Looking for the obituary of Jens Rasmussen for a research project at the Luck Museum, I went to the morgue in the Leader office in Frederic WI a few years ago and pulled out the 1949 Leader. First I noticed that there was a Burnett Co Leader and a Polk County Leader. I chose the Polk County Leader book. I had to look through the whole year of news until finally in December, at the end of the year's search, I found what I was looking for.
On my way to December I ran into some interesting items.
March 1949: The Cushing Sportsmen's Club was building two 50x100 netting pens to raise 700 pheasants.
There were over 200 members then. There was a mild winter and an abundance of deer being fed in
deer yards by the Conservation Department. The Cushing sportsmen requested restocking of some lakes in the area after a heavy freeze out that winter.
Stokely's at Milltown added two buildings; a 22x72 foot barracks equipped with showers and other modern equipment for housing employees during canning season. They also added 24x60 addition for packaging the cans. They contracted for 1400 acres of peas and 1700 acres of corn for 1949.
B. S. Issacson of Amery, Wisconsin wrote in to reminisce about threshing in Georgetown for John Shay. He had an old horsepower unit that used horses to walk around turning a shaft to run the machine. "I had six horse to groom and feed and Bob Crane had four. Joseph Crane and I spelled off feeding the machine and we got done threshing those days before snow came. We threshed as much as 1000 bushels on the old Alen farm in Apple River. I guess that was the biggest job we had. Mr. Shay died that fall and the next year steam rigs came in. I bought the horse power, but never threshed with it. I sold the separator to Olaf Olson by Shiloh. He had what he called a little steam engine he ran it with, and the horse power I traded to Lewis Schmidt in Osceola. It got out of date awfully fast. When I worked in Georgetown (1890s) there were only the Brane Bros. farming there. They had all be in the war (Civil) and old Zimmer and Jack Ora carried mail from Balsam Lake to Bunyan. The Anderson boys lived out east of Blake Lake. I could have bought the whole flat east of Blake school for $1 per acre.
The Harry Brown tent show opened in Balsam Lake, June 4, for a five night stand. For 43 years Harry Brown brought clean entertainment to this section and following his death a year ago his son Jack Brown who worked with his father from childhood, took up the reins and will carry on. Mrs Harry Brown will stay at her home at Amery. The troop this season is carrying 15 experienced actors and musicians and will present as an opening sow the old time favorite "The Big Push."
The Cushing Tigers beat the Clam Falls team 10 to 2 with Longnecker from Cushing striking out 16. A month later, Clam Falls beat Cushing 12-10. Clam Falls had players Rudd, Moody, Milton, K. Nelson, L. Nelson (Loren Nelson 3rd base who had 1 run, 1 hit and three errors!), Grant, Smith, Hacker and N. Nelson. Cushing had H. Nelson, Hanson, Williams, W. Wilson, L. Wilson, E. berg, G. Laier (George Laier, 1st base who had 5 at bats with 1 run, and 3 hits), Hacker, Longnecker, and manager/pinch hitter
The Trade Lake Lutherans had their 80 birthday and the Atlas Community church their 75th. On July 2nd, Marlys Johnson and Leroy Hedberg got married (making it 60 years now in 2009). Marlys wore a "street-length dress of aqua blue, with black accessories and a shoulder corsage of white orchids." Leroy wore a blue suit with a white carnation boutonniere.
Elery K. Brenizer of Wolf Creek passed away July 1, 1949. He was born in Dunkerton Iowa in 1879 and came to Wolf creek in 1903 with his wife Jessie. He is survived by four sons, five daughters, three brothers and a sister. Reverend James Everson and his wife sang "Abide With Me," Rock of Ages," Nearer My God to Thee," and "The Old Rugged Cross." Pallbearers were Edwin Erickson, Leon Marriette, Maurice Hanson, Leonard Noyes, Roy Rutsch, and Hugh Orr. Interment at Wolf Creek.
The eleventh annual Sterling Old Settlers picnic was enjoyed by a large crowd on Trade River. Charles Nick Jr., played the accordion; Mrs Joe Lagoo gave a humorous reading, "The Coffee Party"; Nina Borup, a humorous reading "Why Worry"; Mrs. Andrew Nordstrom told how she and Mrs Nels F Nelson planned the first picnic; Chairman Christ Christianson introduced the speaker, Rev. Silas Larson of the Cushing Lutheran Church. Lois and Helen Larson rendered a duet. Mrs. Wm. Hoffman presented the awards. In 1940, when Mr. and Mrs. Earl Roberts (married 57 years in 1949) first attend the picnic it was 40 years to the day when Mrs. Roberts moved from Sterling. Eric Nordstrom made and served the coffee. A big improvement at the grounds this year was the new fireplace made by Walter Neufeldt.
The Sterling Hustlers 4H met at John Schadow home. The next meeting will be at the Willard Swenson home. The club decided to have the club tour Aug 12th starting at the Orr school and the club fair Aug 20th at the Orr school. Nancy Schadow, Club Reporter. At the next meeting they practiced their play to be given at the Club Fair.
The Polk County Fair advertised a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Fair, August 23-25. Tuesday was the horse pulling contest; Wednesday an albino horse show; and Thursday the Greater Olympia Circus show. Wednesday and Thursday afternoon were baseball games. Twenty five cents admission; free parking and a large Midway with rides, shows and concessions.
And advertisement said "Bean Pickers wanted by stokely Foods, Frederic. Report to the Leonard Boe place, Thursday morning, September 1. We will pay 4 cents per pound."
A photo of Captain Roland Nichols was in the paper. He piloted his F-80 Jet Fighter in a non-stop flight of 950 miles in two hours and 20 minutes, smashing all existing Air Force records for mass-over-water flights by the F-0 fighter when 41 of the speedy ships flew from Okinawa to Japan. Roland has been in the service since 1942.
Dr. J. A. Riegel, of St. Croix Falls led the River Rats in a canoe trip on the Namekagon river. They started this in 1934. This year they set up camp on the Namekagon and stayed in one camp. Each day a couple of canoes and canoers were trucked up river to float back to camp; and another couple went down and were picked up and brought back in the evening. The fishing was not too good. Al Stenberg, Hank Wallin, Burnett Larson, Conrad Peterson, Kenneth Wallin, Ernie Wallin, Elliott Tarbell and Ted Clymer and others were in the group. Breakfast was "coffee, pancakes and syrup, fried eggs and bacon, fried potatoes, fish and sausages topped off with a few slices of cantaloupe of Jake's raising." Amongst the group were a doctor, undertaker, justice of the peace, inseminator, forester, and newspaper reporter--none of whose skills were needed on the trip.
Mrs. Charles Carnes (Nancy Brown) passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs Eugene Hanson at the age of 94 September 11th. She was born near Waterloo, IA July 18, 1855. She married Charles Wesley Carnes, Nov 14, 1880. They had five children, Zen, Ray, Nettie, Clarence and Elza. Included in the survivors were a granddaughter, Mrs. Alberta Hanson, of Cushing. They were converted in the Baptist church near Waterloo and soon after they entered into the ministry of the Free Methodist church, where they gave over 40 years of faithful service. Her husband died in 1931, and she had made her home with her daughter since. At the service, Rev. and Mrs. Caulkins sang "Abide With Me", "The eastern Gate", and "Safe In The Arms of Jesus".
Polk County Judge Charles Madsen, wrote an article "Youth Delinquency Rampant." In September, five boys were in Juvenile court for stealing. Two other boys on probation were arrested in Minneapolis and confessed to 22 burglaries in 3 states. Three other young men were arrested for burglaries and cattle rustling. At least a half a dozen other boys are waiting to be brought to court for petty theft. Judge Madsen, who was chairman of the Polk County Community Fund Drive that year, said the answer was to support organizations like Scouts, 4-H, Children's Service Society (adoption agency) and other groups who help youth by contributing to the fund drive.
Herbert Erickson, Rt. 2, Grantsburg (Trade River) was in the Leader office on business and told us he had a television set installed the day before--the first on in his community. "It is really wonderful, and works perfectly", he said. McNally Brothers of Grantsburg installed the set.
In the Pleasant Valley News, Mr. and Mrs. Delmer Boatman were visitors at the Virgil Chappelears. Emma Johnson, 71, had a birthday party. Lavonne Johnson is employed at the Henry Giller home while Mr.s Giller is working at St. Croix Falls and Mrs. Dugal Giller is employed at the Yo-yo factory at Luck. Night school classes have begun at the Pleasant Valley school Tuesday evenings. Anyone wishing to attend are welcome. Miss Jeanne Lippert and Frank Reynolds of Milltown high school are conducting the classes. Emma Johnson had a light stroke; she had visitors including Mr. and Mrs. Robert Louis, Keith and Gene.
October 1, Lucille Armstrong, daughter of Ray Armstrong of Cushing, married Calvin Anton of Thief River Falls, MN. They left immediately for a wedding trip to Lake Winnibigoshish. October 16 they were honored at a wedding shower. Songs included "Beautiful Saviour" by Mrs Robert Lumsden and Roy Swanson; an original poem was read by Mrs. Roy Armstrong; Marcia Lumsden played two accordion numbers and Mrs. Ernest Armstrong gave a reading.
Mr. and Mrs Sam Burton of Trade River were tendered a house warming on Tuesday October 25. Lat March, Sam built the new garage (gas station) on Hwy 87 and the family had temporary living quarters in that building until two weeks ago. Then they moved into the new house just completed, back of the garage. The party was held at the Trade River School as the house ws not big enough for the large crowd present. The program included a duet by Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Johnson; a reading by Mrs. Alton Anderson; a duet by Joseph and Connely Peterson with harp accompaniment; remarks by Rev. Orville Falk. A nice lunch was served and a purse off money ws presented to the honored couple as a remembrance of the pleasant occasion.
Mrs. Christ Clausen of Cushing brought three mammoth eggs to the Leader office. Measurements were 6.5 by 7.5 inches. Mrs. Clausen told us that three to four of these large eggs are gathered every day from her yearling White Leghorn flock.
The 1949 deer hunting regulations include a white-tail season from Nov 19-23 (5 days). Bag limit, one deer per season either anterless or with antlers not to exceed a forked horn with a branch of fork two inches long, to be measured from inside angle. North of Hwy 8, rifles or shotguns with a single slug. South of hwy 8 only shotguns.
Mr. and Mrs. Charley Malmen celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Oct 30 at the Cushing Church. A fine time was had. Songs included "Blest be the Tie that Binds", a duet by Abe Skone and Mrs. Ezra Hanson "I'll Go With You" and "There's A Garden."
Jens Peter Rasmussen, born 1871 in Denmark passed away December 9, 1949 at Siren. He married Laura Madsen in 1894, came from Denmark to Luck, WI in 1898, where he engaged as a carpenter and construction work. In 1911, he went to Siren wnere he built the lumber yard with Jens Pedersen of Luck which he owned and operated until 1922 when it was sold to Consolidated Lumber Co. Mr. Rasmussen managed it until he retired in 1940. Funeral services were held at the J. B. Hansen chapel with Rev James Everson officiating. Mr. and Mrs. Everson sang "Some Day the Silver Cord Will Break," "The Last Mile of the Way." and "God's Way is the best Way." Interment was at the Siren Cemetery. Amongst the survivors were his son Jens of Siren. On August 1, 2009, the Burnett Area Artists Group will have a display of 60 paintings of Jens Rasmussen in Siren at the Lakeview Event Center on hwy 35/70, 10-7. Jens, the son, was born in Luck and moved with his family to Siren.
