USA > Wisconsin > Langlade County > History of Langlade County, Wisconsin, from U. S. government survey to present time, with biographical sketches > Part 44
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67
Survey of 1857-Area-Drainage-Surface-H. B. Polar, Indian Trader-Territorial Changes of Polar-Early Roads-Officials of Polar, 1881-1923-Schuman-Highland-Franklin -Edison - Lincoln-Clark-First Store in Polar-Industries-Post Office-Sylvan Lake.
Polar township lies immediately east of Antigo in congressional township 31 North of Range 12 East. It is bounded on the north by Price township, on the east by Evergreen township, on the south by Norwood town- ship and the Menominee Indian Reservation and on the west by Antigo township. The township survey was started November 21, 1857, and was completed December 1, 1857. James McBride was the surveyor.
The surface of Polar is undulating and hilly. Deep ravines, valleys, highlands and plateaus, all exist, and are very fertile. Originally the entire area was cov- ered with a growth of heavy forest products, consist- ing of white pine, hemlock, oak, maple, elm, basswood and a dense undergrowth of small vegetation. All has yielded to the woodman's axe with the exception of some native groves that still stand.
The only occupants of this unimpenetrated forest were the wild animals, and Indians whose trails crossed each other. Today Polar has a splendid net work of high- ways, and excellently improved farms which produce luxuriant crops of all agricultural products adapted to a temperate climate. Herds of pure bred cattle, fine dairy farms, sheep and hogs, poultry, well constructed silos, modern lighting systems, telephones-all these have taken the place of the timber and brush line.
ONE OF SIX ORIGINAL TOWNSHIPS.
Polar was named after Hi. B. Polar, English pros- pector, Indian trader and Stopping Place proprietor of the Wolf river country. It was one of the six original Langlade County townships of 1881. When organiz- ed it consisted of all that territory embracing the pres- ent township of Polar, Price, Ainsworth, a part of Nashville township, Forest county and a part of Wa- beno township, Forest county, in the following govern- ment civil divisions: Townships 31, 32 and 33 North of Range 12 East and townships 34 of Ranges 12, 13 and 14 East. The first township meeting was held at the log farm home of Moritz Mueller, section 16, town- ship 31, Range 12 East. James Schufelt was elected the first township Chairman. Herman Schmeisser and Chester Starks were the first Supervisors of Polar town- ship.
EARLY ROADS.
The first road application to be acted upon in Polar was a petition of settlers who wanted a township line road built between townships 30 and 31 of Range 12 East. The petition was sent to the Polar town board July 1, 1881. Other early roads were: Commencing at the southwest corner of section 31, Township 31,
Range 12 East and running north on the range line to the quarter post of the west side of section 30, Town- ship 32, Range 12 East. Another early road was the one built along the section line of sections 21 and 28 of township 31, Range 12 East. The road running be- tween sections 31 and 32, 30 and 29, 19 and 20 was constructed in the fall of 1881. The application for this road was made August 23, 1881. The Antigo- Polar road was authorized in 1881.
Early highway overseers were: Horace Dudley, Bur- nam Dudley, Valentine P. Rath, August Hanke, Robert Sprang, William Flemming, Charles Lade, and Wm. Kieper.
TERRITORIAL CHANGES.
Before the organization of Langlade County Polar belonged to Langlade township, Oconto County, a vast wilderness embracing 44 and a third townships, stretch- ing north to the Michigan-Wisconsin boundary. Its original area after the organization of Langlade County was 216 square miles, or six congressional townships. We will now see how it was cut down to its present area.
On December 13, 1883, townships 32, 33, 34 of Ranges 13 and 14 East were detached from Polar and formed into a new township called Price. Polar has since been one congressional township, No. 31, North of Range 12 East.
POLAR TOWN HOUSE.
The Polar township hall is located on Highway No. 64 in the NE 14 of the NE 1/4 of section 20. It is a frame building and was erected in 1882.
OFFICERS OF POLAR TOWNSHIP-1881-1923. CHAIRMEN.
James Schufelt-1881-82; Moritz Mueller-1882-84; E. Radditz-1884-85; William Malliet-1885-88; J. W. Parsons-1888-98; M. D. Besse-1899-01; Edward Nordman-1901-02; M. D. Besse-1902-04; R. J. Mor- gan-1904-05; Otto Utnehmer-1905-06; W. W. Clark -1906-08; John S. Bowen-1908-11; W. E. Jones- 1911-12; Julius Schuman-1912-16; John S. Bowen- 1916-18; Herman Parsons-1918-21; Otto Utnehmer- 1921-23.
CLERKS.
J. Kennedy-1881-82; M. D. Besse-1882-83; Clark Walrath-1883-84; M. D. Besse-1884-86; Edward Nordman-1886-89; Moritz Mueller-1889-07; J. W. Yaeger-1907-08; Ed. Utnehmer-1908-09; John Groth -1909-23.
232
HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
TREASURERS.
M. Mueller-1881-82; W. Schmuhl-1882-83; Wil- liam Schmuhl-1883-91; Frank Kuehl-1891-05; Louis Teske-1905-08; William Hintz-1908-19; R. A. Bloe- dorn-1919-23.
SUPERVISORS.
E. Radditz. William Malliet-1882-83; Herman Schmeisser, Chester Sparks-1881-82; J. W. Parsons, V. Winner-1883-84; Herman Schmeisser, Charles Soman-1885-86; Julius Schuman, Charles Soman- 1886-87; Julius Schuman, William Sanders-1888-89; Julius Schuman, E. Kieper-1889-90; David Drew, Charles Soman-1891-92; B. Dudley, Charles Parsons -1892-94; Chris Brandt, Fred Hoppe-1894-96; Wil- liam Flemming, Wm. Mader-1896-97; Wm. Flem- ming, H. Brandt-1897-98; H. Brandt, William Schmuhl-1899-1900; David Drew, Henry Brandt- 1900-01; Albert Hoppe, William Rusch-1901-02; Wil- liam Rusch, Albert Hoppe-1902-03; H. Bruening, Otto Utnehmer-1903-05; Herman Bruening, Ernest Fischer-1905-07; John Bowen, Herman Teske-1907- 08; W. E. Jones, Ernest Kieper -- 1908-09; W. E. Jones. Henry Brandt-1909-11; Henry Brandt, William Rusch-1911-12; Otto Hafeman, Herman Parsons- 1912-16; Louis L. Teske, Herman Bruening-1916-17; Herman Bruening, Henry Borneman-1917-18; Her- man Bruening, Herman Dallman-1918-22; August Helmig, Herman Bruening-1922-23.
ASSESSORS.
James Kennedy-1884-85; J. W. Parsons-1885-87; John Drew-1888-89; James Ryan-1889-90; E. Rad- ditz-1891-95; Martin Robrecht -- 1895-97; Julius Schu- man-1897-98; George Landess-1899-1900; Herman Bruening-1900-02; Henry Brandt-1902-03; Herman Teske-1903-06; William Rusch-1906-10; Otto Ut- nehmer-1910-13; William Rabe-1913-14; L. L. Teske-1914-15; William Rusch-1915-16; Otto Ut- nehmer-1916-17; Otto Hafeman-1917-21; Geo. Schultz-1921-22; Otto Hafeman-1922-23.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
F. O. Simmons, F. Wedeman, J. Schufeldt-1884-85; August Hintz, M. D. Besse-1885-86; J. G. Drew- 1885-87; Wm. Peters, B. Dudley-1886-87; F. O. Sim- mons, M. D. Besse-1888-90; Charles Ensler-1888- 89; Edward Nordman, J. W. Parsons, James Ryan- 1889-90; J. Ryan, B. Dudley-1891-93; J. M. Fischer -- 1891-92; Edward Nordman, George Wanninger- 1893-95; W. P. Landess, J. Fischer-1893-94; F. O. Simmons, Nels Mikelson-1894-95; J. M. Fischer- 1894-95; Wm. Mader, E. Kieper-1895-97; Henry Brandt-1895-96; F. O. Simmons, H. Schmeisser, R. Dickman, C. Ensle-1896-97; Edward Nordman, J. Fischer-1897-99; Wm. Mader-1897-98; J. Fischer, C. Schuman-1899-01; H. Borneman, Wm. Landess- 1899-1900; Herman Teske, F. Wiershke-1900-01; R. J. Morgan, T. H. Carson, Wm. Landess, Fred Hoppe- 1901-02; M. D. Besse, J. M. Fischer-1902-04; H. Bruening-1902-03; William Flitcraft, A. F. Hintz,
Fred Wierschke-1903-04; H. Borneman, J. M. Fisch- er, M. D. Besse-1904-05; Wm. Flitcraft, David Drew, Charles Lade, H. Brandt-1905-06; Wm. Darrow, F. Osten,-Sacken, Herman Teske-1906-07; Robt. Schmidt, J. M. Fischer, Fred Montour, F. Schultz- 1907-08; Robt. Schmidt, Herman Schmeisser, Sr., M. Powell, Louis Kirsch-1908-09; L. D. Mader-1909- 10; Robt. Schmidt, D. A. Mader, J. H. Baker-1910-11; John S. Bowen, Robt. Schmidt, J. M. Fischer-1911- 12; D. A. Mader, Robert Schmidt-1912-14; Albert De Vore, Albert Hoppe-1914-15; D. A. Mader, Henry Brandt-1915-16; R. S. Schmidt, D. A. Mader-1916- 17; R. S. Schmidt, Wm. Flitcraft-1917-18; Herman Krueger, Henry Duescher-1918-19; (No justices since 1919).
CONSTABLES.
Joseph Wilson, Fred Rabe, Charles A. Lade-1884- 85; Charles Lade, Fred Rabe-1885-86; Julius Schu- man, J. W. Parsons-1886-87; Joseph Wilson, John Keechler, Wm. Peters-1888-89; Wm. Kieper, David Drew-1889-90; Charles Parsons, Wm. Flemming- 1891-92; C. Fischer, B. Dudley, W. P. Landess-1892- 93; H. Brandt, Wm. Flemming-1893-94; H. Brandt, W. C. Weeks, D. Montour-1894-95; Gustav Martin, Albert Hoppe, Charles Parsons, Jr .- 1895-96; Gus. Kluwe, J. M. Fischer, Gus Brandt, Albert Hoppe- 1896-97; G. Kluwe, H. Kieper, J. Keechler-1897-98; Charles Fischer, H. Bruening, Julius Jahnke- 1899-1900; Henry Brandt, R. Dickman-1901-02; F. Utnehmer, H. E. Wade-1902-03; J. Utnehmer, Henry Parsons-1904-05; Wm. Darrow, Charles Harron- 1905-06; George Landess, Wm. Fischer-1906-07; R. Dickman, Johnson, Thos. Galligan-1907-08; Charles Rusch, J. M. Fischer-1908-09; Albert Beim- born-1909-10; John Utnehmer, George Sloat-1910- 11; Albert Beimborn, William Harp-1911-12; Wil- liam Harp, George Sloat, Herman Teske-1912-13; J. M. Fischer, Gus. Martin-1913-14; Albert Beimborn, F. M. Jones-1914-15; Louis Krueger, Gustave Kluwe -1915-16; William Rusch, Wm. Mader, Gustave Hen- selman-1916-17; J. M. Fischer-1917-18; Henry Brandt, Henry Parsons-1918-19; Henry Parsons- 1919-22; Henry Waite-1922-23.
DISTRICT NO. 1.
SCHUMAN DISTRICT. The Schuman school dis- trict is located in the southern part of Polar township. The land was taken up by homesteaders in 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888 and later. Julius Schuman, William Kie- per, Charles Rabe, August Kieper, Charles Behm, W. W. Wheeler, and the Pickel family, were among the first settlers.
The first school was located on section 18 in 1887. It was a log structure. This school was used until 1902 when a frame building was erected by William Rusch.
Edward Nordman, Hattie Reader, Mr. Conan and Anna Tibbets, Frank Ringsmith, C. Koenig and Mrs. Rine were early teachers. Carolyn McCarthy was the 1922-23 teacher.
The Franklin and Schuman districts were once one
233
HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
district. The 1921-22 school officials were: Wm. Schuman, Clerk; Ed. Kolpack, Director and Henry Parsons, Treasurer.
Much of the district is yet uninhabitated.
DISTRICT NO. 3.
FRANKLIN DISTRICT. This is one of the oldest districts in Langlade County, being settled in 1877 by William Schmul, Jr. He was an immigrant from New London, Waupaca county, and with him came a colony of twenty-eight, all of whom moved elsewhere. Among this first group was Fred Demlow and Fred Rabe, who, in 1878 returned to the Franklin district. These hardy folk were followed by other homestead- ers, including William Flemming, Sr., Valentine Weim- er, William Malliet, William Schmul, Sr., Herman Schmeisser, Sr., E. P. Bridgeman, Charles Parsons, Sr., Ernest Demlow, James Kennedy, Anton Nonnenmach- er, Martin Robrecht, M. D. Besse, Joseph Wilson, J. W. Parsons, August Hintz, Ernest Keiper, Charles Schuman, William Bottrell and August Hintz.
The thrifty pioneers of this district were not long in clearing the wilderness and erecting comfortable homes for their families. Roads were few, however, nothing but crooked, winding trails existing. Early roads were constructed east and west on the section line of sections 30 and 31 and also sections 29 and 32, 28 and 33. Another pioneer road was constructed on the section line between sections 31 and 32 running north and another on the south line of sections 31 and 32 running east and west.
Four years after the first settler came into Franklin district the first school house was erected on land leas- ed from E. P. Bridgeman. It was a quaint structure 16x18 feet and entirely constructed of logs. All the benches, desks and other furniture were home made. Alice Root, a southern Wisconsin lady, was the first teacher. The Polar schools were then under the town- ship system. Elfrieda Pautz was the 1922-23 term teacher.
Increased population made a new school necessary and in 1883 a larger, more pretentious frame school house was erected. This school was operated under the township system until 1885. The district was or- ganized that year with William Schmuhl, Jr., William Malliet and Herman Schmiesser, Sr., as Treasurer, Clerk and Director respectively. Thus they were the first district school officers.
The frame school was condemned in 1915 and the following June, C. F. Dallman, who was awarded the contract, began the construction of the present brick school. It was completed in October, 1916. Appro- priate dedicatory services were conducted in which Judge J. W. Parsons, W. E. Switzer, A. M. Arveson, and D. A. Mader participated. This was January 13, 1917.
The 1922-23 school officers were: R. Kieper, Direc- tor; H. Parsons, Treasurer, and Martin H. Parsons as Clerk.
A Lutheran church is located on the NW corner of the NW corner of section 33. It was erected in 1885. The following have been the Pastors: Rev. Stuben-
fal, Rev. Snider, Rev. Michalus, Rev. Dachstine, Rev. Ebert and Rev. C. D. Griese.
The district has rapidly forged to the fore as a dairy- ing and agricultural center with the dying out of the lumber and logging industry. A cheese factory was erected in 1901 by Herman Krueger. It was moved to section 31 in 1907. Krueger sold it in 1912 to J. C. Holmes. In 1913 the factory was re-built. John Haese purchased the plant in 1918.
Robert Krueger operated a store in 1916 in the old Herman Krueger saloon building. In 1918 Herman Krueger took it over. Mr. Krueger also has a saw mill on section 31. He built it in 1913.
The old log house of William Flemming is the last of the early land marks in this district. Many of the pioneer settlers are still living, however.
Franklin district was named after Benjamin Frank- lin, the eminent American statesman, scientist, publish- er and writer.
DISTRICT NO. 4.
POLAR DISTRICT. In the year 1877, Moritz Muel- ler, an esteemed citizen of Shawano County, Wiscon- sin, came through eastern Langlade County, passed over the Indian trails in what is now Polar township and staked a homestead claim on section 16, township 31 North, Range 12 East, near a beautiful little lake, since named Mueller's Lake, in memory of his settle- ment near its shores. A year passed and this pioneer homsteader moved his family into the wilderness. With him came his father-in-law. Mr. Mueller erect- ed a provision camp, which developed into the first store in Polar. A post office was established and Mr. Mueller became the first postmaster.
Following the Mueller's came other pioneer home- steaders. Among them was John Fischer, John W. Par- sons and family, Edward Nordman, Julius Yanke, Charles Greenburg, John Hose, Ernest Fischer, Her- man Butzland, Fred Simmons, Chris Brandt, Ernest Radditz, Robert Sprang, David Montour, and James and John Drew. There were other early settlers also.
The first manufacturing institution in Polar village was erected in 1888 by the Webster Manufacturing Company of Menasha. It operated successfully under their ownership until 1898, when the T. D. Kellogg Lumber & Manufacturing Company purchased it. It has since been under their ownership and management. Thomas Kellogg, a grandson of T. D. Kellogg, who owned one of the first of Langlade County saw mills, has been Manager and Superintendent of the plant since 1910. The planing mill burned in 1918. It was never rebuilt.
Polar village originally adopted the name "Mueller's Lake." It was known by this name for many years. After 1888 when the Webster Manufacturing Company erected their mills at the village it was re-named Syl- van Lake by Mrs. Weeks, who was then Postmistress. The mill pond was then a large body of water and the name applied directly to it. When the Webster Com- pany sold their interests the name reverted back to Mueller's Lake and was called such until the citizens voted to call it Polar, in honor of Hi. B. Polar, the In-
234
HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
dian trader and prospector, after whom Polar township was named.
The first Polar school was a log building erected in 1878. Before this school was held in Moritz Mueller's residence. The first pupils were Herman and Clara Mueller and Ed. S. Brooks was the first teacher.
School was conducted for many years in the log school that once stood on the site of the present Polar school, section 15. Lucy Grignon and Tille Fergu- son were teachers in the log school house. Follow- ing the log school a frame school was erected. Aft- er many years service it was moved from its original site and became a church.
Then a new frame school, one story, was erected. It was used in its original form until a second story was added on account of increased enrollment. The Polar graded school of today is well equipped. 1922- 23 teachers in the Polar graded schools are: Elizabeth Kleiber, Mrs. Emil Kramer and Mrs. Ed. Hose.
The oldest building in Polar still stands. It was the residence of Ernest Radditz and was erected in 1881. A Sunday School was organized in Polar in 1880 by W. W. Wheeler and Mr. Masterson. Old frame structures still existing belong to William Bruen- ing, Carl Gruenberg, Robert Hitz and Otto Bruening.
Robert Schmidt is the present postmaster.
Business places in Polar village are: Gus Hensel- man store and restaurant, the T. D. Kellogg Lumber & Manufacturing mill, T. D. Kellogg Lumber & Manu- facting Company store, R. A. Bloedorn, soft drink par- lor, the Polar General Garage, Arnold Hoppe, prop., the Walter Trakel garage, a cheese factory, now ope- rated by Emil Kramer, a blacksmith shop run by Charles Rusch, and a shoemaker shop conducted by Ed. Schultze, and the R. P. Schmidt store.
The Polar Grange hall is located in Polar village.
A Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Park is located at Polar and a full account of this project is found in the military chapter.
The principal highway is No. 64.
DISTRICT NO. 5.
EDISON DISTRICT. This school district contains all of sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and the west half of sec- tion 9, in the northwestern part of Polar township. It was first settled by Charles Soman, Sr., who came there in 1878. Joseph Soman, Sr., and Frank Kuehl, Sr., also came in 1878. They took up government home- stead lands. Edgar Neff, a pioneer mill owner in Antigo township, took up a homestead in this district in 1879. These men were the first pioneer settlers.
In 1880 a school district was organized and Charles Soman erected a small log school. The only children to attend this school were those of the Edgar Neff family. The school was then under the supervision of township school officers. The district originally was known as District No. 5, but after the Edgar Neff family moved from the community it was attached to District No. 2. In 1889 it was re-organized and a new school was erected. It was a frame school and most of the material was purchased from Davis Brothers of Bryant. Mr. Cunard was the first teacher in the
frame school. Nelson K. Joles purchased the frame
school for $13 in 1905, after a new one was erected of brick. August Stabe was the contractor. Nellie Larson was the first teacher in the brick school. Other teachers were: Nannie Congleton, Ida Hudson, Char- lotte Tobey, Lola Wilson, Agnes Wolter, Anna Weix, May Napier, and Dorothy Borth.
The school officers once planned an eastern and western school in the district but this idea was aband- oned just before the brick school was erected. The 1922-23 teacher is Delphos Michaelson.
The 1922-23 school officers were: T. C. Forthman, Director; J. L. Creech, Treasurer, and Mrs. Fred Mc- Carthy, Clerk.
The district was named after Thomas Edison, dis- tinguished inventor and world renown scientist.
DISTRICT NO. 7.
CLARK DISTRICT. The Clark district is located in the northern part of Polar township. The first settler was James Bodo, who came into the district, settled for a short time, and then moved away. He was followed by Mr. Clark, who came into the district from Antigo, where he had prospected previously. The third set- tler was a Mr. Caudill, who came from Kentucky. He, like those who came before, erected a rough log shan- ty on section 12. He was dissatisfied, however, and would not live in the country without his family. He then returned to Kentucky, arranged for moving his family, which he did. The first frame building was erected by him. It was a two story house, in which he has since resided.
Other settlers followed and before long Clark dis- trict was fairly populated. The railroad came through the district long before the first settlers, but roads were built after an elapse of years. The old Herman trail has since became the main highway.
The first school in the district was a log school erect- ed just across the road from the present school. Mrs. Soman was the first teacher. In 1910 a frame school was constructed. Early teachers were: Cora Hunger- ford, Miss Censky, Maud Smith, Martha Weix, Alice Doucette, Mrs. Thornsberry, Anna Klitz, and others. The present teacher is Rose Singer.
The first school meeting was held in the old Logan house. The district was organized in 1910. The Logan house was used for one year as a school. Au- drey Creeck, Florence Caudill and Ora Caudill attend- ed the log school.
Mr. Caudill owned the first automobile in this dis- trict.
The 1922-23 school officers were: Maud Jacobs, Clerk; F. M. Jones, Director, and Ben H. Baker, Treas- urer.
Early settlers were: James Bodo, the Clark, Mr. Caudill, George Bonner, Mr. Dyer, W. W. Clark and Veclak families.
The pioneers of Clark district were forced to under- go many hardships. However they have developed farms, erected good buildings and have provided prop- er facilities for the education of their children. This is a striking contrast to that day when James Bodo, the wanderer, first came into this region.
235
HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
CHAPTER XLVI. Price Township No. 32 N., R. 12 E.
Named After Congressman William T. Price-Township of Eagle in 1883-The Davis Mill Ticket of 1883-Val. Rath, Leader of the Homestead Ticket-Davis Brothers Influential-Schools Under Township System Originally-Price Detachments of 1885-Forest County Beneficiary-Price Township Officials 1884-1923-Kent Joint District-Malcolm District-Bryant District-Green Valley District (Price).
Price township was named in honor of Congressman William T. Price, of Black River Falls, Wisconsin, who served in the 48th and 49th Congresses as a representa- tive of the 8th district, (1885-86). Congressman Price died December 7, 1886. The township dedicated in his memory was surveyed December 2-12, inclusive in the year 1857. Surveyor McBride reported "that the township contains but few swamps and no streams." The north half and eastern part of Price are hilly, rolling and broken regions while the southwest quar- ter is level. Elm, maple, birch, pine and fir were the principal forest products. Lawrence Lake lies in the northwestern part of section 15. The U. S. survey of Price was conducted by James McBride upon orders from the U. S. Surveyor-General with headquarters at Dubuque, Iowa.
WANTED TOWN OF EAGLE.
November 13, 1883, a petition signed by Sam J. Price, George H. Fehl and others was presented to the county board requesting that all of townships 32, 33, and 34 of Range 12 East and townships 34 of ranges 13 and 14 East, be detached from Polar township and or- ganized into a new town to be known as Eagle town- ship. December 13, 1883, the committee on town or- ganization recommended the creation of a new town- ship out of the divisions proposed. Thus the resolu- tion passed and Price township, containing the enor- mous area of 115,200 acres, most of which contained a wealth of forest products, came into existence.
The first annual meeting was held at the home of John Rath, section 21, township 32, range 12 east on April 1, 1884. Twenty-nine voters cast their ballot for or against the "mill ticket" or the "homesteaders" at this historic election. These early pioneers of Price were: Charles H. Davis, V. P. Rath, George Miller, Austin Muzzy, Walter Vanderhoof, E. M. Phil- lips, Nicholas Preston, Thomas Hutchinson, John B. Lavene, Joseph Houle, George H. McGregor, Isreal Kims, John Rath, George H. Fehl, H. P. Polar, Fred Hayssen, B. McKinney, Henry Stadler, Ed. Dalton, James Hartman, John Connelly, John McClaskey, An- drew Hartman, Charles Price, Sam J. Price, J. E. Davis, J. B. Buckstaff, John Hartman and A. A. Hurlbert.
THE ELECTION CONTEST.
George H. Davis, mill owner at Bryant lead the "mill ticket" while the settlers, principally homesteaders ral- lied around V. P. Rath, who headed the "homestead-
ers ticket." The remote homesteaders were unable to vote because of the distance from the polls and lack of roads. Oxen and horses were not plentiful and the Indian trail was the best road. Davis received 17 votes to 12 for Mr. Rath and was elected Chairman. A. A. Hurlbert and E. M. Phillips were elected Super- visors; Clark Walrath, Clerk; Fred Hayssen, who later became an Antigo Mayor, Treasurer; Charles Colta, Sam Price and H. B. Polar of the upper Wolf country chosen Justices of the Peace. J. McClaskey was elect- ed Assessor and C. Walrath and R. Brush were chos- en Constables.
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.