History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 47

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

USA > Wisconsin > Barron County > History of Barron County Wisconsin > Part 47

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

John Nesvold, a prudent and careful farmer of Sections 2 and 11, Cum- berland Township, was born in Norway, July 20, 1863, the son of Engebrit and Ingeborg (Smemo) Peterson, who spent the span of their years in that coun- try. He attended school in his native land, and as a young man worked in the copper mines. He came to America in 1891, landed at Quebec, Canada, and found his way directly to Cumberland, in this county, where for nearly fifteen years he worked for the Beaver Dam Lumber Co., in sawmills and lumber yards. He was a good workman, and highly valued by his employers. In 1915 he bought 40 acres in Section 2, Cumberland Township. In 1916 he bought 40

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acres more in Section 11, in the same township, making him a good place of 80 acres. He has put up a good set of buildings and cleared and broken about 20 acres. Here he carries on mixed farming and dairying, and has a good herd of mixed Guernsey cattle. Fraternally, he is a member of Cumberland Camp, No. 866, Modern Woodmen of America. He is doing his duty in life as he sees it, and is a useful and estimable citizen. Mr. Nesvold was married July 1, 1888, in Norway, to Dorothy A. Moen, who was born in that country, Nov. 17, 1866, the daughter of Andrew and Bertha Moen. This union has been blessed with six children. Ingeborg was born in 1889 and died in infancy. Inga was born Dec. 29, 1891, and is now in Minneapolis. Albert was born Oct. 31, 1896. He was inducted into the United States service Aug. 14, 1918, trained at Camp Hancock, Georgia, with the 14th Co., 161st Depot Brigade, and was discharged June 7, 1919. He is now at home. John was born June 3, 1898; Ellen B. was born Aug. 24, 1900; Anna M. was born Sept. 20, 1903. The family attends the Norwegian Lutheran Church in Section 10.

John D. Olson, vice-president of the Island City Bank, and extensively in- terested in real estate and farm mortgages, was born in Sweden, March 11, 1868, son of the Rev. Olaf and Mary Johnson, the former of whom was a Lutheran clergyman in the Swedish State Church, and both of whom spent the entire span of their years in that country. John D. was reared amid pious surroundings, received a good education, and was graduated from the general course at the University of Uppsala. He then entered the Royal Army for regular service, but after ten months he was granted a discharge by the king for the purpose of locating in America. Accordingly, he set out, and landed in Chicago in the fall of 1889. Then he went to St. Paul, and secured employ- ment in sawmills along the line of the St. Paul and Duluth Railroad. Then he returned to St. Paul and secured work with the street car company. From there he went to Albert Lea, in the same state, and remained there two years. In 1891 he located at Clam Falls, Polk County, Wis., and worked in a store and drove a stage between that place and Shell Lake. Seven and a half years later he engaged in logging at Clam Falls. In 1901 he took up his headquar- ters at Cumberland, and for fourteen years engaged in logging and lumber- ing in this vicinity. Then he took up his present business. He buys and sells both city and rural property, and both improved and unimproved land. He also has quite a business in farm loans and mortgages. He is active in every good work, and was especially prominent in home activities during the war. After the National Guard went into service and the State Guards were organized, he was made second lieutenant of the Fifteenth Company, Wisconsin State Guards, which had its headquarters at Cumberland. His commission was dated Oct. 14, 1918, and he served until June 15, 1920. He was made vice-president of the Island City Bank at Cumberland in January, 1916. Mr. Olson was married at Hudson in April, 1900, to May Wilson, daughter of Bradley and Diantha Wil- son, who were born in New York State and in their adult years came west and settled in Clam Falls, Wis., where the mother died soon after they came, and where the father died in 1918. In the Wilson family there were ten children, of whom seven are living: Christopher, Frank, Stirl; Clara, wife of Robert Brown, of Shell Lake, Wis .; May Etta, wife of Chester Godell, of Elrose, Canada; and Lois, wife of Eugene Steves, who lives south of Webster, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Olson have four children: Vernice, wife of William Tabot, of Cumberland; Mildred and Shirley, attending the Cumberland High School; and Hugh David. One son, Hubert, and one daughter, Florence, are dead.

Thomas Iveland, a solid and well-to-do farmer now living in the Village of Brill, was born in Christiansand, Norway, Nov. 13, 1862, son of Haaken and Bertha Iveland, the former of whom died in Norway, and the latter of whom came to this country and died in 1901. In the family there were eight children : Tilda, Johanna, Emma, Anna, Dora (first), Dora, Thomas and Ole. Thomas was reared in his native land and there learned the masons' trade. He came to America in 1884, and located in Yankton, S. D. There he tried farming for

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MR. AND MRS. THOMAS IVELAND

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about three years, but later took up his trade again and moved to Washington, Idaho. From there he came to Whitehall, in Trempealeau County, this state, where he likewise followed his trade. After this he came to Washburn County, north of Barron County, and secured a place of 80 acres which he developed and improved. To this he added another 80 acres, but did not improve or op- erate the second tract. In 1914 he sold out and moved to Brill, where he pur- chased twenty acres of land and a comfortable residence. Although he is practically retired, he works a part of the place, and does considerable gar- dening. He stands well in the community and is respected by all who know him. His holdings include stock in the Brill Creamery Co. Mr. Iveland was married Aug. 12, 1893, to Julia Gunderson, who was born in Norway, March 28, 1861, daughter of Ole and Bertha Gunderson, who came to America from Norway in 1866, located in Jackson County, this state, and later moved to Turner County, South Dakota, where the father died in 1897 and the mother in 1917. The children in the family were: Levi, Hans, Andrew, Julia, Hanna, Frederick and Adolph. Mr. and Mrs. Iveland have an adopted son, Clarence, who was born Aug. 12, 1893, and farms in Barron County. He married Anna Lewis, and they have three children, Carolina, Hazel and Victor. The family attends the meetings of the Long Lake Congregation of the Norwegian Lutheran Church.

Carroll E. Cavanaugh, formerly educator, and now assistant postmaster of Cumberland, was born in Walworth County, Wis., Aug. 20, 1886, the son of Charles and Hannah (Hatch) Cavanaugh, natives of this state, who now live in Superior, where the father is employed with a grocery firm. In the family there are four children, Mary, Ruth, Alice and Carroll E. Carroll E. received his preliminary education in the schools of his neighborhood, and then entered the Wisconsin State Normal School, at Whitewater, Wis., from which he was graduated in 1909. With this preparation he taught school a year each in Browndear, Eldrion, Cold Spring and Barronette, all in this state. In 1914 he was timekeeper at Horican, Wis., for the Van Brunt Manufacturing Co. The next year he returned to Barronette and taught another year. In 1916 he was offered and accepted his present position. He at once identified himself with the progress of the town, he has made a good official and a good citizen, and has the respect and confidence of all who know him. He was in- ducted into the United States service June 14, 1918, and trained for telephone service with the field artillery at Camp Taylor, Kentucky, until his discharge, Dec. 20, 1918. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Columbus at Delevan, Wis. His religious faith is that of the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Cavanaugh was married Feb. 16, 1920, to Katherine Duren, born in Chip- pewa County, Wis., March 5, 1893, daughter of William and Susan Duren, both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Cavanaugh have one son, Charles William, born Dec. 7, 1920.

James Whitt, Cumberland, now deceased, was born in Virginia, and mar- ried Sarah Howery in Arena, Wis. They came to Barron County from Stanton, Neb., in 1904, and bought 80 acres of wild land in Crystal Lake Township. They "brushed" sixty acres, and there carried on general farming until 1906, when they traded the tract for 40 acres in Stanfold Township. They cleared most of the forty, and carried on general farming and dairying. In 1912 they sold out. Then they rented a farm in Cumberland Township, which they op- erated for two years. In 1914 they retired and moved to Cumberland. Mr. Whitt died on April 24, of that year, and his wife still makes her home in that city. Mr. and Mrs. Whitt were the parents of eight children: Eva, now Mrs. George E. Florer; May, now Mrs. Elwood White, of Stanton, Neb .; Alfred, in Cumberland; Walter (deceased) ; Grace, now Mrs. George Kirby; Estella, now Mrs. John Kirby; Ida and Clinton, both in Cumberland.

George E. Florer, custodian and superintendent of the Cumberland High School Building, was born in McDonough County, Ill., March 4, 1871, son of James and Mary (Baumgartner) Florer, natives of Germany and Kentucky,

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respectively, who went to York County, Nebraska, in 1873, farmed there until 1892, then farmed in Missouri two years, then went to Creston, Neb., operated a store there four years and in 1897 they came to Barron County, and farmed in Crystal Lake Township, until 1917, when they went to Rockford, Iowa, where they now live on a farm. George E. was reared and educated in York County, Nebraska, and also lived with his parents a while in Creston, Nebraska. He came to Barron County in 1903, and for two years was employed as a farm laborer. In 1905 he moved to the city of Cumberland, then for a year he operated a dray line in Cumberland. In 1907 he became engineer at the Cum- berland municipal light plant. He has occupied his present position since 1911. He owns a pleasant home with a four-acre tract in North Cumberland, fronting 300 feet on picturesque Beaver Dam Lake, and here he does truck farming in the summer months. Mr. Florer was married Dec. 15, 1896, at Stanton, Neb., to Eva Whitt, who was born at Arena, Wis., Nov. 28, 1876, daughter of James and Sarah (Howery) Whitt. This union has been blessed with three children: Walter, Arthur and Jessie. Walter was born Aug. 30, 1898. and is now attending the high school in Cumberland, Wis. Arthur was born Dec. 26, 1899, and is employed by W. B. Drake Dray Co., of Cumberland. Jessie was born May 23, 1902, and is now attending the Cumberland High School.

Andrew A. Dahle, a real estate dealer and stock buyer, who has dealt somewhat extensively in Barron County farm lands, was born at North Bris- tol, Dane County, Wis., the son of Christian and Anna (Randall) Dahle, and was reared and educated there. He was married there to Martha Hovey, who was born there, and whose parents, like his own, were early settlers. After his marriage he moved to Morrisonville. in the same county, where he dealt in stock about a dozen years. Then he moved to Sun Prairie, in the same county, where he dealt in stock on a still larger scale, and built up a large trade in real estate, especially in the cut-over lands of the northwestern part of the state. Later he retired and moved to Madison, where he now lives. He and his good wife are the parents of seven children, of whom there are now five living: John; Gertrude, wife of Claude Atkins, Austin, Minn .; Artman, Orris, and Christian J.

Christian J. Dahle, D. D. S., popular dentist of Cumberland, is an excel- lent operator, keeps well abreast of the times in his chosen profession, has a comfortable and well-equipped office and laboratory, and has built up a good clientele. He is a native son of this state, having been born in North Bristol, Dane County, April 30, 1885, the son of Andrew A. and Martha (Hovey) Dahle, who took him to Morrisonville, in the same county, as a baby, and to Sun Prairie, in the same county, as a young boy. He finished his graded studies at Sun Prairie, entered the high school at that place, and was graduated there- from in the class of 1905. With this preparation he entered the dental depart- ment of the Northwestern University at Chicago, and graduated with his doctorate in dentistry in the class of 1909. He then further perfected him- self in his profession by working for several months in the offices of leading dentists in Milwaukee and Beloit. Then he returned home and in 1910 opened an office in Sun Prairie. He has been practicing in Cumberland since Sept. 1, 1916. In fraternal circles he is a member of the Knights of Pythias. Dr. Dahle was married at Sun Prairie, May 29, 1915, to Anna A. Leitch, daughter of W. T. and Esther (Arnold) Leitch, natives, respectively, of Scotland and New York. Dr. and Mrs. Dahle have two children, John Christian and Mary J.

Albert Keesey, owner of a farm in Barron County, located near New Auburn, and well known both in Dunn and Eau Claire counties, was born in Norway. He came to America as a young man and located in Eau Claire, where he married Laura Tuff, also a native of Norway. For many years he devoted much of his time to the lumbering industry, working in camps and on river drives. In the meantime he also farmed during the growing season, first in Dunn County and later in Eau Claire County. They still live on the latter

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GEORGE N. KEESEY

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tract. In the family there were six children: George N., of Brill; Laura, now Mrs. E. E. Cole, of Brill; Fred E., also of Brill; Eugene, of Kellogg, Idaho; Emma, residing on the home farm; and Richard, who is deceased.

George N. Keesey, founder of the village of Brill, first and present post- master, first ticket agent, first and present merchant, first and present vice- president of the Brill State Bank, founder and owner of the Brill Oil Co., pro- prietor of a good farm at Brill, and a specialist in raising New York Rurals and Triumph seed potatoes, admirably adapted to the soil and climate of this region, is a splendid example of the men who are building up the Northwest by guiding the progress of the small hamlets and shipping points which fur- nish an outlet for the rich farms. He is energetic in manner, genial in per- sonality, helpful in spirit, and has an unusual sense of fairness so that he holds the respect of all with whom he has dealings, and is highly regarded as a useful, influential and patriotic citizen. He was born May 5, 1873, in Dunn County, this state, son of Albert and Laura (Tuff) Keesey, pioneers and promi- nent people of Eau Claire County. He attended the rural schools and early took up farming and logging with his father. When he first left home he worked as a logger in the woods of the Lake Superior region. Subsequently, he managed the home farm for a while. In 1897 he became a business man at New Auburn, on the county line between Barron and Chippewa counties, where he had a store and a potato warehouse. In the spring of 1902 he came to the present site of Brill, and purchased an acre of land along the line of the "Omaha" Railroad, which had been put through the previous year. Here he built a small store, the first in the place. In this store the postoffice was opened. Here also the tickets were sold for the railroad. From this small beginning has grown his present business. The store is now a model of its kind. He handles everything for which he believes there will be a demand, great or small, and what he does not carry, he will order. He has managed to infuse his own spirit into the spirit of his associates, and the place is not only the business center of the community, where the people come to do their trading, but also the social and political center, where people make appoint- ments to meet, and where many matters of public import are discussed and decided. The Brill Oil Co. is also located at his store. He buys gasoline and oils in carload lots, has an excellently equipped pumping station, and supplies the surrounding countryside by means of a large distributing tank-wagon. When the Brill State Bank was organized he was made its vice-president in recognition of the part he took in starting it. He has also taken stock in the Brill Creamery Co. and the Rice Lake & Northeastern Telephone Co. Fra- ternally, he is a member of Rice Lake Lodge, No. 234, A. F. and A. M., and Pokegama Chapter, No. 67, R. A. M. In 1920, Mr. Keesey erected a pleasant residence of Kellastone stucco, which is one of the show places of this vicinity. His highly developed farm of 80 acres, stretched north and south of his resi- dence along Main Street, and its well-kept appearance, adds much to the at- tractive appearance of the whole village and vicinity. Mr. Keesey was married Aug. 2, 1913, to Emilie Cleveland, who was born in England, March 20, 1874, daughter of William and Marion Hill. The family faith is that of the Pres- byterian Church.

August Wolff, mayor of Cumberland, has a harness-making shop where he does all kinds of leather working, and enjoys a good trade. He was elected mayor in the spring of 1920, by the largest majority ever received for that office. Previous to his election to this office, he had served the city for fif- teen years as alderman. He was born in Germany, Sept. 10, 1857, son of Julius and Louisa Wolff. The father died when August was a young boy. The mother then married Christian Engelke, who brought the family to America in 1866, and settled in Richwood, Wis., where he engaged in teaming. After coming to this country, August attended private school at Richwood. At the age of fifteen, he went to Watertown, Wisconsin, worked in a hotel a short time and then learned the harness-making trade, at which he has since continued.

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For a time he worked at his trade at Madison, and from there went to Baraboo, where he worked at his trade for August Ringling, father of the famous circus men. Then, after a short while at home, he went to Milwaukee. In 1879 he started operating a shop for I. Alsbacher, at Mauston, Wis. He came to Cum- berland and opened his present shop in 1883. It is the oldest shop of its kind in the county. Mr. Wolff was married at Lynden, Wis., Jan. 1, 1884, to Lucy Arntz, daughter of Peter J. and Bernadina (Schmitz) Arntz, natives of Holland, and early settlers of central Wisconsin. The father was the first one to cross the bridge at the Dells of the Wisconsin with a horse team. He was then on his way to the mouth of the Lemonweir River, with a boiler for his sawmill there. Mr. and Mrs. Wolff have three children, Julius F., Eva and Werner P. Julius F. is general mining engineer for the Oliver Iron Mining Co. at Duluth. Werner P. is at Ely, Minn., and is mining engineer for the Vermillion district in the employ of the Oliver Iron Mining Co. Eva is now Sister Mary Madeleva, and is teaching in the Sacred Heart Academy at Ogden, Utah. She belongs to the Order of the Holy Cross, whose mother house is St. Mary's, Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana.

Frederick E. Wandrey, a hero of the Civil War, and for twelve years pre- ceding his death a beloved citizen of Cumberland, was born in Germany, Nov. 29, 1843, and was brought to America at the tender age of seven by his parents, who lived for a while in New York State and later settled on a farm in Winne- bago County, near Neenah, Wis. Young Frederick was but eighteen when, in August, 1862, he enlisted in Co. I, 11th Wis. Vol. Inf. With this company he served throughout the war, taking heroic part in such action as the Battles of Port Gibson, Champion Hill, and Big Black River Bridge, and the sieges of Vicksburg and Fort Blakely. After the war, he located in Marquette County, where he was married. From there they moved to Wautoma, in Waushara County, where they farmed for many years. " They came to Cumberland in 1903. Here they at once established themselves as good citizens, good neigh- bors and good friends. Their home was a hospitable one, and soon became one of the social centers of the city. Mr. Wandrey died Dec. 13, 1915, and his death was sincerely mourned. He was a quiet, unassuming man who loved his family and his home, and who earned the respect of all with whom he came in contact. Mr. Wandrey was married to Mary Zabel, who was born in Ger- many, April 5, 1852, daughter of Frederick and Minnie (Kroeger) Zabel. This union has been blessed with thirteen children: Albert H., born May 18, 1870, now of Park Falls, Wis .; Frederick G., born Dec. 18, 1871; Emma, born March 22, 1874; Ida, born April 1, 1876; Clara, born May 20, 1878; George, born Nov. 5, 1879 and died Oct. 12, 1903; Ella, born May 27, 1882; Minnie, born July 10, 1884; John, born Sept. 10, 1886; Ernest W., born Nov. 6. 1887; Laura E., born Feb. 9, 1890; Harley H., born March 11, 1892; and Agnes, born Nov. 24, 1894. Ernest served in the United States Navy during the war.

James A. Whiteford, now deceased, for nearly a quarter of a century a most estimable citizen of Cumberland Township, was a man of upright character and equitable temperament, who stood well with his fellow men, who fulfilled admirably his every duty and obligation, and left behind him the memory of a well spent life. He was born in Centralia, Ontario, Canada, March 1, 1867, the youngest son of John and Margaret (Gifford) Whiteford, who died when he was a small boy, leaving him to the care of his maternal grandparents. Living with them he attended the graded schools of his native place. Later he took a commercial course in the London (Ontario, Canada) Business College. Then he came to the States and for a while was employed in Sedalia, Mo., in the car-yards of his uncle, both as a carpenter and as book- keeper. Later he traveled in other states. He came to Barron County in 1887, and bought 160 acres of land in Section 34, Cumberland Township. He cleared nearly the entire tract, and with the lumber thus obtained, erected a fine set of buildings. Here he successfully carried on general farming and stock raising, and became one of the leading men of the community. On Sept.

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16, 1911, he died, after an heroic fight with poor health. At that time he had been clerk of the school district for some twenty years. After his death, his widow operated the farm with the help of her family until 1916. Then she rented the place to her son, James. In 1919 she sold. She is now pleasantly located in the city of Cumberland. Mr. Whiteford was married March 26, 1888, to Etta Buchanan, who was born in Ontario, Canada, April 8, 1872, daughter of George and Lydia (Thompson) Buchanan, natives of Canada, who came to Cumberland in 1883, took a homestead of 80 acres in Cumberland Township, cleared and improved a farm, and there lived until 1910, when they sold, and moved to Saskatchewan, Canada, where he died in September, 1918, and where she still lives. . Mr. and Mrs. Whiteford were blessed with six children: Margaret, Myra, James G., Gordon, Charles A. and Emily. Margaret was born April 27, 1889, and is the wife of Oscar Holmes of Brownlee, Saskatchewan, Canada. Myra was born Jan. 4, 1891, and is the wife of Charles Miller, of Cumberland. James G. was born Nov. 1, 1893, and farms in Cumberland Township. Gordon was born March 10, 1895, and now resides in Brownlee, Saskatchewan, Canada. Charles A. was born Jan. 20, 1898, and is now an ensign in the United States navy. Emily was born March 16, 1906, and is attending the Cumberland High School.

John J. Wearne, Cumberland, business man and former journalist, was born in Linden, Iowa County, Wis., April 1, 1874, son of Zacariah and Mary (Bennett) Wearne, natives of England, who came to America and located in Iowa County in the days of the early settlement. The father devoted his life to farming and mining. The family underwent many interesting experiences of pioneer life, and endured many privations and hardships. Their nearest trading point was Galena, Ill., and provisions often had to be brought in on foot. Both the parents are now deceased. In the family there were seven children, four boys and three girls. Mary is the wife of J. B. Hughes, of Chicago. George is in Nebraska. William is in San Francisco, Calif. Anna is the wife of A. L. Conrad, of Chicago. John J. lives in Cumberland, Wis. Richard and Caroline are dead. John J. was reared in his native county, and received a graded and high school education. As a youth of seventeen he went to Omaha, Neb., and worked in a soap factory for a year. Then he returned to Linden, and entered the printing shop of the Adviser, where he learned the printer's trade, and where he worked for a while. His next employment was in Chicago, where he worked at his trade for the Gunder- son Manufacturing Co. After a time he was promoted to foreman, then to man- ager, and so remained for several years. His health failing, he left Chicago in 1902, and settled on a homestead near Minong, Washburn County, this state. While developing his homestead he also operated the Minong Chronicle, which he established, and the first number of which he issued April 1906. In April, 1909, he moved the plant to Almena, in Barron County, changed the name to the Clover Land Star, and issued the first number in April, 1909. A year later he moved the paper to Cumberland, and conducted it there under the name of the Clover Leaf Star. In August, 1910, he sold the subscription list and advertising contracts to Judge H. S. Comstock, and returned to Minong, where he again ran a paper under the name Minong Star. The winter of 1912 was spent in Chicago working at his trade. In the spring he returned to his homestead at Minong, and traded it for a farm in Lakeland Township, this county, north of Cumberland, where he engaged in the dairy business. In April, 1916, he sold out and purchased the market of R. J. Tuttle, at Cumber- land, which he has since successfully conducted. He is a good business man, has a good trade, and holds the confidence of his fellow men. His experience as a newspaper man has given him an excellent insight into public affairs, and he has done good service as a member of the city council. He is also doing valuable work for the city as president of the board of health, and as chairman of the council street committee. While at Minong he was clerk of his township and of his school board. Fraternally he is a Mason, being a

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 47

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

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