History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 107

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

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Nels Shervey, who, with E. O. Fossum, built the Central Hotel at Rice Lake and operated it for a number of years, was for many years a prominent figure here and served for a time on the city council. He was born in Norway, and as a young man came to Rice Lake where he met and married Mattie Bratley. After owning the hotel jointly with Mr. Fossum for a while, he bought out his partner and continued alone for several years. Then he sold out and for some time was occupied as a farmer in Rice Lake Township. He died April 20, 1918. His wife, a most highly respected woman, now makes her home in Rice Lake, where her daughter, Clara, keeps house for her.

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Edolph G. Shervey, cashier of the Barron County Bank, was born in the city of Rice Lake, where he still resides, Oct. 17, 1884, son of Nels and Mattie (Bratley) Shervey. He attended the graded and high schools of Rice Lake, and started his banking career March 30, 1903, being now, with one exception, the oldest banker in point of service in Rice Lake. He has been with the same institution during his whole business career. At first he was bookkeeper and clerk. July 15, 1909, he became assistant cashier and on Aug. 7, 1916, was promoted to the duties of his present position, being now one of the principal owners of the institution. He is also a stockholder in the State Bank of Lady- smith, Wis. In public life he was two years city treasurer, and he is now city commissioner of water and lights. In this and in other ways he has shown his deep interest in the affairs of the community which gave him birth. He is treasurer of the Lakeside Methodist Episcopal Hospital, at Rice Lake, and is one of the twelve owners of the Lakeside Dancing Pavilion, erected at Rice Lake in 1919 at a cost of $11,000. Fraternally, he is a member of Rice Lake Lodge, No. 60, Knights of Pythias, and of Osmund Temple, No. 196, Knights of Khorasson, at Eau Claire, as well as of Rice Lake Lodge, No. 234, A. F. & A. M. He is also a member of the Commercial Club. In his long years of con- nection with the institution, of which he is now cashier, Mr. Shervey's per- sonality has been woven into the warp and woof of its success. He is of genial temperament and polished courtesy, and the people of the community find the bank a pleasant place to transact business. He is greatly interested in the business progress of the city and the agricultural development of the rural districts, and has taken delight in conducting corn clubs and the like for the encouragement of the younger generation. As a financier he is sound and conservative, and both as a man and as a banker he has the confidence and esteem of his fellow men. He fully lives up to the dignity of his position as the acting head of the oldest financial institution in the county, and its growth year by year shows the wisdom of his methods and the soundness of his judgment. Mr. Shervey was married April 26, 1913, to Effie Julia Overby, born at Rice Lake Dec. 26, 1886, daughter of Christian G. and Julia Olson (Finstad) Overby, and they have three children: Edward O., born Dec. 26, 1915; William Dean, born Oct. 1, 1917, and Lucille I., born Jan. 5, 1920. The pleasant family residence is at 38 Wilson avenue.

John Smitke, ice dealer of Rice Lake, was born in Germany, the son of Matt and Mary (Kaderabect) Smitke, the latter of whom died in Germany in 1877, after which the father brought the family to America in 1880 and secured employment with the Wisconsin Railway, first at Abbottsford, Wis., and then at Thorp, Wis., after which, in 1885, he purchased a farm at Thorp where he carried on farming until his death Feb. 13, 1893. John received a part of his education in Germany and completed it in this country. As a young man he worked in stave mills. In 1883 he came to Rice Lake and was similarly employed. He worked at the municipal power plant in Rice Lake in 1897, and then became deliveryman in the general store of P. N. Parks here. In 1900 he took over the local agency of the Standard Oil Co. and also opened a dray line. He successfully continued as oil man and drayman until 1916 when he established his present business. He owns his ice houses, wagons and horses, as well as a pleasant modern home, and is one of the substantial men of the community. He has been a Mason since he attained his majority, and is one of the stockholders in the group which erected the Masonic Temple at Rice Lake. He is also a stockholder in the Consumers' Store. Mr. Smitke was married March 1, 1894, to Lena Maack, daughter of Carl and Caroline (Rubow) Maack, farmers of this county. To this union have been born three children: Margaret L. was born Sept. 12, 1899, and is employed in a clerical capacity by the Clarkson Coal & Dock Co. at St. Paul, Minn. Eva E. was born June 2, 1903, and Alfred A. was born Dec. 20, 1905.

John Samdahl, formerly a blacksmith, now a successful farmer, who operates his place in the rural outskirts, while living in Rice Lake, is a sturdy

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example of those men from the north countries who have come to this land, and by hard work and application have taken advantage of the wonderful opportunities offered here and have won an honored place among their fellow men. He was born in Norway, Oct. 21, 1859, son of Andrew and Bertha (Lund) Samdahl, natives of that country, the former of whom died there in 1886 and the latter in 1896. In the family there were ten children: Carrie (deceased), Halver (deceased), Joseph (deceased), Ole, Edward, Andrew (deceased), Ber- tha, Ole (second), John and Peter (deceased). John Samdahl received his education in his native land and learned the blacksmith trade there. In 1881 he came to America and located at Menomonie, Wis., where he followed his trade ten years. Next he worked at his trade in Duluth four years. In 1895 he came to Rice Lake, opened a blacksmith shop and continued in business for himself until 1914. In that year he sold out. Since then he has operated his farm of 40 acres in the city limits and lives at 27 East Newton Street. His farm was wild when he purchased it, and the many improvements on it were all made by himself. He successfully carries on general farming, together with gardening and dairying. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen and of the Scandinavian Society. Mr. Samdahl was married Nov. 20, 1886, to Lena Sockness, who was born in Norway, May 18, 1862. They have three children: Alma, born Jan. 19, 1888, is the wife of Edward Bender of Nebraska. Jennie, born Sept. 11, 1892, is a teacher, residing at home. Cleo is studying medicine at La Crosse, Wis. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran Church.

John Beran, a prosperous farmer of section 9, Almena Township, and for some years engaged in missionary field work for the Congregational denomi- nation, was born in Bohemia, June 3, 1857, the son of Vaclav and Mary Beran, both natives of that country. Vaclav Beran was both a farmer and a tailor in the old country. He brought the family to America in 1869 and settled on a farm in Grant County, where he and his good wife spent the remainder of their lives. Their four children are Vaclav, John, Mary and Anna. Mary married John Corbaly. After his death she married David Zemery of Seattle, Wash. Anna married Edward Rowley of Hudson, Wis. John was reared in Bohemia, and attended school there. He was eleven years of age when he was brought to this country by his parents. He attended school in Grant County, this state, and helped on the home farm. He early felt the call to religious duty, and by saving his earnings he was enabled in 1884 to enter the Slavic department of the Oberlin Seminary at Oberlin, Ohio. He gradu- ated in 1887, and was assigned to field missionary work for the Congregational Church among the Bohemians of Milwaukee, Wis., for eight years. Then he did similar work at La Crosse, Wis., for two years. His work was greatly blessed, and much to his liking. But his untiring devotion impaired his health, and he had to abandon his ministry. In 1900 he came to St. Croix County, and for eight years rented his brother-in-law's farm at Hudson. In 1908 he came to Barron County and purchased 203 acres in section 9, Almena Township. This land was partly improved, and about twenty acres had been cleared. With this beginning he has built up an excellent place. He has about 100 acres under the plow, and much of it fenced. He has remodeled the house, put up a barn, 30 by 74 feet, with full basement and equipped with the Sears -. Roebuck appliances and built a granary 18 by 28 feet, a swine house 18 by 40 feet, a machine shed 18 by 100 feet, a silo and other buildings. He also has a good well, windmill and gas engine. The equipment in the way of tools, implements and machinery is excellent. Here he successfully carries on gen- eral farming and dairying and makes a specialty of a good herd of Holstein cattle and a drove of Duroc-Jersey swine. As a public spirited citizen he has served his district on the school board. He is active in the affairs of the Perley Methodist Episcopal Church. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Foresters. Mr. Beran was married at Muscada, Grant County, Wis., on Nov. 28, 1883, to Mary Drensa, daughter of John and Marga-

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ret Drensa, natives of Bohemia, who settled in Grant County, this state, and then moved to Crawford County, where they now live retired. Mr. and Mrs. Beran have nine children : John, Joseph, Edward, Frank, Charles, Elmer, Mary, Clara and Tillie. Mary married Frank Huser of Almena Township. Clara married Harry Carsley of New Richmond, Wis. Joseph married Addie Leeper of Prairie du Chien and lives at Hibbing, Minn. John, Edward, Frank, Charles and Elmer are helping on the home farm. Tillie was married in August, 1921, to Abe Peters and is now residing in Waukesha, Wis.

Louis Stzesniak, a prudent and careful farmer of section 10, Vance Creek Township, was born in Posen, Poland, Aug. 25, 1850, and was there reared and grew to manhood. As a young man he married Margaret Bartack, who bore him one child, Pauline, and died. In 1890 he married Mary Bastillik, who was born in the same neighborhood, Aug. 18, 1870. To this union there were born in Posen, three children, Joseph, Frank and Hattie. In 1890, determined to seek for his wife and children the wider opportunities of a newer country and the blessings of a better form of government, he came to America, and for several years worked in the mines in Michigan. He saved every cent, he lived with frugality, and in 1894 he sent for his wife and four children. They joined him in St. Paul, Minn. In 1895 they came to Vance Creek Township and located on 40 acres of wild land in section 10, Vance Creek Township. At that time a jobber was living in a shack on the place and cutting timber. After the jobber left the Stzesniak family moved in and lived there until Mr. Stzesniak had put up a good log cabin. This cabin, boarded over, is a part of the present residence. The first year the family had a cow. It was two years before they were able to get a pair of horses. Provisions had to be brought in on the back from far away stores. Mr. and Mrs. Stzesniak each made this trip a number of times. For several winters he went back to Michigan and worked in the mines to get a little money to support the family until he could get the farm developed. His wife, thus left alone, got along as best she could, looking after the children, doing her household work and attending to the chores about the place. Thus they worked together for their home and their children. As time progressed they built up a good farm. They rebuilt the log cabin into a substantial and comfortable residence, they put up a barn, 100 by 40 feet, with full basement, a silo, 12 by 22 feet, and other buildings. He has just completed a machine shed, 30x75. The yard is well kept and beautified with flowers and shrubbery, giving the place a picturesque and sightly appearance. The original tract of land has been increased until the family now owns 440 acres. Mr. Stzesniak, assisted by his family, successfully carries on general farming and dairying, and has a good herd of stock. He is respected by all who know him; he has won a fair measure of success in life, and he is richly deserving of the prosperity that is now his. In addition to the four children brought here, six more, Charles, Francis, Louis, John, Inga and Isadore, were born on this place. All the children have been a help and comfort to their parents, and all are well thought of throughout the community. Charles, who has furnished much of the material for this sketch, is one of the enterprising and progressive men of the neighborhood. He was born on the place where the family still lives, April 29, 1895, and was here reared to farm pursuits, helping his parents as soon as he was old enough. He received a solid com- mon school education in the district schools. His whole life has been spent here thus far. He is the owner of 160 acres of land, and aside from being a successful general farmer and dairyman, he is a bee fancier and the owner of a large number of fine colonies. He is active in everything that is for the good of the community, and is well thought of by all who know him.

Charles G. Stair, modern farmer, who is carrying on agricultural opera- tions along the latest approved lines, on 160 acres in sections 16 and 21, west, Maple Grove Township, was born May 12, 1872, in Green County, Wis., son of Hiram and Julia (Bartlett) Stair, natives of Wisconsin. Hiram Stair, a sub- stantial and influential resident of his county, lived on one farm for the long

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MR. AND MRS. LOUIS STZESNIAK

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period of half a century. He sold out in 1919 and took up his home with his daughter, Katherine, now Mrs. A. F. Abraham of Clarno, Wis. The mother died March 4, 1920. In the family there were three children, Charles G., Kath- erine and Mary E. (deceased). Charles G. received his early education in the public schools of his native county, and then entered Mount Morris College, at Mount Morris, Ill., from which he was graduated in 1893. He then worked for his father until 1896, after which he took up farming on his own account as a renter. He came to Barron County in 1905 and bought 60 acres in section 16, west, Maple Grove Township, where he farmed for ten years. Then he sold out and purchased 120 acres in the same section. In 1920 he added 40 acres in section 21, west, so that he now has a fine place of 160 acres. He has erected a fine modern home with all the latest improvements, a barn 32 by 120 feet, with James equipment, suitable outbuildings and adequate fences. He has a good herd of Holsteins with full blooded sires, is a charter member of the Barron County Holstein Breeders' Association, of which he was sec- retary seven years. He also has a good drove of Chester-White swine. All in all, he is a successful hard working farmer of the best type, and is taking his share in the general progress of the county. Mr. Stair was married Dec. 24, 1896, to Addie Roderick, daughter of William and Mary (Mitchell) Roderick, natives, respectively, of Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The father came to Wisconsin with his parents, a pioneer family, when he was a youth of sixteen, and devoted the remainder of his life to farming. He died Aug. 1, 1915, and his wife Oct. 16, 1916. In the family there were six children: Charles (de- ceased), Frank, Addie, George, Harry and Henry. Mr. and Mrs. Stair have four children : Henry B., born Oct. 17, 1898; Joe G., born Jan. 12, 1901; Mary E., born Feb. 23, 1904; and Harriet N., born Dec. 12, 1905. The family are members of the First Baptist Church of Hillsdale. Mr. Stair was chairman of the building committee when the church was remodeled, and it was through his untiring efforts that the building was completed.

Frederick William Scharlau, clerk at the Weber Hotel, Rice Lake, was born in New York State, June 4, 1885, son of Carl and Wilhelmina (Barneau) Schar- lau, natives of Germany, who settled in New York State in 1850 and in 1863 came to Dunn County, this state, where they devoted the remainder of their lives to farming, the father dying in 1890 and the mother in 1879. Frederick William attended district school as a boy and remained with his parents until after attaining his majority. From 1877 until 1900 he was employed by Knapp, Stout & Co. Then for four seasons he was employed by the Rice Lake Lumber Co., afterward working for the Rice Lake Mill and Elevator Co. until it burned down. Then for a while he worked for the Osceola Mill and Elevator Co. at Rice Lake. After this he returned to the employ of the Rice Lake Lumber Co. for three years and next worked for a similar period in the feed store of Crate & Son at Rice Lake. Then for a while he was on the farm with his son, near Couderay, Wis. In October, 1920, he assumed the duties of his present position. Mr. Scharlau is well liked by the traveling public and is well known in the Fourth Ward, where, in 1888, he was elected alderman by a big majority. He is a member of the Eagles, Beavers and Yeomen. His religious faith is that of the German Lutheran Church. Mr. Scharlau was married Nov. 7, 1883, in Stanfold township, this county, to Anna Smith, and this union resulted in six children : William F., Frederick J., Mabel M., Dora Cecelia, Minnie and Lora. William F. was born Sept. 8, 1884, and died May 14, 1907. Frederick J. was born Sept. 18, 1886, was married to Cora Frazier and has four children: Mabel M. was born July 12, 1888, married Adolph Sealore, and has one son, Donald, born April 27, 1910. Dora Cecelia was born March 11, 1892, and mar- ried C. O. Stout, a Rice Lake business man. Minnie M. was born July 19, 1896, and died Sept. 22, 1915. Lora C. was born Feb. 9, 1903, and was. drowned Aug. 16, 1917.

Anders G. Strand, one of the representative men-of-affairs of northern Wisconsin, has been actively identified with the history of Barron County for

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more than thirty-five years, and his life and work are inseparably interwoven in the warp and woof of its fabric. Coming to America a poor boy, he labored at such tasks as he could find, ever doing his work faithfully and planning for the future, and year by year he has added to his store of success and, to the garland of his honors. At the start he had no resources in money or influence, but he had the advantages of having been reared in a home of sturdy integrity, he inherited from his Norsk ancestors ruggedness of health and strength of frame, and he had inherent within himself a deep capacity for hard work, a determination to succeed, and an unwavering sense of honor. Coupled with this he inherited a true sense of his obligation to his fellow man, and while he has won success for himself, some of his most strenuous efforts have been given to public service which carried no pecuniary reward, but which was rich in opportunities for the promotion of the general welfare of the community. All in all, he is a good citizen, and a simple record of his achievements speaks more loudly in his praise than the most eloquent encomiums. As a preparation for his life work, he worked with railroad section gangs, he toiled in the hay fields, he assisted in building wing dams in northwestern rivers, and he cooked in lumber camps. As a pioneer he developed a farm from the wilderness, even clearing a road in order that he might have communication with the outside world. With this foundation he became a man of prosperity, dealt in real estate, held public office, and was interested in many manufacturing and commercial ventures. His political office holding began in Doyle Township, which in the early days included what is now Cedar Lake Township. In that town he was town clerk five years, justice of the peace five years, and secretary of the board of health for five years. He also served for two years as chair- man of the town board, and consequently as a member of the board of county commissioners during that period. The esteem in which he is held is shown by the fact when he was elected only one vote was cast against him. From 1897 to 1899 he served efficiently as county register of deeds. For twenty years he has been a member of the county Republican committee, six years of which he was chairman, and for some time he has occupied his present posi- tion of honor as one of the two members of the Republican State Central Com- mittee from the Tenth District. For six years he was president of the Barron County Agricultural Society, and in 1918 he was honorary vice-president of the executive committee of the North Wisconsin State Fair held at Chippewa Falls. In a business way he has been president of the Automatic Trip Carrier Manufacturing Co. of Rice Lake; was secretary and director of the Red Cedar Valley Electric Co. that for many years furnished light and power for Rice Lake, Cameron and Barron until recently purchased by the city of Rice Lake; is one of the stockholders and directors of the Barron County Telephone Co., and a stockholder in the Farmers' State Bank of Poskin, in this county. At one time he owned more than 1,100 acres of land. In Rice Lake city he owns besides his residence, an acre of lake frontage with a residence thereon. In the township he owns one farm of 80 acres and another of 40. In Washburn County he owns a farm of 80 acres, and another of 120 acres within the city limits of Spring Brook. At Campia he owns a farm of 280 acres with two sets of buildings; at Angus a farm of 160 acres, and at Brill a farm of 120 acres. He also has 260 acres of heavy timber in Sawyer County, and another 160 acres of wild land in Long Lake. Fraternally, he is a member and president of the Sons of Norway and a member of the Eagles. Anders G. Strand was born in Norway Jan. 27, 1863, son of Nels P. and Martha A. (Anderson) Strand, the former a native of Sweden and the mother of Norway, who were brought to America by their son, and died here, the father May 2, 1912, and the mother in 1914. In the family there were eight children: Olena, Anders G., Peter, Paulina, Ida, Matilda, Amelia and one who died in infancy. Anders G. received his education in the schools of Norway, and for fifty days studied English in American schools after coming to this country. After arriving in America in the spring of 1881, he came west to La Crosse, Wis., and thence to

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BERNARD PAUL PIEPER

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Jefferson Junction, Jefferson County, where he worked on the railroad for a while. In the fall of 1881 he went to Hastings, Minn., and thence to St. Paul, from which city he went to Chippewa Falls and found employment with a railroad construction crew on the Omaha railroad. He first came to Rice Lake in 1882, and in July of that year secured employment with Knapp, Stout & Co. working in the hay fields, driving a six-yoke ox team in building river "wing" dams, cooking in the lumber camps, and helping in log drives. He continued cooking for various firms in connection with his other activities for many years thereafter. In 1884 he purchased a tract of wild land in Doyle Township, six miles from Rice Lake, cut off the timber, grubbed the land, and built up a good farm, and there the family remained until 1891, Mr. Strand residing in Rice Lake. In that year he entered into the farm implement busi- ness at Rice Lake. In 1899 he returned to the farm and continued its develop- ment, until he had one of the best farms in the county. In 1910 he rented the farm to his son, Oscar M., and moved to Rice Lake once more. He sold the farm in 1919. He now devotes his time to real estate deals, in which he has been more or less interested since he first came here. Mr. Strand was married in 1886 to Belle J. Olson, who was born in Spring Prairie, Wis., April 28, 1866. To this union there have been born twelve children: Oscar, Norman, Arnold, Lillian, Arthur, Anders, Jr., Myrtle, Julian, Mary, Elmer, Anders and Belle. Oscar was born Sept. 12, 1886, and is now on one of his father's farms in Doyle Township. He married Gertrude Venhaug, and their children are: Gerald, Elmer, Eleanor, Ann, Volborg and Robert. Norman was born Jan. 27, 1889, and lives on a farm in Doyle Township. He married Olga Skar, and they have four children, Morris, Iris, Edna and Lorraine. Arnold was born May 10, 1893, and farms in Doyle. He married Nora Solum, and has one child, Roger. Lillian was born May 7, 1895, and lives at home. Arthur was born July 2, 1897, and farms in Doyle Township. He married Helen Solum, and has two children, Orville and Marion. Anders was born Feb. 27, 1899, and married Selma Sorenson. Myrtle was born Jan. 16, 1902, Julian was born June 18, 1907. Mary and Elmer, and Anders and Bell (twins), named for their parents, are dead. The family home is at 25 West Evans street.

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 107

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

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