History of Vernon County, Wisconsin, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 66

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Union
Number of Pages: 814

USA > Wisconsin > Vernon County > History of Vernon County, Wisconsin, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 66

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BIOGRAPHICAL.

Nearly thirty-six years have passed since the first settlement was made in the town, and the following named citizens are early settlers, sons or descendants of pioneers, or men prominent in town affairs, at the present writing.

Hans K. Larson, has the honor of being one of the first settlers in this town. He was born in Norway, in December, 1803, and went direet to Koshkonong, Dane county in 1848, and to Vernon county in 1849. He made a claim of a quarter section of land, forty acres on each of the four sections numbered 22, 23, 26 and 27. He finally purchased the eighty acres which lie

on sections 22 and 26. Mr. Larson was married in Norway, and three children were there born, one danghter and two sons. The daughter died in Norway, and in 1849, Mr. Larson's family ae- companied him to America. Another son was born on the vessel while enroute to this country. Mr. Larson has been peculiarly unfortunate with his family. Ilis wife died in 1859, and his eldest son, Lars, reached maturity and then died, leaving a family. His second son, Mathias, died at Westby, in 1881. He was a man of in- telligence, and at the time of his death was chairman of the town board and justice of the peace. The son, Andrew, born on board the vessel, only lived to be fourteen years old. A grand-son of Mr. Larson, Henry Hanson, son of Mathias, lives with his grand-father. He was the only son of his parents, and born in this town, April 7, 1870. He is a boy of intelli- gence and mneh promise.

M. C. Bergh is a son of Clement Clementson Bergh, who settled in Christiana town in 1849. He was born in Norway, in December, 1816, and emigrated to America with a wife and three children the same year he settled in Vernon county. He purchased forty acres of land from the government, and a like amount from Lars Christopherson, and lived thereon till his death, which occurred May 24, 1878. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bergh, after their arrival in this county. The widow still ocenpies the old homestead with her son, M. C. Bergh. The latter was born in Norway, in 1846, and married a daughter of Ole Olson, who is now deceased. These par- ents have been blessed with the following named children: Clara Menneli, Oscar Melvin, Tilda Maline, Nelle Bolette and Alma Char- lotte. The home farm contains 120 acres.

John O. Berggum was one of the pioneers of Christiana town. He was born in Norway, Feb. 13, 1802. In October, 1836, he married Nellie Johnson, and with his wife and one daughter, also an adopted daughter named Martha Larson, left their home April 3, 1849,

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

in a sailing vessel for America. When five weeks out, a son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Berggum. At the earnest solicitation of the captain, this boy was named after himself and his vessel, Wittus Johan Benedictus. After a ten weeks voyage, they reached New York. They went up to Albany in a vessel, and from thence to Buffalo by the Erie canal. Then boarded a steamer for Milwaukee, and thenee to Dane Co., Wis., by team. This was their first halting place after five and a half months of constant travel. The family stopped with friends in Dane county the following winter, and the father traveled on foot 200 miles north to find work in the pineries. Ile succeeded, and by spring had earned about $100, but the failure of his employers deprived him of his earnings, with the exception of a few dollars. On his return to Dane county, he passed through the northern part of Vernon county, and was so well pleased with the country called Coon Prairie, that he resolved to locate there. He purchased a yoke of steers and two cows and with a siek wife and three small children, made the long and tedious journey to the town of Christiana. He settled on a farm on seetion 33, and in the summer of 1851, erected his present dwelling house. This is the oldest house now in the town. Mr. Berggum had to go to Prairie du Chien, fifty-five miles distant after provisions. He has two living children - Elizabeth, wife of J. M. Rusk, and the sou born on ship-board, W. J. B. Johnson.

son, but did not settle there-after leaving Prairie du Chien, he engaged with Frank Dunn ( a brother of Judge Dunn ) as clerk in a store at Tibbet's Landing. This store was the first at that point ; building of frame, and con- tained a complete stoek of general merchan- dise. The parents of Mr. Michelet came to Vernon county in 1851, and located on their son's farm. After again clerking in Prairie du Chien for a short time, he joined his parents on the farm, and remained there until 1879. In the fall of the latter year, he came to Westby village, and has since been engaged in the grain trade. Mr. Michelet is one of the repre- sentative citizens of Christiana town, and a man highly esteemed.

Hans Olson was born in Norway Dec. 24, 1814. He married Karn Bakkam March 28, 1841. She was born June 9, 1817. They emi- grated to America in the spring of 1847, and located in the town of Christiana in 1848, on the southwest quarter of seetion 35. Mr. Olson was accidentally killed Dec. 22, 1864, by a stroke on the head from the limb of a tree he was felling. He died within fifteen hours from the time of the accident. He was the father of six children, two of whom died before him -- Minna and Martinus. The oldest daughter, Agnethe, was born in Norway, married Markus Montgom- ery and lives at Chicago, Ill. A son, Brown, was born in the town of Christiana, March 30, 1850, was the first white child born in the town and probably in the county. He was married to Sophia Nelson June 25, 1878, and is still liv- ing on the old homestead, where he was born. A sister, Helene, was born March 24, 1852, and married to Ole Bentson and is living in this town. Olave was born April 13, 1854, and died in Chicago, Ill., Dec. 13, 1871.

John Michelet is a grain merchant of West- by, and one of the early settlers of Christiana town. Ile was born in Norway, in 1830, and in 1850, when a young man of twenty, set sail for America. He came direct to Vernon county, and from thence to Prairie du Chien, where he engaged in clerking. The following Christmas he returned by invitation to attend the wedding of Evan Olson and a Miss Nelson, which was among the first marriages in the ; grated with his family to the United States county. When he first came to the town, he and settled in Vernon county in 1850. The purchased a claim on section 35, of Ole Syver- | year following he came into the town of Chris-

Lars Ifanson resides on section 34. He was born in Norway, in 1817, and there resided dur- ing the earlier years of his life. In 1849 he emi-

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

tiana and located on his present farm, where he has since resided. Mr. and Mrs. Hanson are the parents of four children. The eldest child, Evan, was born in Norway Dec. 12, 1845. The others are natives of this town-Johanes, born Dec. 23, 1853, Louis L, born Aug. 1, 1856, married Carrie, daughter of Andrew Peterson, Otto, born Feb. 10, 1859.

Torger Nelson Naperud is one of the oldest settlers of Christiana town. He came to Ver- non county in 1852 and purchased his farm of Lars Christopherson the same year. The farm now contains 280 aeres, the greater portion of which is under cultivation. This land is situa- ted on section 34 and only six acres were im- proved when it came into possession of its pres- ent owner. Torger N. Naperud was born in Norway in 1814 and emigrated to the United States with his family and parents. His father was born in 1778, and died in 1858. The mother was born in 1788, and died in 1865. Mrs. Naperud's father, John Pederson, was was born in 1791 and died in 1869. Her mother, Berte Pederson, was born in 1803, and died in 1876. These parents died at Mr. Naperud's house and all are buried in the same cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Naperud have five children, two sons and three daughters-Bergete, Necoline, Julia, John and Carl. Mr. Naperud is one of the most wealthy and respected citizens of the town.

Hans Nelson, of II. Nelson & Son, merchants at Westby, is one of the most prominent eiti- zens of Christiana town. lle is a native of Norway, where he was born in 1835. ITis par- ents had five children-two sons and three dangh- ters. One daughter, Ingeborg, died in Nor- way. Another daughter, Helene, married Nels Jacobson, and with her sister Penele came to Dane Co., Wis., in 1849, where both daughters died of cholera. Mr. Jacobson afterward came to Vernon county and was one of the early set- tlers of the town of Hamburg. Mr. Nelson came to this State in 1852, and located the same year in the town of Hamburg, Vernon Co.,

Wis. In 1854 he sent to Norway for the re- mainder of his father's family. His mother died in Dane county when coming through that section of country, and was buried in the same graveyard with her two daughters. The father and a brother Ole located in the town of Hamburg, and there the father died Nov. 22 of the same year; aged sixty-three years. This was the first death in the town of Ilam- burg. Ole enlisted in the 25th regiment, Wis- consin Volunteer Infantry, and died at Col- umbus, Ky., while in the service. Mr. Nelson is the only surviving member of of the family. He settled in the town of Ham- burg on section 12, in 1852, and fourteen years later removed to the town of Coon and farmed on section 8. But on the advent of the railroad into the town of Christiana, he removed to Westby and engaged in his present business. Mr. Nelson's wife is also a native of Norway. They have two sons-Necolai and Anton, both natives of Vernon county. The former is the junior member of the firm of H. Nelson & Son and the present postmaster at Westby; the lat- ter resides on his father's farm in the town of Coon.

Even T. Sangstad, junior member of the firm of Thorreson & Co., lumber merchants, Westby, was born in Norway, in 1835. His father came to Wisconsin in 1850, and the mother and two sisters followed him in 1851. The family lo- eated on seetion 26, in the town of Christiana, where the mother died in 1854. The father is now in his ninety-second year, and is the oldest person in the town. They were the parents of nine children, four sons and five daughters. Two sons and four daughters are still living. The eldest daughter died in Norway. Even T. remained in his native land until eighteen years of age. In 1853 he joined his parents in this town, and has since made it his home. On Ang. 12, 1862, he resolved to assist his adopted country in suppressing the Rebellion, and there- fore enlisted in company K, 25th regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served till

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

the government triumphed. In the spring of 1864 the regiment was at Helena, Ark., where Mr. Sangstad was taken siek, and during the remainder of his term of service, when able to work, he was assigned to detached duty. Since the war he has been mostly engaged in cultivat- ing the soil, and at present owns a good farm on section 21. In 1881 he became a member of the firm of Thorreson & Co., in the lumber trade at Westby. Mr. Sangstad married Bertha M., daughter of Thore Olson Bakkedahl, who settled here in 1854. They have been blessed with seven children, two sons and five dangh- ters, all living.

Christian H. Ballsrud is one of the prominent merchants of Westby. Ile was born in Norway, June 30, 1834, and came to the United States when twenty years of age, and direet to the town of Christiana. Ile was young and vigorous, and for the first four or five years readily secured employment in the lumber camps on the Black river. In 1855 he bought a piece of land on section 27 of this town, but worked two years more before making a permanent settle- ment. Ile still owns the farm which he first purchased, and it now comprises 280 acres. Mr. Ballsrud came to Wisconsin the same year the republican party was first formed at Jack- son, Mich., and when he had been here long enough to understand the different principles that characterized the parties then in existence, he attached himself to the new party, and has proven a strong and earnest member to the present time. He is one of the prominent eiti- zens of Christiana town, and has served in the greater number of its offices. He was town clerk for seven years, six of them in succession; was chairman of the board three years; assessor three years, and treasurer two years; was also justice of the peace for nine successive terms. He embarked in his present business in 1879, and now enjoys a good trade. He was married in 1859, and is the father of seven children, two sons and five daughters. Mrs. Ballsrud's parents came to America in 1854. The father,

mother and two children died of cholera soon after reaching this country. Two sons and one danghter (Mrs. Ballsrud) are the only survivors. Mr. Ballsrud was once a nominee for register of deeds of Vernon county, and only lacked 132 votes of being elected. When he first came to America he acted as interpreter for his country- men for some time.

Ernest C. Jager is one of the most industrious farmers of this town. He became a resident of Vernon county in 1855, and of Christiana town in 1871. He was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1840. In 1854 his parents, Christian and Wilhelmina Jager, with their family, started for America, but the father sickened and died while they were yet in Europe. The widow and family came on and settled in Waukegan, Ill. In 1855 Mrs. Jager removed to Vernon county, and settled in the town of Liberty. She died at Viroqua. There were six children in the family, four sons and two daughters. Two of the sons were in the Union army. Henry enlisted in the 9th regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and died in Arkansas while a prisoner of war. Louis, the other soldier, is now residing in Cali- fornia. Mr. Jager came to Christiana town in 1871, and bought a farm of Elias Johnson, whose father was the original settler on the land. This farm comprises 160 acres, and is well improved. Mr. Jager's wife is a native of Norway. They are the parents of four children -Carl, Eda, Josephina and Henry.

Chris Christopherson resides on section 14, where he settled in 1857, and has made all the improvements on his farm. He was born in Norway, in November, 1823, and came to the United States in July, 1856. He first lived in Racine, Wis., one year, and then came to Ver- non county. His father, Christopher Olson, died in Norway when his son was twenty-three years of age. His mother still lives in her native land. Five of the family came to this country all of whom live in Vernon and Monroe counties, Wis. Mr. Christopherson has been twice married. He has four sons by his first

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

marriage, and seven children by present wife. His farm contains 160 acres besides timbered land. Mr.Christopherson is postmaster of Newry postoffice, and is also engaged in the mercan- tile trade.

Erick C. Bratlie was another settler of 1855. He purchased a farm on section 36, of Simeon Peterson, the latter of whom bought it of a Mr. Woodman, a non-resident. . Five acres of this land was improved when it was purchased by Mr. Bratlie, and he has placed it under a good state of cultivation, and erected substantial farm buildings. E. C. Bratlie was born in Nor- way in 1842. He accompanied his father, Christopher Bratlie, to this country, in 1854. The father lived with his son till his death, which occurred in 1860. He was twice married; his first wife the mother of E. C., died in Nor- way. His second wife died here in 1877. There were four children in the family, one son and three daughters, E. C., Bertha, wife of Elias Neperud, Mrs. Katherine Unseth, now a a widow, and Karine wife of Wilhelm Fleicher of the town of Viroqua. Eric C. Bratlie mar- ried Olavi Peterson. They have been blessed with eight children, one son and seven daugli- ters. Mrs. Bratlie's father, Evan Peterson, came to Dane Co., Wis., from Norway, in 1847, and the following year settled on section 36 in this town, where he died June 10, 1877. His wife died in 1871. There were one son and eight daughters in the family. Three of the latter live in the town of Christiana, and all the surviving children are residents of Wiscon- sin.

Soren Paulsen has been a resident of Vernon county since 1858, and of this town since 1872. He is a native of Norway, where he was born in June, 1827. He there learned the carpenter and milling trades and in 1854 came to the United States. He resided a short time in each Chi- cago, III., Racine, Wis., and La Crosse, Wis. From the latter place, in 1858, he came to Ver- non county, and purchased a farm of Mons. Anderson, of La Crosse. He engaged in farm-

ing for nine years. He sold his farm to John Bergh, of Richland county, and removed to Sparta, Wis. He there worked at the carpenter trade for three months. Then returned to Vernon county, and purchased an interest in the grist mill at Bloomingdale, in the town of Clinton. He was there engaged in milling, with various partners, until 1872, when he sold his interest, and purchased of Fred Olson a farm on section 35, of this town. Mr. Paulsen owns 160 acres, well improved, and his farm buildings will compare favorably with any in the town. Politically, he is a republican, and a firm adherent to the principles of that party. Mr. Paulsen's wife is also a native of Norway. They have eleven children, two sons and nine daughters.

Ole T. Westby, in whose honor the village of Westby was named, was a merchant on the site of the village for fifteen years. ITis uncle, Evan Olson, came to Viroqua at a very early day, and in 1849 his father, Tosten Olson Westby, came to Vernon county from Norway, and stopped with his brother Evan for a time. The following winter he left his family at Evan Olson's, town of Viroqua, and worked in the lumber regions along the Kickapoo river. In 1850 he settled on 160 acres of land on section 34, Christiana town, where he resided till his death in March, 1871. His widow still resides at Westby. They were the parents of three children when they arrived in Vernon county- Rigene, who was born in Norway in 1838, and now resides at Westby; Olen T. and Evan T., the latter of whom resides at Bloomingdale, in the town of Clinton. One child, born in this town, is now deceased. Ole T. was born in Norway in 1840. IIe was nine years of age when his parents came to Vernon county, and was here reared and educated. When the war commenced he enlisted in company HI, 15th regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served over three years. Returning home, he purchased eighty acres of his father's farm, and was engaged in farming until 1869. He then

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

embarked in the mercantile trade, and con- tinued it until 1881. He married Sarah Duhl. They are the parents of nine children, six liv- ing, two sons and four daughters. Three danghters are dead.

Hermon Hermonson, a baker by trade and a farmer by occupation, resides on section 26. He was born in the city of Tonsberg, Norway, Nov. 20, 1831, and lived there till fifteen years of age. He emigrated to the United States in 1865, and joined his countrymen in Dane Co., Wis., where he lived for a short time. lle then went to Racine and there worked at his trade until 1869, when he came to Vernon county and located in this town. He was the only one of his father's family who came to Vernon coun y. He was married in Norway in 1857 to Louise Harmonson, a native of Sarpborg. They have two adopted children-Peter, who was born in Norway, May 20, 1853, and Hilda, born Jan. 15, 1877. Mr. Hermonson is an industri- ous and intelligent citizen, and both parents are members of the M. E. Church.

E. C. Bergh is proprietor of the Westby llouse, also engaged in the lumber business at Westby. He is a son of C. C. Bergh, a pioneer of this town, whose personal history appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. Bergh was born in the town of Christiana, Jan. 4, 1855, and here grew to manhood, receiving as good an educa- tion as the district school afforded. In Sep- tember, 1879, he came to the village of Westby,

about the time the railroad was first opened to the village, and embarked in his present busi- ness. He is an active buriness man, and his hotel is highly spoken of by the traveling public. Mr. Bergh married Matilda Gilbert- son, and two daughters have been given them- Martha Florence and Rebecca.

Andrew Johnson is agent of the railroad at Westby station, in the town of Christiana. He was born in Norway, Feb. 1, 1851, where he was reared and educated in his native language. When seven years of age his father died and his mother subsequently married John Jurgen- son Steen. The family came to the United States in June, 1867, and lived one year in Jackson Co., Wis. Then the step-father took up a homestead in the town of Preston, Trem- pelean Co., Wis., and there settled. Both par- ents are now deceased. There were four chil- dren in the family, three sons and one daughter. The latter, Mrs. Caroline Anderson, resides on the old homestead. Charles E. is agent of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, at Zembrota, Minn., and his brother Christian is with him. Andrew is the elder child and accepted his present position when the railroad was fin- ished to Westby. He is an industrious and in- telligent citizen, and his official services are very satisfactory to the company by which he is employed. He married Sarah Ramstad, a native of Norway. They have two sons- Leonard I. and Carl O.

HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY

491

CHAPTER XXXII.

THE TOWN OF CLINTON.

Clinton is situated on the northern line of the county and comprises congressional town- ship 14, range 3 west, containing 23,139 acres of land. The general surface of this town is very broken and hilly, composed largely of val- leys and ridges. The bluffs along the streams present almost perpendicular fronts, rising in many instances, to a great height from the rivers' bed. The soil in the valleys is of a black sandy character, and very productive; the np- land in the northern part of the town, produces excellent crops of wheat, oats and other cereals. In the southern part of the town is found a black loam with a clay sub-soil. All of this town was originally covered with timber, ex- cept about forty acres in the northeast corner; this was on section 11, and was included in the original entry of John Masterson, the first set- tler of the town. The chief varieties of timber are the white, red and burr oak, with some hard maple, bass wood and butternut. The heaviest growth of timber extends in a belt from the northwest to the southeast corner of the town, and embraces about four-fifths of the entire area of the town.

The principal stream flowing through Clin- ton, is the west branch of the Kickapoo river, which rises on section 6, its source being a large spring pond, on the farm of Charles Jersey; it runs south from its source, to the middle of section 7, then flows west into the town of Christiana, re-entering the town of Clinton on the southwest quarter of section 19, thence in a southeasterly direction, leaving the town from section 31. This river has several branches in

the town. The first in importance, of these, is the "Chaplain branch," consisting of two streams, one rising on the northwest corner of section 4, and the other on section 15; they unite on section 8, and taking a southwesterly course, enter the main stream on section 30. What is known as the "Gillett branch" of the Kickapoo river, rises on section. 16, runs sonth- west, and unites with the main stream on the southeast quarter of section 30. The "Pierce branch" takes its rise on section 31, and leaves the town from section 32, entering the main stream in the town of Webster. Weister creek is a smaller stream, which also has a number of small branches, which unite in the southeast part of the town, thus forming a good sized stream before they leave the borders of the town, from section 36. Another small stream, a branch of Brush creek, has its rise on the west side of section 2, and leaves the town from section 1.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first man to make an actual settlement in the town of Clinton was John Masterson, who in May, 1854, located on the northwest quarter of section 11 He was an Irishman by birth, born in the county of Mayo. He went to Canada, when young, and from there to Ohio, from which State he came to this locality. At the time he settled here his family consisted of his wife and four children-Mary Jane, Wil- liam, Michael and Eliza. He resided where he first located till his death, about twenty years later. He was twice married ; his second wife survived him, and in 1884 was a resident of La-

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

Crosse. Michael, the only one of the family in the town, was born in Ohio, May 27, 1838. He served in the 12th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, during the Rebellion.

At the time of the organization of the town of Clinton, an effort was made by Mr. Master- son and his friends to have the town named after his father, as he was the first settler within the bounds of the town. This name was ap- plied for several years, and the clerk's records in the early history of the town so gives the name ; but the later board of supervisors failed to sustain the claim of Mr. Masterson and his friends, and the name Clinton was adopted by that body.

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History of Vernon County, Wisconsin, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 66

Author: Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Springfield, Union Number of Pages: 814

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Union
Number of Pages: 814