BIOGRAPHIES: Aristide MERO, Rice Lake, Barron Co., WI ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, 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. Transcribed by Kate Wilson. Edited and submitted by Vic Gulickson 5 October 2003 ************************************************************************ Aristide Mero, one of the earliest settlers of Barron County, register of deeds from 1872 to 1874, chairman of the county board two terms, first chairman of Rice Lake Township, twenty years a member of town boards in Rice Lake, Cedar Lake and Stanfold Townships, at various intervals secretary of his school district, and for a considerable period a successful farmer, is one of the most highly respected citizens of the county. He has taken his part in the upbuilding of this region and will live in history as one of the men who helped to guide destinies of public affairs in the days when they were having their beginning. He was born in Canada, Nov. 1, 1839, son of Bonaventure and Moneque Mero, and remained at home until 1857, when he came to the States and took up farm work at Grand Falls, New York, thereafter alternating between that place and Canada for several years. In 1863 he located in Chicago and for a year worked for the Illinois Central Railroad. His next work was at Lawrence, Kansas, where he went in 1865 to get out square timber for the Union Pacific. In the summer of 1866 he was at Kansas City, Mo., hewing square timbers for the first railroad bridge built across the Missouri River at that point. Then for a time, with headquarters at Cameron, Mo., he repaired bridges along the line of the Hannibal & St. Joseph. In 1868 he came to St. Paul, and worked for a while as a carpenter. Then he entered the employ of Knapp, Stout & Co. at Menomonie, this state. In their employ he came to Rice Lake. In the spring of 1871 he squatted on a piece of railroad land in section 33, in what is now the township of Oak Grove. In the meantime he continued work for the lumber company, working on his land as opportunity permitted. He broke twenty acres, erected a log house, barn and shed, with "shake" roof, and put in a small acreage of crops. He sold his rights to this place in 1873 and took a homestead of 168 acres in section 19, Doyle Township. This he likewise started to improve. He broke the land, erected a log house and barn, constructed fences, purchased suitable stock, tools and equipment, and there carried on general farming until 1890, when all the improvements and equipment were destroyed by fire, including $125 in cash which he had saved by hard work and frugality. But undaunted by this disaster, while retaining the original homestead which he still owns, he moved to a tract of 80 acres in section 13, Rice Lake Township. Of this, thirty acres had been broken. He continued the breaking, erected a frame residence, a barn 34 by 70 feet, a machine house, granary and other buildings, and secured modern equipment. In 1894 he added 80 acres in the same section, making a farm of 160 acres, practically all under cultivation. In 1898 he added forty acres more in section 29, of which 15 acres is in wild hay land, and the balance in young timber. The place is now rented to two of his sons, who are ably conducting it, and still carrying out their father's ideas. In 1919 he purchased a house and five building lots in the city of Rice Lake, started making extensive improvements on the house, and in 1920 moved into it. Mr. Mero was married April 19, 1868, to Sarah La Brie, daughter of John B. and Parpetude (Demers) La Brie, who were born in Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Mero have eleven children: Eugene J., Gilbert J., Palmelia, Charles N., Louis A., Laura M., Moses J., Alivian J., George B., Alice B., and Grace B. Eugene J. was born Marach 11, 1869, and now lives in Montana, Gilbert J. was born March 1, 1871, was married April 13, 1895 to Angie Emmens, and has six children: Philona, Harris C., Grace, Raymond, Louse and Elsie. They live in Doyle Township. Palmelia was born Sept. 23, 1873. Charles N. was born Dec. 12 1875, and lives in Montana. Louis A., born Feb. 9, 1877 and is deceased. Laura M. was born June 7, 1879. Moses J., born Nov. 19 1883, lives in Montana. Alivian J., was born June 22, 1887. George B., born Sept. 6, 1889, married Carrie Olson of Rice Lake Township. Alice B. was born Oct. 28, 1890, married Frank Svacin. Grace B. born May 30, 1893, died in the same year. The family faith is that of the Roman Catholic church. John B. La Brie was of the first settlers in Barron County. He came to the States from Canada in 1862, and located in Missouri, from which state he came to Wisconsin in 1896, and started what is known as the French settlement, on the line between Oak Grove and Rice Lake Townships. He and his wife are both dead. --Transcribed from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co., 1922, pp. 315-316. © All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm