BIOGRAPHIES: Nicolaus M. ROCKMAN, Barron, 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: Barron Co. WIGenWeb coordinator on 14 July 2002 ==================================================================== **Posted for informational purposes only - poster is not related to the subject of this biography and has no further information. Nicolaus M. Rockman, farmer, P. O. Barron, was born in Nordre Fron, Gulbrandsdalen, Norway, on Friday, August 6, 1841, the youngest of four children born to Mrten and Eli (Evenvold) Rokvam, both of Gansdal, Norway. He was baptized August 15, 1841, in the Lutheran church, and attended the common schools of his locality and was confirmed June 8, 1856. His father died in December, 1852, and the burden of supporting the family fell partly upon him. His father had left a lease for forty-nine years of a farm, and his mother and he concluded to run it, but the corporation who owned the farm declared the lease void, and later he was glad of it, as the farm was wiped out of existence by the floods of 1860. He then determined to educate himself the best he could, and try something besides farming. He spent the winter of 1856 in a private school, and when but fifteen years of age, he taught a private school, and for the last two years he taught private schools in the summers and public schools in the winters. August 16, 1859, he entered Asker's Seminary, and graduated from that institution December 18, 1861. He was at once offered three public schools to teach, and selected one at Lillihammer, a public graded school, and taught there nearly eleven months every years, Sundays and holidays from January 22, 1862, to Jne, 1869, when the work here became too arduous and confining for him. His mother died June 3, 1863, and is only sister June 10, 1869, and he was left without father, mother, brother or sister. He was reared with strong republican tendencies, and concluded to emigrate to America. He landed at New York city, July 4, 1870, and there for the first time saw a glorious celebration of this nation's birthday. He came to La Crosse, and there on the banks of the Mississippi observed a genuine American Cyclone. To his mind America at once proved itself to be the greatest country under the sun. From La Crosse he came to Eau Claire, where he first worked for a farmer near the city, and in the winter in the woods. In the spring he worked on a saw-mill at Eau Claire, and afterward on the grading of the Omaha railway between Knapp and Wilson stations. On Sundays and in the evenings he studied the flora of that locality and was often jested about it by his fellow workmen. He started to Rochester, Minn., to harvest that year, but as they paid small wages he returned to Eau Claire and worked again for a farmer, and in the woods in the winter. Here was a large crew of genuine woodsmen, and as our subject was the only avowed republican among them he had several warm altercations, but he held his own, though he had to produce his jackknife to make himself respected. In the spring of 1872 he hired out to the Eddy mills at $1 per day, but when he came to go to work, he was informed that his place was taken. Here was the turning-point of his life in America, which made him one of the pioneers of Barron county. He concluded to try to work for himself, and started to find a homestead. He came to Pegegama Prairie, near Cameron, but he could not find anything there that suited him, so he went to Rice Lake, and form there to Quarderer's Camp, now the county seat of Barron county and the city of Barron. May 17, 1872, he located on his present farm, the southeast quarter of section two, township thirty-three, range twelve. The land was stumpy and brushy and partly timbered, but the locality appeared to be healthy and well supplied with water and wood. His first supplies came by way of Rice Lake and Menomonie from Eau Claire, and had to be shipped on a raft from Louisburg to a ford on section eight, and packed from there to his home. It took just three weeks to get his first supplies through. His first shanty was built of poplar logs, but this burned down, and the next one was built of oak logs, with shake roof. His present dwelling was built in 1880. He was agent for the Hekla Fire Ins. Co. of Madison, and solicited insurance and workd on the farm alternately. He worked one season for the Eau Claire Lumber Co., but was taken sick with ague and was unable to work for a year. In the spring of 1873 he came from Eau Claire to the then county seat on section twenty-six, township thirty-four, range twelve to vote, and had to cross Menomonie river barefooted, while the river was full of ice. He was nominated for the office of county surveyor in the fall of 1873, but was not elected. In the spring of 1874 he was elected one of the assessors of the township of Barron, which then comprised about one-fourth of the present Barron county. He was now located in Barron county, and had many warm friends, of whom Samuel Barker, of Rice Lake, was the most prominent. By his help Mr. Rockman was elected county clerk November 2, 1875, on an independent ticket, by 397 out of 708 votes, and was re-elected NOvember 6, 1877, without opposition. He was elected county treasurer, to fill a vacancy, by the county board of supervisors January 23, and assumed that office February 19, 1879. He was elected county treasurer November 4, 1879, by a plurality of thirty-four votes, and was re-elected November 8, 1881, without opposition, receiving 1,112 out of 1,118 votes. November 4, 1884, he was again re-elected by 1,335 out of 2,568 votes, when money entered for the first time into the politics of Barron county. He was again re-elected November 2, 1886, by 1,098 agains 644 democratic and 469 prohibition votes. He was re- elected November 6, 1888, by 1,879 against 1,067 democratic -- prohibition votes, but was defeated November 4, 1890, by a democratic Farmers' Alliance candidate. October 28, 1876, Mr. Rockman was united in marriage in Eau Claire, Wis., with Miss Anne Julie Christianson, who was born in Christiania, Norway, December 25, 1844. Six children have blessed this union, five of whom are living, namely: Charl Martin Nicolaus, born September 7, 1877, and died September 28, 1877; Elmer Albert, born December 16, 1878; Julius, December 14, 1881; Edward William, September 11, 1883; Martin Nicolaus, January 29, 1886, and Fredrick Adolph, July 3, 1888. -Transcribed from the "Historical and Biographical Album of the Chippewa Valley Wisconsin, 1891-2", pages 511-513.