PARTY OF INDIANS PASS THROUGH MEDFORD TO JOIN SETTLEMENT IN TAYLOR COUNTY -- A party of 20 or 25 Indians passed through Medford Wednesday on their way to Perkinstown, it being their intention to join the settlement of Indians on the Yellow River in the northern part of Taylor County. They came from Kansas and among them were a number of Indians who went to that state from here several months ago. The party came on the early morning passenger train and hired teams to take them to Perkinstown from here.
An effort is now being made to have all the Indians living in the northern part of the County returned to their reservation, which is in Kansas. There they have no hunting and they come back here because they can hunt. They are mostly Pottawatomie and their home was originally in Wisconsin.
There are in Newspaper Notes two prior articles on this topic printed in 1901.
It is hard to imagine a worst place to resettle the Pottawatomie than Kansas, which was a natural, treeless prairie. Contrast that to the cool natural unbroken forests which the Pottawatomie historically called home.
In 2012, the Pottawatomie have a small reservation in Forest County, Wisconsin, east of the City of Crandon.
|
1/24/1902
|
TC STAR & NEWS
|
HOTEL WINCHESTER SOLD -- H. McMullen of Marshfield has purchased the Hotel Winchester from F. H. Ward. The deal for the transfer of the property was closed the fore part of the week, it being stated that the purchase price is $18,000.
Mr. McMullen will take charge of the property February 15. He is an old and experienced hotel man, having been engaged in that business at Marshfield. The Winchester is one of the finest hotels in this part of the state and has always been well patronized.
|
This Medford Hotel was the idea of John J. Kennedy and others intent on demonstrating that hemlock lumber could be successfully used to build a stable, multi-storied building and, hence, to sell more hemlock lumber.
The edition of 1/31/1902 reported that the deal for the sale of the hotel was off.
|
1/31/1902
|
TC STAR & NEWS
|
AUGUST STEINER OF WHITTLESEY DIES -- August Steiner of Whittlesey, age 66 years, died on Thursday of last week from paralysis of the heart. The funeral was held on Saturday, interment being in the cemetery at Whittlesey. Mr. Steiner was an old resident of Taylor County.
The German language obituary for August Steiner published in Der Waldbote reads in its English translation:
AUGUST STEINER (born 7/4/1836 in Schoenwalde, died 1/23/1902 in Whittlesey, WI)
Again we have received the sad assignment to inform the readers of the Waldbote of the passing of a man who had no fault, dishonesty or wrong about him. He was possessed of good character.How we wish that everyone were like that man. He was not an average man but made of utterly reliable and steadfast material. Yet, he walked before his fellow men as a humble person. He cared for his fellow men in a down-to-earth fashion.
He had an excellent education. He was a clear thinker. He made insightful decisions of those questions which came before him. In all of his dealings he was noble and righteous.
Mr. August Steiner was born on July 4, 1836 in Schoenwalde, Silesia. He was married in the 1864. In 1888 he came to America and immediately came to Taylor County, accompanied by his wife, children and brother Joseph.
Soon the Steiner family gained the respect of everyone who came to know them. For the last six years before his death he was the postmaster of Whittlesey.
About a year ago this highly regarded man had a stroke. He never fully recovered. We received the first news of the sad tidings of our dear friend on Thursday. His funeral is today, Saturday, at the Catholic Cemetery of Whittlesey. The Rev. Birkner from Dorchester has been there since Wednesday.
For the deceased, to whom we wish eternal peace, mourn a wife [Pauline, nee Meissner, also born in Schoenwalde], a son Albert Steiner, who is married to Anna Erl, three daughters, Mrs. Anna Gallagher in Whittlesey, Mrs. Bertha Gebauer in Colorado, Louisa in Colby, Wisconsin, as well as a brother Josef Steiner. Two sons preceded their father in death.
The Waldbote wishes the deeply grieving family its sincere sympathy.
|
August Steiner in 1884 emigrated from the small farming village of Schoenwalde, Silesia—a province within the Kingdom of Prussia and part of the German Empire. He settled with his family on an 80 acre parcel of land ½ mile from the Whittlesey train station, the W ½ SE ¼ 26 32 1E. When he left Schoenwalde, friends staying there gave him a plate on which rose blossoms were painted and the following poem was written in German:
Rosen wilken, Marmor bricht, Aber unsre Freundshaft nicht.
Roses wilt, Marble breaks, But not our friendship.
August Steiner was a devout Roman Catholic. The first mass in Whittlesey was celebrated in his home. On April 4, his brother, Joseph Steiner, donated land from the Steiner farm for Mutter der Immer Wehrende Hilfe Kirche (Mother of Perpetual Help) and cemetery. See image 20379EE-1, copy of the deed by Joseph Steiner. For many years Whittlesey did not have a resident priest; in those years, when no priest could be found to celebrate mass, Steiner conducted a prayer service as well as teaching first communion classes.
I am deeply grateful to be able to name August Steiner as my maternal great grandfather. RPR
See image 20378 in the Photo & Document Collection at www.riblakehistory.com for photos and a biography of August Steiner and his son-in-law William Gebauer.
|
2/7/1902
|
TC STAR & NEWS
|
WESTBORO LUMBER COMPANY TO BE FORMED -- J. J. Lingle and Joseph Kaye of Emporium, Pennsylvania, were in Medford latter part of last week in connection with a deal by which these gentlemen expect to secure the property owned in Taylor County by the Heidrick & Matson Lumber Co. of Westboro, the Rousseau & Shepard Company of Chelsea and F. A. Norton of Chelsea. The deal as made will include the sawmills, real estate and timber owned by these parties and will involve about $500,000.
|
Lingle and Kaye were successful in buying out the Heidrick & Matson Lumber Co of Westboro; their successor corporation was called the Westboro Lumber Company which operated the Westboro saw mill as well as an extensive logging railroad until 1922. The paper reported the sale of Heidrick & Matson Lumber Co. on 3/14/1902 with 15,000 acres of land for nearly $200,000.
|
2/7/1902
|
TC STAR & NEWS
|
JOHN J., “J. J.,” KENNEDY SERVES AS MANAGER -- Manager J.J. Kennedy of the Osburn Lumber Company of Rib Lake was in Medford Thursday. Mr. Kennedy states that the present season is one of the most favorable for logging operations ever experienced in this part of the state.
|
On 9-10-1900 John J. Kennedy contracted to sell his corporation, the J.J. Kennedy Lumber Co., to W. A. Osburn and associates, who promptly hired J. J. to work for them.
|
2/7/1902
|
TC STAR & NEWS
|
TO INCORPORATE RIB LAKE. Action Necessary Before that Place can become a Full-Fledged Village -- Attorney J. B. Hagarty has been retained by the people of Rib Lake to look after the legal proceedings necessary for the incorporation of that place as a village. First, a survey is made of the territory to be included within the proposed limits. Second, a census showing the exact population of this territory is made, after which application is made to the circuit court judge for permission to organize the village.
If no sufficient objection is made, this application is granted and an election is then held in the proposed village to decide whether or not it shall be incorporated. If the vote is favorable, village officers are elected and the village is then fully organized. Some time is required to take all the preliminary steps and it will probably be nearly two months before the incorporation is completed. County surveyor Logan has already made a survey of the [proposed] village.
|
The Village of Rib Lake came into existence in May, 1902 after the over-whelming majority of the voters residing within the proposed village voted yes.
The formal Village of Rib Lake was and still is an island with the Town of Rib Lake. The Village has a president and village board while the Town has a board chair [man] and two side board members.
FOR WEEKLY, DETAILED NEWS ABOUT THE INCORPORATION AS WELL AS NEWS ABOUT WESTBORO, CHELSEA, GREENWOOD, WHITTLESEY AND PRICE COUNTY TOWNSHIPS OF HILL AND SPIRIT, see the Annotated Chronology of The Rib Lake Herald at www.riblakehistory.com.
|
2/7/1902
|
TC STAR & NEWS
|
RIB LAKE--Fred Yordi Killed by Logging Locomotive -- Fred Yordi, age 27, was killed by the logging engine of the W. A. Osburn Lumber Company on Monday afternoon of last week. He was riding on the front of the engine when the accident happened. His home was near Neillsville.
|
This terse, incomplete article is a mere shadow of the long article devoted to this fatal accident by the Rib Lake Herald and available at www.riblakehistory.com. In addition, The Rib Lake Herald correctly identified W. A. Osburn Lumber Co.
Given the superior coverage of Rib Lake events in The Rib Lake Herald, I will cease covering them in Newspaper Notes. From here on, Newspaper Notes will focus on events in Westboro, Chelsea, Town of Green and Price County townships of Spirit and Hill as they were reported in the Taylor County Star & News.
The normal spelling of the surname of this pioneer Rib Lake family is Yorde.
|
2/14/1902
|
TC STAR & NEWS
|
ADVANCE IN Hemlock - Important Meeting OF NORTHWESTERN HEMLOCK Manufacturers’ AssociatioN -- The prices of hemlock lumber were advanced by the Northwestern Hemlock Manufacturers’ Association at its meeting in Milwaukee last week. The advance is from 50 cents to $1 a thousand feet, according to the grade.
The following officers of the Association were elected: President, J. T. Barber, Eau Claire; Vice-president, W. A. Holt, Oconto; treasurer, A. K. Week, Stevens Point; secretary, F. W. Shepard, Chelsea, (Taylor County).
A Milwaukee paper says that members of the Association say that the advance in the price is not due to the greater cost of manufacture, but to the fact that hemlock is becoming scarcer and the fact that the prices of pine lumber have advanced and the hemlock stuff (sic) always follows. An incomplete roll call developed that the members had on hand 70,000,000 feet and that they will make in the neighborhood of 145,000,000 feet the coming season
Mr. F. W. Shepard was also appointed chairman of the committee on the grading of the product, and Donald Kennedy [a son of J.J. Kennedy] of Rib Lake was appointed a member of the same committee. B. W. Davis of Phillips was appointed a member of the committee on prices.
|
Donald Angus Kennedy, born October 30, 1876 in Spencer, Wisconsin, was the oldest of J.J. Kennedy’s children; as soon as he came of age, he worked at his father’s lumber company office and served as an executive secretary when his father sold out to W. A. Osburn in September, 1900.
The W. A. Osburn Lumber Co., which stationery advertised “Hemlock & Hardwood Lumber,” promptly hired Donald A. Kennedy to continue at the office as both a corresponding and executive secretary; e.g. on 4/27/1902 Donald drafted correspondence and signed on behalf of W. A. Osburn Lumber Company; image #10667. Donald signs the paperwork changing the corporate name to Rib Lake Lumber Company on 5/6/1902.
|
2/28/1902
|
T C STAR & NEWS
|
RIB LAKE---HOMESTEAD HALFMILE EAST OF TOWN HALL -- [United States] Land Office at Wausau, Wis., Feb 12, 1902.
Notice is hereby given that the following named settler has filed notice of his intention to make final proof in support of his claim, and that said proof will be made before the Clerk of Circuit Court at Medford, Wisconsin, on April 2, 1902, viz: Herman Schneider who made [Homestead Entry] No. 8498 for the NE ¼ of NW ¼ of Section 30, T. 33 N., R 3 East.
He names the following witnesses to prove his continuous residence jupon and cultivation of said land, viz: Adolph Schneider, Carl Freiboth, Heinrich True, and William Tetzlaff, all of Rib Lake, Wisconsin. John W. Miller, Register
|
This 40 acre parcel lay on the south side of present STH 102 just ½ mile east of the Rib Lake Town Hall.
|
3/14/1902
|
TC STAR & NEWS
|
WESTBORO -- Heidrick & Matson Lumber Co. Sell to Pennsylvania People -- The Heidrick & Matson Lumber Company of Westboro have sold their property in this county to Joseph Kaye, J. W. Kaye and B. W. Green of Emporium, Pa. The deal was concluded this week and the new owners take possession April 1. The transfer includes the sawmill and store at Westboro and about 15,000 acres of land, the amount involved being nearly $200,000.
|
The buyers would incorporate the Westboro Lumber Co and operate the sawmill on the west bank of Silver Creek ¼ mile north of current CTH D for 20 years.
|
3/21/1902
|
TC STAR & NEWS
|
INDIAN TAKES OUT FIRST PAPERS -- Jockey George, an Indian living near Perkinstown, appeared before [Taylor County] Clerk of Court Cleveland one day this week and took out his first papers, absolving himself from allegiance to the chief of his tribe and declaring his intention to become a citizen of the United States. George intends to take up a homestead and will become a citizen for that purpose. It is believed that this is the first Indian living in Taylor County who has taken this step.
|
|
3/28/1902
|
TC STAR & NEWS
|
MEDFORD SAWMILL REBUILT AFTER FIRE -- Work commenced Monday at clearing away rubbish, from the site of the Medford Manufacturing Company’s sawmill preparatory to beginning the erection of a larger and better mill to replace the plant recently destroyed by fire.
The new building is to be 36 x 125 feet in size, a little larger than the old one, and will be planned differently. It will be located on the west side of the engine and boiler house and will extend north and south, the old building extending east and west at the north end of the engine house. Logs will be taken in [from the Black River millpond] at the north end of the mill and the lumber will come out at the other end on the west side. It is to be a rotary mill with a modern equipment of saws and appliances and is to have a capacity of 50,000 feet a day, which is larger than that of the old mill…
|
This mill stood on the east bank of the Black River next to the dam on the river about 100 feet north of Broadway—modern STH 64.
This Medford saw mill, related buildings and dry yard were a fraction of the size, capacity and complexity of J.J. Kennedy’s operations at Rib Lake.
|
3/28/1902
|
TC START & NEWS
|
RIB LAKE---SCHOOL EXPANSION -- An excellent index of the rapid growth of the village of Rib Lake is the equally rapid growth and progress of its schools. From a two department school in 1895, it has grown to an overcrowded six department school. Anticipating the need, two rooms were added last summer but even these fail to fully accommodate comfortably all the pupils attending. The school now ranks as a state graded school of the first class and the [school] board is looking forward to the establishment of a high school. Max Goeres is principal and is ably assisted by the follow teachers, Misses Carter, Davis, Calvert, Hance and Hewill. Edited by Taylor County Superintendent of Education Arthur J. Latton
|
I take department to mean a classroom with its own teacher. There were listed six teachers, all unmarried women, and one male principal.
Later in 1906 the impressive two and a half story red brick Rib Lake High School was erected south of Fayette Avenue and east of the “Flats.” It was razed in c. 1985.
|
4/4/1902
|
TC STAR & NEWS
|
TANNERY SUITS ARE SETTLED - CASES STARTED TWO YEARS AGO -- Damage suits aggregating $72,000 brought against Thaxter Shaw, et. al., by farmers in Taylor County were settled out of court this week for $1,500 a piece, each of the parties to the actions pay their own costs.
The plaintiffs in these actions, which are usually called the “tannery cases,” were John Berngruber, Nick Schafer, Simon Erickson, Carl Herman, Michael Zenner, Joseph Kranig, Carl Zimmerman, Conrad Blumenstein and Maury Erickson, all of whom owned farms along the Little Black River south [of Medford]. The defendants in the cases were the owners of the local tannery before its sale to the United States Leather Company. About 3 years ago an epidemic of anthrax killed a number of the cattle and horses owned by these farms and it was claimed that the germs of the disease came from the tannery, polluting the water in the river.
By the river water overflowing the land belonging to the plaintiffs it was alleged that the disease germs were planted on their farms and it was sought to recover both for the actual loss of stock and for damage to the property.
The suits were commenced March 12, 1900, by Bouck & Hilton of Oshkosh, and after various delays, were set for trial at Stevens Point…. A settlement was made before the trial was begun, and the actions dismissed. Schweppe & Urquhart of [Medford] represented the defendants.
|
The defendants were Thaxter Shaw and his brother Fayette M. Shaw and his son, Fayette Delos Shaw.
|
4/4/1902
|
TC STAR & NEWS
|
WESTBORO LUMBER CO. MAKES APPEARANCE -- The Westboro Lumber Company, which succeeds the Heidrick & Matson Lumber Company, is planning to operate on an extensive scale. Eight to ten miles of railroad [track] will be built this season and 20,000,000 feet of logs will be put in within the next year. The company has purchased all the real estate owned by Fred Norton.
|
Using railroad tracked leased from the Wisconsin Central Railroad, the Westboro Lumber Company ran its track beneath the Wisconsin Central’s bridge and over Silver Creek and proceeded westward; over the years the line developed various spurs and stopped west of the Mondeaux River.
The same edition of the Star & News reported; “Mr. [Joseph] Kaye having charge of the [Westboro Lumber Company’s] extensive operations.”
|
4/25/1902
|
TC STAR & NEWS
|
THE “WESTERN FEVER.” -- About this time of the year nearly every community of the middle West is afflicted with an epidemic of “western fever” and the desire to sell out and go west breaks out with more prominence than smallpox. Some meet with success out west, others go broke, wander about and finally get back to their starting points satisfied to let well enough alone, with from five to ten years absolutely wasted -- Merrill Star
|
|
4/25/1902
|
TC STAR & NEWS
|
SUNDAY CLOSING OF SALOONS -- Westboro is to be made a “dry” town Sundays, citizens of that place having made up their minds to close the saloons on that day in accordance with the state law.
As a result of the movement, four saloon keepers of the town, Joseph Trepanier, John Schill, A. R. Castagner and J. [Jake] Lundeen, were arrested this week and charged with selling liquor last Sunday. The cases will be heard on Saturday of this week and the prosecution will be conducted by District Attorney Adams.
|
The State law prohibiting saloons to be open on Sunday was not being enforced until citizens insisted.
When the cases came up for trail, one pled guilty and was fined $20. The other three cases were dismissed without prejudice; “defects in the papers issued caused the dismissal of the 3 suits.”
“At least one of the saloonkeepers has expressed an intention of fighting the movement to close the saloons in [Westboro] during Sundays.”
|
5/2/1902
|
TC STAR & NEWS
|
RIB LAKE---FIRE HYDRANTS FOR McCOMB AVENUE -- A six inch water main will be laid on McComb Avenue with hydrants at convenient intervals for the purpose of providing fire protection. Water will be forced through this main by pumps at the sawmill and the tannery. This was decided upon at a meeting of the town board and citizens’ committee held recently.
|
This was in response to the cancellation of fire insurance suffered by some merchants. With water pumps on both ends of the line, much greater fire protection was afforded the tannery and sawmill; if one pump failed—which was very likely in case of a fire, the other would take up the slack.
|
5/9/1902
|
TC STAR & NEWS
|
WISCONSIN CENTRAL [RAILROAD] ABSORBED -- Chicago, May 7 -- The great Canadian Pacific [railroad] system is said to have acquired control of the Wisconsin Central Railway and will use it as entrance to Chicago. The Wisconsin Central will give the Canadian line an entrance into Chicago and St. Paul. The Canadian Pacific owns the “Soo Line” and also the Duluth and South Shore Railroad.
The Canadian Pacific is one of the best railroad properties in the country and operates 7,563 miles of railroad from Montreal to Vancouver; the “Soo Line” owns 1,409 miles and the Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic 568 miles—all belonging to the Canadian Pacific—but operated separately.
THE WISCONSIN CENTRAL OPERATES 1,043 MILES OF ROAD AND HAS PASSED THROUGH RECEIVERSHIP [BANKRUPTCY], but of late has been doing a good business, showing a surplus on the right side during the last three years. Wisconsin Central stock has advanced from $25 to $29 a share in the last 24 hours on the report of its absorption by the Canadian Pacific. (emphasis added)
|
The Wisconsin Central was leased to the Soo Line and remained so until 1962. Its locomotives and rolling stock were repainted to read “Soo Line”. In the eye of the public, the Wisconsin Central had disappeared and was replaced by the “Soo Line,” a popular nick-name for the Minneapolis, St Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railroad.
For years, however, some rolling stock displayed the letters “WC,” indicating Wisconsin Central ownership.
|
5/9/1902
|
TC STAR & NEWS
|
IMPROVEMENTS AT MEDFORD TANNERY -- Extensive alterations and improvements are to be made at the local tannery of the United States Leather Co. during the present season. A new leach house and bark mill will be erected, these taking the place of old buildings, which are about worn out.
Two bark machines will be put in place of the one now used. The leach house will be made much larger than the present building and will hold double the number of leaches. The capacity of the plant will not be increased by these changes, as a new system of production is to be used which make it necessary to have more room in order to turn out the same quantity of leather.
The estimated cost of these improvements is $10,000…The product of the Medford plant is of as good quality as that of any of the company’s tanneries handling the same grade of hides and the fact that these improvements are being made indicates there is no thought of discontinuing the operation of the [Medford] plant for many years to come.
|
When U. S. Leather bought the Rib Lake, Medford, Perkinstown and other tanneries in September, 1901, it permanently closed Perkinstown.
By 1906, the U.S. Leather Co. had acquired the Medford Lumber Co. and began building a logging railroad westward from Medford. That line eventually reached near Perkinstown and permitted extensive railroad logging to last until the Medford sawmill closed in 1924.
|
5/16/1902
|
TC STAR & NEWS
|
“RIB LAKE LUMBER COMPANY” FORMALLY CREATED -- At the annual meeting of the stockholders of the W. A. Osburn Lumber Company the name of that corporation was changed to Rib Lake Lumber Company. Officers were elected as follows: E. H. Walker, president and manager; F. C. Chadbourn, vice-president; Donald Kennedy, secretary and treasurer; J.J. Kennedy, Donald Kennedy, E. H. Walker, A. H. Whitney and James Radicker, directors.
|
Donald Angus Kennedy was the eldest son of J.J. Kennedy.
The Rib Lake Lumber Company came into existence on 5/9/1902.
In 1925 the company changed its legal name to “Rib Lake Lumber Co. of Delaware.” The change followed incorporation of the company in Delaware. The motive was to take advantage of liberal Delaware laws allowing greater corporate powers and prerogatives than those existing for Wisconsin corporations.
The company remained the “Rib Lake Lumber Co. of Delaware” until it ceased operations in 1948.
|
8/8/1902
|
TC STAR & NEWS
|
FIRST HUNTING LICENSES -- George Kelnhofer, chairman of the Town of Rib Lake, was the first Taylor County resident to take out a hunting license for 1902. The document was issued to Mr. Kelnhofer by County Clerk William Martin… The licenses are printed in more durable form this year, being on heavy manila paper. The coupons for attaching atop the dead deer have brass eyelets so they are not liable to become detached through handling, as has sometimes happened.
|
The Kelnhofer general store was one of the first commercial buildings constructed on McComb Avenue; the building still stands in 2012 on the northwest corner of McComb and Landaal owned by Edward Zondlo, d/b/a Ed’s IGA. By coincidence, I had the pleasure today, July 19, 2012 to talk history with his great granddaughter, Mrs. Faye Amo, nee Kelnhofer.
|
8/29/1902
|
TC STAR & NEWS
|
WESTBORO RED-LETTER DAY - Laying of Cornerstone for Episcopal Church Edifice -- Tuesday was a red-letter day for Westboro. A large number of out-of-town people united with residents in celebrating the laying of the cornerstone for St. Phillip’s church by Bishop Grafton, assisted by the Rev. Fathers Rodgers and Hitchcock—the latter rector of the new church . A class of 35 persons was confirmed at an evening service in the A. O. U. W. Hall.
|
The new Episcopal Church was built where in 2012 the Westboro baseball diamond stands just south of CTH D.
|
9/5/1902
|
TC STAR &NEWS
|
RAILROAD CONDEMNS LAND FOR NEW LINE -- STATE OF WISCONSIN, CIRCUIT COURT, TAYLOR COUNTY -- In the matter of the petition of the Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls and Northeastern Railway Company, for the appointment of commissioners to ascertain and determine the compensation to be made to the owners of and all persons interests in the lands required by said Railway Company, in the County of Taylor, State of Wisconsin, for the construction and operation of its main line of railroad in said County of Taylor.
To John B. Fleming, Fred N. Norton, Northwestern Lumber Co, Ramsay Land Co., et al., …You and each of you are hereby notified that on the 4th day of September, 1902, the petition of the Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls and Northeastern Railway Company in the above entitled action was filed in the office of the Clerk of Circuit Court…praying that it be adjudged and determined that said Railway Company is entitled to take the whole of the lands described in said petition…and that three disinterested and competent freeholders be appointed …to appraise the compensation to be made to the owners…. That the object of said petition was to acquire, condemn and take the lands [described] for the purpose of constructing, maintaining and operating thereon the line of the railroad …to be built [from Chippewa Falls] to Little Falls [n/k/a Holcombe] …through counties of Chippewa and Taylor, a distance of 40 miles, to an intersection with the Wisconsin Central Railway Company in the NW SW 3 31 1E….
…It is the intention of the Petitioner to construct the railroad…and it has surveyed its road over the lands sought to be acquired for its main line and has actually staked out the center line of its proposed road over and across the lands desired for such main line…
/s/ W. A. Scott, President, Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls and Northeastern Railway Co.
|
For years frequent rumors and articles sought and predicted an east-west railroad through Taylor County, e.g., earlier in 1902 Medford parties met with officials of the Chicago and Northwestern Railway to court them to construct a branch line from Stratford.
The E.C., C. F. & Northeastern was built—in part. Its constructed line ran directly east in Taylor County from Donald through Hannibal and stopped 2 miles east on the banks of the Yellow River where it built and operated a log loading works; logs floated down the river were loaded onto flatcars for rail transport to sawmills. This spot was named “Hughey.”
Note the planned junction with the Wisconsin Central in the NW SW 3 31 1E. That parcel is 1 mile west of STH 13 just south of Mulberry Lane. But, the nearest legal description of land mentioned in the petition was 2 ½ miles west, the NW SE 6 31 1E. I believe the railroad was hedging its bets, hoping to get cash for building into Medford.
While the Ear Claire, Chippewa Falls and Northeastern never finished its line east of the Yellow River, the Slachetka family reports that earth was moved for the right-of-way by a railroad crew but the right-of-way was never finished. This old railroad right of way ran east to west across their land, NW SE 4 31 1E; that is ½ mile directly west of the “intersection” with the Wisconsin Central described in the petition. At least one railroad map of the State of Wisconsin erroneously showed the railroad constructed between the “intersection” and Hughey.
The edition of 10/3/1902 reported: “As the result of a dispatch yesterday, all work was suspended on the new line of railroad of the Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls and Northeastern just north of Medford. The orders stop all work east of the Yellow River. What significance the new order has is not known.”
The railroad between Hughey and the Wisconsin Central Railroad was never completed; but, by mistake, it was shown completed in the 1902 official Wisconsin railroad map.
|
9/2/1902
|
TC STAR & NEWS
|
BUILDING BOOM AT RIB LAKE -- Taylor county’s second city is having a building boom. Taylor Moseth will build a shop on McComb Avenue; Frank J. Hintz has built a house for his [fire] engine and hose; Hugh McMillan has his new house well advanced towards completion; the [Rib Lake Lumber Co.] mill company is erecting a dwelling house on Church Street and has its new office about ready for occupancy, and is repairing other buildings and extending its logging [rail] road four miles; and the [United States] Leather company is making extensive changes and improvements.
The Rev. Fr. Joseph Hoeger, who has recently returned from a visit to Europe, has been located here in charge of the Catholic Church. He is making his home with Jerry Kennedy for the present. A parsonage will soon be put up.
Donald Kennedy and [Attorney] William Pringle put the Iona, a launch they bought at Oshkosh into the waters of Rib Lake last week. Notwithstanding some difficulties encountered in making the [engine] start, owing chiefly to machinery, the first outing was a success. The Iona has a speed of 19 miles an hour.
Work is being pushed on the Bonneville opera house.
|
The Railroad logging operations of the Rib Lake Lumber Co. were highly successful and long lived. In 1902 the center of its operations were in the extreme northeast corner of Taylor County in what is today the Taylor County Forest, nearly all of which was created from cutover lands from that company.
The Bonneville Opera House ended up built in the wrong spot. Its first location was on the northwest corner of McComb Avenue and Railroad Street. Shortly after the large building was finished, the Rib Lake Lumber Co. wanted the site to expand its yard for air drying lumber. It bought the lot from Bonneville who moved the building 200 feet south to the southwest corner of Second and Church Street. The building housed a popular tavern and was remodeled into the National Hotel and remained in use until its destruction by fire c. 1975.
|
9/5/1902
|
TC STAR & NEWS
|
Taylor County Schools - Edited by County Superintendent LattoN -- The Following list of teachers engaged for part of the schools of the county, with post office address:
CHELSEA District 1, George Knower, Urquhart; No. 2, Henry Polloey, Chelsea; No. 3,Otto Driebusch, Medford; No. 4, Grace Brown, Medford.
GREENWOOD District 1, G. Pfaff, [post office] Sams; No. 2 Gertrude Jentzsch, Sams; No. 3, Emma Claviter, Urquhart; No. 5, Mrs. George Knower, Interwald.
RIB LAKE; District 1, Mr. Gunderson, Miss Scott, Cora Hance, Vinnie Hewitt, Clara Calvert, Miss Hart, Mattie Warren, [Village of] Rib Lake; No. 2, P. F. Heffernan, Rib Lake; No. 3, Agnes Johnson, Rib Lake; No. 4, Mary Peterson, Rib Lake.
WESTBORO; District 1, W. H. Allen, Miss Convey, Emma Walty, Westboro; No. 2, Anna Hultin’, Westboro; No. 3, Minnie Mundt, Fannie McKenzie, Ada Welch, Anna DuChaine, Westboro; No. 5, Annis Boynton, Dora Supar, Broederville.
|
Arthur J. Latton held the elected position of Taylor County Superintendent of Education.
Note that several teachers working in the Town of Greenwood had a post office address of “Sams.” This post office was located in the William Martin farm home on the east side of current CTH C just south of the Rib River.
Two Town of Westboro teachers had a post office address of “Broederville,” the then name for Jump River.
Rib Lake had four school districts; No. 1 was the Village of Rib Lake with 6 women teachers and 1 male principal. The remaining three districts were in the Town of Rib Lake each having a one room school.
|
10/3/1902
|
TC STAR & NEWS
|
ABBOTTSFORD - Cottages for Railroad Men -- The contract for the erection of twelve one-story, six room cottages for the Wisconsin Central Railway Company at Abbotsford, has been let to W. H. Allen of Stevens Point. They will be frame structures over stone basements and will be located on high ground near the station and will cost $1,000 each. They will be leased under contract to the employees of the road at $12 a month. At the end of 8 years the men who have kept up the rent will receive warranty deeds to the property. The work will be commenced at once.
|
Many companies at that time built homes for their employees and their families. Fayette Delos Shaw platted residential lots around his Rib Lake tannery and constructed “company houses.” They were rented to his tannery employees. Five of these originally identical 1½ story wood frame buildings stand in 2012 on the north side of Fayette Avenue running in a row eastward from West Street.
J.J. Kennedy erected many similar 1½ story homes for his employees. All were built south of Railroad Street and west of Third Street. Dozens of them still stand and are in use in 2012.
Abbotsford was an important link in the Wisconsin Central. Its new line to St. Paul/Minneapolis started there.
|
10/3/1902
|
TC STAR & NEWS
|
WHITTLESEY -- Louis Meyer has bought his father’s farm, the Anton Meyer place. His parents have removed to Medford. Mr. Oestreich is stumping and breaking land-about 16 acres. Albert Steiner is plastering.
|
Each edition of the Star & News at this time had such news shorts from Rib Lake, Westboro, Chelsea, Whittlesey, etc.
Albert Steiner’s plastering consisted of mixing and applying wet plaster to lath wood strips in the interior of houses—a job that has all but disappeared with the advent of sheetrock wall board.
|
10/10/1902
|
TC STAR & NEWS
|
WESTBORO LUMBER CO. OPERATES CHELSEA SAWMILL -- F.W. Shepard of Chelsea, recently of the Rousseau & Shephard Lumber Co., has gone to Minneapolis to accept a position as manager of a lumber company. Mr. Rousseau will manage the business at Chelsea for the new proprietors, the Westboro Lumber Co.
|
The 11/27/1902 edition reported that L. A. Rousseau “has entered upon his duties as manager of the Rib Lake Lumber Co. He was one of the members of the firm of Rousseau & Shephard…” Louis Rousseau and his family moved to Rib Lake.
|
10/21/1902
|
TC STAR & NEWS
|
WESTBORO - KAYE-GRITTNER WEDDING -- The social event of the week was the marriage of Mr. Charles E. Kaye, son of President Joseph Kaye of the Westboro Lumber Co., to Miss Lizzie Grittner, of the firm of Grittner & Ruprich, which was solemnized in St. Phillips Church at 10 o’clock by Arch Deacon Jenner of Stevens Point. This was the first service held in the new Episcopal church….
|
|
11/7/1902
|
TC STAR & NEWS
|
CREAMERY FOR CHELSEA -- It is now certain that Chelsea will have a creamery. Mr. Quinn, agent for the Chicago Building Manufacturing Co. of Chicago, has succeeded in organizing a Farmers’ Cooperative Creamery Co. and will build a $4,500 creamery. The first meeting of the company was held at the town hall last Saturday afternoon. A committee of five men, Anton Peterson, George Meyer, Joseph Elliot, C. H. Kickbusch and Albert Popp—were elected to choose and buy a site for the erection of the creamery. After a meeting Monday, they bought an acre of land of A. Mountour, just west of the school house.
The committee will commence work on the building next week. It is a fact that our citizens are public spirited and show their desire for home improvements by freely subscribing to this enterprise. Chelsea will make a success of this and no doubt it will be an inducement for other and larger industries. Nothing succeeds like success, and it is to be hoped that all the farmers and citizens interested will do all in their power to get all the farmers in the county to keep more and better cows. Let “MILK! MILK!! MILK!!!” be the watch word now. Everybody talk milk.
|
The Chelsea creamery, a plant for making butter, was built and operated on a site next to the Black River, ¼ mile west of “downtown” Chelsea.
The creation of a creamery was a financial godsend for farmers. In 1914 my father, Herman Arthur Rusch, was a teenager growing up on his stepfather’s farm [Albert Knop] one-quarter mile north of the Rib Lake Town Hall. Using a horse and wagon, Herman hauled the Knop farm cream the 8 mile to the Chelsea Creamery. Herman hauled the whey back to the farm for the pigs.
|
As of 12/26/13, Newspaper Notes will temporarily stop here. – R.P. Rusch
Rib Lake area news is available from this date in extant copies of the Rib Lake Herald, portion of which are online at the website of the Rib Lake Public Library.
You may also access the Annotated Chronology of the Rib Lake Herald with comments written by R.P. Rusch online at www.riblakehistory.com.
Dostları ilə paylaş: |
