History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 170

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

USA > Wisconsin > Barron County > History of Barron County Wisconsin > Part 170

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).

Leonard H. Score, an energetic farmer of Section 1, Cumberland Township, was born in Lakeland Township, Barron County, on May 25, 1892, the son of Ole J. and Helena (Severson) Score. He attended the district schools, learned farming from his father, and from earliest boyhood has experienced the break- ing, development and working of farm land. In 1917 he rented a farm, and that fall bought his present place of 80 acres. He has made general improve- ments to the buildings, and has continued the stumping and clearing. He suc- cessfully carries on general farming and dairying, and has a good herd of Hol- steins, headed by a full-blooded sire. He is one of the active and popular men of the community, and is doing his duty as a good citizen. He is at present a member of the school board. Mr. Score was married June 20, 1917, to Mary Steen, who was born Nov. 2, 1890, the daughter of John and Gunhild (Rog- stad) Steen, who are farming in Stanfold Township. Mr. and Mrs. Score have one son, Lawrence M., born May 20, 1918. The family faith is that of the Nor- wegian Lutheran Church.

Albert Ekenstedt, a prosperous farmer of Cumberland Township, where he has made good progress on the road to affluence, belongs to the hardy Scan- dinavian race which has done so much to build up and develop the great North-

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west. He was born in Sweden, Jan. 5, 1869, son of Johannes L. and Caroline (Johnson) Ekenstedt, and was thirteen years old when he came to the United States. He had attended school to some extent in his native land and subse- quently learned farming from his father. To this occupation he has devoted much of his life. He spent several winters in the logging woods, and several springs on the river drives. For some fifteen seasons he and his brother, John, operated a threshing outfit. He began farming for himself on 120 acres in Section 4, Lakeland Township. Later he began operations on his present place in Section 8, Cumberland Township, the 80-acre tract being partially improved, though for the most part being covered with stumps, which he subsequently cleared off. He has also erected good buildings and is raising a good grade of stock. Through industry and perseverence, coupled with intelligent manage- ment, he has advanced in prosperity and now takes rank among the substantial citizens of his township. For a few years he served in the office of path mas- ter. Mr. Ekenstedt married Anna Sundquist, who was born in Sweden, April 3, 1869, daughter of Johannas and Eva (Pearson) Sundquist. She came alone to this country in 1888. She has proved a good helpmate to him and both are popular in social circles.

Henry J. Jacoby, Haugen, member of the firm of Jacoby & Schneider, hard- ware merchants, furniture dealers and funeral directors, was born in Jordan, Minn., June 25, 1875, son of Philip and Gertrude (Bruhl) Jacoby, and when he was a boy, took him to Itaska County, in the same state where he attended school. He remained home until 1900, when he first came to Barron and entered the employ of John P. Schneider, who owned a meat market at Rice Lake. In 1902 he went to Spooner, Wis., and worked in the employ of Schneider & Nelson. He went to Sanborn, Wis., in 1904 and was there engaged in the general mer- cantile business for nearly sixteen years. Then he came to Haugen and opened his present establishment. The store is an excellent one and equal to all the demands made upon it by the people of the village and surrounding country. Mr. Jacoby's long experience makes him a good business man, his temperament permeates the atmosphere of the establishment, and he holds the respect of all with whom he has ever had dealings, here and elsewhere. Haugen is a grow- ing village, Mr. Jacoby is already well established, he has a good location and a good territory, and his business will continue to grow as the village increases and the rural districts still further progress. He handles a good line of goods, and conducts an undertaking establishment in a sane and satisfactory manner. His partner is John P. Schneider, a brother-in-law, and an active business man of Rice Lake. While in Sanborn, Mr. Jacoby was town treasurer for ten years. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Columbus. He is active in the Haugen Commercial Club, which is fathering several ideas for the progress of the village. In addition to his holdings here he is the owner of 80 acres in Ashland County, Wis., which is increasing in value as that county becomes more thickly settled. Mr. Jacoby was married Nov. 22, 1905, to Minnie E. Buxter, who was born in Tipton, Iowa, in 1887. This union has resulted in four children: Steven, Leona, Harold and Eunice. Steven was born April 18, 1907. Leona was born March 16, 1909, and is dead. Harold was born Aug. 8, 1910. Eunice was born May 19, 1912. The family faith is that of the Roman Catholic Church.

Gilbert J. Qualley, manager of the Haugen department of the Consumers' Store, is a native of the rural districts of the Northwest, is thoroughly familiar with local conditions in this region, and is regarded as a most excellent man for his, position, having the confidence of the stockholders of his company, and the trust of the customers. The store building just completed is the largest in Haugen, and under Mr. Qualley's capable direction a good business is done in groceries, boots and shoes, hardware, farm implements and machinery, flour and feed, automobile supplies and the like. Mr. Qualley is a stockholder in the company he represents, and has cast his fortunes with its future destinies. He was born in Rice County, Minnesota, May 26, 1886, son of John and Julia Qual-

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ley, both now dead. He received his education in the public schools, farmed for a time, and then engaged in the automobile business in Faribault for five years. He came to Haugen in 1920. Mr. Qualley was married Sept. 25, 1906, to Clara B. Streeter, who died July 9, 1912.

David W. Lake, of the Badger Electrical Co., Barron, was born in Maple Grove Township, this county, March 23, 1891, son of William Z. and Emma I. (McDonald) Lake. He left home at the age of eighteen, and found his first employment in a paper mill at Ladysmith, Wis. From there he returned to Barron, in this county, and entered the factory of the Barron Co-operative Creamery Co. He first became interested in electrical work when he entered the employ of the Barron County Telephone Co. in charge of their line work as superintendent of construction and repairs. July 1, 1920, he went to Mil- waukee with the Simplex Electric Alarm Co., and on Oct. 1, 1920, returned and with William E. Hunt, bought the Badger Electrical Co. from F. H. Stebbins. The company does general electrical work, handles fixtures and supplies, and makes a specialty of the Delco light products for this territory, installing plants, wiring houses, soliciting business. The show rooms and home plant are on La Salle street, Barron. A popular man fraternally, Mr. Lake has been through the chairs of the local lodge of Odd Fellows, and he is also an active man in the local Beavers. He was married Oct. 20, 1909, to Grace I. McThurston, born in Barron, Oct. 10, 1890, daughter of James and Mamie McThurston, and this union has resulted in three children: Mamie I., born July 13, 1910; William J., born July 4, 1912; and Helen J., born Nov. 25, 1914. The family residence is a pleas- ant home on Division street. Mr. Lake and his family worship at the Metho- dist Episcopal Church.

William Z. Lake was born in Indiana, Sept. 12, 1859, and was there mar- ried to Emma I. McDonald, who was born in the same state, May 4, 1875. They came to Barron County in the fall of 1885, and purchased 80 acres of wild land in Maple Grove Township. This land they improved and developed, added 60 acres more, and erected good buildings. On this farm, Mr. and Mrs. Lake still live. They are liberal, hospitable people, and are well liked by all their neigh- bors. In the family there are eight children: Lawrence, a Maple Lake Town- ship farmer; Arvilla, wife of Alfred Cobb, a Maple Lake farmer; Jesse, a Maple Lake farmer; David W., a Barron business man; Anna, wife of C. W. Olson, of Barron City; Cora, wife of George Raven, of Barron City; Sherman, on the home farm in Maple Lake Township; and Edith, who lives with her parents and brother.

Anton Balog, agriculturists, Section 22, west, Maple Grove Township, was born in Hungary, Feb. 13, 1890, son of Anton and Margaret (Lambel) Balog, natives of Hungary, who came to America in 1905 and lived in Milwaukee un- til 1912, when they came to Barron County and bought 120 acres in Dallas Township, where they cleared some land, erected buildings and fences and still carry on mixed farming and dairying. In the family there were four children: Anton, Ika, Margaret and Charles. Anton received his education in Hungary and joined his parents in Milwaukee in 1907. He came to Barron County with his parents in 1912 and remained with them until 1919, when he purchased his present place of 160 acres, where he successfully carries on general farming and dairying, making a spcialty of Holstein cattle. He is well thought of and highly regarded. Mr. Balog was married Jan. 25, 1919, to Lillie Hoscheit, who lived in Dallas Township, where they settled in 1899. In the Hocheit family there are six children: Elma, Viola, Andrew, Elmer, Clarence, Lillie. Mr. and Mrs. Balog have two children. Gustav and Philys.

William Brownlee, a respected farmer owning 20 acres in Section 28, west, Maple Grove Township, was born in Scotland, Dec. 24, 1862, son of John and Margaret (Robinson) Brownlee, natives of that county, who came to America in 1870, and after stopping a while in Chicago, located on a farm in Trempealeau County, this state, where the father still resides, the mother having died in 1874. In the family there were two sons, William and James. James was edu-

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cated in the public schools of Chicago, Ill., and of Arcadia, Wis. As a young man he went to Buffalo County, Wis., and there farmed for many years. In 1900 he came to Barron County, and purchased 120 acres in Dallas. He reno- vated the house, built an addition to the barn, made general repairs, and farmed for three years. Then he went back to Buffalo County. In 1916 he again came to Barron County, and bought his present place. He repaired the house, built an addition, erected a barn and silo, and made other improvements. He now carries on truck farming and dairying. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias. As a public spirited citizen, he has done good service as a member of the school board of his district. Mr. Brownlee was married April 10, 1893, to Alice Trowbridge, daughter of Charles and Elmira (Ocain) Trow- bridge, natives of New York State, and pioneers of Wisconsin, having settled in Sheboygan County, Wis., in the fifties, and in Buffalo County, Wis., in 1863, spending there the remainder of their lives, the father dying in 1889 and the mother in 1906. In the family there were three children: Charles, Walter and Alice. Mr. and Mrs. Brownlee are the parents of four children: Margaret was born Feb. 16, 1894, and died three days later. Harold L. was born May 19, 1895, and is at home. He was inducted into the United States service Sept. 18, 1917, was assigned to the 341st Infantry of the 86th Division, and was dis- charged Oct. 9, 1917. Dorothy A. was born April 6, 1897, and is now wife of Ronald Carlson. Amie O. was born Jan. 23, 1902, and is attending the State Normal School at Superior, Wis.

Oscar Edblod, a vigorous young farmer, who has a good place of 80 acres in Section 8, east, Maple Grove Township, is gradually developing as good a place as is to be found in the neighborhood. To the buildings on the place when he purchased it, he has added a silo, granary and garage, and has made other mod- ern improvements, for the betterment of his farming operations, and the com- fort of his family. He is carrying on general agricultural operations along modern lines, and is well on the road to success. Mr. Edblod was born in Swe- den, April 3, 1897, the son of Olaf and Sarah (Lundstrum) Edblod, natives of Sweden, who still reside in that country. He received his early education in his native land, and came to America in 1915 as a youth of eighteen. For a while he was located at Ft. Dodge, Iowa, where he was employed in ditching and till- ing farms. Then he came to Barron County, and did farm labor for a few months. In 1916 he bought a place of 80 acres in Rice Lake, where he built a house and did a little additional clearing. He bought his present place in 1919. Mr. Edblod was married April 21, 1917, to Elsie Headstrum, daughter of Axel and Anna Headstrum, natives of Sweden, who came to America in 1895, and settled first in Chicago, later coming to Barron County, where they purchased land near Rice Lake, on which they still reside. Mr. and Mrs. Edblod have two children: Elroy H. was born June 30, 1918; and Malvin A., March 17, 1919.

Peter C. Anderson, cashier of the State Bank of Hillsdale, was born in Norway, July 13, 1889, son of A. P. and Hannah (Edison) Anderson, who, in 1893, brought him to Wisconsin, where he was reared in Dane and Dunn coun- ties. He received the ground work of his education in the district schools, and supplemented this with courses in the Eau Claire (Wis.) Business College, and the Wisconsin State Normal School, at River Falls, Wis. Determined to carve his way in the world by his own efforts, he went to Underwood, N. D., in 1907, and after a year on a farm, became accountant for a hardware store. In 1909 he took a claim at Grass Range, Mont., where he proved up on 160 acres in 1912. In the meantime he worked as salesman and accountant in a general store. From there he went to Minneapolis in 1912, as an employe of Wyman Partridge & Co., wholesale dry goods. It was in 1913 that he went to Colfax, where he had previously lived, and became cashier of the State Bank of Col- fax. Upon the organization of the State Bank of Hillsdale in 1915, he came here as assistant cashier, and on Jan. 1, 1917, was elected cashier to succeed E. G. Brown, resigned. After the United States entered the World War he was inducted into the service Sept. 18, 1917, trained with Co. F, 341st Infantry, 86th

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Div., at Camp Grant, Rockford, Ill., arrived in France, Sept. 21, 1918, was trans- ferred to an officers' training school, and there remained until sent back to the United States. He was discharged at Camp Grant, June 13, 1919, and on July 1, 1919, resumed his duties at the bank. He is doing excellent work, and his personality is a factor in the success with which the institution is meeting. He has recently been honored with the position of treasurer of Maple Grove Township. His fraternal associations are with the Masonic order and the Odd Fellows. His religious affiliations are with the Norwegian Lutheran Church. Mr. Anderson was married Aug. 29, 1917, to Hazel Christman, daughter of Dr. E. S. and Maude (Conklin) Cristman, of Almena, Wis. This union has been blessed with one son, Truman E., born April 15, 1920. A. P. Anderson, father of Peter C. Anderson, came to this country in 1893, settled near Stoughton, where he worked at his trade as a carpenter and also did some farming. In time he bought 80 acres near Colfax, Dunn County. In 1915 he retired and moved to the village of Colfax, where he still lives. In the family there were six chil- dren: Inger; Andrew E., of Milwaukee; Olaf L., of Montana; Anna, of Col- fax; Dena, of California; and Peter C., of Hillsdale.

Bernert Larson, an experienced farmer, who lived in this county nearly forty years, has a good farm of 140 acres in Section 17, west, Maple Grove Township, and there carries on mixed farming and dairying, making a specialty of Guernsey cattle and Poland-China swine. He has been on the school board several years, is a believer in education, and has taken his share in the progress of the community. He was born in Norway, June 15, 1860, son of Lars and Bendikta Bernert, who spent all their days in that country. He attended school in Norway, learned the cabinet-making trade, and became a sailor. He came to America in 1881, and landed in Minneapolis, where he remained for a short time. Then he worked in Duluth as a railroad bridge carpenter. In 1882 he came to this county and bought 80 acres of his present farm, to which he later added 60 acres more. For some years he worked on his farm in the sum- mer season, and worked as a sailor on Lake Michigan in the winter seasons. He cleared 95 acres of his farm, erected a set of buildings himself, and has developed a sightly place. Mr. Larson was married Dec. 22, 1891, to Amanda Konrad, born in Norway, the daughter of Konrad and Ellen (Helgerson) Inger- son, who also spent the span of their years in that country. Mr. and Mrs. Lar- son are the parents of eleven children, all living. Laef was born March 12, 1894; Ada was born Sept. 27, 1895; Bjerne, July 17, 1897; Arthur, June 29, 1899; Clarence, April 27, 1901; Samuel, Feb. 15, 1903; Helma, March 17, 1905; Mamie, March 23, 1907; Agnes, March 20, 1909; Florence, July 17, 1911; and Emmett, June 3, 1913.

James Curtis, retired, still living on the old farm, eighty acres in Section 9, west, Maple Grove Township, was born in Dane County, Wis., Nov. 16, 1863, son of Morgan and Julia (Wright) Curtis, natives respectively of Ireland and Pennsylvania. In 1867 he moved with his parents to Kansas, and was there seven years. Then they came back, and shortly afterward died. In 1875, at the tender age of twelve, James was adopted by J. T. Gourgas of Sauk County, this state, with whom he remained for several years. Then he went to North Da- kota, but after a year or so came back to Wisconsin and operated farms as a renter. In 1901 he came to Barron County and bought his present farm. He cleared 40 acres, erected buildings and eked out his income by strenuous work in the lumber woods in the winter season. After a busy life filled with hard work, he retired in 1920 and turned the farm over to his son-in-law, M. L. Schaffer, who rents the farm and makes a home for Mr. and Mrs. Curtis. Mr. Schaffer is a good farmer and is conducting the place along the same successful lines. Mr. Curtis has been a man of weight in the community and has been a member of the school board for several years. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen. Mr. Curtis was married Sept. 21, 1884, to Leona Odell, daughter of Jasper and Mary (Palmer) Odell, natives respectively of New York and Penn- sylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis have eleven children : Ralph J. was born Nov. 30,

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1885; James R. was born Feb. 28, 1887, and lives in Kellogg, Idaho. Blanche M. was born June 2, 1889, and is the wife of Roy Stalker of Barron, this county. Roland R. was born Aug. 10, 1890, and now lives in Barron. Iva was born Sept. 10, 1891, and is now Mrs. Paul Holum of Prairie Farm Township, this county; Ruth L. was born Feb. 4, 1897, and is now Mrs. Carl Hover of Maple Grove Township; Alice E. was born Nov. 18, 1900, and is now the wife of M. L. Schaffer. Crystal L., born Dec. 24, 1903; Inez R., Dec. 28, 1906, and Anson C., Aug. 20, 1913, are all in school. The family faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

John A. Olson, Section 7, west, Maple Grove Township, was born in Clinton Township, this county, June 29, 1890, son of John and Anna (Olson) Olson, natives of Norway, who came to America in the early eighties, located for two years in Tracy, Minn., where the father worked as a section hand for the Chi- cago & Northwestern Railway, and then came to Cumberland, this county, where the father was employed in the sawmill of the Sprague Lumber Co., later locating on a farm in Clinton Township, where they still reside. In the family there were eleven children: Engwart, Bessie. Annard, Mary, Tillie, Lizzie, Johannas (deceased), John, Ellen, Albert and Thomas (deceased). John A. Olson attended the district school and was reared to farm pursuits. As a young man he did farm work in North Dakota a year and a half and then went to Racine, in this state, where he worked in the machine shops another year and a half. With this experience he returned home and worked with his father for a while. In 1916 he rented a farm in Arland Township. In 1917 he bought his present place of 60 acres. Buildings had been erected and the land partly cleared. Mr. Olson repaired the buildings, cleared more of the land and pur- chased new tools, equipment and machinery. He carries on general farming and dairying and makes a specialty of Holstein cattle and Chester White swine. He has served as clerk of his school district and is a stockholder in the Consum- ers' Store at Barron. In religious faith he is a Baptist. Mr. Olson was married in November, 1916, to Martha Stagstad, daughter of Jacob and Carrie (Broud) Stagstad, of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Olson have two children : Lloyd J., born Feb. 9, 1918, and Bernadine, born Feb. 1, 1920.

Leroy S. Merritt, an early settler of Doyle Township, was born Oct. 25, 1849, and died in Rice Lake May 2, 1921. He was married at Bingham, Pa., to Clarissa A. Thompson, who died on the homestead in Doyle Township, March 31, 1908. They came to Doyle Township and settled on a farm where they developed a good place. Of them, it has been said: "Mr. and Mrs. Merritt were generous and kind neighbors, as attested by the early settlers in the wilds of an unbroken wilderness, where the hoot of the owl and the scream of the panther broke the stillness of the night. They were ever ready to help those around them, and to assist newcomers in every way possible." Of their seven children, three died in infancy. The others are: Elmer L. of Wellsville, N. Y .; Milton L. of Cambridge Springs, Pa .; Rose, wife of James B. Carter of Doyle Township; and Ruth C. There is an adopted daughter, Dorothy P.

James B. Carter, Ford car and tractor salesman and former warden for the . State Conservation Commission, was born in Nebraska, the son of David and Ellen (Baxter) Carter. He was reared on a farm and received a good common school education. In 1902 he started work for the "Omaha" line as station operator. In 1905 he took over his father's farm, successfully operated it for some years and still continues to live there. In 1914 he was appointed a warden by the Conservation Commission and served until 1920. He is now selling Ford tractors and cars for the C. O. Ronning & Co. of Rice Lake. He is a good citizen and a good business man, he has the best interests of the community at heart and he has the esteem and confidence of all who know him. Mr. Carter was married at Rice Lake, this county, July 4, 1905, to Rose Merritt, who was born in Doyle Township, the daughter of Leroy S. and Clarissa A. (Thompson) Merritt, early settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Carter have five bright children: Victor L., Iris V., Lloyd J., Ethan A., and Cyrus D.

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John Enders, business man and truck farmer of Mikana, was born in Milwaukee, Wis., June 2, 1850, son of John and Barbara (Meisner) Enders, both of whom are now dead. He was educated in his native city and at Hartford, Wis., and at the age of fourteen started to learn the shoemaker's trade. In 1886 he went to Manitowoc County and had charge of a shoe repair shop for a year. Then he was similarly employed at Racine, Wis., for a while. He settled in Pierce County in 1868 and worked on farms summers and in the woods winters. Four years later, in 1872, he went back to Racine and operated a shoe shop there for two years. From there, in 1874, he again came to Pierce County and opened a shop at Plumb City, which he operated for three years. He bought a farm in that county in 1877 and successfully operated it until 1895, nearly twenty years. In that year he came to Barron County and purchased 200 acres in Section 28, Cedar Lake Township, which he developed. He cleared in all fifty acres and with a part of the lumber thus obtained, erected a good set of buildings. Here he carried on general farming for a number of years. He was prominent in the community and served in such offices as assessor, pathmaster and member of the school board. While operating the farm he worked for several winters in the woods. In 1901 he sold the farm and erected a store building in Mikana, in which his son opened a hardware store. From 1906 to 1911 Mr. Enders was a wagon vender of proprietary articles. Since that time he has done truck farming on twenty acres within the village limits and also conducted a small shoe repair shop. Mr. Enders was married Oct. 1, 1873, to. Gertrude Trinborn, who died July 9, 1890. This union was blessed with seven children: Anna, Frank, Joseph, Kate, Elizabeth, John, Jr., and Eva. Anna was born July 24, 1875, and now lives in Fresno, Cal. Frank was born Feb. 13, 1877, and died Jan. 7, 1915. Joseph was born Dec. 8, 1879, and now lives in Fresno, Cal. Kate was born Feb. 10, 1881, and is the wife of Eugene McDonald of Ashland, Wis. Elizabeth was born Oct. 11, 1885, and is the wife of John Lee of North Dakota. John, Jr., was born Feb. 23, 1887, and is now at Mayville, Minn. Eva was born March 19, 1890, and is the wife of Joseph Wolf of Green- wood, Wis. Mr. Enders was married Feb. 9, 1892, to Catherine Smith, who was born in Ohio, Sept. 1, 1860, daughter of Peter and Catherine (Schiffhauer) Smith, both now. deceased. This union has been blessed with five children: Mary, Gertrude, Henrietta, Agnes and Leo. Mary was born Nov. 29, 1892, and is the wife of Bernard Kennedy of Doyle Township, this county. Gertrude was born Feb. 20, 1894, and is at home. Henrietta was born Dec. 4, 1896, and is the wife of Lester Cohn of Muskegon, Mich. Agnes was born Sept. 7, 1900, and is connected with the Rice Lake Hospital. Leo was born March 20, 1904, and is at home.

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 170

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

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