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


Editors Reporter:--Having seen SC
much Of late, in the papers, concern,
ing the Inducements held out by Da.
kota and other western lands, we
think it would be we'll for us to exam
inc what we have in our own county.
IF the reader will be kind enough to
go with us, we think we can show as
good country and as prosperous a
people as can be found anywhere.
Some fine morning we take the train
at Centralia and arrive at
MARsHFIELD
about noon. Here we see town oil
about 1900 inhabitants, where but
eight years ago there was nothing but
the log cabin of Louis Rivers. Mr..
Rivers has since built, at this place,
one of the finest hotels along the Wis.
Cen. r. r. If you stop at the
"River's House" you will receive the
best of treatment. OF the other no.
tells we will only mention the Central
very neat house, owned and conduct
ed by I'll. j. Pankow, who is very
courteous landlord. The principal
business firm is that of G. NJ. Upham
& Bro. This firm is engaged in the
manufacture of lumber, shingles etc.
and employs at least 100 men the year
round. There are several other man
ufacturing establishments here besides
numerous business houses, but as
space will not admit of separate men
ton, we refer you to the Marsh6eld
Times, edited by G. H. Clark, for
merly of Centralia, or to the Marsh
field Gazette, a spicy paper recently
started by Lawyer Deming and Doe
tor Hanna We would like to men
ton before leaving this place that
among other improvements, a fine
school building of four departments is
being built, which will be a credit to
the town. AS Marshield was unset
tied prior to the advent OF the Wis.
Cen. r. r. there are not many large
and we'll improved farms in the town,
but the land is good and settlers are
locating everywhere; as the saying is,
"the woods is full of 'em'' 1t will be
but a short time till what is now for
est will be fruitful fields, with good
roads running to all points of the
compass.
We will now take the Nashville
road and after travelling one mile to
the south we turn to the west After
trav, ling in this direction another
mile we pass the farm Of A. Kuntz and
arrive in the town of
LINCOLN.
The first farm across the line is
owned by Mr. D. Walterbach, and
from here to Yellow River bridge, a
distance of 5 miles, is a succession of
fine farms, with large frame houses
and barns on nearly all Of them. This
was known few years ago as the
Little John Settlement The first
settlers were John Potviue { Little
John) and Jockey Baker.
1t is about 7 years ago since we
first saw their settlement. The con-
trast between what it was then and
what it is now is very great. The
road then was disgrace to the name
it being almost impossible except in
winter. Now we see before us beau
tifully rounded turnpike, as hard and
smooth as floor, with every stump
and root taken out, and as straight as
an arrow. There were then three or
four clearings about the size Of gar
den and full of stumps. Now there
are fields on either hand from 40 to
100 acres in extent, and some Of the
clearings entirely free from stumps.
Then all the buildings were made of
logs with either scoop" or ssshake"
roofs Now the buildings are mostly
frame and we are unable to see single
roof of the old pattern. Then, little
log school house met the educational
of the ten or a dozen
Of school age in the settle
ment. Now there are two very nice
school buildings, each furnished with
patent desks, maps. charts and other
There are nearly 100
children enrolled in both schools.
In about the center of this settle
ment is
BAKERVILLE.
Here we find Messrs. Cramer 4
engaged in merchantile
business. They are very agreeable
gentlemen and carry large stock of
general merchandise. In the store is
the post office. They have also in 9th
er departments of their building a
hotel, saloon. and large hall. These
gentlemen have expended large
amount Of money in building and
adjoining their place of business and
are entitled to, and [ think receive, a
large patronage. There are also a
Catholic Church, blacksmith shop and
other buildings here.
We will now continue our journey
south two miles further till ne come
to Yellow Riyor bridge. Here We