HISTORY OF WOOD COUNTY



is a salesman. Robert A. Weeks acquired his early education in Waushara County,
this state, and later took a course in a Chicago business college. He subsequently
worked for his father until 1888, in which year he went to Waupaca, Wis.,
to learn
the monument business as a cutter of marble and granite, being employed by
the
firm of Penny & Downey. After serving with them for about two years,
he went
to Chicago, where he resided in 1890 and 1891. In 1892 he established a monu-
ment business at Plainfield, Wis., the firm being that of Sherman, Tyler
& Weeks,
and was there until 1905. He came to Grand Rapids and established the Wood
County Granite Co., which has since developed into the largest monument busi-
ness in Wood County, specializing in original and artistic memorials. Mr.
Weeks
served as village treasurer of Plainfield, Wis., during his stay in that
place. He is
a member of a number of fraternal societies, including the Masonic Blue Lodge
and Eastern Star; the Equitable Fraternal Union and the Beavers. On Jan.
9,
1895, Robert A. Weeks was united in marriage in Plainfield, Wis., to Evangeline
Sherman, who was born in Green Lake County, Wis., June 1, 1876, daughter
of
Joseph T. and Julia (Morse) Sherman. The parents, who were natives respectively
of New Hampshire and Vermont, came west before their marriage. After that
event they resided a short time in Berlin, Green Lake County, and later settled
in
Plainfield, where the Sherman, Tyler & Weeks Monument Co. was established,
Mr. Sherman later selling his interest to Tyler & Weeks. Mr. Sherman
was a
soldier in the Civil War. He and his wife now reside at Wautoma. Of their
seven
children, five are now living, the full list being as follows: Cora B., now
Mrs. Ward
Stillwell, of Wautoma; Evangeline, now Mrs. R. A. Weeks; Frances E., who
died
May 13,1921, the wife of E. A. Kersting; Allie, wife of Lester Sergent, of
Missoula,
Mont.; May, who died in infancy; Walter J., of San Francisco, Calif.; and
Grace,
now Mrs. Harry Hayes, of Missoula, Mont. The children of. Mr. and Mrs. Robert
A. Weeks are: Robert S., born Dec. 2, 1897, who works for his father; Florence,
born March 19, 1899, now Mrs. Paul Arpin, of Wisconsin Rapids; and Blanche,
born Dec. 7, 1906, who is attending Lincoln High School. Mrs. Weeks takes
an
active and helpful part in the work of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
   Nels Jensen, farming in Saratoga Township and widely known throughout
the
community, was born July 29, 1868, in Denmark, in the village Allerslov,
Trasto
Amt. (or county). His parents, Thorkild and Elizabeth (Larsen) Jensen, were
also natives of Denmark, in which country they spent their lives. Mr. Jensen
received his education there and then assisted his father when not employed
by
other farmers, until 1887, when he came to the United States, locating in
Chicago.
There he did teaming and excavating until 1898, in which year he changed
both
his location and occupation, going to Waushara County, Wis., where he was
en-
gaged in farming for a year. He then followed the same occupation in Adams
County for a year. He had now resolved to engage in agriculture on his own
land, and being industrious and economical, saved all that he could of his
earnings.
In January, 1900, he came to Wood County and purchased 80 acres of wild land
in
Saratoga Township, where he has since made his home. He has added to his
land until he now has a total of 360 acres, in Sections 17 and 20, of which
he has
cleared 120 acres, besides erecting a good set of buildings so that it is
today a fairly
good agricultural property. Mr. Jensen carries on mixed farming and dairying
with profitable results. For several years he kept a good herd of grade Holstein
cattle, but is now changing to the Guernsey breed. He has taken a more or
less
prominent part in town affairs; for two years he served as town treasurer
of Sara-
toga Township, and is now serving his third year as supervisor. He was also
director and treasurer of School District No. 1 and is at present serving
as its clerk.
His fraternal affiliations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
On
Sept. 24, 1892, Mr. Jensen was united in marriage with Anna Mikkelsen of
Chicago.
She was born Feb. 12, 1876, in Schleswig-Holstein, (Hadersleiben: Tonder
mark:
or small village), daughter of Thomas and Helen (Sivertsen) Mikkelsen, natives
of
that state. The mother died there and the father came to America in 1887
and
settled in Chicago, where he resided until his death on Jan. 17, 1921. Mrs.
Jensen
came to this country from her native land in 1889 and worked in Cbicago until



457