BIOGRAPHIES:  Henry HELGELAND, Barron Township, Barron Co., WI

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Transcribed by Kate Wilson. 
Edited and submitted by  Vic Gulickson <vic@indy.net>  7 January 2004
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Henry Helgeland, proprietor of the Helgeland Stock Farm, Barron Township,
was born near Madison, Wis., on a Dane County farm, Dec. 17, 1876, son of
John J. and Anna (Reindahl) Helgeland. The father was born in Stavanger,
Norway, Jan. 5, 1843, came to Wisconsin as a young man, and was married at
Madison in May, 1875, to Anna Reindahl, who was born in Telemarken, Norway,
in June, 1847. They began farming on a place near Madison, first came to
Barron County in 1898, located here permanently in 1906, and here the
father died, the mother still making her home with her son, Henry. In the
family there were six children, Henry being the oldest; Charles lives at
Rice Lake, this county; Martha is the wife of John Helsing, of Radisson,
Sawyer County, Wis.; Inger (first), Inger (second) and an unnamed infant
are dead. Henry came to Barron County in 1898, when his father came here
and purchased 160 acres of wild land in section 18, Barron Township. When
the family went back to Dane County, he stayed here, and here with the
exception of two brief intervals he has since remained. The place is well
developed with 75 acres under the plow, and is located four miles northwest
of Barron City. Here Mr. Helgeland makes a specialty of high grade Durham
cattle and Duroc swine, and successfully carries on dairying and general
farming. He has cleared and developed much of the land himself; he has
erected a good house, barns, silos and sheds, and has acquired suitable
equipment, until his place is as good as is to be found in the
neighborhood. Mr. Helgeland has not cared to mingle actively in public
life, but as the father of children, has done some good service as a member
of the board of School District No. 5. Mr. Helgeland was married June 25,
1907, to Bessie N. Stensaas, who was born in Prairie Farm Township, this
county, May 7, 1878, daughter of Andrew J. and Beret (Ronningen) Stensaas,
pioneers of this county, the former of whom died Nov. 2, 1903, at their
farm in Prairie Farm Township, and the latter, at the home of the subject
of this sketch, Nov. 26, 1916. Mr. and Mrs. Helgeland have three bright
children: Agnes E., born May 13, 1908; Adolph B., born Nov. 14, 1912; and
Sylvia J., born July 17, 1916. The family faith is that of the Norwegian
Lutheran Church. Andrew J. Stensaas, father of Mrs. Helgeland, was twice
married. By the first wife he had two children, Anna and Nels, the former
of whom lives in Minnesota, the latter being deceased. Of this second
marriage, four children were born: Bessie M., now Mrs. Henry Helgeland; and
Severt, July and another, who are dead. Mr. Stensaas, the father of Mrs.
Helgeland, had many interesting stories to tell of pioneer days. When he
came here most of the county was covered with wood, and there was little
likelihood that it would ever become thickly populated. There were no
townships organized, the voters all cast their ballots at Barron. There
they would gather, sit about on blocks of wood, discuss public matters, and
vote on county affairs. The present system of conducting public business is
in decided contrast to those early days. Mrs. Helgeland was a school
teacher for ten years before her marriage, and was well beloved by her
pupils, who still delight to call her their friend.

--Transcribed from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper,
Jr., & Co., 1922, pp. 136-137.

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