BIOGRAPHIES: Nels O. STRAND, 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 11 March 2002 ==================================================================== Nels O. Strand, a well known and respected citizen of Barron where he is living, retired after a career devoted chiefly to mercantile pursuits, was born in the eastern part of Norway Nov. 10, 1861, son of Ole and Hendricka (Jensen) Strand. The father died in 1862, the year after the birth of his son Nels, and the mother in 1891. They had ten children, of whom six are now living, including Jens O., the eldest, who is still in Norway. The other survivors, who are all in Menomonie, Wis., except Nels, are: Andrew O., Ole O., Anna O. (wife of B. O. Gordon), Nieoline O., (wife of Martin Quarum), and Nels O., of Barron. Those who are deceased are: Martha, who died in Norway; Nels, who was drowned in Norway; Kari, who was the wife of Ole Loken of Menomonie, and John O., who resided in Abercrombie, N. D. Nels O. Strand, who acquired his education in the common schools in his native land, came to America in his nineteenth year, locating at Menomonie, Wis., where he entered the employ of the Knapp-Stout Lumber Co. The first winter he spent in camp north of Almena, Barron county, but remained with the lumber company only a year, after which for three years he was in the employ of a meat company in Menomonie. He then became a partner in the firm of Strand Bros., continuing as such up to 1888, when he sold his interest to his brother Andrew and became a partner with H. C. Nelson in the firm of Nelson & Strand, meat dealers, at Rice Lake, where he remained until 1897. Then selling his interest to Mr. Nelson, Mr. Strand returned to Menomonie and engaged alone in the jewelry business, being thus occupied until 1900, when he sold out and on January 1, that year, came to Barron. Here he bought a half interest in a mercantile business with K. E. Thompson with whom he was associated until 1907, in the summer of which year the firm closed out their mercantile business and devoted themselves to the buying and packing of leaf tobacco, which for some time previous had been a branch of their general business. Of this Mr. Strand had full charge up to 1912 when the business was closed out. Mr. Strand then bought tobacco for the A. Husse Co. of Chicago (buyers) until the fall of 1918 when he retired after acquiring a competence, except that he occasionally handles real estate. He is a stockholder and director in the First National Bank of Barron and owns a good residence in the city. Mr. Strand was married July 10, 1900, to Marien Barbo, who was born in the northern part of Norway, Dec. 21, 1871, daughter of Andrew and Ingre (Oium) Barbo. Mr. and Mrs. Strand are the parents of two children: Olaf Archibald, born Nov. 30, 1902, who is a graduate of the Barron High school, and Lenore Harriett, born Dec. 12, 1916. Mr. Strand is a Republican in politics, and he and his family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church, which he has served as treasurer for the last eight years. Mrs. Strand came to this country with her parents when a babe, the family settling in Menomonie, Wis., in 1880. From there they moved to North Dakota. Both parents are now deceased. In addition to their daughter Marien, they had a son Albert R., born in Menomonie, who died April 12, 1920. The death of Andrew Barbo, Mrs. Strand's father, occurred April 12, 1920, and that of Mrs. Barbo Oct. 9, 1919. --Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co., 1922, pg. 90.