History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 29

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

USA > Wisconsin > Barron County > History of Barron County Wisconsin > Part 29

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).

John H. Bunker, vice-president of the Bank of Turtle Lake, and extensive real estate dealer of Turtle Lake, was born at Franklin, Hancock County, Maine, Sept. 21, 1863, son of Josiah G. and Susan (Trefether) Bunker, both natives of that state. He was reared in Maine, and attended school there until he was seventeen years old. Then he clerked in a general store at Franklin for a year. In 1881 he came to Wisconsin, and with headquarters at Rib Lake, in Taylor County, worked for John Kennedy, both in the woods and in saw mills. From this employ he went to Janesville, Wis., where he learned telegraphy. In 1882

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he entered the employ of the Omaha as station agent at Boardman. In 1884 he first came to Turtle Lake in the same capacity. From here in 1885 he was transferred to Rhinelander, in this state. But he had made many friends in Turtle Lake, and liked the prospects here, so in 1886 he left railroad work, came back to Turtle Lake, and entered the employ of the general store of F. C. Wickenburg. This building was burned in 1887. Mr. Bunker then formed a partnership with Mr. Wickenburg, and the two erected a new store. In 1900, L. M. Richardson became a partner. In that year the three partners organized the Bank of Turtle Lake, with Mr. Richardson as president, Mr. Bunker as vice- president, and Francis G. McKinzie as cashier, in which position all three have since remained. In addition to this, Mr. Bunker is extensively engaged in the buying and selling, and also handling on commission, of all kinds of city and rural improved and unimproved property, especially farm lands. . In public affairs he has served in such positions as chairman of the township and presi- dent and treasurer of the village. He is a member of the Blue Lodge and Chapter of the Masonic order, and also of the Odd Fellows. In July, 1921, he was appointed temporary postmaster of Turtle Lake and is now serving. Mr. Bunker was married at Osceola, Wis., Oct. 15, 1891, to Kate Umland, daughter of George and Katherine (Harff) Umland, natives respectively of Germany and St. Paul, Minn., and both now deceased. There was one other child in the family, Henrietta, the wife of L. M. Chinnock of Riceville, Minn. Mr. and Mrs. Bunker have had four children-George H., Addie L., Edith and Susan, an infant. George H. is engaged in the hardware business in Turtle Lake. Addie L. is attending the University of Wisconsin. Edith died at the age of six years. Josiah G. Bunker was born in Maine and as a youth became a carpenter, work- ing at general construction work and in building men-of-war. He owned a farm to which he devoted considerable time, and he also worked in logging camps and on river drives. After the timber had began to diminish he entered a store in Franklin, Hancock County, Maine, as clerk. He was soon promoted to man- ager, and remained in that capacity some thirty years. He died in 1917. His wife is still living in that state, at the age of 83 years. In the family there were six children-Emma, Alice, Kate, John H., Theodore and Edith. Emma is the wife of Harry Spring, of Skowhegan, Maine. Alice has been employed for over a quarter of a century in the pension department at Washington. Kate is single and looks after her mother. John H. is a banker and real estate man of Turtle Lake, Wis. Theodore died in St. Paul in 1910 and Edith died at the age of nine years.

A. O. Blix, oldest merchant of Turtle Lake, and well known in fraternal circles throughout the state, was born in Norway, March 23, 1858, son of Chris- topher and Oleanna (Olson) Blix, and descended from a long line of sturdy ancestors. He came to America in 1876 with two sisters, Olea and Leonharda and located in Wisconsin, where with headquarters at Eau Claire he secured employment in the lumber woods. Feeling the need of an American education, he attended the common schools of Eau Claire, the Augsburg Seminary of · Minneapolis, and Milton College at Milton, Wis. Then for many years he was employed as a clerk in Eau Claire stores. In 1893 he went to Drummond, Wis., where he was employed as manager of a general store for the Rush Owen Lumber Co., until 1904. In that year he came to Turtle Lake and bought the general store of F. C. Wickenberg. To the development and progress of this store he has since devoted his time and attention. He has built up a good business, has a large list of customers in village and country, and stands high in the community as a merchant and as a man. His fair dealing, his absolute business integrity, and his courteous manner have made him widely and favor- ably known. His branch store at Clayton, Wis., is conducted along the same general lines as the Turtle Lake one, and is equally highly regarded. Busy as he has been with his work, he has found time for fraternal life and public service. For four years he was village supervisor, representing the village on the county board. He has also served on various committees and delegations.

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A. O. BLIX

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He has passed through the chairs of the local lodge of Odd Fellows and has served as deputy state grand master for his district. He has also been through the chairs of the local lodge of Masons. The Modern Woodmen likewise count him as a valued member, passing through the chairs. Mr. Blix was married at Eau Claire in 1889 to Louise Langum, daughter of Andrew and Mina Langum, the former of whom is living in Eau Claire, and the latter of whom is dead. Mr. and Mrs. Langum were both born in Norway, being early settlers of Eau Claire. Mr. and Mrs. Blix have five children-Ovid B., Albert, Mildred, Laura and Anna. Ovid B. passed through the graded schools of Turtle Lake and graduated from the High school in Eau Claire. He graduated from the Univer- sity of Wisconsin in 1917 and is now municipal librarian in Milwaukee. In 1918 he was inducted into the United States service, and trained at Camp Grant. Albert is associated with his father in business. During the war he trained for the radio service. Mildred is the wife of George H. Bunker, a hardware merchant of Turtle Lake. Laura is a student at the University at Madison. Anna is attending the public schools of Turtle Lake. The family faith is that of the Lutheran church. Christopher Blix came of a family of Norwegian gentlefolk, the family name having been well known in that country for many centuries. He was a sailor and fisherman, and all his years was captain of a coastwise freighter in his native land until death. After a long and useful life he met death by drowning in the sea which he loved so well and which for a lifetime he had followed. His wife died in 1876. They had a family of seven children, four boys and three girls. Olea is the wife of John H. Leland, a farmer living near Bloomer, Wis. Christina is the wife of Olaf Lind, a mer- chant of Eau Claire. Leonharda is the wife of Anton Lind, of Auburn, New York. A. O. is a merchant of Turtle Lake. John, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and an attorney of Eau Claire, is now dead. Albert, who is also now dead, was a teacher and banker in North Dakota. Bernhard, like his father, was drowned in Norway.

Abraham O. Cornwall, business man of Turtle Lake, was born in Cornwell, Province of Quebec, Canada, May 4, 1861, son of Thomas and Sarah (Ervin) Cornwall, natives respectively of England and Canada. The father died when the subject of this sketch was an infant, and the mother brought the family to the States, and settled at Augusta, Wis. There young Abraham O. was reared and educated, graduating from the Augusta High School in 1879. For some years he worked on the home farm helping to support the family. At the age of twenty he located in Perley, Barron County, this state, and for six years was employed in the lath mills. In 1884 he bought 60 acres of land in Section 17, Almena Township. This was all wild. He broke and cleared it, and carried on general farming for some years. In 1912 he came to Turtle Lake, and for five years he worked in a potato house. In 1917 his son purchased the present pool and billiard hall, and since that time he has been in that business. Mr. Cornwall was married at Perley Nov. 5, 1884, to Bettie A. Bensend, daughter of John and Christine (Anderson) Bensend, early settlers of Almena Town- ship. Of the five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Cornwall there are now living four. William B. is a physician of Amery, this state. Arthur G. is a pro- gressive business man of Turtle Lake. Leslie L. lives in St. Paul. Anna is employed in the Security State Bank of Turtle Lake.

Donovan A. O'Brien, D. D. S., a skilled dental practitioner, located at Turtle Lake, is widely known in this part of the county. He has pleasant, well- equipped offices, he keeps well abreast of the times by wide reading, and his ability and personality have built up a good clientele in village and country. He was born at Augusta, Wis., Jan. 20, 1894, son of Charles M. and Anna E. (Rouse) O'Brien, he a native of that village, and she a native of Minnesota. For over a quarter of a century the father was engaged in the creamery busi- ness at Augusta. In 1917 he retired and moved to Turtle Lake, where he and his wife now reside. The subject of this sketch was the only child. He was reared in Augusta, received his preliminary education in the graded schools

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there, and was graduated from the High school in 1913. Then he took up the study of dental surgery and oral hygiene at the University of Iowa, and gradu- ated in 1916, with the degree of D. D. S. That fall he opened his office at Turtle Lake, and his success was apparent from the start. At the entry of the United States into the World War, he offered his service to his government, served five and one-half months at Camp Grant, and on Jan. 28, 1918, was ordered to the Kelley Field, where he was commissioned a lieutenant in the Dental Reserve Corps. He was discharged Dec. 24, 1918, and at once resumed his private practice. Fraternally, Dr. O'Brien is a Blue Lodge Mason. He was married at Augusta, Oct. 25, 1919, to Wilmah Cox, of Augusta.

Clifton D. Cochran, a representative Barron County farmer and dairyman, is one of the stirring citizens of Turtle Lake Township, president and manager of the Turtle Lake Co-operative Creamery, and one who is interested in every- thing pertaining to the good of the community in which he resides. He was born in Hall Township, Bureau County, Illinois, March 1, 1865, son of David A. and Melissa (Dewey) Cochran, and a grandson of David Cochran. It was in 1848 that the Cochran family came from New York State to Bureau County, Illinois, where in 1864 David A. Cochran married Melissa Dewey, born in New York State, of which state her parents were natives. She was a cousin to Ad- miral Dewey, the hero of Manila. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. David A. Cochran settled on a farm in Westfield Township, that county, and in course of time a family of seven children grew up around them, namely: Clifton D., of Turtle Lake Township; David, deceased; Fred, of Stanislaus County, California; Charles, who is operating a grain elevator at Utica, Ill .; Elizabeth, deceased; Jennie, who is unmarried and resides at Moline, Ill .; and Lillian, now Mrs. Fred Mouden, her husband being an Illinois farmer. David Cochran, the father, died July 1, 1881. His wife, Melissa, died in November, 1905. Clifton D. Cochran was reared on the home farm and acquired a common school educa- tion. After his father's death he remained at home with his mother, with the exception of two years or less, until he came to Barron County. On March 12. 1891, he was united in marriage with Sylvia S. A. Cheeseman, who was born in Bureau County, Illinois, July 15, 1863, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Par- ker) Cheeseman. Her parents were natives of England. They came to Bureau County, Illinois, prior to the Civil War. Mr. Cochran resided with his wife on his mother's farm until the fall of 1906, when he went to Ladd, Ill., where he remained until the spring of 1908. He then came to Barron County and bought a partially improved farm of 160 acres in Sections 7 and 8, Turtle Lake Township. Among the improvements was a good frame house. In 1910 he erected a good frame barn, 36 by 70 by 18, with a stone basement under 56 feet of its length. In the spring of 1921 he bought an adjoining tract of 80 acres on Section 8. He has now about 90 acres under the plow and is doing a general farming and dairy business with profitable results, milking from 18 to 22 cows of Guernsey grades. Since December, 1917, he has been president and manager of the Turtle Lake Co-operative Creamery. He has identified him- self closely with the affairs of his township and has been chairman of the town board since 1914. He is also serving as treasurer of his school district, No. 1, and his interest in educational matters covers a long period, as he served his school district in Illinois, in one capacity or another, for 21 years. For some years, Mr. Cochran was a member of Levi Lusk Lodge, No. 270, A. F. and A. M., of Arlington, Ill., and is now a member of Turtle Lake Lodge, No. 313, of which he was the first master. He also belongs to Turtle Lake Lodge, No. 328, I. O. O. F. Though not a member, he served the Baptist Church of West- field Township, Bureau County, Illinois, for a number of years as trustee. To Mr. and Mrs. Cochran, five children have been born: Carrie, May 27, 1892; Walter J., July 8, 1895; Jean, March 5, 1898; Sylvia, Dec. 31, 1900; and David, Oct. 2, 1903. Carrie is now the wife of Walter Barber of Turtle Lake Town- ship, and has three children, Dorothy, Clifton and Raymond. Walter J. mar- ried Martha Jones, daughter of William and Ellen Jones of this township and

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JOHN C. ROWLAND

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has one child, Laura. Walter, who recently became his father's partner, is living on the home place. Jean and Sylvia, who are unmarried, were graduated from the Turtle Lake High School in the fall of 1919. The former is living at home and the latter teaching school. David resides on the home farm, assist- ing his father and brother. Mrs. Cochran is a member of the M. E. Church.

John C. Rowland, now deceased, veteran of the Civil War, and for many years a prominent figure in the life of Barron Township, had an important part in the development of this region. As chairman of the township for many years during the days of its early progress, he did most efficient service, both for the town and for the county. He was especially active in laying out and improving roads. He foresaw the possibilities of the county, and with keen judgment realized that agriculture could never be successfully con- ducted with profit to the farmer, unless the roads were such as to make marketing safe and easy. Accordingly, he devoted much of his attention to development along these lines. He was a real leader among his fellows and his judgment was often sought by his neighbors in personal as well as in public affairs. He took much joy in his home and in his family, he was a good and useful citizen in every respect, and his death on Nov. 1, 1914, was sincerely mourned. John C. Rowland was born near Jamestown, in Chautauqua County, New York, Oct. 20, 1845, the son of Samuel and Sarah (Cowan) Rowland, both natives of that state. He received such education as was offered in the neigh- boring schools and learned farming with his parents. When but little more than a youth, he enlisted in Co. A, 112th New York Vol. Inf. and served for three years. He escaped without a wound, but was severely sunstruck, from which he suffered for some time afterward. Upon his discharge, he returned to New York State and continued farming. In 1881 he came to Barron County and took a homestead of 120 acres in Barron Township. This was then wild timber land. He built a frame house and a log barn, and started to establish for himself a home and a farm. A little later he built a better set of build- ings. Everything was swept away in the great fire of 1898. Undaunted, he then started anew, and put up a good house, barn, and other structures. In 1914 he sold out under advantageous circumstances. Previous to this he had purchased 160 acres in Section 29, Stanfold Township. This was partly im- proved, and a frame house and barn had been erected. He had improved it by building a granary, machine sheds and other structures. His death came soon after selling and he died on the old homestead. Then his widow and son, Carl, moved to the farm he had purchased in Section 29, Stanfold Township. They carry on general farming and dairying, have a good herd of cattle, and hold stock in the Barron Creamery Co. at Barron. Mr. Rowland was married at Clintonville, New York, Sept. 16, 1865, to Serena E. Forbush, who was born at South Valley, Cattaraugus County, New York, April 1, 1848, the daughter of Daniel and Louisa (Covell) Rowland, natives respectively of New York State and Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Rowland had four children: William H., Carl J., and Everett L. and Evelyn L., twins. William H. was born Dec. 17, 1870, and died Nov. 26, 1871. Carl J. was born Oct. 11, 1871. Like his father before him, he stands high in the community, is a good farmer and a good citi- zen, and believes in taking his share in everything that is for the betterment or progress of the community. The twins were born Sept. 12, 1888. Everett L. died in infancy. Evelyn L. married Otto Maack, of Barron, and they have four children: Lawrence (deceased), Linaus, Merlyn and Florence.

August Tangwall, a representative farmer of Section 5, Stanfold Town- ship, was born in Sweden, March 29, 1853, the son of Frederick Peterson and Lola Anderson, both of whom spent the span of their lives in the farming dis- tricts of Sweden. He attended the common schools of his parish, and for some years farmed with his father. He was married in his native country and in 1887 came to America and located at Omaha, Neb. Later he worked in a stone quarry at Nehawka, that state. With the money that he saved there, he came to Barron County in 1898, and bought his present farm of 80 acres. It was then

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covered with hardwood and pine. There he built a small frame house and barn and started clearing up the land. In 1906 he built a larger house and barn, and in 1919 he put up a granary, machine shed and other structures, making him a fine set of buildings. He carries on general farming and dairying and has a good herd of graded cattle. His farm is well equipped with tools and ma- chinery. Mr. Tangwall was married in Sweden, Oct. 6, 1881, to Carolena Head- len, who was born in Sweden, June 20, 1856, the daughter of Hans Frederick and Catherine Headlen, who spent the span of their lives in that country. Mr. and Mrs. Tangwall have four children: Algot A., Selma R., Arvid O. and Elsie. Algot A. was born Aug. 27, 1882. He has purchased 40 acres in Sec- tion 1, Stanfold Township, on which he is building a barn with a full base- ment, and he is starting to develop a farm. He is one of the well-liked men of the community, is popular with all who know him, and is getting a good start in life. He married Florence Blowers, who was born at Rice Lake, the daugh- ter of William and Mary Blowers, the former of whom is dead and the latter of whom lives in Osceola, Wis. Mrs. Algot A. Tangwall died Aug. 6, 1920, leav- ing three children, Merrill, Dewey and Esther. Selma R. was born Dec. 11, 1884, and lives at home with her parents. Arvid O. was born April 9, 1894. He was inducted into the United States service Sept. 19, 1917, trained at Camp Grant, Rockford, Ill., went to Camp Merritt, New Jersey, May 14, 1918, for overseas equipment, sailed for France with the First Provisional Company, 13th Engineers, landed in France, March 28, 1918, and saw active service at Verdun. He returned to the States, May 16, 1919. Elsie was born Oct. 24, 1896, and died Jan. 25, 1897. The family faith is that of the Swedish Lutheran Church.

Fred Burton, a successful farmer of Section 26, Stanfold Township, was born in Quebec, Canada, Jan. 22, 1874, the son of Seford and Almen (Demars) Burton. The father, as a young man, served three years and three months in the Civil War. After the war he went to Canada. Later he came back to the States, and located in Rice Lake Township, this county. He died in May, 1907, and his widow now lives in Rice Lake City. Fred came to Rice Lake Town- ship with his parents and remained at home until he was eighteen years, at- tending school and helping his father on the farm. Then he entered the em- ploy of the Rice Lake Lumber Co., working in sawmills and in the lumber woods. In 1913 he bought a partly improved farm in Sumner Township. Three years later he sold out, and then rented for a while. In 1918 he bought a farm in Stanfold Township. This he sold the same year, and then lived in Rice Lake for a few months. In 1919, he bought his present place of 80 acres in Section 26, Stanfold Township. It has a good frame house, a barn with full basement, and other suitable buildings. Mr. Burton successfully carries on general farming, and dairying, and has a good herd of cattle, headed by a full-blooded Holstein sire. He believes in modern methods, he is grad- ually improving his farm, and he already has a good start in life. Fraternally, he is a popular member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Burton was married Jan. 23, 1893, at Rice Lake, to Nabelia Amans, daughter of Andrew and Mary (Demars) Amans, natives of Canada, and for many years farmers in Barron County, the former of whom died Sept. 23, 1916, and the latter of whom lives in Rice Lake. Mr. and Mrs. Burton have two children: Raymond W. and Laverne A., born Feb. 6, 1896, and May 21, 1898, respectively.

Nels P. Nelson has lived on his present farm in Section 23, Stanfold Township, for thirty years, and in that time has built up a good place. He came here from Pewaukee, Waukesha County, this state, in 1891, and secured his present tract of 80 acres, then consisting of wild cut-over land. He built a log house and barn, and cleared up some of the land, and was getting a good start in life, when everything was swept away by the great fire of 1898. He set to work with a will, however, and soon had a new frame house and barn erected. As prosperity increased he was later enabled to build a better house, a good barn with full basement, a garage, a granary, machine sheds and other

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MR. AND MRS. GEORGE A. LABREE

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buildings. He here successfully carries on general farming and dairying, hav- ing a good herd of graded cattle, headed by a Holstein sire. He sells cream to the cheese factory at Pleasant View, in which he is one of the stockholders. He was born in Denmark, May 13, 1866, the son of George and Mary Nelson, who are still farming in Norway. He attended the excellent government schools of his native land, and learned farming thoroughly from his father. He came to America in 1889, and located at Pewaukee, Waukesha County, Wis., from which place in 1891 he came to Barron County. Mr. Nelson was married Jan. 14, 1897, in Jefferson County, this state, to Lizzie Ziegelmann, daughter of Herman and Augusta Ziegelmann, both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have four children: Sophie, born Nov. 2, 1899, is a bookkeeper. Mabel, born June 15, 1901, is teaching school. Nora, born May 17, 1903, is at- tending school. Frances, born Aug. 17, 1905, is attending school. The family faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

George A. Labree, an energetic farmer of Section 33, Stanfold Township, was born at Red Lake Falls, Red Lake County, in northwestern Minnesota, Feb. 7, 1880, the son of Adolph and Emma (Severson) Labree, natives respec- tively of Canada and Norway. The Labree family were the first to settle in the region north of Rice Lake, and have been prominent people here for over a half a century. The father went to Missouri as a young man, from there he went to northwestern Minnesota, and from there to Wisconsin, finding his way to Barron County by way of Menomonie, in Dunn County. For many years he farmed north of Rice Lake .. Later he. was a well-known business man of Rice Lake, dealing in farm implements and real estate. The subject of this sketch came to Barron County with the family in 1889. He attended district school for a while, and was not yet in his 'teens when he started out for himself, work- ing in the woods, in lumber yards and in sawmills. In 1897, at the age of seventeen, he entered the government service, as a lumber cruiser, or, packer, attached to a surveying crew. In this capacity he had many interesting ex- periences in the States, in Alaska and in the Philippines. Among those in Alaska, on one occasion while making a boat journey, the boat was frozen in and he and his companions had to walk over the ice for miles to Alaska Junc- tion. From that point he carried a box of crackers weighing 21 pounds 208 miles to the Klondyke, eating jerked meat on the way, as the crackers were for others. A loaf of bread was then worth $1.60. In the States, as a lumber cruiser, he packed on broncos, dogs, and on his back, provisions for the various lumber camps in the western mountain section. He worked in the woods until he was married and since than has rented farms for the past eighteen years. He is now renting a good farm in Section 33, Stanfold Township, where he is successfully carrying on general farming and dairying. He has a good herd of cattle, headed by a pure-blooded Holstein sire. A man of wide reading, he believes in progressive and scientific methods, and has faith in the future of Barron County. He has got a good start and is already well along the road to success. In religion he is a Catholic. Mr. Labree was married in Stanfold Town- ship, June 16, 1903, to Alice Demars, born in Cedar Lake Township, July 11, 1881, the daughter of Peter and Celner (Robarge) Demars, natives of Canada, who were pioneers in that township. She is descended on both sides of her house from people, who, like the Labrees, were among the first settlers north of Rice Lake, and who have been leaders in the affairs of this vicinity for some half a century. Mr. and Mrs. Labree are the parents of five children: Selima R. was born June 7, 1905; Zella M. was born Aug. 27, 1907; Nola L. was born March 22, 1910; Adolph C. was born April 3, 1901; and Violet A. was born July 9, 1917.

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 29

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

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