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Richland County History Room

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Richland County History Room

Historical research for families and places in Richland County, Wisconsin.

05/31/2026

Congratulations! To the Richland Center High School Class of 2026 from the 67 members of the Class of 1926.

05/30/2026

Clarence Fry and Isolene Dieter were married in Richland County, Wisconsin, on January 7, 1934.

They lived in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin in 1935.
They farmed in Richland County, then later, he worked for the Mobil Oil Company of Kankakee, Illinois.
They are both buried in the Richland Center, Wisconsin Cemetery.

Click for the complete record, p001250-02, https://cdm16698.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/rchr/id/22978/rec/1

05/29/2026

Dr. Anthony Nainka, physician, Boaz, Wisconsin, ca. 1918.

Anthony H. Nainka, (1863-1942).
Born in 1863 in Austria, to Henry Nainka and Henrietta Hudricek Nainka.
Married 19 Apr 1919 to Alma Marie Halink Nainka, (1884-1961). They had met while he was a doctor in Boaz.
They later moved to Gleason, Lincoln County, Wisconsin.
He died in 1942.
He is buried in the Gleason Cemetery in Lincoln County, Wisconsin.

Donor: Harold W. Pauls (1925-2008).

Click for the complete record, p001230-25, https://cdm16698.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/rchr/id/22966/rec/1

05/28/2026

TBT: The Pilling House

Column by Keith Ruetten

Original post 11-15-2018

This picture is from the slide collection photographed by Mrs. Fred Pratt around 1950. It is identified as the Pilling house, which stood at 346 N. Church Street.

The little bit of information that I’ve been able to find pertaining to the Pilling family is contained below.

Isaac “Ike” and Olive (Isham) Pilling were married in 1858 and settled in southern Richland County. Olive died in 1859 and was buried in the Coumbe Cemetery. After Olive’s death, Isaac got remarried to Eliza Jones.

Isaac operated a sawmill, near the Wisconsin River, about a mile south of Eagles Corners, at a place known as Pilling’s Mill, or Pilling’s Landing.

After Isaac passed away in 1872, Eliza and the family moved to Richland Center, where they resided for many years, in the little cottage, two doors south of the Baptist Church.

Eliza Pilling passed away in 1929, but the house continued to be occupied by family members, the last of which was Walter Pilling.

In the early 1950s, Howard Hansen purchased the property to build a new home. Perhaps some of you may remember the Pilling family, or their house that stood next to the Baptist parsonage.

Photo-RC History Room

05/27/2026

Clarence Fry, Richland County, Wisconsin, ca. 1926.

Clarence Fredrick Fry, (1908-1995).
Born 12 Nov 1908, in Necedah, Wisconsin, to Frank Archibald ‘Archie’ Fry (1875-1961) and Ella Virginia Ray Fry (1875-1952).
Siblings include Alta Mae Fry Cooper (1895-1991), Harold Hall Fry (1897-1989), Lena Leona Fry Long (1898-1982), Oscar Benjamin Fry (1900-1962), Cecil Marion Fry (1902-1988), Lester Albert Fry (1904-1985), Ray Fry (1906-1991), Floyd Fry (1910-1960), Irene Fry Flanigan (1912-2000), Otto Frye (1914-1994), Earl Frye (1916-1960), Laura Ella Fry (1918-1918), and E.H. Fry (1922-1922).
Married 7 Jan 1934 to Isolene V. Dieter Fry (1909-1981).
Lived in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin in 1935.
Married 20 Aug 1983, in Richland Center, Wisconsin, to Rachel Conley Bernarde Fry.
He farmed in Richland County, then later worked for the Mobil Oil Company of Kankakee, Illinois.
Died 31 Aug 1995, at age 86, at the Richland Hospital.
Buried in the Richland Center, Wisconsin Cemetery.

Click for the complete record, p001250-01, https://cdm16698.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/rchr/id/22971/rec/1

05/26/2026

Dr. Nainka sitting on the porch of his wife’s, Alma Halink Nainka’s, barbershop in Gleason, Wisconsin, ca. 1930.

Anthony H. Nainka, (1863-1942).
Born in 1863 in Austria, to Henry Nainka and Henrietta Hudricek Nainka.
Married 19 Apr 1919 to Alma Marie Halink Nainka, (1884-1961). They had met while he was a doctor in Boaz.
He died in 1942.
He is buried in the Gleason Cemetery in Lincoln County, Wisconsin.

Donor: Harold W. Pauls (1925-2008).

Click for the complete record, p001230-24, https://cdm16698.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/rchr/id/22962/rec/1

05/25/2026

Memorial Day Service at Felton Cemetery, Akan Township, Richland County, Wisconsin, 1918. “This group of men were drilled by Judson Cook, left, for the Memorial Day service on May 30, 1918, at the Felton Cemetery. Mr. Judson, a Civil War veteran and a long-time resident and highly honored citizen of the town of Sylvan, taught the group according to the drill manual used in the Civil War days. The guns used by the men were the Springfield model of 1872.

left to right (12):
1. Judson Albert Cook (1845-1928);
2. John Gibson;
3. Aubrey Ethan Cook (1890-1918);
4. Marion Bailey;
5. Orville Chitwood, (1883-1956);
6. Edwin Alderman, (1885-1945);
7. Glen Fowell;
8. Ray Cook;
9. Ivan Gibson;
10. Perry Jacob Hoffman, (1884-1956);
11. Gaius Queen ‘Gay’ Waller, (1891-1940);
12. Fay Gibson;

05/24/2026

Alma Nainka, Richland County, Wisconsin, ca. 1930.

Alma Marie Halink Nainka, (1884-1961).
Born 19 Apr 1884 in Richland County, Wisconsin to Wilhelm/William Halink (1856-1945) and Matilda Henrietta Herlitz Halink (1860-1896).
Siblings include Emil Valkmar Halink (1882-1883), Anna Amanda Henrietta Halink Groh McConvill (1885-1963), male Halink (1887-1888), Christopher Adolph Halink Pauls (1889-1933), Arthur Carl Halink Jones (1890-1951), Noah Frederick Halink Thorton (1891-1906), Sarah Louise Charlotte Halink Brewer Chandler (1893-1981), Louis Anton Halink (1900-1940), John J. 'Jack' Halink (1902-1986), and Julia Remeda Halink Fry (1906-1993).
Married in 1920 to Dr. Anthony H. Nainka (1863-1942). They had met while he was a doctor in Boaz.
She operated a barber shop in Gleason, Wisconsin.
Died 28 Oct 1961 at age 77.
Buried in the Gleason Cemetery in Lincoln County, Wisconsin.

Donor: Harold W. Pauls (1925-2008).

Click for the complete record, p001230-23, https://cdm16698.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/rchr/id/22957/rec/1

05/23/2026

St. Anthony’s Church, County Highway V, Germantown, Westford Township, Richland County, Wisconsin, ca. 1996.

From Saint Anthony de Padua, One Hundred and Twenty-Fifth Anniversary 1857-1982:
The history of St. Anthony’s Parish began with the celebration of the first Mass on Easter Sunday morning, April 12, 1857, in the home of John Bernaman. The parish was placed under the patronage of St. Anthony de Padua in 1858 by a visiting missionary priest, Father F.H. Weinhart. The dreams of the early settlers were not realized until 1864, when a church was built. A new church was built in 1884. In 1930, extensive reconstruction and remodeling plans for the church building were put into operation. A basement was added, a new brick veneer was laid over the exterior of the building, the sanctuary was enlarged and new furnishings were placed throughout the church. In 1936, the church was redecorated and modern electrical fixtures were installed, as well as new altars and tabernacle. Father Daniels arranged the purchase of our present organ – a theater organ from Council Bluffs, Iowa. The copper bell tower, overlooking the countryside, was constructed exactly as Father Daniels had designed it. His appreciation of fine religious art is evident in the Stations of the Cross he had installed and in the lovely Christmas Crib Scene.

Donor: Andrew Cockroft, 1996.

Click for the complete record, p001249-01, https://cdm16698.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/rchr/id/22951/rec/1

05/22/2026

Alma Nainka standing next to a fir tree, Richland County, Wisconsin, ca. 1930.

Alma Marie Halink Nainka, (1884-1961).
Born 19 Apr 1884 in Richland County, Wisconsin to Wilhelm/William Halink (1856-1945) and Matilda Henrietta Herlitz Halink (1860-1896).
Siblings include Emil Valkmar Halink (1882-1883), Anna Amanda Henrietta Halink Groh McConvill (1885-1963), male Halink (1887-1888), Christopher Adolph Halink Pauls (1889-1933), Arthur Carl Halink Jones (1890-1951), Noah Frederick Halink Thorton (1891-1906), Sarah Louise Charlotte Halink Brewer Chandler (1893-1981), Louis Anton Halink (1900-1940), John J. 'Jack' Halink (1902-1986), and Julia Remeda Halink Fry (1906-1993).
Married in 1920 to Dr. Anthony H. Nainka (1863-1942).
She operated a barber shop in Gleason, Wisconsin.
Died 28 Oct 1961 at age 77.
Buried in the Gleason Cemetery in Lincoln County, Wisconsin.

Donor: Harold W. Pauls (1925-2008).

Click for the complete record, p001230-22, https://cdm16698.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/rchr/id/22931/rec/1

Address

325 N Central Avenue
Richland Center, WI
53581

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 4pm
Wednesday	9am - 4pm
Friday	9am - 4pm

Telephone

+16086476033

Website

http://richlandhistory.org/

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