- N. O. WAGLEY, a representative farmer and stock-raiser, who
is numbered among the pioneers
- of this county of 1841, is a native of Norway, his birth
occurring in that country on the 19th day of September, 1819.
He was reared to manhood in his native land, and in 1841, wishing
to try his fortune in the New World, bade good-by to home and
friends, and embarked on a steamship bound for America. After
a long and tedious voyage of ten weeks across the Atlantic, he
landed in New York, and immediately continued on his way until
reaching Wisconsin. He completed the journey by steamer and canal
to Milwaukee, whence he came with an ox-team to Rock County.
The country was in a wild and uncultivated condition, the prairies
were still covered with a wild growth of grass, deer and all
other kinds of wild game were to be found in abundance, Indians
were frequently to be seen in the neighborhood, and the settlements
were few and far between. At that time no bridges had been built,
and Mr. WAGLEY was forced to cross the Rock River in a canoe,
swimming his oxen. He made a location on what is section 32,
Plymouth Township. Building a little log cabin, he began life
on the western frontier in true pioneer style, making that house
his home for a number of years. He used oxen in breaking the
prairie, and for almost all other purposes for about ten years,
when, in 1851, he began using horses upon his farm. The tract
of land upon which he first located comprised 160 acres, to which
by subsequent purchase he has added, until he now has 260 acres
of arable land in a high state of cultivation, and upon his farm
may be found the latest improved machinery and everything necessary
to the model farm of the nineteenth century. His arduous labors
at length brought their reward, and he is now one of the well-to-
do farmers of the county. In 1881 he sold the farm to his son
and retired from farming. In 1862 the little log cabin was replaced
by an elegant residence, erected at a cost of $1,200, and an
addition built in 1878 increasing the value to about $2,000,
and in 1879 a fine barn was built.
- In the year 1845, in this county, Mr. WAGLEY was united in
marriage with Carrie SKAVLEM,
- with whom he traveled life's journey for thirty-seven happy
years. Five children were born of their union, but all have passed
away with the exception of two sons, O. N., who is a resident
of Newton, Iowa, and H. N. WAGLEY, who is living on the old homestead.
After the death of his first wife, in 1882, he again married
in 1884, his second union being with Maren RINGEN. Mr. WAGLEY
is a member of the Lutheran Church, and he and his wife are numbered
among the highly respected citizens of the community, where they
have many friends.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 946.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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