History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 156

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

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Andrew Johnson, a progressive farmer of Section 26, east, Chetek Town- ship, is a native of this county, born in an old log cabin on the place where he still resides, Dec. 22, 1877, the son of Lars and Bertha (Finvolden) John- son. These good people were born in Norway, and were there reared and edu- cated. They were there married, and had six children: Peter, John, Louis, Nellie, Jennie and Samuel. In 1871 they came to America and found their way to Wisconsin. They drove into Barron County from Eau Claire in an ox team, in 1876, secured 160 acres of wild land, built a log house and started in to es- tablish their fortunes. There were then no roads worthy of the name, there were no churches or schools in the neighborhood, and the stores were far away. After their arrival two more children, Andrew and Betsey were born. The family was just getting where they could see the possibility of comfort ahead of them when the father died, in 1881, only ten years after their arrival in this country. But the mother was a courageous soul, and with the help of the older children kept the family together and continued to improve and cultivate the home place. As he grew up, Andrew attended the district school and helped with the farm work. He was still a youth when he started work in the woods, as a logger and on river drives. In time he became a foreman. As the mother grew older, the brother, Louis, gradually assumed the responsibilities of the home place. He built a frame house and barn and made other improve- ments. He was a respected, hard working man, and he occupied a substantial position in the community. He was married in 1892 to Hulda Waxberg, who was born in Goose Lake, Chicago County, Minnesota, July 11, 1875, the daugh- ter of Andrew and Betsy Waxberg. He died April 23, 1917, leaving five chil- dren : Myrtle Olive, Irene Frances, Hazel C., Leo L. and Fern Lorraine. Myrtle Olive is the wife of Dudley Bailkey of Chetek Township. Irene Frances lives in Minnesota. Hazel C. is the wife of James Bailkey of Chetek Township. Leo L. and Fern L. are doing well at school. After his brother died, Andrew, the subject of this sketch, took over the place. He has been successful in his operations, and is already well along the road to success. The family worships at the Norwegian Lutheran Church.

Lawrence Michaelis, for some twenty years a resident of Section 36, east, Chetek Township, now deceased, was a quiet, conscientious man of many good qualities, and his memory will long be cherished by those who knew him. He built up an excellent farm, he reared a good family, and he was faithful to every duty which life brought to him. Born at Port Washington, Ozaukee . County, Wisconsin, on the banks of Lake Michigan, Dec. 8, 1861, the son of John and Barbara Michaelis, he was reared on the home place and learned farming from his parents. As a young man he went to Dane County, and rented a farm near Mazomanie. After his marriage in 1889 he rented a farm in Pine Bluff, Dane County, this state. In October, 1898, he brought his wife and family to Barron County, and settled on 160 acres in Chetek Township. An old frame house and some crude log barns stood on the place. He erected a good set of buildings and built up an excellent farm. When he came here he started farming with a horse team and four cows, some fifty acres having been broken. He increased the four cows to a good herd, and continued the break- ing until 100 acres were practically under cultivation. After a useful life

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filled with worthy accomplishment, Mr. Michaelis died Dec. 8, 1908, and his death was sincerely mourned. Mr. Michaelis was married at Pine Bluff, Wis., Jan. 8, 1889, to Mary Bauhs, who was born at that place, Nov. 13, 1860, the daughter of Adam and Mary (Jordan) Bauhs, natives of Germany, who came to Wisconsin as young people, and were married at Pine Bluff, this state, where they developed a good farm. Mr. and Mrs. Michaelis had eight children, four born at Pine Bluff, and four in Chetek Township. Mabel is at home. Anna is now Sister Mary Damian, and is in the St. Scholascia Convent at Duluth. Joseph is at home. Loretta is at Faulkton, S. D. Mary is a nurse and is located in Chicago. Catherine is a student in the St. Scholascia Convent in Duluth. Josephine in in Faulkton, South Dakota. Lawrence is at home. The family faith is that of the Catholic Church.

Peter Stoneberg, a prosperous farmer of Section 36, Chetek Township, was born in Wallsjo, Sweden, May 9, 1859, son of John and Anna Carlson, both of whom spent the span of their years in Sweden, where their other four children also remained. Peter was reared and educated in his native land. He learned the tinner's trade and was employed at it for some years. Upon com- ing to America in the late seventies he planned on working at his trade in Chi- cago, but being unable to find employment in that line in that city he took up railroad work, which he followed at various places for many years, his first employment being near Ortonville, Minn. In this work he was moved from place to place, his principal points of residence, however, being in Minneapolis, Minn., and LeRoy in Mower County, Minnesota. He came to Barron County in 1892 as section foreman for the "Soo" line and made his headquarters at Canton. While thus employed he purchased a farm of 160 acres northeast of Sumner, in Sumner Township. He bought this from William Simpson, the pur- chase price being $600 which he paid for at the rate of $10 a month, his wages as a foreman being but $45 a month. In 1900 he gave up railroad work and moved to this farm. At the time of his purchase the place was somewhat improved. A log house, log barn and log sheds had been erected and a garden plot of about five acres broken. Mr. Stoneberg enlarged the house, erected a hay shed and cleared more of the land, farming on a scale which made a good living for himself and his family. He moved to his present place March 14, 1910. Here he has 160 acres. When he came here the buildings had been erected and about 80 acres improved. He has renovated and altered several of the buildings, built an addition to the barn and erected a swine house and tool shed. He has also continued the other improvements. About 90 acres are now under the plow and the remainder in wild land and pasturage. Mr. Stoneberg energetically carries on general farming and dairying. His cattle are of graded Jersey blood, headed by a full blooded sire, while his swine are of the Poland China breed. His holdings include stock in the Farmers' Co- operative Cheese Co. of Chetek, and in the Farmers' Co-operative Mercantile Co. of that city. Mr. Stoneberg was married Sept. 28, 1888, in Glenwood, Minn., to Jacobea Larson, born in Norway, July 13, 1861, daughter of Lars Peterson and Dorothy Olson, who spent the span of their years in Norway. This union has been blessed with six children: Ludwig, Victor, Lilly, Arthur, Gilbert and Dorothy. Ludwig was born June 12, 1899, and is on the home farm. Victor was born Aug. 3, 1890. He was inducted into the United States service July 23, 1918, trained at Camp Grant, Ill., and Camp Mills, N. Y., sailed for France Sept. 8 with the 343rd Infantry, was stricken with influenza and pneumonia the fourth day after he arrived, was sent to Base Hospital No. 6, Bordeaux, and died there Oct. 8, 1918. He had proved himself a good soldier in training camps and was popular with his fellows. Lilly was born Jan. 8, 1892, and is the wife of Roy Pitman, who farms north of Chetek. They have two children, Dorothy and Frank Raymond. Arthur was born Nov. 8, 1894. He was inducted into the United States service July 15, 1918, and trained seven months at Camp Hancock, Ga. Gilbert was born Aug. 30, 1895, and assists on the home farm. He married Augusta Sell, and they have two children, Velma and Victor.

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A. FRED HANSON AND FAMILY

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Dorothy was born Aug. 15, 1900, and is the wife of Harold Isaacson of Chetek Township.

Adolph F. Hanson, a solid and substantial citizen of section 20, Arland Township, held in the highest esteem by all who know him, was born in Swe- den, March 23, 1857, the son of Olaus and Anna C. (Olson) Hanson, both of whom are now deceased, and both of whom spent the span of their years in the old country. He was reared in his native land, attended school there for a while, and as a youth did farm work. Later he worked in brick yards and as a stone cutter. In the summer of 1879 he came to America, and after landing in Boston found his way to Lake City, Wabash County, Minn., where he stayed until the day after Christmas of that year. Then he came to Clayton, Polk County, this state, and from there walked to section 8, Arland Township, where his brother, Carl Martin Hanson, was living. After a short visit, he entered the employ of Knapp, Stout & Co. Thereafter he worked in the lumber woods winters and on the spring drives for several years. He was also em- ployed in railroad construction work, working on four different lines in Barron County. In 1882 he bought 120 acres in section 11, Arland Township. This was all wild. He put up a set of log buildings and cleared forty acres of the land. In 1899 he sold out and purchased 120 acres of partly cleared land in section 20. He put up a good set of buildings, has cleared more of the land and developed a good place. Here he has since continued to successfully carry on general farming and dairying. He has a good herd of Guernsey cattle headed by a full blooded sire and a fine drove of pure blooded Chester White swine. He believes in everything that is for the good of the community. He has been especially interested in education, helped to stablish five districts in his township and has been a school board member for some twenty years. For nine years he was pathmaster and labored earnestly in behalf of good roads. He is a member of the Arland Farm Bureau. Mr. Hanson was married July 28, 1888, to Lena Johnson, who was born in Henriette, Jackson County, Mich., April 13, 1870, the daughter of Josiah and Sarah (Johnson) Johnson, natives respectively of New York and Canada, who came to Barron County in 1872 and located in Maple Grove Township, later moving to Arland Township, where they lived until 1895 when they retired and moved to Barron city, from which place in 1914 they moved to Seattle, Wash., where they now live. Mr. and Mrs. Hanson have been blessed with eleven children: Anna K., Evelyn, Gustav A., Ella D., Charles A., Ida, Louisa, Henry A., Andrew L., Clara and Hannah. Anna K. was born April 23, 1889, and is the wife of Levi Credit of Saginaw, Mich. Evelyn was born June 27, 1890, and is the wife of Frank Bliss of Minneapolis. Gustav A. was wounded in the World War. He was born Aug. 3, 1893, and on March 31, 1917, enlisted in Company A, 121st Machine Gun Battalion, Wisconsin National Guards. For a time he did guard duty at Superior, Wis. Then he trained at Camp Douglas, in this state, and at Waco, Texas. He left Waco, Jan. 20, 1918, was equipped for overseas duty at Camp Merritt, N. J., sailed March 15, 1918, and was at the front from May 10, 1918,to Oct. 10, 1918, when he was wounded in the Argonne Forest. He was returned to the states as a casual, and was discharged at Camp Grant, Rockford, Ill., in May, 1919, with the rank of corporal. Ella D. was born Dec. 30, 1894, and is the wife of John Zeilstar of Grand Rapids, Mich. Charles A. was born March 24, 1896. He was inducted into the United States service April 28, 1918, trained at Camp Grant, Rockford, Ill., and then did guard duty at Eagle Pass, Texas, until discharged May 15, 1919. Ida was born Oct. 15, 1898, and is now a school teacher in Arland Township. Louisa was born July 15, 1900, and is the wife of John Scharle of Modesto, Calif. Henry A. was born May 25, 1903; Andrew L. was born Dec. 8, 1904; Clara was born Oct. 11, 1906; Hannah M. was born May 21, 1910. The family faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Louis Bernard Jacobson, one of the most enterprising young farmers of this part of Barron County, and widely known for his success as a potato raiser, was born at Scandinavia, Waupaca County, this state, Jan. 13, 1889, son

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of Jacob and Tillie (Hasler) Jacobson. Jacob Jacobson is a man of probity and worth. He was born in Norway and was brought to Wisconsin by his parents when he was a young boy of about five years. As a young man, he alternated farming with working in the woods. For many years he was a farmer in Waupaca County, this state, where he attained a substantial place in the community. He was twice married. By his first wife, Betsey, he had five children, Teman, Julius, Tillie, Joseph and Julia. By his second wife, Tillie Hasler, whom he married at Scandinavia, Wis., he has five children : Louis Bernard, farmer of Chetek; and Elmer, Lillie, Elvin and Leonard. who are on the home farm. Louis Bernard, the subject of this sketch, was reared in Waupaca County, Wis., and spent his youth assisting his father on the home farm. In 1913 his father purchased for him a farm of 160 acres in section 34, Chetek Township, this county. To this he later added 80 acres more. On the first tract the buildings were but ordinary, and on the second tract there were only a few old sheds. The farm is now developed so that 125 acres of the 240 acres are under the plow. The buildings are adequate and the imple- ments and machinery excellent, including a tractor. For the first two years Mr. Jacobson had misfortunes of various natures. Then his prosperity began. He specializes in potatoes, plants about 27 acres a year, and has an annual crop of about 3,000 bushels. In 1920 he cleared more than $4,000 from his potato crop alone. In 1917 he was enabled to pay his father and clear his indebtedness. In dairying he is gradually working into full blooded Holsteins. He started his herd with four "scrubs" and now has twenty-five head of full bloods, with full blooded sires at the head. He also has a good grade of Duroc Jersey swine. Mr. Jacobson's friends attribute his success to his capacity for hard work. He knows potatoes thoroughly, he knows local conditions, he works early and late, and is untiring in spraying and cultivating, sometimes working eighteen hours a day during the critical weeks. He is a shareholder in the Co-operative Mercantile Co. and in the Chetek Auto Co. Mr. Jacobson was married Nov. 19, 1914, to Inga Alm, who was born in Amherst, Portage County, Wis., in 1893, daughter of Even and Pauline Alm, who came from Norway about 1875 and settled in Portage County. In the family there were ten children : Marie, Peter, Gusta, Edward, Ole, Amelia, Mabel, Hamme, Emma and Inga. Mr. and Mrs. Jacobson have had four children: Thelma Jeanette, James Irvin, Thelma Pauline and Leslie Belford. Thelma Jeanette was born Feb. 28, 1915, and died March 21 the same year. James Irvin was born Feb. 2, 1916, and died Feb. 24, 1920. Thelma Pauline was born July 20, 1917. Leslie Belford was born Jan. 25, 1919. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran Church.

John Wall, who developed a farm in Dallas Township, was born in Nor- way, the son of Ole and Olia Wall. He was brought to this country as a small boy by his parents, who located on a piece of wild land in Dallas Township, and there started in as pioneers. They were without funds, and the father for some years worked on the railroad and in the woods to get money to support his family, while slowly developing his farm. John was reared amid pioneer conditions and attended such primitive schools as the times and neighborhood afforded. As a young man, he married Olea Espeseth and moved onto a piece of wild land a mile north of Dallas Village. There he built a small frame cabin, started to clear up the place and started in with almost nothing to establish his fortunes. In time he prospered and became one of the substantial men of the community. For some time he was treasurer of his township, and served with ability and distinction. July 25, 1906, he and his daughter, Selma, were killed by a stroke of lightning which struck their barn. He was a useful man in the community and his loss was sincerely mourned. In the family there were nine children, six boys and three girls: Oscar, George, Olger, Ger- trude, Selma, Thilda, Albert, Joseph and Bennie.

Oscar J. Wall, a hard working farmer of section 22, west, Chetek Town- ship, was born in Dallas Township, this county, one mile north of Dallas

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MR. AND MRS. OLE H. HANSON

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Village, Sept. 2, 1883, the son of John and Espeseth Olea (Espeseth) Wall, and grandson of Ole and Olia Wall, the early settlers. He was reared on the home place and attended the district school. As a young man he started working out for various farmers. Then he bought 80 acres a mile west of Dallas, re- modeled the house, built a barn and silo and improved the place generally. Some fourteen years later he sold out and for one summer occupied a farm in the northwestern part of Dallas Township. In 1920 he bought his present place of eighty acres. He has a well improved farm, with a good house, barn, silo and outbuildings and does general farming, making a specialty of Guern- sey cattle. He was married on March 8, 1911, at Dallas, to Mary Nelson, born at Dallas on Jan. 10, 1893, the daughter of Ole and Mattie (Carlson) Nelson, now of Dallas Township. Mr. and Mrs. Wall have three daughters, Selma, Olga and Florence. Selma was born Feb. 29, 1912. Olga was born April 13, 1914. Florence was born Nov. 8, 1918.

Ole H. Hanson, a representative farmer of section 18, Chetek Township, was born in Norway, Dec. 20, 1851, the son of Hans and Sijrid Olson, who spent the span of their years in the old country. As a boy he had little oppor- tunity for securing an education. His home was in the rugged and desolate mountains of northern Norway, the people were poor, and there was no regular school. Twice a year, one week in the summer and one week in the winter, a traveling teacher held school for an hour a day in the back of a log stable, and this he attended. Almost from the time young Ole H. could walk, he was a goat boy, herding goats and sheep in the mountains. When he was fourteen he was confirmed. When he was eighteen he started in the cod fishing indus- try. The first year he was accounted as only half a regular man and was outfitted and supplied accordingly. The next year he was classed as a full man. In the spring of 1870 he and two friends, Andrew Larson and Christ Johnson, came to America, landed at Quebec, Canada, and from there made the trip to La Crosse, Wis., by train. Then by steamer they went up the Mis- sippi River to Reed's Landing, where they separated. From there, Mr. Hanson went by boat to Durand. There he took a stage, drawn by four horses, bound for Eau Claire. He gave the driver all the money he had. When the trip was about half made, the driver was about to put him off, but some members of a rafting crew with whom he had become acquainted, and who were likewise making the trip, interceded in his behalf, and' he continued the trip to the Scandinavian Hotel, Eau Claire. After a few days there he secured employ- ment with the Chapin, Thorp Co. In the fall he was paid off. Then he started out afoot for this county. Beginning his journey in the early morning, he reached Sand Prairie, in Chippewa County, the next morning. Continuing his journey, he crossed the dam at Chetek and found two shanties there. Pushing open the door of one, he was horrified to see at the farther end two large men, armed with huge knives, and with their hands and bare arms covered with blood. Accordingly, he turned about and started to run away. Attracted by the noise he made, they called to him, but he, fearing that they were savages who would kill him, only continued to run the faster. Later he found that they were two men employed by Knapp, Stout & Co. cutting up a pig, and that their intentions toward him were most friendly. He continued his way to the home of his uncle, Ole Olson Rooken, who had homesteaded a tract of land in section 18, Chetek Township. A few days later he entered the employ of Knapp, Stout & Co., for whom he worked until 1876. That spring, desiring adventure and hoping to make his fortune, he started for the gold fields of South Dakota. He went to St. Paul, Minn., then to Sioux City, Iowa, and then to Yankton, S. D. Then he started up the Missouri River to Pierre, S. D., with several other prospectors. But one of his knees gave out, and he could go no farther. So his friends left him with blankets and provisions and continued on their journey. He secured a ride back to the river and went up the river to a government trading post. After getting better, he went to Bismarck, N. D., and started freighting with horses for the Northwestern Stage & Transportation

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Co. for three years, driving from Bismark to Deadwood City. In 1879 he came back to Barron County and entered the employ of Knapp, Stout & Co. once more. In the winter he was a lumber camp foreman, and in the spring he towed logs across Cedar Lake with a small steamer. This continued for a number of years. In 1881 he settled on a farm of 120 acres in section 18, Chetek Township. He built a small frame house and started clearing up the land. He continued, however, to work in the lumber industry, leaving his wife to look after things at home. Since 1896 he has devoted his entire time to the farm. He now has one of the finest places in the township. This has been brought about by the hardest kind of work, unceasingly applied. He has replaced the shack with a pleasant nine-room dwelling. In 1920 he put up a fine barn, 36 by 60 feet, eighteen feet to the plate, and with an eight-foot full basement. The barn is well equipped with many modern appliances. There are also many other buildings which have been built from time to time as necessity has required. The farm is level, well tilled, well cultivated, well fenced and well watered. The house is surrounded with a fine grove, a sweeping lawn and shrubbery, and flowers. A large tract of timber, National, White and Norway pine, which has been preserved, adds to the beauty and value of the place. The equipment in tools, implements and machinery is of the best, and the place is well stocked with domestic animals of high grade. In addition to building up this fine farm, Mr. Hanson has found time for much public service. For five years he was chairman of the township, giving good service to his fellow townsmen as well as serving with usefulness and distinction on the county board. For a time he was town supervisor. For some years he has been on the school board. The Norwegian Lutheran Church has found in him a liberal supporter. All in all, he is a useful citizen, and few are held in higher regard and esteem than is he. Mr. Hanson was married June 13, 1881, to Amelia Wagsland, who was born in Iola, Wis., Waupaca County, March 26, 1863, the daughter of Stiner and Anlue Wagsland. This union has been blessed with eight children. Anna was born May 25, 1882. Hans S. was born July 10, 1884, and died at the age of two years. Hans S. was born Nov. 29, 1886, and is now in Waukegan, Ill. Theresa C., born Jan. 11, 1889, now lives in Canada. Oscar E., born April 2, 1891, is now in Montana. Hannah M., born Sept. 19, 1893, is married and lives in Chetek Township. Nettie, born June 7, 1895, died the same day. Carl E., born Sept. 6, 1902, lives at home and helps on the farm. All the members of the family have done well and are highly regarded.

David S. Wear, a progressive farmer of section 11, west, Chetek Township, is a man of considerable influence in his community and is a firm upholder of everything which he believes to be right and just. He is a man of broad sym- pathy, he keeps well abreast of the times, he informs himself as to all the latest developments in agriculture and is in every respect a good farmer, a good neighbor, a good citizen and a good family man. He was born on a farm in Fulton County, Ind., Jan. 8, 1876, the son of Joseph and Nancy (McKee) Wear, natives respectively of North Carolina and Indiana. The parents with their four children drove in to Barron County in 1885 and settled on a tract of wild land in Dallas Township. After two years they returned to Indiana, as they found the wilds of Barron County too lonesome. But a few years later, after this region was a little more thickly settled, they came back and settled in Chetek Township. Later they moved to Washburn County, in this state. The subject of this sketch was reared in Indiana and Wisconsin and learned farming from his parents. As a young man he spent ten seasons in the lumber woods, getting out logs and working on lumber drives, meeting with many interesting adventures and gaining experience which has continued to be valuable to him. In 1899 he located on a tract of land in the woods of Wash- burn County, which he cleared up, and to some extent developed. In 1907 he located on his present farm of 150 acres in Chetek Township, section 11, west. When he came here an old set of log buildings stood on the place and a few acres had been cleared. He has continued the clearing, has erected a good

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 156

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

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