History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 32

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

USA > Wisconsin > Barron County > History of Barron County Wisconsin > Part 32

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active factor in the life of Rice Lake. It is interesting to note that Dr. Ross is a charter member of the Trowel Club, an organization of dentists who are also Masons. Fraternally, he is a member of Superior Lodge No. 236, A. F. & A. M. The Rice Lake Commercial Club numbers him among its active workers. Dr. Ross is a lover of the out-of-doors and takes his recreation in hunting, fishing and other sports which carry him into the open. He is regarded as one of the coming men of the community and is already well along the road to success. Dr. Ross was married Sept. 25, 1918, in Chicago, Ill., to Mabel Kathryn Weller, who was born in Chicago, May 6, 1892, daughter of Frank and Emma (Wagner) Weller. She acquired her education in Chicago. Dr. and Mrs. Ross have one child, Betty Virginia, born Feb. 20, 1921.

Rev. J. E. Nord, retired, was born at Skareide, in Nordfjord, Norway, Dec. 14, 1852, and is the youngest of the four children born to Erick and Gunhild Nord, the former of whom died at the age of 88 and the latter at the age of 95 years. An ancestor, Erick Nord, was a member of the Constitutional As- sembly at Eidsvold, in 1814, when Norway was declared independent, and a signer of the constitution. The subject of this sketch attended school until he was fourteen years of age, and then became a teacher. He wished to come to America in early youth, but the American Civil War was then raging, and his parents objected to his venturing to a country torn with fraternal strife. Ac- cordingly he delayed until 1873, when he made the trip safely, and located at Torch Lake, Antrim County, Mich. In the fall of the following year he was admitted to the Augsburg Seminary, Minneapolis, Minn., where he studied six years, spending his vacations in teaching church schools. He was graduated in May, 1880, and was ordained at Palestine, in Storey County, Iowa, in June of that year. His first charge was at Liberty Pole, Vernon County, Wis., where he served three congregations. His work there attracted attention, and on Dec. 30, 1882, he was called to take charge of the extensive work centering at Rice Lake. He came here May 20, 1883, and has thus been a useful citizen for nearly forty years. His field extended from Ashland to Chetek, from Rhine- lander to Amery, a territory now served by fourteen different pastors of his denomination. For thirty-six and a half years he gave the best that was in him of service and devotion, spending his life, his health and his energy in the cause of truth. He served permanently twelve congregations and temporarily twenty-one congregations, making thirty-three in all, in addition to fourteen stations, the total communicants being 5,035. He organized sixteen congrega- tions, held 5,361 services, had 7,240 sessions with confirmation classes, visited 1,552 sick persons, baptized 2,030, confirmed 1,092, presided at 383 weddings, and buried 575 persons. For eighteen years he was president and visitor of the Rice Lake District, and for several years visitor for the Eau Claire District. His permanent congregations were at Rice Lake, Barron, Chetek, Freeman, Franklin, Fountain, Faaberg, Aker, Zion, Concordia, Stanfold and Hayward. His temporary congregations were at: Sparta, La Crosse, Bostwick Valley, Blair, French Creek, Houston, Luny Valley, Long Lake, Weyerhauser, Glen Flora, Ladysmith, Catawba, Hawkins, Knox Mills, Ashland, Chippewa Falls, Stanley, Elk Creek, North La Crosse, Rocky Ridge, Cedar Lake, Haugen and Spooner, all in Wisconsin except Luny Valley and Houston. His stations were at Bad Ax, Ridgway, Kickapoo, New Lisbon, Camp Douglas, Cameron, town of Clinton, town of Stanfold, Vance Creek, Jewett Mills, Amory, Shell Lake, Drummond, Seeley and Smith Lake. He was a pastor of untiring energy, a minister of his people, who lived their lives with them in happiness and sorrow, baptized, catechised and confirmed their children, wedded their young people, joined in church festivities, watched by beds of sorrow, consoled the doubtful and grieving, admonished the wayward, upheld the righteous and buried the dead. In his studio he was a profound student and thinker, weighing all problems with much care, and in his pulpit he was a straight- forward speaker who spoke the Word as it had revealed itself to him without fear or favor of man. With stern justice and an insistence on auster-

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REV. J. E. NORD

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LIEUT. SAMUEL KORNELIUS NORD

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ity of conduct, he mingled a kindly and affectionate understanding of human weaknesses, and he was, all in all, a real father of his people. In 1916 in- creasing years caused him to turn the pastoral work over to others, but he still supplies pulpits on special occasions, and he has never lost his interest in his people, and they still call him pastor, though other men are now nobly taking up the work that he has officially laid down. Pastor Nord has made two trips to the old country. The first was in 1879, just before he was ordained, when he still had a boyish longing to see the land of his birth and childhood. The sec- ond was in the height of his career, in 1890, when his health has been broken by the untiring effort and hard work incident to a pioneer pastor's life, com- bined with the long, slow drives that he found it necessary to take through the cold and snow of winter months in a new and sparsely settled country. Through all his years of toil and labor, he has been assisted by his noble wife, who has proved a sympathetic Christian helpmate, mother and friend, and who has shared all his work. She is truly one of those of whom it may be said, "And her children shall rise up and call her blessed." Pastor Nord was married June 21, 1880, to Caroline Larson, who was born in Norway, Dec. 28, 1857, daughter of Christian and Bertha (Kildahl) Larson, who came to America in 1868 and settled in Baker County, Minn., where she was reared and educated. Mr. and Mrs. Nord have ten children: Hulda, Enok Krysostomus, Gunnar Betuel, Johannes Kleofas, Ragna, Lieutenant Samuel Kornelius, Gudrun Lydia, Dagny Aagaate, Olaf Arnold and Harald. Hulda was born April 5, 1881, married Al- bert Jorstad, of Cameron, and has one child, Agnes. Enok Krysostomus was born Sept. 27, 1882, and is in the real estate and insurance business at Rice Lake. Gunnar Betuel was born Sept. 6, 1884, lives in Warren, Minn., married Bertha Larson, and has six children, Caroline, Erling, Arnold, Alzada, Harold and Oscar. Johannes Kleofas was born Jan. 11, 1887, graduated from the Uni- versity of Wisconsin, married Marie Spei, and is a high school teacher at Hast- ings, Minn. He has one child, Shirley. Ragna was born April 17, 1889, and is superintendent in charge of the Hydro-Therapeutic Department in the Dea- coness Lutheran Hospital in Chicago, Ill. Lieutenant Samuel Kornelius gave his life in the World War. Gudrun Lydia was born May 27, 1896, and is the wife of William Honebrink, of Sauk Rapids, Minn. Dagny Aagaate was born March 8, 1896, and is the wife of August Erdmann, of St. Paul. Olaf Arnold was born Dec. 8, 1897, and lives in Warren, Minn. Harald was born July 20, 1905, and is doing well in the public schools.

Lieut. Samuel Kornelius Nord was born at Rice Lake, Jan. 21, 1892, grad- uated from the Rice Lake High School, and attended the University of Wiscon- sin for three semesters. At the entry of the United States into the World War, he offered his services, and was sent to training camp at Fort Sheridan, Ill. He was commissioned as second lieutenant in August, 1917, and was assigned to duty at Camp Custer, from Sept. 1, 1917, to July 12, 1918. He sailed from Camp Mills, New York, July 21, 1918, with Co. E, 338th Infantry, and after his arrival in France was assigned to Co. K, 128th Infantry, 32nd Division. He was under continuous fire with that company on the Meuse-Argonne front for forty days, and on Nov. 3, 1918, was promoted to first lieutenant. On the morn- ing of Nov. 10, he was sent out in command of a force to locate and attack the Germans. He found the enemy and drove them back eight miles. Then the Germans started a counter attack, and met with fierce resistance. Expected support had failed to follow the attacking Americans, and overwhelmed by superior numbers, all the officers of the Third Battalion were wiped out. The last surviving officer, Lieutenant Nord, made a desperate rally of the battalion against the 192nd German Division, at the Dun sur Meuse bridgehead, north- east of the Village of Vilosnes. He fell, pierced by three bullets from a ma- chine gun, one through the stomach, one through the abdomen and one through the right leg. He was picked up by the stretcher bearers, but bereft of officers the battalion gradually yielded ground, and the bearers did not get their dying commander from the field. He said to them: "Boys! Drop me and save your-

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selves!" These were his last words. They left him on the field of his glory and he thus passed from mortal ken. William Shultz, who conveyed the story of his end to his parents, says of him: "Lieutenant Nord was a good officer, and was liked by all the men."

Gottlieb Frion, veteran of the Civil War, a prisoner of Andersonville, and a pioneer of Stanfold Township, this county, was born in Mettenberg, Ger- many, and was there reared and educated. He came to the United States as a young man in 1860, finding work at Dunkirk, New York. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in Co. H, 72nd Regiment, New York Vol. Inf., and served two years and ten months, participating in a number of important en- gagements, including the Battle of Gettysburg. He was twice wounded and once taken prisoner, being confined in the famous Andersonville Prison. He was honorably discharged June 5, 1865. In 1876 he came to Rice Lake, this county, then a small hamlet. From here he went to Trempealeau County, Wis. In 1879 he came back to Barron County and, after living in Rice Lake Township for a while, took a homestead in Stanfold Township, Section 10. He developed a good farm, and there successfully carried on agricultural operations until 1890, when he retired and moved to Rice Lake. He died Dec. 14, 1912, at the . age of eighty years. His wife, who was Theresa Hager, a native of Austria, is still living in Rice Lake. They were the parents of six children. Joseph P. is a business man of Rice Lake. Frank M. resides in Cornell, Wis. Mary is the wife of L. C. Bosworth, of Beloit, Wis. John, Carl and an unnamed infant are dead.

Joseph P. Frion, business man of Rice Lake, and prominent in fraternal circles here, was born on a farm in Rice Lake Township, Oct. 7, 1880, son of Gottlieb and Theresa (Hager) Frion, the pioneers. He attended the city schools and as a youth secured employment in the planing mill of the Rice Lake Lum- ber Co. May 10, 1903, he went to Drummond, Wis., and was employed in a saw- mill for the Rusk Owen Lumber Co. His successive employments were then as follows: In 1905 in mills at Bibon, Wis .; in the fall of 1905 at Ashland, Wis., for the Schroeder Lumber Co .; in 1906 in sawmills at Iron River, Wis., for the Iron River Lumber Co .; in 1907 in sawmills at Rib Lake, Wis., for the Rib Lake Lumber Co .; in the fall of 1907 braking on freight trains for the Wisconsin Central Railroad Co., out of Abstford; in 1908 at Ackley, Minn., in sawmills for the Red River Lumber Co. and in sawmills at Forestville, Wis., for the Vilas Lumber Co .; in 1909 at Deer River, Minn., for the Deer River Lumber Co .; from July 5, 1910, at Virginia, Minn., for the Virginia & Rainey Lake Lum- ber Co. He came back to Rice Lake in April, 1912, and took up section work for the "Soo" line. From 1914 to 1917 he worked again in the sawmill of the Rice Lake Lumber Co., but then again entered the employ of the "Soo" line. In 1919 he started work for William Stein in the fur and hide warehouse at Rice Lake. On March 31, 1919, he entered his present employ. He is employed by the ice cream manufacturing plant of B. Drook, and also helps in Mr. Drook's candy plant and store. He stands high among his fellowmen, and is well esteemed by all who know him. With all his busy life, he has found time for much activity in fraternal circles. In the Odd Fellows, he is a member of Rice Lake Lodge, No. 269; Phoenix Encampment, No. 25; Wisconsin Canton, No. 22, Patriarchs Militant; and Hiawatha Rebekah Lodge, No. 75. He has held high office in all, and having a taste for military things, he has been espe- cially prominent in the Canton, has held various commissions, and is now major of the second battalion of the second regiment. He is also a member of Rice Lake Lodge, No. 303, Mystic Workers of the World, and has been secre- tary of Federal Labor Union, No. 15284, of the A. F. of L. since its organization Sept. 27, 1916.

John Ferguson, druggist of Rice Lake, was born in New York City, June 24, 1867, son of Herman and Margaret (Ino) Ferguson, the former a native of that city, and the latter of Canada. They came to Saginaw, Mich., in 1867, where the father was employed in the mills and in the lumber woods. He died

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in 1881 and his wife in 1900. John came west with his parents as a child and was reared in Saginaw. As a youth he worked in shingle mills and in the lum- ber woods of the upper Michigan peninsula. From 1892 to 1898, he was city marshal and deputy sheriff at Ewen, Ontonagon County, Michigan. In 1901 he engaged in business at Eveleth, Minn. In 1903 he moved to Mt. Iron, Minn., in 1910 to Coleraine, Minn., and in 1914 to Superior, Wis., in all of which places he was engaged in business. He came to Rice Lake in 1920 and opened his present drug store, where he carries a good line of goods, and is enjoying an increasing patronage. Mr. Ferguson was married Feb. 4, 1895, to Martha Arm- strong, a native of Saginaw, Mich. This union has been blessed with two children: John Roger, born May 22, 1896, now living at Superior, Wis., and Clara Lorette, born Feb. 26, 1899, who is at Superior, assisting General Clem- ans in writing a World War history.

Joseph H. Wallis, M. D., physician and surgeon of Rice Lake, and a mem- ber of the surgical staff of St. Joseph's Hospital, in that city, was born in Neosho, Dodge County, Wis., this state, the son of Charles W. and Sarah (Ram- say) Wallis. The father was born in England, and the mother in New York State, in which state they were married. They came west in 1840, located near Neosho, and there farmed successfully until 1890, when they retired and moved to the city of Hartford, Wis., where the father died in October, 1912, and where the mother still lives. Joseph H. Wallis received his preliminary education in the public schools of his native county and then studied under private tutors in Milwaukee. With this preparation he entered the Milwaukee Medical College, and graduated with the degree of M. D. in the class of 1898. He took a fur- ther course of one year at the West Side Post-Graduate School, Chicago, and then entered Trinity Hospital at Milwaukee, for one year as an interne. Sub- sequently, he was connected with the same hospital for eight more years as a surgical assistant, and was the founder and for some time director of the X-Ray laboratory connected with that institution, having charge of the deli- cate and exacting task of installing all the extensive apparatus. For five years he was directing clinician and lecturer on the principles of surgery at the Mil- waukee Medical College, and for a considerable period lectured on the surgical diseases of the mouth, at the Milwaukee Dental College. He also served as health commissioner of Wauwatosa for three years. Dr. Wallis came to Bar- ron County in 1918, and for about two years was associated with Dr. Harry M. Coleman and Dr. C. C. Post, at Barron. June 1, 1920, he came to Rice Lake and established his present office. He has built up a constantly increasing practice, and the standing he has attained in his short residence here is shown by the fact that he has already served the county a term as coroner and has entered upon his second term. He is president of the Barron County Medical Society and member of the State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. In the county and state organization he has been very active, and in the latter organization is a member of the House of Delegates. Fraternally, he belongs to Barron Lodge, No. 226, A. F. and A. M .; Wisconsin Lodge, No. 1, Knights of Pythias, of which he is Past Chancellor; and to Wakodis Temple, No. 165, Knights of Khorassan, being C. C. of Rice Lake Lodge, No. 60. He is also a member of the Commercial Club of Rice Lake and the Business Men's Club of Barron. His favorite recreation is out-of-door life; he delights in wan- dering into the open in pursuit of out-of-door sports when tired with the grind of daily duties. In the business world he holds stock in the Twentieth Century Silo Co., in which he owns the manufacturing rights for the state of Wiscon- sin. Politically, he adheres to the beliefs of the Republican Party. Dr. Wallis was married Oct. 9, 1919, to Jane Reed, of Montello, this state. They attend the Episcopal Church.

N. W. Heintz, druggist, Rice Lake, one of the oldest business men in point of service in the city, has been identified with the commercial life of Rice Lake for over thirty years, the career here dating from 1889. He was born in Apple- ton, Wis., Oct. 10, 1864, son of Lambert and Anna (Benarde) Heintz, natives

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of Belgium, who came to America when young, were married in New York State, and in the late fifties came west to Wisconsin and located in Appleton, where Lambert Heintz followed his trade as carpenter and millwright, he dying in 1905 and his wife in 1895. The subject of this sketch passed through the graded schools of his native city, and was graduated from the high school there with the class of 1885. He then entered the employ of a pharmist there, and under competent instruction thoroughly learned the science of compounding drugs and medicines. He was licensed by the State Board of Pharmacy in 1885. He came to Rice Lake in 1889, and formed a partnership with his father- in-law, in the drug business, under the firm name of Flack & Heintz. Two years later, Mr. Heintz bought out his partner and has since conducted the establishment alone. For the first three years he occupied the store now used by the Jewett Drug Co. Then needing more space, he moved to his present loca- tion, at 207 North Main Street, where he has a floor space of 22 by 60 feet, well arranged for the preparation, display and sale of his goods. As a licensed pharmacist, Mr. Heintz specializes in compounding prescriptions with the greatest care from the best standard material. As is the custom with modern establishments of its kind, he also carries proprietary medicines, toilet articles, rubber goods, stationery, and miscellaneous small articles. His place reflects the progressive spirit of the owner and is well in keeping with the high stand- ards maintained throughout the business houses of the city. While devoting most of his personal attention to the drug line, he has also been interested in various other lines. He has owned and developed farms at different times, and now has one of 120 acres in Oak Grove Township. For three years, in partner- ship with H. C. Reed and Henry Ball, under the firm name of Heintz, Reed & Ball, he operated a lath, shingle and sawmill, which was very successful. At this mill, Mr. Heintz personally took charge of getting out all the lumber with which was constructed his present sightly residence at 15 West Evans Street. The home is beautifully finished, contains ten rooms, and is modern in every respect, the heating system being a combination hot water and hot air plant. Mr. Heintz is known throughout the county. For three years he has done good service as president of the Barron County Fair Association, which has thrived under his leadership. In this and in other ways he has shown his in- terest in everything that has for its object the welfare of the county. He has succeeded in life through his own efforts, through hard work and close appli- cation to business, and in achieving his own success, he has not been unmind- ful of the duty every man owes of helpfulness to others. His business holdings include stock in the First National Bank of Rice Lake. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen and the Knights of Columbus, and is a cordial supporter of the Commercial Club. His recreation is found in hunting and fishing and other out-of-door sports. Mr. Heintz was married Nov. 3, 1887, to Lucy Flack, who was born at Spring Prairie on March 9, 1865. This union has been blessed with five children. Hallie was born June 23, 1895, is a graduate of the Potter Business College at Rice Lake and resides at home. William Douglas was born Aug. 21, 1899, graduated from the Rice Lake High School in the class of 1919, and is now attending the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Three are dead.

Carl Haaland, proprietor of an exterior and interior decorating establish- ment, at 125 North Main Street, Rice Lake, was born in Norway, March 26, 1877, son of Knute and Caroline (Stenberg) Haaland, who are still living in that country. Carl received his early education in Norway, and there learned his trade as a painter, paper hanger and maker of picture frames. He came to America in 1899, and engaged in business at Brandon, in Douglas County, this state. Two years later he sold out, and for some time worked at his trade in New York City. In 1902, he came to Rice Lake, and entered the employ of O. S. Johnson, the furniture man. Then he engaged in business for himself as a painter and paper hanger, and occupied various offices until purchasing the building he now occupies in 1916. He carries a good line of paints, oils, wall

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MR. AND MRS. R. M. WHITAKER

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paper and picture frames and moulding, and has a modern, up-to-date establish- ment in every particular. Fraternally, he is a member of the A. S. F., the Sons of Norway, and the Beavers. He also belongs to the Commercial Club. Mr. Haaland was married July 5, 1907, to Tina Merk, who died July 2, 1909, leav- ing one son, Kenneth, born April 23, 1908. June 29, 1916, he married Inga Thorkildson, born June 5, 1879, in Norway, daughter of John and Gurine (Brandt) Thorkildson, natives of Norway, both now deceased. This union has been blessed with two children: Gail K., born June 5, 1918; and Clifford E., born July 8, 1920. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran Church.

Henry C. Heiland, local agent at Rice Lake for the Schmidt Brewing Co., was born at Heidelberg, Scott County, Minn., Jan. 1, 1874, son of Fred and Catharine (Grassmen) Heiland, who took a homestead in Scott County, Minn., in 1860, developed a farm, erected buildings, and carried on agricultural opera- tions the remainder of their lives, the father dying in 1881 and the mother in 1918. Henry C. was educated in the public schools of Jordan, and there remained for many years, first working in a hardware store three years, then conducting a livery for himself for eight years, and then engaging in the re- freshment business for six years. He came to Rice Lake in his present capacity in 1912. Mr. Heiland was married at Jordan, Minn., Dec. 23, 1896, to Catherine Schmitz, daughter of Matt and Lucinda (Rendler) Schmitz, of that place. Mr. and Mrs. Heiland have five children, all of whom were born in Jordan: Carl Henry, June 26, 1898; Henry J., March 20, 1900; Ethel Surzan, April 22, 1902; Odelia Margaret, Sept. 19, 1907; and Lucile Margaret, Nov. 2, 1910.

Rushmore Merton Whitaker, now deceased, pioneer teacher of Barron County, and founder of the Barron County Abstract Office, was a familiar figure in Barron County life for many years, and his professions brought him into contact with a larger number of citizens than almost any other man in the community. Every person who met with him held for him the deepest respect; honesty and courtesy were his watchwords, service to his fellowmen was his motto, and all who had dealings with him realized that the fairest and most straightforward treatment would be accorded them. He took the deepest pride in his work, accuracy and correctness in the minutest detail were his constant aim, and the abstract books he prepared will remain as his monument so long as land titles in the county endure. Next to the abstract books, he found his greatest interest in geneological research, and was very proud of his family record. On his father's side he was descended from Gov. William Bradford, Plymouth Colony, and on his mother's side from John and Priscilla Alden, also of that Colony. A relative on his mother's side was one Robert Ransom, one of the radicals of that day and age, who was far from satisfied with the existing order of things, in the Colony, and was most outspoken in his criticism, so much so that he was arrested and compelled to appear in court "to answer his presentment for speaking wicked and reproachful words against the gov- ernor and his magistrates." Upon being arraigned he "did put his presentment on traverse." The jury cleared him "legally free," there being but one wit- ness appearing against him in the matter, although they expressed themselves as "persuaded that the accusation spake like unto the said Ransom's language." Several of Mr. Whitaker's ancestors fought with General Israel Putnam in the Revolutionary War, and performed other patriotic services during that struggle. The subject of this sketch was born at Sharon Center, Penn., in June, 1855, the son of Edward and Betsy Maria (Signor) Whitaker, and re- ceived a public school and Seminary education in his native state. He came to Barron County in 1876, and taught school in the rural districts until 1884. In that year he started his career as an abstractor in the Barron County Bank at Rice Lake. When the change was made in the officers of that bank he formed a partnership with D. F. Clark, and established the Barron County Abstract office at Rice Lake, with which he remained until his lamented death, October 28, 1920. Fraternally, Mr. Whitaker was associated with the Masonic and Pythian orders, and took much interest in their affairs. Mr. Whitaker's first

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 32

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

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