Edgar Village

Edgar Village

was platted by Alfred L. Carey, attorney of the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western Railroad, in September, 189 1, but several additions have been platted since. The village was incorporated from part of the town of Wien in the year 1898 and Mich. Bowe was its first representative in the county board of Marathon county. In anticipation of the coming of the railroad, S. M. Ouaw and George Gumaer had erected a large saw mill close to the station and began sawing lumber in 1891. There was and still is, a wealth of fine hardwood timber for miles, and also pine; a large part, however, had been logged off long before by Joseph Dessert and Sebastian Kronenwetter, who had camps in the vicinity and floated the logs out on Scotch creek, down to Mosinee. But in those years only the best of pine was taken, and what was left brought better prices afttr the railroad came, than the best before. This mill has been in continuous operation ever since, and millions of feet were manufactured every year; the lumber manufactured in later years being mainly hemlock and hardwood. After the death of Giunaer the partnership was incorporated as the S. M. Quaw Lumber Company, which was in business until January i, 1913, when it sold out to Gustav Ringle and M. N. Schill, who carry on the business vmder the firm name of Ringle & Schill.

The wish of the people of Edgar to secure some other industry which would use the fine hardwood timber for a higher price article culminated in an association of Edgar business men and fanners, notably August Baesemann and Gustav Herman of the latter class, to build a veneer factory in 1 91 2 which would work up the splendid hardwood close to the village, and for which the raw material would outlast generations. When the mill was nearly complete an ofifer was made to them to sell to Eamy Brothers, who agreed to convert the plant into a basket factory. As a new industry the offer was accepted and the plant sold to them, and the factory lost no time

And Representative Citizens 503

An excelsior mill was erected in 1910 which is increasing its capacity and uses a large amount of basswood bolts. It is owned and operated by Justine Means.

One of the earliest industries, its establishment being simultaneous with the beginning of the village, is the Brick and Tile Works operated by Thomas Hill, which has a history of its own. This brickyard, which has the best material that can be desired, was first opened and worked by William Smith. He incorporated the business and sold out to August Martin, who after one year's operation sold out to August Kickbusch of Wausau. He in turn sold it to Thomas Hill and J. D. Pradt, the latter managing it for three years. Then Thomas Hill took complete charge of the same, and under his management it came up to its present flourishing condition. There were sold from this yard since Mr. Hill managed it, as high as two million brick a year, and fifteen men were employed on an average. The bricks from this yard are sold on every station along the line of the railroad, including Wausau.

Of professional men there are : Drs. H. A. Vedder and H. H. Zaun, physicians and surgeons; Dr. A. B. Crawford, dentist; J. H. Koehler, veterinary.

The real estate man of this active village is C. C. Barrett, who has not only the sale of village lots, but also of farming and timber lands, and for years administered the law as justice of the peace. A. C. Wagner is the postmaster of Edgar.

Of commercial houses there are: C. C. De Long & Co., Michael Bowe, E. W. Pfrang, L. H. Moll and Slepyan & Buntman, who keep a stock of general merchandise of all kinds. A. W. Puchner has a hardware store and a stock of steel, iron and tinner's shop, and machinery. Another hardware store is kept by Ottowa & Paeske. F. J. Tomkowitz conducts the village drug store and C. Wagner & Son a furniture store and undertaking. Franz Bauer runs a machine shop, and Charles W. Hahn and Carl Paul each a blacksmith shop, and Joseph' Pivernetz is the wagonmaker. Julius Werner has a harness shop and Frank Jonas a cigar factory, and a 5 and 10 cent store is carried on by Fritz Neese. Frank Schroeder is the painter and also barber, and another barber shop is kept by William Bier. Meat markets are kept by John Hohl and V. Krejcie, and a poolroom and barber shop by Fred. Paszek. A. J. Cherney is a dealer in wood, coal, grain, etc., and another saw and shingle mill is operated by Mr. Marcz.

There are four hotels : The Hoenish Hotel, owned and conducted by Miss Rose Hoenish ; the Forest House, proprietor, C. D. Rifleman ; one conducted by John Socha, and a hotel and restaurant, by John Krass.

Edgar has a telephone company, duly incorporated, with C. C. Barrett as president and William Bier as manager, with seventy-five telephones, which with their connections in Edgar, Cassel, and Emmet, gives its patrons one hundred and ninety telephones ; besides which it has connections with six other circuits in Marathon county. Its telephone station opens at 7 A. M. and closes at 10 P. M., and night calls are promptly answered.

Edgar has a large public hall, which is owned by the lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America, or some of the members, being in reality owned by a stock company. The hall has a stage, scenery and curtain, and answers the purposes of a lecture, entertainment and dance hall. It is large and well finished.

Probably better than from any other description, the business done at Edgar may be estimated from an examination of the statement of its State Bank.

appears regularly every Friday during the last five years and is edited and owned by Earl B. Crawford, a practical newspaper man. It is a large, full sheet six column paper, and the advertisement hst shows that it is recognized as a good medium for business advertisements, not only bj^ the people of Edgar, but by business and professional men throughout the county. It advances everything of benefit to its native village and is a very readable, newsy paper in general.

School

The village of Edgar has a high school with a four-year term, and a state graded school. The following is the staff of teachers: Principal, J. E. Giesell ; first assistant, Miss Lillian Thompson : second assistant. Miss Selma Gross; seventh and eighth grades. Miss Bessie Allen; fifth and sixth grades. Miss Laura Klein ; third and fourth grades. Miss Edith Ballard ; kindergarten. Miss Mabel Roseth.

The Catholic St. John the Baptist Church - In the year 1899 a few German Catholic families organized this congregation. They built the church at what is now "Beach street," and a few years afterwards, owing to the rapid growth of the village as well of the congregation, were compelled to move it onto its present location west of this street. It has a much greater area now and is finely situated. For some years it remained a mission, attended b)^ priests from Marshfield, Stratford and Cassel. In the year 1905 a nice brick parsonage was built and in 1906 the Rev. John T. Ellmaurer became the first resident priest. When he resigned his charge in Jul)', 1909. Rev. ]\I. Haas was appointed to succeed him and under his charge the church was enlarged and remodeled. He resigned June i, 1912, and the present resident priest, Rev. F. X. Orthen, took his place. Under his administration the parish got clear of all debts, and further improvements are contemplated. The parish is steadily growing and counts now one hundred and fifty families.

The German Evangelical Lutheran St. Stephen's Church - The congregation was organized in 1893 and the edifice erected in 1894, and religious service was conducted by Rev. P. Karl Schmalz until the year 1910, when the congregation felt strong enough to call for a resident minister; the congregation has grown to a membership of fifty families and it is still served by Reverend Schmalz, the resident minister of the town of Wien.

And Representative Citizens 507

The German Evangelical Lutheran St. Paul's church was built in the year 1900. Like the St. Stephen's congregation, it has no resident minister yet, but regular service is held by pastors from neighboring villages or towns. The present minister in charge of the congregation is Reverend Janke. Sixteen families constitute the congregation.

The Presbyterian church was built in 1900 and has no resident minister yet, but religious service is conducted regularly every Sunday. The present visiting minister is Reverend McKane.

The Village Of Fexwood

was platted by Alfred L. Carey, the attorney for the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western Railroad, November 18, 1891, about the time when that railroad struck the place; it was incorporated as a village from part of the town of Wien, April 16, 1904, and its first representative in the county board of Marathon county was W. A. Somers. At the time the railroad struck the place, C. S. Curtis of Wausau erected a large saw mill, which was in operation until 1910, when it ceased sawing. The mill is still there and in not far distant time may begin sawing again, there being still an abundance of hardwood timber within short hauling distance. There is a large cheese factory in the village, getting its milk from the farmers in the towns of Wien and Cleveland ; it is owned by farmers and has been very profitable. John Brinkmann and Emil Szebsdat, under firm name of Brinkmann & Szeljsdat. keep a general store, and George Wetterau keeps the tavern or hotel in the village. Emil Szebsdat is also the village postmaster.

There are two German Evangelical Lutheran congregations, holding their services in the schoolhouse and attended by the resident ministers of the town of Wien. There is a nice frame schoolhouse; the school is a state graded school with two departments. The principal is Vallborg Hermanson, and Miss Gertrude Kurtzweil is assistant. There is an average attendance of forty-five pupils in both departments.

The village of McMillan voted for incorporation in November, 1891, and G. H. Reynolds, who was at the time the bookkeeper for McMillan Brothers, who operated the saw mill in the village, was elected supervisor in the following spring, and became its first representative in the county board.

of this large mill establishment, mentioned in chapter on settlement on the "Wisconsin Central Towns," and their employees. It had a population of over two hundred some years after its incorporation, but has steadily declined. Since the mill stopped operations in 191 1, no business of any importance has been carried on. B. F. McMillan still resides there and he is heavily interested in other industrial establishments in Marathon county, as for instance, the Mosinee Paper Mill. He is a strong advocate of good county roads and a practical road builder. When the city of Wausau began macadamizing its streets in 1901. he was good enough to lend his two carts for rock hauling and unloading crushed rocks to the city without charge. He has a farm and is a stockraiser, in which enterprise A. E. Beebe, the village postmaster, is interested with him. There is a school in the village conducted on the plan of a district school.

The Village Of Athens

One of the youngest, but the most populous and most active of all villages in Marathon county, is the hustling village of Athens. It is between twentyeight and thirty miles in a northwesterly direction from Wausau, and fifteen miles northeast of Abbottsford. The Sault Ste. Marie & M. Railroad owns now the spur built into the village by Fred Rietbrock, so that it is directly connected with one of the trunk railroad lines of the state.

The large business of this thriving burg is summarized up in this short statement : It has three large saw mills, a heading and stave factory, a canthook factory and a flour mill. During the winter of 191 1 to 1912 the freight shipments averaged five hundred cars per month. The products exported by rail were dairy products, lumber, pulpwood, bark, cordwood and bolts. There is a sufficient amount of timber standing to supply the mills with logs for the next twenty-five years. To manufacture all this freight, there is need for willing hands to work, and need for import of such things as make life comfortable, which are supplied by the commercial houses of the village. The splendid farming communities furnish also a large part of the mutual commerce which goes to benefit all the people of the community.

The beginning of Athens hardly dates back to 1880, when everything was in its wild, original state, except for the pine, which was cut in early days along the shores of the streams and floated out, leaving only the stumps as - witnesses of a past age. A vast change has taken place in and around the territory in this short space of time, and where there was fomierly unbroken forest, with an occasional cutting of pine which would have been hardly noticeable except to the trained eye of the woodsman, there are now rising the spires of great church edifices, fine residences and well laid out streets, good hotels and stores where every comfort and even articles of luxury can be had, greet the visitors, and roomy and neat schoolhouses and the many highly cultivated fields which the travelers pass before they reach the village are proof that there is a civilization which may pass comparison with some of the oldest settlements in this wide land.

Athens is situated on the high land in the southwestern part of section 31, township 30, range 4 east, as originally laid out and platted, but includes now portions of three townships. On the north and east of the village runs Black creek, a large stream which empties in Rib river about six miles further east. The village stands on a plateau gently rising towards the west, affording an excellent drainage in two directions into Black creek, so named in distinction from Black river. The village was located in the midst of a splendid hardwood forest mixed with white pine, which extended for many miles in every direction. On the shores of Black creek the white pine predominated and logging was carried on in the vicinity for years in early days, but it was confined to the cutting of the logs in close proximity to the streams.

The founder of the village was Fred Rietbrock, of the law firm of Johnson, Rietbrock & Halsey, of Milwaukee. Fred Rietbrock came to Wausau first in the year 1876, no doubt attracted by the opening of the country by the Wisconsin Valley Railroad and the advertising given to this section of the state by that railroad and by J. M. Smith, their land agent residing at Wausau. Rietbrock became convinced of the adaptability of the forest lands of this county for agricultural purposes and bought a large tract with the intention of bringing settlers to the lands from the congested districts of the big cities. He was successful in settling first a number of people of the Polish nationality from Milwaukee in the present town of Rietbrock, although some of them returned to Milwaukee, but many stayed and became substantial farmers. He increased the land holdings of his company in this county in the northwest until they had quite a large compact tract of land, which it was Rietbrock's intention to colonize.

In 1879 he. in company with William Allen, the county surveyor, cruised over the land holdings of the company, examining it as to timber, facilities for a road and adaptability for farming. They had passed Black creek going west; after examining the surroundings, and worn and weary from the long tramp through the woods, they sat down on a big rock, which reared its head out of the ground, and Fred Rietbrock exclaimed. "This is a good place to lay

In the year 1879 Rietbrock cut out a road from Dorchester to his settlement in the present town of Rietbrock, which shortened the distance to the same by more than twelve miles than on the road from Wausau, besides giving prospective settlers from Milwaukee and the lower part of the state a direct railroad communication to Dorchester, and from there to his lands, instead of going the roundabout way from the south to Tomah and up to Wausau. In the same year he brought some settlers in from Dorchester and built a log house, named the Company's House, as a sort of station, and called the place Black Creek Falls. He saw the necessity of providing some employment for newcomers to enable them to earn some means in the first years of their settlement until their farms could support them, and also the need to supply lumber for buildings without going too far a distance, and in 1880 he built a saw and planing mill at Black Creek, which burned down the following year, but was promptly rebuilt and has been in operation ever since, only greatly improved and enlarged. The cut of lumber was from five to seven million feet annually.

Meanwhile the settlement grew, and in order to gi\"e encouragement, Rietbrock, in company with Charles Schlaegel. of West Bend, erected a flour mill. This flour mill, like the saw mill, still exists, being incorporated in 1892 as the "Ceres Roller Mill." with George Schlaegel, a grandson of Charles Schlaegel, as general manager.

Communications with the outside world were still ver\^ deficient, as new roads in a new country running through the forest always are, and in order to improve the condition in that respect he set himself to work to induce the Wisconsin Central Railroad to build a line to Black Creek Falls, and failing, tmdertook and succeeded in building himself a railroad from Abbottsford to the village, completing the line in the year 1889. It was named Abbottsford- North Eastern Railroad. By this road there was an outlet for logs and lumber, which was of much benefit to farmers, who were obliged to cut down the timber to make room for fields. After the completion of this road the settlement increased quicker and the country developed rapidly. To encourage farming, he had a farm cleared himself, called the "Helendale Farm," which will be noticed later.

The first settlers in what is now Athens, were Henn,^ Degner. Andrew Kreutzer and William Rietz, who came November ;. 1880: but Henry Degner had been there in 1879. \vhen Rietbrock built the Company House, and returned to his home in Grafton, Wisconsin, getting ready for his change of residence. When they arrived at Black Creek they found fifteen persons, mostly employees of Rietbrock, in the Company House, one of them being Mrs. Franz Albrecht, the housekeeper, and all living in the same house. Early in 1 88 1 came Louis Klein, who built the first private house in Black Creek Falls and opened a store and saloon, but a fann settlement had sprung up in every direction from Athens.

A flour mill and residence was built by one Kaiser from Manitowoc, which ran three years and was afterwards bought by the Rietbrock Company and used by them as a warehouse. In the same year Andrew Kreutzer built his residence there, and Henry Degner a carpenter shop and J. C. Searing moved into the village from his land in the town of Halsey and, building a log house, kept the first boarding house.

Fred Schultz, an emigrant coming directly from the city of Berlin, Germany, came in 1882, and built a house which, when remodeled, became the Central Hotel, being owned now and conducted by Alex Bloczynski.

Another newcomer built a hardware store, but finding the business unprofitable, sold his place to the father of Henry Degner, after which Henry Degner opened a hardware store himself and carried it on successfully until 1910, when he retired. The building is now being used as a drug store.

The Athens Hotel was completed in 1887 by Mr. Blecha, who conducted it on a high plane, Mrs. Blecha being an excellent landlady, whose kitchen and rooms were the delight of the traveling public. It is now owned and conducted by Henry Bopf, under whose management the hotel keeps up its old reputation.

In 1889 Henry Degner built a barrel-heading factory, which he operated for five years, and then incorporated the business under the firm name of "Degner Stave and Heading Company." The factory was sold in 1910 to E. E. Winch & Co., of Marshfield, who continue the business under the old name.

The village had grown sufiliciently now to warrant its incorporation as a village, which was done on July 15, 1901. and the order for incorporation was ratified by vote on August 10, 1901. The first election for village officers was held on September 7, 1901, and resulted in the election of the following named gentlemen: President, Henry Kreutzer; clerk. J. D. Riley; treasurer. Peter Schmidt; with E. E. Schlegel, F. Blecha. John Chessak, E. Burgess. G. Sutter and Joseph Braun as trustees. George Kreutzer was elected as supervisor to represent the village in the county board.

Mathias Braun. who had built a saw mill in Ponatowski. removed his plant to Athens in 1891, where it is still operated under the firm name of Braun

The Chessak Saw and Planing Mill was built in 1891 and under the firm name of Chessak, Munes & Co., has been in continuous operation since, except one year, when the mill was used as a hub factory. The business is now incorporated under the name of Athens Manufacturing Company, with the following named gentlemen as officers : President, Joseph Chessak ; vice president, Anton M. Munes ; secretary and general manager, John H. Chessak.

Blacksmith shops are conducted by Gustave Gruenwald, William Kissinger, William Adams and Joseph Kuhl ; they each have a wagon shop in connection with it. Another blacksmith shop is conducted by the Rietbrock Land & Lumber Co.

Commercial Athens is represented by the following: General merchandise, by Anton Munes, George A. Kreutzer. Athens Farmer Store, and Joseph Markus. Jewelry by C. F. Hamilton and Benjamin Stack. Groceries and confectionery by Gustave Gruenwald. R. H. Schneider and Mrs. Rapberger. Gentlemen's furnishings and tailoring by Hugo Belz. Boots and shoes by Frank Schubert. Meat markets by George Blecha and F. C. Busche. Photographs by Mrs. Louis Stack. Millinery by Mrs. Joseph Bauman. Tonsorial artists, John Williams. Emil Schroeder and Max Virks. Restaurant by Schroeder Brothers. Livery, barn and sale stables by William Lehman. Joseph Baumann. L. Fried. Stock dealer, Christ Kainer. Painter and decorator, Fred Romang.

The Marathon County Creamery Company was organized in ^larch, IQ06, for the manufacture of cheese and butter. During the year 19 12 this finn paid for milk to the farmers in the surrounding countn^ the sum of $5;, 000. Its officers are : President, William Riehle : vice president, Reinhold Paersch ; treasurer, M. M. Schaetzel ; general manager. J. H. Jenkins.

And Representative Citizens 513 Opera House

The village is not without an excellent hall for entertainments. It is called the "Opera House": it has a very large seating capacity, which can be used for a dance hall when needed, a stage with a good stage setting and a dining room. Theatrical troups visit the place from time to time and are always welcome. The general manager of the same is Hubert Esser.

The Athens Record

Nor is the place without a good weekly newspaper. The Athens Record was established by some public-spirited citizens in 1901 and enjoys a good circulation and advertisement list. The people evidently are awake to the value of a good local newspaper.

The business is incorporated with E. C. Rietbrock as president, G. A. Schlegel as vice president, W. L. Erbach as secretary and treasurer, and J- ^^^ Conway is the responsible editor.

Athens has a large public square with a fine bandstand, which is evidence that it was expected that the people would assemble on patriotic occasions and will not be without the inspiring strains of a band of music.

The laying out of a public square, so often neglected when a new village or city is platted at a time when land is of but little value, is simply another evidence that the village was platted by a man who looked to the future and foresaw the growth of the place and that a public square would not be a bad investment, even from a money point of view.

The Helendale Farm

The Helendale Farm, on the outskirts of Athens, comprises only forty acres, but is known not only throughout the state, but all over the United States, through its breed of finest and purest Guernsey cows. The world's official butter record was made on that farm. The Guernsey cow, known to breeders as "Yekso Sunbeam," has completed the largest record of any cow in the world for butter, the test being made under public supervision and an advanced register and at an agricultural experiment station.

The highest record was reached from October i, 1904, to September 30, 1905, with 14,920.8 pounds of milk, 5.74 average per cent, and 857.15 pounds of butter fat. Adding one-sixth to this butter fat to cover weight of salt and water found in the butter, the result is 1,000 pounds of butter for one year.

The land business of Johnson, Rietbrock & Halsey was conducted as a copartnership until 1901, in which year Fred Rietbrock bought the interest of his partners and organized the "F. Rietbrock Land & Lumber Co." He died in Athens after an active business life of over twenty-five years devoted to the development of the northwestern part of Marathon county, in the year 1906, and is interred in the city of Milwaukee. The good work done by him in that respect was recognized in giving the three towns mainly settled through his efforts the names of the partners of his firm, Rietbrock. Johnson and Halsey.

The present officers of this corporation are : President, A. C. Rietbrock ; vice president, W. L. Erbach, and William C. Klann. secretary and treasurer.

About twenty years ago the village purchased the old hand fire engine of the city of W'ausau, which had rendered so valiant service to W'ausau before the installation of the waterworks, and a voluntan,' fire company is organized in Athens, which is doing as good work as the old company did in Wausau. which is the highest praise that can be bestowed upon the Athens company.

The Bank of Athens is another institution founded by Athens business men, which has materially assisted in the growth and wealth of the village and surrounding country.

And Representative Citizens 515

The officers of the bank are : President, A. L. Kreutzer ; vice president, George A. Kreutzer; cashier, R. Neuenschwander ; assistant cashier, George D. Fulmer. Directors : A. L. Kreutzer, George A. Kreutzer, R. Neuenschwander, J. H. Chesak, C. S. Gilbert, H. G. FHeth and W. Alexander.

Athens has a high school with a full four years' course. The principal is S. G. Corey; assistant, Miss Manner. Grade teachers: Lillian Kreutzer, first grade ; Bessie Delap, second and third grades ; Edith Laumar, fourth and fifth grades ; Lotta Lowther, sixth and seventh grades ; Laurine Irle, eighth grade.

It organized in 1886 and under the supervision of Rev. A. J. Joerres of Colby, built the church in 1887. It had no resident priest for some time, and the resident pastor at Poniatowski held regular services in the church until July, 1896, when Rev. Anthony E. Muehlenkamp was appointed rector and took up his residence at Athens. Under his charge the parish rapidly grew and it became necessary to build a larger church, which was begun in the year 1904, and completed and the church dedicated August 5, 1906. The cost of this new church was $30,000.

A parochial school was instituted in connection with the church as early as 1901, which, like the church, became too small and a new one was built and completed in 1908, costing $10,000. The congregation is in a flourishing condition, numbering over one hundred and fifty families. Of the pioneer members many have died, but the following still remain: Frank Albrecht, Jr., Adam Albrecht, Michael Schrein, John Junk, John C. Searing, John Stremer, Edmond Stremer, Math. Rausch, and Mrs. J. Munes.

Rev. Anthony E. Muehlenkamp is still resident priest, and the building of the stately church and parish school are testimonials of the high regard in which he is held by his congregation.

The Evangelical Christ congregation (Evangelical Christus Kirche) was organized early after the beginning of the settlement in Black Creek Falls, a missionary holding divine services. The present church was erected in 1896, and Reverend Hardenstein became the first resident pastor and still is in charge of the congregation.

The church is a fine brick building and the congregation is large. It has the Ladies' Aid Society, a good choir and a Young People's Society. President, Henry Kreutzer; vice president, Joseph Braunwalter; secretary, R. Neuenschwander; treasurer, G. Romang.

The Evangelical Communion church (Evangelical Gemeinschafts Kirche) was erected in 1900. This congregation has as yet no resident pastor, but is visited regularly every two weeks by Reverend Krueger from Dorchester, who conducts the religious service.

Gennan Evangelical Lutheran Trinity Church ( Dreieinigkeits Kirche) - This congregation is the oldest in the village : it was organized on the 20th day of August, 1882. The church was erected in 1886; divine services were held for the first four years in the public schoolhouse by Pastor Theodore Buengel. The resident pastor is Rev. William Knauf. who is in charge of the congregation since the year 1902.

The Presbyterian Church - Throusrh the efforts of the First Presb\i:erian church, of Wausau, is due the organization of this congregation, which was effected in the year 1901, and a church was built in the following year. The late Reverend Knudson, a pioneer in home missionary work, ser\'ed this church from its inception until 1903, He was followed by Revs. W. J. Agnew. J. D. Strauss and W. M. Morrison. \\'hen the last named one removed, the church was without regular service until Rev. C. F. Geiger was called as minister in May, 1911, which position he still holds. He has organized a "Christian Endeavor," and "Ladies' Aid Society." of which latter Mrs. Geiger is president. The congregation is now in a flourishing condition.

The City Of Colby

Avas incorporated under Chapter 128, Laws of 1901 ; its territory comprises one section of land, one-half thereof, west half of section 18, township 28. range 2 east, lying in Marathon county; and the other half, east half of section 13, in township 28, north of range i east, lying in Clark county. The railroad right of way runs on the county boundary line and divides the city, the two parts being named east ward and west ward. The whole population, according to the Federal census in 1910. was 774. The first supen-isor rep-

And Represextative Citizen'S 517

The beginning of Colby dates Jjack to the building of the Central Railroad, which came to that place in 1873. At the building of the railroad it was confidently expected that the main line road running to St. Paul would branch off at Colby, and there was much disapi^ointment, justifiable it would seem, owing to the fact that the railroad passed Colby, going about two miles further north, and there laid out another village, named it Abbottsford, and branched ofif from that spot. Xevertheless Colby became a thriving village; the farm lands on all sides being taken up year after year and cultivated, and the eye of the traveler rests with pleasure on the waving fields of grain and corn and soft green meadows which border on the right of way of the road.

The city incorporated to be under one government and work together for the common good, instead of having two separate governments, each jealous of the other. The waterworks as well as the electric lighting plants are municipal plants, and a patriotic voluntary fire company is organized to protect property from fire. This fire company and the protection afforded by the waterworks was of great service in preventing the spread of fire during the disastrous forest fires of two and three years ago.

The city has a large public building with a lecture hall and for public meetings, which also contains the public library, which seems to have been the first public library in the county, being established in 1879. long before Wausau had one, the Pine Knot Library of ^^'ausau hardly deserving the title or being in fact a "public" library.

On the east or Marathon county side are the following business houses: The saw mill of Umhoefer & W^eiks, which has been in operation for at least twenty-five years.

The foundry and machine shop originally built by N. P. Peterson, a pioneer, who came in 1873 from Wausau to Colby and from a small beginning as a blacksmith built up the establishment to its present large proportions, and only sold out a short time ago on account of advancing age and a desire of well earned rest. The present owner, E. T. Loss, conducts the business with as much success.

The leading hotel is the "Commercial House." owned by N. J- White, and conducted for years now by J. D. Wicker, who keeps a first-class house.

L^mhoefer & Danes have an auto repair shop and garage. .A meat market is kept by E. Lulaff ; a blacksmith and wagonmaker shop by Mr. Shore, and

R. B. Salter, attorney at law ; Drs. H. H. & A. Isl. Christopherson, physicians and surgeons; Doctor Freeman, physician and surgeon; Dr. E. V. Kautzki, dentist; Miss Cora Bryant, dentist.

General merchandise is kept by Krause & Kersten, and Charles Burkhardt; hardware by Zielmann Brothers, and Colby Hardware Company, a corporation. Mr. Carleton keeps a furniture store, and marble works are operated by Lulaff Brothers. Frank Firnstahl conducts a boot and shoe store ; J. E. Lyon keeps fiour and feed ; and O. R. Briggs keeps a drug store.

A cheese box factory is conducted on the cooperative plan. Boarding houses are kept by Mr. Hinkel and one by Mr. Gill : a bakery shop by Mr. Fleischmann; a tailor shop by Mr. Fleischhauer ; a livery barn by W. Will, and Roy Inman has a barber shop.

The Phonograph

is a lively newspaper, established in 1878 by Sam J. and Joel J. Shaefer, and since the death of Sam Shafer is printed and edited by the sur\-iving partner, Joel. It has a large circulation in the towns along the "Line," being by far the oldest paper issued, and posts its readers on news in both counties.

Public Schools

Colby has a full four-year high school course in a separate building, and a state graded school. The principal of the high school is Roy Martin; first assistant, Miss Anga ]\L Burnson ; second assistant, Miss Pearl Blanchard ; and there are six grade teachers. All the schoolhouses are located in Clark county.

The State Bank of Colby is located on the west side, and was organized in 1900 with a capital of $25,000. A fair estimate of the business conducted in Colby can be arrived at from the splendid showing of this bank. The following is the latest statement, about January i, 191 3 :

And Representative Citizens 519

The officers and directors of the bank are: Erastus Bowen, president; R. B. Salter, vice president ; K. Andrews, cashier ; Ed. Kayhart, director.

The Catholic St. Mary church congregation was organized July 15, 18S6, and attended as a mission from pastors from neighboring parishes. The first resident priest was Rev. A. J. Joerres. Under his direction a new church was built in 1889, known as the St. Killian's church. This church became too small and a new one was built in 1904 under the management and supervision of Rev. W. Reding, at a cost of $20,000, and the old name of "St. Mary" assumed. The membership of the congregation is 185 families, with 1,050 souls. A parochial school with three departments is owned and supported by the parish, the attendance in school being 146 pupils in 1912. The present rector is Rev. H. J. Artmann.

This congregation organized as early as 1880 and built its first church, a frame building, in 1883. A new brick edifice was erected in and dedicated on the 20th day of November, 1910, at a cost of $14,000. Eighty- four families, counting 462 souls, are members of this congregation, who have a resident pastor in the person of Rev. C. C. Hartenstein. The same minister has the mission at Unity, where services are held in the Lutheran Swedish Church building; the membership of this church in Unity is fifty-five persons.

Another German Evangelical Lutheran church was built about five years ago, which is growing in numbers, as the population of the place keeps on growing.

The Methodist congregation is the oldest in Colby, its organization dating back to the first settlement; there is no resident minister at present, but regular service is held by visiting ministers. The congregation consists of thirty members.

The Village Of Unity

Ihe village of Unity is situated in section 6, township 2"/, range 2 east, in Marathon county, and section i, township 2"/, range i east in Clark county. As in the village of Colby, the railroad right of way of the Sault St. Marie Railroad (fomierly Wisconsin Central) is laid on the boundary line of the county and the village is on both sides of the railroad.

Unity was first incorporated as a village in 1903 and organized, which incorporation was declared invalid after a long drawn-out lawsuit, involving its legality, In consequence of this judgment, a new incorporation was eiifected in 1906, which stood the test of judicial scrutiny. The first sui>ervisor in the county board under the valid incorporation was Louis Cook, now the county clerk.

The first settlement was mentioned in a former chapter; the settlers increased more in the farming community east and west of the village in both counties, the lands being exceptionally inviting.

The business population is almost equally divided on both sides. On the east, or in Marathon county, are the following business houses : The Unity Manufacturing Company, runs a saw' mill and cheese bo.x factory. General merchandise stores are conducted by: Groelle & Hamann, the L'nity Mercantile Company, and H. L. H. \\^eyers. Perske & Cutts keep hardware, and August W'eide a meat market. C. Vogt & Son are in the machinery business, and Linskog & Jarvis are the blacksmiths. Harness and leather works are kept by Philip Klein. C. Nelson is the proprietor and manager of the Nelson Hotel, and another hotel is kept by William Galman. There is also a creamery and cheese factory on this side operated by Otto G. Rhodes. Dr. J. H. Clark is the physician and surgeon and keeps a drug store. E. L. Messer is the village postmaster.

On the Clark county side are the following business houses : William Creed, general merchandise: farm products by the Unity Produce Company: hardware by W. E. Morgan : furniture by John P. Kuehnan : wood, lime and fami products by J- F. Koch : hotel by William Laabs : wagonmaker, J. P. Johnson: livery by F. Jar\-is, and a barber salon by V. R. Misener.

The Unity State Bank, organized in 1909. makes a good showing, especially in their deposits, giving evidence that if the population is not so very large, it is well doing, to say the least. The following is a copy of the bank statement on February, at the close of the business on February 4, 1913:

The Unity State Bank, located at Unity, Marathon county, at the close of business on the 4th day of February, 1913, pursuant to call by the Commissioner of Banking:

And Represextatr'E Citizens 521

The officers are : President, C. E. Blodgett ; vice president, O. C. Hamann; cashier, S. J. Falck, who, with J. H. Clark and L. H. Weyers, constitute the board of directors.

is the weekly local newspaper of the village, faithfully recording all interesting happenings, like most all country newspapers, a seven-column paper. It is in the eleventh year of its existence and may be said to have become of age in the newspaper world. It is located on the Marathon county side, having a job office in connection with its printing outfit. It was founded by Louis Cook, the present county clerk, who sold his interest therein to the present owner and editor, E. L. Messer.

Unity has an excellent school building, new, modern and sanitary, as good as any in the county. It has a high school, with a full four-years' course, with three departments below the high school.

The principal of high school is O. L. Stinsor; assistant. Jessie L. Swan; grammar department, sixth, seventh and eighth grades, Delia Meyers; intermediate, third, fourth and fifth grades, Clara Brown; primary. Emma Schultz.

Three churches are in the village, the oldest being the Methodist church, the congregation of which organized in 1873, with the beginning of the settlement. The church was built somewhat later. The next church to be erected was the Scandinavian Lutheran church, which was built in 1906, and lastly the Church of "Christ Disciples," which was built in 1909. There are no resident ministers, the churches being missions attended by ministers from the nearby villages and cities.

The Village Of Scholfield

formerly a part of the town of Weston, was incorporated in 1904. It adjoins the city at its southeast side, and the W'ausau Street Railway runs to and through the same to Rothschild. Its first supervisor on the county board was Christ Volkmann.

The large steam saw mill of the Ross & Brooks Lumber Company is ^ located in that village, and gives employment to a large number of men who own their homes in the village. The pine and hemlock on the Eau Claire river has vanished, and the logs come a great distance to the mill by railroad from the north. It stands on the south side of the river, simewhat higher up, where in olden times stood the Martin mill.

The Ross & Brooks Limiber Company purchased the mill from C. P. Hazeltine, to whom it was conveyed by his sister, Mrs. Mary B. Scholfield, the widow of Dr. Scholfield. who built the mill in the forties. The mill still goes by the name of "Scholfield Mill," and the village has the same name from its pioneer founder.

The pond fonned by the dam is a wide sheet of water, coming up close to the W'ausau & South Line Road, over which the street cars run to Rothschild. On this pond, on the east side of the road, are situated the pleasure grounds of F. B. Fulmer. where lx)ats, both row and gasoline, can be had to boat up the Eau Claire river, with its beautiful scenery.

These playgrounds have become very popular among Wausau people, and are much frequented in the summer months by family pleasure parties and others. There are swings for children and other outdoor plays. for them, and fishing in the pond, besides boating. A milk and ice cream salon adds to the attractions. On the river further up are cabins for bathers.

The village has two general stores, one conducted by F. B. Fulmer, the other by Louis Jones, both well stocked with merchandise. Julius \\'endorf has a blacksmith and wagon shop, and makes also boats of all descriptions, which can go out on the Eau Claire river into Lake Wausau.

And Representative Citizens 523

The workmen around there nearly all own a large piece of ground with their homes, sufficient to raise all vegetables for their table use, and to spare.

The population is given in the census table, and it is safe to say that it is larger today than it was in 19 lo. L. H. Jones is the postmaster of Scholfield.

The schoolhouse is a large, solid brick building recently erected at a cost of $20,000. The village and part of the town of Weston form a joint district. It is a seven-department state graded school, where instruction is given up to and including the ninth grade. The principal of the school is A. C. Huebner; assistant and seventh and eighth grades, Miss Myrtle Benson; sixth grade. Miss Ella Schmeling; fifth grade. Miss May Riley; third and fourth grades, Miss Margareth Glassow ; second grade. Miss May Rassmussen; primary, Miss Eleanor Benson.

Up to the year 1900 the people of Scholfield attended the Evangelical Lutheran churches in Wausau, and sometimes the pastors would go down to hold service. But during 1901 to 1902 there were built the two Evangelical Lutheran churches, and after a few years both congregations were put in charge of resident ministers. One of these churches is in charge of Reverend Betts, and the other has Reverend Berger for its resident minister. There is also a Christian Science church in the village.

The Village Of Spencer

was incorporated in 1904 from part of the town of Spencer, and George Farrington was elected its first representative in the county board. It became a village almost simultaneously with the building of the Wisconsin Central Railroad, and for some time had a very fast growth. The territory was thickly studded with big, heavy pine timber, and as early as 1877 there were four large saw mills situated in the site of the present village. In the congressional election of 1878 the town of Spencer, which then included the present town and village (but there was hardly any settlement in the territory outside the village), cast over two hundred votes, the largest that was cast in any town or village in Marathon county outside of the city of Wausau. From that time on the vote decreased continually. The saw mills pulled out one after another as the timber vanished, until all had disappeared. But in nearly the same degree as the mills and the mill population decreased, the farming settlement increased, and while the village lost, the town gained year after year, and Spencer village became a good country village.

Martin, which does custom sawing for the farmers and lumber dealers. There are nine stores in the village, most of them with a large assortment of goods to supply all demands without resorting to mail order houses.

The Graves Mercantile Company has a department store. It is incorporated with a capital of $15,000, with J. D. Graves as president, and S. E. Graves as secretary and treasurer. George Farington has a general store, and there are besides the following others : Fair Store, owned by A. Moselneck, and A. Harschmann, manager; Max Stoltenow and Otto Plathner; Farmers' Cooperative Store, with Fred Rienow as manager; Cool & Luepke have a hardware store; F. A. Allar deals in general produce and as commission merchant; G. H. Heath keeps the drug store, and Mrs. C. K. Richardson a millinery; Charles Haslow does a large business as stock buyer.

Herman Schwantes keeps the National Hotel, and Phil. Bonville the Johnstone Hotel. There is also a restaurant kept by Roy Crawshaw. Martin & Wellnitz have a livery stable. There is a cheese factory in charge of John Holzchuh ; a blacksmith shop kept by Herman Facklam, and a garage by E. G. Ingham. Hemian Siemers is a tonsorial artist: Frank W. Heath is postmaster. There are two duly licensed physicians and surgeons. Dr. F. A. Soles and Dr. Don. Miller.

The Bank Of Spencer

was established in the year 1908, and to its existence and careful management is due much of the growth of the village and the surrounding farming community. Its condition is reported officially at the close of business on February 4, 1913, as follows:

And Representative Citizens 525

The officers of the bank are: John D. Graves, president; George Farrington, vice president; A. L. Boock, cashier. Board of directors: J. D. Graves, George Farrington, Frank Neumann, Wesley Vanderhoof, William Reinheimer, Hennan Manthe and A. L. Boock.

The village school is a brick building with ample room space. It is a state graded school, the course of instruction including the ninth and tenth grades, equal to the first and second year in a high school.

The principal in 1912-1913 is Henry Schellhause, with Mrs. Agnes Pickett as assistant. Clara Oberlatz is in charge of the intermediary and Miss Ines Fulton is teacher of the primary department. The school term is nine months, the average attendance is one hundred and twenty.

There is a German Evangelical Lutheran church and one Methodist church. The St. Trinity Evangelical Lutheran congregation was organized in September, 1882, with about twenty charter members, of which the following are still members : Karl Craemer, Gottlieb Voelker, Otto Plathner, Karl Stoltenow, Franz Korth, Franz Luebke, John Mueller and August Griepentrog. The first resident minister was John Schuette; he was succeeded in 1884 by Rev. F. H. Siebrandt, who remained with the congregation until 1893, when he was in turn succeeded by Rev. John Toat, who remained until the year 1899, and was followed by Rev. August Imm, who remained in charge of the congregation until he was succeded in 1901 by the present pastor. Rev. Karl E. J. Schmidt. The present church edifice was built in 1896 and dedicated the same year; the congregation number seventy four families. The parochial school has an average attendance of twenty-five pupils, under the instruction of the pastor. The following are the officers : Re\'. Karl E. J. Schmidt, pastor; Wilhelm Foht, Hennan Plathner and August Griepentrog, deacons; Karl Craemer, Franz Luebke and Franz Korth, trustees; Herman Schwantes, chairman; Gottfried Rindfleisch, treasurer; Karl Dittmann, secretary.

The Methodist church congregation is organized, but has no resident minister. Rev. D. S. Householder is the visiting minister. Both congregations have a Ladies' Aid Society.

bers, by Rev. A. B. Green and Rev. H. W. Stearns general state Baptist missionaries. The church building was dedicated June 24, 1879. The following are the eight original members : J. W. Lowe, Susannah Ring. Eliza Saunders, Martha Lowe, Frank Cressy, Isaac Ring, Reuben Ring, S. E. Brooks.

The Village Of Brokaw

was a part of the town of Texas before its incorporation in igo6. Its first representative in the county board of IMarathon county was F. J. Edmonds. The village owes its existence to the building of the \\'ausau Paper Mill Company's plant at that place.

In the years 1 880-1 881 the Wausau Boom Company erected the dam across the Wisconsin river at that spot for the purpose of making slack water to facilitate the dividing of logs for tlie Wausau mills and points below ; the current being too swift to allow that work to be properly done, the creating of slack water became a necessity.

That was the sole object of putting in the dam in the first place, and it was authoritatively stated that the cost of the dam was $100,000. The great water power created thereby was supposed to be put to some use in the near future, but nevertheless it took nearly twenty years before it was utilizied.

In the year 1899 a corporation was fomied by some foreign business men, represented by the brothers Edmonds, and with some business men from Wausau, the Wausau Paper Mill Company was organized, and the mill erected, which has been in continuous operation ever since, running at its full capacity day and night, and employing on an average two hundred and seventy-five men.

Many of the workmen in tlie mill li\-e at Wausau and are taken to and from the mill by a special train on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, called the "Scud," but the majority live in the village in houses built by the company. The company has built a clubhouse for the workmen, and also a church of the Methodist denomination, with a resident minister since 1903. The present minister is Rev. Roland Scott.

The incorporated capital of the company is $750,000, with the following persons as officers: President, Walter Alexander ; vice president, C. C. Yawkey; secretary and manager, ^^^ L. Edmonds, and E. A. Edmonds, treasurer.

And Representative Citizens 527 The Village Of Stratford

was incorporated in the year 19 lo, and its first supervisor in the county board of Marathon county was W. F. Goetz. When it became a certainty that the extension of the railroad from Wausau to Marshfield was to be built and a station would be established at that place, which was platted by Alilwaukee, Lake Shore & Western Railway, the R. Connor Company erected a large saw and planing mill at that place, which has been operated every year since 1892, and at a very conservative estimate has manufactured from twelve to fifteen million feet of lumber annually. The company owns timber lands enough within a radius of twenty-five miles to keep the mill stocked for at least ten years more, without going further for logs. It operates a railroad which runs fifteen miles south and east, to the town of Emmett, which, originally built as a logging railroad, is now operated as a public carrier. This company also manufactures barrel headings and operates a general store, with a large stock of merchandise of all kinds. It employs a large number of men and is one of the biggest business concerns in Marathon county.

Other business houses conducted at Stratford are: The Maxson Lumber Company, which deals in lumber, hardware, farm machinery, automobiles and has an auto repair shop. Chrouser Brothers, who operate a lath and tie mill, and John S. Bannach, a blacksmith and wagon shop. Dan Mahoney & Co. keep a general store and. deal in flour and feed, etc. The Stratford Equity Company deals in flour, feed, hay, grain, live stock, and all farm products. H. L. Klemme operates a cheese factory; L. B. Weber a livery and sale stable and dray line. Louis Klumb conducts a meat market, C. A. Hahn a harness shop and Ignatz Pruell a shoemaker's shop. Mrs. Anna Butke keeps a confectionery and restaurant, and Mrs. R. Haase a restaurant. The Northern Milling Company of Wausau has a warehouse for all farm products, such as grains and hay, etc. Hotels are kept by E. C. Leiteritz, Hemian Reichert and R. A. Groff ; barber shops by John J. Kaiser and E. P. Rifleman.

Stratford also has an opera house, where traveling troups frequently appear in theatricals and which is a very fine hall for all social entertainments, which is owned and managed by John S. Bannach. The village has a large town hall for the conduct of its public business.

The Stratford Reporter is a six-column, full sheet newspaper, in its fourth year, which appears every Friday. It enjoys the patronage not only of the people of the village but of many outside parties, and accurately publishes the minutes of the village board. A good job printing office is connected with the newspaper office. Its owners and editors are F. J. Curtin & Son.

Stratford can boast of a military band which practices every Monday and Saturday evening at the High School Building. The medical profession is represented by Dr. N. S. Wahl and Dr. C. O. Fuller, physicians and surgeons. W. F. Goetz is the postmaster.

The village of Stratford and the towns of Eau Pleine and Cleveland maintain together a union high school. The school building is a modern fine brick structure, one of the finest in the county. The principal of the high school is Miss Emma Mortinsin, with Miss Margaret Clellintine as her assistant.

There is a state graded school with three departments with the following staff of teachers: Principal, B. A. Waterman; intermediary department, Lillie Rifleman; primary. Miss Rosalie Bory. There are 25 pupils attending high school and no in the graded school.

And Representative Citizens 529

St. Joseph Catholic Church - On the last Sunday of November, 1897, this congregation held a meeting and decided to build a church. The foundation for the present edifice was laid in September, 1898, and it was completed in 1899. The first trustees of the congregation were J. C. Kiefer, Edward Fulmer, and Ph. Burkhard. Rev. J. Gara from Rozellville attended to the religious needs of the congregation until in 1902 the parish received a resident pastor in the person of Rev. M. Casper. In the beginning the parish consisted only of 40 families, but at the present time it counts more than 140. There is a substantial solid brick parochial school, with four departments, conducted by the school sisters. The present resident pastor is Rev. Fredrick Foster.