History of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, Part 46

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Pierce, Eben Douglas
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Chicago Winona : H.C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1318

USA > Wisconsin > Trempealeau County > History of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin > Part 46

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Walter Birchard, a stock dealer, now partially retired, who resides on

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a farm of 57 acres almost adjoining the city limits of Galesville, was born at Black River Falls, Wis., Aug. 13, 1854, son of Harrison and Elizabeth (Heinick) Birchard. Harrison Birchard was born in Detroit County, New York, in 1827, and came to Wisconsin about 1848. After a short stay here he returned to New York state, but came back to Wisconsin in 1851, when he married and engaged in the lumber business at Black River Falls, which place was his home until 1878. At times he followed the occupation of river pilot on the Mississippi, his services being so much in demand that he was paid at the rate of $10 a day. In 1878 he came to Galesville and conducted a lumber yard here for a number of years subsequently. He also engaged in the butcher business for awhile, and later became a farmer. He died Aug. 31, 1905, after having been some years retired. A man of ability and force of character, he was prominent in every community in which he lived, while a resident of Black River Falls serving on the township board, and later as assessor of Gale Township, besides holding other office at various times. He was twice married, his first wife, Elizabeth, dying in 1866. She was the mother of five children, including the subject of this sketch. Of Harrison Birchard's second marriage one child was born.

Walter Birchard when a boy attended school at Black River Falls. When 15 years old he became his father's assistant and so continued until he married. At that time-1882-he settled on the farm where he now resides, and engaged in buying cattle for the market. He also for awhile operated a butcher business in Galesville. Though now practically retired, his son operating the farm, he still buys stock at intervals. Mr. Birchard is an independent Republican in politics, and served as assessor of Gale Township for a number of years. Fraternally he is connected with the Red Men, Beavers and Guardians of Liberty. Dec. 27, 1882, Mr. Birchard was united in marriage with Leah Thomas, who was born at Mineral Point, Iowa County, Wis., daughter of Peter and Leah (Ayer) Thomas, who set- tled in Trempealeau County in 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Birchard are the parents of two children : Mildred G., who is the wife of Ingvald Nelson, a merchant of Stoughton, Wis., and Warren E., who is engaged in working the home farm.

Goodwin Toraason, D.D.S., successfully practicing his profession in Blair, is a native of this village, born Nov. 4, 1885, son of Peder and Carrie (Lovberg) Toraason. He was reared in the village of his birth, passed through the graded and high school, and entered the dental department of the Northwestern University, at Chicago, graduating in 1908. In the fall of 1908 he opened an office here. Dr. Toraason became interested in baseball as a young boy, when he played on vacant lots with the other youngsters. His abilities increased and in time he became a professional ball player. In 1907 he pitched the town team of Blair to many a victory against semi-professional and professional teams, and in 1908 he did excel- lent work as pitcher for the Manitowoc team in the Lake Shore League. He has since received many flattering offers, but chooses to devote his time to the practice of his profession. Dr. Toraason was married Sept. 4, 1912, to Theresa Gilbert, daughter of T. I. and Maria (Thirston) Gilbert, the former of whom, a merchant of Blair, died in 1904, the latter now making

ISAAC ARTHUR DUTTON AND FAMILY

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her home in Blair. Dr. and Mrs. Toraason have one son, Goodwin Ernest, born Feb. 6, 1914. Peder Toraason, father of Dr. Toraason, was born in Soler, Norway, and in 1866 came to this county and located in Blair, where he and his wife still reside. They are the parents of ten children: Tena, Lena, Ole, Minnie, Palmer, Claus, Goodwin, Clifford M., Stella and Hiram. Lena is the wife of James Harvey of St. Paul. Ole lives in Westby, Mont. Minnie is the wife of H. A. Lober of Minneapolis. The rest are all in Blair.

Oscar B. Johnson, of the firm of Hanson & Johnson, hardware and implement dealers of Blair, was born in Preston Township, this county, Jan. 1, 1880, son of Bent B. and Martha (Otterson) Johnson, the former of whom came from Norway and took a homestead in Preston Township in 1865. Oscar B. Johnson was reared to farm pursuits and remained on the home farm until 1904, when he went to Springfield township, in Jackson County, and there farmed until 1911. Then he returned to Blair, and pur- chased the blacksmith shop of Ole L. Olson. His connection with his present firm dates from Jan. 20, 1915. Mr. Johnson is well known in the com- munity, and has served on the city council. The family faith is that of the United Norwegian Lutheran Church. Mr. Johnson was married May 14, 1903, to Christina Nordness of Lincoln Township, this county, daughter of Ole and Bagnild Nordness. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have two children: Bernice and Raymond.

Isaac Arthur Dutton, proprietor of Maplewood farm in section 9, Trem- pealeau Township, was born at Whitewater, Walworth County, Wis., June 12, 1855, son of John and Delia B. (Huntley) Dutton, who were residents of Utica, N. Y. Both parents were born in the state of New York and they were married in Utica in May, 1846. In 1850 they moved to Wisconsin, going by way of the Great Lakes to Milwaukee, and then overland to Whitewater, Wis., by team. Here John Dutton bought 160 acres of unim- proved land, and there being no house on it he and his family spent the first six months in a corn crib. In 1857 he built a frame house one and a half stories in height, with five rooms below and two upstairs. This house is still standing and is now occupied by Mrs. Esther Hanson, a cousin of the subject of this sketch. In 1866 the Dutton family moved to Trempealeau County, the parents, with their son Isaac A., coming by train to La Crosse, while Charles, another son, and Henry Cox, a friend, drove a team across the country. Reuniting at La Crosse, they came the rest of the way to Trempealeau County up the river on the ice. The father had bought 200 acres of wild land in section 10, Trempealeau Township, now known as the Shumway place; also 40 acres of timber land near Henry Kopp's present homestead in section 22. He now constructed a frame house, consisting of an upright and "L," and containing 10 rooms, and a two-story granary. Here John Dutton and his family resided until 1880, when he retired and moved to Galesville. He died in Galesville March 5, 1907, being survived several years by his wife, who died in that village April 4, 1911. Their children were: Charles, born in New York state, in December, 1846, who is an employee of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company and resides at Winona, Minn .; Mary Ellen, born in New York state in April, 1850, who is the wife of the Rev. A. L. Tull, a Methodist minister, now resid-

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ing at Atlanta, Ga .; Lydia Ann, born at Whitewater, Wis., Dec. 25, 1852, who married George Tobey of Trempealeau and died in 1874, being buried in Evergreen Cemetery; Isaac Arthur, whose name appears at the head of this sketch; Alice, born at Whitewater, who died in infancy and was buried there; George Ellsworth, born at Whitewater, March 13, 1861, who died February, 1901, and is buried at "High Cliff," Galesville, Wis .; Cora Belle, born Oct. 5, 1866, at Whitewater, and now living at Seattle, Wash., the widow of George E. Sanderson; Jennie Euretta, born Sept. 19, 1870, who is unmarried and is living at Winona, Minn., where she is matron at the Young Woman's Christian Association.

Isaac Arthur Dutton resided with his parents on the old Dutton home- stead farm until he was 23 years old. He was educated in district school No. 9. Trempealeau Township, which he attended until the age of 16 years, then at Wasioja, Minn., and later at the Trempealeau high school. Nov. 10, 1878, he was married at Centerville, Wis., by Rev. A. L. Tull of the M. E. Church (a brother-in-law) to Eveline Lydia, daughter of Zebulon Mantor and Minerva Jane (Cook) Viles. She was born in Richmond, Walworth County, Wis., and on the father's side is a descendant of John Hancock, and on the mother's of the Marquis de Lafayette, and from 1861 up to the present time has resided in the same township and within sight of the house in which she lived 35 years ago. She was educated in Trem- pealeau Township, and as a girl went barefooted to school, church and Sunday school over the road she now traverses in an automobile. When she first came to this township from Whitewater she made the journey by ox team, which required two weeks, but in 1915 she visited her old home, going by automobile and thoroughly enjoying the contrast afforded by that method of travel with the primitive methods of her younger days, this last trip being made in two days.

After his marriage Mr. Dutton remained on his farm until 1885, and then, in the spring of that year, bought 80 acres in section 9, to which land he had added 100 more adjoining it on the west. He has greatly improved the house, which was a very primitive dwelling, and has erected several other buildings, among them in 1896 the first round barn in Trempealeau Township. This barn has an 80-foot drain, with 20-foot studding, and a stone basement, with a silo in the center of the barn, 44 by 16 feet, and having a capacity of 170 tons. His other buildings include hog, corn and hen houses. He keeps a good herd of grade cows and markets about 125 hogs annually, and is doing a prosperous dairy business. He has thor- oughly equipped creamery, turning out annually about 5,000 gallons of cream, which he ships to La Crosse. For 25 years he was a breeder of Red Poll registered cattle, and attained a high reputation, exhibiting at the Chicago International Fat Stock Show, and at the Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin State Fairs annually. He always carried about 50 head and sold and shipped registered stock to Tennessee and other southern states, to many western states, and to Canada. For 16 years the entire butter product of Maplewood Farm was marketed in Winona, Minn., at a uniform price of 25 cents a pound.

Mr. and Mrs. Dutton have had three children: Carroll Arthur, Mabel

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Eva and Mae Belle. Carroll Arthur was born Nov. 13, 1879, in Trem- pealeau Township. He attended the district school, Trempealeau high school for two years, and Gale College two years, afterwards taking a two years' course in the agricultural College of Wisconsin. He resides at home and assists his father in the management of the dairy, in which line of work he is very competent. While at the agricultural college he was the winner of two medals in a class of 101 members, first prize as the best judge of horses and the second prize as best judge of cattle, hogs and sheep. Mabel Eva, born July 12, 1884, in Trempealeau Township, died Aug. 11, 1887, and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery. Mae Belle, born Aug. 6, 1889, also in this township. She was graduated from the Trempealeau high school in 1909, and trained as nurse at Asbury Hospital, Minneapolis. April 12, 1917, she was united in marriage to H. W. Coit. They reside on a farm in Gale Township. Mr. Dutton is a stockholder in the Western Wisconsin Telephone Company, and a stockholder in and life member of the Inter- national Fat Stock Show, Chicago. He is a Prohibitionist by principle, and he and his family are members of the Centerville M. E. Church, of which he has been a trustee for years, Mrs. Dutton being a member of the Ladies' Aid Society. Their home, Maplewood Farm, is one of the best pieces of agricultural property in this part of the county. The soil is a dark silty loam, mixed with fine sand, but without gravel, and the land is sufficiently rolling to make perfect drainage. The buildings are located on a gentle rise of ground, sloping south, and sheltered on the west by a large grove of maple trees, from which the farm derives its name. The equipment of machinery and tools is very complete and the best of its kind. Church and school are located but three-quarters of a mile away, while two stores and blacksmith shop are within a mile and a quarter. The farm has been the home of the Duttons for 32 years and has always been operated as a combined dairy and general stock farm. Nearly all hay and grain pro- duced has been fed on the farm and the manure returned to the land.

Carl L. Kittleson, a business man of Galesville, was born in Ettrick Township, this county, April 6, 1880, son of Lars and Sena (Olson) Kittle- son. Lars Kittleson was born in Perry Township, Dane County, this state, Aug. 23, 1859. He was brought to Ettrick Township, by his parents, as a lad of six years, was here reared, and finally inherited the home place, now owning 220 acres, on which he conducts general farming. Carl L. Kittleson remained at home until 17 years of age, and then found employment as a farm hand. Later he found work in a creamery. Wishing to further per- fect himself in this line of industry he entered the Dairy School of the University of Wisconsin in November, 1902. With this preparation he was successively employed as cheese maker at Kewaunee, Wis., one season, and as butter maker at Ettrick, Wis. ; helper, St. Paul, Minn., Salt Lake City, Utah, Osseo, Wis. In May, 1909, he purchased a restaurant at Osseo. Three years later, his lease having expired, he came to Galesville and pur- chased the Hauge & Ragness restaurant, which he has since conducted. In addition to operating the restaurant, which he had moved from the Grover block to the old Funston building, which he now owns, he conducts a soda fountain and ice cream parlor, manufacturing all his ice cream. His estab-

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lishment is equipped with modern devices, and his fountain is of the latest design. Mr. Kittleson was married May 12, 1909, to Augusta Frase, daughter of William and Charlotte (Geske) Frase. William Frase was born in Posen, Germany, in 1855, came to America at the age of 17 years, located in Otter Creek Township, Eau Claire County, and there engaged in farming until his death, Oct. 28, 1904. He was an influential citizen and served on the school board for many years. His wife was born Sept. 22, 1858, and now lives in Augusta, Wis.

Ernest H. Butman, who is engaged in farming in section 36, Gale Township, was born at Decorah Prairie, on the farm on which his father is now residing, son of Stark and Mary Jane (Lynn) Butman. Ernest H. Butman was the sixth born of nine children. He was educated in the dis- trict school at Decorah Prairie and was brought up to agricultural pursuits. He resided with his parents until his marriage and then rented a farm in Gale Township, on which he lived for about two years. At the end of that time he purchased the farm, in company with his brother Milton, and operated it for a number of years, after which he exchanged his interest in the place with his father for a part of his present farm and has since resided here. He has now 100 acres of highly improved land on Decorah Prairie, and carries on general farming. He has made all the improve- ments on the place and has modern and convenient buildings. His outside interests include the ownership of stock in the Farmers Exchange, the La Crosse Packing Company and the Independent Harvester Company at Plano, Ill. March 15, 1899, Mr. Butman was married to Elizabeth M. Burt, who was born in Cross Township, Buffalo County, Wis., daughter of Robert and Jeanette (Davidson) Burt. Her parents were natives of Scotland, who came to the United States about 1855, before their marriage, the latter event taking place in Wisconsin. Robert Burt is now a resident of Winona, Minn. His wife, who was a daughter of John and Mary (Young) Davidson, is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Butman have three children: Lloyd Ernest, Burel Stark and Mary Jane, all residing at home. Mr. Butman is inde- pendent in politics. He has served on the school board for a number of years and is the present clerk of the board of education of his district. His fraternal affiliations are with the Order of Beavers.

Christian N. Brenengen, proprietor of an excellent farm of 274 acres in section 11, Gale Township, was born near the city of Christiania, Norway, Oct. 31, 1861, son of Nels and Nettie (Johnson) Brenengen, who came with their family to Gale Township, Trempealeau County, Wis., in June, 1880. Further mention of the parents may be found in biographies of other mem- bers of the family. Christian N. Brenengen was 18 years of age when he arrived in America and was unable to speak English. He had begun industrial life at the age of 14 or 15 years in Norway, where he had worked in a livery stable for three years. After coming here he found work as a farm hand at $16 a month, and was thus occupied for years. He then began working in the woods in the winter time, at logging, and in the summer was employed on the farm of John McKeeth, his logging operations being on the Mississippi River. When 26 years of age he married, and at that time entered the employ of the Iver-Pederson Company, at Ettrick,

MR. AND MRS. J. W. JONES AND GRANDCHILD

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driving a four-horse team for nine years. During all these years he was saving his money until at last he found himself able to purchase his present farm. Some time after this he gave up his position with the Iver-Pederson Company, and, moving onto his farm, began agricultural operations. He has since made a number of valuable improvements on his place, having a fine modern residence and two separate water systems, and his barns and other buildings are substantial and equipped with all necessary appliances. . Mr. Brenengen started farming with about $500 capital and has since made steady strides in prosperity until he is now one of the well-to-do men of his township. He has given his whole attention to his farm and is not an office holder. In politics he is independent. Oct. 26, 1887, he was married to Julia Olson, who was born in Norway, near Christiania, daughter of Ole and Johanna (Johnson) Estby, who were natives of the same place. Her father dying in Norway, her mother came to this country in 1886, residing first in Galesville and afterwards in Ettrick, in which village she died in 1906. Their daughter Julia was the youngest of three children, and attended school in Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Brenengen are the parents of 12 children, all born in Trempealeau County, and all of whom are living, namely: Orron, who married Johanna Paulson and is a farmer residing near the Brenengen homestead; Guy, single and residing at home; Nels, who married Lillian Madolin and lives in Blair; George, single and living at home; Arthur, who married Selma Osley and lives near Ettrick; and Lottie, Amelia, Anna, Norah, Alice, Christ and Joseph, all living at home. Mr. Brenengen is a stockholder in the Ettrick Creamery. He and his family are members of the Lutheran Synod church.

John W. Jones, an enterprising agriculturist of Gale Township, who is carrying on general farming and dairying in section 16, was born in Cadiz Township, Green County, Wis., Nov. 21, 1854. His father, Kinsey Jones, born in Coshocton County, Ohio, Dec. 31, 1827, was a farmer who located in Green County, Wis., where he followed his occupation for some years, or until September, 1855, when he came to Trempealeau County, taking a farm in Caledonia Township. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Shrake, and who was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, April 9, 1833, accom- panied him, with their son John. After their arrival here a daughter was born to them, who was the first white girl born in the county. April 17, 1866, Kinsey Jones and family removed to what is now the Herman farm, Gale Township, which was his last place of residence, as he died there Dec. 22, 1881. He was a steady, reliable citizen, but took no active part in public affairs, devoting all his time and attention to his farm. His wife survived him about 25 years, dying at Oberon, N. D., Feb. 30, 1907. They were the parents of a large family numbering 14 children, of whom John W. was the second in order of birth.

John W. Jones first attended school in Caledonia Township and after- wards in Crystal Valley, Gale Township. He resided with his parents until he was 21 years old, and worked for his father both during that period and afterward until he was 27. He then purchased 100 acres of land, forming a part of the farm on which he now lives. There were no improvements on it at the time, but since then he has increased its size to 240 acres and

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erected all necessary buildings, which are modern in construction and equip- ment. Besides raising the usual crops, he keeps cattle and hogs and is doing a good dairy business. Mr. Jones was married July 13, 1877, to Ida McClary, who was born at New Bedford, Hillsboro County, N. H., daughter of Daniel and Harriet (Wyman) McClary, her father being a native of the same place, and her mother of Grasmere, in the same county, born July 8, 1827. Daniel McClary, who was a farmer, came to Gale Township, this county, in 1856, with his family from Beloit, Wis., where he had resided about six months. He located on a farm near Galesville, and the bridge known as McClary bridge was named after him and his family. He and his wife had six children, of whom their daughter Ida (Mrs. Jones) was the second born. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are the parents of six children: May, wife of William Kribs, a carpenter residing in Trempealeau; Effie, wife of Hiram Warner, a salesman of Coldwater, Mich .; Rosie, wife of Earl Hall a farmer living near Tunnel City, Wis .; Leonard, Grace and Dean, who are unmarried and living at home. Mr. Jones is independent in politics, but has not taken any active part in political matters, preferring to devote his attention to his farming interests. He and his family are widely known in this part of the county and have many friends.

Sever J. Brovold, who carried on agriculture successfully for a number of years in Ettrick Township, and is now living retired on his farm in section 20, was born in Hardanger, Norway, Feb. 14, 1852. His parents were John and Christe (Twite) Brovold, natives of the same place, who came to America in 1866, locating in Beaver Creek Valley, Trempealeau County, Wis., where John Brovold purchased a tract of unimproved land. This he cleared and developed into a good farm, on which he spent the balance of his life, dying in September, 1890. His wife died in March, 1911. He was a good neighbor and well liked, but was a man who attended to his own business and took no part in public affairs.

Sever J. Brovold was the second born of five children. He attended school in Beaver Creek Valley, and assisted his father until he was 21 years old, when the management of the farm came into his hands. Two years later he bought it and has since operated it on his own account. He has made many improvements on the place, having put up modern buildings, and has a full equipment of first-class machinery and implements. The farm contains 205 acres of highly improved land, and here, though now retired, Mr. Brovold expects to reside in the future. He is a stockholder in the Ettrick Creamery Company, in the Bank of Ettrick and in the First National Bank of Blair. In politics, though not a strict party man, he usually votes the Republican ticket. For about 16 years he has served as a member of the school board of his district. July 2, 1875, Mr. Brovold was united in marriage with Mrs. Martha (Gunderson) Hagestad, daughter of Torkel and Anna (Rasmussen) Gunderson, natives of Norway, from which country they came with their family to the United States in 1854, settling at Lodi, Dane County, where Mr. Gunderson farmed for about five years. The family then removed to Jackson County, driving overland with an ox team and settling just across the county line, where Mr. Gunderson resumed his farming operations. There both he and his wife died in 1891.

MR. AND MRS. SAMUEL BARR

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They left three children, of whom their daughter Martha was the youngest. She was first married to Ole Hagestad, by whom she had one child, Anna, now the wife of John Knutson, of Ettrick Township. From her marriage with Mr. Brovold four children have been born: Josephine, Amelia, Theo- dore, born Aug. 25, 1885, and Archie J., born March 2, 1894. Josephine and Amelia are deceased. Theodore resides at home.

Archie J. Brovold, proprietor of the old Brovold homestead in Ettrick Township, was born March 2, 1894, son of Sever J. Brovold and his wife, Martha, whose surname was Gunderson. In his boyhood he attended the Beach District School and subsequently entered the Scandinavia Academy at Scandinavia, Wis., where he completed the four years' academic course. In 1915 he was graduated from the agricultural department of the State University at Madison, after completing the short course. He is now the owner of the parental homestead and intends to engage more extensively in the dairy business. He breeds Guernsey cattle, owning a pure-bred sire, and is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Blair, the Ettrick Cream- ery Company, the Ettrick Telephone Company, the Scandinavian Insurance Company, and a member of the Wisconsin Agricultural Experimental Asso- ciation and the Alfalfa Order.

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History of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, Part 46

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Pierce, Eben Douglas Publication date: 1917 Publisher: Chicago Winona : H.C. Cooper Number of Pages: 1318

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Pierce, Eben Douglas
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Chicago Winona : H.C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1318