History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 120

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

USA > Wisconsin > Barron County > History of Barron County Wisconsin > Part 120

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Gust and Minnie Firchow. This union has been blessed with a bright boy, Ronald, who was born June 17, 1911.

. Fred Bruha, one of the leading citizens of Bear Lake Township, who is developing a good farm in section 13, was born in Washington Township, La Crosse County, this state, April 27, 1881, the son of Matt and Rosa (Urbanek) Bruha, natives of Bohemia. The father came to this country as a young man, lived in St. Louis for a while, then settled on a farm in La Crosse County. Later he came to Barron County, and is now making his home at Haugen. The subject of this sketch received his early education in the common schools, and early took up farming as his life work. He bought 120 acres in section 13, Bear Lake Township, and erected a frame house, barn, machine shed, granary and other buildings out of lumber which he got from the trees which he felled in clearing the land. There he successfully carries on general farming and dairy- ing, having a good herd of cattle headed by a full blooded Holstein sire, an ex- cellent flock of sheep, and a drove of Duroc Red swine. Mr. Bruha is a believer in everything that is for the betterment and more systematic conduct of farm production and marketing. He is secretary of the American Society of Equity at Haugen, secretary of the Mutual Fire Insurance Co. of Barron County, sec- retary of the Wool Pool Association of Haugen and a stockholder in the Bear Lake and Lakeside Cheese Co. at Haugen and the Consumers' Store at Hau- gen. He has taken an especially active interest in school affairs in his district and has been clerk of the board some twelve years. He is a careful, pains- taking keeper of records, and his work as secretary of the various organiza- tions has won him high favor among his fellow men. Fraternally, he is a popular member of the Z. C. B. J. Mr. Bruha was married Jan. 26, 1909, at Haugen, this county, to Anna Baker, who was born Feb. 22, 1886, daughter of Joseph and Anna (Wanek) Baker, retired farmers of that place. He and his wife have six bright children: Frederick R., born Oct. 20, 1910; Mary, Oct. 8, 1911; Margaret, Nov. 24, 1914; Blanche, Sept. 21, 1916; Anna, Nov. 28, 1918, and Edward, Oct. 25, 1920.

Asbury N. Levings, proprietor of a well improved farm in section 9, Crystal Lake Township, who has also through many years aided in the improvement of society and the elevation of humanity through religion and the promotion of such great moral movements as prohibition of the liquor traffic, was born in New York State, July 12, 1859. His parents, Noah and Amaralla (Rosebush) Levings, were natives of that state who came to Wis- consin in 1863 and engaged in agriculture. Shortly after arriving at their new home, Noah Levings enlisted for service in the Civil War and served until its close. He then resumed farming, and in the fall of 1870 moved with his family to a farm in St. Croix County, five miles south of New Richmond. Asbury N. acquired a common school education and learned agriculture on his parents' farm. After arriving at manhood he engaged in that occupation for himself, renting in succession several farms in St. Croix County, this state. In 1881, alive to the opportunities afforded by the opening up of Dakota lands, he went to South Dakota, where he took a homestead, which he im- proved and on which he remained for four years. In 1885 he returned to Wisconsin and for some years thereafter resided successively near Clear Lake, Glenwood and Amery. In the year 1903 he settled in Barron County, buying an interest in the M. Y. Cliff & Co.'s store at Cumberland, in which he worked for a year. For fourteen years longer he continued in mercantile business, having charge of the furniture, undertaking and hardware depart- ments of the company's store, proving his capacity as salesman and manager to the satisfaction of his employers. This phase of his career was terminated in 1918, in which year Mr. Levings resumed agricultural pursuits, buying 120 acres in section 9, Crystal Lake Township. Of this tract he cleared 40 acres, also erecting a good set of buildings. Here he is engaged in mixed farming and dairying, keeping grade Shorthorn cattle, and his operations have proved successful from the financial standpoint. In 1921 he was elected clerk of the

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township board, in which office he is now serving. This is not his first public service, as he was formerly treasurer of the high school board at Glenwood and at another time a member of the village council at Amery. For many years he was president and secretary of the Ashland district Epworth League, and for 15 years superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Sunday school at Cumberland. His interest in the temperance cause dates back to an early period and to it he devoted a considerable amount of time and much earnest effort, which were amply rewarded when the eighteenth amendment to the United States constitution went into effect. Mr. Levings assumed the respon- sibilities of domestic life on Dec. 30, 1885, when he was united in marriage at Boardman, Wis., to Anna Casselman. She was born in Canada, June 2, 1861, daughter of Michael and Eliza (Johnston) Casselman. Her parents are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Levings have had three children: Edwin J., born Nov. 29, 1886, who is now teaching a government Indian school in North Carolina; William A., born June 2, 1891, who died in infancy, Oct. 31, 1892, and Harry E., born Sept. 20, who is now his father's business partner.

Ole Erickson, a solid and substantial farmer of section 27, Vance Creek Township, was born in Ringerike, four miles west of Christiania, Norway, July 5, 1863, the son of Erick and Carrie Johnson. He attended school in his native parish and grew to manhood there. As a youth he did farm work and was also employed in the nickel smelters. In 1883 he came to America with his brother, George. They found their way to St. Paul and from there came to this region, where they entered the employ of Knapp, Stout & Co. Ole was sent to Bear Lake, in Barron County, to take care of 200 head of oxen. There- after he remained in the woods for many years, driving oxen in the lumber camps in the winter and working on the river drives in the spring. In 1888 he bought his present farm. That year he and his brother, George, sent for the parents, who came and spent the remainder of their lives in Vance Creek Township. When he secured the land it was all wild. A road had been chopped out but it was little more than a trail through the woods. Mr. Erickson put up a combination log and frame house and lived in it at intervals while still continuing his work as a lumberman. He started farming with a yoke of oxen and a few cows. His market was at Clear Lake and Eau Claire. A walk to Rice Lake was an ordinary stroll in those days. Gradually he has built up a good place from the wilderness. He has a good set of buildings and the land is well cultivated and suitably fenced. Here he successfully carries on gen- eral farming and dairying. He has a good herd of Holstein cattle which he is gradually improving. He sells cream to the Farmers Co-operative Creamery Co. at Clear Lake, in which he is a stockholder. Having come here when there were practically no good roads, he has naturally been interested in the better- ment of highways and for ten years he has done most excellent service as pathmaster. He and his family are interested in the Norwegian Lutheran Church at West Prairie Farm, in which he has been a trustee for several years. He is respected throughout the community and esteemed by all who know him. Mr. Erickson was married at Prairie Farm on July 19, 1896, to Gusta Tobiason, who was born in Jackson County, Minn., Oct. 27, 1876, the daughter of Edward and Carrie Tobiason. This union has been blessed with three children: Edwin, Carl and Gerhard. Edwin was born May 23, 1897, and is at home. Carl was born Sept. 1, 1898, and is a railroad operator. Gerhard was born March 27, 1900, grew to young manhood of unusual promise and died Nov. 1, 1918.

Lafayette Edward Losey, a substantial and representative farmer of section 8, Sumner Township, was born in a log cabin in Calumet County, this state, April 24, 1861, the son of Isaac and Sarah (Scott) Losey, pioneers of that county. The subject of this sketch was reared amid pioneer conditions, obtained what schooling he could in the neighborhood and was also taught much by his mother from home books. He learned farming thoroughly from his father. In 1885, the family, then consisting of the father and mother,

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Lafayette E., and his sister, Ida Jeanette, started for Barron County, driving a horse team and bringing their equipment and the implements with which they were to subdue the wilderness. Upon their arrival here they located on section 15, Sumner Township, erected a log cabin and started to clear the land. Both parents are now dead. The father, who was a veteran of the Civil War, attained considerable prominence in the township, and he and his wife were both greatly beloved. Soon after the arrival of the family here, Lafay- ette E. secured a tract of 160 acres in section 8, Sumner Township, to which he has since added 40 more. When he took the place a log barn and crude shack had been erected. With this beginning he has built up a good farm. A feature of the place is a round barn, 56 feet in diameter, with a driveway and "L," 26 by 26 feet. The buildings are supplied with conveniences and advan- tages, including a good collection of tools, implements and machinery. The house was burned Feb. 17, 1921. On this place Mr. Losey successfully conducts general farming, making a specialty of Guernsey cattle, Duroc swine and good horses. As a believer in farm progress, he is a member of the Guernsey Breeders' Asociation and in the Farmers Co-operative Store at Canton. Since early boyhood, Mr. Losey has been an earnest adherent of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has been untiring in his efforts to build up the church in Sumner Township, he has taught the Bible class for twenty-five years and, next to his family, its welfare has lain closest to his heart. Mr. Losey married Grace Giles, who was born in August, 1868, at Janesville and died in October, 1917, at the age of forty-nine years. Mr. and Mrs. Losey had six children : Harold L., Leon G., Bessie G., Roy L., Ernest I. and Valorice J.

Albert Halvorson, an energetic and highly regarded farmer of section 8, Sumner Township, was born in an old log cabin on section 5, this township, July 20, 1881, the son of the pioneers, Olaus and Ellen (Jorgenson) Halvorson. He grew to manhood in the years when the place was developing from a wilderness to a well-kept farm, he helped his parents with the farm work and he attended the schools of the neighborhood. As the years of responsibility came, he rented the home place in partnership with his brother, William. After his marriage in 1911 he sold out to his brother and moved to a tract of 160 acres in Stanley Township. A set of buildings stood on the place and 60 acres of the land had been broken. He remodeled the house, fixed over the barn, built a good stave silo and there farmed for four years. In 1915 he sold out and came to his present place of 148 acres in section 8, Sumner Township. Thirty-five acres of this land was cultivated, the rest being in woodland, and no buildings had been erected. To the task of building up and operating this farm, he has since devoted his attention. He has erected a modern home, put up a good barn, 36 by 100 feet, a tile silo, 16 by 41, and other buildings. He has cleared the land and put it under cultivation. Not only had the timber to be cut off and the stumps cleared, but some hundreds of loads of stones had to be gathered up and carted away. Mr. Halvorson has taken pride in his work and has developed a good farm of which he has reason to be proud. He carries on general farming and makes a specialty of a good herd of pure bred Guernsey cattle. He is an officer of the Guernsey Breeders' Association. He stands well with all who know him and is regarded as one of the substantial and representative men of his township, and an example to the younger gen- eration. Mr. Halvorson was married June 29, 1911, to Mary Bandli, who was born in Doyle Township, this county, Oct. 7, 1879, the daughter of Christian and Elsbeth Bandli, the pioneers. They have one bright boy, Laurence, born Feb. 13, 1917.

George L. Pettis, a solid and substantial farmer of probity and worth, living on section 8, Sumner Township, was born in Calumet County, this state, May 22, 1859, the son of Hiram K. and Lucy Jane (Scott) Pettis, natives of New York State. The father came to Wisconsin as a young man. When the Civil War was raging, he answered his country's call and enlisted in Troop K, 4th Wisconsin Cavalry. He was stricken ill while in service, was transferred

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to an army hospital and there died, leaving his wife with four young children: Frank, Rosa, Cynthia and George L. In the early eighties the family moved to Fond du Lac County. From there they moved to Antigo, in Lincoln County. In 1894 they came to Rice Lake and here the mother died in 1913 at the good old age of eighty years. When he first came here, the subject of this sketch was employed for some time in the mills. In 1912 he purchased his present farm, to the improvement and cultivation of which he has since devoted his time and energy. He has been successful in his operations, he has a good home and a well-kept farm and stands well with all who know him. He has been a lifelong abstainer and has been a strong advocate of prohibition. At Antigo he was an active member of the Good Templars, and also of the Sons of Veterans. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Rice Lake, served on its official board and taught in the Sunday School. Mr. Pettis was married Feb. 8, 1898, to Hattie Wilcox, who was born in Juneau County, this state, May 3, 1866, daughter of John and Alvira (Babcock) Wilcox, natives of New York State, who came west to Michigan as young people, and from there to Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Pettis have three children: Rena, Erma and Irvin.

Cyrus Woolley, an early settler, was born in New York State, May 14, 1826, the son of Judiah Woolley, a native of England, who brought the family to the present site of Chicago, then scarcely a hamlet, and from there moved to Will County, in the same state. Cyrus grew to manhood in Illinois, and for several years farmed in Will County. In 1870 he came to Barron County, and in 1872 secured a homestead of 120 acres in section 17, Sumner Township. This was all wild land. He put up a frame house, erected a barn of poles, cleared some of the land and started farming with little more than his hands and a few crude implements. About a year after their arrival they traded an organ for a cow. The nearest railroad was then at Chippewa Falls. There were many privations to endure and many difficulties to overcome, but they persevered and in time won success. After many years of hard work there, they retired and took up their home with their daughter, Ursula Anderson. He died at the age of eighty years in Barron while on a visit. His wife, Julia Keene, was born in New York State, April 6, 1839, daughter of Jas. C. and Polly (Sanford) Keene. Her grandfather Keene served as a soldier in the Revolu- tionary War. She now lives with her son, Edwin C., in Sumner Township. In the Keene family there were nine children: William Sanford, Phoebe Jane, James, Andrew Jackson, Laura Ann, Isaac Edwin, Susan, Julia and Eliza- beth. Mr. Woolley and his wife were the parents of seven children: Edwin C., Ursula Polly, Rose, Charles, Martha, Jennie and Herbert.

Edwin C. Woolley, an experienced farmer of section 18, Sumner Township, was born in Pleasant Ridge Township, Livingston County, Illinois, Nov. 6, 1864, the son of Cyrus and Julia (Keene) Woolley, the pioneers. He came to this county with his parents in 1870 and was reared in Sumner Township. He learned farm work and worked in the woods and on lumber drives. As a young man he worked in Superior, Wis., Duluth, Minn., and in various places in North Dakota and in Canada. In 1902 he homesteaded a farm in Kootenai County, in the Panhandle district in Idaho, and remained there until 1913. In 1914 he moved onto his present 80 acres in section 18, Sumner Township. At that time this was pratically all wild. He has erected good buildings and has developed an excellent farm. He carries on general agricultural operations and makes a specialty of Guernsey cattle. Mr. Woolley married in June, 1914, Effie White, who was born Oct. 10, 1870, the daughter of H. J. White.

George Smart, retired merchant and one of the founders of Hillsdale Village, was born in Mukwonago, Waukesha County, Wis., April 20, 1847, son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Steele) Smart. The parents were natives of England who came to America in 1833 and settled in Waukesha County, where they spent the remainder of their lives, the father dying in 1872 and the mother in 1888. In the family there were eleven children, Richard, Robert, John,

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Joseph, Samuel, William, George, Anna, Mary, Sarah and Jennie. The five first mentioned, and also Mary, who was the wife of Henry Stead, are now deceased. George lives in Stewartville, Minn. Anna is the widow of John Simon, Sarah the widow of Edgar Schermerhorn, and Jennie residing in Win- nebago City, Minn., the widow of Charles Bates. William resides at Hillsdale, this county. George Smart attended the district schools and at the age of twelve years had the misfortune to injure one of his legs while hauling stumps with some of his neighbors, this crippling him for life. But undaunted by this disaster, he completed his schooling and learned telegraphy at home. At the age of twenty years he became station agent at Arcadia, Wis., on the Green Bay Railroad, and remained in this position for 27 years. In 1900 he bought the general store at Stewartville, Minn. It was two years later that he came to Barron County and started a store at Hillsdale, then an infant hamlet, just starting as a business center. In 1905 he sold the general store and purchased a hardware store. This he conducted until 1918, when he sold out and retired, still retaining ownership of the building. Mr. Smart married, Oct. 14, 1873, Mary Jones, daughter of Thomas and Anna (Owen) Jones, natives of England, who came to America in 1850 and settled in Waukesha County, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Smart have three children : Maude E., born Sept. 14, 1874, now wife of Alfred Blackburn of Hillsdale; Birdie L., born Dec. 2, 1876, now wife of Frank Pierce of Vancouver, Wash .; and Lloyd G., born Feb. 16, 1879, now of Broadview, Mont.

John F. Samson, cashier of the State Bank of Hillsdale, was born at Eau Claire, Wis., Jan. 14, 1890, son of Frank and Susan (Forest) Samson, natives of Canada, and now leading citizens of Cameron, where the father was a prominent and successful merchant for many years. John F. passed through the graded schools of his native place, took a three years' course in the St. Paul (Minn.) High School, and in 1910 was graduated from the Rice Lake (Wis.) High School. Then for some time he was assistant cashier of the State Bank of Cameron. In 1914 he was appointed postmaster at Cameron and served until the spring of 1918. April 2, 1918, he was inducted into the United States service, trained with the Twenty-fifth Company, Coast Artillery, at Puget Sound, and was transferred to the Coast Artillery School for Officers at Fortress Monroe, Va., and was there when the armistice was signed, receiving his discharge Nov. 25, 1918. May 1, 1919, he assumed the duties of assistant cashier of the State Bank of Hillsdale and in October, 1920, was made cashier. He is conscientious and popular and is a real factor in the success with which the bank is meeting. Fraternally, he is a Mason and an Odd Fellow. The family faith is that of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Samson is an enthusi- astic believer in the future of this county and is taking his share in the encouragement of its various interests.

Carl Tonolli, now living in Barronette, and widely known as a musician of merit, was born in Italy and was there educated, studying music under competent masters. In 1870 he came to the United States and settled in New York. From there he traveled from place to place following his profession as a musician. In the course of his work he organized some twenty good bands in various parts of the country. In 1918 he retired and took up his home in Barronette in this county. Fraternally, he is a Mason, being a member of Border Lodge, No. 406, A. F. & A. M., at Rock Rapids, Iowa. He married Mary Menghelt, and they have seven children: Caesar, deceased; Chrissie, wife of Clarence A. L. Loomis of Barronette; Clara, wife of James N. Hunter, deceased, of Barronette; John of Duluth; Louise, wife of B. B. Brooks of Chadron, Neb .; Lucius, deceased; and Hugo of Hannibal, Wis.

Clarence A. L. Loomis of Barronette is one of the useful citizens of the county. Already experienced in public affairs when he came here, he has taken his active part in the life of the village. He helped to organize the Barronette Commercial Club and as one of the active members of that organ- ization was a factor in the location of the first lumber yard and creamery

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here, and in the establishment of the first rural mail route out of the local postoffice. He was also one of the five men who organized the Barronette State Bank. In many other public movements he has taken his part and has labored hard for the establishment of a new school. His services on the school board have ever been in the interests of progress and the best interests of the growing generations. Fraternally, he is an enthusiastic member of the Yeo- men. He was born in Chester, Howard County, Iowa, Dec. 18, 1868, the son of George E. and Elvira (Cramm) Loomis, the pioneers. These worthy people were born in Vermont, came to La Crosse County, this state, in the early days, lived there twelve years, and then moved to Howard County, Iowa, with the early settlers and there spent the remainder of their lives, the father dying Jan. 8, 1902, and the mother, March 30, 1918. In the family there were four children, Willis E., Alice L., Avena and Clarence A. L. Clarence attended the district schools of his native county and supplemented this with two years in business college in La Crosse, Wis. For some years he worked with his father on the farm and then started in for himself, continuing his operations until he owned a whole half section of rich Iowa land. As a scientific farmer he was widely known, and his Royal Belgian horses were nationally famous, having taken two championships at the International Stock Show in Chicago in 1902. His registered Jersey cattle were the basis of many another fine herd in his part of the state, and his fine Shropshire sheep, Poland China swine and White Wyandotte chickens had more than a local reputation. In public life he occupied local and town offices and served on numerous delega- tions and committees. In Iowa he was elected to two terms as county clerk of court. Coming of pioneer stock, he was interested in the preservation of the memories of the early days, and for several years was president of the State Line Old Settlers' Association, an organization embracing the early settlers of northeastern Iowa and southeastern Minnesota. But in spite of this measure of success and prominence, the pioneer blood in his veins called him to try life in a newer country, so in 1906 he sold out and came to Barron County. Here with Barronette as his headquarters he acquired considerable land, being at one time the possessor of no less than 1,300 acres. In 1908 he purchased the Barronette Stock Farm of 320 acres, stumped 100 acres, reno- vated the buildings, erected a large barn and there successfully carried on mixed farming and dairying until 1914. In that year he went to Cumberland and became owner and manager of the Merchants Hotel. In 1916 he came back to Barronette and has since been engaged in the real estate business here and in looking after his extensive interests. Mr. Loomis was married, Feb. 29, 1892, to Chrissie Tonolli, daughter of Carl and Mary (Menghelt) Tonolli, and this union has been blessed with three children: Carl E., born March 18, 1893, now at home; George W., born April 16, 1895, now in Duluth; and Ruth, born Aug. 12, 1897, wife of Harry Arnes of Barronette. The family faith is that of the Presbyterian Church.

Fremont S. Woodard, county clerk of Barron County and formerly active in several lines of industry, including agriculture, was born at Melrose, Jack- son County, Wis., April 22, 1862, son of Thomas C. and Clarissa Woodard. The father was a native of Vermont, born in February, 1838; the mother was born in Pennsylvania in February, 1839. They were married at Melrose, Wis., where Thomas C. Woodard had an active career of many years as a farmer and lumberman. He retired from lumbering in the late nineties but continued to operate his farm for some years after. He and his wife are now residing at Bloomer, Chippewa County, Wis., and the farm is managed by their son, Oscar. They had in all eight children, of whom the six now living are: Western, a farmer and sheep herder living near Bloomer; Fremont S. of Barron; Inez, wife of Chris Hansen, a banker and stock broker of Bloomer; Alta, also a resident of Bloomer; Oscar on the home farm; and Luella, now Mrs. George Kerig of Bloomer, Wis. The two deceased are Sherman and Estella. The parents of Fremont S. Woodard came to Bloomer, Wis., when he

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 120

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

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