History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 154

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

USA > Wisconsin > Barron County > History of Barron County Wisconsin > Part 154

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Andrew Solberg, an energetic farmer of section 30, Arland Township, is a native of the place where he still resides, born Aug. 24, 1882, oldest son of John A. and Gertrude (Johnson) Solberg, early settlers. He attended the district school of the neighborhood, was reared on the home place, and learned farming from his father. He has had charge of the homestead since 1910. Here he carries on general farming and dairying, and has a good herd of Holsteins, headed by a full blooded sire. He is taking his part in all the affairs of the community, he is popular among the people of his community and liked by all who know him. Mr. Solberg was married Dec. 4, 1908, to Marie Aker, who was born Feb. 20, 1889, the daughter of Andrew and Bertha (Mytroen) Aker. Mr. and Mrs. Solberg have four bright children. Jennings G. was born Feb. 14, 1910; Bernice A. was born March 23, 1911; Clarence O. was born June 26, 1913; and Joyce E. was born Feb. 15, 1921.

John A. Solberg, an early settler, now living retired on the farm in section 30, which he developed in Arland Township, is a man held in the highest esteem and honor for what he has accomplished. He was born in Norway, Aug. 2, 1849, attended school as he could, and did farm labor. In 1873 he came to America and found his way directly to Menomonie, Dunn County, this state, where he did railroad work for about two years. Then he went to Cedar Falls, in Dunn County, and cooked for a sawmill crew. In 1877 he took a homestead of 80 acres in Section 30, Arland Township, and by later purchases added from time to time until he owned 360 acres. When he first came to the place it was covered with heavy timber, and he had to cut his way through the woods to get his goods and supplies in. The nearest place from' which provisions could be obtained was at Prairie Farm, from which place Mr. Solberg often brought supplies on his back. At first he had a set of log buildings in a small clearing, and here he started to develop a farm. For a while times were hard. But by hard work he prospered. He replaced the log buildings with a good set of frame structures, fenced the entire tract and cleared about 75 acres. In the meanwhile he was ever mindful of his duties as a citizen. He was a real leader in the township, he was consulted on many important ventures, his judgment was valued, and he was always ready to take his part in everything which he believed to be for the benefit of the community. Especially did he realize that good roads were needed to promote

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MR. AND MRS. JOHN A. SOLBERG AND RESIDENCE

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the welfare of the township. He therefore served for more than twelve years as road commissioner, and during this time not only advocated the improve- ment of old roads and the establishment of new ones, but also helped to build many himself. He also foresaw that schools and churches were necessary to the full growth of the community. He therefore helped to organize the Concordia congregation and assisted in building the church. For many years he did good service on the school board. All in all, he has been a good and useful citizen, of the type of unselfishness and cool sense needed in the devel- opment of a new region. In 1910 he turned over the management of the farm to his son, Andrew, but continued to make his home there. Mr. Solberg was married on Nov. 10, 1881, to Gertrude Johnson, who was born in Norway. She was a most worthy woman, a loyal and sympathetic wife, a loving and under- standing mother, a generous neighbor, and a true-hearted friend. She died Dec. 4, 1909, and her death was sincerely mourned. Mr. and Mrs. Solberg had seven children : Andrew, born Aug. 24, 1882, manages the home farm. Edward, born March 31, 1884, farms in Arland Township. Martin, born April 13, 1887, is in the insurance business at Turtle Lake, this county. Jennie was born Nov. 5, 1889, and is the wife of Oscar Rude of Rice Lake, this county. Clara was born Nov. 5, 1889, twin to Jennie, and is the wife of Paul Orfen of Min- neapolis. Clarence and Oscar, twins, were born Jan. 14, 1892, and died in infancy.

Minnard H. White, a well known and respected citizen of Arland Town- ship, where he is profitably engaged in the leading industry of the town- ship-farming and dairying-was born near Wells, Minn., Sept. 6, 1870, son of Alvin M. and Mary (Millard) White. The father was a native of New Brunswick and the mother of Wisconsin. In the late sixties Alvin M. White went from his native province to the state of Maine, and thence came west to Minnesota. There he spent most of his time until he enlisted in the Forty- second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, as a private, in which he did patriotic service during the Civil War. In 1872 he came to Barron County and bought eighty acres of wild land in Maple Grove Township. As the township was then but thinly settled, he may be numbered among its pioneers. In course of time by continued industry he cleared his land and developed a very good farm, on which he resided until 1908, when he rented it and went to Missouri. After a short residence there he came back and on his return was taken sick and passed away March 12, 1909. His widow is still living and resides in Barron. Minnard H. White acquired his education in the district school in Barron County. He worked for his father until 21 years old and then learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for six years or more. Then he entered into the cement contract business, which he followed for six years, building silos, bridges, etc., throughout Dunn and Barron Counties. In 1903 he settled on 40 acres in section 26, Arland Township, which tract he had bought several years previously. He erected a good set of buildings himself and cleared twelve acres of the land, residing thereon until 1919, when he sold it and erected a set of buildings on a 120-acre tract in section 24. This is his present farm, on which he has 40 acres of the land cleared. His barn measures 34 by 62 feet and is provided with the "Humane" equipment. Mr. White follows mixed farming and dairying, keeping Holstein cattle with a pure bred sire, and is making good progress along financial lines. He was married July 4, 1903, to Elsie Stow, who was born in Easton, Minn., June 28, 1883, daughter of Cecil and Jennie (De Ford) Stow. He and his wife are the parents of five children, who were born as follows: Janet M., March 5, 1905; Cecil A., Oct. 12, 1906; Ruby C., July 30, 1909; Myrtle E., Aug. 27, 1911, and Marian E., Nov. 11, 1914.

Emmett Fillmore, proprietor of a good dairy farm of 280 acres in section 30, Arland Township, is a veteran lumberman who in his younger days led a strenuous life and went through trying experiences. He was born in Steuben County, N. Y., Jan. 2, 1849, son of Ebenezer and Harriett (Bessie) Fillmore.

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The parents were natives of that state, but in 1850 moved to Michigan, where the father died Feb. 16, 1895, and the mother, March 19, 1896. Their son, Emmett, attended school in Michigan and as soon as he was old enough began work in the lumber industry, being subsequently employed in the Michigan woods for 35 years as scaler and on the drives. In 1871 he started on a drive with twelve other men and had no opportunity to sleep in a bed until July 3 that year. When it was time to rest he simply cleared away the snow and made himself a rough couch of hemlock boughs. In 1876 he and his father cut cordwood and slept in the open with nothing but brush thrown across some poles to keep the snow off them. They buried their provisions in the ground to keep them from freezing. This strenuous period of Mr. Fillmore's life came to an end in 1899, when he came to Minnesota and bought a dairy farm in Benton County, which he operated for five years. In 1904 he came to Barron County and bought 280 acres of land in section 34, Arland Town- ship, of which he has since cleared 60 acres. He had otherwise improved the property by the erection of buildings, including a new barn, machine shed and silo, and at present is engaged in building a new house. He has installed an Empire milking machine and his place is lighted by the Delco electric system. Mr. Fillmore follows general farming and dairying, keeping pure bred Holstein cattle, of which he has 15 head. He also has pure bred Per- cheron horses. Energetic and enterprising, he has gained a place among the prosperous farmers and respected citizens of his township. Mr. Fillmore was married July 4, 1873, to Hattie E. Chase, by whom he had six children, all of whom he lost in 1884 within 35 days from scarlet fever and diphtheria, and in April, 1886, he suffered another bereavement in the death of his wife. On April 20, 1889, he married Effie Hildebrandt, who was born in Long Lake, Mich., in April, 1870, daughter of John and Mary (Spankenburg) Hildebrandt. Her parents are now deceased, the father having died Oct. 8, 1895, and her mother March 3, 1891. Mr. and Mrs. Fillmore have had seven children, of whom six are now living, the record in brief being as follows: Minnie A., born Aug. 4, 1890, now Mrs. Willis Eggen, residing on a farm in Prairie Farm Township, this county; Wilhelmina, born July 14, 1898, who died Nov. 17, 1901; John F., born Aug. 3, 1900; Melvin E., Aug. 21, 1902; Charles E., Nov. 23, 1904; Theodore M., Feb. 21, 1908, and Edwin, Oct. 5, 1913.

Peder P. Moen, who may be numbered among the sturdy pioneers of Arland Township, as he has resided there for the last forty years and taken a prominent part in its development into a prosperous and civilized com- munity, was born in Norway, May 4, 1856, son of Peder P. and Anna Maria (Melling) Evensplads. The parents, now deceased, had a family of eight children, several of whom came to this country. They were as follows: Carrie, now Mrs. Martin Christianson of St. Croix County, Wis .; Peder P., subject of this sketch; Ole P., still residing in Norway; Anton P., engaged in agri- culture in Prairie Farm Township, this county; Bernt, deceased; Mary, wife of Ole Thorson of Hudson, Wis .; Bertha, in Norway, and Oliver, deceased. Peder P. Moen, after attending school in his native land, learned farming and afterwards worked on a railroad. Coming to America in May, 1879, he landed at New York, May 5, 1879, and thence went on to Lanesboro, Minn., where for a year and a half he was engaged in farm labor. In 1881 he came to Barron County, which was then but thinly settled, but was the scene of extensive lumbering operations. Entering the employ of Knapp, Stout & Co. as cook, he worked at that occupation both in the woods and on the drives for a year and a half, and as it was no easy task to prepare food for a large gang of hungry lumberjacks, he undoubtedly earned his wages. In 1883 Mr. Moen started in for himself as a farmer, buying 40 acres of wild land in section 32, Arland Township, which he proceeded to develop as he found opportunity. The first buildings he erected were a log house and a log barn, the logs being cut from the timber on his own land, and it may be remarked that his log barns are still standing. In 1900 he bought 40 acres more and

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MR. AND MRS. OLE E. HOLMAN MR. AND MRS. CHARLES A. WESTLAND MR. AND MRS. JOHN .A. OASE

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in 1903 enlarged his house and put up outbuildings. In 1917 he bought an additional tract of 80 acres in section 29, this bringing the area of his farm up to a total of 160 acres. A more recent improvement was the erection of a barn in 1921, which measures 38 by 80 feet, and is provided with the James equipment. All his present buildings are modern in type and altogether con- stitute one of the finest sets of farm buildings in Arland Township. Of the land he has cleared 65 acres. Mr. Moen has named his property Tainter Creek Farm, and here he is carrying on mixed farming and dairying, his cattle being of the Holstein breed with a pure bred sire. The foundation of his present prosperity was laid in the early days, when farming, especially in a new country, was a particularly hard and unremunerative occupation. In those times he was accustomed to carry provisions on his back from Prairie Farm and Turtle Lake, and for several years he used oxen as his only draught animals. Aside from his own personal interests, he helped to advance most works of improvement in the township. For some twenty years, the last few of which he has been vice-president, he has been a member of the board of trustees of Concordia Church. In this church he has been an important factor, and as a member of the building committee assisted in the erection of the present church edifice. For nine years he served as director of the school board of district No. 6. He helped to build the creamery at Arland, in which he is still interested. He has also assisted in the construction of good roads. These various activities made him well known and prominent among his fellow townsmen, by whom he is held in universal respect. Mr. Moen was married June 24, 1882, to Anna Moseng, who was born in Norway, Feb. 8, 1866, daugh- ter of Ole E. and Bertha (Troen) Moseng. He and his wife have been blessed with a family of eleven children, of whom ten are now living, the record being as follows: Ole P., born Aug. 25, 1883, now a farmer in Arland Township; Alman, born Nov. 30, 1885, who died Feb. 2, 1896; Emma P., born Oct. 13, 1887, wife of Hans Mytron, a farmer of Turtle Lake Township; Carrie P., born April 6, 1890, who married John Mytron and lives in Saskatchewan, Canada; Lottie P., born Jan. 8, 1894, now Mrs. James O'Brien of Moose Jaw, Canada; A. Pauline, born July 4, 1896; Almon B., born Nov. 29, 1898; Wilma B., born Sept. 6, 1901, who is a bookkeeper in the Farmers' Store at Prairie Farm; Orval E., born Dec. 15, 1903; Edna H. C., born Aug. 11, 1906, and Edith E., born Dec. 17, 1909.

Ole E. Holman, a worthy early settler of section 33, Arland Township, was born in Norway, Oct. 12, 1845, of good old Norwegian stock. He was reared and educated there, and as a young man married Anna Gravle, who was born May 16, 1844. They came to America in 1868, landed at Quebec, found their way to Menomonie, in Dunn County, this state, and there Mr. Holman entered the employ of Knapp, Stout & Co., with whom he was employed for five years, most of the time as a rafting boss. In 1873 he purchased 120 acres of railroad land in section 33, Arland Township, and started to develop a farm. The land was all wild. He made a small clearing and put up a set of log buildings. For some years he continued to work in the woods and sawmills to get money to help with his place. Later he put up a set of frame buildings, and in time had a good farm. Being a natural leader, he early took a prominent part in public affairs. He persuaded many people to locate in the township, and en- couraged them in every forward enterprise. For some years he did most excellent work as chairman of the township, and his work on the county board was likewise commendable. For some years he also served as a useful member of the school board. In 1913 he sold his farm to his son, Otto, and died Feb. 25, 1914. His wife died Feb. 12, 1921. Mr. and Mrs. Holman were the parents of five children : Edward is in northern Minnesota. Anton is in North Dakota. Emma is the wife of John A. Oase of Arland Township. Anna is the wife of Charles Westerland of Arland Township. Otto is on the home farm.

John A. Oase, who ranks well among the foremost farmers of Arland Township, was born in Norway, Oct. 7, 1862, the son of Alfred and Jonetta

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(Johnson) Oase, the former a native of Sweden, and the latter of Norway, and both now deceased. He received his education in Norway, and did farm work there for some years, beginning as a youth. In 1882 he came to America, landed at New York and went directly to Fargo, N. D., where he stayed for two years. He came to Wisconsin in 1884, and with headquarters at Menom- onie, Dunn County, worked for Knapp, Stout & Co. for twelve years, in camps and on river drives, in Chippewa, Barron and Washburn Counties. In the meantime he farmed summers. In 1896 he purchased the old homestead of Ole Gravle, consisting of 80 acres in section 34, Arland Township, this county. The place had been partly improved at that time. Mr. Oase put up a good set of log buildings. As time passed he erected frame buildings. He has cleared 25 more acres of the land, and has made the place a well cultivated and pros- perous farm. He successfully carries on general farming and dairying, and has a good herd of mixed Durham and Guernsey cattle. Believing in taking his part in everything that is for the good of the community, he has taken stock in the Prairie Farm Co-operative Association and in the Hillsdale North- western Telephone Co. He is active in the Arland unit of the Barron County Farm Bureau. Mr. Oase is a fine type of the modern farmer, upright and just in all his dealings, and having the best interests of the community deeply at heart. He was married June 3, 1896, to Emma Holman, who was born in Me- nomonie, Wis., Oct. 1, 1869, the daughter of Ole E. and Anna (Gravle) Holman. They are members of the Lutheran Church.

Martin Halvorson, now living retired on the farm in Arland Township which he carved from the wilderness, is one of the hardy pioneers who still survive to tell the story of early days in Barron County. He belongs to a race which has done much in the upbuilding and civilization of the great North- west, having been born in Norway, Dec. 15, 1852. His parents, Halvor and Christina (Torlson) Helgarson, came to America in 1870, settling immediately in Barron County, Wis., and taking a homestead of 40 acres in section 20, Arland Township. The Halvorson family were among the first settlers there and their experiences were those of pioneers in a new country, with all the forces of nature against them and nothing but grit, industry and patience in their favor. Possessing these qualities in large measure, however, they got along slowly at first, their progress gathering momentum with the passing years. Halvor Helgarson erected the usual log buildings and in time cleared part of his land, selling his logs to Knapp, Stout & Co., the lumbermen. In early days he had to carry supplies on his back from Prairie Farm, which was only one of the many kinds of arduous labor in which he took part. He and his faithful wife and helpmate spent their remaining years on the homestead, which was purchased after they had passed away, by their son, Andrew Halvorson. They had written their names on the annals of the county and their memory is still green. Halvor Helgarson died in October, 1898, and his wife died four years later, in 1902. Their children were: Christian, Lars, Lizzie, Ausley and Martin. Martin Halvorson in his boyhood attended school in Norway and was a youth of eighteen when he accompanied his parents to the Land of Promise in Barron County. True, they found little but promise on their arrival here, but Martin was a sturdy lad, old enough and strong enough to be of material assistance to his parents, and especially to his father in the clearing and development of the homestead. Together they worked in the woods for several years, and Martin skidded logs with oxen for two years for the lumber firm of Knapp, Stout & Co. In 1893, having then attained his majority, he started in for himself, taking time by the forelock and buying 80 acres of wild land in section 19, Arland Township. General conditions by that time had improved, but the clearing of his land involved much hard labor. This task he attacked with the necessary vim, and in time had the satisfaction of seeing 60 acres cleared and a substantial set of buildings erected. Later he bought 80 acres in section 16, that he subsequently gave to his son, Alfred; and still another 80 in the same section that he gave to

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MR. AND MRS. JOHN C. THOMPSON

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his son, James. His. original 80 in Section 19 he gave to his son, Charles, when, on account of ill health, he finally retired from active work. He and his wife still live on the old homestead. Mr. Halvorson was married in May, 1879, to Bertha Anderson, who was born in Norway, the daughter of Andrew and Anna (Severson) Anderson, who brought her to America when she was ten years old, and soon afterward became early settlers of Barron County. Mr. and Mrs. Halvorson are. the parents of ten children, all living, namely: Mary, now Mrs. Ed Dier of Duluth; Alfred, a farmer in Arland Township; Charles, residing at home; Carrie, now Mrs. John Lock; James, a farmer in Arland Township; Christina, who resides with her brother, Charles; Minnie, wife of Ed Horn of Arland Township; Louis, at home; Lillie, who is living in Duluth, and Hannah. now Mrs. John Bedorf, of Arland Township.

Jacob Wisti, a prominent farmer of Arland Township, of which he has been a resident since 1898, was born in Finland, May 3, 1861, son of John E. and Katie (Makela) Wisti. He attended school in his native land and subse- quently did farm labor until he came to America in 1889. Landing at New York, he went thence to southern Michigan, where for a short time he worked in lumber camps, then went to northern Michigan, where until 1898 he was employed in the iron mines. In that year he started out for himself as a farmer in Barron County, when he and his brother, Erick, purchased 120 acres of land in section 4, Arland Township. They built a small house and barn on the land, which was then wild, and together they began the development of what is today one of the well improved farms of Arland Township. In 1904 they rebuilt the house. They continued together until 1914, when Jacob be- came the sole proprietor. In 1915 he built a barn 34 by 66 feet, installed with the James equipment. He also has a good set of modern outbuildings. All these things show that Mr. Wisti is a man of industry and enterprise and worthy of the success which he has achieved. His operations are conducted along the lines of general farming and dairying. His cattle are Holsteins with a pure bred sire. Mr. Wisti helped to organized and build the Finnish Synod Church in Arland Township and is one of its first members. In addi- tion to his farming interests, he is a stockholder in the Farmers' Co-operative Creamery at Barron, the Farmers' Co-operative Store at Poskin, the Almena Telephone Co. and the Farmers' State Bank at Poskin. He was married June 4, 1892, in Negaunee, Mich., to Mary Ahola, who was born in Finland, April 8, 1868, daughter of Jacob and Lena (Lassila) Ahola. The father is now deceased but the mother is still living in Finland. Their daughter, Mary, came to America in 1889 and for some time worked in a factory in Maynard, Mass. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Wisti has been blessed by the birth of six children : Emily, born March 28, 1893, now Mrs. John Mayala of Arland Township; Ida M., born March 25, 1896, who died April 30, 1912; Hjalmer, born July 26, 1897, who was inducted into the army from Barron, Nov. 23, 1918, went to Camp Shelby, Miss., was attached to the fire truck and hose company and was dis- charged May 24, 1919, from Camp Shelby; Andrew O., born Sept. 26, 1899, now an auto-car salesman residing in Barron; Jacob W., born June 22, 1902, and Hilma E., born Nov. 7, 1906, who died March 31, 1908.

John C. Thompson who, during the last few years of his life, which were spent in Barron County, did the initial work in the development of a flourish- ing farm, was born in Finland, Sept. 6, 1862. He attended school in his native land and subsequently engaged in agricultural pursuits. At the age of 22,. desiring to better himself, he set out for the United States, landed at New York and immediately went west to Idaho, in which state and in Montana he worked in mines until 1902. He then took another step in advance, coming to Barron County and beginning an independent career as a farmer. The first land he purchased was a tract of 80 acres in section 8, Arland Township, to which he later added 40 more, making a total of 120 acres of wild land. He rebuilt the house, barn and outbuildings, the original structures being small and poor, and in a few years had cleared 25 acres of his land. Here he was

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engaged in mixed farming and dairying until his death at the age of 45 years on Dec. 18, 1907. Industrious and ambitious, he would doubtless have accom- plished greater things had his life been longer spared. His church was that of the Finnish Synod. Mr. Thompson was married May 7, 1892, to Sophia Tokoi, who was born in Finland, Sept. 12, 1868. She came to this country in 1887, going to Granite, Mont., where her marriage with Mr. Thompson occurred. They were the parents of five children: Fannie L., born Jan. 19, 1894, now living in Minneapolis; William T., born Jan. 27, 1897, who is operating the home farm under rental from his mother; John E., born Nov. 19, 1898, who died June 6, 1899; Greeta F., born Nov. 27, 1900, now Mrs. Hjalmer Wisti, and John F., born Aug. 6, 1903. After Mr. Thompson's death Mrs. Thompson continued to operate the farm, hiring help during the busy season until her son, William T., should become old enough to shoulder the responsibility. In 1916 he became manager of the farm, which in 1920 he rented of his mother. In the year when he assumed charge he erected a new barn, 36 by 64 feet in size, and provided with James equipment. In 1921 he installed an individual gas lighting system, furnishing light for house, barn, outbuildings and yards. He carries on general farming and dairying, keeping Holstein cattle mainly, with a pure bred sire, and is conducting a paying business. He is a member of the Farm Bureau, and a stockholder in and director of the Twin Town Cheese Factory.

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 154

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

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