Ettrick History & Biographical Sketches of Ettrick Residents

The post village of Ettrick is situated on Section 31, in the town of that name. Its local industries are represented in the following:

ASHLEY, Chester N. HUFF, Peter J.

KNUDTSON, Iver PETERSON, Iver

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

CHESTER N. ASHLEY, miller at the Ettrick Flouring Mills and proprietor of the Ettrick Hotel, was born in New York Jan. 27, 1848. In 1852 he came with his parents to Wisconsin, settling in Columbia Co., where he remained with them until 1867; then going to Green Lake Co., he commenced learning the miller's trade with his brother, J. W. Ashley. In 1879 he came to Ettrick and took charge of the Ettrick Flouring Mills, which were built by Orin Vaness in 1870, but were then owned by Mr. Pederson. They have a run of three buhrs and a capacity of making forty barrels of flour per day.

-Transcribed from the "History of Northern Wisconsin, 1881," page 1071

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PETER J. HUFF, merchant and blacksmith, Ettrick, was born in Norway April 23, 1840. He came with his parents to the United States in 1863 and located with them in Dane Co., where he lived for three years. He then went to Vernon Co., where he remained until 1869, at which time he went to Ettrick, where he started a blacksmith shop, which business he has run ever since. In 1879 he started a store, which he manages in connection with his other business. He enlisted in Co. D, 14th W. V. I., in December, 1863, and served until the close of the war; has been Town Trustee of Ettrick for six years and Side Supervisor for one year.

-Transcribed from the "History of Northern Wisconsin, 1881," page 1071

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IVER KNUDTSON, furniture dealer and undertaker, Ettrick, was born in Norway March 13. 1831 ; was married to Miss Giorgne Iverson. They came to the United States in 1855, and first stopped with his brother on a farm in Trempealeau Co. In 1864 he came to Ettrick and worked at carpentering until 1874, at which time he started his present furniture store. Mr. Knudtson now holds the office of Town and School Treasurer in the town of Ettrick; has a family of nine children - Charley, Alford, Annie, Ida, Josephine, Peter, Katie, Clara and Arthur.

-Transcribed from the "History of Northern Wisconsin, 1881," page 1071

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IVER PETERSON, Postmaster and dealer in general merchandise, hardware, etc., live stock, Ettrick, was born in Norway March 13, 1842. He immigrated to the United States in 1862, and located in Vernon Co., Wis. He enlisted in Co. K, 25th W. V. I., serving until the close of the war. He then returned to Vernon Co., remaining two years, working on a farm summers and in the woods at lumbering winters. In 1868 he came to Trempealeau Co. and started a small general merchandise store at Frenchville, but after staying there two years he moved his stock to Ettrick, which has been his home ever since, and has gradually increased his stock until he now does a business of $35,000 per annum, being also proprietor of the grist-mill at Ettrick. He was married in 1870, to Miss Mary Nelson, who is a native of Norway. They have two children - Albert and Emma.

-Transcribed from the "History of Northern Wisconsin, 1881," page 1071