History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 187

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

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The commodious and substantial brick rectory was built at his own expense by Father A. A. Leinfelder, the old rectory at that time being sold and moved across the street, where it still stands, being occupied as a private residence.

St. Anthony's Church edifice was re- modeled and enlarged about 1913, but on March 19, 1919, it was totally destroyed by fire. Plans are now under way to build a new edifice to replace it, and it is expected that the new building will be completed by May, 1922.

Several missions have been served from Cumberland. In 1887, Father Schorlek, while pastor here, held services once a month at Glenwood. In 1895 the missions at Almena and Spooner were served, though now each is a separte parish with a church edifice and a resident pastor. Then Barronett was served, first by Father Rohr in 1891, and is still a mission served from Cumberland once a month, the services being held in residences, halls or school- houses, as most convenient.

A Baptist Church was organized in Cum- berland, Jan. 29, 1882, by Elder A. Gibson, from New Richmond, the first pastor, and started with ten members. It continued as

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a regular organization until March, 1884, when Mr. Gibson died. Deprived of his leadership, and with no one to take his place, the members discontinued services, and nothing further was done until June, 1890, when a reorganization took place and the church entered upon a new existence with Rev. W. H. Barker as minister. He remained, however, but three months. The church was incorporated in July, 1890, and in the following April the Rev. E. D. Ben- nett took charge of it. At that time there was a membership of forty-nine. Meetings were held in the Good Templars' Hall until a nice church edifice was built. A little later, however quite a number of the influ- ential members moved away, and a few others dying, the society became so small that the church was unable to keep its property and decided to dispose of it. The building was accordingly sold to Ed Brand, who is now using it as a garage in con- nection with his hotel business.

Methodist Episcopal Church. The church building of this society was begun in the summer of 1882, and dedicated May 20, 1883. It is said to have been the first church edi- fice erected on the island, though the Catholics built their church of St. Mary's the same year. The Rev. J. H. McManus, the first pastor, remained during 1883. He was succeeded in the following year by Rev. M. J. Robinson. The Rev. G. W. Smith had charge during 1885, 1886 and 1887. In 1888 Rev. George Empey was pastor and he was succeeded by Rev. L. A. Willsey. After Mr. Willsey left the church was served in succession by the following pastors: Rev. Howard Robinson, one year; Rev. T. H. Harvey, three years; Rev. E. A. McKin- ley, two years; Rev. E. H. Mckenzie, one year: Rev. S. A. Hoffman, one year; Rev. Charles H. Towne, two years; Rev. J. A. Willey. three years; Rev. J. H. Benson, three years; Rev. J. Henley Chatterson, two years; Rev. T. H. Harvey, five years; Rev. G. W. E. Hill, nine or ten months (served out Rev. Harvey's year); Rev. Harold Gee, three years; Rev. Arthur Dinsdale, who was appointed in 1918, but was called for service overseas, when the pulpit was sup- plied by Dr. Delos M. Tompkins, a member of the Rock River conference. In 1919 the present pastor, Rev. J. T. Kneen, took charge. Near the close of 1920 important evangelistic meetings were held here as union services, being led by the conference evangelist, M. E. Taylor, and Howard Flem- ing, vocalist. They resulted in many new members, bringing the membership of the Methodist Church up to about 200, and also increasing the membership of other churches in the city, especially the Scandi- navian. During the pastorate of Rev. T. H. Harvey improvements were made in the parsonage, and from time to time the church building has also been improved. The Sunday school enrollment, including the home department, is from 160 to 175. The Epworth League, the Ladies' Aid and Woman's Home Missionary Society are active factors in the good work of the church.

The Swedish Lutheran Church of Cum- berland, belonging to the Augustana Synod, originated in the early eighties, and for two or three years occasional services were held in private houses. In 1885 a more def- inite organization took place, and soon after the society united with the Norwegian Lutherans in building a house of worship near the south end of Second street. Here all worshiped together until 1907, when, on account of linguistic differences which caused difficulties in the singing, the con- gregation divided, the Swedish members building their present brick church on Sec- ond street, which stands in close proximity to the Norwegian Church. The building cost $14.000. In 1918 the Swedish Luther- ans built a good parsonage at a cost of $4,300. In early years, when both societies used what is now the Norwegian Church edifice, services were held alternately, or at intervals, by Norwegian and Swedish pastors. The first Swedish pastor to serve the congregation was the Rev. A. Bengtson, and the second the Rev. A. G. Malnquist, the latter being thus connected with the church for seven years. After him the Rev. E. Edman conducted Swedish services for six years, the Rev. A. G. Hammerberg for two years, and the Rev. S. Hawkins for two years. Then came the present pastor, Rev. G. E. Lingsten, who assumed charge Oct. 1, 1917. The church is a neat and substantial structure with ornamental win- dows, and has a good bell, which was do- nated by Mrs. Akenstedt. In November, 1921, the church had 194 communicant members, and there was a Sunday school roll of about fifty. The societies connected with the church and active in its work are the Ladies' Aid, the Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society, and the Luther League. An account of the Norwegian Lutheran Church may be found in an arti- cle on the Norwegian Lutheran Churches of the county, by the Rev. J. E. Nord, which is printed elsewhere in this volume.

Congregational Church. In May, 1888, a Congregational Sunday school was insti- tuted. and in August of the same year the Rev. T. F. Murphy came to the city and conducted services. In the following Octo- ber a Congregational Church was organ- ized with fourteen members. The services were held for a while in Miller's Hall. In the spring of 1889 the Society purchased the building known as Gymnasium Hall and altered and fitted it up for church pur- poses. The Rev. T. F. Murphy was the pastor for several years, and since then the church has had a number of others, in- cluding the Rev. E. D. Bennett, Rev. I. B. Tracy, Rev. Julius Parsons, Rev. W. T. Ream, Rev. Lewis H. Skidmore and Rev. J. H. Bielefeld. In 1909 the church build- ing was remodeled. The church has now about 50 members. The auxiliary organi- zations are Sunday school, the Ladies' Aid Society, and the Young Peoples' Society for Christian Endeavor.

The German Lutheran Church of Cum- berland was organized April 15. 1900, by the Rev. Theodore Thormaehlen, after

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services had been held for some time pre- viously in the homes of the members, and presided over by neighboring preachers. The congregation erected a small building for worship on what was known as "Cab- bage Hill," owing to the locality being chiefly settled by Germans. Mr. Thor- maehlen remained pastor until 1901, and the church then came under the pastoral care of Rev. H. Meyer, of Shell Lake, who served it for about three years. The next pastor, Rev. O. Steffen, of Almena, as- sumed charge in 1904 and ended his duties here in the following year. His successor was Rev. O. Neuman, of Shell Lake, who served from 1905 to 1908, and was suc- ceeded by Rev. L. Traub. The latter was pastor but a short time, as he died here in 1908, and for three years after his death the pulpit was vacant, except that occa- sional services were held by neighboring preachers. Then the church secured the services of Rev. Theodore Martens, whose pastorate lasted from 1911 to December, 1917. In 1918 the Rev. H. H. Wegner came here from Phipps, Wis., and has since remained. The present church building, a frame structure situated on the west side of town, on the shore of Beaver Dam Lake, was erected in 1914 at a cost of about $4,000. The parsonage, located in town, on Foster avenue, was bought by the congre- gation about seven years ago. The church has now about thirty voting members and about 100 communicant members. There is a Sunday school and Ladies' Aid Society.

All Souls' Protestant Episcopal Church was organized in 1884, and a church edi- fice erected shortly afterward. The pastor for a number of years was the Rev. A. B. Peabody. Subsequently services were held from time to time by other pastors, among them Arch-deacon William F. Hood, then stationed at Shell Lake. On account of re- movals without compensating accessions of membership, the congregation gradually diminished until it was found necessary, a few years ago, to suspend services.

Several of the best known fraternal orders and societies have lodges or organ- izations in Cumberland, including the Masons, Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen of America, the Scandinavian- American Fraternity and the American Le- gion. A number of years ago the Odd Fel- lows had a lodge here, but after awhile sur- rendered their charter.

Cumberland Lodge No. 223, A. F. & A. M., was organized June 12, 1883, with fifteen charter members and now has sixty-five. The lodge owns the building in which it meets, which is a frame structure on Sec- ond street, and was purchased about ten years ago. The American Legion meets in a room in the same building.

Cumberland Lodge No. 62, K. of P., was institued about March 15, 1888, and now has eighty-five members. The lodge meets in a hall near the south end of Second street.

Hunter Camp, No. 1218, M. W. A., was organized in January, 1890, and now has eighty-five members.

Branch No. 55 of the Scandinavian-Amer- ican Fraternity was organized in Cumber- land in 1901 and is now a strong society with a membership of 114.

The Cumberland Pioneers .- In the spring of 1920 the surviving pioneers of Cumber- land and the vicinity awoke to the realiza- tion of the fact that the city had long passed its period of youth and had taken its place among the older settled communities of the western part of the state. Many of the first settlers had already passed away, and those that remained no longer felt that youthful strength and vim which had formerly car- ried them successfully through many a hard task in the building of their own fortunes or the development of the village and city. Looking back over the past, they recalled to mind many interesting events in which they had themselves taken part, or which were associated in their minds with the faces and forms of old time friends and neighbors, some still living here, some who had moved to other parts of the country, and some who had passed to the land be- yond the grave. The survivors who remained here began to feel that it was time to form an association whose purpose should be "to revive and perpetuate the early history and traditions of Cumberland its environs, to recall the sweet memories of the lives of the early pioneers, to give an opportunity to renew old acquaintances and friendships, and to offer an occasion for an annual as- sembly of all those who were identified with the early history of Cumberland."

In response to a call issued by George I. Constance, the first meeting of the associa- tion was held at the public library on Feb. 2, 1920. The considerable number of old timers who attended the meeting showed that the idea had been timely and had ex- cited general interest and approval. George I. Constance was chosen chairman and G. G. Hodgkin secretary, with authority to select such other officers and committees as might be necessary, and under their authority Mrs. F. W. Miller was selected as treasurer. The next meeting was held at the same place June 30, the same year, at which time it was decided to have a big picnic on August 25. Representatives from all parts of the adjoining territory were present at this meeting and much enthusiasm was mani- fested. At this meeting committees were appointed on constitution, advertising, re- ception, sports and games, grounds and guards, refreshments and membership. The picnic was held in Huser's Park, on the north shore of Beaver Dam Lake, on August 25, as planned, and was a great success, the weather being perfect and about 1,500 peo- ple present. After dinner a literary program was carried out which included the follow- ing items: Address of welcome, by Judge H. S. Comstock, with response by Judge A. F. Wright of Barron; president's address, by George I. Constance; address by Rev. J. H. McManus of Coloma, Wis .; song, America, by the audience, Mrs. H. S. Comstock lead- er: reading of letters from absent members, Mrs. F. W. Miller; vocal solo, Mrs. H. 8

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Comstock. At the business meeting which was held after the program a constitution was adopted and the name of the associa- tion was declared to be "The Cumberland Pioneers." The constitution provides that the association shall be non-sectarian and non-political, and that "no religious or po- litical speech shall be made, and no religious or political discussion or prapaganda per- mitted on the assembly ground or the ap- proaches thereto." Officers were then elected, namely: President, George L. Con- stance; secretary, G. C. Hodgkin; treasurer, Mrs. F. W. Miller; vice-presidents, John Hellstrom, H. H. Carsley, Sig. Jacobson, Charles Oldeen, Will Danniger, J. H. Le- Jeune, Matt Arnes and Israel Ricberg. A resolution of condolence on the death of Mrs. Lydia Nicholson Fuller, widow of J. F. Fuller, the only member who had passed

to her reward since the organization of the society, was adopted; also a resolution of thanks to George I. Constance for his un- tiring efforts on behalf of the Pioneers. The second annual event, held Aug. 25, 1921, was also favored by good weather and was at- tended by about 600 people. The officers elected were: Emil Huser, president; Louis Tappon, secretary; Bennie Johnson, treas- urer; vice-presidents, F. W. Miller, Sig. Ja- cobson, Oscar Risberg, Matt Arnes, Frank Williams, John Hellstrom and Martin Paul- son. Mrs. F. W. Miller again read letters from absent pioneers. C. A. Lamoreux of Ashiand was the speaker of the day, and Miss Miller the vocalist. The Cumberland Band furnished music, and there was a girls' baseball game played between the girls' teams of Cumberland and Barronett, which was won by the latter.

CHAPTER XXI.

CHETEK CITY.

The incorporated city of Chetek lies in Section 30, township 33 north, range 10 west, or somewhat more than a mile south- west of the center of Chetek Township.

It is situated on the northwest shore of Chetek Lake, a beautiful body of water of irregular outline, well stocked with bass, pickerel and other choice fish, and largely frequented in the summer time by tourists and rest seekers from various and some far-distant parts of the country. This lake is one of a chain extending seven or eight miles from northwest to southeast, the north end of Chetek city touching the south end of Prairie Lake. The country surrounding the city, and especially that near the shores of the lake, presents many picturesque fea- tures. It is well adapted to stock raising, dairying and general farming, all of which are extensively carried on.

Chetek was first settled nearly sixty years ago, in 1863. It was never incorporated as a village but became an incorporated city in 1891. It is on a branch of the Chicago, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway, which was constructed in 1882.

Previous to white settlement the country in this vicinity was well wooded, the timber consisting mostly of white and jack pine, with some varieties of hardwood. Knapp, Stout & Co., who began logging operations here in the middle of the sixties, cut only the white pine, as there was no profit to be made at that time from the hardwood. Wil- liam W. Carey, now living in Chetek city, arrived in this vicinity about 1866, as a boy of fifteen, and remembers that lumber- ing operations were then being actively car -. ried on by the above mentioned company.

Among the pioneers who settled on land in the township were: William Bell, H. B. Ross, Charles Dean and Thomas E. Gotham,

all of whom arrived in 1872. Mr. Bell set- tled on land three miles north of the village site, and about a mile farther north was a man named Albert Morrell, who had arrived about 1870 or 1871. These early settlers and others obtained their supplies from Chip- pewa Falls, Eau Claire or Vanville (now Bloomer).

It is not now known who was the first white settler on the site of the city. In March, 1872, when B. L. Eighmy arrived, with his two brothers, William and O. W., he found five settlers here, all located in what is now the south end of town, on what was subsequently laid out as the first vil- lage plat. These were D. M. Beagle, Duane Tuller, C. P. Tuller (usually known as "Cobe"), Walter L. Morrison and W. B. Lampman. They were engaged mostly in hunting and trapping. Mr. Eighmy, who is still living, first settled on a farm three miles south, but before long became a mer- chant in the village, or on the village site. Edward J. Banks, who arrived in 1870, set- tled on what is known as Banks' Addition in the western part of the city.

Chetek was platted Oct. 15, 1875, on land owned by Knapp, Stout & Co. and E. M. Sexton. It embraced a large tract including much of the present platted portion of the city and other territory besides. Dec. 4, 1877, all except blocks 29 and 30 were vacated. The present business section is located largely on the Second Addition, replatted on a part of the vacated land formerly occu- pied by the original plat. This Second Addition was platted June 12, 1882, by Knapp. Stout & Co., the surveyor being Thomas Parker. It occupies six blocks and is bounded by Main and Fourth, Douglass and Moore streets. The two blocks left of the original plat lie between Main and Sec- ond, Mill and Douglass streets.

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During the earliest period in the history of the settlement, Mr. Beagle's log cabin was the stopping-place for travelers, but John Barry was the first to erect a building designed for hotel purposes. It was called the Lake View House, and stood on block 29 on the original plat, where the building may still be seen. Mr. Barry. was proprie- tor of this hotel for some eight or ten years. Some time after the erection of the Lake View House Mr. Beagle moved to a farm across the creek and about half a mile to the southeast, where he built a large frame hotel, which was quite a building for its day, and is still a notable landmark, though now used as a farm residence. For some time town meetings were held there. This building is now within the city limits.

John Townsend may be regarded as the first storekeper in or near Chetek, as he kept a few groceries for sale in his dugout located close to the large Beagle Hotel. He was also accustomed to go to Long Lake to busy fish from the Indians, which he sold in Eau Claire.

The question as to who started the second store 'remain somewhat in doubt, but it is known that a man called Pink Mattix, who married a daughter of Bradford Lampman, had a little store on the bank of the lake near the W. L. Morrison place.

B. L. Eighmy also started a store in the early seventies, in which the postoffice was kept, A. A. French being postmaster. The next general store seems to have been that of Chase & Elmer, and was conducted by them for two years, when, according to one account, they sold out to a Mr. Miller, whose daughter was the wife of George Whitman, and Mr. and Mrs. Whitman conducted it for a while in the latter's name. Both the Eighmy and Whitman stores were in oper- ation in 1876, but the Whitmans remained but a short time longer, as in 1877 Mrs. Whitman's father, Mr. Miller, was conduct- ing the store, though, it is said, he had very little in it. A Mr. Parker also kept a little store about this time. But by far the largest and most complete store was started by Knapp, Stout & Co. about 1879. Its dimen- sions were 80 by 26 feet and there was a large warehouse built onto it. From the start it did a large business, the people find- ing there a larger variety of goods than they could in places operated with a small capital. It was first managed for the lumber company by C. W. Moore, who had erected the building, his successors in the same position being J. W. Munnell, J. Hornby Butcher and J. C. Phillips, the last men- tioned of whom is still a resident of Chetek. C. W Moore in 1883 started a store of his own. He has passed away, but is survived by his widow, who resides at St. Croix Falls, Wis. Knapp, Stout & Co. also con- ducted a boarding house for their men, which was managed for them first by Mr. and Mrs. John McGregor and later by Mr. and Mrs. Cush Rogers.

Some years before the establishment of their store Knapp, Stout & Co. had built a large sawmill and planing mill, and later a grist mill. The latter was erected .by . B. B.

Downs, a millwright, whom they made fore- man of the mill. Their store was operated until 1903 and then closed. The building was sold, removed to another site and later burned down.

In the fall of 1881 Robert Stewart and his partner, L. Francois, erected a store build- ing in "Bobtown" (Stewart's Addition), in which they opened for business April 15. 1882, having hauled their goods from Chip- pewa and Vanville (now Bloomer). After two years Mr. Francois sold his interest to Mr. Stewart, who conducted the store about two years longer, when he failed. He is now living in Superior, Wis., while Mr. Francois is still a resident of Chetek. John McGre- gor built a hotel called the Central House, about 1882, and about the same time, or soon after, S. W. Briggs erected the store building since occupied by the Southworth hardware store.

In the early eighties Hatch & Bird opened a hardware store, and in the spring of 1883 a building was erected where the Moe store is now and opened as a hardware store of Joseph Hurst and Charles M. Horel. under the name of Hurst & Horel. After a short time Mr. Hurst dropped out and Mr. Horel then added furniture to his stock. Later he sold his stock to Stewart & Fran- cois and went to Rice Lake to manage Knapp, Stout & Co.'s stock farm.

The almost simultaneous appearance of so many business enterprises at this time was due to the coming of the railroad. A construction train, with a passenger car on the end, passed through on July 4, 1882, and this event, combined with the celebration of the national holiday, drew a large crowd to the village. Some of the railroad men, after drinking more or less, became boister- ous and were driven out of the village by the farmers. The first passenger train passed through the village about October 1, that year. As an incentive to the construc- tion of the railroad, the city issued bonds to the amount of five thousand dollars.

In the early eighties, M. C. Hill, better known as "Potter" Hill, opened a black- smith's shop on the site of the present John- son Bros.' garage, which he carried for about eight or ten years, at the end of which time he moved his shop to a farm on the east side of the lake. The second black- smith shop opened where the Co-operative Store is now located, by Charles Peterson, who operated it until nine years ago, when he retired.

In the early eighties, also, Andrew Olson, who had a saloon, opened a drug store next door, which was conducted for him by Einer Kleve. This was opposite the site of the present Southworth hardware store.

Dr. William H. Robbins came to Chetek in November, 1881, and Mrs. Robbins, with their son and daughter, arrived in the fol- lowing spring. Dr. Dewitt C. Strong got here a few days previous to Dr. Robbins, so the · village now had two physicians, in addition to which two other physicians, both ad- vanced in years, were living some distance out in the country, Dr. Bailey and Dr. Nich- ols, the latter living east of the lake. The

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life of a physician was hard in those days, especially in the winter time. Dr. Robbins. when called to attend a patient in the coun- try, often found himself unable to drive up to the house, but had to leave his horse and cutter standing in the snow and proceed the rest of the way on snow shoes.

D. M. Beagle, who was here in 1872, if not earlier, served for a while as postmaster and, so far as is now remembered, was the first to hold that office. He was succeeded in it by A. A. French, who kept it in the Eighmy store. After Mr. French, C. W. Moore had it, and after him in succession, W. H. Bundy, Bernard Moe, Peter Swansby, Bernard Moe (second time), J. H. Bell and Carl Whitaker, the last mentioned being the present incumbent. When J. W. Bell became postmaster, June 1, 1897, it was an office of the fourth class and it was raised to the third class during his incumbency. He served eighteen years, or until Aug. 1, 1915, and it was he who established the five rural routes now operated from this office. The early postmasters kept the office in their stores, but the quarters now occupied in the Farmers & Merchants Bank Building are held by the government on a fifteen-year lease.

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 187

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

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