BIOGRAPHIES: Gilbert L. ENGSTROM, Barron 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 April 2002 ==================================================================== Gilbert L. Engstrom, proprietor of Cloverdale Stock Farm and an influential farmer of Section 1, Barron Township, formerly president of the Cloverdale cheese factory of Barron Township and formerly, also, a leading citizen of Shell Lake, in Washburn County, this state, was born in Boone County, Iowa, Sept. 6, 1875, son of J. P. and Johanna Marie (Swanson) Engstrom. He was reared on a farm and had but little opportunity for schooling; but he is possessed of a naturally keen mind; he has been a great reader, and is now one of the best educated men in the community. At the age of twenty-one he took charge of the home farm. In 1905 he moved to Shell Lake, in Washburn County, Wis., and secured a place of 120 acres, the site of an old logging camp. A crude building, 18 by 24 feet, built of four-ply boards, stood on the place, and into this he moved. He brought with him six good cows from Iowa, but two of these died the first summer. He made good improvements on the place and erected a fine set of farm buildings, including a cement silo. His neighbors at once recognized his abilities and elected him to the town board, a position he filled with credit and ability for seven years. In the Swedish church at Shell Lake he was especially active. He organized the Luther League there, of which he was the first president, and he also helped organize the Rice Lake branch of the Lutheran Brotherhood of America and at present is its president. On Oct. 25, 1911, while shredding corn, he had the misfortune to catch his left arm between the rollers and crushed it so badly that it had to be amputated four inches below the elbow. On Aug. 27, 1912, his barn was destroyed by a cyclone, two of his best cows were killed and many of his other animals were hurt, besides heavy damage being inflicted on hay stacks and other buildings. Mr. Engstrom came to Barron County March 31, 1917, and bought his present place of 120 acres. Here he has continued the improvements and has erected a new barn. He successfully carries on general farming and is regarded as one of the substantial men of the community. He has been active in the Lutheran Church at Rice Lake and in the Luther League of that church. He believes in co-operative effort among farmers, and was president of the Cloverdale cheese factory of Barron Township for three years. Mr. Engstrom was married Feb. 28, 1900, to Emma Christina Webloom, who was born in Pennsylvania June 18, 1876, daughter of John and Marie (Tobison) Webloom. This union has been blessed with three children: Irene, born Dec. 27, 1900; Garold, Feb. 20, 1906, and Kermit, June 11, 1909. --Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co., 1922, pg. 119.