History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 136

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

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Charles A. Mclellan, a respected farmer of section 31, Stanley Township, and for many years connected with good road building in this region, was born in Canada July 26, 1866, the son of Robert and Lovina (Rees) Mclellan. He came with his parents to Chippewa County, this state, and at the age of fourteen started adding to the family income by working in the woods. In 1885 he came to Barron County with his parents, and for some years spent his summers assisting to develop the farm in section 26, Stanley Township, while working in the lumber woods winters. After his marriage in 1891 he purchased his present place of 205 acres in section 31, and they started home- making here. A little had been cleared, and a few old buildings stood on the place. To the development and cultivation of this farm, he has since devoted most of his attention. He now has a good set of buildings and a well culti- vated farm, and has been successful in his agricultural operations. In con- nection with this he has for many years been interested in road work. For eight years he was a superintendent of state road operations in this county, and in 1920 he was road master for Stanley Township. He is thoroughly familiar with this work, he is acquainted with the road problems of this region, and he is an enthusiastic supporter of the cause of better highways. He was married Sept. 16, 1891, to Lillian Gifford, the daughter of John Gifford, a Barron County pioneer. She died in October, 1908, leaving twelve children: Lewis, Harry, Bessie, Mattie, Nina, Eugene, Harry, Belle, Inez, Madge, John and one that died in infancy. In 1913 Mr. Mclellan married Bertha Hensel, who was born in Germany, the daughter of August Hensel. This union has been blessed with one son, Robert. Mr. Mclellan is a member of Cameron Lodge, No. 237, I. O. O. F., and a shareholder in the Farmers' Co-operative Store in Chetek.

Lewis H. Mclellan, road contractor, living on section 31, Sumner Town- ship, was born in this township on the farm of his grandfather, John Gifford, Feb. 14, 1892, the son of Charles A. and Lillian (Gifford) Mclellan. He was reared on the farm, attended the public schools, and early became interested in road work, assisting his father on Barron County highways. In 1913 he went to Idaho, and was there employed in road work for two years. He returned to Barron County in 1915 and continued road work with his father. Then for one season he operated a meat wagon, subsequently resuming road work. In 1920 he became a cement contractor. His specialty is building in road culverts and bridges, but he also puts floors in barns and does other general cement work. He is known for the reliability and thoroughness of his work, and many culverts throughout the county stand to his credit. Mr. Mclellan is well liked by all who know him, and is a popular member of Barron Lodge, No. 38, I. O. O. F. Mr. Mclellan was married at Boise, Idaho,

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Dec. 5, 1914, to Lois Kellog, who was born in Kansas. They have one son, Edward, born Oct. 16, 1917.

John Sullivan, who is successfully operating a farm of 140 acres in section 15, Sumner Township, is a native of this county, born in Rice Lake City May 13, 1887, the son of James and Ella (Wetzel) Sullivan. He was reared on a farm in Stanfold Township, this county, attended the rural schools, and learned farming from his father. As a young man he worked six winters in the lumber woods. He remained with his parents, assisting with the home farm until 1915, then married, and since then has rented land in Stanley Township; also owning land in Sumner Township. He is a good farmer and is well on the road to success. He is a lover of good stock and raises grade Guernsey cattle, Hampshire sheep and Leghorn fowls. In 1919 he purchased 140 acres of im- proved land in Sumner Township, east of Canton. Mr. Sullivan was married Nov. 18, 1915, at Rice Lake, to Louisa Klossner, who was born in Switzerland in May, 1893, the daughter of John Jacob and Marie (Wuefler) Klossner, who brought her to the United States in 1914 and settled in Stanley Township. Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan have two bright children: Ralph, born June 23, 1917, and Elaine, born Sept. 1, 1919. The family faith is that of the Swedish Lutheran Church at Rice Lake.

Harvey Lowell, who experienced pioneer life in Illinois and Michigan, and in Sauk, La Crosse and Barron counties, in this state, was born in New York State, of an old American family. He came to Illinois as a young man and there married Sarah Randolph, who was born in that state, descended, like himself, from a long list of sturdy American ancestry. In the forties he moved to a farm in Jackson County, Michigan, from where, in the fifties, he came to Baraboo, in Sauk County, this state. His next location was in La Crosse County, this state. Then in the late seventies he and his wife came to Sumner Township, this county, and here spent the remainder of their lives. They were most worthy and God-fearing people, whose chief thought, next to their duty to their Creator and their fellow-man, was the welfare of their children. Three of the sons, Eugene Silas, Charles William and Nelson, became promi- nent and influential men in Barron County, and several representatives of the family make the county their permanent home.

Nelson Lowell, an honored and respected resident of Canton who has had his share in the upbuilding of Barron County, first came to this region over forty years ago, and has watched with interest its growth from a lumbering country into one of the most flourishing dairy counties of the state. In his long residence here he has always stood squarely for everything that he has believed to be right and just, he has encouraged the younger people in well doing, and he is now reaping the reward of a well spent life. He was born in Jackson County, Mich., Dec. 10, 1845, the son of Harvey and Sarah (Randolph) Lowell. He first came to Barron County in the eighties, and homesteaded 160 acres in section 14, Sumner Township. He built a log house, cleared part of the land and stayed long enough to secure his title. Then he sold his rights and went to Chippewa County, where he rented a farm in Cook's Valley. Six years later he came back to this county and bought 130 acres in section 19, Sumner Township, about half a mile south of Canton. There he improved and developed a good farm. He was a real leader among his neighbors, and became well known in this part of the county. In 1913 he sold out and moved to Canton, where he is now living a retired life after his years of strenuous endeavor. He was married to Helen Eva Wood, who was born in Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Lowell have five children : Clarence, Arthur, Ernest, Charles and Fred. The two last mentioned are now deceased.

Arthur Lowell, an industrious farmer of section 19, Sumner Township, was born at Cook's Valley, Chippewa County, Nov. 2, 1889, the son of Nelson and Helen Eva (Wood) Lowell, who brought him to Sumner Township when he was a baby. He was reared and educated here. At the age of fifteen he went to Birchwood, on the boundary line between Sawyer and Washburn

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counties. Three years later he came back and remained on the home farm until he was twenty-one. Then he married and went back to Birchwood. There he worked in the mills and for a time had charge of the barns which housed the lumber teams. Subsequently for some years he farmed on rented places near Canton, and in between, owned 40 acres in section 20. In 1917 he bought his present place of 100 acres in section 19. Here he has made general improve- ments and here he has since carried on mixed farming and dairying. He believes thoroughly in co-operative effort among farmers, and holds stock in the Farmers Telephone Co. and the Farmers Threshing Machine Co., all of Canton. Mr. Lowell was married Aug. 16, 1911, in Rusk County, Wis., to Mabel Apker, born in Rusk County, this state, daughter of Tunis H. and Harriet Apker, natives of Wisconsin. This union has been blessed with three children, Ruth, Clifford and Harvey.

Eugene Silas Lowell, Sumner Township, now deceased, was a man of sturdy character who stood high throughout the community, and his death was sincerely mourned. He was one of those men who quietly go their way in life, taking their deepest interest in their work and in their families, and go to make up the backbone of those desirable qualities which constitute the best elements of American life. He was a hard worker, he had good judgment, and attained a well-earned success. He was born in Michigan Jan. 1, 1853, the son of Harvey and Sarah (Randolph) Lowell, both descendants of a long line of good American ancestry. Upon coming west he lived for a while in Wisconsin and then went to Minnesota. He came to Barron County in 1876 and secured a tract of land on the south half of the northeast quarter of section 14, Sumner Township, and the west half of the southeast quarter of the same section. This was all wild land. He built a log cabin and moved into it with his wife. He had an ox team and two cows, and a few tools, and thus started his farming operations. He gradually cleared and improved the land and erected a good set of buildings. One of the Knapp & Stout Co.'s log- ging camps was in the vicinity, and after the logging operations were sus- pended Mr. and Mrs. Lowell became the custodians of the property. They were real pioneers and Mrs. Lowell was the first white woman on the east side of Long Lake. The nearest neighbors were far away. A journey to the nearest stores was a long and wearisome one, and provisions were usually brought in afoot. Wheat was carted to distant mills with the oxen over trails and tote roads, often amid actual dangers. But Mr. and Mrs. Lowell were then young people, they were sustained by the hope of establishing a home for themselves and posterity, and in time they built up a good place. After eighteen years' residence on that farm they sold out and came to their present place on section 7, Sumner Township. Here again they built a log cabin, started to clear the land and develop a farm. This time they were better equipped than before, as they had brought many of their possessions from their former farm. Here. too, in time, they built up a good place. After a long and useful life Mr. Lowell died Sept. 3, 1918. His wife is still living on the home place. Mr. Lowell was married at Winona, Minn., April 22, 1875, to Amelia Gorman, born in Racine April 22, 1857, daughter of Abraham and Sophia (Martin) Gorman, natives of Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Lowell had two daughters, Addie May and Della, and a foster son, Percy.

Percy Lowell, an energetic young farmer of section 7, Sumner Township, was born Feb. 3, 1896, and was reared on his present place by his foster par- ents, Eugene Silas and Amelia (Gorman) Lowell, the pioneers. He attended the schools of the neighborhood, thoroughly learned farming, and gradually took over the responsibility of the home place which he now operates. He has continued the improvements, he has a good farm, and is carrying on general farming and agriculture. His herd is of good Holstein strain. Mr. Lowell is well liked in the community, has already got a good start in life, and is one of the leaders among the younger set in the township.

Peter Larson, an early settler, was born in Denmark June 24, 1842, son

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of Lars and Marie Nelson, who spent the span of their years in the old country. Peter was the fifth of nine children. He was reared and educated in Den- mark and came to the United States in 1869. He first located in Iowa, and thereafter lived in Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota and Winsconsin. In 1890 he came to Barron County, from St. Croix County, and secured a farm in Chetek Township. He farmed there fifteen years and then took up his home with his son, Walter B., in Sumner Township, where he now lives. He is respected by all who know him, and deeply beloved by his family. He married Lena Nord- strom, who died at the age of forty-two, leaving five children: Emma, Bertha, Walter B., Fred and Ben.

Walter B. Larson, an industrious farmer of section 32, Sumner Township, was born in Deer Park, St. Croix County, this state, July 4, 1885, the son of Peter and Lena (Nordstrom) Larson. He attended the public schools, and at the age of eleven started out for himself by working on farms for the neighbors. In 1906 he secured a tract of 60 acres of wild land in section 32, Sumner Township, where he has since resided. He built a log cabin and started clearing the land. With the passing of the years he has developed a good farm, has erected a good set of buildings, and has acquired suitable stock and equipment. He makes a specialty of raising good Holstein cattle, and in addition to this he carries on general farming. He is a thorough believer in co-operative effort among farmers, and is a stockholder in the Farmers Co-operative Store at Canton and at Chetek. Mr. Larson was married at Cameron on Oct. 22, 1912, to Ida Wiese, the daughter of Gottfried Wiese, an early settler. Mr. and Mrs. Larson have had four children: Bernard Arthur, Wallace Walter, Ruby Marie and Charles Frederick.

John Pieper, section 7, Sumner Township, now deceased, was a splendid example of the men, who after marrying and acquiring a family in the old country, had the courage to start out from their friends and the scenes which they had loved since infancy, and seek their fortunes in a new land, amid strangers, and under strange conditions. He developed a good farm here, was a good friend, a generous neighbor, a loving father and faithful husband, and proved himself faithful to his duty in every walk of life. He was born in Germany, on a farm, Dec. 26, 1847, the son of John and Wilhelmina Pieper. He was the oldest of five children, the others being August, Herman, William and Caroline. He attended the government schools, worked on the farm, and did other general labor. He was married in Germany Oct. 3, 1872, to Amelia Schmeling, born June 12, 1853, the daughter of Gotlieb and Wilhelmina Schmeling. In the Schmeling family there were eight children, Charles, Wil- liam, Herman, Julius, Wilhelmina, Amelia and Rica. Of these Amelia and Julius were the only ones to come to America. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Pieper established their home in Germany, and there had four children, Anna, Bertha, Herman and Amelia. But they were not satisfied with the opportunities there so in 1881 they set out for America and came to Barron County, where Mr. Pieper entered the employ of Knapp, Stout & Co. He secured 80 acres of land in section 7, Sumner Township, built a small frame house and moved his family there. The only domestic animal they had at first was a cow. For some years the wife was left alone with the children on the farm, while he continued his work as a logger to get a little money for provisions. The country was still wild. Roads were little more than trails. Provisions were brought in afoot. Mrs. Pieper had brought three spinning wheels with her, and she spun wool and knitted socks, mittens and jackets for the family. Their privations and hard work were rewarded in time and they achieved prosperity. After a long and useful life Mr. Pieper died Oct. 9, 1905. In addition to the children already mentioned, he had three, Ida, Helen and John, born in this country. Since his death the mother has continued to live on the home place, which is operated by the youngest son, John. This son, John Pieper, was born on the farm Aug. 29, 1898. He was reared here, attended schools and learned farming from his father. He has continued the

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improvements started by his father and is an industrious and successful young man. He stands high in the community and is well thought of by all who know him.

John Quincy Werts, joint-owner with his son of the well-known Moose Ear Ranch of 800 acres in Sumner Township, was born in Ohio June 2, 1855, oldest of the ten children of J. J. and Esther (Wymer) Werts, natives of Ohio, and pioneers of Iowa. The subject of this sketch was brought to Iowa by his parents in 1864 and was reared in Lucas County, attending the public schools and learning farming from his father. He also took courses at Parsons' Col- lege, Fairfield, Iowa. With this preparation he taught school for a while. Then for many a long year he was a leading farmer in Benton Township, Lucas County, farming large tracts of land and specializing in raising beef and dairy cattle. He was a man of influence and weight, and served in nu- merous offices in town and school district. After winning a good measure of success in Iowa, he determined to try his fortunes in a newer country. He had heard much of Barron County, and accordingly fixed upon this region as a suitable location for his future activities. He came here in 1913 and pur- chased a tract of 800 acres in sections 23 and 24. This is now one of the best farms in this county. The modern home is equipped with comforts and con- veniences, including an electric light plant. In addition to the principal residence, there are also two other dwelling houses on the place. There are also numerous barns and outbuildings, almost a village in themselves. The equipment in the way of machinery, implements and tools is unusual, and includes facilities for cutting and finishing lumber, grinding feed, repairing and sharpening, and general carpenter work. About 500 acres are cleared and under cultivation, and the remaining three hundred acres are timber, stump, brush and pasture land. Here, the general farming, dairying and stock raising are conducted on an extensive scale. Mr. Werts is at the head of all the vast activities which the operation of this farm entail. With all his busy life, however, he has found the time to take the same interest in Barron County affairs that he took in the affairs of his community in Iowa. Since coming here he has served as a member of the town board, and has been a member of various delegations and committees. He favors actively every move which means progress for the county and township, and is always willing to give of his influence and personal aid to every cause which he believes to be for the betterment of the community. He is an excellent type of the modern extensive farmer, thoroughly versed in agriculture and all phases of its development, a good judge of marketing conditions, a keen business man, and possessed of a faculty of securing the best of results from the men whom he employs. Mr. Werts was married April 2, 1878, in Lucas County, Iowa, to Melvina Davis, who was born in that county Nov. 15, 1855, the daughter of John and Sarah Davis, who were respectively natives of North Carolina and Indiana. This union was blessed with three children, Orval G., Stella and Pearley. Orval G. is now his father's partner. Stella is the wife of Dr. Frank Cowgill, of Nevada, Iowa. Pearley, who married Grover Farber, died in 1915. Mrs. Melvina Werts died in Lucas County, Iowa, April 8, 1906, at the age of fifty years. On July 24, 1907, Mr. Werts was married at Edenburg, Penn., to Mary McCleland, who was born in Edinburg, Va., on Nov. 15, 1857, the daughter of Joseph and Mary McCleland, of Mt. Jackson, Penn.

Orval G. Werts, joint owner with his father of the Moose Ear Ranch in Sumner Township, was born at Lucas County, Iowa, Oct. 7, 1885, the son of John Quincy and Melvina (Davis) Werts. He received an excellent education in the public schools, and studied agriculture and kindred subjects at the Ames Agricultural College, Ames, Iowa. After his marriage he continued farming a while in Iowa. In 1911 he went to Wyoming and farmed in Park County. In 1914 he joined his father in their present enterprise. He is an energetic man of more than usual ability, well fitted by nature, education, training and experience to cope with the problems arising from the conduct

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of an 800 acre ranch. He has every detail of the extensive activities at his finger tips, he has proven himself of unusually sound judgment, and has well deserved the measure of success which has already been his, and is on the highway to still wider prosperity and usefulness. Mr. Werts was married June 3, 1908, in Lucas County, Iowa, to Eva Marie Curtis, who was born in that county on March 19, 1888, the daughter of William and Mary Curtis, natives of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Werts have three sturdy children, Orval Glen, Jr., Mary Melvina and Herbert Aubrey.

Jens Johnson, an early settler, was born in Norway, and was there reared and educated. He married there, and as a young man, with his wife Johana, and two children, Edward and Jacoba, came to this country in the seventies and located in Waupaca County, this state. From there they came to Barron County and located on a homestead of 160 acres in Stanley Township. They erected a log house, started to clear the land and began farming operations with an ox team and a cow. Later he sold that farm and moved to a tract of 85 acres in section 7, Sumner Township. Some of this land had been cleared. No buildings had been erected. Mr. Johnson put up a log cabin, and as before, started to develop a farm in the wilderness. As time progressed he replaced his log cabin with a good set of buildings and developed a fertile farm. Mr. Johnson was deeply interested in the welfare of his town and served in town and school office. He died at the age of 69 and his wife at the age of 74 years. In addition to the children named they had three more, Andrew, born in Waupaca County, and Eliza and Clara, born in Barron County. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran Church.

Andrew Johnson, a prosperous farmer of Section 7, Sumner Township, was born in Scandinavia, Waupaca County, this state, April 4, 1874, son of Jens and Johana Johnson, natives of Norway, who brought him first to Stanley Township, this county, and then to the present place. As a young man, he worked a part of his time in lumber camps, on railroad sections and in mills, but most of his life has been spent on the home place. He has continued the improvements started by his father, has erected a silo, and added implements and machinery. He successfully carries on general farming and dairying, and has a good herd of Jersey and Guernsey cattle, the Guernseys being his fav- orites. He is a hard-working man of good judgment and foresight, and is meeting with well-deserved success. In addition to his father's place, he has forty acres which he homesteaded himself, and from which he has cut the timber. Mr. Johnson was married on the farm in October, 1905, to Bertha Rude, who was born in Norway, Nov. 16, 1880, the daughter of Ole and Oleana Rude, and came to this country in 1904. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have a bright boy, John, born Oct. 24, 1907. They have also adopted a little girl, Margaret, who is being given parental love and care.

Albert M. Immerfall, a highly respected farmer of Section 30, Sumner Township, was born at Beaver Dam, Dodge County, Wis., May 10, 1864, the son of Adam and Lena (Graff) Immerfall. These good people were born in Ger- many, came to America as young people, were married in Wisconsin, and farmed for many years in Dodge County, where the father was a prominent man, and an influential member of the town board of West Ford Township, as well as one of the founders of the Roman Catholic Church there. They came to Rice Lake in 1905, and located on a farm in Oak Grove Township. There the father died in 1908 at the age of 75 years. The mother is now over eighty years old. The subject of this sketch was the fifth of a family of ten children, and had but little opportunity for an education. In 1888 he went to Water- town, South Dakota, and did farm work there for two years. Then he farmed in Floyd County, Iowa, for two years. From there he went to Douglas County, Minnesota, where he worked for three years. The scene of his next operations was Todd County, Minnesota, where for eighteen years he operated a farm of 80 acres. Then he sold out and in 1913 came to Barron County, Wisconsin, and secured his present place of 106 acres in Section 30, Sumner Township. He

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raises good stock, and is a successful and prosperous man. He knows farm conditions throughout the Northwest, but believes that the advantages in Barron County are of the best, and is an enthusiastic believer in the future possibilities of this county. He carries on general farming and dairying and raises good stock. Mr. Immerfall was married June 2, 1896, to Sophia Strate- meyer, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Jan. 24, 1879, daughter of Ernest and Margaret Stratemeyer, who were born in Hanover, Germany, came to America, located at Cincinnati, Ohio, and from there went to Todd County, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Immerfall have had ten children. Fred, born Feb. 8, 1898; Edward, born Jan. 9, 1900; Anna, born Feb. 19, 1902; Albert, born May 11, 1904; Caroline, born Aug. 19, 1906; Ernest, born Jan. 29, 1909; Henry, born July 15, 1910; Dora, born March 11, 1913; Lawrence, born April 18, 1916; Donald, born Nov. 25, 1920.

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 136

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

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