a man of fine ability

Our next few posts will profile some of the individuals recorded in the Big Green Book, also known as History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties Wisconsin. First up, William O. Strandberg.

William O. Strandberg, well-known resident of Vilas County, was born in Sweden, Sept. 28, 1863, son of Eric G. and Anna (Olson) Strandberg. The parents were natives of Sweden, and the father was a captain in the Swedish Army for many years; they came to the United States in 1872 and settled in Putnam County, New York, remaining until 1886 and then going to Bessemer, Mich., and from there to Hurley, Wis. Later the family moved to Langlade County, where the father died. William O. Strandberg received his early education in the schools of Putnam County, New York, and subsequently attended Princeton University for a time. He then learned the trade of printer, which he followed in various cities in the East until 1901. In the latter year he came to Vilas County and purchased a small tract of land on Star Lake; here he built a home and cared for his aged mother until her death in 1911. He worked as a guide on the lakes and in the woods until 1922, becoming very widely known in this capacity and a prominent figure throughout this locality. He served as township assessor and as justice of the peace, and also as clerk of the school board in District No. 2 of the town of Flambeau. He is secretary of the Manitowish Waters Conservation Association at the present time, and during the World War he served on many different committees, giving himself whole-heartedly to his country's cause. Since 1922 he has followed carpenter work as an occupation. He is a man of fine ability, and stands very high in his community.

If you have further information on William Strandberg, or any of the other individuals we will profile, please don't hesitate to share it with us!