History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 161

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

USA > Wisconsin > Barron County > History of Barron County Wisconsin > Part 161

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).

Jerome C. Phillips, superintendent of the Chetek Light and Power Co., was born in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, Dec. 2, 1856, son of Hubbard and Lois (Bemis) Phillips, natives respectively of Vermont and New York, who came west in 1848, and settled in Jefferson County, Wis., where the father

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JOHN J. DONALDSON AND FAMILY

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worked as a blacksmith at Milford, going from there in 1865 to Wabasha County, Minnesota, and in 1867 settling in Dunn County, this state, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Jerome C. remained with his parents as a youth, and attended the graded and high schools as opportunity afforded. His first employment was with the Knapp, Stout & Co., in their office and store at Menomonie, this state. In 1893 he came to Chetek to take charge of their store and other business here. The mills, waterpowers and flowage rights of the company were sold to the Wisconsin Power Co., in 1903, and Mr. Phillips continued with the new concern. In 1910 he became an accountant for the Chetek Lumber Supply Co. Three years later he took a year's vacation, spend- ing a part of the time in California. Upon his return to Chetek, he took up general accounting for several concerns including the Farmers & Merchants Bank. In August, 1918, with K. Rosholt and A. T. Galby, he took over the Che- tek Light and Power Co. from W. J. and I. R. Gavin, and became superintendent of the plant. He is not now a member of the company, but still retains his position as manager. He is a solid man of the community, is capable in his position, and is well liked in the community. Fraternally he is a member of the Blue Lodge of the Masons. The family faith is that of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Phillips was married April 30, 1879, to Rosalie Cowing, who was born in Allegheny County, New York, Jan. 13, 1860, daughter of James R. and Margaret (Isted) Cowing. James R. Cowing brought his family west in the middle sixties, and was for many years employed by Knapp, Stout & Co. at Menomonie. He was a veteran of the Civil War. In the family there were ten children. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips have had two children. Ruth was born in Menomonie, Nov. 11, 1880, and is the wife of Dr. W. G. Malcolm of Chetek. Leslie James was born June 25, 1888, became a physician and surgeon, joined the national forces and died in France Oct. 13, 1918.

John Jabez Donaldson, veteran of the Civil War, and for many years an honored and respected citizen of Section 3, Chetek Township, was born in a log house in Dane County, this state, Nov. 18, 1848, the son of Benjamin and Mary Alice (Miller) Donaldson. The parents were born in Vermont, and were there married. They came west as young people in 1844, and located in Dane County, Wisconsin. Four children were born : Mary Alice, John J., Louisa and Ida May. Mary Alice died, followed to the great beyond by the mother. Later the father married Rosetta Barcume Macdonald, the widow of Joseph Macdonald, by whom she has three sons, William, Milton and Miles. To Mr. Donaldson she bore four children: Alice, Celia, Rosa and Flora. From Dane County in 1864, the family came to Chippewa County, and located on a tract of wild land. To the immediate north of them, the only neighbors were at the Fox settlement, so called, and their home was established in the midst of a wilderness. There they underwent many hardships and privations. But they were a large family, and had each other for company and help; they were es- tablishing for themselves a home, and while getting along the best they could, they were looking forward to the time when their hard work should result in prosperity and comfort. After a long and useful life, the father died in 1888. John J. was educated in Dane County, and was reared to farm work. In 1863 he enlisted for service in the Civil War, and was assigned to Co. I, 11th Massa- chusetts Volunteer Infantry. He took part in several skirmishes, was cap- tured in the battle of the Wilderness, and was confined in the Andersonville and Florence prisons for seven months and one day, being parolled on Dec. 6, 1864. He then joined his family in Chippewa County, from which county, in the same year, he made his first visit to Barron County to see his sister, Louise, who was working for F. Perkins, who had charge of a small water- power mill, located a few miles below the present city of Barron. Then he took a homestead in Chippewa County, and there farmed for many years. In 1886 he came to Barron County, and bought his present tract of 80 acres in Section 3, Chetek Township. Thirty acres had been broken, but no buildings had been erected. Here he started farming. His family lived in a board shanty, and

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his live stock consisted of a horse team and a cow. At first there were many difficulties to overcome, but in time they have achieved prosperity and success. He has a comfortable home, noted for its good cheer and hospitality, a commo- dious barn and other good buildings. Here he carries on general farming and dairying on a profitable scale. Mr. Donaldson has considerable influence on public affairs, but has never cared to serve in public office, though for fifteen years he did most excellent work as a member of the school board. He was married Nov. 30, 1872, to Laura Toycen, who was born in Winnebago County, this state, daughter of Sven and Catherine (Larson) Toycen, natives of Nor- way, who were married in that country, came to the United States in the spring of 1849, the trip aboard a sailing boat lasting six weeks, and located first in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, then in Winnebago County, and in 1866 in Dunn County, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. Toy- cen was a veteran of the Civil War, having enlisted at the last call, in February, 1865, in Company A., 47th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He and his wife were the parents of ten children: Torger, Louis Edward, Julia, Charles O., Laura A., John O., Josephine S., Oscar, Adina A. and Stephen, all of whom came to America. Mr. and Mrs. Donaldson are the parents of ten children: Charles D., Mary Alice and Flora Adelaide, born in Dunn County; Mabel Josephine, John Patrick and Sibyl Catherine (deceased), born in Chippewa County; and Minerva Beatrice, Laura Louise, Gertrude Viola and Grace Muriel, born in Barron County. Charles D. was born Dec. 15, 1873; Mary A., Feb. 15, 1876; Mabel J., Feb. 17, 1878; John P., March 2, 1880; Sibyl C., June 23, 1882 (died Oct. 5, 1917) ; Flora A., Dec. 7, 1885; Minerva B., April 16, 1889; Laura L., June 23, 1891; Gertrude V., March 15, 1894; and Grace M., Nov. 3, 1898.

Robert M. Post, D. D. S., a rising young dental practitioner of Chetek opened his office here in 1918, and has been successful from the start. He is skilled and well trained, and keeps well abreast of the latest discoveries in his profession by deep reading and study. His office and laboratory are well equipped. Dr. Post was born in Alfred, Allegheny County, New York, Sept. 29, 1894, son of Charles M. and Dolly (Maxon) Post. The father was born in Chicago, and after due preliminary education took up medicine and duly re- ceived his degree. From Chicago he went to Wisconsin, and thence to New York state. He lost his wife in 1903, and later went to Washington state. He died in Barron in 1908 while visiting there. He left two children: Helen, wife of H. M. Place, of Monroe, Wis., and Robert M., dentist of Chetek. Robert M. was taken by his father from New York to Colfax, Wash., and there com- pleted his graded studies. His high school education was received first in Barron, this county, then in Newton, Mass., then in Menomonie, this state, and then again in Barron, where he was graduated in 1913. Then he entered the Stout Institute at Menomonie, and was graduated in 1915. With this prep- aration he matriculated in the dental department of the Northwestern Uni- versity at Chicago, where he received his degree. After a few months at Cam- eron, in this county, he came to Chetek, and opened his present office. Dr. Post was married March 2, 1918, at Chetek, to Charlotte Museus, daughter of C. F. and Alice (Johnson) Museus, the former of whom is a retired merchant of Chetek. Mrs. Post was born in 1894 and was educated in the Chetek schools and in the Stout Institute at Menomonie. Dr. Post is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

Andrew Olson, for many years a business man of Chetek, and at one time proprietor of Hotel Douglas, in that city, was a successful man, conservative and solid in business, and his death was sincerely mourned. He was jovial and genial, he was friendly and sympathetic, he loved children and animals, and was especially fond of good horses. He was ever ready to do a kindly deed, and his benefactions were many. He was born in Trondhjem, Norway, Oct. 16, 1844, the son of Ole and Irene Olson, and was there reared and edu- cated. As a young man he married. In the seventies he came to America and

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entered the employ of Knapp, Stout & Co., at Menomonie, Wis., alternating be- tween their yards, sawmill and store. His wife died in Norway soon after he came here. His daughter, Gusta, preferred to stay in that country, but a son, Olaf, and a daughter, Martha, joined their father here. Olaf later went back to Norway again, but Martha remained here and married. Jack Johnson, a farmer of Chetek Township. All three children are now dead. About 1882 Mr. Olson came to Chetek, and opened a place of refreshment which he con- ducted until 1910. He then conducted the Hotel Douglas, with the assistance of his wife, until his lamented death, Sept. 5, 1917. Mr. Olson was married in Chetek, June 12, 1883, to Bertha Kathrena Jensen, born in Denmark, June 28, 1853, daughter of Nels and Mary (Peterson) Jensen, pioneers, who came to this county from Denmark in the seventies, and took a homestead of 160 acres of wild land at Moosear, Chetek Township, where they farmed for many years, until 1900 when they moved to the city of Chetek. The mother died and the father married again. He died at Nina, Winnebago County, this state, in 1917, and she died in 1920. Nels and Mary Jensen were the parents of five children. Sophia is now Mrs. J. Jarvis of California. Hans is operating a sawmill near Bloomer, Wis., and has a farm in Chetek Township. Minnie is dead. She was the wife of Fred Hanson, music dealer of Chetek. James is a carpenter in Minneapolis. Bertha Kathrena is the widow of Andrew Olson. Mrs. Olson proved a loyal helpmate and loving and understanding mother. She shared her husband's genial and helpful temperament, and has delighted in making her home a center of hospitality for her friends and her husband's friends, and for the friends of her children from early childhood up. She is a most esti- mable woman, and is highly regarded by all who knew her, as well as adored by her family. Mr. and Mrs. Olson had eight children: Elmer, Arden, Claude, Dewey Carlisle, Lucille, Violet and Rex. Elmer, a veteran of the World War, was born in 1890, and is now manager of an automobile and concrete supply house in Superior, Wis. He married Lottie Gisin and has one son, William Leroy. Arden was born in 1895 and lives at home. Claude Douglas, a vet- eran of the World War, was born in 1897, and is manager for the Barron County Canning and Pickling Co. of Chetek. He married Margaret Thompson of Rice Lake. Dewey Carlisle was born in 1900. He has been employed on the Great Lakes, and is now a local restaurant man. Lucille was born in 1903 and is also employed in a restaurant. Violet, the youngest daughter, born in 1904, and Rex, the youngest of the family, a bright boy, born Jan. 3, 1907, are both doing well with their studies in the high school. Elmer Olson was in- ducted into the United States service at Superior, Wis., in June, 1918, and was first trained at Camp Grant, Illinois. Then he was sent to Camp Mills, New York, where he trained with the 332nd Machine Gun Battalion. He sailed for France, Sept. 12, 1918, and upon his arrival was assigned to reserve duty back of the first line trenches at various points. At Chaumont he was several weeks at General Pershing's headquarters. Upon his return to the states he reached New York Dec. 24, 1918, and was discharged at Camp Grant in January, 1919. Claude D. Olson was inducted into the United States service at Chetek, April 28, 1918, and was sent to Camp Grant, Illinois. From there, June 4, he was sent to Camp Mills, L. I., N. Y. June 13 he set sail from New York, joined a convoy at Halifax, N. S., reached England June 30, and France three days later. He was attached to the radio corps of the 89th Division. From July 13 to July 24, he was in the reserves in the third line. He took part in the St. Mihiel drive, and was gassed Sept. 4, being in a hospital from then until Feb. 1, with the exception of four days when he was out to partici- pate in the Armistice Day celebration. He was then assigned to the Army of Occupation. May 16, 1919 he sailed from Brest, was detained for a while at Camp Upton, L. I., N. Y., and was discharged at Camp Grant, June 5, 1919.

Sheldon P. Mcintyre, formerly of the firm of Knight & McIntyre, black- smiths, wagon makers and iron workers of Chetek, was born near Randolph, Catteraugus County, New York, May 5, 1845, son of Henry A. and Mary Jane

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(Miles) McIntyre. Henry A. McIntyre was born in Scotland, came to the United States at thirteen years of age, and became a farmer in New York state. His wife was a native of that state. There they spent the remainder of their days. They were the parents of seven children: Sheldon P .; Melissa, who married Clinton Hicks and is now dead; Charles H., who is an oil operator at Tidoute, Warren County, Pennsylvania; Priscilla, who is dead; W. F., a blacksmith in Tidoute; Douglas, who is now in California, and who married first Elizabeth Carson and then Emma White; and James Jackson, an oil operator at Tidoute, Pa. Sheldon P. was reared in his native state. In 1863 as a youth of eighteen, he enlisted at Elicottville, Catteraugus County, New York, in the Second New York Mounted Riflemen, and served until the end of the conflict. He was in the Burnside Corps under Grant, in the Army of the Potomac. He fought in the Wilderness, at Spottsylvania Courthouse, Cold Harbor, North Anna River, and twice at Petersburg. July 30, 1864, he was present at the springing of the mine and the blowing up of the fort there, and took part in the vigorous assault which followed. In that same year his com- pany was dismounted and used as infantry, but on Aug. 20 was mounted again, and assigned to Sheridan's army. Toward the end of the war the company was assigned to scout duty. Later it was detailed to guard the government stores at City Point, Va. The company took part in the Grand Review at Wash- ington and was mustered out June 13, 1865. Then Mr. McIntyre returned to his parents' farm near Randolph, N. Y., and resumed farm work. Late that fall he went to Tidoute, Pa., and with headquarters there worked in Pennsyl- vania and West Virginia, drilling wells and blacksmithing. He came to Barron County in 1895, and located in Chetek. For the next twenty-five years he divided his time between lumbering and blacksmithing. In the fall of 1920 he formed a partnership with his nephew, D. W. Knight. He retired April 1, 1921. He is the commander of the Albert Weatherby Post, No. 128, G. A. R., of Chetek, having served for the past eight years. Mr. McIntyre was married at Tidoute, Pa., Dec. 13, 1869, to Eliza Jane Walker, who was born at Meade- ville, Pa., July 10, 1847, daughter of Aaron and Abigail (Preston) Walker, of that place. This union has been blessed with two children. Alfred E. ("Allie") was born March 25, 1871, and died at the age of eighteen months. Harry lives in Dallas, this county, where he is engaged in the automobile and machinery business. He has three children. An adopted daughter, Della May, married Charles Paul, lives in Sheffield, Pa. and has five children, Harrison E., Earl, Jerome, May and an unnamed infant. Mrs. McIntyre is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Chauncey Weeks was born in Baraboo, Wis., son of Erving James and Sarah (Wicks) Weeks, who were born in New York state, came to Wisconsin in pioneer days, and homesteaded land near Twin Lakes, Chippewa County, and there farmed for many years, until their death, the father living until Feb. 10, 1920, when he died at Bloomer, Wis., at the unusual age of ninety-seven. The family is an old one. In colonial times the great grandfather moved into the Wyoming valley in Pennsylvania. He was there killed in the great Indian massacre, but his wife and three children, two of them baby twins, escaped. Chauncey Weeks was married in Wisconsin to Elizabeth Gibson, a native of New Jersey. They moved to a farm near Aberdeen, S. D., then moved to Twin Lakes, Chippewa County, this state, where he died at the age of 45 years as the result of an accident received two years previous. His wife now lives in Chetek, in this county. In the family there were six children, May, Ida, Maude, Florence, Clara Belle and Mayme. May died in infancy. Ida married D. W. Mair, of Chetek, and died leaving a daughter, Gladys, also now deceased. Maude married James Mair, a brother of D. W. Mair, and has three children, Hugh, Vernice and Dorris. Florence married John Cox, a lumberman of Weyerhauser, Wis., and has four children: Harold, Merl, Elizabeth and Florence. Belle is the wife of Basil Bailey Banks of Chetek, and has three children, Burl, James Chauncey and Anna Belle. Mayme is the wife of Arthur Moe, who farms south of Chetek,

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and they have three children, Jean, Barnard and Frederick. It is interesting to note that the Weeks family has been represented in every important war in which the United States has engaged, from the Revolutionary War to the World War.

Edward James Banks, veteran of the Civil War, pioneer of Chetek, and one time owner of the property on which the part of Chetek City known as Bank's Addition is platted, was a native of this state and of pioneer blood, born near Richland Center, Richland County, of remote English ancestry. He was reared to farm life, and came to Barron County in 1870, where he took a homestead of 160 acres of wild land on the eastern outskirts of the present city of Chetek. Subsequently he added 80 acres more. With this beginning he developed a good farm, well equipped with buildings, tools, implements, machinery and stock. After a long and useful life he died Feb. 22, 1916. Mr. Banks was a veteran of the Civil War. He enlisted in 1861, in the 19th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry and served until 1865. He was in the Army of the Potomac, and participated in a number of heroic conflicts, including the battle of Fredericksburg. For some months he was in the hospital as the result of an attack of typhoid fever. Mr. Banks was married as a young man to Alfretta Hortense Bailey of Richland County, Wisconsin, and of English- Scotch ancestry. She is now living in Chetek. Mr. and Mrs. Banks had five children: Josephine is the wife of E. E. Brown, formerly a steamboat man, now living retired in Chetek. Basil B. is a business man of Chetek. Three died in infancy.

Basil Bailey Banks, proprietor of Pokegema Inn, near Chetek, was born in Chetek Township, Nov. 12, 1886, the son of Edward James and Alfretta Hor- tense (Bailey) Banks. He was reared on the farm and attended the district schools, finishing with a course in the Chetek High School. For a while he operated his father's farm, and for a while he clerked in the Farmers' store in Chetek. In 1917 he learned the baker's trade, an then opened a bakery in connection with which he also conducted a restaurant. He built up a good trade, and won the confidence and respect of his fellowmen. In 1921, he dis- posed of the bakery and restaurant, and purchased the property known as the Pokegema Inn, near the confluence of Lake Chetek and Lake Pokegema. Here he likewise has met with popular favor, and is conducting a first class place. In addition to his business, he owns the home farm, a good residence, and a cottage on Lake Chetek. He is a stockholder in the Farmer's Co-Operative Store, the Chetek Co-Operative Creamery and the Chetek Auto Company. As a business man he is active in Chetek Community Club. Mr. Banks was mar- ried Jan. 31, 1906, to Clara Belle Weeks, who was born in Aberdeen, S. D., Aug. 8, 1887, daughter of Chauncey and Mary Elizabeth (Gibson) Weeks. This union has been blessed with three children, Burl, James Chauncey and Anna Belle. Burl was born Jan. 14, 1907; James Chauncey was born Jan. 15, 1910; and Anna Belle was born Oct. 14, 1916.

Joseph Hurst, the pioneer, was born in England, and after coming to this country settled near Augusta, Wis. He came to Chetek in 1884, when it was a small hamlet, and with his brother-in-law, Chas. Horel, established a hard- ware store, the first in the place. About 1890 he moved to Augusta, in this state. In 1910 he returned to the place he had helped establish, and has since been janitor in the public schools. He married Alice Howard.

Rasmus Johnson was born in Denmark and was there reared and educated. As a young man he married Christina Jergenson, also a native of that country. They came to America in the early seventies, and after a short time at Green Bay, in this state, went to Dickinson County, Kansas, where they settled near Enterprise. At that time Kansas was booming, the possibilities were be- lieved to be better than in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and settlers were flock- ing there. The Johnsons went on the recommendation of Mr. Johnson's brother, Nels, who had caught the "western fever" and was a Kansas enthu- siast. The father died there about 1891. The mother and other members of

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the family then moved to Glenville, Minn., about 1896, and in 1901 came to Barron County. The mother died in 1904. In the family there were eight children : Peter, Hannah, Martin, Jorena, Charles E., Cora, Amelia and Harry E. Peter married Jane Elliott, died in Florida in 1920, and left two sons, Adolphus and Ivo. Hannah married John Billings, died in Kansas, and left four children. Martin lives at Spooner, Wis., married Gusta Erickson, and has six children: Emmerd, Josephine, Zelma, Pearl, Nina, Maynard and Vernon. Jorena married Christ Mortenson, a farmer of Dovre Township, this county, and has Halvor, Carl, Arthur, Elmer, Bernard, Mildred, Ella and Harry, living, and four deceased. Charles E. is a business man of Chetek. Cora married Ed Stevens, and has a son, Raymond. Amelia married Hans Nelson, who farms three miles south of Chetek, and they have one son, Alvin. Harry E. is a business man of Chetek.

Johnson Brothers, machinists, Chetek, had its beginning in 1901 when Charles E. Johnson came from Glenville, Minn., and opened a small machine shop. Harry E. Johnson became a partner in 1908. In 1913 the welding de- partment, the first in the county, was added. The company does machine work and general repairing and welding, in charge of Charles E. Johnson. The heating and plumbing department is in charge of Harry E. Johnson. Charles E. Johnson owns the building, and also an adjoining building used as a garage. The brothers have built up a good business, they have a good field, the work is favorably known, and both stand well in the community.

Charles E. Johnson, of the firm of Johnson Brothers, machine shop, Chetek, was born near Enterprise, Dickinson County, Kansas, March 20, 1880, son of Rasmus and Christina (Jergenson) Johnson, the pioneers. He was reared on his native farm and educated in that vicinity. About 1896 he moved with other members of his family to Glenville, Minn., where about three years later he started a machine shop. He came with the family to Chetek in 1901, and started the industry that has developed into his present business. He is one of the enterprising young men of the city, genial and accommodating, and has been successful in his ventures. He is a member of the Chetek Community Club. He owns his home and the lot adjoining as well as other property in the city. Mr. Johnson was married Sept. 22, 1904, to Bertha Wudtke, who was born near Bloomer, Wis., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Wudtke, the former of whom died when she was two years old. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have three children : Alfred, born Oct. 26, 1905; Mabel, born July 16, 1907; and Beulah born Dec. 20, 1915. The family faith is that of the Advent Christian Church.

Harry E. Johnson, of the firm of Johnson Brothers, machine shop, Chetek, was born near Enterprise, Dickinson County, Kansas, June 16, 1889, son of Rasmus and Christina (Jergenson) Johnson, the pioneers. He came to Glen- ville, Minn., with the family about 1896 and to Chetek in 1901. He attended school in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Then he entered his brother's shop, and became a partner in 1908, taking charge of the plumbing and heating depart- ment at which he is an expert. He is a popular young man and is well liked throughout the community. He is an officer of the Odd Fellows, and an active member of the Community club. He and his family attend the Advent Chris- tian Church. Mr. Johnson was married in 1911 to Lila Hurst, daughter of Joseph and Alice (Howard) Hurst. They have had three children, Alice, born Dec. 21, 1914, and Howard, born May 19, 1919, who died of pneumonia following the influenza, Feb. 20, 1920. All the family were stricken, but the others re- covered. Genevieve Ione was born March 3, 1921.

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 161

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

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