Langlade County, Wisconsin - Chapter 12, 1922

Chapter 12

One of the most interesting phases of the development 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 community 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 Pennsylvanian, who came into the county in 1873. Dobbs began 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 demand 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.

immediately after his arrival. His mill was on section 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 Evergreen River south of White Lake about 1879.

First Antigo Saw Mill

Louis and Joseph Novotny came to Antigo in December, 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 Weed Mill

In January, 1882, A. Weed of Oshkosh erected a large saw and planing mill one mile south of the Village 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.

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 furniture 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, power 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 reorganized as the Antigo Hoop & Stave Company of which H. B. Kellogg was the principal owner. The industry 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 brokerage business and had an office located where the Langlade 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 partnership with J. Kerling of Manitowoc. Kerling soon sold his rights back to Mr. Johns, who took D. D. Kellogg 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" siding, Antigo township, and erected a mill.

Clancy Building Factory

From 1883 to 1889, E. Clancy, a well known contractor of Antigo, ran a building factory north of the Pioneer Iron Works. It was an auxiliary to his contract 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, Michigan 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 present Antigo Canning Company. Mr. Mellor shot himself in the Vivian Hotel, December 22, 1892, the morning he was to appear at a "three cornered deal" hearing in the bankruptcy proceedings at Oshkosh. Mellor was once Vice-President of the Wisconsin Valley Lumberman's Association. The Hoxie & Mellor failure involved millions of dollars and was given first page publicity in metropolitan newspapers.

Excelsior Factory

C. B. McDonald and George T. Ratcliffe opened an excelsior factory providing a market for basswood products, December, 1883. In the spring of 1885, the original owners sold to Rassmussen & Co. Rassmussen was influenced to come to Antigo by Niels Anderson. The plant, located across from the Henshaw Lumber Company office, on Sixth Avenue, was closed 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 business 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 November 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.

Wisconsin Handle & Mfg. Co

The Wisconsin Handle & Mfg. Company was organized September 5, 1893. by W. H. Pardee, E. P. Bridgeman and Charles Kellogg. The Company took over the R. M. Goodwin Broom Handle Factory. It operated until 1895.

Improvement Companies

The River Improvement Company organized February 26, 1894, by A. C. Campbell, A. M. Lanning and G. W. Hogben and the Big Eau Claire River Improvement 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 operating 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 interested 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, Warren 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 particularly John Brown, Jr., John Hanousek, W. B. Mc- Arthur, C. J. Courtney, Harry Meyers and others became interested in an oil well at Roundup, Montana, called the Devils Dome Oil concern.

Antigo Canning Co

The Antigo Canning Company was organized October 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 tremendous 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 : President - 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 industry 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.

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

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 Avenue burned October 31, 1893. It was rebuilt and still operates. Excepting H. A. Babcock, the original owners still control the industry.

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 explosion, February 24, 1905. May 10, 1918, George Wunderlich, 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 products, 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.

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 Mattefs Brothers Company

Mattefs Brothers Company was organized February 7, 1917, and is the successor of the Mattefs Construction Co., organized in 1904. Principal owners are Gust and August Mattefs. The company operates a planing, 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 January 13, 1921, by a group of citizens, chiefly of Langlade County. Capital stock is $1,000,000. The corporation 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 purchased in 1919. Officers of the Antigo Tractor Corporation are: President - John Manser; 1st Vice-President - Ernest Hirt; 2nd Vice-President - J. R. McQuillan; Secretary - Dr. E. R. Murphy; Treasurer - Ernest Hirt. Board of Directors consist of the officers and W. H. Wolpert, George Foster of Wausau, John Hanousek, 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 annually. 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.

The Langlade Lumber Company

The Langlade Lumber Company was organized January 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 timber 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, Wausau, 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, Superintendent 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 conduct a wholesale and retail business in flour, feed, hay and grain. Officers of Hirt Brothers Milling Company are: President - Ernest Hirt; Vice-

Kingsbury & Henshaw Lumber Co

The Kingsbury & Henshaw Lumber Company was organized in 1892 by C. E. Henshaw and J. J. Kingsbury. They erected a saw mill on Field street, Antigo. The business flourished until the death of J. J. Kingsbury, 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 organized December 4, 1917, with a capital stock of $100,000. January 12, 1922, the firm name was changed 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 Langlade Laundry Co

The present Langlade Laundry Company was formed 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, Wisconsin, 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 Langlade 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 quarters, 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 capacity 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 exceptional high grade and is under the efficient supervision of C. E. Home. Mr. Lange, associate of Mr. Home's, has personal charge of the dyeing and cleaning department. The laundry has added rug cleaning to its field and with this new venture they are meeting with success.