Langlade Town

Langlade Town

The village of Langlade, named after Charles De Langlade, is located in this district. Langlade, as platted, contains all that territory in the southwest i/4 of the NE 14 of section 3, Township 31, Range 14 East. The streets were designated on the plat as A, B, C, D, E and F streets, with avenues from First to Third Avenues inclusive. The village plat was recorded October 16, 1906. W. C. Webley was the surveyor. Kielczewski's plat of Langlade is in the NE I4 of the NE I4 of section 10.

J. Yates had the first store, located on section 10. He ran it from 1874 to 1879 with success. He moved to the State of Washington from Langlade County before the city of Antigo was dreamed of by any one, (except F. A. Deleglise). Olaf Morgan ran a saw mill on section 27 and section 14. He came from Morgan's Siding, a place below Neopit.

The district has one church, a Polish Catholic church. There is a Protestant and Catholic cemetery on section 10. On section 3 a Polish Catholic cemetery is located.

In this vicinity are found many private cemeteries, where in early days, when the pioneers passed away, they were laid to rest near the old homestead or log cabin wherein they had spent so many days during these first momentous years.

The Wolf River district has thirty-five families. The principal occupation is agriculture. J. L. Whitehouse and H. A. Shannon are proprietors of general stores at Langlade. '

District No. 5

MARKTON DISTRICT. This district is located in southeastern Langlade County and was one of the first regions to be settled. Pioneers were Christopher Wheeler, who settled on section 30, Township 31, Range 15 East in 1871. Mr. Wheeler came from Embarrass, Wisconsin, and followed the military road north. H. N. Bell settled in the district in 1877 on section 30. He came from Chicago. Thomas M. Dobbs settled on section 30 in 1873. He erected a saw mill, the first in Langlade County. (See chapter on Industries 1873-1923). The Melville family came to the district in 1877 settling on section 30. Christopher Hill and Horace Rice settled on section 30 in 1877. They conducted the first stopping place north of the Menominee Indian Reservation for years. An account of this place is given in the chapter on old stopping places, hotels and taverns, found elsewhere. The district was one of the most active lumbering re- gions in Langlade County during the famous Wolf river log drives. Daniel McDowell of Embarrass came to this district in 1876 settling on section 30. S. A. Taylor, the dominant factor in county organization had much land and timber interests in the district. L. H. Taylor erected a store and also conducted the first Post Office on section 30. The Taylor people came from New York state. Allen Taylor came to Dobbston, as Markton was named by Thomas M. Dobbs, in 1874. William Schroeder of Shawano, Markton Roax and George Roax of Shawano and James L. Whitehouse, all of Shawano, settled in the Markton district in a very early day. George Roax re-named Dobbston after his son, Markton Roax. H. N. Bell is the last of the old settlers still in the district.

The first school house was erected on section 30 in 1873. It was a frame building and the lumber was bought from T. M. Dobbs. This lumber was some of the first ever manufactured in the county. In those days the entire number of settlers "chipped in" to pay the teacher's wages. (See the Lost Nation section in Langlade township.)

Mayme Kellogg was one of the first teachers. The old school was used from 1873 until a splendid brick building was erected in 1915 by C. F. Dallman. It is now preserved by the H. N. Bell family.

Matt Heins has operated a saw mill in the district on section 7, Township 31, Range 15 East for the past twenty years. He came from Milwaukee.

In pioneer days the village of Dobbston hummed with the labors of the pine men. Philetus Sawyer, Republican leader in Wisconsin politics for many years, often visited in this district, during the pinery regime.

District No. 6

HOLLISTER DISTRICT. Squire A. Taylor, Founder of New (Langlade) County, dominant pioneer in the historic Wolf river country and leader of the Wolf river county seat proponents, came into eastern Langlade County in 1860. He was a timber and real estate dealer and as a sub-contractor aided in the construction of the United States military road. Nine years later, 1876, Leonard Marsh, the second permanent settler moved from Omro, Wisconsin, to this district, settling on the SE i/4 of section 18. The same year extensive logging operations were inaugurated by Oshkosh lumbermen, more prominent of whom was C. B. HoUister, who had camps in this district. Thus the region became known as the HoUister district.

Robert Gilray and Fred Dodge followed as the next pioneer settlers. They both became proprietors of stopping places on the military road. The Dodge place was on the site of the Ehlinger Brothers mill, section 18.

Education of children was not overlooked by Leonard Marsh, Robert Gilray, Fred Dodge and the others who followed. In 1878 a humble frame school building was erected on section 19. It still stands a monument to pioneer progress. Meanwhile the district flourished. Men riding horse back took the place of the oxen and "man packed" mail from Shawano north into this district on the military road. Settlers received mail twice a week.

S. Moldrawski and family, Walter V. Dorszeski and family of Chicago moved into the community in 1884. Mr. Dorszeski later became actively identified with Langlade County's interests, serving as an official from this township many times. Frank Kielcheski settled in the district on section 7 about 1886. He came from Chicago. Antone Kielcheski now occupies the farm his father settled on. J. Schutte moved from Langlade into the HoUister district a few years later and J. Bombinski, who served as a town official many years, came here from Chicago at that time.

The second school was erected on the Dorszeski farm in 1890. Anna Kelly, Antigo. was the first teacher in the second school. After eighteen years this school was discontinued. The district developed its agricultural potentialities and the logging and lumbering industries flourished meanwhile. With the approach of the Wisconsin & Northern railroad in 1913 and now its purchase by the Soo Line (1921) the future of this region is exceptionally promising. Two years later, 1915, The Military Road Telephone Company erected a telephone line in this district.

In October, 1916, Michael, M. F. and Nicholas Ehlinger of Suring, Wisconsin, erected a mill at HoUister on section 19. It brought in settlers and employment. It operated until May, 1920, when a fire completly destroyed it. The Ehlinger Brothers re-built in June, 1920. Thirty men are employed on an average. Four million feet of lumber is the average annual cut.

In 1918 a postoffice was established known as Ehlinger. The Soo railroad station is known as HoUister. A third name for the district is "Nine Mile Creek" by which it is referred to by the settlers. George Burger of Suring erected a hotel at Ehlinger in November, 1921. He also conducts a supply store at the hotel.

The present modern brick school was erected on an acre of land donated by M. J. Wallrich, Shawano, Wisconsin, in section 18. This school is one of the best in the eastern part of the county. About thirtyeight families reside in the HoUister district. Another school will be erected to accommodate the increased school attendance.

November 13, 1883, a petition signed by Sam J. Price, George H. Fehl and others was presented to the county board requesting that all of townships 32, 33, and 34 of Range 12 East and townships 34 of ranges 13 and 14 East, be detached from Polar township and organized into a new town to be known as Eagle township. December 13, 1883, the committee on town organization recommended the creation of a new township out of the divisions proposed. Thus the resolution passed and Price township, containing the enormous area of 115,200 acres, most of which contained a wealth of forest products, came into existence.

The first annual meeting was held at the home of John Rath, section 21, township 32, range 12 east on April 1, 1884. Twenty-nine voters cast their ballot for or against the "mill ticket" or the "homesteaders" at this historic election. These early pioneers of Price were: Charles H. Davis, V. P. Rath, George Miller, Austin Muzzy, Walter Vanderhoof, E. M. Phillips, Nicholas Preston, Thomas Hutchinson, John B. Lavene, Joseph Houle, George H. McGregor, Isreal Kims, John Rath, George H. Fehl, H. P. Polar, Fred Hayssen, B. McKinney, Henry Stadler, Ed. Dalton, James Hartman, John Connelly, John McClaskey, Andrew Hartman, Charles Price, Sam J. Price, J. E. Davis, J. B. Buckstaff, John Hartman and A. A. Hurlbert.

The Election Contest

George H. Davis, mill owner at Bryant lead the "mill ticket" while the settlers, principally homesteaders rallied around V. P. Rath, who headed the "homesteaders ticket." The remote homesteaders were unable to vote because of the distance from the polls and lack of roads. Oxen and horses were not plentiful and the Indian trail was the best road. Davis received 17 votes to 12 for Mr. Rath and was elected Chairman. A. A. Hurlbert and E. M. Phillips were elected Supervisors; Clark Walrath, Clerk; Fred Hayssen, who later became an Antigo Mayor, Treasurer; Charles Colta, Sam Price and H. B. Polar of the upper Wolf country chosen Justices of the Peace. J. McClaskey was elected Assessor and C. Walrath and R. Brush were chosen Constables.

The First Act Of Price Officials

The first act of Price township officials was to raise $620 for teacher's salaries for the year 1884-85. They also appropriated $1,600 for school purposes at this same session, the first special meeting of Price township. May 24, 1884.

Territorial Detachments

History has produced the fact that not a single Langlade County township originally a vast area has remained long in that status. Price township is no exception to this statement. The five townships did not have much in common with township 32 in which the village of Bryant is situated. The Davis Brothers, with their mill and its influence among the settlers and also the employes, controlled affairs, for many years.

Townships 34 of ranges 13 and 14 East were detached from Price and made a part of Forest County by Chapter 436 of Wisconsin statutes of 1885. This left Price township containing townships 32, 33 and 34 of Range 12 or all of the present area of Price township and Ainsworth township. It remained in that status until 1905, when townships 33 and 34 of Range 12 East were detached and created into Ainsworth township.

Price township originally was under the township school system. As late as 1907 it remained under the township educational system. Then four school districts were created as follows : District No. 1 - the

First School Officers

October 6, 1884, A. A. Hurlbert was elected President of the Price township school board. H. B. Polar and Thomas Hutchinson were chosen Vice-president and Secretary respectively. Thomas Hutchinson, E.

Justices Of The Peace Joint District No. 1

KENT - (Cont.) DISTRICT. Kent, one of the oldest communities in Langlade County, was once a thriving mill village in the heart of a great tract of timber. It boasted a well stocked general store, a modern saw and planing mill, a post office and hotel, and a number of progressive inhabitants. That Kent has changed as time passed. With the passing of the lumber industry in its vicinity went the saw mill, the planing mill and the employes, together with the allied industries connected with such institutions. Since then the general store and post office have been retained.

The first saw mill was erected at Kent by Henry Sherry of Neenah, Wis., who came to the wilderness in Section 24, Township 32, Range 12 East. He operated on an extensive scale cutting pine until he sold his mill and the hardwood holdings to the Antigo Manufacturing Company. They ran the saw mill, boarding house, kept the post office and general store for many years until their entire possessions were dismantled.

When the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western railroad laid their track to Kent they called the village Drexell, in honor of a Mr. Drexell, an official of the concern. It still holds that name in so far as railroad maps are concerned.

school was in the village near the general store owned by Henry Sherry. It was a one-room log building. Its location was section 24. A frame school was later erected on the same section. This was used for many years until 1918 when a joint district was organized with sections in Langlade township. A modern brick school, the pride of the district, was erected then.

The first school records were burned in the fire which destroyed the Adolph Heggs residence and much of the early data cannot be secured. John Tye, J. W. Smith and Richard Miller were the officers of the district when the frame school was erected. A. Brandt of Polar built the frame school. The land was purchased from Abe Gum.

The 1921-22 school officials were: Thomas Ward, Clerk; Sam Wagner, Director and Ed. Cunningham, Treasurer. The teacher in 1921-22 was Hattie Verch.

Postmasters have been: Mr. Snow, Peter O'Connor, Marvin St. Claire and J. W. Smith, present postmaster. Mr. Smith has served since May 2, 1903. The post office was located southwest of its present location, SE I4 of NE I4 of section 24 at one time.

While there are still good tracks of standing timber in this district lumbering has long ceased to be the important occupation. Agriculture has taken its place. Kent has become famous because it is the home of J. W. Smith, producer of the famous Smith strain of Triumph potatoes, pronounced the best in the United States. He plants but six acres and receives orders from every section of the country.

Nels Uttemark of Seymour once operated a saw mill on section 24 in Price township. He employed a number of men. The mill was dismantled and Uttemark moved to a place near Appleton, Wis., where he was injured in an accident resulting in him becoming blind.

District No. 1

MALCOLM DISTRICT. This district is situated in the south central part of Price township. It was settled in 1880 and years following by Thomas Hutchinson, Malcolm Hutchinson, Henry Stadler, John Mc- Claskey, Andrew Hartman and Gustav Hartman, all of whom have taken an active part in the progress of the township.

After the pioneer settlers arrived and erected their cabin homes a school was erected in 1883 on the site of the present substantial brick school. The first building was a frame structure erected at an approximate cost of $300.00 by Ed. Dalton. Thomas Hutchinson was clerk of the district then. He was responsible to the Price Board of Education (township system). Francis Churchouse was the first teacher. Other early teachers were Agnes Donohue, Minnie Moss and An- nie Kelly. The first pupils to attend school were: Genie and Malcolm Hutchinson, William Dalton, Jessie Dalton, Earl Dalton, Grace McClaskey and Gustav, George and Annie Hartman.

Tlie frame school was used until 1909 when August Stabe, Antigo contractor, erected the splendid school now used in the district. Its cost was approximately $2,100.00. Charles L. McArthey was Clerk, Malcolm Hutchinson was Treasurer and Wm. Daugherty was Director when the school was erected. The 1922-23 officials were: B. S. Powell, Clerk; Herman Bryant, Director, and Gustav Hartman, Treasurer. Miss Anna Kennedy was the 1922-23 teacher. Average annual school enrollment is 40.

The principal occupation of the settlers, of which there are thirty, progressive and active, is agriculture. Lumbering and other forest industries was the chief occupation of the pioneers.

southwestern part of Price township. It was surveyed by George A. Young in 1883 and the recorded plat was filed on December 18, 1883. The original village embraced the southwest ' 4 of section 32. Five years later, in June, 1888, S. S. Bryant made an addition to the village. The eighty acre addition was surveyed by B. F. Dorr, pioneer county surveyor. The streets of Bryant are Vinson, Washington, David, and Bent.

The Milwaukee Lake Shore & Western constructed their railroad into Bryant in the fall of 1884 and this same year, James E. Davis and Charles Davis erected a saw mill in the village. The Davis Brothers operated until about 1890, when they moved from Bryant. During their lumber operations Bryant was at its high tide.

This district was organized in May, 1907. It consists of sections 27, 34 and 35, the east half of section 33, the east ^ 2 of the west Vg of section 33, the east half of section 28, the SE I4 of the NW I4 of section 28, the east 1 2 of the SW 14 of section 28, the west V2 of sections 22, 15, 10 and 3. The latter part of the district represents a strip of land two square miles running north and south, through the central part of Price township.

District No. 2

BRYANT DISTRICT. The village of Bryant was named in honor of S. S. Bryant of Milwaukee, who once owned extensive tracts of timber in Price and other Langlade County townships. Bryant is situated in the was also the first postmaster. Other postmasters were: Sim Ball, T. M. Dobbs and Mr. Williams. Endre Norem, present postmaster has served in that official capacity for a quarter of a century.

Other store proprietors in Bryant in the past were : Williams & Brown, A. H. Merton, now of Antigo, and Thomas M. Dobbs. Present mercantile establishments are those of the Endre Norem Company and the E. M. Jecki store. Bryant has a garage, owned and managed by Emil Person. Dr. J. H. Baker is Bryant's present Physician. He is a former resident of the state of Kentucky.

Bryant has an excellent brick graded school. The first school was erected in the village in 1885. The 1922-23 school officials were : George Burmeister, Clerk; Leo Byrnes, Director and C. J. McClelland, Treasurer. The 1922-23 teachers were : Bessie Augustyn and Annie Schultz.

J. B. Loomis, one time town clerk of Price and an active leader in township affairs was Bryant's first and only lawyer. He was in the village from 1883 to 1889. Attorney Loomis was a member of the Langlade County bar.

The West Price Grange

The West Price Grange has a membership of 101, probably the highest membership of any of the Langlade County granges. Meetings are held every second and fourth Thursday. Complete ownership of a hall is contemplated. (Now the grange has a half interest in the town hall).

Bent Cemetery was recorded May 11, 1900. It is situated in the NE I4 of section 32. Malcolm Hutchinson surveyed t'ne plat. It received its name after Mr. Bent, a land owner, who gave the cemetery site to the township. A survey was made in May, 1899 also.

District No. 3

DISTRICT NO. 3. PRICE (GREEN VALLEY) DISTRICT. The passage of the National Homestead Act did much to open the wilderness of Wisconsin to soldiers of the Civil War, prospectors and others seeking public lands on which to build homes. This district was settled by homesteaders the first of whom was Sam Price, who came from Waupaca County in 1879 and settled on 160 acres in section 19. His homestead was once staked by J. Cherf, who never proved his claim, he leaving shortly after staking. Following Sam Price came John and Valentine P. Rath, youthful and energetic, immigrants from the city of Sheboygan. John Rath settled on section 21 in the fall of 1880. V. P. Rath stayed with him during the time their rude log cabin was being erected. After that V. P. Rath settled on section 7. (He was not old enough to settle on a homestead at the time his brother did).

Charles Price, a son of Sam Price, came into the district from Waupaca County in 1881 and settled on section 17. A. A. Hurlbert came at the same time, he also taking up a homestead on section 17. Others who settled on section 17 in compliance with Homestead Laws were: George H. Fehl, Civil War veteran, who lost an arm fighting for the Union, and James Hartman. Mr. Fehl came from Dayton, Ohio and Mr. Hartman from Rhine township, Sheboygan. Walter Vanderhoof and Elijah Vanderhoof settled on section 7 shortly after.

In 1884 the first log school was erected on section 17. It was a crude log affair. Only the A. A. Hurlbert and Charles Price families had children of school age then. Early teachers were : Addie Hill and Sybil Cornish. The log school was used but a short time. The first frame school was erected on section 19. In 1911 a brick school took the place of the frame structure, which was moved across the highway on to section 20 and has since been used as a M. E. Church. Henry Buboltz operates a saw mill on section 19. The only other saw mill was once operated by Wm. Carlson on section 21.

The 1922-23 school officials were: Earl Shanks, Director; Charles M. Porter, Treasurer and J. M. Standiford, Clerk. The 1922-23 teacher was Mayme Jackimstahl.

August Carlson, J. W. Standiford, Henry Buboltz. John Seamon and John Hartman have lived many years within the district, coming in after the first pioneers.