F 589 . N41 S9 Copy 1 } zJ} "VOLTTIMIIE] X. 8 & \Q0 6 .-" Uri Fg THE cut ^felfe 1 EDITED BY J/jSS BELLA FRENCH. NEILLSVILLE AND Clai'k do.tii\tr, Wi^doi^iT\. ^ -ft -k & # l r*! LA CROSSE, WrS. SKETCH BOOK COMPANY, PUBLISHERS. 1875. ICT^f, Entered according to an Act of Congress, in the year 1875, by the Sketch Book f j(/pj ;>?/"» Publishing Company, in the office of the Librarian ^9^ 'l-^Vl „f pAnOTnci of \V...:lni-,irH)n . ifC^Lj ^ £M of Congress at Washington. _^&^mm^ INTENTS A View in N-'ilMiiir, Wisconsin, engraving. . Hon. James Hewett, portrail A Reform a Gal i poem . . 1 1 in . II irn PAGE 244 I . V O.IS <>?\sf\. I ST \ KT IN' HI ■5I.VI \- Misiiii-s.— Gents over ll Nil." nil il .larch 1st. BoTI HOLAKSIIIP - i the lir-i prize for the best system of Bunkkeepi . held :it MihvMn 'eninan«hip ami in Wm. B. HANSCOME & CO., ■ DBAJ BBS ■Provisions, Dried FVuita Ace, No. 9 Main Street, LA CROSSE, WISCONSIN. •Aii|cric;ui Ste;un Sufe L\>iii-i>;ii|\\ -liosloi JAMES O'NEILL, Attorney and Counselor at Law, find Notary Pu.l>lio. NEI LLSVI LLE, - WIS CONSIN. <^orceT7 lloy d, ~ ~ DEALER IN Heavy and Shelf Hardware, NEILLSVILLE, WISCONSIN. DR. J. C. LACY, Jr. Pkymmmm,; Mwggmm and Dentist. BA8T STREET, NEILLSVILLE, WISUONSIU. J. H. MARSHALL, WHOLK3A.LK AND iBETA.IL DEALER IX Hardware, Stoves U Tinware EAST STKEBT, KEILLSVILLE, WISOONSIN. ROSSMAN HOUSE, J. ROSSMAN Proprietor. Good Accommodations for Men and Teams. FREDERICK KLOPF, DEALER IN Dry Coods and Groceries, BQQtS, Sh&QSf ff^s sad 03JQS, East Street, Nelllsville, Wisconsin. S. F. JASEPH, DEALER IN Harness, Saddles, Trunks, Whips, Valices, Bells, and everything to be found in that line- Vacuum Oil always on hand. The only place in Clark County where the cole brated Rockwell Bit and Bridle can be fonnd. W. H. KOUNTZ, DIM I • Choice Family Groceries Confectioneries, Cigars, Tobacco, Flour, Provisions, etc. East St., Neillsville, Wisconsin. T. JOHNSON, Watches, Clocks, Jewelry, Musical Instruments, etc. Eamt >-i< i*eot, Xoill«vilU», Wisoonaia. Watches, Clooks and Jewelry of all kin 1 Repaire 1 in h Workmanlike Manner, and Warranted INTENTS DEPOT! JAMES W. FERGUSON, Dealer in Confectionery. Light Groceries, Fancy Goods, Stationery, Pictures, Toys and Notions. EAST STREET, NEILLSVILLE, WISCONSIN. GEORGE C. FARNHAM, DB \u:i: IN Dry Goods, Groceries, Boots & Shoes, CLOTHING, HATS, CAPS, NOTIONS, ETC. Opposite the O'Neill House. NEILLSVILLE, WIS. DR. W. C. CRANDALL, PHYSICIAN * SURGEON, Dealer in Drugs, Fancy Goods- Toys etc. NEILLSVILLE, - - WISCONSIN. HEWETT & WOODS, MAI DBALIU I* Dry Goods, Groceries, Boots & Shoes, Clothing, Hats, Caps, Furs and Cnckery. BRICK BTOH NEILLSVILLE, Wisconsin G^limp^e of JSfeill^yjlle, Wi$- E took the stage at Hum- bird, one bright, winter morning, for the above named place, with something of the feeling that we were sorry we had decided to go ; for we dread- ed the ride in a crowded vehicle, and then, we half imagined that a town which was not to be reached by a railroad, could not GOING TO NEILLSVILLE. amount to much, anyhow. But in both cases we were happily disappointed. In the first place, the ride proved to be a very amusing and, consequently, a pleasant one. It is a wonder that some bright stage driver does not write a book and call it "Life in a Stage Coach," for there is a wonderful field for somebody's genius. Among the passengers, on the above mentioned time, were a fine looking lady, wfio was evidently a woman's righter, and her invalid husband, who did nothing but'smile at her sallies ; a " traveling man," who took upon himself to defend and uphold " the down-trodden men," as he called them ; a woman, Shielded with ortho- doxy, and a man who professed to be an Atheist ; and, lastly, besides the writer, a youth, bundled up the eyes in furs, who uttered not a word during the whole journey, and who only showed his appreciation of the sharp remarks and sharper retorts, by a decided elevation of his red, turned-up nose, the only feature of his face not hidden by the afore-said furs. He became more of an amusement to us than all the others combined, and every time the red nasal organ jerked pleasantly 25 210 American Sketch Boole. upward, we laughed aloud, to the evident surprise of our companions, Bince we laughed where they did not consider "the laugh came in." At last, we called the attention of the " traveling man," who sat upon the same seat with us, to the phenomenon, after which he laughed in chorua with us, when the nose jerked upward. It was a jolly crew, and a jolly time we had of it. Indeed, we were half sorry when the driver bawled out "Neillsville ! " Neillsville, like nearly all of the villages on or near the West Wis- consin Kail way, is a lumbering place. Looking at the view, we find it backed by a heavy forest, which not only tells some of its past, present and future history, but also lends to the thriving village a beauty not found in localities devoid of timber. " Man makes the cities, but God made the country;" and somehow we always feel m arer to r three more as soon as he could get them ; though just what place- they are to occupy we are at a loss to guess. For some reason or other, Mr. French is dabbed " Doc," though he tries to reject that title of honor. We understand that at an early day, he followed at one and the same time, all the trades and professions known in the then uncivilized wilderness of western Wisconsin, and was one of the hest physician in this part of the country. Jie this as it may, the title of "Doc" sticks to him in spite'of his assertions that he does not want it. *' Doc " informed us that one of his peculiarities is "hatred of women." He loves dogs and to hunt deers (query — is that word spelled properly? ) but he hates women. lie always likes to assist them, however, because they are such weak, insignificant creatures ; and we must say that his hatred amounts to more, in this line., than does most men's friendship. But we are not writing Mr. French's biography, and so must desist, or Mr. O'Neill will have nothing left to say on the subject. There are many pleasant people in Neillsville, and one must get fully acquainted to form a correct estimate of them. Though not on the line of any railroad, it is a remarkably busy village, and as such is noted throughout the state. It may be reached by a few miles of staging, either from the Green Bay or West Wisconsin railroad ; and a project is now on foot among the citizens to build a railroad from Neillsville to connect with the Green Bay railroad, in which event her star would be rapidly in the ascendant. The view of Neillsville, and the portraits of Hon. B. F. French and Hon. James O'Neill, were engraved by Thomas Robinson, Esq., of St. Paul, from photographs by Mr. J. II. Crowns of Neillsville. A person is seldom sorry for a sin until after it is found out. It is vronderful how the finding out of a fault affects the conscience of a -inner. Money cannot heal a wounded heart, a perjured soul, or a diseased liver, bat it is ;i very soothing poultice for all three. Tlie godd ue.ir tlnir years afl a crown of glory upon their heads; the bud, as a. heavy burden upon their backs. Su$ii\e^ ©ifedtofy. County Officers. R. J. McBRIDE County Judge- W. C. ALLEN, Treasurer. J. F. CANON, County Clerk. W. T. HUTCHINSON, Register of Deeds. J. R. STURDEVANT, District Attorney. C.E. BUSSELL, Surveyor. R. J, SAWYER, Superintendent Public Schools. JAMES O'NEILL, Coroner. R. R. KING, Clerk Circuit Court. JACOB ROSSMAN, Sheriff. Town Officers. J. HEWETT, Chairman,") WILLIAM E. BURT, } Board of Supervisors. H. PARKER j C. B. BRADSHAW, Town Clerk. JAMES LYNCH, Treasurer. J. A. KIMBALL, Assessor. F. G. CAWLEY, \ n t , . AARON SHAVER, } ConstableS - Justices of the Peace. Ira B. Pope. Gr. W. Grousbeck. Professional Men. PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS. J. C. Lacy. W. C. Crandall. I. C. Marsh, Homeopathist. 9114 American Sketch Book. ATTORNEYS. B. F. French. K. J. MacBride. James O'Neill. Ira B. Pope. J. R. Stardevant. M. C. Ring. Banks. Clark County Bank. MacBride & Allen's Bank. Hotels. O'Neill House, Johnson & Myers, Proprietors. Rossman House, Jacob Rossman, Proprietor. Printing Houses. " Clark County Press." " Clark County Republican." Real Estate, Insurance, etc. W. C. Allen. R. Dewhurst. W. T. Hutchinson. B. F. French. Lumber Manufacturers. Blakeslee & Austin. Livery Stables. E. H. Markey. J. W. Tolford. Lumber Dealers and Loggers. James O'Neill, Hiram Palmer. Hewett & Woods. James French. S. C- Boardman. R. Dewhurst. A. W. Clark. J. R. Sturdevant. Robert Ross. I'. I). Lindsay. Thomas Chadwick. A. Brown. Robert Christy. Anson Green. B. F. French. w. s. Covin. General Merchandise. 1 1 1 wett k Woods. Geo. C. Farnam. D.Dickinson. I' Klopf Business Directory. 215 Hardware. G. L. Lloyd. J. H. Marshall. Druggists. J. C. Lacey, Jr. W. C. Crandall. Grocer. W. H. Kountz. Confectionery. James Ferguson. Contractors and Builders. E. H. Bacoa. John Bruckmau. H. D. Eyerley. — Montgomery Manufacturers, Austin & Co., Grist Mill. L. W. Gallaher, Planing Mill. James Furlong, Furniture. C. B. Dopp, Furniture. S. F. Jaseph Harness Maker. P. S- Dudley, Harness Maker. William Heaslet, Gunsmith. G- Sterns, Spoke Factory and Turning Lathe. Milliners. Mrs E. A. Crossett. Mrs. Montgomery. GENERAL BUSINESS DIRECTORY. ALLEN, W. C., County Treasurer. AUSTIN, G. A, & CO., Flouring Mills. BACON, E. H., Contractor and Builder. Bruckman, John, Contractor and Builder. Bradshaw, C. B., Carpenter and Joiner. Bacon, William, Carpenter and Joiner. Burgess & Garside, Wagon and Carriage Makers, Second street. Bruley, Emery, Blacksmith, Second street. -i(*> American Sketch Booh. Breed, Charles, Carpenter and Joiner. Bruley, John, Mason. CROWNS, J. II., Photographer, Second street. Crowns, Miss Maggie, Assistant with J. II. Crowns- Clark County Bank, Tolling, Wood & Company, Bankers. CRANDALL, W. C, M. D., Druggist, East street. Campbell, "William, Book-keeper. Churchill, Ira, Painter and Grainer. Campbell, Watson & Ilommel, Wagon and Blacksmith shop, Second St. Cross, Alex., Saloon, East street. Crossett, Mrs. E. A., Milliner, Hair Dresser and Dressmaker, Third street. DEWHURST & HUTCHINSON, Real Estate Abstract Office. Dewhurst & a Huntzicker, Loggers. DICKENSON, D., General Merchandise. Dudley, P. S., Harness Maker and Carriage Trimmer, East street. Dopp, C. B., Furniture Manufactory. Dean, James, Carpenter and Joiner. DuCate, Moses, Painter and Grainer. EVERETT, C, Boots and Shoes, East street. Kveiley, II. D., Contractor and Builder. FFKGUSON, James II., Postmaster, News Depot. FARNHAM, GEO. C, General Merchandise, East street. Follett, George I., Attorney at Law. Furlong, James, Furniture Dealer. GLASS, L. J., withMacBride & Allen. Gates & Head, Provision Store, East street. Grallaher, L. W.,iPlaning Mill, Sash, Door, Blind and Stave Factory. Gipple, George, Clerk O'Neill House. Grousbeck, G. W., Tanner and Glover. IlnFFMAN, E. L., Editor Clark County Press. HEWETT & WOODS, Corner Third and Fast streets, Logs, Lumber and General Merchandise. Hendren, W.^T«, Pastor Presbyterian Church. Hutchinson, \V. T., Register of Deeds. Heaslet, William, Dealer in Guns and Ammunition. JASEPII, S. P., Harness Maker, East Street. Johnson, Hans, O'Neill House Proprietor. Business Directory. 217 JOHNSON, T., Jeweller, East street. Jones, J. B., Book-keeper with Hewett & Woods. Jones, Ira B., Clerk in W. C. Crandall's Store. KIRKLANB, FRANK S., Cashier Clark County Bank. KOUNTZ, W. H., Grocer, East street. KLOPF, FRED., Dry Goods and Groceries, East street. King, R. R., Clerk Circuit Court and Telegraph Operator. Keam, Charles, Merchant Tailor. Keys, George, Tinner. King, Ed., Mason. Lynch, W,, Contractor and Builder. L ACEY, J. C. Jr, Physician and Druggist, East street. LLOYD, GEORGE L., Dealer in Hardware, East street. Larsen, E., Shoemaker with A. Peterson. Lindly, D. T., Editor Republican. Lee, F. A., Salesman at Hewett & Wood's. MAC BRIDE & ALLEN, Real Estate and Abstract Office. Markey, E. H., Livery Stable. MacBride, R. J., Attorney at Law. MARSHALL, J. II., Hardware Merchant. Mathews, George, Cabinet Maker. Montgomery, Mrs., Milliner. Merritt, Ed. E-, Proprietor Clark County Republican. Maffatt, A, R., Meat Market and Provision Store- Montgomery, Contractror and Builder. Myers, Henry, Proprietor O'Neill House- NEVERMAN & SONTAG, Brewers. Neverman & Streif Meat Market. O'NEILL, JAMES, Village Proprietor, Lumberman and Logger. O'NEILL, JAMES, Attorney at Law. PETERSON, ANDREW, Boot and Shoe store, Second street. Payn, W- F., Blacksmithing, Second street. RING, M. C, Attorney at Law, East street. Ross, Robert, Lumberman. Riedel, August, Miller at Austin & Co's Mill. Reddan, Mrs- James II., Boarding House, Third street, Robinson & Brother, Blacksmiths. ROSSMAN, JACOB, Saloon and Hotel. Reddan, James H. County Surveyor of Clark County. 26 218 American Sketch Book. SCH1 STER, II., Clerk with Dewhurst & Butohinaon. Sawyer, It. J., County Superintendent of Schools. Staring, Henry, Painter and Grainer. TIBBBTTS, MRS. BEBTHA, Restaurant, East street. :•. II E!., Jeweler, Second street. Troga lorf & Schoenengarth, Shoemakers, Second street. u, Peter, Painter and Grainer. Tolford, J. W., Livery Stable. WELLS, 0. P., Express Agent Wheeler, Rev. B. E., Pastor M. E. Church. YOUMANS, C. A., Salesman. Public School. C. E. MILLER, Principal. Mrs. M. E. Tompkins, First Intermediate Department. Miss Ella Morris, Second Intermediate Department. .Miss Louisa Cramer, First Primary Department. Secret Societies. Neillsville Lodge, No. 1G3, A. F. & A. M. Regular communica- tions, first and third Thursdays of each month. J. II. Thayer, Sec'y; George C. Farnam, W. M. Pine Valley Encampment, No. 44, 1. 0. 0. F., Institute 1 at Staf- fordville, Clark County, in 1871, afterwards removed to this village Is in a flourishing condition, having a membership of forty in good standing. Meetings second and fourth Fridays of each month. \Y. T. Hutchinson, C. P. J. W. Ferguson, Scribe. Neillsville Lodge No. 198, I. 0. 0. F. Instituted at Neillsville in 18*3 I, is in ;i very flourishing condition, having a membership of nine- ty-eight, in good standing, and a large surplus in the treasury. It is the intention of this Lodge to build a large brick hall the coming summer, which will add much to the appearance of the village. This Lodge has paid out in sick benefits, since its organization, over $300. Hall on Third Btreet, meetings every Saturday evening. The officers J W. Ferguson, N. G., Ed. Parker, V. G.. L. .1. Glass, R. 8., J. V. King, P. 8., W. T. Hutchinson, D. I). Gh M. Hercules Lo Ige, No. 181, I. 0. 0. F. This Lodge is the pioneer lodge of the county, having been established at Slaflbrdville iu lbll. Looking for Flowers. 2 1 9 afterwards removed to Neillsville, and again removed to Greenwood, where it is now located. This is a thrifty Lodge, consisting of sixty- five members, all of whom are good men. Meetings Saturday Eve- nings. JohnM. Hoyt, N. G. Neillsville Telegraph Company. Jones Tompkins, President. Frank Kirkland, Secretary. James O'Neill, Jr., Treasurer. R. R King, Operator. Office over Farnham's store. Connects with Northwestern Tele- graph Company at Black River station, on Green Bay Railroad. Local rates, thirty-five cents for ten words. L(Ookii\^ ioi c ^lowerU Little maiden in the forest, — Forest gloomy, cold and dark, Where the weeds were breathing poison, And the thorns were sharp and rank, Culling, here and there, a flower, Hid thaf tangled moss among ; And the air was filled with music Of the merry song she sung. Happy child ! Oh ! it were better, In this wilderness of ours, Where the weeds grow rank about us. If we sought for nought but flowers. — bonnibel. ]Sfeill£ville, Wij^oi^iiv HISTORICAL HJvlKTC**. IT IS remarkable 'with what rapidity facts and historical data of every kind, pass into the abyses of the buried past, and the realm of the unknown, unless gathered by some careful hand, cut in marble, or written on parchment and preserved for coming generations. Time is a slow but certain tomb-builder. The histories of families are striking examples ; how few know anything about their ancestry be- yond their grand parents ! The writer confesses that his knowledge goes no farther. Yet, how interesting it would be could we go back ten, fifteen or twenty generations and trace our lineage down ! — go back to a time when our ancestors were pirates prowling about Britain, or knights, making their country famous by their exploits, avenging wrong, inspired by the spiritual presence of some Dulcinea del Toboso. And so with the history of places. The founding of Rome is wrapt in the mist of tradition. The story of Romulus and Remus, and the flight of the vultures, belong to an ante-historical period. I am not to write the history of a place which now gives promise of playing so important a part in the history of the world as the'city of Seven Hills, but it must be remembered that men's vision of the future is exceed- ingly limited, and stranger things have happened than that the beau- tiful village, which is the subject of this sketch, should at some time be as famous as the Eternal City on the Tiber. Neillsville, Clark County, Wisconsin, was first settled by three brothers, James, Henry and Alexander O'Neill, in 1844. These three men were born and raised in the town of Lisbon, St. Lawrence County, New York, about nine miles below Ogdensburg, on the river St. Lawrence. Thej had left their home some years before, and had beeo prospecting in the West with varying success. .James had spent BOOM time in Louisiana and Mississippi. -lames and Alexander O'Neill left Prairie da Chien in September, L889, in a large cat , and came up the Mississippi and the Black rivers, arriving at what is Neillsville, Wisconsin. 221 now Black River Falls, in the same month. They located and built a saw mill three miles below the Falls, on a creek on the east side of the river. The mill was operated by them for about eight years- In 1844, Henry O'Neill and E. L. Brockway started up the river, prospecting, and selected, for a mill site, the spot on O'Neill Creek where Neillsville is now situated, being the northwest quarter of sec- tion fourteen, town twenty-four, range two, west of the fourth prin- cipal meridian. Brockway still lives at Little Falls, Jackson County, Wisconsin. These three O'Neills immediately set to work building a mill on the same spot where the saw mill now stands. The creek was then much narrower than it is now, the action of the water having worn away the banks, and made what is now a large pond. The first building erected in Neillsville was a log house about eighteen by twenty-four feet, built on the bank of the creek, near the mill. It stood about midway between what is now G- A. Austin & Co's mill, and the slide in the dam for the passage of logs. This house was oc- cupied about two years, when a frame house was built where the resi- dence of James O'Neill now is. Soon after the water undermined the banks, and the first building tumbled into the creek. Sic transit prima aedicula. A small clearing was made in the fall of 1844 on the banks of the creek ; timber was got out, and the mill was completed in the fall of 1845. It was twenty-two feet wide by forty-four feet long, and stood where the saw mill now stands. It remained about fifteen years, dur- ing which time certain additions were made. Its capacity was about three thousand feet of lumber in twelve hours. Pine logs of first quality were to be obtained easily, all along O'Neill Creek, and could be floated directly down to the mill. Government had then made no survey of the lands into sections, and stumpage cost very little. The lumber was rafted in platforms at the foot of the mill, then run to the mouth of the creek, about one hundred rods, where ten platforms were arranged in a more compact and solid manner, and combined in rafts which usually contained about ten thousand feet. There are many rapids between Neillsville and Black River Falls, and the rafts were sometimes smashed to pieces. Having reached the Falls, these rafts, were then combined into large ones, containing from forty to fifty thousand feet, and thence run to the Mississippi River. The rafts on the Mississippi sometimes contained a half million feet. James O'Neill, who was then unmarried, spent a part of his time at Neillsville, and the other pare at the Falls. Henry lived at Neills- 222 Amtrican Sketch Book. ville, and Alexander kept a lumber yard at Burlington, Iowa. For three years these three brothers continued the business in this way. Lumber in Burlington brought them about ten dollars per thousand; quite a contrast between those prices and the prices of to-day. In 1858, James O'Neill bought out the interest of his brothers in the business at Neillsville. Henry and Alexander then removed to what is now Chippewa City, and built a mill there. Some years afterward they sold out to Manahan & Lockhart. The same mill property is now owned by the Stanley Brothers. Both of these old settlers of Clark County died many years ago. During those early days, game of all kind was abundant ; deer, wolves, otter, mink, beaver, marten and partridges were very plenty. Deer could be shot from the door of O'Neill's house, and wolves would frequently chase them around into the clearing, the deer sometimes taking refuge in the creek behind the dam. Partridges were almost as plenty as chickens in a farmer's barn-yard. The Indians who inhabited what is now Clark County, were the Chippewas. The dividing line between them and the Winnebagoes on the south, was nearly at the confluence of the East Fork with the Black River. They brought in deer skins and moccasins and traded them for pork and flour. They excelled the Winnebagoes in cleanli- ness and intelligence ; they were not vicious nor dangerous, and their chief sometimes boasted that none of his tribe ever shed white man's blood. They were given to stealing, and had to be closely watched on this account. In those days, provisions of all kinds were brought up Black River in boats. Gradually time was found to clear up farms, and to raise grain, but for many years, boats poled up the rapids, were the means of conveying supplies. The first dance ever held in Clark County was on the evening of Christmas, 1846. It was held in a frame house, which stood where James O'Neill's residence now is. This was the first frame house of the place, and was twenty-two feet wide by thirty feet long ; the cel- lar was walled up with red-oak timber, some of which, much decayed, now lies near the mill pond. Nearly all the people on Black River attended this dance, which was given by •lames O'Neill, who was still unmarried. One Kennedy and his wife kept the house. Among those present were the following : W. T. Price, Jacob Spaulding, Thomas Robert, and Mark Douglass, • Jonathan Nichols, Mr. Yeatman, Mr. Van Au9tin, Joseph Stiokney and Alonzo Stickney, Thomas Neillsville, Wisconsin. 223 Sturges, B. F. Johnson, Ben and Samuel Wright and their two sisters? Levi Avery, who now keeps a furniture store at Black River Falls, Susan Stickney, Mrs. Van Austin and daughter, Jane Van Austin, Lucinda Nichols, Isabella and Jane Douglass. Hudson Nichols and Jim Bennett were the fiddlers. Some came as far as from where Melrose, Jackson County now is. Robert and Thomas Douglass had a farm there, and came in sleighs on the ice up Black River. Having danced all night, and breakfasted, Mr. O'Neill hitched up his team and "went home with the gals in the morning," or, in a more prosaic form, drove with the party to Black River Falls. It is to be presumed that, as the sleighs glided down beneath the branches, which, silvered with frost, over-reached Black River, on that lovely Christmas morn- ing, the maidens were as happy, and their lover's hearts were as strongly moved by the tender passion, as are those of lovers to-day, when the forests have given way to beautiful farms and thriving vil- lages. Heaven is within us, not without. The nearest post office at that time was Prairie dn Chien. ' When- ever any one came from that place he brought the mail for all his friends. In 1846, Hamilton, McClum & Beebe built a saw mill on Cunning- ham Creek, two miles below Neillsville. In 1847, Jonathan Nichols built a saw mill on what is now called Cauley Creek, three miles above Neillsville. Merrick, Miller and Dibble built a mill on the main river, eleven miles below Neillsville, in 1847, and the next year, I think, Le- ander Merrill, Ben Merrill and John Lane built another mill, one mile below the latter place, and John Morrison built still another mill about the same time. During the same year, Van Dusen & Waterman built a mill eighteen miles above Neillsville, on the Black River. All these* proved bad speculations, as the expense of getting the lumber to the Mississippi was very great, and the price was low. Of these lumbermen mentioned, it is believed that James O'Neill is the only one remaining in Clark County. Leander and Ben Merrill still live at Merrillan, Avhich is named after them. They have amassed considerable wealth, and are extensively engaged in business at the latter place. Samuel Ferguson, an old settler, a blacksmith by trade, still resides at Neills- ville. Nearly all the others named are dead. The mill on Cunningham Creek was purchased by Moses Clark. An altercation between Clark and one William Paulley, took place in Neills- ville, in the store of Clinton & Quail. Paulley shot Clark, who lingered some time, but who finally died at Plattville, Grant County, Wisconsin, whither he had been taken for surgical treatment. Paulley was indicted •j-_M American Sketch Booh for manslaughter, tried and convicted. lie served out his sentence a! Waupun, and afterwards died at Black River Falls. In L850, there was only fifty acres cleared where Neillsville now stands. This clearing extended up the hill including the ground where the school-house dow stands, ami where the residences of R, .1 Mac- Bride and George G. Farnham are situated. The growth since then lias been Bteady ami parallel with tlic development of the county. It will he impossible for the writer to follow a strictly chronological plan in the presort sketch, and the reader, therefore, will not expect it. An attempt will simply he made to throw together some information, which may he interesting to old settlers and to the young, who would know BOmething of the early history of the place. Neillsville has always been a lumbering town, and a centre of opera- tion- for lumbermen. An immense amount of pine has been cut from the forests of the county, which has all found its way out by the Black River ami its tributaries. This business has. Decessarily brought much money to Neillsville. Indeed, until very lately, the entire business of the place may he said to have been founded upon lumbering. As we have before said, lumber already sawed was run down Black River he- fore lo;_ r s. These rafts frequently meeting with accidents, another plan was taken. The logs wire ripped into cants about six inches thick, and floated down the river in this form. Logs were first run in 1853 ; the cants then becoming mixed with the logs so that it was difficult to saep- rate them, the running of the former was discontinued. Previous to that time there had heen quite a trade in shinnies, which was more profitable than the running of either logs or cants, because they always found a ready market. The county of Clark was organized in 1858. Neillsville was laid out. and plotted in L855, by a surveyor named Allen Boardman, .lames O'Neill being the proprietor. In 1853, Samuel Weston came from Maine, ami engaged iii running logs down Black River. A village was -tailed two miles ahove Neillsville, on Black River, and named Weston, in his honor. By some maneuvering of "Weston, in the act organizing the county, the place named for him, ami not Neillsville, was named as the county -eat. A .Mr. GribsOD was at that time the member of assembly representing Clark County, and he was very friendly to Mr. O'Neill, and through him an act of the legislature was passed, au- thorizing the people to vote on a change of the county seat from We tOD to the northwest quarter of section fourteen, town twenty-four, range fuur, west, where Neillsville i« now situated. JSFeillsville, Wisconsin. 225 The election took place in November, 1854. There was naturally a great struggle between O'Neill and Weston, for it was evident that the relative prominence of the two places would depend very much upon the result of the election. There was then but one town in the county, Pine Valley ; there were, however, two polling places, one at Neillsville, and the other at the house of one Parker, who kept a hotel about eleven mile3 below Neillsville, on Black River. There was no bridge across O'Neill creek, and the voters crossed on the dam. It is said that ofie, B. F. French, who is probably still remembered by some of the old settlers, suggested an excellent plan of operation to secure a majority vote for Neillsville. His idea finely conceived, was to place a barrel of whisky on the north bank of O'Neill creek, just at the end of the dam. Weston's men would all come that way, and it was believed would not resist the temptation to indulge in the ardent be- fore voting. By judicious management, they could be made so merry that it would be dangerous to navigate the narrow dam, and so the men would remain on the north side, and not be able to cast their votes The writer hereof will not insist, as a matter of history, that Neills- ville owes its present importance to French's whisky barrel scheme, but merely mentions the idea as a tradition still current, and as illus- trative of the shrewdness which has always characterized the esteemed gentleman referred to. It is presumed that some voters were imported on both sides, as quite a large number of men were then in the county temporarily working in the camps. I. S. Mason and C. W.. Hutchin- son had camps on Wedge's creek, and their men all came in and voted in favor of the location at Neillsville. The number of votes cast at the latter place was one hundred and four, and resulted in a majority of four for Weston. The whole vote cast at Parker, twenty-one, was in favor of Neillsville, and decided the issue, making the majority in favor of the latter place seventeen. While Neillsville would have been a center of operations for lumbermen, regardless of its being so selected, yet it is doubtless very true that its prosperity has been much increased by its being the county seat. Clinton & Quail were the first merchants in the place, locating in 1856. In the same year, Reuben Roik started the first hotel. The growth of the place since then has been steady, until it has reached the dimensions which we see to-day. In the further progress of our narrative, we shall abandon the chronological and adopt a plan refer- ring more to things and their necessary connection with each other than to time. This, it is believed, will be more interesting to the 27 2 2 6 Anu ru a n Sketch Booh. reader, and will certainly save much time and trouble to the writer. We Bhall Grst prooeed to notice some of the early settlers, and in doing BO we foresee that it will be impracticable to notice all, and it is verv possible that when we have concluded our sketch, we shall be guilty in sins of omission, rather than commission. The founder of the place, and the one who has done more than any body else to make Neillsville what it i^, has already received consider- able notice. As his biography is to form a part of the contents of the current number of the SKETCH BOOK, it will be unnecessary to say much further of him in this connection. It may be remarked that his daughter Belle, now the wife of W. S. Covill, Esq., was the first white child born in Neillsville and in Clark county, She was born March 6th, 1849. Mr. O'Neill has done much to increase the prosperity of the place by gifts of grounds for the court house, school house and Methodist church, and by building a large and commodious hotel which bears his name. R. Dewdmrst and G. W. King came to Neillsville together, in 1856. Dewhurst had read law in Ohio, at Illyria, with Philoem Bliss, after- ward Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri. They started a law office soon after their arrival, their office being situated in a building which stood near the gate in front of the present residence of James O'Neill- Dewhurst taught the first winter school ever taught at Weston, during the winter of 1856-7. King was elected Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, in the fall of 1858, and at the same election Dewhurst was elected Register of Deeds and member of Assembly. He had previously been chosen County Judge, in which capacity, the writer is informed, the most important act he ever per- formed, was to walk from Neillsville to Loyal, a distance of twenty miles, to unite two loving hearts in the bonds of matrimony. Dew- hurst was again elected to the Assembly in 1874, which position ho now holds. lie has been extensively engaged in lumbering, and owns much valuable pine and agricultural lands in Clark county. All who know him regard him as an honest and excellent gentleman, and, al- though from the prominent position he has taken in politics, be baa, naturally, incurred some enmity, yet his political enemies concede bis many sterling qualities. Mr. King removed, some yens Bince, to Elumbird, Wisoonsin, where he now lives. He i- extensively engaged in lumbering, owning what is known as King's Mill, on the direct road from Neillsville to Ilumbird, and being also interested in a large mill on the Mississippi. Neillsville, Wisconsin. 227 Robert Ross came to Neillsville in November, 1848, from Canada. He brought with him two sovereigns and a half, lent them to one Baker, and never got them back. The first three years he made shingles, which was then a good business, as shingles were a legal tender. Since then he has been extensively engaged in lumbering. Some years since he removed to La Crosse, but in the autumn of 1874 returned to his farm, about a mile from Neillsville. He is now con- sidered one of the wealthy men of the place, owning much valuable pine land. James Hewett came to Clark 'County in 1858, from Essex county, New York. He worked by the day on Black River bridge, opposite what is now known as Arch Day's hotel, during the winter of 1856-7, and during the winter of 1857-8 he worked on Wedge's creek for Major Wedge, at thirty dollars per month. The next summer he had to go to Black River Falls, saw lumber and run it to Galena to get his pay. Upon his return from this trip he was taken down with fever and ague, which continued three months. Upon recovering, he had not a dollar left, but he had something more valuable than money — indomitable pluck and perseverance. On the eighth day of January, 1859, he formed a partnership with Chauncey Blakeslee and 0. S. Woods, under the firm name of Hewett, Woods & Co. This firm continued about ten years- Woods went to La Crosse in 1867, and attended to the business of the firm in that place, and in 1869 Blakes- lee withdrew and went to Sparta to reside. The firm bought a steam tug in 1870, and another in 1872, for the purpose of towing rafts on the Mississippi river. The magnitude of the business of this firm will be seen when it is stated that from the year 1868 to 1873 they put into Black River from eighteen to twenty-five millions of pine logs per annum, averaging in value, at the mouth of Black River, about twelve dollars per thousand feet. During the summer of 1872, they erected at Neillsville a handsome brick store, which cost about ten thousand dollars. Mr. Hewett built an elegant residence in the place in the summer of 1874, costing about the same amount. The firm of Hewett & Woods is regarded as one of the most stable business houses in the Northwest. Mr. Hewett is a man of very peculiar bearing. When the writer was first introduced to him, he was impressed with the idea that Mr. Hewett was a man lacking in energy and business ability ; yet this could not be, for here before my eyes were to be seen the fruits of persistent industry and prudent management. Few men blunder into prosperity and wealth. Mr. Hewett's quiet and unos- 228 American Sketch Boole. tentatious way does not favorably impress upon first acquaintance, but a better knowledge of the man will convince you that there are much careful thought and penetration into the nature and relation of things behind that quiet exterior. Mr. "Woods is a pleasant gentle- man, and his Frendfl are many wherever he is known. William T. Hutchinson came to Neillsville, October fifteenth, 1857, fr.»m \\ aukeeha county, Wisconsin, but was formerly from Delaware. At an early day, he was appointed postmaster at Pleasant Ridge, and was afterwards postmaster at Neillsville, from 1865 to 1871. lie was elected Register of Deeds in 1805, to which office he has been three times re-elected. lie fills every position he holds with credit to him- self and satisfaction to the people. No man is more certainly to be found at his post. For some years he has been in partnership with Judge Dewhurst, in the real estate business. David II. Robinson, a native of Maine, emigrated to Wisconsin in 184-1, locating in Washara county, from which place became to Neills- ville in 1852. Up to 1859, he was engaged in logging. He also kept a hotel at Weston from 18G3 to 1868. Since then he has turned his attention to fanning. Having received a good education when young, he has been well fitted for the numerous and important positions of public trust to which he has been called. F. G. Cawley came to this place in 1853, when quite a boy. For the last fifteen years he has filled the position of constable, in which capacity he is said to be expert, as well in evading as in obtaining service of process. His experience in running off cows, picking black- berries, Saturday afternoons, until the small hours of midnight, and the like, would fill a volume, and for further information we refer the reader to "Follett on Tricks," with American notes by Doc. French. His father, Samuel Cawley, settled here some years before his son. From him Cawley Creek took its name. He still lives at Weston. W. W. Lemon arrived in Clark county from Canada, October 13th, His residence since then has been in the town of Levis, but as he is so well known by other old settlers, he is mentioned in this connection. He has been Town Treasurer six years, and has held other positions of trust. He still lives in Levis, and is now projtrictor of the Wedge Creek House. Samuel !•'. Ferguson, located in Neillsville in the fall of 1S1.~>. He had lived t\\ () years previous at Black River Falls, and on Black River. He iras horn in Ohio, ;ind thence removed to Pennsylvania. He had gone down, in the summer of 1845, with .James O'Neill, with a raft to Neillsville^ Wisconsin. 229 Burlington, Iowa, where O'Neill purchased blacksmith tools. These were conveyed up Black River to Neillsville, where Mr. Furguson started a blacksmith shop. He made the irons for the first saw mill. The only house in the place was O'Neill's house, heretofore mentioned as being the first erected in Neillsville. About twelve or fifteen slept in this shanty, twelve feet wide by sixteen feet long. Ferguson bored two holes in a log, stuck two pins in, laid pieces of boards across, and this constituted his bed during the winter. From that day to this, he has had a blacksmith shop in or about Neillsville. He sits before the writer as he pens these lines, a man of sixty-six years, and still quite vigorous and healthy. William Ferguson, or as better known, Uncle Billy Ferguson, a brother to Samuel F., came to Neillsville about the same time as his brother. He was known as a hunter, in which ocupation he spent the greater portion of his time. He resided in or near this place until his death, which occurred in 1871. James W. Ferguson, a nephew of the two brothers mentioned, came to this place April 23d, 1854. His uncle Samuel could not find a wife to suit him in Clark county, and had visited Pennsylvania in search of one, in which pursuit he succeeded. James W. then ac- companied his uncle on his return. Since then he has resided here, excepting four years, from November 1861 to October 1865, which time he spent in the army. He has held the position of postmaster in Neillsville since 1871. Daniel Gates, from Essex county, New York, removed to Clark county in 1856, locating at the mouth of Wedge's creek, where he kept hotel for five years. In 1861, he came to this place, leased the building which is now occupied by Gates & Head as a meat market, from C. Blakeslee, and opened a hotel, which he kept one year. The next year he moved to where he now lives. From 1862 to 1868 he was engaged in logging. He has been Sheriff two years, Justice of the Peace four years, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors one term, and is now President of the Clark County Agricultural Society. His partner in the meat business, Joseph Head, Esq., came to this place from Monroe county, Wisconsin, in 1867. The firm now do an ex- tensive and profitable business, and are regarded as among the sound- est and best houses in the place. James W. Sturdevant came to this place in the fall of 1848, from Lee county, Iowa. His birth-place was Pennsylvania. At this time -30 American Sketch Booh. he f about a year in Washington Territory in 1874. He was married and had four children when he came to Neillsville, viz., Robert, James, Rufus and Marshall. Rol who studied law with his uncle. B. F. French, and afterwards held the position of District Attorney of Clark county, removed in the fall of \^~-\ to Washington Territory, where he is now engaged in the prac- tice of his profession. Rufus now holds the office vacated by his brother, and is engaged in the practice of his profession and lumber- ing. Their father has generally devoted bis time to agricultural pur- suits, but has also spent much time in keeping bees. For many years he has had an average of about one hundred swarms. lie has re- turned from the Pacific coast, and now lives on his firm, one mile south of Neillsville. James French, a brother of B. F. French, and brother-in-law of J. W. Sturdevant, came here in 1848, and has lived most of the time since on his farm, about five miles south of Neillsville. He has been engaged both in lumbering and farming. He now resides in Neillsville. The newspaper history of Clark county is full of interesting events and spicy incidents, and if faithfuly given would add much to the value of this sketch. Innsarly all the local party strifes that have taken place since the first newspaper was started, the press and its manager have taken a conspicuous part, and there is hardly a promi- nent citizen who has not been active in the development and support of one or more newspaper enterprises. The disposal of the official printing patronage of the county, became the issue at elections, and men voted for such candidates as would promise to give the printing to the journal of their choice. The writer regrets that the brief time afforded has prevented his giving much desirable information on this subject, and in attempting to give even a partial history, it can only be done, in a rather incoherent manner, for want of dates in many instances. The first introduction of the press into Clark county, was attended with many of the trials and difficulties that beset the path of pioneers in whatever occupation they engage. Beriah Brown, Chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee, iirst corresponded with par- ties her<' in regard to the matter. This was in the fall of 1^">»>, and before the following spring, William 0. Tompkins, who had been pub' lishing a paper with poor success at Weyauwega, made his appearance at Neillsville, with press and type. lie had come "overland" through JVeittsville, Wisconsin. 231 woods, a distance of nearly one hundred miles, bringing the material loaded upon wagons. The country west of here, then was, for the most part of the way, an almost unbroken wilderness. How he ever get through with safety, will probably always remain a mystery. The first number of the paper was issued in March, 1857, and was called the " Clark County Advocate." It wag a little "seven-by-nine" sheet, but in size and appearance compared very favorably with its surroundings. The public printing was about the only item of reve- nue, but it was abundant, and the future looked promising. The great political changes throughout the country about that time, had their effect in this remote corner of the world, and the next September, Tompkins, with not a very high regard for Beriah Brown's kind inter- vention in his behalf, changed the politics of the paper from Demo- cratic to Republican. This, with other causes of a local nature, set things to working in the community. A spirit of opposition to the paper began to show itself, probably owing more to the desire of others to get hold of the "pap," than anything else. Rumors of starting another paper became unpleasantly current, so far as Tompkins was concerned. Tompkins was quite small in physical stature, and was quick, active and impulsive. He became conspicuous, of course, in « local politics. Some of the contests that were waged between the contending forces of the little band of settlers were made memorable for their fierce, uncompromising character. The opposing party finally succeeded, and Tompkins quietly sold out his office one day to J. S. Dore and S. W. Dickinson, the former a school teacher, and the latter a young practicing attorney, both of Avhorn having had for some time a kind of longing for the pecuniary benefits derived from the publication of huge tax lists, not saying what literary aspirations they may have fondly cherished. B. F. French, the recognized leader of the opposition faction, (the parties had become mere factions) was chiefly instrumental in bringing about the purchase. It was re- garded as a nice little piece of strategy, for it robbed the other party of their organ, and turned their own guns upon them. James O'Neill and C. Blakeslee, the leading spirits of the Tompkins party, soon learned what had been done, and made Tompkins refuse to deliver up the office. A formal demand was made by Dore & Dickinson of A. J. Manley, an employe in the office, who gave them a pretty em- phatic answer in the negative. It is said that he assumed a threatening and beligerent attitude, which had such a remarkable impression upon the minds of the two D'sthat they concluded at once not to take the American Sketch Book. office then, and accordingly departed without needless ceremony. An notion of replevin was commenced, but the suit has never terminated. An old office was purchased in Trempealeau, the material removed to Neillsville, and on the 14th of October, 1801, a new paper was brought out by Dore & Dickinson, under the pretentious but highly patriotic title of "Union Flag," Then began a journalistic and per- sonal warfare of intense bitterness, that continued unceasingly until Tomjkins sold out and left the county, in the spring of 1803. A- J. Manley, then a lieutenant in the Fourteenth Wisconsin Regiment, was supposed to be the proprietor, but until his return, in 1805, the paper was conducted by C. W. Carpenter. Meantime Dickinson retired from the "Flag," and removed to Sparta. During the period between 1801 ai '1 1865 one paper or the other would take an occasional resting spell, and raspend for awhile, owing generally to the bad fortunes of party. The county election in the fall of 1801 was hotly contested, for it was a question of life or death with each paper. It was decided in favor of the "Advocate," and the "Flag" stopped waving in Febru- ary. F. Cooper became associated with C. Manley in the spring of 1865, and remained until the fall of 1800, when he sold out and be- came the publisher of the "Banner" at Black River Falls- Manley ran for the office of County Treasurer, in the fall of 1800, but he and his whole ticket were badly defeated. Preparations were begun by J. Dore for the publication of the "Clark County Journal," audit finally made its appearance on January .'51st, 18G7, with the names of J. S. Dore and E. E. Merritt as editors and proprietors. It was an eight column paper, and in size and appear* ance, at least, was a marked improvement upon any former publica- tion in the county, Manley and his friends had received satisfactory assurance that Mcintosh, his successful opponent for the office of Treasurer, would give his printing to the "Advocate." The starting of the "Journal," however, was full of significance, and it became a question of grave doubt whether Mcintosh was sincere in liis promises or not In the spring, when the time arrived for printing the list of lands, notices were sent to the publishers that the Treasurer would let the job to the lowest bidder. The official was desirous of showing no partiality in the bestowal of Ins patronage ! The pub lisheri met at the Treasurer*! office and began bidding,. "Jack," as Manley was familiarly called, looked all the time as if there IfSJ something back of this unusual proceeding that he could not under- stand, and Dore and the Treasurer were quite confident that he JVeillsville, Wisconsin. 238 didn't ! The bids went down, down, with marvelous rapidity, until they bid a fraction of a cent, then of a mill, per description, and finally the merest fraction of a sum for the whole list. The affair soon made it evident that the one who possessed the greatest amount of mathematical talent would get the job by expressing in figures the smallest conceivable amount. The Treasurer hastened to District Attorney, French, and was informed that he could secure bids for the privilege of doing the job. " Fifty dollars ! " cried Dore. "One hundred dollars ! " yelled Jack, determined not to be outdone- " Two hundred dollars ! " shouted Dore. There was a heart dismayed, and Jack flew out of the office, realizing for the first time the cruel duplic- ity that had been practiced upon him. He learned too late that the bids were nothing but a sham, and that the county would be obliged to pay the legal rate under any circumstances. The fact was known to the others, while poor Jack was in dead earnest. About that time, Merritt left the " Journal," and went to St. Louis. Manley soon after stopped his paper, and removed the office to Minnesota, against the repeated protests of his many warm friends. The " Journal" had a clear field, but it did not last long. At the urgent request of many citizens, Merritt returned in September, bringing with him a new and complete outfit for another paper, and on the 25th of October, 1867, issued the first copy of the " Clark County Republican." H. H. Hand was associated with him for six Aveeks only, when he left a touching valedictory behind, and found his way back to St. Louis. The quarrels of former papers in the county were yet fresh in the memory of the public, and by common consent the "Journal" and "Republican " wisely refrained from inflicting upon their readers a repetition of it. Everything went on smoothly for two or three years. The election of 1868 was a complete triumph for the Republican party, and the new organ gained possession of the public "pap." For more than a-year, Joseph Benedict, a young man of ability and bright promise, had almost exclusive editorial control of the "Journal." He died in the year of 1870, deeply mourned by a host of friends. The "Journal" struggled hard to sustain itself during the two years of the " terrible privation" from the]' printing, and prepared for the most vigorous effort to win the election of 1870. Merritt took the United States census of the county that summer, and got Hand to comeback on the paper again. Hand ^was'out of his element if not quarreling with someone, and the consequence was that the two papeis were socn precipitated into a disgraceful fight. 28 •_'.". i American sketch Booh There was a general raking up of old sores, and county officials, can- didates and prominent men of all parties were hauled out before tin- public in Bhameful nowspaper tirades upon their personal character. There wag I feeling of relief when Hand bid us good bye once more. happened about two weeks before election, and was deemed ex- tremely necessary to the "Republican's" friends. There was no letting down, of course, at that stage of the game, and it was fought nut to the bitter end. The whole Republican ticket was elected, and the "Journal" immediately subsided. Dore was very confident of success up to the last moment, and defeat came upon him with crush- ing force. R.J. MacBride and G.J. Follett called upon him the next day to condole with him over his misfortunes. They found him sitting in profound silence, meditating upon the uncertainties of all human affairs, elbows resting upon his knees, head bent over and face covered by his hands. It was pitiful, but Follett unfeelingly said : " Dore, I hear it reported about that you are going to start a paper at Cataract." A nitro-glycerine explosion could not have been more efiective in starting Dore up with a bound, almost to the ceiling, " Godlelmity ! who told you that ? But I'll show you that I can run a newspaper here ! " The "Republican " flourished without opposition until June, 1873, when the " Clark County Press" was started by II. J. Hoffman, as the organ of the Reform party. The " Republican " was sold to C. J. Cooper, in March, 1873, and D. T. Lindley became its editor. The former gave up his interest in the paper in December last. Mr. Lindly at present has full management and control of the paper. Mr. Hoffman accepted a responsible position in the office of Secretary of State, last September, and was succeeded in the "Press" office by his brother, E. L. Hoffman. Both papers arc in a prosperous condi- tion, and in point of excellence rank with the best country papers in the state. CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS. In l v IT, Rev. R. K. Wood, a Methodist minister, then preaching od the I'.lack Kiver Falls circuit, visited Neillsville as a guest of Hon. James O'Neill, and, during the visit, favored the little community with the first public religion! services ever held in the place. .Mr. Wood 18 well remembered by many of the old settlers OU Black River as S preacher of rather more than ordinary ability, and an ear« nest, industrious man. His field of labor was oertainlv not the most inviting, requiring bard work and no little self-sacrifice, but he iTeillsville, Wisconsin. 235 cepted the circumstances as a matter of course, and did what he could to advance the cause of Christ. Although the immediate good results of his preaching were not sufficiently apparent to warrant him in be- coming vain-glorious, he was certainly well received by the people; his genial good humor making him a welcome visitor everywhere; even at lumbering camps, and among rafting crews, he was always greeted with the respect due a man of true Christian integrity. For several years no religious services were held in Neillsville, sav- ing such as, at rare intervals, was furnished by some clerical pilgrim paying tho place a chance visit, but whose names history provokingly refuses to reveal. The name of one, Pattee, however, has escaped ob- livion, a simple hearted, eccentric old man, a local preacher belonging to the United Brethren denomination, who had made a claim and built a cabin on what is now known as the " McAdams place," and "exercised his gifts" on all occasions when a congregation could be obtained. In 1858, the West Wisconsin Conference, held at La Crosse, ap- pointed Rev. James Cady to the Alma Circuit, and during the year Neillsville was made a regular appointment of that charge, having preaching once every three weeks. The first Methodist class consisted of James Lynch, Margaret Lynch, Mary A. Sturdevant and Jane O'Neill. Of these, all are now living in Neillsville, with the exception of Mrs. O'Neill, who died during the summer of '73, in full hope of a glorious immortality. Her loss will long be felt in the community where, for so many years, she was an earnest worker for the best in- terests of the church. Cady was succeeded in 1859 by Rev. John Holt, an earnest pioneer preacher of indomitable perseverence and untiring zeal, whose charge comprised a tract of country now embraced by half a dozen prosperous circuits — as large, in fact, as many presiding elders' districts of later date. He received from the NeilLsville appointment that year, $7- 50, which amount was paid in honey, gloves and stockings- Rev. L, R. Davis was his associate preacher. At the Northwest Wisconsin Conference, held at Sparta in 1860, Neillsville was made a circuit, and Rev. Wm. Carl appointed pastor. However well qualified this gentleman may have been for other walks of life, as a preacher he was not a success, and we find no record of any permanent growth or prosperity of the charge committed to his care. In '61,Neillsville became an appointment of Black River Falls cir- 2 36 ^1 in i rial n Skc tch Book. euit, of which Rev. Win. H. Brocksome was pastor, who, owing no doabt to the great extent of his circuit visited this point but few times dining the year. In '62. he was reappointed to the circuit, but daring the year was removed, and Re?. J. W. Johnson was appointed hi- successor. Mr. Johnson visited Neillsrille but once during the year, and to those interested in the welfare of the church, his visit was a cause of greater regret than his subsequent absence. In '63, Neilleville became a circuit again, and Rev. A. G. Cooley was appointed preacher in charge. He remained but six months, leaving no record of any increase of membership or material prosper- ity during his administration. During the years of '04 and '05, the circuit was supplied by Rev. Il.mev Palmer, u a Father in Israel," who having served the church as an itinerant for years, had located, and was making in the woods of Clark County a home for his old age. Under his administration the bounds of the circuit were enlarged, new preaching places were added, and the membership somewhat increased. In '05, J. T. Lewis was appointed to the circuit. He labored un- der many discouragements during his stay, and left at the end of the year under the firm conviction that the denizens of Neillsville and vi- cinity ' ; loved darkness rather than light,because their deeds were evil." Lewis was succeeded in '07 by Rev. W. T. Boughton, who found as his predecessors had already done, no doubt a field of labor de- manding hard work and abundant faith. In spite of apparent defeat he was encouraged by some genuine conversions. During '08 and '09 Rev. J. J, Walker was pastor. By the liberal aid of the friends of the church he was enabled to build a plain but comfortable house of worship, locating it upon a most desirable lot, the generous gift of Mrs. James O'Neill. Walker was succeeded in 'TO by Rev. II, W. Bushnell, an able man who, winning the respect and co-operation of the community was en- abled to place the society upon a surer social and financial footing. Daring his stay of three years he was abundant in labors, which were not unrewarded by gratifying results. A burdensome church debt Liquidated, the parsonage re-modeled and much improved, and many additions made to the membership of the church. During his •rate the circuit was divided, the appointments of Loyal and Greenwood with their membership of fifty communicants forming a nucleus for an independent circuit, of which Rev. g. B. McLane w:is made pastor. JSTeillsville, Wisconsin. 237 Bushnell was succeeded in '73 by Rev. Bert E. Wheeler, present pastor. The society at present is being somewhat increased by added membership, and bids fair to retain the position it has attained in the confidence of the community as a working branch of the church of Christ. The Methodist society has not been the only occupant of Neills- ville as a mission field, the Presbyterian denomination having been represented here at an early day by Rev. Mr. Harris, who was suc- ceeded, though not immediately, by Rev- Jas. Mair, who in turn was followed by Rev. W. T. Hendren, the present incumbent. That God's blessings may rest upon the labors of the Christian workmen in our frontier home, is the earnest prayer of all interested in the welfare of the cause of Christ and the salvation of men. The Presbyterian church of Neillsville was organized, October 27th, 1872, by a committee of the Presbytery of Chippewa, assisted by the Rev. B. Gr, Riley, Synodical Missionary. On the same day, there were ordained, as ruling elders, Stephen Ritchey, Edward J. Rice and William Campbell. The number of members has increased from six- teen to twenty-six. The meeting for the organization was held in the court house, and from that time to this the meetings have been held in the same place. The church has become deeply impressed with the necessity of a house of worship, and a good lot on Third street, the very centre of the pop- ulation, has been secured and paid for: cost, $400. Some of the ma- terial is on the ground, and it is proposed very soon to erect a church of moderate size, that will be an ornament to the village. The Sun- day school was organized in June, 1873, and gives promise of steady growth and great usefulness. The minister is W. T. Hendren, a native of Ohio, who was or- dained in Columbus, Ohio, May 11th, 1864. He came to this place from Caledonia, Minnesota, May 20th, 1872. During the summer,he preached a few times for the minister of the M. E. church, but chiefly in many destitute neighborhoods in the surrounding country. Since the organization of the church, regular services have been held twice each alternate Sabbath. Skotcli o\ lion. J;m,cs O'Neill. The Bubj( it of our Bketcb, a cut of whoin appears in this work, was horn in the town of Lisbon, St. Lawrence county, New York, May 4th, 1810. lli> father Andrew O'Neill was a native of Ireland, and listantly related to the famity of the same name, who have been possessed for many centuries of a vast estate around Lake Neagh, and whose members have been so famous in the political history of that country. 1 1 is family had always been Protestants and in the Irish wars took side of the English Kings. In his youth, he had received a University education. After the American revolution, and about the year 1785, he came to this country, going first to Washington, thence to New York, and finally to Canada. In Western New York, he iged for sometime in surveying. At Edwardsburg, Canada, he taught school, and about the year 1796 married a young lady who had been one of his pupils, and with her made the first settlement of the town of Lisbon, immediately opposite, on the banks of the St. Lawn James was the third of nine children. He resided at home until he eventeen, assisting his father in agricultural pursuits in summer, 1 enough, and attending the district school in the winter. II" never received anything more then a district school education, his ger brothers faring better in this respect. At the age of seven- he went to live with his eldest brother, Thomas, who had en- 1 in trade across the river, at Edwardsburg. Here he remained is brother's clerk two years. When about twenty years old he, in company with his younger brother, Alexander, lumbered on the American side of the river. In the spring of L831, they ran their timber down the liver to .Montreal. Upon James* return on the sec- ond day of August of the sani" year, he was taken down with fever, i which he did li"! reoover until winter. Having regained his health, he attended school during the winter, which was the last oppor- tunity of the kind he ever enjoyed, His brother John, now a wealthy merchant of Cleveland, Ohio, then Kept Btore at Ogdensburg, New Sketch of Ron. James O'Neill. 239 York. James assisted hini as a clerk during most of the year of 1832. At the close of the same year, he went to Canada and engaged in lumbering on his own account for nearly four years. He would get out square timber in the winter and run it clown the Nation and St. Lawrence rivers in the summer to Quebec. For two years, this busi- ness proved profitable, but during the last he lost twelve hundred dol- lars, which was then his all. In the winter of 1835-6, he and his brothers, Henry and Alexander, both of whom have resided at Neillsville, and will be remembered by the early settlers, lumbered in Lisbon, N. Y., buying stumpage of Stephen Van Rennsalaer, and putting the timber into the St. Law- rence. In the spring of 1836, they rafted this and ran it to Quebec. Upon their return in Jane, 1836, James took steamer at Ogdensburg for the West, bidding his father and mother good bye for the last time- He did not see his old home again for twenty-nine years. From Ogdensburg, he went to Lewiston, Niagara Falls and Buffalo, thence by steamer to Cleveland, Ohio, going from the latter place to Knox county, Ohio, where he worked during harvesting. In October of the same year, he went by wagon to Cincinnati by way of Columbus, Akron and Xenia. There were no railroads in those days. Thence by steamer down the Ohio and Mississippi, he proceeded to Grand Gulf, where he hired out to chop cord wood in Concordia Parish, La., at one dollar per cord and his board. Between the second day of November, 1836, and the last week in February, 1837, he chopped 313 cords. Having first made a trip by flat boat to New Orleans, we next find our adventurer running a keel boat up Black river, Missis- sippi, at ninety dollars per month. The water in the river would become warm in summer and so filled with decayed vegetable matter and dead alligators that the boatmen would first swallow a mouthful of water and then a little whisky to counteract its effect. The boats in going up the river carried corn, bacon, etc.; coming back their cargo was cotton, which they unloaded at Grand Gulf. The banks failed generally during that year, and O'Neill was paid off in depreciated currency. In June, 1837, he took steamer and came to St. Louis, where he was taken down with bilious fever, from which he did not recover for over two months. His brother, Alexander, joined him here, and together they went to St. Clair county, 111., and took a job of getting out railroad ties. Soon after James was taken with ague and Alexander with typhoid fever. The former was sick for nearly a year. In April, 1838, they both went to Galena. There 240 American Sketch Hook. James hirod oat i man at forty dollars a month on ;i Bteamer called the "Science." In this capacity, he Bpent the whole Bummer, running up the Wisconsin river to Fort Winnebago, now Por- Oity, and down the Mississippi as far as Keokuk. About the first of November, the boat was sunk on the upper rapids, about eight miles below Port Byron, 111. The ensuing winter, O'Neill chopped cord wood again in Louisiania. But the repeated attacks of fever, from which he had Buffered, had so broken down his constitution that he could not chop more than half as much as he did before. In April 1839, he returned to St. Louis, where he hired out as a deck hand on a steamboat to run up the Illinois river. Having made .gle trip, he came to Prairie du Chien where he became a pilot on the steamer "Ariel," a boat plying between the latter place and the lower rapids. During the last few years and since his arrival upon the Mississippi, his health had been very poor. In the fall of 1839,he became convinced that it would not be safe for him longer to remain on the river. Accordingly in September of the same year, he and Alexander, the brother before mentioned, procured a large canoe, filled it with provisions at Prairie du Chien and in it came up the Mississippi and Black rivers to a place three miles below Black River Falls, Wis. Here they built a saw mill. In 1844, James removed to what is now Neillsville, where he has ever since resided. It will be unnecessary to repeat in this connection much of what has already been written in the sketch of Neillsville, which appears herewith, ;ind to which the reader is referred. Mr. O'Neill has been the moving spirit of the place from its first settlement. No one has taken so much pride or interest in its prosperity. He built the first log cabin, and has lived to see the forests give way to one of the most beautiful places in Wisconsin. On the sixth day of .March, 1846, he was married to Jane Douglas, a very estimable lady. So it will be seen that Mr. O'Neill had passed considerably into the realm of bachelorhood, having reached the age of thirty-six. Mrs. O'Neill died in lsT:!. The citizens of Neillsville universally bear testimony to her good qualities. She was a woman of a decided religious turn of mind, and is said to have done mucb for the churches of the place. The issue of this marriage was three children, Isabella, Maria and Tliumas. The daughters still live in Neillsville. Thomas died iii l v 7_\ when about twenty years of a Mr. O'Neill was elected to the Assembly of Wisconsin in 1848, and | ; dingly a member of the first legislature of the state, HON. JAMES O'NEILL. Sketch of Hon. James O'Neill. 243 which met in January, 1849. What are now Clark and Jackson counties were then a part of Crawford county. Mr. O'Neill set out in December for Madison, going overland by team, by way of Prairie du Chien, Lancaster, Mineral Point, Dodgeville and Blue Mound. There was only one settler between Black River Falls until within ten miles of Prairie du Chien, and this was a Dutchman named Metzger, who lived on Coon Prairie. O'Neill's team had to walk all the way and break the road through the snow. On his return, he came afoot by the way of Sauk City, Baraboo, New Lisbon and Black River Falls. The man Findley, who is now a pauper in Levis, Clark county, was then a prominent business man at New Lisbon, and with him O'Neill stopped over night. From his place to Black River Falls, O'Neill was out two days and two night3, alone, having no blankets, but carrying a small ax with which to cut fire-wood. In 1868, he was again elected to the legislature, his opponent being Chauncey Blakeslee, over whom he received a large majority. In 1848, he was elected as a democrat over W. T. Price, who ran as a whig. Since 1856, he has been a zealous republican. In political matters he has always adhered to the motto: "Principles not men." No promise of preferment or pecuniary advantage could swerve him from the path which seemed ,to him right. The esteem with which he has been held by his fellow citizens may be seen from the numerous positions of trust in which they have placed him. From the year 1861 to 1865, he was County Treasurer; for about fifteen years he was Chairman of the County Board of Supervisors ; at different times he has held the position of Justice of Peace, Town Treasurer and like offices. Several years ago, he built a large and elegant hotel, which he kept for some time, It still bears his name and does credit to the place. He has given lands for school purposes, a site for the Methodist church, beside a large gift in money, and several large lots in the heart of Neillsville, for county buildings. The poor and destitute have always been objects of his benefactions. If Mr. O'Neill had had the niggardly and acquisitive faculty of some men, he might to- day be a millionaire; as it is, he has acquired a handsome compe- tence, owning much valuable pine land in Clark county, and a great many village lots in Neillsville. No one was ever heard to charge him with dishonestly obtaining a dollar. In this respect his life is a shining example to the young men who may chance to know him. 29 -II American Sketch Book. Mr. O'Neill is not a man of words, but of action. Occasionally he is very entertaining in conversation, but usually he is very quiet. Physically he has been a very powerful man, weighing nearly two hundred pounds. II is height is about six feet, and he measures around the chest, forty-two inches. In his younger days his muscular ability was something remarkable. His hair and whiskers are slightly mixed with gray. At sixty-five there are no signs of baldness. For the last two years, Mr. O'Neill has not been actively engaged in business, but simply attending to the managemeut of his pine land and village property. His life has been one of hard and unremitting labor. Most of us would shudder at the thought of being obliged to endure the hardships which he has undergone. His record, as it has come to the writer, is creditable, having in it few things which one could wish blotted out. Human nature is always imperfect. In judging men, it is not well to look entirely at either faults or virtues, but to weigh both together. If the latter are great in comparison with the former, it is all we ought to expect. In the life which we have been tracing, the bad is as infi- nitesimal in comparison with the good, as the artificial fountain in our parlors are smaller than the cataract of Niagara. gketdli of Son. S. tf. I^c n cl|. Benjaman F. French was born in Chatauqua county, N Y., on the 10th day of August, A. D., 1832. His father, Captain John French, who died a few years ago, at the residence of his son — the subject of this sketch — at Neillsville, Wisconsin, was a soldier of the war of 1 812. For a period of about seven years, young French lived with his parents, in Chatauqua county, New York, when in the ye:ir 1839, he removed with thorn, to Warren county, Pennsylvania, where he re mained, until the year 1844, when the family moved to Jefferson county, Iowa. In the year 1848, his mother died, and in 1849, at the age of seventeen years, he left his father's house, and came to Crawford county, Wisconsin, and settled in what is now known as Sketch of Hon. B. F French. 245 Clark county, (then a part of Crawford), near the bank of Black river, upon section number four (4), in township number twenty-three (23), north of range number two (2), west. Here he built a log shanty, and for about five years, kept bachelor's hall, in primeval manner, until the 8th of June, 1854, when he was married to Miss Elizabeth R. Brown ; a very estimable lady, who immediately there- after, assumed the household duties at the "log shanty," and who now is living with her husband, at Noillsville, Wisconsin, doing the honors, at their handsome residence, in the same unaffected and un- ostentatious manner, with which she presided over the log cabin, in 1854. In 1848, Mr. French studied medicine with Dr. Mellon, but never engaged in the practice thereof. He occasionally waits upon his friends and relatives, when they are sick, but never for fee or re- ward, he disclaiming, always, any pretensions to being a medical man, although his friends, in years gone by, by virtue of his two years study of medicine, dubbed him with the sobriquet of "Doc"; a title of which he bears to this day, and which he claims to have acquired from being named after the illustrious philosopher, Doctor Franklin. In the years 1854-5, Mr. French studied law with his brother, Joseph French, then a prominent lawyer, at La Crosse, Wisconsin, who died in the fall of the year 1855; and in the month of Septem- ber, 1856, he was admitted to the bar, by Judge George Gale, who then was presiding judge of Sixth Judicial Circuit of the state of Wisconsin. As a lawyer, Mr. French has been very successful, hav- ing been engaged in many very important cases, arising in the west- ern part of the state, and being uniformily successful in the greater portion of the cases in which he has been engaged. As an advocate, or as it is sometimes termed, a "jury lawyer," Mr. French has few equals if any superiors in the western part of Wisconsin. In the year 1854, and at the early age of twenty-two, Mr. French was elected County Treasurer of Clark county — being the first Treasurer elected in the county. He held that office for one term, un- til the 1st day of January, 1856. In the fall of 1860, he was elected District Attorney of the county, and entered upon the duties of his office, in January, 1861, and continued to serve the people in that capacity, until the first Monday in January, 1869, serving four terms in that office, successively, being re-elected three times, twice without opposition. He held several other offices, in the town and county, being elected a number of times as one of the County Board of Super- visors, and being one or more terms, the chairman of that body. 246 American Sketch Booh. In the year 1873, he was a candidate on the democratic or opposi- tion ticket, for member of the Assembly, in the Assembly district composed of the counties of Jackson and Clark, but was defeated ; the district being strongly republican. His opponent received only three hundred and fifty-two majority, whereas, the member of Congress on the republican ticket, (Mr. Rusk), in the same district, received nearly twelve hundred majority. In the county of Clark, at the same election, the republican ticket, generally, had a majority of over seven hundred, while Mr. French, as an opposition candidate, hand- somely carried the county by a majority of sixty-nine, thus running nearly eight hundred ahead of his ticket, in his own county. In 1867, the first Masonic Lodge in Clark county, was instituted at Neillsville, Wisconsin, of which lodge Mr. French was the first Master. He was elected three terms thereafter in succession, and held the office until in the year 1S71. In personal appearance, Mr. French is about five feet eight inches in height, and weighs one hundred and ninety pounds ; full face,florid complexion, with hair and whiskers tinged with grey, causing him to have the appearance of a much older man than he is. Although Mr. French has resided in Clark county for over twenty- five years, he did not become a resident of Neillsville until the year 18G2, when he removed from his farm, six miles south of the village, to the place where he now lives, at the corner of Fourth and East streets. Mr. French has been a prominent man in the history of Clark county and Neillsville. Energetic and influential, he has been instrumental in furthering all the public improvements that have been made in the county for a score of years. As a man and a citizen he is respected, and held in the highest esteem in the community where he has resided for over half of his life. He is emphatically a self-made man. Having had but few advantages, and little education in his younger days, he has, by energy, perseverence and natural tal- ent, amassed a competency, and placed himself in an honorable and enviable position among his fellows, in the society in which he moves. S f)e$6riptioi\ of d&fk County, Wi^6oi\^ii\. CLARK COUNTY is bounded on the east by the counties of Wood and Marithon ; on the north by Chippewa ; on the west by Chippewa, Eau Claire and Jackson, and on the south by Jackson. It includes townships twenty-three to thirty-one, and range one east, and from one to four west inclusive, less one township in the south- west corner, making in all forty-four seetional townships. The soil will more than average with any county on either side of it. The whole county is more or less covered with dense forests of heavy tim- ber (including all the valuable woods that grow in this climate) except where it has been cut down for lumbering purposes, and to clear the land for farms. The Black River runs through the whole length of the county, taking within its borders a large part of what is known as the Black River Pinery. There are five other streams, which empty into the main river, within the county, all large enough for lumbering purposes, to wit : Wedge's Creek on the west, East Fork Cunningham Creek, Cawley's Creek, Rock River and Popple River on the east. Since its organization, Clark county has been sub-divided into nine incorporations, or towns, to wit : Lewis, Grant, Lynn, Pine Valley, Mentor, Western, Loyal, Eaton and Beaver. Probably no county in the state has raised a larger amount of money for roads, and more judiciouly laid out the same, than has Clark county. It has made, in one continuous line up the main river, over fifty miles of turnpike, at an expense of nearly one thousand dollars per mile ; besides seventeen and a half miles from Humbird to Neills- ville, at almost an equal expense per mile ; taking out all the trees, big and little, root and branch, the whole width of a legal road. The bridges have cost many thousands of dollars, independent of the cost of the remainder of said roads. These roads constitute the main thoroughfares into and through the county. But there are other roads, and good ones, too, that lead from the main line back into the several towns, for the accommodation of quite an extensive farming district. American Sketch Booh. One thing is particularly noticable in the county, that is the sub- itial character of the farm buildings and a general attempt at neatness. Although in a wilderness, as it were, you will find an en- terpriaing look about the premises of even the poorest farmer. For thirty miles above Cunningham Creek, on the main road, there can be found more and better farm buildings, in one continuous thirty miles, than can be found in the same distance west of the Wisconsin River to the state line, excluding villages that may come within that distance- The advantages derived from the extensive lumbering interest, by the farmers, is the secret of their wonderful success, as nothing that the farmer has raised, but has brought the highest price, with ready sale, and, invariably, good pay. The Central Wisconsin Railroad, running, as it does, through about twenty-five miles of the northeast part of the county, has opened a manufacturing business, that, in no distant day, will rival the older portions of the state. There are already some extensive saw mills in operation, doing a large business. The real settlement of the county commenced in 1853-4, although there were a few scattering settlers, on or near the main river, many years before that. During 1854-5-0, many new families came in, and dropped on to claims, here and there, through the county, where the best locations for easy made farms could be got, sometimes taking the remains of some deserted logging camp for their house, as in almost every instance they were poor, and entirely dependent for their sup- port upon wages received from lumbermen engaged on the river. In 1850-7, many of the settlers were reduced to almost a point of starvation, or emigration. Long will those years be remembered by them. They had just got their heads above water, so they could look ahead with hopes of once more living upon their own farms, without being compelled to earn their daily food by other employments, as in times past, when those hard times came on, and almost discoura the entire population of the county. Wages dropped down to mere nothing, and when money was received, there was no certainty of its being worth fifty per cent of its face, when they got to where thej de- sired to invest it for the necessaries of life, or in payment on their lands. It often became worthless in ■ day. A friend of mine re- ed hia winter - - wages, and went to La Crosse for the purpose of paying for his land, but was compelled to borrow money to get home, u nil whole winter'i work had vanished into nothingness. Bui those passed away, and U their cloud; disappeared, better times fol- A Description of Clark County, Wisconsin. 251 lowed, and from that time to the present, Clark county has been making steady progress. The facilities for getting to and from the outside world are excel- lent, as it has one of the best turn-pike roads found in the West, running three-fourths of the entire length of the county, near the river ; the Central Wisconsin Railway in the northeast portion ; the West Wisconsin Railway passing the southwest portion, and the Green Bay and Mississippi Railway running east and west, on or near the entire south line of the county, giving it all the advantages desired for the transportation of commodities. The peculiar location of business, in the various portions of the county, has naturally started up four business centers, Huinbird, a young, but thriving village, on the West Wisconsin ; Neillsville, the first business center, and the county seat; Greenwood, a young, but thriving village, brought into existence from a necessary demand for a business place near the center of the farming and lumbering inter- ests of the county ; and Loyal. Loyal is a little business center, in the midst of one of the more thickly populated farming portions of the county, and was named after the organized town, to which it belongs. The enterprising men of this place, are : R. F. Wells & Brother, who own and run a hotel and store ; J. C. Guinn, dealer in general merchandise ; and H. C. Hartford, owner of a steam saw mill. Its location is east from Greenwood, it being two sectional townships ; the eastern boundry of which runs to the east line of the county. Be- side Neillsville, Humbird and Greenwood, which are described else- where, there are two points on the Central Railway, in the north- eastern part of the county, which, though but little stations to-day, will some day, be places of note, viz : Brighton and Salem, They are name-sakes of cities which, of course, carry with them, a notoriety, first, for being the largest market in the world, and the other for its old Puritanical witchcraft. In an educational point of view, this county is fully up to the times. In every nook and corner, where there are children, there are school houses for them. This subject will be more fully noticed in the various sketches of the business centers in the county, which will appear in this number of the Sketch Book. Clark county presents but little of its true merits to the stranger passing through it. But when we take into consideration the immense natural wealth that is in this large pinery, together with the exhaust- less amount of the best kinds of hard wood timber, the susceptibility American Sketch Booh 252 oi the Boil to farming purposes, after the timber is exhausted ; its adfantagee of good roads, already substantially made, and its rail- roads on three sides of it, it must be admitted that Clark county stands a fair chance of ranking with the best counties in Wisconsin, at no distant day. — Sam. fluir|bii'cl, Wi^cor^iT\. HUMBIRD is a small village, situated in the southwest portion of Clark county, on the line of the West Wisconsin Railroad, and took its name from Jacob Humbird, the famous railroad builder. It was started in the year 18G9, and was a thriving little place, until the fall and winter of 1873, when that fearful malady, the small-pox, nearly annihiliated all business, and retarded its growth for a season. Subsequently, however, it became as active and thriving as before the appearance of the scourge, and it is now growing steadily. To show how rapidly Western villages spring into existence, we have only to state that the place, known as Humbird, and now occupied by graded streets, bordered by fine buildings, was, in 18G9, covered with heavy timber, where deer and other wild animals had a dwelling place. There are stumps to be found to this day about Humbird, which show the observer what magnificent pines lately grew upon the soil. Still the village has the appearance of being much older than it really is. An Eastern person noticing its mills, hotels, stores, shops, store- houses, and forwarding and commission houses, all commodious and neatly painted buildings, would imagine it to be at least, twenty years old. Humbird cannot help being a permanent and thriving town, situated as it is, with one of the largest pineries in the state on one side, and on the other, a rich farming country, leading even into Minnesota, from which large amounts of produce are hauled by farmers to this place, and exchanged for lumber, that is manufactured near the village. In addition to the lumber trade already mentioned, there are, north and east, some extensive groves of pine timber, where saw mills and shingle mills are in operation, and all material manu- factured there, is either shipped at this point, or passes through the Humbird, Wisconsin. 253 place to the farmers south and west, much of it being sent to Minnesota. The large advance in the price of grain to the Minnesota farmers, and the saving in the price of the lumber bought, give a handsome profit to those engaged in the trade, ensuring a prominent business to the live men of Humbird. South and west are some very fertile val- leys (a portion of which has been located for many years) extending even through to the Mississippi River, and at certain seasons of the year they cause quite an extensive grain and produce trade, giving Humbird its full share, compared with other towns on the line of the road. This village, like many other new, thriving ones of the west, has some real "go-ahead " men who know nothing but success, and their courage, ambition, and strict attention to their several branches of business, are a sufficient guarantee of the future prosperity of the place. Among those who never tire, and who naturally take the lead in any honorable enterprise, are George W. King, L. D. Halstead, S. Z. Smith (the renowned "Zene"), Ben Webster, E. D. Carter, F. W. Whitcomb and numerous others, whose names will appear in a directory to follow this article. I am unable to give the dimensions of the school-house, or the number of religious societies, in the village, but can state that there is a lively interest taken by the patrons and tax-payers, in the line of education, and in the moral welfare of the people. Justice would not be done to this place, in a sketch of this kind, without taking notice of the new merchant flouring mill, and the large brewery, now in operation. William Schmidt, the proprietor of the mill, has necessarily been to a large expense in getting the p ower im- proved, so as to insure success. The extraordinary length of the dam has, on such sandy foundation, required the very best engineering, and material, together with more courage than most men have ; and the citizens should, (as no doubt they do) feel under obligations to Mr. Schmidt for contributing so largely to the prosperity of the town. One would be surprised to go through the business houses of this place, and observe the many modern improvements. Among some of the heavy merchants are E. D. Carter, dry goods and general mer- chandise, and Herbert Holbrook & Brother, drugs, medicines and groceries ; comparing well with cities numbering thousands to hun- ereds of the population of Humbird, and still these establishments are not too large for the present demand. — harms searl. 30 254 American Sketch Booh. Humbird Business Directory. PROFESSIONAL MEN. O. G. Tripp, Attorney at Law. J. Q. A. Ball, Physician. A. E. Ilolbrook, Physician. [ra W. Wait. Physician. Russell Alderman, Physician. Prof. Wed. Van Waters, Teachei. Rev. Win. L. Stanton, Pastor M. E. Church. MERCHANTS. E. D, Carter, Dry Goods and Groceries. S. Z. Smith, Dealer in Grain, Hides, etc. II. C. Ilolbrook & Co., Drugs and Groceries. L. P. Ilolcomb, Dealer in Horses and Cattle. James McElhors, Groceries and Provisions. Gilbert A. Tracy, Dealer in Furniture. R. D. Shaw, Hardware Merchant- Sidney, Houghton & Wilder, Dry Goods and Groceries. Miss Mary A. Bone, Millinery Store. MA A UFA CTURERS. Wm. Schmidth, Flouring Mill. Ernest Eilert, Brewery. Henry Howes, Lumber Manufac'r. G. \V. King, Lumber Mauufr, Joseph Tafr, Wagon Maker. Peter Zimmer, Boots & Shoes. Win. Doty, Harness Maker. J. Molshn, Boots and Shoes. Mathias Haner, Brick Maker. Maurice Austin, Boots & Shoes. MECHANICS. Horace Stiles, Surveyor. Albert Alderman, Carpenter. Samuel Wise, Carponter. Simon P. Andrews, Mason. Peter Wilson, Blacksmith. Henry Hartman, Blacksmith. MISCELLANEOUS. David B. Travis, Postmaster. Robert McElhors, rhotugraj In r. Long & Wicker, Meat Market. Sylvester M icoinber, Livery. F. W. Whitcomb, Railroad and Express Agent. James Monell, Village Express. L. D. Ilalstead, Proprietor of the [Ialstead Bouse. Albert Enason, Proprietor Humbird Hou LIQUOR DEALERS. A I). Super. Franois & Danery. Peter Zimmer Bowman & Moid. George M. Andrews. Gji'eeqwoocL, Wi^doi\^ii\. THE first person that settled in the vicinity of what is now called Greenwood, was Elijah Eaton, who, sometime about the years 1852-3, built a saw mill on the main Black River, about half a mile west of what is now the little village of Greenwood. Sometime in 1861 or 1862, Stephen C. Honeywell located himself on the present site of Greenwood, and cleared a good farm, making it the head- quarters of his lumbering business, which he carried on pretty exten- sively and successfully. About the years 1867-8, the people doing business on the river, began to look for a place that would be more contiguous to their lum- bering operations, the necessity growing yearly, as the farms began to open up in that neighborhood, and supplies that once had to begot at Neillsville, or even at Black River Falls, now began to be raised as far up as this place, and even many mile3 above. Finally such man as S. C. Honeywell, W. H. Begley, Eaton & Brown and others, took the matter in hand, and like magic a village was built up — a vil- lage with all the western go-aheaditiveness, which has a population of two hundred or more, with its schools, its church organizations, its Good Templar and Odd Fellow's societies, its professional men, its manufac- turing establishments, and its shops, stores and tradesmen. Its particular location is sixteen miles up the river from Neillsville, the county seat, about one eighth of a mile north of Rock River, and about half a mile east of Black River, being nearly in the center of the farming district of the county. On either side are already some very large farms, with more than ordinarily good buildings — in fact some elegant dwelling', which will be a substantial support to the village. It not only has the farming interest, that is and will be a sufficient support to. the village, but more than one half of all the lumbering business of this great river, is done above Greenwood, giv- ing it an advantage over all the towns below, on the river. There are some fine water-powers near Greenwood, also a water and steam saw mill within a short distance, making a plenty of lum- ber for building purposes, and at a very much lower price than what has to be paid in any other farming district in the state. 256 American Sketch Book. The following directory will show some of the live resident owners. B. F. Brown, Postmaster. J. M. Hoyt, Milliard Saloon. Robert Gorer, Furniture Dealer. Mr. Bailey, Sash, Doors k Blinds. W. II. Begley, Hotel. S. C. Honeywell, Lumberman. W. II. Begley, Lumberman. G. W. Hubbell, Lumberman. S. C. Durham, Butcher. G. W. Hubbell, Blacksmith. W. II. Begley, Blacksmith. George Andrews, Blacksmith. Chandler & Drown, Dealers in Dry Goods, Groceries, Flour, etc. Prank Butler, Dry Goods, Boots and Shoes, Flour and Feed. J. Brown, Groceries, Notions and Flour. Eaton k Brothers, Hardware, Flour and Feed. Samuel Green, Gunsmith. II. J. Thomas, Physician and Surgeon, dealer in Drugs & Medicines. Elias Peterson & Co., Boots and Shoes. Philip Ramminger, Wagon and Carriage Manufacturer. A. P. Clark, Barber and Confectionery. Schofield & Weston, Plaining Mill and Lumber Dealers. Mrs. Thomas Pownder, Boarding House. H. M. Peck, Carpenter and Jobber. Hudson Davis, Carpenter and Jobber. Brown & Chandler, Billiard Saloon. Carl Bugh, Glove Manufacturer and Tanner. A lla^eloi'V Soliloquy. So that was Anna, and her lord and master I visited to-day ! There was a time when every pulse throbbed faster Did either cross my way ; — There was a time when like her faithful " Bruin," I followed at her nod ; — A time when there seemed naught hut death, or ruin, In paths by her untrod. A time when I found all my sweetest pleasure While gazing in her eyes ; — Hut oh ! another coveted my treasure, And lo ! he wmi the prize. A Bachelors Soliloquy. 257 I smile while thinking of the bitter sorrow, I suffered by the blow, Nor thought I should, some far-away to-morrow, Be thankful it was so. And was that plain and weary looking mortal The one I asked as wife ? For whose dear sake I would have passed the portal Into another life ? To-day, her hand, with dirty water dripping, I very lightly shook. I noticed, too, her worn-out shoes went slipping, At every step she took. That Anna ? — whom I used to lead to bowers Of summer's richest green ! How often I have plucked the sweetest flowers To crown her Beauty's queen ! And is that meager, lonely, unkept dwelling The home I wished to see ? — And that bald-headed baby, always yelling, " The bud to bloom for me ? " Do women grow so old and plain by marriage ? There's Anna's cousin, May, A beauty still, in face, and form, and carriage, Not younger by a day. There was a time they rivaled one another; And now, should either will, This Anna could be passed for Manie's mother ;— But May is single still. So that was Anna ? — that pale, haggard creature ! — The village belle and pride ! And I could scarcely recognize a feature Of my once promised bride. Once, only, did her blue eyes beam upon me — With olden beauty, too ! Another glance, I fear, would have undone me, Just as it used to do. Once only ! then the weary look returning, Spread o'er her haggard face ; And though I watched her, with my lone heart yearning, No other could I trace. American Sketch Booh. But ah ! I read, as though 'twere there by letter, The question that it threw: — •• » >, Etiohard, had this life of mine been better, Had I kept faith with you? " S tmehow, I cannot quite help thinking — dreaming Of how it mijiht have been ! Somehow, I'm haunted by the blue eyes beaming, Though now it is a sin ! I Jut fie ! I have no love to crush and bury ; Nor shall its phantom rise. 1 am quite sure that I am thankful, very, That Charley won the prize.— BELLA FRENCH. Tryii,il to \\dotr\\ a Cat. I BAD somewhere read a statement made by Dio Lewis to the effect that a person could support himself well for fifty-four and a half cents, or some such an amount, per week, and I resolved to try the experiment. I did not have the bill of fare, as made out by the Doctor, but I supposed it must consist principally of Graham bread and water, with an occasional sour apple or raw egg to top off with. I made the change in the mode of my living on a Monday morning, and when I took my early walk to the postofTice, resolutely passed the the baker's where the hot buns were waiting to be eaten, and did not : stop at the meat market for the usual ''five cents worth of meat For the cat." I had resolved that my household should not indulge in luxuries which I denied myself; and as my household consisted of only myself and a cat of the masculine persuasion, 1 had but to try the work of reform on my feline companion. On reaching home, i began the preparation for our breakfast, which did n<»t occupy much time. Giving a sigh to the memory of fragranl coffee which had always graced my table, I sal down to a Blice of Gra- ham '>n a l and c.ld water, wondering what had become of my appetite. Tom took lii-. station by my side, and, licking his jaws in an expectant way, said, "Vuw." "Tom," answered I, " I have made up my mind to teform. The way we hare been living is an outrage on my pocket- Trying to Reform a Cat. 259 book; besides, it is slow suicide. Only cannibals eat flesh ; only murderers deal in poisons. We are to reform our habits, and spend the money thus saved in improving our minds, I always give the members of my household as good as I have myself, so I divide my breakfast with you." So saying, I placed a bit of the Graham bread before him. But that impudent Tom, instead of coinciding with my plans, looked up complaisantly and winked one of his green eyes at me. "Very well," said I, "you can eat that or starve," and I turned to my own breakfast. A minute later, I glanced at him from under my half closed eyelids. He had lifted the piece of Graham bread with one of his paws, and was playing ball with it. Such a comical picture as he made, and how delicately he handled it ! I laughed outright. Our fare for dinner that day was a slice of Graham bread and a sour apple ; but when I placed Tom's share before him, he walked away in disgust. At supper time, this behavior was repeated. Days passed on. Tom grew lank, lean and fretful ; but I did not relent. I was growing lank, lean and fretful myself, but would not give up my work of reform. One old morning, as I sprang out of bed, I heard Tom's voice at the door, asking admittance. Without waiting to dress my feet, I answered his call, when what did that un- grateful chap do but set his teeth into one of my bare toes ! I tore myself away from him with a yell, and the next moment my foot was covered with blood, which was dropping from the wound. Now, old fellow," said I, "when you get any meat you will know it, I think. I was just relenting in your favor, but after such an attack as this I'll see you hanged before you have anything but Graham bread." He seemed to understand me, for, when I put his breakfast before him that morning, he nibbled at the bread ; but it did not suit his taste, and he spit it out. The next morning I found myself in double trouble- My foot was so swollen that I could not get my shoe on, and the cat did not put in an appearance, as usual. T was hungry, lone- some and in pain; and what was worse, I could not help thinking- naughty things about Dio Lewis. I did not say anything naughty, but I thought it — loud too. Such a state of affairs as mj household presented, and all through him. The only masculine member of the household was gone — alas ! none knew where, myself crippled and my larder as well as my stomach empty ! This happened two months ago, but Tom has not returned and my toe is not yet well. I have given up the reform business. Alter all 260 American Sketch Jiuok. it is hard to improve on nature so that the improvement is perceptible in one generation. I stop at the baker's and at the meat market now, bat Tom is not with me to enjoy my feasts. If he has committed suicide, or otherwise gone to destruction, or if I am yet obliged to have my toe amputated, that miserable Dio L wis ought to be held answerable. Don't you think so? — BBLLA FRENCH- ¥00 I