History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 105

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

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John Iverson, an early settler of Prairie Farm Township, now deceased, was born in Norway, Dec. 25, 1839, and was there reared, attended the parish schools, and grew to manhood. In 1867 he married Anna Stubdahl, the daugh- ter of a neighbor. He started out with his wife and one son, Christ, for America, in the spring of 1869, and landed after a voyage of over a month aboard a sailing boat. Then he came overland to Iowa, where he had friends. After a short time he came to Menomonie, in Dunn County, this state, and there another son, Elmer, was born. In 1871 the family came to Barron County and settled on a homestead of 160 acres in Section 30, Prairie Farm Township. Prairie Farm Village had been settled for some years, and there was a store, postoffice and sawmill there, but in the vicinity where Mr. Iverson settled there were but two other families, those of Andreas Stensaas and Christ Woxen. For a time the Iversons made their home with Andreas Stensaas, who was liv- ing in an old lumber camp. In the meantime, Mr. Iverson put up a log cabin, 14 by 16 feet, and into this he moved his family. Then he set to work to estab- lish a home and a farm. For a while it was hard to get along. In the early days there were no lumber yards, and the timber from which the buildings were built was cut and sawed by Mr. Iverson with the old-fashioned rip saw. He also made his own shingles, built his own bob sleds and jumper wagon, with which they hauled their hay and grain which the family threshed with a

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flail on the barn floor. After Knapp, Stout & Co. put in a mill, things im- proved faster. They made their own cradles with which they cut their grain. Sometimes Mr. Iverson walked as far as Menomonie to do his trading, bring- ing provisions home on his back. His wife spun yarn to knit mittens, socks and jackets for the family. Gradually the farm was developed. In time he put up a good set of buildings, got a good part of the land under cultivation, put up fences, and acquired tools and equipment. As a family man and a good citi- zen, Mr. Iverson was interested in church and school. He helped to organize the Norwegian Lutheran Congregation at Prairie Farm, and served as one of its officers. He also served on the school board. After a long and useful life, he died Nov. 2, 1910. His good wife passed away, March 14, 1906. In addi- tion to the two sons, who were brought here, three daughters were born on this place: Mary, the wife of Louis Michaelson, of Glenwood City; Laura, the wife of John Stack, of Saskatchewan, Canada; and Emma, who is at home.

Christ and Elmer Iverson, known as the Iverson Brothers, are operating the home place in Section 30, Prairie Farm Township, which has been in the family for more than half a century, having been taken as a homestead in 1871 by their parents, John and Anna (Stubdahl) Iverson, the early settlers. Christ was born in Norway, Sept. 23, 1868, was brought to America in 1869, and to the present farm in 1871. Elmer was born in Menomonie, Aug. 13, 1870, and was brought to the present place the next year. Both boys were reared in the wilds amid pioneer conditions. Both attended the log schoolhouse in the neigh- borhood, learned farming from their father, and helped to develop the home farm. Christ spent 20 winters in logging camps and nine springs on the river drives. Elmer spent 12 winters in the logging camps. Both are among the best known and most substantial men in the community, and are highly respected by all. They are good farmers and good citizens and take their part in com- munity affairs. Christ has been a member of the school board. Each now owns a half of the home place, and they live in the old dwelling, where their sister, Emma, keeps house for them. They successfully carry on general farming and dairying and have a good herd of Hereford cattle.

John August Kahl, an energetic farmer of Section 23, Prairie Farm Town- ship, was born in a log cabin on the place where he still lives, April 10, 1885, the son of John and Mary (Hendorf) Kahl. He was reared here, attended the district school, and learned farming from his father. He now owns 120 acres of the home place. The residence is a pretty modern bungalow, the other buildings are adequate and in good repair. General farming and dairying are successfully conducted, and there is a good herd of Guernsey cattle, as well as a fine drove of swine. Mr. Kahl is well known throughout the community, and is as well liked as he is well known. He has served with credit on the school board. Mr. Kahl was married on Jan. 30, 1908, at Dallas to Edith Blake, the daughter of Fred and Minnie Blake. She was born at Dallas, Oct. 4, 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Kahl have five children: Athly, Verna, Earl, Helen and Bryon.

John Kahl, who died Sept. 25, 1921, was an estimable citizen of Section 23, Prairie Farm Township, and had been a resident of this county for nearly fifty years. He was born in Germany, March 10, 1851, the son of John and Cath- erine Kahl, who spent the span of their years farming in that country. He was educated in the government schools and was reared to farm pursuits by his father. In 1871 he came to America, and for three years found employment in Dane County. From there, in 1874, he came to Barron County, and secured 160 acres in Section 23, Prairie Farm Township. He put up a log cabin and a slab stable, and started farming with a team of horses and a cow or two. There were then few roads except the tote roads of the lumber companies, the settlers were scattered, not much had been done in the way of development. He set to work with a will, and in time had built up a good farm. He replaced the log structures with a good set of frame buildings, and added to his acreage until he owned 280 acres. Here he successfully carried on general farming operations until 1910, when he retired and moved to Prairie Farm Village,

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where he purchased a pleasant home. After his wife's death, in 1916, he moved back to the farm and enjoyed a well-earned rest after a busy life of hard work, filled with worthy endeavor. Mr. Kahl was married in 1875 to Mary Hendorf, who was born in Germany in 1859, and died in Prairie Farm Village in 1916. This union was blessed with six children: Mary, now deceased; George, on the home farm; Anna, of Minneapolis; Elizabeth, of Rice Lake; John August, on the home farm; and Emma, the wife of William Miller, of Prairie Farm Township. George owns 114 acres of the home farm, which he carries on, on his own account, and on which he has a good house and out- buildings.

John Kallenbach, a representative farmer of section 23, Prairie Farm Township, was born in Germany, Oct. 30, 1863, the son of Oswald and Chris- tina Kallenbach. He was reared and educated in his native land, and was still a young boy when he was apprenticed to a shoemaker to learn the trade. At the age of sixteen, in 1880, he came to the United States, and found his way to the Wisconsin lumber regions. For many years thereafter he devoted his life to agriculture and lumbering, spending in all eighteen winters in the lumber woods and ten springs on the river drives. In 1894 he purchased 80 acres of wild land in Section 23, Prairie Farm Township. He built a log house, 20 by 30 feet, on the hill south of his present home, and moved into it with his bride. He started farming here with but little equipment. In a little while he managed to get a cow, and a while later he got a mule team. One of the tables in the house was made from trees cut on the place. Little by little, he managed to get the farm cleared up and under cultivation. In 1906 he purchased another 80 acres adjoining. On this was standing a small frame house into which he moved. This house, he has enlarged and improved into a modern dwelling. He has put up a barn, 36 by 76 feet, a silo 12 by 40 feet and other buildings. The home is pleasantly located in a sightly grove, which makes the farm a landmark in the neighborhood. On this place he successfully conducts general farming, and dairying, and has a good herd of Guernsey cattle, a fine drove of Poland-China swine, and some good Belgian horses. Mr. Kallenbach is one of the prominent and influential men of this community. For six years he has done most efficient work as one of the town supervisors. He has also given valuable service as a member of the school board. He is vice president of the Prairie Farm Co-operative Creamery, a stockholder in the Prairie Farm Telephone Co. and a member of the Guernsey Breeders' Association. Mr. Kallenbach was married May 17, 1893, to Catherine Beisswauger, who was born in Dunn County, May 24, 1870, the daughter of Gottlieb and Anna (Kahl) Beisswauger. This union has been blessed with eight children. Mary died in young womanhood. Albert is farming in Prairie Farm Township. Arthur is at home. Amelia is the wife of Ernest Nitz, of Dallas Township. Stanley, Hellen, Laura and Harry are at home.

Gottlieb Beisswauger, veteran of the Civil War, and early settler of this region, now deceased, was born in Germany, and was there reared and educated. Like so many of his young countrymen he served for a stated period in the regular German army. As a young man he came to America and located in this state. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted in a regiment of infantry and served with valor under General Sheridan until after the close of the conflict. For many years he lived in Dunn County, near the Prairie Farm line. He was well known and highly regarded by the people of both counties, and his judgment was respected by all with whom he came in contact. He was personally acquainted with many of the real leaders in this region in the pioneer days. Especially was he active in church affairs. Early Lutheran services were held in his cabin, and he assisted in getting a congregation started. After a long and useful life, he died in March, 1910, at the age of 80 years. His wife, Anna Kahl, who was born in Germany, and came to America as a child, died in July, 1918, at the age of 73 years.

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Isaac Sprague, for many years the moving factor in the business life of Prairie Farm village, was born at Troy, near Pontiac, Mich., Dec. 16, 1835, the son of Isaac and Clementina (Black) Sprague, natives of Cattaraugus County, N. Y., who came west to Wayne County, Mich., as young people. The subject of this sketch was reared in his native county, and there grew to manhood and was married. In 1859 he came to Wisconsin with his wife and son, William, and located on a claim near Menomonie, in Dunn County. In 1862 he came to what is now the village of Prairie Farm, then a lumber camp. The county was then a wilderness, the Indians and the wild animals roamed the woods almost undisturbed, and the Indians looked with none too friendly eye on the coming of the white lumbermen. Often they camped across the river from the lumbering operations, and held their savage dances. Mr. Sprague acted as camp foreman, shipping foreman and mill foreman. His wife was the camp cook. Sometimes when an unusually large number of Indians were camped in the vicinity, and their begging and pilfering became unbearable, she had a man stand guard over the food while she did the cook- ing. In 1866 the Knapp, Stout & Co. people put up a store, and Mr. Sprague was made the store keeper and postmaster. Goods were brought overland from Menomonie. Such a store and trading post was a great convenience to the employes of Knapp, Stout & Co. and later to the settlers as they began to come in. In 1875 Mr. Sprague severed his relations with the lumber com- pany, and opened a store and hotel of his own. He continued to be post- master, holding the office until 1899. Mr. Sprague was untiring in every effort to upbuild the village. He took a prominent part in its incorporation, and served as president of its first board of trustees. Previous to this, he had been treasurer of the township and clerk of the school board. After a long useful life, he died Feb. 23, 1916. His wife died March 4, 1908. Mr. Sprague was married at Vernon, Mich., Sept. 8, 1856, to Jane Van Wormer, daughter of Ezekiel and Sarah Van Wormer. Mr. and Mrs. Sprague had six children: William, Charles, George, Frank, Estella, wife of Maxwell T. Downs, of Prairie Farm Township, and Ella, wife of Carl Borson, of Prairie Farm Township. Maxwell Timothy Downs, a prominent man living in the vicinity of Prairie Farm village, was born in the Province of Quebec, Canada, July 18, 1863, the son of John and Jane (Calder) Downs, he a native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and she of Glasgow, Scotland. In 1872 the father came to Menomonie, Dunn County, this state, bringing the family. For a time he was foreman and contractor in lumber camps in Barron County, mostly in the vicinity of Almena. The father died at Menomonie April 22, 1914, at the age of 90 years, and the mother Jan. 30, 1905, at the age of 78 years. The subject of this sketch attended school at Menomonie, and first went into the woods at the age of fifteen with his father, seeking experience and adventure. The next year he secured regular employment in the woods. At the age of 24 he became fore- man, a record hard to beat, and thereafter was employed in that capacity in lumber camps and on the river drives until he was forty. Few men are better acquainted with the story of the lumber development of this county than he. In 1890 he purchased a tract of 80 acres of wild land in section 21, Prairie Farm Township, and in 1894 moved his wife and two children into a 14 by 16 frame house which stood on the place. He has remodeled the house into the present pleasant dwelling, and has erected other suitable farm buildings. He is now successfully carrying on general farming and dairying on 120 acres of good land. Mr. Downs has considerable skill and knowledge as a veterinarian, and he is often called upon for help in this line. In public life he is serving the town as a member of the board of supervisors. When his farm was in the village, he represented the village with credit on the county board. He also served on the village board of trustees and on the school board. Mr. Downs is a stockholder in the Prairie Farm Co-operative Creamery. Frater- nally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen. Mr. Downs was married April 15, 1891, to Estella J. Sprague, who was born on the present site of

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MR. AND MRS. MARTIN JOHNSON EDWARD M. JOHNSON

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Prairie Farm village, Aug. 2, 1873, the daughter of Isaac and Jane (Van Wormer) Sprague, the pioneers. Mr. and Mrs. Downs have six children. Grace, for several years a teacher, is the wife of John Edmunds, of Prairie Farm Township. Edna is dead. Pearl is the wife of Howard Buck, of Prairie Farm Township. Wallace is at home. Edith is the wife of Elmer Wicks, of Prairie Farm village. Bernice is at home. Mrs. Downs for many years, from the time she was a young girl to the time of her marriage, was assistant to her father in the postoffice and store.

Martin Johnson, farmer and carpenter, for many years a resident of section 10, Prairie Farm Township, was born in Norway, and was reared on a farm and learned the carpenter trade. He there married Lena Johnson, and three children, Holden, Mary and Agnes, were born there. In 1872 he set out with his family for America. The voyage aboard the sailing vessel took four- teen weeks, during which time the passengers had to furnish their own food. In due time the family reached Menomonie, Dunn County, this state. Later they settled on 120 acres in section 10, Prairie Farm Township. He built a log house and started to clear up the land. Sometimes when provisions were scarce he walked to Prairie Farm village, Rice Lake or Menomonie or Barron and brought home supplies on his back. As time passed he built up a good farm, and added 40 acres more, making a place of 160 acres. In addition to developing his farm, he worked at his trade as a carpenter. He helped to build the Norwegian Lutheran Church at Prairie Farm village, the schoolhouse in section 2, and many farm dwellings and barns. After a long and useful life he died on the farm in July, 1906. His wife died on Jan. 5, 1919. The children were: Holden, Mary, Agnes, Laura, Morris, Albert and Edward M.

Edward M. Johnson, an estimable farmer of section 10, Prairie Farm Township, was born on the place where he now lives, March 26, 1879, the son of Martin and Lena Johnson, natives of Norway. He was reared on the home place, attended school in the neighborhood, and learned farming and the carpenter trade from his father. One season he worked in the woods. For some years he and his brother, Holden, operated the farm in partnership. Since 1918 he has been the sole owner. Being a carpenter by trade it is natural that he should have a good set of buildings kept in the best of repair. His farm is well developed and well fenced, and everything about the place bespeaks the thrift and good judgment of the owner. In addition to doing his farm work, Mr. Johnson is in partnership with his brother, Albert, in owning and operating a full threshing outfit and portable sawmill. Mr. Johnson was married on March 4, 1904, at Prairie Farm, to Caroline Gaylord, who was born in Norway in 1869. Mrs. Johnson died in May, 1910, leaving two sons, Carl and Edwin, both dutiful sons who are helping their father at home.

Ole Swanson, an early settler of Barron County, veteran of the Civil War. and of the Minnesota Indian Campaign, one of the heroic survivors of the Redwood Ferry ambush, was born in Norway Feb. 12, 1844, the son of Swen and Mary Olson, who came to America in middle age and spent their declining years in Pope County, Minn. The subject of this sketch was reared in Norway and attended school there. In 1861 he came to America as a youth of seven- teen, the voyage aboard an old sailing vessel taking seven weeks, six weeks and five days of which was spent out of sight of land. After reaching port he found his way to Fillmore County, Minn., where friends and relatives had already settled, and there he started farming. On March 2, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, 5th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered into service at Fort Snelling, near Minneapolis, on March 24, 1862. His name appears in the military records of the state and nation as Ole Svendson. The company was stationed at Fort Ridgely, on the Minnesota, in the western part of the state of Minnesota. Then came the events which made the company famous for all time. On Aug. 18, 1862, the Sioux Indians arose and began slaughtering the whites. Company B, which started from Fort Ridgely to punish the Indians, was ambushed at Redwood Ferry, and Captain John S.

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Marsh, Interpreter Peter Quinn and twenty-three enlisted men were killed. Fifteen escaped and fled to the fort. Six, including a sergeant, were wounded, Private Swanson so badly that he had to be carried. When he recovered he participated in the campaign against the Indians. That fall he was sent south with the company and rejoined his regiment in Tennessee. The regi- ment in the meantime had been assigned to the Eagle Brigade. Mr. Swanson's career was thereafter a part of the history of that brigade, and he proved himself a brave and gallant soldier in many engagements and in many a tire- some march and bivouac. For three years he was his company's fifer. He was discharged with the regiment at Demopolis, Ala., and was mustered out at Fort Snelling Sept. 6, 1865. After the war Mr. Swanson went back to Fill- more County, Minn., and there married. In 1873 he brought his wife and three children to Dunn County, this state, and located in Hay River Town- ship. For several years thereafter he did farm work first for Knapp, Stout & Co. and then for William Sprague who was the Knapp, Stout & Co. foreman. In 1882, he bought 80 acres from Mr. Sprague in section 21, Prairie Farm Township. He built a log house, 16 by 24 feet, and moved his wife and three children into it. He also put up a log stable. He had but little to do with. For furniture he made a bedstead, table and stools from trees growing on the place. The little cabin was far from any store, and Mr. Swanson had to bring provisions in on his back. But a man who had gone through his experiences in the war was not to be daunted by the privations of the wilderness. He worked with a will and in time built up a good farm. After a long and use- ful career on the farm he retired in 1914 and moved to the village of Prairie Farm where he now resides. He is the commander of the August Roemhild Post, No. 237, G. A. R. Mr. Swanson is a man held in the highest esteem and respect. As a solder, as a pioneer, as a citizen, he has been faithful to every duty that life has brought him, and his example may well be followed by the younger generation. Mr. Swanson was married at Preston, Fillmore County, Minn., April 18, 1867, to Anna Vennes, who was born in Norway Feb. 14, 1851, the daughter of Andrew and Anna Margaret Vennes. Her father came to Fillmore County in 1860, and the next year sent for his family to join him. This union was blessed with twelve children. Matthew, Albert and William were born in Fillmore County. Edward, Alvin, Lettie, Martin, Ole, Viola and Lena were born in Dunn County. Albert and Gilbert were born in Barron County. Matthew, Lettie and Gilbert are dead. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran Church.

Wesley V. Keyes, an active and popular farmer of section 22, Prairie Farm Township, was born in Florida, Ohio, July 20, 1874, the son of Lucius J. and Harriet (Fauber) Keyes. He was reared and educated in his native state and was still in his 'teens when brought to this county by his parents, who settled on section 22, Dallas Township. He helped his father until about 1902 and then purchased a half of the homestead. There he continued to work until 1919 when he purchased the homestead of John Deringer, in section 22, Prairie Farm Township. Here he successfully carries on general farming and dairying. He is one of the progressive men of the community and has taken an active part in its affairs. While in Dallas Township he was town clerk for four years, serving with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents. He was also the efficient manager of the Dallas Coopera- tive Creamery for four years. Mr. Keyes was married Oct. 31, 1912, to Anna Deringer, who was born at Menomonie, this state, on Nov. 8, 1883, the daugh- ter of John and Julia (Rossbach) Deringer, the pioneers.

Lucius Judson Keyes, for some years a resident of section 22, Dallas Township, was born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., Oct. 5, 1846, and was reared and educated there. He was but eighteen when he enlisted in Company I, 14th New York Heavy Artillery, in which unit he served gallantly for twenty-one months. After the war he moved to Ohio and settled on a tract of wild land in the heavy timbers near Florida. He built a log cabin and started

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MR. AND MRS. OLE SWANSON

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PETER BERGMAN, FAMILY AND RESIDENCE

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pioneering. In time he built up a good farm. He became a prominent man in that community and was highly esteemed. But the pioneer blood was in his veins, so in 1892 he struck out for a newer country. He found his way to Barron County and purchased the rights in a homestead of 160 acres in sec- tion 22, Dallas Township, not far from the village. Part of it had been cleared and a log house and frame barn erected. He improved this place, erected a good set of buildings and developed a good farm. There he suc- cessfully carried on general farming. In addition to his work at home, he was actively interested in public affairs, and for a time he served as township treasurer. The Methodist Episcopal Church found him a willing and earnest worker, and he served for many years as superintendent of the Sunday school. In November, 1912, he rented out the farm and moved to Barron, where he lived until April, 1915. . From that time for four years he did a good deal of traveling and in July, 1919, went to Excelsior, Minn., where he now lives. Mr. Keyes was married in Michigan, Oct. 4, 1873, to Harriet Fauber, who was born in Loraine County, Ohio, Oct. 16, 1857, the daughter of Walter and Alzina (Cornell) Fauber. This union was blessed with twelve children: Wesley V., Elnora, Olive, Bessie, Edna, Adeline, Walter, Mildred and Dorothea, and Clifford and two others who died in infancy. The mother died at Barron, Sept. 15, 1914. On Aug. 12, 1919, Mr. Keyes was married, at Minneapolis, to Mrs. Jetta Pecore, widow of Joseph Pecore, son of Joseph Pecore, the pioneer. John Selvig, an enterprising and substantial farmer of section 20, Prairie Farm Township, is one of the influential men of his neighborhood. He was born on the place where he still lives, Dec. 8, 1877, the son of Louis C. and Louisa (Aasness) Selvig, now of Barron. He attended the log school in the neighborhood, was reared on the home place and learned farming from his father. In 1898 he went to Enderlin, N. D., where he remained until 1900. While there he homesteaded a claim, and also worked for the "Soo" Line, part of the time as fireman on a freight train and part of the time as section fore- man. In 1910 he bought the home place where he now lives. He successfully carries on general farming and stock raising and has a good herd of Holstein cattle, a good drove of Poland China swine and a good grade of horses. As a native of the town, he has taken his part in its growth and progress. For three years he did most efficient service as one of its supervisors. He has also been a valued member of the school board. Mr. Selvig was married on May 29, 1908, at Prairie Farm to Alma Kasting, who was born in Prairie Farm Township, Barron County, on Dec. 30, 1885, the daughter of Olof and Olena Kasting. Mr. and Mrs. Selvig have been blessed with six children: Olive, Alice, Lula, Clarice, Lewis and Herbert. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran Church.

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 105

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

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