BIOGRAPHIES:  John Alfred BAKKE, Barron, Barron Co., WI

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Submitted by:  Vic Gulickson <vic@indy.net>  24 February 2004
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John Alfred Bakke, the energetic manager of the Bakke Brothers' Bicycle and
Motorcycle Shop, at Barron, and veteran of the American Expeditionary Force
and of the American Army of Occupation during the World War, is one of the
best known young men in this vicinity. He is a good business man and has
built up a good trade, and personally he enjoys a lasting popularity with
all who know him. He was born in Superior, Wis., Oct. 23, 1894, the son of
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Bakke, who brought him to a farm in Barron Township,
this county, in 1906. There he completed his schooling, was reared to
manhood and learned farm pursuits. July 12, 1917, he enlisted at Rice Lake
in Co. F, 6th Infantry, Wisconsin National Guards, and on July 19 was sent
to Camp Douglas, in this state, for a month's training, after which he was
in training at Waco, Texas. Dec. 13, the unit was sent from there to Camp
Dix, New Jersey, for overseas equipment. He sailed Jan. 30, 1918, on the U.
S. S. "Aeolus", a former German liner. He arrived at Brest, Feb. 17, 1918,
and was sent thence to Chateau Villan, where he trained with the 107th
Engineers of the 32nd Division. Thence he was sent to Alsace Loraine, where
he was attached to the headquarters company of the same unit. He
participated in the offenses of the Marne-Aisne and the Oise-Ais-ne, both
sectors in the Argonne region, and was in France when the Armistice was
signed. Later he marched with his division into Germany, and occupied the
bank of the Rhine north of Coblenz. In May, 1919, he entrained at
Oberbeiber, Germany, subsequently sailed from Brest, France, on the H. M.
S. Haverford, of the British navy, and landed at Philadelphia, May 25. He
was discharged at Camp Custer, May 27, 1919. Then, after a month on the
farm, he took up building contracting. Early in 1920 he became a partner in
the firm of Bakke Brothers, with his brothers, Oscar and Westye. This
concern has branches at Rice Lake and Barron. The subject of this sketch
has the entire charge of the Barron branch. He has just erected a new
building of brick, 26 by 40 feet, with a full basement, which is one of the
ornaments of La Salle Street and adds much to the appearance of that
thoroughfare. It houses the sales rooms and the repair department. Mr.
Bakke handles various makes of bicycles and motor cycles, carries a full
line of accessories, and does general repairing. The firm has the agency
for the Harley Davidson motorcycles. Mr. Bakke is active in the affairs of
the Ben Brown Post, No. 212, American Legion. He attends the Methodist
Episcopal Church.

--Transcribed from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper,
Jr., & Co., 1922, pg. 552.


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