BIOGRAPHIES:   Gundar ROBBE, Elk Mound Township, Dunn Co., WI

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Submitted by:  Laura Abood <lauraabood@yahoo.com>  13 January 2004
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GUNDAR ROBBE. --The name of Robbe is one familiar to every old
resident of the town of Elk Mound, as well as to others in many parts
of Dunn County, and there is reason why it should be so, for, as
borne by the subject of this sketch, it stood for the highest
qualities of pioneer achievement, civil distinction and sound
American citizenship. The story of his life is woven into the warp
and woof of the history of the town of Elk Mound and of the county of
Dunn, and is one that must needs be placed on record for the benefit
and instruction of this and succeeding generations. Gundar Robbe was
born at Robbe, Roldal, Christiansand, Norway, on Jan. 11, 1838. He
was educated in a private school in Norway and came to America in
1857, when about 19 years of age. Settling first at Waupun, Fond du
Lac County, Wis., he resided there for three years and attended the
public schools of that county. Then he came to Dunn County, the
latter part of his journey, from La Crosse, being made by steamboat
up the Mississippi River to Read's Landing and by the Chippewa River
to Eau Claire; and from the latter place he traveled to the town of
Elk Mound on foot, or, rather, to what is now the town of Elk Mound,
as it was then a part of the town of Spring Brook. He had with him a
land warrant that he had procured in Fond du Lac, which entitled him
to 160 acres of government land--any tract that size that had not yet
been taken. He selected it in Section 23, and also took a government
tract of 40 acres, making a total of 200 acres, this showing that he
had planned his future activities on a broad scale. For three years
after he had purchased his land Mr. Robbe boarded with Martin Howe
and was chiefly engaged in working for Knapp, Stout & Co. During that
period he was preparing for his life on the farm by living frugally
and saving his money, wasting nothing on dissipation. In 1863 he was
ready to take up his abode on it, and, as he wanted to make it a home
from the first, he was united in marriage in the fall of that year
to Maren Kristina Nelson, with whom he was to live in harmonious and
loving companionship for 48 years. She was born at Molselven, Tromso,
Norway, on May 3, 1837, and had come to this country with her parents
in 1861, the family settling on a farm in the town of Elk Mound, or
what is now such. Through the almost half century of her life as wife
and mother she not only trod the path of duty, but did so with such
winning grace and affectionate heart as won her the love of her
husband and children and the high esteem of all in the community in
which she lived. The house in which she and her husband made their
first home was a frame structure erected by Mr. Robbe himself, and at
the same time he had built one or two log buildings with straw roofs.
It was pioneer life for both of them for many years, and there are
many now living who know what that meant, especially in the 60's and
70's. At all times it meant hard work and often it meant privation
and great self-denial, but Mr. and Mrs. Robbe were building for the
future and were content to endure the hardship and toil. In time they
had their reward. It must have been a proud day for them when in 1882
Mr. Robbe completed a large dairy barn 40 x 60 feet and provided with
a full basement, which was one of the first basement barns in the
community. The frame of this building was constructed of oak timbers
which Mr. Robbe had cut from his own land, and which were hand-hewed,
some of the beams being 40 feet long and 10 x 12 inches in width and
thickness. In time the old house gave way to a large, roomy, and well-
designed frame residence, and other buildings were erected from time
to time as they were needed. Occasionally, also, he would buy an
additional piece of land until he finally owned 360 acres. In 1907
another barn was erected of 22 x 48 feet in ground plan. Mr. Robbe
was a man of strict method, his favorite motto being "A place for
everything and everything in its place." He never procrastinated;
when repairs were needed they were made at once and not put off until
another day, and he followed out that policy in everything. With such
business habits joined to steady industry, and with a character
marked by strict integrity and an observance of the Golden Rule in
his relations with his fellow men, it is no wonder that he prospered
and became a leader in the community, where his superior qualities
were early recognized. He was a member of the first town board of Elk
Mound and was chairman of the board for 25 years, having also been
chairman of the meeting that was called to set of Elk Mound from
Spring Brook, and it was only through his efforts that the vote was
cast in favor of the proposition. At his death he was the last
surviving member of that early town board. He was also the first
treasurer of the town of Elk Mound, and for over 50 years he held
various school, church and town offices. In addition to the hard
labor he performed in the development of his farm he did much land
breaking for others, in this work being associated with his brother-
in-law, Erick Nelson, and ox teams were used for the work. Mr. Robbe
was an active factor in the building up and maintenance of the
Lutheran Church, of which he was a consistent member. He continued
the active management of his farm until 1913, when he rented it to
his son, Martin G., although he continued to reside on it until his
death, which occurred Aug. 13, 1923. He had been a widower for more
than 11 years, his wife having passed away on April 5, 1912. They had
been the parents of seven children: Nils H., born May 10, 1865; Henry
N., March 3, 1868; Lizzie D., Oct. 6, 1870; Mary D., Nov. 8, 1873;
Lena M., June 18, 1875; Martin G., Dec. 17, 1878, and Arthur B., June
20, 1882. Lizzie D. died in her forty-eighth year on July 18, 1918.
Nils H., who is now a prominent merchant of Strum, Wis., married
Clara Peterson and he and his wife have seven children, namely:
Marshall, Gladys, Noble, Alice, Helen, Frances and Vivian. Henry N.,
who taught public school for seven years, is now cashier of the First
State Bank at Strum, Wis. He married Malena Albertson and has three
children, Gordon, Harvey and Ethel. Mary D., is now Mrs. C.O. Sandvig
of Menomonie and has five children, Clarence, Arthur, George, Mabel
and Howard. Before her marriage she was a teacher and showed
proficiency in that profession. Lena M., received her education in
the rural schools and at River Falls State Normal School and taught
school successfully for ten years in Dunn County and in the state of
Washington. She gave up her teaching career to obey the call of duty.
Her mother's failing health called for her presence at home. Between
ambition and duty she did not long hesitate, but took her place in
the house, caring for her mother until she passed away. Then she
became her bereaved father's companion, comforter and helper, and as
her brother's partner in making good and proving her solid worth.
Arthur B., who is single, is a graduate of Menomonie High School and
for the last 20 years has been mail clerk on the Northwestern road
from Minneapolis to Elroy, Wis. Martin G. Robbe, who was educated in
the rural schools, has always remained on the home farm assisting his
parents, except for one season during which he worked for the Knapp,
Stout & Co. Company. As already stated, in 1913 he rented the home
farm, which he conducted under rental until just shortly before his
father died in 1923. He and his sister, Lena M., then bought it and
have since conducted it together with splendid success. Dairying is
the main industry carried on, a good herd of Holstein cattle being
kept, with a pure bred sire at the head. A milking machine has been
installed and also a feed grinder, the power for both being furnished
by and electric motor. Electric lights were installed in 1920. The
farm is well know to all in the eastern part of Dunn County as the
Robbe farm.

-Transcribed from the "History of Dunn County Wisconsin, 1925," pages 483-484

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