"Oh, wife, you've convinced me. We'll argue no more

For I've never once thought of your dying before,

And my children, I love them although they are small,

But my cattle I value most precious of all."

from Folk Songs out of Wisconsin

Venturing into unknown territority to settle,

leading the way,

being trailblazers.

Opening up, preparing the way for others to follow

having the

Pioneer Spirit.

Albert Sievert, and Mathilde (Popp) Sievert.

They came to America in the summer of 1875, and after two years at Kiel, Wis.; the family came here (Auburndale, Wisconsin). Albert and his brother John bought 120 acres of wild land in Section 29, Auburndale Township, and the family established their home on this property, their total financial resources at that time being $5.00. They built a log hut with a roof of basswood logs cut in two lengthwise and hollowed out, these being laid side by side with the concave side up and the joints covered by others laid with the convex side up. There were, of course, no roads through this section of the county then, and on first coming to their land they traveled on foot through the woods, carrying their effects on their backs. Their first draft animals were oxen, and for some time their only vehicle was a crotched-pole dray, made from timber cut on the land. On this they hauled their supplies through the woods from Auburndale, and though that was but three and one-half miles, half a day or more was required to make the round trip; two creeks had to be crossed enroute, and on coming to these the supplies had to be unloaded, the oxen driven across, and then the supplies carried across and reloaded. The first plow they had they carried on their backs from Auburndale. Struggling under these primitive conditions, the family began the long and difficult journey to prosperity, the men working in the summers at clearing the land and spending the winter months in the lumber woods in order to obtain money with which the work of developing the farm could be carried on. After some progress had been made in this work Albert and his brother John, who had bought the land in partnership, divided it between them, Albert taking the east 60 and his brother the west 60. Albert built a hewn log house on his portion and lived there until he sold out and retired in 1910; he and his wife are now living in a comfortable home erected on the farm of the son, August F. John, the father’s brother, was killed in the woods during the winter of 1884-85.

Source: "History of Wood County"

(Note:  The background is a sketch of the orginal barn of Albert Severt, by Anne Marie Severt Ingram.  The barn is still being used today. The year of immigration date is given as 1875 in the History of Wood County, but the year 1876 is the actual date. )