BIOGRAPHIES: John KNUTSON, Dovre 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 10 June 2001 ==================================================================== John Knutson, an enterprising and progressive farmer of section 27, Dovre Township, was born in a log cabin built by his father in section 26, this township, Dec. 5, 1880, the son of Halver and Carrie (Olson) Knutson. He was reared to farm pursuits on the home place, and was educated in the log schoolhouse which is still standing on the place which he now owns. For several seasons he worked in the logging woods in winter. When his father died he was not yet of age, but he assumed many of the duties of looking after the home place and the younger children. In 1905 he located on a tract of eighty acres in this township, once owned by his uncle, Gulick Knutson. In 1910 he bought his present place of 160 acres. This farm was the homestead of Ole Thompson, and was later the property of B. N. Thompson. The only building standing on the property when Mr. Knutson purchased it was an old building originally built as a schoolhouse. Mr. Knutson has developed as good a farm as is to be found in the neighborhood. He has a fine set of buildings, comfortable and commodious, his acres are well tilled, productive and substantially fenced, his equipment in the way of implements, tools and machinery is of the best, and his live stock is all sleek and well kept. He makes a specialty of brown Swiss cattle and has a pure blooded sire. His swine are of the Duroc Jersey breed. As a native of the town, it is natural that Mr. Knutson should have taken the deepest interest in its development and progress, and he has its welfare thoroughly at heart. For seven years he has done most excellent work as a member of the school board. It is interesting to note that he attended the schoolhouse which now stands on his place and which he uses as a chicken house. One spring, in 1894, when Alba Lund was the teacher of the school, the subject of this sketch and some of the other children, transplanted two maple trees in the school yard. Little did he then think that the years would come when he would build his own home on the site where he then conned his youthful lessons, and that his own bright children would play and work and grow under the shelter of the trees he then planted. Within a few rods of the place is the cable bridge across the Cedar River. This bridge is 200 feet long and swings some twenty feet above high water. It is constructed of four stout woven steel cables, the walk being made of planks. This bridge is kept in repair by the neighbors who find it very convenient. Mr. and Mrs. Knutson delight in keeping open house for their friends and their children's friends, and their home is one of hospitality and good cheer. Mr. Knutson was married at Dallas on Sept. 26, 1903, to Emma Thompson, born in Pine Creek on April 6, 1884, the daughter of Alex. and Ausne Thompson. This union has been blessed with eight children: Elvira, Edith, Hartwell, Orrin, Juneau, Jess Willard, Vivian and Loleta (deceased). --Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co., 1922, pg. 665.