History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 30

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

USA > Wisconsin > Barron County > History of Barron County Wisconsin > Part 30

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).

Wilhelm Wille, a solid and substantial farmer of Section 3, Stanfold Town- ship, held in the highest esteem by all who know him, is a hard working, in- dustrious citizen, who has built up a good farm by energy and application, and is regarded as one of the active and useful men of the community. He was born in Germany, July 11, 1854, the son of Carl and Johanna Wille. He at-

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tended the common schools and as a youth worked in the brick yards. He came to America in 1880, and located at Milwaukee, Wis. Two years later, in 1882, he came to Rice Lake, this county, and bought 160 acres in Section 3, Stan- fold Township. This was then covered with hardwood timber. Here he built a log nouse and log barn, and started to clear up the land. As the years passed, his industry and hard work resulted in prosperity. In 1907, just twenty-five years after he came onto the place, he built a pleasant frame house. In 1916 he put up a barn with a full basement, granary, machine sheds, sheep house, swine house and other buildings. Here he still continued to successfully carry on general farming and dairying on a profitable scale. He has some good cat- tle, sheep and swine, and the farm is well equipped with tools, implements and machinery. Mr. Wille is a member of the Farmers' Equity Exchange and a stockholder in the Goodhope Cheese Co., owning the cheese factory in Bear Lake Township. Mr. Wille was married at Winneconne, Winnebago County, Minn., October, 1882, to Augusta Weisner, the daughter of Carl and Fredericka Weisner, who brought their family to America in 1881, and settled in Barron County, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Wille have had fourteen children: Minnie, Albert, Paul, Leo, Lena, Otto, Mary, Frederick, William, Arthur, August, Carl, Ella and Ida. Minnie was born Oct. 9, 1883, is married and lives in Montana. She has two children : Milyers and Orvel. Albert was born Jan. 5, 1885, and now lives on the home place. Paul was born March 19, 1886, and farms in Minnesota. Leo was born July 24, 1887. Lena, born Jan. 7, 1888, married Edgar Demars, of Rice Lake Township, and has one child, Lucille. Otto, who saw action in France during the World War, was born March 1, 1889, married Clara Bjerkin, has one child, Eveline, and lives in Minnesota. Mary was born July 19, 1891. Frederick married Josephine Bearkin, and lives in Minnesota. He is a veteran of the World War, having served with the United States forces in France and Germany. William was born Dec. 11, 1895, married Anna Schaud, lives in Stanfold Township, and has two children, Viola and Lena. Arthur was born Dec. 28, 1896, and lives on the home place. He trained in army camps for a while during the World War. August was born March 18, 1898. Carl was born August 22, 1899. Ella was born March 29, 1902. Ida was born June 23, 1905. The family faith is that of the German Lutheran Church.

Anders G. Rahm, a respected resident of Section 26, Stanfold Township, was born in Sweden, July 3, 1852, and was there reared. He received a good education, and being a man of considerable mathematical ability, he became a government surveyor. This profession he followed for many years. In 1906, however, he decided to seek his fortune in America. Accordingly, he came to this country and in time found his way to Barron County, where he purchased 120 acres of land in Section 26, Stanfold Township. This farm was partly improved, and a small barn had been built. Mr. Rahm put up a good frame house, a barn, machinery sheds and other buildings, and started to develop the place. It is now as good a farm as can be found in the neigh- borhood, with well-kept buildings, well-tilled acres, suitable fences, good stock, and an adequate equipment of tools, implements and machinery. One of the features of the place is an excellent and productive orchard. Mr. Rahm suc- cessfully farmed until 1919, when he turned the management over to his sons, Gustave and Warren A. He and his wife still live on the home place. He is well thought of by all who know him, and is highly regarded for his worth, his character and his ability. Mr. Rahm was married in Sweden, to Anna Shieldburg, who was born July 29, 1852, and this union has been blessed with seven children: Warner A., Frieda, Hedwig, Jernon, Gustave, Andrea, and Signa. Warner A. was born July 17, 1893, came to this country with his par- ents, received his education in the common schools of Sweden and America, and learned farming from his father. He is interested with his brother, Gus- tave, in the management of the home farm, but is working as a motorman on the street railway system in Minneapolis. Frieda was born March 7, 1882. She is the wife of Ferdinand Ahlstrom, of Sweden, and has seven children. Hedwig

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was born Oct. 19, 1884. She is the wife of Charles Ingstrum, and lives in Vine- land, N. J. Jernon was born in Sweden, Aug. 25, 1890, married Anna Steel, and lives in Minneapolis, Minn. Gustave was born Sept. 23, 1902, and is in partner- ship with his brother, Warner A., in the management of the home farm. Andrea was born Aug. 22, 1887, married Julmer Freeman, of Stanfold Township, and has one child, Rune. Signa was born July 16, 1880, married A. L. Ingstrom, of Minneapolis, Minn., and has one child, Wesley. The family faith is that of the Swedish Lutheran Church.

Frank J. Mlejnek, an energetic farmer of Section 1, Stanfold Township, where he owns a good farm of 280 acres, was born at Webster, S. D., Oct. 4, 1888, the son of John and Mary (Slavick) Mlejnek, natives of Bohemia, now living in Bear Lake Township. Frank J. was reared on the home farm, and educated in the South Dakota public schools. In 1911 he started out for him- self by renting farms in that state. He came to this county and bought his present place in 1918. The farm was then partly improved. He is building it up into a good place. He has a pleasant home, a barn with full basement, machine sheds, granary, and other buildings. He is successfully carrying on general farming and dairying, and has a good herd of cattle, headed by a full- blooded Durham sire. His machinery and equipment are good. He takes pride in the appearance of his place, he has a larger farm than most of his neighbors, and he is planning to get the most out of it in every way. Fraternally, he is a member of the Z. C. B. J. Mr. Mlejnek was married at Rice Lake, Dec. 10, 1913, to Christena Havel, the daughter of Joseph and Amelia Havel. She was born in Nebraska, July 18, 1893, came to this county in 1895, and located in Oak Grove. The father was killed by lightning in 1906. He was sitting in his home in Oak Grove Township, holding in his lap his son, George, then about three years old. The lightning killed the father, and stripped the clothing and shoes from the boy, leaving him still sitting in his father's lap, naked but un- harmed. The mother is still living on the home farm. Mr. and Mrs. Mlejnek have five bright children: Mary, born Oct. 26, 1914; Joseph, born Feb. 6, 1916; Hellen, born Aug. 6, 1917; Edward, born Feb. 27, 1919; and Frank, born Aug. 17, 1920.

Fred Weber, an energetic farmer of Section 1, Stanfold Township, was born at Tower City, N. D., April 22, 1896, the son of John and Katherine (Valerius) Weber, natives respectively of Germany and Minnesota. After farming for some years in North Dakota, they came to Barron County in 1904, and purchased 80 acres in Section 1, Stanfold Township, where they started farming once more. There the father died in 1905 and the mother in June, 1913. Fred was a small boy when he came to this county. He attended the district schools, and learned farming on the home place. He has gradually taken over its management. He thoroughly understands his business and is doing good work. He successfully carries on general farming and dairying, and has a good herd of cattle, headed by a full-blooded sire. He raises good crops and is already well along the road to success. Mr. Weber was married June 28, 1919, at Cameron, in this county, to Margaret Klossner, who was born in Le Roy, Minn., on Nov. 14, 1898, the daughter of John and Anna Barbara (Dick) Klossner, the father a native of Switzerland and the mother of Wis- consin, who came to this locality twelve years ago and now live at Rice Lake, in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Weber have one son, Leroy, born Feb. 1, 1920. Mr. and Mrs. Weber are both well liked in the neighborhood, they are active in social affairs, and their home is always open to their friends.

William T. Larson, a prosperous farmer of Section 23, Stanfold Town- ship, was born in Denmark, Jan. 15, 1875, the son of Christopher and Mar- garet (Rasmussen) Larson, natives of that country, who came to America in 1889 and located in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, where he died the next year, the mother now living with the son, William T., at the age of eighty-seven years. The subject of this sketch attended school in Denmark, and came to this country with his parents in 1889 as a boy of fourteen. He early started to

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earn his own living, working in the woods and on farms. He bought his pres- ent farm in 1899. It was then a wild tract of cut-over land, with the frame of a house standing on it. He has developed the tract into a good farm and has put up a good frame house, a barn with a full basement, a granary, sheds and other buildings. He has fenced and cultivated the land, and has purchased good equipment. Here he successfully carries on general farming and dairy- ing, and has a good herd of graded Shorthorn cattle. He is a man of good judgment and good sense, and is a most estimable citizen in every respect. He is a stockholder in the Pleasant View Cheese Co. in Rice Lake Township. Fraternally, he is a popular member of the Beavers. Mr. Larson was mar- ried April 5, 1899, in Stanfold Township, to Mrs. Emma Michaud, who was born in Rice Lake Township, Feb. 22, 1869, the daughter of Henry and Char- lotta (Sholke) Sawyer. She was the widow of D. Michaud. Mr. and Mrs. Larson have four children: Evelyn C. was born Aug. 4, 1901, married Roy Chapman, of Pewaukee, and has twin daughters, Marjory and Dorothy. Leona V. was born April 6, 1903, married John Hauck, of Oak Grove, and has one child, Dewane. Violet C. was born April 26, 1906. Wanda M. was born Aug. 19, 1909. By her previous marriage, Mrs. Larson has two children: Cisoree Michaud, born Aug. 20, 1890, and George Michaud, born July 25, 1893.

Thor H. Johnson, veteran of the Civil War, pioneer of Barron County, and one of the real founders and builders of his community, came here in 1869, and bought 160 acres of railroad land in Section 19, east, Maple Grove Town- ship, cleared 100 acres and opened a farm. He built a good set of buildings, and for many years had what was considered the best and largest house in this part of the county. He was a progressive man, he believed in the future of the county, and he had a clear vision of the advantages to be gained by using modern methods and equipment. With this thought in view, he was the first man to own and operate a threshing machine in this county, thus inaugurating a new era in farm work. He was also a horse fancier, and raised and owned many fine animals. But it was not alone in material things that he took part. Being a thorough believer in education, as he was, he gave an acre of land for a school site to District No. 8, was a promoter of the project which resulted in the building of the schoolhouse there, and served as treas -. urer of the board for many years. He was also vitally interested in town affairs, helped to build some of the first roads, and served as supervisor for a long period. In many other ways, he took part in the progress of the com- munity, and had the respect and admiration of all who knew him, his reputa- tion extending far beyond the borders of the township in which he lived. After a busy life, filled with worthy endeavor, he died Nov. 2, 1914, and township and county united in mourning the loss of so good a citizen. Thor H. John- son was born Sept. 16, 1845, in Norway, son of Oliver and Rena (Johnson) Johnson, who brought him to this country when he was a boy, and located on a farm in Illinois. Shortly after the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted, and served until the close of that conflict. Upon his discharge he located in Chi- cago, where he engaged in the meat business. From there he came to Barron County. Mr. Johnson was married Oct. 26, 1867, to Anna Larson, who died April 28, 1878, leaving six children: John, Edward, Thomas, Henry, Daniel and Esther. Jan. 1, 1881, he married Wilhelmina Storm, daughter of John and Sophia (Greenquist) Storm, natives of Sweden, who came to America in 1880, and settled in Maple Grove Township, this county, where they farmed the remainder of their lives, the father dying July, 1896, and the mother, March 12, 1899. By this marriage, Mr. Johnson had ten children: Alma, born Oct. 29, 1881, is now Mrs. Fred Richards, at Chetek, this county. Melvin was born April 4, 1883, and is a farmer in Maple Grove Township. Lena was born Dec. 25, 1885, and is the wife of John Wetzel, of Maple Grove Township. Emily was born Jan. 8, 1888, and is a trained nurse in Minneapolis. Myrtle was born Oct. 7, 1889, and is now Mrs. Adolph Olson, of Maple Grove Township. Ralph L. was born Aug. 6, 1892, and is now a farmer of Maple Grove Township. Fred

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THOR H. JOHNSON

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was born Aug. 30, 1894, and is now a farmer near Chetek, this county. Viola, born March 8, 1897, is the wife of Raymond Hunt, of Maple Grove Township. Marion, born July 15, 1899, is now Mrs. Elmer Malum, living near Cameron, this county. Emmett was born Aug. 21, 1902, and now operates the farm for his mother.

Ralph L. Johnson, an energetic and prosperous farmer owning 120 acres in Section 17, east, Maple Grove Township, was born in the township where he still lives, Aug. 6, 1892, son of Thor H. and Wilhelmina (Storm) Johnson. He attended the district school, took a two-years' course at the Chetek High School, and in 1910 was graduated from the Chippewa Valley Business Col- lege at Chippewa Falls. Then for a time he was employed by the Jenney, Semple & Hill Wholesale House in Minneapolis. He purchased his present place in 1912. Before this, in addition to attending school and working in Minneapolis for a while, he had operated the home farm for a while and a rented farm for some three years. He now successfully carries on general farming and dairying, having a good herd of Holsteins, with a full-blooded sire at the head, and a good drove of Duroc-Jersey swine. Fraternally, Mr. Johnson is a member of the Mystic Workers. He and his family attend the Free Mission Church. Mr. Johnson was married April 10, 1917, to Garda Olson, daughter of William and Alice (Gullickson) Olson, natives respectively of Wisconsin and Norway, the former of whom is dead, and the latter of whom lives in Stan- ley Township, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have one child, Norma W., born July 1, 1918.

James Hansen, agriculturist and prominent man of affairs, prosperous farmer of Section 22, Stanfold Township, and leading public official, was born in Denmark, July 15, 1871, the son of Lars and Sophia (Peterson) Hansen, who came to the United States in 1892, and located at Rice Lake. James was the first of the family to come to America. He was reared and educated in his native land, and became thoroughly familiar with the stock raising and dairy- ing interests there. Upon coming to this country in 1890, at the age of nine- teen years, he located at Depere, in Brown County, this state, where he was variously employed on farms, in sawmills and on the railroads. In 1892 he came to Barron County, and bought a tract of 240 acres in Stanfold Township, one-half of which he sold, and one-half of which he still owns. When he took it, the tract was still wild. He put up a log house and a log barn, and started clearing up the land. At first he had only a yoke of cattle, a cow, and a few tools. Gradually he has built up a good place, and now has as good a farm as is to be found in the neighborhood. He has a modern, eight-room home, equipped with running water and other conveniences. The barn is commodious, and the other buildings suitable for their purpose. His equipment in tools, implements and machinery is excellent, and his land is well tilled and well fenced. He has a large herd of Holsteins, headed by a full-blooded sire. Aside from successfully conducting his farm, Mr. Hansen has served with distinc- tion in many public positions. He was first elected assessor, and in this capac- ity showed fairness and good judgment. Next he was a member of the town board for some years. Subsequently, he was town clerk. His work in these responsible positions so commended itself to his constituents that in 1914 he was elected to his present position as chairman of the township. He makes a most admirable officer, and is in favor of progress, especially in regard to good roads. His interest in highways has been the distinguishing feature of his excellent service on the county board. As a member of that body he is serv- ing on the road and bridge committee, and the work the county is doing in the way of better thoroughfares, is a matter of especial pride with him. For many years he has shown his interest in education by serving on the school board. His good judgment and sound sense have been a factor in the success of the Citizens' State Bank of Rice Lake, of which he is a director. He has done energetic and aggressive work as a director of the Barron County Fair Association. All in all, he is as useful a man as can be found in the commu-

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nity, and he stands high with all who know him as an estimable official, farmer, friend and neighbor. Mr. Hansen was married at Rice Lake, Oct. 27, 1896, to Olena Sorenson, who was born at Omaha, Neb., Sept. 9, 1876, the daughter of J. C. and Sophia Sorenson. Mr. and Mrs. Hansen have eleven children : Agnes, Flora, James, Lars, Alice, Irving, Leonard, Richard, Milas, Roger and Loretta.

John Gronlund is building up a good farm of 40 acres in Section 1, Stan- fold Township, Highway No. 12, where he has lived for a dozen years. He is one of the estimable men of the community, he is working hard to develop his place and conduct it successfully, and he is doing well at general farming and dairying. He is well liked throughout the community, and has many friends, both among his present neighbors and among those whom he knew in his lumbering days. He and his wife have a pleasant home, the doors are al- . ways open to their friends, and they delight in extending hospitality to all. He has good equipment and good stock, and is making general improvements as time and means permit. He was born in Sweden, Nov. 4, 1871, the son of Anders and Anna (Marta) Gronlund, also natives of that county, the former being a carpenter and blacksmith by trade. The father died at the age of 84, Sept. 16, 1914. John received a good education in the common schools of his native land, and there grew to manhood. He came to America with his par- ents in 1894, and located at Grantsburg, Wis. For some years thereafter, he worked in the lumber woods and in saw mills. After some time the father bought a wild forty-acre tract in Emerald, Wis., but having but little money, and being old and sickly, John bought it from him and helped his parents to improve it. Then John sold it and after paying all his debts gave his parents most of the money. The mother died in Emerald, Wis., in August, 1905. In 1908, John Gronlund purchased his present place. It was then cut-over timber land. He built a frame house and a log barn and started clearing up the land. Later he erected a small log house for his father. He has broken, tilled and fenced the land, has put an addition on the barn, and has erected sheds and other outbuildings. Mr. Gronlund was married at Minneapolis, Minn., March 31, 1906, to Matilda Bergdahl, who was born in Sweden on May 4, 1875, the daughter of Frans Johan and Mathilda Cattrina Bergdahl. Mr. and Mrs. Gron- lund belonged to the Lutheran Church and now attend the Free Mission Church.

William Coleman, retired farmer living at Rice Lake, was born in Nebraska, and was there reared and educated. He came to Wisconsin in 1880, and with Eau Claire as his headquarters, worked for Knapp, Stout & Co. for fifteen years. In 1895 he took a homestead in Washburn County, not far from this county. He cleared the entire forty acres, put up a good set of buildings, and successfully carried on general farming until 1920, when he retired and moved to Rice Lake where he purchased a pleasant home. His wife died in 1885 and he married Gertie St. Clair. The three children in the family are: John, Ger- trude, now Mrs. Milo Curtis, and Harry.

Harry Coleman, well known and energetic garage man at Brill, is well versed in machinery, knows how to handle the public, and is doing a good local and tourist trade. He does general repairing of all kinds and handles a good line of accessories. The village is well located for such a business, and Mr. Coleman is making the most of his opportunities. He was born in Juneau County, this state, April 6, 1882, son of William and Effie (Wright) Coleman. He was brought to Washburn County, just over the line from Barron County, in 1885, and was there reared. He attended the district school at Brill, and helped at home with the farm work. In 1904 he became a stationary engineer. This line he successfully followed until 1919 when he opened his present establishment. Mr. Coleman married Angie Coleman, born at Mauston, Wis., daughter of Frank and Carrie (St. Clair) Coleman, the former of whom is dead and the latter of whom still lives at that place. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Coleman have five children: Nine, Grace, Effie, Arnold and Ester Lilly.

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MR. AND MRS. HARRY COLEMAN

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Carl G. Frederickson, prominent citizen, town official and successful farmer of Section 27, Stanfold Township, was born in Sweden, April 27, 1872, the son of Fred Oleson and Anna Cedar, also natives of that country. The father was employed for many years in Sweden as a foreman in lumber yards. In 1904 he retired, and came to America, and located in Stanfold, where he spent the remainder of his life. He died in 1906. His wife died in 1918. Carl G. was reared in Sweden, there attended school, and was reared to manhood. For a while he worked for his father in the lumber yards. He came to America in 1891 and located at Rice Lake, Wis., where he was employed for some years in the hub and spoke factory. In 1902 he bought his present place of 80 acres. It was then partly cleared, and a log house and barn had been erected. To the improvement, development and operation of this place he has since devoted his attention, with the best of results. In 1910 he built a frame barn, in 1913 he put up a pleasant home, and in 1918 he added a silo, machine sheds and other buildings. He carries on general farming, stock raising and dairying, and has a well-equipped farm and a good herd of stock. He is a stockholder in the Barron Creamery Co. at Barron, and in the Consumers' Store at Rice Lake. Fraternally, he is a popular member of the Modern Wood- men of America. In public affairs, Mr. Frederickson has taken an active part for many years. In 1908 he was elected town clerk, and in this position he has since served with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the voters. He is painstaking in keeping the records, he has the interest of the town at heart, and he makes a most efficient and conscientious official. He has likewise done good work as a member of the School Board for some twelve years past, and is now the treasurer. Mr. Frederickson was married at Minneapolis, Minn., to Christena L. Johnson, who was born in Sweden, on Oct. 8, 1875, the daughter of Isaac and Marie (Dahlberg) Johnson, both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Frederickson have eight children: Eline A., born Oct. 22, 1895, who married William Anderson, of Stanfold Township, and has two children, Vivian E. and Dorris V .; Carl F., born Aug. 14, 1897; Ernest V., born March 8, 1900; Oscar was born Dec. 31, 1904; Elsie M., born July 21, 1907; Frieda C., born Aug. 5, 1909; Esther E., born March 5, 1912; and Hilding A., born March 21, 1915. The family faith is that of the Swedish Lutheran Church.

James A. Smith, Chetek photographer, and formerly for many years in- terested in the shipbuilding industry, has a successful studio, is an artist in his profession, and is a man of wide experience, genial personality, and pleas- ing temperament. He was born in Greenbush, Maine, Jan. 25, 1867, the son of Charles W. and Nancy (Philbrook) Smith, the former of whom was a native of the neighboring town of Greenfield. James A. was reared in his native state and was there educated. As a youth, he entered the employ of A. L. Young, dealer in ship timbers, of Auburn, Maine, for whom he got out ship timber for many years; first in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont; then, beginning with 1889, in Canada; later, beginning with 1893, at Cameron, Barron County, this state; and finally, beginning with 1899, in Glen Flora, in Rusk County, this state. In the meantime he had become an enthusiastic amateur photographer, and decided to take up that line as a profession. Consequently, in 1904, he opened a studio at New Auburn, in Chippewa County. In 1906 he opened a studio at Cameron, in this county; and in March, 1908, opened his present studio at Chetek. He does artistic photography, sells amateur supplies and looks after amateur finishing and enlarging, and also has a good framing department. Mr. Smith was married at Arundle, Quebec, Canada, to Mar- garet Dubeau, a native of that place. This union has been blessed with four children: Ozro John, Alfred ,W., Helen Gladys and Inez Evelyn. Ozro John was born in Canada, April 30, 1892, became a marine engineer, and is now in Mexico. Alfred W. was born in Cameron, this county, July 28, 1899, and is now a Chetek tailor. Helen Gladys was born at Glen Flora, this state, Oct. 29, 1905. Inez Evelyn was born in Cameron, this county, July 19, 1907.

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 30

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

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