Bio: Krogstad, John Morris (1914)

Contact: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Krogstad, Gilstad 

----Source: History of Eau Claire County, Wisconsin (1914) pages 764-765 

John Morris Krogstad, chairman of the Brunswick town board and a well known fanner and stock raiser, was born in the town of Brunswick, Eau Claire county, April 21, 1879, of Norwegian parents. His father, Hans Krogstad, was born in Norway, February 14, 1846. Emigrating to America in 1869, he came to Wisconsin and first settled at Tomah, where he remained one year and in 1870 came to Eau Claire and for eight years thereafter worked on the river as a driver. In 1878 he moved to the town of Brunswick and purchased a farm of 80 acres, 65 acres of which were covered with timber. He set diligently to work, and in ten years had the farm all cleared and improved, and had purchased an additional 40 acres. In 1889 he sold the farm and moved to Porter's Mills, Eau Claire county, and again worked on the river lumbering until 1899 when he purchased another farm of 120 acres in Brunswick township to which he subsequently added 40 more acres. He successfully carried on general farming until 1906 when he retired and the management of the farm fell to his two sons Alfred and John M. He married Caroline Gilstad, daughter of John Gilstad, of Norway, and they are the parents of the following children: Alfred; John M.; Carl Edward, who resides in Eau Claire; Henry Cornelius, a resident of North Bend, Oregon; Julius Oscar resides at Cameron, Wisconsin, and Amelia M., who was born in 1889, died in 1896. 

John M. Krogstad has spent his whole life in Eau Claire county. He received his education in the common and high schools and for five or six winter seasons, was variously employed in the lumber camps in and around Porter's Mills, working at farming during the summer months. In 1906 he took charge of the homestead containing 160 acres of land which he and his brother Alfred are now successfully carrying on, engaged in general farming and stock raising and looking after their parents in their declining years. 

In public affairs Mr. Krogstad takes an active interest and has filled several offices among them being town clerk for one year, treasurer of the town of Brunswick three years; supervisor two years and is now chairman of the town board. He is a man of genial social temperament and a lover of good cheer and is identified with various social, benevolent and fraternal organizations, being a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery of the Masonic Order, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America.