Marytown in Center of Rich Farming Territory
Village is Divided Into Three Sections – Public and Parochial Schools, Churches, Stores, Blacksmith Shops, Markets, Hotels and Buffets are located there.
Garnet is Enterprising Hamlet
Attracts Large Trade in General Merchandise, Smithy Work,
Cheese, etc. – Receives Mail over Rural Route
Marytown is a little hamlet located in the northeastern
part of Fond du Lac county. It is in Calumet township and is governed by the
officials of the town, who are as follows: Anton Moersch, chairman; J. J.
Roehrig and Mike Lefeber, supervisors; Paul W. Langenfeld, clerk; Math Mauer,
treasurer and Joseph Heus, assessor.
Like a number of the other little villages throughout the county
Marytown had a postoffice which was in existence until the establishment of the
county rural route system. Since the discontinuation of the postoffice the
settlers in this community receive their mail service over rural route 40
leading out of Calvary station.
A visit to this locality will convince the most skeptical
that Marytown lies in the midst of some of the finest agricultural lands to be
found anywhere in the state. Vast fields of cultivated lands, dotted with large
and substantial buildings, are seen in all directions. Signs of prosperity are
in evidence everywhere. The store and other business places all seem to be
thriving due, undoubtedly, to the great expanse of territory they have to draw
from. The village and surrounding territory is almost wholly settled by
Germans. They are all of the kind that show much enterprise and who work with a
determination to win. Their homes and surroundings are sufficient evidence of
their success in the various undertakings.
Has Three Sections
Although only a small hamlet, comparatively speaking,
Marytown is divided into three sections or divisions. When the post office was
established it was located on the four corners of sections 22, 23, 26, and 27
of the township. When St. Mary’s church
was established it was located something like half a mile south from the
postoffice location in section 27, and still further to the south sprung up
another cluster of buildings. As a result three settlements, known as Upper,
Center and Lower Marytown make up the little village.
Two Public Schools
The Marytown school district has two separate school
buildings. When the district was first organized the school was located near
the Catholic church now properly known as Center Marytown. With the development
of the surrounding country the population grew rapidly and within a short time
the attendance and enrollment was unusually large for a district school and
proved more than one teacher could handle with justice to all interested. Steps
were then taken to overcome the difficulty and the plan of constructing a two
department building was considered. Owing to the vast territory to be served
this solution of the problem was not deemed advisable. It also caused more or
less discussion with reference to the best location for a building of that
kind. Finally the construction of two
school buildings one at the north end and the other at the south was agreed
upon, the same school board having supervision over both schools. That this solution
of the problem has proven satisfactory is shown by the fact that there has been
no change in the public system since its adoption. Miss McGauley is the teacher in the north end
school while Miss Anna Hanson has charge of the school at the south end.
St. Mary’s Church and School
The settlers who came to this locality, were largely of
the Catholic denomination and as they increased in numbers they organized a
parish and established a church. St. Mary’s church was located at what is now
commonly known as Center Marytown. The
present edifice is situated on a hill, the site being a very picturesque one.
Nearby is the parochial school. The
cemetery is also in the immediate vicinity. The buildings belonging to the
parish are up=to-date structures being provided with all the modern
conveniences. The congregation is large and composed of well to do families.
Rev. Fr. Edward Staehling is the pastor in charge. He has been here for the
past four years. The school is a two story building with ample accommodations for those
attending. Here as in the public school,
there is a large attendance. The school is in charge of Sisters.
Business Places
Marytown is well supplied with the business institutions
necessary for a town that is bounded on all sides by a farming community. They
are well distributed throughout the three sections which comprise the village.
Simon and Gerhartz, successors to the Neis and Nett
Company, conduct a large merchandise store. They carry a complete line of
staple groceries, dry goods, gent’s furnishings, crockery, shoes, notions, etc.
and are doing a thriving business. In
addition to the general store they are also proprietors of a hotel and have a
buffet in connection. They also have a
large dance hall which is used frequently for dancing and wedding parties. Approaching from the south their place of
business is the first to come to the travelers’ observation upon entering the
village.
The blacksmith shop of Joseph Haensgen is located near
the above mentioned general store. Mr. Haensgen besides his blacksmith business
has an extensive patronage in wagon repair work. He is assisted in the shop by
Andrew Haensgen.
Marytown can boast of a well equipped photograph
studio. It is in charge of John Zierer,
who came here from St. Nazianz, Manitowoc county about one year ago. He has had
many years of experience in the business and the large patronage which he
enjoys indicates that the work turned out under his supervision is entirely
satisfactory. The building he occupies is well fitted for the purpose and is
neat and attractive in every detail.
Michael Heus is another of the prosperous merchants of
the village. He deals in all kinds of
goods to be found in a general merchandise store. He has always lived in
Marytown and the surrounding country.
For some years he was engaged in farming but retired fifteen years ago to
take up his present business duties. Mr.
Heus pays much attention to the buying and shipping of eggs. His markets for
this product are Calvary Station and Fond du Lac.
Jacob and Ben Schoenborn are the members of the firm of
Schoenborn Brothers, who are proprietors of the meat market, dealing in all
kinds of fresh and salt meats. They have been engaged in the business for the
past two years. They are well known in
the entire community having been born and raised here. They also are
proprietors of one of the village saloons.
Joseph Schneider came to Marytown from Jericho to which
place he moved with his parents from Stockbridge. Farming received his
attention for some years. For twelve years he was owner of a threshing outfit,
doing a large portion of that work in this community. He is now engaged in the general merchandise
business in the village, having been here three years this month. He has a complete stock in all lines to be
found in this business. The telephone
exchange for Marytown is located in his store.
John Langenfeld, who was born near Marytown and for a
number of years was engaged in the agricultural line, has been in the village
for five years conducting a hardware store. He also deals in farm machinery and
has the agency for this community for the Jackson and Hupmobile automobiles.
Mr. Langenfeld is well known throughout this territory and his business is a
profitable one.
Another blacksmith shop in Marytown is conducted by C.
Schmitz, who is also interested in farming. Mr. Schmitz besides horseshoeing
and general blacksmithing, gives special attention to repairing of wagons and
carriages.
Jos. Boehnlein is another well known resident of the
village having been engaged in business here for over fifteen years. He was born in Calumet County. He owns a large two story building, the lower
floor of which is devoted to his saloon business and pool rooms. He also owns a dance hall.
J. W. Winkel is proprietor of a hotel which affords good
accommodations to visitors in the little village. He also has a dance
hall. In connection with these he
conducts a buffet. He has been located here for the past six years.
Jacob Schiller, who was born and raised in Marytown, is
the proprietor of the creamery located here and has been in charge for nearly
ten years. The factory is operated by steam power and does a large amount of
business through the year. Mr. Schiller
is also proprietor of a cheese factory which is located about two miles south
of his creamery. The cheese factory is
managed by Anton Schiller. The product
of this factory is shipped to Plymouth where it is sold on the board of trade
in that city.
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