Martin Arneson

ARNESON, BLILIE, SIMONS

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 12/6/2009 at 02:58:27

Martin Arneson, owner of a large farm in the town of Cassian, Oneida County, was born in Allamakee County, Iowa, June 25, 1858, son of Lars and Ragnild Arneson. The parents were natives of Norway, and came from that country to the United States in the early 40's, first settling near Beloit, Wis., and going from there one year later to Allamakee County, Iowa. In 1867 they removed from Iowa to Canton, S.D., spending the remainder of their lives at the latter place. Martin Arneson received his education in the schools of Allamakee County, Iowa, and Canton, S.D., and remained at home until he was 18 years of age. He then learned the trade of printer in the office of the Sioux Valley News at Canton, and after remaining on their staff for six years he was with the Evening Herald at Duluth for one year. Starting in 1893 he worked in the job rooms of the St. Paul Pioneer Press at St. Paul for 15 years; he was then for a time with Brown & Bigelow, makers of calendars and other advertising specialties, at St. Paul, but shortly after entering their employ his health broke down and he was forced to seek an outdoor life. It was at that time he came to Oneida Couty; here he purchased 900 acres of wild land, some of it heavily timbered, and established his home, subsequently selling all but 240 acres of this property. In 1911 he erected a set of buildings, and in 1918 he built a new nine-room residence and a new barn. He has cleared about 30 acres of the land, but has devoted practically all of his time to logging and lumbering operations. He installed a small sawmill on his property in 1916, and with this he has sawed many thousand feet of lumber. He is very well known throughout the community and is highly respected by all.

Mr. Arneson was first married on October 13, 1882 to Miss Augusta Blilie, who died in 1887, leaving three children: Ruby, a graduate of Columbia University, now teaching in Iowa State College at Ames, Iowa; Lee, living in Wyoming; and George, who is an engineer at Colby, Wyo. Mr. Arneson was united with his present wife, who was Miss Louise Simons, on Oct. 20, 1909.

~History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties, Wisconsin; George O. Jones; pub. H.C. Cooper, Jr. & Co., 1924; pgs 290 & 291