LOCHTU, JOHN

LOCHTU, PATTENGELL

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/14/2005 at 13:01:22

Biography reproduced from page 525 of the History of Kossuth and Humboldt Counties, Iowa published in 1884:

John Lochtu was born June 15, 1844, in Dontheim, Norway. His father still lives in Norway, having never lived in any house but the one he now occupies, it being his home for eighty years. When twenty-two years of age, John started, on his birthday, for America, landed at Quebeck, and went from there to Red Wing, Minn., where he lived on a farm four years. He then came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, settling on section 32, southeast quarter as a homestead, and cultivates eighty acres. In the fall of 1870, he set out a nice grove of poplar, cottonwood and willow trees, but makes stock raising a specialty. He was married, Oct. 10, 1868, to Mary Pattengell, of Red Wing. They have four children—Emma L., May, Frank E. and Alice M., all at home. When Mr. Lochtu came to Kossuth county, he had $40 in money, no house, but he went to work, and built a rough board shanty, living in it two years. Then the grasshoppers came, but he was compelled to build a sod house to keep warm, many times gathering snow off the bed before Mrs. Lochtu could arise. The doctor’s bill the first winter was $40. They lived in the sod house five years. During this time there was no settlement north of them, to the State line. In 1877, he built the house where he now lives, and is in good, comfortable circumstances. In politics, he is a republican. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, also belongs to the Good Templars.

(Transcriber’s note: Mr. Lochtu resided in Portland township.)