Biographies:  Andrew FOSSUM, Stanley Township, Barron Co., WI 

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Victor Gulickson  <vic@indy.net>  29 March 1999
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  Andrew  Fossum,  Section  14,  Stanley  Township, is one of the oldest
pioneers  still  left  in  Barron County. He came here in 1875, when the
county  was  little  more  than  a  wilderness, and has lived to see the
prosperity  of  the  present  day.  In  all  of this progress, as a good
citizen  and  a hard-working farmer, he has had his part. He was born in
Norway,  May  3, 1839, the son of Lars and Anna Frederickson, farmers of
that  country. He was reared and educated in Norway, there grew to adult
years  and  married.  In  1869  he  came to America with his family, and
located in Chicago. There for three years he worked at whatever he could
get  to do, part of the time unloading boats. In 1872 he came to Wausau,
in  Marathon  County, this state, and there farmed for three years. Then
he  started  out  for  Barron  County.  By  hard  work,  self denial and
frugality  he  had  saved  $600.  Then his son, Henry, was stricken with
brain  fever,  and the devoted father and mother spent the whole $600 to
aid  in  his  recovery.  But they had courage and determination, so they
borrowed  $10,  hired  a team, packed their family goods, and with their
family  started  out  for  Barron County. Here they secured 160 acres in
Section  29,  Stanley  Township,  twenty of which has been sold off. Mr.
Fossum had previously selected this farm while looking over the land for
a location. When he made his first trip here, he walked from Eau Claire.
After  leaving the settlements in Dunn County, he saw not a single house
along  his  way  until he reached Section 29, Stanley, except the lumber
camp  at Chetek. He had nothing but his hands and a few crude tools with
which  to  start.  He  put up a log house, 10 by 12 feet, which is still
standing  as  a landmark of the olden days. Then he started clearing the
land.  But  he was only able to devote a part of his time to this, as he
had  to  work out some to secure provisions for his family. His wife was
often  left  alone  with  the children. Indians were plentiful and often
visited  the  little cabin. But Mrs. Fossum was of a kindly disposition,
the  bright  children  attracted the affection of the savages, and there
was  nothing  to  fear.  Sometimes Mrs. Fossum would give tobacco to the
Indians,  and this still further increased their friendly relations. The
first summer that the family was here they bought a cow. Later they were
able to get a yoke of oxen, and oxen were what they used for many years.
As  time  passed,  the family achieved prosperity. The log building gave
way  to  a  good  set of farm structures, and as means permitted, modern
implements  and machinery were purchased. The farm is now as good as any
that  can  be  found in the neighborhood. Mr. Fossum was married in May,
1856,  in  Norway,  to  Oleana Rents, who was born in that country. This
union  has  been blessed with six children: Henry, Anna and George, born
in Norway, and Carl, Olga and Christ, born in Barron County. Mrs. Fossum
died  in  1916.  She was born Aug. 14, 1840. Christ, the youngest of the
family  was born in Stanley Township, Sept. 20, 1880, and was reared and
educated  here.  He  learned  farming  from  his parents, and has always
remained  on  the  home  place.  He took over the management on Feb. 28,
1918.  He  is  meeting  with  success in his operations, and has already
established  his  position  as  one of the solid, substantial men of the
community.  He  is  doing  his  duty  in  every way as a public spirited
citizen,  and  is  especially active in the Norwegian Lutheran Church of
Cameron,  which  he  has  served  as  trustee for several years. 

--Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co.,
1922, pp. 755-756