History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 138

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

USA > Wisconsin > Barron County > History of Barron County Wisconsin > Part 138

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Bloomington, Ill. Minda lives in Minneapolis. Agnes and Hilda live in Superior.

John Jacobson, a leading farmer who has an excellent place in Section 16, Dovre Township, was born in a log house on his present farm, July 13, 1879, and has watched this region grow from a wilderness into a garden spot. His parents were Otto and Carrie (Stene) Jacobson, the pioneers. He was reared on the home place, attended the district school, learned farming from his father, and early began to help about the farm. In 1908 he assumed the man- agement. He has a good estate of 210 acres with a ten-room house, good barns and a complete set of equipment. He makes a specialty of Shorthorn cattle and Hampshire swine. As a native of the town it is natural that he should have its welfare deeply at heart. Especially has he been active in the affairs of the school district in which he himself was educated. He has also been influential in the affairs of the Norwegian Lutheran Church at Dovre and has served as trustee as well as in other positions of trust and honor. He is also a director in the Co-operative Creamery at Chetek. Mr. Jacobson was married at Eau Claire on Sept. 9, 1908, to Nettie Johnson, Eau Claire, who was born at Dells Mills in Eau Claire County, this state, on Nov. 4, 1883, the daughter of Peter and Gusta (Peterson) Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. Jacobson have two chil- dren : Gilford and Kenneth. Gilford was born July 15, 1912, and Kenneth was born May 12, 1917.

John W. Hunt, veteran of the Civil War, and an early settler of Dovre Township, was born in New York state, and was there reared and educated. He came west to Wisconsin as a young man and located in Watertown, Jefferson County. Then he moved to Monroe County, also in this state. From there he enlisted, and with Company C, 36th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry for three years and eleven months served under his country's colors with valor and dis- tinction. At the battle of Petersburg he was captured, but a day later was released. He was twice wounded. Once he was struck in the abdomen with a spent ball from the effects of which he suffered more or less for the re- mainder of his life, and once he was injured in the foot by the bursting of a shell. Upon his return from the war he lived in Monroe County for a while. In 1869 he moved to Cadot Township, in Chippewa County, also in this state. From there, in 1877, he came to Barron County, driving in about Christmas time with one horse. He and his wife and four children moved into a frame upright which he had previously built, and here they started homemaking. Those were real pioneer times. The lumber camp at Chetek was the nearest indication of the prosperity which was later to come to the county. Mr. Hunt often walked to Eau Claire, carrying on his back such produce as was market- able there, and bringing back provisions which could not be raised on the farm. At first they had but two cows. As time passed they prospered and de- veloped a good place. He put up a good set of buildings and got a part of the 160 acres cleared. He was active in public affairs, and served in various town offices. For a time he was supervisor of his road district. As a soldier he took much delight in his membership in the G. A. R. Post at Chetek. His religious faith was that of the Advent Church. After a useful life, well spent, he died at the age of sixty-six. His good wife died at the age of seventy-seven. Mr. Hunt married Jane E. Lane, the daughter of John and Mary Lane. These good people were born in England. They came to America on a sailing vessel, the voyage taking eighteen weeks. It was on this trip that the daughter, Jane E., was born. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt were the parents of four children : Mary O., Della, Laura L. and Grant U.

Grant U. Hunt, a respected farmer of Section 5, east, Chetek Township, was born in Monroe County, this state, Nov. 30, 1863, the son of John W. and Jane E. (Lane) Hunt. He was a small child when the family moved to Chip- pewa County, and fourteen when the family came to Barron County. He helped his father develop a farm. For a number of winters he worked in the woods and on river drives. For seven summers he worked on farms in the Dakotas.

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In 1896 he took over 55 acres of the home farm and this he has since operated. Here he now carries on general farming, making a specialty of Guernsey cattle and Poland China swine. He is in every way a most estimable citizen and stands high with all who know him. He is a public spirited citizen, be- lieves in everything that is for the best interests of the community, and takes his share in every forward move. His greatest joy has been taken in his family and in his home, and he and his good wife delight in keeping open house to all their friends. Mr. Hunt was married at New Auburn, Wis., on June 24, 1906, to Zoula Dell Baxter, who was born in St. Croix County, Wis., Aug. 25, 1888, to Henry J. and Helena (Finch) Baxter, natives of New York state, who farmed many years in Wisconsin. The father now lives in Alberta, Canada, and the mother died July 12, 1900. In the family there were five children: Harry Dane, Zoula Dell, Alta Vista, Robert Buell and Pearl Lena. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt have three children: Lester Buell, who was born Oct. 3, 1907; Thelma Janette, who was born June 2, 1910, and Grant Eugene, who was born March 19, 1916 and died May 9, 1921. The family faith is that of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church.

Peder Haagensen, a respected farmer of Section 17, Dovre Township, ranks well among the foremost men of the community. He was born in Nor- way, June 7, 1857, one of the eleven children of Haagen Rogstad and his wife, Anne Anderson, who spent the span of their years in that country. The others in the family who grew to adult years were: Anna, Jorgen, Ole, Eli, Julia and Eliza. Peder was reared and educated in Norway and was there married. He brought his family to America in 1903, reaching Chetek June 5. For two years he rented farms. Then he bought a tract of eighty acres in Dovre Township, not far from New Auburn. A log house had been erected on the place, and ten acres had been broken. Here they started to establish their fortunes. They began with one horse and one cow and but little in the way of tools and equip- ment. Later they bought another horse and so had a pair to help in breaking the land. They put up a frame house and a log barn and developed a nice little place. In 1913 they sold the farm to their son, Alfred, and moved to their present place of 160 acres in Section 17. They have a good house and barns, and a silo and sheds which they have built since coming here. He carries on general farming and dairying and has a good herd. He and his family attend the Norwegian Lutheran Church at Dovre. Mr. and Mrs. Haagensen are num- bered among the best people in the community. They have raised a good family, they have taken their share in everything that they have believed to be for the best interests of the community, and their home is one of the social centers of the community. Mr. Haagensen was married in Norway Nov. 2, 1889, to Antoinette Arneson, who was born in Norway March 20, 1863, the daughter of Arne Aaseth and Elizabeth Sorenson, his wife, and the widow of Benedik Gulbrandson, by whom she had two children: George, born Sept. 17, 1884, and Alfred, born Feb. 14, 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Haagensen have eight children : Andrew, born July 22, 1890; Haagen, born Dec. 25, 1891; Lena, born March 3, 1894; Ole, born April 1, 1897, a veteran of the World War; Peder, born July 2, 1899, now deceased; Anna, born March 14, 1901; Bernhard Curtis, born June 28, 1905; and Benedik, born Aug. 30, 1907.

Charles J. Holter, a well-to-do farmer owning 200 acres of good land in Section 33, Dovre Township, was born in Norway, Sept. 21, 1867, the oldest of the five children of Sever and Karen Holter, also natives of that country. The other children were Alvilda, Christ and Sana, born in Norway, and Caro- line, born in America. The family came to America in 1884, and found their way to Duluth. May 6, 1884, they bought a tract of 160 acres in Section 33, Dovre Township, Barron County, and moved into the place, Jan. 10, 1885. A . small cabin had been built across the road from the present home, and about eight acres had been cleared. They started farming with one cow. For a time they had no other animals. Hardships were many before the family got a good start. The father cleared up the land little by little and raised what

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he could. Trips to market, carrying butter and eggs for which only a very small price was received, and bringing back provisions, were made afoot. The mother found time to spin and knit, not only providing her household with mittens, socks and jackets, but also helping out the family income by selling her handiwork among the neighbors. At times she was left alone with the children for months, for her husband, who, in Norway had been a drive foreman, worked for eight seasons in the lumber woods of this state. Thus working to build up a home, they achieved success, and became substantial and respected people of the community. The father served for a time as a member of the school board. After a useful and well spent life, he died May 3, 1917. He was born Nov. 10, 1844. His wife is now eighty-one years of age, having been born April 4, 1841. Charles J. was educated in his native land and at the age of ten started working on lumber drives, running errands and making himself generally useful. He came to America with the rest of the family in 1884 and to Dovre Township in 1885. For a few seasons he went into the lum- ber woods with his father, but most of his years have been devoted to farming. He has an excellent farm of 200 acres, including the old homestead of his father. The old log house has been built over into a pleasant residence, and. he has put up a fine set of farm buildings. He has a commodious barn, 36 by 64 feet, 49 feet from the ground to peak, and provided with a full eight-foot basement. The side barn is 16 by 64 feet, and the horse barn, 48 by 18 feet. There are two silos, one of stone, 14 by 33 feet, and the other of glazed tile, 12 by 36 feet. His other buildings are fully in keeping and in- clude wagon shed, work shed, granary and other structures. On this place he successfully carries on general farming and stock raising, making a spe- cialty of Holstein cattle, Belgian horses, Shropshire sheep and red Duroc swine. He is a stockholder in the Spring Hill Creamery, where he disposes of his cream. In public affairs he has done his duty as a good citizen, and has served three years as a member of the town board and twelve years as a mem- ber of the school board. Mr. Holter was married on June 24, 1897, at Dovre, to Mary Newman, the daughter of Andrew and Marit (Anderson) Newman. She was born in this township on Jan. 29, 1871. Mr. and Mrs. Holter have nine children: Clara, Elma, Clarence, Mabel, George, Anna, Leonard, Edith and Carl. Clara is the wife of Alex. Jensen, of Dovre Township.

Carl Osberg, an early settler of Section 15, Dovre Township, and now liv- ing retired in Chetek Township, was born in Sweden, June 6, 1835, and was there reared and educated. He came to America in 1862, and located in Am- herst, in Portage County, this state. After he had earned sufficient funds, he sent for Mary Peterson, whom he had known in the old country. She, like himself, came aboard a sailing vessel, the voyage taking about three weeks. They were married July 12, 1869. They bought a place near Amherst, and there farmed for years. There, three children were born, Ellen, Inga and Tena. In 1873, the family started out for Barron County. They came as far as Eau Claire, by rail, hired a man to bring them as far as Sand Creek, in Dunn County, with a team of horses, and there secured a yoke of oxen to bring them to Barron County, Mr. Osberg himself making the trip from there afoot. On the place which they selected in Section 15, two small log cabins were stand- ing, erected by the pioneer whose homestead rights they had purchased. They moved their household goods into one of these, and started to develop a farm. At first they had but little to do with. Soon they got a cow and later a yoke of oxen. There were no roads, and often Mr. Osberg walked to Sand Creek, after supplies, bringing the provisions home on his back. For some years, in order to get a start, he worked in lumber camps in the winter time, leaving . his wife to look after things at home. Later he took contracts getting out logs and ties. As time passed he was able to devote all his time to his farm. He developed a good place and successfully carried on farming operations for many years. As the father of children, he was interested in education, and did good service on the school board. After a useful career, he sold the place

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in 1899 to his son, Charles, and took up his home with a daughter, Tena, wife of Christopher Johnson, of Chetek Township, this county. In addition to the children named, four, Oscar, Lena, Charles and Anna, were born in this county.

Charles Osberg, a prominent farmer of Section 15, Dovre Township, was born on the place where he still lives, June 20, 1880, the son of Carl and Mary (Peterson) Osberg, early settlers. His natal place was the old log cabin built by his father, roofed over with birch bark, a piece of which roofing is still retained in the family as a valuable relic. He was reared on the home place, and attended school in the neighborhood. As a young man, he gradually assumed the duties of the home place, and in 1899 bought it. He has put up a pleasant nine-room house, a barn, 34 by 86 feet, and other suitable buildings. Here he successfully carries on general farming and dairying, raising Short- horn cattle, of which he has a registered sire, full-blooded Hampshire swine, and a good grade of Percheron horses. Mr. Osberg is a thorough believer in the co-operative effort among the farmers, and is a stockholder in the Farm- ers' Co-operative Creamery of Chetek, and the telephone company and farmers' store at New Auburn, and the packing plant at New Richmond, and in several of these concerns has held office. In public affairs he has taken his part as a good citizen, and has done most excellent service on the school board and on the town board. He keeps himself well informed on all the topics of the day, has most decided opinions as to the trend of modern events, and is possessed of a sound judgment, which is much respected by his neighbors and associates. Mr. Osberg was married at Chippewa Falls, Nov. 26, 1910, to Ellen Carlson, who was born in Waukegan, Ill., Aug. 28, 1892, the daughter of Emil and Eliza- beth Carlson, the former of whom died in Chetek Township, and the latter of whom still lives there. Mr. and Mrs. Osberg have three children: Melvin, Elsie and Roland.

Gerhard Alvin Moe, one of the active and energetic young farmers of Dovre Township, is one of the leaders among the young people of his neighbor- hood, and is already well along the road to success and prominence in life. He was born in a log cabin on the place where he now resides, Jan. 28, 1895, the son of Jens Martin and Petra (Jorstad) Moe, and the grandson of Gul- brand and Ingeborg (Holme) Moe, the pioneers. The log cabin in which he was born, augmented by his father into a comfortable farm house, is still the family residence. Gerhard was reared here, learned farming from his father, and attended the district schools. He now operates the place along approved modern lines. He keeps well abreast of the latest developments in agricul- ture, and is a progressive and intelligent citizen. Like his father before him, he specializes in Holstein cattle, Hampshire swine and Percheron horses. He is a member of the Spring Hill Creamery, which his father helped to organize. He has been especially active in the affairs of the Norwegian Lutheran Church, at Dovre, and was one of the organizers of the Young People's Society of the Congregation. Mr. Moe was married in Dovre Township, Aug. 4, 1917, to Min- nie Christopherson, who was born in Dunn County, May 10, 1896, the daughter of Otto and Hannah (Hanson) Christopherson. This union has been blessed with two children: Clifford James, born Nov. 15, 1918; and Jerome Marvin, born Nov. 6, 1920.

Ole Hanson Lear, for many years a resident of Dovre Township, where he is now living retired, was born in Norway, May 28, 1852, the son of Hans and Olea Lear, who came from Norway in 1884, and after reaching Barron County, settled in Section 13, Dovre Township, where they first built a log cabin and later developed a good farm, being joined in time by their son, Ole Hanson. Ole Hanson Lear was reared in his native land and was there married, Dec. 28, 1880, to Karen Lear, daughter of Peter and Ingeborg Lear. Mr. and Mrs. Ole Hanson Lear came to America in 1886, found their way to Barron County, and moved into the log cabin built by her father, Peter Lear. Here they con- tinued to farm for many years. They found the land a wilderness, and de-

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veloped it into a garden spot. Their efforts were crowned with success, and in time they came to be regarded as among the most respected members of the community. Their home was one of the social centers of the neighborhood, and their doors were always open to their friends, who held many a social gathering by their hospitable fireside. Mr. and Mrs. Lear sold their place in 1915 to their son, Peter O., with whom they now reside. They are communicants of the Norwegian Lutheran Church.

Peter O. Lear, a prominent farmer of Section 13, Dovre Township, was born in Norway, Oct. 27, 1883, the son of Ole Hanson Lear and Karen Lear, and grandson of Hans and Olea Lear, and of Peter and Ingeborg Lear. He was brought to this country by his parents in 1886, and was reared to manhood on Section 13, Dovre Township, where he learned farming from his parents and attended school. He assisted in developing the farm, and in 1915 he purchased it. He raises the usual crops, and does general farming with a herd of graded Guernseys. He has been on the board of directors of the Spring Hill Cream- ery Co. and is a stockholder in the Consumers' Store and the Farmers' Co-opera- tive Store at Chetek. In public life he has taken his share as a good citizen, and has served for six years as a member of his school board. He and his family attend the Norwegian Lutheran Church at Dovre. Mr. Lear was mar- ried May 23, 1914, to Olga Nelson, born in Ashland, Wis., Sept. 29, 1895, the daughter of Peter and Maria Nelson. This union has been blessed with three children : Olive Paulina, born Jan. 30, 1915; Kenneth Magnus, born July 30, 1917; and Morris Elwin, born Nov. 14, 1919.

Emil Carl Allen, a highly esteemed and respected farmer of Section 14, Dovre Township, was born in Sweden, Nov. 29, 1863, the son of John and Louisa Allen, one of a family of eight children, of whom three boys and two girls came to the United States. Emil Carl was reared in his native land and there grew to young manhood. He came to America in 1888, and located at Battle Creek, Mich. A year later he went to Chicago. There he worked in brick yards and on street paving contracts for some years. Then he spent a little time in Ohio. In 1898 he located on his present place of 120 acres. No buildings had been erected, and the land was covered with brush and stumps. He put up a small frame house, about a mile north of his present buildings, and there he and his wife and three children started home making. He had nothing except his hands and a few tools with which to farm. More than that, he was in debt for the money he had borrowed to get his wife and family from Ohio. The first fall he bought a cow with borrowed money. He also pur- chased a horse, harness and wagon. In order to secure a little money to get straightened up and to keep the family going until the farm became profitable, he worked for nine winters in the lumber woods. During these long, hard sea- sons, the wife was left alone with the children, sometimes snowed in for weeks at a time, and with visits from neighbors very few and far between. As time passed, their hard work, sacrifices and privations, brought well-deserved re- ward. They now have a good place, with an excellent set of buildings and well tilled land. They have been useful members of the community ever since they first settled here, and they are well regarded by all who know them. Mr. Allen was married at Chicago, on Aug. 27, 1892, to Mary Malmquist, who was born in Sweden, Aug. 13, 1886, the daughter of John Erick and Caroline Malm- quist, and came to America in 1887. Three children, Egbert, Roy and Walter (deceased), were born in Chicago. Egbert and Roy both served in the United States forces during the World War. The children born on the home place were: Joseph, Edward (deceased), Leslie, Gertrude and Irene. Joseph now operates the home farm. He was born March 20, 1899, was reared here, at- tended the district school, and learned farming from his father. He is well liked throughout the community and is one of the township's energetic and enterprising young men. He is interested in everything that has for its object the growth and progress of the community, and is already well on the road to success.

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Hans Johnson, substantial and respected citizen of Sections 17 and 18, Dovre Township, was born in Norway, Dec. 11, 1853, the youngest son of Chris and Anne Johnson. He attended school for a while in his native land, and there grew to sturdy boyhood. He was but fifteen when his father brought him and his brother, John, to America, and settled in Vernon County, this state. There, the next year, the mother and three other children, joined them. In 1872 they came to Barron County, and located in Section 30, Dovre Township, on a homestead of 160 acres of wild land. There the father built a log cabin in which the family lived for several years. He was somewhat better off than some of his neighbors, in that he had two yoke of oxen, and with these he began to clear up the land. There were no roads, and often he walked to Sand Creek, Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire, bringing provisions home on his back. The father died at the age of seventy-nine and the mother at the age of ninety. They were devout believers of the Norwegian Lutheran faith, and helped to build the church at Dovre. The subject of this sketch worked with his father on the farm summers and in the woods winters. Gradually he took over the responsibilities of the home place, and operated it for several years. In 1866 he located on his present place in Sections 17 and 18. It was then all wild. He built a log house, moved his family into it, and began clearing up the land. As time passed, he developed a good farm. He remodeled the log house into the present frame dwelling, he put up a good barn, and other buildings, and acquired good equipment. Here he continued to carry on general farm- ing. He has served on the school board, and in other ways also has contributed his share to the general progress of the community. He was married at the Fox Settlement in Dunn County, in 1876, to Anna Grandly, who was born in Norway, the daughter of John and Anna Grandly. She died in 1911, at the age of fifty-eight, leaving five children: Carl, of this township; Carrie, who lives at home; Anna, the wife of Albert Capp, of Chippewa Falls, Wis .; Emma, at home; and Martha, the wife of Alfred Lund, of Hawkins, Wis.

Carl Johnson, a progressive citizen of Sections 17 and 18, Dovre Town- ship, was born at Eau Claire, March 26, 1874, the son of Hans and Anna (Grandly) Johnson. He was twelve years old when his parents moved to their present place, eighty acres of which he now owns. He was reared here, at- tended the little log schoolhouse of the district, and thoroughly learned farm- ing from his father. At the age of eighteen he started to spend his winters in the woods as an employe of Knapp, Stout & Co. The first winter was a hard one for the boy, away from home for the first time, and some of the experi- ences are ones which he will never forget. On the day he started, he arose at two o'clock, on the morning of a cold day, and walked to Rice Lake, arriving there in time to catch the teams which left there at six o'clock in the morn- ing. His pay was $20 a month, and board and lodging. The work was most strenuous, and consisted of sawing the big pine trees by hand. No one could shirk, for work was scarce and help was plentiful, and anyone who did not do his full share was soon replaced by someone else. Mr. Johnson continued in this work for ten seasons. In 1909 he took over eighty acres of the home place, and there he now successfully carries on general farming and stock raising. As a father of children, he is interested in education, and has served with credit on the school board. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Co-opera- tive Creamery of Chetek. Mr. Johnson was married at Chetek on June 4, 1908, to Karen Strooseth, who was born in Norway, Jan. 16, 1885, the daughter of John and Johanna Strooseth. She arrived in Barron County, May 17, 1907, and well remembers that day, as she was driven into the county through a blinding snow storm. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have four children: Arthur, Henry, Mabel and Harold. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran Church.

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 138

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

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