Rusk County Wisconsin
History and News Stories
Rusk
County
Wisconsin
History and News Stories
TO TEST LEGALITY OF GATES COUNTY
Claim is Based Mainly on the Ground That It Is Illegally Apportioned.
Madison, Wis., July 8.—[Special]—Suit has been instituted in the name of Attorney General Hicks to test the legality of the organization of the new county of Gates, from the northern portion of Chippewa county, by act of the last legislature. The suit is directed against the supervisors of the newly created county as defendants, while the real plaintiffs in the case are Wm. H. Phillips, C. P. Crosby, John Tynan, J. C. Stubbs, W. W. Tyler, Thos. Leonard, A. J. McGillivray, C. B. Early, the Arpin Hardwood company, Beldenville Lumber company, Mississippi River Logging company, Chippewa River & Boom company, H. A. Ostrander & Co., and the John Hein company.
The suit is brought in the name of the attorney general on relation of these parties, who have furnished bond in the amount to $500 to indemnify the state from damage. It is to be tried in the Chippewa circuit court, but will go to the supreme court for the final decision, no matter what the finding of the lower court may be.
The claim that the law creating Gates county is based mainly on the grounds that it is illegally apportioned into senatorial and assembly districts.
The' apportionment law was passed before the one creating the new county, and some of the districts put into both Chippewa and what is now Gates county, violating the provision that county lines shall not be broken. It is also claimed that the county seat could not be legally fixed in the law. The defendants have filed a demurrer to the complaint, claiming that the plaintiffs in the case have not the legal capacitiy to sue. That there is a defect in the parties plaintiff, and that the complaint does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action.
[Janesville Daily Gazette - July 8, 1901, Janesville, Wisconsin]
Close of Longest Legislative Session in the History of Wisconsin.
LASTED JUST 26 DAYS
Ice Tax Bill and Bill Creating Gates County, Are Stillwith the Governor.
FOUR VETOES SENT IN TODAY
Madison, Wis., May 15.—The longest session of the legislature in Wisconsin history, 126 days, counting Sundays, closed at noon today according to the clerks of the houses but at 12:28 by actual time, the clocks being turned back to report on bills.
A number of bills are still left in the governor's hands, among them being the ice tax bill and the bill creating the county of Gates out of the northern part of Chippewa county, on both of which several of the members anticipated vetoes. The governor has until tomororw to act on them, as they did not reach him until Monday evening and he is given three days in which to consider them.
About one hundred and fifty bills might have been delayed in this way but the governor worked up to the last minute in order to dispose of as many of them as possible.
Four vetoes marked the last day of the session, the governor returning without aproval the bill requiring compulsory vaccination; that exempting beet sugar factories from taxation; the bill providing on additional employee for the railroad commissioner and the one extending the time for payment of taxes in Millwaukee. [The Daily Gazette, May 15, 1901, Janesville, Wis.]MAY VETO THE ICE BILL
Serious Question About the Constitutionally of That Measure.
Madison, Wis., May 15.—It is reported that the Overbeck ice bill, and the Gates county bill are both marked for the governor's disapproval, both on the ground of unconstitutionality So far as the ice bill is concerned its constitutionality has been questioned from the start.
The Gates county bill is to be vetoed, It is said, because of a conflict
with the apportionment bill. It is understood that a brief has been filed with the governor attacking the validity of the law upon that ground.
Another objection to the bil! is that it designates Ladysmith as the
county seat, which, it is claimed the legislature had no right to do.
[The Daily Gazette, May 15, 1901, Janesville, Wis.]
ACT IS CONSTITUTIONAL
Judge Vinje Upholds Legislature in Creation of Gates County.
WEST SUPERIOR, Wis., Aug. 10.—Judge Vinje, in the circuit court today held the act of the last legislature creating Gates county to be constitutional.
The suit was started by tax-payers who objected to paying taxes in two counties out of which the new county was created, also that a legislator could not represent a part of two counties. The case will be appealed.
[Racine Journal - August 13, 1901, Racine, Wisconsin]SUPREME COURT IN SESSION TOMORROW
The Gates County Case and Other Important Matters Will Be Up for Decision.
Madison, WIs., Oct. ,14.—(Special)—The validity of the act creating Gates county out of the northern part of Chippewa county, passed by the legislature last winter. In one of the cases to be argued before the supreme
court at its session which opens tomorrow, this case being the last on the assignment.
Tho validity of another law enacted last winter, amending the state medical law. Is involved in a case in which a decision is expected tomorrow, being the case of J.R. Kellogg of Portage against the state board of medical examiners to compel them to grant him registration without taking the examination.
[Janesville Daily Gazette - October 14, 1901, Janesville, Wisconsin]
GATES COUNTY COURT HOUSE
CONTRACTS AWARDED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW COURT HOUSE FOR GATES COUNTY
STANLEY & CO., CHIPPEWA FALLS SECURE CONTRACT FOR BUILDING - LANG BROS., EAU CLAIRE FURNISH THE STONE
The contract for the new court house for the county of Gates was awarded to the firm of F.G.& C.A. Stanley, of Chippewa Falls. The firm of Lang Bros., of this city, have secureed the contract for furnishing the stone. These men have their own quarries at Dunnville on the Milwaukee railroad. They have the stone all quarried and ready to put on cars, but can do nothing until the Supreme Court decides whether there will be a Gates county or otherwise. Nothing can be done until after Nov. 26 and even then the matter may not be definitly settled. There may be no end of prevarication, litigation, indignation, interrogation, procrastination, subordination, mystification, exasperation and botheration before a final settlement. All this might have been avoided if the legislature would only have in connection with it a legal tribunal such as they have in England. All bills proposed by members go before this body before occupying the time of the house. Before being acted on all bills brought before the Wisconsin legislature should be submitted to the Supreme court so as to test their constitutionality. If that court said: "We find the bill perfectly constitutional, you can pass it gentlemen." thewn all would be safe. But this passing of bills by the legislature first and then having them declared unconstitutional by the Supreme court afterwards, causes untold woe to many.
The people of the state sweat for this unsettled state of affairs. Everyone having anything to do with public undertakings, in which the Supreme court has a say charges extra, for they never know when the terrible word "unconstitutional" will come down on them and crush their hopes. Take the Keeley Cure bill for instance. Hundreds embarked their means in supplying these institutions, taking it for granted that the state would foot the bills, when Lo and Behold! out comes the Supreme court with the word "unconstitutional" and the whole affair collapsed. One man who put his faith in the legislature to the extent of four thousand dollars was utterly ruined. Men who invested in the new county seat of Gates county, have suffered immense losses waiting the decision of the Supreme court as to whether there is a Gates county or not. Had matters been definitely settled at the commencement, there would have been another nice little city to the north of us by this time.
[Eau Claire Leader-November 14, 1901-Eau Claire, Wisconsin]
GATES COUNTY TO STAY
State Supreme Court Sustains Last Legislature in Creation of New Assembly District.
MILWAUKEE, Nov. 20-A Journal special from Madison, Wis., says the supreme court sustaines the act of the legislature creating Gates county. The opponents of the law claimed the law was unconstitutional because it contravened the apportionment law of 1901, which ent into effect before the Gates county law, the latter breaking county lines in the formation of assembly districts. The apportionment gave to Chippewa county two assembly districts. Gates county was created out of a portion of the second Chippewa county district, thus making an assembly district which consisted of one county and a part of another.
[Racine Journal - December 3, 1901, Racine, Wisconsin]
LADYSMITH WINS, WILL BE COUNTY SEAT OF GATES COUNTY, WIS.
Madison, Wis., Dec 17-The application of Hill and others for an injunctional order to stay proceedings in the Gates county seat matter was denied by the Supreme court today. This settles the establishment of the county seat at Ladysmith. The county board appropriated $25,000 for the erection of county buildings there when the contestants, who are trying to have it removed to Bruce, sought an injunction from Judge Vinje to stop the erection of the buildings. When he dissolved the injunction the contestants applied to the Supreme court for a stay of proceedings pending an appeal, but this was refused today.
[Eau Claire Leader - December 18, 1901, Eau Claire, WisconsinGATES AND CHIPPEWA
Progress Made In Adjusting Inter County Affairs.
The Chippewa Hearald, on selection of commissions to adjust affairs of Gates and Chippewa county, says:At the meeting of the two commissioners held Saturday, to name the third member of the board. Mr. Bradford of Chippewa suggested the names of several Chippewa county men, but this was objected to by Mr. Baker of Gates county who suggested that they should select a disinterested party as the third member and proposed that as a compromise measure they place the names of three outside men and one slip to represent Judge Vinje in a hat and draw from that, the first drawn to be the third member of the board and if the court slip be drawn, Judge Vinje was to make the appointment. The names placed in the hat were those of Mssrs. Wm. C. Donovan, L.A. Brace and Archie Munger, all of Eau Claire and that of Mr. Donovan was drawn.
Although Mr. Donovan is a practicing attorney in Eau Claire, being a member of the firm Miner & Donovan, he has, during the past summer, practically made his home in Ladysmith and he is generally looked upon as a Gates county man. Shortly after the division of the county Mr. Donovan had an application for the District Attorneyship and was also a candidate for County Judge of Gates county. Through the influence of his father, Judge Donovan of Madison, he came near securing the latter place.
For sometime past Mr. Donovan has been in the employ of Gates county and only a week ago appeared in one of the court house law suits as a representative of that county. Consequently his appointment as a member of the board of division commissioners is not looked upon with any great amount of satisfaction by the people of Chippewa. The Hearald, however, will reserve all comment at this time and awaits further action of the commission before passing judgement.
[Weekly Telegram-Jan 02, 1902-Eau Claire, Wis]
EXPLANATION
Chippewa Hearald Prints Reply From W.C. Donovan
(Chippewa Hearald, Dec 31)
William C. Donovan, the Eau Claire attorney appointed as the third member of the Chippewa-Gates county division committee, says the information contained in an article published in the Hearald yesterday regarding his residence and candidacy for county judge in Gates county was misleading and has placed him in a false light before the public. He, therefore, has requested that the following comminication be published over his signature:
Editor Chippewa Hearald: Kindly permit me to make some corrections in the article published in yesterday's issue concerning my selection as member of the Chippewa-Gates county committee.
I have never made my home in Gates county. I have been in that territory but twice in my life and then only for a day at a time.
I was tendered the office of county judge of Gates county but declined the honor because I did not desire to leave my law practice at Eau Claire, where I have resided for more than five years.
I have never been employed in any capacity by Gates county. Our firm is employed by the town of Flambeau to test the constitutionality of the act creating the town of Thomas, but the county has nothing to do with this litigation and is not interested one way or another. Yours truly, W.C. Donovan - Chippewa Falls, Dec. 31, 1901
[Weekly Telegram-Jan 09, 1902-Eau Claire, Wis]
DIDN'T MEAN HIM.
Stanley Newspaper Was Not Firing at W. C. Donovan.
Chippewa and Gates county papers contain articles about Atty. W.C.Donovan, and one of them is as follows, from the Stanley Republican:
DONOVAN INNOCENT.
NO INTENT ON THE PART OF THE REPUBLICAN TO DISCREDIT THE EAU CLAIRE MAN.
The shady deals of Gates county officials had no reference to Mr. Donovan.
In the light of subsequent information and events The Republican desires to state that anything published in its issue last week which might be construed as derogatory to the character of Mr. W. C. Donovan the attorney of Ean Claire and Ladysmith is hereby retracted.
The Republican like all other newspapers, occasionally finds it necessary to take its news reports second hand or by hearsay and when they come from a highly reputable source as did the facts relating to the Gates County Commission published last week, no attempt is made to verify them. The writer of the article in question does not know Mr. Donovan neither has he personal knowledge of the facts and therefore cheerfully retracts anything for which he assumed to be authority in the article of last week. That part of the article relating to shady deals of Gates County officials refers
to matters in which, presumably, Mr. Donovan had no part whatever.
[Weekly Telegram - January 23, 1902, Eau Claire, Wisconsin]
DONOVAN IS NOT A SMALL POTATO
Tony Enterprise Says Commissioer Wanted To Make A Stake
It is evident that Mr. W.C. Donovan don't want to be classed with the small potatoes. He hands in a bill to Gates and Chippewa County for his services on the commission board for $25 a day. The other two, and principle members, of the board were allowed but five dollars a day and expenses. Because Mr. Donovan has the chance he intends, seemingly, to make a stake out of this little commission business. It was a piece of rank foolishness in the first place for either party to allow a man to go onto that salary, but such being the case there is no reason why the counties should be robbed in this manner. Chippewa county has made allowance to Mr. Donovan of ten dollars per day and have appropriated one-half, their share, toward such payment. Gates county, we understand, has made allowance for the full twenty-five dollars a day to this third party. Well, the less said of it, the better, Gates county is young yet.-Tony Enterprise
[Eau Claire Leader-April 03, 1902-Eau Claire, Wisconsin]1ST BUILDING HERE 38 YEARS AGO
The year 1884 may be said to be the year of Ladysmith's birth. In that year was erected Ladysmith's, then called Flambeau Falls, several miles up the river, first building, Jack Lindoo's present office building across from the old post office is the oldest building in the city. The older portion of the Manley hotel was built at the same time, the Lindoo building serving as a bank house during the erection. In 1885 Corbett's Mill located here and during the same year the east and west Soo Line railroad was completed.
In those days Ladysmith did not appear as it does today. The business section was then a forest. The only good road nearby was the old "101" trail, a mile west of the village running from Chippewa Falls to Fifield-101 miles. "Down the trail a ways," Jack Lindoo ran a saloon in a tent. And our present log drives sink into insignificance compared to the drives of those days when millions of feet No.1 pine logs went down the river.
After Corbett's mill and the Manley house had been built, Joe Fritz, then of Flambeau, finding his store in the city overstocked located a second one here. The first school house still stands behind the present city hall, what is itself an old school building. The original school house stood on the present library site. From the Flambeau Falls of 35 years ago, was evolved a town by the name of Warner, but finding the name easily confused with other towns in Michigan and Minnesota the name of Ladysmith was finally adopted. And even now they say there is a Ladysmith in "Africa." Ladysmith citizens do not generally believe the city has seen its growth. As Jack Lindoo, the first man to come here permanently, says "She's just started !" [Ladysmith Budget, Dec 14, 1922, Ladysmith, Wis.]
GLEN FLORA
The flourishing town of Glen Flora, Wis., has not always enjoyed so euphonious a cognomen, in fact there are many still surviving who can recall when Miller's Siding was the only name by which to designate a very desirable locality of Rusk county, to which that great civilizer, the railroad, had penetrated during the summer of 1885. The natural advantages and the industrial outlook soon drew first class settlers to the region, and in the above year O.K. Otis, Thomas Padgett, E.E. Buck and John LaPort made permanent settlement.
The dense forests surrounding the site of the present town, suggested lumbering as the initial business, and naturally, a sawmill erected by Frank S. Miller in 1885 was the first industry started here. This passed into other hands in 1886, being purchased by the Glen Flora Manufacturing Company, which operated for four years, and platted a town in 1888. The company established the first mercantile business here, carrying it on in connection with their milling interests, continuing until 1893, when they were succeeded by the Crescent Lumber Company, which operated until 1894 , and this company was succeeded by W.F. Switzer, who operated until December, 1900. The mill property was afterward bought by H.W. True, who dismantled the mill. Mr. True had built a mill at Glen Flora in 1900, which he operated until May, 1903, when he sold it to it's present manager, C.A. Coon. Another mill, the Stoker Brothers', two miles distant, has been operated for several years.
In 1894 Theodore Briant built, and has ever since operated, the two charcoal kilns. In 1892 E.E. Buck established a general store, and in 1896 Mr. H.W. True open a mercantile business, being succeeded in 1899 by the Eau Claire Grocer Co. in 1902 Mr. True and Lee Van Patter purchased the E.C. Grocer Co.'s stock, but Mr. True sold his interest in 1903, Mr. Van Patter continuing the business. For a couple of years Bert Fults operated a store, which was burned out in 1902, but was rebuilt and reopened in 1903, and was a second time destroyed by fire. He rebuilt again but is not in business now. Mr. C.A. Magnus also owns a general store, while a racket store is kept by C.W. Tyler and a drug store is owned by H.C. Johnson. "The West Hotel" is the only hostelry and is managed by E. Biller. The Glen Flora Star was established in 1901 by D.W. Maloney, and is an independent Republican organ. In 1888 the post office was established with A.J. McLennan as first postmaster.
The Glen Flora Co-Operative Creamery was built in 1903, at a cost of $4,700. This plant is thoroughly equipped, furnished by the Chicago Building Company, and began operations very satisfactorily in June, 1904. J.W. & E.W. Noble have a mill for the manufacture of hardwood furniture and machinery squares one and one-half miles east of town; J.M. Nelson and A.C. Holden have a small mill a short distance from town, as has also J.C. Riegel.
The first public school was opened in 1887. The present school building is a modern structure. Th residents of Glen Flora take much interest in the school, for it is an exceptionally fine one. it is state graded of the first class, with nine grades, 170 pupils, and three competent teachers.
The different religious denominations are well represented, and the Methodist, Swedish Lutheran, Baptist and Norwegian Lutheran bodies all have houses of their own, and the Catholics have the erection of one in contemplation. The Woodmen have a flourishing lodge, and social conditions are all that could be desired. The population is 350. A number of well developed farms now lie adjacent to Glen Flora, and the people are of a quiet, industrious, law-abiding, intelligent class. The soil here is a clay loam, wonderfully adapted to grass and grains.
[source: Commemorative Biographical Record Of The Upper Lake Region By J.H. Beers & Co published 1905]
SCHOOLS OF RUSK COUNTY, WIS.
The schools of Rusk county, Wis., are under the charge of Prof. W. N. Mackin, a well known educator whose long experience combined with judgment, tact and scholarship, admirably fits him for the work.
The second school within the limits of what is now Rusk county was held in a room rented at Ladysmith in what was the "Corbett Hotel," now the "Manly Hotel," and was opened in the fall of 1884 by Miss Mary Grandmaitre as teacher. Previous to the creation of Rusk county, in 1900. there were graded schools at Glen Flora, Weyerhauser, Apollonia, Tony, Warner (now Ladysmith), and Bruce, all having been established as two department schools, and are now State graded of the first class. Since the organization of Rusk county, graded schools have been established at Ingram and Hawkins, but these have not been advanced to the first class as yet. The high school buildings are fine structures and are a credit to the citizens.
From Superintendent Mackin's report to the board of supervisors of the county, for the school year ending in June, 1903, it is learned that six new districts were created that year and since then five more have been added, making a total of fifty-three districts. Twenty new buildings have been erected in the county for school purposes since June. 1902, and since that time the number of teachers has been increased accordingly, there being eighty-three employed at present. The salaries for the year ending June, 1903, amounted to $19,205.60, which was $4,320.40 more than the previous year. The teachers are well paid, and their efficiency is attested by certificates of high grade, fifteen of the number having State certificates, seven first grade, fifteen second grade and thirty-eight third grade. One-half of the whole number of teachers have received professional training and many of them are graduates of normal schools.
Superintendent Mackin has labored untiringly to bring the schools of the county to the highest possible state of efficiency. On many occasions he has urged the centralization of schools and transportation of pupils, which methods, when adopted, give the students the advantage of graded school work, an advantage which is alike apparent to both teachers and parents. In their superintendent Rusk county has an enthusiastic worker, and the results of his efforts may best be judged by comparing the present educational status of the schools of this county with that of others under the same conditions.
[source: Commemorative Biographical Record Of The Upper Lake Region By J.H. Beers & Co published 1905]
HISTORY OF APOLLONIA, WIS.
The first settler of Apollonia, Wis., was John Goulet, in 1887, while F. Weyerhauser was the promoter. The latter held large tracts of land in what is now Rusk and Sawyer counties, and he constructed a railroad from this point a distance of thirty miles into Sawyer county to facilitate his logging operations. The Weyerhauser Company operated a mill seven miles from the Soo road, cutting during that period, 30.000,000 feet of timber, mostly hard wood. The company then sold this mill to McDonough & Co., who removed it to Frederick, Wis., and the timber reserve was sold to the Beldenville and Arpin companies, and the cut over land was sold to the firm of Chicester & Reed. The railroad is still operated by the Beldenville Lumber Company.
The town site was laid out on the Weyerhauser land, one and a half miles west of Bruce, and was named in honor of a daughter of Mr. Weyerhauser. The F. J. Otis 'Company established the first store in the 'town in 1894. In 1896 the Apollonia Store Company opened a store, and in 1900 Dr. Gobar opened a drug store. In 1903 B. Kepner opened a furniture store, and in the same year, John Weber opened in hardware. The post office was established in 1887, with Newton Mills, superintendent of the Chippewa River & Menomonie road, as first postmaster, and E. W. Hill as assistant postmaster. The earliest church societies, the Catholic and Congregational, have substantial buildings and hold regular services.
In 1892 the first school was opened, with Mrs. Emma Bohvian in charge. The good people of Apollonia have always taken a deep interest in the school, and have now one of the most comfortable and orderly equipped schools in the county. It contains four rooms and three teachers, and is State graded first class.
The population of Apollonia is 400. Its one hotel is a well arranged hostelry which caters to the comfort of its guests. It was erected in 1896 by G. W. Heaverin, its proprietor. In 1903 the Apollonia Cause was established, with Dr. Gobar and E. W. Hill, but it is now under the management of Dr. Gobar and Mr. Kepner. It is a well equipped printing office, capable of turning out all kinds of artistic job work.
The Odd Fellows have a commodious and tastefully arranged hall which was erected in 1900 at a cost of $4,000. The lodge was instituted in 1884. The Rebekabs, Maccabees, Lady Maccabees and the Woodmen societies have organizations here, all flourishing. The place is settled chiefly by Americans. Its business is established on a sound basis and the town presents an attractive appearance and offers fine opportunities.
[source: Commemorative Biographical Record Of The Upper Lake Region By J.H. Beers & Co published 1905]
HISTORY Of BRUCE, Rusk Co., Wis.
The prosperous village of Bruce was founded in November, 1884, and that so few years should have elapsed since is wonderful compared with its remarkable growth. The earliest settlers, men of keen foresight and indominatable perseverance, could scarcely have had prevision to equal the present facts. When the great "Soo" line reached this point, J. E. Stanley, John O'Brien, Thomas Kelly, William Reeves, D. P. Barhydt, C. P. Pinkham and C. P. Dolan, decided to establish homes here in the pine forest. They were the first settlers. Soon their wants were catered to by D. W. Blackburn, Messrs. Bronsky & Cummins and Messrs. Wheeler & Carter, who established stores. The latter house still continues in business although the firm style has been changed to Wheeler & Stanley.
The name of Bruce was given to the new town, in honor of A. C. Bruce, a former well known lumber capitalist of this section, but now a resident of St. Paul, Minn. From the first the village attracted a fine class of settlers, those who came here for homes and not for speculation. Thus its prosperity has been gradual but sure and today almost every line of trade is represented and prospering. Scarcely had the first homes been established here when a school was opened with Mrs. Mary O'Brien in charge, who cheerfully assumed its responsibilities under very discouraging conditions at first. The school is now State graded and of the first class. The present building is a modern structure, six teachers are employed, and in point of comfort and educational utility cannot be excelled in Rusk county. In 1904, $5,000 was expended in improving the building.
That religious denominations have edifices of their own, testifies forcibly to the morality of the people. The Methodist Episcopal, the Congregational and the Catholic each draw their own congregations regularly and exert a mighty influence for good.
Business is carried on in Bruce according to modern methods, the presence of enterprising men being shown on every hand. The railroad alone does a business at Bruce of $150,000, annually, and 100 carloads of lumber products are shipped monthly. The Arpin Hardwood Lumber Company's mill was established at Atlanta, one mile north of Bruce, in 1900. The Beldenville Lumber and Veneer Company's mill began operations in 1901. It is situated one-half mile east of Bruce. The former gives employment to 500 men; the latter to about 300. Both companies operate logging railroads which extend into their timber districts, altogether some forty miles.
Bruce soon realized the need of a newspaper and this want was met by A. W. McCormack, who established the weekly News Letter, Oct. 18, 1900. It is a six column quarto, independent in politics, and with plenty of home news, just the literary medium suited to the size of the town. The fraternal orders are also well represented, and have comfortable and appropriate halls and meeting places. They include the Knights of Pythias, Maccabees, Woodmen, Grand Army of the Republic, Woman's Relief Corps, Royal Neighbors, Mystic Workers and the Modern Brotherhood of America. In 1903 a creamery was established which is conducted on the co-operative plan. It is a well equipped plant, cost $4,500 and was started up with sixty subscribers.
A post office was established in 1884, with W. A. Clark, the first agent of the "Soo" as first postmaster, with an office in the depot. In 1902 Bruce was incorporated, with a population of 900 and with environments of 1,500. Its phenomenal growth has surprised the oldest settlers, but as it is healthy and can be well provided for, it is welcome. The post office is now in the third class, the stamp sale amounting to $2,000 annually, and a free rural route service delivers mail to 107 families. This has been but recently established and is the first and only one in Rusk county.
The first bank to be organized in Bruce was in January, 1902, and was known as the Bank of Bruce, a private institution, with a capital stock of $5,000, the stockholders being W. A. Blackburn, of Bruce, J. C. Stubbs, of Weyerhauser, and J. A. Corbet, L. E. McGill and O. E. Pederson, of Ladysmith, the latter being its first president and the former its cashier. It continued in business until November the same year, when it was absorbed by the Lumberman's State Bank, with a capital of $25,000; the bank has prospered ever since its opening and now has deposits of $60,000.
Bruce has many attractions as a place of both business and residence. It is adjacent to a fine farming country, watered by the beautiful Chippewa river which flows within a half mile of the town, and it remains for some large capitalist and enterprising promoter to be the first to see a fortune in the utilization of the power in its rapids a little distance to the eastward. The good people of Bruce love their little town, are proud of her achievements and are guarding her morals and educating her young.
It is safe to say the soil of Rusk county is unexcelled by any other county in the State, and to say Northern Wisconsin is the banner grass country of the United States is not putting it too strong, for here, as nowhere else, clover and timothy run out obnoxious weeds. This is even true of the public roads. Not only grasses do well upon the clayey loam, but all the cereals, save Indian corn, grow thrifty here and regularly mature. The dairy possibilities of Northern Wisconsin are already seen to be immeasurable. It is only a question of time when this favored section of Wisconsin will be one of the greatest and most successful dairy regions of the United States. The country is rapidly settling up, the cheap lands and the advantages of soil and market being the inducement which is bringing in thousands of families who in a few years will become sole owners of good homes.
[source: Commemorative Biographical Record Of The Upper Lake Region By J.H. Beers & Co published 1905]
WEYERHAUSER
The early founding of any prospering town carries with it much of human interest. This is particularly the case in the establishing of the first landmarks of civilization in so rich and prolific a locality as northern Wisconsin.
The village of Weyerhauser was not of mere mushroom growth, built in a day and abandoned for a more interesting or promising section on the morrow. It was founded by men of stability who desired to make homes for their wives and children in this rich, fertile and well watered country and they spared neither work nor means to accomplish their object.
The projected town was named in honor of Frederick Weyerhauser, one of the great pioneer lumber capitalists of the Northwest. The location is sixteen miles west of Ladysmith, in Rusk County, Wisconsin. Originally a pine forest stretched for miles away over the site of the little town. Clearing was made and the town was laid out in the fall of 1884, and in the fall of that year the first buildings were erected by R. M. Stitt, John McClellan, Owen Welsch, James Clark and Sidney Wright. Other early settlers were J. C. Stubbs who came to accept a clerkship in the firm of Givney & Moore, who were the first to establish a store. Later A. H. Heller started another store and E. S. Lancaster put in a stock and claimed a part of public patronage. The post office was established in 1885, with G. W. Moore as first postmaster.
In 1887 the town was given an impetus by being made a railroad point, the company building a roundhouse. Several years after it was removed, but in 1903 was rebuilt much better, an eight stall steam heated structure. At the same time the road extended their yards, putting in new coal chutes and otherwise improving to the extent of several thousand dollars.
Nor, in the material prosperity of the town, were its religious and educational interests neglected. The year 1885 saw the opening of the first school, which was presided over by Miss Ada Poppleton. Soon the school-house became too small and the citizens promptly decided that a new structure should take its place. One was. erected in 1896, which was improved and added to in 1903. Its equipment is good and its construction is after modern methods, hot air being the means of heating employed. It now belongs to the first class in the State grade and three capable teachers are employed.
Each religious body held services from the very first, for these early settlers, though often rough in speech and uncouth in appearance, according to fashionable standards, were men of integrity and moral worth, cherishing the highest standards of Christian living. For a time religious gatherings were held through the neighborhood and the first body to erect a church was the pioneering Methodists. Some four years after, the Catholic Church was built, and the Lutheran congregation holds regular services in a school house. The town has had a wonderful numerical growth which is bound to increase as its commercial relations extend farther into the outside world. Every line of business, with the exception of the newspaper, is now represented.
In the spring of 1904 the Maples Lumber Co. organized a bank here, erecting a building for that purpose. The country contiguous is being rapidly settled by the very best class of people, those who wish to develop the agricultural resources of the country, and the sturdy offspring of these will go out from these peaceful homes and be the future rulers of the destinies of State and country.
[source: Commemorative Biographical Record Of The Upper Lake Region By J.H. Beers & Co published 1905]
GATES COUNTY WILL PAY.
Madison, Wis., May 5.— [Special]—President Lyon of the state board of control returned today from Chippewa county, where he held a conference with representatives of the county boards of Chippewa and Gates counties and reached an adjustment of the charges for insane to be made against Gates county. No provision for this was made by the Legislature when it created Gates county out of a portion of Chippewa. Under the adjustment Gates county will pay for the care of insane who lived in the territory, now comprising, Gates county, since the county was established.[Wisconsin Valley Leader - May 8, 1902, Grand Rapids, Wisconsin]
TO HOLD HEARING ON CONSOLIDATION
School Committee Says That Proposed Merger Would Reduce School Tax
A hearing will be held at the Hawkins high school Friday on the controversial plan to consolidate the eastern half of Rusk county into one large school district.
The plan, which has been advanced by the committee, would make into a single school district the existing districts of Hawkins, Ladysmith, Tony, Glen Flora, Ingram, Conrath, Sheldon and many rural schools.
Members of the school committee contend that the proposed merger would reduce the school tax and provide a more businesslike way of running the schools in the area while opponents see in it the entering wedge of consolidation of all schools in the area as well as school districts.
After hearings are held in several places in the eastern part of the county, the matter must be put to a referendum in all of the districts to be affected
[Bruce News-Letter, Bruce, Wis., Friday, March 31, 1950]
Back To History IndexANNEXATION BOOSTS SIZE OF BRUCE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
Thornapple and Washington added to Bruce District; Brings More Students Here
Following a hearing held at Hawkins Thursday evening, the Rusk County Educational Committee voted unanimously to annex Jt. District no. 4 of the Towns of Thornapple and Washington to Jt. District No. 1 of Bruce, and the Towns of Atlanta, Murry and Stubbs. hereafter this district will be known as school District No. 1, Village of Bruce and Towns of Atlanta, Murry, Stubbs Thornapple and Washington, with the order to tale effect June 30, 1949.
This will mean that approximately 90 students, from grade one through eight, will be transported from Thornapple and Washington come next school term. If there isn't sufficient room it may be necessary to operate one of the rural schools.
A majority of the voters of Thornapple and Washington expressed themselves in favor of the annexation and from this expression the committee based its action, voting to annex.
The meeting, held at Hawkins Thursday night, was attended by over 100 interested persons, 29 of them from Price county. Purpose of this meeting was to present the school committee's re-organization plan.
Annexation proceedings began about a year ago.
[Bruce News-Letter, Bruce, Wis., Thursday, April 14, 1949]
NEW BIDS ON FLAMBEAU DAM PROJECT ARE OPENED: COSTS ARE "MORE IN LINE"
Bids for construction of Dairyland Power cooperative's proposed hydro-electric plant in the Flambeau river on a "cost plus fixed-fee with guaranteed maximum price" basis show a substantial improvement over the earlier bids submitted on firm-price basis, which were rejected.
The new bids were opened in the co-op office in LaCrosse Nov. 8. "We feel these bids are more in line with what the project ought to cost," John Madgett. general manager, remarked.
The low bid was submitted by Fegles Construction Co., St. Paul. Maximum total cost of the job, as bid would be S4,503,477, which would still make the cost of the completed project about two million dollars above the original estimate.
However, the Fegles company estimated that it could come out almost one million dollars under it's guaranteed maximum price under present day conditions, which would put the cost more closely in line with what co-op officials feel it should be. The board of directors of the co-op met in Ladysmith Nov. 19 to take action on the bids.
[Bruce News-Letter, Bruce, Wis., Thursday, November 25, 1948]
STORM DESTROYS TIMBER
Gates County, Wis., Loss Is Estimated at $1,000,000.
Tony, Wis., Aug 24-Further reports from cruisers returning from the forests indicate that the damage to timber through the middle northeast of Gates county is $1,000,000. Not a single tree stands in the path of the storm, which is five miles wide and extends from Flambeau river to the eastern end of the county, a distance of twelve miles. Price county also suffered.
[Weekly Telegram - August 26, 1904, Eau Claire, Wisconsin]
John Moore, Bruce, Oldest Person And Father In Entire Rusk County
98-YEAR-OLD- MAN ATTRIBUTES LONG LIFE TO HARD WORK, CLEAN LIVING; COUNTY "CAME' TO HIM"
Father's Day, on Sunday, June 19 undoubtedly holds much significance for 98-year-old John Moore of Bruce, for he is not only the oldest father, but also the oldest living person in Rusk county.
The famous George Sand once said, "Work is not man's punishment. It is his reward and his strength and his pleasure." This quotation can best be applied to the life's work of Mr. Moore, who attributes his long life to the fact that he has always worked hard, and has lived clean.
The day that the editor went to the home of Mr. Moore to interview him he was told that the aged man was next door sawing wood for a neighbor. And, sure enough, that's where the white-haired, alert man was found, bending over a saw, sawing wood into stove length for a neighbor. As we walked towards the busy figure with the saw we could not help but think there was a man who is accepting life's responsibilities to the very end; a man who frowns on the belief of some that society owes them a living!
Father's Day on June 19 will probably be just another day at the Moore home. But there will be an atmosphere full of meaning. In pleasent surroundings, in simple home life, the oldest person and the oldest father in Rusk county will enjoy the daily routine of the family circle.
Apparently in better health than many men half his age, Mr. Moore just can't be slowed down by old age. He has to be doing something all the time; that is the way he has lived; that is the way he wants to continue to live. Despite his age, he is erect, hears well, speaks plainly, and can read with or without glasses. Of Scotch-Irish descent, he is thrifty, and delights in passing a bit of humor as he talks.
John Moore was born February 9, 1852 in Walworth county, Wisconsin, at Spring Prairie. Rusk county came to him as he puts it, for he first settled in this area when it was a part of Chippewa county. After he came here the area became known as Rusk county. In his lifetime he has been a carpenter, woodsman, logger and land clearer. He speaks of clearing 100 acres of land at Caley lake, just as simply as one of the present generation would tell of planting a row of potatoes. At the age of 80 he could still work hard enough to "put much younger men in the shade." Rusk county has grown up with him. He has been a native of this area since 1899. He has seen the virgin pine forest disappear, has seen the advent of dairy industry, and has witnessed the settling and advancement of the area.
Mr. Moore married Ida Mae Daggett in the Town of Scott, Columbia county, on August 24, 1874. Mrs. Moore died June 7, 1888. To this union were born three children, all of whom are living: Warren Moore and Alex Moore, both of Aberdeen, Wash., and L. V. Moore with whom the 98-year-old man lives in Bruce.
The News-Letter salutes Rusk county's oldest father and wishes him more years of happy living in our midst.
[Bruce News-Letter, Bruce, Wis., June 09, 1949]
IF ELECTED, GRANDMA SAYS SHE CAN HANDLE BADGE
By Richard Eggleston (AP) LADYSMITH — Rose Wawrzyniak is accustomed to winning, so now she's using all her powers of persuasion to convince Rusk County voters to elect a 57-year-old grandmother of 10 their sheriff. If Rose, who happens to be that grandmother, wins, she won't merely add the badge that comes with victory to her collection of stockcar racing trophies and blue ribbons in pulppeeling contests, either. She says she'll show any recalcitrant members of the sheriffs department that she's boss. "I'll sit in that office 24 hours a day if I have to to make those men understand I'm boss," she says, sipping a low-alcohol beer behind the bar at her tavern between Ladysmith and Bruce.
After rearing four children on her own in a career of farming and working in the woods, hoisting old-fashioned 42-pound chain saws around — not to mention 23 years in the tavern business — most people would think Rose should be ready for retirement. But customers at Rose's Deer Farm and Supper Club are already toasting victory Nov. 6, and Rose is mapping plans to become Wisconsin's own no-nonsense grandmotherly version of Annie Oakley. "I've worked like a man all my life. I've done bull-riding and car-racing, but I think this is the wildest job I've ever taken on," she says. "I haven't got nervous yet, but I imagine by next Tuesday I will."
Rose is a candidate who doesn't mind passing campaign buttons out to grade-school kids who won't be eligible to vote for a decade, or having newspeople take her picture when she's puffing on a cigar. "It's really something when her chewing tobacco catches fire like that," jokes state Assembly candidate Allen Beadles of Jump River, a longtime friend.
She is nicknamed Jump River Rose for the tavern in Jump River she operated for years and for the widely known Fourth of July parades she sponsored there, but everybody hereabouts knows her simply as Rose. She has operated the Deer Farm and Supper Club for the past eight years.
"She's a real promoter. Every community should have a Rose," Beadles says.
Rose never dreamed of running for sheriff, though, until some county officials and a former sheriff suggested the idea to her. The campaign was all uphill from there, but now some folks with their ears close to the political grassroots say the rumblings they hear are that she just might win. "Anything could happen in a week, but if it was today, I think she'd win it," Beadles, who has campaigned extensively in Rusk County, said with the election just over a week away.
Rose defeated Sheriff William Volkman in the September primary by a 3-2 margin, and now faces Repulican Gary Fetting, a deputy sheriff, and Volkman, who is a write-in candidate. While her opponents emphasize their law enforcement experience, Rose says determination and ability to communicate are the prerequisites for the job. And Rose says she has both.
The Deer Farm, incidentally, has 23 deer in its herd behind the supper club, as well as ducks, geese, turkeys, peacocks and a goat. Rose says two of her worries as election day approaches are who will take care of the fawns if she is elected and how will her second husband, Ray, react if she wins.
Ray merely shrugs when asked about Rose's candidacy. "He isn't saying too much," Rose said. "I think he's getting nervous he might have to sleep with the next sheriff of Rusk County." [Wisconsin State Journal Friday, November 2,1984]
MISERY IS THE ONLY CROP FOR "FORGOTTEN FARMERS"
Survey Of North Uncovers Squalor Among Families Cut Off By Relief Rolls By Stricken Counties
By Robert M. Lewin of The Journal Staff
Ladysmith, Wis.-A case history of relief in the ice-coated, snowcovered counties of northwestern Wisconsin ought to be told in terms of the decline of agriculture and lumbering. Uncounted thousands of acres of cutover timber land that should have been left idle or used for forestry purposes have been converted into farms. The soil, according to agricultural experts, is generally too rough and too sandy for successful cultivation. Yet there are more than 6,000 farms in Rusk, Burnett and Washburn counties. In Barron county, victim of drought, there are 4,500 farms.
Misery Is The Harvest - In the poor counties of the north where public welfare officials have discontinued relief for all able-bodied because the counties are broke, farmers have been able to harvest little except misery for many years. Pulp wood contractors report gloomily that there are no orders to fill. "Were getting cancelations," they said.. The sawmills at Hawkins and in the town of Murry, Rusk county, are closed, throwing 50-60 men, many of them able-bodied reliefers, out of work. The 150 employees of the paper company at Ladysmith are on half time. Seasonal logging is finished. All these discouraging reports mean that many able-bodied men, who were cut off relief last summer and told to find a job, are coming back to the relief office, begging for aid. "I don't know what we're going to use for money," said Glen A. Armstrong, Rusk county relief director. "The county board doesn't know what to do about relief."
Works Off Milk Bill - The Rusk county relief department cut 900 employable persons off relief last summer and told them to go to work. The county even refused to give supplementary relief to WPA workers who had as many as eight or nine children in their families. Husky, Theodore L. Irwin, 26, of Ladysmith, who was cut off relief last July and who is unemployed because seasonal jobs are closed, walks four miles each day to work off an $8 milk bill at a farm at the rate of $1.50 a day. Irwin lives with his wife, Minerva, 21, and a daugher, Delores, 2, in two rear second-floor rooms that are reached by a back stairway. Newspapers are spread on the floor for rugs. The only decoration in the home is a small table with several plants in tin cans. "We got along through the summer, when Ted found work, but now there is nothing. No money. No work," said Mrs. Irwin, who expects another baby this month. Delores stood shyly in a corner, humming while her mother talked.
Child Has No Coat - "She hasn't been outside for three weeks," said Mrs. Irwin, glancing at the child. "She hasn't a coat. Her sweater is too thin for this weather." Rusk county levied $132,898 in taxes for 1937, including $17,000 for direct relief and $15,000 for hospitalization. About 30% of the taxes are delinquent. The county has overdrawn its account at the bank by $10,744.62. The state has contributed $33,141 for relief this year, but bills of $8,200 for May and June Relief are unpaid. James Kuhn, 41, of Ladysmith, who is married and the father of two small children, worked at the canning factory at Cumberland last summer. He has applied for relief several times since October, and although three doctors have examined him and found him unemployable, the town chairman has refused to authorize the relief department to give him aid.
Beard Protects Face - Emil B. Wetterling, who lives in the town of Thornapple, six miles southwest of Ladysmith, typifies the farmer who is trying to make a living off the land in the north. At 39 he wears a full beard because, he said, it protects his face and throat against the cold. The Wetterlings had been on relief for four years when they were cut off last summer because Emil was physically fit. "I did what I could on the farm and found a job with a road crew for four weeks," he said. "Earned $52.59." The kitchen is the most important room in the Wetterling house. It has a cook stove, the dining room table, a washing machine and a cream separator. I still owe $40.50 on the washing machine, and I owe ....." he was saying when Eunice interrupted. "Look," she said, pointing to her stocking. "It's got holes in it. See my underwear. That't got big holes in it." Three children sleep in each of two beds and two children sleep on a cot. The spring of one of the beds once was part of a wire fence. Two of the beds are covered with burlap bags for mattresses.
The droughts of 1934, 1936 and 1937 and the sharp drop in prices of dairy and farm products have left a telling effect in adjoining Barron county, considered one of Wisconsin's main dairy sections. The federal land bank at St. Paul has just started mortgage foreclosure actons against 200 farmers. If all mortgage holders foreclosed on farms in Barron county, more thatn 2,700 farmers (60%) would lose their places," said Charles H. Sykes, who lives on Route 1, six miles east of Cameron. "More than half the farmer assign anywhere from 15 to 100% of their milk checks to apply on their debts. We're paying for last winter's feed now."
"Would Sell In A Minute" - Sykes is chairman of the town of Sumner and Chairman of the Barron county relief committee that has solicited jobs for the able-bodied who were cut off relief. He said that pension lists in the north contained the names of hundreds of farmers who had given up the struggle against economic conditions and drought. John A. Matye, 52, who is chairman of the town of Arland, Barron county, and a member of the county mortgage foreclosure board, owns one of the best equipped farms in northern Wisconsin. The barns are neat and clean. The buildings are well kept. The farm machinery is set in place in a large red shed. "I'd give up the farm in a minute for any job that I could earn a living at," he said. "I bought this 80 acre place in 1924. Paid $11,000 cash and took out a $5,000 mortgage. I'm two years delinquent in paying interest on the mortgage. If I sold my place today I couldn't get $6,000 for it, though it's better now than when I bought it. If I sold it I would be penniless because my debts would wipe out everything. "Every farmer within a mile radius of my place is a renter. Not an owner in any direction. We had 60% crop this year because of the dry summer. Our dairy production is down 50%. There's no market for our potatoes. All we can do," he concluded, in the solemnity of a prayer," is to hope to heaven that we'll pull through."
The story of relief in northern Wisconsin is the story of people and counties in a desperate plight. The hardships that the needy, especially the able bodied who have been cut off relief, have to endure cannot be underestimated, Their suffering is physical and mental. Relief officials would like to help them. Without money, they cannot. They are looking longingly for help from the state. The legislature appropriated $3,000,000 at the recent special session, but so far the emergency board has distributed nothing.
[The Milwaukee Journal, November 23, 1937, Milwaukee, Wis.]
A PARTY OF "BIG GUNS"
BANKERS, LUMBERMAN, STATE OFFICIALS AND OTHER PROMINENT PERSONAGES INVITED HERE
If all the gentlemen who have been invited to join the J.L. Gates Land Co. excursion party, accept the Invitation, Ladysmlth will be overflowing with monied men on May 30 and 31, says the Gates County Journal.
Between 250 and 300 invitations have been extended to prominent business men of Wisconsin and northern Illinois to join the excursion. The train will consist of six sleepers of the Chicago & Northwestern line and will leave Chicago Friday, May 29. The excursion, as stated in the printed invitations issued, is for the purpose of showing the representative men invited the
beautiful country and ultimate wealth as being developed in Northern Wisconsin, especially the agricultural improvements in the Chippewa valley.
After leaving Madison, the first stop will be made at Eau Claire. From that
city the party will go to Chippewa Falls where the big saw mill will be
Inspected. Saturday morning the excursion will, deave for Cartwright, where carriages will be waiting to convey the members to Long Lake, nine miles from the station, in the beautiful lake region of Chippewa and Gates counties. The party will here take a ride on the lake, catch a few muskallunge, have luncheon in the woods, with pork and beans cooked In the old-faShloned way, known as the bean-hole style. Returning the the train In the afternoon the party will leave for Ladysmith.
In the evening, a banquet will be tendered the guests, at the Central hotel,
and numerous toasts will be given and responded to. The banquet will be served in courses, as follows: First course—Gates county corn mush and cream; second course—Gates county muskallunge baked whole; third course-
Gates county ham, eggs and potatoes: fourth course—strawberries and cream:
flfth course-Gates county cigars.,
The Ladysmlth entertainment committee, as appointed by Mr. J.L. Gates, is as follows: G.E. Newman, chairman; O.E. Pederson, toastmaater; Judge W,S. Manning, Henry L, Clark, D.B. Manes. R.S. Johnson, J.W. Fritz, O.C. Sabin, James Prentice, E.G. Haviland, Harry Ballou, J.O. Sinclair, L.E. McGIll, Robt. Corbett, W.C. Gerard; D.H. Richards, Ed. Werden, C.G. Smith, M. Martin.
As the excursionists stay will be short no elaborate entertainment will be attempted. It may include a visit to the paper mill, pulp mill and stave mill and a ride on the river. The party will spend the night on the train
and will take their departure for Marshfield and Neillsville Sunday morning.
[Eau Claire Leader - May 28, 1903, Eau Claire, Wisconsin]Donald Sterlinske Appointed Judge
Ladysmith Attorney Is World War II Veteran; Graduate of Wisconsin
Donald J. Sterlinske, Ladysmith attorney, has been appointed by Gov. Kennebonm to fill the vacancy for county judge, caused by the death of James A. Michaelson.
Sterlinske, 33, was born at Wautoma, Wis He attended schools at Beaver Dam where he graduated from high school. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin law school in July 1939.
He entered the armed services in January, 1942, and served until June, 1946, as a captain in the infantry.
Sterlinske came to Ladysmith in February, 1947 where he has practiced as an attorney. In July, 1939, he was elected justice of the peace.
He married Patricia Davis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Davis, former Ladysmith residents. They have four daughters.
Sterlinske is a member of the Rusk County and Wisconsin Bar Associations. He will fill the vacancy until the spring elections are held, at which time, a judge will be voted on to fill the unexpired term of Judge Michaelson.
[Bruce News-Letter, Bruce, Rusk County, Wis., Friday, November 17, 1950]
12-HOUR FIRE DESTROYS FACTORY
Bruce Fire Department Called To Milwaukee Bedding Co. BlazeFire of unknown origin gutted the Milwaukee Bedding Co. factory in the Ladysmith Milk Producers' garage budding near Peavey's paper mill Monday night. The alarm sounded at 7:20 p. m.
The Ladysmith fire department answered the alarm and sent out an S.O.S. to the Bruce department which answered the call at about 9 p. m.Freezing temperatures hampered the work of the firemen who worked until 6 a. m. Tuesday morning trying to get the blaze under control.
The fire started up again Tuesday afternoon and the Ladysmith fire fighters were called again and worked for three hours.
The building contained 25 carloads of baled cotton and machinery, and the dense smoke from the smoldering bales made the work of getting to the center of the blaze more difficult. Three walls and part of the roof of the buildine remained standing after the blaze.
The building was built in 1946 at a cost of $127,000, and was fully covered by insurance, according to N. E, Fabricius, manager of the Ladysmith Milk Producers.
[Bruce News-Letter, Bruce, Rusk County, Wis., Friday, December 8, 1950]
Tramp Who Needs Hanging.
Bruce, Wis., March 21.—A tramp attempted rape on the 12-year-old daughter of D. Arrance last evening, about three miles from this city, entering the house while the parents were away, demanding supper and then making his brutal attempt. Officers are after him, and if he is caught it is feared he will be roughly dealt with. ["The Princeton Union". (Princeton, Minn.), March 22, 1894 - Sub. by K.T.]
Wisconsin Pioneers Honored By Homemakers Club Thurs.
MANY OLD TIME SETTLERS RELATE TALES OF EARLY
DAYS AND HAPPENINGS HERE AND IN VICINITY
The Bruce Progress Homemakers had a Wisconsin Centennial party Thursday evening at the town hall Mrs. Wallace Coleman was chairman of the commitee for the party. The club had invited some of the residents of Bruce who had lived here for a long time.
They opened the program with a couple of accordian solos by Joe Claft. Mrs. Wallace Coleman had an old News-Letter from 1903 published by A. W. McCormick and she read some items from the paper. She read about a sale of men's heavy unionsuits 50 cents on sale for 38 cents, ladies heavy unionsuits 50 cents on sale for 38 cents, gingham 8 cents a yard on sale for 6 cents, calico 7 cents a yard on sale for 4 cents.Then George Miller, who came to Bruce in 1900 from Minnesota and went to farming north of Bruce, told about buying a cow for $30.00 and how wild the country was but by working hard they finally made a good farm out of their land.
Henry Boer told about his coming to the United States from Holland and going to Chicago in 1892, bringing his girl friend with him. They were married a little later but he said they couldn't either one speak English at that time and they signed something and paid the money. But he said, we guess we are married. They came to Bruce in 1910 and they also lived on a farm north of town. When they lived in Chicago he made 25 cents an hour then, later $10.00 a week and part of the time only $5.00 a week.
L.J. Griesbach came to Weyerhauser in 1899 with 2 car loads of stuff with 8 horses, feed, some lumber and camp equipment They went north from Weyerhauser where as time went on they put up quite a number of logging camps for the Arpin Lumber Company which was built in 1900, north of Bruce which was called Atlanta later. Mr. Greisbach told how the woods were full of deer and he told many other interesting things of his first years here.
Mrs. John Towers came to Bruce in 1893. Mrs. E. Ewald came in 1898 and both ladies told many interesting tales of the early days of Bruce. Apollonia had more stores than Bruce at that time. Otis Bros, had a good general store at Apollonia then. They both said that all Bruce was only a bunch of stumps and saloons.
Dallas Briggs came to Bruce in 1903 and he helped to recall many interesting things about Bruce.
Mr. and Mrs. Rense Spoolhoff were invited as everyone was anxious to near about there recent trip to Holland. They left New York City on September 27 and returned to Bruce on January 11. They told many nice things about their trip. The stories about Holland were both good and bad. They enjoyed seeing their folks so much. It was rather hard for them at first as they hadn't talked the Dutch language for about 34 years. The people at the club meeting enjoyed hearing about their trip so much.
After this a lovely lunch was served.
[Bruce News-Letter-March 11, 1948-Bruce, Wis]
THE PIONEERS ARE GONE
But Last Of A Large Family Recalls The Fame Of The Flambeau - by Del H. Richards
When gathering factual matter for the history of Rusk county for the Wisconsin Centennial committee last year, I wrote Chris Gourdoux of Flambeau Farms, located near the confluence of the Chippewa and Flambeau rivers, to obtain information concerning the early settlement by his father at that place.
Mr. Gourdoux kindly responded at once with the following letter:
May 1, 1948
Dear Mr. Richards:
Your letter of April 30th at hand and I am glad you addressed it to me, as I don't think there is another person who thinks more of Flambeau than I do.
The word Flambeau is French, meaning beautiful flame or flaming torch.
It was named when two priests, Marquette and Joliet, came down the river (Chippewa), looked at our beautifull mountain and named it Flambeau.
My father was born at Meymac, France, April 25, 1845. He arrived at Chippewa Falls the year of '72, in search of adventure and tall timber. He heard of the wonderful pine timber at Flambeau. There was no road, so father and his brother, Eugens, followed the river bank, carrying what supplies and tools needed on their backs. Their first home was a large hollow stump.
They bought land for $1.00 an acre and began logging. Father had no intention of making this his permanent home. He hired large crews of men in the winters to get the logs to the river bank. In the summers he kept part of the men busy making a farm, so they could produce hay for the horses in the logging camps in winter. They raised beef cattle to furnish meat for the camps and consume the surplus feed the farm produced.
Flambeau was the town seat of a township that extended north of the present site of Ladymith and farther south than Keystone. It was larger than Rusk county now is. When the townships were re-organized, an old Russian by the name of Clips (now dead) had the bright idea of naming this township Washington. I was only a little boy then and for some unknown reason the motion was accepted, but (unreadable) have retained the name of the mountain it was named after, and that is Flambeau.
When father first arrived he did not know that there were only two ways a settler can leave Flambeau, broke or dead, and he chose the latter. He died March 30, 1925.
My mother, Josephine Dallas, was born Glen Lock, Chippewa Falls, April 2, 1856, of French immigrants. She became Mrs. Gourdoux the spring of 1878. She raised a family of ten, whom I am the youngest and died at Flambeau, April 7, 1932.
Flambeau is a name that should live on, but it belongs to the Flambeau Hills where the name first originated.
Chris Gourdoux
P.S. I am sorry this letter pertains only to my family. You asked for dates, and the pioneers are all gone and their dates with them. - C.G.
[Bruce News-Letter, Bruce, Wis., Friday, September 23, 1949]
The Bruce Hardware Company was started about 45 years ago by Henry Leppart, who later took Zemke in as a partner. They operated it until 1920 when he sold to William Dressler. Dressler sold to Max Wyman & Son who operated it until 1925, when F.J. Harvey purchased it and operated it as F.J. Harvey & sons Hardware until 1945, when Dave McKinzie purchased it and sold again in 1947 to Russel Nelson and Harold Hartwig, the present owners.
[Bruce News-Letter, Bruce, Rusk County, Wis., Friday, September 1, 1950]HOME
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