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Chapter 10
Of Special Mention

The Zion City Migration
After reading a diary written by Hattie Smith in the years 1905 and 1916, I obtained some information about the stir around Valton at that time. About the wonderful opportunities being offered at Zion City. It was advertised as a clean city, free from worldly pleasures. Thomas Hollingshead was one of the first to move there from Valton and became an enthusiastic supporters of the Zion Church called Christian Catholic Apostolic Church. It was founded by Alexander Dowie. Thomas Hollingshead wrote to different ones telling them about the advantages in Zion. A number of people talked about moving there. Horance Harvey rented his place to James Mortimer and planned to go there in the Spring (1906). Al and Tillie Jackson were planning to go also, but at the last minute they found a farm to rent near Valton. Able Mortimer had a sale, March 22 and was also going to Zion. People who were looking toward the possibility of moving to Zion City received a shock letter in 1906 when they heard the news that Alexander Dowie had betrayed the people. Horace Harvey sent a newspaper clipping and told of Dowie's downfall.

Ice Storm (February 22, 1922)
This event remains distinctly in my memory. I can almost hear, even yet, the loud crashing of the limbs that had been to heavily loaded with ice. A rain had turned to ice as it fell on the snow and trees. The limbs were so loaded that they were literally stripped from the trees. After the storm was over, we cleared up five loads of limbs from under one large maple. Oaks, maples and elms that had been so beautiful and well shaped before, never again grew enough limbs to take the place of the old ones, the woods showed the results of this storm many years afterwards.

Tornado in Frog Hollow (Spring of 1921)
That event I can also remember distinctly. Father was on the ridge with the team in the field. I was at school in Frog Hollow. In the afternoon at recess we children watched a black threatening cloud come out of the Southwest. When the storm broke, the air outside was so filled with blowing rain that we children couldn't see out the window. As the storm grew in intensity, the children in the school room began to whimper. The teacher began to order some away from the chimney at the West side of the room. When the storm was over and we came out of the school house we could see boards, splinters and leaves of the trees spread all over the flat below the school. Then as we looked father away we discovered that Nate Mortimer's barn was flat on the ground and other buildings were also gone. Other damage done by that storm was later found in the woods West of there where several trees were uprooted. A lumber pile was strewn across our field on the Ridge.

Heavy Rains
When I was a boy, we were caught at Valton in a hard rain. Oscar Shore, who lived then on the present August Landsinger place, invited us to stay there till the storm was over. The rain fell for hours and whenever the lightening flashed that night, we could see a sheet of water almost completely flooding the Valley.

Entertainment's and Social Gatherings
Valton had two large halls that furnished room for large gatherings during the colder seasons. I have information on graduations, debated, lyceum programs, lecture course series, temperance rallies, wedding showers, spelling bees, thanksgiving day programs, roller skating, a movie or two and even dances.

During that time when Mrs. Joe Clausen was Pastor the second time at the Wesleyan Church, a huge banquet was put on at the Woodman Hall. Tables were set up and the idea was so popular that the whole floor space was filled with banquettes. I forgot to mention that this whole affair was sponsored by the Wesleyan young people. The Woodman Hall has been the scene of many a shower given to every wedding couple in the community. The groom was expected to buy the ice cream sufficient to treat the crowd, usually 10 gallons, and the women brought the cake to go with the ice cream. After a period of visiting among the older ones and games were played by the younger set, the bride and groom opened up their many presents.

The hall over the Big Store was very useful after it was built in 1905. Early graduates on the Valton school had their graduation exercises there. Some very interesting spelling contests were also held. I recall a gathering held thanksgiving day when I was a boy. After the bountiful dinner a place was cleared on the stage for a chairmen who wrote down everything the people said they were thankful for. Roscoe Hutchens was chairmen, or more properly secretary. This hall was also popular for entertainment put on by the Valton school. It has also been the scene of a great deal of roller skating. I just ran across in my notes, and account of a graduation program which took place May 31, 1906 in Louis Lee's Hall. The graduates were: Edna Hutchens, Leota Carpenter, Spencer Mortimer and Joe Mayo. Each graduate read a essay. Edna's Essay was judged best, skating took place after the program.

In 1915 the progressive people in the community worked together to bring in some outstanding talent. They called it a music-lecture course. The first number was a lecture by Lester C. Randolph on the American boy. Later three woman musicians gave a concert, but their playing was of such high type that some didn't appreciate it.

I regret that pages are missing from this history. I am adding a little history of my own, Karen Landsinger:

The house that was William Gibeaut's was bought by Donald Mortimer in 19 , and lived in by Donald's mother and sister (Mrs. Glenn, Millie, Mortimer and Helen). They lived in it till 1971. Then Mr. and Mrs. Willus (LaVera Mortimer) Stittleburg bought it and moved in. They lived there till September 9, 1979; when they moved to the former Levi Good place which they bought and remodeled. Grandma (Millie Mortimer) and Helen moved to the former Frank and Nellie Beier place, which Roy and Marcella (Mortimer) Scrivens bought in 1971. Then Grandma (Millie) passed away September 5, 1979. Helen still lives there.

Dale and Rose Griffa bought the former Gibeaut place from Willus and Vera Stittleburg in January 1980.

On November 10, 1969, Gordan and Teresa (Joyce) Griffa bought the Noah Mortimer farm. They moved there January 2, 1970. They had 5 children: June (passed away September 23, 1958 at the age of 5 years 2 month's and 5 days from cancer). Tom, Dale, Sandra and Sheila. They have been my neighbors for 10 years and the best neighbors anyone could ever have. They sold 79 acres to Kenneth Artz in the spring of 1972.

Joseph Landsinger and Elenore (Libansky) Landsinger lived on the former Marvin Levy farm which he (Joe) owned until 1932 when they moved to the farm across from the Noah Mortimer farm. Joseph was born August 3, 1894 in Vernon Co. He attended the McKenzie school and grew to manhood on the home of his parents in Greenwood township. When he was seventeen, he moved with his parents to a farm in the Valton community. On October 28, 1924 he married Elnore (Nora) Libansky. To this union was born six children: Leona, Marcella, Leo, Marvin, Harold and Ernest. Joe was a twin brother to August Landsinger. Joe and Nora lived on this farm till a house fire claimed his life in 1956 at the age of 61. Then Nora and children lived in the house owned by Mary Landsinger (Joe's mother). This in the house next to the old Frank Kuche's store.

Iva Colvin and Ernest Nemec families have lived in this house also. Then James and Pat (Foggle) Mortimer bought and did some remodeling and fixing up. Then sold to Richard and Irene (Mortimer) Hainstock for their daughter.

Nora's new house was built in 1957 on the same foundation as the other house that burnt. They lived in the new house till Harold married Karen Stittleburg in 1959. They bought the farm and moved in. Nora and Ernest then moved to the former Will and Della Mortimer farm. To Harold and Karen were born five children: Joseph, Brain, Jill and twin daughters Debra and Dawn. Nora Landsinger passed away in October of 1978. Harold and Karen bought the land that went with that farm and Mr. and Mrs. Earl Norton bought the buildings. Mrs. Norton is the former Marcella Landsinger.

Leona Landsinger married Norman Diece and lived at 1245 Putnam Ave. Janesville, WI.

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