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Transcription
Janet Schwarze
LONGWOOD
Mrs. John Awe
The Town of Longwood was a part of Hixon as late as 1890. The exact date of its
becoming a township is not Imown since the early records were lost in a fire
that destroyed the home of A. H. McCarty—the son of John McCarty, the first
Postmaster at Longwood. He had been appointed to this position by U. S. Grant in
18714. He was also the first Town Clerk of Hixon and held the office from l87S
to 1886. Longwood was named after the tall timber that grew here.
The early settlers came from Norway, Sweden, Denmark and some from eastern
United States. Early names include Ole Mathison, William and Byron Mead, John
and Ed Sanders, Louis Jorgenson, Hans Jorstad, Ed. Smith, Joe Gibson and Louis
Miller. W. H. Smith came to Longwood in 1881 and worked with his father in the
hotel and in the pineries. He established a store in Withee in the late 1880’s.
James Moody, a veteran of the Civil War, ran a logging mill for six years and
served as Justice of Peace and Postmaster at Withee.
The first post office was south of Longwood on the present Bonczyk farm. The
Postmaster at the time was a Mr. Sheldon. Later the post office was moved to the
grocery store operated by Ben Andrews. Mail was hauled by stage between Withee
and Greenwood. Geo. Meek, a Civil War veteran, came to the county in 1887 and
served as a mail contractor and stageman on this line.
A hotel started by Harry Mead was across the road from the Town Hall. Besides
Ed. Smith, Gilbert Mink also ran this business.
There were no roads so the people followed the Black River from Neillsville
carrying their groceries. The Town Hall (still in use) was the meeting place for
all social activities. The Ladies Aid held basket socials, oyster suppers, and
auctioned off fancy work like quilts and aprons. Harold Jorgenson was the
favorite auctioneer. During the winter they had masquerades and neighborhood
dancing parties. Music was furnished by Tobias and Alvin Thorson, and Percy and
Roy Clifton.
In 1886 the Black Smith Shop was owned by Anthony Barr. This was a popular, busy
place in the logging and horse and buggy days. There was a creamery where the
cheese factory is now. It was built by Ross Paulson and later operated by- Mr.
Merrifield. Later the factory was operated by the farmers who hired Art Schulte
and later Ben Doel for cheese makers.
In this -vicinity were three Withee families. William lived on the place now
owned by Henry Luraas. The Stanley- Gresci-mer place was also a part of the
Withee farm. A very popular race track was built on this farm in Long-wood by
John Laneville, Ben Andrews and a Mr. Conrad. A part of this track may still be
seen on the left as you leave Longwood and go east on Co. Trunk N. Theodore
Withee lived on the Anthony Suda place in the Town of Warner. N. Haskell Withee
lived at the site of the Clark Co. Hospital in 1896.
Mike Carlson’s saw mill was on the creek west of Longwood. Local men were
employed there. There was also a boarding house. One of the ladies cooking there
was Grandma LeGault whose grandson is Dr. A.
H. LeGault. There was a barrel stave mill on Highway- 73 on the creek north of
Greschner’s farm.
There were two schools, one on the John McCarty farm, which was called the
McCarty School. The other one was on the corner of Louis Miller’s land. The
state graded school was built in 1904. This was combined with the Owen-Withee
district in 1961.
The store burned in l9l5 or 16. The business was taken over by Melvin Erickson
and Alvin Thorson and moved across the road into a former saloon building until
the new and present store building was built.
There was a Methodist church east of the town hall. This too has been torn down.
The first threshing machine was run by horse power. Repairs had to be obtained
in Colby. As there were only tote roads at the time this was a long journey-.
People stopped at a place called “Half—way House” and spent the night there,
continuing on the next morning.
The Lutheran Church was built in 1911 and was composed mostly of Norwegians. Now
the services are in English and serve many nationalities.
Other families coming to Longwood in the late 1800’s were the three Ammentorp
families, three Sorensons--Julius, Martin and Nels, Gunder Eide and John Awe.
Longwood on the old maps occupied a position equal with Owen, Withee and Thorp.
It was a Post Office and important trading station in the early days. It is
still a busy little center with a store, cheese factory, feed mill, town hall,
church and school.
Taxes have changed. An old tax receipt for 1876 shows a tax of $12.73 was paid
on 160 acres.
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