History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 183

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge
Publication date: 1922
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1767

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Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The Barron City Hospital is one of the excellent institutions of Barron. It occu- pies the beautiful Jerome F. Coe residence on La Salle street, and in addition to the main building has a large separate sun parlor. Dr. Clark C. Post came to Barron in 1893. In 1895 he rented the Lentz dwell- ing, and - established a hospital with Mrs. Hitchcock as matron and Mrs. Ellen Forry as nurse. Dr. Harry M. Coleman joined Dr. Post in 1901. The present build- ing was secured in 1920. Dr. R. W. Adams joined the firm and the hospital staff late in 1921. Dr. E. S. Crisman, of Almena, is also a member of the staff. Mrs. Sophia Butler is the matron, and there is one regis- tered nurse on the staff, as well as two stu- dent nurses. The hospital admits both surgical and medical cases, the members of the surgical staff being prepared to perform all major and minor surgery.

The Werner Hospital, also an excellent institution, has been maintained by Dr. Nels Werner for some years past.

The Bank of Barron was established as a private institution, in September, 1885, by J. F. and C. D. Coe, and opened for business in the law office of J. F. Coe, under the name of the Bank of C. D. and J. F. Coe, on the present site, the northeast corner of Third and La Salle streets. The upper story of this building was fitted up as a Masonic Temple. This building is still standing, having been moved north on

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Third street. J. F. Coe was president of the institution. C. D. Coe was in active charge as cashier. Before the close of the year, C. J. Borum, the present president of the institution, entered its employ as book- keeper. May 2, 1887, F. J. and W. C. Mc- Lean, of Menomonie, became interested in the concern, and it was incorporated as a state bank under its present name, with F. J. McLean as president, W. C. McLean as vice-president, C. D. Coe as cashier, and J. F. Coe as assistant cashier. George R. Borum, the present vice-president, became bookkeeper in 1892. C. D. Coe died in the winter of 1894 and J. F. Coe in the summer of 1895. Aug. 1, 1895, C. J. Borum became director and cashier. Two days later, on August 3, Thomas W. Borum, the present chairman of the board of directors, pur- chased an interest in the bank. January 13, 1909, W. C. McLean was made president, and J. P. McLean, vice-president; C. J. Borum remaining as cashier, and George R. Borum as assistant cashier. January 9, 1912, Thomas W. Borum became a director. The bank was reorganized Sept. 10, 1915, at which time the McLean interests were purchased by C. J., T .. W., George R. and Aurora M. Borum, J. H., Ada M., Clar- ance C. and Arthur E. Coe; J. E. Bowen, De Wittt Post and Henry Radermacher; all of Barron; and Mabel E. Jones, of Watertown, South Dakota. Thomas W. Borum was the president; C. J. Borum and J. H. Coe, the vice-presidents, and G. R. Borum, the cashier. The directors were these four gentlemen with J. E. Bowen, C. C. Coe and De Witt Post. The capital stock was $35,000. Jan. 20, 1920, Thomas W. Borum resigned as president, and became

chairman of the board of directors. C. J. Borum was made president and George R. Borum, vice-president; Fred Van Sickle, cashier, and Sadie F. Kirkwood, assistant cashier. The capital was increased to $50,- 000. The present beautiful banking house was first occupied Jan. 1, 1906.

The report of the condition of the bank at the close of business, March 10, 1922, was as follows: Resources, loans, dis- counts and rediscounts, $403,236.93; over- drafts, $231.35; other bonds, $8,400; bank- ing house, furniture and fixtures, $16,992; cash and due from banks, $121,346.95; total, $550,207.23. Liabilities: Capital, $50,000; surplus, $3,200; undivided profits ($6,030.64) less current expenses and taxes paid ($5,- 155.76), $874.88; deposits, $496,132.35; total, $550,207.23.

The Normanna Savings Bank was estab- lished Jan. 4, 1894, and opened for business on that date, the founders being N. M. Rock- man, of Barron; P. A. Moe, of Chetek; J. A. Anderson, of Dallas; Knudt Espeseth, of Dallas; and Nels Johnson, of Chippewa Falls. The banking house was located on the north side of La Salle street, between Fourth and Fifth streets, and N. M. Rock- man was in active charge. After a short time, the Messrs. Anderson and Espeseth withdrew. The Messrs. Rockman, Johnson and Moe then continued as the owners for a while. Then Mr. Johnson sold out to the

other two. In the summer of 1902, the bank was moved to the present sightly banking house at the northwest corner of La Salle and Fourth streets, the building being owned by N. M. Rockman personally. July 15, 1903, the institution was incorporated as a state bank, the officers being P. A. Moe (president), G. I. Moe (vice-president). N. M. Rockman (cashier), and Elmer A. Rockman (assistant cashier). At that time the seal of the institution was adopted. The device is most interesting. Between the words "The Normanna Savings Bank" and the words "Barron, Wisconsin," there are on opposite sides of the seal, two five-pointed stars. The star at the left is in honor of the five founders of the original bank; the star at the right is in honor of the five in- corporators of the state bank. In the center of the seal is the representation of a man prying at a stump which he has succeeded in getting partly out of the ground. This is in reference to the hardships of the pio- neers of Barron county and of the bank. Jan. 1, 1909, Julius C. Rockman, who had been in the bank since boyhood, and had been a regular employee since 1904, became cashier and N. M. Rockman became vice- president. The officers at the present time are P. A. Moe (president), N. M. Rockman (vice president), and Julius C. Rockman (cashier). The working staff, in addition to the cashier, consists of Morris B. Johnson, teller, who entered the bank Sept. 1, 1920; Arthur Mors, bookkeeper, who entered the bank May 1, 1921; and Helga Nelson, sten- ographer, who entered the bank March 1. 1919.

When the State Bank was organized in 1903, the capital was $6,000. Jan. 1, 1908. this was increased to $12,000, the increase being taken from the earnings. There is now an earned surplus of $12,000. Thus the original stock of $6,000 has increased to a combined capital and surplus of $24,000 with- out additional investment.

The report of the condition of the bank at the close of business, March 10, 1922, was as follows: Resources .- Loans and dis- counts, including rediscounts, $251,745.53; overdrafts, $917.66; United States securi- ties owned and unpledged, $22,931.23; other stocks and securities, $300; furniture and fixtures, $1,671; cash and due from banks, $112,973.61; cash items, $107.86; total. $336.138.84. Liabilities .- Capital stock paid in, $12,000; surplus fund, $12,000; undivid- ed profits ($2,987.28) less current expenses and taxes paid ($176.16), $2.811.12; deposits, $309,327.72; total, $336,138.84.

The First National Bank of Barron was chartered Aug. 18, 1916. The present sight- ly banking house was erected at once, and the institution opened its doors, Feb. 3, 1917, with a capital stock of $25,000. The first officers were: President, Jared W. Taylor; vice-president, Otto Berg; cashier, K. E. Thompson; assistant cashier, N. O. Strand. Jared W. Taylor, the founder of the bank, died Feb. 15, 1917, shortly after the institu- tion started business, and Charles A. Tay- lor became president. At the same time, C. P. Stenerson became assistant cashier.

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On Oct. 1, 1921, Otis Skogstad succeeded Mr. Stenerson as assistant cashier. The first directors were J. W. Taylor, Otto Berg, C. A. Taylor, N. O. Strand, Nels Wer- ner, William Bartlett and F. J. Krahenbuhl. Upon Mr. Taylor's death he was succeeded as director by J. W. Heffner. Upon Mr. Bartlett's death in May, 1921, he was suc- ceeded as director by S. E. Severson.

The Barron County Telephone Co., the first telephone company in Barron county, with exchanges at Rice Lake and Barron, and with toll stations at Rice Lake, Barron, Dallas, Cumberland, Mikana, Poskin, Al- mena, Hillsdale, Haugen, Dobie, Cameron, Angus, Prairie Farm, Chetek, Campia Horseman and Tuscobia, in this county; Birchwood in Washburn county; and Ridge- land in Dunn county, was organized Feb. 5, 1896, with a capital of $1,575, all paid in, divided into 63 shares of $25 each. The first officers and directors were: Presi- dent, Dewitt Post; vice-president, N. M. Rockman; secretary, W. H. Brandt; treas- urer, C. J. Borum; C. C. Coe. July 14, 1896, T. W. Borum became a director in place of C. C. Coe. Feb. 8, 1897, A. M. Fenton and Dr. C. C. Post were added to the board in place of N. M. Rockman and W. H. Brandt. At that time, A. M. Fenton became vice- president in place of N. M. Rockman, and T. W. Borum secretary in place of W. H. Brandt. April 15, 1901, J. E. Horsman be- came vice-president in place of A. M. Fen- ton. Feb. 12, 1905, J. E. Horsman and T. W. Borum reversed positions, and Mr. Hors- man, upon becoming secretary, took over the active management of the Barron ex- change. April 27, 1909, A. C. Strand suc- ceeded Dr. C. C. Post as director. With De- witt Post as president; T. W. Borum as vice-president; J. E. Horsman as secretary; C. J. Borum as treasurer; and A. G. Strand as the other director the organization con- tinued until Feb. 21, 1922.

On that date several blocks of stock changed hands, and it was decided to move the headquarters from Barron to Rice Lake. The new officers are: President, Dr. O. M. Sattre, Rice Lake; vice-president, Charles A. Taylor, Barron; secretary and gen- eral manager, J. E. Horsman; treasurer, .W. A. Demers, Rice Lake. These gentle- men with A. G. Strand constitute the board of directors.

The first exchange was established at Barron, with thirty subscribers and a fifty drop board. The same year the Cumber- land exchange was opened. In 1897 the ex- changes were opened at Rice Lake and Cameron. Then the lines were extended to Dallas, Prairie Farm and Chetek. The sys- tem grew rapidly until the company had local exchanges at Barron, Rice Lake, Cum- berland, Cameron, Chetek and Prairie Farm, and toll stations at Almena, Dallas, Mikana, Poskin, Hillsdale, Ridgeland, Haug- en, Birchwood, Dobie, Angus and Tuscobia.

There was at first no outside connection. In 1900, the Chippewa Valley Telephone Co. built a line from Eau Claire to Ashland, and thus gave Barron county telephone communication with the outside world.

All the local exchanges have now been sold, except those at Rice Lake and Barron, and to the development of these exchanges, the company now devotes its attention.

The Rice Lake exchange with 1,716 sub- scribers, of whom 1,004 are in the city, and 712 in the country, covers the northern part of the county; and the Barron exchange, with 704 subscribers, of which 402 are in the city and 302 in the country, covers the southern part of the county. The earnings of the company have increased from $400 in 1897 to $50,000 in 1920, and the pole line mileage from 100 to 600 miles. The suc- cess of the company since its organization has been largely due to the untiring efforts of DeWitt Post. Mr. Horsman has taken hold of the Rice Lake end of the business with characteristic energy, and has built up a remarkable system. The oldest em- ployee in the company is Zip Biron, who became lineman in 1897, and is now wire chief, with headquarters at Rice Lake.

In noting the recent change a newspaper report in speaking of the enlarging of Mr. Horsman's management to include the Barron exchange, says:

"It is not necessary for us to say that J. E. Horsman who will be the new general manager and who is well known in this city, will look after the interests of the subscribers equally as well as his old and intimate friend, DeWitt Post. Their rela- tionship in business has been and will con- tinue like brothers, but Mr. Post who has wished to retire for the past three years, insisted on being relieved at this meeting, although he consented to remain in charge of the Barron exchange until June 1."

Barron Woolen Mill Co., a reorganiza- tion of the Barron Woolen Mills Co., of which mention has already been made, was incorporated March 30, 1899, by Charles S. Taylor. Upon Mr. Taylor's death, his son, Charles A. Taylor, succeeded him as prest- dent. The estate of C. S. Taylor and Mrs. C. S. Taylor are the owners. A. Crawford is in active charge of operating the mill. The motive power is still obtained from a waterwheel.

The story of the mills is a most interest- ing one. The first year, wool was bought from the growers, and the finished product sold to the wholesalers. Since the second year the sales have been entirely to the re- tail trade.

For many years, the salesmen started out with the wagons in the fall, and called from door to door in the rural districts. Goods were sold for cash, for cash notes payable April 1, or for wool to be delivered at stated delivery points on June 1. June 1, the buyers went to these designated points, and took in this wool, and also bought wool for cash. Most of the wool was used at the mills. The surplus was graded and sorted, and shipped east. Some years as much as five carloads or 100,000 pounds of wool was shipped out. In the eastern wool markets the name "Taylor's matchings" is still known.

Since 1917, the wagon merchandising has been discontinued and the salesmen

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now sell from samples, but still directly to the consumer.

The product consists of flannels, yarns, shawls, blankets, mitts, hoisery, macki- naws, trousers, underwear, shirts, jumpers and automobile robes. Some fifteen sales- men are employed, and the mills give em- ployment to some twenty people. Water- power is still used.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Bar- ron had its beginning, Dec. 3, 1876, when a few Barron people met at the courthouse to listen to a sermon by Rev. K. A. Fulmur, of Prairie Farm, who had charge of the Sumner circuit. It was planned to hold meetings every alternate Sunday evening, but the roads were such that the minister could not always get here. The first Sunday school was organized May 20, 1877. There were then less than two dozen children in the village, and some of these were babies. Washington Bird, then county treasurer, was the superintendent. The first camp meeting on this circuit was held in June, 1877, in Dallas, near the farm then owned by Woodbury S. Grover. The first com- munion was administered by Rev. William Haw, who held a quarterly conference here in August, 1877. Rev. Fulmur was followed in 1877 by Rev. H. C. Carter, and he in 1878 by Rev. W. S. Taylor. During this year there was organized a Barron County Sab- bath School association, which existed about three years and has for its successive presidents, Rev. M. Taylor, Mrs. Charles S. Taylor and J. F. Coe. In 1879, Rev. J. H. McManus became pastor, followed in 1880 by Rev. Helms. About this time the Mite Society was organized. At first it em- braced all the religious ladies of the town. Later, as other churches were organized, the new churches formed their own or- ganizations and since 1896 the Mite Society has been strictly Methodist. In 1881, Rev. F. W. Arndt became pastor. Rev. W. E. Robinson came in 1882 and Rev. James Conner in 1883. Services were then being held in the schoolhouse. During his pas- torate, funds were solicited to build a church. Work was started in 1885. Rev. John Haw became pastor that year. and the church was dedicated Aug. 28-29, 1886. Dur- ing the fall and most of the winter of 1886 and 1887 Rev. S. Phoenix served as a sup- ply. In the fall of 1886 came Rev. Barka- loo, followed in the spring of 1887 by Rev. Moses C. Alley. He was the first resident pastor, taking up his home here in a rented house. In 1887 came Rev. G. W. Pepper. Oct. 3, 1890, the Epworth League was or- ganized. Rev. Pepper was followed in 1891 by F. M. Haight, whose year was filled out by Rev. A. A. Loomis. In 1892 came Rev. S. N. Griffith, followed in 1893 by Rev. El- mer R. Sidell. In 1894 a parsonage was completed. Rev. H. P. Blake came in 1895. The Woman's Home Missionary Society was organized July 10, 1894, with Mrs. Sarah Parr as the first president. Rev. E. C. Dixon, the next pastor, served until the fall of 1901; Rev. M. Benson until the fall of 1907; Rev. G. H. R. Kershaw until the fall of 1912 and then Rev. E. Harris.

He was followed by Rev. R. Harold Gee. The present pastor is Rev. William H. Penn.

In 1909 a pipe organ was installed, and the following year, 1909, the church was enlarged and then rededicated.

In writing of early days in the church Mrs. C. S. Taylor has said: "For a long time our meetings were held in the court room of the courthouse. After that we met in the white frame schoolhouse which stood just in front of where the red brick Ward school now stands. The building was later moved away, and is now the Catholic church. We worshipped in the schoolhouse as early as 1882. Fancy going there on a Sunday evening when it was so dark you could scarcely find your way on the muddy paths through the woods. In the late sev- enties, a friend of the work loaned us an organ. A few years later, C. S. Taylor pur- chased an organ for the church, and sev- eral who were interested made payments on it until it was nearly all paid for. After a while Thomas W. Borum made the church a present of a new organ for the rooms below for the Epworth League and other services. Later still he replaced the old church organ with a new one, which made it in a large measure a gift. Of choristers we have had but five in forty years: Mrs. C. S. Taylor, J. F. Coe, L. S. Cheney, W. B. Crawford and A. Crawford." To this Clar- ance C. Coe adds: "Mrs. C. S. Taylor, who started the tunes for the first services of the church in 1876, has been continuously and still is a member of the choir."

The First Baptist Church of Barron was organized in the town of Maple Grove, in the Johnson schoolhouse, March 3, 1894, under the name of The Immanuel Baptist Church, with six charter members: A. W. Arndt, Mrs. A. W. Arndt, W. H. Ellis, Mrs. W. H. Ellis, Mrs. Harry Young and Charley S. Sanderson. On March 10 five more mem- bers were added by baptism. April 19, 1895, a special meeting was held and the name of the organization was changed to the First Baptist Church of Barron, and meetings were held from that date until 1897 in different halls in the city of Barron. The first church building was completed in 1897, largely through the sacrificial efforts of its charter members. All the lumber for the building, except sheeting and wainscot- ing, including the pulpit and the pews, came from the farm of A. W. Arndt. The church was remodeled and enlarged in 1913, and the capacity of the church doubled, with a seating capacity now of 250. It is a modern and comfortable church home. The first board of trustees were S. R. Wiley, A. W. Arndt and W. H. Ellis. The following pas- tors served the church since its organiza- tion: George B. Dissmore, S. S. Hageman, A. E. Goff, G. A. Wain, H. E. Hoare, E. J. Parsons, G. W. Morton, H. A. Ericson, J. McFarlane, J. W. Bell, J. C. Johnson, George Hamilton, H. H. Savage, C. H. Dina- more and David Alexander. Rev. Solomon M. Duyzers is the present pastor. A. W. Arndt and F. D. Otis, senior deacons. C. C. Dickson, chairman of the board of trustees.

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Mrs. C. C. Dickson, clerk, and W. H. Lee treasurer.

St. Mark's Protestant Episcopal Church was organized in 1894. The moving spirit in the organization was Major E. N. Steb- bins. He was the first Episcopalian to settle in Barron, and it was largely through his efforts that the pretty little church was built in 1901. The church has been an im- portant factor in the life of Barron, and numbers in its communicants a number of the city's leading citizens. The rector is the Rev. M. B. Goodall of Rice Lake.

St. Joseph's Catholic Church had its be- ginning about twenty years ago when Father -Smith came over from Rice Lake and held mass here in homes, in halls and in the basement of one of the banks. A parish was organized and given the name of St. Joseph's. In 1909 the old white Ward school was purchased and moved to the present site on LaSalle street, . where it was fitted up as a church. In 1913 the building was remodeled into very neat and sightly church edifice. The pas- tors have been the Rev. Fathers Smith from Rice Lake, Berg from Almena, Bourg from Almena, Novarkie from Chetek, Nouza from Illinois, Zenisik from Illinois, and Tabencki of Chetek. Among the names prominent in the church annals are those of Kohten, Crawley, Gobeen, Koerner, Noo- nan, Matton, Schmitz, Cady, Matthys, Hoff- man, Burnham, Salscheider, Baker, Pelo- quin, Thill, Josephson, Castonie, St. Louis, Paulson and Osborne. J. P. Hoffman is secretary of the church. The Ladies Aid Society was established about the time the church was organized, with Mrs. J. P. Hoff- man as president.

The German Lutheran Church was organ- ized April 1, 1893, the name used being the German Evangelical Lutheran Bethlehem Church. A church building was erect- ed the same year, and also a parsonage. The building committee was composed of nine members: Carl Schroeder, chair- man, Julius Zable, Christopher Wagen- bach, Ferdinand Mieltke, Fred Schud- lick, John Krueger, Jacob Wagner, Wellington Fox and Fred Schultz. An- drew Rewey was the architect and superin- tendent, and was assisted by Charley Man- nel. Most of the work was done by mem- bers of the committee and congregation. The corner stone was laid by Rev. H. O. Rastin, of Shell Lake. Frederick Schud- lick and Carl Ferdinand Meisegeier did all the mason work. The first organization was composed of fifteen families: Carl Schroe- der, Jacob Wagner, Frederick Schudlick, F. Mieltke, Julius Zable, Valentine Fox, Christopher Wagenbach, Gottlieb Kurth, Fritz Schultz, Otto Horn, Willie Kolb, Ern- est Kolb. John Krueger, Phillip Wagen- bach and Frank Barfknecht. During the building of the church services were held in the Methodist Church and at convenient residences, many times at the home of Gott- lieb Krueger. Rev. H. O. Rastin, who was located at Shell Lake, representing the Wis- consin Synod, conducted the first services. Since then the following pastors have

served the church: Theodore Thormachlem, Oswald Lugenheim, H. J. Ablemann, J. Freund, R. F. Nammacher, George Kerchke, Adolph Lederer, William Keturakat, Julius Wagner, Walter Motzkus. The congrega- tion now numbers about thirty families, representing a total membership of about two hundred.

A Presbyterian mission was formed here in 1881, by Rev. Mr. Smith. He conducted the services until 1886, when a church was organized by his successor, Rev. Mr. Chapin. He continued to minister to this church and the one at Chetek until the fall of 1887. After that the mission was discontinued.

Barron Lodge No. 220, F. and A. M. was organized on dispensation under date of June 7, 1881. The charter members were the following: William P. Swift, W. M .; George Parr, S. W .; S. E. Washburn, J. W .; James Sims, treasurer; C. B. Leach, secre- tary; D. C. Strong, S. D., and S. C. Miles, J. D. At this time this lodge was the only Masonic organization in Barron County and it must have been somewhat of a task to assemble the members for meetings as S. E. Washburn lived near Cameron, James Sims lived at Rice Lake, C. B. Leach, though having his home at Barron, was at Shell Lake, D. C. Strong lived at Chetek and S. E. Miles lived at Prairie Farm.

These same officers held their offices the following two years, except that N. M. Rockman was junior deacon and S. E. Miles tyler. At the first meeting held in June 1881, N. M. Rockman of Barron, and Walter Speed of Chetek were admitted to membership. In 1882 and up to June, 1883, twelve more were admitted and at the an- nual meeting of the Grand Lodge in June, 1883, the charter was granted.

The first member to affiliate was R. L. Young of Rice Lake, who joined in the lat- ter part of 1883. In 1886 four members de- mitted to join Rice Lake Lodge No. 234 which had been recently organized and among these was John F. Dietz, of Cameron Dam fame, who had been admitted to mem- bership in September of that year. The first death in the membership occurred in the year 1888 when A. J. Barton passed away on October 14.

The Masters of the lodge have been since then: 1881-1883, William P. Swift; 1884, George Parr; 1885-86, S. E. Washburn; 1887, J. F. Coe; 1888, J. J. Smith; 1889-90, F. B. Kinsley; 1891, J. F. Coe; 1892, W. H. Ellis; 1893, C. A. Doe; 1894, F. B. Kinsley; 1895, W. H. Ellis; 1896-1900, S. E. Washburn; 1904, A. E. Hedback; 1905-07, Ellsworth Mckinney; 1908, S. E. Washburn; 1909-10, Julius C. Rockman; 1911, E. W. Herring; 1912, Charles A. Taylor; 1913, C. C. Mor: rison; 1914-15, J. W. Soderberg; 1916-18, K. E. Thompson; 1919, T. T. Hazelberg; 1920, Alvah Mckinney; 1921, J. E. Mckain. It will be seen that S. E. Washburn has served nine terms; F. B. Kinsley four terms; William P. Swift, Ellsworth McKin- ny and K. E. Thompson, each three terms; J. F. Coe, W. H. Ellis, Julius C. Rockman and J. W. Soderberg each two terms.

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 183

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1767

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge
Publication date: 1922
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1767