Diana's father, Raymond
Locke GARDNER (1895-1961) was born in Mosinee, Marathon County, WI. His
father was Charles A. GARDNER, son
Henry
B. GARDNER and Ellen R. PRIEST d/o Orin
PRIEST
After coming to Marathon County Henry
B. GARDNER worked in the pineries and at lumbering and logging, was for some years engaged in shingle manufacturing, and for several years conducted a hotel called the
"Prairie House," about four miles north of Mosinee on the Wausau and Stevens Point Road.
"Early and Late Mosinee" by Edgar E. Ladu page 22 "the splendid palace now owned and controlled by C. A. Gardner stands, and was known as the
Whitelaw house."
Charles A.
GARDNER married Effie Pauline LOCKE, daughter of Alfred
Jay LOCKE and Sarah Pauline MANNING.
Charles A. GARDNER, a prominent merchant of Mosinee, Marathon Co., and senior
member of the firm of C. GARDNER & Co. was born in Mosinee in November,
1857, a son of Henry B. and Ellen R. (PRIEST) GARDNER, who were both born in New
York State
....their lumber mill (of Charles and his two brothers) was situated about six
miles from Mosinee.
Charles A. GARDNER was educated in the public schools of Mosinee, Marathon Co.,
WI then engaged in lumbering and agricultural pursuits until July 1887. In May
1887, Mr. GARDNER, in conjunction with his brothers George F. (or Fernando
George) and Henry A. (or Alonzo Henry) embarked in mercantile pursuits. In 1890
George F. and Henry A. retired from the business and our subject formed a
co-partnership with Louis DESSERT and Frank McREYNOLDS, under the present
firm name of C. GARDNER & Co.
Politically Mr. GARDNER is a stanch Republican and he served as President of
the village of Mosinee one term; socially he is a member of the Modern
Woodmen of America. He is a live, progressive business man, enjoys the esteem
not only of the residents of Mosinee, but of all who are acquainted with him,
and his high character and genial qualities have made him generally popular.
end of information from: Commemorative Biographical Record of the
Upper Wisconsin Counties, 1895, page 57.
http://www.mosinee.wi.us/html/history.cfm
http://www.mosinee.wi.us/html/aerial.cfm
http://www.woodlot.com/riverpark/html/history.html
History of River Park
When Joseph DESSERT first started his logging and sawmill operation in
Mosinee, this low lying area north of the village was a natural site for
recovery of logs coming down the Wisconsin River. Use of the area by the sawmill
operation was discontinued in the 1940's.
NOTE: It would be interesting to learn of a connection between "Joseph
DESSERT" above and "Louis DESSERT" whom was a business partner
with Diana's grandfather, Charles
A. GARDNER.
http://www.nationalrrmuseum.org/
wisconsin - cool trains .gifs
The
City of Mosinee was first called Little Bull Falls. The
surrounding area was a dense forest inhabited by an abundance of
wild animals. The untamed Wisconsin River, with its large rocks
and boulders, went roaring and swirling past. The banks were
barely able to hold back the raging water.
Little Bull Falls became Mosinee on July 22, 1857, when
the post office was officially designated. Soon more people came
bringing new ideas. Openings appeared in the dense forest. Farms
were started, buildings grew, and churches were built. Law and
order were upheld when the first constable was elected in 1889.
The first high school began in 1902. A bank was built in 1905. A
volunteer fire department was formed, also.
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Ms.
Marie Smerda
Mosinee's First School Teacher
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Walking
was the most common mode of travel. Alternatives would be to
hire a man, a team of horses, and a lumber wagon at the speed of
5 to 10 miles per hour or you could catch a ride on the mail
wagon. Finally a platform spring wagon was put into service
until the Concord (stage) Coach, drawn by four horses came into
the scene.
In 1875, the railroad was put past Mosinee to Wausau and
train service began. The Iron Horse, as it was called, came
roaring and snorting into town, bringing the outside world and
new ways of prosperity. Three steamboat enterprises were started
between Mosinee and Stevens Point. All failed to make a profit
and shut down operations.
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A
Brief History
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Main
Street Mosinee, 1923. Photographer J. W.
Coley
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A
sawmill was the first business, started in 1836. Soon after,
businesses such as a boarding house grocery store, a shoe shop, a
saloon, a tannery, a grist mill, and a blacksmith shop were
opened. Lumber was an important business at that time. Large rafts
called cribs were floated down the wild Wisconsin River. Sometimes
as many as ten men a year lost their lives working the rafts.
In 1898 a public library was built by Mr. Joseph
Dessert. The original building is still standing. Although
remodeling has been done over the years, it is still a beautiful
building to see. In 1906, Mr. Dessert gave the library as a gift
to the Village of Mosinee.
The first bridge that crossed the river was made entirely
of wood with the exception of some iron bolts. It was boarded up
on both sides but did not have a roof. It was thought to be
haunted and, for many years, people hesitated to cross it at
night. At the west end of the bridge, a roadbed stretched to reach
the second wooded bridge which brought you into Mosinee.
The City of Mosinee is proud of its history and the people
who worked hard to develop the city we now call home. Fact and
information for this brief history of Mosinee were taken from the book
Early and Late Mosinee by Edgar E. Ladu and the 1857-1957
Centennial Booklet.
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Main
Street Circa 1960
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History and Photos
Courtesy of the
Mosinee Area Chamber of Commerce
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