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

Walstad, Oscar C. a prominent representative of the mercantile interests of Eagle River, Vilas County, proprietor of "The Sport Shop," was born in Norway, July 1, 1871, son of Casper and Josephine (BURG) WALSTAD. The father, who has been a blacksmith and toolmaker all his life, is still living in Noway; the mother died in February, 1920. They had eight children, Anton, Oscar A., Peter, Jelmer, Karen, Ronhild, Andrew and Jelmer (2d), the last mentioned of whom died at the age of ten years. Of the others, Anton, Peter, Karen and Ronhild are still in Norway, Andrew is in La Crosse, Wis., and Oscar C., in Eagle River. Oscar C. WALSTAD was educated in his native land and learned the blacksmith's trade under his father. At the age of 17 he entered a school for non-commissioned officers, where he remained for two and a half years. In 1891 he came to America, landing at New York and going thence to Chicago, in which city he lived for two years. He then went to Oconomowoc, Wis., where he remained for ten years, following his trade, and while there he served six years in the national Guard, being a member of Company M. First Regiment. In 1903 he went to Iola, Waupaca County, where he operated a blacksmith and horseshoeing shop until he came to Eagle River in August, 1921. Here he established himself in his present business, dealing in sporting goods, magazines, stationery, school supplies, phonographs and records. He has a good location and is building up a considerable trade. In November, 1922, Mr. WALSTAD took charge of the village library. He is a member of the Iola Lodge of Odd Fellows. On Nov. 13, 1896, he was united in marriage at Oconomowoc, to Josephine SORBY, whose parents are now deceased, and he and his wife have been the parents of two sons, Casper and Harold. Casper, who was born in Oconomowoc, July 11, 1897, attended school in Milwaukee and Iola and subsequently the La Crosse Normal School, from which he was graduated in 1918. He then taught school for a while at Two Rivers, Wis., and later at Easthampton, N. Y. He attended for awhile the military instruction school at Lake Geneva, Wis. Since 1921 he has been associated in business with his father. Harold, born June 24, 1898, died May 1, 1920. Mrs. WALSTAD is an interested member of several societies, including the W. C. T. U., the Womans' Club, the Earnest Workers' Club and the Rebekah Lodge at Iola, Wis.

Transcribed by Susan Swanson, from pages 735-736, History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties Wisconsin; Compiled by George O. Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others 1924, H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co

You are our [an error occurred while processing this directive] Visitor --Thanks for Stopping By.

© Copyright: All files on this website are protected by the US Copyright Law, Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998, they are not to be copied or altered in any way for commercial use. Individuals may copy the information for their personal use. WIGenWeb Oneida and Vilas County Coordinator Judy Groh.