BIOGRAPHIES: Hans W SKINVIK, Oak Grove 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: Vic Gulickson 7 January 2002 ==================================================================== Hans W. Skinvik, a respected farmer of section 4, Oak Grove Township, came to Barron County in 1913, and for a year lived at Rice Lake. Then he bought his present farm of 40 acres. He has fixed up the house and other buildings, and erected a new barn and silo. He has also continued the clearing and breaking of the land. He here carries on general farming along modern lines. He is interested in all the affairs of the community, and for four years served as treasurer of the Hawthorne school district. As he is a man of superior attainments and a former teacher himself, his services in this capacity were of much benefit to the district. Born in Norway June 19, 1861, he is the son of Peter and Anna (Larson) Skinvik, natives of that country, and both now deceased. He was graduated from the Training School at Volden, Norway, in 1878, and then taught school for two years. Subsequently he entered the high school at Christiania, Norway, and was graduated in 1881. With this experience he became a clerk in a furniture store at Christiania, Norway, for ten years. In 1891 he came to America and after arriving at Superior, Wis., came to Washburn County, this state, and homesteaded 160 acres near Minong. There he developed a good farm, and there he remained for twenty-two years. He was one of the leading men of his community, exerted considerable influence in public affairs, and served for two years on the town board and twelve years was township clerk. In 1913 he sold out and came to Barron County. Mr. Skinvik was married Jan. 8, 1885, in Norway, to Anna Nelson, who was born in Denmark, Jan. 24, 1862, the daughter of Peter and Bodil Anderson, both natives of that country, and both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Skinvik are the parents of eight children: Peter, Olaf, Borghild, May, Eva, John, Effie and Vivian. Peter was born March 11, 1886, and is now in Augusta, Eau Claire County, this state. Olaf was born Dec. 15, 1888, and is now in Wilson, Oklahoma. Borghild was born Aug. 8, 1891, and is the wife of Herbert Jacoby, a farmer of Spooner, Wis. May was born May 2, 1894, and is the wife of Dr. Seth Medley, of Butler, Oklahoma. Eva was born March 4, 1897, and is the wife of William Philipson, of Barron, this county. John was born Aug. 8, 1902, and is at home. Effie was born Aug. 31, 1904, and is attending the Barron County Training School at Rice Lake. Vivian was born Sept. 3, 1907, and is attending the district school. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran church. --Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co., 1922, pp. 355-356.