From "History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin", 1881, p. 741. City of La Crosse A. BRAKKE, jeweler, was born in Norway in 1835; learned his trade in Norway and worked at it there till 1867; then came to America. He lived one year in Chicago; then came to La Crosse, where he has been in business ever since, except two years, in 1875 and 1876. He was married in La Crosse in 1869, to Mary Peterson, and has two children - Matilda and Ellen. His father's name was John Yohnson Brakke, the last name (Brakke) being the old Norwegian farm name. [I am not related to this family and have no further information. I'm posting this as a service and hope it helps!]