History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 109

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

USA > Wisconsin > Barron County > History of Barron County Wisconsin > Part 109

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).

Harry M. Whitney, Rice Lake merchant, now conducting a first class clothing and haberdashery store at 234 North Main Street, and until recently junior member of the Barron County Land and Loan Co., was born in Jackson County, this state, Oct. 12, 1883, the son of John and Celia (Bequette) Whit- ney. He received his early education in his native country and at Ashland, Wis., to which town he was taken by his parents when he was twelve years of age. As a youth he learned the painting trade and followed it at Ashland for a while. In 1902 he came to Rice Lake, and after following a similar occupation for three years, learned the barber trade. After a few years of this, he formed a partnership with M. D. Manson, in the year 1912, under the firm name of Manson & Whitney, and opened a clothing store, which became the largest in the county at that time, and carried a full line of clothing, haberdashery, trunks and bags. Feb. 1, 1920, Mr. Whitney purchased a half interest in the Barron County Land & Loan Co .. and he and T. C. Surdson became the sole owners. On Jan. 20, 1921, Mr. Whitney sold out his interests in the company, but is still in partnership with Mr. Surdson in the ownership of a number of farms in the county, some of which are rented outright and some on shares. The two gentlemen personally look after a fine sheep ranch of 172 acres in Rice Lake Township, all fenced with woven wire, and stocked with pure blooded registered Blackface Shropshire sheep. Mr. Whitney is well known throughout the county, and is an integral part of the business life of the city. In the course of his real estate transactions he purchased a building on North Main Street, which he remodeled and put in shape for business where he is now located, opening on March 19, 1921. He has had

Digitized by Google

648

HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

previous experience in the same lines, he knows this region, its people and its needs, and a flourishing business is being built up. Mr. Whitney belongs to the Commercial Club and is active in its doings. He is fond of outdoor sports, especially motoring, hunting and fishing, and is a sincere lover of nature. He votes the Republican ticket, but has not cared to seek office, though deeply interested in public affairs. Mr. Whitney was married Jan. 24, 1913, to Minnie Wilz, and they have two children: Cecelia Joyce, born March 24, 1917, and Harriett Anna, born Sept. 15, 1920. The family home is at 611 North Main Street.

Christopher Stackman, father of Prof. Julius Stackman, was born in Germany in 1827 and there married Caroline Zilke in 1856. He brought his family to America in 1864 and settled in Westchester County, N. Y., dividing his time between farming in the country and working at his trade as a tailor in New York City. In 1868 he came west and settled in Ableman, Sauk County, Wis., where he worked in flour mills and sawmills and followed his trade. Later he acquired a farm of 80 acres, six miles from Baraboo. In 1890 he sold the farm and moved to Tennessee, where he died in 1898. By his first wife he had five children: Mary F., of Baraboo; Paul D., a farmer of Sauk County; Theodore, of Oregon; Edward, postmaster at Ontario, Wis., and Julius, of Cameron.

Prof. Julius Stackman, instructor of vocal music and organizer of com- munity singing classes, is widely known throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and the Dakotas, where he has managed schools and concerts, and stands high with all who know him as a musician, and instructor and a man. He was a pupil of Dr. H. R. Palmer, the gospel song writer, teacher and composer, and for years director of music at the Chautauqua Assembly, Chautauqua, N. Y., and to that master's teachings he has added new methods of his own. Of late years he has retired somewhat from the activities of instruction and travel and finds his delight in out of door life on his pleasant little farm at Cameron, where he does truck farming, dairying and poultry raising, making a specialty of pure blooded prize winning White Wyandottes and single comb Anconas, which he ships far and wide for breeding purposes. He still keeps in touch with the musical world and corresponds with many men and women well known in musical circles. Julius Stackman was born in Germany, Sept. 30, 1863, son of Christopher and Caroline (Zilke) Stackman, who brought him to Westchester County, N. Y., in 1864, and to Sauk County, Wis., in 1868. He was reared in Sauk County, learned farming from his father, and as a young man worked out for neighboring farmers and later engaged in truck farming for himself. From youth up he was much interested in music, and as he grew older and received special instruction under competent teachers, discovered that he not only had excellent talent as a vocalist, but also the faculty of organization and instruction. Consequently he took up the organization of singing schools and classes as a life work, going from place to place, con- ducting schools, and then giving a grand concert by the class as a demon- stration of his work. In 1904 he first came to Barron County for the purpose of conducting classes at Rice Lake, Chetek and Cameron. He was much pleased with the county, and in 1909 bought a few lots at Cameron and took up his home here. In 1910 he purchased his present place of eight acres. Mr. Stackman was married at Beaver, Minn., June 3, 1896, to Lydia E. Applebee, daughter of Frank and Alma (Martin) Applebee, who were born in Barring- ton, Ill., of New York stock, and were there married. During the Civil War Mr. Applebee saw more than three years of hard service with the Nineteenth Illinois Regiment. After that conflict he and his wife came to Beaver, Winona County, Minn., and there, with the exception of thirteen years spent farming in Lincoln County, Minn., they farmed until 1898. In that year, or soon there- after, they moved to Bruce, Rusk County, this state, and secured 600 acres of wild land, and on this land and in the village of Bruce they have resided up to the present time. Mrs. Applebee died on March 8, 1921. Mr. Applebee owns

Digitized by Google

MR. AND MRS. JULIUS STACKMAN

Digitized by

Google

Digitized by

Google

649

HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

a fine cottage on the shores of Amacoy Lake, and spends much of his time there during the summer months. Mrs. Stackman has gained quite a reputa- tion as a trained nurse and has made herself useful and helpful to the sick and afflicted in numerous towns and country places surrounding Cameron and the vicinity, and has also done much of this work in Winona and Wabash Counties, Minn.

Reuben Dudley Whittier, Civil War veteran, Wisconsin pioneer, early Chippewa River lumberman, agriculturist and hotel man, now deceased, was born June 12, 1847, in Vienna, Maine, and was there reared and educated. He was but fourteen years of age when the Civil War broke out, but even at that tender age he was thrilled with a desire to join the colors, and a year later when he was fifteen he was allowed to do so. He served with Company G, 30th Main Volunteer Infantry, participated in many notable engagements and was three times wounded. After being mustered out he came to Wisconsin, and with headquarters at Eau Claire, began lumbering along the Chippewa River. As the lumber business in that region declined, he purchased a large farm near New Auburn, this state, and for two years operated a hotel in that vil- lage. In 1902 he retired and moved to Rice Lake, where he died Jan. 26, 1920, after a short illness. Fraternally, Mr. Whittier was a member of the G. A. R. and the I. O. O. F. His religious affiliation was with the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Whittier came of a most excellent family. Of remote Scotch-English descent, he traced his line back to some of the early New England families, still represented in the east by many distinguished men. John Greenleaf Whittier, the poet, was a member of one branch of the same family of Whit- tiers. Mr. Whittier took especial pride in the fact that ancestors of his had fought in the Revolution and in the War of 1812. His own record added to the military glory of the family, and when the son, Victor G., became an officer in the United States service for the World War, the record was still further completed, the Mexican and the Spanish-American Wars being the only important conflicts missing from the family archives. Mr. Whittier was married May 18, 1887, to Sadie Jones, born at Prairie du Chien, Wis., Feb. 6, 1869, the daughter of John and Susan (Riley) Jones, and this union has been blessed with one son, Victor Grover, born Feb. 27, 1888. Mrs. Whittier is an accomplished pianist and teacher of the pianoforte, having a large class of pupils who are proving a credit to her methods of instruction. She studied music in Eau Claire under such teachers as Mrs. Robert Murray, Mrs. Anna Whitford and Miss Jane Wyatt, the latter of whom had received her own instruction in some excellent schools in London and Paris and. graduated under a French tutor of some note. Mrs. Whittier, then Miss Jones, herself became a teacher at the age of sixteen, and has followed that line ever since. Even while keeping the hotel with her husband at New Auburn, with the many duties of hotel life to be attended to, she continued her classes. She is regarded as a most efficient instructor and musician. She is a lady of refined tastes, and aside from being active in her profession, is an efficient worker in many public causes and is honored as one of the leading women of the town.

Peter Veit, now deceased, a well known employe of the Rice Lake Lumber Co. for many years, was a substantial, solid citizen and held the esteem and respect of his fellow men. He took his part in the affairs of the city, repre- sented his ward several years on the county board, served many times as a member of election boards, and was always ready to do his share in every- thing that he believed to be for the best interests of the community. He was an excellent husband and father, and was pre-eminently a home man, taking the greatest pride in his family. His death, March 1, 1919, was sincerely mourned. He was born in Budenheim, Germany, was educated in the govern- ment schools and devoted his young manhood to farming and working in the famous forests there. He came to America in 1889, and with headquarters at Chippewa Falls, Wis., entered the employ of the Weyerhauser Lumber Co. It

Digitized by Google

650

HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

was in 1897 that he came to Rice Lake and entered the employ of the Rice Lake Lumber Co., with whom he stayed for the remainder of his life. He was a skilled and faithful workman whose services were highly valued by his employers. Fraternally, Mr. Veit was a member of the Catholic Knights. Mr. Veit was married Oct. 9, 1891, to Anna Degan, who was born in Germany, Dec. 9, 1863, daughter of Carl F. and Anna (Miller) Degan, both natives of Ger- many and both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Veit had seven children: Mary, Bennett, Elizabeth, Christene, Peter, Polly and Anne. Mary was born Dec. 17, 1892, and died Aug. 19, 1895. Elizabeth was born Jan. 12, 1895, and is the wife of Thomas Glennon of St. Paul. Christene was born Nov. 16, 1896, mar- ried Joseph Grant, and has two children, Vernal and Beatrice. Peter was born Feb. 10, 1898. In 1916 he married Beulah King, of Rice Lake, and has three children, Virginia, Donald and George. He resides at home. Molly was born Sept. 16, 1899, and is at present with the Advance Auto Accessories Co. of Chicago. Anne was born June 11, 1903, and resides at home. She is employed at the Inderrieden Canning Co. of Rice Lake.

Anton T. Galby, president of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Chetek, was born in Ridgeway, Iowa, Dec. 12, 1871. He attended school until seventeen years of age, and then became a telegraph operator on the C., M. & St. P. Ry. in his native place and that vicinity. Subsequently as station agent or assist- ant station agent he was operator at Centralia, Grand Rapids (now Wisconsin Rapids), Scandinavia and Wausau, all in this state. He came to Chetek in 1900 and after a short time became identified with the banking business. He was one of the incorporators of the Farmers & Merchants Bank in February, 1908, and became the first cashier, a position he relinquished to succeed to his present position upon the death of K. Rosholt in January, 1920. His personality has been the dominant factor in the success with which the institution has met. He is active in public affairs, a real leader in the community and has served his city as alderman and treasurer and his school board as treasurer. Mr. Galby was married at Scandinavia, Wis., Oct. 10, 1894, to Theodora M. Zwicky, who was born in that place, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Caspar Zwicky. Mr. and Mrs. Galby have two sons, Ralph V., born Aug. 14, 1896, and Manford C., born Nov. 11, 1900, both of whom are students at the State Uni- versity at Madison, Wis. The family faith is that of the Lutheran Church.

Oliver G. Sands, manager of the extensive yards at Rice Lake, of the Lampert Lumber Co., of St. Paul, was born in Eau Claire County, Wis., March 15, 1882, son of Christ and Amelia (Frederickson) Sands, natives of Norway, who came to this country at the ages of nineteen and four years, respectively. They were married in Pleasant Valley Township, Eau Claire County, Wis., and settled on a homestead which is still in the family and occupied by Mrs. Sands, her good husband having passed away June 5, 1918. They were the parents of eleven children : Sever, Josephine (deceased), Oliver G., Clarence, Edward (deceased), Minnie, Bertrand, Louisa, William, Joseph and Theodore. Oliver G. received his education in the common schools of his native township and in the Eau Claire Business College at Eau Claire, Wis. As a youth he learned the carpenter trade, and then, with headquarters at Minneapolis, took up the general contracting business, most of his work being in North Dakota. For five years he was yard manager for the Thompson Yards, Inc., with head- quarters at Minneapolis. In the spring of 1920 he became interested in the Somerset Club property, consisting of timber lands and cottage sites on the banks of Lake Hammill, in Bayfield County, this state. June 1, 1920, he assumed the duties of his present position. The yard carries a general line of lumber and building material, together with coal, wood and other fuel. Mr. Sands has just built a pleasant modern home at 814 Lake Street. He is a member of the Masonic body. Mr. Sands was married Sept. 22, 1906, to Clara Moen of Pleasant Valley Township, Eau Claire County, Wis. She is the daugh- ter of Thorsten and Eli Moen, who were born in Norway and were early settlers in Trempealeau County, this state. Her father died May 12, 1918, but

Digitized by Google

: :

BANK OF CAMBRONIS

BANK OF CAMERON CHARLES H. MUSEUS, PRESIDENT-INGVAL ENGSTAD, CASHIER

Digitized by

Google

651

HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

the mother is still living on the farm in Eau Claire County. They had a family of seven children, of whom six are now living, namely: Annie, Gustav, Gena, Hans, Gilbert and Thorvald, the last mentioned being a Lutheran cler- gyman now residing in Shaffer, N. D. The others reside in Trempealeau and Eau Claire Counties. Mr. and Mrs. Sands are the parents of three children : Elsie, born Aug. 14, 1907; Oliver, born Sept. 18, 1915, and Raymond, born on Thanksgiving Day, 1919.

Frederick Museus was born in Christiania, Norway, son of Carl Frederick Museus. The family came to the United States in 1847 and settled on a farm near Oconomowoc, Wis., where the father did a little farming, but being a cabinet maker by trade spent most of his time making furniture for the neighbors. In 1878 they moved to El Paso, Pierce County, this state, and four years later to Turtle Lake Township, Barron County. Here the father and the mother both died. Frederick was brought to this country when he was about two years old and was reared on the farm near Oconomowoc. In 1862, at the age of seventeen, he enlisted in the Eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry and served three years with the Army of the West, taking part in many important campaigns and battles. After the war he returned to the home farm. Later for many years he lived in Pierce County, first as an employe in a grist mill at Martell and then as hostler and gardener for Dr. Hoyt, at Hudson. Later, after his marriage, he settled on a farm near Hudson. In 1882 he moved to Chetek. He and his wife, Alice Johnson, native of Rock County, Wis., are still living in that city.

Charles H. Museus, a successful real estate agent of Cameron, president of the Cameron State Bank and the State Bank of Hillsdale, was born at Hudson, Wis., May 24, 1872, son of Frederick and Alice (Johnson) Museus, the pioneers. He first entered school in his native county of Pierce, and came to Chetek, this county, with his parents in 1882 when he was ten years of age. Here he completed his early education. With this preparation he entered the University of Wisconsin, where he completed his education, after which he engaged in the real estate business at West Superior, Wis. In 1893 he came to Chetek, and after teaching three years, was made superintendent of schools, in which position he served for six years. Then he went to Chicago and took a course in the Chicago Dental College, with a view of practicing dentistry. But in 1903 he was persuaded to give up his studies to enter the banking field as cashier of the Bank of Cameron. This position he held until 1910 when he resigned from the position to take up real estate. As president of the insti- tution of which he was formerly cashier, he still has an important influence upon its destinies. He is also as noted president of the State Bank of Hills- dale and a director in the Chetek State Bank. Fraternally, he is a mmber of the Masonic order and of the Odd Fellows. Mr. Museus was married on Thanksgiving Day, 1906, to Hannah Jorstad, daughter of Ole and Fredricka Jorstad, early settlers of Cameron, where they are now living retired.

Lars C. Selvig, a respected citizen of Barron, where he is living retired after a successful career in agriculture, was born in the county of Sande, Norway, Jan. 11, 1845, son of Christopher Selvig. His mother's name before marriage was Martha Catherine Anderson. After her death Christopher Selvig married a second wife. He was the father of 21 children in all, eleven by his first wife and ten by his second. Of the first family three came to America, Lars C., John and Catherine, and nine are still living. Of the second family, also, three came to this country, John, Thorval and Frederick, and nine are living. Lars C. Selvig at the age of nine years left home to work for a neigh- bor, Hans Aasnes, an extensive farmer and mill man, receiving for recompense his board and clothes. He remained with Mr. Aasnes until reaching the age of 21, after which he worked for two years in the city of Drammen. In 1868 he came to America, landing at Portland, Me., April 19. From that place he came on to Chicago, but remained in the latter city only two days, going to Pentwater, Mich., where for a year he was employed in the lumber industry,

Digitized by Google

652

HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

working part of the time in a sawmill and the remainder in the woods. In the spring of 1869 he came farther west, to Menomonie, Wis., then an important center of the lumber industry, and entered the employ of Knapp, Stout & Co., with whom he remained until the spring of 1873, working in a mill or in the woods, according to the season, as a common laborer. His work during the winter of 1869-70 was in Barron County, near Turtle Lake. On July 15, 1871, Mr. Selvig married, at Menomonie, Louise Anderson, who was born in Norway, Nov. 24, 1850, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jourgen Anderson. She had been a schoolmate of his in Norway and had come to this country two years later than he. In the spring of 1873 Mr. Selvig left Knapp, Stout & Co. to settle on a homestead at Prairie Farm, Barron County. It consisted of wild land, heavily timbered, and he began improvements by erecting a log house in which three of his children were subsequently born, and which was occupied by himself and his family for six years. He gradually developed his land into a good farm with substantial buildings and resided thereon successfully engaged in general farming until Sept. 10, 1910. He then sold one-half the farm to his son, John, and moved to Barron, where he bought his present comfortable residence. He had increased the size of his original farm to 320 acres, one- half of which he still owns. He is also a stockholder in the Prairie Farm Co- operative Creamery, of which he was one of the organizers. He is a member and was one of the organizers of the Norwegian Lutheran Church at Prairie Farm, and served it as a trustee for a number of years. Mr. and Mrs. Selvig have reared a family of 12 children, all born in Barron County except the eldest, and all of whom are now living. In order of birth they are as follows : Marthina, now Mrs. Edward Falkenburg of Barron; Fred L., of Pasco, Wash .; Trema, now Mrs. Thomas Pierce of Enderlin, N. D .; John, who is on the home farm; Herman L., of Plaza, N. D .; George, of Fergus Falls, Minn .; Lena, who is employed in the state bank at Enderlin, N. D .; Laura, wife of Ole Thofson of Valley City, N. D .; Oscar, of Bismarck, N. D .; Ella, residing with her parents in Barron; Inga, wife of Benjamin Gilbertson of Barron Township, and Effie, who is a teacher in the public schools of Enderlin, N. D. The son, Oscar, served in the World War, enlisting in the U. S. army at Bismarck, N. D., in August, 1917. He trained at Camp Greene, N. C., and crossed to France in December the same year. He served as military police at St. Anan and various other places in France, and was with the army of occupation in Germany. He returned to the United States in August, 1919, and was discharged at Camp Dodge, Iowa, in the same month, returning home in good health. Mr. Selvig is independent in politics. While on the farm he served for a while as a member of the Prairie Farm town board and as assessor. A sturdy type of man, he began life with nothing but a good constitution and has gained pros- perity through his own efforts.

Bernt Anderson, now deceased, for some years a farmer on 80 acres in section 17, east, Maple Grove Township, was a hard working, industrious man, respected in the community and beloved in his family, held in high regard by all who knew him. He was born in Norway, April 22, 1837, and there spent his childhood, youth and early manhood. He came to America in the eighties, and was employed for many years in a chair factory in Rockford, Ill. He came to Barron County in 1903 and purchased the present home place, where he farmed until his death, Sept. 15, 1917. He was a member and regular attendant of the Free Mission Church, and died firm in the faith of that denomination. Since his death, his wife, a most worthy woman, has carried on the farm and is rearing her fine family of children to follow worthily in their father's footsteps. Mr. Anderson was married Dec. 30, 1902, to Inga Larson, daughter of Lars and Lena (Olson) Larson, natives of Norway, who came to America in 1862 and settled in Illinois, where they remained until 1884, and then came to Barron County, where they farmed on 80 acres in sections 4 and 5, east, Maple Grove Township, until 1913, in which year they moved to Cameron, this county, where the father died Jan. 2, 1918, and the

Digitized by Google

653

HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

mother, Feb. 3, 1920. In the family there were six children: Henry, May, Inga, Sophie, Sherman and Mandy. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson were the parents of five children: Mildred, born Jan. 5, 1904; Garfield, born Aug. 26, 1906; Freda, born April 25, 1909; Kenneth, born March 4, 1912; and Vernie, born Jan. 19, 1915.

Martin Petersen, former owner of a brick yard near Barronette, extensive contractor and builder of brick structures, and now operating a farm in Barronette Township, Washburn County, some three-quarters of a mile from Barronette, was born in Denmark, Dec. 15, 1859, was there educated, and there learned the trade of stonemason and bricklayer, which he followed for a number of years. He came to America in 1888, landed in New York and then went from place to place to familiarize himself with the country and the language, working at his trade in Minnesota, Wisconsin and South Dakota. In 1893 he purchased a brick yard in Washburn County, this state, about eighty rods north of the Barron County line, and not far from the village of Bar- ronette. The output of this yard he increased to some 500,000 brick a year. He retained the active management of this yard until 1916, and kept an interest in it until 1920. In the meantime he was operating extensively as a contractor and builder, using nearly all the output of his own factory. It is said that in the last fifteen years he has erected more brick buildings than any other firm in Barron County. Most of the brick buildings in Barronette are his handi- work. He has also erected brick buildings in Rice Lake, Barron, Cumberland and Haugen, in this county, Spooner in Washburn County and Hudson, in St. Croix County, as well as a number of farm buildings. In 1920 he gave up his pleasant home in Barronette and moved to the Jenson farm in Washburn County, which Mrs. Petersen is to inherit, and where they are to make a home for her honored mother, Mrs. Christina Rasmussen Jenson, so long as she lives. Mr. Petersen has numerous business holdings. When the Barronette State Bank was organized he was made its vice president, and remained as such until 1918 when he assumed his present duties as president. Fraternally, he is a member of the M. W. A. Mr. Petersen was married Dec. 23, 1900, to Anna Jenson, who was born in Denmark, April 4, 1879, daughter of Jens and Christina (Rasmussen) Jenson, natives of Denmark, who came to America in 1893 and settled in Barronette Township, Washburn County, this state, where they took a homestead of 80 acres, over half of which they broke, and on which they conducted farming until the father's death, Aug. 16, 1917. The wife is now living on the homestead with Mr. and Mrs. Martin Petersen. Mr. and Mrs. Petersen have seven children: Laura was born June 10, 1901, and teaches school in Washburn County. Robert was born Feb. 1, 1903, and is at home. Francis was born Oct. 2, 1905, and is attending high school at Cum- berland. Paul, born April 1, 1907, and Meta, born Sept. 15, 1910, are doing well with their studies in the district school. John, born Sept. 30, 1912, an unusually bright boy of many engaging traits, died May 24, 1920. Marshall was born March 24, 1916.

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 109

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

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