History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 134

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

USA > Wisconsin > Barron County > History of Barron County Wisconsin > Part 134

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Herman Thalke, a retired farmer living in Mikana, was born in Germany June 17, 1862, the son of Fredrick and Mary (Malchow) Thalke, both of whom spent the span of their years in that country. He was educated in his native land and as a youth learned the trade of stone mason. In 1880 he came to America, landed in Baltimore, and came from there directly to Floyd County, lowa. From there a short time later, he came to Dodge County, Wis. In 1883 he went to South Dakota and took a homestead of 160 acres in Town 115, Range 69, Hand County. Ten years later he sold and located at Menasha in Winnebago County, Wis., where he worked at his trade for seven years. In 1890 he located once more in Dodge County, where he operated rented farms for seven years. In 1907 he came to Barron County and bought 80 acres in Section 4, Doyle Township. He cleared twenty acres of this land and erected an excellent set of buildings doing all the mason work himself. On this place he conducted general farming and dairying. In 1916 Mr. Thalke rented the place to his son, William, and erected a pleasant home in the village of Mikana. In addition to his home and farm his holdings include stock in the Mikana Creamery and the Central Cheese and Butter Association. While in Doyle Township he served on the school board. In 1920 he was elected one of the supervisors of Cedar Lake Township. He and his family attend the German Lutheran Church of Cedar Lake Township. Mr. Thalke was married July 30, 1883 to Minnie Otto, who was born Jan. 29, 1864 in Germany, the daughter of

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Carl and Minnie (Rhanke) Otto, both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Thalke have three children, Frank, William and Martha. Frank was born April 11, 1884, and lives at Mikana. William, born Sept. 10, 1898, operates the home farm. Martha was born Sept. 10, 1898, and is the wife of Louis Funk of Mikana, Wis.

Gabriel Kringle, a pioneer of Barron County, was born in Norway, and .

was married in Wisconsin to Barbara Huset. They had both come to this country in 1861 with their respective families while yet in their 'teens. They located in Dane County, and in 1871 came to Barron County, taking a home- stead of 160 acres in Section 36, Maple Grove Township, where they de- veloped a good farm. They cleared the land, put up a set of buildings and experienced all the privations of pioneer life. Money was scarce, neighbors were few, Indians still ranged the county at will. But by perseverance and thrift these good people forged ahead and became prominent members of the community. Mr. Kringle served in several town offices such as clerk and treasurer, and was for some time a member of the school board. He and his family have adhered to the faith of the Norwegian Lutheran Church.

George G. Kringle, postmaster at Mikana, manager of the yard of the Independent Lumber Co. at Mikana, and owner of a potato warehouse at Angus, is a native of this county and has been a prominent man in this vicinity for many years. In public life he has been clerk and treasurer of Cedar Lake Township. His business holdings include his home at Mikana, his warehouse at Angus, stock in the company of which he is manager, and stock in the Mikana Creamery and in the Central Cheese and Butter Association. Fra- ternally he belongs to the Masons and the Modern Brotherhood. He was born in Maple Grove Township, this county, March 14, 1881, son of Gabriel and Barbara (Huset) Kringle. In his native township he received his edu- cation and was reared to farm pursuits, remaining with his parents until 1898. Then in order to broaden his experience he went to Carrington, N. D., where he did farm labor for two years. In 1900 he came to Barron County and was employed by Knute Espeseth, at Dallas, Wis., for a year. He came to Mikana in 1901 and opened a general store. This he successfully operated for thirteen years, winning a place for himself as a leading business man and active citizen. In 1914 he sold the store and bought 120 acres in Section 21, Cedar Lake Township, which he operated for a short time. Then, in 1915, he opened an office in Mikana, selling land and insurance. In the meantime, in 1908, he had been appointed postmaster, and that position he still holds. In 1916 he became manager of the Independent Lumber Co. Mr. Kringle was married March 7, 1905 to Grace Doears, who was born in Wisconsin, daughter of John and Allie (Wilkinson) Doears, natives of southern Wisconsin, the former of whom is now deceased, the latter still living. Mr. and Mrs. Kringle had two children : Valorise and Edward. Valorise was born Feb. 8, 1906, and Edward Aug. 24, 1910. Both are doing well with their studies in the public · schools of Mikana. Mrs. Kringle died May 21, 1915. She was a kind and loving wife and mother and a good neighbor, and her loss was sincerely mourned.

Nels Everson, station agent at Mikana, is an excellent railroad man, has the confidence of the company which employs him and of the people he serves, and is in good favor with the traveling and shipping public. He was born in Norway, Aug. 8, 1844, son of Everson and Ellen (Larson) Everson, who spent the span of their years in Norway. For some years after leaving school he worked with his parents and then became a farm foreman. In 1872 he came to America and found his way to Menomonie, this state, where he entered the employ of Knapp, Stout & Co. In this employ he remained for forty years, working in various places in northern Wisconsin. Mainly, he worked in the woods winters and in blacksmith shops summers, but he was also an all- around handy man, and there are few positions connected with lumbering operations that he has not occupied. He also farmed for many years. In 1912

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he took up his home in Mikana, and was made janitor of the public school building. Six years later he took up the duties of his present position. While he has been too busy to mingle actively in public affairs, he is much interested in good roads and from 1901 to 1912 was road commissioner in Cedar Lake Township. Mr. Everson was married Aug. 6, 1882, in Cedar Lake Township, this county, to Nellie Dale, daughter of Andrew and Christina (Tolle) Dale. This union has been blessed with three children, William, Alfred and James. William was born May 20, 1883, and lives at Mikana. He married Anna Asmas- sen and has three children, Jessie, Morris and Nora. Alfred was born March 4, 1887, and was designated for United States service but did not pass the examinations. James was born July 23, 1893. He served in France with the American Expeditionary Forces, being overseas seven months, as a member of Company E, 309th Infantry.

Leander Coates, blacksmith of Mikana, is a native of this state, born in Sauk County, Feb. 22, 1863, and there educated and reared to farm pursuits. At the age of twenty he started to learn the blacksmith's trade in Merrimack, in his native county, and there remained for several years. From there he went to Caledonia, Wis., and operated a shop for himself for three years. Then, after another interval at Merrimack, he opened a shop at Modena, in Buffalo County, this state. In 1907 he went to Birchwood, this state, on the line between Washburn and Sawyer Counties, and conducted a shop for thirteen years. In 1920 he came to Mikana and opened his present shop in a building 46 by 28 feet and fully equipped which he erected. He is doing excellent work and enjoys a wide trade, having the respect and confidence of all with whom he has business relations. Mr. Coates was married March 10, 1885, to Nellie Jones, who died March 10, 1893, leaving one son, William, who was born Oct. 21, 1886. On Nov. 21, 1894, Mr. Coates married Violetta Noyes Powell, widow of Frank Powell. This union has been blessed with seven chil- dren: Reva, born March 9, 1896; Leon, born June 24, 1897; Harvey, born Sept. 8, 1899; Bessie J., born April 14, 1901; Orva, born March 24, 1903; Effie, born Nov. 18, 1907, and Gordon, born Feb. 6, 1909. By her marriage to Mr. Powell, Mrs. Coates has two children: Harley E., born April 11, 1886, and Beatrice A., born Nov. 9, 1890.

William F. Sanford, early settler, proprietor of the sightly and fertile Lonesome Pine Farm, section 8, Vance Creek Township, was born at McHenry, in McHenry County, Ill., May 16, 1853, the son of Elisha and Mary (Harvey) Sanford, the former of New England stock and the latter of Scotch ancestry. In the family were six other children: Elnora, Mary, Alice, George, John and Charles. The father, Elisha, and two of the sons, George and John, were veterans of the Civil War. Elisha served in the 51st Illinois Volunteer In- fantry. George served in the 18th Illinois Volunteer Infantry two years, and then enlisted in the 17th Illinois Cavalry. John served two years in the 95th Illinois Infantry, and then enlisted in the 17th Illinois Cavalry. William F. lost his mother when he was but seven years of age, and at the age of thirteen started out for himself by working on neighboring farms. As a young man he came west and on July 3, 1872, reached Iowa. He did farm work that summer and expected to get into the mines in the fall, but not being able to find employment he made his way to Pepin County, this state, where he secured work in connection with the lumbering operations along the Chippewa. He married in 1875, and shortly thereafter took a trip further up the river in search of a location, but found nothing that exactly suited him. It was in that year that his brother, John, located on section 18, Vance Creek Township, Barron County. In the fall of 1876, the subject of this sketch went to Iowa to work for his uncle, William Farnsworth, who lived near Sheffield, in Franklin County. A little later he purchased a farm in the same vicinity. But his first wheat crop was a failure, so he became a renter. In 1882 he came to this county, and in August, 1883, homesteaded 40 acres of his present place. In December of that year he put up a log cabin on his brother John's place

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MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM F. SANFORD GEORGE B. SANFORD-LAWRENCE A. SANFORD

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in section 18. Then he set to work to get his own place ready. He put up a comfortable log cabin on a rise of land, cleared a home lot around it, and in May, 1884, moved into it with his wife and four children: Carrie, John, May and Lizzie. There they spent many happy years. The times were hard, it is true, there were many hardships and privations, toil was severe and of the most grilling kind, comforts were few, luxuries were unknown, and even the necessities were sometimes lacking. But they had courage and strength and ambition, they were establishing a home, and their hearthstone was a place of never failing good cheer. Travelers often stopped there, and no one was ever turned from the door. The first year the family had a cow. Some three or four years later they secured a yoke of steers, which they broke to the harness. The trading point was at Clear Lake, over the line in Polk County, and Mr. Sanford often walked there, bringing supplies home on his back. While getting his farm in condition, he continued for many seasons in the employ of the lumber interests. In the winter he worked as sawer, swamper and chain tender in the lumber woods, and in the spring he tended the dam for the river drives. In later years he devoted all his attention to the farm. He added forty more acres of land, buying the tract from Knapp, Stout & Co. for $235. Gradually he cleared up and developed the place. In 1907 he put up the fine modern home which is now the family residence, and which was first occupied just before Christmas of that year. The barn is commodious, the other buildings are adequate. The house is surrounded with trees and a lawn, the well tilled acres are suitably fenced, the equipment is of the best, the livestock is sleek and well cared for, and everything about the place be- speaks the thrift, good taste and public spirit of the owner. Here he success- fully carries on general farming and dairying on a profitable scale. He has taken an interest in everything that has pertained to the growth, progress and betterment of the community, in social, civic, religious, educational and business affairs. He was active in the organization of the United Brethren Church at Reeve, and he and his family walked four miles to attend the first service. He circulated the petition for the establishment of the school house in the neighborhood, and both he and his wife served on the school board, the latter for one year. He served consecutively for twenty-seven years, and then after an interval, four years more, making in all 33 years. The first school in the school house opened in the fall of 1887 with Anna Johnson as teacher, and with eight pupils, among whom were four of the Sanford children. Nearly all the teachers, from the first, have boarded at the Sanford home. In after years no less than five of the Sanford children became teachers themselves. Mr. Sanford early saw the importance of the establishment of a creamery. Butter of varying quality was then being made by the farmers, and taken to the stores, where about five cents a pound was received in trade. He there- fore interested the neighbors in the establishment of the Co-operative Creamery at Reeve, of which he was made president. This institution is now merged in the Clear Lake Co-operative Creamery. In township affairs Mr. Sanford has been equally prominent. He has been chairman of the township, and as such has done good service for both town and county. He has also served on the sideboard. His brother, John, was the first clerk of the township. Mr. San- ford was married April 21, 1875, at Pepin, Wis., to Josephine Carter, who was born in that town, April 23, 1860, the daughter of Ben F. and Flavilla (Cleuley) Carter, natives of Maine, and early settlers of Pepin County. This union has been blessed with fifteen children: Carrie, John, Lizzie, Mary, James, Clinton, George B., Fred, William, Lucille, Gladys, Fern, Lawrence, Rosie and Josie. The two last mentioned are twins. John, a boy of unusual promise, and of sturdy and endearing qualities, died Jan. 14, 1895, at the age of sixteen. Mary grew to charming womanhood and died June 20, 1917, at the age of 34 years. Clinton grew to manhood, and was already well along the road to success when he died, Jan. 18, 1919, at the age of 32 years. George B. and Lawrence are overseas veterans of the World War. George B. enlisted in May, 1917,

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at Phillips, Wis., in the Wisconsin National Guard. In November the same year he was transferred to Camp Douglas, Wis., and sworn into the United States service. In the same month he went to Camp McArthur, Texas, and served there as a mechanic until February, 1918, when he was transferred to the military police. In March he went to Camp Merritt, New Jersey, and in April went overseas, arriving in France in May, 1918. He served with the 32nd Division in the battle of the Marne, and from then until his departure from France served as military police. He sailed from Havre in April, 1919, and was discharged at Camp Grant in May, 1919. Lawrence enlisted at Mar- shalltown, Iowa, Jan. 14, 1918, for Coast Artillery service. He was sworn in at Fort Logan, Colorado, trained there one month, and then went into training at Fort Scott, Presida, California. June 24, 1918, he arrived at Camp Mills, New York, for overseas equipment. He sailed on a French mail boat June 29, 1918, and arrived in France July 10, 1918. He was assigned to Truck Co. A, Army Artillery Park, A. E. F., and trained at Lamoges, for truck and motor- cycle work. He started for the front Aug. 16, 1918, with motor truck and 10 motorcycles, and on Sept. 12 arrived at Domgermain, Toul Sector, St. Mihiel front. Sept. 23, 1918, he was transferred to the Argonne region, where he hauled ammunition to the front until November 11. Nov. 29, 1918, he left the Argonne and stayed in Southern France until March 7, 1919, when he was furloughed for ten days, during which time he visited the Pyrenees Moun- tains and points in Spain. He sailed for the States April 19, on the U. S. S. Camonicus, and arrived in New York harbor May 2, 1919. He was discharged at Camp Dodge, Iowa, May 16, 1919, with the rank of corporal. He is entitled to wear with his uniform the four ribbons signifying the four citations re- ceived by his unit.

Samuel H. Carsley, Civil War veteran and one of the notable pioneers of Barron County, where he is still living, honored and respected, was born in Harrison, Cumberland County, Maine, August 3, 1837. His schooling was received in Pennsylvania, to which state he went at quite an early age. Among his first industrial occupations was that of tending a wire ferry on the Alle- gheny River, which he did until 1855. . He then applied himself to learn the trade of millwright, and so continued for two years, or until 1857, when he came west to St. Croix County, Wisconsin. There he established the first saw- mill in the county and was subsequently engaged in that line of work until 1876, with the exception of the time that he spent in the army. His enlist- ment took place in Aug., 1864, when he became a member of Company I, 38th Wisconsin Regiment, which became a part of the First Division of the Ninth Army Corps. With that organization he served for one year, being an orderly for three months and cook for the rest of the time. He was honorably dis- charged at Madison, Wis., in June, 1865. In October, 1876, Mr. Carsley came to Barron County and took a homestead of 16712 acres in section 28, Crystal Lake Township, being the first man to file a land claim in the township. This tract he subsequently developed into a farm, clearing sixty acres. His first buildings were log structures, which he replaced as he advanced in prosperity by better ones of frame. As for a number of years he could make little from his farm, he cut cord wood and ties in winter, confining his clearing operations to the summer. Among the various enterprises in which he engaged, he and Theodore Jacobson took a contract to clear 80 rods of the right of way for the railroad that now runs through Comstock. He also constructed roads and was active in inducing new settlers to make Barron County their home. He took logging contracts for different lumber companies and handled all the logs from sections 5, 6 and 8 in Crystal Lake Township. In those early days provisions were obtained for the most part from Clayton, Wis. Throughout that period Mr. Carsley did a good deal of hunting. He has killed three or four hundred deer in his time, besides many bears. He was an early member of the school board of his district, on which he served many years and was for one year treasurer of the township board. In 1895 his

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health having begun to fail, he retired from active life and has since followed the light occupation of bee keeper. He has sold all his land but 15 acres and has a comfortable home on the banks of Crystal Lake. Mr. Carsley was first married June 24, 1860, to Harriett E. Babcock, with whom he lived in happy wedlock for nearly 15 years, or until her death on May 2, 1875. By her he had four children : Evelyn, born April 1, 1862, now Mrs. William Connor of Web- ster, Wis .; David C., born December 10, 1863, who is a farmer in Crystal Lake Township; Cora, born May 19, 1866, who is the wife of P. H. Finley, of Wash- burn County, and Seth, born June 16, 1870, who met an accidental death January 9, 1891. Mr. Carsley married secondly Mary E. Babcock, who was born July 23, 1850, in New Hampshire, daughter of George W. and Sarah (Sprague) Babcock, she being a sister of his first wife. Of this union four children were born: Isabelle, April 26, 1876, who resides at home with her parents; Henry H., born November 13, 1882, who is a merchant in Comstock; Francelia, born April 15, 1885, and now a school teacher; and Ernest, born Nov. 8, 1888, who died Sept. 21, 1896. Mr. Carsley, as a pioneer of Barron County, is one of its best known citizens and has a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. He has seen the county develop from a wilderness to a highly civilized and prosperous division of the state, and it is some satisfaction to him to know that he had a worthy part in this happy transformation.

Claus W. Carlson, an energetic and useful citizen of Crystal Lake Town- ship, where he is engaged in agriculture, was born in Sweden Sept. 20, 1880, son of Carl Gustofson and his wife Eva, whose maiden name was Johnson. Both parents are deceased, the mother having passed away in 1912, and the father in 1882. Claus W. was educated in his native land, where he remained until 1898. Then a young man of eighteen years, strong and ambitious, he emigrated to the United States, coming directly to Comstock, Barron County, Wis. For six years thereafter he worked for others, doing farm work in sum- mer and lumbering in winter. During this period he saved what he could of his earnings, so that about 1904 he found himself able to purchase 80 acres of wild land in section 35, Crystal Lake Township, on which he made a start for himself. He has cleared and broken 40 acres and erected all the buildings, including a barn 34 by 62 feet, provided with the James equipment. In mixed farming and dairying he is doing a successful business, keeping Durham and Shorthorn cattle with pure bred sires at the head of his herd. In addition to his farming interests he is a stockholder in and director of the Comstock Creamery, and treasurer of the Comstock Community Club; also treasurer of the Comstock Cow Testing Association and a member of the Farm Bureau. For five years he has been clerk of District No. 4 school board. His industrial activity and intelligent comprehension of local needs have marked him out as a man well qualified for public office, and in 1914, therefore, he was elected township assessor, in 1918 supervisor, and in 1919 chairman of the town board, in all of which positions he rendered good service. He is a stockholder, director and secretary of the Comstock Co-operative Mercantile Company. Mr. Carlson gave up bachelor life on March 29, 1903, when he was united in marriage with Hulda E. Johnson, who was born in Center City, Minn., Feb. 4, 1885, daughter of Frank and Eva (Ryd) Johnson, natives of Sweden. But one of her parents is now living, the mother being deceased. The father resides at Center City, Minn. The revolving years have enlarged Mr. Carlson's house- hold through the birth of five children, namely: Marie A., born May 16, 1904; Edla V., November 17, 1905; Lilly E., July 9, 1908; Clara V., May 8, 1912, and Mildred E., Sept. 12, 1914. The family circle is a happy one and typical of that high grade of citizenship that has made Barron County one of the most prosperous and advanced divisions of the state.

Filas F. Demars, proprietor of a farm of 320 acres in section 6, Crystal Lake Township, of which township he is one of the prominent and substantial citizens, was born in Lowell, Mass., Nov. 7, 1866, son of Salem and Margaret (French) Demars. The parents were natives of Canada who settled in Lowell

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when they first came to the United States in 1876. There Salem Demars worked at his trade of wagon maker for sixteen years. At the end of that time he returned to Canada, remained there four years, and then returning to the States, settled in Union County, South Dakota, where he died Aug. 6, 1911. His wife died December 31, 1919. They were the parents of seven children : Filas, Hector, Eugene, Zelma, Eva, Anna and Alice. Filas F. Demars received his schooling in Massachusetts and Canada. After beginning industrial life he worked for his parents until 1889, after which he operated a farm until 1895. Having sold the farm he went to New Castle, Nebraska, where for seven years he operated a ferry boat on the Missouri River. In 1903 he came to Barron County, Wis., and bought his present farm of 320 acres in section 6, Crystal Lake Township, of which he has since cleared 75 acres. Among his other improvements may be mentioned the construction of a machine shed and two barns, one 40 by 60 feet and the other 35 by 60 feet. The place is installed with a good gas lighting system. Until 1920 Mr. Demars was actively engaged in mixed farming and dairying, keeping Durham cattle. He is a stockholder in the Comstock Creamery and a member of the Farm Bureau. Religiously he is a Catholic. On Aug. 27, 1892, Mr. Demars was united in marriage with Alice Allard, who was born July 16, 1870, in St. Louis, Mo., daughter of Anton and Celestine (Manard) Allard. Both her parents are now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Demars eleven children have been born and nine are now living, the record being as follows: Permelia, born Sept. 10, 1893, died Aug. 27, 1904; Edward, born Oct. 4, 1895, died Feb. 11, 1910; Leona, born Nov. 30, 1896, now residing in Sioux City, Iowa; Delia, born March 14, 1897; Eva, March 10, 1899, Sioux City; Leo, Sept. 24, 1900; Arthur, June 23, 1902; Ella, March 6, 1904; Alice, July 28, 1905; Mary, May 19, 1907, and Raymond, April 23, 1910.

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 134

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

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