BIOGRAPHIES:  Hans TOLLEFSON, Barron Township, Barron Co., WI

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Transcribed by Kate Wilson. 
Edited and submitted by  Vic Gulickson <vic@indy.net>  5 January 2004
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Hans Tollefson was born in Honefos, Ringerike, Norway, June 26, 1865, son
of Tollef Hanson and Randina Peterson, who spent their lives in the old
country, the father dying in 1904 and the mother in 1912. In the family
there were eight children, Hans, Maren, Anna, Thorval, Johan, Peter, Petra
and Ragna. Hans and Peter live in Barron Township, this county. Thorval and
Johan are dead. The rest are still in Norway. Hans received a common school
education in Norway, and early showed considerable ability as a musician.
As a boy he was a member of the same musical organization with one of the
pupils of Ole Bull, the famous violinist. In 1883 he came to America, found
his way directly to Eau Claire, Wis., and for many years was engaged in the
lumber business, working both in the woods and in mills. It was in 1893
that he purchased 200 acres of wild land in Section 7, Barron Township. To
the improvement and development of this tract he has since devoted his
attention. He has 140 acres under the plow, his home is comfortable and his
barns and other outbuildings commodious and suitable, the farm equipment is
good and includes a "Titan" tractor. The place is well stocked with grade
dairy Durham cattle and full blooded Duroc swine. Mr. Tollefson believes
that there is a future for fruit culture in this county. He has, therefore,
interested himself considerably in horticulture and has been successful in
raising apples, plums, berries and currants. He is a prominent man in the
community, a thoroughbred Republican, and has served for several years as
supervisor of the township and as clerk and treasurer of the school
district. Fraternally, his associations are with the Odd Fellows. He is a
stockholder in the Barron Co-operative Creamery, also a stockholder in the
First National Bank of Barron and in the Stock Pavilion at Barron. Mr.
Tollefson was married Feb. 26, 1908, to Marie B. Dragseth, who was born in
Minneapolis April 9, 1886, daughter of Arndt J. and Julia (Olson) Dragseth,
now of Barron Township. She was graduated in 1905 from the Barron High
School and taught school for two and a half years before her marriage. Mr.
and Mrs. Tollefson have seven children: Elsie M., born Jan. 22, 1909;
Gladys G., July 29, 1910; Henry M., Sept. 7, 1912 (died in infancy); Theo
R., Sept. 24, 1914; Helen M., April 27, 1916; Hans G., March 24, 1918, and
Raymond T., June 14, 1920. The family faith is that of the Norwegian
Lutheran Church.

--Transcribed from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper,
Jr., & Co., 1922, pg. 143.

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