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

Swails, Charles W. of Roosevelt, Oneida County, farmer, merchant, postmaster, and proprietor of Lakeview Resort, is one of the best known men in Oneida County. He was born at Sigourney, Iowa, April 17, 1863. When he was 16 months old the family removed to Ohio, but when he was nine years of age he returned with them to Iowa and was educated in the public schools of the latter state, supplementing this training with courses in the Des Moines Business College and then learning mechanical engineering, which line he subsequently followed for 18 years. One year of this latter period he spent at Kewaunee, Ill., in the employ of the Hackney Steam Heater Co. and the balance of the time in Iowa. He was next engaged in farming in Iowa until 1903, operating tractor engines during the harvest seasons of this period. In 1903 he came to Oneida County and purchased 240 acres of cut-over land in Pine Lake Township; four years later he bought ten acres more, this tract now being the town site of Roosevelt. Later he acquired more land from time to time, including 160 acres adjoining Roosevelt, and 40 acres in Section 29, both in the town of Stella, and 52 acres of lake frontage on Moen Lake. The last named tract he platted into 42 lots and of these he now owns only one, having sold the balance. He was developed a great deal of his land into agricultural property, having now 110 acres under cultivation. In 1907 he established the Lakeview Resort, erecting a 21-room lodge and three cottages, and building up a finely appointed place with accommodations for about 35 people; his buildings are all electrically lighted, current being supplied by his private lighting plant, and there are also hot and cold running water, baths, and other conveniences. He has eight row boats with Evinrude motors, and in fact his establishment is thoroughly up-to-date in every respect. In 1919 Mr. SWAILS opened a store at Roosevelt, where he now carries a well-selected line of general merchandise, including groceries and hardware; his place is the agency for the Jasco lighting plants and farm machinery for the J. I. Case Plow Co. Mr. SWAILS has been postmaster at Roosevelt since 1913, conducting the office at his residence previous to establishing his store, since which time he has maintained the post office at the latter place. He served as assessor of the town of Pine Lake for three years and as township treasurer for one year, and in many other ways has taken an active part in the public affairs of his community. At present he devotes most of his attention to conducting his store and resort while his son Orville manages the farm. The latter place has been brought to a splendid point of development; his private lighting plant and water-works are located here and serve his farm buildings as well as his resort; there is a fine herd of Guernsey cattle on the farm, and a specialty is made of breeding animals of this variety. Mr. SWAILS was married Feb. 20, 1885, to Miss Ella COX, who was orn in Clarksville, Greene County, Penn., Feb. 11, 1858. Seven children were born to this union, Owen Claude, Orville Fred, Carrie Alta, Warren W., Homer Glenn, Hazel, and Myrl, the last mentioned being deceased. Owen Claude and Warren W. are both engineers on the C. M. & St. P. Railway and reside at Bensonville, Ill., Orville Fred is associated with his father in the management of the farm. Carrie Alta, who was graduated from the Rhinelander High School in the class of 1911, then taught school for five years. She was subsequently graduated from the state normal school at Milwaukee with the class of 1918 and in the following year was principal of the Minocqua schools; for two years she was principal of the Gresham schools. She then entered the University of Wisconsin, where she was graduated with the class of 1923. Homer Glenn is in the automobile business in Rhinelander, and Hazel is now Mrs. Earl MEREDITH, her husband being a farmer in Oneida County.

Transcribed by Susan Swanson, from pages 421-422, 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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