History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 34

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

USA > Wisconsin > Barron County > History of Barron County Wisconsin > Part 34

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Louise (second), Frank, John, Joseph, Louis, and twins who died unnamed. As already noted, Mr. Morneau, after the death of his wife, married Mrs. Augustine Couture, and had three more children. Mr. and Mrs. Louis Couture have had thirteen children: Josephine, Henry, Oliamine, Napoleon, unnamed twins, Arthur (first), Archel, Arthur J., Edmond, Alphonse F., Clarence and Cemilda. Josephine was born Dec. 19, 1874, married Joseph McDougall, now of Duluth, and has six children, Raymond, Irene, Cicily, Lloyd, Louis and Gene- vieve. Henry was born Sept. 25, 1876, and died June 26, 1898. Oliamine was born Sept. 1, 1878, and is now elerk in a store at Rice Lake. Napoleon was born March 1, 1883, married Mrs. Cora (Rose) Gordon, and lives in Minne- apolis. Arthur (first) died in infancy. Archel was born Sept. 25, 1886, is a barber at Spooner, married Marvel Devlin, and has two children, James L. and Eileen. Arthur J. was born Dec. 19, 1888, took special courses in the Agricultural Department of the University of Wisconsin, and is now the traveling representative for the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Co., of Racine, his territory being Greece, Turkey and Asia Minor. Edmond, a most promising lad, was drowned in Rice Lake when nine years of age. Alphonse F. is one of the heroes of the World War, having lost his life in the conflict in which the land of his birth, the land of his father's birth, the land of his ancestor's birth were fighting side by side. He did excellent service as an interpreter for the Headquarters Battalion, of the Intelligence Department, and was killed Oct. 3, 1918. He is laid to rest in the Roumange Cemetery in the Ar- gonne district, where he sleeps in the soil on which his ancestors lived, and which he died to save. Clarence was born Nov. 23, 1895, and died at the age of about four years. Cemilda was born April 4, 1898 and is taking a com- mercial course in the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

John H. Johnson, banker, business man and farmer, president of the Citizens State Bank of Rice Lake, former owner of a successful market in Rice Lake, and now proprietor of the Riverside Stock Farm of 160 acres in Rice Lake City, one of the best farms in the county, has been in the county nearly twenty years, and in that time has demonstrated his worth as a good citizen. He was born in Norway June 16, 1869, son of John and Hannah (Anderson) Johnson, who brought him to America in the fall of 1869, and located on a farm in Jackson County, this state, where the mother died in 1913. The father farmed there 46 years until 1915, when he came to' Rice Lake and took up his home with his son, John H., where he died in 1917. John H. was reared in Jackson County and there attended the public schools. He remained on the home farm until 1899 when he went to Eau Claire in the employ of the Min- nesota Harvester Co. From there he went to Fairchild, Wis., where he was in the employ of the N. C. Foster Co. He came to Barron County in 1903 and rented his present farm, in section 28, Rice Lake Township. In 1909 he pur- chased it. It then consisted of 240 acres, but eighty acres have since been sold. This place he has highly developed. He has renovated and improved the house and barns and erected a granary, machine shed, silo and other buildings. He breeds Holstein cattle. His farming operations have been successful, and his farm is often spoken of as a typical and model Barron County estate. For ten years, from 1909 to 1919, while still conducting his farm, Mr. Johnson was the proprietor of a market at Rice Lake. He was elected president of the Citizens State Bank on Jan. 14, 1921. In public life he has taken his part in every good cause, and for five years he did good service as a member of the Rice Lake South Side school board. He and his family attend the Presbyterian church. Mr. Johnson was married Dec. 23, 1893, to Annetta Thompson, who was born in Norway March 10, 1875, daughter of John and Mary Olson. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have six children: Hazel, Evelyn, Lloyd, Glenn, Clifford and Clara Mae. Hazel was born July 7, 1895; Evelyn was born Sept. 10, 1897; Lloyd was born May 28, 1899; Glenn was born Nov. 21, 1902; Clifford was born Sept. 9, 1909; and Clara Mae was born Aug. 18, 1912. Evelyn is a pro- ficient teacher. Lloyd is a veteran of the World War.

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CITIZENS STATE BANK, RICE LAKE

CITIZENS STATE BANK

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MR. AND MRS. HERMAN BOORTZ

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Herman Boortz, an estimable citizen of solid and substantial worth, formerly a farmer of section 29, Sumner Township, and now living at 35 Hatten Avenue, Rice Lake, was born in Germany Oct. 20, 1854, the youngest of the twelve children of John and Fredericka (Schultz) Boortz, who spent the span of their years in the old country. He was reared and educated in Germany, and was there married and had three children. In 1882 he brought his family to America and found his way to this county, where he secured 80 acres of wild land in section 29, Sumner Township. Here he erected a log house, and started to develop a farm from the wilderness. Fortunately he had two cows, so the children had a supply of milk, and the wife made butter for family use. But they had no oxen or other draft animals, their farming equipment was meagre and progress was made but slowly. For some years not enough could be raised amid the stumps to support the family so Mr. Boortz had to secure what outside work he could to earn a little money while his wife stayed at home, reared the children, did the housework, and looked after the farm and stock as best she could. Privations were many, there were no luxuries, and even the necessities were sometimes lacking. But by hard work and frugal management, they prospered, and built up a good place, rearing a good family of children to respectable manhood and womanhood. In 1910 they moved to another farm of 128 acres, where they farmed until 1920, when he returned to Rice Lake. Mr. and Mrs. Boortz have many inter- esting stories to tell of their experiences in the early days. When they first came here Mr. Boortz started out on foot and walked all the way from Eau Claire to Sumner before he found a location that suited him. After fixing on a place he went back to Eau Claire and brought his family to the claim with a horse team. Mrs. Boortz brought here the spinning wheel which she had owned in Germany, and on this she knit many useful garments to keep the youngsters warm, and her husband and herself comfortable. Often after the babies were safely asleep, and she waited for her husband to return from some far-away work, she sat by the feeble light late at night, knitting, and half dreaming of the time when the babies should be grown and have babies of their own, and when the county would develop from a wilderness to a rich farming country. As the years passed they replaced their log cabin with a fine set of farm buildings, and their two cows gave way to a fine herd of pure blooded Jerseys. Mrs. Boortz, whose maiden name was Otellia Kruger, was born in Germany Dec. 5, 1851, and they were married May 25, 1877. Three of the children, Minnie, Gustave and Herman, were born in Germany. Eleven children, Emma, Lena, Otto, Paul, Elsie, Erma, Laura, Walter, Bernard, Agatha and Arndt, were born on the farm in this county. The family faith is that of the German Lutheran church in Stanley Township, in which Mr. Boortz has been a prominent worker and officer for many years.

John Mittermeyer, a well-to-do resident of Rice Lake, now living retired, was born in Washington County May 15, 1855, the son of early pioneers of the state. He attended school in his native county, and as a youth learned the blacksmith's trade, which he was destined to follow for over a half a century. In 1880 he came to Rice Lake and became a blacksmith for the Rice Lake Lumber Company, with whom he remained for a quarter of a century, also working many years for other firms. On Nov. 15, 1920, he retired from active work, and now devotes his time to looking after his various interests. He has bought and sold land at various times as an investment and now owns in addition to his pleasant residence at 36 North Wisconsin Avenue, two im- proved farms of 80 acres each in Rice Lake Township, which he rents, an im- proved farm of 60 acres in Stanley Township, which he also rents, and an un- improved farm of 80 acres in Stanfold Township. He raises good Jersey stock, having a full blooded sire. Mr. Mittermeyer was married Sept. 28, 1880, to Catherine Russell, who was born at Chippewa Falls on May 1, 1862. This union has been blessed with four children. Catherine is the wife of Archie Ward of Rice Lake. Georgiana is the wife of John Palmer, who rents

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Mr. Mittermeyer's farm in Stanley Township and one in Rice Lake. Edwin died Feb. 7, 1920, and Albert died in 1882. The family faith is that of the Saints Church of Rice Lake.

Carl O. Ronning, of the C. O. Ronning Co., owners of the Ford garage at Rice Lake, was born in Lac qui Parle County, Minn., May 9, 1879, son of An- drew and Mary (Hoas) Ronning. The parents were natives of Norway, who came to America in the early seventies, and took a homestead of a quarter section in Lac qui Parle County, which they cleared and broke and on which they erected suitable buildings. There they farmed for many years, the father dying in 1896 and being survived by his wife, who is still living there. In the family there were seven children: Inga, Nels, Gurena, Edward, Martin, Alfred (deceased), and Carl O. Carl O. was educated in his native county, helped his parents on the farm, and as a youth was employed for some four years in the telephone exchange at Boyd, Minn. Then he went to Minne- apolis, and was employed for a year by the Emerson, Brantingham Tractor Co. Ther he went to work for the Ford Motor Co. at that city, where he thor- oughly learned automobile repairing in all its branches. With this excellent preparation, he came to Rice Lake in 1917, and established his present com- pany. He handles the Ford car, carries a full line of accessories, and does general repairing. He is a member of the Rice Lake Commercial Club. Mr. Ronning was married June 10, 1912, to Mabel Constance, born in Yellow Medicine County, Minn., April 6, 1891, daughter of Peter and Anna (Bjoraa) Constance, natives of Minnesota, who farmed in that state for many years, and are now farming near New Richmond, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Ronning have one son, Percy O., born Sept. 16, 1917. The family home is a pleasant resi- dence on 638 North Main Street. Mr. and Mrs. Ronning attend the Norwegian Lutheran church.

Oscar Bakke, of the Bakke Brothers Bicycle Shops, Rice Lake and Barron, was born in Hurley, Wis., Jan. 7, 1890, son of Andrew and Annette (Anderson) Bakke, natives of Norway, who came to this country in the early eighties, and are now farming in Stanley Township, this county. He received most of his early education in his native city, and for several years was engaged in farm work. From his youth he was interested in mechanics and took up tinkering of various sorts at home. In 1916 he came to Rice Lake and opened a bicycle shop. In 1918 he took his two brothers, John and Westye, as partners, and in 1919 opened a branch at Barron, of which John is now in charge. The two shops carry a general line of bicycles and supplies, do general repairing, and deal in the Harley-Davidson Motorcycle. The brothers also hold the agency for the Universal Farm Lighting Plants, and have installed a number of these plants with satisfaction in farm houses in the townships adjoining Rice Lake and Barron. Oscar Bakke was inducted in the United States service July 15, 1918, and did military police duty at Camp Hancock, Augusta, Ga. He was discharged March 3, 1919.

Westye Bakke, of the Bakke Brothers Bicycle Shops, Rice Lake and Barron, was born in Superior, Wis., Sept. 7, 1892, son of Andrew and Annette (Ander- son) Bakke, now of Stanley Township, in this county. He received his educa- tion in the schools of Superior and worked with his father for several years. In 1918 he came to Rice Lake, and became a partner in the present concern. He was inducted into the United States service Aug. 6, 1918, and trained at Camp Shelby in Mississippi, and at Camp Mills, Long Island, N. Y. He sailed for overseas Oct. 6, 1918, and was in France ten months with the 152nd In- fantry, 38th Division. He was returned to the States and was discharged from Camp Grant, Ill., July 16, 1919.

Ole Berg, now deceased, who for several years was one of the representa- tive farmers of Barron County, was born in Norway Nov. 25, 1864, and was there reared. He came to America in 1886 at the age of 22 years, and was married on Christmas Day, 1887, to Anna Sather, who was born in Norway May 8, 1865 and came to America in 1884 at the age of 19 years. In 1895 they

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C. O. RONNING

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settled on a farm of 80 acres in Stanfold Township, and there toiled early and late, grubbing and developing the land, erecting a comfortable home and all necessary outbuildings, and there followed diversified farming until Mr. Berg's death May 2, 1917. He had won the esteem and confidence of his fellow men, his judgment was much relied upon, he was a solid and substantial man, and his death was sincerely mourned. In the spring of 1919 Mrs. Berg moved to Rice Lake and purchased her present home at 311 Hatten avenue. She has sold the home farm and bought another one, which she now rents. She is a most worthy woman who was an able helpmeet to her husband in all his under- takings, and she is well thought of by all who know her.

Dighton S. Grilley, veteran of the Civil War, pioneer farmer, and former clerk of court for Barron County, was born in Palatine, Cook County, Ill., Nov. 28, 1848, son of Leander F. and Sarah (Briggs) Grilley, natives of New York State, who came to Illinois in 1845, and there farmed until 1863. They then located in Houston County, Minnesota, in 1873 coming to Barron County and taking a homestead in Section 28, Sumner Township, where they improved the land, erected buildings, and lived until their deaths, the father dying in July, 1900, and the mother in April, 1876. Dighton S. attended school in Illinois until he was fifteen years of age, and after coming to Minnesota in 1863, attended here still another term. Then he went to Chicago, near his former home, and enlisted in Company E, 113th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was later transferred to the 120th Illinois Infantry, serving until mustered out Sept. 10, 1865. Then he returned to Houston County, Minnesota, and remained with his parents on the farm. In 1871 he rented a farm in Alden, Minn., but the next year engaged in the meat business at Houston Village, Minn. When his parents came to Barron County, Wisconsin, in 1873 he came with them and took a homestead in Section 27, Sumner Township. The next few years were devoted to improving and developing this farm. He sold out in 1881, and in 1883 moved to Cameron, in this county, where he took up railroad work. He served as town clerk and justice of the peace, and in 1887 became assistant postmaster. In 1893 he went to Sumner Township, in this county, to look after his father. There he engaged in small farming, making a specialty of the bee business. For thirteen years of this stay he served the town as assessor. In 1908 he sold the farm and moved to Barron, to take up his duties as clerk of the Circuit Court. Eight years later on account of ill health he refrained from again offering himself as a candidate. In 1919 he came to Rice Lake, where he has since resided. He belongs to the G. A. R. and worships at the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Grilley was married at La Crosse, Wis., Oct. 3, 1870, to Mrs. Emma (Freeman) Parkes, daughter of Daniel and Mary Freeman. This union has resulted in seven children: Lillian M., Howard, Archer C., George, William D., Irene and Myrtle. Lillian M. was born Jan. 23, 1872, at Alden, Freeborn County, Minnesota. She married Marlin Mettel in August, 1892, and died April 8, 1899. Her son, William J., now lives with Mr. and Mrs. Grilley at Rice Lake. He served in the World War twenty-two months in the 14th Field Artillery, and after his discharge re-enlisted for aviation duty. Howard was born Sept. 8, 1873, in Houston, Minn., was married Oct. 15, 1902, and lives at Rice Lake. The rest of the children were born in Barron County. Archer C. was born March 23, 1876, was married in April, 1901, to Leanna Blood and lives at Rice Lake, Wis. George was born March 5, 1878, was mar- ried in 1901 to Tena Hanson and lives in Minneapolis. William D. was born April 10, 1880, was married in 1900 to Mildred Leonard and farms at Drum- mond, Wis. Irene was born April 9, 1886, was married in 1906 to Harry Col- bert and lives in Chetek, where her husband is a farmer. Myrtle I. was born Jan. 3, 1889, and died in April, 1892.

Eusebe E. Craite, who is successfully engaged in the real estate and milling business, Rice Lake, and one of the owners of the Majestic Theater of this place, was born in Manitowoc, Wis., April 14, 1863, son of Eusebe E. and Zoe (Reull) Craite, natives of Canada and of French descent. Eusebe E. Craite, Sr.,

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came to Manitowoc in 1843, worked as a millwright for a number of years, then bought 160 acres of timber land which he cleared and developed into a good farm, later sold out, and purchased a similar tract near Mishicott, Wis., which he also developed, and there spent the remainder of his life. He died Aug. 9, 1893, survived by his good wife who now makes her home in Green Bay, Wis. The subject of this sketch started out for himself when he was sixteen years of age and worked at various occupations, including farming and carpentering. In 1885 he engaged in business at Hayward, Wis. The next year he came to Rice Lake and engaged in business, in which he continued until 1910 when he sold out. In the meantime he was more or less interested in real estate, and engineered many important real estate transfers. He still continues in the same line and also has milling interests in the flour and feed line. In 1920 he and his sons, Isaac J. and Joseph G., erected the Majestic Theater, an up-to-date show house, with a seating capacity of 420. Among other real estate hold- ings, Mr. Craite is the owner of several city lots in Hammond & Craite's addi- tion to Rice Lake. The pleasant family residence is at 216 North Main street. Mr. Craite was married June 6, 1891, at Rice Lake, to Rosa Deresseau, daughter of Edward and Phileman (Rosseau) Deresseau, both now deceased. This union has been blessed with three sons, Isaac J., Edgar J. and Joseph G.

Isaac J. Craite was born April 25, 1893, at Rice Lake, and attended the public and parochial schools. In the years 1909, 1910 and 1911 he attended St. Thomas College at St. Paul, and in 1911-1912 taught in the commercial department of that institution. In 1913 he was a stenographer in Minneapolis. The next year he was an accountant for the Farmington State Bank, of Farm- ington, Minn. In 1915 he came back to Rice Lake and entered into partnership with his father. He served three years in the National Guard-1910, 1911 and 1912, in a separate battalion. On Jan. 1, 1918, he enlisted at St. Paul in the Divisional Headquarters Troop of the 88th Division with which he spent eighteen months-six months at Camp Dodge, Iowa, and eleven months in France at the Divisional Headquarters. After his return to the United States he was discharged at Camp Dodge June 1, 1919.

Edgar J. Craite was born Dec. 29, 1896, passed through the public and parochial schools of Rice Lake, and studied at St. Thomas College, St. Paul, Minn., in 1910-1913. He then entered the medical department of the Mar- quette University at Milwaukee, Wis., and was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1917. He took his interne work as house physician in Trinity Hos- pital, Milwaukee, for a year, and is still in practice in that city. He also served in the World War, being an instructor in the medical corps at Marquette University, and receiving his discharge after the armistice was signed.

Joseph G. Craite was born Nov. 30, 1898, and, like his brothers, attended the public and parochial schools of Rice Lake and St. Thomas College at St. Paul, Minn. He served ten months during the World War, enlisting in August, 1918, four months of which was spent in training at the McSweney Auto School at Kansas City and six months in France in the Government Medical Ambulance Section attached to the French Army. He was discharged June 14, 1919, at Camp Grant and is now studying, taking a commercial course at the Commercial Academy in Milwaukee.

Harvey E. Drake, a pioneer of Dunn County, this state, was born in Boston, Mass., and received a good education in his native city. After engaging in the retail boot and shoe business for a while, he entered the wholesale busi- ness in the same line. After a while, however, his eyes failed, and he decided to try his fortunes in the great sweeps of the Northwest. Accordingly he came to Wisconsin about 1857, and after looking about for a while located in the southern part of Dunn County, where he developed a good farm. He and his good wife attained eminence in their community, and were highly respected as God-fearing Christian people of education and refinement, whose former sur- roundings had been somewhat different from those of most of their neighbors, nearly all of whom had originally come from rural communities. After a long

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MR. AND MRS. JAMES ROBBINS

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and useful life Mr. Drake died in 1892. His good wife survived until 1899. Mr. Drake was a descendant from Mayflower stock, and worthily upheld the traditions of that ancient line. His wife, Sarah P. White, was also descended from early New England families.

Horace W. Drake, one of the first aldermen of Rice Lake after its incor- poration, and for over three decades engaged with the lumber interests of the county, was born in Massachusetts, in the city of Boston, July 26, 1855, son of Harvey E. and Sarah P. (White) Drake. He was brought to Wisconsin by his parents when he was a small child, and was reared on a farm in the southern part of Dunn County, where he received his education. He then learned his carpenter's trade and entered the employ of the Rice Lake Lumber Co. With this company he helped to build the first sawmill in Rice Lake. He remained with the same company until it sold out. He then retired after thirty-three years of service. When the city of Rice Lake was incorporated in 1887 he was elected one of the members of the first council and served for two terms. He has also done good work as a member of the Board of Edu- cation for five years, and has held other positions of public trust and private honor. His fraternal relations are with the Modern Woodmen. The religious faith of the family is that of the Presbyterian church, and Mr. Drake is an elder in the local congregation. Mr. Drake was married Oct. 20, 1878, at Menomonie, this state, to Ellen Dale Ginder, daughter of John G. and Leanna L. (Lear) Ginder, who came to Wisconsin from Illinois in 1890. Mr. Ginder was a dealer in real estate, especially in pine lands, he owned extensive tracts in this state and by his transactions acquired a modest fortune. He died in 1890 and his wife is living in Rice Lake. She is now 86 years of age, but is as hearty and sprightly as a girl, and thinks nothing of walking a mile to visit her friends or to enjoy the invigorating air. Mr. and Mrs. Drake have two children, Maude L. and Gussie E. Maude L. was born July 14, 1885, and was married Aug. 7, 1907, to Ernest A. Saucier, of Rice Lake. Mr. and Mrs. Saucier have one son, De Wayne E., born Aug. 26, 1908, who is doing well at his studies in the public schools. Gussie E. was born May 4, 1890, and lives at home with her parents. The family is highly regarded throughout the community.

Stanley Robbins, connected with the Rice Lake Drug Co., at Rice Lake, is one of the rising young men of the community and is taking his share in every movement that has for its object the betterment of the city. He was born at Madison, Wis., Dec. 8, 1888, the son of Judge James and Hattie (Curtis) Robbins, who brought him to Rice Lake when he was an infant. He passed through the graded schools and was graduated from the Rice Lake high school in the class of 1906. He then took a two years' classical course at the Uni- versity of Wisconsin at Madison, and a two years' pharmacy course at Mar- quette College in Milwaukee, where he received the degree of Ph. G. Then he returned to Rice Lake and took up his present employment. He was married May 17, 1917, to Marie Robarge, born in Rice Lake, March 31, 1896, and they have one son, George, born Aug. 1, 1918.

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 34

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

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