BIOGRAPHIES:  Ole ENGEBRETSON, Vance Creek Township, Barron Co., WI

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Submitted by:  Vic Gulickson <vic@indy.net>  2 March 2005
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Ole Engebretson, an honored pioneer, and proprietor of the well-kept
Sunrise Dairy Farm, in section 32, Vance Creek Township, was born in
Norway, Dec. 26, 1850, the son of Edward Olson Engebretson and his good
wife, Anna. He attended the parish school and was reared to farm pursuits
by his father. In the early seventies, after he was of age, he borrowed
money from his relatives and started for America. His first location was at
La Crosse, Wis., where he was a teamster and also worked at other
employment. A year later he came to Menomonie, Wis. There he entered the
employment of the Knapp, Stout & Co. For that concern he came to Prairie
Farm, this county, as a sawyer. Thereafter he worked in the lumber woods
five winters and on the spring drives for four springs. In 1883 he took a
homestead of 80 acres in section 32, Vance Creek Township. After his
marriage in 1876, he lived with his brother, Iver Engebretson, and later
moved into a log cabin, 16 by 20, which he built on his own place. The
cabin was in the timber and there were no roads except the tote roads of
the lumberers. The bedstead, chairs, table and much of the other furniture
was made by hand from trees and poles cut on the place. Mr. Engebretson
often brought provisions and supplies from Prairie Farm Village on his
back. He took eggs and butter to the store there on a "jumper," often
having to chop windfalls out of the road in order to make his way along. He
was fortunate in having an ox team and a cow. On one occasion, a little
later, he started on a trip with the ox team and two of his young sons. A
great storm came up, trees were uprooted and blown down across the trails,
and they had to spend the whole night in the open. Thus the family
continued, through hardships and privations, and gradually built up a good
farm. Mr. Engebretson added 40 acres to the original place, gradually
cleared up the land, built fences and put up a fine set of buildings. To
the cultivation and development of the farm he has since devoted his
attention. He now has a good place and has attained a well deserved
success. Mr. Engebretson is a substantial and respected man. He has seen
the county develop, he has taken his part in that development, and his
influence has ever been used in behalf of those things which he has
believed to be right and just and advantageous to the neighborhood. He is
well liked by his friends and honored for what he has been able to
accomplish. He was married in the fall of 1876 to Abelone Peterson, who was
born in Norway, Oct. 14, 1853, and died in Vance Creek Township in the fall
of 1901. He had wooed her in Norway, and when circumstances permitted wrote
to her to join him here. She was a most worthy woman, kindly and generous,
and was a most capable and cheerful helpmate. Mr. and Mrs. Engebretson had
ten children: Edward, Anna, Gusta, Margaret, Anton, Otto, Carl, Albert,
Lena and Emma. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran Church
and early services of the local congregation were held in their little log
cabin.

--Transcribed from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper,
Jr., & Co., 1922, pp. 498-499.

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