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

Valley, Olof proprietor of Normandy Court, a resort on the south shore of Big St. germain Lake in Vilas County, was born in northern Sweden, son of Peter and Catherine (SWENSON) VALLEY. The parents were natives of Sweden and spent all their lives in that country. After receiving his education there Olof VALLEY came to the United States in April, 1887 and proceeded direct from Boston to Chicago, in which city one of his borthers was residing. Here he engaged in mechanical work and later became associated with the Western Electric Co., remaining until 1904. During this period he engaged in the study of music during his spare time, being highly talented along this line, and in 1904 he was offered the chair of music in the Kansas State Agricultural College, which he accepted and continued in until 1915, also doing chautauqua, concert and oratorio work during the summer months of that period. In 1907 while spending his vacation in northern Wisconsin he purchased 100 acres of land on the south shore of Big St. Germain Lake and in 1915 he retired from his musical career to take up his home on this property. He entered the service of the United States government in 1917 as inspector of aeronautical instruments in the air service division of the signal corps, and he remained in that connection until Oct. 9, 1922, his work taking him to various parts of the United States. After resigning from this service he conceived the idea of establishing a resort on his Vilas County property, and he accordingly erected the necessary buildings. He arranged three cottages on each side of a commodious main lodge, and to this excellent beginning he intends to add from time to time until he has built up his entire lake frontage, which is half a mile in extent. The beach at this point is sandy and has a gradual slope into the deep water, making the bathing safe and enjoyable, and the surroundings are beautiful to a degree that cannot be described. Mr. VALLEY'S place bids fair to become one of the most popular resorts in this region. A highly cultivated man, he has a sense of the refinements and conveniences that will be appreciated by his guests and an understanding of the things that will make for perfect harmony and contentment during their stay at his hostlery. Mr. VALLEY was married at Milwaukee, Wis., May 2, 1896, to Annie ESTBORN, daughter of Nels and Anna (HAMMERSTROM) ESTBORN. Mrs. VALLEY'S parents, both of whom were born in Sweden, are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. VALLEY are the parents of one child, Norman O., who was born July 26, 1898, in Chicago. Norman O. VALLEY attended college at Manhattan, Kans., and was with the Air Service during the World War. After his discharge from the service at the close of the ware he entered the University of Wisconsin at Madison, taking a short course in agriculture, to better qualify himself for his work in connection with his father in conducting Normandy Court, and is now studying commercial art at the Meyer-Booth College of Commerical Art.

Transcribed by Susan Swanson, from pages 728-729, 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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