History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 192

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).

About 1889 or 1890 a frame schoolhouse was built just west of the railway station. It continued in use until the erection of the present building in 1903, when it was sold to the Methodists for a church building and moved to its present site. The school building now in use is two stories in height and contains three rooms, in which nine grades are taught, three teachers being employed. The building cost $1,750, a loan being obtained from the state.

No sooner was the nucleus of the village of Dallas shaped on the banks of the little Pine Creek than there came to an out-lying farm home two women of culture and their inspiring influence is well worthy of men-

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tion in connection with the early training of the Dallas children and young people. Just down through the pines a little way to the south and east of the village, nestled among a fir grove, were the comfortable buildings of H. O. Eggleston, and to this home came Mrs. Eggleston's sister, Mrs. Scott, of Rock County, this state, and her blind daughter, Maria, Mr. Scott having de- parted this life some time previous.

Thus a season of golden opportunity came to the very door of the pioneers in the wilderness.

Here Mrs. Scott called the neighbors to- gether each Sunday and conducted a real live Sunday school, Miss Scott presiding at the organ, which they had brought with them, and also leading in the singing. For some time during the early eighties the parents also gathered with their children each Sunday in Bible study and worship.

Miss Scott was soon found to be not only a church organist, but a music teacher of no small degree of efficiency, her education. having been received at the institute for the blind at Janesville, Wis., which school she entered at nine years of age, grad- uating from the same in the year 1876 at the age of nineteen. Not only did she mas- ter the fundamentals of vocal and instru- mental music, technique and harmony, but graduated in common school branches as well as the higher studies.

Her ability to teach was wonderful and the fruits of her untiring efforts directly or indirectly, are still bringing joy to many a home. She is now spending her declining years with her sister. Mrs. Martha Cart- wright at Ek Mound, Wis.

At the present time there are two churches in Dallas, the Methodist Episco- pal. and the Norwegian Lutheran.

The Methodist society was formed some nineteen or twenty years ago, and for a while meetings were held in the school- house. When in 1903 a new school building became necessary the Methodists seized the opportunity to buy the building about to be discarded. It was in fairly good condi- tion, having been erected less than fifteen years previously. A committee composed of L. J. Keyes, Thomas King, C. A. Eggles- ton, E. A. Pelton and the pastor, conducted the transaction on behalf of the church and the building was moved from where it then stood, just west of the railway depot to its present site and was enlarged by an ad- dition. The society was associated at first with that at Prairie Farm, the two being served by the same pastor, but for years no pastor was available save an occasional supply. Then Ridgeland and Hillsdale were included in the charge, and, as a parson- age was bought in Dallas in October, 1921, the pastor now resides here. He is the Rev. Lawrence A. Lockhart, who came from British Columbia. The Dallas congregation is small, now numbering half a dozen members.

An account of the Norwegian Lutheran Church may be found in an article on the churches of that denomination in Barron

County, by the Rev. J. E. Nord, elsewhere printed in this volume.

The Dallas Creamery Association was formed in 1903 for the purpose of erecting a building and starting a co-operative creamery. At a meeting held March 17 that year, of which Anthony Pecore was chair- man, a building committee was chosen, con- sisting of Hans Borgen, David Pecore, John Borgen, K. Espeseth and L. J. Keyes. The first directors were Hans Borgen, Harry Halvarson, K. Espeseth, A. Pecore, Johann Hutz, Sophus Moe and Louis Ellefson. The officers chosen were: K. Espeseth, presi- dent; Sophus Moe, secretary, and Harry Halvarson, treasurer. J. G. Johnson was manager. In 1905 there was a new board of directors and during subsequent years there were a number of further changes. The enterprise. as a co-operative movement, failed to achieve a notable success, and in January, 1919, the sale of the creamery, supplies and equipment was authorized by the board of directors. The creamery was bought by Ole Asker, who soon sold it to Robert Mobern, and the latter on November 1, 1919, sold to G. Hammer, who, with his partner, N. C. Ashley, is now operating it as a private enterprise. In 1920 the total amount of cream received was 702,638 pounds; the total amount paid for butter fat, $115,297.60, and the total amount of butter made was 225,435 pounds.

The Bank of Dallas was conducted as a private bank, or partnership, for many years by L. Starks, J. R. Beggs, J. A. An- derson and G. T. Vorland, until on August 29, 1903, the Bank of Dallas was incorpo- rated, and its directors voted on September 15, 1903, to take over the assets and lia- · bilities of the private bank, the Bank of Dallas. During this time, Erland Engh was cashier of the bank. Its resources on Sep- tember 15, 1903, were $20,375.32. Mr. Engh resigned as cashier of the bank on August 11, 1906. At that time the directors of the bank were G. T. Vorland, J. A. Anderson, Harry Halverson and Sofus Moe. Upon ac- ceptance of Mr. Engh's resignation at a di- rectors meeting on August 11, 1906, Sofus Moe was elected as cashier, but did not serve as Mr. Engh's appointment did not expire until September 15, 1906, and Mr. Moe resigned as cashier on August 25, 1906, and Mr. Engh was again re-elected cashier. It is from about this date that D. A. Rus- sell's identification with the bank is dated, and Mr. Russell served either as chairman of the board of directors or president of the Bank of Dallas from that time until April, 1916, when he sold out his stock in the bank to C. J. Borum, T. W. Borum, G. R. Borum and Coe Bros., of Barron, Wis. In April, 1916, F. L. Van Sickle was elected cashier to succeed Erland Engh, which po- sition Mr. Van Sickle held until July, 1919, at which time Albin Nystrom was elected cashier, and who at present holds that po- sition. The bank during all of its years of existence has made steady progress, and increases in capital were made several times until in 1916 it was $10,000.00, and it

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was then later on January 23, 1920, in- creased to $25,000.00.

The present officers are as follows: Chas. J. Borum, president; F. L. Van Sickle, vice president; M. L. Randall, vice president; A. Nystrom, cashier; Philip C. Brooks, as- sistant cashier.

The Farmers Store Co. has a prosperous establishment in a sightly and convenient building. The company bought out Alfred Linschied in 1914. The first manager Was Alfred Engebrightsen, who was followed in October, 1917, by Sam. Brusen, of Chetek, the present manager, under whose guidance a modern store is being successfully con- ducted.

The Farmers Shipping Association of Dallas was organized on March 3, 1917, and has since continued as a prosperous enter- prise. I. H. Baland was the first president. He served three years. Then A. Wintrone served a year, followed by W. Owen, who is now in office. The first manager was S. Moe, who served three years. He was followed by Gust Wintrone, who has since successfully continued in the position. O. Borgen is treasurer. Olger Wahl is secre- tary. Ole Wahl and Ed. Massie are the directors.

Dallas Colony, No. 210, Beavers, was or- ganized May 16, 1907, with the following charter officers: M. W. B., Sofus Moe; M. W. Q., Elsie Hankin; W. C., Arthur Han- kin; W. Secretary, Millie Dahl; W. Treas- urer, Charles Swenson; Q. of L., Mabel Kellar; Q. of T., Alma Pecore; Q. of C., Nellie Randall; W. P., Amanda Warner; W. G., Willet Warner; W. T., Alex Kellar; Trustees, A. Hankin, Dorthea Severson and David Pecore; organist, Susie Pecore. Mrs. Elsie Hankin has been M. W. Q. since Do- cember, 1908, except one year when she was in Rice Lake. She has been a delegate to the Grand Convention at Antigo in 1910, at Chippewa Falls in 1912, and at Madison in 1914, as well as to district conventions. There are at present sixty beneficent mem- bers in good standing, of whom six live in Montana, two in Washington and one in New York. There are also seventeen junior Beavers. The deceased members are Mar- tin Lybeck, Burton Bishop, Mrs. Verna Baland, Mrs. Lydia Marsh and Mrs. Alma Hankin.

A little more than half a century ago the territory now included in the township of Dallas was a wilderness inhabited only by Chippewa Indians, but from the year 1868 visited in the fall and spring by a white hunter and trapper, W. A. Kent, who finally settled on a farm. He became a prominent citizen, moved to Barron to take up the duties of the office of register of deeds, and afterward opened a hotel at Cameron.

In the summer of 1867 Alfred B. Finley settled on 160 acres of land in sections 31 and 32, and built a log cabin, being the first settler in the southwestern part of the township. A large part of his life was de- voted to educational work, and he served as one of the early superintendents of Bar- ron County schools. The old train from the Washburn Farms in Dunn County to the

Quaderer Camp, now Barron, led past his door.

In 1868 William Rafferty arrived. Wood- bury S. Grover came the same year and took a homestead of 160 acres in section 32. Mr. Grover at once took an active part in public affairs. It was he, who, as county clerk in 1874, took the records from Rice Lake to Barron, as related elsewhere, thus removing the county seat to the place where it has since been located. He also served actively in town office.

Dallas Township was heavily wooded in parts, and in other parts consisted of "oak openings" and naturally attracted the men who wished to establish farms.

The Flanagan family came in the summer of 1869, and Thomas W. Blyton and family came in the same year, taking a homestead in section 4, west.

A number of settlers arrived in 1870, in- cluding Hyram Pelton, B. B. Fuller, Lee Millard, S. M. Pelton, Swen Swenson, Ole Knutson, William T. Cole, Nelse Toliffson (Granum), Knute Amundson and Christ Sorenson.

Nelse Toliffson, who is said to have been the first Norwegian settler in the township, located in section 14, west. He is still living, being now 92 years old.

Joseph Pecore, born in New York State in May, 1820, took a squatter's claim in section 16, west, in 1871, but in the follow- ing year moved to section 27, west. He is still living, and has now passed the century mark. Among the other settlers in the township in 1871 were Charles Salsbury in sections 18 and 19; Trone Wintrone, sec- tion 12, west; and Lens Arenson, section 10, west. John G. Johnson, who in 1870 had located in section 10, Maple Grove, also took land in section 14, Dallas, which he improved. Later he became one of the leading business men of the village.

In 1872 Christian Oleson took a home- stead in section 24, and Thomas J. Howard in section 8, west. About the same time Ole Ellefson took a piece of land on Pine Creek; and Henry O. Eggleston, a native of England, settled on section 24.

Up to this time the Indians had a camp- ing ground on the spot now occupied by the buildings of Halver E. Halverson, but in the spring of 1872 they left to take up their home on the Couderay reservation.

No further obstacle now remained in the way of white settlement and the develop- ment of agriculture. In addition to the "oak openings" there were some stands of hardwood, which was gradually cleared out by the settlers.

In 1873 Easton Ellefson settled in section 36; Dixon S. Rogers and family came in 1874, locating in section 18; also Ole T. An- derson, who took 80 acres in section 31. east, and 80 acres adjoining in Dunn County.

In 1875 Benjamin F. Massie settled in section 19, and in the following year Wil- liam S. Foster and others arrived. From this time on the population increased more rapidly until all the best farm and dairy land was taken up.

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The Pitts School District, Dallas Town- ship, is one of the oldest in the county. It was organized Oct. 15, 1871. Henry M. Withey was the first clerk. The school- house stood about 30 rods north of the pres- ent residence, on the west side of the pres- ent road. In the fall of 1872 Charles Sals- bury was elected clerk. Of conditions in those days he says: The schools were then run on the township system. When a new district was formed, it was numbered Sub- District No. 1, Sub-District No. 2, etc. The several clerks met once a year. Each dis- trict estimated the cost of running the school for the ensuing year, and the clerk presented this estimate to the school clerks at their annual meetings, to be accepted or rejected as the school board saw fit. That fall, 1872, the clerks met at a logging camp on the Red Cedar River, located on the road running from Barron to Rice Lake. We spent three days in attending these meetings, one day going, one day attending, and one day returning. We received a com- pensation of $10 for the school year." Mr. Salsbury was again elected clerk in 1873. It was then decided to move the school- house to the site of the present schoolhouse. At the annual clerks' meeting of that year, some of the west side of the Pitts district was taken off, and the Pleasant Creek dis- trict formed.

The Free Baptist Church .- Rev. G. A. Taylor came to Barron County from Maus- ton, Wis., in the summer of 1883 in quest of a home, and purchased 80 acres of heavily wooded timbered land in the north- western part of Dallas Township. Along the western boundary of this tract lay the main road from what was then known as the "Prairie" to the county seat, a highway which was then scarcely more than a trail, but which is now the well improved "Trunk Line, No. 25." Selecting a slight raise of ground along this road, Mr. Taylor cut away the timber on a small acreage, and with the assistance of neighbors "rolled up" a log cabin, which was to serve as a home for himself and family until prosperity might materialize his vision of a more pre- tentious dwelling.

Later in the season Mrs. Taylor and eight children, three sons and five daughters, ar- rived. Thus G. A. Taylor and his family became residents of Dallas Township.

As the year 1883 waned, happenings and events incident to pioneer life filled the shortening days until Dec. 23, when an event of greater significance occurred, as evidenced by this item in the clerk's rec- ords of the First Free Will Baptist Church of Dallas:

"According to previous arrangement, a Council met at the home of Brother George A. Taylor, and after enjoying a good cove- nant meeting, in the presence of the Master, proceeded to organize a church. The fol- lowing persons presented themselves for membership: George A. Taylor, Nancy A. Taylor, Irene M. E. Taylor, Emma L. Tay- lor, James I .. Taylor; and the following were received as candidates for baptism and church membership: Adelbert R.

Wells, A. C. Deitrick and Dora Deitrick. Consecrating prayer offered by B. A. Stowe; right hand of fellowship and presenting of Bible, by Rev. A. Hathaway. (Signed) Council, A. Hathaway and B. A. Stowe."

The name of "First Free Baptist Church of Dallas" was chosen. The next day being Sunday, services were held in the evening in the "old log schoolhouse." Elizabeth Nicklow, who had previously been baptized at Mulcreek, Indiana, was received into the church in full fellowship, and Lucinda and Lilly Taylor and Maggie Nicklow as candi- dates for baptism and full membership.

A. C. Deitrick was chosen clerk at the first business meeting after the church was organized, and Rev. G. A. Taylor was . "chosen" (the word "hired" is not used) as pastor. March 24, 1884, Mr. and Mrs. Deitrick received letters of dismissal from the church to unite with the church at Barron, whither they had moved.

In the spring of 1884 the first baptismal services were held, the persons baptized being: R. A. Wells, Lucinda Taylor, Lilly Taylor and Maggie Nicklow. These four also received the right hand of fellowship in the church, making a total membership of nine.

On June 1, 1889, the 'covenant meeting was held at the schoolhouse, and Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Deitrick, who had returned from Barron, and Elizabeth Nicklow and Bessie Taylor were chosen delegates to the quar- terly meeting.

In September, Elder Taylor, with his own axe, underbrushed a suitable piece of ground near the old schoolhouse and in- vited the quarterly meeting to convene there, using this shady grove for the day service and holding the evening service in the schoolhouse. At this session, Maria Scott first appeared as organist in West Dallas, and Rev. and Mrs. J. G. Peterson attended their first services here.

Before this, in 1887, at a covenant meet- ing held at the home of A. C. Deitrick, it had been voted that each church member should pay twenty-five cents each annually to home missions, and five cents each for quarterly meeting expenses. Up to No- vember, 1889, no other money matters are mentioned. A note was then made that the pastor had received $7.25 at a "Donation" given at his home.

In January, 1890, A. C. Deitrick was chos- en deacon and John Rogers, clerk. It was voted that the Lord's feast should be ob- served every three months. Plans were made for the incorporation of the building committee of the church. In February of the same year it was decided that six trus- tees should be appointed, three from the church membership and three outside the church membership. The trustees appointed were: G. A. Taylor, A. C. Deitrick and John Rogers from the church, and G. M. Keller, Samuel Dows and Isaac Cooper from out- side the church. These trustees evidently constituted the building committee. In March, 1890. G. A. Taylor reported on be- half of the committee that a site had been selected "ten rods square in the southwest

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corner of the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 5, township 32, range 12, said site being the property of Jerome Coe, of Barron, he agreeing to do- nate the same to the church for the pur- pose of erecting a church thereon." But busy as the members were, gathering means and material, home missions were not for- gotten, for in April, $4.65 was forwarded to J. D. Batson, home missions treasurer. Later in the year the records contain a list of the contributors toward the church building fund, headed by the Ladies' Free Baptist Home Mission Auxiliary, $166.45. Prac- tically everybody in this region contributed, either in work or money. The names of J. Kahl, A. W. Arndt, E. S. Coleman and Jerome Coe, of Barron, appear on the list. as well as Hon. Woodbury S. Grover, of Ridgeland, and James A. Anderson and W. S. Foster, of Dallas. The contributions total $699.65. The trustees at the time of this report were G. A. Taylor, Isaac Cooper, John L. Rogers and B. A. Stowe.

With right good will the people labored, and in September, 1890, the building was nearing completion and the September quar- terly meeting was held within its doors. June 1, 1891, the building was dedicated. J. D. Batson, of Minnesota, conducted the service.

G. A. Taylor was "hired" as pastor for the ensuing year at a salary of $50. An organ was presented the church by E. S. Conway, secretary of the Kimball Company, of Chicago, and on Oct. 3, 1891, Mattie L. Foster, now Mrs. Perry V. Nicklow, was chosen organist, a position still tendered her after thirty-one years of service.

In 1892 A. M. White became pastor at $75 a year. J. L. Rogers, S. Dowd and A. C. Deitrick were appointed as finance com- mittee, their duties being to collect the pastor's salary, mission dues and quarterly meeting dues.

Covenant meetings were held every month this year. At the August meeting sixteen members and seven visitors were present. A movement was started to with- draw from the St. Croix Quarterly Meeting and to form a new quartely meeting, con- sisting of Dallas, Maple Grove, Clear Lake and Vance Creek.

During the first ten years from Decem- ber, 1883, to December, 1893, the following persons were baptized in addition to the four already mentioned: Mrs. Dora Deit- rick, A. C. Deitrick, Archie Hall, Bessie Taylor, Hattie Nicklow, Barbara Hall, John Nicklow, Mattie L. Foster, Reuben Taylor, Ernest Taylor, Zanetta Deitrick, S. C. Miles and John Rogers, making a total of seven- teen. Besides the first six church members mentioned, the following united in fellow- ship: R. A Wells, Lucinda Taylor, Lilly Taylor, Maggie Nicklow, Alanson Dowd, Ursula Cooper, B. A. Stowe, C. M. Stowe, Anna Wygant, Mattie G. Foster, Samuel Dowd, D. Ledyard, Mrs. Samuel Dowd, S. C. Miles, Barbara Hall, Archie Hall, Za- netta Deitrick, Reuben Taylor, Ernest Taylor and Mrs. D. Ledyard, making a total of 26 taken in the church in the first ten

years. Within this time, however, five were dismissed by letter, and the deaths of Irene Taylor, James Taylor, Maggie Nicklow and Alanson Dowd appear in the records.

The next ten years the little church ap- pears to have been a Chautauqua center, the following ministers filling the pulpit for various periods of time. On Aug. 6, 1893. George A. Taylor was again engaged as pastor, but owing to poor health was forced to resign the following spring. On Aug. 4, 1894, Rev. J. G. Peterson became pastor at a salary of $75 a year. The August cove- nant meeting reports fifteen present. The following September, Rev. George A. Tay- lor was appointed a committee of one to interview the Free Baptist Churches of Barron County in regard to withdrawing from the St. Croix Quarterly Meeting and forming a new quarterly meeting. March 16, 1895, the minutes record "horse sheds mentioned but nothing done." June 8, 1895, Elder Taylor was appointed delegate to the yearly meeting, and ten cents levied on each member to pay the delegate's ex- penses. During 1895-96, Mr. Taylor acted as pastor, except for three months in the fall of. 1896, when James Wilcox was pastor. The next pastor was Rev. A. M. White. For his benefit the first ice cream supper was given by the church, Mrs. Elizabeth Nicklow, Reuben Taylor and Bessie Taylor being the committee on materials, and J. S. Dowd being the committee on program.

On Sept. 4, 1897, G. A. Taylor had again taken charge of the church. The following April Rev. F. B. Moulton was chosen pas- tor, and continued thus for six months, when he resigned to be followed by Rev. B. A. Stowe. Mr. Stowe resigned after a few months' service, leaving the burden of the church on Rev. G. A. Taylor again until June 1, 1901, when Rev. David Smith was chosen pastor for one year. The im- possibility of securing a permanent pastor led the church to request the Methodist Episcopal pastor, H. W. Bedford, to preach at the Baptist Church on alternate Sunday afternoons.

During this period, 1893 to 1903, but two more were baptized, G. M. Keller and Perry V. Nicklow, and but two members received into the church, Emma Hunt and. Arthur Logan. The church was diminished by the dismissing or dropping of five names, and by death of John Rogers, July 1. 1896; Mrs. Anna Wygant, June 8, 1891; John Nicklow, Sept. 28, 1892; and Hattie Nicklow Sands, March 27, 1900.

The third period was ushered in by Rev. Bedford continuing to supply for a while. Then the little band was without a pastor for some time. The church letter of Sept. 12. 1906. reports four resident members, Mrs. Lilly Dowd, Bessie Rogers, Mrs. Eliza- beth Nicklow and Mrs. Mattie L. Nicklow. and one non-resident member, Rev. G. A. Taylor.

In the spring of 1906 Rev. Barton Addis came to the field and held a series of meet- ings which resulted in several conversions and baptisms. He was pastor of this church two years. During the first year of his min-

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istry here, the Maple Grove and West Dal- las Free Baptist churches requested admis- sion to the Waupon Quarterly Meeting. On Sept. 7, 1907, the Waupon Quarterly Meet- ing was entertained by the Dallas Free Bap- tist Church and the request for union was granted. at which time the relations with the St. Croix Quarterly Meeting ceased. Mrs. Jewett and Rev. Bridewell remained in the field and conducted a revival which added several members to the church. While the Waupun Quarterly Meeting was in session here, Reuben Taylor, the son of Rev. George C. Taylor, was licensed to preach the gospel.

On June 12, 1908, Mr. and Mrs. Addis, having finished their work here, were granted church letters. While on this field, seventeen persons were baptized by Mr. Addis and seventeen new members brought into the church. This brought the total to 21 resident members, and one non-resident member. Rev. Addis received about $125 a year, the Ladies Social Circle contribut- ing toward his salary. Cottage prayer meet- ings were held during this period, the first being at the Lambert Rogers residence.

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 192

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

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