History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 111

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

USA > Wisconsin > Barron County > History of Barron County Wisconsin > Part 111

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But Mr. Carlson and his wife were young, they had hope and courage, and they were looking to the future. While Mr. Carlson was clearing up the brush, raising what crops he could, carting his wheat to Eau Claire with an ox team, bringing provisions in on his back, sometimes working in the woods for neigh- bors to earn a little money, and attending to official town and school affairs, Mrs. Carlson was looking after the garden, tending to her household duties, doing the chores about the house, rearing the babies to husky childhood, and spinning yarn and knitting socks and mittens for her husband and children. By thus working together they built up a good place and established a fine home. At one time they owned as high as eighteen forty-acre tracts. Being a man of strong personality, it was natural that Mr. Carlson should early have been called upon to serve in public office. He served for some years as chair- man and as a member of the sideboard, when Dover and Chetek constituted one township. He was a member of the school board for over a quarter of a century. For over forty years he has been an officer of the Norwegian Lutheran Church at Dovre. Mrs. Carlson died in June, 1910. She was a loyal wife, a devoted mother, a kind neighbor and a good friend, a worthy helpmate in every respect, and her memory will be forever cherished by the whole community as well as her family. Mr. Carlson still lives on the farm, but is practically retired from the more strenuous duties of farm life. Mr. Carlson was married June 7, 1873, at Eau Claire, Wis., to Ingrid Stene, who was born in Norway June 6, 1849, and came to America in 1868 with her brother, Ole Stene. This union was blessed with seven children: Anna, Marie, Carl J., Christian G., Ida, Sigurd A. and Hilda. Anna died at the age of six years. Marie lives on the home place and keeps house for her father. Carl J. is dead. Christian G. lives on the home farm. Ida is the wife of Norman Hansen, of Dovre Township. Sigurd A. lives in Dovre Township. Hilda is dead.

Carl Joseph Carlson, now deceased, a highly esteemed and respected farmer of section 16, Dovre Township, spent all of his years from early infancy on that section, and became one of the most popular men in the community. He was a native of this state, born in Eau Claire Aug. 1, 1877, the son of Martin and Ingrid (Stene) Carlson. He was brought to Barron County as an infant, and was here reared and educated, learning farm pursuits from his father. In 1905 he formed a partnership with his brothers, Sigurd A. and Christian G., and the three brothers operated nearly a whole section of their father's farm. By hard work, intelligently applied, the three young men prospered and continued the development started by their father. In time a set of modern buildings was erected for Carl Joseph and a set for Sigurd A., while Christian G. continued to occupy the home buildings. In 1912 the partnership was dissolved. At that time Carl Joseph obtained 300 acres. This he continued to operate and develop for the remainder of his life. He carried on general farming and dairying and made a specialty of raising Durham cattle and Poland China swine. His financial holdings included stock in the Co-operative Mercantile Co. at Chetek and in the farmers' potato warehouse there. In public life, he naturally took an active interest in the affairs of the town where he had spent the most of his life, and for some years he was a valued member of the town board. After a useful life worthily spent, he died May 27, 1917, and his loss was sincerely mourned. Mr. Carlson from boyhood up lived worthily, that which he accomplished he did well, he was a man of even temperament, a loyal son and brother, a faithful husband, a loving father, and a good citizen and friend. He was married Nov. 15, 1902, to Anna Josephine Aronson, who was born in Norway March 10, 1880, the daughter of Frank and Annetta (Jergeson) Aronson, who brought the family from that country to America in 1893 and settled in Polk County, this state, for six years, later moving to Hayward, in Sawyer County, this state, where they lived for twenty years. Then they came to Barron County for a while and lived five years in Dovre Township, but later returned to Hayward, where they now reside. Mr. and Mrs. Carlson had eight children: Martin, Agnes,

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CARL OSCAR HANSON AND FAMILY

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Irene (died at the age of eight years and four months), John D., Sigurd R., Mary Catherine, Henry Alfred, Harold V. and Norman Conrad. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran Church.

John Carlson, now deceased, was for many years an estimable citizen of section 31, west, Dovre Township. He was in every respect a good citizen, a generous neighbor, a hard worker, and an upright man, and his memory will long continue to be honored. He found his deepest joy in his family, and in his large number of children and grand children he took much pride and satisfaction. He was born in Sweden April 22, 1847, the son of Carl and Mary Johnson, who spent the span of their years on a farm in Sweden. Reared and educated in Sweden John remained there until 1875, when he and his brother, Otto, came to America. He had barely enough to get to Menomonie in Dunn County, this state, where for some years he worked on farms at a very small wage. In 1881 he brought his wife and oldest child, Otto, to Barron County and settled on section 31, west, Dovre Township. He drove in by ox team and moved into a log house which he built, 13 by 20 feet. Their equipment was of the most meagre. Their bed and table were home made, their only seats were sawed off logs. Trading points were far away. Sometimes he brought provisions on his back from as far away as Eau Claire, and sometimes his wife walked to Sand Creek after supplies of immediate necessity. These early privations and hardships were in time rewarded with a full measure of prosperity. He added to his possessions until he owned 240 acres, he remodelled the log house into a comfortable residence, he built a good barn 34 by 60 feet with a 21 by 32 lean-to, and he also put up other suitable buildings. He was interested in co-operative effort and had shares in the Spring Hill Creamery, and in the creamery and store at Sand Creek. After a useful and well spent life, he died April 29, 1921. His family faith was that of the Norwegian Lutheran Church. Mr. Carlson was married Aug. 16, 1879, to Ellen Lund, who was born in Denmark May 26, 1861, the daughter of Andrew and Anna Lund. This union has been blessed with thirteen chil- dren: Otto, of Dovre Township; Hilda, wife of John Selling, of Chippewa County; Selma, wife of John Larson, of Eau Claire; Elga, wife of Charles Peterson, of New Auburn; Sophie, wife of Arthur Lawrence, of Minneapolis; Elma, wife of Earl Clausen, of Minneapolis; Velve, Hildor, John, Theodore, Edna, Otis and Christina, all at home. There are eighteen grand children.

Harold Hanson, for many years identified with the lumbering operations of north-central Wisconsin, was born in Christiania, Norway, in 1837, and came to Wisconsin as a young man of sixteen years. He was an expert sawer and worked for such concerns as the Esterbrook-Prescott Lumber Co., the Burdick-Porter Lumber Co., and the Valley Lumber Co., with which last named concern he remained for twenty-two years. In time he took a home- stead in Dunn County and spent his summers developing and operating it, while working as a sawer during the lumbering seasons. He is now deceased. His wife is living at the age of sixty-three. Of their eleven children, four died in infancy, and seven, Carl Oscar, Ida, Arthur, Laura, Mabel, Helmar and Lydia have lived to adult years.

Carl Oscar Hanson, better known as Oscar C. Hanson, is one of the leaders in Dovre Township. He was born in Eau Claire, Wis., July 6, 1875, the son of Harold and Louisa (Sanvig) Hanson. He was reared and educated in his native city and as a youth became a shingle weaver, an occupation he followed in mills in various parts of Wisconsin for several years. In 1903 he purchased his present farm in section 14, Dovre Township. Some of the eighty acres had already been broken, but no buildings had been erected. He has continued the breaking and has developed a good place, well fenced and well stocked with tools, implements and machinery. The comfortable frame house was erected in 1904 and the good barn, 36 by 60 feet, with full basement, was put up in 1916. The other buildings have been erected as necessity has required. Here Mr. Hanson carries on general farming and dairying, having a good

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herd of graded Durhams. He is active in everything that pertains to the growth and progress of the community, is clerk of the Chetek Co-operative Shipping Association, a director in the Spring Hill Creamery Co., and a stock- holder in the Farmers' Co-operative Store of Chetek. He and his family are loyal supporters of the Norwegian Lutheran Church at Dovre, of which he is one of the trustees. Mr. Hanson was married Nov. 12, 1898, to Hannah Tiller, born Dec. 4, 1875, in Dovre Township, this county, in the pioneer log cabin of her parents, John and Martha (Amundson) Tiller. Mr. and Mrs. Hanson have two children: Mildred Lorana and Howard Alexander. Mildred was graduated from the Chetek High School and completed her studies with a year's training at the Teachers' Training School at Rice Lake, and for three years prior to her marriage taught school. She was married July 21, 1916, to. Thorvald Moe of Chetek.

John Cronick, a hard working and industrious farmer of section 1, west, Dovre Township, where he is the proprietor of the well-kept and prosperous Lakeview Farm, was born in Polen, Germany, May 7, 1869, the son of Joseph and Louise Cronick. John lost his mother when he was young and for a few years attended school in Germany. In 1879 the father started for America, bringing his motherless son, then but ten years of age. They found their way to Chippewa Falls, in Chippewa County, this state, and from there walked to Chetek, in this county. The boy made his home with the families of August Kwellek and John Kleve, in Dovre Township, while the father worked in the flour mills at Chetek, and then in the lumber woods and in sawmills for Knapp, .Stout & Co. He then married Kate Maternoskey and they established a home for themselves and the boy in Chetek. For a while the father was in business in Chetek, and then bought a farm in Chetek Township, where he farmed the remainder of his life. He died in Chetek at the age of 74 and his wife died a few months later at the age of fifty-four. She bore him two children, Michael and Clara. The subject of this sketch attended school at Chetek for a while, worked on farms and as a railroad section man, being promoted until he became section foreman for the "Soo" with headquarters at Dunbar, in Mari- nette County. Then he took up farming as a renter. In 1899 he bought his present farm of 149 acres, which was then all wild. He built a log house of one room with a lean-to for a kitchen, and started farming with a few small tools. At first their domestic animals consisted of a cow and a horse. With this beginning he developed a good farm. In 1917 he built a comfortable eight-room house and a barn 32 by 60 feet. He now successfully carries on general farming and dairying and raises Holstein and Guernsey cattle. He takes pride in his home, his farm and his family, and in every way measures up to the full standard of a good citizen. He and his family are earnest sup- porters of the Roman Catholic Church at Chetek, and he is now serving as its secretary and one of its trustees. Mr. Cronick was married on Dec. 12, 1889, to Rosa Krecominski, born in Polen, Germany, March 31, 1873. This union has been blessed with thirteen children: Anna is the wife of Alex. Wise, of Armstrong Creek, Wis .; Martin is telegraph operator for the "Soo" line at Cardigan Junction; Joseph is an operator for the "Soo" line at Rapid River, Mich .; Henry is also employed by the "Soo" line; and Paul, Clara, Michael, Theodore, Rosa and Violet are at home. Frank, Stephen and an unnamed infant are dead.

Casper Christianson, an enterprising farmer of section 22, Dovre Town- ship, was born in Norway Oct. 25, 1881, the son of Charles and Andre Chris- tianson, also natives of that country. They brought their four children: Casper, Carl (who died at the age of nine years), Augusta and Minda, to the United States in 1882, their first born son, likewise named Casper, having died in the old country at the age of one year. They settled first on a farm in Dunn County, this state, and from there came to Barron County in 1883, and took a homestead of wild land in section 30, east, Dovre Township. They erected a frame house and a slab barn, and started farming with a yoke of oxen. For

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a time they had much to contend with, but after a while developed a good place and achieved success. There they spent the remainder of their lives, the father dying in January, 1919, at the age of seventy-one, and the mother in 1915 at the age of fifty-four. In addition to the five children born in Nor- way, there were born in this country seven: Anna, Oscar, Carrie, Matilda, Tena, Torfin and Ingwald. Casper was reared in this township and attended the old log schoolhouse in the neighborhood. He learned farming from his father, and as a young man farmed for relatives for several years. In 1901 he bought his present farm of 120 acres and moved onto it in 1911. Twenty- five acres had been broken, but no buildings had been erected. He erected a set of good buildings, including a beautiful bungalow residence completed in the fall of 1921. He has about fifty-five acres broken and successfully carries on general farming and stock raising. He is one of the substantial, hard working men of the community and is in excellent standing with all who know him. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Store Co. at Chetek. His religious faith, like that of his parents before him, is that of the Norwegian Lutheran Church.

Andrew Agerli, better known as Andrew Lee, a representative farmer of section 2, Dovre Township, was born in Norway May 13, 1865, one of the nine children of Christian and Martha Agerli, who spent the span of their years on a farm in Norway. He was reared and educated in his native land and came to America at the age of twenty-two in 1887, borrowing the money to make the trip. He joined friends in Fillmore County, Minn., and there took up farm work for several years. In 1902 he came to Barron County and bought 40 acres of brush land in section 2, Dovre Township, moving his wife and two children into a homesteader's shack which stood on the place. With this beginning he has built up a good farm and has won a fair degree of success in life. He now owns 180 acres, well improved and well tilled, where he carries on general farming and dairying, making a specialty of Holstein cattle. He is interested in everything that is for the best interests of the community and is willing to take his share in every worthy cause. He helped to organize the Ideal Cheese and Creamery Co. in Dovre Township and was one of its first directors. He is a shareholder in the Co-operative Mercantile Co. and the Farmers' Store Co., both of Chetek. Mr. Agerli was married at Harmony, Minn., Dec. 27, 1897, to Mena Christenson, who was born in Norway June 26, 1874, the daughter of Christian Evenson and his good wife Nicolena Hanson. This union has been blessed with four children: Carl Magnus, Nellie Pauline, Alma and Amanda. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran Church.

Isaac Hewitt, an early settler of Dovre Township, and veteran of the Civil War, was born in Ireland, the son of James and Ellen Hewitt, who brought him to the Province of Quebec, Canada, when he was a small boy. He was reared in Canada and as a young man came to the States and located in La Crosse County, Wis. There his parents later joined him and spent the remainder of their lives. From there, too, he enlisted in Co. I, 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and did valiant service in the Civil War. Upon his hon- orable discharge he worked as a farmer, as a lumberman and as a sawmill man. For a time he owned a flourishing sawmill on Robinson Creek, which flows into the Black River, in Jackson County, this state. In 1875 he located on the northwest quarter of section 3, Dovre Township. His wife's brother, Charles Dake, built a small cabin and Isaac Hewitt bought the homestead right of Mr. Dake's widow. His own brother, George Hewitt, drove the wife and three children, William E., Tena and Ida, up from La Crosse County. At first the family had but little to do with and it was several months before they had a cow. In order to support the family before the farm became pro- ductive, Mr. Hewitt spent his winters in the lumber woods, leaving his wife and children at home. In the summer he worked on his farm. The nearest trading point was at Sand Creek, in Dunn County, ten miles away, and from

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there Mr. Hewitt brought in flour on his back. Thus he and his wife worked to get things started in their new home. As time passed their efforts were rewarded with well deserved prosperity. Mr. Hewitt added another quarter section to his holdings, put up good buildings, and developed a good farm. Foreseeing that dairying was to be the most important industry of this region he assisted in organizing the Dallas Creamery at Dallas, and continued active in its support. A man of strong religious convictions, he helped to organize the First Day Adventist Church at Chetek and was one of its officers. He was likewise active in the G. A. R. Post at Chetek, to which village, in his latter years, he retired. There he died in 1916 at the age of eighty-four. His wife died in 1919 at the age of seventy-five. Three more children, Isaac, Grace and Ellen, were born in Barron County.

William E. Hewitt, an active and leading farmer of section 3, Dovre Township, was born in La Crosse County, this state, Nov. 18, 1867, the son of Isaac and Malvina (Dake) Hewitt, who in 1875 brought him to Dovre Town- shop. He attended the old log schoolhouse in the neighborhood, and learned farming from his father. As a young man he worked for several seasons in the lumber woods winters and on river drives in the spring. Gradually he assumed the responsibilities of the home farm. In 1908 he took over the original quarter section, including the home buildings, and there he has con- tinued to carry on general farming, paying particular attention to Holstein cattle and Duroc Jersey swine. Aside from looking after his work at home he has done many things for the benefit of the community. He helped to organize the Ideal Cheese and Dairy Co. in section 3, Dovre Township, and has served as vice president and director. He was one of the original members of the Co-operative Mercantile Co. at Chetek, and has been active in its support. Like his father before him he is a firm adherent of the First Day Adventist Church at Chetek and has served as one of its officers. As a parent he is interested in education and has done good service as a member of the school board. Mr. Hewitt was married on Nov. 26, 1904, in Dovre Township, to Nettie Rich, who was born in Monroe County, this state, on Oct. 5, 1884, the daughter of Seth and Saphrona Rich. This union has been blessed with four children : Olive, Mabel, Lloyd and Viola, all living at home.

Greger Gregerson, an early settler of Dovre Township, was born in Nor- way July 24, 1822, and was there reared and educated. He was married there to Asloug Knudsdatter, who was born March 31, 1831. In the early sixties they set out with their daughter, Anna, to try their fortunes in the New World. Weather conditions were unfavorable, the voyage lasted fourteen weeks, and in the meantime the daughter, Anna, died. The bereaved parents found their way to Manitou Island, off the northern arm of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. There he engaged for several years in cutting wood. From there they went to Dunn County, Wis., and located on the Little L Creek. In 1870 they came to Barron County and located on 160 acres of wild land in section 34. He built a log cabin and a straw shed and started to clear up the land. He had but little to work with except his hands. Provisions had to be brought in on his back from Bloomer and Eau Claire, many miles away. His wife carded and spun wool, and knit mittens, stockings and jackets for the family. To the development of this farm they devoted the remainder of their lives and became well known people in the community. Mr. Gregerson died in the fall of 1890. His wife died Dec. 14, 1904. They were firm believers in the Nor- wegian Lutheran Church, and early services of that denomination were held in their home. They had four children born in Michigan: Anna (deceased), Louise (deceased) ; Greger, of Dovre Township; and Ole, who lives on the home place.

Ole Gregerson, an estimable farmer of section 34, Dovre Township, was born in Manitou Island, off the northern arm of the Upper Peninsula of Michi- gan, Sept. 1, 1864, the son of Greger and Asloug, who brought him to Barron County when he was a small boy. He was reared on the home farm, learned

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MR. AND MRS. W. E. HEWITT AND FAMILY MR. AND MRS. ISAAC HEWITT

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farming from his father and attended the old log schoolhouse on the farm now occupied by John Knutson. He now owns eighty acres of the home place. He built a good house, a barn 34 by 60 feet, and other buildings, and has purchased suitable tools, implements and equipment. He successfully carries on general farming and has the respect and esteem of all who know him. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Store Co. at Chetek. He also has other interests. Mr. Gregerson was married at Sand Creek, Dunn County, Dec. 2, 1892, to Ingeborg Dahl, who was born in Norway Sept. 24, 1862, the daughter of Erland and Marit Dahl, and came to the United States in 1889. This union has been blessed with four children, Marie, Gerhard, Adella and Edna. Marie lives in Evanston, Ill. Gerhard is at home. He is a popular and energetic young man, and his father's assistant on the farm. Adella is the wife of Egbert Anne, of New Auburn. Edna is at home.

John Knutson, an enterprising and progressive farmer of section 27, Dovre Township, was born in a log cabin built by his father in section 26, this town- ship, Dec. 5, 1880, the son of Halver and Carrie (Olson) Knutson. He was reared to farm pursuits on the home place, and was educated in the log school- house which is still standing on the place which he now owns. For several seasons he worked in the logging woods in winter. When his father died he was not yet of age, but he assumed many of the duties of looking after the home place and the younger children. In 1905 he located on a tract of eighty acres in this township, once owned by his uncle, Gulick Knutson. In 1910 . he bought his present place of 160 acres. This farm was the homestead of Ole Thompson, and was later the property of B. N. Thompson. The only building standing on the property when Mr. Knutson purchased it was an old building originally built as a schoolhouse. Mr. Knutson has developed as good a farm as is to be found in the neighborhood. He has a fine set of buildings, comfortable and commodious, his acres are well tilled, productive and substantially fenced, his equipment in the way of implements, tools and machinery is of the best, and his live stock is all sleek and well kept. He makes a specialty of brown Swiss cattle and has a pure blooded sire. His swine are of the Duroc Jersey breed. As a native of the town, it is natural that Mr. Knutson should have taken the deepest interest in its development and progress, and he has its welfare thoroughly at heart. For seven years he has done most excellent work as a member of the school board. It is inter- esting to note that he attended the schoolhouse which now stands on his place and which he uses as a chicken house. One spring, in 1894, when Alba Lund was the teacher of the school, the subject of this sketch and some of the other children, transplanted two maple trees in the school yard. Little did he then think that the years would come when he would build his own home on the site where he then conned his youthful lessons, and that his own bright children would play and work and grow under the shelter of the trees he then planted. Within a few rods of the place is the cable bridge across the Cedar River. This bridge is 200 feet long and swings some twenty feet above high water. It is constructed of four stout woven steel cables, the walk being made of planks. This bridge is kept in repair by the neighbors who find it very con- venient. Mr. and Mrs. Knutson delight in keeping open house for their friends and their children's friends, and their home is one of hospitality and good cheer. Mr. Knutson was married at Dallas on Sept. 26, 1903, to Emma Thomp- son, born in Pine Creek on April 6, 1884, the daughter of Alex. and Ausne Thompson. This union has been blessed with eight children: Elvira, Edith, Hartwell, Orrin, Juneau, Jess Willard, Vivian and Loleta (deceased).

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 111

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

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