BIOGRAPHIES:  Christian O. NORDBY, Barron Township, 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 <vic@indy.net>  4 January 2004
************************************************************************

Christian 0. Nordby, who has been one of the leading temperance workers of
Barron County for many years, was born in Gudbrandsdalen, Norway, Feb. 10,
1858. He was early thrown on his own resources. In 1883 he came to the
United States and found his way to Black River Falls, Wis., where he landed
with but five dollars in his pocket. For a while he lived with his cousin,
Martin Hanson, fifteen miles out in the country. His first work here was in
a sawmill at Merrillan Junction. Then for several years he divided his time
between working in the lumber woods in the winter for the Chippewa Lumber &
Boom Co. and farming in the summer. After he had been here but a year he
brought his mother and sister here, married, and started farming on a
rented place in Chetek Township, this county. In 1887 he purchased 40 acres
of wild land in Section 2, Barron Township, and built thereon a log house
14 by 18 feet. His first live stock consisted only of one yoke of oxen and
a cow. Gradually the place was developed, a comfortable frame house built,
and other buildings constructed as necessity required, including a modern
silo. To the original 40 another 80 has been added adjoining on the west in
Section 3, making a good farm of 120 acres, of which 60 is under the plow.
Everything is in good condition and bespeaks the thrift of the owner. Mr.
Nordby is a substantial man, has been town clerk for one term and has
served in such school offices as clerk and treasurer for many years. He was
one of the founders of the Hope of the Future Temperance Society, of
Barron, and takes just pride in the fact that he was one of those workers
who all over the United States, seeing a star of hope in the future,
labored for righteousness against heavy odds, and saw their hopes at last
realized in a dry country. Mr. Nordby was married July 11, 1884, to Marie
Olson to whom he had been engaged in the old country and who came to the
United States with him. This union was blessed with six children. Martin 0.
was born June 7, 1885, and is now a farmer in Saskatchewan, Canada. Olga A.
was born April 2, 1887, and died Sept. 3, 1887. Alfred 0. was born Nov. 19,
1888, and is a farmer in Saskatchewan, Canada. Olga A. (second) was born
Feb. 5, 1891, and is the wife of Mathias Hong. Edward C. was born Oct. 24,
1894, and is a student in the Red Wing (Minn.) Seminary. Carl M. was born
Nov. 5, 1895, and assists his father on the farm. He was inducted into the
United States service July 23, 1918, was assigned to the 311th Engineer
Corps, trained at Camp Grant, Ill., was equipped at Camp Mills for overseas
duty and sailed for Liverpool Sept. 9, 1918. From there he was sent to
Southampton. Sept. 22 he crossed the English Channel and was thence sent to
Bordeaux. He sailed for home from Marseilles, France, June 12, 1919, and
received his discharge at Camp Grant, July 12, 1919. Mrs. Christian 0.
Nordby died May 7, 1900. Mr. Nordby was married May 16, 1902, to Mary
Bjorlie, who was born June 28, 1872, and died Nov. 4, 1916. Mr. Nordby
worships with the Norwegian Lutheran Church of which he has been a member
for 30 years and secretary 23 years. He was a member of the church building
committee when the church was erected in Barron.

--Transcribed from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper,
Jr., & Co., 1922, pp. 143-144.

© All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm