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

Samuelson, John F. a well known and respected citizen and prosperous farmer in the town of Birch, Lincoln County, was born in the town of Lockridge, Jefferson County, Iowa, Jan. 18, 1871, son of Gustav and Clara (SWANSON) SAMUELSON. The parents were natives of Sweden and the father a farmer by occupation. They came to this country in 1869, settling on 40 acres of wild land in Jefferson County, where Gustav SAMUELSON died June 23, 1875 and his wife Clara more than 30 years after, on Jan. 29, 1907. The children who had accompanied them to America, and were company for them during the 11 weeks voyage, were Emma, born March 11, 1866, and Hulda, born Oct. 3, 1869. These two daughters never married and they and their mother lived together after the father's death. The other children, who were born in this country, were: John F., the subject of this sketch, and Anna, born May 26, 1874, who is now Mrs. Emil QUICK of Jefferson County. John F. SAMUELSON attended sommon school when a boy but only to a limited extent, as he had to begin work at an early age and pick up learning as he found opportunity. It was in agriculture that he had his industrial training and the has followed that occupation ever since. For some year he worked the home farm for his mother and from 1892 to 1894 operated it for himself under rental, at the end of which time it was sold. In the fall of 1896 he bought 80 acres in the town of Cedar, Jefferson County, Iowa, a tract of new land on which were were no buildings. There - good set - he supplied, and besides clearing 55 acres of the land, bought 40 more adjoining. He also sunk a well 288 feet on the farm, and, having thus improved it, sold it in 1910. In September that year he came to Lincoln County, Wisconsin, and began farming here, buying 100 acres of improved land in the town of Birch and 40 acres in the town of Merrill. On the 100-acres tract there were some fair buildings. Until the spring of 1920 he occupied that part of his farm that lay in the town of Birch. In the fall of 1919 he had bought the Ernest LANGE farm of 280 acres in the town of Birch, half a mile south of Irma village, onto which he moved in the spring of 1920, and which he is now cultivating. It was and is a good farm, with 130 acres under the plow and 70 more cleared, the rest being cutover land. The barn is a fine modern structure, 36 by 90 by 14 feet, with cement floors, and installed with steel stanchions, and running water. He also has two other barns, one a hay barn, 24 by 60 by 16 feet, and the third 24 x 96 by 12 feet; and his combination machine-shed and garage measures 24 by 80 by 14 feet. The house is also a fairly good building. Mr. SAMUELSON keeps grade Jersey cattle, miling 25 cows, and one cow and two sires are pure breed. He is working towards the improvement of his herd, and of the place generally, having a good equipment for the purpose. The location is half way between Tomahawk and Merrill on old State Highway No. 10. In politics he is not a partisan; he has served as a member of the town board and for 12 years was treasurer of his school district. On May 5, 1897, Mr. SAMUELSON was married to Anna C. BRIGHT, who was born in Sweden Oct. 11, 1874 and was only 18 months old when she was brought to America by her parents, Gustav and Charlotte (JOHNSON) BRIGHT, who became farmers in Jefferson County, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. SAMUELSON are the parents of six children, Clara C., Hulda M., Esther K., Frederick C.G., Clarence B. P. and Edwin A. L., the first five of whom were born in Jefferson County, Iowa. Clara C., born May 5, 1898, was graduated from the tenth grade in the Irma School, subsequently took a two years' course in the Lincoln County Training School and taught one year. She is now Mrs. Hugo JOHNSON of the town of Birch, this county. Hulda M., born March 25, 1900, on the 100th anniversary of both her grandmothers, had a similar education to her sister Clara and she taught school for the past five years. Esther K., born July 14, 1902, was graduated from the Merrill High School in 1921 and is now Mrs. N. P. MICHAELSON of Spirit Falls, Lincoln County. Frederick C. G., born Sept. 17, 1904, was graduated from the Merrill High School in 1922 and is now assisting his father on the farm, as also is Clarence, who was born June 11, 1907 and passed the tenth grade in school. Edwin A. L. was born Oct. 26, 1917. Mr. SAMUELSON belongs to the camp of Modern Woodmen of America in Merrill and Mrs. SAMUELSON to the Royal Neighbors. They are also active members of the Irma Community Club, and of the Swedish Lutheran Church in Irma. Gustav BRIGHT, father of Mrs. SAMUELSON, was born in Sweden Feb. 16, 1844, and his wife, Charlotta JOHNSON Oct. 11, 1843. They were married in their native land July 4, 1872, and, as already narrated, on coming to this country settled in Jefferson County, Iowa. The mother died April 8, 1899, and the father, who retired in 1913, is now residing at Fairfield, Iowa, which is the county seat of Jefferson County. Their children in addition to Anna C., were: Hulda C., born March 22, 1875, who is keeping house for her father; Emma E., born June 1, 1878, now Mrs. Andrew G. EDMUND of the town of Birch, Lincoln County; Carl A., born June 20, 1880, died May 1, 1899; Esther M., born Jan. 3, 1881, died Jan. 6, 1882, and Amanda M., born July 1, 1885, who is now Mrs. Otto E. LINDERSON of Clear Lake, Wis.

Transcribed by Susan Swanson, from pages 544-545, 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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