CLARK COUNTY, WISCONSIN HISTORY
 

"Clark County Illustrated" by Saterlee, Tifft & Marsh; 1890
Transcribed by Janet Schwarze

Hewett Township is situated in the southwestern part of the county, and consists of but one township, which is described as township twenty-four, range three west. The town was organized in 1874, and was not settled as early as many other portions of the county. The first settlement was made in the central part of the town on Wedge's creek, and was known as Hewettville. A sawmill was erected here by Mr. Hewett for the purpose of manufacturing the pine timber in this locality into lumber.

The surface of the town is generally level, though high ridges are found in some parts of the town. The soil is, on th whole, somewhat sandy, though farming is carried on with a fair degree of success. The town was originally covered with a thick growth of small pine timber. Much of this has been cut and manufactured or floated down Wedge's Creek and Black River to a market. Four or five years ago a forest fire swept through the town and burned most of the dead timber slashings, so that there is very little timber left in the town. The portions of this town which were covered with these slashings were generally considered of little value, but the past few years have demonstrated the fact that the nature of the soil is such that it will produce a heavy growth of grass, and without any doubt these lands, which are now held at a very low price, will, in the course of a few years, become quite valuable, especially for stock raising. The soil of a part of the town is a clay loam, similar to that of other portions of Clark County.

Wedge's Creek and many of its branches flow through the town, and water is abundant. The very best of drinking water is procured at a short distance from the surface.

The main highway running from the city of Neillsville to the village of Humbird extends through the central part of the town, and it is along this highway that the settlement has been so far made. The town is three miles from Neillsville and four miles from Humbird. The Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha railroad runs through the southeastern part of the town.

The town is well provided with schools for the number of settlers that it contains. An excellent school is maintained in that portion of the town known as Hewettville.

The total population of the town at the present time does not exceed one hundred and fifty.

Taking the town as a whole, it has been classed as one of the poorer towns of the county, but in many sections of our country, it would, by comparison, be classed much more favorably. We have little doubt but that time and labor will develop its resources so that it will receive a much more favorable classification in this county.

The town officers for the year 1890 are as follows: Chairman and member of county board, W. R. Adkins; clerk, M. M. Cook; Treasurer, C. R. Amidon; assessor, A. D. Jones.