History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 152

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

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Peter J. Hoff, a well known pioneer of Barron County, in early days a lumberman but later a farmer, though now retired, was bornin Norway, Jan. 8, 1848, son of John and Bertha (Peterson) Anderson. Thesparents were na- tives of Norway who came to this country in 1871 and subsequently resided with their son, Peter, until their death. Peter J. Hoff was reared in his na- tive land, where he became acquainted with farm work. In 1869 he came to America, landing at Quebec, whence he proceeded to Columbia County, Wis- consin. There he did farm labor for three years; then in 1872 he went to Menomonie, where he entered the employ of Knapp, Stout & Co., for whom he worked in the woods and in sawmills for eighteen winters. In 1874 Mr. Hoff came to Barron County and took a homestead of 120 acres in Section 22, Arland Township. This was a wild tract and the country so unsettled that he had to cut a trail to his farm and carry provisions on his back from Prairie Farm. He had one of the first teams of oxen in the township and did "toting"

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for Knapp, Stout & Co. for many years. He also helped to build roads and get new settlers into the township, besides helping its development in various. other ways. In the meanwhile as he found opportunity he continued work on his farm, finally clearing 45 acres, besides erecting a set of buildings, which he built himself, and hauling large quantities of logs for his neighbors. He also built several sets of farm buildings in the township in addition to hia own. These activities made him prominent and well known, as well as popu- lar. He helped build the first schoolhouse in the township,: for 33 years served as road boss and was clerk of the school board for ten years. He also helped to organize and build churches in the township, being himself a mem- ber of the Norwegian Lutheran Church. After a long and successful career in farming, Mr. Hoff retired from active work in 1915 and sold the farm to Ben Hughes, his son-in-law, but he still resides on the old homestead, which he has further improved by setting out an orchard. Mr. Hoff was married in Norway to Pauline Olson, who was born Sept. 16, 1844, daughter of Ole and Hilda (Mickelson) Olson. She proved an excellent wife and good mother, and by her he had eight children, as follows: Ole P., born April 12, 1867, a farmer in Arland Township; Betsey L., born March 27, 1870, now Mrs. Armand Lien of this township; Josephine, born Feb. 9, 1873, now the wife of Ole Borg of this township; Edwin, born Feb. 10, 1876, who is a farmer here; Agnes, born Dec. 29, 1877, who died in 1885; Christian, born Feb. 7, 1882, who is a farmer in Arland Township; Anna, born Nov. 27, 1884, now Mrs. Ole Nelson of this township, and Petra, born Nov. 17, 1887, who is the wife of Ben Hughes and has two children, Carl, born Aug. 15, 1915, and Har- old, born April 19, 1920.

Peter Jasperson, whose work along agricultural lines during the last 17 years has given him a place among the well-to-do farmers and dairymen of Arland Township, was born in Denmark, Dec. 2, 1872, son of Jorgen and Christie (Peterson) Jasperson. His mother died in 1915 but the father is still living in Denmark. Peter Jasperson was educated in his native land and was subsequently engaged in truck farming there. In 1890, at the age of 18 years, he landed at New York, an immigrant seeking his fortune in a world of larger opportunity. Coming west to Minnesota, he remained for four years in the vicinity of Wilmer and Litchfield, engaged in farm work, In 1894 he returned to Denmark and remained there for a year. After his return to the United States he spent a short time in St. Louis Park, Minn., and then went to Hopkins, near Minneapolis, where until 1904 he operated a dairy. In that year he came to Barron County and settled on 120 acres of land in Arland Township that he had bought in 1895. On this property he has since cleared 80 acres, besides erecting a complete set of buildings. His cattle are of the Holstein breed, and he is improving his herd by the use of a pure bred sire. He is a stockholder in the Barron Co-operative Creamery and the Hillsdale Northwestern Telephone Company. He has stock in the Twin-Town Cheese Factory. His religious affiliations are with the United Lutheran Church. Mr. Jasperson was married Dec. 31, 1898, to Patre Thomp- son, who was porn March 1, 1880, in Norway, daughter of Thomas and Olive (Jefferson) Thompson, who still reside in that country. Three children have been born to them: Albert, Oct. 13, 1900; Fred, Oct. 10, 1903, and Dora, Nov. 9, 1913.

Jacob Hawkinson, residing on a good farm of 200 acres in Arland Town- ship, has been a resident of Barron County for 28 years, during which time he has witnessed many improvements, some of which he has himself helped to make. He was born in Sweden, Sept. 1, 1852, son of Hawkin Jacobson and Maggie (Halverson) Jacobson. Both his parents died in Sweden. Jacob was educated in his native land, in which he resided for a number of years. He began industrial life working for a railway company and afterwards operated a farm. In 1891, a young man of 40 years, he landed in New York and thence came on to Dunn County, Wisconsin, where he bought a half

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interest in a farm. He also followed his trade of stone mason for several years, though not altogether in that locality, as in 1893 he came to Barron County, locating near the village of Arland, where he resided for a year. In 1894 he bought 80 acres in Section 21, Arland Township, and in 1899 in- creased his landed possessions by the purchase of 40 acres of railroad land. Nine years later, in 1908, he bought another tract of 80 acres, so that he is now the owner of 200 acres in all. During the intervening years he has kept on improving his place, on which he erected all the buildings, besides clear- ing 60 acres of the land. As a general farmer and dairyman he has met with good success, keeping a mixed breed of cattle. He is a stockholder both in the co-operative creamery at Barron and the co-operative store at Poskin. In 1913 he retired from active work, renting his farm to his sons, Jacob H. and John. Mr. Hawkinson was married, Oct. 26, 1880, to Sigred Johnson, who was born in Sweden, April 11, 1849, daughter of Johan Nelson and Mary (Mar- tinson) Nelson, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Hawkinson have a family of five children: Maggie, born Sept. 8, 1881, now Mrs. Ernest Eckstrom, residing in Minnesota; Martha, born Oct. 15, 1883, who is the wife of Frank Bodin of Arland Township; Jacob H., born Dec. 24, 1885; John, born Jan. 20, 1888, and Anna, born Oct. 6, 1891, now Mrs. Frank Morley of River Falls, Wis. The two sons, Jacob H. and John, who are now operating the home farm, on which their parents live, were educated in Dunn and Bar- ron Counties, and up to 1913, when they rented the farm, worked for their father. In 1919 they purchased it, having previously helped largely in its de- velopment and improvement. They have improved the stock, keeping grade Guernsey cattle with a pure bred sire and as general farmers and dairymen are doing a profitable business. They are also agents for individual light

plants and the Success Milking machines, and are interested in an auto ac- cessory business at Poskin, where they are erecting a garage. In addition they are stockholders in the co-operative store at Poskin and the Farmers State Bank there, and in the Hillsdale Western Telephone Co., of which Jacob H. was formerly president and director. Formerly they were agents for the Barnett lightning rods. Thus in various ways they have shown a progressive spirit which has made them widely known and advanced their personal interests, besides helping to develop the business interests of the county.

Joe Hain, who holds a place in the ranks of Arland Township's progressive farmers and dairymen, was born in Hungary, Jan. 14, 1864, son of Matt and Barbara (Krom) Hain. Both parents are now deceased. Joe Hain was edu- cated in his native land, where he learned the trade of wagon maker. He followed that occupation there until 1896, and then, in search of better for- tune, emigrated to the United States. From New York, where he landed, he went to Brunswick, Georgia, but not finding the south to his liking, he came in the same year to Wisconsin and identified himself with the development of Barron County, by purchasing 40 acres of wild land from Knapp, Stout & Co., in Section 5, Arland Township. During his first two years on the place he worked for Matt Dahl, of Almena, at his trade of wagon maker. For 13 years he and his family, for he had married in his native land, lived in a shack 14 by 16 feet in size, which he had erected. In 1900 Mr. Hain bought another tract of 40 acres, and in 1919, 80 more, making a total of 160 acres in the same section. He has cleared 65 acres and has a good set of build- ings. In 1908 he built an eight-room house, and in 1919 a barn, 34 by 70 feet in size, which is installed with the James equipment and with the Universal Light system. He is carrying on a profitable business as general farmer and dairyman, keeping grade Guernsey cattle, with a pure bred sire. In religion he is a Catholic. On Feb. 28, 1887, Mr. Hain was united in marriage in Hun- gary, with Mary Kompf, who was born May 25, 1868, daughter of Michael and Helen (Cook) Kompf. To him and his wife nine children have been born: Joe, born March 17, 1888, who is a farmer in Turtle Lake Township; Louis,

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INGEBRIGHT WEEN AND FAMILY

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born March 19, 1890, who is farming in Arland Township; Ludwig, born May 31, 1892, who died Sept. 7, 1902; Mary, born April 13, 1894, now Mrs. Ed Lundstrom of Grand Rapids, Minn .; Frank, born Nov. 20, 1896, a tele- graph operator. He married Sima Filby and they have one child, Dorothy; Celia, born July 14, 1899, now the wife of Edward Rhoades of Trego, Wis .; Victoria, born Aug. 6, 1902, who is a telephone operator in Minneapolis; Matt, born July 7, 1905, and Casper, born Sept. 20, 1907.

Ingebrigt Ween, a prominent representative of the agricultural and dairying interests of Arland Township, who has been a resident of Barron County for more than thirty years, was born in Norway, Aug. 17, 1858, son of Hans and Ingeborg (Yust) Hendrickson. He attended school in his native land and subsequently began industrial life as a common laborer. In 1877, at the age of nineteen, he came to America, landing at Philadelphia, whence he made his way directly to Menomonie, Wis. There he entered the employ of the well known lumber firm of Knapp, Stout & Co., for whom he worked in the woods, on drives and in sawmills until 1889. Then coming to Barron County, he settled on 80 acres of land in section 22, Arland Township, a tract which he had bought five years previously. On this he built a log house in which he lived for one year. In 1890 he bought the Ole Johnson homestead in the same section, also an uncultivated tract, but provided with a log house, in which he took up his residence, and which he made his home until it burned in 1895. In the intervening time he was engaged in improving his property, especially in the clearing of the land. For the first two years he was obliged to carry his supplies on his back from Barron and Prairie Farm. In 1891 he bought a team of oxen, which he used until 1895, when he bought his first team of horses. Most of the lumber for his buildings was manufactured from timber cut on his own farm, and he also disposed of many thousand feet to the Bundle Milling Co., located in section 14, Arland Township. In time Mr. Ween cleared 65 acres of his land, besides erecting a set of buildings. In 1900 he sold the east eighty, which is now owned by his son, Henry. During the early years he helped to build all the roads in his neighborhood, brought new settlers in, and took a prominent part in every movement for the benefit of the community. Thus he became one of the leading citizens of his township, a man widely known and respected. He is now engaged in operating the place formerly owned by his father-in-law, Ole Johnson, keeping high grade cattle with a pure bred Guernsey sire. He is a stockholder in the Barron Co-operative Creamery, the Farmers' Co-operative Store at Poskin and the Hillsdale Western Telephone Company. Religiously, he is affiliated with the Norwegian Lutheran Church. Mr. Ween married Bertha Olson, who was born in Norway, Jan. 22, 1863, daughter of Ole and Helen (Hanson) Johnson. He and his wife have been the parents of eleven children, who were born as follows: Henry, March 23, 1884; Olaf, Feb. 18, 1886; Helmer, Dec. 20, 1887; Iver M., June 13, 1889; Inga, Jan. 27, 1891; Ingvald, Aug. 20, 1892; Oscar, April 24, 1895; Helma, Dec. 24, 1898; Marie, Jan. 19, 1900; Ida, Nov. 27, 1901, and Carl, Jan. 24, 1904. Henry is now a farmer in Arland Township. Helmer died in his ninth year in August, 1896. Inga resides in Minneapolis, as also do Helma, Marie and Ida. Iver M. gave his life for his country in the World War. He was drafted into the army from Barron, Nov. 7, 1917; trained six months at Camp Grant, where he was attached to Company C, 59th Infantry, Fourth Division; then sent to Camp Greene, North Carolina, where he remained a short time; then to Camp Mills. He sailed for France May 7, 1918, and arrived there May 28. Shortly after he was sent to the front where, after being in action about three weeks, he was killed in the Argonne forest. He was buried in the National cemetery at Arlington, Va. Ingvald was also in the army, being drafted from Barron, Sept. 19, 1917. At Camp Grant he was attached to Company K, 134th Infantry, Rainbow Division. He was not sent overseas and was discharged Oct. 10, 1917. Oscar, the third of Mr. Ween's sons to serve in the World War, was drafted from Barron Aug. 20, 1918, and was also sent to Camp Grant, where he re-

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mained one month; being attached to Company F, 143d Infantry, Eighty-sixth Division. From there he was sent to Camp Mills and sailed for France Sept. 16, 1918. He was gassed while on his way to the front, and returned to the .United States July 15, 1919, being discharged at Camp Grant July 22. He is now a farmer in Barron Township.

Ole Johnson, father of Mrs. Ingebrigt Ween, was a pioneer of Arland Township, where he settled nearly half a century ago, when most of Barron County was a wilderness. He was born in Norway and when a young man was there married to Helen Hanson. In 1871 he came alone to the United States, landing in New York and coming west to Menomonie, Wis., where he entered the employ of Knapp, Stout & Co. In 1873 he was joined by his family and in the following year they came to Barron County and took a homestead of 80 acres. in section 22, Arland Township, which is the farm now owned by Engebrigt Ween. Here Mr. and Mrs. Johnson lived out the rest of their lives, the former dying March 19, 1906, and the latter in March, 1890, sixteen years before her husband. They were people widely known and esteemed.

Nicholas Gasper, a veteran of the Spanish-American War, who has a well improved farm in Arland Township, was born in Germany, Feb. 27, 1873, son of Pete and Anna (Schmidt) Gasper. The parents are deceased, the mother having passed away Oct. 15, 1881, and the father Feb. 14, 1902. They had three children: Nicholas, Fred and Maggie. Maggie died in 1903 and Fred is living in Germany. Nicholas acquired his education partly in Ger- many and partly in the United States. In his native land he worked for a while in an iron foundry. In 1890 he came to this country, landing at New York, whence he proceeded to St. Paul, Minn. There he worked for one year in a soap factory, after which he was engaged for two years in farm labor. He then rented a farm at Hampton, Minn., for a year. Then he took up farm labor for others again, also working in the Wisconsin woods in winter. In 1898 he enlisted in the United States army for service in the Spanish-Amer- ican War, and was attached to Battery I, Fourth Artillery. From Fort Snel- ling he went to Fort Mott, N. J., and from there to Cuba. On the completion of his service in the island he returned to Philadelphia, went from that city to Fort Trumbull, Conn., and thence to Minnesota, where he was discharged March 22, 1899, after about a year's service. Once more a civilian, Mr. Gasper found employment as an engineer in the Twin City brick yard at St. Paul and continued in that position for six years, with the exception of time spent in proving up a homestead in Burnett County, Wis. This homestead he had taken in 1896. He proved up in 1901, clearing ten acres and erecting a small set of buildings. In 1905 he sold the property, and in the same year settled on 60 acres of land in section 4, Arland Township, Barron County, which he had bought in 1903. In 1906 he bought 40 acres in section 9, thus acquiring the farm of 100 acres on which he is now living. Here he has erected a fine set of buildings, the barn measuring 32 by 60 feet and installed with the James equipment. Like the majority of farmers in Arland Township, he does general farming and dairying, his cattle being mixed but with a pure bred sire. Through intelligent industry he has advanced far on the road to pros- perity and is numbered among the substantial citizens of his township. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Co-operative Store at Poskin and in the co-operative creamery at Barron. For six years Mr. Gasper served as clerk of the school board of district No. 2, and in 1919 he was elected supervisor on the town board. He is a member of the Catholic Church. Mr. Gasper was married May 5, 1903, in Hampton, Minn., to Mary Rischette, who was born Dec. 7, 1868, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Zeien) Rischette. Her par- ents were natives of Luxembourg who came to America in the early sixties, settling near Hampton, Minn., where Mr. Rischette died March 15, 1914. His widow is now residing near Hampton. To Mr. and Mrs. Gasper three children have been born: Mamie N., Feb. 18, 1904; Nicholas P., June 25, 1906, and Frank J., Jan. 14, 1913.

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William Wuorenma, a farmer and dairyman who is making good progress in Arland Township, where he is well known and respected, was born in Finland, April 9, 1870, son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Wuorenma. The parents both died in Finland, their native country, and there William spent his early years up to the age of 22, engaged in farming. Then he joined the westward trend of emigration, in 1892 landing at New York and going directly to Mar- quette, Mich., where for a short time he worked in a stone quarry. From there he went to Lance in the same state and there followed the same kind of work during six summers, working in the woods in winter. The year 1898 witnessed his advent in Barron County, to which he came a single man on the lookout to better his fortunes. This was not a task of immediate accomplish- ment, for his only way to reach the goal was through the development of a farm. Accordingly he bought 80 acres of wild land in section 7, Arland Township, which he obtained from Knapp, Stout & Co., the lumbermen, and then took up his residence with a neighbor, Nels Tyni. He was not long in the township, however, before he decided to try a venture farther west and, going to Montana, worked in the coal mines of Cascade County till 1905. He then came back to his farm and settled on it, erecting a shack and log barn. He has since cleared 40 acres of the land and erected a good house; also, in 1919, a machine shed 22 by 60 feet, and is now engaged in building a fine barn, 34 by 86 feet, installed with the Farmers' barn equipment. As a general farmer and dairyman he is doing a successful business, his cattle being mixed Holsteins and Guernseys, with a pure bred sire. He also has a herd of Poland China hogs. Mr. Wuorenma helped to organize and build the Finnish Synod Church in Arland Township, of which he is a member. He is a stock- holder in the Twin Town Cheese Factory and the Hillsdale Northwestern Telephone Co. On Aug. 11, 1900, Mr. Wuorenma was united in marriage in Stockett, Mont., to Olga Autio, who was born in Finland, July 17, 1880, and came to America in 1890. He and his wife have eight children: Alma M., born Feb. 26, 1902, now Mrs. Henry Anderson of Turtle Lake Township; Selma G., born Feb. 12, 1904; Vaino A., born Feb. 2, 1905; Toivo W., born Dec. 2, 1907, who died Jan. 10, 1908; Hilda E., born March 5, 1910, who died April 5, 1910; August W., born Sept. 30, 1911; Fannie I., born Sept. 20, 1914, and John A., born July 21, 1916.

Fred L. Pichelmann, a prosperous farmer of section 31, Arland Township, was born in Le Sueur County, Minn., March 8, 1889, the son of John and Marie (Becker) Pichelmann, natives of Germany. He was reared to young boyhood on the farm where he was born and attended school there for a while. At the age of eight, in 1897, he was brought to this township. Here he finished his schooling in the district school, and learned farming from his father. For a while he worked with his brothers, Henry and John, who operated a sawmill in the same section as the home. In 1908 he purchased 80 acres from his father, but at once rented it to his brother, Otto H. For six years thereafter he worked at home in the spring, in the harvest fields and with threshing crews in Wilkin County, Minn., in the fall, and in the logging woods of St. Louis County, Minn., in the winter. In 1914 he erected a set of buildings on his eighty, including an eight-room house; a barn, 36 by 76 feet, furnished with the Western. Barn Equipment; a silo, a chicken house, and other struc- tures. Then he moved into the place. He has cleared about 50 acres, and put up good fences. Here he successfully carries on general farming and dairy- ing. He has a good herd of Holstein cattle headed by a full-blooded sire, and he has a fine flock of pure blooded White Leghorn chickens, of which he makes a specialty. He has also set out a small orchard. Mr. Pichelmann is a useful citizen. He is a man of experience and energy, he believes in every: thing that is wholesome and good, and he is well liked throughout the com- munity. Mr. Pichelmann was married at Nashua, Minn., on Oct 13, 1914, to Dena Miller, who was born in Germany, Dec. 18, 1892, the daughter of Peter and Hannah (Nehause) Miller, natives of Germany, who came to America in

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1893, and settled in Osceola County, Iowa. There Mr. Miller died. Later Mrs. Miller married Robert Arfsteen, and they now live in Wilkin County, Minn. Mr. and Mrs. Pichelmann have four children: Fern A., born Jan. 15, 1916; Clarence L., April 1, 1917; Dorothy A., Nov. 2, 1918; and Merill A., June 15, 1920.

Nicholas Schenten, who since 1897 has developed a good farm of 140 acres in Arland Township, of which he is now a well known and respected citizen, was born in Luxembourg, Jan. 7, 1872, son of Michael and Katie (Miller) Schenten. His parents died in their native land. There Nicholas was educated and subsequently, until 1891, worked for his father. He then went to Rheims, France, in the vicinity of which place he was engaged for three years in farm labor. In 1894 he came to America, landing at New York, whence he came west to Dubuque, Iowa. There he remained for four years, or until the fall of 1897, when he came to Barron County and started in for him- self as a farmer. The tract he purchased consisted of 80 acres of wild land in section 3, Arland Township, and his first work was to erect a shack for a temporary residence, after which he began to clear the land. In 1899 he bought 60 acres more in section 10, the same township. In the meanwhile he was obliged to spend two summers in the harvest fields of Minnesota to earn money on which to live. In spite of such interruptions he made gradual progress and up to the present time has cleared 100 acres, besides erecting a set of modern buildings. He is engaged in mixed farming and dairying, keeping grade Holstein cattle and is making good financial progress, being also a stockholder in the co-operative creamery at Barron. In religion he is a Catholic. For twelve years he has served on the school board of district No. 2. Mr. Schenten was married Sept. 16, 1902, to Maggie Ehl, who was born Feb. 10, 1881, in Iowa, daughter of Peter and Katie (Stoffel) Ehl. Her parents are now deceased. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Schenten has re- sulted in the birth of twelve children, of whom ten are now living, the record being as follows: Katie, born Dec. 19, 1904; Marie, born June 19, 1906, who died Nov. 12 the same year; Anna M., born Nov. 3, 1907; Josephine E., born Jan. 3, 1909; Maggie A., born Jan. 20, 1910; Michael, born Feb. 6, 1911, who died in infancy; Lena, born Jan. 6, 1912; Susanna, born Jan. 17, 1913; Michael and Nicholas P. (twins), born Jan. 2, 1914; Marie, born June 22, 1917, and Frances, born July 4, 1920.

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 152

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

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