Portage County Historical Society
August Goerke
August Goerke came to Stevens Point in 1874, and has been continuously engaged in the merchant tailoring business for thirty-three years. He caters to the best trade of the city, and employs about fifteen hands in his business, giving his customers the best and latest along his line.
He is one of the reliable workers in the city and for the city. Personally, as a citizen, Mr. Goerke is much esteemed. He is a loyal Stevens Point man; always alert in serving along any line of activity, promising benefit to the city.
T. H. HANNA, MAYOR OF STEVENS POINT
Ask one hundred men of Stevens Point, who among all the people of the city has done and is doing most to promote, by personal effort, her business, industrial, and social advancement, and ninety of the hundred would say T. H. Hanna. The oft-misused word "Stalwart" is accurately used when applied to Mr. Hanna. In physique and mental furnishings, and all moral qualities he suggests nothing else so much as genuineness and rugged strength. He is a lover of nature - a sportsman in the truest sense of the term, and a lawyer of much ability. Mr. Hanna is in the prime of rugged manhood, and his knowledge is confined in no narrow scope, and he rarely talks in private or public without giving his listeners something worth knowing. He came to Stevens Point eight years ago, and was elected mayor of the city in 1904 and reelected in 1906. The city of Stevens Point has prospered under his administration. The city’s bonds are being paid off, and the streets are being improved in all parts of the city. Mr. Hanna is one of Stevens Point’s most devoted citizens, giving freely of his time and energy to advance the common weal.
THE JACKSON MILLING CO.
Stevens Point rejoices in the possession of an excellent milling firm. It was established in 1875, and has put in full time, and, in fact, has been running over time ever since. This plant uses about 125 horsepower of the old Wisconsin River’s unlimited supply, and has a capacity of 200 barrels of wheat flour, 50 barrels of rye flour, and 25 tons of feed per day. The supply of wheat comes from Dakota and Minnesota, and the product is sold almost entirely in Wisconsin. Their leading brand is Gold Crown. Their other brands are Gilt Edge and Rosebud, also white rye flour.
H. H. Pagel has been manager of this plant for ten years, and has been with the Company for over fifteen years.
He is young in years, but old in experience. He has put the best years of his young manhood into this plant, and has developed an industry that is profitable to the stockholders and is a success from every standpoint.
JACOBS HOUSE
This hotel is one of the most complete and best-appointed hotels in the Wisconsin Valley. It is located near the commercial center of the city, yet away from the noise and bustle of the business section. The hotel is three story and has over forty rooms for the accommodation of their guests. It is heated throughout by steam and lighted by electricity. The rooms are large; well ventilated and kept scrupulously clean and in every way the hotel is modern and up-to-date. The clerical force is courteous, obliging and capable, and the service in every department is first-class. The office and reading rooms, dining room and sample rooms are on the ground floor, and are very complete as to capacity and service. This hotel has been very popular, both with the local trade and the traveling public ever since its establishment. From the first it attracted a heavy patronage, and often every room is filled without meeting the full demand for accommodation. Each year has witnessed an increase of the popularity.
Mr. Jacobs built this hotel and has been its proprietor for over thirty years. As "mine host" he has been indefatigable in looking after the comfort of his guests, is ever planning some new improvement and has shown great ability as a hotel man. Mr. Jacobs is a pioneer among the pioneers. He came to Stevens Point when the little lumbering hamlet was surrounded by the pine forest and when there was no promise of the prosperity that was to come. Mr. Jacobs has lived to see other resources greater than "king pine," and to see a development which he and the other pioneers did not deem possible in these early days.
