Bio: Bache-Wiig, Olai (1876 – 19??)

Contact: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Bache-Wiig, Ravn

----Source: History of Marathon County Wisconsin and Representative Citizens, by Louis Marchetti, 1913.

Bache-Wiig, Olai (3 June 1876 – 19??)

OLAI BACHE-WIIG, a mechanical engineer, who is superintendent of the Wausau Sulphate Fibre Company, at Mosinee, Wisconsin, and one of its stockholders, was born in Norway, June 3, 1876, and is a son of Hartvig and Amalie Bache-Wiig. Neither of the parents and only two of the ten children ever came to America, these being Olai and Jens, the latter being in the employ of the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, at Pittsburgh, Pa., as an electrical engineer.

Olai Bache-Wiig attended school in his native land, studied mechanical engineering in Germany, and, returning to Norway, engaged in pulp and paper mill engineering. He came to the United States in 1903, carrying on the same kind of work here and in Canada. In 1910 he was engaged by Wausau capitalists to design and build the pulp and paper mills of the Wausau Sulphate Fibre Company, located at Mosinee, Wis.

In February, 1912, Mr. Bache-Wiig was married to Miss Agnes Ravn, who was born at Scandinavia, Wisconsin, a daughter of Dr. Michael and Valborg Ravn. Mrs. Bache-Wiig's father conducts a private hospital in Merrill, Wisconsin. His family consists of four children: Bjarne, Agnes, Signe and Erling. Mr. and Mrs. Bache-Wiig have one son, Lars Ravn. They are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Bache-Wiig is a Republican in polities but is not a close party man.