History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 21

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

USA > Wisconsin > Barron County > History of Barron County Wisconsin > Part 21

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was brought to this country, and he was laid to his final rest in Barron October 10. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran Church.

James Nevin was born in Ireland July 25, 1857, the son of Robert and Martha (Stewart) Nevin, who came to America in the spring of 1881, spent the summer in Ontario, Canada, and in the fall came to Barron County and took up their home in Cumberland Township on an 80-acre farm owned by their son, Joseph. Of their children Jane is the wife of August Hart, of Boise, Idaho; Joseph is deceased; Rebecca is the wife of Samuel McCoy, of London, Canada; James is the subject of this sketch, and Matilda is now Mrs. Carl Germanson, of Clinton Township, this county. James Nevin came to America about 1875. For a time he spent his summers farming in eastern Canada and his winters lumbering in Roscommon County, Michigan. He began for wages of but $26 a month, and during his first winter was cheated even out of that, so that for the winter's work he received but $10 above his board. In 1880 he came to Barron County and purchased 80 acres of land in Clinton Township. He had no money, times were hard, the nearest town was Cumberland, eight miles away, and there were no roads to that place. The farm was all wild. Mr. Nevin cleared a place in the woods, erected a log cabin and started a garden. For a time he cut white ash bolts for barrel staves, hauling them to Rice Lake by way of Barron. The trip, which occupied twenty-two miles, was partly over the Knapp, Stout & Co.'s "tote roads" and the journey sometimes took considerably over twenty hours. For a few years Mr. Nevin was compelled to leave his farm in the winter time and secure employment as a lumberman. But his circumstances improved during the passage of time, his hard work resulted in success, the little log cabin was replaced by a good set of buildings, and the wild forest land became a well cultivated, well kept and well ordered farm. Mr. Nevin became a substantial man in the community and for one year served as a member of the town board and for one year as town assessor. In the fall of 1919 he rented the farm and moved to Barron City, where he has a pleasant home on Division street. Although living in Barron he still serves as superintendent of highways in Clinton Township, a position he has occupied for some years past. Mr. Nevin was married Sept. 30, 1885, to Rebecca Stewart, daughter of William and Mary (Wilson) Stewart, who lived in a neighboring county in Ireland, and whom Mr. Nevin had courted before coming to this country. Mrs. Nevin was one of nine daughters. She came to America alone and joined her sisters in Philadelphia. Her parents came to America for a while, then returned to Ireland where the father died, after which the mother again came to America and died in Philadelphia. Mr. and Mrs. Nevin have been the parents of nine children. William Robert was born July 5, 1886, and is liv- ing on a homestead of 320 acres in Montana. Joseph was born Aug. 17, 1888, and is a farmer in Saskatchewan, Canada. Martha Jane was born Jan. 22, 1891, and is the wife of Ernest Salsbury, of Comstock, this county. James, Jr., was born March 21, 1893, and lives on the home farm in Clinton Township. Mary Elizabeth was born Oct. 30, 1895, is the widow of Harlow Stuntz, and lives with her brother on the home farm in Clinton Township. Anthony was born Feb. 17, 1898, and is now farming in Cumberland Township, this county. He married Dora Hanson, of Cumberland Township. Violet S. was born April 4, 1900, and is now the wife of Albert F. Carlson, of Comstock, Wis. Samuel was born Aug. 1, 1902, and. with his brother, James Jr., rents the home farm in Clinton Township. An unnamed infant is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Nevin are members of the Church of God, but attend the First Baptist Church of Barron. The family is highly regarded throughout the community.

Harry Meyer, groceryman of Barron, came here in 1918 after a long experience along mercantile lines in various states, and purchased the grocery store of Clayton B. Richards, which he still conducts. He has identified himself with the life of the town and is already regarded as a substantial citizen. He carries a good stock of groceries valued at about $4,000 and has a good trade. His wife at the time they came here purchased the millinery

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store of Mrs. Elmer Rochman, and this she now conducts, carrying a full line of ladies' hats. Harry Meyer was born in Russia Aug. 10, 1877, son of Isaac and Eva (Kniff) Meyer, natives of that country. The father came to America in 1889, and with headquarters at Rock Island, Ill., became a peddler. In 1898 he sent for his wife. He has acquired a competency, owns several dwellings, and now lives in retirement. The children in the family were Sarah, Rebecca, Esther, Bessie, Edith, Harry, William, Samuel J., Israel and Dorris (deceased). Harry Meyer received his early training in Russia and came to America in 1890. He landed in New York Sept. 25 and remained there for ten weeks working in a cigar factory. Then he went to St. Louis where he was a peddler for a while. Later he followed the same line in Burlington, Iowa. In 1891 he joined his father at Rock Island, Ill., going from there to Davenport, Ill., where he worked first as a clerk in a retail grocery store, then as ledger clerk in a wholesale grocery store, and later as clerk in a dry goods store. In 1898 he came to Wisconsin and worked in a dry goods store at Waupon for seven months. A few months later he went to Stevens Point and took charge of a large department store. His next venture was at Pittsville, also in this state, where he was interested with S. N. Baum in a general store and creamery. But the strenuous duties of this position undermined his health, and after six years he sold out and went to Oklahoma. In 1907 he came back, was in business with B. A. Pieser at Menocqua, Wis., two years; owner of a store in Poynette, Wis., two years; clerk in Milwaukee stores two and a half years, and clerk in a Wausau store a few months. Then he came to Barron. Mr. Meyer is a thirty-second degree Mason and a Shriner. Mr. Meyer was married Aug. 18, 1901, to Tillie C. Baum, daughter of Samuel and Henrietta (Hornstein) Baum, natives of Russia, the former of whom lives in Pittsville, Wis., and the later of whom died Jan. 8, 1916. In the Baum family there are five children: Lena, Anna, Tillie, John and Isaac. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer have two daughters: Leah J., born Aug. 11, 1902, now attending the University of Wisconsin, at Madison, and Gertrude L., born Jan. 14, 1904, now attending the high school at Barron.

Christ Larson, retired farmer, now residing in Barron City, was born May 2, 1852, in Norway, son of Lars and Anna (Hanson) Larson, both now deceased. He received his education in Norway and came to America in 1866, settling first in Iowa County, Wisconsin. In 1880 he came to Barron County and bought a quarter section of railroad land in Maple Grove Township. He cleared 60 acres, erected a good set of buildings and carried on general farm- ing and dairying until 1902 when he sold out and took up his home in a house which he had erected himself in Barron City. He is well known both in the city and township and while living in the country did good service as a mem- ber of the school board for five years. Mr. Larson was married May 25, 1880, to Anna Jacobson who was born in Norway April 30, 1853, daughter of Jacob and Carrie (Everson) Jacobson, both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Larson are the parents of four children: Laurina O. was born May 6, 1881, and is now Mrs. Arnold Heyer of Wyoming. Clara E. was born May 6, 1883, and also lives in Wyoming. Julius was born March 16, 1889, and operates a market in Barron. Jennie was born March 29, 1892, and is now Mrs. Thomas Lindland of North Dakota. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran Church.

Joseph E. Libering, machinist, Barron, was born at Hamberg, Iowa, April 19, 1873, son of George and Laura (Dendurent) Libering. The father, a veteran of the Civil War, died in Arkansas in 1914, after which the mother came to Barron and made her home with her son, Joseph E., until her death Feb. 29, 1919. Joseph E. left school at the age of twelve years and has since made his own way in the world. For six years he worked as a farm helper, and at the age of eighteen started to learn the carpenter's trade. Later he also learned the cabinet-making trade. The year 1900 found him in Arkansas. The follow- ing year he went to Kansas, but in 1904 returned to Arkansas and became bridge carpenter for the San Francisco Railroad Co. In this employ he was

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seriously injured. After his recovery he decided to come to Barron City, where he arrived Aug. 26, 1905, and where he has since been employed as a machinist. On Jan. 27, 1914, he had the misfortune to lose all his pos- sessions in a fire, but undaunted by this disaster he has forged ahead once more. He has a comfortable home and his work is much in demand. For one year, 1914 to 1915, he served as chairman of the school board of Bear Lake Township. His fraternal relations are with the Mutual Aid Union. Mr. Libering was married May 6, 1901, to Mary Ripley, and they have four chil- dren: Frank Earl, born in Williamsburg, Kan., May 14, 1903; Walter Ray, born at Montana, Ark., March 14, 1905; Henry T., born at Silver Lake, this county, Dec. 27, 1906, and Leslie M., born at Cumberland, in this county, Sept. 19, 1909.

Lars Johnson, who is remembered as a good citizen and hard working farmer, was born in Norway, went to Sweden as a young man, and there married Bertha Jacobson, a native of that country. They came to America in 1892, bought 80 acres of wild land in Arland Township, this county, and erected a home and developed a good farm. Mr. Johnson died in 1902 and his wife is still on the home place. They came of sturdy, staunch people, and devout members of the Norwegian Lutheran Church. They were the parents of six children, the three oldest of whom were born in Sweden and the three younger in this county. John is dead. Gertrude is the wife of Hugh Le Grand, of Min- neapolis, and has two sons, Jerold and Louis. Erick is on the home place. Gust A., known as Gust A. Larson, is a garage man in Barron City. Emma is the wife of Harold Moore, of Minneapolis. Alma is with her mother and brother at home.

Gust A. Larson, garage owner and auto dealer of Barron, was born in Arland Township, this county, Aug. 11, 1892, son of Lars and Bertha (Jacob- son) Johnson, settlers of this county. He remained on the home farm until 1918, when he was inducted into the World War service in the third draft. He was assigned to the 127th Machine Gun Company, 32d Division, trained at Camp Grant, Rockford, Ill., and Camp McArthur, Waco, Texas, and was dis- charged Feb. 2, 1919. Upon his return to Barron County he rested a time and then entered the employ of a garage at Hallock, Minn. That fall he went to Minneapolis, Minn., and was similarly employed. In April, 1920, he came to Barron City and engaged in the automobile business for himself. He has built a substantial tile garage on Sixth street, 30 by 80 feet, carries a full line of supplies, does general repairing, and has the agency for the "Dort" and the "Elgin Six" for this territory. He is popular, is doing a good business, and is well on the road to success.

Christopher Kurschner, farm superintendent for the Inderrieden Canning Co., of Barron, and formerly sheriff of Barron County, was born in Saxony, Germany, Dec. 13, 1862, son of Martin and Anna (Kallanbach) Kurschner. The parents were poor people, the father being a laborer and being unable to make any progress in their native land, about the close of the American Civil War period they emigrated to this country, arriving at Mazomanie, Dane County, practically destitute. The father, however, found work as a laborer and they remained there a year. They then removed to Black Earth, in the same county, Martin Kurschner being hired as a section hand on the Chicago & Milwaukee Railway, at which work he continued for three years. He then came to Barron County to engage in farming, he and his family traveling by rail to Prairie du Chien, then up the Mississippi and Chippewa Rivers by boat to Durand, Wis., then to Dunnville on the Red Cedar River, and from there by team to Barron County. On arriving here he located on 160 acres of wild land in Prairie Farm, the tract being without buildings, and there being at that time not more than five or six families in that community. His first task was to build a small log house with a shake roof, after which he com- menced the laborious work of developing a farm. In time his circumstances improved, but his wife Anna was not long permitted to enjoy their hard

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earned prosperity, as she died about 1878, when her son Christopher was a lad of sixteen. Martin Kurschner subsequently married for his second wife Anna M. Specht. He resided on his farm in Prairie Farm Township until his death, which occurred Jan. 2, 1919. By his first wife, Anna, his children were: Oswald, who is deceased; Christopher, of Barron; Valentine, now a resident of Prairie Farm, Barron County; Nicholas, who lives at Washburn, Wis .; Mary, now Mrs. Lorenzo Wirth, of Appleton, Wis .; Anna, wife of Frank Wirth, of Prairie Farm, and August, also residing at Prairie Farm. By his second wife Martin Kurschner had two children: Louis, now Mrs. Herman Neck, of Prairie Farm, and John, who resides in the same locality. Christopher Kurschner was but two years old when he accompanied his parents to America, and about seven when he came to Barron County. He attended a log schoolhouse in Prairie Farm Township until the age of 15, and remained on the home farm for a year longer. He was then hired as chore boy for a lumber camp in the pineries, and for 17 consecutive winters thereafter he worked in the pineries as boy or "lumberjack," also taking part in fifteen spring "drives" for Knapp, Stout & Co. and John Quaderer, the drives for several seasons being on the Chippewa river. His summers he spent in agricultural work. He had become the owner of a farm of 80 acres in Barron Township, on which he resided two years, but his buildings were destroyed by fire and he lost everything he had except the land. He then left the farm, which he soon afterwards sold, and started a dray line in Barron. In 1902 he built the Park Hotel, which he operated until 1907, when, on the first Monday in that year he assumed the duties of county sheriff, having been elected. to that office in the previous fall. After serving one term in it, in 1909 he entered the employ of the Waukesha Canning Co., of Barron, as farm superintendent, and so continued until 1911, in which year he became connected with the Wisconsin Pea Canning Co., of Turtle Lake. Then, in the spring of 1912, he took his present position as farm superintendent for the Inderrieden Canning Co. (successors to the Waukesha Co.). Mr. Kurschner has become prominently identified with the industrial interests of the city. He is a Republican in politics, and in addition to his service as sheriff he was for one term an alderman of Barron. His fraternal affiliations are with the Odd Fellows' lodge in Barron, Birch Camp, No. 1268, M. W. A., and the lodge of Mystic Workers at Rice Lake. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. On May 12, 1891, Mr. Kurschner assumed the responsibilities of domestic life, being united in marriage with Ada M., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John R. Smith of Prairie Farm, this county, and a native of Indiana.

Hans Jenson, merchant, senior member of the firm of Jenson & Son, mer- chants of Barron, was born in Norway, May 16, 1865, son of Jens and Mary (Amundson) Jenson, natives of Norway, who came to America in 1870, and settled at Rushford, Minn., where Mr. Jenson worked in the flour mill and cooper shops for several years, afterward moving to Winona, Minn., and in 1902 coming to Barron where he still lives. In the family there were six chil- dren-John, Hans, Christina, Minnie, Jennie and Ada. Hans received his early education in Rushford, and as a youth became clerk in the dry goods store of Lukkoson & Nelson for four years. Then for a similar period he clerked at Cashton, Wis., and subsequently for two years at Dexter, Minn. In 1896 he came to Barron and clerked first for C. P. Taylor and then for the Berg Bros. It was in 1909 that he started in for himself by opening a store for the sale of dry goods and notions in the Normanna Bank building. In 1919 he purchased his present store building on La Salle Street from C. P. Taylor. The following year he took his son Herbert C. as partner. The firm carries a stock valued at about $20,000.00, which includes dry goods and ladies' and men's clothing. Father and son are well known in the community and by their excellent goods and fair methods of dealing have built up a good trade in both city and country. Mr. Jenson is a member of the Modern Woodmen and Odd Fellows. He was married May 8, 1889, to Carrie Anderson, who was born in Sweden, May 30, 1865, daughter of Lars Anderson, who brought his family to America in 1870

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and located in Houston County, Minn., where he farmed the remainder of his life. Mr. and Mrs. Jenson have four children-Bessie, Norma, Herbert C. and Viola. Bessie was born Feb. 6, 1892, and is the wife of Rev. H. H. Savage of Baraboo, Wis. Norma was born April 16, 1894, and teaches at Rice Lake, this county. Herbert C. was born Nov. 15, 1896. He enlisted June 15, 1917, in the sixth regiment, W. N. G. He trained at Camp Douglas, Wis., was sent to Camp McArthur, Waco, Texas, Oct. 1, 1917; was transferred to Camp Merritt, N. J., Jan. 10, 1918; sailed on the Tuscania, Jan. 23, 1918; landed in France March 15, 1918; served at the front from April 9 to Nov. 14, 1918; and was discharged at Camp Grant, Rockford, Ill., April 28, 1919. Viola was born in February, 1899, and is now stenographer for the Coe Brothers, attorneys at Barron. The family faith is that of the Baptist church.

John Aune, now deceased, was a resident of Barron for a quarter of a century. He enjoyed an excellent reputation, he was a good citizen and a kindly family man, and left many friends to mourn his decease. He was born in Norway May 2, 1851, and came to America in 1885, finding his way directly to Barron, where for ten years he was engaged in the lumbering industry. He then started business in Barron City, and so continued until his death, Dec. 20, 1900. Mr. Aune was married Nov. 15, 1892, to Anna Larson, born in Nor- way, Oct. 12, 1864, daughter of Christ and Julia (Berger) Larson, natives of Norway, who came to America in 1885. Mr. Larson taught in Norwegian Lutheran schools for ten years and then returned to Norway where he now lives. Mrs. Larson makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. John Aune.

Thomas Johnson, living retired on his farm .in Arland, this county, was born in Denmark, and there married Hannah Jacobson. He brought his family to America in 1881, and located in Stillwater, where he worked for a while in the Minnesota state prison and for a while in various sawmills. Then he came to Barron County, and located on a farm in Prairie Farm Township, later locating on his present place of 40 acres in Arland Township. He found the place a wilderness, and by hard work broke the land, erected the buildings, and became a successful farmer. In 1915 he retired, but still makes his home on the place. In religious faith he is a Baptist. He and his wife are the parents of four children-Jasper, Hannah (deceased), Anna and Mary.

Peter O. Johnson, a most estimable citizen, now deceased, was a substantial honest-minded farmer and by developing his own place had his share in the general prosperity of the community. He was born in Sweden, Nov. 24, 1868, and was there educated and learned the cabinet-making trade. He came to America in 1887, lived a short time in Canada, and then found his way to Wisconsin. He came to Barron County, then a wild country, in 1888, and pur- chased 40 acres in Prairie Farm Township. He cleared some 15 or 20 acres of this, erected a good set of buildings himself, and devoted a part of his time to its cultivation while he also worked in the neighborhood as a carpenter, assist- ing to build many of the early homes in the vicinity. In 1898 he sold his farm and retired to Barron City, where he did cabinet work until his death, Feb. 28, 1912. He was a member of the Maccabees, and he and his family were communicants of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Johnson was married June 26, 1893, to Mary Johnson, born in Denmark, Dec. 15, 1874, daughter of Thomas and Hannah (Jacobson) Johnson, and this union has been blessed with five children-Anna, born Oct. 16, 1894, is now wife of Harold Perry, of Barron City; Ella, born Aug. 28, 1895, is stenographer and secretary for the superintendent of schools of Barron County; Henry, born Feb. 15, 1898, is an electrician at Barron City; Chester, born March 7, 1900, is a garage man in Barron City; and Palmer, born Jan. 30, 1903, is attending the Barron High School.

Gregory A. Koerner, for fifteen years station agent for the "Soo" line at Barron, had a prominent part in the affairs of the place during the years of residence here. So prominent was he in public affairs that at one time he was elected mayor of the city but was unable to serve owing to his employment.

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JOHN AUNE

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He was one of the founders and sustainers of the St. Joseph's Catholic Church and served as its treasurer for many years. He also passed through the chairs of the local lodges of the Knights of Pythias and Odd Fellows. For five years he was president and secretary of the Barron Brick Yard Company and was a prominent factor in its success. Mr. Koerner was born in Shakopee, Minn., Dec. 12, 1869, one of four children, the others in the family being Henry of Minneapolis, Joseph of North Dakota, and Katherine, wife of H. H. Heller of Elbow Lake, Minn. He learned telegraphy at home and as a young man was station agent at several different points in Minnesota and the Dakotas. His first station in Wisconsin was at Almena, from there he went to Kennan and thence to Ladysmith, coming from there to Barron in 1903. He died Oct. 28, 1918, and his death was sincerely mourned. Mr. Koerner was married Nov. 27, 1894, to Helen Gilick, who was born in Glencoe, Minn., March 18, 1872, daughter of Lawrence and Anna (Burke) Gilick, natives respectively of Canada and Ireland, who settled in Glencoe in the early days and there resided for more than forty years, then coming to Barron where they resided the remainder of their lives, the father dying Dec. 24, 1913, and the mother Nov. 8, 1903. In the Gilick family there were seven children-Lawrence (deceased), James, Helen, Edward, John (deceased), William (deceased), and Henry. Mr. and Mrs. Koerner were the parents of six children-Helen, born Feb. 15, 1896, is with the "Soo" line in Minneapolis; Gertrude, born Feb. 9, 1898, is a clerk in the "Daylight" store in Barron; Henry, born Aug. 4, 1903, is with the "Soo" line in Barron; Gregory, born Feb. 17, 1905, is with the "Soo" line in Minne- apolis; Francis and Eleanor (twins) were born March 11, 1915, and are at home. Mrs. Koerner in February, 1921, opened a millinery establishment in her residence known as the "Parlor Millinery," and is meeting with good suc- cess, carrying a full and complete line of "up-to-the-minute" goods such as are found in the larger city shops.

Horace Hall was born in Yorkshire, England, March 3, 1875, son of James and Jane (Davey) Hall, the former a native of Norwich, Norfolk, England, and the latter of Yarmouth, England. They came to America in 1875, lived ten years in Clay County, Nebraska, and in 1885 settled in Chippewa Falls, Wis. Two years later the parents became Salvation Army workers, and so continued the remainder of their lives. As "Happy Jim" and "Mother Hall" they went from place to place in the northern part of the state, and their efforts were crowned with the fruits of much good to their fellowmen. Horace Hall was but ten weeks of age when his parents came to America and but ten years when they came to Wisconsin. In 1897 he came to Barron County, and for several years was variously employed. At one time he owned a small farm in Stanfold Township. His diversion was hunting and fishing, and as he is a great lover of the out-of-doors, he still indulges in these pastimes when time permits. In 1915 he became janitor in the Barron public schools, two years in the Ward building, and now in the high school building. He has a pleasant home on East La Salle street. His social relations are with the Modern Brotherhood, in the local lodge of which he is a charter member. Mr. Hall was married May 24, 1898, to Mary E. Dibbles, daughter of Willard O. and Emily (Grout) Dibbles, who settled in Barron Township when she was about four years of age. Her father is still living and her mother is dead. Mr. and Mrs. Hall have three children. Frederick Willard was born Dec. 5, 1900, graduated from the Barron High School in the class of 1919, and is now a student at the Moody Institute, Chicago. Irvine James was born Aug. 4, 1900; and Margaret Mary, Jan. 18, 1914. The family worships at the Baptist Church.

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 21

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

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