"History of Lincoln, Oneida, and Vilas Counties Wisconsin"


Compiled by George O.Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others. Printed in 1924 by H.C.Cooper. Jr. & Co., Minneapoli-Winona MN. ill. 787 pages. The first two hundred pages are history of the three counties, the remainder of the book is biographies.

Biography


Danfield, Hjalmar J. born june twenty-ninth, eighteen-hundred and fifty -two in the city of Roskilde, Denmark. He was educated in the district school, town of Jydstrup. At the age of fifteen years he became interested in business and was thus engaged with different firms in Soro and Slagelse, 1867-81, except during sixteen months, 1875-76, when he served as a soldier under the Danish flag, with the 17th Battalion, First Company "Infantry", at Copenhagen and "Leiren ved Hald" near Vigorg, Jutland. A virulent epidemic of the "American fever" swept over the land (Denmark). He with his cousin, Julius JAPPE, were among the (lucky) victims. The only "successfully tried" cure for said malady; this the recipe: lift the anchor--forward--course west across the great seas, meet with Uncle Sam, live under the Stars and Stripes--and tread upon American soil. They therefore, on April 30th, Eighteen-hundred and eighty-one, with some other six hundred Viking--Norsemen secured passage on the historic steamer Thingvalla bound for the U.S.A. landed in New York on May 17th: for a few days took in the sight's of this giant metropolis, then proceeded via the Niagra Falls to Wisconsin. Mr. Julius JAPPE (watchmaker) secured employment at his trade on their arrival in Racine--later conducted a jewelry store of his own on Sixth Street. For some years and up to the time of his death (which occurred January 9th--1922, his age then sixty-one years) Mr. JAPPE was acting member of the county board of Racine. Mr. DANFIELD'S objective point being Waupaca, where he was met and welcomed by a countryman and friend Mr. Albert BREIT. With a sincere intent and will to be a useful and loyal citizen of his adopted country, Mr. DANFIELD made his initial "dig in" on the farm of Mr. Alf. MINTO'S, Lanark; next as a worker at the Racine Wagon & Carriage Co.'s plant; during the Winter as a lumber Jack near Iola; then brickmaking on the banks of the Waupaca River, where for some days during the month of April, 1882, the horizon would be darkened by flocks of the beautiful traveling pigeons, millions of them; a few years later this species were declared extinct. He also worked as a section hand on the "auld" Wisconsin Central Road (his boss Mr. Ole BEE) in the days when he, with other railroad workers received the cash from the pay-car. By diligent study he had by this time (1883) made some progress with the English language, and was offered and accepted a position as clerk with Mr. Richard LEA and sons Hugo and Fred (general store) fact was, created and built entirely of this grand color scheme, even nestling everywhere on the boat. The portals into the land of promise could not be more inspiring. On June fifth, Eighteen hundred and eighty-six, Mr. DANFIELD was united in marriage to Miss Ellen MOSHER, at Antigo, her home. The stork made frequent visit's at their home in Rhinelander and blessed them with two daughters: Minnie, now Mrs. John REYNOLDS of Merrill; Ruth, now Mrs. Earl J. KRUCKEBERG of Appleton and four sons: Albert, mechanic, law-filer and A. E. F. veteran. Grover, printer, Ex-member of Company L. and a U.S. Mail clerk; Ralph, painter, paper-hanger and decorator and Webster Mosher DANFIELD, a high school student. As a citizen of Rhinelander, since March first, Eighteen hundred and eighty-six, Mr. DANFIELD has, with the exception of two years work in the shipping department of the Wisconsin Veeneer Co. devoted his time to mercantile pursuit as clerk with the following firms: Messrs. John DE VOIN, the Brown Brothers, Spafford & Cole and David JACOBSON. March 19th, Nineteen hundred and twelve he was (after passing civil service exam.) appointed by Mayor Fred ANDERLE, as city sealer of weights and measures. Mr. F. P. DOWNING, chief in Waupaca. The season of 1884-5 this firm had on sale, a small consignment, of the very last bison (buffalo) robes that could be procured in the open market. New Year's Day (1885) received tidings from his mother (whose home was in Copenhagen) that she was sick and also expressed a desire to see him "her only son". Being at the time so situated that he was able to fulfill his mothers wish, he started the next day for New York, from there with the Hamburg-American Liner "Wieland" this boat delivered mail at Plymouth, England, where at that time it was quite cold and the coast snow-covered: by crossing the channel to Cherbourg (Sunny) France, not any snow and considerable warmer, a mail-boat (lighter) coming out from this harbor had on-board a few ladies' and men (thus late in January) dressed in summer customes. Steaming up the River Elbe the Wieland encountered inpregnable ice floes and the passengers had to be transported, the last few miles, to Hamburg on ice breakers (such a diving and racket) from there by rail to Kiel (Germany) by boat through the Baltic sea via Korsor (a Danish port) to destination. Certainly, after years of absence, a meeting like this between family members is truly wonderful, and on this occasion given credit for a speedy return of perfect health to his dear mother; four years later, preceded by a brief illness, she passed into her last sleep and rest on February fifth, Eighteen hundred and eight-nine in the sixty-eighth year of her age. When he (Hjalmar) was about three years old, his father was called by a disease contracted (during the war 1848-50) while helping to defend his country against the invading Teutons. The Jappe, Zimmerman, Darre and Westphal family's (near relation of Danfield) and friend too numerous to memtion (in the old home capitol city) contributed spontaneously with kind deeds to make his forty-five day visit filled with pleasant reminiscence only, the hardest task imposed upon him being to say the farewell. Leaving the mother country , about March 7th, on the liner Iceland for the U.S.A. is only to relate that the return trip became a delightful but stormy voyage (anybody having made the route wil appreciate what this implies). When off the coast of Newfoundland the passengers became witness to a superb panorama--sailing for hours through myriad arches of rainbows, the surrounding atmosphere seemed to be, and in state inspector of weights & measures, inspecting Mr. DANFIELDS work in a general way, says in the "New North": Mr. DANFIELD is one of the most conscienctious and competent city sealers in Wisconsin. At the inception and start of the herein named local enterprises his name has been identified, on a small scale, as that of a member to help promote the welfare of his community; the Rhinelander Advancement Association, Rhinelander Refrigerator Co., Rhinelander Paper Co., Rhinelander Telephone Co., the Armory, etc. He is a past Noble Grand of the I. O. O. F., Oneida Lodge No. 48, a wearer of the veteran jewel, presented to him by his lodge brethren. Transcribed by Susan Swanson, from pages 248-250; History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties Wisconsin; Compiled by George O. Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others; 1924, H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co.

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