Bio: Evjue, Nilse (Commemorative Bio - 1895)

Transcribed by: Crystal Wendt

---Source: Commemorative Biographical Record of the Upper Wisconsin Counties of Waupaca, Portage, Wood, Marathon, Lincoln, Oneida, Vilas, Langlade and Shawano. publ. 1895 by J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago 1110 pages, illustrated; Page 249-250

Nilse Evjue

Nilse Evjue, superintendent of the Rib River Lumber Co., at Flanner, Wis., and one of the most highly respected citizens of Merrill, Lincoln County, is a native of Norway, born in the city of Kongsberg, Buskerud, June 6, 1852. Peter Evjue, his father, was of the same nativity, born in 1809, a son of David Evjue, who was a common laborer in Norway, and owned a farm; David had two children – Peter, and a daughter whose name is not learned. Peter was a watchman at the celebrated silver mines at Kongsberg, was married to Martha Bryn, and died in 1867. They had twelve children, only four of whom are now living, viz.: Johan, Matilda, Karen and Nilse; Hans lived to be married and have two children, Hans and Matilda, and died in Norway; the rest of the children died young; the mother passed away in 1869.

The subject proper of these lines, Nilse Evjue, is the youngest of the family, and was about sixteen years old when he lost his father. He received a liberal education at the public schools of the district where in he was born, after which he worked in the silver mines, already referred to, until in 1869, when he emigrated to America with barely sufficient means to carry him to Stevens Point, Wis., the place of his destination. Arriving there, however in good health and spirits, he at once hired out to work for a lumber firm on the Little Eau Plaine River, being employed in the sawmill during the summer, and in the woods in the winter season. Leaving this firm in the spring of 1870, he for a time hired out to run lumber down the river to St. Louis, after which he found employment in the John Wicks sawmill on the Big Eau Plaine river, working there and in another mill three years, each season making a trip down the river with lumber. In the spring of 1874 he moved to Wausau, where he worked as grader in a lumber yard for Peter Plummer, and at the end of a year hired out, in a similar capacity, to the Stewart Lumber Co., and with them remained four years, two years of the time as foreman of the green lumber department. In the spring of 1879 he came to Merrill, then called “Jennie,” where for four years he worked as grader for the T. B. Scott Lumber Co., after which he was employed by the Champagne Lumber Co., at first by the job, grading and piling lumber, which occupied two more year of his life. During the next four years he was foreman of their mill and yard, and the following two years served as shipping clerk, remaining with this extensive firm eight years in all. In 1891, he began an engagement with the Rib River Lumber Co., at Flanner, Wis., as general superintendent of their mill and year, his present position. His residence, an elegant and commodious home, is in the city of Merrill, where he is surrounded by all the comforts due to an industrious and well-regulated life.

In the fall of 1880 Mr. Evjue was married at Merrill to Miss Mary Erickson, who was born in Norway in 1858, one of the eleven children of Torger and Ronaug Erickson, named as follows: Anna, Mary, George, Matthew, Pauline, Peter, Tenna, Ell and William, living, and Erick who died in February, 1862, and one that that passed away in infancy. The father, who was a farmer, came to America in 1868, and settled in Scandinavia, Waupaca County. Himself and wife now reside in Merrill. To our subject and wife has been born three children: William, Emma, and Nellie. Mr. and Mrs. Evjue are prominent members of the Norwegian Lutheran Church, in the building up of which they took an active part. Politically, the former affiliates with the Republican Party, and is recognized as one of the best representative, useful and loyal self-made men of northern Wisconsin, one who has by diligence, industry and economy deservedly prospered.

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