Christian N. Charlson

CHARLSON, JENSEN, TWITO, TISTEL, OLSON, MEYER, THOMPSON

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 1/16/2007 at 22:48:01

Christian N. Charlson, living on section 18, Center township, has always devoted his life to general agricultural pursuits and his labors have won for him a creditable position among the substantial farmers of Winnebago county. He now owns four hundred acres of rich and valuable land which is the visible evidence of his life of well directed energy and thrift, and, moreover, his is one of the finest improved places of the county. Mr. Charlson is a native of Wisconsin. He was born in Dane county on the 8th of November, 1855, and is a son of Nels and Ellen Charlson, who are mentioned on another page of this work.

Reared in his native county to the age of ten years, Christian N. Charlson then accompanied his parents to Iowa and has since made his home in Winnebago county. His education, begun in the schools of Wisconsin, was continued in this state and in the school of experience he has also learned many valuable lessons. Through the period of his boyhood and youth he worked with his father upon the home farm, remaining with his parents until he attained his majority, after which he started out independently, renting land for a year. He was ambitious, however, to own land and engage in farming on his own account, so carefully saving his earnings, he was after a year able to purchase forty acres of his present place, to which he has added from time to time as his financial resources have increased until he is now the owner of four hundred acres, of which two hundred and forty acres is situated on sections 7 and 18, Center township, the buildings being on the latter section. He also has one hundred and sixty acres on section 13, Newton township, also a highly improved tract which adjoins the two hundred and forty acres on the west. There are three sets of buildings upon his farm. He has a thoroughly up-to-date farm supplied with all modern equipments, conveniences and accessories, no feature of the model farm of the twentieth century being lacking. In addition to his farming interests Mr. Charlson is a stockholder of the Farmers Elevator Company, of the Lake Mills Lumber Company and the Lake Mills Creamery Company and of the first two he is a director. He is much interested in dairy farming and he now milks twenty-two cows.

On February 13, 1877, Mr. Charlson was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Jensen, a daughter of Jens and Mary Jenson, who are mentioned in connection with the sketch of L. A. Jensen, an attorney of Forest City, on another page of this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Charlson have been born eleven children, as follows: Jens C., who married Miss Mattie Twito; Nels C., who wedded Miss Sarah Tistel; Martin, who married Miss Ada Twito; Chris, who married Miss Emma J. Olson; Samuel, who wedded Miss Esther Meyer; Ole; Richard; Lester; Ella, who became the wife of Oscar Dahlen and passed away in September, 1907; Clara, who gave her hand in marriage to Gilbert Thompson, an agriculturist residing near Leland; and Wilma.

Mr. Charlson votes with the republican party, which he has supported since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He and his family are connected with the United Lutheran church and his religious beliefs guide him in all life's relations, making him a man whom to know is to esteem and honor. He has many sterling qualities and everywhere is spoken of in terms of high regard.

Source: History of Winnebago and Hancock Counties, Iowa, 1917, Vol. II, Page 537.