History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 99

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

USA > Wisconsin > Barron County > History of Barron County Wisconsin > Part 99

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).

Daniel W. Connors, popular restaurant man of Cameron, was born in Maine in 1863, the son of Thomas and Isabelle (Downs) Connors. The father was born in Canada, and there married the mother, a native of Scotland. After their marriage they went to Maine for a few years. Then for some years they lived at Campbelton, Canada. They came to the United States again in 1880 and located in Eau Claire in this state, where the father was identified with the lumber industry. In 1900 they moved to Seattle, Wash., where he died in 1913 and she in 1918. In the family there were ten children : Daniel W., David, Marian, Annabelle, Ruth and Naomi, living, and Thomas, Michael, Isabelle and James, deceased. Daniel W. came to Eau Claire with his parents, as a youth, and for twenty winters was employed by Knapp, Stout & Co. in the woods and

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on river drives, spending the intervening summers in farm work. During this time, much of his work was in Barron County. His first trip here was in 1882, when he helped to break land on the site of Old Cameron. In 1900 he went to Marquette, Mich. For thirteen years he was employed by E. I. Dupont and for six years he operated a hotel for the "South Shore" Railroad. In the fall of 1919 he came to Cameron and purchased his present restaurant from the Bank of Cameron. He does a good business, serves meals at all hours and sells ice cream, soft drinks, confectionery and tobacco. He has built up a good trade by good service and stands well throughout the community. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic order. Mr. Connors was married at Cameron, Sept. 9, 1896, to Bertha Pieper, daughter of William and Wilhelmina Pieper, early set- tlers of Cameron. Mr. and Mrs. Connors have two children : Esther and Willis. Esther is a teacher in the Cameron High School. Willis is a railroad man. He enlisted in the World War at Marquette and served in the radio service for six months.

James W. Hickok, retired farmer of Cameron, was born in Winnebago County, Wis., Nov. 28, 1859, son of Thomas W. and Lamira (Hart) Hickok. He came to Barron County with his parents when he was twelve years of age, and for some years attended school winters while helping on the farm summers. When his father died in 1883, he took charge of the home farm of 80 acres and in time added another 80, making a good place of 160 acres. He made many improvements, and there carried on general farming for many years. He was a hard working man, highly esteemed in the neighborhood, and won a high place among his fellow men. His judgment was always respected and his advice often sought. For some years he did good work as a member of the school board and proved himself as a friend of education. In the spring of 1920 he retired and moved to the village of Cameron, where he now makes his home. He still operates a part of his farm. He has sold eighty acres and rents the remainder of the other eighty.

Thomas W. Hickok was born in Ohio, was there reared, and there learned the blacksmith trade. He came to Wisconsin in the early fifties and opened a blacksmith shop in Winneconne, Winnebago County, this state. In the early seventies he came to Barron County and located on a tract of land in section 16, Stanley Township. To the development of this farm he devoted some of his attention, but gave the greater part of his time to operating a blacksmith shop which he established on the farm, and to logging. People came to his farm to have work done from miles away. There were then few settlers in this part of the county. About the only activity was the logging operations of Knapp, Stout & Co. Provisions were freighted to the camps by team from Eau Claire, and at the camps the settlers could sometimes buy supplies. Mr. Hickok remained on his farm until his death in 1883. He married Lamira Hart, descended from one of the oldest New England families. They had ten children. Safrona is the widow of Winfield Fay, of Minneapolis. Flora is the wife of Ole Frederickson, of Rochester, Minn. James W. is a retired farmer of Cameron. Susan, George, Jesse, Cecelia and three unnamed infants are dead. Mrs. Hickok died in 1889. Mr. Hickok was married at Rice Lake, Nov. 24, 1889, to Addie Davis, the daughter of Jefferson Davis of Virginia. By this union there were three children, Thomas J., Henry W. and Alvin. Mrs. Addie Hickok died in 1895 at the age of 30 years. Mr. Hickok was married April 26, 1897, to Martha Olson, daughter of George and Tena Olson, natives of Nor- way. This union has been blessed with seven children: Ernest, Raymond, Morris, Gladys, William, Alma (deceased) and Clarence (deceased). Thomas J. Hickok was born Nov. 14, 1890, in Barron County, Wis. When the World War was in progress he was inducted into the United States service, becoming a member of Company L, 54th Pioneer Infantry, and saw service overseas. He was in the Army of Occupation. Henry W. Hickok, born in Barron County, July 14, 1892, was in war service several months, training at Camp Grant. Alvin J. Hickok, born in Barron County, April 13, 1895, was in the navy for

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HENRY W. HICKOK-ERNEST G. HICKOK THOMAS W. HICKOK-JAMES W. HICKOK-MRS. THOMAS W. HICKOK ALVIN J. HICKOK-THOMAS J. HICKOK

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about a year, doing transport duty on the "Mt. Vernon" and the "Kentucky." Ernest G. Hickok, born in Barron County, Jan. 30, 1898, is now a marine in the 65th Company, Eighth Regiment, and is at present in the Hawaiian Islands. Joseph F. Drost, a miller of Cameron and former chief of the Cameron fire department, was born in Austria, Jan. 15, 1874, son of Francis and Mary Drost, both of whom spent the span of their years in Austria, where the father was a blacksmith. Three of the six children in the family live in Austria, and two are dead. Joseph F. was reared to boyhood in Austria, and attended the public schools. In 1888 he came to America with his grandfather, Franz Drost, settled in Rice Lake, and for one winter attended school to learn English. Then for some years he worked in the lumbering industry. With this preparation he became the manufacturer of handles for tools, opening his establishment at Haugen, and a year later moving it to Cameron, where he conducted it for thirteen years. Then he sold out and took his present position with Edward Ludwig. The mill does a general grist business, grinding wheat, buckwheat, corn and rye. For some years, Mr. Drost served as trustee of the village and he was a most efficient chief of the fire department. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen. Mr. Drost was married in 1901 at Rice Lake, to Mary Schlessinger, daughter of Martin and Barbara Schlessinger, natives of Austria. This union has been blessed with seven children: Joseph, Mary, Francis M., Eleanor, John H., Barbara and Albert M. All are at home. Joseph assists his father in the mill.

Anton Holman, contractor and builder, Cameron, was born in Norway, June 4, 1881, the son of John and Mary Holman, and was brought to America when he was a year and a half old. He was reared in Cameron, and early became interested in woodworking. For fifteen years he operated a handle factory at Cameron. Then he became a contractor and builder. He is a good workman and a conscientious estimator, and the buildings which he has erected are all testimonials to his skill and fidelity. He has erected many of the best houses and barns in this vicinity and his services are greatly in demand. Mr. Holman was married at Cameron on April 9, 1902, to Hannah Gusta Lempke, who was born at Cameron on Aug. 8, 1884, the daughter of Albertine Ott and Herman Lempke. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Holman has been blessed with seven children: Raymond, Walter, Vernon, Harland, Harris, Adaline and Eugene. The family faith is that of the German Lutheran Church. Joseph Leisz, cheese maker for the Cameron Cheese Co., was born on the Atlantic Ocean, May 5, 1892, the son of John and Agnes Leisz, who were then on their way from Germany. They came to Barron County, and settled in Turtle Lake, where the father is still living, and where the mother died. Joseph : was reared on the farm, attended the district school and learned dairying and agriculture from his father. For a while he worked in the factory of the Pioneer Cheese Co. at Turtle Lake and in the factory of the Clayton Cheese Co. at Clayton, in Polk County. In this employment he became much interested in cheese and butter making, and decided to perfect himself in its science. Accordingly, in the winter of 1913-14 he took the dairy course in the University of Wisconsin at Madison. That summer he entered the employ of the Clover Leaf Equity Cheese Factory in Bear Lake Township, this county, and did good work for that concern for several years. Dec. 22, 1919, he came to Cameron, and on Jan. 1, 1920, assumed the duties of his present position. He is an expert in his line, and knows the business from the time the cows are fed in the field until the time the butter and cheese are placed on the table. He is popular in the community and has the respect and liking of all who know him. Mr. Leisz was married Oct. 5, 1915, to Elizabeth Thome, who was born in Bear Lake Township, this county, May 30, 1887, the daughter of Peter and Margaret (Lejune) Thome, natives of Germany, who settled in Bear Lake Township in the early eighties. Mr. and Mrs. Leisz have two children : Frederick, born Nov. 1, 1917, and Catherine, born April 21, 1919. William Parker Townsend, sawmill operator and expert mechanical worker

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of. Cameron, was born at Tipton, Ind., Aug. 26, 1873, the son of John and Esther (Henry) Townsend, both descended from old American families of Scotch and English ancestry. In 1879, the family, then consisting of the father and mother and two children, William Parker and Luella, came to Barron County and settled on 80 acres of wild land in section 24, Maple Grove Township. The father erected a log cabin and started to clear the land. He had few tools and no machinery and no draft animals, and most of the hard work must be done by hand. The second winter he managed to get a cow. Later he secured a yoke of oxen, but it was ten years before he could get a span of horses. He worked early and late, assisted by his family, and in time achieved success. He and his wife were especially interested in the Methodist Episcopal Church. They helped to erect the first church of that denomination in Maple Grove Township, and were faithful supporters of it the remainder of their lives. Both parents are now dead. Two children, Edgar and Bertha, were born in this county. William P. grew to manhood on the farm. He early displayed his mechanical bent, and became an expert machinist. He has worked in sawmills and on threshing machines in Wisconsin and Minnesota and has been in charge of the Townsend mill at Cameron since 1920. Mr. Townsend was married, Dec. 31, 1912, to Birdiena McNeal, who was born in Dunn County, this state, July 18, 1885, the daughter of David and Anna Bar- bara McNeal, natives of Ohio, who settled in Dunn County in the early days, took up wild land there, erected a log cabin, and with this beginning developed a good farm. Mr. McNeal lives on the home farm and Mrs. McNeal is dead. Mr. and Mrs. Townsend have two children : Ruby, born in Cass County, Minn., April 23, 1914, and John, born in Barron County, Wis., April 14, 1916. David McNeal, father of Mrs. Townsend, was born in Gallia County, Ohio, April 5, 1851, and was married in Ohio, Jan. 15, 1874, to Anna Barbara Sims, who was born in Gallia County, Ohio, Nov. 25, 1847. In the fall of 1878 he and his wife set out for Wisconsin in a covered wagon drawn by a team of horses, and after arriving in this state settled in Wilson Township, Dunn County. There they lived for many years and there Mr. McNeal finally passed away, on Feb. 10, 1920. His widow is now living in Dallas Township, Barron County. Their children were: Harley Edward, born March 28, 1880; Nathan, born Sept. 29, 1881, and Birdiena, born July 18, 1885.

August Frederick Herman Bayer, retired farmer of Cameron, was born in Germany, May 13, 1858, the son of Carl and Caroline Bayer, who brought their family, consisting of August F. H. and Henrietta, to America in 1882, and took up their home with the family of Fritz Hensel of Stanley Township, Barron County. August F. H. started work for the Knapp Stout & Co., being employed in the woods in the winter time and on their farm in the summer time. In 1885 he bought a tract of eighty acres in Stanley Township. Two acres of this had been broken, and a small frame house and log barn had been erected. He moved into this place with his bride and they started together to carve their fortunes. That fall they bought a cow. They also had a few chickens, so now they were supplied with milk, butter and eggs. In time they secured a yoke of oxen. But one of these was drowned in the creek, and for a time they had to get along with but one. Later they bought a pair of horses. At first he had few tools. The clearing of the land was hard work. But he toiled early and late, and in time developed a good place. He put up good buildings, fenced the land and purchased machinery to replace the cradle with which he had originally harvested his wheat. In all his undertakings his wife was a faithful helpmeet. She looked after the household duties and made much of the clothing for the family. She did spinning and weaving and made mittens, socks and jackets to keep her loved ones warm and comfort- able. In 1904, after nineteen years on the farm, they sold out and bought half a section in Maple Grove Township. This they operated until the wife's health began to fail, when, in 1913 they sold out and moved to Cameron. Here Mrs. Bayer died Aug. 15, 1918. She was a good wife and loving mother and kindly

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WILLIAM PARKER TOWNSEND AND FAMILY THE TOWNSEND LOG CABIN

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and generous neighbor, and her loss is sincerely mourned. Before her mar- riage, June 19, 1885, she was Bertha Albrecht, the daughter of Fred and Fredericka Albrecht, of Stanley. Mr. and Mrs. Bayer adopted two children: Otto, who lives in Beverly, Mo., is a veteran of the World War, having served with the United States forces for eighteen months; Hattie is the wife of Otto Pierce of Portland, Ore. Mr. Bayer is a member of the German Lutheran congregation and helped to erect the church at Cameron, of which he has been secretary for 18 years past.

George A. Mccluskey, accountant for the Park Falls Lumber Co., was born Oct. 27, 1866, at Fond du Lac, Wis., son of James J. and Elizabeth J. (Cunningham) Mccluskey, who were born in Canada and in 1864 came to Fond du Lac, where the father engaged in the lumber business until his death, in April, 1868, the mother living until 1912. George A. lost his father when he was two years of age and was reared by his mother at Hammond, Wis. He left school at the age of sixteen, but was not content to let his education stop there and has since studied by himself and by close observation and discrimi- nating reading has acquired a wide fund of information. So well, in fact, did he perfect himself that in 1886 he was enabled to become a school teacher, an occupation he followed for three years. In 1889 he started keeping books for the Micklejohn & Hatten Stave Co. and continued in their company until 1901; from 1901 to 1903 by the P. M. Parks Mercantile Co .; from 1903 to 1910 by the Couderay Lumber Co .; all these concerns being in Rice Lake. It was in 1910 that he became accountant for the Rice Lake Lumber Co., and when that company was sold to the Park Falls Lumber Co. he continued with the new concern. His merits have been appreciated outside of his daily employ- ment, and he has four times been elected city clerk. He proved a most excel- lent official each time. Mr. Mccluskey was married May 15, 1897, to Mary E. Thibedeau, daughter of Moses and Helen M. (Dooley) Thibedeau, and they have three children: Charles E., born Jan. 29, 1902; Dorothy H., born April 25, 1904, and George Milton, born Dec. 13, 1905. All the children are at home and the two younger are attending the Rice Lake High School.

August Couture, janitor of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Rice Lake, was born in the parish of St. John, Chrysostom, Province of Quebec, Canada, Sept. 29, 1848, son of Augustine and Caroline (Gagne) Couture. He was reared in his native parish, and there received his education. He came to Rice Lake in 1879. For a time he was employed by Knapp, Stout & Co. Then for twenty-two years he worked for the Rice Lake Lumber Co. as lumber grader, foreman of the dry shed, car loader and the like. In 1908 he moved to Minne- apolis and was employed for a few years there with the C. A. Smith Lumber Co. and with the Northline Lumber Co. In 1917 he returned to Rice Lake and assumed the duties of his present position. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, the Catholic Order of Foresters and the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin. Mr. Couture was married Aug. 5, 1867, to Aralie Gagne, a native of the Province of Quebec, Canada. They are the parents of five children. Corine was born March 22, 1871, and is the wife of John McLeod of Rice Lake. Louisa was born July 10, 1877, and died Aug. 26, 1910. Rose was born Feb. 1, 1879. Laura was born Sept. 10, 1881, and is now the wife of Alphonse Bilodeau of Rice Lake. Clara was born April 27, 1889, and died July 26, 1917. The family faith is that of the Roman Catholic Church. John McLeod, government log scaler, was born at Perth, Province of Ontario, Canada, Aug. 29, 1863, and there received his early education. He came to the states in 1882 and located at once in Rice Lake, this county. For ten years he farmed in Oak Grove Township, and then became foreman for the Mercier sawmill, at Rice Lake, for twelve years. After that he assumed the duties of his present position. He has a pleasant home and two and a half acres of land on North Wisconsin Avenue. Fraternally, he is a member of the M. W. A. Mr. McLeod was married Jan. 6, 1892, to Corine Couture, daughter of August and Aralie (Gagne) Couture, and they have three chil-

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dren, Emile, Rose and Laura. Emile was born April 7, 1896, married Olga Johnson and works in the Ford factory at Detroit, Mich. Rose was born May 1, 1898, and is at home. Laura was born April 24, 1900, and teaches in the district school.

. N. A. Nelson, of the firm of Oftedahl & Nelson, real estate dealers, Rice Lake, was born in Vernon County, this state, Sept. 14, 1872, and received his education in the rural schools of his native county and in the city schools of La Crosse, Wis. As a young man he learned plumbing and well drilling, which he followed for several years with headquarters at La Crosse. In 1896 he came to Rice Lake and here followed his trade for several years, after which he associated himself with C. O. Ronning in the automobile business. In Rice Lake he formed his present partnership with T. E. Oftedahl. The firm has been successful, enjoys the confidence of the community, is doing its share in the progress of the county by inducting outsiders to locate here and has a constantly increasing business. Its territory is unlimited, and while it han- dles some city property, it makes a specialty of farm lands, both partners being thoroughly familiar with agricultural conditions and needs in this and surrounding counties. Mr. Nelson was married March 22, 1884, to Lillie Skappel, who was born March 22, 1872, at Chaseburg and died Feb. 13, 1919, leaving two children: Oswald, born Feb. 22, 1895, and Mabel, born June 19, 1897. The family home is at 9 Hatten Avenue. Mr. Nelson and his children are members of the Norwegian Lutheran Church.

Frank Alderman, contractor, of Rice Lake, was born April 16, 1871, in Vernon County, Wis., son of Daniel S. and Charlotte (Wakeman) Alderman, natives of Ohio who came to Vernon County, Wis., in 1860. Some years later they removed to Barron County and took a homestead of 40 acres in Rice Lake Township. They cleared up the place, erected buildings and carried on gen- eral farming until the father's death, Sept. 13, 1906, after which the mother moved to Rice Lake, where she died April 3, 1907. Frank Alderman left school at the age of fourteen years, and for several years thereafter was employed at farm work, then taking up general labor. In 1895 he started his present business as a general contractor in cement work, doing everything in the line. In addition, Mr. Alderman operates a loom for weaving carpets and all kinds of rugs. Mr. Alderman has been three times married, first on Dec. 27, 1890, to Jennie Hay. On June 3, 1900, he married secondly Minnie Bartlett, of which union eight children were born, as follows: Fred, June 19, 1901; Susie, Feb. 21, 1903; Dareld, April 2, 1904 (died in infancy) ; Charlotte, Feb. 16, 1906; Harry, March 4, 1908 (died in infancy) ; Adeline, Jan. 7, 1910; George, Dec. 1, 1912; Earl H., March 7, 1914, and Helen Mildred, Jan. 5, 1915. On June 8, 1920, Mr. Alderman married Margaret Yates, by whom he has one child, Helen Mildred.

Hylkema Brothers, Peter, Bernard and Dirk T., who developed a success- ful farming and dairying business in Turtle Lake Township, were born in Friesland, Holland, Peter on Oct. 31, 1864, Bernard, Feb. 6, 1868, and Dirk T. Feb. 9, 1871. They were all born on a farm, sons of Raymond and Gertrude (Vanderhoff) Hylkema. The parents, who were married in Friesland in 1861, are now deceased. They had one other child, a daughter, Nellie, who was born Feb. 27, 1863. In 1889 Dirk T. Hylkema came to America, locating in March of that year at Buffalo, N. Y., where he found work as a laborer. In 1891 he was followed by the rest of the family, who also made their home there till 1895, when all came to Barron County, Wis. Here they bought 166 acres of wild land in section 33, Turtle Lake Township, on which they erected a shanty, 10 by 15 feet in size, as a temporary habitation. It was replaced, however, in a few months by a log house 16 by 24 feet, and all worked hard at developing a farm. At that time there were no roads so that transportation was difficult and supplies only obtained by considerable exertion. In 1902 they bought an additional tract of land of 40 acres, thus increasing their farm area to 206 acres in all. In the meanwhile they busied themselves in

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MR. AND MRS. RAYMOND HYLKEMA

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raising crops and stock, and were making reasonable progress when in 1898 they lost all their buildings by fire except their log house. This calamity had a discouraging effect, but grit prevailed and the brothers persevered. In 1903 they erected a good frame house with eight rooms, and in 1910 built a frame barn, 36 by 130 by 20 feet, with a hip roof, which is one of the largest and best in the township. By 1919 they had a fine farm, with 45 head of registered Holstein stock, including 25 cows, and their teams, tools and general equip- ment were of the best. In that summer they retired, with the exception of Bernard, selling the farm to Hurlbert & Trush, and moved to Polk County, four miles west of their old home. At the same time Bernard bought 63 acres in Beaver Township, Polk County, the location being one and a half miles west of Turtle Lake, which farm he is now operating. He has good buildings and his place is well improved. He was married Oct. 24, 1905, to Nellie Asma of Waukegan, Ill., who was born in Fresian, Holland, Feb. 26, 1880, and came to America with her parents at the age of sixteen. Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Hylkema have been the parents of seven children: Gertrude, born Sept. 29, 1907; Richard, born March 17, 1909, who died in infancy; Mary, born April 3, 1911; Richard (second), born March 6, 1914; Bernard and Nellie (twins), born April 29, 1916, and Susan, born Feb. 19, 1918. The Hylkema brothers, through their own exertions, are now among the most prosperous citizens of their locality. They are stockholders in the Security State Bank of Turtle Lake. All are hard workers, men and women of the kind who build up com- munities, and the results of their labor have been of benefit to the township in which they have made their home for so many years. Their parents are now deceased, the mother having passed away March 5, 1903, and the father April 19, 1912.

Frank E. Ardern, Rice Lake, manager of the Badger Pickle and Packing Co., is one of the progressive business men of the community and is doing much to give publicity to the excellence of Barron County products. As a traveling salesman for many years he has had an opportunity to thoroughly familiarize himself with the needs and tastes of the general public, he is a thorough master of the pickling and preserving business, and he is of that disposition and character which wins the confidence and willing cooperation of those upon whom he must depend for his raw materials. He has brought the local plant to a high degree of efficiency and sanitation, and he also keeps a close watch over the ten salting stations from whence the salted products are shipped to the central factory for final treatment and packing. The com- pany makes a specialty of an excellent quality of dill pickles and salt prod- ucts. Personally, Mr. Ardern is well liked and is a popular member of the Masons and Elks, as well as of the U. C. T. and the I. C. M. A. He was born in Ossion, Iowa, Aug. 9, 1878, son of James Frederick and Mary (Proctor) Ardern. He attended the Humboldt Graded School at Milwaukee and finished with a course in the Butte Business College at Butte, Mont. Then he became a candy salesman, working eleven years for the Casey Candy Co. of Butte, Mont., and three years for the Sweet Candy Co. of Salt Lake City, Utah. He assumed the duties of his present position at Rice Lake Dec. 1, 1918. Mr. Ardern was married May 18, 1898, to Alexandria Henderson of St. Paul. They have a pleasant home at 35 North Main Street. The family faith is that of the Presbyterian Church.

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 99

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

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