History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 23

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

USA > Wisconsin > Barron County > History of Barron County Wisconsin > Part 23

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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G., born Oct. 27, 1906; Beatrice L., born Aug. 17, 1908; and Helga A., born Oct. 24, 1911. The family faith is that of the Barron Congregation of the Norwegian Lutheran Church.

Ole G. Foss was born near Christiania, Norway, Oct. 23, 1867, the son of Gudmund and Caroline (Larson) Foss. He was brought to Columbia County, Wisconsin, in 1869, and came to Barron Township, this county, in 1881. For many years he spent the winters in the woods engaged in the lumber industry, continuing his farming in the summer. In the fall of 1892 he purchased 120 acres of wild land in section 17, Barron Township, built a small frame house, and with his wife, started housekeeping. Other buildings were erected as necessity required and means permitted, and the farm was gradually broken, developed and cultivated. Like so many others, they lost their all in the fire of 1898, a disaster which affected them so seriously that for five years they had to live on a rented farm to get a new start. But in the spring of 1903 they moved back onto the old place and continued its improvement. In 1903 the present home was erected. It is a sightly structure, as good as any in the neighbrohood, and with the good barn, and well-tilled acres, breathes an air of prosperity and success. A stave silo has recently been erected, 14 by 24 by 10 feet. Mr. Foss has served his school district as treasurer and clerk. His interest in the general industrial life of the community is shown by the fact that he is a stockholder in the Rice Lake & Barron Consumers' Store. He worships with his family at the Barron Norwegian Lutheran Church. Mr. Foss was married May 25, 1892, to Tillie Jorgenson, of Barron City. They have three children: Cora, born March 19, 1893, now wife of Joseph Richards, of Clinton Township, this county; Olga, born Oct. 1, 1895, wife of Theodore Tvedt, of Barron Township; and Mabel, born Nov. 20, 1897, who is living in Minneapolis. All the buildings on Mr. Foss's farm are lighted by his own elec- tric plant. He has a good hot air furnace, a bath room, and running water in both house and barn.

Carl Fliflet was born in Norway, Nov. 28, 1868, son of Lars and Ingberg (Olson) Fliflet, natives of Norway, both now deceased. He came to America in 1884 and located in Barron County, working in lumber camps and saw mills for many years. In 1889 he was injured by a falling log, being laid up for over a year, during which time he took advantage of the opportunity to further per- fect his education. Upon his recovery he became a saw mill engineer. In 1894 he bought 60 acres in sections 2 and 11, Barron Township, and to this he after- ward added 40 more. All this throughout was then covered with heavy timber. He cleared, broke and brushed 80 acres and erected all the buildings himself. He assisted in the affairs of the community in various ways and helped to build many of the roads. For twelve years he served as clerk of the school board of district four, Barron Township. From the time of his first arrival here he was interested in church work and was one of the few who assisted in starting the "Free Mission" church in his neighborhood. In this church he has been either assistant superintendent or superintendent of the Sunday School for fifteen years. Late in 1920, Mr. Fliflet rented his farm to his son-in-law, William Pitz- rick, and is now planning to make his future home in California, where he has purchased twenty acres in Turlock. Mr. Fliflet was married Jan. 4, 1897, to Josephine Holm, born in Norway, Dec. 23, 1862. Mrs. Fliflet lost her life in the wreck of the steamer "Empress of Ireland", May 29, 1914, while on a trip to visit her old home. Mr. Fliflet has three children: Joseph, born Jan. 4, 1898, a farmer in Barron Township; Constance, born Aug. 23, 1900, now wife of William Pitzrick; and Ruth, born July 1, 1902, who was cashier of the "Day Light" store in Barron, but is now in California with her father.

Joshua F. Gould was born in Fillmore County, Minnesota, Oct. 7, 1868, son of Augustin and Jane (Broadbent) Gould. The father was born in New York state, Nov. 11, 1830, came west to Fillmore County, Minnesota, farmed there for a while, and followed his profession of wheelright. He then moved to Oldham, S. D., where he farmed for many years, and subsequently went to

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Longmont, Colo., where he died Jan. 3, 1904. The mother was born in England, Oct. 11, 1836, came to America with her parents when she was three years of age, and died in North Dakota, Oct. 30, 1886. The children in the family were: Flora, now Mrs. Fremont Stevens, of Madera, Cal .; George, of Buel, Idaho; Ida, deceased; Adaline, wife of A. L. Ferry, of Pynallup, Wash .; Alzuma, now wife of Clarence Robie, of Danbury, Wis .; Minnie, now Mrs. James Emerson, of Jelly, California; and Mabel, now wife of Herbert Spencer, of Angeline, Wash- ington; and Joshua F., the seventh born. As a young man, Joshua F. took over the management of his father's farm at Oldham, S. D., for seven years, and then operated a farm a mile south of the home place for three years. In the fall of 1892 he purchased 320 acres in Stuttsman County, North Dakota, twenty miles from Jamestown. He sold out this place in the fall of 1906 and a few months later bought 80 acres in Arland Township, this county. In 1910 he sold that place and acquired 160 acres in section 31, Barron Township, this county. This was practically all covered with standing timber, only ten acres having been cut-over. To the improvement of this farm, Mr. Gould has since devoted his attention. He has built a good house with concrete double walls, two stories in height, his barn is 34 by 80 feet, with full basement, his silo is of good capacity, and the other buildings are all adequate for their needs. Mr. Gould successfully carries on general farming and stockraising, and has a good herd of high grade Holstein cattle and a large drove of Chester White swine, maintaining full-blooded sires in each line. The home is three miles southwest of Barron City, and is well known for its hospitality and good cheer. Mr. Gould was married Jan. 26, 1890, to Anna A. Bergmann, born in Germany, Oct. 29, 1871, daughter of Carl and Marie Bergmann, of Ashippun, Wis., the latter of whom died Aug. 3, 1915, and the former of whom is now living in Ashippun, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Gould have ten children, three born in South Dakota, three in North Dakota, and four in Wisconsin. Hugo O. was born Dec. 15, 1893, and lives in Prairie Farm Township, this county. Lillian H. was born May 16, 1896, and is the wife of Ezra Acher, of Harlowton, Mont .; Earl E. was born Feb. 2, 1901, and is on the home farm with his father. Effie J. was born Nov. 6, 1902; Guy H. was born Nov. 7, 1904; George A. was born July 30, 1906; Jewell F. was born Nov. 14, 1908; Helen M. was born Oct. 21, 1911; Florence B. was born April 17, 1914; and Carlos F. was born June 27, 1917. The family faith is that of the First Baptist Church of Barron.

Ben Thorsen, a business man of Barron City, was born in Norway, Oct. 17, 1850, son of Thor and Margaret Smestad, the former of whom later came to America and died in Cameron, this county, and the latter of whom died in Norway. Ben, the youngest of a family of four children, was bound out to strangers after his mother's death. In 1872 he came to America, and made his way directly to Cameron, in this county. He came here with no money, and for some time earned but $18 a month. For about fifteen years he spent his summers working in the hotel of John Quaderer, at Barron, and his win- ters in the lumber woods. In 1887 he came to Barron City, and since then has been employed in the hardware business, first with Dewitt Post, then with John Post, and now with Ed. Falkenberg. By hard work and frugal habits he has acquired a competency and is one of the respected men of the community. The family residence is a comfortable home at the corner of First and Divi- sion streets. Mr. Thorsen was married March 15, 1886, to Caroline H. Jacob- son, the daughter of June and Martha (Johnson) Jacobson, and they have one daughter, Tena, wife of Cornelius O. Tvedt, of Barron Township. Mrs. Thor- sen was born in Norway, Dec. 23, 1856, one of seven children, two of whom died in Norway. Her parents came to America when she was a girl, and set- tled on a farm in Waseca County, Minn.

Cornelius O. Tvedt, a well-to-do farmer of Barron Township, was born in Stavanger, Norway, Dec. 9, 1870, the son of Ole O. and Kari (Natland) Tvedt. He was reared in his native land and there received a limited education. When he was twenty-two he felt an ambition to follow his brothers, Ole O., Nels O.

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and Gunder O., to America. Borrowing the money from Nels O., he started on his journey, and in due time landed at Stoughton, Dane County, Wis., with just ten cents in his pocket. It was in the spring of 1892, and he worked a few months in the tobacco fields for Carl Busta, in the fall being employed in grub- bing land. The winter was spent in sizing and stripping in a tobacco ware- house, and in the spring of 1893, with his brothers, Gunder O. and Nels O., he put in a crop of tobacco on shares for Ole Lunde, with whom he remained for six years. In the winter of 1898-99, while still working in Dane County, he purchased 80 acres of wild land in section 16, Barron Township, this county, in partnership with his brother, Gunder O. The two brothers moved onto the farm in the spring of 1900. They cleared and broke the land, erected good buildings, and gradually developed a good farm. To the original purchase they added another forty, so that the property now consists of 120 acres, of which about 80 are under the plow. The brothers continued together until 1917, when Cornelius O. bought out his brother, and became sole proprietor. Since that time he has continued the improvements, and to the other buildings has added a poultry house, tobacco sheds, garage, pump house, and other outbuild- ings, and has purchased new equipment. He has running water and electric light in his house and barn. He carries on general farming, and makes a specialty of dairying and tobacco raising, which last named industry he be- lieves has an especially bright future in this county. Mr. Tvedt was married June 6, 1917, to Tena Josephine, daughter of Ben and Caroline H. (Jacobson) Thorsen, of Barron City, and this union has been blessed with two children: Bertina C., born June 6, 1919, and Cora O., born June 17, 1921. Mrs. Tvedt was born Nov. 3, 1886, graduated from the Barron High School in 1905, and taught rural school in this county for several years.

Mathias Hong, section 8, Barron Township, has a good eighty-acre farm, of which 35 acres are improved, and there he is laying the foundations of his future fortunes. He was born in Coon Township, Vernon County, this state, Jan. 24, 1881, son of Peter and Martha (Brobakken) Hong, who brought him to Barron County in 1897 when he was a youth of sixteen years. With the excep- tion of the years, 1907 to 1912, when he worked at the carpenters' trade, he has devoted his life to agricultural work. In 1912 he purchased his present place four miles northwest of Barron, cleaned off much of the brush, prepared the soil for cultivation, erected a house, barn and other buildings, and acquired tools and equipment. Mr. Hong was married Feb. 18, 1914, to Olga Norby, who was born Feb. 5, 1891, one of the five children of Christ and Marie Norby, prosperous residents of Barron Township. Mr. and Mrs. Hong have two chil- dren: Palma M., born March 23, 1915, and Marie Christine, born July 15, 1917. Marie had a twin brother, who died in infancy. The family faith is that of the Barron congregation of the Norwegian Lutheran Church.

Peter Hong, deceased, was born in Norway, and there married Martha Brobakken. They came to America in 1861, and farmed in Vernon County, this state, until 1897, when they came to Barron County, and settled on section 21, Barron Township, where they acquired eighty acres a mile north of Barron City. After Mr. Hong's death, his widow took up her home with her daughter, Mrs. George Gilbertson. In the family there were seven children: Gustav; Sesele, now Mrs. Nels Gyland, of Barron Township; Anna and Ida, who are dead, and Louis who is blind and lives with his sister, Mrs. George Gilbertson; Pauline, now Mrs. Martin Foss, of Barron Township; and Clara, now Mrs. Gilbertson, of Barron Township.

Henry Helgeland, proprietor of the Helgeland Stock Farm, Barron Town- ship, was born near Madison, Wis., on a Dane County farm, Dec. 17, 1876, son of John J. and Anna (Reindahl) Helgeland. The father was born in Stavanger, Norway, Jan. 5, 1843, came to Wisconsin as a young man, and was married at Madison in May, 1875, to Anna Reindahl, who was born in Telemaarken, Nor,- way, in June, 1847. They began farming on a place near Madison, first came to Barron County in 1898, located here permanently in 1906, and here the father

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died, the mother still making her home with her son, Henry. In the family there were six children, Henry being the oldest; Charles lives at Rice Lake, this county; Martha is the wife of John Helsing, of Radisson, Sawyer County, Wis .; Inger (first), Inger (second) and an unnamed infant are dead. Henry came to Barron County in 1898, when his father came here and purchased 160 acres of wild land in section 18, Barron Township. When the family went back to Dane County, he stayed here, and here with the exception of two brief intervals he has since remained. The place is well developed with 75 acres under the plow, and is located four miles northwest of Barron City. Here Mr. Helgeland makes a specialty of high grade Durham cattle and Duroc swine, and successfully carries on dairying and general farming. He has cleared and developed much of the land himself; he has erected a good house, barns, silos and sheds, and has acquired suitable equipment, until his place is as good as is to be found in the neighborhood. Mr. Helgeland has not cared to mingle ac- tively in public life, but as the father of children, has done some good service as a member of the board of School District No. 5. Mr. Helgeland was married June 25, 1907, to Bessie N. Stensaas, who was born in Prairie Farm Township, this county, May 7, 1878, daughter of Andrew J. and Beret (Ronningen) Sten- saas, pioneers of this county, the former of whom died Nov. 2, 1903, at their farm in Prairie Farm Township, and the latter, at the home of the subject of this sketch, Nov. 26, 1916. Mr. and Mrs. Helgeland have three bright chil- dren: Agnes E., born May 13, 1908; Adolph B., born Nov. 14, 1912; and Sylvia J., born July 17, 1916. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran Church. Andrew J. Stensaas, father of Mrs. Helgeland, was twice married. By the first wife he had two children, 'Anna and Nels, the former of whom lives in Minnesota, the latter being deceased. Of this second marriage, four children were born: Bessie M., now Mrs. Henry Helgeland; and Severt, July and another, who are dead. Mr. Stensaas, the father of Mrs. Helgeland, had many interesting stories to tell of pioneer days. When he came here most of the county was covered with wood, and there was little likelihood that it would ever become thickly populated. There were no townships organized, the voters all cast their ballots at Barron. There they would gather, sit about on blocks of wood, discuss public matters, and vote on county affairs. The present sys- tem of conducting public business is in decided contrast to those early days. Mrs. Helgeland was a school teacher for ten years before her marriage, and was well beloved by her pupils, who still delight to call her their friend.

Arndt J. Dragseth, formerly contractor and builder, and now prosperous farmer of Barron Township, to whose credit stand many of the best brick buildings in Barron City and vicinity, was born in Trondjem, Norway, March 13, 1862, second of the five children of John C. and Marit (Segren) Dragseth. The other four children in the family were: John, who died in Minneapolis; Nels, who lives in Norway; Ole, who died in Rice Lake, Wis .; and Gertrude, who lives in Norway. Arndt J. came to America in 1881, and found his way directly to Minneapolis. The first summer he worked as a common laborer, and then entered the employ of Robert C. Todd, contractor. At first he was a mortar mixer and hod-carrier at fifty cents a day, out of which he had to board and clothe himself. After the first two months he received an increase in wages. Within three years he completed his apprenticeship, and became a full-fledged bricklayer. He then continued in the same employ for many years, working on some of the best known brick buildings in the Twin Cities and vicinity. In the spring of 1897, he purchased 120 acres in Barron Town- ship, this county. This land was all wild, but had a few lumber shacks stand- ing on it. Mr. Dragseth fitted up one of these shacks for a home, and after moving his family therein, cleared a little of the land. For several years he alternated his time between the farm and his employment in the Twin Cities. In 1898 his property was all destroyed by the great fire, his family saving their lives by taking refuge in the waters of the Yellow River. Mr. Dragseth was in St. Paul when he read of the disaster, and for some days was in doubt as to

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the fate of his loved ones. He hurried home and started life anew. He con- tinued to develop his farm, and started in the contracting and building busi- ness, erecting a number of brick buildings in Barron, and brick residences and schoolhouses in the surrounding farm districts. It was not until 1915 that Mr. Dragseth retired entirely from the contracting business. In the meantime he achieved success with his farm. To his original tract he added 80 acres, mak- ing a good farm of 200 acres, and on this farm, with the assistance of his sons, George A. and Arnold W., who work the place with him on shares, he carries on general farming along modern lines, making a specialty of high grade Hol- stein and Jersey cattle. Everything about the farm is in the best of condition, and the buildings include a substantial frame house, good barns, a granary, and other well-built structures. Mr. Dragseth is highly respected in the com- munity and has been honored by his fellow citizens in various ways. He is serving his third term as town supervisor, and for over a dozen years has been director of School District No. 5, the school of which was first organized in his original log home. In addition to his other financial holdings, he is a stockholder and director of the Barron Co-operative Creamery. Mr. Dragseth was married June 24, 1887, to Julia Olson, who was born in Trondjem, Norway, and at 21 years of age came to America to join a brother in Minneapolis, fol- lowed later by another brother. Mr. and Mrs. Dragseth are the parents of six children : Marie B., Armena J., John O., George A., Arnold W. and Martin G. Marie B. is now the wife of Hans Tollefson, of Barron Township. Armena J. is the wife of Peter Tollefson, of Barron Township. John O. lives in Minne- apolis, and is employed as a railway engineer by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul. George A. resides at home. Arnold W. also lives at home. He en- listed for the World War, May 14, 1918, as a mechanic, trained at Lansing, Mich., and at Augusta, Georgia, was equipped for overseas at Camp Merritt, N. J., sailed for France, Sept. 26, 1918, landed at Brest, France, was at Verdun six weeks, sailed for home Jan. 14, 1919, was discharged at Camp Grant, Ill., Feb. 14, 1919, and reached home two days later. He is a member of Ben Brown Post, 212, American Legion, Barron. Martin G. is a clerk in a hardware store in Minneapolis. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran Church.

John W. Williams was born in Indiana in 1844, and married Frances W. Rhodes, who was born in Ohio, the daughter of Jacob Rhodes, who died in 1918 at Barron, and his wife, Mrs. Jane Rhodes, who still makes her home in that place. Mr. Williams brought his family to Barron County in 1904, and lived three years on a farm in Maple Grove Township before moving to Bar- ron City, where he died in 1918, and where his wife still lives. They were the parents of eleven children: Freeman W., of the firm of Williams Brothers, auctioneers, real estate dealers and insurance agents, Barron; Sherman, de- ceased; Doyle, of Rice Lake, this county; John, associated in the firm of Wil- liams Brothers, with Freeman W .; Orvel, also of Barron; Ora, deceased; Jen- nie, wife of Edward Boyer, of Barron; Bertha, of Seattle, Wash .; and Lydia, Callie and Ivan, who are deceased.

Freeman W. Williams, of the firm of Williams Brothers, Barron City, auc- tioneers, real estate dealers and insurance agents, was born in Marshall County, Indiana, April 5, 1880, son of John W. and Frances W. (Rhodes) Wil- liams. He came to Barron County with the family in 1904, and to Barron City in 1907, and was variously employed until the fall of 1909, when he became an auctioneer and real estate man. The next year the present company was formed in partnership with his brother, John. The company does a good busi- ness, and the brothers are widely known for their ability, good judgment, fair dealing and integrity. Both brothers are stockholders in the Pavillion Sales Co. of Barron and both attend the Baptist Church. Freeman W. Williams was married Oct. 18, 1904, to Hattie M. Baker, of Maple Grove, this county, born in Mazomania, Wis., Oct. 18, 1885, daughter of William H. and Margaret Baker. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have four children: George W., born Nov. 20, 1905, now a student in the Barron High School; Margaret, born July 17, 1908, who died

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MR. AND MRS. WILLARD O. DIBBLES

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Aug. 1, 1910; Dorothy, born June 10, 1913; and Idella M., born Sept. 28, 1915. Willard O. Dibbles has experienced pioneer life in three states, Illinois, Missouri and Wisconsin, and his early adventures in Barron County, if amply told, would form a most interesting chapter in any history of early life in the old Northwest. He was born at Lake Bono, Vermont, July 29, 1849, son of Orrin and Lucy (Alden) Dibbles, natives respectively of Connecticut and Ver- mont, and married in the latter state. The children in the family were: David, who was killed in the Civil War; Dwight, who died in infancy; Daniel, Laura L., Willard O. and Wallace. Willard O. lost his mother when he was nine years of age, and a year later started to shift for himself by living and working here and there among the neighbors. At nineteen he came to Illi- nois, and secured employment with Rathbone Grout, whom he had met in Ver- mont, and who had promised him work at $18 a month and board. Two years later he went to Missouri. There he married Emily Grout, daughter of his former employer. In 1876 they returned to Illinois. It was from there in 1882, that they set out with their children for Wisconsin. They were almost penni- less, but they managed to secure a pair of horses and a wagon, and loading their meager belongings, they made the long way overland to the home of a cousin, Enos Oldin, who lived in Barron Township, Barron County. Then they found a temporary place to live until they could look about. As an added misfortune, one of their horses died soon after their arrival. Mr. Dibbles found a desirable forty in Clinton Township, a part of his present farm, that was open to preemption, but he lacked the means, so he set to work as a day laborer to repair his broken fortunes. In his first employment he received 75 cents a day, and had to walk three miles to his employment in the morning and back that distance at night. Next he secured work on the state road. For this he received $1.50 a day, but had to walk four miles each morning and back at night. By early winter he had enough to preempt the forty acres. On this he erected a log cabin with logs which he got out himself. Neighbors were few and far between, but with what help he could get, the logs were rolled up in two days, and the family moved in on March first. The roof was not on, nor the logs chinked, but the cabin was home, and the family residence in the wilderness was established. The winter was a hard one, and the years that immediately followed not much easier. But hope beat high in the breast of the family and gradually a fine farm was developed. The land was cleared, increas- ing crops were planted, equipment was purchased from time to time, and with · the passage of the years, 80 more acres were added, 40 in Clinton Township and 40 in Barron Township. The log cabin proved inadequate, and a board extension, 12 by 16 feet, was made. In this enlarged home the family lived until 1904, when a good two-story, nine-room, brick house was built on the Barron Township portion of the farm. In 1912, a large frame barn was erected. Other buildings have been added from time to time as necessity has required and means permitted, until the place, which is located four miles northwest of Barron City, is now as good as can be found in the vicinity. Mr. Dib- bles is a hale, hearty, active man, a fine example of those sturdy pioneers who conquered the wilderness and helped make the county what it is today. Mrs. Dibbles, who was the faithful helpmate of her husband in all his undertak- ings, was born in New York state, Dec. 22, 1848, and died on the farm, Sept. 26, 1908. She was a devout member of the First Baptist Church at Barron. She and her husband were the parents of eight children. Two born in Mis- souri died in childhood. William Henry and Mary Elvira were born in Illinois. Laura Lucy was born in Illinois and died there. Charles Rathbone, Emma Melvina and Franklin Willard were born in Wisconsin. William Henry was born Sept. 14, 1876, and is assisting his father in operating the home farm. Mary Elvira was born Nov. 8, 1878, and is the wife of Horace Hall, of Barron City. Laura Lucy was born July 27, 1881, and died July 5, 1882. Charles Rath- bone was born April 26, 1883, married Adeline Freestone, and is now a farmer in Barron Township. Emma Melvina was born Nov. 25, 1886, and is the wife

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 23

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

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