Obit: Counsell, Gene (1869 - 1943)

Contact: Crystal Wendt
Email:  crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Counsell, Pope, Youmans, Heaslett, Hughes, Cornwell, Lowe, Longenecker, Janke, Prochazka, Carl, Wahl, Huckstead, Brown, Cattanach, Luther, Olea, Rowe

----Sources: The Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 18 Feb. 1943

Counsell, Gene (17 march 1869 - 13 Feb. 1943)

Gene Counsell, long a prominent citizen and agriculturist of the town of Grant, and later engaged in the flour and feed business in Neillsville for many years, passed away at his home in this city Saturday, Feb. 13, 1943, after several weeks of illness.

Mr. Counsell was born in a long cabin on the farm of his parents, Henry and Susan M. (Pope) Counsell in the town of Grant, March 17, 1869. He attended the Wilding and Reed Schools and Neillsville High School, assisting with the farm work and helping his father clear land on the home farm. For five years he worked for C. A. Youmans, who owned a farm in the home community. He moved from there to the home of his parents, where the family lived until they moved to Chili, Mr. Counsell being engaged in the feed business there. After the death of his wife, the former Minnie Heaslett, on Feb. 21, 1904, Mr. Counsell and his small son returned to the home farm. Mr. Counsell farmed on a scientific basis. He specialized in the raising of Oxford and Shropshire sheep, purebred Holstein Cattle, Percheron horses and Berkshire hogs. Mr. Counsell helped to organize the Pleasant Ridge Creamery, of which he was treasurer for more than 25 years. He was a stockholder in the Farmers Co-Operative Elevator and Lumber Company. For many years he served on the school board in his township and he also acted as the town’s treasurer.

Ten years after the death of Mrs. Counsell, he was married on the 14th day of January, 1914, to Miss Laura Heaslett, a sister of his first wife. They continued to live on the farm until 1918 when Mr. Counsell purchased a home in Neillsville and established himself once more in the flour and feed business, which he continued to conduct until his last illness, though on a small scale for the past several years.

Few men there are who have led a more blameless life than has Gene Counsell. He was ever mindful of the good in all men, just and honest in every business transaction, yet he held no grudge against those who treated him otherwise. Tolerant with youth, children and young people felt at ease in his presence and enjoyed his company.

In the death of Eugene Counsell, Neillsville has lost a most valuable historian. Being reared in a pioneer home and community, Mr. Counsell was able to furnish any information concerning the early settlers, the location of the various logging camps, and the original owners’ of business buildings and farms.

The departed is survived by his wife and son, Victor, a farmer residing at Willard, two grandchildren, Ardith and Marjorie Counsell and a sister, Mrs. James Hughes of the town of Grant. Mrs. Hughes and a cousin, Mrs. Kate Cornwell, Greenwood, having assisted Mrs. Counsell in the care of her husband during the past two years.

The departed was preceded in death by his first wife and an infant daughter, two brothers, Joseph and William Counsell, and by a sister, Mrs. Jesse Lowe.

Funeral services were held at the Lowe Funeral Home at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, the services being conducted by the Rev. G. W. Longenecker. Interment was made in the Neillsville Cemetery.

The pallbearers included: August Janke, Robert Prochazka, Arthur Carl, Fred Wahl, Harold Huckstead and Herbert M. Brown.

Out of town relatives who attended the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Charles Heaslett, Eau Claire; Mrs. L. W. Cattanach, Owen; Mrs. Emil Lutheran and Mrs. Kate Cornwell, Greenwood; Mr. and Mrs. Leander Olea, Osseo, and Mr. and Mrs. Milford Rowe, town of York.