BIOGRAPHIES: Arndt J. DRAGSETH, Barron 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. Transcribed by Kate Wilson. Edited and submitted by Vic Gulickson 3 January 2004 ************************************************************************ Arndt J. Dragseth, formerly contractor and builder, and now prosperous farmer of Barron Township, to whose credit stand many of the best brick buildings in Barron City and vicinity, was born in Trondjem, Norway, March 13, 1862, second of the five children of John C. and Marit (Segren) Dragseth. The other four children in the family were: John, who died in Minneapolis; Nels, who lives in Norway; Ole, who died in Rice Lake, Wis.; and Gertrude, who lives in Norway. Arndt J. came to America in 1881, and found his way directly to Minneapolis. The first summer he worked as a common laborer, and then entered the employ of Robert C. Todd, contractor. At first he was a mortar mixer and hod-carrier at fifty cents a day, out of which he had to board and clothe himself. After the first two months he received an increase in wages. Within three years he completed his apprenticeship, and became a full-fledged bricklayer. He then continued in the same employ for many years, working on some of the best known brick buildings in the Twin Cities and vicinity. In the spring of 1897, he purchased 120 acres in Barron Township, this county. This land was all wild, but had a few lumber shacks standing on it. Mr. Dragseth fitted up one of these shacks for a home, and after moving his family therein, cleared a little of the land. For several years he alternated his time between the farm and his employment in the Twin Cities. In 1898 his property was all destroyed by the great fire, his family saving their lives by taking refuge in the waters of the Yellow River. Mr. Dragseth was in St. Paul when he read of the disaster, and for some days was in doubt as to the fate of his loved ones. He hurried home and started life anew. He continued to develop his farm, and started in the contracting and building business, erecting a number of brick buildings in Barron, and brick residences and schoolhouses in the surrounding farm districts. It was not until 1915 that Mr. Dragseth retired entirely from the contracting business. In the meantime he achieved success with his farm. To his original tract he added 80 acres, making a good farm of 200 acres, and on this farm, with the assistance of his sons, George A. and Arnold W., who work the place with him on shares, he carries on general farming along modern lines, making a specialty of high grade Holstein and Jersey cattle. Everything about the farm is in the best of condition, and the buildings include a substantial frame house, good barns, a granary, and other well-built structures. Mr. Dragseth is highly respected in the community and has been honored by his fellow citizens in various ways. He is serving his third term as town supervisor, and for over a dozen years has been director of School District No. 5, the school of which was first organized in his original log home. In addition to his other financial holdings, he is a stockholder and director of the Barron Co-operative Creamery. Mr. Dragseth was married June 24, 1887, to Julia Olson, who was born in Trondjem, Norway, and at 21 years of age came to America to join a brother in Minneapolis, followed later by another brother. Mr. and Mrs. Dragseth are the parents of six children: Marie B., Armena J., John 0., George A., Arnold W. and Martin G. Marie B. is now the wife of Hans Tollefson, of Barron Township. Armena J. is the wife of Peter Tollefson, of Barron Township. John 0. lives in Minneapolis, and is employed as a railway engineer by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul. George A. resides at home. Arnold W. also lives at home. He enlisted for the World War, May 14, 1918, as a mechanic, trained at Lansing, Mich., and at Augusta, Georgia, was equipped for overseas at Camp Merritt, N. J., sailed for France, Sept. 26, 1918, landed at Brest, France, was at Verdun six weeks, sailed for home Jan. 14, 1919, was discharged at Camp Grant, Ill., Feb. 14, 1919, and reached home two days later. He is a member of Ben Brown Post, 212, American Legion, Barron. Martin G. is a clerk in a hardware store in Minneapolis. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran Church. --Transcribed from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co., 1922, pp. 137-138. © All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm