----Source: Greenwood Gleaner 3/ /1915
 

EARLY DAY PIONEER ANSWERS DEATH'S CALL

The remains of Geo. HUNTZICKER, Sr., who died at his home in Clarkston, Washington, Friday, March 12th, arrived here Tuesday of this week and were taken to the home of his son, Geo. HUNTZICKER, Jr., 610 South Cherry Street. They were accompanied here by the aged widow and their only daughter, Mrs. W. C. BROOKS of Lewiston, Idaho. The funeral was held Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. from St. John's Catholic church, with interment in Hillside Cemetery.

Deceased was born in Alsace, Germany, August 29th, 1831, where he grew into manhood and learned the weavers trade. He came to America in 1849 and after a weeks stay in New York went to Litchfield, Connecticut to work in a woolen mill, and at the end of six months time was made superintendent. In 1851, he came to Wisconsin and with a brother was one of the first white men to inhabit Clark county, taking a homestead in the town of Eaton three miles south of where Greenwood is now located. The whole county was then in Black River Valley was an unbroken forest in which bands of Chippewa and Winnebago Indians hunted and fought their battles. Mr. HUNTZICKER at once became an Indian trader and by his delings with them he learned their language and habits. Sparta and Black River Falls were the nearest trading posts and all provisions, clothing and such had to be transported in packs, often times taking weeks to make the journey.

In 1861, at Hartford, Wisconsin, deceased was united in marriage to Miss Margaret MEYER, who immediately left with her husband to make their home in the wilds of Clark county. It was here in this humble home the first white child was born, now Mrs. W. C. BROOKS. The Indians, generally friendly, began to show signs of trouble and on three different occasions gave warning of an intending massacre. On one of these occasions Mrs. HUNTZICKER fled in the night, carrying her babe in her arms, across Black River and through the woods to a place of safety, while the men folks remained to guard their home. The scene reached a climax when a white man by the name of PETINGILL killed an Indian, but the intended massacre never took place.

In 1883 the family moved to Neillsville where they resided until 1896, returning again to the farm where