QUAM, L. O.

QUAM, QAAS, ANDERSON

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 10/6/2003 at 15:57:45

Biography reproduced from page 251 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

L. O. Quam has for more than thirty years been a resident of Hebron township, where he owns and operates four hundred acres, divided into two farms. He was born in Norway on the 11th of June, 1844, and is a son of Ole L. and Martha (Qaas) Quam, also natives of the Norseland, where they passed their entire lives. There the father, who served in the army for ten years, engaged in the cultivation of a farm which had been in the family for many generations and also dealt in cattle. He died about 1905, at the venerable age of ninety years. The mother passed away three months after the father’s death. Our subject is the eldest of the six children born to his parents, the others being as follows: Thor, who is residing in Norway; Ole, of Rake, Iowa; James, who lives on the hold home place in Norway; and Anna and Bella, also residents of Norway.

The education of L. O. Quam was obtained in the common schools of his native land, where he passed his boyhood and youth. He remained at home until he was twenty-one and then started out to make his own way in the world. Two years later, in 1867, he took passage for America, landing at Quebec. His first established place of residence was Faribault, Minnesota, but he subsequently left there and traveled extensively in the northern and western states. In 1880, he came to Kossuth county, squatting on a tract of land on section 16, Hebron township. When the school land was placed on the market he increased his holdings by purchase until he and his son, Martin, now own four hundred acres of choice land. He has been diligent and enterprising in the pursuit of his undertakings, as is evidenced by the appearance of his farm which has been improved with substantially constructed buildings and many modern conveniences. His fields are planted to such cereals as are best adapted to the soil and annually yield abundant crops. In connection with diversified farming he engages in the raising of high-grade stock, and is meeting with success in both lines.

In 1875, Mr. Quam was married to Miss Sarah Anderson, and they have one son, Martin, who is unmarried and has for nearly ten years been clerk of the township. The family hold membership in the Norwegian Lutheran church, and politically Mr. Quam is a republican. He was one of the organizers of the Creamery at Elmore, Minnesota, and was a member of the board of directors for twelve years.