The History of Bowler, Wisconsin

Where It All Began

In 1873, the German immigrant Fred Schenk and his family became the first landowners in what is now the Village of Bowler, claiming homestead rights. The Witt family was among the later settlers, securing their homestead rights north of the Schenk land. The Schenks were shortly followed by the Fred Bartelme family, and Carl Steinke, another settler, occupied the property that currently makes up the Village. Fred Bartelme's grandson Herman Matz owned one of the aforementioned early settlers' farms, which is the fire department location, immediately east of Bowler school.

When the first settlers arrived in the area, the Fred Schenk log cabin would frequently be packed with twenty to twenty-five men and women in one night. The women wept bitterly, lamenting their misfortune in being forced into such a remote area in search of a place to call home. To demonstrate their bravery and manage the pain on the other side of the room, the guys would sing songs in the evenings, much like a youngster whistling in the dark. Usually the house seekers brought their own blankets and bedding, but for beds they spread rye straw from the Schenk farm across the floorboards.

In 1873, Herman Schenk, the son of Fred Schenk, was the first white child to be born in what would become the village of Bowler. He spent the majority of his life living and working in this village.

Charles Schenk was elected Clerk at the territory's first school district organization meeting, which took place on September 6, 1897. Carl Malitz was chosen as director and Herman Grohn as treasurer. Soon after, Otto Goers received a bid from a building committee made up of Fred Bartelme, Fred Schenk, and Carl Steinke for the construction of a 24 by 36-foot school on a foundation. The bid total was $469.99. Fred Schenk sold the one-acre plot of property that would eventually become Jt. School District No. 5, the name of the school.

On the first Monday in December 1897, classes began for a six-month term under the direction of a young woman named Winnie Day, who was employed as the first teacher from the village of Wittenberg.

When the C&NW Ry. Co. chose to build a new railroad between Green Bay and Eland Junction in 1905, one of the stops was to be the location that is today known as Bowler. The location was marked out and a depot was built the next year. At the time the new railway was constructed, a man with the last name "Bowler" worked as an attorney for the railroad. It's clear that he inspired the village's name. Serving for many years, Wm. Lemke was the first reliable depot agent at the Bowler station.

A number of new businesses opened in 1906, including the first saloon designed by Herman Schenk and the first general store constructed by E. J. Buettner and Wm. Dumke.

Also in 1906, Rev. Emil Stubenvoll organized the current St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran church, which began with seven families.

The general store that the brothers Emil and Gust Bartelme constructed in 1907 was later bought and run by Ernie Perkins.

Rev. Emil E. Stubenvoll, Sr., a German immigrant, having just finished seminary at Springfield, Missouri and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, received a call as a missionary for the northern part of Shawano County; on December 15, 1889, he was ordained at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, the little log church at Regina, built in 1859.

His mission stations were Regina, Riverside Mill (Weigel’s Mill), Almon, Pucall, Gustmanns, Mattoon, Birnamwood, Aniwa, Leopolis, Elmhurst, and Polar in Langlade County and the surrounding lumber camps, etc.

From the mission board he received a horse, a buckboard, and a yearly salary of $300.

Later he organized and served the congregations of Bowler and Tilleda, until his son Rev. Emil C.F. Stubenvoll Jr. and later another son Carl Stubenvoll were called to serve them.

In 1913, Rev. Emil C.F. Stubenvoll Jr., son of the founder, was called as the first resident pastor, to serve three congregations, Tilleda, Bowler, and Seneca.

The community of Bowler became a hub for loggers, lumberjacks, and anybody involved in the cutting, carrying, and shipping of forest products because of the new train outlet for shipment and the abundance of excellent hardwood timber on the site, possibly the best in Wisconsin. Adolph Zenesek's construction of a sawmill and subsequent mill operation was only fitting. The Bowler Lumber Co. acquired the Zenesek mill in 1915, and W. O. Baum remained its manager and owner at that time. In 1922, the mill caught fire but was promptly repaired in less than two months, allowing for the continuation of operations.

Mr. Buettner became the first postmaster and the first postoffice was opened at the E. J. Buettner business. After Mr. Buettner sold his store in 1920, Spanish-American War veteran Fred "Doc" Hennig was appointed postmaster. "Doc" Hennig worked for the post office until 1934, when Frank Buettner assumed responsibility for this significant position and continued to do so for years thereafter.

The first hardware store, E. A. Lau, the first hotel, August Kroll, the first butcher shop, Fred Matz, the first garage, and Wm. Schenk, the first blacksmith, were among the other early residents of Bowler. In Bowler's early years, additional names that were frequently cited were the Fuhrman Brothers (Paul and Herman), the Fred Kroenings, the Petersons, the Himmelreichs and Lebensohns, John Renk, Joe Nemetz, Len Waite, and Adolph Kassube.

The Farmers State Bank was established in 1914, and its cashier was H. H. Gehner.

With 375 residents, the Village of Bowler was officially established in May 1923, and W. O. Baum served as its first president. Otto Rachals, Frank Matz, Joe Nemetz, Wm. F. Becker, Frank Kolpack, and Wm. Fuhrman served as trustees. Gust Bartelme served as the clerk; the Hon. Paul Fuhrman oversaw the village; Herman Schenk served as treasurer; E. J. Bartelme served as assessor; Judge George Chevalier served as justice of the peace; and Herman Jahn served as the first constable.

The first doctor to arrive in the village was Eugene Knox.

Emil Spiegel constructed and ran the first Cheese factory.

The second church, St. Paul's Lutheran congregation, was constructed in 1924, and Rev. Wagner served as its pastor. Before the St. Paul church was built, Augusta Miller's home hosted church services led by the Rev. Lawrence, a former pastor.

The school grew to meet the demands of the neighborhood; following the completion of the original building in 1897, it underwent renovations and had expansions made until 1917, when a new building was constructed. A huge extension of rooms and a gymnasium were built during the WPA era.

H. F. "Smokie" Schenk, who drove a Brush roadster, was the first person in the village to acquire an automobile.