History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 66

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

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Albert Borgen, an energetic and hard-working farmer of Section 22, Dallas Township, was born in Eau Claire, Wis., Oct. 30, 1879, the son of Hans and

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Magdalena (Stevenson) Borgen, early settlers. He attended school there for a while, and continued his education in the district schools of Dallas Township, where he was brought as a boy in 1887. He learned farming from his father and was still in his early 'teens when he started out for himself by working for farmers. From 1897 to 1900 he worked in Montana on the cattle ranges and the sheep ranches. In 1901 he rented eighty acres of the home place, in- cluding the home buildings. In 1908 he bought the place. In 1919 he bought 80 acres more in Section 16, making a total of 160 acres. He remodeled the buildings and installed modern improvements, including the Delco lighting system. He successfully carries on general farming and dairying, and has a good herd of Holsteins, headed by a full-blooded sire and a drove of Duroc- Jersey swine. He uses good judgment in all his operations, he takes pride in seeing his place improve under his careful management year by year, and he is developing as good a farm as can be found in the neighborhood. He is re- spected by all with whom he has come in contact, and is well liked by all who know him. In 1910 and 1911 he did good service on the town board. Frater- nally, he is a popular member of Chetek Lodge, No. 277, A. F. and A. M. Mr. Borgen was married Nov. 21, 1906, to Ida Berger, who was born Feb. 5, 1888, the daughter of Ole and Mary (Granum) Berger, the former of whom is dead and the latter of whom lives in Dallas. Mr. and Mrs. Borgen had four bright and well-behaved children. Harley O. was born Dec. 8, 1908; Raymond C. was born Aug. 21, 1910; Viola M. was born June 5, 1913; Manley H. was born Aug. 4, 1916. The older ones are attending the public schools and are making good progress with their books. Mrs. Ida Borgen died Dec. 1, 1917. On March 16, 1921, Mr. Borgen married Margaret Larson, born at Trondhjem, Norway, on May 5, 1884, the daughter of Ole and Ingeborg (Lane) Larson, natives of Nor- way, who came to America in 1886, and settled in Prairie Farm Township, where they are still farming. Mr. and Mrs. Borgen and the children attend the Norwegian Lutheran Church.

Andrew Stoll, who has a fine farm of 200 acres in Sections 33 and 34, Dal- las Township, is one of the best known men in this part of the county. He was born in Norway, Mar. 31, 1860, the son of Halvor and Gertrude (Anderson) Stoll, natives of that country, both now deceased. He received his education in his native land, and at the age of fourteen became a sailor, a calling which his ancestors had followed for centuries before him. While following the sea, he stopped at nearly all the important ports of northern Europe, and crossed the Atlantic many times. In 1879 he disembarked at Wilmington, N. C., and shipped aboard a revenue cutter in the United States service, plying the Atlantic coast. In 1881 he abandoned the sea, and came to Barron County, and purchased 80 acres in Section 22, Maple Plain Township. This was all wild land. He set to work with a will, put up a fine set of buildings, and by hard work cleared up sixty acres of the land. There he lived for more than a quarter of a cen- tury. Being a man of wide experience, it is natural that he should have taken a prominent part in the township from the beginning. He foresaw the possi- bilities of the town and realized that if it was ever to become a settled region it was necessary that roads be built. So he assisted in the opening of many of the highways. He also encouraged settlers to locate here, and did everything he could to help them get started. In 1894 he was elected to the town board, and so efficiently did he serve, that in 1897 he was made chairman. He served as such for seven years and at the same time sat on the county board. He thus became known throughout the county, and his service was of real merit. During his term of office the present courthouse was erected at Barron. As the father of children, he is interested in education, and served twenty-one years as a member of the school board of the Camp Dixon district. For ten years he was mail carrier out of Cumberland. In 1909 he sold his farm and moved to that place. In 1920 he went to Stillwater, Minn., and bought a small tract of eleven acres. A short time later he came back and rented his present place. He is successfully carrying on general farming and dairying and has a good

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herd of Holsteins. Fraternally, he is a member of Cumberland Camp, No. 1218, W. M. A., and has held several offices. Mr. Stoll was married June 20, 1886, to Susan Howard, who was born Oct. 29, 1865, the daughter of George and Olena (Olson) Howard, the former of whom is dead and the latter of whom now lives in Cumberland. Mrs. Susan Stoll died Oct. 29, 1910. This union was blessed with ten children: Henry J. was born April 29, 1887, and is now at Radisson, Wis. Lena G. was born Nov. 5, 1888, and is the wife of G. G. Aus- tin, of Glenwood, Minn. Edward S. was born April 11, 1890, and is now at Stillwater, Minn. Bennie I. was born Oct. 21, 1892, and died in the fall of 1912. Harry N. was born Jan. 9, 1893, and was drowned Dec. 24, 1912. Ellen S. was born Sept. 15, 1896, and is the wife of C. H. Talbot, of St. Paul, Minn. Jessie was born July 25, 1895, and is now at Hutchinson, Minn. Albert H. was born Oct. 29, 1900, and is in Forest City, Iowa. Ernest was born May 22, 1906. Emma J. was born Nov. 13, 1909. Mr. Stoll was married on March 8, 1912, to Mrs. Christina Cardell, who was born in Sweden, Sept. 22, 1871, the daughter of Andrew and Margaret (Normerck) Peterson, the former of whom is dead and the latter of whom lives in Sweden. By her marriage to Carl Cardell, Mrs. Stoll has one son, Ernest M., who was born June 20, 1898, and is now attending the Chiropractic College, at Davenport, Iowa.

Carl A. Severson, a well-known farmer of Section 10, west, Dallas Town- ship, is a native of this county, born in Dallas Village, May 15, 1885, the son of Sever A. and Ida (Christison) Severson. Sever A. Severson was born in Norway. They brought their son to America, and located in Buffalo County, this state, when he was nine years old. As a youth he went to Eau Claire, and learned the blacksmith trade. In 1880 he came to Barron County, and established a blacksmith shop at Dallas Village. This he operated the remainder of his life, with the exception of four years when he had a shop at Prairie Farm. He died April 4, 1907. He was a good and useful citizen, and his death was sincerely mourned. His wife died May 8, 1901. In the family there were two sons, Henry, who farms in Dallas Township, and Carl A. Carl A. received his educa- tion in his native village. As a young man he became a stationary engineer, and worked in North Dakota and Washington. In 1911 he returned to Dallas, and took up the well-drilling business. In 1917 he bought 100 acres in Maple Grove Township, which he operated for two years. Then he sold and bought his present place of forty acres. He has some good buildings, and a well-de- veloped place. Here he carries on general farming and dairying, and has a good herd of Holsteins. He is well regarded by all who know him, and has already got a good start in life. Mr. Severson married Cordelia Hulbert, who was born in Maple Grove Township Oct. 16, 1893, the daughter of David and Alice (Skinner) Hulbert. Mr. and Mrs. Severson have three children: Lyle C., born July 21, 1915; Donald B., born June 16, 1918; and Stanley A., born Dec. 1, 1920. The family attends the Christian Church at Hillsdale.

Charles Salsbury, a pioneer, was born at McComb, St. Lawrence County, New York State, May 27, 1845, the son of William H. and Mary (Salsbury) Salsbury, both descended from early New York families. They moved to Loraine County, Ohio, in 1845, and came to Juneau County, Wis., in the sixties. Both are now dead. Charles received his education in Ohio and learned farm- ing from his father. In 1871 he came to Barron County and homesteaded 80 acres in Section 18. In 1889 he bought 80 acres in Section 19 and making a good tract of 160 acres, all in Dallas Township. Here he built a log cabin and straw shed and started clearing the land. There were then but few settlers in the county, and such as they were, nearly all connected with the lumbering interests. Transportation of supplies, produce and provisions was difficult. There was little in the way of comforts, and often even the necessities were lacking. Mr. Salsbury was a man of strength of will and purpose, he was a natural leader, he was determined to succeed, and he realized the great possi- bilities of the region. Therefore, he not only worked hard on his own place, but also helped the newcomers to get started. He helped many get a favorable loca-

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tion, assisted them in hauling logs for their buildings, and even aided them in getting seed and provisions. For nine years he spent the spring and autumn seasons as a salesman for the Barron Woolen Mills. For many years Mr. Sals- bury took an active part in public affairs. When Dallas Township was organ- ized, he was elected its first clerk. He resigned, however, before serving the term out. In 1872 he became clerk of the Pitts School District, so called, and after serving two years was made clerk of a joint district which embraced parts of Prairie Farm and Dallas Township. He has also done public services in other ways. By hard work and application he built up a good farm and won success. In 1906 he retired from active farm life. He has sold 80 acres of his farm to his son, Willis H., and still owns the other half. Mr. Salsbury was married June 14, 1865, to Theresa Cleaver, who was born in New York State Nov. 24, 1845, the daughter of Ludwig and Maria Cleaver. She died March 2, 1905, leaving eight children: Mary Eva (deceased), Charles L., Alta L., Wil- lis H., Anna L., Ernest R., Rosella and Frank. The family faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Willis H. Salsbury, a prosperous farmer of Section 18, Dallas Township, is a native of this township, born on the homestead, a part of which he now owns, Sept. 8, 1872, the son of Charles and Theresa (Cleaver) Salsbury. He attended the common schools and had the advantage of courses in the Wis- consin State Normal School at River Falls. In the meantime he learned farm- ing from his father. In 1893, at the age of 21, he started teaching school in the rural districts, still devoting his summers to farming. He is still remembered as a most excellent teacher. He is a man of broad information, he has a sym- pathetic and understanding nature, he won the love of the pupils and the re- spect of the parents, and had the faculty of inspiring his scholars to do their best work. Although it is fifteen years since he has wielded the rod and the crayon, many young men and women throughout the county still testify as to the excellence and worth of his instructions. In 1905, after school was out, he clerked for the summer in Barron. Then in the fall he moved with his bride onto a farm of 40 acres in Section 13, Prairie Farm Township, which he had previously purchased. There he farmed with good results for eleven years. He cleared 26 acres, and got them well under cultivation. In 1914 he bought an adjoining 80 acres in Section 18, Dallas Township, constituting a part of the old homestead. This makes him a good farm of 120 acres. He has a well- developed place, and successfully carries on general farming and dairying. He has a good herd of graded cattle, headed by a full-blooded Holstein sire. He also has a good drove of Poland-China swine. It is natural that a man of his ability should be called to considerable public service. For thirteen years he has done most efficient work as clerk of his school district, which is Joint District No. 1, of Prairie Farm and Dallas Township. He is also at present serving with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents as clerk of Dallas Township. Mr. Salsbury was married in the town of Sheridan in Dunn County, Wis., April 29, 1905, to Louisa Sievert, who was born in Dunn County, Oct. 9, 1881, the daughter of Edward and Anna (Smith) Sievert, na- tives of Germany, who came to America in 1871, and settled in Dunn County. The father died there May 7, 1914, and the mother is still living on the farm. In the Sievert family there were six children: Mary (deceased), August, Amelia, Ernest, Charles and Louisa. Mr. and Mrs. Salsbury have had three children : Malvin, born July 29, 1909, and died Jan. 25, 1911; Lila E. was born July 5, 1912; and Lloyd C. was born May 20, 1919. The family faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Andrew Wintrone is one of the real leaders among the farmers of Dallas Township. He was born in La Fayette County, this state, June 20, 1869, the son of Trone and Gunhild (Hazelhaugen) Wintrone. These good people were born in Norway, and were there married. In 1869 they came to America and settled in La Fayette County, Wis. From there they moved to Eau Claire, and in 1871 came to Barron County, and took a homestead in Section 12, west, Dallas Town-

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ship. : He erected a good set of buildings and succeeded in clearing up about 70 acres. Here he carried on general farming and dairying, until 1910, when he retired and moved to the Village of Dallas, where he continued to live until his death, Oct. 16, 1915, and where his wife still resides. In the family there were five children: Andrew, Gust, Theodore, Anna, wife of John Amundson, of Dallas Township, and Gina, wife of Charles Johnson, of Ashland, Wis. An- drew came to Barron county with his parents, and attended the district schools. As a young man he spent nine seasons in the woods and on the river drives. In 1892 he purchased 80 acres of his father's farm. In 1911 he purchased an- other eighty. Later he sold 40 acres, making him a good place of. 120 acres. He has erected a good set of buildings, and has continued the improvements and developments. On this place he successfully carries on general farming

and dairying, and has a good herd of cattle which he is breeding from Short- horns into Guernseys. A man of influence in his community, Mr. Wintrone has done considerable public service. For six years he was supervisor on the town board. In this capacity he looked well to the administration of town affairs, and was specially favorable to a more efficient road repairing system .; For five years he was a valued member of the school board. He is an excellent type of the modern Wisconsin farmer. Enterprising in spirit, a real friend of every progressive movement, and ever willingly considering new ideas and improved methods, he is hard working and industrious, and represents everything that is best in farm life. He has taken stock in various local enterprises, including the New Richmond Packing Plant. Mr. Wintrone was married May 25, 1895, to Olia Brooten, the daughter of Andrew and Christie Brooten, the former of whom is dead, and the latter of whom is living on the home farm in Dallas Township, with her son, Ole. Mr. and Mrs. Wintrone have had ten children: Olga was born April 16, 1896, and is the wife of the late Oscar Hanson, of Maple Grove Township. Frank was born Dec. 29, 1897, and died March 20, 1917. Gina was born March 21, 1900. Bennie was born June 17, 1902. Hilda was born Aug. 28, 1904. Clara was born May 11, 1906. John was born April 4, 1908. Paul was born. Feb. 21, 1910. Alma was born Oct. 17, 1912. Carl was born May 28, 1916. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran Church.

Dewilton F. Blyton, early settler and prominent citizen of Dallas Town- ship, was born in Sparta, Wis., Oct. 1, 1855, the son of Thomas W. and Eliza- beth (McClure) Blyton, natives of New York State. These good people came westward in 1850, and settled at Sparta, where he followed his trade as a carpenter, erecting many of the earliest buildings in that city and in the sur- rounding country. In 1869 they came to Barron County, then almost entirely a wilderness, and homesteaded 160 acres in Section 4, west, Dallas Township. There by hard work they developed a good farm. In 1890, after twenty-one years of strenuous work on a pioneer farm, they retired, rented the place, and moved back to Sparta, where he died in 1896 and she in 1918. At the time of her death she was more than ninety-eight years old. The subject of this sketch attended school in Sparta, but did not have much opportunity for schooling after the family came here, when he was fourteen. He worked hard at home and assisted his parents in building up their farm. In 1874, when but nineteen years old, he bought 160 acres of railroad land in Section 29, west, Dallas Township. This was all wild land. He put up a log cabin, moved his bride into it, and started to clear up the land. After he had his farm on a productive basis, he put up a set of frame buildings. The house, with most of its con- tents, was swept away by fire in 1907. Then he built a still better one. He is a man of considerable mechanical ability. He operated the first threshing machine ever brought to Dallas Township, and continued in this line for 21 consecutive seasons. In 1917 he decided to retire. So he rented his farm, and moved to Ridgeland. But he still longed for the old familiar scenes surround- ing his farm, so on June 10, 1921, he came back. Mr. Blyton was married Dec. 20, 1873, to Florabelle Grover, born in Maine Jan. 31, 1857, the daughter of Wood-

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bury S. and Angeline (Potter) Grover. This union has been blessed with nine children : Otis M., a farmer of Dallas Township; Dewilton W., a farmer of Dallas Township; Oscar D., of Wibaux, Mont .; Adelbert, of Ridgeland; Ray- mond, of Wibaux, Mont .; Thomas E., a farmer of Dallas Township; Angie Etta (deceased) ; Dewitt (deceased), and Mildred, the wife of Eugene Duietch, of Ridgeland.

Otis M. Blyton, an estimable farmer of section 30, Dallas township, was born on a pioneer farm in the township where he still resides, Oct. 17, 1873, the son of Dewilton and Flora (Grover) Blyton. He attended the district school, learned farming from his father, and stayed at home until after attaining his majority. In 1895 he bought 80 acres in section 30, Dallas Town- ship, and later 40 acres more in the same section, making a total of 120 acres. This was all wild land. He has fenced the entire tract and has put 60 acres under cultivation. He has also put up a fine set of buildings. A round barn, 60 feet in diameter, of cement block and concrete structure, has just been completed. It is probably the best barn in the Township, of its kind, and is a land mark for miles around. The buildings are surrounded with a pleasant lawn, the farm equipment is good, and everything about the place bespeaks the thrift and good judgment of the owner. Mr. Blyton successfully carries on general farming and dairying, and has a good herd of Holstein cattle headed by a full blooded sire, and a good herd of Duroc-Jersey swine. As the father of a family, he is interested in education, and is now serving with credit as clerk of his school district. Mr. Blyton was married Oct. 4, 1897, to Olive Keyes, who was born at Holgate, Ohio, the daughter of Lucius and Hattie (Fauver) Keyes. Mr. and Mrs. Blyton have twelve children. Ailsie M. was born June 24, 1899, and is the wife of Joseph LaFreniere, of Minneapolis. Wil- bert F. was born Aug. 3, 1900 and is a barber at Ridgeland. Verna B. was born July 1, 1902, and is the wife of Amos Jacobson, of Dallas Township. Hattie C. was born Feb. 7, 1904; Nina P. was born April 20, 1905; Thomas W. was born March 18, 1908; Irvin O. was born Nov. 26, 1909; Eva R. was born Dec. 27, 1911; Clifford K. was born Dec. 15, 1913; Otto M. was born Feb. 3, 1915; Alta F. was born June 5, 1916, and Joyce E. was born Jan. 3, 1918.

Lucius Keyes, for some twenty years a substantial resident of Dallas Township, was born in New York State and was there reared and educated. As a young man he came westward to Ohio, and there married Hattie Fauver, a native of that state. In 1892 they came to Wisconsin, and settled on 160 acres in Section 22, Dallas Township. Here he put up a set of buildings, cleared and broke some of the land, and became one of the successful and prosperous men of the community. In 1913 he sold the place and moved to Excellsior, Minn., where he still lives. His wife died Sept. 15, 1914. They were the parents of nine children : Wesley, Eleanor, Bessie, Edna, Walter, Addie, Mil- dred, Dorothy and Olive.

Andrew Jergenson, the enterprising proprietor of the well-known and fertile Clover Lawn Stock Farm, Section 8, Clinton Township, was born in Sweden, July 26, 1863, the son of George and Hannah Anderson, who spent the span of their years in the old country. In the family there were five children. Ida, Andrew, Nels, Matilda and Gertrude, of whom the three last mentioned are dead. Andrew was reared in Sweden, went to school there, and as a young man worked on farms and on the railroads. He came to the United States in 1889, and located at St. Paul, Minn. For some years he was variously employed, at his trade as a mason, on farms, in the woods, and then for three years in building bridges, round houses, and the like. In 1895 he came to Barron County and bought 80 acres in Section 8, Clinton Township. In 1910 he added 80 more in the same section. The first tract he bought was all wild, covered with standing timber. He built a log cabin, moved his family into it, and started clearing up the land. With this beginning he has built up the farm which is now regarded as a model. He replaced the log cabin with a frame building, which he has remodeled with a pleasant 7-room residence, with a number of

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MR. AND MRS. ANDREW JERGENSON

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conveniences, including furnace heat. His barn is 72 by 22 feet, with a lean- to, 16 by 60 feet, for a cow barn. The set of buildings also includes a silo, machine shed, two granaries, and the like, and there is a good well and wind- mill. The farm is equipped with modern machinery and many labor saving devices. Here Mr. Jergenson successfully carries on general farming and dairying, and has a good herd of graded Airshires. Cream is sold to the Barron Creamery Co. Mr. Jergenson is interested in all the affairs of the community, and has served as a member of the school board of his district. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen. He was married at Cumberland, May 9, 1902, to Sarah Beecroft, a native of England, and daughter of Thomas and Anna Beecroft, who were early settlers of Clinton Township. Of the fourteen children in the Beecroft family those now living are: Herbert, Frank, Anna, wife of Al. Wistrom, of Almena; Thomas, Harry, James, Jane, wife of Matthew Matice, on the home farm; Alice, widow of George Baker; Mary and Sarah. Mr. and Mrs. Jergenson have had nine children: George, William, Mildred, Ethel, Norma and Benjamin, at home; and Gertrude, Thomas and Daniel, deceased. They have also an adopted boy Henning, who served eight months in France with a medical unit and is now farming near Frederick, Wis.

Lebold Frisle, early settler, was an excellent example of the men who came to this country with nothing but their strength and ambition, and by hard work and self sacrifice obtained a competence for themselves and an honor- able heritage for their family. He was born and reared in Austria, and there married Frances Foster, likewise a native of that country. In 1871 he started for America with his wife and four children: Cornelia, Mary, Ferdinand (who died soon afterward) and John. They arrived in due time at Durand, Pepin County this state, and for a while Mr. Frisle worked at such employment as he could obtain, all the time looking forward to some day settling on a farm. In 1877 he walked into Barron County, and selected a location on 80 acres of school land in Section 24, Prairie Farm Township. Soon afterward he drove his family in with an ox team, taking five days to make the trip. He put up a log house, 16 by 26 feet, and a log stable, 16 by 20 feet, and thus made his start. He had the oxen, he had a few cows he had brought in from Durand, and he was thus a little better off than some of his neighbors. As time passed he built up a good place and added to his possessions until he owned 240 acres. After a long and useful life, he died April 26, 1918, at the age of 84 years. His wife died July 28, 1911 at the age of 70 years. In addition to the children born in Austria, two, Agnes and Elizabeth were born in Durand, and four, Fred, Henry, Julia and Christ, were born in Barron County. The family faith is that of the Roman Catholic Church.

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 66

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

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