Langlade County, Wisconsin - Chapter 47, 1922

Chapter 47

Rolling township comprises the entire congressional township 30, North, of Range 11 East, and was the first Langlade County civil division to be surveyed by the federal government. William T. Bradley commenced the survey on October 13, 1853 and completed it on October 24, 1853. Rolling receives its name from the general topography of its surface. It lies in the extreme southern part of Langlade County, is bounded on the north by Antigo and Ackley townships, on the south by Aniwa township, Shawano County, on the east by Norwood township, and on the west by Harrison township in Marathon County. There is a great difference in the physical features of Rolling township as compared with Neva or Antigo townships. Springbrook runs through sections 4, 5, 8, 17 and 18, a small rivulet runs through sections 30 and 31, another runs through sections 22, 25, 26, 27 and 35. In the eastern part of the township are two streams of little importance, running through sections 13, and 24 in one instance and sections 25 and 36 in the other.

Rolling township soil varies from level to very gently undulating. It has a gentle slope excepting the south central sections which are quite hilly. Three distinct types of soil are found in Rolling. The Merrimac silt loam, extending on an average to 12 inches in depth, is found in sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and parts of sections 1, 2, and 9. Gloucester silt loam, an extensive soil, is found running in a northeast and southwest course. Small tracts are also found in sections 22, 23, 24 and 35. Gloucester sandy loam is found in sections 1, 12, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and the greater part of the southeastern part of the township.

The leading variety of timber in the township was white pine, Norway pine, maple, oak, basswood and elm. White and Norway pine has long ago been cut, as this township in the last quarter of the 19th century was essentially a lumbering district. Hardwood still stands in tracks on various sections of cut-over land.

Rolling is one of the original townships of Langlade County. It sent its first Chairman, James Quinn, to the first session of the Langlade County Board in 1881. It was detached from Shawano County in 1881 and attached to Langlade County. The reader must bear in mind that this township was not included within the territory of the original New County. Before 1881, Rolling was a part of Milltown township. A settlement was made between the towns in April, 1881.

James Quinn, Luther Montgomery, and Henry Peters were the first township Supervisors elected in April, 1881. Louis Zahn was elected the first Town Clerk. Arthur Montgomery, first Town Treasurer, George W. Connor, first Assessor; Isaac Noble, A. Wenz and A. Winnege, first Justices and Charles Peters and Phillip Maloney, first Constables.

First Election

The first Inspectors of Election and Clerks were : Charles F. Schroeder, Phillip Schweitzer and Ph. Bray, Inspectors and Louis Zahn and August Winnege, Clerks. The election was held at the school house of District No. 8, (now District No. 3).

Property Valuation In 1881 Town Of Milltown

Before 1881, Rolling and Norwood townships were territory comprising Milltown township, Shawano County. The territory was detached from Shawano County and attached to Langlade County on February 19, 1881. It became Norwood and Rolling townships, Langlade County. A settlement was made between the two townships April 15, 1881. John Jansen, Anton Sensenbrenner and Henry Heim represented Norwood and James Quinn, T. H. Peters and Luther Montgomery acted for Rolling at the meeting.

Town Hall Question

Rolling township has never erected a town hall. The Board of Review and all public assemblages are usually held at the office of the Township Clerk or otherwise at some previously designated place. The question has been voted upon but defeated. An agreement with the M. W. A. organization at Elmhurst was made

The first list of jurors of Rolling township were selected from the original polling list as follows: Henry Peters, Louis Zahn, George W. Hall, Charles Schroeder, Luther Montgomery, James Quinn, Philipp Bray, Phillip Schweitzer, Almon Mosher, T. A. Gillett, Solon Hall and William Peters.

The first Overseers of Highways In Rolling township were : Almon Mosher, William Peters and Christian Hanson, who had charge of Districts No. 1, 2, and

Bernard Wright, Christian Hanson, John Sullivan, Andrew Nelson, H. Hale, L. W. Wright, Peter Anderson, John Linsdau, Gideon Frills, Dan Butler, L. L. Ferguson, Ole Olson, and T. Graves, were all residents of Rolling township before the end of 1883.

HILLSIDE DISTRICT. District No. 1, Rolling township is situated in the northeastern part of the township. It consists of sections Nos. 1, 2, 11, 12, 13 and 14 and contains 3,840 acres.

District No. 1 originally was known as District No. 6 of the town of Milltown, Shawano County (before attached to Langlade). Its boundaries have never been materially changed, since it was created April 17, 1880. April 24, 1880, at a meeting at the Carl Schroeder home, section 14, Isaac Noble, Carl Schroeder and Phillip Bray were chosen first Director, Treasurer and Clerk respectively.

The first school a log cabin was built on the NE 14 of section 13. John Lenzner gave one acre of land to the district for school purposes. April 23, 1881, the district number was changed to District No. 1. The first term of school was for three months in winter, an intermission, and then a summer session lasting three months. The first teachers received an average of $25.00 per month as compared with a salary of $75.00 to $90.00 now. The second school was authorized June 15, 1896. Herman Laehn was awarded the contract at $525.00. Before the erection of the first log school, Mrs. Phillip Bray, the first teacher, taught the children the rudiments of an elementary education at her log home, section 12. The present school is on the SW 14 of the NW I4 of section 12.

Other early teachers were: Jennie O'Hearn, Lizzie O'Hearn, Amy Furgeson, Maggie Canty, H. Dunn, E. Nolan, E. J. Couch, F. R. Churchouse, G. W. Bliss, F. L. Burdick, A. J. Burbank, Miss L. Rynders, Clara Taylor, H. C. Logan. Miss Christina Folk was the teacher in 1922-23.

The first pupils to attend public school in the district were : PVank, William, Gustav, Robert and Herman Schroeder, Ida Schroeder, Jos. Guenthner, Jr., Adam Guenthner, Lawrence Guenthner, Rose Lenzner, Perry, Millie, Libbie, Elsie and Claude Gillett.

Pioneer settlers imigrated into this district as early as 1878. Among them were : Isaac Noble, Carl Schroeder, Phillip Bray, Louis Zahn, T. A. Gillett, Jos. Guenthner, Sr., John Lenzner and John Linsdau.

The district is a splendid agricultural district, which has emerged from a wilderness of almost fifty years ago to a prosperous section of Langlade County. By frugality, diligence and hard labors the settlers have developed some of the splendid farms of which the county has privilege to boast.

Since its organization there have been no churches, cemeteries, saw mills or cheese factories within the district boundaries. This is recorded for future reference.

STRASSBURG DISTRICT. This district is located in the southeastern part of Rolling township. Its territory comprises all the civil sections of the townships 23, 24, 25, 26 and 36 and the east half of sections 22 and 35 and the SW I4 of section 22. Its area is 4,000 acres. The district was named by the settlers in honor of Strassburg, ancient capital of Alsace-Lorraine.

One year before the settlement was made between the duly accredited representatives of Norwood and Rolling townships an important meeting was held by the first homesteaders and pioneers for the purpose of solving the educational viccissitudes confronting them. Their children were growing, new settlers were arriving, and the hardy folk recognizing the value of temples of learning because of their own deficiencies, petitioned for a new school area. The request was granted by the Supervisors of Milltown Township (Shawano County) and District No. 7 was created. It originally consisted of sections 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 34, 35 and 36 or 5,760 acres. By a resolution adopted April 23, 1881, the number of the district was changed to District No. 2, {first action of the Board of Supervisors of Rolling, 1881). The district was organized April 17, 1880.

The first sessions were held at the residence of Henry Peters, one of the first Supervisors of Rolling township. This property is now owned by Albert Pagel, who runs a store. The first school, log construction, was erected on this site and after a number of years service burned. The first school officers were : Henry Peters, Clerk; Charles Peters, Treasurer and August Winnege, Director. The 1922-23 school officers were: Charles Vorass, Clerk; Julius Winnege, Treasurer and Anton Peters, Director.

Henry Peters, August Winnege and Terrence Mc- Cann were the building committee members who had charge of the first school, which was 18x24 and 12 feet high. Philip Schweitzer erected it at a cost of $140.

August 1, 1881, the valuation of assessment for District No. 2 was as follows : Real Estate - $8,320 ; Personal Property - $396.56; Total - $8,716.56. September 26, 1881, the amount of taxes voted to be raised within District No. 2 was two hundred dollars which was assessed upon the taxable property therein.

Wella Peters, now Mrs. Henry Keen, and Ida Schroeder, now Mrs. Charles Vorass, Jr., were first and second white children born in this section of Rolling township.

Miss Lucy Grignon was the first teacher. She was followed by Minnie Moss, Minnie E. Jones, Effie Derby, Ella Rynders, Matilda Ferguson, Ellen McConnell, C. C. Williams, Delia Nye, Clara Taylor, Matie Trettien, all of whom were pioneer school teachers. Miss Elizabeth Folk taught in 1922-23.

The principal pioneer industry was the saw mill erected in 1883 by Henry Peters on the NE % of the NE I4 of section 24. He sold the property to the Mattoon Lumber Company, who after operating successful sold to John Dailey. Mr. Dailey suffered a loss by fire. He re-built the mill only to have it burn again. A store was operated in connection with the mill. John Dailey later became Mayor of Antigo and an account of his administration is found in Chapter XXV.

A community grew miracuously while the saw mill operated. Thus a post office was opened. Henry Peters and Anton Sensenbrenner were the postmasters.

Present industries are the cheese factory purchased January 28, 1916 by D. Korth from the farmers cooperative unit in the district and the John Pagel store.

There are thirty progressive and industrious farmers residents in this district. It is in rural free delivery division number three. The Rolling Mutual Telephone service connects the settlers with Antigo, county seat or with other centers. Still a young district, its future is full of promise.

SUNNYSIDE DISTRICT. The first resolution of the township Board of Supervisors, April 23, 1881, was to change the number of the different district schools in the township. District No. 7 then became District No. 3, of which mention is now made, While the district was set off as such in 1881, it was not until 1885 that a school house was erected on a clearing donated by Charles Herman, who was the first County Sheriff. The school, of log construction, was one room and was situated in the northwest corner of the district. Miss Hattie B. Vasburgh was the first teacher.

District No. 3 has the distinction of possessing fine agricultural lands. As fast as the white pine forests were cut settlers took up the cut-over land.

The first settlers arrived m this region in 1878, three years before the coming of the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western. James Quinn, the Vetelle family, George Hall, Solon Hall, George Connor, Charles Herman, Roy Ferguson, August Duchrow, John Monroe, Mr. Thompson, who was a trapper and fox hunter, Charles Blamberg, William Gropp, James E. Monroe, Walter Bryant, Albert Smith, Rudolph King, George Schraml, Hiram Tenant, R. H. Buck, all were pioneer settlers. Later settlers, who may rightfully be classed as pioneers, were : Frank Kozarek, Albert Stone, Martin Marchiniak, Martin Murasky, Andrew Jahnkowsky, Anton Antoniewicz, Steven Noskowiak, Fred Becker, George Grail, Sam P. Nelson, Otto Hanke and Steven Scott.

It was not uncommon for the early pioneer to cart supplies and foodstuffs from Wausau or points farther away. The old corduroy roads, the marshes and rough oxen carts made the journey weary and tedious.

Mention has been made of the first log school, which was replaced by the present splendid frame structure located on the NE 14 of the NW I4 of section 10. It was erected in 1888. An addition to accommodate its growing needs, was erected in 1908. Early District No. 3 teachers were: Hattie B. Vosburgh, Laura Thomas, Addie E. Hill, Mar>- Bertherlson, Henry F. Herman, John Schaen, Effie Gray, Anna Gropp, A. M. Arveson. Mrs. Irma Larzelere was the teacher in 1921-22. The first school board consisted of Charles Herman, George Connor and George Hall.. The 1921- 22 school board consisted of Martin Kozarek, J. E. Monroe and Walter Bryant.

In the early days the settlers, after a busy day clearing land, sawing logs or working in the "pineries" would gather at the Solon Hall place where dancing and merriment were featured. This lightened the weary labors of the homesteader and others.

Principal colonists and original land owners were: Upham & Russell of Shawano and F. A. Deleglise. Land sold for from $7 to $10 per acre in 1885.

Present industries are : One saloon, owned by Louis Kruk and one cheese factory owned and operated by Umland Bros, of Birnamwood, who have been located on section 3.' Early factories were conducted by A. A. Miller and the Star Creamery, a co-operative company.

Highway No. 39 runs through the district. The Chicago & Northwestern Railroad main line runs through section 3, 9 and 16. The area of the district is 216 square miles or 3,840 acres.

District School Tax

August 27, 1881, $650 was voted as the amount requested to be assessed in district No. 3. Persons liable for that taxation were James Quinn, Charles Herman, C. W. Connor, G. W. Hall. Moses Vitelle and L. M. Ferguson. In 1881 the valuation of assessment for district No. 3 was: Real estate, $11,833.08; personal property, $922.06; total, $12,755.14.

B. F. Hall-Pioneer Cemetery

The B. F. Hall-Pioneer cemetery, named after an early settler, is located east of the E. A. Sage farmhouse on the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 15. This cemetery was surveyed by Joseph Duchac by authority of B. F. Hall in accordance with Chapter CI of the revised Wisconsin statutes of 1878.

Rolling Grange No. 635

Meetings were held at residences of members until the spring of 1917, when a hall was erected. It is located in district No. 4, on the southeast quarter corner of the southwest quarter of section 8. But for the generous donations of labor and material, cost of construction would have reached $800. Present memberships is 41.

The officers of the grange are: Master, Charles Schotte, Jr.; Overseer, Charles Servi; Assistant Steward, G. F. Kretz; Lady Assistant Steward, Hattie Schotte; Chaplain, George Hunt; Gatekeeper, Walter Monroe; Flora, Mrs. Charles Schotte; Ceres, Mrs. George Servi; Pomona, Mrs. Ferdinand David.

Meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month during the winter. In the summer months sessions are held the first and third Wednesdays. Rolling Granges have captured first, second and third prizes in exhibits at the Langlade County Fair. They are justly proud of their organization.

FERNWOOD DISTRICT. In the northwestern part of Rolling township lies an area of land 3,840 acres in extent, consisting of sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17 and 18. This area is commonly termed Fernwood by reason of a name designated by the school pupils residing in the district.

District No. 4 was one of the original Langlade County school districts. It was organized in 1880 and while the records of the first school officers are lost we have positive proof of the year of organization. It was known as district No. 9, Milltown Township, Shawano County, before Rolling township was created and attached to Langlade County.

The first settlers to arrive in this section came in 1878 and 1879. They were John McDonald, Luther and Charles Montgomery, John Rice, Theodore Luderman, John Hart!, Joseph Wild, Sr., Matt Fleischmann, Englebert Steber, John Olson, Chris Hanson, George Wenz, Charles Steckl, Joseph Modi, Julius Heschke, Wolfgang Babler, Joseph Babler, John Bitl and Weneel Zollpriester and others.

The first school was a log house erected on section 6. For four years it was used until another more pretentious structure of logs was erected on section 7. This was the knowledge center of the district until 1894 when a brick building was erected by Joseph Wild and Theodore Luderman. It cost $3,000. It was then and is yet one of the best of Langlade County schools. Mrs. F. A. Deleglise was the first teacher in the district. Miss Mabel Schultz taught the school in 1921-22. George Wenz and Theodore Luderman were Clerk and Treasurer of the district when first organized. The 1921-22 school officials were Matt

Present industries are : Springbrook Cheese Factory, purchased by John Ehman from Emil Bartz in May, 1922. It originally was a creamery owned by the farmers in the district, who sold to John Hruska. Others who owned it were Chris Wavrunek and J. Reislager (jointly), Fred Buss, George Nore, James Pavunka, Emil Bartz. The Joseph Stearn saloon was erected by John Hruska, was later operated by Chris Wavrunek, before Mr. Stearn secured it. Both industries are located on section 5.

There are forty farmers, fully alert to the possibilities of District No. 4 as an agricultural and dairying center, living in the district. Splendid roads, rural free delivery service. The Fernwood Telephone Company, organized by Matt Wachal, Jr., and an air of progressiveness and optimism all tend to make the district a blue ribbon winner.

ELMHURST DISTRICT. Before the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western Railroad pushed their main track north into the territory of Langlade County, a hardy optimistic prospector came into the wilderness of southern Langlade County and settled at what later became the thriving village of Elmhurst. This man, Frederick Spoehr, came from Shiocton, Waupaca County. He planned to locate at Antigo, but in his own words, "I decided not to because of the swampy land and marshes," and in 1880 came to section 21, township 30, range 11 east. Mr. Spoehr was preceded by W. J. Empey.

Many settlers followed. The pioneers of this district were W. J. Empey, Frederick Spoehr, Dan Butler, J. Wunderlich and sons, Mrs. Schraml, M. W. Brown, E. Ploeger, Sim Ball, James Pentony, Adam SchmoU, E. Schuster, Walter Strong, Joseph Haas and others.

As new settlers homesteaded or purchased land from land agencies or the Northwestern railroad (which, while not operating in the county then, owned large tracts of railroad land grants within it) the education of the young became a paramount necessity. Therefore a school was erected on the site of the present modern structure in the village of Elmhurst. The first school served until December 19, 1919, when it was destroyed by fire. The new school was erected at a cost of $13,000. The officers of the district in 1922-23 were H. A. Carley, Clerk; G. H. Wunderlich, Treasurer and Frank Prosser, Director. The district was organized following a petition presented by W. J. Empey and others on March 28, 1882. This territory in the township previously belonged to another district.

June 26, 1882, the town board appointed Daniel Buttler of Elmhurst to notify the electors of the newly created District No. 5 to meet at the home of James J. Haas for the first school meeting, July 18, 1882. This district was officially organized April 18, 1882, and consisted of sections 20, 21, 28, 33, 32, 29, 30, 31, 19, or the southwest quarter of the township. July 10, 1889, the boundaries of both districts No. 2 and No. 5 were changed. The northwest quarter of section 22 was placed in District No. 5.

The district experienced various changes from then until now it consists of all of sections 19, 20, 21, 30, the west half of section 29, the northeast quarter of section 29 and the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 29, the northwest quarter of section 28 and the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 28 and the northwest quarter of section 22.

Pioneer industries in this district were many. The J. S. Wunderlich & Sons industries were launched in 1881. J. S. Wunderlich and sons moved to Elmhurst from Stevensville, Outagamie County, Wisconsin, in August, 1881. They operated a saw and shingle mill for many years. George H. Wunderlich now owns considerable property in Elmhurst. He is proprietor of a sawmill, the large Bear Lake farm and a general store. His home is in Antigo, Wis. M. Brown and W. Saxon of Appleton conducted a mill in Elmhurst in 1884.

Sims & Jones, of Tuston and Appleton, Wisconsin, respectively, erected a barrel head and cheese box factory in the district in 1888. They sold out in 1894 to the Menasha Woodenware Company, which in turn sold to J. Clark of Pine River, Wisconsin, and Niels Nelson of Oshkosh. Sorenson Brothers of Tuston, Wisconsin, were then financially interested in the project. The latter owners sold to E. F. Nelson and Frank Deveau. The industry was discontinued in 1908.

The Frost Veneer Seating Company located in Langlade County first in Elmhurst in 1886. They moved to Elcho in 1887-88. Jaeger Brothers of Berlin, Wis., had a stave mill on the same site for three years later.

A. Carley. Other early hotel keepers were Thomas Irwin, who started in 1889, Wunderlich Brothers, P. Near, Frank Busch, Fred Kalkofen and E. Ploeger. Joseph Haas, Jake Fischer and Charles Abet were the three early saloon keepers.

The Modern Woodmen of America have a camp at Elmhurst. The Good Templars and F. R. A. lodges were once active in the village. Elmhurst at one time reached the high mark of 460 inhabitants and was for a short time a rival to Antigo. ^

1. Elmhurst at no time was as serious a contender for the leadership of Langlade County as was that historic region in the WoK river country where the Lily river joins the Wolf.

cated in the village. It was erected in 1891. Antigo and Birnamwood pastors serve the congregation. The Elmhurst cemetery is located on section 28.

PINE GROVE DISTRICT. Within the memory of settlers still living the south central part of Rolling Township was a dense unbroken forest penetrated only by the zig-zag trails of the Indian. Its very surface pictured the weary trials and struggles of a "squatter," homesteader or land purchaser. Yet resolute men of faith and courage braved the viccissitudes of the forest and settled in this region in 1880. Early settlers were Jacque Raess, Fred Kalkofen, Frank Hanus, Louis Ramer, and .Jacques Eric. The only permanent old pioneer still within the district is Fred Kalkofen.

Rolling township was originally four school districts. Then the fifth district followed and another change took place October 29, 1883, when District No. 6 was organized. It consisted of sections 27, 32, 33 and 34 and the south half of section 28. The district now consists of sections 27, 31, 32, 33, 34, the south half of section 28, the east half of the northeast quarter of section 28 and the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 28, the south half of the southeast quarter of section 29 and the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 29, the west half of section 35. The area contains 4,080 acres.

The district is drained by small rivulets and streams flowing through sections 27, 35, 31, 32, 33. The main line of the Chicago & Northwestern railroad runs through section 32 and a part of section 29.

of agriculture, was a sawmill erected in 1883 on the southwest quarter of section 27 by Jacques Eric, who came to this county from Winnebago County, where he then owned a farm.

The Eric sawmill brought in an influx of settlers and was responsible to a great extent for the arrival of early settlers. A terrible accident occurred in 1884 and was the direct reason for abandonment of the industry. Mr. Eric made a trip each day to Elmhurst, nearest trading settlement, to secure mail and provisions for the settlers and employes at the sawmill. He failed to return one day and upon investigation it was found that his horses had run away. The heavy load of hay slid from the wagon box as the team ran down a hill. Mr. Eric was fatally injured. Dr. F. A. Beckel, Antigo pioneer physician, was called, but his efforts were futile.

Henry Gustavus, associate of Jaques Eric, took charge of the mill, the lumber was hauled away and the mill finally moved. While operating, it furnished employment to a number of men. A little settlement grew up near the mill on section 27 during this period. It died with the mill.

The first school was erected in 1883 on the present location, section 27. It is still used. The building cost $300 when erected. First pupils were Fred, Jr., Albert, Charles, Herman, Alfred, Ernest, Amelia, Anna, Rose and Minnie Kalkofen, the Frank Hanus children, the Frank Zarda (Aniwa) children, and the Wolf family children. Indian trails abounded even at this time and many of the children had to trudge over them.

Frank Hanus, Louis Ramer and Fred Kalkofen were first Director, Clerk and Treasurer of the district. The 1922-23 school officials were Frank Huggins, Treasurer; Mrs. R. J. Doine, Clerk and Mrs. Zoa Hoj^, Director. Mrs. Jessie Huggins was the 1922-23 teacher.