USA > Wisconsin > Langlade County > History of Langlade County, Wisconsin, from U. S. government survey to present time, with biographical sketches > Part 50
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The children in the schools became young men and women, taking the places of their fathers and moth- ers. They filled the district and township offices, man- aged the farms, introduced new ideas into agricultur- al advancement and by this day the second generation has full command. Many of the pioneers have died or are too advanced in age to actively engage in labor.
The 1922-23 teacher was Leona Polar. The 1922-23 school officials were: Clerk, Charles Hubbard; Direc- tor, Jack Danburg; Treasurer, John Cockeram.
DISTRICT NO. 4.
ELMWOOD DISTRICT. The last territorial change in Vilas township school districts occured April 14, 1908. The Elmwood district since has consisted of sections 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 34, 35 and 36 of the township. It is situated in the southeastern part of Vilas and has an area of 5,760 acres. This district is the southern portion of the original District No. 5, organized in 1887. April 24, 1906, Vilas was re-dis-
tricted and District No. 3 was eliminated. District No. 4 was enlarged by the addition of sections 28, 32 and 33. This area was not changed until 1908 when District No. 3 was recreated.
Pioneer settlers in Elmwood were Henry Fryer, who cleared a little farm in the wilderness in 1877 after a long and tiresome journey from New London, and Ed- son Lloyd, who in 1878 brought his family to this dis- trict from Oshkosh. With him came Charles Lloyd, his son, who afterwards became prominent in Vilas ac- tivities. W. J. Hampton, Mrs. Hayes, A. Space, Frank Locks, William Holland, Ben Miller, M. E. Bessey and Olaf Anderson were early settlers. George Hayes, Edwin Hayes and Al Hayes and John Marlowe are old residents, who came into the district later.
The first school was erected in 1882 on the south- east quarter of the southeast quarter of section 4. It was a one-room log building, which was used advan- tageously for many years. Early teachers were L. Hermanson, Mrs. M. A. Dexter, Hannah Reader, S. Gunderson, Emma Molzberger, Mary Cadigan, Ther- esa Wanninger, Ella Rynders, J. Ross, Adell Muscher, Allie Kennedy, Olive M. Space, Alice Casper, Ruth Graves and Irene Marshall. Miss Alfrieda Bruss was the 1921-22 teacher.
On July 5, 1898, the school officials of District No. 4, Charles Lloyd, Clerk; H. O. Johnson, Treasurer, and Alfred Hayes, Director, decided to locate the new pro- posed school on the quarter post of sections 25 and 26. The school was completed by October 15, 1898. It cost approximately $375 and was erected by Justin & Jensen, mill men. The frame school was used until 1921 when a modern brick school was erected at a cost of $8,000 by H. Hoffschmidt. This splendid school is located on section 26. The 1921-22 school officials were Charles Lloyd, Clerk; Fritz Weisshahn, Director, and Leon Merry, Treasurer.
About 1899 George Drake and Justin & Jensen erect- ed a sawmill on section 36 in this district. It was operated by Joseph Weir and John Menting for many years until it was moved away.
Louis Henry erected a cheese factory on section 24 in 1917. It has changed hands frequently and is now ur.der the proprietorship of a co-operative concern or- garized among the neighboring farmers.
The Vilas township hall, located on section 25 (NW1; of NW1;), was completed in the summer of 1922. Its cost was approximately $3,000 and it is one of the best town halls in Langlade County. The first meeting was held in the hall (before its comple- tion) in April, 1922. Louis Jacobs was the contractor. Formerly all township meetings were held at the school house in District No. 4.
Elmwood district has many splendid farms. The soil is rolling and level. The roads in the district are well maintained.
Antigo and Merrill are the nearest trading centers of importance.
The 1922-23 teacher was Elfrieda Bruss. The school officials for 1922-23 were: Clerk, Charles Lloyd, who is also Vilas township clerk; Treasurer, A. J. Polar, and Director, Fritz Weisshahn.
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
CHAPTER LI. Historical Notes
Chairmen of County Board, 1881-1923-Vacated Langlade County Townships-The Boiler Explosion
In Antigo in 1905-New County and Its Possibilities by S. A. Taylor in 1880-How Larzelere Paved the Way in 1875-Lincoln District, New Settlement-First A. H. S. Basket Ball Team- Langlade County Wild Flowers, Birds and Songsters, Trees and Wild Fruit-Reports on Lang- lade County to the State Archeological Society-Miscellaneous.
CHAIRMEN OF LANGLADE COUNTY BOARD, 1881-1923.
John Jansen, 1881-83; Moritz Mueller, 1883-84; Joseph Duchac, 1884-85; E. R. Van Buran, 1885-86; J. E. Davis, 1886-90; Sam E. Leslie, 1890-92; J. L. Klock, 1892-93; J. C. Lewis, 1893-94; J. W. Parsons, 1894-95; James Quinn, 1897; J. W. Parsons, 1897- 99; T. D. Kellogg, 1899-1900; Leonard Freiburger, Sr., 1900-04; R. J. Morgan, 1904-06; T. W. Humble, 1906- 07; J. L. Klock, 1907; Walter V. Dorcheski, Nov. 12, 1907-08; Adolph Heeg, 1908-09; Charles Beard, 1909- 11; Henry J. Hersant, 1911-12; Charles Beard, 1912- 13; Frank Riendl, 1913-14; William Alft, 1914-15; E. S. Tradewell, 1915-16; Leonard Freiburger, Sr., 1916-21; Frank J. Olmsted, 1921-23.1
OFFICERS OF ORIGINAL (VACATED) TOWNSHIPS.
The townships of Carpenter and Gagen, two of the six original Langlade County townships, were vacated but a short time after. The first officers of Carpenter were: Chairman, Abe Vanzile; Supervisors, Charles and Jay Cook; Clerk, Charles Vanzile; Treasurer, Leonard Marsh; Assessor, Jay Cook; Justice of the Peace, L. J. Marsh; Constable, William Varzile. There were but five votes cast in Carpenter at the first election, 1881.
The first officers of Gagen, vacated in 1885, were : Chairman, Daniel Gagen; Supervisors, Odell Wood- bury and H. Dow; Treasurer, L. Motzfeldt; Clerk, P. Shay; Assessor, Odell Woodbury; Justice of the Peace, H. Dow. The postoffice was at Freidenland (Frydenlund). Ten votes were cast at the first elec- tion in Gagen.
THEY ORGANIZED A COUNTY.
November 11, 1880, within the Lost Nation, Charles H. Larzelere, John Springer and James R. Buckstaff, Chairman and Supervisors, respectively, together with Charles W. McFarland, Fred A. Dodge, Thomas M. Dobbs, A. Smith, S. A. Taylor, David B. Edick, O. J. Yates, Ulysses G. Taylor, E. P. Bridgeman, and James Brennen, organized themselves together as officials of a new county to be known as Langlade County. They elected officers as follows : Charles W. McFar- land, County Clerk; Thomas M. Dobbs, Register of Deeds; Fred A. Dodge, County Judge; U. G. Grant, Assistant Register of Deeds; E. P. Bridgeman, County Superintendent of Schools. Other officers were not chosen at the election held November 2, 1880. The
county board, according to record No. 1 of the Regis- ter of Deeds, Thomas M. Dobbs, consisted of three men. Charles H. Larzelere was Chairman.
This attempt to elect officers for the County of Langlade was made nine months after the state legis- lature had passed an act changing the name of New County to Langlade County and three months before the legislature had created and perfected Langlade County and established certain towns therein. If these pioneers would have succeeded in their under- taking the county seat would have been established at Lily and the dream of Squire A. Taylor and his supporters would have been fulfilled.
THE GREAT BOILER EXPLOSION
At 9:30 a. m., Friday, February 24, 1905, a terrific explosion startled residents of the south part of Antigo. The boiler in the fire room of the Chris Wunderlich Lumber &
Manufacturing Company
WRECKAGE CAUSED BY GREAT BOILER EXPLOSION
at the Wunderlich Lumber and Manufacturing Company Saw Mill, Antigo, February 24, 1905.
mill has exploded killing one man instantly and in- flicting fatal injuries on another. The man killed was Ed. Ploeger, Engineer. Peter Ingles, seriously in- jured, was rushed to a hospital, but died.
The boiler, weighing approximately 10,000 pounds, was blown three hundred feet in the air and landed two thousand feet from the mill in front of Bishop's residence on Edison street. It first struck the ground in front of John Herman's residence, tore the front from
1. George H. Wunderlich once served as temporary chairman. The men named are those who were elected at the regular annual elections.
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
Cecil's residence but none of the occupants of the residences were killed. A small part of the boiler landed near Springbrook.
Bolts and splinters dropped from the boiler on the high school as it passed over the school building on its swift journey of destruction. School was in ses- sion and it was an act of Providence that prevented the death missile from plunging through the building. John Callahan, County Treasurer of Langlade County, was then employed as an Engineer and was switch- ing in the C. & N. W. R. R. Co.'s yards near the flour elevator at the intersection of Dorr street and 7th Avenue. "I saw that object flying in the air but it was so high it looked like a piece of tin." I heard the noise of the explosion but thought it was the air coupling on my engine, that's why I stepped from the cab to look," he said. A few seconds later the boiler had struck the ground. Seven men were employed at the mill that day. The explosion was given nation- wide publicity in newspapers.
ANOTHER BOILER EXPLOSION
On February 28, 1911, at 1:30 p. m., a boiler ex- plosion took place at the Gillis saw mill, located in Neva township. One man was slightly scalded. The cause was a defection in the boiler.
S. A. TAYLOR BOOSTED NEW COUNTY.
S. A. Taylor, founder of Langlade (New) County, spent much of his life in advertising the county he was responsible for. A pamphlet he distributed in 1879 and 1880 contained the following interesting data :
THE COUNTY OF NEW, WISCONSIN. 200,000 ACRES OF THE BEST OF FARM LANDS for sale in New County on long time, as hereinafter set forth. NEW COUNTY
was formed in 1879 and has a population of about 1,200 people. This Is A Matter Worthy The Attention Of Every Person,
both old and young, farmers, mechanics, and mer- chants. A portion of the best part of the State of Wis- consin is yet to be settled. An opening for all kinds of business; and what every man should have is a good farm, it matters not what other trade or business he may possess; and
New County, Wisconsin, Is The Place To Secure It, for the least money, and expense of emigration from any portion of the Eastern States, the Canadas or any foreign country.
The County Of New Is Second To None
in the State for its fertility of soil, and production of crops of every kind, has an abundance of timber of the best quality, and of all kinds; and is one of the best and purest watered counties in the State. All of its lakes, rivers and streams supply the sweetest and purest of water, and they abound with speckled trout, and fish of every variety.
New County Is Rather Sparsely Settled,
the cause of this is, that a large portion of the lands were granted by the General Government to the State for the aid of great improvements in the way of ship canals, railroads, highways, and various other public enterprises, which grants covered nearly all of the unsold lands in the now County of New.
The First Settlements
of the State were in and about Milwaukee, along the shore of Lake Michigan, and at Green Bay and along the line of the State of Illinois, the whole Eastern and Southern portion of the State had been sold to real settlers so that the lands granted were mostly selected in the northern portion of the State and many of these improvements were under process of construction for a long term of years before they were completed, so that the companies and contractors could not secure a title to the lands from the State. So it will be seen that this answers the question, when it is asked, why the lands, if they are of the best quality of soil, timber, water and everything pertain- ing to a good country, have not been sold to real set- tlers long before this.
The Best Of Farming Lands Can Be Had
by settlers at from $2.50 to $3.00 per acre, and be paid for in the following manner: First payment, 10 per cent cash down of the total sum of money agreed upon to be paid. Second payment, to build a comfort- able house on the land contracted for. Third, fourth and fifth payments are, to clear, fence and till one- eighth part of all the land you bought, each year for the term of three successive years, then the payment of the balance of the purchase money will begin to fall due in three yearly payments with six per cent inter- est, this gives six years for the payment of the pur- chase money.
Every Industrious Man Can Get A Good Home Here whether he has any money or not, and by this you will see that these chances are appreciated by a large number of people who have looked for themselves and have become satisfied that this place is preferable to others for securing a good home, as there has more than five hundred real settlers come into the territory that now forms New County within the last year.
The Lands In Question Are All First-Class Farming Lands,
well-watered, with abundance of timber, and as for crops they are the best of lands for growing winter wheat, and will produce the best of crops of all kinds. The soil is of a clay loam of black mold, interspersed with a small sprinkling of sand, which makes it a strong as well as a quick, warm soil.
Take New County As A Whole,
there is no better place for the poor to get rich, and the rich to get richer, and it is a conceded fact by all persons knowing of the advantages of this portion of the State of Wisconsin for real settlers and people who want cheap and good homes that every person who has any idea of going West of the State of Wis- consin, if they study their own interests, and the sav-
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
ing or making of money they never will go beyond the boundaries of this State, without first making a thorough investigation of the lands, location and the material advantages that are to be found in the county of New, for a home, health, wealth and prosperity.
When You Take Season and Climate Into Con- sideration,
and the length of the seasons, there could not be any- thing more pleasant and congenial for the growing of crops, and the beauty of good homes. The snow generally begins to fall about the first of December, at which time there is little or no frost in the ground, there is good sleighing about Christmas, then the winter continues cool and dry until about the first of March, which gives about two months and a half of good sleighing. This makes the country clean and beautiful, then the Spring sets in, and the snow com- mences going off, and as there is little or no frost in the ground, by the time the snow is gone, the water is all gone from the surface of the ground and it is comparatively dry and ready for ploughing, then comes warm weather which is continuous and steady during the whole season, which is sufficiently lengthy for the growth and ripening of crops, vegetables and vegetation of all kinds.
The Northwestern Railway
runs along the shore of Lake Michigan from Chicago to Milwaukee, thence to Fond du Lac, where it inter- sects with the main line, passing the whole way through a well settled and a beautiful country. The main line of the road starts at Chicago; the first place of any note that it strikes in the State of Wisconsin, is Janesville which has a population of about 10,000 people, from thence the road courses on northward through a well-settled and fertile country, interspersed with small villages until it reaches Fond du Lac, a city of some 15,000 people, situated at the head of Winnebago Lake, thence along the West shore of the lake to the city of Oshkosh, which has a population of about 17,000 and is a city of immense business, thence to the city of Appleton, which has a population of about 8,000 and is one of the most flourishing manu- facturing towns in the country, and has a good mer- cantile trade, also colleges, churches, and schools of every grade.
At This Place, Or At Appleton Junction, You should Change Cars
and then take the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western Railroad for Clintonville, or you can take the same road at Milwaukee, Sheboygan or Manitowoc, and go direct to Clintonville which has a population of about 1,000 people, having first-class dry goods, hardware, grocery, drug and fancy stores, good wagon and black- smith shops, also factories of various kinds furnished with the best of water-power, to which is attached a good sawmill, and one of the best flouring mills in the state. This is a place where you can get all kinds of merchandise at reasonable prices and also find a good market for all kinds of produce. The village has sev-
eral churches, good schools, first-class hotels, and as a whole is a very enterprising and prosperous village.
Stages Leave Clintonville Every Day For New,
New County, which is a distance of forty-five miles. The next places on the way to New are Pella, Ray- mond's Mills and Leopolis. These are small places, but are supplied with postoffices, stores, grist mills, sawmills, blacksmith, wagon shops and hotels, and will soon grow to be smart business places.
New Is Centrally Located
for all kinds of business. At the present time, August 1st, 1879, the business of the place is small compared with its capacity and demands. It has, however, a steam saw and shingle mill, hotel, blacksmith shop, and postoffice. There are good roads to and from the place, with mail routes established over them, and is a place where a good trade or business of any kind can be built up in a short time. It is a good location for a custom flouring mill, sawmill, and all kinds of manufacturing, having abundance of water-power for all such purposes, and is surrounded with the best of timber of almost all kinds; and there is no better place for grocery, dry goods and hardware stores, hotels, wagon and blacksmith shops.
New is so centrally located and so easily accessible from all parts of the country, that it is destined to be one of the best of markets and the place for furnishing and distributing supplies, for the whole lumbering in- terest, and the entire country of Northern Wisconsin.
The Village Of New
is located on the Wolf river, at or near the junction of the Lily river. Both of these streams extend away north across the county of New; they are beautiful streams of water, and are perfectly durable, with an abundance of water power and plenty of water at all times of the year. Building lots can be had free of charge by any one who will erect thereon a respecta- ble dwelling, or business house, and the raw material can be had here as cheap as it can at any other place for building purposes.
All That Is Necessary For Anyone That Wishes A Good Home,
in a good country, that is healthy and well supplied with everything that one must have, is to look New County over to satisfy themselves that it is the place above all others to make a home for themselves and families. It matters not what business or occupation they may have followed, it will pay them to investi- gate all points pertaining to New County and its sur- roundings before looking or going elsewhere for a home or a business of any kind.
For Further Information
call at the General Land Office, at New, where you can obtain any information you may wish pertaining to lands in New County, and reliable guides will show you over the country, and the location of lands, or address
S. A. TAYLOR,
New, New County, Wis.
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
LINCOLN DISTRICT, NEW SETTLEMENT.
There are about twenty-two settlers in the Lincoln District of Polar township. William Peters came to that district in 1900 from Germany, settling on section 35. August Erickson came from Sweden in 1905, settling on section 26. Frank Rychlik came from Bo- hemia, taking up land in section 26. He came in 1908. Albert Smola came from Pennsylvania in 1908, settling on section 26, and the same year Frank Hlin- sky, a Chicagoan, took up a farm on section 35. This district had one sawmill on section 35, operated by water power. Adolph Blahnik ran it for four years. The first school was held in the William Peters home. Early pupils were Cora Peters, Emma Peters, and Eric Jartzke, while Lena Wendorf was the first teacher. The present school was erected in 1912 on section 25 by C. F. Dallman at a cost of $1,400. The 1921-22 officials of this district were A. Blahnik, Clerk; Louis Peters, Treasurer, and Emil Pautz, Director. The re- gion is rolling and in some places level. Drew Creek runs through it.
In 1883 Squire A. Taylor was called "Old S. A. Taylor" by his enemies who opposed the County of Keeps. In this connection it is interesting to note that Mr. Taylor lived twenty years after that, dying in 1902.
The first mower disposed of in Langlade County was sold in 1883 by the J. C. Lewis Hardware Company. The inhabitants then though the idea of mowers was a "wild dream" of J. C. Lewis'. The old farmers of that day should now see the implements on a Lang- lade County farm.
In February, 1883, the announcement was made in Antigo "that land was rising in value at a rapid rate and that a tract adjoining the village of Antigo was sold at $25 per acre." This land now is valued at $200 per acre.
LARZELERE PAVED THE WAY.
While Squire A. Taylor was the father of Langlade County, which he succeeded in organizing as New County in 1879, the way was paved for organization in the winter of 1875, four years before organization.
In 1875 Oconto County set off fourty-four and a third townships as Langlade township. Langlade township included all of townships in ranges 11, 12, 13 and 14 from township 31 north to the state line.
Oconto County had previous to 1879 divided the townships in such a manner that all of the timber re- gions of the state line as far north as townships 40, 41 and 42 in ranges 11, 12 and 13 and also in other northern parts of Wisconsin (in Oconto County) could be taxed for the benefit of the settlers down at Oconto and its vicinity. The method of dividing their town- ships gave Oconto townships the name "stairway townships."
This method of township division offended the heavy timber and land owners, who were not benefit- ed by the division. They demanded a new county.
An example of the stairway township was the town of Pensaukee. It included all that territory in town- ships 37 and 38, range 13; also townships 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38 of range 14 east, a strip of territory one
mile wide running from the southwest quarter of town- ship 34, range 14 east south on the line of townships 33 and 34 between ranges 14 and 15 east, to a point just north of Langlade (village) thence east about a mile, thence south three miles, thence east three miles, thence south three miles to township 31, range 15, thence east on the south line of township 31, through ranges 15, 16 and 17, thence south through townships 30, 29 and 28, to the southwest quarter of township 28, where Pulcifer, Outagamie County, is now locat- ed, thence east on the south line of section 28 one mile into section 28, range 19, where the strip connected with township 27, ranges 19, 20 and 21.
Charles Larzelere went to Madison to confer with the County and Town Committee on Organization in the winter of 1875 with the purpose of securing a county to consist of the fourty-four and a third town- ships in Oconto county and then eliminate the stair- way system of townships, which was contiguous terri- tory, but unreasonably so because of the description of each township. He was opposed by Oconto lum- bermen and mill owners, who wanted the timber tax of northern Wisconsin sent into Oconto County coffers.
He was assisted in Madison by Sam Shaw, who lat- er played an important part in the history of Forest County, and by Attorney M. Carpenter, Dean of the University law school, as well as Congressman Phile- tus Sawyer.
FIRST A. H. S. BASKETBALL TEAM.
The first basketball team of the Antigo High School was started during Christmas vacation in 1902 by Wil- liam H. Fuller, now a locomotive engineer on the C. & N. W. R. R., who was then a teacher in the high school.
The only available place then to practice was the exhibition building of the Langlade County Agricul- tural Society, which was prepared for that purpose by Mr. Fuller and the players. The bounding boards were made and carried to the building. The first bas- kets were barrel hoops. Games were played also in the old Music Hall, now Brunswick Hall. The mem- bers of the first team were: W. H. Fuller, coach; West- ley Goodwin, center; Walter Nelson, forward; William Donohue, forward; Adolph Shepek, guard; Harry Clements, guard; George Crowe, forward (died in service during World War) ; and a Mr. Martin, guard (he drowned at Pelican Lake).
The team played five games, winning four.
SAW THE IMAGE OF CHRIST
In the fall of 1901 Constantin Jankowski, father of Mrs. I. Pawlak, 803 Clermont street, while walking from his son's farmhouse, Rolling township, to his own home a short distance away, vows that he saw the image of Jesus Christ in the sky. He carried a rosary in his hands and began praying. The follow- ing spring Mr. Jankowski erected a statue of Christ crucified, on the exact spot. Father G. Zelinski of St. Hyacinth church said Mass at the spot were the statue is erected. Hymns were sung by a choir. The statue is located on the west side of the road near
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