HAVIG, Ole F. [1918]

HAVIG, ERICKSON, TORSON, CROOKS

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 6/13/2010 at 16:19:23

Ole F. Havig, a builder and contractor of Osage, was born November 24, 1852, in Norway, where he spent the first nineteen years of his life, acquiring his education in the schools of that country. He then bade adieu to friends and native land and sailed for the United States. He did not tarry on the eastern coast but made his way at once across the country to St. Ansgar, Iowa, after which he spent two years upon a farm. Later he worked in the woods of Worth county during the winter months and for a year he was employed in a shipyard in Wisconsin, having previously learned the carpenter's trade in Norway. On leaving Wisconsin he returned to Mitchell county, Iowa, and engaged in building barns for Mr. Halverson for four years. He next began building operations on his own account in 1878 and has since built houses and barns all over the county. He opened a shop in St. Ansgar in 1875 and there manufactured his own interior finish. He continued in St. Ansgar until 1883, when he removed to Grand Forks, North Dakota, where he resided for a year. He afterward went to Foster, Minnesota, where he took up a homestead and proved up on the property, remaining upon that place for six years. On selling out his farm he went to the western coast and engaged in carpenter work at Bellingham, Washington, for three and a half years. In 1893, however, he again located in St. Ansgar, where he soon afterward built a carpenter shop and continued in contracting and building as well as in the manufacture of interior finishings until 1907, when he sold his interests there and went to Lyman county, South Dakota, remaining with his children for three and a half years. In 1911 he came to Osage, where he began contracting again and is now doing a large and profitable business. About 1913 he established a shop for the manufacture of interior finishings for houses and he is still operating this plant in addition to carrying on his contract work. He has recently established a lumberyard in Osage and his business interests in their, various branches are bringing to him very gratifying financial returns. In 1875 Mr. Havig was married to Miss Marie Erickson, who was born about a mile and a half from St. Ansgar on November 24, 1857. They became the parents of twelve children, namely: Fred, an agriculturist residing in Osage, Iowa; Clara, at home; Alfred, who is a partner of his father in business; Julius, who passed away at the age of nineteen years; Josephine, who died in infancy; Martin, who is also a partner of his father in business; Josephine, at home; Olga, who gave her hand in marriage to Clarence Torson, of Bruce, Wisconsin; May, the wife of Harry Crooks, who is engaged in farming; Richard, who died at the age of nineteen years; and Alice and Chester, who are still under the parental roof and are attending school.

The parents are consistent members of the Lutheran church, in which Mr. Havig has held office, and to the work of the church they make generous contri­bution. His political allegiance has long been given to the republican party, of which he became an adherent on winning the right of franchise. He has ever been loyal to the interests and welfare of the communities in which he has lived and his business activities have ever been of a character that have contributed to public improvement as well as to individual success.

Source: History of Mitchell and Worth Counties, Iowa, Vol. II, 1918, pages 267 & 268.