History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 114

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

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Alvah L. Gumbert, the enterprising proprietor of the prosperous Hillview Dairy Farm, Section 25, Prairie Farm Township, is a well-known man in this vicinity, and is an efficient official here, as he was also in Buffalo County, this state, before coming here. He was born in Gilmanton Township, Buffalo County, Nov. 15, 1869, the son of Jerry and Nancy (Timblin) Gumbert. The parents were born in Pennsylvania and came to this state as young people. After their marriage they established themselves on a homestead in Buffalo County, where they spent the remainder of their lives. At first they endured many hardships getting their start in life. Alma, on the Mississippi, was the trading point, and Mr. Gumbert walked there after provisions, bringing flour, bacon, meal and salt home on his back. Mr. Gumbert was a man highly es- teemed in the community. He fought in the Civil War, and was a good citizen in every respect, held in the deepest regard by all who knew him. The sub- ject of this sketch, born in a log cabin, was reared amid pioneer conditions, and helped to clear up the home farm. As a young man, he started farming in Gilmanton Township, in that county, and soon became a prosperous and sub- stantial citizen. He served with credit as a member of the town board, and he did much for the betterment of farm conditions in the vicinity as the president of the German Valley branch of the American Society of Equity. In 1913 he

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came to Barron County and purchased his present farm of 120 acres. To the development and operation of this place he has since devoted his attention. He carries on general farming and dairying, and has an excellent herd of graded Holstein cattle, a fine drove of Poland-China swine, and some good grade horses. He has built up an excellent farm, a model in every particular, and everything about it bespeaks the thrift, energy and ability of its owner. He is serving the town as assessor, and his fairness and good judgment have com- mended his work to the taxpayers. He is likewise giving good service as clerk of his school board. He is a most estimable citizen and is doing his full share toward the general progress of the community. Mr. Gumbert was mar- ried at Gilmanton, Wis., Dec. 25, 1894, to Pauline Schafer, who was born in Alma, Buffalo County, on Dec. 18, 1875, daughter of Mathias and Elizabeth Schafer. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Gumbert is brightened by three children, Edward, Alma and Alice. One child died in infancy, and another, Vera, mar- ried Henry Neck, of Prairie Farm Township, and died in 1920, leaving a son, Vane, who was born May 9, 1920. The family faith is that of the Evangelical Church. Mr. and Mrs. Mathias Schafer, the parents of Mrs. Gumbert, were natives of Germany, and came to Buffalo County, Wisconsin, when children, with their parents, and carried on farming there. On Oct. 20, 1920, they cele- brated their Golden Wedding. They sold their farm in 1912 and now live re- tired in Mondovi. There were ten children in the family, of whom, John, Otto, Arthur, George, Emma, Isabel and Pauline, are living. Those deceased are, Amanda, Lizzie, Fred, and one who died in infancy.

Gregers Anderson, a pioneer, for many years a resident of Section 26, west, Dovre Township, was born in Norway, and came of a line of iron workers, black- smiths and machinists. He was reared in his native country, and as a youth, like his ancestors before him, became an iron worker. He married Helen Olson, who was born in the same neighborhood, and they had eight children, three of whom died in Norway. The survivors were, Andrew, Jerry, Ole, Martha and Anton. Mr. Anderson brought his family to America in 1869, coming to this region by way of Quebec, Canada, Milwaukee, Wis., and Reed's Landing, Minn. For a part of the first summer, they lived with an uncle, John Anderson, who had a farm on Little L Creek, near Menomonie, Dunn County, this state. From there, Mr. Anderson moved his family to Eau Claire, this state, where he worked at his trade as a blacksmith and as an engineer in the mills for two years. In 1871 he went to Minnesota but did not get just what he wanted. That fall he came to Barron County and found a location that just suited him. In 1873 he drove his family up here, installed them in a log house on the place, and provided suitable quarters for his yoke of oxen and two cows. Then he went back to Eau Claire and worked there for another year. In the meantime his wife and children started to clear up the place and got in the first crop. In 1873 he located here permanently, and here spent the remainder of his life with the exception of two different periods when he was away working. He built up a good place, and became a substantial man in the community. He and his wife were both devout members of the Norwegian Lutheran Church, and he served the congregation at Sand Creek as a trustee. He died March 30, 1891, at the age of sixty-one, and she in January, 1918, at the age of eighty-six. In addition to the children named, they had a daughter, Inga, born in this county, who is the wife of Henry Soberg of Dovre Town- ship; also a son named George, who died in infancy.

Anton Anderson, an estimable farmer of Section 26, west, Dovre Township, was born in Norway, Dec. 23, 1867, the son of Gregers and Helen Anderson, who brought him to America in 1869 and to his present farm in 1873. He was reared here, attended school in an old school house, now the chicken house of John Knudson, in Section 27, and learned farming from his father. With the exception of two summers, when he worked in the mills at Rice Lake, he has always remained at home. To the original 160 acres he had added 40 acres more, and he has made many improvements. In 1920, he put up a barn, 36 by

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MR. AND MRS. GREGERS ANDERSON FARM BUILDINGS OF ANTON ANDERSON

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86 feet, with full basement, and furnished with modern equipment. He also erected a silo, 12 by 20 feet, fourteen feet in the ground. He carries on gen- eral farming and dairying, and makes a specialty of Holstein cattle and Bel- gian horses. He is a stockholder of the Spring Hill Creamery, and has served as its secretary and as one of its trustees. In township affairs he has been a real leader. He is the present town treasurer and previous to that served a long period as town clerk. For some nine years he was clerk of his school district. All these positions he has filled with efficiency, ability and dignity,. to the credit of himself and the satisfaction of his constituents. The church likewise has found him a useful and active worker, and for some years he was clerk of the congregation at Sand Creek. Mr. Anderson was married on June 17, 1899, to Vanda Hanson, who was born in Norway, March 16, 1872, the daughter of Hans and Bridget Hanson, and came to America at the age of 24 years. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are the parents of six children: Hulda, Gladys, Frances, Myrtle, Arthur and Harold, all living at home.

Henry Rabe, an estimable citizen of Section 6, Prairie Farm Township, has lived here for more than forty years, has built up a good farm, has reared an unusually fine family, and in every way has been a fine example to the community of an honorable and God-fearing citizen. He was born in Ger- many, Jan. 31, 1852, the son of Charles and Dora Rabe, who spent the span of their years in that country. The subject of this sketch was reared in his native land, and attended school there. In 1872 he came to the United States and located in Carver County, Minnesota. There he was employed as a farm hand. He was frugal and careful, and self-denying, and in a few years saved enough money out of his pay to purchase 110 acres of partly improved land in Sibley County, Minn. Then he married and took his bride there. In 1879 he came to Barron County, and located on 40 acres in Section 6, Prairie Farm Township. He brought with him his family, a team of horses, a little furniture, a few kitchen utensils, a few tools, and a small amount of other supplies, as well as a cow. He built a log cabin, moved his family into it, and started improving the land. With this beginning he has built up as good a place as is to be found in the neighborhood. He has added to his land until he has 120 acres. The home is pleasant and comfortable, the barn is adequate, and the other out- buildings in the best of repair. Mr. Rabe successfully carries on general farm- ing and dairying, and has met with a measure of well-deserved success. Mr. Rabe was married on Feb. 13, 1885, in Green Isle Township, Sibley County, Minn., to Caroline Louise Winter, who was born there Jan. 4, 1868, the daugh- ter of Michael and Caroline Winter, natives of Germany, who settled in Sibley County in 1865, where both are now living at a good old age. Mr. and Mrs. Rabe have a fine family of fourteen children. They are, Henry, Lena, Emma, Wilhelmina, Elsie, Annie, Herman, Stella, Otto, Selma, William, Edward, Re- gina and Beldina. Six of the daughters are married. Lena married Otto Erd- man, of Turtle Lake Township; Wilhelmina married George Nuesse, of Turtle Lake; Elsie married Henry Mass, of Arland Township; Anna married Rudolph Reidal, of Maple Grove Township; Stella married David Schmidt, of Min- nesota; and Selma married Charles Hover, of Cameron.

Alexander Allen, a well-known farmer who owns 80 acres in Section 11, Rice Lake Township, was born in Sparta, Monroe County, Wis., June 10, 1873, son of Alexander E. and Elizabeth (Shepherd) Allen. Alexander E. Allen, the father, was born in Ireland, came to America in 1851, located in New York State, and then in 1855 came to Monroe County, this state, where he owned successively 40 acres which he purchased that year, 160 acres which he purchased in 1859, and 210 acres which he purchased in 1869. This last place he devoted the remainder of his years to improving. He died in 1910 and his wife in 1914. The subject of this sketch was reared to farm pursuits on the home farm. At the age of eighteen he became a fireman for the Chicago & Northwestern Railway and was subsequently promoted to engineer. For twelve years he was brakeman for the Puget Sound Railroad with headquarters

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at Marmoth. In 1910 he started operating the home place at Sparta, Wis. He came to Rice Lake in 1917 and purchased his present place. He has erected new buildings, made general improvements, and here carries on mixed farming and dairying. He was married March 23, 1907, at Winona, Minn., to Della Thayer, daughter of James A. and Elizabeth (Wallace) Thayer, the former of whom died in 1915 and the latter in 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have four chil- dren: Dorothy V., born May 15, 1909; Margaret L., born Dec. 28, 1914; Alex- ander A., born March 27, 1916; and Merlia E., born Jan. 14, 1921. The family are members of the Catholic Church.

Axel H. Borgen, until recently the owner and operator of a farm of 40 acres in Section 29, Rice Lake Township, but now living retired at Rice Lake, was for years industriously engaged in farming and dairying. When he ac- quired the place in 1913 it was mostly wild timber land, with but ten acres broken. He continued the breaking and clearing, and erected a good set of buildings, including a modern house and suitable barn. In addition to rais- ing the usual crops, he made a specialty of a good herd of graded Holstein cat- tle. Fraternally, he is a member of Rice Lake Lodge, No. 7, S. A. F. Axel H. Borgen was born in Norway, Nov. 14, 1877, the son of Edon Runni and Hedda Anderson. The father died in 1878, and the mother later married Magnus Larson, who brought the family to America in 1881, located at Rice Lake, this county, where he was employed by Knapp, Stout & Co. in a store, then in 1895 going to Prairie Farm hamlet, in this county, and opening a store, of which he is still the proprietor. The subject of this sketch was left in the old coun- try with an uncle when the rest of the family came to America. He was there- fore reared in his native land, educated there, and served in the regular army for four years. He came to America in 1901 and found his way directly to Rice Lake where he entered the employ of the Rice Lake Manufacturing Co. From this employ he went to the farm above mentioned. Mr. Borgen was mar- ried Aug. 1, 1901, at Rice Lake, to Maren Tandberg, daughter of John and Martha (Olsen) Tandberg, who came to America in 1880, and located in Chip- pewa Falls, Wis., where the father worked at his trade as a carpenter until 1893, when he moved to Rice Lake, as one of the owners of the Rice Lake Man- ufacturing Co. The father died March 28, 1903, and the mother retained her interest in the concern until 1917, when she sold out. Mr. and Mrs. Tandberg had eight children : Maren, born Oct. 18, 1880; Henry M., born Nov. 10, 1882; John, born Feb. 15, 1885, who died March 12, 1886; Helen M., born Feb. 1, 1887; Orlando J., born Aug. 6, 1889; Arthur B., born Aug. 14, 1891; Ebba, born May 1, 1894; Leonard, born Aug. 6, 1896; and Ingvald O., born Nov. 25, 1898. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran Church. Axel H. Borgen lost his wife March 12, 1921, and in April he sold his farm and moved to Rice Lake.

John C. Barta, a solid, substantial citizen of Section 32, Rice Lake Town- ship, has assisted in developing three different farms in this county, and has done his share in the general progress of the vicinity. He was born in Mon- roe County, Wis., Nov. 9, 1885, son of Carl and Amelia (Arantz) Barta, the former a native of Germany, and the latter a native of Wisconsin, who died in 1885. He was educated in the common schools of his native county and was reared to farm pursuits on his parents' farm. He remained with his father until 1913. In that year he purchased 80 acres of partly-improved land in Sec- tion 8, Stanley Township, this county. He erected a frame house, barn and other buildings, and continued the clearing. In 1917 he sold out and bought another 40 acres in the same section. There he renovated the house, built a barn and made other improvements. In 1919 he sold that place and bought his present place of 60 acres. This farm has a good frame house, a log barn and other suitable buildings, and some thirty acres has been broken. To its fur- ther development and operation, Mr. Barta is now devoting his attention. Mr. Barta was married Dec. 4, 1915, at Rice Lake, to Julia Johnson, the daughter

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JOSEPH BUNGARTZ AND FAMILY

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of Ole and Marian (Gihle) Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. Barta have one son, Wesley Lyle, born Aug. 3, 1918.

Peter Joseph Bungartz was born in Germany, and was there reared and educated. He came to America in 1855 and secured a farm in Iowa. In 1858, by reason of failing health, he sold out and returned to Germany. In 1862 he again came to America. For three years he served as a private in the Civil War, being a member of the 24th Wisconsin Regiment. After the war he bought a farm near Milwaukee, and later acquired one in Chippewa County, this state. He was a weaver by trade but devoted most of his attention to farming. In Chippewa County his homestead at first consisted of 160 acres of wild land. This land is still in the family. He cleared and broke it, erected a log house and barn, and developed a good place. There he lived until his death, April 27, 1909, his good wife having died June 21, 1884.

Martin Joseph Bungartz, known as Joseph Bungartz, a successful farmer, owning 160 acres in Section 36, Rice Lake Township, was born in Germany, Nov. 17, 1863, son of Peter J. and Margaretha (Wolber) Bungartz. His mother had returned to Germany after the father had enlisted in the Union Army for service in the Civil War. In the early eighties, Martin bought his present farm. A claim shanty had been erected on the place and a little clearing done. He moved into the shanty, and commenced to develop a farm. He built a frame house and a log barn, and purchased equipment as necessity required and means permitted. In 1916 he built the present frame barn. Other buildings have also been erected as required. Mr. Bungartz is a solid, substantial citi- zen. He has been road overseer for some twenty years, and a director on the school board for several terms. Mr. Bungartz was married at Rice Lake, Sept. 17, 1889, to Rosalia Krug, daughter of Kosmas and Maria (Schwartz) Krug, natives respectively of Prussia and Austria. The mother died Sept. 15, 1915; and the father, Nov. 24, 1917. Mr. and Mrs. Bungartz have five children : John William, Margaret B., Frank J., Helena P. and Ernest V. John William was born July 26, 1890, married Claris Amens, and has one son, Guy J., born Dec. 23, 1919. Margaret B. was born Sept. 14, 1891, married Martin Lueth- ner, and has two children, Millicent and Genevieve. Frank J. was born March 10, 1896. Helen P. was born Sept. 18, 1898, and married Gregory Weber. Ernest V. was born Sept. 23, 1899. The parents of Mrs. Bungartz were early settlers of Barron County. They often walked to Chippewa and one time carried Mrs. Bungartz as a child on such a trip, she being then three months old.

Henry Crotteau, who is successfully developing and operating a farm in Section 25, Rice Lake Township, and is an excellent representative of the younger, progressive farmers of the county, was born in the township where he still resides, Feb. 9, 1887, son of Frank and Georgiana (Parise) Crotteau, natives of Canada, who came to Barron County in 1884, purchased 80 acres in Section 25, Rice Lake Township, of which only ten acres had been broken, and by hard work, cleared up the rest of the farm, erected a substantial home and other buildings, and there carried on general farming. The mother died in 1888, and in 1907 the father retired and moved to Rice Lake City, where he died in 1908. Henry was reared to farm pursuits on the home farm and attended the district school. Upon attaining his majority he became a renter, and as such worked for several years. In 1914 he purchased his present farm. It was then wild, covered with brush and stumps. He cleared up the land, erected a good house and outbuildings, and is well on the road to success. Everything that he has he has achieved by hard labor, and by working early and late, and he deserves much credit for what he has achieved. He was mar- ried April 20, 1909, to Eliza Demers, who is also a native of Rice Lake Town- ship, born June 8, 1891, daughter of John B. and Louise (Theiren) Demers, natives of Canada, who came to Barron County in the early days and .were among the first settlers of Rice Lake, where they farmed until their death, he dying in 1903 and she in 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Crotteau have six sturdy chil-

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dren: Georgiana, born June 7, 1910; Lucille, born Jan. 22, 1912; Harvey, born Sept. 4, 1913; Lloyd, born Sept. 21, 1915; Norman, born Aug. 15, 1917; and Edna, born March 28, 1920. The family faith is that of the Roman Catholic Church.

Victor E. Emanuelson, who owns forty acres in Section 30, which his father, and he and his brother, Oscar E., of heroic memory, developed, was born in Sweden, May 10, 1884, the son of Nels U. and Anna (Larson) Eman- uelson. The family came to America in 1893, and located at Rice Lake, this county, where the father was employed in the mill of the Rice Lake Lumber Co. Later they moved onto the present farm. The tract was all wild when they bought it. They cleared and grubbed the land, put up a frame house and log barns, and successfully conducted general farming. Victor E. was sent to the public schools and assisted with the work at home. When he was nine- teen he went to work piling lumber for the Rice Lake Lumber Co. When the father died in 1911, he went back to the farm, which he and his brother, Oscar E., inherited. Together they successfully conducted it for several years. Oscar E. was killed in France, Nov. 8, 1918, and the subject of this sketch now operates it alone. He thoroughly understands farming and is making a good living from the place for himself and his family. Mr. Eman- uelson was married May 30, 1917, at Bloomer, Wis., to Ida Phillipsen, daugh- ter of Christ and Carrie (Rassmussen) Phillipsen, who live at Haugen, Bar- ron County, where they own a good farm. Mr. and Mrs. Emanuelson have one child, Oscar U., born Dec. 29, 1918. Oscar E. Emanuelson was born in Swe- den, Jan. 21, 1891. He was inducted into the United States service at Barron, Nov. 20, 1917, and was sent to Camp Grant at Rockford, Ill. He was a cor- poral in Company C, 130th Infantry. He sailed from New York, was in the trenches and was killed in action and was buried in an American grave yard in France. His body was brought back and buried with military honors in the Swedish grave yard in Rice Lake Township, Aug. 1, 1921.

Frank E. Frazee, an energetic and modern farmer, owning 80 acres in Section 17, Rice Lake Township, was born in Cherokee, Cherokee County, Iowa. July 30, 1885, son of William J. and Alice J. (Dixon) Frazee, who took him to Rock County, Wis., where he attended the public schools until fifteen years of age. With the exception of the five years from 1899 to 1904, when he farmed in Iowa, he worked on the home farm in Rock County until 1911. Then he came to Barron County and purchased a farm of 80 acres in Barron County. half a mile south of Barron. This he sold in 1912, and bought a place of 80 acres in section 34, Rice Lake Township. This he sold in 1916 and moved to the City of Rice Lake, where he engaged in railroad work. He purchased his present place in 1920. He is successfully farming and is developing the place in many ways. Mr. Frazee was married Sept. 16, 1909, at Evansville, Wis., to Jeanette Cushman, daughter of Jefferson H. and Cora (Basey) Cush- man, natives of Grant County, this state, the former of whom is still living there, and the latter of whom died in 1913. Mr. and Mrs. Frazee are the parents of three children: Dorothy K., born June 29, 1910; Marjorie J., born Dec. 17, 1914, and Frances C., born May 24, 1917. Mrs. Frazee was born in Grant County, Wis., Sept. 13, 1884. She graduated from the Wisconsin State Normal School at Plattville, Wis., in the class of 1904, and taught graded schools in this state for six years. She is an active member of the Eastern Star.

John Gobler is operating a farm of 120 acres in sections 7 and 8, Rice Lake Township, which he purchased in 1899, which he has developed and which he has operated for more than twenty years. He was born in Ger- many May 10, 1852, son of Ferdinand and Dorothy (Jurn) Gobler. Ferdinand Gobler was a miller by trade. He brought his family to America in 1852, worked at his trade in New York two years, in Detroit, Mich., a year, and in Styles, Mich., four years. In 1858 he bought 40 acres in Brown County, Wis., all covered with timber. He built a log house and barn and started clearing

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JOHN GOBLER, FAMILY AND RESIDENCE

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the land and farming. He prospered with the years and added to his pos- sessions until he owned 200 acres of land in Brown County. He died in 1910 and his wife in 1916. John came to America with his parents and attended school until fifteen years of age. As a young man he entered the employ of the Hub and Spoke factory at Kaukana, Wis., in the Fox River Valley. With this concern he came to Rice Lake. He is well known in the community and has served several years on the school board. Fraternally he is a mem- ber of the Odd Fellows. Mr. Gobler was married Aug. 10, 1875, to Henrietta Made, at Wrightstown, Brown County, this state. This union has been blessed with six children: Louis, Otto, Fred, Herman E., John A. and Dora. Fred A. has worked in the postoffice at Thief River Falls, Minn., for some twelve years past. He married Daisy Krotka, and has two children, John E. and Elsie. Herman E. is married and lives in St. Paul. Dora married Christian Runz, and lives in Dickinson, North Dakota. Mrs. Henrietta Gobler died in October, 1902. In 1904 Mr. Gobler married Laura Carolay.

Frank J. Hauck, agriculturist, dairyman and former educator, was born at Cresco, Howard County, Iowa, Aug. 14, 1874, son of John and Catherine (Schneider) Hauck. He was reared on an Iowa farm, passed through the common schools and received his higher education at Mt. Calvary College, at Mt. Calvary, Wis. With this preparation he became a school teacher in the rural schools of his native state. He was a good teacher, he had the faculty of imparting instruction in an efficient manner and he won the appro- bation of the parents and the affection of his pupils. Later he farmed for a while in Iowa. Then he came to Wisconsin and farmed near Sparta, in Monroe County, for a while. He came to Barron County in 1914 and pur- chased 249 acres in section 3, Rice Lake Township. He has built a modern house, a commodious barn, machine sheds and other buildings and is excel- lently equipped in every way for the successful conduct of extensive farming operations. His cattle are of a good grade, headed by a full blooded Holstein sire, and his swine are of the Duroc-Jersey breed. He keeps well abreast of the times in every way, he is a man of broad information and wide reading, and he is a man of much influence among his neighbors who respect him for his ability and learning. Mr. Hauck was married Sept. 4, 1896, at St. Mary's, Wis., to Odelia Schieffer, and this union has been blessed with nine children: John, Catherine, Arnold, Maria, Margaret, Christian, Anna, Joseph and Alice. John was born July 14, 1898, married Leona Larson, and has one son, Duane. Catherine was born July 2, 1900, married Raymond Hayes and has a daughter, Ethel. Arnold was born Dec. 1, 1902; Maria was born March 21, 1905; Margaret was born July 18, 1906; Christian was born Aug. 21, 1908; Anna was born Nov. 28, 1910; Joseph was born May 26, 1913; and Alice was born July 21, 1915. The family faith is that of the Roman Catholic Church.

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 114

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

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