Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1922-10-26
THIS WEEK
40 YEARS Ago

The files of the Wood County Re-
| porter for forty years ago present in
teresting evidence of the great chang
| es that have taken place both in the
form of the weekly newspaper and in
| the life of this city since that time.
The Reporter for October 26, 1882,
exactly forty years ago today bears
the legend "Fontaine Brothers, Edit
ors and Publishers" on the front page.
The front page is given over to nation
al news and miscellany, and the fourth
page contains miscellaneous matter
OF general interest and four columns
of advertising matter. Both these
pages are patent" or ready print sec
tions. The paper was the same size
as now, four pages seven column, the
second and third pages being devoted
to editorials and local news and ad-
vertising matter.
In this issue and several others pre-
ceding and following it, the Tax Deed
Notice occupied nearly thirteen col
umns of the fourteen columns of an
extra sheet. This was set in fine type.
The Tax Deed Notice is now running
IN this paper in type one-third larger
and is seven columns this year.
The list of Candidates at that time
favored by the Reporter contained the
names of Isaac Stephenson for men,
ber of Congress, Chas. M. Webb for
State Senator and George R. Gardner
for Member of Assembly.
A great deal of political interest
appears on both news and editorial
pages. Peter McCamley was running
for the Office of Sheriff against Joseph
Hemmon. and J. c. Davis was the Re-
publican nominee for the County Clerk
ship.
The news columns record rapid pro-
gress being made on the construction
of the railroad branch from Reming-
ton to Dexter, the work being done
by Mr.. Hiies.
Headlines were little used in this
paper then, and the drowning of Thom-
as Love, 17-year-old son of VIM. Love
who had lately come from Canada,
near Woods mill on Mill Creek, while
driving logs for Meehan Bros, was
recorded in a six-line personal item.
The Reporter "as the official City
Paper and this issue OF forty years
ago today contained the first publica-
tion Of the ordinance prohibiting the
operation of house of ill-fame within
the city limits. D. J. Cole was Mayor
at the time and l.. Kroner was City
Clerk.
The report of the city schools shows
45 enrolled IN the High School Depart
ment of which G. D. Jones was the
teacher. The average daily attendance
was 40. Among the names in this re-
port that are familiar here now is a
varied list of much interest. To give
just few that appear among the
names Of pupils neither absent nor
tardy during the first month of school
that year may recall some pleasant
memories to some of our readers.
There were Eddie, Willie and Thedie
Prazeau, Ellis Kroner, Frank Pomain-
vile, Eddie and Willie Wheelan, Frank
Ticknor, George Warren, Eddie Her
schleb, Isaac Witter, John and Joseph
Arpin, Milton Mosher and John
Plenke Many others, of course, but
these we have selected hurriedly and
at random.
The Reporter will be glad to bring
out other matters of interest from time
to time which may be suggested by
these notes. We shall plant to use some
of this material from forty years ago
each week. Did you know that it was
just forty years ago last week that
Frank James, brother of the notorious
Jesse James, bandit and train robber,
surrendered himself to the Governor
of Missouri?