History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 116

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

USA > Wisconsin > Barron County > History of Barron County Wisconsin > Part 116

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Hans Omdalen was born in Norway and married Anna Thorsen, the daughter of Thore. He brought his family to America in 1872 and located in Dane County, Wis. In 1875 he went to Iowa, in 1878 to Minnesota, and in

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1879 to South Dakota. There he took up a homestead and a tree claim, and lived the life of a real pioneer. His first home was in a dugout built up with sod. Later he built a little larger and better one and used the first one for a shed. In the meantime, by the hardest kind of back-breaking work, he managed to break some of the land. Provisions and clothing were both scarce. The only meat they had for the first year was a codfish and about one dollar's worth of pork. Sugar was unknown. Tea and coffee were the rarest luxuries, and even salt was hard to get. The children went barefooted. After Mr. Omdalen wore out the tops and toes of his boots, he cut off the tops, repaired the toes, slit the fronts, put in a pair of laces, and thus had a pair of shoes. Wheat and corn were ground in the coffee mill, wet with a little water and baked in the oven. In the winter of 1880-81 the deep snow isolated them from their neighbors, and sometimes they were unable to get out of doors for days at a time. The Northwestern Railroad, then the only railroad connection between South Dakota and the outside world, was tied up for months, and no mail was received from Chicago and the east from Oct. 14, 1880, to May 15, 1881. As the years passed conditions improved. In 1886 he built a good frame house. He sold the place in 1889 and moved to Dane County, this state, where he purchased 210 acres in Burke Township. The land was partly improved, but all the buildings had been burned. Mr. Omdalen erected a nice set of buildings, and made other improvements. In 1894 he sold out and purchased a home in Madison, where he died Sept. 21, 1903. His wife then took up her home with their son, Ole, in Rice Lake Township, Barron County, where she died Sept. 5, 1920.

Ole Omdalen, a prosperous energetic farmer owning 120 acres in section 31, Rice Lake Township, has one of the best improved farms in this locality. When he purchased it in 1902, thirty acres had been cleared and twenty acres broken, the rest being hardwood timber. A small house, a log stable and a few crude sheds had been erected. He at once set about improving and developing the place, and has since continued to operate it on a successful scale. In 1910 he erected the present barn, 34 by 66 feet, with full base- ment, equipped with modern improvements, including the James patent stanchions, and with running water at the head of every animal. In 1917 he erected the pleasant modern home which could well be taken as a model for others to follow. It is well arranged and comfortable, has hot water, bathroom, indoor toilet, running hot and cold water on both floors, and modern equipment in the kitchen. An electric plant furnishes lights for the house, barns and other buildings, pumps water into the big reservoir from which it supplies all the buildings, and furnishes power for the washing machine, the cream separator and other machinery. The dairy facilities are excellent and well ample to look after the milk from the fine herd of graded and full blooded Holsteins. The butter fat is sold to Barron Creamery Co. at Barron, in which Mr. Omdalen is a stockholder. For five years he did excellent work as treasurer of the school board. Ole Omdalen was born in Norway Nov. 21, 1867, son of Hans and Anna (Thorsen) Omdalen, who brought him to Wis- consin in 1872, to Iowa in 1875, to Minnesota in 1878, and to South Dakota in 1879. There he lived with his parents in a dugout, and experienced all the hardships of a boy's pioneer life. After he was older he worked among the neighboring farmers. In 1886 he tried pioneer life on his own responsi- bility when he bought 160 acres in Kingsbury County, South Dakota, where he built a shanty and broke some of the land. In 1889 he came to Dane County, Wis., with his parents, helped them erect the buildings and rented the place from them for a while. Later he rented other farms in that county. Then he came to Barron County and secured his present place. Mr. Omdalen was married March 31, 1889, at Lake Preston, South Dakota, to Synnove Lunde, daughter of Peter and Serene (Sween) Lunde, the former of whom is now farming at Lake Preston, South Dakota, and the latter of whom died Sept. 25, 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Omdalen have an excellent family of nine

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C. C. SKOUG AND FAMILY

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children : Henry C., Selma B., Perry T., Agnes S., Oscar Palmer, Sadie B., Clarence E., Rudolph O. and Ernest Melvin. Henry G. was born July 31, 1890. He was inducted into the United States service in February, 1918, trained with Co. C, 42nd Engineers, at Camp Dodge, Iowa, attended the engineers school at Washington, D. C., sailed for France in May, 1918, served as a corporal in the 44th Co., 20th Regiment, 9th Battalion, and returned to the United States July 13, 1919, being discharged July 6, 1919. He is now attending the University of Wisconsin. Selma B. was born May 29, 1892, married Oscar Olsen, of Seattle, Wash., and has two children, Keith and Jensie. Perry T. was born May 4, 1894, was inducted into the United States service July 23, 1918, trained at Camp Grant, Rockford, Ill., was equipped at Camp Upton, N. J., and sailed for France Sept. 9, 1918, as a sergeant with Headquarters Detachment No. 7. He landed in France Sept. 22; returned to the United States June 26, 1919, and was discharged July 1, 1919. Agnes S. was born April 12, 1896, and is now an efficient school teacher. Oscar Palmer was born Aug. 31, 1898, and died Aug. 25, 1904. Sadie B. was born Nov. 3, 1900, and is an efficient school teacher. Clarence E. was born Nov. 19, 1902. Too young to enlist when his brothers were off to war he bided his time, and on Dec. 7, 1920, enlisted in the United States Navy. He is training at the Great Lakes Naval Station. Rudolph O. was born May 30, 1905, and is attending the Rice Lake High School. Ernest Melvin was born Aug. 29, 1907, and is doing well in his studies in the graded schools. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran Church.

Chris C. Skoug, an esteemed and influential farmer of section 30, west, Dovre Township, where he is proprietor of the flourishing Long View Farm, was born in Norway April 14, 1857, the son of Chris Everson and Karin Christianson. He came to America in the spring of 1880 and located in Waukesha County, this state, where he worked at haying and in the harvest fields for his uncle, Andrew Olson. Then he entered the employ of Knapp, Stout & Co. in the lumber woods at Moose Ear, ten miles from Chetek. For three years he worked continuously for this company, and for some time thereafter continued to work for them on the spring lumber drives. In 1887 he secured his present place of 160 acres in Dovre Township. A log house and log barn had been erected, and about fifteen acres had been cleared among the stumps. Here he started farming with two cows and a yoke of oxen. Gradually he cleared up the land and developed a good farm. He has built a good frame house, a barn 60 by 60 feet, and other suitable buildings. Here he carries on general farming and dairying, making a specialty of Durham cattle. He is a hard working industrious man, he believes in prog- ress along all lines, and has always been willing to do his share toward that progress. He is a man of genial disposition, who has taken his greatest pride in his family and has lived to see them all take their place in the affairs of the community. In every obligation of life he has proven a true man, and he is a useful and worthy citizen. As the father of children he is interested in education and has served on the school board. He helped to organize the Spring Hill Creamery and has been one of its directors since it was started. He is also a stockholder in the Co-operative Mercantile Co. at Chetek and the Farmers' Store Co. For many years he has been an official of the Nor- wegian Lutheran congregation in Dovre. Mr. Skoug was married at Chetek on Oct. 8, 1887, to Clara Dahl, born in Norway on March 15, 1859, the daughter of Ole and Pauline Dahl. She was a schoolmate of his and they were playmates from childhood. Mr. and Mrs. Skoog have six children : Charles, born June 26, 1889, now a farmer in Dovre Township; Anna, born Oct. 1, 1892, who is the wife of Henry Halstead, of Dovre Township; Bergel, born June 23, 1894, now the wife of William Ingman of Chetek; Minnie, born Jan. 20, 1896, wife of Oscar Christianson, of Dovre Township; Hilma, born Aug. 23, 1900, residing at home; and Henry, born on the home place Dec. 24, 1902, who was educated in the district school and learned farming from his

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father, with whom he is now in partnership in the operation of the farm. He has always remained at home and is one of the popular young men of the neighborhood.

Otto Frank Siewert has a well improved farm of 160 acres in section 23, Rice Lake Township, which he has owned since 1905. His story is typical of the best citizens of Barron County. When he took the farm it was but partly improved and the buildings consisted of an old house and stable. Under his management the land has increased from year to year in produc- tiveness and value. He has kept it well cultivated and fertilized, he has repaired and built fences, and he has bought suitable tools, implements and machinery. In 1915 he built a modern house. In 1917 he built a frame barn, 36 by 100 feet, machine sheds, swine house 40 by 86 feet, and other buildings. All the buildings are lighted with electricity and the electrical power is used for pumping water in the house and barns and for running the washing ma- chine, cream separator and other equipment. The barn is furnished with the James system of stanchions. The farm produces excellent crops and maintains a good herd of Holsteins headed by a full blooded sire, and a good drove of Chester White swine. Mr. Siewert's interests extend beyond his farm and he is a director in the Equity Farmers' Exchange at Campia, the Red Cedar Cheese Co. in Rice Lake Township, and the Consumers' Store at Rice Lake. He is also a stockholder in the Citizens State Bank at Rice Lake. He is an enthusiastic advocate of good roads and has been road commissioner and road overseer for many years. He has done good service as town treas- urer for eleven years. He has also served on committees and delegations and has occupied other positions of public honor and private trust. He was born April 22, 1868, in Columbia County, Wis., son of Fredrick and Henri- etta (Hickithier) Siewert, who were born in Germany and after coming to America located in Columbia County, this state, where the father bought 320 acres of hardwood timber land. He built a log house and barn and for some years got out timber for the railroad, gradually working into farming oper- ations. He died in 1882, age 56 years, and his wife in 1917 at the age of seventy-nine. The subject of this sketch attended the schools of his neigh- borhood and worked with his parents until after attaining his majority. In 1890 he took up railroad work, working successively at Lewiston, Wis., Wyocena, Wis., Elm Grove, Wis., and Waukesha, Wis. In the latter place he was yardmaster. From there he went home for a while and subsequently once more took up railroad work at Edgerton, Wis., where he was employed in the freight house. In 1902 he came to Canton, this county, and rented a farm in Sumner Township. In the fall of 1904 he bought his present place, moving onto it the next year. Mr. Siewert was married May 10, 1893, at Edgerton, Wis., to Louisa Kluender, daughter of William and Amelia (Boernke) Kluender, and this union has been blessed with fifteen fine chil- dren, all but one of whom are alive. William B. was born April 25, 1894; Edwin D., born July 17, 1895, served in the World War, leaving Barron July 23, 1918, his service terminating May 14, 1919; Lila I. was born July 13, 1896, married Benjamin Zabel, and has three children, William, Adaline and Irene. Albert C., born June 6, 1898, died March 24, 1899. Markus, was born April 2, 1900. Verna M. was born Aug. 9, 1902. Otto C. William was born May 28, 1904. Luella C. was born Nov. 16, 1905. Alvina A. was born Oct. 30, 1906. Benjamin A. was born Nov. 18, 1907. Elizabeth E. was born May 17, 1909. Daniel G. was born Sept. 2, 1910. Christian W. was born May 2, 1913. Evelyn L. was born Nov. 19, 1914. 'Jeanette M. was born Sept. 9, 1918. The family faith is that of the German Lutheran Church.

John Lawrence Powell, farmer, stock raiser and business man, owner of four good farms in this county, and in times past the possessor of still more extensive acreage here, was born in Finlay, Hancock County, Ohio, Jan. 1, 1861, son of John Philip and Elizabeth (Trapp) Powell, natives of Ohio. He attended the public schools of his native place and in 1879 entered Heidelberg

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ANTON O. SIRINEK AND FAMILY

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College at Tiffany, Ohio, from which he was graduated in 1883. In 1884 he became a farmer in his native state, making a specialty of breeding blooded Shorthorn cattle and Poland China swine. In 1893 he sold out and became a dealer in fuel and feed at Finlay, Ohio. In 1897 he came to Rice Lake. Here he purchased a thousand acres of timber land in Barron County, all of which, except 80 acres which he retained for his own use, he sold at a distinct profit within few days of the purchase. Then he went to Grand Rapids, Minn., and entered the employ of Bonners & Murphy Lumber Co. for three years as bookkeeper. In 1900 he located once more in Barron County and has pur- chased several tracts in various parts of the county. Mr. Powell started farming in Bear Lake Township, making a specialty of buying, breeding, shipping and selling high grade stock. He went to Alberta, Canada, in 1907, and took a homestead. Four years later, in 1911, he sold out and returned to Barron County, where he purchased the Jacob Kritch homestead of 160 acres in Bear Lake Township. In 1913 he came to his present place within the city limits of Rice Lake and resumed farming and stock breeding and dealing. In 1916 he discontinued shipping, but still continues a fancier of fine cattle. He breeds both Guernseys and Jerseys and has much faith in the merits of both breeds. In addition to his home place, Mr. Powell owns two more farms which he rents. He is a stockholder in the Wisconsin Elec- tric Light & Power Co. at Cumberland, in this county. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen. Mr. Powell was married Sept. 20, 1914, to Mary Agnes Hollingworth, and they have three children: Leota Eveline, born July 29, 1916; Philip Russel, born July 15, 1918; and Esther Loraine, born June 27, 1920. Mr. Powell has great faith in the future of Wisconsin, regarding it as one of the most progressive states, affording abundant oppor- tunities for industrious and persevering settlers.

Charles Palm, who has farmed 80 acres in section 7, Rice Lake Town- ship, for nearly twenty-five years, was born in Sweden Oct. 10, 1862, son of Erick and Anna (Johnson) Palm, both of whom died in the old country. The family name in Sweden was Eckland. Charles Palm was educated in the common schools and as a youth worked on a farm. He came to America in 1886 and located in Florence, Wis., where he worked in the iron mines for eight years. In 1894 he came to Rice Lake in the employ of Knapp, Stout & Co. Two years later he bought his present tract, which was then all wild timber land. He cleared a space, put up a log house and barn, and then continued the general improvements. In 1904 he put up a frame house and other buildings. He has now cleared most of the farm and successfully carries on general farming and dairying. His cattle are of graded breeds, headed by a full blooded Guernsey sire. His holdings include stock in the Consumers' Store at Rice Lake. Mr. Palm was married Sept. 18, 1892, in Florence, Wis., to Louise Carlson, daughter of Carl E. and Emma (Johnson) Carlson, both of whom died in Sweden. Mrs. Palm came to America in 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Palm have had seven children: Selma and Lovina (twins), John Rudolph, Ellen A., Carl O., Lillian A. and an unnamed infant who died. Selma and Lovina were born May 22, 1893. Selma married John Eastman, of Spooner, Wis., and has two children, Bernice and Raymond. Lovina mar- ried Christ Larson, and has four children, Clarence, Lawrence, Melvin and Maria. John Rudolph was born Nov. 9, 1896. In 1918 he received military training at Indianapolis, Ind., and Camp Shelby, Mississippi. Ellen A. was born Nov. 22, 1899. Carl O. was born May 22, 1904. Lillian A. was born Oct. 3, 1912. The child who died in infancy was born in the fall of 1894.

Anton O. Sirinek, who owns all of section 12, east, Dovre Township, is the leader among the Bohemian Colony in the southeastern part of the county. He has induced many of his fellow countrymen to settle near him, he has loaned them money and has given them a start by furnishing them with board while they have built homes, assisting them in breaking and clearing their land, and in getting them seed for their first crops. Busy as he is with his

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large holdings and his many and varied interests he is never too occupied to give good cheer, encouragement, assistance and advice, and he is regarded with that measure of esteem, respect and affection which he well deserves. Not only with his own people, but also throughout the county is he favorably known, and he is regarded as one of the most useful men in his part of the township, and one who has had an important part in the development of his community. He founded the local branch of the Western Bohemian Fra- ternal Association, covering the Twin Lake community, and served for many years as its secretary and treasurer. He also served for many years as sec- retary and treasurer of the Ten Mile Cheese Co., which has a factory in section 2, this township. His financial interests include telephone, mercan- tile and warehouse holdings at New Auburn, over the line in Chippewa County. As the father of a fine family of children he is a believer in a thorough American education, and has been a valuable member of the school board of his district for many years. Anton O. Sirinek was born in Bohemia Jan. 15, 1869, the son of Joseph and Josephine Sirinek, who brought their children, Antoinette, Anton O., Mary and Alois to the United States in 1879 and located at Schuyler, Colfax County, Nebraska, where there were born two more chil- dren, Joseph and Emily. Anton was reared on a farm in Nebraska, and started out for himself at an early age. From boyhood up he was shrewd and frugal, saved his money and planned for the future. For many years he successfully farmed in Nebraska. As he toiled he determined to establish for himself and his posterity a landed estate in this north country, where he could gather his friends around him and realize thoroughly his ambitions. Accordingly in 1896 he came to Barron County and bought 560 acres in section 12, Dovre Township. To this he has since added until he owns the entire section, as well as considerable land over the line in Chippewa County. When he came here with his family in 1898 the land was all wild. He built a little frame shack, 12 by 20 feet, moved in and started to develop a farm. From this beginning has come his present prosperity. He has erected in all four complete sets of buildings. His home buildings are a landmark in this part of the county. The comfortable residence is equipped with a pro- pellor furnace, running hot and cold water, bath, electric lights, and other conveniences. Mr. Sirinek successfully carries on general farming on an extensive scale, making a good improvement of graded Holstein-Friesian cattle, and pure blooded Duroc-Jersey swine. His farm is well cultivated, and his agricultural tools, implements and machinery are of the best. In 1904 he built a sawmill on his place and with this has sawed tens of thousands of feet of lumber. In 1915 he enlarged and greatly improved his sawmill, which, in 1921, was completely destroyed by fire, but was rebuilt the same year. Mr. Sirinek was married Sept. 12, 1892, to Josephine Jindra, who was born in Bohemia Sept. 8, 1870. This union has been blessed with a fine family of eight children: Anna, Otto, Rose, Joseph, Antoinette, Emil, Elsie and Josephine. Mr. and Mrs. Sirinek have taken pride in giving these children the home training and the educational advantages which have fitted them for the place which they occupy in the community. Anna, after passing through the grades in school, attended the Hunt Business College at Eau Claire. Then, with her sister Rose, she learned dressmaking in that city. Otto was inducted into the United States service Aug. 2, 1918, trained for artillery service at Camp Taylor, Kentucky, and was discharged in November of the same year. He is now on his own farm, part of his father's estate. He married Ethel Bryngelson, of Maple Grove, and has a daughter, Sylvia. Rose married John Flynn and has one son, Ernest. She and her husband are on the home farm. Mr. Flynn served for two years in the United States forces during the World War. Joseph is on the home farm. Antoinette graduated from the Barron County Training School at Rice Lake in 1917, and then taught school a year. She married Oscar Johnson of Campia, and has a son, Rudolph. Emil is planning on taking a course in a mechanical and

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electrical school, as he believes it is very useful in modern farming. Elsie and Josephine are at home. After many years of hard work and many hard- ships the family looks ahead to a bright future. Their religious faith is that of the Christian Church.

Robert J. Plenty, a well known farmer, who is operating 240 acres in section 2, Rice Lake Township, is one of the active progressive men of the township and is well on the road to success. He knows his business thoroughly, is a close reader of everything that pertains to agriculture and is farming along the latest approved lines. He was born in Arlington, Wis., Dec. 23, 1890, the son of John L. and Lucy (Henning) Plenty, owners of the farm that the son is now operating. The subject of this sketch obtained a good common school education in the graded schools. In 1904 he entered the high school at Rice Lake, but toward the close of the second year was compelled to give up his course by reason of the illness of his father. He continued his studies at home, however. In 1909 he entered the agricultural school of the University of Wisconsin and was graduated in 1911. Then he returned home and rented the home place. He carries on general farming and dairying. He has a good herd of Holsteins headed by a full blooded sire, a large drove of Duroc-Jersey swine and an excellent flock of sheep. The buildings on the place are good and the farm is all well improved. The place is especially well-equipped for dairying. The barn has James and Thurber stanchions, with running water at each cow's head, while the milking is done with a milking machine. Mr. Plenty is interested in the community and co-operative endeavor, and is doing good work as treasurer of the Campia Equity Exchange. He has been clerk of the school board for several years. Mr. Plenty was married Dec. 17, 1913, at Madison, Wis., to Ella G. Kittleson, daughter of Isaac E. and Cornelia (Thompson) Kittleson. This union resulted in the birth of two children: Ruth E., born Jan. 14, 1918, and Richard L., born March 11, 1920, both of whom died in infancy. Mrs. Ella Plenty herself passed away on March 27, 1920. William G. Plenty, a brother of Robert J. Plenty, was a veteran of the World War. Before the entry of the United States into that conflict he was "trouble man" for the Bell Telephone Co., with an office at Hudson, Wis. For his own amusement he installed a private wireless and intercepted many important messages. He read the orders sent to and from the Great Lakes Training Station, and transcribed messages from as far away as Arlington, W. Va. He caught the message sent out from Washington of the declaration of the war, and the next day enlisted. Later, like all other private wireless apparatus in the United States, his station at Hudson was dismantled by order of the government.

Iver Skoug, the honored and respected owner of the fertile Spring Hill Farm, section 30, west, Dovre Township, was born in Norway, June 10, 1855, the son of Chris Everson and Karin Christianson. These good people, in their old age, parted from the associations they so much loved in Norway and came to America to spend their declining years with their three sons, Iver, Carl and Chris C. Of these three, Carl was born in Norway, Nov. 13, 1865, came to America in 1886, located in Dovre Township, and died Oct. 11, 1900, leaving a wife, Minda Christenson, born Jan. 1, 1879, and three children, William, Olga and Matilda. Christ C. was born April 14, 1857, came to America in 1880 and is now a prominent farmer of Dovre Township. Iver was educated in Norway and there grew to young manhood. He came to America in 1879 and located in Waukesha County, Wis., where he worked for four years on various farms. In 1884 he came to Barron County, and with headquarters at Rice Lake, worked in the logging camps. While there he looked about for a location, and in time secured his present place of 160 acres in Dovre Town- ship. A board shanty had been erected and the land was covered with brush. There were no roads, but a trail ran past the place. When he first started he had a heifer. Soon, however, he got a yoke of steers and started to get the land cleared up. The nearest market was at Chetek, and often he walked

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 116

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

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