Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-02-10


his life in the service of his country
Emanuel Dutruit, who lost an arm by
accident, was acting County Treasurer
when l left and L. P. Powers was
County Judge. Among the active bust
ness men of that time recall the names
of Hurley and Burns, z. P. Kipp, Reu-
ben Lyon, Eusebe Lavigne, j. K. Searie,
Joseph Wood, Robert Grace, George
Neeves and his son Allen, Auren Knapp
Jr., who went to Astoria, Oregon, and
died there few years ago I think
Seth Spaford is still fourishing among
you though | cannot place him.
The name of Arpin appears often IN
the columns of the REPORTER and I Judge
the ones now on earth are the descend
ants of John and Antoine who flcurished
in those days. The Baker boys seem
to be still with you and am glad to see
that George is Your honored Mayor
OF the doctors of those days | recall
DR.. Whitney ami Dr. G F. Witter, and
[ must not forget Dr. P Hurley of CEN
tralia whose familiar sigu I distinctly
see at this late day, Or P. Hurley,
Physician and Surgeon"
Of the lawyers l recall the names of
Charles NJ. Webb, J. D. Witter, L. P
Powers and for short time I. T. Bal
chelder. These with the exception of
j. D. Wltter seem TO have all passed
from the stage Of action.
OF the Rablin family John and Henry
who were rollickiDg bows, seem 10 be
among your business men. Sara Ann.
who was one Of our near neigabors and
dear friends, | see has Just passed away
but the dear old mo- her. who was more
than mother 10 my wife in all her
troubles and Affections, see still lives
in the old home. [ have lost the names
of William and Charles Kline, E. B.
Rossier, Joseph HOMER, James McGraw
and many others Of more or less prom
inency in the community.
[ am glad to see that Frank and
George Wood have come to the front
as business men, as [ remember them
as boys of good promise for the future
| am glad to know that you my dear
Robert who was SO faithful to me in
those early years still flourish as bust
ness man and l hope you may long pros
per as you deserve.
Of. n. Brundage and H. 3. Philleo.
former proprietors and managers of the
REPORTER l have no knowledge. [ hope
they still survive and enjoy life as men
ought who establish and successfully
run a newspaper on the frontier.
Little can be said of the state of So
ciety at the time we settled at Grand
Rapids and not much more while we
remained there, although we had a
hand in erecting the first Congrega-
tlonal church, for an organization con-
sisting Of eleven members at first. |
recall the terrible trip [ had over I'M
broken roads and through heavy snow
storms to Wautoma where | hired the
first minister ever settled at Grand
Rapids, Rev. j. w Harris, who was
there when we left. Tie Methodist
came next with a small class and
erected a meeting house on Neeves
addition. The Catholics kept up SER
vice most Of the time, majority of the
people engaged in numbering being of
that persuasion. But time will fail me
to speak ofthe Lunts, the Jacksons, the
Purdys, the Bows, the Pierces, the
Wards and the rest Of the worthless who
fought the wilderness, led honest lives
and [ hope have reaped their reward
1t would indeed be rare treat to be
able to drop into the pioneer meeting
which [ see you are about to have, and
grasp the hand Of the old friends who
are left, and to make the acquaintance
of the children of those who are gone
My wife and | are spending our last
days here in Oberlin, but have felt at
times that we made mistake that we
did not stick to our western home and
fight it out with you if it did take all
summer. | am full of "reminiscences
of those pioneer times and of the hard
experience | endured, and at some fu-
ture time [ may tell you about them in
another communication. We wish to
be kindly remembered to those of our
old neighbors who are left, and we are
sure that no one of all our former friends
will be more willing to speak kind
word for us than you our faithful friend.
J. Ii. LANG.
REMINGTON, Wis, Feb. l, 1898.
To the Old Settlers CIub-Dear AssOc;-