HISTORIES:  The Village of Turtle Lake , Barron County, WI

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                             TURTLE LAKE VILLAGE

The incorporated village of Turtle Lake is situated in Sections 30 and 31,
town 34 north, range 14 west (Almena Township). The ground on which it stands
is for the most part flat, though the surface of the surrounding country is
rolling. Close to the village on the northeast is Hillman Lake, which has a
width of half a mile--the average width of the lakes in this vicinity--while
more directly east is Long Lake, marked on some maps as a swamp. From the
north to the southeast, at an average distance of three miles from the
village, there stretches a chain of larger lakes. Horseshoe Lake, the farthest
to the north, and extending westward into Polk County, is a popular summer
resort. Just to the east of it, in Section 8, is a smaller body of water of
triangular shape, which is designated as Echo Lake on the map but is often
called Bear Lake by the old settlers. To the southeast lies Upper Turtle Lake,
two miles long, and farther south is Lower Turtle Lake, with a length of a
mile and a half, which extends a short distance into Turtle Lake Township.
This region is covered with fertile farms, on which stock raising, dairying
and general farming are extensively carried on.

Some forty years ago, or more, the site of the village was surrounded on all
sides by forests of pine and hardwood timber, which attracted the attention of
Stephen P. Richardson, who in 1879 erected a sawmill here and began lumbering.
In 1884 he sold the mill to his brother, Joel Richardson, who operated it
until Allen, Moon & Co. of St. Paul and J. W. McCoy of New Richmond foreclosed
some mortgages they held on the plant, when it was sold in 1890 to the Parr
Manufacturing Co. of Barron and removed to that city. While it flourished here
this mill gave employment to a large force of workmen.

In the early eighties Joel Richardson kept the only store in the village, the
other places of business, aside from the mill, being a hotel and two saloons.
The residence of James R. Kelly stood on a hill to the west, and a few small
houses were scattered over the site of the village. Stephen P. Richardson was
the first postmaster, the office being established in 1879. The first hotel 
in the village was erected by C. W. Haskins in 1881 and bore his name. He
managed it until it was destroyed by fire in the fall of 1888. A new handsome
frame building was put up in its place by W. W. Fisk and named after him. In
1890 J. W. Stone erected a shingle mill, feed mill and sawmill, the last
mentioned with a capacity of 30,000 feet a day. The shingle mill plant was 
sold to the Parr Manufacturing Co. and removed to Barron in the spring of 
1891.

In the spring of 1877 the eastern terminus of the "Omaha" railroad was at
Clayton, Polk County, and its construction was continued north through Turtle
Lake that summer. Trains were run to Turtle Lake and northward to Cumberland
in 1878. The construction of the "Soo" railroad was started from Turtle Lake
Village in 1884, headquarters being established here. That year it was built
east as far as Bruce, and in the following year it was built west to the Twin
Cities and its construction continued east as far as Rhinelander. The two
roads forming a junction here, a joint depot was built in 1884 and J. H.
Bunker, now postmaster of Turtle Lake, was the station agent.

The growth of the village was slow and devoid of "boom" features, the
Richardson sawmill for a number of years being the principal industry. About
one-half of the loggers were Indians, who had their wigwams chiefly on Bear
Lake and Lower Turtle Lake, with some on Upper Turtle Lake. They sometimes
held pow-wows, which were picturesque and animated spectacles, largely
attended from motives of curiosity and entertainment by the white settlers.
Some of the white men married Indian women, and some of the halfbreed stock
resulting from these marriages are still living in the vicinity of the village
These halfbreeds worked in the mill as well as at logging.

On Jan. 2, 1885, the village of Turtle Lake was platted, on land of Joel
Richardson, by Worthy A. Prentice, surveyor, now residing in Clayton, Polk
County. A month previously, on Dec. 5, 1884, the railroad addition had been
platted by the Sault Ste. Marie Land & Improvement Company. The addition to
the north near the Omaha tracks was made several years later on the northwest
quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 30.

The second store to be opened in the village was that of Webb & Wickenburg,
the partners being Herbert Webb and Frank C. Wickenburg. About 1885 Mr.
Wickenburg bought out his partner and conducted business alone until the
following year, when his store took fire and burned down. J. H. Bunker, who
was then working for Mr. Wickenburg and was also town clerk, kept the township
records in the store and they were destroyed in the fire. Turtle Lake and
Almena were then one township. The next year Mr. Wickenburg and Mr. Bunker
became partners and so remained for fifteen years subsequently. Mr. Wickenburg
built the store now occupied by A. 0. Blix, though the building has since been
enlarged.

Though, on the authority of the poet, "Distance lends enchantment to the
view," and invests bygone scenes and events with the delusive atmosphere of
romance, the actual life of the early settlers was to them, as it doubtless
was to the ancient Greeks or Egyptians, a humdrum affair of daily routine,
more or less strenuous, in the struggle for a living. One of the events which
occasionally broke the monotony was an election. The two well known lumbermen,
Joel Richardson and John Perley, were, as a rule, on opposite sides of the
political fence and each worked hard for the candidate he favored. It is said
that shortly before election day Mr. Perley used to pass the word around to
his employes as to how he would like them to vote, and that the latter, alive
to their own immediate interests, rarely disregarded his wishes.

The voting place was then at Perley, and men from Turtle Lake used to go
there to cast their ballots, driving in with teams at first and later using
the railroad. Needless to say, those not intending to vote for the candidates
favored by the Perley interests, literally found themselves in the enemy's
camp. This made Perley a lively place. After four or five years the district
was divided and each township-Turtle Lake and Almena had its own voting place.

In 1898, when the population of Turtle Lake Village, according to a census
taken, was 331, application was made for its incorporation. This application
was signed by David Stratton, W. W. West, Frank E. Fisk, Gust Scheunemann, F.
A. Partlow and E. A. Palmer. It was presented to the court April 12 and was
favorably acted upon that day by Judge A. J. Venge, and an election ordered.
The election was duly held May 10, 1898 and everyone of the 57 votes cast were
in favor of the incorporation. Thereupon the incorporation went into effect on
that date.

On April 1, 1901, there was considerable excitement in the village, when a
"Soo" train struck an "Omaha" train at the crossing, throwing it into the
station, which took fire and was burned. A few people were hurt but no one
killed. The present passenger station, used by both roads, like the first, 
was built immediately after the accident.

The passing years brought an increase of population, both from within and
without, and broadened opportunity through the birth of new interests. Though
the lumber industry gradually dwindled and finally disappeared, other
enterprises took its place, new stores and business houses appeared, and the
village fathers found occupation in ensuring orderly government and providing
for public utilities and general local improvement.

The water supply of the village, prior to the year 1913, was derived directly
from wells, one of which, known as the "town well", was used for general
purposes. The only protection against fire was a chemical engine. Then a tank
of 36,000 gallon capacity was erected, into which water was pumped from a well
739 feet deep by a gasoline engine, and thence distributed through mains and
pipes. This tank is still in service, but an electric motor is now used for
pumping, the gasoline engine being held in reserve for emergencies. The
original cost of installing the present system was about $10,000 but much more
has been since expended for the extension of mains, pipes and hydrants,
affording a good water supply for domestic and business purposes and also for
fire protection.

The fire department is a voluntary organization of about 25 members, with
James Gaffney as the present chief. No regular fire engine is necessary, as
sufficient pressure is derived from the village tank. The apparatus includes 
a chemical, hose cart, and hook and ladder. The upper part of the building
occupied by the department is used for public meetings. The village enjoys 
the advantage of electric lighting, the power being furnished by the Apple
River Milling Co., whose plant is located on Apple River, at Little Falls,
Wisconsin.

Street grading has not been forgotten, and in 1920 the main streets were
paved with eight-inch bedded gravel. The population of the village is now
about 750.

The business enterprises of Turtle Lake include a co-operative creamery and
cheese factory combined, a pea canning factory, a pickling plant, two banks, 
a newspaper, theatre, telephone plant, three general stores, two oil supply
depots, five hotels, two photograph studios, a lumber yard, two restaurants,
two real estate firms, two meat markets, two hardware stores, two blacksmith
shops, two garages, a harness and shoe shop, an undertaking establishment, a
tailor shop, livery barn, drug store, jewelry store, billiard hall and barber
shops. On Hillman Lake the Youngberg Brothers have an ice house from which
they supply the village. Some of the more important enterprises deserve
special mention.

The Turtle Lake Co-operative Creamery Association, as now constituted, was
incorporated in 1916, but its real origin dates back about twenty years, at
which time the farmers in this vicinity met and established a creamery
association, in which they sold shares. Having built a factory at an expense
of $5,000, they commenced operations, carrying on the business for several
years; but as little systematic dairying had hitherto been done in this
locality, they failed to make a success of it, and in the spring of 1905 sold
the plant for $2,000 to Gust Scheunemann. Mr. Scheunemann, on taking hold of
it made some important improvements, installing a cooler at a cost of $1,500,
and spending $500 more in raising the boilers and making other changes. He had
expected the aid and co-operation of the farmers, but having lost confidence
as the result of their own lack of success, they failed to help and even
discouraged the enterprise. He was also handicapped by the competition of the
creamery at Almena, the proprietor of which, in his solicitation of patronage,
invaded Turtle Lake territory. In order to interest the farmers around Turtle
Lake in the home institution, Mr. Scheunemann bought half a carload of
separators, of which they then had none, and peddled them around, also selling
them at Almena and elsewhere on monthly installments, accepting payment in
cream. In this way he began to get patronage, even from territory around
Almena, and was soon making on an average of 77 tubs of butter a week. The
farmers now began to take an interest and sought to buy shares. After
operating the plant for two years, Mr. Scheunemann sold it for nearly $7,000
to Bondeson & Gerland of Rice Lake, who then took hold of it, Mr. Gerland
furnishing the capital and Mr. Bondeson acting as manager. After a year or
two, Ernst W. Shiel became butter maker and manager. About 1910-11 Mr. Shiel
bought the plant from Mr. Gerland and for awhile did all the work, making a
number of improvements, and adding the manufacture of ice cream to his other
business.

In the meanwhile the farmers decided that a co-operative creamery could be
made to pay if properly managed, took steps toward creating a new organization
of their own, and hired two men to sell stock in it. They then approached him
with an offer to buy. The sum he demanded, $10,000, being considered too high,
they employed appraisers to determine the value of the property. The result 
of this move proved a surprise to them, as the appraisers placed the value at
$14,000. On Dec. 1, 1916, the farmers purchased the creamery from Mr. Shiel,
and the Turtle Lake Co-operative Creamery Association was incorporated with a
capital of $15,000. The business for the first year amounted to $99,000. About
three years ago, when the manufacture of cheese became profitable, the
necessary machinery for its production was put in, and the farmers then
received more money for their butter fat. Anton Hennlich, the last cheese
maker employed, left in the latter part of July, 1921, and at present the
factory is making only butter. During the year 1920, the factory was operated
only six months, though milk was received for nine months, the surplus being
disposed of in Minneapolis. The amount of milk received for cheese amounted 
to 1,007,433 pounds. the amount of cream received for butter being 505,696
pounds. The amount of cheese manufactured was about 86,000 pounds. and the
amount of butter, 177,229 pounds, of which latter commodity 48,000 pounds were
sold locally, the balance being shipped to Chicago and New York. During the
year the factory had an average of 133 patrons, who were paid for milk and
cream delivered the total sum of $108,786.43. The total amount of business for
the year was nearly $140,000.

The officers of the company in 1921 were as follows: C. D. Cochran, president
and manager; C. Neuenfeldt, secretary; Edward Pfeifer (who became connected
with the creamery in 1918), assistant secretary and assistant manager; 0. F.
Scheunemann, treasurer, and William Nichols, creamery operator. The directors
were C. D. Cochran, C. Neuenfeldt, Martin Schramske, R. Fredericks, C. A.
Youngberg and Jess Young.

The Bank of Turtle Lake was incorporated March, 17, 1900, and opened its
doors for business July 2, 1900, in a small wooden shack on Paul street. The
organizers were F. C. Wickenberg, John H. Bunker, L. M. Richardson and Francis
G. McKenzie. The first officers were: President, L. M. Richardson; vice
president, J. H. Bunker; cashier, Francis G. McKenzie. The first board of
directors consisted of J. H. Bunker, L. M. Richardson and F. C. Wickenburg.
The first officers are still serving. On Oct. 2, 1901, Katie Bunker was
elected director to succeed F. C. Wickenburg who had resigned. She has held
the position ever since. On April 17, 1905, the capital was reduced to
$10,000, at which it now stands, there being a surplus of $2,000. The present
sightly banking house was erected in 1901, and opened for business in November
of that year. The bank carries deposits of about a quarter of a million
dollars.

The location of this bank seems to have made a strong appeal to criminals. In
1901, just before the new building Was occupied, an attempt at robbery was
made, but was frustrated. On Oct. 10, 1919, burglars succeeded in getting away
with $5,000, but the bank lost nothing as it carried sufficient insurance. 
The money was obtained by blowing the safe. The villagers were aroused and a
number of shots were fired, but the yeggs succeeded in making their escape.
One citizen, Sidney Ward, was shot and killed by the bandits.

The Security State Bank of Turtle Lake was organized and incorporated in
November, 1916, by T. A. Birch, Frank E. Fisk and others, with a capital of
$12,000. The bank opened its doors for business about Feb. 1, 1917, in
temporary quarters at the location of the old Commercial Hotel. The first
officers were: L. H. Rivard, president; Axel Johnson, vice president, and T.
A. Birch, cashier. This official board was continued until May, 1921, when T.
A. Birch was succeeded as cashier by N. P. Swanson, who now holds that office,
the other officers being the same as at first. The present board of directors
is composed of L. H. Rivard, Axel Johnson, Charles Hilbig, G. A. Peterson and
Paul Richter. No change has been made in the amount of capital stock. Nov. 1,
1921, the surplus was $1,300. In the fall of 1917 the bank erected the
one-story brick building which it now occupies, situated at the corner of 
Main street and Railroad avenue.

The telephone system of Turtle Lake is owned by John Prosser. The City
Telephone Co. was incorporated Jan. 20, 1904, by Frank E. Fisk, John Hogan and
W. W. Fisk. The Turtle Lake Telephone Co. was incorporated June 19, 1918, by
L. H. Rivard, B. A. Pieser, R. E. Dusel and W. S. Davison for the purpose of
buying the City Telephone Co. The deal was not carried through, however, and
the stockholders of the Turtle Lake Telephone Co. withdrew their investments.
The City Telephone Co. was sold Feb. 9, 1920, to John Prosser, the present
owner and manager. The territory covered by the system includes about fifteen
square miles, mostly in Almena and Turtle Lake Townships, Barron County, and
Beaver Township, Polk County. This represents about eighty miles of pole lines
and about 335 phones, with Turtle Lake Village as the center. The office is
located in, a brick building owned by Mr. Prosser, who came to Barron County
from Minnesota in 1900.

In 1911 the Wisconsin Pea Canning Co. established a factory at Turtle Lake,
the plant, including the ground, covering two and a quarter acres. The product
handled is confined to peas, the factory operating from one month to six weeks
each year, during which time about 125 hands are employed. The amount canned
in 1919 was 60,000 cases, and in 1920, 41,000 cases. Besides Turtle Lake the
company has factories at Amery, Manitowoc, Sheboygan and Two Rivers. For the
last five years Bert Chambers has been manager of the Turtle Lake factory.

The Pickle Station located near the railroad depot is owned by M. A. Gedney
of Minneapolis, who buys cucumbers from the farmers, salts them and sends them
to Minneapolis, where they are bottled. Henry Wolff was manager here for seven
years until three years ago, and since then the manager has been George 
Fowler.

The Farmers Co-operative Shipping Association of Turtle Lake was organized
Aug. 24, 1920, by the farmers of the vicinity for the purpose of shipping
stock and handling farm supplies. During the year 1920 the Association shipped
42 cars of stock, the gross receipts amounting to $20,000. The cattle and hogs
shipped took 40 cars, while there were two cars of sheep. The expense of
shipping was about $1,900, including freight rates and commission. The
officers of the Association in 1920 were: J. J. Golden, president; Fred
Klockerman, vice president; T. A. Birch, manager, and 0. F. Scheunemann,
treasurer. In 1921 the officers were the same except that Mr. Bircri was no
longer connected with the Association, his duties as manager being assumed by
the president, J. J. Golden.

The village has a weekly newspaper called the Turtle Lake Times, the more
detailed history of which may be found elsewhere in this volume.

A small schoolhouse was built in Turtle Lake in 1879, and the first teacher
was Mr. Knight. A graded school with two departments was erected in 1887, and
the old building sold to Charles Brown, who fitted it up as a dwelling house.

In 1903 a four-room frame school building was erected on Main street, which
was in use until 1917, when, it being found inadequate, a new and better
building was provided in the northeast part of the village, constructed of
brick and tile and consisting of two stories and basement. It had been in use
but four or five months when, in the spring of 1918, it was destroyed by fire,
nothing being saved except a small amount of material. Not discouraged by this
disaster, the citizens put their shoulders to the wheel and in the following
summer erected the present fine building, costing about $43,000, which was
occupied in the latter part of the year. Its ground dimensions are those of
the previous building, 91 feet, six inches by 56 feet, four inches, and it was
built on the same site and foundation. It is constructed of brick and tile,
with steel girders, and consists of two stories and a basement, the latter
being of concrete. The equipment includes a good electric signal system and
fire alarm system, with other modern conveniences. There are ten class rooms
including the physics laboratory, and, in addition, the assembly room and a
library of 2200 or 2300 volumes. The institution is a consolidated free high
school, accredited to the state university as a four-year high school, and
with the usual eight grades of the common school department. In November,
1921, there were in the high school about 67 pupils and in the grades about
294 more than half the pupils coming from the rural districts. The high school
can boast of good athletic teams, the boys having a baseball and a basketball
team, and the girls a basketball team which has the best claim to the
championship of this region, as last season it met with no defeat, though it
challenged all comers, meeting all the girl teams except those of Rice Lake
and Spooner; but as Rice Lake and Spooner were defeated by Cameron and Minong,
and Cameron and Minong were defeated by Turtle Lake, the claim of the home
team would seem to be well founded. From $1200 to $1500 are raised by the
school each year to finance athletics. Turtle Lake is the only school in the
county that publishes an annual. The principal, Lyle Thomson, commenced his
duties here in the fall of 1919. Seven teachers are employed in the grade
classes and three in the high school department. The local opera house is 
used for basketball and other entertainments.

St. Anne's Church of Turtle Lake, Roman Catholic, originated about 1880, when
services were held in private houses by visiting priests. The work of
organization was performed by Father Paradis. The Catholic population at that
time was composed largely of French Canadians employed in the lumber industry.
After a while missionary fathers, who, it is believed, were from Chippewa
Falls, erected a small church edifice, and the Rev. L. Darche became the first
resident pastor. After he left, the parish again became a mission, and as such
was served by Rev. John Klop, who came in October, 1900, and left in August,
1901. Under his successor, the Rev. Leonard Trompeter, St. Anne's again became
a parish. Father Trompeter remained in charge from August, 1901, until April,
1907. In 1903 he built the present parsonage and in 1905 made a substantial
addition to the church edifice. When he left he was immediately succeeded by
Father Francis Luettschwager, who remained until March, 1908. The Rev. Louis
Charron, the next pastor, served from 1908 to January, 1911. After him, in
February, 1911, came the Rev. Florian P. Gerhardt, who performed the duties of
pastor until April 8, 1914. The latter was succeeded by the priest now in
charge, the Rev. Michael Pulch, who has improved the parish house in
installing modern conveniences, including a good heating system, new flooring
and painting. The parish now contains eighty families, or about 400 souls,
representing several different nationalities. A few of the original French, 
or their descendants, still remain, but the congregation contains Germans,
Hungarians, Irish and others. A mission at Amery was formerly attended from
this parish but was detached in 1920. St. Anne's cemetery is the only one
within the limits of the village.

St. Phillip's Church (Protestant Episcopal), of Turtle Lake, was organized
about 1896 at the house of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Everitt, where occasional
services were held for several years by pastors from different places,
including Barron, the first being the Rev. Francis Vey. Later the congregation
met for worship in the Odd Fellows' hall, and about the year 1900 Bishop Isaac
Lea Nicholson confirmed the first class, and Rev. James Trimble began holding
regular services. Among the other pastors who served the church from time to
time, and for different periods ranging from a few months to two or three
years, were the Rev. A. T. Young and Rev. Mr. Harris, of Barron; Rev. Jas. J.
Crawford of Shell Lake; Rev. M. D. Goodall, of Rice Lake; Arch-deacon William
F. Hood, of Eau Claire; Rev. H. E. Chase, of Spring Brook; Rev. E. C. Whitall,
of Star Prairie; Rev. Richard G. Kirkbride, of Clear Lake, and the Rev. Clyde
Blakeslee, of Shell Lake. At present the Rev. Clarence Frankel, of Hudson,
preaches twice a month. In 1906 the congregation erected, at a cost of from
$800 to $1,000, the church edifice now in use, a frame building with a stone
basement and belfry. The lot was donated by the "Soo" Railway Company at the
solicitation of Mr. Trimble. The Ladies' Guild, which had been organized by
Mr. Trimble on Feb. 10, 1900, earned, by means of entertainments and
otherwise, all but $155 of the cost of the building, that amount being raised
by the general congregation. The ladies of the Guild also gathered some of the
stone for the foundation. The bell, which formerly hung on the village hall,
was bought by the Sunday school, which, also purchased and presented to the
church the baptismal font in memory of Bishop Nicholson. The church was free
from debt at the time the first service was held in it. The officers of the
Ladies' Guild, elected at its organization, were as follows: President, Mrs.
Kate Turner; vice president, Mrs. Anna Pease; recording secretary, Mrs.
Mildred McKenzie, treasurer, Mrs. Agnes Cornwall. Mrs. Anna Pease, who was not
a member of the church, held office but two months, and was succeeded by Miss
Winnie Everitt, who filled out her term. The present officers of the Guild
(October, 1921) are: President, Mrs. Anna Wickenburg; vice president, Mrs.
Mildred McKenzie; secretary. Mrs. Anna West; treasurer, Mrs. Myrtle Solberg.
There is a girls' club in connection with the Sunday school.

In the early eighties the United Brethren at Turtle Lake and the vicinity
organized a society for religious worship and for awhile, probably for several
years, held meetings in the schoolhouse. The original members were for the
most part men employed in the Richardson sawmill in the village, with their
families. At first the church was officially known as Chetek Mission, and the
church records, as printed in the Conference Journal, show that Rev W. M.
Smith was installed as the first regular pastor in 1884. In 1886 the name was
changed to Turtle Lake Mission. As soon as the members were able they erected
a small church building, which was first located near the top of the hill
southeast of the village, Joel Richardson, proprietor of the mill, donating
the site and most, if not all, of the lumber. The church was dedicated by the
pastor and the Rev. A. J. Hood, according to Mr. Hood's recollection, in 1887.
During the next few years, after Mr. Smith left, a number of other ministers
preached here. In 1901 the Rev. Ida Richards was called to the pastorate and
remained until 1908. While she was here in November, 1904 the church edifice
was removed to its present location in the village. It was a small frame
building of one room and forms a part of the present structure, a substantial
addition having been made to it about 1916 during the pastorate of the Rev. J.
A. Richardson. At the same time a basement was put under the whole building
and a furnace installed. In 1910, when the Rev. F. E. Taylor was pastor, the
present neat parsonage was built, being completed June 10. Mr. Taylor has as
his assistant, a young man, the Rev. W. H. Adams, who remained about a year
and then left to assume a separate charge. While away he took his seminary
course, and on May 16, 1918, he returned to Turtle Lake to assume the office
of pastor, in which he has since continued.

The present membership of the church (November, 1921) is 107. A Sunday school
is conducted in the church building and there is also another held six miles
west in the country, in the Deaver school district, composed of members of the
church, and forming a joint organization. The pastor holds church services
there occasionally to accommodate those members who are unable to come to the
village. The combined Sunday school enrollment is about 160.

There are two German Lutheran Churches in Turtle Lake Village, belonging, one
to the Missouri Synod, and the other to the Ohio Synod. They have, however, a
common origin dating back about 25 years and placed geographically in Beaver
Township, Polk County, close to the Almena Township (Barron County) line,
which locality is scarcely more than half a mile west of Turtle Lake Village.
There the original society was formed, numbering among its prominent members
Albert Engwer and family, the Richter family, Fred Scheunemann, Carl Jeske and
Mr. Linchman. A frame building was erected and services were held once in two
or three weeks by ministers coming from Almena, Deer Park, Barron and other
places, each of whom, however, acted as pastor but a short time. In 1907
differences of opinion in the congregation caused a separation and those of
the members who adhered to the Missouri Synod retaining possession of the
building, moved it into the village of Turtle Lake. The other members, who
favored the Ohio Synod, formed a church under that government and erected a
new edifice on Martin avenue near the western limits of the village, at the
same time calling a pastor. They have since become depleted in membership and
are no longer active. Their last regular pastor, the Rev. Henry Hiltzhausen,
left in the fall of 1918, and after that the congregation was served for a
while from Comstock, but for some time there has been no preaching in the
church.

The church belonging to the Missouri Synod still has a good organization,
there being at the present time (November, 1921) about 50 voting members.
Their first resident pastor here was the Rev. R. Pautz, who served about four
years. After him the Rev. John Viening was pastor for two and a half years,
and then came the Rev. Wilhelm Brandt, who served eight years, resigning in
the fall of 1921. The Rev. Otto Bream was then called to take charge Nov. 27,
the same year. The church property is valued today at about three thousand
dollars.

In the village are lodge organizations of five or six of the principal
fraternal societies, nearly all of which have been established for quite a
number of years. They represent respectively the Masons, Odd Fellows, Modern
Woodmen of America, Beavers, Yeomen and Catholic Order of Foresters. In
connection with three of these lodges are the affiliated women's branches,
namely: an Eastern Star lodge affiliated with the Masons, a Rebekah lodge
affiliated with the Odd Fellows, and a Royal Neighbors lodge affiliated with
the Modern Woodmen. The Eastern Star lodge is new, having been organized in
1921. The Odd Fellows, who established their lodge here 25 years ago or more,
own their own building, in which all the lodges in the village hold their
meetings, except the Catholic Foresters. The last mentioned order organized
their lodge here 20 years ago, and the Beavers and Yeomen are also old lodges.

--Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., &
Co., 1922, pp. 1110-1115.