Marathon County, Wisconsin - Chapter 34, 1913 (part 2 of 2)

The Eldron State Bank

was organized at the beginning of this year (1913) by A. J. Plowman. It has a capital of $10,000. Its officers are: President, Carl Roshhold; first vice president, A. J. Plowman; second vice president. E. J. Benson: cashier. Berg Olson, who. with L. S. Jacobson. Frank Scholz, Roman W'oitosek. and Peter Cherek constitute the board of directors.

This town, young as it is, has a splendid future before it, the lands being excellently adapted for potato culture as well as for corn and grains, and are a fine field for embarking in dairy fanning.

The public school in the village is a solid brick building, with a state graded school of two departments. The principal is Mrs. Mabel C. Darms; assistant, Miss Mae St. Marie. This with the other four schoolhouses in the town will soon give it decided American character.

There are two neat frame churches ; one belongs to a Scandina\ian Lutheran congregation, the services being conducted in the Norwegian language by a visiting minister from Wittenberg and was built in 1904-05. The other is called a "Union" church, situated in the village of Eldron, built four years ago by people of different Christian confessions, with the understanding between them, that service might be held therein by any of the congregations desirous of so doing, which agreement has been faithfully kept. There are now regular religious services conducte dy a minister from Wittenberg for the Scandinavian population, and the Methodist congregation is regularly visited by a student of theology from St. Lawrence College in Appleton, who conducts the service. The congregations hold their worship in true Christian spirit of toleration and harmony.

The Town Of Harrison

Harrison was set off as a separate town December 20, 1888, from portions of the towns of Easton and Texas; its present territory embraces only township 30, range 10 east. It organized in the spring of 1889, and J. C. Hogarthy was elected as its first chairman. Hogarthy was one of the first native Americans in Marathon county to go farming and remained on his fann until his death after 1900, only doing some occasional logging on the Eau Claire river near or on his land. Like all other lands this township was heavily timbered, and all of the pine was floated down to the three mills on this river and there manufactured.

There is now a small portable mill in this town doing custom sawing for farmers. The farm settlement is getting stronger in later years, but clearings are not yet very large. Much of the income of the farmers is derived from the ^ale of hardwood logs brought to the railroad landing in the to\vn of Hewitt, and the hemlock is floated down the Eau Claire river to the mill of Manser or the John Ross mill, being in the village of Scholfield.

There is as yet no cheese factory or creamery in this town, but they will soon be in existence as the clearings grow and more stock can be kept.

The town has four school districts with a good modern schoolhouse in each, and the population is of mixed nationality, some native Americans, some Scandinavians and some Germans.

This town was set off from the town of Spencer on December 21, 1888, and consists of township 26, range 3 east, less 760 acres which lie in the village of McMillan. It organized in the spring of i88g, electing its town officers with F'red. Brandt as chaimian. The tirst settlement has been referred to in the chapter on early settlements. A strong emigration set into that town, new settlers, nearly all Germans, coming in from Alarshfield, and this town shows now many large and finely cultivated farms.

One saw and plaining mill owned and operated by Aug. Junnemann does custom sawing for fanners, and with four cheese factories constitutes the industries of the town besides farming.

In 1880 a number of German Lutherans united in a congregation and incorporated in 1881 as the Evangelical Lutheran St. Peter's congregation. They built a small church of logs, 25x35. and visiting ministers from Auburndale. later from Spencer, and later still from Marshfield, conducted the services. The present stately church edifice was erected in 1894 and renovated in 1905. A parsonage was built in 1900 and a parochial schoolhouse in 1903. Since 1899 the congregation had resident ministers; the first one to reside there was Rev. T. Engel. and the present pastor is Rev. Aug. Paetz. The congregation consists now of seventy-one families.

The Town Of Emimett

The name indicates the nationality of its population. When it was created, there was a wish on the part of the inhabitants to commemorate the name of the pure Irish patriot and martyr by giving the town his name. It was organized in the spring of 1889 with the election of officers, and Felix Maguire was elected chaimian and representative in the county board. Its territory consists of township 27, range 5, and a large part, about nine sections in the south part of township 27, range 6 east. This town was settled from the village of Mosinee in early days and is included in what was then generally known as the "Irish Settlement." which stretched over the present towns of Mosinee, Emmett, and Cleveland. The whole of this town is splendid farm land, and there are some of the very finest farms that can be found in this county. The descendents of the first Irish settlers are all living on their fathers' fanns; but few have emigrated, but it is no longer a pure Irish settlement. The population is a mixed one, there being Austrians, Gemians, and Bohemians, and a few of Polish nationality, but all getting along in the best of harmony, vieing with each other in displaying the genuine American spirit of enterprise and loyalty to American institutions.

A saw mill owned and operated by Fred. W'unsch saws logs for farmers so that they can get their building material without much cost, and he also buys logs for manufacturing purposes.

There is a busy little country village named "Haider," from the name of~an old settler, which is the name of the postofifice at the place, and there are the following business enterprises carried on :

A general merchandise store by Mich. Strefter, a tavern by John Kennedy, a blacksmith business by William Dalski, and a cheese factory and a feed mill. Another store building owned by John Schirkpe is occupied by William Ress in the absence of the owner, who is the present treasurer of Marathon county. Another cheese factory, owned by farmers and conducted on the cooperative plan, exists in this town.

The town has five school districts, each with a good schoolhouse. The school at Haider is a state graded school with two departments, giving instructions up to the eighth grade. The principal in that school is Miss Anna Hoard ; assistant, Miss Edna Wachtel. The enrollment is sixty-five.

The population with few exceptions adheres to the teachings of the Catholic church. A church building was erected soon after settlement began, but in 1906 to 1907 the old church was replaced by a new edifice, a solid brick building, at a cost of over $12,000, named St. Patrick's Church. It is still a mission of the parish of Mosinee, but a parsonage is being built now, and there will not doubt be a resident priest at Haider within a short time. The congregation is large, including about two-thirds of the population. The prominent members of the church with respect of length of residence are the families of Robert Freem.an, the O'Connors, the Maguires. and the Fitzgeralds.

The Town Of Frankfort

Frankfort was set off from the town of Wien in 1889 and organized as a separate political entity in the year 1890. The first chainnan was Edw. Protze. The settlement did not begin until 1877 and was slow, owing to the fact that from the west boundary line it is thirtv miles from Wausau and twelve miles to Colby, from where settlers had to go into that town. Fred. Michler and Fred Eggebrecht and Boehn became the first settlers in- 1877, locating with their families. They were followed in 1878 by Edw. Protze, John Simpson, and Henry Von Osten. The road from Wausau to the town of Wien was then fairly good, but from Colby there the road was impassable nearly all year around except in the winter. Of course the territory was heavily timbered. There was yet no sale for any other than pine timber, and the great distance to any mill left no profit in logging it and hauling it to market. The hardwood timber had to be burned. There was no market for it nor for many years to come. Nevertheless the newcomers were Germans, who came with an intention to make a farm, and they succeeded admirably ; every year came some succor until the town is now well settled, especially in the northern part. The pioneer farmers have become wealthy and independent citizens. There were two saw mills in the town until lately when the saw mill of Eggebrecht & Hamann burned down and was not rebuilt; the saw mill of Swan is now owned by George Ellenbecker and is running, doing custom sawing.

There are no churches yet in this town, the people attending the churches in the town of Wien, which are within one mile from the boundary line of the town.

The town is di\-ided in six school districts, each with a good schoolhouse. The town is named "Frankfort," after the city of Frankfurt, in Germany, the former home of Edw. Protze.

This town was established by the county board in June, 1890, and its first representative on the board was Hiram \\'alker: afterwards William W. Thayer was repeatedly elected and reelected and served also as chairman of the county board. The town is composed of township 29, range 10 east. This town is still heaxily timbered, especially on the north and northeast side, and until lately the largest part of the farmer settlement was in the northern portions.

The population is German, Scandinavian, and lately a goodly number of natives of Holland have settled in the southern portion, but there are also a few native Americans, as for instance William Thayer.

Axd Refresextatre Citizens 575

exist until lately and logs were brought to the logging spur track of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, which runs into the town of Hewitt from the city of Merrill and took the logs to the Wright and Heinemann mills in Merrill and to Barker & Stewart in Wausau.

The town is comparatively new, the farm settlement hardly antedating the organization of the town, but the influx of the German, Scandinavian, and Hollander was purely for farming, while the first settlers. Americans, had been more or less engaged in logging.

The town is divided in four school districts with five schoolhouses, the fourth district being a joint district, part of it lying in the town of Plover and the town of Norrie. The new settlers in that town are making great headway in clearing up land and getting stock. In a few years this town will be as prosperous as any of the older towns.

There is a neat frame church in this town, which was built in 1909. and the congregation incorporated under the laws of Wisconsin in 191 1. The church stands one-half a mile east of the Eau Claire bridge on the town line road. It is of the Presbyterian confession, and the ser\'ice is held in the language of Holland. The ministers are supplied by the classis or the home missionary board. The number of families belonging to the church are twelve, with seventy-five souls.

The Town Oe Cassel

The town of Cassel was created November 12, 1891, and in the ensuing election John Werner was elected the first chairman and representative of the town in the county board. This town was settled by the Pittsburg settlers' club as much as the town of Marathon. The village of Marathon City was laid out on the east boundary line of this town, and when the settlers came, they located south and west of the proposed village. Eully as many of the first settlers located in the present town of Cassel, if not more, than in the town of Marathon. One look at the plat of this town shows the names of Schilling, Lemmer, Heil, Osterbrink, Bluhm, Lang, Burger, Langenhahn, and others, who all belong to the pioneer class. \\' hen set off it was a part of the town of Marathon, and numerically as strong as the old town.

The tide of emigration turned strong to Cassel after 1877. The newcomers were mostly of Polish nationality, and they constitute now at least half, if not more, of the population. Some of the first comers of this later group were the Kordus family, Michlig, Eons, and Pospychalla and others. and they settled on land which had been brought in market through the adver- tisement given to the lands by J. M. Smith and the Wisconsin Valley Railroad. This town is now one of the most populous in the county, and the famis are in a high state of cultivation.

There is one saw mill in the town doing custom sawing only, which is for the farmers' interest; until lately it was owned by A. Bumann, but report has it that it was lately sold, but the new owner will oiierate the mill as before on the old place.

The town lies between Marathon City on the east, and Edgar on the west, and Fenwood on the southwest, each village with a cheese factory or creamery, still there are three cheese factories in this town, running the whole of the season, which shows that there is good stock and plenty of feed for the same in the town, and that farming is profitable.

Seven schoolhouses in as many districts are conclusive evidence that a new generation is growing up, and there is a parochial school besides.

A Polish Catholic congregation has a fine solid brick church edifice built twenty years ago at the cost of $20,000; also a parsonage, and later a parochial schoolhouse with two departments, in charge of two scliool sisters, built of the same material, well finished inside and outside. Rev. John Miller is the resident priest.

The Town Of Hewitt

Hewitt was set ofif from the town of Harrison in 1894 and had its first town election in the spring of 1895, which resulted in the election of Henry McLean as chairman.

It was very sparsely settled at the time and little timber cut except the pine. A spur track of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad runs into that town from the city of Merrill, running nearly straight east from Merrill and tlien south through sections 3, 10, and 15 in this town. The object of this spur track is to haul the hemlock and other timber there in profusion to the mills at Wausau and Merrill.

Although farming is of recent origin, there is a creamery located in this town getting enough of a supply to make butter during the whole season.

One Evangelical Lutheran church was built seven or eight years ago, the minister in charge of the congregation coming to visit his flock regularly from Aniwa. Langlade countv.

And Representative Citizens 577 The Town Of Ringle

The town of Ringle embraces now township 28, north of range 9 east. It was established January 9, 1901, and organized in the spring of the same year. C. L. Wyatt was elected first chairman of the town, and successively every year since. The Chicago & Northwestern Railroad has a station in this town, named "Ringle," at which place there is a little village, and there is considerable freight shipped from this point.

At Ringle is located the brick yards of the Ringle Brick Company, its product being indicated by its name. The capital stock is $30,000. It employs twenty men on an average throughout the year. The payment for labor is $10,000, the value of the product $20,000. The office of the corporation is in W'ausau. Its officers are: President, John Ringle; vice president, John Miller; treasurer, Gustav Mueller, and secretary, John Ringle, Jr. A side track of the Chicago & Northwestern runs in the yard to facilitate shipping.

John Lotholz has a saw mill which has been running for many years and manufactured a large amount of lumber annually. At the station Ringle there is a general merchandise store conducted by Herman Lemke, and another store of the same kind by Ernest Lemke. The settlement is of late date : the settlers are of a nationality not heretofore coming to Marathon county: they are natives of Holland and make excellent farmers.

There are two schoolhouses in this town, and with the ease with which natives of Holland learn the English language, it will be but a short time when this town is altogether American in character.

The Town Of Franzen

This town was set off from the town of Eldron in the year 1901. It consists of township 26, range 10 east, and elected A. J. Torgerson as its first chainnan in the spring of the same year. A large saw mill was operated until the year 191 1 when it shut down for want of pine timber supply. The town is divided in three school districts, each with a good school.

There are no churches in that town as yet, the population worshipping in the churches of the neighboring town, at Bevant and in Eldron, in the town of Pine Lake mainly. It is only a few years that this town has been opened to settlement by the building of roads, and in a few more years it will become as largely settled as any other town. It is very sparsely settled now, the

The Town Of Bern

This town was set off from the town of Halsey in igo2 and organized as a separate town in the spring of 1903, electing John C. Searing as its first chairman.

The town consists of township 30. range 3 east, excepting the east onehalf of east one-half of section 36, which remained attached to the village of Athens. The population in this town is purely a fanning community.

One cheese factory has been built and is in operation, conducted on the co-operative plan. The majority of the fanners are of the German nationality, at least of Gennan descent.

There are three school districts with a new modern schoolhouse in each district. Xo church exists yet in this town, as the bulk of the population are inhabiting the eastern part of the town and have joined the congregations in the nearby village of Athens.

The Town Of Flieth

This town was set off from the town of Weston as a separate town January 6, 1905, to consist of all of township 28, north of range 6 east, lying west of the Wisconsin river. The town when set ofT by the county board on that date was given the name of "Erickson," from George Erickson, who was afterwards elected as the first chainnan of said town. This act of the county board was ratified and confirmed by the Legislature in the session of 1905, but the name of the town was changed to "Flieth."

The town is bounded on the east by the Wisconsin river, and Rib river flows near its north boundary line and empties in the W^isconsin at the foot of Rib Hill. There are several quartz quarries which furnish the material for the Wausau sandpaper facton,- and the \\'ausau quartz mill.

There are two school districts each with a good schoolhouse in that district, and one German Evangelical Lutheran church, which is a mission to the Evangelical Lutheran church of Wausau, Reverend Schroedel of the Zion's congregation holding religious serA'ice. The church was originally a schoolhouse, but was purchased by the small congregation for their church about twelve years ago.

The town claims to have a larger number of registered cattle than anv town in Marathon county, considering the population. In 1902 J. J. Bean introduced the first registered stock in the town of FHeth, and at this date there are five registered herds of Guernsey, two of Holstein, and one of Jersey in that town. It is the plan of the fanners of that town to make it famous in the county for its registered stock.

In the foregoing chapters all manufacturing industries in Marathon county have been mentioned; the manufacture of lumber is no longer the only industry which gives employment to men. Lumber is slowly but surely taking second place in importance, relinquishing to paper and iron the first place so long occupied.

But farm products play an ecpially strong part with manufactures. It is a fact established by official figures that some of the creamery and cheese factories have paid out annually to farmers for milk the sum of $65,000. Not all of them have done as much business, but many have not fallen far below these figures, and there are ninety-three creameries and cheese factories in this county, and the income from these products, it is conservative to estimate from two to three million dollars, which goes directly to the farmers of Marathon county, to say nothing about other farm products like grain, root crops, and stock.

It is needless to review again the advantages of Marathon county, but the farmer who owns his land (and 99 per cent of the Marathon county farmers do) can look confidently in the future enjoying his independence and increasing wealth.

Another item to which attention is called is the capital of the banks in Marathon county. The combined capital of the banks in Marathon county in round numbers is nearly $1,300,000. The deposits in these banks are $5,895,643.89. These figures are more convincing than any glo,wing argument that this county stands in the front ranks of counties in the state in wealth, as it stands in the front ranks by reason of the intelligent, industrious, and economic population which inhabits its borders.