History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 78

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

USA > Wisconsin > Barron County > History of Barron County Wisconsin > Part 78

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Knut Bryngelson, the pioneer, now deceased, was born in Norway. . He came to America in 1875, and after living in Chicago for a year, was married to Sarah Stevenson of Capron, Ill., and came to Barron County in 1876, among the early settlers, and took a homestead of 160 acres in Section 21, east, Maple Grove Township. The county was then a wilderness, with lumber camps scattered here and there, and with but few settlers. The only roads were the "tote" roads of the lumber companies and the trails of the pioneers. Mr. Bryngelson cleared 65 acres of his land, erected buildings, built fences, and developed a good place. After a long and honored career he died in January, 1920. His wife died Jan. 17, 1921. The children in the family are Clarence, Stephen, Carrie and Martin. One daughter, Irene, died in infancy.

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ANDREW N. ANDERSON AND FAMILY

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Martin Bryngelson, an active and efficient farmer of Maple Grove Town- ship, has an 80-acre farm in section 16, east, and is carrying on mixed farm- ing and dairying along modern scientific lines. He is a native of this town- ship, born of pioneer stock, and son of Knut and Sarah (Stevenson) Bryngel- son. He attended the public schools of his neighborhood, and learned farming with his parents, remaining at home until 1910. In that year he bought his present farm, broke and cleared some of it, and made general improvements, which he is still keeping up. Mr. Bryngelson was married June 8, 1919, to Cordelia Fostvedt daughter of Knut and Carrie (Christianson) Fostvedt, the former of whom is a blacksmith in Waushara County, this state. Mr. and Mrs. Fostvedt have five children: Julius, Clarence, Inga, Johanna and Cordelia.

Andrew N. Anderson, one of the representative farmers of his neighbor- hood, owning 98 acres in Section 30, east, Maple Grove Township, was born in Norway, Dec. 10, 1853, son of Iver and Runug (Peterson) Anderson, natives of Norway, who spent the span of their years in that country. Andrew N. was educated in his native land, and in 1873, when twenty years of age, started out with courage and high resolve to carve his fortunes in the New World. He landed at Portland, Me., and from there came to this state and located at Janesville. In 1875 he went to Iowa, and worked as a carpenter, but two years later came again to this state and located in Dunn county, where he alternated farm work with lumbering. He bought his present place in 1883, cleared 60 acres, erected a good set of buildings, and has since, for nearly forty years, continued successfully to carry on general farming and dairying, making a specialty of a good grade of Guernsey cattle and Poland-China swine. He found the county a wilderness, still a place of flourishing lumber camps, and has seen it develop into the rich dairy region of the present day. In this development, by building up a good farm, he has had his part. For some years he has been a member of the school board of his district and has endeavored to give his large family a good training in study and in work. He was married July 14, 1883, to Augusta Johnson, daughter of John and Sophia (Greenquist) Johnson, natives of Sweden, who came to America in 1881, and settled in Maple Grove Township, this county, where the father died July 14, 1896 and the mother March 12, 1899. In the family there are five children : Anna (deceased), Matilda, Minnie, Justen and Augusta. Mr. and Mrs. Ander- son have ten children : Ida C. was born March 31, 1884, and is the wife of Even Erickson, of Dallas Village, this county; Rena S. was born Jan. 4, 1886, and is the wife of Bernard Jacobson, of Minnesota; Alfred W. was born June 3, 1888, and is farming in Maple Grove Township, this county; John O. was born Dec. 18, 1890, and is in Spokane, Wash .; Walter A. was born Oct. 27, 1893, and is in North Dakota; Isaac A. was born Oct. 14, 1896, and is farm- ing in Maple Grove Township; Clarance R. was born Oct. 27, 1899, and is at home; Geneva O., born July 14, 1902; Ethel A., born March 6, 1907, and Helen A. born July 16, 1910, are all at home. The family worships at the Norwegian Lutheran Church.

George P. Klein, a farmer, Section 29, west, Maple Grove Township, was born May 10, 1878 in Sauk County, Wis., son of Karl and Lena (Timmie) Klein, natives of Germany, who came to America in the early sixties and settled in Sauk County where they farmed a number of years before moving to Baraboo, Wis., where they now live. In the family there were ten children: Lewis, Charles, Gusta, Otto, George, Edward, Lena, Henry, Anna and Bertha. George received his early education in the district schools and worked for his father until 1902. He was then employed in a skimming station at Linden, Wis., thirteen months, and was then watchman for the Consolidated Granite Com- pany in Sauk County. In 1904 he came to Barron County, Wis., and bought one hundred acres upon which he now lives. He remodelled the buildings, erected a new house, purchased suitable equipment and now carries on general farming and dairying. He also owns a house and five lots in Barron city where he expects shortly to take up his home. Mr. Klein was married

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February 24, 1904, to Ida Reineke, daughter of William and Minnie Reineke, natives of Germany, who came to America in the early sixties and now reside at Westfield, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Klein have two children: Ewald, born April 2, 1906, and Floyd E. born Nov. 15, 1914.

Herbert Ewald, secretary and assistant treasurer of the Cumberland Fruit Package Co. and one of Cumberland's active business men, was born at Fairchild, Wis., Oct. 1, 1889, the son of Julius and Ernstina (Reese) Ewald, prominent citizens of that place. He was sent to the graded schools in his native town, and then went to Minneapolis, where he attended the Central High School from which he was graduated in 1907. Then he worked at the printing business in Minneapolis for several years. In 1910 he came to Cumberland where his father had moved the previous year. He entered the employ of the Cumberland Fruit Package Co. and at his father's death in 1917, assumed the duties of his present position. He thoroughly understands his business, he is a good executive and master accountant, and much of the success with which the company is meeting is due to his untiring energy. He is well liked throughout the community and is a popular member of the Masonic and Pythian orders.

Julius Ewald, manufacturer and inventor, one of the founders of the Cumberland Fruit Package Co., and patentee of many of its best devices, was born in Dodge County, Wis., Aug. 25, 1856, son of Christian and Marie (Schumaker) Ewald, natives of Prussia, the former of whom came to the United States in early manhood, and died in 1863. Of their eight children, five grew to adult years: Frank Jesse, William, August, Julius and Louisa, the wife of Fred Krueger. Julius was reared in his native county and as a youth learned the blacksmith trade. He also did more or less in photography. In 1873 he located in Fairchild, near the joining point of Jackson, Eau Claire and Clark counties. There by hard work, good judgment and perseverance, he became a substantial and honored citizen, and acquired valuable business and rural property. For some years he was a prosperous general merchant. April 11, 1889, he was appointed postmaster at Fairchild, and while serving in this position wrote insurance and to a certain extent dealt in real estate. He was of inventive turn of mind and in time evolved an improved folding berry box which still bears his name and which is gradually replacing the older type boxes. In 1909 he came to Cumberland, assisted in organizing the Cumberland Fruit Package Co., and lived here until his death, Dec. 7, 1917, at the age of sixty-one years. He was a prominent man both in Eau Claire and Barron counties. In the first named county he held numerous county, town, village and school offices, including the position of county treasurer, which he filled with ability for four years. He was also alderman of Cum- berland one year. He was a charter member of the A. O. U. W. at Fairchild, was also active in the M. W. A., and was a member of the Masonic lodge at Humbird and the K. of P. lodge at Augusta. He and his family adhered to the German Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Ewald was married in November, 1880, to Ernstina Reese, who was born April 11, 1858, in Dodge County, Wis., daughter of Peter and Mary Reese, natives of Prussia. This union was blessed with six children, Robert, George, Herbert, Esther, Helen and Valentina.

Cumberland Fruit Package Co. has a plant occupying a site of about six acres situated between the Omaha railway tracks and Lake Beaver Dam. The factory building is of brick construction two stories high. Warehouse capacity consists of a frame building, 60 by 125 feet, with a shed of smaller capacity. Besides this there are a large number of small open drying sheds in the yard where material and finished boxes and baskets are piled for drying before being put into the warehouse proper for shipment. Various tracks and tramways connect all the buildings, facilitating the handling of material with trucks. The plant is so systematically arranged that the logs start in one end of the factory, are cut into material and assembled so that

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JULIUS EWALD

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boxes, baskets and crates come out at the warehouse ready for shipment. The company manufactures a general line of fruit packages, consisting of berry crates of all kinds, repacking baskets, grape and peach baskets, and apple boxes. It has trade in Wisconsin and neighboring states of Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois and Iowa, although an extensive business is not possible outside of these states on account of the high freight rates compared with low value of the product. The company controls the manufacture of the Ewald Patent Folding Berry Box, which is extensively used in the territory named. This box was invented by Julius Ewald, one of the founders of the business, and who was the father of the present secretary. This box is an especial boon to the small fruit grower, using from one to ten thousand strawberry boxes, as it enables him to get a large number of boxes in a very small space, as the boxes come all folded and packed in crates. All the grower need do is to set them up which is an operation of a second or two, doing away with the necessity of stapling machine or old method of tacks and hammer. The company supplies practically all northern Wisconsin with necessary crates for marketing berries, such as the districts at Bayfield, Washburn, Ashland, and Twin Ports. It also has bulk of the trade in territory surrounding the Twin Cities. During the season it furnishes the greater part of the blue- berry crates used in northern Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Birch is the principal wood used in the manufacture of pack- ages, as about 50 per cent. of the product is made from this material. Bass- wood and pine make up about 25 per cent. and the remainder is made up of such hardwoods as maple, elm, ash, etc., in fact any wood with the exception of hemlock. Practically all the birch has to be shipped in by rail as there is very little of this timber left in Barron County. A good deal of the other woods used is secured in vicinity of Cumberland within a radius of 15 miles. About one million feet are used in an average season, and are cut up into thin veneer, running from the thickness of seven to the inch to as thin as twenty- eight to the inch. When the material leaves the veneer machines it is sorted and piled out in the yard to dry, after which it is stored in the warehouses ready for shipment or to be made up into boxes, baskets, and crates. During a normal season a crew of about one hundred people are kept busy, consisting of about 75 men and 25 women. The cut generally starts about December 1, when the logs start to come in, and lasts until October 1. However, this year there are enough logs left on hand to run nearly the balance of the year, which is due to the large supply the farmers brought in last winter. In 1920 the company was very busy working with a large crew most of the year, and being compelled to work over-time to take care of the strong demand.' This year the fruit crops are very light due to unfavorable weather, so only a light crew has been employed and somewhat reduced hours. The wages paid compare very favorably with those paid in other industries in this section of the state, and other benefits are given to the employes such as group life insurance paid at expense of the company, etc. The business was started in 1910 by H. C. Monstad, Julius Ewald and Lewis Larson, since which time Mr. Monstad has severed his connections with the firm, Mr. Ewald is deceased, and Mr. Larson continues as treasurer of the company. The officers at pres- ent time are L. A. Reese, president; Andrew Bachhuber, vice-president, and Herbert Ewald, secretary. These men are also directors with W. N. Hedback and August Ewald. The business has grown rapidly since starting, and several additions have been made necessary to furnish the equipment to take care of increasing demand for the product. It has also been necessary to in- crease the capital stock since organization.

Halvor Larson, an enterprising farmer of Section 23, Clinton Township, was born in Winnebago County, this state, April 4, 1863, the son of Lawrence and Mary (Baka) Larson, both natives of Norway. Lawrence Larson was brought to Muskego, Waukesha County, this state, in 1843, by his parents. As a young man he farmed about, and later located in Winnebago County,

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this state, where he farmed until his death in 1919, his good wife having passed away in 1916. Of the nine children in the family there are now living six: Louis, Anne, Halvor, Emma, Joseph and Josephine. Louis lives in Minneapolis. Anna lives in Oshkosh, and is the widow of Hans Stroma. Emma is the wife of Louis Christopherson, of Oshkosh, Wis. Joseph lives in Minneapolis. Josephine is the wife of Charles Falk, and lives in Oshkosh, Wis. Halvor Larson was reared in Winnebago County, was educated there, learned farming from his father, and remained at home until he was twenty- three years old. On Nov. 26, 1886, he came to Barron County, and the first winter worked in the lumber woods. In 1886 his father, Lawrence Larson, bought 80 acres in Section 23, Clinton Township, which he gave to his son, Halvor, who in 1887 moved onto it. This was all wild railroad land. He put up a small log cabin, moved into it, and started clearing up the land. He cut off considerable cord wood, cleared out the stumps, and began tilling the land. In 1888 he put up a larger log house, one story and a half, and in this he has since continued to live. In 1891 he bought another 80 acres of wild land, making him 160 acres in all. He has cleared up most of this. He now has 100 acres under the plow, the remainder being timber land and pasture land. Here he successfully carries on general farming and dairying. He is interested in the general progress of the community, and has served as road overseer. Mr. Larson was married May 18, 1896, at Chetek, in this county, to Anne P. Lee, who was born in New Jersey, on Dec. 31, 1872, the daughter of Gunder and Anne (Simpson) Lee. Her parents were natives of Norway who, on coming single to this country, first lived one year in New York State, where they were married. They then came west to Minnesota and made their home for six years at St. Charles, Winona County. They then moved to Dunn County, Wisconsin, stayed there six years, and from that locality came to Dallas, Barron County, where the father, Gunder Lee, found work in a flour mill, and where he now lives, his wife having passed away. In the family there were ten children. Five died when young of diphtheria, within a few days of each other. The others are Olaf, Otto, Ole, Carl and Anne P. Mr. and Mrs. Larson have nine children: Alma, Lawrence, Hilmer, Clifford, Warden, Bessie, Morris, George and Daniel. Lawrence farms in St. Croix county. Alma is employed. The rest are at home. All the members of the family are well regarded.

John Erick Nelson, a solid and substantial resident of Section 1, east, Dovre Township, proprietor of Fairdale Farm, was born in Sweden, July 31, 1861, the son of John and Karen Nelson. The father died in Sweden, leav- ing six children : John E., Johanna, Kate, Anna, Ellen and Louis. The mother afterward married Ole Johnson, and they later came to America. John Erick, the oldest of the children, was reared and educated in the old country. In 1887 he married Johanna Erickson. The next year, 1888, they came to America, and located in St. Paul, Minnesota, where for thirteen years he was employed as a motorman on the street railway. While thus engaged he purchased a tract of 160 acres in Section 1, east, Dovre Township. A farm had been started there, but it had run down, and was mostly in brush and timber. Onto this farm he moved in 1901. For a time he had to get along with meagre contrivances. He paid $34 for a team of horses, and made his own harness. His wagon was a wreck, which he had secured from a blacksmith shop and made over. After being on the place about three months, he traded some timber for a cow, with which to start in the dairying business. With this beginning he has built up a good farm, and has achieved success. He has a fine set of buildings in a beautiful location on the banks of Ten Mile Creek, surrounded with pleasant lawns, trees and shrubbery. His farm is well de- veloped in every way. His fine herd of Holstein cattle is the pride of the neighborhood, and he also has a good drove of Poland-China swine and a good grade of horses. He is a thorough believer in co-operative effort among farmers, and is a stockholder in the Farmers' Store Co. of Chetek, and the

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JACOB NYHUS AND FAMILY

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Farmers' Co-operative Creamery of Chetek. He is active in public affairs and has done good service on the town board and the school board, being a sup- porter of every movement which he considers for the best interests of the community. He and his wife attend the Lutheran Church. Their children are as follows: Anna Marie, now Mrs. Lester Thomas Wilson, residing in Chicago; Betty Erika, now Mrs. H. W. Heenan, who has one child, Ivadell, and William Erick, who resides at home and is his father's assistant.

Charles J. Nyht, who has a good place in Section 21, Clinton Township, was born in Sweden, July 4, 1882, the son of Victor and Anna (Johnson) Nyht. Victor Nyht was a stone mason by trade. For fifteen years he served in the Royal Swedish army. In 1892, he brought his family to America, and settled near Galesburg, Ill., where he farmed for a while. Then he moved to Plymouth County, Iowa, where he farmed for many years. At present he is connected with the Farmers Lumber Co., at Farnhamville, Iowa. In the family there were ten children: Axel, Alvin, Harold, Charles, Esther, Delia, Vida, Ellen, Anna (deceased) and an unnamed infant who died in Sweden. Charles attended school in his native land, and for a few winter terms after the family came to America. As a young man he rented farms in Webster and Green counties, Iowa, for five years. In the spring of 1910, he came to Barron County, and bought 80 acres in section 21, Clinton Township, to which he later added 40 acres in the same section. No buildings had been erected and the land was covered with stumps and timber. Here he has developed a good farm. He has a modern home, eight rooms with bath, a good barn, silo, granary, sheds and other buildings, and he has cleared up and improved the land. Here he successfully carries on general farming and dairying, and has a good herd, headed by a full blooded Holstein sire. The cream is sold to the Barron Creamery Co. Mr. Nyht is well liked in the community and is a popular member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He was married Oct. 13, 1907, at Des Moines, Iowa, to Alice Heath, the daughter of Frank and Flora Heath, old settlers of Calhoun County, Iowa, the former of whom now lives in Maple Grove Township, and the latter of whom died Oct. 13, 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Nyht have three fine boys, Clarence, Walter and George. The family faith is that of the Swedish M. E. Church.

Embret Nyhus, who farms a good place in Section 6, Clinton Township, is one of the most highly respected men of this region. Born on the farm where he still resides, he has spent his life here, he has watched the wonder- ful progress that the county has made in the past thirty-five years, and in that progress has done his share. He was born Sept. 29, 1884, the son of Jacob and Anna (Thoreson) Nyhus. These good people were born, reared and educated in Norway, and there they married. In 1880 they came to this country and settled on a homestead of 80 acres in Section 6, Clinton Town- ship. This was all timber land. The father made a clearing, put up a log house and two log barns, and in time got ten acres under cultivation. Here he carried on general farming until his death, June 30, 1899. The mother is still living. She has patiently borne the suffering of an invalid for the past five years, lovingly and tenderly cared for by the son. In the family there was one other child, Tena, who is now dead. Embret was reared on the home farm, attended the district school, and helped his father. He was but fourteen when his father died, but with courage and fortitude, he then took charge of the farm, and continued clearing the land and developing the place. His residence is a pleasant eight-room house with electric lights and other con- veniences. The barn is 34 by 80 feet, with a full tile basement, and furnished with the Great Western equipment. He also has other suitable buildings in- cluding a granary, milk house and machine shed, as well as a silo 12 by 24 feet. The farm is excellently equipped with tools, implements and machinery. Here he successfully carries on general farming and dairying. His herd consists of graded Jerseys, and some of his cows averaged 61 pounds of butter for the month of April. He also has a drove of full blooded Duroc-

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Jersey swine, and some good horses. Aside from carrying on his farm, Mr. Nyhus looks after the house, and cares for his aged mother, who on Jan. 29, 1921, was seventy-one years old. As a public spirited citizen he has done good work on the school board. He and his mother are faithful supporters of the Norwegian Lutheran Church.

John M. Olson, an estimable farmer of Section 15, Clinton Township, was born in Norway, Dec. 10, 1860, the son of Mathias and Tillie (Anderson) Olson. These good people were farmers in the old country, and came to America in 1866, and located in Winnebago County, Wis., where they farmed for many years. There the father died in 1911, and the mother now makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Christ Thompson, of Rice Lake, at the age of 94 years. In the family there were ten children. Angeline married Sam Thompson, of Pierce County, this state. He is dead, and she now lives in Western Canada. Hattie is the wife of Halver Olson, of Tower, Minn. Anna is the wife of Christ Thompson, of Rice Lake, Wis. Tillie is the wife of John Olson, of Waupaca County, this state. Lena married Henry Drager, of Osh- kosh, Wis. Ole lives in Rice Lake. John M. is a farmer of Clinton Township. Andrew lives in New Richmond. Sarah, the wife of Hans Everson, is dead. Christina died young. John M. came to Winnebago County with his parents when he was not quite six years old. He attended school there and worked on the farm. In 1884 he went to Winchester, Wis., and spent a year. In 1885 he came to this county and bought a farm in Cumberland Township. But after doing a little clearing, he sold the same year, and bought 80 acres of heavy timber land in Section 15, Clinton Township. He built a log house and log barn, cleared some of the land, and started developing a farm. There he has since continued to carry on general farming and stock raising and dairy- ing, and he has a herd of about 20 head of high grade Holsteins. As pros- perity increased, he sided and plastered the log house and enlarged it. In 1902 he put up a modern barn, 34 by 80 feet, with full basement, and modern equipment. In building up his own success, Mr. Olson has not been unmindful of the needs of the community. He was one of the first to join the Norwegian Lutheran congregation, and assisted in building the first church in Section 14, Clinton Township. He believes in good schools, and donated material and labor to build the first schoolhouse in District No. 5, in his township. He is likewise interested in good roads and has done excellent service as pathmaster. Mr. Olson was married at Prairie Farm on Oct. 13, 1886, to Isabel Johnson, the daughter of Barney and Sarah (Olson) Johnson, early settlers of Clinton Township, the former of whom is dead, and the latter of whom is now living with her son, John B. Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. Olson have an adopted son, Edwin, who was born Nov. 22, 1894. He is an energetic young farmer, a good citizen, and well liked, who carries on the home farm in partnership with his father.

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 78

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

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