----Source: 1918 History of Clark County, Wisconsin
 

JOHN CASTNER, now of Loyal Village, came to Wisconsin in 1856, having previously worked as a farmer and lumberman in the east. Upon reaching the Mississippi at Dunleeth, he came up the Mississippi by boat to LaCrosse, and there obtained employment in a sawmill. That fall he had his first experience in the Wisconsin woods, walking through four feet of snow, to the Yellowstone Banks region in Taylor County, where he was employed as a logger by Jacob Hackett, a former Maine lumberman. In the spring, Mr. Castner was employed on the river drives. The main boom was at that time located at Onalaska, in La Crosse County, where there were no less than fourteen sawmills. From there, the timber was made into great platforms, and rafted down the Mississippi. In 1860 he came to Clark County for the purpose of cutting Road 26, a title it still retains. This road branched off the main tote road, and extended through the pine swamp in the town of Eaton to the town of Loyal. At that time the region was heavily timbered, with once in a while a settler in a small clearing. Mr. Castner secured, through a land warrant, eighty acres in Section 29, of what is now Loyal Township, and erected thereon a small log cabin. Supplies were difficult to obtain. Mr. Castner, in the early days, took an annual trip with four oxen to Neshonet, now West Salem, after his yearly provisions and supplies, fording the swollen streams and making his way over roads that were little more than trails cut in the forests. Game was plentiful. On one occasion, while deer hunting with his father-in-law, Daniel Mack, Mr. Castner had an interesting experience. He had killed one deer, and was looking for another, when he was startled to see a large white-headed bear coming toward him. Taking quick aim, and pulling the trigger, Mr. Castner had the satisfaction of seeing the animal drop dead. But unfortunately, after taking home his deer, he returned next day and found that some one had skinned the bear and taken the trophy, thus making way with a valuable trophy.

Mr. & Mrs. John Castner

The Castner's Boys

Dan, Albert, Alfred and George

(Albert & Alfred are twins)

Related Links

Obit: Castner, Lydia (1844 - 1914)

Contributors

Elaine Uerling-Dellvon (family member) & Janet Schwarze.