St. Croix County Biographies and Historical Sketches

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Nelson, Nibbelink, North, Noyes, Nye
 
 

Nelson

Mads Nelson, one of the prominent farmers of Rush River Township, was born in Skien, Norway, April 17, 1853, his parents being Christian and Carrie Olson Nelson. Mr. Nelson was educated in the public schools of his native land and came to America in 1871, settling in Waukesha county, Wisconsin, where he lived nearly two years before moving to St. Croix county, where he has since resided. He arrived in Rush River Township in the autumn of 1872 and on January 17, 1873, he was married to Martina Miller, daughter of Bastian and Telephine Miller. They were the parents of two children: Hilda Telephine Nelson married Edward Christensen, a prominent farmer of Eau Galle, Wis. Horace Christian Nelson married Dena Peterson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Peterson, then residents of Eau Galle, Wis., now living in Eau Claire, Wis. Mads Nelson is a member of the Lutheran synod church and is treasurer of the Lutheran church society of Rush River. In politics he has always been identified with the Republican Party and has served Rush River Township as a side supervisor for ten years. He has also occupied several positions on the school board. In 1906 Mr. Nelson abandoned farming to engage in the general merchandise business in the town of Baldwin, which he conducted for two years and then sold his stock of goods and good will to return to the management of his farm, which comprises 140 acres, most of which is under cultivation and devoted to the raising of live stock and small grain. Christian Nelson, the father of our subject, came to America in 1881, and came directly to St. Croix County, where he resided until his death. He was born August 14, 1821, his parents being Jens and Marie Nelson. He married in Norway, where all of his six children were born and reared, and where one, Mrs. Maria Christenson, still resides. The wife died in Norway in 1880, and shortly after her death Mr. Nelson decided to follow his son Mads to America. He was a member of the Lutheran Synod church and in politics a Republican. He died in Rush River August 3, 1905. Reference: Taken from "History of the St. Croix Valley", published in 1909

Nibbelink
 
B. H. Nibbelink was born in Holland, November 13, 1853, son of Anthony and Gertrude (Heideman) Nibbelink, natives of that country. The parents came to America in 1876 and located in Milwaukee, where, until 1885, the father worked as a mason tender. In that year he entered the employ of the city, which position he retained until his death, February 28, 1904. B. H. received a common school education, largely in his native country. Upon leaving school he started work for the John Stark Manufacturing Company, of Milwaukee, makers of clay pipes. After this he learned the carpenters trade, which he followed until March 7, 1874, when he came to the village of Baldwin, where he worked at his trade, building. He purchased eighty acres of land from the D. R. Bailey heirs, the property now being owned by John Wilford. Mr. Nibbelink then carried on general farming in connection with this trade. He broke the land, built a house and made general improvements, in the meantime working a rented farm in connection with his own. He sold this eighty-acre farm in 1900, and moved on the William Scribner farm of eighty acres in the same township, which he had purchased eight years previous to this. He now carries on general farming. Aside from his farming interests, Mr. Nibbelink is the general manager of the Wisconsin Elevator Company, of Baldwin, which position he fills with much credit to himself. He was married February 25, 1874, to Magdelena Van Ouwerkerk, daughter of James and Nellie (Teinesse) Van Ouwerkerk, natives of Holland, who located in Milwaukee in 1856. They remained in that city until 1874, when they came to live with their daughter in Baldwin. They are now deceased. B. H. Nibbelink has eight children. Anthony H. was born December 22, 1874, at Hammond, Wis., and is now editor and proprietor of the "Boyd Bulletin," of Boyd, Minn. He worked on his fathers farm until twenty-one years of age and then went to Milwaukee and studied electricity, soon becoming an expert in that line. He married Nellie Christiaansen, and has three bright sons, Walter, Ray and Oliver. Nellie J., born November 26, 1879, at Hammond, married William C. Rens, a farmer of Baldwin Township, and had one child, which died in infancy. Gertrude J., born July 26, 1882, is proprietor of the Baldwin millinery establishment and lives at home. Minnie M. born March 15, 1885, married John Donkersgoed, a farmer at Hammond, and has one small son. Benjamin G., born September 1, 1887, at Hammond, is a pattern-maker for the Noberg Company, of Milwaukee. He also worked on his fathers farm until twenty-one years of age, and then went to Milwaukee to learn the pattern-makers trade, at which he was very successful. Dena S., born November 13, 1889, works with her sister Gertrude in the millinery store. Isaac D., the baby and pet of the family, was born August 30, 1897, at Baldwin, and still attends school.

Mr. Nibbelink is a staunch Republican and was assessor three years and chairman of the town two years. The family worships at the Christan Reformed church. Mr. Nibbelink has been uniformly successful in all his undertakings. He is a capable business man and has given his children all the advantages that good education and good training afford. He is a good citizen and is interested in all public affairs, being especially well read on matters of national importance.

(taken from "History of the St. Croix Valley", published in 1909)

North

Harold L. North is one of the men who stand high in the business circles of Hudson. He is a native of this city, born August 1, 1865, son of Lemuel and Sarah J. (Clark) North, natives of Ohio and New York respectively. The father was born in 1831 and the mother in 1835. They were married at Hudson, Wis., in 1862. The father came to St. Croix county in 1854 and engaged in the mercantile and grain business, continuing for a period of thirty-six years with marked success. He took an interest in public matters and was always one of the moving spirits in every movement that tended toward the improvement and development of Hudson. For several terms he served as mayor of the city and occupied other positions of trust, responsibility and honor. His fraternal affiliations consisted of membership in St. Croix Lodge No. 56, F. & A. M. He passed away September 29, 1890, and his wife is still surviving, making her home in Hudson. This union resulted in two children: Harold L. North and Anita E. North.

Harold L. attended the public schools of Hudson and graduated from the law department of the University of Wisconsin at Madison. After finishing his studies he engaged in the grain business, which his father followed before him. He is now president of the Wisconsin Elevator Company, which operates twelve elevators on the line of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha railroad. When the Bank of Hudson was incorporated Mr. North was elected its president, which position he still h olds. He has been alderman of Hudson several terms and belongs to St. Croix Lodge No 56, F. & A. M.; St. Croix Chapter No. 44, R. A. M. and St. Croix Commandery No.14, Knights Templar. (taken from "History of the St. Croix Valley", published in 1909)

Noyes

John L. Noyes, who is one of the most prosperous and well known residents of Troy township, St. Croix county, Wisconsin, was born in Wyoming county, New York, on April 7, 1836, his parents being Moody and Mary Aldrich Noyes. Mr. Noyes attended the public schools of Wyoming County until his removal to St. Croix County, where he finished his education in the Hudson High school in 1857, one year after his arrival there. Was engaged in farm work for several years after leaving school and in 1860 purchased eighty acres in section 17, of Troy township, which he has increased by purchase at different times until it now comprises 460 acres, 300 of which is under cultivation, which embodies the most modern methods of agriculture. In 1863 Mr. Noyes abandoned his farm to enlist in Company A of the Forty-fourth Wisconsin, and served as a private in the Federal Army until honorably discharged, in 1865. After the disbanding of the army Mr. Noyes returned to the peaceful pursuit of tilling the soil, and in 1866 took unto himself a helpmeet, his choice falling upon Elizabeth Lewis, of Hudson. Mr. and Mrs. Noyes are the parents of four children: Theodore, Bertram M., Benjamin and Mrs. C. Edmund Wasson. The eldest son is engaged in travel, while the two younger brothers remain with their parents and have active charge of the large home farm. Mr. Noyes has been elected to nearly every official position in the government of Troy Township during his forty-eight years of residence there. He has been a member of the Republican Party ever since arriving of age, but has always refrained from seeking public office.

Reference: Taken from "History of the St. Croix Valley", published in 1909

Nye

Edgar Nye, better known as "Bill" Nye, now deceased, was for some time a newspaper man in Hudson. In American literature he ranks among the greatest humorists, having a place with Josh Billings and Eli Perkins as a writer of a certain kind of humor, very popular in his day. He was born in 1846 and came with his parents to the Kinnickinnic valley as a boy. He studied law and practiced for some years in Laramie City, Wyo., where he obtained the beginnings of his reputation as a humorist by writing sketches for the Laramie newspaper known as the "Boomerang." Later in life he went east, engaged in several lecture tours and then died. His last few years were a hopeless fight against physical suffering and disease. He was a most lovable character and his death was not only bereavement to his thousands of friends and admirers, but also a loss of American humor. (taken from "History of the St. Croix Valley", published in 1909)