USA > Wisconsin > Buffalo County > History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties Wisconsin (Volume 2) > Part 3
USA > Wisconsin > Pepin County > History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties Wisconsin (Volume 2) > Part 3
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71
Henry McDonough, who owns and operates successfully a farm of 160 acres in Modena township, Buffalo county, was born on his parents' farm, May 18, 1881, son of John and Jane (Olson) McDonough. Here in this township he also obtained his education, attending district school, and was brought up to habits of industry on the parental homestead. With the exception of three years which he spent in St. Paul, he has always resided on this farm, which he formerly operated in partnership with his brother Andy, becoming sole proprietor five years ago. It is now a well-improved place, its present condition being due partly to his own exertions. In place of the original log dwelling in which he was born there is now a large and modern residence, and he has built a good barn 36 by 60 feet in dimen- sions. Here he is raising a good grade of stock and is doing a paying business, also being a shareholder in the Modena creamery. Mr. Mc- Donough married Ella Nelson, Jan. 20, 1912, daughter of James and Mary (Davidson), Nelson, of Modena township. He and his wife are the parents of four children: Marvin, Mildred, Eldon and Donald.
Erik C. Hustad, a land owner and farmer in Modena township, Buffalo county, was born in Norway, May 14, 1847, son of Christian and Anna Hustad. The surname of Hustad was derived from the farm of the family in Norway. Both parents of the subject of this sketch died in Norway. They had seven children: Ingeborg, Martha, Anna, Christiana, Erik and
Digitized by Google
530
HISTORY OF BUFFALO AND PEPIN COUNTIES
Torkel. In 1871 Erik C. Hustad came to the United States and was fol- lowed later by his brother Torkel and youngest sister, Christiana. He first located in Norwegian valley, Nelson township, this county, and for four years worked out for others. He then married, in 1875, Anna Kveum, who was born in Norway, July 23, 1848, and came to this country at the age of 23 years. They located on 80 acres of land in section 15, Modena township, Mr. Hustad's only tools being a grub hoe and axe. With the latter he built a shanty of round logs, with the bark still on, and also a log shack for a barn. His stock consisted of an ox team and two cows. Fifteen acres of the place were already cleared and this he planted with oats. This first crop brought seven dollars, which was just about the amount he had to pay for taxes the first year, and as he had hired a man to help him for $45 a month, the results were not encouraging. However, conditions im- proved with time and Mr. Hustad was able after awhile to build a better house, and later a granary and barn. On that farm Mr. Hustad resided until the fall of 1915, when he turned it over to his son Martin, who now lives there. He now has another farm in section 22, Modena township, and owns altogether 215 acres of land, residing now in Modena village. For a number of years he has been one of the prosperous and successful farmers of the township, raising good stock and having a well-kept place. Mr. Hustad also owns shares in the Bank of Modena and in the Modena cream- ery, of which latter institution he has been a director for many years. He was one of the builders of the Norwegian Lutheran church, which he has served as deacon. He was also for two years township treasurer, and has been treasurer of the high school ever since it was built 28 years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Hustad are the parents of seven children: Christian and Ole, who now reside in Canada; Anna, now Mrs. William Goggin and a resident of Montana; Pauline, wife of Dr. Amundson, of Mondovi; Tena, wife of Olaus Ottum, of Modena; Emma, a trained nurse with the Red Cross, who expects to be called to service in France, and Martin, residing on the old homestead in section 15. They have also at the present time 20 grand- children.
Andrew Mikelson, one of the Norwegian settlers who aided in the agri- cultural development of Nelson township, Buffalo county, while living in Norway resided on a farm which went by the name of "Midthun." He there married Martha Bartness, and in 1866, with five children-Louis, Anna, John, Michael and Ole-they set out for the United States, em- barking in a sailing vessel and landing in this country after a voyage of five weeks. Their first settlement was made in Goodhue county, Minne- sota, where they remained for about two years, during which time the father worked for others at any labor he could get. In 1868 they took a more progressive step, coming to Nelson township, Buffalo county, and homesteading 160 acres of land. The tract was wild and lay some dis- tance away from any road, but it presented opportunities for building a home and achieving future prosperity and independence, which Mr. Mikel- son eagerly embraced. Building a small log house, he set to work and began clearing the land. His first year's progress was slow, as he had. no ox team nor anything but his hands to depend on, but after he got a
Digitized by Google
1
ERIK C. HUSTAD AND FAMILY
Digitized by Google
Digitized by Google
Digitized by Google
MR. AND MRS. LOUIS MIKELSON
Digitized by
531
HISTORY OF BUFFALO AND PEPIN COUNTIES
yoke of oxen he did better and gained a little each year until he had cleared up the farm, when he found himself in fairly comfortable circum- stances. There he finally died at the age of nearly 70 years in 1896, and his wife in 1900, at about the same age. They were affiliated religiously with the Norwegian Lutheran church. In addition to the children already mentioned, who accompanied them from Norway, they had a son, Peter, who was born in Nelson township, this county.
Louis Mikelson, a well-known farmer and popular citizen of Modena township, Buffalo county, was born in Norway, Dec. 11, 1854, son of Andrew and Martha Mikelson. He was about eleven years old when he accompanied his parents and their other children to the United States. He had received some schooling in his native land and also attended school here, growing up on his parents' farm. At the age of 15 years he began working out for others and so continued until he was between 18 and 20 years of age, at which time he bought his present farm of 160 acres. About 25 acres were cleared and there was a log house on the place, in which he installed himself. He had an ox team and a few cows, but was as yet unprovided with a wife, to which blessing he attained on Nov. 16, 1882, being then united in marriage with Ingeri J. Ness. She was born in Norway, Sept. 3, 1852, and had come to this country alone at the age of 28 years. With his wife to help him Mr. Mikelson made good progress, and together they have developed the farm into what it is today, a well- improved place yielding good returns for the time, labor and money put into it. They now reside in a good frame house, have a substantial frame barn and other good buildings, and are numbered among the prosperous residents of their township. Their stock is of good grade and commands a ready market, and Mr. Mikelson is also a shareholder in the Burnside creamery. A member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, he has served it as trustee. He and his wife have had five children, one of whom, Martha, died in 1917 at the age of 31 years. The survivors are Susie, Anna, Carrie and Inga. The two last mentioned have been teachers in the public schools.
Thomas Prader, an early settler and the developer of a farm in Modena township, Buffalo county, was born in Switzerland, where he mar- ried Margaret Sprecher. In 1868 he and his wife emigrated to America, locating in Sauk county, Wisconsin. They remained there, however, but for a few months, after which they came to Modena township, Buffalo county, taking a homestead of 120 acres of wild land without buildings. Mr. Prader built a log house and secured a team of oxen, with which he began the work of improvement, continuing it until he had a good farm. In early days he endured many hardships and had to do much strenuous labor, carrying supplies and firewood on his back for miles. In time he got 120 acres more land and cleared the greater part of his farm. At the age of 73 years he passed away, being survived by his wife, who is still living. Their children were Henry, Margaret, Fida, Mary and Martin, of whom Henry is now deceased.
Martin Prader, now owning and operating the old Prader farm in Modena township, Buffalo county, was born in a log house on his present
Digitized by Google
532
HISTORY OF BUFFALO AND PEPIN COUNTIES
farm, Oct. 28, 1875, son of Thomas and Margaret (Sprecher) Prader. He grew up on the parental homestead, on which he has always resided and which he took over in 1917. Here he is raising Holstein cattle, Poland- China hogs and other good stock, being numbered among the substantial citizens of his township. Aside from his direct farming interests he is a shareholder in the cheese factory, which his father helped to establish. He is a member of the German Reformed church, as his father was before him. So far Mr. Prader has remained a bachelor.
Ole A. Quarberg, a prosperous citizen of Modena township, where he has been engaged in farming for many years, was born in Norway, Aug. 10, 1848, son of Andrea O. and Mary Quarberg. His surname, which was taken from the home farm in Norway, was there spelled Keworberg. The children of Andrea and wife were Ole A. Martin, Sener, Tony, Anna, Agnes, Minnie and Jennie. Ole while in his native land attended school and afterwards worked at farming and in a brewery. He was there married to Mary Hoglesdotter in 1870, and later, with one child, Tillie, they came by sailing vessel to America, landing after a voyage of five weeks and one day. Proceeding west to La Crosse, Wis., they took the steamboat at that place and came on to Alma, and from there drove out with a horse team to Modena township. Here Mr. Quarberg at first worked out at grub- bing and splitting rails two winters, it being two years before he got a place of his own. When he took land it was a tract of 120 acres in sec- tion 27, all wild and covered with brush and without any buildings. His first buildings were built of logs and he used an ox team to break the land. Frequently he would carry produce to Alma on his back, returning with supplies. The parents, who had also come from Norway, resided on this place for the rest of their lives, the father dying at the age of 77 years and the mother at that of 87. They were members of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Ole A. Quarberg in time put up good frame buildings, residing on that farm until 1904, when he removed to his present place in section 33. He has added 80 acres more land and cleared his place from grubs. He raises good stock and is doing a prosperous business. Mr. Quarberg has been a stockholder in the Modena creamery since it was started and of which he has been a director for about eight years. For the past 18 or 20 years he has served as manager or president of the Nor- wegian Lutheran church. He and his wife have been the parents of 11 children: Anna, Martin and Carrie, the last mentioned of whom was the wife of Otis Lee, are now deceased. The others are: Tillie, now Mrs. Ever Nelson, of Modena; Hans, who resides at home; Albert, also on the home- stead; Martin, of Gilmanton township; Anna (2d), wife of Thad Tulofson, of Nelson township; Jennie, wife of Robert Sinstead, of Nelson, and Adolph and Anton, who are residing at home. In February, 1918, Mr. Quarberg sold his farm to his sons Adolph and Anton, who are now carry- ing on the farm. Mr. Quarberg, Sr., is making his home with them.
Thomas O. Thompson, a prominent member of the agricultural com- munity of Modena township, Buffalo county, was born in a log house on a farm in Church valley, this township, Feb. 25, 1867, son of Ole and Christie Thompson. Both parents came from Lister, Norway, but were married in
Digitized by Google
Digitized by Google
MR. AND MRS. MARTIN THOMPSON
Digitized by
.
533
HISTORY OF BUFFALO AND PEPIN COUNTIES
Wisconsin. They had journeyed across the Atlantic on the same vessel, Ole Thompson locating in Dane county, this state, where he worked for various farmers. Subsequently he came to Buffalo county, settling on 160 acres of wild land in Church valley, Modena township. There was no road in the vicinity and he began the work of improvement without even an ox team, the money for which he had to earn by grubbing for other farmers. The journey to his market at Alma was in early days made on foot. His first dwelling on the place was the customary log house, to which he afterwards built a frame addition. In spite of his initial disadvantages he made grad- ual progress and in time found himself the owner of a good farm. He also helped to start the Norwegian Lutheran church, of which he was a faith- ful member, and rendered good service on the school board of his district. He is now residing in Minnesota, near Grand Forks, N. D., having attained the age of 80 years, his wife, who is also living, being 70. They were the parents of ten children.
Thomas C. Thompson, who was the second-born child of his parents, was reared on the home farm and in his boyhood attended the district school. At the age of 21 years he began working for himself and spent one year in Minnesota and the Dakotas. Then returning to Buffalo county, he worked for others until 1900, when he bought his present farm, an im- proved place of 160 acres, on which he has made further improvements. One of the buildings he has erected is a round basement barn 200 feet in circumference. As a general farmer and stock raiser he has had a suc- cessful career and is now numbered among the leading men of his town- ship. He has served as town supervisor, and as a member of the school board of his district; also as trustee of the Norwegian Lutheran church in Church valley. Mr. Thompson married Paulina Paulson, who was born in Modena township, daughter of Paul and Rosa Johnson, her parents being natives of Norway and early settlers in Modena township. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are: Obert, Kadolph, Royla, Permelia, Sigwald, Agnes, Mary, Oliver, Elvin, Corlinda and May.
Martin Thompson, who owns and operates a fertile farm of 140 acres in sections 7 and 18, Modena township, was born in a log house in this town- ship, Sept. 14, 1870, son of Thomas and Anna (Serum) Thompson. Like the children of most, if not all of the early settlers, his education was lim- ited to attendance for a brief enough period at the school of his district, where, however, he learned to read, write and cipher. He has always resided on the old homestead and now owns a part of it, the tract of 140 acres already mentioned. On this he has erected a good set of buildings adapted to general farming and stock raising. His cattle are of the Short- horn variety, while he also raises Percheron horses and a good grade of hogs. He is also a shareholder in the Burnside creamery. A member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, he has served as an official of the Young People's Society. Mr. Thompson married Ragnald Aasen, a native of Modena township, Buffalo county, and daughter of Andrew and Martha Aasen. He and his wife have had 8 children, two of whom-Martha and Louisa-are now deceased. The living are Anna, Thomas, Amelia, Martha, Leslie and Clara.
Digitized by Google
534 HISTORY OF BUFFALO AND PEPIN COUNTIES
Engebroe N. Bloom, a prominent representative of the agricultural class of Modena township, Buffalo county, although not one of the earliest settlers here, has been a resident of the township for 46 years and has done good pioneer work in the improvement of land. He was born in Nor- way, Dec. 12, 1848, son of Nels and Bertha Bloom, who were proprietors of what were known as the Belgun farm and who had another son, Ole. Engebroe N. Bloom received a good education, being graduated from Ham- mer College, Norway. He also taught school for two years in his native land. In 1868 he set out for the United States, taking passage on a steamer, and on arriving in this country came west as far as Janesville, Wis., where he found employment as a farm laborer. As his employer and those about him spoke nothing but English, Mr. Bloom, who had then little or no knowledge of that language, was at a disadvantage for companion- ship and often felt very lonely. He remained in that vicinity for four years, however, during which time he learned English fairly well, and then came to Buffalo county, being accompanied by his father, mother and brother Ole, who had come to America and joined him at Janesville. They secured 120 acres of land where Mr. Bloom now lives, walking out to it from Alma, where they had disembarked from a river steamer. This pedestrian trip was not made along a smooth road, as there was no such thing at the time; on the contrary, they had in places to force or cut their way through the brush. On reaching the land all the members of the family industriously began the work of home building, first erecting a board shanty banked with earth, in which they lived for four years, a log house being subsequently erected. Owing to lack of resources their early progress was so slow that it was two years before they got an ox team. They, however, had a few chickens which gave them a supply of eggs, other supplies being obtained with difficulty from Alma or Wabasha. Engebroe, besides teaching school for nine years in Church valley, worked with his father on the farm, which in time they enlarged to an area of 360 acres, its present size, and he also built a frame house and barn. Nels Bloom, the father, died at the age of 88 years, but our subject's mother is still living and active at the age of 92. The farm is now well improved and supplied with good buildings, its present condition being largely due to the subject of this sketch, who is also a shareholder in the Modena creamery. Mr. Bloom also helped to start the Norwegian Lutheran church in Church valley, of which he has been an official for 20 years, having among other things held the office of trustee and secretary, and been a delegate to the church convention. He was also town treasurer for some nine years and has served as supervisor and chairman of the town board; also as school treasurer for nine or ten years. Mr. Bloom married Matilda Sand, a native of Norway, who was previously married to Olaf Hoff, and of that union has a son, Bjarne, now residing on the farm with his mother and stepfather.
August C. Brinkman, who occupies a prominent place among the suc- cessful farmers of Lincoln township, Buffalo county, his residence being in section 10, was born on the farm on which he now lives, Dec. 25, 1866, son of Henry and Lizetta (Leather) Brinkman. The father was born in
Digitized by Google
1
-
MR. AND MRS. E. N. BLOOM
Digitized by Google
.
Digitized by
-
Digitized by Google
.
Digitized by
Digitized by Google
AUGUST C. BRINKMAN AND FAMILY
Digitized by
535
HISTORY OF BUFFALO AND PEPIN COUNTIES
Harbauson, Germany, July 17, 1833, and the mother in Switzerland, July 19, 1838. They were married in this county and settled on the farm in Lincoln township, now occupied by their son August. Here Henry Brink- man died April 17, 1903, at the age of 69 years and 9 months. His wife is now living at Eau Claire, Wis. They were the parents of ten children, of whom four are now deceased, the survivors being: August C., subject of this sketch; William, a resident of Gilmanton, this county; Emma, who is living in Eau Claire, Wis .; Louise, residing near Elkmound, Wis .; John, a resident of Mondovi, Buffalo county, and Edward, who lives near Bloomer, Wis.
August C. Brinkman spent his early years on the home farm and sub- sequently operated a cheese factory in Belvidere township for six seasons. Then returning to the old homestead, he rented it until June 5, 1904, when, his father having died in the previous year, he bought the rights of the other heirs to the estate. The farm contains 205 acres, of which about 140 acres are under cultivation, the rest being in woodland. Mr. Brinkman is doing a good business raising hogs and cattle for the market, and also giving special attention to dairying. His barn is 30 by 90 feet in size, being provided with a cement floor, and having an addition of 30 by 24 feet for hogs and cattle. His residence is a substantial eight-room frame building. Mr. Brinkman served three terms as supervisor, and in 1916 was chairman of the town board and in consequence a member of the board of county commissioners. For the past ten years he has been president of the local creamery at Cochrane. In these various positions he has shown both business ability and public spirit, and his reputation as a successful farmer and reliable citizen stands high among his fellow townsmen. In politics he is a Republican, but usually votes for the man rather than for the party.
Mr. Brinkman was first married, in 1890, to Alvina Passon, who was born in Germany in 1860. By her he had six children: Edwin, who died in infancy ; Benjamin, born Dec. 2, 1892, who died at the age of 17 years; Otto, born June 25, 1894, who died at the age of 6 years; Emma, born Oct. 11, 1895, who died when about 2 weeks old; Sarah, born Nov. 14, 1896, who is now Mrs. Arthur Buchli, of Montana township, and Adolph, born Oct. 4, 1898, who is residing on the home farm. On May 2, 1901, Mr. Brinkman married Minnie Schmidt, who was born in Belvidere township, March 24, 1879, daughter of Frank and Christiana (Hoevel) Schmidt, her father being a native of Germany and her mother of Lincoln township. Both her parents are now deceased. They had twelve children: Hannah, John, Theresa, William, Frank, Lena, Charles, Minnie, Jacob, Katie, Barbara and Clara, all of whom are now living but Clara. To. Mr. and Mrs. Brink- man four children have been born: Helen, Dec. 4, 1901, who is now Mrs. Louis Buchli; Harry, Dec. 1, 1904, who died when nearly 6 years old; Viola, Jan. 20, 1907, who died at the age of 14 months, and Violet, born April 10, 1910, who is living at home.
Gustav Kurtzweg, who is extensively engaged in farming, dairying and stock raising in Lincoln township, Buffalo county, his residence being in section 32, was born in Lincoln township, Jan. 25, 1878, son of August and
Digitized by Google
536
HISTORY OF BUFFALO AND PEPIN COUNTIES
Mary (Wilts) Kurtzweg. The parents were natives of Germany who set- tled in Lincoln township, Buffalo county, about 1870, and engaged in farm- ing. Both are now deceased. They had a large family of 13 children, of whom four are now living, namely: Otto, Albert, Paulina and Gustav. Gustav Kurtzweg in his youth attended the district school and learned agriculture on his parents' farm, assisting his father until arriving at his majority. He then rented the farm on which he now lives, which contains 380 acres, of which 200 acres are cleared. In 1914 he also bought an adjacent farm of 210 acres, 140 of which are now under the plow, so that he is now the proprietor of 340 acres of cleared and cultivated land, besides having 250 acres of woodland and pasture. On this large estate he car- ries on general farming, giving particular attention to dairying and the raising of swine, though he also raises grain for the market. He has a good herd of Shorthorn cattle, his hogs being of the Poland-China variety. He also breeds pure-bred Belgium hares. Mr. Kurtzweg is recognized as one of the most enterprising and prosperous farmers of Lincoln town- ship, and is a man of wide acquaintance and many friends. He is a stock- holder in the Jahn's Valley Telephone Company, and has served the town- ship two years as road master.
On Aug. 26, 1899, Mr. Kurtzweg was united in marriage with Julia Esbach, who was born in Lincoln township, daughter of William and Julia (Schaub) Esbach. Her father was a native of Germany, but her mother was born in the United States. They are now retired and are residents of Lincoln. Their children are: Julia (Mrs. Kurtzweg), William, Alvina and Laura. To Mr. and Mrs. Kurtzweg four children have been born: Lorina, Feb. 20, 1900; Elmer, Dec. 31, 1901; Melvin, Oct. 23, 1909, who died Nov. 30, the same year, and Harvey, Jan. 19, 1911. The family are members of the Lutheran church.
Michael Roffler, a prominent citizen of Lincoln township, Buffalo county, engaged in agriculture and dairying in section 1, was born in Switzerland, Nov. 15, 1858, son of John and Anna (Arduser) Roffler. The parents came to America in 1859, locating in Alma township, this county, where they engaged in farming. Later they sold their farm in that township and bought one in Dover township, where the father subsequently . died. The mother died in Rosalia, Wash. Their children were Hartman, Christ, Barbara, Michael, Anna, Christina and Mary. Michael Roffler spent his youth and early manhood on his parents' farm, where he re- mained until his marriage in 1888, when he bought the farm on which he now lives and which contains 178 acres, about 100 of which are cleared, the balance being in woodland. Mr. Roffler does general farming, giving special attention to dairying. In 1912 he built his present barn with stone foundation. He has a good frame residence and all the buildings on his place are well constructed and in good condition. He is doing a prosperous business, employing help during the busy season. Mr. Roffler served as town supervisor for five years and is now a member of the district school board. On Nov. 24, 1888, Mr. Roffler was united in marriage with Agnes Bitzen, who was born in Winona, Minn., Jan. 6, 1867, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Burkhardt) Bitzen. She was one of a family of eight children,
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.