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

Nortwen, Andrew a successful farmer in the town of Conover, Vilas County, was born in Sweden, Feb. 29, 1864, son of Nels and Netta (ELLISON) BENSON. The parents, both of whom were natives of Sweden, are now deceased. He was reared and educated in his native land and worked on farms there until coming to America in 1889. Here he proceeded from New York to Florence, Wis., and for the following three years he was employed in the iron mines at the latter place. He next went to Ironwood, Mich., where he worked in mines for 12 years, and in the spring of 1904 he came to Vilas County and settled on an 80-acre tract of wild land in Section 22, town of Conover, which property he had purchased in 1902. The country in this locality was in a very primitive state of development at that time, and in establishing his home and building up a farm here he was faced by all the obstacles and hardships that confront the pioneer in a new land. He followed the tote and logging roads to get to his land, and on his arrival he immediately set to work to overcome all the difficulties. He built a small residence, which he has since enlarged and improved until he now has a nice dwelling house, and at once took up the great task of clearing the land. For the first few years of his residence here he spent each winter working in the mines, and he also did considerable work in the lumber woods, by these means securing the money to support his family and to carry on the development of his property. By persistent and courageous effort he has gradually built up a good farm; he now has 25 acres cleared, and has the place equipped with a good set of buildings, including a basement barn 34x44 feet in dimensions and a good stave silo. He served as treasurer in the town of Conover for two years, and he is very highly rearding as a citizen of his community. He and his family are members of the Swedish Lutheran Church, town of Conover. Mr. NORTWEN was married at Ironwood, Mich., Aug. 17, 1895, to Ida ERICKSON. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. NORTWEN, but the youngest, Nanny, is now deceased. The others are: Ellen, who is now Mrs. Bertil JOHNSON of Chicago, Ill.; Arthur, who is living at home; and Florence, who is Mrs. Frank DALBEE of Wausau, Wis.

Transcribed by Susan Swanson, from pages 672; 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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