Charles E. Austin purchased a farm along the Ridge, one mile east of Neillsville, circa 1870.  He was the first Clark County farmer to own a cream separator, silo, and operated the first creamery and cheese factory.  The creamery was located in the farmyard, north of the house.  John Langreck was the next owner of the property and built the barn that still stands on the farm.  Langreck, with workers including his brothers, are in the photo taken during the construction.  Charles Bollom bought the farm, from the Federal Land Bank, during the Depression years.  Jack and Joan Counsell are present owners of the farm. 

 

~Digital Copyright 2015~

(Photo courtesy of the Counsell Family)

Clark County, Wisconsin Cheese Factories

 

1870 Federal Census, Pine Valley, Clark Co., Wisconsin, pg. 20, Dwelling 141, Family 134

Charles E Austin, 16 yr. old white male

Household Members

Felix Roucheleace M 21 Canada East
George A Austin M 41 New York, Lumber Manufacturer
Mimda W Austin F 33 (1837) Illinois, Keeping House
Charles E Austin M 16 (1854) Illinois, at home
Mary E Austin F 13 Illinois, at home

Ida M. Austin F 11 Illinois, at home

 

1880 Federal Census, Pine Valley, Clark, Wisconsin, United States

Charles E Austin, 26 yr. old white single male

Household Members

George A Austin Self M 51 New York, United States
Marinda Austin Wife F 44 New Hampshire, United States
Fredrick Johnson Other M 25 Sweden
Lanson B Head Other M 22 Wisconsin, United States
Charley Finnegan Other M 13 Maine, United States
Charles E Austin Son M 26 Illinois, United States
Lizie Hantka Other F 15 Wisconsin, United States
Charley Platts Other M 45 Michigan, United States

 

Obit: Austin, Charles Eugene (1853 - 1934)

 

Charles Eugene Austin, the son of George & Merinda N. (Kimball) Austin, was born 3 Oct 1853 and married Essie Ward in 1887.  He died 8 Apr 1934 in Neillsville, Clark County, Wisconsin.  He was buried in the Neillsville, Wis. City Cemetery.