History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 131

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

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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).

Albert Lowell, veteran of the Civil War, one of the earliest pioneers of Sumner Township, and at one time keeper of a hotel on the old village site of Sumner, was born in Illinois, son of Harvey and Sarah (Randolph) Lowell. He came west as a young man, and married Margaret Gorman, a native of Sauk County, this state. He served in the Civil War as a private in Co. D,- Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He came to Barron County in the seventies, and located in Sumner Township, where he homesteaded wild land and built a log cabin. He subsequently farmed in different parts of the town- ship, and at one time, as noted, kept a hotel in the old town of Sumner. Later he moved to Canton where he died at the age of sixty-three, and his wife is still living with her son, Frank. In the family there were six children: Herman, Frank, Clara, Sadie, Walter and Laura.

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Robert Duncan Mclellan, a potato buyer of Canton for the past ten years, was born in Canada, June 23, 1874, the son of Robert and Lovina (Rees) Mc- Lellan, who brought him first to Chippewa County and then to Barron County. He was reared and educated in Stanley Township, and started out for him- self at about the age of nineteen. For years he farmed, did railroad work, and worked in the woods. He took up his home in Canton in 1892. He is a good business man, he deals with the utmost fairness, and has the confidence of the people from whom he buys and those to whom he ships. He is an en- thusiastic believer in the future of this region as one of the leading potato sections of Wisconsin. Mr. McLellan was married Dec. 25, 1892, to Clara Lowell, who was born in Sumner Township, this county, Nov. 15, 1877, the daughter of Albert and Margaret (Gorman) Lowell. Mr. and Mrs. McLellan have had a fine family of ten children: Mabel, Walter, Dewey, Ernest, Violet (died in infancy), Ruby, Sydney, Gladys, Roy and Lawrence.

William White, an early settler of Sumner Township, was born in Bred- shire, England, Nov. 7, 1835, and was there reared and educated. He came to the United States as a young man. For some time he lived near Reeds- burg, Sauk County, Wis., where, in 1867, he married Almira Lake, who was born in New York State, Dec. 29, 1841. For fourteen years he was in Colo- rado, working in the mines. In 1872 he came to Barron County, bringing his wife, and child, Margaret, and located on 160 acres of wild land in Section 18, Sumner Township. Later, he added forty acres more, making a good place of 200 acres. For a while the family lived in a shack, while he was getting a house built. He had an ox team, with which he had driven in from Sauk County, but he had little else with which to clear a farm in the wilderness. Grain was cradled by hand. The market place was at Chippewa Falls, and the journey there and back, through the wilds, with the oxen, took four days. But gradually times changed, and the town became a well-settled farming com- munity. Mr. White kept pace with the progress of the neighborhood, and de- veloped, a good farm. He was active in public affairs, and served for many years on the town board and on the school board. After a long and useful life, he died, April 4, 1915. He was a man of sterling worth, who did his duty as he saw it, and he will long be esteemed as one who had a real part in the upbuilding of the county. His wife died Nov. 18, 1914. They were the par- ents of six children: Margaret, Arthur O., William C., May, Myra and Mabel.

Arthur O. White, a successful potato buyer of Canton, was born on the old homestead in Section 18, Sumner Township, May 12, 1873, the son of Wil- liam and Elvira (Lake) White, early settlers. He remained at home as a youth, attended school in the neighborhood, and learned farming from his father. At an early age he took up the potato business, and in that he still continues, representing J. R. Beggs of St. Paul, as a buyer. He knows local conditions and local people, he has a reputation for fair dealing and generous treatment, and he has the confidence of the people as well as of the company for which he works. He was married at Canton, Dec. 30, 1903, to Carrie Gil- lette, who was born Nov. 10, 1874, the daughter of J. and Mary (Malone) Gil- lette, who came to Barron County in 1886, and settled at Sumner.

William Charles White, educator and bee fancier, was born on a pioneer homestead in Section 18, Sumner Township, Dec. 7, 1875, the son of William and Elvira (Lake) White. He remained at home until sixteen and then started teaching school. By teaching he secured funds to attend the Wisconsin State Normal School at Superior and the University of Wisconsin, at Madison. In all, he taught twenty-six years. He was principal at Canton eight years, at Elmwood three years, at Plum City two years, at Cameron one year, and at Prairie Farm, one year. As an instructor, he met with great success. He was a master of the subjects he taught and well informed in other lines, and he had the faculty of making knowledge clear to his pupils and inspiring them to do their best. He is courteous and affable, he is a sound business man, and has the entire confidence of the public. Mr. White has made a hobby of

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raising bees. He specializes in the Italian breed, and is meeting with quite a degree of success along this line. He stands well with all who know him, and is one of the influential men of this part of the county.

Edward Frankenburg, a retired resident of Cameron Village, formerly the successful owner of 160 acres of good farm land in Section 34, Stanley Town- ship, was born in Germany, Aug. 31, 1848, the son of Frederick and Fredericka Frankenburg. The family, then consisting of the father and mother, and three sons, Edward, Charles and Mauritz, came to America in 1870, and located first in West Virginia. That fall they came westward to Ohio, where they remained for three years. In 1873 they located in Winneconne, Wis. There they learned of the possibilities of Barron County, and determined to establish their home here. Accordingly, in 1875, they came here, and secured land in Section 34, Stanley Township, the father 185 acres, and Edward 160 acres. On the father's place, some two acres had been broken, but no buildings had been erected. They put up a log cabin, and for a while all lived together there. They had no money, but the father and the boys managed to get a little by working for Knapp, Stout & Company, winters, while clearing the land in the summer time. Supplies had to be obtained from Rice Lake, and were usually brought in on the back of the father or one of the sons. It was two years before they se- cured a cow, and still later before they could afford a span of horses. The years of hard work, however, in time had their reward, and the family became one of the most respected in the vicinity. They helped to establish the Ger- man Lutheran Church at Sumner and continued active in its support. The parents spent the remainder of their lives on the home place. In the mean- time, Edward was working at intervals in the improvement of his own place. He built a log cabin there, and moved into it in 1884 with his bride. Together they started to carve their fortunes, and to establish a family home. They worked early and late, and their efforts were crowned with success. The log cabin gave way to a fine set of well-improved buildings. The wild land be- came a well-cultivated farm, well fenced, and provided with the best of equip- ment. Children came to brighten the home and their parents' hearts, and as they grew, they, too, took an interest in the place and its development. In 1920, after a long life filled with hard work and worthy endeavor, Mr. and Mrs. Frankenburg retired, and now have a pleasant home in Cameron, where they are spending the afternoon of life in well-deserved comfort. Mr. Frank- enburg was married Nov. 10, 1884, at Old Cameron, to Fredericka Pouch, born in Germany, Jan. 17, 1865, the daughter of Frederick and Wilhelmina, who died in that country when she was a young girl. She came to America in 1884, and a few months later was married. Mr. and Mrs. Frankenburg have eight chil- dren: Robert, Edward, Carl, Louis, John, Arthur, Adaline and Clara.

John F. Neck, an estimable early settler, has lived in Prairie Farm for forty years. In the early days he saw much hard work and endured many hard- ships, and came through rigorous experiences which only a man of unusual strength could survive. He was born in Saxony, Germany, May 29, 1867, one of the seven children of Matthew and Mary (Keiser) Neck. He attended school in Germany, and was but fourteen years old when he came to America, in 1881.

· But he was a healthy, sturdy and solid boy, and after finding his way to Bar- ron County, worked on farms, in the woods and on the river drives. He worked hard, early and late, he saved his money, and in 1888 he bought 40 acres of wild land in Section 35, and 40 in Section 34, Prairie Farm Township, and built thereon a log cabin, 18 by 24 feet. Then he sent for his parents and the rest of the family, and they moved into the cabin. The parents continued to live here, the father dying in 1920, at the age of 85 years, and the mother the same year, at the age of 82 years. In 1891, Mr. Neck married and brought his wife to the place. For many years the family had a hard time to get along. There were no roads, the neighbors were scattered, and travelers were few. A trail led past the place but the little cabin was set back from the trail where it could hardly be seen. Most of the furniture was made from trees cut on the

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W. J. ACKERMAN

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place. While building up the place, when he could, Mr. Neck continued work- ing in the woods. Sometimes he would come home from the woods late at night with his shoes frozen to his feet, and be unable to remove them, and have to keep them on all night. Often in the late fall he would start for Bar- ron with a load of hay at two o'clock in the morning, with no mittens and no overcoat, and then receive but a very small price for his load. Gradually, however, times became better, and prosperity crowned his efforts. The tract of wild land was developed into a good farm, and 80 more acres has been added, making a fine farm of 160 acres. Mr. Neck now has a fine set of buildings. He has a pleasant and comfortable home, a basement, barn, 36 by 118 feet, a silo, 14 by 30 feet, and other buildings. The place is well kept and well equipped, and is profitably conducted. Here Mr. Neck carries on general farm- ing and dairying, and has a good herd of Holstein cattle. He is a stockholder in the Prairie Farm Co-operative Association and in the Prairie Farm Co-op- erative Creamery. In the community at large he is known as a good citizen, and he has done the town good service as a member of the township board. He helped to start the German Evangelical Church at Prairie Farm, and has served as trustee and as president of the trustees. Mr. Neck was married May 7, . 1891, to Anna Dora Rassbach, who was born in Prairie Farm Township, Dec. 22, 1869, the daughter of Casper and Mary Rassbach, pioneers of that town- ship. This union has been blessed with seven children: Henry, of Rice Lake; Maude, the wife of Roy Miller, of Prairie Township; and Edgar, Lottie, Ray- mond, Wayne and Oliver, all at home. Henry was inducted into the United States service July 14, 1917, as a mechanic and left Barron County with one of the largest contingents: He was sent to Buffalo, N. Y., and was then sent to high school for a time. He was then sent to Leavenworth, Kansas, where he was placed in the signal corps, and went to Camp Meade, ready to go over- seas, when he was attacked by the influenza. After recovering he went into training there and so remained until the armistice was signed. He was dis- charged in January, 1919, and returned home.

Walter J. Ackerman, head of the Ackerman Insurance Co., Rice Lake, first engaged in the real estate and loan business here in 1900, and in the decade that has passed he has won the reputation of being one of the foremost men in this line in this part of the state. He possesses those qualities of tempera- ment and personality which make for success in his particular line of work, he is a thorough believer in his business, and people have learned that all his advice is fair and impartial. In the course of his career he has bought out three different partners, and has surrounded himself with an able corps of co- workers, the agency now being composed of himself, F. B. Tompkins, W. D. Brady and E. G. Shervey. The company is the largest of its kind in the county, and handles more than half of all the insurance in Rice Lake. The firm rep- resents a large number of companies. A direct agency is maintained with more than 70 companies, and the firm is also prepared to secure insurance with any other company desired, in any line desired. Loans are also negotiated on city and rural property. Walter J. Ackerman is a native of this county, born on his parents' farm in Doyle Township, Aug. 5, 1882, son of Joel R. and Eliza- beth (Jeffers) Ackerman, the former of whom died June 13, 1918, and the lat- ter of whom is still living on the home place. He was sturdily reared to farm pursuits, and received his preliminary education in the district schools of his neighborhood. Later, in 1901, he entered the Wisconsin Business University at La Crosse, Wis., from which he received his diploma in 1902. In addition to this he did considerable home study as a youth, and his broad information of today is the result of deep reading and close observation of books, men and events. In 1903 he became accountant for the Crisler-Everts Lumber Co. of Rice Lake, and upon buying an interest in the firm was made its secretary, a position he held until they sold out to the Osborn-Clark Lumber Co. of Min- neapolis, since which time he has been engaged in his present business. Mr. Ackerman has been interested in the moving picture line for some years. At

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one time, with Earl T. Brown as partner, he owned a half interest in all three of the moving picture theaters then operated in Janesville, Wisconsin, and he also owned a third interest in a moving picture theater in Spooner, Wis., and two in Rice Lake. In 1914, together with E. H. Bjoin and P. D. Jacobson, he purchased the Tourists' Hotel, of Rice Lake, which for about one year was conducted under his supervision by a manager. In 1915 he sold the hotel to Michael Weber. At present he is a stockholder in the Cinematic Service Co. of Fond du Lac, Wis. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the United Commercial Travelers. He helped to organize the Rice Lake Commercial Club, was its first secretary, and has been one of its real leaders. He is also a member of the Credit Division of the Business Men's Association. He finds his recreation in motoring and in trout fishing. His excellent modern home is located at 20 West Evans Street, and he also has a pretty summer cot- tage on the shores of Rice Lake. Mr. Ackerman was married Nov. 24, 1914, to Aura Sawyer, of Rice Lake, born March 25, 1883, daughter of Henry and Louise (La Ford) Sawyer. Mr. and Mrs. Ackerman have one child, Walter F., born Oct. 24, 1917.

Louis C. Dahl, Cumberland, railroad man and merchant, was born in Nor- way, Aug. 31, 1863, the son of Christ and Marion Dahl, both natives of that country. The father, who was employed in paper mills in the old country, brought his family to America in 1882, and settled at New Richmond, St. Croix County, this state, where he was employed as a railroad section man, until his death, in 1890, after which his wife returned to Norway, where she died, Aug 2, 1916. In the family there were seven children: Jens P., Ole, Andreas, Petra (wife of John Halverson, of New Richmond), Charles, Louis C. and one who is dead. Louis C. came to America with his parents as a youth of fifteen, and started work as a section man with headquarters at New Richmond. Three years later, in 1884, at the age of eighteen, he was made section foreman. In May, 1905, he left New Richmond and went to Williams County, North Dakota, where he took a homestead and farmed for eight years. He then sold his place there and resumed railroad work, locating in Cumberland, Barron County, Wis., where he has since remained. A year after coming here he opened a variety store, of which his wife is in active charge, Mr. Dahl continuing his work as section foreman, for which he is well qualified by long experience. He is widely acquainted in New Richmond and Cumberland and the surrounding country. In both cities he has taken an active interest in public affairs, and in New Richmond he served as alderman for several terms. He was a charter member of New Richmond Camp, No. 2993, Modern Woodmen of America, and his wife is a member of the Royal Neighbors. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran Church. Mr. Dahl was married March 30, 1890, at New Richmond, Wis., to Lena A. Lee, daughter of Andrew J. and Anna Lee, natives of Norway, and early settlers of New Richmond, where they resided subse- quently until their death. Mr. and Mrs. Dahl have two daughters: Lida, was born May 29, 1891, and is the wife of Floyd Trumble, of Williston, North Dakota. Signora was born July 21, 1897, and is the wife of Arthur Erickson, a stone mason of Cumberland, who was a soldier in the great World War. Henry E. Anderson, proprietor of Plainfield Farm in Section 33, Lakeland Township, is one of the active and useful citizens of that township, widely known and respected. He was born in Norway, Jan. 14, 1871, son of Halver and Margaret (Preus) Anderson, and came to America with his parents in 1881. From Philadelphia, where the ship landed him, the family came direct to Cumberland, Wis., but in a short time removed to Barronette, where for three years Halver Anderson worked in the sawmills. In 1884, he started out for himself as a farmer, buying 40 acres of heavy timber land in Section 33, Lake- land Township, the Beaver Lake Lumber Co., from whom he bought the land, reserving the timber, which was logged the same year. Mr. Anderson erected a set of log buildings and began the development of his property. There he resided until his death, which was caused by his falling from a load of hay.

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The accident resulted in injuries to his spine and he passed away three days later, Aug. 15, 1892, at the age of sixty-nine years, six months and ten days. At the time of the father's death, the wife and mother, with the assistance of the oldest son, Henry E., shouldered the responsibility of rearing and educating the fatherless children, the youngest being about three years of age. She was a hard-working woman, always devoted to family and home, a member of the Methodist Church. She lived on the farm almost continuously until her death, which occurred at the home of her son, Henry E., on Nov. 27, 1912. at the age of sixty-seven years. When the family first settled here, in 1884, it was no unusual sight to see hundreds of Indians passing through, northward bound, the trail leading right beside the little log cabin. Mr. and Mrs. Halver Anderson were the parents of eight children: Ludwig, who died in Norway; Jennie, now Mrs. G. T. Anderson, of Clam Falls, Wis .; Henry E., of Lake- land Township; Peter A., who died Dec. 31, 1908; Louis M., of St. Paul, Minn .; Marie, now Mrs. C. O. Rudd, of St. Paul; Charles T., of Cumberland; and Clara, who is the wife of John Melby, of Minot, North Dakota. Henry E. Anderson was educated in Barron County and first worked for his father, after- wards in sawmills and shingle mills, which line of industry he began at the early age of eleven years. After his father's death he took charge of the farm, and later, having bought the interests of the other heirs, it became his prop- erty. He has since increased its area by the purchase of an additional 40 acres, and has cleared and broken 55 acres in all, besides having erected a set of buildings. As a general farmer and dairyman, he is carrying on a success- ful business and making good financial progress. His cattle are pure-bred Holsteins. He is a member of the Cumberland Shipping Association, a stock- holder and director in the Mckinley Telephone Company and a stockholder in the Barron Live Stock Pavilion. His religious affiliations are with the Meth- odist Church. On Oct. 29, 1907, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage with Minnie Wandrey, who was born at Wautoma, Wis., July 10, 1884, daughter of Frederick E. and Mary (Zabel) Wandrey. Of this union, three children have been born: Evelyn M., May 10, 1909; Orville H., Dec. 22, 1911; and Raymond W., March 31, 1914.

Anson E. Halloway, one of the leading men of his neighborhood, is farm- ing on 80 acres in Section 25, west, Maple Grove Township. He was born Sept. 21, 1868, in Marshall County, Indiana, son of Levi and Margaret (Garner) Halloway, natives respectively of Ohio and Indiana, who farmed in Indiana until 1880, when they moved to Michigan, where the father died in 1904 and where the mother still lives. Anson E. received his early education in the public schools of Indiana and Michigan, and farmed for a number of years with his parents. In 1889 he entered the United States Merchant Marine service for three years. He came to Barron County in 1892, and acquired his present place. He cleared fifty acres and erected a good set of buildings. One of the features of the place is a nine-room bungalow, completed in 1920, a remark- able circumstance being that all the rough lumber used in its construction came from timber cut on the farm. Mr. Halloway was clerk of the school board of his district one year and a director one year. Mr. Halloway was mar- ried Nov. 8, 1896, to Isabelle Cox, who was born in Iowa, Feb. 23, 1873, daugh- ter of David and Elizabeth (Plummer) Cox. Her parents came to Barron County from Iowa in 1876 and homesteaded 160 acres in Dallas Township. Mr. Cox later sold that tract and moved to Maple Grove Township, where he spent a considerable part of his life in farming. His last removal was to Hills- dale, where he died in July, 1917. His wife died Oct. 27, 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Halloway are the parents of four children: Hazel R., born Aug. 24, 1897, who is the wife of Henry Snider of Maple Grove Township, and has two children, Raymond H., born Aug. 21, 1918, and Dorothy, born Oct. 5, 1920. Mildred was born Nov. 5, 1904, and attends school at Barron. Chester A. was born Aug. 27, 1911. Anson E., Jr., was born Aug. 18, 1918.

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Barney Gulickson, a substantial and hard-working farmer of Section 25, Stanley Township, was born in Telemarken, Norway, Dec. 23, 1859, the son of Gulick and Gunhild (Moen) Olson, with whom he came to Waupaca County, this state, in 1868, and to his present farm in 1873. As a boy he lived in the family log cabin and assisted with the farm work. When the parents grew older he gradually took up the burdens of the farm management and he still remains on the home place of 160 acres which he now owns. He successfully carries on general farming and dairying and has a good herd of graded Hol- stein cattle. His holdings include shares in the Farmers' Cooperative Store at Cameron and the Farmers' Cheese Co. at Canton. Mr. Gulickson is one of the solid men of the community, he is respected by all who know him, and is held in the highest esteem and regard. His work and worth are widely known, he is a man of good judgment and sound sense, he is a good farmer and citizen, and he takes his share in everything that he believes to be for the best good of the community. Like his parents before him he is an adherent of the Norwe- gian Lutheran Church at Foberg, and is liberal in his support.

Gulick Olson, one of the earliest settlers of Barron County, who lived also to be one of its oldest and most esteemed citizens, was born in Telemarken, Nor- way Oct. 17, 1825, and was there reared, educated and married. His first wife died in that country and in 1856 he married Gunhild Moen, who was born in Telemarken, Sept. 17, 1830. In 1868 he brought his wife and five children to America. The voyage was made aboard the sailboat "Rukan", and took a little over eight weeks, a hard voyage indeed for the mother with the young children. They landed at Quebec, strangers in a strange land, almost without money, and ignorant of the language. From Quebec they found their way to Detroit, Mich., and from there to this state where they settled at Iola, in Waupaca County. Five years later they set out for Barron County with an ox team. Upon their arrival here in 1873 they took a homestead of 160 acres of wild land in Section 25. This was on Pokegema Prairie, then almost a wilderness with only a few scattered settlers. For a while they lived with neighbors while he put up a small log cabin. Then he started clearing the land and raising crops. Wheat brought low prices and had to be hauled to Chippewa Falls or Eau Claire, a three days' journey. These places were also the trading points where the provisions were secured. Mr. and Mrs. Olson worked early and late, as- sisted by their children, and before old age came on they had established a comfortable home and developed a good farm. They were especially active in the affairs of the Norwegian Lutheran Church. Early services were often held in his log cabin, and when the congregation at Foberg was established he helped to build the first church. He also held several offices in the congrega- tion. All in all, he was an active and useful man, whose career meant real good to the community. He was a good farmer, a good citizen, and a good neighbor, his first thought was ever of his family, and his death left a vacancy in the community that will not soon be filled. He died Feb. 15, 1921, after a long and useful life. His wife died Oct. 11, 1906. She was a loving and dutiful wife, an affectionate and sympathetic mother, a kind neighbor and genial friend, and she will long be missed. Mr. and Mrs. Olson were the parents of eight children: Andrew of Cameron; Barney of Stanley Township; Ole of Glenwood, Minn .; Charles of Koochiching County, Minn .; Alice, living in Stanley Township, the widow of William Olson; Theodore of Moorehead, Minn., and two who died in infancy in Norway.

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 131

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

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