Flash From The Past
The 1880's

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Oconto County Reporter
October 9, 1880

Mrs. A. P. Call started on Wednesday for St. Nathans (now Chase), Oconto Co. to make her sister, Mrs. Chase, a visit.

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OCONTO COUNTY REPORTER
July 9, 1881

Passed to a higher life.  Mr. I. Powell, July 1st, 1881, a former resident of Brookside and one of the first settlers of Oconto Co.  Mr. Powell came here (so I am informed) when there was but one other white man, Mr. Hardwick, in the vicinity.  He died at the residence of Mrs. Ketchum, his daughter, St. Nathan (now Chase).  Funeral service, in the M. E. church in West Pensaukee and was buried in the Brookside cemetery, July 4th.

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OCONTO COUNTY REPORTER
August 27, 1881

A sad accident happened at St. Nathans (now Chase), by the caving in of a well, resulting in the death of two brothers named George and David Cleveland, one of whom was married and one single.  They had dug the well through quick sand to a depth of twenty-six feet and had commenced curbing it up in order to keep the sand from running in.  While thus engaged, the sides of the well caved in upon them, smothering them to death.  Their friends went to work immediately and labored faithfully until near midnight when their bodies were reached and removed from the well.  The accident has cast a gloom over the entire settlement as  both men were well respected by their neighbors. George Cleveland was married and he leaves a wife and one child, besides his mother and other relatives to mourn his irreparable loss.  Dave was a single man and was the support of his aged mother who lived with him. 

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There is a new boy at the residence of N. Chase.  He weighs 12 pounds!

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OCONTO COUNTY REPORTER
September 29, 1883

THE REPORTER learns from a communication from St. Nathans (Chase), that squire Ed. Lane, of that place is losing his eye sight, the sight of one eye being entirely gone.  Having rented his farm, he started Tuesday for Michigan, where he will place himself under the care of  a skillful Oculist, who thinks that he can save the sight of one eye, if not restore the vision of the other.  It is to be earnestly hoped that he will be successful and that friend Lane will return with his eyesight fully restored.  It is also learned from the same communication, that there has been quite a revival of religion in that vicinity, under the ministration of the Rev. Mr. Dickey, of the Methodist Episcopal church.  Many have accepted of the overtures of mercy, and many are inquiring the way to light and life. And that the crops in that part of the county have been seriously injured by the frost, so much so, that the farmers do anticipate more than a half crop of corn and vegetables.

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OCONTO COUNTY REPORTER
December 29, 1883

James A. Hines whose home is in New London, but who is now living at St. Nathan (Chase)  in this county, was in the city Thursday and being an old soldier and a member of the G.A.R., dropped in and made us a friendly and fraternal call.  Mr. Hines entered the army when but nine years of age and served until the close of the war being one of the youngest to wear the blue.

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OCONTO COUNTY REPORTER
May 2, 1885

Alex Lucas while at work in J. S. Chase’s mill at St. Nathans (now Chase) one day last week was quite seriously injured in the head and leg by the bursting of an emery wheel. His wounds are not considered of such nature as to cause death.

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OCONTO COUNTY REPORTER
December 12, 1886

News - Our Reporter Among the Farmers

Leaving this part of the country for the present, we will notice some of the places visited in the south part of the town of Chase, which is called St. Nathans. James McClure is amongst the oldest settlers and has a very showy farm, good orchard, and large barn, and should judge that he farms for profit.

George Tollman has rented the Amos Huck farm, and runs it in connection with his own.

A visit to the farm and mills of  J. S. Chase will convince anyone that this has been a stirring place. The mill will not probably be started up again this year but will be moved north on the M. & N. R. & R. The farm is one of the best in the town and the buildings are all first class. He has used under all his buildings, about 130 cords of stone. His barn is a model structure and has no superior of its size in the state. He has been boring for artesian water but has not yet got a flow. We understand he intends to commence work on it again next year. Mr. Chase has begun farming on a scale that will pay. Everything is kept in good order about the place; his combination poultry house and pig sty, is a very comfortable place for chickens and pigs, and an ornament to the farm. All the buildings are painted nicely. His store is well stocked with staple goods, which he sells cheap for cash.

J. S. Harvey has a farm near Chase's mill, and is also carrying on the Tegmier farm, over on the Hauptmier branch where he has moved his family for a term of years. Mr. Harvey has served his town in the capacity of Supervisor and is considered well informed in such matters. 

Daniel Krause has a good farm and has partly finished a very large and commodious dwelling house, which will be among the finest on the road. 

Herman Blase as purchased a part of his father's farm in the Wilson settlement and moved buildings on it. This is a part of one of the best farms in town and now consists of 80 acres, most of which is cleared. Herman is a stirring young man and will succeed. He is now town Treasurer of the town of Chase.

A. H. Thomas is constantly improving his place in a substantial manner and has one of the most productive farms in the town. Mr. Thomas has proved himself a very successful farmer.

Louis Redman's place was one of the first settled on the road and is now in good fertile condition. Mr. R. believes in keeping the land up to make farming pay. He lumbers some in the winter season, mostly in cedar. Considerable activity is shown in this settlement since the snow came, as most of the cedar going to Abrams, by teams, is cut in this vicinity. John H. Rymer, who was hurt by a load of logs some four years ago, which caused paralysis of the lower half of his body, died last week Monday and was buried Thursday. 

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Oconto County Reporter
Jan 1, 1887

Our Reporter Among the Farmers

This traveling scribe for the Reporter, after battling with a severe attack of malarial fever and a troublesome throat, is back on deck, though feeling someone slim and shivering a little with the cold, all this will come out right when we have been out among the farmers long enough to get filled up again, and getting our mind on business and the interesting subjects so easily raised among the country people. When we last wrote we were in the town of Chase and will now continue by calling attention to the lumber and shingle Mill of M. Krause.  Now being operated by the Krause Manufacturing Co., and has been running about a week on shingles. This is the fourth mill built in this site; three mills having been burned within six years; this is a demonstration of pluck, which should be rewarded, by financial success. The shingles from this mill rank among the best in market.

The next place to mention is the farm of Christ. Hirsch who is a live patron of the Reporter and a good farmer, with a farm of 120 acres cleared. Christ. Farms with all his might and should be rewarded with full storehouses and gelt in abundance.

Next we come to the farm and home of  B. C. Waldron who is a veteran of the late was and a pensioner, he carries the scars of war in sight, having been wounded in the face in the state of Virginia, while fighting to maintain the old flag we love so well. B.C. argues strongly for soldier's rights and can be counted on as a staunch Union man.

Half a mile west is the farm of Francis Byng, an old settler who has 120 acres which 60 is cleared. Mr. Byng was a blacksmith for 15 years for the M. E. Tremble lumbering concern at Big Suamico, while his family worked the farm. Last year he went to Oregon to look for a new home and has just returned. He says Oconto County holds out better, inducements to a poor man, than he found in Oregon, and advises everyone here, who is bound to try Oregon, to go on alone and not pull up stakes until he has seen for himself, where by he may save great disappointment and loss.

F. G. Byng - His son, has an eighty acre farm joining, with 15 cleared and is erecting a new frame home thereon. Good limestone is said to be abound in this neighborhood, which is near the geographical center of the town of Chase, and we shall soon expect to hear of a first class kiln in operation somewhere near. In fact we have heard rumor's, that an excellent article of lime has been made and sold somewhere in the neighborhood. If anybody here has good lime to sell please get the facts to the front through the medium of this spirited local itemizer.

J. S. Gifford of this neighborhood, makes out to keep abreast of the times. Though he is little off the main road, that is no sign that his notions of farming are off. A visit to his place convinces us that he is steady and surely getting ahead. Each year a new piece is cleared up and added to his farm. We find this gentleman well informed on general matter, and with well-defined ideas. He manufactures large quantities of maple sugar, every spring, which finds a ready market from its well-known reputation for excellence. At Harteau's Corners.

S. S. Banta is building a grocery store, which will soon be opened with a full line of staple groceries.

Levi Cleveland's place, overlooking the south branch of the Pensaukee, is a pleasantly situated, and profitable farm, beside the clearing containing about 20 acres, he has a mammoth maple sugar bush of over a thousand trees, which he operates to its full capacity every spring. His evaporating pan is four and a half by sixteen feet, which has a capacity for reducing to syrup about 60 barrels of sap per day. Mr. Cleveland has operated this bush about 10 years. Last year his sugar house containing his whole outfit was burned by an incendiary fire. He lost one thousand, sixteen-quart buckets, which he had made by hand, of the best pine and cedar stock to be found. He made what he could and rented some buckets and operated the bush last spring nearly to its full capacity and is now engaged rigging up again, to its full measure.

Frank George, a young farmer near here, is on the right road to wealth, has a farm of his own and operates his mother's farm also. His name was allowed to be strung on the list of subscribers to this localizer, which is a creditable act for any young or old farmer to do. Frank keeps his family record in single entry, but the Reporter stands ready to congratulate, at any time.

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OcontoCounty Reporter
November 19, 1887

SEVERAL LITTLE STRANGERS HAVE MADE THEIR APPEARANCE LATELY.

A girl at Thos. Rymer’s and a boy at George Talman’s; another girl at Henry Wilson’s of St. Nathans (now Chase).

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Oconto County Reporter
December 17, 1887

Chase

William Terwillegar is improving in health after a long illness.  Mr. Terwillegar is one of the oldest residents in the town of Chase.

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Oconto County Reporter
March 17, 1888

Chase

We hear that Mr. John Major and family, who went to Washington Territory three years ago, are going to return sometime this spring. They will repurchase their old farm. All will be glad to welcome back the old neighbors.

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Oconto County Reporter
June 2, 1888

J. C. Banta, M.D., has returned to his family again, after an absence of six months. He has been trying his hand at doctor again in the town of Chase.

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Oconto County Reporter
August 18, 1888

Chase

Mrs. James Grant and Miss Maggie Regal are visiting Mrs. Rebecca George - the former's mother.

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Oconto County Reporter
22 December 1888