Edward H. Ellerston

ELLERSTON, JENSEN, JOHNSON

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 2/13/2011 at 20:13:43

Many of the substantial citizens of Emmet county are of Norwegian birth or ancestry and possess the sterling traits of that hardy race who have ever been characterized by industry and reliability. Among the number in Emmet county is Edward H. Ellerston, who was born in Chicago on the 14th of December, 1868, a son of Christian and Jennie (Jensen) Ellertson, who were natives of Norway. After coming to the new world the father became captain of a commission boat on Lake Michigan but later removed to Iowa and engaged in the milling business at Norway, Benton county, taking up his abode there when his son Edward was but a year old. He continued his residence there until about 1890, when he returned to the old country, where he died. Later his widow came to Estherville, where she is now living.

Edward H. Ellerston has practically been a lifelong resident of Iowa and in the district schools he pursued his education to the age of fifteen years. He worked at different vocations for ten years and when a young man of twenty-five years came to Emmet county, where he invested his savings in land, becoming the owner of the north half of section 25, Emmet township. He still owns this property, comprising three hundred and twenty acres of rich and productive land which he has carefully cultivated throughout all the intervening years, converting the tract into well tilled fields which are divided by well built fences. He has good buildings upon his farm and is leading a most busy life in the further cultivation of the land in the production of those cereals which are best adapted to soil and climate.

In 1893 Mr. Ellertson was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Johnson, a daughter of John and Mary Johnson, of Norway, Iowa. Their four children, Irving, Ruby, Verna and Leona, all are attending the Estherville schools and reside with their paternal grandmother. In his political views Mr. Ellertson has always been a republican and is now filling the office of road superintendent. He belongs to the Episcopal church and his entire life is in harmony with his professions. He has ever been found honorable and upright and thoroughly reliable in his business connections, and those who know him entertain for him warm personal regard.

Source: History of Emmet County and Dickinson County Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, The Pioneer Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1917, page 138.