USA > Wisconsin > Trempealeau County > History of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin > Part 60
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HISTORY OF TREMPEALEAU COUNTY
building a frame house, 24 by 28 feet, a barn 16 by 34 feet, and a granary of the same size as the barn. In 1884 his health broke down and he rented his Minnesota farm to a tenant and returning to Trempealeau County took up his residence in Trempealeau Village. For five years after settling in the village Mr. Babbitt did little or nothing, but in 1889, tired of inactivity, and his health being improved, he bought the Rudolph place of 44 acres, situated on the edge of the village, and moved to it with his family. Since then he has purchased some adjoining land so that now his farm contains 75 acres. The farm was improved at the time he bought it, there being a three-story house on it, 20 by 34 feet, with stone basement. Mr. Babbitt in 1901 added to the house a frame wing, 14 by 30 feet, and has since erected a tool shed, 16 by 28, and a woodshed, 14 by 20 feet, with shop attached, having also other substantial outbuildings.
January 23, 1878, Mr. Babbitt was married to Helen, daughter of Edward A. and Margaret C. Barnard of Caledonia Township, Trempealeau County, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride's parents. He and his wife have had a family of 12 children: Edward A., Elbert J., Frank T., William H., Grace M., Ella R., Louis M., Ruth C., George R., Harry R., John C. and Virgil A. All of these children are living, except Harry R., who was born May 16, 1898, and died May 22, 1911, at the age of 13 years. William H., born October 7, 1884, is married and resides near Trempealeau Village. Grace M., born December 8, 1889, is unmarried and is a telegraph operator, residing at home. Ella R., born March 20, 1892, follows the same occupation as her sister Grace and also resides at home. Louis M., born Oct. 15, 1893, is a plumber, unmarried, and resides at Seymour, Wis. Ruth C., born Jan. 25, 1896, is unmarried, a high school graduate residing at home. George R., born Jan. 30, 1897, spent two years in the high school and is now engaged as a section hand. John C., born April 9, 1899, also studied two years in the high school. Virgil A., born June 9, 1903, resides at home and is attending school in Trempealeau. Mr. Babbitt is independent in politics, but has not been active politically and has held no public offices. He belongs to Lodge No. 117, A. F. & A. M. of Trempealeau. Though reared a Baptist he belongs to no church, but sup- ports the cause of religion without regard to denominational affiliations. In addition to his property already mentioned, he owns 100 acres one mile north of the village, and 80 acres of "bottom land" four miles southeast in La Crosse County, Wisconsin.
Thomas M. Hagen, who owns and operates Woodland Farm of 240 acres in section 5, Pigeon Township, is one of the thriving agriculturists of this township and one of its best known and respected citizens. He was born in Norway, Dec. 12. 1867, his father being Matt Olson and his mother in maidenhood Annette Thompson. It was on May 17, 1883, that he left his native land for the New World, his journey coming to an end at White- hall. this county. He soon entered the employ of P. Ekern of Pigeon Falls, for whom he worked for seven years. These were years, not only of indus- try, but of economy and thrift, as he had no intention of spending his life in working for others. At the end of the period mentioned, having enough money for his purpose, he purchased his present farm, a good piece of
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agricultural property, well improved, where he carries on general farm- ing and dairying. The house is a good frame building of two stories and basement. The barn measures 48 by 70 by 14 feet, having stone basement and concrete floors, also 22 steel stanchions. On the farm is also a stave silo, 14 by 32 feet. Mr. Hagen has a herd of 30 cattle, of the Durham and Holstein breeds, of which he milks 25. He was married Dec. 25, 1891, to Paulina Moe of Pigeon Township, who was born at Pigeon Falls, this county,
May 8, 1874, daughter of John J. and Antoinette (Peterson) Moe. Mr. and Mrs. Hagen have had ten children, three of whom died in infancy. The others are: Joel, born Jan. 11, 1893; Albert, Feb. 10, 1895, was married June 30, 1917, to Elsie Margaret Evenson ; Palmer, Aug. 26, 1896; Edwin, March 15, 1899; Peter, Nov. 18, 1900; Rudolph, Sept. 12, 1904, and Karl, Nov. 30, 1907. In March, 1916, they adopted a girl, Alice, who was born July 21, 1909. The family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America.
Paul Ackley. Among the leading agriculturists of Pigeon Township is the subject of this sketch, who is proprietor of two good farms, aggre- gating 360 acres. Mr. Ackley was born in Gulsbrandsdalen, Norway, Feb. 4, 1860. His father, Franz Anderson Ackley, who was a farmer, died in Norway in 1890 at the age of 75 years. Mr. Ackley's mother, whose maiden name was Karen Harralsdatter, died in the same year as her husband, at the age of 75. Paul Ackley on attaining his majority in 1881 said farewell to his native land and took passage for the United States. Following the example of many of his countrymen who had preceded him, he decided to make his home in the great Northwest, and first located in Swift County, Minn., where for two years he worked out for others. Then going to Eau Claire County, he spent eight years there working in a sawmill and in the woods. The next two years of his life were spent in Tacoma, Wash., after which he returned to Wisconsin and resided in Eau Claire five years, being engaged in the saw mill business. In the fall of 1894 Mr. Ackley began agricultural operations in Pigeon township, buying the property now known as Ackley's farm, and which contains 160 acres, 120 of which are located in the northwest quarter of section 12, and 40 acres in the southeast quarter of section 11. Here Mr. Ackley took up his residence and cultivated the farm until 1910. He then purchased the Tuff farm of 200 acres, 160 acres lying in the southeast quarter of section 12 and the other 40 in the north- east quarter of section 11. On this latter farm he now makes his residence. The houses on both farms are substantial two-story buildings, neat-look- ing and commodious, and the farms are well improved, all the buildings being kept in good condition. Both are operated profitably by Mr. Ackley, who is an experienced agriculturist and whose energy and perseverance, combined with thrift and good business foresight, have placed him among the substantial and well-to-do citizens of Pigeon Township. He has been treasurer of the school board for 13 years and has always taken a keen interest in all projects for the good of the community in which he lives. Aside from his interest in the two farms mentioned, he is a stockholder in the Pigeon Grain & Stock Company and the Whitehall Hospital. Mr. Ackley was married April 17, 1891, to Maria Tuff, who was born at Haalen, Norway,
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July 1, 1861, her father being Ole Tuff and her mother, in maidenhood, Anna Stena Johnson. The father, who was born in Norway, came to America in October, 1861, settling in LaFayette County, Wisconsin, where, however, he lived but a short time, removing to Blair County, where also his residence was brief. Coming from Blair to Trempealeau County, he bought the farm known as the Tuff farm, now owned by Mr. Ackley, and resided on it until it was purchased by Mr. Ackley. Since then he has retired and resides in Blair. His wife Anna died in 1904 at the age of 70 years. Mr. and Mrs. Ackley are the parents of five children: Olaf F., who is a member of the Engineering Corps, now located at Fort Snelling, while Clara, Palmer, Mel- vin and Selmer reside at home. The family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran Church.
Anton Davidson, general farmer and tobacco raiser, owning a farm of 160 acres in section 8, Preston Township, was born in Hedemaarken, Nor- way, June 24, 1868, son of David and Mary Fagerness. He lost his parents when a mere child, and in 1876, as a boy of eight years, set out alone for far-distant America, to join his brother Louis, who had sent for him. Arriv- ing at Westby, Wis., he was met by his brothers, Louis and Hans, and by his uncle, Christopher Stephanson, and was under their care until sixteen years of age. For a time he was engaged as a member of a construction crew, then worked two years for P. S. Davidson of La Crosse as coachman. Then he entered the employ of Capt. I. H. Moulton of La Crosse, as coachman, a position in which he remained for over twenty years. Desiring, however, to take up agricultural pursuits, he purchased his present farm from Capt. Moulton in 1897 and moved onto it in 1899. There he has since resided. He has a pleasant home and good barns, including a large well-equipped tobacco shed. He successfully farms, raises the usual crops, breeds good stock and makes a specialty of Spanish Com- stock tobacco, of which he sets out from five to ten acres each year. Mr. Davidson was married July 10, 1900, to Sophia Hunter, daughter of John and Christina Hunter, who were born and married in Berlin, Germany, and now farm near Hokah, Minn. Mrs. Davidson died Jan. 21, 1909. In the family there are three children: Daisy, Lottie and Clara, one, Milton, hav- ing died at the age of three months. Daisy is a student at the La Crosse normal school. The others are at home.
William Trim, a well to do farmer of Trempealeau Township, was born at Dorchester, England (in the village of Kington), July 1, 1840, son of Thomas and Mary (Hanan) Trim. Both his parents were natives of Eng- land. Oct. 2, 1858, William left England for America, in company with a sister, Mrs. Edward Ware and her six children, Mrs. Ware's husband hav- ing preceded her to this country a year and a half before, settling in Trem- pealeau, Wis. Landing at New York they went from there to Toronto, Canada, to await transportation to Trempealeau, for which place they left after a short time. The journey was made by train to Dunleith, Ill., and from there to Trempealeau by boat, arriving at 7 o'clock in the morning, Oct. 15, 1858. They found Mr. Ware located at Cal McGilvray's Ferry in Caledonia Township. He had not yet built a house, so they all had to take up their residence in the house of Thomas Ware-a one-roomed log
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structure, which furnished poor accommodations for 11 people. Finding the space so crowded, on account of which he was unable to sleep, William Trim went over to Mr. Bright's and slept with Robert Bright. His next task was to look for work, and he found it on the farms at threshing, and otherwise helping the farmers, for which he received 50 cents a day. That fall he husked corn at $8 a month and board. During the winter of 1858-59 he split rails with Edward Ware in payment for a cow, and also did what- ever work he could get in addition. At times he felt discouraged and home- sick and would have returned to England, but had not the means. When he could find no other place to sleep he went to the little shanty which Edward Ware had built for his family, where he could always stay over night, though being somewhat crowded in bed, as he had to sleep with two others. In the spring of 1859 Mr. Trim was engaged by Hollister Wright for one year at $9 a month. He remained with him three years, receiving the second year $10 and the third year $13 a month. Mr. Wright was engaged in general farming and dairying, keeping 12 or 13 cows, and young Trim had to make himself generally useful.
In the spring of 1862 a change occurred in his life, which led him into fields of adventure. The Civil War was then raging and Mr. Trim, tired of the drudgery of farming for no more pay than he would receive as a soldier, enlisted at Galesville, Wis., in Company C, Thirtieth Wisconsin Infantry, being mustered in at Madison. The regiment was ordered to Milwaukee at the time of the draft in November, and remained there until the spring of 1863. They were next sent to New Lisbon, Wis., to prevent an anticipated Indian outbreak, a woman having been killed by the savages in that neigh- borhood. When the danger was over they were ordered back to Madison and from there sent to Camp Washburn. Jan. 1, 1864, the Thirtieth Regi- ment took up winter quarters on the shore of Lake Michigan, near Mil- waukee, where they remained until the following April. Their next move was to St. Louis, Mo., and in that city they stayed ten days, when they broke camp and proceeded up the Missouri River with orders to build Fort Rice, near Bismark (North) Dakota, 15 miles above the mouth of Cannon Ball River. This duty detained them in that neighborhood until October. While there an emigrant train under command of Captain Fisk, and bound for Virginia City, Idaho, was stopped by Indians at the edge of the "Bad Lands," North Dakota, and an expedition was sent out from Fort Rice for its relief, which Mr. Trim accompanied. This expedition took 20 days, the soldiers marching on foot, escorting an ox train. On the way back, 900 strong, they stopped at the Missouri River, where they built flat boats for transportation and floated down the river to St. Joseph, Mo., having, it may be presumed, received government orders, they proceeded by rail to Louisville, Ky., continuing their movement, Dec. 10, 1864, to Bowling Green, that state, where they were placed to guard the railroad bridge from attacks by the Confederates. Jan. 10, 1865, they returned to Louisville, at which place they were stationed until the close of the war, when they returned to Madison, Wis., to be mustered out.
During the war, and while stationed at New Lisbon, Wis., Mr. Trim was married to Martha R., daughter of Richard Robinson of Trempealeau,
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at which place their wedding occurred Oct. 25, 1863. Mrs. Trim remained with her parents in Trempealeau during the rest of her husband's absence . while in military service. In the fall of 1865 Mr. Trim rented a farm con- sisting of improved land, which now forms a part of his present homestead. On it stood a small frame shanty and a frame barn for a yoke of oxen, and to this place he brought his wife and they began farming operations and housekeeping. By the spring of 1866 he had put in 40 acres of wheat and 20 of corn, by the aid of his ox team, and was congratulating himself on his future prospects, when the June flood of that year wiped out everything, destroying the crops. However, he had $1,000 saved up, the result of his labor and the war bounty he had received, so was not destitute. In the fall he moved to a farm in Pine Creek Township, where he remained two years, having better luck, as here he made up his losses. He then made another removal, this time to an 80-acre farm on Trempealeau prairie, three miles from Centerville, southeast. It was improved land and had a log house on it, and here he and his family remained until 1871. He then traded this farm for 120 acres in Little Tamarac, which land was also improved, the residence being a frame building. Here Mr. Trim built a large barn, and increased the size of the farm by purchasing 182 additional acres, so that he now had a 302-acre farm, this he had bought being adjacent to the original purchase. In 1872 he had a big crop of wheat, and while engaged in threshing it a fire broke out and destroyed all his grain-causing him a loss of $800. He was already in debt $4,000 for the land he had bought and was paying 10 per cent interest on the money. This loss temporarily discouraged him and he wanted the man from whom he had bought his farm to take back the land and release him from the debt, but he refused to do so. The only thing Mr. Trim could do, therefore, was to continue and hope for better fortune. He had learned dairying in the old country, so now turned his attention to that, buying all the cows he could pay for, and he and his wife set to work again, beginning at the bottom of the ladder. By this time fate seemed tired of pursuing him. The dairy venture was a success, and he had no more misfortune with his crops. Each year saw his debt reduced, until at the end of six years it was all paid off and he owned his farm of 302 acres, besides having a good cow barn which he had been able to erect. This was the position in which he found himself in 1877, from which year he dates the beginning of his prosperity. Now he began to go ahead in the right direction. By the end of the next year he had saved $1,000, and was able to build a large barn, 96 by 40 by 22 feet, with a cattle barn attached. In the meanwhile he continued in the dairying business and his profits increased from year to year, so that in 1896, when his present farm of 302 acres was put on the market by its then owner he was enabled to purchase it, still retaining the farm he had at Little Tamarac. About this time his son George married and went to live on the Little Tamarac place. Mr. Trim moved onto his present farm in February, 1896, and has since made many improvements on it. He first improved the orig- inal residence, but later erected a new frame house, one and a half stories high, with seven rooms, in which he lives, his daughter, Mrs. Nichols, occupying the original building. In addition to this new house he has a
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number of good buildings, including a frame barn, a large sheep shed, a corn crib, machine shed, poultry houses and hog houses, all in excellent shape. On the farm are also three wells and two windmills, furnishing a complete water system. Mr. Trim is engaged in both general farming and dairying, keeping grade Durham cows; also several horses and a sty of Poland-China hogs. The soil on his farm consists of black loam, with a clay sub-soil, and is very fertile. It has a beautiful location in the valley. In association with his daughter, Mrs. Nichols, Mr. Trim also owns a farm of 316 acres in Big Tamarac, the property being improved and with good buildings. His wife died Jan. 16, 1916, and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery. Their children were George Alvin, Mary Alice, Jane Agnes and Nettie Eldora. George Alvin, born Aug. 2, 1866, at Big Tamarac, is living on the Little Tamarac farm in Trempealeau Township. He married and has seven children: Mary Alice, born Feb. 22, 1869, at Trempealeau Prairie, married James Nichols, and is living on her father's homestead. She has two chil- dren : William and Howard. Jane Agnes, born March 13, 1873, died March 19, 1874. Nettie Eldora, born May 26, 1875, is the wife of Milton Pittinger and is living at Big Tamarac. She has a daughter Martha, who is the wife of Guy Kopp, and has a son, Wayne R .- the great-grandson of the subject of this sketch. Mr. Trim was reared strictly in the faith of the Church of England. He is not active in politics, but has always been interested in good local government. His career has been a strenuous one and his success has been well earned.
Gilbert Baalrud, proprietor of a well equipped photographic studio in Whitehall, Wis., was born in Winona, Minn., May 6, 1893. He is son of Eric and Hannah (Hanson) Baalrud. The father, born in Norway, came to America in 1886, locating in Winona, Minn., where he resided four years, subsequently settling in Pigeon Township, Trempealeu County, Wis. In April, 1915, he moved to Chippewa County, where he is now living at the age of 55 years, and is engaged in farming. By his wife Hannah, who is ten years younger than himself, he has had 11 children, of whom all are living but three. Gilbert Baalrud, who was the eldest child of his parents, remained at home until November, 1914, when he began to learn the trade of photographer. In January, 1916, he bought his present studio from C. J. Van Tassel. It is located in a two-story frame building on Main street and is well equipped with everything necessary for artistic work. Although he has been here but a short time, he has begun to make a reputation for him- self and his future prospects are promising. Mr. Baalrud was married May 9, 1917, to Agnes Hansen of Preston Township, this county. He is a member of the United Norwegian Lutheran Church and of the Modern Woodmen of America.
The Augustine Brothers have made Whitehall known throughout the United States with their ferret breeding establishments. They raise thou- sands of the little animals yearly, and sell them extensively for use in eliminating rats, and for hunting rabbits, mink, muskrats, gophers, squir- rels, prairie dogs and skunk. In addition to shipping the ferrets far and wide, they issue a pamphlet which contains a valuable treatise on the care and use of the animal. The ferrets from the Augustine Brothers' place are
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unusually strong and hardy, with sound eyes and feet, and with thick fur. They are of three sizes, large, medium and small, and they are of two colors, the white, which are called English, and the brown, which are called Fitch. All the yearlings have been handled until they are tame and gentle, while the younger ones good for hunting rabbits have not been trained so much. The young men have been in business for a number of years; they are thorough masters of their line of industry, and they have testimonials from all over the country testfying as to the excellence of their animals, and the honesty and courtesy of their dealings. The firm consists of Frank and Clarence Augustine. They first started raising ferrets in 1902 and have gradually increased their business until they now carry at one time an average of 1,000 to 1,500 animals. They ship about 1,500 each year. They are also constantly importing animals from other reputable dealers in order to avoid inbreeding.
Joseph Augustine, a veteran of the Civil War, and for many years an honored resident of Lincoln Township, was born in West Virginia, Aug. 7, 1841, son of Jacob F. R. and Justina (Null) Augustine. He was reared in Pennsylvania, and in 1862 tendered his services to the Union government as a carpenter. He served through the great conflict as a bridge builder in the armies of General Sherman and General Thomas. At the close of the hostilities he came to Wisconsin in 1865, and for several years divided his time between Eau Claire, where he was employed as a carpenter, and the pine forests of the state, where he was employed as cook. In 1874 he came to Whitehall, where he followed his trade as a carpenter until 1885, when he purchased a farm in Lincoln Township, town 22, range 28, and moved thereon. When he purchased the tract it was covered with timber. He cleared the land, erected buildings, added to his original purchase, and gradually developed his place until he had a splendid estate of 200 acres located in sections 14, 23 and 24, to which he gave the name of Sunny Hill farm. The home, a frame structure of two stories and a basement, with ten good-sized rooms, was erected in 1898. The barn, a frame structure, 40 by 70 feet, was erected in 1906. A silo, 16 by 40 feet, of cement blocks, was constructed in 1908. One of the features of the place is a valuable orchard of two and a half acres. General farming is conducted on a gener- ous scale, and a specialty is made of a fine herd of grade Holstein cattle. Another interesting feature is the production of honey, some thirty colonies of the finest Italian bees being maintained. The sons, Frank and Clarence, under the name of the Augustine Brothers, have made the place widely known through the breeding of ferrets. Mr. Augustine was married in 1868 to Maria Borea, who was born in 1843. She died in 1870, leaving one child, Fannie, who married D. O. Sweet, a farmer of Whitehall, and died in 1902. March 14, 1874, Mr. Augustine married Francis E. (Mason) Staples. She was born in Litchfield, Conn., March 9, 1846, daughter of Charles S. and Rosetta T. Bissell, natives of Connecticut, and this union was blessed with seven children: Jessie, who died at the age of two years ; Ray, who died at the age of one year; Ernest, who died at the age of two years ; Bessie, a stenographer at St. Paul; Frank and Clarence, who are at home; and Charles, who died at the age of nine years. By her marriage to
EMILE FRANCAR
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IIISTORY OF TREMPEALEAU COUNTY
W. S. Staples of Kilbourn City, a veteran of Company K, 42nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, Mrs. Augustine has three children: Fred M., a hard- ware merchant of Little Rock, Kan .; Clifford D., a commercial man of St. Paul, and Marcia, who is a clerk in the pension office at Washington, D. C.
Emile Francar, proprietor of a well equipped drug store in Galesville, was born in Red River, Wis., June 25, 1877, son of Anton and Jennie (Lewis) Francar. The father was a native of Belgium, who on coming to this country settled near Green Bay, Wis., where for thirty years or more he was employed by the cooperage company's plant. He and his wife, who was born in Wallon, Wis., now reside at Green Bay. They had 14 children, of whom Emile was the fifth in order of birth.
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