BIOGRAPHIES: Andrew NEWMAN, 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: Roger Anderson 9 September 2001 ==================================================================== Andrew Newman, pioneer, whose original name was Andreas Nymon, is one of the most honored and venerated citizens of the southeastern part of the county. He has come through all the hardships incident to life in the wilderness, he has built up a good estate, he has founded an excellent family, and he well deserves all the pleasant things of life that his latter years have brought to him. From the very first he has been staunch in upholding everything that he believes to be for the good and progress of the community, and his influence on neighborhood affairs has been considerable. He was born in Norway, Aug. 25, 1837, and there grew to manhood. In 1868 he came to America, aboard a sailing vessel. He landed at New York, came by rail to Chicago, continued by rail to Galena, Ill., came up the Mississippi to near the mouth of the Chippewa by packet, and up the Chippewa on a lumber boat, reaching Eau Claire eleven weeks from the time he bade farewell to his parental home. At Eau Claire he obtained employment in the sawmills. In the fall of 1868 he secured a homestead of 160 acres of wild land in Section 23, Dovre Township, and there built a log cabin, 12 by 16 feet, cutting all the timber by hand. To this cabin, in 1869, he brought his bride. There they started homemaking with but little save their youth, their ambition and their courage. Their household utensils were meager, their furniture crude and mostly home-made. The farm tools were few. The domestic animals consisted of a cow and a calf. Soon he put up a log stable, and got a few sheep, so that his wife could have wool to spin into yarn with which to knit mittens, socks, caps, and other articles. A little later he got a pair of horses, one of the first in the neighborhood. Eau Claire, the market place, was far away, and the trip there, with the ox team, was slow and even hazardous. There were no churches, and services of the Norwegian Lutheran denomination was held in his home. Later he helped to organize the congregation at Sand Creek, assisted in building the church, and served as one of its trustees. About ten years after he moved onto the place, he built a larger log cabin, and still later he remodeled it into a good frame house. He also put up a substantial barn, which has since been remodeled to larger proportions. He has built up a good farm in every particular, and has achieved merited success. A man of influence and good judgement, he helped to start many local enterprises. He was one of the organizers and original stockholders in the Spring Hill Creamery, and served as one of its directors. He was also one of the first to buy stock in the Farmers' Store Co. of Chetek. Mr. Newman was married at Sand Creek, Dunn County, this state, Aug. 7, 1870, to Marit Andersen, who was born in Norway, Jan. 7, 1845, and came to the United States in 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Newman have eight children: Mary, Louis, August, John, Anna, Julius, Richard and Albert Martin. Mary is the wife of Charles O. Holter, of Dovre Township. Louis farms in Dovre Township. August is on the home place. John farms in Dovre Township. Anna is the wife of N. B. Thompson, of Macintosh, Minn. Julius is a farmer of Dovre Township. Richard is a civil engineer in Washington. He is a veteran of the World War, having served over two years in France with the American Expeditionary Force and the American Army of Occupation. Albert Martin is the manager of the Spring Hill Creamery. Three children, Dena, Alfred, and an unnamed infant, are dead. Mrs. Andrew Newman is a gracious lady of many admirable qualities. She has ably assisted her husband in all his efforts, she has kept good cheer and comfort in the home, her personality has been the guiding spirit of the family. She is a good wife and a good mother, the welfare and comfort of her household being her first thought. She is a good neighbor, always kindly and helpful. She is active in all good work. Now, in the sunset of life, she is deeply beloved by all who know her, and highly esteemed and respected throughout the entire community.