BioA: Van Gorden, Mr. and Mrs. Archie “Red” (Golden - 1974)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Van Gorden, Fremstad, Dierauer, Fossum, Haugen, Bye, Waller, Northrup

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 7/18/1974

Van Gorden, Mr. and Mrs. Archie “Red” (Golden – 10 July1974)

Approximately 300 relatives and friends greeted Mr. and Mrs. Archie Van Gorden at an open house honoring their 50th wedding anniversary Sunday, July 14, at the Neillsville United Church of Christ. The event was planned by members of their family.

Archie (Red) Van Gorden and the former Hazel Fremstad were married July 10, 1924, at Pigeon Falls. The bride was a native of that community; the groom, who grew up in Alma Center, was born in Hixton.

Following their marriage, the couple lived in Alma Center before moving to Neillsville in 1929 when he purchased the former Fred Bruley Elevator Company, now operated under the title “H. H. Van Gorden and Sons.”

At one-time there were H. H. Van Gorden and Sons elevators in operation at Neillsville, Alma Center, Whitehall, and Black River Falls, with the “Sons” referring to Archie, Kenneth, and Bruce, and the H. H.,” to their father, Harry Humphrey.

Archie Van Gorden operated the mill in Neillsville by himself until 1940 when he entered military service with the local National Guard Company. Then, his brother Kenneth, joined him in the business here.

He served in Australia and New Guinea, was discharged in 1944 with the rank of captain, and returned to Neillsville to take an active part in the operation of the family business until his retirement in 1946. In 1947, his sons joined their uncle in operating the elevator.

In their retirement, the Van Gorden’s divide their time between homes in Jupiter, Fl., and Lake Arbutus. Both are members of the Neillsville Church of Christ.

They are parents of three children, Richard, and Heron (Pink) of Neillsville and Mrs. Robert (Cyrena) Dierauer of Minneapolis, Mn. There are 10 grandchildren.

Among relatives present for the anniversary observance were Mrs. Van Gorden’s brothers and their wives, Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Fremstad and Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Fremstad of Pigeon Falls, Mr. and Mrs. Palmer Fremstad of Osseo, Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Fremstad of Eau Claire and Mr. and Mrs. Maynard Fremstad of Minneapolis, Mn.; her aunt, Mrs. Jeannette Fossum of Osseo; her cousin and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Haugen, and cousins: Mrs. Clarence Bye and the Misses Gilma and Theola Waller, all of Osseo.

Relatives attending from the Van Gorden side of the family included: Mr. Van Gorden’s brother, Bruce, of Black River Falls; his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Van Gorden of Eau Claire; and cousins and their spouses: Mr. and Mrs. Bela Van Gorden of Onalaska, Mr. and Mrs. Schyler Van Gorden of Eau Claire and Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Northrup of La Crosse.

 

 


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