USA > Wisconsin > Eau Claire County > History of Eau Claire county, Wisconsin, past and present; including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county > Part 84
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Mr. Slagsvol is a man of pleasing personality, a lover of good cheer and in sympathy with whatever tends to the normal or ma- terial betterment of his fellows. He is a member of the Grace Lutheran church and an extensive owner of business and resi- dence property in Eau Claire. Ile was united in marriage with Merritt Thompson, of Eau Claire, by whom he has six children. named, respectively, John, Thomas, Oscar, Marvin, Anna and Severre.
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Earl V. Slawson, deceased, was a native son of Wisconsin and born in Janesville, the son of George R. Slawson, a representative and highly respected citizen of that place. He spent his youth in Janesville, receiving his education in the public schools; he later went to Minnesota, locating at West Red Wing, where he engaged in the grocery business. In 1890 he came to Eau Claire, Wis., and resided here until his death, which occurred October 9, 1901. He was a public-spirited man, of sound judgment and clear foresight, and was always ready to do his part in furthering any project looking to the betterment of his city and community. He confined himself to legitimate business transactions, avoiding speculation, and his success was due to sound business prin- eiples and steady application. Soon after his arrival here he en- tered the employ of the Mill Supply Company as bookkeeper, re- maining with this firm for several years, and then became asso- ciated in a like capacity with the Phoenix Manufacturing Com- pany. It was while in the employ of the last named company that Mr. Slawson, associated with other employees of the firm, organized the Phoenix Furniture Company. They purchased the woodworking business of the old company and secured the plant of the old National Electric Company, which they used for a fac- tory. Mr. Slawson became manager of the new concern and it was then that he displayed his wonderful executive ability, and under his management the business was made a success from the start, adding an important factor to the industrial enterprises of the city. During the two years that Mr. Slawson was at the head of this institution he placed it on a solid footing and was constantly enlarging the forces, and his untimely death was a severe blow not only to his own enterprises but to the people of Eau Claire generally, and was mourned by the entire community as well as by his family.
He was married in Bay City, Pierce county, Wis., to Miss Margaret E. Goggins, of Diamond Bluff. To this union two children were born, viz: Paul E., who resides in the state of Washington, and Margaret F., who is now attending the State University at Madison. Mr. Slawson was prominent in fra- ternal and social circles: was a member of the Baptist church, and also of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Mrs. Slaw- son has been for many years an active member of the Woman's Club of Eau Claire, and for two years has been matron of the Eau Claire Children's Home, and is now (1914) worthy matron of the Eastern Star, Eau Claire Chapter, No. 126.
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Absalom Smith, who for more than two score years has been prominent among the successful lumbermen of the Northwest, was born February 10, 1854, and while his birthplace is given as Lincoln, Sunbury Parish, N. B., he was really born in the state of Maine, while his mother was there on a visit. His grand- father, Jeremiah Smith, was a native of England and a captain in the British army, and after his removal to New Brunswick at about the age of 30 he also served as captain in the army there, and later successfully carried on an extensive lumber business, and died at the age of 80 years. His son, Jeremiah Smith, father of our subject, was born in New Brunswick, February 19, 1823, and also served as captain in the army stationed there, and was a successful lumberman. IIe married July 29, 1843, Elizabeth Foss, who was born in Sunbury county, July 29, 1815, and died July 29, 1890. She was of German descent, and the name "Foss" was originally spelled "Fofs." She had a brother named Leonard, a bachelor, who lived in Cape Town, South Africa, and was many times a millionaire, but he and his wealth have both disappeared. They were the parents of six children. viz .: Orin (whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work) was born April 26, 1845; Leonard, born September 18, 1846; David, born April 26, 1850; Louisa, born November 3, 1852, married Thomas E. Till; Absalom, our subject, and Emeline, who was born Septem- ber 6, 1855, married George Armstrong, of New Brunswick, and had one son, Moses, who now resides in New Brunswick. She died August 1, 1876.
Absalom Smith attended the common schools of New Bruns- wick until he was thirteen years of age, and from that time on he worked on his father's farm and in the lumber woods until 1872. In October of that year, accompanied by his brother, he came to Eau Claire county and for one year was engaged at lumbering with J. S. Goodrich. For the next six years he was in the employ of the Eau Claire Lumber Company and was at one time foreman of the Valley Lumber Company. In 1879 he engaged in lumbering on his own account on the Chippewa river, employing at that time fifty men, but his business has increased to such an extent that he now employs 400 men. His seat of operations is now in St. Louis county, Minnesota, where he uses the most modern and up-to-date appliances in his lumber and logging operations. In addition to his many thousand acres of timber land he owns a fine farm in Union township of 240 acres, which is carried on under the supervision of his wife, while he
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spends a great part of his time in the woods looking after his extensive lumber interests.
On March 25, 1877, Mr. Smith married Margaretta Mealy, who was born April 22, 1857, daughter of John and Mary Mealy, of New Brunswick. Mrs. Smith died on March 26, 1891, leaving besides her husband two sons, Charles M., born February 23, 1878, and Claude V., born August 12, 1885, both of whom reside at Fairbanks, Minn., where they are extensively engaged in the lum- ber business.
On May 29, 1892, Mr. Smith took for his second wife Matilda Israel, who was born August 19, 1870, daughter of Israel, now aged 74 years, and Martha (Nelson) Isrealson, now aged 54 years. Iler father is a member of one of Eau Claire's pioneer families.
John Smith, son of the first Jeremiah Smith, went to Cali- fornia in 1849 during the gold excitement and while there suc- ceeded in accumulating a fortune. He later went to Australia and from there moved to Alberta, B. C., where he had a family and made his home.
Fraternally Absalom Smith is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen and the Masons, and religiously is a member of the Baptist church. While he adheres to the principles of the Republican party, he has never aspired to political fame, but is always ready to sanction any movement on foot tending toward the betterment of his community and the county at large. Ile is rated as one of our most suecessful and publie-spirited citizens, and a man well worthy of prominent men- tion in the history of Eau Claire county.
Arthur Myron Smith,* of Union township, Eau Claire county, belongs to that younger elass of progressive farmers of his sec- tion. His father, Leonard Smith, was born in Lincoln, Sunbury Parish, New Brunswick, September 18, 1846. He married Emma Jennie Montieth, who was born February 2, 1856, and they had two children: Edith May, born December 24, 1878, married Alexander Graham, an engineer, and Arthur M., the subject of this sketch. The parents came to Eau Claire county in 1872, where the father found employment in the lumber camps. Dur- ing the winters for many years, his time was spent in the woods at logging. and at one time he owned nearly 100 head of horses, which he employed in his lumbering operations. In 1878 he pur- chased a large farm in Union township which he successfully carried on until his death. He was thrifty and progressive, and everything be undertook was done in a systematic manner and
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he took great pride in making his farm a model country home, and every acre of his land was under a good state of cultivation. His wife, mother of our subject, whose death occurred February 27, 1908, was a woman of charming personality, was held in high esteem by all who knew her.
Captain Jeremiah Smith, grandfather of our subject, was born in New Brunswick, February 19, 1823 ; he also followed lumbering and served as captain in the British army. He married Elizabeth Foss, who was born July 24, 1815, and moved to Eau Claire county after the death of her husband, and made her home in Union township with her son, where she died at the age of 80 years.
Captain Jeremiah Smith, great grandfather of Arthur, was born in England, served as captain in the British army both in England and New Brunswick, whither he came when he was thirty years of age, and followed lumbering and farming during his lifetime.
Arthur M. Smith was born on the farm in Union township. December 30, 1892. Ile attended the common schools until he reached the age of 16 and was then employed at farming by his father and others until 1913. In 1910 he purchased from the estate of his father a farm of 140 acres and in April, 1914. started at farming on his own account and had in crops this year the whole 140 acres. His land is in a good state of cultivation and improved with up-to-date buildings. He is energetic and uses many modern labor-saving devices in his farming operations. In addition to his general farming he is engaged in market garden- ing, finding a ready market for his produce in the city of Eau Claire.
Mr. Smith was married in April, 1914, to Miss Emily Ellen Lymburner, daughter of Millard and Bertha A. Lymburner, of Union township. Ile is a Republican in politics, while fraternally is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
Eli Arthur Smith, who ranks among the prosperous farmers of Washington township, is the son of the late William E. and Priscilla (Crandall) Smith, and was born in Pepin county, Wis- consin, October 27, 1870.
William Eli Smith, father of Eli A., was born in Trumbull county, O., July 17, 1844. Ilis father, William Smith, was born in Herkimer county, New York, February 25, 1812, and married February 25, 1834, Cornelia Gilbert, who was born at Fairfield, Conn., November 25, 1814. In 1849 the family moved to Wis- consin and settled at Hanchettsville, Dane county, where they
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lived until 1853, thence moved to Oxford, Marquette county. In the summer of 1859 William E. Smith came to Eau Claire and when the civil war broke out he enlisted in Company G. Forty- eighth Wisconsin Infantry, and served with distinction until his discharge on New Year's Day, 1865. lle then returned to his home in Eau Claire, where he remained until 1867, at which time he purchased an 80-aere farm in Albany. Pepin county, and there followed farming until 1874, when he sold his farm and returned to Eau Claire county and bought another 80-acre tract in section 8. Washington township, to which he subsequently added until he owned 327 acres and where he lived until his death, January 24, 1894, his remains being laid to rest in Forest Hill Cemetery, Eau Claire.
In 1867 he married Priscilla Crandall, daughter of Gardiner and Bridget (Crandall) Crandall, natives of New York State. They were the parents of six children, viz. : Ella, who died when young ; Carrie C. married Ira Schwartz and resides in Eau Claire; Eli A., the subject of this sketeh; Anna M. was married first to Stephan Springate and second to P. Thomson and resides in Chi- cago, Ill .; Charles H., who lives at Barton, N. D., engaged in the coal and wood business, and Edith, who died while young. The mother of these children died April 12, 1876. and on December 30 of the same year Mr. Smith married Louisa Riley, daughter of William O. and Catherine (Van Horn) Riley, who now resides in Eau Claire.
Eli A. was raised on the farm, receiving his education in the district schools of Washington township and the city of Eau Claire. He worked for his father on the farm and then for a time was employed by the Arbana Rolling Stock Company at Decatur. Ala., after which he purchased a team and for nine win- ters engaged in teaming for various humber companies. Hle then for two seasons ran a threshing machine, and in 1898 purchased the old Fleming farm of 160 acres in Washington township and since that time has carried on general farming and stock raising, making a specialty of Percheron horses, Polled Durham cattle and Poland-China hogs. In addition to his general farming opera- tions he does quite an extensive dairy business.
Mr. Smith has always taken an active interest in the affairs of his town and for sixteen years was school treasurer and six years treasurer of the town and three years as road commis- sioner. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, the Yeomen and the Percheron Society of America. In 1899 he mar- ried Dora May Frank, daughter of Nicholas and Dellah (Blair)
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Frank, both old settlers of northern Wisconsin. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born six children: Howard E., Frank E., Mabel Isabel, Floyd Norman, Ruth Marie and William Wallace Smith.
Fred Smith, farmer and stock raiser of Bridge Creek, Eau Claire county, was born at Neukalen, Germany, January 9, 1851, the son of Frederiek and Augusta (Busch) Smith. His ancestors were all natives of Germany and for the most part farmers. He had one uncle who filled the office of public weigher in his native town, receiving a salary of twenty cents per day. He was also secretary of one of the home banks. In 1852 the father wishing to better his condition financially, came to America on a prospect- ing tour. Arriving in this country, he made his way to Water- town, Wis., where he found employment. At the end of two years, having saved his earnings, he returned to Germany for his family. Upon his second arrival to the United States, he located on a farm in Eau Claire county where he died at the age of 67 years, and the mother was 59 at the time of her death. In their immediate family were seven children, of whom Fred is the eldest. Of the others Laura is the wife of F. J. Hill, and resides at Beach, North Dakota; Amelia is now Mrs. C. A. Rick, of Augusta, Wis .; Matilda is now Mrs. Otto Wirth, also of Augusta ; May married Samuel Horrel, from whom she was divoreed and is now the wife of George Ililts, of Augusta; Anson is also a farmer near Augusta, and Frank, who is at present, 1914, in Canada.
Fred received a limited education in the common schools and grew to manhood on the farm. In 1859 he moved to his present location in Bridge Creek where he owns 200 acres of highly cultivated and well improved land. In 1876 he went to Minnesota where he lived for twenty years. He returned to Eau Claire county in October, 1895, and resumed his residence in Bridge Creek, where he is now considered one of the prosperous and well to do citizens. In addition to his home farm of 200 acres, he owns 80 acres in Minnesota which is being operated by his son, Howard.
Mr. Smith married in 1879 Miss Augusta, daughter of August and Eliza (Matthews) Sherman, and they are the parents of three children, viz .: Harry E. resides in Minneapolis; Howard L. lives at Waltham, Minnesota, and Grace L. resides at home. Mrs. Sherman, mother of Mrs. Smith, was born in Canada, October 9, 1829, the daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Hall) Matthews, and is the only surviving member of a family of eleven children. She was married in 1842 and raised a family of whom Mrs. Smith
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and one son survive. She makes her home with her daughter. Mrs. Smith, and is a charming lady of 85 years, loved and re- spected by all who know her.
Mr. Smith, who has practically been a resident of this county since 1859, has seen many changes take place, and has had a hand in making many of the improvements in his township. Ile is publie spirited and enjoys the friendship of a wide circle of acquaintances. He is prominently connected with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, is a regular attendant of the Uni- versalist church and is independent in politics.
John Henry Smith, one of the pioneers of western Wisconsin, who is now retired and resides in Fairchild, Eau Claire county, was born near Columbus, Bartholomew county, Indiana, Septem- ber 11, 1832, the son of Adam C. and Cynthia Ann Smith, natives of Scotland and pioneer settlers of Bartholomew county where they lived until 1835. They then moved to Ilinois, locating on the East side of the Illinois river ten miles above Peoria, and there purchased 80 acres of land which they improved and brought to a good state of cultivation and there made their home until 1854, when they sold out and moved to Vernon county, Wis- consin, and homesteaded a quarter section of land. Here they set to work to clear and subdue the land and establish the fam- ily home where the father died in 1880. Of five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, four grew to maturity : John II., William T., Annie E., who first married Daniel Smalley and taking for her second husband George Norris, both of whom were veterans of the Civil War, and James M.
John Henry grew to manhood in Illinois, receiving his educa- tion in the common schools of that state and the graded schools of Kokomo, Ind. Ile came to Vernon county with his parents in 1854 and on July 21, 1863, located on Scott's Creek, Jackson county, within half a mile of what is now the village of Fair- child. There he purchased a farm of 80 acres, 40 of which he improved and there resided for five years when he disposed of his place and re-purchased 40 acres, one and a quarter miles east, of which he improved 20 acres and here made his home until 1906, when he retired and moved to the village of Fairchild, where he has since resided. A man fond of out-door life and adventure, a large part of Mr. Smith's carly life, after he be- came seventeen years of age, was spent in hunting and trapping in Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin.
On September 15, 1853, he married Rachel Gravley, daughter of William and Lydia (Higgs) Gravley, of Clarksville, Va .. and
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to them four children were born, Mary J:, who married James Sires, is deceased ; Sarah A., married Freeland Engalls : Ella and Lena A., wife of Thomas Wilson. Mr. Smith was a soldier in the Civil War, having enlisted July 31, 1862. in Company B. 20th Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, as a private, and took part in the battle of Prairie Grove, Ark., where he was wounded. Ile was also in several skirmishes in all of which he received three gun shot wounds, and on account of disability, was hon- orably discharged at Springfield, Mo., June 15. 1863, and has sinee made his home in Jackson and Eau Claire counties. Mr. Smith is the inventor of a patent potato machine which peels and washes the tubers ready for use. He is also an inventor of a patent barrel hoop which does away with rivets. Mr. Smith is now 82 years old, but his eyesight is perfect, and he can shoot with a rifle as accurately as in early life.
Orin Smith,* a representative and progressive farmer of Union township, was born in Lincoln, Sunbury Parish, New Brunswick, April 26, 1845, and is the eldest of a family of six children born to Captain Jeremiah and Elizabeth (Foss) Smith. Of the others, Leonard, born September 18, 1846, is deceased; David. born April 25, 1850, resides with our subject ; Louisa, born November 3. 1852. married Thomas Till, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume; Absalom, born February 10, 1854, and Emeline, born September 6, 1855. The father, who was born and raised in New Brunswick, was a well known lumberman, having been engaged in that business for many years. He lived to see many miles of timber land eleared and converted into fine farms. The latter part of his life was spent in farming. He died and was buried at Lincoln, New Brunswick. After the death of her husband. the widow, mother of our subject, moved to Eau Claire county and made her home with her sons in Union township, where she died at the age of nearly 80 years, and her remains were laid to rest in Lake View Cemetery.
Jeremiah Smith, grandfather of Orin, was born near Farming- hanı, England, and after serving as Captain in the British army, came to North America when about thirty years of age, locating in New Brunswick, where he also served as captain in the army located there. Ile was a pioneer of that country, which at the time of his loeating there, was but a wilderness. Ile cleared the land and followed farming as well as lumbering, and was instru- mental in having Great Britain make many colonizing settle- ments, and at the time of his death, he was considered one of the leading citizens of that section. Captain Jeremiah Smith, father
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of Orin, was born in Lincoln, N. B., February 19, 1823. He served as captain in the British army then located there, and married Elizabeth Foss, who was born July 24, 1815.
Orin Smith, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the common schools of his home town and lived at home with his parents, engaged in farming and lumbering until 1872, when he came to Wisconsin, loeating at Eau Claire. Soon after his ar- rival here, he entered the employ of the Eau Claire Lumber Com- pany, remaining with that firm six years. Ile spent eleven win- ters in the employ of the Valley Lumber Company, and since 1882 he has followed farming in Union township, devoting the winter months to lumbering up until 1898, since which time, his whole attention has been given up to farming and dairying. Ilis fine farm of 220 acres is well improved with modern buildings, and the place is well equipped with many up-to-date labor-sav- ing devices, and although he is now, 1914. 69 years old, he is active and can do a day's work with the best of men. He keeps a good herd of milch cows in his dairy, and the eream is sold to the Eau Claire Creamery Company.
Mr. Smith has been twice married; his first wife, Elizabeth Grass, whom he married in New Brunswick, died in the town of Union in 1892 and was buried in Lake View Cemetery in Eau Claire. He married for his second wife, Barbara Alma Smith, daughter of George Smith, of Union township, but of no relation. Mr. Smith is one of the prosperous men of his town and takes pride in making his one of the model homes in the county. Ile is a stockholder and director in the Union Threshing Machine Company of the town of Union, while in politics he is an inde- pendent Democrat.
S. E. Smith,* whose death occurred in Eau Claire on April 7. 1907, was deeply mourned by a large circle of friends and ac- quaintanees, was one of the city's enterprising and public-spirited men. Mrs. Smith, a charming lady of culture, opened a dress- making establishment in 1889, and by her good business qualifi- cations, honorable and upright dealing, has built up a good and substantial business, and at this time, 1914, is one of Eau Claire's most fashionable ladies' tailors, conducting her business at the same location in which she started some twenty-five years ago.
In religions circles she is prominently identified with the Catholie church, while Mr. Smith, in his life time, was a Congregationalist.
Mrs. Smith is a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Parquette) Charland. Her father, for some years, was engaged in agri- cultural pursuits in Washington township, but later moved to
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Seattle, Wash., where he now resides. They were married at Montreal, Canada, and reared a family of eight children, viz .: John, Ephriam, Mary, Eli, Frederick, Mildred E., Elizabeth and Henry.
John M. Sorlie, senior member of the firm of Sorlie-Buchholz Company, clothiers and gents' furnishings, Eau Claire, was born in Fredrikstad, Norway, October 3, 1861, son of Sever A. and Oleane Sorlie. Ile was reared in his native city, a place of twenty thousand population, graduated from the high school in 1877 and received a diploma from the agricultural school in 1879. He came to the United States in 1880 and located in Eau Claire on April 16, of that year, where he has since resided. After his arrival here, he worked several years at lumbering, spending the winters in the woods and the summers in the mills of Eau Claire for various lumber companies. On October 3, 1887, he entered the clothing house of H. J. A. Schafer, of Ean Claire, as clerk, and followed that occupation until 1900, when he was elected clerk of Eau Claire county, and served two consecutive terms. On January 7, 1904, he embarked in the grocery business as a mem- ber of the firm of Sorlie & Buchholz, in which he was engaged until March 9, 1905, when the Sorlie-Buchholz Company was in- corporated. The company deals exclusively in clothing and gents' furnishings, and is one of the leading and largest establish- ments of its kind in Eau Claire.
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