USA > Wisconsin > Langlade County > History of Langlade County, Wisconsin, from U. S. government survey to present time, with biographical sketches > Part 16
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THE ANTIGO BREWERY.
The Antigo Brewing Company was organized Sep- tember 25, 1896, by Albert Koles, Frank Hanzel, Frank Riendl, Albert Fisch, Thomas Schmitz, John Kestly, William Krier, Joseph Hoffman, Max Hoff- man and A. Jenss. The plant and office were located on south Edison street. Near beer was manufactured for a while after the 18th amendment was passed.
THE CITIZENS BREWERY.
The Citizens Brewing Company was incorporated September 15, 1899. John Sipek, Wencel Sipek, Frank Boyanowski, and Frank Cherf were the incor- porators. John Benishek was one of the active men in this industry also. Articles of incorporation were amended
June 6, 1907, and the capital stock
was increased from $25,000 to $100,000. Chris Wunderlich, deceased, was then president of the concern. May 27, 1913, the name was changed to the Great Northern Manufac- turing Company. The plant was located on Superior street north of the office. The office was at the inter- section of Sixth avenue and Superior street.
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
CHAPTER XVII. Meteorology
Coldest Season-Dryest Season-Warmest Season-Meteoric Phenomena-Weather Observers- Cyclones of 1881-1898-1922-Floods-Fires, 1880 to 1922.
The Elfreth family, Quakers of Pennsylvania, pre- served a diary indicating the coldest weather since 1790 to be in 1812. The summer of 1816 is the cold- est on record. Killing frosts were prevalent each month. June 16, 1816, a shepherd searched for his sheep in a blinding Vermont snow storm. The most appalling blizzard on record in the United States was in February, 1817.
The coldest winter in Langlade County was that of 1917-1918. Winter set in early in November and zero weather prevailed until April. The winter of 1899 was a hard one. Pioneers still living can recall days of biting cold then. Years before, in 1876, the ear- ly settlers on the Wolf River recall the long winter siege when mail carriers found it difficult to make their "stretches" between the stopping places.
The coldest day on record in Antigo was February 10, 1899, when the thermometer registered 40 degrees below zero. Woodsmen, trappers, and Indians de- clared it was dangerous to attempt outside work that day. The fall of temperature that day is without pre- cedent in Langlade County.
The summer of 1915 is the coldest on record in Langlade County. Potatoes, corn and vegetables were frozen, especially in the lowlands. The sum- mer of 1863 was very cold, but as Langlade Coun- ty had but few settlers then, every one of whom were sturdy prospectors, adventurers and land hunters, lit- tle is known of it. The settlers were: Hi Polar, Dan Gagen, Henry Strauss, Louis Motzfeldt, "Old Dutch Frank," George Gardner, and W. L. Ackley.
The winter of 1920-21 was the warmest winter in the county. There was little snow and automobiles ran the year round. Very little ice was cut and a shortage resulted in the summer of 1921.
Robins, meadow larks, horned larks and swallows made their appearance unusually early. Farmers be- gan breaking ground in March. The snow was light the entire year, about one foot deep.
The hottest summer recorded in Langlade County was that of 1921 when the temperature was 95.7 de- grees Fahrenheit.
The longest drouth probably occurred in 1862. However, official records show the year 1894 as the dryest for Langlade County. The spring of 1894 was "early" and the summer was very hot. There was a severe drouth in 1856, but as the county had but one white settler within its boundary then we learn noth- ing of it.
Antigo is situated in what is known as Twin Valley, with Springbrook running in a southeasterly direction and the Eau Claire River four miles west. Spring-
brook, while small, has caused considerable damage as a result of overflowing its banks. This is particu- larly true at the dam to the rear of the Neff-Roberts flat on Fifth avenue, where in the summer of 1921 many families were forced from their homes by the rapid rise of the little brook.
For many spring seasons, not including 1922, but more notably the spring of 1913, many portions of Antigo were inundated when storm sewers were un- able to carry off flood waters. Minola street, a part of the Third ward, Fourth ward, and the north part of the city were affected. It was not uncommon to visit a neighbor by boat in the regions flooded. Resi- dences were isolated. Often the fire department was enlisted into service to aid the beleaguered residents. Rainfall was no greater during these years than nor- mal. Floods are sure to occur even where storm sew- ers, tiling, and ditching has been installed to facili- tate in the discharge of water.
W. P. Stewart, meteorologist, in charge of the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture weather bureau at Milwaukee, in response to a series of questions regarding the cli- matological history of Antigo, says :
"With reference to your inquiries regarding the sta- tion at Antigo :
1-The Weather Bureau does not maintain an office at Antigo, but we have had an observer there since May, 1894, who has kept a record for us of the tem- perature, rainfall, and weather conditions. Our first cooperative observer at Antigo was Mr. John McGreer. Mr. E. C. Larzelere, our present observer, has kept records there since May, 1905.
2-The average annual rainfall for Antigo is 30.02 inches.
3-The greatest 24-hour rainfall, 3.70 in., July 23, 1912.
4-The wettest year, 37.94 in., in 1919.
5-The mean annual temperature, coldest year, 38.7, 1917.
6- The mean annual temperature for the warmest year, 45.7, 1921.
7-The warmest day on record, 100 degrees, July 2, 1911.
Respectfully, Signed :
W. P. STEWART,
Meteorologist. March 22, 1922."
In 1883, L. W. Bliss was an unofficial weather ob- server in Antigo. The winter of 1922, when in Febru- ary one of the worst snow storms and blizzards tied up traffic for many days, will long be remembered.
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
It was the worst tie-up in the history of the Ashland Division, C. & N. W. Ry.
THE CYCLONE OF 1881.
In September, 1881, a cyclone struck the south- eastern part of the county and severe damage result- ed. Trees were uprooted in the village of Antigo. The G. W. Latta residence was damaged. No lives were lost.
THE DESTRUCTIVE CYCLONE OF 1898.
At 7 o'clock Wednesday evening, May 18, 1898, a cyclone struck the northwestern part of Antigo, caus- ing the loss of three lives and approximately $35,000 worth of damage to property. Those killed were Frank Billings, who had a box car thrown against him; Goldie Sheldon, 7-year-old daughter of Homer Shel-
house and contents damaged, I. E. Buckman, A. Goldberg, G. Parker, Will Botrell, Dr. H. V. Mills, Mrs. Harris, P. J. Millard, C. O. Marsh, W. Kenyon, Allan Taylor, Al Billings, L. K. Strong, H. C. Mumphrey, J. H. Trever, Ralph Briggs, Joseph Bainiaj, Bruno Krowlinski, Alex McMillan, Ed Gra- bowsky, Wm. Heckman, Edward Boettcher, Frank Valnets, Mike and Frank Lynski, Joseph Hoffman, August Reige, Joseph Holle, Mrs. Hayes, A. Kolte, J. A. Weaver, T. Bradnock, August Frieburger, and H. Ward all suffered either residence, barn, or house- hold damages, some both household and residence damages. The Chicago & Northwestern Railway suf- fered considerably also.
Many farmhouses, barns, and sheds were destroyed in the eastern part of the county. Trees were up- rooted and broken off and forests were laid low. The path of the cyclone was small, but very destructive.
THE PATH OF THE CYCLONE OF MAY 18, 1898.
The street shown is Martin Avenue looking from the C. & N. W. railroad track. The ruins in the foreground at the left shows what the cyclone did to the Whitney residence. The Conway residence, corner of Martin Avenue and Clermont Street is shown at the left also. It was badly damaged. Just north of it the residence of Dr. Petters was located. It was also badly damaged. The residence of I. B. Kellogg can be seen in the center of the picture.
The windows were broken and this residence suffered slight damages otherwise. John E. Martin, then District Attorney, lived on Martin Avenue. The ruins of his residence are in the rear to the right of the picture. If one looks close, the small space from out of which the Martin family crawled can be seen.
Timbers prevented the roof from crushing them. There were other sections of Antigo where the cyclone did equally serious damage.
don, and Ignatz Barr, struck while standing in front of the F. Ringsmith residence. Seriously injured were: Mrs. Alex McMillan and daughter, Mamie, Mrs. J. Kolte, Mrs. Martin Lynski, Dr. Frank I. Drake, Mrs. Francis Kaplanek, and Mrs. H. H. Ward.
Property damage was as follows : Electric light plant, water works power house, Isaac Cople residence, John E. Martin residence, and E. Houck residence demol- ished, household goods of Frank Newberry damaged, L. C. Bemis residence damaged, F. Ringsmith resi- dence demolished, Homer Sheldon household goods damaged, Mrs. A. Tollefson residence and household goods damaged, Joseph Steidle, two houes damaged, Gus Urbank household goods damaged, L. Frederick- son house demolished, Horace Kellogg house damag- ed, W. Putnam residence damaged, Henry Feindeisen house moved off foundation, C. H. Petters residence damaged, A. C. Conway, W. Whitney, Olaf Gold- strand, and C. Hungerford residences damag- ed or they were demolished. George Bemis
Mayor Dailey immediately issued a proclamation calling upon the Antigo citizens to aid the suffering and homeless. A Citizens' Relief Committee was ap- pointed. The Jones Lumber Company of Elcho donat- ed $50 for relief. Food, clothing and financial aid was distributed fast. The city council appropriated $1,000 for relief purposes and offers for assistance came pouring in from every section to the sorrowing and stricken community. Never before or since has Lang- lade County witnessed such a holocaust.
THE TORNADO OF JUNE 16, 1922.
At 2.20 p. m. Friday afternoon, June 16, 1922, a destructive tornado entered Langlade County from the southeast corner, causing thousands of dollars of dam- age, endangering the lives of scores of people and creating havoc that will be discussed by generations to come. The path was almost the same as that of the tornado of May 18, 1898. In fact the basement of a house (just opposite the John Bahr, Jr., farm) is
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
but a few feet from where the tornado did much of its destruction.
The George Wachal farm lost heavy. Two barns, a granary, a machine shed and minor buildings were des- troyed.
The estimated loss was $10,000.
Felix Adamski had a barn, valued at $5,000 des- troyed. His silo, the windows of his residence and many shade trees were destroyed.
The farm of Charles Kloida was a heavy sufferer. The great barns, machinery sheds, silo and other build- ings, implements and other property were destroyed. The residence of Mr. Kloida was also badly damaged. The family went into the basement just before the storm approached.
The brick veneer residence, the barn, silo and ma- chinery buildings of Anton Zima were levelled to the ground. Mr. and Mrs. Zima were in Antigo shopping when the storm came up.
zens. Homes and business properties were laid low. A strong southwest wind swept the city during the day. The fire department was called twice to extin- guish a fire in a swamp along the Weed mill spur track. The volunteers were unable to cope with the second fire as it gained considerable headway. Weed's saw and planing mills were ignited. Burning cinders and shingles were blown through the air and landed on other buildings. Dwelling houses were destroyed, one after another. Many families managed to save
their household contents, however. Losses were sus- tained by the following: J. H. Weed's mill-$20,000 to $30,000. Residences destroyed with losses rang- ing from $200 to $3,000 were those of: A. W. Cook, James Weaver, O. H. Williams, Rufus Payne, Mrs. L. E. McCorckle, Fred Able, Jule Grant, Wm. Oldenburg, Fred McBain, Caleb Morse, E. D. Davis, T. H. Ward, Mike and Jos. Servi, L. Berner, Max Kalouner, Mar-
WRECKED FARM HOME OF ANTON ZIMA
On Highway 64, a short distance from Fifth Avenue, Antigo, Wis. This was one of the four farms completely or partially destroyed by the tornado, June 16, 1922.
The granary and the barn of John Bahr, Jr., suffered heavily. The roof of the granary was torn away. Barn doors were torn from their hinges.
Live stock belonging to Charles Kloida, Joe Herman, Joe Koudelka, Charles Kloida and Anton Zima was either killed or injured.
Telephone poles in the path of the tornado were pulled from the ground for a distance of about one- half a mile. The tract of maple owned by John Bahr, Jr., was torn to splinters.
Many Antigo people watched the white "twister" as it approached. None realized that it was but a mile from Fifth Avenue, Antigo's main street. The scene of the tornado was visited by thousands of people who drove through the muddy roads in the rain. t was an incident in the history of Langlade County that will be talked of for many years to come.
THE WORST FIRE IN ANTIGO HISTORY.
The most appalling fire in the history of Antigo oc- curred on the afternoon of May 20, 1893, and losses to the extent of $75,000 were sustained by scores of citi-
tin Grash, Mrs. Jos. Grignon, Rube Paint, H. Schuer, A. J. Webley and David Clements, ($2,000 worth of wood, barn and household goods). The Prosser Livery Company lost sleighs, cutters and livery apparatus.
Many had just time to flee from their homes. One old lady fled carrying a hen in each hand, all she could save from her premises. Another lady fled with a curtain pole and two pups. Sewing machines, bureaus, organs and choice pieces of furniture were carried into the streets only to be burned to ashes.
ANOTHER BIG FIRE.
January 5, 1893, a serious fire occurred when the M. Binder saloon, C. B. McDonald store, O. H. P. Allerton store, I. Silbar store and contents were ruined or com- pletely destroyed. Origin of the fire is unknown. The total estimated loss was approximately $20,000. In October, 1893, the Antigo Manufacturing Company mill was destroyed by fire.
OTHER IMPORTANT FIRES.
1880-Twin Valley Inn, M. L. Waite, prop., burned to ground.
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
September 5, 1883-Catholic church, Antigo, total- ly destroyed.
June 29, 1885-J. H. Weed's mill fire. Losses to the following : J. H. Weed, S. Bryant, L. Sands & Co., A. Weed, McElwe, Billings & Carney, Methudy & Meyers, Paine Lumber Co., P. Weed, H. Hewitt and H. Ried. Total loss-$340,500.
October 27, 1886-Antigo Lumber Company mill
million feet of lumber and store building, also C. & N. W. depot burned at Elmhurst.
August 1, 1899-Davis Bros. mill at Bryant burn- ed. Loss $20,000. Re-built.
February 2, 1897 -- John Dailey Mill at Strassburg burned to ground. Loss $12,000.
December 14, 1910-M. Krom building burned. Loss partially covered.
L
ANTEP
1916
1
SMOULDERING RUINS OF THE ANTIGO HIGH SCHOOL
Which was totally destroyed by fire on January 6, 1916. A week later the walls that stood up against the ravages of fire were blasted from their foundation.
burned. Henry Bangs, L. K. Strong and John Mit- chell, owners. Loss about $20,000.
May 12, 1887-J. H. Weed's planing mill, operated by Hoxie & Mellor, burned with a $6,000 loss.
December 6, 1891-$53,000 fire in Antigo. L. Strasser, Edward Cleary, Lee Waste, Masonic Lodge and J. A. Ogden, properties burned.
July 26, 1894-Fire started at Crocker Chair Co. yards. Rhinelander fire engine called. Losses to Crocker Chair Co., Thielman Brothers, Herman, Beck- linger & Herman, Marsh Brothers & Chase, Charles Thompson, Hessel & Leykom, Kohl & Tollefson, Henry Smith and O'Donnell's Livery.
September 12, 1894-Wunderlich's lumber yard, 2
April 19, 1916-English Mfg. Co., kiln struck by lightning. Destroyed. Re-built. January 6, 1916-Antigo High School completely destroyed by fire.
August 30, 1922-Faust Lumber Company Saw Mill totally destroyed by fire. Will rebuild.
BRILLIANT METEOR.
On March 10, 1905, at about 9.30 p. m., the citizens of Antigo were almost blinded by a very brilliant flash- like illumination of the entire sky. A heavy clap of thunder followed. The cause was a meteor which struck southwest of the city in Rolling township.
88
HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
CHAPTER XVIII. Agriculture and Dairying
The First Farmer-Difficulties and Impediments-Homestead Immigration-Progress-Agricultural Society-First County Fair-Poultry Association-Potato Grower's-Breeder's Associations- Cow Testing-Short Courses-County Agents-Dairying-Patrons of Husbandry.
The beginning of agriculture in Langlade County dates back to the year 1853 when the first permanent white settler located within the limits of the county. The first white settler to clear away a space in the forest on which to cultivate a few crops was W. L. Ackley. Mr. Ackley settled on the northeast quarter of section 28, township 31, range 10 east. Here hc cultivated potatoes, corn, and other necessary food- stuffs. In the winter months he busied himself in the forest, where both hardwoods and pine prevailed.
H. C. Fellows, U. S. Deputy Surveyor, surveyed the region about Ackley's place in August, 1860, and re- ported "good crops on Ackley & Hogarty's farm." Hogarty was never a resident of Langlade County, but was interested in business with Ackley. The vil-
Eau Claire banks were many. Here in this primitive wilderness W. L. Ackley lived until his death in 1894. He was well known and respected by all.
Agriculture developed slowly between 1860 and 1875. Settlers did not arrive in great numbers in that fifteen year period. A man named Boyington had a farm and logging claim on section 4, township 31, range 10 east, and another settler named Stone had a small farm with a number of buildings on the north- west quarter of the southeast quarter of section 9, township 31, range 10 east, in 1860. Boyington left the country because of the depressed state of the lum- ber market at that time.
The first farmers, Ackley, Boyington, and Stone, were followed by others coming into eastern Lang-
THE FIRST LOG CABIN ERECTED IN LANGLADE COUNTY.
These cabins on the banks of the Eau Claire river, near the junction of the east and west branches, were built by W. L. Ackley, the first permanent white settler in Langlade County. Mr. Ackley came up the Eau Claire river in a canoe in 1853 and was in this county at least eight years before "Old Dutch Frank" of the Wolf River country. Ile cleared the first farm in the county near the site of the once thriving village of Heine- mann.
lage of Hogarty, stopping place between Wausau and Antigo territory between 1853 to 1886, was named after him.
Mr. Ackley came into Ackley township from Wau- sau following the course of the Eau Claire river up to the forks of the east and west branches, where he settled. He married a Chippewa Indian maiden1 and she proved a capable and thrifty housewife. After erecting his cabin and rude shacks he began the nu- cleus of the Ackley trading post. This was at his farm. He traded chiefly with the Indians passing over the trails in western Langlade County as well as river drivers, lumbermen and homestead seekers.
The trials and difficulties of this first settler as he pushed back the timber and erected a cabin on the
lade County and to Norwood, Antigo and Rolling townships, between 1870 and 1880.
Charles Larzelere, driving a span of horses, came down the Military Road from Lac Vieux Desert, bor- der settlement, to the Wolf river country in the win- ter of 1870-71. He settled on his claim on sections 3 and 10, township 31, range 14 east. Mr. Larzelere erected a small dwelling, made a clearing and cultivat- ed crops the following spring.
Agriculture still progressed slowly. The great for- ests, where only pine was cut, and the great amount of labor necessary to clear a farm and remove logs and stumpage were the chief obstacles. Poor roads and long distances from trading posts and cities fig-
1. Consult life of W. L. Ackley in biographical section.
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
ured as principal impediments. Then the farmer did not have the modern equipment of the agriculturist of 1922. Markets were lacking, therefore no incen- tive to produce more than needed for family consump- tion was stimulated. Natural meadows were often found for hay and grasses.
The giant forests abounded in game, deer, bear and wild fowl of every description. The streams were filled with fish. When the pioneer farmer and settler desired meats for his table he took his rifle or by use of his traps supplied the family wants with the choic- est meats.
The pioneer relied chiefly on his own resources. He could not do otherwise. The housewife aided her husband clear ground and cultivate crops; she knitted his mittens and sox and made his home comfortable and cheerful. As time passed the housewife became the patron of the trading post or village stores of An- tigo, which became a fair settlement in 1881. The farmer began to cultivate hay, timothy, clover and truck products. He became more scientific. Live- stock became more common and a general change from the methods of 1853 to those of 1922 gradually took place. His neighbors became numerous, forests thinned, a greater acreage was tilled and, in short, the farm community became a reality.
COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
The Langlade County Agricultural Society was or- ganized August 21, 1886, under the laws of Wiscon- sin. A mass meeting of citizens was held at which a committee was selected to draw up a constitution and by-laws, which were adopted. Charles Gowan, prominent farmer, and A. B. Millard, publisher, were elected President and Secretary respectively. The first county fair was held October 4 and 5, 1886, at the old Opera House. W. H. Hoard, later Governor of Wisconsin, was the principal speaker.
The success of the first fair created greater interest in the agricultural possibilities of the new county and steps were at once taken to secure permanent grounds for an annual exhibition. The County Board appro- priated $1,500 for which a site of 40 acres was pur- chased. In June, 1887, $1,000 was appropriated by the county for erecting buildings and by October 1, 1887, a fine exhibition building was erected for $1,300. Agriculture exhibitions have been supported since ; farmers and citizens generally have taken a keen in- terest in the annual fair and its success is a source of civic pride. The fair is now held three days, usually early in September. Present officers are: Presi- dent, John Bowen; Vice President, A. L. Hayner; Sec- retary, Henry Berner; Treasurer, Leonard Freiburger, Sr .; Executive Committee, all officers, together with W. H. Wegner, R. S. Healy, Sr., James McKenna and John O'Brien. Officers are elected annually.
DAIRYING AND HORTICULTURE.
Langlade County is rapidly forging to the front in Wisconsin as a distinctive dairying district. The in- creased demand for milk and butter by the rapidly
growing urban population and the large number of cheese factories in the county have created a rivalry and continued development in the industry.
James Cherf, Ed H. Marsh and other horticulturists in the county will organize a Langlade County Horti- cultural Society in 1922. The cultivation of fruits, vegetables and ornamental plants can be practiced in Langlade County for commercial as well as pleas- ure purposes.
BEE KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The Langlade County Bee Keepers' Association was organized in 1918. Then it was known, however, as the Northwestern association. Reorganization took place January 14, 1921, when the name was changed to the present. Meetings are held annually with inter- vening special sessions. Officers are a President, now James Cherf, who owns a large orchard and farm east on Fifth Avenue, Antigo; Vice President, Otto Kles- sig; Secretary, Mrs. D. A. Blanchard, 825 Langlade Road; Treasurer, Otto Wirth, Rolling township. Board of Directors, D. A. Blanchard, chairman, Her- man Wirth and Joseph Ramer. James Cherf, E. H. Marsh and H. H. Schroeder were active in organiza- tion of the association.
COW TESTING ASSOCIATION.
The Langlade County Cow Testing Association was active from 1913 to 1918 inclusive. It was reorganiz- ed in January, 1915, by F. G. Swoboda, County Agent. Testing was performed by an expert responsible joint- ly to the local association and the State Dairyman's Association. Eight farmers at Friebel's school, Peck township, and twelve at Elcho weighed their milk regu- larly and made monthly tests.
SHORT COURSE FOR BOYS.
That the young man might acquaint himself with scientific methods of modern farming, short courses were held in townships and at the court house since 1915. Then three were held-one at Friebel's school, Peck township, attended by twenty-five; one at Phlox, Norwood township, attended by fifty-four, and an- other, a six weeks' course, at the court house, attended by eleven. The course was continued at the court house while the County Agents were retained. They are now conducted under the auspices of the County Normal.
THE COUNTY AGENT.
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