Severtson, Amos

SEVERTSON, OLSON

Posted By: Roseanna Zehner
Date: 7/25/2006 at 15:19:50

SEVERTSON, AMOS

Amos Severtson, a thrifty and prosperous farmer, whose home is in Centennial Township, Lyon County, and an honored veteran of the Civil war, was born in Norway June 22, 1840. He secured his education in the local schools of his native community, and when he was eighteen years old crossed the ocean to find on American soil a field large enough for his noblest efforts. He landed in Quebec, Canada, where he remained for a year, and in 1859 came to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he was living when the war fever broke over the country, and he hastened to respond to the first call of the Union government for troops, becoming a member of Company F, First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. He served gallantly and loyally throughout the war, receiving two serious wounds, one in the arm and the other in the head.

After his return from the "tented field," Mr. Severtson bought a farm in Winneshiek County, Iowa, on which he was engaged for four years, when he sold out and took instead a homestead claim in Lyon County. Here he built a claim shanty 16 by 20 feet, a sod barn, and such other structures as the development of the claim needed and he could accomplish. His first breaking was done with oxen, but he presently became forehanded, and had good horses for his work.

Mr. Severtson was married October 14, 1865, to Miss Olena Olson. She was born January 2, 1833, and died April 29, 1904. They had four children: Simon; Rachel, dead; Andrew, dead; and Ole.

The subject of this sketch is a Republican, and has served on both the town and county boards, being a member of the latter body for three years.

He owns a find farm consisting of a half section of land, and has about one hundred and seventy-five acres under active cultivation. His farm buildings are ample and adequate to every need of the place, and he has carried on a diversified farming that has yielded him rich results.

Source: Compendium of History Reminiscence and Biography of Lyon County, Iowa. Published under the Auspices of the Pioneer Association of Lyon County. Geo. Monlun, Pres.; Hon. E. C. Roach Sec’y; and Col. F. M. Thompson, Historian. Geo. A. Ogle & CO., Published, Engravers and Book Manufacturers. Chicago, 1904-1905

Transcribed by Roseanna Zehner, Darlene Jacoby and Diane Johnson