History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 153

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

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John Pichelmann, at one time an extensive land owner of section 31, Arland Township, and an honored and respected resident, was born in Ger- many, and was there reared and educated. He was there married to Marie Becker, also a native of the same neighborhood. In 1873 they set out for America. After landing, they found their way to Chicago, where they stayed for a short time, and then continued to Le Sueur County, Minn., where they secured 40 acres of land. There they built up a good place, developing what is still one of the best farms in that neighborhood. There they lived in happi- ness, contentment and prosperity for nearly a quarter of a century. In 1897, Mr. Pichelmann brought his family to Barron County, and purchased 320 acres of wild land in section 31, Arland Township. On the southwest eighty of this he erected a set of log buildings. With this beginning he cleared up forty acres, and gradually got up a good set of buildings. There he success- fully carried on general farming and dairying until 1908. Then he sold the home eighty to his son, Otto H., the northwest eighty to his son, Fred S., and the east 160 acres to his sons, Henry and John. Since that time he has made his home with his son, Otto H. He is a pioneer of two states, he has developed farms in two different counties, he is a man of broad mind and experience, and his judgment is sound and conservative. He is much esteemed by all who know him, his worth and work are appreciated, and he is held in highest regard not only by his large family but also by all who know him. His wife has been a faithful helpmeet in all his undertakings. Mr. and Mrs. Pichelmann are the parents of sixteen children : Henry lives in Duluth, Minn. Frieda is dead.

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MR. AND MRS. NICHOLAS SCHENTEN

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John lives in Nashua, Wilkin County, Minn. Mary is the wife of Rudolph Friday of Turtle Lake Township, this county. Sophie is the wife of Henry Reetz of Turtle Lake, this county. Minnie is the wife of Albert Reetz of Nashua, Minn. Herman is dead. Reka is the wife of Robert Reetz of Almena Township, this county. Carl is dead. Otto H. is on a part of the home farm. Tillie is the wife of Fred Bunte of Nashua, Minn. Fred L. is on a part of the home farm in Arland Township. William is dead. Augusta is the wife of August Walum of Prairie Farm Township. Anna is with her parents, and brother, Otto H. Arthur H. is dead. The children have all done well in life, all are a credit to their parents and to each other, and all are in excellent standing in the respective communities in which they live.

Otto H. Pichelmann, an enterprising farmer of section 31, Arland Town- ship, was born in Le Sueur County, Minn., Jan. 17, 1884, the son of John and Marie (Becker) Pichelmann, natives of Germany. He was reared on the farm where he was born, attended the district school and remained in his native state until 1897, when at the age of thirteen he was brought to his present farm. He here completed his common school education in the school of district 6, Arland. He worked at home, learned farming from his father, and helped in the development of the home place. In 1908 he took over his present place of 80 acres, which included his father's buildings. He has cleared 40 more acres, has repaired the buildings, put up a granary and garage and made other improvements. He has beautified the lawn, repaired the fences, purchased modern equipment and has a well kept farm in every particular. Here he carries on general farming and dairying on a successful scale, and has a good herd of Holstein cattle. He believes in progress and improvement, and is taking part in everything which he believes to be of real benefit to the com- munity. Mr. Pichelmann was married at Almena Township on Jan. 7, 1915, to Minnie Sass, who was born Nov. 13, 1896, in Turtle Lake Township, this county, the daughter of Carl and Bertha (Groth) Sass, natives of Germany, who came to America in the early eighties, and in 1895 settled in Turtle Lake. Mr. and Mrs. Pichelmann have two children: Helen H. was born Dec. 11, 1915, and Grace M. was born Nov. 12, 1919.

Fred Olson, among those who are prominently engaged in farming and dairying in Arland Township, is the subject of this sketch who, like many other successful men of Barron County, is a native of Norway. He was born Oct. 27, 1859, son of Ole and Mollie (Krigstad) Frederickson. The family came to America in 1885, settling in Hennepin County, Minn., near Minne- apolis, where the father worked in a brick yard until his retirement from active labor in the late nineties. He died in 1907, and his wife, Mollie, who survived him, now resides in Minneapolis with her daughter, Mrs. Bertha Velve. Their children, six in number, were: Bertha, above mentioned; Fred, subject of this sketch; Bella, now Mrs. Peter Thompson of Arland Township; Beaver and Gertie of Minneapolis, and Ole of Seattle, Wash. Fred Olson attended school first in Norway and later in Minneapolis. In his native land he worked on a farm, and when he landed in Boston in 1880, a young man of 20 years, he went at once to Minneapolis, in the vicinity of which city he continued for three years at farm labor. After that eight years were spent in a brick yard and another eight in a lumber yard as teamster. In the fall of 1899 he came to Barron County and began an independent career as a farmer by settling on 120 acres in section 14, Arland Township. This was a tract of wild land which he had purchased in 1897, and of which he has since cleared 20 acres, having also erected a set of buildings. His cattle are of the Guernsey breed, including a pure bred sire, and he is doing a successful business both as dairyman and general farmer. He is a stockholder in the Barron Co-opera- tive Creamery and a member of the Barron Shipping Association. For three years Mr. Olson served on the Arland Township board as supervisor and has been clerk nine years of district No. 1 school board. As a citizen he is well known and popular. Mr. Olson assumed the responsibilities of domestic life

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on April 14, 1895, when he was united in marriage with Isabelle Peterson, who was born in Norway, Sept. 16, 1866, daughter of Thomas and Belle (John- son) Peterson. Her father died in Norway, after which, in 1879, her mother came to the United States and settled in Meeker County, Minn., where she resided until her death in 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Olson are the parents of five children : Oren T., born March 20, 1896; Ilnore M., July 20, 1900; Bessie J., July 6, 1903; Florence J., July 3, 1905, and Margaret O., April 24, 1908. Oren T. on Oct. 15, 1918, enlisted in the United States army from Barron, and was sent for training to Lake Charles, La. He was discharged Jan. 17, 1919, and is now in Chicago in the employ of the United Manufacturing and Distributing Company. Ilnore M. is with the Northwestern Electric Company of Minne- apolis. The others are residing at home. The family attends the Norwegian Lutheran Church at Barron.

Ferdinand Hellmann, one of the leading citizens of Arland Township, where he has an excellent farm of 200 acres, is a man widely known through- out this part of the county for his enterprise and helpful participation in all projects for the advancement of his township and county. As farmer, dairyman and beekeeper he has achieved financial success and as a useful citizen won the esteem of his neighbors. He was born in Steinfeldt, Alden- berg, Germany, Aug. 22, 1862, son of Frank and Dena (Roehte) Hellmann. His parents, who are now deceased, had six children, of whom five are now living: August, who is in Canada; Henry, residing in Texas; Minnie, now Mrs. Frank Krockmann, living in Germany; Lizzie, wife of Frank Balster of Minnesota, and Ferdinand of Arland Township, Barron County. Ferdinand Hellmann was educated in his native land and began industrial life there as a farm laborer. Knowing well that he was not on the road to riches, he resolved to bet- ter himself by emigration, and in 1880 came to the United States, landing in Baltimore and proceeding west to Delaware County, Iowa. There he remained six years working on farms, after which he spent four years in Sioux County, Iowa. He then rented a farm for seven years in Sioux County, Iowa. In 1898 Mr. Hellmann made the important step of his life, coming to Barron County and buying from Knapp, Stout & Co. 120 acres of land in sections 2 and 3, Arland Township. Later he purchased 80 acres in section 11, the same town- ship. Thus he came into possesion of 200 acres of wild land, capable of producing abundant crops, but needing a vast amount of work before it could be brought under cultivation. Mr. Hellmann bent with hearty good will to his task, and every month saw it farther advanced. In time he cleared 100 acres, besides erecting a complete set of buildings. His present barn, which he built in 1915, measures 40 by 100 feet and is supplied with the James equipment. His cattle are Holsteins with pure bred sires, and besides carrying on general farming he gives special attention to dairying. His horses are pure bred Percherons. Mr. Hellmann, in addition to his direct farming inter- ests, is a stockholder in the co-operative creamery at Barron and the Farmers' Store at Poskin. On one occasion, some years ago, while he was engaged in road work, he happened to notice a swarm of bees in flight and, impelled by a sudden impulse, he captured them and made a start in the bee business. He subsequently added to his apiary until in 1916 he had 225 swarms. In 1900 his house was wrecked by a cyclone but was speedily rebuilt. Mr. Hellmann was married Feb. 4, 1891, to Mary Anna Meinars who, after sixteen years of happy married life, passed away June 2, 1907. To him and his wife five chil- 'dren were born, as follows: Bertha, born Feb. 29, 1892, died May 15, the same year; Frank, born April, 27, 1893; John, born Jan. 4, 1896, who served in the World Wat; Regina, born Nov. 30, 1897, who is the family housekeeper; .Antonia, born Nov. 26, 1899, who died Jan. 31, 1902; Antonia (second), born Jan. 21, 1902; May. S., born Feb. 23, 1905, and Aloysius, born June 1, 1907, who died in infancy. The war record of John is as follows: Drafted from Wheaton, Minn., April 28, 1918; attached to 344th Machine Gun Co., 90th Division; sailed for overseas in June, 1918; saw action at St. Mihiel, the

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Meuse-Argonne and Defensive Sector, and was with the army of occupation in Germany; returned to the United States in June, 1919. Since then he has resided at home and at present is serving as road commissioner of Arland Township. Mr. Hellmann and his family are members of the German con- gregation of the Catholic Church. They hold a high position in the community and have a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.

Lars Johnson, a former resident of Arland Township, who contributed his part toward the development of its agricultural resources, was born in Norway, July 10, 1846. He attended school in his native land, where he began industrial life as a common laborer, and as such continued for many years. Realizing at last that for him Norway was not a land of promise, he emigrated in 1892 to the United States, accompanied by Jacob Hawkinson, and after landing at New York came on directly to Barron County. In the following. year he realized one object of his ambition, buying 80 acres of wild land in section 21, Arland Township, but to earn a livelihood he was obliged to work in sawmills and in the woods, living in a shanty that had been built by the sawmill company. Gradually he cleared 15 acres of his land and in time erected a good set of buildings, the work being all done by himself. On his little farm he worked hard, taking satisfaction in the fact that he was at last making substantial progress, and so continued until his death at the age of fifty-seven years and two days on July 12, 1903. Mr. Johnson married Bertha Jacobson, who was born in Sweden, May 1, 1858, daughter of Jacob Erickson and Gertie (Anderson) Erickson. Both her parents are now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Lars Johnson seven children were born, namely: John J. Larson, born June 14, 1882, who was killed in the woods March 10, 1903; Gertrude, born March 16, 1884, who is the widow of Hugh Le Grand of Minneapolis who died in 1917; Erick Larson, born July 15, 1886; Gust Larson, born Aug. 11, 1892, who operates a garage in Barron; Emma C., born Oct. 30, 1895, now Mrs. H. H. Moore of Minneapolis; Bennie Larson, born May 18, 1899, who died Aug. 25, 1903, and Alma, born May 9, 1901, now residing in Minneapolis.

Erick Larson, a thriving farmer and dairyman of Arland Township, was born in Sweden, July 15, 1886, son of Lars and Bertha (Jacobson) Johnson. As a child he accompanied his parents to the United States in 1892 and grew up on their farm in Arland Township. After his father's death in July, 1903, he carried on the farm for his mother and continued as its manager until Sept. 12, 1917, when he bought it. He is successfully engaged in mixed farm- ing and dairying, keeping grade Guernsey cattle with a high grade sire, and is also a stockholder in the Barron Co-operative Creamery and the Hillsdale Western Telephone Company. Industrious and enterprising, he is making good progress and is already numbered among the substantial citizens of his township.

Ole Severson, a pioneer settler of Arland Township, whose active career in Barron County has bridged the distance from log cabin to modern home, was born in Norway, Jan. 12, 1846. There he grew to manhood and married Inga Anderson, continuing to reside in his native land until 1870. He then came to America, landing at Quebec, from which place he went on to Monroe County, Wis. In that locality he remained for 18 months. Then in 1872 he came to Barron County and took a homestead of 80 acres in section 20, Arland Township, where he was one of the first settlers. The tract was wild and he commenced improvements by erecting a set of log buildings, of which the large log barn is still standing on the farm. To earn money on which to live Mr. Severson did contract skidding for Knapp, Stout & Co., being one of the first settlers in that locality to own a team of oxen. In the summer time he worked on his farm, of which in time he cleared 75 acres. He was successfully engaged in mixed farming and dairying until 1911, in which year he retired, selling the farm to his son, Sever, who is now operating it. Among his useful activities,' aside from the clearing of his own farm, he did good work in inducing settlers to remain in the township, and organized the Arland cream-

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ery, in which he was a stockholder. Mr. Severson was married, Sept. 16, 1877, to Inga Anderson, daughter of Andrew and Anna (Severson) Wold. Of this union nine children were born: Sever, above mentioned; Anton, deceased; Carrie, now Mrs. Andrew Knutson of Dallas Township; Thorval, a farmer in Arland Township; Albert, deceased; Ida, wife of Andrew Swanson of Scobey, Mont .; Julia, who is Mrs. Edward Thuftin of Arland Township; Gena, wife of Ernest Dreyer of Arland Township, and Ingval, residing at home.

Sever Severson, proprietor of one of the old pioneer homesteads in Arland Township, was born on this farm Nov. 11, 1879, son of Ole and Inga (Ander- son) Severson. His boyhood days were spent amid rough surroundings, as the country was wild and his parents' farm as yet but partly developed. In that development he, himself, had to take an active part, though for several years he attended school in district 4. Such as the place was, it suited him, and when he grew to manhood he felt no disposition to leave, but remained with his father, whose assistant and co-worker he was until he bought the homestead in 1901. Since then he has improved the buildings and erected some outbuildings, including a milk house, chicken house and woodshed. In addition to raising the usual crops, he follows dairying, keeping Holstein cattle with a pure bred sire. He is a member of the Arland Township Farm Bureau and of the Concordia Church.

Ingval Severson, born in Arland Township, Nov. 14, 1895, son of Ole and Inga (Anderson) Severson, has a similar early history to that of his brother, Sever, already outlined. Like him, he was associated with their father, both in the woods and on the farm, but at present is working on the same farm for Sever. He was married June 24, 1916, to Esther Peterson, who was born July 12, 1895, daughter of Elmer F. and Betsey (Ingwalson) Peterson. The parents were natives of Sweden who came to America in the early eighties and, settling in Barron County, Wis., took a homestead in Turtle Lake Township, which they developed into a good farm. That place was their residence for the rest of their lives with the exception of four years, from 1904 to 1909, during which Mr. Peterson was superintendent of the poor farm at Barron. He died May 3, 1912, and his wife Jan. 11, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Ingval Severson have three children : Elmer, Bessie and Eleanor.

Frank Osterkamp, who established a good farm in Arland Township, which he cultivated until his death on Feb. 2, 1915, was born in Germany, Aug. 28, 1846. After leaving school he learned the baker's trade, which he followed in his native land until 1889, during 14 years of that time operating a bakery for himself. In 1889 he came to America, landing at Baltimore, whence he went on to southern Nebraska, where he worked as a section hand for two years. For three years subsequently he operated a dray line and for five years was engaged in farm work. In 1904 he came to Barron County and bought 320 acres of wild land in section 6, Arland Township, which he began to improve and where he was industriously engaged in mixed farming and dairying for the rest of his life. He was for three years a director on the school board of district No. 3. Fraternally, he was affiliated with Almena Camp, M. W. A., and religiously with the German Lutheran Church. Mr. Osterkamp was married May 17, 1877, in Germany, to Johanna Hoff, who was born April 28, 1846. To him and his wife eight children were born, of whom four are now living, namely: Aggie, residing in Lincoln, Nebr .; John A., a farmer; Anna, at home, and Fritz D., who is a farmer. Those deceased are William, Dora, Eilt and Johanna.

John A. Osterkamp, who, with his brother, Fritz D., is operating the 320-acre farm in Arland Township, established by their father, known as the Ostland Stock Farm, registered, was born in Germany, Nov. 10, 1879, son of Frank and Johanna (Hoff) Osterkamp. He attended school both in Germany and Nebraska, and subsequently worked for and with his father until the latter's death in 1915. Then he and his brother, Fritz, bought the interests of the other heirs and now own the home place, of which John A. is the

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manager. They have erected a complete set of new buildings: a house in 1915; a machine shed, 24 by 60 feet, in 1918; and a barn, 36 by 110 feet, with the James equipment, and two silos, in 1919. Their cattle are pure bred Holsteins, and the brothers are members of the Holstein Breeders' Associa- tion, also of the Almena Farmers' Shipping Union. John D. has been six years clerk of the school board of district No. 3. Fraternally, he is connected with Almena Camp, M. W. A. Energetic and enterprising, he and his brother are making rapid progress in improving their farm, and are numbered among the well-to-do citizens of their township.

Fritz D. Osterkamp, whose industrial career has been connected with that of his father and of his brother, John A., was born in Germany, Sept. 29, 1882. He was educated in Nebraska and has always worked at home. Since 1915, when he became his brother's partner on the father's death, he has worked hard and done his share to improve their mutual property. In 1921 he was elected president of the Farm Bureau in Arland Township, and is also secretary and treasurer of the Almena Holstein Association, and president of Almena Cow Testing Association. Like his brother, he belongs to Almena Camp, M. W. A.

Andrew W. Anderson, a typical representative of the hard working and successful farmers of Arland Township, where he has resided for 18 years, was born in Finland, April 22, 1866, son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Wuorenmaa. After receiving some schooling in his native land, he became a farm laborer, in which occupation he continued until 1888. In that year, as an immigrant in quest of better fortune, he landed at New York and went direct to Marquette, Mich., which was his home for the next 15 years. Eleven years of that time were spent in the stone quarries and four years in an iron foundry. Realizing at last that working for others at a weekly wage was not the way to advance himself, Mr. Anderson turned his thoughts to agriculture, and coming to Barron County, bought a tract of wild land of 80 acres in section 17, Arland Township. Deficient in capital, however, he was unable as yet to settle on his property and was therefore obliged to continue as a wage earner for some seven years longer, or until 1903. He then settled on his farm, to the area of which he later added by the purchase of 40 acres more. As time has passed he has provided himself with a fine set of buildings. The residence is sightly and comfortable. In 1915 he erected a barn 34 by 78 feet, furnished with modern equipment. In 1921 he built a machine shed, 24 by 60 feet, with granary on the second floor. Other structures have been erected as the devel- opment of the farm has demanded them. Mr. Anderson, with the help of his sturdy family carries on general farming and dairying, making a specialty of a fine herd of Holstein cattle headed by a full blooded sire, and a good drove of pure blooded Poland China swine. Mr. Anderson helped to organize the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church of Arland Township, the only one of its kind in the county. In this church he has been one of the most active factors. He has served as superintendent of the Sunday school since it was first organized, and he has had a real influence for good on the lives of the young people who have attended the school. For thirteen years he was presi- dent of the congregation, giving freely of his time, ability and means, espe- cially during the building of the church edifice. He is now treasurer. For ten years he was a director on the school board of district No. 3. All in all, Mr. Anderson is a fine type of citizen, a God-fearing, hardworking man, whose example and influence are always on the side of that which is right and good, and his living here has been of real benefit to the community. Mr. Anderson was united in marriage April 7, 1892, with Elizabeth Schmitman, who was born in Finland, Feb. 2, 1867. She came to America in 1889, going to Marquette, Mich., where she and Mr. Anderson were married. Eight children have come to brighten their home, namely: Fannie J., born July 29, 1893, now Mrs. James Halvorsen of Arland Township; John A., born June 17, 1895; William A., Nov. 12, 1896; Andrew W., Dec. 29, 1898; Warner M.,

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Sept. 19, 1900; Jacob G., June 30, 1902; August L., July 14, 1905, and George G., July 14, 1908. John and William both served in the U. S. army during the World War, their records being as follows: John Arthur Anderson was in- ducted into the United States service July 23, 1918, at Barron. He trained at Camp Grant with the 343rd Infantry, 86th Division. He sailed for France that fall and was later transferred to the 76th Division, the famous Lightning Division. With that division he saw active service in the Meuse Argonne offensive, Oct. 15 to Oct. 19. April 2, 1919, he was promoted to corporal. He was returned to the United States in due time, and on June 2, 1919, received his honorable discharge at Camp Grant. June 3, 1919, he re-enlisted in the Quartermaster Corps, and served one year at Fort Snelling. He is now farm- ing with his father in Arland Township. William Anslen Anderson was inducted into the service at Barron, Aug. 14, 1918. He was assigned to the Sweney Auto School at Kansas City, but that school was swept with the influenza and he was transferred to Camp Hancock, Ga., where he trained with the 43rd Machine Gun Company. The unit had received its overseas equipment when the Armistice was signed. Jan. 1, 1919, he was transferred to Camp Grant, and was there discharged Jan. 10. He is now engaged in farming with his father in Arland Township. The inherited family name is Wuorenmaa. But when A. W. Anderson, the subject of this sketch, came to this country from Finland, his new associates found Wuorenmaa difficult to spell and pronounce, and at the request of his employers and friends he took the name of Anderson, his present full name being Andrew Wuorenmaa Anderson.

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 153

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

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