History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 82

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

USA > Wisconsin > Barron County > History of Barron County Wisconsin > Part 82

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).

Digitized by Google

KNUDT HANSON

Digitized by Google

487

HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

For several terms he was town assessor and for several years one of the town supervisors. He was clerk of his school district for fourteen years. He is a faithful member of the Norwegian Lutheran Church and helped to establish the congregations in Vance Creek Township and in Prairie Farm Township. Mr. Hanson was married at Chaseburg, Vernon County, on Aug. 15, 1869, to Carrie Olson, who was born in Norway Feb. 28, 1842, came to the United States in 1865, and died in 1903 at the age of 62 years. Mr. and Mrs. Hanson had four children. Hannah is the wife of George Salisbury, of Whitefish, Mont. Isabelle is the wife of Carmon Gear, of Harlan, Shelby County, Iowa. Gust, who married Mabel Okay, is dead. Carl is a farmer and blacksmith near Skobe, in Sheridan County, Mont.

Edward Prosser was born in Germany and was there reared and educated. He came to America in 1870 and located in Minnesota. For ten years he did railroad work in various places, and in 1880 settled on a farm in Jackson County, Minn. In 1900 he came to Barron County and secured a farm of 400 acres in Almena Township, the buildings being located in section 32. In 1915 he bought 220 acres within the village limits. He died in 1916, his wife having died the previous year. They were the parents of eleven children: Edward, Frank, Leo, John, Henry, George; Anna, wife of James Gaffney, of Turtle Lake; Rose, wife of Mike Leiz, a farmer at Turtle Lake; Mary, wife of Adam Schaffer, of Turtle Lake; Margaret, and Lizzie, who is dead.

John Prosser, owner and manager of the Turtle Lake Telephone Co., was born in Jackson County, Minn., June 15, 1894, son of Edward and Anna (Nin- nerfro) Prosser. He was brought to Almena Township by his parents in 1900 and later to a farm in the village limits of Turtle Lake. He was reared and educated here and devoted his life to the home farm until April 1, 1919, when he purchased the local telephone company. To the continued development of this company and a steady improvement in the service he has since devoted his time and attention. For two years he has been one of the village trustees. Fraternally he is a member of the Odd Fellows. Mr. Prosser is an admirable citizen in every respect. He is greatly interested in the development of Turtle Lake, and in building up his telephone company and giving good service he is doing his full share in the progress of the village. He is a genial, affable and efficient gentleman, highly regarded for his personal and business quali- fications. He was married June 6, 1916, to Ruth Quam, daughter of Peter and Oliva Quam, who are now farming in Arland Township, Mr. Quam being one of the old settlers of the county who worked for some years for Knapp, Stout & Co. Mr. and Mrs. Prosser have two children, Gertrude and Hugh.

William Olson, a successful farmer and dairyman in section 24, Turtle Lake Township, of which township he is one of the well known and respected citizens, has achieved his present prosperity through hard work in spite of early discouragements. He was born on a farm in Dodge County, Wis., in

November, 1853, son of Ole and Anna (Johnson) Olson, natives of Norway. They came to America in 1848, first locating in Buffalo, N. Y., and then in Illinois, in which state they remained for a year. In 1850 they came to Wis- consin, and after a time in Dunn County located in Dodge County, where they lived for many years, and where Ole Olson, the father, died in 1872. Of the children, John was born in Norway, Andrew in Dunn County, and William and three others in Dodge County. William was nineteen years of age when his father died. He and his mother came to Barron County, where she homesteaded 80 acres in section 30, Arland Township, her brother, John Johnson, having homesteaded a similar tract on section 24, Turtle Lake Township. William then bought Mr. Johnson's right to 80 acres of his land for $200 and began to clear it and make improvements, as it was wild and had no buildings. In the meantime, in 1882, the mother married Hans Hier. After Mr. Hier's death she lived with William until her death, Nov. 29, 1907. The subject of this sketch found that the clearing of his farm was pioneer work and for some years unproductive, so to make expenses he had to work in the woods and on the

Digitized by Google

488

HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

farms of his neighbors. Finally he managed to get a fair set of buildings erected and was feeling gratified with his progress when the cyclone which did so much damage to New Richmond destroyed them, and he had to begin building operations over again. He has since completed that work in a satis- factory manner, and now has a good frame house, a good barn 36 by 72 by 14 feet in size, with a lean-to 16 by 72 feet, for cattle; a machine shed 24 by 58 by 12 feet, and a granary, corn crib and stave silo. Forty-five acres of his land are under the plow and his farm is well stocked with grade cattle, in- cluding 14 milch cows. He also has a herd of hogs. Mr. Olson was united in marriage Nov. 28, 1887, with Sina Hanson, of Arland Township, who was born in Christiania, Norway, March 28, 1871, and who came to the United States with her parents in 1881. To Mr. and Mrs. William Olson seven children have been born: Emma, now Mrs. Alvin Siggerson, of Drummond, Wis .; Robert, who is a farmer in North Dakota; Albert, now a book salesman in South Carolina; James, who is engaged in agriculture in Prairie Farm Township, Barron County; and Arthur, Lawrence and Leonard, who are residing at home. An adopted daughter, Belle Olson, is the wife of Andrew Hanson, of Arland Township. The family are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, worshipping with the congregation in Arland Township. Politically Mr. Olson is a strong Republican. Having begun life with few advantages, not having had the benefit of schooling, he has fought his way up to a comfortable position in life and is respected by his fellow citizens.

John A. Cornwall, a well known citizen of the western part of Barron County, who spends a part of his time in Almena Township and part of his time in Turtle Lake Village, was born in Cornwall, Province of Quebec, Canada, July 16, 1855, son of Thomas and Sarah (Ervin) Cornwall. The father was born in England and was a military man, coming to Canada for the purpose of training soldiers for the King's Army. The mother was a native of Canada, a noble and resourceful woman. After her husband died in 1861, as the result of an operation, she gathered her fatherless young children about her and started for the States. She reached Sparta, Wis., by rail, and from there took a stage coach to Augusta, in Eau Claire County, where she secured a farm, and where by hard work and unremitting toil, assisted by the older children, she supported the family and reared the little fatherless flock to manhood and womanhood. After a long and useful life she died at Downing in August, 1892. In the family there were seven children, five boys and two girls. Nelson lives in Seattle, Wash. James lives in Downing, Wis. John A. and Abraham O. live in Turtle Lake. Elizabeth, wife of Elliott Carter, of Mason City, Iowa, is deceased. Mary J., wife of Charles Huyck, of Duluth, is also dead. Silas died in Augusta. John A. was reared in Augusta, and as he grew to suitable years and strength assisted his mother and the other members of the family on the farm, attending school as means and time permitted. As a youth he was em- ployed in logging and in sawmills, and at times had charge of lumber camps. He first came to Barron County in 1883, and here continued his work in saw- mills. In 1887 he purchased a farm of 93 acres in section 16, Almena Town- ship. This tract was then covered with timber. He cleared a home lot, erected a frame home and suitable barns, and started farming. Gradually he has im- proved the place until it is as good as is to be found in the community. When he first started he did his work for several years with the help of a yoke of oxen. As time passed and prosperity became his portion, he acquired modern implements, tools and machinery. In 1910 he sold the place and purchased twenty acres in the same township, which he still operates. He lives on this place in the summer time, but since 1911 has spent his winters in Turtle Lake Village. Mr. Cornwall has been before the public in various ways for a con- siderable period. For nineteen years he has been a member of the board of directors of the Oak Grove Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance. Co., and for ten of these years was treasurer. In the township he has held the position of town clerk and has served in other offices. For twenty-one years he was a member

Digitized by Google

489

HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

of the school board. The fact that he held public office without being a citizen is an interesting comment on conditions concerning governmental affairs in the earlier days of the county. Fraternally, Mr. Cornwall is a member of the Odd Fellows of Turtle Lake. He was married at Perley, Wis., Nov. 8, 1884, to Lillie E. Bensend, daughter of John and Christine (Anderson) Bensend, natives of Sweden, who came to the United States in 1871, and located in Chicago, where they lived until 1881, when they came to Barron County and took up farming in Almena Township, where both died. They had seven children: Andrew, Nels (deceased), Gusta (deceased), Christine, Lillie, Bettie and John. Mr. and Mrs. Cornwall have had five children: Walter, who is in the hardware business in Turtle Lake; John T., a dentist in Rice Lake; Wesley, a plumber in Frederick, Wis .; Bessie, who graduated from the McPhail School of Music and Dramatic Art, Minneapolis, and is now teaching music; and Florin, who died at two and a half years. Walter, John T. and Wesley are all members of the Masonic order.

Andrew Christenson, an estimable early settler of Section 19, Prairie Farm Township, now deceased, was born in Esterdalen, Norway, Feb. 5, 1832, and was there reared, educated and married. As a youth he learned the blacksmith trade. In 1869 he brought his wife and children to America and settled at Whalen, Fillmore County, Minn., where he worked at his trade. After three years there he came to Barron County, in 1872, and secured a tract of 120 acres in Section 19, Prairie Farm Township. He drove onto the place with a rented team, bringing his family and a meager equipment for household neces- sities and farm work. His cash assets consisted of just $5. He built a lean-to of poles, and in this he and his family lived until he could get a log cabin up. As soon as he got the cabin up, his family located, and a little clearing made, he entered the employ of Knapp, Stout & Co. For several years there- after he continued to work in the lumber camps winters, spending the rest of his time in getting a start on his place. For several years he and his wife endured many hardships. He brought in provisions on his back from Prairie Farm, fording the Hay River, with the water sometimes up to his armpits. But as more settlers came in, roads were built, more of the land was broken, and times became better. After a long and useful life, Mr. Christenson died Sept. 10, 1913. His wife, Gunhild Hagensdatter, who was born July 22, 1834, died April 16, 1915. Both were much interested in the Norwegian Lutheran Church, and Mr. Christenson served as one of the trustees of the congregation at Prairie Farm.

Charles Christenson, a well known man of Prairie Farm village, formerly county treasurer, former prominent merchant and now skilled carpenter and successful tobacco grower, was born in Esterdalen, Norway, July 12, 1860, the son of Andrew and Gunhild (Hagensdatter) Christenson, who brought him to Minnesota in 1869, and to this county in 1872. He was but fifteen when he went into the woods as a cook's helper. Thereafter for many years he worked in the lumber woods winters, driving four oxen, and on the river drives in the spring, spending his summers in helping on the home farm. In 1884 he saw the opportunity for another store in Prairie Farm Village. Accordingly he formed a partnership with Herman Anderson in the general mercantile busi- ness. In this he successfully continued for many years. He already had a wide acquaintance when he started, and he constantly added to his list of friends. He understood the needs of the community, he was a good buyer, and he was widely known for his fair dealing and honest methods. After his wife's death in 1901 he disposed of his interests. Since then he has done more or less work as a carpenter and building contractor, and he is also a successful grower of tobacco. He is a genial, kindly man, liked by all who knew him, and esteemed for his many fine qualities of personality and character. Coming in contact with so many people as he did in business, and demonstrating his ability as a record keeper and accountant, it is natural that his fellow citizens should have called him to public service. For several years he did good work as

Digitized by Google

490

HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

town clerk, and he also served efficiently as a member of the school board. In 1908 he was persuaded to run for county treasurer. His friends here spread the story of his worth and ability, and he received a heavy vote throughout the county. He served with credit for one term in 1909 and 1910 and then returned to his interests at Prairie Farm. Mr. Christenson was married at Prairie Farm March 25. 1885, to Anna Beata Christenson, who was born at Esterdalen, Norway, Sept. 30, 1864, the daughter of Gunder and Trina Chris- tenson. She died May 18, 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Christenson were the parents of eight children: George P., Tilda, Anna, William, Herman, Mabel, Carl and Oscar. After the mother's death, Mr. Christenson kept the family together until they grew up, and all have turned out well.

George P. Christenson, an energetic young business man of Prairie Farm Village, where he is employed in the hardware department of the Prairie Farm Co-operative Association, was born in the village where he still lives, May 1, 1889, the son of Charles and Anna Beata Christenson. He was reared here and received his early education in the public schools. As a young man he took up bridge construction work, and was employed in this line for some years in Minnesota and North Dakota. In 1917 he returned and took up his present employment. Fraternally he is a member of the Woodmen. Mr. Christenson is a factor in the social, business and patriotic life of the village. He has served on numerous committees, he is active in everything that means progress and betterment, and he is a useful citizen in every respect. As a clerk he is affable and genial and fair dealing, and is liked by all.

John Seeger, the prosperous and progressive proprietor of the Pine Valley Farm, Section 4, Prairie Farm Township, was born in Wurttemberg, Germany, July 30, 1860, one of the sixteen children of John and Christina (Chela) Seeger, who spent the span of their years in the old country. The subject of this sketch attended school in Germany and became a potter. He came to the United States in 1877, stayed in Cincinnati, O., for a short time, then came to Chicago, Ill., and from there to Red Wing, in Goodhue County, Minn., in which vicinity he worked on farms for four years. Then he moved across the river into Pierce County, this state, and rented a farm in Maiden Rock Township. There he continued to farm for many years, working in the winter seasons for Knapp, Stout & Co. in the lumber woods in Pierce and Barron counties. . In 1910, Mr. Seeger bought the N. P. Eggen farm of 160 acres of improved land in section 4, Prairie Farm Township. This place, known as the Pine Valley Farm, is one of the most prosperous farms in this vicinity, and everything about it bespeaks the thrift and intelligent attention of the owner. Mr. Seeger success- fully carries on general farming and dairying. He has a good herd of Guernsey cattle, a good drove of Poland China swine, and some excellent Belgian horses. Mr. Seeger has identified himself thoroughly with the life and interests of the township, and has joined the Barron County Farm Bureau. He is a stockholder in the Prairie Farm Cooperative Association. While in Pierce County he served on the school board of his district. He is a useful citizen of solid and substan- tial worth, and enjoys an excellent standing in the community. Mr. Seeger was married at Red Wing, Minn., in May, 1881, to Lizzy Suter, who was born on Prairie Island, in Goodhue County, Minn., in 1860, and died near Red Wing, in the same county, in February, 1884. He was married May 16, 1886, to Catherine Caswell, who was born in Maiden Rock, Pierce County, this state, May 17, 1865, the daughter of Peter W. and Nancy (Henry) Caswell. This union has been blessed with twelve children: Sallie, Francis (deceased), Nancy (deceased), William J., Myrtle (Mrs. John Nelson of Prairie Farm Township, Edgar, Anna, Harley and Harry (twins), Catherine (Mrs. Arthur Larson of Prairie Farm Township), John and Beatrice. William J. was inducted into the World War service Feb. 23, 1918, trained at Camp Grant, Ill., and Camp Logan, Tex., with depot brigades, and was discharged Jan. 8, 1919. Edgar was inducted into the service in August, 1918, trained for infantry service at Camp Grant,

Digitized by Google

: 1 -

- :

JOHN SEEGER, FAMILY AND RESIDENCE

Digitized by

Google

491

HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

and was discharged Jan. 6, 1919. Both contracted the influenza during their service. Both are now members of the American Legion.

Peter W. Caswell was one of the early settlers of the upper Mississippi region. He and his wife, Nancy Henry, were both born in New York state, of Colonial stock. They came up the river with the pioneers and settled across the river from Stillwater, in St. Croix County, Wis. The country was then wild, and the Indians unfriendly. One of the sons, Peter, was stolen by the red men. John Caswell was a veteran of the Civil War. During the Minnesota Sioux Indian uprising in 1862, he and Walter Hill were dispatch bearers. From St. Croix County the family moved to Pierce County, in this state, and settled at Maiden Rock, where the father and mother died. The children in the Caswell family who grew to adult years were Francis (deceased), Catherine, Deloss, Peter (deceased), William (deceased) and Merton.

Andrew T. Wickham, pioneer, was born May 11, 1832, in Orleans County, New York, the son of James and Lovina (Renolds) Wickham. In November, 1853, he married Lucy S. Cox, who was born in Zore, Erie County, New York, Feb. 12, 1835, daughter of Eli D. and Sophia (Williams) Cox. They started home making in East Otto Township, New York, and there three children were born : Wilber D., Charles E. and William O. In May, 1864, they came to Wis- consin and located a homestead in Trempealeau County in the beautiful stretch of land since known as Wickham Valley in Burnside Township. Although like most of the settlers, they had little of this world's goods, and although the hardships of life in a pioneer region were many, they worked with a will and developed their farm as best they could. In August, 1871, disaster overtook them in the death of their two youngest children, Charles E. and William O., who were stricken with diphtheria. Heartsick at this experience, they rented the farm for a year and returned to the old home place in East Otto, New York. There in February, 1872, another child, Walter, was born, but lived only three days. In the fall of that year the family again came west, and took up their home on the Wickham Valley farm. On Oct. 8, 1873, two sons, Herman D. and Hiram E., were born. In 1881 Mr. Wickham traded his homestead for forty acres at Independence, in the same county, and there he opened and operated a stone quarry until 1901. In that year he sold the Independnce property and came to Barron County, where he purchased a farm near Chetek. There, after a long life filled with worthy endeavor, he died Sept. 1, 1902. His wife continued on the farm with her son, Herman D., until her death, Dec. 9, 1920. Mr. and Mrs. Wickham were a most worthy couple. Despite the fact that Mr. Wickham was never in robust health, and that Mrs. Wickham battled against physical frailties for half a century, they carved for themselves a home in the wilder- ness, they worthily reared their children, they made the best of life as they found it, taking life's vicissitudes with Christian fortitude and cheer, and making their years on earth of real benefit to those with whom they came in contact. They will always be cherished in the hearts of those who loved them. Wilber D. was married at Independence, Wis., July 3, 1878, to Addie L. Clinton, and is now a well known resident of Rochester, Minn. He and his wife have four children: Grace L. Randall, of Eyota, Minn .; Helen E. Moor, of Dresbach, Minn .; Elmer D., of Los Angeles, Cal .; and Ava M. Thirtle, of Eyota, Minn. Herman D. is a successful farmer of Chetek Township, Barron County. Hiram E. is deceased.

Hiram E. Wickham, for some years an honored and respected citizen of Chetek Township, now deceased, was born on a farm in Wickham Valley, Trempealeau County, Wis., Oct. 8, 1873, the son of Andrew and Lucy (Cox) Wickham, now deceased, and early pioneers of that county. He was a twin brother of Herman D., now of this township, the two being the youngest in the family. He was reared in his native county and came to this county as a young man. He achieved an honored place in the community and was liked by all who knew him, fulfilling every demand of life as a husband, father, eitizen, neighbor and friend. He died on the Wickham farm in Chetek Town-

Digitized by Google

492

HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

ship, June 19, 1916. Fraternally he was a member of the Masonic order. He was married on June 7, 1905, at Chetek, Wis., to Mae Bramwell, who was born in South Dakota Nov. 10, 1884, the daughter of Thomas and Jane Bramwell. This union was blessed with three children: Ward, Muriel and Esther.

Herman D. Wickham, successful farmer of section 27, east, Chetek Town- ship, is one of the substantial and representative men of this part of the county. He comes of a pioneer family, was reared amid pioneer conditions, and has himself done much in the way of farm developing and improving. He was born on a farm in Wickham Valley, Trempealeau County, this state, Oct. 8, 1873, he and his twin, Hiram E., being the youngest sons of Andrew T. and Lucy (Cox) Wickham, pioneers of that county. He was reared on the farm, attended school at Independence and learned farming from his father. In 1900 he left the parental roof and located in Minneapolis, where he man- aged a bicycle repair shop, this being at the time when the vogue for the use of bicycles was at its height. A year later he went to Mille Lacs County, Minn., and was there employed as a carpenter. In March, 1902, he came to this county with his parents and located on the Wickham farm, now owned by heirs of Hiram E. Wickham. In 1915 he bought a stock farm of 120 acres in section 9, Chetek Township, which he operated for three years. Then he located on his present tract of 80 acres in section 27, east, Chetek Township. He has a good set of buildings and carries on general farming, making a specialty of registered Holstein cattle and Chester-White swine. He is a member of the Holstein Breeders' Association and a stockholder in the Farmers' Co-operative Creamery. He is active in everything that he believes to be for the best in- terests of the community and is in every way doing his duty as a good citizen. He was married at Chetek on Sept. 22, 1906, to Jennie S. Jacobson, born on June 13, 1876, at Chetek, the daughter of Mads Jacobson and Mary Jacobson, the pioneers. This union has been blessed with one son, George Anton, born Dec. 12, 1907.

John Amundson, for many years a skilled carpenter, now an able farmer on 80 acres of land in section 18, Rice Lake Township, was born in Norway Aug. 4, 1854, son of Andrew and Margaret (Jenson) Amundson, natives of that country. He attended the schools of his native land and early became a fisher- man. In 1882 he came to America with his parents and located at Rice Lake, where he secured work for three years with Knapp, Stout & Co. He left their employ in 1885 and for eighteen years thereafter worked as a carpenter. In 1903 he bought his present farm, which was then all wild. He cleared the land, broke about fifty acres, built a frame house, barn and other buildings, and now carries on general farming, making a specialty of a good herd of Holstein cattle, headed by a full-blooded Holstein sire. Mr. Amundson is treasurer of the Independent Scandinavian Society. He was married in Norway in 1881 to Ingeborg Olson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ole Olson. This union has resulted in eight children: Anna, Lena, Josephine, Inga, Henry, Anna, Norman and Julia. Anna was born in 1882 and is now deceased. Lena was born Jan. 18, 1894, married Ingwald Melly, and has nine children: Gladys, Minnie, Orvil, John, Inga, Clifford, Eleanor, Melvin and Ruth. Josephine was born June 13, 1886, married Ole Holle, and has four children: Alvilda, Arthur, Benith and Elmer. Inga was born March 27, 1892, and married Louis Fralzke. Henry was born Nov. 8, 1894, and is now married. Anna was born July 18, 1896, and lives in Minneapolis. Norman was born Sept. 19, 1899, and is at home. Julia was born April 20, 1903, and is at home.

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 82

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

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