History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 103

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge
Publication date: 1922
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1767

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Arthur N. Hudson, an esteemed and respected resident of Section 1, Prairie Farm Township, was born in Rock County, this state, Feb. 25, 1851, the son of William and Irene (Randall) Hudson, both long since deceased. He received his schooling in his native county, and early became a mason and carpenter. In 1877 he went from Rock County to Pierce County, also in this state, where he continued in the same line. It was in 1882 that he came to Barron County and purchased 40 acres in Section 1, all wild land. He built a set of log buildings, and started clearing the land. The buildings were swept away in a great fire, but undaunted by this disaster, he built a better set. He now has a good little place with about 20 acres under cultivation. He carries on general farming and dairying and has met with a fair degree of success. In addition to developing his own place he has cleared about 200 acres for others in the neighborhood. Mr. Hudson was married May 12, 1878 to Julia Hudson, who was born at Martell, Pierce County, Wis., in 1861, the daughter of Josiah K. and Samanthy (Warner) Hudson, both now deceased, and died July 3, 1915. Mr. and Mrs. Hudson had twelve children. Samanthy was born Dec. 5, 1879, and is the wife of Levi Vance, of Washington state.

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Claude was born June 14, 1881. Ida was born May 3, 1883, and is the wife of Almon Post, of Washington state. William was born in 1885, and is now in Idaho. Lillian was born in 1887 and died in 1902. George was born in August, 1889, and is now in Eau Claire, Wis. Elsie was born June 23, 1891, and is the wife of Ed. Johnson, of Prairie Farm Township. Elijah was born July 22, 1894. Bennie was born July 19, 1896. Myrtle was born May 5, 1898, and is the wife of James Peterson, of Barron. Rosetta was born June 2, 1900, and is at home keeping house for her father. Henry was born in March, 1902, and died in infancy.

Carl August Roemhild, veteran of the Civil War and early settler of Prairie Farm Township, was born in Saxony, Germany, Sept. 7, 1839, the son of John George and Christliebe (Bachman) Roemhild, who brought the family, consisting of four children, Carl August, Casper, Christina and Louisa, to the United States in 1858, and located in Dane County, Wis., later moving to Dunn County, where the parents spent the remainder of their days. Carl August was educated in Germany, and came to this state with his parents. For a while he worked on the Brigham farm in Dane County, situated on the old military trail from Milwaukee to Prairie du Chien, and said to be the oldest farm in Wisconsin. From Dane County he enlisted, in 1864, in Co. I, 42nd Wis. Vol. Inf., and served until the close of the war, by reason of which service, the August Roemhild Post, No. 234, G. A. R., of Prairie Farm, is named in his honor. Upon his return from the army he resumed farm work. In 1867 he selected a homestead of 160 acres in Section 34, Prairie Farm Township. He drove here in an ox team, through the woods, and across rivers, bringing his wife and three children, George, Jacob and Frank N., and a few household furnishings, together with such implements as he needed to start farming. While he was building a log house they lived in a covered wagon in which they had made the trip. With this beginning he started to clear a farm in the wilderness. At first he had but little to do with. Most of the furniture for the house was made on the home place. The wife spun yarn to knit socks, caps and mittens for the family. The best trading point was at Menomonie, many miles away, and necessitating a long and even hazardous trip through the wilderness. For a number of years, Mr. Roemhild worked in the lumber woods in the winter time in order to get money to keep things going. He was a good citizen, and foresaw that churches, schools and highways were necessary if this region was to develop as an agricultural country. He consequently took a deep interest in getting highways cut through, he helped to establish a school, and he did much toward the starting of the Evangelical Church, opening his home to early meetings, and holding various offices after the church was built. In the meantime he was busy developing his farm. He added 160 acres more to his farm, cleared and fenced quite a little of it, and successfully carried on general farming operations. He put up a good frame house, and was build- ing a barn at the time of his death. He died Feb. 13, 1883, and his death was sincerely mourned. He had done the town good service as a supervisor, the school district good service as a member of the school board, and the com- munity at large good service as a capable and conscientious man. Mr. Roemhild was married at Blue Mound, Dane County, Wis., in 1858, to Eva Mueller, who was born in Germany, March 20, 1841, and came to America with relatives at the age of thirteen, the voyage aboard the sailing boat taking fourteen weeks. She died March 17, 1915. In addition to the three children mentioned, five, Charles Henry, Louisa, Anna, Lena and Eva, were born in Prairie Farm Township.

Frank N. Roemhild, successful agriculturist and former educator; proprietor of the flourishing Oakdale Dairy Farm, of Prairie Farm Township; chairman of the town and member of the county board; president of the Prairie Farm Telephone Co. which he assisted in organizing; president of the Oak Grove Insurance Co .; former secretary of the Prairie Farm Co-operative

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MR. AND MRS. CARL A. ROEMHILD FRANK N. ROEMHILD AND FAMILY

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Creamery, which he helped to organize, and for many years superintendent of the Sunday School of the Evangelical Association Church, is one of the lead- ing men of this part of the county. He is a native of this state, born in Dane County, Sept. 16, 1866, the son of Carl August and Eva (Mueller) Roemhild, the pioneers. He was brought to this county in 1867, and was here reared to farm pursuits. He attended the district school established by his father and also studied and read privately, thus acquiring an unusually good education. He was still a youth when he started teaching school, and he thereafter con- tinued in this profession seventeen years in the rural schools of the county and one year in the city schools of Barron. In the meantime he continued to farm summers. After his father's death, Frank N. and his brother, Charles Henry, continued to operate the farm until 1900, when each purchased 160 acres. The subject of this sketch has developed a model place. He has a pleasant home, a barn 32 by 70 feet, with full basement, a silo, 14 by 32 feet, and other suitable buildings. The buildings are illuminated with acetylene lights. Mr. Roemhild has a fine herd of Jersey cattle, a good drove of Poland- China swine, and some fine horses of the Percheron type. He is a most excellent representative of the modern, intelligent, Wisconsin farmer. As a teacher he had the happy faculty of inspiring his pupils to do their best. As a farmer he manages to get the best out of his place. As an official he is competent and efficient. He is a real leader among his fellow men, every- thing with which he is connected seems to prosper, and he is a useful and valued citizen. He and his wife delight in keeping open house and their home is a hospitable one. Mr. Roemhild was married Dec. 25, 1890, at Prairie Farm to Elizabeth Mueller, who was born in Hesse, Germany, June 4, 1866, and was brought to Prairie Farm Township in 1882 by her parents, Johanes and Maria Mueller. Mr. and Mrs. Roemhild have had four children. Mabel, who for eight years was a successful teacher, is the wife of George Marks, of Appleton, Wis. Clarence is dead. Herbert is attending the Northwestern College at Naperville, Ill. In September, 1918, he enrolled in the S. A. T. C. there. Eva is at home.

Henry Herman Glaser, an enterprising farmer of section 35, Prairie Farm Township, is a native of the township where he now lives, having been born in a log cabin on the home place, June 19, 1886, the son of Fred William and Henrietta (Pashow) Glaser. He was reared here, attended the district school, and learned farming from his father. In January, 1916, he took over the home place of 200 acres and has since continued to operate it. He carries on general farming and dairying, and has some good Holstein cattle, Duroc-Jersey swine, and horses of the Percheron type. He takes pride in the appearance of the farm which has been in the family for so many years and which was his birthplace, and he is one of the prominent men of his community. He is a man of sound sense and good judgment, and is highly regarded by all. Mr. Glaser was married on Oct. 14, 1909 to Angelicia Zuehlke, who was born in Red Cedar Township, Dunn County, July 4, 1889, the daughter of Emil and Mary (Rome) Zuehlke, natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Glaser have four children. Frieda Gertrude is dead. Herbert Edgar Emil, born April 28, 1911; Richard Fred, born Jan. 10, 1914, and Arnold George, born Nov. 21, 1919, are bright boys who are the pride of their parents' hearts, and have the dis- tinction of having been born on the place where their grandparents settled so many years ago, and where their father himself first saw the light of day.

John Deringer, an early settler of Prairie Farm Township, now retired after many years filled with hard work, was born in Switzerland, Feb. 4, 1855, the oldest son of John and Elizabeth (Wirt) Deringer. These good people started for America in 1857, with their three children, John, Elizabeth and Emil. The hardships aboard the ship were many, the trip took seven weeks, and before it was ended, Emil had died and was buried at sea. After disembarking at New York, the family came west and located on a tract of wild land in Buffalo County, this state. That county is one of the oldest in

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western Wisconsin, but even in 1857 much of it was wild. The Deringer family did their trading at Alma and at Fountain City, both on the Mississippi River. As time passed the father and mother built up a good farm on which they spent the remainder of their lives. Two more children, Fred and Otto, were born there. The subject of this sketch was reared in Buffalo County, attended school there, learned farming from his father and helped with the development of the home place. In 1880 he came to Barron County and took a homestead of 80 acres in Section 22, Prairie Farm Township. A small shanty had been built of logs and a few acres had been cleared. He had but little with which to start. His tools consisted of little more than an axe, a hoe and shovel. Most of the furniture was made by himself from trees cut on the place. No roads had been built to his claim, and such supplies and provisions as he needed, he brought in on his back from far away trading points. But he had strength and courage, he had been familiar with pioneer life since early boyhood, and he knew how to set to work to develop a farm in the wilderness. In time his hard work resulted in success. He has im- proved a fine place of 100 acres, well located, well tilled, well fenced and well equipped. The old log shanty was replaced with a comfortable building, and the log stable gave way to a basement barn, 35 by 70 feet, a silo 24 by 18 feet, and other suitable buildings. He christened his place Prairie View Farm, and its sightly appearance testifies to the fidelity with which he has labored and the pride which he has taken in it. In 1915 he sold his place to August and George Marks, who in 1919 sold it to W. V. Keyes, Mr. Deringer's son-in-law. Mr. Deringer has four acres in Section 26, with a pleasant home where he and his wife now live. In connection with carrying on general farming and dairy- ing, Mr. Deringer has for some quarter of a century worked at his trade as a stone mason. He has done much of the mason work for many of the farm buildings in this vicinity. As the father of children, Mr. Deringer has been interested in education and has served on the school board. He has been active in the upbuilding of the Evangelical Church, and has served on its board of trustees. Mr. Deringer was married at Prairie Farm, on Sept. 17, 1881, to Julia Rassbach, the daughter of Casper Rassbach, the pioneer. Mr. and Mrs. Deringer have six children: Otto, William, Henry, Anna, wife of W. V. Keyes; Sadie, wife of Ralph Williams, of Park Falls, Wis., and Lydia, wife of Albert Wahl, of Maple Grove Township.

Emil Muehlhausen, the well-known proprietor of the modern Riverside Farm, Section 33, Prairie Farm Township, and owner of a successful cheese factory just across the line in Sheridan Township, Dunn County, was born in St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minn., Dec. 23, 1866, the son of George and Margaret (Kurschner) Muehlhausen, he, a native of Hesse, Germany, and she, a native of Bavaria, Germany. George Muehlhausen came to this country alone as a boy of twelve, a brave venture indeed for a boy of such tender years. He found his way to St. Paul, where he was identified with the meat business for many years. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted in a company of Mis- souri cavalry and served three years and six months. In middle age he took up farming in Sibley County, Minn. He and his good wife now live in Le Sueur, Le Sueur County, that state. The subject of this sketch worked with his father in the meat business and at farming, in St. Paul and in Sibley County. For a while he was in the meat business at Le Sueur and St. Peter, both in Minnesota. Then for some years he farmed in Sibley County, Minn. From there he came to Clayton, in Polk County, this state, and located on a farm. In 1913 he came to Barron County, and secured a tract of 200 acres in Section 33, Prairie Farm Township, and to this he later added 160 acres across the road. He successfully carries on general farming and dairying on an extensive scale. His herd consists of Holstein cattle and he is a member of the Holstein Breeders' Association. The cheese factory on the place turns out a good prod- uct which finds a ready market. Mr. Muehlhausen believes in everything that is for the best interests of the community, and is doing his share in its devel-

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MR. AND MRS. EMIL MUELHAUSEN

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opment. He is a stockholder in the Prairie Farm Co-operative Association. Mr. Muehlhausen is a fine type of the modern representative Wisconsin farmer. He has a good place, with sightly buildings, well equipped, with well tilled acres, enclosed with well kept fences. His tools, implements and machinery are of the best. He follows scientific methods and keeps well abreast of the times. He is a good citizen, a good farmer and a good business man, and well deserves the measure of success with which he has met. He was married on March 1, 1913, at Le Sueur, Minn., to Emma Grams, who was born in Waseca County, Minn., Nov. 25, 1873, the daughter of Christ and Paulina Grams. This union has been blessed with seven children: Elsie, Silas, Clarence, Erwin, Laura, Lawrence and Ernest. The family faith is that of the German Evan- gelical Church.

Bertel H. Ask, a solid and prudent farmer of Section 17, Prairie Farm Township, was born in Norway, Aug. 18, 1860, and was there reared and edu- cated. In 1882, he came to the United States, and found his way to this county. For several years he worked about on farms. For ten winters he has worked in the woods, and one spring he was on the river drives. In 1882 he bought his present place of 120 acres which was then all wild land. He cut a few trees on the place from time to time and finally built a log cabin. Then, in 1888, he went back to Norway, and on. April 23, 1889, married Johanna Jensen, who was born in that country, Jan. 24, 1858, the daughter of Jens and Cecelia Jensen. Then he brought his bride here and moved into the log cabin. The household equipment was meager. The domestic animals consisted of a yoke of oxen and a cow. Mr. Ask had no machinery and but few tools. But he and his wife have worked hard, and success has crowned their efforts. A pleasant and comfortable frame home has been built over the old log house. A barn, 34 by 70 feet, has also been built, and other buildings have been put up. Mr. Ask successfully carries on general farming and dairying, and is making good progress in life. He is a stockholder in the Prairie Farm Co-operative Cream- ery. Mr. Ask is a good citizen, he is doing his duty in life in every way, and is well regarded by all who know him. He and his wife are faithful adherents of the Norwegian Lutheran Church. Mr. and Mrs. Ask have five children: Mary is the wife of H. R. Anderson, of Madelia, Minn .; Julia is at home; Gulena and Gerda are dead; Jennie is at home.

Albert O. Breen, a prominent official of Prairie Farm Township, has a prosperous farm on Section 3. He is a native of this county, born April 6, 1877, in a pioneer log cabin, built by his father, on Section 32, Arland Town- ship, which was then a part of this township. His parents were Louis J. and Anne (Hilstahagen) Breen, the pioneers. He was reared on the home farm and attended a log schoolhouse in the same section as his birthplace. He learned farming from his father and assisted with the work on the home farm. For seven seasons he worked in the lumber woods, and for three springs on the river drives. For four years, from 1901 to 1904, he was employed in Minne- apolis, by the Twin City Transit Co. In 1905 he located on his present farm of 160 acres. At that time a set of log buildings had been erected, and part of the land cleared. To the development and operation of this place he has since devoted his attention. He has a pleasant, comfortable home, a commodious barn, and other suitable outbuildings. Here he carries on general farming on a successful scale, and has a good herd of Guernsey cattle. His place is well improved, and everything about it bespeaks the care and intelligence that Mr. Breen has devoted to its management. Busy as he has been in developing his farm, he has found considerable time for efficient public service as a good citizen. He has been a member of the town board for a number of years and is still serving with credit and distinction. For several terms he was a useful member of the school board of his district. He is a stockholder in the Prairie Farm Co-operative Association and in the Prairie Farm Co-operative Creamery. He is active in the affairs of the Norwegian Lutheran Church at Prairie Farm and has served as a member of its board. Mr. Breen was married on June 26,

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1905, at Prairie Farm, to Huldah Aaen, who was born in Pierce County, Wis., Feb. 28, 1875, the daughter of Iver M. and Patrina Aaen, natives of Norway, and early settlers in Barron County. Mrs. Breen, a lady of many capabilities, was educated in the common schools and the Chetek High School, and taught school efficiently in Clinton, Arland and Prairie Farm townships. Mr. and Mrs. Breen have four bright children: Irene Louise, Alfred Palmer, Hjelmer Otis and Elizabeth Dagna Mignonette.

Ernest F. Kahl stands high among the leading men of Prairie Farm Town- ship. He has for eight years been vice-president of the Ridgeland Co-opera- tive Creamery, he is a prominent stockholder and has served on the stockhold- ers' auditing committee of the Farmers' State Bank of Ridgeland. He is a shareholder in the Prairie Farm Telephone Co .; the Clark Milling Co., and the Heinrich Chemical Co., of Minneapolis; the Mason Shoe Co., of Chippewa Falls; and the New Richmond Packing Co., of New Richmond. In the Church of the Evangelical Association of Prairie Farm Township, he is an active mem- ber, and is at the head of its missionary work at the present time. He is a liberal contributor to the church support, and is a loyal and faithful member. His farm is an excellent place of 200 acres in Section 36. He has built a fine nine-room farm house, a barn, 36 by 80 feet, with full basement, and other suitable buildings. The place has many improvements, and the equipment in tools, machinery and implements is of the best. Here Mr. Kahl successfully carries on general farming and dairying, and has a good grade of stock and swine and horses. He believes in modern methods and keeps well abreast of the times. In every way he is a most admirable and useful citizen, and he is held in regard and respect by his fellowmen. He was born on Section 26, this township, Sept. 1, 1876, the son of Frederick and Christena (Mueller) Kahl, the pioneers. He was reared on the home farm, and attended the district school of the neighborhood, and spent one year in the University of Wiscon- sin. He learned farming from his father, and as a young man, was employed for several seasons in the lumber woods. In 1899 he secured his present place in Section 36. At that time it was mostly wild. Some of the wood had been chopped off, but only a little of the land had been broken. With such a be- ginning, he has built up his present fertile and profitable farm. In 1916 he installed the Delco lighting system, which furnishes light for his house, barn and other buildings. Mr. Kahl was married in November, 1894, to Christina Rassbach, who was born in Prairie Farm Township in 1877, the daughter of Conrad Rassbach, the pioneer. She died in 1901, leaving three children: Helen, wife of Rev. R. A. Bushweiler, of the Evangelical Association Church; Herbert, a traveling salesman; and Perry, a mail carrier out of Dallas. On Dec. 17, 1903, Mr. Kahl married Anna Jordan, who was born in Fond du Lac County, this state, July 20, 1880, the daughter of Theodore and Fredericka (Stellzman) Jordan, of Byron, Wis., and sister of Rev. H. P. Jordan of Apple- ton, Wis. To this union have been born five children: Harold, Stanley, Tru- man, Hazel and Arthur, who is deceased.

Ed. Johnson, a representative farmer of Section 10, Prairie Farm Town- ship, was born on the place where he now lives, July 1, 1877, and has always lived here, now owning 80 acres of the farm that has been in the family for more than fifty years. His parents were Samuel and Eliza (Stena) Johnson, the pioneers. He attended the district school of the neighborhood, learned farming from his father, and as a youth helped to develop the home place. He became its owner in 1918. The farm is a well-improved one, and here he successfully carries on general farming and dairying. He is well liked through- out the community, he is a good farmer and a good citizen, and he stands well with all who know him. Already he has got a good start in life, and is still forging ahead. He was married in Dallas Township in August, 1916, to Elsie Hudson, who was born in New Centerville, Wis., on June 23, 1892, the daughter of Arthur and Julia Hudson, of Prairie Farm Township. Mr. and Mrs. John-

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MR. AND MRS. AMUND AMUNDSON

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son have had three children: Josselyn Rosetta, Gerhardt, who is deceased, and Junetta.

Samuel Johnson, a pioneer of Prairie Farm Township, now living retired on his farm in Section 10, which he has occupied for considerably over fifty years. He was born in Sweden, Nov. 11, 1843, and was there reared and at- tended school. April 15, 1866, he married Eliza Stena, the daughter of a neigh- bor. That year the young couple came to the United States. They lived a year in Peshtigo, Marinette County, Wisconsin, and a year in Menomonie, Dunn County, Wisconsin. Then they came to Barron County and homesteaded 160 acres of wild land in Section 10, Prairie Farm Township. There were then but few settlers in the Township. Times were hard, money was scarce, and there was but little with which to establish a home and get a farm started. For a time in order to eke out the family funds, Mr. Johnson worked winters in the woods for Knapp, Stout & Co. When he first came here there were no roads except the tote roads of the lumber companies. Journeys to trading points had to be made afoot through the woods. Fortunately, however, the Knapp, Stout & Co. people had a small store at Prairie Farm Village, and by walking there, Mr. Johnson was able to get flour and salt, which he had to bring to his little cabin on his back. But he and his wife were determined to succeed, and were willing to endure hardship that future prosperity might come. So they toiled away, and gradually developed a good farm, with a sightly set of buildings and adequate equipment. Mrs. Johnson was a faithful help- mate, and the children also had their share in the upbuilding of the place. Mrs. Johnson died Feb. 25, 1915. In the family there were seven children, five girls and two boys. Richard operates 80 acres of the home farm in Prairie Farm Township. Ed. owns the other 80 acres. The daughters are: Ama, wife of John Swanson, of Marshville, Wash .; Amanda first and Amanda second, both of whom are deceased; Gertine, wife of Charlie Peterson, of Prairie Farm Town- ship; and Alma, wife of Milo Whitman of Hillsdale.

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 103

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1767

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge
Publication date: 1922
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1767