00925, Clark County, Wisconsin History & Genealogy

Bio: Nolechek, Nancy A. (Dean's list 1983)
Contact: Kathleen E. Englebretson

Surnames: Nolechek

----Source: Marshfield News-Herald (11 July 1983)

Nancy A. Nolecheck of Thorp was named to the dean's list for work completed second semester at Viterbo College, La Crosse. (extracted name)

Our citizens were greatly surprised to learn of the death of George W. Levis, which occurred at his summer home in Washburn County, last Friday morning. But few knew that he was seriously ill. The remains were taken to Madison for internment.

Mr. Levis was for a number of years a prominent citizen of this city and county. He was a man of exponential ability and strong character. He was actively identified with political matters here in his younger years, and he was of forceful influence in the community.

He served as postmaster of this city under Cleveland's first administration. He remained there until 1891, when he was appointed assistant secretary of state and moved to Madison. He had since made frequent visits here and kept up his acquaintance among Jackson County people. He was one of the prominent speakers at the Home-Coming last year, at which he delivered an able address on the history of the logging industry in the early days of the Black River Valley.

Mr. Levis was a man of high ideals and lofty purpose. He was a great student and a deep thinker. He was a man of independent thought and good judgment. He was not only a scholar, but he was also of good business ability. Combined with his many other excellent qualities was that of a friendly and compassionable disposition which made him a host of warm friends. The following extended account of his life, and of his last illness, is from the Madison Democrat, the editor of which was a close personal friend of Mr. Levis.

The death of George W. Levis occurred at 8 o'clock yesterday morning at his summer home on Long Lake, Washburn County. He was one of Madison's most prominent and public spirited citizens, a public speaker of wide reputation and prominent in fraternal organizations. For a number of years Mr. Levis had suffered with asthma and stomach ailments, but his friends in Madison were not aware that his condition was serious. Only July 2, Mr. Levis and family went to Long Lake and Mr. Levis was confident of his recovery.

Mr. Levis came of English ancestry on the paternal side and Norwegian on the maternal. His great-great-great-grandfather, Samuel Levis, a Quaker, was the founder of the family in America, securing a thousand acres of land near Philadelphia during William Penn's settlement of that section o the country. About one half of this property is still in the family name. Samuel Levis II, son of Thomas, was the grandfather of George Levis and the Father of John Levis, born in 1807 in Bristol. PA. John Levis (unreadable word) brought his family to Wisconsin in Black River Falls, where in 1854 he was instrumental in organizing, with the aid of German capital, an iron company which built the first iron furnace in Wisconsin. Aside from this business he was engaged in the lumber trade, operating a sawmill. When the Civil War had closed he devoted himself to lumber interests until about 1870, when he retired. His death occurred in 1893.

While residents of Black River Falls, George W. Levis was born. He received his preliminary education in the public schools of Black River Falls and in 1893 was graduated from the Law Department of the University of Wisconsin. From 1893 to 1896 he engaged in the practice of his profession in West Superior and La Crosse, and in the latter year located permanently to Madison to take a position as deputy United States marshal for the western district of Wisconsin. This position he held until 1900, when he became the chief influence in the organization of the Stark-Levis Land Company of which he had since been secretary and treasurer, besides general manager. His associate in this enterprise, N. O. Stark died January 8, 1908.

In his political connections, Mr. Levis was a strong supporter of democratic principles and had several times been the candidate of his party for different offices. In 1890 he was the nominee for the office of assemblyman from Jackson County, and was defeated by only 86 votes in what had always been a Republican district. In 1894 he was the democratic candidate for congress from the seventh district. In 1904 he was chosen secretary of the democratic state central committee and for several years served in that capacity. At different times he had filled many minor offices in Jackson County. In 1906 he was the democratic candidate for congress against John M. Nelson.

Mr. Levis was twice married, his first wife having been Miss Clara Winden, to whom he married in 1893. She died three years later. On October 31, 1903, Mrs. Susan Finorff, widow of Augustus Findorff, became his bride. She is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Speckner of this city.
At the deathbed were the members of the family, Mrs. Levis and the children, George Winden Levis, about 15 years old, Emeline, about three and one-half years old, and Dorothy Findorff Levis.

Mr. Levis also leaves two brothers, John of Black River Falls, and Frank a dealer in lumber, of Black River Falls, and three sisters, Mrs. James Thomas of Black River Falls, Alice Levis who makes her home with Mrs. Thomas and Mrs. Charles Thompson of Merrillian.

Few souls were more lovable than George W. Levis, whose death is announced. He was a true friend, a fair opponent, a man who strove to do right and to be right. Student, scholar, philosopher—Levis was them all. His library was his cherished resort, his never failing source of solace and entertainment.

Watertown. Jefferson county. Wis.. September 28. 1906 George W. Levis, the Democratic candidate for Congress in the Second District of Wisconsin, which comprises the counties of Dane, Jefferson, Columbia, Green Lake, Marquette and Adams, is a resident of the city of Madison, Wisconsin. Mr. Levis is 45 years of age and was born at Black River Falls in Jackson County , Wis., October 15th, 1861 He has been a resident of Wisconsin, all his life. His education was obtained in the public schools of his native county and at the State University of Wisconsin, having graduated from the Law Department of the University with the class of 1893.

In 1894 he was the Democratic candidate for Congress in the old Seventh District of Wisconsin, against General Michael Grifliri of Eau Claire. The campaign was a spirited one and demonstrated that Mr. Levis ability as a campaigner and orator of the first order—while the district was strongly Republican polled an unusually large vote. His first political office was that of town and city clerk. He served as a county supervisor for some years; was postmaster of his native town from 1884 to 1890; was chief office deputy marshal from the Western District of Wisconsin for four years. He served as Secretary of the Democratic Slate Central Committee for the past two .years.

Since 1900, he has been actively engaged in the real estate business, having organized the Starks-Levis Land Company in that year, of which company he is the secretary, treasure and general manager.

Mr. Levis is regarded as a public spirited man—he has always taken an active part in advancing the commercial interests of his home city and state. He is the Vice-president of the Madison Forty Thousand Club and Director and Treasurer of the Wisconsin Immigration & Development Association, organized to promote the settlement of Northern Wisconsin. He has been a regular contributor to the Madison Park and Pleasure Drive Association and has always aided in charitable work >1 every kind. He has served as president of the Wisconsin State association of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, is a member of the Masonic Order and Knigths of Pythias.

He lives at 203 South Henry street, in the city of Madison and has a wife and three children. He is a man of domestic taste, a profound student of all public questions. His private library is said to be one of the choicest and most complete to be found in the Capital City.

James Garrett of Black River Falls, started from the mouth of Black River at this point, on Saturday morning bound for St. Louis, with the largest raft of lumber that ever floated on the Upper Mississippi, The raft passed here about eleven o'clock, land was as grand a sight as we ever expect Ito see in “these waters.” The raft was manned by twenty-four “red shirts,” every man at his oar, and every oar doing its work. Two good sized houses were erected on the raft, the ore on the front, shown by a large sign-board, was called the “Garrett House,” and the rear one the “Democrat.” The list of occupants were given to us as follows:

24 Oarsmen, 2 Cooks, 1Clerk, 1 "Jaffits Garrett,’’ 1 Bottle Washer, 1 Black Bear, 1 Bull-Spaniel Dog.

The raft was put together in twelve strings five hundred and sixty feet long, and two hundred feet wide, and contained a full hundred million feet of lumber. To this should be aided 250,000 of Laths, and 250,000 of Shingle covering the whole area of the raft.

This “James Garrett” is some man, among our Black river lumbermen, and is doing more good work, ten times over, than “ our Member” in Congress. Besides Garrett, we give the names of several other Black river lumbermen, and the estimated amounts of lumber they have ready for shipment below.

Horatio Curts, (otherwise known as the “Old Mormon”) 700,000; Mark Bumb 500,000; Buchanan, Eastern & Co. 700,000; Mead & Co. 500,000; W. K. Levis 400,000; John Levis 300,000; John O’Connel 300,000; Peter Trudell it Co. 500,- 000. These estimates have nothing to do with the running of logs, which is the main business of Black rives; The Mississippi and Black rivers, are in this best running stage, and it is hoped that when our lumbermen return they will come with their pockets fairly bursting with “yellow boys.”—[La Crosse Dem.]


Photos of Mahlon Levis

MAHLON LEVIS was born February 29, 1824 in Bucks, Pennsylvania. The township of Levis was named for him and his brother William K. Mahlon married twice. His first wife was Maria Elixabeth Olden and their marriage took place September 26, 1853 in Alton, Madison Co, Illinois. She was born April 4, 1835 in Ontario, Canada, and died October 30, 1903 in Selma, California. His married his second wife in November 3, 1904 in Selma, Fresno Co., California. Her name was Lovie Creswell. She was born December 27, 1857 in Fourcheaurenault, Missouri, and died February 10, 1943 in Selma, California.

An old pioneer of Fresno County, and also a forty-niner of the gold days in California.

Mahlon Levis deserves mention when compiling the biographical history of this section of the state. He was one of the very first men to plant grapes on a large scale in the Selma district, and helped to establish and promote the raisin industry in its pioneer days, and it is to such men as he that the present prosperity of Fresno County is due. Born in Bucks County, near Philadelphia, Pa., February 28, 1825, Mahlon Levis was one of seven sons, all reared on the home farm. Upon the death of the father of the family, in 1838, the home was broken up and Mahlon first went to Illinois. Later, with three of his brothers, in 1842, he engaged in the lumber business in the pine woods of Wisconsin, and continued thus engaged for several years. Then, when the discovery of gold in California turned men's footsteps west, he journeyed to the Coast, in 1849, and for two years tried his luck in the mining districts of the state, meeting with fair success.

His companion in mining enterprises, a man by the name of Pomeroy, and himself then returned to Wisconsin, via New Orleans. The two men had $1,600 apiece with them as a result of their labors, and, upon crossing the Isthmus, Mr. Pomeroy was robbed; Mahlon Levis, with the ready generosity of the old pioneers, divided his $1,600 with his unfortunate partner and so the two continued to their destination. After his return from California, Mr. Levis again devoted his attention to the lumber business in Wisconsin, and here his marriage occurred, uniting him with Maria E. Olden, a native of Canada. He later engaged in farming and remained in the eastern state until 1873, when he disposed of his 160 acre farm and went again to California.

Finding conditions here to his liking, Mr. Levis returned to Wisconsin and brought his family back to California with him, locating in Tulare County, where he purchased a large band of sheep, 3,000 of which perished from the drought in 1877. Nothing daunted, though financially embarrassed, the sturdy pioneer came to Fresno County in that year, and settled upon 300 acres of Southern Pacific Railway land one one-half miles north of the Canal school and four miles northeast of Selma. Here he started in the planting of grapes, one of the first viticulturists in that section. In 1878 he planted one acre of mixed varieties, of which the muscats tested out the best. In 1880 he planted four acres to grapes which are still bearing and in vigorous condition. Before 1890 he had fifty acres of his ranch planted to grapes. The rest of his land was devoted to grain and alfalfa. Later he planted more grapes, until he was one of the largest raisin-growers, as well as the pioneer of the industry in the district. It must be remembered that the growers of those days did not have the easy access to water facilities that are prevalent in the county now, and it was only by constant and persevering devotion to the culture that they succeeded, so all honor is due to these real developers of the industry in which Fresno leads the entire United States.

Mr. and Mrs. Levis were the parents of eleven children, as follows : Emina, the wife of I. C. Houghton, a farmer of Humbird, Wis. ; Ella, who died in California, she was the wife of Frank Peters and mother of one child, Maud. now Mrs. Johnson of Taft: Alvin. the third child and eldest son; W. F., rancher of Selma, married Adah Cockran ; Florence, now the widow of C. N. Carrington of Selma; Georgiana. wife of J. C. Rorden of Selma; E. A., a rancher of Selma; Annetta May, wife of Chester Dusy, a druggist of San Francisco; John E., a rancher of Selma; his twin, Kate, died single in San Francisco; Minnie, wife of Dr. O. E. Bronson of Fresno. As can be seen, the descendants of this worthy pioneer couple are carry ing on the developing work started by their parents, and are counted among the representative citizens of the county. Thanks to Savage1852 for the above information

Mahlon Levis 1824–1914; Maria Elizabeth Olden 1835–1903; Marriage 24 September 1853Alton, Madison, Illinois, United States Emma Elizabeth Levis 1855–1934; Ella M. Levis 1856–1891; Alvin Levis 1858–1937; George Levis 1860–Deceased; William Franklin Levis 1861–1930; Florence Julia Levis 1863–1956; Georgiana Levis 1868–1971; Edward Adolphus Levis 1872–1943; Annetta May Levis 1875–1948; John Earl Levis 1878–1941; Kate Levis 1878–1899; Minna "Minnie" Levis 1879–1955; Mahlon Levis 1824–1914; Lovey M. Cresswell 1857–1943; Marriage 3 November 1904 Selma, Fresno, California, United States Children (0)

----Source: Bureau of Land Management, USA Census Records, Roots Web, Family Search, History of Trempealeau Co., WI, Superior Wisconsin Times, Saturday, January 1. 1898

William K. Levis born October 16, 1814 in Bristol, Bucks Co, Pennsylvania, and died December 26, 1897 in Osseo, Wisconsin

Black River Falls Wis . Dec. 28. [Special. Word] was received in this city today that William K. Levis had died at his home in Osseo, aged 85 years. He was one of the pioneers of Black River Falls, having settled in this city in the30's. For many years he was a leading lumberman on the river, and during the early days when the town was a struggling outpost on the frontier, he helped to repel the attacks of the Indians when thirty men constituted the entire white population between this city and Prairie du Chien. Superior Wisconsin Times, Saturday, January 1. 1898

William K. Levis b. October 16, 1814, Bristol, PA. Came to Alton, IL in 1835 or 1837. The rest of the family soon followed. Appears in Alton in the 1840 Census. Probably moved to Black River Falls sometime in the early 1840's. His obit claims he came in the 1830's . In 1847 he married Mary Blanchard in one of the first area weddings. He bounced around the Jackson County area for a number of years, engaging in various industries as detailed in his obituary. Eventually he settled in Osseo, north of Black River Falls and became a farmer. Although I don't have an abundance of information on his descendants, one person of note in this branch is John Miller, son of Mary Blanchard by her first husband. He fought in the Civil War and voted for Abraham Lincoln in 1864 despite being under age, and lived long enough to see D-Day. Rootsweb

William K. Levis, a pioneer, was born in Bucks Co., PA in 1814 and there married Mary Blanchard, who was born in 1823. He cam to Black River Falls, WI, in 1846, and operated a sawmill there until 1860. Then he moved to Alam Center, Jackson County. From there, in 1867, he moved to Trempeleau County, and settled on a farm some two miles north of Osseo. After a long and useful life on the farm he moved to the village in 1890, where he died in 1898, his wife surviving until 1907. History of Trempealeau Co., WI

WILLIAM K. LEVIS was born October 16, 1814 in Bristol, Bucks Co, Pennsylvania,
and died December 26, 1897 in Osseo, Wisconsin.
parents

He married MARY ELIZABETH BLANCHARD January 7, 1847 in Black River Falls, Wisconsin.
She was born 1823 in New York,
and died 1907 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Children of WILLIAM LEVIS and MARY BLANCHARD are:

ii. MARY L. LEVIS
b. Abt. 1848, Wisconsin
m. PATRICK BEATTY, July 4, 1866, Hixton, Albion Twnshp, Jackson Co, Wisconsin
b. Mead Co., Ireland

iii. SARAH E. LEVIS
b. Abt. 1851, Wisconsin
m. JOHN WOOD
d. October 5, 1909, Jackson Co., Wisconsin

iv. WILLIAM K. LEVIS
b. Abt. 1853, Wisconsin

v. GEORGIANNA L. LEVIS
b. March 1855, Wisconsin
d. September 19, 1865

vi. CLARK M. LEVIS
b. June 8, 1859, Black River Falls, Wisconsin
m. DELLA SAWYER, June 1, 1884, Eau Claire Co, Wisconsin

vii. ERNEST LEVIS

viii. (4 OTHER CHILDREN) died young

ADAMS’ IMPERIAL ORCHESTRA, sometimes called Second Regiment Orchestra on account of its connection with the well known Second Regiment Band, of which Mr. Adams (Johnathan Q. Adams?) is Bandmaster, is to entertain the people of Stanley with a concert and ball Christmas eve. Monday night. This w ill be a treat no one can afford to miss. M r. Adams is an old Thorp boy and m any of the old settlers w ill remember him as the boy leader of the old Thorp band from 1887 to 1893. H is band and orchestra are one of the very best in the state. They furnished the music during the G. A. R. reunion at Thorp last June and gave the best of satisfaction . Mr. Adams endeavors to have his concert program one that all classes can enjoy, introducing much of the popular music of the day .

REUNION AT THORPE. Soldiers and Sailors of Clark County, Marshfield, Spencer and Stanley. Thorpe, Wis., June l9,— [Special.]

The eighth annual reunion of the soldiers and sailors of Clark county. Marshfield, Spencer and Stanley, will he held in this village on June 28, 29 and 80. Ira P. Bradford of Augusta will deliver an address on June 20. and other noted speakers will be present and make addresses, Cos. A, Second regiment, Wisconsin National guard, from Marshfield, will be present and give exhibition drills each day. The famous Second Regiment band and orchestra, also from Marshfield, will furnish the music. The first day will be devoted to ball game and horse races at me Thorp Driving Park association’s splendid half-mile track, drilling by soldier boys, music, etc., and dancing in the evening. Second day, a parade, including old veterans, Co. A, Odd Fellows, Woodmen, followed by speeches, vocal music, and a camp fire in the evening. Third day, music drills, bail game, horse races, etc., and a grand ball in the evening.

----Source: Stanley Republican, 03/13/1897

Miss Elvena (Alvina) Haak (Haack) of Thorp, died at her home (21 yrs. old) in that village Tuesday evening as the result of a paralytic stroke. Miss Haak formerly lived in Stanley and was well and favorably known here. Stanley Republican, 03/13/1897

Note: Alvina's birth parents may have been Herman & Dorethea Haack. Dorethea died when quite young and Herman remained widowed until he joined her in death.

Elvena Haack, Age 1 yr. (1879 in Birthplace Brooklyn NY, White Single Female
Father's Name Herman Haack--30 yrs. old (1850) Birthplace Prussia
Mother's Name Dorethea Haack--25 yrs. old (1855) Hannover, Saxony

----Source: The Stanley Republican 03/06/1897

Mr. Hugh Tormey who recently moved here (Stanley) from Thorp died of dropsy last Sunday morning. His remains were taken to Thorp Tuesday for interment. The funeral was held from the Catholic church at Thorp, Rev. C. Nan of Boyd, officiating. Mr. Tormey was a good citizen and was highly respected by all who knew him. His age was 73 years (1824).

Mr. Albert of the Thorp creamery informs us that during the season of green pasture that the average daily output of his creamery was 600 lbs.

We give herewith an illustration showing the premises of a farmer of this county who had the sagacity and foresight years ago to run into a choice strain of Jersey cattle which according to his own testimony has made him prosperous.

----Source: The Stanley Republican 01/16/1897

Mr. Martin Peterson and Miss Ethel Purcel were married at Thorp last Saturday evening by Justice George Furke. The REPUBLICAN extends congratulations