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Note: Prairie Farm Township
-- From the "Historical and Biographical Album of the Chippewa Valley Wisconsin, 1891-2" page 338.
Prairie Farm Township contains fifty-four square miles, being nine miles in length from north to south, and six miles in width from east to west. It is bounded on the north by the town of Clinton, on the south by Chippewa county, on the east by the towns of Maple Grove and Dallas, and on the west by the towns of Turtle Lake and Vance Creek. The Hay river flows through it from north to south, and has several branches running in various directions, including Dorrity creek, on the east, and Turtle creek on the west. The hamlet of Prairie Farm, sixteen miles southwest of Barron, was settled by Knapp, Stout Y Co., in about 1868, when they erected a water-power saw-mill, and subsequently a grist-mill at this point, on the Hay river. The latter is now owned and operated by J. Hoffma
Jacob Peter Hoffman, miller, merchant and farmer, ranks well among the
leading and substantial men of Prairie Farm Village. He was born in Jackson
Township, Washington County, Wis., Nov. 15, 1851, the son of Peter and
Catherine (Smith) Hoffman. These good people were born in the Rhine region
in Germany, and were there reared and married. They came to this country as
young people, being just 31 days on the water. They settled on a farm in the
woods in Jackson Township, Washington County, this state, and here started to
establish their fortunes. Milwaukee, their trading point, was twenty-six
miles away, and he often made the trip there afoot, bringing home provisions
on his back. In time he built up a good farm. He took his part in the affairs
of the community and served for some twenty years as clerk of his school
district. He was also active in the German Lutheran Church. Jacob Peter was
born in a log cabin on his father's farm, and attended a log schoolhouse in
the neighborhood. This was a real pioneer school, built by the early settlers
with their own hands. The benches were hewed out of rough logs, and all the
furnishings were most primitive. When he was a young man his father bought a
flour mill at Young America, Washington County, Wis. There young Jacob Peter
learned the milling trade. In 1876 he decided to start out for himself. He
came to Chippewa Falls, in Chippewa County, this state, on the railroad, and
then walked to Rice Lake, where he secured a homestead. This he sold so
time later. The first winter he worked in the woods. In the spring of 1877 he
entered the employ of Knapp, Stout & Co. in their mill at Rice Lake, acting
as second miller, and having charge of the establishment nights. In the fall
of 1877 he was sent to Prairie Farm, to take charge of the Knapp, Stout & Co.
mill. He remained in this employ for nearly eighteen years. In 1893 the
Prairie Farm Milling Co. was organized, took over the mill, and converted it
into a roller mill, of which Mr. Hoffman remained in charge. He was the
president of the company, F. F. Tibbetts was vice-president, and George E.
Scott, the merchant, was secretary and treasurer. In 1900, Mr. Hoffman sold
out to Mr. Scott, and engaged in the general mercantile business at Prairie
Farm, with a flour and feed establishment in connection. The firm name was J.
P. Hoffman & Son. In 1910 the place was burned down, and Mr. Hoffman did not
resume the business. In the meantime, he had purchased a farm in Section 27,
Prairie Farm Township, and had moved his family on it. There he lived and
farmed while in business in the village. He had a good place, which he brought
to an excellent stage of development. In 1914 he sold out and moved to the
village, where he erected the pleasant home where he now lives. In 1891, Mr.
Hoffman helped to establish the Prairie Farm Co-operative Creamery
Association, and served for some years as its treasurer. He also has other
interests. He has been prominent in the endeavor to secure railroad facilities
for the village. He and his family are loyal in their support of the
Evangelical Church, and Mr. Hoffman has been clerk of its Sunday School for
some twenty years. Fraternally, he is a member of the Maccabees. He has done
his duty in every way as a good citizen and is held in the highest regard. Mr.
Hoffman was married July 14, 1879, at Hokicon, in Dodge County, this state,
to Louisa Weisensale, who was born in Kliman Township, Dodge County, this
state, Feb. 13, 1854, daughter of Martin and Fredericka (Lindemur) Weisensale,
natives of Saxony, Germany, who came to America in 1853 and settled in Dodge
County. Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman have one son, Louis E., who was born in Prairie
Farm Township, May 5, 1880, attended the local schools, and is now a prominent
lumberman of Clara City, South Dakota. He married Eva C. Roemhild and they
have one child, Floyd L.
--Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., &
Co., 1922, pp. 825-826.
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