BIOGRAPHIES: Charles A. NESS, Lakeland 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 22 April 2001 ==================================================================== Charles A. Ness, chairman of the town board of Lakeland Township, of which township he is a prosperous farmer and leading citizen, was born in Norway, April 21, 1864, son of Andrew and Elsie (Egga) Ness. The parents both died in their native land, leaving five children: Pedter, now a farmer in Rice Lake Township, this county; Charles A., subject of this sketch, and Andrew, Nora and Louisa, who are still in Norway. Charles A. Ness acquired his education in the Norwegian common schools. Subsequently for two years he attended an officers' training school, connected with the Second Brigade Infantry, with headquarters at Christiania. In 1889 he came to America, landing at New York, whence he came directly to Shawano County, Wisconsin. There for a short time he was engaged in farm labor, but in the year 1890 he went to Rhinelander, Wis., where he spent seven years occupied as a lumber scaler. Removing to Barron County in 1897, he engaged in agriculture, buying of Christ Anderson 80 acres in Section 26, Lakeland Township, and beginning the development of a farm. A purchase of 80 acres more in 1912 doubled its area, and during the years he has resided on the place, Mr. Ness has cleared 70 acres and erected a set of buildings. General farming and dairying occupy his attention, his cattle being pure-bred Holsteins, and his operations have been conducted with profitable results. Aside from his direct farming interests, Mr. Ness is a stockholder in the Farmers' Light & Power Company and in the Silver Lake Cheese Factory. Of the latter enterprise he was four years president. His capacity as a man of affairs has long been recognized by his fellow townsmen and at various times he has been called upon to serve in public office. As early as 1903 he was elected supervisor of the township board, on which he served two years. In 1905 he was elected chairman of the board and so continued until 1914, in which year he was elected a member of the board of education of Barron County, a position he held for two years. From 1916 to 1918 he was a member of the committee of three for Barron County schools; then in 1918 he was re-elected chairman of the township board, in which position he is still serving. For 18 years he has been a member of the school board of District No. 1. In 1911 he became president of the McKinley Telephone Company. The Norwegian Lutheran Church numbers him among its faithful and consistent members. Mr. Ness was married in Barron, Jan. 7, 1893, to Christina Strangstad, who was born in Norway July 15, 1867, daughter of Ole and Elizabeth Strangstad. Her parents are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Ness have had three children: Arthur A., born Dec. 17, 1893; Einer L., born Jan. 7, 1899, and Lenora C., born Jan. 21, 1903. Einer L., who resides at home and is his father's assistant, is also secretary of the Silver Lake Cheese Company. Lenora C. is also at home. Arthur A. spent one year at the Menomonie Agricultural School and took the two years' short course in agriculture at Madison. On Aug. 14, 1918 he enlisted in the United States' service and was with the U. S. Training Detachment at Madison. Less than two months after his enlistment he fell a victim to that deadly disease, influenza, of which he died Oct. 8, 1918. Though he fell not on the field of battle, he practically offered up his life for his country and is worthy of the hero's crown. --Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co., 1922, pp. 883-884.