History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 96

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

USA > Wisconsin > Barron County > History of Barron County Wisconsin > Part 96

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).

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until 1904. In that year he came to Barron County and bought 160 acres of land in Clinton Township. He and his wife now make their home with Mr. and Mrs. Rolf. By his first wife he had seven children, of whom there is now living one, Augusta, the wife of Otto Stockman, of Sand Point, Idaho. By his second wife he has twelve children: Christian D., August D., Otto, Phillip H., John R., Albert H .; Alvina, wife of Fred Miller of Forest Lake, Minn .; Ida, wife of George Boedeker of Almena; Emele, wife of Herman Rolf; Ottilie, wife of Herman Curt; and Anna, the wife of Adolf Rolf. The family faith is that of the German Lutheran Church at Almena and Mr. Rolf is active in the church band.

Edwin W. Sill, farmer of section 13, Stanley Township, pioneer and official of Sumner Township, former educator and business man, was born at Arling- ton, Columbia County, Wis., July 29, 1856, the son of Harvey John and Miranda M. (Foster) Sill. He came to Barron County with the family, and for a time taught school in Sumner and Chetek Townships. In 1878 he took a homestead of 160 acres in section 33, Chetek Township. There, in 1879, he took his bride. In 1881, when his father moved into Barron, he took up his home on the old homestead in Sumner Township, which he operated in connection with another eighty. Later he went to South Dakota, where he bought grain and dealt in coal. In 1891 he came back, located once more on the old homestead, and in 1892 purchased it. In 1901 he sold out and bought the old Butler place, just across the road. In 1912 he purchased his present good farm of 80 acres in section 13, Stanley Township. He has a well developed place and is suc- cessfully carrying on general farming and dairying. Coming of Colonial and pioneer stock, of the best English ancestry, and son of a man greatly honored and respected in the history of Barron County, Mr. Sill is himself one of the leading men of his community. His judgment is always to be relied upon, his advice is sought by the younger generation, and his opinions are heard with the deepest interest. In Sumner Township he held numerous school and town offices, including the positions of township chairman and township clerk. As chairman of the township he not only did the town much good service in the administration of its affairs, but also sat with dignity and efficiency on the county board. The Methodist Episcopal Church at Canton has found in both him and his wife and family faithful members, regular attendants and hard workers, and he has been one of its official board as a trustee for some time. Mr. Sill was married Dec. 25, 1879, at Bloomer, Chippewa County, this state, to Hattie M. Grilley, who was born in Illinois, July 20, 1859, the daughter of Leander S. and Sarah (Briggs) Grilley, who in 1873 homesteaded a tract of 160 acres of wild land in section 28, Sumner Township, this county. They started with a yoke of oxen and two cows, and so were somewhat better off than most of their neighbors. They erected a log cabin and cleared some land, and being generous and hospitable people, loaned their oxen to their neighbors at times, and also let the neighbors have milk from the cows. Chippewa Falls was the nearest market place. The trip there with oxen took three days, and sometimes the trip was made afoot, when the need of provisions became urgent. Bloomer, in Chippewa County, was the nearest postoffice. Anyone going there brought back the mail, and the months-old letters and news were eagerly awaited. As the years passed they developed a good farm. He was the pioneer fruit grower of the county. He believed thoroughly that fruit raising could be profitably raised here, and he set out a fine apple orchard, which in time justified his faith. He was also interested in bee culture, and at one time had one hundred colonies, constituting the largest apiary in the county. Mr. Grilley died in 1875 and his wife in 1900. They were the parents of seven children: Helen, Dighton, Burritt, Mary, Fannie, Harriet and Jesse, all of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Sill have six children: Edwin H., Verne, Hurle, Bessie, Ethel and Lyle. Edwin H. is a merchant of Bruce, Wis. Verne is a farmer of Sumner Township. Hurle is at home. Bessie, a former school

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teacher, is the wife of M. W. Williams, a chemist of Minneapolis. Ethel, a former school teacher, and Lyle, are at home.

Gustav Ristow, a modern farmer in sections 30 and 31, Stanfold Township, was born in Flora Township, Renville County, Minn., July 23, 1887, the son of August and Anna (Hummel) Ristow. The parents were natives of Germany who came to America in 1886 and located in Renville County on a farm, where they lived until 1908. They then came to Barron County, Wis., and took up their residence with their son Gustav, at whose home the mother died Feb. 13, 1921. The father is still living and has attained the good old age of 81 years. The subject of this sketch was reared in his native county and learned farming from his father. In 1910 he came to Barron County and purchased from his father a good farm of 80 acres. Later he bought 120 acres more, and has just recently bought another tract of 80 acres. On his first farm here a log house and barn had been built, and the land had been partly improved. In 1911 Mr. Ristow built a frame house, barn, milk house, chicken house, machine sheds and other structures. House and barn have electric lights and running water, and the barn is furnished with the James barn equipment. Mr. Ristow successfully carries on general farming and dairying and has a good herd of cattle headed by a full blooded sire. He keeps well abreast of the times by reading farm bulletins and papers and attending the various farmers' meet- ings, and he believes in following all the latest approved methods. He is building up a sightly and profitable farm, and is already getting a good start in life. Mr. Ristow was married at Long Lake, in Renville County, Minn., Sept. 24, 1908, to Amelia Tepfer, daughter of Gottlieb and Ottilie Tepfer, natives of Germany and farmers of Renville County, the former of whom died July 13, 1905, and the latter of whom is still living on the farm. Mr. and Mrs. Ristow have had six children. Erma was born Aug. 10, 1909, and died May 27, 1911. Lawrence was born Feb. 28, 1911. Walter was born Sept. 16. 1913, and died April 13, 1919. Adeline was born Jan. 17, 1915. Edwin was born Sept. 28, 1918, and died April 13, 1919. Margaret was born April 2, 1920, and died June 1, 1921. As a father of children, Mr. Ristow has been interested in education, and has done good service for six years as a member of the school board. As a property owner, he is a believer in good foads and has done good work for six years as overseer. His business holdings include stock in the Terminal Packing Plant Co., at St. Paul, and the Consumers' Store, in Barron. He and his family worship at the German Lutheran Church in Bar- ron, Wis.

George Alfonse, now living retired at Cumberland, was born in Pesco- lango, Italy, and there married Agatha Manella, a native of Atelata, that country. They came to America in 1882, and landed in New York, where, like so many of their fellow countrymen, they engaged in the restaurant business. Four years later, in 1886, they came to Wisconsin and located at Spooner, where he was employed by the Omaha Railway as manager of their coal yards there. In 1892 they came to Cumberland and purchased 58 acres in the city limits. They erected a good set of buildings, cleared a part of the land and successfully carried on truck farming for several years. In 1913 they retired and deeded the property to their children. That year they took a trip back to their old home in Italy, where they remained for eight months. Since then they have lived with their son Amedeo, in Cumberland.' They are the parents of four children, Amedeo, Thomas, Christina (Mrs. Frank Ranella) and Anna (Mrs. Pasquale Sirianni), all of Cumberland. The family faith is that of the Roman Catholic Church.

Amedeo Alfonse, prominent business man and a real leader in the Italian colony of Cumberland and vicinity, was born in Italy, Aug. 2, 1876, the son of George and Agatha (Manella) Alfonse, who brought him to New York in 1882, to Spooner, Wis., in 1886, and to Cumberland in 1892, in all of which towns he attended school. In 1900, in order to see more of the country, he entered the employ of the Northern Pacific, as a timekeeper, and worked in

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various towns in Montana and Idaho. He returned to Cumberland in 1903 and farmed for two years. In 1905 he became manager of the company store of Miller Waterman & Co., at Cumberland, in which position he has since remained. He is a good business man and has the confidence of the entire community, being known far and wide for his fair dealing and efficiency. He is vice president of the local branch of the Italian Aid Society and of the local lodge of the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin. He is looked up to as adviser and helper of all his fellow countrymen in this region. Mr. Alfonse was married Jan. 4, 1900, at Cumberland, to Carminella Di Re, who was born in Cantalupe, nel Sannio, Italy, daughter of Nicholas and Victoria Di Re. The children of this union are Helen, Margaret, George, Josephine, Mary, Leopold, Joseph, Agatha and John, all born in Cumberland city. Helen was born Dec. 14, 1900; Margaret, Sept. 25, 1902; George, June 25, 1904; Josephine, March 20, 1907; Mary, Aug. 14, 1911; Leopold, April 5, 1914; Joseph, June 6, 1916; Agatha, April 7, 1918, and John, July 23, 1920. Helen is now the wife of Dominick Felecette of Minneapolis.

Henry H. Scovill, the first permanent settler in what is now Almena Township, was born in New York State, and married Castena Persons, a native of Ohio, of Scotch descent. They settled near Horicon, Wis., as young people, and there developed a farm. In 1873 they came to Barron County and home- steaded 132 acres in section 22, in what is now Almena Township. This region was then wild indeed. Most of the timber was still standing. The Knapp, Stout & Co. crews were logging, having camps on the Lower Turtle Lake, and on the Hay River. The only public highway was the old state road to Supe- rior. This road was a trail cut through the trees, wide enough for a wagon, with the worst places in the swamps made passable with corduroy. North- ward to Superior stretched the wilderness, and in that vast area hardly a permanent settler had located. To the eastward a trip could be made to Barron without passing a single settler's cabin until near the village. Mr. Scovill helped to cut the first town road. A little later the railroad was built as far as Clayton, in St. Croix County. From there Mr. Scovill brought provisions on his back. For some years he and his family lived in a log cabin. Gradually they built up a farm. In 1889 he and his wife sold the farm, retired, and moved to Linden, Wash., where he died April 9, 1913. His wife resides in Minneapolis. Of the five children in the family there are now living four. Ellen is the wife of G. W. Balkcom, M. D., of Minneapolis. Bertha also lives in Minneapolis. William resides in Montana. Seamon farms in Almena Township, this county.

Seamon Scovill, proprietor of the Lake View Farm, section 21, Almena Township, is one of the leading men of this part of the county and has a sightly and well improved farm. He was born at Horicon, Wis., Sept. 25, 1862, the son of Henry H. and Castena (Persons) Scovill. As a boy he was taken to Medford, Minn., then to Taylors Falls, Minn., then to Clear Lake, Wis., and from there in 1873 was brought to Almena Township. He attended school and assisted his parents in getting the place cleared up. He helped to build the first schoolhouse in the township and saw all the beginnings of the present day development. As a young man he worked in the logging camps and in sawmills. In 1881 he bought 40 acres in section 21, Almena Township, and started to clear up the place. He built a log house and log barn and com- menced farming operations with a yoke of oxen and a cow. To his original tract he has added until he now owns 205 acres on the shores of Upper Turtle Lake, a most beautiful location indeed. Nearly 160 acres are under the plow, the remainder being in pasture land. The cutting of the trees and the clearing of the land is all the work of his own hands. The set of buildings is a sightly one. The pleasant ten-room house was erected in 1902. The barn is 90 by 24 feet, with a lean to 50 feet on one side. There is a smaller residence 18 by 32 feet for the helpers on the place. The buildings also include a swine house, machine sheds, granary and the like. The farm is well equipped with tools,

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JULIUS KRUGER AND FAMILY

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implements and machinery, and everything about the place bespeaks the thrift, good taste and modern spirit of the owner. Mr. Scovill successfully carries on general farming and dairying, and for thirty years past has made a specialty of buying and shipping stock. He has a herd of graded Shorthorns and a few registered Holsteins. He also has a good drove of pure blooded Duroc-Jersey swine and a flock of some 60 Shropshire sheep. He is one of the active and influential men of the community, and has been on the town board for a while, town treasurer for fourteen years and a member of the school board fifteen years, giving general satisfaction in all these responsible posi- tions. Mr. Scovill was married Oct. 16, 1880, in Almena Township, to Flora A. Lugard, who was born at Rockefeller, Iowa, on March 17, 1866, the daughter of Chauncey and Florilla Lugard, the former of whom died many years ago, and the latter of whom later married Dwight Webb, who brought the family to Barron County, in 1878, and located in Almena Township. Mrs. Webb now lives in Los Angeles, Calif., and her husband is dead. Mr. and Mrs. Scovill have three children : Zenus T., Minnie and Ruby. Zenus T. is a manufacturer of tents and awnings at Barron. He has two sons, Harry S. and Thomas W. Minnie married Elmer E. Arnold and lives near Spokane, Wash. They have two children, Vivian and Elmond. Ruby married John Refsnider of Superior, Mont. They have three children, John, Dorris and Calvin; another, Jacie, was drowned in the Missoula River at the age of twelve years.

Robert Kruger, for some years a farmer in section 24, Stanley Township, and section 19, Sumner Township, now living retired at Rice Lake, was born in Germany Oct. 18, 1827, and was there reared and educated. There he mar- ried Henrietta Koeler, and had one child, Fernand. In the late fifties they started with this child for America. The voyage was a long and tedious one aboard a sailing vessel, and before America was reached the child died and was buried at sea. The bereaved couple found their way to Racine, this state, and there he was employed at his trade as a wagon maker. In 1865 he enlisted in the Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served throughout the remainder of the conflict. Upon his return he took 20 acres of wild land in Racine County and began to clear it up. Later he added 35 acres more. He had but little to work with, but by perseverance and industry managed to get a yoke of oxen and a cow. From there he went to Beaver Dam in Dodge County, this state. In the middle eighties he came to Barron County and secured 160 acres on the town line between Sumner and Stanley. A shanty had been erected and a part of the land cleared. He started in with a will and developed a good place, with suitable buildings, stock and equipment. With advancing years he gradually left the work in the hands of his son, Julius, and after his wife's death in 1904 he moved to Rice Lake, where he lived until his death Feb. 6, 1921, at the good old age of 94 years. He was a substantial God-fearing man, and was prominent in .the German Evangelical Church, in which he held various offices. He was well regarded by all who knew him and was venerated for his worth and for what he had accomplished in life. Mr. and Mrs. Kruger were the parents of seven children: Fernand, who died at sea; and Julius, Gust, Otto, Anna, Emma and Amelia, who were born in this state.

Julius Kruger, proprietor of Pokegema Valley Stock Farm and a pros- perous farmer owning 160 acres in section 19, Sumner Township, and section 24, Stanley Township, is a native of this state, born on a farm in Racine County Sept. 2, 1862, the son of Robert and Henrietta (Koeler) Kruger, who brought him to Dodge County, and then to Barron County. The oldest of six children, and born while his parents were still struggling with poverty, he had little opportunity for attending school. He helped his father develop the present place, and as a young man took over a half of it. Later he bought the remainder. He has continued the improvements and has now a place of which he is justly proud, with good buildings, good equipment and good stock. Mr. Kruger is a broad minded man of considerable influence in the community and has various interests outside of his farm. He has been a town supervisor and

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town assessor and has also held other public positions. He has been an official of the Sumner German Lutheran Church and has given it his loyal support. He has been treasurer of the Farmers Store Co. at Canton, and is still one of its stockholders. He is also a stockholder in the State Bank of Cameron. Mr. Kruger was married January 26, 1893, to Tena Bortz, who was born in Germany Aug. 18, 1867, the daughter of William Bortz, one of the earliest pioneers. Mr. and Mrs. Kruger have four children: Esther, born Feb. 11, 1894; Lionel, born March 1, 1896; Ruth, born Feb. 18, 1899; and Fadus, born Nov. 11, 1904, all now living at home.

Baron A. Stow, veteran of the Civil War and early settler of two states, was born in Vermont, and was there reared and attended school. At the age of twenty-one he came to Wisconsin and lived first in Kenosha County, and later in Monroe County. In the early sixties he moved to Houston County, Minn. From there in 1864 he enlisted in Co. E, 4th Minnesota Volunteer Infanty, and served until the close of the conflict, and participated in the Grand Review at Washington. After his return he took a homestead in Faribault County, Minn., where he developed a good farm. In 1881 he came to Barron County, and operated a dray line at Cumberland for a short time. Then he bought 40 acres in Section 17, Cumberland Township, where he de- veloped a farm. In 1887 he sold, and went to Knoxville, Tenn., for a year. The next year he went to Springfield, Mo. In 1899 he came back to Barron County, and bought 80 acres in Maple Grove Township. Here he likewise developed a farm. Later he sold that place, and moved to upper Turtle Lake, where he lived until his death, Nov. 12, 1903. He was a fine type of citizen who lived a worthy life and was respected by all with whom he came into contact. Mr. Stow was twice married; first to Zemira L. Judd, a native of Canada, by whom he had six children. Achsah, now deceased, was the wife of Robert J. Odell. Cecil E. is a Cumberland farmer. Fannie M. is the wife of Charles Southworth, of Revilstock, British Columbia, Canada. Esta A. lives in Everett, Wash. Minnie V. is the wife of W. E. Lee, Spokane, Wash. Nellie M. is the wife of James Minnis, of Riceville, Iowa. For his second wife, Mr. Stow married Mrs. Catherine Millard, who now lives in Barron City. The family faith is that of the Baptist Church.

Cecil E. Stow, well known truck farmer and fruit grower of Cumberland, was born in Monroe County, this state, May 11, 1860, the son of Baron A. and Zemira L. (Judd) Stow. He was reared in Faribault County, Minn., and there attended school. He also attended the Cumberland High School after coming here in 1881. At the age of eighteen he started teaching, and subsequently had charge of schools in Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin, until 1907, a period of nearly thirty years. He was a most admirable teacher who had the faculty of inspiring the children to their best work, and his name is held in respect in every community in which he taught. In 1907 he.became a mail carrier out of Cumberland, a position he held for twelve years. In 1919 and 1920 he went back to his old profession and successfully taught in District No. 6, Cumberland, forty-two years from the time he taught his first school. In the meantime, in 1883, he bought fifteen acres in the present limits of Cumber- land. He cleared the entire tract, erected a good set of buildings, and has developed a most excellent truck farm and fruit farm. As an educator of superior attainments he has naturally taken an interest in public affairs, and has believed in everthing that has meant progress and development. For some years he has served on the school board. The Pioneers of Cumberland, an association of old settlers, have found in him an active and enthusiastic member. Mr. Stow was married at Osage, Iowa, Nov. 23, 1881, to Mary J. DeFord, who was born at that place, March 3, 1860, the daughter of Mathew H. and Ann Eliza (Allen) De Ford, natives of Ohio and New York, respective- ly, who as young people moved to Indiana, and later to Iowa, where the father still lives at the good old age of ninety, and where the mother died June 4, 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Stow have five children. Elsie A. is the wife of M. H.

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White, of Arland Township. Zemira E. is the wife of Walter Lathe, of Grand View, Wis. Hale A. is a banker in Daggett, Mich. Cecil R., who served 18 months in the World War, is in South St. Paul, Minn. Hoyt H. is at home. The family faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Christian E. Stephenson was born in Norway, and as a youth served an apprenticeship of seven years at the cabinet-making trade in Trondjem, Nor- way. He came to America in 1866, and located in Chicago, where on August 25, 1869, he married Lena Neilson, also a native of Norway. Oct. 1, 1880, they moved with their four children, Christine, Charles, Martin and Jennie, to Barron County, and purchased from Andrew Blodget, for $500 cash, the southwest quarter of Section 26, Township 33, Range 13, west, now Arland Township, then a part of Prairie Farm Township. His live stock at that time consisted of two cows, a heifer calf, two small pigs, two sheep and a dozen chickens. Soon he secured a yoke of oxen. It was evident to him that his small store of cash would not last long, so he entered the employ of Knapp, Stout & Co., in their camp near Hay River, as a sawyer, continuing in this work for ten winters. At the end of this period, he devoted his time exclusive- ly to farm work. To facilitate the operations, he traded seven head of cattle, consisting of two ox teams, two cows and a two year old heifer, for a team of ten-year-old mares, weighing 1,100 pounds each. One of these animals was very balky and presented a serious problem for the family. A story is still told of one day when the family attended church service at Prairie Farm. The members of the family all climbed into the wagon in front of the place of holding the services, when the balky mare, instead of moving ahead, began to back, and stand upright on its hind legs, delaying the departure for half an hour, greatly to the confusion of the family and to the delight of the on- lookers. But the mares were kept until they died of old age, and became great family pets. Many were the hardships encountered in the early days. Some- times the roads were impassable, and in making a trip travelers had to carry an axe and saw, to clear the way of trees blown across the trail by the heavy wind. In the meantime, Mr. Stephenson was developing his farm. He made it a rule to clear at least two acres each year, and he continued until he had 80 acres under cultivation, and in shape to yield support for the large family. There was one field in particular, consisting of seven acres, in which he took much pride. For twelve years in succession this field was sown to wheat. The first five years it produced 30 to 40 bushels an acre, No. 1, hard wheat, gradually diminishing in fertility until it was producing but five bushels an acre. It was then put in clover, and the crops rotated, as on the rest of the farm. Produce brought but little in those days. Timothy was marketed at Barron for $4 a ton; basswood bolts with bark peeled off were delivered at that city for $1.75 a cord; and the finest oak logs sold there for but $5 a thousand. The Stephenson family prospered with the years. To the four children brought here, three more were added, Anna and Clara (twins) and John. In 1900, three of the daughters, Jennie, Clara and Anna, passed to the Great Beyond. Mrs. Stephenson died March 1, 1912, on the home farm, and shortly afterward the place was sold, and Mr. Stephenson passed his remaining days with his daughter, Christine, of Minneapolis, in which city he died Sept. 19, 1918. Four children are now living. Christine, already mentioned, is in Minneapolis. Charles is in Two Harbors, Minn. Martin W. farms in Maple Grove Township, this county. John is in Minneapolis. The farm on Dority Creek remains as a landmark in memory of the sturdy family who never let any traveler pass by when hungry or tired, and the doors of whose hospitable home were always open to their friends.

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 96

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

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