History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 50

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

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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).

Frank W. Hocom, who operates the Pioneer Market in Cumberland, is a native of this city, born Aug. 8, 1888, the son of Peter and Christina (Hanson)

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Hocom. His whole life has been spent in this place, and here he is not only an active business man, but also a prominent and useful citizen. He attended school and as a boy played about his father's market, gradually taking up the business as his life work. Since his father's death he has operated and managed the market. When the local fire department was organized, he became one of the first members and is still active in that organization. For four years he has been elected alderman and is now filling the position by appointment. His services in this capacity have been of much value to his fellow citizens. He is master of Cumberland Lodge, No. 223, A. F. & A. M., and a trustee of the Eastern Star, as well as a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Scandinavian-American Fraternity. He was married Aug. 2, 1910, at Menomonie, to Louella J. Looney, the daughter of John J. and Mar- garet Looney. John J. Looney was born on the Isle of Mann, England, and by trade was a blacksmith and wagon maker. For some years he was foreman in a sleigh manufacturing plant at Menomonie. He died in 1906. His wife, who is living at Porterville, Calif., is a native of Hazel Green, Wis.

Otto Thingvold, pioneer and leading citizen, was one of the real makers of Maple Grove Township. He came here when the township was a wilder- ness; he assisted in building roads and bridges; he gave good advice to his neighbors who came after him; he did his own duty in life nobly, and had time left to help his fellow citizens. As a public spirited and influential man he served as chairman of the town board for many years, as township assessor for a considerable period, and as a member of the school board of his district for several terms. All in all, he was a useful, substantial, God-fearing man, and his death, Aug. 18, 1917, was acknowledged as a distinct loss to the life of the community. He left a heritage of honor and the members of his family are keeping alive the family traditions and worthily following in his foot- steps. He was born in Norway Oct. 8, 1844, and there received his early education. He came to America in 1866 and for a time worked in Illinois. Next he came to this part of the country as a raftsman on the Mississippi. Next, with headquarters at Menomonie, he was in the employ of Knapp, Stout & Co. for several years. It was in 1872 that he came to Barron County, then practically a lumbering wilderness, and took a homestead of 160 acres in Sec- tion 20, East, Maple Grove Township. He cleared 75 or 80 acres, erected buildings and fences, bought stock and equipment, and carried on general farming for the remainder of his life. He died in the faith of the Norwegian Lutheran Church. Mr. Thingvold was married to Johanna Evenson, daughter of Ole and Agnette (Christensen) Evenson, natives of Norway, who came to America in 1870 and settled in Menomonie, Dunn County, this state, where they spent the remainder of their lives with the exception of an interval in which they lived in Barron County. Mr. and Mrs. Thingvold are the parents of ten children. Theresa was born May 15, 1874, and is the wife of J. G. Rude, of Rice Lake. John was born May 15, 1875, and lives in Maple Grove Township. George was born April 7, 1877, and died Oct. 16, 1878. Gena was born March 26, 1879, and is now Mrs. C. D. Donaldson, of Grand Forks, N. D. Henry was born Oct. 27, 1882, and farms in Maple Grove Township. Clara was born Oct. 27, 1883, and is now Mrs. A. W. Lux, of St. Cloud, Minn. Edwin was born Oct. 15, 1884, and operates the home farm. Otto was born Dec. 13, 1889, and died March 8, 1919. Stella was born March 1, 1891, and is now Mrs. Harry Strong, of Chetek. Dora was born May 19, 1893, and is at home. Edwin Thingvold, who is operating the farm for his mother, is one of the active, progressive men of the township. He carries on mixed farming and dairying, has a good heard of grade Guernsey cattle, and is keeping everything in a high state of improvement. He is well liked in the community and has the esteem and confidence of all who know him.

Emil Huser, lumberman and man-of-affairs, public official and extensive land owner, and an influential and active citizen of Cumberland, was born in Lake Township, Carver County, Minnesota, Feb. 25, 1858, son of Mathias and

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MR. AND MRS. OTTO THINGVALD

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Magdalena Huser, natives of Alsace, France, who came to America in 1854 and settled in Carver County, Minnesota, where they became solid and respected citizens and where they lived the remainder of their lives, the father dying in November, 1881, and the mother in November, 1861. They were devout people and lived and died in the beautiful faith of the Moravians. The father had eight children: Magdalena, Katherine (deceased), Mathias (deceased), John (deceased), Salome, George, Mary (deceased) and Emil, the two oldest being children of a previous marriage. Young Emil lost his mother while still an infant, and he was reared by his good sister, Katherine. He attended the district schools of Carver County and finished at the graded schools at St. Paul. In 1876 he engaged in business at Montrose, Minn. He first came to Cumberland in 1882, in the employ of Briggs, Foster & Miller, which has been succeeded first by the Beaver Lake Lumber Company and later by the Beaver Dam Lumber Co. Since 1882 Mr. Huser has had charge of the contract department of the concern, purchasing ties, poles, pulpwood and other timber products. His work takes him to the nothern Wisconsin woods most of the time, but his interests are in Cumberland where he makes his headquarers. From June, 1896, to September, 1899, he was cashier of the State Bank of Cumberland. His beautiful home, a twelve-room modern dwell- ing on Second street, was erected in 1882. In 1893 he bought 200 acres of good land in Section 3, Almena Township, which he has made a hobby and which he has developed into one of the best farms in the county. It is well located, has a fine set of sightly buildings, and is well equipped with tools, implements and machinery, and well stocked with cattle, swine and poultry. The active management of the place is in charge of the son, Francis E. In 1895 Mr. Huser bought a park site of 140 acres just north of the city limits which he still owns. Busy as he has been in carving his unusual success in life, Mr. Huser has found time for public service of a useful nature. From 1893 to 1898 he ably represented his ward as a member of the county board. From 1893 to 1898 he served on the local board of education. Mr. Huser was mar- ried June 24, 1880, in Minneapolis, Minn., to Eleanor A. Gunn, who was born July 9, 1858, at Swan Lake, Minn., daughter of Thomas and Mary Jane (Pat- terson) Gunn, natives of Virginia, who moved to Indiana as young people and in 1856 settled in Swan Lake. Mr. Gunn was a clergyman, one of the circuit riders of the Methodist Episcopal faith. He took a homestead, farmed, preached, taught school and took an active part in public affairs. The post- office was established on his farm and he was appointed postmaster. In 1862 they were driven out by the Indians and went first to Mankato and later to Minneapolis, where they spent the remainder of their lives, Mr. Gunn dying Feb. 15, 1893, and Mrs. Gunn July 16, 1891. Mr. and Mrs. Gunn had fifteen children : David, Caroline, Anna, Greenberg (deceased), William F., Scott S., Matthew, Francis, Eleanor A., George W. (deceased), Thomas W., Charles W. (deceased), Adeline S. (deceased), Edward J. and Lafayette F. (deceased). Mr. and Mrs. Huser have six children: Edna J., George M., Thomas E., Frances E., Mildred A. and Walter S. Edna J. was born June 12, 1881, married James S. King, of St. Paul, and has three children: Eleanor M., Mildred M. and Edna M. George M. was born Aug. 14, 1882, and died June 11, 1887. Thomas E. was born Jan. 1, 1887, and is now practicing law in New York City. Francis E. was born Aug. 20, 1888, and, as mentioned, operates his father's farm. Mildred A. was born Aug. 10, 1895, and is now doing social service work in the University of Illinois. Walter S. was born Jan. 12, 1897, and is studying law in the University of Minnesota.

Arthur C. Hunnicutt, a solid and substantial resident of Cumberland, and owner of a fine farm of 200 acres in Stanfold and Cumberland Township, was born in Salem, Iowa, Nov. 20, 1859, son of Abel and Ann (Hogan) Hunnicutt, natives of Virginia, who went to Ohio as young people, and there farmed for the remainder of their lives, the father dying March 20, 1901, and the mother March 14, 1918. In the family there were eight children, Mary, Emma, Alice,

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George, Frank, William, Arthur and Homer. The subject of this sketch re- ceived an excellent education in the schools of his native place, and also took classical studies in the Whittier College at Salem, Iowa. With this preparation he taught school in rural Iowa districts for a while. Subsequently he followed farming for a number of years. In 1903 he came to Barron County and bought 120 acres of wild land in section 1, Cumberland. With the help of his sons, he started getting out logs, and by spring had cut and sawed 40,000 feet of lumber, with which they erected one of the best sets of farm buildings in the township. They cleared in all eighty acres, put up fences, and developed a fine farm. In 1908 he added an adjoining 80 acres in section 6, Stanfold Township, making a fine place of 200 acres, well equipped, well stocked and well tilled. Being a man of education and ability it is natural that Mr. Hun- nicut's services should have been in demand for public office. In Cumberland Township he served for some years as town chairman, town clerk, and town assessor, as well as in other positions of public honor and private trust. It has been his aim to take his rightful share in every good move, and he holds the respect and faith of his fellow man. In 1919, after a long and useful career, filled with hard work worthily accomplished, he retired and purchased a pleasant home in the city of Cumberland, where he now lives. The farm is rented to the son, Edgar. Fraternally Mr. Hunnicutt is a member of Cum- berland Lodge, No. 223, A. F. & A. M. Mr. Hunnicutt was married Nov. 19, 1884, in Salem, Iowa, to Ina Stanley, who was born June 12, 1863, in that place, daughter of Amsalem and Hannah B. (Ellyson) Stanley, natives of Ohio, both of whom are now dead, the father dying Oct. 30, 1905, and the mother, March 13, 1909. In the family there were nine children: Leander, Phebe, Ina, Schyler, Amanda, Charles, Jennette, Zadok and Sidewell. Mr. and Mrs. Hunnicutt have four children, Edgar, Clifford, Harold and Refa. Edgar was born Oct. 19, 1885, and as already noted is operating his father's farm. Clifford was born Aug. 19, 1887, and is manager of the Haywood Light & Water Co., at Haywood, Wis. Harold was born Dec. 3, 1890, and is a locomotive engineer with headquarters at Port Arthur, Canada. Refa was born Dec. 13, 1895, and is the wife of P. R. Donaldson, of Mason City, Iowa. The family faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church.

G. Grant Hodgkin, pioneer, is the representative of the second family which settled on the island on which the city of Cumberland is now located. He has seen the beautiful and flourishing little city grow from a wilderness, and has been personally acquainted with all the men whose efforts have made this part of the county what it is. He has been connected with accounting departments of the lumbering and mercantile interests, and is now accountant for the State Bank of Cumberland. He was born in Trempealeau County, Wis., near Whitehall, March 4, 1869, son of George C. and Mary J. (Parks) Hodgkin, who brought him to Cumberland in 1875. Here he was reared and educated. For a while he worked as a logger, as chainman with various surveyors, and as clerk in the store of Griggs, Foster & Miller at Cumberland. In 1888 he attended the Curtiss Business College at St. Paul. For a while he worked as bookkeeper with the Beaver Lake Lumber Co. and Beaver Dam Lumber Co. at Cumberland, and for two years had an interest in the store of Miller-Water- man Co., at Cumberland. He has held his present position since 1916. His fraternal relations are with the Modern Woodmen. Mr. Hodgkin was married at Cumberland, June 20, 1894, to Ora E. Burke, daughter of B. Burke and Ellen (Gould) Burke. He came from Pennsylvania to Iowa in the early days, and from there to Cumberland in 1887. She was a native of Iowa. Mr. Burke makes his home with Mr. and Mrs. Hodgkin, and Mrs. Burke is dead. Mr. and Mrs. Burke had three children: Ora E .; D. Wyman, of Bennett, this state; and . Blanche, deceased.

George C. Hodgkin, a pioneer of Cumberland, was born in Vermont, was taken as a child to New York State, and was there reared. In 1849 he came to Wisconsin and located in Monroe County. There he settled on a farm and

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ANDREW S. SATHER AND FAMILY

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devoted much of his attention to surveying. From Monroe County he moved to Trempealeau County, about 1858, and was there similarly engaged. June 1, 1875, he came to Barron County and homesteaded a farm on the island where Cumberland is now located. The family of Gunder Dahlby was then the only one living on the island. Mr. Hodgkin platted a part of the present village. He devoted a part of his time to surveying and to railroad construc- tion work. He and his wife are both dead. Mr. and Mrs. Hodgkin were the parents of six children. Helen H. is dead. She married Steener Arness, of Grantsburg, Wis. Cora M. is the widow of H. A. Chapman, of Cumberland. G. Grant lives in Cumberland. Hattie J. married Lewis Brown, of Turtle Lake, Wis. She is now dead. Mae married W. F. Goodenough, of Minneapolis. She was the first white child born on the present site of Cumberland. Caro- line lives at Cumberland.

George J. Gaerth, baker of Cumberland, was born in Bohemia, Aug. 18, 1870, son of Mike and Josepa Gaerth, also natives of that country. The father, a cabinet worker and furniture maker, is still living in that country, the mother having died several years ago. Of their children, Kate is the wife of Frank Biermeier, of St. Paul. George J. was reared in his native land and attended school there. At the age of thirteen he was apprenticed to a baker and thor- oughly learned the trade. In 1887, when he was but seventeen, he started out for himself, and came to the United States. For six years he worked at his trade at St. Charles, Missouri. At the close of this period his health began to fail so he came north to St. Paul, where he was employed for a while. From there he came to New Richmond, Wis., and from there to Shell Lake, Wis. In 1907 he opened his present establishment in Cumberland. He has a good place and does a good business, his bakery being the only one in the city. He is a thorough master of his trade, he is a good business man, and he enjoys an ex- cellent standing as a citizen. Fraternally he is a member of Cumberland Lodge, No. 223, A. F. & A. M. Mr. Gaerth was married June 26, 1894, to Mary Snowbank, daughter of John and Theresa Snowbank, of Waukesha County, this state. Mr. and Mrs. Gaerth have three children: Julia, Louise and William. Julia is the wife of John Ramsey, of Peshtigo, Wis. Louise is a teacher in the commercial department of the Hillsboro, Wis., high school. William is study- ing in the Stout Institute, at Menomonie, Wis. John Snowbank was born in Germany and came to this country at the age of seventeen. His wife was born in Austria, and came to this country at the age of thirteen. Both are now dead. They had eleven children: John, William, Edward, Louis, Harry, Frank, Bert and August, and Mary, Carrie and Anna.

Andrew S. Sather, a modern farmer owning a fine place of 40 acres in Section 20, Rice Lake Township, is a real leader among his fellow men. In former years he was nationally known for his temperance work as lecturer, and to the business of farming he has brought the same judgment and intelli- gent that characterized his public work. He was born in Soknedalen, near Trondhjem, Norway, son of Sven E. and Engeborg (Larson) Sather, the former of whom died in Norway in 1884, after which the mother came to America in 1893 and died in Minneapolis Oct. 12, 1915. Andrew S. received a thorough education in Norway, and there became deeply interested in the temperance cause. He came to America in 1892 and found employment at sawmill work at Rice Lake. In 1894 he went on the platform as a temperance lecturer and continued in this line for a quarter of a century. For many years in this connection he was president of the Scandinavian Temperance Association of America and part owner of the temperance publication, "The Reform," issued at Eau Claire, Wis. In the meantime, in 1903, he bought 160 acres of wild timber land in Section 1, Stanfold Township. In the develop- ment of this farm he took great pride. He grubbed out the stumps, cleared the land for cultivation and successfully raised grade Holstein cattle headed by a blooded sire and full-bred Poland-China swine. His home was a modern structure equipped with many modern conveniences. The frame barn was

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installed with the James system of stanchions and running water. All the buildings were illuminated with gas. In 1920 he sold out to John Wilz. T .en he bought his present place. This likewise is well improved with many ( on- veniences, including an electric light plant which furnishes light for the buildings and power for the water pumps and other machinery. Having ad broad experience in many states, Mr. Sather has had the greatest faith in the future of Barron County as a dairy country, a faith which is now be ng realized. He helped to organize the Goodhope Cheese Co. of Stanfold To m- ship and has for fourteen years served as its president and general mana er. Fraternally, he is a member of the I. S. W. A., the Norske Selskab an . a member of Bankers' Life Insurance Company of Des Moines, Iowa. dr. Sather was married in Norway Aug. 2, 1891, to Betty Johnson, who was born at Orhejemtland, Sweden, a daughter of John and Ranghild Grasle, the former of whom, a railroad man, is still living in Sweden, the latter having died there Feb. 20, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Sather have three children: Selma Josephine, Herman R. and Ruth Ingeborg. Selma Josephine was born Sept. 29, 1892, and Ruth Ingeborg was born Feb. 26, 1898. Herman R. was born Sept. 8, 1894, and served during the World War in the ambulance corps. All three children are at home. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran Church. Lars Engesether, at one time owner of the Weber Hotel, Rice Lake, and original owner of the Pleasant Hill addition to the city of Cumberland, is now living retired at Rice Lake after a busy and well spent life. He was born and reared in Dane County, Wisconsin, and there married Johannah Johnson. They lived on a farm in Dane County until 1906, when they came to Barron County and bought 700 acres in Crystal Lake Township, 135 acres being within the city limits of Cumberland. He cleared 40 acres and developed a good little farm. On a part of this farm he platted the Pleasant Hill addition, now the site of a number of pretty residences. Here he carried on general farming and dairying until 1915 when he traded his Cumberland holdings for what is now known as the Weber Hotel in Rice Lake. The next year, owing to failing health, he sold out. Mr. and Mrs. Engesether have nine children: Sena, of Rice Lake; Amanda, now Mrs. Charles Miller; John, a business man of Cumber- land; Engeborg and Marie, of Washington, D. C .; Mitchell, of Rice Lake; Otto, manager of the Standard Oil filling station at Rice Lake, and Lillie and Sadie, also of Rice Lake.

John Engesether, owner and proprietor of the Island City Produce Co., Cumberland, was born in Dane County, Wisconsin, Sept. 19, 1889, son of Lars and Johannah (Johnson) Engesether. He attended school in his native county and was brought to Cumberland by his parents when he was a boy of sixteen. He remained with his parents until 1909 and then became identified with the meat business in Cumberland. In 1917 he became foreman in the Cumberland factory of the Fame Canning Co. The next year he operated a milk route in Cumberland, and so continued until the spring of 1920, when he engaged in the farm produce business. He has built up a fine business, his long residence here and his intimate acquaintance with the people of the city and country being an important asset. He buys and ships cream, eggs, poultry and other farm produce, and is winning wide favor for his fair dealing and his prompt attention to all business affairs. He is one of the popular young men of the city and is an active member of Cumberland Lodge, No. 55, S. A. F. Mr. Engesether was married Feb. 17, 1912, to Lora Lovaas, born March 28, 1893, in Cumberland, Wis., daughter of Olaus and Kerin (Norby) Lovaas; the former of whom lives in Cumberland and the latter of whom died March 2, 1917. Mr. and Mrs. Engesether have two children, Katherine J., born Sept. 9, 1912, and Eleanor G., born April 9, 1919.

Frank Algeo, secretary and general manager of the Cumberland Milling Co., Cumberland, was born in Providence, R. I., Oct. 2, 1853, son of Frank and Margaret (O'Rourke) Algeo, natives of Ireland, who came to the United States in 1840 and settled in Providence, R. I., where the father worked in the cotton

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mills. They came to Juneau County, Wisconsin, in 1855, where they settled on a farm which they conducted for the remainder of their lives. In the early days they made a specialty of hop raising. Of the nine children in the family there are now living three, Theresa, wife of John Dwyer, of Baraboo, Wis .; Hannah, of Baraboo, and Frank. Frank was reared in Juneau County, attended school there, and learned farming from his parents. At the age of sixteen he became identified with the lumbering industry, working in the woods and on river drives. He came to Cumberland Oct. 11, 1882, and con- tinued as a lumberman for several years. In 1890 he assisted in organizing the Cumberland Milling Co. and has since occupied his present position, an honorable record of over thirty years of worthy accomplishment. He is a thorough master of his business, and has the respect of his associates and the confidence of the public. The position he occupies in the city and in the estimation of his fellow men is shown by the fact that he has been elected mayor, alderman and assessor. In all of these positions he has acquitted him- self well, and has demonstrated his unselfish interest in the city's welfare and his unswerving faith in the city's future. Fraternally, he is a popular member of the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin. Mr. Algeo was married at Lynden, Wis., Feb. 15, 1885, to Ellen Burns, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Burns, early settlers of Juneau County. Mr. and Mrs. Algeo have been blessed with nine children : Mollie is a teacher in Fort Benton, Mont .; Harriet is the wife of Dr. A. C. Edwards, of Reedsburg, Wis .; Frank, Jr., is with Armour & Co. at Ft. Dodge, Iowa; Thomas lives in Cumberland; Charles is in the mill at Cumberland. During the World War he served in the United States Navy, and was in the convoy service. John D. is in the Coast Artillery and is at present stationed in the Philippine Islands. Irene is at home: Stephen is at home and is doing well in the Cumberland High School. Margaret married Louis Ben- jamin, owner of the Cumberland Telephone Co. and is now dead. The family stands high in the community and the hospitable home is one of the social centers of the city.

George Olson, retired farmer, living at 410 West Humbird street, Rice Lake, was born in Christiania, Norway, son of Ole and Tolena (Paulson) Jorgensen, natives of Norway, who came to America in June, 1866, located in Whitehall, Mich., where the father was employed as a mill hand, then located in Elk Creek, Eau Claire County, and later moved to Sand Creek, Dunn County, Wis., where they secured 80 acres of land and carried on general farming. George received a common school education in Norway, and as a youth learned the blacksmith's trade. He came to America with his parents, and with head- quarters at Eau Claire, Wis., worked in mills in the summer and in the lumber woods and at blacksmithing in the winter. In 1871 he took a homestead of 160 acres in Sand Creek, Dunn County, this state, broke the land, erected log buildings which he later replaced with frame structures, and there suc- cessfully carried on general farming for many years. In 1919 he retired and took up his home in Rice Lake where he purchased a modern residence and where he still lives. Mr. Olson is a thorough believer in the co-operative movement, and is a stockholder in several farmers' co-operative stores in Wis- consin. He is a member of the Free Christian Church. Mr. Olson was mar- ried July 5, 1871, at Sand Creek, to Trena Larson, daughter of Andrew Larson, a veteran of the Civil War. This union has resulted in fourteen children. Albert was born in Eau Claire in 1873 and died in infancy. Albert A. was born at Sand Creek in 1875, and now farms in Bergen, Alberta, Canada. He married Hilda Pederson and lives in Canton, this county. Agnes was born in Sand Creek in 1877, married Charles Danielson, and lives in St. Paul. Martha was born in Sand Creek in 1879, married James Seacock, and lives in Cameron, this county. Christian C. was born at Sand Creek, May 17, 1881, married Carrie Hanson, and lives in Lyle, Minn. Olaf S. was born May 13, 1883, mar- ried Alma Nelson, and lives in Duluth, Minn. Fred J. was born April 5, 1884, is a carpenter by trade, and lives with his parents at Rice Lake. Marlin A.

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 50

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

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