Thor J. Moe

MOE, OLSON, ULVE

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 12/5/2006 at 09:30:23

Thor J. Moe, a native of Norway, has gained the success which he sought upon his emigration to America and is now a prosperous business man of Lake Mills, being a member of the firm of Ulve & Moe, dealers in furniture and funeral directors. He was born December 11, 1863, and his parents were Jacob A. and Annie (Moe) Moe, lifelong residents of Norway, where the father engaged in farming.

Thor J. Moe was educated in the schools of his native country and in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He was eighteen years of age when in 1881 he came to America and during the first ten years he spent in this country he resided in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he was employed as clerk and bookkeeper in a hardware store. In 1891 he removed to Lake Mills, Winnebago county, Iowa, and two years later formed a partnership with 0. 0. Ulve under the name of Ulve & Moe for the conduct of a furniture business. Their store was destroyed by fire in 1900, but they continued in business and erected a two story brick building on the principal business street of the town and now occupy the entire building, carrying a very large stock of high grade furniture. Their extensive trade is drawn not only from Lake Mills hut also from the surrounding country and their rapid growth can be attributed to the policy of fair dealing to which they have always strictly adhered, to the excellence in design, material and workmanship of the furniture carried and to the large stock open to the selection of customers. They also have an undertaking department and do a large business in that line.

In August, 1894, Mr. Moe was united in marriage to Miss Malina Olson and they have three children, namely: J. Earl, who was born in April, 1895; Arnold N., born in September, 1896; and Morris, born in November, 1901.

Mr. Moe casts his ballot in support of the republican party, has served as a member of the town council for seven years and for eighteen years has been secretary of the school board, during which time his influence has been strongly felt in the promotion of the interests of the public schools. He has been secretary of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for sixteen years and has many friends in that order at other points. In religious faith he is a United Lutheran. In all relations of life his course has been such as to win him the commendation and sincere respect of all right thinking people and, moreover, he holds the warm friendship of many.

Source: History of Winnebago and Hancock Counties, Iowa, Vol. II, 1917, Page 82.