History of northern Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development, and resources; an extensive sketch of its counties, cities, towns and villages, their improvements, industries, manufactories; biographical sketches, portraits of prominent men and early settlers; views of county seats, etc., Part 159

Author: Western historical co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1052

USA > Wisconsin > History of northern Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development, and resources; an extensive sketch of its counties, cities, towns and villages, their improvements, industries, manufactories; biographical sketches, portraits of prominent men and early settlers; views of county seats, etc. > Part 159

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).

It may be mentioned as a singular fact, that, in Northern Wisconsin, there are very few of the so-called "liberal churches."

The St. John's Episcopal Church was organized Septem-

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

ber 13, 1857. Thomas Youles, senior warden; John C. like persuasion, which is now published in the Central office, Clarke, junior warden ; Vestrymen-W. Beer, Jr., W. Clem- as a Republican sheet. These papers are weekly, and will compare favorably with any papers in the pineries of Wis- consin. son, Burton Willard, J. W. l'yler, P. N. Calkins, Thomas Single, Benjamin Single, William Kennedy ; J. W. Tyler, secretary. Before this, however, Rev. Thomas Green, who Fraternal Orders .- The various fraternal societies now flourishing in the country are well represented here. Among the most prominent may be mentioned Forest Lodge, A., F. & A. M., No. 130; H. Alban, W. M .; H. L. Wheeler, sec- retary. was at Stevens Point, came up here at the request of Charles Single, who had conferred with Gen. Ellis on the subject, and held service for several days in succession. This was in March, 1854, and the stage was six days on the road. On Mr. Green's return, he had service at Mosinee, in the Wausau Chapter, No. 51 ; S. H. Alban, M. E. H. P .; W. J. Scriver, secretary. log-house of Mr. William Blair. The lot upon which the church was built was deeded to Bishop Kemper in 1857. Wausau Lodge, No. 115, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; J. W. Miller, N. G .; L. Marchette, secretary. Moved into their new hall, April 26, 1877. The next year, a frame was erected, and it stood in an in- complete state until 1863, when, in a violent gale, it was blown down. After remaining a time at Stevens Wausau Temple of Honor, No. 80. Point, Mr. Green came here, remaining until 1873, Knights of Honor, No. 871. when he was succeeded by Rev. Phillip McKim. Since Home Lodge, No. 20, Ancient Order of United Work- ingmen, instituted February 14, 1878; Pat Delaney, M. W .; Ch. Heppner, secretary. that time, the pastors have been Rev. Joshua Davenport, Rev. W. C. Armstrong and Rev. William Wright, the pres- ent rector. The church now has sixty members. The The Catholic Total Abstinence and Benevolent Society. Sunday-school twenty-five scholars. The re-building of the church was commenced in 1867, and pushed to comple- tion soon after.

The Lutheran Church also has a school largely attended by German children, and in the Fourth Ward there is a large private school building with a select German school. Be- sides these, are several other select schools taught by teach- ers of experience and ability.

Catholic Church, St. Mary's .- The first mass said in Wau- san was at the house of W. D. McIndoe, on Main street, in 1849, by Rev. Father Dale.

Rev. Father Itchmann afterward officiated at the resi- dences of Mr. Stafford and Hugh McIndoe's, and at differ- ent halls. Rev. Father Pollock and several others. Rev. Father Richards, as his first charge, came here in 1875, and still remains. The church building was begun in 1868, and finished in 1875, and dedicated. It is in a flourishing con- dition.

Marathon County Bible Society, organized February 17, 1867; Thomas Hinton, president ; G. A. Lawrence, vice- president ; Jacob Paff, treasurer ; Justin W. West, secretary.

Newspapers .- The city is well supplied with newspapers, the oldest being the Central Wisconsin, which was estab- lished in 1857 ; the first number appearing April 22, with J. W. Chubbuck & Co., as publishers. The number for September 30th and October 7th, was issued in one sheet, on dark green paper, no other being obtainable so far from market. The paper was discontinued for some time, but was finally resuscitated by R. H. Johnson, who still pub- lishes it as a Republican paper.

The Wisconsin Pilot, was started as a Democratic paper, in 1865, by V. Ringle, who is still at the helm, with a Ger- man paper, the Wochenblatt, and a well-appointed job office.

The Torch of Liberty, a " National Greenback " paper, was established by Mark H. Barnum, August 9, 1877. He also published for a time the Wæachter, a German paper of

The Sons of Hermann, and other orders, all seem to be in a flourishing condition, with a large membership and fine lodge rooms, handsomely furnished and carpeted.

The Germans have a Turn Society, with a large member- ship, and rooms fitted up with the implements and parapher- nalia of a regular gymnastic club.

The Ladies' Literary Society is a flourishing association, which has good rooms on Third street, opposite the court- house. Weekly meetings are held, and there is a library, the use of which is, singularly enough, confined to the use of the members. This society has acted as a bureau, to pro- cure lecturers, and the city is indebted to it for having the opportunity to hear some of the prominent celebrities of this prominent field of literary labor.

The several church denominations have ladies' societies to promote those interests, denominated Aid Societies, Mite Societies, Sewing Circles, etc.

Driving Park Association .- In the Fall of 1881, a socie- ty, with the above name, was organized among the most prominent citizens of the city. There is a race track, where meetings are held to develop the trotting stock of the county.

The Germania Guards, a regular company in the Wis- consin National Guards. The armory is at Concert Hall. The men are regularly drilled and properly equipped, and on occasion turn out with full ranks. Attempts are being made to organize a new company.

Catholic .- St. Mary's Congregation. In 1851, when there were in Wausau but twenty-five families and 100 people, the first Catholic priest to visit the place was Rev. S. Dale, who held services in the house of Hon. W. D. McIndoe. In 1852-3, Rev. Mr. Itchmann, of Madison, visited Wausau and said mass. In 1857, Rev. James Stehle, of Stevens Point, held service in C. A. Single's hall every two months. His brother, N. Stehle, followed him, until the Summer of 1860, when Rev. John Polock came. He officiated in B.

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HISTORY OF MARATHON COUNTY.

Ringle's hall. By united efforts, a lot was about this time obtained, and a deed secured on the 20th of July, 1861, for $80.

In September, 1861, Rt. Rev. Bishop Henni visited Wau- sau, on his way to Marathon City, to bless their new church.

Rev. L. Lux was the next priest, then Rev. M. Schme- back; he had monthly services in the engine house. Rev. Ch. Hengin next officiated. In July, 1867, the corner- stone of the church was laid with proper ceremony. In 1869, the Rev. John Zawistowski was sent as the first resi- dent priest. In 1870, he left, and Wausau was again a mission of Stevens Point. That year, Rev. L. Cornelis was occasionally here, and in March, 1871, the church was so far completed that mass was said in it. Rev. L. Spitzelberger was the next man. The foundation of the priest's house was laid in 1874, and there were forty Catholic families here then. Rev. W. Gunderbach became the resident priest in August, 1874. During 1875, Rev. M. July officiated four times. March 22, 1875, the Rev. Theodore J. Richards was sent here as his first charge, and he still remains, respected by the town, and beloved by his people. He has finished and improved the church and parsonage, paid off the debt, grounds have been added, and the congregation put in a flourishing condition. Number of Catholic families now eighty, or about 400 members. The Sunday school has twenty scholars. The present trustees are John Byrne, John Joe Sherman and August Ganthier ; R. A. Johnson, trcas- urer.

Wausau Cemetery Association have grounds south of the city.

The Catholic Association also have a burial place near the same spot.

Railroads .- The Wisconsin Valley Railroad was the first to reach Wausau, although the Wisconsin Central had al- ready cut across the southwest corner of the county, and skirted it on the west from north to south. The Wisconsin Valley road reached Wausau on the 31st of October, 1874, and regular trains began running on the 9th of November. The local celebration on that occasion is noticed elsewhere. This road has since fallen into the hands of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Company, and now extends from their main line at Tomah, in Monroe County, to Merrill, the cap- ital of Lincoln County. The Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western Railroad Company is the second road to connect Wausau and Marathon County with the lower part of the State. It was formed by the consolidation of several roads, and runs into the Chicago & Northwestern depot at Mil- waukee. It reached Wausau in the Fall of 1880, and does a very large lumber business, which only seems to be lim- ited by the amount of rolling stock. In the Spring of 1881, "The Great Northern Timber Belt Railway " was incor- porated with a capital of $2,000,000. The proposition be- ing to build a road from Green Bay through Brown, Ocon- to, Shawano, Langdale, Marathon, Taylor, Chippewa, Lin- coln, Price, Barron, Polk, Burnett and Douglas to the St. Croix River. Incorporators-W. C. Silverthorn, R. E. Parcher, H. Naher, D. L. Plumer, T. B. McCourt and F.

A. Healey. This road will bisect the richest part of Wis- consin. On the 31st of October, 1874, the Wisconsin Val- ley Railroad reached Wausau. The occasion was duly cel- ebrated by a regular gala day, on Wednesday, November II. The train, with the railroad officials, and a large number of invited guests, was met at the depot by a pro- cession, headed by the cornet band, the fire department, and the best the city could display. Mrs. Winkley got up

the dinner, Mr. L. Paradis presided at the tables.

The

dinner was at Forest Hall and Music Hall, both. Hon. W. C. Silverthorn welcomed the guests; responded to by F. O. Wyatt, superintendent of the road. That Wausau did credit to itself on that occasion, may be inferred by the fol- lowing list of names of the committee of ladies having the matter in charge: Mrs. James McCrossen, Mrs. George McCrossen, Mrs. Parcher, Mrs. French, Mrs. Schofield, Mrs. James, Mrs. Peters, Mrs. Mormon, Mrs. Parenteau, Mrs. McKimm, Mrs. Armstrong, Mrs. Thayer, Mrs. Gotche, Mrs. Sullivan, Miss Kate Schofield, Miss Lina Williams, Miss Mary J. Thompson, Miss Josie Thayer, Miss Nellie Mc- Crossen, Miss Josie Bradford, Miss Hattie Meriam, Miss Ida Brightman, Miss Nellie Blair, Miss May Connolly, Miss May Poor.

American Express .- This company is fortunate in its office agent here, A. C. Clark, who is uniformly pleasant and accommodating. The business of the company is constant- ly increasing.

Stage Lines .- Up to 1874, the river and stages were the sole dependency for transportation, and a daily line to " Jenny " was one of the institutions until the completion of the road to that town, now transformed into Merrill. Now there are two weekly lines, one to Marathon City, west ; the other to east to Spring Brook,

Hotels .- The city has quite a number of hotels, some of them quite large and well appointed. Up to the Fall of 1881, however, it not unfrequently happened that all the rooms were filled, boarding-houses and all, and considerable skirmishing was required by a belated party to secure even a " cot" or a "shakedown."

The Bellis House is a large, first-class hotel, built by Bellis & Mosher, in 1881, who are the managers. Dan Giles is chief clerk ; Mrs. Jane Bellis, housekeeper. There are forty rooms, with large dining room, sample room, and all the adjuncts to a well appointed hotel. It is of brick, and is on Third street, opposite Court-house square.

The Adams House is a large brick building on the cor- ner of Fourth and Jackson streets. John Adams is the manager. It has large and pleasant rooms, and good ac- commodations.

The Winkley House is the oldest and was the largest in the city. C. Winkley is proprietor, with Mrs. Winkley as matron. It is pleasantly situated on Jackson street, and is noted for its good cheer and a free bus. Mr. Winkley be- gan the hotel business here in 1858.

The Marathon House, located on the corner of Main and Washington streets, owned by Mrs. W. D. McIndoe, is a good-sized and well furnished house. G. W. Kallock took

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

the house in 1877, and by careful management it does a good business. Mrs. Kallock is an amiable landlady, and gives good fare and pleasant accommodations.

The Riverside House, formerly the Hunt House, is on the corner of Jackson and Main streets. It is managed by William H. Deakin, with his mother as housekeeper. The house has been recently enlarged and improved, and is in all re- spects a comfortable place to stop.

The Railroad House .- This is on Washington street, near the depot. W. J. Empy is proprietor and has been there since 1876. He is a pleasant and accommodating landlord.

John Sloan keeps a boarding-house on Jackson street ; Caspar Seim, on Forest street ; A. Scharnotta & Co., Wash- ington street ; P. A. Winneburg, near the depot; C. Up- dahl, Jefferson street ; M. E. Philbrick, next door to Bellis House ; Mrs. Noiseux, on Jackson street, and several other boarding-houses, all doing good business.

The Medical Profession, in numbers, ability and skill, is not behind other northwestern cities. As to numbers, there is a doctor to each 650 people, which, with the characteristic healthfulness, must make hard times for those in the rear of the procession. The following M. D.'s are in active prac- tice : Mrs. Elsie H. Clark, A. T. Koch, S. G. Higgins, W. H. Searles, T. Smith, I. W. De Voe, D. B. Wylie, Wm. Wy- lie. Dr. Searles is about to remove to Salt Lake City.

There are two dentists to supply the place of the two so summarily disposed of last year-J. C. Bennett shooting his rival, E. L. Hogle, and getting himself into Waupun for life. The present practitioners are E. E. Lawrence and C. J. Bradley.

The Marathon Bar is represented by twenty-one lawyers, all of them but three residing in Wausau. They are an able body of men. Here are their names : C. V. Bardeen, M. H. Barnham, E. L. Bump, Neal Brown, M. M. Charles, C. F. Crosby, C. F. Eldrend, District Attorney ; H. H. Grace, H. B. Huntington, M. Hurley, B. W. James, J. A. Kellogg, E. B. Lord, Louis Marchetti, Municipal Judge; C. H. Mueller, B. Ringle, County Judge; T. C. Ryan, W. C. Silverthorn, all of Wausau; Charles Grow and R. B. Salter of Colby ; and G. I. Follett of Spencer.

There are four public halls: Music Hall, Jacob Koulter, proprietor; Forest Hall, C. A. Single, proprietor ; Bernard's Hall and Ruder's Hall. Music Hall is the largest, has a stage, scenery, etc.

Banking .- The first regular bank in Wausau was the Bank of the Interior, which went into operation on the Ist of July, 1858. Linus R. Cady, L. A. Richards and W. H. Clark were interested in its operations. It was finally merged in the Marathon County Bank, with J. A. Farnum as president, and A. Jeffry as vice president.

The Marathon County Bank was started in January, 1875, with a capital of $25,000. Since that time, it has done a large banking business. The banking house is on the corner of Third and Jefferson streets, and the vault is protected by a chronometer lock. Total resources, 1881, $146,613.71. Officers : C. P. Haseltine, president ; C. W.

Harger, cashier. The other stockholders are Daniel Jones, A. Lolliday, Julia E. Harger and Helen H. Gallup.

Silverthorn & Plumer, bankers, began operations in 1866. They do a large land business, paying taxes, etc. Their disbursements in the Spring are $250,000 a month. Total resources, $159,130.

Wausau Board of Trade has been in operation several years. A seat at its board is valuable, but not quite up into the thousands, as like institutions in New York now figure. What it may be in 1981, no one can even conjecture. The present officers are: J. M. Smith, president ; W. C. Silver- thorn, vice-president ; D. L. Plumer, treasurer ; T. C. Ryan, secretary ; John Single, N. A. Anderson, Alex. Stewart, R. P. Pratt, Aug. Kickbusch and William Knox, directors.

BUSINESS INTERESTS.

Responsible land and real estate agents are most valu- able to those seeking investments in a new country particu- larly, as well as to non-residents. The following list of dealers in real estate will be of service: Silverthorn & Plumer, Allen & McEwen (who are also surveyors), B. W. James, Henry Miller, J. R. Bruneau, John Ringle and Charles V. Bardeen. Thompson & Smith are the agents for the Wisconsin Valley Railroad lands, which are held at $3 per acre and upward.

The Wausau Boom Company is perhaps the most im- portant institution connected with the lumber interest, as its prosperity depends very largely upon the success of its management. It was incorporated in 1874, and the cost of the construction of the booms, which extend six miles up the river, has been over $30,000. The storing capacity is 30,000,000, and nearly 100,000,000 feet of logs are handled yearly. Twenty-five men are regularly employed, and in the Spring, during the busy season, 150 men are at work there. The officers of the company are : R. E. Parcher, president ; J. M. Smith, treasurer ; and H. L. Wheeler, secretary.

The Wisconsin River Log Driving Company, organized October 4, 1878. Capital, $50,000. T. B. Scott, president ; C. P. Hazeltine, treasurer ; W. J. Scriver, secretary.

The Wisconsin Boom Company, organized October 8, 1872. L. S. Cohn, president; N. T. Kelley, treasurer ; H. Beck, secretary. Capacity, four to five million feet.

John C. Clark has a well appointed lumber mill; can cut roo,000 feet in twelve hours. Employs from seventy- five to 115 men. The establishment includes an extensive planing mill. Mr. Clark owns his own pine lands. The mill has a double rotary, for slabbing, and sawing cants for shingle mill, a single rotary, a gang edger, a trimmer, a lath and picket mill, a shingle mill, a planer and molding ma- chine, a siding machine, a slab grinder. There is a force pump with 300 feet of hose, besides other machinery re- quired in such a mill. There are three large water wheels, run from a head of twelve feet. These mills are the oldest in the city, but are now filled with modern machinery. The mills are on an island of nine acres, with plenty of room. The C., M. & St. P. Co. has a side track to the mill.

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HISTORY OF MARATHON COUNTY.

Wausau Lumber Company, incorporated May 17, 1879. R. E. Parcher, president ; D. L. Plumer, treasurer ; V. A. Anderson, secretary; N. L. Alderson, George Silverthorn and Alonzo Stephens were the other directors. Capital, $20,000. Present officers: James M. Crossen, president ; William A. Knox, secretary; D. L. Plumer, treasurer. Manufacture lumber, lath, pickets and shingles. Capacity of the mill, Spring to Fall, 12,000,000 feet. The power is

derived from a roo-horse power steam engine. The mill has all kinds of first class machinery, rotary gang edger, trimmer, shingle, lath and picket machinery. They also have a planing mill near the railroad track. John Langdon is the lessee of the mill, and is operating it. Seventy men are employed.

J. & A. Stewart & Co.'s mill is located at the foot of For- est street on the east bank of the river. The power is fur- nished by four large water wheels of the most approved form. The mill runs two double rotaries with a capacity of 75,000 feet every twelve hours.

It also has gang edger, trimmer, shingle, lath and pick- et machines, and everything is kept in first-class order. Adjoining the saw mill is the planing mill, where lumber is put in any desirable shape for the market. Employ- ment in the several departments is given to 160 men. The following represents a season's cut : Lumber, 16,000,- 000 feet ; shingles, 8,000,000 ; lath, 1,000,000 ; pickets, 300,- 000. The firm is composed of John and Alex. Stewart and Walter Alexander, substantial, active and energetic men

Merheim & Kickbusch's mill is located on Scott street, near the railroad track. It contains the latest improved machinery for the manufacture of doors, sash and blinds, floorings, siding, moldings and shingles. Large stocks of these articles are constantly carried and the sales are mostly for home construction. About twenty men are em- ployed, and $18,000 or $20,000 worth of work is annually executed.

B. G. Plumer's mill is situated on Plumer's Island, be- tween Clark's and Stewart's mills. It contains a double ro- tary, gang edger, trimmer, shingle machines, lath and pick- et mill, planer, siding and molding machines. The daily capacity of the mill is 30,000 feet of lumber and 50,000 shingles. The piling ground is convenient. The night and day run keeps sixty men on the alert. Mr. Plumer came into possession of the mill in 1863 and has run it ever since, having personal supervision of the entire business.

H. Daniels's mill is devoted exclusively to the produc- tion of shingles. It is on the west side of the river above the dam and is propelled by steam. The machinery is of the very best. Mr. Daniels started the business in 1865 and has kept right at it ever since. He makes 7,000,000 or more shingles a year, which, as he cuts all the logs into shingles without assorting them for other purposes, have a very high reputation. When in full running trim, thirty men are employed.

Curtis Bros. & Co., of Clinton, Iowa, have a branch in Wausau, manufacturing doors, sash and blinds. It is a mammoth concern. S. E. Anderson, Supt. The repre-

sentative of the firm here is J. E. Carpenter. Mill, 80x100, three stories ; engine room, 40x40; wing, 20x20 ; sales- room, 80x80.

Clark, Johnson & Co .- This is a first-class mill in all respects, employing fifty-five men, turning out lumber in an unremitting stream.

The Marathon Lumber Co. finished their mill in June. 188r. It is 40x120 feet; wing, 30x30 feet ; engine room, 33X 40 feet. The firm is C. F. Dunbar and D. and F. McDonald ; everything is first-class.

Herchenbach's flouring mill is on the north end of Clark's Island, and has a remarkably efficient water power. The mill was purchased by the present proprietor in 1878, and was thoroughly overhauled and repaired and put in ex- cellent running order with modern machinery, and the pro- ductions meet with instant sale for local use. The flood of September, 1881, washed through the basement of this mill and did other damage.

Wausau Iron Works .- The building for this extensive company was erected by Ely Wright, in 1873, and he be- came the proprietor and operator until 1877, when it was sold to D. J. Murray, the present proprietor. The location is on Third street, near the railroad. It is"fully furnished with the latest designs in machinery, such as lathes, planers, boring machines, bolt machines, etc .; with devices and tools to prepare patterns. It is also supplied with an iron and a brass foundry. The blacksmith shop is well appointed with tools for heavy work. The establishment is fully prepared with skilled labor, and the requisite tools for building steam engines and mill machinery, and doing all kinds of casting in iron or brass. Rather a specialty is made of trimmers for saw mills. Quite a large amount has been done for the railroad. The annual amount of business is over $50,000. Eighteen men are employed. Mr. Murray is his own super- intendent, with George Clayton as book-keeper.

J. A. Frenzel's Iron Works is located in the south- eastern part of the city ; is remarkably well equipped with steam power and the requisite appliances for successful business. As a specialty, the shop turns out plows of an excellent pattern, straw-cutters, and like implements. Be- sides this, repairing is largely attended to. The business of the concern foots up $10,000 a year.

Porter Bros., of Red Wing, Minn., established a tan- nery here, with seventy-two vats, in the Summer of 1881. The firm is J. A. & J. F. Porter.

C. Althen & Co. is one of the oldest firms in the city ; dealers in general merchandise and farm produce. Amount of business, $25,000 annually.

R. Bauman established the hardware business here in 1867 ; now carries a stock of $10,000, and sells $15,000 a year. He has a fine store.

M. Duffy started business in 1868; carries a neat stock of groceries on Jackson street.

The year after the railroad reached Wausau, in 1875, Mr. Homier came here and opened up a mammoth stock of dry goods, hardware and groceries. The stock aggre- gates $20,000 in value, and the sales foot up nearly, or quite,

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

$50,000 each year. Farming implements and a tin-shop are a part of the establishment.

In 1873, the firm of Nathan & Benjamin Heinemann began business here, at first doing a light business in cloth- ing. They now deal in general merchandise, sewing ma- chines, pianos and organs.

A. Dengel & Co., formerly Dengel & Sherman. Mr. Dengel commenced business here in 1875. His son-in-law is now associated with him. They are in Paff's Block, on Third street, and deal in general merchandise, carrying a $12,000 stock, and disposing of $25,000 worth a year.

John C. Gebhardt deals in general merchandise, having started in 1875, in a small way, but now sells $40,000 worth of goods a year.

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Author: Western historical co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company Number of Pages: 1052

Author: Western historical co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1052