USA > Iowa > Hancock County > History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 8
USA > Iowa > Winnebago County > History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 8
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HON. CHRISTIAN N. FLUGUM.
One of the most prominent and influential farmers of Center township, Winne- bago county, is Christian N. Flugum, whose home is on section 31. He was born on the other side of the Atlantic, his birth occurring in Norway, January 17, 1859, and he is a son of Nels and Martha (Eggum) Fluigum, who brought their family to America in the spring of 1867 and located in Dane county, Wis- consin, where the father taught school for six years. In the spring of 1873, accompanied by his wife and children, he came to Winnebago county, Iowa, and purchased land in Mount Valley township, which he at once began to clear and improve. In connection with farming he continued to engage in teaching and followed that profession for fifty-seven years. In 1914 he retired and is now living on the old home place in ease and quiet. He has attained the age of eighty-six years and receives the veneration and respect which a long, upright and honorable life should always command. IIe has been called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away in April, 1905.
Christian N. Flugum began his education in the schools of Wisconsin, being fourteen years of age on the removal of the family to Iowa. Later he attended school in Forest City and completed his education at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Being well fitted for a teacher's profession, he taught nine months of school cach year for twelve years and during this time worked at the carpenter's trade during the summer season. In the fall of 1892, Mr. Flugum purchased eighty acres of land in Center township, Winnebago county, on which he located the following January and has since engaged in its operation. As a farmer he has met with marked success and has been able to add to his property from time to time until he now owns a half section of land in one body, improved with two sets of good buildings. He has also dealt in real estate, buying and selling farm lands, and has owned property in several different parts of the county.
On the 13th of December, 1892, Mr. Flugum was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Hermanson, a daughter of Elling and Brita Hermanson, natives of Nor- way and early settlers in Winnebago county. Both are living. Mr. and Mrs. Flugum have become the parents of nine children, namely: Edward, who is
HON. CHRISTIAN N. FLUGUM
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now farming in Texas; and Norman, Charles, Joseph, Mabel, Bertha, Esther, Clarenee and William, all at home.
Religiously the family is connected with the United Lutheran church, and politically Mr. Flugum has affiliated with the republican party since attaining his majority. His fellow citizens, recognizing his worth and ability, have elected him to official.positions of honor and trust and he served as a member of the thirty-second general assembly from this district and also of the thirty-second extra session in 1907-08. For three terms he was township clerk of Mount Valley township and for a number of years served on the school board. He is now secretary and manager of the Farmers Mutual Insurance Association of Winnebago county, which he helped to organize in 1886, with home office in Lake Mills, and with the exception of three years, while he was farming in the western part of Winnebago county, he has filled the former position since the company was incorporated. Mr. Flugum is also a stockholder of the Farmers Elevator Company of Lake Mills; the Lake Mills Lumber Company ; the Farmers Elevator Company of Leland; and the Leland Creamery Company. Ile is one of the directors of the Iowa Mutual Tornado Insurance Association of Des Moines and is one of its adjusters. This company has two hundred and twenty million dollars insurance in force at the present time. It will thus be seen that Mr. Flugum is recognized as a man of good business and executive ability and the success that has come to him is certainly well merited, as it is the result of his own industry, enterprise and good management.
GILBERT SEVERSON.
Among the venerable and highly respected citizens of Hancock county is num- bered Gilbert Severson, who for many years was actively identified with farming interests but is now living retired, his home being on section 11, Ellington town- ship. He was born in Norway, January 17, 1839, a son of Severt and Gudberg (Gilbertson) Severson, who were also natives of that country, where they spent their entire lives. They had a family of six children, of whom five are yet living.
Gilbert Severson was reared and educated in Norway and in 1868, when about twenty-nine years of age, came to the new world. Hle severed home ties because he believed that better opportunities might be secured on this side of the Atlantic and he has never regretted his determination to come to the United States. Making his way westward to lowa, he settled first in Winneshiek county, where he lived for a year, and in 1869 he removed to laneock county, purchasing the farm which he now occupies. It was then a traet of timber land on which no furrow had been turned nor improvement been made. He at once began the task of preparing it for cultivation, clearing away the trees and the stumps and eventually placing his fields under the plow. The work of further development and cultivation has been earried forward year by year and he now has an excellent farm. His first home was a primitive little log cabin which he occupied for sixteen years, and then replaced by a more commodious and modern dwelling. Ile now owns altogether two hundred acres of land which returns to him a gratifying annual ineome. At
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the present time he is leaving this place to the care of others and is enjoying the fruits of his former toil in a well earned rest.
In Mitchell county, lowa, in 1869, Mr. Severson was united in marriage to Miss Anna Lien, a native of Norway, and they became parents of seven children : Julia, the wife of Hans Larson, of Forest City; Betsy, deceased ; Severt; Mary, the wife of Barney Varberg, of North Dakota ; Minnie, the wife of Samuel Wepald. living on the old homestead: Anna, a resident of Mason City, lowa; and Tillie, the wife of Gilbert Benson. The wife and mother passed away in 1901 and was laid to rest in Ellington cemetery.
In his political views Mr. Severson is a republican and for tifteen years he filled the office of township trustee. Ile has always been loyal in matters of citizen- ship and has stood for progress and improvement along many lines. For an ex- tended period he has been a faithful member of the Lutheran church and served as its treasurer for thirty years. Coming to the new world empty handed, he recog- nized its advantages and improved his opportunities. He did not expect to win success without labor but concentrated his undivided attention upon his work and is today reaping the rewards of his persistent toil.
THOR J. MOE.
Thor J. Moe, a native of Norway, has gained the success which he sought upon his emigration to America and is now a prosperous business man of Lake Mills, being a member of the firm of Ulve & Moe, dealers in furniture and funeral direc- tors. He was born December 11, 1863, and his parents were Jacob A. and Annie ( Moe) Moe, lifelong residents of Norway, where the father engaged in farming.
Thor J. Moe was educated in the schools of his native country and in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Ile was eighteen years of age when in 1881 he came to America and during the first ten years he spent in this country he resided in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he was employed as clerk and bookkeeper in a hardware store. In 1891 he removed to Lake Mills, Winnebago county, lowa, and two years later formed a partnership with O. O. Ulve under the name of Ulve & Moe for the conduct of a furniture business. Their store was destroyed by fire in 1900, but they continued in business and erected a two story brick building on the principal business street of the town and now occupy the entire building, earrying a very large stock of high grade furniture. Their extensive trade is drawn not only from Lake Mills but also from the surrounding country and their rapid growth can be attributed to the policy of fair dealing to which they have always strictly adhered, to the excellence in design, material and workmanship of the furniture carried and to the large stock open to the selection of customers. They also have an undertaking department and do a large business in that line.
In August, 1894, Mr. Moe was united in marriage to Miss Malina Olson and they have three children, namely: J. Earl, who was born in April, 1895; Arnold N., born in September, 1896 ; and Morris, born in November, 1901.
Mr. Moe casts his ballot in support of the republican party, has served as a member of the town council for seven years and for eighteen years has been seere- tary of the school board, during which time his influence has been strongly felt in
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the promotion of the interests of the public schools. He has been secretary of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for sixteen years and has many friends in that order at other points. In religious faith he is a United Lutheran. In all relations of life his course has been such as to win him the commendation and sincere respect of all right thinking people and, moreover, he holds the warm friendship of many.
ALBERT FIELD.
Albert Field, who is now serving as justice of the peace at Forest City, has many times been called to office by his fellow citizens, who have thus given expres- sion to the confidence which they have in his ability and his conscientious regard for the public welfare. He has been a resident of Winnebago county for many years and enjoys an unusually wide and exceptionally favorable acquaintance within its borders. He was born in Norway, February 9, 1855, a son of Sören H. and Olea (Johansen) Field, who in 1864 came with their family to the United States. For about eight years they lived in Racine county, Wisconsin, but in 1872 came to Winnebago county, Iowa, where the father purchased a quarter section of land one and a half miles west of Forest City for eleven hundred dollars with twelve per cent interest on deferred payments. After twenty years the land was clear of indebtedness and during that time many improvements were made upon the place. The father grew the first corn raised in the county west of Forest City and was at once progressive and practical in his farm work, becoming in time one of the substantial citizens of his township. He and his wife both died upon the home farm and their many friends deeply regretted their passing. The subject of this review and his brother Julius were the only children who accompanied their parents to Winnebago county and two brothers are still living in Wisconsin.
Albert Field received a common school education and remained at home until 1883, assisting his father to pay off the debt incurred by the purchase of the home farm. On the 4th of April of that year, however, he purchased eighty acres on section 16, Forest township, and removed to that place. He resided there for thirty-three years, or until 1916, although he had retired from active agricultural work a long period before he left the farm, renting the land to one tenant for ten years. He met with gratifying success in his work as a grain and stock raiser and accumulated a competence that ensures him all the comforts of life. In addition to his farm, which he still owns, although now a resident of Forest City, he is a stockholder in the Farmers' Co-operative Creamery and the Farmers' Co-operative Elevator Company, both of Leland, and for one year was secretary of the Winne- bago county Mutual Insurance Company.
Mr. Field is a stanch republican in politics and has taken a prominent part in party work. For years he has been recognized as a leader in local public affairs, served as township assessor for twenty-two consecutive years, was county supervisor for nine years and president of the school board of Forest township for seven terms. While living in Racine, Wisconsin, he was clerk in the postoffice under Postmaster Utley and long before he was of age he served in the militia for about three years. In November, 1916, he was elected justice of the peace of Forest City and follow-
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ing the election removed to Forest City to assume the duties of the office. It has always been characteristic of him that the publie welfare has been placed above private interests and his official record is one of which he may well he proud.
LUTHIER I. AASGAARD.
Luther I. Aasgaard, editor of the Winnebago Republican of Forest City, has throughout his entire life engaged in newspaper publication, working at the busi- ness in every capacity from that of office boy to editor in chief. He is a native of Freeborn county, Minnesota, his birth having occurred in 1878. IFis parents, A. L. and Maren Aasgaard, were early residents there and the father engaged in business in that state, but in 1888 removed with his family to Lake Mills, lowa, where he established a hardware store. His wife is now deceased.
Luther I. Aasgaard was a little lad of but ten summers when the family came to this state. He acquired a public school education and when but eleven years of age began working at the printer's trade in the office of the North Star. He was afterward employed in various places and in March, 1895, removed to Forest City, where for a time he was connected with the Summit. Later he established a job printing office and subsequently began the publication of the Winnebago Repub- lican, which was established in 1901, the first issue being brought from the press on Christmas day of that year. This is a weekly six-column quarto, all home print. The office was located on Main street, opposite the courthouse, and in 1914 Mr. Aasgaard erected his present building-a one story and basement structure twenty- two by one hundred feet. The front of the building is of patent brick and the equipment is most pleasing and attractive. The finishings of the main office are in solid South African mahogany. He utilizes a linotype machine and has the latest accessories of the printing art. He furnishes employment to four people and the circulation of the paper has been increased from sixteen hundred to twenty-one hundred. It is published in the interests of the republican party and his editorials are a clear exposition of the questions and issues of the day.
Mr. Aasgaard served for nine months as postmaster of Forest City under Presi- dent Taft but has always concentrated his efforts and attention upon his business, and laudable ambition has carried him from a humble position in journalistic in- terests to a place in the front ranks of the newspaper publishers of his section of the state.
T. K. CLEVEN.
T. K. Cleven, devoting his time and energies to general farming on section 9, Logan township, Winnebago county, is a self-made man whose prosperity is attrib- utable entirely to his own labors. Ile was born in Valders, Norway, March 16, 1867, and is a son of Knut and Ragnild T. (Haugen) Cleven, who were farming people, their son, T. K. C'leven, being their only child. The father died when he was but a year old, after which he was brought by his mother to the United States
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when a little lad of three summers. They made the voyage in company with her parents, Tostin T. and Gure (Melby) Haugen, who went to the home of their son Gulbrand, then living upon a farm in Logan township, Winnebago county, Iowa, now owned by Mr. Cleven. Gulbrand Hangen had purchased his farm, compris- ing fifty-four aeres on the northwest quarter of section 10, had cleared it and placed it under the plow and to it added many improvements. He continned there to engage in farming until his death, when he was laid to rest in Center township. where also repose the remains of his parents.
Mrs. Cleven and her son remained with her parents and her brother until T. K. Cleven had reached an age where he was able to work and provide for the support of himself and mother. He started out as a farm hand and while thus employed carefully saved his earnings until in 1891 he felt justified in making the purchase of a tract of land. He then secured eighty acres of the southeast quarter of section 9, Logan township, which he cleared and cultivated, and has since made his home upon that property. He is today regarded as one of the enterprising and progres- sive agriculturists of his locality and in addition to his home place he owns an interest in a farm of one hundred and twenty aeres in Marshall county, Minnesota. and also the old Haugen homestead. He was also at one time a director of the Vinje Creamery. His land has been brought under a high state of cultivation and he has added many modern and substantial improvements to his farm.
On June 18, 1898, Mr. Cleven was united in marriage to Miss Margareta Maria Johnson, a daughter of D. N. and Sarah Johnson, who were early settlers of Nor- way township. They have become the parents of six children: Daniel G., Rhine- hardt T., Selmer L., Gilbert A., Louis S., and Selma R., all at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Cleven hold membership in the United Lutheran church and are highly esteemed people of the community in which they live. In polities he is a republican and for eight years he filled the office of justice of the peace, rendering decisions which were strictly fair and impartial. He is now serving as secretary of the school board and at all times he is deeply interested in the welfare and progress of the community in which he resides, co-operating in many plans and measures for the public good. In a business way, too, he deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, for his diligence and enterprise have been the basis of his success.
AUGUST LAU.
August Lau, banker and merchant of Klemme, has in the conduet of his busi- ness interests displayed keen insight into existing conditions that has been one of the dominant forces in his growing success. He has always used his time and talents wisely and well, and steadily he has progressed. He was born April 20, 1853, in Germany, a son of Christian and Dora Lau, who came to America in 1857 and settled in Clayton county, Iowa, where the father engaged in farming. At the time of the Civil war he responded to the country's call for troops to defend the Union and joined a regiment of Iowa volunteer infantry, rendering active service upon the battlefields of the south. In after years he resided in Hancock county, where he spent his remaining days. llis wife is still living in Klemme.
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August Lau was but four years of age when brought by his parents to the new world, so that practically his entire life has been spent in lowa. He acquired his education in Clayton county by attending the district schools during the winter terms, while in the summer months he assisted his father in the work of the home farm. He was thus engaged until 1825, when at the age of twenty-two years he came to llancock county. He had purchased one hundred and sixty acres of la in German township two years before, and taking up his abode upon that tract he improved his fields, carrying on general farming and, to some extent, engaging in cattle raising. Year after year he carefully tilled the soil and continued actively and successfully in farm work until 1896, when he leased his land and removed to Klemme. He then began dealing in coal, grain and livestock and con- ducted a successful business along those lines, his annual sales reaching a consider- able tigure. Ile became a stockholder in the First National Bank of Klemme and since 1902 has served as its vice president, largely directing its policy and shaping its activities.
Mr. Lau was united in marriage to Miss Anna Boehm, a daughter of Henry Boehm, a pioneer settler and farmer of Clayton county, Iowa. The children of this marriage are seven in number: H. (., who follows farming at Tracy, Minnesota ; Frances, the wife of Fred Ritter, of Klemme; Angust, a farmer of German town- ship: Malinda, the wife of Wesley Schuldt, who is engaged in farming in German township; Benjamin, of Minneapolis; and Minnie and Walter, both at home. The parents are members of the German Methodist Episcopal church and their aid and influence are always given on the side of progress and improvement. Mr. Lau votes with the democratie party and has several times been called to office, serving as assessor, as supervisor, which office he now holds, as mayor, as justice of the peace and as school director. In the discharge of his duties he has ever been found prompt and faithful and his election has been the expression of confidence and high regard on the part of his fellowmen.
ABRAHAM T. HAUGO.
Abraham T. Haugo is successfully engaged in business in Lake Mills as a real estate dealer, specializing in local and North Dakota lands, and is also the agent for the Studebaker cars. He was born in Norway on the 10th of March, 1874, of the marriage of Torjus O. and Anna ( Midbo) Haugo, farming people of that country. In 1888 they removed with their family to the United States and located at what is now Joice, Worth county, Iowa. Not long afterward, however, the father purchased a farm in Mount Valley township, Winnebago county, which he operated until his death in 1894. The mother survives.
Abraham T. Hlaugo, who is the third in order of birth in a family of four children, attended school in Norway until he was fourteen years old and for a short time in Winnebago county. He worked for his father upon the homestead until he attained his majority and following his marriage he rented a farm in Grant township for four years. He next moved to Forest City, where he was connected with the real estate business for three years as an employe of the firm of Dannihar & Maben. From 1903 to 1910 he operated a farm of one hundred and sixty acres
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in Bristol township, Worth county, which he owned, and upon leaving that place he took up is residence in Lake Mills. He is there engaged in the real estate busi- ness with J. B. Conley, under the name of The Haugo-Conley Land Agency, and has given especial attention to local and North Dakota lands. Ile has gained a gratifying measure of success and his annual business has now reached large propor- tions. He is also agent for the Studebaker automobile and has proved an energetie and efficient representative of the company.
In 1896 Mr. Haugo was married to Miss Elizabeth Florentz, a daughter of Mathias Andreas and Henrietta Florentz, of Telemarken, Norway. To them were born eleven children, and Mr. and Mrs. Haugo have seven children, all at home, Anna, Erling, Lila, Henrietta, Teresa, Magna and Astrid.
Mr. Haugo votes the republican ticket, but has never sought office, as his private interests have made heavy demands upon his time. IIe belongs to the Lutheran church and its work has profited much from his hearty support. IIe began his independent business career without capital but as the result of his persistent and well directed efforts he is now one of the substantial men of his community.
JAMES J. OTIS.
James J. Otis, was for forty-nine years actively engaged in farming and stock raising in Forest township, Winnebago county, and, while now living retired, he still resides upon the old homestead where he devoted almost a half century to the work of tilling the soil. Ile has passed the eighty-third milestone on life's journey, his birth having occurred in the state of New York on the 17th of October, 1834, his parents being William H. and Lovina (Edmonds) Otis, who were also born in the Empire state. They removed to Illinois in 1836 and took up their ahode at Chicago when it was but a trading post, the city not being incorporated until the following year. The most farsighted could not have dreamed that a great city of two million and a half population would there be found in less than three-quarters of a century. Both Mr. and Mrs. Otis continued to spend their remaining days in Cook county and there they reared their family of eight children, three of whom are now living.
James J. Otis spent the period of his boyhood and youth in Illinois and on attain- ing his majority went to Michigan, where he worked in a lumber mill until he was thirty years of age. Ile then removed to Floyd county, Iowa, where he resided for two and one-half years and during that period he engaged in farming. He became a resident of Winnebago county in 1868 and his first purchase of land covered one hundred and sixty acres on section 29, Forest township. Ilis first house was a little slab shanty in which he lived for a year, but soon more modern improvements were added to the place. With characteristic energy he began to break the sod and till the fields and he now has a splendidly improved farm, having carefully and systematically cultivated his land until it is most productive. He afterward pur- chased more land and owned six hundred and forty acres, but later sold one hundred and sixty acres to his son, so that his present holdings comprise four hundred and eighty acres. In addition to cultivating the cereals best adapted to soil and
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