History: 1913 History of Colby, Marathon Co., Wisconsin

Poster: Linda Ewen

Surnames: Allman, Andrews, Artmann, Blanchard, Baer, Bowen, Briggs, Burkhardt, Burnson, Carleton, Christopherson, Firnstahl, Fleischhauer, Fleischmann, Freeman, Gill, Gramberg, Harding, Hartenstein, Hinkel, Inman, Jacobson, Joerres, Johnson, Kautzki, Kayhart, Kersten, Krause, Kunz, Loss, Lyon, Martin, McLaughlin, Nelson, Neumeister, Peterson, Priebenow, Reding, Shaefer, Shore, Umhoefer, Weiks, White, Zielmann. 

----Source: 1913 HISTORY OF MARATHON COUNTY WISCONSIN AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS BY LOUIS MARCHETTI, WAUSAU, WIS. pg. 516 520.

----THE VILLAGE OF COLBY, CLARK/MARATHON WISCONSIN

THE VILLAGE OF COLBY, MARATHON CO., WIS. 

The city of Colby was incorporated under Chapter 128, Laws of 1901; its territory comprises one section of land, one-half thereof, west half of section 18, township 28, range 2 east, lying in Marathon county; and the other half, east half of section 13, in township 28, north of range 1 east, lying in Clark county.  The railroad right of way runs on the county boundary line and divides the city, the two parts being named east ward and west ward.  The whole population, according to the Federal census in 1910, was 774.  The first supervisor representing the city in the county board of Marathon county was Herman Neumeister.

The beginning of Colby dates back to the building of the Central Railroad, which came to that place in 1873.  At the building of the railroad it was confidently expected that the main line road running to St. Paul would branch off at Colby, and there was much disappointment, justifiable it would seem, owing to the fact that the railroad passed Colby, going about two miles further north, and there laid out another village, named it Abbottsford, and branched off from that spot.  Nevertheless Colby became a thriving village; the farm lands on all sides being taken up year after year and cultivated, and the eye of the traveler rests with pleasure on the waving fields of grain and corn and soft green meadows which border on the right of way of the road.  

The city incorporated to be under one government and work together for the common good, instead of having two separate governments, each jealous of the other. The waterworks as well as the electric lighting plants are municipal plants, and a patriotic voluntary fire company is organized to protect property from fire.  This fire company and the protection afforded by the waterworks was of great service in preventing the spread of fire during the disastrous forest fires of two and three years ago.  

The city has a large public building with a lecture hall and for public meetings, which also contains the public library, which seems to have been the first public library in the county, being established in 1879, long before Wausau had one, the Pine Knot Library of Wausau hardly deserving the title or being in fact a "public" library.  

On the east or Marathon county side are the following business houses: The saw mill of Umhoefer & Weiks, which has been in operation for at least twenty-five years.  

The foundry and machine shop originally built by N. P. Peterson, a pioneer, who came in 1873 from Wausau to Colby and from a small beginning as a blacksmith built up the establishment to its present large proportions, and only sold out a short time ago on account of advancing age and a desire of well earned rest.  The present owner, E. T. Loss, conducts the business with as much success.  

Of stores keeping general merchandise are the firms of Jacobson & Nelson and Priebenow & Johnson.  

The leading hotel is the "Commercial House." owned by N. J. White, and conducted for years now by J. D. Wicker, who keeps a first-class house.  

Umhoefer & Danes have an auto repair shop and garage.  A meat market is kept by E. Lulaff; a blacksmith and wagonmaker shop by Mr. Shore, and Mr. Baer and Charles Allman are the shoemakers. Doctor McLaughlin is a physician and surgeon, and E. K. Harding the veterinary.  

On the Clark county side are the following:  

R. B. Salter, attorney at law; Drs. H. H. & A. M. Christopherson, physicians and surgeons; Doctor Freeman, physician and surgeon; Dr. E. V. Kautzki, dentist; Miss Cora Bryant, dentist.  

H. J. Blanchard is the postmaster of Colby.  

General merchandise is kept by Krause & Kersten, and Charles Burkhardt; hardware by Zielmann Brothers, and Colby Hardware Company, a corporation. Mr. Carleton keeps a furniture store, and marble works are operated by Lulaff Brothers. Frank Firnstahl conducts a boot and shoe store; J. E. Lyon keeps flour and feed; and O. R. Briggs keeps a drug store.  

A cheese box factory is conducted on the cooperative plan. Boarding houses are kept by Mr. Hinkel and one by Mr. Gill; a bakery shop by Mr. Fleischmann; a tailor shop by Mr. Fleischhauer; a livery barn by W. Will, and Roy Inman has a barber shop.  

Millinery salons to furnish the latest styles in bonnets and hats are conducted by Miss Kunz and Miss Gramberg.  

THE PHONOGRAPH  

is a lively newspaper, established in 1878 by Sam J. and Joel J. Shaefer, and since the death of Sam Shafer is printed and edited by the surviving partner, Joel.  It has a large circulation in the towns along the "Line," being by far the oldest paper issued, and posts its readers on news in both counties.  

PUBLIC SCHOOLS.  

Colby has a full four-year high school course in a separate building, and a state graded school. The principal of the high school is Roy Martin; first assistant, Miss Anga M. Burnson; second assistant, Miss Pearl Blanchard; and there are six grade teachers. All the schoolhouses are located in Clark county.  

The State Bank of Colby is located on the west side, and was organized in 1900 with a capital of $25,000.  A fair estimate of the business conducted in Colby can be arrived at from the splendid showing of this bank.  The following is the latest statement, about January 1, 1913:

The officers and directors of the bank are: Erastus Bowen, president; R. B. Salter, vice president; K. Andrews, cashier; Ed. Kayhart, director.  

CHURCHES.  

The Catholic St. Mary church congregation was organized July 15, 1886, and attended as a mission from pastors from neighboring parishes.  The first resident priest was Rev. A. J. Joerres. Under his direction a new church was built in 1889, known as the St. Killian's church.  This church became too small and a new one was built in 1904 under the management and supervision of Rev. W. Reding, at a cost of $20,000, and the old name of "St. Mary" assumed.  The membership of the congregation is 185 families, with 1,050 souls.  A parochial school with three departments is owned and supported by the parish, the attendance in school being 146 pupils in 1912.  The present rector is Rev. H. J. Artmann.  

THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN ZION'S CHURCH.  

This congregation organized as early as 1880 and built its first church, a frame building, in 1883.  A new brick edifice was erected in and dedicated on the 20th day of November, 1910, at a cost of $14,000. Eighty-four families, counting 462 souls, are members of this congregation, who have a resident pastor in the person of Rev. C. C. Hartenstein.  The same minister has the mission at Unity, where services are held in the Lutheran Swedish Church building; the membership of this church in Unity is fifty-five persons.  

Another German Evangelical Lutheran church was built about five years ago, which is growing in numbers, as the population of the place keeps on growing.  

The Methodist congregation is the oldest in Colby, its organization dating back to the first settlement; there is no resident minister at present, but regular service is held by visiting ministers. The congregation consists of thirty members.  

All the churches are in Clark county.

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