Clark County, Wisconsin - Chapter 19: Historical Contributions, 1918 (part 2 of 2)

"When I began clearing there were no telephones to call me up (or down), no automobiles to hinder me from work, and very few neighbors; in fact, Clark County was almost a wilderness. The first settler in the town of York was Charles Renne, in 1855, on the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 35. This was a homestead. The next settler was his brother, H. W. Renne, on the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 35, he arriving in 1859. He is still living, in the town of Sherman, The oldest frame building in this town is on this place. The oldest frame bulding in the town of Grant is the large barn on the farm of N. E. Lee - northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 2. This was built about 1862 by a man named Searles, who moyed away a few years later, The oldest log barn now in use in the town of York was built in 1871, by William P, Budge, on the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 35, and is good for some years to come. The oldest log house now occupied is on the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 26, its occupant being Mrs. Mattie Winn. It was built in 1877.

"The first town meeting was held in the spring of 1873. John B. Mason was the first chairman elected, with Abe Turner and Tom Northup as side supervisors, I. C. Marsh, town clerk, and H. W. Renne, treasurer.

"When the town of York was organized a half mile strip on the north side of the town of Grant was included in the town, but the next year was returned to the town of Grant. In 1873 the wild land in York and Fremont was nearly all owned by the Fox and Wisconsin Improvement Co. The price was $6 per acre, one quarter to be paid down and the balance in three annual payments with interest at ten per cent. As a matter of fact, settlers had all the time they wanted to pay in. They were never urged to pay. In 1872 the pine timber on these lands was sold to W. T. Price, of Black River Falls. In the fall a camp was built on the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 22. Six years was allowed for the removal of the timber. It took several years more, and sold for $2 per thousand feet. It was nice, large, white pine, about three logs to the thousand. At that time logs of that description were worth $5 per thousand feet at La Crosse. §S. A. Wilcox was foreman of this camp, while it was run, and then for a while foreman of Price's camp in Fremont. In the fall of 1872 Price had another camp built on the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 31, town of Fremont (T. 25, R. 1 E.), James Thomas, foreman. The railroad now runs over the spot where this camp stood. One winter this camp put in 10,000,000 feet of logs. Most of their logs were banked on the south fork of O'Neill Creek, and those from Wilcox's camp were banked on the north fork of O'Neill Creek. In those days oxen did all the skidding and most of the hauling on the logging roads, four oxen to each sled. A good yoke of oxen brought $150. The men in these camps received $16 to $20 a month for some years after these camps were started, and they were expected to work until most of the logs were driven in to Black River. The teamsters and pine choppers were paid more, and it took a good man to be a successful pine chopper. I know of but two left in this vicinity now, William P. Budge of Granton and Carl Berg on Section 31, town of Fremont. In the winter of 1873-74 it was estimated that Mr. Budge cut down trees enough to make ten million feet of logs, Mr, Berg was considered a first-class chopper and may have done equally well.

not know where I could raise 25 cents, nor where the next sack of flour was coming from. It was an unpleasant experience, In 1877-78 I collected the taxes in York. The state tax was due the third Monday in January. I went over the town twice and only got a few dollars, but was advised by Deputy County Treasurer Geo. Hart, to make another effort, which I did. I tried the best I could, and I got one personal property tax of 50 cents. There was no money in town and most of the men were away in camp and could get no money until spring. To put up some log buildings, clear a farm, work in the woods, and support a family at the same time, will keep most men fully employed. How we pulled through I don't see - it was a case of root hog or die.

"Most of the mail for the town of York was left at Maple Works for many years. Maple Works was where Sections 1, 2, 11 and 12 cornered, in the town of Grant. At first mail came once a week, then twice. Nelson Marsh was postmaster. He was justice of the peace, mended our shoes, pulled our teeth, and fiddled for all the dances. From an agricultural standpoint York is considered to be the best town in the county. The equalized valuation in 1877 was $7 5,594. Forty years later - 1917 - it was $1,750,000, and considerable of it is yet unimproved. Grass is the foundation of agricultural prosperity in a cold climate, and it would be hard to find a better grass region than Clark County.

"The first cheese factory in this vicinity was built at the northwest corner of Section 2, town of Grant. This was in the spring of 1883. A. H. Tucker was the owner. This burned in the fall of 1884. In 188) a new one was built across the road, and some years after was removed to Granton. When this one was running a hog yard was built, and the hogs made their headquarters under the factory.

"Joint School District No. 4 included the east half of the town of York and a few sections in the northeast part of Grant. The schoolhouse was on the northeast corner of Section 2, town of Grant. Joint District No. 3 included the west half of York and a portion of Grant. The schoolhouse was on the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 31, town of York. Soon after this District No. 1 was organized. The schoolhouse was a log building on the northeast corner of the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 21. I think the last time this building was used was election day in 1886. This was a very complicated election, and it took us until after one o'clock next morning to get the returns properly made out. The new schoolhouse was located on Section 9, southwest quarter of the southeast quarter. Another one was built in 1917.

"In 1873 and for some time afterwards, Humbird was the nearest railroad station to Neillsville. Then a railroad was built from Merrillan to the west side of Black River about a mile from Neillsville. This was continued to Marshfield in 1890. After this the mail for the east part of York and the north part of Grant was left at Granton. The people in the west part of York got their mail from Neillsville as usual. In 1890 the Dexterville Railroad was continued into the town of York on Sections 24, 14, 11 and 12.

Wis., and rebuilt it on the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter or Section 24. They cut some timber and ran it for a few years. The settlers sold one of the men there hay and provisions, but claimed they had much trouble to get their pay, so they called the place 'Fizzlerville,' and though the miil has long since disappeared, the name still remains. About 1890 John Hein built a mill to saw heading on the south side of Section 5, and it was run for several years, the heading being shipped from Neillsville. Some years before that we used to haul bolts down O'Neill Creek to Neillsville. For good peeled bolts thirty-eight inches long we got $2 per cord. In 1888 the nicest white oak butt logs brought $12 per thousand at the spoke factory at Neillsville. In 1917 some standing white oak trees in this town brought $45 per thousand. In 1887 a town hall was built near the center of the town, now called York Center. A post office was established there in the eighties called Wilcox. This was discontinued in 1904, About 1880 the Fox River Co. (so-called) gave some land for a cemetery at this place and the Methodists built a church there. A mile and a half farther north stands a Free Methodist church. There is also a cemetery there.

"The first settler in the town of Grant was Davis Hill. He settled on the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 21 in the spring of 1856, but moved away in about a year. His son Thomas has resided here since that time and is now living at Maple Works, and from him I obtained these facts about the settlement of the town of Grant. There have been great changes in the last few years, In 1890 I made a canvass of York for the county committee. I found 202 voters, and of these there are now twenty-six left. (April 1, 1918). The first kerosene oil we bought cost one dollar a gallon. When it cost 40 cents a gallon we thought it was cheap."

Mrs. John Shanks, in narrating her early experiences, says: "We left Ontario, Canada, in 1866, traveling by rail to West Salem, Wis. When I reached Bangor in 1866 I was married to Mr. Shanks, and in the fall of that year we came by team through Sparta with William Shanks. We stayed the first night at Tom Emery's tavern, south of Black River Falls. There were many men staying there who were bound for the woods. The second night we stayed at Paddy's Rest, and the third night at Staffordsville, reaching Henry Huntzicker's the afternoon of the fourth day. We traveled in lumber wagons, loaded when we started with supplies, but at each place we stopped we were obliged to leave some. It was on this trip that I saw my first deer. The roads were bad on account of heavy hauling and we had to get out many times and cut our way through the brush to avoid the bad places in the roadway. I worked for Mr. Huntzicker that winter and stayed there the following summer. Henry Huntzicker kept a hotel for the lumbermen. On New Year's night, 1867, John Huntzicker was born, and I cared for him during that summer. In November, 1867, I went to camp on the Popple River, walking the distance. There I cooked for the men during the winter, leaving on March 17, 1868. That was my first experience in a logging camp. That summer I stayed at Huntzicker's, and in the fall we built a log hut sixteen feet square, with a scooped roof. My occupation was making buckskin mittens, shirts and buckskin trousers, which I sold to the boys going into camp. The buckskin I secured from the Indians. Mr. Shanks during this time was driving logs down the Black River. We commenced clearing our farm in 1868, Later we built a good log house and lived there and farmed until we moved into town. We hardly ever saw any women but Indians."

Charles H. Cummings came to Clark County in 1853, reaching Neillsville March 20. In recalling those early days Mr. Cummings says: "At that time there were ten acres cleared where the court house now stands, and five acres cleared where the Hewett store stood. I was 13 years old at that time. I was born in Massachusetts and came to Walworth County, Wis., with my parents in 1843. We remained there about five years and then removed to Waushara County, where we remained until we came to Clark County. When we left Massachusetts we traveled down the Erie Canal, thence up the lakes, landing at Racine. From there we went by wagon to Walworth County, where father farmed for awhile. Leaving there, we went by wagon to Sacramento, Waushara County, where father was engaged in building ships for a man by the name of Rogers. My father, Israel Cummings, first came to Clark County in 1851, and for 100 days was one of thirty men employed by the government in surveying in Clark, Jackson and Eau Claire counties. In the fall of 1852 father returned to Waushara County, and the next spring - 1853 - with the family started overland with two teams by way of Portage for Clark County, arriving at Neillsville, as above stated. We lived for a month in a shanty down toward Cunningham Creek, then moved on to a school claim in Town 25, Range 3 West. We lived there all summer, and in the fall father went to La Crosse to prove up, but there he found that a Dr. Baxster claimed a former filing, and we lost the claim. We then moved to Sam Weston's place and went logging for a Mr. Bump of Black River Falls. That winter I went to work for my uncle, Edwin Cummings, helping in the cook shanty, The next summer I worked for Sam Weston in the boarding-house, and the next winter, 1855-56, went to School - the first school taught in Clark County. During that winter I carried the mail from Black River Falls to Neillsville each Friday, returning on Saturday. James O'Neill was postmaster at that time. The next spring I went to work for Sam Weston again, and remained with him until the fall, then went to school at Weston's place above Neillsville. My father bought a farm and I remained home all winter, going to school. This was in 1856, the winter of the big snow. During that winter I helped to cut the road from Hailey's place to Stevens Point. I worked for Weston again the next summer and in the winter of 1857 went up on Popple River and cooked for Jake Hackett in his logging camp. In the winter of 1858 I remained at home on the old Chadwick place half way between Neillsville and Greenwood. I then went into camp on Popple River and cooked for Dud Spaulding and Jake Hackett. In the spring of 1859 I went on a log drive for sixty-two days on the Popple and Black rivers to La Crosse. I cooked in logging camps during the winter of 1859, and in the spring of 1860 I was again on the log drive. During the early part of that year father moved to Trempealeau County on a farm near Whitehall, and I helped to break up seventy acres. I enlisted at Whitehall in 1861, went to the war in 1862, and served until October, 1865. After I returned home I spent the winter of 1865-66 with Leonard Stafford in the woods. During this time I passed through where Greenwood now is several times. Elijah Eaton had a sawmill on the west side of the river near the cemetery. I logged on Wedge's Creek in the winter of 1867 for George W. King. In 1886 I drove stage and carried mail from Greenwood to Withee. I came to Greenwood to live in 1871. At that time the land now occupied by the city was covered with pine and hardwood timber. Greenwood then had one store. I started freighting in 1871 and for fifteen years before the railroad came I hauled freight from Black River Falls, Neillsville, Humbird, Colby, Unity and Spencer."

A. 8. Armstrong was born in La Crosse and came to Clark County with his parents in 1870, settling at Neillsville. Mr. Armstrong relates his early experiences as follows: ''We later moved to the forty-acre farm of Gilef & Holway, two miles north of Loyal. When 19 years old I ran a camp in the woods and for eighteen years handled logs on the Black and Chippewa rivers. For thirteen years I had charge of the Hemlock Dam as foreman. We used to run on an average of 1,000,000 feet an hour through the dam in the spring and summer. This dam was built in the summer of 1879. I was with the Black River Improvement Co., who discontinued work in 1905. Our logs of hemlock and pine all went down the Black River by way of the Dells Dam to La Crosse. At that time we used to put through 150,000,000 in course of the season. My mother and her sister came into this county in the winter of 1855 from Halfway Creek, near La Crosse, and cooked in the logging camp of her brother-in-law, Abner Gile on Gile's Creek, three miles north of Greenwood. I came to Greenwood in 1875 and lived on my father's farm, which is now in the city limits. At that time there were three stores, four saloons, and one blacksmith's shop. The second schoolhouse then stood on the corner where the Greenwood State Bank now stands. Father used to bring all supplies by wagon from Sparta, while mother was cooking in the camp. During my days we freighted our supplies from Hatfield, Jackson County, and the stage brought mail and passengers from Black River Falls. This town was a rough place. The loggers would come in, spend their money for whiskey, get drunk and fight, and many times they tore up the sidewalks. In 1885 a creamery was started here, but failed. They later tried it again, but failed for want of cows. I ran a store and post office at Hemlock for two years, and also ran the sawmill, but the flood of 1914 took the dam and gristmill and sawmill out."

Mrs. Julia A. Mead, who was born in Fulton County, New York, in 1842, says: "In 1851 I came to Jefferson County, Wis., with my mother, two brothers and two sisters. I was married in Jefferson County in 1861 and remained there until 1865, when, with my husband and two children, we started for Clark County. We went as far as Sparta by rail, and there took a wagon and started overland for Clark County through a wild country, and over rough roads. We reached Neillsville in two days. From Neillsville to Greenwood the timber was very dense, and where Greenwood now stands there was a forest of pine and hardwood. The first night we stopped at the house of C. S. Honeywell, the only house there. This building is still standing, though sided over and improved. The next day we started housekeeping half a mile north of town in an old house known as the old Dwyer house. In the spring of 1866 we moved on to our homestead six miles north of town and started living in our little log shanty, built without a nail in it. The snow was then three feet deep on the ground. The only clearing was where our house stood, the rest of the farm being densely covered with timber. We started feeding travelers, furnishing them with tents to sleep in, and I continued in this occupation for seven years, my husband in the meanwhile being engaged at logging and at clearing the farm. We built a new house in 1871 and remained on the farm till 1893. Our supplies were purchased at Black River Falls and were carried mostly on my husband's back. During the first seven months I was on the farm I saw just one white woman. We had a cow and calf, and I used to have to chain the dog to the door to watch the children while I hunted the cow and calf in the woods. There were many Indians but they caused us no trouble. For three years our nearest neighbors were in Greenwood. In the early days my husband and I carried the mail on horseback from two miles south of where Greenwood now stands to George Huntzicker's hotel, one mile south of where Longwood now is, C.S. Honeywell started the first store in Greenwood, which was burned down. The first hotel was built and run for several years by W. H. Begley. We used to hitch up our oxen and drive to George and Henry Huntzicker's and dance till broad daylight, to music furnished by one fiddle, played by Tom Syth. My best dress during all those times was taken from the back of sheep by my own hands, while I lived in Jefferson County. The Eatons' and Honeywells' wives and daughters - four women and four girls - were all who attended these dances during the winter of 1866. When we passed through Neillsville there were only five houses. There were few buildings in Greenwood, except the Honeywell cabin, prior to 1871. After that a few settlers came in and people commenced to stump the land and get it in shape to work."

Early Days in Loyal. The early settlers of Loyal underwent many trying experiences. The care of their families, with markets so far away, opportunities of earning money so scarce, and the price of the necessaries of life so high, the mere problem of existence was sufficient to tax the strongest and try the bravest. Mr. Borden used to make shingles, haul them to Neillsville on a '"pung," sell them for $1.25 per thousand, pay $6 per barrel for flour and $26 to $40 per barrel for pork. Under such conditions it is little wonder that farms were of slow growth.

But there was also a brighter side of life, and many of the early events were afterward told with much humor and relish, One evening the elder Borden boys were out hunting the cattle, and as they had not returned by sunset, the parents were alarmed and went out to search for them. Hearing yells which told of trouble, they hurried to the rescue and found the boys treed by an old bear and her cubs, which, however, took to flight on seeing the approach of the older people.

Later Jacob Schoch also had a bear adventure. One drizzly afternoon when out hunting his stock he came upon one of these natives, and having his shotgun with him, loaded with fine shot, fired, tickling bruin's nose and threatening his eyes. The bear started for Jake, who threw away his gun and took to a tree, yelling for help. A man who was chopping heard his cries and came running up with an axe, when the bear made off, much to Jake's relief. Afterwards, when the boys were laughing at him about it, Jake said: 'Vell, boys, you can laugh now, but I tell you what it is, ven I was in dot tree, yust so dot bear could most get my feet, and look down in her mout', I tell you you don't feel like laugh den, not a bit of 'em."

In the early settlement of any country the ambition of rival candidates for local office, or other desirable prizes, often gives rise to methods the morality of which will hardly bear strict scrutiny. Loyal was not an exception in that respect. An amusing story is told of a special election held at the house of Henry Huntzicker, out on the "tote" road, in December, 1864, to decide who should be county treasurer. One of the candidates was at the precinct to superintend the business. All who attended were cordially received and served with free drinks and free meals at all hours, and a free dance was also conducted. There were only twenty-two voters in the precinct, but logging operations were being carried on along the river. The free provisions were attractive, and the tote road was kept open, the result being 101 votes for the generous candidate and 1 for his opponent,

In 1864, William Welsh, Henry Sitts and Abraham Smith came into the town of Loyal and stopped at the quarter stake, between Sections 10 and 11. Resting about the stake, each happened to be sitting on a different division of land, and on the question arising as to how they were to decide on their individual selections, each agreed to take the piece he was then on. Upon this point being thus speedily and happily settled, they all started for the United States land office at Eau Claire, making their way through the woods, through which they were guided by Mr. Welsh, who was a surveyor, and had his field notes, by the aid of which they followed the section lines, and in due time arrived safely at their destination. After taking out their papers they returned and engaged in building their respective houses, and getting them ready for their families, who then joined them. Soon after locating in the township they became short of flour and set out for Greenwood, taking, as was the custom, their axes, and two yokes of oxen hitched to a pung. They made the trip in one day, bringing home two barrels of flour, for which they paid $16 a barrel. In the spring of 1865 Welsh and Sitts went to Melrose, Jackson County, where they secured two cows, one yoke of oxen and a wagon, A barrel of pork was bought for $18. At Black River Falls they put in a barrel of flour, bought for $10. The whole trip took one week.

The Indians and wolves vied with each other as leading actors in some of the early incidents, It is said that James Ferguson once shot a deer, and, as was the custom of the hunter, hung it up out of the way of the wolves, returning next day to bear off his prize. On nearing the place he saw an Indian just starting off with his venison. Mr. Ferguson afterwards, in telling the story, said that all at once the Indian and deer fell down in a heap, and he was so disgusted that he did not go to see what had happened.

It was also related that one night, Oliver Hill, making his way in the darkness through the woods from Greenwood to his home, near Loyal, became confused and finally sat down by a large tree to sleep, and wait till morning. But the howling of a pack of wolves kept him awake, and having no gun, he moved from his resting place no less than three times, until the morning light diminished the courage of the wolves and made it possible for the traveler to continue on his way. It is also said that as late as 1868 Mr. Hill's shanty was broken into in his absence by the Indians, who carried off his trunk, containing the wedding clothes of himself and wife, and several other things. A search through the woods in the direction of Rock Creek, where the Indians had been camped, resulted in finding the broken trunk and a few unimportant articles. The Indians themselves were soon located on Popple Creek in Town 27, and the camp visited by O. H. Hill and A.J. Smith. There they found "Honest John," who told them that "Pete," the thief, was in hiding, and that they should catch him, as he was a bad Indian. Hill and Smith went in the direction indicated by John and soon found the culprit. They arrested him and soon bound his hands with the string of a powder-flask and started for Loyal with him. After going some distance he requested to be loosened for his convenience, when he surprised the captors by flying through the brush like a deer. Hill took after him with a heavy knife, and returned after a time quite exhausted, greeting Smith with the remark that 'Pete' would not trouble them again. And he didn't. The other Indians were notified that if they didn't adjust the matter there would be trouble. A few days after "Honest John" and a number of the other braves had a conference with the whites and after many talks on both sides, an agreement was reached, and all the goods returned with the exception of Mr. Hill's army discharge, which had been destroyed.

D. J. Fullmer came from Iron Ridge, Dodge County, to this place in the spring of 1865. The following October he and H. Sitts went to Tomah with two yoke of oxen after the family, the round trip taking seven days. The family stayed at William Hallock's until their house was ready.

Loyal Township is on the eastern border of Clark County, midway from north to south. Originally it was covered with timber, and considerable hardwood still remains. The soil is a gently rolling deep black loam, with clay subsoil, admirably adapted to the raising of all the crops customary in this climate, especially hay.

Loyal Township was first settled in 1857. In the early fifties Erastus and Daniel Mack set out from Canada with a view of locating in Wisconsin. From Sheboygan they went to Oshkosh, where, while attending an auction sale one evening, they met William Welsh, with whom, some years later, they were associated. Continuing their way, the Mack Brothers reached Steven's Point, where they joined a railroad surveying party. The survey

In the next year, 1858, Daniel went back to Canada after the families of both, and returned with them, landing first at Milwaukee, then going by rail to Prairie du Chien, thence by boat to La Crosse, and thence ox team to their new home in the wilderness.

After the Macks came three brothers - Ed, Jerrod and Sam Smith. Ed. Smith cleared about thirty acres of land, when he lost his wife, and then moved westward. Of the other brothers, all traces have been lost. Then came the Honeywells, Kings and others, who settled south of the Macks. The Honeywells, however, soon left there and located in what is now Greenwood, later going on to Minnesota. In 1861 William Hallock and Eben Borden arrived.

The first school was taught by Priscilla King, who afterward married one of the Smiths. There were eight pupils in attendance at that first school. In accordance with the educational laws of those days the people had to pay out of their own pockets the cost of conducting a school for six months before aid could be obtained from the state.

In those early days the markets were Portage City, La Crosse and Prairie du Chien, In going to Portage City the pioneers went by way of Weston's Rapids, and thence to Steven's Point, a two weeks' trip with ox teams. Erastus Mack, who wished to improve the highway conditions, circulated a petition which resulted in the establishment of Road 26, from McMann's Corners, twelve miles east. This road was laid out in 1859 by a Dr. Baxter. After this work was accomplished, Mr. Mack went to a town meeting at Weston's Rapids and asked for an appropriation of $100 to improve it. It was objected to, but Mack said, "Gentlemen, I stay right here till I get that money," and his perseverance was rewarded.

The first white child born, in what is now the town of Royal, was Addie Mack, who later married John Corzett of the town of York. The first death was that of a child of Daniel Mack,

Lumbering was carried on along Black River, which gave the pioneers an opportunity to earn money with which to buy provisions and stock while clearing their farms.

John Castner, now of Loyal Village, came to Wisconsin in 1856, having previously worked as a farmer and lumberman in the east. Upon reaching the Mississippi at Dunleeth, he came up the Mississippi by boat to La Crosse, and there obtained employment in a sawmill. That fall he had his first experience in the Wisconsin woods, walking through four feet of snow, to the Yellowstone Banks region in Taylor County, where he was employed as a logger by Jacob Hackett, a former Maine lumberman. In the spring, Mr. Castner was employed on the river drives. The main boom was at that time located at Onalaska, in La Crosse County, where there were no less than fourteen sawmills. From there, the timber was made into great platforms, and rafted down the Mississippi. In 1860 he came to Clark County for the purpose of cutting Road 26, a title it still retains. This road branched off the main tote road, and extended through the pine swamp in the town of Eaton to the town of Loyal. At that time the region was heavily timbered, with once in a while a settler in a small clearing. Mr. Castner secured, through a land warrant, eighty acres in Section 29, of what is now Loyal Township, and erected thereon a small log cabin. Supplies were difficult to obtain. Mr. Castner, in the early days, took an annual trip with four oxen to Neshonet, now West Salem, after his yearly provisions and supplies, fording the swollen streams and making his way over roads that were little more than trails cut in the forests. Game was plentiful. On one occasion, while deer hunting with his father-in-law, Daniel Mack, Mr. Castner had an interesting experience. He had killed one deer, and was looking for another, when he was startled to see a large whiteheaded bear coming toward him. Taking quick aim, and pulling the trigger, Mr. Castner had the satisfaction of seeing the animal drop dead. But unfortunately, after taking home his deer, he returned next day and found that some one had skinned the bear and taken the trophy, thus making way with a valuable trophy.

Horace Draper, who came to Wisconsin from Ohio in 1867, was born in Granger, Allegheny County, New York, in 1838, moved to Ohio with his parents in 1843, and enlisted in the Civil War at its outbreak. For five years he lived in Fond du Lae County, where he farmed and taught school. Of his experience thereafter he says: 'In 1872 I came to Clark County, traveling on foot from Fond du Lae County to Stevens Point and thence to Clark County, leading a cow. Spencer was then called Station 26. Unity at that time was Station No. 40. I came to Loyal Township and settled on a farm in Section 16, Town 26, Range 1 west, all of which is now in the village of Loyal. I cleared the land all but five acres, teaching school and working at the carpenter's trade in the meanwhile. When I first came here John Graves was running a sawmill, sawing shingles and running them and the sawdust allin together. I bought my land from John Graves, trading a horse and wagon as part payment. I owned the land which is now the Draper addition to the village of Loyal. In 1873 1 helped to build the first schoolhouse in the village, a log building 16 by 24 feet in dimensions. Sara Loop taught the first summer school, and I taught the next fall and winter. This building was in use until the present schoolhouse was erected. The old stage line used to run from Black River Falls to Loyal. When the Wisconsin Central Railroad, now the "Soo," built its line through Loyal to Greenwood the village began to grow.

The Old Settlers' Association of Loyal and Vicinity was organized in February, 1899. The first officers were: President, William Welsh; secretary, George Baker; treasurer, I. G. Gotchy. The present officers are: President, W. S. Irvine; secretary, F. W. Draper ; treasurer, A. K. Church. Annual picnics have been held since organization, but it has now been decided to hold no more celebrations until after the war. Ada Heath Mills is the verse maker of the association. Following are two contributions of hers regarding the association, the first written in 1909, and the second in 1912.

Resolved: That Freemont, Sherman, York, Loyal, Beaver, Unity, These six towns joined together shall Our territory be; That people dwelling in these towns, Rich or poor in station, If in Clark County twenty years, May join the Association.

"T came to Clark County, Wis., in January, 1859, my husband, myself and little twenty-months-old baby girl, now Mrs. James O'Neill. We drove through from LaCrosse with a team to what was then known as Weston's Rapids. We were four days making thetrip. There were but a few settlers then in Clark County. Among them was the late James O'Neill, founder of Neillsville, Judge Dewhurst, Robt. Ross, Chauncy Blakeslee, B. F. Chase, James Hewett and S. C. Boardman.

"Neillsville was then a mere hamlet, although the county seat. It was there that I attended my first Fourth of July celebration in Clark County. Dr. B. F. French was the orator of the day. I met Mrs. French, Mrs. A. W. Clark and Mrs, John King for the first time, at that small gathering of patriotic settlers.

"There was a dam and bridge across Black river at Weston's rapids. A sawmill and grist mill were in operation there. There was a 'tavern,' as it was then called, for the accommodation of the lumbermen, and several tenement houses. We lived in one of those houses nearly two years and kept the first postoffice there. We only got our mail once a week and had no county paper at that time; in fact all literature was very scarce in those days. The books and periodicals which we had brought from our eastern homes were gladly exchanged with our neighbors. They were read and re-read, passed out from one home to another till when they returned they were often in a somewhat dilapidated condition. After a time we were favored by having a very good little district library, which was greatly appreciated. Mrs. Melvin Mason, Mrs. Chandler and myself composed the committee to select the books for this small library of 100 volumes.

"A Methodist Church soon sprang up. It was built in Neillsville, all contributing most willingly. Its good influence was soon felt and it was the means of bringing the old settlers together oftener in a social way. Many are the church sociables we attended when our only conveyance was a big wagon or sleigh drawn by oxen or a span of mules. Before we had our little church our only pleasures socially were the meetings in our homes to read and discuss our well worn books and papers, and dancing, It was not considered a hardship by any means to have the big sleigh brought around right after supper and drive six or eight or even ten miles to a dance, gathering up our friends on the way. Mrs. Stafford, Mrs. Blakeslee, Mrs. Clark, Judge and Mrs. Dewhurst were generally along and always ready for a good time. By the way, it did not take as much to give us a good time then as at the present day. We were all young and full of health and hope and enjoyed everything to its fullest extent - our books, our dances, our drives and, last but not least, our church meant much to us in the wilds of Northern Wisconsin.

"The woods abounded with wild game, which was the means of bringing a great many Indians to our country. But they were friendly - too friendly, we thought, when several would walk into our houses and demand food, without even stopping to rap. We soon learned to keep our doors locked day and night and not to be frightened when we saw their dusky faces looking in the window at us.

"There was a log shanty near what is now known as Scofield's Corners, which was then used for a trading post for the Indians, by quite a notorious character in the early history of Clark County, by the name of George Pettengill. He was a tall, muscular fellow and affected Indian style by dressing in buckskin and wearing his hair long, reaching to his waist, and spending his time hunting and trading with the Indians. He at one time openly shot and killed a half-breed, which so enraged the Indians that the settlers were obliged to have him (Pettengill) arrested and lodged in jail at LaCrosse. But he was afterwards acquitted. He was not generally disliked by the white settlers and was allowed to trade with the Indians in the shanty on the corner without being interfered with, although they got in exchange for their furs and game a few gaudy trinkets and lots of poor whisky, and the nights were often made hideous by the weird cries of those poor children of the forest as they went reeling by to their wigwams after indulging too freely in 'fire-water.' I think there was quite as much need of a Mrs. Nation and her hatchet in those early days as now."

Early Stock Raising. The first Shorthorn or Durham cattle introduced into the county were bought by Robert Ross, who had a farm north of Christy. Mr. Ross bought a red Durham bull called "Marius" from John Wentworth, then editor of the Chicago Democrat. 'Marius" was sired by the 15th Duke of Avia, which sire Mr. Wentworth bought at the famous New York Mills sale at a purchase price of $15,000. Ross's Shorthorns were mostly the mellow roans and good milkers. At one time he had a sire nearly all white in color and which attracted much attention. This early herd of Shorthorns form the basis of the present native stock disseminated around Christie.

The first Ayrshire cattle in this county were introduced by Sol. Nason early in 1870. He had an excellent bull and he became the sire of many excellent cows for Mr. Nason. John Dore bought some of this stock and gradually Ayrshire stock was scattered throughout the town of Grant, where today one may see in some of the native the color and the symmetry of the Ayrshire.

The Jersey cattle were first brought here by John S. Dore. He bought an excellent sire from Judge B. Bryant of Madison, The sire was known as "President Hayes." Other families of Jerseys were brought here by James O'Neill.

Holstein Fresians came through the efforts of Levi Archer and Alonzo Brooks twenty-five years ago. Five years later Ed. Carter of Humbird went down to Syracuse, N. Y., and purchased of Smiths, Powell & Lamb eleven head. There were ten heifers at $300 each and a sire at a cost of $500.

The Dutch Belted were brought in here from Osseo by J. W. Short of the Town of Levis. They were known then as Laken Felders, and today wherever there is a small fraction of this original blood the white belt still appears on the native stock.

The Herefords came through the efforts of Rual Weston, son of Samuel Weston, and were kept on the Weston farm for a time. This was in the seventies. They were finally shipped to La Crosse as they did not seem to take here. It is also said that white-faced cattle were part of the foundation stock of the Town of Washburn and that traces of the white face may yet be seen there.

A few polled Angus came, but there were so few that they are not worth mentioning. The Guernseys have come in the last few years and have their history to make in this county. Mr. Austin bought the first Poland China hogs into this county and paid the sum of $45 for three animals. At one time Mr. Austin had eighty-five head of cows on his farm, all of Jersey and Ayrshire breeding. This was the biggest milking herd ever owned up to that time in this county and the milk from them filled a two-thousand pound vat every day.

Mr, Austin built the first creamery and operated the first cream separator in the county. Mr. Austin worked hard in these first few years trying to make Clark County farmers think that creameries were a paying proposition. He built the first silo in the county and people said that he was insane when he told them that he would as soon summer his cows without grass as to winter them without silage.

As the years pass the old foundation derived from all the above sources and all others will gradually give way to pure bred stock of some of the improved breeds. The old brindled and speckled cows had merit for they served the people well when they could ill afford better. But "Speck" and "Dapple" must pass out.

Black River Waterpowers. The Dells Dam. This old logging dam is located in Section 18, Township 23 north, Range 2 west, at the head of a rapids which comprise a fall of twenty-five feet in a distance of less than a mile. A 30-foot dam in the site of the present "Dells" dam would back the water to the foot of Ross Eddy, and this head, in connection with a short canal below the present dam, develop a total head of forty feet.

Ross Eddy Rapids show a fall of twenty-six feet within a mile. The total fall in the river between the mouth of O'Neill Creek and Cunningham Creek, a distance of three and a half miles, is forty-five feet. L. B.

Ring of Neillsville has a charter for a 20-foot dam in either Section 22 or 26, Township 24 north, Range 2 west, granted in 1901. Near the southeast corner of Section 22, Township 24 north, Range 2 west, the river is flowing due east, but in the next 2,000 feet it turns abruptly again to the west. Mr. Ring has proposed to build a 20-foot dam in the southeast quarter of Section 22 and then by a short canal ninety-five rods long (in earth) cut off this long bend and deliver the water to the turbines below the bend under a head of forty-two feet. The outlet of such a canal would be ina favorable place for the power house because of its protection from ice and floods.

Weston Rapids. These rapids, including a fall of twenty feet, are located in Section 2, Township 24 north, Range 2 west, about two miles from Neillsville, a city of 2,200 inhabitants. Nineteen feet of fall are concentrated in a distance of 4,000 feet. Both banks are high enough at the head of the rapids to enable a dam to be built with a head of about eighteen feet. This would back the water up to a point four and a half miles above.

The right or west bank is high enough to allow of a canal at this level to a point nearly opposite the foot of Weston Rapids. While expensive, this canal would develop a head of about thirty-five feet. Even with a head of twenty-five feet the pondage is estimated at 225 acres.

At the present time the owners, the Neillsville Light and Power Company, are trying to sell their rights to the city. The occasionally remarkably low water flow of this river makes necessary the installation of an auxiliary steam plant which generally reduces the value of the stream as a water producer. This extremely low flow may be due to the regulation of the flow by the dams at Greenwood and Hemlock.

Rapids in Section 16, Township 25 north, Range 2 west. These rapids include a fall of fourteen feet in a distance of about 3,000 feet, and all in the northeast quarter of above Section 16. The banks would here allow a dam with a head of approximately twenty feet.

Rapids in Section 4, Township 25 north, Range 2 west. About 1,000 feet north of the south line of Section 4 a 15-foot dam could be secured at reasonable cost.

Rapids in Section 21, Township 26 north, Range 2 west. About a quarter of a mile from the south line of Section 21 the banks are suitable for a dam with a head of twenty feet. This would develop all the fall up to Greenwood.

Greenwood Dam. Under a charter granted by Chapter 470, Laws of 1895, the city of Greenwood has constructed a concrete dam near the north line of Section 34, Township 27 north, range 2 west. This dam develops a head of twelve feet and the power is used to light the city. Between the backwater of this dam and the foot of the next dam above is a fall of about ten feet,

Hemlock Dam. This dam is located in Section 16, Township 27 north, Range 2 west. It was originally built for logging purposes and has been repaired and modified several times. At the present time the dam develops a head of 18.5 feet. Four turbines rated at 175 horsepower are installed and used to run a grist and saw mill. The power is owned by Theodore

In the ten miles between the back water of Hemlock dam and the Wisconsin Central bridge near Withee, the river has a total fall of only thirty-eight feet. The banks for the greater part are low and in many places swampy, giving no opportunities for the development of power.

- Because of the unusually steep gradient in the branches of Black River, a water power of from ten to twenty feet can be located at frequent intervals in those streams. Several of the many mills in such locations report an available head of from thirty-five to forty feet. In nearly every case timber and rock are found at or near the dam sites.

The Lynn Mutual Fire Insurance Co. For forty years the Lynn Mutual Fire Insurance Company has been one of the most successful co-operated institutions conducted by farmers in the country. According to its last report, there were over 5,000 policies in force, carrying insurance for over twelve million dollars, and the company is steadily growing. It has an enviable record of fair and just treatment of all policy holders, conservative, careful and economical management and sound business principles, which has made it known throughout the country as a most successful organization.

It was organized in 1878, Thomas Reed being the first president and Charles Sternitzky the first secretary. The first twenty-five policies were issued to David Hillert, Mapleworks; Henry Neinas, Fremont; W. Behling, Nasonville; Wilhelm Lachman, Lynn; C. Sternitzky, Lynn; F. Pofahl, Lynn; John Hoover, Lynn; Alonzo Brooks, Lynn; Ernst Barth, Nasonville; Johann Garbisch, Mapleworks; James Sternitzky, Lynn; John Jackisch, Lynn; August Yankee, Lynn; George Kleinschmidt, Lynn; G. Wischulke, Lynn; Fred W. Davis, Mapleworks; Hiram J. Seager, Neillsville; Ernest Sternitzky, Lynn; Louis Paul, Lynn; Henry Sternitzky, Lynn; George Ure, Lynn; Thomas Hoover, Mapleworks; J. W. Johnson, Mapleworks; School district No. 1, Lynn, and Thomas Reed, Neillsville. In 1900 Henry Sternitzky was chosen secretary in place of his brother who died, and six years later George Ure was elected to that position and has held it since. A charge of twenty-five cents per hundred dollars of insurance for five years is made when policy is issued and assessments made each year to cover the losses incurred, and for the past twelve years the loss rate has averaged two mills on the dollar, making the cost of insurance about one-half of the cost of policies in the old line companies. Five thousand dollars was the biggest loss paid by the company in its history, although it paid losses of more than $10,000 due to one storm which swept the county, about twenty policy holders suffering damage to live stock and buildings. The company operates in Clark County and in Lincoln and Rock Townships in Wood County. It has adjusted some 6,000 losses and has had only one law suit, The present officers are: President, William Vollrath; vice president, P. N. Christensen; secretary, George A. Ure; treasurer, J. P. Kintzele; directors, P. N. Christensen, J. P. Kintzele, Will Kurth, William Vollrath, George A. Ure, Morris Weaver, F. C. Luchterhand, C. W. Dewey and A. M. Steinwand. During the year 1917 the company paid 117 losses, amounting to $20,078.34 At the end of that year there were in force 5,461 policies, aggregating

$12,650,161. Insurance is issued on detached dwellings, all farm property, country churches, school houses, stores, town halls, creameries and cheese factories and their contents, except merchandise in stores. The secretary is under $5,000 bond and the treasurer $15,000.

The Lynn Mutual Tornado, Cyclone or Hurricane Insurance Company was organized by the directors of the Lynn Mutual Fire Insurance Company on March 2, 1905, and started business on June 1 following, On the third of June there was a big storm up near Withee which damaged the property of seven of the new policy holders and losses aggregating $484.50 were promptly paid. Since that time, however, there have been no assessments levied until 1914, losses aggregating $1,527 being paid in the year 1912. In 1907 there was quite a cyclone went twisting through the county and did a lot of damage, but by singular good fortune to the company, not one of its policy holders suffered any damage. In 1914, however, there was a storm which caused 103 losses in one day, aggregating $7,962.42. This caused an assessment of three mills for that year. The officers are: President, Henry Sternitzky; secretary, George A. Ure; treasurer, F. Sternitzky; directors, William Vollrath, P. N. Christensen, John Ure, A. F. Dankemeyer and Will Kurth. The salaries paid are twenty-five cents per policy for the president, fifty cents per policy for the secretary, three per cent of premiums received for the treasurer, and two dollars a day and expenses for the directors. The company is authorized to operate throughout the state of Wisconsin, and is actually operating in Clark, Eau Claire, Wood, Marathon and Portage Counties and is gradually extending its field.

County Sponsor Murdered. - On Feb. 26, 1856, the first murder to take place in the village of Neillsville happened, It seems that, some time in the year 1854, Moses Clark and William Paulley became involved in a quarrel at Black River Falls, in which the latter was brutally treated. On the date above mentioned, Clark met B. F. French in the store of Clinton & Quaile, and a demand was made on him for a receipt for moneys advanced by French. Some argument followed, and during its progress Paulley interpolated an opinion of Clark, which was far from complimentary, adding that he owed him money, and when asked for it, Clark beat him like a dog.

"You will, will you." shouted Paulley. Upon which Clark advanced towards him. He had nearly reached his victim when Paulley drew a revolver and fired two shots into Clark's body, from the effects of which he never recovered. He was taken to Plattville, in Grant County, where he lodged at the residence of Gideon Hawley, lingering till June 30 following, when he died.

Paulley was indicted for manslaughter, tried, convicted and sentenced. After serving out his term at Waupun, he removed to Black Falls, where he died.