I occasionally run across "bits and pieces" of information from old books or newspapers that just quite don't fit anywhere else in the web site.  Hence, the new page!  I welcome any of your "bits 'n pieces" that you might have collected over the years.  This could be a clipping out of a newspaper that isn't an obituary or doesn't "fit" into any of the other sections on the website. 

COURT RECORDS INDEX (includes divorces, paid-off mortgages, etc.)
Shawano Circuit Series 54, Shawano County case files
Shawano Series 55, Shawano County case files

The following is a list of petit jurors drawn to serve at the term of circuit court which will be held in this city, commencing on the 25th ___:

Rev. Baumann was born November 11, 1862, in Germany. He served in the German army and in 1888 came to America, settling first in Clintonville and later in Belle Plaine. He was ordained a minister at Acton, North Dakota, in 1894.

He was united in marriage to Miss Anna Schoenrock in Belle Plaine and together they went to North Dakota, where Rev. Baumann served as a missionary at large.  He came back to Wisconsin and settled at Bowler, and then to the town of Grant, serving in both churches. It was during his ministry in the town of Grant that the church which still stands on the corner of county trunk M, one and one-half miles out of Caroline, was built, largely through the efforts of Rev. Baumann.

Five years ago Rev. Baumann retired after 35 years of active work serving his God.  With his wife he has made his home in this city at 301 W. Fifth Street.  They have seven children, William, now a minister at Neillsville; Malinda, Mrs. R. H. Brockopp, Alexander, Minn.; Martha, Mrs. K. G. Brockopp, of Glidden; Walter, a minister in the town of Richmond; Ella, Mrs. O. E. Hoffman, Elk Mound; Vila, Mrs. W. H, Meyer of this city, and Emmanuel, a minister at Mavis, Minn. David, the youngest son, died in 1922.

In the last three days in June a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the coming of the Richie family to America will be held in Manawa, Royalton and Bear Lake. One hundred years ago three of the Richie brothers landed in America coming from north Ireland.

Their progeny now number into the hundreds.  They are located largely in three areas: Wisconsin, Ohio, and California.  The representatives of the family in Shawano are the Stanleys, Mrs. Charlotte Richie, and the Veslaks.  For forty years and over the family has held reunions in June without miss.  Because this is the hundredth anniversary, a three-day observance will be made.  On Friday a reunion picnic will be held at Bear Lake.  On Saturday evening a historical pageant portraying the true story of the family will be enacted at Manawa.  On Sunday religious, services will be held at the Congregational church in Royalton.

SPECIAL SERVIICES SUNDAY TO COMMEMORATE PASSING HALF-CENTURY MARK

Sunday, September 21st, the congregation of the Immanuel Lutheran church of the town of Washington, near White Clay Lake, will celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the forming of the congregation.  There will be three services commemorating the event: the first a service at 10:00 in the morning with the Rev. List delivering the sermon in the German language.  At 2:30 Rev. Wm. Schultz will preside and in the evening Rev. F. Droegemuller will head the service.  The Revs. List and Droegemuller are former pastors of the church.  The Ladies of the congregation will serve a chicken dinner at noon, and in the evening lunch will be served.

The history of this congregation is the story of pioneer days of hardship.  In 1872, Rev. Peter Dicke, the first Lutheran minister in the town of Washington induced the residents of that community to assemble in religious services.  In 1889 the congregation was formed.  It was a very small congregation, but all of its members were faithful.  None of the members of the original congregation are living, but there are two men, sons of these old members who are now part of the present congregation.  They are Karl Fischer and Frederich Moesch.  In 1881 the contract for the building of the first church was let to Wm. Mayer for the sum of thirty-four dollars.  This building was very crude, made of logs and rough home-made benches were placed in the church.  In 1888 they built the parsonage.  The little log church served the community for many years and as the congregation increased the members were able to abandon the old log building for a better one and a frame structure was erected, 1892.

This served their needs until 1923 when a new brick building was erected.  The present church is a very beautiful edifice, and has just recently been painted and redecorated, the work done by an outside artist.

The ministers who have served the congregation since its formation are: Rev. O. List, Rev. Droegemuller, Rev. Paul Kolb, Rev. L. Schultz and Rev. H. F. Braum, the present pastor, who has had charge of this pastorate since 1919.

Letter Read by M. Wescott at the Club Meeting at O. Andrews 

We have met here today at the kind invitation of our respected host, Orlin Andrews.  Not as much to enjoy a feast which none know better how to provide than he and his beloved wife, as to bring together the early settlers of fifty years ago, where we can refresh our recollections of early experiences and with pride and pleasure relate some of the maiden adventures and social events of the early settlement of Shawano County fifty years ago.

This carries me back to the time when Lucina Murray, J. M. and Edward Robinson(?), Charles Munn, the Grimmer family (?) and some others whose names I can not recall, were enrolled as school children in School Dist. No. 1 were we attended regularly when the weather was not too cold or the snow too deep(?) to permit us to go fishing.

Speaking of our school days, reminds me of when Orlin was our teacher.  I and one of the other boys, violated the rules of the school by trying to settle a dispute according to the approved style of the times.  I do not remember which came out best in the encounter, but the question, as we supposed was settled, but Orlin hearing of it, would not let the matter go on that way, and forthwith sent me out to cut a blue beach.  I did not know who it was cut for and cut a good one, but I soon found out and got the full benefit of it.  I, of course thought myself unjustly punished and was planning all sorts of revenge but soon after the other fellow for some offense took the same dose of blue beach, which went a long way in healing the sore spots and made the plank seats much more comfortable for me.

As I look back now and think of the long journey from New York here, consuming two long weeks on the way, and the frequent changes necessary from stage coach to cars, from cars to steamboat and finally ending in a three days trip in an open row boat.  I realize the courage and determination of our fathers to face the hardships and unknown dangers to be encountered in the settlement of the then wilds of Wisconsin.  Especially when we take into consideration the fact that they were leaving behind all the comforts of civilization, homes, friends, relatives, and the association of their childhood days, to penetrate the wilds of the west, there  from the unbroken forest hew out a home for themselves and their little ones.  Little does the rising generation of today realize the hardship, privations, and dangerous they often endured.

The first white man to make a permanent settlement in Shawano County was Charles D. Wescott, who came here in 1843.  At the time, my father moved here ten or more years later there was no roads or way of communicating with the outside world except by weekly or semi-monthly mail carried on horse back or on foot from New London, the nearest settlement over an Indian trail.

If I remember rightly, the town of New London consisted of a small log store, a steamboat dock and two or three log or board houses.  I think we stayed overnight in one of the log  houses before resuming our journey up wolf River in an open rowboat , propelled by six lusty Indians, arriving here on the third day, camping out on the bank of the river at night.  The picture we presented  on that first night camping out presented a wild scene to me, although but a small boy , but one I have never forgotten.  The night was cold and frosty.  A shelter was provided by spreading blankets and canvas over poles slanting windward and a huge log fire burning in the center.  On one side was my father, my mother tired and weary from the long journey, and the constant care of her youngest child, Addie, only a few weeks old.  My sister Annie, who had been sick during the whole voyage, myself and brothers Sheldron and Johnny and Lucy Olmsted occupied one side of the camp and Grandfather and Grandmother Wescott, Uncle Wm. E. Wescott and Lydia Wescott occupied the other side.  The Indian crew was camped near by.  It was a wild scene to me and to all of us who were unaccustomed to camp life.

The following year our little colony was increased by the arrival of Myron McCord Sr. and his family, soon after James Munn and Family, Ogden Brooks and family, Francis Robinson and family, and Nelson Olmstead and two daughters, and J. Y. Olmstead settled here.  I think there were other families that came here about that time, but only lived here a few months.  As I remember them, the names of the families who were living here at the time we came, were C. D. Wescott, David Maxfield, James Whitehouse, James Alexander, William and James Grimmer, Joseph Maurer, Julius A. Murray, Mrs. Semple and her three sons James, Parlan, and Archi and her daughter, now Mrs. Hammond, Abial Richmond, Harry and William Sanders and E. F. Senger. Capt. Con. Powell, James Cowan, the Dousmans and John and Wiley were living at or near Keshena and William Allender, who kept a stopping place at the crossing of the Embarrass River.  In the fall of 1854 the little colony experienced a hard time, cold weather set in early in the fall and the barges laden with the winter supplies were frozen in between Shiocton and the Red Banks and it was near Christmas before the teams could be got to them.  During this time, flour and salt meats were a scarce article but as there was a fairly good crop of wild rice gathered by the Indians, which, with the fish and wild game, supplied from the lake and forest, the settlement was tided over until the barge supplies were brought up by teams.

I have perhaps taken more than my share of time already, for there are others we wish to hear from; but I cannot close without paying a brief tribute of appreciation and respect to the hardy and noble pioneers who were so instrumental in blazing the way, whose latch string was always on the outside and the new comer was always received and welcomed.  Little did they know that they were opening the way for the thousands who have since followed after them and have established happy and prosperous homes within the bounds of our county.

FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF PELLA OPENING CHURCH TO BE OBSERVED WITH ALL DAY SERVICES SUNDAY 

The St. Peter’s Lutheran Church of Pella Opening will commemorate their fiftieth anniversary next Sunday, Sept. 1, at their church in Pella Opening.  The congregation was established fifty years ago in 1878, and the first church building was built that year.

To fittingly commemorate the happy occasion of their fiftieth anniversary, services will be held in the morning and in the afternoon.  At 10 o’clock a.m., Rev. C. H. Schilling of Amherst, former pastor of the church, will preach in the German language.  At noon the ladies of the congregation will serve a sumptuous chicken dinner.  Afternoon services will start at 2:30 when Prof. Barth, of the Concordia College of Milwaukee, a son of the first pastor of the St. Peter’s church, will preach in the German language.  A short English service will also follow the German in the afternoon.

Special music will be furnished by the Belle Plaine band, refreshments will be served on the ground and arrangements are made to receive a large crowd on this occasion.  The congregation extends a cordial invitation to friends of the church and the public generally to join with them in the celebration of this memorable anniversary.

The three Sperberg brothers, Ludwig, William, and Herman, lived near the Opperman Bridge. The bothers decided to go to the state of Texas and sold their farms. However, instead of moving to Texas they bought farms near the reservation line and named the road, the Texas Road.

The children from this area attended the Red River School until it became too crowed. Residents in the locality offered to buy Paul Martens, Sr. a new hat if he would get a new district organized. Mr. Martens got his hat and in 1908 a school was built on property of Henry Korth and it was named the Texas School. Miss Eunice Ainsworth (Gueths), mother of Everett Gueths, a member of Jt. Dist. #8 Board of Education, was the first teacher. Miss Ainsworth drove 5 miles every morning and night with horse and buggy. She left the horse in the neighbor's barn and walked the rest of the way to school.

There were 53 pupils attending the school. Some of the first students were William Kumm, Martha Kumm, Eric Kumm, Erna Buettner, Max Martens, Phoebe Martens, Ben Martens, Ruth Martens, Herman Martens, Paul Martens, Erna Martens, Flora Martens, Marie Martens, Henry Martens, Louis Sperberg, Alfred Sperberg, Lavina Sperberg, Alice Sperberg, Evelyn Moede, Clara Moede, Elsie Moede, Henry Kroenke, John Kroenke, Ella Kroenke, Art Kroenke, Theodore Martzke, Hubert Martzke, Linda Martzke, Bill Martzke, Edward Martzke, Alfred Martzke, Minnie Martzke, Hatie Zimdars, Elsie Zimdars, Fred Kosbab, Ella Ziemer, Ida Ziemer, Harvey Pieper, Walter Pieper, Adolph Pieper, Mabel Pieper, Fred Pieper, John Pieper, Alfred Wendorf, George Nuske, Dora Nuske, Stella Nuske and Erna Ziemer.

This information was compiled by Mrs. Isabell Stuber, teacher at the Texas School, with the help of Mrs. Otto Habeck, Mrs. Paul Martens and John Kroenke.

CORNER STONE LAYING AND GOLDEN JUBILEE OF CONGREGATION

Next Sunday the Lutheran St. Paul’s Congregation at Stony Hill, six miles west of Shawano, will lay the corner stone of its new church edifice.  The Reverend M. Treff of Amherst, Wisconsin, a former pastor of the congregation, will preach the sermon.  The service will begin at 10 o’clock.

In the afternoon at 2:30, the fiftieth anniversary of the congregation will be celebrated in a special jubilee service which will be held in the park of the congregation and will be conducted by the Reverend H. A. Handrich of Luxembourg, Wisconsin.

Since its organization in 1872 the St. Paul’s congregation has grown from four families to 43 voting and 151 communicant members and 259 souls.  During the past 50 years it has been served by the following pastors:  Rev. Dieke (1872 – 1880), Rev. C. Ebert (1880 – 1882), Rev. W. Hudtloff (1882 – 1893), Rev. Uplegger (1893), Rev. M. Treff (1893 – 1907). Rev. K. Rose (1907 – 1909), Rev. T. Fiess (1909 – 1919), Rev. A. F. Ramlow (1920 - ).

All friends of the church are cordially invited to join in this double celebration.  A light luncheon will be served free of charge and the customary refreshments may be had at moderate prices.

MRS. WINANS TELLS EARLY HISTORY

Her folks brought up river in scow poled by five native Indians.

The Rotary Club listened to a talk Monday under conditions that very few clubs have had the honor of experiencing.  The speech was made by a lady ninety years old.  Grandma Winans gave the story of her life and some of the early history of Shawano county.  She is the oldest living pioneer and when she goes much of the early lore will go with her.

She was born in a small town in Indiana in 1839.  In 1851 her grandfather was appointed Indian agent at Keshena.  A year later, the grandfather sent for Mrs. Winan’s father, Julius Murray.  The father came to Keshena and he with Mr. Tourtillot, father of James, built the three first houses on what is now the main street of Keshena.  It so happens that Mrs. Winans is living in one of those houses now.

In 1853 Mr. Murray went back to Indiana to get the family.  He hired a man with a covered wagon to make the trip as far as Sheboygan.  They came through Chicago, which wasn’t any bigger than Oshkosh is now.  They got to Sheboygan in due time and sent the covered wagon back to Indiana and went to Fond du Lac by stage.  They got a steamboat, which brought them to New London.  At New London they waited two days for five Indians who came down from Keshena after them.

These five Indians put their goods and all the family into a big scow and poled the boat up river.  A day out from New London there came up a big storm.  The mother of the family had a baby four weeks old besides four other little children.  The party was drenched to the skin.  But in spite of being alone out in the woods, the Indians knew just how to manipulate and soon had a fire and everybody dried out.

They poled the scow to Keshena where the family landed just seventy-five years ago.  The next spring the family came to Shawano.  The hotel was run by a man named Maxfield.  There were only four families in the town.  In 1855 Hiram Wescott built the old Wescott House that was so important to early Shawano history.  In 1854 there was a Fourth of July celebration in Shawano and there were just enough people to make two sets for the square dances.  There were just two fiddlers north of Oshkosh.

Mrs. Winans was married in 1857 and for more than fifty years she and her husband and family lived in the Winans home just across the river.

She taught school for one year in the school of the section located near the town line bridge.  A stump left in the ground and protruding up through the floor, constituted the teacher’s desk.  She had seven pupils.  She showed an old school register for the year 1857.  We noted that the name Wescott came quite frequently in the pupil list.

Mrs. Winans showed a journal from the first Shawano store.  The book is seventy-eight years old.  The entries are simple, mostly for socks, corn meal, flour, pork, tobacco, and pipes.  There were frequent entries for candle wicking.

The speaker said that Shawano county was organized for judicial purposes in the fall of 1854.  Her father, Julius Murray, was the first register of deeds, Edward f. Sawyer, first surveyor, Dr. John Wiley was first Treasurer, and James Grimmer, first justice of the peace.

The club sang Auld Lang Syne and When You and I Were Young, Maggie, for the speaker.

Clintonville, Wisconsin -- On Friday, the Bethlehem Lutheran congregation of Pella, celebrated the 65th anniversary of its founding.  This church was founded by Charles Klebeshdel, a pioneer teacher and missionary of the Lutheran faith when Pella was wilderness.  Ten families constituted the original organization.  During the 65 years of its existence this church has been served by but four pastors, the Rev. Mr. Dicke, the Rev. latter has served this congregation Mr. Barth, the Rev. Mr. Schwan and the Rev. Mr. Stoubenvoll. The for 33 years.  During this period he has baptized 547 children, confirmed 564 people, married 157 couples and conducted 148 funerals.  The first child baptized in the new church was Mary Moldenhouer who still lives in the community.

The name of the town which centers around this church, Pella, is of biblical origin and means “Refuge”.  It was given to the community by Mr. Klebesadel, who organized the church.  The Rev. Mr. Steubenvoll, the present pastor is a vigorous type of man, well-known not only among the clergy but also as an enthusiastic hunter and fisherman.

HAROLD B. LEE LIBRARY - DIGITIZED COLLECTION
This is an awesome resource that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints - Mormon church has placed online for researchers.  It is just FILLED with biographies and family histories that are searchable by individual words or surnames.  Here's some links to Shawano area items -- click on the link and then search the document for Shawano (or the town or surname) in the "SEARCH THIS OBJECT" search engine.  Click on the BLUE TYPE to go to the actual book online. (Most are "bits and pieces" of info pertaining to Shawano Co. -- but some are ***** (5 gold stars!)

FIFTY BOYS AND GIRLS WILL RECEIVE DIPLOMAS; REV. J. F. POTRATZ IS SPEAKER

Fifty boys and girls will receive diplomas Friday evening when the annual commencement exercises at St. James' Lutheran School will take place in the school hall.  The program will open at 8:00 o'clock.  The commencement speaker is Rev. J. F. Potratz of Belle Plaine.  This week the third addition of St. James' school annual was placed in the hands of the students.  The annual is dedicated to E. H. Ruprecht, teacher in the school since 1927.

A. J. Felten, principal, has announced the following commencement program:

Processional
Hymn
Invocation
Salutatory - Leona Buhrandt
Piano Solo - Ruth Potratz
Speaker - Rev. J. F. Potratz, Belle Plaine
Cornet Solo - Reginald Ringel
Class Motto - Ruth Potratz
Class Colors - Rose Spohn
Our Class Flower - Rachel Lemke
Class History - Duane Malley
Class Prophecy - Ardis Giese
Valedictory - Duane Malley
Distribution of Diplomas
Closing Address

The 1939 class of St. James' is as follows: Carlton Schmidt, William Stach, Wallace Grosskopf, Merton Fischer, Harvey Marotz, Duane Malley, Florence Darling, Ruth Potratz, Leona Buhrandt, Arlene Packard, Beverly Mae Krause, Robert Moesch, Harold Koenig, Marlin Zueske, Neal Knope, Earl Druckrey, Margaret Anderson, Marion Hesse, Lenor Hanke, Mae Kruse, Rose Spohn, Doris Mae Krueger, Robert Packard, Gordon Ebelt, Clyde Zahn, Willard brown, Arnold Koepsell, Ardis Giese, Maxine Schroeder, Ruth Reinholz, Dorothy Behnke, Rachel Lemke, Ruth Beversdorf, William Scheider, Marvin Hesse, Harvey Wetzel, Reginald Ringel, Willis Heling, Dorothy Beske, Adeline Heling, Alice Schultz, Lucille Huebner, Adell Kroenke, Dorothy Salzman, Eugene Miller, Eldor Marotz, Frederick Beversdorf, Irvin Rosenberg, Robert Bratz and Raymond Bluemke.