Langlade County, Wisconsin - Chapter 7, 1922

Chapter 7

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.

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 until 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.

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 Evergreen river territory was the attraction for these folks. Thus the Hill and Rice cabins became the first of northern Wisconsin fishing resorts.

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 artery 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.

Langlade on section 10, township 31, range 14 east. The same year John Yates, an easterner, came to Langlade 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 Gilray bought the place from Mr. Yates and he in turn sold to Albert Wood. Amessey Smith had a stopping 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 connection with the rebellion of 1848 engaged in importing, 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 purchased the "Old Dutch Frank" stopping place and for

The early log cabins, ranches and stopping places between 1863 and 1885 served the lumbermen and settlers for years before the arrival of the railroad. When cattle, oxen and supplies were sent north from Shawano 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 constructed of logs, were very comfortable and cheerful, in spite of their great distance from civilization. In winjjBISiliMli.lllifflW^^ 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.

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 Gardner 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 reservation 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 entertainment. 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.

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 almost dropped from the memory of early pioneers. While in existence it was the largest structure in Antigo. 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 corner 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, characteristic of the spirit of the village, presented a written 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 evening." The invitation was signed by George W. Latta, F. A. Deleglise and George Ratcliffe. It is sufficient to state that the meeting was a harmonious one and paved the way for amiability and mutual helpfulness between city and county. We shall observe, however, 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," Andrew 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. Goldberg'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 present site of the Geo. W. Hill building, 5th Avenue. Here he conducted a hotel until his property was purchased 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 continually under the management of Joseph Hoffman and Frank Hoffman. In 1903 the hotel was rebuilt and remodeled 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.

It is now managed by John Hanousek, Jr., and is known as The Hanousek Hotel. Arthur Koch managed it when it was called the Kasson Hotel. Originally a two story frame building, it is now brick veneered. 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 managed and enjoys a good patronage.

The Vivian Hotel, now the Schneiter Hotel, was built in October, 1887, by E. N. Mellor, W. W. Hutchinson and A. W. Larsen. It has operated almost continually 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 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 building, 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 Merrill in November, 1903. Mr. Long conducted it under 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 proprietor for thirteen years until 1919 when he retired from active management. It is now conducted by R. T. Marson, able and experienced hotel man.