History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 20

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

USA > Wisconsin > Barron County > History of Barron County Wisconsin > Part 20

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Gustaf T. Falk, senior member of the Falk Hardware Co. of Barron, was born in Nodum, Norway, July 27, 1878, son of Andreas and Caroline (Anderson) Falk. The parents, who were poor, emigrated to the United States in 1892, being preceded to this country, however, by two sisters, Anna and Emma, who forwarded the money to pay for the transportation for the rest of the family. On their arrival they settled on land at Big Lake, Sherburne County, Minn. Andreas Falk is now deceased, having passed away in 1916, and his widow is now living at Monticello, this state, with her son, Adolph. Mr. and Mrs. Andreas Falk had eight children-Anna, who is now Mrs. Andrew Broberg of Grasston, Minn .; Emma, who is the wife of Luther Anderson of Duluth; Charles of Bronson, Kittson County, Minn .; Gustaf T. of Barron, Wis .; Oscar, who died in February, 1920; Adolph of Monticello, Minn .; Conrad, who was a resident of Buffalo, Wright County, Minn., and died in April, 1920; and Sophia, who is also deceased. Gustaf T. Falk attended common school in Norway and also for a little while in Minnesota. He remained on his parents' farm until 1895, and in the fall of that year entered the employ of A. J. Johnson, of Big Lake, to learn the hardware and furniture business. While thus occupied he bought 80 acres of land near Big Lake, which he sold in the fall of 1899. About the same time he became Mr. Johnson's partner and subsequently continued with him for four years. Then selling his interest to his partner, he bought the hardware business of T. D. Mohan at Foley, Minn., of which he was sole proprietor for three years. At the end of that time the business was in- corporated as the Falk Hardware Co., Mr. Falk's associates in the company being T. H. Caley, E. K. Evens and S. S. Patterson, all of Princeton, Minn. The company ran a chain of eight stores. In 1915 Gustaf T. Falk bought the store at Sauk Rapids, Minn., and in partnership with Ebert Johnson of St. Cloud and Joseph C. Neron established the Sauk Rapids Hardware Co., in which the subject of this sketch still holds an interest. In the spring of 1918 he and his brother, Conrad E., bought the interests of E. Nelson in the E. Nelson Hardware Co. of Barron, the store being located on the corner of La Salle and Sixth Streets. The business of the concern included heavy and shelf hard- ware, agricultural implements, the Smalley silo fillers, furniture and household furnishings, paints and varnishes, as well as undertaking. The business was conducted by Conrad E. Falk until the fall of 1918, at which time his interests were purchased by Gustaf T., who moved his family to Barron and took charge of the concern, Conrad then engaging in the hardware business for himself at Buffalo, Wright County, Minn. In the Barron business Gustaf associated with himself as partners, John Schiltz and Clarence Edson, formerly con- nected with the store at Foley, and who are still members of the Falk Hard- ware Co. of Barron. The company owns and occupies a large store building, together with two adjoining buildings as stock rooms, and are leaders in their line of business in Barron County. They also handle the Brunswick phono- graphs, of which they have a large and increasing sale yearly. On May 6, 1904, Gustaf T. Falk married Caroline Edson, daughter of Charles and Carrie (Chris- tiansen) Edson, of Big Lake, Minn. Her parents were natives of Norway, who emigrated to America at an early day, settling in Boone County, Ill., where she was born Dec. 24, 1878. The Edson family came to Minnesota when she was six months old. Mr. and Mrs. Gustaf T. Falk have been the parents of five children-Clara Alvina, born July 21, 1905, who is a student in the Barron High School; Hazel Victoria and Helen Louisa (twins), born May 13, 1907, of whom the latter died Aug. 4, 1911; Agnes Elenore, born July 6, 1909, and Geneva Viola, born July 30, 1916. The family are affiliated religiously with the Norwegian Lutheran Church.

Alfred M. Paulson, president of the Barron Lumber Co., and one of the leading business men of the county, having important interests not only here but also on the Pacific Coast, was born at Neenah, Wis., Oct. 10, 1875, son of Mads and Marien Paulson. The parents were natives of Denmark, the father born in 1828, and the mother on Aug. 17, 1837. They came to America in 1863,

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settling on a farm near Neenah, Wis., in which locality they remained for 16 years, when they removed to another farm in Luck, Polk County, this state. There Mads Paulson, the father, died in 1903. He had been twice married, all the children of the first wife having been born in Denmark, namely: Ole, now living in Green Bay, Wis .; Paul, of Spokane, Wash .; Harvey, deceased; Carrie, wife of W. L. Hathaway of San Francisco, Calif., and Anthony, deceased. The children by his second wife, Marien, who is now living with her son Alfred in Barron, were: Mary, who married James Paulson and resided in Tacoma, Wash., but is now deceased; Peter and Charles, of Tacoma, Wash .; Matilda, now de- ceased, who was the wife of Ainsly Smith of Luck, Wis .; Alfred M., of Barron, and Martin A., of Rice Lake, Wis. Alfred M. Paulson in his boyhood attended school at Luck, Wis., and subsequently took a commercial course in the St. Paul Business College. At the age of 17 he began his independent career, from that time being self-supporting. He was only 19 when he entered into the mill business at Luck, sawing hardwood timber, and from that time until the fall of 1905 he followed the same occupation at various places. He then went to Hawkins, Wis., where, besides sawing lumber, he operated in the woods, remaining there until February, 1912. During that period he was associated with his brother Anthony, under the firm name of Paulson Bros. After sell- ing out his interests there, Mr. Paulson went to Northhome, Minn., where in partnership with C. P. Ellingson, under the firm name of the Island Lake Lumber Co., he built a mill and operated lumber camps. He remained there, however, only a year, selling his interest to Mr. Ellingson in March, 1913, and, accompanied by his wife, went to the Pacific Coast, where he had land and lumber interests. . In June, the same year, he returned to Barron and became a member of the Barron Lumber Company. This company was incor- porated in 1913 with A. M. Paulson, president; Mrs. A. M. Paulson, vice presi- dent; and John P. Salscheider, secretary and treasurer, the office and sheds being located on Seventh street. The company deals in building material of all kinds, and coal, also the James steel barn equipments. They have a branch yard at Poskin, this county. Previous to the reorganization in 1913 the con- cern was known as the Ellingson Lumber Co. It is one of the leading busi- ness enterprises in Barron County. Mr. Paulson has land at Tacoma, Wash., which is platted into lots. He is also interested with his brothers, Peter and Charles, in a large mercantile business there, which is carried on under the style of Paulson Bros. He owns a good modern residence on La Salle street, Barron. Mr. Paulson was married Oct. 2, 1911, to Esther B. Salscheider, who was born at Green Bay, Wis., Oct. 18, 1883, daughter of Adam J. and Esther (Monetti) Salscheider. Her parents are now residents of Merrill, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Paulson are the parents of a son, Alfred A., who was born in Barron Oct. 6, 1914. Mrs. Paulson is a member of the Catholic Church. Mr. Paulson was reared a Lutheran. In politics he is independent. He is a member of Lodge No. 220, A. F. & A. M., and Tripoli Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Milwaukee; also of McKinley Lodge, No. 128, K. P.

Lewis Voll, a retired farmer, living in Barron City, has resided in this county since 1903. On his arrival here he bought 160 acres in Section 23, Barron Township, and set to work to improve it. He cleared 75 acres, repaired the house, remodeled the barn and operated the farm for five years. Then he sold it and in 1908 bought 40 acres in Section 26, to which tract he added by subsequent purchase until he had brought the area of his farm up to 120 acres. Of the total area 45 acres were cleared when it came into his possession and he continued the work until 75 acres were cleared. He also erected a fine set of buildings and for several years continued general farming and dairying. His place was a well improved one, house and barn being furnished with electric lights, and the barn with James equipment, the air pressure water works being provided for both. The cattle were of the Holstein variety. Mr. Voll did good service for five years as supervisor of his township and one year as assessor. In the spring of 1920 he rented the farm to his son, Herbert, and

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acquired a home in Barron where he now lives. He is a stockholder in the Barron Co-operative Creamery, the Barron Consumers' Store, and the New Richmond Packing Co. Mr. Voll was born Nov. 27, 1857, in Germany, son of Ludwig and Charlotte (Borck) Voll, natives of that country, who came to America in 1873 and located in Sauk County, this state, where they farmed the remainder of their lives, the father. dying Feb. 27, 1906, and the mother May 16, 1896. In the family there were three children, Lewis and Herman, now of Baraboo, and Frank, who is deceased. Lewis received his education in Germany, came to this country with his parents and remained with them until 1878. In 1881 he went to South Dakota. and took a homestead of 160 acres in Hamlin County. He broke a large part of this tract and erected a set of buildings. There he devoted himself to wheat raising for ten years. Then he came back to Sauk County, this state, and after two and a half years of farming there, bought 80 acres in North Freedom Village, Wis. From there he came to Barron County. Mr. Voll was married Jan. 1, 1879, to Emma Mog- ler, born March 26, 1861, in Baraboo, Sauk County, Wis., daughter of John and Johanna (Klein) Mogler, who came to America from Germany in the late fifties and located in Sauk County, this state, where they lived the rest of their lives, the father dying June 10, 1893, and the mother in 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Voll have three children: Anna, Frank and Herbert B. Anna was born Aug. 30, 1879, and is now Mrs. W. R. Cuthbert, of Barron Township. Frank was born April 19, 1887, and lives in Barron City. He married Edith Otis and has one child, Iona May, born Dec. 23, 1914. Herbert B. was born Nov. 26, 1897, and now operates his father's farm. He was married in 1919 to Mabel Hutchi- son, born Sept. 19, 1901, daughter of Ira and Della (Carr) Hutchison, of Barron County. Mr. and Mrs. Herbert B. Voll have one child, Betty Bell, born May 14, 1920. Lewis Voll belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and is affiliated religiously with the Methodist Episcopal Church.

George W. Brown was an early settler of Dallas Township, was active in its affairs, and had his share in its upbuilding. He was a good man, an upright citizen, and a good husband and father, and his death will long be mourned by family and friends, both in Dallas Township and in Barron City. He was born in Baraboo, Wis., Dec. 25, 1852, received his education in his native place, and farmed in that vicinity until 1874 when he came to Barron County and took a homestead of 160 acres in Dallas Township. The township was then practically a wilderness, the hardwood was still standing, no roads had been built except the "tote" roads, and neighbors were few and far between. He cleared 100 acres of the land, and erected some crude log build- ings which were later replaced with modern frame structures. He made improvements from year to year and was a prosperous farmer until 1907 when after more than two decades of residence on the place he rented the farm and moved to Barron. Three years later he sold it. While in the township he served on the town and school boards and his judgment was highly regarded. In Barron City he did not enter into public affairs. He died March 29, 1911. Mr. Brown was married Feb. 24, 1874, to Sarah Peebles. This union has been blessed with four children : Fannie W. was born July 22, 1876, and died Sept. 1, 1877; Mabel was born March 8, 1878, and is now Mrs. H. H. Denison, of Barron City; Warren' was born Sept. 14, 1879, and is now in Canada; Brier was born Dec. 21, 1891, and is now in Barron City. Sarah Peebles Brown was born in eastern Canada, Aug. 13, 1849, coming to Wisconsin at eight years of age. She came to Barron County with her husband in 1874, sharing with him the joys and hardships of pioneer life. She died Sept. 18, 1921.

Brier Brown, expert mechanic for the Thompson Auto Co., Barron, was born in Dallas Township, this county, Dec. 21, 1891, and received his educa- tion in the district schools. He learned his trade as a mechanic in Barron. From there in 1914 he went to Manistique, Mich., and four years later to Gladstone, Wis., where he operated a lathe machine. In 1919 he came to Barron once more, first as a salesman for the Thompson Auto Co. and now as

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MR. AND MRS. GEORGE W. BROWN

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mechanic. He lives with his mother. He is the son of George W. and Sarah (Peebles) Brown, the pioneers.

Gilbert L. Engstrom, proprietor of Cloverdale Stock Farm and an influen- tial farmer of Section 1, Barron Township, formerly president of the Cloverdale cheese factory of Barron Township and formerly, also, a leading citizen of Shell Lake, in Washburn County, this state, was born in Boone County, Iowa, Sept. 6, 1875, son of J. P. and Johanna Marie (Swanson) Engstrom. He was reared on a farm and had but little opportunity for schooling; but he is pos- sessed of a naturally keen mind; he has been a great reader, and is now one of the best educated men in the community. At the age of twenty-one he took charge of the home farm. In 1905 he moved to Shell Lake, in Washburn County, Wis., and secured a place of 120 acres, the site of an old logging camp. A crude building, 18 by 24 feet, built of four-ply boards, stood on the place, and into this he moved. He brought with him six good cows from Iowa, but two of these died the first summer. He made good improvements on the place and erected a fine set of farm buildings, including a cement silo. His neighbors at once recognized his abilities and elected him to the town board, a position he filled with credit and ability for seven years. In the Swedish church at Shell Lake he was especially active. He organized the Luther League there, of which he was the first president, and he also helped organize the Rice Lake branch of the Lutheran Brotherhood of America and at present is its president. On Oct. 25, 1911, while shredding corn, he had the misfortune to catch his left arm between the rollers and crushed it so badly that it had to be amputated four inches below the elbow. On Aug. 27, 1912, his barn was destroyed by a cyclone, two of his best cows were killed and many of his other animals were hurt, besides heavy damage being inflicted on hay stacks and other buildings. Mr. Engstrom came to Barron County March 31, 1917, and bought his present place of 120 acres. Here he has continued the improvements and has erected a new barn. He successfully carries on general farming and is regarded as one of the substantial men of the community. He has been active in the Lutheran Church at Rice Lake and in the Luther League of that church. He believes in co-operative effort among farmers, and was president of the Cloverdale cheese factory of Barron Township for three years. Mr. Engstrom was married Feb. 28, 1900, to Emma Christina Webloom, who was born in Pennsylvania June 18, 1876, daughter of John and Marie (Tobison) Webloom. This union has been blessed with three children: Irene, born Dec. 27, 1900; Garold, Feb. 20, 1906, and Kermit, June 11, 1909.

James E. De Wolf, now deceased was a substantial citizen for some years of Clinton Township, this county. He served as a chairman of his school board, and did other things to assist in the advancement of his neighborhood. He was a good neighbor and a kind and loving father and greatly revered by all with whom he came in contact. Mr. De Wolf was born Feb. 8, 1844, in Canada, . son of Elisha and Margaret (Lovelass) De Wolf. He was educated in Canada and worked there for some years, first in straw shops and then in a hat factory. He came to the United States in 1876 and located in Rice County, Minnesota, where he farmed for some years. In 1898 he came to Wisconsin and settled in Clinton Township, this county, where he purchased 240 acres, cleared a part of it, and carried on general farming until his death Sept. 8, 1908. After his death his widow carried on the farm for eight years with the assistance of her sons, and then sold it and purchased a home on La Salle street, Barron, where she now resides. Mr. De Wolf was married Feb. 15, 1875, to Mrs. Susan Lamb, who was born in Canada Aug. 24, 1848, daughter of George and Phoebe (Lamb) McBurnie. Her first husband, Mr. Lamb, was no relation to her mother, though bearing the same family name. Mr. and Mrs. De Wolf are the parents of four children: Bessie, born July 2, 1877, who is now Mrs. Albin Anderson of Northfield, Minn .; Arthur, born March 25, 1878, who resides in Barron; Harry, born March 25, 1880, who is on the farm

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in Clinton Township, and Emma, born Jan. 12, 1883, who is the wife of Patrick Malone of Clinton Township.

Bernard J. Becker, repair foreman for the Thompson Auto Co., is an expert both in the automobile line and in general machinery. He was born in Minneapolis, Minn., Sept. 7, 1894, son of Frank and Kate (Spurzem) Becker, natives respectively of Germany and Minnesota. Frank Becker came to America in the late seventies, and remained for a short time in Kansas City where he started railroading. In this line he traveled in nearly every state in the Union. Finally, determined to take up farming, he located near Minneapolis where he still lives. In the family there are eleven children, Frank, Hubert, Fred, Wilbur, Bernard J., Anna, Cecelia, Frances, Caroline, Margaret and Vernie. Bernard J. was educated in Minneapolis. He started work for T. M. Anderson in the automobile business in that city in 1908. Then for a while he worked with his uncle, Frank Spurzem, in a machine shop there. With this experience he started out, and was employed for a time in different cities in Minnesota as an automobile expert. He came to Barron City in 1914 and operated a garage here for two years. Then he went to Clear Lake and operated a garage there for a year. Returning to Barron he entered the employ of Ernest Nelson. He was inducted into the United States service Oct. 1, 1918, and served with 15th Recruit Company at Jefferson Barracks, Mo. Dec. 5, 1918, he was discharged on account of illness and returned home. As soon as he was able he took up his present employment. Mr. Becker married Grace Hover, daughter of Albert J. and Barabara (Miller) Hover, of Maple Grove Township. This union has been blessed with one son, Albert F., born Sept. 20, 1918.

Ernest Kolb was born on a farm in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, Feb. 25, 1861, son of Carl and Henrietta (Emig) Kolb, natives of Germany, who came to America as children, were reared in Manitowoc County, spent their lives there, and there died. They were the parents of a large family of fifteen chil- dren: Oscar, a lumber estimator, now retired and living in Manitowoc County; Ernest, the subject of this sketch; Louis, a farmer in Clark County, this state; Reinholt, a farmer in Manitowoc County; Emma, wife of Jacob Hetzel, who works the home farm; Matilda, wife of Powell Jost, a carpenter of Manitowoc County; Henry, deceased; William, of Manitowoc County; Fred, a black- smith, of Manitowoc County; Charles, a policeman, in Sheboygan, this state; Amelia, wife of Leo Klessig, a cheese man, of Manitowoc County, now retired; Herman, a butcher, of Sheboygan Falls, this state; Bertha, wife of Herman Vogel, a carpenter and lumberman, of Manitowoc County; Louisa, wife of Gustav Kellmer, a farmer of Manitowoc County, and Clements, a blacksmith, of Sheboygan, this state. Ernest Kolb received a good common school educa- tion, and began working as a farm helper near his home when he was fifteen years of age. He came to Barron County in 1882 and purchased a farm of 120 acres in Section 6, Barron Township. This land had been but little improved. . Three years later he brought his wife here. Together they started to establish for themselves a home and a farm, and their efforts have been crowned with success. To the original tract 40 acres have been added, so that they now have a good farm of 160 acres, of which 115 are under the plow. They now have a good frame house, a commodious substantial barn, a granary, tool sheds and the like, all in the best of condition. The soil is of the best, and is well cultivated, and the stock includes a good herd of high grade Guernsey cattle and a drove of Duroc-Jersey swine. The equipment and machinery is adequate, and everything about the place bespeaks the thrift and good taste of the owners. Mr. Kolb has served his township as supervisor and has been a valuable member of the school board of his district. He and his family worship at the Evangelical Church. Mr. Kolb was married April 29, 1885, to Lena A. Kretschmar, daughter of Ernest and Wilhelmina (Hinkelman) Kretschmar, who was born Nov. 24, 1861, and brought to a farm in Sheboygan County, this state, in 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Kolb are the parents of eleven children: Carl F., Erna A., Oscar E., Henrietta A., Ernest W., Reinholt C., Ella, Evelyn H.,

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MR. AND MRS. ERNEST KOLB

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Gustav J., William F. and Maria H. Carl F. was born Nov. 6, 1885, and is a farmer in Barron Township. Erna A. was born July 3, 1887, and lives at home. Oscar E. was born Aug. 24, 1888, was married June 28, 1916, to Ethel Kelley, of Maple Grove Township, and has one child, Barbara, born Aug. 30, 1918. He was inducted into the United States service Oct. 4, 1917, trained at Camp Grant, Rockford, Ill., was made a sergeant in the 341st Infantry, 86th Division; reached France Aug. 18, 1918, and was discharged at Camp Grant in June, 1919. Henrietta A. was born Sept. 22, 1889, and is the wife of Fred Wagenbach, a farmer, of Barron Township. Ernest W. was born Feb. 26, 1891, and is a farmer in Stanfold Township, this county. Reinholt C. was born Jan. 12, 1893, and is with his father on the home farm. He was inducted into the service Sept. 19, 1917, trained with the 362d Infantry at Camp Lewis, American Lake, Wash .; was transferred to the Spruce Division; was discharged at Vancouver Barracks Dec. 31, 1918, and returned home in June, 1919. Ella was born July 30, 1894, and is the wife of George Tabor, a machinist, of Superior, Wis. Evelyn H. was born Dec. 30, 1896, and is the wife of Clyde McKee, a farmer of Arland Township, Barron County. Gustav J. was born March 28, 1899, and is now in South Dakota. William F. was born Dec. 3, 1900, and is on the home farm. Maria H. was born Sept. 28, 1902, and is at home. The family faith is that of the Evangelical Association.

Ernest Nelson, prominent automobile man with a good garage at Barron and branches at Rice Lake and Ladysmith, was born in Orebro, Sweden, March 3, 1876, and as a boy learned carpenter work and cabinet making. After the death of his parents he came to America when about sixteen years of age and located in Clay County Kansas, where he followed his trade. In 1894 he came to Barron County, and with Gust Soderburg, established the Barron Wood- working Co., at Barron City. To their manufacturing business they soon added a retail department for the sale of furniture. The partnership continued until the spring of 1897 when Mr. Nelson took over the furniture business and Mr. Soderburg retained the woodworking shop. Mr. Nelson opened his store at the corner of La Salle and Fifth streets, and built up a good business. Two years later he added a line of general hardware and farm implements, and moved to the Opera House Block. After a while he became interested in automobiles, and in 1918 he sold out his furniture and hardware business to the Falk Hardware Co. in order to devote his entire time to the automobile line. He opened his garage in his old stand at the corner of Fifth and La Salle street, and there he deals in the Chevrolet car and handles accessories of all kinds and does general repairing. Later he added the branches at Rice Lake and Ladysmith. Mr. Nelson is a popular and prominent man; he is known for his honest and fair dealing, and is well liked by all with whom he associates. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen. Mr. Nelson was married Sept. 22, 1897, to Ruth E. Rolstad, daughter of Ole and Anna Rolstad, of Barron. Ole Rolstad was born in Norway, was there married, and came to America about the close of the Civil War, settling on a farm near Baldwin, St. Croix County, Wis., and alternating his time between farm work and working at his trade as a tailor in Baldwin. When Barron city was established, the family came here, but after a few years went back to Baldwin where Mr. Rolstad died May 4, 1890, after which, in 1896, the family came back to Barron where Mrs. Rolstad still resides. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have reared three chil- dren, the son and daughters of Mr. Nelson's sister. Helga M. and Dagmar C. are still at home. Carl M., who as a boy gave great promise of a successful career, enlisted in the World War in 1917 and trained for the mechanical and truck service at Waco, Texas. He sailed for France and was on the Tuscania when it was sunk. After being rescued he was transferred to the 26th Division, with which he saw active service. In January, 1919, he was sent to a hospital suffering from tubercular trouble contracted through exposure. There he died April 15, 1919. He was buried in a French cemetery, but in 1920 his body

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 20

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

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