Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-06-26
BUSINESS MEN
and a0lsDt tkey are d0lug- Tie
ASHLAND Tines comments
about item.

LIOOnI mem.
In a recent issue of the Ashland
Times it contained short sketch of our
business enterprises, also of our
business houses. We re-publish what
they had to say about our people:
DR.. G. F. Witter is one of the old
pioneers of Wood county, coming here
as he did in 1859. He is a graduate OF
the Medical Department of the Univer-
sity of Wisconsin class 1856. He was
the first school superintendent of the
county and held the Office ten years
| He was also postmaster for fifteen years
and last year served the CITY as mayor,
besides being member of the State
Board of Health. The doctor is very
enterprising man, having built one OF
the finest hotels in this whole section OF
Wisconsin. It is three story brick
building, heated by steam and lighted
by the Edison incandescent light. This
house is rightly named being called the
Witter House.
R. Parrish & Bro, the leaders in their
line Of hardware, stoves and tinware,
groceries and provisions, -four and feed
commenced business here in 1875, and
it is needless to say, are doing more
than their share owing to their honest
and fair system of trading. Mr.. Robert
A. Parrish came here in 1855, or at a
time when Grand Rapids was a bowling
wilderness, populated only by Indians
and half breeds. In those days hand
shaved shingles were the currency of
the country. Mr.. Parrish is the charter
member of Grand Rapids Lodge No. 12s
of Grand Rapids; Forest Chapter, No.
"a, Stevens Point; Crusade Commandery
No. II, Stevens Point, and the
Wisconsin Consistory, Milwaukee.
Messrs. L. NJ Nash & Co., of Centrali,
dealers IN shelf and heavy hardware
and building material, occupy building
33xl0O, two stories, with basement, also
two warehouses 30x66 and 24x75, which
are stocked to their fullest capacity.
The trade of this great house extends
to all sections tributary to Centralia
and Grand Rapids, and the annual
sales foot up to 100000. Hon. L. NJ
Nash is chairman of the Democratic
County Central committee and also
chairman Of the Board Of Supervisors.
Mr.. VIM. Z. Jones, the other member,
is eX-mayor Of Centralia, and is one of
the best democrats in the state.
The leading attorneys of this county
and section are Messrs. Gardner &
Gaynor, who have an extensive practice
all over this judicial district. They
started in the practice of law some
eighteen years ago, and to-day are rated
at the head of their profession. They
are both solid on the Bennett Law We
of course expected Mr., Geo. r. Gardner
would be as he is, one of these stauncb
reliable republicans of this ninth
congressional district, but we were a
little puzzled to find gallant J. A
Gaynor sucking the same tit, as he is
one of Wisconsin's loyal democratic
sons.
The agricultural resources of Wood
county are unsurpassed. Stock raising
is one Of the growing industries, while
dairying is one OF the chief reliances
of the farmer. There are at this
writing three cheese factories that are
run at full capacity, getting their milk
from five hundred cows This is also
the great garden spot Of the world for
cranberry marshes, as Wood county
produces annually from 10 to so
thousand barrels, which are rated as
the best Of keepers and choicest of
berries
c. H. Nilsson < Co. keep the largest
stock Of dry goods, clothing, boots and
shoes, hats and caps, groceries, glass
ware and provisions in Grand Rapids.
The present firm commenced business
in August 1889, but they are successors
to the City Cash Store which was
established in 1885 The trade Of c. H.
Nilsson & Co. extends over radius of
country for thirty miles and is constant
ly increasing.
Mr.. B.. Silber is one of the live,
pushing men of this section of the
State. He came here in 1876 and
embarked in dry goods, clothing, boots
and shoes, hats and caps, with side
lines of jewelry and other fancy articles,
He owns his building. size 26x72, two
stories, which is entirely devoted to
his mammoth stock. Mr.. Silber is a
pleasant gentleman to meet and do
business with.
NJ A. Bogoger, dealer in new
and second hand furniture, is
doing live business. He owns his
building, size 24x50, two stories and
basement, which is stocked with all
styles of house and office furniture. He
also carries stock of picture frames
and mouldings, and makes speciality
of pine and hardwood slabs.
Waite L. Wood is the proprietor OF
one of the leading drug stores. He
carries everything in drugs. druggists
sundries, wall paper, books and station
cry, toilet and fancy articles, paints
and oils, and makes a speciality OF
physicians prescriptions. He is a
graduate of the Chicago College OF
Pharmacy, class 1881.
Mrs. John Eamm carries a stock OF
dry goods, clothing, hats and caps,