BIOGRAPHIES: John W. SODERBERG, 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: Transcribed by Peg Lamkin Edited and submitted by Vic Gulickson 28 March 2002 ==================================================================== John W. Soderberg, one of the leading citizens of Barron, where for 21 years he has been engaged in the practice of law, having also held important offices, was born in Filipstad, Sweden, May 28, 1873, son of Carl J. and Mary (Bobek) Soderberg. The father was a shoemaker by trade, but the limited opportunities he had in his native land induced him in 1881 to emigrate to the United States. For about a year after his arrival he and his family resided in Chicago, but in 1882 he settled in Somerset, St. Croix County, Wis., where he followed his trade in a shop of his own. After remaining there until about 1897, he retired and took up his residence in Barron. Born in 1833, he died in 1908, at the age of about 74 years. His wife, Mary, who was born March 14, 1841, is still living in Barron. They were the parents of three children, all born in Sweden: Gustav, born March 31, 1863, who died in January, 1913; Minnie, born in October, 1865, who is now Mrs. Bart Finnemore of Barron, and John W. of Barron. John W. Soderberg was eight years old when he accompanied his parents to America. He had attended school in Sweden and at the age of eight years, just before leaving his native land, had passed the grades and was in high school. One of the studies he had taken up at that early age was physics. In Chicago he attended English school, and before leaving that city had passed the fifth grade. He next entered school at St. Croix, taking the full course, and also high school work by special instruction. In addition to this he studied bookkeeping and stenography and later began the study of law. In 1899 he was admitted to the bar, but subsequently took a short course in law at the University of Wisconsin. In the fall of 1899 Mr. Soderberg opened an office in Barron where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession. For eight successive terms, from January, 1903, to January, 1911, he served the county as district attorney, after which he became municipal judge of Barron, serving six years, from Jan. 1, 1911. In 1917 he again became district attorney and continued in that office until the close of 1918. After that he was out of politics until the fall of 1920 when he was re-nominated without opposition for district attorney. Mr. Soderberg was one of the founders of the Barron public library and is now president of the library board. He is a member of the Masonic Blue Lodge, No., 220, in which he has passed all the chairs, and also of Birch Camp, No. 1268, in which he has likewise passed all the chairs. Mr. Soderberg was married Nov. 17, 1896, to Mary Nelson, daughter of Nels and Hannah Johnson of Arland Township, Barron County, where her parents operated a farm. She was born in Sweden Sept. 25, 1878, and accompanied them to America at the age of fifteen years. Both her parents are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Soderberg have six children, who were born as follows: Clarence E., Aug. 12, 1897; Lillian M., Feb. 2, 1900; Edna M., Jan. 1, 1902; Charles E., Nov. 26, 1903; J. Edwin, Nov. 3, 1908, and Evelyn C., Sept. 12, 1915. Clarence E. was graduated from the Barron High School at the age of 16 and in the fall entered Ripon College, where three years later he was graduated in the academic course with the B. A. degree. In 1917 he entered the law department of the University of Wisconsin and was graduated therefrom in 1921. A few months prior to the armistice between the contending armies he enlisted in the United States service and was sent to Camp Grant, Ill, and thence to Darlington, Wis., where he did clerical work on the local draft board until his discharge. Lillian M. was graduated from the Barron High School in 1917, after which she spent one year in Ripon College and then entered the University of Wisconsin, from which she graduated in 1921 in the department of commerce. Edna M., after graduating from the Barron High School in 1919, entered the University of Wisconsin in the fall of 1920. Charles E. graduated from the Barron High School in 1921. J. Edwin and Evelyn C. are still attending school in Barron. Mr. Soderberg owns a good modern residence on La Salle street, Barron. He aids in the support of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which his wife is a member. His long residence in Barron and his professional activities have identified him closely with the progress and development of the city and county, and he and his family have a high social standing. --Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co., 1922, pp. 101-102.