History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 104

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

USA > Wisconsin > Barron County > History of Barron County Wisconsin > Part 104

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Amund Amundsen, a worthy citizen, now deceased, for many years a resi- dent of Section 32, Prairie Farm Township, was an early settler of both Wis- consin and Minnesota. He was born in Norway, Dec. 5, 1824, and was there reared, attended school, and grew to manhood. In 1850 he set out for America, the voyage on a sailing boat taking over eleven weeks. He came to Janesville, Rock County, Wisconsin, then the end of the railroad, and from there found his way into Dane County, where for some years he was employed at farm labor. In 1860 he settled in Fillmore County, Minnesota, and lived there, doing farm work, during the stirring days of the Civil War and of the Sioux Indian Outbreak. Like the other settlers, he fled to town when the news came that the Indians were slaughtering the settlers in the western part of the state and sweeping eastward. Having mastered the manual of arms in Norway, he helped to drill many volunteers from his county. He himself was drafted, and presented himself at Rochester, but it was found that his name had been confused with another and he was not mustered into service. Fillmore County had been settled early, the wild land was well taken, so after a while Mr. Amundsen, for the sake of his children, decided to settle in a newer region. He arrived in Barron County, Oct. 12, 1872, and here his son, Mathias, home- steaded 160 acres of wild land in Section 32, Prairie Farm Township. There the family lived together and developed a good place. They moved into a log cabin built by the original claimant, Alonzo Forward, and started farming with a yoke of oxen and five or six cows. After a long and useful life, Mr. Amund- sen died Oct. 23, 1914. His good wife died Dec. 10, 1905. Mr. Amundsen was married at Madison, Wis., in 1851 to Osa Christianson, who was born in Nor- way, Dec. 9, 1829. This union has been blessed with eight children: Mathias, Andrew (deceased), Peter (deceased), Christ, Alfred, Sophia (of Minneapolis), Martha (wife of Paul Vance, of Dane County), and Ellen (deceased). The family name has now been modified in spelling to Amundson.

Mathias, Christ and Albert Amundson, known as the Amundson Brothers,

Digitized by Google

618

HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

are among the most honored and respected men of the community. They have lived here nearly fifty years, they have seen the region grow from a wilder- ness, they have known the leaders in county affairs, and have themselves taken their share in its progress and development. The three men are the sons of Amund and Osa (Christianson) Amundsen, the name having been modified to its present spelling. Mathias was born in Dane County, Wis., June 1, 1852. Christ was born in Fillmore County, Minn., Feb. 16, 1860. Albert was born in Fillmore County, Minn., Sept. 17, 1866. Mathias was nearly twenty-one when he came to Barron County, with his family, and it was he in whose name the homestead in Section 32, Prairie Farm Township, was secured. Christ, who was twelve, and Albert who was six, when the family came, attended school here for a while. All the boys helped with the development of the land. They cleared up the place, erected a good set of buildings, and successfully carried on general farming. In 1903 the home- stead was sold to Thorsa Olson, eleven acres being reserved for the family, where they live.

Frederick Kahl, a pioneer of Prairie Farm Township, is one of the best known men in this region, and had an active part in the events of the township in the days when the county was just beginning to develop from a wilderness. He was born in Prussia, Germany, son of Johaken and Sophia (Bovholtz) Kahl, who were small farmers of that country. In the family there were five children, Frederick, John, William, August and Sophia, and of these, two, Frederick and Sophia, now the wife of Fred Fisher, of Menomonie, came to the United States. Frederick attended school in Germany, and as a youth learned the mason's trade. In 1869 he came to the United States, landed at New York, and found his way to Menomonie, in Dunn County, this state, where he entered the employ of Knapp, Stout & Co., and was sent by them to Barron County, where he was employed for some years driving a lumber team under the direction of John Quaderer. During this time he bought the rights in 160 acres of land on Sheridan Prairie, Dunn County, but soon afterward sold that property. After his marriage in 1874, he and his wife conducted John Quaderer's boarding house on the present site of Barron for a year. Then they moved onto a homestead in Section 4, Prairie Farm Township, upon which he had filed as early as July, 1869. Here he built a log cabin, 14 by 16 feet and lived in it long enough to prove up on the homestead. Some time later he sold this homestead. In the meantime, in the fall of 1875, after having lived on the homestead during the summer, he purchased a tract of 160 acres in Section 26, in the same township. A log house, log stable and log granary had been erected, and some nine acres had been cleared. Here he started farming with an ox team, four cows, two head of young stock, 150 bushels of grain, and a few tools. As prosperity increased he put up a good set of buildings and developed a good farm. By judicious purchases he added to his holdings, until he owned half a section of land, but he has sold some, so that he now owns 148 acres. He successfully carries on general farming and dairying, and is one of the prosperous men of the community. He has a fine herd of high grade Guernseys with a pure blooded sire, and is a member of the Guernsey club. His swine are full blooded Poland-Chinas, and his horses are of the Percheron breed. He is a believer in everything that will build up the community. He helped to start a cheese factory over the line in Dunn County in the early days and one in Prairie Farm Township, and he was also instrumental in starting the Farmers' Co-operative Creamery at Prairie Farm Village, of which he was president for four years. He was active in starting the Bloomer Store Co. and is now one of its directors. He likewise helped to get the Evangelical congregation at Prairie Farm started. He was prominent in it in the days when meetings were held in his home and in the school house, he helped to build the church, and he has served in a number of its offices. In public life he has served on the town board and on the school board, with credit to himself, and to the satisfaction of his fellow

Digitized by Google

619

HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

citizens. Mr. Kahl was married at Menomonie, Sept. 24, 1874, to Christena Muller, who was born in Germany, March 11, 1850, and came to America in 1871. This union has been blessed with five children: Otto, who is farming in this township; Ernest F., who is farming in this township; Mary, who is the wife of Rev. W. W. Kreger, of Arcadia, Wis .; Edward, who operates the home farm with his father, and Lydia, who is the wife of Fred Jordan, of Prairie Farm Township. In 1908 Mr. Kahl built a modern residence of eight rooms and in 1917 installed the Delco system of electric lights, which furnishes light for his two houses, barns, granary and yard.

George N. Buck, head of the Prairie Farm Ginseng Gardens, owner of the prosperous Hope Mound Stock Farm in Section 21, Prairie Farm Township, and a widely known citizen whose enterprise has done much to advertise Barron County throughout the country, was born in Adams County, Ill., Sept. 21, 1852, the son of Thomas H. and Elizabeth (Posten) Buck. These good people were natives respectively of New York State and Virginia, he being descended from English and she from German stock. They lived in Ohio, and then in Illinois, and from there came to Wisconsin in 1864, and settled near Diamond Bluff, Pierce County, where they developed a home in the wilderness and became leading citizens of the community in which they lived. He died there at the age of 56, and she continued to live there for many years there- after and died at the age of 72 years. George N. was twelve years old when the family came to Wisconsin. He attended the village school of Diamond Bluff, and learned farming from his parents. For many years as a young man he was engaged in the sawmill business in Pierce county. In 1897 he came to Barron County, and secured 80 acres of wild land at what is now the little hamlet of Reeve, in Vance Creek Township. He built a frame house and a log barn, and started to establish a home and a farm. The county had then been settled for many years, it was already well developed in many places, and had many flourishing villages, but the particular locality where Mr. Buck settled was still in its primitive condition, and the place where he settled was off from any road. Clear Lake, ten miles away, was the trading point. Nine years Mr. Buck faithfully devoted to the operation and development of this place. He was respected and esteemed by his neighbors, and was elected to township and school offices. In 1906 he sold out and purchased his present place of 80 acres in Section 21, Prairie Farm Township. About 30 acres had been cleared, and a small house and a hay shed, with a lean-to for a stable, had been built. Mr. Buck set to work with a will to develop this place. He has erected a fine set of buildings and improved the land, and has given the place the pretty and appropriate name of the Oak Mound Stock Farm. He has served on the township board and the village board, and is a man of influence and importance in the community. Mr. Buck was married in the fall of 1880, at Wahpeton, N. D., to Ida Baker, then of Pierce County, Wis., who was born near the banks of the Mississippi, at Prairie Island, Dakota County, Minn., July 3, 1863, the daughter of Delos and Caroline (Ellis) Baker. Her father was of Swiss-English and her mother of Scotch-English descent. Delos Baker was a veteran of the Civil War. Mr. and Mrs. Buck have eight children, the first five of whom were born in Pierce County and the last three in Barron County. Another daughter, Myrtle, is deceased. The living are Charles, Car- rie, Harry, Howard, Ethel, Edith, William and Blanche. Carrie is the wife of Elmer Hanson of Maple Grove Township. Ethel married Charles Daniels of Clear Lake. Mr. Buck has rented the farm to his son, Howard, and now lives retired in the village of Prairie Farm. Howard married Pearl Downs of Prairie Farm Township, daughter of Maxwell T. Downs. Howard enlisted for service in the World War from Rice Lake, on July 18, 1917, becoming a member of Company F, 6th Wisconsin Regiment. He went to Camp Douglas, and then to Camp McArthur in Texas, where he trained and was assigned to Company K, 128th Infantry, 32nd Division. He sailed for overseas March 4, 1918, landed at Liverpool, and later in France, and took part with his division in the fighting

Digitized by Google

620

HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

at Chateau Thierry, the Argonne and at Soissons. Later he was in the army of occupation on the Rhine. On his return he landed in the United States May 5, 1919, and was discharged at Camp Grant, May 18, 1919.

The Prairie Farm Ginseng Gardens, owned and operated by George M. Buck, and his sons, Harry and Howard, in Section 21, Prairie Farm Town- ship, are known throughout the United States, an acre and three quarters of land being devoted to the growing of ginseng and golden seal. Mr. Buck started in this business in 1906. He made an investment of $1,200 and put in a quarter of an acre. The result at first was discouraging. But he got in touch with the experiment farm connected with the University of Wisconsin, sent them samples of his roots, eradicated the blights, and started on the road to success. The two sons were admitted to partnership and the gardens in time became widely famed. The gardens are not only the leading ones of their kind in the county, but also in the entire region. Mr. Buck is always willing to help others, and he is regarded as a national authority on ginseng and golden seal culture.

John P. Carlson, now deceased, farmer and bee fancier of Section 18, Prairie Farm Township, was probably as well liked a man as has ever lived in this community. He was a man of unswerving uprightness of character, of genial temperament, and friendly disposition, always ready to lend his aid, his influence and encouragement to a friend or to a good cause. As a farmer he was successful, and as an apiarist he became known as the "Bee King" of Barron County. He was born in Halmstad, Sweden, on the banks of the Cattegat, Nov. 30, 1848, son of Magnus and Anna (Martinson) Carlson, the former of whom was a shoemaker and farmer. The other children in the family were: Peter, now deceased; Erick, formerly of Wilcox, Penn., but now deceased; Anna, the wife of John Alstad, of Erie, Penn., and Pernell, who died in Sweden. The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in Sweden, and there learned the blacksmith's trade. In 1871 he came to America, and located at Wilcox, Penn., where he operated a blacksmith shop for two years. In 1873 he went to Ridgeway, in the same state, and established a bottling plant. He built up an extensive business, and became a suc- cessful and prosperous business man. In 1883 he returned to his native land for a visit. The next year he came back to the States and located at St. Paul. From there he looked over several localities in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and finally decided that Barron County was an ideal spot for his future activities. Accordingly he bought a tract of 80 acres in Section 18, Prairie Farm Town- ship, the original homestead of John Selvig. A log cabin had been built and a little of the tract cleared. Mr. Carlson moved his bride into the one-roomed cabin, and started farming with a yoke of oxen and two cows. As time passed he developed a model farm. He put up a good set of buildings, added sixty acres to the place, improved the land, put up fences, planted trees, and purchased suitable equipment. Being a man of close observation, he early saw the possibilities of this region as a bee country. He therefore began keeping them, and gradually increased this industry until he was regarded as the leading bee man in this region. He not only made a great success himself, but encouraged others along the same lines. His family is now carrying on his work. After a useful life fraught with much service to his fellow man, Mr. Carlson died, Jan. 30, 1917, and his death was a distinct loss to the community. Mr. Carlson was an excellent type of citizen. He was self educated, but by wide reading had acquired a unusually broad knowledge of men and events. He was a man of large vision, given to looking ahead. He believed that everything worth doing was worth doing well. He realized thoroughly that the object of his generation in a new country was not so much to win transient success for itself, but to lay the foundation for the prosperity and welfare of the future generations, and his thoughts were ever toward building this foundation well. He was a loving husband, an under- standing father, a model citizen, a loyal friend and a helpful neighbor. Mr.

Digitized by Google

JOHN P. CARLSON

Digitized by Google

Digitized by

Google

621

HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

Carlson was married at St. Paul, Minn., Aug. 11, 1884, to Neta Strandberg, who was born in Sweden, April 27, 1857. There was an interesting romance connected with their wooing. He met her while on his visit to his native land, and she came to America on the same steamship which brought him back. Their friendship deepened into love and they were married. Their union was an ideal one, and their years together were filled with happiness and sunshine. Their union was blessed with four children. Clarissa is the wife of Albert Johnson, of Prairie Farm township. Alma is dead. Alva and Alida are at home. They and the mother are carrying on the bee business, as well as the farm, with the assistance of Edwin F. Carlson, nephew of John P. They have a fine apiary of a good breed of bees, and thoroughly under- stand the business.

August Miller, a worthy citizen of Section 26, Prairie Farm Township, was born in Hesse, Germany, July 1, 1869, the son of Johanes and Marie (Ochsa) Miller, who brought him to this township when he was a small boy. He was reared on the home farm, attended the district school, and learned farming from his father. Five winters he spent in the lumber woods. In 1895 he and his bride located on a farm of 160 acres in Section 26. At that time a small frame house and a shack stood on the place, and about ten acres had been cleared. When they first started they had but little to do with. The first year they bought a cow, and the second year they were enabled to get a team of horses. By hard work he cleared up the place and developed a good farm. After a useful life, he died Sept. 19, 1915, as the result of being kicked by a horse. Mr. Miller was married June 13, 1895, to Anna Roemhild, who was born on the home farm in Prairie Farm Township on Aug. 24, 1874, the daugh- ter of Carl August and Eva Roemhild, the pioneers. Mr. and Mrs. Miller had five sons: Roy Peter, Franklin August, Arthur Henry, Ralph Wallace and Gerald Reuben, Ralph Wallace died in September, 1911. The other four sons are at home.

Roy Peter Miller. an energetic young farmer of Section 26, Prairie Farm Township, was born on the place where he now lives, May 23, 1897, the son of August and Anna (Roemhild) Miller, all four of his grandparents having been early settlers of this county. He attended the district schools and was reared to farm pursuits by his father. He now operates the home place, with his mother. It consists of 160 acres, about 100 of which have been cleared. The house is a modern farm residence. The barn, 40 by 54 feet, was built to re- place one 32 by 64 feet, which was burned. The silo is of stone, 13 by 32 feet. The other buildings are adequate. House and barn are illuminated with acety- lene gas and supplied with running water. Mr. Miller is progressive and mod- ern and is already getting a good start in life. He is well liked by all who know him. He was married in 1918 to Maude Neck, who was born at Prairie Farm Township on Oct. 2, 1896, the daughter of John and Anna Neck. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have had two children, Kenneth Roy, born May 24, 1919, and one who died in infancy.

Valentine Kurschner, an early settler of Section 22, Prairie Farm Town- ship, was born in Germany, March 13, 1852, and there attended school. Feb. 18, 1873, he married Wilhelmina Moline, who was born Nov. 6, 1854. Soon afterward they came to the United States, and took a homestead on Section 22, Prairie Farm Township, this county. He built a log house, established his home therein, and started to develop a farm. For several winters in order to help out the family funds, he worked in the lumber woods. In time he got a good start in life and built up a good farm. He was especially prominent in the affairs of the Evangelical Church in Prairie Farm Township, and for many years was superintendent of the Sunday School. He was also a pioneer dairy- man and helped to start the Prairie Farm Co-operative Creamery. He died Jan. 3, 1908, and his wife is still living on the home place.

Johanes Miller, for many years a resident of Section 35, Prairie Farm Township, was born in Germany, was there reared and educated, and there

Digitized by Google

622

HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

married Marie Ochsa. Six children were born, two of whom died young, in Germany. The other four were: Elizabeth, now Mrs. Frank Roemhild, of Prairie Farm Township; Peter, a farmer of Prairie Farm Township; August, deceased; and Kate, now Mrs. John Kurschner, of Prairie Farm Township. In January, 1882, Mr. Miller and Elizabeth came to the United States. In May of that year, the mother came with Peter, August and Kate. They settled on 122 acres of wild land in Section 35, Prairie Farm Township. There he built a log house and some log outbuildings. The furniture for the house was mostly made on the place. The first year Mr. Miller had a cow, and not long afterward was able to get a yoke of oxen. As time passed, he developed a good farm. He replaced the log house with a frame residence, cleared up the land and built fences. He died Jan. 3, 1911, at the age of seventy-three years. His wife, who was born April 28, 1842, is still living on the home place with her son, Peter.

Peter Miller, who ranks well among the industrious farmers of Prairie Farm Township, was born in Hesse, Germany, Aug. 24, 1872, the son of Johanes and Marie (Ochsa) Miller, the original rendering of whose name was Mueller. He was brought to his present farm in Section 35, as an infant, attended the district school, and here grew to manhood. For nine winters he worked in the woods. After his father's death, in 1911, he took over the home place, and to its development and operation he has since devoted his attention. He has fixed over the house, has put up a modern barn, 36 by 84 feet, a silo, 12 by 33 feet, and other buildings. He carries on general farming, and raises Jersey cattle, Poland-China swine, and a good grade of horses. Busy as he has been in developing his farm, Mr. Miller has found time for considerable public service. He served efficiently on the town board for two years, and for nine years was treasurer of his school district. He has been active in the German Lutheran Church in Prairie Farm Township and has been its treasurer since 1910. Mr. Miller was married May 19, 1897, to Mary Kurschner, who was born in a log cabin in this township, Sept. 9, 1876, the daughter of Valentine and Wilhelmina (Moline) Kurschner, early settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have eight children. Edward is in Dunn County. Matilda is the wife of Ed. Bilse, of Dunn County. Clarence, Erna, Minnie, Elizabeth and Herbert and Helen (twins) are at home. Mr. Miller has christened his place the Valley View Dairy Farm, by reason of its sightly location, and under this name it is widely known. He takes pride in its appearance, and everything about it be- speaks the thrift, hard work and good judgment of the owner.

Martin Johnson, early settler of Section 10, Prairie Farm Township, was born in Norway, and was there reared and educated. As a young man he mar- ried, and settled down to establish a family. As the children began to grow he determined to seek for them the broader opportunities of America. Ac- cordingly, in 1866, with his wife, Lena, and four children, Holden, Morris, Mary and Agnes, he embarked aboard a sailing boat bound for the new coun- try. They left the land of their birth and ancestry, in April, and did not sight land until the middle of July. For a time they lived near Rio, in Columbia County, this state, where Mr. Johnson farmed and worked at his trade as a carpenter. Later he took a homestead in Section 10, Prairie Farm Township, this county. Starting in with but little, he here built up a good farm. Five children were born in this country: Albert (deceased), Percie (Mrs. John Ross- bach, of Prairie Farm Township), Laura, Albert and Edward.

Nels Eggen, public official, logging foreman, and industrious farmer of Section 3, Prairie Farm Township, now deceased, was born in Norway, Jan. 18, 1852, and was there reared and educated. At the age of eighteen he de- cided to make the great experiment and come to America. Accordingly, he borrowed money from good friends, and after a long voyage, landed, and in due time found his way to Menomonie, in Dunn County, this state, where he entered the employ of Knapp, Stout & Co. For many years thereafter he worked in the lumber woods winters, on the river drives in the springs, and on

Digitized by Google

MR. AND MRS. NELS EGGEN

Digitized by

Google

Digitized by Google

HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

623 .

the company farm in Prairie Farm Township in the summer. After he mar- ried in the spring of 1879, his wife went into the lumber camps with him. She worked as cook and he as foreman, their combined wages being $45 a month. In 1881, he purchased 120 acres in Section 3, Prairie Farm Township, and put up a log cabin, 16 by 20 feet, into which he and his wife moved. They started farming with an ox team and a cow, secured from his employer. Mrs Eggen managed to get a few chickens. Thus they made their beginning. For years thereafter, Mr. Eggen continued to work winters as a logging foreman, while his wife bravely stayed at home, looked after the chores and cared for the children. As time passed they built up a good place. Being a man of force- ful characteristics, it is natural that he should have been a leader in his com- munity. For a number of terms he was chairman of the township, and as such a member of the county board. He believed in conservative progress, he was especially a friend of the good roads movement, and he was honored and re- spected for his judgment and ability not only by his own constituents but also by the voters of the county at large. He also served the township with fair- ness and discretion as assessor. As a father of children he was naturally in- terested in education and did good work on the school board. He believed in co-operative effort among the farmers and was a stockholder in the Prairie Farm Co-operative Association. On his farm he successfully conducted general farming and dairying, and had a good herd. After a successful career he died Jan. 26, 1898, and his death was sincerely mourned. He was one of the town's most useful citizens, he took his part in every forward move, and he left be- hind the memory of an honored name. He was a loving husband, an indulgent father, a good neighbor and a loyal friend. Mr. Eggen was married April 14, 1879, at Prairie Farm, to Agnes Johnson, who was born in Norway, Feb. 11, 1861, the daughter of Martin and Lena (Peterson) Johnson, and there were born: Gustave, Willis, Lena and Nina. Gustave was born Jan. 13, 1880, on the present place. He conducts a part of the home place and makes a home for his mother. He here carries on general farming and dairying, and has a good herd of Guernsey cattle. He is one of the substantial and solid men of the township, a good farmer and a good business man, and highly respected by all who know him. Willis was born June 13, 1882. He has purchased a part of the home farm, erected a set of buildings, and carries on general farming and dairying. He is an enterprising man who stands well throughout the commu- nity. Lena was born Aug. 24, 1884, and is the wife of Alfred Johnson, of Prairie Farm Township. Nina was born Sept. 10, 1890, and is the wife of Nor- man Thompson, of Minneapolis.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 104

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

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