The Haugen Families of Winneshiek County, Iowa

O. G. HAUGEN.

A native of Norway and one of that large colony of sturdy sons of the Norseland who make their home in Winneshiek county, Iowa, O. G. Haugen has here found the opportunities to become prosperous and now owns two hundred and thirty acres of valuable land on sections 2 and 3. Springfield township. He was born March 15, 1847. a son of Germund O. and. Mary (Evenson) Haugen, natives of Norway. The parents came to this country in 1855 and it took them nine weeks to cross the Atlantic. Coming directly to Winneshiek county, the father arrived here when pioneer conditions still prevailed and purchasing one hundred and twenty acres of land in Springfield township, set himself to the task of clearing it and bringing it under cultivation. He was a cabinet-maker by trade and during his first year here worked at that occupation in Decorah. receiving one dollar per day, while he hired a man to look after his agricultural interests, paying him twenty-five cents. These figures tend to give an indication as to the value of money in those early days. The father improved the farm, bringing it gradually to a good state of productivity, until his death, which occurred in [866. The mother survived him many years, her demise taking place in March, 1913, at the age of ninety-one years and seven months.

O. G. Haugen was about eight years of age when he came to America with his parents. When of school age he began to attend the district school near his father's farm and subsequently took a course at Worthington's Commercial College at Madison, Wisconsin, graduating from that institution with the class of 1872. Returning home, he then rented the family homestead and operated other rented farms for about ten years with ever increasing success, being enabled at the end of that period to acquire by purchase one hundred and twenty acres of

MR. AND MRS. 0. G. HAUGEN land on sections 2 and 3 in Springfield township. Energetic and industrious, he gave his whole attention to clearing and improving the property, erecting buildings and installing machinery, and that he has succeeded is evident from the fact that the land which he purchased at thirteen dollars per acre is now valued at about one hundred and twenty-five dollars an acre. In 1909 Mr. Haugen bought one hundred and ten adjoining acres and he has ever since operated his two tracts together, his annual returns increasing in a gratifying degree.

In September, 1877, Mr. Haugen was united in marriage to Miss ( )lena Viste, a daughter of Ole and Sigrid (Oppen) Viste, both natives of Norway. The father emigrated to America in 1853, locating first in Wisconsin, but the following year came to Winneshiek county, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits. He retired from the active cultivation of his farm in 1895 and passed away March 8, 1905, after having attained the venerable age of eighty-eight years. The mother is still living and now makes her home, at the age of eighty-four years, with her son, Olaus Viste. Mr. and Mrs. Haugen became the parents of eight children, as follows: Gustav, a resident of North Dakota; Thomas, at home; Albert; Edwin; Mary, who lives in Decorah; Bertha, a trained nurse; Agnes, in Decorah, who is training to become a nurse; and Sophia, whose demise occurred in March, 1913.

Mr. Haugen has ever taken a deep interest in matters of public import and upon the foundation of the new progressive party eagerly embraced its principles in the hope that by the realization of its ideals may be obtained valuable improvements which will relieve politics of contamination and restore to the masses political power. He also believes that the new party is predestined to relieve the living conditions of the wage earner and that with its coming a new era of greater prosperity and greater freedom will dawn upon the nation. He has been active in the public life of his community, having served as township assessor for the past three years and has also served as trustee. He is a stockholder in the Nordness Creamery Company and Nordness Telephone Company, having formerly been manager of the former. Later he was for a time in charge of the Red Oak Creamery and is still interested in the Farmers Hog Company of Decorah. His religious faith is that of the Lutheran church and he exemplifies its teachings in his everyday life. He has become a valuable and useful factor in his community and is highly respected and esteemed for what he has accomplished and as one of those who has witnessed the evolution of this district from primitive conditions to the present state of civilization, — one, who not only has witnessed the development, but who has actively labored to bring it about.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

KNUT E. HAUGEN.

In the middle of the nineteenth century Winneshiek county and this section of Iowa was colonized by Norwegian settlers and their descendants in the second generation are now taking an active part in the further development and upbuilding of this district. Possessing the sterling characteristics of his Norwegian forefathers Knut E. Haugen occupies a place among the representative farmers of the community, his home place comprising the southeast quarter of section 32, Glenwood township.

He was born upon this farm, July 15, 1864, his parents being Andrew G. and Guri (Estrem) Haugen, both of whom were natives of Norway, whence both came to America about 1850. Following their marriage they took up their above in Glenwood township, Winneshiek county, Iowa, upon the farm which is now the home of their son Knut and which continued to be their place of residence. They were young people when they crossed the Atlantic and were married in this county, where the mother still resides. The father, however, passed away in 1904 at the age of eighty years. In their family were seven children: Mary, the wife of the Rev. G. H. P>kken, of Wautoma, Wisconsin; Gilbert, residing in Decorah; Knut E.; Christopher, who died at the age of twenty-seven years; Andrew, who passed away at the age of forty years, leaving a family; Lena, the wife of Louis Skow, of Soldier, Iowa; and Edwin, of Sioux Rapids.

No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for Knut E. Haugen in his boyhood and youth. He spent his childhood on the home farm and in fact has always remained upon the old home place. His education was obtained in the public schools and when not busy with his text-books his time was occupied with the work of the fields. He has never cared to change his occupation and is now successfully engaged in general agricultural pursuits, living on section 32, Glenwood township, where he owns one hundred and sixty acres of good land and in addition he has a tract of twenty acres of timber land in this township. He follows general farming and stock-raising and he has a well improved place, there being a good dwelling and substantial barns and outbuildings, together with well kept fences and the latest improved machinery. The stock which he handles is also of good grades and everything about the place indicates him to be a progressive farmer.

On the 4th of March, 1909. Mr. Haugen was married to Miss Bertha Tinjum, who was born in Norway but was reared in this country, being brought to America by her widowed mother. They now have one child, Gladys Irene.

The parents are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church and their well spent lives have won them high regard. In politics Mr. Haugen is a republican but not an office seeker. He served on the township school board and the cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion. Indeed he is interested in everything pertaining to the welfare and progress of his community.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

NELS O. HAUGEN.

Since 1884 Nels O. Haugen has lived upon the farm which he now occupies, on section 35. Madison township, and his practical and progressive methods have brought it to a high state of cultivation, making it one of the finest agricultural properties in this vicinity. He was born in Norway on the 20th of May, 1855, and is a son of Ole and Mary (Peterson) Haugen, also natives of that country. The father came to America, settling in Winneshiek county, Iowa, in 1865, and three years later he purchased forty acres of land in Madison township, improving this for a number of years. Eventually he added to it a quarter section of land adjoining and later an additional eighty acres, all lying in Madison township. They are now owned by a brother of the subject of this review. The father operated his extensive holdings during the remainder of his life, becoming known as a prosperous, progressive and substantial agriculturist. Pie died in 1899 and is survived by his wife, who makes her home with her daughter, who resides near Freeport, Iowa.

Nels O. Haugen was ten years of age when he came with his parents to America and the greater part of his education was acquired in the district schools of Winneshiek county. In 1884 he married and bought eighty acres of land on section 35, Madison township, to which he later added thirty-six acres adjoining, this constituting his present farm. The years have brought him prosperity and success, for his methods have always been practical and his energy untiring, and the farm today reflects his careful supervision in its neat and attractive appearance.

On November 6, 1884, Mr. Haugen was united in marriage to Miss Mary Tollefson, a daughter of Ole and I'.erit Tollefson. natives of Norway, who came to America at an early date, the father engaging in farming in Springfield township, Winneshiek county, for a number of years and meeting death through asphyxiation in a cistern in 1883. His wife survives him. Mr. and Mrs. Haugen are the parents of six children: Ole, aged twenty-seven; Bertha, who is twenty-five years of age and who married Julius Clauson, a farmer in this county; Lottie, aged twenty-three; Inga, twenty-two; Theodore, nineteen; and Peter, aged sixteen.

Mr. Haugen is a member of the Lutheran church and his political allegiance is given to the republican party. He is a stockholder in the- Farmers Creamery Company and the Farmers Cooperative Hog Buying Company of Decorah and his ability is widely recognized in business circles. He is a man of many sterling traits of character, industrious, progressive and enterprising, and is well entitled to classification with the township's most substantial and able farmers.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.