The year 2003 marks the 150th anniversary of the formation of Polk county. A celebration of that historical milestone will be Saturday Aug. 23, at the Polk County Fairgrounds in St. Croix Falls, complete with food, demonstrations, and numerous displays from bygone years.
Following is one of several short stories on the county's history that will be published between now and the celebration. This article, by Algene Carrier, was found in "Polk County Memories," published by the Polk County Historical Society in 1978.
The article has recently (April 2, 2003) been re-published by the "Osceola Sun" newspaper.
James Schow came to Polk County in the early 1900s and started the first bank in Luck. Many residents thought if he had stuck to banking both the town and the banker would have prospered. Many thought that goats were the beginning of the end for Schow in Luck.
Schow bought 65 acres of pine stumps and brush at the northwest corner of Big Butternut with the idea of farming. He decided that the best way to get rid of the thick brush was to buy a heard of brush goats. No one told the goats this and the goats decided that the grazing was better uptown and spent their time eating on lowns and flower gardens.
The banker went to great expense to put up a seven-foot fence to confine the goats to their own territory. The fence did not contain the goats. It seems the goats jumped onto the pine stumps and then over the fence.
His next move was to have all the stumps removed. This was also extremely expensive and the explosions and flying stumps were equally annoying to his neighbors. This plan also fell through and the goats still managed to escape.
Schow gave up on the goats and they wandered all over town bumming tobacco, eating pansies and annoying residents.
James Schow and his family moved to arizona in 1913.
Volunteers are needed to make the county's 150th anniversary a success. Anyone who would like to be involved is encouraged to call Darrell Kittleson, (715) 483-3979