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Little Chicago, Village of

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For more information on this location, please contact our research library.

Author:
Mary Moltzan

Location:
T. 30 N. - R. 6 E., Sec. 30 and 31 & T. 30 N. - R. 5 E., Sec. 25 and 36, Townships of Berlin and Hamburg

Founded:
1840s

Background:

Little Chicago dates back to the 1840s and the logging era.  By the 1870s, most of the town's lumberjacks and early English settlers had moved on and were replaced by German immigrants. 

This unincorporated village was once called "Ziegler". According to one source, Little Chicago was once called Ziegler after George Ziegler, an early and prominent settler who made clocks, birdhouses and plaques with such inscriptions as "What Is Home Without A Mother".  There are various stories as to how it became named Little Chicago.

Post Office Established:
October 6, 1891

First Postmaster:
Frank Gere

About The Post Office:

P. O. located in NW 1/4 Section 31, R. 6 E. was discontinued on March 31, 1905 with service from Marathon.  It was once called Ziegler.

Churches:

See Town of Berlin.

Schools:

See Town of Berlin.

Business:

Little Chicago eventually grew to include a blacksmith shop, two stores, two taverns, shoe repair shop and hardware store.

Industry:

Sawmill

Grist mill

Creamery

Two cheese factories

Cheese box factory

Stories:

Little Chicago is said to have been named by a lumberjack enjoying the night life at the Huehnerfuss Bar according to one story.