Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-07-06


our left for 5 miles.
The settlement we are about to pass
through is considerably older than the
one we have described, and although
the improvements are not so marked
as on the other side of the river, they
have been steady.
This is the best farming land in
Wood County and here are the best
farms. Here, on either side of the
road, stretch broad fields covered with
wheat, oats, corn, grass and other
crops. We can not take the time to
examine all the farms, so we will take
one or two for a sample.
One of the largest aud best farms is
that owned by Mr. John Rausch.
Mr.. Rausch, it will be remembered by
many, represented the old town of
Lincoln on the County Board for sew
eral years, before the division of the
town. According to the division he
now resides in the town of Rock. He
owns considerable land, and of this he
has 116 acres under the best kind Of
cultivation. The products of these
fertile acres are stored in two large
barns so or 90 feet square. In con-
nection with these barns are his stables
filled with the choicest kinds of blood
ed stock, and by the way, the farmers
in this neighborhood will have nothing
else. Mr.. Rausch does all his farm
work with machinery of the latest
style and most approved pattern,
which is stored away when not in use.
His estimable lady acts as post mis-
tress for the settlement, is agent for
the White Sewing Machine, and
boards the schoolma am.
Across the road from Mr.. Rauscb
lives Mr.. Hiram Witter. Mr.. Wit:er,
few years ago, was day laborer in a
saw mill. He had worked in this way
year after year and found he did not
get ahead in the world much So he
concluded to get piece Of land and
see if he could not do better. He
built a little s'scoop roof log shanty,
and settled on this land. Here by his
perseverance and untiring industry he
has hewn out large farm from the
forest which is now worth at least
$4,000 Besides this. his horses, cattle
and other personal property are worth
at least $4,000 more.
The old log shanty has ceased to be
home and Mr.. Witter now lives in
one Of the finest dwelling houses in
the county.
We will now go down two miles
further to S. L. Nason's place. Mr..
Mason is so well known to everybody
in this part Of the county that he
needs no introduction. In description
of Mr. Nason's place it will be sufi-
cient to say he has about $50 acres
under cultivation, and large number
of horses, cows, sheep, and swine of
the best breeds. He is a practical
farmer and stock raiser, as any one
knows who has attended one of our
county fairs and seen the interest he
takes in them. The line between
Wood and Clark county is one mile
farther west, but as it is continuation
of just such farms as we have passed
we will not go to the line.
Now we have seen but very little Of
Lincoln and Rock. We Lave travelled
only one road leading through the
heart of the settlement. Bear in
mind there are roads running parallel
to this on either side, and that there
are cross roads at every section corner,
and sometimes at the quarter line.
The land along these other roads is
thickly settled, and new settlers are
coming in every day. There are three
schools west of the bridge, Two of
them, the one in the Witter district,
and the one at Nason's, are very large.
The Witter school house cost about
$1,000, and the one at Nason's is the
best country school house in the
county, and must have cost at least
$4,000.
We have said nothing about the
crops. In fact we nearly forgot it.
Last year the crops through this
country were excellent. Tame grass
averaged 2 IL tons to the acre. This
year they expect not quite two. Corn
will be poor crop, but all other crops
are looking first rate Farmers say
that the crops viii fall short of last
year, but they will be average.
When we reach Yellow River Bridge
on our way back let US put on our
rubber boots, if we are fortunate
enough to have them with US, grease
our faces as a protection against mos
quitoes and black flies, and pick our
way as best we can, in a southeasterly
direction through the new town of
RICHFIELD,
instead of the smooth, dry turnpike
we have had since we left Marshfeld,
we now have very poor road for a
little way, and then none at all. In
stead of large, we'll cultivated fields,
and large houses and barns. we see
occasionally little clearing with small
log buildings. But here is the best
Of land which any man can get at
mere nominal price, on which can be
reared homes equal to those in the
older towns just described. All that
is needed is little capital and good
deal of perseverance. The class of
settlers now in the town are of the |
right material to open up this territory,
but it needs more of them. After a |
walk of three miles we arrive at J. c.. !