Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Beyer, Fauser, Rossow, Sloniker
----Source: Greenwood Gleaner (Greenwood, Clark Co., Wis.) 21 Nov 1963
(Written by Janet Fauser; Picture by Peg Rossow)
Mrs. Beyer is picture above with her favorite past time, flowers. She has been raising flowers all of her life and she says, "Gardening can be an exact science, but to me a garden means hard work and great pleasure, a place to dream and find peace."
She came to Greenwood (Clark Co., Wis.) with her parents at the age of three, from Hillsboro, Wisconsin, where she was born.
Mrs. Beyer, the former Fern Sloniker, graduated from Greenwood High School in 1911, and attended Oshkosh College. She taught for three years and then married Arnold Beyer, who was born and raised at Greenwood. He has always made American Cheese, up to his retirement a few years ago. During the years when there was a shortage of teachers, Fern went back to teaching and taught several more years. When called upon to do so, she still enjoys substituting. Many of her former pupils still visit her, including two brothers from Chicago who were there recently. Even while teaching, Mrs. Beyer found time to raise flowers. Her specialty at that time was African Violets. Now her special pride and joy is her large rose bed.
In her flower garden is a plaque with this verse:
"The kiss of the sun for pardon
the song of the birds for mirth
you are nearer God's heart in a garden
than anywhere on earth."
Mrs. Beyer says she shouldn't take all the credit for their garden, as Arnold does most of the work now. She is very proud of her Canna bed which is a conversation piece when garden clubs visit the intriguing bed. Scattered through the Beyer's vegetable garden are many sun flowers ,which they save the seeds from for the birds during the winter.
Mrs. Beyer says that she derives most enjoyment from giving flowers to friends, although she does sell some of them.
She also says that she is glad when Spring comes, "For lo, the winter is past. The rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth. The time of the singing birds has come." -- Song of Solomon.
Mrs. Beyer is one of the people who has helped make our community beautiful, and I am sure that anyone who has ever seen her lovely garden, realizes what a benefit she is to our town.
