BIOGRAPHIES: John BOLSTAD, Barron, Barron County, WI

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Transcribed by Peg Lamkin <brinwood@chibardun.net> Edited and submitted
by Vic Gulickson <vic@indy.net>  6 April 2002	
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John Bolstad, a retired farmer living in Barron City, was born in
Ostedahl, Norway, Dec. 21, 1863, son of John and Ceverine (Oleson) Bolstad.
A brother, Ole Bolstad, came to America in 1881 and in 1882 John came. Two
years later the parents followed, locating near Madison, Wis. For five
years John worked as a farm hand in the summer months and in the pineries
in the winter. Although he came here with practically nothing, he saved
enough during these five years so that he was enabled to marry and settle
on a farm of his own, in Dane County, not far from Madison. In 1892 he sold
out there and came to Maple Grove Township, Barron County, where he
purchased 40 acres some four miles south of Barron City. To this he later
added 80 acres more. After developing this place and acquiring a
competence, he retired in the fall of 1916 and moved to Barron City. Three
years later he sold his farm to his sons, Elmer and Andrew. He owns a
pleasant residence in Barron City, and is enjoying the fruits of a
well-spent life. The farm, now owned by the sons, is well improved, with
good buildings and excellent equipment. While the young men carry on
general farming in all its lines, they make a specialty of raising tobacco,
and in this line have been very successful. In connection with his other
interests, Mr. Bolstad is a stockholder in the Barron Co-operative
Creamery. Mr. Bolstad was married Aug. 12, 1887, to Elsie Swenson, who was
born in Norway May 6, 1864, daughter of Sven and Anna (Kittleson) Swenson.
The father died in Norway, and Mrs. Bolstad came to America and took up her
home with her cousin, Charles Kittelbak, in Dane County, this state,
sending for her mother four years later. In the Swenson family there were
thirteen children: Elsie (Mrs. John Bolstad), Ole, Andrew, Kittel, Thomas,
Betsy, Hannah, Emma, Anna, Hattie and Sophie, all living; and two who died
in Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Bolstad are the parents of four children: John, of
Beloit, Wis.; Elmer and Andrew, already mentioned as owning the home farm;
and Oscar, of Barron City. The family faith is that of the Norwegian
Lutheran Congregation at Barron City.

--Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co.,
1922, pg. 115.