Ole O. Hammer (Ole Olsen Hammertrø)
Buvigen, Norway
 

Ole Hammer, an early settler in the town of Menomonie, Wis., now passed away, was born near Torgen, Norway, March 18, 1847. He grew to manhood in his native land, where he attended school and subsequently operated a small farm. On May 11, 1871, he married Johanna Dahl, who was born April 2, 1849. Mr. Hammer remained in Norway for nine years after his marriage. Then, as their family was increasing without a corresponding increase in their means, he and his wife made up their minds to emigrate. It was necessary that they should be separated for a while, for he had not money enough to take them all with him, and, besides, there was a possibility that they might not like the new country; so in 1880 he came on alone to Dunn County, Wis. and found employment in the planing-mill of Knapp, Stout & Co. at Cedar Falls.

The wages of mill men in those days were not high and it was not until 1882 that Mr. Hammer had saved enough money to be able to send for his family. They then joined him and there was a happy family reunion when they arrived in the little mill town after so long a separation. Mr. Hammer continued working for the famous lumber company above mentioned for ten years longer; but he had ambitions to be something more than a wage worker, and, moreover, could foresee the time when the mills would have to shut down for lack of material, when the timber should become exhausted. In 1892 therefore, he made a start in a new direction, buying 40 acres of land in Section 32, town of Menomonie. But on that place he remained only a year, at the end of that time selling it and buying another tract of 60 acres in the same section. Later he bought an 80-acre tract in Section 33, which was covered with stumps and brush. On his land in Section 32 he proceeded to make a home and develop a farm. In course of time he cleared up a considerable portion of the land and erected a fair set of buildings. His agricultural operations were continued until 1914, in which year he sold the home farm to his son Anton, and the 80 acres in Section 33 to his son, Oscar. He continued to reside on the farm, however, until his death on Jan. 23, 1921.

Mr. and Mrs. Ole Hammer were the parents of 11 children, seven of whom are now living, as follows: Kari, now Mrs. Ole Evjen of West Duluth; Rena, who married a Mr. Kjellen and is now a widow residing in Park Falls, Wis.; Johanna, who is Mrs. Edward Moe of Eau Claire; Anna, wife of August Frier of Eau Claire; Ragna, who is Mrs. Ben Ingen of the town of Lucas; Anton, residing on the home farm, and Oscar, a farmer in the town of Menomonie.

Anton Hammer, the present proprietor of the Hammer farm, was born march 18, 1886, at Cedar Falls, Wis., and as a boy attended district school in the town of Menomonie. He learned agriculture on the home place, which he purchased in 1914, at the time of his father’s death, and he has since operated it, successfully carrying on general farming and dairying. In 1916 he built a new barn of 36 x 60 feet, installed with the James equipment. He is a stockholder in the Hudson Road Creamery, and the Downsville Cooperative Creamery. He is fraternally affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has never married and is taking care of his aged mother. They are both members of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Menomonie.

Extracted from The History of Dunn County, Wisconsin (1925), pp. 472-473.

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Note: According to the Trondheim Emigration Protocol, Ole Hammer emigrated from Budvigen, Norway on March 18, 1880 to Menomonie, Wis. His wife Johanna Hammer emigrated July 14, 1881 from Budvigen to Menomonie with children: Karen, 9; Ane, 6; Gurine, 5; and Johanna, 2.

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Additional information is found in Buvikboka gards- og ættehistorie, Bind I by Jon O. Snøfugl, Utgitt av Skaun Kommune, 1977

Ole Olsen Hammertrø. b. Mar 19, 1847; confirmed 1862; married May 11, 1871 to Johanna Olsd. b. Feb. 1848 in Orkdal. He emigrated Mar 17, 1880. She moved to Buvik in 1869; emigrated July 16, 1881.
Children: Karen, b. Mar 21, 1872
     Anne, b. Nov. 9, 1874
     Gurine, b. Apr 28, 1876
     Johanne, b. Dec. 16, 1878
All children emigrated with their mother in 1881.

Lived on the Hammer - Bergtrø, ytre farm 1871-1881. [p. 109]