Poet Emily Dickinson once wrote, “Such good things can happen to people who learn to remember.” That quote seems fitting for a story about a swinging horse, a carpenter from Cuba City, Wisconsin, and family connections in Melrose and Hazel Green, Wisconsin.
Mary Murray Woods is the historian in the Black River Falls, WI Public Library-Jackson County History Room and enjoys finding answers to questions that she has stored in her “someday to research memory bank.” So began the search for where Prince came from, the swinging horse in the basement of the home where she grew up. She knew a few details but wanted more.
Woods, now 73, remembers spending time in the basement riding on Prince, the four-foot swinging horse, as do her other siblings. Her younger sister, Jan, recalls going to the basement, sitting on the horse that really didn’t have a seat to sit on, but comfort was made by someone tying several feed sacks around two thin boards. Jan, being the youngest of the siblings, has the best memories of riding Prince. She recalls going to the basement, and swinging away, when her mother did laundry! She also recalls sharing Prince with her school friends. The simple joys of friendships.
Mary remembers her dad, William Murray, mentioning something about a connection with Prince and the Lovells in Hazel Green. The Lovells’ mother, Agnes, was a sister to William. She married Gene Lovell and the family lived in Cuba City in the late 1940’s where Gene worked at the local creamery and for Oris Lester, who moved houses.
This summer, Mary, Jan, and their two other sisters, Margaret and Arlyce, went to visit their cousins in the Hazel Green area. Mary was on a mission to find out if anyone knew about Prince. Yes, memories are a good thing.
The sisters first visited their cousin, Jack Lovell in Dubuque, Iowa. At the age of 86, Jack recalled the name of Clemens as the builder of the swinging horse. It was just what Mary was searching for. Next, was a visit to Gary Lovell, 89, of Belmont. Given the last name, Gary stated that Mr. Clemens had an unusual first name and knew it began with a C. He stated he recognized him when he saw him, but never knew him personally. As the conversation moved forward, Mary went to Find a Grave and found that a Cortland C. Clemens, who died June 9, 1953, is buried in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Cuba City. When asked if that would be the person of interest, Gary smiled and said, “I believe so.” The obituary for Cortland C. Clemens stated he was engaged in farming and retired in 1947. No mention was made about his carpentry skills.
As to how Prince made it all the way from Cuba City to Melrose is somewhat of a mystery, but Gary and Jack both believed that their older brother, Tom Lovell, (1931-1979) may have worked for Cortland on his farm. Tom also spent several summers at the Murray farm, helping out his uncles, William, Lloyd, and Leonard. The thought is that Tom brought Prince to the Murrays for all of his younger cousins to enjoy… and that they did for years! Gary added that he remembered the swinging horses selling for about five dollars. Mary did check the paper serving the Cuba City area at the time looking for advertisements about the horses being for sale, but none were found. Word-of-mouth was, no doubt, all the advertising needed.
After returning home, Mary went to check out Prince, and to her surprise, on the side board was stamped Manufactured by C.C. Clemens, Cuba City, WIS. To the right, Patent Pending. The story was now coming together. However, there was more to be discovered.
Prince was taken down from his place at the Murray farm and given to Jan who has plans to give him a new home. Jan and Mary did some careful cleaning of Prince, who is well over 70 years old but in excellent condition. The seat was dismantled and, to their surprise, there were two feed sacks; one Northern Master Alfalfa Seeds and the other Doughboy Feeds! Inside the Alfalfa bag was a tag from the La Crosse Seed Company, La Crosse, Wisconsin, noting that the seed was tested in May 1956. Perhaps the first seat wore out and a new one put into place by Mary’s dad.
Mary did research several other resources seeking more information about Cortland Clemens; however nothing could be found. She also checked to see if he ever received the pending patent; again, nothing was found. Her cousin, Mike Lovell of Hazel Green, has also asked about Cortland and his swinging horse business in the Cuba City area, but so far no memories have surfaced.
Mary is asking that if anyone has information regarding Cortland Clemens and his swinging horse business to contact her at the Black River Falls Public Library-Jackson County History Room, 222 Fillmore Street, Black River Falls, WI 54615 or email her at m.woods@wrls.org or call 715-284-4112 #3.
Childhood memories live on in a horse by the name of Prince!
