History:

The city of Neillsville was founded by James O' Neill, Sr.  He first came to the area in 1844, looking for a site to establish a sawmill within the virgin white pine forest along the Black River.

Traveling up the Black River, O'Neill found the mouth of a creek and after going up-stream for a short distance, built a sawmill upon one of its banks.  The creek now bears his name "O'Neill."

Neillsville was platted in 1855 by O'Neill, and named in his honor.  The previous year, 1854, the location of the Clark County seat was voted upon to be either in Weston Rapids, a village three miles north, or Neillsville... and the results of the vote determined Neillsville as the county seat.

At that time, O'Neill's residence and sawmill, along with Samuel Ferguson's Bachelors' hall and blacksmith shop, were the only buildings to be seen on the four acres appropriated for village purposes.

Soon after O'Neill acted in establishing the village, the news about the new community spread and settlers began to arrive, purchasing lots, starting businesses, building homes and making other improvements.

The Vast pineries along the Black River lured the lumber barons seeking their fortunes.  They harvested the great white pine trees and put the logs into the Black River to be carried, unfettered, downstream on the river's high waters.  Reaching the mouths of the rivers below, the logs were caught in the "booms" or harbors provided by the consignees, held and then marketed into lumber.

The logging days of the late 1860's and 1870's were prosperous ones for Neillsville. In 1882, Neillsville was chartered as a city.  It was the second city in Wisconsin to have electricity, made possible by the investment of two or three of the city's businessmen.