kaukauna,  Wis.  The  committee  reported 
that  the  company  had  made  no  such  plans  and  inti- 
mated that  Antigo  would  ultimately  be  the  point  where 
the  Lake  Shore  system  would  have  its  largest  shops. 

During  the  administration  of  Mayor  Doyle,  the  city 


adopted  the  report  of  a  committee  on  schools  and 
authorized  the  expenditure  of  "not  more  than  $20,000 
for  the  erection  of  a  high  school  in  block  63." 

The  first  ordinance  making  it  necessary  for  transient 
merchants  to  pay  a  municipal  license  was  passed  by 
the  city  council  in  October,  1889. 

The  first  arc  lights  were  installed  in  Antigo  on  the 
principal  streets  during  the  Doyle  administration  by 
the  Antigo  Edison  Electric  Light  Company. 

The  polling  places  for  the  municipal  election  of  1890 
were  fixed  as  follows :     First  Ward — Teipner's  sample 


DR.  J.  I'.  DOYLE 
Mayor  of  Antigo — ) 880-00 

room;  Second  Ward — The  Council  Rooms;  Third  Ward 
— The  school  house;  Fourth  Ward — School  house; 
Fifth  Ward — Ratskey  building,  near  Larzelere  Livery; 
Sixth  Ward — Freiburger's  Shop,  near  bridge. 

Mayor  Doyle  was  succeeded  by  Dr.  I.  D.  Steffen, 
who  was  elected  April  1,  1890.  Dr.  Steffen  defeated 
G.  W.  Latta.  The  city  council  under  Mayor  Doyle  as- 
sembled for  the  last  time  on  April  8,  1890,  completed 
its  work  and  turned  over  the  city's  destiny  to  the  new 
Mayor  and  the  new  council.  Dr.  J.  F.  Doyle,  the  re- 
tiring Mayor  and  Dr.  I.  D.  Steffen,  Mayor-elect,  de- 
livered appropriate  addresses. 

THE  FIRST  ADMINISTRATION  OF  MAYOR  I.  D. 
STEFFEN- 1890-91. 

April  8,  1890,  the  first  meeting  of  the  new  city  coun- 
cil under  Mayor  I.  D.  Steffen  was  called  to  order  by  the 
new  chief  executive.  W.  H.  Dawley  was  selected 
President  of  the  council  for  the  year,  T.  H.  Robbins 
was  elected  City  Marshal,  H.  A.  Mills  was  chosen 
Deputy  City  Marshal,  the  retiring  Mayor,  Dr.  J.  F. 
Doyle  was  chosen  as  City  Physician  and  F.  J.  Finu- 
cane  was  elected  City  Attorney  at  this  meeting. 

The  subject  of  water  works,  which  had  been  con- 
stantly before  the  Doyle  administration  was  one  of  the 
problems  with  which  the  Steffen  administration  had  to 
cope. 

April  16,  1890,  the  city  council  thoroughly  considered 
the  question  of  water  works  for  the  growing  city  of 


132 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


Antigo.  The  rental  system  was  decided  to  be  the 
most  feasible  system  to  adopt.  April  30,  1890,  the 
proposals  for  the  erection  of  a  plant  were  opened  by 
the  city  council  and  a  committee  was  selected  by  May- 
or Steffen  to  report  May  2,  1890.  The  result  was  that 
a  special  election  was  authorized  to  be  held  May  31, 
1890,  at  which  time  the  voters  decided  by  a  vote  of 
621  to  39  to  permit  a  tax  levy  of  $4,000  per  year  to 
pay  the  rental  of  such  a  system  as  it  might  adopt.  The 
vote  demonstrated  that  the  people  were  then  fully  alert 
to  prosperity  and  needs  of  the  city.  New  bids  were 
at  once  called  for  by  the  city  council  and  on  June  12, 
1890,  the  council  adopted  and  granted  a  franchise  to 
W.  G.  Maxcy,  giving  him  the  exclusive  right  to  main- 
tain a  system  of  water  works  in  Antigo  for  fire  and 
domestic  purposes  for  a  term  of  thirty  years  (1890- 
1920).       The  question  of  levying  a  tax  of  $4,000  per 


DR.  I.  D.  STEFFEN 
First   served   as   Mayor  of  .Antigo   in    lSi)0-ill. 

year  for  a  term  of  thirty  years  to  pay  fire  hydrant  ren- 
tals was  again  put  before  the  electorate  on  July  28, 

1890,  and  the  people  were  in  favor  of  the  proposal  by 
an  overwhelming  vote  of  514  to  21. 

The  water  plant  was  in  operation  by  January  1,  1891 
and  this  marked  an  important  step  in  the  municipal  ad- 
vancement of  Antigo.  We  shall  learn  more  of  the  wa- 
ter works  in  the  administrations  following. 

Through  the  efforts  of  the  city  council  under  Mayor 
Steffen  the  Kingsbury  &  Henshaw  flour  mill  and  the 
saw  mill,  eventually,  important  industries  in  Antigo, 
were  obtained  in  May,  1890. 

November  24,  1890,  the  new  hose  cart  for  the  fire 
department  was  received  and  accepted  by  the  city 
council.  Arrangements  were  made  at  this  time  by 
the  council  to  provide  sleeping  quarters  for  four  men 
in  the  fire  department  and  to  always  have  a  team  of 
horses  on  hand  to  haul  fire  apparatus  to  any  fire. 

The  Frost  Ver.eer  Seating  Company  erected  their 
plant  in  Antigo  in  the  months  of  November-December, 

1891,  during   the   Steffen   administration.  W.    D. 
Badger  erected  the  plant. 

The   city   council   passed   an  ordinance  in  February, 

1892,  authorizing  the  Milwaukee,  Lake  Shore  &  West- 


ern Railway  Co.  to  construct  and  maintain  a  track 
across  the  streets  between  the  Frost  Veneer  plant  and 
the  Antigo  Screen  Door  Company  plant.  This  track 
is  a  part  of  what  is  commonly  called  the  "belt  line." 

During  the  administration  of  1890,  Dr.  Steffen  was 
also  President  of  the  School  Board  and  at  this  time 
also  the  first  high  school  building  was  erected  in  the 
block  now  occupied  for  high  school  purposes. 

THE  ADMINISTRATION  OF  CASSIUS  F.  SMITH 
—1891-92. 

Cassius  F".  Smith  was  elected  Mayor  of  Antigo  in 
April,  1891,  by  defeating  W.  H.  Dawley.  Mayor 
Smith  was  the  unanimous  choice  of  the  Republicans 
of  the  city.  He  defeated  his  opponent  by  a  vote  of 
437  to  357  in  a  contest  that  was  very  exciting. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  city  council  under  Mayor 
Smith  was  held  on  April  14,  1891.  Mayor  Smith  se- 
lected T.  H.  Robbins  as  City  Marshal;  Louis  Novotny 
as  Street  Commissioner;  Attorney  George  W.  Latta  as 
City  Attorney;  Dr.  J.  H.  Dawley  as  City  Physician  and 
B.  F.  Dorr  as  the  first  City  Engineer. 


CASSIUS    F.    SMITH 
Mayor   of   Antigo — ls'.i|-;i2. 

During  his  administration  many  new  buildings  were 
erected  in  Antigo  and  streets  were  generally  improv- 
ed. 

The  stand  pipe  of  the  Antigo  Water  Company  was 
erected  in  April,  1891.  Ed.  LaLonde  was  then  Super- 
intendent of  the  plant. 

At  that  time  the  Antigo  Water  Works  park  was  con- 
sidered the  best  in  Antigo. 

The  question  of  cattle  running  at  large  on  the  streets 
was  again  given  serious  discussion  by  the  city  coun- 
cil. 

May,  1891,  the  city  fire  department,  with  the  sanction 
of  the  city  council,  responded  to  many  calls  in  the  out- 
skirts of  the  city,  where  forest  fires  were  raging.    Dur- 


HISTORY    OF    LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


133 


ing  this  month  thousands  of  dollars  of  property  was 
destroyed  by  the  forest  fires,  among  which  was  one  at 
Bryant  and  Kent,  Price  township. 

Mill  Street,  between  Seventh  Avenue  and  Eighth 
Avenue,  was  discontinued  by  the  city  to  make  room 
for  extensive  improvements  by  the  Crocker  Chair 
Company. 

During  the  Smith  administration  G.  E.  Frost,  Presi- 
dent of  the  Frost  Veneer  Seating  Company  of  Sheboy- 
gan and  William  Calhoun,  an  official  of  that  concern 
together  with  W.  D.  Badger,  Manager  of  their  plant  at 
Elcho,  conferred  with  the  city  officials  regarding  the 
location  of  their  plant  at  Antigo. 

A  bonus  was  granted  the  company  and  as  a  result 
the  mill  was  moved  from  Elcho  to  Antigo. 

Mayor  Smith  retired  from  office  in  April,  1892,  de- 
clining to  become  a  candidate  for  re-election.  Shortly 
afterwards  he  moved  from  Antigo  and  today  he  is  Pres- 
ident of  the  Chicago  Lumber  and  Veneer  Company, 
Chicago,  111.,  which  concern  has  extensive  operations 
over  a  wide  field. 

THE  SECOND  ADMINISTRATION  OF  MAYOR  J. 
F.  DOYLE— 1892-93. 

Mayor  J.  F.  Doyle  defeated  John  A.  Ogden  by  a  vote 
of  488  to  326,  a  majority  of  162  votes.  The  entire 
Democratic  ticket  of  the  city  was  elected  with  the  ex- 
ception of  a  Justice  of  the  Peace.  The  license  ques- 
tion again  came  up  and  the  vote  was  6^3  for  license 
and  157  against  license,  or  a  majority  of  486  in  favor 
of  granting  license. 

April  11,  1892,  the  city  council  was  organized  under 
the  Doyle  administration.  Ex-Mayor  Steffen  was 
elected  President  of  the  city  council,  T.  H.  Robbins  as 
City  Marshal;  L.  Novotny  as  Street  Commissioner;  G. 
R.  Shaw  as  City  Physician;  W.  F.  White  as  City  At- 
torney; Dr.  J.  H.  Dawley  as  Health  Officer;  Mayor 
Doyle  in  his  recommendations  to  the  council  dwelt 
with  length  on  the  financial  conditions,  treasury  settle- 
ments, the  street  fund,  the  industrial  bonus  proposition 
and  the  publicity  of  council  proceedings. 

May  11,  1892,  the  city  council  authorized  the  enforce- 
ment of  the  ordinance  prohibiting  the  running  at  large 
of  cattle  and  elected  Andrew  Teske  as  Pound-Master. 
A  fee  of  twenty-five  cents  was  authorized  paid  to  any 
individual  who  would  drive  any  cattle  running  at  large 
on  the  city  streets  to  the  city  pound.  This  ordinance 
had  its  effect,  when  enforced,  as  but  few  cattle  ran  at 
large  in  Antigo  since. 

July  21,  1892,  Mayor  Doyle  "unofficially"  straddled 
L.  E.  Bucknam's  bicycle  and  quite  a  crowd  gathered  on 
the  corner  of  Clermont  Street  and  Fifth  Avenue  expect- 
ing to  see  some  fun  but  the  Mayor  got  aboard  with  the 
agility  of  an  expert  and  rode  away  on  the  "wonder  ma- 
chine" to  the  bewilderment  of  the  people. 

The  city  council,  at  a  special  meeting,  November  1, 
1893,  decided  to  extend  the  Superior  Street  water  main 
to  Tenth  Avenue  to  afford  fire  protection  to  the  Antigo 
Manufacturing  Company.  The  plant  had  been  des- 
troyed by  fire  the  day  before. 


THE  ADMINISTRATION  OF  J.  F.  ALBERS— 
1893-94. 

The  mayoralty  campaign  of  the  spring  of  1893  was 
really  started  by  the  Citizens'  League,  a  non-partisan 
organization,  whose  object  was  "to  get  the  men  best 
fitted  for  public  service  into  office,"  to  look  over  the 
transactions  of  the  city  council  and  the  county  board 
and  to  stand  for  economy  and  low  taxation."  The 
coalition  of  Democrats,  Republicans  and  Prohibition- 
ists endorsed  and  supported  J.  F.  Albers  for  Mayor. 
The  Democrats  put  up  J.  L.  Klocke.  Thus  the  con- 
test was  between  two  prom.inent  business  men  of  the 
city. 

Mr.  Albers  was  elected,  receiving  464  votes  to  350 
for  Mr.  Klocke.  D.  J.  Mahor.ey  was  elected  City 
Clerk  and  the  contest  for  City  Treasurer  between  L. 


J.  F.  .XLBERS 
Mayor    of    Antigo — 1803-!»4. 

Buckman  and  John  McCarthy  was  a  tie,  which  when 
settled  by  lot,  resulted  in  Mr.  McCarthy's  victory. 

When  the  result  of  the  Mayoralty  election  was  an- 
nounced the  adherents  of  the  Citizens'  League  held  a 
great  parade  and  celebration  on  Fifth  Avenue,  which 
brought  back  the  old  days  of  1884  when  the  Blaine  and 
Cleveland  torch  processions  were  so  lively. 

The  vote  was  canvassed  by  the  city  council  on 
April  6,  1893. 

The  administration  of  Mayor  Albers'  was  launched 
on  April  10,  1893,  with  the  organization  of  the  city 
council  of  which  T.  D.  Kellogg  was  chosen  President. 
T.  H.  Robbins  was  elected  City  Marshal;  A.  C.  Con- 
way, City  Attorney;  Dr.  I.  D.  Steffen,  City  Physician; 
L.  Corrigan,  Street  Commissioner  and  B.  F.  Dorr,  City 
Engineer. 

The  estimated  operating  expenses  for  the  ensuing 
year  were  given  at  $23,476.20. 

During  this  administration  the  great  Weed  mill  fire 


134 


HISTORY    OF    LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


occurred  on  May  20,  1893.      Mayor  Albers  telegraphed 
to  Rhinelander  for  aid  which  came  at  once. 

An  ordinance  was  passed  by  the  city  council  stop- 
ping all  bicycle  riding  on  sidewalks  of  the  city.  The 
wheel  men  of  Antigo  resented  this  ordinance  as  the 
streets  of  the  city  were  traveled  by  wheel  with  dif- 
ficulty. 

Acting  upon  the  petition  of  residents  a  hose  cart  was 
established  in  both  the  Third  and  Fourth  Wards  dur- 
ing this  administration. 

City  Marshal  O'Connor  applied  for  a  franchise  to 
erect  and  maintain  a  telephone  exchange  in  Antigo  in 
1894  and  his  application  was  granted  by  the  coun- 
cil. 

The  report  was  current  during  this  administration 
that  the  Northwestern  railroad  would  remove  their 
shops  from  Antigo  to  Monico  and  thus  minimize  the 
importance  of  Antigo  as  a  railroad  center.  Public 
spirited  Antigo  citizens  together  with  the  city  council 
placed  the  matter  before  the  officials  of  the  Chicago  & 
Northwestern  Railroad  Company  and  were  given  as- 
surance that  the  shops  would  remain  in  the  city.  Thus 
an  industry  of  great  importance  was  retained. 

The  Citizens'  League  of  Antigo  became  a  potent  force 
as  the  end  of  the  Albers'  administration  approached. 
It  was  non-partisan  in  character.  Dr.  I.  D.  Steffen 
was  President;  W.  H.  Blinn,  Vice-President;  J.  C. 
Lewis,  Secretary;  J.  F.  Albers,  Treasurer;  Advisors 
were:  A.  M.  Millard,  John  E.  Martin,  W.  F.  White,  M. 
F.  Crowe  and  H.  G.  Borgman.  The  Committee  on 
Special  Inquiry  consisted  of  Ed.  Daskam,  J.  C.  Spencer 
and  John  A.  Ogden. 

Mayor  Albers  was  followed  by  George  W.  Hill,  a 
Democrat,  who  served  his  first  term  as  Mayor  from 
1894-95. 

THE  FIRST  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GEORGE  W. 
HILL— 1894-95. 

George  W.  Hill,  a  pioneer  Antigo  citizen,  was  first 
elected  Mayor  on  April  3,  1894  defeating  Dr.  I.  D. 
Steffen.  Although  a  Democrat  Mr.  Hill  did  not  have 
the  support  of  the  Democrat  organ  of  the  city  in  the 
election. 

The  first  council  meeting  was  held  April  9,  1894. 
Mayor  Hill  appointed  various  committees  and  the 
council  elected  the  following  officers :  President  of  the 
council — T.  D.  Kellogg;  City  Marshal — Peter  O'Con- 
nor; Deputy  Marshal — Frank  Cunningham;  City  At- 
torney— W.  F.  White;  Street  Commissioner — L.  Cor- 
rigan;  City  Engineer — B.  F.  Dorr;  City  Physician — Dr. 
I.  D.  Steffen.  Fire  Wardens  were  appointed  in  each 
ward. 

By  reason  of  the  defeat  of  the  proposition  to  in- 
crease the  water  tax  $500  at  the  annual  municipal  elec- 
tion the  city  council  ordered  a  special  election  to  be 
held  April  30,  1894.  The  proposal  for  the  increase 
was  defeated  at  the  annual  election  due  to  the  mis- 
understanding of  the  question.  Thus  when  the  vote 
was  taken  the  second  time  it  resulted  in  419  in  favor  of 
the  increase  and  but  75  against  the  proposition.      This 


gave  the  city  authorities  power  to  grant  extensions  of 
the  water  works  as  the  means  of  the  city  afforded. 

In  June,  1894,  the  city  council,  after  a  demonstra- 
tion had  been  made  before  Mayor  Hill  and  members 
of  the  council  by  three  different  machines,  authorized 
the  purchase  of  an  Austin  road  machine  for  use  on  An- 
tigo streets. 

In  1894  there  was  considerable  propaganda  about 
the  city  purchasing  the  water  works. 

Fifteen  hundred  feet  of  hose  for  the  volunteer  fire 
department  was  purchased  by  the  Committee  on  Fire 
and  Water  of  the  city  council  in  August,  1894. 


GEORGE  W.  HILL 
First  served  as  >[ayor  of  .■\nt;go  in  18'.)4-95. 

A  new  fire  department  was  organized  in  November, 
1894,  and  the  organization  was  accepted  by  the  city 
council.  An  arrangement  was  made  for  four  pipemen 
to  sleep  in  the  engine  house,  the  city  to  purchase  a  team 
of  horses  and  the  volunteers  agreed  to  furnish  a  vol- 
unteer chief,  whose  services  were  gratuitous. 

In  February,  1895,  the  finance  committee  of  the  city 
council  was  instructed  to  act  with  the  Antigo  Board  of 
Education  to  devise  ways  and  means  for  the  construc- 
tion of  a  new  school  house  in  the  Second  Ward.  The 
proposition  was  finally  defeated. 

Mayor  Hill  served  until  April  8,  1895,  when  Mayor- 
elect  R.  H.  McMullen  presided  over  the  city  affairs  for 
the  first  time. 


THE  ADMINISTRATIONS  OF  R. 
—1895-98. 


H.  McMULLEN 


R.  H.  McMullen  came  to  Antigo  in  1880  from  Chil- 
ton, Calumet  County,  Wisconsin,  and  at  once  became 
an  active  leader  in  the  affairs  of  the  village  and  city  of 
Antigo.  He  was  chosen  the  first  City  Treasurer  in 
1885  and  held  other  offices.  He  was  first  elected  May- 
or of  Antigo  on  April  2,  1895,  defeating  the  Republi- 
can candidate  for  Mayor,  John  A.  Ogden,  by  a  vote  of 
483  to  410.       With  the  exception  of  one  city  officer 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


135 


and  five  members  of  the  city  council  the  entire  official 
roster  was  Democratic. 

Among  the  outstanding  events  during  his  adminis- 
trations were  the  proposal  to  raise  a  sum  sufficient  to 
erect  a  new  school  in  the  Second  Ward.  The  propos- 
al went  down  to  defeat  on  April  2,  1895. 

A.  M.  Lanning  was  elected  President  of  the  city 
council  under  Mayor  McMullen  during  his  first  admin- 
istration. Ordinance  No.  75  amended  ordinance  No. 
42,  prescribed  new  fire  limits  for  the  city  and  regulat- 
ed the  construction  of  buildings  within  those  limits. 

The  telephone  franchise  of  Peter  O'Connor  was  re- 
pealed during  the  year  1895. 

As  a  result  of  a  conference  with  Superintendent  G. 
F.  Bidwell,  Mayor  McMullen  and  the  council  succeed- 
ed   in    having    the    Chicago    &    Northwestern    railroad 


R.  H.  McMULLEN 
First  served  as   Mayor   in   1895-08. 

construct  crossings  at  all  Antigo  streets  and  to  main- 
tain an  arc  light  on  Fifth  Avenue  at  their  crossing. 

During  the  McMullen  administration  the  Antigo 
Opera  House,  where  the  first  county  fair  was  held  was 
burned  to  the  ground.  Hoeffler  Brothers  were  then 
in  charge  of  it.      The  fire  was  on  May  22,  1895. 

The  license  question  was  voted  upon  September  17, 
1895,  and  $500  as  an  annual  license  was  again  decided 
upon  by  the  voters. 

Mayor  McMullen  was  successively  elected  until 
1898.  In  March,  1896,  caucuses  were  held  in  Antigo 
Wards  and  T.  D.  Kellogg  was  nominated  by  the  Re- 
publicans to  contest  the  Mayoralty  with  Mr.  McMullen. 
The  result  was  the  re-election  of  Mr.  McMullen  by  a 
vote  of  608-314. 

The  new  city  council  met  on  April  13,  1896,  and 
the  following  official  roster  was  created :  City  Attor- 
ney— F.  J.  Finucane;  City  Physician — Dr.  T.  L.  Har- 
rington; City  Marshal — John  McArthur;  Deputy  Mar- 
shal— Isaac     Lament;     Street     Commissioner — Larry 


Corrigan;  City  Engineer — B.  F.  Dorr;  Department 
Driver — Chet  Hugunin;  Janitor — M.  Devoy. 

April  6,  1897,  Mayor  McMullen  was  again  victorious 
for  the  office.  He  defeated  John  A.  Ogden  by  a  vote 
of  510  to  457.  The  appointive  city  officials  remained 
the  same  with  the  exception  of  City  Physician,  M.  J. 
Lower,  being  selected. 

Mayor  McMullen  and  the  city  council  did  consider- 
able street  work  during  his  last  administration.  There 
was  then  considerable  agitation  about  paving  Fifth 
Avenue.      Nothing  definite  was  then  decided. 

He  served  until  the  election  of  John  F.  Dailey  on 
April  5,  1898. 

In  1919  Mr.  McMullen  moved  from  Antigo  to  Port- 
land, Oregon,  which  has  been  his  home  since.  He 
was  born  in  Marysburg,  Ontario,  Canada  on  May  10, 
1850. 

Mayor  McMullen  was  the  first  citizen  to  be  continu- 
ously elected  by  the  voters  of  Antigo  for  three  con- 
secutive terms.  He  was  the  first  Antigo  Mayor  to  be 
re-elected  after  the  expiration  of  his  first  term.  Oth- 
er mayors  had  been  previously  re-elected  but  their 
terms  were  not  consecutive. 

THE  ADMINISTRATION  OF  JOHN  F.  DAILEY— 
1898-99. 

John  F.  Dailey  was  elected  Mayor  of  Antigo  on  April 
5,  1898,  defeating  W.  B.  Johns  by  a  vote  of  571  to  349. 
Mr.  Dailey  was  the  Democrat  nominee  and  Mr.  Johns 


JOHN   F.   D.^ILEY 
Mayor  of  Antigo — 1898-99. 

was  the  Republican  choice.  Mayor  Dailey  was  born 
on  December  26,  1856,  at  Ogdensburg,  Waupaca  Coun- 
ty, Wisconsin.  He  spent  his  early  youth  on  a  farm 
and  secured  his  schooling  at  Waupaca.  When  a 
young  man  he  became  Superintendent  of  a  large  saw 
mill  at  Manawa,  Wisconsin.  He  moved  to  Strass- 
burg,  Langlade  County,  eight  years  later  and  there  op- 
erated a  saw  mill  for  nearly  six  years.       From  Strass- 


136 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


burg  in  1897  he  came  to  Antigo  and  opened  up  a  shoe 
store. 

The  principal  events  of  his  administration  were  the 
macadamizing  of  Fifth  Avenue  and  the  revision  of  the 
city  ordinances  by  City  Attorney  Max  Hoffman  and 
the  City  Clerk. 

Mayor  Dailey  was  requested  to  run  for  re-election 
but  refused  because  of  business  affairs. 

The  last  meeting  of  the  city  council  under  his  ad- 
ministration was  held  April  10,  1899.  Mayor  Dailey 
thanked  the  city  council  for  the  courtesies  extended 
him  during  his  administration  and  then  the  city  coun- 
cil of  1898-99  adjourned. 

Dr.  I.  D.  Steffen  followed  Mayor  Dailey  in  office, 
this  being  Dr.  Steffen's  second  administration. 

It  was  during  the  Dailey  administration  that  the 
printing  offices  of  the  Antigo  Herold,  The  Antigo  Re- 
publican and  the  Weekly  News  Item  were  entered  and 
the  mechanical  plants  were  damaged,  January  19,  1899. 
The  city  council  at  their  meeting  of  January  22,  1899, 
offered  a  reward  of  $250  for  information  leading  to  the 
arrest  and  conviction  of  the  party  or  parties  who  per- 
petrated the  deed. 

The  city  council  tabled  a  request  for  aid  when  the 
Antigo  Public  Library  Association  presented  a  peti- 
tion signed  by  one  hundred  tax  payers  on  February  6, 
1899. 

Mayor  Dailey  moved  to  Birnamwood  shortly  after 
his  term  of  office.  He  passed  a'^ay  on  October  21, 
1908,  at  that  place.  Many  prominent  citizens  of  An- 
tigo attended  his  funeral. 

THE  SECOND  ADMINISTRATION  OF  MAYOR  I. 
D.  STEFFEN— 1899-1901. 

Dr.  I.  D.  Steffen  was  nominated  on  March  19,  1899 
at  a  meeting  held  in  the  old  council  rooms.  The  meet- 
ing was  non-partisan  in  character.  A  ctimplete  ticket 
was  placed  in  the  field  by  the  non-partisans,  with  P. 
J.  Millard  for  Clerk,  Anton  Schultz  for  Treasurer  and 
Jos.  Duchac  and  J.  W.  AUerton  for  Assessors. 

The  Democrats  were  lead  by  Leonard  Freiburger, 
who,  like  Dr.  Steffen,  was  a  pioneer  Antigo  resident. 
This  contest  for  the  Mayor's  office  was  the  most  ex- 
citing political  contest  ever  conducted  in  Ar.t'go  up  to 
that  time.  Dr.  Steffen  was  elected  over  Mr.  Freibur- 
ger by  a  close  vote.  Peter  Chadek  defeated  P.  J. 
Millard  for  City  Clerk  by  thirteen  majority.  Anton 
Schultz  was  defeated  for  City  Treasurer  by  James 
Wagner,  who  received  460  votes  to  448  for  the  former. 

The  city  council  under  the  Steffen  administration 
employed  Edgar  Williams,  a  civil  engineer,  of  Chica- 
go, to  prepare  plans  for  a  sewerage  system  in  Antigo 
in  August,  1899. 

An  ordinance  was  passed  on  August  18,  1899  to  bond 
the  city  of  Antigo  in  the  sum  of  $10,003  for  the  erec- 
tion of  a  city  hall.  The  same  time  Edgar  Williams  of 
Chicago  submitted  plans  for  a  modern  sewerage  sys- 
tem in  Antigo. 

The  new  third  ward  school  was  erected  during  this 
administration.  It  was  opened  for  school  purposes 
on  February  5,  1900. 


Plans  of  the  architect,  Van  Ryan,  for  the  construc- 
tion of  the  city  hall  were  adopted  by  the  city  council 
on  October  3,  1899.  Mayor  Steffen,  Fred  Ebeit,  C. 
O.  Marsh  and  T.  D.  Kellogg  constituted  the  building 
committee.  The  city  hall  was  ready  for  use  in  Febru- 
ary, 1900. 

Dr.  I.  D.  Steffen  was  re-elected  Mayor  on  April  3, 
1900  by  defeating  George  W.  Hill  by  125  majority. 

During  his  second  administration  Mayor  Steffen 
continued  his  policies  as  enunciated  when  he  became  a 
Mayoralty  candidate  in  1899.  His  re-election  was  a 
vindication  of  his  previous  record. 

Mayor  Steffen  served  until  April  1,  1901,  when  the 
city  council  was  reorganized  and  the  reins  of  the  city 
government  were  taken  over  by  R.  H.  McMuUen. 

THE  ADMINISTRATION  OF  R.  H.  McMULLEN— 
1901-02. 

April  2,  1901,  R.  H.  McMullen  was  again  chosen 
Mayor.  He  defeated  Walter  L.  Elliott.  The  first 
meeting  of  the  city  council  under  his  administration 
was  on  April  9,  1902,  when  the  following  city  officials 
were  chosen :  President  of  the  city  council — Leonard 
Freiburger,  Sr. ;  City  Attorney — E.  A.  Morse;  City 
Physician — Dr.  M.  J.  Lower;  Marshal — John  McArth- 
ur;  Deputy  Marshal — G.  L.  Drake;  Street  Commission- 
er— A.  B.  Hanks ;  City  Engineer — B.  F.  Dorr. 

The  city  hall  had  been  nearly  completed  during  the 
administration  of  Dr.  I.  D.  Steffen.  The  city  clock 
was  installed  during  the  tenure  in  office  of  Mayor  Mc- 
Mullen. 

Antigo's  Fire  Department  at  that  time  had  one  hose 
cart,  three  hand  hose  carts,  2,800  feet  of  cotton  and 
linen  hose  in  good  condition,  1,400  feet  of  rubber  hose, 
six  hydrant  wrenches,  ten  play  pipes,  twelve  spanners, 
ten  pair  of  rubber  boots,  fifteen  rubber  coats  and  thir- 
teen rubber  hats  for  the  equipment  of  the  firemen. 

At  a  special  election  held  August  26,  1901,  the  mat- 
ter of  bonding  the  city  of  Antigo  in  the  sum  of  $18,000 
to  put  in  a  complete  sewerage  system  was  placed  be- 
fore the  people.  It  was  voted  down  by  a  vote  of  273 
to  170,  or  a  majority  of  103  who  were  against  the 
measure. 

Mayor  McMullen  served  his  last  term  as  city  execu- 
tive of  Antigo  in  1901-02  and  was  succeeded  by 
Thomas  W.  Hogan,  who  defeated  W.  L.  Elliott,  nomi- 
nated on  March  23,  1902.  That  day  nominees  were 
placed  in  nomination  by  Republican  and  Democrat 
conventions.  There  were  times  when,  due  to  some 
dissension  among  certain  wings  of  each  city  political 
coterie,  a  coaltion  ticket  was  placed  before  the  elec- 
torate. 

THE  ADMINISTRATION  OF  THOMAS  W. 
HOGAN— 1902-04. 

Thomas  W.  Hogan  was  elected  Mayor  of  Antigo  on 

April  1,  1902  by  defeating  Walter  L.  Elliott  by  a  vote 

of  584  to   380.       Mr.   Hogan  was  nominated  by  the 

Democrats  and  Mr.  Elliott  by  the  Republican  city  or- 

.  ganization. 


HISTORY    OF    LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


137 


On  April  7,  1902,  Mayor  Hogan  outlined  his  policies 
to  the  new  city  council.  He  made  two  suggestions, 
one  that  the  fire  team  should  sprinkle  Fifth  Avenue 
and  that  the  street  commissioner  should  also  act  as 
weed  commissioner.  He  ignored  party  lines  in  the 
appointment  of  city  office;  s.  T.  D.  Kellogg  was 
chosen  President  of  the  council  by  the  aldermen.  John 
McArthur  was  again  named  City  Marshal  with  August 
Vogel  and  William  Berner  as  his  deputies;  Dr.  Fred 
V.  Watson  was  elected  City  Physician  and  Max  Hoff- 
man as  City  Attorney.  B.  F.  Dorr  and  Larry  Corri- 
gan  were  again  chosen  for  the  offices  of  City  Engineer 
and  Street  Commissioner  respectively.  G.  0.  Palmi- 
ter  was  made  Chief  of  the  Antigo  Fire  Department. 
Miss  Maude  Beattie  was  appointed  Deputy  City  C'erV. 


THOMAS  W.  HOGAN 
Elected    Mayor  of  Antigo   in   April.    11103. 

One  of  the  first  acts  of  Mayor  Hcgan  was  to  order 
all  gambling  devices  and  slot  machines  removed  from 
saloons,  public  halls  and  tobacco  shops. 

May  5,  1902,  a  Board  of  Public  Works  was  created, 
the  first  one  in  the  city,  and  .Aldermen  M.  F.  Crowe, 
Leonard  Freiburger,  Sr.,  and  Frank  P.  Ver  Bryck  were 
elected.  J.  F.  Albers  was  then  selected  City  Comp- 
troller. The  suggestion  for  the  Board  of  Public  Works 
was  made  by  Alderman  L  D.  Steffen. 

A  new  system  of  accounting  was  installed  in  the  city 
offices  in  May,  1902  by  G.  D.  Bartz,  Wausau,  expert. 

May  30,  1902,  the  Board  of  Public  Works  recom- 
mended the  installation  of  a  more  effective  sewerage 
system  in  Antigo,  but  the  proposals  were  defeated  by 
the  city  council.  The  report  of  the  Board  of  Public 
Works  was  then  amended  at  the  city  council's  request 
and  was  adopted  at  a  meeting  of  that  body  on  June 
17,  1902.  August  23,  1902,  Harding,  Nelson  &  John- 
son of  Racine,  were  granted  the  sewerage  contract  for 
$19,000.00. 

Antigo's  officials,  including  the  Mayor  and  the  city 
council,  took  part  in  the  great  reunion  of  the  14th  Wis- 


consin infantry  of  Civil  War  fame,  in  Artigo  June  18, 
19  and  20,  1902. 

Antigo  was  connected  with  Milwaukee  by  long  dis- 
tance telephone  on  October  2,  1902.  The  first  tele- 
phone conversation  to  leave  Antigo  was  one  from  the 
Antigo  Republican  requesting  a  supplement  from  Mil- 
waukee containing  Governor  La  Follette's  speech  at 
Milwaukee. 

THE    FIRST    ADMINISTRATION    OF    FRED 
HAYSSEN— 1904-06. 

Fred  Hayssen  was  elected  Mayor  of  Antigo  for  the 
first  time  on  April  5,  1904.  He  did  not  have  any  op- 
position, receiving  812  votes.  The  chief  event  of  his 
first  administration  was  the  revision  of  the  charter  of 
the  city  in  1905. 

Fulton  Street  was  opened  as  far  north  as  the  First 
Ward  school  in  1905  upon  petition  of  residents  in  that 
part  of  the  city. 

Alderman  Frank  P.  Ver  Bryck  and  John  01k  resign- 
ed as  Aldermen  from  the  First  and  Sixth  Ward  re- 


FRED    HAYSSEN 
Twice  Mayor  of  Antigo.       First  elected  in   in04. 

spectively  on  August  1,  1905.  W.  A.  Maertz  succeed- 
ed Mr.  Ver  Bryck  and  Thomas  Morrissey  succeeded 
Mr.  01k. 

Extension  of  sewers  to  various  parts  of  the  growing 
city  was  one  of  the  achievements  of  the  administra- 
tion. 

During  the  Hayssen  administration  the  City  Park, 
two  blocks  between  Eighth  and  Nir.th  Avenues,  east 
of  Watson  street,  was  purchased  by  the  city  council. 

April  4,  1906,  the  last  meeting  of  the  city  council 
under  the  first  Hayssen  regime  was  held.  George  W. 
Hill,  the  incoming  Mayor,  then  took  office  for  the  sec- 
ond time. 

Much  public  building  was  one  of  the  noticeable  oc- 
currences during  the  term  of  Mayor  Hayssen. 


138 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


THE  SECOND  ADMINISTRATION   OF  GEORGE 
W.  HILL— 1906-08. 

George  W.  Hill  was  elected  Mayor  of  Antigo  on 
April  4,  1906,  by  defeating  J.  F.  Albers.  The  contest 
was  one  of  the  most  exciting  in  the  history  of  the  city. 
Mr.  Hill  won  by  fifteen  votes,  he  receiving  546  to  531 
votes  for  his  opponent. 

The  Hill  administration  took  over  the  government 
of  the  city  the  following  day,  April  5,  1906.  Mayor 
Hayssen  and  the  old  city  council  "cleared  the  deck" 
and  in  a  few  appropriate  words  the  retiring  Mayor  bid 
farewell  to  his  former  associates.  Mayor  Hill  made 
a  plea  for  harmony  in  the  conduct  of  the  city  and  urg- 
ed all  factions  to  forget  differences  in  the  interest  of 
the  city's  welfare. 

In  April,  1906,  the  contract  for  the  remodeling  of  the 
second  floor  of  the  public  library  for  training  school 
purposes  was  let  to  Thomas  Solar,  at  $1,117.00. 

The  Mary  Deleglise  park,  block  68,  city  of  Antigo, 
was  sold  to  Mayor  Hill  on  September  21,  1906.  This 
block  was  platted  and  soon  became  an  important  addi- 
tion to  residential  Antigo. 

The  estimated  expense  for  operating  the  city  of 
Antigo  in  1906-07  according  to  R.  Koebke,  J.  J.  French 
and  G.  0.  Palmiter,  members  of  the  Board  of  Public 
Works  of  that  time,  were  $50,983.00. 

During  the  Hill  regime  additional  powers  were  ac- 
corded the  Mayor  by  the  city  cour.cil  in  the  enforce- 
ment of  all  rules  governing  the  Ar.tigo  Fire  Depart- 
ment. 

Another  impoitant  event  in  Antigo  history  happened 
during  this  period.  November  14,  1906,  the  old  C.  & 
N.  W.  depot  was  removed  from  its  foundation  to  make 
room  for  the  modern  depot  now  used. 

Many  blocks  of  cement  walks  and  extensive  addi- 
tions to  the  sewerage  system  were  laid  duiing  this 
term. 

Mayor  Hill  served  until  the  spring  of  1908  when  his 
former  rival,  ex-Mayor  Fred  Hayssen  was  again 
elected. 

THE  ADMINISTRATION  OF  FRED  HAYSSEN— 
1908-10. 

Fred  Hayssen,  a  pioneer  Langlade  County  resident, 
who  in  an  early  day,  before  his  residence  in  Antigo, 
had  been  in  business  at  Bryant,  Price  township,  was 
elected  Mayor  of  Antigo  on  April  7,  1908.  He  de- 
feated three  other  candidates,  Leonard  Freiburger, 
George  W.  Hill  and  A.  F.  Brehmer.  Mr.  Freiburger 
was  his  nearest  rival,  receiving  418  votes  to  507  for 
Mr.  Hayssen.  Hayssen  was  elected  on  a  platform  of 
rigid  economy  in  the  conduct  of  the  city  and  took  ad- 
vantage of  the  dissension  in  the  ranks  of  his  political 
rivals. 

The  license  of  saloons  was  again  voted  upon.  For 
license  again  proved  victorious.  The  vote  stood  :  For 
License — 770;  Against  License — 451. 

The  city  council  under  the  Hayssen  administration 
organized  on  April  21,  1908.  Mayor  Hayssen  plead  for 
harmony  in  the  conduct  of  city  affairs,  making  it  plain 


that  he  would  oppose  any  appropriations  for  improve- 
ments unless  the  money  was  provided  previously. 

James  Steber  was  elected  President  of  the  city  coun- 
cil, William  Coblentz  was  elected  Chief  of  Police,  S.  J. 
McMahon  was  elected  City  Attorney,  Dr.  G.  W.  Moore 
was  chosen  City  Physician  and  B.  F.  Dorr  as  City  En- 
gineer. 

June  20,  1908,  the  Antigo  Water  Company  refused 
to  give  the  city  officials  a  test  of  the  system.  Four 
days  previously  the  city  council  instructed  the  Board 
of  Public  Works  to  engage  a  competent  engineer  to 
furnish  estimates  of  the  cost  of  a  complete  water  works 
for  the  city  of  Antigo.  This  was  a  direct  defy  to  the 
Antigo  Water  Company.  The  test  was  made  at  a  lat- 
er date. 

The  law  suit  of  the  City  of  Antigo  vs.  The  Antigo 
Water  Company  was  argued  before  the  railroad  rate 
commission  in  1908.  The  suit  was  instituted  because 
the  city  was  not  satisfied  with  the  company's  program 
of  improvements.  The  railroad  rate  commission  sent 
four  experts  to  Antigo  on  July  14,  1908,  to  make  an 
examination  of  the  water  plant.  A  partial  decision 
was  handed  down  by  the  railroad  rate  commission  in 
which  the  finding  was  "the  testimony  shows  that  the 
present  water  supply  of  the  Antigo  Water  Company  is 
inadequate."  The  company  was  given  three  months 
to  take  steps  necessary  for  securing  and  maintaining 
a  reasonably  adequate  supply  of  wholesome  water. 
The  order,  however,  was  a  provisional  ore,  supplement- 
ed later  by  a  more  elaborate  discussion. 

August  4,  1908,  the  Board  of  Public  Works  of  Antigo 
was  authorized  to  advertise  for  bids  for  paving  Cler- 
mont Street  from  Fourth  to  First  Avenue. 

September  17,  1908,  the  city  council  began  plans  for 
the  erection  of  a  sewerage  disposal  plant  and  John  W. 
Alvord  of  Chicago  was  instructed  to  make  estimations 
and  recommendations  relative  to  the  erection  of  such  a 
plant. 

Hayssen  served  until  the  election  of  Burt  W. 
Rynders. 

THE  ADMINISTRATION  OF  BURT  W.  RYNDERS 
—1910-12. 

Burt  W.  Rynders,  who  had  served  in  the  Hayssen 
administration  as  Acting  Mayor  for  many  months,  was 
elected  Mayor  of  Antigo  on  April  5,  1910.  He  defeat- 
ed George  W.  Hill  by  a  vote  of  648  to  622  in  a  hot 
fought  contest.  Both  men  appealed  for  support  on  the 
merits  of  their  past  records.  The  license  question 
was  again  voted  upon  at  this  election  and,  as  usual, 
was  defeated  by  the  overwhelming  vote  of  823  to 
337. 

Inadequate  fire  protection  for  the  city  was  one  of  the 
chief  questions  confronting  the  Mayor  and  city  council 
during  the  Rynder's  administration.  January  3,  1911, 
the  fire  and  water  committee  of  the  council  was  ordered 
to  investigate  the  cost  of  a  modern  fire  engine. 

The  city  council,  February  7,  1911,  delivered  an  ul- 
timatum to  the  owners  of  the  Antigo  Water  Company 
in  which  it  was  declared  that  "unless  the  said  company 
does  not  comply  fully  with  all  the  terms  of  its  fran- 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


139 


chise  on  or  before  July  1,  1911,  court  proceedings 
would  be  instituted  in  the  courts  of  the  state  or  before 
the  Railroad  Rate  Commission  in  order  that  the  city 
and  its  inhabitants  may  be  adequately  supplied  with 
water  for  the  purposes  of  fire  protection  and  for  do- 
mestic use."  This  was  but  a  part  of  the  long  fight 
between  that  concern  and  the  city  and  which  eventual- 
ly led  to  the  purchase  of  the  water  works  by  the  city. 

In  the  spring  election,  April  4,  1911,  little  interest 
was  manifested. 

April  8,  1911,  the  city  council  took  favorable  action 
on  a  petition  of  abutting  property  owners  on  Clermont 
Street  between  First  and  Fourth  Avenues  in  which  they 


BURT  W.  RVXDERS 
Mayor  of  Antigo  in  1910-12. 

requested  that  the  street  be  paved.  Westrumite  as- 
phalt was  laid  the  following  summer. 

The  Department  of  the  Interior  selected  the  post 
office  site  in  April,  1911. 

March  1,  1911,  a  petition  signed  by  many  citizens 
called  upon  the  city  of  Antigo  to  construct  and  main- 
tain an  entirely  new  water  system  in  Antigo,  "because 
the  present  mains  and  pumps  are  not  of  sufficient  ca- 
pacity to  furnish  the  necessary  water  and  pressure  for 
adequate  fire  protection." 

Dr.  G.  W.  Moore  was  elected  City  Health  Officer 
and  H.  F.  Morson  chosen  City  Attorney  to  succeed 
City  Attorney  S.  J.  McMahon  in  May,  1918. 

Extensive  improvements  were  inaugurated  by  the 
Antigo  Water  Company,  under  the  supervision  of  F. 
C.  Robinson,  expert  waterworks  man  of  Manitowoc, 
Wis.,  on  June,  1911. 

Work  was  started  on  the  new  sewerage  disposal  plant 
in  Rolling  township  in  June,  1911. 

A  water  test  by  the  Antigo  Water  Works  was  ac- 
cepted by  the  city  on  June  29,  1911. 

The  American  La  France  steam  engine  for  the  An- 
tigo Fire  Department  was  purchased  during  the  Ryn- 
ders  administration.  The  old  dispute  between  the 
city  and  the  Antigo  Water  Works  was  settled. 


Mayor  Rynders  served  until  in  April,  1912.  George 
W.  Hill  was  then  elected  Mayor  for  the  term  1912-13. 

THE  LAST  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GEORGE  W. 
HILL— 1912-APRIL  20,  1913. 

George  W.  Hill  was  again  elected  Mayor,  defeating 
Burt  W.  Rynders  for  that  office  on  April  12,  1912. 
Four  days  later  the  new  city  council  was  called  into 
session.  Mayor  Hill  advocated  strict  economy  in  the 
administration  of  the  city.  He  took  the  office  of  May- 
or following  the  farewell  address  of  the  retiring  Mayor 
B.  W.  Rynders. 

James  Steber  was  elected  President  of  the  city  coun- 
cil. F.  Reindl,  John  McGreer  and  J.  J.  Laughlin 
were  then  made  members  of  the  Board  of  Public 
Works. 

A  proposal  to  establish  a  fire  alarm  system  in  Antigo 
was  voted  down  by  the  city  on  July  1,  1912. 

July  8,  1912,  the  Antigo  Fire  Department  received  a 
new  team,  which  was  purchased  from  the  Ullman  Sales 
stable. 

H.  F.  Morson,  who  resigned,  was  succeeded  as  City 
Attorney  by  R.  H.  Smelker  on  July  16,  1912. 

An  ordinance  for  the  building  of  a  $30,000  trunk  line 
sewer  to  relieve  flood  conditions  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  city  was  defeated  at  a  special  session  of  the  city 
council  on  October  16,  1912. 

Mayor  Hill  served  as  an  efficient  officer  until  his 
death  at  Montague,  Muskegon  County,  Michigan  on 
April  20,  1913.  He  was  born  on  March  15,  1857,  ths 
son  of  Homer  and  Elizabeth  Hill  and  came  to  Antigo 
in  1882.  Mayor  Hill  was  active  in  city  and  county 
politics  from  then  until  his  death.  His  body  lay  in 
state  at  the  M.  E.  Church  until  the  funeral  April  24, 
1913.       His  eulogy  was  read  by  Rev.  M.  L.  Eversz. 

The  following  day  Leonard  Freiburger  was  elected 
Mayor  of  Antigo. 

THE  ADMINISTRATION  OF  LEONARD  FREI- 
BURGER, SR.— 1913-14. 

Leonard  Freiburger,  Sr.,  a  member  of  the  city  coun- 
cil from  the  Sixth  Ward,  was  elected  Mayor  on  the 
seventh  ballot  at  a  meeting  of  the  council,  April  25, 
1913.  He  was  officially  notified  of  his  election  by  G. 
0.  Palmiter,  City  Clerk,  the  following  day.  Mr.  Frei- 
burger had  previously  served  for  sixteen  years  as  an 
Alderman  from  his  ward.  His  nearest  opponent  for 
the  office  was  Lee  Waste  of  the  second  ward. 

Among  the  important  events  of  the  Freiburger  ad- 
ministration was  the  platting  of  Clermont  Heights  by 
Morse  &  Tradewell  Co.  This  addition  to  the  city  was 
approved  by  the  city  council  on  May  6,  1913. 

In  1912  the  first  experiments  with  street  oil  were 
made  on  Fifth  Avenue.  During  the  Freiburger  re- 
gime the  sprinkling  of  all  city  streets  with  oil  was  pro- 
posed in  May,  1913.  The  applications  then  were  plac- 
ed on  streets,  upon  request  of  citizens  in  the  form  of  a 
petition.  Then  oil  was  applied  for  the  following 
rates:  One  application;  12  foot  roadway — 75c;  18  foot 
roadway — $1.10;  24  foot  roadway — $1.50;  two  appli- 


140 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


cations— 12  foot  roadway— $1.50;  18  foot  roadway— 
$2.20 ;  24  foot  roadway— $3.00. 

The  old  Antigo  Commercial  Club  was  very  active 
in  1913.  I.  A.  Herrick,  then  Secretary-Manager,  was 
the  leader  in  a  movement  to  establish  a  public  market 
square  in  Antigo. 

Antigo's  first  modern  moving  picture  theatre  was 
erected  by  Harvey  Hanson,  who  on  May  17,  1913,  pur- 
chased the  Lee  Waste  Fifth  Avenue  property. 

The  city  council  appropriated  funds  for  the  pur- 
chasing of  lighting  standards  for  the  high  school  park. 
The  lighting  system  was  installed  during  the  summer 
of  1913. 

It  was  during  this  administration  that  the  Board  of 
Public  Works  presented  to  the  city  council  satisfactory 


LEONARD   FREIBl"R(iER 

CIiosLii  M;i\or  nf  Aiitino  following  tlic  dcatli  oi  George  \\  . 

Hill.        Served   in    I1M:1-I4. 

plans  for  the  division  of  the  city  into  storm  sewer 
districts. 

L.  P.  Tradewell  was  awarded  a  contract  for  the  con- 
struction of  two  blocks  of  concrete  pavemer.t  on  June 
3,  1913.  The  streets  paved  were  Fifth  Avenue,  from 
Superior  Street  east  to  Field  Street  and  Su,:erior 
Street,  between  Fifth  and  Fourth  Avenues.  The  con- 
tract was  let  for  $11,897.00. 

June  7,  1913,  the  city  of  Antigo  and  Langlade  Coun- 
ty acted  as  hosts  to  the  Merchants  and  Manufacturers 
of  Milwaukee,  who  visited  the  city.  The  Cream  City 
people  were  given  a  splendid  reception  by  the  Antigo 
business  men. 

The  old  homstead  of  F.  A.  Deleglise  was  moved 
from  its  original  location  to  a  spot  on  the  public  library 
grounds  to  be  preserved.  The  city  council  authorized 
its  removal  to  save  it  from  being  torn  down. 

The  first  municipal  street  sprinkler  was  purchased 
in  1913.  Previously  the  merchants  made  arrange- 
ments with  private  organizations  for  sprinkling  streets. 

The  completion  of  the  sewerage  disposal  plant  was 
inaugurated  during  the  Freiburger  regime. 


During  the  term  of  Mayor  Freiburger  the  city  pur- 
chased the  Antigo  Water  Works,  which  it  has  since 
successfully  operated. 

Mayor  Freiburger  served  urtil  the  election  of  Dr.  L 

D.  Steffen,  the  first  Mayor  to  serve  as  such  under  gov- 
ernment by  commission,  March  24,  1914. 

THE  ADMINISTRATION  OF  MAYOR  I.  D.  STEF- 
FEN—FIRST  UNDER  COMMISSION 
GOVERNMENT— 1914-15. 

Government  of  the  city  of  Antigo  was  changed  from, 
the  aldermanic  system  to  that  of  government  by  com- 
mission by  an  overwhelming  vote  of  the  people.  The 
primary  election  of  that  mayoralty  contest  was  held  on 
March  24,  1914.  Candidates  for  election  were  Leon- 
ard Freiburger,  Sr.,  Dr.  I.  D.  Steffen,  E.  R.  Gibbons, 

E.  H.  Palmer,  T.  J.  Roberts,  B.  W.  Rynders  and  L.  P. 
Tradewell.  E.  R.  Gibbons  and  Dr.  I.  D.  Steffen,  hav- 
ing the  greatest  number  of  votes,  were  declared  nomi- 
nees. 

The  contest  between  the  primary  election  and  the 
general  election,  April  7,  1914,  was  one  of  the  most 
spectacular  elections  in  the  history  of  the  city.  Dr. 
Steffen  defeated  Mr.  Gibbons  by  a  vote  of  730  to  693 
and  was  thus  elected  the  first  Mayor  to  serve  under  the 
commission  foim  of  government  in  Antigo.  He  is  call- 
ed the  father  of  that  form  of  gDve.'nms/t  in  the  city 
of  ArAigo.  G.  0.  Palmiter  and  Frank  Dvorak  were 
both  elected  councilmen  in  the  new  government.  They 
defeated  John  Callahan,  anJ  Thomas  Daskam,  the 
other  two  nominees.  The  other  candidates  for  coun- 
cilmen at  the  primary  election  were  N.  R.  Babcock, 
James  Cody,  D.  P.  Corbett,  William  Kirg,  John  Mc- 
Greer,  Lee  Waste  and  Joseph  Skibba. 

With  the  inauguration  of  government  by  commission 
the  veto  power  of  a  city  executive  was  abolished  and  a 
majority  of  the  city  council  constitutes  a  quorum.  This 
system  also  eliminated  many  committees  and  the  ad- 
ministration of  city  affairs  progressed  rapidly. 

The  city  council.  Mayor  Steffen,  City  Clerk  G.  0. 
Palmiter  and  City  Treasurer  Frank  Dvorak,  took  over 
the  reins  of  the  city  on  April  21,  1914,  when  they  held 
the  first  council  meeting. 

The  late  F.  J.  Finucane  was  selected  City  Attorney 
during  the  Steffen  Administration  and  the  stable  foun- 
dation of  that  form  of  government  in  Antigo,  is,  in  a 
large  measure  due  to  Attorney  Finucane's  wise  coun- 
sel and  advice. 

The  city  took  over  the  Antigo  Water  Works  in  April, 
1914,  and  Frank  Dvorak  was  made  manager  of  the 
institution. 

Dr.  Steffen  was  elected  to  the  office  of  Mayor  upon 
his  previous  record  as  a  public  servant,  extending  over 
a  period  of  years  since  1887.  He  deplored  faction- 
alism in  the  city.  The  rigid  enforcement  of  the  law, 
particularly  that  city  ordinance  pertaining  to  Sunday 
closing  of  saloons,  was  one  of  his  strong  planks  in  his 
platform  for  election. 

During  his  administration  of  affairs  taxes  were  re- 
duced in  the  city,  the  water  department  operated  at  a 
'  profit,  an  extensive  street  improvement  program  was 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


141 


inaugurated,  many  feet  of  cement  sidewalks  were  laid, 
new  streets  and  alleys  were  opened  for  public  con- 
venience, all  city  ordinances  were  enforced,  water  mains 
were  extended  in  many  parts  of  the  city,  the  old  busi- 
ness of  the  aldermanic  system  was  closed  and  the  city 
was  placed  upon  an  entirely  new  and  economic  founda- 
tion. 

Dr.  Steffen  served  efficiently  until  September,  1915, 
when  at  a  special  election  he  was  defeated  by  C.  Fred 
Calhoun.  The  election  was  given  state  wide  atten- 
tion. 

THE  ADMINISTRATION  OF  C.  FRED  CALHOUN 
—1915-1917. 

C.  Fred  Calhoun,  Superintendent  of  the  Frost  Ve- 
neer Seating  Company  plant  in  Antigo,  was  elected 
Mayor  of  Antigo  at  a  special  election  in  September, 
1915.  He  presided  over  the  city  council  as  executive 
of  the  city,  for  the  first  time  on  Wednesday,  Septem- 
ber 29,  1915. 

Mayor  Calhoun  proved  to  be  a  capable  city  officer. 
Among  the  important  achievements  of  his  administra- 


C.  FRED  CALHOUN 
Mayor   of   Antigo — 1!)15-17. 

tion  was  the  settlement  between  the  city  council  and 
the  National  Surety  Company  of  New  York  relative 
to  the  repairing  of  the  Westrumite  paving  on  Cler- 
mont Street  between  Fourth  and  First  Avenues.  This 
settlement  was  made  on  October  15,  1915,  when  the 
city  council  accepted  $1,000.00  from  the  National 
Surety  Company  with  which  to  repair  the  street. 

Before  his  election  as  Mayor,  Mr.  Calhoun  was  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Education  from  the  Sixth 
Ward  and  he  resigned  from  that  body  on  October  14, 
1915.     B.  H.  Strong  was  chosen  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

A  contract  was  let,  previously,  to  John  MulhoUand 
to  lay  653  feet  of  water  mains  on  south  Clermont 
Street,  between  Eighth  and  Ninth  Avenues.  This 
work  was  completed  during  this  administration. 


December,  1915,  the  city  purchased  a  tank  from 
the  Standard  Oil  Company.  The  tank  is  used  to  store 
street  oil  and  has  a  capacity  of  12,500  gallons. 

While  not  a  municipal  affair,  with  which  the  city 
council  had  much  to  do,  it  is  important  to  state  that 
the   Antigo    Post    Office    was    included,    December   6, 

1915,  in  the  estimates  submitted  to  Congress  by  Secre- 
tary of  the  Treasury  Wm.  G.  McAdoo  for  the  operat- 
ing expenses  for  the  year  1916.  Thirty-four  thousand 
dollars  was  listed  as  the  amount  needed  to  further 
the  construction  of  the  Antigo  Post  Office. 

Twenty  thousand  square  yards  of  macadam  streets 
were  resurfaced  and  thirty  blocks  were  graded  during 
the  Calhoun  regime. 

New  sewers  were  laid,  extensions  were  made  to 
water  mains,  and  8,785  feet  of  cement  walk  was  put 
down  by  contractors,  working  for  the  city. 

The  valuation  of  the  city  of  Antigo  in  1915  was 
$4,707,752.00  while   in  1914   it  was  $4,566,973.00. 

November  10,  1915,  the  city  council  purchased  a 
fire  truck  from  the  Seagrave  Motor  Company  at  a 
cost  of  $5,600.00. 

The  announcement  was  made  on  February  17,  1916, 
that  the  city  was  to  have  a  new  industry.  The  Lang- 
lade Lumber  Company.  This  followed  a  formal  rati- 
fication of  an  informal  agreement  between  officials 
of  the  concern  and  the  members  of  the  Antigo  Com- 
mercial Club.  Mayor  Calhoun  was  made  Chairman  of 
a  Finance  Committee  to  raise  a  large  sum  of  money  to 
insure  the  city  that  the  lumber  company  would  lo- 
cate here. 

March  2,  1916,  the  city  council  granted  the  Board 
of  Education  authority  to  engage  an  architect  and  ob- 
tain plans  and  specifications  for  a  new  high  school. 
The  corner  stone  of  the  school  was  laid  on  July  7,  1916. 

April  4,  1916,  G.  0.  Palmiter  was  against  chosen 
City  Clerk  by  the  people,  defeating  Thomas  Daskam. 

Five  thousand  one  hundred  dollars  was  paid  to  the 
Immel  Construction  Company  of  Fond  du  Lac,  this 
being  the  first  of  the  payments  on  the  new  Antigo 
High  School.  The  school  was  dedicated  October  19, 
1917. 

Charles   W.   Fish   was   banqueted  on   November   2, 

1916,  at  which  time  he  announced  his  intention  to 
erect  a  modern  sawmill  in  Antigo,  the  mill  to  have 
a  capacity  of  seven  million  feet  annually. 

During  the  Calhoun  administration  W.  J.  Gallon 
was  elected  first  President  of  the  Antigo  Association 
of  Commerce,  which  was  organized  on  April  20,  1917. 

Mayor  Calhoun  resigned  in  the  fall  of  1917  and  a 
special   primary  election  was  held  on  November   13, 

1917,  Four  aspirants  for  the  office  of  Mayor  were 
placed  in  the  field.  Mayor  Calhoun  left  soon  after 
for  Sheboygan,  Wis.,  to  make  his  home. 

THE   ADMINISTRATION   OF   MAYOR  JOHN 
BENISHEK  1917-20. 

Four  prominent  Antigo  citizens  were  placed  on  the 
ticket  as  candidates  for  Mayor  in  the  special  primary 
election  held  in  the  fall  of  1917.  Munson  M.  Ross, 
Antigo's    second   Mayor,   Martin   Robrecht,   a   pioneer 


142 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


citizen  and  a  man  who  had  served  in  various  public 
capacities  for  many  years,  H.  F.  Morson,  a  former 
County  Superintendent  of  Schools,  former  City  At- 
torney and  a  prominent  member  of  the  Langlade  Coun- 
ty bar,  and  John  Benishek,  a  well  known  real  estate 
dealer,  who  had  served  on  the  city  council  for  many 
years  prior  to  the  change  from  aldermanic  to  govern- 
ment by  commission,  were  the  candidates.  H.  F. 
Morson  and  John  Benishek  were  chosen  at  the  primary 
as  the  candidates  to  be  voted  upon  at  the  general 
election. 

The  election  was  close,  John  Benishek  defeating 
Mr.  Morson  by  one  vote. 

Mayor  Benishek  inaugurated  a  program  of  economy 


JOHX   BENISHEK 
.Mayor  of  .Aiitigo— liilT-20. 

without  parsimony  in  the  conduct  of  city  affairs.  His 
years  of  experience  as  a  city  official  gave  him  a 
valuable  insight  to  prevalent  conditions. 

Upon  the  death  of  City  Attorney  F.  J.  Finucane, 
Charles  Avery,  who  had  been  Acting  City  Attorney 
for  some  time,  was  elected  City  Attorney.  He  per- 
formed a  service  of  great  value  in  that  position. 

Mayor  Benishek  spent  much  of  his  time  as  Mayor 
securing  estimates  and  making  plans  for  a  general 
program  of  street  improvement  and  paving.  Material 
was  secured  with  difficulty,  yet  many  of  the  streets 
were  placed  in  first  class  condition. 

During  his  administration  a  resolution  was  passed 
whereby  all  of  the  principal  streets  were  prepared  for 
paving  by  getting  sewer  connections  with  all  build- 
ings and  vacant  lots,  thus  to  eliminate  the  necessity 
of  tearing  up  a  street. 

The  coal  shortage  of  1918  was  so  serious  that  many 
Antigo  citizens  petitioned  the  Mayor  and  the  city 
council  to  establish  a  municipal  coal  yard.  By  pur- 
chasing coal,  direct  from  the  mines.  Mayor  Benishek's 
policy  saved  the  city  approximately  $2,000  each  year 
in  fuel  alone. 

The  Antigo  Armory,  operated  by  the  city,  was  un- 


der the  direct  management  of  Mayor  Benishek,  dur- 
ing his  term.  He  found  that  the  institution  was  op- 
erating at  a  loss  each  year.  By  booking  first  class 
shows  and  under  proper  management  the  Armory  made 
money  for  the  city. 

During  his  administration  new  polling  stations  were 
erected  in  the  Third  and  Fourth  Wards. 

Three  thousand  square  yards  of  gravel  were  laid 
on  Superior  Street,  Antigo's  principal  highway.  A 
modern  grader  for  road  and  street  work  was  purchai- 
ed  and  plans  for  scarifying  Fifth  Avenue  were  made. 

The  sewerage  disposal  plant  was  repaired  and  ex- 
tensive changes  were  made  in  it,  with  the  result  that 
all  complaints  from  Rolling  township  farmers  ceased. 

The  storm  sewer  from  Minola  Street  to  the  sand 
pit,  east  of  the  fair  grounds,  (purchased  by  the  city 
during  the  Benishek  administration)    was  completed. 

Mayor  Benishek  served  as  Mayor  for  two  and  one- 
fourth  years.  He  became  a  candidate  for  re-election 
in  1920  and  made  his  campaign  upon  his  previous 
record.  The  campaign  was  one  of  the  most  interest- 
ing of  recent  elections.  He  was  defeated  by  but  two 
votes. 

THE  ADMINISTRATION   OF   MAYOR   CHARLES 
J.  HANZEL  1920-22. 

On  February  20,  1920,  Charles  J.  Hanzel,  an  An- 
tigo business  man,  announced  his  candidacy  for  May- 
or of  Antigo.  The  six  years  of  government  by  com- 
mission (1914-20)  had  produced  three  Mayors,  Dr. 
I.  D.  Steffen,  C.  Fred  Calhoun,  and  John  Benishek. 


CllARl  ES  J.  ll.WZEL 
Elected    Mayor   of   .\ntigo   for   term    l!i2()-2li. 

Dr.  Fred  Kestly  was  placed  in  the  field  by  a  gather- 
ing of  citizens  who  met  at  the  Elks'  Club  January  21, 
1920.    Dr.  Kestly  later  withdrew  from  the  race. 

Mayor  Benishek,  who  had  made  an  efficient  public 
servant,  announced  his  candidacy  for  re-election  Jan- 
uary 31,  1920.     This  made  it  a  race  between  Mayor 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


143 


Benishek,  who  made  his  previous  record  the  issue, 
and  Charles  J.  Hanzel,  who  made  the  race  on  a  plat- 
form of  lower  taxation  and  better  streets. 

When  the  votes  were  counted  it  was  discovered  that 
it  was  a  tie  and  would  have  to  be  decided  by  lot.  Mr. 
Hanzel  won.  Mayor  Benishek  demanded  a  recount, 
which  showed  the  correct  vote  to  be  641  to  639,  Hanzel 
winning  by  two  votes.  Thus  Hanzel  was  twice  declar- 
ed Mayor  of  Antigo  in  two  days. 

During  the  summer  of  1920  important  street  im- 
provements were  made  in  Antigo.  Fifth  Avenue  and 
the  Westrumite  paving  on  Clermont  Street  were  re- 
paired at  once.  A  new  gyratory  stone  crusher  was 
purchased  to  replace  the  old  stone  crusher  which  had 
been  in  service  since  1907. 

May  4,  1920,  Attorney  R.  C.  Dempsey  was  chosen 
City  Attorney,  G.  0.  Palmiter,  City  Clerk  and  Vice- 
Mayor,  and  Frank  Dvorak,  City  Treasurer.  Lyman 
A.  Steffen  was  made  City  Physician  and  City  Health 
Officer.  T.  T.  McGillan  and  M.  T.  Canfield  were  mads 
members  of  the  Park  and  Cemetery  Board.  All  banks 
of  the  city  were  made  city  depositories.  During  the 
same  month  nine  new  wells  were  completed  and  add- 
ed to  the  municipal  water  works. 

An  extensive  program  of  water  main  and  sewer 
construction  was  carried  out.  During  1920  and  1921 
thirteen  thousand  feet  of  water  mains  were  laid.  Dur- 
ing the  same  time  ore  mile  of  sanitary  sewers  were 
laid  annually.  Two  miles  of  storm  sewers  were  laid 
under  the  supervision  of  Harry  W.  Jackson,  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Water  Department,  during  this  admin- 
istration. 

June,  1920,  an  audit  of  the  city's  books  was  made 
by  an  auditor  from  the  Wisconsin  Tax  ComTiission  at 
the  request  of  the  city,  to  give  the  public  a  state- 
ment as  to  the  actual  financial  condition  of  the  city. 

In  November,  1921,  in  accordance  with  a  plank  in 
his  platform  or  a  promise  to  the  electorate, 
Mayor  Hanzel  selected  his  unofficial  Advisory 
Board.  The       twelve     citizens     chosen     were 

A.  K.  Potter,  Francis  Brush,  R.  J.  McQuillan, 
Peter  J.  Dunn,  Al.  Duchac,  Wm.  H.  Wol- 
pert,  John  Hessel,  W.  W.  Smith,  0.  P.  Walch,  Walter 
Daskam,  Edward  McCandless,  and  James  A.  Cody. 
The  first  meeting  of  the  Advisory  Board  was  held  on 
May  6,  1921. 

An  outstanding  event  in  the  administration  was 
the  fight  for  the  ornamental  lighting  of  Fifth  Avenue. 


The  proposed  white  way  was  endorsed  by  the  Advis- 
ory Board  on  August  8,  1921.  The  contract,  calling 
for  46  single  standards,  with  one  light,  was  awarded 
to  the  Freeman-Sweet  Company  of  Chicago,  111.,  on 
September  27,  1921,  for  $9,210.  Fifth  Avenue  was 
lighted  with  the  white  way  for  the  first  time  at  eight 
o'clock,  Saturday  evening,  December  10,  1921.  The 
lights  were  turned  on  by  little  Elizabeth  Berner, 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fred  L.  Berner. 

Among  other  achievements  of  the  Hanzel  admin- 
istration thus  far  have  been  the  creation  of  a  Poor 
Commission  in  Antigo.  Mrs.  H.  V.  Mills  was  select- 
ed Poor  Commissioner  in  December,  1921 ;  the  addi- 
tion of  one  man  on  the  police  force,  the  establish- 
ment of  a  desk  sergeant,  which  was  approved  by  the 
Police  and  Fire  Commission  in  November,  1920;  the 
licensing  of  all  Antigo  liveries,  according  to  an  ordi- 
nance passed  on  June  16,  1920;  the  great  July  4th, 
1920,  celebration,  in  which  Mayor  Hanzel  unveiled  a 
bronze  tablet  at  the  Antigo  Armory;  extensive  im- 
provements in  the  City  Hall;  passed  a  resolution, 
January  12,  1921,  whereby  a  new  fire  department  will 
be  constructed,  the  present  one  to  be  turned  into  a 
rest  room,  in  accordance  with  state  law;  laid  thirty 
thousand  feet  of  curb  and  gutter  in  1921-22,  or  more 
curb  and  gutter  in  the  city  than  any  other  admin- 
istration, and,  among  other  things,  assumed  care  of 
the  old  cemetery  on  April  19,  1922. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Association  of  Commerce  April 
19,  1922,  the  paving  of  Fifth  Avenue  was  endors- 
ed. The  next  day  the  Advisory  Board  of  the  Mayor 
unanimously  endorsed  the  proposed  paving  of  Fifth 
Avenue. 

The  contract  for  the  paving  of  Fifth  Avenue  from 
Superior  Street  to  Lincoln  Street,  Edison  Street  from 
Sixth  Avenue  to  Fourth  Avenue,  Clermont  Street  from 
Seventh  to  Fourth  Avenue,  and  Superior  Street  from 
Sixth  to  Fifth  Avenue,  was  awarded  to  the  F.  P. 
Coughlin  Co.,  Chicago,  111.,  at  approximately  $81,000. 
This  is  the  most  extensive  program  of  street  improve- 
ment inaugurated  in  Antigo. 

Mayor  Hanzel  became  a  Democrat  candidate  for 
Congress  from  the  Ninth  Congressional  District,  his 
announcement  being  made  on  April  22,  1922.  He  is 
the  second  Antigo  man  to  be  nominated  for  that  office 
from  this  district,  the  other  being  Hon.  Thomas  W. 
Lynch,  who  was  elected  in  1892,  the  first  Democrat 
ever  accorded  that  honor  in  the  Ninth  Wisconsin  Dis- 
trict. 


144 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Newspapers  of  New  and  Langlade  Counties 

New  County  Republican  of  1879 — First  Publication — Langlade  Republican — Woodland  Homes — 
The  Weekly  News  Item — Langlade  County  Special — The  Pioneer — The  Antigo  Forward — The 
Antigo  Herold — Antigo  Republican — The  Antigo  Journal — Antigo  Daily  Journal — Farmers 
Journal — The  Antigo  Banner — Antigo  Herald — Newspaper  Changes — Press  Associations — 
School  Publications — Directories. 


The  first  attempt  to  publish  a  newspaper  of  the  pres- 
ent type  was  made  in  1615.  Seven  years  later  The 
Weekly  News  was  started  in  England.  The  first 
American  newspaper  was  issued  in  Massachusetts  in 
1690  and  was  called  "Publick  Occurrences."  It  dis- 
pleased the  government  and  was  supressed.  The  first 
Wisconsin  newspaper,  "The  Intelligencer"  was  issued 
from  Green  Bay  in  1833. 

The  first  newspaper  established  in  Langlade  (New) 
County  was  in  1879  and  was  called  the  New  County 
Republican.  The  first  issue  appeared  January  3,  1880. 
George  Ratcliffe,  owner  and  editor,  came  to  Antigo 
from  Clintonville,  where  he  had  edited  The  Clinton- 
ville  Herald. 

When  the  legislature  changed  the  name  of  New 
County  to  Langlade  County  the  paper  became  The 
Langlade  Republican.  In  1884,  The  Langlade  Re- 
publican was  changed  to  The  Forward  with  the  issue 
of  August  14th.  George  Ratcliffe  was  then  editor, 
Gus  Lind  was  the  publisher  and  Ira  C.  Edwards  was 
business  manager.  In  1886,  The  Forward  was  taken 
over  by  C.  A.  Martin,  a  brother  of  Attorney  J.  E.  Mar- 
tin of  Antigo.  The  same  year  John  A.  Ogden  pur- 
chased The  Forward  from  C.  A.  Martin  and  changed 
the  name  to 

THE  ANTIGO  REPUBLICAN. 

John  A.  Ogden  edited  The  Antigo  Republican  until 
August,  1899,  when  he  sold  the  plant  and  paper  to  C. 
0.  Marsh.  Mr.  Marsh  published  and  edited  the  An- 
tigo Republican  until  1906,  when  it  was  sold  to  a  cor- 
poration called  the  Republican  Publishing  Company. 
During  that  time  it  was  managed  by  Messrs.  Hopkins 
and  Loper,  C.  A.  Stedman  and  John  T.  Brown.  In 
1912,  The  Republican  Publishing  Company  sold  the 
paper  to  Berner  Brothers  Publishing  Company,  owners 
of  the  Antigo  Daily  Journal.  The  Antigo  Republican 
was  then  discontinued.  Thus  ended  the  career  of  the 
first  newspaper  that  sought  the  home  of  the  pioneer 
by  path,  trail  and  blazed  guide  lines,  telling  them  of 
the  great  strides  of  the  future. 

THE  ANTIGO  PIONEER. 

The  Antigo  Pioneer,  established  May  8,  1884,  was 
published  every  Thursday.  The  Pioneer  was  publish- 
ed by  Henry  Berner,  Sr.,  and  edited  by  Hugo  Grosser, 
who  came  here  from  Manitowoc.  The  Pioneer  was 
a  German  language  weekly,  five  column  quarto,  half 


patent.  It  was  moved  to  Shawano  before  the  end  of 
1884  and  continued  to  be  published  there  under  a  new 
name.      The  Pioneer  was  Democrat  in  politics. 

THE  WEEKLY  NEWS  ITEM. 

The  Weekly  News  Item  was  established  by  Arthur 
B.  and  Paul  J.  Millard,  August  12,  1882.  They  came 
to  Antigo  from  Wausau.  The  paper  was  located  orig- 
inally on  Fifth  Avenue  near  the  railroad  track  (M.  L. 
S.  &  W.)  in  a  small  building,  previously  used  by  Peter 
Dolan,  saloonkeeper.  The  News  Item  later  moved  in- 
to the  Spencer  House  building,  the  present  site  of  the 
Hill  building,  intersection  of  Fifth  Avenue  and  Edison 
Street.  It  was  next  located  in  the  second  story  of  the 
structure  now  occupied  by  the  H.  A.  Kohl  Hardware 
Company  on  Superior  Street. 

In  1884,  The  Millard  Brothers  moved  to  their  own 
building  erected  on  Superior  street  (now  the  Mrs.  A. 
R.  Winter  buildirg).  The  paper  occupied  that  loca- 
tion until  1898,  when  it  was  then  sold  jointly  to  John  A. 
Ogden,  owner  of  The  Antigo  Republican  and  W.  H. 
Dawley,  then  proprietor  of  The  Langlade  County  Spe- 
cial. The  Special  assumed  the  good  will  of  The  News 
Item.  A  division  of  the  material  and  machinery  was 
made  by  the  two  papers.  Paul  J.  Millard  severed  his 
connections  with  the  News  Item  when  he  was  appoint- 
ed Postmaster  in  1893. 

When  the  News  Item  was  taken  over  by  Mr.  Dawley 
it  was  published  from  the  Fidelity  Bank  Building  (then 
known  as  Dawley  Building)  and  for  many  years  up  to 
1918  it  was  issued  from  that  place.  It  was  then  mov- 
ed to  521  Clermont  Street,  where  it  is  still  issued.  W. 
H.  Dawley  is  sole  proprietor  and  editor. 

THE  JOURNAL— WEEKLY— DAILY. 

In  September,  1898,  J.  H.  Fitzgibbons  moved  to 
Antigo  from  Neenah  and  started  publishing  a  weekly 
Democratic  paper,  called  The  Journal,  in  the  basement 
of  the  First  National  Bank  building.  It  was  not  suc- 
cessful and  was  taken  over  by  George  W.  Hill.  Fitz- 
gibbons moved  to  Mattoon,  Wis.  It  was  purchased 
in  1901  by  Berner  Brothers  who  returned  to  Antigo 
from  Columbia  County,  where  they  operated  a  news- 
paper plant,  and  moved  from  the  First  National  Bank 
building  to  the  Journal  building  on  Superior  street.  It 
was  edited  weekly  until  Sept.  18,  1904,  when  the  first 
issue  of  The  Antigo  Daily  Journal,  Langlade  County's 
first  and  only  permanent  daily  newspaper,  appeared. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


145 


Fred  L.  Berner  is  Editor,  Earl  S.  Holman,  City  Editor, 
Henry  Berner  is  Business  Manager  and  Otto  F.  Berner 
is  Advertising  Manager  of  the  Antigo  Daily  Journal. 
Berner  Brothers  also  publish  two  weekly  papers,  The 
Farmers  Journal  and  The  Antigo  Journal.  The  Jour- 
nal is  Republican  in  politics. 

FIRST  DAILY  ISSUED. 

The  first  daily  newspaper  issued  in  Langlade  Coun- 
ty was  during  the  14th  Wisconsin  Regiment  re-union 
at  Antigo  in  June,  1902.  The  Berner  Brothers  Pub- 
lishing Company  issued  the  Journal  daily  for  three 
days  in  recognition  of  the  event. 

"OUR  PAROCHIAL  SCHOOLS." 

March  1,  1887,  a  Catholic  Journal,  eight  pages,  all 
home  print,  was  inaugurated  at  Phlox,  Norwood  town- 
ship by  Rev.  Father  Philip  St.  Louis.  It  was  named 
"Our  Parochial  Schools."  Its  service  to  the  communi- 
ty was  such  that  it  soon  ceased  to  be  a  school  paper 
and  became  instead  a  community  newspaper.  It  was 
originally  published  monthly,  then  semi-monthly. 
Father  St.  Louis  changed  the  name  in  1890,  after  its 
growth  from  the  denomination  to  the  broader  non- 
sectarian  field  to  The  Langlade  County  Special. 

THE  LANGLADE  COUNTY  SPECIAL. 

The  Langlade  County  Special  was  originally  owned 
by  Father  Philip  St.  Louis  of  Phlox,  who  had  as  an 
associate  John  Menting.  In  1891,  John  Menting, 
Thomas  W.  Hogan,  Sam  Leslie  and  Thomas  Ward  pur- 
chased the  Special  and  its  good  will  from  Father  St. 
Louis.  In  the  year  previous,  1890,  The  Special  was 
moved  to  Antigo  from  Phlox,  locating  on  the  site  of 
the  Neff-Roberts  building.  It  was  later  moved  to  the 
Lynch  building,  now  the  site  of  Nolte's  Shoe  Store.  In 
1892,  W.  H.  Dawley,  purchased  Thomas  Hogan's  in- 
terest and  he  forwith  published  The  Special  until 
August  13,  1898,  when  it  was  merged  with  The  Week- 
ly News  Item. 

THE   ANTIGO    HEROLD. 

The  Antigo  Herold,  a  German  language  publication, 
was  published  first  in  October,  1888,  by  Edward  Goe- 
bel.  Mr.  Goebel  came  to  Antigo  from  Appleton,  where 
he  had  edited  the  Appleton  Weiker.  The  Herold 
was  published  continually  by  Mr.  Goebel  until  Decem- 
ber 5,  1919,  when  the  name  and  good  will  of  The 
Herold  together  with  the  mailing  list  was  sold  to  the 
Langlade  Printing  Company.  Mr.  Goebel  then  began 
editing  The  Antigo  Banner,  serving  the  same  sub- 
scribers as  did  The  Herold.  The  Antigo  Banner  is 
still  edited  weekly  in  the  German  language.  Both  The 
Herold  and  The  Banner  are  Democratic. 

THE  ANTIGO  HERALD. 

The  Antigo  Herald,  as  an  English  language  publica- 
tion, was   launched   December  5,   1919.     The   Antigo 


Herold,  German  language  weklyv  was  purchased  by 
W.  F.  Kasson  and  Will  C.  Brawley,  proprietors  of  The 
Langlade  Printing  Company.  The  Herald  is  a  six 
column  well  edited  paper  published  every  Friday. 
Will  C.  Brawley  is  editor.  It  is  located  in  the  Lang- 
lade Bank  building.  The  Herald  i^  Democratic  in 
politics.  A  job  department  is  operated  in  connection 
with  the  paper. 

ANTIGO  HIGH  SCHOOL  PAPERS. 

Three  Antigo  High  School  papers  have  been  known 
to  exist.  The  first,  "The  Antigo  High  School  Mer- 
cury" was  published  in  1896  and  continued  until  1898. 
It  was  a  monthly  publication. 

The  Scrap  Heap  was  first  edited  by  the  class  of 
1915,  during  the  year  1914.  It  continued  to  be  pub- 
lished by  the  Junior  Class  each  year  until  1918,  when 
it  was  abandoned.  It  started  out  as  a  monthly  but 
was  afterwards  published  twice  a  month. 

The  Astonisher,  high  school  paper,  made  its  first  ap- 
pearance in  May,  1921,  and  is  published  by  the  stu- 
dents of  all  classes  in  high  school. 

"THE   GRADUATE"— ANNUAL. 

"The  Graduate,"  annual  published  review  of  high 
school  activities,  is  the  product  of  the  Senior  Cass. 
The  first  Graduate  was  published  in  1909. 

CITY  AND  COUNTY  ADVERTISING. 

The  City  of  Antigo  has  been  advertised  frequently 
in  well  edited  pamphlets  and  folders,  the  last  of  which 
was  published  in  1922.  County  progress  was  featur- 
ed also. 

OTHER  PUBLICATIONS. 

Antigo  is  the  publishing  location  of  The  Beaver,  of- 
ficial organ  of  the  Beavers  Reserve  Fund  Fraternity, 
The  Clippings,  house  organ  of  the  Langlade  Lumber 
Company  land  department,  the  Langlade  County  Nor- 
mal bulletin  and  the  Outlook,  Episcopalian  pamphlet. 
The  Antigo  Publishing  Company,  for  years  managed 
by  the  late  Rev.  A.  Grimm,  publish  booklets  and 
pamphlets  in  German. 

"WOODLAND  HOMES." 

In  January,  1884,  F.  A.  Deleglise  and  W.  W.  Hutch- 
inson, prominent  early  pioneers  and  real  estate  dealers, 
began  publishing  a  pamphlet  boosting  Antigo.  It  was 
called  Woodland  Homes.  Its  foreign  circulation  was 
extensive. 

FIRST  CITY  DIRECTORY. 

The  first  City  Directory  was  published  in  Antigo  by 
the  Inter-state  Directory  Company.  The  directory 
contained  approximately  fourteen  hundred  names.  It 
appeared  in  1898.  Fred  L.  Berner  and  Frank  Doner 
were  the  canvassers  who  gathered  the  data.      The  last 


146 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


It 


city  and  county  directory  was  published  in  1920. 
contained  approximately  ten  thousand  names. 

A  NEWSPAPER  OUTRAGE. 


On  January  19,  1899,  the  mechanical  departments  of 
the  Antigo  Republican,  The  Harold  and  the  News  Item 
were  broken  into  and  type  was  piled  up  in  a  promiscu- 
ous and  chaotic  state.  Forms,  jobs  and  advertise- 
ments were  "pi  heaped."  The  Herold,  where  the  cur- 
rent edition  was  ready  for  mailing,  was  thrown  into 
Springbrook.  The  motive  or  the  culprits  were  nev- 
er apprehended.  The  papers  charged  the  Journal,  ri- 
val publication,  then  owned  by  J.  H.  Fitzgibbons,  and 
some  of  The  Journal's  "close  friends"  as  the  instiga- 
tors of  the  deed. 

GERMAN  PRESS  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Wisconsin  German  Press  Association  convened 
in  Antigo  Friday,  Saturday  and  Sunday,  August  19, 
20  and  21,  1892.  The  following  is  a  brief  outline  of 
the  program:  Reception  at  the  trains;  meetings  at 
Marmes'  Hall ;  Address  of  Welcome  by  Mayor  C.  F. 
Smith;  Response  by  President  A.  Wittman  of  the  As- 
sociation. This  was  followed  by  a  social  meeting. 
Saturday,  the  German  editors  inspected  the  mills  and 
business  districts,  journeyed  to  the  Eau  Claire  River 
(not  in  automobiles)  and  on  Sunday,  the  day  was  spent 
at  Sylvian  Lake,  now  known  as  Mueller's  Lake. 

THE  WISCONSIN  PRESS  ASSOCIATION. 
1885-1921. 

The  Wisconsin  Press  Association  visited  Antigo  and 
Langlade  County,  first  in  1885,  also  in  1888,  and  again 
in  1921.  They  gathered  here  on  Aug.  13,  1835.  Many  of 
the  editors  present  then  were  either  at  that  time  well 
known  figures  in  Wisconsin  and  the  nation  or  became 
prominent  afterward.       Chase  S.  Osborn,  then  editor 


of  the  Florence  Mining  News,  was  in  Antigo.  He  lat- 
er became  Governor  of  Michigan.  Wm.  "Bill"  Nye, 
W.  C.  Hoard,  one  time  Wisconsin  Governor,  Col.  J.  A. 
Watrous,  of  the  old  Iron  Brigade,  Hon.  Frank  Leland, 
Sam  Ryan,  Hon.  E.  Hurlbut,  J.  C.  Bartholf  and  others 
were  present.  Mayor  Thomas  W.  Lynch  welcomed 
the  editors  to  the  little  city.  J.  C.  Lewis,  George  Rat- 
cliffe,  Millard  Brothers,  were  Antigo  leaders,  who  took 
part  in  the  entertainment. 

The  praise  and  publicity  given  Antigo,  then  a  little 
city  of  less  than  three  thousand,  did  much  to  aid  its  fu- 
ture progress. 

Thirty  six  years  later  the  Wisconsin  Press  Associa- 
tion again  visited  Antigo,  July  26,  1921.  The  party 
arrived  here  from  Laona,  Wis.,  July  25,  1921.  The 
following  day  a  program  was  given  at  Elcho,  Wis.,  and 
at  the  Antigo  Armory.  Charles  W.  Fish,  Elcho  lum- 
berman feted  the  editors  at  Muskie  Inn,  E'.cho,  Wis. 
A  wonderful  opportunity  to  view  the  developed  and 
raw  resources  of  the  county  was  given  the  visitors. 
A  program  presided  over  by  Judge  Arthur  Goodrick 
was  given  in  the  Antigo  Armory  in  the  evening.  J.  R. 
McQuillan  and  L.  A.  Maier  were  General  Chairman 
and  Secretary  of  the  reception  committee.  John  A. 
Kuyper,  President  of  the  Association,  responded  to  the 
address  of  welcome  by  Mayor  Charles  J.  Hanzel. 
Toasts  were  given  by:  Walter  Gallon,  President  of  the 
Association  of  Commerce;  Will  C.  Brawley,  of  The 
Antigo  Herald;  Bert  E.  Walters  of  the  Reedsburg 
Times;  D.  C.  Menefee  of  the  Vilas  County  Review; 
Louis  H.  Zimmerman,  Secretary  of  the  Wisconsin 
Press;  Fred  L.  Berner  of  the  Antigo  Daily  Journal; 
Robert  M.  Dessureau  of  The  Antigo  Herald;  Merlin 
Hull,  ex-Secretary  of  State;  Henry  C.  Campbell,  of 
the  Milwaukee  Journal;  Dr.  I.  D.  Steffen,  ex-Mayor  of 
Antigo.  Louis  A.  Maier  introduced  the  "Antigo 
Mushroom"  typical  oldtime  weekly  newspaper,  copy 
for  which  was  "set  up"  on  the  Armory  rostrum  during 
the  banquet.  The  meeting  at  Antigo  ended  a  week 
motor  excursion  through  northern  Wisconsin. 


I 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


147 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 
The  Antigo  Post  Office 

First  Established — Early  Receipts — First  Postmaster — Rural    Routes — Old     Locations — Postal    Sav- 


ings Banks- 


-Postmasters — New  Post  Office. 


Mail  was  carried  through  Eastern  Langlade  County 
over  the  old  Lake  Superior  Trail  twenty  years  before 
the  location  of  the  first  Post  Office.  This  was  long  be- 
fore Langlade  County  was  organized  as  the  County  of 
New,  and  when  it  was  a  vast  wilderness  stretching 
north  to  Lac  Vieux  Desert,  and  the  State  Line  region 
known  as  part  of  Oconto  County.  Before  the  govern- 
ment survey  in  1860,  there  was  a  mail  station  in  section 
17,  Township  33,  Range  13  East,  of  the  present  limits 
of  Langlade  County.  This  statement  is  substan- 
tiated by  the  U.  S.  field  notes  of  Langlade  County. 


Building,  now  known  as  the  Fidelity  Bank  Building  on 
Fifth  Avenue,  W.  H.  Dawley,  acting  as  Postmaster 
from  August  20,  1885  to  August  17,  1889.  In  1889,  the 
Post  Office  was  moved  to  the  same  frame  building  as 
used  in  1885,  W.  H.  Blinn,  acting  as  Postmaster  from 
August,  1889  to  April  23,  1893.  The  Post  Office  re- 
mained there  until  1897,  when  it  was  moved  to  the 
frame  structure  south  of  the  Fidelity  Bank  Building  on 
the  west  side  of  Clermont  Street.  From  April  24, 
1893  to  June  30,  1897,  P.  J.  Millard  acted  as  Postmas- 
ter.      P.  J.  Millard  was  succeeded  by  Fred  W.  Kiefer. 


THE  .ANTIGO   POST   OFFICE 
Erected  in   1111.5  at  a  cost  of  $(50,000.00. 


The  first  Post  Office  was  established  in  the  old  log 
store  of  Neils  Anderson,  three  years  after  the  arrival 
of  F.  A.  Deleglise  in  Antigo.  The  system  of  caring 
for  mail  then  was  much  different  than  it  is  today,  when 
Postmaster,  Postal  Clerk,  Rural  Carriers,  City  Carriers, 
Parcel  Post  Departments,  Money  Order  Departments, 
Postal  Savings  Departments  and  Stamp  Departments 
labor  incessantly  from  day  to  day. 

Neils  Anderson  was  officially  selected  as  the  first 
Postmaster  on  April  1,  1879,  and  served  until  August 
17,  1882.  On  August  18,  1882,  Henry  Smith  was  ap- 
pointed Postmaster,  and  at  that  time  the  Post  Office 
was  moved  to  the  frame  building  of  Henry  Smith, 
where  he  conducted  a  drug  store  at  the  corner  of  Fifth 
Avenue  and  Superior  Street.  This  frame  structure 
served  as  federal  headquarters  until  1885,  when  the 
Postoffice  was  moved  to  the  west  room  of  the  Dawley 


who  served  from  July  1,  1897  to  July  20,  1901.  The 
Post  Office  was  then  moved  to  the  MoUe  Building  on 
F'ifth  Ave.,  Edward  Cleary  serving  as  Postmaster  from 
July  21,  1901  to  July  30,  1910.  From  August  1,  1910 
to  Feb.  23,  1915,  Richard  Koebke  acted  as  Postmaster. 
On  Feb.  24,  1915,  Richard  Koebke  was  succeeded  by 
Edward  Cody,  who  is  still  serving.  The  site  of  the 
present  Post  Office  was  purchased  from  the  Antigo 
Canning  Co.,  June  30,  1911,  for  $8,250.00.  The  Post 
Office  building  was  erected  in  1915  at  a  cost  of  $60,- 
000.00,  by  W.  D.  Lovewell,  Minneapolis,  Minnesota. 
F.  W.  Thomas  was  superintendent.  Sydney  Chaplin 
acted  as  government  superintendent  of  construction. 
Edward  Cody  was  the  first  Postmaster  and  property 
custodian  of  the  new  federal  building. 

City  free  delivery  was  instituted  November  1,  1903, 
after  Postmaster  Edward  Cleary  had  reported  receipts 


148 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


in  excess  of  $10,000.00.  There  were  then  three  dis- 
tricts and  the  city  was  served  by  the  following,  the 
first  mail  carriers :  Emmon  J.  Badger,  Roy  G.  Lyons 
and  Fred  C.  Brooks. 

Rural  Free  Delivery  was  commenced  November  1, 
1893,  with  three  routes  in  the  county.  The  first  car- 
riers of  these  routes  were:  A.  B.  Hanks,  George  H. 
Hoffman  and  William  Case.       The  rural  mail  service 


lished  throughout  the  world  and  has  met  with  growing 
sentiment  everywhere  in  the  United  States,  was  es- 
tablished in  Antigo  in  June,  1911.  The  first  year's 
receipts  were  $415.90.  Gene  Palmer,  a  mail  carrier, 
was  the  first  depositor. 

Mail  was  carried  from  Wausau  to  Springbrook  by 
private  carriers  before  July,  18S0,  when  the  first  gov- 
ernment contract  was  let.      John  Doerish  operated  the 


NEILS    AXDERSOX 
Antigo's   first   postmaster,   who  was  appointed    April 


I.    1ST9   by    President    Rutlierford    B.    Hayes. 
.\nderson  was  also  the  first  .'\ntigo  merchant. 


Mr. 


has  proven  a  great  service  to  the  Langlade  County 
farmers  and  the  isolated  communities  springing  up  in 
the  more  remote  sections  of  the  county.  It  has  put 
the  settler,  living  in  the  sparsely  settled  regions,  in 
constant  touch  with  the  outside  world,  bringing  to  his 
door  pictorial  news,  the  metropolitan  daily  newspaper, 
election  returns  almost  instantaneously  and  has  been 
an  unsurpassed  convenience  to  the  farmer. 

The  Star  Routes,  with  the  exception  cf  the  Antigo  to 
Elton  and  return  route,  have  been  abandoned.  Rural 
Free  Delivery  meant  the  discontinuance  of  many  old 
post  offices  within  the  boundary  of  the  county  as  it 
eliminated  their  necessity. 

The  receipts  of  the  Antigo  Post  Office  for  ten  year 
periods  since  1890  are:  1890— $5,271.73;  1900— $8,- 
157.68;    1910— $19,783.20;    1920— $34,967.48. 

The  Postal  Saving  System,  which  has  been  estab- 


first  stage  line  out  of  Antigo. 

Edward  Cody,  the  present  Postmaster,  is  assisted  by 
the  following:  P.  J.  Millard,  Assistant  Postmaster  and 
O.  C.  Bardwell,  Miss  Lily  Ladwig,  Glen  Millard,  F.  A. 
Kolerus,  Walter  A.  Betters  and  William  Kuhr. 

The  City  Mail  Carriers  are :  Willis  Wheeler,  Eu- 
gene Palmer,  Jos.  Rath,  Max  Lyons,  Emil  Cherf  and 
Jos.  Feil. 

The  rural  mail  carriers  are:  Martin  Fishback  on 
Route  No.  1,  William  McGregor  on  Route  No.  2,  John 
Feller  on  Route  No.  3,  S.  B.  Kendall  on  Route  No.  4, 
and  Frank  Ferdon  on  Route  No.  5. 

The  estimates  and  proposals  for  the  erection  of  the 
Antigo  Post  Office  were  made  during  the  terms  of  for- 
mer Congressmen  E.  A.  Morse  and  Thomas  F.  Konop, 
of  the  now  Ninth  Wisconsin  Congressional  Distrcit. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


149 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 
Antigo  Churches 

Congregational — Methodist — St.  John's — Seven  Day  Adventists — St.  Mary's  Church — Unity  Evan- 
gelical— St.  Hyacinth  Church — Peace  Evangelical — First  Baptist — Episcopal — Christian  Science 
— Zion  Evangelical — Kahaal  Adaas  Yesiu. 


There  can  be  no  law  without  a  lawmaker.  The 
finite  mind  of  man  cannot  explain  the  phenomena  of 
nature  about  him.  Knowing  that  system,  general  or- 
der and  law,  which  governs  nature,  prevail,  men  of 
every  race  believe  in  some  supreme  being. 

The  advent  of  Christianity  into  Langlade  County  is 
co-temporary  with  its  first  settlements.  As  early  as 
June,  1878,  when  Langlade  County  was  a  forest  prime- 
val, the  Rev.  Jesse  Cole,  a  Methodist  Episcopal  preach- 
er, drove  through  the  Twin  Valley  townships  and  stop- 
ped in  the  little  forest  group  of  cabins,  preaching  the 


tary  of  State,  June  26,  1882,  by  L.  W.  Bliss, 
W.  H.  Wheeler  and  B.  F.  Dorr.  The  church 
was  erected  on  the  present  location  and  was 
dedicated    on    September    9,    1883.  The  dedica- 

tory sermon  was  delivered  by  the  Rev.  J.  D. 
WiUard  of  Appleton.  The  church  has  been  remodel- 
ed and  an  addition  placed  on  the  south  end  since. 
Pastors  thus  far  have  been:  Rev.  A.  D.  Adams,  Dea- 
con J.  Tibbits,  Rev.  Henry  Ketchum,  Rev.  C.  C.  Camp- 
hell,  Rev.  William  Pease,  Rev.  P.  H.  Ralph,  Rev.  Jesse 
Sarles,  Rev.  William  Reese  Dixon. 


THE  FIRST  CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH 
Established  in  Antigo  in   1883  by  L.  W.  Bliss,  W .   II.  Wheeler,  and 


B.  F.  Dorr. 


gospel  from  the  door  of  Baker's  shanty.  Rev.  Cole 
had  been  through  the  vicinity  in  1877  and  prayed  with 
a  party  of  landseekers  on  the  banks  of  the  Spring 
Brook,  which  was  then  bordered  with  giant  forest 
trees.  Rev.  Phillip  St.  Louis,  born  April  15,  1848,  at 
Little  Chute,  Wisconsin,  made  a  visit  to  Phlox  in 
1879.  Much  of  his  journeys  from  Menasha  to  Phlox 
and  Antigo,  his  mission  villages,  were  made  afoot. 
The  first  established  church  in  Langlade  County  was 
erected  in  Phlox,  Norwood  township  in  1881.^ 

CONGREGATIONAL   CHURCH. 

Articles  of  Incorporation  of  the  First  Congregation- 
al   Church    of    Antigo    were    filed    with    the    Secre- 

1.  In  1830  mass  was  celebrated  in  F.  A.  Deleglise's  log  cabin,  now 
preserved  on  the  library  grounds.  Many  Antigo  settlers  attended 
mass  in  the  old  cabin. 


In  the  summer  of  1915,  the  interior  of  the  church 
was  refinished.  A  handsome  pipe  organ  was  install- 
ed at  that  time  also.  The  parsonage  is  just  south  of 
the  church  and  is  a  two  story  frame  structure. 

METHODIST  EPISCOPAL. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  erected  in 
1883  and  on  June  24,  1883,  the  Rev.  E.  L.  Eaton,  of 
Madison,  dedicated  the  edifice.  A  parsonage  was 
erected  in  1895,  when  the  second  M.  E.  Church  was 
erected.  The  Methodist  church  was  then  built  in  its 
present  location.  The  present  parsonage  was  erected 
during  the  pastorship  of  the  Rev.  W.  A.  Hall.  The  first 
M.  E.  Church  is  now  used  as  the  Polish  Catholic 
Church. 


150 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


Pastors  and  the  date  of  service  at  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  are:  Rev.  Patrick  Burke,  1881;  Rev. 
Perry  Miller,  1882-1885;  J.  J.  Foot,  1885-1886;  Rev. 
John  Willis,  1886-1887;  Rev.  F.  Howarth,  1887-1889; 
Rev.  J.  B.  Beadle,  1889-1890;  Rev.  J.  D.  Kenestrick, 


In  1909  a  pipe  organ  -was  installed  and  the  interior 
of  the  church  was  completely  renovated. 

UNITY  EVANGELICAL  CHURCH. 
The  Unity  Evangelical  Church  was  organized  on  Dec. 


THE  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

The  first   M.   E.   Church  in  Antigo  was  on   Third   Avenue,  across  from   the 

Court  House,  and  is  now  St.  Hyacinth's  Polish  Catholic   Church. 


1890-1892;  Rev.  Henry  Dueker,  1892-1893;  Rev.  T. 
E.  Williams,  1893-1896;  Rev.  W.  A.  Peterson,  1896- 
1901;  Rev.  F.  A.  Nimits,  1901-1904;  W.  A.  Hall,  1904- 
1909;  Rev.  James  Churm,   1909-1911;    Rev.     M.     L. 


25,  1890.  Charter  members  were :  Messrs.  Herman 
Laehn,  Gustav  Ulrich,  William  Kupper,  Theodore 
Kupper,  Edward  Grabowski,  Herman  Meyer,  Gottlieb 
Erni,  William  Oldenberg,  Jacob  Kunz,  Henrich  Boldt, 


i 


THE  UXITV  E\AXGELICAL  CHURCH 
The  present  edifice  has  been  in  charge  of  Rev.  Carl   Xagel  since  July    1.   190S, 
church   was  organized   in    December   ISOO  with   eighteen   charter   members. 
The  parsonage  and   church  hall  are  shown   in   this  picture. 


The 


Eversz  1911-1916;  Rev.  S.  J.  Tink,  1916-1921;  Rev.  O. 
D.  Cannon,  1921-1922, 


Adolph  Stahl,  Herman  Schlundt,  Wilhelm  Brennecke, 
Heinrich  Brennecke,  Carl   Brennecke,  Louis  Krueger, 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


151 


Fredrick  Kaske  and  Phillip  Wessa.  The  new  church 
took  for  its  name  "Deutsche  Evangelische  Einigkeits 
Geminde"  or   Unity  Evangelical   Church.       The  first 


sonage  is  separated  from  the  church  by  the  old  par- 
sonage, now  used  as  the  Unity  Church  Hall.  Pastor 
Carl  Nagel  has  been  in  charge  of  the  church  since  July 


.ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH 

L-cted   in    ISS4   after   the   original    St.     John's     Churcli     had     hnrned    on 
Septoinber  2.  1883.       Dean  Conral  .Saile  has  been  in  charge  of 
St.  John's  Churcli  since  Alay.  18(i:i. 


church  was  a  small  frame  structure.       This  was  fol- 
lowed by  the  present  edifice,  a  splendid  brick  build- 


1,  1908.       Pastors  of  the  Unity  Church  thus  far  have 
been:     Rev.   August  Jennrich,   Rev.   Benedict   Schori, 


ST.  M.ARY'S  C.\THOLIC  CHURCH 

Erected  In  Antigo  in  September,  1S)01.      Rev.  Father  Frank 

Kohler  was  the  first  priest  in  charge. 

ing,  which  was  completed  in  1897.      The  present  mem- 
bership is  97. 

The  Parsonage  of  the  church  was  built  in  1907.      C. 
F.  Dallman  was  architect  and  contractor.       The  par- 


ST.   HV.ACIXTH'S   CATHOLIC   CHURCH 

^\■hich    was    established    in    1805.        It    was    originally    the 

M.   E.  Church  of  Antigo. 

Rev.  Rudolf  Zielinski,  Rev.  Hermann  Retter,  Rev.  H. 
E.  Blum,  Rev.  0.  Gilbert,  Rev.  F.  C.  Kuether,  Rev.  Carl 
Nagel,  present  pastor. 

ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

On  May  2,  1880,  Rev.  Father  St.  Louis  said  Mass  in 
the  humble  log  dwelling  of  Frank  A.  Deleglise,  pioneer 
and  founder  of  Antigo.  Father  St.  Louis  nurtured  his 
Antigo  mission  from  Phlox,  with  a  spiritual  eye  until 
in  1882,  the  Catholic  population  increased  such  in  An- 


152 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


tigo  that  a  church  was  erected,  completion  of  same 
being  in  1882.  Rev.  Peter  Lockman  succeeded  Father 
St.  Louis.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Father  John 
Seubert,  under  whose  administration  the  present  edi- 
fice was  begun  in  1884,  the  first  church  having  burned 
to  the  ground  on  September  2,  1883.  The  first  resi- 
dent pastor  was  Rev.  A.  N.  Buschle,  who  came  to  An- 
tigo  in  1885.  He  was  followed  in  1886  by  Father  Wil- 
liam Takken  and  during  his  first  services  in  Antigo,  the 
St.  John's  church  was  completed.  The  parsonage  was 
also  erected  in  1886.  Father  Takken  died  May  5, 
1893,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Father  Conrad  Saile 
of  Wilkesbarre,  Pa.  Father  Saile  has  proven  a 
worthy  successor  to  Father  Takken.  During  the  thir- 
ty years  that  Father  Saile  has  been  in  charge  of  St. 
John's  congregation  he  has  seen  it  progress  to  such 


TIIK  l'i:.\Ll-:  I-:\A.\(,KLICAL  lA'THER.-XX  CHrRClI 

Erected  in   1'.I02  at  a  cost  of  $r.,000.00. 

The   o](i    frame   church,   now   used   as  a   parochial    school, 

can   be   seen   at   the   right.. 

extent  that  the  present  edifice  is  no  longer  capable  of 
caring  for  the  large  congregation,  and  funds  are  now 
being  raised  for  a  new  church. 

ST.  MARY'S  CATHOLIC  CHURCH. 

St.  Mary's  Catholic  Church  located  at  the  inter- 
section of  Lincoln  Street  and  Third  Avenue,  was  erect- 
ed in  September,  1901.  The  approximate  cost  of 
erecting  the  edifice  was  $10,000.00.  The  first  priest 
was  the  Rev.  Father  Frank  Kohler,  who  v/as  followed 
by  the  Rev.  Father  Emanuel  Kobat.  He  passed  away 
while  at  this  charge  and  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev. 
Father  J.  G.  Vorlichek,  who  is  still  in  charge  of  the 
parish. 

The  St.  Mary's  Parsonage  was  erected  in  1904,  dur-, 
ing  the  pastorship  of  Father  Kobat. 


ST.  HYACINTH'S  CHURCH. 

The  parish  of  the  St.  Hyacinth  Church  was  es- 
tablished on  May  1,  1895.  The  Rev.  L.  Starostzick 
was  the  first  appointed  Pastor.  He  was  succeeded  by 
the  Rev.  Father  Bieniarz,  who,  as  assistant  to  the  Rev. 
Father  C.  F.  Saile,  organized  St.  Hyacinth's  church. 
Catholic  organizations  connected  with  the  church  are: 
St.  Stanislaus  Kostke  Society,  St.  Hyacinth's  Society 
and  Holy  Rosary  Confraternity.  Pastors  serving  the 
congregation  thus  far  have  been :  Rev.  L.  Starostzick, 
1895;  Rev.  J.  C.  Bieniarz,  1895-1899;  Rev.  Quirinas 
Zielinski,  1899-1907;  Rev.  Lad.  V.  Stefaniak,  1907- 
1912;  Rev.  S.  A.  Warzynski,  1912-1916;  Rev.  T.  Mal- 
kowski,  1916-1919;  Rev.  V.  Pruc,  1919-1921;  Rev.  P. 
Sokol,  1921,  who  was  succeeded  in  September,  1922 
by  Rev.  Fr.  Bemowski. 

PEACE  EVANGELICAL  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

In  1883  the  Rev.  C.  Purzner  came  to  Antigo  and  or- 
ganized from  the  little  band  of  Lutherans  in  the  vil- 
lage, the  Peace  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church.  He 
conducted  services  in  private  residences.  Rev.  Purz- 
ner was  followed  in  1884  by  the  Rev.  H.  Daib,  under 
whose  pastorate  much  progress  was  made.  In  1887, 
the  first  frame  edifice  was  erected.  The  resolution 
calling  for  a  structure  26x40  was  adopted  by  the  con- 
gregation in  April,  1887.  The  first  church  served 
until  1902,  when  the  present  church  was  erected  at 
a  cost  of  approximately  $5,000.00.  The  church  was 
dedicated  October  19,  1902,  with  services  conducted 
by  Rev.  F.  L.  Karth  of  Synco,  Rev.  0.  List  of  Witten- 
berg and  Rev.  John  Ebert  of  Birnamwood.  The  lat- 
ter directed  a  sacred  concert  during  the  evening  dedi- 
catory services.  The  building  committee  consisted  of 
Carl  Fuss,  Ferdinand  Ebert  and  Joseph  Hensel.  The 
architect  was  A.  F.  Gruenhagen  of  Oshkosh,  Wis. 

The  first  parsonage  was  erected  on  Eighth  Avenue, 
west  of  the  church.  In  November,  1919,  the  present 
parsonage  was  purchased  at  a  price  of  $5,000.00. 

The  Pipe  Organ  was  installed  in  the  church  August 
1,  1915,  at  a  cost  of  $2,600.00.  Dedicatory  services 
were  conducted  by  Rev.  E.  Englebert  of  Birnamwood, 
while  an  organ  recital  was  given  by  Prof.  H.  M.  Hahn 
of  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana. 

Pastors  of  the  church  have  been:  Rev.  C.  Purzner, 
1883-1884;  Rev.  H.  Diab,  1884-1889;  Rev.  P.  Cuechke, 
1889;  Rev.  A.  Grimm,  1891-1919;  Rev.  0.  Neuman, 
August,  1919-1922.  Rev.  Neuman  was  in  Antigo  as  a 
student  in  1901-1903.  The  Peace  Evangelical  Luth- 
eran Church  is  located  at  the  corner  of  Eighth  Avenue 
and  Lincoln  Street. 

FIRST  BAPTIST  CHURCH. 

The  First  Baptist  Church  Society  of  Antigo  was  or- 
ganized in  May,  1883.  The  first  meeting  of  the  so- 
ciety was  held  at  the  old  county  court  house.  The  peo- 
ple of  the  Baptist  faith  held  their  first  services  in  the 
old  Fourth  Ward  School,  the  Odd  Fellows,  Good  Tem- 
plars Hall,  and  the  old  Herman  Hall,  until  the  pres- 
ent church  was  erected. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE  COUNTY. 


153 


The  Baptist  church  was  dedicated  on  March  17,  1887, 
during  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev.  J.  Staley.  The 
church  cost  $5,008.73.  It  was  completely  remodeled 
in  1919,  a  stone  foundation  and  a  basement  dining 
room  being  added.  Pastors  of  the  Baptist  Church  were 
as  follows :  Rev.  W.  L.  Cook,  Rev.  J.  J.  Staley,  Rev. 
A.  C.  Brown,  Rev.  J.  H.  Fairchild,  Rev.  Brinsted,  Rev. 
Theo.  Hansen,  Rev.  Jos.  Malley,  Rev.  Hansen, 
Rev.  Arthur  Irving,  Rev.  Charles  La  Reau,  Rev.  N.  F. 


THE   FIRST   BAPTIST   CHURCH 
Which  was  dedicated  in  1887.      The  church  was  complete- 
ly remodeled  in  191i).       The  Baptist  Church  has  been 
organized   in   Antigo   since   May,   1883. 

Clark,  Rev.  A.  C.  Watts,  Rev.  David  Alexander,  Rev. 
H.  C.  Carnell  and  Rev.  F.  L.  Holden,  who  is  in  charge 
at  the  present  time. 

ZION  EVANGELICAL    CHURCH. 

The  Zion  Evangelical  Church  was  organized  in  An- 
tigo on  May  19,  1888.  The  organizers  were:  Rev.  M. 
Ganeche,  Fred  Miller,  John  Walch,  Fred  Boettcher 
and  Ferdinand  Bothie.  The  church  is  located  at  the 
intersection  of  Seventh  Avenue  and  Edison  Street. 
The  congregation  has  no  resident  pastor,  a  student  pas- 
tor coming  from  Appleton  to  preach  each  Sunday.  Rec- 
ords as  to  when  permanent  pastors  were  here  are  not 
to  be  found. 


EPISCOPAL   CHURCH. 

On  January  3,  1883,  the  Rev.  Brown,  made  a  visit  to 
Antigo  and  conducted  Episcopal  services.  The  Rev. 
Fathers  0.  S.  Prescott  and  L.  D.  Hopkins  visited  An- 
tigo during  1887  to  1890,  inclusive.  Rev. 
W.  R.  Gardner,  D.  D.,  visited  Antigo  on  Octo- 
ber 11,  1883  and  conducted  Episcopal  serv- 
ices in  the  present  Polish  Catholic  Church.  In 
1885,  the  Rev.  J.  Jameson  held  services  in  a  hall  lo- 
cated on  the  southeast  corner  of  Superior  Street  and 
Fifth  Avenue.  The  Right  Rev.  Hobart  Brown  con- 
ducted his  first  services  in  Antigo  in  the  Odd  Fellows 
Hall.      This  was  January  3,  1886. 


THE  ZION  EVANGELICAL  CHURCH 

The  Zion  Evangelical  Church  Congregation  was  organized 

in    1888.       The   church   is   located   on   Seventh 

Avenue  at   Edison   Street. 

The  first  church  was  a  frame  structure  located  on 
Milton  Street  near  the  present  resider.ee  of  Dr.  C.  B. 
Baker.  The  church  was  moved  from  its  first  location 
to  the  corner  of  Sixth  Avenue  and  Clermont  Street.  The 
Episcopal  church  was  called  St.  Joseph's  until  1908, 
when  the  name  was  changed  to  St.  Ambrose. 

The  present  St.  Ambrose  Church  was  built  by  con- 
tractor J.  W.  Otis  and  completed  July  14,  1908  at  a  cost 
of  $10,748.00.  The  corner  stone  was  laid  amid  im- 
pressive ceremonies  under  the  auspices  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  K.  of  P.  on  August  18,  1908,  with  Bishop  Coad- 
jutor Weller  of  Fond  du  Lac  as  the  guest  of  honor.  St. 
Ambrose  Church  is  built  of  hard  head  granite  in  fif- 
teenth century  architectural  design. 

The  Vicarage  was  erected  in  1907.  Vicars  of  the 
church  were  :  Rev.  J.  Jameison,  1886-1887 ;  Rev.  Alfred 
W.  Griffen,  1890-1891;  Rev.  L.  C.  Birch,  1894-1897; 
Rev.  R.  G.  Osborne,  1899;  Rev.  L.  Moran,  1900;  Rev. 
Geo.  H.  Kesselhuth,  1904-1905;  Rev.  J.  Boyd  Coxe, 
1905;  Rev.  W.  L.  Williams,  1906-1907;  Rev.  Fred  W. 
Allen,  1907-1908;  Rev.  Arthur  Searing  Peck,  1908- 
1909;  Rev.  R.  Johnston  Campbell,  1909;  Rev.  Alfred 


154 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


W.  Griffen,  1909-1913;  Rev.  Cuthbert  F.  Hinton,  1913- 
1918;  Rev.  J.  J.  Crawford,  1918-1919  and  Rev.  Le  Roy 
Jahn,  1920-1922,  who  is  in  charge  at  the  present  time. 

The  old  church  is  now  used  as  a  Guild  Hall  and  is 
just  west  of  the  Vicarage. 

CHRISTIAN  SCIENCE   (EDDY)    CHURCH. 

The  Christian  Science  religion  was  founded  by  Mary 
Baker-Eddy,  who  was  born  in  New  Hampshire  in  1821 
and  died  in  1910  at  Boston,  Mass.  The  first  church 
was  established  by  her  in  1879. 

The  Christian  Scientists  belief  was  brought  to  An- 
tigo  by  E.  R.  Horn.       The  first  church  was  organized 


meetings  in  the  Odd  Fellows  Hall  before  the  erection 
of  their  new  edifice  at  the  corner  of  Superior  Street  and 
Seventh  Avenue  on  the  site  of  the  old  Fred  Herman 
Planing  Mill  of  pioneer  Antigo  history.  The  church 
was  formally  opened  Dec.  13,  1921. 

SEVEN  DAY  ADVENTISTS. 

The  Seven  Day  Adventists,  while  a  small  congrega- 
tion, is  one  of  the  oldest  religious  organizations  in  An- 
tigo. Elder  Charles  Herman,  the  first  Sheriff  of 
Langlade  County,  erected  the  first  Seven  Day  Adven- 
tist  Church,  corner  of  Eighth  Avenue  and  Superior 
Street.      It  is  still  standing.       The  edifice  was  sold  to 


THE    EPISCOP.\L  CHURCH 
Xow   ill   charge  of   Rev.    LeRoy   .\.  Jahn,   was    erected    by 


1.    W.    Otis 


in     I'.IOS. 


in  Antigo  in  January,  1895.  The  original  members 
of  the  church  were:  E.  R.  Horn,  Mrs.  Wm.  Heckman, 
Charles  Anderson,  (all  still  residents  in  the  county) 
George  Doersch,  John  Dexheimer,  Mr.  Luedke  and 
Fred  Miller.  First  meetings  were  held  in  the  old  G.  A. 
R.  Hall,  standing  then  where  the  Greisch  building  is  to- 
day. The  founders  of  the  church  in  Antigo  then  held 
meetings  at  residences  of  members.  Rooms  were 
used  in  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  building  for  five  years  prior  to 
erection  of  the  present  church.  The  Antigo  society  of 
the  church  was  incorporated  on  May  27,  1916  by  W.  H. 
Fuller,  Minnie  H.  Palmer,  Lenora  Gelbke,  E.  F.  Horn 
and  Ernest  Hirt.       The  Christian  Scientists  held  their 


the  Jewish  people  of  Antigo  in  1909.  The  Seven  Day 
Adventists  then  erected  a  church  in  1910  on  Eighth 
Avenue  costing  $1,700.00.  The  church  has  thirty-five 
members  at  the  present  time.  The  officers  are :  George 
Stamper,  Deacon;  Charles  Georgeson,  Elder;  E.  A. 
Sage,  Treasurer. 

KAHAAL  ADAAS  YESIU. 

The  Kahaal  Adaas  Yesiu,  (Jewish  Congregation) 
was  dissolved  on  August  11,  1915.  The  synagogue 
is  located  at  the  corner  of  Eighth  Avenue  and  Super- 
ior Street.  It  was  purchased  from  the  Seven  Day  Ad- 
ventists in  1909. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


155 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 
Literature,  Art,  Music 

The  Unwritten  Literature  of  the  Pioneer — Charles  McFarland,  Wolf  River  Country  Writer — Rev. 
Carl  Nagel,  Poet — Rev.  A.  Grimm  and  Writings — May  Napier  Burkhart  Poems — Paul  Swan- 
son  Short  Stories — Margaret  Ashmun — George  Hutchins — Pioneer  Art — Early  Langlade  County 
Artists — The  Pioneer  Singing  Bee — Antigo's  First  Singing  Master — Neighborhood  Entertain- 
ments—The Village  Church  and  Log  School  Centers  of  Music— The  Quintet  Club  of  1883— The 
Forest  City  Band  of  1884 — Aeolian  Band  and  Orchestra — Antigo  Cornet  Band — Antigo  City 
Band — Orchestras — Musicians  Association — Radio — "Music  in  the  Air." 


None  of  the  writers  of  Langlade  County  have  made 
literature  a  profession.  Those  who  have  written  have 
done  so  at  leisure — more  for  amusement  and  pastime. 
In  the  pioneer  history  of  Langlade  County  there  is 
the  unwritten  literature  of  the  public  address,  the 
debates  on  local  questions,  the  verbal  thoughts  and 
ideas  of  the  county  orators — all  of  which  had  a  bene- 
ficial influence  on  our  early  citizens.  The  early 
churches,  music  halls  and  pioneer  "gatherin'  places" 
would  often  resound  with  the  eloquence  of  the  civic 
leader,  the  political  leader  and  the  reformer. 

Charles  McFarland  was  the  earliest  of  pioneer  writ- 
ers. He  was  prominent  in  the  development  of  the 
county.  During  his  term  as  Chairman  of  Wolf  River 
township  (Evergreen  township)  he  contributed  arti- 
cles to  local  newspapers  commenting  in  his  character- 
istic style  on  county  progress.  Mr.  McFarland  start- 
ed a  historical  story  dealing  with  the  pioneer  settlers 
of  the  Wolf  River  Country.  It  has  never  been  publish- 
ed. 

The  Rev.  Carl  Nagel,  Pastor  of  the  Unity  Evangeli- 
cal Church,  who  was  born  at  Port  Washington,  Wis., 
September  28,  1873,  has  composed  several  poems, 
many  of  which  have  been  given  national  circulation. 
"The  Amateur  Sportsman,"  a  delightful  poem  of  a 
fisherman,  and  "Farewell  to  the  Lake"  were  publish- 
ed in  Outers  Magazine.  But  recently  a  poem,  "Is  It 
Nothing  to  You,"  depicting  the  misery  and  the  starva- 
tion of  the  Armenian  children  was  officially  adopted 
by  the  Near  East  Relief  campaign  and  was  widely  dis- 
tributed during  the  relief  drive.  Rev.  Nagel  has 
translated  songs  for  publication  from  English  to  Ger- 
man and  vice  versa.  He  has  composed  many  other 
poems  of  a  patriotic,  benevolent  or  charitable  nature. 

The  Rev.  A.  Grimm  was  born  in  Petershagen,  Kreis, 
Schevelbein,  Pommern,  Germany,  January  18,  1864, 
and  came  to  Antigo  as  Pastor  of  the  Peace  Lutheran 
Church  in  1891.  Rev.  Grimm  was  an  author  of  note, 
whose  books  were  read  all  over  the  United  States  and 
elsewhere.  In  his  early  years  his  books  were  publish- 
ed under  the  non  de  plume  of  Alfred  Ira.  His  works 
were  written  in  German,  but  several  were  translated 
into  English.  His  books  include:  Der  Pastor's  Nach- 
lass,  which  was  so  used  that  four  editions  were  re- 
quired. Das  Stiefmutterschen,  Dodai,  Unter  Uns, 
Unter  dem   Apfelbaum,   Bilder   aud   dem   Reisepredi- 


gerleb — all  stories  of  his  German  missions  close  to 
Antigo.  Sommerfaiden,  Der  Missionplatz,  Aus  der 
Alter  Kaffeemuehle,  Liebe,  Im  Zukerbusch,  Ehwuer- 
den  Nudel,  Wenn  Mann's  Gut  Meint  Gemutlich,  Gott- 
hold  I  and  II,  Der  Prachtjunge  are  others  of  his  work, 
of  which  many  are  in  the  Antigo  Library.  Rev. 
Grimm  also  wrote  many  plays  in  both  English  and 
German  for  enactment  by  church  organizations.  Rev. 
Grimm  died  February  12,  1922,  following  an  attack 
of  paralysis.  He  attained  greater  success  in  his  liter- 
ary work  than  any  other  Langlade  County  resident. 

May  Napier  Burkhart,  a  graduate  of  the  Langlade 
County  Normal  and  a  public  school  teacher,  has  writ- 
ten many  poems,  the  first  of  which  appeared  in  the 
local  press  when  she  was  fourteen  years  old.  Invar- 
iably they  are  of  the  Walt  Mason  type  and  deal  with 
contemporary  topics.  More  important  of  h?r  poems 
have  been:  "Money  in  the  Bank,"  "Aunt  Sarah's  First 
Basket  Ball  Game,"  "Hunting  a  House"  and  "Daily 
Habit." 

Margaret  Ashmun,  once  a  teacher  in  the  Antigo 
Public  Schools,  published  Ashmun's  Prose  Literature 
for  Secondary  Schools  in  1910.  She  was  then  an  in- 
structor in  the  English  Department  of  the  University 
of  Wisconsin. 

Paul  Swanson,  162  Fred  Street,  Antigo,  has  written 
short  stories  for  publication  in  nationally  known  maga- 
zines. His  latest  story  is  entitled,  "His  Unearned 
Reckoning,"  and  was  published  in  Truth  Magazine. 

George  Hutchins  has  written  many  poems,  one  of 
the  best  of  which  is,  "A  Warning  to  Sinners."  The 
town  of  Hutchins,  Shawano  County,  was  named  in  his 
honor. 

ART  AND  ARTISTS. 

In  early  days  Langlade  County  pioneers  were  busy 
clearing  away  the  forests,  tilling  little  patches  of  soil 
and  building  their  cozy  log  and  frame  houses.  Little 
did  they  enjoy  of  the  luxuries  of  life  so  apparent  in 
this  age.  No  man  here  was  expected  to  live  solely 
by  his  artistic  talents.  None  of  the  artists  of  Lang- 
lade County  have  had  any  other  than  self  training. 
Photography  was  in  existence  when  the  county  was 
organized  so  painting  and  drawing  were  not  neces- 
sary to  preserve  the  memory  and  faces  of  family  and 
friends. 


156 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


Langlade  County  has  had  a  number  of  artists  who 
will  be  briefly  mentioned. 

James  Smolk  is  the  pioneer  painter  of  Langlade 
County.  He  was  born  in  York  township,  Medina 
County,  Ohio,  February  17,  1859.  He  came  to  Antigo 
January  2,  1882,  and  has  since  resided  there.  Mr. 
Smolk  is  a  prolific  painter  of  more  than  ordinary  abil- 
ity. His  little  studio  is  located  on  Fifth  Avenue, 
where  he  divides  his  time  between  mixing  colors  and 
barbering. 

William  G.  Lindsay,  a  young  artist  of  talent  and 
ability,  was  born  April  1,  1878,  at  Oshkosh.  His  ear- 
ly education  was  in  the  Antigo  public  schools.  Mr. 
Lindsay  resides  at  128  Filth  Avenue.  He  has  painted 
many  local  scenes  and  takes  especial  delight  in  land- 
scape. His  chief  work,  however,  is  commercial  sign 
painting. 

George  Falkenhagen,  Jr.,  was  born  July  22,  1890,  at 
Chicago,  111.  He  moved  to  Antigo  in  1904.  Mr. 
Falkenhagen  has  made  a  number  of  landscape  paint- 
ings and  sketches  of  Langlade  County's  woods  and 
streams.  Two  of  his  paintings,  one  a  view  of  the 
south  arm  of  Post  Lake  and  another  a  view  of  Duck 
Lake,  were  exhibited  at  the  Wisconsin  Sculptor's  and 
Painter's  ninth  annual  art  institute  in  Milwaukee 
March  1  to  May  1,  1922.  He  has  many  decorative 
paintings  in  the  county  to  his  credit. 

Mrs.  John  Burnet  conducted  her  art  institute  and 
exhibits  in  the  Cleary  building  (K.  C.  home)  from 
1914  to  1917.  She  then  moved  to  her  home  at 
303     Superior     Street.  Mrs.     Burnet     is     an     ar- 

tist of  local  distinction.  Her  work  is  confined 
largely  to  landscape  and  teaching  hand  China 
painting  in  which  she  is  an  expert.  She  has  conduct- 
ed classes  in  the  Vocational  School  for  the  past  few 
years. 

Mrs.  Eugenia  Hutchinson  Worman,  pioneer  Antigo 
lady,  has  made  a  name  for  herself  in  the  art  world. 
She  has  been  awarded  honorable  mention  for  her 
Painting,  "Zinnias"  at  the  University  of  Washington 
art  exhibit.  Mrs.  Wormer  is  a  sister  of  Malcolm 
Hutchinson,  pioneer  settler.  She  was  the  first  teach- 
er of  music  and  drawing  in  the  Antigo  schools. 

Floyd  Michaelson,  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frank 
Michaelson,  of  Bryant,  Price  township,  a  promising 
student,  now  attends  Pratt  Institute  at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 
He  is  adept  at  commercial  drawing  and  cartoon  art. 

Harold  Pond,  born  in  Appleton,  June  20,  1897,  is 
nevertheless  an  Antigo  product.  He  entered  Pratt  In- 
stitute at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  after  graduating  from  the 
Antigo  High  School  in  1917.  He  is  now  with  the 
American  Crayon  Company  of  New  York.  He  is  a 
splendid  artist. 

Nick  Fredericks,  a  painter  and  decorator,  was  born 
January,  1866.  He  came  to  Antigo  in  1904.  His  prin- 
cipal decorative  work  has  been  the  interior  of  the 
Langlade  County  court  house. 

Lindsay  Brothers,  Leon  and  Frank,  came  to  Antigo 
in  1886  with  their  parents.  Frank  Lindsay  was  born 
September  13,  1869,  at  Beaver  Dam,  Wis.  Leon  was 
born  April  15,  1871,  at  Chilton,  Wis.  They  are  pio- 
neer Antigo  painters  and  decorators. 


Clarence  Freiburger,  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leonard 
Freiburger,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Antigo,  June  23,  1891. 
He  has  engaged  in  painting  and  decorating  for  many 
years.  He  specializes  in  interior,  exterior  and  sign 
painting. 

Max  Dietz  is  a  painter  and  decorator  who  has  been 
in  Antigo  since  1904. 

Charles  Courtney  came  to  Antigo  in  1883  and  be- 
gan artistic  sign  painting  in  the  village. 

E.  V.  Palmer,  a  sign  painter,  came  to  Antigo  the 
same  year. 

Harvey  Guile,  a  native  Langlade  County  resident, 
was  born  in  Norwood  township  in  1887.  He  has  fol- 
lowed the  decorative  painting  field  since  his  youth. 
Important  decorative  painting  has  been  done  by  him 
on  the  court  house  building.  Palace  Theatre  interior, 
ward  schools,  Antigo  High  School,  county  jail  and 
other  places. 

George  and  Herman  Strube,  well  known  Antigo 
young  men,  have  been  engaged  in  decorative  painting 
for  a  number  of  years,  both  as  employes  and  now  in 
a  partnership  of  their  own,  organized  in  1921.  George 
was  born  in  Audubon,  Iowa,  July  1,  1888.  Herman 
Strube  was  born  in  September,  1886.  The  Strube 
Brothers  moved  to  Antigo  with  their  parents  about 
1890.  They  have  done  much  in  their  field  in  Antigo, 
including  the  decorative  work  of  The  Hoffman  House 
and  the  Unity  Church. 

Ernest  Strube,  deceased  pioneer  decorator,  was  born 
in  Hanover,  Germany,  and  after  coming  to  America 
emigrated  to  Antigo  in  1890.  He  engaged  in  painting 
and  decorative  work  at  once.  His  principal  work  was 
the  Antigo  Opera  House,  the  old  Music  Hall  interior 
scenery  and  the  Unity  Church  interior. 

L.  G.  Lambert,  pioneer  Antigo  painter  and  decora- 
tor, came  to  Antigo  in  1885.  He  was  born  in  Marke- 
san.  Green  Lake  County,  Wisconsin,  in  1869.  Mr. 
Lambert  has  decorated,  among  other  places,  the 
Armory  club  rooms,  public  library,  bank  buildings, 
city  hall,  etc. 

There  have  been  and  no  doubt  are  others  who  have 
a  local  reputation  for  art  work  whose  names  are  not 
enumerated  here  yet  are  equally  meritorious. 

The  few  mentioned  prove  that  Langlade  County, 
less  than  fifty  years  eld,  is  well  represented  by  artists 
and  works  of  art  as  in  other  lines  of  human  endeavor 
and  progress.  Our  people  are  learning  that  as  we  live 
and  admire  the  beauty  of  nature  it  enhances  and  de- 
velcpes  the  beauty  of  the  soul. 

MUSIC  AND  MUSICIANS. 

"Music,"  said  Victor  Hugo,  "is  the  vapor  of  art." 
It  is  to  poetry  what  reverie  is  to  thought,  what  fluid  is 
to  liquid,  what  the  ocean  of  clouds  is  to  the  ocean  of 
waves.  This  "vapor  of  art"  made  its  appearance  in 
Langlade  County  with  the  first  settlers.  When  the 
county  developed,  when  farms  were  opened  and  home- 
steads claimed,  when  churches,  community  halls  and 
logs  schools  were  erected,  then  the  old  fashioned  sing- 
ing master,  the  accordian  and  violin  genius  and  the 
.  dance  instructor  introduced  neighborhood  entertain- 
ment into  Langlade  County. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


157 


The  village  church  and  the  early  log  school  were 
the  gathering  places  of  the  early  singers.  Then  the 
accordian,  mouth  organ  and  violin  were  highly  prized. 
Few  were  able  to  play.  However,  each  church  had 
one  or  two  members  who  could  be  relied  upon.  The 
early  settlers  on  the  Military  Road  and  in  Norwood 
and  Rolling  townships  frequently  gathered  at  the 
school  where  the  younger  folk  of  the  community  pre- 
sented an  entertainment.  Antigo's  first  singing  master 
was  J.  E.  Anderson,  who  conducted  a  singing  class 
starting  December,  1883,  and  continuing  until  the 
spring  of    1884. 

The  Antigo  Quintet  Club,  consisting  of  Dr.  H.  V. 
Mills.  Mrs.  H.  Mills,  Dr.  J.  C.  Petty,  W.  H.  Blinn  and 
H.  Phillips,  was  organized  in  December,  1883.  The 
club  gave  its  first  concert  December  21,  1883,  at  the 
new  Congregational  Church.  Dr.  H.  V.  Mills  and  Dr. 
J.  C.  Petty  composed  the  music,  with  one  or  two  ex- 
ceptions. 

In  the  summer  of  1884  The  Antigo  Comet  Band  was 
organized  with  Dr.  H.  V.  Mills  as  leader.  The  Forest 
City  Band  followed  and  was  composed  largely  of  the 
same  membership.  These  were  Antigo's  pioneer  musi- 
cal units.  Another  early  day  musical  organization 
was  the  Aeolian  Orchestra  in  which  James  Smolk,  pio- 
neer violinist,  Mr.  Praehl,  Ed  Kiefer,  John  Haeffler, 
Frank  Modi  and  Charles  White  were  members. 

The  old  Antigo  Cornet  band  of  1884  was  revived 
in  1891  and  was  active  for  a  few  years  later.  L.  D. 
Dana  was  its  leader.  The  Antigo  City  Band  was  or- 
ganized in  1907.  Fred  W.  Leubcke  is  its  leader. 
Neva  Imperial  Band,  organized  by  Neva  township 
musicians,  was  most  successful  in  1918.  Elcho  sup- 
ports a  band  equal  to  many  in  this  section  of  Wiscon- 
sin. 

Mrs.  Lillian  White  Freyn  of  Chicago,  who  lived  for 
many  years  in  Antigo,  has  made  a  splendid  record  in 
the  musical  world.  She  is  now  conducting  recitals  and 
concerts  in  Chicago.  Mrs.  Freyn  studied  at  the  Fine 
Arts  School,  Chicago,  111.     She  left  Antigo  in   1907. 

James  Strnad  was  a  prominent  violinist  in  Antigo 
for  many  years  before  he  left  in  1919  for  Chicago. 
His  son,  a  lad  of  nine  years,  studying  in  Chicago,  has 
a  wonderful  career  as  a  violinist  before  him. 

The  first  violin  to  form  the  sound  reproducer  and 
amplifier  of  talking  machine  records  was  patented 
May  24,  1910,  patent  No.  959318,  by  Wm.  H.  Des- 
sureau,  1435  Clermont  street,  Antigo,  Wis. 

THE  RADIO— "MUSIC  IN  THE  AIR." 

Great  advancement  has  been  made  in  wireless  tele- 
phony. It  is  now  possible  to  sit  at  home  and  hear  a 
complete  concert  many  miles  away.  Weather  fore- 
casts, the  correct  time,  market  reports,  stock  fluctua- 
tions can  be  communicated  to  the  invisible  audience. 
These  communications  travel  on  radio  waves  at  a 
speed  of  186,000  miles  per  second.  The  currents  they 
induce  alternate  too  rapidly  for  any  mechanism  yet 
devised  to  register  directly.  A  detector,  therefore,  is 
essential  in  all  radio  work. 

The  experience  of  listening  to  music  out  of  the  air 
is  quite  unique  and  interesting.  The  novelty  naturally 
makes  a  strong  appeal  and  will  be  carefully  watched 


by  manufactures  and  retailers  of  the  talking  machine. 
In  these  and  other  matters  there  are  signal  opportun- 
ities awaiting  the  inventive  genius  of  the  coming  gen- 
erations. 

It  is  difficult  to  realize  that  but  twenty-six  years 
ago,  in  1896,  the  first  talking  machine  was  exhibited 
at  the  Langlade  County  fair  by  James  McCarty.  It 
was  an  odd  looking  instrument  with  many  long  tubes 
running  from  the  sound  reproducer.  These  tubes  were 
placed  to  the  ear  of  the  listener.  No  record  could  be 
heard  without  the  use  of  a  tube.  Five  and  ten  cents 
was  charged  to  hear  one  record. 

The  first  broadcasting  radio  wireless  in  Langlade 
County  was  installed  by  Lynn  Matthias  of  Antigo.  Mr. 
Matthias  is  a  member  of  the  American  Relay  Radio 
Association.  Irvin  Leuck  has  cooperated  with  Mr. 
Matthias  in  radio  experimentation. 

Harold  Chapman  and  Neal  Thayer  are  among  those 
known  to  have  received  messages  and  enjoyed  radio 
concerts  from  great  distances. 

MUSICIANS  ASSOCIATION  NO.  638. 

Antigo  Local  No.  638,  Musicians  Protective  Asso- 
ciation was  organized  January  8,  1917.  Fred  Luebcke 
was  the  first  President.  Other  officers  were :  A.  L. 
Lauby,  Charles  Urban  and  L.  G.  Lambert,  Vice  Presi- 
dent, Secretary  and  Treasurer  respectively.  Those 
present  at  the  first  meeting  were :  James  Strnad, 
Chas.  A.  Urban,  Fred  W.  Luebcke,  Raymond  Chadek, 
W.  J.  Giese,  Fred  Schneiter  and  Stanley  Kames.  The 
Antigo  Local  is  now  active  in  Langlade  County  mu- 
sic circles.  Past  and  present  members  of  the  associa- 
tion are:  H.  C.  Becker,  Mrs.  G.  Beard,  Ben  Benishek, 
Emma  Blahnik,  Ralph  Berner,  E.  A.  Boettcher,  F.  P. 
Burkhart,  Virgil  Biefind,  Ben  Barta,  L.  G.  Barnes, 
Betty  Carpenter,  Raymond  Chadek,  J.  C.  Clausen, 
Hulda  Dallman,  Mrs.  P.  Dahleiner,  Clarence  A.  De 
Chemm,  Arthur  Du  Mont,  Raymond  Eseucius,  Andrew 
Fagen,  Mrs.  George  Fehring,  Esther  Fehring,  Frank 
Galligher,  Wm.  J.  Giese,  Mattie  Gibson,  Lee  Herman, 
Al  J.  Hunter,  Victor  Hunter,  Floyd  Hunter,  Bert 
House,  Frank  Janousek,  Peter  Jachimstachal,  Stanley 
Kames,  Dan  Keen,  Henry  Keen,  John  Kocian,  Victoria 
Krall,  E.  H.  Kimball,  Mrs.  E.  H.  Kimball,  Stephen 
Kimball,  Arthur  and  Claude  Clifford,  V.  E.  Kundinger, 
Olive  Kubiacyzk,  Wm.  Kuhn,  Harold  King,  Wencel 
Koltz,  Wm.  Keelan,  M.  Lambert,  L.  G.  Lambert,  A. 
L.  Lauby,  F.  W.  Leubcke,  Tony  Lindner,  James  Lich- 
man,  Bruno  Meyer,  Wm.  Meagher,  Stanley  Mills,  A. 
M.  Mader,  B.  Maull,  B.  E.  Morgan,  Mrs.  Sylvia  Mil- 
ler, John  Obester,  George  Onsanda,  Harold  Porter, 
Guesseppe  Pomilio,  Frank  Pinkner,  Charles  Parrot, 
Anna  Shapiro,  John  Schroepfer,  Fred  Schneiter, 
James  E.  Strnad,  Blaine  Stewart,  Charles  Schuler, 
James  Schultz,  Joseph  Turechek,  George  Turechek, 
Earl  Tobey,  George  Theby,  Charles  A.  Urban,  Grace 
Urban,  Clyde  Van  Doran,  A.  Vogel,  A.  L.  Vendner, 
Althea  Wade,  A.  L.  White,  Earl  Weaver,  C.  Williams 
and  Mrs.  Edith  Walters. 

Music  teachers  in  Antigo:  Hazel  Kelly,  Emma  Blah- 
nik, Mr.  J.  Roberts,  Howard  Jaekel,  Mrs.  Perkins, 
Edna  Nagel,  St.  John's  Sisters,  0.  Mader,  John 
Schroepfer,  St.  Hyacinth  Sisters,  and  Ruth  Wunder- 
lich,  vocal  lessons. 


158 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

Commercial  Antigo 

Business  Firms  of  Today — Location — Organization — Commercial  Associations — Business  Men's 
Association  of  1885 — Mercantile  Protective  Association — Old  Commercial  Club — Fifteen  Thou- 
sand Club — Association  of  Commerce. 


History,  it  is  said,  repeats  itself.  The  pioneer  mer- 
chant, anxious  to  supply  the  demand  of  a  critical  pub- 
lic, handled  many  and  diverse  articles.  A  suit  of 
clothes  or  a  sack  of  oats  could  be  purchased  at  the 
same  store.  As  time  passed  business  house  in  Antigo 
began  to  specialize  in  one  line  of  goods.  Today,  how- 
ever, firms  are  reverting  to  the  pioneer  method,  viz., 
the  purchasing  of  any  article  desired  under  the  same 
roof.  Thus  came  into  existence  the  modern  depart- 
ment store.  The  A.  Goldberg  Department  store,  or- 
ganized in  1887,  once  located  in  the  Goldberg 
building.  Fifth  Avenue  and  Edison  Street,  was 
the  only  department  store  that  developed  with 
the  city,  since  1887.  A.  Goldberg  erected  the  brick 
building,  corner  of  Clermont  Street  and  Fifth  Avenue, 
and  moved  from  it  in  1907. 

The  E.  Wigderson  Department  store  was  opened  in 
the  Hill  Building,  Antigo,  in  1903.  E.  Wigderson  has 
two  other  stores,  one  at  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  and  another 
at  Rhinelander,  Wis. 

M.  Krom  &  Son  are  early  Antigo  merchants,  the 
former  coming  here  in  1888.  The  present  store  opened 
as  Krom  &  Slepyan  in  1912  and  M.  Krom  &  Son  com- 
menced business  in  1913. 

The  J.  C.  Penney  Company  opened  a  store  in  the 
Kratche  Bldg.,  717  Fifth  Avenue,  April  27,  1920.  C. 
Melgaard  came  here  from  Williston,  North  Dakota, 
and  assumed  the  management.  Eight  regular  em- 
ployes are  on  the  clerical  force. 

Wm.  H.  Wolpert  is  the  oldest  exclusive  clothing 
merchant  in  Antigo. 

DRUGGISTS. 

R.  J.  Leutsker,  pioneer  druggist,  present  organiza- 
tion started  1913;  J.  F.  Albers,  bought  out  R.  J. 
Leutsker,  April  2,  1890;  City  Drug  Store,  John  Mc- 
Carthy, organized  February  11,  1901,  corner  Fifth 
Avenue  and  Clermont  Street;  A.  A.  Leuck  Drug  Store, 
705  Fifth  Ave.,  purchased  from  J.  C.  Spencer  in  1911; 
C.  D.  Gauthier  Drug  Store,  purchased  from  E.  E. 
Williams  in  1913. 

FURNITURE  AND  UNDERTAKERS. 

McCandless  &  Zobel,  E.  McCandless  and  Robert 
Zobel,  props.,  717  Fifth  Avenue,  organized  in  April, 
1904;  Muttart-McGillan  Company,  H.  B.  Muttart  and 
T.  T.  McGillan,  props.,  Krom  Bldg.,  organized  Novem- 
ber, 1918,  outgrowth  Antigo  Furniture  Company,  or-, 
ganized  July  1,  1912. 


JEWELERS. 

Anton  Molle,  started  with  J.  Braun,  October,  1894, 
1897  bought  out  latter,  now  known  as  Molle's  Jewelry, 
821  Fifth  Avenue;  L.  D.  Dana  Jewelry  Company,  Ull- 
man  bldg.,  organized  March,  1888;  Charles  Braun  Jew- 
elry, Neff-Roberts  bldg.,  started  in  1910;  J.  F.  Breiten- 
stein.  Jeweler,  organized  in  1905. 

SHOE  DEALERS. 

Carl  Krause  Shoe  Store,  started  March,  1913,  locat- 
ed at  1019  Fifth  Avenue;  Cody  Shoe  Store,  721  Fifth 
Avenue,  organized  June,  1913,  outgrowth  Edward  Cody 
Shoe  Store  of  1899;  Economy  Shoe  Store,  Griesch 
bldg.,  started  August  1,  1921,  Chas.  Cody,  prop.; 
Nolte's  Shoe  Store,  0.  G.  Nolte,  prop.,  811  Fifth  Ave- 
nue, purchased  Herbst  Shoe  Store  April  6,  1921; 
Richter  Shoe  Repair  Shop,  725  Fifth  Avenue,  started 
May,  1889. 

SHOE  SHOPS. 

Economy  Shoe  Repair  Shop,  P.  J.  Samolinski,  prop., 
opened  May  17,  1920;  Ben  Jones  Market  Square  Shop; 
Lepinski  Shoe  Shop,  opened  in  1920;  Wolf's  Shoe 
Shop,  Fifth  Avenue,  opened  in  1920;  Antigo  Shoe  Hos- 
pital, Wm.  Neuburger,  prop.,  527  Superior  Street, 
opened  in  1921 ;  Progressive  Shop,  Karl  Cash,  Morse 
Street. 

ANTIGO  GROCERS. 

Maloney's  Grocery,  Irvin  Maloney,  prop.,  started 
May  10,  1919,  Field  Street;  Palmer's  Grocery,  John 
Palmer,  prop.,  started  March  1,  1909,  Sixth  Avenue 
and  Superior  Street;  Bee  Hive,  Harry  Goldberg,  prop., 
started  in  1919;  Evenson's,  M.  J.  Evenson,  prop,  1539 
Clermont  Street,  started  May  20,  1919;  Buerger's 
Grocery,  1025  Eighth  Avenue,  0.  Buerger,  prop.,  start- 
ed spring  1903;  C.  B.  Knapp's  Grocery,  208  Hudson 
Street,  started  April  20,  1920;  Ada  R.  Winter's  Gro- 
cery, 633  Superior  Street,  started  Feb.  12,  1912;  Frank 
Baxter,  started  March  30,  1907;  Frederick's  Grocery, 
225  Tenth  Avenue,  started  October  8.  1921;  Joseph 
Duquette  Grocery,  100  Superior  Street,  started  April 
2,  1921 ;  Market  Square  Grocery,  George  C.  Wahleit- 
ner,  prop.,  started  May  15,  1920,  724  Superior  Street; 
Koutnik  Grocery,  Frank  Koutnik,  prop.,  started  631 
Fifth  Avenue,  November  15,  1921;  Railway  Co-opera- 
tive Company,  Masonic  Temple,  started  April  11, 
1918,  S.  D.  Warren,  John  McKenna,  L.  A.  Howard, 
Jos.   Poss  and  A.  K.   Potter,  incorporators;   Goldberg 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


159 


Grocery,  started  in  1907,  Edison  Street  entrance,  Gold- 
berg building;  C.  A.  Maertz  Grocery,  1501  Neva  Road, 
started  April  15,  1918;  Mosher  Grocery,  Borgman 
(Butterfield  bldg.l,  started  Fe-bruary  2,  1918;  Lang- 
lade Farmers'  Co-operative  Company,  Superior  Street; 
Schroeder  Grocery,  corner  of  Fourth  Avenue  and  Dele- 
glise  Street,  started  in  August,  1922;  Fred  Boldt's 
Grocery,  351  Field  Street,  started  July  6,  1916;  Albert 
Winter's  South  Side  Grocery,  started  at  710  Maple 
Street  November  2  ,1918;  L.  Krom  Produce  Company, 
Edison  Street;  J.  A.  Rudolph,  Fifth  Avenue,  started 
fall  of  1888;  Antigo  Grocery  Co.,  Helmbrecht  &  Clif- 
ford, Props.,  started  in  September,  1922. 

HARDWARE  STORES. 

Lendved-Schultz  Hdw.  Co.,  707-709  Fifth  Avenue, 
organized  May,  1906;  John  Hessel  Hdw.  Co.,  organ- 
ized November  1,  1900;  A.  L.  Kommers  Hdw.,  Field 
Street,  organized  July  1,  1915;  Jos.  Gruber  Hdw.,  or- 
ganized March  1,  1914;  Antigo  Hardware,  Inc.,  813- 
815  Fifth  Avenue,  organized  September  1,  1900. 

REAL  ESTATE— INSURANCE— LOANS. 

John  Benishek  &  Son,  718  Fifth  Avenue,  organized 
January,  1915,  outgrowth  of  John  Benishek  Real  Es- 
tate office,  started  in  1890;  Morse  &  Tradewell  Com- 
pany, Molle-Albers  bldg.,  started  October,  1907; 
Radtke  Realtor,  Harry  E.  Radtke,  prop.,  started  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1921;  Mose  A.  Jansen  Agency,  started  Jan- 
uary 1,  1921,  723  Fifth  Avenue;  Fred  W.  Kiefer,  start- 
ed in  1906,  present  location,  February,  1921;  Joseph 
Duchac.  Sr.,  started  in  1880,  1043  Fifth  Avenue;  N. 
R.  Babcock,  232  Field  Street,  started  in  1901;  James 
Gagen,  Fidelity  Bank  Bldg.,  started  in  1913;  Crandell 
&  Arveson,  Fifth  Ave,  organized  in  1922;  C.  E. 
Loper,  328  Lincoln  Street;  Paul  Thompson  and  S.  B. 
Ullman,  considerable  real  estate  dealing;  Whiting  & 
Dempsey,  insurance;  John  McGreer,  for  years  local 
Baldwin  estate  representative;  W.  J.  Hammond,  real 
estate;  E.  H.  Palmer,  opened  on  April  1,  1902. 
Other  agents  are  Z.  T.  Bagby,  Geo.  W.  Schmitz,  J.  J. 
Joslynn,  M.  T.  Canfield  and  Harry  Carpenter. 

The  Langlade  County  Real  Estate  Board  was  or- 
ganized January,  1920. 

ABSTRACT  COMPANIES. 

The  Langlade  County  Abstract  Company,  J.  W. 
Brown,  prop..  First  National  Bank  Bldg.,  started  July 
1,  1905,  originally  organized  February,  1905,  by  Fred 
Hayssen;  The  Antigo  Abstract  Title  Company,  or- 
ganized April  28,  1921,  Fidelity  Bank  Bldg. 

FLOUR  AND  FEED  STORES. 

Farmer  Boy,  George  Manthey,  prop.,  612  Superior 
Straet,  started  October,  1916;  Langlade  Wholesale 
Grain  &  Groc.  Co.,  organized  September  15,  1919; 
Farmers'  Feed  Store,  Schleis  &  Kopeschka,  Sixth  Ave- 
nue, started  September  1,  1921;  Farmers'  Elevator, 
1001  Seventh  Avenue,  Fred  W.  Ophoven,  bought  out 


A.  L.  Lauby,  August,  1915;  Frank  Krause,  Krause 
bldg.,  started  March,  1914;  McCandless  Feed  Store, 
purchased  from  E.  Yahr  in  November,  1920,  located 
602  Fifth  Avenue. 

CLOTHING  FIRMS. 

W.  H.  Wolpert  &  Brother,  Wolpert  Bldg.,  Fifth  Ave- 
nue, organized  June  15,  1911;  Friede's  Clothe's  Shop, 
H.  Levin,  Mgr.,  organized  December  8,  1918;  Aaron's 
Good  Clothes  Shop,  M.  Aaron,  prop.,  started  August, 
1917;  Baures  Brothers,  Fidelity  Bank  Bldg.;  The  New 
Continental,  A.  E.  Sims,  Mgr.,  Clermont  Street  and 
Fifth  Avenue,  organized  April,  1922;  Lempereur's 
Clothing  Store,  Fifth  Avenue,  started  in  October,  1922. 

LADIES'    SHOPS. 

Werner's  Shop  for  Ladies,  J.  Werner,  prop..  Butter- 
field  bldg.,  organized  September  16,  1916;  The  Style 
Shop,  I.  Cohen,  prop.,  organized  February  13,  1913. 

FRUIT  STORES. 

Lipman  Brothers,  716  Fifth  Avenue,  started  in  1908; 
Antigo  Fruit  Company,  A.  Lombardo,  820  Fifth  Ave- 
nue, started  September,  1917. 

GARAGES. 

Palace  Garage,  Reed  &  Shubert,  props.,  since  No- 
vember, 1921,  March  15,  1921,  it  opened  as  Kernohan 
&  Shubert,  George  Kernohan  retired  July,  1921,  busi- 
ness at  807  Fifth  Avenue;  Van  Doren  Motor  Car  Com- 
pany, C.  W.  Van  Doren,  Prop.,  organized  May,  1915, 
located  at  Superior  Street  and  Sixth  Avenue;  Buick 
Garage,  E.  H.  Maxson,  prop.,  526  Clermont  Street, 
opened  August  18,  1918;  Kelly  Motor  Sales  Co.,  H.  J. 
Kelly,  prop.,  Edison  Street,  started  in  1920;  Othersall 
&  Sorenson,  Sixth  Avenue  and  Superior  Street,  open- 
ed in  1917;  Antigo  Hdw.  Garage,  started  in  1914; 
The  General  Garage,  Dorczeski  &  Kielcheski, 
props.,  524  Superior  Street,  opened  in  1922; 
Marathon  Motor  Car  Co.,  started  December,  1918,  lo- 
cation Fourth  Avenue  and  Edison  Street;  East  Side 
Garage,  Frank  Schoblasky,  prop.,  opened  July,  1922. 

TINSMITHS. 

Priebe  Brothers,  A.  Priebe  and  H.  Priebe,  508  Su- 
perior Street,  organized  in  1910;  Antigo  Sheet  Metal 
Works,  John  Koudelka,  prop.,  organized  in  1905,  lo- 
cated Neff-Roberts  building. 

AUTO  LIVERIES. 

Abel  Livery,  623  Fifth  Avenue ;  Kelly  Auto  Livery, 
Edison  Street;  Schufelt  Livery;  Coblentz  &  Ottman 
Livery;  T.  J.  Martin  Livery,  oldest  in  city. 

BAKERY  SHOPS. 

Frederich  Gunkel  Bakery,  506  Superior  Street,  or- 
ganized November,  1908;  The  Antigo  Bakery,  Carl 
Zech,  prop.,  started  August,  1915;  The  West  Side  Bak- 


160 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


ery,  M.  W.  Noack,  prop.,  purchased  from  Maertz  & 
Jesse  in  1907,  located  1024  Fifth  Avenue;  The  Honne 
Bakery,  A.  H.  Murten,  prop.,  purchased  from  H. 
Finch,  November  24,  1921;  Sanitary  Bakery,  started 
May,  1919. 

PLUMBERS. 

Louis  Peters,  located  727  Fifth  Avenue,  started  in 
1904;  Antigo  Heating  &  Plumbing  Co.,  Filbrandt  & 
Vowinkle,  started  July  17,  1921;  Falkenhagen  Broth- 
ers, started  in  1912,  George  Falkenhagen,  prop..  First 
National  Bank  Bldg.;  Jos.  W.  Hoefer,  1542  Neva  Road. 

MEAT  MARKETS. 

Klemann's  Market,  Peter  Klemann,  prop.,  810  Fifth 
Avenue,  opened  March  1,  1920;  Palace  Meat  Market, 
L.  P.  Kieffer.  prop.,  opened  March  24,  1919,  at  907 
Fifth  Avenue;  Vogel  Market,  A.  H.  Vogel,  prop., 
since  1912;  Wm.  Bork,  510  Superior  Street,  started 
March,  1902;  Ryder  &  Ry-nders,  Superior  Street,  start- 
ed September,  1921 ;  Collins  Brothers,  1022  Superior 
Street,  purchased  Havlicek  &  Capek  on  November  15, 
1921;  West  Side  Market,  J.  Huenik,  prop.,  started  De- 
cember, 1921,  1037  Fifth  Avenue;  The  City  Meat  Mar- 
ket, J.  M.  Kubichek,  prop.,  1009  Fifth  Avenue,  opened 
July  1,  1922;  Waste  &  Kadow  Shop,  Fifth  Avenue, 
opened  by  Lee  Waste  and  Ed  Kadow  in  May,  1922. 

BOWLING  ALLEYS. 

Krause  Bowling  Alley,  Anton  Krause,  prop.,  pur- 
chased from  F.  J.  Hoffman,  July  28,  1921,  Fifth  Ave- 
nue and  Dorr  Street. 

MUSIC  HOUSES. 

B.  Jewell  Music  House,  Jewell  Bldg.,  was  started  in 
1915;  Hutchins  Music  House,  E.  G.  Hutchins,  prop., 
started  October.  1920. 

ANTIGO  THEATRES. 

The  Palace  Theatre,  Harvey  E.  Hanson,  prop.; 
Armory  Theatre,  John  Hanus,  prop. 

BOOK  AND  10-CENT  STORES. 

L.  D.  Hartford  Store,  L.  D.  Hartford,  prop.,  sole 
prop,  since  July,  1922,  located  at  729  Fifth  Avenue; 
F.  W.  Woolworth  Store,  located  at  824-826  Fifth  Ave- 
nue, opened  September  16,  1921 ;  The  McLellan  Stores 
Co.,  opened  November  7,  1921,  (successor  to  Metro- 
politan Stores,  Inc.)  located  820-822  Fifth  Avenue,  C. 
A.  Howell,  prop.;  News  Stand,  Mrs.  L.  E.  Johnson, 
prop,  since  April  16,  1920. 

SOFT  DRINK  PARLORS. 

Anton  Cornelius  Stand,  710  Fifth  Avenue,  bought 
from  Frank  Augustin  in  1922;  Suick's,  "The  Club," 
908  Fifth  Avenue,  established  by  I.  Suick  in  1890,  op- 
erated by  Phil  Suick  since  death  of  I.  Suick;  Maltby 


&  Maltby,  Amos  and  John  Maltby,  proprietors, 
started  June  8,  1920;  Kupper's  Place,  Theo. 
Kupper,  proprietor,  started  in  present  site  July 
1,  1914;  Wm.  Reader,  Market  Square  Hotel, 
started  1911;  Northern  Hotel,  John  Benes,  start- 
ed April  1,  1919;  Walk's  Place,  taken  over  by  Law- 
rence Walk,  October,  1912,  started  in  1888  by  Carl 
Walk;  Jos.  Seis  &  Frank  Grossman,  Farmers'  Head- 
quarters, Field  Street,  started  May  10,  1919;  Hoffman 
House,  F.  J.  Hoffman,  started  1884;  Butterfield  Annex, 
Maloney  &  Fehring,  props.;  Hotel  Antigo  Annex, 
George  Fehring,  prop.;  Alois  Aulik,  prop,  at  828  Fifth 
Avenue,  partnership  since  September  7,  1921;  H.  Mar- 
itny  Place,  established  July  1,  1901. 

RESTAURANTS. 

Frey  Brothers,  Elmer  and  Earl  Frey,  succeeded 
their  father,  William  Frey,  who  operated  for  many 
years  in  Antigo;  Antigo  Cafe,  Peter  Rouman,  prop., 
opened  in  1916,  Mr.  Rouman  purchased  from  Miss 
Anne  Helmbrecht  in  fall,  1921,  located  at  827  Fifth 
Avenue;  Depot  Lunch  Counter,  C.  &  N.  W.  depot; 
Kupper's  Lunch  Room,  Theo.  Kupper,  prop;  A.  L. 
Lauby's  Lunch  Stand  at  Suick's;  Seis  &  Grossman's 
Stand;  Anderson's  Restaurant,  Morse  Street,  opened 
May,  1922;  Ye  White  Grille,  started  in  September, 
1922,  Fifth  Avenue  and  Dorr  Street  by  Romeis  Broth- 
ers. 

TAILOR  SHOPS. 

J.  W.  Herman  Tailor  Shop,  Hill  Bldg.,  oldest  in  An- 
tigo, started  May,  1897;  R.  A.  Rassmussen's  Shop, 
Fifth  Avenue;  Keen  Tailor  Shop,  successor  to  T.  R. 
Atkins,  opened  May,  1922;  Mrs.  Paetzer  Shop,  Super- 
ior Street,  opened  1922. 

ELECTRIC  SHOPS. 

T.  Bardwell  Electric  Shop,  613  Clermont  Street;  R. 
Healy,  Jr.,  627  Superior  Street;  Spiegel  Electric  Shop, 
509  Fifth  Avenue;  Chas.  Furgeson,  electrical  engi- 
neer, shop  on  Neva  Road;  Antigo  Storage  Battery  Co., 
E.  F.  Kaske,  prop.,  611  Superior  St.,  organized  Sept., 
1919. 

HARNESS  SHOPS. 

James  Jensen  Shop,  619  Fifth  Avenue,  operated 
since  November  15,  1913,  and  Frank  Riendl,  827  Fifth 
Avenue,  who  has  been  in  business  since  spring  1903. 

ANTIGO  BARBER  SHOPS. 

Antigo  Barber  Shops  are:  James  McCormick's; 
Hoffman  House  Shop,  George  Crummey,  prop. ;  Ten- 
ney's,  C.  R.  Tenney,  prop.;  Frank  Vandervest's; 
Schoenfeldt's  Shop,  George  Schoenfeldt,  prop;  Wil- 
liam Ladwig's  Market  Square  Shop;  Wm.  Kohl's 
Shop;  Thos.  Grignon's;  McGee's  Shop,  Wm.  McGee, 
prop. ;  Northwestern  Shop,  Lewis  Stengl,  prop. ; 
Smolk's  Shop,  James  Smolk,  prop.;  Paul  Yaeger  Shop. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


161 


LADIES  APPAREL  SHOPS— MILLINERS. 

The  Ladies  Specialty  Shop,  known  also  as  The 
Quality  Shop,  opened  July  30,  1921,  at  722  Fifth  Ave- 
nue, and  has  proven  popular.  Mrs.  Alice  Walker,  a 
thirty  year  resident  of  Antigo,  has  associated  with  her 
Miss  Dorothy  Parsons,  twenty  years  an  Antigo  resi- 
dent. Miss  Myrtle  Otis  has  a  Quality  Art  Shop,  con- 
ducted since  April,  1922,  in  the  Greisch  building. 

The  Gift  Shop,  Mrs.  R.  Koebke,  prop.,  opened  in 
May,  1916,  in  the  Molle-Albers  bldg.,  and  enjoys  a 
fine  patronage.  Antigo  milliners  are:  Mrs.  Wahl, 
Molle-Albers  bldg.,  started  in  March,  1900;  Miss  Nan 
Miner  in  Style  Shop;  and  Mrs.  Lillian  Koelzer,  who 
in  September,  1895,  succeeded  her  mother,  Mrs.  M.  A. 
Ferguson,  who  ran  the  store  from  1882. 

COAL  AND  WOOD  DEALERS. 

Dakin  &  Strong,  George  Dakin  and  B.  H.  Strong, 
Props.,  Field  Street,  successors  to  Farnham  &  Yahr, 
started  September  1,  1919;  Mehne  &  Neilson,  started 
1921,  successors  to  Mehne  &  OthersoU  and  Donohue 
Coal  and  Wood  Co.,  1005  Fifth  Avenue;  Duchac  Coal 
&  Wood  Co.,  started  spring  of  1917;  Quinlan  Coal  & 
Wood  Co.,  Carroll  and  E.  A.  Quinlan,  Props.,  started 
in  1920. 

DAIRY— CREAMERIES. 

Pacific  Ice  Cream  Co.,  612  Clermont  Street,  Harry 
Quackenbusch,  Prop.,  started  in  1911;  Heyl's  Dairy 
Store,  W.  C.  Heyl,  Prop.,  started  January  9,  1922, 
Greisch  Bldg.;  J.  H.  Howe  Creamery,  J.  H.  Howe, 
Prop.,  started  in  Antigo  township  spring  of  1908,  in 
the  city  of  Antigo,  April,  1921 ;  Antigo  Dairy,  235  Lin- 
coln Street,  E.  J.  and  H.  W.  Byrne,  Props.,  started 
August  1,  1914;  East  Side  Dairy,  Claude  Clifford  and 
L.  Tibbetts,  Props.,  started  April,  1922;  Antigo-She- 
boygan  Dairy  Products  Co.,  A.  A.  Kriewaldt,  Prop., 
started  September,  1921,  at  612  Fifth  Avenue;  Green's 
Dairy,  H.  W.  Green,  Prop.,  started  Antigo  township, 
1904;  Klessig's  Dairy,  Antigo  township,  E.  Klessig, 
Prop.,  started  April,  1921. 

CONFECTIONERY    BUSINESS. 

The  L.  J.  Koles  Candy  Company,  located  at  608 
Dorr  street,  organized  April  29,  1919;  Princess  Parlors, 
731  Fifth  Avenue,  Louis  and  John  Sarris,  props.,  pur- 
chased Peter  Papadakis,  January  1,  1921;  Adraktas 
Sweet  Shop,  Chris.  Adraktas,  Prop.,  opened  in  1916. 

VULCANIZING  SHOPS. 

Bishop  &  Mentch,  Clermont  Street,  started  spring  of 
1922;  Dan  Keen  Tire  Shop,  612  Superior  Street,  start- 
ed fall  of  1917;  The  Antigo  Tire  Repair  Shop,  A.  H. 
Sengstock,  Prop.,  1913;  Bretl  Tire  Shop,  Superior 
Street,  G.  Bretl,  Prop.,  opened  in  1921. 

TRANSFER  LINES. 

The  Walter  Weinandt  Transfer  Line,  W.  Weinandt, 
Prop.,   purchased    from   John   Kingsbury,   August    16, 


1920,  located  at  613  Edison  Street;  R.  M.  Briggs  Trans- 
fer, 831  Fifth  Avenue,  established  in  1887;  The  Serv- 
ice Transfer  Line,  Robert  Briggs,  Prop.,  started  March, 
1922;  Jess  Garland  Line,  established  in  1921. 

SECOND  HAND  STORES. 

The  Cash  Sales  Company,  J.  W.  .and  Lyle  Otis, 
Props.,  Otis  Bldg.,  Superior  Street;  Raskin's  Second 
Hand  Furniture  Store,  613  Fifth  Avenue. 


BLACKSMITH    SHOPS. 

Antigo  Wagon  Works,  Leonard  Freiburger,  Sr., 
Prop.,  Field  Street;  Joseph  Wirig  Shop,  Field  Street; 
Houdek's  Shop,  Superior  Street;  Aulik's  Shop,  Edison 
Street;  Farmer's  Co-operative  Shop,  rear  of  OthersoU 
&  Sorenson  Garage,  R.  Jonas,  Prop. 

PHOTOGRAPHERS. 

F.  W.  Bauter,  519  Superior  Street,  oldest  in  Antigo; 
H.  R.  Madison's  Studio,  started  November  10,  1905; 
Kingsbury  Kodak  Store,  A.  J.  Kingsbury,  Prop.,  start- 
ed May,  1906,  located  Hill  Bldg.;  Wessa  Studio,  Fifth 
Avenue,  W.  H.  Wessa,  prop. 

HORSE  DEALERS. 

J.  Ullman  Co.,  office  and  sales  stable,  721  Fourth 
Avenue;  Toyle  Bros.;  J.  Aulik;  and  Paul  Thompson. 

FARM  IMPLEMENT  STORES. 

P.  F.  Kelly  Implement  Store,  801  Superior  Street; 
J.  F.  Jones,  631  Edison  Street. 

TEA  AND  COFFEE  STORES. 

N.  J.  Greisch,  Greisch  Bldg.,  Fifth  Avenue;  and  P. 
C.  Monday  representative. 

SHINE  PARLORS— POOL  ROOMS. 

Jenkins'  Cigar  Store,  Ben  Richter,  Mgr.,  815  Fifth 
Avenue;  Metaxas  Pool  Room,  T.  Metaxas,  Prop.; 
Metaxas  Shine  Parlor,  Fifth  Avenue;  Smith  and  Gar- 
land, Props.,  Palace  Pop  Corn  Stand;  Chas.  Boyle's 
Pool  Room,  Fifth  Avenue. 

POTATO  WAREHOUSES. 

Bain  &  Company,  Morse  Street;  Penny  Warehouse, 
Edison  Street;  N.  Ginsberg,  Dorr  Street;  Leonard, 
Crosset  &  Riley,  rear  of  Edison  Street,  between  Fourth 
and  Fifth  Avenues. 

GINSENG    BUYERS. 

W.  G.  Betters,  E.  Wigderson  Depart.iient  Store,  Peter 
W.  Krier  and  William  Berner. 

POTATO  BUYERS. 

Prosser  Brothers,  Nathan  Ginsberg,  L.  Ginsberg, 
David  Bain,  D.  C.  Dewey,  A.  Penny  Co.,  L.  Starks  Co., 
Homer  Beattie,  M.  Mageland,  for  Leonard,  Crosset  & 
Riley. 


162 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


RAILROAD  OFFICIALS. 

J.  L.  Leppla,  Superintendent  of  Ashland  Division; 
F.  Doner,  Assistant  Superintendent  of  Ashland  Divi- 
sion; A.  L.  Sohrweide,  Chief  Clerk  to  Superintendent; 
J.  T.  Fitzgerald,  Chief  Train  Dispatcher,  Antigo;  J. 
Eva,  Chief  Train  Dispatcher,  Ashland;  W.  B.  Murrary, 
Assistant  Superintendent,  Ashland;  C.  H.  Perry,  Divi- 
sion Engineer;  Ben  Bradley,  Chief  Clerk  to  Division 
Engineer;  E.  C.  Larzelere,  Agent  at  Antigo;  Thomas 
Cavanaugh,  Yardmaster  at  Antigo;  W.  E.  Peterson, 
foreman  of  Antigo  Rour.dhouse;  E.  H.  Hadler,  Super- 
intendent of  Telegraph;  A.  K.  Potter,  Purchasing  Agent 
for  the  C.  &  N.  W.  over  many  divisions;  F.  Slater,  Kau- 
kauna.  Master  Mechanic;  W.  A.  Brandt,  Roadmaster, 
subdivision  No.  1;  H.  Van  Gorder,  Roadmaster,  sub- 
division No.  2;  C.  S.  McConnel,  Rradmaster,  sub- 
division No.  3;  G.  Darrow,  Roadmaster,  subdivision 
No.  4;  A.  L.  Kickhaefer,  Roadmaster,  subdivision  No. 
5;  Division  Accountant,  Frank  T.  Lynde;  Assistant 
Division  Accountant,  Edgar  Van  Gorder. 

SOFT  DRINK  FACTORIES. 

The  Taylor  Beverage  and  Candy  Co.,  W.  J.  Giese, 
Mgr. 

ANTIGO  HOTELS. 

Hotel  Butterfield,  R.  T.  Marson,  Prop.;  The  Hoffman 
House,  Frank  Hoffman,  prop.;  Schneiter's  (new) 
Hotel,  F.  G.  Schneiter,  prop.;  The  Market  Square 
Hotel,  William  Reader,  prop.;  The  Bacon  House,  C.  G. 
Bacon,  prop.;  The  Hanousek  Hotel,  John  Hanousek, 
Jr.,  prop.;  The  American  House,  B.  W.  Rynders,  prop.; 
The  Northern  Hotel,  J.  W.  Benes,  prop. 

THE  FIRST  OF  MANY  THINGS  COMMERCIAL. 

First  Antigo  saw  mill — Louis  and  Jos.  Novotny, 
props.— 1879. 

Grist  mill — Novotny  Bros.,  props. 

Attorney— G.  W.  Latta. 

Mayor — Thomas  W.  Lynch. 

Doctor — F.  J.  Despins. 

Jeweler — W.  H.  Blinn. 

Merchant — Neils  Anderson. 

News  Stand — L.  Mendlik. 

Settler  in  County — W.  L.  Ackley. 

Hotel — Springbrook. 

Blacksmith — Edgar  Neff. 

Dentist— H.  V.  Mills. 

Automobile— 1902— W.  L.  Elliott,  owner. 

Sidewalk  (cement) — in  front  of  John  Ogden's  resi- 
dence, 1897. 


Bicycle — John  Blinn,  owner,  1884. 

Newspaper — New  County  Republican. 

Circus — Col.  G.  W.  Hall's  U.  S.  &  Great  Eastern 
Consolidated  shows,  the  first  circus  to  visit  Antigo  and 
Langlade  County,  exhibited  June  16,  1884. 

Roundhouse — opened  January  1,  1883. 

Brick  building — The  Dawley  building,  now  Fidelity 
Bank  Building. 

Barber — "Chub"  Watkins. 

H.  S.  Graduate — Agnes  Donohue. 

First  board  sidewalk — in  front  of  Springbrook  Hote', 
Teipner  Bros.,  props. 

First  Jail — log,  erected  in  1881. 

Flying  machine,  first  exhibition  in  Antigo  by  aviator 
John  Schweister  of  Wausau  in  1910. 

COMMERCIAL  ORGANIZATIONS. 

The  first  Langlade  County  commercial  organization 
was  instituted  April  19,  1885.  Rooms  were  secured 
and  fitted  up  in  the  second  story  of  the  block,  corner 
Clermont  Street  and  Fifth  Avenue.  The  organiza- 
tion was  called  The  Antigo  Businessmen's  Association. 
Its  purposes  were  to  "extend  and  improve  social  re- 
lations and  to  encourage  local  manufacturing,  establish 
new  industries  and  maintain  good  municipal  govern- 
ment." It  advocated  prohibition  and  stood  for  no- 
license.  Those  who  signed  organization  articles  were 
W.  H.  Lord,  F.  A.  Deleglise,  J.  C.  Lewis,  H.  C.  Hum- 
phrey, J.  J.  Simpson,  W.  W.  Hutchinson,  J.  E.  Martin, 
H.  A.  Kohl,  M.  M.  Waite,  Charles  Sipes,  T.  D.  Kellogg, 
C.  A.  Martin,  C.  S.  Leykom,  R.  J.  Leutsker,  Ed.  Das- 
kam,  George  Ratcliffe,  J.  G.  Champion,  Irvin  Gray, 
A.  C.  Clarke,  W.  B.  Johns,  J.  E.  Clancy,  C.  G.  Adkins, 
L.  Lusk,  A.  W.  Dean,  F.  M.  Sherman,  W.  S.  Morgan,  J. 
K.  Smolk,  Paul  Weed,  B.  F.  Dorr,  and  John  E.  Mul- 
lowney. 

This  was  followed  by  other  important  civic  and  com- 
mercial associations,  which  lasted  a  few  years  and 
were  replaced.  The  more  important  of  these  were  the 
Mercantile  Protective  Association,  organized  April  14, 
1893,  the  15,000  Club,  a  real  estate  unit,  organized 
February  26,  1908,  and  the  old  Commercial  Club,  which 
while  not  active,  still  exists. 

The  Antigo  Association  of  Commerce  was  organized 
in  January,  1917,  and  W.  J.  Gallon  was  elected  first 
President,  which  office  he  still  retains.  Offices  of  the 
Association  are  in  the  Hill  Building.  Other  officers 
are:  Vice-President — Fred  L.  Berner;  Treasurer — 
Frank  G.  Wanek;  Secretary — Mrs.  L.  E.  Dickensen; 
Directors — A.  A.  Lueck,  Chairman,  F.  G.  Wanek,  Dr. 
F.  C.  Kestly,  Chas.  Cody  and  C.  0.  Miller.  Meetings 
are  held  monthly. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


163 


CHAPTER     XXXI. 
Pioneer  Merchants  and  Buildings 

Merchants  of  1879 — Fifth  Avenue  a  Wilderness — First  Store — First  Real  Estate  Office — Business 
Conditions — The  Old  Opera  House — Difficult  Access  to  Trading  Points — The  Approach  cf  a 
New  Era. 


The  first  mercantile  firm  in  Antigo  was  that  of  Niels 
Anderson,  who  came  from  Mills  Center,  near  Green 
Bay,  to  the  Antigo  settlement  in  1878.  He  opened  a 
store  on  Superior  Street,  facing  east  towards  Spring 
River,  known  now  as  Springbrook.  It  was  a  log  store 
with  scooped  roof,  and  while  very  crude,  was  the  be- 
ginning of  what  has  since  developed  into  the  business 
district  of  Antigo.  The  Anderson  store  was  a  success 
and  for  years  was  the  nucleus  of  all  activity  in  the  vil- 
lage and  surrounding  territory.  It  was  through  the 
efforts  of  F.  A.  Deleglise  that  Mr.  Anderson  was  in- 
fluenced to  locate  here. 

The  first  real  estate  office  of  Antigo  was  located 
across  from  Niels  Anderson's  store  in  the  log  building 
owned  by  F.  A.  Deleglise.  Many  settlers  can  still  re- 
call negotiations  of  land  affairs  with  the  founder  of 
Antigo. 

In  the  year  of  1879,  L.  D.  Moses  of  Ogdensburg, 
Waupaca  County,  settled  in  Antigo,  and  opened  the 
second  store.  The  building  was  constructed  of  rough 
lumber  and  was  located  on  the  east  side  of  Superior 
Street,  south  of  the  UUman  B'ock.  Mr.  Moses  con- 
ducted this  store  for  five  years,  and  then  engaged  in 
the  banking  business.  The  store  was  then  taken  over 
by  Irvin  Gray,  who  assumed  complete  charge  by  1886. 
When  the  first  stores  were  opened,  there  were  less 
than  fifty  settlers  here. 

Between  the  years  of  1878  and  18S0  there  was  not 
a  house  east  of  "Spring  River."  There  were  only  two 
farm  houses  between  the  village  of  Antigo  and  Aniwa 
and  the  journey  was  long  and  treacherous  between 
the  two  points. 

Dr.  D.  S.  Olmsted  came  to  Antigo  in  1879  from 
Embarrass,  Waupaca  County,  and  erected  two  crude 
buildings  on  the  east  side  of  Superior  Street  between 
Fifth  and  Sixth  Avenues.  "Doc"  Olmsted  was  de- 
scribed as  "cute  and  bright."  He  was  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  and  Clerk  of  Court,  and  was  one  of  the  pic- 
turesque characters  of  early  Antigo. 

In  1879  Louis  Mendlik  of  Manitowoc  setded  here. 
He  built  a  two  story  frame  building.  This  was  locat- 
ed between  Sixth  and  Seventh  Avenues,  across  from 
the  present  site  of  the  Antigo  Public  Library.  He  en- 
gaged in  the  book  and  stationery  business. 

In  1880  Antigo  possessed  two  other  buildirgs,  a 
log  school  house  on  the  present  site  of  the  P.  F.  Kelly 
Implement  Store,  Third  Avenue  and  Superior  Street, 
and  the  Old  Twin  Valley  Inn,  erected  on  the  south- 
east corner  of  Fifth  Avenue  and  Superior  Street. 

Julius  and  Charles  Teipner  of  Oshkosh  settled  in 
Antigo   in   1879.     They  erected   a   stopping  place   on 


the  present  location  of  the  Market  Square  Hotel. 
They  provided  headquarters  for  the  logging  teams  and 
lumbermen  who  went  ir.to  the  Wolf  River  country 
during  the  historic  log  drives. 

This  is  a  complete  description  of  the  pioneer  dis- 
trict between  1877  and  1880,  and  is  worthy  of  perma- 
nent record  to  preserve  for  posterity  the  names,  loca- 
tions and  character  of  the  early  merchants  and  their 
business  establishments. 

During  the  first  years  business  was  limited.  The 
Milwaukee  Lake  Shore  and  Western  Railroad  had 
been  nothing  but  a  dream.  Our  neighbors  at  Shawano 
had  "scoffed"  at  its  coming  into  Antigo  and  declared 


\^^ 


f 


^ 


THE  F1R.ST  OPERA  HOUSE  ERECTED  IN  ANTIGO 

Which    burned   to    the   ground    on    May    22,    1895. 

It  was  then  owned  by  Hoeffler  Brothers. 

that  it  would  go  "up  in  smoke."  Forty-five  miles  of 
wilderness  separated  Antigo  from  Wausau,  from 
which  place  many  an  early  settler  laboriously  hauled 
a  sack  of  flour  on  his  back  the  entire  distance  to  his 
home  in  the  woods.  Shipments  of  produce  necessitat- 
ed expensive  hauling  by  oxen  or  horse. 

It  was  a  tedious  journey  from  Aniwa  to  Antigo,  and 
goods  and  food  products  were  hauled  over  a  trail  that 
had  not  emerged  from  "totedom."  There  were  few 
farmers  in  Langlade  County  in  1880  and  as  the  gov- 
ernment census  indicates  permanent  settlers  number- 
ing 685.  Those  fortunate  to  have  a  surplus  of  pro- 
duce such  as  potatoes,  corn,  hay  or  clover  had  diffi- 
cult times  to  get  in  contact  with  the  merchant.  Roads 
were  few,  yet  the  merchants  were  busy.  Produce  was 
exchanged    by    homesteaders    for    needed    household 


164 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


goods,  and  Antigo,  in  its  embryo  stages,  was  prosper- 
ous. We  shall  learn  that  through  this  period  of  mu- 
tual helpfulness  and  cooperation  and  through  the 
gradual  approach  of  the  railroad,  the  wonder  of  the 
new  north  took  on  unheard  of  proportions  and  the 
dream  of  F.  A.  Deleglise  to  found  a  city  unfolded  in 
reality  before  his  eyes. 

THE  NEW  ERA 
PERIOD  OF  1882-1886. 

The  growth  of  Antigo  from  March,  1878  to  the  end 
of  the  period  of  1881  was  slow  and  at  times  discourag- 
ing to  the  first  vanguard  of  mortals,  who  showed  the 
way  of  those  who  followed.  Antigo  did  not  increase 
rapidly  in  population  between  1878  and  1882.  Never- 
theless the  hardy  pioneers,  strong  of  character,  un- 
swervedly  kept  faith  in  an  ideal  village,  and  by  the 
summer  of  1882,  less  than  a  year  after  the  firsi.  rails 
were  spiked,  a  new  era  of  heretofore  unsurpassed 
prosperity  and  expansion  was  witnessed.  By  1886, 
Antigo  was  a  city  of  2,500  inhabitants.  From  eight 
business  establishments  it  had  grown  to  be  an  in- 
corporated city.  During  this  period  of  development 
the  following  were  the  chief  business  firms:  Opera 
House;  J.  H.  Weed  Saw  Mill;  Antigo  Planing  Mill; 
City  Planing  Mill;  Herman  &  Becklinger  Sawmill; 
Fred  Herman  Planing  Mill;  Novotny's  Sawmill,  later 
Kellogg  &  Kellogg  Sawmill;  R.  M.  Goodwin  &  Co. 
Broom  Handle  Factory;  W.  D.  Badger  Hub  and 
Spoke  Factory;  Ed  Neff  B'acksmith  Shop;  Johns  & 
Kerlings  Pioneer  Iron  Works;  J.  E.  Clancy  Building 
Factory;  Milwaukee  Lake  Shore  and  Western  Railroad 
engine  house  and  depot;  Bacon,  ToUefson  &  Com- 
pany; Irvin  Gray  Mercantile  Store;  Hessel  &  Leykom 
Hardware;  Langlade  County  Bank;  J.  C.  Lewis  & 
Co.;  W.  W.  Hutchinson,  Real  Estate;  F.  C.  Meyers 
Meat  Market;  H.  L.  Ferguson;  Antigo  House;  Teipner 
House;  Spencer  House;  G.  W.  Hill  Meat  Market; 
Jacob  Wavrunek  Store;  Sherman  &  Dawley  Real  Es- 
tate; G.  C.  Williams  Meat  Market;  Luetsker  &  Wilter- 
ding  Drug  Store;  H.  Smith  Drug  Store;  Morgan  Art 
Studio;  C.  Censky  Shoe  Store;  O'Connor  &  McDon- 
ald Livery;  Shove  &  Baily  Store;  Captain  William 
Stone,  Blacksmith;  Bridgeman  Variety  Store;  W.  H. 
Blinn,  Jewelry;  Janes  Billiard  Hall;  Vantassel  & 
Daugherty;  Charles  Jaekel  Store;  Smolk  Barber  Shop; 
Lillian  Horton,  Dressmaker;  C.  R.  Morehouse,  Black- 


smith; Crocker  and  McHale,  Contractors;  Kropf  & 
Zuehle  Market;  Lind  &  Sipes;  Zahl  &  Robinson;  Bow- 
man Gun  Shop;  Henry  Berner,  General  Store;  Silbar 
&  Goldberg;  Clithero  &  Strong  Lbr.  Co.;  Peter  Fish- 
back,  Clothing  Store;  Bailey  &  Shaver;  S.  Buerger 
News  Depot;  S.  Neuman  Store,  and  C.  G.  Adkins, 
Store. 

H.  A.  Mills  was  the  first  merchant  police  in  Antigo. 
He  was  employed  by  the  merchants  on  Central  Avenue 
(Fifth  Avenue)  in  February,  1885.  Peter  Johnson  is 
the  merchant  police  officer  of  Antigo  in  1922. 

T.  H.  Robbins  and  Frank  Sherman  opened  the  first 
roller  skating  rink  in  Antigo  in  1885.  Roller  skating 
was  the  leading  means  of  recreation  and  diversion  for 
the  people  of  Antigo  then.  It  was  then  popular  all 
over  Wisconsin. 

In  1885,  the  merchants  of  Ar.tigo  began  a  campaign 
for  the  construction  of  board  sidewalks  on  Fifth  Ave- 
nue. Considerable  discussion  was  made  at  th2  time 
over  the  width  of  the  walks.  No  sidewalks  were  con- 
structed without  authority  of  the  common  cour.cil  of 
the  city,  after  its  incorporation  in  1885. 

Road  improvements  was  advocated  by  Antigo  mer- 
chants in  1885,  with  the  result  that  the  road  from  An- 
tigo west  into  Ackley  township  (now  highway  No.  64) 
was  turnpiked  and  greatly  improved.  Settlers  in  that 
vicinity  had  complained  to  Artigo  merc'ients  that  it 
was  then  difficult  for  them  to  get  their  produce  into 
Ar.tigo  to  the  markets. 

Lots  were  sold  in  the  South  Park  Addition  to  Antigo 
by  W.  W.  Hutchinson  in  1885  for  from  $25  to  $125.00. 

The  Antigo  Busiress  Men's  Association  held  their 
first  meeting  in  their  headqaurters  in  October,  1885. 

The  program  for  City  Advancement  in  Antigo  as  in- 
augurated in  1885  was  as  follows  : 

How  to  build  the  city  of  Antigo: 

Talk  about  it. 

Write  about  it. 

Speak  well  of  its  public  spirited  citizens. 

Invest  in  something,  if  you  have  money. 

Don't  be  a  knocker. 

Be  courteous  to  strangers. 

Always  cheer  the  men  who  go  in  for  improvements. 

Help  to  improve  it. 

Speak  well  about  it. 

Beautify  the  streets. 

Advertise. 

Elect  good  men  to  public  offices. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


165 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 
Public  Utilities 

The  Volunteer  and  Paid  Fire  Departments — Telephone  Industry — Old  Bowman  Central  Station  of 
1883 — Progress — Antigo  Telephone  Corporatinn —  Antigc  Electric  Light  Systems — The  City 
Hall — Antigo  Water  Company — Police  Department — City  Finances. 


When  the  first  settlers  of  Antigo  were  in  peril  of 
fire  the  "bucket  brigade"  was  adopted,  being  the  first 
system  of  fire  protection  in  the  village.  When  the 
early  residents  desired  pure  drinking  water  open  wells, 
wooden  and  other  pumps  were  sunk,  this  being  the 
first  "water  system"  of  the  little  hamlet.  When  they 
wished  to  communicate  with  a  neighbor  a  distance 
away  they  did  not  telephone,  but  hitched  up  old  "Dob- 
bin" and  made  the  call.  They  carried  an  oil  lantern 
to  the  barn  instead  of  turning  on  an  electric  light 
switch  and  milking  the  cows  by  a  Mazda  light.  They 
read  the  late  arriving  papers  and  magazines  by  the 
light  of  oil  burning  lamps  that  partially  illuminated 
their  homes.  The  "city  fathers"  or  town  officials  met 
at  Niels  Anderson's  log  cabin  and  later  at  Spencer's 
Hall  instead  of  holding  conferences  in  the  sanctum 
of  a  modern  city  hall.  These  hardy  folk  paved  the 
way  and  suffered  inconveniences  that  this  generation 
and  posterity  might  profit  because  of  their  faith. 

From  the  story  of  the  muricipal  and  public  utili- 
ties as  presented  the  reader  will  notice  an  improve- 
ment and  wonderful  progress  since  the  coming  of  the 
first  white  settlers  into  the  land  dubbed  "Deleglise's 
Dream." 

THE    FIRE    DEPARTMENT— VOLUNTEER    AND 
PAID. 

The  paid  Antigo  Fire  Department  was  organized  in 
1903  and  G.  0.  Palmiter  was  chosen  first  chief.  Pre- 
viously equipment  and  organization  consisted  of  a 
Hose  Company,  Hook  and  Ladder  Company,  and  an 
Engine  Company  of  volunteers.  The  first  fire  appara- 
tus was  a  hand  suction  pump  called  "the  man  killer." 
The  pump  was  first  used  the  afternoon  after  its  arriv- 
al in  a  fire  at  the  Herman,  Becklinger  &  Herman  mill. 

One  of  the  first  acts  of  the  city,  when  incorporated, 
was  to  secure  a  second  hand  fire  "steamer"  from  the 
city  of  Appleton.  This  was  used  at  the  Clithero  & 
Strong  mill  fire  for  the  first  time  and  proved  satisfac- 
tory. The  steamer,  called  "The  Ben  Jones,"  was  of 
a  type  such  as  the  fire  department  owns  today,  but 
was  smaller  and  of  less  power. 

In  1885  and  for  a  time  later,  the  city  did  not  own 
a  fire  team.  When  the  alarm  was  sounded  whoever 
came  with  a  team  first  would  hitch  onto  the  apparatus 
and  proceed  to  the  conflagration.  In  the  absence  of 
a  team,  the  hose  cart,  engine  and  truck  and  ladder 
were  "man  pulled"  to  the  fire.  The  sons  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  H.  Berner  lived  close  to  the  fire  department 
headquarters  and  were  usually  first  to  "hitch  on." 

The  first  Fire  Wardens  appointed  by  Mayor  Thomas 


W.  Lynch,  April  20,  1885,  were:  First  Ward,  W.  F. 
Bowman  and  Thomas  Sanvidge;  Second  Ward,  T.  D. 
Kellogg  and  B.  F.  Dorr;  Third  Ward,  E.  Meaghers  and 
C.  F.  Dallman;  Fourth  Ward,  E.  R.  Van  Buran  and 
Charles  Thompson. 

June  10,  1885,  Alderman  George  Clithero  introduc- 
ed a  resolution,  which  pass«d,  instructing  the  fire  de- 
partment committee  to  lease  a  lot  on  "main  street" 
near  the  Lewis  corner  on  which  to  erect  an  engine 
house  24x40  feet  and  12  feet  high  with  "double  front 
doors." 

The  first  fire  apparatus  purchased  by  the  city  was 
June  7,  1885,  when,  at  a  special  meeting  of  the  city 
council,  an  engine,  hose  cart,  and  a  hose  and  hook  and 
ladder  truck  were  purchased  "from  Gleason  &  Bailey." 
July  7,  1886,  $900  was  appropriated  for  purchasing 
fire  hose  from  the  Hamilton  Rubber  Company  and 
Louis  Novotny  was  engaged  at  a  $100  a  year  salary 
to  act  as  steam  fire  engineer. 

August  8,  1886,  all  fire  companies  and  the  hook 
and  ladder  company  were  dissolved,  shortly  after  F. 
M.  Sherman  had  resigned  as  volunteer  chief. 

August  11,  1886,  the  fire  department  was  reorganiz- 
ed with  the  following  officers:  C.  S.  Leykom,  Chief; 
W.  F.  White,  Assistant;  A.  D.  Rice,  Secretary.  Feb- 
ruary 7,  1888,  members  of  Rescue  Hose  Company  No. 
1,  Volunteers,  resigned.  On  February  21,  1888,  the 
citizens  were  called  upon  to  organize  a  hose,  hook  and 
ladder,  and  engine  company  pursuant  to  section  3, 
chapter  173  of  the  laws  of  1887.  The  apparatus  in 
possession  of  the  resigned  companies  was  collected  by 
the  City  Marshal  with  authority  of  the  city  council. 

It  was  not  long  before  Antigo  had  a  new  fire  fighting 
unit.  May  6,  1888,  a  new  constitution  and  new  by- 
laws of  the  Antigo  Engine  Company  were  formed  and 
accepted  by  the  city  council  as  follows : 

ANTIGO  ENGINE  COMPANY. 

Preamble:  "The  undersigned  citizens  of  the  city 
of  Antigo  hereby  agree  to  associate  'ourselves'  to- 
gether for  the  purpose  of  forming  an  engine  company 
to  form  a  part  of  the  Antigo  Fire  Department  and  re- 
quest the  common  council  to  accept  us  as  such;  to  have 
the  custody,  care  and  control  of  the  two  fire  engines 
in  said  city."  As  such  company  the  citizens  organ- 
ized themselves  under  an  entirely  new  set  of  rulings. 

RESCUE  HOSE  CO.  NO.  1. 

Under  the  provisions  of  section  3,  sub-chapter  12, 
chapter  173,  laws  of  1887,  Rescue  Hose  Company  No. 


166 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


1  was  organized  and  accepted  by  the  city  council.  The 
petition  for  acceptance  was  signed  by  E.  B.  Kennedy, 
Casper  Peck,  John  Tobin,  A.  L.  Ross,  A.  Novotny, 
Wm.  Mader,  Peter  Becker,  W.  H.  Dawley,  Gabe  Ka- 
planek,  E.  McKenna,  C.  Druesen,  M.  R.  McCann,  W. 
B.  Johns,  F.  J.  Finucane,  G.  E.  Keen,  S.  Buerger,  John 
Mader,  Wm.  Berner,  Louis  Berner,  John  Reide,  Fred 
Myer,  H.  L.  Furgeson,  and  L.  Wahl. 

ALERT  HOOK  &  LADDER  CO.  NO.  L 

The  constitution  and  preamble  of  the  Alert  Hook 
&  Ladder  Co.  No.  1  was  signed  by  the  following:  H. 
A.  Kohl,  J.  C.  Lewis,  N.  J.  Boll,  John  Beadle,  J.  B. 
Loomis,  G.  Costley,  Fred  W.  Kiefer,  W.  L.  Crocker, 
J.  Dunn,  Thomas  Smith,  B.  Hoffman,  E.  Meaghers, 
W.  Bacon,  0.  Heller,  and  A.  Boll. 

THE  PRESENT  HEADQUARTERS. 

The  Antigo  Fire  Department  occupies  the  north 
part  of  the  city  hall  building.  Sleeping  apartments 
are  located  on  the  second  floor  east  of  the  council 
chambers.  There  are  now  nine  members  of  the  de- 
partment as  follows:  Chief,  Elwin  Billings;  Assistant 
Chief,  Guy  Rice;  Pipemen,  Chester  Hugunin,  Louis 
Maybee,  Edward  Rynders,  and  Ben  Joyce;  Driver, 
Ernest  Frisch;  Extra  Driver,  George  Case;  Engineer, 
John  Bowens. 

The  city  equipped  the  department  with  an  eighty 
horsepower  Seagrave  motor  truck  in  1916.  The 
American  La  France  steamer,  now  used,  was  purchas- 
ed in  1911.  It  is  capable  of  pumping  750  gallons  of 
water  per  minute  and  has  saved  thousands  of  dollars 
worth  of  property. 

Chiefs  of  the  volunteer  departments  were  W.  L. 
Crocker,  William  Johns,  Frank  M.  Sherman,  H.  A. 
Kohl,  G.  0.  Palmiter,  and  Warren  Hill.  Chiefs  of  the 
Paid  Antigo  Fire  Department  have  been  G.  O.  Palmi- 
ter, Dan  Leonard,  Fred  Ebert,  Emil  Panoush,  and  El- 
win Billings,  present  chief. 

THE  TELEPHONE   INDUSTRY. 

Pioneers,  who  have  passed  to  their  reward,  would  be 
amazed  to  know  that  instead  of  sending  a  courier  on 
horseback  or  afoot  they  could  today  pick  up  a  re- 
ceiver and  in  a  few  minutes  talk  to  a  physician  at 
Shawano,  Clintonville  or  Wausau,  nearest  settlements 
to  the  Langlade  County  wilderness  of  1880.  Such 
has  been  the  wonderful  change  resulting  from  the  in- 
vention of  the  late  Alexander  Graham  Bell  in  1876. 

The  first  telephone  system  in  Antigo  was  owned  by 
the  Wisconsin  Telephone  Company.  Poles  were  erect- 
ed in  November,  1883.  In  December,  1883,  the  first 
telephones  were  put  in  business  and  residential  places. 
Central  office  was  located  where  the  Masonic  Temple 
now  stands,  in  a  gun  shop  owned  by  W.  F.  Bowman, 
who  was  the  first  manager. 

Peter  O'Connor  in  an  early  day  operated  a  private 
telephone  system  with  a  few  subscribers.  In  Novem- 
ber, 1896,  I.  F.  Strasser  of  Ripon,  Wis.,  secured'  a 
franchise  to  operate  a  private  telephone  company  in 


Antigo.  The  office  was  moved  from  the  Bowman  lo- 
cation to  the  Spencer  drug  store  location,  now  the  A. 
A.  Lueck  Drug  Store.  Richard  Koebke  managed  the 
system  and  later  became  its  owner.  A  new  exchange 
was  instituted  in  1900.  June  1,  1902,  W.  L.  Elliott 
took  over  the  Antigo  Telephone  Company.  Two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  subscribers  used  the  service  then.  The 
same  year  the  Wisconsin  Telephone  Company  sup- 
plied Antigo  with  long  distance  connections. 

T.  W.  Hogan,  J.  C.  Lewis,  Edward  Cleary,  L.  L. 
Gibbs,  and  W.  H.  Brown  purchased  the  Antigo  tele- 
phone system  from  W.  L.  Elliott  and  improved  the 
service  during  their  years  of  ownership.  In  1916  the 
stock  was  sold  to  E.  A.  Zundel  and  others  of  Sheboy- 
gan, Wis.  Since,  it  has  been  known  as  The  Antigo 
Telephone  Corporation.  Offices  of  W.  J.  Gallon,  Gen- 
eral Manager,  are  in  the  Ullman  building,  Superior 
Street.  Central  offices  are  located  in  the  Cleary 
building.  Other  officers  are  President,  E.  A.  Zundel; 
Vice  President,  J.  E.  Collins;  Secretary-Treasurer,  W. 
J.  Gallon,  and  Ben  Snyder,  Assistant  Manager.  Di- 
rectories are  issued  semi-annually. 

ANTIGO'S  ELECTRIC  SYSTEMS. 

The  Antigo  electric  plant  was  established  in  1888 
by  Louis  K.  Lusk,  J.  H.  Trever,  and  C.  S.  Leykom. 
It  was  called  the  Antigo  Edison  Electric  Light  Co. 
The  concern  operated  in  the  location  of  the  present 
plant  until  September,  1897,  when  the  original  owners 
sold  to  W.  L.  Elliott,  who  made  many  improvements 
in  the  industry. 

Mr.  Elliott  died  on  January  2,  1904,  and  John 
Wright  of  Chicago  took  over  the  plant.  (Deal  was 
made  before  Elliott's  death).  The  electric  light  plant 
was  destroyed  by  fire  one  day  before  Mr.  Wright  sign- 
ed the  legal  papers.  Mr.  Wright  completely  remodel- 
ed his  new  plant  and  operated  with  success  until  1909 
when  the  present  owners  purchased  it.  Purchasers 
from  Mr.  Wright  were  John  Manser,  F.  A.  Hecker,  D. 
J.  Murray,  John  Anderson,  F.  J.  Boyce,  and  C.  M. 
Cleveland  of  Wausau.  Antigo  men  became  interested 
financially  since  then.  The  company  reorganized  irl 
August,  1909,  electing  the  following  officers:  Presi- 
dent, John  Manser;  Vice  President,  F.  J.  Boyce,  and 
Secretary-Treasurer,  F.  A.  Hecker.  Mr.  Manser  is 
now  active  manager  of  the  plant.  The  present  owners 
have  made  great  advances  and  have  practically  a  new 
A.  C.  plant.  J.  J.  Healy  is  chief  engineer  and  Walter 
Vaughn  is  chief  of  the  linemen. 

ANTIGO  WATER  CO.— WATER  DEPARTMENT. 

Before  July,  1891,  Antigo  citizens  did  not  have  the 
conveniences  of  waterworks  as  enjoyed  today.  An- 
tigo was  then  dependent  on  wells,  cisterns,  pumps,  and 
bubbling  springs  for  water  supply.  But  a  growing 
community  is  bound  to  attract  capital,  labor,  and  pro- 
gressive citizens.  W.  G.  Maxcy,  his  brother,  and  two 
other  parties  organized  the  original  Antigo  Water 
Company  in  1891.  A  complete  plant,  pump  house, 
and  reserve  tank  were  erected  at  the  present  water- 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


167 


works  site.  The  company  served  the  business  and 
residential  sections  as  fast  as  they  desired  water  serv- 
ice. 

The  city  of  Antigo  purchased  the  Antigo  Water- 
works in  1914  at  a  cost  of  $148,507.13.  The  affairs 
of  the  plant  are  in  charge  of  Frank  Dvorak,  Treasur- 
er and  Manager,  and  Harry  Jackson,  Superintendent, 
and  Miss  Grace  Dessureau,  department  clerk,  who 
have  offices  in  the  city  hall.  Other  officers  are  Mayor, 
who  is  Chairman  of  the  board  of  directors,  and  Secre- 
tary, who  is  the  City  Clerk,  now  G.  O.  Palmiter. 

The  water  plant  is  equipped  with  two  tubular  boil- 
ers of  125  horsepower  each.  A  steel  stand  pipe  100 
feet  high  has  a  capacity  of  150,400  gallons.  The  total 
amount  of  water  pumped  in  1921  was  291,355,930  gal- 


Interest  on  funded  debt,  $4,250;  interest  on  real  es- 
tate mortgages,  $1,150;  contractual  sinking  fund  re- 
quirements, $1,800. 

Net  income  at  close  of  business  in  1921  was 
$6,880.54. 

The  department  has  127  metered  consumers  and 
1,108  flat  consumers. 

Daily  capacity  of  the  two  municipal  pumps  is 
1,735,000  and  1,500,000  gallons  respectively. 

THE  CITY  HALL. 

When  the  city  was  incorporated  in  1885,  the  old 
skating  rink,  property  of  T.  H.  Robbins,  was  purchas- 
ed and  made  over  into  quarters  for  city  officials  and 
the  fire  department.     The  large  frame  structure  was 


THE  ANTIGO 

Erected   in    I'.iuu   by   Contractor   C.   F. 

home  of  Antigo's 

Ions.  The  range  of  ordinary  pressure  on  water  mains 
is  between  30  and  43  pounds,  while  fire  pressure 
ranges  from  100  to  125  pounds.  At  the  close  of  busi- 
ness in  1921,  98,813  feet  of  mains  served  as  distribu- 
tors to  all  sections  of  the  city.  Two  shallow  wells 
with  capacities  of  750,000  and  800,000  gallons  each, 
constitute  a  part  of  the  system.  These  wells  are  25 
and  30  feet  in  depth  respectively.  All  Antigo  Water 
Department  bonds  mature  in  1934.  Operating  ex- 
penses at  the  close  of  June,  1915,  were  $9,996.84. 

Total  revenues  for  1921  were  $34,063.11. 

Total  operating  expenses  for  1921  were  $19,982.57. 

Gross  income  for  1921,  $34,063.11. 

Total  deductions  from  gross  income  $7,200  sub- 
divided as  follows: 


CITY  HALL 

Dallman.       The   City   Hall   is   the 
official  body. 

used  until  the  new  city  hall  was  erected  in  1901.  The 
"old  skating  rink"  was  razed. 

Bids  for  erecting  the  new  city  hall  were  opened 
October  17,  1899,  and  the  contract  awarded  to  C.  F. 
Dallman  for  $9,250.00.  The  building  committee  se- 
lected by  Mayor  I.  D.  Steffen  consisted  of  John 
Kestly,  N.  R.  Babcock,  and  J.  W.  Allerton.  The  city 
hall  was  completed  in  December,  1900,  and  final  pay- 
ments were  made  to  contractor  C.  F.  Dallman  in  Jan- 
uary, 1901.  Van  Ryan  &  De  Gelleke  of  Milwaukee 
were  the  architects. 

The  city  hall  is  the  home  of  Antigo's  official  body. 
It  contains  offices  of  the  Mayor,  City  Clerk,  Commis- 
sioners, Treasurer,  Council  Chambers,  Water  Depart- 
ment, Engineer,  Fire  and  Police  Departments,  and  de- 
partment firemen  sleeping  quarters. 


168 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


STONE  CRUSHERS— DISPOSAL  PLANTS. 

Sewerage  disposal  land  was  purchased  in  October, 
1910.  John  Brogan  was  the  sewerage  disposal  con- 
tractor. Bonds  for  the  erection  of  the  plant  were  is- 
sued June  15,  1911,  to  the  extent  of  $50,000. 

The  old  stone  crusher  cost  $1,185  and  was  erected 
in  1907.  The  crusher  was  to  the  rear  of  the  J.  W. 
Otis  building.  The  second  crusher  was  purchased 
from  the  Austin-Western  Road  Machine  Co.  in  1913 
for  $1,541.60.  A  stone  crusher  was  purchased  in 
1896  for  $1,000.  In  May,  1922,  a  new  stone  crusher 
was  purchased  from  the  Austin-Western  Road  Machin- 
ery Co.,  Chicago,  111. 

CEMETERIES— PARKS. 

The  first  cemetery  association  was  organized  in  An- 
tigo  by  Jackson  Tibbets,  W.  L.  Crocker,  Gus  Lind, 
Hon.  F.  A.  Deleglise,  J.  E.  Martin,  B.  F.  Dorr.  L. 
Mendlik,  L.  W.  Bliss,  and  George  Ratcliffe.  It  was 
organized  October  24,  1882.  The  Catholic  Cemetery 
Association  was  organized  in  July,  1914.  Leaders  in 
the  movement  were  J.  J.  Laughlin,  Edward  Cleary,  A. 
J.  Nowotny,  Thomas  W.  Hogan,  Fred  W.  Kiefer, 
Frank  Riendl,  Leonard  Freiburger,  and  Thomas  Mor- 
rissey. 

The  Antigo  Cemetery  Association  controlled  the 
Protestant  and  Catholic  cemeteries  until  two  distinct 
associations  were  formed — one  Catholic  and  one  Pro- 
testant. The  Protestant  continued  as  the  old  organ- 
ization. Their  cemetery,  adjoining  the  Catholic  ceme- 
tery on  Aurora  Street,  is  called  the  Antigo  Cemetery. 

During  the  mayoralty  term  of  Fred  Hayssen,  June 


8,  1905,  eighty  acres  of  land  were  purchased  by  the 
city  and  set  aside  for  cemetery  purposes.  The  ceme- 
tery is  called  "Elmwood."  The  Antigo  Cemetery  and 
Park  Boards  were  consolidated  in  1922. 

The  City  Park  was  given  to  the  city  of  Antigo  by 
Mrs.  Mary  Deleglise  in  January,  1905.  The  deed 
was  turned  over  to  the  city  by  Morrissey  &  Leslie. 
The  park  is  situated  between  Eighth  and  Ninth  Ave- 
nues east  of  Watson  Street. 

FIRST  CITY  ORDINANCE. 

The  first  ordinance  of  the  city  was  adopted  April  16, 
1885,  after  presentation  by  Mayor  Thomas  W.  Lynch. 
The  ordinance  prescribed  the  manner  of  building 
wooden  sidewalks  and  the  width  of  same.  The  sec- 
ond ordinance  fixed  the  regular  meetings  of  the  city 
council  and  was  passed  April  18,  1885.  Both  ordi- 
nances were  repassed  and  published  September  19, 
1890,  when  Dr.  I.  D.  Steffen  was  Mayor. 

The  first  act  of  Mayor  Thomas  W.  Lynch  in  1885 
was  to  sign  a  resolution  declaring  the  city  of  Antigo 
duly  created  in  accordance  with  chapter  79  of  the 
laws  of  1885. 

CITY  FINANCES. 

The  following  statement  from  the  City  Comptroller 
gives  the  present  financial  status  of  the  city  of  Antigo: 

Total  receipts  for  year  ending  1921 $490,260.35 

Total    expenditure,    all    sources,    for    year 

1921    505,842.26 

Total    Bonded    Indebtedness,   City   of   An- 
tigo,   1921    201,000.00 


THE  .-WTIGO   PAID    FIRE  DEI'.-\RT MEXT 
This  jjictiire  was  taken  liy  A.  J.  Kingsbury  before  the  Seagrave   truck    was   purchased.      Left   to   right   the    lirciiien 
are:  Chester   llngnnin;   El  win    I'.illings.  Chief;   Guy   Rice.    .Xssistant    Chief;    Ernest    Frisch;    Thomas 

Hickey;  John   Bowens  and   George  Case. 


i 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE  COUNTY. 


169 


CHAPTER  XXXIIl. 

Antigo  Lodges,  Clubs,  Societies 

Masonic — Odd  Fellows — Elks — Knights  of  Columbus — Foresters — Knights  of  Wisconsin — Knights 
of  Pythias — Various  Railroad  Lodges  and  Auxiliaries — Labor  Organizations — Eagles — M.  W. 
A. — Mystic  Workers — E.  F.  U. — Owls — Beavers — Moose — Z.  C.  B.  J. — Patriotic  Orders — Typo- 
graphical Union. 


That  the  generations  to  follow  may  know  that  An- 
tigo, Langlade  County,  was  one  of  the  prominent  fra- 
ternal and  social  cities  of  Wisconsin  in  this  age,  the 
various  lodges,  patriotic  orders,  clubs,  and  labor  or- 
ganizations are  briefly  enumerated.  Where  charter 
members  were  available  they  have  been  listed.  These 
organizations  are  numerous  and  only  a  sketch  of  each 
can  be  made.  They  are  benevolent,  social,  benefi- 
ciary, patriotic,  and  literary  in  character.  Their  mem- 
berships represent  the  entire  city  of  Antigo  and  every 
township  of  Langlade  County.  In  generations  to  come 
many  of  the  orders  will  be  dead  and  forgotten,  and 
perhaps,  by  chance,  in  an  old  attic  or  from  between  the 
walls  of  a  building  being  torn  down  or  one  that  is 
decaying,  this  record  of  Antigo's  fraternal,  social,  and 
benevolent  affairs  will   be  found. 

REBEKAHS— TWILIGHT  LODGE  NO  184. 

Twilight  Lodge,  No.  184,  Rebekahs,  was  organized 
June  5,  1901.  The  charter  members  were  H.  Findei- 
sen,  W.  F.  Bowman,  W.  B.  Johns,  W.  L.  Crocker,  W. 
J.  Daskam,  J.  W.  Allerton,  Frank  Irwin,  Louisa  Bow- 
man, Amanda  Johns,  Fannie  Crocker,  Effie  Crocker, 
Sophie  Findeisen,  Grace  Daskam,  Floy  Truesdell, 
Hattie  Kellett,  Emma  Weeks,  Elizabeth  Johnson,  Eva 
Gee,  Carrie  Christiansen,  Nellie  Freyer,  E.  H.  Trues- 
dell, Nellie  Hulbert,  Etta  Erwin,  Floi  Allerton,  Kate 
Gee,  Emaline  Findeisen,  Anna  Watch,  Alvin  Watch, 
A.  A.  Hulbert,  Fred  Gee,  George  Gee,  John  Weeks, 
Henry  Freyer,  Elizabeth  Kenyon,  and  L.  J.  Kenyon. 

ROYAL  NEIGHBORS,  CAMP  1847. 

Antigo  Camp  1847,  Camp  6419,  and  Camp  8449  of 
the  R.  N.  A.  have  been  consolidated  into  one  camp 
known  now  as  Antigo  Camp  1847.  Charter  members 
of  Camp  1847  were  Minnie  L.  Albright,  Anna  Badger, 
Jennie  Barnes,  Matie  E.  Bemis,  Rose  Boll,  Lottie  B. 
Calkins,  Anna  F.  Dana,  Anna  C.  Dawley,  Tillie 
Driggs,  Jennie  Fischer,  Emma  Garland,  Alice  Gray, 
Hilma  Gryle,  Louise  Heller,  Eva  S.  Hill,  Anna  M. 
Hopkins,  Maggie  Kempf,  Mary  Locks,  Augusta  Mad- 
sen,  Mary  Yentz,  Franciska  Wege,  Louise  Molle,  Al- 
vina  Phelps,  Mary  Ringsmuth,  Alma  E.  Rudolph,  Effie 
L.  Steffen,  Maggie  A.  Warren.  Charter  members  of 
Camp  No.  6419  were:  Anna  Barta,  Mary  Barta,  Abbie 
S.  Bonner,  Agnes  Chadek,  Mary  A.  Chadek,  Mary  K. 
Cherf,  Anna  Dvorak,  Katherine  E.  Hubbard,  Anna 
and  Annie  Jacobus,  Marie  F.  Jacobus,  Maud  Karbon, 
Theresa  Krugel,  Augusta  McDougal,  Essie  McDougal, 


Clara  Mosher,  Kristena  Pavlicek,  Mary  Platek,  Mary 
J.  Plzak,  Hedley  Ralph,  Rillie  Ralph,  Theresa  Rice, 
Anna  Rine,  Evelyn  Rynders,  Clara  Schmitzer,  Marie 
Smetana,  Annie  Steinfest,  Anna  Urban,  Mary  White. 
Charter  members  of  Camp  No.  8449  were  Lulu  Aben- 
schein,  Jennie  Anderson,  Rosella  Berg,  Sadie  Cavers, 
Mabel  W.  Charles,  Kattie  Claggett,  Irene  Conway, 
Esther  Edwards,  Ethel  Fearson,  Maud  Finney,  Mayme 
C.  Glassow,  Maud  Goodchild,  Lillian  J.  Gorman,  Hil- 
degarde  Hill,  Anne  Hodd,  Ella  Kamke,  Lottie  Larze- 
lere,  Bernice  Cambridge,  Gustava  McDonough,  Lynda 
Nelson,  Lillian  Patnode,  Willamine  Riley,  Myra 
Roberts,  Hidvina  Rogge,  Minnie  Speener,  Rose 
Strandt,  Eva  Tatro,  E.  Threasther,  Ella  Wilson,  C. 
Washburn. 

G.  I.  A.  TO  B.  OF  L.  E. 

The  G.  I.  A.  to  B.  of  L.  E.  organized  in  Antigo  Feb- 
ruary 14,  1914.  Charter  members  were  Mesdames 
Charles  Aucutt,  Charles  Abrams,  C.  A.  Apker,  A.  H. 
Bessey,  M.  F.  Crowe,  J.  Callahan,  Ed  Clancy,  Wm. 
Curran,  M.  F.  Day,  Patrick  Donohue,  E.  F.  Duggan, 
Dennis  Donohue,  Ed  Eschenbach,  E.  T.  Ford,  L.  Hoff- 
man, R.  C.  Hull,  R.  H.  Johnston,  T.  P.  Kelly,  John  Ke- 
van,  T.  J.  Kavanaugh,  James  Kane,  Jule  Libert,  Wm. 
Meagher,  Pat  Mulloy,  Angus  McKinnon,  John  Mc- 
Guire,  Joseph  McClelland,  Charles  McCarthy,  George 
Norton,  James  Paton,  Al  Ryland,  Frank  Stewart, 
Charles  Tillett,  F.  P.  VerBryck,  J.  D.  Vantwood. 

ORDER  OF  OWLS,  NEST  1165. 

Nest  1165,  Order  of  Owls,  was  organized  in  Antigo 
with  charter  members  as  follows:  A.  A.  Hyams,  Wal- 
ter Boyle,  Eugene  Palmer,  George  V.  Stengl,  J.  C. 
Wright,  H.  A.  Kohl,  D.  H.  Keen,  Richard  Boll,  Dan 
Haffner,  Frank  Arnold,  Charles  F.  Gorham,  John 
Schrieber,  E.  S.  Rayworth,  F.  Bergran,  John  Hayes, 
Louis  Kaims,  A.  F.  Billington,  F.  J.  Kadow,  Frank 
Herrick,  Ernest  P.  Emerich,  C.  F.  Williams,  Andrew 
Mathison,  Peter  Poshinsky,  Henry  Hoffman,  M.  A. 
Flatley,  Edward  Hadler,  Lamont  Boyer,  Henry  Bork, 
Wm.  Laroy,  Arthur  Mader,  Charles  Atkins,  F.  J.  Gal- 
lagher, Julius  Heissinger,  E.  J.  Donohue,  F.  G.  Kub- 
seroy,  George  J.  Larson,  M.  J.  Donohue,  Paul  Von  de 
Schoeppe,  M.  Healy,  Jess  Garland,  A.  E.  James,  John 
Prokupek,  Wm.  Stewart,  Joseph  Giese,  L.  C.  Andrews, 
A.  E.  Harris,  August  Laabs,  Edward  J.  Beckman, 
Joseph  Kotschie,  E.  J.  Berenson,  Frank  Lyons,  J.  J. 
Herbash,  Clinton  Jerosom,  George  Wolfe,  M.  McCann, 


170 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


W.  H.  Jensen,  J.  C.  McCann,  J.  Stillman,  W.  F.  Baker, 
F.  H.  Boldt,  Stanley  Kames,  G.  W.  Moore,  John  Bo- 
sacki.     The  nest  was  organized  December  6,  1910. 

SPRINGBROOK  LODGE  534,  B.  OF  L.  F.  &  E. 

Springbrook  Lodge  No.  534,  B.  of  L.  F.  &  E.,  was 
organized  in  Antigo,  March  1,  1909. 

LADIES  SOCIETY,  B.  OF  L.  F.  &  E. 

The  Ladies  Society  of  the  B.  of  L.  F.  &  E.  was  or- 
ganized March  14,  1919.  Charter  members  were 
Ethel  Allen,  Veronica  Barr,  Ida  Below,  Grace  and 
Mary  Bublitz,  Bell  Christensen,  Edna  Curran,  Cora 
Drake,  Laura  Drake,  Mary  Donohue,  F.  Engle,  Lynda 
Fuller,  Merle  Fuller,  Josephine  Gnat,  Katherine  Gra- 
bowsky,  Genevieve  Hayes,  Mary  Hanneman,  Margaret 
Heaney,  Martha  Hintz,  Margaret  Jones,  Bertha  Russ- 
ler,  Christina  Sisel,  Anna  E.  Soman,  Mary  F.  Stats, 
Theresa  Stats,  Ella  Strobel,  Ruth  Wiske,  and  Ella 
Young. 

ASSEMBLY  NO.  29,  E.  F.  U. 

Charter  members  of  Antigo  Assembly  No.  29,  E. 
F.  U.,  organized  March  10,  1898,  were  A.  D.  Stewart, 
Fred  Zwickey,  Joseph  Wirrer,  C.  Leykom,  W.  H. 
Pardee,  F.  A.  Millard,  Charles  Fehring,  Anton  MoUe, 
Peter  Hansen,  C.  L.  Robinson,  S.  Dunnewald,  John  F. 
Schultz,  Charles  Franzke,  I.  D.  Steffen,  Sipley  Weeks, 
Henry  F.  Fryer,  L.  K.  Strong,  Leon  Hartford,  A.  C. 
Campbell.  E.  A.  King,  A.  H.  Walch,  Charles  H. 
Krause,  and  D.  H.  Clements. 

MYSTIC  WORKERS  OF  WORLD. 

Antigo  Lodge  No.  585,  Mystic  Workers  of  the 
World,  was  organized  September  29,  1903.  Charter 
members  were  E.  R.  Watson,  Ella  R.  Putnam,  Charles 
L.  Braun,  H.  A.  Schafer,  M.  J.  Donohue,  Erwin  Hutch- 
ins,  Fred  Litts,  John  Crandall,  Jr.,  Evan  Evenson,  H. 
D.  Willard,  and  J.  E.  Putnam.  They  were  also  the 
first  officers. 


BROTHERHOOD  OF  RAILWAY  CLERKS. 

The  Brotherhood  of  Railway  Clerks,  Station,  Steam- 
ship and  Express  Employes  organized  in  Antigo  as 
Antigo  Lodge  No.  144,  November  16,  1918.  Charter 
members  were  Arthur  A.  Holmes,  E.  Nonnemacher, 
Albert  Ross,  Andrew  Follsted,  F.  Sobkowiak,  James 
Pliska,  Ray  Loper,  H.  R.  Bomke,  E.  P.  Emerich,  E.  J. 
Steffel,  Frank  Emerich,  John  Reubal,  Joseph  Sob- 
kowiak, W.  J.  Wolhaupt,  R.  Brandl,  and  Lester  G. 
Frink. 

CARPENTERS  UNION  NO.  1508. 

Antigo  Lodge  No.  1508,  United  Brotherhood  of  Car- 
penters and  Joiners,  was  organized  September  2,  1910. 
The  union  holds  its  meetings  the  2nd  and  4th  Satur- 
days of  each  month. 

ANTIGO  CENTRAL  LABOR  UNION. 

The  Antigo  Central  Labor  Union  was  organized 
June  17,  1916,  with  E.  E.  Frink,  H.  H.  Fetters,  M.  D. 
Robrecht,  Charles  Kupper,  Albert  Rice,  and  A.  Wulk 
as  charter  members.  The  central  body  is  representa- 
tive of  the  greater  number  of  organized  unions  of  An- 
tigo. Meetings  are  held  in  the  Butterfield  building. 
October  7,  1918,  the  unit  received  a  certificate  of  mem- 
bership in  the  State  Federation  of  Labor.  The  Antigo 
Central  Labor  Union  has  conducted  Labor  Day  cele- 
brations in  Antigo  since  1917. 

ANTIGO  LODGE  NO.  662,  B.  P.  0.  E. 

Antigo  Lodge  No.  662,  B.  P.  O.  E.  was  instituted  in 
Antigo  on  February  21,  1901  by  D.  D.  G.  Exalted  Ruler 
Thomas  B.  Mills  of  West  Superior,  Wisconsin.  Elks 
from  Rhinelander,  Wausau  and  Ashland  were  present 
and  assisted  in  organization.  The  first  officers  elected 
were  :  E.  R.— G.  W.  Latta ;  E.  Leading  K.— C.  E.  Hen- 
shaw;  E.  Loyal  Knight — C.  O.  Marsh;  E.  Lecturing  K. 
— Max  Hoffman;  Secretary — 0.  P.  Walch;  Treasurer — 
W.  B.  McArthur;  Tiler— William  Hackett;  Trustees— 
Dr.  F.  V.  Watson,  Fred  Meyers  and  L.  D.  Dana. 

Antigo  Lodge  No.  662  has  its  own  home  at  622  Cler- 
mont Street. 


JUVENILE  BRANCH— MYSTIC  WORKERS. 

Charter  members  of  Branch  No.  585,  Juvenile  Mys- 
tic Workers  of  the  World  are  Dorothy  E.  Below,  Aug- 
ust Laehn,  Jr.,  Emmet  Below,  Dorothy  Laehn,  Elmer 
Laehn,  Ruth  E.  Drake,  Cleo  Doebert,  John  Laehn, 
Mabel  Laehn,  Paul  Laehn,  Raymond  Laehn,  Rosa 
Laehn,  Ray  Edwards,  A.  C.  Goodnow,  C.  C.  Herman, 
C.  L.  Goodenow,  Marquette  Herman,  D.  E.  Herman, 
Harold  J.  and  Leo  James  Hittle,  Walter  Laehn,  Alice 
Laabs,  Frank  Lenzner,  Martha  and  Ray  Lenzner,  Ade- 
line Kupper,  Gladys  Maloney,  Dwayne  Mountain,  Bea- 
trice Nedden,  Alice  Sweeney,  Francis  G.  Person,  Luel- 
la  Rettinger,  Dorothy  R.  and  Clarence,  Edward,  Helen, 
and  John  Swoboda,  and  Lorraine  Van  Atter.  The 
branch  organized  March  10,  1920. 


ANTIGO  LODGE  NO.  470,  L.  0.  0.  M. 

Anitgo  Lodge  No.  470,  L.  0.  0.  M.,  was  organized 
August  8,  1919.  Elwin  Billings,  Robert  S.  Browne, 
E.  A.  Beckman,  Oscar  Hertell,  Chris  Adraktas,  Eugene 
Nash,  Joseph  Schwartz,  Stephen  Stacka,  Arby  Gil- 
mer, Frank  Grossman,  F.  Molzberger,  Godfrey  Nor- 
man, Tony  Dombios,  Julius  Bergman,  John  Now, 
Harry  Woodward,  A.  P.  Anderson,  M.  J.  Hickey, 
Leonard  Freiburger,  Jr.,  S.  A.  Dillman,  Anton  Holup, 
Joseph  Bames,  A.  E.  Pickel,  Harley  Space,  Alex  Ka- 
dow,  W.  F.  Kasson,  H.  F.  McCollough,  George  Basl, 
Ira  Miller,  Fred  C.  Schultz,  Anton  Peroutka,  E.  H. 
Marsh,  August  Marmes,  Herman  Levin,  Ed  Williams, 
Thomas  Collick,  Charles  Fleischman,  N.  F.  Lamey, 
Charles  Gorham,  Julius  Guenthner,  Jr.,  Edward  J.  Ka- 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


171 


dow,  M.  D.  Robrecht,  Charles  Orgeman,  R.  Houle,  N. 

E.  Dillman,  Frank  Schoepfer,  Ray  Kitt,  W.  C.  Fehr- 
mann,  and  Max  H.  Delfs.  The  lodge  was  organized 
August  8,  1919. 

ANTIGO  COUNCIL  NO.  25,  F.  R.  A. 

Antigo  Council  No.  25,  F.  R.  A.,  was  instituted  No- 
vember 19,  1902,  with  A.  F.  Zimmerman,  Henry  Mitch- 
ell, J.  J.  Laughlin,  Leonard  Freiburger,  J.  W.  Parsons, 
Delbert  Rice,  Henry  Green,  A.  M.  Arveson,  Paul  Rum- 
mer,  Chris   Brennecke,   Emmon   Badger,   Peter   Marx, 

F.  V.  Watson,  Fred  Boyce,  Frank  Drake,  August 
Gamm,  Henry  Heller,  Otto  Able,  Dan  Keen,  Gustav 
Berglin,  Frank  Koles,  Emil  Klitz,  Wm.  Wright,  Frank 
Keller,  and  Alfred  Iserhott  as  charter  members. 

SPRINGBROOK  COLONY  27,  BEAVERS  R.  F.  F. 

Springbrook  Colony  27,  B.  R.  F.  F.,  was  organized 
September  20,  1907.  C.  J.  Nash,  James  Gagen,  Leon- 
ard Freiburger,  Sr.,  Fred  Wege,  Minnie  Goebel,  Mary 
Tollefson,  Ellen  McArthur,  A.  F.  Zimmerman,  C.  H. 
Calkins,  F.  H.  Boldt,  Emma  McArthur,  Dr.  F.  V.  Wat- 
son, Dr.  G.  H.  Williamson,  Dr.  Helen  Beattie  were 
charter  members. 

WOMAN'S  CATHOLIC  ORDER  OF  FORESTERS. 

The  Woman's  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters,  insti- 
tuted St.  Marguerite's  Court  No.  264  June  2,  1898. 
Isabel  McKusker,  Mary  Crowe,  Marie  Moulton,  Agnes 
Donohue,  Margaret  Cleary,  Mary  Morse,  May  Kest- 
ly,  and  Z.  M.  Strong  were  charter  members. 

UNITED    BROTHERHOOD    MAINTENANCE    OF 
WAY,  ANTIGO  LODGE  NO.  474. 

The  United  Brotherhood  of  Maintenance  of  Way 
and  Railway  Shop  Employes  organized  as  Antigo 
Lodge  No.  474,  December  30,  1918.  The  following 
were  the  charter  members:  William  A.  Ranka,  first 
President;  Edward  Wojan,  Vice  President;  Harry 
Pehil,  Past  President;  Theodore  Zemke,  Sec.-Treas.; 
Theodore  Zemke,  Journal  Agent;  George  Dale,  Chap- 
lain; Fred  Ebert,  Conductor;  Fred  Parsons,  Warden; 
Albert  Schutz,  Inner  Sentinel,  and  Paul  Zemke,  Outer 
Sentinel.  January  9,  1919,  the  Maintenance  of  Way 
received  certification  of  membership  in  the  State  Fed- 
eration of  Labor. 

BROTHERHOOD  OF  RAILWAY  CARMEN. 

Springbrook  Lodge  No.  451,  Brotherhood  of  Rail- 
way Carmen,  was  organized  September  22,  1906.  Char- 
ter members  were  J.  J.  Tessar,  John  Cherney,  J.  M. 
Fencil,  Peter  Piotrowski,  A.  Dumke,  Frank  Chur- 
ney,  Anton  Zima,  James  Byrne,  Frank  Steber,  R.  Mahl, 
and  Adam  Janazak. 

ORDER  OF  RAILWAY  CONDUCTORS. 

On  December  4,  1904,  Division  No.  462,  of  the  Order 
of  Railway  Conductors,  was  organized  in  Antigo  with 


the  following  charter  members :  Edward  Cleary,  C.  D. 
Fenn,  M.  Garrity,  John  McKenna,  S.  J.  Lynde,  B.  W. 
McCarey,  W.  H.  Brown,  John  Wall,  C.  M.  Beattie, 
H.  J.  Frick,  H.  M.  Jennings,  H.  J.  Riley,  D.  E.  Rock- 
wood,  W.  P.  Hull,  F.  C.  Parsons,  James  Farley,  J. 
R.  McCullouch,  W.  D.  Kelly,  John  Kelly,  A.  Pelkie. 
J.  P.  Warren,  and  W.  J.  Van  Rossum. 

INTERNATIONAL  ASS'N.  OF  MACHINISTS 
(HELPERS) 

December  8,  1917,  the  International  Association  of 
Machinists  formed  an  Antigo  unit  with  the  following  as 
charter  members:  John  Douglas,  John  A.  Granscheid, 
Charles  Hittle,  Clarence  Heyse,  Emil  Krall,  James 
Krall,  John  Knolinski,  Ernest  Duchrow,  Jacob  Lingle, 
Joseph  Pentany,  John  and  Roy  Remington,  S.  Rock, 
Joseph  Sailer,  and  Frank  Sell. 

WOMAN'S  RELIEF  CORPS  NO.  78. 

The  John  A.  Kellogg  Relief  Corps,  No.  78,  was  or- 
ganized May  15,  1888.  The  charter  members  were 
Mrs.  M.  Jane  Burdick,  Mrs.  Helen  Breck,  Mrs.  E.  L. 
Bowman,  Mrs.  Emma  La  Londe,  Mrs.  Elvey  E.  Cham- 
berlain, Mrs.  R.  A.  Laing,  Miss  Florence  Burdick,  Mrs. 
Mary  A.  Dix,  Miss  Maud  La  Londe,  Mrs.  Jane  A. 
Springstead,  Mrs.  Emily  Juneau,  Mrs.  Matilda  Graves, 
Mrs.  Theresa  Phelps,  and  Miss  Cora  Graves.  Meet- 
ings are  held  the  first  and  third  Tuesdays  at  Odd 
Fellows'  Hall. 

DAUGHTERS  OF  THE  G.  A.  R. 

The  Antigo  Fortress  of  the  Daughters  of  the  G.  A. 
R.  was  organized  August  23,  1921.  Charter  members 
were  Mae  Young,  Elizabeth  Higgins,  Flora  Bryant, 
Alice  Garland,  Anna  Lavoy,  Anna  Gelow,  Ella  Seng- 
stock,  Lottie  Aucutt,  Margaret  Randall,  Genevieve 
Stanson,  Gertrude  Young,  Hazel  Aucutt,  Mabel  Malt- 
by,  Hattie  Lyons,  and  Myrtle  Schutts.  Meetings  are 
held  at  Adraktas  hall.  Mrs.  Leland  Mayotte,  nee 
Leila  Abrams,  was  officially  adopted  as  a  daughter 
of  the  John  A.  Kellogg  Post  No.  78,  G.  A.  R.,  in  June, 
1912. 

REESE  SPARKS  POST  NO.  3,  AMERICAN 
LEGION. 

Reese  Sparks  Post  No.  3,  American  Legion,  was  or- 
ganized September  1,  1921. 

INDEPENDENT  ORDER  OF  ODD  FELLOWS. 

Gem  Encampment  No.  30,  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  was  organized  February  12,  1892,  with 
J.  W.  Morse,  G.  0.  Palmiter,  W.  L.  Crocker,  Dr.  M. 
J.  Lower,  Thomas  Salvidge,  and  John  Benishek  as 
charter  members. 

On  June  8,  1883,  W.  L.  Crocker,  George  Ratcliffe, 
J.  K.  Smolk,  J.  A.  Long,  W.  L.  Wallon  organized  An- 
tigo Lodge  No.  310,  I.  0.  0.  F. 


172 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


CHARTER  OAK  NO.  150,  K.  OF  P. 

Charter  Oak  Lodge  No.  150,  Knights  of  Pythias,  was 
organized  June  10,  1903,  with  the  following  charter 
members:  C.  M.  Beattie,  W.  H.  Dawley,  Guy  J. 
Moses,  F.  E.  Chandler,  F.  I.  Drake,  W.  B.  McArthur, 
C.  W.  Swanson,  F.  W.  Hogan,  A.  C.  Conway,  W.  H. 
Furgeson,  R.  Koebke,  George  Ewen,  F.  C.  Myers,  M. 
M.  Ross,  Fred  W.  Bauter,  Dave  Clements,  F.  T.  Gray, 
R.  Brush,  Henry  Berner,  Fred  L.  Berner,  A.  M.  Dues- 
dru,  W.  H.  Grey,  C.  L.  Clarke,  0.  H.  Foster,  M.  L. 
Bacon,  James  F.  McCormick,  O.  P.  Walch,  and  E. 
Wigderson.  Meetings  are  held  every  Thursday  eve- 
ning at  Odd  Fellows'  Hall. 

MOOSEHEART  LEGION  OF  WORLD. 

Antigo  Chapter  587,  Moosehart  Legion  of  the 
World,  was  organized  January  9,  1921.  Meetings  are 
held  at  Adraktas  Hall. 

Z.  C.  B.  J. 

The  Z.  C.  B.  J.  was  organized  in  Antigo,  January  1, 
1897. 

ANTIGO  COUNCIL  NO.  1002,  K.  OF  C. 

Antigo  Council  No.  1002,  Knights  of  Columbus,  was 
organized  on  June  4,  1905.  Charter  members  were : 
J.  F.  McCormick,  William  Reader,  Hector  McDonald, 
Rev.  P.  T.  Garrity,  Timothy  Burke,  F.  Jennings,  D.  J. 
Murphy,  Joseph  Kelley,  J.  P.  Rohlinger,  J.  M.  Hogan, 
Archie  Pelkie,  Rev.  P.  S.  Schmitz,  Charles  Nichols, 
John  Barnes,  J.  H.  Wall,  J.  H.  Dedier,  B.  Berhatter, 
Jacob  Bentz,  Angus  McKinnon,  Matt  Donohue,  Rev. 
Fr.  Bastian,  Marcus  Madel,  Joseph  Bentz,  Edgar  R. 
Gibbons,  W.  J.  Sullivan,  John  O'Day,  R.  W.  Barrett, 
J.  J.  Kiely,  T.  M.  Bolger,  Dr.  W.  Ryan,  Adolph  Kom- 
mers,  M.  J.  Donohue,  T.  W.  Hogan,  A.  J.  Riley,  John 
Kevin,  M.  J.  McNamara,  Charles  McCarthy,  W.  H. 
Wall,  J.  E.  Collins,  John  Kelley,  Edward  Doner,  John 
Rassman,  T.  J.  Kavanaugh,  John  McCarthy,  J.  L. 
Donohue,  G.  W.  McKinnon,  J.  L.  Burns,  M.  J.  O'Don- 
nell,  M.  O'Donnell,  D.  Van  Hecke,  Thomas  Kelley, 
James  Koehane,  John  McKenna,  Rev.  C.  Saile,  G.  W. 
Anson,  Thomas  W.  Koehane,  A.  M.  Baranton,  M.  W. 
Schumacher,  James  O'Malley,  Pat  O'Malley,  James 
S.  Timlin.  T.  T.  McGuine,  W.  H.  Johnson,  W.  H. 
Brown,  Edward  Cleary,  F.  Verkurlin,  J.  0.  Madel,  R. 
M.  Kutchins,  A.  J.  Nowotny,  John  Roem,  M.  A. 
Flatley,  L.  Kommers,  F.  T.  Doner,  H.  B.  Muttart,  F. 
McGillan,  B.  W.  McCarey,  J.  J.  Laughlin,  F.  M.  Mul- 
vaney,  Frank  Kelly,  V.  P.  Rath,  D.  E.  Rice,  Thomas 
Morrissey,  C.  N.  Cody,  John  Kalmers,  W.  H.  O'Brien, 
A.  H.  Bauer,  J.  A.  Walsh,  B.  J.  Lally,  C.  Fred  Calhoun, 
Ed  Cody,  J.  A.  Gaynor,  Dr.  J.  J.  Looze,  Frank  Kane, 
T.  E.  Mullen,  R.  F.  Dedier,  T.  M.  Coughlin,  P.  J.  Koel- 
zer,  F.  Kestly,  R.  Kemmer,  J.  J.  Huhn,  Jr.,  Henry  and 
Arnold  Maes  and  John  Van  Hecke. 

LADIES  AUXILIARY  TO  B.  OF  R.  T. 

On   March  5,   1896,   Badger  Lodge  No.  93,  Ladies 
Auxiliary  to  the  B.  of  R.  T.,  was  organized.     Anna 


Persons,  Bertha  Billings,  Delia  Bernett,  May  Dix, 
Mary  G.  Laughlin,  Helen  Mclntyre,  Lettie  Anchet, 
Mary  Clark,  Jennie  Porter,  Clara  Hoyt,  Ina  White, 
Mayme  McNamara,  Lottie  Dailey,  Nellie  Garrity, 
Mary  Nye,  F.  A.  Arnold,  Maggie  Boyle,  Mary  Billings, 
and  Amelia  Snorts  were  the  charter  members. 

MacPHERSON  CIRCLE,  LADIES  OF  G.  A.  R. 

Gen.  J.  MacPherson  Circle  No.  2,  Ladies  of  the  G. 
A.  R.,  was  organized  December  12,  1893,  with  Mrs. 
Mary  A.  Dricks,  Theressa  Phelps,  Anna  Elliott,  Carrie 
Leudkey,  Elizabeth  Fowler,  Anna  Briggs,  Alice  Swee- 
ney, Rachel  Laing,  Adelaide  Stone,  Mary  Furgeson, 
Margaret  Michaelson,  Grace  Fowler,  Margaret  Ley- 
kom,  Charlotte  Aucutt,  Emily  Juneau,  Estella  Prosser, 
and  Miss  Minnie  Hull  as  charter  members. 

ANTIGO  TYPOGRAPHICAL  UNION  NO.  734. 

Antigo  Typographical  Union  No.  734  was  organ- 
ized on  March  4,  1915.  Ten  members  were  initiated 
into  the  union  at  the  first  regular  meeting.  Albert  Spy- 
challa  is  now  President  and  Hugh  Besaw  is  Secretary 
and  Treasurer.  The  membership  is  composed  of  print- 
ers as  follows :  Ralph  Berner,  Bert  House,  Harvey 
Goebel,  Otto  Kiedatz,  Clifford  B.  Knapp,  Irvin  Schille- 
man,  Roy  Rezek,  Rudolph  Steber,  Hugh  Besaw,  Wil- 
liam Leslie,  Earl  S.  Holman,  Albert  Spychalla,  Henry 
Berner,  Otto  Berner,  and  Louis  Berner. 

CATHOLIC  KNIGHTS  OF  WISCONSIN. 

Antigo  Branch  No.  77  of  the  Catholic  Knights  of 
Wisconsin  was  organized  July  29,  1887.  The  charter 
members  were  Stephen  Dauch,  Patrick  H.  Durick, 
Joseph  H.  Hoffman,  J.  N.  Kiefer,  J.  E.  Mullowney, 
George  L.  Schintz,  Israel  Wood,  Edward  Cavanaugh 
John  Deresch,  Joseph  Firminhac,  Frank  Kennedy,  M. 
McNamara,  Frank  Reindl,  George  L.  Schutz. 

ST.  JOHN'S  COURT,  C.  0.  0.  F. 

St.  John's  Court  No.  105,  Catholic  Order  of  For- 
esters, was  organized  March  20,  1889,  with  the  follow- 
ing charter  members :  George  L.  Schintz,  Frank  Mot- 
tell,  Thomas  W.  Hogan,  Michael  O'Donnell,  August 
Freiburger,  Dr.  J.  F.  Doyle,  Dennis  Costello,  Daniel 
Dunn,  Leonard  Freiburger,  A.  H.  Morris,  James  Lor- 
enz,  John  Kevan,  and  Joseph  Alb.  Regular  meetings 
are  held. 

INTERNATIONAL  ASSOCIATION  OF  MACHIN- 
ISTS. 

Libby  Lodge  No.  700,  International  Association  of 
Machinists,  was  organized  in  Antigo  on  January  17, 
1918,  with  the  following  charter  members:  Edwin  A. 
Berg,  P.  B.  Gibson,  T.  J.  Holland,  Ever  Hoiem,  L.  A. 
Howard,  L.  G.  Krause,  W.  J.  Owens,  F.  W.  Priester, 
J.  W.  Strong,  L.  Wolf  and  W.  H.  Wall. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


173 


B.  A.  R.  E. 

The  Brotherhood  of  Railway  Employes,  Antigo  Di- 
vision No.  122,  was  organized  on  April  3,  1919. 

ANTIGO  LODGE  NO.  618—1.  B.  B.  I.  S.  B.  H.  OF  A. 

Antigo  Lodge  No.  618,  International  Brotherhood  of 
Boilermakers,  Iron  Ship  Builders  and  Helpers  of  Amer- 
ica, was  organized  on  March  9,  1920.  The  charter 
members  were  Eugene  Fuszard,  George  Ostermeir, 
Tim  Crow,  Paul  Schumann,  Emil  Hanousek,  Fred 
Wendt,  Ed.  Muraski,  Felix  Ourouke,  W.  A.  Lillie, 
Frank  Neuburger,  Henry  Harm,  Daniel  Pierson,  Albert 
Nedden,  Joseph  Bahr,  Peter  De  Loy,  Peter  Piotrowski, 
M.  Rock,  J.  H.  Luckowicz,  Plumber  King,  E.  Fuszard, 
Joseph  Frisch,  B.  H.  Franklin,  A.  Long,  August  Laabs, 
Louis  Meyers.  John  Petrowski,  Max  Hoffman  and 
Charles  Bliss. 

ANTIGO  LODGE,  MAINTENANCE  OF  WAY. 

Antigo  Lodge,  International  Brotherhood  of  Main- 
tenance of  Way  Employes,  was  organized  on  March 
23,  1910.  The  charter  members  were  as  follows:  S. 
F.  Plzak,  J.  P.  Pliska,  J.  J.  Kosarek,  August  Kessler, 
Charles  Daga,  C.  A.  Smith,  M.  Kozarek,  William  Sen- 
ner,  Robert  Ison  and  A.  Schmal. 

ANTIGO  LODGE  F.  &  A.  M. 

Antigo  Lodge  No.  231,  F.  &  A.  M.,  was  organized  on 
September  15,  1885.  The  lodge  was  instituted  with 
twenty-one  charter  members.  The  first  officers  were : 
W.  M.— G.  A.  Ramsay;  S.  W.— J.  W.  Moody;  J.  W.— 
Ed.  Daskam;  Treasurer — G.  W.  Latta;  Secretary — P. 
J.  Millard;  S.  D.— A.  B.  Millard;  J.  D.— James  Porter; 
Stewards — J.  W.  Goodwin;  Charles  Teipner;  Tiler — 
Frank  Carsen.  M.  L.  Youngs,  Grand  Lecturer  of  Wis- 
consin was  instrumental  in  organization.  The  first 
meeting  was  held  over  Irvin  Gray's  store. 

Present  officers,  1922,  are :  W.  M.— C.  W.  Van  Dor- 
en;  S.  W.— L.  H.  Hilton;  Jr.  W.— Chas.  Gauthier; 
Treasurer — Geo.  Crandell;  Secretary — N.  C.  Holmes; 
S.  D.— Tracy  Wales;  Jr.  D.— Harry  Fitze;  Sr.  S.— 
Walter  Fetters;  Jr.  S.— A.  Hovey;  Tyler— H.  A.  Bald- 
win. 

ANTIGO  CHAPTER  NO.  64. 

Organized  December  6,  1889.  Present  officers, 
1922,  are:  H.  P.— Otto  Walch;  King— C.  0.  Miller; 
Scribe — Wm.  R.  Dixon;  Treasurer — Geo.  Crandell; 
Secretary— Joe  Jirtle;  C.  of  H.— M.  C.  Canfield;  P.  S. 
—Ever  Hoiem;  R.  A.  C— K.  C.  Parton;  1st  V.— Geo. 
Crandell;  2nd  V.— R.  T.  Bonner;  3rd  V.— John  Josh- 
lyn;  Sentinel — Jim  Smolk. 

ANTIGO  COUNCIL  NO.  28. 

Organized  February  21,  1905.  Present  officers, 
1922,  are:  F.  A.  M.— Chas.  Horn;  D.  M.— John  Smith; 
P.  C.  of  W.— 0.  C.  Bardwell;  C.  of  G.— Ever  Hoiem; 
Recorder— K.  C.  Parton;  Sentinel— Wm.  Lange. 


ANTIGO  COMMANDERY  NO.  31. 

Organized   October    10,    1906.  Present     officers, 

1922,  are:  E.  M.— Peter  Klemann;  G.— Otto  Walch; 
C.  G. — Ever  Hoeim;  Treasurer — Earnest  Hirt;  Record. 
— Edw.  Palmer;  Prelate— Wm.  R.  Dixon— Sr.  W.— A. 
J.  Kimber;  Jr.  W.— C.  0.  Miller;  Standard  Bearer- 
Ed.  McCandless;  Sword  Bearer — Chas.  Horn;  Warder 
— Geo.  Crandell;  Sen. — Wm.  Lange. 

THE  WOMAN'S  CLUB. 

The  Antigo  Woman's  Club,  an  active  organization 
for  good  in  the  community  was  organized  in  1895. 
Meetings  are  held  regularly  in  Antigo.  Annual  pro- 
grams are  given. 

The  present  officers  of  the  Antigo  Woman's  Club 
are:  President — Mrs.  R.  B.  Johns;  Vice-President — 
Mrs.  L.  L.  Gibbs;  Recording  Secretary — Mrs.  Howard 
Bishop;  Corresponding  Secretary — Mrs.  B.  H. 
Strong;  Treasurer — Mrs.  M.  K.  Keenan. 

Meetings  are  held  every  two  weeks  from  the  first 
Monday  in  October  to  the  first  Monday  in  May. 

OTHER  ORDERS— CLUBS. 

Other  active  orders  and  clubs  are  the  Damascus 
Club,  St.  Joseph's  Benevolent  Society,  The  Columbus 
Home  Association,  and  various  church  and  civic  asso- 
ciations, including  the  Community  Welfare  Associa- 
tion and  the  Men's  Club. 

ANTIGO  CITY  BAND. 

The  present  band  was  organized  in  March,  1907. 
Its  first  officers  were  :  L.  G.  Lambert — President;  Fred 
W.  Luebcke — Vice-President;  Stanley  Mills — Secre- 
tary-Treasurer;  George  J.   Larson — Director-Manager. 

The  following  names  were  the  members  of  the  band 
at  that  time  and  instruments  they  played :  Clarinets — 
Lyle  Andrews,  Stanley  Mills,  Thomas  Kellogg,  Frank 
Pliska,  Frank  Osada;  Saxophones — Everet  Morgan, 
Howard  E.  Berry;  Cornets — Dan  Keen,  P.  O.  Prink, 
George  Gorham,  John  Strnad,  Hans  Larson,  George  J. 
Larson;  Altos — John  Schroepfer,  Matt  Koebernack, 
Alfred  Palmer;  Barintone — Ernest  Praehl;  Trombones 
— Joe  Kalouner,  B.  Seigert,  Glen  Sevelle;  Basses — L. 
G.  Lambert,  Blaine  Stewart;  Drums — Fred  W. 
Luebcke,  John  Palmer. 

The  present  officers  and  members  are :  Fred  W. 
Luebcke — President  and  Manager;  John  Schroepfer — 
Vice-President  and  Director;  Ben  Benishek — Secretary 
and  Treasurer.  Clarinets — John  Schroepfer,  Frank 
Pinkner,  George  Osada,  Peter  Jackimstahl;  Saxo- 
phones— Jim  Schultz;  Cornets — Dan  Keen,  Henry 
Keen,  Art  White,  Frank  Kastka,  Bert  House;  Altos— 
B.  Meyer,  Billy  Kuhr,  William  Geise;  Baritones — Ben 
Benisek,  Ben  Barter;  Trombones — Lee  Herman,  Ralph 
H.  Berner;  Basses — L.  G.  Lambert;  Drums — Art  Clif- 
ford, Fred  W.  Luebcke. 


174 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 
United  States  Government  Survey  of  Langlade  County 

Rolling  Township  First  Civil  Division  Surveyed — West  Elcho  Last  Area  Surveyed  in  1865 — Govern- 
ment Land  Measures — State  Soil  Survey  of  Langlade  County. 


Rolling  township  was  the  first  Langlade  County  civil 
division  to  be  surveyed  by  the  United  States  govern- 
ment. William  T.  Bradley  of  the  United  States  gov- 
ernment Department  of  Surveying  with  headquarters  at 
Dubuque,  Iowa,  commenced  the  survey  of  Rolling  Oc- 
tober  13,    1853,   and   completed   it   October   24,   1853. 


The  last  township  to  be  surveyed  was  West  Elcho. 
The  survey  was  inaugurated  by  James  L.  Nowlin  on 
July  8,  1865,  and  ended  July  20,  1865. 

The  survey  of  Langlade  County  townships  is  given 
herewith : 


Township. 

Range. 

County  Name. 

31  N. 

9  E. 

W.  Ackley. 

32  N. 

9  E. 

Vilas. 

33  N. 

9  E. 

S.  Summit. 

34  N. 

9 

E. 

N.  Summit. 

31  N. 

10 

E. 

E.  Ackley. 

32  N. 

10 

E. 

Peck. 

33  N. 

10 

E. 

W.  Upham. 

34  N. 

10 

E. 

W.  Elcho. 

30  N. 

11 

E. 

Rolling. 

31  N. 

11 

E. 

Antigo. 

32  N. 

11 

E. 

Neva. 

23  N. 

11 

E. 

E.   Upham. 

34  N. 

11 

E. 

E.  Elcho. 

30  N. 

12 

E. 

Norwood. 

31  N. 

12 

E. 

Polar. 

32  N. 

12 

E. 

Price. 

33  N. 

12 

E. 

S.  Ainsworth. 

34  N. 

12 

E. 

N.   Ainsworth 

31  N. 

13 

E. 

Evergreen. 

32  N. 

13 

E. 

S.  Langlade. 

33  N. 

13 

E. 

N.  Langlade. 

31  N. 

14 

E. 

S.  Elton. 

32  N. 

14 

E. 

Cen.  Elton. 

33  N. 

14 

E. 

N.  Elton. 

31  N. 

15 

E. 

15  Sec.  Elton. 

Survey  Commenced.         Ended. 

8-18-1860.  8-24-1860. 

9-21-1860.  9-27-1860. 

9-28-1860.  10-  5-1860. 

9-15-1864.  10-  4-1864. 

8-25-1860.  8-30-1860. 

9-14-1860.  9-20-1860. 

10-  6-1860.  10-18-1860. 

7-  8-1865.  7-20-1865. 

10-13-1853.  10-24-1853. 

9-  1-1860.  9-  6-1860. 

9-  7-1860.  9-13-1860. 

10-19-1860.  10-26-1860. 

7-18-1859.  7-24-1859. 

11-22-1854.  12-12-1854. 

11-21-1857.  12-  1-1857. 

12-  2-1857.  12-12-1857. 

5-  6-1865.  5-17-1865. 

5-18-1865.  6-  1-1865. 

11-10-1857.  11-20-1857. 

9-  6-1857.  9-18-1857. 

4-26-1865.  5-  5-1865. 

9-22-1857.  9-30-1857. 

9-19-1857.  9-29-1857. 

4-15-1865.  4-25-1865. 

9-12-1857.  9-21-1857. 


Surveyor. 
H.  C.  Fellows. 
H.  C.  Fellows. 
H.  C.  Fellows. 
Jas.  L.  Nowlin. 
H.  C.  Fellows. 
H.  C.  Fellows. 
H.  C.  Fellows. 
Jas.  L.  Nowlin. 
Wm.   T.   Bradley. 
H.  C.  Fellows. 
H.  C.  Fellows. 
H.  C.  Fellows. 
Wm.   E.    Daugherty. 
James   Withrow. 
James  McBride. 
James  McBride. 
Jas.  L.  Nowlin. 
Jas.  L.  Nowlin. 
Jas.    McBride. 
Alfred  Millard. 
Jas.  L.  Nowlin. 
Jas.  McBride. 
Alfred   Millard. 
Jas.  L.   Nowlin. 
Jas.  McBride. 


Township. 


GOVERNMENT    LAND    MEASURES. 


Section. 


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of 
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SW 

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Quarter 

QiiartcT 

SOVl'IC 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


175 


For  all  legal  or  descriptive  purposes  the  lands  in 
Langlade  County  are  referred  to  a  town  line  and  a 
range  line.  The  largest  division  of  land  is  a  town- 
ship, which  is  six  miles  square;  the  townships  in  Wis- 
consin are  numbered  1  to  53  from  the  southern  bound- 
ary line  north,  and  are  divided  into  townships  by  range 
lines  running  north  and  Fouth.  The  range  lines  are 
referred  to  the  4th  meridian,  the  ranges  west  being 
known  as  range  1  to  XX  west,  and  those  east  being 
known  as  ranges  1  to  XXIX  east.  The  city  of  Antigo 
is  thus  located  in  township  31  north,  range  11  east. 

A  township  contains  36  sections  or  23,0 W  acres. 
A  section  is  one  mile  square  and  contain  640  acres.  A 
quarter  section  is  a  half  mile  square  and  contains  160 
acres.  A  40  acre  tract  of  land  is  one-fourth  of  a 
mile  square. 


Lands  are  usually  sold  in  tracts  of  40  acres  or  a  mul- 
tiple thereof,  except  in  case  of  land  bordering  on  lakes, 
which  are  fractional  sections  and  may  contain  more 
or  less  than  40  acres.  These  are  called  government 
lots. 

The  sections  in  each  township  are  numbered  1  to  36, 
commencing  at  the  northeast  corner  as  is  shown  in  the 
diagram.  Sections  are  divided  into  quarters  which 
are  known  as  the  northeast  quarter,  the  northwest  quar- 
ter, the  southwest  quarter  and  the  southeast  quarter. 
The  quarters  are  again  divided  in  the  same  way  as 
shown  in  the  accompanying  diagram  on  page  174. 

The  description  of  this  40  acre  lot  would  then,  for 
example,  read  as  follows :  The  northeast  quarter  of 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  1,  township  33  north, 
range  13  east. 


SOIL  MAP  OF  LANGLADE  COUNTY 


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176 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 
Ackley  Townships  No.  31,  R.  9-10  E. 

Location — Variation  of  Soils — Boundaries — Organization — Attached  to  Langlade  County  1885 — Elec- 
tion of  1879 — Early  Voters — Pioneer  Roads — First  Officials — First  Settler — Territory  To  State 
Line — Eagle  River  Included — Eau  Claire  River  Drives — School  Districts  Adopted  1886 — Bell- 
myer-McGinnis-Behm  Communities  on  C.  M.  &  St.  P.  R.  R. — Screen  Door  Concern — Heine- 
mann  Village — Control  of  Lands — Early  Settlers  in  Districts — Schools — Teachers — Pioneer 
Hardships — Progress. 


Historic  Ackley  township,  with  its  vast  expanse  of 
uninhabited  territory,  reveals  a  most  interesting  chap- 
ter in  the  story  of  Langlade  County.  While  not  at- 
tached until  long  after  the  county  was  penetrated 
first  by  white  men,  yet  its  growth  and  prominence 
have  not  been  retarded  by  its  physical,  political,  or 
geographical  features. 

This  township  comprises  two  full  congressional 
townships,  about  40,080  acres  or  72  square  miles. 
Township  31,  Range  9  East  is  referred  to  as  West 
Ackley  and  Township  31,  Range  10  East  is  designated 
as  East  Ackley.  The  township  is  bounded  on  the 
north  by  Vilas  and  Peck  townships,  on  the  east  by  An- 
tigo  township,  on  the  south  by  Rolling  township  and 
Marathon  County,  and  on  the  west  by  Lincoln  County. 
The  survey  of  both  Ackley  townships  was  inaugurat- 
ed by  H.  C.  Fellows,  on  August  18,  1860,  and  ended 
August  30,  1860. 

It  received  its  name  from  its  first  settler,  W.  L.  Ack- 
ley, an  Englishman,  who  played  an  important  role  in 
the  early  pioneer  and  official  life  of  the  township. 

The  principal  water  course  is  the  west  and  east 
branches  of  the  Eau  Claire  river.  The  east  branch 
runs  through  sections  2,  3,  10,  15,  21,  27,  28,  and  34. 
The  west  branch  flows  through  sections  4,  9,  16,  and 
21,  all  in  East  Ackley.  Black  Creek  flows  through 
sections  19,  29,  and  30  in  East  Ackley  township  and 
through  sections  11,  12,  and  13  in  West  Ackley.  The 
Trappe  river  runs  through  sections  27,  32,  33,  and  34, 
draining  much  of  the  West  Ackley  territory. 

The  general  surface  of  the  township  is  low,  becom- 
ing, however,  somewhat  rolling  in  the  southwestern 
portion.  Ample  drainage  is  afforded  in  East  Ackley, 
but  such  is  not  the  fact  in  West  Ackley. 

Both  congressional  townships  of  Ackley  were  orig- 
inally covered  with  heavy  tracts  of  white  pine,  maple, 
poplar,  birch,  oak,  red  birch,  elm,  iron  wood  and  oth- 
er forest  products.  The  pine  was  first  to  be  slashed. 
Except  in  the  southwestern  part  and  in  other  swampy 
regions  the  best  of  the  timber  has  all  disappeared  be- 
fore the  axe  of  the  conqueror. 

Ackley  township  has  five  different  phases  of  soil. 
They  are  the  Spencer  Silt  Loam,  Peat,  Merrimac  Silt 
Loam,  Merrimac  Sandy  Loam,  and  Muck. 

Spencer  Silt  Loam,  level  phase,  is  a  light  brown 
silt  loam,  average  depth  ten  inches,  containing  a  mod- 
erate amount  of  organic  matter.  The  depth  below  16 
to   20  inches   is  mottled   with   yellow,   brown,   bluish. 


and  reddish  brown,  indicative  of  poor  internal  drain- 
age. This  type  of  soil  is  found  in  West  Ackley  in  all 
sections  except  10,  15,  13,  and  21. 

Peat,  vegetable  matter  in  various  stages  of  decom- 
position, is  found  in  sections  10  and  15,  principally, 
and  in  parts  of  sections  7,  19,  30,  and  13  of  West  Ack- 
ley township  and  also  in  sections  17,  18,  23,  and  19  and 
in  narrow  strips  elsewhere  in  East  Ackley  township. 

Merrimac  Silt  Loam  is  found  in  sections  12,  13,  21, 
and  25  of  West  Ackley  township  and  with  the  excep- 
tion of  that  part  of  East  Ackley  in  which  Peat  and 
Merrimac  Sandy  Loam  and  Muck  are  found,  all  of  East 
Ackley  territory.  This  means  that  over  two-thirds  of 
East  Ackley  have  that  type  of  soil.  The  Merrimac  Silt 
Loam,  composed  of  alluvial  material,  is  a  light  brown 
or  grayish  brown  friable  silt  extending  to  an  average 
depth  of  twelve  inches.  The  content  of  silt  is  high. 
The  subsoil  becomes  heavier  with  depth.  It  is  under 
general  cultivation  and  is  highly  improved.  Oats,  hay, 
potatoes,  corn,  rye,  barley,  wheat,  peas,  and  poppy 
seed  are  grown  successfully  on  this  soil.  Ginseng  is 
a  special  crop,  which,  when  handled  properly,  yields 
profitable  results. 

The  Merrimac  Sandy  Loam  is  a  type  of  soil,  occu- 
pying a  tract  of  land  in  sections  17,  18,  19,  and  20, 
East  Ackley  township,  with  a  total  area  of  about  one 
section.  It  is  found  in  the  south  part  of  the  first  two 
and  the  northern  part  of  the  last  two  named  sections. 
This  soil  on  the  surface  is  sandy  loam  to  a  depth  of 
12  inches.  The  subsoil  is  loose  and  incoherent  yel- 
low sand,  becoming  coarser  with  depth. 

Muck  is  found  in  East  Ackley  in  section  32. 

FIRST  TOWN  MEETING. 

The  first  annual  town  meeting  in  1879  was  held  April 
1.  Forty-three  votes  were  cast.  The  township  then 
stretched  north  to  the  state  line.  The  first  voters  were 
George  Bessy,  Willis  Otis,  Michael  Kennedy,  Frank  P. 
Kennedy,  Charles  Nelson,  Joseph  Kenredy,  Emanuel 
McGahan,  John  Hafner,  William  Taylor,  Henry  Ship- 
ley, Thomas  Hafner,  John  Kennedy,  John  McGahan, 
August  Hoglander,  Jeremiah  De  Moss,  Joseph  Long- 
worth,  Rubin  Vaughn,  Leroy  Furgeson,  Peter  Beck,  Y. 
Space,  M.  Holey,  J.  G.  Beardsley,  W.  L.  Ackley, 
Charles  M.  Ackley,  Chauncey  Vaughn,  John  Nelson, 
Nathan  De  Moss,  Edson  Lloyd,  Joseph  Parfitt,  Frank 
Locks,  Thomas  Longworth,  John  Darow,  August  Hoff- 


OHBIDA 


K-UI 

3^ 


28 


COUNTY 


MAffT^THON 


A\AP0F 

LANQLADE  C0UNTY,WI5 


LEGEND 

.,^,H+«-  RA/L  ROADS      ■■■^TATdTRUNK  LINE5 
^^  ROADS  Hi  ■♦:0UNTY)TRUNK  LiNtS 


0 -rov/H    Mauu  ^  ChuRC*^ 


SHAWANO 


CRANDON 


COUNTY 


Drawing,  Locations  and  Colorings 


— for — 


HISTORY  OF  LANGLADE  COUNTY 


—1922 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


177 


man,  Carl  Yopes,  James  R.  Nelson,  John  Tinner,  Fran- 
cis Fryer,  W.  Hampton,  Ransom  Balch,  Henry  Fryer, 
H.  0.  Johnson,  Leonard  Shaw,  and  J.  W.  Hampton. 

TOWNSHIP  SCHOOL  GOVERNMENT. 

The  pioneer  settlers  of  Ackley  also  voted  April  1, 
1879  to  adopt  the  Township  School  government  system. 
Thirteen  votes  were  cast,  all  in  favor  of  that  system, 
which  was  revoked  in  1886. 

FIRST  TOWNSHIP  OFFICERS. 

First  Ackley  township  officers  were  as  follows : 
Chairman — Frank  P.  Kennedy;  Supervisors — John 
Nelson,  Joseph  Parfitt;  Assessor — J.  W.  Hampton; 
Township  Clerk — John  Hafner;  Treasurer — W.  L. 
Ackley;  Justices — John  G.  Beardsley,  John  Kennedy 
and  Y.  Space;  Constables — Jeremiah  De  Moss,  Henry 
Day,  Peter  Beck. 

ELECTION  BOARD— 1879. 

Z.  Space  and  John  McGahn  were  the  first  election 
clerks  and  L.  0.  Shaw,  John  Kennedy  and  Thomas 
Hafner  were  election  supervisors. 

FIRST  RESOLUTION. 

The  first  Ackley  township  officials  by  unanimous 
vote  resolved  to  raise  "for  town  taxes  and  incidental 
purposes,"  $300.  For  road  tax.  007  mills.  For  teach- 
ers' wages  and  incidental  school  purposes,  $500. 

REPORT   OF  TOWNSHIP   TREASURER, 
NOV.,  1879. 

A  committee  was  selected  to  examine  the  "accounts 
and  moneys"  of  Edson  Lloyd,  Treasurer,  November, 
1879.  The  following  correct  and  true  report,  showing 
a  balance  of  $960.18,  was  produced  then:  State  Tax, 
$38.40;  County  Schools,  $31,27;  County  Tax,  $340.84; 
Town  and  Road  Tax,  $218.30;  Judgment  Tax  $182.44; 
Fees,  $48;  Total,  $960.18. 

EARLY  ACKLEY  BRIDGES. 

Some  of  the  first  bridges  in  Ackley  township  were : 
W.  L.  Ackley  built  a  roughly  constructed  bridge,  the 
first  in  the  township,  over  the  Eau  Claire  river.  This 
was  the  first  bridge  built  by  white  men  in  Langlade 
County  (1853).  J.  R.  Balsh  corduroyed  Black  Brook 
in  1881.  April,  1882,  Nathan  De  Moss  was  allowed 
$122.65  for  bridge  work  in  Ackley. 

ROAD   DISTRICTS. 

Ackley  township  was  divided  into  four  road  dis- 
tricts in  1880.  They  were  in  charge  of  Thomas  Haf- 
ner, John  Tinney,  George  Bessy,  and  W.  L.  Ackley. 

EARLY  TOWNSHIP  ROADS. 

In  1879  Ackley  was  divided  into  three  road  districts, 
while  a  year  later,  as  stated,  it  was  reorganized  into 
four  districts. 

May  8,  1879,  the  township  officials  granted  the  ap- 
plication of  J.   Johnson,  John   McGahn,   Neils  Olson, 


Henry  Holey,  C.  D.  Wescott,  Charles  Holey,  Thomas 
Hafner,  John  Hafner,  Frank  P.  Kennedy,  and  John 
Kennedy,  homestead  applicants,  for  a  road  beginning 
at  the  quarter  section  corner  in  the  center  of  section 
26,  Township  31,  Range  10  East,  and  running  north 
on  the  quarter  line  to  the  quarter  post  in  the  center  of 
Section  11;  thence  on  the  quarter  line  to  the  quarter 
section  corner  in  center  of  section  12;  thence  north 
on  the  quarter  line  to  the  quarter  section  corner  in 
the  center  of  section  1  and  thence  east  on  the  quarter 
line  to  the  quarter  section  corner  on  the  east  side  of 
section  1. 

One  year  before,  1878,  bearing  the  date  of  Novem- 
ber 11,  A.  D.,  the  supervisors  of  the  Town  of  Pine 
River  layed  out  a  highway  which  began  at  the  center 
of  Section  27,  Township  31,  Range  10  E.,  thence  west 
toward  the  Lincoln  County  line.  This  was  actually  the 
first  road  in  Ackley.  It  was  named  the  Ackley  road. 
F.  A.  Deleglise,  with  John  Doersch  and  George  Eck- 
hart,  assisting,  surveyed  this  region  in  October,  1879. 
Five  other  roads  were  laid  out  in  1879.  One  began  at 
the  center  of  section  11  and  ran  west  to  the  center  of 
Section  10,  Township  31,  Range  10  East,  authorized 
July  25,  1879.  Another  commenced  at  the  quarter 
post  on  the  west  line  of  section  11  and  continued 
north  until  striking  the  bank  of  the  Eau  Claire  River 
(near  the  A.  L.  Hayner  farm),  and  was  authorized 
April  30,  1879.  May  4,  1879,  a  road  was  authorized  on 
the  following  survey :  Beginning  at  the  southwest 
corner  of  Section  31,  Township  32,  Range  10  East, 
then  north  (not  in  Ackley  township  now).  June  20, 
1879,  a  road  was  authorized  beginning  in  the  center 
of  section  3  and  running  north  into  what  is  now  Peck 
township.  The  last  road  authorized  in  1879  was  one 
beginning  at  the  quarter  post  of  section  12  to  the 
quarter  post  on  the  east  line  of  Section  12,  Township 
31,  Range   10  East. 

These  were  the  first  roads  of  Pine  River  or  Ackley 
township.  With  their  construction  the  tote  road  and 
Indian  trail  were  trod  less  frequently  and  before  long 
a  new  wilderness  erased  them  forever. 

ATTACHED  TO  LANGLADE,  1885. 

In  1885,  Chapter  436,  Laws  of  Wisconsin,  detach- 
ed Township  31,  Ranges  9  and  10  East,  from  Lincoln 
County  and  attached  this  territory  to  Langlade  Coun- 
ty. Frank  P.  Kennedy  was  the  first  Chairman  of  Ack- 
ley Township  to  sit  in  at  a  Langlade  County  Board 
of  Supervisors  session. 

FIRST  TOWNSHIP  BONDS. 

Ackley  township  had  heavy  expenses  during  its 
first  years.  New  schools,  bridges,  cutting  out  roads, 
general  township  expenses,  all  were  a  constant  drain 
on  the  treasury.  Therefore,  June  13,  1885,  a  resolu- 
tion was  adopted  authorizing  the  township  to  issue 
bonds  to  the  extent  of  $5,500  for  the  purpose  of  set- 
tling all  outstanding  township  accounts. 

ON  THE  WATER  WAGON. 
Nathan   De   Moss,   pioneer   settler,   was    authorized 
to  procure  a  good  pail  of  drinking  water,  said  water 


178 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


to  be  drank  at  the  polling  booth,  1885,  (June)  and  for 
the  service  he  was  paid  fifty  cents  in  town  orders. 
This  resolution  passed.  It  demonstrates  that  Ackley 
officials  were  moderate  in  their  demands  for  ale. 

SOME  EARLY  SETTLERS. 

Elsewhere  in  the  districts  will  be  found  the  names 
of  early  settlers.  Herein  is  a  list  of  those  not  within 
the  district  reviews :  Dan  O'Brien,  Patrick  Durick,  E. 
J.  Whitney,  E.  S.  Wescott,  S.  0.  Shelley,  C.  H.  Hard- 
er, Venel  Brick,  George  Glines,  S.  L.  Brown,  and 
Peter  Schmitt. 

ACKLEY  TOWNSHIP  OFFICERS,   1879-1922. 
TOWNSHIP  CHAIRMEN. 

Frank  P.  Kennedy,  1879-83;  B.  H.  Wooledge,  1883- 
84;  Frank  P.  Kennedy,  1884-86;  B.  H.  Wooledge,  1886- 
87;  Frank  P.  Kennedy,  1887-91;  George  Hoffman, 
1891;  John  Kennedy,  1891-94;  Charles  Nelson,  1895- 
96;  James  Aird,  1896-97;  Charles  Nelson,  1898-99; 
James  Aird,  1900-02;  Henry  E.  Higgins,  1903-05; 
Charles  Nelson,  1905-09;  S.  Goodman,  1909-10;  John 
O'Brien,  1910-11;  James  Aird,  1911-13;  Carl  Ohlen, 
1913-18;  John  O'Brien,  1918-23. 

TOWNSHIP  CLERKS. 

John  Hafner,  1879-83;  Frank  Wilson,  1883-84;  Peter 
Beck.  1884-86;  W.  W.  Stone,  1886-87;  John  Hafner, 
1888-89;  W.  W.  Stone,  1889-91;  John  Hafner,  1892-94; 
John  Hafner,  1895-96;  Charles  Nelson,  1896-97;  John 
Hafner,  1898-1901;  Frank  Marek,  1901-02;  Phillip 
Aird,  1903-07;  John  Hafner,  1907-17;  John  Bahr,  Jr., 
1917-23. 

TOWNSHIP  TREASURERS. 

W.  L.  Ackley,  1870;  Edson  Lloyd,  1879-81;  John 
Kennedy,  1881;  Z.  Space,  1882-83;  John  Hafner, 
1883-85;  Thomas  Hafner,  1885-87;  Charles  Nelson, 
1888-93;  Henry  Higgins,  1893-95;  Frank  Metcalf, 
1895-96;  James  Maloney,  1896-97;  Joseph  Stengl, 
1898-99;  James  Boyle,  1900-01;  James  Maloney,  1901- 
05;  Joseph  Schumitsch,  1905-12;  M.  B.  Emmerich, 
1912-13;  Art  Goodman,  1913-14;  John  Mauer,  1914-23. 

TOWNSHIP  ASSESSORS. 

W.  J.  Hampton,  1879-80;  John  S.  Nelson,  1880-82; 
W.  L.  Ackley,  1882-83;  Patrick  Durick,  1884-85;  W. 
W.  West,  1885-86;  John  S.  Nelson,  1886-87;  George 
Schaefer,  1887-90;  Frank  Metcalf,  1892-96;  George 
Stengl.  1896-97;  Frank  Metcalf,  1897-98;  H.  J.  Richey, 
1898-99;  Michael  Kennedy,  1899-1900;  Henry  Higgins, 
1900-01;  J.  G.  Koudelka,  1901-02;  H.  J.  Richey,  1903- 
04;  Ed  Boyle,  1904-05;  P.  E.  Higgins,  1905-07;  H.  J. 
Richey,  1907-08;  James  Boyle,  1908-09;  P.  F.  Higgins, 
1909-10;  G.  M.  Brandow,  1910-12;  Joseph  Stengl, 
1912-13;  Joseph  Schumitsch,  Jr.,  1913-14;  John  Fronek, 
1914-23. 

TOWNSHIP  SUPERVISORS. 

John  S.  Nelson,  Joseph  Parfitt.  1879-80;  J.  S. 
Hughes.  Joseph  Parfitt,  1880-81;  Joseph  Parfitt,  August 


Wolfgram,  1881-82;  Charles  Holey,  August  Ludwig, 
1882-83;  George  Stengl,  Peter  Beck,  1883-84;  Rich- 
ard Tracey,  James  Ozetta,  1884-85;  S.  L.  Brown,  John 
Bahr,  1885-86;  John  Beardsley  and  John  Bahr,  1886- 
87;  W.  L.  Ackley,  Alfred  Brandow.  1888-89;  W.  L. 
Ackley,  Matt  Wachal,  Sr..  1889-90;  George  Hoffman. 
J.  Siota,  1890-91;  H.  J.  Richey,  J.  Siota,  1892-95;  H. 
J.  Richey,  Matt  Wachal,  Sr.,  1896-97;  Rudolph  Yon- 
kee,  M.  Wachal,  1897-98;  James  Basel,  Ira  Berdan. 
1898-99;  Dan  O'Brien.  James  Basel,  1899-1900; 
Charles  Vorass,  John  Bahr,  1900-01 ;  Charles  Vorass, 
Joseph  Breck,  1901-02;  James  Basel,  Peter  Higgins, 
1902-03;  John  Kubeny,  Joseph  Schumitsch,  1903-04; 
John  Kubeny,  James  Boyle,  1904-05;  Matt  Hermann, 
John  O'Brien,  1905-06;  F.  G.  Kubeny,  Rudolph  Yon- 
kee,  1906-07;  F.  G.  Kubeny,  John  O'Brien,  1907-08; 
John  O'Brien,  Joseph  Stengl,  1908-09;  John  O'Brien. 
Matt  Fuchs.  1909-10;  Joseph  Stengle,  John  Fronek, 
1910-11 ;  John  Fronek.  Matt  Fuchs,  1911-13;  Peter  Hig- 
gins, Matt  Fuchs,  1913-14;  J.  A.  Barker,  Matt  Fuchs, 
1914-15;  John  O'Brien,  James  Aird,  1915-17;  John 
Duchac.  H.  J.  Richey,  1917-18;  John  Duchac,  William 
Higgins,  1918-22;  John  Duchac,  George  Eckart,  1922- 
23. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 

John  Kennedy,  John  Beardsley,  Y.  Space,  1879-80; 
A.  S.  Wescott,  L.  0.  Shaw,  1880-81;  J.  R.  Balsh,  H.  C. 
Shipley,  W.  L.  Ackley,  1881-82;  A.  S.  Wescott,  W. 
Hayes,  M.  A.  Wooledge,  1882-83;  H.  C.  Shipley,  Wil- 
liam Stone,  1883-84;  W.  W.  Stone,  E.  Koepenick. 
1884-85;  M.  E.  Bessy.  R.  Rice,  1885-87;  A.  S.  Wescott, 
J.  L.  Cook,  1885-86;  W.  L.  Ackley,  H.  C.  Shipley, 
1886-88;  B.  F.  Loose,  E.  F.  Russell,  1887-88;  H.  J. 
Bristol,  1889-90;  E.  T.  Russell,  H.  J.  Bristol,  1890-91; 
A.  Bovee,  E.  D.  Richey.  1890-92;  John  Bahr.  1890-91; 
M.  M.  Ross.  1888-89;  William  Laehn.  Peter  Higgins. 
H.  J.  Richey.  Joseph  Siota.  1896-97;  J.  Bahr.  P.  Dean, 
John  Galuski,  Joseph  Figal.  1898-99;  Joseph  Bretle.  F. 
Gezezepski.  1900-01 ;  Thomas  Woodcock.  Matt  Her- 
mann, 1901-02;  John  Galuska,  Matt  Herman,  Matt 
Fuchs,  1903-04;  J.  Barnhart,  C.  W.  Bruce,  Matt  Fuchs, 
1904-05;  Tom  White,  Joseph  Stengl,  Frank  Voss,  1905- 
06;  Herb  Richey,  Oscar  Nelson,  1907-08;  John  Bahr, 
John  Fronek,  Andrew  Woodcock,  1908-09;  Joseph 
Garadphe,  W.  Myer,  Joseph  Zima,  1909-10;  James 
Boyle,  John  Wachal,  Frank  Kubeny,  1910-11;  M.  B. 
Emmerich,  William  Higgins,  Theodore  Buss,  1911-12; 
John  Steber,  Art  Goodman,  1912-13;  B.  C.  Goodman, 
John  O'Brien,  1913-14;  John  Duchac,  Ernest  Joss, 
1914-15;  John  Bostwick,  John  Cornelius,  1915-16;  D. 
C.  Woodcock,  Karel  Hulka,  1916-18;  Peter  Higgins, 
Jr.,  James  Scheffel,  1918-19;  Karel  Hulka,  J.  C.  Wood- 
cock, Anton  Herman,  1919-20;  Chester  Nelson,  1920- 
22;  Frank  Sheriff,  1920-21;  John  Mettler,  1920-23; 
Stephen  Feigel,  Karel  Hulka,  1922-23. 

TOWNSHIP  CONSTABLES. 

Peter  Day,  Jeremiah  De  Moss,  Peter  Beck,  1879- 
80;  Jeremiah  De  Moss,  Elisah  Johnson,  Thomas  Haf- 
ner, 1880-81;  J.  McGahn,  J.  De  Moss,  G.  Bessy,  1881- 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


179 


82;  Mose  Hawley,  H.  Harder,  H.  O.  Johnson,  1882- 
83;  H.  0.  Johnson,  Martin  Maloney,  J.  De  Moss,  1883- 
84;  W.  L.  Ackley,  E.  Hagadone,  George  Schaffer, 
1884-85;  William  Holland,  Dan  Graham,  Charles  Bea- 
dleston,  1885-86;  Martin  Maloney,  John  Kennedy,  Wil- 
liam Reader,  1886-87;  Frank  Metcalf,  M.  Duda,  Ed- 
ward Richey,  1887-88;  H.  Richey,  Thomas  Woolett, 
George  Brandow,  1888-89;  John  Stengl,  Andrew  Zolli- 
ber,  J.  Mark,  1889-90;  Henry  Higgins,  Joseph  Kenne- 
dy, James  Vilt,  1890-91;  J.  Boyle,  J.  Stengl,  C.  Voss, 
1896-97;  F.  P.  Kennedy,  James  Siota,  F.  Metcalf,  F. 
Marek,  1898-99;  J.  Pasl,  J.  Banzyck,  M.  Siota,  1900- 
01;  Anton  Herman,  Louis  Boxleitner,  1901-02;  G. 
Stengl,  James  Aird,  Jr.,  J.  Wise,  1903-04;  Herbert 
Steann,  L.  Crooks,  1904-05;  Frank  Jeropke,  John  Fron- 
ek,  Bert  Goodman,  1905-06;  John  and  Joseph  Stengl, 
1907-08;  J.  Boyle,  J.  Cornelius,  0.  Nelson,  1908-09; 
W.  Higgins,  L.  Adams,  1909-10;  L.  Crooks,  J.  Wach- 
al,  James  Fronek,  1910-11;  L.  Crooks,  A.  Goodman, 
G.  Adams,  1911-12;  William  Klaves,  J.  A.  Barker,  L. 
Crooks,  1912-13;  H.  Harm,  L.  Dunke,  1913-14;  Joseph 
Marsch,  James  Barker,  1914-15;  D.  Woodcock,  J. 
Mettler,  F.  Weipinger,  1915-16;  P.  Galuska,  H.  Cor- 
nelius, Joseph  Hell,  1916-17;  B.  C.  Goodman,  James 
Maley,  1917-18;  E.  Maltby,  E.  Joss,  1918-19;  J.  Mett- 
ler, P.  Higgins,  1919-20;  J.  Bonzyck,  J.  Mettler,  J. 
Maresch,  1921-23. 

DISTRICT  NO.  1. 

CLOVERVALLEY  DISTRICT.  This  district  is 
one  of  the  oldest  settlements  in  Langlade  County.  It 
is  also  one  of  the  smallest,  containing  sections  31,  32, 
33,  34,  35,  36,  all  of  Township  31,  Range  10  East  in 
East  Ackley  congressional  township. 

The  district  system  of  school  government  was  adopt- 
ed in  Ackley  township  by  a  vote  of  64  to  56  on  April  6, 
1886.  Thus  district  No.  1  was  created.  It  should  be 
understood,  however,  that  schools  were  opened  in  this 
territory  six  years  previous. 

District  No.  1  originally  consisted  of  all  of  sec- 
tions 31,  32,  33,  34,  35,  36  in  both  townships  31, 
Ranges  9  and  10  East,  and  also  sections  7,  8,  17,  18, 
19,  20,  29,  30  in  Township  31,  Range  9  East.  Orig- 
inally a  district  containing  12,800  acres  it  has,  by  de- 
taching, recreation  of  districts  and  organization  of 
joint  districts,  dwindled  down  to  but  3,840  acres. 

In  the  year  1880,  before  the  railroad  pierced  into 
the  county.  Matt  Duda,  Frank  Wilson,  Joseph  Stengl, 
James  Sisel,  Alfred  Brandow,  B.  Wooledge,  Sr.,  and 
son,  James  Witt,  Matt  Wachal,  Sr.,  John  Stengl,  James 
Brick,  W.  W.  Stone,  Charles  G.  Koudelka,  and  George 
Brandow  settled  on  cheap  land  or  staked  homesteads 
in  this  territory. 

Upon  their  little  domains  rude  log  cabins  were  erect- 
ed. Necessities  of  life  were  considered  luxuries  by 
the  hardy  inhabitants.  Wausau  was  the  trading  post 
and  one  settler  would  follow  the  Indian  trails  on  the 
Eau  Claire  river  banks  or  an  old  road  cut  out  by 
river  drivers  to  that  city  for  provisions.  He  would 
haul  back  to  the  sparsely  settled  region  such  provisions 
as  flour,  corn  meal,  meats,  clothing,  and  garden  seeds 


and  grain  for  the  pioneers.  The  journey,  tedious, 
would  take  two  to  three  days  as  oxen  were  used  and 
they  do  not  compare  well  with  the  motor  car  of  today 
or  the  fast  twentieth  century  locomotive.  Yet  in  a 
time  like  that  the  settlers  were  content  with  what 
they  possessed.  The  adjacent  world  was  not  more 
fortunate. 

In  the  year  1884  a  school  was  erected.  Miss  Mary 
Kiefer  and  Miss  Brandow  were  very  early  teachers. 
The  school  was  a  typical  pioneer  institution  of  learn- 
ing. A  small  stove,  a  few  black  boards,  and  rough 
floors  and  benches  were  used.  Text  books  were  not 
uniform.  Teachers'  salaries  then  averaged  $25  per 
month. 

The  settlers  welcomed  new  families  into  the  dis- 
trict and  before  long  an  addition  was  made  on  the 
little  school.  The  same  school  is  in  use  by  the  dis- 
trict yet.  It  is  located  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  35. 

The  district  has  splendid  roads  and  rural  free  de- 
livery since  1904  keeps  the  agriculturist  in  touch  with 
events  of  the  state,  nation  and  world.  He  may  re- 
ceive election  returns  without  leaving  his  plow  or  may 
order  his  supplies  from  Antigo,  county  seat,  without 
leaving  his  comfortable  farm  home.  The  Stenglville 
and  Eau  Claire  river  telephone  services  are  at  his 
command. 

The  residents  are  progressive.  Pure  bred  cattle 
are  encouraged,  scientific  farming  and  modern  dairy- 
ing methods  are  practiced  and  fostered. 

Lumbering  was  an  important  industry  in  pioneer 
days.  The  logs  were  hauled  to  the  banks  of  the  Eau 
Claire  river  and  driven  to  Schofield,  village  near  Wau- 
sau, Wis. 

The  first  school  officers  were :  Lloyd  Breck,  Direc- 
tor; John  Stengl,  Treasurer;  and  B.  H.  Wooledge, 
Clerk. 

DISTRICT  NO.  2. 

FERNDALE  DISTRICT.  District  No.  2  is  located 
in  the  southern  part  of  East  Ackley  township  No.  31, 
Range  10  East.  It  originally  consisted  of  20  sections, 
as  follows:  Sections  19,  20,  21,  22,  23,  24,  25,  26, 
27,  28,  29,  30,  Township  31,  Range  10  East,  and  all  of 
sections  21,  22,  23,  24,  25,  26,  27,  and  28  in  Township 
31,  Range  9  East. 

While  the  education  of  the  youth  was  adequately 
provided  for,  considering  the  perplexities  confronting 
the  early  settlers,  the  district  was  not  organized  until 
April  28,  1886.  Schools  were  erected  before  then  in 
many  instances. 

When  the  first  settlers  in  Ferndale  district  arrived 
they  found  the  country  a  desolate  wilderness.  Roam- 
ing bands  of  Indians,  chiefly  of  the  Chippewa  and 
Menominee  tribes,  hunted  in  the  forests  and  fished  in 
the  Eau  Claire  river.  Their  main  Indian  trail  was 
along  the  Eau  Claire  river  banks  and  went  north  and 
eastward  toward  Oconto  County  territory,  and  the  old 
Lake  Superior  Trail.  It  was  this  trail  that  many  set- 
tlers used  to  haul  or  "man  pack"  supplies  to  the  set- 
tlement from  Wausau.     Settlers  in  other  districts  had 


180 


HISTORY  OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


the  same  experience.  Some  early  settlers  were  M. 
Hermann,  A.  Hermann,  J.  Stengl,  M.  Orado,  L.  Legro, 
and  H.  Holley. 

It  was  during  the  early  settlement  of  the  district 
that  the  Indians  intermingled  with  the  white  settlers. 
The  custom  among  the  first  white  settlers  was 
to  take  Indian  maidens  as  their  brides.  They 
erected  a  little  cabin,  usualy  under  the  boughs 
of  a  giant  pine  tree,  hunted  wild  game,  se- 
cured provisions,  worked  on  the  river  drives, 
trapped  in  the  winter  months,  fished  in  the 
Eau  Claire  river  and  cultivated  little  garden  patches 
while  the  dusky  maiden  reigned  over  the  household 
affairs.  Hospitality  to  no  higher  degree  was  ever  ex- 
hibited than  by  the  "squaw  man"  and  his  wife.  Many 
of  the  pioneer  settlers  were  taught  by  the  Indians  how 
to  operate  a  light  canoe  down  the  Eau  Claire  river 
to  Schofield,  Wis. 

The  first  school  erected  in  the  district  was  a  rough 
frame  structure  in  1886.  It  was  located  on  section  35. 
Miss  Susan  Watson  was  the  first  teacher.  A  Mr.  Wes- 
cott  was  a  member  of  the  first  school  board. 

The  old  school  v.-as  moved  from  its  original  loca- 
tion to  the  northwest  Quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter 
of  section  26,  East  Ackley  township  on  land  owned  by 
John  Bahr,  Sr.,  pioneer  settler.  The  wooden  structure 
served  until  the  settlers  decided  to  construct  a  new 
school  of  brick.  The  old  one  was  moved  off  the  site 
by  D.  C.  Woodcock,  who  purchased  it  after  the  erec- 
tion of  a  modern  school  years  later. 

The  1922-23  school  board  consists  of  John  Bahr,  Jr., 
Treasurer;  G.  C.  Woodcock,  Director;  and  Steven  Fei- 
gel.  Clerk. 

There  are  about  twenty  farmers  residing  in  the  dis- 
trict. It  has  a  cheese  factory,  erected  in  1917  by  J. 
Grunderman,  who  since  sold  to  E.  Haase.  The  fac- 
tory is  located  on  section  26,  near  the  school  house. 
It  is  now  operated  by  Michael  F.  Helmbrecht. 

The  soft  drink  parlor  of  Jess  Hawkins  is  located 
on  the  northeast  quarter  of  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  26. 

Highway  64  runs  through  this  district.  All  other 
roads  are  well  maintained. 

Agriculturing  and  dairying  are  the  principal  occu- 
pations of  the  residents.  Excellent  lighting  systems, 
well  kept  barns,  silos,  farm  machinery,  neat  residences, 
substantial  out  buildings,  farm  tractors,  rural  tele- 
phones, a  rural  mail  system — all  these  are  splendid 
features  of  the  district. 

The  town  hall  of  Ackley  township  is  located  in 
this  district  on  section  23. 

EAU   CLAIRE   GRANGE   NO   647. 

The  Eau  Claire  Grange  No.  647,  Patrons  of  Hus- 
bandry, was  organized  April  27,  1917.  Meetings  are 
held  every  second  and  fourth  Friday  at  the  township 
hall.  Section  23.  The  first  Master  of  the  grange  was 
Frank  Sheriff.  Other  original  officers  were :  Over- 
seer, William  Heschke;  Secretary,  John  Mauer; 
Treasurer,  John  Somer;  Lecturer,  Mrs.  John  Somer; 
Steward,  Charles  Hoerman;  Chaplain,  Mrs.  Otto  Kles- 
sig;    Gatekeeper,   Earl    Klessig;    Ceres,    Mrs.    Charles 


Motts;  Pomona,  Mrs.  Beno  Hoerman;  Flora,  Ther- 
esa Raff;  Assistant  Steward,  Ivan  Somer;  Lady  As- 
sistant Steward,  Mary  Hoerman;  Board  of  Trustees, 
John  Mettler,  Joseph  Hell,  Charles  Motts. 

Present  officers  are:  Master,  John  Bahr;  Overseer, 
Frank  Sheriff;  Lecturer,  Mrs.  John  Somer;  Secretary, 
John  Somer;  Treasurer,  John  Csuy;  Steward,  Mrs.  An- 
ton Zaverousky;  Chaplain,  Mrs.  D.  C.  Woodcock; 
Gatekeeper,  Anton  Zima;  Lady  Assistant  Steward, 
Mrs.  John  Bahr;  Assistant  Steward,  Mrs.  Anton  Za- 
verousky.   The  membership  is  nearly  twenty. 

ACKLEY  TOWN  HALL. 

Ackley  township,  progressive  and  alert,  has  a  splen- 
did town  hall  on  section  23  of  East  Ackley  township. 
The  hall  was  erected  at  an  approximate  cost  of  $1,500. 
It  has  one  acre  of  ground  neatly  fenced  in.  The  hall 
was  erected  in  1917. 

DISTRICT  NO.  3. 

LONGFELLOW  DISTRICT.  In  the  northeastern 
part  of  East  Ackley  is  an  area  of  land  containing  sev- 
en and  one-half  sections  or  4,800  acres.  This  portion 
of  Langlade  County,  lying  northwest  of  Antigo,  is 
known  as  District  No.  3,  since  designated  as  the 
Longfellow  district,  in  honor  of  Henry  Wadsworth 
Longfellow,  distinguished  American  poet. 

The  first  settlers  braved  the  perils  of  a  desolate  wil- 
derness infested  with  Indians  as  early  as  1877.  Those 
who  were  first  to  settle  here  were  John  Kennedy, 
Michael  Kennedy,  Frank  P.  Kennedy,  Charles  Nelson, 
G.  Hoglander,  John  Nelson,  John  McGahn,  Emanuel 
McGahn,  Thomas  Hafner,  John  Hafner,  Michael  Haf- 
ner,  Albert  Berdan,  the  O'Brien  family,  S.  Goodwin, 
and  J.  Jilik.  Following  the  first  vanguard  came  Peter 
Higgins,  Sr.,  his  son,  Peter  Higgins,  Jr.,  Henry  Hig- 
gins,  Joseph  Singer,  Martin  Maloney,  and  others. 

Many  of  the  first  settlers  came  from  Wausau,  Stev- 
ensville,  Outagamie  County,  and  other  nearby  cities. 
The  first  came  from  Wausau  with  yokes  of  oxen.  The 
journey  was  a  long  one  and  many  of  the  early  home- 
steaders and  land  purchasers  spent  days  on  the  jour- 
ney. Their  family  belongings  were  carted  by  the  same 
oxen. 

Log  shacks  were  hastily  erected.  Their  scooped 
roofs  furnished  a  picturesque  contrast  to  those  frame 
buildings  first  erected  in  the  district  by  Michael  Ken- 
nedy, who  imported  the  lumber  from  Wausau.  The 
Martin  Maloney  and  John  Nelson  homes  were  second 
and  third  frame  residences   in  the  district. 

Sustenance  was  provided  by  the  excellent  soil  and 
work  in  the  pine  timber  belt.  The  Brooks  &  Ross 
Company,  Wausau,  and  other  pioneer  lumber  inter- 
ests, cut  pine  in  the  region.  Many  of  the  settlers  took 
an  active  part  in  this  industry  during  its  high  tide. 

Education  of  the  children  was  provided  for  before 
the  expiration  of  the  first  year.  In  1878  a  log  school 
house  was  erected  just  a  little  to  the  east  of  the  pres- 
ent school  site.  This  school  was  not  a  step  in  advance 
of  the  schools  such  as  Abraham  Lincoln  or  Daniel 
Webster  attended.  The  first  teachers  were  very  con- 
scientious and  industrious,  as  are  most  of  those  of  to- 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


181 


day.  The  first  teacher,  Michael  Hafner,  still  lives 
in  Langlade  County.  In  1922  he  returned  to  the  dis- 
trict to  visit  some  of  the  remaining  pioneers.  Other 
early  teachers  were  Carrie  and  Marian  Finucane, 
Lizzie  Young,  Mrs.  Margaret  Hughes,  Harry  Logan, 
now  a  preacher  at  Appleton,  Wis.,  and  Margaret  Kav- 
anaugh.  The  Kennedy,  Nelson,  and  Hoglander  chil- 
dren were  the  first  pupils. 

Two  years  later,  1880,  the  first  frame  school  was 
erected  on  the  present  school  site.  It  was  used  until 
1910.  Its  cost  was  $500,  but  additions  and  better- 
ments since  have  entailed  $500  expenses.  The  mo- 
dern brick  structure  was  erected  in  1910  by  August 
Stabe,  Antigo  contractor,  at  a  cost  of  $1,800.  It  is 
located  in  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  southeast  quar- 
ter of  section   11. 

John  Hruska  erected  the  first  cheese  factory  seven- 
teen years  ago.  It  was  operated  successfully  by  Ernest 
Jaess  and  Joseph  Maresch  until  the  fall  of  1921  when  it 
burned.  On  the  same  location,  section  11  (NWI4), 
the  American  Produce  Company,  a  corporation  in 
which  Ackley  farmers  are  principal  stockholders, 
opened  a  new  cheese  factory  May  22,  1922.  The  first 
factory  was  called  the  Kenr.edyville   factory. 

Members  of  the  original  school  board  of  this  dis- 
trict were  Frank  P.  Kennedy,  Clerk;  John  Kennedy, 
Director,  and  John  Nelson,  Treasurer.  Agnes  Kennedy 
was  the  district  teacher  in  1921-22,  while  the  school 
officers  for  that  term  were  Peter  Higgins,  Jr.,  Treasur- 
er; Fred  Swenson,  Clerk,  and  John  Fronek,  Director. 

The  Indians,  Chippewa,  chiefly,  had  many  favorite 
camping  and  fishing  locations  in  the  district.  They 
were  not  very  industrious,  but  were  kind  to  the  first 
settlers.  Often  these  red  folk  entered  homes  for  food 
or  clothing. 

District  No.  3  originally  consisted  of  fifteen  and  one- 
half  sections,  East  Ackley  township.  The  sections 
were  1,  2,  3,  one-half  of  section  4,  all  of  sections  7, 
8,  9,  10,  11,  12,  13,  14,  15,  16,  17,  18,  or  9,940  acres. 
This  is  twice  the  present  area  of  the  district.  Organ- 
ization took  place  April  6,  1886.  The  district  now 
comprises  5,440  acres  of  land  in  sections  9,  10,  11,  12, 
13,  14,  15,  16,  and  the  south  half  of  section  1,  Town- 
ship 31,  Range  10  East. 

EAST  ACKLEY  GRANGE  NO.  593. 

East  Ackley  Grange,  No.  593,  is  located  in  this  dis- 
trict. The  grange  was  organized  August  22,  1912,  at 
the  Longfellow  school.  The  first  officers  were :  Mas- 
ter, M.  B.  Emmerich;  Overseer,  John  Fronek;  Lectur- 
er, Clara  Emmerich;  Steward,  Chester  Nelson;  Assist- 
ant Steward,  James  Barker,  Jr.;  Chaplain,  Anna  Good- 
man; Treasurer,  R.  Krall;  Secretary,  A.  F.  Goodman; 
Gatekeeper,  Joseph  Maresh,  Jr.;  Ceres,  Florence  Haf- 
ner; Flora,  Rose  Hafner;  Pomona,  Mamie  Maloney; 
Lady  Assistant  Steward,  Helen  Hayner.  Present  of- 
ficers are:  Master,  A.  F.  Goodman;  Overseer,  James 
Barker;  Lecturer,  Rudolph  Shaser;  Steward,  Joseph 
Jilek,  Jr.;  Assistant  Steward,  Louis  Domke;  Lady  As- 
sistant Steward,  Anna  Jilek;  Chaplain,  Clara  Swenson; 
Gatekeeper,  Harry  Fronek;  Treasurer,  Fred  Swenson; 


Secretary,  Ralph  Krall;  Ceres,  Emma  Singer;  Flora, 
Elma  Domke;  Pomona,  Anna  Goodman. 

The  East  Ackley  hall  was  erected  in  the  fall  of 
1914.  The  building  was  not  actually  completed,  how- 
ever, until  the  spring  of  1915.  Its  cost  was  $1,500. 
Eighty  enthusiastic  grangers  are  on  the  membership 
roll. 

District  No.  3,  pioneer  district,  faced  the  storms  of 
reaction,  lumber  and  agricultural  reverses  for  a  quar- 
ter century  with  calmness  and  high  hope.  Its  fu- 
ture will  be  an  important  march  of  progress  in  Lang- 
lade County. 

DISTRICT  NO.  5 

EAU  CLAIRE  DISTRICT.  This  district  is  located 
in  the  west  central  part  of  Ackley  township,  and  lies 
almost  wholly  within  Township  31,  Range  9  East.  In 
consists  of  all  of  sections  19,  20,  21,  22,  23,  24,  and  the 
south  halves  of  sections  13,  14,  15,  16,  17,  18  of  Town- 
ship 31,  Range  9  East,  all  of  sections  16,  17,  19,  the 
south  one-half  of  section  18,  the  north  three-quarters 
of  section  21,  the  west  one-half  of  section  22,  the  north- 
east one-fourth  of  section  22,  the  northwest  one-fourth 
of  the  southeast  one-fourth  of  section  22,  all  in  Town- 
ship 31,  Range  10  East. 

District  No.  5,  organized  April  6,  1886,  originally 
consisted  of  all  territory  beginning  at  the  northeast 
corner  of  section  7,  Township  32,  Range  10  East, 
thence  running  south  to  the  southeast  corner  of  sec- 
tion 12,  then  west  to  the  southwest  corner  of  section 
10,  Township  32,  Range  9  East,  thence  north  to  the 
northwest  corner  of  section  3,  thence  east  to  the  place 
of  beginning.  It  will  be  observed  that  this  territory  is 
not  within  the  present  Ackley  township  limits,  but  is 
in  the  northeastern  part  of   Peck  township. 

The  territory  now  known  as  Eau  Claire  district  was 
within  the  original  limits  of  districts  2,  3  and  6. 

J.  Schaeffer,  John  Galuski,  Anton  Smith,  Albert  Reg- 
gotki,  Albert  Preboski,  and  Charles  Ackley  were  pio- 
neer settlers.  Ted  Bera  and  John  Boncyzk  were  also 
early  settlers,  but  later  than  the  first. 

The  district  was  one  of  the  principal  pine  belts  in 
western  Langlade  County  and  logging  and  lumbering 
were  the  chief  industries  until  the  cut  over  lands  were 
cleared  and  cultivated.  The  Brooks  &  Ross  Company, 
W.  L.  Ackley,  Boyington,  and  others  logged  and  cut 
pine  in  this  territory  in  a  very  early  day. 

The  farm  home  of  Albert  Reggotski  was  the  location 
of  the  first  school,  which  was  taught  by  Phillip  Aird, 
who  became  an  Ackley  township  official  later. 

Some  of  the  pioneer  Ackley  township  roads  were 
constructed  in  this  district,  the  old  beds  of  which  are 
still  visible.  Indian  trails  abounded  and  many  set- 
tlers used  them  to  get  from  cabin  to  cabin. 

The  original  farm  dwellings  were  nothing  but  log 
shacks,  just  as  were  those  of  the  other  districts. 

Early  bridges  were  constructed  of  logs,  sod,  and 
stones.  The  most  historic  is  the  old  Galuski  bridge, 
which  collapsed  under  a  load  in  1887. 

The  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad  Company 
built   a   spur  track   into  this  territory  to  haul   lumber 


182 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


products,  logs,  and  to  serve  the  village  of  Heinemann 
generally  in  1901.  The  track  runs  through  sections 
23  and  24  in  this  district. 

Mention  has  been  made  of  the  first  school.  The 
second  was  soon  after  erected  near  the  Prasalowicz 
place,  section  21,  on  the  banks  of  the  Eau  Claire 
(East  Branch)  river.  The  present  school  was  erected 
in  1910.     It  is  a  brick  structure  with  cost  $1,800. 

There  are  approximately  thirty-five  settlers  in  the 
district  which  is  named  Eau  Claire  because  of  the 
two  branches  of  that  river  joining  nearby. 

A  vast  portion  of  this  district  is  not  inhabited.  High- 
way No.  64  traverses  it  on  a  direct  west  course  to  the 
Lincoln  County  line. 

The  present  school  is  located  on  the  northwest  one- 
fourth  of  the  northeast  one-fourth  of  section  21. 

DISTRICT  NO.  6. 

MARSH  DISTRICT.  District  No.  6,  situated  in  the 
northern  part  of  Ackley,  principally  range  9  east,  is 
the  largest  school  area  in  Ackley  township.  It  com- 
prises 12,000  acres,  or  all  that  territory  within  sec- 
tions 1  to  12  inclusive  in  Township  31,  Range  9  East, 
the  north  one-half  of  sections  13,  14,  15,  16,  17,  18  in 
Range  9  East,  the  north  one-half  of  section  18,  Range 
10  East,  also  sections  6,  7,  8  in  Township  31,  Range 
10  East,  and  the  southwest  one-fourth  of  section  5, 
Range  10  East. 

District  No.  6  was  organized  April  6,  1886,  when  the 
school  system  was  changed  from  the  township  meth- 
od to  the  district  method.  It  then  consisted  of  all  of 
sections  1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  6,  9,  10,  11,  12,  13,  14,  15,  16  in 
Township  31,  Range  9  East,  the  west  one-half  of  sec- 
tion 4,  and  also  sections  5  and  6  in  Township  31, 
Range  10  East,  also  more  territory  now  in  Peck  town- 
ship which  was  sparsely  settled. 

The  first  settlers  were  William  Taylor  and  Thomas 
Woolets.  William  Taylor  came  into  this  district  in 
1877.  His  entire  fortune  consisted  of  a  team,  two 
calves,  a  hundred  pound  sack  of  flour  and  a  few  cop- 
pers in  his  pocket.  It  was  necessary  for  him  to  drive 
through  much  swampy  land  to  reach  his  small  hold- 
ing. He  erected  a  log  cabin,  made  his  own  shingles, 
hewed  his  logs  and  cultivated  a  patch  of  land  to  the 
rear  of  his  cabin  located  on  section  6,  Township  31, 
Range  10  East.  Other  settlers  later,  but  early,  were 
Thomas  Longworth  and  J.  Finney. 

Very  few  settlers  moved  into  this  district  because 
of  the  marshy  territory,  poor  drainage  and  inaccessi- 
bility to  trading  posts.  Even  water  was  hard  to  ob- 
tain by  the  first  settlers,  who  carried  many  buckets 
from  Black  Brook,  Peck  township.  Spring  water  was 
used  also. 

The  first  school  was  erected  on  a  site  three-quarters 
of  a  mile  southeast  of  the  present  school  site.  Twelve 
pupils  were  in  attendance  at  the  first  session  which 
was  in  charge  of  John  Kennedy.  Elizabeth  and  Alice 
Kennedy  were  the  second  and  third  teachers  in  this 
district. 

The  log  cabin  school  soon  became  inadequate  to 
cope    with    educational    needs    of    the    district    and    a 


frame  school  was  erected  which  Agnes  Singer  taught 
during  the  first  session  held.  It  was  used  until  1906, 
when  a  brick  school  house  was  erected  on  section  6. 
The  second  school  was  used  afterward  as  a  woodshed. 

The  first  settler,  William  Taylor,  moved  from  this 
district  in  1917. 

Members  of  the  first  school  board  were  John  Beards- 
ley,  Jonathan  Reader  and  Peter  G.  Beck.  (The  dis- 
trict then  included  part  of  what  is  today  Peck  town- 
ship). The  school  affairs  in  the  Marsh  District  have 
been  capably  handled  by  various  citizens,  elected  an- 
nually as  members  of  the  district  board. 

Much  of  the  land  in  the  district  is  owned  by  the 
B.  Heinemann  Lumber  Company,  the  George  Baldwin 
estate,  and  others. 

DISTRICT  NO.  7. 

RIVERVIEW  DISTRICT.  When  the  township  sys- 
tem of  school  government  was  abandoned  in  Ackley 
township,  the  township  was  divided  into  eight  school 
districts.  Reorganization  took  place  from  time  to  time 
in  recognition  of  demands  of  new  settlers  and  also 
because  of  Langlade  County  territorial  changes  from 
1881  to  1885. 

District  No.  7  was  organized  by  order  of  State  Su- 
perintendent of  Schools  C.  P.  Cary,  Thursday,  July 
26,  1906.  The  district  was  formed  chiefly  because  of 
the  demands  for  a  school  by  the  settlers  residing  at 
Heinemann,  lumber  village,  in  the  territory.  It  con- 
sisted originally  of  the  south  half  of  the  southwest 
quarter  and  the  south  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section  20,  the  south  quarter  of  the  southwest  quarter 
and  the  south  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section 
21,  the  west  half  of  section  27,  all  of  sections  28,  29 
and  30  and  the  northeast  quarter  of  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  32,  all  in  Township  31,  Range  10 
East  (East  Ackley) ;  also  all  of  sections  25,  26,  27,  28, 
29  and  30  in  Township  31,  Range  9  East.  This  took 
in  territory  once  a  part  of  the  original  Ferndale  District 
No.  2.  District  No.  7  then  contained  6,480  acres.  Its 
area  now,  when  changes  in  districts  have  been  made, 
more  important  of  which  was  made  on  petition  of  27 
citizens,  June  4,  1919,  is  10,320  acres.  It  includes  all 
of  sections  25  to  36  inclusive,  Township  31,  Range  9 
East,  all  of  sections  28,  29,  30,  the  west  half  of  sec- 
tion 27,  the  south  half  of  the  south  half  of  both  sec- 
tions 20,  21,  and  the  south  half  of  the  southeast  quar- 
ter of  section  22,  all  in  Township  31,  Range  10  East. 

The  first  officers  of  this  school  district  were  W.  B. 
Heinemann,  Treasurer;  Charles  Bruce,  Director,  and 
Fred  Hoffman,  Clerk.  Present  officers  (1921-22)  are 
John  Mauer,  Clerk;  Charles  Motts,  Treasurer,  and  Her- 
man Lucht,  Director. 

Early  settlers  in  this  district  were :  W.  L.  Ackley, 
Louis  Poxleitner,  Adolph  Stall,  Benno  Hoermann, 
John  Mauer,  Matt  Fuchs,  Mrs.  Joseph  Kolet,  and  oth- 
ers. 

The  district  has  the  distinction  of  having  W.  L. 
Ackley,  first  permanent  settler  of  Langlade  County, 
as  it's  first  settler.  He  arrived  in  this  country  in  1853. 
He  was  present  in  Ackley  township  when  the  govern- 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE  COUNTY. 


183 


ment  survey  was  made  in  1860.  Mr.  Ackley  lived  on 
the  Eau  Claire  river  banks.  He  fished,  hunted  in  the 
forests,  lumbered  in  the  pineries,  aided  the  log  drivers, 
established  a  business  with  D.  Hogarty,  traded  with 
the  Indians,  lived,  in  fact,  the  life  of  a  Daniel  Boone 
in  this  country.  Mr.  Ackley  was  in  this  township, 
which  bears  his  name,  ten  years  before  Henry  Strauss, 
"Mystery  Man"  of  the  Wolf  river  country  went  into 
eastern  Langlade  County  from  Menominee,  Michigan, 
to  be  from  the  haunts  of  all  white  men  who  he  de- 
clared he  wished  no  longer  to  see. 

The  district  is,  therefore,  the  oldest  one  in  point  of 
habitat  by  permanent  white  settlers. 

The  river  driving  on  the  Eau  Claire  river  form- 
ed an  important  industry  in  pioneer  days.  The  var- 
ious improvement  companies  removed  obstructions  in 
the  Eau  Claire  river,  thus  enabling  the  pine  logs  to 
be  driven  down  the  stream  to  Schofield,  Wis. 


Company,  Antigo,  Wis.,  and  moved  to  the  vicinity 
of  the  Langlade  Lumber  Company  mill  in  August, 
1917. 

The  first  cheese  factory  was  opened  in  1919  in  the 
old  store  building,  once  the  Heinemann  Lumber  Com- 
pany store.  In  1920  it  changed  hands  and  the  Ackley 
Farmers  Dairy  Produce  Company  operated  the  fac- 
tory, which  burned  down  in  1921. 

There  are  now  no  cheese  factories,  cemeteries  or 
churches  in  the  district.  Highway  No.  64  runs  through 
the  district  and  is  used  constantly.  It  was  opened  to 
Merrill  in  the  fall  of  1921. 

The  Riverview  Park,  in  which  many  Antigo  people 
are  interested,  is  located  across  the  Eau  Claire  river 
(on  the  west  bank)  in  the  district.  A  large  dance 
pavilion  was  erected  in  1921  and  is  very  popular. 

Eugene  Mullen  conducts  a  soft  drink  parlor  which 
he  has  operated  for  a  number  of  years. 


UELLS  OF  THE   EAU   CL-MRE  RIVER 

The  junction  of  the  east  and  west  branches  of  the  Eau  Claire  River 

are  in  Ackley  township. 


In  1897,  H.  C.  Humphrey,  G.  W.  Hogben,  and  A. 
M.  Lanning  organized  the  Antigo  Screen  Door  Com- 
pany. They  discontinued  business  in  Antigo  after 
operating  a  short  time.  Then  the  concern  erected  a 
factory  on  the  Eau  Claire  river  in  this  district  on  sec- 
tion 28.  A.  C.  Campbell  and  A.  M.  Lanning  operated 
it  until  a  change  in  ownership  whereby  the  Heine- 
mann Lumber  Company  took  it  over  in  1901.  They 
made  extensive  improvements  in  the  industry.  Their 
saw  and  planing  mills  operated  until  1911  when  the 
sawmill  burned  down.  The  village  of  Heinemann 
prospered  during  the  life  of  the  industry.  Many  em- 
ployes were  boarded  at  a  hotel  owned  by  the  lum- 
ber concern.  The  concern  also  operated  a  store  for 
the  residents  of  the  village.  Many  of  the  village 
houses  were  since  purchased  by  the  Langlade  Lumber 


Agriculture  is  the  principal  occupation  of  the  set- 
tlers, all  of  whom  are  progressive. 

Ruins  of  the  once  splendid  planing  mill,  sawmill  and 
thriving  village  still  exist,  reminding  the  observer 

"That  trade's  proud  empire  hastes  to  swift  decay, 
As  ocean  sweeps  the  labour'd  mole  away; 

While  self-dependent  power  can  time  defy. 
As  rocks  resist  the  billow  and  the  sky." 

At  the  opening  of  the  twentieth  century.  Barker  & 
Stewart  and  the  Heinemann  Lumber  Company  logged 
extensively  in  this  district.  The  Chicago,  Milwaukee 
&  St.  Paul  Railroad  serves  this  territory,  passing 
through  sections  19,  30,  31,  32  in  West  Ackley. 

Settlements  are  along  this  road.  They  are  called 
McGinnis,  Bellmeyer  and  Behm. 


184 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XXXVl. 

Ainsworth  Townships  No.  33-34,  R.  12  E. 

Location — Original  Timber  Growths — Quality  of  Soil — Government  Survey — Organization  of  Ains- 
worth Township — "Uncle  Tom"  Ainsworth — Ainsworth  Originally  in  Cleveland  Township — 
Town  Hall— Township  Officials— The  Old  Lake  Superior  Trail— Stopping  Places— Dams— Pear- 
son District — Arbutus  Hill  District — District  No.  5 — Swamp  Creek  District. 


Ainsworth  township  was  named  after  "Uncle  Tom" 
Ainsworth,  who  was  born  in  Dorchester,  England  on 
August  18,  1839,  the  son  of  Henry  and  Susan  Ains- 
worth. When  eighteen  years  of  age  he  came  to  the 
United  States,  stayed  two  years  in  Ohio  and  then  came 
to  Wisconsin,  settling  at  Oshkosh,  Winnebago  Coun- 
ty. He  was  a  Civil  Engineer  by  profession.  Henry 
and  John  Ainsworth,  two  brothers,  were  engaged  in 
agriculture  in  Winnebago  County  at  the  time  of  "Un- 
cle Tom's"  arrival.      Tom  Ainsworth  tended  the  dams 


"LXCLE  TOM"   AIXSWORTII 

Pioneer  dam   tender  at   Pearson  after   whom   Ainsworth 

township  was  named. 

for  the  improvement  companies  on  the  Wolf  River 
between  Post  Lake  and  Shawano.  He  made  three 
trips  every  two  weeks  from  Shawano,  Wis.  He  was 
married  in  1874  to  Anna  B.  Jones  of  Shawano.  They 
had  one  child,  Mary,  now  Mrs.  Eugene  Wescott,  Shaw- 
ano, Wis.  "Uncle  Tom"  died  January  11,  1910  at 
Shawano. 

Ainsworth  township  clings  to  the  name  Ainsworth  in 
more  than  one  way.  Charles  Ainsworth,  a  nephew  of 
"Uncle  Tom"  has  been  successively  chosen  Township 
Treasurer  since  the  organization  of  the  township. 

Uncle  Tom  Ainsworth  was  one  of  the  best  known 
men  among  the  pioneers  in  the  Wolf  River  country. 


AINSWORTH  TOWNSHIP. 

Ainsworth  is  situated  north  of  Price  township  and 
occupies  that  territory  in  townships  33  and  34  of  Range 
12  East.  South  Ainsworth  township  was  surveyed  by 
James  L.  Nowlin,  U.  S.  Deputy  Surveyor,  who  com- 
menced the  survey  May  6,  1865,  and  completed  it  May 
17,  1865.  South  Ainsworth  is  bounded  on  the  north 
by  North  Ainsworth  township,  on  the  south  by  Price 
township,  on  the  east  by  East  Upham  township  and  on 
the  west  by  North  Langlade  township.  The  south 
township  was  originally  covered  with  a  growth  of  white 
and  yellow  pine,  hemlock,  birch,  oak  and  maple.  Most 
of  the  timber  was  of  poor  quality.  Extensive  tracts 
of  hardwood  still  stand.  The  soil  of  South  Ainsworth 
consists  of  Gloucester  sandy  loam  found  in  sections  1, 
2,  3  and  4  of  the  township  and  in  a  spear  shaped  area 
in  the  western  part  of  South  Ainsworth.  Merrimac 
silt  loam  is  found  in  sections  5  and  6.  Gloucester  silt 
loam  is  not  so  extensive  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
township.  Considerable  Peat  is  found  along  the  banks 
of  the  Wolf  River  and  near  the  marshes  and  lakes.  The 
junction  of  the  Hunting  and  Wolf  rivers  is  in  this 
township  in  section  8.  The  famous  military  road  runs 
through  section  1  entering  North  Ainsworth  in  section 
35. 

North  Ainsworth  lies  in  congressional  township  34  of 
Range  12  East.  It  was  surveyed  by  James  L.  Nowlin, 
who  started  May  18,  1865,  and  completed  the  survey 
June  1,  1865.  Hemlock,  tamarack,  white  pine,  cedar, 
birch  and  maple  were  the  original  forest  products. 
There  was  but  little  pine  in  this  township.  The  only 
stream  of  note  is  the  Wolf  river,  which  has  a  width 
from  1  to  3  chains.  It  runs  through  sections  30,  31  and 
32  on  the  west.  Pickerel  Creek,  in  the  east,  runs 
through  sections  13,  24,  25,  26,  27,  33  and  34.  Principal 
lakes  are  Rich  Lake,  the  western  part  of  Pickerel  Lake, 
in  section  25,  and  other  small  lakes. 

North  Ainsworth  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Forest 
County,  on  the  south  by  South  Ainsworth,  on  the  west 
by  East  Elcho  township  and  on  the  east  by  Forest 
County.  The  soil  of  North  Ainsworth  consists  prin- 
cipally of  Gloucester  silt  loam,  Gloucester  stony  sand 
in  the  south  and  a  small  area  north  near  Little  Rolling 
Stone  Lake  fat  county  boundary).  Gloucester  sandy 
loam  is  found  in  the  center  of  the  township,  Glouces- 
ter fine  sand  in  sections  22,  23  and  27,  a  strip  of  Plain- 
field  sand  is  found  south  of  Rich's  (Rolling  Stone) 
Lake  in  sections  13  and  14.  The  largest  area  of  Peat 
in  Langlade  County  is  found  in  western  North  Ains- 
worth.    It  embraces  an  area  of  about  eight  sections. 


" 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


185 


and  extends  north  into  the  Town  of  Nashville,  Forest 
County. 

THE  ORGANIZATION  OF  AINSWORTH. 

Ainsworth  township  is  the  youngest  of  Langlade 
County  civil  divisions.  The  township  was  organized 
at  the  first  annual  township  meeting,  April  4,  1905. 
Charles  A.  Learned  was  appointed  temporary  Chair- 
man of  the  meeting  and  Alexander  Henry  and  Robert 
Schmidt  were  selected  as  Clerks  of  Election.  H.  B. 
Polar  and  A.  Nixon  were  chosen  ballot  clerks  and  F. 
A.  Thorn  and  Joseph  Schoknecht  as  inspectors  of  elec- 
tion. 

The  township  was  named  after  "Uncle  Tom"  Ains- 
worth, who,  for  many  years  came  to  the  dam  at  Pear- 
son to  care  for  it  and  "tend"  for  the  Wolf  River  Im- 
provement Company. 

FIRST  OFFICERS. 

The  first  officers  of  Ainsworth  township  were:  Chair- 
man— Charles  A.  Learned;  F.  A.  Thorn  and  H.  B. 
Polar — Supervisors;  Alexander  Henry — Clerk;  Chas. 
T.  Ainsworth — Treasurer;  Samuel  Preston — Assessor; 
W.  Newell — Constable;  J.  Thorn,  Henry  Harvey  and 
J.  W.  Hoffman — Justices. 

ONCE  IN  LANGLADE  TOWNSHIP— 1875. 

The  town  of  Ainsworth  was  once  a  part  of  Langlade 
township,  Oconto  County,  in  1875-1879.  (Langlade 
township  then  consisted  of  44  and  a  third  townships 
and  extended  to  the  state  line,  but  was  cut  down  to  27 
townships  just  before  New  County  was  created  in 
1879).  When  Langlade  County  was  organized  Ains- 
worth was  a  part  of  Polar  township.  In  November, 
1883,  it  was  detached  from  Polar  township  and  be- 
came a  part  of  Price  township.  It  remained  under 
the  jurisdiction  of  Price  township  but  one  year. 
November  12,  1884,  the  county  board  was  requested 
to  organize  Aetna  township  out  of  the  present  terri- 
tory of  Ainsworth  and  townships  34  of  Ranges  13  and 
14  East,  now  a  part  of  Nashville  township.  Forest 
County.  The  request  was  granted  and  Cleveland 
township  was  created.  (See  Cleveland  township  in 
Chapter  on  Vacated  Langlade  County  Townships). 
In  November,  1886,  this  territory,  with  the  exception 
of  that  part  ceded  to  Forest  County  in  1885,  was  va- 
cated and  attached  to  Langlade  township.  It  re- 
mained in  Langlade  township  until  1905  when  Ains- 
worth was  organized. 

AINSWORTH  HALL. 

November  6,  1907,  James  D.  Polar,  Sam  Preston,  F. 
W.  Hoffman,  C.  A.  Learned,  Jos.  Schoknecht,  Charles 
T.  Ainsworth,  J.  W.  Spencer,  J.  K.  Newell,  Alvin  Rich- 
ter,  F.  A.  Thorne,  J.  T.  Thorn,  Wm.  Spencer,  W.  Crams, 
H.  B.  Polar,  B.  S.  Powell,  and  J.  H.  Powell  petitioned 
the  township  officials  to  vote  on  the  question  of  rais- 
ing $1,000  to  erect  a  town  hall.  The  question  was  put 
to  the   voters  of  Ainsworth  and   13  voted  for  and   2 


against  the  loan.      The  first  meeting  in  the  new  town 
hall,  located  on  section  9,  was  held  April  7,  1908. 

SETTLEMENT  WITH  LANGLADE. 

Ainsworth  township  made  a  settlement  with  the  of- 
ficials of  Langlade  township  May  20,  1905.  Charles 
A.  Learned,  Alexander  Henry  and  C.  T.  Ainsworth 
were  the  Committee  on  Settlement  from  the  new  town. 
The  division  of  properties  and  treasury  funds  was 
made  on  a  491  to  509  per  cent  basis,  the  latter  per  cent 
to  be  retained  by  Langlade. 

Ainsworth  received  $713.54  and  Langlade  received 
$739.70. 

The  division  of  Langlade  township  creating  Ains- 
worth made  the  seventh  recorded  change  in  township 
jurisdiction  of  townships  33  and  34  of  Range  12  East. 
These  were  1 — Territory  was  in  Oconto  County;  2 — 
Territory  in  New  County ;  3 — Territory  in  Langlade 
County  in  Polar  township;  4 — Territory  in  Price  town- 
ship; 5 — Territory  in  Cleveland  township;  6 — Terri- 
tory in  Langlade  township;  7 — Territory  in  Ainsworth 
township. 

FIRST  HEALTH  OFFICERS. 

The  first  health  officers  of  Ainsworth  township  were : 
Chairman  of  Board  of  Health — H.  B.  Polar;  Health 
Officer — Frank  A.  Thorn  and  Clerk — Alexander  Henry. 

FIRST  ROAD  BEFORE  U.  S.  SURVEY  IN  1865. 

The  first  road  to  penetrate  the  township  was  the  old 
Lake  Superior  Trail  that  ran  in  a  north  and  south  di- 
rection through  the  center  of  the  township.  This  road 
was  cut  before  the  government  survey  of  Langlade 
County.  The  military  road  runs  through  this  town- 
ship on  practically  the  same  course. 

STOPPING  PLACES— DAMS. 

Early  stopping  places  and  dams  are  found  in  the 
chapters  on  "Pioneer  Lumbering  on  the  Wolf  River" 
and  "Taverns — Old  Stopping  Places — Hotels." 

AINSWORTH  TOWNSHIP  OFFICERS— 1905-1923. 

CHAIRMEN. 

Charles  A.  Leonard — 1905-06;  Frank  A.  Thorn — 
1906-09;  Wm.  F.  Spencer— 1909-10;  James  D.  Polar— 
1910-11;  J.  H.  Powell— 1911-12;  John  H.  Harvey— 
1912-14;  E.  S.  Tradewell— 1914-16;  John  Aird— 1916- 
21;  John  Wilcox— 1921-23. 

CLERKS. 

Alex  Henry— 1905-06;  Wm.  F.  Spencer— 1906-09; 
B.  S.  Powell— 1909-12;  J.  B.  Skidmore— 1912-14;  Sam- 
uel Preston— 1914-17;  J.  B.  Skidmore— 1917-19;  Alon- 
zo  Bunten— 1919-21 ;  Fred  Hartman— 1921-23. 

TREASURERS. 

Charles  T.  Ainsworth— 1905-23. 

SUPERVISORS. 

F.  A.  Thorn,  H.  B.  Polar— 1905-06;  Joseph  Schok- 
necht, H.  B.  Polar— 1906-08;  H.   B.  Polar,  Gust  Mc- 


186 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


Mahon— 1908-09;  J.  H.  Powell,  John  Harvey— 1909- 
10;  Walter  Sears,  J.  H.  Powell— 1910-11;  John  Harvey, 
Wm.  F.  Spencer— 1911-12;  Fred  A.  Hartman,  Samuel 
Preston — 1912-13;  Charles  Krueger,  Henry  Shadick — 
1913-14;  John  H.  Harvey,  Fred  A.  Hartman— 1914- 
15;  John  H.  Harvey,  Henry  Shadick— 1915-16;  N.  R. 
Spencer,  John  H.  Harvey — 1916-17;  Archie  Spencer,  E. 
J.  Kaufman — 1917-18;  Archie  Spencer,  N.  R.  Spencer 
—1918-19;  Archie  Spencer,  William  Craig— 1919-20; 
William  Craig,  Henry  Shadick— 1920-21;  Henry  Sha- 
dick, Samuel  Preston— 1921-22;  Henry  Shadick,  N. 
Thorn— 1922-23. 

ASSESSORS. 

Samuel  Preston— 1905-07;  James  D.  Polar— 1907- 
10;  Samuel  Preston— 1910-11 ;  James  D.  Polar— 1911- 
13;  Wm.  F.  Spencer— 1913-14;  James  D.  Polar;  1914- 
16;  Frank  A.  Thorn— 1916-18;  Joseph  Schacher— 1918- 
21;  F.  A.  Thorn— 1921-22;  John  Schacher— 1922-23. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 

Henry  Harvey,  Jessie  Thorn,  F.  W.  Hoffman — 1905- 
06;  Henry  Harvey,  John  K.  Newell— 1906-07;  Charles 

A.  Learned,  Henry  Harvey— 1907-08;  J.  T.  Thorn, 
Henry  Harvey— 1908-09;  J.  T.  Thorn— 1909-10;  Wm. 
M.  Grams— 1910-11;  N.  Thorn,  Henry  Harvey— 1911- 
12;  Henry  Shadick,  N.  Thorn— 1912-13;  Henry  Harvey 
1913-14;  Henry  Harvey,  Samuel  Preston— 1914-15; 
Tilman  Arrand,  Henry  Harvey — 1915-16;  Henry  Har- 
very,  Archie  Spencer — 1916-17;  Henry  Harvey,  Wil- 
liam Craig — 1917-18;  Henry  Harvey,  Samuel  Preston 
—1918-19;  J.  B.  Skidmore— 1919-20;  H.  Harvey— 
1920-21;  H.  Harvey,  A.  J.  Monette— 1922-23. 

CONSTABLES. 

Warren  Newell — 1905-06;  Huston  Townsend,  J.  W. 
Spencer— 1906-07;  Gust  McMahon— 1907-08;  Fred 
Hartman— 1908-09;  Samuel  Preston— 1909-10;  C.  C. 
Spencer,  J.  H.  Harvey — 1910-11;  William  Miracle, 
William  McGeesick— 1911-12;  John  Polar— 1912-13; 
J.  H.  Harvey,  William  Grams— 1913-14;  J.  H.  Powell, 
Julius  Monette — 1914-15;  J.  H.  Powell,  Nim  Spencer — 
1915-16;  John  H.  Harvey,  George  Maloney— 1916-17; 
J.  H.  Powell,  Frank  Doucette— 1917-18;  C.  B.  Skid- 
more,  John  Wilcox— 1918-19;  N.  Thorn— 1919-20;  C. 

B.  Skidmore— 1920-21 ;  J.  Harvey,  M.  Shadick— 1921- 
22;  J.  Harvey,  F.  Doucette— 1922-23. 

DISTRICT  NO  3. 

PEARSON  DISTRICT.  The  first  historical  event 
of  importance  in  this  district  was  the  construction  of 
the  Wolf  river  dam,  erected  by  the  Keshena  Improve- 
ment Company  in  1869.  Thomas  Ainsworth,  had 
charge  of  construction  of  this  dam.  P.  Williams 
Maginey  often  termed  "Bogus  Bill"  was  the  first  dam 
tender.  Buckstaff  Brothers  of  Oshkosh  had  a  camp 
on  Craig's  corner  in  this  district  in  1866.  James  Magee 
operated  a  camp  on  the  site  of  the  Henry  Shadick  res- 
idence, section  5. 

The  first  permanent  settlers  in  this  district  were 
Henry  and  John  Seeman  who  settled  in  the  district  in 


March,  1883.  Charles  Ferguson  came  at  the  same 
time.  Joseph  Schoknecht  settled  on  section  3,  Town- 
ship 33,  Range  12  East,  in  July,  1883.  Following 
him  J.  Pearson  Hughes  came  in  1884  from  Oshkosh, 
Wis.,  to  regain  his  health.  Henry  Harvey  and  Charles 
Ainsworth  followed,  both  coming  from  Shawano.  The 
latter  settled  on  section  9.  Alexander  Henry,  Fred 
Hoffman,  Albert  Nixon,  Sim  Graves  and  Samuel  Pres- 
ton all  were  early  settlers  coming  shortly  after  the  first 
arrivals. 

Henry  Seaman  and  J.  Pearson  Hughes  erected  the 
first  log  school  house  on  section  3.  It  was  built  in 
1886.  Edith  Hughes  and  Rose  and  Frank  Seeman  were 
the  first  pupils.  Early  teachers  were  Louisa  Romeis, 
Jane  Reader,  Nellie  Reader  and  Mrs.  J.  Pearson 
Hughes.  In  1891  a  frame  school  replaced  the  log 
structure,  being  erected  on  section  10.  It  was  in  use 
until  1916  when  a  brick  school  was  erected  on  the  same 
site  at  a  cost  of  $5,500.  The  old  frame  school  house 
was  moved  to  the  Cloverdale  district  where  George 
Mathison  remodeled  it  for  a  store.  The  members  of 
the  school  board  when  the  frame  school  of  1891  was 
erected  were  Joseph  Schoknecht,  Treasurer;  J.  Pearson 
Hughes,  Clerk  and  Robert  Armstrong,  Director.  The 
1921-22  officials  were  Fred  Hartman,  Treasurer;  John 
Aird,  Clerk;  August  Kussman,  Director.  The  1921- 
22  teacher  was  Vera  Young. 

J.  Pearson  Hughes  was  the  first  storekeeper  and 
postmaster  at  Pearson  village,  which  was  named  by 
him.  The  store  was  a  typical  crossroads  place.  Albert 
Nixon  operated  the  first  hotel  on  section  9.  J.  P. 
Hughes  ran  a  boarding  house  before  then. 

Oscar  Seeman  was  the  first  boy  and  Elsie  Schok- 
necht was  the  first  girl  born  in  the  district.  She  was 
also  the  first  woman  to  vote  in  the  district,  at  a  gen- 
eral election. 

Sim  Graves  operated  a  saw  mill  on  section  4  from 
1905  to  1907,  when  it  was  moved  away.  The  land 
was  purchased  by  the  Paine  Lumber  Company  of  Osh- 
kosh, Wis. 

The  first  and  only  cheese  factory  was  erected  on 
section  4  in  1919  by  R.  Roeder. 

Telephone  service  was  brought  into  the  district  in 
1915  by  the  Military  Road  Telephone  Company. 

Fred  Hartman  erected  the  first  silo  in  the  district. 
There  are  now  four  silos  in  the  district. 

The  town  cemetery  is  located  on  section  3,  an  acre 
of  land  having  been  purchased  for  that  purpose  from 
Joseph  Schoknecht. 

The  Langlade  Lumber  Company,  successor  to  the 
Paine  Lumber  Company,  have  extensive  holdings  in 
the  district.  They  have  brought  in  new  settlers, 
through  their  cut  over  land  sales. 

The  post  office  has  been  moved  frequently  since  J. 
Pearson  Hughes  opened  it,  on  section  9.  Other  post- 
masters were  Alexander  Henry,  section  9;  William 
Spencer,  section  9;  Samuel  Preston,  section  9,  (it  burn- 
ed when  he  was  in  charge).  It  was  then  located  on 
section  4.  Other  postmasters  were  Annie  Monette, 
George  Thrasher,  Alonzo  Bunten  and  George  Mathison. 

The  Pearson  district  has  a  progressive  population. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


187 


DISTRICT  NO.  4. 

ARBUTUS  HILL  DISTRICT.  The  pioneer  citi- 
zens of  this  district  were  Charles  A.  Learned,  H.  B. 
Polar  and  David  Getchell  (who  later  moved  to  Lang- 
lade township,  Elm  Grove  District). 

H.  B.  Polar  came  into  northern  Wisconsin  in  1861 
and  moved  down  the  old  Lake  Superior  trail  from 
Lac  Vieux  Desert  to  the  territory  that  later  become 
Langlade  County,  but  a  short  time  later.  He  was  one 
of  Langlade  County's  most  conspicuous  pioneers.  He 
lived  with  and  among  the  Chippewa  Indians,  who  re- 
vered and  respected  him.  The  chief  occupation  of 
this  pioneer  was  that  of  a  trader,  woodsman,  and  later 
a  proprietor  of  a  so-called  "stopping  place."  (  See 
chapter  on  Taverns-Hotels-Stopping  Places).  Polar 
township  was  named  in  his  memory.  David  Getchell, 
who  came  from  Maine,  is  mentioned  in  the  Elm  Grove 
District.  Charles  Leonard  became  the  first  Ainsworth 
town  chairman.  He  was  active  in  Langlade  township 
and  Cleveland  township  affairs  previously. 

District  No.  4  has  long  been  the  habitat  of  the 
Chippewa,  who  today  lives  within  its  borders.  Many 
of  them  live  in  a  primitive  environment.  "Old  Blind 
Christ,"  a  Chippewa  Indian  of  advanced  age  lives  near- 
by. He  is  reserved  as  are  most  of  the  Chippewa  In- 
dians hereabout.  His  name  is  John  Pete  and  the  story 
is  related  of  how  he  became  blind  in  an  attempt  to 
run  from  the  authorities  enforcing  the  peace  and  civil 
dignity  of  the  district.  Joseph  Pete,  a  brother,  fought 
in  the  Civil  War. 

The  first  school  was  known  as  the  Polar  School  and 
was  on  the  site  of  the  present  Arbutus  school,  section 
34.  It  was  a  log  building  and  was  used  a  number  of 
years.  A  frame  building  was  erected  and  burned 
down  in  1906.  It  was  replaced  by  another  frame  struc- 
ture which  still  stands,  section  27,  but  is  not  used  as  a 
school.  The  brick  school  now  in  the  district  was  built 
by  Dallman  &  Hoffschmidt  of  Antigo.  It  is  a  splen- 
did building,  well  equipped  and  a  credit  to  the  com- 
munity. 

The  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad  Company  laid 
a  spur  track  from  Koepenick  to  Pearson  and  has  done 
much  to  open  this  vicinity. 

Lakes  or  Creeks  in  the  district  are:  Pickerel  Creek; 
Mosquito  Creek,  Dead  Man's  Lake,  Sunken  Lake, 
Hollister  Lake  and  Mosquito  Lake. 

Loggers  who  have  or  are  now  operating :  Fish  Lum- 
ber Company  crews,  Kellogg  Lumber  &  Mfg.  Co., 
Langlade  Lumber  Co.,  Wittenberg  Cedar  Company  and 
White  Star  Lumber  Co.,  and  Munsard  &  Perkins  of 
Bowler. 

There  are  about  ten  settlers  in  the  district. 

Early  teachers  were :  Michael  Hafner  and  Edith 
Buck.  The  1921-22  teacher  was  lone  Preston.  The 
1921-22  school  officials  were :  Lyman  Jessey,  Treasur- 
er; John  Harvey,  Director  and  Frank  Harvey,  Clerk. 

An  Indian  cemetery  is  located  in  the  district  and 
many  of  the  Polar  family  are  at  rest  in  it.  There  H. 
B.  Polar,  the  pioneer,  James  Polar  and  Barney  Polar, 
who  was  charged  with  the  murder  of  Henry  Still,  but 
was  never  captured  for  trial,  are  buried. 


DISTRICT  NO.  5. 

This  district  has  but  four  settlers,  Frank  A.  Thorn 
family,  Wm.  Grames,  William  Vorass  and  Charles 
Franks.  It  is  heavily  timbered,  lumbering,  logging 
and  agriculture  being  the  chief  occupations  of  the 
settlers. 

Nicholas  Preston  homesteaded  the  southeast  quarter 
of  section  29.  He  was  followed  by  Sim  Graves,  who 
also  settled  on  section  29.  Frank  A.  Thorn  and  fami- 
ly came  into  the  district  in  1899  and  settled  on  section 
27.      E.  C.  Nichols  settled  on  section  27  (NW  M). 

The  first  school  was  erected  on  section  29  and  was 
used  for  many  years  until  the  frame  structure  was  built 
in  1905.  Early  teachers  were  Edith  Hughes,  Dora 
Berendson,  Lena  Arentsen,  Frarxis  McBain,  Francis  La 
Veque  and  Nettie  Hanson.  The  first  teacher  in  the 
frame  school  was  Minnie  Brandow.  The  last  teacher 
was  Olga  Grames.  School  has  been  discontinued  be- 
cause there  are  no  children  of  school  age. 

The  Langlade  Lumber  Company  store  and  head- 
quarters are  located  near  this  district  on  section  5. 
They  moved  their  headquarters  into  the  district  from 
Bass  Lake,  Upham  township  in  1921.  The  company 
store  was  purchased  from  Hale,  Mylrea  Lumber  Com- 
pany in  1916. 

DISTRICT  NO.  6. 

CLOVER  DALE  DISTRICT.  In  the  region  where 
the  Hunting  River  joins  with  the  Wolf  River  in  a 
journey  on  to  the  St.  Lawrence  is  a  district  known  to 
the  school  children  as  the  Clover  Dale.  Its  early  set- 
tlers were:  John  Powell,  "Uncle  West"  Spencer,  Co- 
lumbus Spencer,  B.  S.  Powell  and  Tillman  Arrand.  The 
district  is  not  densely  populated,  but,  because  of  recent 
extensive  logging  operations,  has  become  settled. 

A  Catholic  church  was  erected  in  1919  in  the  dis- 
trict. The  land  for  this  church  was  donated  by  Oliver 
Shadick,  Sr. 

The  Langlade  Lumber  Company  has  extensive  logg- 
ing operations  in  this  vicinity.  Their  machine  shop, 
general  store  operated  by  F.  R.  Cleveland  and  the 
Langlade  Hotel,  run  by  William  Zerrener,  are  all  lo- 
cated in  Clover  Dale.  George  Mathison  is  the  Pear- 
son postmaster.  He  has  a  store  which  he  runs  in  con- 
junction with  the  post  office.  Oliver  Shadick,  Jr.,  con- 
ducts a  soft  drink  parlor  in  this  district. 

The  present  Clover  Dale  School  was  erected  in  1909. 
It  is  located  on  section  5,  township  32,  Range  12  East. 

DISTRICT  NO.  7. 

SWAMP  CREEK  DISTRICT  is  sparsely  settled. 
The  settlers  are  Charles  Kreger,  Wallace  Fryer,  the 
Brennerman  family,  George  Maloney,  Frank  Slaboch, 
William  Tomlin  and  Joseph  Schacher.  E.  S.  Trade- 
well  logged  extensively  in  the  district  for  many  years 
until  1921.  He  also  conducted  a  general  store  while 
engaged  in  logging.  The  school  house,  was  erected 
by  the  Charles  W.  Fish  Lumber  Company.  The  first 
teacher  was  Miss  Lola  Mills.  Mrs.  Wallace  Fryer  is 
the  present  teacher.  The  1921-22  school  officials 
were:  Frank  Slobach,  Treasurer;  Mrs.  Charles  Krue- 
ger,  Clerk  and  Wallace  Fryer,  Director. 


188 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 
Antigo  Township  No.  31,  R.  11  E. 

Location — Boundaries — Organization — Old  Town  of  Springbrook — Two  Sets  of  Town  Officers  in 
1880 — Early  Roads — Road  Districts — First  Improvements — First  School  District  Boundaries — 
Expansion  of  Town — Boundary  Lines  Changed — School  Districts — Early  Settlers — The  First  In- 
dustries — Mills — Agriculture — Dairying — Sch  ools — Churches — Cemeteries  —  Granges  —  Miscel- 


laneous- 


-Progress. 


Antigo  township,  range  11,  once  extended  fronn  the 
southern  boundary  line  of  township  31,  direct  north  in 
range  11  east  to  the  boundary  line  between  townships 
37  and  38,  range  11  east.  Its  original  area  was  252 
square  miles.  Antigo  township  originally  included  its 
present  area  and  all  of  Neva  township,  east  Upham 
township,  east  Elcho  township  and  township  35,  36  and 
37,  north  of  Langlade  County. 

The  township  lies  in  the  south  central  part  of  Lang- 
lade County.  Like  the  city  of  Antigo,  it  received  its 
name  from  the  Chippewa  Indian  word,  Nequi-Antigo- 
Seebeh,  signifying  balsam  evergreen.  It  is  bounded 
on  the  north  by  Neva  tov/nship,  on  the  west  by  East 
Ackley  township,  on  the  east  by  Polar  township  and 
on  the  south  by  Norwood  and  Rolling  townships.  An- 
tigo township  embraces  one  Congressional  township  or 
thirty-six  square  miles.  The  most  important  water 
course  in  the  township  is  Springbrook,  which  flows 
through  sections  2,  10,  16,  23  and  the  city  of  Antigo. 
The  township  is  generally  level,  its  soil  of  exception- 
al fertility.  Once  the  land  was  covered  with  dense 
timber,  the  great  tracts  of  pine  being  first  to  fall  under 
the  blow  of  the  woodsman's  axe.  Maple,  birch,  elm 
and  cherry  were  also  plentiful.  It  is  distinctly  a 
dairying  and  agricultural  township.  Its  farms,  cheese 
factories,  stock  and  poultry  farms,  commodious  barns 
and  silos  have  taken  the  place  of  the  stately  pine  tree 
of  a  half  century  ago.  Antigo  township  was  survey- 
ed by  H.  C.  Fellows  of  the  U.  S.  Survey  in  September, 
1860. 

ORGANIZATION— TOWN  OF  SPRINGBROOK. 

Antigo  township  belonged  to  Langlade  township  of 
Oconto  County  before  1879,  when  New  County  was  or- 
ganized. Thereupon  it  was  under  the  jurisdiction  of 
Shawano  County  and  was  known  as  Springbrook  town- 
ship. 

Prior  to  January  1,  1880,  the  Shawano  County  Board 
of  Supervisors  ordered  electors  of  Springbrook  town- 
ship to  meet  April  6,  1880  at  the  residence  of  Robert 
Sheriff,  section  26,  township  31,  range  11  East.  The 
meeting  was  adjourned  from  the  Sheriff  residence 
"because  of  illness  in  the  family"  to  the  farm  home  of 
A.  O.  D.  Kelly,  section  11,  township  31,  range  11  East. 
An  election  was  held  and  the  following  were  chosen 
first  officers  of  Springbrook  township :  Chairman — 
Robert  Sheriff;  James  Brenner  and  J.  B.  Beemer, 
Supervisors;  A.  0.  D.  Kelly — Assessor;  D.  S.  Olmsted 


— Town  Clerk;  George  Taplin — Town  Treasurer;  F. 
J.  Despins,  E.  B.  Morley  and  Charles  Gowan — Justices 
of  the  Peace;  John  Cherf,  D.  H.  Brands  and  Wm.  Mil- 
ler— Constables.  Nineteen  votes  were  cast  by  the 
following:  D.  S.  Olmsted,  Alex  McMillan,  George 
Taplin,  James  Brennen,  Henry  Jones,  Richard  Healy, 
Sr.,  John  Everling,  A.  0.  D.  Kelly,  Robert  Sheriff, 
Fred  Betke,  Albert  Betke,  Charles  Fred,  Joseph  De- 
brauer,  Ferdinand  Betke,  Robert  Webster,  George  Scott, 
Joseph  Sheriff,  Joel  Quimby,  D.  H.  Brands.  J.  B. 
Beemer,  refused  to  qualify  as  a  Supervisor,  and  John 
Cherf,  was  appointed  to  serve  in  his  place  from 
1880-81.  This  set  of  officers  held  meetings  at  the 
homes  of  the  officers  the  last  one  August  9,  1880,  when 
$200  was  appropriated  from  the  drainage  fund  of  the 
tovvfn  to  defend  the  township  in  an  action  began  by  F. 
A.  Deleglise  in  Circuit  Court. 

WHY  THE  ACTION  WAS  INSTITUTED. 

When  F.  A.  Deleglise,  George  Ratcliffe,  M.  W. 
Waite,  V.  Simmons,  John  Doersch,  John  Cherf,  A. 
Price,  E.  M.  Stevens,  Charles  Teipner,  Wm.  Shiel, 
Niels  Anderson  and  Charles  Gowan,  all  of  the  town  of 
Springbrook,  proceeded  to  the  farm  house  of  Robert 
Sheriff  (the  place  designed  by  the  Shawano  County 
Board  as  the  place  of  holding  an  election  and  organiz- 
ing the  town  of  Springbrook),  they  were  informed  of 
illness  in  the  Sheriff  family.  The  twelve  citizens  were 
indignant  over  the  fact  that  "the  polling  place  had  been 
adjourned  before  the  legal  time  of  opening  it  and  be- 
cause a  constable  or  any  other  person  in  authority  was 
not  left  at  the  place  from  which  adjournment  was  made 
to  inform  the  electors  of  the  new  polling  booths  at  the 
A.  0.  D.  Kelly  home." 

Thus  the  township  was  divided  into  two  factions  be- 
fore it  was  organized.  The  followers  of  Hon.  F.  A. 
Deleglise  proceeded  to  the  store  of  Niels  Anderson, 
section  29,  township  31.  An  election  was  held  in 
which  F.  A.  Deleglise  was  chosen  Chairman;  Joseph 
Duchac  and  James  O'Connor  as  Supervisors;  E.  M. 
Stevens,  Clerk;  George  Ratcliffe,  Treasurer;  Assessor 
— Charles  Gowan;  Justices  of  the  Peace — F.  J.  Des- 
pins, V.  Simmons  and  Charles  Mosher;  Constables — 
J.  Compton  and  Lawrence  Weix. 

The  fight  between  the  two  factions  ended  in  Circuit 
Court  at  Green  Bay  when  the  Sheriff  group  were  sus- 
tained. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


189 


STATE  LAW  OF  1881— FIRST  OFFICERS. 

A  year  passed  swiftly  and  in  accordance  with  pro- 
visions specified  by  the  February  19,  1881,  act  of  the 
State  Legislature  in  which  Langlade  County  was  or- 
ganized, an  election  for  a  Chairman  of  the  new  Town- 
ship of  Antigo  (name  of  Springbrook  dropped  by  vot- 
ers) was  held  at  Niels  Anderson's  store.  The  fol- 
lowing first  officers  of  Antigo  township  were  elected : 
Chairman — V.  Simmons;  Supervisors — Joseph  Du- 
chac,  George  Ratcliffe;  Town  Clerk — H.  E.  Baker; 
Town  Treasurer — Louis  Novotny;  Town  Assessor — 
Thomas  Leslie;  Justices  of  the  Peace — Louis  Mend- 
lik,  Charles  Mosher,  M.  Weatherwax,  Thomas  Leslie; 
Constables — D.  McTaggart,  James  Brennen  and  Law- 
rence Weix. 

FIRST  ELECTION  ADJOURNED— 1881. 

The  first  township  election  was  adjourned  from  the 
Niels  Anderson  Store  to  the  boot  and  shoe  store  of 
James  Novotny.  Niels  Anderson  was  left  at  the  first 
place  to  notify  voters  of  the  change.  This  election, 
April  5th,  1881,  was  the  first  one  of  the  township  as  a 
part  of  Langlade  County.  Louis  Mendlik  acted  as 
temporary  chairman,  Thomas  Leslie  and  R.  J.  Richards 
as  Inspectors  of  Election. 

FIRST  ACT  OF  VOTERS. 

The  voters  first  act  was  to  agree  to  raise  $600  to  pay 
off  the  township  school  indebtedness  of  1880.  $1,000 
was  voted  for  school  purposes  for  1882. 

JANUARY  11,  1883,  TOWNSHIPS  DETACHED. 

All  townships  north  of  township  31,  range  11  East  in 
Antigo  township  were  severed  from  Antigo  township 
January  11,  1883,  to  form  Neva  township.  Antigo 
township  has  since  then  remained  one  Congressional 
township. 

ROAD  DISTRICTS. 

May  8,  1882,  Antigo  township  was  subdivided  into 
ten  road  districts.  Principal  pioneer  highways  laid 
out  were  McMillan  highway,  Gowan  highway.  Brands 
highway,  Oblique  highway,  Kennedy  highway,  Antigo- 
Neva  highway,  Krause  highway,  Byrnes  highway, 
Langlade  highway,  Dawsen  highway,  Leslie  highway, 
Betke  highway.  Sheriff  highway,  Crompton  highway, 
R.  C.  Richard  highway,  Brennen  highway,  Polar-Anti- 
go  town  line  highway.  The  first  road  petition  was 
granted  May  8,  1880  by  the  town  of  Springbrook  (be- 
fore Antigo  township  was  organized).  This  highway 
was  four  rods  wide  and  ran  as  follows :  Center  line 
commenced  at  the  west  quarter  corner  of  section  7, 
township  32,  range  11  East,  thence  east  on  the  quarter 
line  to  the  center  quarter  corner  of  section  8;  thence 
southeast  touching  at  every  corner  to  the  southeast 
corner  of  section  16;  thence  southeast  to  the  center 
line  of  a  wagon  road ;  thence  south  on  center  line  of 
said  wagon  road  (magnetia  variation  N.  6"  E.)  to  the 
southeast  corner  of  section  21,  township  32,  range  11 
east,  (now  Neva  township). 


SCHOOL   DISTRICT   BOUNDARIES. 

Before  1883  when  Antigo  township  extended  so  far 
north  and  before  Neva  township  was  detached  from 
Antigo  township  the  school  districts  were  vast  incon- 
gruous sections  of  land.  Since  then  Antigo  township 
has  been  easier  to  divide  into  school  districts.  In 
1885  the  school  districts  were  determined  as  follows: 
District  No.  1  consisted  of  sections  19,  20,  21,  28,  29 
and  30.  District  No.  2  consisted  of  sections  4,  5,  6, 
7,  8,  9,  16,  17  and  18.  District  No.  3  consisted  of 
sections  25,  26,  27,  34,  35  and  36.  District  No.  4  con- 
sisted of  sections  1,  2,  3,  10,  11,  12,  13,  14,  15  and  the 
north  1  2  of  sections  22,  23  and  24.  District  No.  5  con- 
sisted of  sections  31,  32  and  33. 

School  district  boundaries  were  changed,  due  chief- 
ly to  the  growth  of  the  city  of  Antigo,  May  30,  1885; 
August  22,  1885;  Nov.  17,  1890;  November  20,  1900; 
April  21,  1903;  October  16,  1906;  Nov.  20,  1911;  May 
24,  1912;  June  8,  1912. 

Antigo  township  is  now  subdivided  into  seven  school 
districts. 

ANTIGO  TOWNSHIP  CHAIRMEN— 1880-1923. 

Robert  Sheriff— 1880-81  (Chairman  of  Town  of 
Springbrook);  L.  Mendlik — 1881  (Temporary);  Vol- 
ney  Simmons— 1881-82;  F.  A.  Deleglise— 1882-83;  B. 
F.  Dorr— 1883-84;  Charles  Gowan— 1884-87;  John 
Byrnes— 1887-89;  Charles  Gowan— 1889  (resigned); 
Ezra  Winch — 1889  (  appointed — died  in  service) ;  A.  O. 
D.  Kelly— 1889-90;  John  Byrne— 1890-91;  James 
Quinn— 1891-92;  Wm.  Brennecke— 1892-94;  J.  P.  Tib- 
betts— 1894-95;  James  Quinn— 1895-99;  Wm.  Bren- 
necke—1900-01 ;  John  Byrne— 1901-02;  A.  R.  Billings 
—1903-04;  John  Byrne— 1904-05;  Thos.  W.  Humble— 
1905-12;  Christ  Brennecke— 1912-14;  Thomas  Ford— 
1914-15;  Lewis  Winter— 1915-16;  Wm.  Brennecke— 
1916-21 ;  Theo.  Miller— 1921-23. 

ANTIGO  TOWNSHIP  CLERKS— 1880-1923. 

D.  S.  Olmsted— 1880-81  (Clerk  town  of  Spring- 
brook); H.  E.  Baker— 1881-82;  Louis  Mendlik— 1882- 
83;  R.  G.  Webb— 1883-84;  W.  L.  Crocker— 1884-85; 
S.  W.  Chamberlain— 1885-94;  Charles  Theisen— 1895- 
1923. 

ANTIGO   TOWNSHIP   TREASURERS— 1880-1923. 

George  Taplin — 1880  (Treasurer  town  of  Spring- 
brook); Louis  Novotny — 1881-82;  James  Novotny — 
1882-83;  Niels  Anderson— 1883-85;  Paul  Weed— 1885- 
86;  A.  O.  D.  Kelly— 1886-87;  Jerome  Galligher— 1887- 
91;  August  Gabel— 1891-94;  Patrick  Byrnes— 1894-97; 
Chr.  Brennecke— 1898-02;  H.  P.  Ings— 1903-06;  Louis 
Winter— 1906-09;  Elmer  Tibbetts— 1909-18;  Jacob 
Gallenberger— 1918-23. 

ANTIGO  TOWNSHIP  SUPERVISORS. 

James  Brennan,  J.  B.  Beemer — 1880-81  (town  of 
Springbrook) ;  Joseph  Duchac,  George  Ratcliffe — 
1881-82;  James  Brennan,  John  Goodwin— 1882-83; 
John  Goodwin,  E.  Hubbard— 1883-84;  R.  H.  McMul- 


190 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


len,  S.  W.  Chamberlain— 1884-85;  John  Byrne,  Mar- 
shall Hubbard— 1885-86;  John  Byrne,  Albert  Heyse— 
1886-87;  W.  L.  Zuehlke,  John  Doersch— 1887-89;  R. 
Healy,  Sr..  Jos.  Seipold— 1889-90;  Wm.  Brennecke, 
Jos.  Seipold— 1890-91 ;  J.  J.  Kramer,  S.  W.  Chamber- 
lain—1891-92;  Frank  Borth,  Frank  Byrne— 1892-93; 
Charles  Theisen,  Peter  Marmes— 1893-94;  Peter 
Marmes,  Charles  McGinley— 1894-95;  Chas.  McGin- 
ley,  Wm.  Hoppe — 1895-98;  George  Bonnell,  Andrew 
H.  Zelinski— 1898-99;  J.  J.  Kroemer,  Henry  Bohlman 
—1900-01;  Louis  Winter,  Frank  Dvorak— 1901-02; 
George  Bonnell,  Henry  S.  Heller— 1903-04;  Peter 
Marmes,  George  Bonnell — 1904-05;  Thomas  Ford,  Pet- 
H.  Selenski— 1898-99;  J.  J.  Kroemer,  Henry  Bohlman 
—1906-08;  Peter  Marmes,  Wm.  Duernberger— 1908- 
09;  Peter  Marmes;  J.  Schoblasky— 1909-10;  Peter 
Marmes,  Chris.  Brennecke,  1910-11;  Julius  Schoblasky, 
Chris.  Brennecke,  1911-12;  Louis  Winter,  Peter 
Marmes — 1912-13;  Frank  Olmsted,  J.  J.  Seamon — 
1913-14;  William  Kitt,  Louis  Winter— 1914-15;  Julius 
Hintz,  Louis  Winter— 1915-16;  William  Kitt,  Edward 
Jansen,  1916-19;  Louis  Winter,  William  Kitt— 1919-21; 
Louis  Winter,  Julius  Hintz— 1921-23. 

ANTIGO  TOWNSHIP  ASSESSORS— 1880-1922. 

A.  0.  D.  Kelly— 1880-81  (town  of  Springbrook) ; 
Thos.  W.  Leslie— 1881-82;  G.  Eckart— 1882-83;  Eu- 
gene Taplin— 1883-84;  Ed.  Daskam— 1884-85;  John  B. 
Beemer— 1885-86;  M.  E.  Carney— 1886-87;  John  Per- 
ry_1887-88;  D.  Matteson— 1883-93;  Andrew  Selen- 
ski—1893-94;  Patrick  Byrnes— 1894-96;  Lute  Adams 
—1896-97;  J.  L.  Jansen— 1898-99;  August  Wensel— 
1900-01;  Elmer  Tibbetts— 1901-02;  Henry  W.  Green— 
1903-04;  W.  B.  Hale— 1904-06;  Thomas  Ford— 1906- 
07;  Henry  S.  Heller— 1907-08;  Chas.  H.  Buchen— 
1908-09;  Thomas  Ford— 1909-10;  James  Cherf— 1910- 
12;  Frank  Olmsted— 1912-13;  James  Cherf— 1913-14; 
Jos.  Holup— 1914-21 ;  Frank  Wildman  1921-23. 

ANTIGO  TOWNSHIP  JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE 
—1880-1922. 

F.  J.  Despins,  E.  R.  Morley,  Charles  Gowan — 1880- 
81  (Town  of  Springbrook);  Martin  Weatherwax, 
Charles  Mosher,  Louis  Mendlik,  T.  W.  Leslie — 1881- 
82;  L.  W.  Bliss.  D.  S.  Olmsted,  M.  Ford— 1882-83;  E. 
Hubbard,  John  W.  Goodwin— 1883-84;  L.  Mendlik,  J. 
W.  Wines— 1884-86;  Daniel  Graham— 1884-85;  A.  0. 
D.  Kelly— 1885-87;  Jno.  Daskam— 1885-87;  H.  B. 
Woodhouse — 1885-86;  Geo.  S.  Foster,  Oliver  Leslie — 
1886-88;  Alex  McCleod— 1886-87;  A.  0.  D.  Kelly,  D. 
L.  Matteson,  Conrad  Kruse— 1887-88;  Oliver  Leslie, 
Conrad  Kruse,  George  Bonnell— 1888-89;  A.  O.  D.  Kel- 
ly, M.  Selenski,  John  Cherf— 1889-90;  J.  P.  Tibbetts, 
W.  Hale,  Ernest  Hirt— 1890-91 ;  Jas.  Cunningham,  A. 
O.  D.  Kelly,  T.  W.  Leslie— 1891-92;  Louis  Winter, 
Frank  Forbes,  Peter  Marmes— 1892-93;  H.  H.  Ward, 
T.  W.  Leslie— 1893-94;  Jos.  Kohler,  Louis  Winter— 
1894-96;  Jos.  Kramer— 1894-95;  Peter  Marmes— 1895- 
97;  H.  H.  Ward— 1895-96;  Andrew  Selenski— 1896-97; 
Lewis  Lusk — 1898-99;  Lewis  Lusk,  Frank  Michaelson, 
A.  Selenski— 1900-01;  Peter  Marmes,  G.  W.  Tuttle— 


1901-02;  G.  W.  Tuttle— 1903-04;  T.  W.  Humble,  F.  0. 
Wheeler— 1904-05;  A.  S.  Rolo,  A.  Selenski— 1905-06; 
F.  0.  Wheeler,  A.  H.  Selenski— 1906-07;  William  Kitt, 
Elmer  Tibbetts— 1907-08;  Wm.  Hirt,  H.  Lieber,  S.  P. 
Jameisen,  Geo.  Getchell — 1908-09;  Wm.  Duernberger, 
Herman  J.  Mathias— 1909-10;  H.  J.  Mathias,  S.  P. 
Jameison— 1910-11;  C.  H.  Tracy,  H.  J.  Mathias— 1911- 
12;  Frank  Olmsted,  J.  P.  Nelson— 1912-13;  Wm.  Kitt, 
P.  W.  Krier— 1913-14;  J.  H.  Hovre,  1914-15;  P.  W. 
Krier,  J.  H.  Howe— 1915-16;  P.  W.  Krier,  Irvin  Green 
—1916-17;  Irvin  Green,  C.  H.  Tracy— 1917-18;  J.  H. 
Casey,  Elmer  Tibbetts— 1918-19;  A.  Gallenberg— 
1919-20;  Carl  Boerner— 1920-21 ;  Anton  Hubatch— 
1921-23;  Carl  Boerner— 1922-23. 

ANTIGO  TOWNSHIP  CONSTABLES— 1880-1923. 

J.  Cherf,  R.  H.  Brands,  Wm.  Miller— 1880-81, 
(Town  of  Springbrook)  ;  J.  Brenner,  D.  McTaggart, 
Lawrence  Weix— 1881-82;  Patrick  Byrne,  John  Mc- 
Hale,  Martin  Weatherwax— 1882-83 ;  M.  W.  Waite, 
John  A.  Long,  Geo.  W.  Hill,  Dan  Brown— 1883-84;  J. 
A.  Long,  W.  Stevens,  John  Prastil— 1884-85 ;  Eugene 
Taplin,  John  McCormick,  James  Maloney — 1885-86; 
Jerome  Galligher,  John  Cherf,  T.  W.  Leslie— 1886-87; 
Chas.  McGinley,  Patrick  Byrne,  John  Spychalla — 1887- 
88;  Louis  Mayotte,  Herman  Rasch,  J.  Galligher— 1888- 
89;  A.  Bollker,  T.  W.  Leslie— 1889-90;  M.  Heller,  Jos. 
Kohler,  E.  A.  Tibbetts— 1890-91 ;  Jos.  Kohler,  Patrick 
Byrne,  George  Cunningham — 1892-93;  M.  Heller,  J.  J. 
Kramer— 1893-94;  Jos.  Seipold,  M.  Selenski— 1894-95; 
Jos.  Kohler — 1896-98;  Jos.  Jecjka,  Emil  Rasch,  Jno. 
Mittermiller— 1897-98;  Wm.  Sill— 1896-97;  Ezra  Gal- 
ligan— 1898-99;  Jos.  Kohler— 1899-1900;  Chas.  Miller, 
Louis  Winter— 1900-01 ;  Chas.  Wordel— 1902-03;  C.  H. 
Tracy— 1903-04;  Matt  Funck,  T.  W.  Joyce— 1904-05; 
Harrison  Hale,  Jas.  O'Brien,  Wm.  Raess— 1905-06; 
Herman  Brecklin,  Emil  Rasch— 1906-08;  Henry  P. 
Ings— 1908-09;  Henry  P.  Ings,  D.  J.  Vanooyen— 1909- 
11;  John  Cherf,  Edward  Hruska — 1911-12;  Louis  Bern- 
er,  John  Cherf — 1912-13;  John  Cherf,  John  Matuszczak 
—1913-14;  Wm.  Lucht,  Matt  Elliott— 1914-15;  T.  W. 
Humble,  John  Cherf,  Henry  P.  Ings— 1915-16;  P.  W. 
Krier,  Irvin  Green — 1916-17;  J.  F.  Casey,  Oscar  Pet- 
erson— 1917-18;  J.  F.  Casey,  Jacob  Gallenberger — 
1918-19;  J.  F.  Casey— 1919-22;  0.  Peterson,  Matt  El- 
liott—1921-22;  A.  Oldenberg,  Geo.  Baxter,  Albert 
Skaletska— 1922-23. 

DISTRICT  NO.  1. 

PIONEER  DISTRICT.  School  District  No.  1, 
known  as  the  Pioneer  district,  is  one  of  the  first  of 
Langlade  County  school  units.  When  the  early  set- 
tlers came  to  Antigo  many  also  took  up  homesteads  in 
this  district  as  early  as  1879.  Pioneers  in  this  dis- 
trict were  George  Bonnell,  Peter  Doucette,  Ezra  Galli- 
gan,  Isreal  Wood,  August  Baxter,  J.  W.  Prosser  and 
Oliver  Leslie. 

When  the  district  was  created  it  consisted  of  sections 
19,  20  and  21  and  the  south  ^z  of  sections  16,  17  and 
18.  May  30,  1885,  the  NW  ^  of  the  NW  I4  of  sec- 
tion 30  was  added  to  the  district.       August  22,  1885, 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


191 


this  same  territory  was  detached  and  became  a  part  of 
the  city  of  Antigo.  November  17,  1890,  the  district 
was  reconstructed,  also  on  August  8,  1900,  April  21, 
1903,  October  10,  1906  and  June  8,  1912. 

The  district  now  comprises  all  of  sections  16  and  17, 
the  north  ^^  of  sections  20  and  21,  also  the  north  i/^ 
of  section  19  (with  exception  of  SE  Vi  of  the  NW  V^ 
of  section  19),  the  south  V2  of  the  south  V2  of  section 
9  and  the  south  V2  of  the  SE  I4  of  section  8.  The 
area  is  2,440  acres. 

The  modern  school  in  this  district  was  built  at  a 
cost  of  $3,200  by  Dallman  &  Hoffschmidt,  Antigo  con- 
tractors. A  frame  structure  was  used  previously. 
Miss  Anna  Schultz  was  the  teacher  in  1921-22. 

There  are  no  cheese  factories,  churches  or  cemeteries 
in  this  district.  Near  Springbrook  a  gravel  pit  is  lo- 
cated and  it  is  from  this  pit  that  much  of  the  gravel 
used  on  Langlade  County  highways  has  been  secured. 

Highways  No.  64  and  39  either  penetrate  the  dis- 
trict or  are  on  its  border.  The  district  is  situated  in 
the  north  central  part  of  Antigo  township,  just  north 
of  the  city  of  Antigo. 

The  farms  are  some  of  the  most  up-to-date  in  the 
county. 

Mrs.  M.  Jamieson,  Mrs.  D.  J.  Murphy,  and  Mrs.  W. 

C.  Krier,  were  1921-22  members  of  the  district  Board 
of  Education.  The  school  is  situated  on  the  SE  Y^  of 
the  SE  I4  of  section  17. 

DISTRICT  NO.  2. 

MAYFLOWER  DISTRICT  was  legally  es- 
tablished as  District  No.  2,  in  the  north- 
western part  of  the  township  of  Antigo.  It 
comprises  all  of  sections  4,  5,  6,  7  and  18  and 
the  west  ^2  of  section  8,  the  NE  V4  of  section  8,  the 
north  V2  of  the  SE  Y^  of  section  8,  and  all  of  section  9, 
except  the  south  ^'2  of  the  south  Y2- 

Early  settlers  in  this  district  were  Hedly  Ralph,  T. 
W.  Leslie,  Anton  Reznichek,  Matt  Elliott,  Lee  Elliott, 
John  Sweet,  Charles  Reidl,  Charles  Johnson,  Joseph 
Igle,  Michael  Bartl,  Otto  Steber,  William  Vlasczyk, 
Joseph  Casey,  and  Jos.  Wojtasiak. 

The  only  industries  in  the  district  with  the  exception 
of  agricultural  pursuits  is  a  cheese  factory.  The  Fair- 
view,  located  on  the  SE  Yt  of  the  NW  I4  of  section 
8.      It  was  erected  in  1916  by  Charles  Maloney.       D. 

D.  Korth,  present  proprietor,  took  possession  May  7, 
1917. 

The  Mayflower  school  is  located  on  the  NW  i'4  of 
section  8  and  is  a  splendid  brick  structure.  Before  its 
erection  in  1914  by  C.  F.  Dallman  at  a  cost  of  $2,200.00 
a  frame  structure  was  used. 

This  district  was  organized  at  the  time  district  No.  1 
was  created.  Changes  in  the  district  boundary  were 
made  from  June  23,  1885,  when  the  district  consisted  of 
sections  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  9,  16,  17  and  18,  on  the  following 
dates:  August  5,  1885;  May  5,  1887;  August  10,  1900; 
April  21,  1903;  October  16,  1906;  June  8,  1912. 

Highway  No.  39  runs  through  the  district. 

The  1921-22  board  consisted  of  D.  D.  Korth,  Clerk; 
John  Sweet,  Treasurer  and  Charles  Johnson,  Director. 


DISTRICT  NO.  3. 

BOULDER  HILL  DISTRICT.  District  No.  3, 
which  is  known  as  Boulder  Hill  district  because  of  the 
typography  of  the  vicinity  in  which  the  district  school 
is  located,  was  organized  about  1882.  Langlade  Coun- 
ty was  not  subdivided  into  school  districts,  however, 
until  later  when  the  school  district  system  was  adopt- 
ed by  the  electorate. 

June  23,  1885,  this  district  consisted  of  the  south  V2 
of  section  22,  the  south  Y2  of  section  23,  the  south  Y2 
of  section  24  and  all  of  sections  25,  26,  27,  34,  35  and 
36.  August  22,  1885,  sections  25,  26,  27,  34,  35  and 
36  constituted  the  district.  The  south  Y2  of  sections 
22,  23  and  24  were  detached  then  and  added  to  dis- 
trict No.  4.     (District  No.  6  was  created  at  that  time.) 

On  August  10,  1900,  section  27  and  the  NW  H  of 
section  26  were  detached  from  District  No.  3  and  add- 
ed to  District  No.  7.  August  22,  1910,  the  NW  14  of 
the  SW  I4  of  section  26  was  taken  from  District  No.  3 
and  attached  to  District  No.  7  and  the  SE  Yi  of  the 
SE  1,4  of  section  27  was  attached  to  District  No.  3. 

The  area  of  the  district  at  present  is  2,720  acres  or 
4  and  Y  sections  of  land.  The  district  is  situated  in 
the  southeast  corner  of  Antigo  township. 

Early  settlers  were :  Michael  Ford,  John  Ford,  Mike 
Carney,  James  C.  Maloney,  R.  Richards,  Charles  Frill, 
Frank  Compton,  John  Monnette,  Elias  Tibbetts,  John 
Clarke,  Albert  Boettcher,  Fred  Boettcher,  John  Now, 
Richard  Healy,  Sr.,  Robert  Sheriff  of  run-away  election 
fame,  Joseph  De  Brauer,  Lewilyn  Richards  and  others. 
The  first  settlers  cleared  their  cabin  home  spaces  in 
1879. 

The  first  school  was  erected  in  the  south  central 
part  of  the  district  on  section  36,  the  land  for  same  be- 
ing donated  by  John  Ford.  It  was  a  quaint  log  build- 
ing typical  of  the  pioneer  temples  of  education.  Miss 
Kate  Ford,  now  Mrs.  James  Maloney,  was  the  first 
teacher.  Fred  Boettcher  and  G.  A.  Baker  were  mem- 
bers of  the  first  school  board,  after  the  district  system 
was  adopted. 

Other  teachers  were :  Clara  Alton,  Clara  Beals,  Mag- 
gie Gilroy,  Clara  Sackett,  Nettie  Burdick,  Addie  Hill, 
Maggie  Kavanaugh,  Maggie  McGinley,  Minnie  Mor- 
ris, Florence  McGuire,  Bessie  Chamberlain,  Marie 
Driscoll,  H.  C.  Logan,  Jos.  Flynn,  Anna  Shinners,  Josie 
Edwards,  Maude  Burns,  Bertha  Moss,  Maud  Lillie, 
Mattie  Morson,  Elizabeth  Young,  Pearl  Williams,  Myr- 
tle Merrill,  Margaret  Healy,  Clara  Brockhaus,  Ida 
Kitt,  Mary  Moss,  Lula  Ford,  Edna  Brakenyer,  Pauline 
Waterman,  Mattie  Morson,  Mildred  Blood,  and  Ethel 
Gilmore.  Average  attendance  at  the  school  is  thir- 
ty. 

1921-22  school  officers  were :  William  Schroeder, 
Treasurer;  Thomas  Ford,  Director  and  Frank  Neigen- 
find.  Clerk.  The  original  log  school  was  replaced 
years  ago  with  a  splendid  frame  school  house,  which 
has  been  improved  frequently. 

Instead  of  the  old  tote  road,  Indian  trail,  and  oxen 
carts,  the  settlers  of  the  district  now  have  splendid 
highways  and  excellent  transportation  facilities.  Many 
of   the   prosperous    settlers    own    automobiles   making 


192 


HISTORY    OF    LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


communication  with  Antigo,  the  county  seat,  very  con- 
venient. The  proposed  route  of  the  Soo  Line  (Wis- 
consin Northern)  runs  through  section  34  in  this  dis- 
trict. 

WINNER  GRANGE  NO.  588. 

Winner  Grange  No.  588,  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  is 
located  in  this  school  district.  This  Grange  was  or- 
ganized at  Fairview  School,  in  District  No.  7,  July 
26,  1912.  The  Winner  Grange  building,  however,  is 
located  on  the  southwest  corner  of  section  34  in  this 
district.  The  first  officers  were  :  Master — J.  H.  Howe; 
Overseer — H.  J.  Mathias;  Lecturer — Mrs.  W.  G.  Head; 
Treasurer — H.  W.  Green;  Secretary — B.  G.  Stewart. 
Present  officers  are:  Master — James  Holup;  Overseer 
— F.  L.  Seidl;  Lecturer — Mrs.  O.  W.  Johnson;  Steward 
— 0.  W.  Johnson;  Chaplain — Mrs.  J.  H.  Howe —  As- 
sistant Steward — F.  A.  Frederickson;  Treasurer — H. 
H.  Aldrich;  Secretary — James  Knox;  Gatekeeper — Al- 
fred Boyle;  Ceres — Mrs.  Thomas  Ford;  Pomona — Mrs. 
Frank  Gustavis;  Flora — Mrs.  Frank  Seidl. 

The  membership  now  consists  of  sixty,  while  the 
high  tide  of  membership  reached  118. 

The  present  quarters  were  erected  in  1915,  when  the 
Winner  Grange  Corporation  was  formed.  Calvin  Bal- 
liet,  J.  H.  Howe,  B.  G.  Stewart,  S.  E.  Webb  and  James 
Knox  were  the  trustees.  The  grange  is  an  institu- 
tion for  good  in  the  community. 

DISTRICT  NO.  4. 

SELENSKI  DISTRICT— District  No.  4,  better 
known  as  the  Selenski  district,  consists  of  sections  13 
and  14,  all  of  section  15,  except  120  acres  in  the  north- 
ern part,  all  of  section  23  and  24  and  the  north  ^2  of 
section  22.  The  district  is  situated  in  the  east  cen- 
tral part  of  Antigo  township. 

June  23,  1885,  it  was  described  as  follows  by  the 
Town  Board  of  Supervisors:  All  of  sections  1,  2,  3, 
10,  11,  12,  13,  14,  15  and  the  N  Vz  of  sections  22,  23 
and  24.  On  September  22,  1885,  sections  1,  2,  3,  10, 
11  and  12,  were  taken  from  District  No.  4,  and  formed 
into  District  No.  6.  (Neff  Switch  District.)  District 
No.  4  then  became  all  that  territory  in  Antigo  township 
included  in  sections  13,  14,  15,  22,  23  and  24.  August 
8,  1900,  the  S  V2  of  section  22  was  detached  from  the 
district  and  added  to  Fairview  District  No.  7,  October 
6,  1906,  and  again  November  20,  1911,  changes  were 
made  in  the  district  boundary. 

Early  settlers  were  Matt  and  Andrew  Selenski,  John 
Byrnes,  Patrick  Byrnes,  D.  W.  Olan,  and  David  Lucht. 

In  1885  (two  terms  of  school  were  held — spring  and 
fall)  the  original  school  house  was  erected.  It  was  a 
small  frame  structure,  capable  of  caring  for  the  educa- 
tion of  the  pioneer  school  children.  Clarence  E.  Al- 
ton taught  the  fall  term  when  the  new  school  opened. 
The  first  school  was  located  on  the  NE  I4  of  the  NE 
V4  of  section  14,  now  farmed  by  Ben  Joyce.  The 
school  was  moved  to  the  present  school  site,  the  SE 
Vi  of  the  SE  14  of  section  14  (W.  H.  Wall  farm)   in 


the  fall  of  1885.  The  first  school  board  consisted  of 
A.  0.  D.  Kelly,  Clerk;  John  Byrne,  Treasurer;  Dyer  W. 
Olen — Director.  In  1914  a  new  school  was  erected  of 
brick.  Miss  Katherine  Byrne  was  the  first  teacher  in 
the  new  school.  School  officers  then  were  :  A.  Wild- 
man,  P.  Schramke,  and  Steve  Wildman,  Treasurer, 
Director  and  Clerk  respectively. 

Pioneer  teachers  were :  Elizabeth  Young,  Mattie 
Beedle,  R.  Baxter,  Mary  McGuire,  Clara  Mire.  The 
school  is  located  on  highway  No.  64. 

The  district  has  made  a  remarkable  growth  during 
less  than  a  half  century.  It  has  changed  from  a  dense 
wild  region  to  one  of  the  most  productive  sections  of 
Upper  Wisconsin.  New  settlers  continue  to  come  in- 
to the  district  and  improvements  are  many. 

THE  TOWN  HALL. 

Antigo  township  hall,  where  all  of  the  historic  gath- 
erings of  many  years  have  been  held,  is  located  in  this 
district  on  the  NW  I4  of  the  NW  I4  of  section  22.  The 
town  hall  was  erected  in  June,  1889.  The  town  board 
advertised  for  bids  to  furnish  material  and  build  the 
hall  and  they  were  opened  May  27,  1889.  The  suc- 
cessful bid  was  that  of  Frank  Borth,  early  settler.  Oth- 
er bidders  were:  J.  L.  Case,  Gray  &  Ings,  B.  J.  Daugh- 
erty,  J.  A.  Sanders,  Louis  Krueger  and  Thos.  Brad- 
bough. 

The  first  meeting  was  held  in  the  town  hall,  June  22, 
1889.  Those  present  were  :  Chairman  E.  Winch,  Rich- 
ard Healy,  Sr.  and  Jos.  Shipold.  The  same  hall  is 
still  used.      It  has  a  stone  foundation. 


DISTRICT  NO.  5. 

THE  CHAMBERLAIN  DISTRICT,  legally  es- 
tablished as  District  No.  5  was  created  when  Antigo 
township  was  unknown  and  when  Springbrook  town- 
ship was  a  part  of  Shawano  County.  This  was  forty- 
two  years  ago  in  1880.  March  28,  1885,  sections  28, 
29  and  30,  were  taken  from  District  No.  1  (Pioneer 
District)  and  attached  to  District  No.  5.  This  change 
made  the  district  one  of  the  largest,  consisting  of  six 
sections,  28,  29,  30,  31,  32  and  33.  It  did  not  remain 
long  in  that  status  however.  On  May  30,  1885,  all  of 
section  29  and  the  NW  I4  of  section  30  were  taken 
from  District  No.  5  and  attached  to  District  No.  1.  Sec- 
tion 29  and  the  east  half  of  section  30  were  then  the 
city  of  Antigo  (established  by  act  of  the  State  Legisla- 
ture.) This  left  the  district  comprising  sections  28, 
31,  32,  33  and  the  SW  V4  of  section  30. 

On  August  15,  1885,  section  No.  28  and  the  west  V2 
of  section  No.  30  were  detached  from  the  district  and 
added  to  the  school  district  of  the  city  of  Antigo.  This 
cut  the  district  down  to  its  original  area,  three  sections, 
31,  32  and  33.  On  May  5,  1887,  the  W  Vg  of  section 
30,  and  all  of  section  28,  were  detached  from  the  city 
of  Antigo  and  placed  in  District  No.  5.  This  action 
was  because  of  illegal  attachment  of  the  same  terri- 
tory to  the  city  of  Antigo  in  1885.       S.  W.  Chamber- 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


193 


lain  and  Charles  Gowan  were  then  Treasurer  and  Clerk 
of  District  No.  5. 

November  17,  1890,  District  No.  5  consisted  of  sec- 
tions 28,  23,  the  south  ^2  of  section  32,  the  south  ^  2  of 
section  31  and  the  SE  14  of  the  NE  I4  of  section  31 
(Weed's  mill  site.)  November  10,  1900,  section  28 
was  taken  from  this  district  and  attached  to  District 
No.  7,  known  as  Fairview  District.  The  last  boundary 
change  in  District  No.  5  was  made  in  1912. 

This  district  now  comprises  sections  33,  the  south  14 
of  32,  the  south  %  of  section  31  and  the  SE  I/4  of  the 
NE  I4  of  section  31. 

THE  EARLY  SETTLERS. 

Energetic  and  thrifty  settlers  came  into  this  dis- 
trict in  1878  and  1879  from  Waupaca,  Brown,  Mara- 
thon and  Outagamie  Counties.  John  Cherf,  J.  Pras- 
til,  James  Quinn,  Charles  Gowan,  S.  W.  Chamberlain, 
F.  Heller,  John  Knox,  Alex  McCloud  and  E.  Hubbard 
were  early  settlers  in  the  original  district.  John  Cherf, 
first  settled  in  Antigo  on  lot  26,  block  45  of  the  city  of 
Antigo,  SE  corner  of  Fifth  Avenue  and  Superior  Street. 
He  erected  a  log  cabin  there  and  after  a  short  while 
moved  to  his  present  home  in  this  district. 

The  country  about  was  then  a  pine  area,  roads  were 
not  to  be  found,  only  the  Indian  trail  abounding.  The 
earlier  settlers  found  it  necessary  to  come  into  this 
wilderness  by  oxen  from  Hogarty  (a  place  between 
Wausau  and  Eland),  then  but  a  small  trading  post  for 
transients  and  Indians.  The  journey  was  tedious  and 
long.  It  was  necessary  for  the  new  immigrants  to  load 
the  rear  of  the  rough  wagon  with  their  household  uten- 
sils, what  little  they  brought  with  them. 

These  hardy  pioneers  were  ever  mindful  of  the  value 
of  proper  education  of  the  rising  generation.  Great 
precaution  was  taken  that  the  rudiment  of  education 
should  be  accorded  the  children.  Accordingly  a  one- 
room  log  school  was  erected  on  section  31  (south  Vg) 
on  the  banks  of  Springbrook.  Here  the  children, 
ranging  from  tiny  tots  to  growing  ladies  and  men,  la- 
bored studiously.  The  school  was  small,  the  teacher, 
while  intelligent,  had  much  to  cope  with.  The  facili 
ties  of  the  modern  school  were  not  then  dreamed  of. 
Books,  and  maps  were  few.  Nevertheless  the  three 
R's  were  well  absorbed  by  the  children,  many  of  whom 
are  today  prominent  in  Langlade  County  affairs.  First 
school  officers  were:  Charles  Gowan,  E.  Hubbard  and 
Alex  McCloud,  Clerk,  Director  and  Treasurer  respec- 
tively. The  old  log  structure,  ever  a  faithful  servant, 
was  used  for  years.  In  1908  an  acre  of  ground  was 
donated  to  the  district  by  S.  W.  Chamberlain,  a  fine 
brick  school  was  erected.  The  school  is  located  on 
the  north  central  part  of  the  S  V2  of  section  32.  This 
school  replaced  a  frame  structure  used  for  years.  The 
contract  was  let  to  George  Schoblasky.  The  present 
school  is  ideally  situated  and  is  a  credit  to  the  resi- 
dents.      It  is  well  equipped  and  modern. 

EARLY  INDUSTRIES. 

Lumbering  was  an  industry  in  the  district  in  pioneer 
life.       The  great  tracts  of  pine  succumbed  to  the  at- 


tack of  the  army  of  lumbermen  and  settlers.  The  first 
were  desirous  of  the  pine  for  profit  and  the  latter 
wished  space  in  the  forest  on  which  to  erect  their  little 
homes. 

The  J.  H.  Weed  saw  mill,  shingle  mill  and  planing 
mill  were  located  in  this  district.  The  reader  can  find 
a  full  account  of  this  industry  in  the  chapter  on  "In- 
dustries 1873-1923." 

AGRICULTURE— MERRIMAC  SILT  LOAM. 

The  principal  occupation  of  the  residents  is  agricul- 
ture. The  soil  of  the  district  is  adapted  to  oats,  po- 
tatoes, corn,  hay,  clover,  rye,  barley  and  wheat  and 
other  products.  The  Merrimac  silt  loam  found  in  this 
district  is  a  part  of  a  vast  tract  of  this  soil  found  in 
southwestern  Langlade  County.  Stratified  sand  and 
gravel  below  the  surface  in  this  vicinity  are  known  to 
extend  to  a  depth  of  58  feet. 

INDIANS  THERE. 

When  the  first  log  cabin  was  rolled  up  by  John  Cherf 
a  band  of  Indians,  presumably  Chippewas,  had  tem- 
porary camping  headquarters  in  the  district.  They  mov- 
ed northward  later. 

DAIRYING— STOCK. 

Dairying  and  pure  bred  cattle  raising  are  important 
factors  in  the  district.  A  cheese  factory  owned  by 
A.  A.  Miller,  operated  in  the  district  for  a  number  of 
years  until  1921,  when  it  burned. 

ELMWOOD  CEMETERY. 

Elmwood  Cemetery  owned  by  the  city  of  Antigo 
since  1906  is  situated  in  the  southwest  part  of  section 
33. 

KASSON'S  PARK. 

W.  K.  Kasson  has  a  fine  park,  dance  hall  and  cabaret 
in  this  district.  He  purchased  the  property,  which  is 
located  in  the  SW  V4  of  section  32  from  George  Otto- 
man in  1916. 

HIGHWAYS. 

Highway  No.  39,  running  north  and  south,  passes 
through  the  district.  The  county  trunk  line  roads  are 
in  excellent  condition. 

SCHOOL  OFFICERS— TEACHERS. 

The  1922-23  officers  were:  Paul  Thompson,  Director; 
F.  Strong,  Treasurer;  Joseph  Fischer,  Clerk.  Early 
teachers  were :  Nettie  Palmiter,  W.  Chamberlain,  Lot- 
tie Nixon,  V.  McMullen,  Mae  Raymond,  Zura  Fowler. 
Miss  Shanks  was  teacher  in  the  district  school  in  1921- 
22.  The  first  teacher  received  $25  per  month  for  a 
six  months'  term  of  school. 


194 


HISTORY  OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


TAXABLE  AREA. 

Exclusive  of  Elmwood  Cemetery,  80  acres,  there  are 
1,200  acres  of  taxable  land  within  the  district. 

DISTRICT  NO.  6. 

NEFF  SWITCH  DISTRICT.  August  22,  1885,  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  of  Antigo  township  met  pur- 
suant to  a  notice  issued  previously  at  the  town  hall 
for  the  purpose  of  altering  districts  and  making  specific 
changes  in  school  district  boundaries.  It  was  at  this 
meeting  that  District  No.  6  was  organized. 

The  supervisors  detached  sections  1,  2,  3,  10,  11  and 
12  from  District  No.  4,  "Selenski  District,"  and  or- 
ganized District  No.  6,  known  since  as  the  Neff  Switch 
District.  November  20,  1911,  35.47  acres  were  de- 
tached from  District  No.  4  and  added  to  District  No. 
6. 

In  1884,  Edgar  Neff,  late  of  Antigo,  with  Matt  Mil- 
ler of  Green  Bay  erected  a  saw  mill  on  section  2.  Be- 
cause of  this  industry  there,  the  only  saw  mill  that  has 
ever  been  in  the  district,  the  school  was  named  to  com- 
memorate the  event.  The  mill  burned  on  June  28, 
1886.  It  was  started  by  Matt  Miller  and  J.  Wright. 
Mr.  Neff  purchased  their  interests. 

There  have  been  no  important  changes  in  the  dis- 
trict boundary  since  its  organization.  Before  its  or- 
ganization the  territory  of  the  district  was  a  part  of 
District  No.  4,  of  which  it  was  a  part  when  that  dis- 
trict was  formed.  The  area  of  the  district  is  216 
square  miles  or  3,840  acres  of  land,  with  approximately 
39  farms. 

Early  settlers  into  this  district  were :  A.  0.  D.  Kelly, 
who  was  prominent  in  early  Antigo  township  affairs, 
Dan  O'Brien,  Jos.  Kramer,  Chas.  Roberts,  Joel  Quims- 
by,  George  Young,  W.  Skinner,  Joseph  Jecka,  John 
Evans,  and  Charles  Theisen. 

FIRST  CHEESE  FACTORY. 

The  first  cheese  factory  in  the  district  was  erected 
twenty-two  years  ago  (1900)  by  Edward  Hruska.  He 
operated  it  for  five  years  and  sold  to  Edward  Buchen, 
who  sold  to  Fred  Buss.  Mr.  Buss  retained  the  factory 
until  1921,  when  he  sold  to  Herman  Genskow.  Dis- 
trict farmers  are  patrons  of  this  institution.  Anton 
Peroutka  purchased  the  James  Mundl  hall  situated  in 
the  NE  \i  of  the  SE  1/4  of  section  11,  August  11,  1917. 
He  uses  a  section  of  his  building  for  a  meat  market, 
which  he  operates  during  the  summer  months. 

When  the  Selenski  District  or  District  No.  4  was 
severed  from  the  territory  of  this  district  the  school 
building  was  moved  to  a  location  south  of  Neff  Switch 
District.  A    new     school     for    the     settlers     was 

therefore      necessary.  Accordingly      a       frame 

building  was  erected  on  the  same  location 
where  the  present  splendid  school  is  located.  It 
was  moved  from  the  original  location  to  a  position  back 
somewhat  from  the  highway.  Extensive  improve- 
ments were  made  in  1903,  1909,  1914,  and  since  vari- 


ous improvements  have  been  made  at  this  school.  The 
year  1903  it  was  brick  veneered. 

Early  teachers  were :  Miss  Bess  Chamberlain,  Ida 
ToUefson,  Miss  Doolittle,  John  Crondill  and  Mary 
O'Connor.  Later  teachers  were:  Alvina  Shipek,  Jen- 
nie Gibson,  Ella  Palm,  Ella  Randall,  Anna  Weix,  Hazel 
Cunningham  and  Clara  Lukas. 

Neff  Switch  District  has  some  of  the  oldest  Langlade 
County  farms  within  its  borders. 

Officers  of  the  first  school  were:  A.  0.  D.  Kelly,  Jos. 
Kramer  and  T.  J.  Roberts. 

TRANSPORTATION. 

The  district  is  equipped  with  fine  highway  facili- 
ties. Most  of  the  progressive  farmers  own  automo- 
biles making  it  very  convenient  to  shop  in  Antigo. 
The  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad  branch  line  to 
Bryant  and  Elton  and  White  Lake,  passes  through 
section  11  of  this  district. 

The  office  of  the  town  clerk,  Charles  Theisen,  is  on 
section  12  of  this  district. 

DISTRICT  NO.  7. 

FAIRVIEW  DISTRICT  is  situated  in  the  south  cen- 
tral section  of  Antigo  township.  It  was  organized  at 
a  meeting  of  the  Antigo  township  board,  August  8, 
1900.  Officers  of  districts  No.  1,  3,  4  and  5  were 
present. 

District  No.  7  consists  of  the  south  Vg  of  section  21, 
the  south  ^2  of  section  22  (these  two  ^'2  sections  were 
detached  from  Districts  1  and  4  respectively),  all  of 
section  27,  28  and  the  NW  I4  of  section  26.      Section 

27  previously  was  a  part  of  District  No.  3  and  section 

28  was  detached  from  District  No.  5. 

The  territory  embracing  the  7th  district  to  be  or- 
ganized in  Antigo  township  consists  of  2,080  acres. 

Pioneer  settlers  in  this  district  were :  William  Bren- 
necke,  Henry  Brennecke  and  Christopher  Brennecke. 
A  glance  over  the  officers  of  Antigo  township  since 
1880  will  show  that  these  three  men  have  been  honor- 
ed with  various  offices  of  public  confidence  and  trust 
during  their  residence  in  the  district.  They  were  not 
alone  in  settling  this  district,  soon  to  be  one  of  the 
finest  agricultural  regions  in  Wisconsin.  William 
Oldenberg  and  H.  P.  Ings  were  also  early  settlers. 

INDUSTRIES. 

In  1900,  Edward  Buchen  came  to  Langlade  County 
from  Sheboygan  County.  The  following  year  he 
erected  a  cheese  factory  in  this  district  on  the  NE  I4 
of  section  27.  Here  he  operated  his  factory  until  1905 
when  he  sold  to  Albert  Eserloth  of  Glen  Beulah,  Wis. 
The  latter  conducted  the  factory  until  1907  when  it 
was  purchased  by  P.  G.  Schaefer  of  Marshfield.  In 
the  fall  of  1908,  J.  H.  Howe  purchased  the  institution 
from  P.  G.  Schaefer  and  conducted  it  until  April,  1921, 
when  he  sold  to  Otto  Klessig.  Earl  Klessig  manages 
the  factory,  which  has  been  named  the  Klessig  Dairy. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


195 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 
Elcho  Townships  No.  34,  R.  10-11  E. 

U.  S.  Government  Survey  in  1859 — Lakes  and  Streams — The  Timber  Belt — Village  of  Elcho — The 
Petition  for  Elcho — Original  Area  of  New  Township — The  First  Election — Officers  of  Elcho, 
1887-1923 — District  No.  2 — Post  Lake,  Sunset,  Kosciousko  Districts — Elcho  District— Solberg's 
Store — Frost  Veneer  Co. — Jones  Lumber  Co. — Fish  &  Mullen — The  Charles  W.  Fish  Industries 
— Elcho's  Progress — Elcho  Business  Places — Elcho  Voters  in  1888 — A  Depot,  1889 — Schools — 
Churches — Miscellaneous. 


ELCHO  TOWNSHIP. 

Elcho  township  comprises  two  congressional  town- 
ships numbered  34  of  Ranges  10  and  11  East.  It  is 
situated  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Langlade  County 
and  is  the  farthest  township  north  occupying  two  town- 
ships in  different  ranges  in  the  county.  Elcho  town- 
ship is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Oneida  County,  on  the 
south  by  Upham  township,  on  the  east  by  North  Ains- 
worth  township  and  on  the  west  by  North  Summit 
township. 

East  Elcho  township  survey  was  commenced  July  18, 
1859  and  was  completed  July  24,  1859  by  William  E. 
Daugherty  of  the  United  States  Survey.  West  Elcho 
township  was  surveyed  six  years  later  by  James  L. 
Nowlin.  He  started  the  survey  July  8,  1865  and  end- 
ed it  July  20,  1865. 

East  Elcho  township  has  but  few  swamps,  those 
found  being  very  small  in  area.  The  timber  west  of 
Post  Lake  and  the  Wolf  river  originally  was  very 
heavy  and  extensive  tracts  of  the  best  quality  of  white 
pine  were  cut  years  ago.  The  soil  of  this  township  is 
good  and  well  adapted  to  agricultural  purposes.  Glou- 
cester sandy  loam  is  found  in  sections  3,  4,  5,  8,  10,  16, 
17,  21  and  22.  Plainfield  sand  is  found  in  an  exten- 
sive area  in  sections  11,  12,  13  and  14.  Gloucester 
fine  sandy  loam  is  found  in  sections  1,  2,  4,  5,  17,  18, 
19,  27,  28,  29,  34  and  35,  while  Gloucester  sand  is  the 
principal  soil  in  sections  3,  9,  10,  14,  15,  23,  24,  25  and 
26.  Sections  6,  7,  8,  22,  25,  26,  32,  33,  35  and  36,  all 
contain  some  Gloucester  silt  loam.  Peat  is  found  in 
sections  5,  6,  8,  9,  16,  22,  25,  26,  29,  32  and  33.  Post 
Lake,  Loon  Lake,  Mud  Lake,  and  Bass  Lake  are  the 
principal  bodies  of  water.  The  Hunting  and  Wolf 
rivers  both  run  through  sections  in  the  township.  The 
Hunting  river  flows  through  sections  19,  30,  31,  32 
and  33  and  the  Wolf  river  through  sections  11,  13,  14, 
24  and  25. 

West  Elcho  township  was  the  last  Langlade  County 
civil  division  to  be  surveyed  by  the  United  States  gov- 
ernment.     The  survey  required  twelve  days. 

The  thriving  village  of  Elcho,  second  largest  com- 
munity in  Langlade  County,  is  located  in  this  town- 
ship in  section  23.  The  principal  lakes  are  Enter- 
prise, summer  resort  of  note,  located  in  sections  3,  4, 
9  and  10,  Duck  Lake  in  section  33  and  Elcho  Lake  in 
section  12,  north  of  the  village  of  Elcho  and  west  of 
Highway  No.  39.       Gloucester  silt  loam  is  found  in 


sections  1,  16,  17,  18,  19,  20,  21  and  22;  Gloucester 
stony  sand  in  sections  2,  3,  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  9,  10,  11,  29, 
30,  31,  32  and  26;  Gloucester  fine  sandy  loam  in  sec- 
tions 14,  15,  21,  22,  25,  26,  27,  28,  29,  33,  34,  and  35  and 
Peat  in  sections  5,  6,  7,  11,  12,  14,  17,  18,  21,  23,  24,  33 
and  35.  The  peat  is  not  in  one  continuous  tract.  The 
main  track  of  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad 
Company  runs  through  sections  13,  24,  25,  35  and  36  of 
West  Elcho. 

THE  PETITION  FOR  ELCHO. 

November  22,  1886,  twenty-nine  citizens  of  Summit 
Lake  and  Neva  townships  petitioned  the  county  board 
for  a  division  of  these  two  townships  and  the  creation 
of  a  new  township  to  be  known  as  Elcho.  The  peti- 
tioners were  Byron  E.  Cole,  Clarence  H.  Graves, 
Fayette  Cole,  John  Schuh,  F.  Teske,  N.  G.  Weaver, 
N.  F.  Weaver,  Charles  Races,  Henry  Ebner,  Anton 
Follstad,  Sigvart  Solberg,  Herman  N.  Idler,  Ole  K. 
Hedal,  Hans  Hanson,  John  Nelson,  Charles  F.  Graves, 
F.  L.  Adams,  Frank  Cole,  Thorvald  Solberg,  R.  W. 
Cave,  Lewis  R.  Lee,  Christ  Kunos,  Ludwig  Schla- 
done,  Anton  Schuh,  George  H.  Tappan,  John  W. 
Gormley,  George  Lorenz,  Herman  Wolfgram,  and  A. 
Seidenspinning,  Supt.  of  the  Frost  Veneer  Works, 
Elcho,  Wis. 

December  27,  1886,  the  petition  was  read  to  the 
county  solons,  who  laid  it  upon  the  table  on  motion 
of  Ed  Daskam. 

ORIGINAL  AREA  OF  NEW  TOWNSHIP. 
The  ordinance  creating  Elcho  township  passed  Feb- 
ruary 23,  1887.  It  detached  township  34  of  Ranges 
9  and  10  East  from  Summit  township  and  township 
34  of  Range  11  East  from  Neva  township.  Thus  the 
original  area  of  this  township  was  108  square  miles. 

DETACHMENT  OF  PARRISH. 

Elcho  township  consisted  of  three  congressional 
townships  until  November  13,  1889,  when  township  34 
of  Range  9  East  was  detached  from  Elcho  and  form- 
ed into  Parrish  township.  This  left  Elcho  township, 
two  congressional  townships  34  of  Ranges  10  and  11 
East. 

THE  FIRST  ELECTION. 

The  first  township  meeting  was  held  at-  the  store  of 
Thorvald   Solberg   in   the    village   of   Elcho,   April   5, 


196 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


1887.  T.  Solberg,  N.  G.  Weaver  and  John  Nelson  were 
the  first  inspectors  of  election.  R.  W.  Cave  was  elect- 
ed first  Town  Chairman;  Charles  F.  Graves,  first 
Town  Clerk;  J.  N.  Nelson  and  Frank  Lee,  first  Super- 
visors, and  N.  Weaver,  G.  I.  Tappan  and  Christ  Call- 
sen,  first  Justices.    N.  G.  Weaver,  J.  W.  Gormandy  and 

B.  E.  Cole  were  the  first  Assessors  of  the  township. 

OFFICERS  OF  ELCHO  TOWNSHIP,  1887-1923. 
CHAIRMEN. 

R.  W.  Cave,  1887-88;  B.  E.  Cole,  1888-89;  J.  N. 
Nelson,  1889-92;  Anton  FoUstad,  1892-95;  N.  G. 
Weaver,  1895-96;  R.  W.  Cave,  1896-99;  N.  G.  Weaver, 
1899-1900;  A.  B.  Goodrick,  1900-01;  R.  W.  Cave,  1901- 
02;  H.  C.  Stewart,  1902-04;  A.  B.  Goodrick,  1904-05; 
Charles  Beard,  1905-11;  Charles  Olson,  1911-12; 
Charles  Beard,  1912-13;  Charles  Olson,  1913-16; 
Frank  J.  Olmsted,  1916-23. 

CLERKS. 

Charles  F.  Graves,  1887-88;  R.  W.  Cave,  1888-95; 
Charles  Beard,  1895-96;  Anton  FoUstad,  1896-1901; 
Charles  Beard,  1901-05;  Anton  FoUstad,  1905-09;  Wil- 
liam J.  Litzen,  1909-10;  Anton  FoUstad,  1910-13; 
George  P.  Rothenberger,  1913-20;  Jesse  L.  Olmsted, 
1920-23. 

TREASURERS. 

Anton  Follstad,  1887;  E.  S.  Brooks,  1887-88;  T. 
Solberg,  1888-90;  Anton  Follstad,  1890-93;  Anton 
Schuh,  1893-94;  L.  K.  Lee,  1894-09;  John  Singer, 
1909-13,  R.  M.  Franks,  1913-16;  John  N.  Nelson,  1916- 
18;  Charles  Beard,  1918-23. 

SUPERVISORS. 

Frank  Lee,  J.  N.  Nelson,  1887-88;  Anton  Follstad,  C. 
Callsen,  1888-89;  N.  G.  Weaver,  F.  A.  Cole,  1889-90; 
N.  Weaver,  G.  A.  Seigusmund,  1890-91;  C.  Madson, 
Otto  W.  Ecke,  1891-92;  C.  Madson,  J.  N.  Nelson, 
1892-93;  N.  G.  Weaver,  A.  C.  Sindberg,  1893-94;  J. 
N.  Nelson,  John  Drew,  1894-95;  George  Brunette,  Wil- 
liam Sallman,  1895-96;  Knute  Anderson,  John  Olm- 
sted, 1896-97;  Knute  Anderson,  J.  Olmsted,  1897- 
98;  George  Brunette,  Knute  Anderson,  1898-99;  Otto 
Sallman,  John  Monroe,  1899-1900;  John  Davelin,  John 
Schuh,  1900-01;  John  Wilson,  Math.  Litzen,  1901-02; 
John  Wilson,  Anton  Schuh,  1902-03;  George  Olmsted, 
J.  M.  Wilson,  1903-04;  Knute  Anderson,  John  Wilson, 
1904-05;  John  Monroe,  Frank  Schuh,  1905-07;  Anton 
Schuh,  John  Monroe,  1907-08;  John  Wilson,  Gust 
Wallin,  1908-10;  George  Brunette,  Fred  Noetzelman, 
1910-11;  George  Rothenberger,  George  Brunette,  1911- 
12;  John  Wilson,  Fred  Noetzelman,  1912-13;  Roy 
Burton,  Fred  Noetzelman,  1913-15;  Adolph  Winnega, 
R.  M.  Burton,  1915-18;  Adolph  Winnega,  John  Singer, 
1918-19;  Adolph  Winnega,  W.  J.  Litzen,  1919-23. 

ASSESSORS. 

N.  G.  Weaver.  1887-88;  J.  W.  Gormanley,  1887-90; 

C.  W.  Maney,  1890-91;  J.  W.  Gormley,  1891-92;  L.  K. 
Lee.  1892-93;  N.  F.  Weaver.  1893-94;  L.  K.  Lee,  S. 


Solberg,  1894-95;  H.  C.  Stewart,  1895-98;  Charles 
Beard,  1898-99;  C.  C.  Gindberg,  1900-01;  Charles  Pal- 
mer, 1901-02;  William  Brandner,  1903-04;  N.  G.  Weav- 
er, 1904-05;  Charles  Anderson,  1905-06;  Charles  Ol- 
son, 1906-07;  N.  G.  Weaver,  1907-08;  Charles  Olson. 
1908-09;  N.  G.  Weaver.  1909-12;  John  Schuh,  1912- 
13;  Charles  Palmer,  1913-23. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 

N.  F.  Weaver,  G.  A.  Tappan,  D.  Callsen,  Charles 
F.  Graves,  1887-88;  D.  Callsen,  A.  Schuh,  William 
Berger,  1888-89;  Leo  Harrington,  N.  F.  Weaver,  1889- 
90;  W.  D.  Badger,  1892-93;  N.  F.  Weaver,  1892-94; 
Anton  Schuh,  1892-93;  J.  N.  Nelson,  1893-95;  J.  Swan- 
son,  1893-94;  J.  N.  Nelson.  1894-97;  P.  Allber.  1894- 
96;  John  Olmsted.  1895-97;  P.  Allber.  1895-97;  John 
Nelson.  Peter  Higgins.  1896-97;  H.  J.  Olmsted. 
1896-98;  Peter  Higgins.  John  Monroe.  1898-99;  J.  N. 
Nelson.  N.  R.  Harmon,  1900-01;  John  Monroe,  Peter 
Higgins,  L.  Habersoat,  1901-02;  John  Monroe,  Robert 
Mathison,  1903-04;  H.  C.  Stewart,  A.  C.  Sinberg, 
1904-05;  John  Monroe,  H.  G.  Weaver,  1905-06;  John 
Monroe,  William  Litzen,  1906-07;  J.  Monroe,  J.  N. 
Nelson,  J.  Wilson.  1907-08;  J.  N.  Nelson.  Henry  Pet- 
ers, 1908-09;  J.  N.  Nelson,  Frank  Marks,  1909-10;  J. 
N.  Nelson,  John  Wilson,  1910-11;  J.  N.  Nelson,  Joseph 
C.  Dubois,  1911-12;  C.  W.  Maney.  J.  N.  Nelson.  1912- 
13;  Henry  Peters,  Even  Stevens.  1913-14;  Henry 
Peters,  0.  A.  Fish,  1916-17;  Henry  Peters,  R.  G.  Ger- 
manson,  1917-18;  John  Dubois,  R.  G.  Germanson, 
1918-19;  R.  G.  Germanson,  1919-20;  J.  E.  Steel,  1920- 
21;  T.  Youngbauer,  1921-22;  R.  G.  Germanson,  1922- 
24;  J.  Aird,  1922-23. 

CONSTABLES. 

L.  A.  Adams,  1887-88;  L.  K.  Lee,  H.  Wolfgram.  E. 
Rasbach,  1888-89;  Otto  W.  Ecke,  1889-90;  H.  C. 
Buhse,  N.  F.  Weaver,  J.  Follstad,  1890-91;  George 
Behling,  1891-92;  Charles  Daga,  H.  Anderson,  1892- 
93;  William  Sallman,  Martin  Oleson,  1893-94;  J.  N. 
Nelson,  N.  F.  Weaver.  1894-95;  Oscar  TuUberg.  1895- 
96;  Gus  Wallin.  George  Brunette,  1896-97;  George 
Olmstead,  George  King,  1898-99;  Charles  Thompson, 
George  King,  1900-01 ;  H.  C.  Stewart,  Charles  Thomp- 
son. 1901-02;  Frank  Schuh.  Sim  Jones,  1903-05;  Otto 
Sallman.  1904-05;  Charles  Behrend,  George  Olm- 
sted, 1905-06;  Sim  Jones,  Robert  Mathison,  1906-07; 
N.  F.  Weaver,  Sim  Jones,  1907-08;  C.  W.  Maney, 
Frank  Schuh,  1908-09;  Sim  Jones,  John  Schuh,  1909- 
10;  Oscar  Jordon,  Thomas  Litzen,  1910-11;  J.  N.  Nel- 
son, A.  Vanduser,  1911-12;  Oscar  Jordon,  Charles  Tur- 
ney.  1912-13;  J.  N.  Nelson.  Adolph  Winnega,  1913-14; 
Oscar  Jordon,  Adolph  Winnega.  1914-15;  Oscar  Jor- 
don. George  McNinch,  1915-16;  Sim  Jones,  Oscar  Jor- 
don, 1916-17;  Earl  Weaver,  William  Daga,  1917-18; 
Archie  Ball,  Oscar  Jordon,  1918-19;  A.  Ball.  G.  Man- 
del.  1919-10;  T.  Litzen.  G.  Beard,  1920-21;  Mrs.  Jul- 
ius Follstad.  A.  Ball,  1921-22;  Louis  Boettcher,  Ed  Du- 
quette, 1922-23. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


197 


DISTRICT  NO.  1. 

ELCHO  DISTRICT.  This  district  includes  all  of 
township  34  North,  of  Range  10  East  and  some 
of  township  34,  Range  11  East.  The  western  part  of 
the  district  is  sparsely  settled.  The  village  of  Elcho, 
second  largest  community  in  the  county,  is  located  in 
the  northeast  corner  of  section  13. 

The  village  of  Elcho  was  surveyed  and  platted  by  B. 
F.  Dorr,  first  City  Engineer  of  Antigo,  and  pioneer 
county  surveyor.  This  survey  was  made  in  1887,  be- 
ing recorded  March  21,  1887.  Streets  were  named 
Dorr,  Elmo,  Riordan,  Rumele,  Echo,  Elk  and  Owono. 
Dorr's  addition  to  the  village  was  recorded  February 
20,  1904. 

Before  the  Frost  Veneer  Seating  Company  moved 
their  plant  from  Elmhurst,  Rolling  township  to  the 
present  site  of  Elcho  village  in  1887,  Elcho  had  but 
few  settlers.  Col.  Byron  Cole  and  William  Cole, 
came  from  Colebrook,  Waushara  County,  In  1885  and 
erected  log  cabins  in  the  district,  south  of  the  village 
plat.  John  Nelson  settled  in  the  district  about  the 
same  time.       Other  early  settlers  were :  Richard  W. 


La  Fayette  Weaver,  Harry  Stewart,  Frank  McCor- 
mick,  and  the  Frost  Veneer  Seating  Co.,  all  conduct- 
ed boarding  houses  in  the  village  primarily  to  serve 
the  transient  laborer. 

The  Muskie  Inn,  located  in  the  village  on  highway 
No.  39,  was  erected  by  Charles  W.  Fish.  It  has  been 
the  scene  of  many  notable  banquets  and  convention 
meetings.      Wm.  Litzen  manages  the  Inn  for  Mr.  Fish. 

The  Frost  Veneer  Seating  Company  erected  the  first 
manufacturing  plant  in  Elcho  in  1887.  They  operated 
until  1893,  when  the  plant  was  moved  to  Antigo.  The 
company  located  on  Otter  Lake,  now  known  as  Elcho 
Lake.  The  Jones  Lumber  Company  of  Manitowoc 
purchased  the  site  and  property  of  the  Frost  Veneer 
Seating  Company  in  1893  and  erected  a  saw  mill,  the 
first  Elcho  saw  mill.  Charles  W.  Fish  and  Thomas 
Mullen,  a  traveling  salesman,  organized  a  $20,000  con- 
cern known  as  Fish  &  Mullen.  They  operated  a  plan- 
ing and  saw  mill.  The  planing  mill  burned,  was  re- 
built, and  shortly  afterwards  the  saw  mill  burned.  This 
left  the  concern  with  a  planing  mill  and  a  saw  mill  site. 
At  this  time  C.  W.  Fish  purchased  the  interest  of  oth- 
ers in  the  business,  but  not  until  1910,  was  the  saw 


THE  ELCHO  JHGH  SCHOOL 

Erected  in  in21.      J.  W.  Bluett  was  the  first  principal  of  this  school.       Hon. 

Arthur   Goodrick   delivered   the   dedicatory  address   when   the 

school  was  dedicated. 


Cave,  Sigvart  Solberg,  Thorwald  Solberg,  Anton  Foll- 
stad,  Clarence  Graves,  Charles  Graves,  Anton  Schuh, 
Charles  Beard,  Peter  Tappan,  John  Gormanley,  Wm. 
Brantner,  and  E.  Youngbauer.  Charles  W.  Fish,  prom- 
inent lumberman,  came  to  Elcho  in  1895. 

Elcho's  first  general  store  was  opened  in  1886  by 
Thorwald  Solberg,  a  Norwegian,  who  had,  before  then, 
lived  a  short  time,  on  a  homestead  in  Antigo  township. 
This  storekeeper  was  also  the  first  postmaster  of  El- 
cho. When  the  Jones  Lumber  Company  came  to  El- 
cho, the  Solberg  store  was  taken  over  by  them.  Sol- 
berg &  Niels  Anderson,  first  Antigo  merchant,  follow- 
ed the  Jones  Lumber  Company.  The  Solberg  &  An- 
derson store  was  then  taken  over  by  Charles  W.  Fish, 
who,  with  the  exception  of  an  interval  when  it  was 
sold  to  W.  Litzen,  still  owns  it.  The  original  Solberg 
store  was  near  the  site  of  the  Muskie  Inn.  Solberg 
first  kept  supplies  at  his  home  on  section  12. 

The  Elcho  House,  first  hotel,  was  erected  in  1886  by 
N.  F.  Weaver.  It  served  for  many  years  as  a  hotel. 
It  burned  in  1919. 


mill  rebuilt.  The  rise  and  progress  of  Elcho  since 
then  has  been  interwoven  with  the  success  of  the 
Charles  W.  Fish  Lumber  Company,  which  now  ope- 
rates five  mills. 

Postmasters  at  Elcho  since  1886  have  been:  Thor- 
ward  Solberg,  Mrs.  Byron  Cole,  Richard  W.  Cave,  G. 
W.  Jones,  George  Burton,  Dudley  Burton,  R.  Hanson. 
The  present  postoffice  building  was  erected  in  1915. 

Elcho  has  splendid  educational  facilities.  The  first 
frame  school  still  exists.  It  was  built  in  1887.  Ear- 
ly teachers  were  Mrs.  R.  W.  Cave,  Flora  Wilson  and 
Dora  B.  Benedict.  The  pioneer  school  was  used  un- 
til 1902,  when  a  new  school  house  was  built  in  block 
14.  It  was  a  one  story  two  room  building  originally 
but  a  second  story  has  since  been  added. 

In  November,  1921,  a  high  school  was  added  to  the 
educational  institutions  of  Elcho.  Dedicatory  serv- 
ices were  conducted  in  1921.  The  principal  address 
was  given  by  Hon.  Arthur  Goodrick,  Municipal  Judge 
of  Langlade  County.  J.  W.  Bluett  was  the  first  H.  S. 
principal. 


198 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


Elcho  has  two  churches,  The  Holy  Family  Church 
in  which  those  of  Catholic  faith  hold  services.  The 
congregation  organized  January  31,  1905.  Organizers 
were :  J.  H.  Wigman,  Bishop  J.  J.  Fox  and  Rev.  Con- 
rad Saile.  The  Free  Union  Church  is  located  in  block 
8.  Rev.  Fred  Harvey,  Congregational  Pastor  con- 
ducts services  in  this  edifice.  Rev.  J.  A.  Snartemoe 
of  Rhinelander  conducts  Lutheran  services  in  this 
church. 

There  are  two  cemeteries — a  township  cemetery  and 
a  Catholic  cemetery,  both  located  on  section  18. 

Elcho  has  a  band  of  twenty-two  pieces,  led  by  Gus- 
tav  Hanke.      The  band  was  organized  in  1921. 

The  Elcho  State  Bank  was  organized  in  1912  and  a 
complete  account  is  given  in  Banks  and  Finance  chap- 
ter. 

Most  of  the  residences  of  Elcho  were  erected  by  the 
Charles  W.  Fish  Lumber  Company. 

Present  business  places  are:  The  Charles  W.  Fish 
Lumber  Company  mills  and  lumber  yards,  Muskie 
Inn  Hotel,  Wm.  Litzen,  Manager;  A.  J.  Car- 
nahan  Boarding  House,  The  C.  W.  Fish  Gen- 
eral Store  and  Market;  J.  F.  Steel  Grocery; 
C.  W.  Fish  Hardware  Store,  J.  L.  Olmsted,  bil- 
liard hall  and  confectionery;  The  Elcho  State  Bank; 
Elcho  Garage;  and  the  Rothenberger  Garage;  a  Drug 
Store,  operated  by  R.  G.  Germanson,  a  meat  market 
run  by  Earl  Weaver  and  a  barber  shop  run  by  Wm. 
Estabrook;  Anton  Thomas,  shoemaker. 

Elcho  physicians  have  been:  Dr.  Williams(  first); 
Dr.  Owen;  Dr.  La  Coont;  Dr.  Seymour  and  Dr.  J.  P. 
Daily,  present  physician. 

The  first  citizens  to  vote  in  Elcho  township 
were:  D.  Callsen,  Ed.  Rosfach,  W.  H.  Hink- 
ley,  J.  Rutinger,  B.  E.  Cole,  George  Behling,  A. 
Follstad,  R.  W.  Cave,  C.  Callsen,  C.  F.  Graves,  Louis 
Hansen,  Otto  Oleson,  Ole  Wesley,  N.  G.  Weaver, 
John  Konz,  Moses  Hinkley,  J.  N.  Nelson,  C.  W.  Man- 
ey,  Peter  Higgins,  Ernest  Youngbauer,  C.  Madsen,  A. 
C.  Sindberg,  T.  Solberg,  N.  F.  Weaver,  Anton  Schuh, 
Wm.  Berger,  S.  Solberg,  Otto  Walters,  G.  Erne,  A. 
Herrman,  R.  Edwards,  S.  Aleff,  Ed.  Hinchley,  August 
Kewrweter,  H.  Anderson,  J.  Shand,  J.  A.  Adams,  T. 
Edwards,  A.  K.  Hadel,  A.  Delimater,  M.  Weiss,  G. 
Walling,  Jos.  Herb,  R.  A.  Cole,  M.  W.  Eke,  H.  Ander- 
son, John  Swartz,  H.  Klan,  H.  Wolfgram,  H.  Hrisk,  C. 
Klien,  H.  Barr,  Louie  Weller,  H.  Oleson,  R.  Peterson, 
E.  H.  Hansen,  C.  Beard,  L.  A.  Harrington,  G.  Wright, 
J.  W.  Gormaley,  Julius  Follstad,  Frank  Herman,  A. 
Schwab  and  John  Qeualman — 64  in  all. 

DISTRICT  NO.  2. 

District  No.  2  is  subdivided  into  three  divisions 
with  schools  at  Post  Lake,  the  Sunset  subdistrict  and 
the  Kosciousko  (Polish)  settlement.  The  Post  Lake 
region  is  the  most  densely  settled  and  the  oldest  in 
point  of  habitation  by  white  settlers.  Sunset  subdis- 
trict is  situated  nearer  to  the  village  of  Elcho  than  the 
other  two.  It  is  well  settled.  The  Kosciousko  dis- 
trict has  been  settled  since  1897. 

District  No.  2  was  organized  in  1894.  From  1887, 
when  Elcho  township  was  organized,  to  1895,  the 
schools  were  conducted  under  the  township  system. 
This  system  was  then  continued  from  1895  to  1912. 


Post  Lake  is  one  of  the  most  picturesque  places  in 
Wisconsin.  The  beautiful  lake,  stretching  north  into 
Oneida  County  from  the  center  of  section  23  of  East 
Elcho  township,  affords  excellent  boating  and  fishing 
for  the  sportsman  and  tourist.  Its  shore  line  is  dotted 
with  the  cottages  of  men  and  women,  who,  tired  of  the 
constant  and  incessant  grind  of  the  commercial  whirl, 
come  here  in  "The  Heart  of  the  Whispering  Pines"  to 
hold  communion,  so  to  speak,  with  God  and  His  handi- 
craft. The  Narrows  are  bridged  at  section  11  by  one 
of  the  best  iron  bridges  in  the  county. 

But  Post  Lake  held  an  attraction  for  more  than 
the  modern  tourist.  Long  before  the  first  pine  was 
cut  in  East  Elcho  township,  bands  of  Menominee  and 
Chippewa  Indians  camped  on  the  shores  of  Post  Lake. 
At  the  narrows  of  Post  Lake  on  the  farm  of  Charles 
Thompson,  section  11,  Charles  Thompson  dug  up  the 
skeleton  of  a  man,  who  was  buried  in  a  sitting  posi- 
tion. Harry  Graves  once  found  on  the  same  site  a 
signet  ring  bearing  the  insignia  "I.  H.  S."  and  also 
of  a  tiny  cross.  David  Edict  identified  it  as  a  Jesuit 
Missionary  ring,  thus  proving  that  this  was  once  the 
trading  post  of  Indians  and  French  missionaries,  who 
probably  travelled  in  small  bateau  down  the  Wolf 
river,  portaging  the  rapids  and  impassable  places. 

This  was  once  a  strategical  point.  Before  the 
Charles  Thompson  farm  was  cleared  and  plowed  the 
walls  of  a  general  defense  works,  broken  and  crum- 
bled by  time  and  disintegration,  were  clearly  discern- 
ible. David  Edick,  who  has  been  in  this  region  for 
a  half  century,  was  one  of  the  first  to  observe  this  de- 
fense work.  This  point  commanded  both  arms  of 
Post  Lake  and  the  Wolf  river  as  well.  The  ruins  of 
the  old  trading  post  on  the  east  bank  of  Post  Lake 
are  still  visible.  The  trading  post  is  probably  one 
hundred  years  old.  A  large  birch  tree  has  grown  up 
in  the  ruins.  Early  settlers  at  Post  Lake  can  recall 
when  the  east  bank  of  Post  Lake  was  dotted  with  the 
wigwams  of  the  red  men.  It  was  among  these  tribes 
that  the  pioneer  fur  traders  and  supply  merchants  of 
pioneer  days  lived.  Many  married  squaws  who  prov- 
ed to  be  thirfty  and  industrious  housewives. 

The  first  school  at  Post  Lake  was  a  log  building  on 
section  10,  erected  by  C.  W.  Maney.  A  second  log 
building  was  erected  shortly  after  the  first  one  by  Knute 
Anderson.  This  was  used  until  the  frame  school  was 
built  on  section  11.  Early  teachers  were  Loretta  Bish- 
op, Tillie  Schultze,  May  Cornish,  Anna  Beard,  May 
Taylor.  Others  were  Ada  Jersey,  Lucy  Miller,  Margaret 
Deleglise,  Margaret  Moss,  Otelia  Person,  Madge  Hoyt, 
Edna  Dumjohn,  and  Florence  Helgerson.  Pioneer 
school  children  in  the  Post  Lake  school  were  Isabell, 
Minnie,  Nellie,  Grace,  Gilbert  and  Jennie  Maney  and 
Nellie  and  William  Dagl. 

From  1900  to  1901  Frank  Wagner  operated  a  saw- 
mill on  section  11.  Charles  Thompson  built  a  saw- 
mill on  section  11  in  1903  and  operated  it  until  April 
17,  1905,  when  it  burned  down.  John  Monroe  had  a 
sawmill  on  section  12  for  one  year.  George  McNinch, 
who  operated  a  sawmill  on  section  14,  sold  it  to  Cran- 
don  people  in  1922. 

In  1900  Thomas  Bradnock  erected  a  dam  on  lot  3 
on  the  Wolf  River  at  the  outlet  of  Post  Lake. 

The   Post  Lake  postoffice    was    opened    in     1902. 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE  COUNTY. 


199 


Harry  Harmon  was  the  first  Postmaster.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Sim  Jones.  In  1903  Mrs.  Charles  Thomp- 
son was  appointed  Postmistress.  She  retained  the  of- 
fice until  1913,  when  the  office  was  abandoned.  The 
rural  free  delivery  system  has  been  extended  to  this 
district  from  Pelican  Lake.  The  pioneer  settlers  ob- 
tained mail  from  Elcho  and  those  who  settled  in  this  vi- 
cinity before  Elcho  was  established,  from  Lily,  (New) 
on  the  old  Military  Road. 

The  first  store  in  this  vicinity  was  erected  in  1922  on 
section  11  by  E.  G.  Benfield,  who  came  from  Chicago, 
111. 

The  Kosciousko  or  Polish  District  is  situated  south 
and  west  of  Post  Lake.  The  first  settlers  were  Michael 
Mickezkak,  who  homesteaded  on  section  21  in  1897. 
The  second  settler  was  Valentine  Dzewski,  who  came 
from  Milwaukee  in  1900  and  located  on  section  21. 

The  school  is  located  in  the  northern  part  of  sec- 
tion 21,  not  far  from  the  main  highway  from  Post  Lake 
to  Elcho.  It  was  erected  by  the  Jones  Lumber  Com- 
pany, once  established  at  Elcho.  The  children  at- 
tended school  at  Post  Lake  before  this  frame  building 
was  erected.  There  are  about  ten  settlers  in  this  re- 
gion. The  land  is  hilly  and  rolling.  The  school  is  in 
charge  of  the  officials  of  District  No.  2.  Marine  Ja- 
vorsky  was  the  1921-22  teacher.  The  school  may  be 
abandoned  in  this  subdistrict. 

SYSTEM   OF   SCHOOL   GOVERNMENT. 

May  31,  1912,  the  Elcho  township  officials  met  at 
the  town  hall  to  change  the  system  of  school  govern- 
ment from  township  to  the  district  system.  The  no- 
tices for  the  meeting  were  posted  at  prominent  places 
in  the  township  May  21,  1912.  Two  school  districts 
were  formed.  District  No.  1  consists  of  all  of  Town- 
ship 34,  Range  10  East,  and  sections  6,  7,  18,  19,  30 
and  31  of  Township  34,  Range  11  East.  District  No. 
2  consists  of  sections  1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  8,  9,  10,  11,  12,  13,  14, 
15,  16,  17,  20,  21,  22,  23,  24,  25,  26,  27,  28,  29,  32,  33, 
34,  35  and  36  of  Township  34,  Range  11  East. 

VALUATION  OF  PROPERTY. 

The  valuation  of  real  estate  and  personal  property  in 


the  two  school  districts  at  the  time  of  the  change  to 
the  district  system  was:  District  No.  1,  $396,787.00; 
District  No.  2,  $227,272.00.  Assessed  value  of  Elcho 
township,  $624,059.00.  The  township  indebtedness 
was  apportioned  as  follows:  District  No.  1,  $1,590.00; 
District  No.  2,  $910.00;  Total,  $2,£C0.C0. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

On  October  7,  1893,  District  No.  3  was  set  off  after 
the  township  board  had  voted  favorably  on  taking  ter- 
ritory from  District  No.  1  and  No.  2.  The  first  meet- 
ing was  held  at  the  home  of  C.  W.  Maney  on  October 
18,  1893. 

FINAL  SETTLEMENT. 

Final  settlement  was  made  April  1,  1886,  between 
Summit  and  Elcho  township  officers.  The  Elcho  of- 
ficials went  on  record  December  6,  1887,  favoring  an 
immediate  payment  of  their  township's  proportion  of 
money  due  Lincoln  County  from  the  old  original  Ack- 
ley  township,  of  which  Elcho  township  (as  it  then 
existed)  was  once  a  part,  as  soon  as  the  settlement 
was  made. 

NEW  SCHOOL  IN  1902. 

In  1902  the  people  of  Elcho  erected  a  new  school 
house.  The  first  township  official  meeting  in  the  old 
school  house  was  held  on  June  17,  1902. 

NEW  BRIDGE  ACROSS  NARROWS. 

The  Wisconsin  Bridge  &  Construction  Company  of 
Milwaukee  built  an  iron  bridge  across  the  narrows  of 
Post  Lake  in  1902.  The  span  of  the  bridge  is  100 
feet.  The  bridge  was  completed  before  December  1, 
1902,  at  a  cost  of  $2,490.  The  wooden  bridge,  pre- 
viously used,  was  erected  in  December,  1895,  by  Gust 
Schmege.  It  was  completed  in  February,  1896,  at  a 
cost  of  $500.  J.  W.  Parsons  and  Walter  Dorczeski, 
County  Commissioners,  looked  after  the  bridge  during 
process  of  construction. 


200 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 
Elton  Townships  31,  32,  33  N.  R.  14  E.,  and  12  Sections  T.  31,  R.  15  E. 

Largest  Civil  Division — Area — Organization — Soil — Lakes — Wolf  River — First  Town  Meeting — 
First  Town  Board — Langlade  Township  Fighting  Elton  Township  in  1887 — S.  A.  Taylor  Wanted 
Keeps  Township  Created — Township  Officers — 1887-1923 — White  Lake  Village — Yawkey-Bis- 
sell  Lumber  Company — Van  Ostrand  in  1907 — Wolf  River  District — Historic  Langlade  Village 
— Dobbston,  Now  Markton,  Oldest  of  Settlemente  in  Langlade  County — Hollister  District — Nine 
Mile  Creek. 


Elton  township  is  the  largest  civil  division  in  Lang- 
lade County,  containing  three  and  a  third  congression- 
al townships  or  120  square  miles.  It  is  also  the  most 
eastern  township  in  the  county.  Elton  township  is 
bounded  on  the  east  by  Armstrong  and  Wheeler  town- 
ships, Octonto  County,  on  the  west  by  Langlade  and 
Evergreen  townships,  Langlade  County,  on  the  north 
by  Wabeno  township,  Forest  County,  and  on  the  south 
by  the  northern  boundary  of  the  Menominee  Indian 
reservation.  This  township  consists  of  townships  31, 
32  and  33  of  Range  14  East  and  12  sections  in  town- 
ship 31  of  Range  15  East.  The  northern  townships 
are  heavily  timbered,  containing  immense  tracts  of 
hardwood  owned  by  large  lumbering  concerns,  resi- 
dents and  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad  Co. 

Elton  Township  32  North,  of  Range  14  East  is  very 
unequal  in  the  northwest  portion.  In  some  places  in 
this  part  of  the  township  it  is  nearly  level  while  the 
southern  and  eastern  parts  are  rolling  and  hilly.  A 
range  of  hills  extends  through  the  southern  portion  in 
a  southwesterly  direction.  Much  of  the  surf-ace  has 
large  protruding  boulders  scattered  about.  Originally 
this  township  was  heavily  timbered  (as  it  is  still) 
with  maple,  hemlock,  elm  and  some  white  pine.  There 
are  very  few  swamps  in  this  township.  Those  found 
were  once  timbered  with  spruce,  tamarack  and  cedar. 
The  Wolf  river  passes  through  the  southwest  part 
of  the  township  in  sections  30,  31  and  32.  The  shores 
of  the  lakes  were  thickly  grown  with  birch  and  cedar. 
The  waters  were  originally  stagnant  and  impure  and 
have  not  changed  much  through  the  years.  The  Wolf 
river  varies  in  width  from  6  to  20  links  (4  to  14  feet)  in 
the  township.  The  bed  of  the  stream  is  filled  with 
boulders.  There  are  rapids  and  falls  in  many  places, 
making  navigation  impossible.  This  part  of  the  river 
affords  excellent  power  for  manufacturing  institutions. 
Elton  township  No.  32  has  a  diversified  soil.  Gloucester 
stony  sand  is  by  far  the  predominant  type,  covering  an 
area  of  one-half  the  township,  or  about  18  sections,  in 
the  central,  northeastern  and  northwestern  sections.  In 
the  north  central  part  Gloucester  silt  loam,  rolling 
phase,  covers  a  large  area.  All  of  section  31  and  the 
southeast  part  of  section  36  are  also  covered  by  this 
soil.  Gloucester  sandy  loam  is  found  in  sections  6,  7 
and  8  and  also  sections  33,  34,  35  and  36.  Peat  is 
found  on  the  river  banks. 

Township  33  North,  of  Range  14  East  is  the  most 
northern  Elton  township.     It  was  surveyed  by  James 


L.  Nowlin,  United  States  Deputy  Surveyor,  in  April, 
1865.  There  are  no  large  streams  in  this  township. 
Ada  and  Mary  lakes  are  the  only  large  bodies  of 
water.  The  township  is  covered  with  a  dense  tract  of 
timber.  Maple,  birch  and  hemlock,  elm,  ash  and 
white  and  Norway  pine  were  the  original  forest  pro- 
ducts. There  are  some  swamps  in  the  township. 
They  cannot  be  drained  without  great  difficulty  and 
some  cannot  be  drained  irrespective  of  any  efforts. 
The  region  has  not  been  settled,  contains  no  schools 
nor  important  highways  or  railroads,  except  the  Wis- 
consin &  Northern  (now  the  Soo  Line)  and  the  C.  & 
N.  W.  railroad  tracks,  serving  territory  north  and 
south.  The  soil  may  be  divided  into  three  types,  al- 
though Gloucester  silt  loam  occupies  nearly  the  en- 
tire township.  That  type  of  soil  is  more  extensive  in 
this  part  of  Elton  than  anywhere  else  in  the  county. 
In  the  north  part  of  the  township  it  is  the  rolling 
phase.  Gloucester  fine  sandy  loam  is  found  in  a  small 
area  at  the  intersections  of  sections  20,  25  and  30. 
Gloucester  sandy  loam  is  found  in  sections  17,  18,  19 
and  20.  There  is  a  large  amount  of  peat  on  both  sides 
of  "Nine  Mile  Creek,"  which  runs  from  the  central 
part  of  the  township  in  a  southwesterly  course,  through 
Hollister. 

Township  31,  Range  14  East  contains  a  few  swamps 
unfit  for  cultivation.  This  township  was  surveyed  in 
July,  1857,  by  U.  S.  Deputy  Surveyor  James  McBride. 
Original  timber  was  maple,  birch,  pine,  hemlock  and 
spruce.  Before  1857  a  terrific  tornado  swept  through 
this  township  uprooting  trees  and  laying  waste  every- 
thing in  its  path.  The  wind  travelled  in  a  wide  and 
irregular  path  in  the  north  and  west  parts  of  the  town- 
ship. It  made  the  region  very  near  impassable  for 
many  years.  The  Wolf  river  flows  through  sections 
3,  4,  10,  15,  22,  23.  25,  26,  27  and  35.  The  Wolf  river 
is  shallow  in  many  places.  Its  rapids  in  certain  sec- 
tions make  it  a  valuable  water  for  motive  power.  Glou- 
cester sandy  loam  is  found  in  the  eastern  part,  Glou- 
cester silt  loam  in  the  western  part  and  Gloucester 
fine  sandy  loam  in  the  north  central  part  of  the  town- 
ship. This  township  is  the  most  populous  of  Elton 
townships.  Langlade  and  White  Lake  villages  are  lo- 
cated in  it.  The  Soo  Line  railroad  serves  the  terri- 
tory as  does  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern.  It  is  said 
that  the  Soo  main  line  will  eventually  pass  through 
this  eastern  part  of  the  county. 

Sections  5,  6,  7,  8,  17,  18,  19,  20,  29,  30,  31  and  32 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


201 


or  the  west  one-third  of  township  31,  Range  15  East 
are  also  in  Elton  township.  Dobbston,  now  named 
Markton,  is  located  in  this  part  of  Elton.  Boulder 
lake  is  the  principal  body  of  water.  Gloucester  silt 
loam  is  found  in  the  extreme  northwest  and  a  small 
area  in  the  southeast.  Gloucester  sandy  loam  is  the 
most  extensive  type  of  soil  and  is  found  through  the 
north  and  central  parts.  Gloucester  fine  sandy  loam  is 
found  in  the  southern  part  of  the  territory.  James 
McBride,  U.  S.  Surveyor  surveyed  this  region  in  Sep- 
tember, 1857.  Birch,  pine,  cedar,  tamarack,  hemlock 
and  maple  were  the  original  forest  products. 

Before  the  United  States  survey  there  were  no  im- 
provements in  Elton  township.  It  was  not  for  six 
years  after  the  final  survey  in  1865  that  settlers  began 
to  trek  into  the  vast  wilderness.  The  old  military  road 
and  the  Lake  Superior  trail  were  the  first  highways  of 
communication  to  bring  in  the  pioneer  settler  and 
prospector.  We  shall  hear  of  the  trials,  vicissitudes, 
tribulations  and  discouragments  of  these  hardy  folks 
in  the  story  of  the  various  districts.  Before  then  it 
will  not  be  amiss  to  give  the  process  of  organization 
that  ultimately  lead  to  the  establishment  of  Elton 
township  in  1887. 

PETITION  OF  1886. 

November  10,  1886,  Charles  W.  McFarland,  Charles 
H.  Larzelere,  and  others  sent  a  request  to  the  county 
board  asking  that  townships  32  and  33  of  Rarge  13 
East  be  detached  from  Langlade  township  and  created 
into  Lily  township  and  that  township  31  of  Range  13 
East  (Evergreen  township)  and  townships  31,  32  and 
33  of  Range  14  East  and  the  west  one-third  of  town- 
ship 31,  Range  15  East  be  detached  from  Langlade 
township  and  organized  into  a  new  township  to  be 
henceforth  known  as  Elton  township.  The  township 
was  accordingly  created.  It  was  named  after  Elton  C. 
Larzelere,  son  of  Charles  H.  Larzelere,  now  the  C. 
&  N.  W.  depot  agent  at  Antigo.  The  first  township 
meeting  was  held  in  April,  1887,  at  the  house  of  C. 
H.  Larzelere,  section  10.  C.  H.  Larzelere,  J.  J.  Spring- 
er and  J.  F.  Bunten  were  the  first  election  inspectors. 

LANGLADE  TOWNSHIP  FOUGHT  ELTON. 

January  18,  1887,  a  remonstrance  was  sent  to  the 
Langlade  County  solons  denouncing  the  division  of 
Langlade  township  and  the  formation  of  Elton.  The 
remonstrance  was  signed  by  S.  A.  Taylor,  Lewis  Pen- 
dleton, U.  G.  Taylor,  G.  F.  Truesdell,  John  Attridge, 
J.  B.  Hollister,  H.  G.  Chase,  0.  A.  Taylor,  J.  C.  John- 
son, Israel  Stinson,  Frank  Kielzewski,  J.  J.  Springer, 
William  (his  mark  X)  Guelky,  Joseph  Warblesky, 
Stephen  H.  Austin,  S.  D.  (his  mark  X)  Austin,  T.  M. 
Dobbs,  Robert  Gilray,  Joseph  M.  Jackson,  S.  J.  Robin- 
son, J.  E.  Schultz,  D.  McDonell,  H.  L.  Mason,  David 
B.  Edick,  Henry  Strauss,  H.  Ball,  C.  S.  Dempster,  W. 
B.  Bell,  H.  N.  Bell,  H.  N.  Bell,  Jr.,  Mike  Willett,  Bert 
Getchell,  David  Getchell,  J.  Vinton,  Walter  Dorszeski, 
Louis  Moldrawski,  S.  Ball,  A.  E.  Wheeler  and  J.  Camp- 
bell.   The  remonstrance  asked  that  the  ordinance  creat- 


ing Elton  township  be  set  aside.  It  was  defeated. 
The  old  town  of  Langlade  retained  townships  32  and 
33  of  Range  13  East,  however.  S.  A.  Taylor  wanted 
the  name  changed  from  Langlade  township  to  Keeps 
township.  This  request  was  defeated.  Elton  town- 
ship lost  no  territory  until  Evergreen  township  was  or- 
ganized in  1896. 

FIRST  ELTON  TOWN  BOARD. 

J.  J.  Springer  was  elected  first  Chairman  of  Elton 
township.  Joseph  Wurzer  and  C.  S.  Dempster  were  the 
first  Supervisors;  W.  B.  Bell,  first  Assessor;  C.  H. 
Larzelere,  first  Treasurer;  C.  W.  McFarland,  first  Jus- 
tice; C.  H.  Larzelere,  also  a  Justice.  These  officials 
were  sworn  into  office  April  12,  1887. 

OFFICERS  OF  ELTON  TOWNSHIP,  1886-1923. 

CHAIRMEN. 

J.  J.  Springer,  1887-88;  Charles  W.  McFarland, 
1888-90;  J.  J.  Springer,  1890;  W.  V.  Dorszeski,  1890- 
91;  C.  C.  Sawyer,  1891-92;  A.  J.  Wood,  1893,94; 
Charles  McFarland,  1894-95;  W.  V.  Dorszeski,  1895- 
1901;  C.  S.  Dempster,  1901-06;  W.  V.  Dorszeski,  1906- 
10;  William  Alft,  1910-12;  George  H.  Shannon,  1912- 
14;  William  Alft,  1914-15;  R.  G.  Johnson,  1915-16; 
George  H.  Shannon,  1916-17;  William  Alft,  1917-23. 

CLERKS. 

Charles  W.  McFarland,  1887-88;  J.  F.  Bunten,  1888- 
89;  C.  S.  Dempster,  1889-91;  Charles  W.  McFarland, 
1891-92;  John  N.  Gress,  1892-95;  George  A.  Roix, 
1895-96;  Robert  Gilray,  1896-98;  George  A.  Roix 
1898-99;  Frank  Kielczewski,  1899-1900;  W.  Bell, 
1900-10,  W.  H.  Partridge,  1910-14;  W.  B.  Bell,  1914- 
17;  Harry  A.  Shannon,  1917-22;  John  Eschenbach, 
1922-23. 

TREASURERS. 

Charles  H.  Larzelere,  1887-90;  Charles  W.  McFar- 
land, 1890;  A.  J.  Wood,  1890-91;  E.  C.  Larzelere. 
1891;  S.  E.  McConley,  1891-92;  C.  W.  McFarland  (ap- 
pointed), 1892-93;  A.  J.  Wood,  1896-99;  Frank  P. 
Kielczewski,  1900-01;  A.  J.  Wood,  1901-11;  W.  B. 
Bell,  1911-13;  A.  J.  Wood,  1913-16;  William  Alft, 
1916-17;  Marcus  Wahleitner,  1917-18;  W.  F.  Thomp- 
son, 1918-19;  William  Gamble,  1919-20;  William 
Mitchell,  1920-21;  W.  H.  Partridge,  1921-22;  Olaf 
Christianson,  1922-23. 

SUPERVISORS. 

Joseph  Wurzer,  C.  S.  Dempster,  1887-88;  C.  S. 
Dempster  Joseph  Wobeleski,  1888-89;  Marcus  Wahl- 
eitner, Joseph  Wobeleski,  1889-90;  Wenzel  Santner, 
Ignatz  Plattenbacker,  1890-91;  J.  T.  Smith,  Dan  Mur- 
phy, 1891-92;  Henry  Juetten,  Dan  Murphy,  1892-93; 
Henry  Juetten,  George  Roix,  1893-94;  Henry  Juetten, 
Walter  V.  Dorszeski,  1894-95;  Marcus  Wahleitner, 
John  Wurzer,  1895-96;  George  Truesdell,  Marcus 
Wahleitner,  1896-97;  M.  Mahleitner,  Frank  Kielczew- 
ski,  1897-98;   Frank  Spalding,  A.  Jagla,   1898-99;  A. 


202 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


Jagla,  A.  Dynscyinski,  1899-1901;  George  Shannon, 
M.  Wahleitner.  1901-05;  George  Shannon,  Matt  Hein, 
1905-06;  George  Shannon,  H.  Partridge,  1906-07;  Isa- 
dor  Jung,  George  Shannon,  1907-09;  B.  Skodzenski,  M. 
Wahleitner,  1909-10;  Raymond  Spencer,  Raymond 
Kielczewski,  1910-12;  Matt  Hein,  John  Bombinski, 
1912-14;  Matt  Hein,  James  Peters,  1914-15;  Matt 
Hein,  August  Buettner,  1915-16;  John  Bombinski,  Matt 
Hein,  1916-17;  John  Bombinski,  Louis  Bricco,  1917- 
18;  Arthur  Baseley,  Louis  Bricco,  1918-20;  Julius  De- 
horn, Louis  Bricco,  1920-22;  F.  Murray,  Julius  De- 
horn, 1922-23. 

ASSESSORS. 

W.  B.  Bell,  1887-90;  C.  C.  Sawyer,  1890-91;  M. 
Whitehouse,  Henry  Smith,  Robert  Gilray,  1891-92; 
F.  Kielczewski,  1892-94;  Robert  Gilray,  1894-95;  F. 
Kielczwski,  1895-96;  A.  Rollo,  1896-97;  Levi  Farrow, 
1897-98;  Levi  Farrow,  George  Truesdell,  Theo.  Smith, 
1898-99;  M.  H.  Coughlin,  1899-1900;  R.  Bell,  1900-01; 
A.  M.  Mader,  1901-02;  W.  Wood,  1902-03;  Frank  Kiel- 
czwski, 1903-04;  W.  J.  Wood,  1904-06;  Bruno  Skodin- 
ski,  1906-08;  John  Bombinski,  1908-09;  Peter  Jagla, 
1909-10;  H.  G.  Johnson,  1910-13;  William  Alft,  1913- 
14;  Marcus  Wahleitner,  1914-15;  Joseph  Jagla,  1915- 
17;  Byron  C.  Larzelere,  1917-19;  John  C.  Kielczew- 
ski, 1919-20;  Byron  C.  Larzelere,  1920-21;  H.  E. 
Spencer,  1921-22;  Ole  Heistad,  1922-23. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 

M.  WiUett,  C.  J.  Pratt,  C.  Richards,  C.  W.  McFar- 
land,  1887-88;  J.  J.  Springer,  Theo.  Smith,  1889-90; 
J.  A.  Smith,  D.  A.  McDowell,  J.  J.  Springer,  C.  S. 
Dempster,  1890-91;  G.  Irish,  J.  A.  Smith,  Robert  Gil- 
ray, 1891-92;  W.  Bell,  G.  Irish,  C.  W.  McFarland, 
1892-93;  George  Roix,  1894-95;  Ned  Sawyer,  1895-96; 
C.  W.  McFarland,  George  Stearns,  Henry  Juetten, 
1896-97;  W.  Bell,  C.  A.  Dempster,  1897-98;  George 
Roix,  A.  J.  Ward,  1898-99;  C.  Dempster,  W.  Bell, 
1900-01;  H.  Shannon.  A.  M.  Mader,  1901-02;  C.  S. 
Dempster,  1902-04;  A.  Jagla,  1902-03;  C.  S.  Dempster, 
1903-04;  John  Schutte,  C.  S.  Dempster,  1904-05;  C. 
S.  Dempster,  1905-06;  H.  Partridge,  C.  S.  Dempster, 
1906-07;  Matt  Hein.  Hugh  Shannon,  1907-08;  W.  H. 
Partridge,  C.  S.  Dempster,  1908-09;  William  Stevens, 
1909-10;  Edward  Wright,  Matt  Hein,  C.  S.  Dempster, 
1910-12;  Fred  Hoeffs,  1911-12;  Andrew  Dalton,  Hugh 
Shannon,  1912-14;  Andrew  Dalton,  Byron  C.  Larze- 
lere, 1914-15;  William  Alft,  G.  H.  Shannon,  1915-16; 
William  Alft,  William  Wood,  1916-17;  J.  J.  Alft,  Rob- 
ert Dyce,  1917-18;  Henry  Hoffman,  William  Spencer, 
1918-19;  Dan  Jagla,  1919-20;  William  Spencer,  A.  Dal- 
ton, 1920-21;  James  Cowan,  1921-22;  William  Spen- 
cer, 1922-23. 

CONSTABLES. 

M.  Baker,  H.  N.  Bell,  Jr.,  Daniel  Murphy,  Robert 
Gilray,  1887-88;  J.  S.  Peters,  1888-89;  J.  S.  Peters, 
P.  Nowak,  1889-90;  Peter  Nowak,  B.  Statler,  Joseph 
Wurzer,  1890-91;  Joseph  Wurzer,  B.  Statler,  M. 
Whitehouse,  1891-92;  Wencel  Santner,  Joseph  Ramer, 


1892-93;  Joseph  Murphy,  1893-95;  William  Wood, 
1895-96;  Anton  Ramer,  James  Murphy,  1896-97;  Dan- 
iel Wheeler,  Anton  Dynzynski,  1897-98;  Ned  Sawyer, 
1898-99;  Peter  Nowak,  1899-1900;  J.  Jagla,  H.  Shan- 
non, N.  Sawyer,  1900-01;  H.  N.  Bell,  1901-02;  An- 
ton Dynzynski,  T.  Shier,  1902-03;  T.  Shier,  1903-04; 
H.  Spencer,  T.  Shier,  1904-06;  T.  Shier,  George  Shan- 
non, 1906-07;  T.  Shier,  H.  Spencer,  1907-08;  Harry 
Spencer,  Peter  Jagla,  1908-09;  Hugh  Shannon,  1909- 
11;  G.  H.  Shannon,  1911-12;  Joseph  Jagla,  1912-13; 
William  Wood,  1913-14;  Arthur  Basel,  William  Wood, 
1914-15;  Daniel  Jagla,  Arthur  Baseley,  1915-16;  Ar- 
chie Shannon,  Daniel  Jagla,  1916-17;  John  Eschen- 
bach,  Archie  Shannon,  Robert  Dyce,  1917-18;  Otto 
Glassow,  H.  C.  Spencer,  1918-19;  P.  Jagla,  M.  Tousey, 
1919-20;  F.  Hoffman,  G.  Ashefsky,  1920-21;  Paul 
Komke,  George  Bohag,  1921-22;  George  Bohag,  H. 
Smith.  1922-23. 

DISTRICT  NO.  1. 

WHITE  LAKE  DISTRICT.  When  Isaac  Farrow, 
pioneer  Elton  citizen,  attempted  to  drain  White  Lake 
to  create  a  natural  hay  meadow  out  of  its  level  bot- 
tom in  1876,  little  did  he  dream  that  the  shores  of  the 
same  lake  would  a  half  century  later  be  the  site  of  a 
prosperous  village  wherein  dwell  700  inhabitants.  If 
George  Gardner,  Stockbridge  Indian,  who  kept  a  stop- 
ping place  on  the  old  Lake  Superior  Trail  and  the 
Military  Road  fifty  years  ago,  near  what  is  now  White 
Lake,  could  return  to  earth  and  visit  this  region  he 
would  have  difficulty  in  locating  the  old  trail  and  the 
site  of  his  "ranch."  (See  Chapter  on  Stopping  Places- 
Hotels-Taverns). 

Marcus  Wahleitner,  Sr.,  came  into  this  district  in 
1889  from  Elton  village,  settling  on  section  29.  John 
Evans  operated  a  saw  mill  in  this  district  until  1895. 
Much  of  the  labor  about  this  mill,  one  of  the  first  in 
eastern  Langlade  County,  was  accomplished  with  the 
assistance  of  oxen.  The  mill  was  moved  to  Lily  in 
1895.  In  1891  T.  F.  Smith  purchased  eighty  acres  on 
section  29.  Joseph  Kettner  settled  in  the  district  in 
1893  and  Thomas  Carson  in  1899.  Charles  Switzer, 
father  of  W.  E.  Switzer  of  Wabeno,  Forest  County, 
who  headed  the  Langlade  County  normal  for  a  number 
of  years,  logged  in  this  district  in  1893  for  the  Me- 
nasha  Woodenware  Company. 

The  first  school  was  erected  on  section  29.  W.  E. 
Switzer  was  an  early  teacher.  Three  pupils  attended 
the  first  school. 

In  October,  1907,  the  village  plat  of  Van  Ostrand, 
proposed  town  of  E.  H.  Van  Ostrand,  was  surveyed  by 
Alex  Deleglise.  The  village  contained  41  blocks  and 
was  owned  by  the  Van  Ostrand  Town  Site  Improve- 
ment Company.  Adams,  Hayes,  Madison,  Harrison, 
Jackson,  Van  Buran,  Grant,  Monroe,  Lincoln,  Jefferson, 
Buchanan  and  Washington  streets  were  laid  out.  Ave- 
nues from  first  to  tenth  inclusive  were  platted.  Lots 
were  sold  but  the  purchasers  sold  back  to  the  improve- 
ment company  when  Van  Ostrand  village  was  aband- 
oned.     A  depot  was  built  by  the  Wisconsin  Northern 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


203 


railroad  at  the  village  site  in  1908.       The  line  then 
ended  at  Van  Ostrand. 

A  brick  school  was  erected  in  1913  at  a  cost  of  $3,000 
when  the  frame  structure,  inadequate  and  small,  was 
vacated.  The  school  enrollment  had  increased  in  six 
years  from  a  few  pupils  to  thirty-four.  This  school 
is  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  school  board  in  charge 
of  the  White  Lake  village  schools.  It  is  located  on 
section  29. 

THE  VILLAGE  OF  WHITE  LAKE. 

A  year  before  the  Yawkey-Bissell  Lumber  Com- 
pany, lumber  kings  of  Wisconsin  for  a  half  century, 
located,  rumors  floated  about  to  the  effect  that  a  large 
saw  and  planing  mill  would  be  erected  at  White  Lake. 
The  rumors  became  facts  when  in  July,  1916,  the  Yaw- 
key-Bissell Lumber  C6mpany  began  clearing  land  east 
of  White  Lake  for  a  village  and  mill  site.  August  16, 
1916,  work  was  started  on  the  large  saw  mill  which 
commenced  operations  June  1,  1917.  A  year  later 
ground  was  broken  (August,  1917)  for  the  planing  mill 
which  was  completed  and  in  operation  January  1, 
1918. 

Following  the  mill  came  the  hotel  which  was  erected 
in  the  winter  of  1917-18.      It  is  managed  by  Mrs.  Paul 


the     village.  Ten     teachers    have    charge    of    the 

White  Lake  schools.  The  large  enrollment  is  in- 
creasing every  year.  The  White  Lake  rural  school  is 
still  used  on  section  29.  For  three  years  it  was  va- 
cated. W.  D.  Cavers,  Director,  B.  C.  Nelson,  Clerk 
and  H.  F.  De  Horn,  Treasurer  were  the  1921-22  officers 
in  charge  of  the  high  school,  White  Lake  graded  and 
White  Lake  rural  schools. 

White  Lake  has  110  families. 

Shipping  facilities  are  good.  Passenger  service  is 
not.  The  Yawkey-Bissell  Lumber  Company  have 
enough  timber  in  Langlade  and  Forest  Counties  to  run 
until  1944.  15,000  acres  were  purchased  in  1916  from 
the  Menasha  Wooden  Ware  Company.  Most  of  this 
timber  is  in  Langlade  County.  In  1919,  18,000  acres 
were  purchased  from  the  Kimberly-Clark  Company. 
This  tract  is  in  Forest  County.  Smaller  tracts  were 
purchased  from  the  Oconto  Lumber  Company,  the  C.  & 
N.  W.  Railroad  Co.,  and  the  S.  W.  Hollister  estate. 

Two  camps  operate  all  year  around.  Peter  O'Con- 
nor, early  Antigo  citizen,  whose  wife  was  the  first  An- 
tigo  school  teacher,  is  Wood  Superintendent  for  the 
lumber  concern.  J.  C.  Horgen  was  the  first  manager 
at  the  store. 


THE  LARGE  SAWMILL  UF    IHE   VAWKEV-HISSELL   LUMBER 

COMPANY 
at  White  Lake,  Elton  township.  Langlade  County. 


Leitl.  The  lumber  concern  also  has  a  boarding  house 
where  many  employes  live.  R.  Pagel  conducts  it. 
In  September,  1916,  the  depot  erected  at  Van  Ostrand 
by  the  Wisconsin  &  Northern  railroad  was  moved  to 
White  Lake  and  W.  H.  Gamble  became  the  first  agent. 
A  store  was  built  by  the  lumber  company  in  November, 
1916.  William  Obendschein  is  in  charge  of  the  store 
and  Julius  Strauch  of  the  meat  market.  A  barber  shop 
is  operated  by  P.  J.  Reis.  In  August,  1917,  the  C.  & 
N.  W.  Railroad  Company  built  a  depot  at  White  Lake. 
The  Yawkey-Bissell  Lumber  Company  office  was  erect- 
ed in  1916  and  by  January  1,  1917  was  completed.  A 
splendid  club  house,  dance  hall  and  community  center 
building  was  erected  at  an  approximate  cost  of  $15,000 
in  1918-19.      It  was  opened  June  1,  1919. 

The  White  Lake  graded  school  was  opened  October 
1,  1917.  The  school  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $13,000. 
In  1921  a  union  free  high  school,  including  about  two- 
thirds     of     Elton     township,      was      organized      in 


The  Yawkey-Bissell  Lumber  Company  has  ten 
miles  of  track  connecting  their  camps  in  the  southern 
part  of  Evergreen  township  with  the  mills  at  White 
Lake.  Annual  cut  is  30  million  feet,  while  the  capaci- 
ty of  the  mill  is  60  million  feet. 

The  Military  Road  Telephone  Company  serves  this 
district. 

Dr.  W.  E.  Ellis  is  the  present  doctor.  Dr.  Clayton 
Charles  was  the  first  doctor  in  the  village. 

White  Lake  has  two  churches  and  three  church  or- 
ganizations. The  St.  Mathews  Lutheran  church,  erect- 
ed in  1917,  has  Rev.  A.  Hoswald  as  resident  Pastor. 
The  St.  James  Catholic  church,  erected  in  1920  is  in 
charge  of  Rev.  Victor  Happa.  Rev.  J.  Landusky  was 
the  first  pastor,  followed  by  Rev.  F.  A.  Bemowski.  The 
Presbyterian  faith  is  represented  by  a  local  organiza- 
tion. Services  are  held  monthly  in  the  club  house 
with  Rev.  Westphal  of  Neenah  as  Pastor. 

White  Lake  is  35  miles  from  Shawano,  32  miles  from 


204 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


Antigo  and  40  miles  from  Crandon.  It  is  on  section 
16,  township  31,  range  14  east.  The  nearest  point 
of  the  Wolf  river  is  about  one  mile. 

The  White  Lake  Bank  is  discussed  in  the  chapter  on 
Banks  and  Finance. 

Many  of  the  residents  of  White  Lake  have  been  em- 
ployed for  years  by  the  Yawkey-Bissell  Lumber  Com- 
pany, who  at  the  beginning  of  the  twentieth  century 
had  large  saw  and  planing  mills  at  Arbor  Vitae,  Vilas 
County  and  Hazelhurst,  Oneida  County. 

Employes  at  the  Yawkey-Bissell  Lumber  Company 
general  offices  at  White  Lake  are :  E.  G.  Woodford, 
Sales  Manager;  0.  A.  Olmholt,  Assistant  Sales  Mana- 
ger; L.  E.  Prahl,  Stenographer;  Charles  W.  Wick- 
strom.  Bookkeeper;  John  Anderegg,  Timekeeper;  W. 

D.  Cavers,  Auditor  and  E.  D.  Sterling,  General  Super- 
intendent. J.  Collins  and  W.  J.  Edwards  are  in  charge 
of  camps. 

Wm.  Obendschein  is  the  postmaster. 

DISTRICT  NO.  4. 

WOLF  RIVER  DISTRICT.  The  first  settler  in  the 
Wolf  River  district  was  Charles  H.  Larzelere,  who 
came  down  from  Lac  Vieux  Desert  on  the  newly  con- 
structed military  road  in  the  winter  of  1870.  He  had 
a  short  time  previously  driven  north  from  Janesville 
with  a  yoke  of  oxen  to  the  state  line.  Mr.  Larzelere 
settled  on  section  3,  township  32,  range  14  east.  0. 
J.  Yates  was  the  next  early  settler.  He  came  from 
Maine  in  1873  and  settled  on  section  10.  Isaac  Far- 
row, came  at  the  same  time  from  Oshkosh.  He  also 
settled  on  section  10.  John  J.  Springer,  a  Canadian, 
settled  on  an  adjoining  section  No.  3,  about  that  time. 
John  Gibson  came  from  Littletown,  New  Hampshire, 
with  the  first  settlers  and  took  up  a  claim  on  section  3. 
Thomas  Hutchinson,  who  later  moved  to  Price  town- 
ship, settled  on  the  banks  of  the  Wolf  river  in  section 
10,  this  district,  in  a  very  early  day.  Charles  Mc- 
Farland,  pioneer  writer  and  timberman,  settled  on  sec- 
tion 10.  Mr.  McFarland  was  from  Racine,  Wis. 
Other  early  settlers  were :  Frank  Derinski,  who  came 
from  Poland,  settling  on  section  3;  Peter  Novak,  Poland 
immigrant,  who  cleared  out  a  home  for  himself  on  sec- 
tion 10;  Michael  Baker  came  from  Chicago  and  began 
farming  on  section  10;  Robert  Gilray,  Canadian  native, 
settled  on  section  10.  H.  McConley  came  from  Bell 
Plaine,  Wisconsin,  settling  on  section  3.  These  set- 
tlers were  all  here  very  early. 

The  first  school  in  the  county  was  erected  in  this 
district  on  section  3.  It  was  taught  by  Mrs.  C.  H. 
Larzelere,  Addie  Wescott,  Annie  Nolan,  Wealthie  Doo- 
little,  Anna  V.  Cole,  Carrie  J.  Larzelere,  Myrtle  Griff- 
iths, Francis  Churchouse,  Orville  Pulcifer  and  H.  B. 
Kellogg,  all  early  teachers.  A  second  school  was  later 
erected  on  section  10.  Both  of  these  pioneer  school 
buildings  were  frame  structures.  A  third  school  fol- 
lowed. The  fourth  building  was  erected  in  1908  by 
Kraisin  Brothers  of  Tigerton,  Wisconsin,  at  a  cost  of 
$4,233.00.  The  contract  was  let  July  6,  1908.  The 
1921-22  teachers  were :  Lulu  Livingston  and  Anna 
Cusick.       The  1921-22  school  officials  were :  Mrs.  M. 

E.  Spencer,   Clerk;    George    Shannon,   Treasurer   and 


Mrs.   A.   J.   Baseley,   Director.       The   average   enroll- 
ment is  45  pupils. 

VILLAGE  OF  LANGLADE. 

The  village  of  Langlade,  named  after  Charles  De 
Langlade,  is  located  in  this  district.  Langlade,  as 
platted,  contains  all  that  territory  in  the  southwest  i/4 
of  the  NE  14  of  section  3,  Township  31,  Range  14  East. 
The  streets  were  designated  on  the  plat  as  A,  B,  C,  D, 
E  and  F  streets,  with  avenues  from  First  to  Third  Ave- 
nues inclusive.  The  village  plat  was  recorded  Octo- 
ber 16,  1906.  W.  C.  Webley  was  the  surveyor.  Kiel- 
czewski's  plat  of  Langlade  is  in  the  NE  I4  of  the  NE 
I4  of  section  10. 

J.  Yates  had  the  first  store,  located  on  section  10. 
He  ran  it  from  1874  to  1879  with  success.  He  mov- 
ed to  the  State  of  Washington  from  Langlade  County 
before  the  city  of  Antigo  was  dreamed  of  by  any  one, 
(except  F.  A.  Deleglise).  Olaf  Morgan  ran  a  saw 
mill  on  section  27  and  section  14.  He  came  from 
Morgan's  Siding,  a  place  below  Neopit. 

The  district  has  one  church,  a  Polish  Catholic 
church.  There  is  a  Protestant  and  Catholic  cemetery 
on  section  10.  On  section  3  a  Polish  Catholic  ceme- 
tery is  located. 

In  this  vicinity  are  found  many  private  cemeteries, 
where  in  early  days,  when  the  pioneers  passed  away, 
they  were  laid  to  rest  near  the  old  homestead  or  log 
cabin  wherein  they  had  spent  so  many  days  during 
these  first  momentous  years. 

The  Wolf  River  district  has  thirty-five  families.  The 
principal  occupation  is  agriculture.  J.  L.  Whitehouse 
and  H.  A.  Shannon  are  proprietors  of  general  stores 
at  Langlade.  ' 

The  district  has  the  following  territory:  Sections  3, 
10,  15,  22,  27,  34,  of  Township  33,  Range  14  East  and 
sections  2,  3,  4,  9,  10,  11,  14,  15,  16,  21,  22,  23,  26,  27, 
28,  33,  34,  35  of  Township  32,  Range  14  East  and 
sections  2,  3,  4,  9,  10,  11,  14,  15  and  16  of  Township 
31,  Range  14  East.  It  was  once  an  important  part  of 
the  famous  Lost  Nation. 

DISTRICT  NO.  5. 

MARKTON  DISTRICT.  This  district  is  located  in 
southeastern  Langlade  County  and  was  one  of  the  first 
regions  to  be  settled.  Pioneers  were  Christopher 
Wheeler,  who  settled  on  section  30,  Township  31, 
Range  15  East  in  1871.  Mr.  Wheeler  came  from  Em- 
barrass, Wisconsin,  and  followed  the  military  road 
north.  H.  N.  Bell  settled  in  the  district  in  1877  on 
section  30.  He  came  from  Chicago.  Thomas  M. 
Dobbs  settled  on  section  30  in  1873.  He  erected  a 
saw  mill,  the  first  in  Langlade  County.  (See  chapter 
on  Industries  1873-1923).  The  Melville  family  came 
to  the  district  in  1877  settling  on  section  30.  Christo- 
pher Hill  and  Horace  Rice  settled  on  section  30  in 
1877.  They  conducted  the  first  stopping  place  north 
of  the  Menominee  Indian  Reservation  for  years.  An 
account  of  this  place  is  given  in  the  chapter  on  old 
stopping  places,  hotels  and  taverns,  found  elsewhere. 
The  district  was  one  of  the  most  active  lumbering  re- 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


205 


gions  in  Langlade  County  during  the  famous  Wolf  riv- 
er log  drives.  Daniel  McDowell  of  Embarrass  came 
to  this  district  in  1876  settling  on  section  30.  S.  A. 
Taylor,  the  dominant  factor  in  county  organization  had 
much  land  and  timber  interests  in  the  district.  L.  H. 
Taylor  erected  a  store  and  also  conducted  the  first  Post 
Office  on  section  30.  The  Taylor  people  came  from 
New  York  state.  Allen  Taylor  came  to  Dobbston,  as 
Markton  was  named  by  Thomas  M.  Dobbs,  in  1874. 
William  Schroeder  of  Shawano,  Markton  Roax  and 
George  Roax  of  Shawano  and  James  L.  Whitehouse, 
all  of  Shawano,  settled  in  the  Markton  district  in  a 
very  early  day.  George  Roax  re-named  Dobbston 
after  his  son,  Markton  Roax.  H.  N.  Bell  is  the  last 
of  the  old  settlers  still  in  the  district. 

The  first  school  house  was  erected  on  section  30  in 
1873.  It  was  a  frame  building  and  the  lumber  was 
bought  from  T.  M.  Dobbs.  This  lumber  was  some  of  the 
first  ever  manufactured  in  the  county.  In  those  days 
the  entire  number  of  settlers  "chipped  in"  to  pay  the 
teacher's  wages.  (See  the  Lost  Nation  section  in 
Langlade  township.) 

Mayme  Kellogg  was  one  of  the  first  teachers.  The 
old  school  was  used  from  1873  until  a  splendid  brick 
building  was  erected  in  1915  by  C.  F.  Dallman.  It  is 
now  preserved  by  the  H.  N.  Bell  family. 

The  old  Gardner  dam  is  located  on  section  25.  Ruins 
of  it  are  still  visible. 

Matt  Heins  has  operated  a  saw  mill  in  the  district 
on  section  7,  Township  31,  Range  15  East  for  the  past 
twenty  years.       He  came  from  Milwaukee. 

In  pioneer  days  the  village  of  Dobbston  hummed  with 
the  labors  of  the  pine  men.  Philetus  Sawyer,  Repub- 
lican leader  in  Wisconsin  politics  for  many  years,  often 
visited  in  this  district,  during  the  pinery  regime. 

Henry  Sherry,  who  operated  a  mill  at  Kent,  ran  sev- 
eral camps  near  Markton.  The  original  Dobbs  mill 
was  moved  to  Lily  in  1882. 

Remnants  of  the  old  Lake  Superior  Trail  are  visible 
in  this  vicinity. 

Wm.  Alft,  chairman  of  Elton  township,  lives  in  the 
district  on  the  site  where  the  old  Hill  &  Rice  log 
cabins  once  flourished. 

DISTRICT  NO.  6. 

HOLLISTER  DISTRICT.  Squire  A.  Taylor,  Found- 
er of  New  (Langlade)  County,  dominant  pioneer  in  the 
historic  Wolf  river  country  and  leader  of  the  Wolf  riv- 
er county  seat  proponents,  came  into  eastern  Langlade 
County  in  1860.  He  was  a  timber  and  real 
estate  dealer  and  as  a  sub-contractor  aided  in 
the  construction  of  the  United  States  military  road. 
Nine  years  later,  1876,  Leonard  Marsh,  the  second  per- 
manent settler  moved  from  Omro,  Wisconsin,  to  this 
district,  settling  on  the  SE  i/4  of  section  18.  The  same 
year  extensive  logging  operations  were  inaugurated  by 
Oshkosh  lumbermen,  more  prominent  of  whom  was  C. 
B.  HoUister,  who  had  camps  in  this  district.  Thus 
the  region  became  known  as  the  HoUister  district. 


Robert  Gilray  and  Fred  Dodge  followed  as  the  next 
pioneer  settlers.  They  both  became  proprietors  of 
stopping  places  on  the  military  road.  The  Dodge 
place  was  on  the  site  of  the  Ehlinger  Brothers  mill, 
section  18. 

Education  of  children  was  not  overlooked  by  Leon- 
ard Marsh,  Robert  Gilray,  Fred  Dodge  and  the  others 
who  followed.  In  1878  a  humble  frame  school  build- 
ing was  erected  on  section  19.  It  still  stands  a  monu- 
ment to  pioneer  progress.  Meanwhile  the  district 
flourished.  Men  riding  horse  back  took  the  place  of 
the  oxen  and  "man  packed"  mail  from  Shawano  north 
into  this  district  on  the  military  road.  Settlers  receiv- 
ed mail  twice  a  week. 

S.  Moldrawski  and  family,  Walter  V.  Dorszeski  and 
family  of  Chicago  moved  into  the  community  in  1884. 
Mr.  Dorszeski  later  became  actively  identified  with 
Langlade  County's  interests,  serving  as  an  official  from 
this  township  many  times.  Frank  Kielcheski  settled 
in  the  district  on  section  7  about  1886.  He  came  from 
Chicago.  Antone  Kielcheski  now  occupies  the  farm 
his  father  settled  on.  J.  Schutte  moved  from  Lang- 
lade into  the  HoUister  district  a  few  years  later  and  J. 
Bombinski,  who  served  as  a  town  official  many  years, 
came  here  from  Chicago  at  that  time. 

The  second  school  was  erected  on  the  Dorszeski 
farm  in  1890.  Anna  Kelly,  Antigo.  was  the  first 
teacher  in  the  second  school.  After  eighteen  years 
this  school  was  discontinued.  The  district  developed 
its  agricultural  potentialities  and  the  logging  and  lum- 
bering industries  flourished  meanwhile.  With  the 
approach  of  the  Wisconsin  &  Northern  railroad  in 
1913  and  now  its  purchase  by  the  Soo  Line  (1921)  the 
future  of  this  region  is  exceptionally  promising.  Two 
years  later,  1915,  The  Military  Road  Telephone  Com- 
pany erected  a  telephone  line  in  this  district. 

In  October,  1916,  Michael,  M.  F.  and  Nicholas  Eh- 
linger of  Suring,  Wisconsin,  erected  a  mill  at  HoUister 
on  section  19.  It  brought  in  settlers  and  employment. 
It  operated  until  May,  1920,  when  a  fire  completly 
destroyed  it.  The  Ehlinger  Brothers  re-built  in  June, 
1920.  Thirty  men  are  employed  on  an  average.  Four 
million  feet  of  lumber  is  the  average  annual  cut. 

In  1918  a  postoffice  was  established  known  as  Eh- 
linger. The  Soo  railroad  station  is  known  as  HoUis- 
ter. A  third  name  for  the  district  is  "Nine  Mile 
Creek"  by  which  it  is  referred  to  by  the  settlers. 
George  Burger  of  Suring  erected  a  hotel  at  Ehlinger  in 
November,  1921.  He  also  conducts  a  supply  store  at 
the  hotel. 

The  present  modern  brick  school  was  erected  on  an 
acre  of  land  donated  by  M.  J.  Wallrich,  Shawano, 
Wisconsin,  in  section  18.  This  school  is  one  of  the 
best  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county.  About  thirty- 
eight  families  reside  in  the  HoUister  district.  Anoth- 
er school  will  be  erected  to  accommodate  the  increased 
school  attendance. 

The  Campbell  Lumber  Company  and  the  Weber, 
Anderson  &  Wallrich  Lumber  Company  interests  are 
cared  for  by  C.  A.  Anderson. 


206 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XL. 
Evergreen  Township  No.  31  N.,  R.  13  E. 

Surface  and  Drainage — Soil — Lakes  and  Streams — Wolf  River  Township — Name  of  Township 
Changed  to  Evergreen — Evergreen  Officials,  1896-1923 — Cozy  Corner — Sherry — McKinley  and 
Wilson — Village  of  Elton — ^Kentuckian  Settlers — Washington  District. 


Evergreen  township  is  situated  in  southeastern  Lang- 
lade County.  It  lies  in  congressional  township  31 
North  of  Range  13  East.  James  McBride,  United 
States  Deputy  Surveyor  surveyed  this  township  in  No- 
vember, 1857.  The  entire  surface  of  Evergreen  is 
hilly  and  broken.  The  land  is  well  watered  by  num- 
erous streams  and  ponds.  The  township  was  visited 
by  many  destructive  cyclones  in  an  early  day  (before 
1858)  as  was  then  evidenced  by  the  many  windfalls. 
Principal  timber  was  hemlock  and  birch.  The  town- 
ship contains  a  wealth  of  timber  products  yet,  much  of 
which  is  being  extensively  logged.  It  lies  in  the  St. 
Lawrence  river  drainage  system.  The  dominant  soil 
is  Gloucester  silt  loam,  rolling  phase.  It  is  found  in 
the  southern  half  of  the  township.  About  eight  sec- 
tions in  the  northwestern  part  occupy  the  southern  part 
of  a  great  area  of  Gloucester  sandy  loam  that  stretches 
northeast  and  then  northwest  through  Langlade  and 
Ainsworth  townships.  In  the  center  of  the  township 
about  one  section  of  Gloucester  fine  sandy  loam  is 
found.  Principal  lakes  are  McGee,  Florence,  West 
Florence,  Dodgers,  Town  Line,  Twin  Hill  and  Mud 
Pond.  Evergreen  Creek  runs  through  sections  4,  9, 
16,  17,  21,  22,  27,  34  and  35.  The  Chicago  &  North- 
western road  (  Wolf  river  branch)  runs  through  sections 
7,  8,  16,  17,  21,  22,  23,  and  24.  The  Crocker  Chair 
Company  railroad  extends  north  from  Elton  village 
through  sections  3,  4,  and  16.  The  Wisconsin 
&  Northern  (now  Soo  Line)  runs  through  the  south- 
eastern part  of  the  township  in  section  36.  The  Yaw- 
key-Bissell  Lumber  Company  of  White  Lake,  Elton 
township,  have  their  logging  railroads  in  the  south- 
eastern part  of  Evergreen.  Their  logging  camp  is  lo- 
cated on  section  26.       It  is  in  charge  of  John  Collins. 

WOLF  RIVER  TOWNSHIP. 

November  18,  1895,  residents  of  Elton  township  re- 
quested the  County  Board  to  detach  townships  31, 
32  and  33  of  Range  14  East  and  the  west  twelve  sec- 
tions of  Township  31,  Range  15  East  from  Elton 
township  and  create  the  Town  of  Wolf  River.  A.  J. 
Wood,  W.  J.  Wood,  Marcus  Wahleitner,  Sr.,  G.  T. 
Truesdell,  C.  S.  Dempster,  Joseph  Wahleitner,  Albert 
Rolo,  John  Wurzer,  Michael  Coughlin,  Walter  V.  Dor- 
szeski,  John  Evans,  F.  Dasynski,  Frank  Spaulding, 
Will  Schroeder,  L.  P.  Wahleitner,  Simon  Post,  Ned 
Sawyer,  John  Olkoewick,  Andrew  Jagla,  J.  S.  Smith, 
M.  Dazinski,  George  A.  Roix,  Louis  Motorum,  Henry 
Juetten,  W.  B.  Bell  and  Robert  Gilray  were  the  lead- 
ers of  this  movement. 

Walter  V.  Dorszeski,  George  Roberts  and  Chester 


Starks,  town  organization  committeemen  on  the 
County  Board,  referred  the  request  to  the  members. 
Strenuous  efforts  were  made  to  defeat  the  detachment. 
While  a  new  township  was  organized  it  was  not  un- 
til February  26,  1896,  and  then  the  division  was  not 
in  accord  with  the  petition  from  the  Wolf  River  town- 
ship leaders.  Township  31,  Range  13  East  was  taken 
from  Elton  township  February  26,  1896,  and  was  es- 
tablished as  Wolf  River  township.  The  Wolf  River 
does  not  flow  through  the  township  and  this  name  was 
not  appropriate.  It  was  changed  in  May,  1896,  to  the 
Town  of  Evergreen  by  its  settlers. 

CEMETERY  OF  EVERGREEN. 

April  7,  1903,  a  committee  of  ladies  were  selected 
to  chose  a  site  for  a  township  cemetery.  The  ladies 
reported  to  the  town  board  and  the  same  year  the 
cemetery  was  laid  out,  section  16. 

OFFICERS  OF  WOLF  RIVER  AND  EVERGREEN 
TOWNSHIPS,  1896-1923. 

CHAIRMEN. 

Charles  W.  McFarland,  1896-97;  Albert  S.  Rollo, 
1897-99;  Charles  W.  McFarland,  1899-1902;  Theodore 
Suter,  1902-04;  J.  F.  Culver,  1904-05;  Joseph  Ramer. 
1905-07;  J.  F.  Culver,  1907-08;  John  A.  Wurzer.  1908- 
09;  J.  E.  Elliott,  1909-11;  John  H.  Rose,  1911-12;  J. 
M.  Thornberry,  1912-13;  Alonzo  Bunten,  1913-14; 
Henry  P.  Juetten,  1914-16;  Dixie  Whitt,  1916-17;  E. 
H.  Upton,  1917-18;  J.  M.  Thornberry.  1918-21;  John 
E.  Elliott,  1921-23. 

CLERKS. 

Henry  P.  Juetten,  1896-97;  John  N.  Gress,  1897- 
1903;  Robert  McCleary,  1903-05;  Henry  P.  Juetten, 
1905-09;  J.  M.  Thornberry,  1909-12;  Henry  P.  Juet- 
ten, 1912-14;  J.  M.  Thornberry,  1914-15;  Jay  Roberts, 
1916-17;  J.  M.  Thornberry,  1917-18;  L.  R.  Roberts. 
1918-22;  Willis  Clark,  1922-23. 

TREASURERS. 

Joseph  Wurzer,  1896-1902;  George  J.  Moser,  1902- 
04;  Michael  Binder,  1904-05;  W.  G.  Horton,  1905-07; 
Ignatz  Plattenbacker,  1907-09;  George  Roberts,  1909- 
10;  Ignatz  Plattenbacker,  1910-11;  George  Roberts, 
1911-12;  Ignatz  Plattenbacker,  1912-14;  Dixie  Whitt, 
1914-15;  L.  R.  Roberts,  1915-17;  Merl  Horton.  1917-18; 
Thomas  W.  Clark,  1918-23. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


207 


SUPERVISORS. 

Albert  Rollo,  John  Wurzer,  1896-97;  John  Wurzer,  A. 
Bedall,  1897-98;  John  Wurzer,  Wenzel  Sandner,  1898- 
99;  Wenzel  Sandner,  Charles  Hansen,  1899-1900; 
John  Wurzer,  Joseph  Ramer,  1900-01 ;  Frank  Alex- 
ander, John  Wurzer,  1901-02;  Charles  Binder,  Frank 
Alexander,  1902-03 ;  J.  F.  Culver,  Joseph  Wurzer,  1903- 
04;  J.  M.  Okaneski,  Frank  Harville.  1904-05;  J.  E. 
Elliott,  Nat  Pomasl,  1905-06;  Frank  Harville,  W.  E. 
Taylor,  1906-07;  Frank  Harville,  F.  C.  Rose,  1907-08; 

F.  C.  Rose,  Jay  Roberts,  1908-09;  L.  R.  Roberts,  A.  J. 
Browning,  1909-10;  Mark  Powell,  J.  H.  Rose,  1910-11; 
J.  K.  P.  Horton.  James  R.  Jones,  1911-12;  Miles  E. 
Jones,  J.  K.  P.  Horton,  1912-13;  George  Mannin,  J.  K. 
P.  Horton,  1913-14;  J.  H.  Jones,  J.  K.  P.  Horton,  1914- 
15;  Roland  Combs,  Melvin  Tacket,  1915-16;  Melvin 
Jacket,  J.  K.  P.  Horton,  1916-17;  Samuel  Combs, 
Willis  Clark,  1917-18;  James  R.  Jones,  Samuel  Combs, 
1918-19;  James  R.  Jones,  Thomas  Elliott,  1919-20; 
L.  L.  Pennington,  Thomas  Elliott,  1920-22;  L.  L.  Pen- 
nington, J.  H.  Jones,  1922-23. 

ASSESSORS. 

Abner  Rollo,  1896-97;  Ignatz  Plattenbacker,  1897- 
99;  John  Hunter,  1899-1900;  I.  Plattenbacker,  1900- 
02;  Nat  Pomasl,  1902-05;  Jay  Roberts,  1905-06;  J.  H. 
Jones,  1906-08;  W.  G.  Horton,  1908-09;  Frank  Tabor, 
1909-10;  F.  C.  Rose,  1910-11;  J.  H.  Rose,  1911-12;  J. 
H.  Jones,  1912-14;  John  A.  Wurzer,  1914-15;  J.  H. 
Jones,  1915-16;  S.  C.  Rose,  1916-17;  Frank  Tabor, 
1917-19;  J.  H.  Jones,  1919-20;  Frank  Tabor,  1920-21; 
D.  B.  Hall,  1921-23. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 

C.  W.  McFarland,  Abner  Rollo,  George  Stearns, 
Henry  Juetten,  1896-97;  John  N.  Gress,  Henry  P. 
Juetten,  1897-98;  L.  Steiner,  Joseph  Wurzer,  1898-99; 
J.  N.  Gress,  Henry  P.  Juetten,  Joseph  Ramer,  1899- 
1900;  John  N.  Gress,  C.  W.  McFarland,  1900-01;  Frank 
Alexander,  George  J.  Moser,  1901-02;  W.  N.  Porter, 
R.  H.  Elliott.  1903-04;  Jay  Roberts,  William  McKen- 
na,  1904-05;  F.  C.  Rose,  George  Roberts,  1905-06; 
Leonard  Patnode,  1906-07;  George  W.  Mannin,  1907- 
08;  George  W.  Mannin,  John  Wickershein,  1908-09; 
George  W.  Mannin,  G.  K.  P.  Horton,  1909-10;  Jay 
Roberts,  1910-11;  A.  W.  Karrick,  Jay  Roberts,  1911- 
12;  J.  H.  Rose,  G.  W.  Mannin,  1912-13;  F.  C.  Rose, 

G.  W.  Mannin,  1913-14;  John  Rose,  F.  C.  Rose,  1914- 
15;  G.  W.  Mannin,  Delaney  Wheeler,  1915-16;  Thom- 
as Clark,  G.  W.  Mannin,  1916-17;  J.  M.  Boyd,  A.  W. 
Karrick,  1917-19;  A.  W.  Karrick,  1919-21;  A.  R.  Por- 
ter, 1920-21;  A.  Drettwan,  1921-22;  Charles  DeHart, 
1922-23;  H.  Renfro,  1922-24. 

CONSTABLES. 

Anton  Ramer,  James  Murphy,  1897-98;  Michael 
Ramer,  Sam  Brown,  1898-99;  Henry  Juetten,  1899- 
1901;  Ulrich  Suter,  Nat  Pomasl,  Mike  Binder,  1901-02; 
Sam  Elliott,  Wm.  Underwood,  1902-04;  G.  W.  Jones, 
Wm.    Underwood,   H.   Elliott,    1904-05;    Fred   Wessa, 


Oscar  Oppenheimer,  1905-06;  Oscar  Oppenheimer, 
Richard  Thomas,  1906-07;  Ben  Berkley,  1907-08; 
Frank  Tabor,  Thomas  Elliott,  1908-09;  R.  L.  Lam- 
bert, 1909-10;  J.  A.  Rose,  Dennis  Rose,  1910-11;  Da- 
vid Phipps,  1911-12;  Samuel  Roe,  William  Conn, 
1912-13;  J.  E.  Elliott,  Luther  Pennington,  1913-14;  L. 
Forest,  Samuel  Roe,  1914-15;  Luther  Pennington, 
1915-16;  Lem  Stegall,  Luther  Pennington,  1916-17; 
Lem  Stegall,  John  Conn,  W.  L.  Bailey,  1917-18;  John 
Conn,  Lem  Stegall,  1918-19;  Ernest  Courbic,  1920-21; 
John  Rath,  1921-22;  L.  Pennington,  1922-23;  Asa 
Powell,  1922-24. 

DISTRICT  NO.  1. 

COZY  CORNER  DISTRICT.  There  are  five  set- 
tlers in  this  region  that  lies  in  the  sparsely  and  unde- 
veloped southwestern  part  of  Evergreen.  The  first 
settler  was  Simon  Post  of  Oshkosh,  who  took  up  a 
farm  on  section  35.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Langlade  County  and  settled  in  the  district  in  1879. 
Simon  Post  settled  on  a  little  clearing  made  for  oxen, 
used  by  Lyman  Rumery,  a  prominent  lumberman  and 
logger  of  Oshkosh.  Rumery  was  then  logging  pine 
in  the  district.  Mrs.  Post  lived  three  years  in  this 
wilderness  before  she  saw  the  face  of  a  woman  and 
she  was  a  squaw.  Albert  Rollo,  who  came  from  Bear 
Creek,  Outagamie  County,  was  a  pioneer  in  Cozy  Cor- 
ner. The  Culber  family  of  Portage  and  the  Richard 
family  settled  on  section  35.  Later  settlers  were 
Ward  T.  Taylor  of  Omro  and  Nat  Pomasl  of  Eau 
Claire. 

The  settlers  now  in  this  region  are  E.  O.  Finger,  Nat 
Pomasl,  W.  E.  Taylor,  John  McGee  and  Stephen  Po- 
pelka.  The  1921-22  school  officials  were:  Mrs.  W. 
E.  Taylor,  Clerk;  E.  0.  Finger,  Director;  Nat  Pomasl, 
Treasurer.   The  1921-22  teacher  was  Helen  McCarthy. 

Miss  Francis  McFarland,  a  niece  of  Charles  Mc- 
Farland, was  one  of  the  earliest  teachers.  She  is  still 
following  her  chosen  vocation.  Among  the  first  pu- 
pils were  the  Marcus  Wahleitner,  Sr.,  children  and 
Maggie  Post.  The  first  school  house,  one  of  the  old- 
est in  Evergreen,  was  located  on  section  25.  It  was  a 
one  room  log  building.  It  was  used  but  a  short  time 
when  the  present  frame  building  was  erected. 

Cozy  Corner  was  once  a  district  embracing  a  large 
area.  It  now  has  but  four  sections,  25,  26,  35  and 
36.  The  Yawkey-Bissell  Lumber  Company  is  en- 
gaged in  logging,  their  camps  being  located  on  section 
26. 

With  the  hardwood  cut,  this  district  will  forge  ahead, 
as  the  Menasha  Wooden  Ware  Company,  heavy  land 
owners,  will  sell  the  cut  over  land.  An  influx  of  new 
settlers  is  predicted. 

DISTRICT  NO.  3. 

SHERRY  DISTRICT.  This  district  received  its 
name  after  Henry  Sherry,  a  prominent  mill  owner, 
who  logged  extensively  in  Price  and  Evergreen  town- 
shis.    Mr.  Sherry  operated  a  mill  at  Kent. 

The  first  settlers  were  James  Lambert,  who  located 
on  section  6,  George  Thornbery,  who  settled  on  section 


208 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


7,  and  B.  Morse,  who  also  located  on  section  7.  Oth- 
ers were  James  Roe,  section  8;  Delaney  Wheeler,  sec- 
tion 7;  William  Bailey,  section  8,  and  William  Kevith, 
section  7. 

These  pioneer  settlers  emigrated  to  this  hilly  part 
of  the  county  from  Kentucky.  The  broken  country 
was  subdued  only  after  much  difficulty  and  hardships. 
Some  good  farms  are  now  found.  Much  of  the  land 
is  still  to  be  cleared.  The  pioneers  arrived  in  1899 
and  1900. 

Section  7  is  also  the  site  of  the  frame  school  erect- 
ed in  1899.  James  Lambert  and  Q.  Rose  were  mem- 
bers of  the  first  school  board.  Isaac  Thornberry  erect- 
ed the  first  house  in  the  district.  The  school  is  lo- 
cated north  of  highway  64,  principal  commercial  ar- 
tery to  eastern  Langlade  County  from  Antigo. 

Settlers  in  the  Sherry  community  are:  Everett 
Adkins,  James  Lambert,  William  Kevith,  William 
Bailey,  Delaney  Wheeler,  James  Roe,  Albert  Basely, 
B.  Morse,  George  Thornberry,  D.  H.  Jenkins,  Robert 
Lambert  and  Opal  Tate.  The  1921-22  school  officials 
were  D.  H.  Jenkins,  Clerk;  Robert  Lambert,  Director; 
B.  Morse,  Treasurer. 

The  Wolf  River  branch,  C.  &  N.  W.  Ry.,  runs 
through  this  district. 

DISTRICT  NO.  4. 

McKINLEY-WILSON  DISTRICT.  This  district  oc- 
cupies western  Evergreen  township  and  is  better  set- 
tled than  the  Sherry  or  Washington  districts.  The  set- 
tlers live  in  the  vicinity  of  the  schools,  two  of  which 
are  located  in  the  district.  Plans  are  being  formulated 
for  the  division  of  the  district,  thus  creating  a  sepa- 
rate McKinley  district  and  also  a  Wilson  district. 

Pioneer  settlers  were  Michael  Servi,  who  settled 
on  section  14;  Anton  Rammer,  section  15;  Samuel 
Mauk,  section  15;  R.  N.  Rose,  J.  H.  Rose,  section  11 
and  2  respectively;  James  Sullivan,  section  15  and 
Herman  Zastrow,  section  14.  Other  early  settlers 
were  George  Brown  and  Thomas  Campbell. 

The  McKinley  school  is  located  on  section  11  and 
the  Wilson  school  on  section  14.  They  were  named 
after  William  McKinley  and  Woodrow  Wilson,  Amer- 
ican Presidents.  The  first  school  in  the  district  was 
erected  on  section  10.  It  was  moved  onto  section  11 
to  have  it  nearer  the  center  of  the  district.  July  8, 
1915,  the  matter  of  a  new  school  was  discussed  at  the 
district  meeting.  Three  thousand  dollars  was  borrow- 
ed from  the  state  with  which  to  erect  a  new  frame 
school.  The  old  school  was  moved  August,  1915,  to 
section  11.  This  site  was  formally  established  by  the 
settlers  August  21,  1915. 

The  second  school  was  erected  by  Charles  F.  Dall- 
man,  deceased  Antigo  contractor,  at  a  cost  of  $2,985. 
It  was  contracted  for  August  7,  1915.  This  is  the 
Wilson  school,  section  14.  Mary  Wurzer  and  Ethel 
French  were  early  teachers. 

The  L.  R.  Roberts  store  is  located  on  section  14. 
It  was  erected  by  A.  R.  Porter,  who  in  1919  sold  to 
Mr.  Roberts.     There  are  about  twenty-six  families  in 


the  district.  The  Military  Road  Telephone  Company 
serves  the  community  with  facilities  for  outside  com- 
munication. 

A  Penticost  church,  frame  structure,  is  located  on 
section  15.  George  Brown  conducts  the  services  twice 
a  month.    The  church  was  erected  in  1921. 

The  1921-22  school  officials  were:  Charles  Adkins, 
Director;  A.  R.  Porter,  Treasurer,  and  L.  R.  Roberts, 
Clerk.  The  1921-22  teachers  were  M.  Lenzner  and 
Nellie  Powers  Rose. 

DISTRICT  NO.  5. 

ELTON  VILLAGE.  Among  the  early  settlers  of 
Elton  village  were  M.  J.  Binder,  Henry  Juetten,  Dan 
Murphy,  M.  Wahleitner,  Sr.,  the  Santner  family, 
Joseph  Ramer,  Ignatz  Plattenbacker,  the  Steiner  fam- 
ily, Charles  McFarland,  J.  Morse,  Joseph  and  John 
Wurzer,  Theodore  Smith,  and  Michael  Rammer.  Lat- 
er settlers,  but  early  ones,  nevertheless,  were  John 
Wickerham,  Ward  Taylor,  Nat  Pomasl,  George  Wan- 
ninger,  Frank  Patnode,  William  Teal,  William  Under- 
wood and  L.  L.  Pennington. 

Suter  Brothers,  the  Upham  Lumber  Company,  A. 
Gill  of  Wausau,  the  Hilstrom  Company  of  Plumb, 
Wisconsin,  and  lastly,  the  Crocker  Chair  Company 
have  had  manufacturing  establishments  in  the  vil- 
lage.   The  last  named  concern  still  operates  at  Elton. 

Early  postmasters  were  L.  F.  Bunten,  John  Smith, 
Joseph  Wurzer,  George  Mosher  and  Merl  Ladwig. 

Present  Elton  business  places  are :  Elton  Garage, 
William  Gillespie,  prop.;  Elton  Hardware,  Mix  & 
Maertz,  props.;  Elton  Mercantile  Company,  W.  B. 
McArthur,  prop.;  Elton  Hotel,  M.  J.  Binder,  prop.;  L. 
R.  Roberts  store,  and  the  Grange  Hall. 

DISTRICT  NO.  7. 

WASHINGTON  DISTRICT.  Washington  District 
lies  in  the  southwestern  part  of  Evergreen  township. 
It  was  settled  in  the  early  part  of  the  twentieth  cen- 
tury by  Charles  Bowen,  who  came  to  the  district  in 
1904,  Luke  Powell,  Miles  E.  Jones,  Albert  Crom, 
Joseph  Powers,  John  Shelv  and  B.  Rose.  New  settlers 
are  constantly  arriving  in  the  district. 

The  first  school  was  a  small  frame  structure  which 
is  located  opposite  the  present  frame  school  built 
on  section  29.  It  was  used  until  1912  when  the  new 
school  was  constructed  and  was  named  in  honor  of 
George  Washington.  Hazel  Cunningham  was  the  first 
teacher  in  the  new  school.  Other  early  teachers  were 
Irene  McKinney  and  Miss  Larzelere.  The  1921-22 
schools  officials  were  Frank  Tabor,  Clerk;  L.  L.  Pen- 
nington, Treasurer,  and  Joseph  Powers,  Director. 

Dr.  A.  A.  Lynn  of  Iowa  has  a  shorthorn  cattle  ranch 
in  this  district. 

The  settlers  are  from  Kentucky.  Much  of  the  dis- 
trict is  hilly  and  unsettled.  Improvements  are  being 
made  frequently  by  the  residents.  All  the  settlers 
are  living  within  a  short  distance  from  Elton. 


II 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


209 


CHAPTER  XLI. 
Langlade  Townships  No.  32-33  N.,  R.  13  E. 

Survey  of  South  Langlade  in  1857 — North  Langlade  Survey  in  1865 — The  Lost  Nation — Its  Fight 
Against  Attachment  to  Shawano  County — The  Passing  of  The  Lost  Nation — Organization  of 
Langlade  Township — Township  Officials,  1885-1923 — History  of  Pickerel,  Elm  Grove,  Kent 
Consolidated  and  Lily  Districts. 


Langlade  township  comprises  two  entire  congres- 
sional townships,  numbers  32  and  33,  of  Range  13 
East.  It  derives  its  name  from  the  distinguished 
Charles  De  Langlade,  French  soldier  and  leader  of 
the  Indians.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Forest 
County,  on  the  west  by  South  Ainsworth  and  Price 
townships,  on  the  south  by  Evergreen  township,  and 
on  the  east  by  central  and  north  Elton  township. 

South  Langlade  township  was  surveyed  in  Sept., 
1857,  by  Alfred  Millard  of  the  United  States  survey. 
The  surface  of  this  region  is  rolling  and  hilly.  A 
range  of  hills  extend  through  the  township  in  a  north 
and  south  direction  and  are  covered  with  granite 
boulders.  South  Langlade  township  has  two  types 
of  soil.  In  south  and  western  parts  of  the  township 
Gloucester  sandy  loam  is  found.  In  northern  and 
eastern  sections  of  south  Langlade  Gloucester  silt 
loam,  rolling  phase  is  the  dominant  soil.  Peat  is 
found  along  river  banks  and  in  marshes. 

North  Langlade  was  surveyed  in  April,  1865,  by 
James  L.  Nowlin.  The  township  originally  was  cov- 
ered with  hemlock,  birch,  oak,  pine,  maple  and  elm. 
The  Wolf  river  enters  the  township  in  section  18  and 
runs  in  an  easterly  direction  passing  out  of  the  town- 
ship at  section  34.  There  are  many  marshes  and  ponds 
in  the  township  that  cannot  be  drained.  The  soil 
is  Gloucester  silt  loam  of  the  rolling  phase,  except  in 
the  central  sections  where  considerable  peat  is  found. 

The  Wolf  river  passes  through  sections  2,  3,  11,  12,  13 
and  24  of  south  Langlade.  Its  width  varies  from  one 
hundred  to  two  hundred  links.  In  many  places  it  is 
very  rapid  and  filled  with  boulders  so  as  to  complete- 
ly obstruct  navigation.  South  Langlade  has  but  one 
swamp  of  any  note  in  sections  11,  12,  13  and  14.  It 
was  originally  very  low  and  was  heavily  timbered 
with  cedar,  spruce,  tamarack,  and  other  forest  pro- 
ducts. Elm,  yellow  birch,  white  pine  and  ironwood 
were  the  principal  forest  products. 

THE  LOST  NATION. 

In  1881  all  of  the  present  territory  of  Langlade, 
Evergreen  and  Elton  townships  was  detached  from 
Langlade  County  and  made  a  part  of  Shawano  Coun- 
ty. For  two  years  the  settlers  refused  to  hold  an  elec- 
tion at  the  designated  place  stipulated  by  law,  they 
refused  to  send  a  Chairman  to  the  Shawano  County 
Board  of  Supervisors  sessions,  refused  to  recognize  the 
authority  of  the  Shawano  County  Superintendent  of 
Schools  and  defied  the  state  legislature.     They  held 


that  the  detachment  was  not  legal  because  none  of 
the  territory  detached  was  "contiguous  to  Shawano 
County."  (The  Menominee  Indian  reservation  is  be- 
tween the  territory  and  Shawano  County.)  And  the 
contention  of  the  settlers  was  positively  correct.  This 
vast  area  should  not  have  been  detached  from  Lang- 
lade County.  The  settlers  charged  that  leaders  in 
Antigo  plotted  the  detachment  to  "get  the  territory  out 
of  the  county  and  thus  block  the  ambition  of  Lily  and 
Langlade  settlers  who  dreamed  of  a  magnificent  coun- 
ty with  Lily  as  the  county  seat." 

The  citizens  of  The  Lost  Nation,  as  this 
region  was  called,  maintained  their  own  schools, 
levied  their  own  taxes,  hired  their  own  road 
inspectors,  built  their  own  bridges,  cut  out  their 
own  roads — all  these  and  many  other  public  affairs 
were  conducted  without  contact  or  assistance  from 
Oconto,  Langlade  or  Shawano  Counties.  Their  schools 
were  declared  the  best  by  the  Oconto  County  Super- 
intendent who  visited  them,  as  did  the  Shawano  Coun- 
ty Superintendent.  (Both  claimed  them  in  their  jur- 
isdiction.) 

But  this  status  could  not  continue  indefinitely.  In 
1883  the  legislature  again  directed  that  The  Lost  Na- 
tion be  attached  to  Langlade  County,  thus  restoring 
the  region  cut  from  the  county  by  the  provisions  of 
Chapter  7,  Laws  of  1881. 

Two  years  passed.  The  Lost  Nation  remained 
"lost,"  with  Oconto  and  Shawano  desirous  of  having 
it  and  Langlade  County  settlers  in  and  adjacent  to 
Antigo  not  so  enthusiastic  over  it.  The  settlers  in  the 
six  and  a  third  townships  refused  to  compromise. 
They  desired  a  township  in  Langlade  County  with 
all  the  privileges  of  a  township.  In  1885  the  legisla- 
ture again  directed  that  The  Lost  Nation  be  detached 
from  Shawano  County  and  be  attached  to  Polar  town- 
ship. Thus  came  into  existence  Langlade  Township, 
Langlade  County. 

ORGANIZATION  OF  LANGLADE. 

The  chiefs  of  The  Lost  Nation  were  quick  to  real- 
ize the  phraseology  of  Chapter  137,  Laws  of  1885. 
Attached  to  Polar  township  they  would  be  practically 
under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  settlers  in  and  near 
Polar  village,  whose  voting  power  was  larger  than 
that  of  The  Lost  Nation.  But  the  attachment  law  of 
1885  held  out  another  hope.  If  the  settlers  held  an 
election  the  first  Tuesday  in  April,  1885,  and  their 
officers  qualified,  a  new  township  would  be  automatic- 


210 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


ally  created  and  the  attachment  to  Polar  would  not 
hold.  This  the  leaders  in  The  Lost  Nation  decided 
was  the  best  move  to  make. 

THE  PASSING  OF  THE  LOST  NATION. 

The  Lost  Nation  passed  into  history  when  the  first 
memorable  election  of  Langlade  township  was  held 
at  the  school  house  in  the  village  of  New  (Lily)  the 
first  Tuesday  in  April,  1885.  Charles  H.  Larzelere 
was  elected  first  township  Chairman  for  the  new  town 
of  Langlade,  which  consisted  of  the  six  and  a  third 
townships  of  The  Lost  Nation.  He  served  as  Chair- 
man until  1887. 

The  settlers  in  the  Lost  Nation  were  called  Chiefs 
over  the  state  of  Wisconsin.  This  term  applied  partic- 
ularly to  the  leaders. 

LANGLADE  OPPOSED  ELTON. 

May  17,  1887,  the  Langlade  township  officials  auth- 
orized the  township  Chairman,  U.  G.  Taylor,  to  em- 
ploy counsel  and  start  quo  warranto  proceedings 
against  the  officers  of  Elton  township.  The  object  of 
this  action  was  to  set  aside  the  ordinance  made  by 
the  County  Board  of  Langlade  County  November  10, 

1886,  when  Langlade  township  was  divided  and  Elton 
township  was  created.  The  Langlade  township  offi- 
cials wanted  the  action  of  the  Langlade  County  Board 
of  November  10,  1886,  wherein  Cleveland  township 
was  to  be  attached  to  Langlade  township  by  April  1, 

1887,  set  aside.  The  suits  were  commenced,  W.  F. 
White  and  C.  Werden  Deane,  Antigo  lawyers,  repre- 
senting Langlade.  The  suit  failed  and  on  April  8, 
1887,  the  township  officials  requested  C.  Werden 
Deane  to  ascertain  the  cost  of  carrying  the  case  to 
the  Supreme  Court. 

S.  A.  TAYLOR  DEMANDED  ACTION. 

The  Keshena  Improvement  Company  owned  proper- 
ty in  Langlade  township  that  went  unassessed  for 
some  time.  S.  A.  Taylor  went  before  the  township 
officials  and  demanded  that  they  instruct  the  township 
assessor  to  assess  the  corporate  property  of  this  con- 
cern. The  board  accordingly  directed  the  assessor  to 
do  this,  July  30,  1887. 

LANGLADE  TOWN  HALL. 

May  9,  1908,  the  Langlade  township  officials  met 
at  the  office  of  V.  P.  Rath,  Langlade  County  Clerk, 
where  sealed  bids  for  the  erection  of  the  Langlade 
township  hall  were  opened.  Notices  regarding  the 
proposed  hall  were  previously  erected  by  Robert  Gil- 
ray  at  Kent,  Lily  and  Pickerel  post  offices.  The  con- 
tract was  awarded  to  J.  W.  Otis  for  $900.  The  town 
hall  was  completed  by  August  1,  1908.  It  is  located  on 
section  27.  The  half  acre  site  was  purchased  from 
William  Priem  for  $150.  It  is  on  the  east  side  of  the 
Wolf  river,  near  the  intersection  of  the  Kent  and  Mili- 
tary roads. 


OFFICERS  OF  LANGLADE  TOWNSHIP, 
1885-1923. 

CHAIRMEN. 

Charles  H.  Larzelere,  1885-87;  U.  G.  Taylor,  1887- 
88;  Henry  Strauss,  1888-95;  H.  B.  Polar,  1895-98; 
Charles  Learned,  1898-99;  J.  E.  Schultz,  1899-1900; 
J.  D.  Polar,  1900-01;  Charles  A.  Learned,  1901-02;  D. 
Sinnis,  1902-03;  J.  E.  Schultz,  1903-04;  Charles  A. 
Learned,  1904-05;  W.  W.  Clark,  1905-06;  Edward 
Cunningham,  1906-07;  Adolph  Heeg,  1907-09;  William 
Wolf,  1909-12;  W.  K.  Harper,  1912-13;  William  Wolf, 
1913-14;  Thomas  Ward,  1914-15;  W.  K.  Harper,  1915- 
16;  William  Wolf,  1916-17;  Hugh  E.  St  Clair,  1917-23. 

CLERKS. 

J.  J.  Springer,  1885-86;  Henry  Strauss,  1886-87  (tie 
vote  decided  by  lot  between  Henry  Strauss  and  David 
B.  Edick);  David  B.  Edick,  1887-88;  J.  C.  Johnston, 
1888-89;  U.  G.  Taylor,  1889-96;  Charles  Walsh,  1896- 
97;  J.  Pearson  Hughes,  1897-99;  U.  G.  Taylor.  1899- 
1902;  Tim  Connell,  1902-05;  Robert  Gilray,  1905-09; 
N.  T.  Horton,  1909-12;  Grant  Gilray,  1912-14;  Jesse 
Pendleton,  1914-16;  Grant  Gilray,  1916-23. 

TREASURERS. 

Henry  Strauss,  1885-86;  J.  J.  Springer,  1886-87; 
Allen  Taylor,  1887-90;  J.  E.  Schultz,  1890-92;  J.  D. 
Polar,  1892-99;  William  Priem,  1899-1901;  J.  D.  Polar, 
1901-05;  Adolph  Heeg,  1905-07;  Charles  Haney,  1907- 
09;  Charles  Jackson,  1909-10;  Thomas  Ward,  1910-11; 
Charles  Jackson,  1911-12;  Thomas  Ward,  1912-14; 
Hugh  E.  St.  Clair,  1914-15;  Arthur  Sweet,  1915-16; 
Charles  L.  Jackson,  1916-17;  William  Bachman,  1917- 
20;  Charles  L.  Jackson,  1920-23. 

ASSESSORS. 

Frank  B.  Getchell,  1885-88;  H.  B.  Polar,  1888-92; 
Tim  Connell,  1892-96;  J.  M.  Jackson,  1896-98;  H. 
Polar,  Charles  Tourtillotte,  T.  Connell,  1898-99;  L. 
Clark,  1899-1900;  H.  B.  Polar,  1900-01;  Len  Clark, 
1901-02;  H.  B.  Polar,  1902-05;  Joseph  M.  Jackson, 
1905-06;  Hugh  E.  St.  Clair,  1906-07;  Tim  Connell, 
1907-08;  Thomas  Ward,  1908-09;  Herman  Seidler, 
1909-10;  William  Jackson,  1910-11;  J.  W.  Burkhart. 
1911-12;  Charles  A.  Schrader,  1912-14;  George  Jack- 
son, 1914-15;  Nels  Horton,  1915-17;  Harry  Clark, 
1917-18;  W.  K.  Harper,  1918-19;  William  Jackson, 
1919-20;  W.  K.  Harper,  1920-21;  Charles  W.  Tour- 
tillotte, 1921-21 ;  C.  F.  Priem,  1922-23. 

SUPERVISORS. 

Lewis  E.  Pendleton,  Joseph  HoUister,  1885-86;  J. 
R.  Hollister,  M.  W.  Dorszeki,  1886-87;  James  Camp- 
bell, Israel  Stinson,  1887-88;  Thomas  M.  Dobbs,  1888- 
89;  Samuel  Preston,  Henry  Ball,  1889-90;  Samuel  Pres- 
ton, Israel  Stinson,  1890-91;  David  B.  Edick,  Samuel 
Preston,  1891-92;  L.  E.  Pendleton,  Charles  Learned, 
1892-93;  J.  E.  Schultz,  Joseph  Schoknecht,  1895-96; 
H.  Mason,  Charles  Stubs,  1896-97;  T.  Connell,  Joseph 
Schoknecht,  1897-98;  William  Priem,  Len  Clark,  1898- 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


211 


99;  T.  Connell,  S.  Austin,  1899-1900;  J.  M.  Jackson. 
Chris  Priem,  1900-01;  Chris  Priem,  Joseph  Schok- 
necht.  1901-02;  Len  Clark,  A.  Harvey.  1902-03;  Joseph 
Schoknecht.  Joseph  Schrader,  1903-04;  Joseph  Schok- 
necht,  C.  F.  Priem,  1904-05;  George  Jackson,  Herman 
Seidler.  1905-06;  H.  Seidler,  Charles  Haney,  1906-07; 
Hugh  St.  Clair,  George  Jackson,  1907-09;  Christ 
Priem,  W.  K.  Harper,  1909-12;  Tim  Connell,  Hugh  E. 
St.  Clair,  1912-13;  Christ  Priem.  James  Albino.  1913- 
14;  William  Bachman,  James  Albino.  1914-15;  James 
Albino.  Roy  E.  Larzelere.  1915-17;  Henry  Braun,  Sam- 
uel Wagner.  1917-23. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 

George  Gilmer.  J.  J.  Springer,  Simon  Ball.  M.  Wil- 
lett.  1885-86;  L.  J.  Whitehouse,  George  Gilmore,  1886- 
87;  Allen  C.  Taylor,  Henry  Chase,  1887-88;  T.  M. 
Dobbs,  Henry  Chase,  1888-90;  Samuel  Preston, 
Charles  Learned,  1888-89;  J.  P.  Hughes.  H.  Seeman. 
1889-90;  Henry  Chase,  L.  H.  Taylor,  1890-91;  J.  P. 
Hughes,  Robert  Armstrong,  1891-93;  H.  G.  Chase,  T. 
M.  Dobbs,  1892-93;  Robert  Armstrong,  1895-96;  R. 
H.  Armstrong,  Charles  Helfish,  1896-97;  J.  P.  Hughes, 
J.  Hale,  1897-98;  Charles  Walsh,  1898-99;  J.  P. 
Hughes,  Charles  Walsh,  1899-1900;  J.  Hale,  F.  A. 
Thorn,  1900-01;  Tim  Connell,  F.  A.  Thorn,  1901-02; 
T.  Connell,  A.  Harvey,  1902-03;  Tim  Connell,  David 
B.  Edick,  Frank  Hufferd,  1903-04;  Tim  Connell,  Sim 
Graves,  Sylvester  Albino,  1904-05;  Sylvester  Albino, 
1905-06;  T.  Connell,  William  Priem,  1906-07;  T.  Con- 
nell, Jesse  Pendleton.  1907-08;  Nels  Horton.  Len 
Clark.  1908-09;  Jesse  Pendleton,  Tim  Connell,  Robert 
Gilray,  1909-10;  N.  T.  Horton,  1910-11;  Robert  Gil- 
ray,  Nels  T.  Horton,  John  Kehoe,  1911-12;  John  Ke- 
hoe,  N.  T.  Horton,  1912-13;  Tim  Connell,  Jesse  Pen- 
dleton, 1913-14;  N.  T.  Horton,  Jesse  Pendleton,  1914- 
15;  Nels  T.  Horton,  Leonard  Clark,  1915-16;  Leon- 
ard Clark,  Thomas  Albino,  1916-17;  W.  K.  Harper, 
Charles  Tourtillotte,  1917-18;  W.  K.  Harper,  Jesse 
Pendleton,  1918-19;  Thomas  Clark,  W.  K.  Harper, 
1919-20;  M.  Roix,  A.  Dreger,  1920-21;  W.  K.  Harper, 
1921-23. 

CONSTABLES. 

John  Gibson,  Henry  Chase,  Stephen  H.  Austin, 
1885-86;  J.  Stinson,  Ed  Schultz,  1886-87;  Edward 
Schultz,  Israel  Stinson,  1887-88;  James  Polar,  H. 
Smith,  J.  E.  Schultz,  J.  P.  Hughes,  1888-89;  J.  E. 
Schultz,  T.  Connell,  Samuel  Preston,  C.  Learned,  1889- 
90;  J.  E.  Schultze,  Al  Chase,  1890-91;  D.  Jackson, 
Samuel  J.  Robinson.  1891-93;  J.  Polar.  1892-93;  J. 
Rouse,  William  Magee,  D.  Jackson,  J.  E.  Schultz, 
1895-96;  Alex  Henry,  James  Brennan,  1896-97;  J. 
Pendleton,  F.  W.  Hoffman,  1897-98;  Samuel  Brown, 
Robert  Armstrong,  1898-99;  George  Jackson,  Nels  Van- 
derhoof,  1899-1900;  George  Jackson,  Woodsel  Gibbs, 
1900-01;  John  Polar,  Jesse  Pendleton,  1901-02;  L.  Pen- 
dleton, L.  Clark,  1902-03;  Charles  Harney,  1903-04; 
Charles  Harney,  W.  Gibbs,  1904-05;  Boone  Gibbs, 
1905-06;  Boone  Gibbs,  Woodsel  Gibbs.  1906-07;  John 


Kehoe.  Axel  Oleson.  1907-08;  John  Spauss.  1908-09; 
Joseph  Goldberg.  Joseph  Schrader.  1909-10;  Simon 
Brennan.  1910-12;  Boone  Gibbs,  1912-13;  Fred  Domke, 
1913-14;  Ed  Cunningham,  Otto  Priem,  1914-15;  George 
Sparks,  Harry  Clark,  1915-16;  Boone  Gibbs,  Harry 
Clark,  1916-17;  Art  Bartels,  H.  Getchell,  Ralph  Getch- 
ell,  1917-18;  Joseph  Schrader,  Merrill  Clark,  1918-19; 
M.  Clark,  J.  GoberviUe,  1919-20;  H.  Clark,  Joseph 
Goldberg.  1920-21;  Robert  Schuster.  1921-22;  Vincent 
Dazinski,  1922-23. 

DISTRICT  NO  1. 

PICKEREL  DISTRICT.  Joseph  M.  Jackson,  bring- 
ing with  him  his  worldly  possessions,  came  to  Lang- 
lade County  from  Bailey's  Harbor.  Wisconsin,  in  1873 
and  settled  on  section  7,  township  33.  range  13  east. 
He  cleared  a  little  space  out  of  the  forests  and  before 
long  a  comfortable  home  was  erected.  Following  him 
Thomas  Simons,  a  native  of  Mary-Machee,  New  Bruns- 
wick. Canada,  settled  on  section  7  in  the  year  1878. 
Three  years  before,  in  1875.  James  McCloud.  a  na- 
tive of  the  state  of  Maine,  came  into  this  country  fam- 
ous for  its  pine  forests  and  settled  on  section  6.  Len 
Clark,  another  "Maine  stater."  settled  on  section  5,  on 
land  purchased  from  the  government  at  $1.25  per 
acre,  in  1880.  John  Attredge,  Canadian,  settled  on 
section  7  in  1880.  Henry  Chase  came  the  year  later 
from  Maine,  settling  on  section  7.  The  same  year 
Timothy  Connell.  another  Maine  native,  settled  on  sec- 
tion 7.  In  1882  George  Gilmore  settled  on  section  7. 
James  Campbell  came  to  the  district  in  1883  and  set- 
tled on  section  5.     He  came  from  Canada. 

The  first  school  was  erected  in  the  pine  wilderness 
on  section  7  in  1873.  It  was  built  by  J.  M.  Jackson 
at  a  cost  of  $100.  The  lumber  for  its  roof  was  hauled 
from  Shawano,  over  the  military  road.  Miss  Ida 
Norton  was  the  first  teacher.  Others  were  Parker 
Ross.  Hattie  Kittell.  Henry  Strauss,  later  a  prominent 
Democrat  in  Langlade  County  politics,  and  Mae  Beau- 
dette.  The  1921-22  teacher  was  Berdetta  Lutterman. 
The  1922-23  teacher  was  lone  Preston.  The  average 
enrollment  at  this  school  is  25  pupils. 

The  members  of  the  first  school  board  were  Timo- 
thy Connell.  George  Gilmore  and  Henry  Strauss.  The 
old  log  school  was  used  until  1893.  when  a  frame  build- 
ing was  erected  on  section  7  at  a  cost  of  $1,000.  Mi- 
chael Hafner  was  the  first  teacher  in  the  frame  school. 
The  old  log  cabin  stood  for  many  years,  "an  idle  beg- 
gar sunning."  In  1915  the  frame  school  was  replaced 
by  a  modern  structure  erected  by  C.  F.  Dallman. 

Present  industries  in  the  district  are :  Charles  Jackson 
store,  W.  K.  Harper  store.  Pickerel  Cheese  &  Butter 
Company  cheese  factory. 

The  1921-22  school  officials  were  Robert  Brown, 
Clerk;  William  Buckman,  Director,  and  Charles  Jack- 
son, Treasurer. 

Agriculture  and  lumbering  are  the  principal  indus- 
tries of  the  district.  Large  areas  of  timber  are  locat- 
ed in  this  region.  The  land  is  rolling  and  in  some 
places  hilly. 


212 


HISTORY  OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


Ruins  of  the  old  Hayter,  Big  Roll,  and  Little  Roll 
Dams,  reminiscent  of  pioneer  lumbering  on  the  Lily 
river,  are  found  in  this  district. 

The  military  road  and  county  trunk  lines  are  the 
principal  highways. 

DISTRICT  NO.  7. 

ELM  GROVE  DISTRICT.  The  pioneer  settler  of 
this  district  was  "Old  Dutch  Frank,"  whose  identity 
has  been  shrouded  in  darkness.  He  was  in  the  dis- 
trict in  1863  and  operated  mail  headquarters  on  sec- 
tion 17  at  the  place  since  known  as  the  Strauss  Cross- 
ing. He  was  followed  by  Henry  Strauss,  who  came 
from  Menominee  where  he  had  operated  a  sawmill. 
Strauss,  with  William  Johnston  as  a  partner,  settled  in 
1867  in  the  district.  He  traded  with  the  Chippewa 
Indians  passing  through  the  country  over  the  Wolf 
river  trails  and  became  known  for  miles  around  as  a 
friend  of  the  Indian  and  a  shrewd  trader,  fur  buyer, 
trapper  and  scholar.  Henry  Strauss  purchased  the 
"Old  Dutch  Frank"  place. 

Henry  Strauss  and  "Old  Dutch  Frank"  both  secur- 
ed their  merchandise  and  supplies  from  Henry  An- 
drews, who  was  in  charge  of  the  government  store  at 
Keshena  in  1863-68.  The  old  crossing  known  as 
Strauss'  Crossing  can  still  be  located  on  section  17. 
Trees,  wild  vegetation  and  grasses  have  long  since 
erased  from  the  view  of  the  passerby  for  all  time  most 
of  this  historic  and  picturesque  site  of  a  romantic  and 
stirring  chapter  in  Langlade  County's  pioneer  history. 

The  old  Lake  Superior  trail,  mail  route  from  Green 
Bay,  Shawano  and  thence  to  the  state  lire,  wound  its 
solitary  way  through  the  district.  In  1886  the  sturdy 
mail  carrier,  who  often  rode  many  miles,  fording 
streams  and  climbing  treacherous  hills,  was  discon- 
tinued. 

David  Getchell,  pioneer,  came  from  Waterville, 
Maine,  in  September,  1872,  and  settled  on  the  historic 
section  17.  Here  he  has  lived  since  on  the  north  bank 
of  the  rumbling  Wolf  river,  that  defies  man  and  time 
as  the  settler  of  today  becomes  the  pioneer  in  pass- 
ing years. 

The  settlers  in  Elm  Grove  district  are  few.  The 
school  was  erected  in  1908  by  F.  F.  Arndt  at  a  cost 
of  $1,089.  The  first  schools  officials  were  Mrs.  David 
Getchell,  Clerk;  Christopher  Priem,  Director,  and 
Herman  Seidler,  Treasurer.  School  was  held  before 
the  erection  of  the  school  house  at  the  residence  of 
Christopher  Priem  for  a  year  and  two  months  of  the 
second  term. 

Settlers  in  this  district  are :  David  Getchell,  who 
has  since  1900  operated  a  sawmill  on  the  banks  of  the 
Wolf,  section  17,  Mrs.  H.  Armstrong,  Earl  Dalton,  Sam 
Elliott,  Charles  Hoffman,  Chauncey  Ennis,  Ed  Schultz, 
John  Taylor. 

Agriculture  is  the  principal  industry. 

Rev.  C.  D.  Griese,  Lutheran  Pastor  of  Polar,  visits 
at  Lily  every  month  and  settlers  of  the  Lutheran  faith 
from  this  district  attend  his  services. 

There  are  no  churches,  cemeteries,  cheese  factor- 
ies or  stores  in  the  district. 


The  1921-22  school  officers  were:  Mrs.  C.  Priem, 
Clerk;  Charles  Hoffman,  Treasurer,  and  Sam  Elliott, 
Director.  Teachers  in  the  distirct  have  been:  Myra 
Dempster  (first),  Clara  Johnson,  Clara  Monette,  Madge 
Cecil,  Harriet  Kohl,  Maud  Smith,  Alfreida  Bruss,  Flos- 
sie Robinson,  Elizabeth  Folk,  Irma  Vorass  and  Aud- 
rey Schoepke.    The  school  is  located  on  section  16. 

DISTRICT  NO.  8. 

LILY  DISTRICT.  This  district  is  situated  in  the 
North  Langlade  township.  The  principal  village  is 
Lily,  thriving  little  hamlet  at  the  junction  of  the  Lily 
and  Wolf  rivers,  section  27.  It  was  settled  by  the  first 
pioneers  to  come  into  Langlade  township.  Ammesey 
Smith  came  to  the  district  from  New  York  state  in 
1876,  settling  first  at  Lac  Vieux  Desert  and  then  at 
Lily.  S.  A.  Taylor  came  from  New  York  into  this  then 
unsettled  territory.  Steven  Austin,  T.  D.  Kellogg,  Henry 
Tourtillotte,  David  B.  Edick,  Ed  Schultze,  Napoleon 
Moran,  John  Moran,  Wren  Taylor,  Duke  Dalton,  Is- 
rael Stinson,  Allen  Taylor,  Robert  Gilray,  Nicholas  and 
Jerome  Winton,  George  Truesdell,  Louis  Pendleton 
and  Henry  Mason  were  all  pioneers  not  only  in  this 
district  but  in  the  settlement  of  Langlade  County  as 
a  whole. 

The  great  pinery  of  the  Wolf  river  country  was  the 
attraction  that  brought  these  hardy  folks  into  the 
dense  wilderness  that  stretched  for  miles  on  both  sides 
of  the  roaring,  foaming  and  picturesque  Wolf  river. 

The  first  sawmill  in  the  Lily  district  was  erected  by 
Thomas  M.  Dobbs,  in  1882.  Mr.  Dobbs,  pioneer  saw- 
mill owner  in  Langlade  County,  moved  his  mill  to 
Lily  from  Dobbston  (Markton)  where  he  has  estab- 
lished it  in  1873.  In  the  year  1892  it  was  moved  to 
the  south  arm  of  Post  Lake,  Dobbs  moving  to  Anti- 
go  to  engage  in  a  business.  '  He  later  moved  to  Price 
;jwnship). 

J.  E.  Schultze  and  Allen  Taylor  moved  the  old 
John  Evans  sawmill,  erected  years  before  on  the  Ever- 
green river  banks,  to  Lily  in  the  winter  of  1895  and 
located  it  on  section  27.     It  operated  until  1915. 

William  and  Herman  Haenke  moved  a  mill  into 
the  district  from  Polar  in  1916  and  after  operating  it 
for  two  years  sold  to  Chris  Wunderlich  of  Antigo. 
The  mill  closed  in  May,  1922,  following  the  death  of 
its  owner. 

Lily  district  is  located  on  the  famous  Military  Road 
and  the  old  stopping  place  erected  by  Ammesey  Smith 
in  1876  was  the  scene  of  many  pioneer  activities.  The 
long  herds  of  cattle,  often  driven  from  Shawano  to 
the  copper  regions  of  Michigan,  slowly  trod  this  im- 
portant highway.  Their  herders,  stopping  on  the  way, 
fraternalized  with  the  dam  tenders,  timbermen,  Indian 
traders,  prospectors  and  river  drivers.  This  was  a 
country  close  to  the  throne  of  the  Almighty.  Man  in 
his  mad  quest  for  wealth  and  power,  had  not  begun 
to  despoil  it. 

On  section  15  of  North  Langlade  township,  David  B. 
Edick  kept  a  stopping  place  for  Timothy  Craine,  lum- 
berman, who  was  active  in  timber  operations  in  the 
Wolf  river  country  for  many  years. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


213 


Henry  Ball  and  sons  came  to  Lily  from  Shiocton  in 
1881  and  erected  a  general  store  on  sections  27.  They 
had  their  supplies  and  merchandise  in  the  Amessey 
Smith  place  in  September,  1881,  when  the  historic 
cyclone  of  that  year  went  through  eastern  Langlade 
County.     They  operated  their  store  until   1888,  when 


DELLS  OF  THE  WOLF  RIVER 

The  junction  of  the  \Vo]f  and  Lily  rivers  is  at  Lily.     The 

dells  are  down  stream  from  Lily  in  the  ?vIenomince 

Lidian   territory. 

Charles  and  Jesse  Walsh  came  from  Black  Creek, 
Outagamie  County,  and  took  over  the  business.  They 
moved  to  Antigo  after  seven  years  and  June  5,  1895, 
the  store  was  taken  over  by  William  Priem,  who  has 
a  general  store  at  Lily  now.  At  the  time  William 
Priem  came  to  Lily,  Israel  Stinson  had  a  little  store 
there. 

The  first  school  in  the  district  was  a  one  room  log 


cabin  erected  on  section  27.  Miss  Dempster  was  an 
early  teacher.  This  school  was  used  for  a  short  time 
until  a  frame  structure  was  erected  on  section  34.  The 
frame  school  was  used  until  1895,  when  a  second 
frame  school  was  erected.  The  second  frame  school 
was  used  until  1914,  when  C.  F.  Dallman,  Antigo  con- 
tractor, erected  a  brick  structure  on  section  34  at  a 
cost  of  $4,600. 

The  old  frame  school  was  purchased  for  $100  by 
William  Priem,  July  6,  1914. 

The  Lily  school  is  a  state  graded  school  of  high 
rank.  The  1921-22  officials  were:  Director,  George 
Getchell;  Treasurer,  Roy  Larzelere;  Clerk,  W.  W. 
Clark.  Mrs.  Robert  Dewey  was  Principal  and  Miss 
Nellie  McDougal,  assistant  instructor,  in  1921-22.  The 
average  enrollment  is  55  pupils. 

Lily  has  had  a  number  of  postmasters,  as  follows: 
George  Taylor,  Sim  Ball,  Wren  Taylor,  Israel  Stinson, 
Charles  Walsh,  William  Priem  and  Osca  Tourtillotte. 

The  Lily  cemetery  is  located  on  section  35. 

There  is  still  a  vast  area  of  valuable  standing  tim- 
ber in  the  district. 

Turtle  Lake  is  located  on  section  28. 

Before  the  spur  track  was  laid  from  Bryant  to  Kent 
it  was  difficult  for  Lily  settlers  to  get  to  Shawano  or 
Antigo.  This  was  also  before  the  universal  use  of 
the  automobile.  The  year  1914  brought  the  Wiscon- 
sin &  Northern  Railroad  into  the  district,  opei>ing  up  to 
the  outside  world  the  resources  of  the  country.  In 
1921  this  road  was  purchased  by  the  Minneapolis,  St. 
Paul  &  Sault  Ste.  Marie  Railroad.  Extensive  improve- 
ments are  contemplated  and  before  many  years  the 
main  Soo  line  will  pierce  eastern  Langlade  County. 
Lily  has  a  depot  erected  in  1919  on  section  34. 

From  the  day  when  the  red  man  using  his  bateaux 
on  the  Wolf  or  portaging  about  its  rapids,  on  through 
the  years  of  pine  timber  conquest  to  the  present  day 
of  the  prosperous  farmer,  the  modern  automobile 
and  speeding  locomotive,  the  Lily  or  the  village  of 
New,  as  S.  A.  Taylor  once  named  it,  has  lived  on.  Its 
years  in  the  unknown  tomorrow  may  be  for  bigger  and 
better  things. 


214 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XLII. 

Neva  Township  No.  32  N.,  R.  11  E. 

Derivation  of  Name — Location — Soil — Early  History — Organization — First  Town  Meeting — Early 
and  Present  Industries — Roads — Churches — Cemeteries — Granges — Schools  —  School  District 
Boundaries — Township  Chairmen,  Clerks,  Treasurers,  Justices  of  the  Peace,  Supervisors,  Assess- 
ors—1883-1923— First  Bank— Cheese  Factories. 


Neva  township  was  named  in  honor  of  Chief  Neva, 
leader  of  a  tribe  of  Chippewa  Indians,  who  visited  at 
what  is  now  known  as  Neva  Corners  on  their  way  north 
to  Post  Lake  in  an  early  day.  Once  one  of  the  larg- 
est, it  is  now  one  of  the  smallest  townships  in  Lang- 
lade County,  embracing  a  territory  of  thirty-six  square 
miles  or  one  Congressional  Township  No.  32,  North  of 
Range  11  East.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Up- 
ham,  on  the  east  by  Price,  on  the  west  by  Peck  and  on 
the  south  by  Antigo  townships.  Springbrook  runs 
through  sections  1,  11,  15,  20,  21,  22  and  30.  The 
surface  of  the  township  is  generally  level  except  in  the 
northwestern  part.  Originally  the  land  was  covered 
with  a  thick  growth  of  white  pine,  elm,  beech,  maple 
and  oak,  which  was  rapidly  cut.  Neva  township  is  a 
splendid  agricultural  district  comparing  favorably  with 
any  other  section  of  Wisconsin.  In  1878  it  belonged 
to  Langlade  township,  Oconto  County.  It  was  survey- 
ed by  H.  C.  Fellows,  U.  S.  Deputy  Surveyor,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1860. 

ORGANIZATION  IN  1883. 

Neva  township  was  organized  January  11,  1883,  by 
the  Langlade  County  Board  of  Supervisors.  Super- 
visor H.  Heim  of  Norwood  township  introduced  the 
resolution  in  which  all  territory  in  townships  No.  32,  33, 
34,  35,  36  and  37  of  Range  11  East  was  detached  from 
Antigo  township  and  "organized  and  formed  into  a 
new  town  to  be  henceforth  known  as  "Neva  township." 
The  proposed  ordinance  was  recommended  by  the 
Committee  on  Town  Organization,  consisting  of  Hon. 
F.  A.  Deleglise,  Moritz  Mueller  and  Henry  Heim  of 
Antigo,  Polar  and  Norwood  townships  respectively  in 
accordance  with  section  6,  chapter  7,  laws  of  1882. 
Thus  Neva  came  into  existence  and  has  since  been  the 
pride  of  its  citizens  and  the  county  as  well. 

Neva  township,  when  organized,  contained  216 
square  miles  or  six  Congressional  townships.  We 
shall  now  learn  how  the  townships  were  detached  and 
how  Neva  township  was  cut  to  its  present  area. 

November  14,  1883,  an  unsuccessful  attempt  was 
made  by  C.  C.  De  Long,  S.  B.  Roberts  and  others  of 
Neva  township  to  have  townships  35,  36  and  37  (now  a 
part  of  Oneida  County)  detached  and  incorporated 
into  a  town  to  be  known  as  Pelican  township.  The 
petition  was  laid  over  by  the  Committee  on  Town  Or- 
ganization until  December  13,  1883,  when  an  ordinance 
was  passed  creating  Pelican  township.  Thus  the  three 
northern   townships   of   Neva   township   were    severed 


making  Neva  township  one-half  of  its  original  area 
of  January,  1883  or  108  square  miles,  (three  Congres- 
sional townships).  These  three  Congressional  town- 
ships are  yet  within  the  limits  of  Langlade  County, 
two  of  which  form  part  of  Elcho  and  Upham  townships 
respectively. 

In  February,  1887,  township  34,  range  11  east,  was 
detached  from  Neva  township  by  an  ordinance  drawn 
up  by  District  Attorney  John  E.  Martin  to  become  a 
part  of  Elcho  township.  This  action  cut  Neva  town- 
ship, once  a  vast  territory  stretching  north  thirty-six 
miles,  to  two  Congressional  townships,  32  and  33  of 
range  11  east.  Neva  township  remained  as  such  until 
township  33  was  detached  to  form  a  part  of  Upham 
township  in  1894  and  from  that  year  Neva  township  has 
consisted  of  one  township  No.  32,  North  of  Range  11 
East. 

FIRST  ANNUAL  TOWN  MEETING. 

The  first  annual  town  meeting  was  held  at  the  farm 
home  of  Joseph  Duchac  on  the  NE  ^4  of  the  SE  I4, 
Section  21,  Township  32.  The  first  Supervisors  elect- 
ed were  Joseph  Duchac,  Chairman,  A.  F.  Schoepke 
and  Joseph  Krause.  First  highway  overseers  appoint- 
ed were  Joseph  Cherf,  John  Fisher,  E.  R.  Whitmore 
and  B.  H.  Darling  on  April  21,  1883.  The  Neva  town- 
ship Board  of  Review  had  a  multitude  of  vicissitudes 
confronting  it. 

Seemingly  insurmountable  tasks  were  also  coped 
with  successfully,  however.  The  first  official  act  of 
the  town  board  was  to  raise  $2,090.00  for  school  pur- 
poses. This  unanimously  carried  measure  was  a  fitt- 
ing precedent  for  the  pioneer  settlers  to  establish  in 
promoting  educational  enlightenment  and  advance- 
ment.     The  measure  passed  April  3,  1883. 

EARLY     ROADS. 

Neva  township  was  originally  subdivided  into  four 
road  districts  and  much  of  the  principal  efforts  of  the 
first  town  board  was  in  action  on  road  petitions.  Set- 
tlers along  the  Eau  Claire  river  and  in  Pelican  village 
needed  an  outlet  for  their  products.  Post  Lake  settlers 
wanted  communication  with  Melnik  as  well  as  New. 
Thus  wagon  roads,  crude  and  in  instances  barely  tra- 
versible,  were  welcomed  and  encouraged. 

The  first  application  for  a  road  was  made  by  nine 
free  holders  petitioning  for  a  road  commencing  at  the 
stake  in  the  east  line  of  section  21,  township  32,  range 
11   east;   thence   east  about   3-4ths  of  a  mile,  thence 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


215 


southeast  to  the  south  section  line  of  section  22;  thence 
southeast  to  the  S  H  post  of  section  26.  This  road 
was  built  three  rods  wide.  Construction  was  authoriz- 
ed May  21,  1883. 

Other  early  roads  were  from  Deerbrook  to  Pelican 
and  Monico  Junction;  Crandon-Pelican  road  (all  then 
in  Langlade  County.  1^  McDougal's  town  line  road, 
Sipek's  road,  Westerhold's  road,  Pejsar's  road,  Koe- 
penick's  road,  Cherf's  road,  Schwartz  road,  Mosher 
road,  F.  John's  road,  S.  Strasser  road,  S.  H.  Wright 
road  and  Jos.  Petska  road,  Melnik-Kempster  road. 

BOARD  OF  HEALTH— 1883. 

The  first  Board  of  Health  consisted  of  Township 
Supervisors,  Joseph  Duchac,  A.  F.  Schoepke  and  W. 
W.  Wheeler. 

THE  FIRST  TOWN  ELECTION. 

Edward  Dawson  and  Thomas  Vohasky  were  the  first 
Inspectors  of  Election  in  Neva  township.  At  the  first 
township  election  37  votes  were  cast.  Those  who 
voted  on  that  historic  April  3,  1883,  were  E.  R.  White- 
more,  R.  N.  Olmsted,  Wesley  Dawson,  Anton  Honzik, 
Joseph  Krause,  Martin  Schaler,  Samuel  Preston,  H. 
Anderson,  Joseph  Cherf,  Thomas  Vohasky,  Edward 
Dawson,  Martin  Vochoska,  John  Fisher,  Joseph  Sipek, 
John  Schultz,  Jos.  Holup,  Wencel  Rine,  Sr.,  Wencel 
Rine,  Jr.,  Frank  Stasek,  Jos.  Mattek,  Wencel  Krinek, 
John  Novak,  Fred  Behm,  John  Shipek,  Philip  Nowotny, 
Anton  Va  Clovic,  John  Kasa,  W.  W.  Wheeler,  A.  F. 
Schoepke,  Chas.  Mosher,  P.  Hunchoska,  David  M. 
Randall,  Albert  Barta,  John  Barta,  Albert  Stowe,  Fred- 
erick Jacobus,  August  Ahearns — 37  in  all. 

April  1,  1884,  at  a  meeting  at  the  residence  of  Jos. 
Duchac  a  resolution  was  passed  to  establish  a  township 
hall  on  the  NW  V4  of  the  SW  \i  of  section  22,  town- 
ship 32.  Joseph  Duchac  furnished  and  cleared  the 
land  for  the  hall. 

CHAIRMEN  OF  NEVA  TOWNSHIP— 1883-1923. 

Joseph  Duchac— 1883-85;  John  Carlson— 1885-86 
Fred  Jacobus— 1886-91 ;  Jos.  Hunchovsky— 1891-94 
Fred  Jacobus— 1895-96;  Anton  Westerhold— 1896-97 
Jos.  Hunchovsky— 1897-1904;  Fred  Jacobus— 1904-06 
Joseph  Honzik— 1906-08 ;  Fred  Jacobus— 1908-12;  B. 
Lukas— 1912-14;  W.  J.  Mattek— 1914-23. 

NEVA  TOWNSHIP  CLERKS— 1883-1923. 

W.  W.  Wheeler— 1883;  E.  S.  Brooks— 1883-85;  Fred 
Jacobus— 1885-86;  Jos.  Hunchovsky— 1886-91 ;  John 
Fisher— 1891-93;  Anton  Westerhold— 1893-95;  W.  J. 
Mattek— 1895-10;  G.  E.  Rynders— 1910-14;  Henry  Ja- 
cobus—1914-17;  John  Schacher— 1917-21 ;  Joseph  F. 
Shimon— 1921-23. 

NEVA  TOWNSHIP  TREASURERS— 1883-1923. 

John  Schultz— 1883-84;  John  Carlson— 1884;  Fred 
Behm— 1885-88 ;  T.  M.  Hafner— 1888-92 ;  John  Schultz 
—1893-94;  J.  F.  Schultz— 1894-97 ;  John  Novak— 1898- 

1.  Pelican  village,  Oneida  County,  was  platted  and  duly  certified  and 
recorded  in   May,   1863,  while  in  Neva  township,    Langlade  County. 


99;  Albert  Holup— 1900-02;  S.  F.  Plzak— 1903-06; 
Joseph  Benishek— 1906-07;  John  F.  Schultz— 1907-09; 
Jos.  Klapste— 1909-22. 

NEVA  TOWNSHIP  SUPERVISORS— 1883-1923. 

A.  F.  Schoepke,  Joseph  Krause— 1883-84;  Joseph 
Krause,  Joseph  Cherf— 1884-85;  John  Sipek,  John  Kasa 
—1885-86;  John  Schultz,  John  Plzak— 1886-89;  John 
Novak,  Joseph  Honzik— 1890-1891 ;  John  No- 
vak, Wencel  Rine— 1891 ;  John  Novak,  An- 
ton Westerhold— 1891-1892;  Joseph  Plzak— 
1893-1897;  Math  Hurt— 1893-1894;  John  No- 
vak—1894-95;  Fred  Schwartz— 1895-98;  Joseph  Hon- 
zik, Anton  Schmutzer— 1898-99;  James  Nelson,  Albert 
Barta— 1900-01 ;  Chas.  Chadek,  James  Nelson— 1901- 
02;  J.  J.  Nowotny,  Frank  Plzak,  1903-04;  B.  Lukas,  Jos. 
Honzik— 1904-05;  B.  Lukas,  J.  F.  Schultz— 1905-06; 
B.  Lukas,  S.  F.  Plzak— 1906-07 ;  B.  Lukas,  Frank  Kost- 
ka— 1907-08;  Frank  Schacher,  Albert  Barta— 1908-09; 
Frank  Schacher,  John  F.  Schultz— 1909-10;  James 
Rine,  Frank  Schacher— 1911-12;  Frank  Lukas,  Laddie 
Schmutzer — 1912-13;  John  F.  Schultz,  Laddie  Schumt- 
zer— 1913-14;  Frank  Schacher,  J.  F.  Schultz— 1914- 
16;  J.  F.  Schultz,  John  Kasa— 1916-17;  Jos.  Riendl, 
Frank  Schacher— 1917-22;  Jos.  Reindl,  Paul  Masek- 
1922-23. 

NEVA  TOWNSHIP  ASSESSORS— 1883-1923. 

Edward  Dawson— 1883-84;  Thos.  Vochaska— 1884- 
85;  Edward  Dawson— 1885-86;  Chas.  Mosher— 1886- 
89;  Marks  Snyder— 1889-91 ;  John  Kasa— 1891-93;  Jos- 
eph Novotny— 1893-94;  John  Kasa— 1894-96;  Jos. 
Hunchovsky— 1896-98;  A.  J.  Nowotny— 1898-99;  Fred 
Schwartz— 1899-01 ;  John  Kasa— 1901-04;  Albert  Hol- 
up—1904-05;  Fred  Schwartz— 1905-07 ;  Frank  Schach- 
er—1907-08;  Albert  Holup— 1908-09;  John  Kasa— 
1909-11;  Mick  Lackerman— 1911-12;  John  Kasa— 
1912-13;  Wencel  Rine— 1913-14;  Fred  Schwartz— 
1914-19;  Steve  Stengl— 1919-20;  Fred  Schwartz— 
1920-22;  John  Kasa— 1922-23. 

NEVA  TOWNSHIP  JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE— 
1883-1923. 

Steve  Roberts— 1883-86;  Thos.  Vochaska— 1883-85 ; 
Q.  Brooks— 1883-84;  Albert  K.  Stow— 1885;  John  Si- 
pek—1884-85;  George  Newton— 1885;  J.  Fischer— 
1886-90;  E.  A.  Scott— 1887-88;  Chas.  Gverin- 1888- 
90;  Jos.  Hunchovsky— 1889-97;  H.  O.  Horalund  (failed 
to  qualify);  John  Schultz— 1889-91 ;  Fred  Behm— 
1891-93  (but  did  not  qualify);  Anton  Westerhold— 
1894-96;  W.  J.  Mattek— 1896-98 ;  Fred  Behm— 1897- 
99;  W.  J.  Mattek— 1898-03;  Jos.  Hunchovsky— 1898- 
1900;  J.  J.  Nowotny— 1901-04;  Louis  Cherf— 1902-04 
Jos.  Hunchovsky— 1902-04;  W.  J.  Mattek— 1903-11 
Fred  Jacobus  (appointed  but  did  not  qualify)  1907 
Frank  Ringsmith — 1904  (resigned)  ;  James  Gillis — 
1904-05;  Wm.  Phiester— 1904;  Jos.  Honzik— 1905-09; 
J.  F.  Schultz— 1907-09;  Jas.  White— 1909-10;  Noah 
Yoder— 1910-12;  Henry  Jacobus— 1914-16;  John 
Schacher— 1914-15;  Jos.  Kubichek— 1915-17;  A.  Bu- 
boltz— 1917-19;  Frank  Chadek— 1918-20;  John  Schach- 


216 


HISTORY  OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


er— 1919-23;  John  F.  Schultz— 1919-20;  Jos.  Kaplan- 
ek— 1920-22;  W.  J.  Kramer— 1921-22;  J.  Schacher,  L. 
Schmutzer— 1922-23. 

NEVA  TOWNSHIP  CONSTABLES— 1883-1923. 

Anton  Honzik,  Sam  Preston — 1883;  Sam  Preston — 
1884-85;  Joseph  Cherf,  Wencel  Rine— 1885;  John 
Whalen,  (appointed),  1886-88;  Jas.  Cherny— 1888-89; 
Matt  Hurt— 1889-91 ;  Jas.  Cherny— 1889-92 ;  Jas.  Nel- 
son—1891-92;  Frank  Cherf,  (appointed,  1893-94,  did 
not  qualify) ;  Wm.  Newton— 1894;  Jas.  Nelson— 1895; 
Jas.  Churney — 1896  (didn't  qualify);  Jos.  Novak, 
Louis  Cherf— 1895-96  (both  failed  to  qualify);  W. 
Eckstein,  Jas.  Nelson— 1897-98 ;  B.  Lukas,  S.  H. 
Wright— 1898-99;  M.  Lackerman,  Matt  Hurt— 1899- 
01;  Frank  Kostka,  Albert  Smetana— 1900-01 ;  Albert 
Smetana,  Frank  Plzak— 1901-02;  R.  Roggie,  A.  Lukas 
—1902-03;  Giles  Rynders,  Jas.  Nelson— 1903-04;  Jas. 
Nelson,  Jas.  Whyte— 1904-05;  Jas.  White— 1906-08; 
A.  J.  Thompson— 1905-06;  A.  Honzik— 1906-07;  J. 
Rine— 1907-08;  B.  Lukas,  Frank  Kostka— 1908-09; 
Adolph  Novak,  Emil  Plzak— 1909-10;  Chas.  Shimek, 
Chas.  Steinfest — 1910-11;  Len  Luege,  Frank  Chadek — 
1914-15;  Albert  Swoboda,  Frank  Blahnik— 1911-12; 
Albert  Swoboda,  J.  Koutnik— 1912-13;  E.  C.  Nichels. 
Ludwig  Kalish — 1913-14;  Emil  Plzak,  George  Stacek, 
1915-16;  Fred  Rusch,  Wm.  Gleich— 1916-17;  E.  C. 
Nickel,  Frank  Schacher — 1917-18;  Jos.  Schauer, 
Charles  Pinkner — 1918-1919;  (in  the  Langlade  Coun- 
ty official  directory  of  1918-19,  Laddie  Schmutzer, 
Bryant,  Wis.,  is  listed  as  a  constable  and  Jos.  Schauer 
is  not.  This  is  in  conflict  with  the  Neva  township 
records);  John  F.  Schultz,  Steve  Kirch— 1919-20; 
George  Stacek— 1921-22;  Stanley  Plzak— 1922-23. 

SCHOOL  DISTRICT  BOUNDARIES. 

Neva  township  schools  while  erected  soon  after  the 
arrival  of  the  pioneer  settlers  were  more  pretentious 
institutions  that  some  of  the  other  pioneer  schools  of 
Langlade  County.  The  hardships  confronting  the  set- 
tlers in  clearing  a  space  in  the  dense  forest  for  a  school 
were  nothing  compared  with  financial  demands  of 
public  schools  and  other  township  needs. 

The  township  was  divided  into  three  school  sub- 
districts  in  1883.  District  No.  1  commenced  at  the 
SW  I4  of  section  31,  township  32  and  ran  three  miles 
to  the  SE  corner  of  section  33;  thence  north  two  miles 
to  the  NE  corner  of  section  28;  thence  west  three  miles 
to  the  NW  corner  of  section  30 ;  thence  south  two  miles 
to  the  place  of  beginning.  Deerbrook,  Reeves,  and 
Neva  corners  were  a  part  of  this  first  district. 

School  District  No.  2  commenced  at  the  SW  corner 
of  section  34,  ran  east  on  the  town  line  to  the  SE 
corner  of  section  36;  thence  N  on  the  town  line  four 
miles  to  the  NE  corner  of  section  13;  thence  west  three 
miles  to  the  NW  corner  of  section  15;  thence  south 
one  mile  to  the  NW  corner  of  section  22;  thence  west 
one  mile  to  the  NW  corner  of  section  21 ;  thence  south 
one  mile  to  the  SW  corner  of  section  21 ;  thence  east 
one  mile  to  the  SE  corner  of  section  21 ;  thence  south 
two  miles  to  the  place  of  beginning.     This  district  con- 


tained all  of  sections  34,  35,  36.  27.  26,  25,  21,  22,  23, 
24,  15,  14  and  13.  Melnik,  now  known  as  "Star  Neva" 
was  in  District  No.  2. 

School  District  No.  3  commenced  at  the  NW  corner 
of  section  31,  township  33,  range  11  and  ran  east  three 
miles  to  the  NE  corner  of  section  33,  township  33, 
range  11  east;  thence  south  to  the  SE  corner  of  section 
9,  township  32,  range  11  east;  thence  west  three  miles 
to  the  SW  corner  of  section  7,  township  32,  range  11 
east;  thence  north  to  the  NW  corner  of  section  31, 
township  33. 

Since  1883  the  school  districts  have  been  changed 
frequently,  the  last  change  being  made  May  21,  1915. 
Neva  township  is  now  divided  into  five  districts  as  fol- 
lows:  District  No.  1,  District  No.  2,  Joint  District  No. 
3,  District  No.  4  and  District  No.  5. 

DISTRICT  NO  1  (JT.) 

KEMPSTER  DISTRICT  NO.  1,  consists  of  sections 

5  and  6  of  Neva  township  and  was  organized  in  1904. 
Its  chief  settlement  is  Kempster,  located  in  the  north- 
east corner  of  section  6,  and  on  the  border  line  between 
Neva  and  east  Upham  townships. 

Before  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  Lake  Shore  rail- 
road pushed  up  from  Aniwa,  Shawano  County,  many 
settlers  had  explored  and  established  themselves  in 
District  No.  1.  Anton  Honzik  and  Joseph  Krause  es- 
tablished themselves  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
Kempster  in  1877. 

Joseph  Hoffman  and  Julius  Schultz  erected  the  first 
saw  mill  at  Kempster  in  1899.  It  was  a  substantial  es- 
tablishment for  the  little  hamlet  and  the  means  of 
livelihood  for  many  settlers.  The  plant  came  into 
possession  of  F.  C.  Meyers  and  Frank  Borth,  who  mov- 
ed to  Kempster  in  1898.  The  new  owners  erected  a 
planing  mill  and  made  extensive  improvements  on  the 
saw  mill,  which  they  operated  until  1907,  when  the  en- 
tire institution  was  taken  over  by  the  Wisconsin  Bark 

6  Lumber  Company,  an  Antigo  firm,  now  extinct. 

In  1880,  Russell  &  Upham,  Shawano  County  land 
dealers,  who  controlled  much  land  in  Langlade  Coun- 
ty, erected  a  small  store  at  Kempster.  One  year  lat- 
er the  Milwaukee,  Lake  Shore  &  Western  railroad  put 
in  a  turn-table  and  an  engine  house,  both  of  which 
meant  much  to  the  growth  of  the  district.  A  hotel 
was  erected  to  provide  lodging  for  the  men  employed 
in  laying  rail  north.  Six  years  before  the  Milwaukee, 
Lake  Shore  &  Western  was  taken  over  by  the  C.  &  N. 
W.  Ry.,  Kempster's  railroad  facilities  were  torn  down. 
If  the  business  had  warranted  it  the  engine  house 
would  have  stayed.  Antigo  was  near,  however  and 
the  railroad  authorities  desired  centralization  of  all 
shops  and  elimination  of  engine  houses  not  needed. 

Theodore  Lenzner  and  Charles  Tuma  conducted  the 
first  hotel  on  the  west  side  of  the  main  track.  In  1908 
the  hotel  suffered  a  loss  by  fire.  The  building  is  now 
in  custody  of  Kempster  Grange  No.  650,  it  having  been 
moved  from  its  original  site.  In  1909  the  lumber 
yards  of  the  Wisconsin  Bark  &  Lumber  Company  were 
burned  and  the  boarding  house  suffered  a  loss.  The 
site  of  the  first  saw  mill  is  still  visible,  the  ruins  serving 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


217 


as  a  monument  to  almost  forgotten  days.  The  old 
track  bed  is  slowly  decaying.  Logs  were  rolled  from 
this  sidetrack  into  the  little  lake  that  lies  between  a 
group  of  rolling  hills. 

The  first  school  house  in  the  district  was  erected  in 
1902  with  an  enrollment  of  ten  pupils.  Miss  Josephine 
Donohue  was  the  first  instructor.  Frank  Ringsmith, 
Theodore  Lenzner  and  August  Klever  were  members 
of  the  school  board  then.  Improvements  have  been 
made  at  the  school,  which  is  situated  on  the  west  side 
of  Highway  No.  39,  north  of  Kempster  hotel,  in  1919. 

The  school  district  is  a  joint  unit  with  sections  in 
Peck  and  Upham  townships. 

Other  industries  that  have  flourished  are  a  cheese 
factory,  a  garage,  now  operating,  a  saloon  and  dance 
hall.  The  principal  store  is  that  of  L.  A.  Taylor,  who 
purchased  from  P.  S.  Anderson,  in  1920.  Mr.  Ander- 
son came  to  Kempster  in  1914  from  Amherst  Junction, 
Wisconsin.  The  store  was  previously  erected  by  Frank 
Borth,  who  opened  the  place  in  1903. 

Kempster  Grange  No.  650  was  organized  at  the 
school  house  on  November  4,  1917.  First  officers 
were:  Master — Mrs.  Emma  Foreman;  Overseer — 
Cleve  Nelson;  Steward — Emil  Carlson;  Assistant  Ste- 
ward— Frank  Long;  Chaplain — Frank  Vining;  Treas- 
urer— T.  R.  Fowler;  Secretary — Russell  Knight;  Gate- 
keeper— Oscar  Larson;  Lecturer — Ethel  Tucker;  Lady 
Assistant  Steward — Mrs.  Wm.  Pheister;  Ceres — Mrs. 
S.  Tucker;  Pomona — Mrs.  E.  G.  Carlson;  Flora — Mrs. 
Wm.  Foreman.  Present  officers  are  :  Master — Mrs. 
Anna  Hess;  Overseer — John  Byers;  Steward — Carl 
Foreman;  Assistant  Steward — Wm.  Foreman;  Chap- 
plain — Noah  Yoder;  Treasurer — George  Grossman; 
Secretary — Carl  Mishler;  Gatekeeper — Frank  Knight; 
Lecturer — Mrs.  A.  Kelly;  Lady  Assistant  Steward — 
Miss  Wyomonia  Lenzner.  Meetings  are  held  at  Kemp- 
ster hall.  Twenty-five  progressive  people  are  mem- 
bers. 

Postmasters  of  Kempster,  District  No.  1  (Jt.)  have 
been  E.  S.  Brooks,  Frank  Borth,  P.  S.  Anderson,  L.  A. 
Taylor,  (present  incumbent). 

The  village  received  its  name  from  Dr.  J.  Kempster, 
Milwaukee,  who  owned  tracts  of  land  in  the  vicinity. 

Prominent  setlers  now  are :  Theodore  Lenzner,  Frank 
Borth,  L.  A.  Taylor,  Frank  Grossman,  J.  Lavis,  R. 
Knight,  George  Magoon,  August  Klever,  Bert  Keen, 
Ernest  Anderson,  Caleb  Moss,  George  Moss,  Frank 
Vining,  Anton  Kartz,  Charles  Piper,  Mrs.  Jno.  Clauder- 
man,  John  Young,  John  Petarski,  Clarence  Mishler, 
John  Beyer,  John  Hilbert,  Edward  Barnett,  K.  Tucker, 
L.  A.  Taylor,  F.  Moss,  J.  Westneer,  Wm.  Burkatt. 

A  Congregational  church  was  organized  in  the  dis- 
trict in  1921. 

DISTRICT  NO.  2. 

GILLIS  DISTRICT  can  rightfully  be  considered  the 
heart  of  Neva  township,  historically  and  geographical- 
ly. The  history  of  Neva  township  is  constructed  from 
the  early  deeds  and  achievements  of  the  pioneers  of 
District  No.  2.  It  is  essentially  an  agricultural  and 
dairying  district. 


District  No.  2  consists  of  1/2  of  section  12,  I/2  of  sec- 
tion 11,  1/2  of  section  10,  14  of  section  16,  sections  15, 
14,  1/2  oi  section  13,  3-4  of  section  23,  sections  22,  21 
and  1/2  of  section  27. 

Joseph  Duchac,  first  settler,  contracted  for  land 
from  F.  A.  Deleglise,  representing  the  Favinger  Land 
Agency  of  Appleton,  Wis.,  in  1878.  Prior  to  then  this 
was  a  vast  wilderness.  Joseph  Duchac  erected  a  little 
home  for  his  family  on  section  21.  He  began  at  once 
to  encourage  other  settlers  to  come  to  the  district.  The 
district  while  originally  organized  in  1883  has  experi- 
enced many  changes  in  boundary,  the  last  of  which 
was  recorded  in  May,  1905.  In  the  wake  of  the  trail 
blazed  by  Mr.  Duchac  came  other  sturdy  pioneers: 
James  Rine,  Sr.,  James  Rine,  Jr.,  Robert  Rine,  Wencel 
Krinek,  Wencel  Vanatatko,  W.  J.  Karbon,  Sr.,  Dan  and 
James  Gillis,  Fred  Behm,  Wencel  Shipek,  Frank 
Kakes,  Jos.  Plzak,  Jas.  Fairchild,  John  Kramer,  Jos. 
Cherf,  Jas.  Cherf,  Frank  Mattek,  John  Kasa,  August 
Shaller,  Jos.  Stacek,  Anton  Stacek,  Jake  Koutnik, 
George  Chadek,  Wm.  and  Chris.  Behm,  Jas.  Eckstein, 
Jos.  Runstick,  Abe  Thompson,  the  Wendorf  family, 
Novotnys,  Nels  Johnson,  August  Weber,  Simon  Bren- 
ner and  Frank  Metcalf  were  early  settlers. 

The  settlers  came  principally  from  Manitowoc  and 
Kewaunee  Counties,  Wisconsin. 

The  first  community  was  Melnik,  where  Joseph  Du- 
chac erected  the  first  saw  mill  on  the  south  bank  of  the 
Eau  Claire  river  on  section  21.  This  afforded  the 
settlers  a  means  of  sawing  logs  and  using  the  lumber 
to  erect  houses,  barns  and  other  buildings. 

A  school  was  erected  the  first  year  of  organization, 
1883.  James  Rine,  Fred  Behm  and  Joseph  Duchac 
contributed  to  the  erection  of  the  building  in  several 
worthy  ways.  James  Rine,  Jas.  Gillis  and  Fred  Behm 
were  Clerk,  Treasurer  and  Director  respectively  of 
the  first  district  school  board.  Miss  Eva  Woodward 
was  the  first  teacher  in  the  district. 

Thirteen  pupils  attended  the  first  school  session. 
The  school  was  a  small  frame  building.  The  first 
teacher  received  $30.00  per  month  for  her  services. 
The  school  was  remodeled  and  additions  were  made  in 
1910.  In  January,  1920,  the  old  school  burned.  The 
villagers  made  frantic  efforts  to  save  some  of  the 
school  furniture  and  books.  School  was  commenced 
in  the  modern  brick  school  house  completed  at  a  cost 
of  $14,000  in  1920.  Members  of  the  school  board 
then  were:  Frank  Chadek,  Clerk;  James  Mattek,  Di- 
rector and  Jos.  Runstick,  Treasurer.  The  school  is  a 
credit  to  the  district,  being  one  of  the  best  in  Lang- 
lade County. 

Manufacture  of  lumber  and  agriculture  were  the 
principal  occupations  of  the  first  settlers.  Joseph  Du- 
chac operated  his  saw  mill  and  a  general  store  at  Meln- 
ik until  1885.  He  permitted  Hoxie  &  Mellor  to  cut 
logs  at  his  Melnik  mill,  and  then  the  plant  was  sold  to 
Dan  and  James  Gillis,  who  came  to  Neva  township 
from  Menominee,  Michigan.  The  Gillis  Brothers  op- 
erated the  mill  and  general  store  until  1890,  when 
James  Cherf,  associated  with  his  brother,  Louis  Cherf, 
purchased  it.       They  dismantled  the    mill    in     1900. 


218 


HISTORY  OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


The  old  boilers  still  rest  on  the  banks  of  the  Eau  Claire 
river  and  remnants  of  the  old  track  of  Fraker  &  Graves, 
loggers  and  lumber  operators,  is  still  visible.  This 
track  connected  the  Melnik  mill  with  Deerbrook.  Cars 
of  lumber  were  hauled  by  horses  to  the  main  track  of 
the  Milwaukee,  Lake  Shore  &  Western  railroad. 

The  old  general  store  opened  first  by  Joseph  Duchac 
was  taken  over  by  Joseph  Shimon  and  John  Shimon, 
who  operated  a  saloon  and  a  store.  Charles  Stein- 
fest  then  came  into  possession  of  the  store  and  he  was 
followed  by  Frank  Chadek,  who  converted  it  into  a 
garage,  in  1916.  In  1920  Arthur  Nonnemacher  and 
Dan  Hale  purchased  the  property  from  Frank  Chadek. 
They  now  use  the  building  for  garage  purposes. 

The  Henry  Jacobus  store  in  this  district  was  first 
used  as  a  store  by  Frank  Jachl,  who  came  to  District 
No.  2  from  the  south.  After  operating  a  year  he  sold 
to  James  Rine,  Jr.,  who  in  turn  sold  to  Albert  Bubholtz, 
who  then  after  a  short  while  sold  to  Henry  Jacobus. 
A  store  was  operated  by  James  Cherf,  where  the 
Northern  Cheese  Factory,  J.  W.  Mattek,  prop.,  is  now 
located.  Mr.  Mattek  bought  the  factory  site  from 
Frank  Mattek,  who  had  purchased  from  Mr.  Cherf. 
The  store  was  operated  about  two  years. 

In  1914  the  blacksmith  shop,  conducted  by  the  late 
Joseph  Chadek  was  burned.  He  was  the  first  black- 
smith in  the  district. 

The  saloon  in  the  district  was  erected  by  James 
White  and  is  now  run  by  Joseph  Diska.  The  North- 
ern Cheese  factory  is  the  only  one  in  the  district,  lo- 
cated on  section  21. 

The  town  hall  is  now  located  in  District  No.  2  on 
section  2. 

There  are  a  few  log  cabins  still  used  in  the  district. 
A  cemetery  is  located  on  section  22  in  the  district. 
This  is  the  property  of  the  Bohemian  Cemetery  Asso- 
ciation organized  December  8,  1892.  The  cemetery 
is  located  on  the  SE  -  4  of  the  NW  ^  4  of  section  22. 
First  officers  were  Wencel  Rine,  Valcav  Rine  and  Wen- 
eel  Krainik. 

The  early  settlers  can  recall  the  proposed  route  of 
the  Milwaukee,  Lake  Shore  &  Western  road  through 
the  district  in  1881. 

Many  of  the  pioner  settlers  came  to  this  district  in 
ox  carts  or  in  railroad  box  cars. 

CHIPPEWA   INDIAN   VILLAGE. 

Before  the  white  settlers  came  into  District  No.  2,  a 
tribe  of  Chippewa  Indians  were  settled  on  the  east 
side  of  Bass  Lake  on  section  10.  Another  band  were 
settled  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Eau  Claire  river  in  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  15.  They  lived  is  rude 
log  huts  and  cabins.  After  the  white  settlers  came  the 
Indians  traded  at  their  stores,  sold  blue  berries,  birch 
bark  baskets  and  evergreen  to  the  people.  They  also 
worked  in  the  saw  mill  at  Melnik.  On  the  Nels  John- 
son farm  in  District  No.  2,  many  old  implements  such 
as  knives,  bone  needles,  arrow  heads  and  crude  utensils 
have  been  found  by  Nels  Johnson,  owner  of  the  prop- 
erty. The  Indians  on  section  10  hunted  game  and  also 
fished  in  the  Eau  Claire   river,  which  connects  with 


Sucker  Creek.  These  tribes  were  very  aggressive. 
On  section  15,  Joseph  Duchac,  first  town  chairman,  re- 
calls an  old  fortress.  The  logs  of  which  it  was  construct- 
ed were  ten  feet  high.  An  earthworks  was  thrown 
against  the  logs  to  aid  in  defensive  operations  of  the 
Indians.  The  Indians  here  would  canoe  the  Eau 
Claire  river  or  follow  the  trails  on  its  banks  to  Scho- 
field,  Marathon  County  from  where  they  could  go  down 
the  Wisconsin  river.  This  is  the  same  route  used  by 
early  fur  traders  in  Langlade  County,  who  canoed  to 
St.  Louis,  Mo. 

A  post  office  was  once  established  at  Melnik. 

PRESENT  INDUSTRIES. 

Present  industries  are :  Northern  Cheese  factory, 
Neva  Garage,  Star  Soft  Drink  parlors  and  a  store  own- 
ed by  Henry  Jacobus. 

The  Eau  Claire  river  runs  through  sections  14,  15,  21 
and  22  in  this  district. 

DISTRICT  NO.  3. 

LITTLE  CHICAGO  DISTRICT,  Neva  township  was 
re-organized  May  21,  1915.  It  comprises  section  1,  2,  3, 
4,  7,  8,  9,  ^2  of  section  10,  ^  2  of  section  11,  1  2  of  sec- 
tion 12,  18,  17  and  I2  of  section  16.  It  is  familiarly 
known  as  Little  Chicago  District  because  of  the  many 
settlers  who  moved  to  it  from  Chicago. 

Joseph  Krause,  Anton  Honzik,  Martin  Schacher,  E. 
R.  Whitmore,  Joseph  Honzik,  R.  Olmsted,  Frank  Borth, 
James  Nelson,  were  among  the  very  early  settlers. 
Others  early  but  more  recent  than  the  first  were :  Frank 
Kletzka,  Paul  Masek,  James  Masek,  Jonas  Gleich, 
James  Nelson,  and  W.  Tesarek. 

The  Little  Chicago  district  was  first  created  in  1912. 
The  first  frame  school  was  moved  to  the  school  site, 
southeast  quarter  of  section  8  in  1886.  The  frame 
school  served  the  little  citizens,  eager  to  acquire  knowl- 
edge, for  many  years  until  1912.  A  new  school  house 
was  then  erected  of  brick  at  a  cost  of  $2,250.00.  A.  0. 
Sherwood  of  Antigo  was  the  contractor.  James  Nel- 
son, Frank  Schacher,  and  Emil  Honzik  were  then 
school  officers. 

The  district  is  a  little  stony  and  rolling,  but  produc- 
tivity is  very  good.  It  was  once  heavily  timbered 
with  pine. 

Teachers  since  1912  have  been:  Eva  Schultz,  Alice 
Doucette,  Rose  Stacek,  Ernestine  Kopeschka,  Alvina 
Dvorak,  lone  Preston,  Irene  McCormick,  Marie  Robin- 
son. 

The  C.  &  N.  W.  Ry.  serves  the  district  with  a  spur 
track  from  Kempster.  Loggers  use  the  track  for 
loading  purposes.  Loggers  in  the  district  are  Theo- 
dore Lenzner,  Frank  Schacher,  Fred  Honzik,  Frank 
Keller,  Frank  Kletzka,  and  James  Masek. 

Five  young  men  went  from  the  district  to  serve  this 
country  in  the  World  War. 

Kempster  and  Neva  are  the  nearest  trading  posts. 
It  is  a  new  community  that  has  fair  chances  for  de- 
velopment. 

There  are  150  people  residents  or  27  families  in  the 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


219 


community.      The  Little  Chicago  Grange  was  for  many- 
years  a  force  for  good  in  the  community. 

JOINT  DISTRICT  NO.  3. 

DEERBROOK  DISTRICT  consists  of  sections  19,  20, 
34  of  28,  29,  30,  31,  32,  33  and  Vz  of  34.  Most  of  the 
pioneer  settlers  of  this  district  emigrated  to  America 
from  Bohemia,  settled  at  Manitowoc  and  then  pur- 
chased land  in  Neva  township,  Langlade  County.  The 
first  settlers  in  this  district  were:  Wencel  Smetana, 
John  Novak  and  Charles  Mosher.  They  came  in 
1879.  It  took  the  first  two  pioneers  seven  days  to  come 
from  Manitowoc  to  Neva  township  with  a  pair  of  oxen. 
All  of  their  wordly  belongings  were  hauled  in  the  rough 
wagon  that  trudged  over  the  poor  roads.  In  the  night 
these  sturdy  settlers  camped  by  the  wayside  as  there 
were  no  hotels  or  taverns  as  convenient  as  today.  Oth- 
er early  settlers  were :  Albert  Chadek,  Fred  Schwartz, 
John  Barta,  Albert  Barta,  W.  J.  Mattek,  Joseph  Cherf, 
Jr.,  James  Mattek,  James  Cherne,  and  Fred  Jacobus. 

The  chief  settlements  in  the  district  are  Neva  Corn- 
ers and  Deerbrook.  Neva  Corners  is  at  the  meeting 
point  of  five  well  travelled  highways.  The  first  gener- 
al store  was  erected  at  Neva  Corners  by  W.  J.  Mattek. 
He  still  operates  the  store.  There  is  also  a  state  bank 
at  Neva  corners  (for  more  data  refer  to  Banks  and 
Finance).  Germanson  Brothers  and  the  farmers  as  a 
cooperative  body  conduct  cheese  factories  in  the  dis- 
trict. The  Germanson  Brothers  are  also  in  the  cream- 
ery business.  There  is  a  saloon  at  Neva  Corners  also. 
The  first  saloon  was  erected  by  James  Cherf,  Jr.  Jos. 
Benishek  conducted  the  first  cheese  factory  in  the 
township  on  the  NE  %  of  the  NE  I4  of  section  32.  W. 
J.  Mattek,  Wencel  Smetana  and  Andrew  Kaplanek  ope- 
rate soft  drink  parlors. 

Albert  Smetana  and  Giles  Rynders  operated  meat 
markets  in  the  district,  but  Henry  Jacobus  is  the  only 
proprietor  of  a  meat  market  at  present.  W.  J.  Mat- 
tek and  Wencel  Smetana  are  proprietors  of  two  large 
dance  halls. 

Ed.  Masek  and  Adolph  Novak  are  the  two  black- 
smiths in  the  district.  In  1896  a  German  Lutheran 
church  was  erected  on  section  28.  The  late  Rev.  A. 
Grimm  of  Antigo  was  first  Pastor. 

Deerbrook,  situated  on  the  main  line  of  the  Chicago 
&  North  Western  railway,  was  named  by  Edward  Daw- 
son, timber  cruiser  and  prospector,  who,  while  camping 
near  the  Eau  Claire  river  watched  the  deer  "drink  his 
fill"  each  morning  just  as  the  sun  peeped  over  the  hills 
proclaiming  a  new  day.  Thus  he  called  it  "Deer- 
brook," by  which  it  has  since  been  known. 

In  1898  a  number  of  farmers  of  Neva  township  or- 
ganized a  cooperative  corporation  and  erected  a  grist 
mill  and  saw  mill  at  Deerbrook.  They  operated  un- 
til 1910  when  they  went  into  bankruptcy.  The  entire 
plant  and  property  was  then  purchased  by  Hirt  Broth- 
ers, present  owners. 

Present  industries  are:  Hirt's  saw  and  grist  mill, 
Fred  Weigert,  store,  post  office,  Henry  Jacobus  store, 
Deerbrook  Hotel,  Service  Garage,  all  at  Deerbrook. 

The  first  school  was  erected  in  1883  on  the  John 
Novak  farm,  and  after  many  years  of  service  burned 
down.      The  next  school  was  built  at  what  is  now  the 


Deerbrook  sand  pit  in  the  old  platted  village  of  Reeves. 
The  school  burned  and  the  school  children  attended 
school  at  Neva  Corners  school  in  the  same  district 
(there  were  then  two  schools  in  the  district).  In  1904 
the  present  commodious  school  was  erected  on  section 
29.  It  is  a  first  class  state  graded  school  of  brick 
construction,  two  stories,  and  one  of  the  finest  in  the 
county.  The  old  school  at  Neva  Corners  is  still  stand- 
ing. The  progress  of  the  district  can  be  noted  by 
comparing  it  with  the  present  school. 

Thomas  Chadek  for  years  prior  to  1885  conducted 
a  general  store  and  blacksmith  shop  on  section  29  in 
this  district.  The  town  board  met  for  many  sessions 
in  "Chadek's  Hall." 

This  district  has  a  Catholic  church  and  a  German 
Lutheran  church.  Rev.  A.  Grimm,  deceased,  was  the 
first  Pastor  of  the  Lutheran  church.  The  Catholic 
church  was  organized  by  the  then  Pastor  of  St.  Mary's 
church  of  Antigo.  A  Catholic  and  Lutheran  cemetery 
are  located  in  the  district. 

In  1886,  J.  Harlow  and  H.  B.  Luce  of  Wausau  erect- 
ed a  saw  mill  in  the  district  on  section  30.  It  ope- 
rated successfully  for  a  number  of  years  and  was  sold 
to  Frank  Dexter,  who  in  1898  sold  to  John  Randall, 
Louis  Novotny  and  Anton  Jichi.  The  mill  burned 
down  in  1900.      It  was  never  rebuilt. 

DISTRICT  NO.  5. 

SPRINGBROOK  DISTRICT  is  not  as  old  as 
other  districts  discussed,  yet  it  is  equally  as 
progressive.  It  was  organized  in  1904  after 
discussion,  pro  and  con,  was  heard  at  the  home  of 
Frank  Kakes,  section  25.  Portions  of  Districts  No.  1, 
2  and  3  were  detached  to  make  District  No.  5.  Thus 
the  district  includes  sections  36,  35,  %  of  section  34, 
I2  of  section  27,  26,  25,  24,  H  of  13,  i^  of  section  23. 
The  area  of  the  district  is  6  3-4  square  miles. 

In  the  spring  of  1905  after  due  notice  was  presented 
to  the  electorate  land  was  purchased  from  J.  Klapste 
and  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  a  modern  school  house 
was  erected  on  the  SE  14  of  the  SE  I/4  of  section  26. 
Accordingly  the  school  district  was  named  Springbrook 
because  of  that  stream  meandering  through  sections  25, 
35  and  36,  near  the  school  house  and  in  the  district. 
The  first  school  officers  were:  B.  Lukas,  Director;  W. 
J.  Kramer,  Clerk  and  J.  Wenzel,  Treasurer.  Present 
school  officers  are:  Mrs.  J.  Wenzel,  Clerk;  Frank 
Plzak,  Jr.,  Clerk  and  Jos.  F.  Klapste,  Treasurer. 

Teachers  thus  far  have  been :  Frances  Schooly,  Pearl 
Davis,  Jessie  Trusdell,  Irene  Day,  Lottie  Brazzard, 
Mae  Van  Vleet,  Erna  Below,  Jennie  Lade,  Harriet  Con- 
gleton.  Miss  Melbrecht,  Rose  Friebel  and  Alvina 
Dvorak. 

The  cheese  factory  is  operated  by  Mr.  Plzak,  sec- 
tion 25. 

Early  settlers  are:  Frank  Plzak,  John  Cherf,  Frank 
Kakes,  Jas.  Pavlicek,  George  Gallenberg,  Jos.  Klapste, 
Harry  Klapste,  J.  Klapste,  Robert  Rine,  Jas.  Pac- 
er, J.  A.  Wenzel,  E.  Nickels,  John  Behm.  Many  set- 
tlers are  interested  in  the  Neva  Mutual  Fire  Insurance 
Co. 

The  district  has  splendid  roads  and  modern  farms, 
is  well  equipped  and  progressive. 


220 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XLIII. 
Norwood  Township  No.  30  N.,  R.  12  E. 

Lakes  and  Streams — Government  Survey — Organization  of  Norwood — Township  Officials  1881-1923 
— Pioneer  Settlers — Early  Industries — Riverside — Phlox — Maple  Grove — Apple  Grove — Sugar 
Bush — Mayking — Twintownship   and    Mayking  Granges. 


Norwood  township  is  located  in  the  extreme  south 
central  part  of  Langlade  County  and  embraces  the  en- 
tire congressional  township  30  north,  Range  12  East, 
hence  is  six  miles  square  and  contains  36  full  sections. 
It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Antigo  and  Polar  town- 
ships, on  the  east  and  south  by  Shawano  County  (Me- 
nominee Indian  Reservation)  and  on  the  west  by  Roll- 
ing township.  The  United  States  government  survey 
was  inaugurated  in  Norwood  by  James  Winthrow,  No- 
vember 22,  1854,  and  was  completed  December  12, 
1854.  The  township  was  originally  covered  with  a 
dense  growth  of  white  and  Norway  pine,  maple,  red 
birch,  elm  and  basswood.  The  general  surface  of  the 
township  is  somewhat  rolling  with  small  level  areas. 
The  Red  river,  which  received  its  name  from  its  red 
bottom  clay,  arises  in  the  northwest  corner  and  flows 
southeast  through  the  township,  emptying  into  Moose 
Lake  in  section  16  and  flowing  through  sections  14,  15, 
22,  23,  25,  26  and  36.  A  small  rivulet  flows  from 
Demlow's  lake  through  sections  2,  3,  11  and  14  empty- 
ing into  Red  river.  Trout  Creek  flows  through  sec- 
tions 1,  2,  12  and  13.  Mud  Brook  runs  through  the 
southwestern  part  in  the  Maple  Grove  district. 

With  the  exception  of  the  northwest  part  in  a  strip 
running  through  sections  6,  7,  17,  18,  19,  30  and  a  small 
area  at  the  southeast  end  of  Moose  Lake,  Norwood  soil 
is  one  vast  area  of  Gloucester  silt  loam,  rolling  phase. 
In  the  region  mentioned  as  the  northwest  part  Glou- 
cester sandy  loam  is  found.  Peat  is  found  in  small 
isolated  areas  in  but  few  places. 

ORGANIZATION    OF   NORWOOD. 

Norwood  township  was  once  a  part  of  Hutchinson 
township,  Shawano  County,  and  also  of  the  old  town  of 
Mill,  Shawano  township.  It  was  not  a  part  of  the  orig- 
inal New  County,  detached  from  Oconto  County  in 
1879.  By  the  act  of  the  state  legislature,  creating 
Langlade  County,  February  19,  1881,  Norwood  town- 
ship was  attached  to  Langlade  County. 

OFFICERS  OF  NORWOOD  TOWNSHIP— 
1881-1923. 

CHAIRMEN. 

John  Jansen— 1881-83;  Henry  Heim— 1883-84;  Wal- 
ter Guile— 1884-85;  Henry  Heim— 1885-86;  Anton 
Sensenbrenner— 1886-87;  John  Jansen — 1887-88;  Hen- 
ry Heim — April  to  June,  1888  (resigned) ;  James  Ken- 
nedy—June, 1888-89;  Curtis  Armstrong— 1889-90; 
Fred  Nonnemacher — 1890-91 ;  Curtis  Armstrong — 
1891-94;   John  Jansen— 1894-97;   Charles   W.   Moss— 


1897-99;  Curtis  Armtsrong— 1899-1900 ;  E.  W.  Knapp 
—1900-02;  Chris.  Wunderlich— 1902-05;  John  Kauf- 
man—1905-09;  Henry  Hersant— 1909-14;  Henry  Boett- 
cher— 1914-15;  Henry  Hersant— 1915-17;  Ernest  A. 
Moss— 1917-21;  Steven  Palmer— 1921-23. 

SUPERVISORS. 

A.  Sensenbrenner,  Henry  Heim— 1881-83;  A.  W. 
Collins,  Fred  Goodwill— 1883-84;  August  Boettcher, 
Albert  Menting — 1884-85;  Pascal  Langlois,  George  W. 
Bemis — 1885-86;  Pascal  Langlois,  John  McCandless — 
1886-87;  W.  Eggink,  C.  Funck— 1887-88 ;  Pascal  Lang- 
lois, Curtis  Armstrong— 1888-89;  August  Boettcher, 
Pascal  Langlois — 1889-90;  Fred  Nonnemacher,  Pascal 
Langlois — 1890-91 ;  Fred  Nonnemacher,  M.  Neubau- 
er — 1891-94;  Michael  Neubauer,  Louis  Robinson — 
1894-97;  Victor  De  Broux,  John  Zehner— 1897-99; 
Charles  W.  Moss,  W.  W.  Jones— 1899-1900;  Rasmus 
Johnson,  H.  0.  Beard— 1900-01 ;  Louis  King,  S.  Schu- 
feldt— 1901-02;  Michael  Neubauer,  Fred  Teal— 1902- 
04;  J.  St.  Mitchell,  Michael  Neubauer— 1904-05;  Peter 
Hilger,  Louis  King — 1905-06;  John  Mitchell,  Michael 
Neubauer — 1906-07;  Michael  Neubauer,  Louis  King — 
1907-08;  Michael  Neubauer,  Ernest  A.  Moss— 1908-09; 
F.  Nonnenmacher,  Fred  Goodwill — 1909-12;  William 
Shank,  Fred  Goodwill— 1912-15;  Albert  Koeppel,  E.  A. 
Moss — 1915-17;  John  Neubauer,  Albert  Koeppel — 
1917-18;  Wm.  Shank,  Fred  Goodwill— 1918-20;  Henry 
Hameister,  Wm.  Shank— 1920-22;  Nels  Jansen,  Henry 
Hameister— 1922-23. 


CLERKS. 

George    W.    Bemis— 1881-82; 
1882-96;  Peter  Guertz— 1896-02; 
03;  Isador  Jansen— 1903-04;  M. 
William  G.  Guertz— 1919-23. 


Charles  W.  Moss — 
M.  A.  Jansen— 1902- 
A.  Jansen— 1904-19; 


TREASURERS. 

William  Haferbecker— 1881-85;  L.  Bissonnette— 
1885-88;  Arnold  P.  Menting— 1888-94;  Theo.  Berend- 
sen— 1894-98;  George  Jansen— 1898-13;  Joseph  Marx 
—1913-19;  George  Jansen— 1919-23. 

ASSESSORS. 

Charles  Clifford— 1881-83;  E.  D.  Stewart— 1883-84 
Charles    Clifford— 1884-85;    E.    D.    Stewart— 1885-86 
Charles  Clifford— 1886-87;  S.    D.     Chappel— 1887-88 
Wm.  Haferbecker— 1888-89;  John  McCandless— 1889- 
92;  John   Pennings— 1892-93;  A.   D.   Matteson— 1893- 
94;  Pascal  Langlois— 1894-97;  R.  S.  Decker— 1897-98; 
Frank  Olmsted— 1898-99;  J.   McLean— 1899-01 ;   John 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE  COUNTY. 


221 


McCandless— 1901-02 ;  John  McClean— 1902-06;  Au- 
gust Boettcher— 1906-07;  John  McClean— 1907-10 
John  Matteson— 1910-11;  John  McClean— 1911-12 
John  Matteson— 1912-13;  John  McClean— 1913-14 
Paul  Thompson— 1914-15;  A.  P.  Menting— 1915-21 
John  McClean— 1921-22;  A.  P.  Menting— 1922-23. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 

L.  Bissonnette,  Henry  Mitchell,  S.  Sedjwick — 1881- 
82;  S.  Sedjwick,  L.  Bissonnette— 1882-84;  Mr. 
Thompson,  E.  Stickney — 1882-83;  George  W.  Bemis, 
H.  Beard— 1883-84;  S.  T.  Sedjwick,  L.  Bissonnette,  G. 
W.  Bemis,  H.  Beard— 1884-85;  E.  0.  Matteson,  G.  W. 
Bemis— 1885-87;  H.  O.  Beard,  E.  D.  Matteson— 1887- 
88;  James  Ryan— 1888-89;  S.  T.  Sedjwick,  A.  L. 
Weeks— 1888-90;  E.  D.  Matteson,  H.  McCandless— 
1889-90;  A.  Maes,  M.  Lower— 1890-91 ;  G.  W.  Bemis— 
1892-93;  Henry  Thompson,  A.  M.  Robinson— 1893-94; 
Chris  Wunderlich,  Wm.  Freeland— 1894-95;  J.  W. 
Merrill,  Chris.  Wunderlich— 1895-96;  Chris.  Wunder- 
lich. Judd  Wait,  George  Garrett— 1896-97;  Ed.  Knapp, 
0.  Beard— 1897-98;  Fred  Shanke,  P.  Marx,  E.  D.  Mat- 
teson, Henry  McCandless — 1898-99;  Pascal  Langlois, 
E.  W.  Knapp,  Elmer  Thompson— 1899-1900;  Fred 
Zwickey,  Henry  Thompson — 1900-01 ;  John  Kaufman, 
George  Garrett — 1901-02;  Martin  Bongers,  Louis  Rob- 
inson 1902-03;  M.  A.  Jansen,  Jos.  Minch— 1903-04;  Jos. 
Minch,  H.  G.  Thompson,  Moses  Langlois — 1904-05; 
M.  Langlois,  J.  Matteson— 1905-06;  W.  B.  Dresser, 
Mose  Langlois— 1906-08;  A.  G.  Pietz— 1907-08;  W.  B. 
Dresser,  Pascal  Langlois — 1906-07;  Frank  Glouder- 
man,  Frank  Thompson — 1909-10;  Wm.  B.  Dresser, 
Frank  Glouderman — 1910-11;  Bernard  Berendsen,  Jos- 
eph Schmidt— 1911-12;  J.  S.  Heinzen,  F.  Buckbee— 
1912-13;  Peter  J.  Marx,  J.  S.  Heinzen— 1913-14;  Jos- 
eph Meunch,  J.  S.  Heinzen — 1914-15;  Joseph  Meunch 
—1915-16;  John  Kwick,  J.  Heinzen— 1916-17;  Norman 
Koch,  Martin  Doine— 1917-18;  Earl  Hill,  Fred  Moenke 
—1918-19;  Charles  Elscholtz,  Albert  Tatro— 1919-20; 
W.  B.  Dresser,  F.  Moenke,  Jr.— 1920-21;  Earl  Hill, 
Wm.  Wegner— 1921-22;  E.  Hill,  Charles  Hippe,  W.  B. 
Dresser— 1922-23. 

CONSTABLES. 

Michael  Neubauer,  William  McClean,  A.  P.  Ment- 
ing—1881-82;  G.  W.  Garrett,  John  McCandless,  Wm. 
Eggink — 1882-83;  George  Garrett,  M.  Neubauer,  L. 
Robinson — 1883-84;  M.  Neubauer,  A.  Brouilliard,  Peter 
Muhm— 1884-85;  J.  McCandless,  G.  W.  Garrett,  Irwin 
Hartel— 1885-86;  C.  McClean,  P.  Bissonnette,  David 
Morehouse — 1887-88;  J.  Weaver,  David  Morehouse,  P. 
Bissonnette — 1888-89;  Elmer  Thompson,  P.  Bisson- 
nette, Thomas  McNutt— 1889-90;  David  Morehouse,  A. 
Waldfoger,  D.  Robinson— 1890-91 ;  E.  Thompson,  P. 
Bissonnette,  Fred  Shanke — 1891-92;  David  Morehouse, 
Ed.  Jarvis,  M.  Lauer— 1892-93;  G.  W.  Garrett,  Henry 
Hersant,  George  Young — 1893-94;  John  Fehner,  M. 
Lauer,  J.  W.  Merrill— 1894-95;  Andrew  Godansky, 
Wm.  Moe,  George  Jesse,  Sr.— 1896-97;  Fred  Teal,  John 
Hersant — 1897-98;  John  Hersant,  Elmer  Thompson, 
Charles  Filiatreau— 1898-99;  John  Hersant,  Fred  Teal, 


J.  Narlow,  Albert  Waterman— 1899-1900;  John  Her- 
sant, George  Eggink — 1901-02;  John  Hersant,  Henry 
sant,  George  Eggin — 1901-02;  John  Hersant,  Henry 
Boettcher — 1902-03;  John  Neubauer,  Henry  Egin — • 
1903-04;  Henry  Eggink,  John  Mitchell— 1904-05;  H. 
Hall,  W.  Robinson— 1905-06;  G.  W.  Eggink,  Ernest  A. 
Moss — 1906-07;  G.  Eggink,  Chas.  Bostwick,  John 
Armstrong— 1907-08;  E.  Howard,  F.  Buckbee,  H. 
Herman  Labbus — 1912-13;  Joseph  Rabideau,  G.  Eg- 
gink—1913-14;  J.  Rabideau,  A.  Gillman— 1914-15;  J. 
Rabideau,  John  Reindl — 1915-16;  Nels  Johnson,  Jos- 
eph Schmidt— 1916-17;  Earl  Hill,  Nels  Jansen— 1917- 
11;  G.  Eggink,  H.  Narlow— 1911-12;  Joseph  Rabideau, 
1908-1909;  Henry  Struck,  George  Eggink— 1909- 
18;  Nels  Jansen,  Joseph  Schmidt— 1918-19;  A.  Water- 
man, Nels  Jansen — 1919-20;  Nels  Jansen,  Geo. 
Schlientz,  A.  Welsh— 1920-21 ;  J.  Smith,  Jr.,  Louis  Ano 
— 1921-22;  A.  Waterman,  John  Matteson,  George 
Johnston— 1922-23. 

DISTRICT  NO.  1. 

RIVERSIDE  DISTRICT.  In  1878  Henry  Mitchell, 
a  resident  of  Menasha  came  to  the  town  of  Mill,  Shaw- 
ano County,  and  erected  a  saw  mill  on  section  22  near 
what  is  now  Moose  Lake,  Norwood  township.  Ross 
Young,  also  of  Menasha  was  his  associate.  Mr.  Young 
erected  a  cabin  home  for  himself  on  section  15.  Thus 
these  two  men,  who  came  primarily  because  of  the 
lumber  industry,  were  the  earliest  settlers  in  Riverside. 
The  Mitchell  mill,  as  it  was  called,  was  erected  on 
section  22  near  the  mouth  of  Moose  Lake.  Nearly  a 
year  elapsed  before  the  arrival  of  the  next  two  settlers, 
Peter  Hilger  and  Michael  Neubauer,  who,  in  1878, 
cam  from  Appleton.  Charles  W.  Moss  moved  his 
family  from  Neenah  to  section  16  in  the  year  1879. 
They  started  a  store  which  operated  from  1879  to  1881. 
Other  very  early  settlers  were :  I.  Narlow,  P.  Muhm,  of 
Menasha,  Austin  Robinson,  Appleton,  and  Henry  Wa- 
terman, of  Oshkosh,  homesteaders. 

These  settlers  came  before  the  Milwaukee,  Lake 
Shore  Sf  Western  railroad  stretched  north  from  Clinton- 
ville,  fifty  one  miles  distant.  All  provisions  were  se- 
cured from  that  place. 

Riverside  district  was  then  known  as  District  No.  2, 
Hutchinson  township,  Shawano  County. 

The  first  school  meeting  was  held  September  8,  1879 
in  Hutchinson  township.  In  1880  this  district  was 
changed  to  Milltown  district  No.  2.  In  1881,  when 
Norwood  was  attached  to  Langlade  County  it  became 
District  No.  1  of  Norwood.  April  13,  1881,  the  set- 
tlers planned  a  log  raising  "bee"  for  the  erection  of  the 
school  house.  Previously  school  was  held  at  the 
home  of  Charles  W.  Moss,  while  the  school  (log)  was 
built  on  the  line  between  sections  11  and  14.  In  1884 
a  new  frame  school  was  built  and  is  still  used.  It  is 
located  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  14. 

The  area  of  this  district  is,  3,840  acres,  containing 
all  of  sections  13,  14,  15,  22,  23,  24. 

The  town  hall  of  Norwood  is  located  on  section  22, 
this  district. 


222 


HISTORY  OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


DISTRICT  NO.  2. 

RED  RIVER  DISTRICT.  In  May,  1877.  Joseph  St. 
Louis,  Moses  St.  Louis,  Louis  Bergeon  and  Joseph 
Bergeon,  residents  of  Little  Chute,  Outagamie  County, 
cut  a  trail  through  the  wilderness  from  Leopolis,  Town- 
ship 27,  Range  14  East,  to  Township  30,  Range  12  East. 
These  four  prospectors  staked  homesteads  in  the  coun- 
try infested  by  nothing  but  animals — the  deer,  wolf, 
bear  and  lynx.  Only  an  occasional  Indian  trail  gave 
ariy  evidence  of  man.  Returning  to  Little  Chute  these 
adventurers  told  of  the  country  "in  the  north  woods" 
and  in  August,  1877,  Albert  Menting,  Joseph  St.  Louis, 
John  Menting  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frank  St.  Louis  (Mrs. 
St.  Louis  was  the  first  white  woman  in  Norwood)  mov- 
ed in  with  teams.  It  was  a  tiresome  journey  over  a 
poor  tote  road  and  often  the  wheels  of  the  heavy  over- 
land schooners  were  mired  in  mud.  The  first  night 
was  spent  under  the  hemlock  boughs,  corner  of  sections 
23,  24,  25  and  26.  Arriving  at  section  26,  all  the 
newcomers  began  building  the  first  log  cabin  in  Nor- 
wood township  on  section  26 — the  old  Frank  St.  Louis 
homestead.  All  these  pioneers  lived  in  the  St.  Louis 
log  dwelling  until  they  could  "roll  up"  cabins  on  their 
own  homestead  claims.  Joseph  Bergeon  settled  on 
section  23;  Albert  Menting  homesteaded  on  section  24; 
Joseph  St.  Louis  homesteaded  on  section  26;  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Frank  St.  Louis  homesteaded  on  section  26;  Moses 
St.  Louis  homesteaded  on  section  28.  Before  the  ar- 
rival of  these  settlers  the  August  Boelke  homestead 
near  Leopolis  was  the  farthest  northern  cabin  between 
Antigo  and  Township  28,  Range  12  East.  Other  set- 
tlers followed  and  before  long  Pascal  Langlois,  came 
from  Bay  settlement,  homesteading  on  section  27; 
Louis  Morrison  homesteaded  on  section  26.  They 
came  in  1878.  Others  who  arrived  the  same  year 
were:  John  Cardin  from  Bay  Settlement;  John  Jan- 
sen  from  Buchanan,  Wis.;  J.  B.  Lawrence  from  Little 
Chute  and  Desert  De  Broux  from  Little  Chute.  Oliver 
Shadick  settled  on  section  35  and  Warren  Jones  on  sec- 
tion 34  in  the  fall  of  1878.  They  both  came  from 
Menasha.  In  the  spring  of  1879  Silas  Began  took  up 
a  claim  on  section  36. 

John  Jansen  opened  the  first  store,  log  cabin,  which 
still  stands,  on  section  26  in  1879.  Shortly  after  the 
first  post  office  was  opened  with  Mr.  Jansen  in  charge. 
Before  then  mail  was  sent  in  from  Leopolis  two  to  three 
times  a  week.  The  post  office  was  named  Phlox,  after 
a  wild  genus  of  herbs  growing  in  the  forests  nearby. 

In  1879,  the  Rev.  Father  Masschelein  of  Keshena, 
Shawano  County,  was  called  to  visit  a  sick  person  and 
while  there  celebrated  mass  in  the  little  log  cabin  of 
Henry  St.  Louis.  The  distance  to  Phlox  from  Ke- 
shena then  was  thirty  miles  over  rough  rocky  Indian 
trails.  Rev.  Father  Masschelein  came  to  the  settle- 
ment on  horseback.  In  May,  1879,  Rev.  Father  Philip 
St.  Louis  walked  from  Clintonville  to  Phlox  to  admin- 
ister to  the  spiritual  wants  of  the  people.  In  1880,  five 
acres  of  land  were  donated  for  church  purposes  and  in 
1881  a  log  church  was  erected,  34x50  feet.  At  the 
same  time  an  Altar  Society  was  organized  with  a  mem- 
bership of  25.       In   1882,  Rev.  Father  Ph.  St.  Louis 


became  the  resident  pastor  of  Phlox.  In  1883  a  paro- 
chial school  was  erected,  occupying  an  area  of  26x27 
feet.  In  1884  the  church  parsonage  was  constructed. 
In  1888  a  new  church  in  honor  of  St.  Joseph  was  erect- 
ed by  Father  Ph.  St.  Louis.  Father  St.  Louis  closed 
his  missionary  labors  at  Phlox,  September  12,  1893, 
moving  to  Aniwa.  Pastors  since  in  order  were :  Rev. 
Wm.  De  Haan,  Rev.  F.  Vollbrecht,  Rev.  F.  Ruessman, 
Rev.  George  Pesch,  Rev.  Wm.  De  Haan  and  Rev.  I.  G. 
Schmitt,  who  is  now  in  charge  of  the  Phlox  church.  The 
present  Phlox  parochial  school  was  built  in  1907.  The 
parish  was  re-built  in  1898,  during  Father  Vollebrecht's 
pastorate. 

The  first  public  school  was  erected  on  section  26 
in  1880  and  was  first  taught  by  Olive  St.  Louis.  Those 
who  attended  were:  Thomas  Mitchell,  George  Young, 
Henry,  Herman,  and  Mary  Menting,  Leo  and  Maggie 
Langlois,  Delia  St.  Louis,  Clophil  St.  Louis,  Isadore 
Jansen,  Thomas,  Josephine  and  Philomene  Lawrence, 
Michael  and  John  De  Broux,  Kate  Mitchell  and  Jos. 
and  John  Neubauer. 

The  1922-23  public  school  teacher  at  Phlox  was 
Mrs.  A.  J.  Reinert.  George  Guertz,  Andrew  Regan  and 
Nels  Jansen,  are  Clerk,  Director  and  Treasurer,  re- 
spectively. 

Postmasters  at  Phlox  have  been :  John  Jansen 
(first),  Arnold  P.  Menting,  Mrs.  John  Jansen,  Ed. 
Knapp,  Guy  Mclntee,  Margaret  Kaufman  and  George 
Guertz,  present  postmaster. 

The  first  mill  erected  in  the  district  was  built  by 
Thomas  St.  Louis  on  section  26  in  1880.  It  burned 
down  shortly  afterwards.  Frank  and  Joseph  St.  Louis 
re-built  the  mill,  sold  to  the  Mattoon  Mfg.  Co.,  of  She- 
boygan, who  in  1889  sold  to  John  and  David  Matteson, 
who  came  from  Wittenberg.  A  tramway  was  con- 
structed from  the  mill  to  Elmhurst  for  hauling  the  pro- 
duct of  the  mill  to  the  main  track.  The  tramway  was 
used  but  little,  however.  In  1897  Matteson  &  Co.  sold 
to  John  Kaufman  who  in  1914  sold  the  plant  to  the 
Red  River  Mfg.  Co.  The  Red  River  Mfg.  Company 
is  superintended  by  M.  J.  EUstad.  Charles  Elscholz 
is  the  resident  manager.  It  is  now  a  modern  plant,  on 
the  banks  of  the  Red  river. 

Thomas  Wilson  operated  a  butter  bowl  factory  from 
1889  to  1892.  John  Menting  was  a  partner  to  Wilson 
for  some  time.  In  1889  John  Menting  erected  a  broom 
handle  factory  near  the  Andrew  Regan  property.  A. 
P.  Menting  ran  it  also.  Frank  St.  Louis  had  a  cant 
hook  factory  on  section  26,  from  1892  to  1895. 

The  first  Phlox  hotel  was  built  by  Peter  Bissonnette. 
The  present  Hotel  Allright  was  originally  the  John  Jan- 
sen residence.  In  1904  it  was  taken  over  by  John  Mat- 
teson, remodeled,  and  has  since  been  used  as  a  hotel. 
It  has  gained  considerable  prominence  as  headquart- 
ers for  tourists  and  fishermen.  The  Red  river  is 
nearby.  Highway  No.  47  runs  through  Phlox  from 
Antigo  to  Shawano.  Warren  Jones  once  ran  a  hotel 
in  Phlox.  It  was  sold  to  the  Mattoon  Mfg.  Co.,  who 
in  turn  sold  to  J.  and  D.  A.  Matteson  Co.  Mattesons 
sold  to  Ed.  Knapp,  who  came  to  Phlox  from  Clinton- 
ville.      He  traded  the  property  to  Ed.  Hadler  of  An- 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


223 


tigo,  who  sold  to  W.  B.  Dresser.  The  building  is  now 
the  Phlox  Hardware  location. 

The  present  industries  and  business  places  of  Phlox 
are:  Red  River  Mfg.  Co.,  the  Farmers'  State  Bank,  A. 
J.  Reinert,  Cashier;  The  George  W.  Guertz  general 
merchandise  store.  Duenke  &  Moss  general  store,  Hotel 
Allright,  John  Matteson,  prop.;  George  Jansen  Hard- 
ware; George  Schlientz,  soft  drink  parlor;  John  Van 
Ooyan  soft  drink  parlor;  Norman  M.  Racine  soft  drink 
parlor;  M.  W.  A.  Hall;  Henry  Menting,  Chiropractor; 
Phlox  Garage,  W.  J.  Menting  &  Co.,  Props.;  Peter 
Weber  and  Henry  Eggink,  blacksmiths;  The  A.  F. 
Schulz  Creamery,  A.  F.  Schultz,  prop.,  was  established 
in  1902  by  the  Fargo  Creamery  Supply  Co.,  a  farmers 
cooperative  unit.  In  was  purchased  by  John  and  Glen 
Kaufman  May  7,  1912,  and  then  by  A.  F.  Schultz,  May 
1,  1915.  The  plant  has  an  annual  capacity  of  160,000 
pounds  of  cheese  and  20,000  pounds  of  Clover  Leaf 
Brand  butter. 

The  office  of  the  Norwood  township  clerk,  William 
Guertz,  is  in  the  village  of  Phlox. 

Phlox,  Norwood  township  village,  is  33  miles  from 
Shawano,  25  miles  from  Keshena,  Indian  Reservation 
village,  121 2  jjiiles  from  Neopit  and  13  miles  from  An- 
tigo,  county  seat. 

DISTRICT  NO.  3. 

MAPLE  GROVE  DISTRICT.  Maple  Grove  is 
ideally  situated  in  the  southwestern  part  of  Norwood 
township,  near  the  county  line  between  Shawano  and 
Langlade  Counties.  It  was  first  settled  in  1879  and 
1880  by  brave  and  courageous  prospectors,  homestead 
seekers  and  timber  hunters,  who  came  with  their  slow 
yokes  of  oxen  or  with  the  heavy  wagons  drawn  by 
horses  over  the  rough  trails  from  Clintonville.  Anton 
Sensenbrenner,  Henry  Lloyd,  Walter  Lloyd,  then  a 
child,  Jesse  Armstrong,  Henry  Hilger,  Fred  Goodwill, 
Charles  Clifford  and  M.  Thurot  were  the  first  settlers. 
Later  settlers,  who  were  in  the  district  very  early  were ; 
Israel  Ano,  Frank  Brouilliard,  the  Cunningham  family, 
Ed.  Jarvis,  James  St.  Mitchell.  Abraham.  Dione,  Mich- 
ael Rayome  and  John  Rayome. 

The  first  school  house  was  built  on  section  29.  It 
was  erected  by  all  the  settlers,  who  set  aside  a  day  for 
a  log  raising  "bee."  The  district  settlers  set  aside  their 
daily  tasks  and  in  a  short  time  a  one-room  log  cabin 
was  erected.  Miss  Z.  Grignon  was  the  first  teacher. 
Laura  Royer  was  the  second  teacher.  The  children 
of  the  Lloyd,  Henry  Hilger,  F.  Brouillard,  Ano,  St. 
Mitchell,  Cunningham,  Jarvis,  Goodwill  and  Clifford 
families  attended  the  first  school.  The  log  school 
was  used  until  1896  when  a  frame  school  was  built.  It 
is  still  in  use.  The  school  was  erected  by  Misseador 
Thurot.  It  was  remodeled  in  1918  by  Frank  Mottel 
of  Mattoon.  The  1922-23  school  officials  were :  Mrs. 
Martha  Beusch,  Clerk;  John  Spiegl,  Director  and 
Alfred  Resch,  Treasurer.  The  1922-23  teacher  was 
Esther  Nowotny. 

The  first  cheese  factory  in  this  district  was  erected 
by  Walter  Lloyd  on  the  site  of  the  present  Norwood 
Cheese  Factory,  section  28,  in  1912.       It  was  sold  to 


Frank  Barta  by  the  original  owner.  The  first  factory 
burned  down  and  in  1920  was  re-built  by 
him.  September  16,  1921,  Emil  H.  Hintz,  progressive 
cheese  maker,  purchased  the  factory,  which  he  ope- 
rated until  September,  1922,  when  it  burned.  It  was 
known  as  the  Norwood  Cheese  Factory. 

The  area  of  this  district  is  3,840  acres  or  six  square 
miles.  It  contains  all  of  sections  28,  29,  30,  31,  32, 
and  33.      There  are  four  lakes  in  the  district. 

DISTRICT  NO.  4. 

APPLE  GROVE  DISTRICT.  Apple  Grove  is  sit- 
uated in  the  west  central  part  of  Norwood  township  and 
comprises  all  of  sections  16,  17,  18,  19,  20  and  21.  Its 
area  includes  3,840  acres  of  tillable  land. 

Apple  Grove  was  settled  by  a  group  of  pioneers 
who  came  from  Greenville  township,  Outagamie  Coun- 
ty in  1879.  Its  first  settler  was  John  J.  Simpson,  who 
came  from  Greenville  township  in  the  fall  of  1879  and 
settled  on  a  homestead  located  on  section  17  (NE  I4). 
He  was  followed  by  George  W.  Bemis,  who,  in  March, 
1880,  settled  on  section  19.  Dallas  Chappel  came  in 
1879,  homesteading  on  section  20.  John  A.  Spencer 
homesteaded  on  section  22  in  1879.  William  McLean 
came  from  Omro  in  1879  and  homesteaded  the  SE  V4 
of  section  17.  Other  early  settlers  were:  Thomas  Mc- 
Nutt,  Charles  Shead,  J.  W.  Morse,  Langlade  County's 
first  County  Judge,  who,  in  1880,  homesteaded  on  sec- 
tion 18.  He  came  from  Menasha.  Charles  Shead 
came  from  Vermont  state  and  operated  a  store  for 
Daniel  Chandler,  of  Menasha.  The  store  was  locat- 
ed on  section  16  and  was  erected  in  1880,  and  dis- 
continued a  few  years  later. 

Education  of  the  children  was  important  to  the 
pioneer.  Therefore  as  soon  as  the  log  cabins  were 
"rolled  up"  means  of  education  were  discussd.  School 
was  opened  on  section  18  in  the  log  shanty  on  the  old 
George  Garrett  farm.  This  was  three  years  before 
the  first  log  school  was  built  in  1883  on  section  20  on 
the  Dallas  Chappel  farm.  He  donated  an  acre  of 
land  for  school  purposes.  This  pioneer  temple  of 
education  was  used  until  1897  when  a  new  school  was 
erected  on  the  NW  I4  of  section  20  on  the  C.  0.  Peter- 
son farm  site.  John  J.  Simpson,  afterwards  the  first 
Langlade  County  Clerk,  was  the  first  teacher.  Miss 
Hutchins  was  the  first  woman  teacher.  The  first 
teacher  in  the  frame  school  was  Martha  Miller.  The 
first  school  board  officials  in  Apple  Grove  district  were : 
J.  W.  Morse,  Treasurer;  George  W.  Bemis,  Clerk  and 
Dallas  Chappel,  Director.  Early  teachers  were:  Osca 
Bemis,  Miss  Hutchins,  John  J.  Simpson,  Hattie  Thomp- 
son and  Nancy  Hutton  now  Nancy  Garrett.  First  pup- 
ils were :  George  and  Osca  Bemis,  Charles,  Henry, 
James,  and  Frank  Morse,  J.  Spencer  and  Myrtle  Chap- 
pel. 

In  1910  a  Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  establish- 
ed on  section  18.  It  was  named  in  honor  of  Rev.  San- 
born, its  first  Pastor. 

Apple  Grove  district  has  progressed  wonderfully 
since  the  first  vanguard  of  homesteaders  came  with 
horse  and  buck  board  or  oxen  from  Outagamie  Coun- 


224 


HISTORY  OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


ty.  It  has  a  population  of  over  one  hundred  inhabi- 
tants and  more  than  twenty  permanent  farmers.  The 
school,  frame  structure,  is  pleasantly  situated  in  an 
apple  grove,  planted  in  an  early  day. 

Instead  of  the  old  trail  and  tote  road  the  district  now 
has  well  kept  highways.  Most  of  the  old  pioneers 
have  moved  from  the  district  and  new  settlers  have 
taken  over  the  old  historic  homesteads.  Those  still 
living  can  recall  when  G.  W.  Bemis  of  the  district  or 
Henry  Peters  of  the  Strassburg  district.  Rolling  town- 
ship, moved  the  settlers  into  the  district,  almost  a  half 
century  ago.  Antigo  was  then  a  hamlet  with  but 
three  building,  Doc.  Olmsted's  store,  L.  D.  Moses' 
store,  Niels  Anderson's  store  and  F.  A.  Deleglise's 
home  and  real  estate  office.  The  nearest  railroad  was 
fifty  miles  away  at  Clintonville. 

TWINTOWNSHIP  NO.  596. 

Twintownship  Grange  No.  596  was  organized  No- 
vember 11,  1912.  The  following  officers  were  elected 
to  guide  the  grange  during  its  first  year :  Master- 
William  Haefeker;  Overseer — Walter  Swenson;  Lec- 
turer— Martha  Buesch;  Steward — Henry  Hameister; 
Assistant  Steward — Harry  Lyons;  Lady  Assistant  Ste- 
ward— Alma  Sage;  Chaplain — P.  T.  Gillett;  Treasurer 
— H.  H.  Schroeder;  Secretary — Charles  Vorass;  Ceres 
— Ruth  Lyon;  Pomona — Irene  Schroeder;  Flora — Edna 
Johnson;  Gatekeeper — Alvin  Sage. 

The  first  gathering  of  the  Twintownship  Grange 
members  was  held  at  the  Sanborn  M.  E.  Church.  On 
August  5,  1914,  the  grange  was  notified  to  look  for  a 
new  meeting  place  and  it  was  then  that  the  members 
decided  to  build  their  own  meeting  place.  A  structure 
was  erected  on  the  northwest  corner  of  the  Charles 
Hippe  farm,  Norwood  township.  The  building  com- 
mittee consisted  of:  Minnie  Elchnitze,  Ferry  Gillett, 
Henry  Naumann,  Ed.  Dodge  and  Herman  Wirth. 
The  building,  30x50  feet  cost  $1,500.00.  It  was  dedi- 
cated December  31,  1914,  by  State  Master  Culbertson. 
Regular  sessions  of  the  grange  are  held  every  first  and 
third  Wednesdays.  Present  membership  consists  of 
thirty. 

Present  officers  of  Twintownship  Grange  No.  596 
are:  Master — H.  H.  Schroeder;  Overseer — P.  T.  Gil- 
lett ;  Lecturer — Fred  F.  Schulze ;  Steward — Neal 
Schroeder;  Assistant  Steward — Paul  Spearr;  Chaplain 
— Charles  Hippe;  Treasurer — Andrew  Johnson;  Secre- 
tary— Minnie  E.  Schulze;  Gatekeeper — Le  Roy  St. 
Pierre;  Flora — Dorothy  Gillett;  Lady  Assistant  Ste- 
ward— Alice  Hippe. 

DISTRICT  NO.  5. 

SUGAR  BUSH  DISTRICT.  Sugar  Bush  is  in  the 
northwestern  part  of  Norwood  township,  within  easy 
riding  distance  from  Antigo,  county  seat.  It  is  on 
Highway  No.  47,  main  route  from  Antigo  to  Green 
Bay  and  is  in  one  of  the  most  developed  areas  of  south- 
ern Langlade  County.  The  farms  are  well  establish- 
ed, many  being  homesteads  of  pioneer  days. 

For  years  Sugar  Bush  was  nothing  but  a  desolate 
wilderness  unmarred  by  homestead  seeker,  hunter,  or 


prospector.  Only  the  trail  of  the  Indian,  running  from 
the  Keshena  country,  was  evidence  of  habitat  by 
man.  Not  until  almost  a  half  century  ago  (43  years) 
did  the  first  brave  pioneers  penetrate  the  region.  John 
McCandless  and  Henry  McCandless  driving  a  span  of 
horses  on  a  rough  tote  road  from  Menasha,  settled  in 
this  district  in  1879.  Their  journey  took  four  days 
and  many  times  the  heavy  cart,  that  carried  their 
worldy  belongings,  was  mired  in  the  swamps.  August 
Boettcher  came  from  Stevensville  and  Peter  Tatro,  who 
came  from  Menasha  settled  in  1879.  Horace  Beard 
came  from  Neenah  the  same  year.  The  Beard  family 
came  to  the  district  with  a  yoke  of  oxen  and  the  jour- 
ney was  long  and  tedious  and  would  have  proven  dis- 
couraging to  the  ordinary  folk.  Other  pioneers  trekked 
in  until  the  district  became  a  settlement  of  log  cabins 
with  their  picturesque  "scooped  roofs."  Henry  Mit- 
chell, prominent  Milltown  mill  owner,  Frank  Thomp- 
son, Harry  McCandless,  B.  Chandler,  Charles  Tecka- 
line,  Ernest  Abel,  S.  Schufeldt,  Joseph  and  W.  H. 
Smith,  Henry  Boettcher,  Gustav  Boettcher,  Eli  St. 
Peter  and  O.  St.  Peter,  were  later,  but  early  settlers, 
Henry  Heim,  George  Hooker,  and  Peter  Peterson,  also 
came  to  the  district  early. 

The  first  school  was  conducted  in  the  log  cabin  built 
by  John  McCandless.  The  Tatro  children,  the  Boett- 
cher children  and  the  McCandless  children  attended 
the  first  session  in  1879.  Mary  St.  Louis  was  the 
first  teacher.  Other  early  teachers  were:  Mary  Pur- 
dey,  Hattie  Thompson,  Cora  Sackett,  Lucy  Bliss  and 
Frank  Churchouse.  Charles,  Edward,  Bessie  and 
Mamie  McCandless,  David,  Harry,  Mable  Thompson, 
Alvin,  David  and  Walter  Clifford,  the  Tatro  children, 
Gustav  and  Matilda  Boettcher  were  also  pupils  in  this 
pioneer  backwoods  school. 

A  year  after  the  first  school  was  commenced  a  per- 
manent log  school  was  erected.  This  was  used  until 
1898,  when  a  frame  building  was  erected.  It  is  still 
used.  The  school  is  located  on  section  5.  Henry 
McCandless,  Gust  Schmeige  and  Ernest  Able  were  the 
building  committee  members  in  charge  of  building  the 
frame  school.  They  were  appointed  February  26, 
1894.  An  acre  of  land  was  purchased  from  E.  D. 
Stewart  for  school  purposes.  The  old  log  school  was 
purchased  from  the  district  by  0.  Beard  for  $12.00. 

Early  school  board  officers  were :  John  and  Henry 
McCandless,  Henry  Mitchell,  Peter  Tatro,  Henry 
Heim,  H.  Beard,  and  E.  D.  Stewart.  The  1922-23 
school  officials  were:  W.  H.  Smith,  Clerk;  Stephen 
Palmer,  Treasurer  and  Arley  Gilmore,  Director.  The 
1921-22  teacher  was  Sophia  Augustine.  The  1922-23 
teacher  was  Mrs.  Dan  Hale.  In  the  early  days  school 
was  held  in  July  and  August,  November,  December  and 
January. 

The  first  cheese  factory  was  built  by  John  Keske. 
Ed.  Tomae  ran  it  for  a  while  until  it  was  purchased  by 
Fred  Buss,  present  owner. 

Early  teachers — 1896  to  1922 — were  :  Minnie  Hessel, 
Emlie  Trettein,  Jennie  McGregor,  Blanche  Killkelly, 
Jessie  Weeks,  Myrtle  Merrill,  Anna  Quinlan,  Harriet 
Holley,  Maud  Morson,  Margaret  Healy,  Esther  Polar, 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


225 


Louise  Farnham,  M.  Keelan,  May  Guenthner,  Alma 
Stromberg,  Agnes  Walters,  Margaret  Follstad,  Nora 
Wirig,  Lillie  Winters,  and  Helen  Belsky.  The  average 
enrollment  in  Sugar  Bush  school  is  sixty  pupils.  In 
October,  1903,  Carl  Griswold  built  an  addition  to  the 
school. 

DISTRICT  NO.  6. 

MAYKING  DISTRICT.  Mayking  is  situated  in 
the  northeastern  part  of  Norwood  township  and  is  one 
of  the  oldest  established  districts  in  the  county.  The 
first  settlers  came  to  this  region  in  1878  and  1879.  No 
railroads  went  north  of  Clintonville  then,  so  it  was 
necessary  to  walk  over  a  rough  trail,  through  swamps 
and  dense  forests  to  this  part  of  Langlade  County. 
Some  of  the  hardy  pioneers  were  able  to  make  this 
long  trip  in  a  day. 

J.  Morehouse,  Fred  Shank,  Emil  Shank,  William 
Shank,  Charles  Price,  Fred  Nonnemacher,  Lewis  Rob- 
inson, Fred  Robinson,  Wallace  Robinson,  Frank  Koch, 
Norman  Koch,  and  Louis  Tatro  and  their  families,  all 
were  early  settlers,  coming  between  1878  and  1885. 
Other  early  settlers,  who  arrived  later,  were :  Frank 
Schisel,  Wolfgang  Schisel,  John  and  Jaque  Price, 
Frank  Price,  and  William  Nonnemacher.  Morehouse 
was  the  first  settler.       He  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade. 

The  first  school  house  was  a  log  structure  erected  in 
1880  on  section  2.  It  was  used  until  1890,  when  a 
frame  school  was  built.  The  frame  school  is  located 
on  section  2  and  is  still  used. 

The  first  saw  mill  in  the  district  was  erected  by 
James  Kennedy  and  John  Zehner  in  section  13.  After 
operating  from  1882  to  1893,  they  sold  to  Chris  and 
Henry  Wunderlich,  in  1893.  The  Wunderlich  broth- 
ers moved  the  mill  in  1907. 

George  Wunderlich  operated  a  saw  mill  on  section 
3  from  1917  to  1919  and  then  it  was  moved  to  Forest 
County. 


While  Henry  and  Chris  Wunderlich  operated  their 
mill  a  post  office  was  established  and  a  thriving  com- 
munity developed.  It  was  called  Mayking.  When  the 
mill  disbanded  the  post  office  was  discontinued. 

Mayking  has  had  two  cheese  factories.  The  first 
was  on  section  12  and  run  by  Henry  Kletz  and  the 
second  now  is  operated  by  Martin  Parsons.  The  first 
factory  burned  in  1920. 

Mayking  is  well  settled,  has  progressive  farmers 
and  fine  farm  houses.  The  school  was  in  charge  of 
Helen  Elsholtz  in  1922-23.  The  1922-23  officers  were : 
William  Shank,  Harry  Kraeger,  James  McGraff,  Treas- 
urer, Clerk,  and  Director,  respectively. 

MAYKING  GRANGE. 

Mayking  Grange,  No.  597,  was  organized  by  State 
Organizer  John  Wilde  at  the  Mayking  school  Decem- 
ber 3,  1912.  The  first  officers  were:  Master — Nor- 
man Koch;  Overseer — Jake  Price;  Lecturer — Mrs.  Nor- 
man Koch;  Steward — William  Smith;  Assistant  Ste- 
ward— Frank  Price;  Lady  Assistant  Steward — Mrs. 
Emil  Shanks;  Chaplain — Mrs.  Wm.  Nonnemacher; 
Gatekeeper — Leonard  Koch;  Treasurer — Emil  Shanks. 
The  first  records  show  no  representative  to  Pomona 
Grange  and  the  chairs  of  Ceres  and  Flora  were  not  fill- 
ed. 

The  Mayking  Grange  is  very  active  and  has  at  this 
writing  a  membership  of  one  hundred.  Mayking  Hall 
was  constructed  in  1914  and  the  material  and  labor  on 
the  same  was  donated  by  the  membership.  Regular 
meetings  are  held  the  second  and  fourth  Tuesdays. 

Present  officers  are  :  Master — John  Price ;  Overseer 
— Stephen  Palmer;  Lecturer — Mrs.  Shelby  Robinson; 
Steward — Jos.  Minch;  Assistant  Steward — Paul 
Franckowiak;  Lady  Assistant  Steward — Hazel  Minch; 
Chaplain — Wolfgang  Schisel ;  Gatekeeper — Elmer 
Graves;  Treasurer— Jake  Price;  Secretary — James 
Beckingham,  Jr.;  Ceres — Lily  Robinson;  Pomona — 
Mrs.  James  Beckingham;  Flora — Besse  Robinson. 


226 


HISTORY  OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XLIV. 
Peck  Township  No.  32  N.,  R.  10  E. 

Location — Boundaries — Drainage — Topography  — Organization — First  Township  Election — Original 
Road  Districts — Survey  of  1860 — Township  Officials  1891-1923 — Ormsby — Badger — Friebel  — 
Blue  Bell — Rose  Dale — Joint  Districts — Early  Settlers  in  Districts. 


Peck  Township  No.  32,  Range  10  East,  named  in 
honor  of  George  W.  Peck,  Governor  of  Wisconsin  from 
January  5,  1891  to  January  7,  1895,  lies  in  the  west  cen- 
tral part  of  the  county.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by 
Upham  township,  on  the  west  by  Vilas  township,  on 
the  south  by  East  Ackley  township  and  on  the  east  by 
Neva  township.  It  embraces  an  area  of  23,840  acres 
or  thirty-six  square  miles.  The  northwest,  central 
and  southern  portions  of  the  township  are  drained  by 
the  west  branch  of  the  Eau  Claire  river,  flowing 
through  sections  5,  6,  8.  15,  16, 17,  22,  27,  29  and  33.  The 
east  branch  of  the  Eau  Claire  river  runs  through  sec- 
tions 25,  35  and  36.  Clear  Water  Creek  in  the  north- 
eastern part  and  Sucker  Creek  in  the  northwest  part, 
drain  those  sections  into  the  Eau  Claire  river.  The 
central  and  southern  sections  of  the  township  are  level 
and  flat,  but  the  northeastern  part  is  somewhat  un- 
dulating. Peck  was  surveyed  September  14,  1860  to 
September  20,  1860,  by  H.  C.  Fellows,  U.  S.  Deputy 
Surveyor. 

Peck  township  is  a  vast  stretch  of  Merrimac  Silt 
Loam,  covering  all  of  the  township  with  the  exception 
of  those  sections  or  fraction  sections  in  which  Peat  or 
Muck  are  found.  Peat  is  not  very  extensive,  but  more 
so  than  Muck,  found  along  the  banks  of  the  east  and 
west  branches  of  the  Eau  Claire  river.  Peat  is  found 
in  the  NE  part  of  section  3,  a  strip  runs  through  the 
eastern  part  of  sections  4  and  9,  also  sections  2,  5,  8, 
9,  10,  17  and  36. 

ORGANIZATION. 

The  territory  comprising  Peck  township  was  once 
under  the  rule  of  Lincoln  County.  Later  a  part  of  Ack- 
ley township,  and  then  Vilas  township  it  was  detached 
from  the  last  named,  January  28,  1891,  by  a  resolu- 
tion adopted  by  the  Langlade  County  board. 

The  petition  praying  for  the  organization  of  Peck 
from  Vilas  township  was  sent  from  Morley,  Peck  town- 
ship village,  to  the  county  solons,  January  6,  1891.  It 
was  signed  by  Z.  Space,  J.  S.  Bedah,  Nathan  Fryer, 
Thomas  Stinson,  Carl  Yopes,  George  Hotchkiss,  G.  N. 
Tinney,  Charles  Stinson,  Herman  Iven,  Fred  Balch, 
Abe  Bovee,  Win  Nelson,  R.  Hampton,  J.  Harris,  Wm. 
Frick,  Jonathon  H.  Reader,  George  Fenton,  G.  F. 
Walch,  Jesse  Tinney,  Mike  Churney,  C.  H.  Harder, 
Wm.  Reader,  W.  J.  Hampton,  John  Nelson,  John  Wol- 
ter,  Moritz  Friebel,  J.  H.  Reader,  Peter  G.  Beck,  W.  R. 
Anason,  H.  Fryer,  Thomas  K.  Johnson,  D.  C.  Forrest, 
Carl  F"riebel,  W.  Hampton,  and  August  Wolfgram. 

John  Nelson  and  Henry  Strauss,  members  of  the 
Committee  on  Town  Organization  of  the  County  Board 


recommended  the  organization  of  Peck  township,  upon 
which  the  county  representatives  acted  favorably.  V. 
P.  Rath,  George  H.  .Tones  and  A.  McMillan  were  se- 
lected to  make  a  settlement  between  Vilas  and  the 
new  township.  The  writ  sent  to  the  board  by  citizens 
opposed  to  organization  was  denied  by  the  Town  Or- 
ganization Committee. 

FIRST  ELECTION  INSPECTORS. 

The  first  election  inspectors  were  appointed  by  the 
County  Board.  They  were:  John  S.  Wilson,  Moritz 
Friebel  and  Peter  G.  Beck.  The  first  election  was 
held  at  the  school  house  in  District  No.  2,  *  of  the  new 
township. 

FIRST  TOWNSHIP  OFFICIALS. 

Thirty-four  votes  were  cast  at  the  first  Peck  township 
election,  April  7,  1891.  Peter  G.  Beck  was  elected 
first  township  chairman.  Other  officers  were:  Super- 
visors— G.  F.  Walch,  Sidna  Boda;  Clerk — W.  R.  Ma- 
son; Treasurer — Moritz  Friebel;  Assessor — Herman 
Iven;  Justices — Z.  Space,  T.  Stinson  (2  years)  and  C. 
H.  Harder  (1  year) ;  Constables — John  Nelson  and  W. 
Fick. 

FIRST  ROAD  DISTRICTS. 

Peck  township  was  divided  into  four  road  districts 
April  14,  1891.  Thomas  Stinson,  Z.  Space,  Carl  Frie- 
bel and  Carl  Yopes  were  the  first  Overseers  of  Dis- 
trists  No.  1,  2,  3  and  4  respectively. 

The  first  road  constructed  in  this  township  was  au- 
thorized May  4,  1879,  upon  petition  of  six  homestead- 
ers. It  commenced  at  the  southwest  corner  of  section 
31 ;  thence  north  to  the  southwest  corner  of  section 
19;  thence  east  to  the  northeast  corner  of  section  19; 
thence  south  to  the  southeast  corner  of  section  31.  The 
hearing  on  the  proposed  road  was  held  at  the  resi- 
dence of  Joseph  Parfitt.  The  next  early  road  estab- 
lished was  in  the  spring  of  1882.  It  started  at  the  SE 
corner  of  section  19,  Township  32,  Range  10  E.,  and  ran 
east  on  the  section  line  to  the  Lincoln  County  bound- 
ary. Five  other  highways  were  laid  out  in  Peck  town- 
ship between  1879  and  1885,  the  last  in  August,  1884. 
Early  roads  were  constructed  at  a  cost  of  sixty  to  sev- 
enty-five cents  per  rod.  Others  were  as  high  as  $1.25 
per  rod,  while  some  went  still  higher  depending  upon 
the  region  through  which  they  were  cut. 

*  County  Board  designated  District  No.  3  School  as  voting  place, 
but  Township  oflicials  changed  location,  April  6,  1891. 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


227 


OFFICERS  OF  PECK  TOWNSHIP  FROM  1891-1923. 

CHAIRMEN. 

Peter  G.  Beck— 1891-93;  William  Reader— 1893-94 ; 
Peter  G.  Beck— 1894-96;  William  Reader— 1896-1900; 
Warren  Holt  (appointed)— 1900-01 ;  Moritz  Friebel— 
1901-02;  John  Wegner— 1902-03 ;  Willard  Lloyd— 
1903-06;  N.  Shanks— 1906-09 ;  Charles  Motts— 1909- 
11;  George  Bishop— 1911-12;  Frank  M.  McKinney— 
1912-13;  Torsten  Johnson— 1913-14;  George  Bishop— 
1914-15;  William  H.  Wegner— 1915-23. 

CLERKS. 

W.  R.  Mason— 1891-95;  G.  F.  Walch— 1895-96;  Phil 
Fryer— 1896-1910;  August  Lansing— 1910-16;  J.  K. 
Walker— 1916-17;  August  Lensing— 1917-18;  J.  P. 
Cleary— 1918-21;  J.  F.  McKinney— 1921-23. 

SUPERVISORS. 

G.  F.  Walch,  Sidna  Boda— 1891-92;  G.  F.  Walch, 
Jonathan  Reader— 1892-93;  Carl  Friebel,  William  Fick 
—1893-95;  Robert  Lyon,  E.  H.  Weatherholt— 1895- 
96;  E.  H.  Weatherholt,  Jessey  Tinney— 1896-98;  Wil- 
liam Fick,  George  Hotchkiss— 1898-99;  William  Fick, 
John  Wegner— 1899-01 ;  Jas.  Nelson,  Albert  Harder— 
1901-02;  Willard  Lloyd,  Joseph  Helmbrecht— 1902-03; 
William  Fick,  Joseph  Helmbrecht— 1903-04;  Jos. 
Helmbrecht,  Louis  Heimler — 1904-06;  William  Fick, 
Peter  Greenland— 1906-08 ;  W.  J.  Drummond,  L.  Strum 
—1908-09;  Jos.  Helmbrecht— 1909-10;  T.  Johnson,  Jos. 
Helmbrecht— 1910-12;  T.  Johnson,  L.  Strum— 1912-13; 
James  Park,  L.  Strum — 1913-14;  James  Parks,  William 
H.  Wegner — 1914-15;  George  Parks,  John  Strandberg 
—1915-16;  Edward  Fick,  Ludwig  Strum— 1916-18; 
James  Keyes,  Ludwig  Strum — 1918-19;  Ludwig  Strum, 
Frank  Leidheisl— 1919-23. 

TREASURERS. 

Moritz  Friebel— 1891-98;  Jonathan  Reader— 1898- 
05;  Moritz  Friebel— 1905-15;  George  Friebel— 1915- 
16;  Alex  Henry— 1916-17;  George  Friebel— 1917-18; 
August  Lensing— 1918-23. 

ASSESSORS. 

Herman  Ivan- 1891-93;  C.  H.  Hoeder— 1893-94; 
Nelson  Shanks— 1894-01 ;  Orvis  Vaughn— 1901-02; 
Nelson  Shanks— 1902-03;  H.  W.  James— 1903-05 ;  Nel- 
son Shanks— 1905-06;  W.  J.  Diamond— 1906-07;  John 
Wegner— 1907-09;  Nelson  Shanks— 1909-10;  Jerry 
Tenny— 1910-11;  Frank  M.  McKinney— 1911-12;  Chas. 
Shanks— 1912-20;  Chas.  Leidheisl— 1920-23. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 

Herman  Harder — 1891-92;  Z.  Space,  Thomas  Stin- 
son— 1892-93;  Herman  Ivan,  C.  H.  Harder— 1892-94; 
Z.  Space,  Thos.  Stinson — 1894  (appointed)  ;  Herman 
Iven,  Jonathan  Reader— 1894-96;  B.  F.  Walch,  Thos. 
Stinson— 1894-95;  John  Maltby,  Phil.  Fryer— 1895-97; 
Thos.  Johnson,  Moritz  Friebel— 1895-96;  Thos.  Stin- 
son, Chas.  Klock— 1896-98;  J.  H.  Lensing,  G.  F.  Walch 
—1896-97;  G.  F.  Walch,  P.  G.  Brick— 1897-99;  John 


Tinney,  E.  H.  Weatherholt— 1897-98 ;  E.  H.  Weather- 
holt, Albert  Harder— 1898-1900;  R.  Space,  D.  Lensing 
—1898-99;  R.  Space,  E.  H.  Weatherholt— 1899-01 ;  Jas. 
Shopbell— 1899-1900;  Albert  Harder— 1900-02;  R. 
Space,  O.  Vaughn,  E.  H.  Weatherholt— 1900-01 ;  E.  H. 
Weatherholt,  L.  Heimler — 1901-03;  Jessey  James, 
Chas.  Byers— 1901-02;  Geo.  Graves,  Jno.  Yopes— 1902- 
04;  S.  Bishop,  R.  Space— 1902-03;  E.  H.  James,  W. 
Holt— 1903-05;  N.  Shanks— 1903-04;  Ed.  Hawley,  Jno. 
Yopes— 1904-06;  E.  H.  Yopes,  Peter  Olsen,  W.  J.  Dia- 
mond—1906-07;  Ed.  Hawley,  W.  J.  Diamond,  Chas. 
Bloedel— 1907-08 ;  W.  J.  Diamond,  Jno.  Yopes,  G.  F. 
Walch— 1908-09;  Alex  Henry,  G.  F.  Walch— 1909-11; 
Alex  Henry,  Geo.  Friebel,  J.  Tenney,  G.  F.  Walch — 
1911-12;  Chas.  Yopes,  Olaf  Anderson— 1912-13;  Olaf 
Anderson,  J.  H.  Lensing — 1913-14;  F.  M.  McKinney — 
1914-15;  John  Wegner,  Olaf  Anderson— 1915-16;  Olaf 
Anderson,  Frank  W.  McKinney — 1916-17;  John  Weg- 
ner, Frank  M.  McKinney,  1917-18;  Alex  Henry,  Frank 
M.  McKinney— 1918-19;  E.  C.  Thomae— 1919-20 ;  Alex 
Henry,  Wm.  Veterna— 1920-21 ;  August  Koch— 1921- 
23;  H.  Moschewske— 1922-23. 

CONSTABLES. 

Nelson  Shanks,  J.  Tinney,  George  Fenton,  Michael 
Churney,  John  Yopes,  Phillip  Fryer,  John  Wegner, 
Jerry  Tracy,  Walter  James,  J.  De  Moss,  J.  Tenney, 
Herman  Harder,  Thos.  Stinson,  Leon  Mary,  George 
Englebert,  John  Koenig,  W.  Berdan,  W.  Fick,  D.  Lan- 
sing, Henry  Lensing,  August  Koch,  J.  H.  Lansing, 
Thomas  Murray,  Charles  Yopes,  Geo.  Hotchkiss, 
David  Kelly,  Frank  McKinney,  Jr.,  Jos.  Helmbrecht, 
Martin  Helmbrecht,  Edward  Fick,  George  Friebel, 
Fred  Fick,  Wm.  Veterna,  Andrew  Berg,  B.  C.  Good- 
man, Joseph  Miner. 

DISTRICT  NO.  1. 

BADGER  DISTRICT.  One  month  after  the  first 
election  in  Peck  township  the  entire  township  was  di- 
vided into  four  school  districts.  District  No.  1,  creat- 
ed May  8,  1891,  originally  consisted  of  all  of  sections  1 
to  8  inclusive,  and  the  north  half  of  sections  9,  10,  11 
and  12,  Township  32,  Range  10  East.  By  redistrict- 
ing,  establishment  of  joint  districts  with  other  township 
sections  the  district  has  been  gradually  growing  small- 
er, until  now  it  consists  of  sections  4,  7,  8,  9,  17,  18,  the 
N  ^2  of  sections  19,  20  and  the  W  V2  of  section  16  or 
eight  sections.  The  Badger  district,  situated  in  the 
northwestern  part  of  the  township  comprises  an  area  of 
5,120  acres.  The  last  territorial  change  in  the  district 
was  made  in  1914. 

Before  the  arrival  of  the  first  white  settler  in  Badger 
district  Indians  used  the  primitive  region  as  a  hunt- 
ing and  camping  ground.  Their  trails  crossed  each 
other  in  various  parts  of  the  wilderness.  Hunting  the 
bear,  the  fleet  deer,  monarch  of  the  north  forest,  the 
lynx,  wildcat,  wolf  or  wild  fowl  was  their  chief  oc- 
cupation. The  adjacent  streams  afforded  fishing  for 
the  impulsive  red  tribes.  But  just  as  the  Indian  was 
pushed  westward  from  that  moment  when  the  Pilgrims 
first  trod  the  soil  of  Massachusetts  on  that  memorable 


228 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


December  21,  1620,  so  too  his  unchallenged  reign  of 
this  county  saw  its  ending  when  the  first  settlers  ar- 
rived in  1876.  They  came  from  New  London,  Wau- 
sau,  Merrill  and  other  adjacent  cities.  Z.  Space  and 
P.  Fryer,  prominent  in  early  Peck  township  activities, 
were  the  first  settlers.  They  were  followed  by  Jos. 
Parfitt,  Peter  G.  Beck  and  E.  Whitney,  who  came  in 
1879.  Oxen  teams  were  used  and  the  journey  to  the  dis- 
trict, unmarred  by  the  hand  of  white  men,  took  many 
days.  The  roads  were  poor,  swamps  were  crossed  and 
Indian  trails  were  followed.  Tenacity,  courage  and 
persistency  were  typical  characteristics  of  these  first 
settlers  and  the  majority  who  followed.  Like  General 
Grant,  they  "did  not  turn  back,"  but  faithfully  forged 
ahead. 

Cabins  were  erected  in  the  wilderness.  Journeys 
for  provisions  were  made  with  the  slow  oxen  to  Wau- 
sau,  the  village  of  Antigo  or  to  Merrill.  Most  of  the 
longer  trips  were  made  in  the  winter  and  the  supplies 
for  many  months  were  thus  brought  to  the  pioneers. 

The  first  school  in  this  district  was  erected  in  1886 
on  section  20.  Here  the  children  of  the  early  home- 
seekers  acquired  the  foundation  for  their  future  educa- 
tion. The  first  school  term  was  six  months.  As  in 
most  districts  the  salary  averaged  $25.00.  The  log 
school  of  pioneer  days  was  called  the  Beck  school  in 
honor  of  P.  G.  Beck,  first  Peck  township  Chairman. 

In  1908,  a  frame  school  was  erected  on  the  south- 
west corner  of  section  17,  near  the  M.  E.  church.  It  is 
a  splendid  school  building,  well  equipped  and  a  credit 
to  the  progressive  district.  The  1921-22  teacher  was 
Miss  Howe.  Many  of  the  children  in  the  district  at- 
tended schools  in  other  districts  before  the  erection  of 
the  present  school,  called  "The  Badger." 

The  first  silo  was  erected  by  0.  Anderson  in  1920. 

The  district  is  actively  interested  in  community  fairs 
and  grange  leadership.  The  first  Langlade  County 
township  fair  was  held  in  the  fall  of  1914  at  the  Badger 
school. 

FOREST  GRANGE  NO.  615. 

Forest  Grange  No.  615,  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  was 
organized  at  the  Badger  school  February  18,  1914. 
Meetings  are  still  held  the  second  and  fourth  Wed- 
nesdays of  each  month  at  the  school.  The  first  offi- 
cers were:  Master — J.  K.  Walker;  Overseer — Olaf 
Anderson;  Lecturer — Alex  Henry;  Steward — Arthur 
Berg;  Assistant  Steward — Wm.  Walker;  Chaplain — 
Mrs.  Alex  Henry;  Treasurer — John  Christenson;  Secre- 
tary— J.  P.  Cleary;  Gatekeeper — Lawrence  Nelson; 
Ceres — Eleanora  Greenland;  Pomona — Mrs.  Jenny 
Greenland;  Flora — Amelia  Engeles;  Lady  Assistant 
Steward — Rose  Christenson. 

Present  officers  are:  Master — Harvey  McKinney; 
Overseer — Mrs.  J.  W.  Walker;  Lecturer — Alex  Henry; 
Steward — Carl  Strum;  Assistant  Steward — Harold 
Mosherosh;  Chaplain — Mrs.  Harriet  Henry;  Treasur- 
er— Mrs.  John  Christenson;  Secretary — John  K.  Walk- 
er; Gatekeeper — Emery  McKinney;  Ceres — Lina 
Fischer;  Pomona — Gladys  Lloyd;  Flora — Blanche 
Holmes;     Lady    Assistant    Steward — Alice     Walker; 


Highest  membership  was  attained  in  1916  when  sev- 
enty members  were  on  the  roll.  It  is  now  about  sixty 
strong. 

The  M.  E.  Church,  a  frame  building,  and  an  acre 
cemetery  are  located  in  the  SW  I4  of  the  SW  I4  of 
section  17. 

District  No.  1  has  splendid  promises  for  future  de- 
velopment in  agriculture,  roads,  community  service  and 
general  public  advancement. 

Section  No.  1  of  Peck  Township  is  a  part  of  Joint 
District  No.  1  of  Neva,  and  is  found  under  Neva  town- 
ship. Sections  5  and  6  are  found  under  the  Upham 
township  subdivision.  Joint  District  No.  2  of  Upham 
and  Peck. 

DISTRICT  NO.  3. 

FRIEBEL  DISTRICT.  This  is  one  of  the  oldest 
districts  in  Langlade  County,  being  organized  when  this 
territory  was  a  part  of  Lincoln  County,  long  before 
it  was  organized  as  Ackley  township,  in  1876.  The 
first  settlers  in  this  district  trekked  from  Wausau, 
Green  Leaf,  Merrill,  the  state  of  Virginia  and  else- 
where. 

Roads  were  few  in  this  territory  before  the  '80's  and 
for  a  long  time  after.  A  tote  road  ran  from  Merrill 
to  Neva  township  territory  near  the  Eau  Claire  river. 
This  old  road,  barely  passable,  was  used  by  some  of 
the  first  settlers  who  homesteaded  in  this  district. 
Pioneer  settlers  were :  Herman  Harder,  J.  Tinney, 
Moritz  Friebel,  after  whom  the  school  was  named,  the 
Jetsoms,  Jane  De  Moss,  Wm.  Fick.  Later  settlers  were : 
Martin  Helmbrecht,  M.  Churney,  the  Pillar  family,  H. 
Ivan  and  Mose  Hawley. 

Following  still  later  came  John  Wegner,  Will  H. 
Wegner,  the  Leidheisl  family,  the  Kauschinger's,  Pet- 
ersons, and  Stranbergs. 

The  first  school,  log  cabin  of  the  back  woods  type  of 
frontier  days,  was  erected  on  the  banks  of  the  Eau 
Claire  river,  section  27.  It  was  used  for  a  number  of 
years  when  another  school  was  erected  just  a  short 
distance  away  on  section  22.  The  present  school,  lo- 
cated on  the  east  banks  of  the  Eau  Claire  river,  section 
27,  is  a  frame  structure,  erected  in  1894.  It  is  well 
equipped  and  cared  for.  An  addition  was  placed  on 
the  school  to  accommodate  the  recent  increased  enroll- 
ment. Miss  Jetson  of  Ormsby  taught  the  first  school. 
The  1922-23  teacher  was  Clara  Wagner. 

John  Tinney,  Herman  Harder  and  Moritz  Friebel 
were  the  first  school  officials  (long  before  present  dis- 
trict was  organized).  The  first  officers  of  the  dis- 
trict under  Peck  township  were:  C.  H.  Harder,  Clerk; 
Moritz  Friebel,  Treasurer;  H.  Ivan,  Director,  elected 
in  1891.  The  1922-23  school  offiicers  were  :  Herman 
Fredrick,  Clerk;  Bert  Goodman,  Director;  and  W.  H. 
Wegner,  Treasurer. 

The  first  frame  house  was  erected  on  section  22,  and 
is  now  owned  by  William  H.  Wegner,  present  Town- 
ship Chairman.  This  frame  dwelling  was  followed  by 
others  and  now  most  of  the  settlers  have  supplanted 
the  log  cabin  with  the  modern  farm  home. 

In  1895  W.  J.  Mattek  erected  a  store  on  section  22. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


229 


It  was  later  owned  by  Edward  Hawley  who  was  asso- 
ciated with  William  H.  Wegner.  Improvements  were 
made  and  the  business  flourished.  It  was  later  re- 
placed by  a  cheese  factory  ( 1917)  operated  first  by  Ed- 
ward Thomae.  The  latter  was  purchased  by  H.  Ehl- 
man  of  Birnamwood,  who  sold  to  Emil  Bartz  in  May, 
1922. 

Among  other  industries  of  pioneer  days  was  a  lath 
mill  erected  on  section  22  by  H.  C.  Humphrey.  It 
operated  only  a  short  time  when  a  destructive  forest 
fire  ignited  and  burned  it  down. 

The  Eau  Claire  river  (west  branch)  runs  through 
sections  22,  27  and  28  in  District  No.  3. 

Most  of  the  roads  are  well  maintained,  the  settlers 
are  engaged  in  scientific  farming,  telephones  are  be- 
coming more  numerous,  pure  bred  stock,  better  dairy- 
ing methods,  community  social  gatherings,  and  con- 
stant touch  with  Antigo,  county  seat,  makes  this  a  dis- 
trict of  high  standing. 

It  is  now  a  marked  contrast  to  that  time  in  1880  when 
boats  were  used  to  go  down  the  Eau  Claire  river  to 
Wausau  and  then  oared  upstream  with  a  load  of  sup- 
plies; or  to  that  period  when  the  oxen  waited  outside 
of  the  log  cabin  while  the  early  settler  took  orders  from 
his  distant  neighbors  for  flour  and  foodstuffs  which  he 
planned  to  return  to  them  from  Wausau  or  Merrill. 
Little  trading  was  done  at  Antigo  then. 

This  district  consisted  of  sections  13,  14,  15,  22,  23, 
24,  25,  26,  27,  and  36,  when  organized  May  8.  1891. 
It  has  experienced  changes  many  times  since.  Its  ter- 
ritory now  includes  sections  12,  13,  14,  22,  23,  24,  and 
the  east  Vg  of  section  28,  the  west  Yz  of  section  27,  the 
SE  14  of  section  21,  the  NE  14  of  section  27  and  the 
north  halves  of  sections  25  and  26.  Its  area  comprises 
5,440  acres. 

RIVERSIDE  GRANGE  NO.  620. 

Langlade  County  leads  in  grange  activities.  Im- 
portant in  the  granges  is  the  Riverside  Grange  No. 
620  organized  at  the  Friebel  school  with  44  charter 
members  by  John  Wilde,  State  Organizer,  February 
22,  1914.  The  first  officers  were :  Master,  William 
H.  Wegner;  Overseer,  Joseph  Helmbrecht,  Sr. ;  Ste- 
ward, Louis  Lensing;  Assistant  Steward,  Charles 
Leidheisl;  Secretary,  August  Lensing;  Treasurer,  Se- 
bastian Leidheisl;  Lecturer,  Helen  Friebel;  Chaplain, 
Sara  Lensing;  Gatekeeper,  Fred  Fick;  Ceres,  Mrs. 
William  H.  Wegner;  Pomona,  Mrs.  Jos.  Kauschinger; 
Flora,  Katherine  Helmbrecht;  Lady  Assistant  Steward, 
Esther  Wegner. 

One  meeting  each  month  is  conducted  during  the 
winter,  while  sessions  are  conducted  every  second 
and  fourth  Saturday  during  the  summer  and  fall. 
1922  officers  were:  Master,  August  Lensing;  Overseer, 
Joseph  Miner;  Steward,  Amos  Wagner;  Secretary, 
William  H.  Wegner;  Treasurer,  Sebastian  Leidheisl; 
Chaplain,  Mrs.  Joseph  Kauschinger;  Lecturer,  Leona 
Kauschinger;  Ceres,  Marie  Kauschinger;  Pomona, 
Leona  Helmbrecht;  Flora,  Verna  Wegner;  Gatekeep- 
er, Louis  Heimler;  Assistant  Steward,  Joseph  Kausch- 
inger; Lady  Assistant  Steward,  Gertrude  Helmbrecht. 


This  organization  is  a  potential  force  in  community 
leadership. 

DISTRICT  NO.  4. 

BLUE  BELL  DISTRICT.  In  the  southwestern  part 
of  Peck  township  is  an  area  of  land  consisting  of  six 
and  one-half  sections  or  4,160  acres  of  land  known  as 
district  No.  4  or  the  Blue  Bell  school  district.  It  was 
first  settled  in  1877  by  homesteaders.  Among  these 
early  settlers  were  George  Hotchkiss,  Riley  Mason, 
Mary  Maltby,  the  Curtiss  family,  Wm.  James,  C.  F. 
Balch,  Mrs.  Henry,  Fadalia  McCumber,  the  Johnston 
family,  and  the  Fryer  family.  Then  this  was  a  vast 
territory,  stretching  north  to  the  Michigan-Wisconsin 
boundary  line  and  was  a  part  of  Lincoln  County.  All 
of  the  northern  Wisconsin  counties  were  very  large  in 
that  period  following  the  close  of  the  Civil  War. 

The  pioneer  settlers  were  constantly  facing  crisis', 
almost  unbearable  burdens  and  hardships.  Their 
homes  were  roughly  constructed  cabins.  Two  rooms 
in  a  farm  home  was  considered  very  progressive  for 
the  period. 

The  first  school  was  erected  on  section  31  on  the 
old  Maltby  homestead  location.  It  was  used  until 
1883  when  another  building  for  school  purposes  was 
erected  on  the  Yopes  farm  property,  section  31.  This 
school  was  used  until  1891  when  it  was  moved  to  sec- 
tion 32  where  it  now  is  used  as  the  farm  home  of  one 
of  the  settlers. 

In  1909  a  modern  school  was  erected  by  J.  P.  Cleary 
on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  32.    It  cost  $1,000. 

On  the  McCumber  old  homestead,  a  general  store 
and  post  office  were  operated  for  a  number  of  years 
as  Morley  post  office.  It  was  then  moved  to  the  pres- 
ent site  of  Morley.  W.  J.  Morley,  Oshkosh  lumber- 
man, was  the  proprietor  of  the  store.  The  old  build- 
ing still  stands. 

Average  attendance  at  the  Blue  Bell  school  is  forty- 
three  pupils.  Mrs.  Johnson  (formerly  a  Miss  Prosser) 
was  an  early  teacher.  Miss  R.  Singer  was  the  first 
teacher  in  the  new  school.  The  1921-22  teacher  was 
Bessie  Augustyn. 

Members  of  the  1922-23  school  board  were:  J.  P. 
Cleary,  Director;  Mrs.  John  Zirkel,  Treasurer,  and 
Ludwig  Strum,  Clerk. 

District  No.  4  was  organized  as  a  joint  district  May 
8,  1891.  It  consisted  of  sections  1  and  2  of  Township 
31,  Range  9  East,  sections  4,  5  and  6,  Township  31, 
Range  10  East,  and  the  south  one-half  of  the  north 
west  quarter  of  section  30  and  all  of  section  31,  32,  33, 
34,  35,  Township  32,  Range  10  East  (Peck). 

Peter  G.  Beck,  G.  F.  Walch,  and  Sidna  Boda  were  the 
township  supervisors  of  Peck  and  Charles  Nelson,  W. 
L.  Ackley  and  James  Siota  were  the  Ackley  township 
supervisors  who  sanctioned  the  organization  of  this 
district. 

New  settlers  are  still  coming  into  this  district.  The 
chief  occupation  is  agriculture.  Antigo  is  the  princi- 
pal trading  center. 

The  first  district  school  officers  elected  were :  Jona- 
than Reader,  Clerk;  Carl  Yopes,  Treasurer,  and  G.  F. 
Walch,  Director.      They  were  elected  in  1891. 


230 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


August  17,  1892,  the  school  term  was  designated  at 
six  months.  The  old  blue  school  house  of  district 
No.  4  of  Vilas  was  moved  to  Peck  township,  having 
been  purchased  by  the  people  of  this  district.  Their 
children  heretofore  had  attended  that  school,  but  it 
was  too  far  for  them  to  walk  every  day. 

On  September  17,  1906,  this  district  ceased  to  be 
a  joint  unit  with  Ackley  and  became  a  complete  Peck 
district.  July,  1908,  it  was  decided  to  erect  a  new 
school  on  the  northwest  corner  of  section  32. 

JOINT  DISTRICT  NO.  5. 

ROSEDALE  DISTRICT.  On  July  30,  1906,  this 
district  was  organized  as  a  distinct  school  unit,  includ- 
ing territory  of  both  Ackley  and  Peck  townships.  That 
part  of  Peck  included  in  this  district  consisted  of  the 
south  half  of  sections  25,  26,  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section  27,  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  33,  sec- 
tions 34,  35  and  36.  East  Ackley  territory  in  the  dis- 
trict included  the  north  ^2  of  section  1,  all  of  sections  2, 
3,  4  and  5.  Nelson  Shanks,  P.  Greenland  and  William 
Fick  were  then  supervisors  of  Peck  township  and 
Charles  Nelson,  F.  G.  Kennedy  and  R.  Yonkee  were 
representing  Ackley  township. 

No  changes  have  been  made  in  the  district  with  the 
exception  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  25  and 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  36  of  Township  32, 
Range  10.  This  territory  was  added  to  Joint  District 
No.  3,  Neva  and  Peck  townships,  August  24,  1914. 

This  territory  was  originally  a  part  of  districts  3 
and  4  as  created  May  8,  1891.  When  district  No.  5, 
Joint,  was  organized  the  territory  was  taken  from  Dis- 
trict No.  3  of  Ackley  and  District  No.  4  of  Peck.  Mi- 
chael Kennedy  and  John  Hafner  represented  the  Ack- 
ley school  and  Willard  Lloyd  and  H.  W.  James  rep- 
resented the  Peck  school  at  the  negotiations. 

Before  the  district  was  organized  the  children  at- 
tended the  Friebel  and  Longfellow  schools. 

The  first  school  board  in  this  district  consisted  of 
James  Shopbell,  H.  J.  Richey  and  W.  J.  Diamond,  Di- 
rector, Treasurer  and  Clerk  respectively.  James  A. 
Barker,  A.  L.  Hayner  and  T.  Johnson  were  Clerk,  Trea- 
surer and  Director  in  1921-22. 

The  first  school  in  this  district  was  an  old  store 
building  which  was  used  until  1906  when  a  modern 
school  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  approximately  $1,600. 
In  1906  $375  was  set  aside  as  "teacher's  yearly  sal- 
ary" for  the  ensuing  year.  Early  teachers  were:  Nellie 
Kevan,  Josephine  Cook,  Agnes  Singer  and  Nannie  Ma- 
loney.    The  1921-22  teacher  was  Miss  Sylvia  Chadek. 

The  land  used  for  school  purposes  is  one  acre  leas- 
ed from  H.  Fosterling. 

Early  settlers  in  this  district  were  H.  J.  Richey,  Vo- 
hun  Yonkee,  R.  Yonkee,  H.  Fosterling,  Goettlib  Walch, 


William  Klaves,  W.  J.  Diamond,  James  Shopbell,  and 

others. 

In  this  district  was  once  an  extensive  prairie  where 
a  Chippewa  Indian  settlement  was  located.  This  is 
within  the  memory  of  white  settlers  who  established 
in  the  township  in  pioneer  days.  The  Indians  hunted 
and  fished  nearby.  They  left  proof  of  their  existence 
by  burial  mounds,  utensils  and  arrow  heads  which  are 
frequently  found. 

Ray  Walch  and  A.  L.  Hayner,  settlers  in  this  dis- 
trict, were  selected  as  members  of  the  original  Lang- 
lade County  Board  of  Education  in  1915. 

The  district  has  annual  exhibits  at  the  school.  They 
are  educational  and  instructive. 

A  M.  E.  church  is  established  in  Rosedale. 

The  Eau  Claire  river  (east  branch)  runs  through  the 
district. 

The  district  is  principally  an  agricultural  one.  All 
farmers  are  progressive,  have  excellent  farm  buildings 
and  excellent  soil,  all  of  which  speaks  well  for  the 
future. 

DISTRICT  NO.  6. 

ORMSBY  DISTRICT.  This  district  comprises  a 
small  area  of  land  situated  in  the  north  central  part 
of  Peck  township.  The  first  settlers  were  Orvis 
Vaughn,  Barney  Brennan,  Wm.  Ormsby  and  R.  C. 
Brown.  Mr.  Ormsby,  after  whom  the  post  office  was 
named,  came  to  this  district  from  Milwaukee.  Asso- 
ciated in  his  work  with  him  was  R.  C.  Brown  of  Osh- 
kosh.  They  formed  the  Northern  Woodland  Company 
and  in  1900  erected  a  sawmill  on  section  16.  The  mill 
v/as  used  until  it  burned  in  1912.  This  original  com- 
pany, by  reorganization,  became  the  Union  Lime  Com- 
pany and  then  the  Ormsby  Land  &  Timber  Company. 
E.  P.  Hoeft,  Ormsby,  is  the  resident  manager  of  the 
concern.  H.  R.  Swanke  of  Tigerton,  Wis.,  in  his  as- 
sociate. 

The  first  school  was  erected  in  1906  and  G.  Deir- 
lein  was  the  first  teacher.  Other  early  teachers  were 
Martha  Petrofsky  and  Blanche  Nelson.  The  last 
teacher  was  Stella  Jacobus,  school  having  been  dis- 
continued since  1920.  The  frame  school,  section  16, 
was  built  in  1906. 

Present  industries  at  Ormsby  are  the  general  store, 
hotel  and  blacksmith  shop  of  the  Ormsby  Land  8f 
Timber  Company.  The  first  postmaster  was  Henry 
C.  Eickert,  also  the  first  store  manager  for  Mr.  Orms- 
by.   E.  P.  Hoeft  was  the  last  postmaster. 

The  Ormsby  Land  &  Timber  Company  has  four 
hundred  acres  of  good  land  under  cultivation  in  this 
district. 

The  track  from  Kempster  was  laid  to  Ormsby  in 
1900. 


HISTORY  OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


231 


CHAPTER  XLV. 
Polar  Township  No.  31  N.,  R.  12  E. 

Survey  of  1857— Area— Drainage— Surface— H.  B.  Polar,  Indian  Trader— Territorial  Changes  of 
Polar— Early  Roads— Officials  of  Polar,  1881-1923— Schuman— Highland— Franklin —Edison — 
Lincoln — Clark — First  Store  in  Polar — Industries — Post  Office — Sylvan  Lake. 


Polar  township  lies  immediately  east  of  Antigo  in 
congressional  township  31  North  of  Range  12  East.  It 
is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Price  township,  on  the  east 
by  Evergreen  township,  on  the  south  by  Norwood  town- 
ship and  the  Menominee  Indian  Reservation  and  on 
the  west  by  Antigo  township.  The  township  survey 
was  started  November  21,  1857,  and  was  completed 
December  1,  1857.      James  McBride  was  the  surveyor. 

The  surface  of  Polar  is  undulating  and  hilly.  Deep 
ravines,  valleys,  highlands  and  plateaus,  all  exist,  and 
are  very  fertile.  Originally  the  entire  area  was  cov- 
ered with  a  growth  of  heavy  forest  products,  consist- 
ing of  white  pine,  hemlock,  oak,  maple,  elm,  basswood 
and  a  dense  undergrowth  of  small  vegetation.  All  has 
yielded  to  the  woodman's  axe  with  the  exception  of 
some  native  groves  that  still  stand. 

The  only  occupants  of  this  unimpenetrated  forest  were 
the  wild  animals,  and  Indians  whose  trails  crossed  each 
other.  Today  Polar  has  a  splendid  net  work  of  high- 
ways, and  excellently  improved  farms  which  produce 
luxuriant  crops  of  all  agricultural  products  adapted  to 
a  temperate  climate.  Herds  of  pure  bred  cattle,  fine 
dairy  farms,  sheep  and  hogs,  poultry,  well  constructed 
silos,  modern  lighting  systems,  telephones — all  these 
have  taken  the  place  of  the  timber  and  brush  line. 

ONE  OF  SIX  ORIGINAL  TOWNSHIPS. 

Polar  was  named  after  Hi.  B.  Polar,  English  pros- 
pector, Indian  trader  and  Stopping  Place  proprietor  of 
the  Wolf  river  country.  It  was  one  of  the  six  original 
Langlade  County  townships  of  1881.  When  organiz- 
ed it  consisted  of  all  that  territory  embracing  the  pres- 
ent township  of  Polar,  Price,  Ainsworth,  a  part  of 
Nashville  township,  Forest  county  and  a  part  of  Wa- 
beno  township.  Forest  county,  in  the  following  govern- 
ment civil  divisions:  Townships  31,  32  and  33  North 
of  Range  12  East  and  townships  34  of  Ranges  12,  13 
and  14  East.  The  first  township  meeting  was  held  at 
the  log  farm  home  of  Moritz  Mueller,  section  16,  town- 
ship 31,  Range  12  East.  James  Schufelt  was  elected 
the  first  township  Chairman.  Herman  Schmeisser  and 
Chester  Starks  were  the  first  Supervisors  of  Polar  town- 
ship. 

EARLY  ROADS. 

The  first  road  application  to  be  acted  upon  in  Polar 
was  a  petition  of  settlers  who  wanted  a  township  line 
road  built  between  townships  30  and  31  of  Range  12 
East.  The  petition  was  sent  to  the  Polar  town  board 
July  1,  1881.  Other  early  roads  were:  Commencing 
at  the  southwest  corner  of  section  31,  Township  31, 


Range  12  East  and  running  north  on  the  range  line  to 
the  quarter  post  of  the  west  side  of  section  30,  Town- 
ship 32,  Range  12  East.  Another  early  road  was  the 
one  built  along  the  section  line  of  sections  21  and  28  of 
township  31,  Range  12  East.  The  road  running  be- 
tween sections  31  and  32,  30  and  29,  19  and  20  was 
constructed  in  the  fall  of  1881.  The  application  for 
this  road  was  made  August  23,  1881.  The  Antigo- 
Polar  road  was  authorized  in  1881. 

Early  highway  overseers  were :  Horace  Dudley,  Bur- 
nam  Dudley,  Valentine  P.  Rath,  August  Hanke,  Robert 
Sprang,  William  Flemming,  Charles  Lade,  and  Wm. 
Kieper. 

TERRITORIAL  CHANGES. 

Before  the  organization  of  Langlade  County  Polar 
belonged  to  Langlade  township,  Oconto  County,  a  vast 
wilderness  embracing  44  and  a  third  townships,  stretch- 
ing north  to  the  Michigan-Wisconsin  boundary.  Its 
original  area  after  the  organization  of  Langlade  County 
was  216  square  miles,  or  six  congressional  townships. 
We  will  now  see  how  it  was  cut  down  to  its  present 
area. 

On  December  13,  1883,  townships  32,  33,  34  of 
Ranges  13  and  14  East  were  detached  from  Polar  and 
formed  into  a  new  township  called  Price.  Polar  has 
since  been  one  congressional  township.  No.  31,  North 
of  Range  12  East. 

POLAR  TOWN  HOUSE. 

The  Polar  township  hall  is  located  on  Highway  No. 
64  in  the  NE  I4  of  the  NE  1/4  of  section  20.  It  is 
a  frame  building  and  was  erected  in  1882. 

OFFICERS  OF  POLAR  TOWNSHIP— 1881-1923. 

CHAIRMEN. 

James  Schufelt— 1881-82;  Moritz  Mueller— 1882-84; 
E.  Radditz— 1884-85;  William  Malliet— 1885-88;  J.  W. 
Parsons— 1888-98;  M.  D.  Besse— 1899-01 ;  Edward 
Nordman— 1901-02;  M.  D.  Besse— 1902-04 ;  R.  J.  Mor- 
gan—1904-05;  Otto  Utnehmer— 1905-06;  W.  W.  Clark 
—1906-08;  John  S.  Bowen— 1908-11;  W.  E.  Jones— 
1911-12;  Julius  Schuman— 1912-16;  John  S.  Bowen— 
1916-18;  Herman  Parsons— 1918-21;  Otto  Utnehmer— 
1921-23. 

CLERKS. 

J.  Kennedy— 1881-82;  M.  D.  Besse— 1882-83;  Clark 
Walrath— 1883-84;  M.  D.  Besse— 1884-86;  Edward 
Nordman— 1886-89;  Moritz  Mueller— 1889-07;  J.  W. 
Yaeger— 1907-08;  Ed.  Utnehmer— 1908-09;  John  Groth 
—1909-23. 


232 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


TREASURERS. 

M.  Mueller— 1881-82;  W.  Schmuhl— 1882-83 ;  Wil- 
liam Schmuhl— 1883-91 ;  Frank  Kuehl— 1891-05;  Louis 
Teske— 1905-08;  William  Hintz— 1908-19;  R.  A.  Bloe- 
dorn— 1919-23. 

SUPERVISORS. 

E.  Radditz.  William  Malliet— 1882-83;  Herman 
Schmeisser,  Chester  Sparks— 1881-82;  J.  W.  Parsons, 
V.  Winner— 1883-84;  Herman  Schmeisser,  Charles 
Soman — 1885-86;  Julius  Schuman,  Charles  Soman — 
1886-87;  Julius  Schuman,  William  Sanders— 1888-89; 
Julius  Schuman,  E.  Kieper— 1889-90;  David  Drew, 
Charles  Soman— 1891-92;  B.  Dudley,  Charles  Parsons 
—1892-94;  Chris  Brandt,  Fred  Hoppe— 1894-96;  Wil- 
liam Flamming,  Wm.  Mader— 1896-97;  Wm.  Flem- 
ming,  H.  Brandt— 1897-98;  H.  Brandt,  William 
Schmuhl— 1899-1900;  David  Drew,  Henry  Brandt— 
1900-01;  Albert  Hoppe,  William  Rusch— 1901-02;  Wil- 
liam Rusch,  Albert  Hoppe— 1902-03;  H.  Bruening, 
Otto  Utnehmer — 1903-05;  Herman  Bruening,  Ernest 
Fischer— 1905-07;  John  Bowen,  Herman  Teske— 1907- 
08;  W.  E.  Jones,  Ernest  Kieper— 1908-09;  W.  E.  Jones, 
Henry  Brandt— 1909-11 ;  Henry  Brandt,  William 
Rusch — 1911-12;  Otto  Hafeman,  Herman  Parsons — 
1912-16;  Louis  L.  Teske,  Herman  Bruening— 1916-17; 
Herman  Bruening,  Henry  Borneman — 1917-18;  Her- 
man Bruening,  Herman  Dallman — 1918-22;  August 
Helmig,  Herman  Bruening — 1922-23. 

ASSESSORS. 

James  Kennedy— 1884-85 ;  J.  W.  Parsons— 1885-87; 
John  Drew— 1888-89;  James  Ryan— 1889-90;  E.  Rad- 
ditz—1891-95;  Martin  Robrecht— 1895-97;  Julius  Schu- 
man—1897-98;  George  Landess— 1899-1900;  Herman 
Bruening— 1900-02;  Henry  Brandt— 1902-03;  Herman 
Teske— 1903-06;  William  Rusch— 1906-10;  Otto  Ut- 
nehmer—1910-13;  William  Rabe— 1913-14;  L.  L. 
Teske— 1914-15;  William  Rusch— 1915-16;  Otto  Ut- 
nehmer—1916-17;  Otto  Hafeman— 1917-21;  Geo. 
Schultz— 1921-22;  Otto  Hafeman— 1922-23. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 

F.  0.  Simmons,  F.  Wedeman,  J.  Schufeldt— 1884-85; 
August  Hintz,  M.  D.  Besse— 1885-86;  J.  G.  Drew— 
1885-87;  Wm.  Peters,  B.  Dudley— 1886-87;  F.  0.  Sim- 
mons, M.  D.  Besse— 1888-90 ;  Charles  Ensler— 1888- 
89;  Edward  Nordman,  J.  W.  Parsons,  James  Ryan — 
1889-90;  J.  Ryan,  B.  Dudley— 1891-93;  J.  M.  Fischer 
— 1891-92;  Edward  Nordman,  George  Wanninger — 
1893-95;  W.  P.  Landess,  J.  Fischer— 1893-94;  F.  O. 
Simmons,  Nels  Mikelson — 1894-95;  J.  M.  Fischer — 
1894-95;  Wm.  Mader,  E.  Kieper— 1895-97 ;  Henry 
Brandt — 1895-96;  F.  0.  Simmons,  H.  Schmeisser,  R. 
Dickman,  C.  Ensle— 1896-97 ;  Edward  Nordman,  J. 
Fischer— 1897-99;  Wm.  Mader— 1897-98;  J.  Fischer, 
C.  Schuman — 1899-01;  H.  Borneman,  Wm.  Landess — 
1899-1900;  Herman  Teske,  F.  Wiershke— 1900-01 ;  R. 
J.  Morgan,  T.  H.  Carson,  Wm.  Landess,  Fred  Hoppe — 
1901-02;  M.  D.  Besse,  J.  M.  Fischer— 1902-04;  H. 
Bruening— 1902-03;  William  Flitcraft,  A.    F.     Hintz, 


Fred  Wierschke— 1903-04;  H.  Borneman,  J.  M.  Fisch- 
er, M.  D.  Besse— 1904-05;  Wm.  Flitcraft,  David  Drew, 
Charles  Lade,  H.  Brandt— 1905-06;  Wm.  Darrow,  F. 
Osten, — Sacken,  Herman  Teske — 1906-07;  Robt. 
Schmidt,  J.  M.  Fischer,  Fred  Montour,  F.  Schultz — 
1907-08;  Robt.  Schmidt,  Herman  Schmeisser,  Sr.,  M. 
Powell,  Louis  Kirsch— 1908-09;  L.  D.  Mader— 1909- 
10;  Robt.  Schmidt,  D.  A.  Mader,  J.  H.  Baker— 1910-11 ; 
John  S.  Bowen,  Robt.  Schmidt,  J.  M.  Fischer — 1911- 
12;  D.  A.  Mader,  Robert  Schmidt— 1912-14;  Albert 
DeVore,  Albert  Hoppe— 1914-15;  D.  A.  Mader,  Henry 
Brandt— 1915-16;  R.  S.  Schmidt,  D.  A.  Mader— 1916- 
17;  R.  S.  Schmidt,  Wm.  Flitcraft— 1917-18;  Herman 
Krueger,  Henry  Duescher — 1918-19;  (No  justices  since 
1919). 

CONSTABLES. 

Joseph  Wilson,  Fred  Rabe,  Charles  A.  Lade— 1884- 
85;  Charles  Lade,  Fred  Rabe— 1885-86;  Julius  Schu- 
man, J.  W.  Parsons— 1886-87;  Joseph  Wilson,  John 
Keechler,  Wm.  Peters— 1888-89;  Wm.  Kieper,  David 
Drew — 1889-90;  Charles  Parsons,  Wm.  Flemming — 
1891-92;  C.  Fischer.  B.  Dudley,  W.  P.  Landess— 1892- 
93;  H.  Brandt,  Wm.  Flemming— 1893-94;  H.  Brandt, 
W.  C.  Weeks,  D.  Montour— 1894-95 ;  Gustav  Martin 
Albert  Hoppe,  Charles  Parsons,  Jr. — 1895-96;  Gus 
Kluwe,  J.  M.  Fischer,  Gus  Brandt,  Albert  Hoppe— 
1896-97;  G.  Kluwe,  H.  Kieper,  J.  Keechler— 1897-98 
Charles  Fischer,  H.  Bruening,  Julius  Jahnke — 
1899-1900;  Henry  Brandt,  R.  Dickman— 1901-02;  F. 
Utnehmer,  H.  E.  Wade— 1902-03;  J.  Utnehmer,  Henry 
Parsons — 1904-05;  Wm.  Darrow,  Charles  Harron — 
1905-06;  George  Landess,  Wm.  Fischer— 1906-07;  R. 
Dickman,  0.  Johnson,  Thos.  Galligan — 1907-08; 
Charles  Rusch,  J.  M.  Fischer— 1908-09;  Albert  Beim- 
born— 1909-10;  John  Utnehmer,  George  Sloat— 1910- 
11;  Albert  Beimborn,  William  Harp— 1911-12;  Wil- 
liam Harp,  George  Sloat,  Herman  Teske — 1912-13;  J. 
M.  Fischer,  Gus.  Martin — 1913-14;  Albert  Beimborn, 
F.  M.  Jones — 1914-15;  Louis  Krueger,  Gustave  Kluwe 
— 1915-16;  William  Rusch,  Wm.  Mader,  Gustave  Hen- 
selman— 1916-17;  J.  M.  Fischer— 1917-18;  Henry 
Brandt,  Henry  Parsons — 1918-19;  Henry  Parsons — 
1919-22;  Henry  Waite— 1922-23. 

DISTRICT  NO.  1. 

SCHUMAN  DISTRICT.  The  Schuman  school  dis- 
trict is  located  in  the  southern  part  of  Polar  township. 
The  land  was  taken  up  by  homesteaders  in  1885,  1886, 
1887,  1888  and  later.  Julius  Schuman,  William  Kie- 
per, Charles  Rabe,  August  Kieper,  Charles  Behm,  W. 
W.  Wheeler,  and  the  Pickel  family,  were  among  the 
first  settlers. 

The  first  school  was  located  on  section  18  in  1887. 
It  was  a  log  structure.  This  school  was  used  until  1902 
when  a  frame  building  was  erected  by  William  Rusch. 

Edward  Nordman,  Hattie  Reader,  Mr.  Conan  and 
Anna  Tibbets,  Frank  Ringsmith,  C.  Koenig  and  Mrs. 
Rine  were  early  teachers.  Carolyn  McCarthy  was 
the  1922-23  teacher. 

The  Franklin  and  Schuman  districts  were  once  one 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


233 


district.  The  1921-22  school  officials  were:  Wm. 
Schuman,  Clerk;  Ed.  Kolpack,  Director  and  Henry 
Parsons,  Treasurer. 

Much  of  the  district  is  yet  uninhabitated. 

DISTRICT  NO.  3. 

FRANKLIN  DISTRICT.  This  is  one  of  the  oldest 
districts  in  Langlade  County,  being  settled  in  1877  by 
William  Schmul,  Jr.  He  was  an  immigrant  from 
New  London,  Waupaca  county,  and  with  him  came  a 
colony  of  twenty-eight,  all  of  whom  moved  elsewhere. 
Among  this  first  group  was  Fred  Demlow  and  Fred 
Rabe,  who,  in  1878  returned  to  the  Franklin  district. 
These  hardy  folk  were  followed  by  other  homestead- 
ers, including  William  Flemming,  Sr.,  Valentine  Weim- 
er,  William  Malliet,  William  Schmul,  Sr.,  Herman 
Schmeisser,  Sr.,  E.  P.  Bridgeman,  Charles  Parsons,  Sr., 
Ernest  Demlow,  James  Kennedy,  Anton  Nonnenmach- 
er,  Martin  Robrecht,  M.  D.  Besse,  Joseph  Wilson,  J. 
W.  Parsons,  August  Hintz,  Ernest  Keiper,  Charles 
Schuman,  William  Bottrell  and  August  Hintz. 

The  thrifty  pioneers  of  this  district  were  not  long 
in  clearing  the  wilderness  and  erecting  comfortable 
homes  for  their  families.  Roads  were  few,  however, 
nothing  but  crooked,  winding  trails  existing.  Early 
roads  were  constructed  east  and  west  on  the  section 
line  of  sections  30  and  31  and  also  sections  29  and  32, 
28  and  33.  Another  pioneer  road  was  constructed  on 
the  section  line  between  sections  31  and  32  running 
north  and  another  on  the  south  line  of  sections  31  and 
32  running  east  and  west. 

Four  years  after  the  first  settler  came  into  Franklin 
district  the  first  school  house  was  erected  on  land  leas- 
ed from  E.  P.  Bridgeman.  It  was  a  quaint  structure 
16x18  feet  and  entirely  constructed  of  logs.  All  the 
benches,  desks  and  other  furniture  were  home  made. 
Alice  Root,  a  southern  Wisconsin  lady,  was  the  first 
teacher.  The  Polar  schools  were  then  under  the  town- 
ship system.  Elfrieda  Pautz  was  the  1922-23  term 
teacher. 

Increased  population  made  a  new  school  necessary 
and  in  1883  a  larger,  more  pretentious  frame  school 
house  was  erected.  This  school  was  operated  under 
the  township  system  until  1885.  The  district  was  or- 
ganized that  year  with  William  Schmuhl,  Jr.,  William 
Malliet  and  Herman  Schmiesser,  Sr.,  as  Treasurer, 
Clerk  and  Director  respectively.  Thus  they  were  the 
first  district  school  officers. 

The  frame  school  was  condemned  in  1915  and  the 
following  June,  C.  F.  Dallman,  who  was  awarded  the 
contract,  began  the  construction  of  the  present  brick 
school.  It  was  completed  in  October,  1916.  Appro- 
priate dedicatory  services  were  conducted  in  which 
Judge  J.  W.  Parsons,  W.  E.  Switzer,  A.  M.  Arveson, 
and  D.  A.  Mader  participated.  This  was  January  13, 
1917. 

The  1922-23  school  officers  were :  R.  Kieper,  Direc- 
tor; H.  Parsons,  Treasurer,  and  Martin  H.  Parsons  as 
Clerk. 

A  Lutheran  church  is  located  on  the  NW  corner  of 
the  NW  corner  of  section  33.  It  was  erected  in  1885. 
The  following  have  been  the  Pastors :     Rev.  Stuben- 


fal,  Rev.  Snider,  Rev.  Michalus,  Rev.  Dachstine,  Rev. 
Ebert  and  Rev.  C.  D.  Griese. 

The  district  has  rapidly  forged  to  the  fore  as  a  dairy- 
ing and  agricultural  center  with  the  dying  out  of  the 
lumber  and  logging  industry.  A  cheese  factory  was 
erected  in  1901  by  Herman  Krueger.  It  was  moved 
to  section  31  in  1907.  Krueger  sold  it  in  1912  to  J.  C. 
Holmes.  In  1913  the  factory  was  re-built.  John 
Haese  purchased  the  plant  in  1918. 

Robert  Krueger  operated  a  store  in  1916  in  the  old 
Herman  Krueger  saloon  building.  In  1918  Herman 
Krueger  took  it  over.  Mr.  Krueger  also  has  a  saw 
mill  on  section  31.      He  built  it  in  1913. 

The  old  log  house  of  William  Flemming  is  the  last 
of  the  early  land  marks  in  this  district.  Many  of  the 
pioneer  settlers  are  still  living,  however. 

Franklin  district  was  named  after  Benjamin  Frank- 
lin, the  eminent  American  statesman,  scientist,  publish- 
er and  writer. 

DISTRICT  NO.  4. 

POLAR  DISTRICT.  In  the  year  1877,  Moritz  Muel- 
ler, an  esteemed  citizen  of  Shawano  County,  Wiscon- 
sin, came  through  eastern  Langlade  County,  passed 
over  the  Indian  trails  in  what  is  now  Polar  township 
and  staked  a  homestead  claim  on  section  16,  township 
31  North,  Range  12  East,  near  a  beautiful  little  lake, 
since  named  Mueller's  Lake,  in  memory  of  his  settle- 
ment near  its  shores.  A  year  passed  and  this  pioneer 
homsteader  moved  his  family  into  the  wilderness. 
With  him  came  his  father-in-law.  Mr.  Mueller  erect- 
ed a  provision  camp,  which  developed  into  the  first 
store  in  Polar.  A  post  office  was  established  and  Mr. 
Mueller  became  the  first  postmaster. 

Following  the  Mueller's  came  other  pioneer  home- 
steaders. Among  them  was  John  Fischer,  John  W.  Par- 
sons and  family,  Edward  Nordman,  Julius  Yanke, 
Charles  Greenburg,  John  Hose,  Ernest  Fischer,  Her- 
man Butzland,  Fred  Simmons,  Chris  Brandt,  Ernest 
Radditz,  Robert  Sprang,  David  Montour,  and  James 
and  John  Drew.      There  were  other  early  settlers  also. 

The  first  manufacturing  institution  in  Polar  village 
was  erected  in  1888  by  the  Webster  Manufacturing 
Company  of  Menasha.  It  operated  successfully  under 
their  ownership  until  1898,  when  the  T.  D.  Kellogg 
Lumber  St  Manufacturing  Company  purchased  it.  It 
has  since  been  under  their  ownership  and  management. 
Thomas  Kellogg,  a  grandson  of  T.  D.  Kellogg,  who 
owned  one  of  the  first  of  Langlade  County  saw  mills, 
has  been  Manager  and  Superintendent  of  the  plant 
since  1910.  The  planing  mill  burned  in  1918.  It  was 
never  rebuilt. 

Polar  village  originally  adopted  the  name  "Mueller's 
Lake."  It  was  known  by  this  name  for  many  years. 
After  1888  when  the  Webster  Manufacturing  Company 
erected  their  mills  at  the  village  it  was  re-named  Syl- 
van Lake  by  Mrs.  Weeks,  who  was  then  Postmistress. 
The  mill  pond  was  then  a  large  body  of  water  and  the 
name  applied  directly  to  it.  When  the  Webster  Com- 
pany sold  their  interests  the  name  reverted  back  to 
Mueller's  Lake  and  was  called  such  until  the  citizens 
voted  to  call  it  Polar,  in  honor  of  Hi.  B.  Polar,  the  In- 


234 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


dian  trader  and  prospector,  after  whom  Polar  township 
was  named. 

The  first  Polar  school  was  a  log  building  erected  in 
1878.  Before  this  school  was  held  in  Moritz  Mueller's 
residence.  The  first  pupils  were  Herman  and  Clara 
Mueller  and  Ed.  S.  Brooks  was  the  first  teacher. 

School  was  conducted  for  many  years  in  the  log 
school  that  once  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present  Polar 
school,  section  15.  Lucy  Grignon  and  Tille  Fergu- 
son were  teachers  in  the  log  school  house.  Follow- 
ing the  log  school  a  frame  school  was  erected.  Aft- 
er many  years  service  it  was  moved  from  its  original 
site  and  became  a  church. 

Then  a  new  frame  school,  one  story,  was  erected. 
It  was  used  in  its  original  form  until  a  second  story 
was  added  on  account  of  increased  enrollment.  The 
Polar  graded  school  of  today  is  well  equipped.  1922- 
23  teachers  in  the  Polar  graded  schools  are :  Elizabeth 
Kleiber,  Mrs.  Emil  Kramer  and  Mrs.  Ed.  Hose. 

The  oldest  building  in  Polar  still  stands.  It  was 
the  residence  of  Ernest  Radditz  and  was  erected  in 
1881.  A  Sunday  School  was  organized  in  Polar  in 
1880  by  W.  W.  Wheeler  and  Mr.  Masterson.  Old 
frame  structures  still  existing  belong  to  William  Bruen- 
ing,  Carl  Gruenberg,  Robert  Hitz  and  Otto  Bruening. 

Robert  Schmidt  is  the  present  postmaster. 

Business  places  in  Polar  village  are :  Gus  Hensel- 
man  store  and  restaurant,  the  T.  D.  Kellogg  Lumber  & 
Manufacturing  mill,  T.  D.  Kellogg  Lumber  &  Manu- 
facting  Company  store,  R.  A.  Bloedorn,  soft  drink  par- 
lor, the  Polar  General  Garage,  Arnold  Hoppe,  prop., 
the  Walter  Trakel  garage,  a  cheese  factory,  now  ope- 
rated by  Emil  Kramer,  a  blacksmith  shop  run  by 
Charles  Rusch,  and  a  shoemaker  shop  conducted  by 
Ed.  Schultze,  and  the  R.  P.  Schmidt  store. 

The  Polar  Grange  hall  is  located  in  Polar  village. 

A  Soldiers  and  Sailors  Memorial  Park  is  located  at 
Polar  and  a  full  account  of  this  project  is  found  in  the 
military  chapter. 

The  principal  highway  is  No.  64. 

DISTRICT  NO.  5. 

EDISON  DISTRICT.  This  school  district  contains 
all  of  sections  3,  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  and  the  west  half  of  sec- 
tion 9,  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Polar  township.  It 
was  first  settled  by  Charles  Soman,  Sr.,  who  came  there 
in  1878.  Joseph  Soman,  Sr.,  and  Frank  Kuehl,  Sr., 
also  came  in  1878.  They  took  up  government  home- 
stead lands.  Edgar  Neff,  a  pioneer  mill  owner  in 
Antigo  township,  took  up  a  homestead  in  this  district 
in  1879.      These  men  were  the  first  pioneer  settlers. 

In  1880  a  school  district  was  organized  and  Charles 
Soman  erected  a  small  log  school.  The  only  children 
to  attend  this  school  were  those  of  the  Edgar  Neff 
family.  The  school  was  then  under  the  supervision 
of  township  school  officers.  The  district  originally 
was  known  as  District  No.  5,  but  after  the  Edgar  Neff 
family  moved  from  the  community  it  was  attached  to 
District  No.  2.  In  1889  it  was  re-organized  and  a  new 
school  was  erected.  It  was  a  frame  school  and  most 
of  the  material  was  purchased  from  Davis  Brothers  of 
Bryant.  Mr.  Cunard  was  the  first  teacher  in  the 
frame  school.      Nelson  K.  Joles  purchased  the  frame 


school  for  $13  in  1905,  after  a  new  one  was  erected  of 
brick.  August  Stabe  was  the  contractor.  Nellie 
Larson  was  the  first  teacher  in  the  brick  school.  Other 
teachers  were :  Nannie  Congleton,  Ida  Hudson,  Char- 
lotte Tobey,  Lola  Wilson,  Agnes  Wolter,  Anna  Weix, 
May  Napier,  and  Dorothy  Borth. 

The  school  officers  once  planned  an  eastern  and 
western  school  in  the  district  but  this  idea  was  aband- 
oned just  before  the  brick  school  was  erected.  The 
1922-23  teacher  is  Delphos  Michaelson. 

The  1922-23  school  officers  were :  T.  C.  Forthman, 
Director;  J.  L.  Creech,  Treasurer,  and  Mrs.  Fred  Mc- 
Carthy, Clerk. 

The  district  was  named  after  Thomas  Edison,  dis- 
tinguished inventor  and  world  renown  scientist. 

DISTRICT  NO.  7. 

CLARK  DISTRICT.  The  Clark  district  is  located 
in  the  northern  part  of  Polar  township.  The 
first  settler  was  James  Bodo,  who  came  into 
the  district,  settled  for  a  short  time,  and  then 
moved  away.  He  was  followed  by  Mr.  Clark, 
who  came  into  the  district  from  Antigo,  where 
he  had  prospected  previously.  The  third  set- 
tler was  a  Mr.  Caudill,  who  came  from  Kentucky.  He, 
like  those  who  came  before,  erected  a  rough  log  shan- 
ty on  section  12.  He  was  dissatisfied,  however,  and 
would  not  live  in  the  country  without  his  family.  He 
then  returned  to  Kentucky,  arranged  for  moving  his 
family,  which  he  did.  The  first  frame  building  was 
erected  by  him.  It  was  a  two  story  house,  in  which 
he  has  since  resided. 

Other  settlers  followed  and  before  long  Clark  dis- 
trict was  fairly  populated.  The  railroad  came  through 
the  district  long  before  the  first  settlers,  but  roads  were 
built  after  an  elapse  of  years.  The  old  Herman  trail 
has  since  became  the  main  highway. 

The  first  school  in  the  district  was  a  log  school  erect- 
ed just  across  the  road  from  the  present  school.  Mrs. 
Soman  was  the  first  teacher.  In  1910  a  frame  school 
was  constructed.  Early  teachers  were :  Cora  Hunger- 
ford,  Miss  Censky,  Maud  Smith,  Martha  Weix,  Alice 
Doucette,  Mrs.  Thornsberry,  Anna  Klitz,  and  others. 
The  present  teacher  is  Rose  Singer. 

The  first  school  meeting  was  held  in  the  old  Logan 
house.  The  district  was  organized  in  1910.  The 
Logan  house  was  used  for  one  year  as  a  school.  Au- 
drey Creeck,  Florence  Caudill  and  Ora  Caudill  attend- 
ed the  log  school. 

Mr.  Caudill  owned  the  first  automobile  in  this  dis- 
trict. 

The  1922-23  school  officers  were:  Maud  Jacobs, 
Clerk;  F.  M.  Jones,  Director,  and  Ben  H.  Baker,  Treas- 
urer. 

Early  settlers  were:  James  Bodo,  the  Clark,  Mr. 
Caudill,  George  Bonner,  Mr.  Dyer,  W.  W.  Clark  and 
Veclak  families. 

The  pioneers  of  Clark  district  were  forced  to  under- 
go many  hardships.  However  they  have  developed 
farms,  erected  good  buildings  and  have  provided  prop- 
er facilities  for  the  education  of  their  children.  This 
is  a  striking  contrast  to  that  day  when  James  Bodo, 
the  wanderer,  first  came  into  this  region. 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


235 


CHAPTER  XLVI. 
Price  Township  No.  32  N.,  R.  12  E. 

Named  After  Congressman  William  T.  Price — Township  of  Eagle  in  1883— The  Davis  Mill  Ticket  of 
1883 — Val.  Rath,  Leader  of  the  Homestead  Ticket — Davis  Brothers  Influential — Schools  Under 
Township  System  Originally — Price  Detachments  of  1885 — Forest  County  Beneficiary — Price 
Township  Officials  1884-1923 — Kent  Joint  District — Malcolm  District — Bryant  District — Green 
Valley  District  (Price). 


Price  township  was  named  in  honor  of  Congressman 
William  T.  Price,  of  Black  River  Falls,  Wisconsin,  who 
served  in  the  48th  and  49th  Congresses  as  a  representa- 
tive of  the  8th  district,  (1885-86).  Congressman  Price 
died  December  7,  1886.  The  township  dedicated  in 
his  memory  was  surveyed  December  2-12,  inclusive  in 
the  year  1857.  Surveyor  McBride  reported  "that  the 
township  contains  but  few  swamps  and  no  streams." 
The  north  half  and  eastern  part  of  Price  are  hilly, 
rolling  and  broken  regions  while  the  southwest  quar- 
ter is  level.  Elm,  maple,  birch,  pine  and  fir  were  the 
principal  forest  products.  Lawrence  Lake  lies  in  the 
northwestern  part  of  section  15.  The  U.  S.  survey  of 
Price  was  conducted  by  James  McBride  upon  orders 
from  the  U.  S.  Surveyor-General  with  headquarters 
at  Dubuque,  Iowa. 

WANTED  TOWN  OF  EAGLE. 

November  13,  1883,  a  petition  signed  by  Sam  J. 
Price,  George  H.  Fehl  and  others  was  presented  to  the 
county  board  requesting  that  all  of  townships  32,  33, 
and  34  of  Range  12  East  and  townships  34  of  ranges  13 
and  14  East,  be  detached  from  Polar  township  and  or- 
ganized into  a  new  town  to  be  known  as  Eagle  town- 
ship. December  13,  1883,  the  committee  on  town  or- 
ganization recommended  the  creation  of  a  new  town- 
ship out  of  the  divisions  proposed.  Thus  the  resolu- 
tion passed  and  Price  township,  containing  the  enor- 
mous area  of  115,200  acres,  most  of  which  contained  a 
wealth  of  forest  products,  came  into  existence. 

The  first  annual  meeting  was  held  at  the  home  of 
John  Rath,  section  21,  township  32,  range  12  east  on 
April  1,  1884.  Twenty-nine  voters  cast  their  ballot 
for  or  against  the  "mill  ticket"  or  the  "homesteaders" 
at  this  historic  election.  These  early  pioneers  of 
Price  were:  Charles  H.  Davis,  V.  P.  Rath,  George 
Miller,  Austin  Muzzy,  Walter  Vanderhoof,  E.  M.  Phil- 
lips, Nicholas  Preston,  Thomas  Hutchinson,  John  B. 
Lavene,  Joseph  Houle,  George  H.  McGregor,  Isreal 
Kims,  John  Rath,  George  H.  Fehl,  H.  P.  Polar,  Fred 
Hayssen,  B.  McKinney,  Henry  Stadler,  Ed.  Dalton, 
James  Hartman,  John  Connelly,  John  McClaskey,  An- 
drew Hartman,  Charles  Price,  Sam  J.  Price,  J.  E.  Davis, 
J.  B.  Buckstaff,  John  Hartman  and  A.  A.  Hurlbert. 

THE  ELECTION  CONTEST. 

George  H.  Davis,  mill  owner  at  Bryant  lead  the  "mill 
ticket"  while  the  settlers,  principally  homesteaders  ral- 
lied around  V.  P.  Rath,  who  headed  the  "homestead- 


ers ticket."  The  remote  homesteaders  were  unable  to 
vote  because  of  the  distance  from  the  polls  and  lack  of 
roads.  Oxen  and  horses  were  not  plentiful  and  the 
Indian  trail  was  the  best  road.  Davis  received  17 
votes  to  12  for  Mr.  Rath  and  was  elected  Chairman. 
A.  A.  Hurlbert  and  E.  M.  Phillips  were  elected  Super- 
visors; Clark  Walrath,  Clerk;  Fred  Hayssen,  who  later 
became  an  Antigo  Mayor,  Treasurer;  Charles  Colta, 
Sam  Price  and  H.  B.  Polar  of  the  upper  Wolf  country 
chosen  Justices  of  the  Peace.  J.  McClaskey  was  elect- 
ed Assessor  and  C.  Walrath  and  R.  Brush  were  chos- 
en Constables. 

J.  E.  David,  J.  R.  Buckstaff  and  J.  McClaskey  were 
the  first  election  inspectors  in  the  town. 

The  settlers  were  opposed  to  licensing  retail  liquor 
establishments  as  was  demonstrated  by  a  20  to  6  vote 
at  the  first  election. 

THE  FIRST  ACT  OF  PRICE  OFFICIALS. 

The  first  act  of  Price  township  officials  was  to  raise 
$620  for  teacher's  salaries  for  the  year  1884-85.  They 
also  appropriated  $1,600  for  school  purposes  at  this 
same  session,  the  first  special  meeting  of  Price  town- 
ship. May  24,  1884. 

TERRITORIAL  DETACHMENTS. 

History  has  produced  the  fact  that  not  a  single  Lang- 
lade County  township  originally  a  vast  area  has  re- 
mained long  in  that  status.  Price  township  is  no  ex- 
ception to  this  statement.  The  five  townships  did  not 
have  much  in  common  with  township  32  in  which 
the  village  of  Bryant  is  situated.  The  Davis  Broth- 
ers, with  their  mill  and  its  influence  among  the  settlers 
and  also  the  employes,  controlled  affairs,  for  many 
years. 

Townships  34  of  ranges  13  and  14  East  were  detach- 
ed from  Price  and  made  a  part  of  Forest  County  by 
Chapter  436  of  Wisconsin  statutes  of  1885.  This  left 
Price  township  containing  townships  32,  33  and  34  of 
Range  12  or  all  of  the  present  area  of  Price  township 
and  Ainsworth  township.  It  remained  in  that  status 
until  1905,  when  townships  33  and  34  of  Range  12 
East  were  detached  and  created  into  Ainsworth  town- 
ship. 

SCHOOLS  UNDER  TOWNSHIP  SYSTEM. 

Price  township  originally  was  under  the  township 
school  system.  As  late  as  1907  it  remained  under 
the  township  educational  system.  Then  four  school 
districts  were  created  as  follows :    District  No.  1 — the 


236 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


E.  1/2  of  section  15.  the  SE  Vi  of  section  22,  the  SW 
14  of  section  22,  the  NW  H  of  section  22,  the  S  1  2  of 
section  21,  all  of  section  28,  all  of  section  27  and  34,  the 
E.  1/2  of  section  33,  the  NW  14  of  the  NW  1/4  of  sec- 
tion 33,  the  E.  I2  of  the  NW  H  of  section  33  or  an 
area  of  3,480  acres.  District  No.  2— the  SW  14  of 
section  33,  the  SW  14  of  the  NW  14  of  section  33.  all 
of  sections  29,  30.  31.  32.  the  S.  1.2  of  the  S.  1 2  of  sec- 
tions 19  and  20  or  an  area  of  3.080  acres.  District  No. 
3— all  of  sections  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  9,  the  W.  1  2  of  sections 
3  and  10,  all  of  sections  16,  17,  18,  the  N.  I2  of  sec- 
tions 19  and  20,  the  north  1 2  of  the  south  14  of  sections 
19  and  20  and  the  north  ^2  of  section  21  or  an  area  of 
7,680  acres.  District  No.  4 — all  of  sections  1,  2,  11, 
12,  13,  14,  23,  24,  25.  35  and  36.  the  NE  14  of  section 
22,  the  W.  1 2  of  sections  3.  10,  15,  or  an  area  of  8,800 
acres.  The  same  boundaries  applied  to  the  first  four 
road  districts  of  Price  township  after  the  last  territorial 
detachments.    The  districts  were  in  township  No.  32. 

FIRST  SCHOOL  OFFICERS. 

October  6,  1884,  A.  A.  Hurlbert  was  elected  Presi- 
dent of  the  Price  township  school  board.  H.  B.  Polar 
and  Thomas  Hutchinson  were  chosen  Vice-president 
and  Secretary  respectively.       Thomas  Hutchinson,  E. 

B.  Knapp  (who  resigned  and  was  succeeded  by  Clark 
Walrath).  A.  A.  Hurlbert  and  H.  B.  Polar  was  chosen 
clerks  of  the  four  districts. 

OFFICERS  OF  PRICE  TOWNSHIP  FROM  1884  TO 
1923  INCLUSIVE. 

CHAIRMEN. 

J.  E.  Davis— 1884-90;  V.  P.  Rath— 1890-91 ;  T. 
Bethel— 1891-93;  N.  C.  Bruce— 1893-95;  Chester 
Starks— 1895-96;  Thomas  Hutchinson— 1896-98;  Ches- 
ter Starks- 1898-1900;  J.  J.  Seeman— 1900-01;  Charles 
L.  McArthey— 1901-03;  C.  E.  Jones— 1903-05 ;  Thomas 
Hutchinson— 1905-06;  C.  E.  Jones— 1906-07;  George 
P.  Carlson— 1907-09;  Thomas  Hutchinson— 1909-10 
August  Carlson— 1910-12;  J.  H.  Baker.  Jr.— 1912-15 

C.  J.  McClellan— 1915-17;  Gustav  Hartman— 1917-18 
John  H.  Reeves— 1918-21 ;  Gustav  Hartman— 1921-23. 

CLERKS. 

Clark  Walrath— 1884-85 ;  J.  B.  Loomis— 1885-86; 
Niel  McKinnon— 1886-90;  A.  Dalton— 1890-91 ;  E.  H. 
Van  Ostrand— 1891-92;  Charles  L.  McArthey— 1892- 
97;  E.  R.  Chambers— 1897-99;  V.  P.  Rath— 1899-02 ; 
William  Blythe— 1903-06;  A.  Dalton— 1906-07;  Wil- 
liam Blythe— 1907-23. 

SUPERVISORS. 

A.  A.  Hurlbert— 1884-85 ;  E.  M.  Phillips— 1884  (re- 
signed); Thomas  Hutchinson — 1884-85;  John  McClas- 
key,  David  Montour— 1885-86;  John  McClaskey,  B. 
McKinney— 1886-87 ;  A.  A.  Hurlbert.  Thomas  Hutch- 
inson—1887-88;  David  Montour.  A.  Barnes— 1888-90; 
Charles  L.  McArthey,  John  Rath— 1890-91 ;  James 
Hartman.  Charles  Price — 1891-92;  John  Grant,  August 
Carlson— 1892-93;  Henry  Johnson,  S.  L.  Doolittle— 
1893-94;  Malcolm  Hutchinson— 1893-94.  (appointed  in 


June);  Charles  Price.  John  Grant— 1894-95 ;  John 
Gillen.  John  Grant — 1895-97;  Grant  Simpson,  J.  P. 
Sanders— 1897-99;  John  Hartman,  John  Grant— 1899- 
1900;  Frank  Thompson,  John  Grant— 1900-01;  Wm. 
Malliet,  Herman  Carlson — 1901-02;  Flanary  Horton, 
V.  Snowden — 1902-03;  Flanary  Horton,  George  Carl- 
son—1903-04;  B.  Dudley,  Flanary  Horton— 1904-05 ; 
William  Malliet,  Flanary  Horton— 1905-06 ;  H.  A.  De- 
hart.  G.  P.  Carlson— 1906-07 ;  J.  W.  Standiford.  H.  A. 
Dehart— 1907-08;  Flanary  Horton.  Wm.  Malliet— 
1908-09;  B.  Dudley.  Boone  Powell— 1909-10;  John 
Grant.  Amos  Crum— 1910-11;  Wm.  Feldt.  Wm.  Malliet 
—1911-12;  Wm.  Feldt,  Flanary  Horton— 1912-14;  B. 
Dudley,  C.  H.  Price— 1914-15;  C.  H.  Price,  C.  E.  Keg- 
ley— 1915-16;  Fred  Hartman,  Emil  Carlson— 1916-17; 
Flanary  Horton,  William  Daugherty — 1917-18;  Flan- 
ary Horton,  Emil  Carlson — 1918-19;  Flanary  Horton, 
Charles  E.  Kegley— 1919-22;  Flanary  Horton,  C.  M. 
Porter— 1922-23. 

TREASURERS. 

Fred  Hayssen— 1884-87 ;  George  Fehl— 1887  (did 
not  serve) ;  John  McClaskey — 1887-88  (appointed); 
C.  H.  Davis— 1888-89;  Thomas  Hutchinson— 1890-93; 
Andrew  Norem — 1893-95;  E.  Jansen,  (appointed)  — 
1895-02;  J.  J.  Seaman— 1902-03;  Gustav  Hartman— 
1903-10;  George  L.  Congleton— 1910-13;  Gustav  Hart- 
man—1913-16;  Charles  W.  Porter— 1915-18;  B.  S. 
Powell— 1918-23. 

ASSESSORS. 

John  McClaskey— 1884;  H.  B.  Polar,  (appointed)  — 
1884-85;  Chester  Starks— 1885-89;  Clark  Walrath— 
1889-90;  Chester  Starks— 1890-92;  E.  Davis— 1892-93; 
Chester  Starks— 1893-94;  A.  A.  Hurlbert— 1895-96;  V. 
P.  Rath— 1896-97 ;  Gustav  Hartman— 1897-99;  Charles 
Price— 1899-1900;  M.  D.  Green— 1900-02;  Malcolm 
Hutchinson— 1902-03;  M.  D.  Green— 1903-07;  Fred 
Price— 1907-10;  Charles  L.  McArthey— 1910-14;  How- 
ard H.  White— 1914-15;  Frank  L.  Malliet— 1915-19; 
Alfred  Pearson— 1919-20;  George  Hurlbert— 1920-21 ; 
J.  W.  Standiford— 1921-22;  C.  J.  McClellan— 1922-23. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 

Charles  Colta,  Sam  Price.  H.  B.  Polar— 1884-85 ;  J. 
B.  Loomis— 1885-86;  John  McClaskey— 1885-87;  Niel 
McKinnon.  George  Fehl — 1886-88;  S.  Anderson.  Sam 
Irish— 1887-88;  Chester  Starks— 1889-90;  Charles  D. 
Brown— 1889-90;  T.  G.  McGraw.  A.  Dalton— 1890-91 ; 
E.  T.  Clegg— 1892-93;  Andrew  Norem— 1892-96;  T. 
M.  Dobbs— 1896-97;  M.  D.  Green.  E.  T.  Clegg— 1897- 
98;  M.  D.  Green.  T.  M.  Dobbs— 1898-99;  E.  R.  Cham- 
bers—1899-01;  T.  M.  Dobbs— 1900-02;  J.  N.  Gillen.  V. 
P.  Rath,  R.  H.  Hannon— 1900-01;  V.  P.  Rath,  Grant 
Simpson,  A.  Slimmer,  Tom  Wilson — 1901-02;  Charles 
L.  McArthey— 1902-03;  J.  W.  Smith.  Grant  Napier.  A. 
E.  Foster— 1903-04 ;  R.  W.  Phillips,  Charles  McArthey 
—1904-05;  Wm.  Mitchell— 1905-19;  Thomas  Hutchin- 
son—1905-06;  Charles  McArthey,  J.  W.  Standiford— 
1906-07;  J.  J.  Seeman,  Clarence  Malliet— 1907-08;  C. 
H.   Price— 1908-09;   Wm.   Daugherty— 1909-12;   Flan- 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


237 


ary  Horton,  1910;  J.  W.  Smith— 1911-12;  Frank  Furry 
—1912-13;  L.  B.  Judy,  S.  L.  Porter— 1914-15;  J.  W. 
Standiford,  L.  B.  Judy— 1915-16;  J.  W.  Standiford— 
1916-18;  Ernest  Luerquin— 1918-19;  J.  W.  Standiford, 
C.  0.  Dalton— 1919-20;  F.  Reems,  M.  Malliet— 1920- 
21;  W.  A.  Bryant— 1920-21;  J.  Belott,  John  Lund— 
1922-23. 

CONSTABLES. 

C.  Walrath,  R.  Brush— 1884-85;  C.  Walrath,  David 
Montour— 1885-86;  V.  P.  Rath— 1887-88;  William  Dal- 
ton—1888-95;  George  Hurlbert,  William  Dalton— 1895- 
96;  Gustav  Hartman,  Andrew  Haverland — 1896-97; 
T.  J.  Baker,  Helm  Tyra— 1897-98;  James  Phillips,  T. 
J.  Baker— 1899-1900 ;  Boone  Tyra,  William  Dalton— 
1898-99;  Earl  Dalton,  Thomas  Baker— 1900-01 ;  Wil- 
liam Blythe,  N.  Dudley— 1901-02;  D.  K.  Spencer, 
Clayton  Drake— 1903-04;  J.  B.  Flannery,  Julius  Boel- 
ter— 1905-06;  Charles  Hatton,  Stirl  Dudley— 1906-07; 
J.  H.  Baker,  Jr.,  F.  Crum— 1907-08;  Frank  Thompson 
—1907-08;  John  Rath,  William  Daugherty— 1908-09; 
J.  H.  Baker,  Jr.,  Charles  H.  Price— 1909-10;  Wm.  R. 
Mitchell,  Flanary  Horton,  Wm.  Daugherty — 1910-11; 
Martin  Mantino,  J.  H.  Baker,  Jr.— 1911-12;  Martin 
Mantino,  William  White— 1912-13;  Louis  Hartman, 
Charles  Dalton— 1913-14;  Ernest  Boelter,  Chas.  Por- 
ter—1914-15;  Ernest  Boelter,  Daniel  O'Brien— 1915- 
16;  Ernest  Boelter,  John  Waddell— 1916-17;  Ernest 
Boelter— 1917-19;  Carl  Boelter,  Daniel  O'Brien,  1919; 
M.  M.  Rusch,  G.  W.  Sparks— 1919-20;  F.  Crum,  L.  E. 
Carlson— 1920-21 ;  J.  Boelter,  A.  Paukant— 1921-22; 
E.  M.  Jecka,  J.  Jones— 1922-23. 

JOINT  DISTRICT  NO.  1. 

(Price  and  Langlade.) 

KENT— (Cont.)  DISTRICT.  Kent,  one  of  the  old- 
est communities  in  Langlade  County,  was  once  a  thriv- 
ing mill  village  in  the  heart  of  a  great  tract  of  timber. 
It  boasted  a  well  stocked  general  store,  a  modern  saw 
and  planing  mill,  a  post  office  and  hotel,  and  a  number 
of  progressive  inhabitants.  That  Kent  has  changed  as 
time  passed.  With  the  passing  of  the  lumber  indus- 
try in  its  vicinity  went  the  saw  mill,  the  planing  mill 
and  the  employes,  together  with  the  allied  industries 
connected  with  such  institutions.  Since  then  the  gen- 
eral store  and  post  office  have  been  retained. 

The  first  saw  mill  was  erected  at  Kent  by  Henry 
Sherry  of  Neenah,  Wis.,  who  came  to  the  wilderness 
in  Section  24,  Township  32,  Range  12  East.  He  ope- 
rated on  an  extensive  scale  cutting  pine  until  he  sold 
his  mill  and  the  hardwood  holdings  to  the  Antigo  Man- 
ufacturing Company.  They  ran  the  saw  mill,  boarding 
house,  kept  the  post  office  and  general  store  for  many 
years  until  their  entire  possessions  were  dismantled. 

When  the  Milwaukee,  Lake  Shore  &  Western  rail- 
road laid  their  track  to  Kent  they  called  the  village 
Drexell,  in  honor  of  a  Mr.  Drexell,  an  official  of  the 
concern.  It  still  holds  that  name  in  so  far  as  railroad 
maps  are  concerned. 

The  land  for  the  first  school,  a  quaint  structure,  was 
donated  by  Henry  Sherry,  first  mill  owner.     This  first 


school  was  in  the  village  near  the  general  store  owned 
by  Henry  Sherry.  It  was  a  one-room  log  building. 
Its  location  was  section  24.  A  frame  school  was  later 
erected  on  the  same  section.  This  was  used  for  many 
years  until  1918  when  a  joint  district  was  organized 
with  sections  in  Langlade  township.  A  modern  brick 
school,  the  pride  of  the  district,  was  erected  then. 

The  first  school  records  were  burned  in  the  fire  which 
destroyed  the  Adolph  Heggs  residence  and  much  of 
the  early  data  cannot  be  secured.  John  Tye,  J.  W. 
Smith  and  Richard  Miller  were  the  officers  of  the  dis- 
trict when  the  frame  school  was  erected.  A.  Brandt 
of  Polar  built  the  frame  school.  The  land  was  pur- 
chased from  Abe  Gum. 

The  1921-22  school  officials  were:  Thomas  Ward, 
Clerk;  Sam  Wagner,  Director  and  Ed.  Cunningham, 
Treasurer.      The  teacher  in  1921-22  was  Hattie  Verch. 

Postmasters  have  been:  Mr.  Snow,  Peter  O'Connor, 
Marvin  St.  Claire  and  J.  W.  Smith,  present  postmast- 
er. Mr.  Smith  has  served  since  May  2,  1903.  The  post 
office  was  located  southwest  of  its  present  location,  SE 
I4  of  NE  I4  of  section  24  at  one  time. 

While  there  are  still  good  tracks  of  standing  timber 
in  this  district  lumbering  has  long  ceased  to  be  the 
important  occupation.  Agriculture  has  taken  its  place. 
Kent  has  become  famous  because  it  is  the  home  of  J. 
W.  Smith,  producer  of  the  famous  Smith  strain  of  Tri- 
umph potatoes,  pronounced  the  best  in  the  United 
States.  He  plants  but  six  acres  and  receives  orders 
from  every  section  of  the  country. 

There  are  28  families  in  the  district.  It  was  once 
known  as  Rural  District  No.  4,  previous  to  formation 
of  the  joint  district. 

The  district  consists  of  sections  1,  2,  11,  13,  12,  14, 
23,  24,  25,  26,  36  and  the  E  I/2  of  3,  10,  15,  NE  14  of 
section  22  in  Price  township  and  sections  7,  15,  16,  17, 
18,  19,  20,  21,  22,  27,  28,  29,  30,  31,  32,  33  and  34  in 
Langlade  township,  (Township  32,  Range  13  East.) 

Nels  Uttemark  of  Seymour  once  operated  a  saw  mill 
on  section  24  in  Price  township.  He  employed  a  num- 
ber of  men.  The  mill  was  dismantled  and  Uttemark 
moved  to  a  place  near  Appleton,  Wis.,  where  he  was  in- 
jured in  an  accident  resulting  in  him  becoming  blind. 

DISTRICT  NO.  1. 

MALCOLM  DISTRICT.  This  district  is  situated 
in  the  south  central  part  of  Price  township.  It  was 
settled  in  1880  and  years  following  by  Thomas  Hutch- 
inson, Malcolm  Hutchinson,  Henry  Stadler,  John  Mc- 
Claskey,  Andrew  Hartman  and  Gustav  Hartman,  all  of 
whom  have  taken  an  active  part  in  the  progress  of 
the  township. 

After  the  pioneer  settlers  arrived  and  erected  their 
cabin  homes  a  school  was  erected  in  1883  on  the  site 
of  the  present  substantial  brick  school.  The  first  build- 
ing was  a  frame  structure  erected  at  an  approximate 
cost  of  $300.00  by  Ed.  Dalton.  Thomas  Hutchinson 
was  clerk  of  the  district  then.  He  was  responsible  to 
the  Price  Board  of  Education  (township  system). 
Francis  Churchouse  was  the  first  teacher.  Other  ear- 
ly teachers  were  Agnes  Donohue,  Minnie  Moss  and  An- 


238 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


nie  Kelly.  The  first  pupils  to  attend  school  were: 
Genie  and  Malcolm  Hutchinson,  William  Dalton,  Jes- 
sie Dalton,  Earl  Dalton,  Grace  McClaskey  and  Gustav, 
George  and  Annie  Hartman. 

Tlie  frame  school  was  used  until  1909  when  August 
Stabe,  Antigo  contractor,  erected  the  splendid  school 
now  used  in  the  district.  Its  cost  was  approximately 
$2,100.00.  Charles  L.  McArthey  was  Clerk,  Malcolm 
Hutchinson  was  Treasurer  and  Wm.  Daugherty  was 
Director  when  the  school  was  erected.  The  1922-23 
officials  were:  B.  S.  Powell,  Clerk;  Herman  Bryant, 
Director,  and  Gustav  Hartman,  Treasurer.  Miss  Anna 
Kennedy  was  the  1922-23  teacher.  Average  annual 
school  enrollment  is  40. 

The  principal  occupation  of  the  settlers,  of  which 
there  are  thirty,  progressive  and  active,  is  agriculture. 
Lumbering  and  other  forest  industries  was  the  chief 
occupation  of  the  pioneers. 


southwestern  part  of  Price  township.  It  was  surveyed 
by  George  A.  Young  in  1883  and  the  recorded  plat  was 
filed  on  December  18,  1883.  The  original  village 
embraced  the  southwest  '  4  of  section  32.  Five  years 
later,  in  June,  1888,  S.  S.  Bryant  made  an  addition  to 
the  village.  The  eighty  acre  addition  was  surveyed 
by  B.  F.  Dorr,  pioneer  county  surveyor.  The 
streets  of  Bryant  are  Vinson,  Washington,  David,  and 
Bent. 

The  Milwaukee  Lake  Shore  &  Western  constructed 
their  railroad  into  Bryant  in  the  fall  of  1884  and  this 
same  year,  James  E.  Davis  and  Charles  Davis  erected 
a  saw  mill  in  the  village.  The  Davis  Brothers  ope- 
rated until  about  1890,  when  they  moved  from  Bryant. 
During  their  lumber  operations  Bryant  was  at  its  high 
tide. 

Fred  Hayssen  came  to  Bryant  from  Calumet  Coun- 
ty, Wisconsin  and  in  1883  erected  the  first  store.     He 


nil",    ISRVANT   GRADED   SCHOOL 

This  school  is  a  marked  contrast  to  the  first  Bryant  school  Iniilt  in  1SS5  at  a  time  when 

the  village  was  just  being  opened  up  to  new  settlers.       The  present 

Rrvant  school  is  a  state  graded  institution. 


This  district  was  organized  in  May,  1907.  It  con- 
sists of  sections  27,  34  and  35,  the  east  half  of  section 
33,  the  east  ^  2  of  the  west  Vg  of  section  33,  the  east 
half  of  section  28,  the  SE  I4  of  the  NW  I4  of  section 
28,  the  east  1  2  of  the  SW  14  of  section  28,  the  west  V2 
of  sections  22,  15,  10  and  3.  The  latter  part  of  the  dis- 
trict represents  a  strip  of  land  two  square  miles  running 
north  and  south,  through  the  central  part  of  Price  town- 
ship. 

DISTRICT  NO.  2. 

BRYANT  DISTRICT.  The  village  of  Bryant  was 
named  in  honor  of  S.  S.  Bryant  of  Milwaukee,  who  once 
owned  extensive  tracts  of  timber  in  Price  and  other 
Langlade  County  townships.    Bryant  is  situated  in  the 


was  also  the  first  postmaster.  Other  postmasters 
were:  Sim  Ball,  T.  M.  Dobbs  and  Mr.  Williams.  En- 
dre  Norem,  present  postmaster  has  served  in  that  offi- 
cial capacity  for  a  quarter  of  a  century. 

Other  store  proprietors  in  Bryant  in  the  past  were : 
Williams  &  Brown,  A.  H.  Merton,  now  of  Antigo,  and 
Thomas   M.   Dobbs.  Present   mercantile   establish- 

ments are  those  of  the  Endre  Norem  Company  and  the 
E.  M.  Jecki  store.  Bryant  has  a  garage,  owned  and 
managed  by  Emil  Person.  Dr.  J.  H.  Baker  is  Bryant's 
present  Physician.  He  is  a  former  resident  of  the 
state  of  Kentucky. 

Bryant  is  on  the  main  highway  between  Antigo  and 
Lily.  The  famous  Antigo  flats  ends  just  north  of 
Bryant,  but  a  short  distance. 


1 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


239 


Bryant's  first  depot  was  erected  in  1884.  The  vil- 
lage is  now  on  the  Wolf  River  branch  of  the  Chicago  & 
Northwestern  railroad. 

Bryant  has  an  excellent  brick  graded  school.  The 
first  school  was  erected  in  the  village  in  1885.  The 
1922-23  school  officials  were :  George  Burmeister, 
Clerk;  Leo  Byrnes,  Director  and  C.  J.  McClelland, 
Treasurer.  The  1922-23  teachers  were :  Bessie  Augus- 
tyn  and  Annie  Schultz. 

J.  B.  Loomis,  one  time  town  clerk  of  Price  and  an 
active  leader  in  township  affairs  was  Bryant's  first 
and  only  lawyer.  He  was  in  the  village  from  1883  to 
1889.  Attorney  Loomis  was  a  member  of  the  Lang- 
lade County  bar. 

THE  WEST  PRICE  GRANGE. 

West  Price  Grange  No.  595  was  organized  at  Bryant, 
October  17,  1912.  First  officers  were  :  Master — Frank 
Furry;  Overseer — Ed.  Buboltz;  Steward — Dewey  Hart- 
man;  Assistant  Steward — Arthur  Paul;  Secretary — J. 
W.  Standiford;  Treasurer — Henry  Buboltz;  Chaplain 
— Mrs.  Malcolm  Hutchinson;  Lecturer — I.  Hall — Ceres 
— Mrs.  John  Hartman;  Pomona — Jewel  Porter;  Flora 
— Mrs.  Peterson;  Gatekeeper — Herman  Carlson. 

Present  officers:  Master — Matt  Norem;  Overseer — 
Leo  Byrnes;  Steward — Walter  Diercks;  Assistant  Ste- 
ward— William  Bryant;  Lady  Assistant  Steward — Mrs. 
L.  E.  Carlson;  Treasurer — John  Lamb;  Chaplain — 
Mrs.  Wm.  Bryant;  Lecturer — Anna  Pearson;  Ceres — ■ 
Mrs.  Leo  Brynes;  Pomona — Mrs.  George  Hurlbert, 
Flora — Margaret  Reif ;  Gatekeeper — George  Carlson. 

The  West  Price  Grange  has  a  membership  of  101, 
probably  the  highest  membership  of  any  of  the  Lang- 
lade County  granges.  Meetings  are  held  every  second 
and  fourth  Thursday.  Complete  ownership  of  a  hall 
is  contemplated.  (Now  the  grange  has  a  half  interest 
in  the  town  hall). 

BENT  CEMETERY— TOWN   HALL. 

Bent  Cemetery  was  recorded  May  11,  1900.  It  is 
situated  in  the  NE  I4  of  section  32.  Malcolm  Hutch- 
inson surveyed  t'ne  plat.  It  received  its  name  after 
Mr.  Bent,  a  land  owner,  who  gave  the  cemetery  site  to 
the  township.      A  survey  was  made  in  May,  1899  also. 

The  Town  Hall  is  located  in  the  village  of  Bryant. 

DISTRICT  NO.  3. 
PRICE  (GREEN  VALLEY)  DISTRICT.     The  pas- 


sage of  the  National  Homestead  Act  did  much  to  open 
the  wilderness  of  Wisconsin  to  soldiers  of  the  Civil 
War,  prospectors  and  others  seeking  public  lands  on 
which  to  build  homes.  This  district  was  settled  by 
homesteaders  the  first  of  whom  was  Sam  Price,  who 
came  from  Waupaca  County  in  1879  and  settled  on  160 
acres  in  section  19.  His  homestead  was  once  staked  by 
J.  Cherf,  who  never  proved  his  claim,  he  leaving  short- 
ly after  staking.  Following  Sam  Price  came  John 
and  Valentine  P.  Rath,  youthful  and  energetic,  immi- 
grants from  the  city  of  Sheboygan.  John  Rath  set- 
tled on  section  21  in  the  fall  of  1880.  V.  P.  Rath  stay- 
ed with  him  during  the  time  their  rude  log  cabin  was 
being  erected.  After  that  V.  P.  Rath  settled  on  sec- 
tion 7.  (He  was  not  old  enough  to  settle  on  a  home- 
stead at  the  time  his  brother  did). 

Charles  Price,  a  son  of  Sam  Price,  came  into  the 
district  from  Waupaca  County  in  1881  and  settled  on 
section  17.  A.  A.  Hurlbert  came  at  the  same  time,  he 
also  taking  up  a  homestead  on  section  17.  Others 
who  settled  on  section  17  in  compliance  with  Home- 
stead Laws  were:  George  H.  Fehl,  Civil  War  veteran, 
who  lost  an  arm  fighting  for  the  Union,  and  James 
Hartman.  Mr.  Fehl  came  from  Dayton,  Ohio  and 
Mr.  Hartman  from  Rhine  township,  Sheboygan.  Wal- 
ter Vanderhoof  and  Elijah  Vanderhoof  settled  on  sec- 
tion 7  shortly  after. 

In  1884  the  first  log  school  was  erected  on  section 
17.  It  was  a  crude  log  affair.  Only  the  A.  A.  Hurl- 
bert and  Charles  Price  families  had  children  of  school 
age  then.  Early  teachers  were :  Addie  Hill  and  Sybil 
Cornish.  The  log  school  was  used  but  a  short  time. 
The  first  frame  school  was  erected  on  section  19.  In 
1911  a  brick  school  took  the  place  of  the  frame  struc- 
ture, which  was  moved  across  the  highway  on  to  sec- 
tion 20  and  has  since  been  used  as  a  M.  E.  Church. 
Henry  Buboltz  operates  a  saw  mill  on  section  19.  The 
only  other  saw  mill  was  once  operated  by  Wm.  Carl- 
son on  section  21. 

The  1922-23  school  officials  were:  Earl  Shanks,  Di- 
rector; Charles  M.  Porter,  Treasurer  and  J.  M.  Standi- 
ford, Clerk.  The  1922-23  teacher  was  Mayme  Jack- 
imstahl. 

There  are  about  16  farms  in  the  district.  The  re- 
gion is  hilly  and  rolling. 

August  Carlson,  J.  W.  Standiford,  Henry  Buboltz. 
John  Seamon  and  John  Hartman  have  lived  many  years 
within  the  district,  coming  in  after  the  first  pioneers. 


240 


HISTORY  OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XLVII. 

Rolling  Township  No.  30  N.,  R.  11  E. 

Boundaries — Soil — Lakes — Pioneer  Settlers — Organization — Industries — School  Districts — Property 
Value  of  1881 — Milltown — Township  Officers,  1881-1923 — Hillside— Str£ssburg  —  Sunnyside  — 
Rolling  Grange  No.  635 — B.  F.  Hall-Pioneer   Cemetery — Fernwocd — Elmhurst — Pine  Grove. 


Rolling  township  comprises  the  entire  congressional 
township  30,  North,  of  Range  11  East,  and  was  the  first 
Langlade  County  civil  division  to  be  surveyed  by  the 
federal  government.  William  T.  Bradley  commenced 
the  survey  on  October  13,  1853  and  completed  it  on 
October  24,  1853.  Rolling  receives  its  name  from  the 
general  topography  of  its  surface.  It  lies  in  the  ex- 
treme southern  part  of  Langlade  County,  is  bounded 
on  the  north  by  Antigo  and  Ackley  townships,  on  the 
south  by  Aniwa  township,  Shawano  County,  on  the  east 
by  Norwood  township,  and  on  the  west  by  Harrison 
township  in  Marathon  County.  There  is  a  great  dif- 
ference in  the  physical  features  of  Rolling  township  as 
compared  with  Neva  or  Antigo  townships.  Spring- 
brook  runs  through  sections  4,  5,  8,  17  and  18,  a  small 
rivulet  runs  through  sections  30  and  31,  another  runs 
through  sections  22,  25,  26,  27  and  35.  In  the  eastern 
part  of  the  township  are  two  streams  of  little  impor- 
tance, running  through  sections  13,  and  24  in  one  in- 
stance and  sections  25  and  36  in  the  other. 

Rolling  township  soil  varies  from  level  to  very 
gently  undulating.  It  has  a  gentle  slope  excepting  the 
south  central  sections  which  are  quite  hilly.  Three 
distinct  types  of  soil  are  found  in  Rolling.  The  Merri- 
mac  silt  loam,  extending  on  an  average  to  12  inches 
in  depth,  is  found  in  sections  3,  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  and  parts 
of  sections  1,  2,  and  9.  Gloucester  silt  loam,  an  ex- 
tensive soil,  is  found  running  in  a  northeast  and  south- 
west course.  Small  tracts  are  also  found  in  sections 
22,  23,  24  and  35.  Gloucester  sandy  loam  is  found  in 
sections  1,  12,  9,  14,  15,  16,  17,  18  and  the  greater  part 
of  the  southeastern  part  of  the  township. 

Peat  can  be  found  southeast  of  Elmhurst  in  section 
27  with  a  small  strip  through  sections  26  and  35. 

The  leading  variety  of  timber  in  the  township  was 
white  pine,  Norway  pine,  maple,  oak,  basswood  and 
elm.  White  and  Norway  pine  has  long  ago  been  cut, 
as  this  township  in  the  last  quarter  of  the  19th  century 
was  essentially  a  lumbering  district.  Hardwood  still 
stands  in  tracks  on  various  sections  of  cut-over  land. 

ORGANIZATION— FIRST  OFFICERS. 

Rolling  is  one  of  the  original  townships  of  Lang- 
lade County.  It  sent  its  first  Chairman,  James  Quinn,  to 
the  first  session  of  the  Langlade  County  Board  in  1881. 
It  was  detached  from  Shawano  County  in  1881  and  at- 
tached to  Langlade  County.  The  reader  must  bear  in 
mind  that  this  township  was  not  included  within  the 
territory  of  the  original  New  County.  Before  1881, 
Rolling  was  a  part  of  Milltown  township.  A  settle- 
ment was  made  between  the  towns  in  April,  1881. 


James  Quinn,  Luther  Montgomery,  and  Henry  Peters 
were  the  first  township  Supervisors  elected  in  April, 
1881.  Louis  Zahn  was  elected  the  first  Town  Clerk. 
Arthur  Montgomery,  first  Town  Treasurer,  George  W. 
Connor,  first  Assessor;  Isaac  Noble,  A.  Wenz  and  A. 
Winnege,  first  Justices  and  Charles  Peters  and  Phillip 
Maloney,  first  Constables. 

FIRST  ELECTION. 

The  first  Inspectors  of  Election  and  Clerks  were : 
Charles  F.  Schroeder,  Phillip  Schweitzer  and  Ph.  Bray, 
Inspectors  and  Louis  Zahn  and  August  Winnege, 
Clerks.  The  election  was  held  at  the  school  house  of 
District  No.  8,  (now  District  No.  3). 

PROPERTY  VALUATION  IN   1881. 

The  following  is  a  statement  showing  the  assessed 
valuation  of  all  property  in  the  township  August  15, 
1881 :  15  horses,  aggregate  value,  $850.00;  51  neat  cat- 
tle, $816.00;  15  swine,  $31.00;  19  wagons  and  sleighs, 
$187.00;  5  watches,  $24.00;  2  Melodians— $110.00; 
197^4  acres  of  improved  lands  and  homes,  $375.00; 
Total— $2,393.00.  15,418  acres  of  land,  aggregative 
value— $43,178.04;  Total  valuation— $45,571.04. 

ROLLING  TOWNSHIP  VALUATION  IN  1879. 

Louis  Zahn,  first  town  clerk,  certified  "that  it  ap- 
pears by  the  books,  files  and  records"  that  the  valua- 
tion of  "taxable  property"  in  the  town  of  Rolling  is: 
1879— $18,400.00;  1880— $19,002.00;  1881— $45,571.04. 
Aggregate   assessed  valuation — $21,704.00. 

TOWN  OF  MILLTOWN. 

Before  1881,  Rolling  and  Norwood  townships  were 
territory  comprising  Milltown  township,  Shawano 
County.  The  territory  was  detached  from  Shawano 
County  and  attached  to  Langlade  County  on  February 
19,  1881.  It  became  Norwood  and  Rolling  townships, 
Langlade  County.  A  settlement  was  made  between 
the  two  townships  April  15,  1881.  John  Jansen,  Anton 
Sensenbrenner  and  Henry  Heim  represented  Norwood 
and  James  Quinn,  T.  H.  Peters  and  Luther  Montgom- 
ery acted  for  Rolling  at  the  meeting. 

TOWN  HALL  QUESTION. 

Rolling  township  has  never  erected  a  town  hall.  The 
Board  of  Review  and  all  public  assemblages  are  usual- 
ly held  at  the  office  of  the  Township  Clerk  or  other- 
wise at  some  previously  designated  place.  The  ques- 
tion has  been  voted  upon  but  defeated.  An  agreement 
with  the  M.  W.  A.  organization  at  Elmhurst  was  made 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


241 


whereby  the  township  used  the  M.  W.  A.  Hall  until  it 
was  destroyed  by  wind  in  1919. 

Rolling  township  was  divided  into  four  districts 
March  28,  1882,  as  follows:   District  No.  1— Sections  1, 

2,  3,  10,  11,  12,  13,  14,  15.  District  No.  2— Sections 
22,  23,  24,  25,  26,  27,  34,  35,  36.  District  No.  3— Sec- 
tions 4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  9, 16,  17,  18.  District  No.  4— Sections 
19,  20,  21,  28,  29,  30,  31,  32,  and  33. 

The  first  road  petition  submitted  to  the  Rolling 
Township  Supervisors  was  read  May  2,  1881.  It  was 
signed  by  T.  A.  Gillett  and  others. 

The  first  list  of  jurors  of  Rolling  township  were  se- 
lected from  the  original  polling  list  as  follows:  Henry 
Peters,  Louis  Zahn,  George  W.  Hall,  Charles  Schroe- 
der,  Luther  Montgomery,  James  Quinn,  Philipp  Bray, 
Phillip  Schweitzer,  Almon  Mosher,  T.  A.  Gillett,  Solon 
Hall  and  William  Peters. 

The  first  Overseers  of  Highways  In  Rolling  town- 
ship were :  Almon  Mosher,  William  Peters  and  Chris- 
tian Hanson,  who  had  charge  of  Districts  No.  1,  2,  and 

3,  respectively.  Appointments  were  made  April  (first 
Tuesday),  1881. 

Bernard  Wright,  Christian  Hanson,  John  Sullivan, 
Andrew  Nelson,  H.  Hale,  L.  W.  Wright,  Peter  Ander- 
son, John  Linsdau,  Gideon  Frills,  Dan  Butler,  L.  L. 
Ferguson,  Ole  Olson,  and  T.  Graves,  were  all  residents 
of  Rolling  township  before  the  end  of  1883. 

Dr.  J.  H.  Dawley,  Antigo  Physician,  was  selected 
as  the  first  health  officer  of  Rolling  township.  May  12, 
1883. 

CHAIRMEN,  ROLLING  TOWNSHIP,  1881-1923. 

James  Quinn— -1881-82;  Henry  Peters— 1882-85 ; 
Charles  F.  Schroeder— 1885-86;  George  Wunderlich— 
1886-88;  Charles  F.  Schroeder— 1888-90;  D.  W.  Keen 
—1890-91;  George  Wunderlich— 1891-93;  Charles  F. 
Schroeder— 1893-94;  Henry  Peters— 1894-95;  George 
Wunderlich— 1895-96;  James  E.  Monroe— 1896-97; 
George  Wunderlich — 1897-99;  James  E.  Monroe — 
1900-02;  Fred  Kalkofen--1903-05 ;  George  Wunderlich 
—1905-06;  Fred  Kalkof en— 1906-09;  Calvin  Balliet— 
1909-13;  George  Wunderlich— 1913-14;  Calvin  Balliet 
—1914-15;  George  Wunderlich— 1915-17;  Calvin  Bal- 
liet—1917-18;  Gustav  Schroeder— 1918-21 ;  August 
Goeman— 1921-23. 

CLERKS,  ROLLING  TOWNSHIP,  1881-1923. 

Louis  Zahn— 1881-85;  J.  M.  Bemis— 1885-86;  Fred 
Spoehr— 1886-90 ;  Louis  Zahn— 1890-92;  William 
Gropp— 1892-97;  D.  W.  Keen— 1898-99;  Asa  Holmes 
—1900-01;  William  Gropp— 1901-02;  Fred  Becker— 
1903-05;  Charles  Vorass— 1905-07;  William  Gropp— 
1907-11;  Jos.  Wild— 1911-20;  Frank  Huggins— 1921- 
23. 

TREASURERS,  ROLLING  TOWNSHIP,  1881-1923. 

Arthur  Montgomery — 1881-82;  Frederick  Spoehr — 
1882-83;  Philip  Bray,  Arthur  Montgomery,  Leroy  Fer- 
guson—1883-85;  Frederick  Spoehr— 1885-87;  L.  Reid- 
burger— 1887-91;  James  Pentony— 1892-93;  George  H. 
Wunderlich— 1894-95;   Fred  Becker— 1895-99;    C.    F. 


Schroeder— 1900-02;   Jos.  Wild— 1903-10;   Frank   Ko- 
zarek— 1910-15;  Chas.  F.  Jesse— 1915-23. 

SUPERVISORS,  ROLLING  TOWNSHIP,  1881-1923. 

Luther  Montgomery,  Henry  Peters— 1881-82;  Phil- 
lip Schweitzer,  Isaac  G.  Noble— 1882-83;  T.  A.  Gillett, 
Arthur  Montgomery — 1883-84;  C.  Volkman,  E.  Schus- 
ter—1885-86;  C.  Volkman,  L.  Riedburger— 1886-87; 
C.  Volkman,  N.  Bryant— 1887-88;  C.  Volkman,  Jos. 
Guenthner,  Sr.— 1888-89;  N.  Bryant,  Chas.  Peters— 
1889-90;  Theo.  Luderman,  James  Pentony— 1890-91 ; 
C.  Volkman,  John  Hartl— 1891-92;  Wm.  Peters,  James 
Monroe— 1892-93;  James  E.  Monroe,  Jos.  Wild— 1893- 
94;  Jos.  Wild,  Martin  Murdoski— 1894-95 ;  Jos.  Wild, 
Ben  Vande  Bogart — 1895-96;  James  E.  Monroe,  Frank 
Devaud— 1896-97;  Jos.  Kettner,  Jos.  Wild— 1897-98; 
Sol  Barnes,  Theo.  Luderman— 1898-99;  C.  Volkman, 
Theo.  Luderman — 1899-1900;  John  Lenzner,  George 
Grail— 1900-01;  Matt  Schuh,  George  Grail— 1901-02; 
John  Lenzner,  John  Hartl— 1903-04;  John  Hartl,  Steve 
Noskoviak — 1904-05;  John  Hartl,  George  Vanderhei — 
1905-06;  Frank  Wenz,  George  Vanderhei— 1906-07; 
Louis  Schmoll,  Chas.  Peters — 1907-08;  George  Van- 
derhei, Calvin  Balliet — 1908-09;  George  Vanderhei, 
Steve  Noskoviak — 1909-10;  Frank  Huggins,  George 
Vanderhei — 1910-11;  Frank  Huggins,  Jos.  Modi — 
1911-12;  George  Vanderhei,  Jos.  Modi— 1912-14; 
George  Vanderhei,  Bernard  Lenzer — 1914-15;  Bernard 
Lenzner,  Samuel  E.  Webb — 1915-16;  Samuel  E.  Webb, 
Fred  Kalkofen — 1916-17;  Englebert  Steber,  Gustave 
Schroeder— 1917-18;  Fred  Kalkofen,  Engelbert  Steber 
—1918-20;  Frank  Nichols,  Fred  Kalkofen— 1920-23. 

ASSESSORS,  ROLLING  TOWNSHIP,  1881-1923. 

George  W.  Connor— 1881-82;  Phillip  Bray— 1882- 
83;  Phillip  Bray,  Louis  Zahn— 1884;  Phillip  Schweit- 
zer, A.  Kling— 1885;  M.  D.  Brown— 1886-87 ;  Charles 
Peters— 1887-88;  Jacob  Raess— 1888-92;  John  Litton 
—1892-93;  August  Winnege— 1893-94;  Jacob  Raess— 
1894-95;  Charles  Oesterich— 1895-97;  Charles  Peters 
—1897-99;  A.  L.  Lyon— 1900-01;  John  Keen— 1901-02 
Charles  Peters— 1903-05;  Jas.  E.  Monroe— 1905-09 
Chas.  Peters— 1909-10;  Gustave  Schroeder— 1910-14. 
Jas.  E.  Monroe— 1914-17;  Chas.  Peters— 1917-18;  Jas. 
E.  Monroe— 1918-21 ;  Charles  Peters— 1921-23. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE,  ROLLING  TOWN- 
SHIP, 1881-1923. 

Isaac  G.  Noble,  A.  Wenz,  A.  Winnege— 1881-82; 
James  Quinn,  Phillip  Bray — 1882-83;  Louis  Zahn,  Hen- 
ry Peters— 1884;  Isaac  G.  Noble— 1884;  J.  M.  Bemis, 
M.  D.  Brown — 1885-86;  J.  M.  Bemis,  John  Monroe — 
1886-87;  J.  M.  Bemis,  John  Monroe,  H.  Wunderlich— 
1887-88;  M.  D.  Brown,  Charles  Vorass— 1888-90 ;  J.  M. 
Bemis,  John  Monroe — 1889-91;  Charles  Graves, 
Charles  Vorass— 1890-92;  Frederick  Spoehr— 1893-95; 
J.  M.  Bemis — 1893-95;  John  Monroe,  George  Servi — 
1893-94;  John  Litton,  J.  M.  Bemis— 1894-96;  James 
Monroe,  Theodore  Luderman — 1895-97;  J.  M.  Bemis — 
1896-98;  J.  Raess,  N.  Bryant,  J.  Babbler— 1896-97;  J. 


242 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


M.  Bemis,  Jacobs  Raess,  N.  Bryant,  Jos.  Babler— 1896- 
97;  N.  Bryant,  Theo.  Luderman— 1897-98 ;  H.  Holmes, 
O.  A.  Stevens,  C.  F.  Schroeder,  August  Winnege — 
1898-99;  J.  M.  Bemis,  W.  F.  Keen,  George  Servi— 1900- 
01;  Asa  Holmes,  S.  C.  Barnes— 1901-02;  Asa  Holmes, 
J.  M.  Bemis,  Bernard  Wright,  August  Goeman — 1903- 
04;  William  Moore,  Fred  Becker— 1904-05;  J.  M.  Bem- 
is, Asa  Holmes,  Walter  Bryant— 1905-06;  James  Mas- 
terson,  Jos.  Wild,  J.  M.  Bemis— 1906-07;  Arthur  Moss, 
J.  M.  Bemis,  Calvin  Balliet— 1907-08;  J.  M.  Bemis, 
Charles  Jesse,  Fred  Ohm— 1908-09;  Calvin  Balliet, 
William  Mehne,  Michael  Nichols,  Albert  Tiehl— 1909- 
10;  William  Gropp,  Albert  Tiehl,  Michael  Nichols— 
1910-11;  William  Gropp,  William  Mehne,  Chas.  O'Con- 
nor—1911-12;  Jos.  Wild,  J.  M.  Bemis— 1912-13;  Jos. 
Wild,  C.  F.  Jesse— 1913-14;  Jos.  Wild,  S.  A.  Barnes— 
1914-15;  Gustave  Schroeder,  Jos.  Wild— 1915-16;  Jos. 
Wild,  Chas.  F.  Jesse— 1916-17;  Jos.  Wild,  Chas.  F. 
Jesse— 1917-22;  Frank  Huggins— 1922-24. 

CONSTABLES,  ROLLING  TOWNSHIP,  1881-1923. 

Charles  Peters,  August  Winnege— 1881-82;  Chas. 
Peters,  James  Hahn— 1882-83;  W.  F.  Keene,  Henry 
Schweitzer— 1885-86;  W.  F.  Keene,  H.  Wunderlich, 
Gus  Hohensee — 1886-87;  M.  McCann,  Gus  Hohensee, 
C.  Wunderlich— 1887-88;  Gus  Hohensee,  C.  Wunder- 
lich—1888-90;  E.  Ploeger— 1888-90;  N.  E.  Bryant,  0. 
E.  Stroebe— 1889-91 ;  C.  F.  Schroeder,  N.  Bryant,  Fred 
Ackerman— 1890-91 ;  George  Vanderhei,  Ben  Vande 
Bogart,  Englebert  Steber,  Walter  Bryant— 1893-94; 
Walter  Bryant,  George  Vanderhei,  C.  McCann,  James 
Modi,  1894-95;  T.  McCann,  George  Vanderhei,  Walter 
Bryant,  Rudolph  Kuhn — 1895-96;  August  Goeman, 
George  Vanderhei,  T.  McCann,  Rudolph  Kuhn — 1896- 
97;  A.  Kuehn,  B.  F.  Vande  Bogart,  George  Vanderhei 
—1897-98;  F.  W.  McCann,  August  Anderson,  J.  Zan- 
ger,  August  Lenzner — 1898-99;  George  Vanderhei,  G. 
Schroeder,  Frank  Wenz,  B.  F.  Vande  Bogart— 1900-01 ; 
Chas.  Weinant,  George  Graves,  Harry  Lyons — 1901- 
02;  J.  Petterlick,  R.  Peters,  A.  Anderson,  Andrew  Au- 
gustin — 1903-04;  Peter  Anderson,  Ludwig  SchmoU, 
Geo.  Vanderhei— 1904-05;  B.  F.  Vande  Bogart,  Chas. 
Weinant,  Herman  Demlow — 1905-06;  B.  F.  Vande  Bo- 
gart, John  McDonald,  Geo.  Vanderhei — 1906-07;  Geo. 
Vanderhei,  Frank  Petterlick,  B.  F.  Vande  Bogart — 
1907-08;  John  McDonald,  Paul  Kuehn,  Chas.  Kalko- 
fen,  Frank  Petterlick— 1908-09;  Albert  Schweitzer, 
Frank  Petterlick— 1909-10 ;  Frank  Petterlick,  Jesse  Mc- 
Donald, Albert  Schweitzer,  Ray  Hills— 1910-11 ;  Albert 
Schweitzer,  Jesse  McDonald,  Ray  Hills — 1911-12;  Geo. 
Snell,  Henry  Linsdau,  Albert  Schweitzer — 1912-13; 
Gus  Hohensee,  Fred  Schweitzer,  Henry  Linsdau — 
1913-14;  Frank  Petterlick,  Albert  Schweitzer— 1914-15 ; 
August  Meisenhelder,  George  Snell,  Leonard  Vander- 
hei— 1915-16;  Frank  Ullma,  Leonard  Vanderhei,  Jesse 
E.  Hunt— 1916-17;  August  Meisenhelder,  Walter  Mon- 
roe, Leonard  Vanderhei — 1917-18;  August  Meisen- 
helder, C.  G.  Maney,  George  Snell— 1918-19;  Walter 
Monroe,  August  Meisenhelder,  Leonard  Vanderhei — 
1919-22. 


DISTRICT  NO.  1. 

HILLSIDE  DISTRICT.  District  No.  1,  Rolling 
township  is  situated  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the 
township.  It  consists  of  sections  Nos.  1,  2,  11,  12,  13 
and  14  and  contains  3,840  acres. 

District  No.  1  originally  was  known  as  District  No. 
6  of  the  town  of  Milltown,  Shawano  County  (before  at- 
tached to  Langlade).  Its  boundaries  have  never 
been  materially  changed,  since  it  was  created  April  17, 
1880.  April  24,  1880,  at  a  meeting  at  the  Carl  Schroe- 
der home,  section  14,  Isaac  Noble,  Carl  Schroeder  and 
Phillip  Bray  were  chosen  first  Director,  Treasurer  and 
Clerk  respectively. 

The  first  school  a  log  cabin  was  built  on  the  NE  14  of 
section  13.  John  Lenzner  gave  one  acre  of  land  to  the 
district  for  school  purposes.  April  23,  1881,  the  dis- 
trict number  was  changed  to  District  No.  1.  The  first 
term  of  school  was  for  three  months  in  winter,  an  in- 
termission, and  then  a  summer  session  lasting  three 
months.  The  first  teachers  received  an  average  of 
$25.00  per  month  as  compared  with  a  salary  of  $75.00 
to  $90.00  now.  The  second  school  was  authorized 
June  15,  1896.  Herman  Laehn  was  awarded  the  con- 
tract at  $525.00.  Before  the  erection  of  the  first  log 
school,  Mrs.  Phillip  Bray,  the  first  teacher,  taught  the 
children  the  rudiments  of  an  elementary  education  at 
her  log  home,  section  12.  The  present  school  is  on 
the  SW  14  of  the  NW  I4  of  section  12. 

Other  early  teachers  were:  Jennie  O'Hearn,  Lizzie 
O'Hearn,  Amy  Furgeson,  Maggie  Canty,  H.  Dunn,  E. 
Nolan,  E.  J.  Couch,  F.  R.  Churchouse,  G.  W.  Bliss,  F. 
L.  Burdick,  A.  J.  Burbank,  Miss  L.  Rynders,  Clara  Tay- 
lor, H.  C.  Logan.  Miss  Christina  Folk  was  the  teach- 
er in  1922-23. 

The  first  pupils  to  attend  public  school  in  the  dis- 
trict were :  PVank,  William,  Gustav,  Robert  and  Her- 
man Schroeder,  Ida  Schroeder,  Jos.  Guenthner,  Jr., 
Adam  Guenthner,  Lawrence  Guenthner,  Rose  Lenzner, 
Perry,  Millie,  Libbie,  Elsie  and  Claude  Gillett. 

Pioneer  settlers  imigrated  into  this  district  as  early 
as  1878.  Among  them  were :  Isaac  Noble,  Carl 
Schroeder,  Phillip  Bray,  Louis  Zahn,  T.  A.  Gillett,  Jos. 
Guenthner,  Sr.,  John  Lenzner  and  John  Linsdau. 

The  district  is  a  splendid  agricultural  district,  which 
has  emerged  from  a  wilderness  of  almost  fifty  years 
ago  to  a  prosperous  section  of  Langlade  County.  By 
frugality,  diligence  and  hard  labors  the  settlers  have 
developed  some  of  the  splendid  farms  of  which  the 
county  has  privilege  to  boast. 

The  school  officials  of  1922-23  were :  Frank  Schroe- 
der, Clerk;  Robert  Schroeder,  Treasurer  and  Harry 
Lyons,  Director. 

Trunk  Line  No.  32  is  located  in  the  district. 

Many  of  the  early  settlers  and  now  the  new  genera- 
tion of  the  district  play  an  important  part  in  Rolling 
township  affairs. 

Since  its  organization  there  have  been  no  churches, 
cemeteries,  saw  mills  or  cheese  factories  within  the 
district  boundaries.  This  is  recorded  for  future  refer- 
ence. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


243 


DISTRICT  NO.  2. 

STRASSBURG  DISTRICT.  This  district  is  locat- 
ed in  the  southeastern  part  of  Rolling  township.  Its 
territory  comprises  all  the  civil  sections  of  the  town- 
ships 23,  24,  25,  26  and  36  and  the  east  half  of  sec- 
tions 22  and  35  and  the  SW  I4  of  section  22.  Its  area 
is  4,000  acres.  The  district  was  named  by  the  settlers 
in  honor  of  Strassburg,  ancient  capital  of  Alsace-Lor- 
raine. 

One  year  before  the  settlement  was  made  between 
the  duly  accredited  representatives  of  Norwood  and 
Rolling  townships  an  important  meeting  was  held  by 
the  first  homesteaders  and  pioneers  for  the  purpose  of 
solving  the  educational  viccissitudes  confronting  them. 
Their  children  were  growing,  new  settlers  were  arriv- 
ing, and  the  hardy  folk  recognizing  the  value  of  tem- 
ples of  learning  because  of  their  own  deficiencies,  peti- 
tioned for  a  new  school  area.  The  request  was  grant- 
ed by  the  Supervisors  of  Milltown  Township  (Shawano 
County)  and  District  No.  7  was  created.  It  originally 
consisted  of  sections  22,  23,  24,  25,  26,  27,  34,  35  and 
36  or  5,760  acres.  By  a  resolution  adopted  April  23, 
1881,  the  number  of  the  district  was  changed  to  Dis- 
trict No.  2,  {first  action  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors 
of  Rolling,  1881).  The  district  was  organized  April 
17,  1880. 

The  first  sessions  were  held  at  the  residence  of 
Henry  Peters,  one  of  the  first  Supervisors  of  Rolling 
township.  This  property  is  now  owned  by  Albert 
Pagel,  who  runs  a  store.  The  first  school,  log  con- 
struction, was  erected  on  this  site  and  after  a  number 
of  years  service  burned.  The  first  school  officers  were : 
Henry  Peters,  Clerk;  Charles  Peters,  Treasurer  and 
August  Winnege,  Director.  The  1922-23  school  offi- 
cers were:  Charles  Vorass,  Clerk;  Julius  Winnege, 
Treasurer  and  Anton  Peters,  Director. 

Henry  Peters,  August  Winnege  and  Terrence  Mc- 
Cann  were  the  building  committee  members  who  had 
charge  of  the  first  school,  which  was  18x24  and  12  feet 
high.      Philip  Schweitzer  erected  it  at  a  cost  of  $140. 

The  present  school  was  erected  in  1893  by  B.  Garri- 

ty. 

August  1,  1881,  the  valuation  of  assessment  for  Dis- 
trict No.  2  was  as  follows :  Real  Estate— $8,320 ;  Per- 
sonal Property— $396.56;  Total— $8,716.56.  Septem- 
ber 26,  1881,  the  amount  of  taxes  voted  to  be  raised 
within  District  No.  2  was  two  hundred  dollars  which 
was  assessed  upon  the  taxable  property  therein. 

March  2,  1882,  the  amount  of  school  money  appor- 
tioned to  this  district  was  $16.90. 

Early  settlers  in  this  district  were:  Charles  Volkman, 
August  Winnege,  Ph.  .Sweitzer,  Anton  Sensenbrenner, 
William  Peters,  Charles  Peters,  Henry  Peters,  Charles 
Vorass,  Sr.,  Charles  Vorass,  Jr.,  T.  McCann,  J.  G.  Bau- 
enfiend,  T.  Barnes,  G.  Klopstein,  C.  Doine,  George 
Vanderhei,  Louis  Jordan,  F.  Leubcke,  Sr.,  F.  Jordan, 
John  Martin,  G.  Trunz,  James  Weaver,  Anton  Weber 
and  others. 

Wella  Peters,  now  Mrs.  Henry  Keen,  and  Ida  Schroe- 
der,  now  Mrs.  Charles  Vorass,  Jr.,  were  first  and  sec- 


ond white  children  born  in  this  section  of  Rolling  town- 
ship. 

Miss  Lucy  Grignon  was  the  first  teacher.  She  was 
followed  by  Minnie  Moss,  Minnie  E.  Jones,  Effie  Der- 
by, Ella  Rynders,  Matilda  Ferguson,  Ellen  McCon- 
nell,  C.  C.  Williams,  Delia  Nye,  Clara  Taylor,  Matie 
Trettien,  all  of  whom  were  pioneer  school  teachers. 
Miss  Elizabeth  Folk  taught  in  1922-23. 

The  principal  pioneer  industry  was  the  saw  mill 
erected  in  1883  by  Henry  Peters  on  the  NE  %  of  the 
NE  I4  of  section  24.  He  sold  the  property  to  the  Mat- 
toon  Lumber  Company,  who  after  operating  success- 
ful sold  to  John  Dailey.  Mr.  Dailey  suffered  a  loss 
by  fire.  He  re-built  the  mill  only  to  have  it  burn  again. 
A  store  was  operated  in  connection  with  the  mill. 
John  Dailey  later  became  Mayor  of  Antigo  and  an  ac- 
count of  his  administration  is  found  in  Chapter  XXV. 

A  community  grew  miracuously  while  the  saw  mill 
operated.  Thus  a  post  office  was  opened.  Henry  Pet- 
ers and  Anton  Sensenbrenner  were  the  postmasters. 

Present  industries  are  the  cheese  factory  purchased 
January  28,  1916  by  D.  Korth  from  the  farmers  co- 
operative unit  in  the  district  and  the  John  Pagel  store. 

There  are  thirty  progressive  and  industrious  farmers 
residents  in  this  district.  It  is  in  rural  free  delivery  di- 
vision number  three.  The  Rolling  Mutual  Telephone 
service  connects  the  settlers  with  Antigo,  county  seat 
or  with  other  centers.  Still  a  young  district,  its  future 
is  full  of  promise. 

DISTRICT  NO.  3. 

SUNNYSIDE  DISTRICT.  The  first  resolution  of 
the  township  Board  of  Supervisors,  April  23,  1881, 
was  to  change  the  number  of  the  different  district 
schools  in  the  township.  District  No.  7  then  became 
District  No.  3,  of  which  mention  is  now  made,  While 
the  district  was  set  off  as  such  in  1881,  it  was  not  until 
1885  that  a  school  house  was  erected  on  a  clearing  do- 
nated by  Charles  Herman,  who  was  the  first  County 
Sheriff.  The  school,  of  log  construction,  was  one 
room  and  was  situated  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the 
district.  Miss  Hattie  B.  Vasburgh  was  the  first  teach- 
er. 

District  No.  3  has  the  distinction  of  possessing  fine 
agricultural  lands.  As  fast  as  the  white  pine  forests 
were  cut  settlers  took  up  the  cut-over  land. 

The  first  settlers  arrived  m  this  region  in  1878,  three 
years  before  the  coming  of  the  Milwaukee,  Lake  Shore 
&  Western.  James  Quinn,  the  Vetelle  family,  George 
Hall,  Solon  Hall,  George  Connor,  Charles  Herman, 
Roy  Ferguson,  August  Duchrow,  John  Monroe,  Mr. 
Thompson,  who  was  a  trapper  and  fox  hunter,  Charles 
Blamberg,  William  Gropp,  James  E.  Monroe,  Walter 
Bryant,  Albert  Smith,  Rudolph  King,  George  Schraml, 
Hiram  Tenant,  R.  H.  Buck,  all  were  pioneer  settlers. 
Later  settlers,  who  may  rightfully  be  classed  as  pio- 
neers, were :  Frank  Kozarek,  Albert  Stone,  Martin 
Marchiniak,  Martin  Murasky,  Andrew  Jahnkowsky, 
Anton  Antoniewicz,  Steven  Noskowiak,  Fred  Becker, 
George  Grail,  Sam  P.  Nelson,  Otto  Hanke  and  Steven 
Scott. 


244 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


It  was  not  uncommon  for  the  early  pioneer  to  cart 
supplies  and  foodstuffs  from  Wausau  or  points  farth- 
er away.  The  old  corduroy  roads,  the  marshes  and 
rough  oxen  carts  made  the  journey  weary  and  tedious. 

Mention  has  been  made  of  the  first  log  school,  which 
was  replaced  by  the  present  splendid  frame  structure 
located  on  the  NE  14  of  the  NW  I4  of  section  10.  It 
was  erected  in  1888.  An  addition  to  accommodate  its 
growing  needs,  was  erected  in  1908.  Early  District 
No.  3  teachers  were:  Hattie  B.  Vosburgh,  Laura 
Thomas,  Addie  E.  Hill,  Mar>-  Bertherlson,  Henry  F. 
Herman,  John  Schaen,  Effie  Gray,  Anna  Gropp,  A.  M. 
Arveson.  Mrs.  Irma  Larzelere  was  the  teacher  in 
1921-22.  The  first  school  board  consisted  of  Charles 
Herman,  George  Connor  and  George  Hall..  The  1921- 
22  school  board  consisted  of  Martin  Kozarek,  J.  E. 
Monroe  and  Walter  Bryant. 

There  has  been  no  recent  territorial  changes  in  Dis- 
trict No.  3,  which  consists  of  sections  3,  4,  9,  10,  15  and 
16. 

In  the  early  days  the  settlers,  after  a  busy  day  clear- 
ing land,  sawing  logs  or  working  in  the  "pineries" 
would  gather  at  the  Solon  Hall  place  where  dancing 
and  merriment  were  featured.  This  lightened  the 
weary  labors  of  the  homesteader  and  others. 

Principal  colonists  and  original  land  owners  were: 
Upham  &  Russell  of  Shawano  and  F.  A.  Deleglise. 
Land  sold  for  from  $7  to  $10  per  acre  in  1885. 

Pioneer  loggers  in  the  district  were :  A.  Weed, 
Charles  Gowan,  and  J.  O'Brien. 

Present  industries  are :  One  saloon,  owned  by  Louis 
Kruk  and  one  cheese  factory  owned  and  operated  by 
Umland  Bros,  of  Birnamwood,  who  have  been  located 
on  section  3.'  Early  factories  were  conducted  by  A. 
A.  Miller  and  the  Star  Creamery,  a  co-operative  com- 
pany. 

Highway  No.  39  runs  through  the  district.  The 
Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad  main  line  runs 
through  section  3,  9  and  16.  The  area  of  the  district 
is  216  square  miles  or  3,840  acres. 

DISTRICT  SCHOOL  TAX. 

August  27,  1881,  $650  was  voted  as  the  amount  re- 
quested to  be  assessed  in  district  No.  3.  Persons 
liable  for  that  taxation  were  James  Quinn,  Charles 
Herman,  C.  W.  Connor,  G.  W.  Hall.  Moses  Vitelle 
and  L.  M.  Ferguson.  In  1881  the  valuation  of  assess- 
ment for  district  No.  3  was:  Real  estate,  $11,833.08; 
personal  property,  $922.06;  total,  $12,755.14. 

B.  F.  HALL-PIONEER  CEMETERY. 

The  B.  F.  Hall-Pioneer  cemetery,  named  after  an 
early  settler,  is  located  east  of  the  E.  A.  Sage  farm- 
house on  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  15.  This  cemetery  was  surveyed  by  Joseph 
Duchac  by  authority  of  B.  F.  Hall  in  accordance  with 
Chapter  CI  of  the  revised  Wisconsin  statutes  of  1878. 

ROLLING  GRANGE  NO.  635. 

Rolling  Grange  No.  635  was  organized  at  Sunny- 
side  school  by  Perry  T.  Gillett,  January,  1915.     First 

1.     This  cheese  factory  has  since  burned  down. 


officers  were:  Master,  Charles  O'Connor;  Overseer, 
B.  Wright;  Secretary,  Mrs.  Charles  Schotte;  Treasurer, 
Frank  Wenz;  Lecturer,  Mrs.  Frank  Wenz;  Chaplain, 
D.  Mahard;  Steward,  R.  Monroe;  Assistant  Steward, 
Bert  Wright;  Lady  Assistant,  Mrs.  Charles  O'Connor; 
Gatekeeper,  Walter  Monroe. 

Meetings  were  held  at  residences  of  members  until 
the  spring  of  1917,  when  a  hall  was  erected.  It  is 
located  in  district  No.  4,  on  the  southeast  quarter  cor- 
ner of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  8.  But  for 
the  generous  donations  of  labor  and  material,  cost  of 
construction  would  have  reached  $800.  Present  mem- 
berships is  41. 

The  officers  of  the  grange  are:  Master,  Charles 
Schotte,  Jr.;  Overseer,  Charles  Servi;  Assistant  Stew- 
ard, G.  F.  Kretz;  Lady  Assistant  Steward,  Hattie 
Schotte;  Chaplain,  George  Hunt;  Gatekeeper,  Walter 
Monroe;  Flora,  Mrs.  Charles  Schotte;  Ceres,  Mrs. 
George   Servi;    Pomona,   Mrs.    Ferdinand   David. 

Meetings  are  held  the  first  Wednesday  of  each 
month  during  the  winter.  In  the  summer  months  ses- 
sions are  held  the  first  and  third  Wednesdays.  Roll- 
ing Granges  have  captured  first,  second  and  third 
prizes  in  exhibits  at  the  Langlade  County  Fair.  They 
are  justly  proud  of  their  organization. 

DISTRICT  NO.  4. 

FERNWOOD  DISTRICT.  In  the  northwestern 
part  of  Rolling  township  lies  an  area  of  land  3,840 
acres  in  extent,  consisting  of  sections  5,  6,  7,  8,  17 
and  18.  This  area  is  commonly  termed  Fernwood  by 
reason  of  a  name  designated  by  the  school  pupils  re- 
siding in  the  district. 

District  No.  4  was  one  of  the  original  Langlade 
County  school  districts.  It  was  organized  in  1880 
and  while  the  records  of  the  first  school  officers  are 
lost  we  have  positive  proof  of  the  year  of  organiza- 
tion. It  was  known  as  district  No.  9,  Milltown  Town- 
ship, Shawano  County,  before  Rolling  township  was 
created  and  attached  to  Langlade  County. 

The  first  settlers  to  arrive  in  this  section  came  in 
1878  and  1879.  They  were  John  McDonald,  Luther 
and  Charles  Montgomery,  John  Rice,  Theodore  Luder- 
man,  John  Hart!,  Joseph  Wild,  Sr.,  Matt  Fleischmann, 
Englebert  Steber,  John  Olson,  Chris  Hanson,  George 
Wenz,  Charles  Steckl,  Joseph  Modi,  Julius  Heschke, 
Wolfgang  Babler,  Joseph  Babler,  John  Bitl  and  Wen- 
eel  Zollpriester  and  others. 

The  first  school  was  a  log  house  erected  on  section 
6.  For  four  years  it  was  used  until  another  more  pre- 
tentious structure  of  logs  was  erected  on  section  7. 
This  was  the  knowledge  center  of  the  district  until 
1894  when  a  brick  building  was  erected  by  Joseph 
Wild  and  Theodore  Luderman.  It  cost  $3,000.  It 
was  then  and  is  yet  one  of  the  best  of  Langlade  Coun- 
ty schools.  Mrs.  F.  A.  Deleglise  was  the  first  teacher 
in  the  district.  Miss  Mabel  Schultz  taught  the  school 
in  1921-22.  George  Wenz  and  Theodore  Luderman 
were  Clerk  and  Treasurer  of  the  district  when  first 
organized.     The    1921-22    school    officials    were    Matt 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


245 


Wachal,  Jr.,  Clerk;  Joseph  Frisch,  Director;  Anton 
Hallada,  Treasurer. 

Present  industries  are :  Springbrook  Cheese  Fac- 
tory, purchased  by  John  Ehman  from  Emil  Bartz  in 
May,  1922.  It  originally  was  a  creamery  owned  by 
the  farmers  in  the  district,  who  sold  to  John  Hruska. 
Others  who  owned  it  were  Chris  Wavrunek  and  J. 
Reislager  (jointly),  Fred  Buss,  George  Nore,  James 
Pavunka,  Emil  Bartz.  The  Joseph  Stearn  saloon  was 
erected  by  John  Hruska,  was  later  operated  by  Chris 
Wavrunek,  before  Mr.  Stearn  secured  it.  Both  indus- 
tries are  located  on  section  5. 

There  are  forty  farmers,  fully  alert  to  the  possibil- 
ities of  District  No.  4  as  an  agricultural  and  dairying 
center,  living  in  the  district.  Splendid  roads,  rural 
free  delivery  service.  The  Fernwood  Telephone  Com- 
pany, organized  by  Matt  Wachal,  Jr.,  and  an  air  of 
progressiveness  and  optimism  all  tend  to  make  the 
district  a  blue  ribbon  winner. 

In  1881  the  valuation  of  assessment  in  district  No. 
4  was  as  follows:  Real  estate,  $18,986.50;  personal 
property,  $518.00;  total,  $19,504.50. 

DISTRICT  NO.  5. 

ELMHURST  DISTRICT.  Before  the  Milwaukee, 
Lake  Shore  &  Western  Railroad  pushed  their  main 
track  north  into  the  territory  of  Langlade  County,  a 
hardy  optimistic  prospector  came  into  the  wilderness 
of  southern  Langlade  County  and  settled  at  what  later 
became  the  thriving  village  of  Elmhurst.  This  man, 
Frederick  Spoehr,  came  from  Shiocton,  Waupaca 
County.  He  planned  to  locate  at  Antigo,  but  in  his 
own  words,  "I  decided  not  to  because  of  the  swampy 
land  and  marshes,"  and  in  1880  came  to  section  21, 
township  30,  range  11  east.  Mr.  Spoehr  was  pre- 
ceded by  W.  J.  Empey. 

Many  settlers  followed.  The  pioneers  of  this  dis- 
trict were  W.  J.  Empey,  Frederick  Spoehr,  Dan  But- 
ler, J.  Wunderlich  and  sons,  Mrs.  Schraml,  M.  W. 
Brown,  E.  Ploeger,  Sim  Ball,  James  Pentony,  Adam 
SchmoU,  E.  Schuster,  Walter  Strong,  Joseph  Haas 
and  others. 

As  new  settlers  homesteaded  or  purchased  land  from 
land  agencies  or  the  Northwestern  railroad  (which, 
while  not  operating  in  the  county  then,  owned  large 
tracts  of  railroad  land  grants  within  it)  the  education 
of  the  young  became  a  paramount  necessity.  There- 
fore a  school  was  erected  on  the  site  of  the  present 
modern  structure  in  the  village  of  Elmhurst.  The 
first  school  served  until  December  19,  1919,  when  it 
was  destroyed  by  fire.  The  new  school  was  erected 
at  a  cost  of  $13,000.  The  officers  of  the  district  in 
1922-23  were  H.  A.  Carley,  Clerk;  G.  H.  Wunderlich, 
Treasurer  and  Frank  Prosser,  Director.  The  district 
was  organized  following  a  petition  presented  by  W.  J. 
Empey  and  others  on  March  28,  1882.  This  territory 
in  the  township  previously  belonged  to  another  district. 

June  26,  1882,  the  town  board  appointed  Daniel 
Buttler  of  Elmhurst  to  notify  the  electors  of  the  newly 
created  District  No.  5  to  meet  at  the  home  of  James  J. 
Haas  for  the  first  school  meeting,  July  18,  1882.    This 


district  was  officially  organized  April  18,  1882,  and 
consisted  of  sections  20,  21,  28,  33,  32,  29,  30,  31,  19, 
or  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  township.  July  10, 
1889,  the  boundaries  of  both  districts  No.  2  and  No.  5 
were  changed.  The  northwest  quarter  of  section  22 
was  placed  in  District  No.  5. 

The  district  experienced  various  changes  from  then 
until  now  it  consists  of  all  of  sections  19,  20,  21,  30, 
the  west  half  of  section  29,  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  29  and  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  29,  the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
28  and  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  28  and  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  22. 

Pioneer  industries  in  this  district  were  many.  The 
J.  S.  Wunderlich  &  Sons  industries  were  launched  in 
1881.  J.  S.  Wunderlich  and  sons  moved  to  Elmhurst 
from  Stevensville,  Outagamie  County,  Wisconsin,  in 
August,  1881.  They  operated  a  saw  and  shingle  mill 
for  many  years.  George  H.  Wunderlich  now  owns 
considerable  property  in  Elmhurst.  He  is  proprietor 
of  a  sawmill,  the  large  Bear  Lake  farm  and  a  general 
store.  His  home  is  in  Antigo,  Wis.  M.  Brown  and 
W.  Saxon  of  Appleton  conducted  a  mill  in  Elmhurst 
in  1884. 

Sims  &  Jones,  of  Tuston  and  Appleton,  Wisconsin, 
respectively,  erected  a  barrel  head  and  cheese  box 
factory  in  the  district  in  1888.  They  sold  out  in  1894 
to  the  Menasha  Woodenware  Company,  which  in  turn 
sold  to  J.  Clark  of  Pine  River,  Wisconsin,  and  Niels 
Nelson  of  Oshkosh.  Sorenson  Brothers  of  Tuston, 
Wisconsin,  were  then  financially  interested  in  the  pro- 
ject. The  latter  owners  sold  to  E.  F.  Nelson  and 
Frank  Deveau.  The  industry  was  discontinued  in 
1908. 

The  Frost  Veneer  Seating  Company  located  in  Lang- 
lade County  first  in  Elmhurst  in  1886.  They  moved 
to  Elcho  in  1887-88.  Jaeger  Brothers  of  Berlin,  Wis., 
had  a  stave  mill  on  the  same  site  for  three  years  later. 

Frederick  Spoehr  conducted  a  small  hotel  and  store 
from  1881  until  1888,  when  it  was  taken  over  by  H. 

A.  Carley.  Other  early  hotel  keepers  were  Thomas  Ir- 
win, who  started  in  1889,  Wunderlich  Brothers,  P. 
Near,  Frank  Busch,  Fred  Kalkofen  and  E.  Ploeger. 
Joseph  Haas,  Jake  Fischer  and  Charles  Abet  were  the 
three  early  saloon  keepers. 

Present  industries  in  this  district  are  H.  A.  Carley 
and  George  H.  Wunderlich  stores,  two  soft  drink 
stands  run  by  August  Meisenhelder  and  C.  F.  Jessie, 
two  boarding  houses,  a  C.  &  N.  W.  depot,  and  a  post 
office.  The  postmasters  have  been  Frederick  Spoehr, 
Hesh    Tyler,    George    H.    Wunderlich,   John    Zellmer, 

B.  F.  Vander  Bogart,  and  Sim  Ploeger,  present  incum- 
bent. 

The  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  have  a  camp  at 
Elmhurst.  The  Good  Templars  and  F.  R.  A.  lodges 
were  once  active  in  the  village.  Elmhurst  at  one  time 
reached  the  high  mark  of  460  inhabitants  and  was 
for  a  short  time  a  rival  to  Antigo. ^ 

The  German  Lutheran  faith  have  a  fine  church  lo- 

1.  Elmhurst  at  no  time  was  as  serious  a  contender  for  the  leader- 
ship of  Langlade  County  as  was  that  historic  region  in  the  WoK 
river   country   where   the    Lily   river  joins   the  Wolf. 


246 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


cated  in  the  village.  It  was  erected  in  1891.  Antigo 
and  Birnamwood  pastors  serve  the  congregation.  The 
Elmhurst  cemetery  is  located  on  section  28. 

Elmhurst  received  its  name  because  of  the  great 
elm  forests  that  impressed  the  first  settlers. 

The  1922-23  teachers  were  Erna  Below,  principal, 
and  Maude  Smith,  assistant  principal. 

DISTRICT  NO.  6. 

PINE  GROVE  DISTRICT.  Within  the  memory  of 
settlers  still  living  the  south  central  part  of  Rolling 
Township  was  a  dense  unbroken  forest  penetrated 
only  by  the  zig-zag  trails  of  the  Indian.  Its  very  sur- 
face pictured  the  weary  trials  and  struggles  of  a 
"squatter,"  homesteader  or  land  purchaser.  Yet  reso- 
lute men  of  faith  and  courage  braved  the  viccissitudes 
of  the  forest  and  settled  in  this  region  in  1880.  Early 
settlers  were  Jacque  Raess,  Fred  Kalkofen,  Frank 
Hanus,  Louis  Ramer,  and  .Jacques  Eric.  The  only  per- 
manent old  pioneer  still  within  the  district  is  Fred 
Kalkofen. 

Rolling  township  was  originally  four  school  dis- 
tricts. Then  the  fifth  district  followed  and  another 
change  took  place  October  29,  1883,  when  District  No. 
6  was  organized.  It  consisted  of  sections  27,  32,  33 
and  34  and  the  south  half  of  section  28.  The  district 
now  consists  of  sections  27,  31,  32,  33,  34,  the  south 
half  of  section  28,  the  east  half  of  the  northeast  quar- 
ter of  section  28  and  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  28,  the  south  half  of  the  south- 
east quarter  of  section  29  and  the  northeast  quarter  of 
the  southeast  quarter  of  section  29,  the  west  half  of 
section  35.    The  area  contains  4,080  acres. 

The  district  is  drained  by  small  rivulets  and  streams 
flowing  through  sections  27,  35,  31,  32,  33.  The  main 
line  of  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  railroad  runs 
through  section  32  and  a  part  of  section  29. 

The  soil  in  the  district  is  varied.  Merrimac  silt 
loam,  sandy  loam,  Gloucester  fine  sandy  loam  and 
peat  are  found. 

The  only  industry  in  the  district,  with  the  exception 


of  agriculture,  was  a  sawmill  erected  in  1883  on  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  27  by  Jacques  Eric,  who 
came  to  this  county  from  Winnebago  County,  where 
he  then  owned  a  farm. 

The  Eric  sawmill  brought  in  an  influx  of  settlers 
and  was  responsible  to  a  great  extent  for  the  arrival 
of  early  settlers.  A  terrible  accident  occurred  in  1884 
and  was  the  direct  reason  for  abandonment  of  the 
industry.  Mr.  Eric  made  a  trip  each  day  to  Elm- 
hurst, nearest  trading  settlement,  to  secure  mail  and 
provisions  for  the  settlers  and  employes  at  the  saw- 
mill. He  failed  to  return  one  day  and  upon  investiga- 
tion it  was  found  that  his  horses  had  run  away.  The 
heavy  load  of  hay  slid  from  the  wagon  box  as  the 
team  ran  down  a  hill.  Mr.  Eric  was  fatally  injured. 
Dr.  F.  A.  Beckel,  Antigo  pioneer  physician,  was  called, 
but  his  efforts  were  futile. 

Henry  Gustavus,  associate  of  Jaques  Eric,  took 
charge  of  the  mill,  the  lumber  was  hauled  away  and 
the  mill  finally  moved.  While  operating,  it  furnished 
employment  to  a  number  of  men.  A  little  settlement 
grew  up  near  the  mill  on  section  27  during  this  per- 
iod.   It  died  with  the  mill. 

The  first  school  was  erected  in  1883  on  the  present 
location,  section  27.  It  is  still  used.  The  building 
cost  $300  when  erected.  First  pupils  were  Fred,  Jr., 
Albert,  Charles,  Herman,  Alfred,  Ernest,  Amelia, 
Anna,  Rose  and  Minnie  Kalkofen,  the  Frank  Hanus 
children,  the  Frank  Zarda  (Aniwa)  children,  and  the 
Wolf  family  children.  Indian  trails  abounded  even  at 
this  time  and  many  of  the  children  had  to  trudge  over 
them. 

Frank  Hanus,  Louis  Ramer  and  Fred  Kalkofen  were 
first  Director,  Clerk  and  Treasurer  of  the  district.  The 
1922-23  school  officials  were  Frank  Huggins,  Trea- 
surer; Mrs.  R.  J.  Doine,  Clerk  and  Mrs.  Zoa  Hoj^, 
Director.  Mrs.  Jessie  Huggins  was  the  1922-23  teach- 
er. 

Sixteen  farmers  reside  in  this  district.  The  office 
of  the  Rolling  Township  Clerk,  Frank  Huggins  (1922), 
is  in  this  district. 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE  COUNTY. 


247 


CHAPTER  XLVIII. 
Summit  Townships  33-34  N.,  R.  9  E. 

Two  Congressional  Divisions — Survey  of  1860  and  1864 — Physical  Features — Timber,  Soil,  Streams 
— Boundaries — Organization  in  1886 — First  Town  Meeting  At  Summit  Lake — Slashing  Terri- 
tory From  Summit— Parrish  Tovsmship  Created  November  12,  1889— Officers  From  1886  to  1923 
— The  History  Of  Sleepy  Hollow  District,  Sunny  Slope,  Rocky  Glen,  Callsen,  and  Parrish 
Village. 


Summit  township  consists  of  two  congressional  divi- 
sions, No.  33  and  No.  34  of  the  U.  S.  government  sur- 
vey. The  township  lies  in  the  extreme  northwestern 
part  of  the  county.  South  Summit  was  surveyed  by 
William  T.  Bradley  in  September,  1860,  and  North 
Summit  was  surveyed  by  James  L.  Nowlin,  commenc- 
ing on  September  15,  1864.  The  township  is  bounded 
on  the  north  by  Oneida  County,  on  the  south  by  Vilas 
township,  on  the  east  by  Elcho  township,  and  on  the 
west  by  Lincoln  County. 

The  physical  and  topographical  features  of  Sum- 
mite  are  similar  to  surrounding  divisions.  The  sur- 
face is  generally  rolling  except  in  some  places  where 
swamps  and  marshes  prevail.  The  leading  variety  of 
timber  consists  of  pine,  hemlock,  birch,  oak,  elm,  bass- 
wood  and  maple,  of  which  splendid  groves  are  yet  to 
be  found. 

The  soil  is  Gloucester  fine  sandy  loam,  Spencer  silt 
loam  and  Gloucester  silt  loam,  rolling  phase.  The 
township  has  no  large  creeks  or  waters  courses,  the 
Prairie  river  being  the  largest.  It  extends  through  the 
central  part  of  North  Summit,  running  through  sec- 
tions 6,  8,  11,  12,  14,  15,  19,  20,  22,  25  and  26. 

THE  RESOLUTION  OF  1886. 

February  2,  1886,  J.  C.  Lewis  introduced  a  resolution 
before  the  County  Board  calling  for  the  organization 
of  Summit  township.  The  resolution  stipulated  that 
the  proposed  township  consist  of  congressional  town- 
ships 33  and  34  of  ranges  9  and  10  east.  It  passed,  but 
not  without  opposition. 

The  first  township  meeting  was  held  at  the  Summit 
Lake  village  school  house.  W.  H.  Pool,  who  was  then 
operating  a  sawmill  at  Summit  Lake,  was  elected  first 
township  chairman.  His  right  to  sit  on  the  County 
Board  was  challenged  by  other  members  who  declar- 
ed him  to  be  a  citizen  of  Antigo.  He  filed  an  affi- 
davit to  the  contrary  stating  he  had  been  a  resident 
of  Summit  Lake  for  a  considerable  length  of  time  pre- 
viously.   This  quashed  the  arguments  of  his  enemies. 

J.  C.  Lewis,  B.  H.  Wooledge,  Henry  Heim,  John  G. 
Beardsley,  Frank  Kennedy  and  John  Bahr  were  select- 
ed to  make  a  settlement  with  Ackley  township  and 
the  new  town  of  Summit  immediately  after  the  town- 
ship was  organized.  Their  report  to  the  County 
Board,  November  9,  1886,  was  adopted. 


SLASHING  TERRITORY  FROM  SUMMIT. 

Summit  township  did  not  enjoy  its  extensive  area 
for  any  considerable  time.  December  27,  1886,  an 
effort  was  made  to  have  townships  34  of  ranges  9 
and  10  east  detached  from  Summit.  Ed  Daskam  pre- 
vented this  action  by  having  the  proposed  new  town- 
ship request  tabled.  Tabling  the  petition  did  not  les- 
sen the  activities  of  those  who  desired  a  new  town- 
ship and  on  February  23,  1887,  Elcho  township  was 
created.  With  parts  of  the  original  Neva  township 
and  townships  34  of  ranges  9  and  10  east  this  new 
township  was  organized.  Thus  Summit,  exactly  a  year 
after  organization,  was  slashed  to  one-half  its  origin- 
al area.  But  the  slashing  did  not  cease.  On  Novem- 
ber 12,  1889,  Parrish  township  was  formed  by  detach- 
ing township  34  of  range  9  east  (North  Summit  town- 
ship) from  Elcho  township.  This  left  Summit  town- 
ship but  one  congressional  township.  No.  33,  range  9 
east,  and  it  remained  in  that  status  until  1899,  when 
Parrish  township  was  vacated  and  attached  to  Sum- 
mit township.    Its  area  has  remained  unchanged  since. 

All  of  the  officers  of  Summit  township  in  1886  came 
from  the  village  of  Summit  Lake.  Supervisors  C.  H. 
Graves,  G.  W.  Glines;  Clerk,  R.  C.  Rice;  Treasurer, 
Peter  Loos;  Assessor,  L.  M.  Stearns,  and  minor  offi- 
cials were  principally  from  Summit  village.  Their 
leader  was  W.  H.  Pool,  who  fought  the  first  attempt 
to  organize  Parrish  township  before  the  state  legisla- 
ture. 

OFFICERS  OF  SUMMIT  TOWNSHIP,  1886-1923. 

CHAIRMEN. 

W.  H.  Pool,  1886-88;  George  H.  Jones,  1888-95; 
J.  Cummings,  1895-98;  C.  J.  Dore,  1898-1900;  Charles 
Anderson,  1900-01;  Joseph  Hufnagel,  1901-02;  Wen- 
zel  Wildman,  1902-06;  C.  J.  Dore,  1906-07;  Wenzel 
Wildman,  1907-08;  John  L.  Steger,  1908-09;  Wenzel 
Wildman,  1909-12;  John  Fritsch,  1912-15;  George  E. 
King,  1915-18;  John  Fritsch,  1918-23. 

CLERKS. 

R.  C.  Rice,  1886-87;  A.  W.  Service,  1887-88;  John 
Cummings,  1888-89;  Thomas  Griese,  1889-90;  William 
West,  1890-91;  Frank  Nilber,  1891-92;  E.  W.  Nickels, 
1892-93;  George  Bremer,  1893-94;  C.  J.  Dore,  1894- 
98;  Wencel  Wildman,  1898-1902;  George  L.  Zagel, 
1902-10;  John  Callsen,  1910-23. 


248 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


TREASURERS. 


Peter  Loos,  1886-88;  A.  Wildman,  1883-91;  Carl 
Shadewald,  1891-92;  F.  Schauer,  1892-93;  Charles 
Shadewald,  1893-94;  Stephen  Simon,  1895-1909; 
Robert  Cummings,  1909-12;  Eugene  E.  Hurlbutt,  1912- 
13;  George  L.  Zagel.  1913-20;  Wenzel  Wildman,  1920- 
23. 

ASSESSORS. 

L.  M.  Stearns,  1886-87;  Thomas  Griese,  Anton 
Wildman,  1887-88;  Phillip  Ryan,  1888-95;  Wenzel 
Wildman,  1895-98;  Thomas  Griese,  1898-99;  E.  S. 
Brooks,  1900-01;  C.  J.  Dore,  1901-02;  George  Herbst, 
1903-08;  Conrad  Hauenstein,  1908-11;  John  Fritsch, 
1911-12;  Jacob  C.  Raess,  1912-13;  Conrad  Hauenstein, 
1913-14;  George  E.  King,  1914-15;  Conrad  Hauenstein, 
1915-16;  John  Fritsch,  1916-18;  Jacob  C.  Raess,  1918- 
19;  John  F.  Steger,  1919-21;  Conrad  Hauenstein,  1921- 
22;  Jacob  C.  Raess,  1922-23. 

SUPERVISORS. 

C.  H.  Graves,  G.  W.  Glines,  1886-87;  T.  R.  Beyer, 
J.  H.  Jones,  1887-88;  Carl  Shadewald,  Frank  Schauer, 
1888-89;  George  Bremer,  Carl  Shadewald,  1889-90; 
H.  Ebner,  Thos.  Griese,  1890-91 ;  George  Bremer,  Carl 
Dumjohn,  1891-92;  George  Bremer,  C.  Kannenberg, 
1892-93;  Frank  Schauer,  John  Holland,  1893-94; 
George  Herbst,  Joseph  Hufnagel,  1895-96;  George 
Herbst,  George  Koch,  1896-97;  Conrad  Hauenstein, 
George  Zagel,  1898-99;  John  Strobel,  Conrad  Hauen- 
stein, 1900-01 ;  George  Gnahn,  Lawrence  Larson,  1901- 
02;  Abe  Holland,  John  L.  Steger,  1903-04;  John  L. 
Steger,  Carl  Dumjohn,  1904-05;  John  L.  Steger,  Thom- 
as Griese,  1905-06;  John  Strobel,  Carl  Dumjohn,  1906- 
07;  John  L.  Steger,  Wilbert  Sparks,  1907-08;  George 
Strobel,  George  Gnahn,  1908-09;  George  Strobel,  Wal- 
lie  Holland,  1909-10;  C.  A.  Shadewald,  Wallie  Hol- 
lands, 1910-11;  Hans  Dehorn,  C.  A.  Shadewald,  1911- 
13;  Otto  Bergeman,  C.  A.  Shadewald,  1913-14;  George 
Strobel,  Otto  Bergman,  1914-15;  George  Strobel,  Con- 
rad Simon,  1915-16;  William  Bergman,  Andrew  Pil- 
hofer,  1916-18;  William  Bergman,  Frank  Simon,  1918- 
19;  William  Bergman,  John  Simon,  1919-22;  George 
Strobel,  Jr.,  William  Bergman,  1922-23. 

JUSTICES. 

C.  F.  Graves,  Herman  Pohle,  T.  R.  Beyer,  1886-87; 
P.  W.  Glines,  1887-89;  R.  C.  Rice,  E.  S.  Koepenick, 
1887-88;  C.  J.  Dore,  L.  M.  Stearns,  A.  W.  Nickel, 
1888-89;  Fred  Kasten,  1889-91;  John  Herbst,  Henry 
Ebner,  1889-90;  A.  W.  Nickels,  Frank  Shauer,  1890- 
91;  Fred  Kasten,  Conrad  Hauenstein,  1891-92;  J.  Mil- 
ler, J.  Helmbrecht,  1892-93;  Albert  Leistikow,  John 
Holland,  1893-94;  Fred  Kasten,  Albert  Leistikow,  D. 
Bussiere  and  T.  Lee,  1895-96;  George  Bremer,  J.  Mil- 
ler, 1896-97;  Matt  Kluball,  Henry  Buck,  Richard  Bru- 
mit,  1898-99;  W.  Fellows,  Matt  Kluball,  1900-01;  Al- 
bert Knak,  Fred  Kasten,  J.  L.  Steger,  1901-02;  John 
Holland,  Wenzel  Wildman,  H.  Brandemihl,  Matt  Klu- 
ball, 1903-04;  George  Herbst,  Matt  Kluball,  1904-05; 
Henry  Brendemihl,  Wenzel  Wildman,  1905-06;  C.  J. 


Dore,  Wenzel  Wildman,  George  Herbst,  1906-07;  John 
Callsen,  George  Herbst,  Wer.zel  Wildman,  1907-08; 
Wenzel  Wildman,  George  E.  King,  John  Callsen,  Wil- 
bur Sparks,  1908-09;  Stephen  Simon,  George  E.  King, 
Wenzel  Wildman,  1909-10;  Wenzel  Wildman,  James 
S.  Sparks,  George  E.  King,  1910-11;  James  S.  Sparks, 
George  E.  King,  George  L.  Zagel,  John  Callsen,  1911- 
12;  John  Callsen,  E.  E.  Hurlbutt,  1912-13;  George  E. 
King,  John  Callsen,  1913-16;  John  Callsen,  George  L. 
Zagel,  1916-18;  Floyd  Hurlbutt,  Fred  Schadewald, 
1918-19;  G.  Zagel,  1919-20;  J.  Callsen,  1920-21;  Otto 
Bergman,  1921-22;  John  Callsen,  1922-23. 


CONSTABLES. 

Henry  Ebner,  William  Knak,  George  Foyell,  1886- 
87;  H.  Collin,  H.  Kunza,  F.  King,  1887-88;  H.  Plesch- 
ner,  John  Swoboda,  1888-89;  August  Sherman,  C. 
Wildman,  Carl  Hammer  and  George  Koch,  1889-90; 
Fred  Teske,  George  Lindner,  George  Koch,  1890-91 ; 
George  Gnahn,  George  Dindner,  1891-92;  J.  Kausch- 
inger,  A.  Sherman,  1892-93;  Joseph  Kauschinger,  M. 
Teske,  1893-94;  J.  Herbst,  A.  Holland,  1895-96; 
George  L.  Zagel,  George  Hufnagel,  1896-97;  John 
Strobel.  George  Trull,  1898-99;  F.  Kaskey,  A.  Wright, 
1899-1900;  C.  J.  Dore,  Robert  Hutchinson,  1900-01; 
William  Pufall,  Edward  Zagel,  1901-02;  E.  Zagel, 
August  Zelm,  1902-03;  George  Gnahn,  Abe  Holland, 
1903-04;  Edward  Zagel,  Carl  Dumjohn,  1904-05; 
George  Gnahn,  George  Trull,  1905-06;  George  Trull, 
William  Knopp,  1906-07;  Wallie  Holland,  William 
Knopp,  1907-1908;  C.  G.  Simon,  John  F.  Steger,  1908- 
10;  Conrad  G.  Simon,  George  Strobel,  Jr.,  1910-11; 
George  Strobel,  Jr.,  Andrew  Pilhofer,  1911-12;  John 
Exford,  Edward  Lackerman,  1912-lS;  John  Strobel, 
Henry  Oldenberg,  1913-14;  Julius  Bergman,  Floyd 
Hurlbutt,  1914-15;  Hugh  Lee,  Floyd  Hurlbutt,  1915- 
16;  Julius  Bergman,  Floyd  Hurlbutt,  1916-17;  John 
Fritsch,  Bart  Tichacek,  Fay  O'Brien,  1917-18;  Fred 
Schadewald,  Floyd  Hurlbutt,  1918-19;  Julius  Berg- 
man, 1919-20;  R.  Kluball,  F.  O'Brien,  1920-21;  J. 
Fritsch,  Andrew  Kielhofer,  1921-22;  John  Fritsch, 
Leonard  Hauenstein,  1922-23. 

DISTRICT  NO.  1. 

SLEEPY  HOLLOW  DISTRICT.  When  the  first 
settlers  arrived  in  the  Callsen  district  John  Cummings, 
who  emigrated  from  Aberdeen,  Scotland,  took  up  160 
acres  of  homestead  land  in  1883  on  section  19  of  South 
Summit  township.  Following  him  came  Frank  and 
Anton  Wildman,  who  settled  on  sections  17  and  19  re- 
spectively. They  also  arrived  in  1883.  Other  pioneer 
settlers  were  Robert  and  John  Holland  who  took  up 
land  on  sections  19  and  30  respectively.  It  was  not 
but  a  short  time  before  other  settlers  arrived.  Frank 
Kursts  and  Thomas  Griese  came  into  the  district  and 
settled  on  section  30.  In  1884  Conrad  Dore  moved 
into  the  district  taking  a  location  in  the  northeast  part 
of  section  32.  Phillip  Atkins  came  at  the  same  time 
establishing  himself  on  section  29.  He  homesteaded 
the  south  quarter  of  the  section. 

The  first  school  in  the  district  was  a  log  cabin  erect- 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


249 


ed  on  the  Robert  Cummings  property  in  southeastern 
section  19.  Miss  Emma  Dore  was  the  first  teacher. 
Six  pupils  were  in  attendance.  The  log  school  was 
used  for  many  years  until  a  frame  building  was  erect- 
ed on  section  29.  The  1921-22  school  officials  were 
Robert  Cummings,  Clerk;  Wenzel  Wildman,  Treasur- 
er, and  Otto  Bergman,  Director. 

This  district  has  an  area  of  5,600  acres  of  land. 
Sections  16,  17,  18,  19,  20,  29,  30,  31  and  all  of  sec- 
tion 32  except  the  southeast  quarter  are  in  its  limits. 
It  was  once  known  as  District  No.  5. 

Their  are  many  sections  of  the  district  not  inhabit- 
ed. Those  parts  where  settlers  have  cleared  farms 
is  modern  and  progressive.  Telephones,  rural  free 
delivery,  splendid  county  roads,  all  aid  in  the  general 
advancement  of  the  district. 

But  few  of  the  original  settlers  still  reside  here. 
Most  of  them  have  moved  away  or  are  now  dead. 

The  soil  of  Sleepy  Hollow  is  chiefly  Spencer  silt 
loam,  with  a  little  peat.  The  Pine  river  runs  through 
section  33,  nearby.  (Section  33  is  in  district  No.  3.) 

The  Lutheran  cemetery  of  Bavaria  is  located  in  this 
district  in  section  16. 

DISTRICT  NO.  2. 

SUNNY  SLOPE  DISTRICT  comprises  all  of  sec- 
tions 15,  21,  22,  27,  28,  the  west  half  of  section  36,  all 
of  sections  33,  34,  35  and  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 32  in  South  Summit  township,  embracing  an  area 
of  land  containing  5,600  acres.  It  received  its  name 
from  the  picturesque  slope  on  which  the  district  school 
is  located. 

The  first  settlers  to  homestead  arrived  in  the  dis- 
trict in  1884.  Carl  Dumiohn,  Frank  Tomany,  George 
Zagel,  Stephen  Simon  and  son,  C.  G.  Simon,  August 
Zelm,  Henry  Zelm,  George  King  (now  a  resident  of 
Rocky  Glen  district),  Michael  Pilhofer,  John  Strobel, 
Julius  Bergman,  Conrad  Hauenstein  and  A.  Leistikow 
came  into  the  district  between  1884  and  1888. 

The  first  settlers  had  to  walk  to  Dudley  for  provi- 
sions and  for  many  years  mail  was  hauled  over  poor 
trails  and  marshy  roads  to  the  settlement.  Mr.  Simon 
was  the  pioneer  mail  carrier,  who  would  go  to  Dudley 
and  return  three  times  a  week  with  the  government 
mail. 

The  first  school  was  located  on  section  28  in  1889. 
Meanwhile  Albert  Leistikow  sold  the  school  district 
a  building  for  school  purposes.  An  acre  of  ground 
was  secured  from  Stephen  Simon  at  a  cost  of  $5.  The 
school  was  16x20  feet  and  the  floor  of  rough  pine  lum- 
ber. It  was  ready  for  the  fall  term  of  1889.  Fred 
Kasten,  Stephen  Simon  and  Frank  Nibler  were  the 
first  Director,  Treasurer  and  Clerk  of  the  district.  Fred 
Kasten,  Frank  Nibler  and  Frank  Tomany  were  in 
charge  of  the  building  of  the  first  school.  Early  teach- 
ers were  Lizzie  Griese,  Celema  M.  Lavague,  Mary 
Higgins,  Emma  Molzberger,  A.  M.  Bessey,  Elma  M. 
Snyder,  Margaret  Slover,  Miss  Filby,  Nellie  Boyle, 
Lottie  Hinch,  Emma  Nordman,  Nellie  Tracy.  The 
1922-23  teacher  was  Eleanor  Greeland.  The  1922- 
23  school  officials  were  C.  G.  Simon,  Clerk;  J.  L. 
Steger,  Director;  G.  M.  Simon,  Treasurer. 


In  1898  a  second  log  school  was  built  on  land  leased 
from  George  Zagel,  who  received  $27  for  clearing  it. 
This  site  was  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  27.  Here  a  school  was  built  at  a 
cost  of  $300.  It  was  22x32  feet  in  dimensions.  Ste- 
phen Simon  erected  it  for  the  district.  It  was  used 
until  the  modern  school  of  red  brick  was  built  by  C.  D. 
Clark  at  a  cost  of  $4,400.  He  was  awarded  the  con- 
tract March  5,  1917. 

The  school  officials  when  the  new  school  was  erect- 
ed were  C.  G.  Simon,  J.  L.  Steger  and  George  Zagel, 
Clerk,  Director  and  Treasurer  in  order  given. 

BAVARIA  is  the  chief  settlement  of  the  district.  A 
post  office  was  opened  in  1906  with  Stephen  Simon  as 
postmaster.  The  office  was  retained  until  rural  free 
delivery  was  secured  in  the  district.  May  1,  1921.  It 
is  route  No.  1  from  Gleason,  Wis.  Bavaria  was  nam- 
ed after  the  kingdom  of  Bavaria,  which  next  to  Prus- 
sia, was  the  second  largest  state  in  the  once  German 
Empire.    Many  of  the  settlers  came  from  that  state. 

A  Lutheran  Evangelical  church  is  located  on  the 
northeast  quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
21,  just  opposite  the  town  hall.  The  Lutheran  minis- 
ter from  Gleason  serves  the  community. 

Fred  Molzberger  opened  a  general  store  at  Bavaria 
on  section  34  in  1913.  In  1920  it  was  moved  to  sec- 
tion 32  where  it  is  now  operated. 

Floyd  Hurlbutt  of  Parrish,  continuation  district  No. 
1,  erected  a  mill  on  section  34  in  1915.  He  sold  it  in 
1917  to  Fred  Molzberger,  who,  after  running  for  two 
years,  sold  it  to  Doering  Brothers.  It  was  then  moved 
to  Doering,  Wis.,  a  nearby  village.  The  only  saw- 
mill now  in  the  district  is  owned  by  Ed.  Walberger.  It 
is  located  on  section  33.  He  came  to  the  district  in 
May,  1922. 

A  cheese  factory,  located  on  the  southwest  quarter 
of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  34  was  erected 
many  years  ago.    It  changes  ownership  frequently. 

The  S.  Webster  and  the  C.  W.  Matt  stores  are  near- 
by but  are  located  on  sections  in  Vilas  township,  across 
the  main  highway. 

The  Lutheran  cemetery  nearby  is  in  Sleepy  Hollow 
district. 

The  Summit  township  hall  is  located  on  the  north- 
west quarter  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  22  in 
this  district.  It  has  been  repaired  many  times.  It 
is  located  on  highway  "H." 

The  thrift  and  progressive  traits  of  the  settlers  are 
reflected  in  their  fine  farms  and  modern  buildings. 

DISTRICT  NO.  3. 

ROCKY  GLEN  DISTRICT.  Much  of  this  region 
is  still  unsettled  and  great  tracts  of  timber  still  stand 
within  its  boundaries.  Lumbering  and  logging  has 
been  the  principal  industry.  This  district  was  set  off 
in  1899,  ten  years  after  the  first  log  school  was  erect- 
ed. April  12,  1889,  the  first  school  district  was  creat- 
ed. Many  of  the  early  settlers  homesteaded  in  1886. 
William  Knak,  George  Koch,  Carl  Shadewald,  John 
Gnahn,  Herman  Pohl,  S.  Bruckner,  George  Hufnagel, 
Joseph  Hufnagel,  George  Herbst,  John  Herbst,  George 


250 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


and  John  King,  and  Frank  Kowsky  and  others  all  were 
early  settlers. 

The  first  school,  log  cabin,  was  erected  in  1889 
on  section  11.  It  was  a  16x20  cabin.  Karl  Hammer 
erected  the  first  school,  it  being  completed  September 
20,  1889.  The  school  ground  was  leased  from  Charles 
Schadewald.  The  school  ground  was  cleared  by  Joseph 
Hufnagel.  G.  T.  Conant,  the  first  teacher,  received 
$30  per  month  salary.  Other  early  teachers  were 
Emma  Ketner,  second  teacher;  others  were:  Anna  D. 
C.  Gropp,  Emma  Nordman,  Emma  Gleason,  Jane 
Reader,  Nellie  Boyle,  V.  R.  Berkman,  Agnes  Camic, 
and  Albert  Boettcher.  The  1922-23  teacher  was  Echo 
Robbins.  Wilhelm  Knak,  John  Herbst  and  George 
Koch  were  the  first  Director,  Treasurer  and  Clerk  of 
this  district.     Eight  children  attended  the  first  school. 

In  1903  John  King  erected  the  frame  school  now 
used,  section  11,  at  a  cost  of  $800.  The  building  is 
26x36  and  12  feet  high.  The  job  was  let  to  Mr.  King, 
August  13,  1902.  The  old  log  school  was  then  sold 
July  21,  1902,  to  J.  King  at  $1.55. 

The  Langlade  Lumber  Company  has  been  instru- 
mental in  bringing  in  many  new  settlers  into  the  dis- 
trict, they  having  located  145  settlers  in  their  cut-over 
lands  thus  far. 

The  district  soil  is  chiefly  Spencer  silt  loam,  Glou- 
cester sandy  loam  and  in  the  marshy  areas  peat  is 
found,  more  noticeable  at  the  intersection  quarter  post 
of  sections  1,  2,  11  and  12.  The  region  is  hilly  and 
rocky. 

In  1923  a  new  road  from  this  district  to  Summit 
Lake  will  be  constructed. 

Many  old  logging  roads,  old  railroad  beds  and 
wrecked  camp  sites  are  still  visible. 

DISTRICT  NO.  4. 

CALLSEN  DISTRICT.  The  year  Antigo  was  di- 
vided into  two  camps  as  a  result  of  an  unsuccessful 
attempt  to  incorporate  it  as  a  city,  a  man,  full  of  de- 
termination and  energy,  staked  a  homestead  for  him- 
self in  the  wild  virgin  forest  of  this  district.  This 
man,  Frank  Lee,  was  not  long  a  solitary  mortal  in  the 
region  of  pine  and  hardwood  forests.  Two  years  later, 
in  1885,  Stedson  and  Christopher  Callsen,  taking  with 
them  their  worldly  belongings,  left  Milwaukee,  Wis- 
consin, to  make  a  home  in  that  land,  which  has  been 
the  choice  of  the  interpid  Frank  Lee.  Others  who 
followed  were  Edward  Rosbach,  Charles  Haasman, 
Otto  and  Bernard  Holtman,  Alfred  Wright,  Gustav 
Brendemihl,  Henry  Brendemihl  and  Conrad  De  Horn, 
all  sturdy  pioneers  of  the  new  north. 

The  Callsen  district  comprises  all  of  sections  7,  8,  9 
and  the  west  half  of  section  10,  all  of  section  4,  5 
and  6,  the  west  quarter  of  section  3,  a  small  strip  of 
sections  1,  2  and  3  of  South  Summit  township  and  all 
of  sections  31,  32,  33,  34,  35,  36  of  North  Summit  to- 
gether with  the  south  halves  of  sections  25  to  30  inclu- 
sive. The  district  has  an  area  of  11,568  acres.  The 
district  has  three  types  of  soil,  Gloucester  sandy  loam, 
Spencer  silt  loam  and  peat. 

This  district  was  organized  in  1887  as  a  part  of  Elcho 


township  and  remained  as  such  until  1890  when  Par- 
rish  township  was  detached  from  Elcho.  Then  it  was 
organized  as  District  No.  1  and  for  nine  years  it  re- 
mained in  that  status  until  1899,  when  upon  the  reor- 
ganization of  Summit  township  it  became  district  No. 
4,  by  which  it  is  now  known. 

After  preparing  their  homesteads  for  crops,  building 
their  log  cabins  and  opening  up  some  communication 
with  the  outside  world,  the  pioneer  settlers  turned  their 
attention  to  education  of  their  children.  In  the  year 
1886  a  log  school  was  erected  at  the  quarter  post  of 
sections  29  and  32.  Ten  children  attended  from  the 
Haasman,  Callsen  and  Rosbach  families  and  were 
taught  by  Miss  Lizzie  Giese.  Seven  years  later  the  log 
school  gave  way  to  the  first  frame  school,  erected  in 
1893  on  the  northeast  corner  of  section  31.  Miss 
Emma  Castellion  was  the  first  teacher  in  charge. 
Frank  Lee,  Clerk;  Detlof  Callsen,  Director,  and  Ed. 
Rosbach,  Treasurer,  had  charge  of  the  first  school  ac- 
tivities in  this  district  in  1887.  The  1922-23  school 
officials  were  John  Callsen,  a  son  of  Detlof  Callsen, 
as  Clerk;  Henry  Brendemihl  as  Treasurer  and  Halvor 
Granum  of  Director.  Miss  Laurette  Friebel  was  the 
1922-23  teacher. 

In  October,  1916,  the  frame  school  was  destroyed 
by  fire.  The  children  were  housed  temporarily  in  a 
log  building  nearby.  School  opened  in  1917  in  a  mo- 
dern $5,600  brick  school  erected  by  the  Frazer  Lum- 
ber Company  of  Appleton.  It  is  on  the  site  of  the  old 
frame  structure,  section  31.  Early  teachers  in  this 
territory  were  Anna  Jensen,  Alice  Huntington,  Martha 
Marsilliot,  Jesse  Waste,  Blanche  Kilkelly,  Florence 
Bunton  and  Jeannie  Lang. 

There  is  one  stream  of  importance  in  Callsen  dis- 
trict, Haymeadow  Creek. 

Pioneer  loggers  were  The  Prairie  River  Lumber 
Company,  J.  C.  Hollis  and  Paul  Krueger,  or  The  Par- 
rish  Lumber  Company,  Detlof  and  Christopher  Call- 
sen  and  John  Callsen. 

The  office  of  the  Summit  township  clerk,  John  Call- 
sen,  is  in  this  district. 

The  district  presents  a  vivid  contrast  today  to  that 
time  in  1885  when  the  first  settlers  had  to  walk  to  El- 
cho, a  hamlet  in  the  wilderness,  for  provisions,  flour 
and  other  necessities.  Now  it  has  splendid  farms,  tele- 
phones, splendid  residences  and  while  highways  are 
few  those  that  are  found  are  good.  The  region  is 
steadily  forging  ahead. 

CONTINUATION  DISTRICT  NO.  1. 

PARRISH  DISTRICT.  The  village  of  Parrish  is 
situated  in  the  extreme  northwestern  part  of  Langlade 
County,  32  miles  from  Antigo,  County  Seat.  It  is  in 
the  heart  of  one  of  the  great  lumbering  regions  of 
pioneer  days,  and  in  fact  is  yet  important  because  of 
that  industry.  It  received  its  name  in  honor  of  Judge 
J.  K.  Parrish  of  the  10th  Wisconsin  Judicial  Circuit  of 
1889. 

Jule  Edwin,  first  settler,  located  at  the  site  now  used 
as  a  hotel  by  Andrew  Kuhl.  Mr.  Edwin  erected  the 
first  store   in  the  village   for  Brooks  &  Ross  Lumber 


1 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


251 


Company.  Mr.  Edwin  was  followed  by  Andrew  Kuhl, 
who  because  of  permanent  residence  has  been  termed 
the  first  permanent  settler. 

While  the  Brooks  &  Ross  Lumber  Company  had 
their  extensive  lumber  operations  in  the  region  Par- 
rish  became  a  thriving  settlement  of  fifty-eight  famil- 
ies. In  1888  it  was  divided  into  three  districts  con- 
sisting of  French,  German  and  Swedes.  These  sec- 
tions were  known  as  Frenchtown,  Germantown  and 
Swedetown.  Frenchtown  was  located  north  of  the 
Prairie  river,  while  the  other  two  groups  lived  on  the 
south  side. 

The  first  school  district  was  created  in  1890.  The 
school,  a   frame  building,  was   erected  or   the  nf^rth- 


The  Parrish  school  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  county. 
Three  teachers  are  employed.  The  1922-23  teachers 
were  the  Misses  Ethel  Gallop,  principal,  and  Gerda 
Tiller  and  Elna  Augustead,  assistants. 

Elm  City,  Lincoln  County,  is  located  near  Parrish. 
An  old  sawmill  site  is  the  only  monument  left  as  a 
memory  of  that  place.  The  great  sawdust  pile,  remin- 
iscent of  an  industry  that  has  passed,  is  covered  with 
wild  plants  and  good  sized  trees  are  growing  at  its 
top. 

The  soil  adjacent  to  Parrish  consists  of  Gloucester 
fine  sandy  loam  and  Gloucester  sandy  loam,  rolling 
"-ha^e.     This   district   is  hilly  and  rolling  generally. 


THE  PRESENT  PARRISH  SCHOOL 

which  was  trected  over  thirty  years  after  the  creation  of  the  lirst  school 

district  in  which  the  village  of  Parrish  was  included. 


west  quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  19. 
Miss  Ruschlow  was  the  first  teacher.  Among  the  pu- 
pils were  Margaret  De  Horn  and  Annie  Kuhl. 

With  the  construction  of  a  track  from  Pratt  Junc- 
tion to  Parrish  contact  with  the  main  route  of  the  Chi- 
cago &  Northwestern  railroad  was  made  possible. 
Parrish  thrived  for  years  during  the  pine  timber  con- 
quest. It  declined  from  then,  however,  until  1904. 
The  Parrish  Lumber  Company,  owned  by  J.  O.  Hollis 
and  L.  Krueger  of  Wausau,  gave  employment  to  many 
people.  C.  O.  Robinson  once  was  interested  in  the 
concern  also.  The  Hurlbutt-Tillman  Lumber  Com- 
pany now  operate  a  mill,  general  store  and  a  planing 
mill  in  the  village.  Floyd  Hurlbutt  is  in  active  man- 
agement. 


Parrish  district  consists  of  sections  1  to  24  inclu- 
sive and  the  north  halves  of  sections  25  to  30  inclusive, 
all  in  North  Summit  township  (Township  34,  N.,  R.  9 
E.) 

The  Prairie  River  Lumber  Company  saw,  planing 
and  shingle  mills  were  erected  in  1888.  Barney 
Daugherty  had  charge  of  constructing  the  mills  and 
George  F.  Rice  supervised  the  work.  The  sawmill  was 
120x67  feet,  had  two  band  saws,  one  of  which  was  a 
combined  band  and  rotary  saw.  It  also  was  equipped 
with  a  gang  edger,  a  slasher  and  trimmer.  Lumber 
capacity  was  approximately  90,000  ft.  per  day,  125,000 
shingles  per  day  and  25,000  lath  per  day.  D.  Mc- 
Gillis  was  the  first  manager.  The  mill  first  opened 
February  18,  1889. 


252 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XLIX. 

Upham  Township  No.  33  N.,  R.  10-11  E. 

Location — Boundaries — Government  Survey — Organization  in  1894 — First  Township  Assemblage — 
Why  Ujiham  Was  Organized — Named  After  Then  Governor-Elect  William  H.  Upham — Early 
Roads — Town  Hall — Last  Boundary  Changes — Settlements  With  Neva  And  Summit — Lakes 
and  Streams — Early  School  Districts — Officials  of  Upham  from  1895  to  1923 — Summit  Lake  Vil- 
lage— Lake  Shore  Railroad  in  1881 — Bingham  &  Perrin  Store — E.  S.  Koepenick  Early  Store- 
keeper— W.  J.  Empey  Hotel — Lumbering — Early  Postmasters — Schools  of  District — Present 
School  Erected  in  1906 — Destructive  Fire  in  1910 — Bass  Lake — Koepenick  District,  Named  in 
Honor  of  E.  S.  Koepenick — Its  History — Forest  District — Early  Settlers — Area  of  District — 
Schools — Lakes,  Soil,  Roads — District  No.   8 — Organization — Settlers — Officers. 


Upham  township  lies  immediately  south  of  Elcho 
township,  in  congressional  townships  33,  north  of 
Ranges  10  and  11  east.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north 
by  Elcho  township,  on  the  south  by  Neva  and  Peck 
townships,  on  the  east  by  South  Ainsworth  township 
and  on  the  west  by  South  Summit  township.  It  is  thus 
situated  centrally  and  favorably  among  many  beauti- 
ful lakes  and  the  scenery  about  these  lakes  is  incom- 
parable. West  Upham  was  surveyed  in  October,  1860, 
by  H.  C.  Fellows,  U.  S.  Deputy  Surveyor.  East  Up- 
ham was  surveyed  by  U.  S.  Deputy  Surveyor  H.  C. 
Fellows  at  the  same  time. 

Upham  township  has  a  diversified  surface  and  pre- 
sents to  the  homeseeker  all  variations  of  land,  from 
the  steep  hillside  to  the  low  level  marsh  lands.  Its 
natural  resources,  gravel  and  sand  deposits,  valuable 
timber,  rich  soil,  springs  of  crystal  pure  water,  wild 
fruits  and  wild  game — all  these  were  valuable  assets 
to  the  pioneer  homesteaders  and  land  purchasers. 

PURPOSE  OF  ORGANIZATION. 

Upham  township  was  created  November  16,  1894, 
by  the  Langlade  County  Board  in  response  to  a  peti- 
tion from  settlers  from  the  original  town  of  Summit 
and  that  part  of  Upham  township  previously  in  Neva 
township.  The  township  was  named  in  honor  of  Gover- 
nor-elect Wm.  H.  Upham,  Wisconsin's  chief  executive 
from  January  7,  1895,  to  January  4,  1897.  Township 
33,  North  of  Range  10  was  detached  from  Summit 
township,  with  the  exception  of  sections  32  and  33. 
Sections  34,  35  and  36  of  Township  34,  north  of  Range 
10  East  were  also  detached  from  Summit  and  Town- 
ship 33,  North  of  Range  11  was  detached  from  Neva 
township  to  form  the  new  township. 

The  voting  precinct  was  established  by  a  town- 
ship resolution  at  Summit  Lake.  The  ordinance  did 
not  take  effect  until  the  April,  1895,  town  meeting. 

Philipp  Ryan,  Frank  Schauer  and  George  Bremer 
were  chosen  the  first  inspectors  of  election  of  Upham. 
H.  G.  Borgman,  George  Jones  and  Fred  Jacobus, 
county  solons,  were  selected  to  effect  a  settlement 
between  Neva,  Summit  and  the  new  township. 

November  7,  1894,  a  petition  was  sent  to  the  mem- 


bers of  the  County  Board  requesting  the  new  township 
for  two  reasons:  1.  There  were  no  roads  to  travel 
the  polls.  2.  It  required  three  days  for  some  settlers 
to  get  from  their  homes  to  a  town  meeting,  one  day 
to  go  to  polls,  one  day  to  attend  town  meeting  and 
another  to  return  home.  The  settlers  did  not  wish  to 
leave  their  families  in  the  wilderness  alone.  The  east 
part  of  Summit  township  charged  that  the  west  part 
of  the  township  (as  it  then  existed)  secured  larger 
appropriations  for  roads  and  schools  by  reason  of  a 
greater  population.  The  Neva  township  petition's 
charges  were  the  same.  This  petition  was  signed  by 
J.  J.  Hanson,  Peter  Person,  John  Hedin,  George  Bre- 
mer, H.  G.  Harwood,  Abe  C.  Alesond,  M.  B.  Millard, 
0.  C.  Bardwell,  Frank  Schauer,  Mike  Haney,  Thomas 
Haney,  A.  F.  Franz,  August  Sharman,  Frank  Pillar, 
Charles  Gehrke,  Henry  Ebner,  John  Miller,  John 
Shuh,  Phillip  Ryan,  Dave  Woodmansee,  Peter  Loos, 
J.  H.  Andritz,  J.  H.  Gibson,  B.  G.  Olson,  C.  H.  Calk- 
ins, Joseph  Hasep,  James  Hurlbutt,  George  Hoover, 
John  Murphy,  John  Shuh,  Jr.,  Sib.  Leidheisl,  H.  Biel- 
be,  Wenzel  Niesbauer,  Donat  Kille,  Pins  Milsbauer 
and  Otto  Christsen. 

FIRST  TOWN  MEETING. 

The  first  town  meeting  was  held  April  2,  1895.  N. 
B.  Millard  was  temporary  chairman  and  J.  J.  Hanson 
temporary  clerk.  Charles  Gehrke  was  selected  clerk 
of  election  and  John  Miller  and  Peter  Loos  as  bal- 
lot clerks. 

Otto  Christensen,  J.  J.  Hanson,  Phillip  Ryan,  N.  B. 
Millard,  John  Miller,  Johannes  Anschutz,  James  Hurl- 
butt,  George  Bremer,  Chas.  Gehrke,  P.  Loos  and  Frank 
Schauer  petitioned  the  meeting  to  include  the  question 
of  township  school  government  in  the  election.  The 
petition  was  granted.  The  school  district  system  was 
adopted. 

The  resolution  granting  the  petitioners'  prayer  was 
the  first  one  adopted  by  the  Upham  township  officials. 
Phillip  Ryan  was  elected  the  first  township  chairman 
and  J.  J.  Hanson,  first  township  clerk.  The  township 
was  divided  into  two  road  districts,  May  18,  1895. 

The  first  road  petition  was  signed  by  J.  J.  Hanson, 
Frank  Schauer,  Peter  Loos,  John  Miller,  George  Bre- 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE  COUNTY. 


253 


mer,  Mike  Haney  and  F.  Pillar,  who  asked  for  a  road 
from  the  northeast  corner  of  section  24  running  south 
to  the  southeast  corner  of  said  section  of  township  33, 
range  10,  May,  1895.  The  road  was  authorized  June 
3,  1895.  The  road  to  Koepenick  was  built  in  1895. 
The  Koepenick-Kempster  road  was  built  in  the  fall  of 
1895  after  a  special  town  meeting  was  held  authoriz- 
ing a  loan  of  $500  to  finance  the  project.  The  money 
was  borrowed  from  the  Bank  of  Antigo. 

The  first  highway  overseers  of  the  township  were 
appointed  May  10,  1895,  and  were  John  Miller,  Dis- 
trict No.  1,  and  Donat  Killes,  District  No.  2. 

George  Bremer  was  the  first  to  receive  a  license  to 
retail  intoxicating  liquors  "in  quantities  of  less  than 
one  gallon,"  June  25,  1895.  ( Saloons  were  operated 
before  this  as  early  as  1882.)  The  license  fee  was 
$100  per  annum. 

TOWN  HALL. 

March  16,  1897,  voters  of  Upham  requested  town 
officials  to  include  the  question  of  raising  $75  for  a  town 
hall  to  be  submitted  to  the  electorate,  April  6.  1897. 
The  officers  purchased  lot  8  of  block  No.  5,  Summit 
Lake,  for  $45.  The  building  thereon  was  used  as  the 
first  town  hall.  The  vote  on  the  town  hall  question  re- 
sulted in  22-1  in  favor  of  purchasing  the  property, 
rather  than  building  a  new  town  hall.  The  first  meet- 
nig  in  the  "town  house"  was  held  June  28,  1897.  It 
was  used  but  a  short  time.  At  the  annual  meeting  in 
1899  the  town  hall  matter  was  up  again.  The  super- 
visors voted  to  appropriate  $100  for  a  town  hall  of 
which  $25  was  to  be  applied  on  the  old  town  hall  in- 
debtedness. The  first  session  was  held  April  11,  1899, 
in  the  second  town  hall. 

LAST  BOUNDARY  CHANGES. 

The  reader  will  recall  that  sections  34,  35  and  36, 
Township  34,  Range  10  East  were  attached  to  Upham 
township  November  16,  1894.  These  sections  were 
detached  from  Upham  and  joined  to  Elcho  township 
in  November,  1902.  Sections  31,  32  and  33,  Township 
No.  33,  of  Range  10  East  were  taken  from  Summit 
township  and  attached  to  Upham.  These  two  changes 
squared  but  every  township  in  Langlade  County.  The 
request  for  detaching  sections  31,  32  and  33  of  Town- 
ship 33,  Range  10  East  was  signed  by  Henry  Buck, 
Thomas  Griese,  John  L.  Meyer,  George  Gnahn,  Julius 
Bergman,  Leo  Nagel,  Joseph  Hufnagel,  Conrad  Hauen- 
stein,  Andrew  Kuhl,  George  Zagel,  ioseph  King,  Steph- 
en Simon,  Carl  Dumjohn,  F.  Nibbler,  G.  Strobel, 
George  Herbst,  Henry  Oldenberg,  Michael  Pilhofer 
and  C.  J.  Dore. 

SETTLEMENTS   WITH   NEVA-SUMMIT. 

George  H.  Wunderlich,  Phillip  Ryan,  John  Gum- 
ming, Fred  Jacobus  and  John  Jansen,  committee  se- 
lected by  the  county  board,  made  a  satisfactory  set- 
tlement between  Neva  and  Upham,  August  10,  1895, 
and  between  Summit  and  Upham,  July  19,  1895.  The 
statement  of  settlement  was  filed  with  J.  J.  Hanson, 
Upham  township  clerk,  August  10,  1895. 


Upham  township  has  many  streams  and  lakes.  The 
headwaters  of  the  east  branch  of  the  Eau  Claire  river 
runs  through  sections  30,  31,  32,  33,  34  and  35  in  East 
Upham  township.  The  Hunting  river  runs  through 
the  northeast  part  of  East  Upham  township  through 
sections  1,  2  and  3.  Lakes  in  East  Upham  township 
are:  Four  small  lakes  in  section  31,  Noboken  Lake, 
Lack  Lake,  High  Lake,  Low  Lake,  Game  Lake,  Pence 
Lake.  In  the  West  Upham  township  the  west  branch 
of  the  Eau  Claire  has  its  headwaters  in  sections  7,  8, 
18,  19,  30,  29,  32.  Numerous  other  rivulets  and 
streams  are  found.  Bass  Lake,  Summit  Lake,  Part- 
ridge Lake,  Duck  Lake,  Dynamite  Lake  and  Lower 
Bass  Lake  are  the  principal  lakes. 

The  C.  &  N.  W.  railroad  runs  through  sections  1 
and  12  of  West  Upham  township  and  a  branch  line 
(Bass  Lake  branch)  runs  through  sections  12,  14,  15, 
9,  8,  7  and  18,  West  Upham.  In  East  Upham  the  main 
line  runs  on  the  west  through  sections  31,  30,  19,  18 
and  7. 

May  10,  1895,  Upham  township  was  divided  into 
two  school  districts  as  follows:  District  No.  1,  the 
north  half  of  township  33,  range  10  and  sections  34, 
35  and  36,  township  34,  range  10,  all  of  the  north  half 
of  township  33,  range  11,  except  the  southeast  quarter 
of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  18  of  said  town. 
District  No.  2  consisted  of  the  south  half  of  township 
33,  range  11  east  and  the  southeast  quarter  of  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  18  of  said  town,  and  all  of 
the  south  half  of  township  33,  range  10  east  except  sec- 
tions 31  and  32.  The  districts  have  been  changed  fre- 
quently and  the  present  boundaries  are  found  in  the 
review  of  each  separate  district. 

OFFICERS  OF  UPHAM  TOWNSHIP,  1895-1923. 

CHAIRMEN. 

Phillip  Ryan,  1895-97;  Frank  Schauer,  1897-99;  E. 
S.  Koepenick,  1899-1900;  Frank  Schauer,  1900-01;  E. 
S.  Koepenick,  1901-02;  J.  J.  Hanson,  1902-03;  E.  S. 
Koepenick,  1903-05;  Frank  Schauer,  1905-07;  George 
Durler,  1907-11;  A.  W.  Klever,  1911-12;  L.  W.  Filyes, 
1912-14;  A.  W.  Klever,  1914-15;  L.  W.  Filyes,  1915- 
16;  Walter  Gehrke,  1916-17;  Wm.  Pheister,  1917-18; 
J.  T.  Beattie,  1918-19;  Wm.  Pheister,  1919-21;  George 
Durler,  1921-23. 

SUPERVISORS. 

Henry  Ebner,  James  Hurlbutt,  1895-96;  Henry  Eb- 
ner,  Donat  Kille,  1896-97;  P.  Person,  Henry  Ebner, 
1897-98;  F.  Piller,  P.  Person,  1898-99;  P.  Person,  J. 
Miller,  1899-1900;  Ike  Fletcher,  John  Miller,  1900-01; 
Henry  Albrecht,  Andrew  Bovee,  1901-02;  Wolfgang 
Raith,  Henry  Albreht,  1902-03;  A.  W.  Klever,  George 
Bremer,  1903-05;  P.  Person,  George  Bremer,  1905-06; 
George  Durler,  Walter  Gehrke,  1906-07;  Wolfgang 
Raith,  Edward  Nutt,  1907-08;  Edward  Nutt,  George 
Bremer,  1908-09;  J.  S.  Colwell,  C.  S.  Weyenberg,  1909- 
10;  Michael  Raith,  John  Miller,  1910-11;  Emil  Person, 
Michael  Raith,  1911-12;  Walter  Gehrke,  Emil  Person, 
1912-14;  Emil  Person,  Ormond  Jones,  1914-15;  Frank 
Long,   Walter   Gehrke,   1915-16;   S.    U.  Tucker,  Wm. 


254 


HISTORY  OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


Pheister,  1916-17;  0.  J.  Jones,  Robert  A.  Seering, 
1917-18;  G.  E.  Fumal,  Emil  Person.  1918-19;  George 
Quick,  G.  E.  Fumal,  1919-20;  George  Quick,  G.  E.  Fu- 
mal, 1920-22;  George  Quick,  George  Grossman,  1922- 
23. 

CLERKS. 

J.  J.  Hanson,  1895-96;  M.  Haney,  1896-97;  J.  J. 
Hanson,  1897-98;  George  Bremer,  1898-99;  Frank 
Schauer,  1899-1900;  H.  Kunze,  1900-01;  Charles  Gehr- 
ke,  1901-02;  Frank  Schauer,  1902-03;  T.  C.  Laughlin, 
1903-04;  A.  Gallenberger,  1904-05;  W.  Dresser,  1905- 
06;  A.  E.  Butler,  1906-07;  L.  W.  Filyes,  1907-12;  Rus- 
sell Knight,  1912-16;  John  Kunza,  1916-17;  Richard 
Beattie,  1917-18;  John  E.  Kunza,  1918-19;  Harold 
Mattmiller,  1919-21;  J.  J.  Hanson,  1921-22;  Stedner 
Snowden.  1922-23. 

TREASURERS. 

Johannes  Anschutz,  1895-97;  0.  C.  Bardwell,  1897- 
1900;  J.  J.  Hanson,  1900-02;  A.  Gallenberg,  1902-07; 
J.  J.  Hanson,  1907-08;  E.  S.  Koepenick,  1908-09; 
Robert  Seering.  1909-12;  J.  J.  Hanson,  1912-13;  A.  W. 
Klever.  1913-14;  P.  H.  Rasmussen.  1914-17;  Russell 
Knight.  1917-18;  H.  C.  Rasmussen,  1918-19;  L.  G. 
Cunningham,  1919-20;  Aurel  Koepenick,  1920-22; 
John  E.  Kunza,  1922-23. 

ASSESSORS. 

Frank  Schauer,  1895-97;  Charles  Palmer,  1897-98; 
P.  Ryan,  1898-1903;  F.  Metcalf,  1903-04;  Charles 
Gehrke,  1904-06;  A.  Klever,  1906-11;  Henry  Albrecht, 
1911-13;  Charles  Gehrke,  1913-14;  Henry  Albrecht, 
1914-16;  Charles  Gehrke,  1916-18;  Fred  Kalkofen, 
1918-19;  George  Durler.  1919-20;  Charles  F.  Gehrke, 
1920-21;  Orvis  Vaughn,  1921-23. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 

O.  F.  Frantz,  0.  C.  Bardwell,  E.  S.  Koepenick,  Don- 
at  Kille,  1895-96;  George  Bremer,  John  Miller,  1896- 
97;  Henry  Ebner,  1897-98;  F.  Schauer,  J.  J.  Hanson, 
1898-99;  A.  Gallenberg,  H.  Ebner,  1900-01;  E.  S.  Koe- 
penick, John  Parker,  1901-02;  A.  Gallenberg,  A.  L. 
Ross,  1903-04;  H.  S.  Wunderlich,  Henry  Albrecht, 
Wm.  Craig,  1904-05;  L.  W.  Filyes,  W.  Gallenberg, 
1905-06;  A.  Gallenberg,  George  Bremer,  1906-07;  Mar- 
tin Steinert,  L.  W.  Filyes,  1907-08;  Martin  Steinert,  J. 
S.  Colwell,  C.  H.  Turner,  A.  W.  Klever,  1908-09;  J.  J. 
Hanson.  J.  S.  Colwell.  P.  Person,  R.  A.  Seering,  1909- 
10;  John  Miller,  R.  A.  Seering,  John  Miller,  1910-11; 
R.  A.  Seering,  A.  W.  Klever,  John  Kunza,  Joseph 
Clough,  1911-12;  E.  S.  Koepenick,  L.  W.  Filyes,  1912- 
13;  John  Kunza,  A.  W.  Klever,  1913-14;  P.  H.  Rasmus- 
sen, Peter  Stengl,  1914-15;  C.  H.  Turner,  P.  H.  Ras- 
mussen, 1915-16;  J.  C.  Young,  George  A.  Bremer, 
1916-17;  J.  W.  Chevalier,  Herman  Kunza,  1917-18;  Al- 
bert Kelly,  Charles  Gehrke,  1918-19;  James  Therio, 
1919-20;  Fred  Muzzy,  George  Bremer,  1920-21;  Wil- 
liam Melchect,  Joseph  Villus,  1921-22;  Howard  Pruyn, 
W.  Boucher,  1922-23. 


CONSTABLES. 

Peter  Loos,  S.  Leidheisl,   1895-96;  J.  Kauschinger, 
M.  Haney,  1896-97;  G.  F.  Young,  J.  Marsh,  1897-98; 
J.  Kruzel,  J.  Kauschinger,  1898-99;  John  Ryan,  Charles 
Gehrke,  C.  H.  Turner,  1899-1900;  C.  Stannard,  1900- 
01;  Oscar  Anderson,  H.  Weyenberg,   1901-02;  James 
Austin.  1902-03;  James  Cherney.  1903-04;  J.  D.  Mil- 
ler. William  Cornish,  William  Craig,  1904-05;  George 
Durler,  William  Cornish.  William  Craig.  1905-06;  E. 
S.  Koepenick,   Michael  Raith,   1906-07;  James  Crum- 
mey,  J.   S.   Colwell,   1907-08;   J.   C.   Nelson,  William 
Craig,  1908-09;  Walter  Gehrke.  1909-10;  George  Wey- 
enberg, Henry  Joyce.   1910-11;  Charles  Koehn,  Peter 
Stengl.  1911-12;  Frank  Warner.  J.  E.  Clough,  1912-13 
0.    Jones,    1913-14;    Henry    Joyce,    1914-15;    Truman 
Rice.  1915-16;  Truman  Rice,  Herman  Kunza,  1916-17 
John  Eaton,  1917-18;  J.  W.  Nutter,  Henry  Joyce,  1918- 
19;  Fred  Kalkofen,  John  Nutter,  John  Stone,  1919-20 
Henry  Joyce.  John   Stone,   1920-21 ;   Charles   Gehrke 
N.     Rasmussen,     1921-22;     Dell     Merriam,     1922-23 
Charles  Snowden,  1922-23. 

CON.  DISTRICT  NO.  1. 

SUMMIT  LAKE  DISTRICT.  This  is  the  princi- 
pal commercial  district  in  Upham  township  and  is  also 
the  oldest  in  point  of  permanent  white  habitation.  The 
village  received  its  name  from  the  track  laying  officials 
of  the  Milwaukee,  Lake  Shore  &  Western  railroad, 
who  found  it  to  possess  the  highest  body  of  water  in 
Wisconsin. 

With  the  railroad  came  the  first  hotel  and  a  number 
of  homeseekers.  W.  J.  Empey  came  from  Elmhurst 
with  the  railroad  in  1881.  He  conducted  the  first  hotel 
in  the  village.  Other  pioneer  settlers  were :  Frank 
Schauer.  Charles  Gehrke,  E.  S.  Koepenick,  George 
Bremer,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Kunza,  John  Miller,  Frank  Pil- 
lar, Henry  Ebner,  Peter  Loos,  Art  Nichols,  Joseph 
Helmbrecht,  Spencer  Cole  and  Frank  Schabel. 

Lumbering  was  the  principal  pioneer  industry.  In 
1884,  Wm.  Pool,  associated  with  Smith  Brothers  of 
Oshkosh,  erected  a  sawmill  in  the  district.  It  operated 
until  1888  when  it  was  moved  to  Jeffries,  Wisconsin. 
Edward  Baird  started  a  saw  mill  in  1884,  but  it  never 
was  completed. 

In  later  years  the  Paine  Lumber  Company  and  from 
1915  to  1919  the  Langlade  Lumber  Company  had  ex- 
tensive lumbering  operations  in  the  district.  They 
had  many  camps  and  a  company  supply  station  at  Bass 
Lake.  A  post  office  operated  at  Bass  Lake  for  a  short 
time  also.  The  camps  and  store  are  now  located  in 
Pearson,  Ainsworth  township. 

The  first  store  was  erected  at  Summit  Lake  by  Bing- 
ham 8f  Perrin  of  New  London,  who  acted  as  supply 
agents  for  the  Milwaukee,  Lake  Shore  &  Western  while 
track  was  laid  in  this  vicinity.  They  sold  in  1882  to 
E.  S.  Koepenick.  who  came  to  this  village  from  Osh- 
kosh. 

John  Gorman  was  the  first  Summit  Lake  postmaster. 
Others  were:  George  Bremer,  Mrs.  Mary  Sherman,  E. 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


255 


S.  Koepenick  and  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Kunza,  present  Post- 
mistress. Smith  Brothers,  and  a  Mr.  Phife  were  pio- 
neer storekeepers,  while  Dan  Hubbard  was  an  early 
retail  liquor  vendor. 

The  first  school  was  erected  in  1882  on  Section  No.  1 
and  was  used  for  a  number  of  years.  It  was  moved 
to  its  present  site  one-fourth  of  a  mile  from  the  pres- 
ent school  and  was  purchased  by  the  Lutheran  congre- 
gation of  Summit  Lake  for  church  purposes. 

The  modern  Summit  Lake  school  was  erected  in  1906 
by  0.  S.  Sherwood  at  an  approximate  cost  of  $4,000. 
George  Durler,  Martin  Steinert  and  Mrs.  George  Dur- 
ler  were  members  of  the  school  board  when  that  build- 
ing was  erected.  It  is  located  on  section  1,  east  of  the 
main  C.  &  N.  W.  track.  William  Pool, — Nichols  and 
Louis  Stearn  were  early  school  board  officials  in  this 
district.  The  1922-23  school  officers  were :  Peter  Rass- 
mussen.  Treasurer;  Robert  Seering,  Director  and  Mrs. 
Henry  Joyce,  Clerk.  1922-23  teachers  were  Miss  Susie 
Daily  and  Martha  Weix,  principal  and  assistant,  re- 
spectively. 

In  1910  the  most  destructive  fire  in  the  history  of 
this  district  occurred.  The  J.  C.  Nelson  saloon,  the 
Henry  Joyce  residence,  and  the  George  Bremer  hotel 
were  destroyed.  A  year  later  another  fire  occurred  in 
which  the  old  Wyenberg  saloon  and  a  hotel  were  des- 
troyed by  fire.  The  Frank  Schauer  residence  burned 
then  also. 

Summit  Lake  district  has  an  area  of  water  in  sec- 
tion 2  that  has  attained  distinction  as  a  summer  resort. 
Hundreds  of  people  from  all  over  the  nation  come 
here  in  the  summer  months.  Many  beautiful  summer 
homes  border  the  lake,  which  has  some  of  the  finest 
bathing  facilities  known.  Its  natural  beach  is  one  of 
the  best  in  northern  Wisconsin. 

The  town  hall  is  situated  in  the  village  of  Summit 
Lake.  Present  business  places  are :  The  Charles  Snow- 
den  grocery;  Howard  Payne  restaurant,  Warren  Bouch- 
er, modern  dance  pavilion.  The  C.  &  N.  W.  Railroad 
station,  John  Kunza  store,  Post  Office,  George  Bremer 
hotel,  Stedner  Snowden's  hotel,  pool  room  and  grocery. 

Agriculture  is  the  chief  occupation  of  the  settlers. 

Summit  Lake  cemetery  is  situated  in  the  NE  I/4  of 
section  2,  Township  33,  Range  10  East.  The  cemetery 
was  recorded  September  8,  1908,  when  George  Durler 
was  Chairman  and  L.  W.  Filyes,  Clerk  of  Upham  town- 
ship. 

Congregational  and  Lutheran  church  services  are 
held  in  the  village,  by  non-resident  Pastors. 

A  school  was  held  at  Bass  Lake,  section  12,  when 
the  Paine  Lumber  Company  had  headquarters  there. 
Teachers  were  Margaret  Healy,  Irene  Day,  Mrs.  M. 
Smith  and  Yarda  Parson.  The  building  was  sold  when 
the  township  was  redistricted  to  Truman  Rice.  Koe- 
penick and  Bass  Lake  schools  were  closed  in  1913 
when  pupils  from  that  territory  were  assigned  to  Sum- 
mit Lake  school.  A  buss  hauled  the  children  to  and 
fro. 

DISTRICT  NO.  6. 

KOEPENICK  DISTRICT.  This  district  is  situated 
in  the  central  part  of  Upham  township  and  consists  of 


sections  In  both  east  and  west  Upham.  It  was  one  of 
the  principal  lumbering  sections  of  the  county  in  early 
days. 

When  the  Milwaukee,  Lake  Shore  &  Western  push- 
ed north  this  district  was  one  vast  wilderness.  Summit 
Lake  was  a  hamlet  with  one  or  two  prospectors  within 
its  present  limits.  Not  until  1889  did  Koepenick  be- 
come a  community  as  it  now  exists.  In  that  year 
Andrew  Bruette  started  a  sav/  mill  on  section  18,  Town- 
ship 33,  Range  11  East.  Three  years  later  he  sold  to 
Henry  Sherry  of  Neenah,  who  moved  it  to  High  Lake, 
Upham  township.  For  eight  years  the  industry  ope- 
rated by  Mr.  Sherry.  A.  M.  Millard  of  Antigo  then 
took  over  the  mill.  He  was  succeeded  by  Henry  Wun- 
derlich,  who,  after  successfully  operating,  sold  to  Fleet 
&  Thompson  of  Wausau,  Wis.  The  mill  was  then  dis- 
mantled and  moved  to  Michigan. 

Early  settlers  were  Orvis  Vaughn,  Peter  Person,  E. 
S.  Koepenick,  J.  J.  Hanson  and  others. 

E.  S.  Koepenick  moved  to  section  18,  Township  33, 
Range  11  East,  where  he  opened  a  store  in  1890.  He 
purchased  his  land  from  Thomas  Spalding  of  Osh- 
kosh.  He  was  the  first  Postmaster  of  the  village  of 
Koepenick  and  continued  as  such  until  his  death  in 
1914.  He  was  then  succeeded  by  Mrs.  E.  S.  Koepe- 
nick, who  is  present  Postmistress. 

Tlie  first  Koepenick  school  was  erected  In  1892  on 
section  19  and  was  built  by  Frank  Krall  and  Joseph 
Hoshek.  The  first  school  board  consisted  of  J.  J.  Han- 
sen, Peter  Person  and  E.  S.  Koepenick.  The  pupils 
grew  numerous  and  in  1903  a  new  structure  was  erect- 
ed on  section  18  at  a  cost  of  $2,000.  Knute  Ander- 
son was  the  contractor. 

Early  teachers  were  Ethel  Cardin,  Nettie  Hanson, 
Anna  Beard,  Pearl  Williams,  Josephine  Donohue,  Mat- 
tie  and  Maud  Morson,  Harry  Hopkins,  Clara  Willlard, 
Lizzie  Daily  and  Laura  Spencer.  Doris  Sisel  was  the 
teacher  In  1921-22  and  Miss  Margaret  Gillls  In  1922- 
23. 

Settlers  in  this  district  are  Harold  Mattmiller,  R. 
W.  Beattie,  J.  J.  Hanson,  Peter  Person,  Emil  Person, 
Julius  Mai,  Frank  Dempsey,  Paul  Tappia,  John  Bale, 
Orvis  Vaughn,  Harry  Beach,  Joseph  Ruffle,  Mrs.  Henry 
Albright,  Mrs.  E.  S.  Koepenick  and  R.  Harvey. 

This  district  was  originally  a  part  of  District  No.  2 
created  August  10,  1895.  The  1922-23  school  offi- 
cials were  Mrs.  E.  S.  Koepenick,  Clerk;  Emil  Person, 
Director  and  Harold  Mattmiller,  Treasurer. 

DISTRICT  NO.  7. 

FOREST  DISTRICT.  This  school  district  was  or- 
ganized June  22,  1917,  by  detaching  parts  of  District 
No.  1,  consisting  of  sections  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  9,  15,  16,  17, 
18,  20,  21,  22,  26,  27,  28,  34  and  35,  all  in  Township  23 
North  of  Range  10  East,  from  District  No.  1. 

The  first  district  school  meeting  was  held  at  the  old 
Turner  school  house  on  the  evening  of  July  2,  1917.  C. 
H.  Turner  in  accordance  with  a  request  from  the  town 
board  notified  Robert  Quick,  Frank  Long,  Minnie  Tuck- 
er, John  Tucker,  Mrs.  John  Tucker,  Helene  Kasper, 
Louis  Learman,  M.  Quick,  George  Quick,  Bertha  Quick, 
S.  U.  Tucker,  Warren   McDonald  and   Mr.  and   Mrs. 


256 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


John  Simmons  of  the  proposed  meeting.  Accordingly 
Mrs.  Robert  Quick,  Louis  Learman  and  George  Quick 
were  elected  Clerk,  Treasurer  and  Director  of  the 
school  district.  The  1922-23  school  officials  were: 
August  Klever,  Clerk;  Louis  Learman,  Treasurer;  and 
C.  H.  Turner,  Director.  Miss  Mabel  Schultz  was  the 
1922-23  teacher.  Early  teachers  were  Yarda  Bronson, 
Mabel  Earlinson,  Rosella  Armstrong,  Irene  Hoyt  and 
Miss  Hoffman. 

While  this  district  is  situated  a  number  of  miles  west 
of  Highway  No.  39  and  a  distance  from  Kempster  it 
has  a  good  population,  many  of  whom  were  early 
homesteaders.  The  early  settlers  who  first  came  into 
this  rolling  country  were :  C.  H.  Turner,  S.  U.  Tucker, 
Warren  McDonald,  Jesse  Hess,  Andrew  Bovee,  Feight 
Loomis,  Robert  Quick,  Louis  Learman,  John  Turner, 
George  Quick  and  the  Tinney  family. 

Settlers  now  in  this  territory  are  H.  A.  Tromblie, 
Glenn  Wolf,  Wm.  Adkins,  Homer  Shelley,  John  Tuck- 
er, August  Klever,  R.  E.  Tucker,  Roy  Tucker,  Ted 
Patterson,  James  Tucker,  Alvin  Klever,  C.  H.  Turner, 
S.   U.   Tucker,  Warren   McDonald,   Jesse   Hess,   John 


yield  of  crops.  This  is  an  ideal  region  for  plums  and 
apples  and  C.  H.  Turner,  Louis  Learman,  Robert 
Quick  and  Warren  McDonald  have  taken  advantage 
of  the  fact  and  have  some  fine  orchards.  They  should 
give  the  region  a  reputation  in  future  years.  A  strip 
of  level  land  runs  five  to  six  miles  north  and  south  of 
the  Kempster  road  and  many  log  farm  homes  have 
been  erected  near  it.  Principal  occupation  is  agri- 
culture. In  the  winter  wood  cutting,  logging  and  trap- 
ping the  wolf,  fox  and  other  animals,  are  the  chief 
occupations. 

DISTRICT  NO.  8. 

This  district  was  organized  in  1921  and  consists  of 
sections  23,  24,  25,  26,  35  and  36  of  Township  33, 
Range  11  East.  The  territory  was  detached  from  dis- 
trict No.  6.  It  was  necessary  to  undergo  many  hard- 
ships and  inconveniences  before  the  creation  of  dis- 
trict No.  8.  Roads  were  few  and  the  children  were 
unable  to  get  to  the  Koepenick  school  except  with 
great  difficulty.  Accordingly  a  hearing  was  held  and 
the  township  authorities  established  the  new  district. 


THE  FOREST  SCHOOL 
Of  District   Number  T,  Upliam  township.     Compare  with   log  school   house 

shown  on  page  37. 


Turner,  Louis  Learman  and  George  and  Robert  Quick. 

The  first  log  school,  still  standing  on  section  28, 
just  a  short  distance  from  the  modern  school,  was 
used  until  the  present  splendid  school  was  erected  by 
August  Klever.     (See  photo  on  page  37.) 

There  are  more  lakes  within  this  region  than  any 
other  like  area  in  Langlade  County.  Among  them  are 
Horseshoe,  Black  Oak,  Bass,  Moses,  Government  Pond 
(a  government  lake).  Sucker,  Cranberry,  Fish,  Saddle- 
back, Snag,  Partridge,  Long  (there  are  two  Long 
Lakes,  only  one  of  which  is  in  this  district),  Green 
Bass,  Squaw,  and  Indian  lake,  all  small  bodies  of 
water.    The  west  end  of  the  district  is  swampy. 

The  soil  consists  principally  of  Gloucester  sandy 
loam,  Spencer  silt  loam,  level  phase,  Merrimac  silt 
loam  and  some  peat.  While  vast  stretches  of  the 
country  is  hilly  and  must  yet  be  cleared,  that  which 
has  been  cleared  and  cultivated  produces  an  abundant 


School  was  at  once  opened.  The  first  officers,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  George  Linsdau,  Director  and  Clerk  respec- 
tively, and  Fred  Moss,  Treasurer,  lost  no  time  in  ar- 
ranging suitable  quarters  for  a  temporary  structure. 
An  old  frame  camp  (No.  6)  of  the  Langlade  Lumber 
Company  was  rented  and  was  in  use  the  1921-22  ses- 
sion. The  property  is  owned  by  the  Rev.  Fr.  J.  J. 
Kaster,  New  London,  Wisconsin.  A  new  school,  mo- 
dern and  complete,  will  be  erected.  The  1922-23 
school  officers  are  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Linsdau,  Di- 
rector and  Clerk,  and  Mrs.  Fred  Moss,  Treasurer. 

There  are  now  eight  settlers  in  the  district.  Matt 
Schja,  Herbert  Lutey,  Steven  Lacib,  James  McDou- 
gal,  Fred  Moss,  George  Linsdau,  Carl  Firch  and  Louis 
Langlois. 

This  territory  was  originally  a  part  of  the  old  dis- 
trict No.  2,  organized  August  10,  1895.  Mrs.  Emil 
Kramer  was  the  first  teacher  in  this  district,  1921-22. 


« 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


257 


CHAPTER  L. 
Vilas  Township  No.  32  N.,  R.  9  E. 

Government  Survey  in  1860 — Named  in  Honcr  of  Governor  Wm.  F.  Vilas — Area  of  Vilas — Bounda- 
ries— Drainage — Surface — Organized  in  1886 — Detachments — First  Inspectors  of  Election — Old 
Road  Records — Township  Officials,  1887-1823— Liberty  Bell  District — Area — Early  Settlers — Its 
Boundaries — Present  Officials — Good  Luck  District — Its  Early  Settlers — Once  in  Lincoln  Coun- 
ty— Hardships  of  Pioneers — Road  to  Gleason  in  1883 — First  Log  School — Principal  Agricultural 
Products — 1922-23  Officials  of  Good  Luck — Forest  View  District — Its  Area — School  Buildings — 
Settlers  in  1877 — The  Log  Cabin  Homes — Merrill,  Nearest  Supply  Station — Last  District  Change 
in  1908 — 1922-23  Officers — Teachers — Elmwood  District — Location  of  Elmwood — Early  Settlers 
— First  School  in  1882 — Pioneer  Teachers — Present  School  on  Section  26 — Industries — Town- 
ship Hall— Soil— 1922-23  District  Officers. 


Vilas  township  was  surveyed  in  September,  1860,  by 
H.  C.  Fellows,  U.  S.  Deputy  Surveyor.  The  survey 
commenced  on  September  21  and  ended  on  September 
27,  1860.  The  township  was  named  in  honor  of  Wil- 
liam Freeman  Vilas,  American  lawyer  and  statesman, 
who  was  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate  from 
Wisconsin  in  1891,  served  as  Postmaster  General  and 
Secretary  of  the  Interior  under  President  Grover  Cleve- 
land and  has  often  been  termed  the  state's  most  illus- 
trious Democrat.  The  township  is  located  in  the  ex- 
treme west  central  part  of  the  county  and  has  an  area 
of  23,040  acres  or  36  square  miles.  It  is  situated  in 
congressional  township  No.  32,  Range  9  East,  is  bound- 
ed on  the  north  by  Summit  township,  on  the  south  by 
West  Ackley  township,  on  the  east  by  Peck  township 
and  on  the  west  by  Lincoln  County. 

Vilas  township  is  well  watered  and  drained  by  the 
McCloud  creek,  flowing  through  sections  4,  5,  8,  18, 
17,  19,  20,  29,  30  and  31.  Pine  river  runs  through 
sections  21,  22,  23,  24,  28,  29,  31  and  32.  Pratt  creek 
flows  through  the  central  part  of  the  township.  Many 
smaller  rivulets  and  streams  are  also  found. 

The  surface  is  somewhat  undulating.  Originally  it 
was  covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of  timber,  consist- 
ing principally  of  hemlock,  birch,  pine,  oak,  ash, 
maple,  poplar  and  other  native  trees.  The  lumber  in- 
dustry still  exists  in  this  township  in  isolated  groves 
of  forest  products.  The  soil  is  not  naturally  as  strong 
and  fertile  as  some  other  townships,  but  with  drain- 
age and  proper  cultivation  abundant  crops  can  be  pro- 
duced. It  is  one  vast  area  of  Spencer  silt  loam,  a 
small  percentage  of  which  is  the  level  phase.  Along 
the  banks  of  the  Eau  Claire  river  (West  branch)  peat 
is  found  in  small  quantities. 

Vilas  township  is  a  haven  for  new  settlers,  many  of 
whom  immigrate  to  this  western  part  of  the  county 
from  European  Countries  and  larger  cities  of  the 
United  States. 

ORGANIZED  IN   1886. 

Vilas  township  was  organized  November  11,  1886, 
after  a  resolution  written  by  J.  H.  Trever,  then  District 


Attorney,  was  passed  by  a  10-3  vote  of  the  members  of 
the  Langlade  County  Board.  It  originally  consisted  of 
township  32  of  both  ranges  9  and  10  east.  January 
28,  1891,  township  32  of  range  10  was  detached  from 
Vilas  township  to  form  Peck  township.  The  township 
has  remained  as  one  congressional  township  since  then. 
W.  H.  Dawley,  N.  Bangs,  J.  H.  Trever  and  Edward 
Daskam  were  members  of  the  settlement  committee 
appointed  to  ajudicate  the  affairs  of  the  new  township 
and  Ackley.  The  petition  for  creation  of  Vilas  was 
presented  to  the  County  Board  April  17,  1886.  Fifty- 
six  settlers  signed  it. 

W.  L.  ACKLEY  OPPOSED  VILAS  TOWNSHIP. 

The  Vilas  township  petition  to  the  County  Board 
was  followed  by  another  remonstrating  against  any 
proposed  division  of  Ackley  township,  until  the  set- 
tlers "knew  better  what  they  wanted"  and  was  signed 
by  W.  L.  Ackley,  Charles  Ackley,  J.  De  Moss,  G.  F. 
Walch,  Thomas  Bagley,  C.  Vaughn,  Edward  Chey  and 
G.  W.  Schaeffer.  They  charged  that  a  division  such 
as  was  proposed  would  leave  the  south  township  of 
Ackley  with  an  open  marshy  territory  and  "old  pine 
choppings  that  were  almost  worthless."  The  remon- 
strance succeeded  in  filing  the  detachment  petition  for 
one  day,  when  it  was  again  taken  up,  and  turned  over 
to  the  District  Attorney,  who  drew  up  the  ordinance  at 
once. 

William  Hampton,  H.  W.  James  and  R.  Tracy  were 
selected  as  the  first  inspectors  of  election  in  the  town- 
ship. The  County  Board  designated  the  Morley  post- 
office  as  the  first  polling  station. 

The  first  election  was  held  at  the  home  of  W.  H. 
Hampton,  section  35.  Z.  Space  and  R.  Balch  were 
chosen  ballot  clerks.  Then  the  meeting  adjourned  to 
the  school  house  of  district  No.  6.  Seventy-one  votes 
were  cast  for  Chairman,  Jonathan  Reader  receiving 
57  and  Z.  Space  14;  142  votes  were  cast  for  Super- 
visor, of  which  George  Kasper  and  C.  H.  Harder,  the 
successful  candidates,  received  46  and  58  votes  re- 
spectively, and  Richard  Tracey  and  Robert  Simms 
13   and    26    votes.      Elisha    Rinney   was    elected   first 


258 


HISTORY  OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


township  clerk.  Peter  G.  Beck,  who  later  became  the 
first  Town  Chairman  of  Peck,  was  chosen  first  Vilas 
Treasurer.  A.  J.  Mittemore  was  elected  Treasurer,  re- 
ceiving 48  of  71  votes.  William  Fick,  Nelson  Shanks, 
John  Hubbard  and  J.  S.  Hughes  were  elected  first 
Justices.  John  Barber  and  Al  Hayes  were  selected 
as  the  first  law  enforcers  (Constables)  of  the  new 
township. 

The  new  officials  took  their  oaths  April  12,  1887. 

The  first  act  of  the  township  officials  was  to  raise 
$300  for  roads  and  bridges.  Five  hundred  dollars 
was  appropriated  for  township  and  incidental  expenses. 
The  town  clerk  was  voted  a  salary  of  $75  per  year. 

Vilas  was  divided  into  eleven  road  districts  which 
were  in  charge  of  Robert  Sims,  Thomas  K.  Johnson, 
W.  R.  Mason,  Henry  Fryer,  John  Darrow,  Charles  Wet- 
zel, Benjamin  Miller,  W.  J.  Hampton,  E.  D.  Pratt  and 
George  Dufick,  April  18,  1887. 

May  18,  1887,  the  Vilas  township  officials  divided 
the  town  into  seven  school  districts.  Thomas  K.  John- 
son was  notified  to  call  a  district  school  meeting  for 
the  purpose  of  electing  school  officials.  Alterations 
took  place  each  year  until  Peck  township  was  detach- 
ed. Then  the  township  was  divided  into  four  equal 
districts. 

OLD  ROADS  RECORDED. 

In  1887  the  town  officials  authorized  the  clerk  to 
place  all  highways  legally  laid  out  previously  by  Ack- 
ley  or  Pine  River  townships  on  the  town  records. 
Thus  ten  roads  were  recorded  that  were  laid  out  be- 
tween 1879  and  1887  but  were  not  placed  on  record. 
Thirty-one  new  highways  have  been  authorized  and 
laid  out  by  Vilas  since  June  21,  1887,  up  to  and  in- 
cluding May  10,  1920. 

The  B.  Heinemann  Lumber  Company  owns  vast 
amounts  of  cut-over  and  timber  lands  in  the  township. 

VILAS  TOWNSHIP  OFFICERS,  1887  TO  1923. 

CHAIRMEN. 

Jonathan  Reader,  1887-90;  Richard  Tracey,  1890- 
91;  W.  J.  Hampton,  1891-92;  A.  J.  Mittimore,  1892- 
93;  W.  J.  Hampton,  1893-94;  A.  J.  Mittemore,  1894- 
97;  H.  0.  Johnson,  1897-98;  W.  J.  Hampton,  1898- 
1901;  H.  0.  Johnson,  1901-02;  W.  J.  Hampton,  1902- 
07;  Alton  Burtch,  1907-11;  Charles  Polar,  1911-12; 
Geo.  Marshall,  1912-18;  Charles  F.  Polar,  1918-21; 
William  Weisshahn,  1921-23. 

CLERKS. 

Elisa  Tinney,  1887-88;  Ben  Miller,  1888-90;  W.  R 
Mason,  1890-91;  Ben  Miller,  1891-92;  Elisa  Tinney 
1892-97;  J.  Fred,  1897-98;  Philander  Power,  1898-99 
Elisa  Tinney,  1899-1900;  Charles  Lloyd,  1900-03 
Elisa  Tinney,  1903-06;  Philander  Powers,  1906-08 
George  Marshall,  1908-12;  Ernest  James,  1912-13 
Leon  Merry,  1913-17;  Charles  Lloyd,  1918-23. 

SUPERVISORS. 

C.  H.  Harder,  George  Kasper,  1887-88;  Moritz  Frie- 
bel,  H.  0.  Johnson,   1888-89;   Moritz  Friebel,  Henry 


Fryer,  1889-90;  J.  W.  Hampton,  R.  Sims,  1890-91; 
John  Hubbard,  B.  F.  Warner,  1891-92;  Edwin  Hayes, 
Moses  Wildfang,  1892-93;  Carl  Wetzel,  Moses  Wild- 
fang,  1893-94;  Edwin  Hayes,  Arnold  Engles,  1894-95; 
Moses  Wildfang,  August  Wolf  gram,  1895-96;  Moses 
Wildfang,  John  Aird,  1896-97;  Geo.  Kasper,  B.  Te- 
hatchie,  1897-98;  E.  Hayes,  Fred  Moltzberger,  1898- 
1900;  George  Holland,  Edwin  Hayes,  1900-01;  Arnold 
Engles,  Henry  Cone,  1901-02;  Albert  Rolo,  P.  Pow- 
ers, 1902-03;  Richard  Powers,  1902-03  (appointed); 
George  Kasper,  Michael  Dufeck,  1903-04;  Edwin 
Hayes,  Levi  Galligan,  1904-06;  Edwin  Hayes,  Jacob 
Jerick,  1906-07;  Henry  Weisshahn,  Michael  Dufeck, 
1907-08;  Henry  Weisshahn,  Charles  Hubbard,  1908- 
09;  Charles  Hubbard,  Levi  Galligan,  1909-10;  Henry 
Weisshahn,  Edwin  Hayes,  1910-11;  Chas.  Hubbard, 
P.  Powers,  1911-12;  Chas.  Beyer,  Michael  Dufeck, 
1912-13;  Michael  Dufeck,  Shirley  Morgan,  1913-14; 
Chas.  Beyer,  Michael  Dufeck,  1914-15;  Michael  Du- 
feck, Shirley  Morgan,  1915-16;  Ava  Smith,  Jacob  Jirik, 
1916-17;  J.  Jirik,  Charles  Polar,  1917-18;  Jacob  Jirik, 
F.  Weisshahn,  1918-19;  F.  Weisshahn,  Levi  Galligan, 
1919-22;  Henry  Means,  F.  Weisshahn,  1922-23. 

TREASURERS. 

Peter  G.  Beck,  1887-91;  H.  0.  Johnson,  1891-94; 
Myron  Lloyd,  1894-97;  W.  J.  Hampton,  1897-98;  Geo. 
Holland,  1898-99;  H.  O.  Johnson,  1899-1901;  A. 
Burtch,  1901  (appointed);  A.  Burtch,  elected,  1901- 
04;  George  Wheeler,  1904-08;  H.  O.  Johnson,  1908-09; 
Charles  Lloyd,  1909-14;  Gust  Ullman,  1914-16;  John 
Yopes,  1916-18;  A.  J.  Miller,  1918-19;  James  Lamb, 
1919-20;  Martin  Strandberg,  1920-22;  W.  W.  Scott, 
1922-23; 

ASSESSORS. 

A.  J.  Mittimore,  1887-88;  H.  W.  James,  1888-90; 
Walker  Holland,  1890-91;  Richard  Tracy,  1891-92; 
H.  W.  James,  1892-93;  Walker  Holland,  1893-94;  Ed- 
win Whitney,  1894-95;  Edwin  Hayes,  1895-97;  A.  En- 
gles, 1897-99;  Charles  Lloyd,  1899-1900;  Henry  Cone. 
1900-01;  Myron  Lloyd,  1901-05;  Alton  Burtch,  1905- 
06;  Elisa  Tinney,  1906-07;  A.  Engles,  1907-08;  My- 
ron Lloyd,  1908-12;  Elias  Spurgeon,  1912-13;  Wil- 
liam Weisshahn,  1913-18;  Dan  Hubbard,  1918-19; 
John  Spurgeon,  1919-20;  A.  Engles,  1920-22;  Martin 
Strandberg,  1922-23. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 

John  Hubbard,  Wm.  Fick,  Z.  Space,  1887-88;  F.  C. 
Fuller,  Wm.  Fick,  J.  Hubbard.  1888-89;  W.  R.  Ma- 
son, 1889-91;  Herman  Iwen,  Harvey  Nye,  1889-90; 
John  Hubbard,  Harry  Nye,  H.  Iwen,  1891-92;  Henry 
Fryer,  1891-92;  Harvey  Nye.  Ben  Miller  and  John 
Hubbard,  1892-93;  George  Holland,  Charles  Lloyd, 
Ed  Pratt.  Moses  Wildfang,  1896-97;  H.  0.  Johnson. 
Chas.  Lloyd,  1898-99;  Geo.  Kasper,  E.  Tinney,  1900- 
01;  Edwin  Hayes,  P.  Powers,  A.  J.  Mittimore,  1901- 
02;  Charles  Polar,  P.  Polar,  P.  Powers,  Chas.  Lloyd, 
1903-04;  Edward  Pratt,  Moses  Wildfang,  Richard 
Thomas  and  H.  0.  Johnson,  1904-05;  Chas.  Lloyd.  A. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


259 


J.  Mittimore,  Geo.  Holland  and  Chas.  Polar,  1905-06; 
George  Holland,  Moses  Wildfang,  S.  Brockway,  A.  J. 
Mittimore,  1906-07;  J.  Rousch,  Edwin  Hayes,  George 
Marshall,  1907-08;  Ernest  James,  Edward  Pratt,  John 
Rousch,  1908-09;  Charles  Polar,  Philander  Powers, 
Edwin  Hayes  and  Chas.  Beyer,  1909-10;  John  Yopes, 
Robert  L.  Hughes,  Chas.  Hubbard,  Chas.  Beyer, 
1910-11;  John  Yopes,  Edwin  Hayes,  Chas.  Beyer, 
1911-12;  Chas.  Hubbard,  Mose  Wildfang,  1912-13; 
George  Warner,  John  Yopes,  1913-14;  Chas.  Wenzel, 
John  Yopes,  1914-15;  James  Lamb,  John  Yopes,  1915- 
16,  Ralph  Polar,  W.  Holland,  1916-17;  F.  Weisshahn, 
James  Lamb,  1917-18;  Wm.  Weisshahn,  Chas.  Beyer, 
1918-19;  Wm.  Fehrman,  Jr.,  Fred  Schultz,  1919-20; 
E.  Hayes,  H.  Dittman,  R.  Barder,  1920-21 ;  Leo  Merry, 
Charles  Hubbard,  1921-22;  H.  Space,  Wm.  Weiss- 
hahn, 1922-23. 

CONSTABLES. 

Al  Hayes,  John  Barber,  1887-88;  J.  S.  Hughes,  John 
Hahn,  J.  G.  Beardsley,  1888-89;  Arnold  Engles,  John 
Maltby,  1889-90;  Fred  Powers,  Fred  Molzberger,  Ed 
Hayes,  1896-97;  A.  Johnson,  E.  Tinney,  1898-99;  J. 
Hess,  John  Marlowe,  1900-01 ;  Chas.  Polar,  Henry 
Weisshahn,  John  Spurgeon,  1901-02;  George  Holland, 
John  Marlowe,  1903-04;  Ben  Warner,  R.  Hess,  1904- 
05;  John  Koenigs,  George  Dufeck,  Charles  Beyer, 
1905-06;  Michael  Dufeck,  Gustav  UUman,  1906-07; 
Elisa  Tinney,  John  Marleau,  H.  0.  Johnson,  1907-08; 
Orrin  Hubbard,  Wm.  Eagons,  1908-09;  Charles  Pratt, 
William  Weisshahn,  1909-10;  Wm.  Weisshahn,  Er- 
nest James,  1910-12;  Shirley  Morgan,  John  Spurgeon, 
1912-13;  Wm.  Eagons,  Wm.  Holland,  1913-14;  Ava 
Smith,  S.  R.  Morgan,  1914-15;  James  Lamb,  John 
Yopes,  1915-16;  Fred  Weisshahn,  James  Lamb,  1916- 
17;  Edward  Shanks,  W.  L.  Todd,  1917-18;  A.  Weiss- 
hahn, Fred  Schultz,  Edward  Zerkel,  1918-19;  L.  Merry, 
Wm.  Weisshahn,  1919-20;  S.  A.  Dillman,  James  Spur- 
geon, James  Lamb,  1920-21 ;  Harley  Space,  Ed  Griffith, 
1921-22;  L.  Merry,  1922-23. 

DISTRICT  NO.  1. 

LIBERTY  BELL  DISTRICT  is  situated  in  the 
northeastern  part  of  Vilas  township.  Its  area  consists 
of  5,760  acres  of  land  or  one-fourth  of  the  township. 
The  outline  of  the  boundary  commences  at  the  north- 
east corner  of  section  1,  thence  running  west  on  the 
township  line  between  townships  32  and  33,  to  the 
west  corner  of  section  3,  thence  south  to  the  south- 
west corner  of  section  15,  thence  east  to  the  southeast 
comer  of  section  13,  thence  north  to  the  northeast  cor- 
ner of  section  1. 

District  No.  1  is  a  part  of  original  district  No.  5  of 
Vilas,  created  May  18,  1887,  and  also  of  the  second 
district  of  this  region,  District  No.  1  of  June  26,  1893. 
District  No.  1  of  1893  consisted  of  all  of  its  present 
area  together  with  sections  4,  5,  6  and  9  of  the  present 
District  No.  2. 

This  district  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  a  part  of 
Summit  township,  on  the  south  by  Ackley  township, 
on  the  east  by  Peck  township  and  on  the  west  by  Pine 
River  township  in  Lincoln  County. 


The  first  settlers  in  Liberty  Bell  district  were  Rich- 
ard Tracy,  George  Holland,  E.  I.  Whitney,  James  Spur- 
geon, Arnold  Engles  and  others. 

The  1922-23  teacher  was  Luella  Joles.  The  school 
officials  for  1922-23  were  Martin  W.  Strandberg, 
Clerk;  A.  Engles,  Director,  and  W.  W.  Scott,  Treasur- 
er. 

DISTRICT  NO.  2. 

GOOD  LUCK  DISTRICT.  The  boundaries  of  this 
district  begin  at  the  northeast  corner  of  section  4, 
thence  run  west  on  the  township  line  between  town- 
ships 32  and  33  to  the  northwest  corner  of  section  6, 
thence  south  to  the  southwest  corner  of  section  18, 
thence  east  to  the  southeast  corner  of  section  16, 
thence  north  to  the  northeast  corner  of  section  4,  em- 
bracing an  area  of  nine  square  miles  or  5,760  acres. 
Good  Luck  district  was  organized  in  May,  1908,  and 
is  a  part  of  the  old  district  No.  7  of  1887  and  of  old 
districts  Nos.  1  and  6  of  1893. 

This  region  once  was  a  part  of  Pine  River  township, 
Lincoln  County,  of  Ackley  township  and  then  Vilas. 

Early  settlers  arrived  in  the  district  in  1881.  George 
Dufeck,  John  Zema,  and  Joseph  Zema  came  into  the 
wilderness  and  cleared  twenty  to  thirty  acres  each. 
Moses  Wildfang  settled  at  the  same  time  in  the  north- 
western part  of  the  district  on  section  5.  Joseph  Yin- 
dra  followed,  settling  on  section  8.  Other  pioneers 
were  J.  Jirik,  settling  on  section  4;  George  Dufeck 
settled  on  section  6.  Dan  Hubbard,  another  early  ar- 
rival, settled  on  section  7.  B.  Tichacek,  another  early 
settled,  established  his  farm  a  mile  and  a  half  west 
of  the  Jirik  farm.  The  Ourada  farm,  section  5,  is  the 
former  Tichacek  property. 

Most  of  the  early  settlers  came  over  the  rough  trails 
and  paths  with  yokes  of  oxen.  They  came  either 
from  Merrill  or  Wausau. 

In  1883  a  road  to  Gleason  was  constructed.  This 
opened  up  an  avenue  of  communication  with  the  out- 
side world,  made  trade  relationship  more  agreeable 
and  paved  the  way  for  the  arrival  of  more  settlers. 

The  first  log  school  was  erected  in  1891  and  was 
used  until  1909  when  a  frame  school  house  was  erect- 
ed on  section  6.  The  enrollment  averaged  six  to  eight 
pupils  in  the  earliest  year.  Pioneer  teachers  in  this 
district  were  the  Misses  Molzberger,  Gleason  and  Kett- 
ner.  The  1921-23  teacher  was  Blanche  Bonnell.  The 
members  of  the  1922-23  school  board  were  Wm.  Ander- 
son, Clerk;  John  Laughton,  Director,  and  Mrs.  M.  Jirik, 
Treasurer. 

The  first  and  only  store  in  the  district  was  erected 
in  1912  on  section  3  by  Mr.  Webster.  In  the  year  1920 
he  erected  a  new  building  on  the  same  location. 

Near  market  places  today  are  Gleason,  Dudley, 
Bloomville  and  Antigo.  Opening  of  new  roads  and 
the  automobile  make  Antigo  a  convenient  trading 
point,  eliminating  the  disadvantages  of  distance. 

Agriculture  and  dairying  are  the  principal  occupa- 
tions. Potatoes  and  grains  are  the  principal  products. 
This  district  is  making  noticeable  advances  in  both 
modern  farming  and  scientific  dairying. 


260 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


DISTRICT  NO.  3. 

FOREST  VIEW  DISTRICT.  In  the  southwest 
part  of  Vilas  township  is  an  area  of  land  containing 
5,760  acres  and  consisting  of  sections  19,  20,  21,  28, 
29,  30,  31,  32  and  33,  known  as  the  Forest  View  Dis- 
trict. It  is  well  named  for  the  children  trudging  along 
to  and  from  their  daily  tasks  at  school  have  a  wonder- 
ful panorama  of  nature's  art  to  view.  The  school  is 
ideally  situated  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  29.  It  is  a  model  building,  erect- 
ed in  1900  by  the  settlers,  who  take  especial  pride  in 
it.  Previously  a  frame  structure  was  used  and  before 
then  a  log  cabin. 

The  first  settlers  established  themselves  in  this  re- 
gion as  early  as  1877.  The  Edward  Pratt  family  came 
to  the  district  from  Hilton,  Wisconsin.  The  trip  from 
Wausau  was  made  by  wagon  over  rough  miry  roads. 
Henry  Cone  was  the  second  settler  who  came  into 
the  district.  He  was  followed  by  John  Hubbard  and 
family. 

Log  houses  were  erected,  one  by  one,  as  the  sturdy 
pioneers  arrived  and  before  long  the  distances  be- 
tween them  lessened.  They  gradually  were  follow- 
ed by  frame  dwellings.  However,  many  log  houses  are 
still  found,  many  of  which  are  the  original  cabins 
erected  nearly  fifty  years  ago.  Hewn  logs  served  as 
floors  in  these  typical  backwoods  homes. 

The  early  settlers  were  frugal  to  the  point  of  par- 
simony. Necessity  made  them  thus.  During*  the 
long  winter  sieges  cord  wood  was  cut,  but  the  market 
was  far  away.  It  did  not  pay  to  haul  wood  such  a  dis- 
tance. But  logging  camps  were  numerous,  affording 
employment  to  the  settlers.  When  spring  approached 
the  log  drives  commenced  on  the  Eau  Claire  river  and 
the  men  folks  received  employment  on  the  drives. 
The  Eau  Claire  river  was  improved  and  thousands  of 
logs  were  driven  down  it  to  Schofield.  The  housewife, 
anxious  to  aid  her  husband,  would  do  much  of  the 
garden  and  field  work,  planting  and  cu'tivating  in 
order  that  a  bountiful  harvest  might  be  reaped  in  the 
fall.    Thus  the  years  passed  on. 

The  children  in  the  schools  became  your.g  men  and 
women,  taking  the  places  of  their  fathers  ar.d  moth- 
ers. They  filled  the  district  and  township  offices,  man- 
aged the  farms,  irtroduced  new  ideas  into  agricultur- 
al advancement  and  by  this  day  the  second  generation 
has  full  command.  Many  of  the  pioneers  have  died 
or  are  too  advanced  in  age  to  actively  engage  in  labor. 

The  1922-23  teacher  was  Leona  Polar.  The  1922-23 
school  officials  were:  Clerk,  Charles  Hubbard;  Direc- 
tor, Jack  Danburg;  Treasurer,  John  Cockeram. 

DISTRICT  NO.  4. 

ELMWOOD  DISTRICT.  The  last  territorial  change 
in  Vilas  township  school  districts  occured  April  14, 
1908.  The  Elmwood  district  since  has  consisted  of 
sections  22,  23,  24,  25,  26,  27,  34,  35  and  36  of  the 
township.  It  is  situated  in  the  southeastern  part  of 
Vilas  and  has  an  area  of  5,760  acres.  This  district 
is  the  southern  portion  of  the  original  District  No.  5, 
organized  in  1887.     April  24,  1906,  Vilas  was  re-dis- 


tricted and  District  No.  3  was  eliminated.  District 
No.  4  was  enlarged  by  the  addition  of  sections  28,  32 
and  33.  This  area  was  not  changed  until  1908  when 
District  No.  3  was  recreated. 

Pioneer  settlers  in  Elmwood  were  Henry  Fryer,  who 
cleared  a  little  farm  in  the  wilderness  in  1877  after  a 
long  and  tiresome  journey  from  New  London,  and  Ed- 
son  Lloyd,  who  in  1878  brought  his  family  to  this  dis- 
trict from  Oshkosh.  With  him  came  Charles  Lloyd,  his 
son,  who  afterwards  became  prominent  in  Vilas  ac- 
tivities. W.  J.  Hampton,  Mrs.  Hayes,  A.  Space,  Frank 
Locks,  William  Holland,  Ben  Miller,  M.  E.  Bessey  and 
Olaf  Anderson  were  early  settlers.  George  Hayes, 
Edwin  Hayes  and  Al  Hayes  and  John  Marlowe  are 
old  residents,  who  came  into  the  district  later. 

The  first  school  was  erected  in  1882  on  the  south- 
east quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  4.  It 
was  a  one-room  log  building,  which  was  used  advan- 
tageously for  many  years.  Early  teachers  were  L. 
Hermanson,  Mrs.  M.  A.  Dexter,  Hannah  Reader,  S. 
Gunderson,  Emma  Molzberger,  Mary  Cadigan,  Ther- 
esa Wanninger,  Ella  Rynders,  J.  Ross,  Adell  Muscher, 
AUie  Kennedy,  Olive  M.  Space,  Alice  Casper,  Ruth 
Graves  and  Irene  Marshall.  Miss  Alfrieda  Bruss  was 
the  1921-22  teacher. 

On  July  5,  1898,  the  school  officials  of  District  No. 
4,  Charles  Lloyd,  Clerk;  H.  0.  Johnson,  Treasurer,  and 
Alfred  Hayes,  Director,  decided  to  locate  the  new  pro- 
posed school  on  the  quarter  post  of  sections  25  and  26. 
The  school  was  completed  by  October  15,  1898.  It 
cost  approximately  $375  and  was  erected  by  Justin  & 
Jensen,  mill  men.  The  frame  school  was  used  until 
1921  when  a  modern  brick  school  was  erected  at  a 
cost  of  $8,000  by  H.  Hoffschmidt.  This  splendid 
school  is  located  on  section  26.  The  1921-22  school 
officials  were  Charles  Lloyd,  Clerk;  Fritz  Weisshahn, 
Director,  and  Leon  Merry,  Treasurer. 

About  1899  George  Drake  and  Justin  &  Jensen  erect- 
ed a  sawmill  on  section  36  in  this  district.  It  was 
operated  by  Joseph  Weir  and  John  Menting  for  many 
years  until  it  was  moved  away. 

Louis  Henry  erected  a  cheese  factory  on  section  24 
in  1917.  It  has  changed  hands  frequently  and  is  now 
under  the  proprietorship  of  a  co-operative  concern  or- 
^ar  ized  among  the  neighboring  farmers. 

The  Vilas  township  hall,  located  on  section  25 
(NWVi  of  NWij),  was  completed  in  the  summer  of 
1922.  Its  cost  was  approximately  $3,000  and  it  is 
one  of  the  best  town  halls  in  Langlade  County.  The 
first  meeting  was  held  in  the  hall  (before  its  comple- 
tion) in  April,  1922.  Louis  Jacobs  was  the  contractor. 
Formerly  all  township  meetings  were  held  at  the 
school  house  in  District  No.  4. 

Elmwood  district  has  many  splendid  farms.  The 
soil  is  rolling  and  level.  The  roads  in  the  district  are 
well  maintained. 

Antigo  and  Merrill  are  the  nearest  trading  centers 
of  importance. 

The  1922-23  teacher  was  Elfrieda  Bruss.  The 
school  officials  for  1922-23  were :  Clerk,  Charles  Lloyd, 
who  is  also  Vilas  township  clerk;  Treasurer,  A.  J. 
Polar,  and  Director,  Fritz  Weisshahn. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


261 


CHAPTER  LI. 
Historical  Notes 

Chairmen  of  County  Board,  1881-1923 — Vacated  Langlade  County  Townships — The  Boiler  Explosion 
In  Antigo  in  1905 — New  County  and  Its  Possibilities  by  S.  A.  Taylor  in  1880 — How  Larzelere 
Paved  the  Way  in  1875 — Lincoln  District,  New  Settlement — First  A.  H.  S.  Basket  Ball  Team — 
Langlade  County  Wild  Flowers,  Birds  and  Songsters,  Trees  and  Wild  Fruit — Reports  on  Lang- 
lade County  to  the  State  Archeological  Society — Miscellaneous. 


CHAIRMEN  OF  LANGLADE  COUNTY  BOARD, 
1881-1923. 

John  Jansen,  1881-83;  Moritz  Mueller,  1883-84; 
Joseph  Duchac,  1884-85;  E.  R.  Van  Buran,  1885-86; 
J.  E.  Davis,  1886-90;  Sam  E.  Leslie,  1890-92;  J.  L. 
Klock,  1892-93;  J.  C.  Lewis,  1893-94;  J.  W.  Parsons, 
1894-95;  James  Quinn,  1897;  J.  W.  Parsons,  1897- 
99;  T.  D.  Kellogg,  1899-1900;  Leonard  Freiburger,  Sr., 
1900-04;  R.  J.  Morgan,  1904-06;  T.  W.  Humble,  1906- 
07;  J.  L.  Klock,  1907;  Walter  V.  Dorcheski,  Nov.  12, 
1907-08;  Adolph  Heeg.  1908-09;  Charles  Beard,  1909- 
11;  Henry  J.  Hersant,  1911-12;  Charles  Beard,  1912- 
13;  Frank  Riendl,  1913-14;  William  Alft,  1914-15; 
E.  S.  Tradewell,  1915-16;  Leonard  Freiburger,  Sr., 
1916-21 ;  Frank  J.  Olmsted,  1921-23.1 

OFFICERS   OF  ORIGINAL    (VACATED) 
TOWNSHIPS. 

The  townships  of  Carpenter  and  Gagen,  two  of  the 
six  original  Langlade  County  townships,  were  vacated 
but  a  short  time  after.  The  first  officers  of  Carpenter 
were:  Chairman,  Abe  Vanzile;  Supervisors,  Charles 
and  Jay  Cook;  Clerk,  Charles  Vanzile;  Treasurer, 
Leonard  Marsh;  Assessor,  Jay  Cook;  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  L.  J.  Marsh;  Constable,  William  Varzile. 
There  were  but  five  votes  cast  in  Carpenter  at  the 
first  election,  1881. 

The  first  officers  of  Gagen,  vacated  in  1885,  were: 
Chairman,  Daniel  Gagen;  Supervisors,  Odell  Wood- 
bury and  H.  Dow;  Treasurer,  L.  Motzfeldt;  Clerk,  P. 
Shay;  Assessor,  Odell  Woodbury;  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  H.  Dow.  The  postoffice  was  at  Freidenland 
(Frydenlund).  Ten  votes  were  cast  at  the  first  elec- 
tion in  Gagen. 

THEY  ORGANIZED  A  COUNTY. 

November  11,  1880,  within  the  Lost  Nation,  Charles 
H.  Larzelere,  John  Springer  and  James  R.  Buckstaff, 
Chairman  and  Supervisors,  respectively,  together  with 
Charles  W.  McFarland,  Fred  A.  Dodge,  Thomas  M. 
Dobbs,  A.  Smith,  S.  A.  Taylor,  David  B.  Edick,  0.  J. 
Yates,  Ulysses  G.  Taylor,  E.  P.  Bridgeman,  and  James 
Brennen,  organized  themselves  together  as  officials 
of  a  new  county  to  be  known  as  Langlade  County. 
They  elected  officers  as  follows  :  Charles  W.  McFar- 
land, County  Clerk;  Thomas  M.  Dobbs,  Register  of 
Deeds;  Fred  A.  Dodge,  County  Judge;  U.  G.  Grant, 
Assistant  Register  of  Deeds;  E.  P.  Bridgeman,  County 
Superintendent  of  Schools.  Other  officers  were  not 
chosen  at  the  election  held  November  2,  1880.     The 

1.  George  H.  Wunderlich  once  served  as  temporary  chairman.  The 
men  named  are  those  who  were  elected  at  the  regular  annual  elections. 


county  board,  according  to  record  No.  1  of  the  Regis- 
ter of  Deeds,  Thomas  M.  Dobbs,  consisted  of  three 
men.    Charles  H.  Larzelere  was  Chairman. 

This  attempt  to  elect  officers  for  the  County  of 
Langlade  was  made  nine  months  after  the  state  legis- 
lature had  passed  an  act  changing  the  name  of  New 
County  to  Langlade  County  and  three  months  before 
the  legislature  had  created  and  perfected  Langlade 
County  and  established  certain  towns  therein.  If 
these  pioneers  would  have  succeeded  in  their  under- 
taking the  county  seat  would  have  been  established 
at  Lily  and  the  dream  of  Squire  A.  Taylor  and  his 
supporters  would  have  been  fulfilled. 

THE  GREAT  BOILER  EXPLOSION 

At  9:30  a.  m.,  Friday,  February  24,  1905,  a  terrific 
explosion  startled  residents  of  the  south  part  of 
Antigo.  The  boiler  in  the  fire  room  of  the  Chris 
Wunderlich      Lumber     &     Manufacturing     Company 


WRFXK.AGE   CAUSED   BY   GRE.^T    BOILER 

EXPLOSION 

at   the  \\'iindcrlich   Lumber  and   Manufacturing   Company 

Saw    Mill,   .Antigo,    February   24,    l'.M)5. 

mill  has  exploded  killing  one  man  instantly  and  in- 
flicting fatal  injuries  on  another.  The  man  killed  was 
Ed.  Ploeger,  Engineer.  Peter  Ingles,  seriously  in- 
jured, was  rushed  to  a  hospital,  but  died. 

The  boiler,  weighing  approximately  10,000  pounds, 
was  blown  three  hundred  feet  in  the  air  and  landed 
two  thousand  feet  from  the  mill  in  front  of  Bishop's 
residence  on  Edison  street.  It  first  struck  the  ground  in 
front  of  John  Herman's  residence,  tore  the  front  from 


262 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


Cecil's  residence  but  none  of  the  occupants  of  the 
residences  were  killed.  A  small  part  of  the  boiler 
landed   near   Springbrook. 

Bolts  and  splinters  dropped  from  the  boiler  on  the 
high  school  as  it  passed  over  the  school  building  on 
its  swift  journey  of  destruction.  School  was  in  ses- 
sion and  it  was  an  act  of  Providence  that  prevented 
the  death  missile  from  plunging  through  the  building. 
John  Callaiian,  County  Treasurer  of  Langlade  County, 
was  then  employed  as  an  Engineer  and  was  switch- 
ing in  the  C.  &  N.  W.  R.  R.  Co.'s  yards  near  the  flour 
elevator  at  the  intersection  of  Dorr  street  and  7th 
Avenue.  "I  saw  that  object  flying  in  the  air  but  it 
was  so  high  it  looked  like  a  piece  of  tin."  I  heard 
the  noise  of  the  explosion  but  thought  it  was  the  air 
coupling  on  my  engine,  that's  why  I  stepped  from  the 
cab  to  look,"  he  said.  A  few  seconds  later  the  boiler 
had  struck  the  ground.  Seven  men  were  employed 
at  the  mill  that  day.  The  explosion  was  given  nation- 
wide publicity  in  newspapers. 

ANOTHER    BOILER    EXPLOSION 

On  February  28,  1911,  at  1:30  p.  m.,  a  boiler  ex- 
plosion took  place  at  the  Gillis  saw  mill,  located  in 
Neva  township.  One  man  was  slightly  scalded.  The 
cause  was  a  defection  in  the  boiler. 

S.  A.  TAYLOR  BOOSTED  NEW  COUNTY. 

S.  A.  Taylor,  founder  of  Langlade  (New)  County, 
spent  much  of  his  life  in  advertising  the  county  he 
was  responsible  for.  A  pamphlet  he  distributed  in 
1879  and  1880  contained  the  following  interesting 
data : 

THE  COUNTY  OF  NEW,  WISCONSIN. 

200,000 

ACRES  OF  THE  BEST  OF  FARM  LANDS 

for  sale  in  New  County  on  long  time,  as  hereinafter 

set  forth. 

NEW  COUNTY 

was  formed  in  1879  and  has  a  population  of  about 

1,200  people. 

This   Is   A   Matter   Worthy  The   Attention   Of   Every 

Person, 
both  old  and  young,  farmers,  mechanics,  and  mer- 
chants. A  portion  of  the  best  part  of  the  State  of  Wis- 
consin is  yet  to  be  settled.  An  opening  for  all  kinds 
of  business;  and  what  every  man  should  have  is  a 
good  farm,  it  matters  not  what  other  trade  or  business 
he  may  possess;  and 

New  County,  Wisconsin,  Is  The  Place  To  Secure  It, 
for  the  least  money,  and  expense  of  emigration  from 
any  portion  of  the  Eastern  States,  the  Canadas  or  any 
foreign  country. 

The  County  Of  New  Is  Second  To  None 
in  the  State  for  its  fertility  of  soil,  and  production  of 
crops  of  every  kind,  has  an  abundance  of  timber  of 
the  best  quality,  and  of  all  kinds;  and  is  one  of  the 
best  and  purest  watered  counties  in  the  State.  All  of 
its  lakes,  rivers  and  streams  supply  the  sweetest  and 
purest  of  water,  and  they  abound  with  speckled  trout, 
and  fish  of  every  variety. 


New   County   Is   Rather   Sparsely  Settled, 

the  cause  of  this  is,  that  a  large  portion  of  the  lands 
were  granted  by  the  General  Government  to  the  State 
for  the  aid  of  great  improvements  in  the  way  of  ship 
canals,  railroads,  highways,  and  various  other  public 
enterprises,  which  grants  covered  nearly  all  of  the 
unsold  lands  in  the  now  County  of  New. 
The  First  Settlements 

of  the  State  were  in  and  about  Milwaukee,  along  the 
shore  of  Lake  Michigan,  and  at  Green  Bay  and  along 
the  line  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  the  whole  Eastern 
and  Southern  portion  of  the  State  had  been  sold  to 
real  settlers  so  that  the  lands  granted  were  mostly 
selected  in  the  northern  portion  of  the  State  and 
many  of  these  improvements  were  under  process  of 
construction  for  a  long  term  of  years  before  they 
were  completed,  so  that  the  companies  and  contractors 
could  not  secure  a  title  to  the  lands  from  the  State. 
So  it  will  be  seen  that  this  answers  the  question,  when 
it  is  asked,  why  the  lands,  if  they  are  of  the  best 
quality  of  soil,  timber,  water  and  everything  pertain- 
ing to  a  good  country,  have  not  been  sold  to  real  set- 
tlers long  before  this. 

The  Best  Of  Farming  Lands  Can  Be  Had 
by  settlers  at  from  $2.50  to  $3.00  per  acre,  and  be  paid 
for  in  the  following  manner;  First  payment,  10  per 
cent  cash  down  of  the  total  sum  of  money  agreed 
upon  to  be  paid.  Second  payment,  to  build  a  comfort- 
able house  on  the  land  contracted  for.  Third,  fourth 
and  fifth  payments  are,  to  clear,  fence  and  till  one- 
eighth  part  of  all  the  land  you  bought,  each  year  for 
the  term  of  three  successive  years,  then  the  payment  of 
the  balance  of  the  purchase  money  will  begin  to  fall 
due  in  three  yearly  payments  with  six  per  cent  inter- 
est, this  gives  six  years  for  the  payment  of  the  pur- 
chase money. 

Every  Industrious  Man  Can  Get  A  Good  Home  Here 
whether  he  has  any  money  or  not,  and  by  this  you 
will  see  that  these  chances  are  appreciated  by  a  large 
number  of  people  who  have  looked  for  themselves 
and  have  become  satisfied  that  this  place  is  preferable 
to  others  for  securing  a  good  home,  as  there  has  more 
than  five  hundred  real  settlers  come  into  the  territory 
that  now  forms  New  County  within  the  last  year. 

The  Lands  In  Question  Are  All  First-Class  Farming 

Lands, 
well-watered,  with  abundance  of  timber,  and  as  for 
crops  they  are  the  best  of  lands  for  growing  winter 
wheat,  and  will  produce  the  best  of  crops  of  all  kinds. 
The  soil  is  of  a  clay  loam  of  black  mold,  interspersed 
with  a  small  sprinkling  of  sand,  which  makes  it  a 
strong  as  well  as  a  quick,  warm  soil. 

Take  New  County  As  A  Whole, 
there  is  no  better  place  for  the  poor  to  get  rich,  and 
the  rich  to  get  richer,  and  it  is  a  conceded  fact  by  all 
persons  knowing  of  the  advantages  of  this  portion  of 
the  State  of  Wisconsin  for  real  settlers  and  people 
who  want  cheap  and  good  homes  that  every  person 
who  has  any  idea  of  going  West  of  the  State  of  Wis- 
consin, if  they  study  their  own  interests,  and  the  sav- 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


263 


ing  or  making  of  money  they  never  will  go  beyond 
the  boundaries  of  this  State,  without  first  making  a 
thorough  investigation  of  the  lands,  location  and  the 
material  advantages  that  are  to  be  found  in  the  county 
of  New,  for  a  home,  health,  wealth  and  prosperity. 

When  You  Take  Season  and  Climate  Into  Con- 
sideration, 

and  the  length  of  the  seasons,  there  could  not  be  any- 
thing more  pleasant  and  congenial  for  the  growing 
of  crops,  and  the  beauty  of  good  homes.  The  snow 
generally  begins  to  fall  about  the  first  of  December,  at 
which  time  there  is  little  or  no  frost  in  the  ground, 
there  is  good  sleighing  about  Christmas,  then  the 
winter  continues  cool  and  dry  until  about  the  first  of 
March,  which  gives  about  two  months  and  a  half  of 
good  sleighing.  This  makes  the  country  clean  and 
beautiful,  then  the  Spring  sets  in,  and  the  snow  com- 
mences going  off,  and  as  there  is  little  or  no  frost  in 
the  ground,  by  the  tim.e  the  snow  is  gone,  the  water 
is  all  gone  from  the  surface  of  the  ground  and  it  is 
comparatively  dry  and  ready  for  ploughing,  then 
comes  warm  weather  which  is  continuous  and  steady 
during  the  whole  season,  which  is  sufficiently  lengthy 
for  the  growth  and  ripening  of  crops,  vegetables  and 
vegetation  of  all  kinds. 

The  Northwestern  Railway 

runs  along  the  shore  of  Lake  Michigan  from  Chicago 
to  Milwaukee,  thence  to  Fond  du  Lac,  where  it  inter- 
sects with  the  main  line,  passing  the  whole  way 
through  a  well  settled  and  a  beautiful  country.  The 
main  line  of  the  road  starts  at  Chicago;  the  first  place 
of  any  note  that  it  strikes  in  the  State  of  Wisconsin, 
is  Janesville  which  has  a  population  of  about  10,000 
people,  from  thence  the  road  courses  on  northward 
through  a  well-settled  and  fertile  country,  interspersed 
with  small  villages  until  it  reaches  Fond  du  Lac,  a 
city  of  some  15,000  people,  situated  at  the  head  of 
Winnebago  Lake,  thence  along  the  West  shore  of  the 
lake  to  the  city  of  Oshkosh,  which  has  a  population 
of  about  17,000  and  is  a  city  of  immense  business, 
thence  to  the  city  of  Appleton,  which  has  a  population 
of  about  8,000  and  is  one  of  the  most  flourishing  manu- 
facturing towns  in  the  country,  and  has  a  good  mer- 
cantile trade,  also  colleges,  churches,  and  schools  of 
every  grade. 

At  This  Place,  Or  At  Appleton  Junction,  You  should 
Change  Cars 

and  then  take  the  Milwaukee,  Lake  Shore  &  Western 
Railroad  for  Clintonville,  or  you  can  take  the  same 
road  at  Milwaukee,  Sheboygan  or  Manitowoc,  and  go 
direct  to  Clintonville  which  has  a  population  of  about 
1,000  people,  having  first-class  dry  goods,  hardware, 
grocery,  drug  and  fancy  stores,  good  wagon  and  black- 
smith shops,  also  factories  of  various  kinds  furnished 
with  the  best  of  water-power,  to  which  is  attached  a 
good  sawmill,  and  one  of  the  best  flouring  mills  in  the 
state.  This  is  a  place  where  you  can  get  all  kinds  of 
merchandise  at  reasonable  prices  and  also  find  a  good 
market  for  all  kinds  of  produce.    The  village  has  sev- 


eral churches,  good  schools,  first-class  hotels,  and  as 
a  whole  is  a  very  enterprising  and  prosperous  village. 

Stages  Leave  Clintonville  Every  Day  For  New, 
New  County,  which  is  a  distance  of  forty-five  miles. 
The  next  places  on  the  way  to  New  are  Pella,  Ray- 
mond's Mills  and  Leopolis.  These  are  small  places, 
but  are  supplied  with  postoffices,  stores,  grist  mills, 
sawmills,  blacksmith,  wagon  shops  and  hotels,  and 
will  soon  grow  to  be  smart  business  places. 

New  Is  Centrally  Located 

for  all  kinds  of  business.  At  the  present  time,  August 
1st,  1879,  the  business  of  the  place  is  small  compared 
with  its  capacity  and  demands.  It  has,  however,  a 
steam  saw  and  shingle  mill,  hotel,  blacksmith  shop, 
and  postoffice.  There  are  good  roads  to  and  from  the 
place,  with  mail  routes  established  over  them,  and 
is  a  place  where  a  good  trade  or  business  of  any  kind 
can  be  built  up  in  a  short  time.  It  is  a  good  location 
for  a  custom  flouring  mill,  sawmill,  and  all  kinds  of 
manufacturing,  having  abundance  of  water-power  for 
all  such  purposes,  and  is  surrounded  with  the  best  of 
timber  of  almost  all  kinds;  and  there  is  no  better  place 
for  grocery,  dry  goods  and  hardware  stores,  hotels, 
wagon  and  blacksmith  shops. 

New  is  so  centrally  located  and  so  easily  accessible 
from  all  parts  of  the  country,  that  it  is  destined  to  be 
one  of  the  best  of  markets  and  the  place  for  furnishing 
and  distributing  supplies,  for  the  whole  lumbering  in- 
terest, and  the  entire  country  of  Northern  Wisconsin. 

The  Village  Of  New 
is  located  on  the  Wolf  river,  at  or  near  the  junction 
of  the  Lily  river.  Both  of  these  streams  extend  away 
north  across  the  county  of  New;  they  are  beautiful 
streams  of  water,  and  are  perfectly  durable,  with  an 
abundance  of  water  power  and  plenty  of  water  at  all 
times  of  the  year.  Building  lots  can  be  had  free  of 
charge  by  any  one  who  will  erect  thereon  a  respecta- 
ble dwelling,  or  business  house,  and  the  raw  material 
can  be  had  here  as  cheap  as  it  can  at  any  other  place 
for  building  purposes. 

All  That  Is   Necessary  For  Anyone  That  Wishes  A 

Good  Home, 
in  a  good  country,  that  is  healthy  and  well  supplied 
with  everything  that  one  must  have,  is  to  look  New 
County  over  to  satisfy  themselves  that  it  is  the  place 
above  all  others  to  make  a  home  for  themselves  and 
families.  It  matters  not  what  business  or  occupation 
they  may  have  followed,  it  will  pay  them  to  investi- 
gate all  points  pertaining  to  New  County  and  its  sur- 
roundings before  looking  or  going  elsewhere  for  a 
home  or  a  business  of  any  kind. 

For  Further  Information 

call  at  the  General  Land  Office,  at  New,  where  you  can 
obtain  any  information  you  may  wish  pertaining  to 
lands  in  New  County,  and  reliable  guides  will  show 
you  over  the  country,  and  the  location  of  lands,  or 
address 

S.  A.  TAYLOR, 

New,  New  County,  Wis. 


264 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


LINCOLN  DISTRICT,  NEW  SETTLEMENT. 
There  are  about  twenty-two  settlers  in  the  Lincoln 
District  of  Polar  township.  William  Peters  came  to 
that  district  in  1900  from  Germany,  settling  on  section 
35.  August  Erickson  came  from  Sweden  in  1905, 
settling  on  section  26.  Frank  Rychlik  came  from  Bo- 
hemia, taking  up  land  in  section  26.  He  came  in 
1908.  Albert  Smola  came  from  Pennsylvania  in  1908, 
settling  on  section  26,  and  the  same  year  Frank  Hlin- 
sky,  a  Chicagoan,  took  up  a  farm  on  section  35.  This 
district  had  one  sawmill  on  section  35,  operated  by 
water  power.  Adolph  Blahnik  ran  it  for  four  years. 
The  first  school  was  held  in  the  William  Peters  home. 
Early  pupils  were  Cora  Peters,  Emma  Peters,  and  Eric 
Jartzke,  while  Lena  Wendorf  was  the  first  teacher. 
The  present  school  was  erected  in  1912  on  section 
25  by  C.  F.  Dallman  at  a  cost  of  $1,400.  The  1921-22 
officials  of  this  district  were  A.  Blahnik,  Clerk;  Louis 
Peters,  Treasurer,  and  Emil  Pautz,  Director.  The  re- 
gion is  rolling  and  in  some  places  level.  Drew  Creek 
runs  through  it. 

In  1883  Squire  A.  Taylor  was  called  "Old  S.  A. 
Taylor"  by  his  enemies  who  opposed  the  County  of 
Keeps.  In  this  connection  it  is  interesting  to  note  that 
Mr.  Taylor  lived  twenty  years  after  that,  dying  in  1902. 

The  first  mower  disposed  of  in  Langlade  County  was 
sold  in  1883  by  the  J.  C.  Lewis  Hardware  Company. 
The  inhabitants  then  though  the  idea  of  mowers  was  a 
"wild  dream"  of  J.  C.  Lewis'.  The  old  farmers  of 
that  day  should  now  see  the  implements  on  a  Lang- 
lade County  farm. 

In  February,  1883,  the  announcement  was  made  in 
Antigo  "that  land  was  rising  in  value  at  a  rapid  rate 
and  that  a  tract  adjoining  the  village  of  Antigo  was 
sold  at  $25  per  acre."  This  land  now  is  valued  at 
$200  per  acre. 

LARZELERE  PAVED  THE  WAY. 

While  Squire  A.  Taylor  was  the  father  of  Langlade 
County,  which  he  succeeded  in  organizing  as  New 
County  in  1879,  the  way  was  paved  for  organization 
in  the  winter  of  1875,  four  years  before  organization. 

In  1875  Oconto  County  set  off  fourty-four  and  a 
third  townships  as  Langlade  township.  Langlade 
township  included  all  of  townships  in  ranges  11,  12,  13 
and  14  from  township  31  north  to  the  state  line. 

Oconto  County  had  previous  to  1879  divided  the 
townships  in  such  a  manner  that  all  of  the  timber  re- 
gions of  the  state  line  as  far  north  as  townships  40, 
41  and  42  in  ranges  11,  12  and  13  and  also  in  other 
northern  parts  of  Wisconsin  (in  Oconto  County)  could 
be  taxed  for  the  benefit  of  the  settlers  down  at  Oconto 
and  its  vicinity.  The  method  of  dividing  their  town- 
ships gave  Oconto  townships  the  name  "stairway 
townships." 

This  method  of  township  division  offended  the 
heavy  timber  and  land  owners,  who  were  not  benefit- 
ed by  the  division.    They  demanded  a  new  county. 

An  example  of  the  stairway  township  was  the  town 
of  Pensaukee.  It  included  all  that  territory  in  town- 
ships 37  and  38,  range  13;  also  townships  34,  35,  26, 
37  and  38  of  range   14  east,  a  strip  of  territory  one 


mile  wide  running  from  the  southwest  quarter  of  town- 
ship 34,  range  14  east  south  on  the  line  of  townships 
33  and  34  between  ranges  14  and  15  east,  to  a  point 
just  north  of  Langlade  (village)  thence  east  about  a 
mile,  thence  south  three  miles,  thence  east  three  miles, 
thence  south  three  miles  to  township  31,  range  15, 
thence  east  on  the  south  line  of  township  31,  through 
ranges  15,  16  and  17,  thence  south  through  townships 
30,  29  and  28,  to  the  southwest  quarter  of  township 
28,  where  Pulcifer,  Outagamie  County,  is  now  locat- 
ed, thence  east  on  the  south  line  of  section  28  one  mile 
into  section  28,  range  19,  where  the  strip  connected 
with  township  27,  ranges  19,  20  and  21. 

Charles  Larzelere  went  to  Madison  to  confer  with 
the  County  and  Town  Committee  on  Organization  in 
the  winter  of  1875  with  the  purpose  of  securing  a 
county  to  consist  of  the  fourty-four  and  a  third  town- 
ships in  Oconto  county  and  then  eliminate  the  stair- 
way system  of  townships,  which  was  contiguous  terri- 
tory, but  unreasonably  so  because  of  the  description 
of  each  township.  He  was  opposed  by  Oconto  lum- 
bermen and  mill  owners,  who  wanted  the  timber  tax 
of  northern  Wisconsin  sent  into  Oconto  County  coffers. 

He  was  assisted  in  Madison  by  Sam  Shaw,  who  lat- 
er played  an  important  part  in  the  history  of  Forest 
County,  and  by  Attorney  M.  Carpenter,  Dean  of  the 
University  law  school,  as  well  as  Congressman  Phile- 
tus  Sawyer. 

FIRST  A.  H.  S.  BASKETBALL  TEAM. 

The  first  basketball  team  of  the  Antigo  High  School 
was  started  during  Christmas  vacation  in  1902  by  Wil- 
liam H.  Fuller,  now  a  locomotive  engineer  on  the  C. 
&  N.  W.  R.  R.,  who  was  then  a  teacher  in  the  high 
school. 

The  only  available  place  then  to  practice  was  the 
exhibition  building  of  the  Langlade  County  Agricul- 
tural Society,  which  was  prepared  for  that  purpose  by 
Mr.  Fuller  and  the  players.  The  bounding  boards 
were  made  and  carried  to  the  building.  The  first  bas- 
kets were  barrel  hoops.  Games  were  played  also  in 
the  old  Music  Hall,  now  Brunswick  Hall.  The  mem- 
bers of  the  first  team  were :  W.  H.  Fuller,  coach;  West- 
ley  Goodwin,  center;  Walter  Nelson,  forward;  William 
Donohue,  forward;  Adolph  Shepek,  guard;  Harry 
Clements,  guard;  George  Crowe,  forward  (died  in 
service  during  World  War)  ;  and  a  Mr.  Martin,  guard 
(he  drowned  at  Pelican  Lake). 

The  team  played  five  games,  winning  four. 

SAW  THE  IMAGE  OF  CHRIST 

In  the  fall  of  1901  Constantin  Jankowski,  father  of 
Mrs.  I.  Pawlak,  803  Clermont  street,  while  walking 
from  his  son's  farmhouse.  Rolling  township,  to  his  own 
home  a  short  distance  away,  vows  that  he  saw  the 
image  of  Jesus  Christ  in  the  sky.  He  carried  a 
rosary  in  his  hands  and  began  praying.  The  follow- 
ing spring  Mr.  Jankowski  erected  a  statue  of  Christ 
crucified,  on  the  exact  spot.  Father  G.  Zelinski 
of  St.  Hyacinth  church  said  Mass  at  the  spot  were 
the  statue  is  erected.  Hymns  were  sung  by  a  choir. 
The  statue  is  located  on  the  west  side  of  the  road  near 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


265 


the  Jankowski  farmhouse,  located  on  section  8,  Roll- 
ing township  30,  range  11  east. 

CHIEF  OF   POLICE   McARTHUR   KILLED 

All  Langlade  County  was  shocked  June  23,  1905, 
when  it  became  known  that  Chief  of  Antigo  Police 
John  McArthur  had  been  killed  while  attempting  the 
capture  of  James  Weipinger,  escaped  inmate  from  the 
state  insane  asylum.  Sheriff  John  Driggs  then  cap- 
tured Weipinger,  who  had  shot  McArthur  who  didn't 
see  the  fugitive  perched  in  a  tree.  Chief  McArthur's 
funeral  was  one  of  the  largest  ever  witnessed.  He 
served  as  Chief  of  Police  from  1896-97  and  again 
from  1902-1906.  He  was  a  favorite  with  the  children 
of  Antigo,  and  an  efficient  officer. 

FIRST  TELEGRAPH  OPERATOR 

Jerry  Dowing  in  1885  resigned  his  position  as  op- 
erator at  the  Milwaukee,  Lake  Shore  &  Western 
depot  and  took  charge  of  the  telegraph  office  in  the 
J.  C.  Lewis  warehouse  building. 

IRON,  LEAD  AND  OIL  EXCITEMENT 

In  1887  the  city  was  drilling  an  artesian  well  on 
5th  Avenue  and  as  those  in  charge  cut  through  the 
dark  granite,  talk  of  iron,  lead  and  oil  became  preva- 
lent.    But  it  was  all  talk. 

LANGLADE  COUNTY  WILD  FLOWERS. 
WISCONSIN  FLOWER— VIOLET. 

Almost  within  a  stone's  throw  from  any  district 
school  in  Langlade  County  the  following  wild  flowers 
can  be  picked  in  the  spring  and  summer  months:  He- 
patica.  Anemone  (Rue  and  Wood),  Dutchman's 
Breeches,  Phlox,  Pale  Laurel,  Trillium,  Bellwort,  Ad- 
ders Tongue,  Marsh  Merrigold  (commonly  known  as 
Cow  Slip),  Wild  Ginger,  Pitcher  Plant,  Blue  Flag, 
Sleeping  Beauty,  Columbine,  Golden  Rod,  Wild  Rose, 
Solomon  Seal,  Violet,  Trailing  Arbutus,  Buttercup. 

COMMON   LANGLADE  COUNTY  SONGSTERS 
AND  OTHER  BIRDS. 

Birds  common  in  Langlade  County  are  the  Cerulean 
Warbler,  Bluebird,  American  Goldfinch,  White-throat- 
ed Sparrow,  Baltimore  Oriole,  Blackburnian  Warbler, 
Cardinal  Bird,  Redstart,  Woodpecker,  Bobolink,  Kill- 
deer,  Sandpiper,  Owls,  Hawks,  Humming  Bird,  Robin, 
Wren,  Blue  Jay,  Cedar  Wax  Wing,  Flicker,  Blackbird, 
Meadow  Lark,  Horned  Lark,  Thrush,  Grosbeak,  Scar- 
let Tanager,  Crow. 

TREES  AND   WILD   FRUIT. 

Trees — Elm,  Poplar,  Birch,  Oak,  Maple,  Cedar,  Bal- 
sam, Tamarack,  Pine,  Hemlock,  Basswood,  Rock  Elm, 
Spruce,  Cherry.  Wild  fruits — Raspberry,  Wild  Straw- 
berry, Dew  Berry,  Huckle  Berries,  Blueberries,  Cran- 
berries, Wintergreen  Berries,  Thorn  Apples,  Wild 
Plums. 


REPORTS   ON   LANGLADE  COUNTY  TO  THE 
WISCONSIN  ARCHEOLOGICAL  SOCIETY. 

Mounds  reported  to  exist  at  Antigo.  Reported  by 
Emil  Wiesse,  Elcho,  March,  1906. 

Indian  trading  post  formerly  located  on  east  shore 
of  Post  Lake.  Several  burial  mounds  also  on  shores 
of  lake.  One  explored,  human  bones  and  implements 
found.  Indications  of  camp  or  village  site  nearby. 
Arrowpoints,  flint  rejectage,  etc.  Antigo  Daily  Jour- 
nal, July  31,  1902.  Aug.  1,  1918,  E.  B.  Barr,  Duluth, 
Minn.,  reported  to  society  that  while  clearing  a  tent 
site  on  the  east  bank  he  uncovered  with  a  shovel  a 
brittle  pottery  vessel  and  "all  of  the  large  bones  and 
the  skull"  of  an  Indian.  Mr.  Emil  Wiesse,  Elcho,  re- 
ported on  Sept.  6,  1903,  the  presence  of  a  fine  group 
of  mounds  at  the  narrows  of  Post  Lake. 

It  is  considered  likely  that  some  of  the  sources  from 
which  early  Wisconsin  Indians  obtained  quartzite  are 
in  Langlade  County. 

FIRST  ANTIGO  LAUNDRY. 

The  first  Antigo  laundry  was  opened  by  Amanda 
and  Mary  Krueger  on  May  1,  1885,  on  Superior  Street. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

The  track  of  the  Milwaukee,  Lake  Shore  &  West- 
ern from  Bryant  to  Polar  was  laid  under  the  supervi- 
sion of  George  Young,  a  railway  civil  engineer,  in 
1888. 

The  first  Bryant  school  was  held  in  the  law  office 
of  Loomis  &  Foster. 

The  mill  owned  by  Henry  Mitchell  of  Norwood  was 
sold  by  him  in  July,  1889,  to  D.  Brightman  of  Winne- 
conne,  Wisconsin.     Mr.   Mitchell   moved  into  Antigo. 

Charles  Van  Pelt  was  the  first  Superintendent  of  the 
Webster  Manufacturing  Plant  at  Polar,  established  in 
1888. 

Officers  of  the  Antigo  Light  Guards  in  1888  were: 
F.  A.  Forbes,  J.  M.  Reed,  L.  S.  Neuman,  S.  W.  Lar- 
sen,  W.  Kiefer  and  John  Blinn. 

The  late  J.  Pearson  Hughes  was  the  last  person  to 
walk  across  the  lower  Post  Lake  bridge  erected  in 
1883  by  H.  B.  Polar,  contractor.  The  second  bridge 
was  completed  in  October,  1899,  by  John  Byrne  at  a 
cost  of  $1,685. 

The  track  from  Koepenick  to  Bass  Lake  was  laid 
under  the  direction  of  David  Edick  for  the  Paine  Lum- 
ber Company. 

John  Menting  had  a  saw  and  shingle  mill  on  section 
2,  Ackley  township  and  also  a  mill  at  Morley  where 
he  employed  35  men.  M.  M.  Ross  and  Mr.  Edwards 
erected  the  mill  at  Morley  over  twenty  years  ago.  It 
was  sold  by  Mr.  Menting  to  the  Martin  Lumber  Co., 
of  Oshkosh,  Wis.,  and  was  moved  away. 

The  Pence  Lake  sawmill  was  erected  in  1910-11. 
Menting  &  Hickey  operated  it  from  1913  until  1920. 
It  is  on  section  36,  East  Upham  township.  The  Lang- 
lade Lumber  Company  has  camps  on  section  23, 
nearby. 


266 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  LIT. 
Commemorative  Biographical  Record 

The  Importance  of  Biography — The  Life  of  W.  L.  Ackley,  Englishman,  Prospector,  Indian  Trader, 
Farmer,  Township  Official,  Man — Sketches  of  Other  Elarly  Settlers — Biographical  Record  of 
Prominent  and  Representative  citizens  of  the  past  and  present. 


Biographical  records  are  of  value,  not  only  for  their 
immediate  worth,  but  for  future  reference.  Family 
genealogy  can  be  preserved  in  no  better  way.  The 
history  of  the  nation,  the  state  and  the  county  depends 
upon  the  calibre  of  its  people.  The  data  herewith  was 
gathered  from  the  individuals  immediately  interested 
and  should  prove  to  be  a  treasured  section  of  this  work. 

WILLIAM  LEROY  ACKLEY— FIRST  WHITE  SET- 
TLER IN  LANGLADE  COUNTY. 

"Look  now  abrodd-another  race  has  filled 
Those  populous  horders-ivide  the  wood  recedes, 

And  ioivns  shcot  up,  and  fertile  realms  are  tilled; 
The  land  is  full  of  harvests  and  green  meads." 

WILLIAM  LEROY  ACKLEY.  the  first  white  set- 
tler in  Langlade  County,  was  born  in  the  State  of  New 
York  on  or  about  1830.  Little  is  known  of  his  boy- 
hood days  except  that  he  was  a  venturesome  lad  who 
was  lured  to  the  western  states  by  the  stories  of  ad- 
venture among  the  Indian  tribes  and  the  plucky  fur 
traders  of  the  great  northern  wilderness.  He  came 
west  to  the  hamlet  of  Wausau  where  he  stopped  for 
a  time  before  definitely  settling  in  Ackley  township, 
Langlade  County,  in  1853.  Mr.  Ackley  was  associated 
with  P.  Hogarty,  a  proprietor  of  a  stopping  place, 
who  had  extensive  commercial  intercourse  with  In- 
dians and  home  seekers.  He  built  a  log  shack  on  the 
banks  of  the  Eau  Claire  river,  section  28,  when  he 
first  came  into  this  vast  wild  country  inhabitated  by 
Indians  and  animals.  Young  Ackley  was  twenty-one 
years  old  when  he  first  made  a  claim  in  this  region. 
He  married  Me-Da-Gee-Wa-No-Kwa,  "Maiden  of  the 
Forests,"  a  Chippewa  Indian  maiden,  who  bore  him 
two  children — De  Witt  and  Charles  Ackley.  Charles 
Ackley  is  a  merchant  in  Wabeno,  Forest  County;  De 
Witt  Ackley  is  living  with  the  Pottawattomi  Indians 
near  Mole  Lake,  Wisconsin.  Ackley,  fur  trader,  lum- 
ber cruiser,  adventurer,  was  a  leader  of  the  Indians 
who  sought  his  counsel.  He  was  a  just  barterer  and 
those  who  were  acquainted  with  him  acknowledged 
him  to  be  an  upright  business  man.  He  never  took 
advantage  of  the  Chippewa's  in  their  fur  transactions. 
Most  of  his  fur  products  were  shipped  down  the  Eau 
Claire  river  to  Schofield  and  sold  to  agents  of  St. 
Louis  fur  buyers.  Mr.  Ackley  died  November  24, 
1894.  His  wife  died  March  9,  1899,  having  lived  to 
be  over  one  hundred  years  of  age. 

DANIEL  GAGEN,  fur  trader,  pioneer  lumberman, 
picturesque  leader  in  the  first  Langlade  County  Board 


meeting,  was  born  in  England  in  1835.  In  the  early 
'60's  he  came  to  Eagle  River,  Wisconsin,  where  there 
was  a  small  settlement  of  English  and  Scotchmen. 
Here  he  established  a  trading  post  and  bought  furs 
of  the  Indians.  He  engaged  in  logging  operations  dur- 
ing the  winter.  He  was  the  first  man  to  log  on  the 
Eagle  Waters.  Dan  Gagen  took  the  pick  of  the  pine 
which  grew  on  the  banks  of  the  lakes  and  streams 
and,  instead  of  hauling  them  for  miles,  rolled  them 
into  the  River  of  Lakes. 

About  the  year  1877  he  moved  to  Pine  Lake  (Hiles, 
Wis.)  which  was  the  headwaters  of  the  Wolf  river. 
Here  he  farmed  and  logged  until  about  1902  when  he 
moved  to  Three  Lakes,  Wis.  He  died  in  November, 
1908,  at  Three  Lakes,  Wis.  His  son,  James  Gagen, 
real  estate  dealer  and  abstract  man,  resides  at  Hudson 
street  and  Seventh  avenue,  Antigo,  Wis. 

Dan  Gagen  represented  Gagen  township  in  Langlade 
County  until  that  territory  north  of  the  present  limits 
of  the  county  was  detached  in  1885.  His  place  in 
county  history  is  with  those  other  sturdy  men  who 
came  into  the  forests  of  this  country  between  1853 
and  1870.  They  were:  Louis  Montzfeldt,  Hiram  B. 
Polar,  Henry  Harvey,  Charles  Larzelere,  "Old  Dutch" 
Frank,  David  Getchell,  Henry  Strauss,  Williard  L. 
Ackley,  and  S.  A.  Taylor,  all  leaders  of  their  time. 


THOMAS  AND  MALCOLM  HUTCHINSON, 
were  among  the  earliest  of  Langlade  County  pioneers 
and  have  left  their  splendid  records  here  as  monu- 
ments to  their  integrity  and  thrift.  Thomas  Hutchin- 
son, the  father  of  Malcolm  Hutchinson,  well  known 
Langlade  County  citizen,  was  born  near  Nelson,  in  the 
Province  of  New  Brunswick,  Canada,  in  June,  1830, 
the  son  of  Henry  and  Katherine  Hutchinson.  He 
was  reared  on  a  farm  and  when  a  youth  he  settled 
at  Oshkosh,  Winnebago  County,  Wisconsin,  the  lure 
of  the  lumbering  industry  having  called  him  to  the 
thriving  occupation  in  Northern  Wisconsin.  He  cast  his 
first  Presidential  vote  in  the  Abraham  Lincoln-Steph- 
en A.  Douglas  contest  at  the  virge  of  the  Civil  War. 
In  1875,  Mr.  Hutchinson  moved  with  his  family  to 
Langlade  County,  settling  on  the  banks  of  the  Wolf 
river  near  Langlade,  being  one  of  its  very  early  pio- 
neers. Two  years  later  he  took  up  a  homestead  on 
section  27,  Township  32  (Price),  Range  12  East. 
Here  he  lived  until  his  demise  on  October  22,  1912, 
having  lived  long  enough  to  see  the  great  pineries 
slashed,  the  "iron  trail"  follow  the  ox  cart,  the  auto- 
mobile take  the  place  of  the  "buckboard,"  to  see  cities 
develop,  and  the  R.  F.  D.  take  the  place  of  the  mail 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


267 


carrier  of  the  '70's  who  rode  the  saddle  pony  on  the 
old  "militaire". 

Mr.  Hutchinson  was  married  on  November  20,  1862, 
to  Anna  Farrell,  a  native  of  New  Brunswick,  Canada. 
Four  children  were  born  to  this  union,  namely,  Almira, 
now  Mrs.  Ben  J.  Daly  of  Oshkosh,  Wis.;  Malcolm,  now 
a  resident  of  Antigo,  and  Eugenie,  now  Mrs.  William 
Worman  of  Seattle,  Washington;  and  Jessie,  now  Mrs. 
Charles  Powell,  of  Antigo,  Wisconsin. 

MALCOLM  HUTCHINSON  was  born  at  Oshkosh, 
Winnebago  County,  on  April  9,  1867.  When  eight 
years  old  he  moved  to  eastern  Langlade  County  with 
his  parents  and  two  years  later  settled  at  Price  town- 
ship with  them.  He  attended  the  Price  rural  schools 
in  the  Malcolm  District,  named  after  him.  There 
was  once  a  community  there  and  Thomas  W.  Hutchin- 
son was  the  first  and  only  postmaster  of  Malcolm. 

Like  his  father,  Malcolm  Hutchinson  has  foliowea 
the  lumbering  industry,  surveying  and  the  woods.  He 
has  often  been  County  Surveyor  of  Langlade  County. 
Outside  of  Price  schools  he  attended  Dagget's  Busi- 
ness College  of  Oshkosh  for  three  years  and  then  re- 
turned to  Price  to  resume  his  work  in  the  lumbering 
and  surveying  occupation,  which  fascinated  him.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Katherine  Gratten  of  Osh- 
kosh, Wisconsin,  September  1,  1898.  To  this  union 
eight  children  were  born.  One  is  deceased.  Those 
living  are:  Paul,  Norma,  Lura,  Jacqueline,  Malcolm, 
Jr.,  Almyra  and  Thomas.  TTie  Hutchinson  family  re- 
sides at  511  Hudson  street,  Antigo,  they  having  mov- 
ed from  the  old  homestead  property  in  Price  township 
in  April,  1915.  The  Hutchinsons  are  honored  and  re- 
spected as  pioneers  of  the  county  and  in  its  history 
they  deserve  worthy  representation.  The  family  at- 
tend St.  John's  church  and  Mr.  Hutchinson  is  affiliat- 
ed with  the  Modern   Woodmen  of  America. 

FRANK  DVORAK,  SR..  Manager  of  the  Antigo 
Water  Department,  City  Treasurer  and  Councilman, 
was  born  in  Manitowoc  County,  Wisconsin,  in  1869, 
the  son  of  Frank  and  Philomena  Dvorak.  He  at- 
tended the  common  schools  of  Manitowoc  County 
and  the  Manitowoc  High  School  from  which  he  en- 
tered the  Oshkosh  Normal.  He  moved  to  Langlade 
County  in  1882  with  his  parents,  residing  on  a  farm 
in  the  town  of  Antigo  until  1902.  Mr.  Dvorak  moved 
into  the  city  of  Antigo  in  the  spring  of  1903.  He  was 
elected  County  Treasurer  in  1906,  serving  for  two 
terms,  1907-11.  He  was  then  appointed  City  Treasur- 
er of  Antigo  in  September,  1911.  He  was  elected  to 
that  office  in  the  spring  of  1912.  He  was  elected  City 
Commissioner  under  the  commission  form  of  govern- 
ment in  the  spring  of  1914,  being  re-elected  in  1918, 
serving  as  City  Treasurer,  as  well  as  City  Commis- 
sioner. Mr.  Dvorak  is  a  member  of  the  Public  Library 
Board,  the  Board  of  Public  Works  and  a  Jury  Com- 
missioner of  Langlade  County.  During  his  public 
career  he  has  been  held  in  high  regard  as  a  man  of 
good  character,  ability  and  integrity.  He  was  united 
in  marriage  in  1890  to  Miss  Margaret  Plzak,  to  which 


union  five  sons  and  two  daughters  were  born.  One 
son  and  two  daughters  died  in  infancy.  Those  living 
are :  Frank  J.  Dvorak,  Jr.,  Assistant  Cashier  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Antigo,  who  in  September, 
1920,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Marion  Ver 
Bryck,  daughter  of  Frank  P.  Ver  Bryck,  a  well  known 
pioneer  locomotive  engineer. 


FRANK   DVORAK 

ProniiiK-nt   public  official,  who  has  been  a  resident  of 

Langlade   County   since   1882. 

The  other  sons  are :  Theodore,  employed  by  the 
Thunder  Lake  Co.;  Charles  and  Richard,  students. 

Frank  Dvorak,  Sr.,  is  a  member  of  the  L  0.  0.  F., 
B.  P.  0.  E.,  L.  0.  O.  M.,  the  Beavers,  where  he  is 
now  holding  the  office  of  Secretary,  the  Z.  C.  B.  J. 
and  M.  W.  A.  lodges. 

The  Dvorak  residence  is  at  238  Wausau  Road,  An- 
tigo, Wis. 

DAVID  B.  EDICK.  Long  before  Langlade  County 
was  created,  and  at  a  time  when  the  Military  Road 
was  a  "new  thoroughfare,"  a  young  man  of  splendid 
physique  and  mentally  alert  to  the  wonderful  oppor- 
tunities of  the  great  "new  north,"  cast  his  lot  with  the 
Wolf  river  country.  This  man  has  lived  for  forty- 
eight  years  in  that  country,  which  has  since  blossom- 
ed into  an  extensive  and  productive  section  of  Wis- 
consin. It  was  on  November  13,  1874,  that  David  B. 
Edick,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  arrived  at  Medina, 
Outagamie  County,  Wisconsin,  after  a  four-day  jour- 
ney from  Cleveland,  Ohio.  Young  Edick  was  seek- 
ing his  fortune  in  the  great  expanse  of  Upper  Wiscon- 
sin. He  was  born  at  Western  Star,  Summit  County, 
Ohio,  February  20,  1850,  the  son  of  Nicholas  H.  and 
Anna  M.  (Koplin)  Edick,  being  the  first  of  ten  chil- 
dren. When  but  eighteen  months  old  he  moved  with 
his  parents  to  Lorraine  County,  Ohio,  where  he  lived 
until  he  was  fifteen  years  old.  From  then  on  he  made 
his  own  way  through  the  world.  He  received  an  ele- 
mentary education  equivalent  to  the  8th  grade  of  to- 
day. It  was  in  the  spring  of  1865  that  the  Edick  fam- 
ily moved  to  Medina  County,  Ohio,  to  settle  on  a  farm. 


268 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


Nine  years  later,  1874,  the  parents  of  young  David 
decided  to  move  to  Garfield,  Pawnee  County,  Kansas. 
Young  David  stayed  in  Ohio,  leaving  Cleveland  on 
November  9,  1874,  for  Wisconsin,  where  he  began 
his  picturesque  career  as  a  pioneer  of  the  Wolf  river 
country.  The  first  summer  he  followed  his  trade  of 
a  cheesemaker  at  Pickett,  Winnebago  County,  Wis- 
consin, in  1875.  That  fall  he  came  to  Langlade  Coun- 
ty, spending  the  first  night  in  the  "old  Henry  Strauss 
stopping  place"  on  section  17,  Township  33,  Range  13 
East.  He  slept  on  the  rough  floor  of  the  place.  He 
worked  as  a  woodsman  for  Timothy  Crane  on  Crane 
Lake  the  first  winter.  In  the  spring  of  1876  he  went 
to  Illinois,  returning  on  October  19,  1876,  working  at 
Lily  for  Timothy  Crane  during  the  winter  of  1876-77. 
The  following  spring  he  located  on  a  farm,  sections 
15  and  16,  township  33,  range  13  East,  and  stayed  on 
the  farm  from  1877  to  1881,  inclusive. 

Here  he  conducted  a  stopping  place  also.  Mr. 
Edick  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mary  L.  Tourtillotte 
on  June  22,  1880.  Miss  Tourtillotte  was  a  pioneer 
teacher  at  Nine  Mile  Creek  and  also  at  Polar.  After 
spending  their  honeymoon  at  Appleton  they  returned 
to  the  farm.  In  October,  1882,  they  moved  to  Lily, 
where  Mr.  Edick  was  proprietor  of  a  hotel  for  one 
year,  following  which  he  logged  on  Stoney  Lake  with 
Henry  Tourtillotte,  his  father-in-law.  For  one  year 
he  logged  there  and  in  the  fall  of  1884  moved  to  Lily, 
where  he  spent  the  next  quarter  of  a  century.  For  ten 
years  he  tended  dam  at  Lily  for  the  Keshena  Improve- 
ment Company  and  in  the  winter  of  1887-88  logged 
with  J.  E.  Schultz  as  his  associate.  April  5,  1893,  he 
started  in  as  a  log  buyer  and  cruiser  for  the  Paine 
Lumber  Company  and  was  a  valued  and  trusted  em- 
ploye of  that  concern  until  January  1,  1915,  when 
their  holdings  were  taken  over  by  the  Langlade  Lum- 
ber Company,  whom  Mr.  Edick  was  retained  by.  He 
is  a  practical  woodsman  in  every  sense  of  the  word, 
having  had  nearly  fifty  years  of  experience,  probably 
more  than  any  other  man  now  active  in  the  lumbering 
industry  of  Wisconsin. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edick  had  ten  children.  Five  are 
now  deceased.  They  are  Nicholas  Henry,  born  in 
1881.  He  died  in  infancy  and  is  buried  at  Lily. 
Anna  died  in  infancy;  Mary  died  when  ten  months 
old;  Ralph  died  on  October  9,  1918,  the  day  his 
brother,  Lieut.  Wm.  Edick,  was  wounded  on  the  bat- 
tlefields in  France.  He  (Ralph)  died  at  Flagstaff, 
Arizona.  He  was  a  talented  musician,  a  great  organ- 
izer of  bands.  He  is  buried  at  Omro,  Wis.  His  wife, 
Juanita  Jackson  Edick,  to  whom  he  was  married  in 
1916,  and  one  son,  Robert,  survive  him.  Charles  D., 
born  in  Keshena,  was  electrocuted  at  Oslo,  Manitowoc 
County,  on  June  11,  1922.  He  was  an  expert  meter- 
man  and  electrician  and  met  his  death  while  at  duty. 
He  is  survived  by  his  wife,  Anna  (Pautz)  Edick,  to 
whom  he  was  married  on  January  1,  1918,  and  one 
child,  Charles,  who  was  born  on  November  24,  1884. 
He  was  buried  at  Omro  on  June  15,  1922. 

The  five  children  living  are:  James  Harvey,  of 
Manitowoc,    Wis.,   who     married      Blanche      Rhodes, 


daughter  of  Earl  Rhodes,  on  August  17,  1917;  George 
L.,  who  married  Mabel  Kurtz  at  Danville,  Ind.  He 
is  now  at  Washington,  D.  C,  employed  by  the  govern- 
ment as  a  Rural  Engineer  and  draftsman  for  the 
U.  S.  They  have  two  children,  Mildred  and  Kenneth. 
William  J.,  a  reserve  officer  in  the  U.  S.  A.,  now  in  the 
Secret  Service  of  the  U.  S.,  married  Josephine  Olsen. 
They  have  one  child,  William  J.  Jr.  Mr.  Edick  serv- 
ed as  a  Lieutenant  in  the  Word  War.  He  was  wound- 
ed in  combat.  Their  home  is  in  San  Francisco,  Calif. 
Edward  Everett  is  Assistant  Principal  of  the  Weyau- 
wega  (Wis.)  High  School  and  athletic  coach.  He 
spent  28  months  overseas  during  the  war,  part  of  the 
time  in  the  aviation.  He  will  soon  complete  a  chem- 
ical engineering  course  at  the  University  of  Wiscon- 
son.  John  E.,  now  in  Oshkosh,  Winnebago,  County, 
Wisconsin,  is  a  student  of  the  State  Normal.  He  is 
following  out  his  intention  to  become  a  Chemical  En- 
gineer. 

Mrs.  David  Edick  passed  away  on  October  8,  1915, 
and  is  buried  at  Omro,  Wisconsin,  in  the  family  lot. 

David  Edick  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  orders  in 
which  he  takes  a  keen  interest.  His  mother  passed 
away  at  the  age  of  89  at  Albuquerque,  N.  M.,  eight 
months  after  a  visit  from  her  son.  His  father  died  in 
March,  1894,  and  is  buried  in  Albuquerque,  N.  M.. 
also.    He  was  eighty  years  old  when  he  died. 

David  Edick  has  lived  a  life  on  honesty  and  his 
character  as  a  citizen  is  of  the  highest  type.  His 
sons,  four  of  whom  served  in  the  Word  War,  have 
grown  to  manhood  and  are  all  experts  in  their  chosen 
fields  of  endeavor — an  honor  to  the  name  of  Edick. 

Such  is  the  story  of  David  B.  Edick — pioneer, 
woodsman,  citizen  and  man. 

WILLIAM  WEGNER,  prominent  Peck  farmer  and 
leader,  was  born  September  8,  1876,  the  son  of  Mary 
and  Michael  Wegner,  in  the  Town  of  Gibson,  Manito- 
woc County.  He  attended  the  public  and  parochial 
schools  during  his  boyhood  after  which  he  journeyed 
to  the  scene  of  the  great  lumbering  industry  of  north- 
ern Wisconsin  and  Michigan,  working  in  the  woods 
and  mills.  When  he  abandoned  this  field  of  endeavor 
he  had  attained  the  position  of  head  sawyer.  In  1897 
he  came  to  the  Town  of  Peck,  Langlade  County,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  Mr.  Wegner  took  up  his  present 
farm  on  the  south  half  or  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  22  in  the  summer  of  1905.  It  comprises  eighty 
acres  of  land  situated  near  the  west  branch  of  the 
Eau  Claire  river  on  route  No.  1.  Mr.  Wegner  was 
married  to  Laura  Schwantes  of  Lincoln  County,  July 
19,  1905.  To  this  union  three  children,  two  boys, 
Amos  and  Ogden,  and  one  girl.  Ruby,  were  born.  Be- 
sides operating  his  farm,  Mr.  Wegner  has  found  time 
to  operate  a  store  and  a  saloon  on  section  22.  This 
business  he  conducted  from  1903  until  August,  1909, 
when  it  burned  down.  He  is  a  leader  in  Peck  township 
affairs,  and  has  served  as  Supervisor,  Township  Chair- 
man and  School  Treasurer.  The  last  two  offices  he 
served  in  eight  consecutive  years,  exact  dates  of  which 
are  found  in  Peck  township  history.     Mr.  Wegner  is 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


269 


a  member  of  the  E.  F.  U.    The  Wegner  family  attends 
the  Evangelical  Lutheran  church. 

OSCAR  J.  SWANSON,  auditor  and  credit  manager, 
was  born  in  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  the  son  of  Lena  M. 
and  John  Swanson.  Coming  to  Antigo,  Wisconsin,  at 
an  early  age  he  attended  the  public  schools  and  the 
Antigo  High  School.  After  attending  high  school  two 
years  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Fidelity  Savings 
Bank  at  Antigo.  He  then  entered  Marquette  Univer- 
sity where  he  completed  his  high  school  course  and 
in  1915  graduated  from  the  commerce  and  accounting 
department  of  that  institution.  He  then  purchased  the 
business  of  the  Forest  County  Abstract  Company  and 
the  Insurance  Agencies  of  the  Bank  of  Crandon  in 
1915.  In  1918,  when  war  was  on  with  Germany,  he 
enlisted.  Returning  to  Antigo  after  the  war  he  en- 
tered the  First  National  Bank  as  Assistant  Cashier, 
which  position  he  held  until  he  resigned  January  1, 
1921,  to  accept  a  position  as  chief  auditor  and  credit 
manager  of  the  Charles  W.  Fish  Lumber  Company, 
Elcho,  Wis.  Mr.  Swanson  was  married  June  18,  1919, 
to  Cecelia  Goebel,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edward 
Goebel,  Antigo,  Wis.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Mason- 
ic lodge,  the  B.  P.  O.  E.  and  M.  W.  A.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Swanson  reside  at  Elcho,  Wisconsin. 

ARTHUR  M.  JANES,  pioneer  citizen.  Among  the 
earliest  pioneers  of  Langlade  County  are  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Arthur  M.  Janes,  who  located  in  the  village  of  Antigo 
in  March,  1882.  They  first  came  to  Antgio  in  the 
spring  of  1881.  At  that  time  the  old  Milwaukee,  Lake 
Shore  &  Western  came  only  as  far  as  Aniwa,  Shawano 
County  hamlet.  Track  had  been  laid  to  Weed's  mill, 
but  the  bridge  had  not  been  completed.  From  Ani- 
wa Mr.  Janes  came  to  Antigo  with  the  construction 
crew  building  the  Weed  mill  dam.  The  following 
spring  Mr.  Janes  bought  property  where  the  Molle 
building  is  now  located  and  moved  his  family  here. 
Freight  was  then  hauled  by  ox-team  and  Fifth  avenue 
was  lined  with  many  stumps,  removed  the  next  year. 
Arthur  M.  Janes  was  married  to  Jennie  Hill  (see  story 
on  stopping  places,  taverns,  hotels)  February  13, 
1879,  at  Shawano,  Wisconsin.  Eight  children  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Janes  were  born  in  Antigo.  Mrs.  E.  A.  Set- 
tler, Avondale,  Arizona,  was  born  in  Shawano.  Those 
born  in  Antigo  were  Edwin  A.  Janes,  who  died  in 
1899;  Evelyn  Janes  Richardson,  who  died  in  1919; 
Chris  Janes,  Superintendent  of  the  Frost  Veneer  Co., 
Antigo,  Wis.;  Harry  M.  Janes,  rancher,  Avondale, 
Arizona;  Mrs.  Jessie  Pearson  Richardson,  of  Avondale, 
Arizona,  and  Guy,  Dale  and  Howard  Janes,  of  Antigo. 
Arthur  M.  Janes  was  one  of  Antigo's  first  merchants. 
The  Janes  family  resides  at  316  Fifth  avenue,  Antigo, 
Wis. 

CHARLES  S.  LEYKOM,  deceased,  was  a  pioneer 
Antigo  business  man.  He  was  born  November  14, 
1857,  at  Manitowoc,  son  of  John  and  Ann  Leykom. 
After  attending  the  public  schools  of  Manitowoc,  Mr. 
Leykom  took  a  position  with  the  Rand  &  Romer  Hard- 
ware Company.    In  1881  he  came  to  Antigo,  being  one 


of  the  pioneer  merchants  of  the  city.  He  walked  from 
Eland  Jet.  to  get  here  as  the  railroad  was  not  com- 
pleted this  far  north  then.  He  established  a  hard- 
ware store  with  John  Hessel,  for  a  time  was  associated 
with  H.  A.  Kohl  and  then  resumed  his  partnership 
with  Mr.  Hessel.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Beavers 
Reserve  Fund  Fraternity  and  the  E.  F.  U.,  an  officer  of 
the  city  frequently,  held  the  office  of  City  Sealer  of 
Weights  &  Measures  for  years  and  served  with  credit 
on  the  Board  of  Education.  Mr.  Leykom  was  one  of 
the  founders  of  the  Antigo  Public  Library.  The  Li- 
brary Board  sent  condolences  to  his  family  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  September  26,  1924.  His  remains 
were  buried  in  the  City  Cemetery.  Charles  S.  Leykom 
was  married  to  Nellie  Williams,  an  early  Antigo  teach- 
er, in  1883.  He  is  survived  by  his  wife  and  three 
children,  Sumner  Leykom,  Mrs.  Charles  Thomas,  and 
John  Wallace  Leykom.  His  name  is  cut  deep  among 
the  worthy  pioneers  of  Antigo. 

WALTER  GUILE,  Norwood  pioneer,  was  born  in 
Utica,  N.  Y.,  in  1834.  He  came  to  Norwood  township 
in  1882,  being  one  of  its  early  settlers.  Mr.  Guile  held 
the  esteem  and  respect  of  his  neighbors  and  associates 
as  is  evidenced  by  his  election  as  Chairman  of  Nor- 
wood in  1884.  He  held  this  post  a  year  and  a  half 
when  he  resigned.  He  was  married  in  1870  to  Eleanore 
Litton,  born  at  Sheboygan,  June  15,  1853.  Six  chil- 
dren were  born,  Walter,  Harvey  and  Arthur  and  Mrs. 
John  Ott  of  Sheboygan  being  the  children  living.  Wal- 
ter Guile  passed  away  January  9,  1898,  and  his  re- 
mains are  at  rest  in  the  Antigo  cemetery.  Mrs.  Guile 
is  now  living  in  Antigo. 

HARVEY  GUILE,  decorator  and  contractor,  was 
born  July  20,  1887,  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walter  Guile. 
He  attended  the  Norwood  rural  schools  and  the  Antigo 
public  schools.  He  has  been  in  the  painting  and  decor- 
ating business  since  1901.  He  is  an  expert  in  his  chos- 
en work.  Mr.  Guile  was  married  to  Beatrice  Du  Bois 
of  Antigo,  March  3,  1906.  Five  children  were  born  to 
this  union.  They  are  Clarence,  Richard  and  Dorothy, 
living,  and  Florence  and  Norma,  deceased.  Mr.  Guile 
is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  in  which  lodge 
he  is  active.  The  Guile  home  is  situated  at  1525  Cler- 
mont street. 

W.  F.  KASSON,  prominent  business  man,  was  born 
in  Ludington,  Mich.,  October  8,  1869,  son  of  Augusta 
and  Robert  Kasson.  At  age  of  two  he  moved  to  Yank- 
ton, S.  D.,  then  the  capital  of  South  Dakota.  When 
14  years  of  age  he  v/ent  to  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  where  he 
began  as  an  apprentice  in  the  printing  trade.  He  then 
was  employed  on  the  Sioux  City  Journal,  Minneapolis 
Tribune,  Cincinnati  Enquirer  and  Chicago  Herald  in 
succession.  In  1888  he  went  to  Ashland,  Wis.,  from 
Chicago  and  for  seven  years  was  in  a  saloon  and  res- 
taurant business,  went  to  Neenah  where  for  eighteen 
years  he  engaged  in  the  same  business,  being  proprie- 
tor of  the  Russell  and  Union  House  there.  November 
18,  1915,  opened  Hanousek  Hotel  in  Antigo.  A  year 
later  he   sold  to   Arthur  J.   Koch   and  purchased  the 


270 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


George  Ottman  property  in  Antigo  township,  known 
since  as  Kasson  cabaret.  April,  1919,  took  over  Pick- 
erel Lake  property  from  Kenosha  Hunting  &  Fishing 
Club,  James  A.  Fathers  of  Janesville,  Wis.,  principal 
stockholder.  He  still  owns  this  property,  running  a 
first  class  tourist  resort.  He  was  married  at  Liberty- 
ville,  Illinois,  in  1908  to  Matilda  Kempf.  The  Kasson 
family,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kasson  and  four  boys  and  two 
girls,  resides  on  South  Superior  street,  in  Antigo  town- 
ship. Mr.  Kasson  is  a  member  of  the  Loyal  Order  of 
Moose.  He  is  a  stockholder  and  part  owner  of  the 
Antigo  Herald,  Langlade  Printing  Company  pub- 
lication. 

HARRY  LA  FAVE,  telegraph  operator,  was  born 
September  9,  1896,  at  Duluth,  Minnesota,  son  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Joseph  La  Fave.  He  attended  the  public 
and  parochial  schools  following  which  he  entered  the 
employ  of  the  C.  &  N.  W.  Railroad  Company  with 
which  he  has  been  for  the  past  ten  years.  He  is  now 
an  operator  in  the  Antigo  north  yards.  When  the 
World  War  broke  out  Mr.  La  Fave  enlisted  September 
18,  1917,  in  the  311  Field  Signal  Battalion  of  the 
86th  Division,  attaining  the  rank  of  Sergeant.  He  was 
honorably  discharged  May  15,  1919.  Mr.  La  Fave  is 
a  member  of  the  B.  P.  0.  E.  and  K.  of  C.  lodges. 

SEBASTIAN  BUERGER,  a  pioneer  Antigo  business 
man,  was  born  in  1842  in  Wald  Aschbach  Baiern, 
Germany.  He  came  to  the  city  of  Antigo  in  1882,  en- 
gaging in  the  newspaper  business,  conducting  Antigo's 
second  News  Stand.  He  later  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business.  Antigo  was  then  a  little  village  with  few 
business  places  when  he  came  to  the  village.  Fifth 
avenue  was  a  little  "hole  in  the  woods."  Mr.  Buerger 
was  a  member  of  the  old  Volunteer  Fire  Department 
and  a  member  of  the  Sons  of  Herman  lodge,  now  ex- 
tinct. He  was  married  in  1887  to  Wilhelmine  Seefeldt 
of  Brown  County,  Wisconsin.  Six  children  were  born 
to  this  union.  Mr.  Buerger  died  in  1917  and  his  re- 
mains are  buried  in  the  city  cemetery  of  Antigo.  Dur- 
ing his  business  career  he  was  one  of  Antigo's  promi- 
nent business  men. 

JAMES  J.  HEALY.  Stability  of  character  and  pur- 
pose and  a  high  order  of  citizenship  are  traits  which 
are  found  with  a  pleasing  degree  of  frequency  in  the 
men  who  have  witnessed  the  period  of  expansion  in 
Langlade  County  from  the  day  when  the  ox  cart  and 
tote  road  were  supreme  to  this  era  of  modern  industrial 
and  civic  progress.  James  John  Healy,  who  has  spent 
practically  all  of  his  life  in  Langlade  County,  was 
born  December  12,  1883,  in  Marathon  County,  Wis., 
the  son  of  Angeline  (Kanauf)  and  Richard  Healy,  Sr. 
When  a  child  he  moved  with  his  parents  to  Antigo 
township,  Langlade  County,  Wis.  The  family  lived  in 
Antigo  township  until  1897,  when  they  moved  to  the 
city  of  Antigo,  where  they  have  been  active  since. 
Mr.  Healy  attended  the  rural  schools  of  Antigo  town- 
ship and  then  took  five  courses,  extending  over  a  per- 
iod of  twenty  years,   in  the  International   Correspon- 


dence School.  The  courses  were  in  order:  High 
School,  Telephone,  Locomotive  Running,  Steam  and 
Complete  Steam  Electric.  He  attended  the  Antigo 
School  of  Chiropractics  conducted  by  Paul  Von  de 
Schoeppe,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1912.  His 
practice  in  that  profession  is  very  extensive  and  covers 
a  territory  far  north  and  south  of  the  county  limits. 
Mr.  Healy  was  married  October  8,  1903,  to  Olive 
Strong,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  W.  Strong.  J. 
W.  Strong  was  a  pioneer  settler  of  Elmhurst,  Wiscon- 
sin. Seven  children  bless  this  union.  The  children 
are  Marion,  Eugene,  Marcella,  Dorothy,  Olive,  Jane 
and  Alice.  Mr.  Healy  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America  and  the  Knights  of  Columbus.  He  has 
been  connected  with  the  Antigo  Electric  Company 
for  21  years.  The  1921-22  years  of  that  time  he  has 
been  Manager  of  the  plant.  Previously  he  was  elec- 
trical engineer.  The  Healy  family  resides  at  214 
Second  avenue. 

HAROLD  S.  MATTMILLER,  Upham  township 
farmer,  was  born  in  Chicago,  111.,  December  4,  1891, 
the  son  of  Mary  and  August  Mattmiller.  He  attended 
the  public  schools  of  Chicago  after  which  he  secured 
employment  with  an  electrical  appliance  concern  for 
one  year.  He  then  became  a  bank  clerk  for  four  years 
and  two  years  later  went  to  work  as  an  employe  of  the 
International  Harvester  Co.  in  their  Chicago  tractor 
plant.  Mr.  Mattmiller  moved  to  Langlade  County  in 
July,  1912.  Two  years  later,  in  1914,  he  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land  in  Upham  township  in  section  30, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  He  has  twelve  acres 
cleared  and  is  improving  the  farm  steadily.  Mr.  Matt- 
miller was  married  October  23,  1919,  to  Theresa 
Vaughn,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Orvis  Vaughn,  pio- 
neers of  Langlade  County.  One  child,  Ruth  Lorraine, 
was  born  to  this  union.  Mr.  Mattmiller  was  Town 
Clerk  of  Upham  township  in  1919-21.  The  Mattmiller 
family  attend  the  Congregational  church.  Mr.  Matt- 
miller's  parents  are  now  living  in  Milwaukee,  Wis., 
at  8751/2  38th  street. 

FRED  BEHM,  retired  farmer,  was  born  in  Pomen, 
Germany,  the  son  of  Fred  and  Mary  (Hardwig)  Behm, 
January  22,  1849.  When  twenty-two  years  old  he  left 
for  the  U.  S.,  settling  in  Sheboygan  County,  Wis., 
where  he  stayed  for  a  year.  He  then  moved  to  Man- 
itowoc County  on  a  farm,  residing  there  about  eight 
years.  Hearing  much  of  northern  Wisconsin,  he  made 
a  trip  up  into  Langlade  County  and  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  land  in  Neva  township  in  1882.  Here  he  set- 
tled. His  land  was  purchased  from  Upham  &  Russell, 
Shawano,  Wis.,  land  agents,  for  $450.  Mr.  Behm  clear- 
ed his  land  with  difficulty.  Mr.  Behm  was  married 
first  to  Anna  Sipek,  who  died  a  short  time  later.  He 
remarried  to  Elizabeth  Sipek.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Behm  had 
eight  children — Fred,  Joseph,  Frank  of  Bavaria  P.  0., 
Summit  township;  John  Behm,  Neva  township;  Fred 
and  Joseph  reside  in  Antigo,  Wis.  The  girls  are — 
Mary,  now  Mrs.  Thomas  Donohue  of  Manitowoc 
County;  Anna,  now  Mrs.  William  Foucett  of  Manito- 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


271 


woe  County;  Lillian,  now  Mrs.  Albert  Winter  of  An- 
tigo,  and  Alvina,  Mrs.  Frank  Schacher  of  Neva  Town- 
ship. Mr.  Behm  held  numerous  offices  in  Neva  town- 
ship, including  School  Clerk,  Treasurer,  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  Supervisor  and  Township  Treasurer.  He  was 
active  in  early  Neva  township  affairs,  was  the  guid- 
ing spirit  in  the  erection  of  the  first  school  in  the 
Gillis  District  and  did  much  for  that  township  then. 
Mr.  Behm  moved  to  Antigo,  Wis.,  residing  at  327 
Deleglise  street,  in  1918.  He  has  lived  to  see  a  coun- 
ty covered  with  dense  forests  develop  into  one  of  the 
most  productive  in  Wisconsin. 


perity  of  their  community,  and  having  succeeded  them- 
selves, are  almost  invariably  ready  to  assist  others  to 
success,  thus  materially  contributing  to  the  public  wel- 
fare. 

Among  the  citizens  of  Langlade  County  who  have 
been  the  architects  of  their  own  career  and  who  have 
builded  wisely  and  well,  none  stands  higher  in  es- 
teem than  William  H.  Wolpert,  prominent  clothing 
merchant  and  leader  in  city  affairs.  Mr.  Wolpert 
was  born  May  24,  1879.  When  a  boy  of  ten  years  he 
came  to  Antigo,  the  county-seat  of  Langlade  County 
in  the  year  1889,  but  four  years  after  that  little  com- 


WILLL\M  11.  WOLPERT 
Pioneer  -Antigo  clothing  merchant,  former  member  of  the  Na- 
tional   Emergency    Clothing    Board    and   active    public 
citizen.       Mr.   Wolpert  has  been  a   resident  of 
Antigo   since   18S9. 


WILLIAM  H.  WOLPERT.  It  is  almost  entirely 
upon  the  standing  of  its  business  men  and  leading  citi- 
zens, upon  their  reliability,  integrity,  enterprise  and 
public  spirit,  that  the  prestige  of  any  community  rests. 
That  city  or  community  is  indeed  fortunate  when  it  can 
boast  of  a  number  of  self-made  men,  for,  while  they 
have  been  advancing  their  own  interests,  they  have  at 
the  same  time  been  forwarding  the  growth  and  pros- 


munity  had  been  incorporated  as  a  city.  Here  he 
attended  the  public  schools  and  in  1892  he  left  Antigo 
to  enter  the  Metropolitan  Business  College  of  Chicago, 
III.  He  returned  to  Antigo  in  December,  1895,  and 
the  following  year  became  an  associate  of  M.  Krom,  in 
the  conduct  of  a  department  store,  one  of  Antigo's 
first.  This  copartnership  lasted  until  December  14, 
1910,  after  which  Mr.  Wolpert  engaged  in  the  retail 


272 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


clothing  business  in  Antigo  alone,  commencing  June  15, 
1911.  The  William  H.  Wolpert  &  Brother  clothing 
firm  has  since,  through  the  practice  of  honorable  deal- 
ing, gained  an  enviable  reputation  and  the  confidence 
of  the  people  of  Langlade  County. 

When  the  World  War  broke  out  the  conservation  of 
those  necessary  articles  of  commerce  vital  to  the  win- 
ning of  the  conflict  became  imperative.  Accordingly 
the  President  of  the  National  Retail  Clothiers  of  the 
United  States  appointed  a  board  of  twelve  men,  rep- 
resentative of  the  entire  clothing  industry  of  the  nation, 
to  devise  ways  and  methods  of  regulating  the  style  for 
civilian  dress  to  the  end  that  millions  of  yards  of  wool- 
en cloth  be  saved  to  the  ultimate  benefit  of  the  fighting 
forces  of  the  country.  Wisconsin  and  more  particu- 
larly Langlade  County  was  signally  honored  by  having 
as  a  member  of  that  distinguished  body  none  other 
than  William  H.  Wolpert.  The  board  acted  in  con- 
junction with  the  clothing  manufacturers  and  the  Com- 
mercial Economy  Board  of  Washington,  D.  C,  select- 
ed by  President  Woodrow  Wilson,  and  it  performed 
a  distinct  national  service  in  time  of  stress. 

In  July,  1922,  Mr.  Wolpert  was  selected  by  the  Gov- 
ernor of  Wisconsin,  John  J.  Blaine,  to  represent  the 
Badger  people  at  the  Brazilian  centennial  to  be  held 
at  Rio  de  Janeiro.  It  opened  in  September,  1922,  and 
lasts  until  March,  1923. 

Mr.  Wolpert  was  united  in  marriage  on  October  23, 
1909  to  Gertrude  Fay  Butterfield,  daughter  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  W.  E.  Butterfield,  prominent  Antigo  citizens. 
Four  children  were  born  to  this  union — Eleanore 
Jane,  Eugene  Bradley  and  William  Butterfield  Wol- 
pert, and  Ellen,  deceased.  Residence  724  Clermont 
Street. 

JOSEPH  L.  HELMBRECHT,  proprietor  of  the  An- 
tigo Grocery  Co.,  was  born  July  31,  1892,  son  of  Anna 
and  Joseph  Helmbrecht,  pioneer  Upham  and  Peck 
township  settlers.  When  three  years  of  age  he  moved 
from  Summit  Lake,  his  birthplace,  to  Peck  township 
where  he  lived  with  his  parents  until  he  grew  to  man- 
hood. He  attended  the  Peck  rural  schools,  later  en- 
gaging in  general  farming  and  logging  business.  He 
affiliated  with  the  co-operative  movement  in  Langlade 
County  when  it  was  first  inaugurated  as  the  old  Pa- 
trons' Cooperative  Mercantile  &  Produce  Co.  in  Anti- 
go,  Wis.  The  name  was  later  changed  to  the  Grange 
Cooperative  Co.  and  then  a  reorganization  took  place 
in  which  the  name  was  changed  to  the  Langlade  Farm- 
ers' Cooperative  Co.  In  1920  Mr.  Helmbrecht  was 
made  manager  of  the  entire  business  with  headquar- 
ters in  the  old  Citizens  Brewing  Co.  building,  Antigo, 
Wis.  Mr.  Helmbrecht  enlisted  in  the  U.  S.  Army  July 
6,  1918,  serving  with  the  53rd  Machine  Gun  Battalion 
at  Camp  Travis,  Texas.  He  received  his  honorable 
discharge  at  Camp  Grant,  111.,  April  17,  1919.  Mr. 
Helmbrecht  was  married  to  Sophia  Steinfest  of  Ack- 
ley  township,  Langlade  County,  February  3,  1921.  One 
child,  Marjorie  Jane,  has  been  born  to  this  union.  The 
Helmbrecht  family  resides  at  1037V2  Fifth  Ave.  Mr. 
Helmbrecht  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Columbus, 
Antigo  Council  No.   1002.       Joseph   Helmbrecht,  Sr., 


was  very  active  in  Upham  and  Peck  township  affairs 
in  his  time. 


WALTER  DASKAM.  Among  the  members  of  that 
class  of  self-made  men  of  whom  Langlade  County  has 
reason  to  be  proud,  men,  who  without  assistance, 
have  fought  the  battles  of  life  without  capital  and  in- 
fluential friends,  and  who  have  worked  their  way  to 
the  top  of  the  ladder  by  sheer  force  of  their  own  ability 
and  industry,  Walter  Daskam,  Cashier  of  the  Fidel- 
ity Savings  Bank,  takes  a  prominent  place.  Mr.  Das- 
kam was  born  in  Chilton,  Calumet  County,  Wisconsin, 
on  August  8,  1872,  the  son  of  John  W.  and  Caroline 
(Ashdown)  Daskam.  When  ten  years  of  age  he  mov- 
ed with  his  parents  to  the  village  of  Antigo,  then  a 
few  buildings  in  a  forest.  The  old  Milwaukee,  Lake 
Shore  &  Western  railroad  had  been  in  this  region  but 
a  few  months  before  then.  He  attended  the  public 
schools  of  Antigo  and  the  Antigo  High  School.  Fol- 
lowing his  school  days  Mr.  Daskam  was  employed  by 
A.  Goldberg  as  a  salesman,  was  a  bank  clerk  and 
bookkeeper  in  the  old  Bank  of  Antigo,  was  a  book- 
keeper for  the  J.  C.  Lewis  (hardware)  Co.  He  moved 
to  Houghton,  Michigan,  in  1898  and  conducted  a  gen- 
eral hardware  business  there  until  1904,  going  then  to 
Park  Falls,  Wisconsin,  where  he  successfully  conduct- 
ed the  same  line  of  business  until  1908.  Mr.  Daskam 
then  returned  to  Antigo  and  organized  the  Fidelity 
Savings  Bank,  with  which  he  has  been  associated  as 
Cashier  ever  since. 

November  1,  1898,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Lillian  Hogben,  a  daughter  of  G.  H.  Hogben,  a 
pioneer  Antigo  manufacturer.  To  this  union  five  chil- 
dren, Lyle,  Paul,  Lynn,  Vivian  and  Gwendoljm,  were 
born.  The  Daskam  family  resides  at  920  Superior 
street,  Antigo,  Wis. 

Fraternally,  Mr.  Daskam  is  a  member  of  the  Loyal 
Order  of  Moose,  The  Benevolent  and  Protective  Or- 
der of  Elks,  and  the  Masonic  Orders.  When  not  at 
the  bank  he  delights  in  spending  his  leisure  with  his 
family  at  home,  or  in  an  exciting  game  of  tennis,  or 
at  some  wee  hour  in  the  morning  he  will  be  off  to 
the  woods  where  only  the  babble  of  a  fine  trout  stream 
breaks  the  deadly  solitude. 

WILLIAM  PRIEM.  Prominent  Lily  merchant,  was 
born  on  January  8,  1866,  in  the  town  of  Gerentz,  Ger- 
many. He  came  to  America  in  the  year  1881  with 
his  parents,  who  settled  at  Shawano,  Wisconsin.  As  a 
young  man  Mr.  Priem  engaged  in  various  occupations 
and  first  commenced  work  in  the  pineries  of  Langlade 
County  in  1883.  He  was  united  in  marriage  on  July 
6,  1894,  to  Miss  Ida  Ehlers  of  Bonduel,  Wis.,  to  which 
union  thirteen  children  were  born,  all  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing. 

Mr.  Priem  has  taken  a  very  active  interest  in  all 
matters  concerning  Langlade  township.  He  has  been 
honored  with  positions  of  public  trust  such  as  Super- 
visor, Treasurer  of  the  township,  and  postmaster  at 
Lily  for  sixteen  years.  He  had  one  son,  Richard,  who 
served  in  the  World  War. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


273 


Mr.  Priem  now  conducts  a  general  store  at  Lily  and 
has  a  very  profitable  business.  He  has  been  in  that 
business  since  June  5,  1895. 

RAYMOND  C.  DEMPSEY.  Attorney-at-Law,  was 
born  in  Waukesha  County,  Wis.,  April  6,  1889,  son  of 
Ann  and  Edward  Dempsey.  Received  public  school 
education.  He  attended  Oshkosh  Normal  in  1908-09 
and  then  entered  the  Marquette  University  Law  De- 
partment from  which  he  graduated  in  1913.  The  same 
year  he  was  admitted  to  practice  law  in  the  courts  of 
Wisconsin.  Attorney  Dempsey  came  to  Antigo  in 
January,  1915,  and  for  one  year  was  associated  with 
Henry  Hay  in  the  practice  of  law.    December  6,  1916, 


THOMAS  J.  MALONEY.  Among  the  first  van- 
quard  of  pioneer  settlers  in  Norwood  and  Antigo  town- 
ships, Langlade  County,  was  the  Maloney  family, 
which  imigrated  to  the  county  in  1878.  Thomas  J. 
Maloney,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Bay 
City,  Michigan  on  December  6,  1854,  the  son  of 
Michael  and  Bridget  (Riley)  Maloney.  When  but  an 
infant  he  moved  to  the  town  of  Rubicon,  Dodge  Coun- 
ty, Wisconsin,  where  he  lived  with  his  parents  previous 
to  their  removal  to  Kaukauna,  Outagamie  County.  In 
1878  the  family  head,  having  heard  much  of  the  coun- 
try west  of  the  Wolf  river  in  the  valley  of  the  Eau 
Claire  river,  decided  to  move  to  what  became  Norwood 
township,  later  a  part  of  Langlade  County,  but  then 


ATTORNEY  RAV\[OND  C.  DEMPSEY 

Prominent  democrat,  world  war  veteran,  public  offic'al  and  well  known 

member  of  the  Langlade  County  bar  association. 


he  became  a  member  of  the  law  firm  of  Whiting  & 
Dempsey.  When  war  was  declared  agai,  -t  Germany 
he  entered  the  U.  S.  army.  He  attendee;  the  second 
R.  O.  T.  C.  at  Fort  Sheridan,  Illinois,  and  on  Novem- 
ber 27,  1917  was  commissioned  a  1st  Lieutenant.  He 
was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Captain,  Infantry,  on 
August  24,  1918.  He  was  honorably  discharged  March 
11,  1919.  Attorney  Dempsey  thereupon  resumed  the 
practise  of  law  in  Antigo.  He  was  appointed  Corpora- 
tion Counsel  of  the  city  of  Antigo  in  May,  1920.  Po- 
litically he  is  a  Democrat  and  in  1920  he  was  elected 
Chairman  of  the  Democrat  County  Committee,  which 
chairmanship  he  held  until  1922.  Mr.  Dempsey  is  ac- 
tive in  civic  and  commercial  life  of  Antigo.  In  1921 
he  was  selected  general  chairman  of  arrangements  for 
the  reception  of  the  G.  A.  R.  and  allied  patriotic  socie- 
ties of  Wisconsin  in  convention  in  Antigo,  June,  1921. 


of  Shawano  County.  Michael  Maloney  homesteaded 
on  section  6  of  Norwood  township  and  it  was  here  that 
his  son,  Thomas,  aided  him  materially  in  clearing  land 
and  making  the  new  home  of  these  picturesque  pioneers 
comfortable.  He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Alice  Crooks  of  Big  Suamico,  Brown  County,  Wiscon- 
sin, on  October  9,  1881.  To  this  union  ten  children 
were  born,  namely:  John,  now  a  resident  of  Clinton- 
ville,  Wis.,  who  is  employed  as  conductor  for  the  C.  & 
N.  W.  R.  R.  Co.;  Edward,  an  Antigo  business  man,  who 
was  married  to  Miss  Anna  Niles  of  Wittenberg,  Wis., 
in  the  fall  of  1915;  George,  who  is  engaged  in  agricul- 
ture in  Forest  County,  Wisconsin;  Chester,  who  was 
accidently  killed  in  June  28,  1920,  while  in  the  employ 
of  the  Sheboygan-Dairy  Products  Co.  plant  in  Antigo; 
Irvin,  proprietor  of  Maloney's  Grocery  at  535  Field 
Street,   Antigo.        Born    in   Antigo,    May    2,    1894,    he 


274 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


grew  to  manhood  in  his  birthplace.  His  early  educa- 
tion consisted  of  the  parochial  school  elementary  and 
the  high  school  courses.  He  entered  the  employ  of 
the  Frank  Cherf  grocery  in  1909  and  for  ten  years  was 
with  that  concern,  during  which  time  he  became  fami- 
liar with  every  phase  of  the  grocery  and  mercantile 
field.  He  resigned  to  inaugurate  the  Maloney  Gro- 
cery on  May  12,  1919.  The  success  he  has  made  since 
is  proof  of  his  stability  and  is  a  testimonial  to  the  con- 
fidence of  the  many  citizens  he  has  merited.  He  was 
a  World  War  Veteran.  Mr.  Maloney  was  married  on 
May  11,  1921  to  Miss  Alice  Shaney  of  Eau  Claire, 
Wis.,  the  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mathew  Shaney. 
They  reside  at  535V2  Field  Street.  Fraternally  Mr. 
Maloney  is  affiliated  with  the  Loyal  Order  of  Moose, 
The  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters,  the  Independent  Or- 
der of  Owls,  the  Beavers  and  the  St.  Joseph's  Benevo- 
lent Society. 

The  other  children  are  Mae,  Gordon,  Roy,  Durena 
and  Gladys.  Gordon  served  in  the  World  War  with 
the  107th  Trench  Mortar  Battery,  Antigo's  overseas 
military  contingent. 

Thomas  J.  Maloney  passed  away  on  November  2, 
1916,  and  lies  at  rest  in  the  Antigo  Catholic  Cemetery. 
He  lived  to  see  the  townships,  which  were  once  cover- 
ed with  virgin  tracts  of  timber,  develop  into  productive 
farms,  and  where  nothing  but  an  Indian  trail  through 
the  forests  gave  evidence  of  man,  there  grew  up  in  the 
valley  of  the  Eau  Claire,  the  village,  later  the  city  of 
Antigo,  dubbed  by  the  pioneers  as  "Deleglise's 
Dream."  He  was  survived  by  his  wife  and  all  of 
the  children.  Mr.  Maloney  was  a  man  who  had  a 
host  of  friends  and  enjoyed  the  confidence  and  esteem 
of  every  person  with  whom  he  came  in  contact. 


DAVID  C.  DEWEY.  Produce  and  commission  mer- 
chant, was  born  in  lola,  Waupaca  County,  Wisconsin, 
on  December  4,  1859,  the  son  of  John  M.  and  Mary  C. 
(Chandler)  Dewey.  He  received  a  common  school 
education  at  Waupaca,  attended  high  school  and  then 
entered  the  Bryant  and  Stratton  Business  College  of 
Chicago.  He  graduated  and  then  entered  the  produce 
business  at  Waupaca  as  an  associate  of  his  father. 
When  twenty-one  years  of  age,  in  the  winter  of  1881, 
he  went  to  Chicago  to  engage  in  the  commission  busi- 
ness in  that  city.  He  was  still  associated  with  his  fath- 
er, continuing  in  business  with  him  until  his  death.  In 
February,  1910,  Mr.  Dewey  came  to  Antigo,  Wisconsin, 
from  Chicago.  He  began  building  up  a  produce  busi- 
ness in  Langlade  County  and  has  since  operated  in 
the  potato  buying  business  on  an  extensive  scale.  He 
has  sold  hundreds  of  car  lots  of  potatoes  to  wholesale 
distributors  in  Chicago  and  other  cities. 

Mr.  Dewey  was  united  in  marriage  to  Flora  A. 
Penney  of  Waupaca,  Wisconsin,  on  December  27, 
1883.  To  this  union  four  children  were  born.  They 
are  Fred,  born  December  6,  1884;  Edward,  deceas- 
ed; Harold,  born  July  5,  1889;  Robert  C,  born  Sep- 
tember 22,  1894.  Two  sons,  Robert  and  Harold, 
served  as  Lieutenants  in  the  World  War.     Both  were 


overseas.  Harold  was  wounded  September  12,  1918, 
in  the  St.  Mihiel  offensive. 

Mr.  Dewey  has  a  farm  consisting  of  eighty-seven 
acres  located  on  section  19,  township  31,  range  15  east. 

He  is  now  in  Chicago,  111.,  where  he  is  marketing 
agent  for  the  Produce  Sales  Co.,  Inc.,  with  headquart- 
ers at  Clark  and  South  Water  street.  Langlade 
County  potatoes  are  distributed  from  these  headquart- 
ers in  car  lots. 

Mr.  Dewey  was  baptised  a  Baptist,  which  faith  he 
still  adheres  to.  The  Dewey  residence  is  on  Second 
avenue,  Ar.tigo,  Wis. 

FRANK  J.  WAGNER,  a  pioneer  Antigo  resident, 
who  is  well  known  in  all  sections  of  the  county,  was 
born  in  Kewaunee  County,  Wisconsin,  on  September 
12,  1874,  the  son  of  Jacob  and  Josephine  (Nimits) 
Wagner.  When  a  lad  of  seven  years  he  came  to  Lang- 
lade County  from  his  native  county,  settling  in  the 
village  of  Antigo,  which  then  had  a  few  rough  frame 
buildings.  Here  Mr.  Wagner,  as  a  boy,  attended  the 
public  schools  following  which  he  engaged  as  an  ap- 
prentice in  the  tinner's  trade  and  followed  that  trade 
for  twenty  years.  He  started  with  the  J.  C.  Lewis 
Hardware  Company,  pioneer  Antigo  business.  He 
has  since  been  engaged  sucesslvely  for  seven  years 
with  the  John  Hessel  Hardware  Company,  nine  years 
with  the  Antigo  Hardware  Company,  where  in  both 
places  he  was  an  expert  in  gasoline  engines  and  farm 
machinery.  He  now  conducts  a  general  automobile 
repair  shop  at  430  Freiburger  avenue,  Antigo,  Wis. 

Mr.  Wagner  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mary  Friedl 
on  November  25,  1897.  To  this  union  nine  children 
were  born  as  follows:  Josephine,  now  Mrs.  Joseph 
Walters  of  Pelican,  Wis.;  Verones,  Evelyn,  Aloysius, 
Irvin,  Arthur,  Irene,  Dorothy,  and  Alvin,  all  of  Antigo. 

The  Wagner  family  attends  St.  Mary's  Catholic 
church.  Their  residence  is  at  430  Freiburger  avenue. 
Frank  J.  Wagner  is  a  member  of  St.  Wencel's  So- 
ciety. He  was  a  representative  of  the  Third  Ward  as 
Alderman  when  the  city  was  under  the  aldermanic 
system  of  government. 

Jacob  Wagner  died  in  1902  and  five  years  later, 
1907,  his  wife,  Josephine  Wagner,  passed  away.  Both 
are  at  rest  in  the  Antigo  Catholic  Cemetery. 

ALFRED  F.  SCHULZ.  One  of  the  prosperous  and 
progressive  business  men  of  his  community  is  Alfred 
F.  Schulz,  who  is  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  dairy 
products  in  Phlox,  Norwood  township.  Mr.  Schulz 
is  a  man  who  has  proven  his  worth  to  the  community 
in  no  uncertain  terms.  He  was  born  in  Chicago,  Illi- 
nois, on  July  26,  1889,  the  son  of  Otto  and  Marie 
Schulz.  When  a  boy  of  seven  years  of  age  he  moved 
with  his  parents  to  Mauston,  Juneau  County,  Wiscon- 
sin. He  attended  the  rural  schools  of  Marion  town- 
ship of  that  county  and  afterwards  engaged  in  agricul- 
ture on  his  father's  farm.  When  twenty  years  old  he 
started  out  into  the  world  to  seek  his  own  fortune.  He 
secured  employment  in  the  College  of  Agriculture, 
University  of  Wisconsin,  and  for  one  year  was  thus 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


275 


engaged.  He  took  the  dairy  short  course  of  that  in- 
stitution the  following  year  and  in  1913  received  his 
diploma. 

Mr.  Schulz  then  went  to  Guernsey,  Iowa,  and  work- 
ed in  a  creamery  four  months,  leaving  then  for  Albert 
Lee,  Minnesota,  to  become  expert  tester  for  a  cow 
testing  association.  Six  months  later  he  came  to  Phlox, 
Norwood  township,  Langlade  County,  Wisconsin,  to 
work  for  the  Phlox  Creamery  Company.  He  was  em- 
ployed by  that  concern  from  May,  1912,  until  May  1, 
1915,  when  he  purchased  the  entire  institution  and  has 
since  successfully  conducted  it  under  the  name  of  the 
Schulz  Creamery,  A.  F.  Schulz,  Prop.  The  business 
has  a  large  and  substantial  patronage. 

Mr.  Schulz  was  married  to  Martha  Magewske  of 
Shawano  County,  Wisconsin,  on  June  3,  1914,  to  which 
union  five  children,  Mildred,  Aaron,  Daniel,  Victoria, 
and  Malinda,  have  been  born.  The  family  attends 
the  Lutheran  church. 

Mr.  Schulz  takes  great  delight  in  hunting  and  fishing 
and  is  a  lover  of  nature  and  the  outdoors. 

ALBERT  C.  STATS  has  been  a  resident  of  Antigo 
for  the  past  thirty-six  years.  He  was  born  on  March 
17,  1885,  the  son  of  Albert  and  Elizabeth  Stats,  at  Ber- 
lin, Wisconsin.  When  but  a  year  old  he  moved  to 
the  young  city  of  Antigo  in  1886.  He  attended  the 
Antigo  public  schools  and  in  1920  began  his  railroad 
career  with  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad 
Company,  as  a  brakeman.  He  has,  by  years  of  faith- 
ful service,  attained  the  rank  of  a  conductor,  and  now 
enjoys  that  prestige  on  the  Ashland  Division. 

Mr.  Stats  was  united  in  marriage  to  Theresa  Mc- 
Intyre  of  Antigo  on  April  24,  1907.  Five  children, 
three  boys — Merton,  age  14;  Everett,  age  12;  John, 
age  9;  and  two  girls — Willela,  age  8,  and  Ermogine, 
age  li's  years,  were  born  to  this  union. 

The  Stats  family  resides  at  912  Edison  street,  An- 
tigo, Wis.  The  late  Albert  Stats,  Sr.,  resided  at  1133 
Sixth  avenue.  Mrs.  Albert  Stats,  Sr.,  passed  away 
on  December  23,  1916,  and  is  buried  in  the  Antigo 
cemetery. 

Fraternally,  Albert  Stats  is  a  member  of  the  Antigo 
Council  No.  1002,  Knights  of  Columbus,  the  Brother- 
hood of  Locomotive  Firemen  and  Engineers,  and  the 
Brotherhood  of  Railroad  Trainmen.  He  has  been  a 
resident  of  Antigo  from  the  period  it  was  a  little  ham- 
let of  about  two  thousand  souls  to  the  present  time 
when  it  has  nearly  ten  thousand  inhabitants. 

L.  W.  FILYES.  The  late  L.  W.  Filyes  was  a  man 
of  unusual  force  of  character.  He  was  born  in  Bril- 
lion,  Wisconsin,  on  March  30,  1872.  When  a  boy  of 
three  years  of  age  his  father  died  at  Waukesha,  Wis- 
consin. His  mother  passed  away  when  he  was  a 
youth  of  seventeen  years.  Thus  from  the  start  of  life 
he  was  denied  the  guiding  hand  of  a  father  and  moth- 
er. He  received  his  early  education  while  living  with 
an  uncle  and  aunt  on  a  farm  near  Brillion.  With  his 
cousin  he  constructed  a  system  of  telegraphy  from  one 
house  to  the  other  and  it  was  at  this  time  that  he  mas- 


tered telegraphy.  He  often  walked  to  town  every 
Saturday  to  practise  telegraphy.  When  but  sixteen 
years  of  age  he  held  his  first  position  as  a  station 
agent  for  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad  Com- 
pany. He  then  secured  employment  from  Mr.  Under- 
wood at  Appleton,  Outagamie  County,  Wisconsin,  as 
a  bookkeeper.  While  engaged  in  that  occupation  he 
attended  business  college  in  the  evening.  He  later 
became  station  agent  at  Birnamwood  and  for  six  years 
was  in  that  village.  From  Birnamwood  he  went  to 
Babcock,  Wisconsin,  to  become  a  Train  Dispatcher 
on  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railroad.  He 
moved  to  Oshkosh,  Winnebago  County,  Wisconsin, 
from  Babcock  and  entered  the  employ  of  the  Paine 
Lumber  Company  with  which  concern  he  was  affiliat- 
ed for  fourteen  years,  at  Bass  Lake  and  at  Oshkosh. 
He  held  various  positions  of  trust  and  responsibility 
with  the  Paine  Lumber  Company  until  he  became  the 
superintendent  of  their  extensive  operations  at  Bass 
Lake,  Upham  township.  While  thus  engaged  in  Up- 
ham  township  he  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  outstand- 
ing leaders  of  the  township,  was  admired  as  an  hon- 
est and  efficient  legislator  who  zealously  cared  for  the 
interests  of  the  township  and  the  county.  Mr.  Filyes 
was  honored  with  the  office  of  township  chairman  sev- 
eral times,  was  school  treasurer,  school  clerk,  town 
clerk  and  held  other  places  of  importance  in  the  town- 
ship. He  aided  in  the  construction  of  some  of  the 
best  roads  in  the  county. 

It  was  through  his  efforts  that  the  first  County  Agent 
was  secured  for  Langlade  County  and  he  worked  har- 
moniously with  F.  G.  Swoboda  for  the  general  benefit 
of  the  county.  The  potato  conventions  successfully 
conducted  at  Antigo  during  Mr.  Swoboda's  tenure  in 
office  were  largely  the  result  of  Mr.  Filyes'  zeal.  He 
it  was  who  secured  Mrs.  Nellie  Kedzie  Jones  of  Madi- 
son for  a  highly  successful  potato  demonstration  in 
Antigo.  Mr.  Filyes  was  an  active  booster  of  the  agri- 
cultural possibilities  of  the  county  and  was  one  of  the 
leading  county  exhibitors  at  both  the  Langlade  Coun- 
ty and  the  Wisconsin  State  fairs.  During  the  World 
War  he  was  chairman  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  campaign, 
gave  much  of  his  time  to  Liberty  Loan  and  Red  Cross 
drives,  besides  contributing  liberally  to  these  funds. 
He  was  Chairman  of  the  Red  Cross  drive  in  Antigo 
and  the  county  at  one  time  during  the  war.  He  moved 
to  Antigo  in  1915,  having  engaged  in  business  for  him- 
self. At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  engaged  in  ex- 
tensive logging  operations  at  Lily,  Wis. 

L.  W.  Filyes  died  on  March  9,  1919.  His  death 
removed  from  the  ranks  of  the  leading  citizens  of 
Langlade  County  a  man  who  had  done  much  toward 
a  greater  and  better  community. 

JOSEPH  JULE  DUQUETTE.  The  story  of  the 
pioneer  would  be  incomplete  if  the  hardships  and 
trials  of  those  first  settlers  were  not  set  down.  The 
Duquette  family  was  one  of  the  first  of  the  settlers 
in  Antigo.  Joseph  Jule  Duquette,  a  prominent  Antigo 
merchant  of  this  day,  was  born  on  July  13,  1874,  at 
Norton   Mills,  Vermont,  the   son   of  Joseph  Jule  and 


Tl 


276 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


Melvina  Duquette.  When  five  years  old  he  moved 
with  his  parents  to  Freemont,  Wisconsin.  He  attend- 
ed school  at  Freemont,  leaving  that  place  with  his 
parents  for  Menasha  when  still  a  boy.  A  year  later, 
in  1882,  the  family  moved  to  Antigo,  then  a  little  vil- 
lage with  but  few  settlers.  The  father  secured  em- 
ployment at  the  J.  H.  Weed  mill,  which  had  just  be- 
gan operations  and  young  Joseph  Jr.,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  attended  the  Gowan  school  (named  after 
Charles  Gowan).    Three  years  later  the  family  moved 


ciate  of  Charles  Tuma  and  two  years  alone  in  the 
soft  drink  business,  which  he  sold  in  1921.  He  pur- 
chased the  N.  D.  Neilson  grocery  on  March  26,  1921, 
at  100  Superior  street,  took  possession  on  April  2, 
1921,  and  has  since  been  successfully  conducting  that 
business.  He  has  made  extensive  improvements  in 
his  business,  which  has  resulted  in  an  increase  in  his 
patronage. 

Mr.   Duquette  is  a  member  of  the  Eagles  and  the 
Catholic  Order  of  Foresters  of  Antigo. 


THEODORE  J.  REIXERT 

Well    known    member   of   the    Langlade    County    bar,    District    .Attorney, 

prominent  fraternalist  and  pnblic  spirited  citizen,  who  is  associated 

with  Attorney  li.  F.  Morson  in  the  practice  of  law  in  Antigo. 


to  Rolling  township  where  they  settled  on  a  farm. 
The  Duquette  family  then  moved  to  Ramsay,  Michi- 
gan, from  where  two  years  later  they  went  to  Rhode 
Island  and  after  six  months  residence  there  they  mov- 
ed to  the  native  home,  Norton  Mills,  Vermont.  They 
returned  to  the  middle  west,  again  locating  at  Ramsay, 
Michigan,  from  where  they  moved  back  to  Antigo,  and 
have  since  resided  here. 

Mr.  Duquette  was  united  in  marriage  on  June  5, 
1900,  to  Miss  Carrie  Anderson,  to  which  union  six  chil- 
dren were  born,  five  of  whom  are  living.  Those  living 
are  Aloysius,  Gladys,  Everen,  Gean,  and  Robert. 

Joseph  Jule  Duquette  was  for  eighteen  years  in  the 
retail  liquor  business  in  Antigo,  sixteen  years  an  asso- 


THEODORE  J.  REINERT.  Among  the  citizens  of 
Langlade  County  who  have  rendered  signal  services 
in  public  office  none  stands  out  more  prominent  than 
Attorney  Theodore  J.  Reinert,  the  present  District  At- 
torney of  Langlade  County.  Mr.  Reinert  has  won  for 
himself  the  general  confidence  of  the  electorate  dur- 
ing the  terms  he  is  rounding  out  as  District  Attorney. 
He  was  born  in  Danville,  Illinois,  on  March  10,  1883, 
the  son  of  Peter  and  Margaret  Reinert.  He  attend- 
ed the  public  schools  of  Chicago  and  graduated  from 
Lyola  University  with  an  A.  B.  degree  in  1904.  He 
later  entered  the  Webster  College  of  Law,  Chicago, 
111.     He  was  first  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  state  of 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


277 


Illinois  and  shortly  afterwards  admitted  to  practice 
in  Wisconsin  courts. 

Attorney  Reinert  became  a  candidate  for  District 
Attorney  of  Langlade  County  in  1920  and  was  elect- 
ed over  Attorney  Charles  H.  Avery,  also  a  candidate. 
He  has  conducted  the  office  since  without  fear  or  favor 
and  has  rigidly  enforced  all  laws. 

Mr.  Reinert  was  married  to  Miss  Josephine  Donohue 
of  Antigo  on  June  21,  1911.  They  reside  on  Fifth 
avenue.  District  Attorney  Reinert  is  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Elks,  Moose,  Knights  of  Columbus,  and 
Foresters  lodges.  He  is  the  attorney  for  the  Antigo 
Loan  &  Investment  Company  and  the  Columbus  Home 
Association.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reinert  are  members  of 
St.  John's  church,  Antigo,  Wis. 

FRED  SCHMEISSER.  The  life  history  of  the  gen- 
tleman whose  name  heads  this  brief  review  has  been 
commensurate  with  that  of  Langlade  County  where 
he  has  made  his  home  since  his  birth  in  Polar  town- 
ship, September  23,  1883.  Fred  Schmeisser  is  the 
son  of  Herman  and  Fredericka  (Demlow)  Schmeis- 
ser and  he  spent  his  early  school  days  and  youth  in 
the  Franklin  District  of  Polar  on  his  father's  farm. 
His  father  was  a  native  of  Germany,  having  been 
born  in  Hamburg  in  the  year  1845.  After  he  came 
to  the  United  States  he  settled  in  Polar  township,  as  a 
pioneer  settler  of  that  section  of  the  county.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Fredericka  Demlow  to  which 
union  thirteen  children  were  born.  Five  boys  and  six 
girls  of  this  family  are  now  living.  They  are  Ed  of 
Elcho,  Carl  and  Herman,  Jr.,  of  Polar  township  and 
Fred,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  Alvin  of  the  city 
of  Antigo.  The  daughters  are  Augusta,  now  Mrs.  Ed 
Boernemann  of  Polar;  Tillie,  now  Mrs.  John  Newberry 
of  Antigo;  Emma,  now  Mrs.  Albert  Krueger  of  Polar; 
Sophia,  now  Mrs.  H.  Krueger  of  Polar;  Clara,  now 
Mrs.  John  Holmes  of  Polar.  (John  Holmes  is  deceas- 
ed.) ;  Elsie,  now  Mrs.  Servi  of  Polar. 

Fred  Schmeisser  engaged  in  farming  on  section  31 
of  Polar  for  many  years,  for  a  time  on  the  240  acre 
farm  originally  owned  by  his  father.  Up  to  1910  he 
engaged  in  that  pursuit  and  then  logged  extensively  at 
Elcho,  Pearson,  Long  Lake  and  other  places.  He  then 
took  over  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Antigo  township, 
known  as  the  Suburban  Farm,  because  of  its  close- 
ness to  Antigo.  In  May,  1919,  he  was  selected  at  the 
beginning  of  Mayor  Hanzel's  administration  to  take 
active  charge  of  the  office  of  City  Street  Commission- 
er of  Antigo.  He  has  filled  the  position  of  trust  and 
responsibility  with  credit  and  success  to  himself  and 
the  city  with  a  minimum  amount  of  expense  to  the 
taxpayers. 

Mr.  Schmeisser  was  united  in  marriage  to  Elizabeth 
Byrne,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Patrick  Byrne,  pio- 
neer Antigo  settlers,  and  to  this  union  three  children 
were  born,  namely:  Patricia,  Lorraine  and  Valerie. 
The  family  attends  St.  John's  church  of  Antigo.  Mr. 
Schmeisser  is  a  member  of  Antigo  Council  No.  1002, 
Knights  of  Columbus.  He  has  fully  maintained  the 
reputation  of  his  father,  who  as  a  pioneer,  underwent 


many  hardships,  thus   retaining  a  name   for   industry 
and  integrity. 

JOHN  WOJTASIAK.  Among  the  prominent  and 
highly  respected  farmers  in  Antigo  township  can  be 
found  John  Wojtasiak,  who  has  been  a  resident  of 
Langlade  County  for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century. 
Mr.  Wojtasiak  is  a  native  of  Poland.  He  was  born 
May  19,  1860.  He  received  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic and  parochial  schools  of  Poland.  Mr.  Wojtasiak 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Anna  Szymanska,  a 
native  of  Poland,  who  was  born  on  July  16,  1862.  The 
marriage  took  place  September  30,  1884.  Three  years 
later  they  came  to  the  United  States,  arriving  April 
10,  1887.  On  August  30,  1900,  the  family  moved  to 
Langlade  County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wojtasiak  had 
twelve  children,  four  of  whom  died  infancy.  The  chil- 
dren living  are :  Hattie,  Stanley,  a  contractor  and  build- 
er of  prominence;  Joseph,  who  assists  Stanley  as  well 
as  being  employed  on  the  farm;  Louis,  Francis,  Mi- 
chael, Mary  and  Teofil. 

The  Wojtasiak  farm  is  a  splendid  area  of  one  hun- 
dred acres  that  were  practically  cut  out  of  the  woods. 
The  splendid  brick  residence,  modern  and  well  equip- 
ped barns  and  farm  sheds  and  machinery  is  a  fine  tes- 
timonial to  the  industry  and  thrift  of  this  early  settler. 

During  the  World  War  the  Wojtasiaks  did  their 
share  to  make  the  world  safe  for  democracy.  Francis 
enlisted  at  once  as  a  private  in  the  Franco-Polish  army 
and  soon  reached  the  rank  of  1st  Lieutenant.  He  was 
wounded  in  an  airplane  engagement  while  fighting  on 
the  Russian  front  against  the  Bolsheviks.  Joseph  was 
a  Corporal  in  the  107  Trenth  Mortar  Battery  and  his 
name  will  be  found  in  the  roster  of  that  unit  elsewhere 
in  this  book. 

The  Wojtasiak  family  attends  St.  Hyacinth's  Polish 
Catholic  church  of  Antigo,  Wis. 

STANLEY  JOSEPH  WOJTASIAK,  contractor  and 
builder,  was  born  October  29,  1887,  the  son  of  John 
and  Anna  Wojtasiak.  When  eighteen  months  old  he 
moved  from  Poland  (Germany),  his  birthplace,  to 
Chicago,  111.  He  lived  there  with  his  parents  thirteen 
and  a  half  years.  He  then  came  to  Langlade  County 
with  his  parents.  The  Wojtasiak  family  settled  on  a 
farm  in  Antigo  township.  At  the  age  of  twenty  young 
Wojtasiak  left  the  farm  and  began  life  as  a  railroader, 
being  employed  as  a  fireman.  He  also  engaged  in 
sawmill  and  general  carpenter  work  until  the  year 
1921.  He  has  since  been  engaged  in  contracting  and 
building  and  has  the  distinction  of  having  erected  some 
of  the  finest  residences  in  the  city  of  Antigo.  Mr. 
Wojtasiak  was  united  in  marriage  to  Apolinia  Kubia- 
czyk,  a  daughter  of  Valentine  Kubiaczyk,  pioneer  set- 
tler. To  this  union  two  children  have  been  born,  Stan- 
islaus, who  died  in  infancy,  and  Theophil,  age  9.  Mr. 
Wojtasiak  resides  at  1515  Fifth  Avenue,  he  having 
sold  his  previous  residence  at  715  Deleglise  street  in 
1919.  He  erected  his  present  residence  then.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Loyal  Order  of  Moose  and  the  Polish 
National  Alliance  of  America.  The  Wojtasiak  family 
attends  St.  Hyacinth's  church. 


278 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


JOHN  CHERF.  One  of  the  really  prominent  pio- 
neers of  Langlade  County  is  John  Cherf,  a  resident 
of  the  town  of  Antigo,  who  was  born  May  17,  1853, 
in  Bohemia.  When  an  infant  his  father  died  and 
with  his  mother  and  step-father  the  young  child  mov- 
ed to  America.  The  family  settled  in  Cooperstown 
township,  Manitowoc  County,  where  Mr.  Cherf  lived 
until  he  was  twenty-three  years  of  age.  He  then  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Katharine  Skvor  of  the  town  of 
Cooperstown  on  January  1,  1876.  To  this  union  nine 
children,  one  of  whom.  Rose,  is  deceased,  were  born. 
The  children  are  Mary,  now  Mrs.  Joseph  Sazama  of 
Antigo  township;  James  Cherf  of  Polar  township; 
Anna,  now  Mrs.  William  Conn  of  White  Lake;  Emma, 
now  Mrs.  Charles  Leitrich  of  Rolling;  Julia,  now  Mrs. 
Morgan  Harrison  of  Antigo  township;  Christine,  now 
Mrs.  George  Miller  of  Antigo  township;  Tressa,  now 
Mrs.  Hiram  Horn  of  Antigo,  and  Bessie,  now  Mrs. 
Oliver  Mader  of  Antigo  township. 

Upon  Mr.  Cherf's  marriage  he  purchased  a  farm 
in  Cooperstown  and  resided  on  it  for  two  years.  He 
then  sold  the  land  and  moved  to  Antigo's  present  site, 
then  known  as  Springbrook.  He  purchased  five  lots 
where  M.  Krom's  store,  Berner  Brothers'  plant,  Bau- 
ter's  gallery  and  Neuberger's  shoe  store  is  for  $25. 
Here  Mr.  Cherf  erected  a  little  log  cabin  in  1878  and 
two  years  later  moved  to  the  town  of  Antigo,  where  he 
has  lived  since.  He  built  the  first  bridge  on  Fifth 
Avenue  over  Springbrook  near  the  old  Neff  blacksmith 
shop.  He  now  has  thirty-two  acres  of  land  on  section 
32,  Township  31,  Range  11  East,  where  he  spends  his 
declining  years.  Mr.  Cherf  has  led  a  life  of  industry, 
is  of  high  standing  in  his  community  and  as  one  of 
the  first  of  the  pioneers,  has  lived  to  see  Antigo  grow 
from  nothing  nearly  a  half  century  ago  to  a  thriving 
city  of  nearly  ten  thousand  energetic  souls. 

Fraternally,  Mr.  Cherf  is  affiliated  with  the  E.  F.  U. 
lodge. 

JAMES  BEATTIE.  James  Beattie,  the  father  of 
Homer  Beattie,  the  successful  potato  grower  of  Lang- 
lade County,  was  born  in  Clayton,  Wisconsin,  Septem- 
ber 14,  1860,  the  son  of  James  and  Nancy  (Winfield) 
Beattie.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  Clayton 
in  his  boyhood  days  and  later  entered  the  Neenah 
(Wis.)  High  School.  Leaving  High  School,  Mr.  Beat- 
tie  began  in  the  agricultural  field  by  working  on  his 
mother's  farm,  his  father  having  died  when  he  was  a 
boy. 

Mr.  Beattie  moved  with  his  family  to  Antigo,  Wis- 
consin, in  1893,  and  has  since  spent  his  days  in  and 
about  this  city.  He  was  united  in  marriage  March  3, 
1886,  to  Hattie  Babcock  to  which  union  six  children 
were  born,  namely :  Murray  K.  Beattie,  who  married 
Ann  Hagelschine;  Homer  C.  Beattie,  who  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Catherine  Culbertson  of  Antigo 
on  July  20,  1921;  Edna  L.  Beattie,  now  Mrs.  Earl 
Georgeson  and  whose  marriage  occurred  June  8,  1914; 
Lucius  D.  Beattie,  who  is  married  to  Miss  Gertrude 
Brooke;  Janet,  a  student,  resides  with  her  parents; 
one  child,  Ruth,  is  deceased. 


The  James  Beattie  residence  is  at  217  Field  street, 
Antigo,  Wis. 

HERMAN  HIRT.  Germany  has  furnished  to  Wis- 
consin many  men  who  have  attained  leadership  in 
business  and  political  life  and  have  proven  loyal  and 
substantial  citizens.  Among  those  men  can  be  found 
Herman  Hirt,  who  was  born  in  Dueringen,  Germany, 
the  son  of  William  and  Caroline  Hirt.  Mr.  Hirt  was 
born  February  16,  1875.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  he 
imigrated  to  the  United  States  with  his  parents,  who 
came  direct  to  the  Town  of  Antigo,  Langlade  County, 
Wisconsin.  Here  the  lad  attended  parochial  schools 
and  in  the  time  intervening  aided  his  father  on  the 
farm,  which  he  had  started  in  the  wilderness.  Mr. 
Hirt  grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm,  staying 
there  until  1904,  the  year  his  father  passed  away.  His 
mother  died  a  few  years  later.  He  then  became  asso- 
ciated with  his  brother  in  the  well  known  Hirt  Broth- 
ers Lumber  Company  and  Hirt  Brothers  flour  mill  of 
Deerbrook,  Neva  township  and  of  Antigo.  Mr.  Hirt 
has  charge  of  the  flour  mill  at  Antigo,  holding  the  posi- 
tion of  foreman. 

Herman  Hirt  has  been  a  success  in  life  and  his  rec- 
ord is  a  practical  demonstration  of  what  can  be  ac- 
complished when  honesty  of  purpose  is  supplemented 
by  industry  and  perseverance. 

THOMAS  GRESKOVIAK.  Rolling  township  is  the 
home  of  some  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  Langlade 
County.  The  parents  of  Thomas  Greskoviak,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  settled  in  that  township  in  March, 
1888,  when  it  was  yet  a  sparsely  settled  community. 

Thomas  Greskoviak  was  born  on  February  19,  1892, 
.  the  son  of  Agnes  and  Albert  Greskoviak.  He  was  the 
last  of  five  children  in  the  family.  He  attended  the 
rural  school  in  District  No.  3,  of  Rolling  following 
which  he  engaged  in  farming  for  four  years.  During 
the  winter  months  he  began  to  log  and  was  engaged 
in  that  occupation  for  five  years.  He  then  followed 
railroading  for  three  years.  During  the  summer 
months,  for  five  consecutive  seasons,  he  engaged  in  the 
threshing  business,  and  at  that  time  was  one  of  the 
county's  leading  threshermen.  He  became  proprietor 
of  the  Antigo  Bottling  Works  in  1919  and  operated 
that  plant  until  December  1,  1921,  when  he  sold  to  the 
Taylor  Beverage  &  Candy  Co.  of  Rhinelander,  Wis. 

Mr.  Greskoviak  has  since  been  engaged  in  financing 
and  distributing  a  fumigating  container,  which  will, 
no  doubt,  have  a  great  demand.  The  container  can  be 
worn  in  a  pocket  and  is  a  safeguard  against  diseases, 
particularly  colds  and  influenza.  Mrs.  Agnes  Gres- 
koviak is  still  living,  residing  in  Antigo  township.  Al- 
bert Greskoviak  passed  away  on  April  29,  1922,  and 
is  buried  in  the  Antigo  Catholic  cemetery.  He  had 
sold  his  farm  in  1920  and  spent  his  last  years  in  re- 
tirement in  the  city  of  Antigo. 

MICHAEL  F.  CROWE,  a  retired  pioneer  locomo- 
tive engineer,  residing  at  836  Superior  street,  Antigo, 
Wisconsin,  was  born   in  Schuylkill   County,   Pennsyl- 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


279 


vania,  on  June  11,  1850,  the  son  of  Cornelius  and  Mary 
(Garvey)  Crowe.  He  was  the  fifth  of  eight  children. 
When  he  reached  the  age  of  twelve  he  was  taken  out 
of  school  to  begin  work  in  the  anthracite  coal  mines. 
The  Civil  War  was  then  raging  and  due  to  the  short- 
age of  man  power  the  boys  were  used  in  menial  work 
about  the  mines.  It  was  Mr.  Crowe's  duty  to  haul  coal 
from  the  mines  on  a  cart  to  which  a  mule  was  hitch- 
ed. At  the  close  of  the  war,  1865,  he  moved  with  his 
parents  to  Neenah,  Winnebago  County  in  1866.  A 
half  year  later,  Cornelius  Crowe  took  up  a  tract  of  land 
in  Grand  Chute  township,  near  Appleton,  Wis.  When 
Mr.  Crowe  had  worked  for  three  years  on  the  farm 
he  started  out  to  seek  his  fortune,  going  to  Cheyenne, 
Wyoming,  which  then  consisted  of  nine  buildings, 
eight  of  which  were  saloons  and  the  ninth  a  trading 
post.  English  traders  were  there  at  that  time  pur- 
chasing buffalo  hides.  Mr.  Crowe  hired  out  to  a  Mr. 
Van  Dueren,  cattle  owner,  of  Red  Oak,  Iowa,  as  a  cat- 
tle herder.  The  equipment  consisted  of  two  bronchos, 
a  revolver  and  a  sawed-off  shotgun,  used  to  blind  cat- 
tle in  a  stampede. 

He  stayed  in  that  service  for  two  years,  being  sta- 
tioned between  Cheyenne  and  Ft.  Larma,  Wyo.  He 
returned  to  the  farm  in  Grand  Chute  and  a  little  while 
later  hired  out  as  a  brakeman  on  the  old  M.  L.  S.  & 
W.  R.  R.  Co.  Gerry  Donohue  was  then  Superinten- 
dent and  the  road  went  as  far  as  New  London,  Wis. 
He  first  "braked"  for  Conductor  "Vet"  Graves.  Acci- 
dents among  brakemen  were  numerous  and  therefore 
Mr.  Crowe  entered  the  firing  service  in  1877.  Three 
years  later  he  was  promoted,  1880,  to  the  rank  of  an 
engineer.  He  first  piloted  Engine  No.  1,  called  the 
"Ben  Jones."  He  served  as  an  engineer  on  the  old 
Lake  Shore  road  until  it  was  purchased  by  the  North- 
western road  in  1893  and  thereupon  Mr.  Crowe  was 
in  the  employ  of  the  latter  concern  in  passenger  serv- 
ice for  nearly  thirty  years  and  for  eight  years  on  the 
Wolf  River  Branch  out  of  Antigo,  Wis.  He  was  pen- 
sioned after  nearly  fifty  years  of  railroad  service  on 
December  1,  1921.  May  14,  1922,  Langlade  Division, 
B.  of  L.  E.,  of  which  he  has  been  a  member  for  over 
forty  years,  presented  Engineers  H.  Darton  and 
George  Watson,  together  with  Mr.  Crowe,  with  a 
Badge  of  Honor,  which  they  prize  very  highly. 

Mr.  Crowe  was  united  in  marriage  August  12,  1884, 
to  Mary  Hickey,  daughter  of  Michael  and  Mary 
Hickey,  of  New  London,  Wis.  To  this  union  three 
children  were  born,  as  follows :  George,  deceased,  was 
born  May  27,  1885,  in  Antigo,  Wis.  He  attended  the 
public  schools  and  graduated  from  the  Antigo  High 
School  after  which  he  was  employed  as  an  accountant 
in  the  C.  &  N.  W.  offices  of  Antigo.  He  enlisted  when 
the  World  War  broke  out  and  served  as  a  Lieutenant 
in  the  Medical  Detachment  of  the  81st  Field  Artillery. 
He  died  in  service  at  Camp  Mills,  N.  J.,  on  October 
30,  1918,  and  was  buried  with  military  honors  at  An- 
tigo, Wis. 

Niel  Crowe,  the  second  son,  was  born  April  27,  1889. 
He  is  a  physician  and  surgeon  at  Delavan,  Wisconsin. 
He  served  in  the  World  War  as  a  Captain,  being  sta- 


tioned at  Manchester,  England,  in  the  Western  Gener- 
al Hospital  there. 

John  Earle  Crowe,  the  third  son,  was  born  Decem- 
ber 27,  1896.  He  is  now  a  student  in  the  College  of 
Medicine  of  Marquette  University,  from  which  he 
graduates  as  a  dentist  in  1923. 

The  Crowe  family  has  resided  in  Antigo  since  1882. 
M.  F.  Crowe  has  been  identified  with  much  of  Antigo's 
public  work,  served  for  thirteen  years  on  the  City 
Council  from  either  the  Third  or  First  wards,  was 
Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Public  Works  for  four  years 
when  the  sanitary  sewers  were  laid  in  Antigo,  was 
for  two  years  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Public  Proper- 
ty and  was  a  member  of  the  Council  Committee  select- 
ed at  one  time  to  investigate  the  feasibility  of  a  muni- 
cipal gas  plant. 

FRED  FREDERICK  GOEMAN.  One  of  the  lead- 
ing and  most  successful  farmers  of  Rolling  township, 
Langlade  County,  is  Fred  Frederick  Goeman,  who 
was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  on  September  12, 
1869,  the  son  of  Fred  and  Augusta  (Frisch)  Goeman. 
When  thirteen  years  old  he  came  to  the  United  States 
with  his  mother.  One  year  before  then  his  father  had 
imigrated  to  America  to  seek  his  fortune.  The  family 
came  direct  to  Antigo,  Wisconsin.  Young  Goeman  at- 
tended the  evening  English  school  under  Rev.  A. 
Grimm.  For  three  years  he  lived  in  the  city  of  An- 
tigo and  then  his  father  purchased  a  farm  in  Rolling 
township.  The  farm  consisted  of  200  acres.  Here 
Mr.  Goeman  spent  all  of  his  life.  He  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Amelia  Hattel.  To  this  union  seven  chil- 
dren were  born :  Max  A.,  Walter,  Arthur,  Fred,  Irma, 
Esther  and  Mildred. 

The  Goeman  family  attends  the  Peace  Evangelical 
church  of  Antigo.  Mr.  Goeman  has  served  for  many 
years  as  a  school  Treasurer  in  his  school  district. 

As  a  farmer,  Mr.  Goeman  has  taken  a  keen  inter- 
est in  pure  blooded  stock.  He  has  thirty-eight  head 
of  Holstein  and  high  grade  cattle.  He  also  has  been 
successful  with  full  blood  Poland  China  hogs. 

The  Goeman  family  is  one  that  has  long  enjoyed 
the  friendship  and  esteem  of  the  best  people  of  the 
community  which  has  been  their  home  so  many  years 
and  they  are  in  every  detail  worthy  of  the  high  place 
they  occupy  in  popular  confidence  and  respect. 

JOSEPH  CRUMMEY.  Lumbering  furnished  to 
Langlade  County  many  of  its  potential  and  industrious 
citizens.  It  opened  up  a  wide  avenue  of  commerce  in 
a  day  when  agriculture  and  other  industries  were  just 
in  their  infancy.  From  all  parts  of  the  United  States 
east  of  Wisconsin  settlers  came  into  Langlade  County 
during  the  pine  rush.  Joseph  Crummey,  one  of  the 
pioneer  lumbermen  of  the  Wolf  River  country,  was 
born  in  Oconomowoc,  Wisconsin,  on  February  7,  1849, 
the  son  of  Johanna  and  John  Crummey.  He  attended 
the  rural  schools  of  Summit  Township  of  Waukesha 
County  and  after  his  school  days  assisted  his  father  on 
the   farm.     He   then   moved   to   Oshkosh,  Winnebago 


280 


HISTORY  OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


County,  Wisconsin,  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  being  a 
resident  of  that  place  from  1868  to  1885.  He  then 
moved  to  Antigo,  then  a  small  village,  and  spent  the 
greater  part  of  his  career  here  as  a  lumberman  or  he 
followed  railroading. 

Mr.  Crummey  was  united  in  marriage  on  September 
11,  1876,  to  Miss  Jennie  Cusick,  daughter  of  Phillip 
and  Serina  Cusick,  of  Oshkosh,  Wis.  To  this  union 
nine  children  were  born,  two  of  whom,  James  and 
Mary,  are  deceased.  Those  living  are  William,  Serina, 
Jennie,  Katherine,  Joseph,  George  and  Agnes,  of  Anti- 


CLARENCE  J.  TE  SELLE.  A  prominent  lumber- 
man and  member  of  the  Langlade  County  bar,  was 
born  in  Sheboygan  Falls,  Wisconsin,  on  August  7,  1887. 
He  received  a  common  school  education  and  completed 
the  High  School  of  Sheboygan  Falls,  Wisconsin.  In 
1905  he  entered  the  State  University  at  Madison  and 
graduated  from  the  College  of  Letters  and  Science  in 
1909  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  He  gradu- 
ated from  the  College  of  Law,  University  of  Wiscon- 
sin, with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws  in  1911.  Fol- 
lowing his  admission  to  the  State  Bar  in  1911,  he  be- 


CLARENCE  J.  TeSELLE 

Secretary-Treasurer  of  the  Hensliaw  Lumber  Co.,  prominent  mombor  of 

the   Langlade   County  bar,   former   District   .Attorney   of    Langlade 

Comity  and  Government  .Appeal  .\gent  during  the  World  War, 

who   was   probably   connected   with  more   \\'orld   War 

activities  in   Langlade  Conntj-   than  any 

other  citizen. 


go.  Wis.  The  Crummey  residence  is  at  1145  Sixth 
avenue. 

Joseph  Crummey,  Jr.,  was  married  to  Clara  Cheslak 
on  May  2,  1916.  Mrs.  Crummey  passed  away  on  July 
24,  1922,  and  is  buried  in  the  Antigo  Catholic  ceme- 
tery. 

The  Crummey  family  attends  St.  John's  Catholic 
church  of  Antigo.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  has  led 
a  life  unmarked  by  exciting  events,  yet  a  straight-for- 
ward career  has  gained  for  him  the  high  regard  of  all 
with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact. 


gan  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Antigo  in  1912. 
Attorney  Te  Selle  was  elected  District  Attorney  of 
Langlade  County  for  three  consecutive  terms  (1913- 
19). 

He  was  married  in  1915  to  Mabelle  Henshaw,  daugh- 
ter of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  E.  Henshaw,  and  has  two 
children,  Janette  and  Clarence,  Jr. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  World  War,  Mr.  Te  Selle 
was  appointed  Government  Appeal  Agent  (see  Mili- 
tary Chapter)  by  Provost  Marshal  General  E.  H. 
Crowder  and  served  in  this  capacity  with  the  Selective 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


281 


Service  Board  of  Langlade  County  during  the  war. 
Also  organized  the  Langlade  Council  of  Defense  at 
the  request  of  the  State  Council  of  Defense  and  served 
as  its  Secretary  and  on  its  Executive  committee  dur- 
ing its  existence.  He  organized  the  Langlade  chapter 
of  the  American  Red  Cross  and  was  elected  and  still 
is  a  member  of  its  Board  of  Directors.  He  served  as 
Chairman  of  the  Victory  Loan  committee,  which  suc- 
cessfully put  over  the  united  war  fund  campaign  in 
Langlade  County.  He  was  appointed  as  Chairman  of 
the  Four  Minute  Men,  speaking  organization  in  the 
county  and  was  probably  connected  with  more  diver- 
sified war  activities  in  Langlade  County  than  any 
other  citizen. 

In  1919  Attorney  Te  Selle  quit  the  practice  of  law 
and  became  Secretary-Treasurer  of  the  Henshaw  Lum- 
ber Company  and  is  still  in  this  business. 

LUTHER  E.  FARNHAM.  One  of  the  best  known 
Langlade  County  families  and  one  of  the  most  highly 
esteemed  ones  is  represented  worthily  by  Luther  E. 
Farnham,  a  prominent  resident  of  Antigo.  Mr.  Farn- 
ham  was  born  on  March  22,  1858,  the  son  of  Eliza  and 
Abner  Farnham,  at  Lake  Geneva,  Walworth  County, 
Wisconsin.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  his  na- 
tive city  and  then  entered  Whitewater  Normal,  plan- 
ning to  qualify  for  the  teaching  profession.  Mr.  Farn- 
ham taught  for  three  years  in  Walworth  County,  fol- 
lowing which  he  became  engaged  in  agriculture,  which 
he  followed  for  twenty  years. 

On  December  11,  1883,  he  was  married  to  Hattie 
Allen,  to  which  union  three  children  were  born,  name- 
ly: Florence,  now  Mrs.  C.  G.  Dittmer,  Madison,  Wis.; 
Lila  E.,  Mrs.  E.  A.  Yahr,  deceased;  and  Alice  A.,  now 
Mrs.  Carl  Duchac,  of  Antigo. 

Mr.  Farnham  came  to  Antigo  to  make  his  home  on 
September  7,  1907.  He  was  associated  with  E.  H. 
Yahr  in  the  coal  and  wood  business  from  1912  to 
1919  when  that  firm  sold  out  to  Dakin  &  Strong. 
Since  1916  Mr.  Farnham  has  been  the  Langlade  Coun- 
ty representative  of  the  Inter-State  Oil  Company  and 
he  devotes  his  attention  exclusively  to  that  business. 
The  Inter-State  Oil  Company  enjoys  an  extensive  pat- 
ronage in  and  adjacent  to  Antigo  and  Langlade  Coun- 
ty. 

Mr.  Farnham  has  never  been  active  in  public  life 
in  Antigo.  He  held  township  and  school  offices  at 
Augusta,  Wisconsin,  where  he  lived  nine  years,  from 
1898  to  1907.  The  Farnham  residence  is  at  524  Hud- 
son street,  Antigo,  Wis. 

The  Farnhams  are  members  of  the  First  Congrega- 
tional church. 

FRANK  E.  VANDERVEST,  barber,  was  born 
March  14,  1872,  at  Ludington,  Michigan,  the  son  of 
Adelate  and  Joseph  Vandervest.  After  attending  the 
public  schools  he  began  to  learn  the  barber  business 
which  he  has  followed  for  thirty  years.  He  came  to 
Langlade  County  in  November,  1898,  from  Mattoon, 
Shawano  County.  With  the  exception  of  three  years, 
he  has  since,  been  a  resident  of  Antigo.     Mr.  Vander- 


vest was  married  to  Vetline  Ano,  daughter  of  Israel 
Ano,  pioneer  Norwood  township  settler.  Three  chil- 
dren were  born  to  this  union,  one  passing  away.  Mr. 
Vandervest  has  his  barber  shop  located  in  the  Ullman 
block  on  Superior  street.  His  first  barber  shop  was 
located  on  the  present  site  of  the  Neff-Roberts  build- 
ing over  seventeen  years  ago.  Mr.  Vandervest  is  a 
member  of  the  E.  F.  U.  and  M.  W.  A.  fraternities. 
The  Vandervest  family  resides  at  308  Superior  street. 

CARL  KRAUSE,  shoe  merchant,  was  born  in  Ger- 
many, June  17,  1878.  He  came  to  America  at  an  early 
age.  After  attending  the  public  school,  high  school 
and  Wittenberg  Academy,  he  came  to  Antigo.  Here 
he  was  employed  at  various  occupations,  woodworker, 
engineer  for  Crocker  Chair  Co.  for  seven  years,  clerk 
for  Louis  Krom  eleven  years  and  two  years  in  a  cleri- 
cal position  with  E.  S.  Rayworth.  He  opened  the 
Champion  Shoe  Shop,  Fifth  avenue,  in  1913,  since 
moved  to  his  present  location.  Mr.  Krause  was  mar- 
ried to  Emilie  Moldenhaur  in  Antigo,  February  23, 
1903.  Two  children  were  born  to  this  union,  a  boy 
and  a  girl.  Mr.  Krause  is  an  active  member  of  the 
Peace  Lutheran  church,  is  a  trustee  of  the  church  and 
a  member  of  the  parochial  school  board.  The  Krause 
residence  is  at  1124  Third  avenue. 

I.  D.  STEFFEN,  M.  D.  Thrice  Mayor  of  Antigo 
and  a  representative  citizen  who  has  taken  an  active 
part  in  the  advancement  of  the  city,  was  born  at  Hor- 
tonville,  Outagamie  County,  Wisconsin,  December  17, 
1855,  the  son  of  John  and  Applonia  (Stark)  Steffen. 
The  Steffen  family  moved  to  Wisconsin  from  New 
York  state  in  the  spring  of  1855.  As  a  boy  Dr.  Steffen 
attended  the  rural  schools  of  Hortonville  and  then  en- 
tered Lawrence  University  from  which  he  graduated  in 
1879.  By  thrift  and  diligence  he  was  able  to  earn 
enough  money  to  take  him  through  the  Rush  Medical 
College  of  Chicago.  Previously  he  had  studied  medi- 
cine under  Dr.  Hardacker  of  Hortonville.  In  1900  Dr. 
Steffen  took  a  post  graduate  course  in  surgery  and  med- 
icine in  the  New  York  Post  Graduate  Medical  School 
and  Hospital,  New  York  City. 

In  1884,  Dr.  Steffen  was  married  to  Miss  Effie  L. 
Nye  of  Hortonville,  Wisconsin.  To  this  union  five 
children  were  born  as  follows :  Bernice  E.,  now  Mrs. 
E.  S.  Nelson,  of  Antigo;  Dr.  Lyman  A.,  who  was  grad- 
uated in  medicine  from  Rush  Medical  College  on  June 
10,  1912,  served  as  a  Major  during  the  World  War,  be- 
ing attached  to  the  British  Expeditionary  Force,  and 
now  associated  with  his  father  in  Antigo;  Glydon  F., 
deceased;  Margaret,  instructor  in  history,  and  Richard 
D.  Steffen,  a  student.  Mrs.  Steffen  passed  away  on 
July  25,  1922,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  Antigo  ceme- 
tery. 

Dr.  Steffen  was  first  elected  mayor  of  Antigo  in  1890 
and  then  served  again  in  1899-1900  and  was  the  first 
mayor  elected  under  the  commission  form  of  govern- 
ment, in  1914.  During  his  administration  in  1890, 
the  water  system  was  laid  out,  in  1899  and  1900  his  ad- 
ministration was  instrumental  in  putting  in  a  proper 


282 


HISTORY  OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


sewerage  system  in  the  city,  a  very  necessary  improve- 
ment. Dr.  Steffen  is  a  member  of  the  Langlade  Coun- 
ty Medical  Society,  the  Wisconsin  State  Medical  So- 
ciety, the  American  Medical  Association,  and  the 
American  Association  of  Railway  Surgeons.  For  the 
past  thirty  years  he  has  been  surgeon  for  the  Chicago 
&  Northwestern  railroad.  Dr.  Steffen  opened  the  first 
hospital  in  the  city  of  Antigo  in  1890.  Fraternally 
he  holds  memberships  in  the  Masonic  orders,  has  serv- 
ed as  Master  of  the  Blue  Lodge  and  as  High  Priest  in 
the  Chapter.  He  was  also  the  first  eminent  Com- 
mander of  the  Antigo  Commandery,  Knights  Templars. 
Dr.  Steffen  is  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Accepted  Scot- 
tish Rite  of  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin.  He  is  President 
of  the  Langlade  National  Bank  of  Antigo  since  1918. 
Previously  he  was  a  vice-president  and  a  director  of 
that  institution.  Dr.  Steffen  came  to  Antigo  two  years 
after  the  city  was  incorporated,  1887.  He  has  seen 
Antigo  and  Langlade  County  grow  from  a  hamlet  and 
wilderness  to  a  splendid  progressive  community. 
Among  the  many  positions  of  honor  and  trust  that  the 
doctor  has  held  while  a  resident  of  the  city  of  Antigo 
was  an  appointment  to  a  position  on  the  State  Board  of 
Health  by  Governor  J.  J.  Blaine  in  June,  1921.  This 
appointment  was  unsolicited  and  came  as  a  surprise. 
It  is  a  position  of  honor  and  a  recognition  of  the  quali- 
fications of  this  distinguished  Antigo  citizen. 

IGNATZ  FRANK  PAWLAK.  A  well  known  rail- 
road man  of  Antigo,  was  born  in  Gala,  Poland,  the  son 
of  Mary  and  Stanislaus  Pawlak.  He  attended  paro- 
chial schools  and  during  summer  vacations  worked  on 
his  parents'  farm  as  a  boy.  When  twenty-one  years  of 
age  he  came  to  the  United  States.  One  year  previous- 
ly his  mother  had  died,  his  father  having  died  when 
he  was  but  two  years  old.  Both  are  buried  in  the  city 
of  Jarazrewo,  Poland.  Coming  to  the  United  States 
Mr.  Pawlak  came  direct  to  Antigo  and  stayed  here  for 
a  year.  He  then  moved  to  Chicago  and  three  years 
later  to  Milwaukee,  from  where  he  returned  to  Antigo. 
He  then  bought  a  farm  in  Rolling  township  and  en- 
gaged in  agriculture  for  five  years.  He  again  moved 
to  the  city  of  Antigo  to  become  chief  blacksmith  for 
the  C.  &  N.  W.  shops.  He  previously  conducted  a 
blacksmith  shop  on  Fourth  Avenue  for  twelve  years, 
assuming  the  position  with  the  Northwestern  in  the 
fall  of  1912. 

Mr.  Pawlak  was  united  in  marriage  on  April  18,  1893, 
to  Frances  Jankowski,  daughter  of  Constantine  Jan- 
kowski  of  Rolling  township.  To  this  union  five  chil- 
dren, three  of  whom  are  dead,  were  born.  Those  de- 
ceased are :  Mary,  Felix  and  Agnes.  Helen  and  Frank 
reside  with  their  parents  at  803  Clermont  Street.  The 
Pawlak  family  attends  St.  Hyacinth  church.  Mr. 

Pawlak  is  a  former  Treasurer  of  the  church  congrega- 
tion. During  the  World  War  he  was  active  in  pro- 
moting the  cause  of  America  among  his  fellow  men. 

GEORGE  HADLER,  JR.  The  soil  of  Langlade 
County  has  attracted  new  settlers  from  every  part  of 
the  United  States  and  Europe.       Progressive  farmers 


are  found  everywhere  in  the  county.  Among  them  is 
George  Hadler,  Jr.,  who  moved  to  Norwood  township 
on  September  10,  1917  from  Plymouth,  Sheboygan 
County.  Mr.  Hadler  purchased  eighty  acres  and  in  De- 
cember, 1920,  added  40  acres  to  his  fine  farm.  George 
Hadler,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Plymouth  tov.'nship,  Sheboy- 
gan County,  July  15,  1869,  the  son  of  George  and  Chris- 
tine Hadler.  He  attended  the  public  schools  and  then 
engaged  in  agriculture.  October  26.  1906,  he  was  unit- 
ed in  marriage  to  Freida  Lange.  Two  children,  boys, 
Herbert  John  Albert,  age  H  and  Willard  Edward  John 
Hadler,  age  6,  blessed  this  union,  which  was  severed 
March  14,  1917,  when  Mrs.  Hadler  passed  away  follow- 
ing an  operation.  She  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  Plymouth 
Lutheran  cemetery.  George  Hadler,  Jr.,  his  mother, 
and  children  then  came  to  this  county.  George  Hadler, 
Sr.,  died  February  2,  1916.  The  Hadler  family  profess 
the  Lutheran  faith.  The  Hadler  farm  is  situated  in 
the  Maple  Grove  district. 

PETER  HIGGINS,  SR.  Was  born  October,  1846, 
in  Tipperary,  County  Mayo,  Ireland.  At  age  of  four 
he  came  to  the  U.  S.  with  his  parents,  settling  in  Chil- 
ton, Calumet  County,  Wisconsin.  Attended  the 
common  schools,  then  engaged  in  farming  in  Chilton 
township  on  Fond  du  Lac  road.  In  1868  he  married 
Kate  Lynch,  a  sister  of  Thomas  Lynch,  Antigo's  first 
Mayor.  Five  children  were  born,  three  boys,  Henry, 
Peter,  and  William  and  two  daughters.  Peter  Higgins 
moved  to  Ackley  township  in  1889  settling  on  the  old 
John  Nelson  farm,  section  10,  town  31,  range  10  East. 
160  acres  was  on  the  old  Nelson  place,  40  acres  he  pur- 
chased from  the  Baldwin  Estate  and  80  acres  from 
Frank  Metcalf.  Here  he  lived  thirty  years.  He  died 
in  the  spring  of  1919,  having  been  preceded  in  death  by 
his  wife.  His  remains  were  interred  in  the  Antigo 
cemetery.  Peter,  Henry  and  William  Higgins,  sons, 
reside  in  this  county.  Henry  Higgins  was  born  on 
November  4,  1869.  He  married  Elizabeth  Kennedy 
October  28,  1893.  Two  children  bless  this  union,  one 
boy,  Eugene,  and  one  girl,  Mrs.  Oscar  Jerke,  Kau- 
kauna.  Wis. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  L.  O.  O.  M.,  E.  F.  U.,  Beav- 
ers R.  F.  F.,  and  has  for  the  past  five  years  been  em- 
ployment agent  for  the  Langlade  Lumber  Company, 
Antigo,  Wis.  He  resides  at  1423  N.  Superior  street, 
Antigo,  Wis. 

OLIVER  SHADICK,  SR.  A  pioneer  citizen,  who 
first  trod  Langlade  County  soil  in  1869  is  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  Oliver  Shadick,  Sr.,  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Clayton,  Winnebago  County,  December  22, 
1849  and  spent  his  boyhood  on  a  farm  with  his  par- 
ents. At  age  of  20  he  cruised  through  the  Military 
Road  country  up  as  far  as  Gardner's  Dam,  thence  cross- 
ed over  the  Wolf,  struck  out  west,  traveling  by  compass 
and  sun,  and  camped  one  night  on  the  site  of  the  Faust 
mill  in  Antigo,  on  Springbrook  banks.  May,  1871,  Mr. 
Shadick  bought  eighteen  40's  of  timber  that  scaled  2^  2 
logs  to  the  thousand.  November  18,  1875  he  took  up 
a  homestead  claim  1  2  rn'le  south  of  Phlox,  section  35, 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


283 


Township  30,  Range  12  East,  the  first  in  Norwood. 
November  23,  1880,  Mr.  Shadick  married  Caroline  De 
Broux  of  Grand  Chute,  Outagamie  County.  Eleven 
children  were  born  to  this  union,  eight  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing. Mr.  Shadick  moved  from  Phlox,  Norwood  town- 
ship in  the  summer  of  1887  to  Antigo  and  lived  there 
until  1912  when  he  moved  to  Pearson,  Ainsworth  town- 
ship, where  he  now  resides.  He  has  seen  Langlade 
County  grow  from  a  wilderness  to  "The  Best  County 
in  the  State." 

MATT  WACHAL,  JR.  Was  born  in  Ackley  town- 
ship April  29,  1897,  the  son  of  Mary  and  Matt  Wachal, 
Sr.  He  attended  the  Ackley  schools  and  then  engaged 
in  agriculture.  In  1919  Mr.  Wachal  took  over  the  40 
acre  farm  which  he  now  possesses.  It  is  known  as 
the  old  Sobish  or  McDonald  place  and  is  located  in 
Fernwood  district.  Rolling  township.  Mr.  Wachal  was 
married  to  Mary  Noskowiak  of  Rolling  township,  June 
2,  1919.  Two  children,  girls,  bless  this  union.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  finds  time  to  get  acquainted,  is  an 
enthusiastic  member  of  the  L.  O.  0.  M.  and  is  well 
respected  in  the  township  and  county.  He  was  the  or- 
ganizer and  President  of  the  Fernwood  Telephone 
Company.  He  has  successfully  served  as  Clerk  of  the 
Fernwood  school  district. 

MARTIN  D.  ROBRECHT.  In  the  early  history  of 
Langlade  County  there  are  many  accounts  of  the  trials 
and  brave  sacrifices  of  those  who  are  numbered  among 
the  first  settlers  of  the  various  districts  and  townships. 
Without  these  courageous  pioneers  the  bustle  of  urban 
existence  would  not  at  this  day  replace  the  low  flight  of 
the  prairie  chicken,  the  wild  fowl  and  the  Wolf  pack. 
Among  the  families  that  have  contributed  their  share 
toward  the  development  of  Langlade  County  is  that 
of  Martin  D.  Robrecht,  Senior  and  family.  Martin  D. 
Robrecht,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Bremen,  Germany,  Septem- 
ber 18,  1870,  the  son  of  Martin  D.  and  Johanna  (Koch) 
Robrecht.  When  a  child  of  thirteen  he  moved  with  his 
parents  to  the  United  States.  The  journey  across  the 
Atlantic  was  a  stormy  and  perilous  one  for  these  hardy 
imigrants  to  the  New  World.  They  left  Germany  on 
January  23,  1883,  and  arrived  at  Defiance,  Ohio,  their 
destination,  February  13,  1883,  being  twenty-one  days 
on  the  trip,  two  days  of  which  were  spent  going  from 
New  York  to  Ohio.  The  father  settled  on  a  farm  in 
Henry  County,  Ohio,  in  the  spring  of  1883  and  in  the 
fall  of  1886  decided  to  locate  in  Northern  Wisconsin. 
Arriving  in  Langlade  County  the  family  lived  with  the 
Carl  Frill  family,  pioneer  Antigo  township  settlers,  un- 
til their  own  little  cabin  home  was  erected  in  Polar 
township  on  section  30.  Martin  Robrecht,  Sr.,  purchas- 
ed a  half  of  the  Johnson  Hutchins  homestead  located 
in  the  section  named  in  Polar  township.  The  country 
was  a  vast  wilderness.  Thus  young  Martin  became  a 
valuable  asset  to  his  father  in  chopping  away  the  for- 
est trees,  pulling  stumps  and  clearing  the  farm,  which 
was  a  tract  of  virgin  timber.  Forty  acres  were  cleared 
with  the  axe.  It  was  on  this  farm  that  Martin  Ro- 
brecht Sr.,  spent  the  rest  of  his  life,  which  ended  De- 


cember 14,  1912.  He  has  lived  to  see  a  prosperous 
farm  grow  from  a  once  wild  country;  to  see  a  city 
where  when  he  came  Antigo  was  but  a  hamlet.  His  wife 
still  lives  on  the  farm. 

Martin  Robrecht,  Jr.,  was  united  in  marriage  July  15, 
1902,  to  Mallie  Haefs  of  Algoma  to  which  union  nine 
children  were  born:  namely,  Glenford,  Raymond  and 
Norman,  deceased;  six  living  are:  Arnold,  Howard, 
Esther,  Marvin,  Elmer  and  Ervin.  The  Robrecht  fami- 
ly resides  at  234  Dorr  street,  Antigo,  Wis. 

Since  coming  to  Langlade  County,  Mr.  Robrecht  has 
held  various  offices  of  responsibility  and  trust.  He 
was  Assessor  of  Polar  township  for  two  years;  leaving 
the  farm  he  became  engaged  as  a  carpenter  for  the 
Chicago  &  Northwestern  railroad  for  a  time;  was  em- 
ployed as  City  Marshal  of  Antigo  under  the  Mayoralty 
term  of  the  late  T.  W.  Hogan  for  a  year.  In  1900  he 
was  appointed  as  a  Deputy  State  Conservation  Warden 
and  served  efficiently  until  1908  for  eight  years.  He 
has  held  the  office  of  Deputy  Sheriff  for  the  past  twen- 
ty years.  In  1913  he  became  branch  manager  of  the 
Pabst  Brewing  Company  interests  in  Antigo  and  on 
September  29,  1919,  he  purchased  their  entire  interests 
and  now  conducts  a  beverage  and  soft  drink  distribut- 
ing agency  of  his  own.  He  was  appointed  as  Under- 
Sheriff  by  Edward  Buchen.  Mr.  Robrecht  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  order,  being  the  youngest  member 
ever  initiated  into  the  Antigo  lodge,  is  a  member  of  the 
Loyal  Order  of  Moose  and  the  Eagles  fraternity.  In 
1922  he  was  a  Republican  candidate  for  Sheriff  of 
Langlade  County. 

Mr.  Robrecht  is  an  extensive  property  holder  and  in 
the  successful  pursuit  of  his  life  work  in  Antigo  and 
vicinity  has  gained  a  wide  acquaintance  and  a  host  of 
friends. 

ROBERT  C.  WOJAN.  Is  an  early  resident  of  An- 
tigo, who  has,  by  his  energy  and  progress,  made  a  suc- 
cess of  the  years  he  has  resided  in  the  county.  He  was 
born  August  17,  1882,  in  Germany,  the  son  of  Augusta 
(Wentdland)  and  Charles  Wojan,  also  early  Antigo 
residents.  When  but  three  years  of  age  he  moved  with 
his  parents  to  Antigo.  Here  he  attended  the  public 
and  parochial  schools.  His  educational  years  over 
young  Robert  began  life  at  various  occupations,  prin- 
cipally with  the  P.  J.  Koelzer  Flour  &  Feed  store,  an 
early  Antigo  institution.  He  began  his  plumbing 
trade  with  the  J.  C.  Lewis  Hardware  Company  for 
which  firm  he  was  employed  a  number  of  years.  Feb- 
ruary 16,  1910,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Martha  Ebert,  also  a  native  of  Germany,  daughter  of 
August  Ebert,  a  brother  of  Fred  Ebert,  a 
former  Antigo  fire  department  chief,  who  has 
been  active  in  other  city  affairs.  To  this  union  two 
children  were  born,  namely:  Herbert,  now  nine  years 
old  and  Robert,  Jr.,  age  3.  The  Wojan  family  attends 
the  Peace  Lutheran  church,  of  which  Mr.  Wojan  is  a 
member  of  the  Church  Council. 

They  reside  at  320  Lincoln  street.  Since  1906  he 
has  been  connected  with  the  Louis  Peters  plumbing 
shop  of  Antigo,  having  been  in  the  plumbing  business 
since  1902. 


284 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


Charles  Wojan  passed  away  April  21,  1915,  and  his 
wife  followed  him  in  death  May  24,  1921.  Eleven  chil- 
dren were  in  the  Wojan  family.  Robert,  Richard,  Em- 
ma, now  Mrs.  Louis  Strehlow,  Emil,  Edward  and 
Esther,  all  live  in  Antigo  and  Mary,  now  Mrs.  August 
Uebel,  resides  at  Hurley,  Wis.  William,  Otto  and 
Paul  are  deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  Wojan  are 
buried  in  the  Antigo  cemetery.  The  late  Charles  Wo- 
jan was  born  May  1,  1852,  and  while  in  Langlade  Coun- 
ty was  an  early  employe  of  the  Milwaukee,  Lake  Shore 
and  Western  railroad. 

E.  A.  MORSE.  Former  Congressman  from  the  9th 
Congressional  District,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Racine 
County,  Wisconsin,  the  son  of  Addison  J.  and  Susette 
(French)  Morse  on  May  11,  1870.  He  spent  his  boy- 
hood days  on  the  farm  and  there  attended  the  public 
schools,  later  entering  Ripon  College  from  which  he 
graduated  in  1893.  January  1,  1894,  he  became  the 
Superintendent  of  the  County  Schools  of  Racine  Coun- 
ty, which  position  he  occupied  with  success.  He  left 
the  educational  field  for  law,  which  he  chose  as  his 
proper  field  and  in  1899  entered  the  law  department 
of  the  University  of  Wisconsin,  graduating  in  1900.  He 
came  direct  to  Antigo,  Langlade  County,  after  his 
graduation  and  began  the  practice  of  law.  His  legal 
work  was  interrupted,  however,  by  his  successive  re- 
elections  to  the  Sixty-First  and  Sixty-Second  con- 
gresses, where  Mr.  Morse  made  a  fine  record. 

Mr.  Morse  is  President  of  the  Morse  &  Tradewell 
Company,  a  corporation  whose  activities  embrace  law, 
real  estate,  loans,  insurance,  lumbering,  and  other  busi- 
ness enterprises.  Before  his  election  to  Congress,  Mr. 
Morse  served  as  City  Attorney  of  Antigo  and  it  was 
during  his  term  of  office  that  the  first  revision  of  the 
ordinances  of  the  city  was  made. 

In  1896,  he  was  married  to  Myra  Tradewell,  daugh- 
ter of  Wesley  and  Jane  Tradewell,  to  which  union  one 
child,  Catherine  Susette,  was  born.  The  Morse  resi- 
dence is  at  600  First  Avenue.  Mrs.  Morse  is  active  in 
church  and  social  affairs  in  Antigo  and  a  leader  in  the 
Antigo  Woman's  Club. 

Mr.  Morse  is  largely  responsible  for  the  Antigo  post 
office  as  it  was  during  his  term  in  Congress  that  the 
appropriation  for  the  erection  of  this  splendid  public 
building  was  passed.  The  measures  were  introduced 
into  Congress  by  him. 

Fraternally  Congressman  Morse  is  a  Mason,  with 
Commandery  affiliations,  and  is  a  member  of  the  B. 
P.  0.  E.  and  the  M.  W.  A.  The  Morse  family  attends 
the  Congregational  Church. 

EDWARD  GOEBEL.  Among  the  prominent  pio- 
neers of  Langlade  County  there  are  none  better 
known  and  no  more  highly  respected  citizens  than  Ed- 
ward Goebel,  the  Editor  of  The  Antigo  Banner  and 
founder  of  The  Antigo  Herold.  Mr.  Goebel  was  born 
in  Saalfeld  (Saale)  Germany  on  December  10,  1864, 
the  son  of  Ernestine  (Kitt)  and  Herman  Goebel,  and 
the  first  of  four  children.  As  a  boy  and  youth  he  at- 
tended the  public  schools  of  Saalfeld,  graduating  from 


the  high  school  of  that  place  in  1881.  He  then  studied 
Bookkeeping  and  Journalism  and  before  immigrating 
to  America  was  engaged  on  the  Saalfeld  Kreisblott,  a 
publication  now  in  its  106th  year  of  life,  and  on  the  ex- 
change list  of  The  Antigo  Banner.  Mr.  Goebel  was 
ambitious  to  come  to  America,  the  land  of  which  he 
had  heard  so  much,  and  when  but  nineteen  years  of 
age  he  arrived  in  New  York  City  in  the  fall  of  1883. 
He  went  westward  to  Fort  Howard,  Brown  County, 
Wisconsin,  and  spent  six  months  with  relatives.  His 
first  employment  in  America  as  a  Journalist  was  on  the 
Green  Bay  Landsmann,  a  German  weekly  publication. 
He  then  associated  himself  with  the  Appleton  Wecker, 
becoming  its  Editor  in  1886.  Two  years  later  Mr.  Goe- 
bel severed  his  connections  with  the  Wecker  and  moved 
to  Antigo,  Langlade  County,  Wisconsin.  Antigo  was 
then  a  city  of  but  three  years  of  age.  He  launched 
the  Antigo  Herold,  the  first  issue  appearing  on  October 


KUWAKD    GOEBEL 

Editor  of  tin    Antigo   Hanner.  who  has  resided  in  .Antigo 

since  1S8S. 

20,  1888.  The  Herold  from  then  on  played  an  import- 
ant part  in  the  commercial,  political,  economic  and  so- 
cial advancement  of  Antigo  and  its  vicinity.  Decem- 
ber 5,  1919,  Mr.  Goebel  sold  The  Herold  and  launched 
The  Antigo  Banner,  which  is  discussed  in  a  chapter 
elsewhere  in  this  work.  The  Banner  he  now  edits  and 
publishes  weekly. 

Mr.  Goebel  was  united  in  marriage  on  November  10, 
1888,  to  Minnie  Weltzine,  a  daughter  of  Johanna  (Scho- 
knecht)  and  John  Weltzine  of  Greenville,  Outagamie 
County,  Wisconsin.  To  this  union  five  children  were 
born,  namely:  Elsie,  now  Mrs.  F.  S.  Baldwin,  Superior, 
Wis.;  Flora,  now  Mrs.  F.  W.  Mehne,  Antigo,  Wis.; 
Cecelia,  now  Mrs.  0.  J.  Swanson,  Elcho,  Wis.;  Harvey 
and  Erwin,  both  of  Antigo,  Wis.  The  Goebel  home  is 
at  242  Field  Street,  Antigo,  Wis. 

Fraternally,  Mr.  Goebel  is  an  active  Beaver  and  a 
member  of  the  Order  of  Owls.  Mrs.  Goebel  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Ladies  of  the  G.  A.  R.     (MacPherson  Cir- 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


285 


cle)  and  a  Beaver.  The  family  attends  the  Unity 
Evangelical  Church. 

During  the  World  War,  Mr.  Goebel  proved  himself 
a  very  loyal  citizen.  His  newspaper  was  active  in 
the  support  of  the  United  States  and  its  allies.  One 
son,  Harvey,  was  overseas,  fighting  with  the  107th 
Trench  Mortar  Battery,  Antigo's  unit.  Erwin  was  too 
young  to  enlist. 

Mr.  Goebel  has  never  cared  for  public  life  but  takes 
a  very  keen  interest  in  all  matters  that  affect  the  com- 
munity. 

JOHN  W.  BROWN.  President  and  manager  of  the 
Langlade  County  Abstract  Company,  with  which  he 
has  been  identified  since  coming  to  Antigo  in  1905,  was 
born  on  Long  Island,  New  York,  January  1,  1851,  the 
son  of  John  J.  and  Hester  E.  (Townsend)  Brown.  In 
October,  1857,  with  his  parents,  he  moved  to  Wiscon- 
sin, locating  at  Kilbourn,  Columbia  County,  where  his 
father  later  became  postmaster  and  still  later,  was 
there  occupied  as  express  and  insurance  agent.  In 
1876  the  father  moved  to  Chicago,  there  continuing  un- 
til death  claimed  him  in  1891,  the  mother  passing  away 
in  the  same  year.  Thus  John  W.  Brown  was  for  the 
most  part  reared  in  Kilbourn,  Wisconsin,  and  there  he 
attended  the  public  school  and  the  Methodist  Institute. 
In  1861  he  went  to  work  for  the  Milwaukee  Sz  St.  Paul 
Railroad  Company,  his  work  being  that  of  billing  clerk 
at  Kilbourn.  From  that  position  he  stepped  into  the 
employ  of  the  bank  of  Kilbourn  and  the  law  office  con- 
ducted by  Jonathan  Bowman.  For  seventeen  years  he 
was  employed  in  that  bank,  advancing  in  those  years 
from  the  post  of  clerk  to  bookkeeper  and  in  1876  be- 
coming Cashier  in  which  post  he  served  until  1886, 
when  he  was  elected  Register  of  Deeds  for  Columbia 
County.  For  four  years  he  held  that  office,  and  then 
moved  to  Berlin,  Wis.,  to  take  a  position  as  cashier  of 
the  Berlin  National  Bank  continuing  therein  from  1891 
to  1904.  In  1905  he  came  to  Antigo,  Wisconsin,  to 
take  charge  of  the  business  he  is  now  conducting. 

Mr.  Brown  was  married  in  1877  at  Kilbourn,  Wiscon- 
sin to  Miss  Lucia  Pedelupe,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  J. 
B.  Pedelupe,  who  was  a  native  of  Marseilles,  France, 
and  whose  wife,  Adeline  Creteil,  was  born  in  Paris. 
The  father  was  a  Minister  of  the  Episcopal  church. 
Three  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown : 
Adeline,  the  eldest,  was  the  wife  of  the  late  Harry 
Hendall  Bassett,  Professor  of  English  at  the  Universi- 
ty of  Wisconsin,  to  which  union  four  children  were 
born;  Robert  P.,  now  deceased,  survived  by  his  wife, 
Emilida  Baensch  Brown,  a  daughter  of  Judge  Emil 
Baensch  of  Manitowoc  County,  and  two  children;  and 
John  Townsend  Brown,  engaged  in  business  in  Antigo. 

Mr.  Brown  is  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  O.  F.  and  is  a 
Past  Grand  Master  of  Wisconsin  and  he  is  also  Past 
Grand  Representative  of  the  state.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of 
Columbia  County  for  five  years,  is  a  Republican  in  pol- 
itics and  has  appeared  as  a  delegate  to  many  state  con- 
ventions.    He  was  chosen  census   supervisor  for  the 


Ninth  Census  District  of  Wisconsin  in  1910.  Mr. 
Brown  is  a  member  of  the  Wisconsin  Historical  Socie- 
ty. The  Brown  residence  is  at  911  Clermont  Street, 
Antigo,  Wis. 

^  DR.  J.  N.  PROKUPEK.  Among  the  prominent  pro- 
fessional men  of  Langlade  County,  who  have  made 
notable  successes  in  their  work  in  Antigo  is  Dr.  J.  N. 
Prokupek,  who  has  his  dental  offices  in  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  building. 

Dr.  Prokupek  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Kewaunee 
County,  Wisconsin,  the  son  of  Jennie  and  Joseph  Pro- 
kupek. He  attended  rural  school  and  the  Kewaunee 
High  School  from  which  he  graduated  in  1902.  Dr. 
Prokupek  was  also  a  student  at  Stevens  Point  Normal. 
He  worked  his  way,  so  to  speak,  through  both  high 
school  and  later  through  the  Wisconsin  College  of 
Physicians  and  Surgeons,  now  Marquette  University, 
Milwaukee,  Wis.,  from  which  institution  he  graduated 
in  dentistry  in  1912.  He  worked  in  Milwaukee  until 
that  fall  coming  to  Antigo,  November  10,  1912.  Dr. 
Prokupek  opened  offices  in  the  First  National  Bank 
building  where  he  is  now  enjoying  an  extensive  and 
lucrative  practice.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Central 
Wisconsin,  the  Wisconsin  State  and  the  National  Den- 
tal Associations.  Before  entering  college.  Dr.  Pro- 
kupek taught  school,  four  years  in  Kewaunee  County 
and  three  years  in  Dorr  County,  Wisconsin,  to  enable 
him  to  continue  his  education.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Delta  Tau  Chapter,  Psi  Omega  Dental  Fraternity  to 
which  he  was  elected  in  1912.  Fraternally,  Dr.  Proku- 
pek is  affiliated  with  the  Beavers  Reserve  Fund  Fra- 
ternity, the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  the  Loyal 
Order  of  Moose,  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order 
of  Elks,  the  T.  J.  Sokol  Society  and  Charter  Oak  Lodge, 
Knights  of  Pythias. 

Dr.  Prokupek  resides  at  924  Fulton  Street,  Antigo, 
Wis. 

ERNEST  STRUBE.  The  late  Ernest  Strube,  fath- 
er of  Strube  Brothers,  Antigo  painters  and  decorators, 
was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  on  August  31,  1859. 
He  attended  the  schools  of  his  native  land  and  assisted 
his  father  in  his  baker  shop  until  he  attained  his  man- 
hood. At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  he  decided  to  im- 
migrate to  America,  to  which  nation  he  came  the  same 
year,  1879.  Mr.  Strube  followed  his  trade  of  a  painter 
and  decorator  in  New  York  City  and  other  places  on 
the  Atlantic  coast.  He  had  heard  much  of  western 
United  States  and  soon  he  moved  to  Sioux  City,  Iowa. 
Here  he  lived  for  a  number  of  years.  Mr.  Strube 
came  to  Antigo,  Langlade  County,  Wisconsin  from 
Audabon,  Iowa,  in  1894. 

An  expert  in  his  chosen  field,  he  soon  found  a  steady 
demand  for  his  services.  Before  his  death  he  has  dec- 
orated some  of  the  best  Antigo  residences  and  practi- 
cally all  of  the  public  buildings. 

Mr.  Strube  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife.  Ber- 
tha Tott,  a  native  of  Holland,  died  in  1889.  He  re- 
married in  1892  to  Mary  Bartz  a  native  of  Sorau,  Ger- 
many. The  Strube  children  consisted  of  three  girls 
and  six  boys;  namely:    Gustie  and  Bertha,  deceased; 


286 


HISTORY  OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


Herman,  who  resides  at  814  Fulton  Street,  Antigo,  was 
united  in  marriage  June  1,  1920  to  Hulda  Applekamp 
of  Pratt  Jet.,  Wis.,  and  to  which  union  two  children, 
Paul  and  Irma,  was  born.  George  resides  at  330  Dorr 
Street.  He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Annie 
Lansky  of  Antigo  in  1915.  One  child,  Morris,  was 
born  to  this  union.  Ernest,  Paul,  Wilfred  and  Fred- 
erick all  live  at  Manitowoc,  Wis.  Martha,  a  daughter, 
now  Mrs.  George  Albright,  is  a  resident  of  Antigo, 
Wis. 

Ernest  Strube  passed  away  June  8,  1912  and  lies  at 
rest  in  the  Antigo  cemetery.  He  was  an  honored  and 
respected  citizen  who  enjoyed  a  wide  acquaintance. 
Fraternally  he  was  a  member  of  the  Mystic  Workers  of 
the  World.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Unity  Evangeli- 
cal church  of  which  congregation  he  was  a  pioneer. 

JOHN  F.  UTNEHMER.  Among  the  citizens  of 
Langlade  County,  who  are  conspicuous  pioneers  and 
who  have  rendered  distinct  service  to  their  community 
is  John  F.  Utnehmer,  the  son  of  Charles  and  Sophia 
(Douk)  Utnehmer.  He  was  born  in  Appleton,  Outa- 
gamie County,  Wisconsin,  on  June  25,  1879,  the  second 
of  four  children.  When  four  years  old  he  moved  to 
Clintonville  with  his  parents.  In  1884  the  family  mov- 
ed to  the  Franklin  District,  Polar  township,  Lang- 
lade County.  Here  Mr.  Utnehmer,  as  a  boy  and  youth, 
aided  on  the  farm  during  the  rural  school  vacations. 
When  twenty-one  years  old  he  started  out  in  the  world 
for  himself,  starting  in  at  the  bottom  in  the  lumber 
business.  He  was  engaged  successively  by  Wunder- 
lich  Brothers  at  Mayking,  Norwood  township,  the  T. 
D.  Kellogg  Lumber  &  Mfg.  Company,  at  Polar,  for 
three  years;  with  the  Crocker  Chair  Co.,  at  Elton, 
Evergreen  township;  (he  then  spent  four  years  on  his 
farm  in  Polar  township).  The  Utnehmer  family  then 
moved  to  Antigo  where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
employed  by  the  old  Antigo  Lumber  Company  until 
they  went  bankrupt,  then  with  the  Tigerton  Lumber 
Company  at  Tigerton  and  for  four  years  with  the  Faust 
Lumber  Company  of  Antigo.  His  occupation  was  that 
of  a  saw  setter. 

Mr.  Utnehmer  was  chosen  as  a  Night  Patrolman  of 
the  Antigo  Police  Department  on  July  2,  1917,  and  has 
conducted  himself  admirably  in  that  position.  He  has 
been  instrumental  in  some  of  the  most  important  cap- 
tures of  "bootleggers"  and  other  criminals  in  this  sec- 
tion of  the  state,  including  the  famous  Hurley  "boot- 
leggers" who  attempted  to  pass  through  Antigo  with 
thousands  of  dollars  worth  of  wines  and  whiskey  in 
1920. 

John  F.  Utnehmer  was  united  in  marriage  on  July 
9,  1902,  to  Miss  Clara  Parsons,  a  daughter  of  Judge  and 
Mrs.  J.  W.  Parsons.  Four  children,  Hattie,  Walter, 
Oscar  and  Rueben,  bless  this  union.  The  family  re- 
sides at  157  Fred  street.  Mr.  Utnehmer  is  a  member 
of  the  Beaver's  fraternity.  His  career  has  been  one 
to  reflect  credit  upon  him  as  a  citizen. 

EDWARD  F.  KASKE.  Among  the  younger  busi- 
ness men  of  Antigo  who  has,  by  ability  and  perserver- 


ance,  forged  to  the  front  and  conducts  a  highly  success- 
ful enterprise  is  Edward  F.  Kaske,  the  son  of  Fred  and 
Wihlemina  (Brennecke)  Kaske,  pioneer  Antigo  resi- 
dents. Mr.  Kaske  was  born  March  5,  1896,  in  the  city 
of  Antigo.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  Antigo 
and  the  Antigo  High  School.  He  then  engaged  in  rail- 
road work  and  various  other  business  ventures  until  he 
opened  up  the  Antigo  Storage  Battery  Company  shop 
at  611  Superior  Street,  Antigo,  Wis.,  September  5, 
1919. 

Mr.  Kaske  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Florence 
L  Kessen,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frank  Kessen  of 
Bowler,  Shawano  County,  Wisconsin.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kaske  reside  at  611  Superior  Street. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kaske  are  members  of  the  Unity 
Evangelical  Church. 

'MICHAEL  F.  HELMBRECHT.  Since  in  pioneer 
days  the  Helmbrecht  family  has  played  an  import- 
ant part  in  the  development  of  Langlade  County. 
Michael  F.  Helmbrecht,  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Anna 
(Hartel)  Helmbrecht  was  born  November  5,  1897,  in 
Peck  township,  Langlade  County.  He  attended  the 
Peck  township  rural  schools  after  which  he  engaged  in 
agriculture  on  his  father's  farm  in  Peck.  Mr.  Helm- 
brecht then  entered  the  College  of  Agriculture,  Uni- 
versity of  Wisconsin,  from  which  he  graduated  as  an 
expert  dairyman  and  manufacturer  of  cheese  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1918.  He  then  went  to  Waterloo  township,  Al- 
lamakee County,  Iowa,  where  for  over  two  years  he 
was  in  charge  of  dairy  and  cheese  operations  for  the 
D.  J.  Murphy  Cheese  Company. 

Mr.  Helmbrecht  then  returned  to  Wisconsin  and  be- 
came proprietor  of  the  Brookside  Cheese  Factory, 
Harrison  township,  Marathon  County,  which  he  pur- 
chased in  1920  from  F.  J.  Jeske.  Mr.  Helmbrecht  sold 
the  factory  to  R.  F.  Pavlichek  in  1922.  He  then  ac- 
cepted a  position  as  Manager  of  the  Fernwood  Dairy 
Produce  Company,  an  Ackley  township  unit,  with  fac- 
tory located  at  "Woodcock's  corner,"  west  of  Antigo. 

June  29,  1920,  Mr.  Helmbrecht  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Mary  E.  Sires,  of  Waukon,  Iowa,  to  which 
union  one  child,  Phyllis  Jane,  was  born. 

The  Helmbrecht  family  attends  St.  John's  Catholic 
church  of  Antigo  and  Mr.  Helmbrecht  is  an  active 
member  of  Antigo  Council  No.  1002,  Knights  of  Colum- 
bus. 

KARL  BOERNER.  In  every  community  there  may 
be  found  among  its  citizenship  men  who  direct  their 
lives  in  harmony  with  the  old  rule,  known  as  that  of 
the  "Three  P's — Push — Pluck  and  Perseverance."  To 
this  class  Langlade  County's  only  practical  furrier, 
Karl  Boerner  belongs.  Karl  Boerner  comes  from  a 
country  in  Europe  that  has  produced  some  of  the 
world's  illustrious  thinkers — in  science,  literature,  phi- 
losophy, commerce,  agriculture,  state  affairs  and  in 
economics.  He  was  born  in  Einbeck,  Province  of  Han- 
over, Germany,  June  19,  1886,  the  son  of  Wilhelm  and 
Christine  (Eiland)  Boerner.  His  early  education  was 
completed  in  Germany  and  then  young  Boerner  follow- 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


287 


ed  the  skilled  trade  of  his  father  and  grandfather,  that 
of  a  furrier.  He  is  the  third  of  three  generations  of  old 
master  furriers.  Karl  Boerner,  his  grandfather,  was 
furrier  to  the  Royal  family  of  Hanover  and  the  Duke 
of  Cumberland;  Wilhelm  Boerner,  his  father,  was 
awarded  a  Diploma  of  Honor  in  the  Exposition  of  In- 
dustry at  Hanover  in  1876.  Karl  Boerner  served  in 
the  Bavarian  Army  in  1887-90  at  Nurenberg.  Five 
years  later,  July  18,  1895,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Elizabeth  Seeve  of  Brunswick,  Germany.  The  mar- 
riage ceremony  was  performed  at  Magdeburg,  Ger- 
many, where  Karl  Boerner's  father-in-law  resided.  He 
was  an  inspector  of  railroads  and  is  now  retired  from 
active  life.  To  this  union  three  children  were  born: 
Irmagarde,  now  Mrs.  John  Reckinger,  of  Antigo; 
Guenthner  of  Antigo  and  Richard,  also  of  Antigo. 

Mr.  Boerner  first  visited  Antigo  in  1891  and  stayed 
here  for  three  years,  then  leaving  for  Chicago,  111.  He 
returned  to  Antigo  in  1915  and  has  since  had  his  furrier 
offices  in  the  Molle  building.  He  resides  in  Antigo 
township,  just  a  short  distance  from  the  business  sec- 
tion of  Antigo. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  has  followed  his  profes- 
sion in  Denmark  and  Sweden,  the  land  of  his  nativity 
and  in  the  United  States  and  is  an  expert  furrier. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Unity  Evangelical  Church  and 
holds  the  office  of  Congregational  Secretary.  He  has 
served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  as  a  school  clerk 
in  the  district  in  which  he  resides  in  Antigo  township. 
He  is  an  officer  in  the  Antigo  rural  telephone  company. 

Mr.  Boerner  can  vividly  recall  many  reminiscences 
of  happenings  in  Antigo  during  his  first  business  career 
here.  He  has  made  two  visits  to  Europe  since  coming 
to  America.  Mr.  Boerner  is  held  in  high  regard  as  a 
citizen  by  a  wide  acquaintance  which  the  present  and 
coming  generations  can  not  do  better  than  to  emulate. 

JULIUS  BELOW.  It  is  not  always  the  men  of  a 
community  who  make  the  greatest  clamor  and  who 
take  the  prominent  places  who  contribute  the  most  to 
the  solid  growth  and  development  of  a  community.  It 
is,  rather,  an  undisputable  fact  that  some  of  the  quiet, 
steady-going  and  persistent  men  have  left  more  indeli- 
ble marks  upon  their  home  town  than  a  showy  individ- 
ual. Among  these  reliables  is  none  other  than  Julius 
Below,  pioneer  tailor  and  chiropractor.  He  studied  his 
Chiropractic  profession  in  Elizabeth  Hospital.  Mr. 
Below  was  born  in  Greminz,  Germany,  March  29,  1858, 
the  son  of  Freida  (Von  Bork)  and  August  Below.  He 
attended  the  public  schools  of  his  birthplace  and  then 
learned  the  tailor  trade  and  the  profession  now  known 
as  Chiropractics.  Mr.  Below  immigrated  to  the  United 
States,  April  27,  1881,  and  worked  in  New  York  City 
thirteen  weeks  before  coming  to  Oshkosh,  Winnebago 
County,  Wisconsin,  where  for  seven  years  he  followed 
his  chosen  field  of  endeavor.  May  10,  1884,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Minnie  Herrssen,  then  of  Osh- 
kosh, but  a  native  of  Germany.  To  this  union  eight 
children  were  born,  namely:  Walter  of  Antigo;  Freida, 
now  the  wife  of  Dr.  A.  G.  Tohey,  Oshkosh,  Wis.;  Dor- 
othy, now  Mrs.  Eugene  Schidt,  Elmhurst,  Wis.;  Wil- 


liam, of  Antigo;  Erna  of  Antigo;  Leo  of  Belle  Plaine, 
Iowa;  Herbert  of  Antigo.  Werner,  a  son,  is  deceas- 
ed. 

The  Below  family  attend  the  Unity  Evangelical 
Church  and  the  parental  home  is  at  802  Lincoln  Street, 
Antigo,  Wis.  Mr.  Below  has  his  offices  in  the  Albers 
building.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodman  of 
America  and  the  Mystic  Workers  of  the  World.  Leo 
Below  served  in  the  World  War  and  Herbert  Below 
was  ready  to  embark  for  camp  when  the  Armistice  was 
signed. 

Mr.  Below  was  the  third  tailor  to  locate  in  Antigo, 
the  others  being  Gustav  Ulrich  and  F.  Manthey. 

Mr.  Below  learned  his  Chiropractic  profession  in 
Elizabeth  Hospital,  Polzen,  Pommen,  Germany. 

PETER  J.  DUNN,  a  prominent  railway  conductor 
and  a  pioneer  Antigo  resident,  was  born  in  Montello, 
Marquette  County,  Wisconsin,  April  1,  1881,  the  son 
of  Delia  (Fox)  and  Daniel  Dunn.  At  the  age  of  five 
he  moved  with  his  parents  to  Antigo,  then  a  little 
city,  one  year  old.  He  attended  the  public  and  par- 
ochial schools  and  graduated  from  the  Antigo  High 
School  with  the  class  of  1898.  Twelve  pupils  grad- 
uated at  that  time.  He  then  engaged  in  clerical 
work  for  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  railway,  began 
later  as  a  brakeman  and  worked  his  way  up  to  the 
rank  of  a  conductor,  which  position  he  now  holds. 
Mr.  Dunn  was  united  in  marriage  to  Margaret  Huhn, 
a  daughter  of  Jennie  (Marx)  and  J.  Huhn  of  Clinton- 
ville,  Wisconsin,  on  January  7,  1914.  To  this  union 
four  children  were  born  as  follows:  George,  James, 
Davom  and  Alice.  Mr.  Dunn  and  family  attend  St. 
John's  Catholic  church  of  Antigo,  and  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Brotherhood  of  Railroad  Trainmen  and  the 
Knights  of  Columbus.  He  was  appointed  a  member 
of  the  Advisory  Board  of  the  City  of  Antigo  by 
Mayor  Charles  J.  Hanzel  in  1920. 

The  Dunn  residence  is  at  508  Deleglise  street. 

Daniel  Dunn  passed  away  on  December  25,  1904, 
and  he  lies  buried  in  the  Antigo  cemetery.  His  wife 
is  still  living  on  Deleglise  street. 

The  identification  which  the  late  Daniel  Dunn  has 
with  the  city  of  Antigo  was  for  its  best  good.  The 
Dunn  family  possess  many  qualities  of  excellence 
and  are  respected  for  the  high  character  of  their  cit- 
izenship. 

PETER  PETROWSKI.  A  pioneer  Antigo  resident, 
who  has  been  employed  by  the  old  Milwaukee,  Lake 
Shore  &  Western  Railroad  and  the  Chicago  &  North- 
western railroad  for  years,  was  born  in  Offen,  German 
Poland,  on  April  16,  1855,  the  son  of  Carrie  (Ossows- 
kae)  and  Jacob  Petrowski.  He  attended  the  parochial 
schools  of  Offen  after  which  he  secured  employment  on 
the  railroad  entering  Offen.  In  1881  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Anna  Zolodawske  of  Offen.  The 
following  year,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Petrowski  sailed  from  the 
native  land  to  the  United  States,  coming  direct  to  Lang- 
lade County,  Wisconsin.  They  settled  at  Antigo.  Mr. 
Petrowski   thereupon   secured   employment   with     the 


288 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


Milwaukee,  Lake  Shore  &  Western  railroad  and  work- 
ed for  that  concern  until  its  purchase  in  1893  by  the 
Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad  Company.  He  will 
be  pensioned  for  faithful  and  honorable  service  in 
1924. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Petrowski  had  eleven  children,  two  of 
whom  are  deceased.  They  are  Peter  and  Frank.  The 
chirdren  living  are  Benjamin,  John,  Francis,  Ellen, 
Mary,  Carrie,  Olga,  Agnes  and  Mae,  now  Mrs.  George 
Schlobasky  of  Fond  du  Lac,  Wis. 

The  Petrowski  family  attends  St.  Hyacinth's 
Catholic  church  of  Antigo.  They  have  a  fine  home 
at  414  Doersch  street,  Antigo.  The  citizens  of  the 
United  States  of  Polish  descent  are  as  patriotic  as 
any  native  born  American.  When  the  call  to  arms 
went  forth  in  the  United  States  the  sons  of  Mr. 
Petrowski  responded.  John  and  Benjamin  both 
served  their  country  gallantly.  John  was  in  a  hos- 
pital before  and  after  his  overseas  experiences.  John 
enlisted  in  March,  1918,  serving  a  year  overseas  with 
the  112th  Machine  Gun  Batallion  of  the  29th  Divis- 
ion in  the  Alsace  and  Meuse  Argonne  battles,  the 
most  terrific  in  which  American  infantrymen  partici- 
pated. He  was  honorably  discharged  in  July,  1919. 
Benjamin  served  with  Co.  L.  125th  Michigan  Infan- 
try. He  was  wounded  in  the  arm  by  machine  gun 
bullets  while  in  the  Meuse  Argonne  sector.  He  was 
also  shell  shocked  as  a  result  of  his  war  services  and 
is  now  in  the  U.  S.  hospital,  Maywood,  a  suburb  of 
Chicago,  111. 

JOHN  HOLLEY.  Langlade  County,  it  has  been 
fittingly  said,  owes  her  greatest  and  best  develop- 
ment to  those  men  who  have  given  their  time  and 
lives  to  the  cultivation  of  the  then  waste  places  of 
the  county  and  those  who  have  aided  in  the  commer- 
cial and  industrial  growth  of  Antigo,  the  county-seat, 
and  its  vicinity.  One  of  the  citizens  of  Antigo  whose 
energy,  sagacity  and  industry  has  enabled  him  to  aid 
in  the  up-building  of  an  important  commercial  enter- 
prise, The  Antigo  Manufacturing  Company,  is  John 
Holley. 

John  Holley  was  born  in  Ballycairn,  Waterford 
County,  Ireland,  on  March  15,  1847.  As  a  boy  Mr. 
Holley  spent  some  time  in  the  land  of  his  nativity 
coming  to  the  United  States  after  the  death  of  his 
mother.  He  imigrated  to  this  country  with  his  father, 
three  brothers  and  two  sisters,  settling  at  New  Orleans, 
Louisiana.  When  the  father  died  the  sisters  and 
brothers  separated  and  gradually  became  scattered 
to  different  points  in  the  south.  John  Holley  spent 
part  of  his  boyhood  days  in  Kentucky  from  where  he 
went  to  Cincinnatti,  Ohio.  From  Ohio  he  came  north 
to  Wisconsin  and  took  up  residence  with  a  sister,  who 
had  previously  moved  to  Menasha,  Winnebago  Coun- 
ty, Wisconsin.  He  made  his  first  trip  into  Northern 
Wisconsin  when  he  was  a  lad  of  sixteen.  At  that 
time  he  came  to  Merrill,  called  Jenny  then,  and  floated 
a  raft  of  logs  down  the  Wisconsin  and  Mississippi 
rivers.  This  trip  was  a  long  and  dangerous  one  over 
falls  and  rapids  but  at  the  elapse  of  six  weeks  he  had 


safely  arrived  at  his  destination,  St.  Louis,  Mo.  Fol- 
lowing this  hazardous  experience  Mr.  Holley  spent 
some  time  as  a  pilot  on  the  Great  Lakes  and  subse- 
quently engaged  in  the  timber  industry  in  the  great 
"pineries"  of  Northern  Wisconsin,  Michigan  and  Min- 
nesota. After  his  marriage  to  Miss  Mattie  Babcock 
of  Neenah,  Winnebago  County,  Wisconsin,  in  1885, 
Mr .  and  Mrs.  Holley  moved  to  Marshfield,  Wood 
County,  Wisconsin,  where  Mr.  Holley  engaged  as 
foreman  in  the  manufacturing  plant  of  Ex-Governor 
William  H.  Upham.  In  1891  he  came  to  Antigo, 
then  six  years  old  as  an  incorporated  city,  and  in 
company  with  two  brothers-in-law,  H.  A.  Babcock, 
of  Neenah,  George  Maxwell  and  G.  K.  Meneely, 
started  the  Antigo   Manufacturing  Company. 

The  plant  was  the  first  manufacturing  plant  in 
Antigo  to  establish  a  ten  hour  day  and  a  weekly  pay 
system.  Later  the  company  purchased  the  Henry 
Sherry  Company  at  Kent  and  operated  a  small  mill 
there  for  a  number  of  years.  A  mill  was  operated  at 
Mattoon,  Shawano  County,  Wisconsin,  by  the  same 
concern  for  several  years.  The  Antigo  Manufactur- 
ing Company  originally  manufactured  staves,  head- 
ing and  broom  handles  but  now  is  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  broom  handles  only. 

The  Holley  family  reside  at  303  Sixth  Avenue. 
Four  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holley,  as 
follows:  Morris,  the  eldest,  died  in  infancy;  Malin- 
da,  now  Mrs.  Newton  Rosenheimer,  of  Kewaskum, 
Washington  County,  Wisconsin;  Mary,  now  Mrs.  Er- 
nest Johnson,  of  Iron  River,  Michigan;  and  Harriet, 
who  resides  with  her  parents  in  Antigo.  During  the 
long  career  of  John  Holley  in  Langlade  County,  he 
has  ever  possessed  the  respect  and  confidence  of  his 
fellow  citizens  and  in  a  work  of  this  character  de- 
serves honorable  reference. 

CARL  OLSEN.  Among  the  men  of  Langlade 
County  who  have  won  the  confidence  and  esteem  of 
their  fellow  men  by  the  ability  they  have  displayed 
while  engaged  as  a  public  servant,  none  are  better 
known  than  Carl  Olsen,  of  Elcho  township,  the  pres- 
ent Highway  Commissioner  of  Langlade  County. 
Commissioner  Olsen  was  born  at  Larvik,  Norway,  Sep- 
tember 26,  1872,  the  son  of  Ole  G.  Olsen  and  Trena 
Christoferson  Olsen.  During  his  boyhood  he  attended 
the  public  schools  of  Norway.  When  but  eighteen 
years  of  age  he  imigrated  to  the  United  States,  arriv- 
ing in  this  country  in  September,  1890.  He  settled  at 
Rhinelander,  Oneida  County,  Wisconsin,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  sawmill  work  and  was  employed  on  the  Wis- 
consin river  in  the  lumbering  industry.  He  stayed  at 
Rhinelander  until  January,  1900,  when  he  then  moved 
to  Elcho  township,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He 
lived  in  Elcho  village  for  about  three  years  working 
for  the  Jones  Lumber  Company  as  a  carriage  rider 
and  also  worked  in  their  lumber  yard.  He  then  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  land  northeast  of  Elcho  and 
has,  with  his  family,  lived  on  that  property  since. 
For  four  winters  he  logged  extensively  for  Richardson 
Brothers,  of  Sheboygan  Falls,  Wisconsin. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


289 


Mr.  Olsen  was  married  at  Rhinelander,  Wisconsin, 
on  November  27,  1897,  to  Emelia  Warg,  to  which  union 
nine  children  were  born — seven  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters, namely,  Delia,  Orville,  Clarence,  Friedolf, 
Edwin    (deceased),   Rudolf,  Emil,  Edward,  and   Inez. 

Mr.  Olsen  is  a  member  of  the  Elcho  Lodge  of  the 
Mystic  Workers  of  the  World.  The  family  attends 
the  Norwegian  Lutheran  church.  Mr.  Olsen  has  held 
the  position  of  County  Highway  Commissioner  since 
January,  1917,  being  elected  at  the  November,  1916, 
session  of  the  Langlade  County  Board.  During  his 
administration  the  roads  of  the  County  have  been  de- 
veloped to  a  higher  degree  of  efficiency  than  at  any 
time  previously. 


LYMAN  A.  STEFFEN,  M.  D.  The  name  of  Stef- 
fen  has  been  identified  with  the  progress  of  Antigo 
for  nearly  forty  years  and  will  continue  for  many 
years  to  come,  no  doubt,  to  be  synonomous  with  good 
citizenship  and  civic  advancement.  Dr.  Lyman  A.  Stef- 
fen  was  born  July  20,  1887,  in  Antigo,  Langlade  Coun- 
ty, Wisconsin,  the  son  of  Dr.  I.  D.  and  Effie  L.  Stef- 
fen.  As  a  boy  Dr.  Steffen  attended  the  public  schools 
of  Antigo,  then  but  a  few  years  old  as  an  incorpor- 
ated city,  and  in  June,  1905,  he  was  graduated  from 
the  Antigo  High  School.  He  entered  the  University 
of  Wisconsin  in  the  fall  of  1905  and  until  the  fall  of 
1908  he  was  with  that  institution.  While  there  he  was 
chosen  a  member  of  the  Apha  Delta  Phi  fraternity. 
He  then  entered  the  medical  department  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Chicago,  being  there  from  1908  to  1910. 
The  next  two  years,  1910-12  he  spent  at  the  famous 
Rush  Medical  College,  from  which  he  graduated  in 
June,  1912.  While  at  Rush  he  was  honored  with  mem- 
bership in  the  Alpha  Kappa  Kappa  medical  fratern- 
ity. Following  his  graduation  the  young  medic 
served  for  nearly  a  year  as  interne  at  St.  Anthony  de 
Padua  Hospital  in  Chicago. 

Completing  his  medical  course  Dr.  Steffen  became 
first  assistant  to  the  chief  physician  and  surgeon  in 
charge  of  the  employes  of  the  Virginia-Rainey  Lake 
Lumber  Company  at  Virginia,  Minnesota,  largest  lum- 
bering institution  in  the  world.  He  returned  to  An- 
tigo, his  birthplace,  in  October,  1913,  and  became  as- 
sociated with  his  father  in  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion. 

When  the  world  war  broke  out  he  enlisted.  May, 
1917,  and  was  called  into  service  August  8,  1917.  He 
sailed  for  England  on  August  29,  1917,  and  became 
attached  to  the  Royal  Army  Medical  Corps.  He  was 
stationed  six  months  in  England  (Manchester)  with 
the  Second  Western  General  Hospital,  when  he  was 
ordered  to  France,  in  March,  1918,  to  become  attached 
to  the  63rd  Royal  Naval  Division,  B.  E.  F.  He  served 
two  months  with  the  148th  Field  Ambulance  of  the 
B.  E.  F.,  and  then  was  assigned  as  medical  officer  in 
charge  of  the  317th  Field  Artillery  Brigade,  63rd 
Division.  Dr.  Steffen  attained  the  rank  of  Captain 
while  in  service.  In  February,  1919,  he  returned 
from  France  to  England  and  was  again  stationed  at 


the  Second  Western  General  Hospital  upon  his  re- 
quest as  he  desired  more  surgical  practice. 

In  May,  1919,  he  was  transferred  to  the  U.  S.  forces 
and  returned  to  the  United  'iStates,  landing  in  New 
York  on  June  12,  1919,  and  being  honorably  discharged 
June  13,  1919,  at  Camp/Dix,  New  Jersey.  He  was 
awarded  the  British  Military  Cross,  coveted  British 
honor,  while  serving  in  the  war. 

Dr.  Steffen  had  the  unique  distinction  of  taking  a 
Masonic  degree  with  an  Australian  and  a  Canadian 
in  February,  1918,  and  still  holds  membership  in  the 
Charlton-cum-Hardy  chapter,  a  suburb  of  Manches- 
ter, England.  Fraternally  he  is  allied  with  the  Mas- 
ons, Elks,  Moose  and  Knights  of  Pythias.  Dr.  Stef- 
fen was  selected  City  Health  Physician  of  Antigo,  in 
June,   1920. 

September  23,  1914,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Erma 
Hessel,  daughter  of  John  Hessel,  pioneer  Antigo  mer- 
chant, and  two  children,  Jean  Louise  and  Elizabeth 
Allen,  have  been  born  to  this  union.  The  Steffen 
family  resides  at  511  Fifth  Avenue. 

Dr.  Steffen  is  a  member  of  the  Langlade  County 
Medical  Society,  of  which  he  has  been  President  for 
the  past  three  years,  a  member  of  the  Wisconsin 
State  Medical  Association,  the  American  Medical  As- 
sociation, the  American  Association  of  Railway  Sur- 
geons, and  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Surgical  As- 
sociation. 

CHARLES  F.  DALLMAN,  a  pioneer  resident  of 
Antigo,  was  born  November  19,  1857,  at  Winchester, 
Wisconsin.  He  attended  school  at  that  place  and 
spent  his  youth  and  early  manhood  in  the  place  of  his 
birth.  June  1,  1882,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza- 
beth C.  Keen,  at  Winchester.  His  wife  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  the  late  D.  W.  Keen,  one  time  Antigo  mayor. 
Shortly  after  their  marriage  they  moved  to  the  then 
village  of  Antigo,  having  made  their  home  in  Antigo 
for  thirty-nine  years,  until  his  death  September  21, 
1921.  Charles  F.  Dallman  was  one  of  the  early  An- 
tigo citizens  and  as  an  architect  and  contractor  he 
provided  plans  for  and  constructed  more  public  build- 
ings than  any  other  Antigo  or  Langlade  County  citi- 
zen. He  erected  the  public  library,  the  city  hall, 
scores  of  schools  in  the  rural  districts  of  Langlade 
County  and  also  many  other  buildings.  These  pub- 
lic buildings  are  a  monument  to  his  progressiveness 
and  his  thrifty  spirit. 

Mr.  Dallman  is  survived  in  life  by  his  widow  and 
three  children:  Lydia,  now  Mrs.  Dudley  Burton,  of 
Fergus  Falls,  Minnesota;  Hulda,  now  Mrs.  Edward 
Van  Deuren,  of  Antigo;  Daniel  Dallman,  of  Chicago, 
Illinois.     One  daughter,  Ida,  died  in  1905. 

The  late  Mr.  Dallman  was  one  of  the  active  mem- 
bers of  the  Unity  Evangelical  church  and  had  much 
to  do  with  its  advancement  and  progress.  He  was 
fraternally  affiliated  with  the  Beavers  and  Fraternal 
Reserve  Association.  He  lies  buried  in  the  old  Anti- 
go  cemetery. 

The  life  of  Charles  F.  Dallman  serves  as  an  excel- 
lent example  of  the  rewards  that  come  only  after  a  life 


290 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


of  probity,  industriousness  and  integrity.  Mr.  Dall- 
man  was  a  man  of  upright  character  and  highly  es- 
teemed by  all  who  knew  him. 

ANTHONY  LOMBARDO.  Prominent  merchant, 
was  born  December  13,  1889,  in  the  city  of  Termini 
Imerese,  Italy,  the  son  of  Pauline  (Castro)  and  Salva- 
tore  Lombardo.  His  father  was  born  in  1849  and  his 
mother  ten  years  later.  His  father  was  a  farmer. 
Young  Anthony  spent  his  boyhood  in  Italy  leaving  that 
country  April  14,  1903,  for  the  United  States.  He  en- 
gaged in  the  marble  and  mosiac  and  tile  contracting 
in  the  U.  S.  and  Canada,  from  1910-15  in  the  latter. 
He  came  to  Antigo  in  1917,  following  the  fruit  business 
in  which  he  entered  with  Curtis  McCollister  in  The 
Antigo  Fruit  Company,  now  owned  entirely  by  Mr. 
Lombardo.  He  was  married  to  Anastasia  Filbrandt, 
born  October  8,  1888,  at  Berlin,  Green  Lake  County, 


AXTHOXY   LOMBARDO 
Proprietor  of  the  .'\ntigo   Fruit   Company,   Antigo.  Wis. 

Wis.  To  this  union  three  children  have  been  born: 
Anthony  Michael,  Jr.,  April  9,  1918;  Gertrude  Pauline, 
April  3,  1919;  Marie  Catharine,  November  9,  1921,  all 
were  born  in  Antigo,  Langlade  County,  Wis.  Mr. 
Lombardo  obtained  full  citizenship  in  the  U.  S.  in  1919 
and  two  years  later,  February  11,  1921,  returned  to  Eu- 
rope to  visit  at  his  birthplace  and  with  his  aged  par- 
ents. He  made  stops  at  Rome,  Genoa,  Turin,  Napoli, 
La  Havre,  was  in  Rome  two  weeks,  saw  Pope  Benedict 
XV  April  24,  1921,  visited  at  Paris  two  weeks,  the  Ver- 
sailles Palace,  Invalides  Museum  and  Marsellies.  He 
was  also  in  Trieste,  Austria,  returning  to  America,  May 
9,  1921.  Mr.  Lombardo  resides  at  515  Virginia  street. 
He  is  by  faith  a  Catholic  and  fraternally  is  affiliated 
with  the  Loyal  Order  of  Moose,  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks,  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters 
and  Knights  of  Columbus. 

LEONARD  FREIBURGER,  former  Antigo  mayor 
and  a  prominent  pioneer,  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Arran,   Washington   County,   Wisconsin,   on    May    20, 


1859,  the  son  of  John  and  Katherine  Freiburger.  He 
lived  on  the  farm  operated  by  his  father  until  he  at- 
tained the  age  of  seventeen,  having  in  the  time  preced- 
ing that  age  attended  the  rural  and  parochial  schools 
of  the  community.  He  started  out  in  the  world  for 
himself  at  New  London,  Waupaca  County,  Wiscon- 
sin, where  he  learned  the  trade  of  a  wagon  maker. 
After  serving  two  years  as  an  apprentice  he  quit 
wagonmaking  and  went  into  the  woods  to  work.  This 
was  followed  by  mill  work  until  1879  when  he  became 
associated  with  Chris.  Buehlman  in  the  brick  in- 
dustry at  New  London.  This  business  he  followed 
until  1883  when  he  sold  his  interest  to  his  partner  and 
moved  to  Antigo,  Langlade  County,  Wisconsin.  He 
started  to  work  June  15,  1883,  for  Edgar  Neff,  working 
by  the  piece.  For  three  years  he  stayed  with  Mr. 
Neff  and  then  purchased  from  his  employer  the  wagon 
making  shop.  Since  then  Mr.  Freiburger  has  been 
continuously  in  the  same  business.  He  conducted 
his  shop  one  year  where  the  Raskin  second-hand 
store  is  located,  having  previously  been  asso- 
ciated with  Laughlin  &  Kelly.  He  then  formed  a 
partnership  with  Jos.  Wirig,  which  lasted  from  1902 
until  1917.  In  1904  the  shop  was  moved  from  Fifth 
Avenue  to  Field  Street,  present  location.  The  firm 
was  known  as  the  Antigo  Wagon  Works. 

Mr.  Freiburger  was  married  November  2,  1881,  to 
Agnes  Monnette,  of  Duck  Creek,  Brown  County.  To 
this  union  five  children  were  born :  Irene,  now  Mrs. 
H.  L.  Pepper,  of  Wausau,  Wisconsin;  Florence  Es- 
ther, deceased;  Clarence,  Leonard,  Jr.,  and  Vernon, 
all  of  Antigo.  Vernon  was  a  seaman  during  the 
World  War.  Fraternally  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
is  affiliated  with  the  Catholic  Foresters,  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  the  Fraternal  Reserve  Associa- 
tion, the  Beavers,  St.  Joseph  Benevolent  Society  and 
the  Knights  of  Columbus.  Politically  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat. He  has  served  as  Consultor  and  Treasurer  of 
St.  John's  church  of  Antigo  for  about  twenty  years  or 
more.  Since  coming  to  Antigo  Mr.  Freiburger  has 
been  inducted  into  public  service  continuously.  He 
has  served  with  distinction  as  school  commissioner. 
Alderman,  Supervisor,  President  of  the  City  Council, 
Mayor  of  Antigo,  Chairman  of  the  Langlade  County 
Board  for  five  years,  and  has  served  in  other  public 
capacities.  He  is  now  a  member  of  the  County  Nor- 
mal Board.  He  first  was  elected  a  school  commis- 
sioner of  the  old  4th  Ward  (Antigo  then  had  but  four 
wards)  in  1885.  A  synopsis  of  the  administration 
of  Mr.  Freiburger  as  Mayor  is  given  elsewhere. 

A.  K.  POTTER,  prominent  citizen,  actively  identi- 
fied with  public  welfare  of  Langlade  County,  was  born 
March  9,  1870,  at  Adams,  Mass.  He  came  west  to 
Wisconsin  in  1891,  settling  at  Wonewoc,  Wis.  Here 
he  was  married  to  Mildred  Ella  Holmes  on  February 
14,  1895.  To  this  union  was  born  a  daughter,  Miss 
Mildred  Potter,  now  a  student  at  Milwaukee-Downer 
College,  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  and  a  son.  Rusk  K.  Potter, 
now  an  electrical  engineer.  Mr.  Potter  entered  the 
employ  of  the  C.  &  N.  W.  R.  R.  Co.  at  Wonewoc  in 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


291 


1891  in  the  operating  department  and  later  transferred 
to  the  Purchasing  Department,  with  which  he  has 
since  been  connected.  The  Potters  spent  several  years 
in  the  south  before  coming  to  Antigo  on  April  1,  1902. 
Mr.  Potter  holds  the  responsible  position  of  Purchas- 
ing Agent  for  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Co.  on 
both  the  Ashland  and  Lake  Shore  Divisions.  He 
had  an  active  part  in  purchasing  the  land  and  other- 
wise aiding  Antigo  to  get  the  Langlade  Lumber  Com- 
pany and  the  Charles  W.  Fish  Lumber  Company 
plants  to  locate  here.  During  the  great  World  War, 
1917-19,  Mr.  Potter  played  the  part  of  a  100  per  cent 
American.  His  son  Rusk,  graduate  from  the  Antigo 
High  School  in  1915,  a  University  of  Wisconsin 
School  of  Engineering  graduate  and  from  the  School 
of  Engineering  at  Milwaukee  with  a  B.  S.  degree  in 
E.  E.,  was  commissioned  Lieutenant  in  the  Field  Ar- 
tillery, U.  S.  A.,  November  18,  1918,  and  ordered  to 
Camp  Zachary  Taylor,  Louisville,  Kentucky,  where 
he  served  until  the  end  of  the  war,  receiving  an  honor- 
able discharge  December  14,  1918.  Mr.  Potter  was  in 
all  the  five  Liberty  Loan  drives  and  other  patriotic 
war  work,  was  chosen  in  1921,  Chairman  of  Langlade 
County  for  "Relief  in  Ireland,  soliciting  funds  for  suf- 
fering of  that  belated  country.  The  campaign  went 
over  the  top.  Langlade  County  was  the  first  in 
Wisconsin  to  reach  its  quota.  Mr.  Potter  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Congregational  church,  belongs  to  the 
Masonic  orders  as  follows :  F.  &  A.  M.,  Chapter, 
Knights  Templar,  Thirty-two  degree  Mason,  and 
a  member  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  of  Milwaukee. 
His  son.  Rusk,  was  married  January  5,  1921,  to 
Miss  Marion  Duchac.  They  reside  at  Milwaukee. 
Wisconsin,  where  Mr.  Potter  is  state  representative 
for  the  King  Pneumatic  Tool  Co.,  of  Chicago,  111. 
The  Potter  family  are  the  kind  of  citizens  that  make 
for  the  betterment  of  a  community. 

JOSEPH  S.  GUENTHNER,  real  estate  dealer  and 
farmer,  was  born  in  Milwaukee,  March  11,  1877.  He 
moved  to  this  county  with  his  parents  the  same  year 
settling  in  Rolling  township,  then  a  wilderness.  He 
attended  the  public  schools  and  later  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. In  January,  1902,  Mr.  Guenthner  was  married 
to  Lillie  Schoblasky,  of  the  town  of  Embarass,  Wau- 
paca County.  Four  children,  one  girl  and  three  boys, 
were  born  to  this  union.  Mr.  Guenthner  is  a  member 
of  the  Beavers.  Up  to  1922  he  was  associated  with 
Julius  Schoblasky  in  garage  business  in  Antigo.  He 
is  the  owner  of  considerable  real  estate  in  the  county. 

ASHER  R.  TREAT,  Train  dispatcher,  was  born 
November  16,  1859,  the  son  of  Alzina  and  David 
Treat.  He  attended  the  common  schools  at  his  birth- 
place, Buchanan,  Michigan.  Completing  the  common 
school  education  he  studied  telegraphy,  which  he  has 
since  followed.  In  1874  he  started  with  the  Michigan 
Central  at  South  Haven,  Michigan,  where  he  stayed 
four  years;  he  then  went  with  the  Chicago,  Burling- 
ton &  Quincy  for  eight  months;  then  with  the  Kansas 
Pacific,  now  a  part  of  the  Union   Pacific  system;  the 


Louisville  &  Nashville,  Burlington  &  Northern  at 
Cedar  Rapids,  which  concern  he  was  with  four  years; 
then  with  the  Canadian  Pacific  for  a  year,  after  which 
he  served  with  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific; 
the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul,  the  Soo  Line,  and 
then  the  Milwaukee,  Lake  Shore  &  Western,  which  in 
1893  was  sold  to  the  C.  &  N.  W.  Railroad  Company. 
Mr.  Treat  was  married  on  August  9,  1906,  to  Pearl 
Barnes.  They  have  one  child,  Asher  E.,  Jr.  Mrs. 
Treat  is  an  accomplished  singer  of  more  than  local 
success.  The  Treat  family  attend  the  Congrega- 
tional church.  Mr.  Treat  is  a  member  of  the  K.  of 
P.  Lodge.  He  came  to  Antigo  February  22,  1905. 
The  Treat  residence  is  at  714  Second  Avenue. 

GEORGE  FALKENHAGEN,  JR.,  plumber,  was 
born  July  22,  1890,  son  of  Anna  and  George  Falken- 
hagen.  He  attended  the  Chicago  public  schools, 
moving  in  1904  to  Antigo  with  his  parents.  He  started 
a  plumbing  and  heating  concern  for  himself  in  1912. 
Walter  Falkenhagen,  a  brother,  was  his  partner  until 
1921.  The  Falkenhagen  shop  is  located  in  the  First 
National  Bank  Building.  Mr.  Falkenhagen  can  trace 
his  ancestors  back  many  years,  church  records  sub- 
stantiating the  fact  that  Gen.  F.  Von  Falkenhayn, 
German  leader,  was  a  distant  relative.  When  war 
broke  out  George  P'alkenhagen  enlisted,  serving  in  a 
Machine  Gun  School,  Camp  Hancock,  Georgia,  from 
July  8,  1918,  to  July  25,  1919.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Loyal  Order  of  Moose.  Mr.  Falkenhagen  has 
gained  recognition  as  an  artist.  His  chief  paintings 
are  "Morning  Scene  on  Duck  Lake",  Post  Lake  scene, 
and  others.  He  often  visits  the  Chicago  Art  Insti- 
tute and  has  entered  his  paintings  in  Wisconsin  Paint- 
ers and  Sculptors  competitions. 

ANTON  KRAUS,  proprietor  bowling  alleys,  was 
born  in  Neva  township  in  1883,  son  of  Josephine  and 
Joseph  Kraus.  His  father  was  drowned  in  Bass 
Lake,  west  of  Kempster  when  young  Kraus  was  four 
years  old.  He  often  remembers  when  his  father 
"packed  provisions"  from  Wausau.  He  attended  the 
rural  schools,  engaged  in  farming,  was  a  retail  store 
clerk,  woodsman  and  retail  liquor  man  in  Antigo,  also 
a  year  in  Neva.  He  took  over  the  Antigo  bowling 
alleys,  purchasing  same  from  F.  J.  Hoffman.  They 
are  popular  and  well  conducted.  He  was  married  to 
Carrie  Schwartz,  June  20,  1905.  Mr.  Kraus  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  C.  Z.  B.  J.,  Eagles,  and  Elks.  The  family 
consists  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kraus  and  one  child,  a  girl. 
They  reside  at  404  Dorr  street. 

^  FRED  SCHWARTZ,  Neva  township  farmer,  was 
born  May  30,  1860,  in  Checo-Slovakia.  At  an  early 
age  he  came  to  Langlade  County,  settling  in  Neva  on 
a  farm.  He  married  Antonio  Ferminak,  to  which 
union  ten  children  were  born,  five  girls  and  five  boys. 
Two  children  died.  Mr.  Schwartz  has  been  Assessor 
fourteen  years,  three  years  town  of  Neva  supervisor, 
four  years  a  school  treasurer.  For  seven  years  he 
was  agent,  five  years  Secretary  and  four  years  Presi- 


292 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


dent  of  the  Neva  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company. 
He  is  now  Vice  President  of  the  Neva  Farmers'  State 
Bank.  Mr.  Schwartz  is  a  member  of  the  M.  W.  A. 
and  Z.  C.  B.  J.  lodges.  He  has  a  splendid  forty  acre 
farm. 

J  JOHN   BENISHEK,   ex-Mayor,   real   estate   dealer, 

was  born  near  the  city  of  Tabor,  Bohemia,  January 
21,  1856,  son  of  Mathias  and  Apolonia  Benishek. 
With  his  parents  he  came  from  Bohemia  in  December, 
1871,  settling  in  Manitowoc  County  on  a  farm.  Un- 
til twenty-one  years  of  age  he  aided  on  the  farm,  then 
went  to  the  city  of  Manitowoc  and  learned  the  carriage 
maker's  trade,  following  same  for  four  years.  Then 
worked  in  Milwaukee,  same  trade,  one  year,  from 
there  he  went  to  Fayette,  Michigan,  two  years.  Here 
he  started  work  in  a  machine  shop,  running  steam  en- 
gines, teaching  music  and  leading  a  band.  He  moved 
to  Manistique,  Michigan,  where  he  was  four  years  in 
a  machine  shop,  the  last  year  as  foreman.  The  Soo 
line  was  then  built  into  the  region.  Mr.  Benishek 
laid  off  from  work  and  came  to  Antigo,  small  hamlet, 
in  1887,  got  a  job  on  the  railroad,  saw  greater  oppor- 
tunities here  and  then  moved  to  Antigo.  He  has  pre- 
viously been  in  Michigan  and  at  Minneapolis,  Minn. 
January  14,  1889,  Jos.  Duchac  and  John  Benishek 
formed  a  real  estate  partnership,  lasting  until  August 
26,  1891.  From  1891  to  1894  he  was  in  business  alone, 
purchased  old  Antigo  Brewing  Co.  from  John  Chalup- 
sky,  aided  to  establish  the  Citizens  Brewing  Co.,  was 
Secretary  and  Manager  of  that  business,  engaged  in 
real  estate  business  for  fourteen  years  with  Hon.  B. 
W.  Rynders.  In  1915  took  his  son,  Ben  Benishek,  in 
the  firm,  known  as  Benishek  &  Son.  John  Benishek 
has  been  Supervisor,  Alderman,  Assessor,  Justice  of 
the  Peace,  member  of  the  Board  of  Education,  and 
Mayor  of  Antigo.  He  is  a  member  of  the  C.  Z.  B.  J., 
I.  O.  0.  F.,  Camp,  Eagles  and  M.  W.  A.  lodges.  He 
was  married  to  Anna  Hynek  in  1886.  His  first  wife 
died  in  February,  1888.  He  was  remarried  to  Bar- 
bara Holup  in  1891.  She  died  in  February,  1900. 
Four  of  the  Benishek  children  are  living.  The  John 
Benishek  residence  is  at  222  Edison  street. 

W.  B.  DRESSER,  prominent  Norwood  township 
resident,  was  born  in  Kenosha,  May  2,  1867,  the  son 
of  Ellen  and  Mark  Dresser.  He  attended  the  Kenosha 
public  schools  and  the  Kansas  City  (K.)  High 
School,  having  moved  to  that  city  with  his  grand- 
parents, Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Priestly.  Young  Dres- 
ser was  left  on  his  own  resources  at  an  early  age,  his 
mother  passing  away  when  he  was  but  nine  days  old 
and  his  father  when  he  was  a  boy  of  nine.  His 
school  days  over  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Union 
Pacific  Railroad  Company  where  he  served  for  nearly 
twenty  years.  Mr.  Dresser  then  went  to  Chicago, 
where  for  three  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  lumber 
business.  In  1901  he  came  to  Langlade  County  as  a 
representative  of  the  Forest  Lumber  Company,  Wis- 
consin corporation,  a  branch  of  an  Illinois  lumber  con- 
cern.    Mr.  Dresser  moved  to  Phlox,  where  for  three 


years  he  conducted  the  Riverside  Hotel.  He  was 
married  on  January  12,  1887,  to  Margaret  Rob- 
erts, of  Kansas  City,  Kansas.  Eight  children  were 
born  to  this  union,  four  of  whom  are  living.  A  son. 
Dr.  Harry  B.  Dresser,  Marquette  University  dental 
graduate,  has  offices  in  Antigo  in  the  Fidelity 
Bank  building.  Mr.  Dresser  is  a  member  of  the  K. 
of  P.,  Eagles  and  B.  P.  0.  E.  lodges.  He  has  travel- 
ed extensively,  but  Langlade  County,  where  he  has 
spent  the  greatest  number  of  years  of  any  one  place, 
pleases  him  best. 

JOHN  McCarthy,  druggist,  was  born  at  Memee, 
Manitowoc  County,  July  28,  1864,  son  of  Dennis  and 
Bridget  McCarthy.  When  a  boy  his  mother  died. 
He  attended  the  common  schools  of  Manitowoc 
County,  after  which  he  began  railroading  on  the  old 
Milwaukee,  Lake  Shore  &  Western  railroad.  In  1895 
he  went  to  Shawano  where  until  1901  he  was  engaged 
in  the  druggist  business.  In  1901  he  came  to  Antigo, 
becoming  proprietor  of  the  City  Drug  Store,  Clermont 
street  and  Fifth  avenue,  which  he  still  owns.  Mr. 
McCarthy  was  married  to  Eleanor  Mullin,  of  Maple 
Grove,  Manitowoc  County,  February  11,  1902.  Five 
children  were  born  to  this  union.  Four  children  are 
living,  one  boy  having  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Mc- 
Carthy is  a  member  of  the  B.  P.  0.  E.  and  K.  of  C. 
lodges. 

OTTO  P.  WALCH,  banker,  was  bom  in  the  town 
of  Holland,  Brown  County,  November  8,  1873.  When 
four  years  old  he  moved  with  his  parents  into  the  wil- 
derness of  Outagamie  County,  where  they  hewed  out 
a  small  farm.  Here  they  resided  until  1885  when 
they  moved  to  Antigo  Mr.  Walch  attended  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Antigo  and  completed  three  years  in 
the  Antigo  High  School.  In  the  fall  of  1889  he  took 
a  position  with  the  Langlade  County  Bank.  This 
Bank  was  reorganized  as  the  Langlade  National  Bank 
in  1901  and  Mr.  Walch  was  then  made  Cashier,  Janu- 
ary, 1903.  In  1918  Mr.  Walch  was  chosen  Vice  Pres- 
ident of  the  same  institution.  He  has  served  for  sev- 
eral years  on  the  Board  of  Education,  was  two  years 
President  of  that  body.  In  1921  was  selected  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Advisory  Board  of  the  City  of  Antigo,  on 
which  he  still  serves.  Mr.  Walch  was  active  in  many 
of  the  various  financial  campaigns  during  the  World 
War. 

FRED  H.  SHAW,  prominent  lumberman,  was  born 
in  Flint,  Michigan,  February  11,  1870,  son  of  Ruth  M. 
and  Daniel  E.  Shaw.  At  the  age  of  two  years  he 
moved  with  his  parents  to  Bay  City,  Bay  County, 
Michigan.  He  attended  the  public  schools  and  the 
Bay  City  High  School.  When  a  youth  he  entered 
the  employ  of  the  Warren  Lewis  Lumber  Company, 
of  that  city,  and  for  three  years  gained  his  first  knovl- 
edge  of  his  future  work.  He  worked  successively 
for  the  Mosher  &  Maltby  Lumber  Company,  Bay 
City,  for  eight  years,  the  Ross  &  Wentworth  Lumber 
Company,  Bay  City,  following  which  he  entered  the 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


293 


lumber  commission  business  for  himself.  He  follow- 
ed this  business  until  1908  when  he  became  Superin- 
tendet  for  the  Hackley-Phelps  Bonnell  Company, 
Phelps,  Wisconsin,  with  which  concern  he  was  asso- 
ciated for  five  years.  Since  1916  Mr.  Shaw  has  been 
Superintendent  of  the  Langlade  Lumber  Company 
plant  at  Antigo,  Wisconsin.  Mr.  Shaw  was  married 
to  Hannah  Tomke,  Bay  City,  Michigan,  July  3,  1877. 
Three  children  were  born,  Floyd,  age  4,  and  Fred  H., 
Jr.,  age  23,  passed  away  at  the  ages  mentioned.  Mrs. 
C.  J.  Peterson,  a  daughter,  is  living.  Mr.  Shaw  is  a 
member  of  the  B.  P.  O.  E.,  Masonic  order  and  M.  W. 
A.  He  was  an  Alderman  for  two  terms  at  Bay  City, 
Michigan,  was  the  instigator  of  the  original  cement 
walk  campaign  years  ago  in  that  city,  was  Assessor 
at  Phelps  and  is  now  a  member  of  the  Antigo  Police 
and  Fire  Commission,  since  1921. 

HARRY  J.  MORSE,  Deputy  Sheriff,  was  born  July 
10,  1889,  in  the  city  of  Neenah,  the  son  of  Margaret 
and  Charles  Morse  and  a  grandson  of  Hon.  J.  W. 
Morse,  Langlade  County's  first  County  Judge.  He 
moved  to  Antigo  in  an  early  day  with  his  parents. 
Charles  Morse,  his  father,  often  toted  provisions  and 
supplies  from  Neenah  to  Antigo.  He  attended  the 
public  schools  following  which  he  entered  an  engin- 
eering school.  Mr.  Morse  then  took  an  engineering 
positions  with  the  T.  D.  Kellogg  Lumber  and  Manufac- 
turing Company,  Antigo  Lumber  Company,  Antigo 
Electric  Company,  Henshaw-Worden  and  Henshaw 
Lumber   Companies   respectively.  He    is   an   ack- 

nowledged expert  in  his  work.  Mr.  Morse  enlisted  in 
Co  A,  43rd  Engineers,  1st  Army  Corps,  was  overseas 
fifteen  months  and  was  honorably  discharged  in  July, 
1919.  January,  1921,  he  was  appointed  Deputy  Lang- 
lade County  Sheriff  by  Edward  Buchen.  In  1922  he 
declined  an  appointment  as  a  Federal  Prohibition  of- 
ficer. Mr.  Morse  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order 
and  the  Elks  fraternity. 

JOSEPH  FILBRANDT,  plumber,  was  born  in  An- 
tigo, March  14,  1890,  the  son  of  Michael  and  Matilda 
Filbrandt.  He  received  a  common  school  education, 
attending  both  public  and  parochial  schools.  He  en- 
tered the  plumbing  business  in  1913  and  on  July  14, 
1921,  formed  a  partnership  with  H.  Vowinkle  of  She- 
boygan, Wisconsin.  The  firm  is  known  under  the 
name  of  Antigo  Plumbing  &  Heating  Company,  with 
offices  on  Edison  street.  While  a  new  firm  the 
concern  has  a  steady  growing  business.  Joseph  Fil- 
brandt was  married  to  Miss  Helen  Hurley  on  April 
23,  1918.  To  this  union  one  child,  Francis,  was  born. 
He  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Filbrandt  reside 
at  720  Pine  street. 

IRVIN  A.  WHITE,  Attorney,  was  born  in  Antigo, 
January  2,  1892.  He  attended  the  public  schools  and 
Antigo  High  School,  from  which  he  graduated  in 
1909.  While  in  school  he  engaged  in  various  occu- 
pations, delivering  papers,  clerk  in  a  grocery  store, 
etc.  Entering  the  University  of  Wisconsin  in  1910, 
he  graduated  from  the  College  of  Letters  and  Science 


in  1914.  He  taught  History  in  the  Bismark  (N.  D.) 
High  School  in  1915-16.  Mr.  White  then  entered  the 
University  of  Wisconsin  Law  School  from  which  he 
graduated  in  1917.  He  served  in  the  U.  S.  Army 
from  May  12,  1917,  to  October  18,  1919,  attaining  the 
rank  of  Captain.  He  practiced  law  for  a  short  time  in 
the  office  of  Olin,  Butler,  Stebbins  &  Stroud,  Madison, 
Wisconsin.  Then  he  came  to  Antigo  where  on  April  10, 
1920,  he  became  the  junior  member  of  the  law  firm 
of  Hay  &  White.  In  1920  he  was  elected  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  Education  and  in  1921  was  chosen 
President  of  that  body.  Mr.  White  is  married  and 
resides  at  409  Edison  Street. 

CARL  O.  SOMDAHL,  mechanical  engineer,  was 
born  in  Christiania,  Norway,  February  3,  1884,  the 
son  of  Marie  and  Martin  Somdahl.  He  came  to  Phil- 
adelphia, Pa.,  with  his  parents  in  1884.  In  1885  he 
moved  to  Valley  City,  North  Dakota,  where  he  at- 
tended the  public  schools.  He  then  entered  Purdue 
University,  Lafayette,  Indiana,  from  which  in  1910 
he  graduated  as  a  mechanical  engineer.  He  became 
affiliated  with  the  Western  Gas  Construction  Company^ 
Ft.  Wayne,  Indiana,  and  rose  to  the  rank  of  Assistant 
Superintendent  of  that  Company  when  he  resigned 
to  take  over  the  Antigo  Gas  Company,  June  1,  1919. 
Since  then  extensive  improvements  have  been  made 
with  the  Antigo  utility.  Mr.  Somdahl  married  Alma 
Harriet  Berge,  of  Valley  City,  N.  D.,  June  17,  1914. 
To  this  union  two  children,  Robert  and  Marjorie,  were 
born.  The  Somdahl  family  resides  at  519  Second 
Avenue. 

AUGUST  A.  ZELM,  Summit  township  farmer,  was 
born  in  Germany,  August  29,  1882,  the  son  of  Henry 
and  Anne  Zelm.  When  three  and  a  half  years  old  he 
came  to  America  with  his  parents,  settling  at  Wausau, 
Wisconsin.  A  year  later  the  Zelm  family  moved  to 
Summit  township  where  Henry  Zelm  took  up  a  home- 
stead on  Section  35,  Township  33,  Range  9  East. 
Young  August  attended  the  rural  schools  and  then  be- 
came engaged  in  agriculture.  He  also  is  an  extens- 
ive logger,  which  business  he  does  during  the  winter. 
Mr.  Zelm  has  an  eighty  acre  farm  which  he  is  con- 
tinually   improving. 

LEON  D.  HARTFORD.  Born  at  Loyal,  Clark 
County,  Wisconsin,  March  10,  1871.  Son  of  Fifield  C. 
and  Hattie  Merrill  Hartford.  In  boyhood  attended 
common  schools  of  Loyal.  Went  to  Spencer,  Mara- 
thon County  at  age  of  ten,  with  parents.  His  father 
died  in  1887  and  the  following  year  he  moved  with 
his  mother  to  Antigo,  then  a  little  village.  Was  em- 
ployed by  Stacy  &  Merrill,  following  which  he  enter- 
ed the  barber  business  which  he  followed  for  twelve 
years.  Mr.  Hartford  then  purchased  the  F.  A.  Mil- 
lard book  store  which  he  conducted  for  ten  years, 
then  consolidating  with  F.  A.  Millard,  the  firm  being 
known  as  Millard  &  Hartford.  January  24,  1889,  he 
was  married  to  Bertha  Williams,  of  Antigo,  Wisconsin. 
Mr.   Hartford   has   served   with   credit  as   Supervisor, 


294 


HISTORY    OF    LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


Alderman,  Deputy  City  Clerk  under  Peter  Chadek,  was 
a  member  of  the  new  court  house  building  committee 
and  was  active  in  war  drives  during  the  World  War. 

HON.  CHARLES  J.  HANZEL.  The  career  and 
life  of  every  public  man  possesses  interest  to  his  fellow 
man  and  to  posterity,  particularly  if  his  ajbilities 
have  elevated  him  to  an  honorable  office  in  which  he 
has  displayed  honest  effort  and  fidelity  in  the  perform- 
ance of  its  many  responsibilities.  Pre-eminently  is 
this  true  when  executive  position  is  involved  and  es- 
pecially is  interest  excited  when  the  subject  is  so  well 


and  Paul  Hanzel.  As  a  boy  he  secured  but  a  meagre 
education  in  the  parochial  schools  of  his  birthplace. 
When  but  twelve  years  of  age  he  secured  employment 
in  the  factory  of  the  McKinney  Hinge  Company  and 
for  three  years  industriously  labored.  He  then  en- 
tered the  employ  of  the  Star  Enameling  and  Stamp- 
ing Company  at  the  age  of  fifteen  and  served  as  a 
laborer  for  two  years  with  that  Company.  He  then 
accepted  a  position  with  the  Globe  Trading  Stamp 
Company  rising  from  1899  to  1906  to  the  rank  of  Man- 
ager. Resigning  his  position  he  went  to  work  for  the 
Akron  Truss  Company,  of  Akron,  Ohio,  became  the 


HON,  CHARLES  J.  HAXZEL 

Elected  Mayor  of  .Xntigo  in  .\pril,  liiSO.     Mayor  Hanzel  at  once  inaugu- 
rated an  extensive  progrant  of  city  improvement.       He  became  the 
Democrat    nominee   for    Congress   from    the    Ninth    Congressional 
District  in  1922,  but  Vi'ithdrew  from  the  race,  when  the  .Supreme 
Court  ruled  against  placing  the  Democrat  candidates  in 
the  regular  party  column. 


known  and  respected  as  the  Mayor  of  the  City  of 
Antigo.  The  signal  services  of  Hon.  Charles  J.  Han- 
zel to  the  city  of  Antigo  have  won  for  him  an  undying 
place  among  the  illustrious  citizens,  dead  and  living, 
who  have  been  vital  or  instrumental  to  the  future 
welfare  of  Langlade  County. 

Charles  J.  Hanzel  was  born  in  Pittsburgh,  Pennsyl- 
vania, June  18,  1882,  the  son  of  Margaret   (Herman) 


Vice  President  of  that  Company,  serving  as  a  trav- 
eling salesman  as  well.  It  was  in  the  year  1912  that 
he  decided  to  locate  in  the  city  of  Antigo,  and  at 
once  engaged  in  the  wholesale  liquor  business  from 
1912  to  1917.  He  became  a  candidate  for  Mayor  of 
Antigo  at  the  request  of  many  friends  and  in  the  elec- 
tion of  1920  he  was  victorious  over  John  Benishek, 
who  ran  for  re-election.     The  administration  of  Mayor 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


295 


Hanzel  has  been  marked  with  achievements  that  will 
serve  as  monuments  to  him  when  he  has  passed  to 
his  reward.  (Mayor  Hanzel's  administration  is  dis- 
cussed fully  elsewhere  in  this  work). 

Mayor  Hanzel  was  unanimously  endorsed  in  the 
convention  of  Wisconsin  Democrats,  held  at  Milwau- 
kee, Wisconsin,  in  June,  1922,  to  become  the  standard 
bearer  of  the  Democrats  in  the  Ninth  Congressional 
District  of  Wisconsin  and  was  chosen  as  that  party's 
candidate  for  Congress. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  on  January  16,  1916,  to 
Mary  E.  Neff,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edgar  Neff, 
and  resides  at  1016  Sixth  Avenue,  Antigo,  Wisconsin. 

JASPER  W.  ALLERTON.  Born  in  Waupaca 
County,  April  30,  1857.  At  early  age  moved  with  par- 
ents to  Aztalan,  Jefferson  County.  The  lad  attended 
the  common  schools.  At  the  age  of  19  he  moved  to 
Eureka,  Wisconsin.  November  26,  1881,  he  married 
Annah  Nicholson,  of  Eureka.  Ten  years  later  moved 
to  Antigo,  where  he  engaged  in  contracting  and  build- 
ing business  until  his  death  January  7,  1913.  His  re- 
mains were  interred  at  Eureka,  Wisconsin,  January 
9,  1913.  Jasper  W.  AUerton  was  the  father  of  six 
children,  one  of  which,  Volney,  died  in  infancy.  The 
other  children  are  Willis,  Harry,  Floy,  Ruth  and 
Doris.  J.  W.  Allerton  was  a  member  of  the  M. 
W.  A.,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  Rebekahs,  and  held  various 
public  offices,  including  Alderman,  representing  the 
second  ward  of  Antigo.  Oliver  Hazard  Perry  Aller- 
ton, his  father,  was  a  pioneer  Antigo  merchant,  com- 
ing here  in  1887.  He  died  at  Manitowoc,  December 
31,  1899,  and  his  remains  rest  there.  The  Allerton 
family  genealogy  is  traced  from  Mr.  Isaac  Allerton, 
a  fifth  signer  of  the  Pilgrims'  Compact  when  they 
came  to  America,  December  20,  1620. 

Harry  Allerton  served  in  the  U.  S.  Army  during 
the  World  War. 

EMIL  OTTO  HERMAN  HINTZ.  Born  August 
2,  1898,  in  the  city  of  Antigo,  Wisconsin.  Son  of 
Martha  and  Herman  Hintz.  Received  common  school 
education,  graduating  from  Polar  graded  schools  in 
1912.  Started  learning  the  cheese  and  dairy  business 
at  Polar.  After  a  year  in  cheese  factory  entered 
other  employment.  Became  owner  of  Norwood 
Cheese  Factory  on  September  16,  1921,  purchasing 
from  Frank  Barta.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

JOHN  H.  BURNET.  Born  in  the  city  of  Manito- 
woc, March  3,  1863,  son  of  Esther  Sibree  and  Gilbert 
W.  Burnet.  His  boyhood  days  were  spent  in  the  city 
of  Manitowoc  where  he  attended  the  public  schools, 
graduating  from  the  Manitowoc  High  School.  In 
1882  Mr.  Burnet  began  railroad  work  for  the  old  Mil- 
waukee, Lake  Shore  &  Western  railroad  out  of  Mani- 
towoc. He  has  followed  railroading  for  a  period  of 
forty  years.  June  30,  1890,  Mr.  Burnet  married  Lona 
Morse,  of  Jay,  Vermont.  Two  boys  and  two  girls 
were  born  to  this  union.  One  girl  died  in  infancy. 
The  Burnet  family  sent  two  to  participate  in  the  World 
War.     Gilbert  W.  served   in  the  aviation  with  credit 


and  Anne  served  as  a  government  nurse  at  Camp  Mc- 
Clellan,  Alabama.  John,  Jr.,  was  not  old  enough  to 
enter  the  war.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burnet  moved  to  Anti- 
go  in  March,  1888,  and  make  their  residence  at  303 
Superior  street.  Mr.  Burnet  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  lodge.  Gilbert  and  John  Burnet  are  now 
engaged  in  horticulture  and  bee  raising  at  Prineville, 
Oregon. 

FRANK  RIENDL,  SR.  The  quality  of  a  man's 
usefulness  in  a  community  is  not  impaired  by  the  fact 
that  he  leads  a  quiet  and  unpretentious  life.  If  a  cit- 
izen goes  on  a  straightforward,  manly  way,  giving  his 
best  energies  to  the  task  before  him  and  performing 
his  just  share  of  civic  responsibility  he  proves  a  ster- 
ling citizen,  as  forcibly  as  does  the  most  prominent 
individual.  To  this  type  belongs  Frank  Riendl,  Sr., 
who  was  born  December  24,  1854,  in  Bavaria,  Prov- 
ince of  Germany.  He  was  the  son  of  Frank  and  Ter- 
esia  Riendl.  During  his  early  boyhood  he  attended 
Bavarian  schools.  In  June,  1869,  he  came  to  Apple- 
ton,  Outagamie  County,  and  later  engaged  in  track 
service.  In  1876  he  was  married  to  Katherina  Reichl. 
Five  children  were  born  to  this  union.  Mr.  Riendl 
has  been  identified  during  his  residence  at  Antigo 
with  several  successful  business  enterprises.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Catholic  Knights  of  Wisconsin, 
Catholic  Order  of  Foresters,  and  the  Order  of  Eagles, 
in  all  of  which  he  is  active.  He  is  a  member  of  the  St. 
John's  church  congregation,  Antigo,  and  has  served 
for  years  as  a  trustee  of  the  congregation.  Both  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Riendl  are  favorably  known  among  Lang- 
lade County's  best  people.  Mr.  Riendl  came  to  An- 
tigo in  1883  as  roadma&ter  for  the  old  Milwaukee, 
Lake  Shore  Sf  Western  railroad.  His  subdivision 
then  was  from  Antigo  to  the  end  of  the  track  at 
Rhinelander  and  Watersmeet. 

During  the  world  war,  Mr.  Riendl  was  one  of  the 
leading  patriots,  giving  unstintingly  for  the  cause  of 
America. 

J.  M.  KUBICHEK.  Came  to  Langlade  County  in 
1907,  locating  at  Neva,  where  he  engaged  in  farming 
and  cattle  buying.  He  was  married  to  Anna  Chadek 
on  June  19,  1906,  to  which  union  three  children,  two 
girls  and  a  boy,  were  born.  Came  to  Antigo  in  1915 
and  engaged  in  the  retail  meat  business.  In  1922 
purchased  Flanagan  building  and  on  July  1,  1922,  he 
opened  up  Kubichek  market  there.  While  in  Manito- 
woc County  he  was  Township  Treasurer  in  Rapids 
township,  Justice  of  the  Peace  at  Neva,  and  a  Repub- 
lican candidate  for  Sheriff  of  Langlade  County  in 
1922.  He  is  a  member  of  the  L.  O.  O.  M.,  C.  Z.  B.  J., 
and  resides  at  1326  Third  Avenue. 

JAMES  CHERF.  In  1879  a  hardy  pioneer,  John 
Cherf,  erected  a  log  cabin  on  the  southeast  corner  of 
Fifth  Avenue  and  Superior  Street.  He  came  here 
from  Manitowoc  County.  His  son,  James  Cherf,  was 
then  an  infant,  and  therefore  can  be  called  a  distinct 
Langlade  County  product  as  he  has  lived  here  since. 
James  Cherf  was   born  March  25,   1879,  in   Coopers- 


i^ 


296 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


town,  Manitowoc  County.  He  attended  the  Antigo 
public  schools  during  his  boyhood.  With  school  days 
over  he  engaged  in  camp  work  for  twelve  years  and 
then  for  fifteen  years  has  been  engaged  in  the  bee 
business,  in  which  he  is  known  as  an  authority.  Mr. 
Cherf  married  Charlotte  Heller,  May  22,  1906.  In 
October,  1919,  he  purchased  the  old  Marsh  orchard, 
section  30,  Polar  township.  The  Cherf  family  con- 
sists of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cherf  and  three  girls  and  three 
boys.  Mr.  Cherf  is  a  member  of  the  Eagles,  Beavers 
and  Moose  lodges,  the  Langlade  County  Bee  Keep- 
ers' Society,  which  he  aided  to  organize,  and  also  the 
State  Bee  Keepers'  Association. 

JAMES  JENSEN.  Born  May  5,  1878,  in  Hosby, 
Denmark.  Came  to  America  in  1900,  going  to  Clinton- 
ville,  Wisconsin,  where  he  stayed  for  a  half  year. 
Worked  for  Hon.  Ed.  Nordman,  at  Polar,  Wis.  En- 
gaged in  farming  and  mill  work  until  1911  when  he 
went  into  the  harness  and  bicycle  business.  Married 
February  14,  1906.  Took  wedding  trip  to  boyhood 
home  in  Denmark.  Maiden  name  of  wife,  Hanna  N. 
Hanson,  of  Clintonville.  In  1920  Mrs.  Jensen  passed 
away,  leaving  five  sons  and  two  daughters  to  mourn 
with  her  husband.  November  20,  1920,  Mr.  Jensen 
was  married  to  Alice  Johnson,  of  Neenah.  They  re- 
side on  Tenth  Avenue,  Antigo,  Wis.  Mr.  Jensen  is 
a  member  of  the  I.  0.  O.  F.,  and  attends  the  Baptist 
church.  He  is  a  man  of  pleasing  personality  and  has 
a  host  of  friends. 

GUSTAV  WINTER  was  born  in  Gibson  township, 
Manitowoc  County,  March  13,  1868.  He  attended 
public  schools  and  followed  agriculture  as  an  occu- 
pation. October  8,  1903,  he  married  Ada  R.  Stiewe 
at  Milwaukee.  They  moved  on  a  farm  in  Kewaunee 
County.  Two  and  a  half  years  later  they  moved  to 
Antigo,  where  the  Winters  grocery  was  started  in 
1906.  He  moved  his  store  into  the  present  quarters 
in  February,  1912.  Mr.  Winters  passed  away  in  the 
prime  of  life,  February  4,  1914,  and  his  remains  were 
interred  in  the  old  cemetery.  He  is  survived  by  his 
wife,  Ada  R.,  and  five  sons.  The  business  which  he 
founded  is  conducted  still  by  his  wife,  and  is  known 
as  the  Ada  R.  Winter  Grocery,  633  Superior  Street, 
Antigo,  Wisconsin. 

J.  W.  OTIS.  Born  March  7,  1876,  in  New  York 
state,  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  Otis.  Moved  to 
Oshkosh  with  parents  in  1878.  Attended  public 
schools  of  Oshkosh.  As  a  youth  he  worked  in  Osh- 
kosh, in  Michigan,  and  in  the  west.  Stopped  at 
Springbrook  House  in  pioneer  days  of  Antigo  and  this 
little  village  appealed  to  him.  Went  west  to  Seattle, 
San  Francisco  and  Portland,  coming  to  Antigo  in 
June,  1895.  Engaged  here  in  contracting  and  build- 
ing business.  Purchased  site  of  Otis  building  from 
auctioneer  for  $1500  May  31,  1907.  Built  splendid 
two-story  structure,  personal  monument  to  his  integ- 
rity and  progress,  in  1910.  Engaged  since  in  mater- 
ial, oil  and  cement  business.  Continued  contracting 
until  1909,  two  years  after  purchase  of  Teipner  site. 


July  1,  1915,  took  his  son,  Lyle  L.  Otis,  into  partner- 
ship, which  still  exists.  In  1890  Mr.  Otis  was  mar- 
ried at  Seattle,  Washington,  to  Miss  Maggie  Burns, 
to  which  union  one  son,  Lyle,  was  born.  Mr.  Otis  is 
a  member  of  the  Beavers,  F.  R.  A.,  the  Association 
of  Commerce,  and  is  enthusiastic  over  Antigo's  fu- 
ture. He  has  long  been  an  advocate  of  Antigo  adver- 
tising itself  to  its  own  people  and  is  a  strong  believer 
in  the  great  potential  possibilities  of  the  northern 
tourist  trade,  much  of  which  flows  through  Antigo 
and  Langlade  County. 

HECTOR  McDonald.  Bom  August  5,  1856,  at 
Park  Hill,  Ontario,  son  of  Alexander  and  Margaret 
McDonald.  Entered  the  public  schools  of  Park  Kill 
and  after  graduating  from  eighth  grade  entered 
Park  Hill  High  School.  Engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  following  school  years.  Moved  to  Wis- 
consin in  1883,  and  was  married  at  Cascade,  Wis- 
consin, to  Miss  Anne  Duggan.  Came  from  Es- 
canaba,  Michigan,  to  Antigo  in  1886  and  has  resid- 
ed here  ever  since.  He  has  been  connected  with  the 
C.  &  N.  W.  R.  R.  Co.,  and  its  predecessors  since  1886. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  McDonald  have  five  children;  two  boys, 
William  and  Norman;  and  three  girls,  Loretta,  Leona 
and  Gladys.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  an  active 
member  of  Antigo  Council  No.  1002,  Knights  of  Colum- 
bus and  a  member  of  the  Brotherhood  of  Locomotive 
Firemen  and  Enginemen.  Mr.  McDonald  resides  at 
702  Lincoln  street,  Antigo,  Wisconsin.  He  has  opti- 
mistic views  regarding  Antigo's  future  welfare. 

JAMES  W.  HERMAN,  Antigo  tailor,  was 
born  on  September  15,  1870,  the  son  of  Joseph 
Herman,  of  the  town  of  Michocott,  Manitowoc 
County.  Came  to  Antigo,  a  pioneer,  September  29, 
1880.  Located  with  parents  on  a  farm  on  Section  26, 
township  31,  range  10  east.  Attended  public  schools 
and  followed  farming  until  age  of  twenty.  Became 
apprentice  to  Julius  Below  in  tailor  trade.  Followed 
apprenticeship  for  five  years  and  in  May,  1897,  went 
into  business  for  himself.  He  married  September  29, 
1898,  to  Minnie  Mathias,  of  Antigo.  One  child,  a  boy, 
Lee  Herman,  born  to  this  union.  Mrs.  Herman  died 
February  22,  1910.  On  June  21,  1911,  Mr.  Herman 
married  Barbara  Dvorak,  to  which  union  three  child- 
ren were  born — one  boy  and  two  girls.  Mr.  Herman 
has  his  tailor  shop  in  the  Hill  building.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  E.  F.  U.,  Z.  C.  B.  J.,  Eagles  and  Sokol. 
His  residence  is  at  1027  Fourth  avenue,  Antigo.  An- 
tigo was  a  vast  wilderness  when  he  came  here  with 
his  father  and  mother  nearly  43  years  ago. 

FRANK  CHARLES  KRAUSE.  Born  January  25, 
1876,  at  Pommer,  Germany.  Came  to  the  United 
States  when  four  years  old.  Came  with  parents  from 
New  York  to  Seymour,  Outagamie  County.  Lived 
there  four  years  and  moved  with  parents,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Louis  Krause,  to  Antigo  in  1885.  Attended  the 
public  schools  and  high  school  when  it  was  located 
where  second  ward  is  today.     Engaged  in  clerical  po- 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


297 


sitions  for  C.  F.  Dallman,  Julius  Schlemmer,  J.  P. 
Hughes,  M.  Krom,  J.  C.  Lewis  and  A.  Goldberg,  then 
went  into  the  flour  and  feed  business  for  himself  in 
1914.  Married  September  4,  1903,  to  Miss  Emma 
Moldenhauer,  at  Pella.  Mr.  Krause  owns  his  residence 
at  Fifth  Avenue  and  Pine  Street,  also  the  Krause  build- 
ing on  Fifth  Avenue.  His  father,  Louis,  was  a  pioneer 
Antigo  tailor. 

FRED  ZWICKY.  Born  in  Oshkosh  on  December 
29,  1871.  Came  to  Antigo  in  October,  1884.  Son  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rudolph  Zwicky.  Settled  in  Norwood 
township  on  a  farm.  Walked  from  Aniwa  to  farm 
home  in  Norwood  township  when  arrived.  Married 
May  25,  1884,  to  Miss  Nellie  Beard.  To  this  union 
was  born  five  children,  three  girls  and  two  boys. 
Mr.  Zwicky  has  been  a  member  of  a  Norwood  town- 
ship school  district  board.  Worked  for  H.  A.  Kohl 
seven  years,  John  Hessel  ten  years.  Marsh  &  Raess 
in  grocery  business  and  with  W.  H.  Pardee.  Two 
sons,  Ira  and  Harry,  served  in  World  War.  Recalls 
day  when  Fifth  avenue  was  wilderness  and  when  cat- 
tle and  oxen  waded  through  Springbrook  where  it 
now  crosses  Fifth  avenue.  He  has  resided  at  720  Cedar 
street  for  past  22  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  F.  R. 
A.,  Beavers,  L  0.  O.  F.,  and  Masonic  orders.  Six  sis- 
ters and  a  brother  came  to  Norwood  township  with 
him.     His  father  came  here  in  1883. 

E.  G.  HUTCHINS.  Born  at  Neenah,  April  16, 
1871.  Came  to  Antigo  first  in  1885,  entering  em- 
ployment of  Herman,  Becklinger  &  Herman.  Mar- 
ried to  Alzada  A.  Cheever,  July  6,  1892.  Six  children, 
five  boys  and  one  girl,  were  born.  Eight  years  after 
marriage  was  employed  by  N.  E.  Preston  Music  House. 
Remained  with  N.  E.  Preston  until  1909.  In  1910 
after  year  with  H.  N.  Jewell  Music  House  moved  to 
Merrill  where  he  stayed  three  years.  Moved  to  New 
Lisbon  from  Merrill  where  he  was  employed  as  car 
inspector  for  ten  years  for  the  C.  M.  &  St.  P.  R.  R. 
Co.  Came  to  Antigo  in  August,  1919,  from  New 
Lisbon  and  in  October,  1920,  took  over  N.  E.  Preston 
Music  House,  now  known  as  Hutchins  Music  House, 
632  Fifth  Avenue.  Member  of  M.  W.  A.,  I.  0.  0.  F. 
lodges.     Baptist  by  faith  for  past  32  years. 

HUGH  E.  ST.  CLAIR  was  born  June  27,  1876,  at 
Northport,  Waupaca  County,  Wisconsin.  His  parents 
were  C.  Marvin  St.  Clair  and  Susan  Ainsworth 
St.  Clair.  He  moved  to  Langlade  County  with  his  par- 
ents in  1900.  On  February  6,  1902  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Edith  Cone,  of  Beloit,  Wisconsin.  Settled  at 
Kent  and  lived  there  three  years  and  then  moved  to 
Fifield,  Wisconsin.  After  two  years  he  returned  to 
Lily,  Langlade  County,  where  he  has  lived  ever  since. 
Four  children  bless  the  marriage  of  Hugh  St.  Clair 
and  Edith  Cone, — three  boys  and  one  girl.  He  has  a 
splendid  farm  near  Lily.  He  has  been  elected  town 
chairman  successively  since  1917.  He  came  to  Lang- 
lade County  as  a  lumberman  when  it  was  very  un- 
settled.    Went   into  the  eastern   section   and  engaged 


in  farming,  which  he  considers  the  future  of  Lang- 
lade County.  The  St.  Clair  place  is  located  on  Sec- 
tion 35,  township  33,  range  13.  Mr.  St.  Clair  has 
been  Supervisor,  Assessor  and  Treasurer  of  Lang- 
lade township  respectively. 

FRANK  SAMOLINSKI.  Among  the  residents  of 
Antigo  township  who  have,  by  industry  and  thrift, 
made  an  excellent  mark  in  agricultural  pursuits,  is 
Frank  Samolinski,  a  native  of  German  Poland.  Mr. 
Samolinski  was  born  in  the  city  of  Jerwiki,  Poland, 
on  August  6,  1867,  the  son  of  Marcella  and  Peter  Sam- 
olinski. He  attended  the  public  schools  and  later  en- 
gaged in  blacksmith  business  in  Poland  until  he 
reached  twenty-three  years  of  age.  He  then  came  to 
the  Uniter  States,  settling  in  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin. 
Eight  years  later  he  moved  to  Antigo  township,  Lang- 
lade County.  Mr.  Samolinski  has  a  fine  fifty-seven 
acre  farm,  part  of  which  is  in  Rolling  township. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Veronica  Wudarski  to  which  union  seven  children 
were  born,  three  of  whom  are  dead,  namely,  Frank, 
Jr.,  Steve  and  Joseph.  Stella,  now  Mrs.  Louis  Smith 
of  Antigo  township,  John  and  Leo,  both  of  Antigo 
township,  and  Peter,  who  resides  on  Superior  street, 
Antigo,  Wisconsin,  are  the  other  children.  Peter 
Samolinski  is  proprietor  of  the  Economy  Shoe  Repair 
Shop  of  Antigo  and  also  is  an  athlete  and  wrestler  of 
note.  Frank  Samolinski  and  family  are  members  of 
St.  Hyacinth's  church  of  Antigo.  Mr.  Samolinski  is 
a  member  of  the  Polish  Federation  of  America. 

DENNIS  VANOOYEN.  It  was  to  the  pioneer  who 
blazed  the  way  to  civilization  and  made  a  vast  wilder- 
ness bloom  and  blossom  like  a  rose  that  credit  and 
honor  is  due.  The  Vanooyen  ^amily  was  one  of  the 
earliest  of  Langlade  County  settlers  who  played  their 
part  in  the  general  advancement  of  Antigo  and  the 
County.  Dennis  Vanooyen,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  in  the  city  of  Appleton  on  November  26,  1883 
the  son  of  Nina  (Rodney)  and  Paul  Vanooyen.  Dur- 
ing his  boyhood  he  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Antigo  and  later  began  his  apprenticeship  as  a  mason 
and  bricklayer.  He  is  an  expert  in  his  chosen  trade, 
which  he  has  followed  for  many  years.  Mr.  Van- 
ooyen has  laid  brick  in  the  construction  of  some  of 
the  best  buildings  in  the  city  of  Antigo. 

The  Vanooyen  family  moved  to  Langlade  County 
when  Dennis  was  seven  years  old. 

Dennis  Vanooyen  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Ina  Boettcher,  the  daughter  of  Ferdinand  Boettcher, 
pioneer  Norwood  township  settler,  on  June  8,  1905. 
To  this  union  five  children  were  born,  namely,  Leon- 
ard, Marvel,  Viola,  Floyd  and  Charles.  The  Vanooyen 
residence  is  at  321  Watson  street,  Antigo,  Wis. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Vanooyen  is  active  as  a  member  of 
the  Beavers  Reserve  Fund  Fraternity,  the  Order  of 
Owls,  The  Loyal  Order  of  Moose,  and  the  Fraternal 
Order  of  Eagles.  He  has  been  often  honored  with 
offices  of  trust  and  responsibility  in  each  of  these 
named    orders.     The    parents    of    Mr.    Vanooyen    are 


298 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


still  living,  having  seen  Antigo  and  vicinity  grow 
from  "a  wilderness  hamlet"  to  a  modern  little  city  of 
nearly  ten  thousand  inhabitants. 

PROSSER  BROTHERS.  Agriculture  offers  bless- 
ings in  the  greatest  plenty,  but  does  not  allow  us  to 
take  them  in  idleness.  True  there  are  those  who  are 
content  to  travel  along  the  rut  of  mediocrity,  taking 
from  their  land  a  bare  living,  but  the  full  measure  of 
success  in  farming  only  comes  to  those  who  are  wil- 
ling to  work  hard  and  faithfully,  to  observe  changed 
conditions  and  practices  and  to  remember  that  the 
only  true  success  in  life  is  that  gained  through  hon- 
orable dealing.  In  this  connection  it  is  not  inappro- 
priate to  mention  the  achievements  of  the  Prosser 
Brothers. 

In  the  spring  of  1914  five  young  men  took  over  225 
acres  of  excellent  agricultural  land  in  section  17,  An- 
tigo township.  Since  then  they  have  developed  this 
farm  into  one  of  the  county's  most  productive  areas. 
The  entire  acreage  is  under  intense  cultivation. 
They  have  160  acres  in  Elcho  township  also  under 
their  care  and  proprietorship,  60  acres  of  which  are 
cultivated. 

In  1922  the  young  men  planted  the  largest  potato 
field  in  the  county.  140  acres  of  their  potatoes  are 
of  the  Early  Ohio  and  Early  Irish  Cobbler  varieties. 
They  also  have  the  Rural  New  Yorkers  and  the  Rus- 
set Rurals.  The  potatoes  have  yielded  on  an 
average  of  between  250  and  350  bushels  per  acre,  de- 
pending upon  the  variety. 

When  the  Prosser  Brothers  took  over  their  place  a 
farmer,  less  successful  and  not  willing  to  experiment, 
scoffed  at  producing  profitable  yields  of  crops  in  "a 
farm  of  quack  grass".  The  scoff  of  that  farmer  has 
been  turned  into  amazement  as  the  Prosser  place 
developed. 

Situated  at  the  junction  of  64  and  39,  state  high- 
ways, and  with  the  Wolf  River  Branch,  C.  &  N.  W. 
near  by,  the  city  of  Antigo  but  a  mile  away,  the  Pros- 
ser farm  is  ideally  located.  Soon  a  warehouse  and  a 
Fairbanks-Morse  scales  will  be  installed  and  a  spur 
track  run  from  the  Wolf  river  branch  to  the  ware- 
house. Then  the  Prosser  brothers,  James,  Harold, 
Marvin,  Ray  and  John,  will  engage  in  not  only  the 
cultivation  but  the  purchasing  of  potatoes  in  carload 
lots. 

FRED  BUELOW.  The  vocation  of  tilling  the  soil 
has  been  numbered  among  the  honored  occupations 
since  early  history.  Among  the  good,  practical  agri- 
culturalists of  Langlade  County,  who  thoroughly  un- 
derstand their  vocation  and  who  have  secured  full 
measure  of  success  in  the  intelligent  application  of 
their  own  knowledge  in  the  conduct  of  their  farm  is 
Fred  Buelow,  who  has  been  a  farmer  all  of  his  life. 
Mr.  Buelow  was  born  in  Germany  on  July  30,  1865, 
the  son  of  Fred  and  Vendelina  (Strieker)  Buelow. 
When  six  years  old  he  moved  to  Edgerton,  Rock 
County,  Wisconsin.  A  year  later  the  family  moved 
to  Oshkosh,  Winnebago  County,  Wisconsin,  and  after 


residing  in  that  county  for  six  years  they  moved  to 
Clintonville,  Waupaca  County.  For  thirty-eight  years 
Mr.  Buelow  resided  in  the  county,  having  his  farm  in 
the  town  of  Matteson.  In  1915  he  moved  to  Enter- 
prise, Wisconsin,  and  resided  on  his  eighty  acre  tract 
of  land  there  for  three  years.  He  then  moved  to  An- 
tigo township,  Langlade  County,  Wisconsin,  in  No- 
vember, 1917.  He  has  fifteen  acres  of  well  devel- 
oped land  and  is  engaged  in  general  farming  and  the 
cultivation  of  strawberries.  He  supplies  the  Antigo 
market  with  his  luscious  strawberries  in  season. 

Mr.  Buelow  was  married  to  Minnie  Steenboch,  a 
native  of  Sheboygan  County,  Wisconsin,  on  Novem- 
ber 10,  1892.  To  this  union  eight  children  were  born, 
namely,  Arthur,  who  resides  on  the  eighty  acre  farm 
at  Enterprise,  Wis.;  Hilda,  now  Mrs.  William  Kunzie 
of  Enterprise,  Wis.;  Walter,  Otto,  Viola,  Lydia,  Ray- 
mond, and  Gordon,  all  of  Antigo  township.  While  a 
resident  of  Matteson  township  Mr.  Buelow  was  hon- 
ored with  fifteen  years  of  successive  duty  as  a  school 
officer  in  District  No.  3. 

The  Buelows  are  members  of  the  Antigo  Peace 
Evangelical    church. 

FRISCH  BROTHERS.  Jure  15,  1914,  Joseph  and 
Peter  Frisch  purchased  the  greenhouse  of  William 
King.  The  Frisch  Brothers  at  once  remodeled  the  in- 
stitution so  that  the  plant  now  has  eighteen  thousand 
square  feet  of  glass. 

Peter  Frisch,  one  of  the  proprietors,  resides  at  116 
Seventh  Avenue.  He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Olga  Olson  on  April  13,  1918,  to  which  union,  one 
child,  Robert,  was  born. 

Joseph  Frisch,  the  other  proprietor,  was  married 
to  Lucille  Justin,  July  28,  1917.  They  have  three 
children,  James,  Jean  and  Stanley.  Their  residence 
is  at  106  Seventh  Avenue. 

Joseph  is  a  member  of  the  Elks,  K.  of  C,  F.  R.  A. 
and  Moose  lodges.  Peter  Frisch  is  affiliated  with  the 
Loyal  Order  of  Moose.  Both  proprietors  attend  St. 
John's  Catholic  church. 

The  Frisch  Brothers  are  known  over  a  wide  area 
because  of  their  well  conducted  business.  In  the 
spring  of  1922  they  installed  an  ideal  water  tube  sys- 
tem to  heat  their  plant,  now  one  of  the  best  in  upper 
Wisconsin. 

W.  J.  SCHERF.  Among  the  pioneer  manufactur- 
ers and  early  settlers  of  Langlade  County,  W.  J. 
Scherf  holds  a  rightful  place.  He  was  born  in  Man- 
itowoc County,  Wisconsin,  on  October  17,  1879,  the 
son  of  Joseph  and  Mary  Scherf.  When  but  two  months 
old  he  moved  with  his  father  and  mother  and  the 
children  of  the  family  to  Melnik,  Neva  township. 
The  Scherf  family  was  one  of  the  first  in  Melnik  vil- 
lage, then  a  wilderness.  W.  J.  Scherf  attended  the 
Melnik  schools  and  in  the  time  intervening  aided  his 
father  on  the  farm.  He  started  in  saw  mill  work 
when  a  youth  and  has  since  been  employed  at  Melnik, 
Neva,  Koepenick,  Elcho,  and  Washburn,  Wisconsin, 
in  large   saw  mills.     He  rose   to  the   important  posi- 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


299 


tion  of  carriage  rider,  setter  and  also  learned  the 
filing  business.  Mr.  Scherf  operated  a  general  store 
and  cheese  factory  at  Melnik  or  Star  Neva.  He  ran 
the  store  two  years  alone  before  becoming  associated 
with  his  brother,  Louis  W.  Between  them  they  con- 
ducted the  store,  cheese  factory  and  blacksmith  shop 
and  for  four  years  operated  the  saw  mill.  (This  mill 
was  the  original  Duchac  mill,  the  first  one  in  Neva 
township). 

Mr.  Scherf  is  a  member  of  St.  Mary's  Catholic 
church  of  Antigo,  Wis.  His  mother  is  still  living, 
and  at  present  is  with  her  son,  Stephen  Scherf,  of 
Neva  township. 

Mr.  Scherf  secured  a  United  States  patent  nn  Aug- 
ust 30,  1920,  on  an  excelle.it  fumigating  container 
called  "The  Essence  of  Health",  which  destroys 
germs  and  is  an  excellent  remedy  against  influenza. 
He  is  now  manufacturing  and  distributing  the  product 
which  can  be  easily  carried  in  the  vest  pocket. 

Reared  in  Langlade  County  from  infancy  Mr.  Scherf 
has  witnessed  its  steady  and  surprising  growth  for  the 
past  forty-two  years. 


tober,  1890,  went  with  Herman,  Becklinger  &  Herman 
to  Duluth,  Minnesota,  to  aid  in  erecting  mill  and  fac- 
tory. December  11,  1890,  fell  with  a  staging  and 
four  men  from  elevation  of  twenty-five  feet.  In  hos- 
pital, unable  to  work,  eight  months.  Worked  in  har- 
vest fields  Grand  Forks,  N.  D.,  in  1881,  returning  to 
Antigo  in  November.  Worked  then  for  Marsh  Bros. 
&  Chase,  ( C.  O.  Marsh,  W.  H.  Marsh  and  G.  E.  Chase ) . 
Served  as  Night  Police  under  Mayors  J.  F.  Albers 
and  Geo.  W.  Hill.  Was  Deputy  Sheriff  and  Tuin- 
Key  under  ex-Sheriff  Chas.  Thompson.  From  1900 
to  1906  was  freight  conductor  on  B.  &  O.  February 
23,  1906,  had  misfortune  of  having  left  thumb  ampu- 
tated in  accident  on  that  road.  Mr.  Marsh  engaged 
in  the  restaurant  business  at  Cumberland,  N.  D.,  1906- 
1909;  shipping  clerk  in  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  in  1909-1913. 
After  illness  returned  to  Antigo  i.T  July,  1915.  As- 
sociated V.  ith  his  father,  pi'^iieer  nurseryman,  for 
years.  Father  died  in  January.  1917.  Mr.  Marsh 
received  Republican  nomination  for  Register  of  Deeds 
in  1918,  1920  and  1922.  He  is  residing  at  923  Arctic 
street,  Antigo,  Wis. 


OTTO  KLESSIG.  A  prominent  Ackley  township 
farmer,  who  has  been  a  resident  of  Langlade  County 
for  the  past  thirty-two  years,  is  Otto  Klessig,  who 
was  born  on  June  11,  1859,  the  son  of  Louis  Klessig. 
When  nine  years  of  age  he  moved  with  his  parents 
from  the  town  of  Mosel,  Sheboygan  County,  Wiscon- 
sin, his  birthplace,  to  Manitowoc  County,  Wisconsin. 
The  Klessigs  stayed  there  for  almost  twenty  years 
and  then  in  P'ebruary,  1890,  moved  to  Antigo,  Lang- 
lade County,  Wisconsin.  Otto  Klessig  took  over  the 
branch  office  of  the  Pabst  Brewing  Company,  with 
which  organization  he  was  affiliated  for  thirteen  years. 
He  then  went  farming  and  after  three  years  became 
a  valued  employee  of  the  Citizens  Brewing  Company, 
where  he  remained  for  six  years.  He  then  took  up 
farming  in  Ackley  township  and  followed  that  occu- 
pation for  seven  years.  He  sold  his  farm  in  1919 
and  moved  to  Antigo,  now  residing  at  224  Tenth 
Avenue. 

Mr.  Klessig  was  united  in  marriage  on  May  28,  1895, 
to  Miss  Eleanore  Berner.  To  this  union  four  child- 
ren. Max,  Earl,  Linda  and  Harold,  were  born.  Mr. 
Klessig  and  family  attend  the  Unity  Evangelical 
church  of  Antigo.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Beavers  Reserve  Fund  Fraternity. 

EDWIN  HENRY  MARSH,  Nurseryman,  was  boia 
at  Bonus,  Boone  County,  Illinois,  December  26,  1869. 
Moved  with  his  father,  H.  F.  Marsh,  to  Sun  Prairie, 
Dane  County,  Wisconsin,  in  1871.  Here  he  attended 
school  until  fifteen  years  of  age.  Moved  then  with 
parents  to  Faulkton,  Falk  County,  South  Dakota,  i  i 
1886.  Worked  on  his  father's  farm  until  February, 
1889,  when,  with  his  parents,  moved  to  Antigo.  He 
worked  in  the  old  Badger  saw  mill;  summer  of  1889 
delivered  for  Hessel  &  Leykom  Hardware  Company. 
In  1890  went  to  Cedar  Rapids,  Michigan.  Worked  in 
saw  mills  of  Jesse  Spaulding  Lumber  Company.     Oc- 


JOHN  E.  MALTBY  was  born  December  30,  1859, 
in  the  town  of  Clay,  N.  Y..  He  attended  the  McClean, 
N.  Y.,  public  schools  and  then  moved  to  Wisconsin 
with  his  parents  when  six  years  old,  settling  at  Stock- 
bridge,  Calumet  County.  He  worked  as  a  farm  hand 
until  twenty-one,  went  to  Kirkland  County,  Illinois, 
to  farm,  worked  in  lumber  industry  near  Merrill,  Lin- 
coln County,  operated  a  hotel  at  Gravesville,  Calu- 
met County,  and  then  moved  to  Peck  township,  Lang- 
lade County,  where  he  settled  on  a  farm.  He  re- 
turned to  Stockbridge  but  came  back  to  Peck,  settling 
on  Section  30.  Here  he  stayed  until  1892,  when  he 
came  to  Antigo.  He  now  is  a  member  of  the  Maltby 
&  Maltby  firm.  Mr.  Maltby  was  married  to  Annie 
Foley,  a  public  school  teacher,  March  25,  1884.  To 
this  union  ten  children,  eight  of  whom  are  living,  were 
born.  Those  living  are:  Arthur,  residing  at  1227 
Fifth  Avenue;  Mrs.  Myrtle  Bean,  Mable,  Amos,  John, 
Lewis,  James  and  Evelyn..  Mrs.  Maltby  passed  away 
October  1,  1919.  Her  remains  were  interred  in  the 
Antigo  cemetery. 

ROBERT  W.  ZOBEL,  prominent  merchant,  was 
born  in  the  city  of  Oshkosh,  Winnebago  County,  the 
son  of  Louise  and  Robert  Zobel,  June  9,  1881.  He 
lived  at  Oshkosh  during  his  school  days  and  early 
youth,  coming  to  Antigo  on  August  5,  1901,  to  accept 
a  position  as  law  stenographer  with  Henry  Hay,  At- 
torney. A  year  later,  in  December,  1902,  Mr.  Zobel 
formed  a  co-partnership  with  George  O.  Palmiter,  en- 
gaging in  the  retail  furniture  and  undertaking  busi- 
ness under  the  firm  name  of  Palmiter  &  Zobel,  taking 
over  the  business  previously  known  as  Palmiter  & 
Son.  In  1904  Edward  McCandless  purchased  the  in- 
terest of  George  0.  Palmiter  in  the  firm  and  it  has 
since  been  known  as  McCandless  &  Zobel  Furniture 
&  Undertaking  Company,  717  Fifth  Avenue.  The 
business   was   incorporated   March   6,   1916  under  the 


300 


HISTORY  OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


laws  of  Wisconsin.  Mr.  Zobel  was  married  on  No- 
vember 4,  1907,  to  Meda  Lewins.  The  Zobel  resi- 
dence is  at  929  Clermont  street.  Robert  W.  Zobel,  in 
twenty  years,  has  served  successfully  in  various  ca- 
pacities. He  was  the  first  official  Municipd  Court 
Reporter  of  Langlade  County,  serving  under  Judge 
John  E.  Martin.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Directors  of  the  Langlade  National  Bank  since 
February  10,  1919.  Mr.  Zobel  is  a  member  of  the 
Evangelical  Lutheran  church,  and  is  treasurer  of  the 
church  organization. 

IZZE  COHEN.  Perhaps  it  is  true  that  each  indi- 
vidual is  born  with  one  natural  gift,  but  not  every 
one  seeks  to  discover  it,  or,  finding  it,  has  the  oppor- 
tunity to  nurture  or  develop  it.  History  and  biog- 
raphy prove,  however,  that  many  of  the  most  success- 
ful and  brilliant  careers  in  the  direction  of  law,  medi- 
cine, church,  commerce  or  literature,  have  felt  the 
natural  bent  for  their  life  work  in  youth.  Here  and 
there  are  found  those,  who,  at  the  open  door  of  man- 
hood, find  also  the  door  open  to  their  chosen  field  of 
effort.  In  this  connection  respectful  attention  is  call- 
ed to  Izze  Cohen,  who  has  gained  a  prominent  place 
among  the  business  and  commercial  leaders  of  the 
county.  Mr.  Cohen  was  born  in  Russia,  the  son  of 
David  and  Fannie  Cohen,  on  March  18,  1887.  When 
sixteen  years  of  age  he  imigrated  to  the  United  States, 
settling  in  Chicago.  Here  he  began  his  life  work. 
He  entered  as  an  apprentice  in  a  ladies'  tailoring  es- 
tablishment, following  which  he  rose  to  the  position 
of  manager  of  Friend  Brothers  store  at  State  and  Mad- 
ison streets.  He  stayed  in  Chicago  until  1913  when 
he  came  to  Antigo  and  opened  up  The  Style  Shop,  in 
the  McDonald  building.  Harry  Aberman  was  his 
associate  in  this  business  from  1913  to  1916,  when 
Mr.  Cohen  then  purchased  his  interest,  thus  being 
sole  proprietor  of  the  business,  which  he  since  has 
been  very  successful  with. 

Mr.  Cohen  was  married  on  October  21,  1911,  in 
Chicago,  to  Miss  Fannie  Kaplan,  to  which  union  three 
children  were  born:  Martin  H.,  age  9;  Benjamin, 
age  6;  Irvin,  age  18  months.  The  Cohen  family  re- 
sides at  433  Clermont  street.  Mr.  Cohen  is  a  member 
of  the  B'nae  Breth,  the  Elks  and  the  Loyal  Order  of 
Moose  fraternities. 

CHRIS  ADRAKTAS.  America  has  ever  been  look- 
ed upon  as  the  land  of  opportunity.  Among  the 
thousands  of  Europeans  who  have  crossed  the  Atlan- 
tic ocean  to  become  citizens  of  America  a  lad  nineteen 
years  of  age  one  day  walked  from  the  gangplank  of 
an  oceanic  steamer  to  seek  his  fortune  in  a  new  world. 
This  lad,  ambitious  and  thrifty,  in  time  became  fully 
absorbed  in  American  ideals  and  customs.  He  was  a 
native  of  Agoralecha,  Greece,  where  in  1885  he  was 
born,  the  son  of  George  and  Anastasia  Adraktas. 
For  six  months  he  stayed  in  New  York  and  then  mov- 
ed westward  to  Chicago  where  he  was  employed 
in     some     of     the     best    known    of    United     States 


hotels,  including  the  Congress  Hotel.  He  spent  seven 
years  (1905-1912)  in  Chicago,  and  on  May  12,  1912, 
started  a  confectionery  and  ice  cream  parlor  at  Oconto, 
Wisconsin.  In  1913  he  erected  a  modern  structure 
to  house  his  business  there  and  on  June  20,  1915,  fire, 
which  came  from  an  adjacent  building,  was  respons- 
ible for  his  business  being  burned  to  the  ground.  Mr. 
Adraktas  then  visited  Antigo,  decided  to  locate  here, 
?nd  on  June  19,  1915,  with  $200  as  his  only  capital, 
except  much  energy  and  grit,  he  opened  the  Adraktas 
Sweet  Shop,  which  since  has  been  very  successful. 
Two  years  later  he  purchased  the  Daskam  block,  a 
splendid  two-story  brick  structure  in  which  he  has 
his  business,  flats,  office  rooms  and  a  lodge  room  and 
dance  hall.  This  business  is  at  805-07  Fifth  avenue. 
Mr.  Adraktas  employes  seven  to  eight  employees  on 
an  average  annually. 

He  was  married  on  August  9,  1916,  to  Charlotte 
Nelson,  of  Chicago,  Illinois.  They  reside  at  1230 
Superior  street,  which  residence  was  purchased  from 
F.  Kester  in  1921. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Adraktas  is  a  member  of  the  Loyal 
Order  of   Moose. 

ERNEST  ADRAKTAS  was  born  on  April  10,  1892, 
the  son  of  George  and  Anastasia  Adraktas,  of  Agoral- 
echa, Greece.  He  came  to  the  United  States  when 
sixteen  years  of  age,  settling  in  Chicago,  where  he 
was  employed  five  to  six  years.  He  moved  to  Oconto 
to  be  in  the  employ  of  his  brother  Chris  Adraktas, 
whom  he  is  now  with.  He  has  been  employed  also 
at  numerous  places,  including  Fond  du  Lac,  and  places 
in  North  Dakota,  Indiana  and  Minnesota,  as  well  as 
Antigo. 

He  enlisted  May  25,  1918,  in  Co.  A,  243rd  Infantry 
and  served  at  Camp  Logan,  Texas.  He  was  honor- 
ably discharged  from  service  on  December  3,  1918, 
and  resumed  his  employment  in  Antigo,  as  candy- 
maker  for  the  Adraktas  Sweet  Shop. 

VERNON  J.  McHALE,  a  prominent  young  Attor- 
ney-at-Law,  son  of  James  and  Katherine  (Byrne)  Mc- 
Hale,  well  known  Antigo  residents,  was  born  on  Aug- 
ust 25,  1897.  As  a  boy  and  youth  he  attended  the 
parochial  schools  of  Antigo  and  the  Antigo  High 
School,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1917.  He  then 
entered  Marquette  University  where  he  took  up  the 
law  course,  which  he  completed  in  1921.  He  re- 
turned to  Antigo  and  on  September  12,  1921,  began 
the  practice  of  law,  opening  up  an  office  in  the  Lewis 
building,  where  he  is  now  located. 

During  his  short  career  as  an  attorney  he  has  made 
numerous  friends  and  has  won  many  cases  of  import- 
ance. He  is  a  member  of  Delta  Theta  Phi,  National 
legal  fraternity.  In  1922  he  was  urged  by  many  of 
his  friends  and  neighbors  to  become  a  candidate  for 
the  Democratic  nomination  for  District  Attorney  of 
Langlade  County  and  in  a  close  race  defeated  T.  J. 
Reinert,  then  District  Attorney.  The  race  Attorney 
McHale  made  was  the  biggest  surprise  of  the  elec- 
tion.    He  is  now  a  candidate,  at  this  writing,  for  that 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


301 


office  of  responsibility  and  trust,  and  is  making  a 
strenuous  campaign  to  be  elected. 

Fraternally  Attorney  McHale  is  a  member  of  An- 
tigo  Council  No.  1002,  Knights  of  Columbus. 

One  of  the  youngest  practicing  attorneys  in  Wis- 
consin, his  future  is  bright  and  full  of  promise  for  an 
unusual  success,  as  he  is  now  rapidly  building  up  a 
substantial   practice. 

JOSEPH  BOLL.  A  well-known  Antigo  lumberman, 
who  has  been  a  resident  of  Langlade  County  since 
1882  is  Joseph  Boll,  who  was  born  on  August  16,  1878, 
at  Clark's  Mills,  Manitowoc  County,  Wisconsin. 
When  four  years  of  age  he  moved  with  his  parents  to 
Antigo,  then  a  small  village.  Here  he  grew  to  man- 
hood, having  during  his  boyhood  attended  the  par- 
ochial schools  and  the  Antigo  High  School. 

From  his  youth  he  has  followed  the  lumbering  busi- 
ness, working  at  one  time  with  the  late  B.  F.  Dorr, 
first  civil  engineer  of  the  city,  as  a  surveyor  and  cruis- 
er, for  six  years.  He  was  twelve  years  associated 
with  the  Kingsbury  &  Henshaw  lumber  company  as 
their  foreman  and  since  the  reorganization  of  the  Hen- 
shaw Lumber  Company  has  remained  as  foreman  of 
the  plant. 

Mr.  Boll  was  married  in  November,  1899,  to  Mary 
Yentz.  To  this  union  six  children  were  born.  They 
are  Roy,  born  on  June  25;  Lila,  born  August  4;  lola, 
born  January  9;  Clayton  born  July  17;  Marie,  born 
May  4,  and  Chester,   born  September  4. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Boll  is  a  member  of  the  Eagles, 
and  Antigo  lodge  No.  662  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks.  The  Boll  residence  is  at  206  South 
Clermont  street. 

Mr.  Boll  takes  a  keen  interest  in  sports,  is  a  lover 
of  the  great  out-of-doors,  and  delights  in  spending  a 
day  or  two  at  a  good  trout  stream  or  a  week  in  the  tall 
timber  during  the  deer  hunting  season. 

MATHEW  E.  PERSON.  Price  township  has  many 
influential  and  thrifty  citizens  among  whom  the  name 
of  Mathew  E.  Person  is  respected  and  held  in  esteem. 
Mr.  Person,  who  is  proprietor  of  the  Bryant  Garage, 
was  born  in  Littlesand,  Norway,  the  son  of  Anna  and 
Thorwald  Person.  When  two  years  of  age  he  came 
to  America  with  his  parents,  who  settled  in  Price 
township.  Here  Mr.  Person  grew  to  manhood.  He 
attended  the  Bryant  graded  schools  and  engaged  in 
the  occupation  of  farmer  until  he  was  nineteen  years 
old.  He  then  entered  Greer  College  of  Motoring, 
Chicago,  111.,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1917.  He 
then  was  employed  for  nine  months  by  the  Four 
Wheel  Drive  Truck  Company,  of  Clintonville,  follow- 
ing which  he  returned  to  Bryant  just  before  entering 
the  services  of  the  United  States  during  the  World 
War.  While  at  Bryant  he  engaged  in  automobile  repair 
work.  He  enlisted  on  September  2,  1918,  and  serv- 
ed in  the  1st  Ordnance  Company,  attached  to  the 
85th  Division  and  was  stationed  at  Penniman,  Va. 
He  received  his  honorable  discharge  on  March  14, 
1919. 


Mr.  Person  was  married  on  June  15,  1921,  to  Miss 
Florence  Lambrechts.  They  make  their  home  in 
Bryant,  where,  in  1920,  Mr.  Person  erected  the  Bryant 
Garage,  a  prosperous  business  of  which  he  can  feel 
proud.  Besides  a  general  repairing  of  automobiles 
the  garage  is  an  authorized  Ford  Service  Station. 

Mr.  Person's  mother  passed  away  on  November  4, 
1912,  and  is  at  rest  in  the  Bent  cemetery.  Price  town- 
ship. His  father,  Thorwald  Person,  still  resides  in 
Price,  which  he  has  aided  materially  in  developing. 

The  Persons  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church. 

GEORGE  JOHN  MANTHEY.  Leaders,  it  is  said, 
are  ordinary  persons,  with  extraordinary  determina- 
tion. Among  the  leaders  in  the  commercial  field  in 
Antigo  is  George  John  Manthey,  better  known  as  The 
Farmer  Boy,  who  has  the  distinction  of  producing  a 
splendid  business  in  flour,  feed,  grains,  groceries  and 
general  farm  produce  on  the  site  of  the  first  store  in 
Antigo.  He  was  born  at  Ripon,  Wisconsin,  on  March 
20,  1884,  the  son  of  Anna  (Rutkoski)  and  F.  E.  Man- 
they, the  first  of  eight  children.  When  but  an  infant 
he  came  to  Antigo  with  his  parents,  his  father  estab- 
lishing himself  in  business  as  a  tailor,  the  second  in 
Antigo.  As  soon  as  the  new  settlers  arrived  F.  E. 
Manthey,  with  his  characteristic  determination,  set 
about  to  find  a  place  to  reside.  A  little  frame  build- 
ing was  used  as  their  first  home  in  Antigo.  The 
Greisch  building  now  covers  the  place  where  it  stood. 

Young  George  attended  the  parochial  schools  of 
Antigo  and  after  receiving  an  elementary  education 
started  out  into  the  world  to  seek  his  own  fortune. 
He  engaged  in  various  occupations,  including  agri- 
culture, having  owned  a  farm  for  three  years  in  An- 
tigo township.  He  was  also  employed  in  railroad 
shops  and  manufacturing  institutions. 

He  started  to  work  for  the  Antigo  Cash  Grocery 
in  1916  and  three  years  later  started  a  flour  and  feed 
and  grocery  business  for  himself.  On  September  16, 
1919,  he  purchased  the  property  of  A.  N.  Anderson 
at  610  Superior  street  and  in  October,  1919,  was  es- 
tablished in  business  there.  (A.  N.  Anderson  is  a 
son  of  Niels  Anderson,  first  Antigo  merchant).  This 
business  he  originally  opened  up  on  Fifth  Ave- 
nue but  a  short  time  before  purchasing  the  Anderson 
property. 

George  Manthey  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Mary  Cherf  on  August  15,  1911,  to  which  union  four 
children  were  born.  They  are  Bernardine,  born  May 
20,  1913;  Georgia,  born  January  18,  1915;  John,  born 
April  8,  1919  and  Richard,  born  December  28,  1921. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Manthey  and  children  are  members 
of  St.  Mary's  church.  Fraternally  Mr.  Manthey  is  a 
member  of  the  Mystic  Workers  of  the  World.  He  is 
a  great  believer  in  optimism  and  an  enthusiastic 
booster  of  practical  progress  in  Antigo.  While  An- 
tigo should  be  generally  advertised  to  the  outside 
world,  Mr.  Manthey  believes  also  that  the  city  and 
county  should  be  better  advertised  to  the  citizens 
within  its  borders. 


302 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


Rev.  John  Cherf,  a  brother  of  Mrs.  George  Man- 
they,  was  ordained  on  November  15,  1918.  Rev. 
Cherf  belongs  to  the  Order  of  St.  Benedict.  He  is 
now  teaching  theology  and  philosophy  in  St.  Proco- 
pius  College,  Lisle,  Illinois.  He  is  a  graduate  of  the 
University   of    Illinois    and    Northwestern    University. 

SAM  B.  ULLMAN,  prominent  citizen,  identified 
with  many  business  enterprises,  was  born  May  16, 
1881,  at  Appleton,  Wisconsin,  the  son  of  Pauline  and 
Joseph  Ullman.  He  attended  the  public  schools  and 
in    1899  graduated   from   the  Appleton   High   School. 


is  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  First 
National  Bank,  with  which  he  has  been  connected  for 
four  years,  is  Treasurer  of  the  Northern  Timber  Cor- 
poration, Big  Bay,  Michigan,  the  owner  of  several  of 
the  largest  and  best  farms  in  Langlade  County,  as 
well  as  several  large  blocks  of  cut-over  land.  Mr. 
Ullman  owned  the  Metcalf,  Humble  and  Ogden  farms 
but  is  now  in  possession  of  only  the  Humble  famri. 
He  is  the  owner  of  the  Ullman  building,  intersection 
of  Fifth  Avenue  and  Superior  street.  During  the  war 
he  acted  as  Vice  President  of  the  Antigo  Red  Cross 
Chapter,  was  a  member  of  the  Antigo  Militia  League 


SAM     B.    L"LLMAX 

A  resident  of  Antigo  for  nearly  twenty-five  years,  who  has  Ijeeii  in  charge 

of  the  J.  Ullman   &  Company  business  since   IHOO,  is  a  memlier  of 

the  directorate  of  the   First   National    Bank,  an   extensive  real 

estate  owner  and  has  been  often  suggested  as  the  logical 

citizen   for   Mayor  of   Antigo. 


In  1900  Mr.  Ullm.an  came  to  Antigo  where  he  took 
charge  of  the  J.  Ullman  &  Company  business,  which 
is  one  of  the  pioneer  Langlade  County  enterprises, 
having  been  established  in  1882.  Offices  are  located 
at  721  Fourth  Avenue.  Sam  B  Ullman  was  married 
to  Lucile  Stein  of  Chicago,  111.,  in  September,  1915. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ullman  have  two  children,  Frederick 
and  Tom.  Mr.  Ullman  is  a  member  of  the  B.  P.  0.  E. 
of  which  he  has  been  Exalted  Ruler  for  eight  terms, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  lodge.  He  has  been 
actively  connected  with  many  business  organizations; 


of  which  he  was  an  officer  and  actively  participated 
in  all  campaigns  for  war  funds  including  the  Victory 
Loan.  He  was  urged  several  times  in  the  public 
press  and  through  petitions  presented  to  him  by  ad- 
miring citizens  to  become  a  candidate  for  Mayor  of 
Antigo.  This  honor  he  has  declined.  The  Ullman 
family  reside  at  1223  Superior  street,  Antigo,  Wis. 

FRANK  AUGUSTINE.  One  of  the  well  known 
residents  of  Antigo,  who  has  been  engaged  in  the  re- 
tail liquor  and  soft  drink  business  for  many  years,  is 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


303 


Frank  Augustine,  who  came  to  Antigo  in  May,  1910. 
Mr.  Augustine  was  born  in  the  town  of  Kossuth,  Man- 
itowoc County,  Wisconsin,  the  son  of  Anna  and  Peter 
Augustine,  on  August  20,  1877.  He  attended  the  rural 
schools  of  his  native  township  and  then  engaged  in 
agricultural  work  until  twenty-six  years  of  age.  He 
left  home  at  seventeen  and  purchased  a  farm  in  the 
township,  which  he  sold  later  to  engage  in  the  retail 
liquor  business  in  Sheboygan,  Wisconsin.  He 
traded  the  saloon  for  another  farm  in  Kossuth  town- 
ship where  he  farmed  two  and  a  half  years,  return- 
ing then  to  Sheboygan  from  where  he  moved  to  Mer- 
rill. He  farmed  in  Lincoln  County  for  two  years  and 
then  came  to  Antigo  in  May,  1910.  He  rented  forty 
acres  of  land  in  Antigo  township,  then  worked  for 
W.  J.  Mattek  for  over  four  years,  and  a  short  time  for 
William  Reader.  He  then  entered  the  employ  of  An- 
ton Kraus  and  in  1920  purchased  the  Jos.  J.  Du- 
quette soft  drink  parlor  in  Antigo,  which  he  conducted 
until  July  3,  1922,  when  he  sold  out. 

Mr.  Augustine  was  married  to  Mary  Stuck  on  Dec- 
ember 30,  1901,  to  which  union  nine  children  were 
born.  Mr.  Augustine  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
Knights  of  Wisconsin  and  the  family  atljends  St. 
John's  church,  Antigo,  Wisconsin. 

The  Augustine  residence  is  at  320  Elm  street,  An- 
tigo. Mr.  Augustine  is  a  graduate  of  the  College  of 
Agriculture  Dairy  School,  University  of  Wisconsin, 
from  which  he  received  his  diploma  in  1900. 

THOMAS  E.  CAVANAUGH.  The  trials  of  the 
pioneers  of  Langlade  County  were  discouraging,  thus 
only  settlers  of  a  courageous  spirit  weathered  the 
storms  and  hardships  of  the  new  settlers'  life.  Among 
the  early  settlers  in  Antigo  township  was  the  Edward 
Cavanaugh  family.  Thomas  Cavanaugh,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Appleton,  Wisconsin,  on 
August  30,  1866,  the  son  of  Edward  and  Margaret 
(Kevin)  Cavanaugh,  and  was  the  oldest  child  in  the 
family.  When  a  boy  of  fourteen  years  he  moved  to 
the  town  of  Antigo  with  his  parents,  arriving  in  that 
township  on  November  1,  1881.  Previously,  in  1879, 
Edward  Cavanaugh  had  purchased  a  farm  in  section 
6  of  Antigo  township,  then  called  Springbrook  town- 
ship. For  eight  years  young  Thomas  lived  on  the 
farm,  clearing  the  forests,  cutting  wood,  cultivating 
the  crops  and  doing  other  work  necessary.  Then  the 
family  moved  into  Antigo,  a  growing  little  city. 
Thomas  had  but  a  meagre  education,  having  attended 
the  Third  Ward  School,  Appleton,  Wis.,  and  spent  one 
winter  in  an  Ackley  township  rural  school.  He 
worked  in  the  woods,  on  farms,  sawmills,  one  winter 
with  Val.  P.  Rath,  veteran  County  Clerk,  and  was 
employed  on  a  M.  L.  S.  &  W.  work  train  in  1885.  In 
1886  he  began  his  career  as  a  railroad  brakeman,  be- 
ginning that  work  in  November,  1886.  Three  years 
later,  1889,  he  was  promoted  to  Night  Yard  Master 
and  in  June,  1891,  received  another  promotion,  being 
transferred  to  Milwaukee,  where  he  was  until  Febru- 
ary 2,  1906,  when  he  was  returned  to  Antigo  to  as- 
sume full  charge  as  Yard  Master  of  the  Antigo  yards 


of  the  C.  &  N.  W.  R.  R.  Co.,  which  position  he  has 
maintained  as  a  reward  for  responsibility  and  service. 

Mr.  Cavanaugh  was  married  on  February  20,  1895, 
to  Ellen  Buckley,  then  of  Milwaukee,  but  a  native  of 
Canada.  Six  children  were  born,  four  of  whom  are 
now  living.  Marie  and  Ileen  are  deceased.  The 
other  children  are  Edward,  James,  Alice  and  Kath- 
leen. The  devoted  wife  of  Mr.  Cavanaugh  passed 
away  on  February  4,  1912.  The  Cavanaugh  resi- 
dence  is   at  622  Lincoln  street. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Cavanaugh  is  a  member  of  Antigo 
Council,  No.  1002,  Knights  of  Columbus,  the  B.  of  R. 
E.,  and  the  Mystic  Workers  of  the  World;  he  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Yardmasters'  Association  of  Amer- 
ica.    The   family  attends  St.  John's  Catholic  church. 

During  the  World  War  Thomas  Cavanaugh  was  an 
active  war  worker,  taking  a  leading  part  in  the  Red 
Cross,  Liberty  Loan  Drives,  and  in  the  success  of  the 
Victory  Fund. 

Edward  and  Margaret  Cavanaugh,  his  father  and 
mother,  and  pioneers  of  Langlade  County,  lived  to 
see  Antigo  and  the  county  at  large  grow  into  a  thriv- 
ing and  progressive  community.  Edward  Cavanaugh 
died  in  1913,  two  years  after  the  death  of  his  wife, 
Margaret.     Both  are  at  rest  in  Appleton,  Wisconsin. 

James  Cavanaugh,  a  brother  of  Thomas  Cavanaugh, 
came  to  Antigo  at  the  same  time  the  rest  of  the  fam- 
ily did,  in  1881.  He  is  now  deceased,  as  is  his  wife. 
One  son,  Paul,  a  student  of  the  University  of  Wis- 
consin, survives,  and  makes  his  home  with  Thomas 
Cavanaugh. 

HENRY  HERSANT.  Among  the  leading  agricul- 
turists of  Langlade  County,  who  are  not  only  pioneers, 
but  have  taken  a  prominent  part  in  the  various  activ- 
ities of  the  county,  is  Henry  Hersant,  well  known 
farmer  of  Norwood  township.  Mr.  Hersant  was  born 
in  Freedom,  Outagamie  County,  Wisconsin,  the  son 
of  Anna  and  John  Hersant.  When  a  youth  he  moved 
to  Langlade  County,  settling  in  Norwood  township  on 
March  16,  1881.  The  county  was  new  and  farming 
was  difficult.  But  with  energy  characteristic  of  him 
in  later  years,  Mr.  Hersant  set  about  to  develop  one 
of  the  finest  farms  in  the  county,  with  the  result  that 
today  he  has  160  acres  of  land,  a  fine  residence,  splen- 
did barns,  silo,  machine  sheds  and  other  buildings. 

Mr.  Hersant  was  united  in  marriage  on  September 
29,  1891,  to  Mary  Menting,  of  Phlox.  The  Hersant 
children  all  reside  at  Phlox.  They  are  Joseph,  Anna, 
Arnold,  Albert,  Frank,  Hattie,  Herman,  Minnie,  Igna- 
tious,  and  John. 

Henry  Hersant,  a  product  of  the  pioneer  public  and 
parochial  schools  of  his  time,  was  for  ten  years  acting 
as  Township  Chairman  of  Norwood,  a  position  of 
honor  and  confidence.  During  the  World  War  he 
was  selected  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Exemption 
of  Langlade  County.  The  activities  of  this  Board  are 
discussed  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Mr.  Hersant  per- 
formed an  extraordinary  service  to  the  country  while 
in  that  service,  and  future  county  historians  should 
accord    the   members    of    that   body    due    credit.     He 


304 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


also  was  active  in  all  other  patriotic  war  efforts  in  the 
county. 

Mr.  Hersant  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Colum- 
bus, the  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters  and  the  Beavers 
Reserve  Fund  Fraternity.  The  family  attends  the 
St.  Joseph's  church,  Phlox,  Wisconsin. 

Henry  Hersant  has  seen  Antigo  and  its  vicinity 
grow  from  a  vast  stretch  of  wilderness  to  one  of  the 
most  productive  sections  of  upper  Wisconsin  during 
a  span  of  forty  years.  The  part  that  he  played  in  this 
advancement  has  been  of  incredible  importance. 

JOSEPH  GROSSMAN.  From  the  old  world  have 
come  many  of  Langlade  County's  best  agriculturists, 
men  reared  to  the  soil  who  have  brought  with  them 
many  of  the  sterling,  sturdy  traits  of  their  forefathers. 
In  this  class  stands  the  late  Joseph  Grossman.  He 
was  born  on  March  16,  1853,  in  Austria-Hungary. 
He  received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  his  native 
home  and  came  to  America  on  January  29,  1893.  Ten 
years  previously  he  was  united  in  holy  nuptial  bonds 
to  Anna  Kolz,  in  1883.  To  this  union  four  children 
were  born,  three  of  whom  are  living.  They  are  George 
Grossman,  a  well  known  and  prosperous  farmer  of 
Kempster,  Langlade  County;  Mrs.  Joseph  Seis  who 
resides  at  519  Field  street,  Antigo,  Wisconsin,  and 
Frank  J.  Grossman,  residing  on  Route  1,  Antigo. 

Joseph  Grossman  settled  in  Langlade  County  at 
Elmhurst,  Rolling  township,  in  January,  1893.  He 
followed  his  occupation  as  an  agriculturist  for  many 
years,  passing  away  on  September  26,  1916.  Mrs. 
Grossman  died  on  March  30,  1913.  Both  are  at  rest 
in  the  Antigo  Catholic  cemetery. 

FRANK  GROSSMAN,  prominent  business  man. 
was  born  August  29,  1893.  He  received  a  common 
school  education  and  began  to  make  his  way  in  the 
world  for  himself.  He  has  been  associated  with 
Joseph  Seis  in  a  soft  drink  business  on  Field  street 
for  a  number  of  years,  the  business  being  commenced 
before  the  Volstead  act  was  passed,  being  then  a  re- 
tail liquor  establishment.  Mr.  Grossman  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Agnes  Spearo,  who  comes  from  a  sub- 
stantial Langlade  County  family,  on  August  24,  1920. 
Frank  Grossman  is  fraternally  a  member  of  Antigo 
lodge  Loyal  Order  of  Moose,  and  St.  Joseph's  Benev- 
olent Society.  He  has  a  wide  acquaintance  in  the 
city  of  Antigo  and  in  the  county. 

JAMES  H.  WORDEN.  Born  in  Sumner,  Gratiot 
County,  Michigan,  June  19,  1864.  Father,  Arnold 
Worden.  Received  common  school  education.  At 
age  of  14  moved  to  Shelby,  Oceona  County,  Michi- 
gan. Went  into  lumber  business  at  Shelby,  cutting 
for  Nelson  &  Matters  Furniture  Co.  at  age  of  18. 
Went  to  Cedar  Springs,  Kent  County,  Michigan,  where 
operated  his  first  sawmill  for  eight  years.  Purchased 
tract  timber  on  Oceola  branch  of  G.  R.  &  Indiana, 
erected  two  mills,  shingle  and  saw  mill,  which  oper- 
ated for  seven  years.  Located  then  at  Jeffries,  Wis., 
where  he  bought  out  Jeffries   Lumber  Company  saw 


and  planing  mills  and  16,000  acres.  While  at  Jeff- 
ries organized  the  Jeffries  &  Northeastern  Railroad 
Company  in  1903.  Charles  Sligh  was  associated  with 
Mr.  Worden  in  Worden  Lumber  Co.  for  four  years. 
Sold  interests  out  in  1904  and  came  to  Antigo,  pur- 
chasing the  sawmill  of  the  T.  D.  Kellogg  Lbr.  &  Mfg. 
Co.,  at  Antigo.  Mr.  Worden  was  married  in  August, 
1898,  to  Belle  Allen,  and  has  one  son,  James  H.  Wor- 
den, Jr.  He  is  a  member  of  the  B.  P.  0.  E.  and  Ma- 
sonic lodges.  His  home  is  at  1335  Clermont  street, 
Antigo,  Wisconsin.  He  is  president  of  Wolf  River 
Lumber  Company  and  is  a  partner  in  the  Henshaw 
Lumber  Company. 

H.  A.  FRIEDEMAN.  Born  October  25,  1858,  at 
Watertown,  Jefferson  County,  son  of  Ernest  F.  and 
Mary  Friedeman.  Attended  public  schools  until  16 
years  of  age.  Was  employed  seven  years  with  one 
firm  in  Watertown;  went  then  to  Milwaukee  to  Spen- 
cerian  Business  College  for  a  year;  returned  to 
Watertown  for  two  years  and  then  returned  to  Mil- 
waukee where  for  four  years  he  was  engaged  in  dry 
goods  business.  Came  to  Antigo  in  1887  with  broth- 
er, Ernest  F.  Friedeman,  and  they  engaged  in  bakery 
and  confectionery  business  until  spring  of  1909  when 
Mr.  Friedman  was  elected  County  Treasurer.  Mr. 
Friedeman  is  still  County  Treasurer,  having  been  re- 
elected since  his  election  first.  He  was  City  Treas- 
urer of  Antigo  in  1897-98.  February  11,  1888,  he  mar- 
ried Sophia  Maas,  of  Milwaukee.  Children,  six;  five 
living,  four  girls  and  one  boy.  While  at  Watertown 
was  member  of  Co.  I,  2nd  Regiment,  from  which  he 
was  honorably  discharged  September  22,  1885.  Was 
City  Supervisor  from  the  Fifth  Ward,  Antigo,  Wis.,  in 
1908-09.  Mr.  Friedeman  is  a  member  of  the  Beavers, 
I.  0.  O.  F.  and  Masonic  lodges  and  a  devout  member  of 
the  Unity  Evangelical  church.  His  residence  is  at  713 
.Sixth  Avenue,  Antigo,  Wisconsin. 

SYLVESTER  J.  LYNDE,  railway  conductor,  was 
born  at  Whitby,  Province  of  Ontario,  Canada,  Decem- 
ber 7,  1860,  the  son  of  Jabez  and  Margaret  (Tweedie) 
Lynde.  When  about  two  years  old  his  parents  died. 
He  then  lived  with  his  grandparents  on  a  farm  until 
he  reached  the  age  of  twenty-three.  In  the  spring  of 
1883  he  came  to  the  United  States,  locating  at 
Chicago,  from  where  he  entered  the  service  of  the 
Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad  as  a  passenger 
brakeman.  He  worked  in  a  mining  supply  store  at 
Ironwood,  Michigan,  during  the  rush  of  the  iron  ore 
country  when  its  boom  was  at  high  tide.  He  re-en- 
tered the  service  of  the  Northwestern  railway  in  June, 
1891,  and  has  served  continuously  since  with  that  rail- 
road. He  is  now  a  conductor  of  long  standing  and 
many  years  seniority.  Mr.  Lynde  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Lillie  May  Canavan  on  March  19,  1894.  Five 
children,  three  girls  and  two  boys,  were  born  to  this 
union.  Margaret,  second  child,  died  when  seven 
months  old.  The  other  children  are  Frank  T.,  born 
June  25,  1895,  at  Hudson,  Wis.,  and  Robert  Gordon, 
a  University  student;  Lydia,  who  attends  St.  Xaviers 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


305 


Academy  at  Chicago,  and  Edith,  a  high  school  stud- 
ent. 

Frank  Lynde,  Division  Account  of  the  Ashland  Di- 
vision, C.  &  N.  W.  Railroad,  entered  the  army  dur- 
ing the  World  War  with  Germany  on  April  21,  1917. 
He  served  overseas  and  attained  the  rank  of  a  Lieu- 
tenant in  Artillery.  He  was  honorably  discharged 
March  4,  1919. 

Sylvester  Lynde,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  a 
member  of  the  B.  of  R.  T.  No.  151 ;  Order  of  Railway 
Conductors  No.  462;  the  B.  P.  O.  E.  No.  662;  and  the 
Wisconsin  Consistory,  32nd  degree,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. 
The  Lynde  residence  is  at  516  Second  avenue,  Antigo. 

y  MATT  WACHAL,  SR.  Before  Ackley  township 
was  detached  from  Lincoln  County  some  of  Langlade 
County's  most  progressive  residents  took  up  home- 
steads or  purchased  land  in  the  dense  wilderness. 
Matt  Wachal,  Sr.,  a  native  of  Bohemia,  where  he  was 
born  February  23,  1862,  came  to  Langlade  County  in 
October,  1879.  The  trip  was  made  by  team  from 
Wausau  and  required  two  days.  There  were  no 
roads  but  rough  trails.  This  hardy  pioneer  settled  on 
section  36,  East  Ackley.  He  had  landed  on  U.  S.  soil 
seven  years  before,  June,  1872,  and  after  engaging  in 
mill  work  at  Cooperstown,  Manitowoc  County,  and 
elsewhere,  concluded  that  this  region  offered  better 
opportunities  to  the  ambitious  homeseeker.  Antigo's 
site  was  then  a  vast  swamp.  Scott  Hale  and  the  Mc- 
Cloud  family  were  living  southwest  and  south  of  the 
present  city  limits.  Sections  35  and  36  were  dense 
areas  of  pine  and  hardwood. 

On  April  7,  1883,  Mr.  Wachal  married  Marie 
Maresh.  He  has  a  splendid  eighty  acre  farm,  has 
been  honored  by  his  neighbors  with  various  official 
trusts,  including  township  Supervisor  for  three  years, 
and  School  Clerk  of  District  No.  1.  Mr.  Wachal  has 
done  his  part  to  make  Langlade  County  better. 

M.  J.  EVENSON.  Born  August  4,  1860.  Came  to 
Antigo  in  1892  as  head  sawyer  of  the  J.  H.  Weed 
mill,  then  Antigo's  largest  saw  mill.  Has  been  en- 
gaged in  various  occupations,  principally  building 
contracting  and  carpenter  work.  Married  Louisa  E. 
Holmes  in  the  spring  of  1892.  To  this  union  were 
born  five  children,  four  boys  and  one  girl.  One  of  the 
boys  died.  Mr.  Evenson  is  engaged  in  a  lucrative 
mercantile  business  in  Antigo.  His  residence  is  1539 
Clermont  street.  Two  sons,  Louis  and  Earl,  attend 
the  University  of  Wisconsin,  the  former  graduating 
in  1923.  The  Evenson  family  attends  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  of  Antigo. 

LOUIS  P.  KIEFFER.  Born  April  13,  1885,  at 
Schofield,  the  son  of  John  and  Agnes  Kieffer.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  has  been  distinctly  a  self-made 
man.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  moved  to  Wausau 
with  his  parents  and  began  at  once  to  learn  the  butcher 
business.  He  worked  hard  and  ultimately  Kieffer 
Brothers  market  was  organized  with  L.  P.  Kieffer  a 
partner.  February  17,  1912,  Mr.  Kieffer  came  to  An- 
tigo and  with  Peter  Klemann  opened  the  Palace  Meat 


Market,  907  Fifth  avenue.  March  24,  1919,  the  en- 
tire market  was  taken  over  by  Mr.  Kieffer  upon  Mr. 
Klemann's  temporary  retirement  from  business.  Mr. 
Kieffer  was  married  September  27,  1907,  to  Hattie 
Boerke,  of  Wausau,  Wis.  Three  children,  one  boy 
and  two  girls,  bless  this  union.  The  Kieffer  resi- 
dence is  1121  Fifth  avenue.  Mr.  Kieffer  is  a  member 
of  the  B.  P.  O.  E.,  L.  0.  0.  M.,  Eagles,  and  Beavers 
fraternities.  The  family  attends  St.  John's  Catholic 
church. 

E.  W.  VAUGHN.  Born  November  15,  1847,  in 
town  of  Porter,  Rock  County,  son  of  Anslem  and  Ro- 
setta  Vaughn.  When  a  child  moved  with  parents  to 
Portage  County  where  he  lived  thirty  years.  Novem- 
ber 24,  1878,  he  married  Helen  Gould  of  the  Town  of 
Belmont,  Portage  County.  In  1900  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Vaughn  moved  to  Antigo  from  Jordan  township.  Port- 
age County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vaughn  were  the  parents 
of  four  children,  Albert,  Walter,  Eugene  and  Gerald, 
the  latter  dying  at  the  age  of  five.  Mr.  Vaughn  passed 
away  December  13,  1903.  He  was  buried  in  the  An- 
tigo cemetery.  His  wife  lives  with  her  son,  Walter, 
at  822  Mendlik  avenue.  E.  W.  Vaughn  was  a  res- 
pected citizen  who  stood  well  in  the  community.  He 
was  a  blacksmith  by  trade. 

PRIEBE  BROS.  Hubert  and  Amandus  Priebe 
came  to  Antigo  from  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  in  December, 
1901.  The  Priebe  Sheet  Metal  Works,  located  at  508 
Superior  street,  was  then  organized  by  the  industrious 
men.  They  have  a  profitable  business  with  a  drawing 
radius  of  sixty  miles. 

GEORGE  J.  BOWLER,  Attorney,  was  born  July  19, 
1879,  at  Sparta,  son  of  John  and  Johanna  Bowler.  At- 
tended public  schools  and  graduated  from  Sparta  High 
School  in  1895.  Was  employed  as  a  farmer,  taught 
school  and  traveled  as  a  representative  of  the  Interna- 
tional Harvester  Co.  Entered  the  U.  of  W.  Law 
School  from  which  he  graduated  in  1903.  Has  been 
engaged  successfully  as  a  practicing  lawyer  in  Antigo 
since  1913.  Was  City  Attorney  in  1914.  Previously 
practiced  law  with  Jas.  J.  Bowler  of  Sparta,  Timothy 
and  E.  R.  Bowler  of  Sheboygan  and  C.  A.  A.  McGee,  of 
Milwaukee.  George  J.  Bowler  is  active  in  Wisconsin 
Democratic  politics.  In  1912  he  was  chairman  of  the 
Speakers'  Bureau  for  the  State  Central  Committee. 
Attorney  Bowler  is  a  member  of  the  B.  P.  O.  E.  and 
K.  of  C.  lodges. 

PETER  H.  KLEMANN.  Born  in  Wausau  Septem- 
ber 7,  1884;  was  the  son  of  Amelia  and  John  Klemann. 
He  entered  the  butcher  business  after  attending  the 
public  schools  of  Wausau,  where,  with  the  exception 
of  four  years  spent  at  Bessmer,  Michigan,  he  resided 
until  coming  to  Antigo  in  1911.  Mr.  Klemann  started 
his  business  career  as  a  delivery  boy  at  the  princely 
sum  of  $2  per  week.  He  formed  a  partnership  with 
L.  P.  Kieffer  six  months  after  coming  to  Antigo.  The 
Palace  Market  under  the  regime  of  Klemann  &  Kief- 


306 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


fer  built  up  a  large  trade.  Seven  years  elapsed  and 
Mr.  Klemann  withdrew  from  the  firm,  remaining  out 
of  business  until  March  1,  1920,  when  he  purchased 
the  A.  N.  Anderson  market,  810  Fifth  avenue,  which 
he  still  owns.  Mr.  Klemann  married  Miss  Margaret 
Friedeman,  January  20,  1916,  to  which  union  three 
children,  two  boys  and  one  girl,  were  born.  The  Kle- 
mann family  resides  at  928  Clermont  street. 

In  November,  1921,  Mr.  Klemann  purchased  the 
Roberts  building  on  Fifth  avenue  in  which  his  mar- 
ket is  located.  Mr.  Klemann  is  a  member  of  all  Ma- 
sonic orders  and  held  the  1921-22  term  as  Commander 
of  Antigo  Commandery.  He  is  a  trustee  of  the  Evan- 
gelical church  and  was  active  in  World  War  cam- 
paigns. 


hostelry  he  has  been  active  manager  of  since  1902. 
On  September  4,  1905,  Mr.  Hoffman  was  married  to 
Miss  Josephine  Wanninger,  a  well  known  Antigo 
young  lady.  This  union  has  been  blessed  with  four 
children  as  follows:  Joseph,  born  July  2,  1907;  Fran- 
cis, born  December  18,  1908;  Marion,  born  March  6, 
1910,  and  Margaret,  bom  June  28,  1912. 

Frank  J.  Hoffman  is  distinctly  an  Antigo  product, 
he  having  grown  up  with  the  city  from  its  early  days 
when  it  was  a  settlement  of  less  than  3000  souls.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order 
of  Elks,  Loyal  Order  of  Moose,  Eag'les,  Catholic 
Knights  of  Wisconsin,  the  Greeters  of  America,  a  ho- 
tel organization,  the  American  Hotel  Association,  and 
The    Wisconsin    State    Hotel    Association.        He    has 


FRANK    J.    HOFFMAX 

Proprietor  of  The  Hoffnian  House.       Mr.  Hoffman  is  a  member  of  both 

the  Wisconsin  and  .-Xmerican   Hotel  .Associations.       He  is  a 

married  man  and  has  four  children. 


FRANK  J.  HOFFMAN  was  born  February  27,  1884, 
at  Gresham,  Shawano  County,  and  came  to  Antigo 
with  his  parents,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joseph  Hoffman,  from 
that  place  when  he  was  three  months  old.  Mr.  Hoff- 
man attended  the  public  and  parochial  schools  and  the 
high  school  of  Antigo  during  his  boyhood. 

Leaving  school  he  became  associated  with  his  fath- 
er in  the  management  of  the  Hoffman  House,  which 


never  desired  public  office  but  his  friends  chose  to 
elect  him  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  and  he 
served  two  years — 1914-1915. 

An  honor  seldom  conferred  was  bestowed  upon  Mr. 
Hoffman  in  1921  during  the  State  G.  A.  R.  Encamp- 
ment when  he  was  made  an  honorary  member  of  the 
Fife  &  Drum  Corps.  Only  two  awards  are  made  dur- 
ing one  year. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


307 


HON.  B.  W.  RYNDERS.  Prominent  Democratic 
leader,  ex-Mayor  and  member  of  the  Assembly,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Ellington,  Outagamie  County, 
February  3,  1871.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Hortonville  and  Oshkosh  Normal,  taught 
school  for  eight  years  and  then  engaged  in  real  estate 
and  insurance  business  in  Antigo,  Wis.,  for  fourteen 
years.  Mr.  Rynders  has  served  as  Supervisor,  Alder- 
man, President  of  the  City  Council,  Mayor  of  Antigo 
two  years.  President  of  the  Police  and  Fire  Commis- 
sion, Treasurer  of  Langlade  County  Normal  and  in 
1920  was  elected  to  the  Assembly,  receiving  3282  votes 
to  2427  for  James  A.  Parker,  Republican.  Mr.  Ryn- 
ders was  one  of  the  only  two  Democrats  in  the  Assem- 
bly. He  was  married  to  Marie  Deane,  of  Clark  Coun- 
ty, August  14,  1897.  Four  children  were  born  to  this 
union — three  boys  and  one  girl.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Sons  of  Veterans,  the  E.  F.  U.  and  M.  W.  A.  lodges. 
Mr.  Rynders  is  proprietor  of  the  American  House,  An- 
tigo, Wis. 


PAUL  THOMPSON,  prominent  farmer,  potatoe- 
grower  and  horse  dealer,  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Clayton,  Winnebago  County,  Wis.,  in  1880,  son  of 
Francis  C.  and  Marion  Pattirson  Thompson.  He 
spent  his  boyhood  and  youth  on  his  father's  farm 
there.  In  1897  he  moved  to  Langlade  County  where 
he  was  afforded  opportunity  to  work  with  his  team  in 
the  woods.  Since  then  he  has  logged  extensively. 
In  1903  he  spent  six  months  visiting  Washington, 
Oregon  and  California.  Returning  to  Antigo  he  oper- 
ated a  livery  service  in  connection  with  the  Butterfield 
Hotel,  for  one  year.  He  married  Mary  A.  Brandt, 
September,  1906.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thompson  have  two 
children,  Harry  P.,  and  Roy  K.  Mr.  Thompson  spent 
the  first  years  of  his  married  life  in  Antigo,  then  mov- 
ed on  a  farm  in  Norwood  township.  In  1916  he  sold 
his  farm,  and  purchased  the  Chandler  sugar-bush  prop- 
erty. The  timber  was  logged  by  Mr.  Thompson.  This 
completed  he  purchased  the  Quinn  farm  on  Highway 
No.  39,  just  outside  of  the  city  limits.  Mr.  Thompson's 
farm  is  known  as  The  City  View  Farm,  and  is  one  of 
the  best  in  the  county. 

JOHN  EDWARD  McKENNA,  well  known  railroad 
conductor,  was  born  March  11,  1874,  at  Chilton,  Calu- 
met County,  the  son  of  Elizabeth  and  James  McKenna. 
He  is  a  pioneer  resident  of  Antigo,  coming  here  in  1881 
with  his  parents  when  Antigo  was  a  little  hamlet.  He 
attended  the  city  schools  of  Antigo,  and  in  1890  en- 
tered the  employ  of  the  Milwaukee,  Lake  Shore  & 
Western  railroad  which  was  purchased  by  the  C.  &  N. 
W.  R.  R.  Co.  in  1893.  Mr.  McKenna  rose  to  the  rank 
of  conductor,  which  position  he  still  holds.  October 
11,  1898,  he  married  Katherine  F.  Donohue,  to  which 
union  six  children  were  born.  They  are  Eugene,  Mary, 
Katherine,  Mildred,  Marjorie  and  Elizabeth. 

Mr.  McKenna  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Colum- 
bus, B.  P.  0.  E.,  and  Order  of  Railway  Conductors. 
He  served  on  the  Board  of  Education  of  the  city  of 


Antigo  in  1919-20.     The  McKenna  residence  is  at  1103 
Superior  street,  at  the  Graham  avenue  intersection. 

AUGUST  J.  STABE  was  born  in  Germany,  January 
10,  1859,  the  son  of  William  Stabe.  At  the  age  of 
twenty  he  came  to  America  with  his  mother  settling 
at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  from  where  they  moved  to  Rhine- 
beck,  a  city  on  the  Hudson,  below  Albany,  N.  Y.  In 
1880  Mr.  Stabe  moved  westward  and  settled  at  Apple- 
ton,  Outagamie  County.  May  15,  1882,  he  married 
Amelia  Kratska,  of  Seymour,  Wis.  Eight  children, 
five  girls  and  three  boys,  were  born  to  this  union.  One, 
a  girl,  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Stabe  passed  away  Jan- 
uary 8,  1910.  Her  remains  are  buried  in  the  old  An- 
tigo cemetery.  Mr.  Stabe  is  a  mason  by  trade.  He 
began  his  trade  while  in  Albany,  N.  Y.  The  Stabe 
family  moved  to  Antigo  in  1894.  Ten  years  before 
then  Mr.  Stabe  had  contract  work  in  Antigo.  He  is 
a  charter  member  of  the  Beavers,  President  of  Local 
No.  25  since  1918,  and  I.  U.  of  M.  B.  &  P.,  a  delegate 
to  the  Central  Labor  Union.  He  has  built  many  of 
the  schools  in  Langlade  County,  including  the  Mal- 
colm, Kennedy,  Elton,  and  other  district  schools. 

L.  J.  KOLES,  wholesale  confectioner,  was  born  Aug- 
ust 9,  1889,  in  Antigo,  Wisconsin,  son  of  Julia  and 
Albert  Koles.  He  attended  St.  John's  Parochial  school 
and  the  Antigo  High  School,  graduating  from  the  lat- 
ter in  1910.  He  distinguished  himself  in  high  school 
as  a  fine  athlete  and  star  football  player,  one  of  the 
best  ever  representing  the  colors  of  the  A.  H.  S.  Sep- 
tember 14,  1914,  he  began  as  a  bookkeeper  for  the 
Antigo  Confectionery  Co.  and  in  five  years,  April  29, 
1919,  he  purchased  the  Antigo  Confectionery  Co.  busi- 
ness. He  continued  the  wholesale  candy  business 
under  the  name  L.  J.  Koles  Candy  Company.  At  the 
time  of  organization  this  concern  was  the  only  ex- 
clusive wholesale  firm  in  Antigo.  November  21,  1916, 
Mr.  Koles  was  married  to  Mary  Alice  Strong.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Koles  have  two  children,  Katherine,  age 
three,  and  Louise,  age  one.  L.  J.  Koles  is  an  active 
member  of  Antigo  Council  No.  1002  Knights  of  Colum- 
bus, in  which  council  he  has  held  many  offices.  He 
is  now  Secretary  of  the  Council.  The  Koles  family 
resides  at  502  Second  avenue.  Mr.  Koles'  pastime  is 
bowling,  which  he  thoroughly  enjoys.  The  L.  J.  Koles 
Candy  Company  is  located  at  608  Dorr  street.  The 
concern  enjoys  a  lucrative  patronage  in  a  territory  with 
a  radius  of  fifty  miles  extending  out  from  Antigo 
through  four  counties,  Langlade,  Oneida,  Forest  and 
Shawano. 

LOUIS  L.  PORLIER,  former  Sheriff,  was  born  at 
Oshkosh,  Winnebago  County,  November  29,  1881.  He 
lived  on  a  farm  at  Butte-des-Marts,  Wisconsin,  until 
he  attained  the  age  of  fourteen.  He  then  returned  to 
Oshkosh  where  he  resided  six  years.  Mr.  Porlier  came 
to  Antigo  when  about  twenty  years  of  age.  Here  he 
worked  in  the  woods  and  saw  mills  until  coming  to 
the  city  of  Antigo  in  1910.  His  rise  in  the  police  and 
sheriff  departments  was   then  rapid.     He  worked   as 


308 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


special  police  in  Antigo  for  several  years,  was  Deputy 
Sheriff  under  Sheriff  Thomas  Ford  for  two  years, 
1915-16.  Appointed  Under-Sheriff  under  Sheriff  Ed- 
ward Buchen  for  two  years  1917-18.  In  the  fall  of 
1918  he  was  elected  Sheriff  over  a  field  of  candidates 
and  served  for  two  years.  He  then  entered  the  vul- 
canizing business.  He  was  married  January  12,  1909, 
to  Zehna  Pearson,  of  Koepenick,  Wis. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  Loyal 
Order  of  Moose,  B.  P.  O.  E.,  Catholic  Knights  of  Wis- 
consin and  Beavers.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Porlier  have  two 
children,  Russel,  age  10,  and  Virginia,  age  6. 


he  purchased  Charles  Polman's  property  in  Borgman 
building.  He  has  since  conducted  a  well  maintained 
restaurant  since  the  Volstead  Act  became  a  law.  Mr. 
Kupper  first  married  Emma  Krueger,  who  passed 
away.  He  re-married  to  Amelia  Hayes,  and  upon 
her  demise,  Mr.  Kupper  was  married  to  Mrs.  Anna 
Schlunt.  The  Kupper  family  consists  of  seven  child- 
ren, three  boys  and  four  girls.  Mr.  Kupper  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Eagles  and  Camels  fraternal  organizations. 
He  served  as  an  Alderman  from  the  Fourth  Ward 
under  Mayor  T.  W.  Hogan  in  1899,  1902-03.  One  son, 
Emil,  served  in  the  World  War. 


JOHN  P.  CALLAHAN,  railroad  leader  and  County 
Treasurer,  was  born  January  24,  1876,  at  Fond  du  Lac, 
son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Terrance  Callahan.  When  a  lad 
of  five  he  moved  to  Antigo  with  his  parents.  Here 
he  attended  the  public  and  parochial  schools.  At  the 
age  of  sixteen  he  began  his  railroading  career  by  ob- 
taining employment  in  the  round  house  of  the  old  M. 
L.  S.  &  W.  R.  R.  Co.  He  rose  to  the  rank  of  fireman 
and  then  engineer.  From  1901  to  February  13,  1903, 
he  served  as  an  engineer  on  the  C.  &  N.  W.  Railroad. 
He  was  injured  permanently  in  an  accident  rendering 
his  left  leg  practically  useless,  while  performing  his 
duty.  He  then,  upon  the  request  of  many  friends, 
became  a  candidate  for  County  Treasurer  and  was 
elected  in  the  fall  of  1914.  He  was  re-elected  in 
1916,  1918,  1920  and  1922.  Mr.  Callahan  is  a  Demo- 
crat in  politics.  He  was  married  to  Catherine  Reindl, 
Antigo,  Wisconsin,  April  23,  1891.  Five  children  bless 
this  union.  They  are  John,  Jr.,  Francis,  Gerald,  Margar- 
et and  Catherine.  Mr.  Callahan  is  an  active  member  of 
the  B.  of  L.  E.,  of  which  he  has  been  Secretary- 
Treasurer  of  Langlade  Division  No.  536  for  four  years. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Foresters,  K.  of  C, 
Eagles,  and  E.  F.  U.  lodges.  The  Callahan  family 
reside  at  428  Dorr  street. 

MICHAEL  J.  BINDER,  hotel  proprietor,  was  born 
June  22,  1873,  in  Oshkosh,  the  son  of  Mary  and  Char- 
les Binder.  He  came  to  Langlade  County  in  1890  and 
settled  at  Elton,  Evergreen  township  village,  when 
that  region  was  a  vast  dense  forest.  He  was  married 
January  28,  1908,  to  Miss  Ida  Jenson,  of  Chicago, 
Illinois.  To  this  union  three  children,  two  boys  and 
one  girl,  were  born.  The  Elton  Hotel,  of  which  Mr. 
Binder  is  proprietor,  is  located  on  Highway  No.  64, 
direct  route  from  Merrill  to  Marinette. 

THEODORE  KUPPER,  restaurant  proprietor,  was 
born  December  5,  1859,  son  of  Eva  and  William  Kup- 
per. He  lived  at  the  place  of  his  birth,  Genschmar, 
Germany,  until  he  was  twenty-three  years  old.  He 
then  came  to  the  U.  S.  and  settled  at  once  in  Antigo, 
June  7,  1883.  With  him  came  his  parents.  He  work- 
ed at  Weeds'  mill,  then  on  the  M.  L.  S.  &  W.  railroad, 
Herman  &  Becklinger's  sawmill,  Buerger's  news  stand 
and  as  a  bar  tender  for  Frank  Reindl  and  Herman 
Schlundt.  Entered  business  as  a  retail  liquor  mer- 
chant in  1904  associating  with  Jacob  Kunz.     In  1914 


GEORGE  E.  MOORE,  Physician  and  Surgeon,  was 
born  April  26,  1890,  the  son  of  Prof,  and  Mrs.  R.  A. 
Moore,  University  of  Wisconsin,  Madison.  He  attend- 
ed the  Madison  High  School  from  which  he  gradu- 
ated in  1910.  He  entered  the  University  of  Wiscon- 
sin from  which  he  graduated  with  a  B.  A.  degree  in 
1914.  He  then  entered  the  Northwestern  University 
Medical  School  graduating  in  1918.  Dr.  Moore  be- 
came House  Surgeon  of  King  County  Hospital,  N.  Y. 
and  held  a  commission  as  a  U.  S.  Naval  Lieutenant. 
February  12,  1919,  he  married  Louise  Kroll,  of  New 
York  City.  The  following  June  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Moore 
came  to  Antigo,  Wisconsin.  Dr.  Moore  was  associated 
with  G.  W.  Moore,  with  offices  in  the  First  National 
Bank  Building,  but  since  the  latter's  removal  from 
Antigo  he  has  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion alone.  He  is  a  member  of  the  B.  P.  0.  E.  His 
residence  is  at  1005  Clermont  street. 

JAMES  GAGEN,  real  estate,  abstract  and  insur- 
ance dealer,  was  born  in  Eagle  River,  Vilas  County, 
Wisconsin,  the  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dan  Gagen.  When 
an  infant  he  moved  with  his  parents  to  Three  Lakes, 
down  the  Chain  O'  Lakes  and  thence  over  the  Mili- 
tary Road  six  miles,  a  total  distance  then  of  about 
thirty  miles.  Here  he  lived  during  his  boyhood  and 
youth.  He  attended  school  and  engaged  with  his 
father  in  general  farming  and  logging  operations.  He 
made  his  first  visit  to  Antigo  in  1886  when  the  city 
was  about  a  year  old.  Mr.  Gagen  permanently  locat- 
ed in  Antigo  in  1891  and  now  resides  at  403  Hudson 
street.  He  has  been  Law  Clerk  in  the  office  of 
George  W.  Latta,  Antigo  Attorney,  Clerk  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Engrossed  Bills  in  the  State  Legislature, 
Secretary  of  the  Langlade  County  Democratic  Com- 
mittee, Official  Municipal  Court  Reporter  of  Lang- 
lade County  in  1910-12,  and  since  has  engaged  in  the 
real  estate,  insurance  and  abstract  business.  His  of- 
fices are  located  in  the  Fidelity  Bank  building.  He 
was  married  to  Miss  Florence  E.  Truesdell,  of  Antigo, 
Wis.,  September  1,  1904. 

EDWIN  R.  F.  MURPHY,  Physician  and  Surgeon, 
son  of  Frances  Ferris  and  Garrison  C.  Murphy,  was 
born  June  24,  1876,  in  the  city  of  Milwaukee,  Wis. 
He  attended  the  public  schools  of  Milwaukee  and 
then  entered  St.  John's  Military  Academy,  Delafield, 
Wisconsin,  from  which  he  graduated.       He  then  en- 


I 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


309 


tered  Marquette  University  graduating  from  that  in- 
stitution's school  of  Medicine  in  1903.  He  became 
first  assistant  physician  at  the  Milwaukee  Society  Hos- 
pital and  later  was  attached  to  the  Germania  Clinical 
Laboratory  of  Milwaukee,  Wis.  He  moved  to  Cran- 
don,  Forest  County,  Wis.,  in  1905,  and  practiced  his 
profession  in  that  city  for  ten  years.  Dr.  Murphy 
spent  two  years  in  charge  of  St.  Stephen's  Hospital 
in  Alaska  (1915-16).  He  returned  to  the  U.  S.  and 
located  in  Antigo,  Wis.,  where  he  has  since  practiced 
with  the  exception  of  that  period  when  he  was  in  U. 
S.  service.  June  30,  1917,  he  was  commissioned  a 
First  Lieutenant,  and  in  May,  1918,  was  called  into 
service.  He  went  from  Antigo  to  Bellevue  Hospital, 
New  York  City,  where  he  took  an  eight  weeks'  course 
in  war  surgery,  then  went  to  Camp  Dix,  N.  J.,  where  he 
engaged  in  major  surgery  until  embarking  for  France 
where  he  was  attached  to  Base  Hospital  No.  78  until 


L.  P.  TRADEWELL,  was  born  on  a  farm,  town  of 
Mt.  Pleasant,  Racine  County,  March  31,  1879.  Father, 
Wm.  Tradewell.  Attended  common  schools  and  grad- 
uated from  Racine  High  School  in  1900.  Taught 
rural  schools  at  Kansasville  and  North  Cape,  Wis- 
consin two  years.  Came  to  Antigo  in  1902.  On  Oc- 
tober 20,  1907,  married  Carrie  Blanche  Fricke,  at  Mil- 
waukee, to  which  union  four  children,  two  boys  and 
two  girls,  were  born.  Mrs.  Tradewell  died  March  2, 
1918.  On  May  25,  1920,  Mr.  Tradewell  was  married 
to  Helen  Annette  Benishek,  daughter  of  ex-Mayor 
Benishek,  of  Antigo.  Mr.  Tradewell  is  interested  in 
the  Morse  &  Tradewell  Company,  Faust  Lumber  Com- 
pany, Great  Northern  Chemical  Company,  was  inter- 
ested in  the  old  Citizens  Brg.  Co.,  is  a  member  of  the 
Northern  Hemlock  Hardwood  Association,  has  served 
on  the  Antigo  Police  and  Fire  Commission,  member 
of  the  Park  and  Cemetery  Boards,  has  logged  extens- 


L.   P.   TRADEW^ELL 

A  promiiu-nt   hnnberman  and  manufacturer,  who  has  been  a  resident  of 

Antigo  since  11)03.       Mr.  Tradewell  takes  an  active  part  in  the  civic 

welfare  of  the  city  and  frequently  is  called  upon  to  serve  the  city 

m  various   public   capacities.       He   is  president  of  the 

Faust  Lumber  Company. 


the  end  of  the  war.  Dr.  Murphy  was  promoted  suc- 
cessively from  First  Lieutenant  to  Captain  and  then 
to  Major.  He  was  honorably  discharged  from  service 
May  24,  1919.  Dr.  Murphy  was  married  to  Marie 
Cummings,  of  Chicago,  111.,  August  13,  1905.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  American,  Wisconsin  and  Langlade 
County  Medical  Associations.  Fraternally  he  is  af- 
filiated with  the  B.  P.  O.  E.,  K.  P.,  E.  F.  U.,  and 
Eagles  orders.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Murphy  reside  at  922 
Clermont  street,  Antigo,  Wis. 


ively,  and  is  a  member  of  Antigo  Lodge  No.  662,  B. 
P.  0.  E.     Politically  he  is  a  Republican. 


RICHARD  HEALY,  SR.,  prominent  pioneer  citi- 
zen, was  born  in  the  town  of  Warren,  Waushara  Coun- 
ty, Wisconsin,  September  24,  1853,  the  son  of  Eliza- 
beth and  Michael  Healy,  natives  of  Ireland.  He  at- 
tended the  rural  schools  of  Waushara  County  during 
the   winter   months.       Until   he   attained   the    age   of 


310 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


seventeen  he  aided  his  father  on  the  farm,  plowing 
with  a  yoke  of  oxen  in  that  time.  He  walked  to 
Wausau,  Wisconsin,  when  seventeen  to  become  en- 
gaged in  the  lumber  industry.  The  trip  took  four 
days  and  can  now  be  made  in  five  hours  with  a  motor 
car.  He  worked  successively  for  Lawrence  &  Peters 
of  Wausau,  Wis.,  in  the  woods  and  on  the  Wisconsin 
river.  Rafts  of  lumber  were  then  floated  down  the 
Mississippi  to  St.  Louis.  Mr.  Healy  made  many  of 
these  picturesque  journeys.  Leaving  the  employ  of 
Lawrence  &  Peters  he  began  work  with  Manson  &  St. 
Austin,  and  was  five  years  with  that  concern.  He 
then  spent  two  years  with  Alexander  &  Stewart.  Mr. 
Healy  came  to  Langlade  County  in  1877  and  home- 
steaded  in  Antigo  township  on  section  26.  In  1886 
he  moved  his  family  from  Wausau  to  Antigo  township 
and  lived  on  the  old  homestead  until  1894.  He  then 
moved  to  section  28,  Antigo  township,  where  he  re- 
sided from  1894-97,  moving  into  the  city  of  Antigo 
that  year.  Mr.  Healy  has  engaged  in  the  wholesale 
and  retail  ice  business  in  Antigo  since  1897.  He  was 
married  to  Angelina  Kanauf,  of  Marathon  City,  Mara- 
thon County,  in  June,  1878.  Eight  children,  now  liv- 
ing, are  J.  J.  Healy,  Electrical  Engineer  and  Chiro- 
practor; Richard,  Jr.,  Electrical  Supply  dealer;  Mich- 
ael, ice  dealer;  Elizabeth,  Supervisor  Langlade  Coun- 
ty rural  schools;  Margaret,  Instructor  in  Vocational 
Schools  of  Antigo;  Mary,  now  Mrs.  Hugh  Bryne,  Jr., 
of  Antigo,  Wis.;  Daniel,  Marquette  University  stu- 
dent, and  Edward,  of  Glendive,  Montana.  Mr.  Healy 
is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Foresters,  B.  P.  0.  E.,  K. 
of  C,  Beavers  and  Eagles  lodges.  He  has  served 
for  many  years  as  Alderman,  Supervisor,  Chairman 
of  the  Road  and  Bridge  Committee  of  Langlade  Coun- 
ty, member  of  the  city  Board  of  Education  and  has 
acted  in  many  other  public  capacities.  Mrs.  Richard 
Healy,  Sr.  passed  away  April  22,  1918.  She  is  buried 
in  the  Catholic  cemetery,  Antigo,  Wis.  The  Healy 
family  reside  at  322  Fifth  avenue. 

FRANCIS  XAVIER  KIELCZEWSKI,  deceased,  was 
a  prominent  settler  in  Langlade  township.  He  was 
born  in  Posen,  Poland,  in  the  year  1843.  He  went  to 
Paris,  France,  when  a  young  man  and  there  received 
his  military  and  vocational  training.  He  later  served 
in  the  Franco-Prussian  War  of  1870-71.  In  1872  Mr. 
Kielczewski  imigrated  to  the  United  States  landing 
at  New  York  harbor.  He  located  in  Baltimore,  Md. 
the  same  year  where  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Tressa  Orphia  Derhoska.  To  this  union  ten  children 
were  born,  seven  of  whom  reside  in  Langlade  County, 
two  are  in  Ontario,  Canada,  and  one  resides  in  Fond 
du  Lac,  Wis.  In  1876  the  family  moved  to  Green 
Bay,  Brown  County,  Wisconsin,  where  they  resided 
for  many  years.  After  residing  two  years  in  Beaver 
Dam,  Wisconsin,  to  which  place  they  had  moved 
from  Green  Bay,  the  family  returned  to  Green  Bay 
from  where  they  later  moved  to  Chicago,  111.  In 
1886  they  moved  to  Langlade  County,  taking  up  an 
eighty  acres  of  land  a  mile  and  a  half  from  Nine 
Mile   Creek,   now   called    Hollister.     Mr.    Kielczewski 


served  with  distinction  on  the  Langlade  township 
Board  as  Supervisor,  Treasurer  and  Assessor  and  on 
the  Hollister  District  School  Board  as  Treasurer  and 
Clerk  for  successive  terms.  Mr.  Kielczewski  was  a 
substantial  settler  and  holds  an  enviable  place  among 
those  hardy  pioneers  who  came  into  the  eastern  part 
of  the  county  in  an  early  day.  He  passed  away  May 
1,  1904.  His  remains  were  buried  in  the  Catholic 
Cemetery  at  Antigo,  Wis. 

The  surviving  children  are :  Ray,  George,  Sigmund 
and  Anna,  now  Mrs.  Anna  Walch,  all  of  Antigo,  Wis.; 
Anton,  John  and  Leon,  of  Elton  township,  Langlade 
County;  Mrs.  Charles  (Barbara)  Zynda,  of  Fond  du 
Lac,  Wis.,  and  Frank  and  Fred,  of  Ontario,  Canada. 

HERMAN  C.  HAFEMEISTER,  a  well  known  farm- 
er of  Antigo  township,  was  born  May  13,  1887,  in 
Washington  County,  Wisconsin,  the  son  of  Christine 
and  Herman  Hafemeister.  He  attended  the  rural 
schools  after  which  he  began  farming.  He  came  to 
Langlade  County  March  15,  1912.  One  year  later, 
May  10,  1913,  he  was  married  to  Cora  A.  Voss,  a 
daughter  of  Sophia  and  Charles  Voss,  pioneer  Lang- 
lade County  residents.  To  this  union  one  child,  Arno, 
age  seven,  has  been  born.  Mr.  Hafemeister  has  a 
farm  of  160  acres  of  land  located  in  Section  16,  Town- 
ship 31,  Range  11  E.  The  soil  is  the  Merrimac  Silt 
Loam,  highly  productive.  Mr.  Hafemeister  and  fam- 
ily are  adherents  of  the  Lutheran  faith.  While  a 
young  man  Mr.  Hafemeister  has  made  excellent  pro- 
gress in  his  chosen  work.  His  fine  farm,  situated 
near  Springbrook  on  Highway  No.  64,  with  its  splen- 
did barns  and  equipment,  is  a  fitting  example  of  the 
progressive  type  of  citizenship  of  which  Langlade 
County  can  boast. 

FRED  G.  VAN  DER  WEIDE,  Auctioneer  and 
Automobile  Salesman,  was  born  in  Holland,  March 
16,  1886,  the  son  of  Annie  and  Gabe  Van  Der  Weide. 
He  lived  in  Holland  until  six  years  of  age  and  then 
imigrated  with  his  parents  to  the  United  States,  set- 
tling in  Chicago,  111.  When  ten  years  old  he  moved 
with  his  parents  to  McHenry  County,  Illinois,  where 
he  attended  the  public  schools  and  farmed  until  he 
attained  the  age  of  nineteen.  Mr.  Van  Der  Weide  at- 
tended school  in  Holland  before  coming  to  America 
and  spent  some  time  in  Chicago  schools  when  a  lad. 
In  1905  the  Van  Der  Weide  family  moved  to  Plover 
township,  Marathon  County,  Wis.  Mr.  Van  Der 
Weide  held  his  first  Wisconsin  auction  in  that  town- 
ship. He  came  to  Antigo,  Wis.,  in  September,  1919. 
Since  1913  he  has  been  engaged  as  an  automobile 
salesman,  first  with  the  Marathon  Motor  Car  Co.  and 
then  as  a  Buick  representative.  October  16,  1912,  he 
was  married  to  Erma  Jonen,  of  Norrie  township,  Mar- 
athon County,  Wis.,  to  which  union  two  children, 
Erma,  age  8,  and  F'rederick,  age  5,  have  been  bom. 
Mr.  Van  Der  Weide  and  family  reside  at  610  Second 
avenue  in  the  city  of  Antigo.  He  has  an  enviable 
reputation  as  an  able  auctioneer  and  salesman  in  this 
section  of  Wisconsin. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


311 


ANTON  MOLLE  was  born  March  29,  1870,  at  Mani- 
towoc, Manitowoc  County,  son  of  Charles  and  Johanna 
MoUe.  Moved  with  parents  to  Kewaunee  at  age  of 
eight  where  he  settled  on  farm  three  and  one-half  miles 
out  of  Kewaunee  in  West  township.  The  Molle  home- 
stead is  still  there.  He  attended  the  public  schools. 
Started  in  jewelry  business  at  Two  Rivers  in  1892.  In 
1894  he  came  to  Antigo,  entered  patrnership  with  Frank 
Braun.  Four  years  later  he  took  over  the  entire  busi- 
ness, then  located  where  news  stand  is  today.  In  May, 
1904,  erected  Molle  building  on  Fifth  avenue,  and  in 
September,  1904,  moved  into  present  quarters.  Anton 
Molle  married  Miss  Louisa  Hallauer,  October  21,  1895. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Antigo  Lodge  B.  P.  O.  E.,  M. 
W.  A.,  and  F.  R.  A.,  and  an  active  booster  and  member 
of  the  Antigo  Gun  &  Game  Club,  which  he  aided  in 
organizing.  He  has  six  employes,  two  watchmakers, 
bookkeeper,  victrola  expert,  clerk.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Association  of  Commerce,  was  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  old  Commercial  Club  and  is  a  leader  for 
progress  in  Antigo  and  Langlade  County. 

HARVEY  E.  HANSON,  prominent  theatre  owner, 
was  born  in  Appleton,  Outagamie  County,  Wisconsin, 
June  16,  1883,  the  son  of  Peter  J.  and  Christina  Han- 
son. He  attended  the  Neenah  public  schools  and  the 
Neenah  High  School,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1902. 
Mr.  Hanson  then  became  associated  with  his  father 
in  the  building  and  contracting  business  in  Neenah, 
and  followed  this  field  of  endeavor  until  1908.  He 
then  moved  to  Antigo,  Wisconsin,  and  started  in  the 
theatre  business,  opening  his  first  motion  picture 
theatre  in  the  C.  B.  McDonald  building  on  Fifth  ave- 
nue. He  has  since  erected  two  modern  two-story 
business  blocks  in  the  heart  of  Antigo's  commercial 
district,  one  of  which  is  used  by  the  F.  W.  Woolworth 
Company  and  the  other  is  known  as  The  Palace 
Theatre.  Thus  in  an  unpretentious  way,  by  removing 
from  the  business  district  old  landmarks  and  frame 
structures,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  has  materially 
aided  in  the  progress  of  the  community. 

Mr.  Hanson  was  united  in  marriage  January  16, 
1909,  to  Miss  Tehkla  Rex,  of  Merrill,  Lincoln  County, 
Wisconsin.  The  Hansons  make  their  home  in  the 
Woolworth    (Hanson)    building. 

Fraternally,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  affiliated 
with  the  Masonic  orders  of  Antigo,  is  a  member  of 
Antigo  Lodge  No.  662  B.  P.  O.  E.,  Antigo  Lodge  No. 
470  Loyal  Order  of  Moose  and  of  Charter  Oak  Lodge, 
Knights  of  Pythias. 

As  a  man  who  has  the  interests  of  the  community 
at  heart  Mr.  Hanson  lends  his  worthy  support  to  those 
things  that  go  for  a  better  and  more  progressive  city. 

E.  S.  TRADEWELL.  Among  the  citizens  of  Lang- 
lade County  who  have  aided  materially  in  the  devel- 
opment of  its  unsurpassed  resources  none  other  stands 
out  more  conspicuous  than  E.  S.  Tradewell,  member 
of  the  well  known  firm  of  Morse  &  Tradewell. 

E.  S.  Tradewell  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Racine  Coun- 
ty, Wisconsin,  on  November  28,  1876,  the  son  of  Mr. 


and  Mrs.  William  Tradewell.  He  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Racine  County  and  then  entered  the  Ra- 
cine High  School,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1896. 
He  then  taught  school  for  a  time,  later  entering  the  Law 
Department  of  the  University  of  Wisconsin,  from 
which  he  graduated.  He  was  admitted  to  practice  law 
in  Wisconsin  in  1900. 

Mr.  Tradewell  came  to  Langlade  County  in  1900 
where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  business,  extens- 
ively in  logging,  lumbering  and  farming.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Mary  E.  Humphrey,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  C.  Humphrey,  pioneer  Antigo 
residents,  on  August  6,  1906.  H.  C.  Humphrey  was 
the  second  banker  to  establish  himself  in  Langlade 
County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tradewell  have  five  children, 
namely,  William,  age  15;  Dorothy,  age  13;  Margaret, 
age  11;  Jean,  age  7;  Thomas  age  5.  The  Tradewell 
residence  is  at  the  intersection  of  Clermont  street 
and  Willard   avenue. 

Mr.  Tradewell  has  always  had  a  general  interest 
in  politics  in  Langlade  County  and  has  been  especial- 
ly interested  in  the  advancement  of  the  county's  re- 
sources. He  is  one  of  those  substantial  citizens,  who, 
because  of  their  keen  interest  in  public  and  economic 
questions,  has  gained  for  him  a  place  of  prominence 
in  the  community.  He  is  not  an  office  holder  and 
does  not  and  has  never  sought  public  office. 

The  Tradewell  family  attend  the  Congregational 
church. 


ALOIS  T.  AULIK.  Presenting  as  it  does  an  excel- 
lent example  of  youthful  integrity,  industry  and  res- 
pect as  a  worthy  citizen  and  a  man  of  character  is  the 
life  of  Alois  T.  Aulik.  Mr.  Aulik  has  been  the  archi- 
tect of  his  own  success.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  March  3,  1884,  and  is  a  son  of  Anton  and 
Dora  (Halada)  Aulik.  Until  he  grew  to  manhood  he 
resided  in  the  town  of  Carlton,  Kewaunee  County, 
Wisconsin,  his  birth  place.  Here  he  attended  the 
rural  public  schools  and  assisted  his  father  and  others 
in  agricultural  employment.  This  work  taught  the 
young  man  to  be  industrious  and  self-reliant  and  Mr. 
Aulik  profited  by  these  experiences   in  his  later  life. 

In  December,  1905,  he  moved  to  Antigo,  Langlade 
County,  and  was  engaged  as  a  cook  in  the  lumber 
camps,  after  which  he  was  a  car  inspector  for  the 
Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad  Company  for  five 
years.  This  work  he  gave  up  to  take  over  the  busi- 
ness of  Anton  Kraus  at  828  Fifth  avenue  in  August, 
1921,  which  he  has  since  successfully  conducted. 
Mr.  Aulik  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mary  Randel,  of 
Antigo,  Wis.,  September  2,  1910,  and  they  have  three 
children — Joseph,  Elizabeth  and  Dorothy.  Mr.  Aulik 
takes  great  pleasure  in  spending  his  time  away  from 
business  with  his  family.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Loyal  Order  of  Moose,  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  the 
Z.  C.  B.  J.  order,  the  B.  A.  R.  E.  and  the  B.  R.  C.  of  A. 
The  latter  are  railroad  organizations.  The  Aulik  fam- 
ily attend  St.  Mary's  Catholic  church.  Their  resi- 
dence is  at  1444  Minola  street. 

In  1920  Mr.  Aulik  was  called  upon  by  a  group  of 


<^ 


312 


HISTORY  OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


business  men,  farmers  and  laborers  to  be  a  candidate 
for  Clerk  of  Court  of  Langlade  County.  Mr.  Aulik 
reluctantly  accepted  this  call  and  made  an  excellent 
run,  polling  over  three  thousand  votes.  This  alone 
was  a  splendid  testimonial  as  to  his  high  standing  in 
the  community.  Politically  he  is  allied  with  the  Pro- 
gressive Republican  party. 


&  Undertaking  Co.  Since  then,  1904,  the  firm  has 
been  known  as  McCandless  &  Zobel.  Mr.  McCandless 
was  married  July  1,  1896,  to  Miss  Emeline  Trettien. 
Two  children  were  born,  Vivian,  a  graduate  of  Law- 
rence College,  and  U.  S.  Navy  radio  man  in  World 
War,  and  Earl,  now  a  High  School  student.  Mr.  Mc- 
Candless is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  L  0.  0.  F., 


EDWARD  W.  McCANDLESS.  pioneer  merchant, 
was  born  September  11,  1870,  at  Guelph,  Ontario, 
Canada,  the  son  of  Jane  Chipchase  and  Henry  Mc- 
Candless. When  nine  months  old  his  mother,  a 
native  of  England,  died.  With  his  father  he  moved  to 
Menasha,  Wisconsin.  Hei.ry  McCandless  then  mar- 
ried Jane  Bailey,  of  Georgetown,  Or.tario.  When 
Edward  had  attained  the  age  of  eight  years  the  Mc- 
Candless family  braved  the  perils  of  the  new  north  of 
Wisconsin  and  moved  to  what  later  became  Norwood 


HEXRV    .McC.\XDLESS 

None   but    t!u'   pioneer   can   vividly   recall   the   discomforts 

and  hardships  of  the  early  settlers.     Henry  McCandless 

came  to  Norwood  township  in   1878,  when  all  of  the 

Upiier  Wisconsin  conntry  was  a  dense  wilderness. 

township,  homesteading  on  section  8,  township  30, 
Range  12  East,  in  1878.  The  journey  required  lour 
days.  Stops  were  made  at  log  cabins  of  homesteaders 
on  the  lonely  route,  one  night  at  the  Tibbetts  home 
and  again  with  the  Hutchins  family.  Edward  Mc- 
Candless attended  the  first  five  months'  school  term 
in  the  log  structure  then  belonging  to  John  McCand- 
less. Leaving  the  farm  he  took  up  masonry  and  after 
seven  years  at  that  trade  was  employed  by  E.  S.  Ray- 
worth  and  Krom  &  Wolpert,  clothing  merchants. 
Four  years  passed  and  he  then  purchased  the  interest 
of  G.  0.  Palmiter  in  the  Palmiter  &  Zobel  Furniture 


EDWARD   AIcCAXDLESS 

Member  of  tlic  McCandless  &  Zobel   Furniture  &  Under- 

taling  Company,  who  has  been  a  resident  of  Langlade 

Countv  for  ncarlv  a  half  of  a  centurv. 


E.  F.  U.,  and  F.  R.  A.,  a  member  of  the  Advisory 
Board  of  Antigo,  was  member  of  Board  of  Education 
1908-12,  active  in  all  war  drives,  a  member  of  Home 
Guards.  He  was  once  1st  Vice  President  of  the  An- 
tigo Tractor  Corporation.  The  McCandless  family  re- 
side at  220  Sixth  avenue. 


ANTON  MARTIN  TOLLEFSON.  One  of  the 
early  hardware  dealers  in  Antigo  was  the  late  Anton 
Martin  Tollefson,  who  was  born  in  the  city  of  Mani- 
towoc, Manitowoc  County,  Wisconsin,  on  December 
25,  1863,  the  son  of  Mary  (Rude)  and  Iver  Tollefson. 
He  attended  the  city  schools  of  Manitowoc,  after  which 
he  started  in  as  a  youth  in  the  mercantile  business, 
which  he  followed  during  his  life.  He  came  to  An- 
tigo in  1880,  when  Antigo  was  but  a  little  hamlet  in 
the  woods,  and  was  employed  by  a  Mr.  Koehler,  then 
operating  a  general  store.  He  stayed  here  until  1884 
then  moving  to  Wakefield,  Michigan,  to  engage  in  the 
hardware  business,  in  which  he  was  successful.  In 
1887  he  sold  out  at  Wakefield  and  returned  to  Antigo, 
becoming  an  associate  with  H.  A.  Kohl,  the  firm  being 
known  as  Kohl  &  Tollefson.  When  he  first  came  to 
Antigo  he  was  with  Milton  Bacon  in  the  grocery  busi- 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


313 


ness,  and  was  for  a  while  associated  with  Kohl  and 
Leykom  in  the  hardware  business. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mary  Erickson,  a 
daughter  of  Eric  Erickson,  of  Manitowoc  County. 
To  this  union  four  boys  were  born  as  follows,  Irvy, 
who  died  in  infancy;  Earl,  Reuben  and  Leland,  all  of 
whom  are  deceased.  Leland  was  killed  in  action 
while  fighting  for  his  country  during  the  World  War. 
An  account  of  his  death  is  found  elsewhere  in  this 
history. 

Anton  Martin  Tollefson  passed  away  in  the  prime 
of  life  on  October  31,  1894,  and  is  at  rest  in  the  An- 
tigo  cemetery.  He  was  a  man  well  respected,  an  hon- 
est man  in  his  dealings,  a  neighbor  of  high  character 
and  a  citizen  of  the  best  type.  His  wife  survives  him 
and  now  resides  at  624  Badger  avenue,  Antigo,  Wis. 

EDWARD  P.  FAUST.  A  leading  manufacturer 
who  has  made  Antigo  his  headquarters  for  a  number 
of  years  is  Edward  P.  Faust,  the  son  of  Casper  and 
Elizabeth  Faust,  well  known  Oshkosh  citizens.  Ed- 
ward P.  Faust  was  born  November  13,  1883,  in  Osh- 
kosh, Winnebago  County,  Wisconsin.  While  a  boy 
he  attended  school  at  Rhinelander,  Oneida  County, 
Wisconsin,  and  graduated  from  the  Rhinelander  High 
School.  He  then  became  a  member  of  Co.  L.,  Rhine- 
lander military  unit.  When  still  a  young  man  he  be- 
gan at  the  bottom  of  the  ladder  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness, which  his  father  had  followed.  He  started  his 
lumbering  career  at  Bundy,  now  known  as  Jeffries, 
Wisconsin. 

In  the  fall  of  1912  he  came  to  Antigo,  Wisconsin, 
to  assume  the  position  of  Manager  and  Secretary  of 
the  Faust  Lumber  Company,  then  the  largest  sawmill 
in  Antigo.  He  was  associated  with  the  Faust  Lumber 
Company  until  1921,  then  becoming  a  lumber  sales- 
man for  the  Charles  W.  Fish  Lumber  Company.  Mr. 
Faust  has  his  headquarters   at  Milwaukee,  Wis. 

Edward  P.  Faust  was  united  in  marriage  on  Janu- 
ary 14,  1913,  to  Mary  Thompson,  of  Black  River  Falls, 
Wisconsin.  Three  children  have  been  born  to  this 
union,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The  other  child- 
ren are,  Edward,  Jr.,  and  Thomas.  The  Faust  home 
is  at  918  Arctic  street,  Antigo,  Wisconsin. 

During  the  World  War  Mr.  Faust  was  active  in  all 
war  drives  in  the  county.  He  was  First  Lieutenant 
of  the  Antigo  Militia,  or  the  Citizens'  Training  Camp; 
was  an  active  member  of  the  Antigo  Militia  League, 
was  on  various  committees  of  importance,  and  assist- 
ed in  the  great  homecoming  of  the  107th  Trench  Mor- 
tar Battery,  Antigo's  overseas  military  unit. 

WALTER  VINCENT  DORZESKI.  Among  the 
residents  of  Langlade  County  who  witnessed  the  won- 
derful changes  that  have  taken  place  during  the  past 
half  century,  and  did  their  share  in  promoting  the 
growth  and  development  of  the  county,  one  of  the 
best  known  was  the  late  Walter  Vincent  Dorzeski. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  near  Posen,  Pol- 
and, in  the  year  1860,  the  son  of  John  Dorzeski.  When 
a  youth  he  moved  to  America  with  his  relatives.     His 


mother  died  when  Mr.  Dorzeski  was  but  a  boy  of  nine 
years,  and  therefore  a  brother,  residing  in  Posen,  Pol- 
and, reared  the  boy  to  young  manhood.  Under  his 
guidance  and  care  the  young  lad  attended  the  Posen 
schools.  Coming  to  America  he  settled  in  Chicago, 
where  he  followed  his  trade  of  a  custom  tailor  for 
many  years.  He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Jennie  E. 
Moldrawski,  a  daughter  of  Ludwig  Moldrawski,  pio- 
neer settler  in  Langlade  County.  The  marriage  was 
performed  in  Chicago,  July  10,  1883.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Dorzeski  lived  first  on  the  Moldrawski  farm  in  Lang- 
lade township.  Mr.  Dorzeski  later  cultivated  his  own 
farm.  The  Moldrawski  farm  was  located  on  section  7, 
township  32,  range  14  east.  The  occupation  of  farming 
and  logging  he  followed  throughout  his  life,  which 
was  ended  December  6,  1921.  Mr.  Dorzeski  was  in- 
jured in  a  wreck  on  the  Wolf  River  branch,  C.  &  N.  W. 
railroad  and  never  regained  his  health.  He  is  buried 
beside  the  remains  of  his  deceased  son,  Casimir  at  Lily, 
Wis.  He  is  survived  in  life  by  his  wife  and  Victor 
and  Dr.  Edwin,  sons,  in  Chicago,  111.,  and  Stanley 
and  Walter,  associated  in  the  garage  business  in  An- 
tigo. Edmund,  another  son,  died  at  an  early  age.  The 
Dorzeski  family  live  at  513  Doersch  street. 

The  township  of  Langlade  could  find  no  better  type 
of  citizen  than  Mr.  Dorzeski,  who  served  as  township 
Chairman,  as  Supervisor  of  Assessments,  and  for  years 
on  the  school  board  as  Treasurer.  His  life  was 
without  a  blemish.  His  wide  list  of  acquaintances 
held  him  in  high  esteem  for  his  splendid  traits  of 
heart  and  mind. 

MAX  A.  GOEMAN  was  born  October  14,  1894, 
son  of  Amelia  and  Fred  Goeman,  Rolling  township. 
He  attended  the  rural  schools  following  which  he  took 
up  agriculture  on  his  father's  farm.  He  then  railroad- 
ed a  short  time  but  gave  this  up  to  attend  the  Milwau- 
kee Automobile  School,  from  which  he  graduated.  In 
September,  1919,  he  opened  the  Elgin  Garage  in  An- 
tigo and  later  associated  himself  with  his  father  in  the 
Goeman  Garage,  Fourth  avenue  and  Superior  street. 
He  was  married  September  21,  1921,  to  Miss  Fern 
Robinson,  of  Chicago,  111.  The  Goeman  residence  is 
at  131  Fifth  Avenue,  Antigo,  Wis. 

ANTON  W.  JICHA.  Europe  has  provided  Wis- 
consin with  many  leaders  who  have  proven  loyal  and 
substantial  citizens.  Among  such  men  who  were  pio- 
neer settlers  in  Langlade  County  was  the  late  Anton 
W.  Jicha.  Mr.  Jicha  was  born  in  Bohemia  April  1, 
1865.  His  parents  were  Julia  and  John  Jicha.  When 
a  youth  of  eighteen  years  he  longed  for  that  day  when 
he  could  come  to  America,  the  land  of  opportunity, 
and  in  1883  landed  in  the  United  States.  He  went 
direct  to  Wausau,  Marathon  County,  Wisconsin,  from 
where  he  came  to  the  city  of  Antigo  a  few  months 
later.  Mr.  Jicha  was  united  in  marriage  January  25, 
1887,  to  Josephine  Karel,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Karel, 
early  Antigo  settler.  The  ceremony  was  performed 
by  Rev.  Father  Takken  at  St.  John's  church,  Antigo, 
Wisconsin.       From   1898  to   1900  he  was  associated 


t^ 


314 


HISTORY  OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


with  Louis  Novotny  and  John  Randall  in  the  opera- 
tion of  a  saw  mill  in  Neva  township  near  Deerbrook, 
Wis.  The  mill  burned.  Mr.  Jicha  then  moved  to 
Antigo  where  he  made  his  home  up  to  his  death  on  Oc- 
tober 14,  1914.  He  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  Antigo 
Catholic  cemetery.  He  is  survived  by  his  wife;  two 
sons,  George  and  John,  of  Antigo,  and  two  daughters. 
Rose,  now  Mrs.  William  Aulik,  and  Anna,  now  Mrs. 
Ed.  Aulik,  both  of  Antigo,  Wis..  Mr.  Jicha  led  a  busy 
and  useful  life  and  when  his  death  came  the  commun- 
ity  lost   one   of    its   respected   pioneer   citizens.     The 


conspicuous  devotion  to  duty  none  stands  higher  in 
general  esteem  than  Henry  Hay,  four  times  District 
Attorney,  and  a  leading  member  of  the  bar  of  upper 
Wisconsin.  Henry  Hay,  the  third  of  four  boys,  was 
born  in  Oshkosh,  Winnebago  County,  Wisconsin,  the 
son  of  W.  H.  and  Kate  (Osborne)  Hay.  He  studied 
at  the  Oshkosh  Normal,  which  he  finished  in  1894. 
In  the  fall  of  1894  he  entered  the  University  of  Wis- 
consin and  in  1898  graduated  with  the  Bachelor  of 
Letters  degree.  He  then  entered  the  University  law 
school  from  which  he  graduated  in  1899.     He  was  ad- 


.\TTOR\EV  HP:\RY   llAY 

Senior  nienil)er  of  tlio  law  firm  of  Hay  &  White,  former  Chairman  of 

the  War  Legal  Advisory  Board,  former  president  of  the  Antigo 

Mihtia  League,  was  four  times  elected  District  .-Kltorney  of 

Langlade  County,  finally  declining  to  become  a 

candidate  for  re-election. 


Jicha  residence  is  at  403  Seventh  avenue.  Mr.  Jicha 
was  a  member  of  St.  Wencel's  and  St.  Joseph's  Benev- 
olent Societies  and  the  Eagles  lodge. 

George  Jicha  was  a  soldier  in  the  World  War.  The 
family  are  members  of  St.  Mary's  church  congrega- 
tion. 

HENRY  HAY.  Among  the  public  spirited  citizens 
of  Langlade  County,  who  have  filled  positions  of  res- 
ponsibility and  trust  because  of  marked   ability   and 


mitted  to  the  bar  in  the  fall  of  1899.  He  then  began 
the  practice  of  law  with  E.  J.  Goodrick,  the  law  firm 
becoming  known  as  Goodrick  &  Hay.  Arthur  Good- 
rick, now  Municipal  Judge  of  Langlade  County,  had 
been  in  practice  with  his  father  previously  but  had 
given  it  up  temporarily  due  to  ill  health. 

On  February  10,  1900,  Mr.  Hay  came  to  Antigo  to 
make  his  home  and  has  been  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  law  here  since.  He  was  elected  District  Attorney 
of  Langlade  County  in   1904  and   successively  after 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


315 


that  until  1912,  when  he  declined  to  again  be  a  can- 
didate. He  was  previously  twice  City  Attorney,  in 
1902-04. 

Attorney  Hay  was  united  in  marriage  on  January 
2,  1901,  to  Miss  Alice  Service,  daughter  of  John  R. 
and  Janet  R.  Service,  of  Oshkosh,  Wis.  To  this  union 
three  children,  Helen,  Janet  and  Marjorie,  have  been 
born.     The  Hay  residence  is  at  1006  Clermont  street. 

Mr.  Hay  has  served  in  various  public  capacities. 
He  was  U.  S.  Court  Commissioner  for  a  number  of 
years,  served  as  chairman  of  the  Legal  Advisory 
Board  during  the  World  War,  was  active  in  all  finan- 
cial drives  in  the  county  during  the  war,  and  was 
President  of  the  Antigo  Militia   League. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Wisconsin  Bar  Association, 
the  Langlade  County  Bar  Association,  and  is  the  senior 
member  of  the  law  firm  of  Hay  &  White,  with  offices 
in  the  Fidelity  Bank  Building.  Fraternally  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  orders  and  the  Odd  Fellows. 

HARRY  W.  JACKSON,  Superintendent  Antigo 
Water  Department,  was  born  at  LaCrosse,  Wisconsin, 
June  18,  1882,  the  son  of  Elizabeth  and  G.  A.  Jackson. 
When  three  years  old  he  moved  with  his  parents  to 
Tomah,  Monroe  County.  The  family  resided  there 
two  years,  moving  then  to  Kaukauna,  where  Mr.  Jack- 
son spent  his  boyhood  and  youth.  He  attended  the 
public  schools  and  the  Kaukauna  High  School.  In 
1898  he  left  High  School  to  enter  Armour  Academy 
of  Chicago,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1900.  He 
then  entered  Purdue  University,  Lafayette,  Indiana, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  as  a  Mechanical  Engi- 
neer in  1904.  Mr.  Jackson  then  went  to  Wausau, 
Marathon  County,  Wisconsin,  where  he  took  charge  of 
the  Wausau  Water  Works  as  Superintendent,  being 
Superintendent  from  1907-11.  He  then  moved  to 
Antigo,  organizing  the  Langlade  Laundry  Company 
with  Frank  G.  Drews  as  an  associate.  This  he  was 
interested  in  from  1911-16,  when  the  plant  was  sold 
to  other  parties.  Mr.  Jackson  then  accepted  the 
Superintendency  of  the  Antigo  Water  Department, 
which  he  has  been  in  charge  of  since  March,  1916. 
He  was  married  to  Antonette  Ringle,  daughter  of  Val. 
Ringle,  of  Wausau,  November  25,  1910,  to  which  union 
one  child,  which  died  in  infancy,  was  born.  The 
Jackson  residence  is  at  912  Arctic  street.  Mr.  Jack- 
son is  a  member  of  all  Masonic  orders,  the  Benevolent 
and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  the  E.  F.  U.,  and  F.  R.  A. 

H.  W.  Jackson  is  a  son  of  the  late  well  known  loco- 
motive engineer,  who  was  born  September  26,  1857, 
at  Tomah,  Wis.  G.  A.  Jackson  was  married  to  Eliza- 
beth Connor  in  1879.  He  was  in  the  locomotive  ser- 
vice of  the  C.  &  N.  W.  railway  for  thirty-three  years, 
all  of  which  were  spent,  with  the  exception  of  one 
years,  as  an  engineer.  He  had  eight  years'  service 
with  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  railroad  pre- 
viously. Mr.  Jackson  died  September  5,  1919.  His 
remains  are  interred  at  Tomah,  his  birthplace.  He  is 
survived  by  his  wife  of  Antigo,  Wis.,  one  son,  Harry 
W.,  of  Antigo,  Wis.,  and  one  daughter,  Mrs.  F.  G. 
Drews,  Antigo,  Wis.  The  late  Mr.  Jackson  was  a 
member  of  the  I.  O.  0.  F.,  the  Masonic  orders,  and 


the  B.  of  L.  E.  His  death  removed  from  service  one 
of  the  oldest  engineers  of  the  Ashland  Division,  C.  & 
N.  W.  railroad. 

GEORGE  GRALL,  a  prominent  deceased  farmer  of 
Rolling  township,  was  born  in  Austria  on  August  15, 
1854,  the  son  of  Theresa  and  George  Grail.  When 
eighteen  months  old  he  moved  to  the  United  States 
with  his  parents,  settling  on  a  farm  at  Francis  Creek, 
Manitowoc  County,  Wisconsin.  Here  he  attended  par- 
ochial school  and  assisted  his  father  on  the  farm.  He 
also  engaged  in  carpenter  work  for  a  time.  Mr.  Grail 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Barbara  Thouser  on  July  2, 
1880,  to  which  union  ten  children  were  born  as  fol- 
lows: Barbara,  now  Mrs.  Jos.  Cejka,  of  Antigo,  Wis.; 
Frank  and  Charles  Grail  of  Rolling  township,  Lang- 
lade County,  Wisconsin;  George  and  John,  of  Milwau- 
kee; Anna,  now  Mrs.  S.  A.  Klajbor,  Joseph  and  Clar- 
ence, all  of  Antigo;  Irene,  deceased;  William  Grail, 
of  Wausau,  Wis.  Mr.  Grail  came  to  Rolling  township 
in  1882  when  this  territory  was  a  vast  wilderness. 
He  engaged  in  agriculture  on  a  forty  acre  farm  which 
he  lived  to  see  developed  into  one  of  the  best  in  the 
county.  April  13,  1914,  he  moved  into  the  city  of 
Antigo,  retiring  from  his  years  of  farm  work.  It  was 
his  great  enjoyment  to  see  his  sons  carry  on  the  work 
where  he  left  off.  Mr.  Grail  passed  away  at  the  age 
of  65  years  and  three  months,  November  15,  1919. 
He  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  Antigo  Catholic  Cemetery. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Foresters  and  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  Mrs.  Grail  is  living 
at  the  Grail  residence,  412  Edison  street,  Antigo,  Wis. 
George  Grail  was  a  thrifty  and  substantial  citizen  who 
did  his  part  in  the  upbuilding  of  a  new  country. 

ZACK  T.  BAGBY,  JR.,  a  prominent  insurance  agent, 
who  has,  by  his  square  dealing  and  excellent  person- 
ality, gained  a  host  of  friends  in  Langlade  County, 
was  born  in  the  village  of  Gray,  Ash  County,  North 
Carolina,  on  February  29,  1888,  the  son  of  Zack  T. 
and  R.  E.  (Mastin)  Bagby.  When  a  boy  he  spent 
his  early  school  days  at  Gray  from  where  he  went  to 
Trayer,  Iowa,  and  for  one  year  attended  school.  Mr. 
Bagby  then  went  to  Hartley,  Iowa,  and  in  1915  grad- 
uated from  the  Hartley  High  School.  He  then  went 
to  Fulda,  Minnesota,  to  become  instructor  in  the  Man- 
ual Training  department  in  the  Fulda  High  School, 
in  which  capacity  he  served  from  1916-17. 

In  the  spring  of  1917  Mr.  Bagby  came  to  Antigo 
and  engaged  in  the  life  insurance  business  as  a  Dis- 
trict Agent  for  the  well  known  firm  of  Northwestern 
Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company.  Mr.  Bagby  has 
been  very  successful  in  Antigo.  April  5,  1916,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Mayme  Robertson,  of  Alden,  Minnes- 
ota. To  this  union  three  children  were  born,  namely, 
Robert,  age  4;  Beth,  age  3;  Jene,  age  1 — one  boy  and 
two  girls. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Bagby  is  a  member  of  the  B.  P.  0. 
E.,  the  Moose,  the  Odd  Fellows,  and  the  Knights  of 
Pythias.  The  family  attends  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.     The  Bagby  residence  is  at  224  Hudson  street. 


316 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


Mr.  Bagby's  father  died  in  1916  and  is  buried  at  Tran- 
son,  N.  C.  His  mother  is  a  resident  of  Laurense, 
Iowa. 

FRED  L.  BERNER.  In  preparing  a  historical  and 
biographical  work,  such  as  this  publication  is  intend- 
ed to  be,  it  is  essential  that  specific  mention  be  made 
of  those  who  have   been  identified  with   the  highest 


some  and  capable  newspaper,  one  of  the  most  efficient 
journals  of  northern  Wisconsin. 

Fred  L.  Berner  was  bom  in  the  town  of  Gibson, 
Manitowoc  County,  Wisconsin,  November  27,  1880,  the 
son  of  Henry  and  Caroline  Berner.  He  moved  with 
his  parents  to  Antigo  in  the  spring  of  1884,  one  year 
before  the  incorporation  of  Antigo  as  a  city,  and  he 
has  made  this  city  his  home  ever  since. 


FRHO   L.  BERXER 

Editor   of   the   Antigo    Daily   journal.   Secretary-Treasun-r   of    Berner 

Brothers  Puhh'shing  Company,  has  been  a  resident  of  .Antigo,  with 

the  exception  of  a  few  years,  all   of  his   life.       He  played   an 

active  part  in  the  prosecution  of  the  world  war  activities  in 

Langlade  County  and  takes  a  keen  interest  in  all 

civic  enterprises. 


and  best  interests  of  the  community.  It  is  therefore 
consistent  with  the  spirit  of  this  work  that  extended 
place  be  given  to  the  life  and  activities  of  Fred  L. 
Berner,  Secretary-Treasurer  of  Berner  Brothers  Pub- 
lishing Company  and  editor  of  the  Antigo  Daily 
Journal,  Langlade  County's  first  and  only  daily  publi- 
cation. In  his  capacity  as  an  Editor  he  has  given 
the  best  that  was  in  him  to  the  publication  of  a  whole- 


The  subject  of  this  review  attended  the  city  schools 
and  graduated  from  the  Antigo  High  School  with  the 
class  of  1898,  following  which  he  taught  a  rural 
school  in  the  county  for  one  year. 

Mr.  Berner  moved  to  Columbus,  Wisconsin,  in  the 
fall  of  1898  where  he  was  associated  with  his  brother, 
Henry  Berner,  in  the  publication  of  the  Columbus 
Democrat,   a   weekly   paper.     He  was   editor  of   that 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


317 


paper  and  at  that  time  was  the  youngest  editor  in 
the  state,  having  been  only  nineteen  years  of  age 
when  he  entered  upon  that  work. 

In  the  fall  of  1901  he  returned  to  Antigo,  having  dis- 
posed of  the  Columbus  Democrat,  and  purchased  the 
Antigo  Journal,  then  a  weekly  publication.  He  has 
had  editorial  charge  of  that  paper  since,  during  which 
time  it  has  developed  into  a  twice-a-week  paper,  and 
in  1904  it  was  launched  as  a  daily  paper. 

Mr.  Berner  has  always  taken  a  keen  interest  in  all 
public  affairs  and  is  a  leader  in  all  civic  enterprises 
that  tend  to  benefit  the  city  and  county.  He  was  the 
first  Secretary  of  the  old  Commercial  Club,  mentioned 
elsewhere,  and  became  Vice  President  of  the  Associ- 
ation of  Commerce,  when  the  latter  Antigo  organization 
was  perfected.  During  the  World  War  he  was  Sec- 
retary of  the  Antigo  Militia  League,  a  member  of  the 
Langlade  County  Council  of  Defense,  a  member  of  the 
Executive  Committee  of  the  Red  Cross,  was  Secretary 
of  the  Langlade  County  Liberty  Loan  Association  and 
had  complete  charge  of  all  publicity  in  that  regard. 

Fraternally  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Antigo  Lodge 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Antigo  Chapter,  R.  A.  M.;  Antigo  Coun- 
cil; R.  &  S.  M.;  Elks;  Knights  of  Pythias;  Moose; 
Beavers,  and  F.  R.  A. 

Mr.  Berner  was  united  in  marriage  to  Margaret  M. 
Edwards,  of  Oconto,  on  August  27,  1906,  and  their 
home  is  located  at  1012  Superior  street,  Antigo. 

NICHOLAS  BOLL.  One  of  the  pioneer  families 
of  Langlade  County  was  that  of  Nicholas  J.  Boll,  a 
native  of  Germany,  who  settled  in  the  city  of  Antigo 
in  1885.  No  account  of  Langlade  County's  history 
would  be  complete  without  a  sketch  of  this  well  known 
citizen,  who  passed  away  from  this  world  on  May  27, 
1911,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-two  years. 

Nicholas  Boll  was  born  in  Dumstadt,  Germany.  He 
spent  the  first  sixteen  years  of  his  life  in  his  native 
land,  corning  to  America  then  with  his  mother,  a  broth- 
er and  a  sister.  His  father  died  in  Germany  when 
young  Nicholas  was  but  a  small  boy.  Landing  in 
New  York  the  family  soon  became  absorbed  in  the 
customs  of  their  adopted  country.  June  17,  1885,  Mr. 
Boll  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mary  Rettinger,  who 
had  emigrated  from  Dumstadt  when  eleven  years  of 
age.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boll  shortly  afterwards  moved  to 
Ft.  Atkinson,  Wisconsin,  and  from  there  to  Manitowoc 
County,  settling  at  Clark's  Mills  in  1864.  Here  he  en- 
gaged in  the  hotel  business  for  about  nineteen  years 
and  then  moved  to  Antigo.  He  then  took  up  a  home- 
stead in  Rolling  township.  While  in  Antigo  he  con- 
ducted a  hotel  and  lived  an  honorable  and  useful  life. 
He  lived  to  see  Antigo  grow  from  a  little  hamlet  to 
a  thriving  city  of  nearly  ten  thousand  inhabitants. 
Ten  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boll,  as  fol- 
lows: Barbara,  now  Mrs.  Henry  Heim,  of  Santa  Rosa, 
California ;  Anna,  now  Mrs.  Anna  Smith,  of  Norwood 
township;  Mary,  now  Mrs.  William  Yentz,  of  the  city 
of  Antigo;  Elizabeth,  now  Mrs.  Thomas  Schmitz,  of 
the  city  of  Antigo;  Anthony,  former  Langlade  County 
Sheriff,  a  resident  of  Antigo;  Theresa,  now  Mrs.  Anton 


Nowotny,  the  wife  of  the  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court; 
Maggie,  now  Mrs.  John  Herman,  of  Antigo;  Joseph 
Boll,  a  prominent  lumberman  of  Antigo;  Nicholas,  Jr., 
deceased;  Emma,  now  Mrs.  R.  A.  Bloedorn,  of  Polar 
township.  Mrs.  Nicholas  Boll,  Sr.,  is  living  at  417 
Hudson  street. 

Nicholas  Boll,  Civil  War  veteran,  as  he  was,  from 
his  first  connections  in  the  county,  became  deeply  in- 
terested in  all  that  was  for  the  general  betterment  of 
the  community.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
faith  and  lies  at  rest  in  the  Catholic  cemetery  beside 
the  remains  of  his  son,  Nicholas,  Jr.  With  his  death 
there  passed  from  earth  one  of  the  real  pioneers  of 
the  picturesque  new  north. 

E.  J.  BYRNE,  prominent  Antigo  dairyman,  was  born 
in  Manitowoc  County,  Wisconsin,  July  5,  1888,  the 
son  of  Hugh  and  Margaret  Byrne.  He  lived  in  that 
county  for  the  first  thirteen  years  of  his  life,  attending 
rural  school  while  there.  In  the  year  1901  the  Byrne 
family  moved  to  Antigo,  Langlade  County,  Wisconsin. 
Here  Mr.  Byrne  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  for 
seven  years,  following  which  he  inaugurated  the  An- 
tigo Dairy,  a  model  institution  of  its  kind.  With  him 
in  the  conduct  of  the  Antigo  Dairy  since  1915  has 
been  Hugh   Byrne,  a  brother. 

E.  J.  Byrne  was  united  in  marriage  on  June  15,  1914, 
to  Mary  Riley,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  J.  Riley, 
well  known  Antigo  citizens.  To  this  union  one  child, 
Robert,  was  born. 

Mr.  Byrne  is  a  member  of  Antigo  Council  No.  1002 
Knights  of  Columbus,  of  which  order  he  is  a  fourth 
degree  member,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Fraternal 
Reserve  Association.  The  Byrne  residence  is  at  217 
Lincoln  street.  The  family  attends  St.  John's  Catho- 
lic church  of  Antigo,  Wis. 

The  Byrne  family  is  one  that  has  long  enjoyed  the 
friendship  and  high  regard  of  the  best  people  of  the 
community  which  has  been  their  home  so  many  years 
and  they  are  in  every  detail  worthy  of  the  respected 
place  they  occupy  in  popular  esteem  and  confidence. 

WALTER  L.  ELLIOTT.  Among  the  men  of  prom- 
inence over  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago,  none  were  held 
in  higher  esteem  than  the  late  Walter  L.  Elliott,  suc- 
cessful and  energetic  citizen,  who  passed  away  Janu- 
ary 2,  1904.  The  career  of  this  active  life  should  be 
an  inspiration  to  any  young  man  who  has  lofty  ideals 
and  ambition. 

Mr.  Elliott  was  born  on  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Win- 
neconne,  Winnebago  County,  Wisconsin,  in  1868,  the 
son  of  Thomas  Elliott.  He  received  but  a  limited 
education  during  his  boyhood.  Farm  life  did  not  sat- 
isfy his  desire  for  accomplishing  something  definite 
in  life.  At  an  early  age  he  became  an  engineer  on  a 
grain  thresher.  In  1887  he  came  to  Antigo  to  take  a 
position  as  an  engineer  for  Herman  Brothers,  who 
then  conducted  a  mill  on  the  site  of  the  Crocker  Chair 
plant.  A  year  later  he  accepted  a  position  in  the 
Antigo-Edison  Electric  Company,  then  managed  by 
Lewis  Lusk.     In  1889  he  went  to  Chicago  after  which 


318 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


his  rise  was  phenominal.  He  entered  the  employ  of 
the  National  Electric  and  Construction  Company  and 
in  four  years  was  advanced  to  the  position  of  Chief 
Engineer  at  a  handsome  salary.  In  1896  he  was  made 
Consulting  Engineer  of  that  company.  Mr.  Elliott 
was  also  Superintendent  of  the  Belvidere  Street  Rail- 
way. He  returned  to  Antigo  in  October,  1897,  and 
purchased  the  Antigo  Electric  plant,  which  he  com- 
pletely reorganized.  He  was  active  in  civic  affairs 
in  Antigo  and  was  engaged  in  other  commercial  en- 
terprises, including  the  management  of  the  Antigo 
Telephone  Co. 

Walter  L.  Elliott  was  united  in  marriage  to  Bertha 
Albrecht  in  1887.  To  this  union  four  sons,  Henry  T., 
Walter  P.,  George  E.,  and  Clarence  M.,  were  born. 

Mr.  Elliott  was  a  member  of  the  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks.  Few  men  in  Langlade  County 
stood  higher  in  public  confidence  and  esteem  than  he 
did.  The  electric  industry  in  Antigo  stands  as  a  per- 
manent monument  to  his  memory. 

ALDEN  HERBERT  MURTON.  No  record  of  the 
successful  business  men  of  Langlade  County  would 
be  complete  without  a  sketch  of  the  career  of  Alden 
H.  Murton,  who  has  been  a  resident  of  this  county  for 
a  number  of  years.  Mr.  Murton  was  born  January  26, 
1860,  in  the  Town  of  Macomb,  St.  Lawrence  County, 
New  York  state,  the  son  of  Martha  (Walrath)  and 
Thomas  Murton.  Until  he  reached  twenty  years  he 
stayed  on  his  father's  farm,  aiding  him  after  he  com- 
pleted the  rural  school  course.  He  then  moved  to 
Weyauwega,  Waupaca  County,  Wisconsin,  and  work- 
ed in  the  lumbering  industry  as  a  teamster.  Between 
six  and  seven  years  passed  and  then  Mr.  Murton  came 
to  Langlade  County,  settling  first  at  Antigo,  and  in 
the  fall  of  1890  he  moved  to  Bryant,  Price  township, 
where  he  operated  a  store  and  engaged  in  a  general 
lumbering  business  for  two  and  a  half  years.  It  was 
at  this  time  that  the  Bryant  village  fire  occurred  and 
Mr.  Murton's  was  one  of  the  most  disastrous  fires  of 
the  town.  In  1894  Mr.  Murton  moved  to  New  London, 
Waupaca  County,  Wisconsin,  and  for  that  time  up  to 
1908  he  was  engaged  there  in  the  mercantile  business, 
after  which  he  went  to  Sugar  Bush  and  for  two  years 
operated  a  business  successfully.  He  then  returned 
to  Antigo,  Langlade  County,  engaged  successively  in 
the  scaling  of  lumber,  logging,  potato  industry  as  a 
representative  of  the  L.  Starks  Company  and  was  for 
a  few  years  in  the  mercantile  business.  April  1,  1922, 
he  purchased  the  bakery  of  B.  Finch  at  603  Fifth 
avenue  and  is  now  conducting  the  same  with  an  ex- 
cellent public   patronage. 

Mr.  Murton  was  married  on  November  7,  1885,  to 
Sarah  Davis,  of  St.  Lawrence  County,  New  York,  to 
which  union  the  following  children  were  born:  Earl, 
deceased,  born  at  Weyauwega;  Vera,  born  at  Bryant, 
Price  township,  now  Mrs.  Oliver  Weinandy,  of  Coch- 
ran, Wisconsin;  Beatrice  and  Lila,  both  born  in  New 
London.  Mr.  Murton  was  a  Supervisor  and  an  Alder- 
man of  the  Second  Ward,  New  London,  while  a  resi- 
dent there.     He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fel- 


lows (North  Star  Lodge  No.  104)  of  New  London 
for  over  a  quarter  of  a  century.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Congregational   church. 

HENRY  C.  PLAUTZ,  a  man  well  known  in  Antigo 
and  surrounding  districts  and  one  who  has  devoted 
himself  assiduously  to  his  business,  was  born  May  13, 
1865,  in  Manitowoc  County,  Wisconsin,  the  son  of 
Martin  Plautz.  When  a  year  old  he  moved  with  his 
parents  to  Montpelier,  Kewaunee  County,  Wisconsin, 
where  he  lived  until  he  reached  the  age  of  nineteen. 
What  public  school  training  he  had  he  acquired  at 
Montpelier.  When  nineteen  Mr.  Plautz  started  out 
into  the  world  to  meet  the  obstacles  of  life  and  fight 
them  alone.  July  5,  1884,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Albertina  Buss,  of  Kewaunee  County.  To  this  union 
five  children  were  born :  Herman  and  William,  de- 
ceased; Henry,  Jr.,  who,  on  March  19,  1919,  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Agnes  Pohlman,  of  Antigo,  and 
to  which  union  two  boys,  Chester  and  Charles,  and 
one  daughter,  Lorraine,  were  born;  Edward,  who  on 
December  29,  1921,  was  united  in  holy  bonds  of  mat- 
rimony to  Miss  Viola  Kieren,  of  Gilbert,  Minnesota, 
to  which  union  one  child,  a  son,  was  born;  and  Meta, 
a  daughter,  now  Mrs.  Henry  Keanist,  of  Aberdeen, 
South  Dakota. 

Henry  Plautz  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America.  He  has  resided  in  Sheboygan  Falls, 
Clark  County,  and  elsewhere  before  coming  to  Antigo 
to  make  his  home  on  April  13,  1902.  Mr.  Plautz  has 
followed  the  occupation  of  a  millwright  and  a  filer, 
and  since  1913  has  been  engaged  in  the  furniture  bus- 
iness, as  is  his  son,  Henry,  Jr.  Mr.  Plautz  has  three- 
fourths  of  an  acre  of  Golden  Seal  and  Ginseng  in  a 
model  garden  located  on  South  Superior  street.  Anti- 
go,  Wis.  In  the  cultivation  of  these  roots  he  is  highly 
interested. 

The  Plautz  residence  is  at  703  South  Superior 
street.  The  family  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  a  wide 
circle  of  acquaintances. 

HENRY  BERNER,  SR.,  one  of  the  pioneer  resi- 
dents of  the  city  of  Antigo,  was  born  in  Germany, 
February  29,  1829.  He  left  Germany  at  the  time  of 
the  exodus  of  the  "Forty-eighters",  but  went  to  Can- 
ada, where  he  spent  a  year  and  then  came  to  the 
United  States,  settling  in  the  town  of  Gibson,  Manito- 
woc County,  where  he  conducted  a  shoe  shop.  It  was 
while  living  there  that  he  married  Miss  Caroline  Zan- 
der, and  to  which  couple  seven  children  were  born, 
Louis,  William,  Mrs.  Otto  Klessig,  Miss  Mary,  and 
Henry,  Fred  and  Otto. 

In  the  spring  of  1884  the  family  moved  to  Antigo, 
where  Mr.  Berner  had  purchased  a  general  store.  The 
building  has  since  been  removed,  it  being  located 
just  south  of  the  city  hall.  Shortly  after  getting  lo- 
cated here  Mr.  Berner  also  purchased  a  tract  of  land, 
which  was  then  a  solid  wilderness  and  considered  far 
from  the  city.  It  is  now  the  south-east  portion  of  the 
city,  mostly  covered  with  homes. 

Mr.  Berner  was  also  the  pioneer  German  newspaper 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


319 


publisher  of  the  city,  having  started  "Die  Pioneer" 
in  the  year  1885,  with  a  Mr.  Groser  as  editor.  It  was 
published  here  for  less  than  two  years,  and  then  moved 
to  Shawano,  as  the  town  was  too  small  to  support  the 
publication,  and  it  is  still  being  published,  although 
the  name  has  been  changed  several  times  since  then. 
It  was  about  the  year  1893  when  he  sold  out  his 
store  and  spent  the  remaining  years  of  his  life  on  the 
farm,  which  shortly  after  became  a  part  of  the  city. 
He  died  December  25,  1893. 


years  old.  He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Amelia 
Schumann,  of  Grant  township,  Shawano  County,  on 
August  27,  1879.  That  fall,  October  1,  1879,  the 
Parsons  family  settled  on  a  homestead  near  Polar, 
Langlade  County.  March  1,  1880,  John  W.  Parsons 
and  his  young  wife  moved  to  Polar  township.  To 
this  union  the  following  children  were  born :  Her- 
man W.,  April  17,  1880;  Ella,  1882;  William,  1884; 
Clara,  March  11,  1888;  Edward,  December  24,  1890; 
George,  October  10,  1893. 


JUDGE  J.  \V.  P.\R.SOXS 

Who   has  served  as  Judge  of   Langlade   County  longer  than   the   combined 

terms  of  his  predecessors.       Judge   Parsons,  who  came   to   Langlade 

County   in    1S8().   is  the   CJrand   Commander  of   the   Beavers 

Reserve   Fund   Fraternity. 


HON.  JOHN  W.  PARSONS,  for  many  years,  and 
yet,  a  prominent  Langlade  County  personage,  was  born 
on  February  11,  1861,  in  the  town  of  Wilson,  Niagara 
County,  New  York,  the  son  of  Johanna  and  Charles 
E.  Parsons.  When  three  years  old  he  moved  with 
his  parents  to  the  state  of  Michigan,  settling  near 
Ludington,  where  the  Parsons  resided  for  seven  years. 
The  family  then  moved  to  Wisconsin  making  their 
home  at  Greenville.  In  1872  they  moved  to  the  town 
of  Lorrie,  Waupaca  County^  and  there  the  future 
Langlade   County  jurist   lived   until   he  was   eighteen 


January  23,  1886,  the  Parsons  home  was  destroyed 
by  fire  and  William,  the  third  child,  came  to  his  death 
in  the  catastrophe.  Edward  Parsons  passed  away 
March  18,  1891.  The  other  children  are  still  living. 
Herman  was  married  to  Lizzie  Dick,  of  Grant  town- 
ship, Shawano  County,  and  this  union  is  blessed  with 
four  children,  Arthur,  Roy,  Freida  and  Florence;  Ella 
Parsons  married  John  Techlien,  of  Norwood  township, 
in  1906,  and  to  that  union  four  children,  Elsie,  Har- 
vey, Edna  and  Techlien  were  born;  Clara  married 
Patrolman    John    Utnehmer    in    1904;    their    children 


320 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


are  Hattie,  Walter,  Oscar  and  Reuben.  George  W. 
Parsons,  the  youngest  son,  married  Anna  Krause  in 
August,  1912,  and  they  have  one  son,  John  Woodrow 
Parsons.  Herman  Parsons  resides  on  the  old  Par- 
sons homestead  in  Polar  township.  The  rest  of  the 
Parsons  progeny  reside  in  the  city  of  Antigo. 

John  W.  Parsons  became  a  leader  among  his  fel- 
low men  at  once  after  he  settled  in  Polar  township. 
In  1882  he  was  elected  Supervisor  of  Polar  township 
and  served  two  years  in  that  capacity.  He  then  serv- 
ed as  Assessor  for  two  years  and  then  was  promoted 
to  township  Chairman  of  Polar,  serving  in  that  posi- 
tion of  trust  for  twelve  years.  He  was  Chairman  of 
the  County  Board  of  Langlade  County  from  1895  to 
1899  until  he  resigned  to  accept  the  office  of  Register 
of  Deeds,  to  which  he  was  elected.  Two  years  of 
exceptional  service  in  that  office  and  Mr.  Parsons 
found  himself  elected  in  the  spring  of  1891  to  the 
office  of  County  Judge.  He  qualified  on  January  1, 
1892,  and  has  been  on  the  bench  ever  since. 

Judge  Parsons  and  his  father  were  two  of  the 
thirty-nine  Antigo  followers  who  went  to  Langlade 
and  lay  in  ambush  in  the  spring  of  1881  before  the 
polls  closed  and  defeated  the  Wolf  River  pioneers  by 
three  votes  on  the  question  whether  Langlade  or  An- 
tigo should  be  the  county  seat. 

Judge  Parsons  was  first  elected  a  Director  of  the 
Beavers  Reserve  Fund  Fraternity  in  June,  1907.  He 
served  in  that  capacity  fourteen  years,  until  June  23, 
1919,  when  he  was  elected,  at  a  Grand  Colony  Con- 
vention at  Racine  to  the  office  of  Grand  Commander 
and  entered  upon  the  duties  of  that  office  January  1, 
1921,  being  elected  for  a  term  of  four  years.  Judge 
Parsons  is  also  a  member  of  the  Loyal  Order  of  Moose, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order 
of  Elks,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  Encampment  branch  of  L  0.  O. 
F.,  and  also  the  Rebekah  branch.  His  hobby  is 
fraterralism  and  an  opportunity  to  serve  his  fellow- 
man,  which  has  been  his  inspiring  motive  in  life  since 
childhood. 

He  occupies  a  position  of  prominence  and  prestige 
among  the  respected  citizens  of  a  county  he  has 
grown  up  with  from  his  youth  at  a  time  when  most 
of  upper  Wisconsin  was  a  vast  wilderness. 

DENNIS  J.  MURPHY,  prominent  railway  conduct- 
or, was  born  June  10,  1869,  at  Footville,  Wisconsin, 
the  son  of  Ellen  (Collins)  and  James  Murphy.  When 
a  youth  he  attended  rural  schools  and  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming  on  his  father's  farm.  He  began  his 
railroad  career  as  a  brakeman  at  Baraboo,  Wisconsin, 
in  1887.  He  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  conductor 
when  in  the  service  of  the  Great  Northern  Railroad 
and  making  runs  out  of  Superior,  Wisconsin.  He 
moved  to  Antigo  township,  Langlade  County  May  1, 
1910,  from  Fond  du  Lac,  Wis.  Mr.  Murphy  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Margaret  Gillespie,  of  Adams, 
Minnesota,  on  October  29,  1894.  To  this  union  the 
following  children  were  born:  Merrill,  Pearl,  Ella, 
Harold,  Royden,  Raymond,  James,  May,  John,  How- 
ard  and   Patricia.     Merrill   and   Harold,   sons,   served 


in  the  World  War  as  seamen  in  the  United  States 
Navy.  Merrill  enlisted  January  3,  1918,  and  was  hon- 
orably discharged  October  14,  1919.  Harold  enlisted 
July  1,  1918,  and  served  until  his  honorable  discharge 
March  12  ,1919.  The  Murphy  family  attend  St.  Johns 
church,  Antigo,  Wis. 

D.  J.  Murphy,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Knights  of  Coloumbus  and  the  Order  of 
Railway  Conductors.  The  Murphy  farm  of  110  acres 
located  on  Highway  No.  64,  is  within  an  easy  dis- 
tance from  Antigo.  It  is  well  equipped  and  intensely 
cultivated  by  Mr.  Murphy  and  his  sons. 

ERNEST  E.  SCHUBERT,  former  proprietor  of  Pal- 
ace Garage,  was  a  new  resident  in  Langlade  County.  He 
was  born  July  15,  1898,  in  Chicago,  111,  the  son  of 
Anna  and  Charles  Schubert.  He  attended  the  Chicago 
public  schools  and  a  private  institution.  He  then  en- 
gaged in  the  grocery  business  with  his  father  for  four 
years  (1917-20)  after  which  he  became  a  salesman 
for  the  H.  Piper  Wholesale  Bakery,  Chicago,  111. 
He  moved  to  Antigo,  Wisconsin,  February  1,  1921, 
and  March  15,  1921  opened  the  Palace  Garage  with 
George  Kernohan,  Chicago,  111.,  as  his  associate. 
This  association  was  dissolved  after  five  months.  Mr. 
Schubert  then  conducted  the  business  alone  until  No- 
vember, 1921,  when  Donald  E.  Reed  was  taken  into 
the  business  as  a  partner.  The  Palace  Garage  is 
located  at  807  Superior  street.  Mr.  Schubert  was 
married  July  30,  1919,  to  Anna  Menze,  Chicago,  111. 
One  child,  Robert,  has  been  born  to  this  union.  The 
Schubert  family  resided  at  1140  Seventh  avenue.  Mr. 
Schubert  is  a  member  of  the  Elks  and  Masonic  orders. 
He  believes  that  the  tourist  possibilities  of  upper 
Wisconsin  are  unlimited.  Mr.  Schubert  is  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Chicago,  111. 

THOMAS  E.  FORD,  ex-Sheriff  and  Farmer.  Be- 
longing to  a  family  which  has  resided  in  Langlade 
County  since  1879  and  has  taken  an  important  part 
in  its  advancement,  Thomas  E.  Ford  holds  prestige 
as  a  worthy  representative  of  his  township's  best 
citizenship.  Mr.  Ford  was  born  October  8,  1877,  the 
son  of  John  and  Mary  Ford.  He  moved  when  two 
years  old  from  his  birthplace  in  Outagamie  County, 
near  Kaukauna,  to  Antigo  township,  Langlade  County. 
Here  he  was  reared  to  manhood.  He  attended  the 
Boulder  Hill  district  school  after  which  he  engaged 
in  farming  on  his  father's  farm.  John  Ford  passed 
away  when  his  son  was  but  fourteen  years  old,  on 
April  15,  1891.  He  is  buried  in  the  Antigo  Catholic 
cemetery. 

Thomas  Ford  was  married  to  Maud  Goodwin,  a 
daughter  of  John  Goodwin,  who  was  one  of  the  first 
citizens  of  Antigo,  having  erected  one  of  the  first 
frame  houses  in  the  city.  The  marriage  took  place 
October  31,  1903.  Four  children  have  been  born  to 
this  union  as  follows:  John  and  Edward,  lone  and 
Mae.  Mr.  Ford  has  found  time  to  engage  in  public 
service  as  well  as  efficiently  managing  his  160  acre 
tract  located  on  section  35,  Antigo  township.     In  1915- 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


321 


16  he  served  as  Sheriff  of  Langlade  County  and  was 
one  of  the  best  officers  ever  in  that  capacity.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Beavers,  Knights  of  Columbus,  Elks, 
Foresters,  E.  F.  U.,  and  Blinn  Camp  No.  7,  Sons  of 
Veterans.  Mr.  Ford  has  been  honored  by  his  fellow 
township  citizens  with  township  Chairman,  Assessor, 
Supervisor,  and  school  district  director's  offices  fre- 
quently. The  Ford  family  attend  St.  John's  church, 
Antigo,  Wis.  Thomas  Ford  has  lived  from  a  boy  to 
manhood  in  Langlade  County  watching  it  grow  from  a 
wilderness  to  a  progressive  region  with  nearly  twenty- 
five  thousand  inhabitants. 

GEORGE  OSCAR  PALMITER,  son  of  Abner  Pal- 
miter  and  Mary  Palmiter,  was  born  in  Sheboygan 
County,  near  Sheboygan,  on  February  23rd,  1852. 

He  obtained  his  education  at  the  country  schools  of 
Mishicott  and  Plymouth. 

At  twelve  years  of  age  he  worked  in  a  lath  mill  all 
summer  for  fifty  cents  a  day.  He  then  worked  on  a 
farm  near  Chilton  Junction  for  nearly  two  years. 
When  seventeen  years  old  he  carried  mail  from  Mishi- 


G.  O.  PALjMITER 

Present   City  Clerk  and   City  Commissioner,  who   came  to 

Antigo  in  1883.       He  was  the  first  chief  of  the  Antigo 

Paid   Fire   Department. 

cott  to  Anapee  (now  Algoma)  going  one  day  and  re- 
turning the  next,  making  one  trip  from  Algoma  to 
Casco  and  two  trips  from  Casco  to  Algoma  during 
the  week. 

In  1880  he  was  married  to  Mary  Brodhead.  To 
them  was  born  one  daughter,  Maud,  who  is  now  liv- 
ing in  Kansas  City,  Missouri.  He  came  to  Antigo,  April 
15,  1885,  and  purchased  the  residence  on  the  corner  of 
Edison  street  and  Eighth  avenue,  where  he  has  since 
resided. 

On  November  9th,  1890,  he  was  married  to  Mrs. 
Dealvi  H.  Beard,  who  passed  away  May  11th,  1920. 

He  was  Alderman  of  the  Fifth  Ward  from  1894  to 
1895,  and  Supervisor  from  1896  to  1898,  and  finished 


out  the  term  of  George  Drake  as  Alderman  from  Aug- 
ust, 1905,  to  April,  1906. 

From  the  time  he  came  to  Antigo  until  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  paid  Fire  Department  he  was  a  member 
of  the  Volunteer  Fire  Department,  and  after  the  in- 
stallation of  the  paid  department  he  was  driver  of  the 
team  six  months  and  Chief  of  the  Department  for  two 
years. 

In  1906  he  ran  for  the  office  of  City  Clerk  and  was 
elected  by  a  unanimous  count  of  764  votes  and  has 
held  the  office  ever  since. 

When  the  city  took  up  commission  form  of  govern- 
ment in  1914  he  was  elected  one  of  the  Commissioners 
and  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Educa- 
tion, which  offices  he  is  still  filling. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  0.  F.,  Maccabees, 
Beavers,  Eagles  and  E.  F.  U.  Lodges. 

E.  S.  KOEPENICK,  deceased.  The  pioneers  of 
this  great  section  of  Wisconsin  were  those  who  blazed 
the  way  to  civilization  and  made  a  vast  wilderness 
bloom  and  blossom  like  a  rose.  E.  S.  Koepenick,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  aided  materially  in  the  build- 
ing of  the  great  commonwealth  of  Langlade  County. 
Mr.  Koepenick  was  born  in  1852  at  Luxumberg,  Ger- 
many, the  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Albert  Koepenick. 
When  seventeen  years  old  he  came  to  the  United 
State  (1869)  where  he  lived  a  successful  and  honored 
life.  Mr.  Koepenick  came  to  Langlade  County  in 
1880,  settling  at  Summit  Lake,  Upham  township.  Here 
he  became  a  leader  among  the  pioneers.  He  was  the 
second  postmaster  of  that  village.  In  1892  he  moved 
to  section  18,  East  Upham  township,  and  opened  a 
store.  The  community  was  granted  a  postoffice  and 
was  named  Koepenick  in  his  honor.  Mr.  Koepenick 
was  the  first  postmaster.  He  lived  at  this  settlement 
until  his  death  October  27,  1914.  He  was  buried  in 
Antigo,  Wis.  He  is  survived  by  his  wife,  nee  Mary 
Scanlon,  whom  he  married  July  20,  1879,  and  five 
children,  as  follows,  Edward,  creamery  manager  at 
Cloverdale,  111.;  Alfred,  locomotive  engineer,  Milwau- 
kee, Wis.;  Auriel,  a  World  War  veteran,  who  is  in 
business  in  Koepenick,  Wis.;  Emily,  now  Mrs.  B.  L. 
Prior,  Detroit,  and  Alice  Koepenick. 

Mr.  Koepenick  was  honored  with  several  township 
offices  including  that  of  Chairman  for  many  years. 
His  name  has  been  firmly  placed  in  the  history  of 
Langlade  County  through  his  deeds  and  his  life. 

J.  H.  HOWE,  Proprietor  of  Howe  Creamery,  was 
born  at  Decorah,  Iowa,  Feb.  3,  1877,  the  son  of  Jennie 
and  Elmer  E.  Howe.  When  a  youth  he  moved  to 
Elgin,  Illinois,  with  his  parents.  Shortly  afterwards 
they  moved  to  Madison,  Dane  County,  Wisconsin. 
Here  he  stayed  until  he  reached  eighteen  years.  Mr. 
Howe  began  the  study  of  cheese  making  in  1899  and 
attended  the  University  of  Wisconsin  dairy  school  in 
1900.  He  located  at  Loyal,  Wisconsin,  thence  to 
Spring  Green,  Wisconsin,  and  thence  to  Clark  County, 
Wisconsin,  from  where  he  came  to  Langlade  County, 
November  2,  1908.     Mr.  Howe  conducted  the  Howe 


322 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


creamery  in  Antigo  township  until  1921  when  he 
moved  into  Antigo.  He  is  associated  in  the  creamery 
business  with  his  son-in-law,  0.  W.  Johnson.  The 
plant,  which  since  May,  1922,  has  had  an  ice  cream 
plant  in  connection,  is  located  at  509  Superior  street. 
In  January,  1900,  he  married  Evelyn  A.  Foulkes,  of 
Barneveld,  Wisconsin.  To  this  union  three  children, 
Bernice,   Florence  and   Meda,  have   been   born.     The 


secure  status  of  Attorney  Whiting,  who  is  known  for 
his  excellent  professional  attainments  and  his  marked 
civic  loyalty  and  public  spirit.  He  was  born  on  a 
farm  in  Murray  County,  Minnesota,  the  son  of  Aura 
and  W.  S.  Whiting,  March  8,  1885.  When  two  years 
old  he  moved  with  his  parents  to  Balaton,  Lyon  Coun- 
ty, Minnesota.  He  attended  the  rural  schools  of  Lyon 
County  and  when  a  youth  entered  Carlton  Academy, 


ATTORXEV  .AMI   X.   WHITIXG 

Olio  of  the  leading  members  of  the  Langlade  Comity  bar,  who  has  been 

twice  chosen   District   .\ttorney.  first  in    1018  and  again  in   1922. 

Attorney  Whiting  is  a  married  man  and  resides  at  12:!? 

Superior  Street,  .\ntigo. 


Howe  family  reside  at  317  Fifth  avenue.  Fraternally 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  allied  with  the  L.  O.  0.  M., 
and  M.  W.  A.  He  is  also  connected  with  the  State 
Grange  and  the  Langlade  County  subordinate  granges. 

AMI  N.  WHITING,  Present  District  Attorney. 
Definite  success  and  prestige  as  one  of  the  younger 
members  of  the  bar  of  Langlade  County  indicates  the 


a  department  of  Carleton  College,  Northfield,  Minne- 
sota. In  the  fall  of  1907  he  left  Carleton  College  to 
enter  the  University  of  Minnesota  law  department. 
A  year  later  he  went  to  South  Dakota  where  he  became 
stenographer  and  law  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  late 
Justice  Charles  S.  Whiting,  of  the  South  Dakota  Su- 
preme Court.  Mr.  Whiting  studied  law  with  Justice 
Whiting  until  the  fall  of  1910.     He  then  entered  the 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


323 


University  of  South  Dakota  at  Vermillion,  S.  D.,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  law  in  1911.  He  began  prac- 
ticing at  Sioux  Falls,  South  Dakota,  with  Attorney 
Charles  Bates,  as  his  associate.  Attorney  Whiting 
came  to  Antigo,  Langlade  County,  September  15,  1914, 
after  having  practiced  at  De  Smet,  S.  D.  alone  for  a 
while.  He  was  associated  with  H.  F.  Morson  in  the 
practice  of  law  until  December,  1916,  when  the  firm 
of  Whiting  &  Dempsey  (Ami  N.  Whiting  and  Ray- 
mond C.  Dempsey)  took  over  the  entire  practice  of 
the  firm  of  Morson  &  Whiting.  Whiting  &  Dempsey 
have  offices  in  the  Hill  building,  Antigo,  Wis. 

Attorney  Whiting  was  married  to  Beatrice  Hale,  of 
Spring  Valley,  Minnesota,  July  23,  1919,  and  they 
have  two  children,  William  and  James.  Mr.  Whiting 
served  in  1919-20  as  District  Attorney  of  Langlade 
County.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican.  Fraternal- 
ly he  is  associated  with  the  Masonic  order.  Elks,  of 
which  he  is  a  former  Exalted  Ruler,  and  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America.  The  Whiting  residence  is  at 
1237  Superior  street,  Antigo,  Wisconsin. 

-  JOHN  J.  HANOUSEK,  JR.,  Hotel  Proprietor,  was 
born  November  25,  1895,  at  Ramsey,  Michigan,  the 
son  of  Katherine  and  John  Hanousek.  He  lived  at 
Ramsey,  Gogebic  County,  Michigan,  until  he  reached 
the  age  of  seventeen  years.  Here  he  attended  the 
public  schools  after  which  he  entered  Pio  Nono  Col- 
lege, St.  Francis,  Wis.,  from  which  he  graduated  in 
1917.  Mr.  Hanousek  then  entered  the  College  of  Ag- 
riculture of  the  University  of  Wisconsin  and  gradu- 
ated from  that  institution  in  1921.  He  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  Farm  House  fraternity.  College  of  Ag- 
riculture students'  fraternity,  in  1921.  This  frater- 
nity had  just  then  been  organized.  He  then  came  to 
Antigo.  February  28,  1922,  he  was  married  to  Emma 
M.  Mattek,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  J.  Mattek, 
Neva  township  settlers.  July  1,  1922,  he  took  over 
active  management  of  the  Hotel  Hanousek  in  Antigo. 
Mr.  Hanousek  is  a  member  of  the  Antigo  Lodge  No. 
662  B.  P.  0.  E..  When  a  youth  he  was  engaged  suc- 
cessively as  a  miner,  logger  and  on  road  construction 
work  in  Gogebic  and  vicinity. 

WILLIAM  HENRY  BROWN,  retired  railway  con- 
ductor, was  born  near  Mauston,  Juneau  County,  Wis- 
consin, August  14,  1856,  the  son  of  Hanna  and  Edward 
Brown.  When  seven  years  old  he  moved  with  his 
parents  to  Ripon,  Fond  du  Lac  County,  Wisconsin. 
He  attended  the  public  schools  of  Ripon  during  the 
winter  months.  Leaving  High  School  Mr.  Brown 
worked  on  a  farm  and  in  the  woods  until  he  started 
his  railroad  career  as  a  brakeman  with  the  old  Mil- 
waukee, Lake  Shore  &  Western  Railroad  April  17, 
1879.  His  first  run  was  from  Oshkosh  to  Norrie, 
then  the  end  of  the  track.  In  1882  he  was  promoted 
to  the  rank  of  railway  conductor,  serving  with  the 
M.,  L.  S.  &  W.  R.  R.  Co  until  it  was  purchased  by  the 
C.  &  N.  W.  R.  R.  Co.  in  1893.  He  was  with  the  lat- 
ter company  until  1918,  when  he  retired  from  service 


after  thirty-nine  years.  Mr.  Brown  married  Meda 
Hickey,  of  New  London,  Wis.,  on  November  22,  1890. 
Two  children,  Dr.  William  H.,  of  Laona,  Wis.,  and 
George,  of  Minneapolis,  Minn.,  were  born  to  this 
union. 

W.  H.  Brown  first  came  to  Antigo  in  November, 
1881,  when  the  first  passenger  train  pulled  into  the 
village.  He  was  then  a  brakeman.  Antigo  then 
had  a  box  car  for  a  depot,  and  a  strip  of  forest  blocked 
the  sight  of  Teipner's  log  stopping  place.  Fifth  ave- 
nue was  just  a  path  through  the  woods,  and  there  were 
but  a  few  log  cabins,  including  Niels  Anderson's 
store,  and  F.  A.  Deleglise's  place.  Mr.  Brown  per- 
manently located  in  Antigo  in  1900.  He  was  active 
in  all  Liberty  Loan,  Victory  Fund,  and  other  war 
drives,  was  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  the  Wel- 
fare of  the  Soldiers  and  their  Dependants,  aided  in 
the  establishment  of  the  Antigo  Soldiers  and  Sailors 
Club  Rooms,  was  a  committeeman  selected  to  meet 
the  107th  T.  M.  B.  at  Camp  Dix,  N.  J.,  and  actively 
aided  in  other  war  activities.  His  two  sons  served, 
Dr.  W.  H.  with  an  Ohio  Medical  unit,  and  George 
with  the  107th  Trench  Mortar  Battery.  He  is  fra- 
ternally affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  B. 
P.  0.  E.  and  M.  W.  A.  He  was  once  Treasurer  of 
Antigo  Council  No.  1002,  K.  of  C.  The  Brown  resi- 
dence is  at  1004  Superior  street. 

WENZEL  NEUBURGER,  Shoe  Merchant,  was 
■^born  in  Furstenhut,  Bohemia,  January  8,  1880,  the  son 
of  Marie  and  William  Neuburger.  He  lived  in  Bo- 
hemia until  twenty-two  years  old,  when  he  came  to 
the  U.  S.,  settling  at  Oshkosh,  Winnebago  County, 
Wis.  He  lived  there  for  fifteen  years  following  the 
trade  of  shoemaker,  which  he  learned  when  a  lad, 
before  leaving  Bohemia.  From  Oshkosh  he  moved 
to  Beloit  and  after  six  months'  residence  there  located 
in  Antigo,  Wis.,  in  July,  1919.  In  January,  1921,  he 
purchased  the  property  owned  by  Harry  Cash  and  has 
since  conducted  the  Antigo  Shoe  Hospital  in  that  lo- 
cation, 527  Superior  street.  Mr.  Neuburger  married 
Frieda  Mondl,  of  Oshkosh,  Wis.,  August  4,  1909.  To 
this  union  two  children,  Bernice  and  Mildred,  were 
born.  The  Neuburger  family  reside  at  412  Second 
avenue.  Mr.  Neuburger's  parents  are  still  living,  in 
Bohemia. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Neuburger  is  affiliated  with  the 
Loyal  Order  of  Moose. 

^  FRANK  J.  KOUTNIK,  Merchant,  was  born  in  Deer- 
brook,  Neva  township,  the  son  of  Agnes  and  Jacob 
Koutnik,  January  1,  1892.  He  attended  the  Deer- 
brook  graded  schools  and  the  Antigo  High  School, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1912.  He  then  entered  the 
Antigo  Business  College,  from  which  he  graduated 
in  1914.  He  was  employed  as  a  bookkeeper  in  the 
State  Bank  of  Morton  County,  Mandan,  N.  D.,  from 
1914-17.  With  war  excitement  high  Mr.  Koutnik  en- 
listed in  the  U.  S.  Marines,  May  21,  1917,  and  was 
overseas  twenty  months.  He  was  in  the  6th  Regi- 
ment, 2nd  Division,  U.  S.  M.     He  received  his  hon- 


324 


HISTORY  OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


orable  discharge  from  service  August  13,  1919.  Re- 
turning to  Langlade  County  he  purchased  the  N.  D. 
Neilson  grocery,  November  15,  1921.  This  business 
is  located  at  631  Fifth  avenue  and  has  since  been 
known  as  Koutnik's  grocery.  Mr.  Koutnik's  parents 
have  a  splendid  farm  in  Neva  township. 

JOHN  J.  CHERF,  retired  farmer,  was  born  in  Reeds- 
vllle,  Wisconsin,  July  16,  1859,  the  son  of  Barbara 
and  Joseph  Cherf.  He  spent  his  boyhood  and  youth 
in  Reedsville.  June  6,  1880,  the  Cherf  family  decid- 
ed to  move  to  the  wilderness  of  Langlade  County. 
They  took  the  Milwaukee,  Lake  Shore  &  Western 
railroad  as  far  as  Wausau  and  then  "toted"  their 
household  goods  and  provisions  from  there  via  Ho- 
garty's  stopping  place  to  Neva  township.  Mr.  Cherf 
followed  the  three  wagon  loads  of  family  property 
afoot.  His  work  was  to  drive  the  cattle,  swine  and 
sheep.  The  family  arrived  in  this  county  June  10, 
1880,  the  trip  taking  four  days. 

Mr.  Cherf  married  Katherine  Karban,  May  12, 
1886.  To  this  union  five  children  were  born.  They 
are:  Mary,  now  Mrs.  George  Manthey;  Emil,  city 
letter  carrier,  former  ex-service  man,  who  served  in 
the  areo  construction  service,  from  which  he  was 
honorably  discharged  on  December  13,  1919,  and  a 
member  of  the  American  Legion;  Frank,  a  Priest,  now 
Professor  at  St.  Procopius  College,  Lisle,  111.;  Albert, 
deceased;  John,  an  expert  electrician.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cherf  moved  to  Antigo  March  10,  1914,  having  re- 
tired from  the  Neva  farm.  The  family  residence  is 
at  1118  Third  avenue.  Mr.  Cherf  is  a  member  of  St. 
John's  Catholic  church.  Mr.  Cherf  can  recall  many 
reminiscences  of  pioneer  life  in  Langlade  County. 

OTTO  RICHTER,  Shoe  Merchant,  was  born  May 
6,  1855,  in  Kamen,  Pomerau,  Germany,  son  of  Marie 
and  David  Richter.  He  attended  the  Kamen  schools, 
staying  in  Germany  until  he  was  twenty-six  years  old. 
July  7;  1881,  he  landed  in  America  and  proceeded  to 
Forest  Junction,  Wisconsin.  Here  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Richter  resided  until  October  18,  1888,  when  they 
moved  to  Antigo,  Wisconsin.  Mr.  Richter  has  en- 
gaged in  the  retail  shoe  business  in  Antigo  since 
then.  He  was  married  September  10,  1880,  to  Augus- 
ta Kash.  The  ceremony  was  performed  in  Demen, 
Germany.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richter  are  the  parents  of 
seven  children:  Daniel  J.,  a  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  mer- 
chant; Otto,  a  vaudeville  actor;  David,  retail  shoe 
merchant;  Mrs.  Fred  Bohan,  deceased  daughter,  who 
passed  away  at  the  age  of  26;  Mrs.  Edwin  Berg,  and 
Miss  Lydia  Richter.  Mr.  Richter  attends  Zion  Evan- 
gelical church.  His  residence  is  at  436  Lincoln 
street. 


DR.  FRANK  KONRAD  VOSS,  Veterinary  Surgeon, 
was  born  October  29,  1880,  the  son  of  Sophia  and 
Charles  Voss.  When  two  years  old  he  moved  with 
his  parents  to  Antigo  (1882).  He  attended  the  public 
schools  of  Antigo  until  1893  when  he  moved  with  his 


parents  on  a  farm  in  East  Ackley.  He  worked  on 
his  father's  farm  and  in  the  lumber  camps  until  he 
was  twenty-four  years  old.  Young  Voss  then  went 
out  west,  returning  to  Langlade  County  to  begin  the 
practice  of  veterinary  medicine  and  surgery.  He  fol- 
lowed this  profession  from  1895  to  1907,  temporar- 
ily. That  year  he  permanently  went  into  the  work. 
Dr.  Voss  has  practiced  in  Antigo  since  April  28,  1912. 
He  now  has  his  office  at  1036  Fourth  avenue,  where 
he   has   a   modern   equipped    veterinary   hospital    and 


DR.  F.  K.  VOSS 

Pioneer  Antigo  Veterinary  Surgeon,  who  has  the   distinc- 
tion of  erecting  the  iirst  modern  Veterniary  Hospital 
in  Langlade  County. 

home  stable  for  practice.  This  is  the  first  stable  of 
its  kind  in  upper  Wisconsin.  The  building  is  a  tile 
and  stucco  construction  36  x  60  feet. 

Dr.  Voss  was  married  to  Belle  Horton  Strong,  on 
March  1,  1916.  His  home  is  at  1042  Fourth  avenue. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Beavers  and  Moose  lodges. 
He  has  been  Humane  Officer  of  Langlade  County  for 
many  years. 

Sophia  Voss,  his  mother,  died  when  he  was  six 
years  old,  March  18,  1886.  Charles  Voss,  his  father, 
resides  in  Antigo  township  on  the  Herman  Hafmeis- 
ter  farm.  Dr.  Voss  is  interested  in  good  horses, 
likes  to  hunt,  fish  and  go  boating. 

EDGAR  MINER  NEFF,  was  born  at  Lundon,  Can- 
ada, April  5,  1851,  where  he  spent  his  boyhood  days 
and  attended  the  common  schools.  When  a  young 
man  he  learned  the  blacksmith  trade,  then  came  to 
Green  Bay,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  for  a  num- 
ber of  years. 

In  1875  he  married  Miss  Mary  A.  Day.     Six  child- 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


325 


ren  were  born.  Charles  H.,  who  died  in  his  twentieth 
year;  George;  Albert;  Margaret,  (now  Mrs.  A.  D. 
Washburn,  of  Ironwood,  Michigan);  Mary,  (Mrs. 
Charles  J.  Hanzel)  ;  and  a  daughter  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

Moved  to  Mill  Center  in  1877,  continued  the  trade 
there.  And  in  1879  he  moved  on  a  homestead  near 
Bryant;  came  through  Shawano  on  the  old  Military 
Road  to  Langlade;  then  to  Mueller's  Lake.  Stopped 
at  Mr.  Herman  Mueller's  on  October  25,  1879;  from 
Langlade  to  Mueller's  Lake  followed  N.  Anderson's 
blazed  trail — no  roads  were  built  at  that  time. 

In  1881  he  moved  to  Antigo,  which  was  only  a  village 
at  that  time.  He  immediately  started  a  shop  here. 
His  skill  as  a  workman  brought  him  trade  from  all 
parts  of  the  county.  He  worked  from  early  morning 
until  late  at  night.  By  hard  work  and  much  self- 
denial  he  saved  enough  to  buy  a  half  interest  in  a 
sawmill  with  Matt  Miller,  of  Green  Bay,  at  the  place 
now  known  as  Neff  Switch.  Later  on  he  purchased 
the  interest  of  his  partner.  He  then  built  a  new  mill, 
one  of  the  largest  this  side  of  Oshkosh.  Besides  the 
mill,  he  built  a  store,  a  boarding  house  and  a  number 
of  houses  for  workmen.  He  built  a  branch  line  to 
connect  with  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern.  He  pros- 
pered in  the  mill  business.  He  was  installing  new  ma- 
chinery in  the  new  mill  when  a  fire,  of  unknown  origin, 
destroyed  the  entire  plant. 

After  this  loss  he  returned  to  Antigo  and  went  into 
the  mercantile  business.  Later  on  he  again  went  into 
the  blacksmith  business. 

Mr.  Neff  had  great  faith  in  the  future  of  Antigo  and 
he  invested  largely  in  real  estate  and  built  a  number 
of  houses  for  rent.  In  1913  he  and  Mr.  T.  J.  Roberts 
built  the  Neff-Roberts  Block  on  Fifth  avenue. 

He  served  in  the  capacity  of  councilman  for  several 
years.  Was  also  a  member  of  the  school  board  a 
number  of  years  and  he  was  on  the  building  committee 
for  the  Antigo  High  School. 

Mr.  Neff  was  a  man  of  quiet,  unassuming  nature 
and  had  a  large  number  of  friends  and  acquaintances. 

His  useful  activities  continued  until  a  few  years  be- 
fore his  death,  when  he  retired  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of 
his  many  years  of  labor. 

Mr.  Neff  died  on  August  22,  1921.  With  his  passing 
Antigo  lost  one  of  her  most  loyal  and  respected  cit- 
izens. 

CHARLES  E.  HOWARTH,  Machinist,  was  born 
in  the  city  of  Springfield,  Illinois,  June  3,  1882,  the 
son  of  Luella  and  Robert  P.  Howarth.  When  two 
months  old  he  moved  to  Marshfield,  Wisconsin,  with 
his  parents.  Here  he  attended  the  public  schools  un- 
til he  was  nine  years  of  age.  He  then  moved  with 
his  parents  to  Chicago,  where  he  completed  his  edu- 
cation. When  he  was  seventeen  years  old  he  entered 
a  machine  shop  as  an  apprentice.  He  has  followed 
the  machinist  trade  since  and  is  an  expert  in  his 
chosen  field.  He  has  been  employed  twelve  years 
in  Milwaukee,  four  years  in  Wausau,  six  years  at  An- 
tigo, and  at  other  places.     He  came  to  Antigo  Novem- 


ber 1,  1916.  Mr.  Howarth  has  his  machine  shop  at 
513  Edison  street.  He  lives  with  his  parents  at  331 
Hudson  street,  Antigo,  Wis.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Royal  Arcanum  and  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles.  He 
is  a  Congregationalist  by  faith. 

DR.  ALFRED  B.  JORGENSEN,  Veterinary  Sur- 
geon, was  born  January  27,  1881,  at  Norway,  Michi- 
gan, the  son  of  Caroline  and  Rasmus  Jorgensen.  When 
eighteen  months  old  he  moved  to  the  Town  of  New 
Denmark,  near  Green  Bay,  Wisconsin,  with  his  par- 
ents. Here  he  lived  until  five  years  of  age.  He  then 
moved  with  his  parents  to  Iron  River,  Michigan,  in 
1888.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  Iron  River. 
When  twenty-one  years  old  he  left  Iron  River  for 
Algoma,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  veterinary  med- 
icine and  surgery  profession  for  thirteen  years.  He 
then  came  to  Antigo,  September  25,  1915,  opened  up 
veterinary  offices  in  Antigo  at  712  Superior  street. 
Dr.  Jorgensen  is  a  graduate  of  the  Ontario  Veterinary 
College,  Ontario,   Canada.     He  graduated   in   1908. 

The  Jorgensen  residence  is  at  216  Second  avenue. 
Dr.  Jorgensen  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
and  Antigo  Lodge  No.  231  F.  &  A.  M.  He  enjoys 
a  lucrative  practice  in  Langlade  County  and  adjacent 
territory  as  well  as  being  Chief  Veterinary  and  Ser- 
geant in  Battery  "A,"  field  artillery,  Antigo's  military 
unit. 

CLAUDE  CLIFFORD,  Orchestra  Leader,  was  born 
January  28,  1888,  son  of  Eva  and  Charles  Clifford. 
He  attended  the  public  schools  of  Antigo,  his  birth- 
place, after  which  he  engaged  in  various  occupations. 
He  became  interested  in  music  at  an  early  age  and  is 
now  an  expert  drummer.  Mr.  Clifford  organized 
Clifford's  Orchestra  twenty  years  ago. 

He  is  married  and  has  two  children,  Dorothy  and 
Loretta.  Mrs.  Clifford  was  formerly  Miss  Mayme 
Weix,  and  the  wedding  was  performed  on  November 
19,  1908.  The  Clifford  family  reside  at  130  Hudson 
street. 

Clifford's  Orchestra,  popular  and  well  known,  has 
the  following  members:  Claud  Clifford,  leader  and 
drummer;  Frank  Janasek,  cornet;  Esther  Fehring, 
piano;  Mrs.  Ruby  Kimball,  trombone.  The  orchestra 
has  played  at  many  events  of  local  importance. 

GEORGE  W.  SCHMITZ,  Insurance  Agent,  was  born 
February  22,  1890,  the  son  of  Elizabeth  and  Thomas 
Schmitz,  early  Antigo  residents.  He  secured  his  edu- 
cation in  the  Antigo  parochial  schools  and  in  1908 
graduated  from  the  Antigo  High  School.  He  attended 
Culver  Military  Academy  one  year  following  his  grad- 
uation. Mr.  Schmitz  then  returned  to  Antigo  where 
he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Antigo  Daily  Journal  as 
Advertising  Manager.  Resigning  this  position  he  be- 
came manager  of  the  Insurance  Department  of  Morse 
&  Tradewell  from  1911-14.  Since  then  he  has  been 
in  business  alone  forming  the  George  W.  Schmitz 
Agency. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  World  War  Mr.  Schmitz  en- 


326 


HISTORY  OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


tered  the  second  reserve  officers'  training  camp  at 
Ft.  Sheridan,  August  27,  1917.  He  was  commissioned 
a  Second  Lieutenant  November  27,  1917.  Lieutenant 
Schmitz  was  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  in  July, 
1918.  He  served  at  Camp  Dodge,  Iowa,  and  Decem- 
ber 13,  1918,  was  honorably  discharged.  June  15, 
1920,  he  married  Frances  Zentner,  daughter  of  F.  T. 
Zentner,  a  former  Cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank 


Corning,  Ohio.  Mr.  Cody  was  also  employed  in  the 
wholesale  and  retail  meat  market  business  conduct- 
ed by  Mr.  Holden.  Here  he  worked  from  1890  to 
1893,  when  he  sold  out.  He  then  went  to  Ashland, 
Wisconsin,  where  he  took  up  employment  as  a  loco- 
motive fireman  on  the  Milwaukee,  Lake  Shore  &  West- 
ern Railway,  which  position  he  held  until  1894.  Mr. 
Cody  then  returned  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  again  enter- 


EDW.\RD   CODY 

Former    Chairman    of   the    Langlade    County    Democratic    Committee, 

President  of  the  Cody  Shoe  Co.,  former  City  Treasurer  of  .\ntigo. 

Chairman    of   the   Antigo    Chapter,    .-Kmerican    Red    Cross,   and 

prominently   iilentified    with    public   activities    during   the 

\\'orld  War.  has  been  a  resident  of  .\ntigo 

since  ]i)01. 


of  Antigo.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schmitz  have  one  child, 
Helene.  George  Schmitz  is  a  member  of  the  American 
Legion,  the  B.  P.  O.  E.,  and  K.  of  C.  lodges. 

EDWARD  CODY,  Postmaster,  was  born  in  New 
Lexington,  Ohio,  March  4,  1874.  He  attended  the 
graded  schools,  finishing  his  education  in  1890.  In 
1894  he  took  a  commercial  course  in  the  Columbus 
Business  College,  Columbus,  Ohio.  When  sixteen 
years  of  age  he  was  employed  by  M.  Holden,  then  en- 
gaged in  the  Furniture  and  Undertaking  business  at 


ing  the  employ  of  Mr.  Holden  in  his  new  grocery  and 
meat  market  business  at  that  place.  He  held  this  po- 
sition until  1901.  While  in  Columbus  he  was  Election 
Clerk  in  Precinct  B,  9th  Ward.  In  1901  he  came  to 
Antigo,  Wisconsin,  bought  out  a  shoe  store  and  has 
been  since  in  that  business.  He  married  Nellie  J. 
M.  Anderson,  a  grand-daughter  of  Niels  Anderson,  An- 
tigo's  first  merchant,  March  31,  1902.  In  1915  he  was  in- 
strumental in  forming  a  corporation,  known  as  the 
Cody  Shoe  Co.,  of  which  he  was  made  President.  Mr. 
Cody  was  elected  City  Treasurer  of  Antigo  in   1904, 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


327 


serving  one  term.  He  is  a  Vice  President  of  the  An- 
tigo  Loan  &  Investment  Co.;  was  Clerk  of  the  Modern 
Woodmen  for  several  years ;  held  offices  in  the  B.  P. 
O.  E.  Lodge;  went  through  the  chairs  of  the  K.  of  C. 
lodge,  and  is  a  fourth  degree  member  of  that  order; 
was  Chairman  of  the  Democratic  County  Committee 
of  Langlade  County  for  ten  consecutive  years;  a  Di- 
rector and  Treasurer  of  the  Antigo  Commercial  Club, 
and  Vice  President  of  the  Antigo  Militia  Company 
during  the  war.  He  is  now  Chairman  of  the  Lang- 
lade County  Chapter  of  the  American  Red  Cross, 
which  position  he  has  held  since  its  organization. 
He  was  one  of  the  active  committee  members  who 
put  over  all  War  Work  in  Langlade  County.  Sep- 
tember 1,  1921,  he  was  elected  State  Treasurer  of  the 
Wisconsin  Postmasters'  Association.  Mr.  Cody  has 
been  postmaster  of  Antigo  since  February  24,  1915. 
Edward  Cody  played  an  important  part  in  the  organ- 
ization of  Company  G.,  Antigo's  military  unit  in  the 
World  War. 

JOHN  PALMER,  Grocer,  came  to  Antigo  with  his 
parents,  Anna  and  Emanuel  Palmer,  in  the  year  1883, 
when  Antigo  was  a  village.  He  was  born  in  Apple- 
ton,  October  23,  1881.  He  attended  the  public  schools 
and  high  school  of  Antigo.  Mr.  Palmer  engaged  in 
farming  work  for  four  years,  following  which  he  en- 
gaged in  the  painting  business  for  nine  years.  In  1909 
he  went  into  the  grocery  business,  corner  of  Sixth 
avenue  and  Superior  street,  with  Wencel  Sipek.  This 
firm  was  dissolved  upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Sipek  in 
1916.  Mr.  Palmer  since  conducted  the  business  alone 
as  Palmer's  Grocery. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  June  11, 
1908,  to  Albina  Sipek.  Four  children  were  born  to  this 
union.  They  are  Vernon,  John,  Dorothy,  and  Jane. 
John  Palmer  is  a  member  of  the  Charter  Oak  Lodge, 
Knights  of  Pythias.  The  Palmer  residence  is  at  429 
Edison  street. 

FRANK  P.  VER  BRYCK,  pioneer  locomotive  engi- 
neer, has  served  as  such  for  half  a  century  on  the 
Chicago  &  Northwestern  railroad,  first  the  Milwaukee, 
Lake  Shore  &  Western  railroad  and  then  with  the 
former,  when  in  1893  the  property  of  the  Lake  Shore 
system  was  sold. 

Mr.  Ver  Bryck  was  born  January  1,  1854,  in  Gran- 
ville, Milwaukee  County,  the  son  of  Samantha  and 
Ralph  P.  Ver  Bryck.  He  was  the  fourth  of  five  child- 
ren. When  an  infant  he  moved  with  his  parents  to 
the  Town  of  Eden,  Fond  du  Lac  County,  from  where 
the  family  moved  to  the  city  of  Fond  du  Lac.  It  was 
here  that  he  attended  the  public  schools.  At  the  age 
of  seventeen  he  started  as  a  railroad  fireman,  January 
13,  1871,  with  the  C.  &  N.  W.  R.  R.  Co.  Two  years 
later,  February  13,  1873,  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank 
of  locomotive  engineer  which  he  still  holds.  In  1872 
Mr.  Ver  Bryck  moved  with  his  mother  to  Oshkosh, 
Winnebago  County,  where  he  lived  until  1878  when 
he  was  transferred  to  the  Chicago  Division.  Here  he 
piloted  out  of  Chicago  on  various  important  branches. 


He  returned  to  Wisconsin  in  1881,  taking  up  his  resi- 
dence at  Manitowoc.  It  was  then  that  he  entered  the 
service  of  the  M.  L.  S.  &  W.  R.  R.  Co.  He  moved 
from  Manitowoc  to  Kaukauna,  thence  to  Ashland,  from 
where,  in  1887,  he  came  to  Antigo.  He  has  made 
Antigo  his  home  since.  Mr.  Ver  Bryck,  on  January 
13,  1923,  will  have  rounded  out  fifty-two  years  con- 
tinuous services  as  a  railroad  man,  fifty  of  which  were 
spent  as  an  engineer. 

He  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Clifford,  of  Janesville, 
on  February  3,  1875.  Mrs.  Ver  Bryck  passed  away  in 
Antigo  on  September  2,  1920.  Her  remains  were  laid 
to  rest  in  the  old  Antigo  cemetery. 

F.  p.  Ver  Bryck  has  been  prominently  identified 
with  public  activity  in  Antigo  for  many  years.  He 
served  as  an  Alderman  from  the  First  Ward  contin- 
uously for  eleven  years  and  was  for  a  long  time  Chair- 
man of  the  Board  of  Public  Works  of  Antigo.  From 
these  offices  he  resigned  when  they  conflicted  with 
other  duties.  Mr.  Ver  Bryck  is  a  member  of  the  B. 
of  L.  E.,  a  32nd  degree  Mason,  and  a  member  of  the 
Mystic  Workers.     He  resides  at  323  Seventh  avenue. 

CLIFF'ORD  B.  KNAPP,  Grocer,  was  born  in  Osh- 
kosh, Winnebago  County,  May  8,  1879,  son  of  Geor- 
giana  and  Edwin  Knapp.  He  began  life  as  a  printer 
at  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  working  in  the  Byron 
Van  Keuren  publishing  plant,  the  Allen  &  Weidner 
plant.  Baker  Paper  Company,  Castle-Pierce  plant,  at 
Oshkosh,  until  when  he  came  to  Antigo  in  November, 
1913.  He  was  employed  in  Antigo  as  make-up  man 
in  the  mechanical  department  of  the  Antigo  Journal 
and  later  as  Foreman  of  The  Herald  job  department, 
from  which  he  resigned  in  the  fall  of  1920. 

Mr.  Knapp  opened  the  Knapp  Grocery  at  208  Hud- 
son street  April  20,  1921.  He  was  married  Septem- 
ber 27,  1906,  to  Clara  Boeder,  to  which  union  three 
children,  Wilton,  age  14;  Edward,  age  7,  and  Robert, 
age  3,  were  born.  Mr.  Knapp  is  a  member  of  the 
F.  R.  A.,  M.  W.  A.,  and  typographical  union  of 
Antigo.  He  has  held  many  offices  in  Antigo  fraternal 
circles,  and  was  once  Secretary  of  the  Antigo  Central 
Labor  Union. 

NICHOLAS  JOHN  GREISCH,  Antigo  Merchant, 
was  born  at  Appleton,  Outagamie  County,  June  22, 
1883,  son  of  Catherine  and  Fred  Greisch.  At  an 
early  age  he  left  for  Milwaukee  and  Chicago,  having 
completed  the  graded  schools  at  Appleton.  Young 
Greisch  followed  the  machinist's  occupation.  Mr. 
Greisch  came  to  Antigo  from  Wausau,  Marathon 
County,  May  1,  1904.  He  engaged  at  once  in  the  retail 
tea  and  coffee  business  which  he  has  followed  with 
success  for  the  past  eighteen  years.  In  1911  Mr. 
Greisch  built  the  Greisch  building  on  Fifth  avenue. 
Important  additions  were  made  to  this  two  story  brick 
structure  in  1918.  The  Greisch  building  is  a  lasting 
monument  to  the  integrity  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

November  24,  1918,  N.  J.  Greisch  married  Martha 
Welnetz,  to  which  union,  one  child,  Mary  Elizabeth, 
was  born.     Mr.  Greisch  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 


328 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


Columbus  and  is  a  member  of  St.  John's  congregation. 
In  1921  he  was  a  member  of  the  Antigo  Board  of 
Education.  The  Greisch  business  is  located  at  724 
Fifth  avenue. 

Fred  Greisch,  father  of  Nicholas  J.  Greisch,  passed 
away  when  his  son  was  two  months  old.  His  remains 
are  buried  at  Appleton.  Mrs.  Fred  Greisch  is  still 
living  in  that  city. 


ticed  law  at  Wittenberg,  Shawano  County,  for  two  to 
three  years;  moved  to  Oshkosh  where  he  stayed  two 
years;  and  then,  because  of  ill  health,  moved  to  Elcho, 
Langlade  County,  where  he  took  up  a  160-acre  home- 
stead. For  five  years  he  improved  his  holdings, 
built  fine  farm  buildings,  engaged  in  logging  opera- 
tions and  farmed.  His  health  regained,  in  1904  he 
moved  to  Antigo,  associating  with  his  father  in  the 


'iCX.  .ARTHUR  GOODRICK 
Unanimous  choice  of  the  l.ang'.ade  County  bar  for   .Municipal  Judge  fol- 
lowing the  death  of  Judge  T.  W.   Hogan.     Judge   Goodrick  was  re- 
turned to  the  bench  by  the  people  in  .April,   1021.     Judge  Goodrick 
enjoyed  a  lucrative  law  practice  prior  to  his  elevation 
to   the   bench. 


HON.  ARTHUR  GOODRICK,  Municipal  Judge, 
was  born  at  Northport,  Waupaca  County,  Wisconsin, 
September  3,  1874,  the  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  J. 
Goodrick.  He  moved  with  his  parents  to  New  London 
and  thence  to  Shawano,  where  he  spent  his  boyhood. 
Ill  health  forced  him  from  High  School  after  com- 
pleting three  years,  and  for  one  year  he  divided  his 
time  between  his  father's  law  office  and  recuperating 
from  illness.  The  next  year  he  entered  Lawrence 
College,  Appleton,  and  two  years  later  returned  to 
the  law  office  of  his  father,  where  he  studied  law.  In 
1894  he  took  a  special  examination  and  was  admitted 
into  the  Senior  law  class.  University  of  Wisconsin, 
graduating    in    1895.     Attorney    Goodrick    then    prac- 


practice  of  law  under  the  firm  name  of  Goodrick  & 
Goodrick.  This  partnership  was  dissolved  July  12, 
1917.  Attorney  Goodrick  then  practiced  alone.  Upon 
the  death  of  Hon.  T.  W.  Hogan,  Municipal  Judge  of 
Langlade  County,  the  Langlade  County  Bar  Associa- 
tion, at  a  special  meeting,  unanimously  recommended 
the  appointment  of  Attorney  Goodrick  as  Municipal 
Judge,  and  on  December  9,  1919,  Governor  Emanuel 
L.  Phillip  appointed  him  to  that  important  office.  In 
April,  1921,  Judge  Goodrick  was  returned  to  the 
bench  by  the  people  of  the  county  for  a  new  term, 
defeating  Attorney  George  W.  Latta.  With  the  ex- 
ception of  being  township  Chairman  of  Elcho  prior 
to  his  appointment  as  Municipal  Judge,  Judge  Good- 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


329 


rick  held  no  public  office.  At  the  time  of  his  eleva- 
tion to  the  bench  he  had  one  of  the  most  lucrative 
and  largest  practices  in  Northern  Wisconsin  and  ac- 
cepted the  Judgeship  at  a  considerable  sacrifice  from 
a  pecuniary  viewpoint.  While  Municipal  Judge  he 
has  fearlessly  and  ably  upheld  the  dignity  of  the  of- 
fice. 

Judge  Goodrick  is  a  member  of  the  Commandery 
and  other  Masonic  bodies,  and  the  M.  W.  A.  He  was 
married  to  Miss  Birdie  Smith,  of  Chicago,  Illinois, 
October  14,  1896,  and  they  make  their  home  at  402 
Fifth  Avenue,  Antigo,  Wis. 

F.  A.  MILLARD,  once  a  prominent  Antigo  Merchant, 
was  born  January  14,  1861,  in  Neenah,  Wiscon- 
sin, the  son  of  Johan  and  Susan  Millard.  At  the  age  of 
six  he  moved  to  New  London,  Wisconsin.  He  resided 
on  a  farm  for  five  years,  returning  then  to  a  farm 
near  Neenah.  Leaving  the  farm,  Mr.  Millard  was 
engaged  in  various  clerical  positions  in  Neenah  with 
four  concerns.  He  then  went  to  Oshkosh,  Winneba- 
go County,  for  a  year  and  a  half,  and  January  1,  1882, 
he  came  to  Antigo,  as  one  of  the  city's  pioneers. 
Employed  by  L.  D.  Moses,  Moses  &  Gray,  Hessel  & 
Leykom  hardware,  the  Antigo-Edison  Electric  Light 
Company,  then  in  the  painting  and  papering  business. 
Mr.  Millard  ended  thus  a  variation  of  occupations  by 
purchasing  the  Dan  Mahoney  stationery  store  which 
he  operated  for  seven  years.  He  then  went  to  the 
Wolf  River  country  engaging  in  logging  for  a  year; 
returned  to  Antigo,  buying  out  Harry  Hopkins'  sta- 
tionery business.  He  has  been  engaged  in  the  same 
business  since.  Mr.  Millard  sold  his  interest  in  the 
Millard  &  Hartford  book  store  and  on  August  1,  1922, 
he  moved  to  Madison,  Wisconsin. 

F.  A.  Millard  married  Winnie  B.  Williams,  pioneer 
Antigo  woman,  April  30,  1886.  Two  children  were 
born  to  this  union,  Robert  D.,  a  University  of 
Wisconsin  graduate,  and  University  of  Pennsylvania 
graduate  in  the  medical  department.  Doctor  Robert 
Millard  is  now  at  Queen  Hospital,  Honolulu,  H.  I.; 
John  Millard,  younger  son,  is  a  University  of  Wiscon- 
sin student. 

Mr.  Millard  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic,  E.  F.  U., 
Beavers,  and  F.  R.  A.  fraternities..  Their  Antigo 
residence  was  at  614  Eighth  avenue. 

HARRY  E.  RADTKE,  Real  Estate  Dealer,  was  born 
at  Caroline,  Shawano  County,  Wisconsin,  May  9,  1897, 
son  of  Gustav  and  Louise  Radtke.  He  attended  the 
graded  schools  after  which  he  worked  at  various  oc- 
cupations, driving  for  a  doctor,  worked  as  timber 
cruiser  for  his  father,  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
cheese,  becoming  manager  of  the  W.  A.  Stanton  fac- 
tory, at  New  London,  Wis.,  purchased  a  cheese  fac- 
tory at  Bear  Creek,  Outagamie  County,  returned  a 
year  later  to  cruising  and  surveying  with  his  father. 
Two  years  later  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Holub 
Real  Estate  Co.,  Wausau,  Wisconsin.  A  year  and  a 
half  later  he  came  to  Antigo  opening  the  Radtke  Real 
Estate  Agency,  with  offices  in  the  First  National  Bank 
building.     Mr.  Radtke  is  a  member  of  the  B.  P.  O.  E. 


GEORGE  JOHN  FRANZ,  Antigo  Merchant,  was 
born  April  23,  1870,  near  Nova  Kdyne,  Austria,  the 
son  of  Mary  and  James  Franz.  While  a  boy  he  at- 
tended the  public  schools  of  Nova  Kdyne  for  five 
years.  He  then  entered  the  great  spinning  mills  of 
Nova  Kdyne  and  for  four  years  was  connected  with 
the  spinning  and  weaving  departments.  The  desire 
to  cross  the  Atlantic  and  settle  in  America  was  strong 
in  his  breast.  This  hope  was  realized  when  he  land- 
ed at  Baltimore,  Md.,  September  27,  1884.  He  went 
to  Milwaukee,  worked  in  a  factory,  and  then  moved 
to  Kewaunee.  After  working  for  a  year  on  a  farm  he 
went  to  Rib  Lake,  Marathon  County,  where  for  a  short 
time  he  was  a  sawmill  worker.  Mr.  Franz  returned 
to  Milwaukee  and  worked  twelve  years  in  a  tannery 
and  twelve  years  for  the  Gem  Hammock  &  Fly  Net 
Company   as   foreman. 

He  came  to  Antigo,  Wisconsin,  June  12,  1914,  pur- 
chased a  property  at  Elm  street  and  Third  avenue, 
sold  it  and  then  bought  his  present  property  at  Fourth 
avenue  and  Deleglise  street.  Mr.  Franz  since  en- 
gaged in  the  retail  grocery  business  at  that  location. 
He  was  married  September  22,  1910,  at  St.  John  de 
Nepomac  church,  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  to  Maria  Neuwirth. 
Five  children,  three  girls  and  two  boys,  were  born 
to  this  union.  They  are  Maria,  Anthony,  Georgia, 
Harrietta,  and  Alice.  Mr.  Franz's  father  died  in 
Austria  in  1884.  His  mother  died  in  Chicago  in  1912. 
The  Franz  family  attends  St.  Mary's  Catholic  church. 

WILLIAM  JACOB  GIESE,  Manager  Beverage 
Plant,  was  born  in  the  Town  of  Shields,  Marquette 
County,  April  18,  1890,  son  of  Mary  and  William 
Giese.  He  attended  District  No.  4  rural  schools, 
same  township,  following  which  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing on  his  father's  farm  until  1904,  working  on  Albert 
Giese's,  a  brother's  farm,  in  1905.  He  then  worked 
successively  as  timekeeper.  Red  Granite  Monumental 
Co.,  six  months.  He  was  then  called  to  Shields 
township  because  of  his  mother's  illness;  came  to 
Antigo  in  June,  1906;  September,  1906,  called  to 
Shields  township  because  of  his  mother's  death. 
While  in  Antigo  has  been  employed  as  cement  con- 
tractor for  W.  A.  Stewart.  Mr.  Giese  aided  in  con- 
struction of  Court  House,  High  School,  and  other 
public  works.  He  worked  with  the  Paine  Lumber 
Co.  in  the  fall  of  1906,  with  his  brother  John  Giese 
in  Shields  township,  Marquette  County,  during  that 
winter  and  in  1907;  returned  to  Antigo  working  with 
A.  Goldberg  grocery  department;  September,  1907, 
with  M.  Krom  &  Son,  until  spring  of  1908.  His 
father  died  April  30,  1908,  and  Mr.  Giese  then  went 
from  Marquette  County  to  Abbotsford  where  he  hired 
out  as  a  fireman  on  the  Soo.  He  made  his  student 
trip  to  Minneapolis  and  decided  that  railroading  was 
not  to  his  desire. 

He  then  engaged  as  solicitor  for  Kaisser  &  Johnson, 
wholesale  grocers,  Minneapolis,  returning  September 
19,  1908,  to  Antigo.  October  8,  1908,  he  opened  An- 
tigo Cash  Grocery  as  Vice  President  of  corporation. 
In   spring   1913   he   entered   employ   Charles    Hanzel, 


330 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


wholesale  liquor  dealer,  where  he  was  employed  until 
July  1,  1918.  Then  entered  Antigo  Furniture  &  Un- 
dertaking Co.,  staying  with  them  studying  undertak- 
ing, until  May  18,  1919.  June  1,  1919,  took  up  posi- 
tion as  F.  R.  A.  district  manager,  which  he  resigned 
December  5,  1921,  to  take  over  Antigo  office  of  Taylor 
Beverage  &  Candy  Co.,  Rhinelander,  Wis. 

Mr.  Giese  was  married  November  20,  1912,  to  Hen- 
rietta Meidam.  They  have  two  children,  Marion 
Elizabeth  and  Melbourne  James.  Mr.  Giese  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  K.  C,  F.  R.  A.,  Owls  lodges.  He  is  a 
member  of  St.  John's  congregation.  The  Giese  resi- 
dence is  at  916  Eighth  Avenue,  Antigo,  Wis. 

JOSEPH  G.  WIRIG,  prominent  citizen,  was  born  in 
Oakland  township,  Jefferson  County,  May  23,  1871, 
son  of  Barbara  Heidelman  Wirig  and  Adam  Wirig. 
He  moved  from  the  farm  to  Ft.  Atkinson,  Jefferson 
County,  at  an  early  age.  Here  he  attended  the  public 
schools,  after  which  he  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Northwestern  Manufacturing  Company,  of  that  city. 
At  the  age  of  seventeen,  1888,  he  began  as  an  appren- 
tice to  learn  blacksmithing,  which  he  has  since  fol- 
lowed. Mr.  Wirig  resided  at  Ft.  Atkinson  until  1889 
when  he  went  into  northern  Wisconsin,  working  at 
Gagen,  named  after  Dan  Gagen,  pioneer  fur  trader. 
He  then  went  to  Eagle  River,  Vilas  County,  where  he 
followed  his  trade  for  three  years.  Mr.  Wirig  then 
moved  to  Antigo  where  he  has  since  been.  He  was 
a  blacksmith  for  fifteen  years  for  Laughlin  &  Kelly 
and  was  about  twelve  years  with  Leonard  Freiburger. 
He  then  went  into  business  alone,  in  1917.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  original  Antigo  Wagon  Works. 

Mr.  Wirig  was  married  October  30,  1895,  to  Annie 
Richey  and  they  have  three  children,  Nora,  a  teacher; 
Ruth,  a  nurse;  and  Marres,  a  medical  student  at  the 
University  of  Wisconsin. 

Mr.  Wirig  had  served  with  credit  as  Supervisor  and 
Alderman  of  the  Sixth  Ward,  the  latter  seven  years, 
and  for  three  years  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Edu- 
cation.    The  Wirig  residence  is  at  339  Virginia  street. 

NATHANIEL  R.  BABCOCK,  Real  Estate  Dealer, 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Clayton,  Winnebago  County, 
January  20,  1868,  the  son  of  Malinda  and  Marvin  Bab- 
cock.  He  received  a  common  school  education  after 
which  he  attended  the  Marshfield  High  School.  His 
school  days  ended,  young  Babcock  began  to  meet  the 
vicissitudes  of  life.  He  engaged  in  employment  with 
a  stave  factory  for  two  years  at  Marshfield,  following 
which  he  was  employed  by  the  Vollmar  &  Krause 
general  store.  At  this  time,  June  27,  1887,  Marshfield 
was  destroyed  by  fire.  Mr.  Babcock  then  went  to 
Warren,  Minnesota,  where  he  farmed  for  one  year, 
1888.  He  returned  to  Marshfield,  working  a  year  in 
a  hotel.  Thirty-three  years  ago,  1889,  he  drove  a 
number  of  horses  up  to  Langlade  for  Charles  Larze- 
lere  and  Charles  McFarland.  John  Gibson  was  then 
mail  carrier  on  the  Military  Road.  He  came  to  Antigo 
from  Langlade  when  much  of  the  intervening  country 
was  a  vast  wilderness.     Returning  to  Marshfield  Mr. 


Babcock  advised  John  Holley,  G.  H.  Maxwell  and 
others  interested,  to  locate  the  stave  mill  (of  the  An- 
tigo Manufacturing  Co.)  they  contemplated,  at  An- 
tigo, which  they  did  in  1892.  He  was  in  their  em- 
ploy until  1896 — he  assisted  in  clearing  the  land  for 
the  mill  site — then  associated  with  Jos.  Duchac  and 
Webster,    of    Chicago,    111.,    in    real    estate    business. 

Many  settlers  have  been  located  in  the  country 
through  his  activities. 

He  was  married  to  Miss  Ellethra  Beattie,  Clayton 
township,  Winnebago  County,  September  6,  1893.  One 
child,  Orpha,  was  born  to  this  union.  Miss  Babcock 
is  a  graduate  of  the  Antigo  High  School,  1918,  White- 
water Normal,  1920,  and  is  now  a  teacher  in  the  Ap- 
pleton  High  School  commercial  department.  The 
Babcock  home  is  at  232  Field  street.  Mr.  Babcock 
has  served  as  Alderman,  five  years  on  the  Board  of 
Education,  as  Chairman  of  the  Building  Committee  of 
the  present  High  School,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the 
Park  and  Cemetery  Board  of  the  City  of  Antigo. 

OTTO  G.  NOLTE,  Shoe  Merchant,  was  born  in 
Winnebago  County,  January  18,  1881,  the  son  of  Kath- 
erine  and  A.  C.  Nolte.  He  attended  the  public 
schools  of  Oshkosh,  where  he  moved  with  his  parents 
when  two  years  old.  Leaving  school  he  began  office 
work  in  a  wholesale  shoe  house  from  which  he  was 
promoted  to  stockman  in  the  same  business.  He  came 
to  Antigo  in  November,  1903,  and  entered  the  employ 
of  the  First  National  Bank  as  a  bookkeeper.  He 
rose  from  bookkeeper  to  Assistant  Cashier,  resigning 
in  April,  1921,  to  take  over  the  Herbst  Shoe  Store, 
811  Fifth  avenue,  which  he  has  since  owned. 

Mr.  Nolte  was  married  to  Euphemia  Hill,  daughter 
of  the  late  George  W.  Hill,  pioneer  merchant  and 
former  Antigo  Mayor,  October  3,  1905.  One  son. 
Dexter  George,  was  born  to  this  union.  Mr.  Nolte  is 
a  member  of  the  Elks  lodge  and  the  Masonic  orders. 
The  Nolte  family  reside  at  319  Seventh  avenue. 

FREIDERICH  GOTTFRIED  GUNKEL,  Antigo 
Baker,  was  born  at  Sollstedt,  Province  of  Sachsen, 
Germany,  December  3,  1868,  son  of  Johanna  and 
Heinrich  Gunkel.  He  attended  the  schools  of  Soll- 
stedt until  he  was  fourteen  years  old,  after  which  he 
began  to  learn  the  baker  trade,  and  for  three  years 
was  in  a  bakery  in  Berlin,  capital  of  Germany.  When 
seventeen  years  old  he  came  to  America,  October  10, 
1903.  For  five  years  he  engaged  in  his  business  at 
St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  on  November  2,  1908,  came  to  An- 
tigo where  he  has  since  conducted  Antigo's  oldest 
bakery  establishment,  506  Superior  street. 

He  was  married  to  Othelia  Bork,  August  30,  1900, 
Berlin,  Germany.  Two  children  bless  this  union — 
Gertrude  and  Alfreda.  Mr.  Gunkel  has  made  ex- 
tensive improvements  in  his  bakery  from  time  to  time. 
It  is  well  patronized. 

LOUIS  FRANK  PETERS,  Plumber,  was  bom  in 
the  city  of  Wausau,  Marathon  County,  April  19,  1883, 
the    son    of   Antonette   and    Hugo    Peters,   natives    of 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


331 


Germany.  They  came  to  Wisconsin  early  in  the  '60's 
settling  in  Milwaukee,  later  coming  to  Wausau,  where 
they  have  since  resided.  Louis  Peters  received  a 
common  school  education  and  at  an  early  age  learned 
the  plumbing  trade.  He  became  a  master  plumber, 
or  plumbing  contractor,  on  April  5,  1904.  April  15, 
1904,  he  came  to  Antigo,  where  he  has  since  lived. 
Mr.  Peters  was  married  to  Christie  Summ,  September 
17,  1907.  One  son  was  born,  Marlowe  Hugo,  July 
25,  1909.  Louis  F.  Peters  is  an  active  member  of  An- 
tigo Lodge  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  No.  261,  Antigo  Chapter, 
Antigo  Commandery  No.  61,  and  the  Tripoli  Shrine 
of  Milwaukee.  He  is  a  member  of  Antigo  Lodge 
No.  662  B.  P.  0.  E.,  also  a  member  of  Charter  Oak 
Lodge,  No.  150,  Knights  of  Pythias.  The  Peters  fam- 
ily reside  at  419  Lincoln  street. 

CHARLES  W.  FISH.  No  better  resume  of  the 
life  of  Charles  W.  Fish,  one  of  the  leading  manufac- 
turers of  Wisconsin  and  often  referred  to  as  the  largest 
individual  lumber  operator  in  the  United  States  can 
be  told  than  the  following,  which  appeared  in  a  current 
issue  of  THE  AMERICAN  LUMBERMAN   in  1918: 

"Men  who  fail  to  achieve  conspicuous  success  are 
prone  to  take  refuge  in  the  excuse  that  the  day  of 
great  opportunities  has  passed.  It  is  a  favorite  alibi 
in  the  lumber  business  especially.  We  are  told  that 
the  great  captains  of  the  industry  won  their  positions 
through  the  fortuitous  circumstances  of  a  pioneer  per- 
iod, when  the  raw  material  was  easy  to  acquire,  com- 
petition nil  and  a  developing  nation  clamorously  de- 
manded their  products.  It  is  an  excuse  that  convinces 
many  people,  but  seldom  convinces  the  pioneer  lum- 
berman, who  knows  that  he  had  his  own  special  dif- 
ficulties and  the  special  handicaps  of  his  time  with 
which  he  had  to  contend. 

The  door  of  opportunity  is  as  widely  open  today  in 
the  lumber  business  as  it  was  in  the  '80s.  It  may  re- 
quire commercial  genius;  but  these  have  inevitably 
been  the  price  of  real  success. 

There  is  no  finer  example  of  what  the  young  man 
of  today  may  do  than  is  found  in  the  life  story  of 
Charles  W.  Fish,  of  Elcho,  Wis.  Less  than  fifteen 
years  ago  he  was  a  store  clerk  at  $35  a  month  today 
he  is  the  head  of  a  million  dollar  proposition  employ- 
ing 700  men,  operating  three  sawmills,  electric  light 
plants  and  other  utilities,  and  is  the  creator,  or  re- 
creator,  of  one  of  the  most  progressive  communities 
in  America — the  town  of  Elcho,  in  which  he  lives.  He 
is  40  years  old — and  now  that  the  fact  is  revealed 
many  men  will  be  astonished  that  he  is  so  young, 
having  accomplished  so  much — and  at  that  age  he  has 
taken  his  proper  place  among  the  great  lumbermen 
of  the  United  States.  He  is  no  fortunate  child  of  a 
pioneer  period.  He  hewed  out  his  own  success  while 
other  men  of  his  age  were  complaining  that  the  day 
of  opportunity  in  the  lumber  business  was  past,  today 
offering  them  no  promise. 

There  is  no  more  fascinating  story  than  the  biog- 
raphy of  men.  There  is  no  more  romantic  biography 
than  that  of  "Charlie"  Fish,  sailor,  gold  hunter  in  the 


Klondike,  structural  iron  worker  out  of  a  job  and 
"broke";  then  the  door  of  opportunity  opened  an  inch; 
he  shoved  his  foot  through  and  forced  his  way,  over- 
coming every  obstacle,  until,  in  a  rapid  rise  of  eight 
years,  he  attained  his  present  position. 

Charles  Wesley  Fish  was  born  August  28,  1877,  at 
Otterville,  a  suburb  of  Toronto,  Ontario,  a  son  of 
Oliver  C.  Fish  and  Priscilla  (Schooley)  Fish.  The 
mother  died  in  1915.  Oliver  C.  Fish  has  lived  to  see 
his  son  reach  success,  and  is  a  resident  of  the  commun- 
ity which  is  his  headquarters. 

The  Fish  family  moved  to  Michigan  in  1878,  the 
father  becoming  an  inspector  of  lumber  at  Manistee, 


After  it  had  opened  an    nch,  Chas.  W.  Fish  shoved  his  foot 

through  the  door  of  opportunity,  and  by  overcoming 

every    obstacle,    has    attained    a    commanding 

position   in   the   lumber  world. 

later  managing  the  business  at  Gratwick,  Smith  & 
Fryer,  of  Tonawanda,  N.  Y.,  of  Franfort.  There  were 
two  other  children  besides  Charles.  His  brother  Don- 
ald is  now  associated  with  him  in  Elcho;  the  other 
brother  is  Dr.  Edward  Fish,  chief  of  the  interdenomin- 
ational medical  missionary  corps  of  the  province  in 
Thibet. 

At  14  years  Charles  began  clerking  in  a  general 
store.  Then  he  was  a  Western  Union  messenger  at 
$1  a  week  and  spent  a  year  at  it.  The  big  steamers 
of  the  Manistee  lumber  docks  called  to  him,  and  he 
became  a  sailor,  serving  on  the  old  propellers  carry- 
ing lumber  to  Buffalo. 

In  1895,  when  18  years  of  age,  he  joined  the  rush 
to   Cook's   Inlet,  Alaska,   before   the   larger  Klondike 


332 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


excitement.  There  were  sixteen  adventurers  in  that 
party  and  his  father  staked  him  for  two  hundred 
dollars  to  make  the  trip.  He  prospected  all  of  the 
summer  of  1895  in  Turnagain  Arm  and  lost  nearly  all 
he  had.  One  of  the  men  had  sciatic  rheumatism,  and 
the  party  drew  lots  to  see  which  should  take  care  of 
him.  Fish  drew  the  long  straw,  and  passed  up  the 
opportunity  to  seek  a  fortune  to  nurse  his  comrade 
through  that  illness.  He  had  a  little  money  left  and 
he  bought  an  interest  in  a  clean-up  in  Canyon  Creek, 
which  used  everything  in  his  belt  but  never  paid  a 
dividend  of  any  kind  for  the  investment. 

One  day  a  mail  boat  that  came  once  a  month 
touched  the  coast.  When  the  captain  asked  for  an 
ablebodied  seaman  Fish  replied  "I  guess  I'm  your 
man."  He  sailed  on  the  steamer  Commodore  Perry 
in  the  coastwise  trade  and  at  the  close  of  the  season 
returned  to  Lake  Am,  Michigan. 

At  Lake  Ann  he  married  Miss  Grace  Vernier  and 
went  back  to  sailing  on  the  lakes.  He  sailed  for  four 
years  on  the  lower  lake  boats,  attaining  a  second  mate 
permit,  making  him  probably  the  youngest  second  of- 
ficer on  a  big  boat  on  fresh  water.  He  had  definitely 
made  up  his  mind  to  be  a  steamboat  man ;  but  one 
night  his  captain  had  a  bad  evening  and,  disliking 
his  language,  young  Fish  quit  the  steamer  at  Cleve- 
land and  at  the  same  time  quit  steamboating  for  good. 
He  had  had  enough  of  wandering.  The  family  had 
returned  to  Toronto,  Mrs.  Fish  with  them.  Accom- 
panied by  his  wife  and  his  year  old  son  he  went  to 
Manitowoc,  and  went  to  work  climbing  for  a  structural 
iron  gang.  One  night  he  was  pulled  out  of  bed  at 
midnight  and  offered  a  job  as  second  mate  on  a  ship. 
He  refused;  he  was  through  with  steamboating. 

He  was  out  of  employment  at  the  time.  One  day, 
crossing  the  bridge  at  Manitowoc,  he  met  F.  P.  Jones, 
a  lumberman  whom  he  still  defines  as  "the  salt  of 
the  earth."  "What  are  you  doing"  asked  Jones.  "I'm 
doing  the  hardest  work  any  man  can  do,"  he  replied, 
"I'm  looking  for  a  job."  Mr.  Jones  owned  a  little 
sawmill  plant  at  Elcho  and  offered  him  employment. 
The  fare  was  $4.56.  Fish  borrowed  $5  and  went.  He 
became  a  clerk  in  the  store  of  the  Jones  Lumber  Co. 
at  Elcho  at  $35  a  month,  and  sent  for  his  wife.  That 
was  his  salary  for  a  year.  Then  he  added  $5  a  month 
to  it  by  looking  after  incoming  freight  for  the  Chicago 
&  Northwestern  Railway.  One  day  his  luck  turned. 
A  homesteader  wanted  to  sell  out.  Fish  gave  him  $50 
for  160  acres,  paying  for  it  with  $15  of  his  own  money 
and  $35  he  borrowed  in  $5  lots.  He  had  to  live  in  a 
log  cabin  of  two  rooms  and  walk  a  mile  night  and 
morning  to  the  store — and  his  work  at  the  store  was 
finished  at  9:30  or  10  at  night.  One  day  the  mill  com- 
pany needed  that  160  acres  of  timber  in  which  he  had 
invested  his  $50.  He  sold  it  to  the  Company  for 
$3,300  cash.  He  had  nerve  and  vision  and,  to  use 
his  own  words,  "I  began  picking  up  timber."  That 
was  not  in  the  pioneer  days  but  only  a  few  years  ago. 
When  the  G.  W.  Jones  Lumber  Co.,  to  whom  the 
Elcho  plant  belonged,  decided  to  get  out  of  manu- 
facturing Mr.  Fish  bought  a  half  interest  in  the  plant 


and,  with  Thomas  Mullen,  a  traveling  salesman,  as 
his  partner,  organized  a  $20,000  concern.  Fish  &  Mul- 
len. One  afternoon  the  planing  mill  burned  with  little 
insurance.  Fish  rebuilt  it;  and  then  the  sawmill 
burned.  He  was  left  with  a  planing  mill  and  one 
sawmill  site.  He  bought  the  stock  of  the  others  in- 
terested, but  had  nothing  with  which  to  rebuild  or 
operate.  So  he  went  to  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan,  and 
for  one  and  a  half  years  was  sales  manager  for  the 
Hackley-Phelps-Bonnell  Co.  Then  he  was  manager 
of  the  operations  of  the  Mason  &  Donaldson  Lumber 
Co.  at  State  Line,  Wis. 

But  he  was  determined  to  get  back  into  business 
for  himself.  He  returned  to  Elcho  eight  years  ago, 
built  a  small  mill  and  began  cutting  lumber  by  the 
thousand.  He  cut  400,000  feet  the  first  year.  He 
kept  adding  to  his  operations  and  made  a  specialty  of 
hardwood  piling.  The  last  eight  years  is  a  contin- 
uous story  of  swift  and  aggressive  progress.  He 
bought  a  store  in  the  village.  He  cut  1,000,000  the 
next  year,  2,000,000  the  next,  between  three  and  four 
million  the  next.  He  built  forty  or  fifty  houses.  He 
started  a  bank.  He  built  a  model  hotel.  He  made 
Elcho  a  real  community.  Then  he  bought  the  plant 
of  the  Andrews  &  Roepke  Lumber  Co.  at  Birnamwood, 
in  1915,  rebuilt  the  mill  and  increased  its  capacity. 
He  bought  the  electric  light  and  water  plant  of  the 
town.  But  he  still  didn't  have  the  sawmill  capacity 
for  his  timber  holdings,  which  had  grown  to  $500,000 
worth  of  standing  trees.  In  1916  he  built  a  mill  at 
Antigo. 

The  Charles  W.  Fish  Lumber  Co.  (which  consists 
of  Charles  W.  Fish)  now  operates  night  and  day  a 
band  mill  at  Elcho,  a  band  mill  at  Birnamwood,  and 
a  band  mill  and  resaw  at  Antigo.  In  1918  it  will 
ship  45,000,000  feet  of  lumber,  35  per  cent  of  it 
hemlock,  the  rest  birch,  maple,  elm  and  ash.  The 
name  of  Fish  has  come  to  mean  good  lumber  to  the 
yard  and  factory  trade  of  Wisconsin,  Chicago,  and 
Michigan  and  a  constantly  widening  territory. 

Mr.  Fish's  family  consists  of  his  wife,  his  son,  Glenn 
H.  Fish,  employed  at  the  Birnamwood  plant,  and  two 
charming  daughters,  Blanche  and  Grace,  students  at 
the  Milwaukee-Downer  College  Seminary,  Milwaukee. 
Mr.  Fish  is  a  member  of  the  Wisconsin  Consistory, 
Scottish  Rite  Masons.  No  one  knows  of  his  private 
charities  except  that  they  are  many.  He  has  never 
held  public  office,  and  recently,  when  mentioned  by 
enthusiastic  friends  for  United  States  senator,  declin- 
ed to  be  a  candidate.  He  finds  his  chief  joy  in  his 
family,  his  business  and  his  timber — and  Elcho.  It 
is  a  model  town  with  a  happy  and  contented  popula- 
tion, beautiful  homes,  a  good  hotel,  drug  store,  com- 
m.issary,  electric  lights,  a  boulevard  lighting  system, 
an  excellent  school,  and  other  conveniences  of  good 
living.  He  has  one  dream  yet — to  put  400  families 
on  400  40-acre  lots,  and  to  give  them  such  a  long 
time  to  pay  for  it  that  each  man  may  attain  a  home 
of  his  own. 

His  love  of  the  woods  is  genuine.  In  1917  he  pen- 
etrated northern  Alberta  and  walked  200  miles  alone 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


333 


through  the  woods   under  the   shadow  of  the  Arctic. 
That  was  his  idea  of  a  vacation. 

Such  is  the  story  of  Charles  W.  Fish,  sailor,  gold 
hunter,  structural  iron  worker,  lumberman,  captain 
of  industry,  man. 

C.  W.  VAN  DOREN  was  born  in  Oshkosh,  Winne- 
bago County,  November  16,  1882.  At  the  age  of  three 
years  he  moved  with  his  parents  to  Birnamwood, 
Shawano  County,  where  he  lived  until  1901.  He  at- 
tended the  Birnamwood  public  schools,  graduating 
from  the  Birnamwood  High  School  in  1900. In  1901 
Mr.  Van  Doren  graduated  from  the  Wisconsin  Acad- 


Knight  and  Reo  automobiles  for  Langlade,  Forest  and 
Oneida  Counties.  Mr.  Van  Doren  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  Masonic  Orders.  In  1922  he 
was  elected  Worshipful  Master  of  the  Blue  Lodge. 

Mr.  Van  Doren  takes  an  active  interest  in  all  civic 
enterprises  in  Antigo.  His  work  with  the  Community 
Welfare  Association  alone  has  been  unequalled. 

DR.  J.  C.  WRIGHT.  Over  forty  years  of  devotion 
to  his  chosen  profession  is  the  record  of  Dr.  J.  C. 
Wright,  prominent  citizen  of  Antigo  and  Langlade 
County.  Nearly  a  half  century  of  his  life  has  been 
spent  in  the  alleviation  of  the  ills  of  mankind.     Such 


C.  W.  VAN  DOREN 

A  well  known  Antigo  citizen,  member  of  the  Antigo  Library   Board, 

Worshipful  Master  of  the  Blue  Lodge.  Masonic  order,  and  former 

Superintendent  of  the  Antigo  Water  Works.       Mr.  Van  Doren 

is  married  and  resides  at   1(113  Superior  Street,  Antigo. 


emy  at  Madison,  Wis.,  and  attended  the  University  of 
Wisconsin  in  1902-03.  He  returned  to  Birnamwood 
and  for  six  years  was  employed  as  Assistant  Cashier 
in  the  Bank  of  Birnamwood.  March  30,  1905,  he 
married  Flora  Jessell  at  Birnamwood.  For  three  years 
following  he  was  Superintendent  of  the  Antigo  Water 
Works,  after  which  he  resumed  his  connection  with 
the  Bank  of  Birnamwood.  In  April,  1915,  he  erected 
a  garage  in  Antigo,  corner  of  Superior  street  and  Sixth 
avenue,    and   has    the    agency    for    Overland,   Willys- 


is  indeed  a  faithful  service — a  record  of  which  no  man 
need  be  ashamed.  Always  giving  of  his  best  ener- 
gies, always  faithful  to  his  trust,  his  life  has  been  a 
useful  one  and  he  may  look  over  that  span  of  years 
with  a  sense  of  duty  well  done  and  he  may  take  a 
pardonable  pride  in  a  work  that  has  served  to  assist 
humanity  as  well  as  to  add  to  the  professional  pres- 
tige of  his  community.  Dr.  Wright  was  born  on  a 
farm  in  Richland  County,  Wisconsin,  March  18,  1858, 
a  son  of  Rev.  I.  J.  and  Catherine  Wright.     His  father 


334 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


was  for  many  years  a  useful  worker  as  a  minister  of 
the  United  Brethren  church.  Reared  in  Richland 
Dr.  Wright  attended  the  public  schools  and  for  four 
years  was  a  student  in  Edwards  Academy  at  Greene- 
ville,  Tennessee.  On  leaving  preparatory  school,  he 
took  up  the  study  of  medicine  and  graduated  from  the 
oldest  and  the  most  famous  school  of  medicine,  the 
Rush  Medical  College  of  Chicago,  where  he  was  a 
member  of  the  class  of  1881-82.  Soon  after  he  took 
up  practice  at  Excelsior,  Richland  County,  where  he 
remained  a  successful  practitioner  for  more  than  a 
quarter  of  a  century.  He  moved  to  Antigo,  Langlade 
County,  in  November,  1906,  where  he  has  since  been 
in  practice.  He  has  served  as  Cit/  Physician,  as 
Secretary  of  the  Langlade  County  Medical  Society, 
as  County  Physician,  and  was  the  government  exam- 
iner of  the  county  boys  vvho  were  i.. ducted  i..to  the 
National  Army  during  the  World  War. 

In  1893  Dr.  J.  C.  Wright  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Rose  Hamilton,  who  for  fifteen  years  prior  to 
marriage,  had  taught  school  in  Richland  Center,  Wis- 
consin. They  have  seven  children,  namely:  John 
J.,  an  attorney;  Martha  Marie,  now  Mrs.  Harry  Jewell 
of  Antigo,  Wis;  Grace  Belle,  an  instructor  in  physical 
culture;  Mary,  a  student  at  Lawrence  College,  Apple- 
ton,  Wis.;  Catherine,  a  stude:  t  at  Lawrer.ce  College, 
Appleton,  Wis.;  and  Hamilton  and  Richard,  students 
in  the  Antigo  public  schools.  Dr.  J.  C.  Wright  has 
membership  in  the  Langlade  County  Medical  Society, 
the  Wisconsin  Medical  Society,  the  American  Medi- 
cal Association.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masons,  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  the  Equitable  Fraternal 
Union,  the  Beavers  Reserve  Fund  Fraternity,  the 
Mystic  Workers,  the  Owls,  and  socially  and  in  his  pro- 
fession is  a  man  of  highest  standing.  He  posseses 
unusual  poetical  ability  having  written  many  poems, 
including  one  of  which  has  been  widely  read  under 
the  title  "Wisconsin",  and  is  often  read  at  patriotic 
gatherings.  Dr.  Wright  is  also  interested  in  many 
substantial  commercial  enterprises.  The  Wright  fam- 
ily resides  at  412  Fifth  avenue. 


was  chosen  for.  He  retired  from  the  office  in  1919 
to  engage  in  the  life  and  fire  insurance  business,  in 
which  he  is  now  associated  with  G.  E.  Crandall,  with 
offices  on  Fifth  Avenue,  Antigo,  Wis. 

Mr.  Arveson  was  united  in  marriage  to  Louise  Belle 
Henshaw,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  E.  Hen- 
shaw  on  September  11,  1901.  To  this  union  the  fol- 
lowing children  were  born :  Maurice  H.,  Elliott  R., 
Holly,  Arthur,  and  Beth.  Mrs.  Arveson  passed  away 
in  the  prime  of  her  life  on  October  18,  1920. 


A.  M.  .\RVESOX 

Ex-City    Clerk,    former    County    Superintendent    and    well 

known   insurance   man,  who  has  been   a  resident  of 

.\ntigo   since    is;i:i. 

A.  M.  Arveson  has  been  active  in  state  fraternal  af- 
fairs and  in  1918  was  Grand  Master  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  During  the  World  War  he  was 
active  in  the  various  war  campaigns  and  served  on  im- 
portant county  committees  to  further  the  Victory  Fund 
and  Liberty  Loan  campaigns. 

The  family  attends  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


A.  M.  ARVESON.  Former  County  Superintendent 
of  Langlade  County  Schools,  former  City  Clerk  and  a 
well  known  insurance  man,  was  born  on  February  14, 
1874,  in  the  town  of  New  Denmark,  Brown  County, 
Wisconsin.  Here  he  attended  the  rural  schools.  He 
later  entered  the  Oshkosh  State  Normal.  Mr.  Arveson 
came  to  Antigo  in  March,  1893,  and  began  teaching  in 
the  Sunnyside  School,  Rolling  township,  but  a  short 
distance  from  Antigo.  For  five  years  he  followed  his 
profession  in  the  rural  schools  of  the  county  and  then 
taught  five  years  in  the  city  schools  as  principal  of  the 
Sixth  Ward.  During  this  period  he  attended  summer 
school  at  Oshkosh  Normal  and  the  University  of  Wis- 
consin. He  was  elected  City  Clerk  of  Antigo  in  1902 
and  re-elected  in  1904,  serving  with  credit  in  that  ca- 
pacity. In  the  fall  of  1902  he  was  elected  County  Su- 
perintendent of  Schools  for  Langlade  County,  in  which 
capacity  he  served  for  seventeen  consecutive  years — 
a  longer  period  than  any  other  County  Superintendent 


DR.  MICHAEL  J.  DONOHUE,  was  born  at  She- 
boygan, Wisconsin,  on  April  29,  1874,  the  son  of  Cor- 
nelius and  Mary  (Kittrick)  Donohue.  Cornelius  Don- 
ohue,  the  father,  was  one  of  the  pioneer  railroad  men 
of  Wisconsin  and  spent  forty-five  years  as  an  engin- 
eer on  the  Milwaukee,  Lake  Shore  &  Western  and  then 
the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  railroad.  He  died  in 
Antigo  in  1901,  his  widow  surviving  him  until  1907. 

Michael  J.  Donohue  moved  to  Manitowoc  County, 
Wisconsin,  and  in  1882,  with  his  parents,  he  moved 
to  Antigo.  Here  the  future  physician  and  surgeon  at- 
tended the  public  schools  and  in  1890  graduated  from 
the  Antigo  High  School.  From  1890  to  1892  he 
studied  medicine  in  the  office  of  the  late  Dr.  J.  F. 
Doyle  of  Antigo,  and  the  two  succeeding  years  he 
spent  in  taking  a  pre-medical  course  at  the  University 
of  Wisconsin.  In  1894  he  entered  the  Medical  De- 
partment of  Northwestern  University  at  Chicago,  Illi- 
nois, and  in  1898  graduated  with  the  degree  of  M.  D. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


335 


He  continued  to  practice  alone  in  Antigo  until  1907 
when  he  formed  a  partnership  with  his  brother.  Dr. 
E.  J.  Donohue,  who  was  graduated  from  the  schools 
of  Antigo  and  from  the  Northwestern  University  at 
Evanston,  medical  department,  in  1906. 

Dr.  Donohue  and  his  brother  have  one  of  the  best 
equipped  offices  in  northern  Wisconsin,  the  same  be- 
ing located  in  the  First  National  Bank  building.  The 
brothers  devote  considerable  attention  to  surgery  in 
which  they  have  and  continue  to  gain  increased  pres- 
tige. Both  are  members  of  the  Langlade  County  and 
the  Wisconsin  State  Medical  Societies  and  the  Ameri- 
can Medical  Association.  Drs.  Donohue  &  Donohue 
are  members  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church  and  they 
are  fraternally  identified  with  the  Knights  of  Colum- 
bus and  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 
Dr.  E.  J.  Donohue  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Mueller  November  24,  1913.  Dr.  Michael  J.  Dono- 
hue was  married  to  Miss  Mabel  Cody,  of  Antigo,  on 
October  7,  1915.  They  have  one  son,  Eugene.  Dr. 
E.  J.  Donohue  resides  at  521  First  avenue,  and  Dr. 
M.  J.  Donohue's  residence  is  at  415  Clermont  street. 


WALTER  EDWARD  WIENANDT,  Dray  Propri- 
etor, was  born  in  Milwaukee,  July  20,  1883,  son  of 
Fred  and  Anna  Wienandt.  He  moved  to  Milan,  Mar- 
athon County,  at  an  early  age.  His  parents  decided 
to  move  on  a  farm  near  that  village,  and  it  was  on 
the  farm  then  purchased  by  Fred  Wienandt  that  Wal- 
ter, as  a  boy,  spent  his  early  days.  When  he  was 
twenty-one  years  old  he  moved  to  Athens,  Wiscon- 
sin, where  he  engaged  in  the  dray  business  for  nine 
years.  He  came  to  Antigo  in  1918,  and  a  year  later 
purchased  the  John  Kingsbury  Transfer  Line,  which 
he   now  operates,   with   offices   at  613   Edison   street. 

Mr.  Wienandt  was  married  to  Mary  Albrecht  at 
Athens,  August  25,  1917.  His  home  is  at  214  Watson 
street,  Antigo,  Wisconsin.  He  is  an  active  member  of 
the  L.  0.  O.  M. 


JOHN  J.  KINGSBURY.  No  stronger  character 
or  one  more  beloved  by  all  classes  or  better  known 
in  Langlade  County  ever  exceeded  the  late  John  Jer- 
ome Kingsbury  in  those  qualifications.  John  Jerome 
Kingsbury  was  born  in  Dexter,  Maine,  the  state  from 
whence  came  most  of  the  leading  Wisconsin  lumber- 
men. He  was  the  son  of  J.  R.  Kingsbury  and  was 
born  on  March  25,  1852.  He  lived  with  his  parents 
in  Maine  state  until  he  was  ten  years  of  age  and  then 
the  Kingsbury  family  moved  to  Portage  County,  Wis- 
consin, in  1862,  residing  at  Jordon.  From  Jordon 
they  moved  to  Stevens  Point,  Wisconsin.  Here  Mr. 
Kingsbury  attended  the  public  schools  and  then  en- 
tered Ripon  College,  from  which  he  graduated.  He 
began  his  lumber  career  when  he  was  sixteen  years 
old,  spending  some  time  in  Portage  County  logging 
for  himself.  In  1873  he  went  to  Auburndale,  Wis- 
consin, and  with  his  brother.  Forest,  erected  a  shingle 
mill,  operating  the  same  until  1882.  He  went  to 
Stevens  Point  from  Auburndale  and  there  operated  a 


lumber  yard  with  his  brother,  the  Auburndale  mill 
having  burned.  Mr.  Kingsbury  also  operated  a  mill 
at  Whittlesey,  Wis.,  for  a  short  time.  From  Medford, 
Wisconsin,  he  went  to  the  Penoki  Range,  operating  a 
sawmill  there.  He  was  associated  with  George  Rogers 
and  Ed  Winchester.  In  the  fall  of  1890  he  became 
acquainted  with  Charles  E.  Henshaw,  of  Medford, 
Wisconsin.  They  formed  a  partnership  known  as  the 
Kingsbury  &  Henshaw  Company,  and  that  same  year 
they  moved  to  Antigo.  Here  Messrs.  Kingsbury  and 
Henshaw  operated  a  grist  and  flour  mill  and  a  mod- 
ern sawmill  from  1890  up  to  the  time  of  Mr.  Kings- 
bury's death.  The  Kingsbury  &  Henshaw  Lumber 
Company  was  one  of  the  best  known  of  Wisconsin 
manufacturing  institutions  and  was  a  vital  part  of  the 
industrial  section  of  the  city  of  Antigo. 


iMR.  AND  MRS.  JOHN  T.  KINGSBURY 

The  late  John  J.  Kingsbury,  beloved  by  all  with  whom  he 

came  in   contact,  was  a  resident  of  Antigo  for  over 

a   quarter   of  a   century. 

The  late  J.  J.  Kingsbury  was  married  to  Alice 
Paige,  a  native  of  Rock  County,  Wisconsin,  on  May 
16,  1871,  at  Stevens  Point,  Wisconsin.  To  thjs  union 
eight  children  were  born,  namely:  May,  Bessie  and 
Leigh,  deceased;  Arthur  J.;  Beatrice  and  John  E., 
all  of  Antigo,  Wis.;  Carl  W.,  of  Tulsa,  Oklahoma; 
Faye,  now  Mrs.  George  Kircher,  of  Olivia,  Minnesota. 

Mr.  Kingsbury  died  on  August  2,  1917,  and  was 
buried  in  the  family  vault  in  the  Antigo  cemetery. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Antigo  lodge  B.  P.  O.  E.  and 
all  Masonic  orders.  He  took  the  32nd  Masonic  de- 
gree in  1913  at  Milwaukee,  Wis.  The  late  J.  J.  Kings- 
bury was  regarded  as  one  of  the  busiest,  most  ener- 
getic and  enterprising  men  of  the  county  and  his  hon- 
orable methods  of  dealing  with  his  fellow  man  firm- 
ly established  him  in  the  respect  and  confidence  of 
all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact. 


336 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


VALENTINE  P.  RATH,  pioneer  citizen  and  County 
Clerk  of  Langlade  County,  was  bom  in  Sheboygan 
County,  Wisconsin,  February  15,  1860,  the  son  of  Val- 
entine and  Mary  Anna  (Feser)  Rath,  both  of  whom 
were  born  in  Bavaria  and  imigrated  to  America  in  1858, 
settling  in  Sheboygan.  The  father  died  in  Sheboygan 
in  1911.  Valentine  Rath,  Sr.,  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Civil  War,  enlisting  from  Sheboygan  County  and  see- 
ing service  in  some  of  that  conflict's  severest  battles. 

Mr.  Rath  was  reared  in  the  city  of  Sheboygan  and 
there  attended  the  parochial  school  of  the  Roman  Cath- 
olic church,  of  which  his  parents  were,  and  he  and 
his  family  are  now,  members.  When  a  youth  he 
learned  the  trade  of  a  cooper  and  worked  at  that  trade 
for  two  years  or  more  and  then  entered  the  employ  of 
Henry  Rath,  packing  lime.  When  nineteen  years  of 
age   he    came   to    Langlade    County,    then    a    part   of 


\'.  P.  R.\.TI1 

Veteran  County  Clerk  of  Langlade  County,  who,  with  his 

brother  John,  came  to  what  is  now  Price  township  in 

187!).     Mr.   Rath   has  been   chosen   County   Clerk  at 

each  general  election  since  1902  and  is  now  the 

Treasurer  of  the  Wisconsin  County  Clerks 

Association. 

Oconto  County,  and  he  is  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this 
community.  He  settled  in  Price  township  and  was 
active  as  Chairman,  Assessor,  Town  Clerk,  and  in 
County  affairs  before  his  election  to  the  office  of 
County  Clerk  in  1902.  He  held  the  position  of  Town 
Clerk  at  the  time  of  the  election.  Mr.  Rath  has  been 
successively  re-elected  to  the  office  of  County  Clerk 
at  each  election  since  1902  with  handsome  majorities. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Columbus  as  well 
as  the  Catholic  Knights  of  Wisconsin  and  the  Catho- 
lic Order  of  Foresters,  having  held  various  official 
capacities  in  the  last  two  named.  He  is  at  present 
the  Treasurer  of  the  Wisconsin  County  Clerks  Asso- 
ciation, having  been  re-elected  in  1922.  Mr.  Rath  is 
also  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America, 
the  Sons  of  Veterans  and  the  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles. 
May  15,  1890,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Made- 
lene  Mary  Friederich,  of  Sheboygan,  who  was  born 
and  reared  in  that  city.  To  this  union  six  children 
have  been  born,  as  follows:  George  P.;  Joseph  F. ; 
William  M.;  John  H.;  Clara  Mary;  and  Thomas  E. 
Rath.  Four  of  Mr.  Rath's  sons  served  in  the  fighting 
forces  of  Uncle  Sam  during  the  World  War,  Thomas 
E.  being  too  young  at  the  time,  later  served  in  the  U.  S. 


Navy,  and  Mr.  Rath,  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Exemption  of  the  Langlade  County  district,  and  who 
engaged  actively  in  other  war  activities,  distinguished 
himself  as  a  true  patriot.  William  M.  Rath,  while 
overseas,  met  and  afterwards  married  Marthe  Au- 
bertin.  This  was  Langlade  County's  only  war  romance. 

Valentine  P.  Rath  has  played  a  conspicuous  part  in 
Langlade  County  activities  for  many  years;  he  was 
instrumental  in  getting  Price  township  detached  from 
Polar  township  and  was  the  leader  of  the  homesteaders 
in  their  political  battles  in  the  pioneer  days  of  Price. 

When  Mr.  Rath  first  came  to  Langlade  County  he 
took  up  a  residence  on  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  land  in  Polar  township,  now  Price  township.  He 
resided  there  for  a  number  of  years  and  then  moved 
to  Bryant,  village  in  Price  township,  and  was  engaged 
as  a  lumber  grader  and  cruiser,  which  work  he  fol- 
lowed until  his  election  as  County  Clerk.  He  then 
moved  into  Antigo,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home. 
By  his  capable  and  thorough  performance  of  duty, 
his  high  order  of  citizenship  and  his  fidelity  to  the 
county,  Mr.  Rath  has  won  the  confidence  and  highest 
esteem  of  scores  of  citizens  all  over  Langlade  County. 
The  Rath  family  reside  at  130  Lincoln  street. 

EDWARD  FREDERICK  BUCHEN,  Sheriff  of 
Langlade  County,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Lyndon, 
Sheboygan  County,  Wisconsin,  March  21,  1877,  the 
son  of  Elizabeth  (Hanke)  Buchen  and  Goodhart 
Buchen.  He  attended  the  rural  schools  of  Lyndon 
township  after  which  he  engaged  as  a  farmer  on  his 
father's  farm  until  he  attained  the  age  of  nineteen 
years.  He  then  engaged  in  the  cheese  and  dairy 
business  at  Adell,  Sheboygan  County,  for  five  years, 
selling  his  interests  then  to  his  brother,  George  Bu- 
chen. November  20,  1901,  he  moved  to  Antigo  town- 
ship, Langlade  County,  and  started  a  cheese  factory 
and  creamery  on  Highway  No.  47,  what  is  commonly 
known  as  the  "Howe  Cheese  Factory"  site.  This 
was  the  second  factory  in  Langlade  County  at  that 
time.  For  three  years  Mr.  Buchen  operated  this  in- 
dustry successfully  and  then  sold  out.  He  then  be- 
came the  proprietor  of  the  Star  Creamery,  a  co-opera- 
tive organization  in  Rolling  township,  which  he  was 
associated  with  for  two  years.  He  then  moved  into 
the  city  of  Antigo,  opening  the  Buchen  Creamery  on 
Fifth  avenue,  which  he  conducted  until  1915  when  he 
sold  out  to  Andrew  Anderson.  Mr.  Buchen  then  con- 
ducted a  cheese  factory  at  Kramer's  corner  in  Antigo 
township  for  two  years  until  his  election  for  the  first 
time  to  the  office  of  Sheriff.  Mr.  Buchen's  adminis- 
tration of  that  office  was  so  satisfactory  to  the  general 
public  that  he  was  re-elected  in  1920  by  an  overwhelm- 
ing vote.  The  office  of  Sheriff  has  been  faithfully 
administered  by  him  since  and  with  his  announcement 
for  re-election  in  1922  Mr.  Buchen  merely  yielded 
to  the  requests  of  numerous  friends. 

Mr.  Buchen  was  married  to  Ella  Ferk,  of  the  town 
of  Sherman,  Sheboygan  County,  Wisconsin,  Novem- 
ber 18,  1900.  Three  children,  two  of  whom  are  de- 
ceased— Clarence   Edward   and   Violet — and   Hilda,   a 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


337 


daughter,  now  a  student  at  the  Whitewater  Normal 
School,  were  born  to  this  union. 

During  the  war  Mr.  Buchen  was  active,  serving  as 
Chairman  of  the  Langlade  County  Board  of  Exemp- 
tion. He  is  a  member  of  the  B.  P.  0.  E.  and  Beavers 
fraternities.  The  Buchen  family  attend  the  Lutheran 
church. 

PETER  J.  ROUiVIAN.  Among  the  younger  citizens 
of  Antigo  and  Langlade  County  are  many  industrious 
and  ambitious  men  who  have  ably  demonstrated  their 
fitness  to  carry  on  worthy  commercial  enterprises. 
Peter  J.  Rouman,  who  is,  comparatively  speaking,  a 
new  resident,  can  be  classed  with  this  group.  Mr. 
Rouman  is  a  native  of  Greece,  the  son  of  Helen  and 
Gregory  Rouman.  He  was  born  November  23,  1894. 
As  a  boy  he  attended  the  public  schools  of  his  birth- 
place and  then  entered  high  school.  He  was  a  post- 
office  clerk  in  Greece.  When  seventeen  years  old  he 
sai'ed  for  America  where  he  planned  to  settle.  He 
went  to  Marquette,  Michigan,  and  three  months  later 
came  to  Antigo  to  enter  the  employ  of  Peter  Papa- 
dakis,  an  uncle,  then  conducting  a  confectionery  in 
this  city.  Two  years  later  he  entered  the  popcorn 
and  confectiorery  business  for  himself.  At  the  out- 
break of  the  World  War  he  entered  the  U.  S.  National 
Army  and  served  with  the  86th  Division  for  nine 
months  at  Camp  Hospital  No.  21,  overseas.  Return- 
V  ing    to    the    U.    S.    he    was    honorably   discharged    at 

Camp  Grant  on  June  12,  1919.  He  had  enlisted  June 
17,  1918.  He  then  returned  to  his  business  at  Antigo. 
May  1,  1921,  he  sold  his  popcorn  interests  and  pur- 
chased the  Helmbrecht  Cafe,  changing  the  name  to 
the  Antigo  Cafe.  This  cafe  is  located  at  827  Fifth 
avenue  and  enjoys  a  fine  local  and  a  splendid  summer 
tourist  patronage.  Mr.  Rouman  was  united  in  mar- 
riage in  Antigo  to  Miss  Esther  Saunders  on  August 
24,  1920.  To  this  union  one  child,  Dafney  Helen, 
was  born.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rouman  reside  at  827% 
Fifth  avenue.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Loyal  Order  of  Moose. 

ANTON  J.  NOWOTNY.  Among  the  pioneer  citi- 
W  zens  of  Antigo  and  Langlade  County  is  no  more  con- 
spicuous a  figure  than  Anton  J.  Nowotny,  the  Clerk  of 
the  Circuit  Court.  Anton  J.  Nowotny  came  to  Antigo 
in  the  winter  of  1878-79  with  his  widowed  mother, 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Nowotny.  With  his  mother  the  young 
lad  lived  in  Ackley  township  for  six  months  on  a 
homestead.  Mr.  Nowotny  moved  to  this  wilderness 
from  Manitowoc  County  with  his  mother,  his  father 
having  passed  away  in  Manitowoc  County  in  1873. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  November  15, 
1865. 

With  an  older  son  he  came  to  this  county  with  his 
mother.  The  embryo  town  was  then  a  place  that 
gave  little  promise  of  reaching  its  present  population 
of  close  to  ten  thousand  inhabitants.  Anton  J.  Nowot- 
ny was  then  thirteen  years  old  and  he  roughed  it 
through  the  years  of  his  youth  and  early  manhood. 
He  performed  all  manner  of  manual  labor  as  a  boy. 


serving  as  the  janitor  of  the  first  Antigo  school.  Here 
he  built  fires  and  cut  wood  for  the  sum  of  six  dollars 
a  month.  It  should  be  stated  that  he  went  to  school 
a  part  of  the  time,  later  attended  night  school  and 
then  entered  St.  Francis  Academy  at  Milwaukee.  He 
was  variously  employed  at  saw  mill  work,  and  at  one 
time  was  active  in  contracting  for  the  delivery  of  logs 
on  the  river.  He  also  learned  the  cigar  maker's  trade 
and  for  a  time  ran  a  cigar  factory,  which,  owing  to 
the  hard  times  then,  he  was  compelled  to  close.  He 
then  took  up  a  homestead  in  the  town  of  Elcho  on 
which  he  lived  for  about  four  years,  and  it  was  then 
that  he  was  first  elected  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court 
fcr  Langlade  County,  which  office  he  has  been  hon- 
ored with  at  each  successive  election  since.  This 
fact  is  a  splendid  testimonial  of  the  esteem  and  con- 
fidence the  public  holds  in  Mr.  Nowotny  as  a  public 
servant,  tried  and  found  to  be  true. 

In  1892  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Theresa  Boll 
of  Antigo,  Wis.  To  them  were  born  eight  children: 
Irwin,  Clarence,  Mary,  Esther,  Lester,  Lloyd,  Glen 
and  Dorothy.  Esther  and  Lester  are  twins.  Irwin 
and  Clarence  were  members  of  the  107th  Trench  Mor- 
tar Battery  which  served  during  the  World  War. 

Anton  J.  Nowotny  is  a  member  of  St.  John's  Cath- 
olic church  and  is  fraternally  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  Columbus  and  the  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters.  He 
is  one  of  the  substantial  property  owners  of  the  com- 
munity and,  with  his  family,  he  holds  a  high  place 
among  the  respected  citizens. 

ARTHUR  J.  KINGSBURY.  One  who  has  consid- 
ered the  pursuits  of  private  life  as  abundantly  worthy 
of  his  best  efforts,  and  who  has  concentrated  his  in- 
terests, energies  and  attention  upon  his  home  county, 
has  labored  for  its  advancement  and  growth  and  at 
the  same  time  has  promoted  his  private  interests  so 
that  he  had  attained  a  position  of  prestige  among  his 
fellow  citizens  is  Arthur  J.  Kingsbury,  the  son  of 
Alice  (Paige)  and  John  Jerome  Kingsbury,  pioneer 
Antigo  residents.  Mr.  Kingsbury  was  born  September 
23,  1876,  in  Stevens  Point,  Portage  County,  Wisconsin. 
When  ten  years  old  he  moved  with  his  parents  to  Ash- 
land, Wisconsin,  and  a  year  later  to  Cornell,  Wiscon- 
sin, from  where  the  Kingsbury  family  moved  to  An- 
tigo in  1890.  Here  Mr.  Kingsbury  attended  public 
school  and  the  high  school,  which  was  then  located 
on  the  site  of  the  Second  Ward  school.  He  then  en- 
tered the  Michigan  Agricultural  College,  East  Lan- 
sing, Michigan,  and  after  completing  his  course  re- 
turned to  Langlade  County  engaging  in  farming.  He 
then  moved  to  Boulder,  Colorado,  and  worked  in  the 
oil  fields,  and  the  following  years  was  at  Bay  City, 
Michigan,  thence  to  the  state  of  Kansas  for  two  years; 
thence  a  year  he  spent  in  Oklahoma  in  the  oil  fields. 
He  then  returned  to  Antigo  and  opened  up  a  field 
photography  and  kodak  business,  which  he  has  since 
developed   into  an  extensive   enterprise. 

Arthur  J.  Kingsbury  was  united  in  marriage  on  Feb- 
ruary 16,  1897,  to  Miss  Myrtle  Cunningham,  of  An- 
tigo.    To  this  union  three  children  were  born,  as  fol- 


338 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


lows:  Claire,  now  engaged  in  the  oil  business  at 
Tulsa,  Oklahoma;  Wayne,  who  passed  away  at  the 
age  of  five;  and  Doris,  a  student  in  the  Antigo  public 
schools.  Arthur  J.  Kingsbury  is  accounted  one  of  the 
substantial  and  dependable  business  men  of  the  city 
and  county. 

WALTER  J.  GALLON.  Among  the  citizens  of 
Langlade  County  who  are  rendering  their  community 
signal  services  both  in  a  public  and  a  commercial 
nature  none  stands  in  higher  esteem  than  Walter  J. 
Gallon,  the  alert  President  of  the  Antigo  Association 


department  of  the  Wisconsin  Telephone  Company  in 
Milwaukee.  He  later  became  manager  of  the  Janes- 
ville  (Wis.)  telephone  industry,  was  then  transferred 
to  Chicago  for  a  short  duration  following  which  he 
was  promoted  to  the  position  of  chief  inspector  of  the 
Central  Union  Telephone  Company,  Dixon,  111.  He 
returned  to  Wisconsin  later  to  become  the  chief  con- 
tract agent  for  the  Wisconsin  Telephone  Company 
from  where  he  was  called  to  Sheboygan  to  become 
manager  of  the  Sheboygan  Telephone  Company.  In 
1916  Mr.  Gallon  assumed  the  active  management  of 
the  Antigo  Telephone  Corporation,  which  he  still  holds. 


WALTER    J.    GAI.LOX 
The   President  of  the  .Association   of   Commerce   of   .Antigo.   General- 
Manager  of  the   Antigo   Telephone   Corporation,  and   leader   in 
community  advancement  played  a   prominent   part   in   local 
activities  during  the  late  \A'orld  War. 


of  Commerce  and  General  Manager  of  the  Antigo  Tel- 
ephone Corporation.  Through  marked  ability  and  con- 
scientious devotion  to  duty  he  has  climbed  from  ob- 
scurity to  a  position  of  prominence  in  the  telephone 
world. 

Walter  J.  Gallon  was  born  in  England  in  1873,  the 
son  of  John  Gallon.  He  received  an  elementary  gram- 
mar school  education  and  when  a  youth  started  out 
in  life  on  his  own  merits.  He  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1896  and  in  the  fall  of  that  year  came  to 
Wisconsin.  For  three  years  he  worked  in  various  vo- 
cations until  1899  when  he  began  in  the  construction 


He  has  been  active  in  all  civic  and  commercial  wel- 
fare movements  in  Antigo  and  it  is  to  his  credit  that 
the  present  Antigo  Association  of  Commerce  was  or- 
ganized. He  has  been  President  of  the  Association 
of  Commerce  since  its  organization  in  1916. 

During  the  World  War  Mr.  Gallon  took  an  active 
part  in  all  local  activities,  including  the  Liberty  Loan, 
Red  Cross,  Victory  Fund,  and  other  drives. 

He  gained  distinction  as  a  patriot  during  the  war 
for  his  scathing  denunciation  of  all  things  un-Ameri- 
can. Mr.  Gallon  is  a  member  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee, Antigo  Chapter,  American  Red  Cross. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


339 


Mr.  Gallon  was  married  on  November  10,  1910,  to 
Clara  Lea.     They  reside  at  615  Second  avenue,  Antigo. 

Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  all  Masonic  orders, 
including  the  Blue  Lodge,  Chapter  and  Commandery, 
and  he  is  also  a  member  of  the  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks. 

JOHN  SIPEK.  The  name  of  John  Sipek  has  been 
y  associated  with  activities  in  Langlade  County  since 
1881.  The  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  John 
Sipek,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Centerville  township,  Manito- 
woc County,  Wisconsin,  on  June  19,  1860,  the  son  of 
Joseph  and  Anna  (Rine)  Sipek.  He  settled  in  Neva 
township,  Langlade  County,  resided  there  some  nine 
years,  clearing  about  sixty  acres.  On  February  8, 
1885,  he  was  married  to  Emma  Skarivoda,  a  native 
of  Manitowoc  County,  who  was  the  daughter  of  Anton 
and  Elizabeth  (Krache)  Skarivoda,  who  were  among 
the  pioneer  settlers  of  Manitowoc  County.  During 
the  spring  of  1890  Mr.  Sipek  retired  from  his  farm 
and  purchased  property  in  Antigo,  where  he  kept  a 
hotel,  now  known  as  Martiny's  Hotel,  Edison  street. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sipek  had  four  children,  Matilda, 
Alvina  and  John,  living,  and  Joseph,  who  died  when 
two  years  of  age. 

John  Sipek,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Antigo  on  July  5,  1893. 
He  attended  the  public  schools  of  Antigo  and  grad- 
uated from  the  Antigo  High  School  with  the  class  of 
1912.  He  then  started  in  the  plumbing  business  and 
for  nine  months  was  associated  with  Joseph  Hoefer. 
He  then  began  as  a  journeyman  plumber  with  Louis 
Peters  and  has  since  been  with  Mr.  Peters  in  that 
business. 

Mr.  Sipek  was  united  in  marriage  on  September  2, 
1916,  to  Anna  Fischer. 

He  resides  at  600  Badger  avenue,  Antigo.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  a  member  of  Charter  Oak  Lodge,  No. 
150,  Knights  of  Pythias. 

The  Sipek  family  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  oldest 
Langlade  County  families,  having  been  in  the  county 
four  years  before  the  city  of  Antigo  was  incorporated. 

ENDRE  NOREM.  Among  the  pioneer  families  of 
Langlade  County  whose  members  have  contributed 
materially  to  the  progress  and  development  of  the 
county,  none  is  more  highly  esteemed  than  that  of 
Norem,  whose  history  is  commensurate  with  that  of 
Price  township.  Endre  Norem,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  in  Christiansand,  Norway,  on  Aug- 
ust 7,  1864.  Like  the  Viking  of  old,  young  Norem 
wanted  to  sail  the  seas.  He  made  three  trips  to  the 
United  States,  the  last  one  which  he  decided  to  lo- 
cate in  this  country.  Previously  he  had  visited  the 
West  Indies  and  New  Orleans.  He  settled  in  Brown 
County,  at  Ft.  Howard,  to  where  he  came  direct 
from  New  York.  From  there  Mr.  Norem  went  to 
Angelica,  Shawano  Count3^  Wisconsin,  and  secured 
employment  in  the  woods.  He  settled  in  Price  town- 
ship, Langlade  County,  in  September,  1889.  He  was 
employed  for  a  time  by  N.  C.  Bruce  at  Kent  as  a 
bookkeeper.       Mr.   Bruce   was   then   manager  of   the 


Henry  Sherry  interests  at  that  place.  For  eight 
years  he  followed  this  employment,  until  1897.  Mr. 
Norem  then  moved  to  Bryant  and  engaged  in  real 
estate,  merchandise  and  a  general  logging  business, 
which  has,  during  the  time  since,  flourished  and  ex- 
panded. 

Mr.  Norem  was  married  in  1901  to  Edna  Mildred 
Mills,  of  Brown  County,  Wisconsin,  to  which  union 
seven  children — four  boys  and  three  girls — were  born. 
Two  of  his  sons  served  during  the  World  War  in  the 
United  States  Navy,  and  Mr.  Norem  took  an  active 
part  in  all  patriotic  drives  and  campaigns  in  the 
county  during  the  conflict.  One  son  served  on  the 
battleship  Nevada  and  the  other  in  the  U.  S.  N. 
aviation. 

Endre  Norem  has  served  as  postmaster  of  Bryant 
for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  longer  than  any  other 
postmaster  in  Langlade  County,  and  there  are  few 
who  can  equal  this  period  of  service.  He  was  origin- 
ally appointed  by  President  William  McKinley.  He 
has  been  Township  Treasurer  and  has  held  other  po- 
sitions of  public  trust. 

In  1895  Mr.  Norem  became  associated  with  F.  H. 
Van  Ostrand.  His  brother,  Ernest  Norem,  became  a 
member  of  the  concern  in  1898.  Mr.  Van  Ostrand  sold 
his  interests  to  Norem  Brothers  in  1905.  The  con- 
cern was  incorporated  to  do  a  mercantile,  real  estate 
and  forest  and  farm  produce  business  in  1904. 

Fraternally  Endre  Norem  is  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic orders,  the  Elks  and  M.  W.  A.  lodges.  He  is 
a  typical  example  of  what  thrift,  ambition,  integrity 
and  good  character  can  do  toward  a  successful  career. 

WILLIAM  F.  INGS,  Superintendent  of  The  Antigo 
Gas  Company,  was  born  in  Oshkosh,  Winnebago 
County,  Wisconsin,  on  June  6,  1884,  the  son  of  Henry 
and  Ella  (Fletcher)  Irgs.  He  was  the  first  of  three 
children.  When  he  was  six  weeks  old  he  moved 
with  his  parents  to  the  city  of  Antigo.  Here  he  at- 
tended the  public  schools  and  the  Antigo  High  School. 
Following  his  school  days  he  began  working  on  his 
father's  farm  in  Antigo  township  and  stayed  there  un- 
til 1907.  He  then  began  employment  with  the  Antigo 
Gas  Company,  rising  to  the  important  position  of 
Superintendent,  which  he  now  holds.  It  was  managed 
by  Oliver  B.  Kohl  when  Mr.  Ings  first  started  with  the 
utility  fifteen  years  ago. 

William  F.  Ings  was  married  to  Bessie  Horn,  a 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ernest  Horn,  on  June  6, 
1906,  and  to  this  union  three  children.  Marvel,  Max- 
ine  and  John,  have  been  born.  The  Ings  residence 
is  at  114  Field  street,  Antigo,  Wisconsin. 

When  off  duty  Mr.  Ings  likes  nothing  better  than 
rambling  off  to  a  sparkling  trout  stream  or  to  spend  a 
week  in  the  timber  during  deer  hunting  season. 

Henry  Ings,  pioneer  Antigo  township  resident,  was 
for  many  years  a  public  official  and  served  with  credit 
as  County  Treasurer  of  Langlade  County.  The  Ings 
family  has  a  wide  acquaintance  in  and  about  the 
county. 


340 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


CHARLES  E.  HENSHAW.  In  the  earlier  history 
of  this  country,  there  are  many  notable  accounts  of 
the  trials  and  brave  sacrifices  of  those  who  are  num- 
bered among  the  industrial  pioneers  of  certain  dis- 
tricts. The  tide  of  civilization  was  then  ever  moving 
westward,  and  as  soon  as  a  section  of  country  was 
fairly  developed,  there  would  always  be  some  venture- 
some and  hardy  souls  eager  to  pass  still  farther  to- 
ward the  frontier,  making  new  boundary  lines  for  the 
outposts  of  civilization.  Without  these  rugged  peo- 
ple the  United  States  would  not  today  stretch  from 


age.  He  sacrificed  his  life  for  the  cause  of  the  North, 
being  killed  in  action  in  1865.  Wharton  Henshaw  lies 
at  rest  in  Franklin,  Indiana. 

Charles  E.  Henshaw  was  but  a  boy  when,  with  his 
parents,  he  left  his  place  of  nativity  in  the  Pan-Handle 
state,  settling  in  Wooster,  Ohio.  The  family  moved 
successively  from  Ohio  to  Missouri,  thence  to  Indiana 
and  from  there  to  Kansas,  which  was  then  in  the 
threes  of  the  great  contest  over  organization  precipi- 
tated by  the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill.  Returning  to  In- 
diana, the  family  located  at  Franklin,  and  it  was  here 


CHARLES    E.   HENSHAW 

Pioneer   Antigo   manufacturer,   who   with   John  J.    Kingsbury,   started   in 

business  in   Antigo   in    1S90.  Mr.    Henshaw,    Ijesides    his    local 

commercial  activities,  is  a  Director  of  the  American  Founders' 

Security  Company,  X'ice-Presidcnt  of  the  Talge  Mahogany 

Company  of  Indianapolis  and  an  associate  Director  in 

the  Old  Line  Life  Insurance  Company  of  -America. 


coast  to  coast,  from  the  Canadian  boundary  to  the 
gulf,  but  would  be  clustered  along  the  seaboard  of  tht 
Atlantic.  Among  those  who  faced  the  perils  of  the 
west  in  this  early  period  was  the  Henshaw  family. 
Charles  E.  Henshaw,  pioneer  Antigo  manufacturer, 
was  born  in  Martinsburg,  West  Virginia,  on  September 
14,  1849,  the  son  of  Anderson  F.  and  Margaret  (Busey) 
Henshaw.  He  was  the  second  of  two  children,  both  of 
whom  were  boys. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  Wharton,  the  other 
son,  joined  the  L^nion  Army,  enlisting  in  Wilder's 
Mounted  Infantry  of  Indiana  when  but  fifteen  years  of 


that  Charles  received  his  education,  consisting  of  the 
common  school  curriculum  of  that  day,  supplemented 
only  by  the  fact  that  youths  were  largely  dependent 
upon  their  own  resourcefulness  then. 

At  the  age  of  fifteen,  in  the  year  1864,  he  began 
work  in  the  Premium  Flour  Mills  of  Franklin,  being 
there  employed  for  four  years,  during  which  time  he 
thoroughly  familiarized  himself  with  the  flour  and  grist 
business.  From.  1868  until  he  became  proprietor  of 
his  first  flour  mill,  at  Trafalgar,  Indiana,  Mr.  Henshaw 
was  employed  in  the  flour  business  at  various  places 
in  Indiana.     In   1882,  having  closed  his   business   at 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE    COUNTY. 


341 


Trafalgar,  he  began  operations  at  Marcus,  Iowa,  and  he 
was  there  until  1885.  The  Henshaw  family  then 
moved  northward  to  Medford,  Wisconsin,  where  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  entered  the  employ  of  the  A.  J. 
Perkins  &  Son  flour  mill.  Mr.  Henshaw  had  previous- 
ly lost  his  entire  business  at  Marcus,  Iowa,  in  a  disas- 
trous fire. 

His  task  of  rehabilitation  was  difficult  and  for  five 
years  he  stayed  at  Medford  with  the  same  concern. 
Becoming  acquainted  with  John  J.  Kingsbury,  a  lum- 
berman, the  matter  of  a  partnership  was  discussed  and 
an  organization  effected  prior  to  July,  1890,  when  the 
Henshaw  family  moved  from  Medford  to  Antigo. 
John  J.  Kingsbury  and  Charles  E.  Henshaw  erected  a 
grist  mill  in  Antigo  then.  The  firm  was  known  as  the 
Antigo  Roller  Mills.  About  seven  years  later  the 
Kingsbury  &  Henshaw  Lumber  Company  was  organ- 
ized and  a  sawmill,  one  of  the  substantial  manufactur- 
ing institutions  of  Langlade  County,  was  erected.  The 
Company  thrived  and  prospered,  giving  employment 
to  many  Antigo  people,  during  the  long  span  of  years 
which  was  broken  on  August  2,  1917,  by  the  untimely 
death  of  Mr.  Kingsbury.  The  firm  is  now  known  as 
the  Henshaw  Lumber  Company.  For  about  two  years 
after  Mr.  Kingsbury's  death  it  was  known  as  the  Hen- 
shaw-Worden  Lumber  Company.  The  roller  mills  dis- 
continued operations  sometime  previously. 

Mr.  Henshaw  was  married  to  Jennie  Roberts,  a 
daughter  of  Andrew  and  Sarah  (Nelson)  Roberts,  of 
Carlisle,  Indiana,  on  May  27,  1872,  and  to  this  union 
four  children  were  born,  namely:  Louise,  born  on 
October  11,  1875.  She  was  married  to  A.  M.  Arveson 
on  September  11,  1901,  and  they  had  five  children,  all 
of  whom  are  living.  On  October  18,  1920,  Mrs.  Arve- 
son passed  away  in  the  prime  of  life.  She  is  at  rest  in 
the  Elmwood  Cemetery,  Antigo. 

Jessie,  the  second  child,  was  born  on  April  1,  1877, 
and  on  September  22,  1897,  married  C  .W.  Talge.  They 
reside  at  Los  Angeles,  California. 

Mabelle,  born  on  March  20,  1890,  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  C.  T.  Te  Selle,  of  Antigo,  on  October  11,  1916, 
and  they  have  two  children,  Janette  and  Clarence  John. 

Nellie  Henshaw,  another  daughter,  died  in  infancy 
and  is  buried  at  Marcus,  Iowa. 

Anderson  F.  Henshaw  passed  away  on  October  11, 
1888,  and  is  buried  at  Medford,  Wisconsin,  where  he 
died.  Over  a  quarter  of  a  century  later  his  wife  fol- 
lowed him  in  death,  she  passing  away  at  Antigo  on 
November  14,  1914.  She  is  buried  at  Medford  also. 
Charles  E.  Henshaw,  besides  his  local  business  con- 
nections, is  Vice  President  of  the  Talge  Mahogany 
Company,  of  Indianapolis,  Indiana;  is  a  Director  of  the 
American  Founders'  Security  Company  and  an  Asso- 
ciate Director  in  the  Old  Line  Life  Insurance  Company 
of  America,  the  latter  two  organizations  having  head- 
quarters in  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin. 

Mr.  Henshaw  finds  no  time  to  enter  politics  as  a 
seeker  after  personal  preferment  but  in  1901-02  he  was 
inducted  into  service  as  an  Alderman,  being  thereupon 
selected  as  Chairman  of  the  City  Finance  Committee. 
In  him  good  government  and  ideal  citizenship  have  al- 


ways found  a  staunch  friend  and  supporter  as  do  move- 
ments tending  to  advance  the  cause  of  education,  civic 
enterprises,  morality  and  general  progress. 

As  an  avocation  he  finds  keen  delight  in  spending  a 
few  days  at  his  cottage  on  the  shores  of  Post  Lake, 
Wisconsin,  or  in  whiling  away  an  hour  or  two  in  some 
clear,  sparkling  trout  stream,  of  which  Langlade  Coun- 
ty has  many. 

ARCHIE  SPENCER,  a  pioneer  Antigo  citizen,  was 
born  at  Fremont,  Waupaca  County,  Wisconsin,  on 
September  3,  1874,  the  son  of  Benjamin  and  Pricilla 
Spencer.  He  moved  to  the  village  of  Antigo  when 
a  youth,  his  parents  being  among  the  first  settlers  in 
Antigo.  This  was  in  the  fall  of  1881  when  the  Milwau- 
kee, Lake  Shore  &  Western  Railroad  pierced  north  to 
Aniwa  and  thence  to  Antigo.  At  that  time  James 
Quinn  and  a  man  by  the  name  of  Mr.  Hahn  hauled 
the  worldly  belongings  of  the  Spencer  family  with 
two  yokes  of  cattle  to  the  place  where  the  J.  H.  Weed 
mill  was  erected  just  south  of  the  city  of  Antigo. 
Ben  Spencer,  the  father  of  Archie  Spencer,  was  fore- 
man in  the  woods  for  various  lumber  concerns  in 
Langlade  County  and  Mrs.  Ben  Spencer  cooked  for 
the  lumber  concerns.  In  the  year  1882  Ben  Spencer 
bought  two  corner  lots  where  the  Hill  building  now 
stands  (at  the  intersection  of  Fifth  avenue  and  Edison 
street)  from  F.  A.  Deleglise,  paying  $33  apiece  for 
the  lots.  Ben  Spencer  started  the  Spencer  House, 
one  of  the  leading  Antigo  hotels  for  many  years, 
which  was  operated  until  1895,  when  the  Spencers 
sold  to  George  W.  Hill.  Archie  Spencer  used  to  cut 
wood  on  the  lots  now  the  site  of  the  Antigo  postoffice. 

As  a  youth  Archie  Spencer  attended  the  public 
schools  and  the  Antigo  High  School.  He  also  at- 
tended Daggett's  Business  College,  Oshkosh,  Wiscon- 
sin. Leaving  school  he  followed  the  call  of  the 
woods,  becoming  an  expert  woodsman  and  river  driv- 
er. He  took  part  in  many  of  the  picturesque  river 
drives  of  pioneer  days  when  the  great  pineries  were 
being  slashed  by  the  lumber  barons  of  Wisconsin, 
many  of  whom  in  their  greed  for  gold  and  pine  left 
the  country  in  a  desolate  state. 

Archie  Spencer  was  married  to  Mary  Harvey  of 
Shawano,  Wisconsin,  on  July  12,  1895,  and  to  this 
union  ten  children  were  born,  namely:  John,  Har- 
vey, Clyde,  Clara,  Pricilla,  Wesley,  Odean,  Loean, 
Ida,  May  and  William  H. 

Archie  Spencer  has  found  time  to  participate  in 
public  affairs  besides  attending  to  the  arduous  task 
of  caring  for  a  family.  He  was  School  Clerk  in  an 
Ainsworth  township  district,  and  while  a  resident  of 
that  township  was  once  a  town  Supervisor.  He  was 
once  a  candidate  for  Sheriff  on  the  Democratic  ticket 
and  secured  that  party's  nomination  for  that  office. 
Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks.  During  1922  he  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  on  two  hundred  acres  in  Elton  town- 
ship on  sections  7  and  8. 

He  has  been  a  resident  of  Langlade  County  since 
1881.     The  Spencers  now  reside  in  Antigo. 


342 


HISTORY    OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


THOMAS  W.  LESLIE,  whose  name  in  Langlade 
County  is  the  synonym  of  progressiveness,  liberality 
and  honesty  of  purpose,  has  been  a  resident  of  this 
county  for  over  forty  years  during  which  time  he  has 
built  himself  up  an  honored  reputation  and  a  good 
name. 

Mr.  Leslie  is  a  native  of  Hortonville,  Outagamie 
County,  Wisconsin,  where  he  was  born  on  August  24, 
1856,  the  son  of  Hugh  and  Dorothy  (McComb)  Leslie, 
who  were  the  parents  of  eight  children. 

The  subject  of  this  review  attended  the  rural  schools 
of  Hortonville,  having  received  a  common  school  edu- 
cation. He  then  began  to  make  his  own  way  in  the 
world  and  became  a  well  driller  and  pump  dealer.  He 
followed  this  occupation  in  and  adjacent  to  Hortonville 
until  1879  when  he  came  to  Langlade  County.  Until 
1883  he  was  associated  with  Niels  Anderson,  the  first 
merchant  of  Antigo,  in  the  well  drilling  and  pump  busi- 
ness. Retiring  from  the  pump  business  in  1883,  Mr. 
Leslie  devoted  his  entire  attention  to  his  farm  in  An- 
tigo (Springbrook  township).  When  he  secured  his 
farm  it  was  in  control  of  Shawano  County  as  New 
County  was  then  attached  to  that  county  for  county  and 
judicial  purposes.  He  moved  into  the  city  of  Antigo 
from  Antigo  township  in  1891  and  has  since  been  a  resi- 
dent of  the  city,  where  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  real 
estate  and  loan  business  for  thirty-one  years.  He  has 
also  spent  considerable  time  in  looking  over  lands  and 
conducting  logging  operations  during  winter  months. 

Thomas  W.  Leslie  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Anna  Dvorak,  the  daughter  of  Frank  and  Philomena 
Dvorak.  To  this  union  six  children  were  born,  two 
of  whom  are  deceased.  Those  living  are  Blanche,  now 
Mrs.  Edward  Lackerman,  of  Rolling  township,  Lang- 
lade County;  Robert,  now  at  Hiles,  Forest  County, 
Wisconsin;  Myra,  now  Mrs.  Joseph  Scholey,  of  Los 
Angeles,  California;  and  Mabel,  of  Antigo,  Wisconsin. 

The  Leslie  residence  Is  at  1444  Clermont  street,  An- 
tigo, Wisconsin.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Beavers  Reserve  Fund  Fraternity  and  the  Equitable 
Fraternal  Union.  During  pioneer  days  Mr.  Leslie  op- 
erated a  general  store  at  Deerbrook  for  a  short  time. 
This  was  one  of  the  first  stores  in  that  part  of  the 
county.  He  had  previously  been  associated  with  a 
brother,  Sam  Leslie,  in  a  store  at  Tigerton,  Wisconsin. 

During  the  World  War  the  Leslie  family  did  its  part. 
Robert  was  a  member  of  the  22nd  Base  Hospital,  U.  S. 
A.,  and  served  from  May  27,  1917,  to  April  23,  1919. 
He  was  overseas  from  June  2,  1918,  to  April  2,  1919. 
Mabel  E.  Leslie  served  as  a  nurse,  having  enlisted  on 
November  11,  1919. 

HUGH  B.  MUTTART,  a  prominent  Antigo  mer- 
chant, was  born  in  Oshkosh,  Winnebago  County, 
Wisconsin,  on  August  22,  1882,  the  son  of  William  and 
Helen  (McCarthy)  Muttart.  William  Muttart  was 
born  in  Canada  and  Helen  McCarthy  Muttart  was  a 
native  of  Manitowoc  County,  Wisconsin,  where  the 
McCarthy  family  was  among  the  early  pioneers  of 
the  district.  The  father  followed  the  trade  of  a  well 
driller  in  the  state  for  many  years  until  his  death  in 
March,  1911. 


H.  B.  Muttart  was  reared  in  Oshkosh  where  he  at- 
tended the  public  schools.  He  followed  the  printer's 
trade  for  four  years  following  his  public  school  ca- 
reer. He  then  went  to  Milwaukee  to  take  up  the 
study  of  embalming  under  Professor  Williams  in  his 
College  of  Embalming.  Returning  to  Oshkosh  he 
successfully  passed  the  state  examinations  and  in  1904 
he  located  at  Antigo  in  the  undertaking  and  embalm- 
ing business.  In  this  work  he  continued  alone  until 
1912  when  a  consolidation  of  three  well  known  Anti- 
go  business  houses  took  place,  forming  the  Antigo 
Furniture  &  Undertaking  Company,  of  which  Mr.  Mut- 
tart became  President.  A.  D.  Stewart  and  Rudolph 
Kratche  were  the  other  members  of  the  original  firm. 
This  firm  progressed  and  made  an  excellent  showing 
in  the  business.  In  the  fall  of  1918  T.  T.  McGillan 
of  Appleton  became  a  member  of  the  firm,  which  has 
since  been  known  as  Muttart  &  McGillan  Furniture 
and    Undertaking   Company. 

H.  B.  Muttart  was  married  in  1908  to  Miss  Mary 
Hoffman,  daughter  of  Joseph  Hoffman,  proprietor  of 
The  Hoffman  House.  Two  children,  Helen  and  Mary, 
have  been  born  to  them.  H.  B.  Muttart  is  a  member 
of  the  Roman  Catholic  church,  as  is  his  wife  and 
children.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Colum- 
bus, the  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles,  The  Loyal  Order 
of  Moose. 

PAUL  J.  MILLARD,  former  Postmaster,  and  now 
Assistant  Postmaster,  was  born  on  June  23,  1859,  at 
Wausau,  Wisconsin,  the  son  of  Burton  and  Harriet 
(Crown)  Millard.  He  received  a  common  school  ed- 
ucation. When  a  young  man  he  came  to  Antigo,  in 
August,  1882,  from  Wausau,  and,  with  his  brother,  A. 
B.  Millard,  a  prominent  pioneer,  became  the  proprietor 
of  The  Weekly  News  Item,  serving  as  one  of  the  own- 
ers until  1893.  He  served  as  Postmaster  from  April 
23,  1893,  to  June  30,  1897,  and  on  July  21,  1901,  was 
appointed  Assistant  Postmaster,  which  position  he  has 
served  in  since. 

Mr.  Millard  has  been  a  member  of  the  City  Council 
and  also  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  a  charter  member  of  Antigo  Lodge  No. 
231,  F.  &  A.  M.;  Antigo  Chapter  No.  64,  R.  A.  M.,  and 
Antigo  Commandery  No.  31,  K.  T. 

He  was  married  on  December  26,  1884,  at  Royalton, 
Wisconsin,  to  Hattie  M.  Waite.  Four  children  w<-re 
born  to  this  union,  Glenn  E.,  Arnold  B.  (deceased), 
Paul  V.  and  Harriet  E. 

The  Millard  residence  is  at  718  Graham  Avenue, 
Antigo. 

HENRY  BERNER.  The  history  of  Langlade  Coun- 
ty would  be  incomplete  without  a  resume  of  the  life 
activities  of  Henry  Berner,  the  President  of  Berner 
Brothers  Publishing  Company.  He  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Gibson,  Manitowoc  County,  Wisconsin,  on 
June  10,  1878,  the  son  of  Henry  and  Caroline  Berner. 
When  five  years  of  age  he  moved  with  his  parents  to 
Antigo  where  he  attended  the  public  schools  and  the 
Antigo   High    School.     Leaving   school   he    began   his 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


343 


career  as  an  employe  for  the  Weekly  News  Item  and 
was  with  that  publication  for  three  years.  It  was 
then  located  where  Mrs.  A.  R.  Winters  now  has  her 
grocery  store.  Mr.  Berner  then  secured  employment 
on  The  Antigo  Republican  and  was  with  that  paper 
from  1895  until  1899  when  he  went  to  Columbus,  Wis- 
consin, where,  with  his  brother,  Fred  L.  Berner,  he 
took  over  the  Columbus  Democrat.  He  returned  to 
Antigo  in  1901  and  with  his  brother  took  over  the 
Antigo  Journal,  then  a  weekly  paper,  purchasing  the 
same  from  George  W.  Hill.  The  Journal  has  grown 
to  be  one  of  the  best  news  and  advertising  mediums  of 


a  teacher  in  the  Menasha  public  schools;  Henry,  Jr., 
a  student  at  the  University  of  Wisconsin;  Artemus,  of 
Antigo;  Thelma,  a  student;  Lynn,  who  passed  away 
on  October  4,  1922,  following  fatal  injuries  received 
in  an  automobile  accident;  Leland,  who  died  on  Oc- 
tober 5,  1908.  Both  Lynn  and  Leland  are  buried  in 
the  Antigo  cemetery. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Berner  is  affiliated  with  The  Bea- 
vers Reserve  Fund  Fraternity,  The  Knights  of  Pyth- 
ias, The  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  the  Sons 
of  Veterans.  He  is  the  Secretary  of  the  Langlade 
County  Fair  Association,  and  for  twelve  years,  (1910- 


HENRY    BERNER 
President  and  General  Manager  of  Berner  Brothers   Publishing  Com- 
pany  has  been  a  strong  asset   to   that   leading  firm,   which   has 
forged   ahead   commensurate   with   the   progress   of 
.'\ntigo  and  vicinity. 


this  section  of  the  state  through  the  business  princi- 
ples that  the  brothers  followed  during  the  span  of 
twenty  years  they  have  had  charge  of  The  Journal. 
Mr.  Berner  is  now  the  general  manager  of  the  large 
printing  plant  at  533  Superior  street. 

Henry  Berner  was  united  in  marriage  to  Elizabeth 
Yeager,  of  Marshfield,  on  December  19,  1899.  To  this 
union  six  children  were  born.     They  are  Dorothy,  now 


1922),  was  oil  inspector  for  this  district.  He  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Antigo  Association  of  Commerce. 
The  Berner  residence  is  at  423  Tenth  avenue,  Antigo. 

A.  H.  BERENDSEN  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  most 
respected  citizens  in  Langlade  County.  He  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Freedom,  Outagamie  County,  Wiscon- 
sin, on  July  25,  1869.     He  came  to  Langlade  County 


344 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


from  the  town  of  Freedom  on  November  10,  1882, 
with  three  cows  and  five  head  of  young  stock.  A  yoke 
of  oxen  were  hitched  to  his  heavy  wagon.  Twelve 
days  later  he  arrived  at  the  Henry  Hersant  farm,  Nor- 
wood township.  Because  of  difficulties  with  the  cat- 
tle it  was  necessary  for  him  to  leave  the  cattle  at  a 
place  owned  by  Joseph  Schnorich,  now  the  site  of  the 
E.  E.  Hemingway  home  at  Mattoon,  Wisconsin. 

John  Menting  and  Gerard  Berendsen  made  the  trip 
with  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  With  no  roads  and 
about  a  sixteen  inch  fall  of  snow  it  was  difficult  for 
these  sturdy  pioneers  to  find  their  way  about. 

The  father  of  Mr.  Berendsen,  Theodore  Berendsen, 
homesteaded  on  section  25,  township  30,  range  12 
east.  This  place  has  since  been  known  as  the  Bernard 
Berendsen  farm  and  is  situated  one-half  mile  east  of 
Phlox. 

Mr.  Berendsen  recalls  well  when  in  the  spring  of 
1883  he  came  in  to  Antigo  with  a  yoke  of  oxen  to  do 
some  trading  at  the  Niels  Arderson  store,  the  first 
store  in  Antigo.  He  also  went  over  to  the  depot  to 
see  a  train  pull  into  Antigo — then  this  was  considered 
an  event  of  great  importance  (the  approach  of  an 
airplane  is  regarded  with  less  significance  by  Anti- 
go  people  now). 

Mr.  Berendsen  stayed  on  the  homestead  for  some- 
time helping  clear  land,  until  he  was  sixteen  years  of 
age.  Then  as  his  parents  were  in  need  of  some  money 
he  went  to  work  at  the  carpenter  trade.  He  earned 
ten  dollars  per  month  and  board.  He  later  secured 
work  from  Joseph  St.  Louis  and  son,  Frank  St.  Louis, 
who  had  a  mill  at  Phlox.  After  working  there  until 
the  fall  of  1888  he  went  to  work  for  the  Mattoon 
Manufacturing  Company  putting  in  bridges  and  cul- 
verts on  the  railroad  between  Mattoon  and  Aniwa.  He 
was  employed  as  camp  foreman,  carpenter  and  lumber 
inspector  until  the  spring  of  1898.  He  then  entered 
the  employ  of  G.  B.  Lesch  as  a  lumber  inspector  and 
was  with  him  until  he  went  out  of  business  in  this 
territory,  in  the  fall  of  1900.  Mr.  Berendsen  then  en- 
tered the  employ  of  the  G.  W.  Jones  Lumber  Company 
of  Appleton,  Wisconsin,  on  November  1,  1900,  and 
was  with  them  until  January  1,  1921,  a  period  of 
twenty  years  and  two  months.  He  has  been  dealing 
in  lands  and  forest  products  on  his  own  initiative 
since. 

Mr.  Berendsen  was  married  to  Rosalia  M.  Hones 
at  Phlox  on  June  2,  1921.  He  is  a  Catholic  by  faith 
and  fraternally  is  affiliated  with  the  B.  P.  0.  E.  and 
the  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters.  The  Berendsen 
family  moved  from  Mattoon  to  Antigo  in  June,  1899, 
and  has  resided  here  since.  A.  H.  Berendsen,  dur- 
ing these  many  years,  has  won  the  respect  and  confi- 
dence of  a  score  of  citizens. 

WILLIAM  READER.  Former  Assemblyman  and 
Register  of  Deeds,  was  born  in  Stockbridge  township, 
Calumet  County,  May  16,  1864,  son  of  John  Reader. 
He  moved  with  his  parents  to  Menominee,  where  the 
family  stayed  for  one  year.  August  20,  1882,  he 
moved  to  Ackley  township  (now  Peck  township)  where 


he  settled  on  a  farm.  Here  he  held  several  respons- 
ible town  offices,  including  the  Chairmanship  of  Peck 
township  for  seven  years.  In  1900  he  was  elected 
Register  of  Deeds  of  Langlade  County.  Then  he  sold 
his  farm  and  moved  into  Antigo.  He  served  with 
credit  as  Register  of  Deeds  from  January,  1901,  to 
1909,  when  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Assembly. 
Mr.  Reader  framed  the  bill  making  Langlade  a  separ- 
ate Assembly  district  and  Marathon  and  Langlade 
Counties  a  Senatorial  district  in  1911.  Mr.  Reader 
purchased  the  Market  Square  Hotel  in  1913  from  the 
Langlade    Bank    and    has    been    its    proprietor    since. 


\VILL1.\M  RE.\DER 

Pioneer     Langlade    County     Citizen,    former     Register    of 

Deeds,  former  .Assemblyman,  and  now  proprietor  of 

the    ifarket    Square    Hotel,   the   reconstructed 

Springbrook   House,  Antigo's  first  hotel. 

This  hotel  is  the  reconstructed  Springbrook  House, 
pioneer  Antigo  "stopping  place  of  79".  Mr.  Reader 
was  married  June  11,  1892,  at  Wrightstown,  Outagamie 
County,  to  Mary  McCabe.  Three  sons,  John,  George 
and  Merritt,  and  one  daughter,  Irene,  were  born  to 
this  union.  All  three  sons  are  veterans  of  the  World 
War.  Mr.  Reader  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  For- 
esters and  the  American  Hotel  Association.  He  is  an 
upright  business  man,  a  fearless  advocate  for  those 
things  that  tend  to  benefit  the  community,  and  is  high- 
ly regarded  by  scores  of  friends  throughout  the  county. 

PERRY  McINTOSH.  Born  in  Fitzgerald,  Georgia, 
May  13,  1895,  son  of  Charles  and  Viola  Mcintosh. 
Came  to  Antigo  in  1915.  Married  Mary  Poinkowski 
September  8,  1919,  to  which  union  two  children  have 
been  born,  a  boy  and  a  girl.  Employed  as  brakeman 
with  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad.  Noted 
wrestler  of  middle  west.  Has  engaged  in  wrestling 
bouts  with  such  able  men  as  John  Meyers,  Louis  Tal- 
aber,  Wjonne  Kattoonin,  Witt,  Sanders,  Alex  Kazaan, 
Sam  Chapman,  British  champion.  Van  Worden  of  Can- 
ada, Kid  Sperenio  of  Illinois,  Bob  Langford  of  Virginia. 
Total  matches  engaged  in  is  156  with  between  six  to 
eight  that  were  lost.  His  first  match  was  in  1913 
with  Alex  Kazaan,  whom  he  defeated. 

Mr.  Mcintosh  is  a  member  of  Antigo  Council  No. 
1002  K.  of  C,  and  of  Antigo  Lodge  662  B.  P.  O.  E. 
In  wrestling  he  was  trained  under  George  and  Fred 
Belle,  who  was  once  world  champion,  having  defeated 
Frank  Gotch. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


345 


WILL  C.  BRAWLEY.  The  editor  of  a  widely  read, 
interesting  and  substantial  newspaper  always  plays  a 
leading  role  in  the  advancement  of  a  community. 
Will  C.  Brawley,  the  genial  editor  of  the  Antigo  Her- 
ald and  General  Manager  of  the  Langlade  Printing 
Company  enjoys  that  prestige  in  Antigo  and  vicinity. 
Mr.  Brawley,  a  veteran  journalist,  has  been  engaged 


Ashland  Daily  News.  Mr.  Brawley  was  also  a  staff 
writer  on  the  original  Chicago  Herald,  established  by 
James  W.  Scott,  and  for  a  time  was  political  writer 
on  the  old  LaCrosse  Chronicle  and  the  Oconto  Enter- 
prise.. 

In  1919,  with  William  F.  Kasson,  he  purchased  the 
Antigo    Herold,    German    language    publication,    and 


WILL  C.   BRAWLEY 

Editor  of  the  Antigo  Herald,  and  prominent  Wisconsin   Democrat,   who 

has  been  a  member  or  Secretarj'  of  the  Democratic  State  Central 

Committee  for  twenty-seven  years.       Mr.   Mrawley  was  chosen 

as  a  delegate  to  four  Democratic  National  Conventions. 


in  publicity  work  for  forty  years.  His  first  venture 
in  journalism  was  the  launching  of  The  Yellow  River 
Lumberman  at  Necedah.  The  publication  was  later 
transferred  to  Mauston,  Wisconsin.  He  later  sold  the 
Mauston  Sun,  the  mechanical  department  of  which 
was  transferred  to  Pierre,  S.  D. 
With  Jeremiah  C.  Murphy  he  then  established  the 


changed  it  to  the  present  English  language  publica- 
tion. The  Antigo  Herald.  The  editorials  from  The 
Herald  are  frequently  copied  by  leading  state  papers. 
Through  the  late  Governor  Peck,  of  Wisconsin,  Mr. 
Brawley  represented  the  Ways  and  Means  Committee 
of  the  Democratic  National  Committee  in  the  last 
Bryan  campaign  and  in  the  interests  of  that  Committee 


346 


HISTORY   OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


made  a  tour  of  the  state  of  Iowa.  He  was  for  twenty 
years  Secretary  and  a  member  of  the  Democratic 
State  Central  Committee  and  attended  four  National 
Conventions  as  a  delegate. 

J.  C.  LEWIS,  a  prominent  pioneer,  former  President 
of  the  First  National  Bank  and  Chairman  of  the 
Board  of  Directors  of  that  institution,  with  which  he 
has  been  connected  for  many  years,  was  born  in  Co- 
lumbia County,  Wisconsin,  on  July  8,  1856,  the  son 
of  H.  0.  and  Elizabeth  (Jones)  Lewis,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  Wales.     The  Lewis'  lived  on  a  farm 


J.  C.  LEWIS 

Pioneer  merchant,  leading  banker  and  a  prominent  citizen 

in  all  public  activities  was  one  of  the   leading  figures 

in  the  fight  to  incorporate  the   city  of  Antigo.     Mr. 

Lewis    has    held    many    important    official 

positions  in  the  cit3'  and  county. 

in  Columbia  County  for  some  time  before  moving  to 
Portage,  Wisconsin,  where  the  father  took  up  work  as 
a  blacksmith  and  dealer  in  implements. 

It  was  in  Portage,  Wisconsin,  that  J.  C.  Lewis  gained 
the  main  parts  of  his  education.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-two  he  had  completed  an  apprenticeship  to  the 
tinsmith's  trade,  and  going  to  Waupaca  he  worked  at 
his  trade  there  in  the  branch  store  of  the  man  with 
whon  he  learned  his  work.  Three  and  a  half  years  he 
continued  there  and  then  went  to  Merrill,  Wisconsin, 
as  manager  of  a  hardware  store  at  that  place.  From 
Merrill  he  moved  to  Antigo  and  established  himself 
in  the  hardware  business,  the  J.  C.  Lewis  Hardware 
Company  being  the  foundation  of  the  present  Antigo 
Hardware.  It  was  not  long  before  the  thriftiness 
and  industriousness  of  Mr.  Lewis  began  to  assert 
themselves  in  the  little  village  of  Antigo.  Mr.  Lewis 
erected  the  fine  brick  building  now  occupied  by  the 
Antigo  Hardware.  In  1887  he  built  the  structure  now 
known  as  the  Odd  Fellows  building,  intersection  of 
Fifth  avenue  and  Clermont  street.  Mr.  Lewis  has 
been  worthily  connected  with  many  of  the  leading 
financial  and  industrial  enterprises  that  have  had  their 
inception  in  Antigo. 


The  public  life  of  J.  C.  Lewis  has  been  one  of  long 
and  devoted  service  to  Antigo  and  Langlade  County. 
In  1887-88  he  was  County  Treasurer  and  rendered 
valuable  services  in  that  position.  He  has  served  as 
Chairman  of  the  County  Board  and  as  a  member  of 
the  School  Board.  He  also  was  an  Alderman  under 
the  aldermanic  system  of  government  in  Antigo,  and 
was  Secretary  of  the  old  Antigo  Telephone  Company 
organization. 

Mr.  Lewis  was  married  in  Waupaca,  Wisconsin,  to 
Miss  G.  Lord,  the  daughter  of  George  L.  Lord,  and  to 
this  union  five  children  were  born:  Bessie,  J.  Parrish, 
now  a  partner  in  the  Grossman-Lewis  Company,  Mil- 
waukee, stock  and  bond  company;  Martha  and  Hugh 
Lewis.     One  child  died  in  infancy. 

J.  C.  Lewis,  during  his  many  years  of  residence  in 
Antigo,  has  proven  himself  a  dependable  citizen 
whose  energies  and  best  efforts  have  been  put  forth 
unreservedly  for  the  general  welfare  of  the  city. 
He  is  a  32nd  degree  Mason  and  a  Shriner.  The  Lewis 
residence   is   on   Clermont   street,  Antigo. 

ADRIAN  SCHILLEMAN.  From  the  old  world 
there  has  come  to  America  thousands  of  thrifty  and 
substantial  people  willing  to  become  citizens  of  the 
United  States  and  to  do  what  they  can  to  make  this 
nation  a  haven  for  the  oppressed  of  the  war  torn  coun- 
tries across  the  sea.  The  parents  of  Adrian  Schille- 
man,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  were  natives  of  Hol- 
land and  came  to  this  country  before  the  birth  of  this 
subject.  Adrian  Schilleman  was  born  in  New  York 
state  in  1844.  When  a  young  man  he  moved  with  his 
parents  westward  soon  settling  in  the  state  of  Wiscon- 
sin at  Cedar  Grove,  Sheboygan  County.  Here  he  was 
married  in  1872  to  Mary  Serier,  born  in  1853.  The 
Schilleman  family  consisted  of  ten  children,  two  girls 
and  eight  boys:  Edward,  of  Casper,  Wyoming;  Wil- 
liam, of  Hollister;  Anton,  Lac  du  Flambeau;  Jake, 
Wabeno;  John,  who  died  in  October,  1916;  Walter, 
of  Mercer;  Alvin,  of  Marshfield;  Emma,  now  Mrs.  V. 
Hill,  of  Waukesha;  Nettie,  now  Mrs.  Charles  Loper, 
of  Antigo;  and  Irving,  of  Antigo. 

They  moved  to  Langlade  County  from  Gillette, 
Shawano  County,  in  1908.  Mr.  Schilleman  owned 
four  farms  in  Langlade  County,  two  southeast  of  An- 
tigo and  two  west  of  Antigo.  He  now  resides  on  his 
farm  southeast  of  Antigo. 

Irving  Schilleman  was  born  at  Cecil,  Shawano  Coun- 
ty, Wisconsin,  on  March  8,  1896,  the  son  of  Mary  and 
Adrian  Schilleman.  He  attended  the  Hunter  Grange 
and  Heineman  Country  Schools.  When  a  youth  he 
began  as  an  apprentice  in  the  mechanical  department 
of  The  Weekly  News  Item  of  Antigo  in  1911  and  has 
since  been  with  the  following  printing  establishments: 
Ironwood  Times;  Bessmer  (Mich.)  Herald;  Shawano 
Journal;  Casper  (Wyo.)  Daily  Press  and  the  Antigo 
Daily  Journal,  which  he  has  been  with  for  three  years. 

Irving  Schilleman  was  married  to  Irma  Foltz,  of 
Antigo,  in  1918.  To  this  union  one  son,  Marvin,  has 
been  born.  Mr.  Schilleman  is  a  member  of  the  Antigo 
Typographical  Union.  Irving  Schilleman  resides  on 
Tenth  avenue,  Antigo. 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


347 


J.  WERNER.  A  resident  of  Wisconsin  since  1899, 
J.  Werner  has  lived  a  career  not  crowded  with  varied 
experiences  but  marked,  nevertheless,  by  ventures  of 
extent  and  importance,  characterized  at  all  times  by 
the  strictest  integrity  and  adherence  to  honorable  busi- 
ness methods,  and  stamped  with  the  approval  of  all 
with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact.  Mr.  Werner  was 
born  in  Russia,  on  June  15,  1877,  the  son  of  Moses  and 
Esther  (Rosenberg)  Werner.  He  received  an  elemen- 
tary and  high  school  education  following  which  he  be- 
gan as  a  law  clerk  with  one  of  the  leading  law  firms 
of  his  community.  It  was  his  intention  to  become 
thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  law  and  eventually  to 
become  a  lawyer,  but  unfortunately  conditions  in  Rus- 
sia at  that  time  placed  too  many  technical  as  well  as 
actual  obstacles  in  his  path. 

When  twenty-two  years  of  age  Mr.  Werner  settled 
in  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  where  he  started  in  business 
selling  ladies'  ready-to-wear  apparel.  He  has  followed 
this  field  since  and  in  September,  1916,  he  opened  Wer- 
ner's Shop  for  Ladies  at  728  Fifth  avenue,  Antigo, 
which  he  has  since  conducted  with  success. 

Mr.  Werner  was  married  on  October  20,  1907,  to 
Rebecca  Cohen,  of  Chicago,  Illinois,  and  to  this  union 
one  child,  Millette  Esther,  now  nine  years  of  age,  was 
born.  The  Werners  reside  in  the  Schneiter  flat  on  Sec- 
ond avenue. 

Fraternally  J.  Werner  is  a  member  of  Charter  Oak 
Lodge  No.  150,  Knights  of  Pythias. 

H.  B.  KELLOGG.  Belonging  to  a  family  that  ha:^ 
made  Langlade  County  its  home  since  the  days  of  the 
first  pioneers  in  1875  and  members  of  which  have  been 
identified  with  the  substantial  growth  of  this  section 
of  the  state  since  then  is  H.  B.  Kellogg,  President  of 
the  T.  D.  Kellogg  Lumber  &  Manufacturing  Company, 
a  pioneer  Antigo  institution.  H.  B.  Kellogg  w.i-;  born 
in  Rockton,  Illinois,  on  July  4th,  1859,  the  son  of 
Thomas  David  and  Harriet  (Buffum)  Kellogg.  His 
father  was  a  native  of  Connecticut  and  Mrs.  Kellogg 
was  a  native  of  New  York  state. 

When  but  two  years  old  Mr.  Kellogg  moved  with  his 
parents  to  Appleton,  Outagamie  County,  Wisconsin, 
where  his  father  was  engaged  in  the  operation  of  a  first 
class  flour  mill.  The  Kellogg  family  moved  from  Ap- 
pleton to  Stevensville,  located  in  the  same  county  and 
it  was  at  that  place  and  the  Appleton  High  School 
where  young  Kellogg  received  his  education. 

In  the  year  1875  Thomas  D.  Kellogg  moved  to  the 
territory  in  Oconto  County,  later  to  become  New  Coun- 
ty, and  that  year  he  rented  a  saw  mill  from  Thomas  M. 
Dobbs,  who  had  erected  the  first  mill  in  the  county 
two  years  previously,  1873.  Mr.  Kellogg  moved  the 
mill  to  the  "burnt  section",  near  Langlade,  and  later 
to  Lily,  then  called  New.  The  old  Kellogg  place  on 
the  Military  Road  is  still  pointed  out  to  passers-by  at 
this  day  as  the  "Kellogg  farm". 

Horace  B.  Kellogg  began  as  a  teacher  in  the  terri- 
tory that  was  to  become  Langlade  County,  he  being 
one  of  the  very  first  teachers  in  the  first  Langlade  Coun- 
ty school,  located  on  section  3,  township  31,  Range  14 
East.       He   also   taught   at   Gagen,   his   pupils   being 


James,  Henry  and  John  Gagen.  Since  then  he 
has  followed  the  lumber  business,  being  initiated  into 
that  industry  in  the  days  of  the  pine  conquests  on  the 
Wolf  River.  He  logged  on  both  the  Wolf  river  and 
Pickerel  Creek,  being  associated  with  his  father,  T.  D. 
Kellogg,  up  to  the  time  of  the  latter^s  death,  in  1903. 
The  Kelloggs  moved  to  Antigo  in  March,  1883,  and 


H.  B.   KELLOGG 
Who  began  lumber  operations  in  the  territory  now  com- 
prising  Langlade   County,   with   his   father,   the   late 
T.   D.   Kellogg.       T.   D.    Kellogg   purchased 
Thomas   M.  Dobbs'  sawmill  in  1S7.5. 

the  following  winter  T.  D.  Kellogg  and  his  son  pur- 
chasd  the  old  Novotny  Brothers  mill,  this  being  the 
first  sawmill  in  Antigo.  They  operated  a  mill  for  many 
years  on  this  site,  selling  in  1905  to  J.  H.  Worden. 

The  T.  D.  Kellogg  Lumber  &  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany was  organized  with  T.  D.  Kellogg  as  President  in 
1890  and  he  remained  at  the  head  of  that  firm  until 
his  death.  H.  B.  Kellogg  has  since  been  President  of 
the  concern,  which  has  offices  at  619  Superior  street, 
Antigo.  Besides  being  at  the  head  of  a  large  lumber 
industry  Mr.  Kellogg  is  identified  with  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Antigo,  and  since  July,  1922,  has  been 
President  of  that  institution.  He  previously  served  as 
Vice  President,  being  selected  for  that  office  in  1902. 
He  has  been  a  director  of  the  bank  since  1910.  Mi. 
Kellogg  has  also  served  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Education,  as  did  his  father,  after  whom  the  Kellogg 
(First  Ward)  is  named.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  orders. 

June  20,  1883,  Mr.  Kellogg  was  married  to  Mary 
Bauter  at  Appleton.  Four  children  were  born  to  this 
union,  namely,  Helen,  who  died  in  1904,  and  who  is 
buried  beside  her  grandparents  and  her  great-grandpar- 
ents, Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hudson  Kellogg,  in  the  Kellogg 
family  lot  in  the  Antigo  cemetery;  Myrtie  V.,  now 
Mrs.  Ralph  Krause,  of  Seattle,  Washington;  Thomas 
D.,  Superintendent  of  the  Polar  mills  of  the  T.  D.  Kel- 
logg concern;  and  Horace  B.,  Jr.,  who  assists  his  father 
in  the  management  of  the  Antigo  office. 

During  the  World  War  the  Kelloggs  proved  them- 


348 


HISTORY  OF  LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


selves  stern  patriots..  Both  Thomas  D..  and  Horace, 
Jr.,  served  in  the  U.  S.  Army  and  were  honorably  dis- 
charged in  1918  and  1919  respectively. 

THOMAS  D.  KELLOGG.  Born  August  5,  1889, 
son  of  Horace  B.  and  Mary  Kellogg,  and  a  grandson 
of  T.  D.  Kellogg,  pioneer  Langlade  County  lumber- 
man. Attended  the  Antigo  public  schools,  graduated 
from  the  Antigo  High  School  in  1908,  attended  Law- 
rence College.  Took  charge  of  the  Polar  township 
mill  and  other  business  affairs  of  the  T.  D.  Kellogg 
Lumber  &  Mfg.  Co.  in  1909.  September  1.  1915,  was 
married  to  Lettie  Uhlman,  of  Willston,  N.  D. 
Thomas  B.  Kellogg  is  a  veteran  of  the  World  War, 
being  honorably  discharged  December  31,  1918.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  B.  P.  0.  E.  lodge. 

AUGUST  A.  LUECK.  There  is  probably  no  more 
exacting  vocation  than  that  of  the  modern  optometrist 
and  pharmacist.  A  man  of  thorough  training  and  ab- 
solute reliability,  he  must  also  be  a  master  of  several 
occupations  beside  his  own,  and  to  make  a  success  of 
his  enterprise  must  be  capable,  courteous  in  manner 
and  ready  to  serve  the  long  hours  that  the  vocation 
demands.  The  most  widely  known  optometrist  and 
pharmacist  in  Langlade  County  is  August  A.  Lueck, 
one  of  the  leading  figures  in  his  vocation  in  the  United 
States. 

Mr.  Lueck  was  born  on  August  12,  1875,  at  Tomah, 
Wisconsin,  the  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Julius  Fred  Lueck. 
As  a  boy  he  attended  the  public  schools  in  Tomah 
and  at  fourteen  years  began  working  for  the  Thayer 
Drug  Company,  serving  six  and  a  half  years.  He 
later  attended  the  Chicago  School  of  Pharmacy,  1894- 
96,  graduating  then.  This  school  is  a  department  of 
the  University  of  Illinois.  Following  engagement  for 
a  half  year  by  H.  J.  O'Connor,  at  Whitewater,  Mr. 
Lueck,  in  December,  1898,  took  the  state  board  exam- 
ination at  Milwaukee,  was  successful  and  was  then 
awarded  full  registered  papers  as  a  druggist.  He  lo- 
cated at  Merrill,  and  until  September,  1897,  was  em- 
ployed by  F.  H.  Hillyer,  when  he  then  moved  to  An- 
tigo to  manage  Spencer's  Drug  Store,  and  after  four- 
teen years,  he  purchased  the  entire  business,  since 
known  as  Lueck's  Drug  Store.  In  August,  1915,  he 
was  appointed  a  member  of  the  Wisconsin  Board  of 
Examiners  in  Optometry,  was  re-appointed  by  Gov- 
ernor E.  L.  Phillip  on  July  28,  1920,  his  term  expiring 
on  August  9,  1925.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Wisconsin 
Association  of  Optometrists,  President  of  the  State 
Board  of  Optometry  for  two  years.  President  of  the 
Wisconsin  Association  of  Optometry  and  is  a  Director 
of  the  same.  He  has  made  addresses  on  Optometry 
and  has  conducted  three  dissecting  clinics  in  Wiscon- 
sin. He  has  lectured  frequently  in  and  out  of  the 
state  and  his  lectures  are  quoted  by  nation-wide  optom- 
etry mediums. 

Mr.  Lueck  married  on  September  3,  1903,  to  Hattie 
Delia  Buffum,  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  and  they  have  two 
children,  Irvin  Buffum  and  Mildred  Lucile. 

During  the  World  War  he  was  a  member  of  the  Cit- 
izens' Training  Camp  and  Sergeant  of  the  Day  upon 


return  of  the  107th  Trench  Mortar  Battery,  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  old  Commercial  Club,  being  Chairman  of  its 
Rural  Relations  Committee,  and  is  now  a  leading  mem- 
ber of  the  Antigo  Association  of  Commerce. 

FRED  W.  BAUTER.  The  pioneers  of  Langlade 
have  done  their  work  and  the  result  of  their  efforts 
is  shown  today  in  magnificent  farms,  cities,  modern 
schools  and  well  maintained  highways  of  communica- 
tion. Photography  was  in  existence  in  that  early  day 
and  to  Fred  W.  Bauter,  the  pioneer  Antigo  photog- 
rapher, has  fallen  the  lot  to  preserve  the  memory  and 
faces  of  these  hardy  folk.  Mr.  Bauter  was  born  in 
Appleton,  Outagamie  County,  Wisconsin,  on  Septem- 
ber 6,  1869.  His  father  died  when  he  was  six  months 
old.  He  attended  the  Appleton  public  schools  and 
when  fourteen  years  of  age  came  to  Antigo,  in  1883. 
He  attended  school  in  Antigo  and  spent  a  year  in  the 
Antigo  High  School.  In  1885  he  began  as  an  appren- 
tice to  Morgan  Brothers,  who  conducted  a  photograph 
gallery  where  Muttart-McGillan  Company's  Clermont 
street  entrance  is  now  located.  By  working  faithfully 
for  Morgan  Brothers  and  later  for  R.  Leutsker,  who 
purchased  out  Morgan  Brothers,  Mr.  Bauter  mastered 
his  vocation.  About  1890  he  purchased  the  gallery  from 
R.  Leutsker  and  has  been  in  the  photography  business 
in  Antigo  ever  since,  being  for  about  twenty  years  in 
his  present  location,  519  Superior  street. 

Mr.  Bauter  was  married  to  Ida  Hudson,  of  Green 
Bay,  Brown  County,  Wisconsin,  on  September  28,  1897. 
They  have  one  child.  Dale,  a  Senior  in  the  Antigo 
High  School. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Bauter  is  a  member  of  the  council, 
chapter  and  Blue  Lodge,  Masonic  orders,  and  Charter 
Oak  Lodge  No.  150,  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  served  as 
Alderman  from  the  Second  Ward  in  1905-06.  The 
Bauters  attend  the  First  Congregational  Church  of  An- 
tigo. 

Mr.  Bauter  loves  the  lakes  and  forests  and  during 
the  summer  delights  in  spending  a  week  or  two  at  his 
cottage  at  Pelican  Lake. 

EDWARD  CLEARY.  The  late  Edward  Cleary  was 
one  of  the  prominent  pioneer  railroad  and  business  men 
of  Langlade  Cour.ty.  He  was  born  in  Lancaster,  Wor- 
cester County,  Massachusetts,  October  25,  1855,  the 
son  of  Michael  Cleary,  a  native  of  Ireland.  In  1863 
he  moved  with  his  parents  to  Appleton,  Outagamie 
County,  Wisconsin,  from  which  place  they  moved  on  a 
farm.,  and  then  returned  to  Appleton.  Until  nineteen 
years  of  age  the  subject  of  this  biography  assisted  his 
father  on  their  farm.  During  the  next  four  winters  he 
worked  in  the  lumber  camps  of  Northern  Wisconsin. 
In  June,  1378,  he  secured  employment  as  one  of  the 
workers  on  the  Milwaukee,  Lake  Shore  &  Western, 
then  piercing  the  northern  part  of  Wisconsin.  The  tol- 
lowing  December  he  started  as  a  brakeman  on  the  M., 
L.  S.  &  W.  Ry.,  and  for  many  years  after  was  one  of 
the  most  efficient  conductors  on  the  Ashland  Division. 
He  was  granted  his  first  passenger  run  in  1884.  Two 
years  later  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Antigo  and  from 
that  time  until  his  death  he  labored  faithfully  in  the 


HISTORY   OF   LANGLADE   COUNTY. 


349 


promotion  of  everything  he  considered  essential  to  the 
welfare  of  Antigo.  He  erected  the  Cleary  Building  in 
1891  and  became  financially  interested  in  numerous 
commercial  undertakings,  viz :  President  of  the  J.  C. 
Lewis  Hardware  Company  and  an  officer  of  the  old 
Antigo  Telephone  Company.  He  devoted  much  of  his 
energies  toward  helping  the  fortunes  of  the  county  and 
the  success  of  many  enterprises  are  directly  due  to  his 
activity.  Mr.  Cleary  was  united  in  marriage  in  1882  to 
Miss  Margaret  Morrissey,  of  Appleton,  Outagamie 
County,  Wisconsin,  the  daughter  of  Patrick  and  Mar- 
garet (Landers)  Morrissey,  natives  of  Ireland.  To 
this  union  seven  children  were  born,  namely:  John  E., 
a  resident  of  Chicago,  111.;  Agnes  M.,  now  Mrs.  Charles 
E.  Cody,  of  Antigo,  Wis.;  Raymond  W.,  of  Chicago, 
111.;  Emmet  V.,  of  Antigo,  Wis.;  Aloysius  F.,  deceased, 
who  is  buried  in  the  Antigo  Catholic  cemetery;  Mar- 
quette, of  Antigo,  Wis,  and  Eugene,  also  of  Antigo, 
Wis. 

Politically  Mr.  Cleary  was  a  Republican.  He  was 
for  several  years  a  member  of  the  City  Council  as  a 
Supervisor  and  Alderman,  and  served  on  the  Board  of 
Education  of  Antigo  for  many  years. 

Fraternally  he  was  affiliated  with  the  Order  of  Rail- 
way Conductors,  a  charter  member  of  Antigo  Lodge 
No.  662,  B.  P.  0.  E.,  and  also  a  charter  member  of  An- 
tigo Council  No.  1002,  K.  of  C,  and  of  the  Catholic 
Order  of  Foresters.  In  religious  faith  the  entire  fam- 
ily are  members  of  the  Catholic  church.  With  the 
death  of  Mr.  Cleary  on  February  21,  1918,  Antigo  lost 
from  its  citizenship  a  man  who  had  taken  a  keen  inter- 
est in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  community  and  as 
a  consequence  a  good  and  public-spirited  citizen.  When 
he  was  selected  as  Postmaster  of  Antigo  on  July  21, 
1901,  he  had  made  no  solicitation  for  the  appointment 
which  came  to  him  as  a  surprise.  He  was  postmaster 
from  that  time  until  July  30,  1910.  Mr.  Cleary's  life 
should  be  an  inspiration  to  any  young  man  who,  handi- 
capped in  youth  because  of  meagre  worldly  posses- 
sions, strives  to  succeed. 


NELSON  WILCOX  GORHAM,  a  pioneer  Antigo 
citizen,  was  born  on  October  3,  1859.  Mr.  Gorham 
was  named  after  Col.  Wilcox,  his  grandfather,  who  was 
active  in  the  war  of  1812.  His  father  was  a  school 
teacher   and   later   a   lumberman    at   Gorham,    Maine. 

The  subject  of  this  review  spent  his  boyhood  at  Ing- 
ersol,  Ontario,  and  on  a  farm  near  Rochester,  New 
York.  Moving  to  Wisconsin  he  was  a  millwright  and 
hotel  keeper  at  Necedah,  Wisconsin.  Here  he  was 
married  to  Anna  Holms  on  April  2,  1883.  To  this 
union  three  sons  were  born,  George,  Will  and  Charles. 
The  Gorham  family  moved  to  Antigo  in  the  spring  of 
1890,  Mr.  Gorham  becoming  engineer  for  the  Camp- 
bell &  Lanning  mill,  then  on  the  Heinemann  site, 
Ackley  township. 

He  was  fraternally  affiliated  with  the  Odd  Fellows, 
of  which  he  was  Noble  Grand  at  Necedah,  where  he 
was  active  in  Masonic  circles.  Mr.  Gorham  passed 
away  on  May  4,  1918,  five  months  and  nineteen  days 


after  the  death  of  his  wife,  which  occurred  on  Decem- 
ber 16,  1917.  Both  are  buried  in  the  old  cemetery, 
Antigo.     Three  children   survive. 

Thus  with  the  passing  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gorham,  two 
pioneers  went  to  th^ir  reward.  The  substantial  name 
so  zealously  guarded  by  them  now  occupies  a  prom- 
inent place  in  Antigo. 

George  Gorham,  oldest  son,  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Glenna  Duncan,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frank 
Duncan,  on  February  12,  1912,  and  they  have  three 
children — John,  Robert  and  Phyllis.  Mr.  Gorham  is 
active  in  Antigo  Masonic  circles  and  has  been  often 
honored  with  leading  offices  in  the  various  branches 
of  Masonry.      He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church. 

Charles  Gorham,  World  War  Veteran,  was  married 
to  Alice  Mader,  a  daughter  of  John  Mader,  early  An- 
tigo settler,  on  March  1,  1919.  They  have  one  child, 
Bettie. 

William  Gorham,  married  Iva  Now  on  June  12,  1915, 
and  they  have  three  children.  They  are  Marjorie, 
Kieth  and  Naomi. 

The  three  Gorham  brothers  reside  in  Antigo. 

WILLIAM  H.  DESSEREAU,  retired,  was  born  on 
July  30,  1854,  at  Champlain,  P.  Q.,  Canada,  the  son  of 
Hermaine  Lacourcir  and  Modest  Dessereau.  He  at- 
tended the  public  and  parochial  schools  of  Champlain. 
In  1870  he  moved  to  the  United  States,  settling  at 
Saginaw,  Michigan,  and  for  thirteen  years  studied  the 
lumber  business.  In  1883  he  entered  Spencerian  Bus- 
iness College,  Detroit,  Michigan,  from  which  he  grad- 
uate din  1884.  He  had  studied  landscape  and  portait 
painting  under  W.  Christian,  of  Bay  City,  Michigan. 
He  followed  the  woods  for  three  years  at  Otsego  Lake, 
Michigan.  In  1898  he  moved  to  Wisconsin  and  was 
engaged  in  looking  after  the  cutting  of  the  Yawkey- 
Bissel  Lumber  Company  for  twelve  consecutive  years. 
On  May  24,  1912,  he  moved  to  Antigo,  the  family  re- 
siding at  1435  Clermont  street. 

Mr.  Dessereau  was  married  to  Catherine  Cunning- 
ham, a  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edward  Cunningham, 
of  Bay  City,  Michigan,  on  August  25,  1886,  to  which 
union  ten  children  were  born. 

He  is  a  descendant  of  Julian  Dubuque,  the  founder 
of  Dubuque,  Iowa.  His  grandmother  was  Tarcil  Du- 
buque, a  daughter  of  George  Dubuque,  who  was  a 
brother  of  Julian. 

NORMAN  SCHLEIS  and  CHARLES  KOPESCH- 
KA  are  proprietors  of  The  Farmers'  Feed  Store,  which 
was  opened  Sept.  1,  1921,  at  623  Sixth  Avenue.  The 
firm  deals  in  feed,  grain,  hay,  salt,  seeds  and  the  fol- 
lowing brands  of  flour:  "Better  Bread,"  Gold  Medal, 
Royal  Elk.  Tlieir  business  is  from  a  radius  of  25 
miles.  They  have  a  feed  grinder  to  accommodate  the 
needs  of  the  farmer.  Mr.  Schleis  has  eleven  years 
of  experience  and  Mr.  Kopeschka  eight  years  in  the 
flour  and  feed  business.  Both  are  long  time  resi- 
dents of  the  county.  Their  business  is  located  in  the 
old  Freider  Creamery  building. 


INDEX 


P^ 


o'iA  ^^  ^ 


Ackley,   W.    L..   88. 

Atkley.    Life   of   W.    L.,   266. 

Ackley   Township.    176. 

First    Town    Meeting.    176;     Anached    to 
Langlade     Co.,     177;      Officers.     Districts, 
178. 
Ackley's    Trail.    21. 
Adraktas,    Chris.   300. 
Adraktas.    Ernest.    300. 
Advisory   Board,    143. 
Agriculture.    88. 
Ainsworth    Township,    184. 

Organization,       Officers,       185 ;       Pearson, 
186;     Arbutus     Hill,     Cloverdale.     Swamp 
Creek,    187. 
Aird.    John,    73. 
Albers,   Mrs.   J.    F.,   41. 
Aldermen,    First,    102. 
Aldermen,    List    of    106. 
Alft,  Joseph.   69. 
Alexander.    Walter.    30. 
Allerton.    J.    W.,    295. 
American    Legion.    75. 
American    Library    Assoc,    73. 
American    Red    Cross,    74. 
Anderson.    Hans,    52. 
Anderson.    Niels.    148. 
Anti-federalists.    33. 
Antigo    Bldg.    Sup.    Co..    52. 
Antigo    Boys   in    Mexico,    66. 
Antigo    Brewery.    83. 
Antigo    Canning    Co..    52. 
Antigo    City    Band.    173 
Antigo    Cornet    Band.    157. 
Antigo,    County    Seat.    98. 
Antigo    Electric    Systems,    166. 
Antigo    Engine    Co.,    165. 
Antigo   Fire.  Worst.   86. 
Antigo    Gas   Co..    52. 
Antigo    Guard    Co..    66. 
Antigo    Herald,    145. 
Antigo    Herold,    145. 
Antigo    Hospital.    92. 
Antigo   Hub    &    Mfg.    Co.,   51. 
Antigo    Journal,    144. 
Antigo   Laundry,    First.   265. 
Antigo  L'ght   Guards,  66. 
Antigo    Lodges.    169. 
Antigo    Lumber    Co..    53. 
Antigo's    Main    St.,    1882.    98. 
Antigo    Militia    League.    67. 
Antigo    Mill.    First.    60. 
Antigo    Mining    Co..    52. 
Antigo    P'oneer.    144. 
Antigo   Post   Office.   147. 
Antigo    Public    Library.    41. 
Antigo    Quintet    Club.    157. 
Antigo    Republican.    144. 
Antigo    Screen    Door   Co..   52. 
Antigo  Streets.   Names  of,  99. 
Antigo    Township.    188. 

Officers,  School  Districts.  189;  Pioneer 
District.  190;  Mayflower  and  Boulder 
Hill.  191;  Selenski  and  Chamberlain, 
192;    NefT    Switch    and    Fairview.    194. 

Antigo   Tractor   Corp..    63. 

Antigo   Water    Co..    166. 

Antigo    Water    Dept..    166. 

Aoel-an    Orchestra.    157. 

Apparel   Shops.   161. 

Arbor    Day,    38. 

Art.    155. 

Ashmun.    Margaret,    155. 

Assemblymen.    17. 

Assessors.    106 

Attempts   to    Organize   a   County,   261. 

Attorneys     Roll   of    60. 

Atwood.    Emma.    42. 

Augustine.    Frank.    302. 
^Aulik.    Alois   T..   311. 

Automobile    Association.    29. 

Avery,   C.    H..   71. 

Babcock,    T.    W.,    22. 

Babcock.    H.    A..    62. 

Babcock.    N.    R..    330. 

Bacon,    Charles.    20. 

Bacon    House.    20. 

Badger  Hub   Factory.   51. 

Bagby,   Z.   T.,   Jr..   315. 

Bakery  Shops,   169. 

Ballard,    Thomas.    69. 

Bangs.    Nick.    62. 

Bank   of   Antigo,   65. 

Banks    and    Finances.    55. 

Bank    of   Mineral    Point.    56. 

Bank   of  Wisconsin.    55. 

Baptist   Church.   152. 

Barber    Shops.    160. 

Bardwell   O.    C.    148. 

Battery    "A."   76. 

Bauer,    G.    H..    66. 

Baum.   Amos,   55. 

Bcattie.   W.    W.,   278. 

Beecher,    L.,   30 

Bee   Keepers'    Assoc,   89. 

Behm,    Fred.   270. 

Below,  Julius,  287. 


Below,    Walter,    39.  . 

^Benishek.  John,   141.      '>'1V 
Benes.    John.    20. 
Bennet   Law.  37. 
Berner.    Fred    L..    316. 
Berner,    Henrv,    Sr.,    318. 
Berner,   Henry,  343. 
Bicycle   Era,   27. 
Big  Eau  Claire  R.   Co..  30. 
Big    Roll    Dam.    31. 
Binder.    M.    J..    308. 
Bird's   Eye  View,  Antigo,   100. 
Bissell.    W.    H..   30. 
Blacksmiths.    161. 
Blanding.    Pearl  A.,  48. 
Blind    Pig,    82. 
Blinn.   W.    H..   61. 
Board    of    Education.    123. 
Bob    Brook.   31. 
Boerner.    Carl.    286. 
Boerncr.    Edward,    79. 
Boll.    Joseph,    301. 
Boll,    Nicholas.    317. 
Bonnel,    W.    B..    31. 
Borgman.    H.    G..    55. 
Bouck,   Gabe.  57. 
Boutin.    Frank.    54. 
Bowler,    George   J..   305. 
Bowling    Alley.    160. 
Bowman.    W.    F..    165. 
Braddock.    Gen.    Edward,    5. 
Brandt.   R.  A..  42. 
Bray.     Matt..    18. 
Breckenridge.    John    C    61. 
Brennecke.    William.    73. 
Brenner.    T.    A..    52. 
Brewster.    Maude.   48. 
Brown,    J.    W..    285. 
Brown.    W.    H..    323. 
Buerger.    Sebastian.   270. 
Buckstaff.    George.    30. 
Buckman.    Louis.    51. 
Burkhart.    May    N..    155. 
Buelow,    Fred,   298. 
Burnet.   John.   295. 
Butterfield    Hotel.   20. 
Butterfield.    W.    E.,    20. 
Byrne.    E.    J.,   317. 
Byrne,    John,    15. 
Calhoun,    C,    Fred    141. 
Callahan.  John    P..   308. 
Campbell,   A.   C.  30. 
Carr.   W.    S..   61. 
Cavanaugh.    Thomas    E.,    303. 
Cavers,    W.    D..    73. 
Cemeteries,    168. 
Chairmen.    County    Board.    261. 
Chairmen.    Victory    Fund.    73. 
Charter,    City  of   Antigo,    109. 
Chatrau  Thierry.   69. 
Cherf.   J.  J.,  324. 
Cherf,    John.    266. 
Chiefs.   A.    F     D..    106. 
Chief   McArthur.    266. 
Chiropractors,    92. 
Christianity.    149. 
Christian    Scientists.    164. 
Churches,    149. 
Circuit    Judges.    17. 
C'ty    Adm-nistrations.    128. 
City    Atorneys.    105. 
City    Clerks,    105. 
City   Engineers,    105. 
City    Finances.    168. 
City    Hall.    166 
City   Health    Officers.    105. 
City    Hospital.    92. 
City    Mail    Delivery.    147. 
C-tv    Marshals.    105. 
City    Officials.    105. 
City    Parks,    168. 
City    Planing    Mill.    51. 
City    Superintendents.    42. 
City    Treasurers.    106. 
Citizens   Brewery.    83. 
Citizens   Training    Camp   67. 
Civil    Divisions.    Langlade    County.    7. 
Civil    War    Veterans.    62. 
Clanccy.    J.    E..    15. 
Clancey   Bldg.    Factory.    51. 
Clark.    Charles.    66. 
Clerks.    Circuit    Court.    17. 
Clerks,    County.    17. 
Clithcro.    George.   62. 
Clements.   J.    S.,   30. 
Clifford.    Claude.    326. 
Clothing    Firms.    Antigo,    159. 
Coal    &   Wood    Dealers.    161. 
Cody.    Edward.    326. 
Cohen,    Izze.    300. 
Cole.   Rev.    Jesse,   149. 
Coldest   Season,    84. 
Collins,    Carrie,  73. 
Commercial    Antigo.    168. 

Commemorative    Biographical    Record.    266. 
Commercial    Organizations.    162. 
Community    Welfare    Association,    73. 


Confectioneries,    161. 

Congregational    Church,    149. 

Conover   &    Porter,   40. 

Conway,   A.    C    60. 

Cornish.    Sybil.    38. 

Council    Chambers.    166. 

Council    of    Defense,   70. 

County   Agents.    89. 

County    Agricultural    Society.    89. 

County    Bridges.    29. 

County    Bridge.    First.    29. 

County   Court.    59. 

County   Court    Case.    First   59.    , 

County    Fair    Scene.    91. 

County    Road,    First,    28. 

County   Superintendents,   40. 

Courts,    Laws.    Lawyers,    57. 

Court    Reporters,    17. 

Cow   Testing   Association.    89. 

Crane,    Timothy.   30. 

Crone,    Emma    J..    43. 

Crowe,    M.    F.,    278. 

Crowe,    Mrs.    M.    F.,   41. 

Crummey,   Joseph,   279. 

Crowell.    A.    G..    22. 

C.   &   N.  W.    R.   R.   Co.,  25. 

C,   St.   P.   &   Fond  du   Lac,  25. 

Cyclones.    85. 

Dailey.   John    F.,    135. 

Dairy-Creameries.   101. 

Dairying.    88. 

Dallman,    C.    F.,    289. 

Daskam,    Ed.    15. 

Daskam,    Walter.   272. 

Dawley-Northern    Yds.,    Inc.,    53. 

Dawley.    W.    H..   41. 

De    Langlade,    Charles,    5. 

De    Langlade,    Augustin.    5. 

Deleglise,    Francis  A.,   103. 

Democrat  Party.  33. 

Dental    Association.    Langlade    County.    94. 

Dempsey.    R.    C.   273. 

Dcspins,    Dr.    F.    J..    93. 

Dewey.    D.    C.    274. 

District    Attorneys.    17. 

Disposal    Plants.    168. 

Dobbs.    Thomas    M.,    60. 

Doctors,    92. 

Doerisch,    John,    148. 

Donohue.    Agnes.    38. 

Donohue,   M.   J.  334. 

Dorr.    B.    F..    105. 

Dorzeski.   Walter    V.,   313. 

Douglas.    Stephen    A.,    61. 

Dodge,    Fred,    19. 

Druggists.    Antigo.    158. 

Dunn.    P.   J..   287. 

Duquette.   J.    J..  275. 

Eau    Claire   River,    6. 

Edick.    David   B..   267. 

Elcho.   Township   of.    195. 

Petition  for  Elcho.  Detachment  of  Par- 
rish.  First  Election,  195;  Officers.  196; 
Elcho  District.  197;  C  W.  Fish  Lum- 
ber Co..  Elcho  High  School.  197;  Post 
Lake.    Sunset    and    Polish    Districts.    198. 

Election,    First,    Antigo.    110. 

Elections.    General.    Antigo.    111. 

Elective    Officers,    Antigo,    109. 

Electric    Shops.    160. 

Elton   Township.    200. 

Surface,  Survey.  Soil.  200;  Organiza- 
tion. Officers.  201;  White  Lake  District. 
203:  Wolf  River  District.  Markton  Dis- 
trict.   204;    Hollister    District,    206. 

English.    John.    52. 

Episcopal    Church,    153. 

Evans.    John.    50. 

Evenson,    M.   J..   305. 

Evergreen   Township.   206. 

Surface.  Survey.  Drainage.  206;  Wolf 
River  Township.  Officers  of  Evergreen. 
206;  Cozy  Corner,  Sherry  Districts.  207; 
McKinley,  Wilson,  Elton  and  Wash  ng- 
ton    D-stricts.    209. 

Excelsior    Factory,    52. 

Fairchild,    Gov.,   22. 

Falkenhagen,    George.    156.    291. 

Farmer-Labor    Party.    33. 

Farmers    (Phlox)    State    Bank,    56. 

Farm   Statistics.   8. 

Farnham.    L.    E..    281. 

Farrell   House.   20. 

Farrow.     Isaac.     31. 

Faust,    Edward,    53,    313. 

Faust.    Caspar.   53. 

Federalists.    33. 

Fellows,    H.    C,    88. 

Fidelity   Savings    Bank.    56. 

Fight    to    Incorporate   Antigo,    101. 

Filbrandt.    Joseph.    293. 

Filyes,   L.    W..   276. 

Finances.    City,    120. 

Finucane.   F.  J.,  60. 

Fitzgerald.    Daniel.    30. 

Fire    Dept..    Old.    102. 

Fire    Dept.    124. 

First  of  Things  Commercial.   162. 


First    Aeroplane.    28. 

First    Road    Appropriation,    27. 

First    Read    Petition,    27. 

First    Antigo    School,    38. 

First   Antigo    High   School,   38, 

First   Opera  House,  163. 

First,    Wis.     School,    37. 

Flanagan,   M.   G.,  60. 

Fletcher,    G.    N..    22. 

Floods,    85. 

Flour.-Fecd    Stores,    159. 

Fish.   Charles   W.,   331,   53. 

Fish,   C.    W.,   Lumber   Company.   53. 

Ford,    Thomas,    320. 

Ford,    Michael,    191. 

Ford.    Robert,    105. 

Ford,    John,    191. 

Fort    Howard,    21. 

Fort    Wilkins,    21. 

Foster,    George,    53. 

Four   Minute  Speakers,   71. 

Fox,    A.    J..    22. 

Franz,   George  J,,   329. 

Free    Soilers,    33. 

Freiburger.    L..    139,    290. 

Freideman,   H.    A.,   304. 

Frick,    Henry,    51. 

Frisby,    O.    R..    64. 

Fruit    Stores,    Antigo.    159. 

Gagen.   Daniel,    14.   266. 

Gagen,    .Tames.    308. 

Gardner,    George,   18. 

Gardner,    W.    A..    27. 

Garages,    Antigo,    159. 

Gas    Companies.    52. 

General   Charter.    City,    127. 

Geography,    6. 

German    Press    Association,    14G. 

Gibbs.    L.    L.,    64. 

Gibbs.    Mrs.    L.    L.,   48. 

Gicse,    William    J.,    329. 

Gilkey.    George.    30. 

Gilmore's    Mistake.    31. 

Gilray.    Robert.    19. 

Ginseng   Buyers.   161. 

Glugla,    Frank,    41. 

Goebel,    Edward,    284. 

Goeman,    Fred    F.,    279. 

Goeman,    Max    A..   313. 

Goodrick.    Arthur,    328. 

Goodrick.   E.    J..   39. 

Good    Templars,    82. 

Goodwin,    R.    M.,    51. 

Government    Appeal   Agent.   71. 

Government   by    Commission,    140. 

Government    Land    Measures,    174. 

Graduate,    The,    146. 

Grail.    George,    315. 

Grant.    W.    A.,    55. 

Grand    Army    Monument.    62. 

Greskoviak,    Thomas,    278. 

Green    Back,   33. 

Grignon,    Pierre.    37. 

Grimm,    Rev.    A.,    155. 

Grocers,    Antigo.    158. 

Grossman,    Frank,    304. 

Grossman.   Joseph,   304. 

Guile,    Harvey,    156,   269, 

Guile,    Walter,    269. 

Guenkcl,    Frederich,    330. 

Guenthner,   Joesph.   291. 

Hadler,    George,    282. 

Hadley,    Jackson.    22. 

Hafemeister.    H.   J.,   310. 

Hardware    Stores.    159. 
.  Hanousek    Hotel.    20. 
-  Hanousek,   John.    Sr.,   67. 
'Hanousek,    John,    Jr..    323. 

Hanson,    Harvey    E..    311. 

Hanzel.   Charles  J..    142. 

Harness    Shops,    160. 

Hartford.   L.    D..  293. 

Hay.     Henry.    314. 

Hayter    Dam,    31. 

Healy.    R..    Sr.,    309. 

Hecker,    F.    A..   64. 

Helmbrecht,    Joseph,   272. 

Helmbrecht.    M.    F.,   286. 

Henshaw-Worden    Lbr.     Co..    54. 

Henshaw,    Lbr.   Co..   54. 

Henshaw,    Charles    E..    340. 

Herman,    Becklinger    &    Herman,    51. 

Herman,    James   W.,   296. 

Hersant,    Henry,    303. 

Heyser,    E.    H..    27. 

Hicks.    Asa   C.   30. 

Hickok.  W.   H.,  42. 

Hide,    Welcome,    30. 

Hill.    Christopher.    18. 

Hill,    Jennie,    18. 

Hill,    George    W,,    134. 

Hill.    Warren. 

Hintz,    Emil   O.    H..  295. 

Hirt.    Elsie.    64. 

Hirt,    Ernest,    63. 

Hirt.    Herman.    278. 

Hirt  Milling  Co.,  54. 

Hirt   Lumber  Co.,  219. 

Historical   Notes.   261. 

Historic    War    Posters,    71. 

Hixon.    F.    P..   30. 

High    School   B.    B.    Team.    First.   265. 

High    School    Papers.    145. 

Highway    Commissioners,    29. 


Higgins.    Peter,    282. 

Higgins.    Henry.    282. 

Hoeffler.    Charles,    41. 

Hoffman,    Frank,    306. 

Hoffman    Joseph.    20. 

Hoffman    House.    20. 

Hoffman,    Max,    15. 

Hogan.    Thomas    W..    136. 

Hogben.    G.    W..    30. 

HoUey,    John,    288, 

HoUister,    Seymour,    30. 

Holman.    Earle   S.,    146. 

Holway.    Orlando,    79. 

Honor    Roll.    World    War,    79. 

Horse     Dealers,     161. 

Home,    C.    E..    54. 

Horticulture.    89. 

Hospital,    First,    92. 

Hotels,    19,   20,    162. 

Hoxie,    1.   C,   51. 

Howarth,    C.    E.,    325. 

Howe,   J,    H..   321. 

Hudson,    Henry,    31. 

Humphrey,    F.    W..   55. 

Humphrey.    H.    C.    55. 

Hurlbutt,    A.,   73. 

Hutch-ns,    George,    155. 

Hutchins,    E.    G..    297. 

Hutchinson.    Malcolm,    267. 

Hutchinson,   Thomas,    266. 

Hutchinson.    W.    W.,    164. 

Immel    Construction   Co..   39. 

Implement    Dealers.    161. 

Important   Fires,    87. 

Improvement    Concerns,    30. 

Indians,    1. 

Indian  Trails,   21. 

Indians   in    War.   65. 

Industries,    50. 

Insurance    Agents,     159. 

International    Hoist   Co.,   52. 

Island.   Five.   19. 

Jacobus.    Fred,   73. 

Jackson,     H.     W..    315. 

Jackson,  Joseph  M..  29. 

Jackson,  G.  A..  315. 

Janes.    Arthur.    18,    269. 

Janes,    Chris,    53. 

Janscn.    John,    13. 

Jefferson,    Thomas,    33. 

Jewelers.    158. 

Jewish    Welfare    Board.    73. 
,^icha.    Anton    W..   313. 

Johns,    R.    B.,    67. 

Johns,    W.    B..    61. 

Johnson.    William,    19, 

Jones,    D.    E.,    65. 

Judges.    County.    17. 

Judges,     Municipal,    17, 

Juetten,    H.    P.,    73. 

Jury.    Grand,    First,    60. 

Jury,    Trial.    First,    67, 

Justices,    106. 

Kahaal    Adaas    Yesiu,    154, 

Kaske,    E.    F.,    288. 

Kasson,   W.    F.,   269. 

Keats,    Myron    E.,    42. 

Keen.    D.    W.    130. 

Keeps    County.    12. 

Kelly,    Anna,    41. 

Kellogg.    T.    D..    50. 

Kelloggg   Gen.    J.    A..   61. 

Kellogg.    G.    A.    R.    Post.   61. 

Kennedy,    James.    27. 

Kennedy.    Frank,    176. 

Kennedy,    Joseph,    176, 

Ke   No    Sheca    Lake,   21. 

Keshena,   19. 

Kiefer,    F.    W.,    147. 

Kieffer.    L.    P..   306. 

Kielczewski.    F.    X..    310. 

King,  Gen.   C.   E.,  67. 

King.   George   E.,  73. 

Kingsbury    &    Henshaw    Lbr.    Co.,    54. 

Klemann,    P.    H..   305. 

Kkssig.    Otto.    299. 

Koebke.    Richard,    147. 

Koelzer.    P.    J.,    20. 

Koepenick.    E.     C.    321. 

Koles,    Edward,    76, 

Kolcs,    L.    P.,   305.    . 

Kolerus.    F.    A..    148. 
VKoutnik,    F.    J..    323. 

Knapp,    C.    B,.   327. 

Kraus,    Anton,    291. 

Krause.    Frank.    296. 
^JCubichek.    J.    M..    296. 

Kuhr.    William.     148. 

Kupper.    Theodore.    308. 

La    Blonde,    Mrs.    Charles,   41. 

Lac    Vieux    Desert,    21. 

Ladies'    Shops.    159. 

Ladwig,    Lily,    148, 

La   Fave,    Harry,   270. 

La   Follette,   R.    M.,  35. 

Lake    Shore    House,    20. 
Lake   Superior  Trail.  21. 

Lambert.    L.    G.,    166. 

Lange.   William   A.,   54. 

Langlade    County,    Organization    of,    12. 

Langlade    County.    Founder   of.    12. 
Langlade    County.    First    Court    House,    14. 
Langlade    County    Official.    17. 
Langlade    County,    Finances,    16. 


Langlade   County   Bar,   60. 

Langlade    County    Schools,    38. 

Langlade    County    Normal,    47. 

Langlade     County     Historical    Society,     41. 

Langlade    County    Flowers.    266. 

Langlade    County    Birds.    Trees,    Fruit,    266. 

Langlade    County     Breeders    Associations,    90. 

Langlade   County    in    War.    51. 

Langlade    County    Bank,    55. 

Langlade    Laundry    Co,,    54. 

Langlade    Lumber    Co.,    64. 

Langlade    Ptg.    Co..    145. 

Langlade    House,     20. 

Langlade   National    Bank.    66. 

Larzelere.    Charles,    18. 

Larzelere    Paved    the    Way,    264. 

Lasher.    J.    H.,    48. 

Latta,    George    W,,    16, 

Lav/,    James,    19. 

Law,    Mag,    19. 

Legal   Advisory    Board,    71, 

Lenroot.    I.    L.,   79. 

Lesch,    J.    B.,    63. 

Leykom.    C.    S..   269. 

Liberty    Loans.    74, 

Lily    River.    30. 

Lily.   Village.  212. 

Limits.    Original   Township,    13. 

Lincoln.   Abraham.  61. 

Lincoln    Box    Co..    54. 

L-ndsay,    W.    G..    156. 

Lind,    Gus.   33. 

Literature.    155. 

Liveries.    159. 

Location,    Village    Antigo,    99. 

Lombardo.   A.,    290. 

Long.    Charles,    20. 

Lumbering.    Pioneer,    30. 

Maerlz.    W.    A..    20. 

Mail   Carriers.    148. 

Maltby,    John,    299. 

Maloney,    Thomas.    273. 

Maloney,    Irvin,   273. 

Manthey.    George   J..    301. 

Market  Square  Hotel,  20. 

Marsh.    C,    O..   42. 

Marsh,    E.    H..    299. 

Marshall,    George,    73, 

M  arson,    R.    T..    20. 

Martiny.    Hynek.    20. 

Mattefs    Bros,.    53. 

Mattmiller.    Harold    S.,    270. 

Mayors  of  Ant'go,    105. 

Mayer    Bros.,    52. 

Maxwell.    G.    H.,    52. 

Meat    Markets.    160, 

Medical   Society,   94. 

Medicine,    92. 

Meetings.    First    Town,    13. 

Meetings.    First    Supervisors,    13. 

Mellor.    E.    N..   61 

Memorial    Hospital.    76. 

Memorial    Park,    77. 

Mendlik,     Louis,     163. 

Meneely,    G.    K..    41. 

Mrssmer.   Robert,  41. 

Meteoric    Phenomena,    84. 

Meteorology.    84. 

Methodist    Church.    149. 

Military    History,    61, 

Military    Road,    21. 

Military    Road    Land    Grants.    21. 

Military    Road.    Life   on.    24. 

Millard,    F.   A.,   329. 

Millard,    Glenn,    148. 

Millard.    P.    J.,    147. 

Miller,   C.    O..   62. 

Milliners,    161. 

Milltown,    67. 

Mills,   H.   v..  164. 

Milwaukee.    Lake   Shore    &   Western,    26. 

Miscellaneous    Items,    265. 

Mitchell,    Henry,    67, 

MoUe,    Anton.   311. 

MoUitor.    John,    65. 

Montcalm.    Gen,    L.    J.,    5. 

Moonshine    Era.    83. 

Moore.    Dr.    G.    E..    308. 

Moore.    Dr.    G.    W,.  92. 

Morse,    E.    A..   284. 

Morse.    Mrs,    E.    A..    41. 

Morse.    Harry   J...    293. 

Morse,    J.    W..    59. 

Morson.    H.    F..    71. 

Moses,    L.    D..    65. 

Moss,    E.    A,,    73. 

Moss.    Bertha,    40. 

Motzfeldt,    Louis,    19. 

Municipal    Court.    60. 

Murphy.    Dr.    E.    R..    308. 

Murphy.    D.    J.,    320. 

Murphy,    Pat,    15. 

Murray-Mylrea   Co..   62. 

Murton.    A.    H.,    318. 

Music.    155. 

Mus-cians    Assoc.    157. 

Music    Houses,    160. 

Myers.    Hon.    G.    H.,    57. 

Mylrea,    W.    H..    27. 

McCandless.    Edward.    312. 

McCandless,    Henry,   312. 

McCarthy,    Tohn,    292. 

McCusker.    Belle.    43. 

McDonald,    C.    B.,    52. 


McDonald.    Hector,    296, 
McFarland,    C.    W..    155. 
McGinley.   John.  65. 
McGill.    EUzabcth.   38. 
McGreer.  John.  41. 
McHale.   James.    17. 
McHale.   Vernon.   300. 
McKenna.   James.    107. 
McKenna.  John   E..   307. 
McMulUn.    R.    H..    134. 
Kagel.    Rev.    Carl.    155. 
National    Banks.    55. 
National  Catholic   War  Council    73 
Nelson.   J.    R.,    62. 
Neff.    Edgar   M..   324. 
Nequia-Antigo-Seebeh.    98. 

Neubcrger.    Wencel,    323. 

Neuman.    S.,    164. 

Neva   Farmers    State    Bank.    56. 

Neva   Townsh-p,    214. 

Organization.      Town      Meetings.        Roads. 
214:       First       Election.       Officials.       215; 
Kempster    District.    216:     Gillis     District. 
217;      Deerbrook      District.        Springbrook 
District.   219. 
New    County.    12. 
New    County.    Organization,    12. 
New  County.    Boundaries.    12. 
New   County.    Founder  of,   12. 
New.    Village   of.    12. 
Newspapers.    144. 
Nolte.    O.    G..    330. 
Northern    Hotel.    20. 
Norwood    Township.    220. 

Location.     Officers.     220:     Riverside.     221: 
Red     River     District.    222;     Maple    Grove. 
Apple  Grove.   223;    Sugarbush.   224;    May- 
king.   225. 
^,*-Novotny.    Louis.    50. 
Oakley.    Byron,    38. 
O'Brien.    John.    73. 
Officers,    First   County.   13. 
Ogilvie.    Jane.   41. 
O'Hara.    John.    42. 
Ohlen.    Carl.    178. 
Old    City    Hall.     102. 
Old    Dutch    Frank.    18. 
Old    Settlers    Club.    41. 
Olmstead.    D.    S..    57. 
Olmsted.    Frank.    196. 
Olsen.    Carl.    288. 
Order   of    Camels.    83. 
Ordinances.    119. 
Ordinance    of    1787.    37. 
Ornamental    White   Way,    143. 
Original    Plat.    Antigo.   98. 
Owen.   A.    R..    54. 
Otis.  J.   W..   296. 
Quigley.    G.    J..    67. 
Quinn.   James.    14. 
Palmer.    E.    V..    156. 
Palmer,    John,    327. 
Palmer.    Stephen.    220. 
Palmiter.    G.    O.,   321. 
Pardee.    W.    H..    51 
Parochial    Schools.   40. 
Parsons.    Hon.   J.   W..   319. 
Patrons    of    Husbandry.    91. 
Pawlak.    L.    282. 
Penney.    J.    C.    158. 
Period    of    1882-86.    164. 
Person.    M.    E.    301. 
Personal    Politics.    35. 
Peters.    Henry.    15. 
Peters.    Louis.  330. 
Fetters.    Walter.    148. 
Petters.    W.    G..    161. 
Pctrowski.    Peter.   287. 
Phiester.    William,    73. 
Philakean   Society.   39. 
Photcgraphers.    161. 
Physicians.    List    of.    94. 
Pioneer    Buildings.    163. 
Pioneer   Iron   Works.    51. 
Pioneer    Life.    Military    Road.    24. 
Pioneer    Merchants.    163. 
Pioneer   Temperance    Rallies.   83. 
Pioneer.   The,   9. 
Plautz.    Henry.    318. 
Plumbers.    160. 
Polar.    H.    B..    19. 
Political   Campaigns.    34. 
Political    Episodes.    101. 
Political   Langlade  County.    132 
Pool   Rooms.    161. 
Poor    Commissioner.    105. 
Porlier.     Louis,    307. 
Porter.    George.   38. 
Populists.   32. 
Postal    Employes.    148. 
Postal    Savings   System.    148 
Potter.    A.    K..    290 
Potter.    Rusk.   290. 
Potato    Buyers.    161. 
Potato    Growers    Association.    90. 
Potato    Warehouses.    161. 
Powers  of  Common   Council.  112. 
Powers   of   City    Officers.    116 
Pricbc    Brothers.    305. 
Priem.   William.   272. 
Presidential    Vote.    County.    35. 
Presidents.    Board    of   Aldermen     106 
Price.    Cong.    W.    T..    82. 
Progressives,    32. 


Prohibition.    82. 
Prohibition    Club.    83. 
—  Prokupek.    Dr.    J.    N..   285. 
Promotion.    107th    Officers.    69. 
Prcsser    Brothers.    298. 
Prosser.  William.   75. 
Public    Utilities.    165. 
Pure    Bred    Cattle.    90 
Radtke.    H.    E..    329. 
Ra-sse.    Charles.    20. 
Railroads.    25. 
Railroad    Officers.    162. 
Ratcliffe.    George.    14. 
Real    Estate.    General.    159. 
Recruits.    World    War.    67. 
Rechcygl.    Edith,    41. 
Red    River,    7. 
Register  of  Deeds.   17. 
Reindl.    Frank.    295. 
Reinert.   T.   J.,   275. 
Republican.    Langlade,    144. 
Rtscue  Hose  Co.   No.   1.   165. 
Respect  for   Law.   83. 
Restaurants.    160. 

Return  of  the  107th  T.   M.   B..  70. 
Rezula    Bridge,    29. 
Revolutionary   War.    5. 
Rice.    Horace.    18. 
Rich.    George.   30. 
Richards.    R.    C,   27. 
Ringsmth,    Frank.    41. 
Rivers,    6. 

Robbins,    T.    H..    166. 
Rcbrecht.    Martin    D..    283. 
Robinson.    M..    53. 
Ross.    J.    D..    30. 
Ross.    M.    M.,    129. 

Roster   of   Co.    G.,  4th   Wis.    Inf..   67. 
Ruins  Antigo   H.    S.,   87. 
Rummery.    Lyman.  30. 
Rural    Free    Delivery.    148. 
Rusk.    Gov.    J.    M..    59. 
Rynders.    Hon.    B.    W..    138. 
Salvation    Army.    73. 
Samolinski.   Frank.   297. 
Sands.    Louis.    30. 
Sanvidge.    Thomas,    165. 
Sawyer,    Philetus,    22. 
Scherf.    W.    J..   298. 
Schmeisser.    Fred.    277. 
Schneiter's    Hotel.    20. 
Schmitz,    G.    W.    325. 
Schrocder.    Gus.    73. 
Schufeldt,    J..    14. 
Schultz.    W.    J..    55. 
Schuhz.    A.    F..   274. 
Schwartz.    Fred.    291. 
Second   Hand   Stores,   161. 
Selective    Service   Act.   71. 
Settlers.    Military    Road,    22. 
Seven    Dav    Adventists.    154. 
Shadick.    Oliver.    282. 
Shaw.    Fred.    292. 
Sheriff.    Anna.    38. 
Sheriff.    Robert,    188. 
Shin;    Parlors.    161. 
Shoe    Shops.    158. 
Short    Course  for   Boys,  89. 
Simmons,    V.,    14. 
Smith.    W.    W..    Jr..    56. 
Smith.    Ammessey.    18. 
Smolk.    James.    156. 
Soil   Formation.   95. 
Soil    Tests.    90. 
Soft    Drink    Stands.    60.    162. 
Solliday.   Dr.   A.    H..   55. 
Somdahl.   Carl    O..  293. 
Spanish-American    War.    60. 
Sparks.    Reese.    69. 
Spencer.    Ben.   20. 
Spencer.  Archie.  148. 
Spencer.    J,    C.    52. 
Springbrook    House.    19. 
Stabe.    August   J..    307. 
Statutes.    Boundary    Error    ''n.    15.    . 
State   Dept.   of   Education.  37. 
State    Banks.    55 
State   Bank.    Elcho.    56. 
Stats.    Albert.    275. 
StefTen.    Dr.    I.    D..    131. 
Steffen.    Dr.    L.    A..   289. 
Stengl.  George,   148. 
Stewart.    D.    S..    53. 
Stickney.    E.    A..    14. 
Stopping    Places.    IS. 
Strauss.    Henry,    19. 
Streams.    6. 

Streets   and    Highways.    122. 
Street    Commissioners.    106. 
Strnad.    James.    157. 
Strube.    Ernest.    156.    285. 
Strube.    George.    156. 
Strube.  Herman.   156. 
St.    Clair.    Hugh.   297. 
St,    Louis.    Fr.    P..    145. 
St.    John's   Church.    151. 
St.    Mary's    Church.    152. 
St.    Hyacinth's   Church,    162. 
St.    Ambrose    Church.    153. 
Swanson.    Oscar   J.,    269 
Switzer.   W.   E  .  48. 
Tailor    Shops.   160. 
Taylor.    S.    A..   Boosts    New.   262. 
Taverns.    18. 


^V^^Av^  A    V)-] 


Tea   and    Coffee   Stores.    161. 
Telephone   Industry,    166. 
Temperance,    82. 
Teipner.   Charles.    19. 
Teipner.    Julius.    19. 
Territorial    Changes.    15. 
Te  Selle.  C    J..  280. 
Ten   Cent   Stores.    160. 
Temperance    Ticket.    83. 
The    Surprise    Voters.    101. 
The    Great    Welcome.    70. 
The    Last    Draft,    72. 
The    Victory    Fund.    73. 
The  First   National   Bank.   65. 
Thursby.   John   F..    51. 
Tinsmiths.    159. 
Tidd.    Ora    N..    69 
Thompson    Paul.    307 
Tradewell.    L.    P..  309. 
Tradcwell.    E.    S..   311. 
Treasurers.    County.    17. 
Telle fson.    Corp.    L.    A..    69. 
Tol'efson.    Anton   M..   312. 
Tourt  Uotte    Dam.    30. 
Twin   Valley    Inn.   20. 
UUman.    S.    B..   302. 
United   War   Work   Campaign.   73. 
Unity   Evangelical  Church.  150. 
Upham   Township.    252. 
U.    S.    Government   Survey.    L.    C..    174. 
U.    S.    Monetary   System.   55. 
U.   S.   Surveyors.    174. 
Van   Buren.    E.    R..    15. 
Vandtrvrst.    Frank    E..    281. 
Vander    Weide.    F.    G..    310 
Van   Doren.   C.   W..  333 
Van    Doren   Garage.    159. 
Vanooyen.    Dennis.   297. 
Van  Zile.   Abe.  14. 
Vaughn.    E.    W..    305, 
Vaughn.    Walter.    166. 
Ver  Bryck.    F.    P..   327. 
Villa.    Pancho.   66. 
V-olat  on.    Ordinance.  119. 
Vivian    Hotel.    20. 
Volunteer    Fire    Dept..    165. 
Von    De    Schocppe.    Paul.    20 
Voss.   Dr.    F.    K..   324. 
Voss   Veterinary    Hospital.    324. 
Vulcanizing    Shops.    161. 
''^Vachal.    Matt  A..    Sr.     305 
-'^Vachal.    Matt.    283. 
Waddell.    J.    F..   42. 
Wagner.    Frank   J..    274. 
Waite.   S.   L..  20. 
Walch.    O.    P..    292. 
War    Orphans.    75. 
Warmest    Season,    84. 
"Ward    Supervisors.    107. 

Ward     Boundaries.     City    of    Antigo      109 
Ward   Schools   City.  40. 
Wanek.    F.    G..    55. 
Weekly    News   Item.    144. 
■Webster.    Daniel.    61. 
Webb.    Mrs.    R.    G..    43. 
Wegner.    William.    268. 
Weatherby  &  Crowe.  30. 
■Webster.    W.    H..    32. 
Weston.    Alijah.    22. 
■Wheeler.    Chris.    18. 
White,    W.    F..    105. 
■White.    I.    A..    293. 
Whiting.    A.    N..    322. 
White    Lake    State    Bank.    56. 
Williams.   W.    H.,   42. 
Williams.    Nellie.    38. 
Wisconsin    and    Northern.   26. 
Wisconsin   Geog.   Society.  41. 
W-scons'n    Handle    &    Mfg.    Co..    52. 
Wisconsin    14th    Regiment.    66. 
Wisconsin    Press   Association.    146. 
Wisconsin    Bark   &    Lbr.    Co.,   53. 
Winn.    Lowell    A..    20. 
Winthow.   James    M..    22. 
Winter.    G..    296. 
W'nn    Murder    Trial.    58. 
Wood.    Albert.    19. 
Wood    Burner.    Old.    26. 
Woodland   Homes.    145. 
Wolfe.    James.    5. 
Wolf    River    Lbr.    Co..    53 
Wolf    Millwork    Co.     53 
Wolpert.    W.    H..   271. 
Woman   and   the   War.   75. 
Worman.    Mrs.    E.    H      156 
Worden.   J.    H..   304 
Wojan.    R.    C.    283. 
Wojtasiak.    Stanley   J..   277. 
Wojtasiak.    John.    277. 
World    War    Activities.    71. 
World    War    Heroes.    77. 
V/orden.    T.    H..    51. 
Wundcrlich.    Chris.    53. 
Yates.   O.   J. 

■yawkey-Bissel    Lbr.    Co., 
Yentz.    Herman. 
Yentz,    William, 
Zobel,   Robert  W.,  300. 
Ztlm.    August    A.,    293. 
Zion    Evangelical   Church.    153. 
Zoern.   Joseph   W..   20. 
Zwickey.    Fred,    297. 
Zcntner.    F.    T.,   56. 


S\^<V 


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CONGRESS