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

Oberg, Axel proprietor of the popular summer resort known as Big Twin Lake Lodge, two and a half miles from the village of Phelps, on Big Twin Lake, is a native of Sweden, born March 23, 1867. He was educated in his native land, and was a young man of 19 years when he came to the United States in 1867. Locating first in Worcester, Mass., he remained there for one year, but the powerful attraction of the West drew him to Chicago, where for some 11 years he worked as blacksmith in a wagon shop, a trade that he had learned in Sweden. In 1898 Mr. OBERG made a change in his mode of life, leaving the great city to enter the wilds of Vilas County, Wisconsin. On the southeast shore of Big Twin Lake he bought 58 acres of land, which he broke for argicultural purposes, also building a house on it and for seven years he followed camp blacksmith work in the winters and land clearing and farming during the summers. In the meanwhile the increasing throng of summer tourists and visitors to the beautiful lake region aroused him to the realization of the advantages of his position on the bank of one of the finest lakes in the region, with its outer and picturesque setting of hill, dale and forest, and in 1910, therefore, he entered into what is now generally called the resort business, building and opening Big Twin Lake Lodge, which he has since remodeled and enlarged. It is now a two-story building, the main part of which is 26x36 feet in ground dimensions, and with a wing 18x24, and can accommodate 20 people, and in addition to this Mr. OBERG has a three-room cottage. The rooms are neatly furnished and the cuisine is the best the markets afford, the food being cooked and served in a manner to tempt even the most feeble appetite. The atmosphere of the lodge is homelike, as that of nature on the outside is pure and exhilarating. Fishing and hunting excursions are planned for the pleasure of guests, the lake furnishing muskellunge, bass, pike, pickerel and trout, and the woods several varieties of wild game in the open season, such as partridge and deer. Launching, boating and bathing are among the resort's ready resources and the guest would be hard to satisfy who could not find some pleasurable occupation for every hour of the day. Nor is he out of touch with the outside world for mail and telegrams are delivered daily. Mr. OBERG keeps five row boats, has live bait always on hand for anglers, and furnishes guides to those who wish to explore the beauties or seek the impressive solitudes of the surrounding country. He has added to his place until he has now 98 acres of land. As an interested citizen of his community he has served one year on the local school board. The religious affiliations of himself and family are with the Lutheran Church. Mr. OBERG was married Dec. 20, 1893, to Anne Caroline IVERSON, who was born in Christiania, Norway, June 24, 1867, and who came to this country in 1881, locating in Chicago. Of this union two children have been born: Mabel, Sept. 20, 1895, and Harry, Nov. 12, 1897. Mabel is now a trained nurse, having been graduated as such from the Presbyterian Hospital in Chicago. Harry resides in Chicago.

Transcribed by Susan Swanson, from pages 486-487, 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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