Albert Field

FIELD, JOHANSEN

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 12/5/2006 at 09:34:41

Albert Field, who is now serving as justice of the peace at Forest City, has many times been called to office by his fellow citizens, who have thus given expression to the confidence which they have in his ability and his conscientious regard for the public welfare. He has been a resident of Winnebago county for many years and enjoys an unusually wide and exceptionally favorable acquaintance within its borders. He was born in Norway, February 9, 1855, a son of Soren H. and Olea (Johansen) Field, who in 1864 came with their family to the United States. For about eight years they lived in Racine county, Wisconsin, but in 1872 came to Winnebago county, Iowa, where the father purchased a quarter section of land one and a half miles west of Forest City for eleven hundred dollars with twelve per cent interest on deferred payments. After twenty years the land was clear of indebtedness and during that time many improvements were made upon the place. The father grew the first corn raised in the county west of Forest City and was at once progressive and practical in his farm work, becoming in time one of the substantial citizens of his township. He and his wife both died upon the home farm and their many friends deeply regretted their passing. The subject of this review and his brother Julius were the only children who accompanied their parents to Winnebago county and two brothers are still living in Wisconsin.

Albert Field received a common school education and remained at home until 1883, assisting his father to pay off the debt incurred by the purchase of the home farm. On the 4th of April of that year, however, he purchased eighty acres on section 16, Forest township, and removed to that place. He resided there for thirty-three years, or until 1916, although he had retired from active agricultural work a long period before he left the farm, renting the land to one tenant for ten years. He met with gratifying success in his work as a grain and stock raiser and accumulated a competence that ensures him all the comforts of life. In addition to his farm, which he still owns, although now a resident of Forest City, he is a stockholder in the Farmers' Co-operative Creamery and the Farmers' Co-operative Elevator Company, both of Leland, and for one year was secretary of the Winnebago county Mutual Insurance Company.

Mr. Field is a stanch republican in politics and has taken a prominent part in party work. For years he has been recognized as a leader in local public affairs, served as township assessor for twenty-two consecutive years, was county supervisor for nine years and president of the school board of Forest township for seven terms. While living in Racine, Wisconsin, he was clerk in the postoffice under Postmaster Utley and long before he was of age he served in the militia for about three years. In November, 1916, he was elected justice of the peace of Forest City and following the election removed to Forest City to assume the duties of the office. It has always been characteristic of him that the public welfare has been placed above private interests and his official record is one of which he may well be proud.

Source: History of Winnebago and Hancock Counties, Iowa, Vol. II, 1917, Page 83.