History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 41

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

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Gustave Oswald Gustafson, manufacturer of the "Quality" brand ice cream, Rice Lake, has a well equipped, modern plant, and is doing a constantly increasing business, serving a large territory, having had an output of over 36,000 gallons the first year. In addition to selling his ice cream, he handles various accessories, including crushed fruits, fruit syrups, flavorings, ice cream cones, ice cream pails and salt. He owns the building, which he pur- chased in 1916, he employs experts, has suitable machinery, uses the best and freshest of materials, and creates a product that is widely commended for its purity, richness, smoothness, body and flavor. He was born in Sundvall, Sweden, Nov. 1, 1882, the son of Victor and Mary (Anderson) Gustafson, who brought him to this country in 1890. He continued his education in the public schools of Rice Lake and Stanley townships. As a young man he was employed in various lumber camps as cook, first for the Sterns Lumber Co. of Ashland, and next for the Brown-Robbins Lumber Co. of Rhinelander. In 1904 he purchased the restaurant and bakery of August Boles, at Rice Lake. This he operated until late in 1919, when he sold out to Benjamin Nellis, and took up his present business. He is a prominent man, is now a member of the city council, and at one time was president of the board of public works for two years. He is active in the Commercial Club, and believes in a wider publicity for the advantages of Rice Lake. Mr. Gustafson was married Jan. 30, 1906, to Reva Corrine Ely, of St. Paul, a competent teacher, and a graduate of the St. Croix Falls High School and of the State Normal School at River Falls. Mr. and Mrs. Gustafson have two children. Ruth L. was born Aug. 10, 1908, and is doing well in the Rice Lake High School. Clarance was born Oct. 21, 1909, and is a student in the seventh grade in the public schools. That the son should have reached the seventh grade at the age of eleven, and the daughter the High School at the age of twelve is an unusual record indeed.

Victor Gustafson was born in Sweden, was there reared and educated, and there married Mary Anderson, also a native of that country. He brought his family to America in 1890 and reached Rice Lake, Oct. 12, of that year. He bought a home on the west side of the city, and for two years worked in a saw mill for the Rice Lake Lumber Co. Then he traded the Rice Lake place for a farm in Stanley Township, this county, where he owns 80 acres, and where he

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is still farming, being a substantial and reputable citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Gustafson are the parents of eight children. Gustave Oswald is an ice cream manufacturer of Rice Lake. Carl, who lives in Veblin, South Dakota, engaged in mercantile business, has sold out there and will return to the home farm. Victoria, who received her musical training at Valparaiso, Ind., is teaching instrumental music at Marion, Ohio. Emma is the wife of Elmer Anderson, of Veblin, South Dakota. August, on the home farm, is also engaged in the auto business. Ellen and Helen are twins, the former being employed by the Con- sumers Store Co. at Rice Lake, and the latter being the wife of Orrin Lee, of Elmwood, Wis. Esther, a graduate of the Northwestern Institute of Music at Minneapolis, has music classes at Rice Lake, Chetek and Spooner.

E. C. McClelland, journalist, educator and public citizen, editor and pub- lisher of the Rice Lake Chronotype, the oldest newspaper in Barron county, is one of the leading men of his community, and through the columns of his paper exercises a wide influence on public thought. He is a true American in word and deed, and his unswerving loyalty and uncompromising support of the Government and State in all war measures did much to keep the fires of patriotism burning brightly at all times in Barron County. The esteem in which he is held throughout the county is shown by the fact that in 1915 he was elected county treasurer, in which position he served with dignity and ability. He has also served on the County Board of Supervisors and has acted as president of the County Training School Board. At present (1921) he is a member of the Board of Public Works, City of Rice Lake. Fraternally he is a Blue Lodge and Chapter Mason, and he is also a member of the Modern Wood- men. In politics he is a Republican, and the Protestant Episcopal church rep- resents his religious preference. He has a modern printing plant, and aside from issuing his paper, he does general job printing of a high grade, and is well equipped to handle commercial printing of all kinds. He was born in Dubuque, Iowa, passed through the public schools, graduated from the Ep- worth Seminary in his native city in 1882, and from Cornell College at Cornell, Iowa, in 1884. With this preparation he became an instructor, teaching two years in Iowa, then becoming principal at Juneau, Wis .; later serving as superintendent and principal at Lake City, Minn., and then in 1896 coming to Rice Lake, where he served as superintendent and principal in the public schools until 1905. Then he purchased the Rice Lake Chronotype and two years later consolidated it with the Rice Lake Leader. Mr. McClelland was married at Juneau, Wis., Dec. 25, 1888, to Louise A. Roeder. Mrs. McClelland had at that time been engaged for several years as a successful teacher in various Wisconsin schools. Since living in Rice Lake she has been at the head of many important organizations and during the war was a member of the County Council of Defence. Prof. and Mrs. McClelland have two children, Ruth L. and Harold E. Ruth L. was graduated from the Rice Lake High School in 1912, and from Milwaukee Downer College in 1915, and then took post graduate work at the University of Chicago and in Teacher's College at Columbia University, New York City, specializing in Household Arts. She is now a teacher in the Rice Lake High School. Harold E. was graduated from the Rice Lake High School in 1919, took a year's course at Hamline University, Hamline, Minn., and is now a student in the School of Journalism in the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

Lewis D. Schnacky, now living retired in Rice Lake, is one of the estimable citizens of the county, highly regarded for his excellent qualities and for what his life has meant to the community. Before coming here, he had wide ex- perience as a farmer, oil man, and hotel proprietor, and his career in this county for nearly forty years has been one that will long be remembered to his honor. He has been a hard working man, he has had the good judgment which has made his arduous toil count for something, he has never been con- tent that his results should be less than the best, and he developed what, at the time of his retirement, was regarded as one of the best equipped farms

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MR. AND MRS. LEWIS D. SCHNACKY

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in the county. In his family he has been an ideal husband and father. He has given the community fourteen children, all of whom are a credit to their parents, and to each of these children he has given a good training and educa- tion, and surrounded their youth with those safeguards of care and guidance which are better than great riches. It is a remarkable fact that so well has his family been guarded, and so blessed has he been by Providence, that the family circle has remained unbroken, and in the rearing of the entire fourteen, only once was it necessary to call a physician to administer to illness. Lewis D. Schnacky was born in Lewis County, New York, Dec. 20, 1856, son of Michael and Barbara Schnacky, natives of Germany, who came to the United States in early life, and were married in Lewis County, New York, where they engaged in farming. He received a good education in the public schools of his native county, and remained at home until eighteen years of age. He then cast his fortunes with those of his brother, Joseph, and they continued as partners for several years. First they farmed near Rochester, New York, and then engaged in the hotel business there, having a hotel at the corner of St. Paul and Court streets. From there they went to the oil regions of Pennsylvania where they found employment as well drillers at from $5 to $7 a day, a re- markable wage in a period when many good workmen were receiving but $1 a day. By hard work and frugality they saved $4,000 and started a hotel at Patolia, Penn. This was destroyed by fire, and they lost everything. Then they came to Le Pierre County, Michigan, where they separated, Lewis re- maining there on a farm and Joseph going to Colorado. The subject of this sketch came to this county from Michigan in 1881, and with headquarters at Rice Lake, devoted his attention to getting out hardwood timber for barrel staves. In 1884, after his marriage, he bought 160 acres in Oak Grove Town- ship, this county, borrowing $25 from a friend to make the first payment. He erected a log cabin, put up some crude outbuildings, and grubbed and cultivated the land. In the log cabin he lived for eighteen years. In time he sold 80 acres, but later bought 80 more, so he still had a quarter section. He erected two different sets of frame buildings, constructed fences, purchased machinery, tools and equipment, made improvements from time to time as his judgment dictated, and in time had what was considered as one of the best farms in the county. In 1917 he came to the city of Rice Lake, and after renting a home for two years, purchased his present comfortable place at 10 East Humbird street. He also owns two other residences in the city which he rents. While he was in the township he served on both the town and school boards, and in other ways showed his interest in public affairs. Mr. Schnacky was married June 15, 1884, to Anna Ruetz, who was born in Canada, March 11, 1863, daughter of Peter and Caroline (Stoeser) Ruetz, natives respectively of Germany and Canada. The fourteen children resulting from this union are: Lewis, Jr., Fred, Alex, Caroline, Clara, Susie, Marie, Andrew, Joseph, Henry, John, Michael, Florence and Abbline. Lewis Jr., was born May 19, 1885, and lives in Hopkins, Minn. He married May Chermak, and they have two children, Leonard and Herman. Fred was born Sept. 14, 1887, and lives in Rice Lake. He married Alvina Hillystad, and they have three children, Gerald, Dorris and Ruby. Alex was born May 9, 1889, and lives in Oak Grove Township, this county. He married Edith Hessing. Caroline was born Feb. 16, 1891, is the wife of Stanley Wetherbee, of Crystal, North Dakota, and has an adopted son, Vernon. Clara was born Feb. 17, 1893. She married Ellis Berg, and they live at Cornacopia, Wis., and have two sons, Robert and Donald. Susie was born Aug. 11, 1894, and is the wife of Elmer Hanson, of Rice Lake. Marie was born March 21, 1896, married Ostwin Helpap, and they have three children, Orvis, Roger and June. Andrew was born Nov. 8, 1897, and lives in Cleveland, Ohio. Joseph, born Nov. 26, 1898, and Henry, born Jan. 10, 1900, are both painters at Rice Lake. John was born Nov. 26, 1901 and is a barber in Ladysmith, this state. Michael was born Feb. 8, 1903, and is a baker in Rice Lake. Florence was born

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Aug. 12, 1904. Abbline was born April 22, 1906. The family faith is that of the Roman Catholic Church.

Ray C. Peck, editor of the Chronotype, Rice Lake, training camp captain during the World War, and for many years a prominent fraternity man, was born in Brownsville, New York, June 20, 1879, son of De Witt S. and Edith (McWayne) Peck, and gradson of Myron Peck, proprietor of a gristmill at Watertown, New York. The family is descended from Puritan stock. De Witt Peck came to Wisconsin from New York State in 1881, and located first at Menomonie, going from there to Eau Claire, and thence to Hayward, where he still operates a lumber yard, and where his wife died in 1912. In the family there were four children : Wayne, in business with his father at Hayward; Ray C., a Rice Lake journalist; Bertha, who is the wife of Ed. Freeman, district judge at Virginia, Minn., and has four children, Everett, Eleanor, Rae and Edward; and Bessie, who is keeping house for her father at Hayward. Ray C. came to Wisconsin with his parents in 1881, and was reared at Hayward. There he passed through the graded schools and in 1895 was graduated from the High School. In the meantime, he had worked in printing offices, and learned con- siderable of the printing art. Upon graduating from school he went to Winona, and there entered the employ of Jones & Kroeger, printers and binders. A year later he returned to Hayward and entered the employ of the Hayward Republican. In 1899 he entered Beloit College, at Beloit, Wis., and was graduated in 1903. Then he had charge of the Hayward Enterprise for a year, and of the Phillips (Wis.) Bee for a year. In 1905 he came to Rice Lake, and assumed the management and editorship of the Weekly Leader. When this paper was consolidated with the Chronotype in 1909, he took over the duties of his present position. Captain Peck has an interesting military record. He enlisted in Co. A, 10th Sep. Batt., W. N. G., on March 28, 1906, as a private, and by promotions became second lieutenant. On June 28, 1917, he was commissioned captain to recruit Co. F, Sixth Regiment, W. N. G. This company was federalized and assigned to the 32nd Division. Captain Peck trained with the company at Camp Douglas, Wis., and Camp McArthur, Texas. There he was first grenade officer of the 128th Infantry, and adjutant of the Casual Detachment. He was discharged Dec. 28, 1918. Mr. Peck is a Blue Lodge, Chapter and Council Mason, and a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Beavers. For several years past he has been secretary of the Rice Lake Volunteer Fire Department. He is one of the useful and active citizens of Rice Lake, and his influence on local affairs is considerable. As a man and as an officer he has proven faithful to every trust that has been imposed in him.

Raymond V. Peterson, operating a real estate, loan and insurance office at Rice Lake, is one of the energetic young men of the county, is fully alive to every detail of his business, and is doing considerable "boosting" for the county in spreading abroad the news of the merits of Barron County farm land, the possibilities of dairying here, and the desirability of Barron County neigh- borliness. He is a native of this state, born in Menomonie, Aug. 13, 1894. He came to Rice Lake as a boy and pursued his studies here in the graded schools and in the high school. He also took a course in the Academy of Idaho, a busi- ness college at Pocatello, that state, from which he was graduated. With this preparation he worked for a while as clerk and bookkeeper. He engaged in his present business in 1915. He is active in the affairs of the community and is a member of the Commercial Club. In politics he is a Republican. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Peterson is an out-door man, and takes delight in hunting, fishing and other sports of a similar nature. Mr. Peterson enlisted in the United States service, Oct. 4, 1917, trained at Camp Green, North Carolina, and was assigned to Co. G, 59th Infantry, Fourth Division. He was sent overseas in May, 1918, participated in the heroic de- fense of Paris, at Chateau Thierry, continued at the front, and was in the Argonne Forest driving with his division toward Metz when the armistice was

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REV. JOHN N. MILLS

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signed. Seven days later he marched into Germany with the Army of Occupa- tion. Afterward he was sent on detached duty to Southern France. He was returned to America in August, 1919, and received his discharge at Camp Grant, Ill., after one month short of two years' service, Sept. 4, 1919. He is now in the post office building at Rice Lake, Wis., handling insurance in all forms-fire, tornado, life and farm insurance. He represents the Prudential Life.

Rev. John Nelson Mills, a pastor of the Methodist. Episcopal denomination, living at Rice Lake, is an excellent type of the older school of itinerant Metho- dist pastors. He has experienced the toil and privation of a clergyman's life and has also known its rewards, and now in his declining years, he has the con- sciousness of a good life worthily spent in the service of his fellow man. He was born Dec. 24, 1838, in the county of Leeds, Ontario, Canada, son of Joseph and Jemima (Putic) Mills. His parents were both of English birth, the father was born at Norfolk, England (near London), in 1807, and the mother in Suffolk in 1810. They left England for Canada in 1832, and on their arrival located at Kempfield, Ontario, where Joseph Mills, who had learned the cooper's trade, engaged in farming. He was also for forty years a Methodist local preacher. He died at the age of 73 years in 1880, and his wife Jemima at the age of 87 years in 1897. They had a family of eight sons and three daughters. John Nelson Mills was educated in a grammar school and subse- quently learned the painter's trade, which he followed for eighteen years. Then feeling a call to a higher life, he entered the ministry of the Methodist Church of Canada. He entered the Montreal Conference in 1878, continued for two years there, and was transferred to the London (Canada) Conference, where he remained two years. In 1882 he came to the States, was ordained at Sheldon, Iowa, Oct. 1, that year, and became a member of the Northwest Iowa Conference, a relationship in which he continued for five years. During that time he preached first in the Sioux City district, then going to Vail and after- ward to Newall. Then in 1887 he was transferred to the West Wisconsin Con- ference. In this state he was successively appointed to the following charges and remained in each for the length of time stated: Cuba City, three years; South Wayne, one year; Shullsburg, two years; Bloomington, one year; Verona, two years; Merrimac, one year; Delton, two years, and Sextonville, one year. Then, in 1901, he moved to Rice Lake, his present home, where he was pastor for two years, retiring in 1903. In 1902 he bought some land and established his present home. The property contains three acres laid out in city lots on the west bank of the lake. Of the fifteen lots contained in it, thirteen were covered with Indian mounds. Mr. Mills was first married in 1863 to Isabella Edwards of Canada, who died in 1874. By her he had one son, Herbert B., now living in Portland, Ore. Herbert is married and has had three children: Ethel, now Mrs. Sidney Prairie; Wilbur, now living in Vancouver, state of Washington, and Nelson, who, while serving his country in the naval training camp at Puget Sound, died of influenza. On July 23, 1884, Rev. John N. Mills was married, secondly, in Chatham, Ontario, Canada, to Mary Orr, daughter of George and Jennie (Russell) Orr. Her father was of Scotch-Irish and her mother of English blood. From this marriage eight children were born, as follows: Ethel Rae, May 14, 1885, at Vail, Iowa. She married Fred C. Frees and lives at Willard, Colo. She has one child, Dorothy Jane. Russell Orr, born Nov. 23, 1886, at Newell, Iowa, married Edna Campbell, and has two children, John Orr and Bernard Amans. He and his family reside in Duluth, Minn. Willard Mallalieu, born March 24, 1888, at Cuba City, Wis., is serving as first sergeant in the Marine Corps. Before becoming a marine he served two en- listments in the regular army at Fort Ward, Wash. While in this service he spent one year in the Hawaiian Islands. From the regular army he enlisted in the marines, and in this service spent four years in Peking, China, in the American Legation. From there he went to the Phillipines, spending one year there. He re-enlisted and now has a recruiting office in Bellingham, Wash.

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John Fletcher, born Nov. 27, 1889, at Cuba City, Wis., married Lillian Kempton and his home is in Minneapolis, Minn. He served in the 21st Engineers, in Company E, in the World War. Entering the service in September, 1917, at Minneapolis, he sailed for France in the following December. There he served nineteen months, returning home in June, 1919. Frederick T., born at Shulls- burg, Wis., Oct. 6, 1892, married Margaret Carr, and has one child, Margery Mary. Their home is in Duluth. He entered the service in 1918, trained at Camp Dodge, and became a corporal in the infantry. George Kellar, born May 12, 1894, at Bloomington, Wis., is a graduate in pharmacy of the University of Wisconsin, and is now proprietor of a drug store in Rice Lake. Ida May, born Sept. 19, 1898, at Merrimac, Wis., died August 18 the same year. Florence Ellinor, born May 1, 1901, at Sextonville, Wis., married Lloyd Jasper Frederick- son, and they have one child, Mary Louise, and the family resides at Rice Lake. Mr. Frederickson enlisted June 1, 1917, and served with the 79th Field Artillery, Seventh Division. He was in France eleven and one half months, and was discharged July 9, 1919. Thus the Mills family and its connections show an excellent record for patriotism during the great World War.

Joseph Pettit, a pioneer of Fond du Lac County, this state, was born in Ireland, and as a young man came to America. He settled in Fond du Lac County, in the early days, and there farmed until his death, Aug. 5, 1917. His wife, who was Mary O'Riley, of Rhode Island, still lives in Fond du Lac County. In the family there are eleven children: Mary, Agnes, Francis, Eugene (deceased) Louis A., Mark, Teresa, Rosella, Ambrose, John and Aloysius.

Louis A. Pettit, of Pettit Brothers, plumbing and heating, was born in Fond du Lac County, Wis., Jan. 21, 1872, son of Joseph and Mary (O'Riley) Pettit. He was educated in Springvale, Wis., and remained on the home farm until nearly of age. Then he spent a year in St. Paul, Minn., and a year in Canada, after which he went to Milwaukee, Wis., where he spent three years learning the plumbing trade. With this preparation he went to Minneapolis, and there followed his trade six years. He came to Rice Lake in 1903 and opened an establishment at 202 Wilson Avenue. One year later he took his brother, Mark, as a partner. Mr. Pettit was married Dec. 10, 1902, to Anna Mahar, who died Feb. 26, 1904, leaving a son, Eugene, who was born Feb. 21, 1904, and is now attending the public schools. Aug. 20, 1909, Mr. Pettit married Gertrude Putrow, who was born May 8, 1883, daughter of John and Mary (Nolan) Putrow, and they have three children: Joseph L., born Sept. 12, 1910; Mary G., born May 5, 1916, and Audray J., born July 25, 1919. John Putrow was born in Canada, and for a time operated a bicycle shop and tin shop in Rice Lake. In 1914 he moved to Dubuque, Iowa, where he is pattern maker for the Brunswick Phonograph Co.

Mark Pettit, of Pettit Brothers, plumbing and heating, Rice Lake, was born in Springvale, Wis., April 21, 1877, son of Joseph and Mary (O'Riley) Pettit. He received his early education in his native place, and in 1895 graduated from the High School at Branton, Wis. Later he took a commercial course in the Spencerian Business College at Milwaukee, Wis. For several years he devoted his time to farming, both at home and elsewhere. In 1906 he came to Rice Lake, and entered into partnership with his brother, Louis A., he being the business manager of his firm, while his brother has charge of the mechanical work. Fraternally he is a member of St. John's Court, No. 1618, Catholic Order of Foresters and Rev. C. F. Schmit Council, No. 2137, Knights of Columbus, and has held office in both of these lodges. He is a member of the Catholic Church. Mr. Pettit was married Feb. 3, 1909, in New York City, to Anna Bastick, born in Ireland, April 28, 1878, daughter of John and Mary (O'Keefe) Bastick, who still live in Ireland. In the family there are three more sisters, Mrs. Kate Liner, of Springvale, Wis .; Mrs. Margaret Rooney of New York City, and Mrs. Mary Blair of that city. Mr. and Mrs. Pettit have two children : Agnes, born May 22, 1911, and Anne born Jan. 30, 1917.

John H. Peterson, connected with the Ford Garage at Rice Lake, was born

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on a farm in Rice Lake Township, March 5, 1898, son of Andrew J. and Christine (Westerland) Peterson, both natives of Sweden, where they were married. The father came to the United States in 1893, and secured employ- ment with the Rice Lake Lumber Co., in Barron County. Four years later his wife joined him. Then he bought eighty acres in Stanley Township, and started to develop a farm. Later he sold forty, leaving forty on which he still conducts general farming. He and his wife had five children : Helma (Mrs. Ed. E. Tackel, of Minneapolis), John, Ellen, Bertha and Anna. John H. was reared on the home farm and received a good common school education. He was still a boy when he started out for himself and went to South Dakota, where he was employed for a while on a farm. In the fall of 1914 he entered the Omaha Auto School at Omaha, Neb., and thoroughly mastered the automo- bile business, which he has since followed. Since 1917 he has been doing general repair work for the Ford garage at Rice Lake. He is a good workman and stands well with the general public. Mr. Peterson was married Jan. 1, 1920, at Rice Lake, to Hazel V. Bergerson, daughter of Edward J. and Mary Bergerson, natives of Sweden, who upon coming to America, settled in Minnesota, and in 1902 located in Barron county. The mother died in 1906, and the father now makes his home with Mr. and Mrs. Peterson. In the family there were four children : Selma, Ida, Walter and Hazel. Selma married Felex Le Brie, of Hudson. Ida married Dave Enquist, of Rice Lake. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson have one daughter.

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 41

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

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