WILLIAM POOL DIES FRIDAY
William
Pool, aged 75 years, one of the oldest settlers of Fond du Lac county, and a highly
respected merchant of this village, answered the final summons at his home on East Main
street last Friday afternoon about 5:30 o'clock, following a week's illness, during
which he was confined to his bed, although he has been in declining health for
serval months past.
Mr. Pool was born in Gardner's Prairie, Walworth County, Wis., on
April 10, 1848, where he attended the district school, later attending the Omro high
school and the De Land Business College at Fond du Lac. In 1867 he came to New Cassell, as
the eastern portion of this village was known at that time, and after clerking for a year
in the Helmer store he purchased an interest in the business, which was operated under the
firm name of Pool, Helmer & Weise. The firm continued in business for one year when
Mr. Helmer sold out to his two partners, they running the business for one year when Mr.
Weise sold his share to J. W. Harter. The firm was then known as Pool & Harter until
1887, when Mr. Pool purchased his partner's interest in the business, whiich he conducted
alone up to the time of his death. During all these years the store had never changed
locations, but was always conducted on the same premises which it now occupies.
In 1877 Mr. Pool was united in marriage to Miss Martha L. Angel
of Atlanta, IL, who, together with one daughter, Jessie, (Mrs. Henry Howard) survived him.
Two other children, Mary who died in infancy, and Arthur, who died at the age of twelve
years, were born to the couple. He is also survived by one brother, John, of Oshkosh, and
one sister, Mary Van Gilder, of Omro.
On August 3, 1870, Mr. Pool was appointed postmaster of New
Cassel and has held that position continuously ever since, except four years during the
Cleveland administration. He was elected president of the village of Campbellsport in
April 1912 as was re-elected the two succeeding years, serving his three years as a
trustworthy and faithful official.
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old time settlers of the eastern part of the village who was wont to discuss the good old
days gone by and whom Mr. Pool always gave hearty welcome.
The
funeral was held from the residence at 1:30 Monday afternoon and at the Baptist church at
2:00 o'clock, Rev. J. W. Taylor officiating. Interment was in Uion cemetery. The
pallbearers were Frank Bump, Wm. Knickel, Jacob Johann, Wm. Wodde, John Granger and T. N.
Curran, all old time friends of the deceased.
Among those who attended the funeral from out of town were his
brother, John Pool of Oshkosh, Mr. and Mrs. William Van Gilder of Omro, Mr. and Mrs. Taft
of Milwaukee, Fred Walker, editor of the Oshkosh Northwestern, Mr. and Mrs. Orson Raymond
of Fond du Lac and and a large number of old time friends of the deceased.
EARLY HISTORY OF NEW CASSEL
As Mr. Pool was closely associated with the early history of New
Cassel, now the eastern portion of Campbellsport, a brief history of the early days will
be interesting.
New Cassel was founded in the eartly "forties" and was
then called Auburn. On the Fourth of July, 1846, it was formally christened Couchville,
and ten years later there was a large influx of settlers, under the leadership of Emil
Breyman, father of Helen Breyman, who still resides on east Main street. He erected the
flour mill which stands near the river and named the place New Cassel, in honor of
Hesse-Cassel, his birthplace in the old country, this remained the name of the village and
the post office.
In 1873, the railroad changed the destiny of the village. Stewart
Campbell, who owned a large amount of property, gave three acres to the railroad for the
station and the railroad built the Campbellsport station. The village grew steadily, but
it also grew steadily in the opposite direction from New Cassel. However, the post office
has been continued there and Campbellsport is probably the only place in the United States
where there are two separate post offices and two postmasters.
The village of Campbellsport and New Cassel were incorporated
under the name of Campbellsport June 12, 1902, but the New Cassell post office contined to
operate. |
