History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 165

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


USA > Wisconsin > Barron County > History of Barron County Wisconsin > Part 165


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).


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William Sattler & Sons, general merchants and hardware dealers of Cam- pia, have an excellent store, carry a good line of goods, and have won the reputation throughout the neighborhood of fair dealing, high quality and reasonable prices. The three members of the firm are all men of long experi- ence in dealing with the public. William Sattler was for many years a promi- nent citizen of Stanley, Chippewa County, Wis. With his sons he conducted the Hotel Royal there for twenty years; he was a member of the county board for a considerable period, and was a member of the city council for eighteen years. John C. and Frank G. Sattler were both associated with the father in the hotel business. During the World War John C. was a foreman in the high explosive department of the E. I. duPont de Nemours Co. at Newark, N. J. Frank G. was for some years city salesman at Chicago for James S. Kirk & Co. of that place. All three stand well in Campia, and are leading citizens of this part of the county.


Michael O. Olson, a highly-regarded farmer, now retired, who has lived in section 33, Arland Township, for over thirty-five years, was born in Norway, Aug. 25, 1851, the son of Ole and Alice E. (Norgard) Oase, who spent the span of their years in that country. He was reared in Norway, attended school there


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JOHN C. BECKWITH AND FAMILY


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and did farm work with his parents. In 1883 he came to America, landed at Quebec, and found his way to Menomonie, Dunn County, this state, where he entered the employ of Knapp, Stout & Co. For them he thereafter worked for several years, in the mills, in their lumber camps, and on the spring drives. He first bought 40 acres of wild land in section 33, Arland Township, and to this he later added 40 acres more, making in all eighty acres. When he purchased the place it was covered with heavy standing timber, and the first tree he cut was the first ever cut on the place. He cleared up a small space and erected a log house and a log hay shed, the latter of which is still standing. Thus he start- ed. For some years, in order to get money to go further with his improvements, he continued to work in the woods, and for two seasons he worked in northern Minnesota, in harvest and threshing time. In the meantime he gradually built up his place. For a while it was hard to get along. He had to bring provisions on his back from Prairie Farm. When he started he had two cows and a few chickens. It was eight years before he managed to get a horse. While devel- oping his own place, he took his part in the general development of the com- munity, and was specially active in the building of good roads. He has been an important man in many ways, and in every respect is a good citizen. In 1915 he sold his farm to his son, Ole J. Oase, and retired. Mr. Olson was mar- ried at Prairie Farm, Nov. 18, 1883, to Olive Mitdal, who was born in Norway, Oct. 12, 1852, the daughter of Andrew and Sigrid (Crue) Olson, both now deceased. She came to America in 1881, stayed at Menomonie, then came to this county and lived with the Soland Hoegaard family until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Olson have five children: Bertha, Olena, Ole J., Sena and Ovila M. Bertha is the wife of Frank Anderson of Minneapolis. Olena lives in Everett, Wash. She is the widow of J. J. Cooper, who died in 1918 while serving with the United States forces. Ole J. operates the home farm. Sena is the wife of Otto Holman of Arland Township. Ovila M. is the wife of Elijah Fillmore of Arland Township.


Ole J. Oase, an active young farmer of section 33, Arland Township, was born on the place where he now resides, the son of Michael O. and Olive (Mit- dal) Olson. He was reared on this place and attended the district school in the neighborhood. He early began to help his father with the farm work, and in 1915 bought the home farm. He has continued the improvements and has an excellent place. Among his modern equipment may be mentioned a Frost electric system and a Success milking machine. He successfully carries on general farming and dairying and has a good herd of Guernseys, several of which are full blooded, and headed by a full blooded sire. Mr. Oase believes in supporting everything that is for the best interests of the community. He is a stockholder in the Prairie Farm Co-operative Association, the Prairie Farm Co-operative Creamery, the Barron Creamery Co. and the Hillsdale and Western Telephone Co. He is active in local affairs and is well liked by all who know him.


Edward Berschneider, living in Haugen, and owning 40 acres in section 17, Oak Grove Township, which he purchased in 1917, was born in Dodge County, Wis., Jan. 30, 1888, son of Herman and Ida (Utch) Berschneider. Her- man Berschneider was born in Germany, came to America as a young man, settled in Dodge County, Wis., worked there as a farmer and cheesemaker, and in 1911 came to Barron County, and with his son, Edward, purchased 120 acres in section 19, Oak Grove Township, where he lived until his death, March 21, 1912, since which time his wife, a native of Wisconsin, has lived in Rice Lake. Edward was educated n Dodge County, and did general farm work as a young man. Upon purchasing the half interest in the 120 acre farm in Oak Grove Township, with his father, he started its development. He repaired the build- ings, cleared 40 acres, and there carried on general farming and dairying until 1917 when failing health caused him to sell out. Since then he has been variously employed at carpenter work and as a section man on the railroad. Mr. Berschneider was married June 10, 1914, to Mrs. Anna Heinze, the widow


- Walter. She was born in Vernon County, this state, June 6, 1882, the of


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daughter of Frank and Anna (Puhl) Heinze. Mr. and Mrs. Walter had two children : Hermina, born Oct. 10, 1901, and Louisa, born March 26, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Berschneider have three children: Wallace and Walter (twins), born Aug. 4, 1917, and Roy, born Feb. 19, 1920. The family faith is that of the English Lutheran Church.


Alvah V. McKee, proprietor of a modern and prosperous barbering estab- lishment in Almena, was born May 20, 1881, and was brought to Barron County by his parents in 1888. He passed through the common schools and for a while attended the Barron High School. At the age of sixteen he started to learn the barber trade at Barron and subsequently worked at his trade there for a time. In 1908 he came to Almena and opened his present place. He does good work and stands high among the people of the village and the surrounding country. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. McKee was married in June, 1902, at Dallas, Wis., to Alice Ewer, daughter of Daniel and Emma (Beleama) Ewer, retired farmers of Turtle Lake Township. Mr. and Mrs. McKee have four children: Mortimer was born Jan. 29, 1906, and is learning the barber trade from his father. Hope was born Dec. 25, 1909; Roy C., May 1, 1910; and Ruth B., July 15, 1914.


Oscar Lofquist, a well-known and popular resident of Almena, was born in Sweden, Dec. 12, 1884, the son of Jacob E. and Anna Lofquist, also natives of that country. He was reared and educated in his native land and in 1892 came to Canada. There he met a friend from St. Paul, and as the result of this meeting went to that city and spent several months. After a time he located on 40 acres of wild land in Clinton Township. He erected a log cabin and a small shed and then sent for his parents and brothers and sisters. They moved into the small cabin and started farming with a cow, two calves and a pig. They all worked together, and in time built up a good place. The father, who had been a shipbuilder in Sweden, was something of a genius at making things, and he put together a threshing machine, made entirely of wood. He attained a position in the community and died at the age of sixty-three years, firm in the faith of the Swedish Lutheran Church. For some years after his death, the son, Oscar, operated the farm, and then turned it over to his brother, Victor, who is now the manager. Oscar then moved to Almena Village, where he now lives and where he has various interests.


Thomas H. Johnson, an early settler, was born in Norway and was there reared as a fisherman and a farmer. As a young man he married and started housekeeping in his native land. But he gradually determined that he would seek the broader opportunities of the new land to which so many of his neigh- bors were moving. Accordingly they came to this country in the sixties, and after stopping a short time at Chicago, took up farming in Capron, Ill. In 1872 he came to Barron County and settled on a farm of 180 acres of wild land in section 19, Maple Grove Township. The township was then little more than a wilderness, with standing timber and desolate stumps, with here and there a lumber camp or a few isolated cabins. He cleared and developed a good farm, erected suitable buildings and became one of the representative and substantial men of the community. He died in 1916. His first wife, Anna Johnson, died in 1880. His second wife was Mina Storm. Mr. Johnson had sixteen children: John A. H. of Chetek; Edward of Maple Grove; Thomas of Eau Claire County; Henry and Daniel of Maple Grove; Esther, wife of John Simonson of Cameron; Alma, wife of Fred Richards of Chetek; Melvin of Maple Grove; Lena, wife of John Wetzel of Maple Grove; Emily, a nurse in Minneapolis; Myrtle, the wife of Adolph Olson of Maple Grove; Ralph, living in Maple Grove; Fred, living in Chetek; Viola of Chetek; Marion, wife of Oscar Malum of Maple Grove; and Emmett, who is on the home farm.


John A. H. Johnson, prosperous farmer, county surveyor and formerly county sheriff, is one of the well known men of the county. His work as public official and engineer has taken him into all parts of the county, and he knows its contour, its history, its people and its possibilities. He has been especially


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J. A. H. JOHNSON


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interested in the study of the early trading posts and the mounds, and has done much research on their location in this neighborhood. He has been successful in life, has a pleasant home and a well-equipped farm, and has built what is probably the largest barn in the county. He was born in Capron, Ill., May 29, 1868, son of Thomas H. and Anna (Johnson) Johnson. He came to Maple Grove Township, this county, with his parents in 1872, and here attended rural school. At the age of fourteen he went to live with his grandparents in Illinois, at- tended high school at Capron, and graduated from the high school at Belvidere. Then he took the engineering course at Dixon College in that state. With that preparation he became a civil engineer in Chicago for three years. Then he cam back to Barron County. He was elected sheriff in 1900 and served one term. Upon retiring from office he purchased his present farm of 274 acres in Chetek Township, two miles northwest of the city. He has named the farm "Pleasant Plain," and has a well developed place in every particular. He erected two sets of buildings and has a large barn, garage, silos, tool sheds, machine sheds, silos, granary and the like. He now has a pleasant home in the city and occupies one of the farm houses as a summer home, the other being used by the tenant. He is county surveyor and devotes much of his time to civil engineering. Mr. Johnson was married Dec. 25, 1899, at Madison, Wis., to Louise March, daughter of Mills and Ruth (Knapp) March, of English-Canadian ancestry, pioneers of Juneau County, this state, where Mrs. Johnson was born, Nov. 25, 1869. The father died in Decorah, Iowa, in 1898, and the mother at Neillsville, Wis., in March, 1920. In the March family there were ten children: Sam is in Wayburn, Western Canada. Mattie is the wife of Tom Conklin of Chester, Iowa; Louise is Mrs. John A. H. Johnson of Chetek; Mignon is the wife of Delma Hull of Bellview, Wis. Ralph lives in St. Louis, Mo. Edmond is dead. Myra is dead. Richie is the wife of William Waterman of Neillsville. She was one of triplets, the other two of whom died in infancy.


Ernest T. Fischer, business man of Almena, was born in Germany, Sept. 7, 1861, only child of August and Sophia (Kettner) Fischer. He was reared in his native land and as a youth learned the trade of miller, in which occupation the father was likewise engaged. He came to America with his elderly parents in 1883 and located in St. Paul, Minn., where he was employed for nine years as a truck driver. In 1892 he came to Barron County and located on a tract of 100 acres in Almena Township. There he erected a log cabin and started farm- ing with a horse, a cow and six chickens. He was just getting a good start when everything he owned was swept away in the great forest fire. Then he went to Appleton, Wis., for a while, but again returned and built up a good place. Sub- sequently he owned 40 acres in Clinton Township, and still later 40 acres in Cumberland Township. Some time ago he came to Almena and engaged in the meat business. He has built up a good trade and is well liked by all who know him. He was married at St. Paul, Minn., to Alvina Curt, who was born in Germany. She died in 1918, at the age of fifty-five, leaving three children: Otto, Metta and Ernest. Otto trained at Camp Grant, Rockford, Ill., from Sept. 4, 1918, to Jan. 15, 1919. He married Margaret Markmann. He is in partnership with his father, and is one of the popular young business men of the village. Ernest trained at Camp Grant from Sept. 4, 1918, to July 25, 1919.


Milton T. Spencer, public official, former county supervisor, alderman of Barron and town officer of Barron Township, was born in Columbia County, Wis., Sept. 7, 1858, son of Thomas H. and Nancy M. (Maynard) Spencer, both of whom are now deceased, the former having been born in Connecticut Oct. 13, 1918, and the latter in New York State in 1818. In the family there were eleven children : Charles of Baraboo; Julia, deceased; Marietta Aton of Sioux City, Ia .; Louise, deceased; Jane Dahl of Chicago; Laura, wife of Daniel Welch of Bara- boo, Wis .; Cynthia of Baraboo, Wis .; Martha, wife of John Castle, San Diego, Calif .; Milton P. of Barron, Wis .; John, twin of Milton, deceased; and Mary, wife of William DeBois of Fargo, N. D. It is an interesting fact that of these eleven, eight attended a reunion in June, 1920, their combined ages being at that


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time 540 years. Milton T. was reared to hard work. He worked in his native county and for a time at Baraboo. Later he came to Barron County and bought a farm of 80 acres in Barron Township. Little of the land had been cultivated and no buildings had been erected. Mr. Spencer set at work with a will and soon had as good a farm as could be found in the neighborhood, fully equipped with a good set of buildings. In 1913, after many years of hard work on the farm, Mr. Spencer sold and moved to Barron city, where he has a pleasant home on Division street. He was one of the founders of the Barron Co-operative Cream- ery and is still one of its stockholders. A Republican in politics he early became interested in public affairs, served the township of Baraboo as treasurer, the town of Barron as assessor, treasurer and member of the town board, the city of Barron as alderman and the county of Barron as a member of the board of supervisors. His fraternal relations are with the Masons, the Modern Wood- men and the Beavers, in the local lodge of the last named of which he has served as secretary and treasurer for the past three years. Mr. Spencer was married Dec. 1, 1882, to Carrie Moore, daughter of William and Eliza (Faucett) Moore of Baraboo, Wis. They have one daughter, Lulu B., who was born in Baraboo Oct. 16, 1887, was married in March, 1917, to Norman Roth, a farmer of Hillsdale, Wis., and has two children: Eva, born Dec. 23, 1918; and Dorothy, born July, 1920. The family faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal Church.


Alvin Clemmons, drayman and veterinary surgeon of Barron, was born in Canada and came to Barron County in 1878. Here he took up a homestead of 40 acres in Prairie Farm Township. He cleared 25 acres and erected a good set of buildings. These were burned but by hard work he soon replaced them and continued his operations. In 1887 he went to Dunn County. A year later he came to Barron and engaged in the dray business, later becoming a vet- erinary surgeon. He died Dec. 6, 1909. Mr. Clemmons was a well known man throughout this part of the county and was one of the charter members of the Modern Woodmen at Barron. He married Sarah Haynes, a native of Canada, who was killed in a railroad crossing accident in Barron, May 11, 1913. Mr. and Mrs. Clemmons are the parents of eight children : Daniel G., Amos, Chris- tina, Commodore, Alma, Emma, Ruby and Claude (deceased).


Daniel G. Clemmons, barber of Barron city, is one of the well known men of that place. He has been councilman and supervisor four years, under-sheriff five years and chief of the fire department two years, being one of the oldest volunteer firemen in point of servic in the state. He was born Nov. 3, 1868, in Portage City, Wis., son of Alvin and Sarah (Haynes) Clemmons. He received his education in the district schools and spent his youth in the sawmills and lumber woods of Chippewa County. In 1900 he learned the barber trade of D. D. Page in Barron and a year later he purchased his present shop. He has been successful in his business and is well liked in the community. Mr. Clem- mons was married Oct. 25, 1891, to Ida J. Sanders, who was born in Menomonie. Wis., April 1, 1873, daughter of George and Mary (Schaffer) Sanders, natives of Germany, who came to America in 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Clemmons are the parents of eight children: Claude C., who was born Aug. 21, 1893, and died Sept. 9, 1894; Alta, who was born Sept. 26, 1895, and is now Mrs. Sayles Dodge of Rice Lake, this county. Clarissa, who was born March 25, 1897, and is now Mrs. Alfred Stollar of North Dakota; Florence M., who was born Sept. 27, 1898, and is now teaching. Laura, who was born Jan. 7, 1901; Grant, who was born March 13, 1903; Lloyd, born March 21, 1905, and Clark P., born Dec. 1, 1917. The family faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal Church.


Simeon F. Taylor, local agent at Barron for the Standard Oil Company, was born in Vernon County, Wis., March 31, 1866, son of Philo C. and Mary J. (Buckland) Taylor, natives of New York State. Simeon F. received his educa- tion in the district schools of his native county and worked with his parents on the farm until 1890. In that year he came to Barron and was variously em- ployed as a farmer and mill hand for several years. Then he rented a farm


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MR. AND MRS. JASON M. PELTON


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for three years but subsequently returned to his employment in the heading mills. In 1904 he entered upon his present employment. His territory includes Barron and the surrounding country. He is well liked throughout the com- munity and is giving satisfaction both to his employments and to the people whom he serves. Mr. Taylor was married Oct. 11, 1899, to Mary Thomas, born Nov. 15, 1876, in Richland County, Wis., daughter of Jesse and Hannah (Yan- ger) Thomas, natives of Ohio, who came to Wisconsin in 1870 and settled in Richland County until the time of their death, Mr. Thomas dying Dec. 28, 1908, and Mrs. Thomas, Sept. 19, 1891. Mr. Thomas was a veteran of the Civil War, serving throughout the entire conflict. He and his wife are the parents of six children: Louisa, Dora, William, Mary, Effie and Debert. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor had two children: Edna M., born June 29, 1900, now attending normal school at Eau Claire, and Mary B., born Jan. 14, 1908, now attending school in Barron. The family faith is that of the Baptist Church.


Arnold Cleveland, the pioneer, was born in Michigan, in pioneer times, and was there reared and educated. He married Louisa Lampman, a native of Vermont. As young people they came to Wisconsin and settled in Dane County, where they developed a good farm. They came to this county in the early sev- enties and settled in Chetek Township, whre they broke the land, erected buildings, and underwent all the privations and experiences insident to pioneer life in a timbered country. They later went to Seattle, Wash., where he died. She still resides there. Their children were: Frances A., Gladys (deceased), Florence, Edith, Bertha, Edna, Ella and Edward.


Jason Monroe Pelton, pioneer of Barron County, one of the two first settlers of Dallas Township, and now living retired in Chetek, is one of the most hon- ored and substantial men in this part of the county. He has been active in public affairs, he has done his part in the development of the county, his advice is sought on many subjects, and he has seen the county grow from a heavily wooded wilderness to one of the most prosperous regions in the state. He was the friend and companion of the makers of the county, and his memories extend over nearly fifty years of Wisconsin history. His stories of the early days are most interesting and his reminiscences, when he can be persuaded to tell them, are of the greatest value to all who are interested in the story of the county's beginnings and growth. He was born in Athens, N. Y., Sept. 12, 1848, son of Calhoun and Sarah (Hinkley) Pelton, both of old New York families, the Peltons having come from England and the Hinkleys from Scotland. The parents came west about 1849 and settled in Winfield Township, Sauk County, Wis., where they were pioneers, and where they spent the remainder of their lives in agricultural pursuits, the father dying at the age of seventy years and the mother at the age of eighty-four. In the family there were seven chil- dren : Hiram, George, Sally Ann, Charles, Hannah, John E. and Jason Monroe. Hiram, who was one of the first settlers in Dallas Township, died in Dallas Village. George lives on a part of the home farm in Sauk County and is now 90 years old. Sally Ann, Charles and Hannah are dead. John E. lives in Win- field Township, Sauk County. Jason Monroe Pelton was educated in the rural schools of Sauk County and remained with his parents until 1869. Then he engaged in lumbering in Michigan. In February, 1871, he came to Barron County and secured 171 acres in section 18, Dallas Township. He started in with an ox team, a cow, a hog, a pair of bob sleds and a few tools and imple- ments. He and his family lived the lives of real pioneers. The settlers of the county were then few and far between, and the lumber camps were about the only centers of activity. Provisions were scarce and comforts few. But the family were of pioneer stock, and they set to work with a will. In time their efforts were awarded with success. One hundred acres of land were cleared, good buildings were erected and the farm suitably equipped. There he carried on general farming until 1902 when he moved to the village of Dallas. He came to Chetek in the spring of 1903. He now occupies a pleasant modern bungalow which he purchased March 15, 1920. An acre of land surrounds the


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bungalow, giving ample lawn and garden space. Fraternally, Mr. Pelton is a member of the Masonic order. He has been active in public affairs and has occupied a number of local offices. His holdings include an interest in various enterprises. He has rendered public service as a member of the county board and as chairman of the town board, and is now one of the aldermen of the city of Chetek. Mr. Pelton was married Jan. 5, 1879, in this county, to Frances A. Cleveland, who was born in Dane County, Wis., Nov. 16, 1858, daughter of Arnold and Louisa (Lampman) Cleveland. Mr. and Mrs. Pelton have three children : Edna M., Gladys L. and Rex M. Edna M. was born Nov. 27, 1880, developed into charming girlhood and died at about fourteen years of age. Gladys L., born Feb. 13, 1895, was graduated from the Chetek High School in the class of 1915. She then entered the State Normal School at Superior and was there graduated. Since then she has been engaged in teaching and has shown proficiency in her profssion. Rex M., born Nov. 10, 1897, was graduated from Chetek High School in 1915 and, in partnership with Ben Gansky, now manages a pavilion where the local dances and athletic events are held. The family is highly regarded throughout the community.


Charles E. Myers, a property owner and one of the leading stock buyers of Barron County, residing in Barron city, was born at Argos, Ind., Oct. 25, 1872. His parents were Jacob and Elizabeth Myers, the father a native of Pennsylvania and the mother of Argos, Ind. They were married at the latter place, May 23, 1870. In 1874 they bought an 80-acre farm in Dunn County, Wis., and operated it subsequently for ten years. Then in 1884 they removed to Menomonie, Wis., where they engaged in the restaurant business. Later they resumed farming. In 1900 they came to Barron, where for a year Jacob Myers conducted a meat market. The next two years he spent as a renter on a farm two miles from Barron. About 1904 he bought ten acres in the east part of the city, just within the limits, and until 1911 was engaged in truck farming there. He then went to Dawson County, Mont., where he homesteaded and proved up 320 acres of land, subsequently returning to Barron. The Montana farm he sold in the fall of 1919. He is now living retired in Barron, where he owns a good residence. His good wife, a gracious lady of many beautiful qualities, was killed in a railroad accident Oct. 31, 1921. Jacob and Elizabeth Myers had a family of eight children, all of whom are now living: Charles E., the subject of this sketch; Frank of Colfax, Dunn County, Wis .; Dora, the wife of James L. White of Butte, Mont .; George W., a farmer of Poskin, Barron County; Lettie M., now Mrs. Amos Taft of Fowen Station, this county; Hattie L., widow of John Webster, residing at Rice Lake; Clarence W., of Maple Grove Township, Barron County; and Bessie C., now Mrs. Warton Decker of Great Falls, Mont. Charles E. Myers acquired his education in the common schools of Dunn County, Wis. He remained at home with his parents until 22 years old and then, in 1894, engaged in business as a barber at Rice Lake. After remaining there two years he went to Cedar Falls, Wis., where he was occupied for two years both as barber and miller. For the next two years he was a bar- ber at Menomonie, Wis. Then he returned to the old home farm in Dunn County, which he operated for two years. At the end of that time he resumed tonsorial work, being thus occupied for two years at Rice Lake and for the same length of time subsequently at Eau Claire. After that he became a farm hand on the Sherbourn farm in Dunn County, remaining there until the spring of 1901, when he came to Barron city. Here for four years he was employed in the heading mill, after which he operated a barber shop one year. He then turned his attention to carpenter work and lathing, lathing many of the best homes erected here at that time, and also in Cameron and Turtle Lake. Again resum- ing tonsorial work, he became a partner of Daniel G. Clemmons in a barber shop in Barron and they continued together until burned out by fire a year later. Mr. Myers then bought a lot on La Salle street, Barron, and erected a block, in which he conducted a barber shop for six years. During the latter three years of this period he also bought stock for S. M. Kauer of Duluth. Since




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