USA > Wisconsin > Langlade County > History of Langlade County, Wisconsin, from U. S. government survey to present time, with biographical sketches > Part 30
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161
HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
LADIES APPAREL SHOPS-MILLINERS.
The Ladies Specialty Shop, known also as The Quality Shop, opened July 30, 1921, at 722 Fifth Ave- nue, and has proven popular. Mrs. Alice Walker, a thirty year resident of Antigo, has associated with her Miss Dorothy Parsons, twenty years an Antigo resi- dent. Miss Myrtle Otis has a Quality Art Shop, con- ducted since April, 1922, in the Greisch building.
The Gift Shop, Mrs. R. Koebke, prop., opened in May, 1916, in the Molle-Albers bldg., and enjoys a fine patronage. Antigo milliners are: Mrs. Wahl, Molle-Albers bldg., started in March, 1900; Miss Nan Miner in Style Shop; and Mrs. Lillian Koelzer, who in September, 1895, succeeded her mother, Mrs. M. A. Ferguson, who ran the store from 1882.
COAL AND WOOD DEALERS.
Dakin & Strong, George Dakin and B. H. Strong, Props., Field Street, successors to Farnham & Yahr, started September 1, 1919; Mehne & Neilson, started 1921, successors to Mehne & Othersoll and Donohue Coal and Wood Co., 1005 Fifth Avenue; Duchac Coal & Wood Co., started spring of 1917; Quinlan Coal & Wood Co., Carroll and E. A. Quinlan, Props., started in 1920.
DAIRY-CREAMERIES.
Pacific Ice Cream Co., 612 Clermont Street, Harry Quackenbusch, Prop., started in 1911; Heyl's Dairy Store, W. C. Heyl, Prop., started January 9, 1922, Greisch Bldg .; J. H. Howe Creamery, J. H. Howe, Prop., started in Antigo township spring of 1908, in the city of Antigo, April, 1921; Antigo Dairy, 235 Lin- coln Street, E. J. and H. W. Byrne, Props., started August 1, 1914; East Side Dairy, Claude Clifford and L. Tibbetts, Props., started April, 1922; Antigo-She- boygan Dairy Products Co., A. A. Kriewaldt, Prop., started September, 1921, at 612 Fifth Avenue; Green's Dairy, H. W. Green, Prop., started Antigo township, 1904; Klessig's Dairy, Antigo township, E. Klessig, Prop., started April, 1921.
CONFECTIONERY BUSINESS.
The L. J. Koles Candy Company, located at 608 Dorr street, organized April 29, 1919; Princess Parlors, 731 Fifth Avenue, Louis and John Sarris, props., pur- chased Peter Papadakis, January 1, 1921; Adraktas Sweet Shop, Chris. Adraktas, Prop., opened in 1916.
VULCANIZING SHOPS.
Bishop & Mentch, Clermont Street, started spring of 1922; Dan Keen Tire Shop, 612 Superior Street, start- ed fall of 1917; The Antigo Tire Repair Shop, A. H. Sengstock, Prop., 1913; Bretl Tire Shop, Superior Street, G. Bretl, Prop., opened in 1921.
TRANSFER LINES.
The Walter Weinandt Transfer Line, W. Weinandt, Prop., purchased from John Kingsbury, August 16,
1920, located at 613 Edison Street; R. M. Briggs Trans- fer, 831 Fifth Avenue, established in 1887; The Serv- ice Transfer Line, Robert Briggs, Prop., started March, 1922; Jess Garland Line, established in 1921.
SECOND HAND STORES.
The Cash Sales Company, J. W. and Lyle Otis, Props., Otis Bldg., Superior Street; Raskin's Second Hand Furniture Store, 613 Fifth Avenue.
BLACKSMITH SHOPS.
Antigo Wagon Works, Leonard Freiburger, Sr., Prop., Field Street; Joseph Wirig Shop, Field Street ; Houdek's Shop, Superior Street; Aulik's Shop, Edison Street; Farmer's Co-operative Shop, rear of Othersoll & Sorenson Garage, R. Jonas, Prop.
PHOTOGRAPHERS.
F. W. Bauter, 519 Superior Street, oldest in Antigo; H. R. Madison's Studio, started November 10, 1905; Kingsbury Kodak Store, A. J. Kingsbury, Prop., start- ed May, 1906, located Hill Bldg .; Wessa Studio, Fifth Avenue, W. H. Wessa, prop.
HORSE DEALERS.
J. Ullman Co., office and sales stable, 721 Fourth Avenue; Toyle Bros .; J. Aulik; and Paul Thompson.
FARM IMPLEMENT STORES.
P. F. Kelly Implement Store, 801 Superior Street; J. F. Jones, 631 Edison Street.
TEA AND COFFEE STORES.
N. J. Greisch, Greisch Bldg., Fifth Avenue; and P. C. Monday representative.
SHINE PARLORS-POOL ROOMS.
Jenkins' Cigar Store, Ben Richter, Mgr., 815 Fifth Avenue; Metaxas Pool Room, T. Metaxas, Prop .; Metaxas Shine Parlor, Fifth Avenue; Smith and Gar- land, Props., Palace Pop Corn Stand; Chas. Boyle's Pool Room, Fifth Avenue.
POTATO WAREHOUSES.
Bain & Company, Morse Street; Penny Warehouse, Edison Street; N. Ginsberg, Dorr Street; Leonard, Crosset & Riley, rear of Edison Street, between Fourth and Fifth Avenues.
GINSENG BUYERS.
W. G. Petters, E. Wigderson Department Store, Peter W. Krier and William Berner.
POTATO BUYERS.
Prosser Brothers, Nathan Ginsberg, L. Ginsberg, David Bain, D. C. Dewey, A. Penny Co., L. Starks Co., Homer Beattie, M. Mageland, for Leonard, Crosset & Riley.
162
HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
RAILROAD OFFICIALS.
J. L. Leppla, Superintendent of Ashland Division; F. Doner, Assistant Superintendent of Ashland Divi- sion; A. L. Sohrweide, Chief Clerk to Superintendent; J. T. Fitzgerald, Chief Train Dispatcher, Antigo; J. Eva, Chief Train Dispatcher, Ashland; W. B. Murrary, Assistant Superintendent, Ashland; C. H. Perry, Divi- sion Engineer; Ben Bradley, Chief Clerk to Division Engineer; E. C. Larzelere, Agent at Antigo; Thomas Cavanaugh, Yardmaster at Antigo; W. E. Peterson, foreman of Antigo Roundhouse; E. H. Hadler, Super- intendent of Telegraph; A. K. Potter, Purchasing Agent for the C. & N. W. over many divisions; F. Slater, Kau- kauna, Master Mechanic; W. A. Brandt, Roadmaster, subdivision No. 1; H. Van Gorder, Roadmaster, sub- division No. 2; C. S. McConnel, Roadmaster, sub- division No. 3; G. Darrow, Roadmaster, subdivision No. 4; A. L. Kickhaefer, Roadmaster, subdivision No. 5; Division Accountant, Frank T. Lynde; Assistant Division Accountant, Edgar Van Gorder.
SOFT DRINK FACTORIES.
The Taylor Beverage and Candy Co., W. J. Giese, Mgr.
ANTIGO HOTELS.
Hotel Butterfield, R. T. Marson, Prop .; The Hoffman House, Frank Hoffman, prop .; Schneiter's (new) Hotel, F. G. Schneiter, prop .; The Market Square Hotel, William Reader, prop .; The Bacon House, C. G. Bacon, prop .; The Hanousek Hotel, John Hanousek, Jr., prop .; The American House, B. W. Rynders, prop .; The Northern Hotel, J. W. Benes, prop.
THE FIRST OF MANY THINGS COMMERCIAL.
First Antigo saw mill-Louis and Jos. Novotny, props .- 1879.
Grist mill-Novotny Bros., props.
Attorney-G. W. Latta. Mayor-Thomas W. Lynch.
Doctor-F. J. Despins.
Jeweler-W. H. Blinn.
Merchant-Neils Anderson.
News Stand-L. Mendlik. Settler in County-W. L. Ackley. Hotel-Springbrook.
Blacksmith-Edgar Neff. Dentist-H. V. Mills.
Automobile-1902-W. L. Elliott, owner.
Sidewalk (cement)-in front of John Ogden's resi- dence, 1897.
Bicycle-John Blinn, owner, 1884.
Newspaper-New County Republican.
Circus-Col. G. W. Hall's U. S. & Great Eastern Consolidated shows, the first circus to visit Antigo and Langlade County, exhibited June 16, 1884.
Roundhouse-opened January 1, 1883.
Brick building-The Dawley building, now Fidelity Bank Building.
Barber-"Chub" Watkins.
H. S. Graduate-Agnes Donohue.
First board sidewalk-in front of Springbrook Hote', Teipner Bros., props.
First Jail-log, erected in 1881.
Flying machine, first exhibition in Antigo by aviator John Schweister of Wausau in 1910.
COMMERCIAL ORGANIZATIONS.
The first Langlade County commercial organization was instituted April 19, 1885. Rooms were secured and fitted up in the second story of the block, corner Clermont Street and Fifth Avenue. The organiza- tion was called The Antigo Businessmen's Association. Its purposes were to "extend and improve social re- lations and to encourage local manufacturing, establish new industries and maintain good municipal govern- ment.' It advocated prohibition and stood for no- license. Those who signed organization articles were W. H. Lord, F. A. Deleglise, J. C. Lewis, H. C. Hum- phrey, J. J. Simpson, W. W. Hutchinson, J. E. Martin, H. A. Kohl, M. M. Waite, Charles Sipes, T. D. Kellogg, C. A. Martin, C. S. Leykom, R. J. Leutsker, Ed. Das- kam, George Ratcliffe, J. G. Champion, Irvin Gray, A. C. Clarke, W. B. Johns, J. E. Clancy, C. G. Adkins, L. Lusk, A. W. Dean, F. M. Sherman, W. S. Morgan, J. K. Smolk, Paul Weed, B. F. Dorr, and John E. Mul- lowney.
This was followed by other important civic and com- mercial associations, which lasted a few years and were replaced. The more important of these were the Mercantile Protective Association, organized April 14, 1893, the 15,000 Club, a real estate unit, organized February 26, 1908, and the old Commercial Club, which while not active, still exists.
The Antigo Association of Commerce was organized in January, 1917, and W. J. Gallon was elected first President, which office he still retains. Offices of the Association are in the Hill Building. Other officers are : Vice-President-Fred L. Berner; Treasurer- Frank G. Wanek; Secretary-Mrs. L. E. Dickensen; Directors-A. A. Lueck, Chairman, F. G. Wanek, Dr. F. C. Kestly, Chas. Cody and C. O. Miller. Meetings are held monthly.
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163
HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXXI. Pioneer Merchants and Buildings
Merchants of 1879-Fifth Avenue a Wilderness-First Store-First Real Estate Office-Business Conditions-The Old Opera House-Difficult Access to Trading Points-The Approach cf a New Era.
The first mercantile firm in Antigo was that of Niels Anderson, who came from Mills Center, near Green Bay, to the Antigo settlement in 1878. He opened a store on Superior Street, facing east towards Spring River, known now as Springbrook. It was a log store with scooped roof, and while very crude, was the be- ginning of what has since developed into the business district of Antigo. The Anderson store was a success and for years was the nucleus of all activity in the vil- lage and surrounding territory. It was through the efforts of F. A. Deleglise that Mr. Anderson was in- fluenced to locate here.
The first real estate office of Antigo was located across from Niels Anderson's store in the log building owned by F. A. Deleglise. Many settlers can still re- call negotiations of land affairs with the founder of Antigo.
In the year of 1879, L. D. Moses of Ogdensburg, Waupaca County, settled in Antigo, and opened the second store. The building was constructed of rough lumber and was located on the east side of Superior Street, south of the Ullman Block. Mr. Moses con- ducted this store for five years, and then engaged in the banking business. The store was then taken over by Irvin Gray, who assumed complete charge by 1886. When the first stores were opened, there were less than fifty settlers here.
Between the years of 1878 and 1880 there was not a house east of "Spring River." There were only two farm houses between the village of Antigo and Aniwa and the journey was long and treacherous between the two points.
Dr. D. S. Olmsted came to Antigo in 1879 from Embarrass, Waupaca County, and erected two crude buildings on the east side of Superior Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. "Doc" Olmsted was de- scribed as "cute and bright." He was Justice of the Peace, and Clerk of Court, and was one of the pic- turesque characters of early Antigo.
In 1879 Louis Mendlik of Manitowoc settled here. He built a two story frame building. This was locat- ed between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, across from the present site of the Antigo Public Library. He en- gaged in the book and stationery business.
In 1880 Antigo possessed two other buildings, a log school house on the present site of the P. F. Kelly Implement Store, Third Avenue and Superior Street, and the Old Twin Valley Inn, erected on the south- east corner of Fifth Avenue and Superior Street.
Julius and Charles Teipner of Oshkosh settled in Antigo in 1879. They erected a stopping place on
the present location of the Market Square Hotel. They provided headquarters for the logging teams and lumbermen who went into the Wolf River country during the historic log drives.
This is a complete description of the pioneer dis- trict between 1877 and 1880, and is worthy of perma- nent record to preserve for posterity the names, loca- tions and character of the early merchants and their business establishments.
During the first years business was limited. The Milwaukee Lake Shore and Western Railroad had been nothing but a dream. Our neighbors at Shawano had "scoffed" at its coming into Antigo and declared
THE FIRST OPERA HOUSE ERECTED IN ANTIGO Which burned to the ground on May 22, 1895. It was then owned by Hoeffler Brothers.
that it would go "up in smoke." Forty-five miles of wilderness separated Antigo from Wausau, from which place many an early settler laboriously hauled a sack of flour on his back the entire distance to his home in the woods. Shipments of produce necessitat- ed expensive hauling by oxen or horse.
It was a tedious journey from Aniwa to Antigo, and goods and food products were hauled over a trail that had not emerged from "totedom." There were few farmers in Langlade County in 1880 and as the gov- ernment census indicates permanent settlers number- ing 685. Those fortunate to have a surplus of pro- duce such as potatoes, corn, hay or clover had diffi- cult times to get in contact with the merchant. Roads were few, yet the merchants were busy. Produce was exchanged by homesteaders for needed household
164
HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
goods, and Antigo, in its embryo stages, was prosper- ous. We shall learn that through this period of mu- tual helpfulness and cooperation and through the gradual approach of the railroad, the wonder of the new north took on unheard of proportions and the dream of F. A. Deleglise to found a city unfolded in reality before his eyes.
THE NEW ERA
PERIOD OF 1882-1886.
The growth of Antigo from March, 1878 to the end of the period of 1881 was slow and at times discourag- ing to the first vanguard of mortals, who showed the way of those who followed. Antigo did not increase rapidly in population between 1878 and 1882. Never- theless the hardy pioneers, strong of character, un- swervedly kept faith in an ideal village, and by the summer of 1882, less than a year after the first rails were spiked, a new era of heretofore unsurpassed prosperity and expansion was witnessed. By 1886. Antigo was a city of 2,500 inhabitants. From eight business establishments it had grown to be an in- corporated city. During this period of development the following were the chief business firms: Opera House; J. H. Weed Saw Mill; Antigo Planing Mill; City Planing Mill; Herman & Becklinger Sawmill; Fred Herman Planing Mill; Novotny's Sawmill, later Kellogg & Kellogg Sawmill; R. M. Goodwin & Co. Broom Handle Factory; W. D. Badger Hub and Spoke Factory; Ed Neff Blacksmith Shop; Johns & Kerlings Pioneer Iron Works; J. E. Clancy Building Factory; Milwaukee Lake Shore and Western Railroad engine house and depot; Bacon, Tollefson & Com- pany; Irvin Gray Mercantile Store; Hessel & Leykom Hardware; Langlade County Bank; J. C. Lewis & Co .; W. W. Hutchinson, Real Estate; F. C. Meyers Meat Market; H. L. Ferguson; Antigo House; Teipner House; Spencer House; G. W. Hill Meat Market; Jacob Warunek Store; Sherman & Dawley Real Es- tate; G. C. Williams Meat Market; Luetsker & Wilter- ding Drug Store; H. Smith Drug Store; Morgan Art Studio; C. Censky Shoe Store; O'Connor & McDon- ald Livery; Shove & Baily Store; Captain William Stone, Blacksmith; Bridgeman Variety Store; W. H. Blinn, Jewelry; Janes Billiard Hall; Vantassel & Daugherty; Charles Jaekel Store; Smolk Barber Shop; Lillian Horton, Dressmaker; C. R. Morehouse, Black-
smith; Crocker and McHale, Contractors; Kropf & Zuehle Market; Lind & Sipes; Zahl & Robinson; Bow- man Gun Shop; Henry Berner, General Store; Silbar & Goldberg; Clithero & Strong Lbr. Co .; Peter Fish- back, Clothing Store; Bailey & Shaver; S. Buerger News Depot; S. Neuman Store, and C. G. Adkins, Store.
H. A. Mills was the first merchant police in Antigo. He was employed by the merchants on Central Avenue (Fifth Avenue) in February, 1885. Peter Johnson is the merchant police officer of Antigo in 1922.
T. H. Robbins and Frank Sherman opened the first roller skating rink in Antigo in 1885. Roller skating was the leading means of recreation and diversion for the people of Antigo then. It was then popular all over Wisconsin.
In 1885, the merchants of Artigo began a campaign for the construction of board sidewalks on Fifth Ave- nue. Considerable discussion was made at the time over the width of the walks. No sidewalks were con- structed without authority of the common council of the city, after its incorporation in 1885.
Road improvements was advocated by Antigo mer- chants in 1885, with the result that the road from An- tigo west into Ackley township (now highway No. 64) was turnpiked and greatly improved. Settlers in that vicinity had complained to Artigo merchants that it was then difficult for them to get their produce into Artigo to the markets.
Lots were sold in the South Park Addition to Antigo by W. W. Hutchinson in 1885 for from $25 to $125.00.
The Artigo Business Men's Association held their first meeting in their headqaurters in October, 1885.
The program for City Advancement in Antigo as in- augurated in 1885 was as follows :
How to build the city of Antigo:
Talk about it.
Write about it.
Speak well of its public spirited citizens.
Invest in something, if you have money.
Don't be a knocker.
Be courteous to strangers.
Always cheer the men who go in for improvements.
Help to improve it.
Speak well about it.
Beautify the streets.
Advertise.
Elect good men to public offices.
165
HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXXII. Public Utilities
The Volunteer and Paid Fire Departments-Telephone Industry-Old Bowman Central Station of 1883 -- Progress-Antigo Telephone Corporation- Antigo Electric Light Systems-The City Hall-Antigo Water Company-Police Department-City Finances.
When the first settlers of Antigo were in peril of fire the "bucket brigade" was adopted, being the first system of fire protection in the village. When the early residents desired pure drinking water open wells, wooden and other pumps were sunk, this being the first "water system" of the little hamlet. When they wished to communicate with a neighbor a distance away they did not telephone, but hitched up old "Dob- bin" and made the call. They carried an oil lantern to the barn instead of turning on an electric light switch and milking the cows by a Mazda light. They read the late arriving papers and magazines by the light of oil burning lamps that partially illuminated their homes. The "city fathers" or town officials met at Niels Anderson's log cabin and later at Spencer's Hall instead of holding conferences in the sanctum of a modern city hall. These hardy folk paved the way and suffered inconveniences that this generation and posterity might profit because of their faith.
From the story of the municipal and public utili- ties as presented the reader will notice an improve- ment and wonderful progress since the coming of the first white settlers into the land dubbed "Deleglise's Dream."
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT-VOLUNTEER AND PAID.
The paid Antigo Fire Department was organized in 1903 and G. O. Palmiter was chosen first chief. Pre- viously equipment and organization consisted of a Hose Company, Hook and Ladder Company, and an Engine Company of volunteers. The first fire appara- tus was a hand suction pump called "the man killer." The pump was first used the afternoon after its arriv- al in a fire at the Herman, Becklinger & Herman mill.
One of the first acts of the city, when incorporated, was to secure a second hand fire "steamer" from the city of Appleton. This was used at the Clithero & Strong mill fire for the first time and proved satisfac- tory. The steamer, called "The Ben Jones," was of a type such as the fire department owns today, but was smaller and of less power.
In 1885 and for a time later, the city did not own a fire team. When the alarm was sounded whoever came with a team first would hitch onto the apparatus and proceed to the conflagration. In the absence of a team, the hose cart, engine and truck and ladder were "man pulled" to the fire. The sons of Mr. and Mrs. H. Berner lived close to the fire department headquarters and were usually first to "hitch on."
The first Fire Wardens appointed by Mayor Thomas
W. Lynch, April 20, 1885, were: First Ward, W. F. Bowman and Thomas Sanvidge; Second Ward, T. D. Kellogg and B. F. Dorr; Third Ward, E. Meaghers and C. F. Dallman; Fourth Ward, E. R. Van Buran and Charles Thompson.
June 10, 1885, Alderman George Clithero introduc- ed a resolution, which passed, instructing the fire de- partment committee to lease a lot on "main street" near the Lewis corner on which to erect an engine house 24x40 feet and 12 feet high with "double front doors."
The first fire apparatus purchased by the city was June 7, 1885, when, at a special meeting of the city council, an engine, hose cart, and a hose and hook and ladder truck were purchased "from Gleason & Bailey." July 7, 1886, $900 was appropriated for purchasing fire hose from the Hamilton Rubber Company and Louis Novotny was engaged at a $100 a year salary to act as steam fire engineer.
August 8, 1886, all fire companies and the hook and ladder company were dissolved, shortly after F. M. Sherman had resigned as volunteer chief.
August 11, 1886, the fire department was reorganiz- ed with the following officers: C. S. Leykom, Chief; W. F. White, Assistant; A. D. Rice, Secretary. Feb- ruary 7, 1888, members of Rescue Hose Company No. 1, Volunteers, resigned. On February 21, 1888, the citizens were called upon to organize a hose, hook and ladder, and engine company pursuant to section 3, chapter 173 of the laws of 1887. The apparatus in possession of the resigned companies was collected by the City Marshal with authority of the city council.
It was not long before Antigo had a new fire fighting unit. May 6, 1888, a new constitution and new by- laws of the Antigo Engine Company were formed and accepted by the city council as follows :
ANTIGO ENGINE COMPANY.
Preamble: "The undersigned citizens of the city of Antigo hereby agree to associate 'ourselves' to- gether for the purpose of forming an engine company to form a part of the Antigo Fire Department and re- quest the common council to accept us as such; to have the custody, care and control of the two fire engines in said city." As such company the citizens organ- ized themselves under an entirely new set of rulings.
RESCUE HOSE CO. NO. 1.
Under the provisions of section 3, sub-chapter 12, chapter 173, laws of 1887, Rescue Hose Company No.
166
HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
1 was organized and accepted by the city council. The petition for acceptance was signed by E. B. Kennedy, Casper Peck, John Tobin, A. L. Ross, A. Novotny, Wm. Mader, Peter Becker, W. H. Dawley, Gabe Ka- planek, E. McKenna, C. Druesen, M. R. McCann, W. B. Johns, F. J. Finucane, G. E. Keen, S. Buerger, John Mader, Wm. Berner, Louis Berner, John Reide, Fred Myer, H. L. Furgeson, and L. Wahl.
ALERT HOOK & LADDER CO. NO. 1.
The constitution and preamble of the Alert Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1 was signed by the following: H. A. Kohl, J. C. Lewis, N. J. Boll, John Beadle, J. B. Loomis, G. Costley, Fred W. Kiefer, W. L. Crocker, J. Dunn, Thomas Smith, B. Hoffman, E. Meaghers, W. Bacon, O. Heller, and A. Boll.
THE PRESENT HEADQUARTERS.
The Antigo Fire Department occupies the north part of the city hall building. Sleeping apartments are located on the second floor east of the council chambers. There are now nine members of the de- partment as follows: Chief, Elwin Billings; Assistant Chief, Guy Rice; Pipemen, Chester Hugunin, Louis Maybee, Edward Rynders, and Ben Joyce; Driver, Ernest Frisch; Extra Driver, George Case; Engineer, John Bowens.
The city equipped the department with an eighty horsepower Seagrave motor truck in 1916. The American La France steamer, now used, was purchas- ed in 1911. It is capable of pumping 750 gallons of water per minute and has saved thousands of dollars worth of property.
Chiefs of the volunteer departments were W. L. Crocker, William Johns, Frank M. Sherman, H. A. Kohl, G. O. Palmiter, and Warren Hill. Chiefs of the Paid Antigo Fire Department have been G. O. Palmi- ter, Dan Leonard, Fred Ebert, Emil Panoush, and El- win Billings, present chief.
THE TELEPHONE INDUSTRY.
Pioneers, who have passed to their reward, would be amazed to know that instead of sending a courier on horseback or afoot they could today pick up a re- ceiver and in a few minutes talk to a physician at Shawano, Clintonville or Wausau, nearest settlements to the Langlade County wilderness of 1880. Such has been the wonderful change resulting from the in- vention of the late Alexander Graham Bell in 1876.
The first telephone system in Antigo was owned by the Wisconsin Telephone Company. Poles were erect- ed in November, 1883. In December, 1883, the first telephones were put in business and residential places. Central office was located where the Masonic Temple now stands, in a gun shop owned by W. F. Bowman, who was the first manager.
Peter O'Connor in an early day operated a private telephone system with a few subscribers. In Novem- ber, 1896, I. F. Strasser of Ripon, Wis., secured'a franchise to operate a private telephone company in
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