History of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, Part 57

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 57

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Lars Mikkleson Hansaasen, an early settler in Ettrick Township, where he is now living, was born in Ringsaker, Norway, April 27, 1837. He was married in his native land in September, 1858, and with his wife, Göner, who was born in the same part of Norway in March, 1836, came to the United States in 1862, locating on a farm in Lewis Valley, La Crosse County, Wis. About three years later they removed to Ettrick Township, Trempealeau County, Mr. Hansaasen homesteading a farm on Beaver Creek, where he is still living, after spending half a century in its culti- vation and improvement. The farm is now owned by his son-in-law, Alex- ander J. Ekern, who bought it. Mr. and Mrs. Hansaasen reared six chil- dren, their daughter Clara being the wife of Mr. Ekern, above mentioned, and another daughter, Lena, marrying Nicholas Enghagen.

Alexander J. Ekern is a successful agriculturist of Ettrick Township, his flourishing farm of 207 acres being located in sections 7 and 8, south. He was born in Gale Township, this county, July 19, 1863, son of Andrew and Oline (Amundson) Ekern. The parents were both natives of Biri, Norway, the date of the father's birth being May 19, 1834, and that of his wife Aug. 8, 1838. Andrew Ekern came to this country unmarried in 1852, locating on Coon Prairie, Vernon County, Wis. After working for others for awhile he engaged in farming in that locality, from which he removed

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later to La Crosse County, where he and his brother Gilbert bought a farm, on which he lived for a few years. In La Crosse County he also married. In 1860 he came with his wife to Trempealeau County and filed on a home- stead in Gale Township, which place was his home for the remainder of his life. He made important improvements on his property and did his full share in helping to develop the agricultural resources of the township. His death occurred Dec. 18, 1916. His wife died March 29, 1913. They had a family of nine children, Alexander J. being the first born.

Alexander J. Ekern was educated in the district school at Glasgow, Gale Township, and at the same time was taught farm work, assisting his father out of school hours, and all of the time after he laid aside his school books. At the age of 15 years he was practically self-supporting, and when a little older and stronger worked as a regular farm hand in the summer and at lumbering in the winter. This sort of life continued for about seven years, during which time he saved a part of his wages with a view to future independence. At the end of the period referred to he rented a farm in Gale Township for three years and then moved onto the farm which he now operates, purchasing the property at that time. Since then he has made many improvements in it, erecting new buildings, includ- ing barns and granaries, and has added considerably to the acreage of tilled land. His farming operations include dairying, and his prosperity has increased from year to year with the enlargement of his farm and herd. Mr. Ekern is also president of the Ettrick Creamery Company, and a stockholder and one of the incorporators of the Ettrick & Northern Railroad Company, the Western Wisconsin Telephone Company, and the Bank of Ettrick, also a director and president of the Scandinavian Insur- ance Company, having formerly held the office of vice-president. In poli- tics he is a Republican. Although a busy man, he has devoted a part of his time to town and county affairs, having served as chairman of the township board two years, being at the same time a member of the county board, as supervisor ten years and as clerk of the district school board two years. He was a member of the building committee that erected the new Lutheran church at Hardie's Creek, and has served as trustee of the church, to which he and his family belong. Mr. Ekern was married Nov. 11, 1885, to Clara Larson, who was born in Lewis' Valley, La Crosse County, Wis., daughter of Lars and Göner (Mikkleson) Hansaasen, both natives of Ringsaker, Norway, where they were married. Mrs. Ekern's father was born April 27, 1837, and her mother in March, 1836. After their marriage in September, 1858, they continued to reside in their native land for several years, but about 1862 emigrated to America, locating on a farm in La Crosse County, Wis. From there they removed later to Ettrick Township, Trempealeau County, where Mrs. Ekern's father homesteaded the farm now owned by Mr. Ekern, on which he is still living, being practically retired from active labor. He and his wife reared six children, Clara being the fourth born. Mr. and Mrs. Ekern are the parents of two children: Alfred L. and Gertrude O. Alfred L., who, after attending the local schools, took a course at the State Agricultural College at Madison,

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is now operating the home farm. He married Margaret Knutson, who was born at Beaver Creek, this county. Gertrude O., who is unmarried, resides at home.

Lars P. Larson, who is now living retired on his farm of 160 acres in section 11, Ettrick Township, after a long and active career, both as a pioneer and modern farmer, was born in Biri, Norway, Feb. 24, 1847. His parents were Peter and Carrie (Nelson) Larson, the father born Aug. 1, 1820, and the mother Dec. 9, 1819. In 1857 they arrived in the United States with their family and, proceeding westward, settled in Coon Valley, Vernon County, which was their place of residence for four years, or until June, 1861. They then came to Trempealeau County, making the journey partly by boat and partly on foot, bringing with them an ox team. Arriving in Ettrick Township, Peter Larson located on a piece of land in section 11, about half a mile from his present home, the present townships of Ettrick and Gale being then known as Gale. Building a log cabin, Mr. Larson began at once the work of improvement. This work, like that of all the pioneers, was strenuous, but he was already used to hard labor, as for some time after settling in Vernon County he had to get a living for himself and his family by splitting rails at 50 cents a day, boarding him- self, and had also swung a cradle all day long for 75 cents a day. Now, in addition to his heavy work on the homestead, he had to carry flour on his back from Lewis' Valley to Hardie's Creek, crossing Black River on a raft logs. His homestead consisted of 160 acres, which he took under the first homestead act. Later he sold this property to his son Lars P., and pur- chased a farm nearer Ettrick, which was his home for the remainder of his life, his death occurring Aug. 7, 1893. He was a prominent citizen of his township and was active in church work, also taking an interest in every- thing calculated to benefit the community in which he lived. His first wife, Mrs. Carrie (Nelson) Larson, died April 18, 1870, and he subsequently contracted a second marriage to Aynet Hugelus. Of the first union four children were born and of the second four: Lars P. Larson, who was the eldest son of his parents, attended school in Coon Valley and later in Beaver Valley, there being no school in Ettrick Township when the family first came here. When a boy he had few idle hours, at the age of 11 or 12 years being employed in driving a breaking team of oxen, for which he received 10 cents a day. He resided with his father until about 23 years of age, during that time acquiring an intimate knowledge of farming, especially under pioneer conditions. He was an expert ox teamster and during the early days skidded logs enough to build a village as large as Galesville. At the age of 23 he bought land and became a farmer on his own account. He also engaged in threshing, and drove breaking teams of from three to six oxen on a plow. His trading was done at Trempealeau, where also he sold his produce. There was at that time plenty of game in the vicinity ; deer were quite common and prairie chickens might be seen by thousands. Since those days Mr. Larson has made many improvements on his property and has advanced in prosperity with the years that have passed. He was married March 16, 1871, to Grace Elizabeth Smith, who was born in Leeds, England, daughter of George and Alice (Wilford) Smith, natives of the

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same city. The family came to the United States in the early '50s, settling in Walworth County, Wis. In 1864 they moved to Beaver Creek Valley, where Mr. Smith engaged in farming and was thus occupied until his death, in or about 1896. His wife died in 1878. Their daughter, Mrs. Larson, was the second born of four children. She died Feb. 5, 1915, after a long and happy married life of nearly 44 years. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Larson were three in number: Alice C., Emma Josephine and George Wil- ford. Alice C. is now the wife of Lud Emerson, a farmer living at North Bend, Wis. She has six children: James, Allan, Floys, Harold, Lila and Mary. Emma Josephine is the wife of Gustave Fillner, a salesman residing in Madison, Wis., and her children are: Laverne, Alice, Glenn, Layton, Vera and Mildred. George Wilford, the second member of the family, resides on the old homestead, which he is operating, his father being now retired. He married Pauline Emerson, of North Bend, and they have five children: Grace Annadine, Verna Lorena, Stanley George, Leslie Pearl and Robert Milton. Mr. Larson was reared in the faith of the Lutheran church, but the church he now attends is the Presbyterian. He is a staunch Republican politically, but never aspired to political office, though always taking an interest in good government, both National, State and local. As one whose early recollections extend back to pioneer days in this county, he is an authority on most matters connected with those early times and can, when he desires, narrate many interesting stories of the hardships formerly endured, the perils encountered, and also the compensations met with by the men and women who laid the foundations of Trempealeau County's present prosperity-among whom he, himself, was numbered.

Thomas A. Whalen, proprietor of a fine dairy farm of 200 acres in section 32, Ettrick Township, was born on his present farm, Sept. 3, 1866, son of Darby and Ann (Riley) Whalen. Darby Whalen was born in Con- naught, Ireland, Jan. 13, 1824, and came to America with his parents in 1833, they being among the early settlers of Ettrick Township, this county. Here in time he became an extensive land owner and farmer, spending his life in cultivation of the soil, raising stock and other farm work. He was a prominent citizen of the township and was at various times called upon to serve in public office, being a member of the township board and school board and also serving as justice of the peace. His death occurred in 1894. His wife, who was born in Fall River, Wis., Jan. 13, 1824, is still living and resides on the farm with her son Thomas. She was the mother of two . children, Thomas and Mary, Mary being also a resident of the home farm. Her education in part was obtained at the Winona Normal School, where she made good progress in advanced studies.

Thomas A. Whalen in his boyhood attended District School No. 8 in Ettrick Township, where he completed the education afforded the boy of those days. At an early age he learned the rudiments of farming and assisted his father until the latter's death, becoming its manager a number of years previous to that event. Subsequently becoming the proprietor, he has continued to develop and improve the property until it now ranks as one of the best dairy farms in the township. The buildings are sub- stantial and include a barn, 90 by 34 feet in dimensions, with a 9-foot base-

MRS. IVER P. ENGHAGEN, B. I. ENGHAGEN, IVER P. ENGHAGEN, BABY ENGHAGEN 0. 0. ENGEN, MRS. B. I. ENGHAGEN, MRS. O. O. ENGEN

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ment and 14-foot stockboards and cement floor. Both the barn and resi- dence are lighted with electricity and the latter with other modern con- veniences desirable for a comfortable home. On the farm there is also a first-clas silo, with an ample supply of machinery and implements neces- sary for up-to-date dairy farming. Mr. Whalen is also a stockholder in the Ettrick & Northern Railroad.

Jan. 10, 1906, Mr. Whalen was married to Bridget Harmon, who was born in Ettrick Township, about a mile from the Whalen farm. She at- tended the district schools, the Galesville High School and completed her studies with a term at the Gale College, after which she became a proficient teacher, teaching four years in Wisconsin and five years in Illinois. Her parents were Thomas and Julia (Rafter) Harmon. Mr. and Mrs. Whalen have one child, Thomas Harold, who was born Feb. 21, 1907. The family are members of the Catholic church. In politics Mr. Whalen is indepen- dent. He is now serving as president of the school board and is a man whose interests and sympathies are not confined to the limits of his own family circle, but who is always ready to do his part as a good citizen, and render aid when necessary to promote some worthy cause with the object of bettering the community at large.

Iver P. Enghagen, who was for many years, until his death, Dec. 17, 1914, one of the leading citizens of Ettrick Township, where he was an early settler, was born in Lillehamer, Province of Faaberg, Norway, and came to the United States in 1860 when a young man, unable to speak English. He resided for about two years in La Crosse County, Wis., but subsequently moved to Trempealeau County, where he was married to Inge- borg Jacobson, who was born in Hadeland, Norway. Buying a farm on French Creek, in Ettrick Township, he engaged in agriculture and continued to improve his property for the rest of his life, which came to an end Dec. 17, 1914. He was also interested in other business enterprises. He as- sisted in organizing the Scandinavian Insurance Company, of which he was cashier until his death ; was financially interested in the Ettrick Cream- ery Company, the Bank of Ettrick, the Farmers' and Merchants' Bank of Galesville, and the Western Wisconsin Telephone Company, of which he was a director for a number of years. Mr. Enghagen was also assessor of Ettrick Township for seven or eight years and served on the township board for a number of years. Though he had never gone to school a day in his life, he was a natural mathematician and could figure as rapidly and accu- rately as any college student. As cashier of the Scandinavian Insurance Company he handled for many years all the money of the company-a large amount annually-and was always correct in his accounts. He also helped to organize the Lutheran church, becoming its treasurer, and at a later period was presented with a fine gold watch as a reward for his faithful services. His wife, who survives him, still resides on the old homestead, now owned by their son, Bernt I. Enghagen. Their family numbered six children, as follows: Peter Julius, now a merchant in Galesville; Amelia, now Mrs. Martin Madson; Nicholas, a farmer in Ettrick Township; Minnie, who is deceased ; Bernt I., proprietor of the old home farm, and Josephine, who is now Mrs. Gilbert Hogden.

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Bernt I. Enghagen, who is engaged in farming the old Enghagen home in section 27 (west), Ettrick Township, was born on this farm June 27, 1878, son of Iver P. and Ingeborg (Jacobson) Enghagen. In his boyhood he attended school both in Ettrick township and Ettrick Village. From his early youth until reaching the age of 35 years he was associated with his father in the operation of the home farm, and has always resided on it. On his father's death he purchased the property and now has 160 acres of land, which he devotes to general farming. The estate is well improved and shows the results of the care that has been lavished on it for so many years. Mr. Enghagen is also a stockholder in the Western Wisconsin Tele- phone Company, the Ettrick & Northern Railroad and the Hammer-Eng- hagen Company, Inc. (general merchants), at Galesville, of which his brother, Peter J., is a member. In politics he is a Republican, but not active in public affairs. His religious affiliations are with the Lutheran church at French Creek.

Mr. Enghagen was married Oct. 25, 1913, to Miss Julia Engen, who was born in Arcadia Township, daughter of Ole and Helena (Haakensen) Engen, both natives of Norway, the father born in Ringsaker, Oct. 31, 1841. Ole Engen emigrated to the United States when a young man, in 1868. He worked in La Crosse County, Wis., one summer, and then came to Ettrick Township, Trempealeau County, teaching parochial school for several years, and also being engaged in farming. He was married in this county, June 9, 1871, to Helena Haakensen, who was born in Norway, Jan. 2, 1840, and died Oct. 31, 1911. After being occupied as above mentioned for several years, he moved to Big Tamarac, where he and his family made their home for ten years, and then returned to the farm which is now the home of Nicholas Enghagen, and where he resided from 1883 to 1914. In the latter year he took up his residence with the subject of this sketch, on whose farm he is now living retired. He taught Norwegian school here and was an active officer in the Lutheran church, being secretary of the congregation for 27 years. He and his wife had four children, of whom the only one now sur- viving is Julia (Mrs. B. I. Enghagen). She acquired her early education in the district school in Ettrick Township and subsequently attended the Ladies' Lutheran Seminary at Red Wing, Minn., being graduated with the class of 1900. Later she taught parochial school for four years near Westby, Vernon County, Wis., and two terms of school in Beaver Creek Valley, Ettrick Township. Mr. and Mrs. Enghagen have one child, Helena Ingeborg, who was born July 2, 1915.

William Willinger, who is engaged in operating a good farm in section 36, Gale Township, was born in Holland, Oct. 10, 1857, son of Abe and Clara (Kuik) Willinger, who also were both natives of Holland, in which country his mother died. In 1882 the father came to the United States, settling in Amsterdam, La Crosse County, Wis., where he died about 1901.

William Willinger was the youngest member of a family of four chil- dren. He was educated in Holland and was 31 years of age when he came to this country. For a number of years subsequently he worked for his brothers in La Crosse County, and also for others, and then came to Trem- pealeau County, renting a farm near Ettrick, where he remained three years.

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At the end of that time he bought a farm in Gale Township, above Decorah Prairie, and operated it for five years. He then sold it and purchased a farm in Silver Creek Valley, where he lived and worked for four years. Then, selling that farm, he bought the old John Davidson farm, on which he now resides. The farm contains 80 acres, and in addition to this Mr. Willinger owns 201/2 acres of woodland on Black River. He practices general farming and is doing a prosperous business.

In May, 1882, Mr. Willinger was married to Katherine De Groot, a native of Holland, by whom he had four children: Abe and John, both single and residing at home ; Clara and Susan, who are both deceased. Mrs. Katherine Willinger died in 1895, and on March 14, 1899, Mr. Willinger married for his second wife Katherine Grassma, who was born in Holland Township, La Crosse County, Wis. Her parents, Bouke and Clara (Tickler) Grassma, were born in Holland and at an early date, now forgotten, came to the United States in a sailing vessel, locating immediately in La Crosse County. There Mr. Grassma worked for various people in different lines of industry, including that of clerk. Later he engaged in farming and also conducted a truck business for a while. He was a veteran of the Civil War. Both he and his wife are now deceased. They had a large family numbering 13 children, of whom their daughter Katherine was the eighth in order of birth. Mr. Willinger and his family attend the Presbyterian church, of which, however, he is not a member. His son John belongs to the Order of Beavers and Yeomen.

Nicholas Enghagen, a farmer in section 34 W., Ettrick Township, was born in French Valley, Ettrick Township, Dec. 2, 1869, son of Iver P. and Ingeborg (Jacobson) Enghagen. In his boyhood he attended the school at French Creek. He resided on his parents' farm until he was 39 years old, assisting in its cultivation. Then purchasing a farm on the South Branch of Beaver Creek, he operated it until about two years ago, when he sold it and bought his present farm of 83 acres, at the mouth of French Creek. Here he carries on general farming and is also a stockholder in the Ettrick Creamery. Sept. 30, 1909, Mr. Enghagen was united in marriage with Lena Larson, who was born on the South Branch of Beaver Creek, in Ettrick Township. Her parents, Lars and Goner (Mikkleson) Hansaasen, were born in Norway and came to the United States in 1862, locating first in Lewis Valley, La Crosse County, where they spent three years. They then came to Trempealeau County, the father taking a farm on Beaver Creek, where he is still living, having spent half a century in its cultivation and improvement. Their daughter Lena was the youngest of the six children they reared and was educated in the district school of Ettrick Township. Mr. and Mrs. Enghagen have one child, Ingred Genevieve, who was born June 19, 1910. The family are members of the Lutheran church, and in politics Mr. Enghagen is a Republican. Though his farm is not one of the largest in the township, it is well equipped with everything necessary in the way of buildings and machinery and he is doing a profitable business.

Mrs. Thomas D. Wilcox, a widely-known and highly-respected resident of Trempealeau Township, was born at Delhi, Delaware County, N. Y., April 15, 1848, daughter of John and Euphemia (Thompson) Gillies. In the

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spring of 1849, while yet a babe, she accompanied her parents to Fond du Lac County, Wis., they settling on a farm near Waupun. John Gillies, who was a miller by trade, divided his time between farming and milling, following the latter occupation in mills at Fairwater and Waupun. In the spring of 1855 Mr. Gillies started with his family for Minnesota, but falling in on the way with some other people who were seeking a good location for settlement, he decided, after talking the matter over with them, to halt on the east side of the Mississippi River, and accordingly stayed in Buffalo County a few days. Not being satisfied with that region after a short stay, he returned south to Trempealeau County, which he had passed through on his way up the river, and settled in section 7, Trempealeau Township, where he bought 160 acres of wild government land. With this to begin with, he started in to develop a good homestead, and from time to time added to his farm until he had in all some 400 acres, part of this property being what is now known as the Wilcox and Jones farm. On this land he built the present residence, which it was his intention to enlarge; but having traded a yoke of oxen for 14,000 feet of lumber, he gave the lumber away at different times to neighbors who wished to build shanties, until he had none left, and, as most of his sons went to the war, he never rebuilt or enlarged the old home. He died Nov. 7, 1908, at the home of his son Richard, in Trempealeau Township. At the time of his death he had been a widower for some ten years, as his wife had passed away Jan. 25, 1898, at the old home in section 7. For many years before her death she had suffered from the affliction of blindness. Her remains now repose with those of her husband in the cemetery at Trempealeau Village.

Their daughter, Mary Gillies, subject of this sketch, was brought up on the parental farm, where she lived until she was 29 years old, assisting in the care of the home, and for a number of years taught in the rural schools of Trempealeau County, and also taught one term in Buffalo County, Wis., and one term in Winona County, Minn. June 14, 1877, she was married there to Thomas D. Wilcox, the ceremony being performed by Elder Owen, pastor of the Trempealeau Congregational church. Her husband at the time of their marriage owned an undivided half of the Thomas Gillies place in section 17, Trempealeau Township, and as a bride she went to this place to begin housekeeping for herself. Mr. Wilcox had fought for the Union in the Civil War and came home with very poor health, but he continued farming operations for many years, dying in Trempealean Township, April 8, 1908, near the village of Trempealeau. He was buried in the village cemetery. He belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic, but was not a member of any other fraternal societies. In politics he was a Republican, but held no political offices. For many years he was a member of Trempea- leau Methodist Episcopal church, which his wife attended with him, although reared a Congregationalist. Their only son and child, Dean G. Wilcox, was born on the Booth place in Trempealeau Township, July 8, 1882, and is now one of the proprietors of the Wilcox and Jones farm, in Trempea- leau Township.

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History of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, Part 57

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