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Transcribed and submitted by J.
J. Johnson. OGDENSBURG The Center of a Progressive Community. Probably no place in this or adjoining counties has been a scene of more improvement during the past six years than that enjoyed by the community in the vicinity of Ogdensburg. Great improvements in farm buildings may be seen on all sides. In the village the school has been placed upon the list of State Graded Schools, the building has been remodeled and equipped with the Manuel-Smith heating and ventilating system. These interior improvements greatly facilitate the work of the schools as the building is now very convenient. Since the school was organized as a State Graded school there have been sixteen graduates and it is expected that eight pupils will finish the course this year. The school enjoys a good patronage from outside the district and there are at present eight tuition pupils. There are one hundred and sixteen pupils enrolled in the three departments. Mr. E. E. Russell, the principal, has been at the head of the school eight years and Mrs. Ada Hopkins has had charge of the primary for the same period. Miss Gail Hopkins is assistant in the upper departments. The patrons manifest just pride in their schools and express satisfaction with the work that is being done. There are two churches the Congregationalists presided over by the Rev. Nelson of Grand Rapids who holds service every two weeks, and the Baptist under the leadership of Rev. Putman. Harmony reigns supreme between the two organizations. The Odd Fellows society has a large membership and owns a two story brick building. The first floor for public gatherings and the second floor for lodge rooms. The Modern Woodman and Royal Neighbors have a strong society and own a hall 36 x 80 feet which at present is being remodeled to make a very fine half that will do credit to the society and the town. The Village has a brass band of 25 pieces under the leadership of that veteran musician Geo. Ratcliffe. For several years Ogdensburg has had a creamery. About four years ago it was purchased by the farmers and has since been operated by them under the management of M. C. Nichols. The board of directors consists of N. N. Neguard, Hans Hanson and Henry Shaffer. The sec’y is Chas. Rhode, treas. Chas. Huffcut. Farmers all own farm separators and deliver their own cream so no skimming is done at the creamery and no gatherers employed by the company. Two and a half tons of butter are manufactured each week. While other concerns may boast of much output, no creamery can boast of having more harmonious or satisfied patrons. The number of patrons is steadily increasing many, are enlarging their dairy business. The Farmers’ State Bank of Ogdensburg was organized in 1906. When Johnson Bro’s sold their general merchandise business and conceived the idea of putting in a bank at Ogdensburg, people generally looked upon the undertaking as a hard proposition. More than one expressed sympathy for their starting a bank so near larger places, that would continue to get the business. The promoters were not dismayed and erected a neat cement block building on the site so long occupied by the store of John Moses. They organized at once as a state bank with $10,000 capital. N. H. Johnson was the first president, A. D. Shambeau vice pres. And H. H. Johnson cashier. On November 12, 1906 the first statement allowed deposits to be *18,001.57. Business came, deposits constantly increased and results prove that the enterprise was not so foolish as it seemed to many. During the recent money stringency every time deposit and check present for payment at the Ogdensburg bank was cheerfully accepted and money paid out without demur or question. On one day when two cars of stock were shipped and the creamery checks were issued the bank cashed checks to the amount of $4,500. There could be no better evidence that the people have confidence in the stability of their bank and give it their cordial support than the fact that at the present time the deposits are $73,027.04. Across the street from the bank is the fine store of Lytle and Keating. This firm has been in business about four years. Three years ago last month their business was destroyed by fire. The following summer they erected a store fronting two streets 100 x 26 on Main Street and 50 x 50 on Spring Street. Their strictly cash system enables them to offer their customers just as good bargains as they can get in larger towns and they have no "kick" about the competition of mail order houses. Traveling men have been heard to say that they know of no store in a town of the size of Ogdensburg where goods may be bought at so low a price as at the store of Lytle and Keating. The firm prides itself upon keeping a complete stock of reliable goods. Their large line of shoes and hats is strictly up-to-date and in these lines as with their dry goods they make prices that enable them to avoid the accumulation of shelf-worn goods. They also conduct a ware house business and carry a large stock of brick, flooring, lath, shingles, lime, cement, land plaster and salt. They have the agency for the International Harvesters Company and do a large business in season selling new goods and repairs. The firm of Fairbanks and Hanna bought the general merchandise business last September of J. H. Herbert & Co. Mr. Fairbanks had for eight years previous been post-master at West Bend, Wis. Mr. Hanna is a native of Little Wolf and still owns a farm in that town which had been his home up to the time he embarked in the mercantile business. His wide acquaintance is of great value to the firm. They also conduct a strictly cash business and report a steadily increasing patronage. The Post Master, Alex Feragen, has a commodious brick hardware store and in addition to his complete line of heavy and shelf hardware he carries a stock of harness and conducts a tin shop. These several lines require the constant attention of Mr. Feragen and his son, a young man of ability and push. The meat market of Swenson Bros. supplies the needs of the community for fresh and salt meats and fish, and in addition carries a large stock of canned goods. Dr. J. C. Johnson, resident physician, has been in Ogdensburg five years. In addition to his growing practice he last summer opened a drug store in a new building of his own. He keeps a clerk and carries a complete line of drugs, paints, oils, stationery, etc. He is also lending strong encouragement to the promotion of a farmers’ telephone line. Live Stock Shippers A firm that is doing much for the village and surrounding farmers is that of Dumphy and Shambeau stock buyers. Every Monday they pay form $890 to $1,000 for stock which they ship from Ogdensburg and last fall they paid as high as $1500 in one day. They have extended their business and now make weekly shipments from both Ogdensburg and Manawa. The potato warehouse of the A. M. Penney Co. is in charge of Walter Penney and that of the P. M. Olfson Co., is in charge of Louie Larson. Both firms have been getting fine stock during the past season and they have found a ready market. Each firm has shipped about sixty cars thus far. Some forty thousand dollars a year from potatoes adds materially to the prosperity of the farmers who market at Ogdensburg and may explain why some of the $80,000 to $11,000 transfers for farms may be found near this station. Dr. R. D. Moray of Manawa has office hours from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. at Ogdens-burg every day of the week and the dental work of the vicinity is looked after by Dr. Delano of Waupaca on Friday of each week. G. W. Simons owns a barber shop and confectionery and notion store. This business he desires to sell so that he may move to the south or west. A visitor in the town must remark on the excellent opening there is for a furniture and undertaking business. Johnson Brothers conduct a blacksmith and wagon shop and each is a practical workman in his chosen lines. They keep a third workman most of the time. The saw mill, planing mill and lumber yard are operated by the proprietor of the grist mill, Chris. Bletzell. He has a large cutoff custom logs this season, and has a good retail trade in building supplies. The Neola Boat Works owned by Terrio and Ratcliffe is a place of interest. Joseph Terrio, who runs a boat livery at the Chain o’ Lakes in summer, is busy during the winter season in constructing canoes, skiffs, row boats and gasoline launches. He is just completing a launch thirty-two feet long with seven and one half foot beam for John M. Coleman of the Veteran’s Home, to be used by him as a passenger boat. It will have ample capacity for fifty passengers and will be propelled by a twelve horse power reversible gear gasoline engine. This boat has a steering device that is something new, an ingenious device originated by Mr. Torrino. The rudder is controlled by means of a lever located at the side of the boat near the engine. By means of a patent contrivance the lever is operated without the use of a grip. This device enables the opera-tor to control the direction of the boat with great ease and exactness. For several years Mr. Torrio has had under consideration the construction of an automatic reciprocating water motor to be used to develop power in streams of moderate fill. By means of this invention a large percentage of the power in a fall of one foot to eighteen inches may be utilized to drive machinery. It seems likely that a wide field awaits the manufacture and marketing of this motor. It is well adapted to the needs of those looking for inexpensive power in sections depending upon the pumping of water from the streams for irrigating purposes. Two tanks of equal dimensions supplied with a door or gate at each end are placed side by side in a frame or flume where the water may be dammed to secure a head of a foot or eighteen inches. These tanks are hinged at the end up stream and suspended at the end down stream so that when one taken is in a level position and being filled, the other tank is declined and its contents thrown forward against the forward end gate which automatical-ly opens and allows the contents of the tank to escape. In three or four seconds the level tank is filled with several hundred pounds of water which in turn throws the lower end of one tank downward and the other tank back to a level position with its receiving door open and discharging gate closed. This oscillating movement of the tanks is transmitted to a shaft supplied with balance wheel and friction clutch by which means this impulsive power is converted into a steady motion that may be used to operate machinery. By May first a motor with each tank eleven feet long, two and one-half feet wide and one foot deep will be installed in the little stream near the shop and fully three horse power secured from a one-foot head of water and conveyed to the Neola Boat Works. The drawings that will be sent to the patent office to illustrate this motor were prepared by a young son of Mr. Dougherty who lives on a farm near the village. This boy has developed considerable skill by home study through the instruction he has received in drafting from a school of correspondence. Perhaps no place has made improvement that appeals more strongly to the visitor than the Ogdensburg Hotel under the management of the present proprietor, Lindsay Hanna. He has made the service equal that of any of the hotels in smaller towns. Questions, suggestions or additions please email. Copyright © 1999-2005 Paula Vaughan |