History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 117

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

USA > Wisconsin > Barron County > History of Barron County Wisconsin > Part 117

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there for provisions, bringing supplies home on his back. As time passed he prospered and built up a fine farm, with a good set of buildings, well tilled acres and a fine equipment of tools and machinery. He also has a good show- ing of domestic animals, cows, swine and horses. Mr. Skoug takes great pride in his place, and everything about it speaks of his hard work, his thrift and his good judgment. He is a kindly man, a good husband and father, a gen- erous neighbor and a good citizen and well deserves the success that life has brought him. Mr. Skoug was first married in 1883, in Waukesha County, Wis., to Regena Nelson, who was born in Norway in 1857 and came to Amer- ica in 1882. She died in 1886. Of this marriage one child, Clara, was born, who is now deceased. Mr. Skoug was married secondly, Jan. 17, 1891, to Martha Mostad, who was born in Norway, Aug. 28, 1866, and who came to America in 1887. This marriage resulted in seven children, Louis, Nettie, Alma, Eda, Hilda, John and Edna. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran Church, and for some years Mr. Skoug has been an official of the congregation at Dovre.

Leo Albert Rothe, a prominent farmer of Rice Lake Township, secretary and treasurer of the Pleasant View Co-operative Cheese Co. and owner of a good farm of 86 acres in section 18, was born on a farm near Lancaster, Grant County, this state, Nov. 6, 1885, son of William John and Lizzie (Kreamer) Rothe. He attended the rural schools of his neighborhood, and with the exception of about two years which he spent at carpenter work, remained on the home farm until 1912, having purchased it in 1910. In 1912 when he sold the farm he moved to the nearby village of Lancaster for a year. He came to Barron County in 1913 and purchased 120 acres in Barron Township from M. P. Olson. He sold out two years later and then for two years rented farms. He purchased his present farm in 1917. He has made a number of improvements and is successful in his operations. In addition to the cheese company of which he is now secretary and treasurer, he has assisted in organizing one other, the Clover Dale Cheese Co., in Barron Township. He is a stockholder in the Consumers' Store at Rice Lake. Mr. Rothe was married Nov. 3, 1909, at Lancaster, Wis., to Rose Amelia Udelhofen, daughter of John and Rosa (Schulhart) Udelhofen, now living in Grant County, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Rothe have four children: Helen C., born Sept. 29, 1911; Leo William, born Jan. 22, 1914; Stella M., born Jan. 2, 1916; and Stanley B., born Dec. 9, 1918. The family faith is that of the Roman Catholic Church.

John Goodmanson, a worthy pioneer of section 8, east, Dovre Township, was born in Norway, Dec. 1, 1849, the fourth of the six children of Goodman and Ida. He was reared in his native land and secured what education he could. In 1866, while still a mere youth, he started for America, and after a long voyage of five weeks and three days, landed in Quebec, from which city he came to Chicago. He had practically run out of funds when he reached there, but he managed to get to New Hope, Portage County, this state, where he worked for several years in the woods, on river drives and on farms. In 1876 he determined to locate in Barron County. Accordingly, he walked here, driving a cow, and located on his present farm of 160 acres. The land was then all wild, no roads had been built except the "tote roads" of the lumber companies, and there was little to indicate the prosperous region which was to develop here. After he got his shack built, his wife joined him here and they started homemaking together. In a little while they got an ox team. When he got enough land cleared to raise a little wheat, he had to take it to market at Eau Claire, the journey sometimes taking a week. There also most of the provisions for the family were purchased. By toiling early and late and managing his affairs in a careful and prudent manner, Mr. Goodmanson developed a good farm and erected a suitable set of buildings. There he has continued to successfully carry on general farming. Interested as he is in public affairs, he served as a town supervisor when the town took in a much larger territory than at present, and he has also done good service as a

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member of the school board. Mr. Goodmanson was married in May, 1875, at Stevens Point, Portage County, this state, to Betsy Edgefoss, who was born in Rock River, this state, Oct. 2, 1855, the daughter of Alex and Torgen Edgefoss. This union has been blessed with nine children: Christina, Her- man, Julius, Louise, Emma and Clara Sophia, living, and Henry Gilbert, Ida and Matilda, deceased. Herman assists with the farm work at home. He was born on the place where he still lives, Nov. 15, 1884, and received what education was afforded in the schools of the neighborhood. He learned farm- ing from his father, and has always remained at home, assisting in the development and operation of the place. He is one of the solid, substantial men of the township, he understands farming thoroughly and is well regarded by all who know him. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran Church.

Martin Strand, a substantial farmer owning 40 acres in section 29, Rice Lake Township, was born in Norway, March 8, 1864, son of Peter and Ellen (Lanora) Peterson, who spent all their days in the old county, the father being drowned in 1865 and the mother dying in 1911. The subject of this sketch was left fatherless as an infant, and his schooling was therefore lim- ited. He came to America in July, 1880, and found his way directly to Rice Lake, where he secured employment with Knapp, Stout & Co., with whom he remained for sixteen years, working in the woods in the logging season and on farms in the summer season. In 1896 he started work for the Rice Lake Lumber Co. The same year he bought his present farm, and while working in the woods in the winter time, devoted his summers to its development. He cleared the land, erected suitable buildings and now carries on general farm- ing and dairying. His holdings include stock in the Pleasant View Cheese Co. He and his family attend the Free Mission Church. Mr. Strand was married Sept. 3, 1884, at Rice Lake, to Bollata Monson, daughter of Claude and Martha Grogstad, and this union has been blessed with five children: Carl Emil, Lavie Herman, Marie Caroline, Myrtle Bertina and Hannah Ruth. Carl Emil was born Oct. 25, 1885, and was married at Superior, Wis., April 10, 1918, to Laura Larson, by whom he has one child, Claudia, born Jan. 3, 1921. Lavie Herman, born June 7, 1887, was drowned Aug. 29, 1904. Marie Caroline, born Aug. 29, 1890, was married in Minneapolis, March 3, 1913, to Orvel Brant, and has two children, Eleanor Dorothy, born May 19, 1914, and Margaret Bernice, born Jan. 14, 1918. Myrtle Bertine was born Jan. 9, 1900, and died Nov. 20, 1910. Hannah Ruth was born Sept. 9, 1895, and was married at Rice Lake, Jan. 9, 1917, to David Johnson. They have one son, Dwight Reuben, born Dec. 1, 1917.

John I. Schmidt, who operates a farm of 80 acres in section 35, Rice Lake Township, a part of the 160-acre tract which has been in the family more than forty years, was born on the place where he still lives, Aug. 29, 1883, the son of Frank and Anna (Stoik) Schmidt. Frank Schmidt was born in Wisconsin and was reared and educated in that state. As a young man he married Anna Stoik, a native of Wisconsin, of German descent. In 1880 they came from Jefferson County, Wis., to Rice Lake, and bought the present farm, where John I. now lives. Some sixty acres had been cleared and log buildings had been erected. They started farming on a small scale and lived in a primi- tive way, looking toward the future. Gradually success crowned their efforts. They erected a good frame house, a frame barn and other buildings, carried on general farming and became substantial and representative members of the community. Mrs. Anna Schmidt died in 1906, aged 42 years, and Frank Schmidt is now living retired at Rice Lake at the age of sixty-one. John I. attended the rural schools of the neighborhood and learned farming from his father. With the exception of a year from 1910 to 1911 when he rented a farm, and a short period thereafter when he was otherwise employed, he has always been on the home place. In 1915 he rented it from his father, and is now successfully conducting it. He has shares in the Consumers Store of

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Rice Lake. Mr. Schmidt was married May 8, 1906, at Rice Lake, to Louise Krug, daughter of Kosmas and Marie (Schwartz) Krug, natives of Germany who came to this country in 1857 and settled in Barron County. The father died Nov. 24, 1917, and the mother Sept. 15, 1915. Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt have three children: Anna Ottelia, born Oct. 21, 1908; Roman Joseph, born Aug. 9, 1909, and Kathleen Marjorie, born May 29, 1917. Mr. Schmidt and his family are members of the Catholic Church.

Frank B. Thomas, proprietor of the Model Stock Farm of 160 acres in section 10, Rice Lake Township, has a farm which well exemplifies its name in location, equipment and management. His home is modern and equipped with furnace, hot and cold water, bath and many kitchen conveniences. The barn also has many modern features, including running water and patent stanchions. An electric light plant furnishes power for the lights in the house, barns and yard, pumps the water and runs the cream separator and the washing machine. The entire farm, with its well tilled acres, its sightly pasture lands, its well-repaired fences and its full equipment of implements and machinery is well in keeping with the buildings. General farming and dairying is conducted, a specialty being made of a good herd of graded Shorthorns headed by a full blooded sire, and a good flock of sheep. The subject of this sketch was born in Rock County, Wis., Feb. 20, 1882, son of Samuel and Margaret (Miles) Thomas, natives respectively of Wales and England. The father came to America as a young man and for some years was employed as a railroad lineman in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Later he married and took up farming in Rock County, Wis. Frank B. attended the common schools and received his higher education in the Free Methodist School at Evansville, Wis. He learned farming from his father, and after attaining his majority rented the home place for some years on shares. In 1911 he went to Canada and purchased 160 acres near St. Rose De Lac, in the Province of Manitoba. He sold out the next year and bought a farm of 180 acres near Evansville in his native county. He sold that in 1913. The next year, 1914, he acquired his present farm. Fraternally, Mr. Thomas is a member of the Modern Woodmen. He believes in doing his duty as a public citizen, he is now clerk of his school board and also served on a school board in the southern part of the state. Mr. Thomas was married Dec. 31, 1907, in Brownton McLeod County, Minn., to Elsie Holmes, daughter of Ezera and Anna (Gillmore) Holmes, both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have had three children: Willis W., born Sept. 4, 1909; Miles H., born March 17, 1918, and died in infancy; Sybil M., born June 19, 1920, and died in infancy. The family attends the Methodist Church.

Ole Martinson, a pioneer of Dovre Township, was born in Norway, March 5, 1834, the son of Martin Oleson and his good wife, Ingrebred Knudsdaughter. Of the family of eight children, one son and three daughters came to the United States and the rest remained in their native land. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in Norway and was there married. He came to America in 1877, the voyage across the water taking five weeks aboard a sail- ing vessel. From Quebec, he found his way to Chicago, Ill., thence to La Crosse, Wis., and then to Menomonie, also in this state. With headquarters there, he worked for Knapp, Stout & Co. for two years, in the lumber woods winters and in the mills in the summer time. In 1879 he secured 160 acres in section 20, Dovre Township. It was all wild, and in a wild region. Past it led a Knapp, Stout & Co. "tote" road, which has since become a main highway. On the place stood a one-roomed log shack, built as a hunting cabin by Mr. Beagle, the former owner. Into this, Mr. Martinson moved his family and started to clear the land with the aid of a yoke of oxen. Times were hard, money was scarce, provisions had to be brought in from far away. There was little market for farm produce except grain which had to be carried to Eau Claire, and hay which could sometimes be sold to Knapp, Stout & Co. Butter was sold to the stores for ten cents a pound, when in good condition. Some-

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times after getting it to market it was found to be melted, and the only thing to do was to take it back to the little cabin again. Eggs brought but a few cents a dozen. Cloth was expensive and hard to obtain, so the wife spun yarn on her spinning wheel and made socks and mittens for the family. The little cabin not only sheltered the family, but also many passing travelers, so that almost every night found several strangers asleep on the dirt floor. After a while Mr. Martinson erected a frame house. By this time, his prosperity had increased and gradually he was clearing up his land. In time he developed a good place. In 1913 he built a new eleven-room house. On this place he successfully conducts general farming, making a specialty of dairying and of raising good stock. He is active in the affairs of the community, and has been one of the officers of the Norwegian Lutheran Church at Dovre. Mr. Martinson was married in Norway, April 14, 1874, to Rondina Johnson, who was born in Norway, March 20, 1858, the daughter of Christian and Anna, who came to America with their five children in 1877 and settled in Dovre Township, Barron County. Mr. and Mrs. Martinson have had thirteen chil- dren. Ida is the wife of J. J. Cliff of Eau Claire; Sivel L. farms in Dovre Township; Ole lives in Dakota; Fred is in Canada; Robert farms in Dovre Township; Henry is in Dakota; Andrew is dead; Martin A. farms in Dovre Township; Anna is on the home farm; Tena is at Chippewa Falls; Ella is on the home place; Cora is with her brother, Martin A .; Richard is on the home place.

Sivel L. Martinson, an enterprising farmer of section 20, Dovre Town- ship, was born on the home place in the same section, the son of Ole and Annie (Johnson) Martinson. He was reared on the home place, educated in the neighboring schools and has always made his home in this township. For a few years, as a youth, he spent his winters in the lumber woods. He now owns a good farm of eighty acres which was the homestead of his uncle. John Christianson Johnson, an early settler. Mr. Martinson is a good citizen and a good farmer, he believes in progress and he takes his part in everything that he believes to be for the best interests of the community.

Louis Wick, section 8, Rice Lake Township, was born in Germany Feb. 11, 1859, son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Wick. Carl Wick was a tanner by trade. He lost his first wife, mother of Louis, in 1863, and later married Mary Pre- jenski. In 1872 he brought the family to America and located in Delta County, Mich., where for three years he worked in the foundry of the Jack- son Iron Co. In 1875 he rented a farm in Milwaukee County, Wis., for two years. In 1877 he bought 80 acres in North Lake Township, Waukesha County, Wis., but soon afterward sold out and moved to Door County, Wis. This was wild cut-over land. He built a log house, barn and other buildings, and proceeded to develop a farm. His activities were brought to an end by death in September, 1897. His wife is still living on the home place. Louis came to this country with his parents and lived with his father until after attaining his majority. As a youth he was variously employed at farm work and in sawmills. In 1882 he received 80 acres of the home farm as a present from his father, and started farming on his own responsibility. But three years later he sold out and entered the employ of the Van Winkel Lumber Co. in their sawmill at Van Harbor, Mich. In 1898 he bought his present farm of 80 acres. The tract was then covered with hardwood timber. He cleared this, erected a good frame house, a large barn with full basement, and with Star equipment, and other necessary buildings. Here he carries on general farming and makes a specialty of dairying. Like all good citizens he takes an interest in education and has given good service as a member of the school board of his district for more than a dozen years. He was married July 8, 1882, at Sturgeon Bay, Door County, Wis., to Hannah Brown, daughter of Carl and Caroline (Batka) Brown, who came from Germany in 1875 and located in Door County, where they farmed until the father's death in 1895 and where the mother is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Wick have eight

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children: Matilda, Katherine, Anna, Carl L., Edward F., Margaret, Louis and Richard. Matilda was born July 12, 1883, married Wesley Turnbul of Spider Lake, Wis., and has three children, Margaret, Chester and Catherine. Katherine was born June 1, 1885, and died Aug. 21, 1886. Anna was born May 1, 1887, married Asa Metcalf, and has five children, Marshall, Marcella, Lowzetta, Helen and Bessie. Carl L. was born April 16, 1889, married Agnes Shellene, of Hibbing, Minn., and has two children, Raymond and Gordon. Edward F. was born July 13, 1896. He is a veteran of the World War. Upon being inducted into the United States service he trained first at Camp Dodge, Jowa, and then at Camp Pike, Arkansas. He was equipped at Camp Dix, New Jersey. Subsequently he served 22 months in France as an engineer. Margaret was born May 19, 1898; Louis was born Dec. 8, 1902, and Richard was born July 21, 1904. The family faith is that of the German Lutheran Church.

Benjamin F. Walker, an active and efficient farmer of section 14, Rice Lake Township, was born in Buffalo County, this state, Jan. 27, 1876, son of Martin P. and Ida (Babcock) Walker, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The father died in February, 1883, and the mother is now living at Bayfield, Wis. Benjamin F. received a common school education and as a young man was variously employed. He came to Rice Lake in 1904 and entered the employ of the Rice Lake Lumber Co. In 1906 he started work for the Rice Lake Excelsior Co., with which he remained for seven years. He bought his present farm of 40 acres of cut-over land in 1913. A house had been erected on the tract and about five acres cleared. He continued the improvements, grubbed out the stumps and cleared most of the land and erected a good basement barn, equipped with such modern improvements as a water cistern, patent stanchions and a silo. He now has a good place and successfully carries on general farming and dairying. The home is a hos- pitable one and Mr. and Mrs. Walker are well regarded throughout the com- munity. Mr. Walker is a popular member of the I. O. O. F. of Rice Lake, and Mrs. Walker is interested in church work. Mr. Walker was married Nov. 14, 1894, in Pepin County, Wis., to Effie Manor, daughter of William and Mary (Martin) Manor. This union resulted in one daughter, who was born Dec. 20, 1896, and died in infancy.

Andrew Lund, one of the earliest settlers of Dovre Township, was born in Sweden and there grew to young manhood and was married. At the close of the American Civil War he came to the United States, landed at New York, and settled in Michigan. From there he came to Eau Claire, this state, where he was joined by his wife, Anna, and four children, Peter, Nels, Hannah and Ellen. In 1868 he came to what is now Dovre Township, and located on a homestead of 160 acres. But the title was not clear, so he took up his home with his son, Peter, who had taken a homestead in section 31, in the same township. In this township he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives.

. Nels Lund, a highly regarded citizen of section 14, east, was born in Sweden March 22, 1851, the son of Andrew and Anna Lund. He was brought to America by his mother in the middle sixties and joined the father at Eau Claire, this state. From there, in 1868, they came to Dovre Township. Nels was then seventeen years of age. For a time he worked on farms and in sawmills. In 1872, when he became of age, he took a homestead in Dovre Township. He put up a set of buildings, broke about eighty acres, and carried on general farming. His right to the home and three lots was disputed, and in 1885 he was disposed, he believes unjustly. Then he worked in Eau Claire for a year. In 1886 he settled on his present place. He had lost nearly everything that he possessed and he had little but his hands and a few small tools with which to carry on his work. He moved his family into a shanty across the road from his claim, and started to build a log cabin. He had no hired help and was compelled to work alone, carrying some of the topmost

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logs up a ladder on his back. The cabin when completed was 16 by 24 feet, and he moved his family into it .. The next spring he managed to get a cow. In the meantime for nine winters he worked in the woods to get funds to keep his family going until the farm could be made profitable. The little home in the woods was far from market and provisions were hard to get. Such groceries as the family used had to be brought in on his back, some- times from as far away as Eau Claire. In time his hard work resulted in success. He now has a well kept, well tilled and well cultivated place, with a comfortable home, a commodious barn, and other necessary buildings. His equipment is of the best. He successfully carries on general farming and stock raising. He has an excellent standing in the community and is re- spected by all who know him. Aside from his farm interests he is a stock- holder in creamery and farmers' store at Chetek. Mr. Lund was married at Eau Claire in November, 1882, to Julia Emerson, born in Christiania, Nor- way, Nov. 29, 1862, the daughter of Gilbert and Martha (Olson) Emerson, who came to Barron County in 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Lund have had ten chil- dren : Mary, George (died in Eau Claire), Laura (died in Eau Claire), Edgar, George, Henry, Albert, Eugene, William and Goldie. Henry and Eugene are veterans of the World War.

W. H. Ryan, first and present cashier of the Haugen State Bank, and pres- ident of the Village of Haugen, has been a resident here since the bank opened its doors, Dec. 22, 1914, and since his first arrival has identified himself ac- tively with the life of the village and surrounding country. As a banker he is conservative and substantial, as a citizen he is progressive and loyal, as a companion he is genial and affable, and his personality has become a part of the success of the institution in which he is employed. His administration of the executive office of the village has given general satisfaction. In addi- tion to his banking interests here he is a director in the Brill State Bank of Brill. He has a pleasant residence in Haugen set in a sightly tract of five lots, and he is the owner of 200 acres of good Barron County land. He has been a moving factor in the Haugen Commercial Club. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Columbus at Rice Lake. Like so many other suc- cessful men he is fond of all outdoor sports, and takes especial delight in pedestrianism, hunting and fishing. He was born in Chicago, Ill., Jan. 24, 1885, son of W. J. and Josephine (Shimek) Ryan, the former of whom was a native of Bohemia, and the latter a native of Chicago, of Irish descent. The father died in 1885 and the mother, in 1886, moved to Milladore, in Wood County, this state.' W. H. was there reared and educated. After leaving high school he became station agent at that place, and subsequently occupied a similar position at Nehoosa and Colfax, also in this state. Then he took up his present work. He was married Feb. 1, 1909 to Marie Malik, who was born at Milladore, Wis., April 4, 1893, daughter of Peter and Dorathea (Paser) Malik. Mr. and Mrs. Ryan have two children: William, born Aug. 7, 1914; and Dorris, born July 7, 1918.

Ernest Brunett, proprietor of the Haugen Box Factory, was born in Pepin County, Wis., Dec. 16, 1893, son of Francis and Josephine (Juliot) Brunett, natives respectively of Canada and the United States, and both of French descent. They are now living in Duluth, Minn. The subject of this sketch at- tended the public schools of Rice Lake, this county, and early became inter- ested in the lumber business. At the age of 18 he entered the employ of the Rice Lake Lumber Co. From 1916 to 1919 he was engaged in logging in the northern part of this state. It was in 1919 that he established his present business. He manufactures cheese boxes, egg crates, fox boxes and the like, using rough, native wood, and reducing it to box wood in his own shop. His material is all sawed at his factory from the green bolts and is then resawed and planed. He has a full equipment of machinery, including planers, various varieties of saws and finishing lathes, and, having just added a new up-to-date matching machine, will furnish matched boxes for the Spooner Condensery.

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 117

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

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