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

Hardell, William of Rhinelander, Oneida County, who owns large interests in valuable timber lands, as well as other property, was born in Marathon County, Jan. 15, 1870, son of Mr. and Mrs. William HARDELL. The father settled in Marathon County in 1855, being one of the earliest settlers there. Securing a tract of government land about 12 miles from Wausau, he cleared it, erected buildings and in time developed a good farm. When he settled on the place no railroad had yet been built to Wausau, and all kinds of goods and supplies had to be transported to that city by team and wagon from Stevens Point, and from Wausau he had to carry his home supplies on his back to the farm, as there was no wagon road. A vast quantity of fine pine timber was then cut down and burned to clear space, there being no market for it, nor any way of getting it to market had there been one. Those pioneer days were hard ones for the settler, and only the strong were able to survive them, but to those who did and who laid the foundation of this region's prosperity, the present generation owes a debt of gratitude, as its task has been rendered comparatively easy. Mr. and Mrs. William HARDELL, Sr., died when their son William, Jr., the subject of this sketch, was but six years old, and the latter, therefore, was reared by friends and relations. He attended public school in Wausau and remained a resident of Marathon County utnil 1889, when he came to Rhinelander, for the next two years working in meat markets here. He then became a traveling salesman for the Armour Packing Co., in which position he remained for five years. In 1895 he started a meat market in Rhinelander, in partnership with E. C. VESSEY, on the site of the present Oneida Hotel. The partnership lasted five years, at the end of which time Mr. HARDELL sold out to Mr. VESSEY and went into business for himself alone, conducting a market for four years on the North Side. In 1905 he changed his occupation, organizing the Pelican River Lumber Co. and buying a mill which one year later was burned, but which was rebuilt and is still standing. Then in 1914 he and P. E. KABEL bought the mill rights and organized the Rhinelander Box & Lumber Co., with which concern he was connected until 1920, when he sold hi interests in it to W. C. CURTIS, who was a partner in the business. Mr. HARDELL still holds an interest, with the Pelican River Lumber Co., in about 2,500 acres of timber land, and since 1920 he has been engaged in logging and lumbering, and also in the real estate business. In addition to this he owns other timber lands in Oneida County, also two store buildings, three residences and other property in Rhinelander, besides some lakeshore property; also a farm of 400 acres which is partly improved. He is a stockholder in the Oneida National Bank of Rhinelander. Mr. HARDELL served four years as chairman of the Pelican Town board, by virtue of that office becoming a member of the Oneida County board. He is a member of Rhinelander Lodge, No. 598, B. P. O. E. On March 14, 1894, William HARDELL was united in marriage to Clara HOMRIG, and of this union three children have been born: Harold, who is now with the Keith Show Co. of Boston, Mass., and Willard and Clarence, who are residing at home. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Transcribed by Susan Swanson, from pages 255-256 (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.

You are our [an error occurred while processing this directive] Visitor since 4 Feb 2004--Thanks for Stopping By.

© Copyright: All files on this website are protected by the US Copyright Law, Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998, they are not to be copied or altered in any way for commercial use. Individuals may copy the information for their personal use. WIGenWeb Oneida and Vilas County Coordinator Judy Groh.