1921 Worden History

Clark Co., Wisconsin

Transcribed by Stan

Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 12/08/1921

The Article below was provided by Belle Laurent

Age 12, Grade 7; Busy Bee School District No. 6, Located in the Northeast corner of Section 16

THE GOOD OLD TOWN OF WORDEN

It was in 1879 when the first settlers came to the town of Worden, Clark County, Wis.. Some of them were Mr. Mable, Mr. Foley, Mr. Druss (Burss?) and Mr. Sloan. It was very difficult for them to start in a wild forest for nothing could be raised until the land was cleared. They built log houses, made logging roads, and began to clear the land. They hauled the logs to the sawmill and landing with oxen. They did not get much for the logs for timber was not worthy much at that time.

It took a number of years before they could raise a good crop for the clearings were too small and the land did not dry out.

In the spring of 1883 my grandfather and uncle, Mr. Burke came to this country looking for land and they bought a quarter of a section for fifteen hundred dollars in east Worden Section thirteen. In the fall my uncle moved his family up here and built a log house and barn on his eighty acre farm. In 1895 he bought another eighty from my grandfather and built a beautiful house and barn on it.

In 1919 he sold his farm to his son for twenty-five thousand dollars.

Many of the old settlers that are living have moved to town and are taking life easy. They are enjoying themselves riding in automobiles.

The town of Worden is situated in the northwestern part of Clark County. It is bounded by the town of Thorp on the north, the town of Butler on the south, the town of Reseburg on the east, and Chippewa County on the west. It is divided into thirty-six square miles. The North Fork River flows about through the center of it from the north to the south, and the Wolf River cuts off a strip of the western part. They have built some more expensive bridges in the last ten year. The town of Worden has a population from eighteen to forty-five people per square mile. The northern part is more thickly populated because it is near a railroad station. Most of the land is cleared and under cultivation. Much improvement has been made on the roads by hauling gravel, especially on the main roads. There has been much turnpiking done in the southern part and more settlers are coming in. The northern part has mostly all fine buildings. The town of Worden has seven school houses, seven cheese factories, one town hall, two churches, one cemetery, two sawmills and one pea vinery.

This is considered one of the best towns for dairying in the state. Many cattle are raised, of which Holsteins are the leaders. It is also considered good for agriculture as the country is level and holds its moisture. There are very few rocks comparing with many other countries. The chief crops are corn, oats, wheat, barley, hay and potatoes.

We can be thankful that we live in the good old town of Worden.

Notes: The Laurent Family lived in the middle of the eastern side of section 10.

NO Belle
 

Obit of Belle Laurent Harth