History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 115

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

USA > Wisconsin > Barron County > History of Barron County Wisconsin > Part 115

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).

Edwin A. Hedstrom is one of the rising young men of Rice Lake Town- ship. He has a pleasant farm of 100 acres in section 30, which he rents from his father, and he is successfully carrying on general farming along lines which speak well for his future prosperity. He has had experience in the. farm life of Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota, he has seen military life in several camps in several states, and was an efficient instructor in the service of the United States at the close of the World War. He was born in Prentice, Price County, this state, Feb. 29, 1896, the son of August and Anna (Larson) Hedstrom. The father's name originally was August Ander- son and was changed to Hedstrom on coming to Rice Lake. Edwin started work with his father on the home farm at an early age. At fifteen he set out for himself, but his first experience was not encouraging, for after work- ing in the lumber woods for the Rice Lake Lumber Co. for two months, he seriously cut his foot and was compelled to spend a month in a hospital. Then he went home for a while. From there he went to Clinton, Minn. With this beginning he worked on farms in the three states, spending his autumns as an engineer on a threshing machine. In 1917 he was inducted into the

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United States service. He started training at Camp Dodge, Iowa, Nov. 1. On Nov. 25 he was transferred to the Kelley Field, Texas. His record there was so good that a few months later he was sent to the special school at Ellington Field, Houston, Texas, to receive instruction in aerial gunnery. May 15, 1918, he was sent to Ithaca, N. Y., as an instructor in the same branch. He was discharged Dec. 28, 1918. From then until May 18, 1919, he was motorman on the street car system in Minneapolis. Mr. Hedstrom was married July 15, 1902, at Newfield, N. Y., to Ruth Conkrite, daughter of Pierie L. and Mertie L. (Bogart) Conkrite, the former of whom, a ma- chinist by trade, operated a grocery store at Ithaca, and the latter of whom died July 12, 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Hedstrom have a daughter, Irene J., born Aug. 5, 1919.

Chris Heldstab, a veteran of the Civil War, and an early settler of Rice Lake Township, was born in Switzerland and there grew to manhood. He married Christina Mortrude, the daughter of a neighbor and a native of Norway. They came to America in 1860 and located in Vernon County, Wis. When the Civil War broke out Mr. Heldstab enlisted in Co. K, 26th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry and served for three years. Later he was a steamboat man on the Mississippi River. In the early seventies he came to Rice Lake Township and took a homestead in section 36. This was all wild land covered with timber. He erected a log house and barn and cleared and improved a part of the land. Intelligent and industrious, he commanded the respect of his fellow townsmen and for years served as chairman of the township board, also for one year as town clerk. He was a member of the G. A. R. Post at Rice Lake, and was religiously affiliated with the German Reformed Church .. After a useful and active career he died in 1897 at the age of 54 years. His wife is still living in Rice Lake Township, now aged 67 years.

John A. Heldstab, a leading official of Rice Lake Township, is living on the place in Rice Lake Township which his father developed from a wilder- ness. He is breeding Guernsey stock and has continued the improvements started by his parents, having built a good house, a barn with full basement, a granary, sheds and other buildings. In these buildings he has installed many modern improvements, including a Presto plant which lights the house and barns and a gas engine which furnishes the power to pump water, and operates the cream separator, washing machine and other equipment. On his farm he has a tractor and also a 20-H. P. engine for his silo. In building up his own success Mr. Heldstab has not been unmindful of his public duty, and has taken his full share in public affairs. He is chairman of the town board and a member of the county board on which he is serving as a member of the Board of Equalization. He has held town positions of one sort or another for some fifteen years. He has been treasurer of the school district for a quarter of a century. Mr. Heldstab is a native of this county, having been born on the farm in section 36, Rice Lake Township, where he now lives, Nov. 7, 1873, son of Christ and Christina (Mortrude) Heldstab. He was married in Rice Lake Township Aug. 22, 1907, to Barbara Hefty, daugh- ter of Marcus and Catherine (Durst) Hefty, early settlers of this county, the former of whom still lives in the county, the latter being deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Heldstab have three children: Clarence M., born May 29, 1908; Blanche L., born Jan. 31, 1910; and Myron C., born Jan. 21, 1921.

Anton King, who is successfully farming 72 acres in section 15, Rice Lake Township, was born in Doyle Township, this county, Oct. 16, 1876, the son of James and Elizabeth (Shivert) King. The parents came from Canada to Prairie Farm Township, Barron County, Wis., in the seventies, and after looking about for a while took a homestead of 160 acres of timber land in section 18, Doyle Township. The county was then almost all wooded. Here and there were lumber camps, but there were only a few settlers. Public highways were little more than trails, and most of the travel was done on

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ANTON KING AND FAMILY

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the "tote" roads made by the lumber companies. Many times Mr. King carried flour on his back through the woods. The family set to work with a will, cut off a small home space, erected log buildings and started to establish a farm in the wilderness. They prospered with the years and became respected and substantial citizens. The mother died Feb. 22, 1888, age 40 years, and the father Dec. 22, 1892, at the age of 48. Anton was reared amid pioneer conditions. When he reached maturing boyhood his parents were still poor, so he left school to help on the home farm. Later he worked out in the neighborhood. In 1893 he purchased 80 acres in section 17, Doyle Township, and started to clear up the wild land. Two years later he sold out, and then for some time was employed by others. In 1901 he rented the old homestead. The next year he went to Tacoma, Wash., in search of adven- ture and worked on the docks and in the sawmills for a time. In 1904 he came back to his native county and rented his present farm. He purchased it in 1918. That same year, on May 18, a cyclone struck his home and destroyed barns, outbuildings and a part of the house. Mr. King has devoted his attention to the conducting and developing of this farm. His holdings include shares in the Red Cedar Cheese Co., and in the warehouse of the Equity Society at Campia. He is much interested in good roads and has been road commissioner of his district for seven years. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Order of Foresters. From his boyhood he has been an enthusiastic hunter and trapper, and also derives much enjoyment from fishing. He has always been fortunate in securing game, such as bear and deer, being a good shot, and besides is a good com- panion. Mr. King was married May 14, 1901, in this township, to Alphoene Deriseau, born April 13, 1881, in Rice Lake Township, Barron County, and they have seven children: Anton, born Jan. 31, 1902; Cecelie, Sept. 29, 1904; Louis, born April 31, 1906; Francis, born March 20, 1908; Medrick, born Feb. 26, 1910; Loren, born Aug. 8, 1912; and Harvey, born Nov. 12, 1914. The family faith is that of the Roman Catholic Church. The parents of Mrs. King were Fermen and Addie (Demars) Deriseau, both natives of Canada, where they were married. On coming to Barron County, Wis., they located on eighty acres of wild land on section 13, Rice Lake Township, where Mr. Deriseau began improvements by building a log house and barn. In common with other pioneers, he used to carry flour on his back through the woods. He died on the homestead Feb. 23, 1916, at the age of 72 years. His wife died there in August, 1919, aged sixty-eight. They were faithful members of the Roman Catholic Church. Of their thirteen children, eight were born in Canada and five in Barron County, Wis.

William S. Kinsey, proprietor of the Green View Stock Farm, came to Rice Lake in 1914 and purchased 200 acres in section 11, 40 acres of which he sold two years later. The place is highly improved. The modern house was built in 1917 and the commodious barn of 34 by 80 feet, with full base- ment, in 1915. The house is furnished with heat, electric lights, running hot and cold water on both floors, bath room, toilets, and other conveniences. The barn has patent stanchions, running water at each animal's head, electric lights and similar improvements. An electric plant furnishes the lights for house, barns, other buildings and yard, pumps the water and sup- plies power for the washing machine, cream separator and other machinery. Mr. Kinsey carries on general farming and dairying. His cattle are graded Holsteins with a full blooded sire, his sheep are Shropshires and his swine are Duroc-Jerseys. Mr. Kinsey has stock in the Red Cedar River Cheese Co. in Rice Lake Township. He has been treasurer of the school board for several terms. In Forest Township, Richland County, he served as a township official. He was born in Wales, son of Steven and Betsy (Swancutt) Kinsey, who came to America in 1871 and located at Evansville, Rock County, Wis. There the father farmed until his retirement, after which he resided with his son, William, until his death on Feb. 8. 1908. His wife died on the

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farm Feb. 6, 1902. They were industrious, hard working people, of small means, and had to deprive themselves of many comforts to rear their large family of eight girls and five boys. William S. came to this country with his parents when a small boy and was reared in Rock County, Wis., learning farming from his father. In 1889 he purchased 120 acres of improved land in that county. In 1905 he sold out and went to Richland County in the same state, where he purchased 200 acres of partly improved land in section 21, Forest Township. He continued the improvements and built a good house, barns and other buildings. From there he came to Barron County. He was married March 15, 1905, to Vida Alberta Holmes, daughter of Exera S. and Anna M. (Gilmore) Holmes, the latter of whom had been adopted by a family named White. Mr. Holmes died Feb. 16, 1899, and the latter March 25, 1912. Mrs. Kinsey was born in McLeod County, Minn., April 15, 1876, and after passing through the common schools attended the high school at Hutchinson and at Browntown, both in Minnesota.

John Lucas, joint owner with his brother, Harry, of 194 acres of good land in sections 3, 4, 9 and 10, Rice Lake Township, with residence in section 10, was born in Ridgeland, Dunn County, Wis., son of Samuel and Lucy (Gartman) Lucas. Samuel Lucas was born in England and came to America as a young man in 1861. His wife was a native of Wisconsin. After looking about, while working in various places as a farmer, he finally purchased railroad land in Dunn County, this state, on which he farmed for many years. He and his wife now live in Ridgeland, Wis. John attended district school until well into his 'teens, and was reared to farm pursuits. After attaining his majority he went to Oregon, where he learned the plumbing trade, which he followed for five years there. He returned to Wisconsin in 1909 and bought a farm in Dallas Township, Barron County. This he sold, then rented a farm for a year, and then operated his father's farm two years. He bought a place west of Rice Lake in 1919, but sold the same year. Then he and his brother bought their present improved farm. Here they carry on general farming with especial attention to dairying, and the foundation for their future success is already well laid. Harry Lucas was born at Ridgeland, Wis., March 25, 1884. He subsequently farmed in various places until he became associated in business with his brother John. He was mar- ried March 17, 1910, to Mabel Bellis, daughter of Frederick and Alice (Learn) Bellis, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Iowa, the former of whom died in 1918 and the latter of whom is still living.

Joseph Velten has a farm of 40 acres in section 8, Rice Lake Township, which he has owned more than a quarter of a century. He was born in Germany Nov. 7, 1862, son of Jacob and Katherine (Reckenthaler) Velten, the former of whom died in the old country in 1872, and the latter of whom later came to this country in 1889. Joseph was left fatherless when he was ten and was sent to school by his mother until he was fourteen. In 1876 he went to work in an oil refinery, in 1879 in a silver mine, in 1881 for a railroad doing construction work, and in 1882 in a dye factory. From 1883 to 1886 he served in the standing army. Then he resumed his work in a dye factory. In 1888 he came to America and after doing railroad work for a short time entered the employ of the Rice Lake Lumber Co. of Rice Lake, this county, working in sawmills in the summer time and in the woods in the winter. In 1891 he worked for the Ruter Hub and Spoke Factory for eight years. He bought his present place in 1894 and developed it as he could in his odd times while doing other work. In 1899 he put up a house, barns and other buildings. He now successfully carries on general farming and dairying. He is one of the representative men of the community and has been on the school board for eight years as clerk. He is one of the stock- holders in the Consumers' Store at Rice Lake. Mr. Velten was married Aug. 10, 1891, at Rice Lake, to Augusta Neuman, daughter of Peter and Anna (Friske) Neuman, both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Velten have nine chil-

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JOSEPH VELTEN AND FAMILY

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dren : Joseph A., Leo J., Florence X., Anna A., Frank X., Katherine, Alex P., Katherine A. and Clara T. Joseph A. was born May 26, 1892, and married Viola Dumke. He is identified with the ship building industry at Newark, N. J. Leo J. was born March 5, 1893, married Florence Yanke, and has a daughter, Katrina A., born March 18, 1920. Florence X. was born Feb. 1, 1894, and died Feb. 22, of the same year. Anna A. was born May 22, 1896, married R. M. Bartlett, and has one child, Meresiege, born May 26, 1917. Frank X. was born Nov. 2, 1897, and is engaged in steel construction work in Chicago. He served one year in the regular army, being attached to the Hospital Corps and stationed in New Mexico. Katherine was born Sept. 13, 1899, and died Sept. 7, 1900. Alex P. was born Feb. 18, 1901, and died Sept. 19 of the same year. Katherine A. was born April 11, 1904; and Clara T. was born Oct. 12, 1908. Mr. Velten is a man of broad and liberal thought and a great reader, a genial man to meet and beloved by his family.

Paul L. Lehman, proprietor of the well and favorably known Red Cedar Stock Farm, consisting of 240 acres of good land, in section 33, Rice Lake Township, on Highway No. 11, two miles south of Rice Lake, is one of the energetic progressive men of the community and is following the latest approved methods in farming. He has a fine herd of pure bred Guernsey cattle, noted far and wide, he also has a good drove of pure blooded Duroc- Jersey swine, and his horses and poultry are likewise of good breed. Con- nected with general farming and dairying, he makes a specialty of raising clover seed for the general market and peas for the Rice Lake Canning and Pickling Co. In addition to his other holdings he has stock in the Barron Co-operative Creamery and the New Richmond Packing Co. As a public spirited citizen he has taken his share in many important local movements, and for fourteen years did most efficient work as a member of the school board of his district. He and his wife are both members of the Beavers and both are communicants of the German Lutheran Church. Paul L. Lehman was born in Lebanon, Dodge County, Wis., May 10, 1877, son of Ludwig and Augusta (Kraut) Lehman, the former a native of Germany and the latter of the United States, and both now living in Barron County. He was educated in the public schools of his native county and learned farming from his father, later working out by the month. In 1904 he leased a farm in Barron Township, this county, for four years, on shares. Then he rented for cash a farm of 120 acres in section 25, in the same township. This he purchased later. He cleared more of the land, made extensive improvements, and successfully farmed there until 1920 when he purchased his present place. Mr. Lehman was married Jan. 21, 1903, to Emma Kent, who was born in Germany Feb. 5, 1879, daughter of Christ and Tillie (Otto) Kent, natives of Germany, who are now residents of Oconomowoc, this state. Mr. and Mrs. Lehman have five children: Arthur, Dorothea, Harold, Kermit and Ansel. Arthur was born Oct. 25, 1903; Dorothea was born April 27, 1906; Harold was born July 24, 1908; Kermit was born Aug. 23, 1909, and died Aug. 11, 1911; Ansel was born Nov. 2, 1910.

Edward Leibly, business man and agriculturist, former hardware mer- chant of Rice Lake, and now farming five acres in section 9, Rice Lake Town- ship, was born at Monroe, in Green County, Wis., Sept. 24, 1864, son of Mathias and Mary (Frey) Leibly, who came from Germany in the fifties, lived a while in Illinois and then located in Wisconsin. Edward attended the common schools, worked several years on farms and learned the tinner's trade in his native village. In 1889 he started a hardware store in Martin- town, in the same county. This he successfully conducted until 1894, when he went back to Monroe and started a retail oil route. In 1898 he sold out and rented a farm in Jordan Township, in Green County. Three years later, in 1901, he went to Monticello, in Green County, and there had another hard- ware store. In 1903 he sold out and went back to his native place where he clerked in a hardware store a year. It was in 1904 that he came to Barron

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County and purchased 160 acres in section 14, Rice Lake Township, where he successfully carried on general farming for three years. He traded this farm in 1910 for a hardware store in Rice Lake City. There for nine years he was a prosperous hardware dealer, carrying a good stock, and winning and holding the confidence of all with whom he had dealings. His thoughts still turned to agricultural pursuits, however, and in 1919 he traded the store for his present farm. He has a good farm, well equipped, well stocked, and well tilled, the house is modern, the barn commodious, and the other build- ings all appropriate to their purpose. Mr. Leibly was married Jan. 28, 1887, at Monroe, Wis., to Magdalena Gerber, daughter of Nicholas and Catherine (Galle) Gerber, and they have seven children: Nicholas M., Ida F., Emily M., Louis C. and Leo E. (twins), Francis J. and Edwin R. Nicholas M. was born Dec. 4, 1888, married Helen Childs, and lives in Eau Claire, Wis. Ida F. was born July 28, 1890, married Fred Morneau, and has eight children: Loren, Viola, Alfred, Bernice, Reynold, Joseph, Francis and Marie. Emily M. was born Aug. 28, 1892, and died in infancy. Louis C. and Leo E. were born Jan. 16, 1896. Louis C. married Gezella Weber, and has two daughters, Elaine and Norma. During the World War he trained at the Sweney Auto School at Kansas City, Missouri, and at Camp Hancock, Georgia, and was discharged with the rank of corporal.

Telesphore Morneau, now deceased, was one of those reliable hard work- ing men who honestly do their part in life, fill well the station to which God has assigned them, and on passing leave in the hearts of their friends pleasant memories of well spent years. He was born in the Province of Quebec, Canada, and was there reared and educated. He came to the United States in 1883, and locating in Barron County, Wis., for a short time operated a bakery at Rice Lake, where the post office now stands. After that for some twenty years he was a railroad section foreman on the Northwestern Rail- way. In 1901 he bought 160 acres of land, half in section 1, Rice Lake Town- ship, and half in section 36, Oak Grove Township. He erected buildings, cleared some of the land and carried on general farming until his death Sept. 3, 1913. A Catholic in religion, he served as trustee of the congregation of which he was a member. Mr. Morneau married Demerise Couture, who now lives at Rice Lake, and their union was blessed with six children: Arsene, Felix, Cemilda, Eva, Alfred J. and Albenia.

Alfred J. Morneau, who is farming 100 acres in section 2, Rice Lake Township, was born in Shawano, Shawano County, Wis., March 11, 1898, son of Telesphore and Demerise (Couture) Morneau. He was reared in this state and as a youth did farm work on the home place in Rice Lake, and also worked for others. In 1910 he bought a farm of 80 acres in section 27, Oak Grove Township, where he erected a frame house and barn and other build- ings and did considerable clearing. In 1920 he bought 100 acres in section 2, Rice Lake Township, where he still lives. A frame house and log barn were then standing on the place and some of the land had been cleared. To the improvement, development and operating of this farm, Mr. Morneau has since devoted his attention. Mr. Morneau was married June 2, 1908, at Dobie, this county, to Ida Leibly, daughter of Edward and Lena (Gerber) Leibly. They have eight children: Laurena F., born Aug. 1, 1909; Viola M., born May 3, 1910; Alfred E., born Feb. 28, 1912; Bernice M., born May 17, 1913; Reynold T., born April 16, 1915; Joseph J., born Feb. 6, 1917; Francis R., born Aug. 17, 1918, and Marie, born March 23, 1921. The family faith is that of the Roman Catholic Church.

Carl G. Schmeling, owner of a farm of 200 acres in section 26, Rice Lake Township, was born in Germany Aug. 14, 1861, son of Fred G. and Minnie (Nehls) Schmeling. He attended common school and as a youth was variously employed. In 1884 he came to America and found farm employment near Juneau, Dodge County, Wis. In 1887 he bought 116 acres in sections 1 and 2, Heresford Township, Dodge County, and devoted many years thereafter to its

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MR. AND MRS. CARL G. SCHMELING

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development and improvement. When he purchased it there was a log house and stable standing on it, and a few acres had been broken. In 1897 he built a frame barn, 30 by 50 feet, with full basement. At the same time he erected an adequate granary. In 1893 he erected a frame house and a silo. Other improvements were made as necessity required. In 1917, after thirty years' ownership, he sold out and moved to Traverse County, Minn., where he bought all of section 7, in Wheaton Township. This land was nearly all under cul- tivation and fair buildings had been erected. Everything appeared most favorable, but three successive crop failures caused him to relinquish all hopes of prosperity in that region. In 1896 he sold out for what he could get and came to Barron County, where he purchased his present place. It was already well improved, and good buildings were standing on it. Here he has since successfully carried on general farming and dairying. His fine drove is of full blooded Holstein-Friesian breed. Mr. Schmeling is a stockholder in the Consumers' Store at Rice Lake. He lives on a well improved place of 200 acres in section 2, Rice Lake Township, purchased five years ago. It is located on the bank of the Cedar River, and has good buildings, including the stone house in which he resides. Mr. Schmeling was married April 16, 1885, in Dodge County, Wis., to Minnie Nehls, who was born in Heresford Township, that county, July 2, 1860, daughter of Christ and Anistena (Erd- man) Nehls. Her parents were natives of Germany who located on wild land in Dodge County. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Schmeling are Amos C., Lizzie A., Reinhart C. and Helen M. Amos C., born Feb. 17, 1886, married Anna Evert, and has six children: Walter, Hurbert, Erick, Courte, Oscar and Lucille. Lizzie A., born May 12, 1887, married Edwin Kirchott, and has four children : Irene, Erwin, Earhart and Cindy. Reinhart C., born May 10, 1891, married Della Zieroth, and has one daughter, Viola. Helen M., born June 2, 1894, married John Freming, and has three children: Gerhart, Hilara Elizabeth and Alice. The family are members of the German Lutheran Church.

George B. Mireau, an influential farmer of Rice Lake Township, was born in Doyle Township, this county, Sept. 6, 1880, the son of Aristide and Sarah (La Brie) Mireau, who were pioneers. The father, better known as Aristide Mero, was a county official and for many years a prominent farmer, while his wife was the daughter of the first white family that settled in the wild region north of Rice Lake. He died at Rice Lake July 21, 1921. His widow still lives in Rice Lake City. George B. attended the district schools and learned farming thoroughly from his father. As a young man he worked on the home farm. In 1913 he went to Montana and took a homestead of 320 acres in Custer County. There he built a frame house and barn and broke up about 100 acres. He bought additional land there until he now owns 480 acres, a good investment which he believes will steadily increase in value. In 1920 he came back to Barron County and rented one of his father's farms of 160 acres. He is conducting it in a most satisfactory manner and has won for himself an excellent standing in the community. He is energetic and progressive, he uses good judgment in his work, he believes in progres- sive methods in all lines, and he is deeply interested in the welfare of the county which the members of the family did so well to establish. Mr. Mireau was married Feb. 15, 1912, at Rice Lake, to Carrie Olson, the daughter of Knute and Carrie (Nelson) Olson. She was born at Rice Lake on March 20, 1894. Her parents were born in Norway, came to this country and settled in Doyle Township, where they farmed for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Mireau have four children: Donald A., born July 12, 1913; Lloyd, born March 21, 1917; Victor, born Nov. 10, 1918; and Lance, born Oct. 10, 1920. The family faith is that of the Catholic Church.

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 115

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

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