Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-04-20
VALUED HISTORY pieces.
PAPERS READ AT OLD SETTLERS CLUB.
Continued Proceedings of the Ninth Annual
Reunion at Dixon Hotel, Tuesday Even
ing, April II. Looking Backward.


with histories" exclaimed Lord LyttOr
and a like statement might almost
properly apply to the present issue O
this newspaper But the records O.
bygOne events in human history
arranged with careful inquiry int
the causes of those events and the
lessons they afford with regard tt
human conduct are always interesting
TO the great majority of readers, par
ticularly if locally set. We, there
fore, devote large space to the Ole
Settlers club of Wood county, believ
ing that their annual meetings have
uncOnsciOusly resolved themselves
into places where PHILOSOPHY is
taught by example," and where pleas
ure is derived not only by those who
relate narratives and re member Incl
dents, but also by the younger genera
tion, who, reading between the lines
can see how nearly our fathers image
is hit in us.
''Schools of Grand Rapids and Cen
tralia in early times, and progress
made to the present date" was the
subject of toast responded to by J
A. Gaynor, but as his address was
given without notes we are unable tC
present the treatise.
CHURCHES IN EARLY DAYS.
Churches in Grand Rapids and Cen.
tralia in early days and now; their
growth and benefit to society. Re-
sponse by Mrs. j. d. Witter.
The history of the churches of oul
community has often been given be.
fore meetings of this kind and to
repeat it now would be tosmany unin-
tereSting. Those who have lived here
and taken part in the work of trying
to overcome evil tendencies by Chris
tian work, know with what success
their efforts have been crowned. Often
it has seemed a hopeless struggle and
only the counsel to never weary in
well doing has strengthened heart and
hand to renewed and persistent effort.
In the early days Divine services were
held in private houses, school houses,
public halls, but today we have com
Portable churches in which to worship.
Did they spring up like Jonah's gourd
in the night? ask the ladies of this
assembly. We are glad for the better
days that have come to us, for the
constantly growing principle of Chris
tianity and wish it might enfold all
under its peaceful banner, that every
place of business would keep it's doors
rigidly locked from Saturday night
until Monday morning and all noisy
Sunday demonstrations forever cease.
The churches of today are an out
growth of all that has gone before
and owe their existence to the labOrS
and prayers of long ago and it remains
for us to cherish the remembrance of
our fellow laborers who have passed
from the stage of action: to tell our
children by what sacrifices Christian
worship was instituted and main
tanned in what was then the far west.
To keep in mind ourselves that the
simplicity, and even crudity, of those
days was an incentive rather than a
hindrance to spiritual growth.
My toast is, ''The churches of the
twin cities, past and present." / give
you the church of the paSu-The
emblem Of civilization conQuering the
darkness of the wilderness. The
church of the preSent-The most
precious result of those early years OF
unceasing struggles.
GRAND RAPIDS IN 1916.
Paper presented by Joseph L. Cotey
Pen illustration of Grand Rapids
and vicinity as it looked in 1S46-by
the memory and pen of an old pioneer
of that period-which will be made by
the description and location of the
respective structures here at that
date, both private and commercial
viz:
Starting at the lower end of the
village at the slough which runs past
and divides J. d. LaBreche's and G
w. Bakers places of business at the
present time, there was then a tenn
porary slab bridge over the slough,
and on the right, after having passed
the bridge, going up the river, stood 9
frame barn: following the same direc
tion stood three frame buildings, one
and one-half stories high, the gable
end to the river. The first two were
connected and were occupied as {
boarding house by Mr.. Strong, those
buildings having been erected by
MeSsrs. Strong and A. B. Sampson in
1915.
The third department of the triple
structure was occupied by E. S. Minor
and John Warner, who kept genera
merchandise store, some drugs anC
DR.. d. Jones' patent medicines. The
location is now occupied by the Dahlk,
saloon and Mrs. John Hamm'S store
and in front of the above described
near the edge of the river. stood a fin,
row of pine trees extending up to
point of rock above the now Witte
House, of which there is one lionel,
big tree yet left, as it were, to indi
cate the spot where many of its kin
dred once lived fresh and green.
10 thn Mritnr of His ,anrr., "