Langlade County, Wisconsin - Chapter 42, 1922

Chapter 42

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, Assessors - 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 largest, it is now one of the smallest townships in Langlade 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 Upham, 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 surveyed by H. C. Fellows, U. S. Deputy Surveyor, in September, 1860.

Organization In 1883

Neva township was organized January 11, 1883, by the Langlade County Board of Supervisors. Supervisor 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 Organization 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 Congressional townships). These three Congressional townships 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 township, 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 elected were Joseph Duchac, Chairman, A. F. Schoepke and Joseph Krause. First highway overseers appointed were Joseph Cherf, John Fisher, E. R. Whitmore and B. H. Darling on April 21, 1883. The Neva township 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 purposes. This unanimously carried measure was a fitting precedent for the pioneer settlers to establish in promoting educational enlightenment and advancement. 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. Settlers 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 traversible, 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 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 authorized 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, Koepenick'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.

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. Whitemore, 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, Frederick 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, township 32. Joseph Duchac furnished and cleared the land for the hall.

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 settlers 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 subdistricts 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 contained 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 follows: District No. 1, District No. 2, Joint District No. 3, District No. 4 and District No. 5.

5 and 6 of Neva township and was organized in 1904. Its chief settlement is Kempster, located in the northeast corner of section 6, and on the border line between Neva and east Upham townships.

Before the Chicago, Milwaukee & Lake Shore railroad pushed up from Aniwa, Shawano County, many settlers had explored and established themselves in District No. 1. Anton Honzik and Joseph Krause established 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 establishment 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 moved 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 entire institution was taken over by the Wisconsin Bark

In 1880, Russell & Upham, Shawano County land dealers, who controlled much land in Langlade County, erected a small store at Kempster. One year later 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 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.

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. Anderson 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 Steward - Frank Long; Chaplain - Frank Vining; Treasurer - T. R. Fowler; Secretary - Russell Knight; Gatekeeper - 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; Chapplain - 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 Kempster hall. Twenty-five progressive people are members.

District No. 2

GILLIS DISTRICT can rightfully be considered the heart of Neva township, historically and geographically. 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.

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 experienced 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 Brenner and Frank Metcalf were early settlers.

The first community was Melnik, where Joseph Duchac 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, Director and Jos. Runstick, Treasurer. The school is a credit to the district, being one of the best in Langlade County.

Manufacture of lumber and agriculture were the principal occupations of the first settlers. Joseph Duchac operated his saw mill and a general store at Melnik 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 operated the mill and general store until 1890, when James Cherf, associated with his brother, Louis Cherf, purchased it. They dismantled the mill in 1900.

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 Steinfest 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.

The saloon in the district was erected by James White and is now run by Joseph Diska. The Northern Cheese factory is the only one in the district, located on section 21.

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 Association 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 Weneel Krainik.

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 Johnson 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 property. 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, recalls an old fortress. The logs of which it was constructed 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 Schofield, 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.

Present Industries 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 section 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 knowledge, 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 Nelson, Frank Schacher, and Emil Honzik were then school officers.

Teachers since 1912 have been: Eva Schultz, Alice Doucette, Rose Stacek, Ernestine Kopeschka, Alvina Dvorak, lone Preston, Irene McCormick, Marie Robinson.

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 Theodore Lenzner, Frank Schacher, Fred Honzik, Frank Keller, Frank Kletzka, and James Masek.

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 purchased 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. Other 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 Corners and Deerbrook. Neva Corners is at the meeting point of five well travelled highways. The first general 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 district. The Germanson Brothers are also in the creamery 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 operate 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. Mattek and Wencel Smetana are proprietors of two large dance halls.

Ed. Masek and Adolph Novak are the two blacksmiths 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 Dawson, 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 "Deerbrook," by which it has since been known.

In 1898 a number of farmers of Neva township organized a cooperative corporation and erected a grist mill and saw mill at Deerbrook. They operated until 1910 when they went into bankruptcy. The entire plant and property was then purchased by Hirt Brothers, 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 standing. 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 erected a saw mill in the district on section 30. It operated 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 Congleton. Miss Melbrecht, Rose Friebel and Alvina Dvorak.

Early settlers are: Frank Plzak, John Cherf, Frank Kakes, Jas. Pavlicek, George Gallenberg, Jos. Klapste, Harry Klapste, J. Klapste, Robert Rine, Jas. Pacer, J. A. Wenzel, E. Nickels, John Behm. Many settlers are interested in the Neva Mutual Fire Insurance Co.