BIOGRAPHIES: Severt SOLUM #2, Chetek 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 8 June 2002 ==================================================================== Severt Solum, a pioneer, was born in Trondhjem, Norway, May 16, 1844, son of Severt Isenson and Betsy Olson, who died in that country many years ago. Severt was reared and educated in his native land. He came to America in 1867, and established his headquarters at Menomonie, this state, where he secured employment with Knapp, Stout & Co., working as a sawmill helper. In 1875 he bought a farm in Dunn County, seven miles from Menomonie. A year later he sold out and came to Barron County, and took a homestead of 160 acres in Chetek Township. Later he purchased 80 acres adjoining, and still later forty acres of swamp land one half mile away, on which in dry years most excellent hay is harvested. He broke 200 acres and developed a good place. In the early days he and his wife underwent many hardships and privations. They did not even have adequate farming facilities. About all he had to start with was a steer and a crude wagon, together with an axe, a hoe and shovel, a plow and a few other small tools. Eric Gilstad, who came about the same time and settled near by was his brother-in-law. He also owned a few tools as well as a steer. In doing their first work, they worked together, using their steers on one yoke, and pooling their interests. In 1905, after a long and busy life filled with hard work, Mr. Solum retired and moved to Chetek where he erected a comfortable frame house. The farm is now owned and operated by the son, Edward. Mr. Solum is a shareholder in the Chetek Farmers Co-operative Mercantile Co. His faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran Church. He was married in 1869 in Menomonie, Wis., to Lena Andrewson, who died in 1886, leaving three children, Severt R., Edward and Betsey. Severt R. is farming near Canton, in this county. He married Dora Burt and has nine children. Edward, as already noted, owns the home farm. He married Biddy Carlson and has four children. Betsey married Ole C. Anderson, a farmer of Chetek, and they have ten children. In 1888, Mr. Solum married Mary Andrewson, who was born in Norway. Transcriber's note: The Eric Gilstad mentioned as Severt's Brother-in-law is Eric Gilseth. --Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co., 1922, pp. 937-938.