History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 189

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

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society. The church is enjoying a healthy growth and is one of the most active in the city.

The Advent Christian Church in Dovre Township, located seven miles from Chetek city, on the line between Dovre and Dallas Townships, was organized about twelve years ago by Rev. T. L. Stephens, the build- ing, a small frame structure, being pur- chased from the Free Methodists. For a few years the congregation was served by the resident pastor of Chetek, and at one time numbered about 35 members, but in 1918, as a number of the members had moved to the city, the society disbanded as a church organization and the building is not now in use. The remaining members, however, hold Sunday school in the district schoolhouse. The church building, when belonging to the Free Methodists, was sometimes known as the Sioux Creek Methodist Church.

Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints .- This society was organ- ized at Twin Lakes, Bloomer Township, Chippewa County, Wis., July 31, 1893, the first members being Mr. and Mrs. Clayton Weeks, Mr. and Mrs. William Mair, Mr. and Mrs. James Mair, Sr., Mr. and Mrs. James Mair, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. John McGinnis, Le- roy Colbert, Orlando Colbert, P. L. Richard- son and others. The first services were held in schoolhouses in that vicinity and were continued there until the church was trans- ferred to Chetek about fifteen years ago, a number of the members having come here to live. A lot close to the railroad track was donated by George Clark, Sr., and the pres- ent church edifice erected. In course of time the location was found inconvenient, on ac- count of its close proximity to the railroad, and accordingly about three years ago the building was moved to its present site on a lot purchased by the society. At the same time a belfry was added to the church and a basement put under it. With these im- provements the property is now worth about five thousand dollars. Elder P. L. Richard- son was the first pastor, acting in that ca- pacity while the congregation was at Twin Lakes and for a number of years in Chetek -about fifteen years in all. About three years ago Leroy Colbert became pastor and still remains so. Other officers of the church are as follows: Deacon, Charles Flynn; teachers, James Mair, Jr., Austin Johnson, George Clark, Jr .; priests, Fred Nowak, Mar- shall Shedd, George Lafferty and M. O. Shedd; janitor, Arthur A. Rich. The Religio Department is a young people's educational society. There is also a Woman's Depart- ment of a similar character, and a Sunday school with an enrollment of about one hun- dred. The present church membership is 237. In the basement of the church is a kitchen for use when suppers and other en- tertainments are held. The Sunday school is divided into primary and senior depart- ments. Wednesday night prayer meetings are held and there is a young people's prayer meeting at 9 o'clock Sunday morn- ing, in charge of Elder F. A. Atwood. In the north end of the city, just south of Long bridge, is a piece of ground, 10 by 30 rods

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in dimensions, owned by the Northern Wis- consin District, which is fitted up for a sum- mer meeting place. The buildings include an auditorium, refreshment stand, dining hall and a cottage for ministers. This place is known as L. D. S. Reunion Park, and serv- ices are held here once a year, lasting ten days, beginning in the latter part of June and continued so as to include the Fourth of July, when special services are held. The people come from various places, the elders sometimes from as far as Missouri and Illi- nois. The attendance averages about three hundred, and as many as forty tents are pitched during the camping season. This property is valued at about five thousand dollars. The auditorium is the largest in town and is used also for large general meetings, such as memorial services and funerals.

A Cemetery Association was organized in Chetek in January, 1882. Its first officers were: C. W. Moore, president; W. R. Smith, secretary, and E. J. Banks, treasurer. Lake- view Cemetery is situated on the bank of the lake and contains seventeen and one- half acres. It is a place of natural beauty, which has been enhanced by the improve- ments that have been made. The cemetery contains some very fine monuments. M. W. Hatch is now president of the Association, Byron Carter secretary and W. J. Burnham treasurer.

Since the reorganization of the National Guard in 1920 a militia company has been organized in Chetek, which received Fed- eral recognition and was mustered in on May 17, 1921. The organization consists of 41 enlisted men commanded by First Lieu- tenant Merton Martenson, and is the head- quarters company of the First Battalion, First Wisconsin Infantry. The armory in the Opera House building is used for drill, and the company contains a number of high school boys who enjoy the drill and profit by the discipline. The company spends two weeks of each year at Camp Douglas.

Albert Weatherby Post, No. 128, Chetek, was organized in Moore & Regan's Hall, Chetek, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 15, 1884. The charter members were C. W. Moore, O. J. Hurlburt, P. Swansby, D. C. Wood, M. L. Andrus, F. E. Andrews, Owen Brady, C. A. Whitney, C. W. Meadows, L. H. Nich- ols, O. W. Eighmy, F. J. Banks, B. F. Tyler, S. W. Briggs, B. L. Eighmy, L. F. Locke, H. O. Field, A. D. Stacy, S. J. Packard, A. M. White, W. H. Hogeboom, A. J. Barton, G. W. Sines, A. Richal, William F. Colbert, D. M. Morley, J. Hanafain, D. A. Russell, C. H. Swan, E. Millard, H. J. Dixon, M. L. Johnson, S. N. Blatchford and A. S. Jopp. The first officers were as follows: C. W. Moore, P. C .; A. J. Barton, S. V. C .; H. J. Dixon, J. V. C .; A S. Jopp, Adjt .; L. H. Nichols, Surg .; S. J. Packard, Chap .; C. W. Meadows, Q. M .; M. L. Andrus, O. D .; S. W. Briggs, O. G .; S. O. Field, S. M .; A. M. White, Q. M. S. The lapse of time has reduced this once strong post to about twenty members, fourteen of whom reside in the city and the rest in the country. Those now living in the city are:

F. A. Mcintyre, F. W. Barber, Fred Museus, W. W. Howard, M. Johnson, W. W. Colbert, C. Whitney, A. Golsby, George Clark, J. N. Simmons, Benjamin Dodge, Albert Calkins, Matthew Reardon and J. A. Beebe. F. A. Mcintyre has been the post commander for the last six or seven years. The post no longer holds regular meetings, but is now "on call." It participates in Memorial Day services, in which hereafter the American Legion will take the leading part.

Albert Weatherby Woman's Relief Corps, No. 131, was organized Nov. 5, 1897, the charter members being: Lidia Leese, Ellen Richal, Mary H. Eighmy, Melvina Swansby, Edna L. Meadows, Agnes E. Colbert, Fannie Price, Flora Moore, Ellen Dixon, Emily Reardon, Christina Whitney, Alvina Swans- by, Alice Museus, Gertrude Bull and Melvina Hewitt.

Howard-Campbell Post, No. 179 American Legion, was organized in Chetek in Novem- ber, 1919, by Dr. John H. Prill. The post derived its name from two of the boys who gave their lives on the battlefields of France during 1918, Fred Howard and Oliver Camp- bell. The post received its charter on De- cember 15, which was signed by the follow- ing charter members: John H. Prill, Edwin Williams, Harold Olson, J. E. Harrison, Ben Ganske, Henry Tiffany, Leon Olsen, Orrin Robinson, A. W. Smith, Bennie Knutson, Hans Brusen, Edwin Vickery, Ben Gehler, Earl Hutzler, Al Kraus, Otto Kinnitz, Frank Barker, Ben Larson, Loyd Mogenson, Arthur Nelson, Claude Olson, Oscar Slettin, Gerold Thalocker, Ray Mair, O. L. Frederickson, George McGinnis, Henry Anderson, Ray- mond Tiffany, Ed Hatcher, Peter Burke, William Strong, Rex Pelton, P. E. Andrus and William Koepp.

Ben Ganske was elected commander; Emil Harrison, vice commander; Al Kraus, adjutant; Claude Olson, finance officer; Har- old Olson, historian; Alfred Smith, chap- lain; Dahl Anderson, sergeant-at-arms.

For the next year the post met at Dr. Prill's offices, as no clubrooms had been provided. The next year the following om- cers were elected: John H. Prill, command- er; A. W. Smith, adjutant; O. H. Robinson, finance officer; Harold Olson, historian; Henry Tiffany, chaplain; Raymond Tiffany, sergeant-at-arms, and Earl Hatzler, orderly.

Since the organization of the post in 1919 the membership has increased from 34 char- ter members to over 100 members. The meetings have been held the first and third Tuesdays of each month, and since the or- ganization of the Headquarters Company, First Infantry, at Chetek, the American Le- gion holds its meetings at the armory. Since the post was organized they have done much good in the community. They have helped several ex-service men to regain the foot- hold they had had before the war, and have been of great service to many transient ex- service men. Several of the bodies of the Chetek boys who were killed overseas have been returned to Chetek for burial, and the burials were all held under the auspices of the American Legion. Several of the G. A. R.

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veterans have passed on during the last two years, and the Legion assumed charge of their services, owing to the sadly depleted membership of the G. A. R. Albert Weath- erby Post.

The Howard-Campbell Post put Chetek on the athletic map last year (1920) by defeat- ing in basketball such cities as Rice Lake, Ladysmith, Barron, Spooner, Sparta, Eau Claire, Thorpe and others. This year the Legion Post have defeated all the teams they have played against and expect to have another championship team. The following members of the post represent the team: Rich Hoffman, Ben Ganske, Leo Callahan, Leon Olsen, Orrin Robinson, Fritz Kinnitz and Hugh Mair.

The following are the service records of the two soldier boys for whom the post was named:

Fred Winfield Howard enlisted in the United States service May 1, 1917, and was killed in action May 15, 1918. His story is found in the biographical department in this work.

Oliver Philip Campbell enlisted May 14, 1917, and trained at Camp Douglas, Wis., and Camp McArthur, Tex. He was first a member of Company L, 128th Regiment (Third Wisconsin) of the National Army, and as such went overseas, sailing for France about Feb. 20, 1918, and landing March 4. There he was transferred to Com- pany E, 128th Infantry. He was killed at Soissons, July 18, 1918.

Chetek Lodge, No. 309, I. O. O. F., was organized Dec. 22, 1879, the charter mem- bers being Dr. Abel Bailey, M. C. Hill, A. M. Hill, August Haiden and D. C. Wood. Dr. Bailey was the first Noble Grand. The lodge was organized in what is now a part of the W. J. Burnham furniture store, but later it was moved to the upper part of the build- ing now occupied by the Johnson Bros.' garage. In 1890 the Odd Fellows built a hall on the site now occupied by the Tiffany garage and it was used by the lodge, and also by the Rebekahs until it burned down about 1906. Then the Odd Fellows' lodge took up its quarters in the store of Byron Carter in the north end of the town. Some- where between six months and a year later the present Johnson garage building was purchased and was occupied until about four years ago, when the Odd Fellows bought the C. W. Moore building, where they have since had their quarters. The upper floor is used for the lodge room and the lower as a ban- quet hall. Meetings are held every Thurs- day night. The present membership is about 110.

There have been two Rebekah lodges in Chetek, the first of which was institued in 1891. Those most active in its organization were Ellen Richal, Minnie Hanson, Louise Peterson, Catherine Peterson, Clara Gilbert and Bertha Ganske. When the Odd Fellows' Hall was burned the Rebekahs lost all their equipment, which caused the lodge to be suspended. The present Rebekah lodge, known as Lake View Rebekah Lodge, No. 99, was instituted July 18, 1912, with the follow-

ing charter members: Rose Sines, Oscar O. Rude, Eunice L. Dodge, Louis Francois, Minnie Latshaw, David S. Wear, Louise B. Mogenson, David W. Dodge, Belle Hunt, Grant U. Hunt, Martha Johnson, Alma Rich- ards, Dayton C. Latshaw, Laura Breda, Ber- tha Dodge, Sarah Campbell, Daisy Wear, Alma Mogenson and Laura Peterson. This lodge is an active organization with 48 mem- bers.

Lodge No. 130 of the Scandinavian-Amer- ican Fraternity was organized in Chetek in 1893. Among the organizers were: Oscar C. Hanson, Thom Thompson, Frits Nelson, Louis Paulsrud, Albert Tiller and Edmund Eng. The lodge has now nearly 200 mem- bers and is the largest and best attended lodge in the city. Meetings are held in the Odd Fellows' Hall the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, and are made additionally interesting and attractive by the serving of refreshments. Many of the members live in the surrounding country, especially in Dovre Township.

Chetek Lodge, No. 274, Mystic Workers, was organized March 26, 1901, the charter members being D. W. Dodge, Sarah L. Camp- bell, Fred Hanson, Byron Carter, Eugene McCumber, Warren C. Slayton, Alfred C. Cole, Fred W. Slayton and Charles O. Cole. This lodge has now about 80 members. Meet- ings are held once a week in a rented hall.

Chetek Tent, No. 48, Knights of the Mac- cabees, was instituted Jan. 29, 1898, with the following charter members: F. W. Zieseness, Byron Carter, W. H. Ross, Fred Hanson, W. G. Malcolm, Geo. Flanders, Clay- ton Dodge, Rasmus Johnson, John Knight, Charles N. Strong, Frank E. Elwood and Christ Johnson. The organization was un- usually strong for many years, having more than one hundred members, but for the last few years has been decidedly inactive, not holding regular meetings. The membership is about 24.

Lakeside Camp, No. 2347, Modern Wood- men of America, was instituted Aug. 27, 1898, the following members being active in its organization: J. W. Bell, J. A. Patchin, Byron Carter. C. J. Nelson, E. F. Museus, Dr. G. C. Devine and F. W. Ziesenis. It has been an active organization and has at present 115 members.

Golden Rod Camp, No. 1838, Royal Neigh- bors, was instituted Aug. 31, 1899, with Fan- nie Bell, Eliza Burnham, Chloe Patchin, Minnie Bethel, Mabel Ross, Emma Albrecht, Minnie Tait and Charlotte Babcock as char- ter members, besides some male members. This camp also is active and holds regular meetings. Its present membership is sixty- four.

Chetek Lodge, No. 277, F. & A. M., was organized June 12, 1902 and was institued by S. E. Washburn, W. M., of Barron Lodge. The first officers were: Walter Speed, W. M .; C. Bruson, S. W .; J. C. Phillips, J. W .; C. A. Flano, S. D .; Fred Hanson, J. D .; C. W. Meadows, Sec., and C. F. Culver. Treas. The lodge has continued to flourish and holds its regular meetings in the opera house building.

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CHAPTER XXII.

TURTLE LAKE VILLAGE.

The incorporated village of Turtle Lake is situated in Sections 30 and 31, town 34 north, range 14 west (Almena Township). The ground on which it stands is for the most part flat, though the surface of the surrounding country is rolling. Close to the village on the northeast is Hillman Lake, which has a width of half a mile-the aver- age width of the lakes in this vicinity- while more directly east is Long Lake, marked on some maps as a swamp. From the north to the southeast, at an average distance of three miles from the village, there stretches a chain of larger lakes. Horseshoe Lake, the farthest to the north, and extending westward into Polk County, is a popular summer resort. Just to the east of it, in Section 8, is a smaller body of water of triangular shape, which is designated as Echo Lake on the map but is often called Bear Lake by the old settlers. To the south- east lies Upper Turtle Lake, two miles long, and farther south is Lower Turtle Lake, with a length of a mile and a half, which extends a short distance into Turtle Lake Town- ship. This region is covered with fertile farms, on which stock raising, dairying and general farming are extensively carried on.

Some forty years ago, or more, the site of the village was surrounded on all sides by forests of pine and hardwood timber, which attracted the attention of Stephen F. Richardson, who in 1879 erected a sawmill here and began lumbering. In 1884 he sold the mill to his brother, Joel Richardson, who operated it until Allen, Moon & Co. of St. Paul and J. W. McCoy of New Richmond foreclosed some mortgages they held on the plant, when it was sold in 1890 to the Parr Manufacturing Co. of Barron and removed to that city. While it flourished here this mill gave employment to a large force of workmen.

In the early eighties Joel Richardson kept the only store in the village, the other places of business, aside from the mill, being a hotel and two saloons. The resi- dence of James R. Kelly stood on a hill to the west, and a few small houses were scat- tered over the site of the village. Stephen F. Richardson was the first postmaster, the office being established in 1879. The first hotel in the village was erected by C. W. Haskins in 1881 and bore his name. He managed it until it was destroyed by fire in the fall of 1888. A new handsome frame building was put up in its place by W. W. Fisk and named after him.

In 1890 J. W. Stone erected a shingle mill. feed mill and sawmill, the last mentioned with a capacity of 30,000 feet a day. The shingle mill plant was sold to the Parr Man- ufacturing Co. and removed to Barron in the spring of 1891.

In the spring of 1877 the eastern terminus of the "Omaha" railroad was at Clayton, Polk County. and its construction was con- tinued north through Turtle Lake that sum-

mer. Trains were run to Turtle Lake and northward to Cumberland in 1878.

The construction of the "Soo" railroad was started from Turtle Lake Village in 1884, headquarters being established here. That year it was built east as far as Bruce, and in the following year it was built west to the Twin Cities and its construction con- tinued east as far as Rhinelander. The two roads forming a junction here, a joint depot was built in 1884 and J. H. Bunker, now postmaster of Turtle Lake, was the station agent.

The growth of the village was slow and devoid of "boom" features, the Richardson sawmill for a number of years being the principal industry. About one-half of the loggers were Indians, who had their wig- wams chiefly on Bear Lake and Lower Tur- tle Lake, with some on Upper Turtle Lake. They sometimes held pow-wows, which were picturesque and animated spectacles, largely attended from motives of curiosity and en- tertainment by the white settlers. Some of the white men married Indian women, and some of the halfbreed stock resulting from these marriages are still living in the vicin- ity of the village. These halfbreeds worked in the mill as well as at logging.

On Jan. 2, 1885, the village of Turtle Lake was platted. on land of Joel Richardson, by Worthy A. Prentice, surveyor, now residing in Clayton. Polk County. A month previ- ously, on Dec. 5, 1884, the railroad addition had been platted by the Sault Ste. Marie Land & Improvement Company. The addi- tion to the north near the Omaha tracks was made several years later on the north- west quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 30.

The second store to be opened in the village was that of Webb & Wickenburg, the partners being Herbert Webb and Frank C. Wickenburg. About 1885 Mr. Wickenburg bought out his partner and conducted busi- ness alone until the following year, when his store took fire and burned down. J. H. Bunker, who was then working for Mr. Wickenburg and was also town clerk, kept the township records in the store and they were destroyed in the fire. Turtle Lake and Almena were then one township. The next year Mr. Wickenburg and Mr. Bunker be- came partners and so remained for dfteen years subsequently. Mr. Wickenburg built the store now occupied by A. O. Blix, though the building has since been enlarged.

Though, on the authority of the poet. "Dis- tance lends enchantment to the view." and invests bygone scenes and events with the delusive atmosphere of romance, the actual life of the early settlers was to them, as it doubtless was to the ancient Greeks or Egyptians, a humdrum affair of daily rou- tine, more or less strenuous, in the strug- gle for a living. One of the events which occasionally broke the monotony was an election. The two well known lumbermen,

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Joel Richardson and John Perley, were, as a rule, on opposite sides of the political fence and each worked hard for the candi- date he favored. It is said that shortly be- fore election day Mr. Perley used to pass the word around to his employes as to how he would like them to vote, and that the lat- ter, alive to their own immediate interests, rarely disregarded his wishes.

The voting place was then at Perley, and men from Turtle Lake used to go there to cast their ballots, driving in with teams at first and later using the railroad. Need- less to say, those not intending to vote for the candidates favored by the Perley in- terests, literally found themselves in the enemy's camp. This made Perley a lively place. After four or five years the district was divided and each township-Turtle Lake and Almena-had its own voting place.

In 1898, when the population of Turtle Lake Village, according to a census taken, was 331, application was made for its in- corporation. This application was signed by David Stratton, W. W. West, Frank E. Fisk, Gust Scheunemann, F. A. Partlow and E. A. Palmer. It was presented to the court April 12 and was favorably acted upon that day by Judge A. J. Venge, and an election ordered. The election was duly held May 10, 1898 and everyone of the 57 votes cast were in favor of the incorpora- tion. Thereupon the incorporation went into effect on that date.

On April 1, 1901, there was considerable excitement in the village when a "Soo" train struck an "Omaha" train at the cross- ing, throwing it into the station, which took fire and was burned. A few people were hurt but no one killed. The present pas- senger station, used by both roads, like the first, was built immediately after the accident.

The passing years brought an increase of population, both from within and with- 'out, and broadened opportunity through the birth of new interests. Though the lumber industry gradually dwindled and finally disappeared, other enterprises took its place, new stores and business houses appeared, and the village fathers found occupation in ensuring orderly government and providing for public utilities and gen- eral local improvement.

The water supply of the village, prior to the year 1913, was derived directly from wells, one of which, known as the "town well", was used for general purposes. The only protection against fire was a chemical engine. Then a tank of 36,000 gallon ca- pacity was erected, into which water was pumped from a well 739 feet deep by a gasoline engine, and thence distributed through mains and pipes. This tank is still in service, but an electric motor is now used for pumping, the gasoline engine being held in reserve for emergencies. The orig- inal cost of installing the present system was about $10,000, but much more has been since expended for the extension of mains, pipes and hydrants, affording a good water

supply for domestic and business purposes and also for fire protection.

The fire department is a voluntary or- ganization of about 25 members, with James Gaffney as the present chief. No regular fire engine is necessary, as suffi- cient pressure is derived from the village tank. The apparatus includes a chemical, hose cart, and hook and ladder. The upper part of the building occupied by the de- partment is used for public meetings.

The village enjoys the advantage of elec- tric lighting, the power being furnished by the Apple River Milling Co., whose plant is located on Apple River, at Little Falls, Wisconsin.

Street grading has not been forgotten, and in 1920 the main streets were paved with eight-inch bedded gravel. The popu- lation of the village is now about 750.

The business enterprises of Turtle Lake include a co-operative creamery and cheese factory combined, a pea canning factory, a pickling plant, two banks, a newspaper, theatre, telephone plant, three general stores, two oil supply depots, five hotels, two photograph studios, a lumber yard, two restaurants, two real estate firms, two meat markets, two hardware stores, two blacksmith shops, two garages, a harness and shoe shop, an undertaking establish- ment, a tailor shop, livery barn, drug store, jewelry store, billiard hall and barber shops. On Hillman Lake the Youngberg Brothers have an ice house from which they supply the village. Some of the more important. enterprises deserve special mention.

The Turtle Lake Co-operative Creamery . Association, as now constituted, was incor- porated in 1916, but its real origin dates back about twenty years, at which time the farmers in this vicinity met and established a creamery association, in which they sold shares. Having built a factory at an ex- pense of $5,000, they commenced operations, carrying on the business for several years; but as little systematic dairying had hith- erto been done in this locality, they failed to make a success of it, and in the spring of 1905 sold the plant for $2,000 to Gust Scheunemann. Mr. Scheunemann, on taking hold of it made some important improve- ments, installing a cooler at a cost of $1,500, and spending $500 more in raising the boilers and making other changes. He had expected the aid and co-operation of the farmers, but having lost confidence as the result of their own lack of success, they. failed to help and even discouraged the en- terprise. He was also handicapped by the competition of the creamery at Almena, the proprietor of which, in his solicitation of patronage, invaded Turtle Lake terri- tory. In order to interest the farmers around Turtle Lake in the home institution, Mr. Scheunemann bought half a carload of separators, of which they then had none, and peddled them around, also selling them at Almena and elsewhere on monthly in- stallments, accepting payment in cream. In this way he began to get patronage, even from territory around Almena, and was soon making on an average of 77 tubs of

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 189

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

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