Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1911-08-08

Lyford, Texas. Arthur is the son oI
the late Burton Millard whose name
to all who knew him, will ever be as
sociated with noble deeds, elevatine
and patriotic citizenship and power
full hands that shape things for the
welfare and good of mankind. He
was killed while serving his country
in the civil war. His mother, Mrs
t. Smith, still resides in the
old home in this city. He was
born and grew to manhood in
Wausau and when he had finished his
education, fitted himself for a journ
alist and started and for many years
was at the head of the Amigo News
Item. The article is about the early
days in Wausau, and we doubt if there
are any who can find an error in the
memory of the writer. Our old as vel
as recent citizens, will find the article
very interesting. We take the liberty
of publishing the brief personal letter
accompanying the article as it con.
tainS suggestions which our very early
citizens should seriously consider, foI
1t Is only by the publication of old
occurrences that the history of our
city and county can be handed down.
The article covers the time from the
latter SOS to about 1875, and is as fol-
lows:
LYFoRD TEXAS,
July Is, 1911.
FRIEND GENE:
lam once more in medatative mood,
and have written bit that l hope
may prove of interest to you and your
readers. | cannot help but think that
1t is too bad that many of those whose
memory dates back beyond yours and
mine should not give us something
from their pen. Do not let them off,
Gene, on the plea that they cannot
write. If they once get started and
just write what they think and re-
member, they would be interesting,
and contribute much to the history of
the city that will ere long be lost.
In writing what | am sending you
L claim nothing for it but the recol-
lectiOns of mind that is apt to for
get much of interest to others and re-
cite only that which appealed to my
mind at that time. You may find
errors and discrepancies in it, and
ask you (if you see fit to use it at all)
to correct anything of that kind and
add to 1t wherever you think it
ought to be enlarged. Perhaps i
ought to add and cut and prune Wig
orOuSly where needed. With regards
to ali who can see the scenes as l see
them, and hope that l may soon
look upon the improved but not for
gotten city, | am,
Sincerely yours,
A. B. MILLARD.
Isn't it strange, how little thing,
ri
will switch the current of ones
thoughts and open up the storehouse
of the past, the door of which is half
hidden by the dust of years. Not
long ago, as l was sitting by the
lamp-light perusing that good old Wis
itOr-the PILOT-my thoughts were
suddenly turned by the strains of
that old familiar song:
should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to min?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days o. auld lang 'SyneP
| was Immediately transported from
the living present to the dead past.
No, it can never be the dead past so
long as one may unlock, at will, the
door of the vault of time and, in the
light of fading day, conjure up the
scenes of youth and call forth from
the shadows the forms of those we
loved in the long ago.
The song took me back to the old
Forest hall where l first heard its
sweet strains. | do not remember
whether it was sung by local talent
or wandering minstrel, but 1t am
plifies the old saying, 'though you
may forget the singer you will not
forget the song" Back again to those
old times my mind wanders, and l
feel certain that no one will object to
my efforts to restore, like the archae-
ologists at Pompeii and Herculaneum,
the pristine glory of the hamlet of
the early COS, knowing full well that
in doing so | will not disturb one
brick or stone of the magnificent
city builded on its site.
In unearthing the old town we
started at the foot of Third street
where, on the south side of Forest, the
livery and residence of ThOS. YouleS
was located, west of which was S. K.
Stoddard'S house where also he
mended mems SoleS. Next to this
stood vacant building known as
Lyman'S store, and | imagine | can
see barefooted boys running through
the streets in the evening ringing
dinner bell and shouting, auction,
auction, at Lyman'S old store"
Walrod lived on the corner and across
the street little cottage occupied by
a family named Tucker, whose son
Charley, had his skull crushed later
on by the kick of horse. The old
rambling Forest House, later enlarged
and finally destroyed by fire, stood on
the corner of Third and Forest, to
the west of which was Aug. Gouthier's
residence, and still further on at the
corner of Second anc Forest, Ferdin-
and KickbIsch built the first brick
dwelling in town.
East of ThoS. Youles lived John
YouleS and on the corner stood the
house in which the mother OF the
present editor of the PILOT evidently
did not "spare the rod" for 1T Is not
recorded that size spoiled the child
Judge Kennedy lived across the street
TO the east where Cy. Strobridge lived
afterward so many years, and 10 the
south of this was the Carl Hoeffllnger
home. On the north side OF Forest
betweed Fourth and Fifth were sew
eral small cottages among which was
that of "Old Abe" Hoeppner, and
Levi Genett's on the corner. In the
next block were the homes of Fred
Norman and John Tuttle, and as you
turned the corner to go south on the
left, lived Mrs. James O'Connor where
She moved after the accidental shoot
ing of her husband. Conrad Edee.
BinZe-, Adams and Young lived on
the east side of the South line road,
while w. G. Silverthorn had just built
a cottage where his present mansion,
stands. Farther down, Go. Ruder
was making beer in little place that
has long since been replaced by one of
the most modern brewerieS. A little
south of Ruder'S was big gully, or
waShout, caused by the spring rains
and melted snow. You remember
that it washed away the original
cemetery, or part of it, and ] can
still see the grewSome sight Of a coffin
box sticking out of the side of the
bank. A mile or SO south was the