Thursday, December 13, 2007

James Widrick & Jessie Madson

















The picture is probably before 1910. James Alfred Widrick was born July 9, 1890 in the Town of Belmont, Portage County to James E Widrick and his wife Delilah Carter Widrick. He lived in the Town of Rose with his parents in 1910. He married Jessie Madson, daughter James Madson and his wife Hannah Hanson, on January 25, 1911. Jessie was born in the Town of Springwater December 6, 1890. In 1914, they followed her parents who had moved to Dunstable, Alberta, Canada to homestead. James died November 5, 1987 and Jessie died August 6, 1985, both in Barrhead, Alberta, Canada.

Wild Rose High School Teachers in 1934

















Here are the Wild Rose High School teachers from 1934. William Godsen was the principal and taught algebra and civics. Mr. Godsen was well known for a poem he required students caught chewing gum to memorize. "The gum chewing pupil and the cud chewing cow, there is a difference. Let me see now. It is the contented look on the face of the cow." Miss Camille Blott who graduated from Carroll College taught French. She was from Mukwonago and this was her first teaching job. Muriel Jones later Mrs John McCallum taught English and Latin. Carl Handke was the coach and his subjects were geometry, typing and the sciences

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Mr & Mrs Alfred Holman & Maude






































The picture shows Alfred M (Fred) Holman his wife Mabel (Woodard) Holman and their daughter Maude Holman who married Walter Haas. A. M. (Fred) was born 14 June 1866 in Parfreyville, Wisconsin to Henry Holman & his wife Charlotte Dewey. He died 17 August 1932 in California. He married Mabel Woodard in 1896. Mabel was the sister of Franklin Woodard who married Vesta Stevens. Mabel was born 22 June 1879 in Parfreyville, Wisconsin and died 27 July 1957 in California. Maude was born 19 May 1907 and died 1 April 1995. She married Walter Haas 22 June 1928 in Wild Rose. Fred was a rural mail carrier around Wild Rose. The family lived at 409 Jackson St. which was once Dr. Fuller's office.

Friday, December 7, 2007

Wedding picture of Amos & Maggie Johnson






































Amos Johnson, son of John and Betsy Johnson married Margrethe (Maggie) Jensen from the Town of Marion on January 14, 1892. Maggie used her patronymic name when she married but when Amos Johnson died the obituary listed her as Maggie Larson. Her father was Jens (later James) Larson and her mother was Caroline Bakken. Amos was born Oct. 6, 1860 in the Town of Mt. Morris and died January 9, 1909 in Wautoma. Their children were Burnett, Jessie, Arden, Ira and Carmen.

Wild Rose Class of 1934
















This is the class of 1934 when they were seniors. Back row: Ambrose Jones, Juanita Williams Smith, Mildred Jensen Smith, Vera Bartsch Davis, Madelyn Testin Gramse, Margaret Roberts Dewitt, Mary Backus, Hilda Rasmussen Brooks, Louis Rasmussen. Middle Row: Carol Waid Fonger, Loretta Kaminski Merkt, Joan Fisher Attoe, Stella Frater Renner, Margaret Dopp Schiliepp, Myrna Johnson Barr, Alice Owens Wachs, Elizabeth Davies, Jeanette Larsen Thorstad.
Front Row: David Etheridge, Arthur Davies, George Terrill, Griffith Williams, Marlin Smith, Glenn Murty, Everett Hanawalt, Delmar Thompson, Roy Handrich.

Fay Patterson






































Fay Metcalf Patterson was the son of Thomas Patterson and his wife, Belle Metcalf . He was born January 21, 1879 in Pine River. At the age of thirteen, he entered St John's Military Academy in Delafield, Wisconsin. He is pictured in his uniform from St John's. He attended the University of Wisconsin for one year and later went to business college in Milwaukee. He started out in the mercantile business in Waupaca but later joined his father and the Clark Brothers in business in Wild Rose. He married Katherine Libby December 8, 1902. They had no children. His wife made the major donation to start the library building. He died September 27, 1943. The pallbearers were Miles Colligan, Herman Hansen, Lewis Protheroe, John Protheroe, Oscar Holt, and George Dopp. The honorary pallbearers were Dr. A J Stevens, William Anselm, Annon Holt, E G Bradley, R K Hotz and R K Jones.

Wild Rose Basketball Team 1933-34
















Wild Rose Basketball Team 1933-34 L to R: Olney Holt (12 May 1918 - 12 November 1977), Charles Ambrose Jones (10 April 1916-17 February 2005), Roy Handrich (16 May 1917-15 October 1996), Glenn Murty (24 May 1917-19 March 2005), David Etheridge (18 May 1917- 26 December 2001), Delmar Thompson (14 December 1916-13 May 1944), La Vern Jeffers (3 February 1918-30 March 2001), Myron "Mike" Lowe (4 May 1919), and Norbert Milliken (17 December 1918-10 May 1974). Wild Rose played their home games at the old Town of Rose town hall which is located at 475 River Street. The players had to be careful, on one end of the floor, to avoid running into the woodstove which heated the building.

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Construction at Wild Rose Methodist Church











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This is a picture of building the Wild Rose Methodist Church. The carpenter at the top left is John N Jones. The carpenter with a white apron at the arch is his brother, William Llewellyn Jones. The church was located at 625 Main Street in Wild Rose.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Treble Clef


















Mrs C E. (Bertha) Darling's musical "Treble Clef" group. Front row Barbara Roberts Jones, Jennie Bowen Purcell, Blanche Jones Davies, Sarah Evans Davies, Jessie Radley, Hannah Bowen Etheridge, Unknown. 2nd row Bernice Davies Milliken, Genevieve Dopp Cragoe, Vesta Stevens Woodard, Nona Smith Barr, Erna Zick Bowen, Mable Nelson, Martha Humphrey Moody. 3rd row Anna Evans Peterson, Naomi Jones, Blanche Chamberlin, Bertha Darling, Pearl Dopp Lowe, Lizzie Lowe Davis, Mary Milliken Jones, Claire Dopp Potts.

Jesse Etheridge & May Etheridge Roth






































The picture of Jesse and May Etheridge was taken before 1885. They were the children of Alanson Pease Etheridge and his wife Emma (Spicer) Etheridge. May was born deaf on May 1, 1879 and attended the school for the deaf at Delavan. She married William Roth who was also deaf. Rev. A O Nuss performed the ceremony in her parents yard. and lived first in Westfield and later in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. She died December 22, 1970. Jesse Irving Etheridge was born June 26, 1881. He went to Ripon College as well as taking the Agriculture short course at UW. He was an early editor of the Wild Rose Times. He was a county Agricultural agent for many years ending in Oconto County Wisconsin. He married Irma Gautchi of Washburn on September 5, 1915. He died September 10, 1961 in Oconto.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Dr & Mrs Addison Guernsey of Almond











































































Dr Addison Wilson Guernsey was a physician and surgeon who lived in Almond but made professional visits to the Wild Rose area. Dr. Guernsey was born in New York State September 10, 1828. He was a son of Dr. Jonathan Guernsey. In 1850 he was living at home with Dr. Guernsey and wife Hannah in Guilford, Chenago County, New York. Dr. Guernsey died 3 March 1907 in Almond. He married Charlotte (probably with a surname of Morgan) in 1854. They had two children: Cora L who married F. J. Frost and Edna H. Charlotte was born in September of 1860. Charlotte died 12 May 1905. Their second daughter Edna died 10 January 1874 at the age of 3 years 11 months and 6 days.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Chain O Lakes School


Chain O'Lakes School in the early 1900's (Probably 1902). Front row: Milford Jenks. Sarah Le Page, Mable Hansel, Nina Shipley, Charlotte Combs, Josie Korleski, McKinley Jenks, Leo Jenks, Harold Ware, Arthur Knutson, Alfred Anderson, Charley Jeffers. Middle Row: Edwin Ware. Lorena Foss, Herman Bade, Irma Jenks, Sadie Jones, Evan J Evans, Myron Foss, Otto Shipley, Alice Jenks. Back row: Chester Hansel, Herbert Foss, Merriam Jeffers, Allen Jones, Effie Jones, Chester Jenks, Teacher- Lizzie Jones, Ruth Jones, Nina Jenks, Nora Jeffers, Myrtle Le Page, Gertie Davis, Floyd Jeffers.



































Effie Naomi Jeffers was born October 26, 1867 in the Town of Wautoma, the daughter of William Jeffers Jr. and his wife Elizabeth Van Marter. She married Isaac Smith, son of William & Elizabeth Smith October 20, 1889. She died December 24, 1948 in the house adjacent to Mt. Pleasant Cemetery on Highway 22. They had six children: Durward, Sadie, Bertha Adele, Ethel, Eunice & Dorothy.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

John Paul Jones, Band Director




































John Paul Jones was born August 3, 1910 in Monroe County to William E and Alma Jones. In 1920, they were living in Sparta. He had a sister, Dorothy and a brother, Weston. John Paul Jones was the musical director for Wautoma beginning in the fall of 1931. By 1933 he was also directing the Wild Rose Musical program. By 1935 his program in Wild Rose had 35 in the senior band, 24 in junior band, 60 in the girls three part chorus and 8 in a mixed a cappella chorus. In addition to the schools he also directed the Waushara County male chorus, lead the Mt. Morris Lutheran Church Choir in a radio performance on WLBL, and had a part in the play "Henry's Wedding" in Wautoma. He left Waushara County for Portage in the fall of 1935. Later he lived in the Milwaukee area and worked for Allis Chambers. He was married to Louise Roeth and they had three children: Ellyn, Stephen and Owen. John Paul Jones died in February of 1984 in Sun City, Arizona.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Wild Rose Inter-Class Basketball Championships



















The picture shows the winners of the Inter-Class Basketball Championships for Wild Rose. Both champions were members of the class of 1926. The boys won for 1924 and the girls won for 1925. Back row: David Roberts, Harry Witt, Arnold Patterson, Ruth Bahlert, teacher. Front Row: Donald Larsen, Howard Erickson, Edwin Davis, Sam Davies, Ted Long, Esther Evans Kosburgh, Minetta Melcher, Bernita Peterson Gaylord, Estelle Korleski Brewer, Joyce Attoe Bartel.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

John Lowe Family



















This picture of most of the John Lowe family was taken after 1887. From left to right seated: John Lowe born in Llanidloes, Montgomeryshire, Wales 1841-1907, Margaret 1877-1943, wife of Fred Clark, Elizabeth (Lizzie) born Tredegar, Monmouth, Wales 1868-1934, wife of Dave Charles Evans, Hannah 1869-1907, wife of Evan H. Owens, George 1871-1934. Standing: John P. Lowe 1875-1922, William (Willie) 1880-1943, Emma 1884-1938, wife of Floyd Favel, Thomas, 1873-1915, Mary Jane born in Monmouth 1864-1942, wife of John I Owens, Susanna 1878-1949, wife of Claude Sprague, Miriam 1882-1949, wife of Edward Murchie. The family came to Wild Rose sometime after the birth of Elizabeth and before the birth of Hannah.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Wild Rose Girls Softball Team 1934


Wild Rose Girls Softball Team 1934

Back Row: Elizabeth Williams Newmann, Myrna Johnson Barr, Crystal Nelson Straw, Stella Frater Renner, Norma Topping Wyss, Margaret Davies Radley , Brydine Nelson Clark, Mary Backes Mays, Beulah Handrich Rebernik and Gladys Moldenhauer Marks.

Front Row: Jeannette Korleski Schauer, Hannah Owens Johannes, Margaret Apps Gutche, Mary Jones Hartwig, Vera Wargula Hollman, Emily Popek Hoyt, Viola Jenks Westover, Beatrice Merryfield Decker and Dorothy Roberts Parker.

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Robert T Henry & James "Jeff" Murty


















Robert Tyler Henry and James "Jeff" Murty married Thomas sisters. Robert Henry was born 21 August 1856 in Brattleboro, VT. He died 30, June 1928 in Merrill, WI. He married Emily Ann Thomas, daughter of William J Thomas and his wife Mary Elizabeth Williams on 9 September 1885 at the residence of Love Hughes in Chicago. He worked as a mason and plasterer in Wild Rose. They had 5 children, Guy, Carson, Ira, Otis plus one who died young.
James "Jeff" Murty was born 22 June 1860 in the Town of Mt. Morris and was a twin of Robert Murty. Michael and Eliza (Blow) Murty were his parents. Jeff died 24 August 1936 in the Town of Rose. He married Maggie Thomas, daughter of William J and Mary Elizabeth (Williams) Thomas were the on 29 April 1888 in Wautoma. Jeff was a farmer and he and his brother owned an early threshing machine. Jeff and Maggie were the parents of Rodney, Maty, Florence, Leo, Esther, Alice and a baby that died young.

Saturday, November 17, 2007

The Wild Rose Standalone Church

The Standalone Church began in Rose, Wayne County, New York. They lived in District Number 11 in Rose. They built a school because they didn't want to attend the Griswold or Covell schools. Robert Jeffers (1769-1844) donated the land. The school was referred to as the "Spunk" school or the "Jeffers" school. The church was held in the school. In New York, the group was often referred to as the "Neversweats". Rose Neighborhood Sketches by Alfred S Roe says the term came about because they had long meetings that went long into the night, sometimes nearly until morning. They could go to these long meetings (services) and get up to work and never tire. There was no church organization .

Many of this group left New York for Wild Rose and the Church in Wild Rose went by the Standalones. One meaning of this reflected the lack of outside organization but also their creed that they stood alone before God at judgment. By the time the pictures were taken most of the older members had died off. Common surnames of members were Jeffers, Jenks, Bailey, Pease, Woodward, Dale, Page, Darling and Woodward.

The church building was located partly where the first row to the south of the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery is today. The building itself was bought by Ike Smith, who owned the farm next to the cemetery, and moved the the farm to be used as a farm building. Ike Smith's wife Effie was a daughter of William Jeffers, Jr. and grand-daughter of William Jeffers, who owned the land she inherited as well as donated the land for the Cemetery. The cemetery was originally called Standalone but later the cemetery association changed it because they thought "Standalone" was too cold.

Standalone Church Members - Picture 3


Back Row: 1. Henry Clark, 2. Herman Wade, 3. Emil Hansel, 4. John Bailey, 5. Herman Hansel.

2nd Row Seated: 1. William Henry Jenks, 2. J. Watson Page. 3. Eunice Hill, 4. Alice Dale, 5. Henry Woodward, 6. Ella Woodward, 7. Susan Dale.

Front Row Seated: 1. Elizabeth Jeffers, 2. Alice Jeffers Jenks, 3. Etta Darling, 4. Jennie Jenks, 5. Alanson Pease Etheridge, 6. Fannie Etheridge, 7. Jessie Dale, 8. Sarah Moore Woodward, 9. John Butler Woodward.

Standalone Church Members - Picture 2


Back row: 1. Thomas Dale, 2. Freemont Jeffers, 3. Theodore Woodward, 4. Jerry Pierce, 5. Charles Bailey, 6. Fred Jenks.

2nd Row Seated: 1. Nancy Hart, 2. Tom Hart, 3. Amanda Larson, 4. Daniel Woodward, 5. Jim Jeffers, 6. Wendell Woodward, 7. John Nelson Pease, 8. Mrs. Pease, 9. Myrtie Swett Darling.

Front Row Seated: 1. Clarence Jenks, 2. Stella Page, 3. Susan Jeffers, 4. Annie Dale, 5. Lizzie Hatcliffe, 6. Lucy Hatcliffe, 7. John Jenks, 8. Edna Jenks, 9. Mary Jenks, 10. Lewis Jenks.

Seated on Ground: 1. Clara Woodward, 2. Flora Woodward.

Standalone Church Members - Picture 1


Back Row: 1. Philo Darling, 2. George Jenks, 3. Billy J. Hursh, 4. John H. Jeffers, 5. Oren Jenks, 6. Isaac Woodward, 7. Lorenzo Dow Jeffers, 8. Josiah Etheridge.

2nd Row Seated: 1. John R. Jeffers, 2. David D. Davis, 3. Mrs. David D. Davis, 4. Phoebe Jeffers, 5. Mary Etheridge Jenks.

Front Row Seated: 1. Martha Darling, 2. Clara Swett Hart, 3. Polly Jeffers Jenks, 4. Permelia Pease Etheridge, 5. Mrs. John Davies, 6. Tammie Jenks Woodward, 7. Sarah Davies, 8. Mary Davies.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007




































Josiah Etheridge attend St Michael’s Church in Bishops Cleeve before he came to Wisconsin. Not only did Josiah come to Wisconsin but also his brothers John, Cornelius and Benjamin. Benjamin settled in Janesville. John came to Wild Rose. Cornelius lived in Wild Rose some of the time but he was also in Pennsylvania, Washington State and Idaho where he died. The Etheridge family lived in the small hamlet of Woodmancote in Gloucestershire, England. Josiah came in 1848.

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Wild Rose Football Team 1928


















Wild Rose Football Team from 1928
Front row: George Roberts, Alden Attoe, Dodie Davies, Fred McCormick, Clark McCormick, Stanley Popek & Howard Merryfield.
Back row: Principal Butts, John Hoaglin, Dick Hanson, Bob Duley, Ray Nelson, Alfred Jenks and Donald Evans.

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Wild Rose Presbyterian Sunday School Class
















Wild Rose Presbyterian Church Sunday School about 1910. Teacher: Mrs. Robert Davies (Maggie Bob) Back row: Olive Jones McQuaid,Orval Davies, Della Davies Moss, Ada Lowe Bemis, Edith Williams Jones. Middle row: Marvin Jones, Meredith Owens, Margaret Hannah Clayton, Priscilla Owens Counsell. Front row: Sidnie Davies Mundy, Mrs. R. A. Davies, David Clayton