History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 61

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

USA > Wisconsin > Barron County > History of Barron County Wisconsin > Part 61

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).

Gustave A. Freitag, an estimable farmer of section 34, Cedar Lake Town- ship, was born at Portage, Columbia County, Wis., Oct. 9, 1864, the son of August and Bertha (Groby) Freitag, natives of Germany, who came to Wis- consin as young people and are both now deceased. The subject of this sketch received a good education in the common schools, and first learned the car- penter's trade and later the brick mason trade. These trades he followed for many years, as workman, foreman and contractor. At various times he has had charge of railroad construction work for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul; the Chicago & Northwestern; the Wisconsin Central; the Green Bay & Western; and the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie; and he has done general building contracting in La Crosse, Mauston and Birchwood, all in Wisconsin, his longest periods of residence having been in La Crosse and Birchwood. In 1915 he purchased 120 acres of timber land in section 34, Cedar Lake Township, and started farming. He has here erected a good set of buildings, and has cleared up about 40 acres of land, on which he success- fully conducts general farming and dairying, making a specialty of a good herd of Holsteins, headed by a full blooded sire. A man of business experience, his judgment is respected by his fellow men and he has been honored by elec- tion to the town board, in which position he served with much credit. His holdings include stock in the Central Cheese & Butter Association of Cedar Lake Township. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen and of the Bricklayers' Union, Mr. Freitag was married at Spring Valley, Fillmore County, Minn., Jan. 20, 1886, to Emma Beach, daughter of William and Chris-

Digitized by Google

362

HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

tine (Miller) Beach, both parents being now deceased. This union resulted in three children: Harry W., Bertha E. and Walter W. Harry W. was born Oc- tober 12, 1888, and died in November the same year. Bertha E. was born Oct. 16, 1890, and died in Seattle, Wash., in 1916. Walter W., born April 12, 1892, is married and has two children, Florence and Robert. On Sept. 13, 1896, Mr. Freitag was married at La Crosse, Wis., to Allie Wilkinson, who was born at Columbus, Wis., May 24, 1870, daughter of C. E. and Phoebe (Beason) Wilkinson. She was the widow of John Doaers, and by her first husband had two children: Grace, born Sept. 8, 1888, who died May 24, 1915; and Ida May, born Feb. 16, 1890, who married W. B. Uren, of Blanchardville, Wis., and has three children, Harold, George and Fern. Mrs. Freitag's genealogy in brief is as follows: Her father, C. E. Wilkinson, was born in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, and spent his life as a farmer. His wife, in maidenhood Phoebe Beason, was a daughter of John Beason and came of an American family dating back to Colonial times. Its first progenitors in this country were the brothers, Richard and Edward Beason, who came from Berks, England, in 1681, and settled in Chester County, Pennsylvania, their probable reason for settlement in the colony of William Penn being the fact that they belonged to the society of Friends, or Quakers. Later they moved to Berkeley County, Virginia. Henry, the son of Richard, built the first grist mill in that section, at Beason town, the locality being in that part of the old colony of Virginia which at the time of the Civil War refused to secede and became West Virginia. In 1768 Henry moved to Fayette County, Pennsylvania. He had a son, John, born April 22, 1781, who built a grist mill at Uniontown, Fayette County, and who in 1802 moved westward to Columbiana County, Ohio, and built a grist mill on Bull Creek, near Fairfield. It will thus be seen that the members of the Beason family were active and enterprising citizens in their day and leaders in their respective communities. After the death of C. E. Wilkinson, his widow, Phoebe, married George H. Gibson, and the family came to Rice Lake, Wisconsin, when there was only a store and a sawmill there, Mr. Gibson becoming foreman on the "Tainter farm" and spending the rest of his active life there. Gustave A. Freitag is a member of the German Lutheran church, the other members of the family being affiliated with the Methodist church. All are well known and respected members of the community in which they reside.

Lon Smith, proprietor of Maple Inn, on the shores of Cedar Lake, owner of several cottages near that beautiful body of water, and at one time holder of considerable farm land in Cedar Lake Township, was born in Cameron County, Pennsylvania, March 11, 1850, and descended from sturdy Pennsyl- vania stock. He received his education in his native county and as a young man worked on farms and in the woods. Oct. 7, 1879, he arrived .in Barron County and was employed by Haley & Jewett Lumber Co. as lumber camp foreman. In 1881 he entered the employ of Knapp, Stout & Co. in a similar capacity. His first purchase of land was in 1884, when he secured 80 acres of railroad land in Section 9, Cedar Lake Township. Later, at various times, he bought 80 acres in Section 34, 67 acres in Section 15, and 160 acres in Sec- tion 16, making in all nearly 400 acres. Of these tracts he cleared in all 160 acres, and erected several sets of buildings. In the meantime he continued to work in the woods, in all 45 winters. It is interesting to note that he assisted in taking to Menomonie the last load of logs from Cedar Lake Town- ship. In 1916 he disposed of all his land except 4 acres. Before this, in 1910, he had bought the Maple Inn, on Cedar Lake, and adjoining it had erected three summer cottages. He devotes his summers to managing the hotel and to looking after the renting of the cottages. His place is a popular one, and is in high favor with people seeking rest and out-of-door recreation. Mr. Smith knows how to look after the desires of the public and wins new friends and patrons every year. During his long residence in the township he has many times been called to public service. For six years he was town super-

Digitized by Google

363

HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

visor and for twelve years he was assessor. For sixteen years he was clerk of the school board of his district. Mr. Smith was married Sept. 2, 1881, to Merritta Clute, who was born in Freeborn County, Minnesota, Nov. 10, 1862, daughter of Stephen and Nancy (Hotchkiss) Clute, natives respectively of New York and Pennsylvania, who settled in Cedar Lake Township in 1875. They drove from Red Wing, Minn., with a team of oxen and built the first log cabin on Cedar Lake, where they lived the remainder of their days. Stephen Clute was born in Madison County, New York, Nov. 14, 1830. In 1864 he enlisted in the Minnesota Heavy Artillery and served during the remainder of the Civil War. He died Aug. 12, 1910. On Jan. 4, 1851, he mar- ried Nancy E. Hotchkiss, who was born Dec. 28, 1834, in Tioga County, New York, and died in Barron County, Wisconsin at the age of 78 years. The Clutes were the first white settlers on Cedar Lake and were noted as very hospitable people and excellent neighbors. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had six children: Angeline, Rubina, George L., Florentine, John and Alberta. Angeline was born Sept. 17, 1882, married George McFarland and has two children : Ellen, born Sept. 30, 1902, who is teaching school near Haugen, and George R., born April 24, 1905, who is attending school. Rubina was born Dec. 30, 1883, and married Harry Glaze. She lives at Couderay, Wis., where she has charge of the Wismo Club. George L. was born Aug. 14, 1885, and lives at home. Florentine was born March 30, 1887, and is the wife of Ernest Hulbert, of Barron, this county. John was born March 24, 1891, and died Nov. 19, 1903. Alberta was born July 8, 1900, and is the wife of Allen Dixon, of Waukesha, Wis.

Alpheus G. Seward, a representative farmer of Section 34, Cedar Lake Township, was born in Middleton, Wis., March 1, 1864, the son of Daniel and Prudence (Cooper) Seward, natives of New York state, both now deceased. He received a good common school education and early took up farming. For some years he farmed in Dane County, Wisconsin. In 1910 he came to Barron County and purchased his present place of 80 acres, to the develop- ment, improvement and operation of which he has since devoted his attention. The comfortable frame house was erected in 1916 and the other buildings have been put up as necessity has required. He has a good herd of cattle headed by a full blooded Holstein sire and a good drove of Poland-China swine. He is a man of good judgment and sound principles, who keeps well abreast of the times, and does his share in every movement which he believes to be for the public good. He is a stockholder in the Central Cheese Co. which operates the cheese factory and creamery in Cedar Lake Township. Mr. Seward was married at Freeport, Ill., to Josephine Stelmachowski, who was born in Poland March 13, 1880, the daughter of Thomas and Agnes Stelmachowski, now deceased, who brought her to America in 1880, and located at Milwaukee, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Seward have three children: Grace M., born at Paoli, Dane County, Wis., Dec. 8, 1902; Agnes, born at Paoli, Dane County, Wis., June 25, 1904, and Donald, born on the present place April 9, 1914. Grace M. was married at Rice Lake to Wesley David Snyder, born at Danville, Pa., on Sept. 28, 1896, the son of Wesley D. and Mary A. (Diehl) Snyder. He has purchased the Seward farm and is now conducting it. He is an active enter- prising young man, and is well on the road to success.

Ommund E. Oftedahl, a progressive and active farmer of Section 33, Cedar Lake Township, was born in Norway Oct. 19, 1861, the son of Eihl T. and Engeborg Oftedahl, who brought him to America in 1868, arriving at La Crosse, Wis., June 8, 1868, and locating on a farm near Viroqua, in Vernon County, this state. He attended the common schools and learned farming from his father, an occupation he has since continued to follow. In 1901 he moved to Dawson, in Lac Qui Parle County, Minnesota, where he owned and suc- cessfully conducted a farm of 160 acres. He sold out in 1916 and came to Wisconsin where he purchased a farm at Long Lake, in Washburn County. In 1918 he disposed of that place and bought his present farm of 120 acres,

Digitized by Google

364

HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

to the improvement, development and operation of which he is now devoting his attention. In 1920 he erected a modern brick residence, and he is gradually getting the place well fenced and well equipped with implements and machin- ery. He successfully carries on general farming and dairying, having a good herd of cows, headed by a full blooded Holstein sire, and a good drove of hogs. Interested as he is in everything that is for the good of the community, he has taken stock in the Central Cheese Co., operating the cheese factory in Cedar Lake Township. As the father of children, it is natural that he should be the believer in a thorough education, and he has done good work as a mem- ber of the school board. Mr. Oftedahl was married at Dane County in Novem- ber, 1888, to Emma Martenson, the daughter of Marten and Anna Martenson, the former of whom is dead and the latter of whom lives with her son-in-law, Mr. Oftedahl. Mrs. Emma Martenson Oftedahl died Aug. 5, 1900, leaving four children : Ernest T., Albin M., Ida E. and Oscar C. Ernest T. was born Sept. 14, 1890, and was married in June, 1912, to Florence Kessel. Albin M. was born March 13, 1892. Ida E. was born Aug. 13, 1894, and married Albert E. Anderson, by whom she has two children, Velores and Donald. Oscar C. was born Jan. 12, 1900. On Oct. 18, 1901, Mr. Oftedahl married Christena Marten- son, who was born in Norway Nov. 11, 1873. This union has been blessed with eight children : J. Melford, born Sept. 8, 1903; Russell B., Jan. 17, 1905; Lloyd V., Sept. 4, 1906; Myrtle A., Jan. 23, 1908; Earl S., Jan. 9, 1910; Dorris E., Aug. 16, 1912; Lawrence R., Dec. 13, 1914, and Kenneth F., Sept. 4, 1916. It is interesting to note that on Mr. Oftedahl's farm is now standing an old frame building which was used as a store and postoffice at an early day and where goods were sold to the white settlers and traded with the Indians.

Matthew Cherney, a highly regarded farmer of Section 16, Oak Grove Township, was born in Bohemia, Sept. 18, 1862, received his education there, was reared as a farmer, and devoted his young manhood to that occupation. In 1894 he came to the United States and located at Wahpeton, N. D., where he did railroad work for three years. In 1897 he came to Wisconsin and settled on his present farm of 80 acres. He has fenced the entire 80, has cleared and broke 50 acres and has put up a good set of buildings. While the county was fairly well settled when he came portions of it were still in the wilderness. No roads had been constructed, and he and his neighbors had to cut trails through the woods to the present town of Haugen, the railroad point. But gradually modern development came and the neighborhood is now a rich and prosperous farming district. Mr. Cherney still manages his place, but the harder work is done by others. He stands well in the community and occupies an excellent position as a citizen and as a farmer. Mr. Cherney was married Nov. 23, 1885 to Agnes Skopy, who was born in Bohemia Jan. 23, 1864. This union has been blessed with six children: Agnes, Henry, Mary J., Anna M., Frank J. and Joseph. Agnes was born Sept. 16, 1886, and is now the wife of Noah Snow, of Itasca, Wis. Henry was born Nov. 30, 1888, and is now farming in Oak Grove Township. Mary J. was born Jan. 27, 1894, and is the wife of Joseph Kratocvil, of Oak Grove Township. Frank J. was born Nov. 27, 1904, and Joseph was born Jan. 3, 1908. The family faith is that of the Roman Catholic Church.

Felix Morneau, who is farming 160 acres in section 1, Rice Lake Township, and section 36, Oak Grove Township, was born in Rice Lake, this county, Jan. 24, 1885, the son of Telesphore and Demerise (Couture) Morneau. He was reared in this county and in Douglass County, this state. As a young man he became a cigar maker and followed this trade for two years at Rice Lake and Minneapolis. For some time he worked for his father on the farm. At his father's death he took over the management for his mother, and since 1919 has rented it. He carries on general farming and dairying and has a good herd of Holstein cattle with a full blooded sire at its head. He is a stock- holder in the Equity Exchange at Campia. He and his family attend the Catholic church at Dobie, of which he has been a trustee for two years. Mr.

Digitized by Google

MR. AND MRS. JOHN FUNK

Google

Digitized by

365

HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

Morneau was married Sept. 25, 1919, to Emma Karis, who was born March 27, 1891, in Monroe County, Wis., daughter of Matthew and Mary (Weibel) Karis, natives of Wisconsin, both now deceased, the former dying Feb. 10, 1900, and the latter Nov. 23, 1897. In the Karis family there were twelve children: Hilary, Joseph, William, John, Mathew, Katherine, Mary, Elizabeth, Anna, Clara, Theresa and Emma.

John Funk (or Funke, according to the German spelling of the family name), for nearly twenty years a prominent resident of Angus, was an estima- ble, substantial citizen, and a real leader in the affairs of the community. He was a good husband and father, an estimable neighbor and a successful farmer. He was born in Hessen, Germany, Aug. 16, 1863, and was there reared. After leaving school he learned cigar making. In 1880 he came to America, and after landing in New York went from place to place working at his trade, and becoming familiar with the country, the people and the language. For a while he worked in the coal mines of Pennsylvania, and then went to Illinois, where he took up farming. In 1902 he brought his family to Barron County and bought 120 acres in section 4, Cedar Lake Township. Here he started in on a small scale and gradually increased his operations. At first he had a small home and small barn, and farmed on a small tract. By hard work, as- sisted loyally by his family, he cleared and put under cultivation seventy acres. In 1914 he erected a granary, barn, and other buildings, and five years later, in 1919, he built a pleasant home. He took great pride in his home and farm, and put his whole energy into everything that he undertook. After a useful and well-spent life he died Sept. 11, 1920. His wife died Jan. 10, 1921. Her maiden name was Hillida Harms, and they were married in 1888, at Whiteside, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Funk had eleven children: Joseph L., Henry W., Frank D., William H., Louis H., John M., Harm M., Fred C., Dorothea E. A., Carl A. and Herman A. Joseph L. was born May 29, 1889, and operates the home place. Henry W. farms in Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota. He was born May 23, 1890, married Martha Wolf, and has five children: Arthur, Clarence, Luella and Iona and Leona (twins). Frank D. was born Nov. 2, 1893. William H. was born Jan. 2, 1895. He was inducted into the United States service July 5, 1918, trained at Camp Hancock, Georgia, sailed for France Sept. 26, 1918, with a Provisional Company, landed in France Oct. 4, 1918, and was on his way to the front with his organization when the Armistice was signed. He had been assigned to Co. C, 305th Machine Gun Battalion. He left France April 18, 1919, and was discharged at Camp Grant on May 17, 1919. He is now at home working on the farm. Louis H. was born Dec. 17, 1899, married Martha Thalke, and lives at Mikana in this county with her parents. He and his wife have one child, James Russell, born April 6, 1921. John M. was born Sept. 5, 1898. He married in March, 1921, Rose Strouf, and they reside at Angus. Harm M. was born Sept. 23, 1900; Fred C. was born Sept. 2, 1902; Dorothea E. A. was born March 6, 1905; Carl A. was born July 31, 1908; and Herman A. was born May 29, 1910. The family faith is that of the German Lutheran church.

Joseph L. Funk, an enterprising young farmer of Cedar Lake Township, was born in Whiteside County, Illinois, May 29, 1889, the son of John and Hillida (Harms) Funk. He was brought to his present farm in 1902, and was here reared to farm pursuits. He was inducted into the United States service July 19, 1917, trained at Camp Jefferson, and sailed for France with the 10th Company of Engineers Sept. 10, 1917, landing Sept. 28. His company was employed in cutting timber. Jan. 28, 1919, he sailed for home and was dis- charged at Camp Grant on Feb. 26, 1919. After his father's death he took over the management of the home farm and the care of the younger children. He carries on general farming and has a good herd of cattle headed by a full blooded Holstein sire, with a good record. The farm also has a good drove of swine. In addition to his share in his father's estate, Mr. Funk owns 40 acres of good land adjoining in section 4. He is a stockholder in the Angus

Digitized by Google

366

HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

Farm Products Association. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen.

Gilbert O. Brooks, an honored and respected farmer of section 21, Cedar Lake Township, was born in Stockholm, New York, July 19, 1856, the son of Sheldon and Salome (Ware) Brooks, natives of Vermont, who as young people moved to New York State and in 1856 located near Waupon, Wis., where they farmed the remainder of their lives. The subject of this sketch was reared near Waupon, and as a young man took up farm work in Chickesaw, Mitchell County, Iowa. From there, in 1877, he went to Oronoco, in Olmsted County, Minnesota. The next year he went to Pipestone in Pipestone County, in the same state, and homesteaded eighty acres of land, which he operated at in- tervals between doing odd jobs in the neighborhood. In 1884 he became op- erator at the C., St. P., M. & O. station at Woodstock, in Pipestone County, in which capacity he continued for four years. Soon after taking this employ- ment he sold his land and moved onto the farm of his father-in-law, Charles W. Welch, in Murray County, and two years later he moved onto a farm adjoin- ing. In 1891 he went to Chatfield, Olmsted County, Minn., and took up teaming. It was in 1892 when he first came to this region, and took a homestead of 80 acres at Deer Lake, in what was then Hayward Township, Sawyer County, Wis. He made a little clearing in the heavy timber and built a log house and barn. In 1893 he sold his right and moved back to Chatfield. But this region called to him, so two years later he came to Barron County, and while his family lived in Cedar Lake Township, logged two years for Knapp, Stout & Co., in Cedar Lake Township, and farmed summers. In 1897 he moved onto the Brackett farm in section 34. It was in 1899 that he purchased his present place of eighty acres in section 21, Cedar Lake Township. It was then cut-over land, covered with stumps and brush. He built a log house and barn, and started to clear up the land. In 1913 he built a pleasant modern home and in 1919 put up a good barn, furnished with full Louden equipment. He has im- proved and developed the land, put up fences, and purchased suitable tools, implements and machinery. On this place he successfully carries on general farming and dairying, having a good herd of Guernseys with a full blooded sire at the head, a drove of full blooded Duroc Jersey swine and a flock of sheep. He is a hard working, conscientious man, of high principles, ability and integrity, and has the esteem of all with whom he comes in contact. Mr. Brooks was married at Slaton, in Murray County, Minnesota, Dec. 25, 1884, to Bessie M. Welch, daughter of Charles W. and Alma (Crandall) Welch, natives of New York State, and early settlers of Southwestern Minnesota. Mr. Welch was a veteran of the Civil War. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks were the parents of three children, Lettie G., Alma W. and Charles M., all born near Wood- stock, Pipestone County, Minn. Lettie G. was born Aug. 6, 1886, and is the wife of M. M. Hudson, a Chicago railroad man. Alma W. was born July 19, 1889, and married William Simeon, of Belle Plaine, Minn. Charles M. was born Sept. 25, 1891, and accidently shot himself in 1905, when just growing into sturdy boyhood.

Albert T. Johnson, a prominent farmer of Cedar Lake Township and at one time a leading citizen of Osakis, Douglass County, Minn., is widely known throughout the Northwest as a grower of certified seed potatoes and his wife has a reputation in several states as a breeder of single comb white leghorns. He is also president of the Angus Farm Products Association. He was born in Carver County, Minnesota, May 26, 1865, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Mons Johnson, the mother's maiden name being Swenson. This good couple came from Sweden in the early sixties and settled in Carver County and later in Blue Earth County, Minnesota. The father had been here but a short time when he enlisted in a Minnesota infantry regiment and served a year in the Civil War. After the war he returned to Minnesota, and by hard work and frugality he developed a wild homestead into a good farm. He lost his wife in 1877. After a long and useful life he died in 1908. Albert T. attended the

Digitized by Google

367

HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

common schools in Blue Earth County, Minnesota, and was reared to farm pur- suits. He was variously employed until 1887. In that year he purchased 80 acres of land in Lincoln Township, Blue Earth County, Minnesota, and started to improve it. Three years later he added an adjoining 80. He built a house, barn, granary and other buildings, and successfully carried on general farming. In 1898 he sold this place to good advantage, and bought 160 acres of partly improved land at Oaskis, Douglass County, Minnesota. There he took an active part in everything that pertained to the good of the community. He was chairman of the town board for eight years all told, a stockholder in the Farmers' Co-operative Creamery, and a member of various delegations and committees. In 1912 he sold out there and came to Angus, in Barron County, where he purchased 93 acres in Section 4, Cedar Lake Township. A house and small buildings had been erected on this tract and about 10 acres had been improved. He has renovated and altered the house, built a barn, silo, swine house, scientific chicken house, and other buildings, as well as a house for the hired help, and he has continued the breaking and improving of the land. He does general farming and dairying and has a good herd of cattle, headed by a full blooded Shorthorn sire, and a good drove of pure blooded Red Duroc swine. His specialty, however, is in producing certified seed potatoes of the "Green Mountain" and "Triumph Bliss" varieties. He seems to have a particular aptitude for this work and his success at producing a high grade article has been unusual. His potatoes are in high demand and have given general satisfaction. Personally, he is held in high esteem, and has served a term as one of the supervisors of Cedar Lake Township. Mrs. Johnson is an expert poultry fancier, specializing in single comb white leghorns. She has won first prizes at the Minnesota State Fair and at local exhibitions in such places as Winona, St. Cloud and Duluth, in Minnesota, and La Crosse and Superior, Wis. She issues a mating list and her orders come from every state in the Northwest. She loves the work and is familiar with every detail, and all her patrons become her friends. Mr. Johnson was married Oct. 17, 1900, to Mrs. Nellie Corey Moody, widow of Mr. Moody, and daughter of Edgar and Harriett (Page) Carey. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have twin daugh- ters, Ruth and Esther, born Oct. 28, 1902, and graduates of the Barron County Training School at Rice Lake. Mrs. Corey makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, Mr. Corey having died in 1917. The family faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 61

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

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