BIOGRAPHIES: Nicolaus M. ROCKMAN, Barron, Barron County, WI

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Nicolaus M. Rockman, founder and vice president of the Normanna Savings
Bank, Barron, pioneer farmer, public official, man of affairs, and former
educator, is one of the foremost figures in Barron county. He has been an
integral part of its growth and progress for half a century, and his
character and influence are woven into its history. In the old country,
with but limited educational advantages, he worked himself into a position
of importance as an educator. In this country, he determined to win for
himself a place of honor and success, and in this he has more than
succeeded. Everything that he has gained in life he has won by application,
ability and self sacrifice, and everything of good that has come to him has
been well deserved. He is a keen minded business man, he knows men,
conditions and events thoroughly, and his judgment is always respected.
Personally, he is a most genial companion and of kindly disposition, and a
friend of unfaltering loyalty. As a public official he stood for unswerving
honesty and straightforward efficiency. All in all, he is one of the most
useful men in the community, honored by his associates, respected by all,
and beloved by the younger folk. He delights in encouraging all those who
are struggling toward success, he has loaned a helping hand to many a young
man starting on his way in life, and he and his wife have extended
charities of which little is known. He believes in helping in everything
that is for the best welfare of the city and county and he holds the
welfare of the city and county deeply at heart.

Nicolaus M. Rockman was born in Nordre Fron, Gulbransdalen, Norway, Aug.
6, 1841, the youngest of four children of Morten and Eli (Evenvold),
Rockman, natives of Gansdal, Norway, and honored and respected citizens,
the former of whom died Dec. 5, 1852, and the latter, June 3, 1863. Young
Nicolaus was baptized in the Lutheran church, Aug. 15,1841, and was
confirmed June 8, 1856. He attended the common schools, and took up some of
the burdens of the family at his father's death, although he was then but
eleven years old. He planned to continue farming on the home place, but the
owners declared the lease void. He then determined to educate himself as
best he could. In 1856 he spent the winter in a private school, and then
became a teacher, although but fifteen years of age, having charge of
public schools in the winter and private schools in the summer. Aug. 16,
1859, he entered Asker's Seminary and graduated from that institution, Dec.
18, 1861. He then became a teacher in the public schools of Lillehammer,
and taught there from Jan. 22, 1862 to June 12, 1869. His work, however,
proved too confining, for a school year took in eleven months including
Sundays and holidays. He accordingly determined to try his fortunes in
America, not only because he desired a change, and craved the wider
opportunities of this great nation, but also because he was a strong
anti-monarchist, and wished to live under the Republican doctrines of this
great Republic of the West. Closing up his affairs in the land of his
birth, he set sail and on July 4, 1870. reached New York harbor, where he
witnessed an enthusiastic Independence Day celebration. As he watched the
New York sky line standing boldly from the water, with a myriad streams of
fire shooting into the air, while bombs exploded on every side, he received
an impression of the wonders of this great country which will never be
effaced from his mind. July 5 he landed and lingered in New York three days
waiting to get gold from Washington in exchange for the money he had
brought with him. Then he came West, and first saw the Mississippi river at
La Crosse. The trip gave him an increasing idea of the country's
importance, and his wonderment was still further increased when he
witnessed a cyclone which did considerable damage in the vicinity of La
Crosse. From La Crosse, he went to Osseo, in Trempealeau county, this
state, and from there to Eau Claire, in Eau Claire county. Near that city
he worked three months on a farm. Then he taught school for a short period.
Jan. 1, 1871, he went into the lumber woods for Frank Cole. In the spring
of 1871 he worked for the Omaha line, grading the railroad road bed between
Knapp and Wilson stations, in Dunn County. In the fall he started for
Rochester, Minn., but as the wages were too low, he went once more to Eau
Claire, and as before worked for a farmer for a while, and then went into
the woods. Disappointed in a position he had hoped to obtain in the spring
of 1872 he determined that he would follow the example of so many of his
countrymen, and take a homestead. Accordingly he came to Barron county, and
after looking about for a while, located May 17, 1872, on the southeast
quarter of section 2, township 23, range 12, in what is now Maple Grove
township. The next day he went afoot through the deep woods to Menomonie,
where he made arrangements to get his claim and filed at the land office.
With the help of Hans Lunde, he built a small shanty with a shake roof, and
one four-light window. He improvised a cook stove from a large hollow
stump, and put up a crude bedstead. After getting everything in shape he
returned to Eau Claire for a while. In 1873 he erected a log shanty, 12 by
16 feet, and lived in it at intervals, while clearing up some of the stump
land. Soon after his coming here, he became agent for the Hecla Fire
Insurance Co., of Madison, and he traveled about for this company, thus
earning money to support himself while getting his farm in shape for
occupancy. For one season he worked for the Eau Claire Lumber Co., but did
not continue with them as he contracted the ague. After his marriage in the
fall of 1876, and he and his wife spent the winter in a room of what was
then the court house at Barron. The next year they moved to the cabin on
his homestead. There they farmed for sixteen years. During that time he
developed an excellent farm. He cleared up the land, erected a good set of
buildings, the house being constructed in 1886, put up fences, purchased
good stock and equipment, and maintained a modern, profitable place, in
every particular. While he was away, serving in public office, Mrs. Rockman
looked after the farm, and proved herself a most capable manager. In 1893
they moved to the city of Barron. In May, 1893, he rented a small building
in Barron and started the Normanna Savings bank as a private institution.
In 1903 it was incorporated as the Normanna State bank, with Mr. Rockman as
vice president, in which position he has since remained. His personality
and integrity have determined the policy and standing of the bank, since it
was first opened, and he is still the active factor in its management.
Being a man of superior attainments, with experience as an educator, and
with a broader outlook on life than was customary among the pioneers, it is
natural that he should early have been called to public office. In the fall
of 1873 he was nominated as county surveyor but was not elected. The next
spring he was elected assessor of Barron township, which then took in a
large area. Nov. 2, 1875, he was elected county clerk, and on Nov. 6, 1877,
was re-elected without opposition. Jan. 23, 1879, he was elected by the
county supervisors as county treasurer to fill a vacancy, and assumed
office Feb. 19. He was elected to the position Nov. 4, 1879, by a plurality
of only 34 votes, but with such dignity and efficiency did he serve that on
Nov. 8, 1881, he was elected without opposition, receiving all but six
votes cast in the whole county. By re-elections he served until Jan. 1,
1891, and then retired. Mr. Rockman was married Oct. 28, 1876, at Eau
Claire, Wis., to Julie Ann Christiansen, who was born in Christiana,
Norway, Dec. 25, 1844, and came to Eau Claire in 1873. After their
marriage, they were driven to Barron in a six-horse team by the pioneer,
John Quaderer. This union was blessed with six sons. Carl Martin Nicolaus
was born Sept. 7, 1877, and died Sept. 28, 1877. Elmer Albert was born Dec.
16, 1878, and died Jan. 18, 1919. Julius C. was born Dec. 14, 1881. Edward
William was born Sept. 11, 1883, and died Nov. 1, 1913. Martin Nicolaus was
born Jan. 29, 1886. Frederick Adolph was born July 3, 1888. The three sons
all live in Barron. Mrs. Rockman died July 17, 1920. At the time of her
death it was said: "Mrs. Rockman was an active and earnest member of the
Norwegian Lutheran church, since the organization of the congregation in
this community, and was always associated with every endeavor that meant a
higher standard of living. She was ever concerned about the comfort and
benefit of others, and desired that all about her should be given the best
that life affords. One of the pioneers of the county, she faced the
hardships of the early settlers unflinchingly, at a time when there was
little but wilderness to encounter here, when neighbors were miles away,
when luxuries were unknown and comforts few, and when the work of building
a home was most strenuous. The cheerful spirit which so characterized her
life carried her through the many hardships, and after her removal to
Barron, where life was more comfortable and modern conveniences lessened
the tasks, she devoted much of her time to aiding those who were in need.
Her nature was a most unselfish one, and she left a host of friends to
mourn her loss." As a wife she was a loyal and sympathetic helpmate, an
inspiration and a source of courage, as a mother she was affectionate,
sympathetic and of unfailing cheer, and in all obligations of life she
fullfilled her duty as a good woman. Her memory will live forever in the
hearts of those who loved and cherished her.

--Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co.,
1922, pp. 77-79.