History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties Wisconsin (Volume 2), Part 48

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge
Publication date: 1919
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 885

USA > Wisconsin > Buffalo County > History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties Wisconsin (Volume 2) > Part 48
USA > Wisconsin > Pepin County > History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties Wisconsin (Volume 2) > Part 48

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P. H. Olund, who is successfully operating a farm of eighty acres in section 35, Pepin township, Pepin county, and is also owner of other good farm property, was born in Varmland, Sweden, March 3, 1858, son of Gustaf and Johanna (Johnson) Olund. His parents came to the United States with their family in 1868, and were pioneer farmers in this township, their near- est neighbors being some Indians who lived two miles away. In time they developed a farm from the wilderness, and after long, active and useful lives, both passed away in 1911. P. H. Olund was educated in Sweden and also attended district school in Pepin township. He worked on the home farm until 19 years old and then entered the grain business at Stockholm, this county. After conducting it awhile he operated a farm for two years, then returned to the grain business, this time in Pepin village, after which he bought his present farm in section 35, Frankfort township. Here he fol- lows a general plan of farming with good results and is realizing satisfactory financial returns. He is also a shareholder in the Pepin Creamery and the Farmers' Telephone Company. Mr. Olund spent two summers in North Dakota and now owns 160 acres of land in Ward county, that state, also a farm of 105 acres in Kanabec county, Minnesota. He has been president of the local branch of the Farmers' American Equity Association. In politics he is independent. Mr. Olund was married Nov. 26, 1882, to Augusta Olson, who was born in Sweden, daughter of Andrew and Caroline (Olson) Olson. Her parents settled in Memphis, Tenn., in 1857, but after living there awhile, moved north and located in Pepin township, this county, where she attended school. Her father, who had been a district attorney in Sweden, followed the occupation of cabinetmaker in this country. Mr. and Mrs. Olund are the parents of three children: Edna, wife of Alvin Blomquist, a garage man in Stockholm, this county; Okley, engaged in the same business in Stockholm, who married Agnes Larson; and Josephine, who married William Randall, of Durand, and has two children, Howard and Fern.

Gustaf Olund, a pioneer settler in Pepin township, Pepin county, was born in Sweden in 1827 and was there married to Johanna Johnson, who was two years older than himself. In 1868 they came to the United States and, making their way to this county and state, secured a tract of land in Pepin township and began pioneer farming. The surrounding conditions

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were absolutely primitive. Their nearest white neighbor was James Barry, who lived four miles away, but within two miles there was an Indian village of forty wigwams. The woods were full of deer, bear and other wild game, so that meat was easily obtained, and fish could also be procured, but it was often a more difficult task to obtain bread. Water also had to be carried from Lost Creek. . Mr. and Mrs. Olund never removed from the homestead on which they first settled and where in time they developed a farm. Con- ditions gradually changed; the primitive wildness of the forest gave place to the smiling fields of grain, denoting the occupancy of civilized man, and with the forest the Indians also disappeared, their faces turned toward the setting sun, typical of the fast-vanishing power of their race. With each season Mr. Olund increased the cultivated area of his farm, and he and his good wife welcomed each new white settler who came to join in the work of civilization. At last, having done their own part, they rested from their labors, leaving their children to continue the task they had worthily carried so far. As they had been united many years in life, so they were not long separated in death, as both passed peacefully away in 1911. Though they are gone, their deeds shall live after them. Their children were: Gustaf E., Emil J., Josephine, Hildebrand P., Chas. Herman and Fred A.

Gustaf Edward Olund, who owns and operates a 60-acre farm in Pepin township, Pepin county, it being situated in section 2, was born in Varmland, Sweden, March 19, 1849, son of Gustaf and Johanna (Johnson) Olund. He attended school in his native land and at the age of 14 years began working there in a forge, where they made implements from wrought steel. In 1868, at the age of 19, he accompanied his parents to this country and for some years following his life was spent on their homestead in Pepin county and township. Besides assisting his father, he worked out at times for other farmers. In 1870 he went to Chicago, where for two years he worked in a foundry. Then returning to Pepin township, he cleared some land and began farming. His activities here were interrupted by a three years' residence in North Dakota, where he took a homestead. On his return he entered into general farming at his present location, owning 60 acres of land and being assisted in the work of the farm by his son Arthur. He is also a stockholder in the Farmers' Telephone Company. Independent in politics, he is a member of the town and school boards, on both of which he has rendered efficient service. His religious affiliations are with the Swedish Mission Church at Lund, Pepin township. Mr. Olund was married, March 2, 1872, to Bristina Anderson, who was born in Sweden in 1844, her parents both being natives of that country. Mr. and Mrs. Olund are the parents of eight children: Augusta, who is the wife of George Woodward, resides in North Dakota and has four children, Lawrence, Floyd, Chester and Irene; Amelia, wife of W. Smarth, a sign painter of Minneapolis, Minn .; Helen, formerly a schoolteacher, who is now engaged in the real estate business in Detroit, Mich .; Lida, who married Fred Johnson, a coal mine agent, living in Minneapolis; Ida, who is the wife of Axel Holmes, of Min- neapolis, and has one child, Adury; Esther, wife of Charles Busk, a farmer in Parcel, N. D .; Sigford E., an engineer on the Great Northern Railroad,

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MR. AND MRS. ANDREW INGLEBRETSON MR. AND MRS. AUGUST DAHLIN

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located at Superior, who married Ellen Olson and has one child, Jeanette C .; and Arthur, now in the United States service in Europe.

August Dahlin, who has a good farm of 98 acres in section 6, Stock- holm township, Pepin county, which he is operating on a paying basis, and is also the owner of other agricultural property, was born in Varmland, Sweden, Nov. 3, 1860, son of Per and Anna Larson, the parents being farm- ing people who lived and died in Sweden, their native land. There August attended school and there he remained until he had attained his majority. Then his own master, he resolved to seek a field of wider opportunities and in 1882 set out for the United States, knowing that here many others of his nationality, starting out as poor as himself, had achieved wealth and honor, or at least a comfortable degree of prosperity. He had youth, health and intelligence-the best sort of capital-and as he was also industrious and without bad habits, his success was sure. Arriving in Stockholm town- ship, this county, he soon found work with neighboring farmers, being thus engaged for the most part in the summer and working in logging camps in northern Wisconsin in the winter. He also resided for awhile in St. Paul, being employed at mason work. During this period he saved as much as he could of his earnings, looking forward to the time when he should begin an independent career as proprietor of a farm. This time arrived in 1887, when he was married and inherited the farm he now owns and operates in section 6, Stockholm township, and which contains 98 acres of fertile land. His time since then has been spent in developing and improv- ing this place, on which he follows a general plan of farming, raising the usual and most profitable crops and keeping a good grade of stock. He has made satisfactory progress, and in addition to this farm owns 160 acres of land in North Dakota. As an intelligent citizen of progressive ideas, Mr. Dahlin has identified himself closely with the interests of the community in which he lives and has willingly given a part of his time to the affairs of local government, having served a number of years on the town board and also on the school board of his district. He is unshackled by party traditions, voting according to his conscience whenever called upon to exercise the right of suffrage and considering first the fitness of the respective candidates for office. He is a member of the Lutheran church at Lund, Pepin township. Thirty years ago Mr. Dahlin entered into the married state, taking as his bride Ida Inglebretson, on July 23, 1887, who was born in Stockholm, this county, daughter of Andrew and Christina (Anderson) Inglebretson, who came to this section soon after the Civil War, in which Mr. Inglebretson served as a soldier. Mr. and Mrs. Dahlin have five children: Edna, Carl, Judith, Myrtle and Eunice. All are residing at home, and Carl *- assisting his father in the work of the farm. Mr. Dahlin is a shareh ... the

Co-operative Creamery at Stockholm and in the Farmers' Telephone Com- pany, and he and his family have a high social standing in Stockholm town- ship and the vicinity.

Andrew Inglebretson, an early settler in Stockholm township, Pepin county, was born near Christiania, Norway, July 2, 1827. He was married in Red Wing, Minn., to Christina Anderson, who, like himself, was born near Christiania, Norway, the date of her nativity being Feb. 11, 1830. In 1856

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Mr. Inglebretson came to the United States, locating in Iowa, whence he subsequently came to Wisconsin. From this state he enlisted for service in the Civil War as a member of Company I, 15th Wisconsin Volunteer In- fantry. His service lasted three years, one year of which time, however, he spent as a guard on Island No. 10. On coming to Stockholm township, Pepin county, after the war, he bought 80 acres of land in section 6, and from that time until his death, March 30, 1892, he resided on his land, which he cleared and of which he made a good farm. His wife survived him a number of years, passing away Jan. 19, 1911. They had a family of three children, of whom their daughter Ida is now the wife of August Dahlin, the others dying in infancy.

David Leflay, a notable pioneer of Pepin county, was born in Devonshire, England, in 1818, and came to this country when nine years old with his father and brother. The voyage, made on a sailing vessel, as this was before the introduction of ocean steamships, took about three months. Young Leflay's first industrial occupation was at rafting cordwood on the St. Lawrence river. Subsequently he went to Florida, where he was employed as a despatch courier in the desperate war with the Seminole Indians, which broke out in 1835, and remained in the service five years. He then came to Galena, Ill., and Prairie du Chien, Wis., and took part in expelling the Mormons from Nauvoo. He came from Galena up the Mississippi and Chip- pewa in the fall with supplies, and was engaged winters in cutting pine timber, which was rafted to Galena and sold. During those early days he had many exciting experiences and at one time he aided in the government survey of the Northwest under John C. Fremont, the "Pathfinder." In 1852 Mr. Leflay came to Pepin county and, after working some time at lum- bering and other pioneer occupations, he took up farming in Hicks valley, Pepin township, and was thus engaged until 1862, when he moved into the village and for a few years acted as mail carrier. He then bought another farm in Pepin township, which was his home until his death in 1879. During the time of the Sioux massacre, in 1862, Mr. Leflay was appointed by the state as captain of the home guards, which he recruited and drilled, pre- paring for any emergency that might arise. Mr. Leflay married Mary Ann Wheeler, who was born in Connecticut in 1823 and who died in 1893. They were the parents of four children, two sons and two daughters, all of whom are now deceased except Lawrence B.

Lawrence B. Leflay, proprietor of an up-to-date blacksmith shop in the village of Pepin, Pepin county, was born in this village, May 25, 1855, son of David and Mary Ann (Wheeler) Leflay. He was educated in the graded school of the village and for a number of years assisted his father in farm- ing, of which business he acquired a good practical knowledge. Preferring some other occupation, however, at the age of 21 he took up the blacksmith's trade, in which he has since been engaged, except for a brief period during three summers, when, as part owner, he worked on a steamboat on the Mississippi river. His shop in the village is well equipped with modern machinery, enabling him to turn out all kinds of work in connection with his trade, and he is well established and doing a good business. One of Pepin's substantial and respected citizens, he has served as a member of the village

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MR. AND MRS. O. K. ANDERSON

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board for a number of years. He is independent in politics and a supporter of the Methodist church. Mr. Leflay was married, May 19, 1884, to Hyly Holden, who was born in Pepin county in 1862, daughter of John and Lucinda Holden. Her parents were natives of Pennsylvania, who came to Pepin township about 1854, taking land on which they farmed for a number of years. They then went to Iowa, where they remained four or five years, after which they returned to Pepin village, where they made their home for the rest of their lives. Their daughter Hyly (Mrs. Leflay) was educated in Pepin township. Mr. and Mrs. Leflay are the parents of nine children: John, residing at home; Lida, who lives at Cedar Rapids, Ia .; Kay, who is engaged in farming in the Saskatchewan valley, Canada; Jay, who is on a farm in Canada; Hazel, who is married and lives in Iowa; Calvin, a soldier in the United States army ; Marvin and Lawrence, who are residing at home, and Lila, who married Art Adams and lives in Chicago. Mr. Leflay is affiliated fraternally with the Woodmen's Camp at Pepin. As a public- spirited citizen he takes a keen interest in any project calculated to benefit the community in which he lives, and he and his family are widely known and respected.

Oscar K. Anderson, who is numbered among the thriving agriculturists of Pepin township, Pepin county, residing in section 27, was born in Nerike, Sweden, June 14, 1860, son of Victor and Annie Anderson, who were natives of the same locality. As immigrants in Wisconsin in 1875, they settled in this township on farm land, which they improved, erecting better buildings and putting in a good equipment. The mother passed away in 1903, but the father is still living and resides with his son, Oscar K. The latter in his boyhood attended school in Pepin township. At the age of 15 he began working out on farms, but later became a brakeman on the Canadian Pacific Railroad. After some years of railroad work he returned from Canada to Pepin county, and having saved money, wisely invested it in land, turn- ing his attention to the cultivation of the soil. In this independent occupa- tion he has made a success and is doing a good business as a general farmer. He has 160 acres of fertile land, and in addition to its operation, which takes up most of his time, he owns and operates a grain threshing-machine. A Republican in politics, Mr. Anderson for nineteen years has been a mem- ber of the Pepin town board and nearly all this time has been its chairman. By virtue of this office he is also a member of the county board, on which he has done good work. For a number of years he has also been a member of the school board of his district. He was married, June 6, 1886, to Emma Peterson, who was born in Sweden, daughter of Erick and Carolina Peter- son, and who came to America when about 20 years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are the parents of four children: Mabel, Henry, Eddie and Mer- ritt. Mabel is now the wife of Lawrence Bloomquist, a farmer, and has one child, Vivian; Henry, who is a farmer in Maiden Rock township, Pierce county, married Anna Magnuson and has one child, James Gordon; Eddie resides at home, while Merritt is abroad in the United States service. Mr. Anderson and his family occupy a high social position in Pepin township- a position based on character and achievement. Through enterprise and industry, backed by steady habits and intelligence, he has attained pros-

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perity, and his service as a public official has been efficient and marked by a regard for the best interests of the community, an attitude appreciated by his fellow townsmen.

Pearley W. Hill, proprietor of a good farm of 80 acres in section 6, Waterville township, Pepin county, was born in Lamoille county, Vermont, Dec. 7, 1862, son of Charles Wesley and Elvira (Whitney) Hill. His parents were both natives of that state, where the mother died in 1872. Charles W. Hill subsequently (about 1873) married Mrs. Martha Ellen Keys, widow of John Keys, and whose maiden name was Martha Ellen Macumber. In 1878 they came west, locating at Rock Elm Center, in Pierce county, Wisconsin. After a four years' residence there they returned east and lived for two years in Connecticut. Then again coming west, they settled at Boyd, Chip- pewa county, Wis., where Mr. Hill followed the trade of blacksmith for about three years. After that he resided in Elmwood, where he died in 1913. Pearley W. Hill was the eldest in a family of five children. He at- tended district school in Vermont and afterwards Jericho Academy, at Jericho, that state, but began industrial life at an early age, being bound out when ten years old to Rolin C. Lincoln, a farmer of Jericho. At the end of that period he removed from Vermont to Connecticut, where he lived for a year and a half, coming west in 1881. Locating at Boyd, Wis., with his father and step-mother, he there worked out for others and afterwards was thus employed at Rock Elm Center. In 1883 he bought his present farm, onto which he moved at the time of his marriage in 1892 and has since spent his time in improving it and cultivating the soil. As very little had been done to it when it came into his possession, the improvements are nearly all his own and are of modern type. As a general farmer he has been successful and is doing a good business. He is breeding up in Guern- sey cattle, and also keeps hogs, sheep and Emden geese, from all of which he derives a profit. He is also a stockholder in the Waterville Creamery, the Telephone Company and the Woodman Hall Company of Arkansaw. Fraternally he belongs to the Beavers, Royal Neighbors and Modern Wood- men of America; also to the Odd Fellows' Lodge at Arkansaw. He has been school clerk for twelve years, and in politics is independent. Mr. Hill was first married, May 11, 1892, to Hannah Gushelbauer, who was born in Austria, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Gushelbauer. Her parents settled in Pepin county about 1880 and engaged in farming. Mr. Gushelbauer is now living in Dunn county and is a widower, his wife having died May 7, 1902. Their daughter, Mrs. Hannah Hill, died May 7, 1902, as the result of a sad accident, and in 1904 Mr. Hill married for his second wife Susie George, also a native of Austria, daughter of Andrew and Annie George. Her parents are both living and are farming people in Todd county, Min- nesota. Mr. Hill has had fourteen children, those of his first marriage being as follows: Emma, residing at home; Ruth, wife of Henry J. Meix- ner, of Arkansaw, Wis .; George, who met a tragical fate, being burned to death at the age of 6 years with his mother; Laura, residing at home; Mamie, who died when about ten years old; and Nellie, residing at home. The children of the second marriage are: Edna, who died in 1916, and

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Andrew, Helen, Harriet, Clarence, Lucy, Grace and Vera, all residing at home.

George Wohlforth, who is pursuing an agricultural career with profita- ble results in Pepin township, Pepin county, his residence being located in section 15, was born in Germany, April 1, 1859, son of Weigand and Kuni- gunda Wohlforth. The parents were also natives of Germany. The father, who was born in 1830, was a farmer by occupation and a village officer. He died Dec. 31, 1903. The mother, born in 1833, died June 24, 1910. George Wohlforth went to school in the village of Neushaus, Saxondorf. He worked at farming, both for his father and others, until October, 1882, when he came to this country, locating in Pepin township. Here, after working on farms for awhile, he bought 100 acres of land and began agri- cultural operations on his own account. He has now 260 acres in Pepin township, and also owns 160 acres in North Dakota, having had a very successful career-the result of enterprise and well directed industry. He cleared and made valuable improvements on his place, which is now in fine condition. Mr. Wohlforth is a member of the Catholic church, and is inde- pendent in his political views. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen's Camp at Pepin. Mr. Wohlforth was married, April 24, 1882, to Margaret Gorle, a native of Germany, where she was educated, attending village school. He and his wife have been the parents of eight children: George, a farmer in Pepin township, who married Emma Schader West; Margaret, who is now living in St. Paul; John, who married Julia Fleming and is farm- ing in Pepin township; Emma, residing in St. Paul; Mary, of La Crosse, Wis .; William and Henry, who reside at home with their parents, and Min- nie, deceased.

Ludie Anderson, who, in partnership with his brother William and his sister Anna, is operating the old Anderson farm of 200 acres in section 5, Stockholm township, Pepin county, and is also the owner of other agricul- tural property, was born in this township, Sept. 7, 1884, son of Andrew and Christina (Carlson) Anderson. The parents were born in Varmland, Sweden, and were among the earliest settlers of Stockholm township, Andrew Anderson taking up a homestead here when the township was a part of the primeval forest, and the Indians, of whom there were plenty, were almost the sole inhabitants. He died when the subject of this sketch was but a year old. His wife was left alone with many a heavy burden and six small children to care for. The two first children died in their infancy. Those living are: Elmer, William, Oscar, Clarence, Ludie and Anna. Elmer is farming in Beach, N. D .; Clarence is in Crookston, Minn., and Oscar is living in Pierce county, Wisconsin, on his Uncle Carlson's farm, which he bought. The mother, Mrs. Christina Anderson, passed away July 16, 1913, after a life spent in the faithful performance of duty. Ludie Anderson was educated in district school No. 2 in Stockholm township. He remained on the homestead until attaining his majority and then went to North Dakota, where he secured a tract of 160 acres of land under the homestead law. This land he sold, after improving it, and then returned to Stockholm township, where he has since been engaged in operating the

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home farm with his brother and sister, as already mentioned. He also owns 160 acres of land adjoining the home estate. He is engaged in general farming, keeping Durham cattle, and is also a stockholder in the Stockholm Creamery and the Farmers' Telephone Company. Ludie and William Anderson are among the enterprising and successful farmers of Stockholm township. Their knowledge of agriculture in all its branches is of a prac- tical kind and their operations are being rewarded by good financial returns. In 1914 Ludie Anderson was united in marriage with Ellen Bergstrom, who was born in Pierce county, Wisconsin, daughter of Erik and Carin Bergstrom, her parents being natives of Sweden. She was educated in the district school in Pierce county, and is a worthy helpmate to her husband, well skilled in all the domestic duties pertaining to farm life. They have one child, Corinne, who was born July 3, 1916. The family are members of the Lutheran church at Lund, Pepin township, and in politics Mr. Ander- son is a Republican.

Thomas Carpenter, familiarly known as "Tom Carpenter," is a well- known and popular citizen of Stockholm township, Pepin county, where he is engaged in dairy farming in section 7. He was born in this township, May 25, 1882, son of Charles and Martha (Quiner) Carpenter. His parents were natives respectively of Orange county, New York, and Concord, Ind. Charles Carpenter was among the pioneer settlers of this township, arriv- ing here as early as 1857. The principal occupations at that time were farming, lumbering and river navigation, and of these he chose the first mentioned, securing a tract of land which he subsequently improved into a good farm. The early years were full of hard labor, for there was pioneer work to be done in clearing the land and breaking the soil, in addition to its subsequent cultivation. For years the Indians were the principal neigh- bors and frequent visitors, usually calling without the formality of an invi- tation, and although they were not always welcome, Mr. Carpenter had the prudence to treat them in a friendly way. He served as chairman of the town board and was locally prominent in other ways. As a member of the school board of his district he aided in providing such educational facilities for the younger generation as were then possible, and his public service in whatever capacity was marked by an earnest and progressive spirit. In short, he was one of the men who laid the foundation of Stockholm town- ship's present prosperity. His death occurred Sept. 27, 1882. His wife is still living at Plainview, Minn. Thomas Carpenter learned his "a, b, c," and absorbed a fairly adequate knowledge of the "three Rs" in district school No. 2, Stockholm township. At an early age he was initiated into the mysteries of agriculture on his father's farm and began working for other farmers when 15 years old. He was thus employed until 1903, when he started out as an independent farmer in Plainview, Minn., where he remained until 1909. Then he returned to his native state and township and bought the old home farm of 120 acres in section 7. This he has equipped as a modern dairy farm and is following the dairy industry along approved lines and with good financial returns, being also a shareholder in the Stockholm Creamery. The Modern Woodmen's Lodge at Stockholm numbers him among its active members, while in national politics he

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History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties Wisconsin (Volume 2), Part 48

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge Publication date: 1919 Publisher: Number of Pages: 885

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge
Publication date: 1919
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 885