BIOGRAPHIES:  Wilfred A. DEMERS, Rice Lake Township, Barron County, WI

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Wilfred A. Demers, financier, agriculturist, former county and city official,
former member of the selective draft board, and present cashier of the First
National Bank of Rice Lake, was born in the Province of Quebec, Canada, Nov.
17, 1865, son of Frederick I. and Mary (Derosier) Demers, who brought him to
the States in 1870 and after a year in Menomonie, this state, came to Barron
County. Wilfred A. was reared on a homestead in Rice Lake Township, and there
attended the district schools. He was sixteen years old when his family moved
to Rice Lake, and here he continued his schooling, spending his spare time in
working with his father in his store, and thus learning the principles of
business life. After he left school he worked two years for the Omaha Railroad
at Rice Lake. Then he became a clerk in his father's store. In the fall of
1898 he was elected county treasurer, and served for four years, making his
home at Barron. Upon his retirement he continued in the court house for a
while as assistant to the county treasurer. Afterward he resumed his
employment with his father. He entered upon his banking career Nov. 1, 1907,
as assistant cashier of the First National Bank at Rice Lake. His hard work
and ability, as well as the confidence in which he is held in the community,
at once became important factors in the life of the bank, and on Jan. 1, 1914,
he was elevated to his present position. Reared as he was on a farm, he has
always been interested in agriculture, and he makes a hobby of his fine place
of 400 acres in Rice Lake Township, where he breeds full-blooded 
Holstein-Freisian cattle for dairy purposes. In addition to this he is the
owner of several residences and business buildings in Rice Lake City. His
public office holding has not been confined to the court house, for in the
city as well, he has done excellent service. He has been city clerk and
city treasurer, and during his term as alderman was one of the prime movers
in installing the present adequate sewage system. During the war he was
fearless and just as a member of the selective draft board, and also headed a
number of Liberty Loan and War Fund drives. All in all he is a broad minded 
man of intelligence and ability, who has the best good of the community at
heart, and who, in acquiring his own success, has not been unmindful of 
others. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the 
Catholic Forestors. Mr. Demers was married July 4, 1887, to Delima Santerre, 
who was born in Canada, Sept. 6, 1868. To this union ten children have been
born. Alda is a teacher and lives at home. Odille was for several years 
librarian at the Carnege Library at Rice Lake. Hazel is accountant for the 
First National Bank at Rice Lake. Leontine is the wife of Russell Rill of 
Casper, Wyoming. Raymond is a student in the Rice Lake High School. He was a 
volunteer in the World War and served with Co. A, 121st Machine Gun Battalion, 
32nd Division. Clarian is a student at the State Normal School at Superior. 
Maurine, Antoinette and Carroll are attending the public schools. One is dead. 
The family faith is that of the Roman Catholic Church.

--Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., &
Co., 1922, pp. 195-196.