BIOGRAPHIES:  Joseph BYRNES, Oak Grove Township, Barron Co., WI

***********************************************************************
USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE:  These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in
any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or
persons.  Persons or organizations desiring to use this material,
must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal
representative of the submitter, 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.

Submitted by:  Vic Gulickson <vic@indy.net>  24 February 2004
***********************************************************************

Joseph Byrnes was one of the pioneers of the northeastern part of Barron
County. In 1872 he came to Oak Grove Township and secured 160 acres in
section 22. The land was then all wild, and there were only four other
families, those of Hamlon and Frank Mullen and the Tom and Martin Kearney
families, in what is now the whole township. Mr. Byrnes' means did not
permit his spending all his time on his own farm, so for some time he
worked for Knapp, Stout & Co. in the woods and on their farms. At this he
earned $18 or $20 a month. When he had saved enough to purchase a team he
received $30 a month for himself and team, a sum which was considered an
excellent wage in those days. In the meantime he did what he could to
develop his farm, working far into the night burning logs and brush after
completing a hard day's labor in the woods. He put up a log cabin, cleared
a little of the land and made his family as comfortable as possible. In
time he was able to devote all his attention to his farm. He cleared some
eighty acres, built a pretty bungalow in 1919, and from time to time put up
a good set of buildings. From the very beginning he was prominent in
township affairs. He had not been here long before be was assigned to help
build public roads. He served for some years as town supervisor and was
always in favor of improvements and progress. As clerk of the school board
of his district he also did most excellent work. His holdings included
stock in the Oak Grove Cheese County in Oak Grove Township. Joseph Byrnes
was born in Perth, Ontario, Canada, March 4, 1843, was educated in the
district schools, spent his youth in farm work and logging, came to the
States in 1872, stayed a few months in Chippewa Falls, this state, and then
came to Barron County. He died Feb. 2, 1921. Mr. Byrnes was married July
11, 1871, to Katherine Mullen, who was born in Canada in 1851. This union
was blessed with eight children. Michael J. was born May 19, 1874, and is
now in Canada. Richard was born July 27, 1876, and lives at home. Anna was
born Feb. 7, 1879, and is the wife of T. A. Parks. William was born July
26, 1881, and is now in Canada. James was born Dec. 8, 1884, and is a
prosperous and well known farmer of Oak Grove Township. He stands well in
the community and is proving successful in his endeavors and has charge of
the home farm. Mary was born March 19, 1886, and is the wife of Med.
Derocher. Frank was born April 13, 1888, and is farming in Oak Grove
Township. Steve was born July 11, 1893. The family faith is that of the
Roman Catholic church.

--Transcribed from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper,
Jr., & Co., 1922, pp. 343-344.


© All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm