History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 195

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

USA > Wisconsin > Barron County > History of Barron County Wisconsin > Part 195

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).

Almena State Bank was organized Oct. 19, 1908, by C. C. Coe, M. C. Howard, George Panian and Charles Kaemmer. The capital was $10,000 and the first officers were: C. C. Coe, president; Charles Kaemmer, vice president; Henry Peterson, cashier, and O. I. Hanson, assistant cashier. The directors were M. C. Howard, George Panian, C. C. Coe, Charles Haemmer, F. L. Olcott, C. H. Stuck and Henry Peterson. The officers today (Dec. 1, 1921) are the same as at the beginning, except that Math. Dold is assistant cashier instead of Mr. Hanson. The present directors are M. C. Howard, C. C. Coe, Charles Kaemmer and Henry Peter- son. The capital has been increased to $20,000, the surplus and profits amounting to $10,000. The building occupied is the bank's property and was built at the time of its organization.

The Almena Farmers' Telephone Co. was first established about 1905 by Julius Soltau, J. E. Mays, W. D. Moore and Henry Weise, who started business with five lines and about 100 phones. Later they became con- nected with the Barron Telephone Co. On May 12, 1909, they reorganized on the co- operative plan, and were incorporated un- der the state law, with a capital stock of $8,000. The incorporators were G. R. Wol- ter, Aug. D. Miller, Amund Moen, S. W. Sparlin, Jos. Ross, John Lueck and Math. Zitzelberger. There are now about 350 stockholders. The territory covered ex- tends in all directions nine or ten miles from Almena Village. Connections are made with the Bell long distance lines, and there are free connections with Cumberland, Ar- land, Hillsdale, Prairie Farm, Turtle Lake, Dallas, Sand Creek, Colfax, Ridgeland and Chetek. The officers of the company in De- cember. 1921. were: Knut Knutson, presi- dent; Matt Mathys, vice president; W. A. Gearhart, secretary and treasurer, and Ju- lius Soltau, general manager. The first general manager after the incorporation was W. D. Moore, who served three years in that capacity, since which time Mr. Sol- tau has held the position.

About 1917 Will Caswell built a small feed mill a short distance southeast of the railway station. After operating it during two winters, he sold it in the fall of 1919 to W. Hollerud, the present proprietor, who is doing a general feed grinding business.

The public schoolhouse now used in Al- mena village, a tasteful brick building of two rooms, was built in 1912, the total cost with lot amounting to over $6,000. It is an eight grade school, employing two teachers, and having an average attendance of about 60 pupils. This comparatively small number for a village the size of Al- mena is owing to the fact that a large num- ber of pupils attend the two parochial schools in the village, the Roman Catholic and the Lutheran. Before the erection of the present building, the building now used for a parochial schoolhouse by the Luther- ans was the public schoolhouse of the vil- lage.

The Evangelical Lutheran Matthews Con- gregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Sy- nod of Missouri, Ohio and other states, com- monly known as the Missouri Synod, had its beginning in 1896, when on Dec. 7, it was organized and incorporated under Rev. George P. A. Kirschke, with Albert Curt. Reinhold Matthes, Rudolf Mueller, Hans Wohlk, John Kiefer, Thomas Entner, Adolf Miller, Adam Kiefer, Martin Harke and Nels Swansen. The Rev. Mr. Kirschke and his successors, the Rev. Messrs. Thormaeh- len. Nammacher and Kleinhaus, came from near-by towns to serve this congregation. In 1900, the congregation, together with Im- manuel's Evangelical Lutheran Congrega- tion of Silver Creek called Rev. Otto Stef- fen as their pastor. He served until 1908 when he was called to St. Thomas Evan- gelical Lutheran Congregation at Detroit, Michigan, where he is still pastor. After several unsuccessful efforts to obtain a pas- tor, a call was extended to Rev. E. Plude- mann, who filled the pastorate until early in 1917, when he resigned from the ministry and moved to Shawano, his home town. He was succeeded by Rev. Fred Kersten, who was installed, June 24, 1917, and is still serving. The congregation's property con- sists of the church, school, parsonage, and an acre of real estate located at the south- east corner of the village. At the end of the year, 1921, the statistics of the congre- gation showed 470 souls; 260 communicant members, 69 voting members; parochial school enrollment, 51; Sunday school en- rollment, 35; confirmation class enrollment. 25. Divine services are held every Sunday forenoon in the German language and every two weeks in the evening in the English language. The teacher in the parochial school is Harold Dueker.

The Sacred Heart Congregation has been an important factor in the life of Almena for over thirty years past. The first serv- ices were held in 1890, in the private house owned by Wm. Maryon, north of Almena. Later services were held in the private house owned by Julius Welde, located on Lot 2, Block 2. At that time there were

Digitized by Google

1135

HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

about twelve families and the services were given by Rev. Father Becker from Rice Lake. In the fall of 1892 John Nimer- froh donated several lots upon which was erected the frame church building. In years following services were held by Rev. Father Stolz, Rev. Father Dickopf and Rev. Father Vater, all resident priests of Cumberland. In the fall of 1897 Rev. S. A. Leinfelder came to Cumberland and to him was given charge of the little mission at Almena. In the following years new settlers arrived and it came to a point where the old church building was too small. The settlers, being poverty stricken, it was a hard task, but with Rev. Leinfelder as leader, in 1901, it was decided to start excavating for a new brick building 48 by 96 feet. In 1903 the beautiful church was completed and this building stands today as one of the finest in the county. A large credit for this under- taking rests with Father Leinfelder, who, through his untiring efforts and inspiring words, was successful completing this un- dertaking. Rev. S. A. Leinfelder left in October, 1905, and was succeeded by Rev. Father Berg, who was here for five months when he left for Germany. In the year 1906 the congregation bought the frame building on Lot 17, Block 5, which was re- modeled into a parsonage. In August, 1906, Rev. Father Francis Bourg arrived and took charge of the congregation. The sec- ond Sunday after his arrival he took up the matter of remodeling the old church build- ing into a parochial school and Sisters' dwelling. This was done. The Sisters started school on Nov. 15, 1906. In March, 1907, the congregation decided to build a new parsonage. It was completed the same year. In the summer of 1909 it was found that the school was too small so an addi- tion was built to the present building. Both school and church are all furnished and electrically lighted. Through the faithful and untiring work of the Rev. Father Bourg, the present pastor, during the past fifteen years the Sacred Heart congregation of Almena stands today free and clear from debt. The present membership is 105 families.

A camp of Modern Woodmen of America was organized in Almena in 1900, the char- ter members being Frank Beecroft, Thomas Beecroft, Jr., Alva P. Cammack, Frank E. Dille, John C. Harris, Edward Johnson, Rheinhold Matther, Ira B. Mays, Charles Quist. Martin Radigan, George Taylor, James Sampair, S. W. Sparlin and D. H. Von Bottger. The camp purchased a good- sized frame building, with lot, the former of which they have since twice remodeled. In if they hold their meetings and it is also used for town meetings, dances and other entertainments, answering the pur- pose of a public hall. The camp has now about 87 members.

The Finnish settlement and church of Arland and surrounding townships, are im- portant factors in the life and growth of the southwestern part of the county. The sturdy Finnish people began to settle in

that locality in the early nineties. Among the leaders may be mentioned Sam John- son and Matt Mykkanen, who came in De- cember, 1892; and Herman Lolite, in Jan- uary, Thomas Nissila in May, Leanter Kos- ki in June, and Jacob Juttila in July, all in 1893. All brought families. Others joined them until there was quite a settlement. The people were for the most part people of devout faith, and felt the need of religious consolation. To them came Rev. Kustaa Sahlberg, a missionary pastor from Minne- apolis, who held services in private homes. As the result of these meetings, Rev. Sahl- berg helped the people to organize a congre- gation. Thus the Finnish Lutheran Congre- gation of the town of Arland, county of Barron, came into being on April 23, 1901, under the official name of the Uusi Waasa Congregation of the Suomi Synod, of the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church. The congregation at that time consisted of nine men and their families: Leanter Koski, Jacob Wisti, John Loija, Nick Lake, Nels Tyni, William Wuorenmaa, John Tuttila, A. W. Anderson and H. Kivisto. At a meeting held Jan. 1, 1913, this small but thriving - congregation, then consisting of ten fam- ilies, decided to erect a church. A quarter of an acre of land was purchased in Section 7, Arland Township, for $20, from Henry Raitanen. The church was completed and dedicated on June 18, 1916. In 1904 a cemetery was started, the first burial being that of the infant child of John Tuttila, on November, 1904. The Sunday school has been in existence since 1904. A. W. Ander- son, the first superintendent, is still serv- ing, and his devotion to the work has been an important factor in his success in guid- ing the younger generation in the right paths. Mr. Anderson has also served for thirteen years as president of the congre- gation, and has done good work in other capacities as well. He has the welfare of the church and community deeply at heart, and has given much of his time es- pecially during the building of the church, regardless of how pressing his personal du- ties might be, being first and last always ready to lend a helping hand. For some seasons past an excellent summer school has been conducted one month of each year. Seven of the good wives, on Dec. 8, 1904, organized a Ladies' Aid Society, which has taken an important part in the affairs of the church laboring hand in hand with the other members of the congregation toward the building of the church, and continuing its active work toward its support. A Christian Young People's Society was or- ganized March 19, 1911, with a membership of 21, and is also helping with the church work and life in many important ways. The present officers of the church are K. Jarvi, president; A. Mickelson, secretary; and A. W. Anderson, treasurer. The pastors of the church have been: the Rev. Messrs. Kuusetaa Sahlberg, H. Sarvela, P. Keranen, J. Mantta, A. Riippa, M. Pesonen, D. A. Samanen, A. Immonen, N. Saastamoinen and D. A. Samanen. The last named pastor is now serving from Minneapolis.

Digitized by Google

1136

HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

POSKIN

Poskin Village, an unincorporated village with a population of about 250 people, is located on the "Soo" line in Clinton Town- ship, five miles west of Barron, the county seat. Poskin Lake, about a mile to the north, is a favorite summer resort for tour- ists, sportsmen and others, there being a number of cottages on the shores. The sur- rounding country is excellent for dairying and general farming and here and there presents picturesque features.

Poskin was originally platted about a mile or more to the northwest, on the north- east quarter of the southeast quarter of Sec- tion 21, Town 34, Range 13. The owner was Fronia L. H. Fay, and D. A. Russell was the county surveyor.

The present village of Poskin is on the village plat of Cosgrove, which was platted Aug. 23, 1887, on land of Peter Cosgrove, by David A. Russell, surveyor.

There has been some confusion with re- spect to the name of the village, which oc- casionally appears on maps as Paskin, spelled with an "a". This came about in the following way. The original settlement -that to the northwest of the present site -was named Poskin, as was also the lake, the latter being thus named in honor of Mary Poskin, the Indian or half-breed wife of Capt. Andrew Taintor, of the Knapp, Stout & Co., the lumber men, who had a camp at the lake. But Charles Larson, who had a store and sawmill there and was post- master, being an indifferent English scholar, called the place Paskin, and his example was followed by others until few people knew the correct spelling.

The first sottler on the site of the pres- ent village was Peter Cosgrove, who built a log store here in 1883, and was postmaster in President Cleveland's administration. He .later moved to Centuria, Polk County, Wis- consin, where he was postmaster until his death one year ago.

In 1885, two years after Peter Cosgrove laid the foundation of the village, C. H. Strand built a sawmill here and opened a store. The mill, however, burned down four years later, in 1889.

Some years after Mr. Strand had left, or . probably about 1897, Harry Jacobs, who had been operating a sawmill at the original Poskin, moved it to the newer village, added to it a planing mill, and did a large busi- ness, using from 4,000,000 to 5,000,000 feet of logs a year. He also conducted a general store. Mr. Jacobs was connected in a busi- ness way with Dr. F. S. Wade of New Rich- mond, who, it is thought, furnished the cap- ital for his Poskin enterprises. Finally Dr. Wade persuaded Mr. Jacobs to go to Idaho to start operations there.

During the first four or five years of its existence the village was known as Cos- grove, though the railway company named the station Poskin Lake. At the suggestion of the local agent, M. S. Deuel, the name of the station was shortened to Poskin two years ago.

A town hall was erected in 1900.

Poskin is pleasantly situated, the land sloping down from the business part of town to Vermillion river. The business enter- prises include two general stores, two ga- rages, a confectionery and lunch room, a lumber yard, blacksmith's shop, grain ele- vator and feed mill, and three potato ware- houses. There is also a cheese factory, though it is not at present in operation. It was started by C. M. Rabbit, who manufac- tured skimmed-milk cheese until May, 1921, when he ceased operations.

About ten or eleven years ago an eleva- tor was erected in Poskin by "Dick" Wil- liams, of New Richmond, who called it the "Farmers' Elevator," though it was not a co-operative concern but merely a private enterprise. After conducting it for two years he sold it to the Osceola Mill & Ele- vator Co., under which name it was con- ducted as one of a chain of elevators owned by C. C. Ladd, of Minneapolis. Owing to the failure of certain New York dealers to take a large consignment of flour for which they had contracted, Mr. Ladd sustained large losses, with the result that the ele- vator at Poskin ceased operations as one of his plants a year ago. In the spring of 1921 it was taken over by the Hewitt Grain & Provision Co., who are now conducting it as a feed mill.

The North Wisconsin Farmers Mutual Cyclone Insurance Co., with offices in Pos- kin, was organized in Poskin in 1907 by F. E. Hill, and now has 4,250 members. Up to the present time the company has writ- ten about six million dollars worth of in- surance on farm property in territory ex- tending over the northern part of the state. The officers of the concern are as follows: A. Moen, president; James Peterson, vice president; F. E. Hill, secretary, and J. A. Cornwell, treasurer.

The Farmers State Bank of Poskin was organized by F. E. Hill and E. F. Birch in the fall of 1917. The capital stock was $10,000, at which it still remains. The first officers of the institution were: F. E. Hill. president; E. F. Birch, vice president; and G. G. B. Dennewith, cashier. In the fall of 1918 C. J. Tengbom became president and has since continued as such. In July, 1918. T. A. Birch became vice president, Mr. Dennewith being re-elected cashier. On April 1, 1921, Mr. Dennewith resigned and was succeeded as cashier by A. P. Mattson; and in July the same year E. B. Johnson was elected vice president, succeeding Mr. Birch. The bank occupies a rented building.

The Poskin school building was erected about 1906 at a cost of two thousand dol- lars. It employs one teacher and is at- tended by about forty pupils. Instruction is given in eight grades.

There is one church in the village, which is known as the Community M. E. Church. The edifice was built in 1906-07, a mile and a quarter north, near Poskin Lake, and was moved to the village in the summer of 1920. The society was organized just short- ly before the church was built, among the first members being Lars Fahlgren, N. Bjur- man, Frank Chronquist, Charles Orn, Louis

Digitized by Google

1137

HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

Hedblom, with their families, besides sev- eral others. After the building had been moved to its present site a basement was put under it and a furnace installed, the building with improvements representing a total cost of about $1,100. The lot was do- nated by G. G. B. Dennewith and is large enough to furnish a site also for a parson- age, the building now being used for that purpose being rented. Electric lights have been installed in the church by Delebard and Hawkinson, garage men, who are now making arrangements to furnish lights for the village. The church was first served by Rev. A. G. Beck, the circuit pastor from Cumberland, who preached here for about three years. The Rev. S. W. Mattson, who is now serving the church, came here in October, 1920, and is the first resident pas- tor. The auxiliary societies, in addition to the Sunday School, are the Ladies' Aid, the Epworth League, and the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society.

Poskin Camp, No. 687, Modern Woodmen of America, was organized in Poskin in Sep- tember, 1899, with about 34 charter mem- bers. The camp holds meetings in a rented hall known as Woodmen's. Hall.

Hillside Camp, No. 3623, Royal Neighbors, was organized in 1904, and now has 35 mem- bers. Meetings are held in Woodmen's Hall.

The Poskin Shipping Association, with Charles J. Tengbom as president, is an in- tegral factor in the prosperity of the vil- lage and the surrounding country. It was organized in March, 1917, and now has 300 members.

CANTON

Canton is an unincorporated village lo- cated on the north half of the southwest quarter of section 18, township 34 north, range 10 west, the town and range corre- sponding to the political division of the county known as Sumner Township.

The present village owes its existence and location to the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railway, which was built through the county in 1884; but the nucleus of the village was formed in a settlement begun some ten or twelve years previously on the townsite of Sumner, three miles south of the Canton of today, and which is now often referred to as "Old Canton."

The latter designation has only a senti- mental application, for, as above indicated, the settlement was really called Sumner, and 80, also, at first, was the post office established there. After a short time, it having been discovered that there was an- other post office in the state by the name of Sumner, it was discontinued, or sus- pended for a time, but was later restored to the village under the postal name of Sioska. Among the later postmasters there were Morris Witters, proprietor of a general store, who held the office at least for sev- eral years. and Mrs. Fannie Malone, the mother of R. E. Malone of Canton.

The chief promoters and founders of Sum- ner were W. D. Edgbert and William Hutch-

inson, the latter of whom owned the land and had it platted. Mr. Hutchinson built a sawmill on Pokegema Creek, and W. D. Edgbert and Harlow J. Youmans built and operated a general store. These events oo- curred between 1870 and 1872, and H. J. White, who arrived there in 1873, found the sawmill and store in operation.

A still earlier settler there was Silas J. Packard, who arrived and took a home- stead in 1871, and who later for several years conducted a store.

A log schoolhouse was built in Sumner, in which Mrs. Thomas Gotham, now of Chetek, taught the first school. Soon afterwards a frame schoolhouse was erected. The first teacher in this building was Judge H. J. Sill. The next winter, that of 1874-75, he was succeeded as teacher by H. J. White, now a resident of Canton.

When the railroad was projected, it was believed that the line was to be built through the village, and the settlers there and in the surrounding region were pur- suaded to vote bonds for as much as the assessed valuation of their property would admit. But when the railroad was built, it did not touch the village, but passed three miles to the north.

In 1884, when the people of Sumner saw that the railroad was not coming to them, they resolved to go to the railroad, and ac- cordingly a general exodus took place to the site of the present village of Canton. Build- ings were moved to the new site, leaving little or nothing behind, and the transplant- ed village began to bloom in a new environ- ment. The village was platted Oct. 6, 1884, on land of L. C. Stanley, of Chippewa Falls, Straw and Lyte were the surveyors.

The site was a good one. The village stands on the prairie, with wooded eleva- tions of land, resembling low hills, showing in the distance on all sides except the south and southwest. Between Canton and Cam- eron, which is three miles or more to the southwest, lies a part of the tract of land which from early days has been known as Pokegama Prairie. East of the village is timber land somewhat thickly sprinkled with hardheads of a size, reckoned by weight, of from 25 to 100 pounds. This tract is large enough to accommodate a hundred more settlers, who would doubt- less have taken possession of it ere this but for the disadvantage above mentioned. The removal of the stones and the cultiva- tion of the land is a task that may be ac- complished within the next few years.

Silas J. Packard, who moved to Canton with the rest of the Sumner people, opened the first general store here, which subse- quently passed through a number of differ- ent hands. The second general store was started by William Locke in 1887 or 1888. A man named Birkholz started a blacksmith shop and after conducting it for a while was succeeded by Robert Kleve. Later Mr. Kleve's place as village blacksmith was taken by F. Skinner, who is now conducting a shop here. A hardware store was started some years ago by J. B. Fiske, who later gave it up. His place as hardware mer-

Digitized by Google

1138

HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

chant was taken by James B. Ward. In 1890 the population of the village was about 50 and that of the township 365.

There are now in the village two general stores, a hardware store, garage, bank, feed mill, lumber yard, blacksmith shop, pickle station and four potato warehouses; also a school, church and small hotel.

In early days a sawmill was built here, for which I. C. Stanley probably furnished the capital, and William Bell, now living in Chetek, operated it. As there was not much pine in the vicinity, Knapp, Stout & Co. did not work close to the village. The mill was later operated for a number of years by William Locke, who came to Can- ton in 1885 and is still living here. H. J. White, another early settler still in the vil- lage, came here at the time of the general exodus in 1884, when S. J. Packard came. Arthur and William White, at an early date, settled on a farm close by and finally moved into the village. Two other pioneers of Canton are Nels Lowell and J. N. F. Cain, the latter living north of the village. R. E. Malone, the present postmaster, was born at Sumner, where, as already mentioned, his mother was at one time post mistress, but he spent a number of years out of the county before making his home in Canton.

The first postmaster at Canton was Eilas J. Packard, who was succeeded in the office by Frank Lutz. Then Lewis Walsh had it, and after him William Locke, J. Packard and J. F. Caldwell. Mr. Caldwell was suc- ceeded by Raymond E. Malone, who was appointed in 1910 and is still serving.

About 1898 or 1899 the farmers near Can- ton started a cheese factory on the co- operative plan, which had an existence of four or five years. Then a disagreement oc- curred, some of the farmers being in favor of putting in a creamery and others being opposed to it. It was finally turned into a creamery and was so conducted until its destruction by fire.

In 1914 F. M. Lepley started a cheese fac- tory at Canton and conducted it until 1917, when he turned it over to his son-in-law, William Sandmire. The latter operated it until it burned down in 1918, since which time Mr. Sandmire has been manager of the Canton Lumber Yard.

Another co-operative enterprise started in Canton was the Canton Farmers' Store and Market Association, which was organized in September, 1919, some fifty or sixty farm- ers taking stock in it. G. J. Boortz was the first president. Robert Miller vice president, Julius Krueger treasurer, and J. B. Stearns secretary. Later Thomas Gulickson be- came president. The farmers bought stock from Charles Johnson and at first used his building as their store, but subsequently they established quarters opposite the gen- eral store of R. E. Malone, who was man- ager of the Association during most of the time it lasted. Having started with insuffi- cient capital, the hard times and high prices broke them up, and after an existence of a year and a half the enterprise came to an end.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 195

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

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