Joe Solem
Soknedalen, Norway

Extracted from the History of Dunn County Wisconsin, Comp. F. Curtiss-Wedge, et al. Minneapolis: H.C. Cooper, Jr. & Co. 1925. p. 650

Joe and Helena (Ois) Solem, both natives of Norway - Joe of Soknedalen and Helena of Baston.  Joe came to America in the 1860's and directly to Dunn County, Wis., first setting food on the soil of this county as he disembarked from a steamboat at Rumsey's Landing.  For several years he was employed at old Meridean by the lumber company running the mills there.  In 1873 he was married to Mrs. Peter Nelson, whose maiden name was Helena Ois; and in February, the same year, he purchased 80 acres of land in Section 2, on the Chippewa bottoms, there being a small shack on it and a straw barn. Later he replaced these buildings with better ones, added to his land from time to time until he owned 317 acres, and built up a good farm.  

He and his wife were good neighbors and were popular in the community.  She was the first to pass away, dying Dec. 14, 1912, while he died May 14, 1917. Their family included two children: John P, who was known as a successful farmer and dairyman in the town of Spring Brook, and was born in Section 2, in the southeastern part of this town, and on the farm that he now owns and operates, on Dec. 19, 1874, and Martina, now Mrs. Ole Gordan of Minneapolis.