BIOGRAPHIES: Louis J. BREEN, Prairie Farm Township, Barron County, WI ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, or the legal representative of the contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Vic Gulickson 18 June 2001 ==================================================================== Louis J. Breen, influential citizen, now deceased, eight years county clerk, eight years chairman of Prairie Farm Township, many years chairman of the county board, prosperous farmer of Section 32, Arland Township, and a most worthy man in every respect, was born in Osterdalen, Norway, Nov. 26, 1848, the son of John and Mary (Holemo) Breen, also natives of that country. He was reared in Norway, attended school there, and became a farmer and painter. In 1868, he came to America and landed in Fillmore County, Minnesota. There he did general farm work and followed the trade of painting which he had learned in Norway. In 1875 he came to Barron County, and located in what is now Section 32, Arland Township. Forty-five years ago conditions were different from what they are now. The lumber camps were still flourishing, the early villages were just getting a start, the "tote" roads were still the principal routes of travel, the settlers were scattered, living in little cabins built in clearings among the trees, brush and stumps. The land Mr. Breen took was all wild. He put up a cabin, moved his family into it, and underwent all the hardships and privations while getting a start in life. In time he built up a good farm, with comfortable and sightly buildings, and well fenced and well tilled acres. He was a progressive and enterprising man who believed in modern methods, and as means permitted he acquired the best of equipment and machinery. While never of a type who pushed himself, and although finding his greatest delights in the quiet of his home life, Mr. Breen was a natural born leader and it was inevitable that his fellow men should call his talents into requisition for public service. For some years he was school clerk. In the town his first office was that of supervisor for two years. So efficiently did he fulfill the duties of this office that he was elected town clerk, in which position he served for seven years. In the fall of 1888, his friends placed him in nomination for county clerk. He was duly elected and served in all eight years. His work in this capacity is still remembered, and many of the systems he introduced are still in evidence at the courthouse. When he retired from this office his fellow townsmen elected him chairman of the township, a position in which he also served for eight years. His experience naturally fitted him to make an unusually fine record both in handling the town's affairs, and in sitting on the county board. After a life of real usefulness to his fellow men, he died April 12, 1908. At that time it was said of him: "As a man, Mr. Breen was modest, diffident and unassuming, while firmly holding to everything that he believed to be right; as a neighbor and friend he was kind-hearted, loyal, generous, true and helpful; as an official he was genial, efficient, attentive, courteous, exact and thoroughly informed; as a husband he was loving and considerate; as a father he was understanding, tender and indulgent; a fine type, whether as a man, citizen, friend, official or family man; his loss will long continue to be mourned; and his memory will remain forever in the annals of those whose worth and work went into the upbuilding of the county." Mr. Breen was married Nov. 27, 1870, to Anna Hilstahagen, at Fillmore, Minn. She was born in Norway on March 17, 1845, and died in Arland Township, March 17, 1882. This union was blessed with six children: Paul, Marie, Carl, Albert, Louise and Otto. April 23, 1883, Mr. Breen married Augusta Margaretta Hanson, who was born in Norway, Sept. 29, 1853, the daughter of Hans C. and Henreka (Johanson) Hanson. This union has been blessed with eight children: Helmer, Anne, Helen, Christine, Laura, Clara, Hilda and Sophie. Paul is in Boville, Idaho. Marie is the wife of T. P. Breen of Minneapolis. Carl operates the home farm. Albert is farming in Prairie Farm Township. Louise is a stenographer in the Fairview Hospital Minneapolis. Otto operates a hardware story in Hendry, South Dakota. Helmer is a civil engineer connected with the United States government. His headquarters are now at Sand Point, Idaho. Anne is the wife of Albert Vadheim, of Bridger, Mont. Helen is the wife of Michael Schoemer of Northport, Wash. Christine is the wife of Dr. Alfred Vadheim of Tyler, Minn. Laura is the wife of Erick Bergstrom of Venn, Saskatchewan, Canada. Clara is the wife of Proctor Shelby of Omaha, Neb. Hilda is the wife of C. R. Brooks, of St. Paul, Minn. Sophie is a telegraph operator at Omaha, Neb. Mrs. Breen, a worthy woman of many gracious qualities, who was a faithful helpmeet of her husband in all his undertakings, is still living on the home place. --Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co., 1922, pp. 894-895.