Loyal Town

Loyal Town

Loyal Village is admirably situated in the east central part of the county, on the Marshfield-Greenwood line of the "Soo," and is surrounded by rolling stretches of good farming land, well improved. The people have developed a strong sense of community enthusiasm, and are especially proud of the title "A Spotless Town."

John Graves was the founder of the village. In the spring of 1866 he left Iron Ridge in Dodge County, this state, with two horse teams, his goods, and two cows, the members of his family joining him at Tomah, which they reached by rail. Camping along the road wherever night overtook them, and making their way as best they could, the members of the party reached this county, and at noon on a warm May day turned off the Stevens Point-Neillsville route, northward into the wilds. Difficulties were at once encountered, owing to the muddy roads. Those riding on the load dismounted and went on ahead, leading the cows. The teams of horses were doubled, one load drawn a short distance, and then a return trip was made for the other load, this process being repeated over and over until the whole afternoon was consumed in making a mile and three-quarters, A camp was made in the woods for the night, and early in the morning the trip was resumed. In the middle of the forenoon the wagons broke down and were abandoned for the remainder of the day, the party spending the night at the home of William Hallock. The next morning help was secured, ox teams hauled the wagons from the mud, and before night the family reached its destination. Until the house was completed, a camp was made in the woods, but as the weather was warm the only discomfort came from the mosquitoes and gnats. '

Graves had come here as a speculation, intending to return eventually to Iron Ridge, where he had been a pioneer, and where he had a farm and pleasant village home. But he was soon convinced of the superior advantages of Clark County, and accordingly disposed of his Iron Ridge property and devoted the proceeds to investments in his new location.

erection of a sawmill, Transporting the machinery for a sawmill into this country at that time was a difficult proposition. None but the most sanguine, hopeful and persevering would have believed it possible. But, successful in his first mill, he also erected a flouring-mill, operated by the sawmillengine. About this time the eldest son, S. D, Graves, brought a bride here, built a house, opened a hotel and a store and became the first merchant and postmaster in Loyal. His store furniture consisted of a few boards nailed across one end of a room for shelves and a counter. Not long after S. D. Graves started his store, A. H. Booth arrived and the two formed a partnership in the mercantile business. Later Booth with Gwin & Le Claire engaged in the same business. After this partnership was dissolved Gwin & Le Claire continued. William Hallock had the first blacksmith's shop, T. B. Philpott the next. In 1869 George W. Barker, later widely known as a grocer, tavernkeeper and police justice, started a turning mill, placing his machinery in the lower part of Graves' mill. After making over 4,000 splint-bottom chairs, he sold out to Oliver Hill. S. D, Graves in 1873 put up a building in which he made sash, doors and blinds. Local trade being light and the facilities for transportation limited, the enterprise was abandoned.

The village was platted in 1870, and for some thirty-five years enj oyed a gradual growth. When it was incorporated in 1893 it had a population of 344. In 1895 the population was 418, in 1900 it was 645, in 1905 it was 815. In 1910 it had dropped to 677.

The incorporation was accomplished in 1893. In preparation for this event a survey was made of the proposed limits by C. M. Breed, and on Jan. 28, 1893, a census taken by Henry S. Mulvey showed a population of 344 persons. A petition signed by G. W. Allen, A. A. Graves, C. L. Redmond, A. K. Church, B. Christman, P. G. Gwin and A. R. Miles, was presented to the court on March 8, 1893, but owing to the form in which the census was taken, a new enumeration was made March 14 and 15. The petition was granted March 16, 1893, and on April 11, 1893, the election held at the town hall in charge of E. W. Romaine, A. K. Church and George W. Barker, resulted in a favorable vote of fifty-eight to seven. The first president of the village was G. W. Allen, the first clerk was Henry Mulvey. The officers elected in 1917 were: President, Dr. C. H. Brown; trustees, A. A. Graves, John Geiger, Max Haslet, J. H. Etta, M. J. Christenson, William Wilson ; clerk, James R. Colby; treasurer, E. J. Etta; supervisor, Fred W. Draper.

The public improvements consist of waterworks, a fire department, an electric light system, macadamized street, a good high school and a village hall. The light plant was constructed at an expense of $20,000. The fire department has a steam fire engine, a hook and ladder truck, and two hose carts, The village hall is of brick, the lower floor being used to house the fire apparatus, and the upper floor being used for council meetings.

Loyal has an excellent school, in charge of a principal and eight teachers, four in the high school department, and four in the grades. Full courses are given in Agriculture and Domestic Science. The building is well furnished and is equipped with electric lights and running water. A feature of the school life is the weekly entertainment of moving pictures

The Loyal postoffice was established in the late sixties or early seventies. Before this, mail was brought from Neillsville by anyone who chanced to be making the journey, and in case the traveler was not coming as far as the present village, the mail was left in a pine box fastened to a pine stump, two and a half miles southeast of the village. From there it was brought to the village by any passerby, and left at some central point for distribution. Whenever a mail arrived the word was soon spread, and the reading of letters and newspapers from the outside world became the business of the hour. J. Duane Graves seems to have been the first regular postmaster and performed his duties as such at the Allen Hotel, the site of which is now occupied by the Allen Block. John C, Gwin, who succeeded Mr. Graves, attended to postoffice business at the Gwin store, which is now the site of the Woodmen hall. After him came Henry Mulvey, who kept the office in the Mulvey drug store, now the William W. Fauss hardware store. By George Green, Mr. Mulvey's successor, it was removed to Mill street, and by D. V. Richardson, the next incumbent, to Main street, on the present site of the Ideal restaurant. Then George Green, who became postmaster again, again maintained the office at its former site on Mill street. In the spring of 1918 it was removed to its present site on Main street. Mr. Green was succeeded by A. F, Fuchs, who served from December, 1913, to July, 1914, after which Dora Devlin was acting postmaster until Oct. 14, 1914, becoming postmaster on the latter date, since which time she has continued to serve, George Green being the assistant. Loyal postoffice became a money order office August 1, 1884, the first money order being purchased by George Green, Aug. 5, 1884. The first money order drawn on the office was payable to A. R. Miles. Loyal was a postal savings office from April 12, 1912, to July, 1915. In 1902 the first rural route was established, Elmer Hutchins being carrier from that time until 1907, since which time George L. Jarvis has carried the mail on that route. Rural route No. 2 was established in 1905 and has been served continuously by Fred E. Church. Harvey E. Voight is substitute on both routes. The establishment of these two rural routes caused the postoffices of Spokesville and Veefkind to be discontinued. The Loyal postoffice receives and despatches two mails daily, one by the Star Route from Loyal to Greenwood and one by the "Soo" Line Railroad,

The Jenks Dairy Company of Loyal Village. - Early in the nineties a stock company was organized and a creamery started. It was operated a few years and then went out of business. At that time the building now occupied by the Jenks company was erected. The stock company's interest was taken over by Jenks Brothers in 1898, and by them passed on to the Dodge Creamery Company in 1902. In 1910 the Jenks Dairy Company took control, reconstructed the building and made needed additions. They manufactured only butter till 1915, when they commenced making cheese. In 1917 the proprietors, A. H. and George Jenks, began the manufacture of ice cream in addition to cheese and butter, which part of their business is not yet fully developed. They have some forty patrons, with about 450 cows, the latter being mostly of mixed grades. They receive from 4,000 to 6,000 pounds of milk a day in summer, and make about 2,500 pounds of cheese and 1,000 pounds of butter a week. The yearly amount paid to patrons is about $25,000, while their receipts amount to $28,000 a year.

The Loyal Tribune was founded in 1894 by D. V. Richardson and B. M. Fullmer, the first issue being dated Feb. 16,1894. The paper was formerly the Spencer Tribune, founded in 1880 in the village of Spencer by Elder Stevens and owned at the time of the sale by G. E. Vandercook. In 1895 D. V. Richardson became the sole owner and editor of the Loyal Tribune, in which capacity he continued until June, 1903, when because of ill health he sold to J. E. Noyes. In October, 1905, H. V. Ross became the owner and in April, 1906, sold to Mrs. D. V. (Hattie) Richardson, who had Roy G. Taylor as editor, until October, 1906, when she sold to Roessler Bros., A. A. Roessler being editor and manager. In February, 1914, the Tribune was sold to Wm. F. Neuenfeldt, who owned it until June 1, 1916, when Mrs. Richardson again became the owner and editor and who is the present owner. The paper is independent in politics.