History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 27

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

USA > Wisconsin > Barron County > History of Barron County Wisconsin > Part 27

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).

A. William Skogg, jeweler and graduate watchmaker of Turtle Lake, dealer in pianos, Victrolas and other musical instruments and supplies, was born in Moorehead, Minn., 1891, the son of Andrew and Mary Skogg, the former a harnessmaker by trade. They were born in Sweden and came to the United States in 1886. For ten years they lived in Moorehead, Minn., ten years in Hawley, Minn., and two years in Denver, Colo., then moving to Detroit, Minn., where they now live. In their family there were five children: Anna, Clara, Olaf, A. William and Alvin G. A. William was reared in Minnesota, and as a youth entered the Stone School of Watchmaking at St. Paul, Minn., from which he was graduated in 1900. His first experience at his trade was received at Ellsworth, Wis., where he worked for three years. June 1, 1913, he opened his present store in Turtle Lake, the only one of its kind in the village. He handles a good line of jewelry, does general repairing and, as noted, sells pianos, Victrolas and musical accessories. He is a member of the Masonic order and the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Skogg was married at St. Paul Oct. 2, 1915, to Meda Johnson, daughter of Christ and Sarah Johnson, early settlers of Amery, Wis. The father is a railroad man. In the Johnson family there are three girls and two boys: John, Sina, Meda, Edna and Leonard.

George W. Stewart, whose farm in Sections 5 and 6, Turtle Lake Township shows evidences of thrift and prosperity, has been a resident of Barron County for more than 30 years and during that time has taken a worthy part in its material development. He was born in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, Aug. 7, 1865, son of John and Minerva (Owrey) Stewart, who were natives of that

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state. When he was four years old his father died and two years later he accompanied his mother to eastern Iowa, where he resided until the age of thirteen, in the meanwhile attending common school. Then, in 1878, he went with his mother to Balsam Lake, Wis., in which vicinity they settled on a farm. Their residence there, however, was of short duration, as in the following year, 1879, they came to Barron County. George was now fourteen and soon began working in lumber mills, an occupation in which he continued for several years. In 1885 he started on an independent career by purchasing 40 acres of wild land in Turtle Lake Township, which tract he subsequently cleared, also erecting on it a fairly good set of buildings. After thus developing it into a farm he sold it in 1909 and bought his present farm in Sections 5 and 6, which was then partly improved, being provided with a frame house and log barn. He has 55 acres now under cultivation and has added to the general improvement by erecting a good frame barn, a granary and a stave silo. As a dairyman he milks 17 cows, and has besides eight head of young cattle. His equipment corresponds to the rest of the property, being adequate and including a Ford auto car. For the past 26 years Mr. Stewart has been a member of Sunnybrook school board. His political principles align him with the Republican party, while he affiliates religiously with the United Brethren Church of Turtle Lake. Fraternally, he belongs to Camp 2115, M. W. A., and to Odd Fellows' Lodge, No. 328, of this township. Mr. Stewart was married in June, 1886, to Josephine Laundree, who was born at Apple River, Wis., July 18, 1864, daughter of Joseph and Madeline Laundree. He and his wife have one child, Lillian May, who was born April 14, 1905.

Ferdinand F. Rathke, who has resided in Turtle Lake Township for the last 14 years and has there developed a good farm, was born in Gaylord, Minn., Oct. 20, 1872, son of Charles and Emily (Kohler) Rathke, natives respectively of Germany and France. The parents came to the United States when young and, being married in this country, settled in Sibley County, Minnesota. Their children were as follows: Bertha, now Mrs. J. W. Stark, of Winthrop, Minn .; Helen, wife of C. A. Kuske, of Olivia, Minn .; Ida, wife of August Kuske, of Wichita, Kan .; Anna, wife of Henry Kuske, of Wichita, Kan., her husband being a brother to the husband of her sister, Ida; Emily, unmarried, residing in Minneapolis; Herman, of Winthrop, Minn .; Ferdinand F., of Turtle Lake Township, Barron County, and Charles, of Wichita, Kan. Ferdinand F. Rathke in his youth attended common school in Sibley County. He remained at home with his parents up to the age of 26, and continued farming in that county after his marriage until he moved to Turtle Lake Township, Barron County, Wisconsin, in July, 1907. Here he bought a farm of 160 acres in Section 31, on which he and his family took up their residence. The improvements on the farm were very slight, the house was poor and the barn a log structure. As it is at present the farm is practically his own creation. He has 90 acres under the plow, the rest being in pasture, and is doing a good farming and dairy business, keeping grade cattle, of which he milks 24 cows, and having several head of young cattle. His equipment is good and he owns an Overland auto car. He has also provided adequate buildings and is enjoying a pros- perous career. Mr. Rathke is a Republican in politics and in Sibley County was a member of his township board. He has served his school district in Turtle Lake Township as clerk for several years. Mr. Rathke's marriage occurred June 7, 1899, the bride being Elizabeth A. Millhousen, who was born at Rush River, Sibley County, Minn., Dec. 27, 1873, daughter of George and Margaretta (Kurschner) Millhousen. Her parents, natives of Germany, were maried in St. Paul, Minn. They now reside at Le Sueur, Minn., aged respec- tively 78 and 77 years. Their children, in addition to Elizabeth, were Ernest and George, both of Rush River, Minn .; August, now deceased; Emil of Prairie Farm, Barron County, Wis .; Julia, now Mrs. Julius Schultz, of Rush River, Minn .; Mary, wife of Albert Sinell, of Rush River; Lenora, who is Mrs. Charles Rathke, of Valley Center, Kan., and Margaretta, who died in childhood.

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FERDINAND F. RATHKE AND FAMILY

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Mr. and Mrs. Frederick F. Rathke are the parents of four children, all residing at home, namely: Selma C., born Nov. 11, 1900; Irene E., Dec. 10, 1905; Dora F., July 19, 1908, and Charles G., May 7, 1912. The family is connected religiously with the German Evangelical Church. It is interesting to note that the children's grandfathers on both sides were in the United States forces during the stirring years of the sixties. George Millhousen did service as a good soldier for four long years in the Civil War. Charles Rathke not only served in that conflict but was also one of the heroes of the Minnesota Sioux Indian campaign.

Fred Weiss, proprietor of Clover Leaf Cheese factory in section 26, Turtle Lake Township, was born in Berne, Switzerland, April 22, 1877, son of John and Anna (Fechtar) Weiss, who were farmers of that locality. At the age of five years he accompanied his parents to America, the family settling on a farm on Green County, Wis. There he grew to manhood, but, obliged to make himself useful at an early age, he had no regular schooling. When four- teen years old he began to learn cheese-making and at 19 was owner and operator of a factory in Green County. To such an extent did he prosper that he made two trips to his native land, on one of which he married Emma Steiner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Steiner, and brought his bride back with him to America. In 1914 Mr. Weiss bought the Clover Leaf cheese factory in Turtle Lake Township, and built a house in connection with it, to which he moved his family. There he has since resided and continued to carry on the business with good success. The factory has a capacity of 7,500 to 8,000 pounds daily. Brick cheese is manufactured exclusively, the product finding a ready market. Mr. Weiss has served as treasurer of school district No. 3, and in politics is a Republican. He is a member of Odd Fellows Lodge No. 328 of Turtle Lake, in which he has held all the chairs. His first wife, Mrs. Emma Weiss, died on June 12, 1911, leaving four children-Fred, born Oct. 12, 1902, now in Dodge County, Wis .; Frieda, born April 16, 1903, residing at home; Rosa, born March 20, 1906, and Edward, born April 14, 1904, also residing at home. Mr. Weiss was united in marriage with Elizabeth, daughter of Caspar and Mary Dietrich of Turtle Lake Township. She was born at Jacksonport, Door County, Wis., Jan. 23, 1896. There is one child of this union, Raymond, who was born Oct. 7, 1919. Mr. Weiss and his family are faithful members of Silver Creek congrega- tion of the German Lutheran Church.

Kaspar Dietrich, well known in Turtle Lake Township as one of its suc- cessful farmers and dairymen, was born in Dueringen, Germany, July 28, 1870, son of Conrad and Christine (Gunder) Dietrich. After attending common school in his native land, he came at the age of thirteen to America with his parents, who located at Jacksonport, Wis. They were very poor and found themselves in a wild country confronted by difficulties of various kinds. But making the best of circumstances, they settled on the land and endeavored to wring a subsistence by its cultivation. The services of their son Kaspar being needed on the farm, he got no further schooling, but acquired that practical knowledge of agriculture which proved the foundation of his present prosperity. The parents are now deceased, the father having died in Barron County in 1907 and the mother in 1911. Their children were: Elizabeth, now Mrs. Kaspar Bittdorf of Polk County, Wis .; Adolf, a farmer in Door County, Wis .; Kaspar, subject of this sketch, and John, who is a farmer in Turtle Lake Township. Kaspar Dietrich started in for himself at the age of twenty-four. He married Mary Naumann, daughter of William and Pauline Naumann of Door County, Wis. She was born in Saxony, Germany, March 25, 1874, and had come to America with her parents at the age of seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Dietrich began home making in Door County, but after a while made the experiment of going south to Virginia. After residing there a while they went to Kansas, but not liking it there, returned to Wisconsin in 1902 and settled in Turtle Lake Township, Barron County, buying 120 acres of wild land in section 26. To narrate their early struggles would be to repeat an oft told story with

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which most of the old residents of this county are familiar, as many of them went through the same experience. Suffice it to say that Mr. Dietrich has "made good." On his farm, forty acres of which are under the plow, stands a good set of buildings. The low of kine can be heard in the pasture, and all the surroundings indicate a comfortable prosperity. All this has been obtained by hard work and frugality, with a patient pressing forward to the goal in view. Respected as a citizen, and beyond the reach of want, he can now look back with equanimity to his former years of struggle and trial, and his career points a moral to the aspiring youth of today. For fifteen years he has been a director of school district No. 3, politically being a Republican. He and his wife have been blessed with ten children-Wilfred, born June 1, 1894; Mary and Elizabeth (twins), Jan. 23, 1896; Margaret, Jan. 6, 1899; Kaspar, May 14, 1901; William, May 23, 1903; Hans, born Dec. 21, 1906; Helen, Sept. 9, 1909; Rosa, July 23, 1911; George, Feb. 10, 1914, and Florence, March 24, 1918. Wilfred is farming in Minnesota. Mary is now Mrs. William Kesler of Polk County, and Elizabeth is Mrs. Fred Weiss of Turtle Lake Township. Margaret, who was born in South Boston, Va., married Rev. Fred Werner, a Lutheran pastor, who is now deceased. Kaspar, born in Shawnee County, Kans., died in Turtle Lake Township, Barron County, June 14, 1916. The remaining children are all living in this township. The three first mentioned were born in Door County. Mr. Dietrich and his family are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, worshipping with the Silver Creek congregation.

Oscar F. Eckwald, who helped in the building up of Turtle Lake Township by the development of a good farm, but who passed away soon after attaining the main object of his ambition, was born in Nocherpeng, Sweden, March 30, 1868, son of Andreas and Anna Eckwald. While he was still an infant death deprived him of his parents, and up to the age of nine years he was reared by an aunt. He was then adopted by Erick Gustaffson, with whom he lived until he had attained his majority, in his boyhood attending the common school. In 1884 he came to America, settling at Clayton, Wis., in which locality he found work as a common laborer. Subsequently he spent four or five years in Montana. Then, returning to Wisconsin, he started in for himself as a farmer, buying 120 acres of wild land in section 30, Turtle Lake Township. There being no buildings on the property, Mr. Eckwald first erected a granary, which he used as a residence until 1917, in the summer of which year he built a comfortable frame house, having by that time developed 45 acres of the land. He carried on general farming and dairying and his place was well stocked, as he was milking eighteen cows, and his teams and general equipment were good. But the career of prosperity on which he had just entered was cut pre- maturely short by death from pneumonia, and he passed away May 15, 1917. He had been reared in the Lutheran faith, and after becoming an American citizen had joined the ranks of the Republican party. Mr. Eckwald was mar- ried March 11, 1898, to Hattie O. Anderson, of Clayton, Wis., by whom he had one son, Henry A., born Jan. 17, 1899, and now living on the home farm. Mrs. Hattie O. Eckwald did not long survive the birth of her child, dying April 18, 1899, and on Oct. 14, 1899, Mr. Eckwald married Anna Maris Johnson, daughter of John Alexson and Ingeborg. Lewis of Clayton Township, Polk County, Wis. She was born in Clear Lake Township, that county, April 12, 1875. Her parents are both now deceased. The children of this second union are: Ettie Alfreda, born Oct. 19, 1903, now living at home; Ernest J., born Oct. 8, 1909, and Olga Matilda Josephine, born June 22, 1916. After her husband's death Mrs. Eck- wald rented out the farm, but still resides on it. She has many friends in the township and enjoys wide social popularity.

Albert G. Huhn, editor of the Turtle Lake Times, was born at Gaylord, Minn., May 25, 1888, son of August and Rosa (Barr) Huhn, natives of Berlin, Germany, who came to the United States in 1879, and located in Henderson, Minn., going from there to Gaylord, Minn., and from there to St. Paul, Minn., where the father still follows his trade as a blacksmith, and where the mother

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died in 1918. In the family there were eight children, all of whom are now living. Anna is the wife of Joseph Kimmel, of St. Paul; Frank lives in Minne- · apolis; Paul lives in St. Paul; Helen is the wife of Frank Sherman, of St. Paul; John T. lives in San Francisco; August lives in Superior, Wis .; Clara is the wife of Thomas Rogers, of St. Paul; Albert G. lives in Turtle Lake. Albert G. was reared in St. Paul, and attended the public and parochial schools. As a youth he was variously employed. He learned the printers' trade with the Standard Printing Co. of St. Paul and worked for them a while. Then for some years he worked for the Pioneer Press, and in this connection became a mem- ber of the Typographical Union, No. 38, A. F. L. In 1912 he came to Turtle Lake, and opened a restaurant. The next year he bought the Turtle Lake Bugle. He changed the name to the Turtle Lake Times, and issued his first number. Oct. 6, 1913. He has a newsy paper, of eight six-column pages, well filled with stories of local interest. The circulation is about 600. Being an expert printer, Mr. Huhn has paid particular attention to the job department. He has three job presses, and a Prouty power press, and carries a good line of type, paper and supplies, for various kinds of business, social and personal printing. He is a subscriber to the Franklin price list and bases his prices upon the scientific system established by that organization. Mr. Huhn was married at St. Paul, June 30, 1908, to Gertrude Zimmerman, daughter of Peter J. and Gertrude Zimmerman, natives respectively of La Crosse, Wis., and Cale- donia, Minn. Mr. and Mrs. Huhn have two bright children, Virginia, born March 17, 1911, and Wesley, born March 19, 1913. Mr. Huhn exerts consider- · able influence in the community both as an editor and as a man. His utter- ances are regarded with respect, and his paper is growing in circulation and importance. His job department is growing still more rapidly. He has prac- tically all the local printing, has a good handbill and letterhead business from the farmers, and is even getting business from other villages. Like several other of the prominent citizens who have come here from other places and identified themselves with the progress of the village, he has faith in its future, and is taking his part in every move which has for its object the growth and improvement of this vicinity.

Bert J. Hart, a well-known resident of Turtle Lake, liveryman, farmer and public official, was born in Washburn County, Wis., March 23, 1872, son of James and Louisa (Everett) Hart, natives respectively of Maine and Canada, who came to Wisconsin in 1876, and settled in Polk County, where he took a homestead of 40 acres, cleared and broke the land, erected a set of buildings, and lived there for many years. The mother died in 1888. The father in his latter life went to Oregon where he died in 1907. Bert J. was reared on the farm in Polk County, over the Barron County line, and attended school in Turtle Lake. At the tender age of fourteen he started out for himself, spend- ing his winters in the logging woods and his summers on farms. In 1893 he purchased a livery business at Turtle Lake, and this he has since operated, having in 1901 erected a good barn, 46 by 100 feet. For thirty-one years he operated an eighty-acre farm in Polk County, just west of Turtle Lake. He served for seventeen years as constable of Turtle Lake and for one year was village marshal. Mr. Hart was married Sept. 15, 1896, to Susia Gaffney, who was born in Canada, daughter of James and Elizabeth Gaffney. Mr. and Mrs. Hart have had eight children: Byrel (deceased), Cecil, Percy, Opal, Dola, Dotsie (deceased), Lee and Gertrude (deceased).

William H. Jones, a favorable representative of the agricultural interests of Turtle Lake Township, where he has resided for 17 years, was born in Madison, Wis., December 31, 1862, son of Isaac and Martha (Benson) Jones. The parents were from the East, the father being a native of Woodstock, N. H., and the mother of Cattaraugus County, New York. The former came to Wisconsin as early as 1850, locating at Hudson and subsequently removing to Menomonie, the country between the two places being at that time entirely devoid of population. In 1859 he married Martha Benson at Madison, who had

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accompanied her parents from New York State to Brooklyn, Wis., the journey being made with a wagon and team. Three years after the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Jones the Civil War broke out, and he served in the army for some . time as a volunteer. About 1873 he came with his family to Polk County, Wis- consin, settling on timbered land at Apple River. It was a homestead of 160 acres, which in time he cleared, but his life was not spared many years longer, as he died when his son, the subject of this sketch, was about fifteen years old, or about 1877. His widow remained for several years on the farm, after which she married Joseph Leana, and they moved to Section 7, Turtle Lake Township, in which locality they remained for some years. She died at Clay- ton, Wis., Oct. 25, 1920. Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Jones were the parents of seven children: Frederick, who lives at Vancouver, B. C .; William H., the direct subject of this sketch; Carrie, now Mrs. Dell Tunecliff, of Fergus Falls, Minn .; Cyrus, deceased; Manley, deceased; Orvill, who resides at Emmett, Idaho, where he is superintendent of a mill; Orrin, of Clayton, Wis .; and Mary, now Mrs. Charles Shara, of Minneapolis, Minn. William H. Jones acquired his edu- cation in the common schools. He resided at home until the age of 18 years and worked in the woods as a lumberman till about 1905. In March, 1904, he took up his residence in Section 18, Turtle Lake Township, where he has since remained. His farm consists of 173 acres lying four miles south of Turtle Lake and is well stocked, Mr. Jones having 16 cows with six head of young cattle, all grade Holsteins. He is carrying on farming and dairying success- fully and has a recognized place in the township as one of its prosperous and reliable citizens. As supervisor he has rendered efficient public service. Fra- . ternally, he is connected with Turtle Lake Lodge, A. F. and A. M., No. 313, and with the Odd Fellows' Lodge, No. 328. Mr. Jones was married November 17, 1894, to Ellen Gordon, who was born September 21, 1877, daughter of William and Mary (Laport) Gordon. He and his wife have been the parents of nine children, namely: Martha A., born Sept. 19, 1895; Forrest, Jan. 4, 1898; Gor- don, January 7, 1900; Vida M., March 6, 1903; Ada M., July 7, 1910; Eva I., October 31, 1917; Iva, May 30, 1920; and two who died in infancy. Martha was married, April 10, 1918, to Walter Cochran, a farmer of Turtle Lake Township. Forrest, who enlisted in the U. S. Army, is now in Hawaii, attached to the heavy artillery. The other surviving members of the family are residing at home.

C. F. William Pabst, who is profitably engaged in farming and dairying in Turtle Lake Township, where he has resided for 21 years, was born on a farm in Brandebourg, Germany, March 1, 1863, son of August and Wilhelmina (Hench) Pabst. He was educated in the common school and at the age of 17 came to America with his parents, who settled at Lake Elmo, Washington County, Minn., and there operated a farm under rental for 20 years. There William remained until the spring of 1900, when he came to Barron County. He bought 200 acres of land in sections 16 and 21, Turtle Lake Town- ship. It was almost wild, as very little clearing had been done and there were no buildings. Mr. Pabst began the work of improvement and subsequently cleared and developed the farm, erecting a good frame house, barn, granary, tool sheds, stave silo and a steel windmill. Later he sold a portion of this farm but still retains 72 acres. The place is well stocked with good grade cat- tle, of which he milks 22 cows, the balance being young cattle. Though giving special attention to dairying, he also carries on general farming successfully. His equipment is of the best and includes a Ford auto car. On August 2, 1892, Mr. Pabst was united in marriage with Augusta Richards, daughter of Fred- erick and Albertina Richards of Washington County, Minnesota. Her parents were natives of Germany, who settled in Minnesota at an early day, and it was in Washington County that their daughter, Augusta, was born, Oct. 22, 1868. There, also, Mr. and Mrs. Pabst began housekeeping and remained until their removal to Barron County, Wisconsin. Their first four children were born in that county, namely: Arthur A., May 27, 1893; Ella L., May 3, 1894; Erna A.,

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C. F. W. PABST FARM HOME

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Oct. 27, 1897; and Edna F., September 7, 1900. The two youngest, Esther L. and Leona L., were born in Barron County, Esther, Sept. 4, 1905, and Leona, May 22, 1913. All the children reside at home. Arthur A. owns and operates a farm of 120 acres adjoining the home place on the north, which was pur- chased for him by his father. The family worship at the Peace Lutheran Church, a neat little edifice built on land donated from his farm by Mr. Pabst. This church belongs to the Buffalo Synod and the pastor comes from Minne- sota to hold services. Politically, Mr. Pabst is a Republican.

Frederick Klockeman, Sr., a substantial citizen now living retired in Tur- tle Lake, was born in Germany, Feb. 24, 1845, son of Henry and Johanna Klockeman, who spent the span of their years as Germany farmers, and both of whom are now deceased. Of their eight children, two came to this country, and these are the only two that are living. One of these two is Mary, the wife of August Jagau, of Marshalltown, Iowa. The other, the subject of this sketch, was reared and educated in Germany. As a youth, he first worked on his parents' farm, then he worked as a railroad man for a while, and then he was foreman on a sugar beet plantation for several years. He served in the German Army for four and a half years, which included the years 1870-71, when the Franco-Prussian War was raging. In 1883 he came to America and settled near State Center, Iowa, where he successfully farmed until 1897. In that year he came to Barron County, and settled on a farm of 160 acres in Sec- tion 5, Turtle Lake Township. This land had considerable standing timber but had partly been cut over. By cutting and sawing the timber, he secured enough lumber for the excellent set of buildings he erected. He also cleared much of the stump land and developed a good farm. In 1902 he sold this farm and bought one in Beaver Township, Polk County. This he traded for the Commercial Hotel in Turtle Lake. This hotel he rented. He sold it in 1913. In the meantime, in 1913, he bought another farm in Section 30, Almena Town- ship. In 1909 he moved to Turtle Lake, where he has since continued to live. Here he has been a trustee of the village for several terms. Mr. Klockeman was married in Germany, to Gustina Klein, daughter of Christ and Gustina Klein. The Klein family has lived in one spot in Germany for over three centuries. The home was once burned by the Frenchmen under Napoleon, and once by the Russians, but has each time been rebuilt on the same walls. Mrs. Christ Klein, mother of Mrs. Klockeman, lived to be nearly one hundred years old. Mr. and Mrs. Klockeman have had five children, four boys and one girl. August lives in Turtle Lake and is mail carrier on Route 2. Frederick, Jr., is a farmer in Beaver Township, Polk County. Alexander is a railroad fireman and lives in St. Paul. Alma is the wife of Walter Barrett and lives at Grinnell, Iowa. Ernest, the twin brother of Alexander, was killed by electricity at Plainview, Minn., May 11, 1918.

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 27

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

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