News: Abbotsford (1872 - 1909)

Transcriber: Steve Roberts elba_j@yahoo.com 

Surnames: McKinney, Olson, Roter

----Source: Clark & Jackson Counties Trade Review (Sept 1909)

Abbotsford – Largest Village in Clark County

Population, 1500. Abbotsford was first settled about 1872, while the Wisconsin Central Ry. Was built through that section in 1880-1881, the first settles being Hans and Ole Olson. Thos. Dillon and Frank McKinney who were soon followed by others, and Mr. Thos. Dillon and Mr. Louis Olson (grandson of Hans Olson) are now the oldest living residents.

The first building – a log dwelling – was erected by Ole Olson in 1872. The first store built was that of L. R. Roter at the corner of First and Spruce Streets on the site now occupied by Meyers & Chase. The growth of the village at first was slow. The first church, known as the “Union” church, was erected fifteen years ago, while the first school was built in the eighties, the system being limited to reading, writing, and arithmetic.

In 1894 the village of Abbotsford was regularly incorporated with a population of 300, being so names after the late Frederick Abbott, of Milwaukee, who was owner of a large amount of land in that section.

Abbotsford is now the second largest town in Clark county and is finely located in Mayville township, 42 miles from Neillsville, the county seat; also at the junction of the northern, southern and western branches of the Wisconsin Central (Soo Line) Rys., this being the divisional point on that road with a roundhouse, etc., and the payroll to railroad men averages $25,000 a month. It is also the western terminus of the Abbotsford and Northeastern Ry., being 168 miles from Minneapolis, 204 from Milwaukee, 303 from Chicago, 114 from Ashland.

The village is well laid out and contains a creamery and other industries, about twenty-five businesses in all lines, a charter bank, good hotels, public library, city hall with auditorium for 300 persons; also an opera house seating 800. There are three churches: Catholic, Episcopal and Union (the latter being used by different denominations); also high and public schools, having a large attendance and graduates from high school are prepared to enter university.
The village has a good fire department, using two chemical engines. An electric light plant will be established in the near future. The Surrounding county is well adapted for farming, dairying and stock raising and live stock, produce, dairy products, etc., are shipped in large quantities. During the past few years many new building have been erected, while the population is steadily increased and it is expected that Abbotsford will receive a city charter in the near future.

Assessed valuation of real and personal property $500,000; bonded indebtedness none; rate of taxation 1.82 per cent. Population, 1500.