History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties

"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

Evenson, Andrew superintendent of outside activities for the Thunder Lake Lumber Co., of Rhinelander, is one of the many men who came to Rhinelander in the early days, grew up in the lumber business and today holds positions of trust and responsibility. He was born in Norway, Sept. 17, 1863, son of Even and Ingeborg (MATTISON) EVENSON, both of whom are now deceased. In his boyhood Andrew attended public school in Norway and in that country grew to manhood. In 1881, having come to the United States, he located at Eau Claire, Wis., and from that time until 1889 he was occupied in various kinds of labor. He then came to Rhinelander and became connected with the lumber industry here, working in the different departments and in time becoming so thoroughly acquainted with it that he became a lumber piling contractor and as such was employed by several of the leading lumber companies here, his work in that line being continued for 19 years. He was also with the Brown Bros. Lumber Co. as yard superintendent and foreman. For the past three years he has been with the Thunder Lake Lumber Co. as superintendent of their outside work--a very responsible position. He also looks after the shipping department and planing-mill work. His efficiency and reliability have been appreciated by all the companies for whom he has worked. Mr. EVENSON was married in June, 1889, to Sophie MATTISON of Eau Claire, Wis., and he and his wife have been the parents of eight children, Lillie, Elmer, Myrtle, Walter, Elsie, Bertha, Clarence and Roy, whose respective records in brief are as follows: Lillie, who married Bernard OLSON, is now a widow residing at Port Arthur, Ontario. Elmer, who is a lumber sawyer at St. Marys, Idaho, and who married Hazel HUTCHINSON, was drafted May 24, 1918, into the United States' service, and discharged April 7, 1919, at Camp Grant, Ill. He served in Company E, 57th Infantry at Camp Logan, Texas and Camp Pike, Arkansas. Myrtle is residing at home with her parents. Elsie married Leslie DONNELY and resides in Buffalo, N.Y. Clarence and Roy are both pupils in the high school. Bertha was graduated with the Rhinelander High School class of 1919, and entered the service of the First National Bank of Rhinelander, in which she is now holding a responsible position. Walter EVENSON was one of those who made the supreme sacrifice for his country in the great World War. He had previously been a member of Company L for several years and served on the Mexican border in 1916. After going to France he was assigned to the 32d Division and took part in some of the heaviest fighting from February, 1918, to Oct. 16, 1918, on which day he was killed in the Argonne Forest. Some five months later his mother received the following letter from Major F. H. HIMES: written at Herschbach, Germany, and dated March 25, 1919; "Dear Mrs. EVENSON: I must apologize for the delay in answering your recent letter requesting verification of the death of Water. Corp. RICHARDSON, a member of Company L, was near Walter when wounded in the left side by machine gun bullet in the Forest of Argonne, and assisted in applying first aid and helped to carry Walter back to the dressing station. Here he was given a cup of coffee and placed in an ambulance. He was conscious all during this time. From this place he was taken to the hospital and we have no further record, and none of the members of the company have heard from him. The casualties published in the papers was our first knowledge of his death. I will endeavor to communicate with the Centrals Record office and endeavor to get something definite as to the place and time. From the time of his enlistment in Company L he has been an excellent soldier. With that devotion to duty shown by men of excellent character, such as he possessed, he worked his way from a private to corporal and then sergeant and won the esteem and friendship of every man in the company. Through hard, diligent work he won his appointment to the army candidate school, and later returned to the company, 'going over the top' with them northwest of Cesnes in the hardest fought battle of the war, the battles of the Argonne. The entire company unite with me in extending to you our sympathy in the loss of your son." Sergeant EVENSON was but 21 years old when he thus died; yet he is not like one who has prematurely passed to a soon-to-be-forgotten grave. He wrote his name on his country's roll of heroes and patriots and the record can never fade nor tarnish; neither can he be forgotten by his friends or any who knew him. The surviving members of the Evenson family--the father, mother, and those children who are at home, reside in a comfortable house built by him at No. 1118 Eagle Street. The lot was formerly government land, a part of the "water reserve." The religious faith of the family is that of the Lutheran Church.

Transcribed by Susan Swanson, from pages 339-340 (with picture), 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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