BARG, Albert, son of Halvor Peterson, and Bertha (Anderson) Barg, natives of Norway, was born on the farm where he now lives, section 34, Martell township, October 4, 1872, was educated in the district schools and worked for his father on the farm. The father of Albert was born July 6, 1826, and immigrated to the United States when he was twenty-eight years old in 1854. He settled for a short time in Dodge county, Wisconsin, and then he moved to Pierce county, Wisconsin, and settled in Martell township, where he owns 120 acres of good farm land on which he has erected a good house, barns and other buildings, and where he has lived over half a century. His wife died at the age of sixty-five years in 1889. She bore seven children, three of whom are living. The subject of this sketch remained at home until he was sixteen years of age. He worked on different farms and also in the car shops at Hudson, Wis., for a couple of years. He spent two summers in Dakota and then returned home and has since resided in Pierce County. He was manager of the Farmers Co-operative Store at Martell for four years, at the end of which time he returned to the home farm, where he has since lived. He is a member of the Synod Lutheran church, of South Rush River, and has been one of the trustees for four years. He is a Republican and a member of the Modern Woodmen, of the Independent Scandinavian Society and of the I. O. O. F. of Centerville, St. Croix County, Wis. Mr. Barg was married to Bertha Jackson, September 18, 1898. She was a native of Norway and came to America with her parents when five years old, daughter of Peter and Lorence Jackson. She died April 24, 1908, and is buried at the South Rush River Cemetery. She was the mother of four children. Three are now living and their names are: Lillian B., born September 8, 1902; Palmer H., born April 30, 1904, and Adaline O., born November 30, 1905. The father of Albert S. Barg enlisted in the Civil War October 21, 1862, in Company D, Thirtieth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. David C. Fulton, took part in a number of engagements and was discharged in April, 1865, at Quincy, Ill., on account of disability. (taken from "History of the St. Croix Valley", published in 1909)
BARKULOO, Albert was born in Indiana, August 21, 1851, and moved with his parents to Pierce county, Wisconsin, in an early day, settling at Bay City. He is the son of Charles and Clarissa (Cox) Barkuloo. The father farmed in Hartland township, near Bay City, until his death, and the mother died at the age of seventy-two, both parents being buried in Trenton Cemetery. Albert Barkuloo was educated at the schools of Hartland Township and remained at home, assisting his father on the farm until he became twenty-one years of age. He then started out for himself, renting a farm in Hartland Township. Later he bought the farm on which his widow still resides in Hartland Township, consisting of eighty acres on section 7. Here he made his home and engaged in general farming and stock raising until his death, May 4, 1904. He put all the improvements on the place and brought it all under cultivation. A Republican in politics, he was a member of the township board of supervisors at one time. Mr. Barkuloo married March 23, 1876, Jane Funk, who was born in Delaware county, Iowa, and came to Pierce county, Wisconsin with her parents, Joseph and Mary (Sickles) Funk. They lived at Bay City some years and engaged in farming. After the death of her mother, her father returned to Iowa, where he died in Delaware County at the age of sixty-four years. Mrs. Barkuloo was educated in the schools of Hartland Township and remained at her home until her marriage. She is the mother of eight children, all born in Hartland Township, in the order named: William H. resides at Ellsworth, Wis. He married Sussie Goodyear, and they have three children-Hazel, Floyd and Clark. Fannie is the wife of George Dumond, of Trim Belle Township, a farmer. They have one child-Chester. Flora is the wife of George Bennett, a sawmill man of Hartland Township. They have three children - Walter, Pearl and Inez. Maude is the wife of Spencer Kendel, a farmer residing in Canada. They have one child-Margie. Mattie is the wife of John Goodyear, of Ellsworth, Wis. They have one child-Marion. Harry farms the old home place. Louis and Warren are attending school. (taken from "History of the St. Croix Valley", published in 1909).
BLIESNER. August F. was born in Germany, August 23, 1850, and lived there until 1866, when as a lad of sixteen he came to the United States and settled on a farm in Waukesha county, Wisconsin, working for $12.50 per month. In the spring of 1873 he came to Pierce county and, locating in Gilman township, purchased eighty acres in section 10, for which he paid $400. The land was wild at the time of the purchase, but Mr. Bliesner has brought it to a high stage of cultivation. He broke and cleared it, erected a house and barn and engaged in general farming and stock raising. Upon this place he has since continued to reside, becoming one of the active men of the township. From 1881 to 1892 he was supervisor of the township, and from 1895 to 1907 he was chairman. He has been treasurer of the school board since 1877, holding that position at the present time. Mr. Bliesner is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church. He was married in 1873 to Inga Catherine Olson, who died July 24, 1902, at the home place. She was born in Norway and came to Dodge county, Wisconsin, in 1869, remaining there until 1880, then moving to Ellsworth, this county, where the father continued farming for the remainder of his life. Mr. and Mrs. Bliesner have seven children - Henry B., of whom a sketch will be found in this history; Anna L. is the wife of Edward Hovde, of section 3, Gilman township, where he owns eighty acres and where he is bringing up his two children, Ferne and Thelma; John H. resides at home; Otto F. resides in Minneapolis, Minn., and is employed at the iron works there; Alice Marie is at home; Cora Augusta graduated from the high school and makes her home with her brother Henry B., of Spring Valley; Mabel Elnora is at home. All the children were educated in the schools of Pierce County. (taken from "History of the St. Croix Valley", published in 1909).
BLOMQUIST, ERIC, farmer, P. O. Lund, Pierce county, was born in Sodenmaland, Sweden, May 9, 1844. His parents were Andrew and Carrie (Peterson) Anderson, and they had three children: Andrew, Lotta (Mrs. J. Serander) and Eric. His father died when our subject was but eleven years of age, and he was obliged to go out to service as a farm laborer. In 1869 he came to America, lived a short time in Lake City, Minn., and soon after came to Maiden Rock township, Pierce county, where he purchased 160 acres of wild land and began to make improvements, and now the farm is in a fine state of cultivation. May 7, 1873, Mr. Blomquist married Miss Anna C. Olson, who bore him two sons; Emil and Andrew. Mrs. Blomquist died October 18, 1877, and June 10, 1878, he married Miss Caroline Carlson, who has borne him five sons: Hjelmer, Henning, Lawrence, Harris, and Clarence. In politics Mr. Blomquist is an active republican, and has been a member of the school board for fifteen years. He is a member of the Lutheran church. -- Taken from the "Historical and Biographical Album of the Chippewa Valley Wisconsin.
BOURGHOLTZER, William (Spanish-American War) was born in Portsmouth, Ohio., September 13, 1881, son of William and Louise (Ames) Bourgholtzer. He was educated in the city and high schools of his native city, and left high school to enlist in the Fourth Ohio Volunteers for the Spanish-American war in 1898, serving until October of that year and receiving his discharge in December. He was in the engagement, which resulted in the taking of Arroya, port of Guayama, Porto Rico, and was also in the fighting at Cayey Mountain, his division commander being General Brooks. For a year he engaged in photography in his native city and then re-enlisted for special service in the Philippines, but was discharged at San Francisco in September 1899, without seeing service. He then worked at photography for Tabor & Co., taking outside views of California scenery. This took him through California, and general photographic work, which he afterward engaged in took him four times across the continent from coast to coast and into Mexico below Mexico City. In 1900 he engaged with the famous Hagenback's Carnival as high diver, remaining for two full seasons. He arrived in Diamond Bluff in 1903, and has continued to make his residence here. He was married April 2, 1906, to Julia Young, daughter of John and Julia Young. Mr. Young ws born in Paterson, N. J., and has lived in Pierce county, Wis., for forty years. Upon coming here he at fist settled in Ellsworth and remained there two years, afterward coming to Diamond Bluff, Wis., where he ran a furniture mill on what was then known as Wilson's creek, now known as Wind river. The father died March 24, 1905, and the mother is still living. Mr. Young had seven children by his first marriage and five by his second. Although Mr. Bourgholtzer has been here a comparatively short time, he has taken an active interest in public affairs and his merit has been recognized. He is a Republican in politics and was appointed town clerk April 20, 1908. He was elected justice of the peace April 8 of the same year and still holds both offices. He is also school clerk of district No.2, which embraces the village of Diamond Bluff. (Taken from "History of the St. Croix Valley", published in 1909).
BOWERS, John Thomas (Civil War) was born May 8, 1837, in Bavaria, German, and came to the United States when eleven years of age with his father's family, two brothers and five sisters. They settled for a short time in Cincinatti, O., then moved to Ripley county, Indiana. He was a son of George Adam and Anna Bowers, both natives of Germany. The father followed farming in Indiana for a number of years and then returned to Ohio, where his wife died. In 1865 he came to Wisconsin and made his home with our subject until his death at the age of seventy-nine years. John T. Bowers received his education in the schools of Indiana and Ohio and worked on his father's farm at Richmond, Ind. When seventeen years of age he went to his sisters at Marion, Ind., and worked on the farm on shares until the breaking out of the Civil War. In 1862 he enlisted in Company H, Eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and fought in the battles of Magnolia or Thomson Hill, Champion Hill, Rock River Bridge, Vicksburg, from May 9 to July 3, 1863; Jackson, Miss.; Valparaiso, Tex.; Fisher Hill, Winchester and at Cedar Creek, Virginia, where he received wounds which disabled him for further service. Few knew that his left elbow had been shattered by a rebel bullet and that his left arm was stiff, painful and nearly useless to the end of his days. No boastful word ever fell from his lips, but modest and brave he was of the highest type of our true citizen soldiers who saved the nation. After his discharge he returned to Indiana. In the fall of 1865 he came to Ellsworth, Wis., and purchased a tract of eighty acres of timber land in the township of Ellsworth on section 26. This he cleared and brought under cultivation and here he made his home for twenty-five years engaged in general farming and stock raising to some extent. About the year 1891 he moved to the village of Ellsworth, where he was elected county treasurer of Pierce County and served two terms. A Republican in politics, he held nearly all the township offices; was for many years treasurer of Ellsworth township. After his term of office as county treasurer had expired he engaged in the hardware business at the east end of Ellsworth, which he conducted for a number of years, and later became a partner in the firm of Foss-Armstrong Company, continuing in the business until his death, October 25, 1907. He was a member of the G. A. R. In all his dealings he was the soul of honor. Idolized by his family, beloved by his friends. Respected by all, he passed through the gate whose portal never outward swings. With a clear conception of his duty to God and his fellow men, with a strong moral sense and strength of character to act, he reached that highest ideal of manhood, a good citizen, than which no greater encomium can fall from mortal lips. The funeral services were held from the Presbyterian Church under the auspices of the G. A. R., Res. Herrmann and West officiating. A large concourse of people witnessed the ceremonies, which at the grave were especially impressive. Thoughts of other days came to many as they gazed upon the bowed forms of the old veterans surrounding the grave, and sacred were the tears that rained from their eyes when taps were sounded to note that another comrade had found his last resting place.
Sleep, soldier, still in honored rest.
Thy truth and valor wearing-
The bravest are the tenderest,
The loving are the daring.
Bowers resides at her residence in the village of Ellsworth. She is a daughter of George Adams and Magdaline (Burekel) Sauer, both natives of Germany, who settled in Cincinatti, O., where they lived until their death. There were six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Bowers, five of whom are still living. They were all born in Pierce County. George A. married Carrie Falkofske-they have three children; Ruth, Raymond, Archie; Annie died at the age of twenty-one years; Caroline married for her first husband Octave Dumond, and one son, Marvin, was born. She married for her second husband Harley Rose and by this union one child was born-Franklin; Elizabeth is the wife of Fred Wirth and they have two children-Archie and Clarence; Catherine resides at home; she graduated from the Ellsworth High School and taught for some time in the district schools of Pierce county; Franklin, Jr., is the sixth child.
BREDAHL, George M., who now resides on his fine farm of 280 acres in section 35, River Falls township, has lived in Pierce county over forty years, and has taken his part in the many changes that have taken place in this part of the state during those many years. During all that time he has been a splendid citizen, and has never been guilty of an unworthy act. He was born in Norway, June 20, 1834, and attended the schools of his native country. At the age of nineteen years, in 1853, he immigrated to the United States, settled in Iowa and worked as a carpenter and joiner, in which trade he is still proficient. Later he moved to Dunn county, Wisconsin, continuing at his trade for eleven years. In 1868 he came to Pierce County and settled in River Falls Township, purchasing 520 acres at $8 per acre. At that time the land was nearly all covered with wood, and he cleared and broke it, bringing a larger part under cultivation. Of the original farm he now retains 280 acres, conducting general farming and stock raising. He erected all the buildings on his own place, the schoolhouse in his neighborhood and also many farm buildings for others, being not only a successful farmer, but also a skillful carpenter. He votes the Republican ticket and has also filled several township offices with much credit. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Mr. Bredahl was married, December 21, 1864, to Sarah J. Tice, a native of New York State, who came westward in her early childhood. Mrs. Bredahl is a member of the Presbyterian Church. This union has been blessed with eight children, seven of whom are still living, all honored residents of their respective communities. Angeline died at the age of two years. Julius, a farmer, married Ella Howe and has two children, Beatirce and Ralph. Edward resides on his farm of eighty acres adjoining that of his father. He married Anna Howe and has one child, Wesley. Rasmus also resides on a farm adjoining the home place; he married Etta Wagner. Frank lives on the home farm, being married to Etta Hanson. He has one child, Harold. Martine lives at home. Mary is the wife of Lewis Larson, a farmer of River Falls Township, and has three children, Howard, Helen and Eve. Ella married Walter D. Elliott. Reference: Taken from "History of the St. Croix Valley", published in 1909
BRITTON, THEODORE, farmer, P. O. Elmwood, Pierce county, is a son of Nathaniel Britton, who was born in New Jersey in 1817, and married Rebecca, daughter of John and Katie Housler. Five children were born to them, namely: Theodore A., Polly (Mrs. Webb), Augustine St. Clare, Sylvanus F. and Lucy B. (Mrs. Huller). Thomas A. was born January 22, 1845, in McKean county, Pa., and lived there with his parents until twenty years of age, when he came to Pierce county, to what was then the town of Martel, but later was divided, and it was called Spring Lake. It was then a dense wilderness, having no roads, only trails through the woods made by marking the trees. In 1868 he married Sarah J., daughter of Samuel Stratton, and settled in the valley and commenced to make a home. In April, 1878, his wife died leaving him with two children: Viola E. and Nathaniel L. In 1880 he married Mary E., daughter of Benjamin R. and Ann Rackliff, and started again to build up a home. His second wife died in 1884, leaving him three more children: Jennie E., Theodore A. and Edward H. He has since married Jaline R., daughter of Andrew and Amanda Harrold. Largely through his efforts a nice Free-Will Baptist church was erected, of which he is an active member. He is interested in school matters, and has worked hard to advance the educational interests in his locality, and has done much toward supplanting the old log school house by a good modern one. His aim has always been a good moral community, and it is largely through his efforts that there have been no saloons in town. He is widely known from having sold wagons, sleighs and buggies for a good many years in connection with his farming. --Taken from the "Historical and Biographical Album of the Chippewa Valley Wisconsin.
BROWELL, Thomas C. was born in 1855 at Jara, England, son of Thomas and Ann (Charlton) Browell. The father was born at New Castle-on-the-Tyne, in England, in 1827. In his native land he was a railroad constructor, coming to America and settling in Quebec, Canada, in 1859; to New York State in 1860; to River Falls in 1862, and to the old Dopkins place of 240 acres on section 18, River Falls Township, six months later. Upon this place he resided for eighteen years, carrying on general farming. In 1880 he moved to Grand Forks County, North Dakota, where he remained until his death, which occurred in the month of September in 1886. He was married in England in 1853 to Ann Charlton, born at Shotley Bridge, in that country. This union resulted in eight children-Stephen was born in England in 1858 and is now a farmer of Pierce County, living in River Falls Township. William was born in Canada in 1860 and is still living in his native country. George was born in New York State in 1860 and is now a farmer of River Falls Township. Agnes war born in Pierce county at River Falls, July 2, 1862, married John McLaughlin and lived at Grand Forks, N. D., until her death in 1884. Hannah was born in 1866 on the old homestead in River Falls Township. She married Lewis Larson and lives in her native township. John Henry was born in Martell Township, this county, in 1864. Robert Foster was born on the old homestead in 1868 and now lives in Grand Forks, N. D. Thomas C. received his education in the district schools and then attended the academy at River Falls. After leaving school he farmed eighty acres of land for his father, but in 1880 went to North Dakota, where he farmed for thirteen years. In March of 1893 he returned to Pierce county and has since resided here, living on section 13, in River Falls township, and owning eighty acres upon which he carries on general farming and stock raising. He is a Republican in politics and while in North Dakota served as town treasurer, having also been on the township board of River Falls. In religion he tends toward the Episcopal Church, of which both his parents were members. Mr. Browell was married in 1879 to Mary Jane Lander, a native of this township, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Scott) Lander, the former of whom was born in 1821 and died in 1894, and the latter of whom was born and died in the same year as her esteemed husband. They were natives of Scotland and were married in that country in 1844, later moving to New York and still later to Dane county, Wisconsin. They located on section 6, Martell Township, Pierce County, in 1854, and in 1874 changed their residence to section 1, in River Falls Township. They were the parents of twelve children, nine of whom are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Browell have been given three offspring-George T., born in 1879, lives at home; Gertrude M., born in 1882, has taught three years at Glenwood, this county, two years at Martin Corners, this county, and is now teaching in North Dakota; Dorothy was born in 1903 and is at home. Reference: Taken from "History of the St. Croix Valley", published in 1909
BRYANT, Charles Demos, (Civil War) was born in 1839, Ohio, son of Demos Bryant and Jane Harmond Bryant. In 1858 he arrived in Guilford township, Wasbasha County and was a blackmsith in that township for some years. In 1866 he married Mary Frances Oliver and they had the following children: Charles A., born September 1867, George L., born 1870 and Carrie Florence, born March 26, 1875 in Dunn County, Wisconson (Menominee). It is believed that Charles D. Bryant and Mary F. left Guilford township and settled in Dunn County, Wisconsin. Shortly after their daughter Carrie was born, Mary F. died, leaving Charles a widower with three small children. Mary Frances was the daughter of Orris O. and Martha (Forbes) Oliver, early settlers of Guilford Township, Wabasha County. The Olivers arrived in Minnesota about 1859 and settled in Guilford, where they farmed for many years and raised 10 children. Daughter Carrie Frances Bryant, mentioned above, married Frank Parady in Menominee, Wisconsin in 1892 and they moved to Stanton, Nebraska. Frank & Carrie had 15 children. Charles D. Bryant married for the second time in 1880 to Mary Stephenson in Rochester, Minnesota and they moved to Spring Lake Towsnhip, Pierce County, Wisconsin; where five children were born to them: Ralph, born 1883; Della, born 1887; Rae born 1889; John W., born 1891 and Richard (Dick) born 1896. Charles D. Bryant died November 4, 1917 and is buried in Poplar Hill Cemetery, Spring Lake, Wisconsin. Charles D. Bryant was in the 6th Minn. V.I. and fought in the Civil War. Submitted by Kathryn C. Bryan - kc.bryan@worldnet.att.net.
BUNCE, Valantine A., was born in Meadville, Pa., in 1852, and came to Pierce County in 1889, being married in 1895 to Mary R. Staples. This union has been blessed with three children-Grace Ellener Bunce, Berline Bryce Bunce and Orrin Howard Bunce. Mr. Bunce owns 120 acres on sections 1 and 12, Trimbelle, Wis. In politics he is a Republican. Reference: Taken from "History of the St. Croix Valley", published in 1909
BURKE, Edmund P. was born in Red Wing, Minn., January 28, 1870, son of Lawson C. Burke. He was educated in the schools of Diamond Bluff, Wis., and took a business course at Beeman's Business College in Red Wing, Minn., graduation in 1899. For two seasons he engaged in semi-professional baseball at Medford, Wis., and then at Wausau, Wis., for two seasons. He then played with the Fond du Lac, Wis., team until called home by the death of his father, since which date he has made his home in Diamond Bluff, Wis. During his baseball career he was a pitcher, and did some wonderful execution on the diamond. In 1900 he went into the elevator business for M. T. Dill & Co. and remained in this employ as Prescott agent until 1908, when the American Society of Equity purchased the elevator and retained Mr. Burke as manager. He was married in 1900, February 29, to Laura M. Mero, daughter of Albert C. Mero, of Diamond Bluff, Wis. By this union there are two sons-Howard Edmund, born January 1, 1903, and Wilbur Charles, born January 14, 1908. Mr. Burke is a Republican in politics and has served as town treasurer two terms. He has been health officer also. He is clerk of Diamond Bluff camp, No. 6,272, Modern Woodmen of America, and belongs to the Diamond Bluff Lodge, Modern Brotherhood of America.(Taken from "History of the St. Croix Valley", published in 1909).
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