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History: Weston Twp., Marathon Co., Wis. (1913)

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----Source: History of Marathon County Wisconsin and Representative Citizens, by Louis Marchetti, 1913, pg. 533 -  535.

----Township of Weston, Marathon Co., Wisconsin 1913 History

THE TOWN OF WESTON.

was originally organized as the town of Eau Claire as one of the first towns in the county on the 12th day of November, 1856. Its first settlement goes back in the forties, only a few years after the coming of Stevens to Wausau or rather "Big Bull." It was to consist of township 28, range 8, except sections I to 7 inclusive, and townships 29 and 30 in range 9, and Milo Kelly was the first chairman.

Milo Kelly's mill was located above the present Manser mill and came into possession of Milo Kelly's sons, William P. and N. T.. and they afterwards acquired the Goodhue mill, and rebuilt the same, which is the present mill of John Manser. After the Goodhue mill had been rebuilt, the upper Kelly mill, as it was named for some time, was abandoned and manufacturing done at the lower mill. After the death of the brothers Kelly, this mill was sold to B. E. Jones, and he in turn sold it to John Manser, the present owner, who is still operating it and has a large tract of timber to keep it running for many years to come.

The name of this town was later changed to "Weston," why, is not apparent. It would seem that the first name was more fitting, it being the name of the river which drains a large territory—nearly the whole of the territory of that town—and is one of the largest tributaries of the Wisconsin. The flood of 191 2 swept away the dam at Manser's mill and the boom, and did otherwise damage, which has been repaired, and the mill is ready for operation with the opening of the sawing season of 19 13. Another and probably the largest manufacturing company doing business in Marathon county, is located in this town. It is the Marathon Paper Mills Company, which manufactures high grade "Mitscherlich fibres and specialties." It is one of the largest paper mills in the state. It was organized February 13, 1909, with a capital stock of $1,600,000. It has three paper-making machines, with a capacity of seventy-five tons per day, also a sulphite mill and a bleaching plant of equal capacity, and a ground wood mill of twenty-five tons capacity.

The mills were started in November, 19 10. The motive power for this immense plant is obtained by damming the Wisconsin river and converting the energy of the falling waters into electricity. The building of this dam was a big engineering work which presented some difficulties, which have been overcome, and this mill has now- the whole energy of the flow of the Wisconsin river with the big reservoir created by this dam. The reservoir thus obtained forms a big sheet of water called Lake Wausau. The officers of this corporation are: President, C. C. Yawkey; vice president, Walter Alexander; secretary and general manager. D. C. Everett; treasurer, B. F. Wilson, who. with C. J- \\'inton, Neal Brown, and W. H. Bissell make up the board of directors. The mill employs 325 men, many of them living in Wausau, but a village has grown up near the mill of goodly dimensions.

THE ROTHSCHILD PARK

situated about half a mile above this paper mill on the bank of the river is the popular amusement place for Wausau people. There is the splendid pavilion of the Wausau Street Railroad of stone and steel construction. The hall has splendid acoustics and is an ideal location for Chautauqua assemblies. It will easily accommodate 2,000 people, and is visited summer and winter alike. On the lake so-called are row and gasoline boats for boating, a swimming pool, and other attractions, which make this park the popular resort that it has become. The street cars run to the park and on particular occasions give a reduced rate which othenvise is ten cents.

The Wausau Country Club has its club house and golf ground a short distance above the Rothschild Park.

Farming was not carried on in this town to a large extent until lately.

The lands in the Eau Claire valley are a sandy loam against which there was a prejudice, the soil being deemed too light for the production of grains; but experience has shown that no better land for potato culture can be had, the soil being of the same quality as the celebrated potato fields of Waupaca county, and large crops of this root are now raised and exported. Also corn planting has turned out a success, the corn being cut and put in silos for cattle feed, and stock raising is profitable. A creamery near Kelly's is doing a large business.

There are five school districts in this town with as many schoolhouses. The village of Rothschild and a part of the town of Flieth form a joint school district, with the schoolhouse in the village. The children from the town of Flieth cross the Wisconsin river on the dam which forms a bridge, being of concrete and a perfectly safe crossing. The school there is a state graded school having four departments. The schoolhouse is a solid brick building, costing $10,000. The principal is Miss Goldie Linder; assistant, Miss Catherine McCallin. Only two departments were used, but a third department is being instituted, and three teachers will be engaged in the coming year. The enrollment is one hundred.

CHURCHES.

There is a Presbyterian church at Kelly's which is a mission of the First Presbyterian Church of Wausau; it was built in 1895, and from thirty-five to forty families scattered over quite a large territory are members.