Biographies: Peter GAGNER, Rice Lake Township, Barron Co., 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. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Victor Gulickson 6 June 1999 ==================================================================== Peter Gagner, fur trader and early settler, was born in Canada, of French ancestry, Nov. 29, 1846. The family name was originally spelled Gagnie, but American usage has changed the spelling to Gagner. The subject of this sketch early became a trapper, fur trader and farmer in his native country. He came to Wisconsin in 1861 and secured employment with Louis Nadeaux, as a fur trader, buying from the Indians in various parts of Wisconsin, and having many interesting adventures in driving a team through the wilderness, distri- buting goods and gathering pelts. In the meantime he took a homestead of 160 acres in section 22, Rice Lake Township. The tract was covered with heavy timber. Mr. Gagner devoted his spare time to developing this place. He cut off the timber, grubbed out the stumps, broke up the land, built a log house 18 by 26 feet, and a barn, and lived there alone. Later he built a stone house. He gave up fur trading in 1868 and devoted the remainder of his life to farming until his lamented death, Dec. 3, 1916. Mr. Gagner had many interesting stories to tell of his adventures and of the Indians. He was respected for his good qualities and his death was sincerely regretted. A sincere Roman Catholic, he helped to establish the first church of that faith in his neighborhood, and also served thirteen years as a member of the school board. Mr. Gagner was married in 1876 at Rice Lake, to Sialine Lavelier, born in Canada March 13, 1860, who died July 25, 1920. They were the parents of eight children. Melanie was born Feb. 23, 1878, and died June 13, 1914. Virginia, born Jan. 4, 1881, married Leon King, of Rice Lake, and has three children, Malena, Delores and Elizabeth. Peter E., born April 14, 1883, was married July 6, 1907, to Cessire Demers, and has five children: Malena, Olive, Henry, Ida and Lorine. William was born May 1, 1885. John, born Aug. 25, 1888, was married April 26, 1910, to Lida Demars, and is on the home place. Delore, born Sept. 27, 1890, was married Nov. 24, 1920, at Stanfold Township, this county, to Aveline Demars. Delphine, born June 18, 1892, married Delore Demars, and has four children, Leo, John, Victor and Morris. Alex H., born July 14, 1894, was married at Rodeo, Cal., Feb. 9, 1917. --Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co., 1922, pg. 493