History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 197

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

USA > Wisconsin > Barron County > History of Barron County Wisconsin > Part 197

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

The Bank of Campia was established in November, 1918, by M. L. Russell, L. M. Randall, A. G. Clarke and Mons Larson, be- sides one or two others who held their shares but a short time. A suitable building was purchased and adapted by improve- ments to the needs of the institution. The bank opened for business with a capital of $10,000, and with M. L. Russell as president, L. M. Randall vice president and A. G. Clarke cashier. The additional directors were Fred Bumberger and Erland Engh. Subsequently M. C. Johnson succeeded Mr. Clarke as cashier, and on Aug. 1, 1919, L. M. Fairfield succeeded Mr. Johnson in the same office. The official board in Novem- ber, 1921, was as follows: C. P. Stenerson, president; Mons Larson, vice president, and L. M. Fairfield, cashier. There was a sur- plus of $6,000 and deposits of $52,000.

One potato warehouse in Campia is owned and operated by the local unit of the American Equity Society. The others belong respectively to the D. R. Baggs Co. of St. Paul, Albert Miller & Co. of Chicago; F. A. Nicholson, of Rice Lake, and Leonard, Crossett & Riley, of Cincinnati, Ohio.

The grain elevator, which was established at the time the railroad was constructed. belongs to the Northern Supply Co., of Amery, Wis.

There was formerly a stock shipping as- sociation in the village, which was discon- tinued after an existence of two years, and the farmers now sell directly to the buyers.

Nels B. Nelson started the lumber yard five years ago.

Digitized by Google

1143

HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

The telephone service of Campia is con- trolled by the Barron County Telephone Co., and has been for a number of years. The streets are graded and there are some ce- ment sidewalks. The water supply is ob- tained from open wells.

There is no church in the village, but in 1876 a Lutheran Church was started about a mile east, among the organizers and early members being K. N. Tadness, O. A. Dale, T. J. Oleson, O. J. Oleson, K. J. Ole- son, Mons Larson and Ole Anderson. For four or five years meetings were held in the schoolhouse on the corner near the church, the first minister being the Rev. Mr. Grove, who remained two years. The second, the Rev. John Waage, served the church about ten years, driving up from Sand Creek. His successor was Rev. Chris Fuss, and then came Rev. John Kvam, who was pastor for about eighteen years. His successors, in order, have been the Rev. John Skagan, Rev. P. F. Kjorlaug, Rev. O. M. Klevem, and Rev. Theodore Kleppe, the last mentioned being the present pastor.

The Campia postoffice was established July 1. 1918, previous to which time the vil- lage was on a mail route. The first post- master was Gertrude Aslin. Then Ed For- est and J. K. Denson had it for a short time. On July 1, 1921, Mrs. Delena Ger- maine became postmaster and is still serv- ing, with William Germain as assistant.

The village has a population of about 165 and is surrounded by a good farming country.

BRILL

Brill is an unincorporated village in the eastern part of Oak Grove Township, and on the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha railway. As defined on the map its exact geographical position is on the west- ern half of Section 13, Town 36 north, Range 11 west. The site was first platted by the Interstate Land Co., of Minneapolis, G. W. Peavey, president, and C. F. Deaver, secretary. This company on Nov. 28, 1902, laid out thirteen blocks in what is now the western part of the village. This plat was vacated by the Circuit court at Barron Nov. 25, 1914. On Feb. 13, 1904, the Rice Lake Land and Realty Co., James Robbins, pres- ident, and E. Knudson, secretary, platted an addition of four blocks on the south part of the site. Then about 1910, Duncan Mon- roe laid out another plat, comprising six blocks in the east end. The last addition was made in 1916 by George N. Keesey, who laid out four blocks on Main street, which cover part of the original platting.

Before the coming of the railroad in the fall of 1901 there was nothing here in the shape of a settlement. The railway com- pany built a platform and later added the depot. George N. Keesey, who arrived here in 1902, recollects that there was then a lumber yard here operated by the Rice Lake Lumber Co.

Mr. Keesey opened the first general store here in the spring of 1902, and has since twice made additions to it. He has

now an up-to-date and well patronized es- tablishment. In 1919 Arnt Olson opened a grocery and restaurant, which he con- tinues to operate. A hotel was built in 1921, its proprietor being Leo Van Ruth. There is also in the village a garage and auto tire repair shop, a blacksmith shop, a creamery, bank and lumber yard. The last mentioned enterprise was established a number of years ago by the Independent Lumber Co. of Elk Mound, Dunn County, who continue to operate it.

The Brill Co-operative Creamery was or- ganized by the farmers of the vicinity in 1904. In 1916 the building burned down, and the company was then reorganized un- der the Wisconsin co-operative law, and a new building of cement blocks was con- structed on a better site. The officers for the first year were: O. H. Kjorstad, presi- dent; Mike McLeod, vice president; George N. Keesey, secretary, and A. M. Chrislaw, treasurer. During the year 1920 the amount of cream received was 469,583 pounds; the amount of butter made, 162,893 pounds, and the amount paid the farmers for cream, $78,854.40. The officers for 1920 were: Mike McLeod, president; P. A. Helgeland, vice president; Arnt Olson, secretary, and W. H. Cockerill, treasurer and manager.

The Brill State Bank was organized May 6, 1919, by W. R. Zabel, the other persons interested as stockholders being Tom Ma- son, W. H. Ryan (of Haugen), Charles Za- bel, B. J. Herricks, George N. Keesey, F. E. Keesey, William H. Cockerill and A. M. Chrislaw. The officers were: W. R. Zabel, president; George N. Keesey, vice presi- dent, and B. C. Leonard, cashier. These officers are still serving. The directorate is also practically the same as at the be- ginning, including W. R. Zabel, B. C. Leon- ard, George N. Keesey, Tom Mason, W. H. Ryan, A. M. Chrislaw and B. J. Herricks. The bank was organized with a capital of $10,000 and the required surplus of $1,000. The deposits now vary from $70,000 to $90,000. The bank rented a building for temporary quarters but in the latter part of 1921 constructed a good brick and tile build- ing to be occupied by the middle of Decem- ber.

Until 1903 the people in and around Brill got their mail through Dobie, where there was a store and postoffice. In 1902 George N. Keesey was appointed postmaster at Brill and has served in that capacity ever since.

The Brill Union Chapel, an undenomina- tional place of worship, was built about fourteen years ago at the crossing of two roads about half a mile north of the village, and has since been served by ministers from Rice Lake of the Presbyterian and Seventh Day Adventist denominations. The chapel is now chiefly under Presbyterian in- fluence.

The village of Brill obtains its water sup- ply from wells. The main street is graded. One or two local plants have installed elec- tric light for their own use but as yet that convenience has not extended to the village.

Digitized by Google

1144

HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

What is known as the "Irish Settlement" was started about 1871 by a few Irish who settled about three miles north and east of Brill. From there to the south line of Oak Grove Township there were in 1876 about six Irish families, but a number of others arrived when the Knapp-Stout Lumber Com- pany began operations in this vicinity. Among the first to come were Frank Mullen and Mike Hanlan. Since then the settle- ment has and still from time to time re- ceives accessions. These early Irish were practically all in the employ of the Knapp- Stout Company and had to get their sup- plies at the company's trading post, or store. They attended the Catholic Church at Dobie, then a small building constructed of slabs. The schoolhouse was in the south- west corner of Section 14. Those were rough days and the settlers saw hard times, but most of them were strong and hardy, and after the timber had been cleared off bought land and engaged in farming, in time becoming well to do. Some still sur- vive, enjoying comfortable homes, and able to take an interest in the progress of the younger generation.

COMSTOCK

The unincorporated village of Comstock, with a population of about 125, is situated in the northeast quarter of Section 34, Crys- tal Lake Township, on the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Northwestern railway, which is now a part of the Chicago & North- western railway system. It is eighteen miles northwest of Barron, the county seat, and is surrounded by an excellent farming and dairying country. The water supply is derived from wells.

The first settler on the site of the village was Andrew Swamby, who arrived here in 1874. Mr. Swamby opened the first general store and in 1875 became the first postmas- ter of Comstock. Other early settlers here were T. N. Stebbins, R. Roberts, E. Whit- comb, Daniel Kinnil, J. Jorgenson, John Jorgenson and Frank Williams.

The logging industry was the first car- ried on in the vicinity and a sawmill was erected at an early date. Two of the earli- est settlers at Crystal Lake, a mile north- west of the village, were S. H. Carsley, in 1872, and T. Jacobson, in 1875. Mr. Carsley is still living on the old homestead and is now 84 years old.

Mr. Swamby's successor in the postoffice was R. Corbett, and the latter was succeed- ed by S. Addington. Then R. E. Schmaling, who conducted a general store, became postmaster and continued as such until he sold out his business in 1905 to Christ P. Tyvoll. The latter thereupon became post- master, and remained so for ten years or more, until Henry H. Carsley, having bought out the Lamoureaux general store in 1916, in July that year succeeded to the office and has since had charge of the mails.

The village has grown slowly, but, in the main, local enterprises have been planted on a solid foundation. One of the most suc- cessful creameries in the county is located

here, and there is also a substantial bank, two general stores, well stocked with all goods demanded by a country trade, a ga- rage and a lumber yard. Two churches- one Methodist Episcopal and the other Lutheran-provide opportunities for relig- ious worship and exert a wholesome influ- ence on the lives of the people.

The schoolhouse now in use is the third building that has been erected here for educational purposes. It was built in 1915 at a cost of $5,000 and contains two rooms, in which the usual grade studies are pur- sued. Two teachers are employed and about fifty pupils are enrolled.

The Comstock Co-operative Creamery was organized by the farmers and incor- porated in July, 1907, with a capital stock of $3,000. The chief movers in the enter- prise were W. A. Gierhart, Peter Olson, Charles Pederson, Charles Helbig, William A. Ebert and William Modersbach. A fac- tory which had been previously operated for a while as an individual creamery, was pur- chased and operations begun. The new con- cern had a steady growth from the start, and shortly after business had started the capital stock was raised from $3,000 to $5,000, and the building had to be remodeled and enlarged. In 1917 Ernest R. Salsbury took over the management, since which time the business had considerably in- creased and the institution is now one of the largest and most successful of its kind in Barron County. This result has been ac- complished notwithstanding the competition of two neighboring cheese factories. The fol- lowing figures show the amount of business done in the year 1920; Pounds of cream re- ceived, 981,166; total amount of butter made, 354,487 pounds; total amount re- ceived for same, $188,010.19; amount paid farmers in cash, $172,231.81; amount paid farmers in butter, $3,730.01; total paid farm- ers, $175,961.82. The officers of the company are as follows: President and director, W. A. Gierhart, of Turtle Lake; vice president and director, Joseph Dusel, of Turtle Lake; treasurer and director, Otto A. Olson, of Comstock; other directors, T. J. Troan, of Turtle Lake, and Anton Erickson, John Howe and Gust Peterson of Comstock; sec- retary and manager, E. R. Salsbury; butter- maker. L. E. Leight.

The Bank of Comstock was organized and incorporated as a state bank in Febru- ary, 1918, with a capital stock of $10,000 and a surplus of $1,000. The bank opened for business March 23, 1918, with F. W. Miller as president, A. H. Miller vice presi- dent, and Otto A. Olson cashier. These om- cers have since continued to serve and also act as directors. In 1921 Agnes J. Ol- son was made assistant cashier. The cap- ital stock remains the same as at the be- ginning. On Dec. 31, 1921, the surplus was $7,100 and the total deposits $55,622. The institution does a general banking business.

The village of Comstock was platted July 26, 1920. The owners were Tony Dabruzzi, C. P. Tyvoll, Otto Amundson, Charles Blanch, H. H. Carsley, Frank Dabruzzi, the

Digitized by Google

1145

HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

Comstock Co-operative Creamery Co., (W. A. Gierhart, president; E. R. Salsbury, sec- retary) and the Comstock Methodist Episco- pal Church (William Modersbach, Frank Williams, J. M. Scribner and Benjamin Topper). The surveyor was J. A. H. John- son.

In March, 1920, nearly one hundred en- thusiastic "boosters" for Comstock held a meeting and organized the Comstock Com- munity Club. The organization is thorough- ly representative of all the various lines of activity to be found in the community, in- cluding farmers, business and professional men, bankers, clerks and laborers. The Arst officers were: Frank Williams, presi- dent; Frank Huser, vice president; Otto A. Olson, secretary, and Claus W. Carlson, treasurer. The officers of the club are al- ways found working in perfect harmony with the entire membership and associates for any cause or project affecting the wel- fare of the community. One of the notable achievements of the club is the erection of a fine and modern community building, and by the activity of the members clean amusements and entertainments have been provided for all. This enterprise has been well supported by public sentiment and patronage, and is visible evidence that Com- stock, though not yet a large village, pos- sesses real elements of growth in the up- to-date character of its people and those in the country immediately surrounding it.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Com- stock was organized Sept. 1, 1910, among the first members being Mr. and Mrs. Ben Topper, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Scribner, Mr. and Mrs. E. Falkner, Bell Carsley, Martha Gates, G. Gates, Mrs. C. F. Houston, Hattie Williams, Frank Williams and Grover Barnes. A frame building was purchased for $700 from the Modern Woodmen of America and remodeled at a cost of $1,200 into a good church edifice. The first pas- tor was Rev. H. S. Goodridge. The pres- ent pastor, the Rev. Theo. Mathews, serves both this church and that at Perley. The Comstock church has now about thirty members.

The St. Paul's German Lutheran Evangeli- cal Church at Comstock was organized by August H. Soltau, Gustav A. Haas and Au- gust Croehler, in August, 1914. The Rev. Theo. D. Martens was the first pastor. He and the members labored together under difficult conditions, without an edifice, try- ing their best to enlarge their membership, and holding meetings wherever they could until March, 1917, when August H. Soltau donated to the church a lot 100 feet square, on the corner of Market and East street. On this the members erected a handsome church building. The church has now 21 members with good prospects for future growth. The present pastor is the Rev. H. H. Wegner, who also serves similar con- gregations at Cumberland (where he re- sides), Collingwood Corners, Johnstown and McKinley. He manages to give regular services in these churches at least once every other Sunday and on holidays.

BARRONETT

Barronette, at one time called Foster, is a small village, or hamlet, in Section 5, Lakeland Township; or the site may be more exactly described as the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 5, Town- ship 36 north, Range 13 west. Barronett is close to the northern line of the county, and is on the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha railway, the building of which, in 1878, caused the village to be started soon after.

The business interests of Barronett con- sist of a bank, two general stores, a hard- ware store, garage, lumber yard, potato warehouse, creamery, land office, barber shop with a watch repairing adjunct, hotel and blacksmith shop. There is also a grade school. A Catholic mission church was es- tablished here many years ago, which has been served .since 1891 from Cumberland.

For some years the Barronett Lumber Co., with headquarters at St. Paul, con- ducted extensive lumbering operations here and operated saw, lath and shingle mills. The annual output for a time was some 10,000,000 feet of lumber. Not far from the village J. F. Fuller, of Cumberland, estab- lished extensive brick works, with an an- nual output of 4,000,000 brick. The village was platted March 26, 1902, the owner being James H. Benson, and the surveyor Henry J. Buck.

The Barronett State Bank was incorpo- rated April 25, 1916 by Lyman Ashley, Ma- thias Arnes, Martin Peterson, Ed Anderson and C. O. L. Loomis. The capital stock was $10,000. The first officers and direc- tors were: Ed Anderson, president; Mar- tin Peterson, vice president; C. F. Paxton, cashier. A building was erected which was opened for business Dec. 13, 1916. In 1918 Martin Peterson became president and is now serving in that capacity, with Ed An- derson as vice president, and Andrew Rob- ertson cashier. On March 1, 1921, when changes in officers were made, E. L. Robert- son became assistant cashier, succeeding Henry Anderson in that office.

Mikana is a small community center lo- cated in the east half of the northeast quar- ter of Section 21, Cedar Lake Township (township 36 north, range 10 west). It is on the "Soo" railroad. About half a mile to the east is Red Cedar Lake, a body of water about five miles long extending in a northerly and southerly direction. Mi- kana had its beginning when the "Blue- berry" branch of the "Soo" railway came through in 1901. The trains started run- ning on Christmas Day of that year. The village was platted March 31, 1902 by the Mikana Improvement Co., of which Thomas B. Wilson, of Knapp, Stout & Co., was the president, and George Huss secretary. The first store was put up that year by Lee and Kringle, and a postoffice established with George C. Kringle as postmaster. There are now two general stores here and a lumber yard operated by the Independent Lum- ber Co., which also deals in flour, feed and

Digitized by Google

1146

HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

other produce. There is also a good school and a Methodist Church. The surrounding country is a good agricultural section.

Angus is a small but important commu- nity center in Section 4, Cedar Lake Town- ship. It is well located for transportation service, as it is on the Omaha railroad and close to the junction of that road with the "Soo". The community was started in May, 1906, by M. B. Uren, who, after selecting a site, cut down the timber thereon and built a store. He was also the first post- master and suggested the name of the of- fice, which was approved by the govern- ment. Besides a good. general store here, the community has a grade school, which is a frame building with cement basement.

Reeve is a flourishing little hamlet in the southern part of Section 20, in Vance Creek Township. It has a United Brethren Church, a Modern Woodmen lodge, two gen- eral stores, a blacksmith shop, a creamery, a pea vinery, and a number of pretty resi- dences. At one time there was a postoffice there, now discontinued. The village was started some twenty years ago. The cream- ery which was started by the farmers is now owned by the Clear Lake Creamery Association of Clear Lake, Pol County.

Arland is a small hamlet on the line be- tween Sections 18 and 19, Arland Township. It has stores, a creamery and a feed mill. A mile to the southward are two Norwe- gian Lutheran Churches, a school and a cemetery. Two miles to the southwest there is a Lutheran Church and a school, while there are also schools a mile and a half to the west, and a mile and a half to the northeast.

Lehigh is a railroad station on the "Soo" line in the northeastern part of Sumner Township.

Horseman is an inland hamlet in the east- ern part of Doyle Township.

In addition to old Cameron, old Poskin, Mooney's Mills and Sumner, already men- tioned, there are several other deserted vil- lages in the county, Perley, Sprague, and Granite Lake. There are also a number of localities were stores and postoffices ex- isted in the early days.

Perley. In the mind of the old resident in the western part of Barron County the name of Perley awakes recollections of a once lively community, which, under more favorable conditions, might have developed into a permanent and good-sized village; but whatever early promise it may have had proved transitory and illusive. The lumber industry which brought it into being, passed on and left it desolate, and although its former location may still be found on maps, as in the southern part of Section 8, Almena Township, the spot today presents no indication of its former bustling activities.

Somewhat over forty years ago the sur- rounding region was thickly timbered, and Andrews & Perley, lumbermen, were en- gaged there in logging. It was the last mentioned partner, John Perley, who gave

his name to the camp, and there, in Decem- ber, 1880, a large sawmill was erected which gave employment, on an average, to about 100 men. A boarding house was es- tablished, and was presided over by Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Wickenburg, of Turtle Lake, Mr. Wickenburg having been engaged to cook for the camp, a position that he held for three years. The lumber firm built houses for the men and also operated a store, in addition to which there was a saloon that did a flourishing business. For some years previous to the separation of Almena Township from that of Turtle Lake, Perley was a voting place, and as John Perley took an active interest in politics, election day, which brought many voters to the camp, was a festival occasion, and animated and even exciting scenes were witnessed. The "Omaha" railroad had been constructed through Perley in 1877, previous to which time visitors to the place had to drive there with teams.

The exhaustion of the timber supply brought all this bustle to an end. After operating for five or six years, the lum- bermen deserted the place, the boarding house had burned down, the mill was aban- doned, and from an active and strenuous community in the living and material world, Perley took its place as an ever-fading ghost in the dim and silent halls of memory.

Sprague was started in 1880 on the "Omaha" line three miles south of Cum- berland. Sprague Brothers owned and operated a steam sawmill. A postoffice was established and a church and district school organized. When the logging industry di- minished, the village disappeared.

Granite Lake was platted Feb. 21, 1879, on land owned by the North Wisconsin Railroad Co. The plat was located on the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 17, in what is now Lakeland Township. For some years a railroad sta- tion was maintained there.

Doble is a pretty little hamlet of which the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes is the principal feature, located in the southwest corner of Section 36, Oak Grove Township.

The history of Our Lady of Lourdes Church dates back to the year 1869, when mass was read for the first time by Father Nacli in George Roberge's log cabin. Suc- ceeding him was the well known Father Goldsmith, who came twice and read mass in John LaBree's cabin. Father Nolan came next and read mass in Honore Demers' home. Father Keller marked the location of the first church. A missionary from Chippewa Falls read the first mass in the new church which was a rather crude af- fair, but sufficient to meet the demands of the people. Aristide Mireau, George Ro- berge, Tom Kearney, and Tom Donnelly, assisted by several protestant families, did most of the carpenter work. In the year 1878, during the winter, Father Dole came. remaining here nineteen years. He found the little mission literally in the backwoods without either roads or bridges. Fifteen

Digitized by Google

-------

1147

HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

missions were added to his charge-Rice Lake, Chetek, Barron, Prairie Farm, Sand Creek, Cartwright, Shell Lake, Turtle Lake, etc. At the present time Rice Lake has a beautiful church, and Chetek, Shell Lake and Turtle Lake have their own respective churches and pastors. As soon as he got settled down he set about erecting a church, schoolhouse and parsonage at Stanfold (sometimes called Dobie-officially Route No. 3, Rice Lake, Wis.), and afterwards at various other missions. The first man bur- ied in the cemetery was carried out on poles from Rice Lake via the Indian trail. Father Dole possessed an iron constitution and he needed it. Traveling by foot on the Indian trail through swamps and in all weather conditions to answer a sick call twenty and thirty miles away were some of the difficul- ties he had to encounter. It is said that at one time he received news that one under his charge was dying about twenty miles away. He set out immediately. Upon arriving at the cabin, utterly exhausted, he found the sole occupant seated on his bench calmly smoking his pipe. Upon inquiry as to where the dying person was he received the reply: "Father, I just wanted to know if you would come if I were really dying." Nineteen years of zealous labor in an im- mense field tended to weaken an otherwise strong constitution and when fire swept down and burned both his church and house his noble heart literally broke. "Like his Lord and Master", says the Catholic Sen- tinel, "he cared nothing for money, and on the day of his death there was found but one dollar and fifty cents in his purse. On his dying bed he forgot self in his anxiety

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 197

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

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