BIOGRAPHIES: Charles L. BREKKEN, Chetek 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 8 January 2001 ==================================================================== Charles L. Brekken, clerk of Chetek Township, and early settler of Barron County, was born in Norway, July 26, 1858, son of Lars and Marit (Kaagen) Brekken, both natives of that country. The family came to America in 1868, and located in Rock County, Wis., for a year, then moving over the line to Boone County, Ill., where one of the children died. In 1875, they came to Barron County, and located in Section 22, Chetek Township. This tract was wild stump land. The father at this time was getting old, but with the help of the children, he grubbed and broke the land, erected buildings, and developed a farm, upon which he and his family were enabled to earn a good living. The father died in 1905, and the mother in 1912. The seven children in the family were: Ole and Hans, who grew to adult years, married and are now dead; Charles L., town clerk of Chetek Township; Mary, wife of Tosten Hanson, of Chetek Township, John, of Turtle Lake, North Dakota; Lena, wife of L. J. Bjorlie, of Section 16, Maple Grove Township; and another, Lena, who died in infancy. Charles L. was a boy in his early teens when the family came to America, and was seventeen when they located in Barron County. His father was then growing old, and much of the hard work of the farm fell on Charles L. He helped grub and develop the farm, and in time became the owner, remaining on it until 1920 with the exception of two years when he tried his fortunes in Nebraska. He added to the original acreage until he had 200 acres. Here for many years he carried on general farming, making a specialty of graded Holstein cattle, Poland-China swine and Shropshire sheep. In the summer of 1920 he sold the place to his three sons, Leander, Olin and Harold, who are now successfully operating it. In addition to his other holdings, Mr. Brekken is interested in a number of Chetek enterprises. He was one of the organizers of the Oak Grove Farmers' Mutual Insurance Co. in 1891, and is still interested therein. He entered the political arena shortly after he was of age. He and his wife have both been clerk of their school district. He was elected town clerk in 1891, and is proving a most capable, conscientious, and accommodating officer, in high favor with all the people. For fifteen years he has done excellent service as secretary of the Norwegian Lutheran Church at Chetek. Mr. Brekken was married Nov. 10, 1892, on a farm in Chetek Township, to Emma Larson, born near Milwaukee, at Muskeego, Waukesha County, Wis., the daughter of Jorgen and Mari (Daehlen) Larson, who were pioneers of Waukesha County, Wis., and later moved to Waushara County, Wis., where they died. Mr. and Mrs. Brekken have six children: Maude, Leander, Olive, Harold (first), Harold and Conrad. Maude was born Sept. 7, 1893, married John C. Sullivan, and lives in Sauk Center, Minnesota. Leander was born Oct. 18, 1895, and was there reared. He enlisted in the regular army three days before the United States entered the World War. He was assigned to Co. G, 18th Infantry, First Division, trained at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, and at Douglas, Arizona, and served for a period on the Mexican border. In June, 1917, he embarked and arrived in France, June 28. He served with the First Division, in some of the fiercest fighting at Cantigny Ridge, St. Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne. At Cantigny Ridge he was badly gassed, but recovered sufficiently to again engage in the conflict. He arrived in the United States in 1919 with General Pershing, but did not participate in the Triumphal Parade in New York because he was company supply sergeant. He was discharged at Camp Grant, that fall, and returned to the farm. Olin was born Nov. 18, 1897. Harold (first) was born Sept. 3, 1902 and died in infancy. Harold was born April 4, 1904. Conrad was born Aug. 8, 1910, and is doing well in school. --Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co., 1922, pp. 996-997.