USA > Wisconsin > Langlade County > History of Langlade County, Wisconsin, from U. S. government survey to present time, with biographical sketches > Part 40
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Agriculture and lumbering are the principal indus- tries of the district. Large areas of timber are locat- ed in this region. The land is rolling and in some places hilly.
3
212
HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
Ruins of the old Hayter, Big Roll, and Little Roll Dams, reminiscent of pioneer lumbering on the Lily river, are found in this district.
The military road and county trunk lines are the principal highways.
DISTRICT NO. 7.
ELM GROVE DISTRICT. The pioneer settler of this district was "Old Dutch Frank," whose identity has been shrouded in darkness. He was in the dis- trict in 1863 and operated mail headquarters on sec- tion 17 at the place since known as the Strauss Cross- ing. He was followed by Henry Strauss, who came from Menominee where he had operated a sawmill. Strauss, with William Johnston as a partner, settled in 1867 in the district. He traded with the Chippewa Indians passing through the country over the Wolf river trails and became known for miles around as a friend of the Indian and a shrewd trader, fur buyer, trapper and scholar. Henry Strauss purchased the "Old Dutch Frank" place.
Henry Strauss and "Old Dutch Frank" both secur- ed their merchandise and supplies from Henry An- drews, who was in charge of the government store at Keshena in 1863-68. The old crossing known as Strauss' Crossing can still be located on section 17. Trees, wild vegetation and grasses have long since erased from the view of the passerby for all time most of this historic and picturesque site of a romantic and stirring chapter in Langlade County's pioneer history.
The old Lake Superior trail, mail route from Green Bay, Shawano and thence to the state line, wound its solitary way through the district. In 1886 the sturdy mail carrier, who often rode many miles, fording streams and climbing treacherous hills, was discon- tinued.
David Getchell, pioneer, came from Waterville, Maine, in September, 1872, and settled on the historic section 17. Here he has lived since on the north bank of the rumbling Wolf river, that defies man and time as the settler of today becomes the pioneer in pass- ing years.
The settlers in Elm Grove district are few. The school was erected in 1908 by F. F. Arndt at a cost of $1,089. The first schools officials were Mrs. David Getchell, Clerk; Christopher Priem, Director, and Herman Seidler, Treasurer. School was held before the erection of the school house at the residence of Christopher Priem for a year and two months of the second term.
Settlers in this district are: David Getchell, who has since 1900 operated a sawmill on the banks of the Wolf, section 17, Mrs. H. Armstrong, Earl Dalton, Sam Elliott, Charles Hoffman, Chauncey Ennis, Ed Schultz, John Taylor.
Agriculture is the principal industry.
Rev. C. D. Griese, Lutheran Pastor of Polar, visits at Lily every month and settlers of the Lutheran faith from this district attend his services.
There are no churches, cemeteries, cheese factor- ies or stores in the district.
The 1921-22 school officers were: Mrs. C. Priem, Clerk; Charles Hoffman, Treasurer, and Sam Elliott, Director. Teachers in the distinct have been: Myra Dempster (first), Clara Johnson, Clara Monette, Madge Cecil, Harriet Kohl, Maud Smith, Alfreida Bruss, Flos- sie Robinson, Elizabeth Folk, Irma Vorass and Aud- rey Schoepke. The school is located on section 16.
DISTRICT NO. 8.
LILY DISTRICT. This district is situated in the North Langlade township. The principal village is Lily, thriving little hamlet at the junction of the Lily and Wolf rivers, section 27. It was settled by the first pioneers to come into Langlade township. Ammesey Smith came to the district from New York state in 1876, settling first at Lac Vieux Desert and then at Lily. S. A. Taylor came from New York into this then unsettled territory. Steven Austin, T. D. Kellogg, Henry Tourtillotte, David B. Edick, Ed Schultze, Napoleon Moran, John Moran, Wren Taylor, Duke Dalton, Is- rael Stinson, Allen Taylor, Robert Gilray, Nicholas and Jerome Winton, George Truesdell, Louis Pendleton and Henry Mason were all pioneers not only in this district but in the settlement of Langlade County as a whole.
The great pinery of the Wolf river country was the attraction that brought these hardy folks into the dense wilderness that stretched for miles on both sides of the roaring, foaming and picturesque Wolf river.
The first sawmill in the Lily district was erected by Thomas M. Dobbs, in 1882. Mr. Dobbs, pioneer saw- mill owner in Langlade County, moved his mill to Lily from Dobbston (Markton) where he has estab- lished it in 1873. In the year 1892 it was moved to the south arm of Post Lake, Dobbs moving to Anti- go to engage in a business. (He later moved to Price ¿ownship).
J. E. Schultze and Allen Taylor moved the old John Evans sawmill, erected years before on the Ever- green river banks, to Lily in the winter of 1895 and located it on section 27. It operated until 1915.
William and Herman Haenke moved a mill into the district from Polar in 1916 and after operating it for two years sold to Chris Wunderlich of Antigo. The mill closed in May, 1922, following the death of its owner.
Lily district is located on the famous Military Road and the old stopping place erected by Ammesey Smith in 1876 was the scene of many pioneer activities. The long herds of cattle, often driven from Shawano to the copper regions of Michigan, slowly trod this im- portant highway. Their herders, stopping on the way, fraternalized with the dam tenders, timbermen, Indian traders, prospectors and river drivers. This was a country close to the throne of the Almighty. Man in his mad quest for wealth and power, had not begun to despoil it.
On section 15 of North Langlade township, David B. Edick kept a stopping place for Timothy Craine, lum- berman, who was active in timber operations in the Wolf river country for many years.
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
Henry Ball and sons came to Lily from Shiocton in 1881 and erected a general store on sections 27. They had their supplies and merchandise in the Amessey Smith place in September, 1881, when the historic cyclone of that year went through eastern Langlade County. They operated their store until 1888, when
DELLS OF THE WOLF RIVER The junction of the Wolf and Lily rivers is at Lily. The dells are down stream from Lily in the Menominee Indian territory.
Charles and Jesse Walsh came from Black Creek, Outagamie County, and took over the business. They moved to Antigo after seven years and June 5, 1895, the store was taken over by William Priem, who has a general store at Lily now. At the time William Priem came to Lily, Israel Stinson had a little store there.
The first school in the district was a one room log
cabin erected on section 27. Miss Dempster was an early teacher. This school was used for a short time until a frame structure was erected on section 34. The frame school was used until 1895, when a second frame school was erected. The second frame school was used until 1914, when C. F. Dallman, Antigo con- tractor, erected a brick structure on section 34 at a cost of $4,600.
The old frame school was purchased for $100 by William Priem, July 6, 1914.
The Lily school is a state graded school of high rank. The 1921-22 officials were: Director, George Getchell; Treasurer, Roy Larzelere; Clerk, W. W. Clark. Mrs. Robert Dewey was Principal and Miss Nellie McDougal, assistant instructor, in 1921-22. The average enrollment is 55 pupils.
Lily has had a number of postmasters, as follows: George Taylor, Sim Ball, Wren Taylor, Israel Stinson, Charles Walsh, William Priem and Osca Tourtillotte.
The Lily cemetery is located on section 35.
There is still a vast area of valuable standing tim- ber in the district.
Turtle Lake is located on section 28.
Before the spur track was laid from Bryant to Kent it was difficult for Lily settlers to get to Shawano or Antigo. This was also before the universal use of the automobile. The year 1914 brought the Wiscon- sin & Northern Railroad into the district, opening up to the outside world the resources of the country. In 1921 this road was purchased by the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railroad. Extensive improve- ments are contemplated and before many years the main Soo line will pierce eastern Langlade County. Lily has a depot erected in 1919 on section 34.
From the day when the red man using his bateaux on the Wolf or portaging about its rapids, on through the years of pine timber conquest to the present day of the prosperous farmer, the modern automobile and speeding locomotive, the Lily or the village of New, as S. A. Taylor once named it, has lived on. Its years in the unknown tomorrow may be for bigger and better things.
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
CHAPTER XLII. Neva Township No. 32 N., R. 11 E.
Derivation of Name-Location-Soil-Early History-Organization-First Town Meeting-Early and Present Industries-Roads-Churches-Cemeteries-Granges-Schools - School District Boundaries-Township Chairmen, Clerks, Treasurers, Justices of the Peace, Supervisors, Assess- ors-1883-1923-First Bank-Cheese Factories.
Neva township was named in honor of Chief Neva, leader of a tribe of Chippewa Indians, who visited at what is now known as Neva Corners on their way north to Post Lake in an early day. Once one of the larg- est, it is now one of the smallest townships in Lang- lade County, embracing a territory of thirty-six square miles or one Congressional Township No. 32, North of Range 11 East. It is bounded on the north by Up- ham, on the east by Price, on the west by Peck and on the south by Antigo townships. Springbrook runs through sections 1, 11, 15, 20, 21, 22 and 30. The surface of the township is generally level except in the northwestern part. Originally the land was covered with a thick growth of white pine, elm, beech, maple and oak, which was rapidly cut. Neva township is a splendid agricultural district comparing favorably with any other section of Wisconsin. In 1878 it belonged to Langlade township, Oconto County. It was survey- ed by H. C. Fellows, U. S. Deputy Surveyor, in Sep- tember, 1860.
ORGANIZATION IN 1883.
Neva township was organized January 11, 1883, by the Langlade County Board of Supervisors. Super- visor H. Heim of Norwood township introduced the resolution in which all territory in townships No. 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 and 37 of Range 11 East was detached from Antigo township and "organized and formed into a new town to be henceforth known as "Neva township." The proposed ordinance was recommended by the Committee on Town Organization, consisting of Hon. F. A. Deleglise, Moritz Mueller and Henry Heim of Antigo, Polar and Norwood townships respectively in accordance with section 6, chapter 7, laws of 1882. Thus Neva came into existence and has since been the pride of its citizens and the county as well.
Neva township, when organized, contained 216 square miles or six Congressional townships. We shall now learn how the townships were detached and how Neva township was cut to its present area.
November 14, 1883, an unsuccessful attempt was made by C. C. De Long, S. B. Roberts and others of Neva township to have townships 35, 36 and 37 (now a part of Oneida County) detached and incorporated into a town to be known as Pelican township. The petition was laid over by the Committee on Town Or- ganization until December 13, 1883, when an ordinance was passed creating Pelican township. Thus the three northern townships of Neva township were severed
making Neva township one-half of its original area of January, 1883 or 108 square miles, (three Congres- sional townships). These three Congressional town- ships are yet within the limits of Langlade County, two of which form part of Elcho and Upham townships respectively.
In February, 1887, township 34, range 11 east, was detached from Neva township by an ordinance drawn up by District Attorney John E. Martin to become a part of Elcho township. This action cut Neva town- ship, once a vast territory stretching north thirty-six miles, to two Congressional townships, 32 and 33 of range 11 east. Neva township remained as such until township 33 was detached to form a part of Upham township in 1894 and from that year Neva township has consisted of one township No. 32, North of Range 11 East.
FIRST ANNUAL TOWN MEETING.
The first annual town meeting was held at the farm home of Joseph Duchac on the NE 1/4 of the SE 1/4, Section 21, Township 32. The first Supervisors elect- ed were Joseph Duchac, Chairman, A. F. Schoepke and Joseph Krause. First highway overseers appoint- ed were Joseph Cherf, John Fisher, E. R. Whitmore and B. H. Darling on April 21, 1883. The Neva town- ship Board of Review had a multitude of vicissitudes confronting it.
Seemingly insurmountable tasks were also coped with successfully, however. The first official act of the town board was to raise $2,090.00 for school pur- poses. This unanimously carried measure was a fitt- ing precedent for the pioneer settlers to establish in promoting educational enlightenment and advance- ment. The measure passed April 3, 1883.
EARLY ROADS.
Neva township was originally subdivided into four road districts and much of the principal efforts of the first town board was in action on road petitions. Set- tlers along the Eau Claire river and in Pelican village needed an outlet for their products. Post Lake settlers wanted communication with Melnik as well as New. Thus wagon roads, crude and in instances barely tra- versible, were welcomed and encouraged.
The first application for a road was made by nine free holders petitioning for a road commencing at the stake in the east line of section 21, township 32, range 11 east; thence east about 3-4ths of a mile, thence
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
southeast to the south section line of section 22; thence southeast to the S 1/4 post of section 26. This road was built three rods wide. Construction was authoriz- ed May 21, 1883.
Other early roads were from Deerbrook to Pelican and Monico Junction; Crandon-Pelican road (all then in Langlade County.) 1 McDougal's town line road, Sipek's road, Westerhold's road, Pejsar's road, Koe- penick's road, Cherf's road, Schwartz road, Mosher road, F. John's road, S. Strasser road, S. H. Wright road and Jos. Petska road, Melnik-Kempster road.
BOARD OF HEALTH-1883.
The first Board of Health consisted of Township Supervisors, Joseph Duchac, A. F. Schoepke and W. W. Wheeler.
THE FIRST TOWN ELECTION.
Edward Dawson and Thomas Vohasky were the first Inspectors of Election in Neva township. At the first township election 37 votes were cast. Those who voted on that historic April 3, 1883, were E. R. White- more, R. N. Olmsted, Wesley Dawson, Anton Honzik, Joseph Krause, Martin Schaler, Samuel Preston, H. Anderson, Joseph Cherf, Thomas Vohasky, Edward Dawson, Martin Vochoska, John Fisher, Joseph Sipek, John Schultz, Jos. Holup, Wencel Rine, Sr., Wencel Rine, Jr., Frank Stasek, Jos. Mattek, Wencel Krinek, John Novak, Fred Behm, John Shipek, Philip Nowotny, Anton Va Clovic, John Kasa, W. W. Wheeler, A. F. Schoepke, Chas. Mosher, P. Hunchoska, David M. Randall, Albert Barta, John Barta, Albert Stowe, Fred- erick Jacobus, August Ahearns-37 in all.
April 1, 1884, at a meeting at the residence of Jos. Duchac a resolution was passed to establish a township hall on the NW 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of section 22, town- ship 32. Joseph Duchac furnished and cleared the land for the hall.
CHAIRMEN OF NEVA TOWNSHIP-1883-1923.
Joseph Duchac-1883-85; John Carlson-1885-86; Fred Jacobus-1886-91; Jos. Hunchovsky-1891-94; Fred Jacobus-1895-96; Anton Westerhold-1896-97; Jos. Hunchovsky-1897-1904; Fred Jacobus-1904-06; Joseph Honzik-1906-08; Fred Jacobus-1908-12; B. Lukas-1912-14; W. J. Mattek-1914-23.
NEVA TOWNSHIP CLERKS-1883-1923.
W. W. Wheeler-1883; E. S. Brooks-1883-85; Fred Jacobus-1885-86; Jos. Hunchovsky-1886-91; John Fisher-1891-93; Anton Westerhold-1893-95; W. J. Mattek-1895-10; G. E. Rynders-1910-14; Henry Ja- cobus-1914-17; John Schacher-1917-21; Joseph F. Shimon-1921-23.
NEVA TOWNSHIP TREASURERS-1883-1923.
John Schultz-1883-84; John Carlson-1884; Fred Behm-1885-88; T. M. Hafner-1888-92; John Schultz -1893-94; J. F. Schultz-1894-97; John Novak-1898-
1. Pelican village, Oneida County, was platted and duly certified and recorded in May, 1883, while in Neva township, Langlade County.
99; Albert Holup-1900-02; S. F. Plzak-1903-06; Joseph Benishek-1906-07; John F. Schultz-1907-09; Jos. Klapste-1909-22.
NEVA TOWNSHIP SUPERVISORS-1883-1923.
A. F. Schoepke, Joseph Krause-1883-84; Joseph Krause, Joseph Cherf-1884-85; John Sipek, John Kasa -1885-86; John Schultz, John Plzak-1886-89; John Novak, Joseph Honzik-1890-1891; John No-
vak, Wencel Rine-1891; John Novak, An-
ton Westerhold-1891-1892; Joseph Plzak-
1893-1897; Math Hurt-1893-1894; John No- vak-1894-95; Fred Schwartz-1895-98; Joseph Hon- zik, Anton Schmutzer-1898-99; James Nelson, Albert Barta-1900-01; Chas. Chadek, James Nelson-1901- 02; J. J. Nowotny, Frank Plzak, 1903-04; B. Lukas, Jos. Honzik-1904-05; B. Lukas, J. F. Schultz-1905-06; B. Lukas, S. F. Plzak-1906-07; B. Lukas, Frank Kost- ka-1907-08; Frank Schacher, Albert Barta-1908-09; Frank Schacher, John F. Schultz-1909-10; James Rine, Frank Schacher-1911-12; Frank Lukas, Laddie Schmutzer-1912-13; John F. Schultz, Laddie Schumt- zer-1913-14; Frank Schacher, J. F. Schultz-1914- 16; J. F. Schultz, John Kasa-1916-17; Jos. Riendl, Frank Schacher-1917-22; Jos. Reindl, Paul Masek- 1922-23.
NEVA TOWNSHIP ASSESSORS-1883-1923.
Edward Dawson-1883-84; Thos. Vochaska-1884- 85; Edward Dawson-1885-86; Chas. Mosher-1886- 89; Marks Snyder-1889-91; John Kasa-1891-93; Jos- eph Novotny-1893-94; John Kasa-1894-96; Jos. Hunchovsky-1896-98; A. J. Nowotny-1898-99; Fred Schwartz-1899-01; John Kasa-1901-04; Albert Hol- up-1904-05; Fred Schwartz-1905-07; Frank Schach- er-1907-08; Albert Holup-1908-09; John Kasa- 1909-11; Mick Lackerman-1911-12; John Kasa- 1912-13; Wencel Rine-1913-14; Fred Schwartz- 1914-19; Steve Steng1-1919-20; Fred Schwartz- 1920-22; John Kasa-1922-23.
NEVA TOWNSHIP JUSTICES OF THE PEACE 1883-1923.
Steve Roberts-1883-86; Thos. Vochaska-1883-85; Q. Brooks-1883-84; Albert K. Stow-1885; John Si- pek-1884-85; George Newton-1885; J. Fischer- 1886-90; E. A. Scott-1887-88; Chas. Gverin-1888- 90; Jos. Hunchovsky-1889-97; H. O. Horalund (failed to qualify) ; John Schultz-1889-91; Fred Behm- 1891-93 (but did not qualify) ; Anton Westerhold- 1894-96; W. J. Mattek-1896-98; Fred Behm-1897- 99; W. J. Mattek-1898-03; Jos. Hunchovsky-1898- 1900; J. J. Nowotny-1901-04; Louis Cherf-1902-04; Jos. Hunchovsky-1902-04; W. J. Mattek-1903-11; Fred Jacobus (appointed but did not qualify) 1907; Frank Ringsmith-1904 (resigned) ; James Gillis- 1904-05; Wm. Phiester-1904; Jos. Honzik-1905-09; J. F. Schultz-1907-09; Jas. White-1909-10; Noah Yoder-1910-12; Henry Jacobus-1914-16; John Schacher-1914-15; Jos. Kubichek-1915-17; A. Bu- boltz-1917-19; Frank Chadek-1918-20; John Schach-
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
er-1919-23; John F. Schultz-1919-20; Jos. Kaplan- ek-1920-22; W. J. Kramer-1921-22; J. Schacher, L. Schmutzer-1922-23.
NEVA TOWNSHIP CONSTABLES-1883-1923.
Anton Honzik, Sam Preston-1883; Sam Preston- 1884-85; Joseph Cherf, Wencel Rine-1885; John Whalen, (appointed), 1886-88; Jas. Cherny-1888-89; Matt Hurt-1889-91; Jas. Cherny-1889-92; Jas. Nel- son-1891-92; Frank Cherf, (appointed, 1893-94, did not qualify) ; Wm. Newton-1894; Jas. Nelson-1895; Jas. Churney-1896 (didn't qualify) ; Jos. Novak, Louis Cherf-1895-96 (both failed to qualify); W. Eckstein, Jas. Nelson-1897-98; B. Lukas, S. H. Wright-1898-99; M. Lackerman, Matt Hurt-1899- 01; Frank Kostka, Albert Smetana-1900-01; Albert Smetana, Frank Plzak-1901-02; R. Roggie, A. Lukas -1902-03; Giles Rynders, Jas. Nelson-1903-04; Jas. Nelson, Jas. Whyte-1904-05; Jas. White-1906-08; A. J. Thompson-1905-06; A. Honzik-1906-07; J. Rine-1907-08; B. Lukas, Frank Kostka-1908-09; Adolph Novak, Emil Plzak-1909-10; Chas. Shimek, Chas. Steinfest-1910-11; Len Luege, Frank Chadek- 1914-15; Albert Swoboda, Frank Blahnik-1911-12; Albert Swoboda, J. Koutnik-1912-13; E. C. Nichels, Ludwig Kalish-1913-14; Emil Plzak, George Stacek, 1915-16; Fred Rusch, Wm. Gleich-1916-17; E. C. Nickel, Frank Schacher-1917-18; Jos. Schauer, Charles Pinkner-1918-1919; (in the Langlade Coun- ty official directory of 1918-19, Laddie Schmutzer, Bryant, Wis., is listed as a constable and Jos. Schauer is not. This is in conflict with the Neva township records); John F. Schultz, Steve Kirch-1919-20; George Stacek-1921-22; Stanley Plzak-1922-23.
SCHOOL DISTRICT BOUNDARIES.
Neva township schools while erected soon after the arrival of the pioneer settlers were more pretentious institutions that some of the other pioneer schools of Langlade County. The hardships confronting the set- tlers in clearing a space in the dense forest for a school were nothing compared with financial demands of public schools and other township needs.
The township was divided into three school sub- districts in 1883. District No. 1 commenced at the SW 14 of section 31, township 32 and ran three miles to the SE corner of section 33; thence north two miles to the NE corner of section 28; thence west three miles to the NW corner of section 30; thence south two miles to the place of beginning. Deerbrook, Reeves, and Neva corners were a part of this first district.
School District No. 2 commenced at the SW corner of section 34, ran east on the town line to the SE corner of section 36; thence N on the town line four miles to the NE corner of section 13; thence west three miles to the NW corner of section 15; thence south one mile to the NW corner of section 22; thence west one mile to the NW corner of section 21; thence south one mile to the SW corner of section 21; thence east one mile to the SE corner of section 21; thence south two miles to the place of beginning. This district con-
tained all of sections 34, 35, 36, 27, 26, 25, 21, 22, 23, 24, 15, 14 and 13. Melnik, now known as "Star Neva" was in District No. 2.
School District No. 3 commenced at the NW corner of section 31, township 33, range 11 and ran east three miles to the NE corner of section 33, township 33, range 11 east; thence south to the SE corner of section 9, township 32, range 11 east; thence west three miles to the SW corner of section 7, township 32, range 11 east; thence north to the NW corner of section 31, township 33.
Since 1883 the school districts have been changed frequently, the last change being made May 21, 1915. Neva township is now divided into five districts as fol- lows: District No. 1, District No. 2, Joint District No. 3, District No. 4 and District No. 5.
DISTRICT NO 1 (JT.)
KEMPSTER DISTRICT NO. 1, consists of sections 5 and 6 of Neva township and was organized in 1904. Its chief settlement is Kempster, located in the north- east corner of section 6, and on the border line between Neva and east Upham townships.
Before the Chicago, Milwaukee & Lake Shore rail- road pushed up from Aniwa, Shawano County, many settlers had explored and established themselves in District No. 1. Anton Honzik and Joseph Krause es- tablished themselves in the immediate vicinity of Kempster in 1877.
Joseph Hoffman and Julius Schultz erected the first saw mill at Kempster in 1899. It was a substantial es- tablishment for the little hamlet and the means of livelihood for many settlers. The plant came into possession of F. C. Meyers and Frank Borth, who mov- ed to Kempster in 1898. The new owners erected a planing mill and made extensive improvements on the saw mill, which they operated until 1907, when the en- tire institution was taken over by the Wisconsin Bark & Lumber Company, an Antigo firm, now extinct.
In 1880, Russell & Upham, Shawano County land dealers, who controlled much land in Langlade Coun- ty, erected a small store at Kempster. One year lat- er the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western railroad put in a turn-table and an engine house, both of which meant much to the growth of the district. A hotel was erected to provide lodging for the men employed in laying rail north. Six years before the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western was taken over by the C. & N. W. Ry., Kempster's railroad facilities were torn down. If the business had warranted it the engine house would have stayed. Antigo was near, however and the railroad authorities desired centralization of all shops and elimination of engine houses not needed.
Theodore Lenzner and Charles Tuma conducted the first hotel on the west side of the main track. In 1908 the hotel suffered a loss by fire. The building is now in custody of Kempster Grange No. 650, it having been moved from its original site. In 1909 the lumber yards of the Wisconsin Bark & Lumber Company were burned and the boarding house suffered a loss. The site of the first saw mill is still visible, the ruins serving
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
as a monument to almost forgotten days. The old track bed is slowly decaying. Logs were rolled from this sidetrack into the little lake that lies between a group of rolling hills.
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