A Standard History of Waupaca County, Wisconsin. An Authentic Narrative of the Past, with Particular Attention to the Modern Era in the Commercial, Industrial, Educational, Civic and Social Development.

              HISTORY OP WAUPACA COUNTY 337
Churches and Societies
The Methodists and Lutherans have organizations in Iola. The first religious organization was the Aiethodist Episcopal Church, founded in 1858, Reverend Alcott being the first settled pastor. Their church building was erected in 1880.
Both the United Lutherans and the Synod Lutherans have organiza¬ tions which have existed for a number of years.
The village also supports a number of lodges, the Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America being the strongest. The Odd Fellows' Lodge w^as organized in 1878, erected a new hall in 1891 and has a mem¬ bership of over fifty.
The School and Ne^vspaper
Iola has a good high and graded school, of w^hich the principal is J. F. Barber. The enrollment is 245, and the pupils are housed in a convenient two-story brick building, neat and substantial in appearance.
The Iola Herald was established in November, 1891, by P. H. John¬ ston, and Charles E. AlcCullough succeeded him in 1893. In the follow¬ ing year it was leased by the Post Publishing Company of Waupaca, with B. L. Bierce as local manager. Mr. Bierce purchased the paper in 1895, and after two years he sold a half interest to a Mr. Benedict, the firm thus becoming Bierce & Benedict. In tiie spring of 1897 Mr. Bierce's interest w^as disposed of to C. E. Worby, the firm then being Benedict & Worby. Mr. Worby later absorbed his partner's interest and soon sold the business to Hugh E. Jones. After a short time Air. Jones disposed of the paper to a German Lutheran clergyman, who, being a non-resident, employed Mr. Worby as local manager. In a real estate deal the plant and paper were, in the early part of 1902, traded to the late Fire Chief Foley, of Alilwaukee, who sold almost immediately to the Herald Publishing Company, which had been incorporated by H. J. Severson, Edward Chapin and Prank Black. Within the coming year the plant was managed successively by Alessrs. Worby and Bierce, the latter resigning in the summer of 1903, and J. E. Ziller, of Eau Claire, succeeding him. After three years Mr. Bierce again assumed the editorial management, but resigned in July, 1910, and within the succeeding three years was followed by William Gannett, AA^illiam P. Daley and AVilliam Moeschler. Mr. Aloeschler died in April, 1913; in the follow¬ ing month Mr. Bierce returned and continued in charge until July, 1916, and he was succeeded in November of that year by L. A. Drown.