Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-03-19
BLESSES THE REPORTER
Looking Backward Bridges The Niles of
Space and Years of Time,

The following letter from an old
time subscriber, who lived in Grand
Rapids in the ffties and sixties. is
full of local interest and at the same
time shows the growing popularity of
the REPORTERS weekly column.
Looking Backward"
A REPORTER reached an old-time
subscriber during the nomadic
wanderings of a government employe
on the far Pacific slope. Reading it,
time in bis flight rolled far backward
Never did Rip Van Wrinkle in his
sudden awakening feel more confused
in adjusting past and present until,
after long period of retrospection
and dreaming, we find at the head Of
the column the key to the mystery.
The dream. the retrospect and mem
cries awakened make the REPORTER
a doubly welcome visitor.
1.-THE Wisconsin stage company have
recently placed four-horse coaches to
run daily each way between Kilbourn
City and this place" Oh the long
dusty roads, the carly morning start
and ride through pine woods past
Clintonville, dinner at Searls and a
half hours rest, when we would
watch the big gray and black sQuir-
rels. Then the afternoon drive when
the roads seemed rougher and the
jolting of the big four-horse coach
seemed almost intolerable until at
night Kilbourn City or New Lisbon
was reached! Oh the winter rides
with big sleigh-robes and bells and
jollity and comfort helped on by hot
bricks, or sticks OF heated hardwood
snugly tucked under ones feet.
"Alonzo J. Marsh, Of this village,
ran a raft down the Ohio river this
spring. 1t contained 100000 feet of
boards, and carried 100000 of
shingles. 1t was 40 rods long and 6
rods wide" We recall the busy days
when all northern Wisconsin lumber
was RATED down the river. Oh days
of excitement and danger Of red
shirted river boys and smoke rising
from camp fires. "Oh the swelling of
the heart we ne'er may feel again"
| when in spirit of adventure we go
up to the eddy and ride over the
old pilot, Uncle Ed. Metcalf-always
just escaping dangerous rocks, saving
a little prayer under our breath, while
bit afraid" All! but we cannot
| lOIStU lOW OIL oUl uCh
cruel rocks and went to pieces and
helpless men.
"Chas. NJ. Webb, Esq, has been
appointed district attorney for Wood
county, vice S. II: Alban, resigned"
And still we delight to honor him
whose life has had many honors
freely given-more than honors in the
oh Of in
comrades'in law, comrades in political
and social affairs whose faith has never
wavered, whose loyalty never been
shaken.
cat the late session of the circuit
court at this place Messrs. J. Fl. Lang
and Jerry Witter were admitted as
attorneys at law We wish the new
''limbs'' a prosperous career" The
picture the name of j. Fl. Lang calls
up is surrounded by group of familiar
faces; the Arpins, long since dead;
Byron Naylor, o. Garrison, Henry
Sampson, Joseph Wood, Brundage.
Philleo, Jackson, Rev. Harriss, John
Rablin. and so many others.
Jere D. Witter has formed law
partnership with Charles NJ. Webb
under the firm name Of Webb & Wit
ter. How we'll memory brings to mind
his genial young manhood, the central
figure in many gay social gathering;
the light of many a dark business
hour to fellow citizens. and still the
light of the public schools: The free
library along with the founder, T. b.
Scott: the travelling libraries and
every public interest of the city.
"W. Byron Naylor and J. X. Brands
are candidates for the office of sheriff
of Wood county" J. X. Brands. the
one time fat and jolly landlord of the
Halfway house on the road to Plover.
There the 'young folks" found it a
pleasant resting place, when a sleigh
load had an outing in ride to Stevens
Point or Plover, with a dance sand
wiched in between dark and daylight,
or found it just far enough to go for
an oyster supper, or chicken dinner.
With the passing of J. X. Brands and
the old Halfway house passed much
that made life pleaSanter in the being.
Here about were found the hauntS of
the wild red deer, the gray squirrel
and the rabbit. Here the robins
nestled and the thrush reared their
young: the meadow lark sang his
matin song and the quail and prairie
chicken fattened. Along the sandy
stretches of road the early violet and
trillium were first found, and in
summers heat the lupine and cardinal
flower, the golden rod and blue flag,
the fragrant mint and gorgeous lady
slipper, each had home.
And so the WOOD COUNTY RE-
PORTER, sent by kindly hands over
snow covered mountains and desert
plains, bridges the miles of space and
years Of time and we, ''looking back
ward" through its columns, feel once
more the thrill of joyful days half
forgotten, and see never-to-be-tor-
gotten faces: we almost hear we'll
remembered voices, and smell the
fragrance of flowers and wood and
marsh, and we softly bless the paper
for the message it brings and appreci-
ate as never before the human
interest Daper and tVpe carry to the |