Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-10-11

Farming Country Fast Being
Developed.

OSVS1OpCOs
To keep posted on the rapid i'm
provements being made in Wood
county, it is necessary to drive through
the county by team. Recently it has
been necessary for the writer to drive
through the towns Of Rudolph
Sigel, Seneca and Port Edwards. W.
have already spoken of the many
changes made in these towns. The
past week it was our pleasure to drive
in company with A. B. Cotey from
Grand Rapids over the new road tC
PittSville. This was our first trip tC
Pittsville in twelve years. Those who
are acquainted with the country
around Pittsville can imagine oul
great surprise in the changes which
have occurred there within the past
twelve years. From Grand Rapids te
PittSville is distance of about
eighteen miles, and there is only a
small part of these eighteen miles in
the vicinity of Hemlock Greek, but
what has fine farms, facing on either
side of the road. This was a marvel.
lOuS surprise to us.
At Pittsville the main streets ot
that village were familiar, but a large
number OF business blocks, as well as
residences have been erected since
our last visit there. The surround
ing country has been mostly cleared
up and is now under cultivation. The
village nestles on the bank of the
Yellow river on high, level piece OF
ground, with three churches, graded
school and two handsome hotels, the
Elm Park, owned and operated by
J. G. Kurtz & Son, and the johnson
House, Jerry Case, proprietor. There
are two large general mercantile
stores, owned and conducted by S. n.
Baum, and II. E. Spears; one grocery
by George Favisle, who is also in
charge OF the telephone exchange;
two large handsome hardware stores.
The Pittsville Hardware company is
managed by Charles Heuer, while the
JenSen-Lowell Hardware company is
in charge Of w.. B. Jensen, and which
has been recently sold to J. j. Ebbe and
brother-in-law; one drug store owned
and operated by DR.. Edward T.
Hougen: one State Bank, f. S. Saby
as cashier; one furniture and under
taking store owned by e. Sibley; one
jewelry store owned by A. V. Austen,
one confectionery and fruit store
owned by H. L. Campbell, one harness
shop, owned by G. A. Ludwig, one
the Pittsville Times
edited by G. w. Andrews. one dentist
DR.. H. II. Wcikel, two law firms, f.
S. Woodworth, and Bauman and
DAVIS, two meat markets one
operated by James Moore, anG the
other J. E. Troupe, one barber shop,
C. A. Pelow artist, one millinery
establishment owned by Miss L.
Briggs, one bakery owned by M.
Scheidecker, one shoe shop owned by
Charles Schriver, two blacksmith
shops, Robt. Fl. Holmes proprietor of
one and Hans Lundey of the other, one
real estate Office that of Oftelie Il
Stondall, one temperance saloon
owned by ]. E. Peaslee, one grist mill
owned by G. H. Schlagel, one saw mill
ald lumber yard owned by Fl. E.
Mccoy & Co., one creamery with
capacity of 5000 pounds of milk per
day and is owned by S. N. Baum.
The postoffice is run by Postmaster
E. S. Huckins. The above represents
and constitutes the business interests
of Pittsville.
At The spring election "no license
was carried and therefore the village
is known as ''dry town." Many
OF the business men informed the
writer that the passing OF tie mo
license" act is proving detrimental tC
the business interests of Pittsville; as
many of the farmers living west OF
the village GO to Marshfield to trade
while those east of the village go tC
Grand Rapids to do their trading
They claim that their trade is at leas,
one-third lighter since the mo license
law went into effect. While PittSville
may never become large city, it has
the Foundation laid for good trading
center that will be supported by {
rich and prosperous farming com
munity.
Our stay over Saturday and SUNDAY
there the guests of Frank and Luc.
Woodworth was greatly enjoyed ant
proved to be restful to the higheS
degree.