Morris M. Tapager

TAPAGER, DALGAARD, BERTELSON, JORGENSON

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 8/31/2007 at 20:50:25

Since 1897 Morris M. Tapager has been identified with the business interests of Thompson and is today recognized as one of the leading citizens of the place. His early home was on the other side of the Atlantic, for he was born in Denmark, January 22, 1873, a son of Michael and Maren (Dalgaard) Tapager. He was quite young when his mother died and his father remarried. In 1890 the family came to the new world and the father, who was a farmer by occupation, made his home in Albert Lea, Minnesota, until his death in 1905. His widow is still living there.

Morris M. Tapager spent the first seventeen years of his life in his native land, where he attended school until about fourteen years old, and then turned his attention to the carpenter's trade. He came with the family to America in 1890 and located in Albert Lea, Minnesota, where he worked at his trade for a time, but later learned butter making, which occupation he followed at that place for two years. In 1896 he accepted the position of manager of a creamery at Emmons, Minnesota, where he remained one year, and then came to Thompson, Iowa, working as a butter maker here for two and a half years. Mr. Tapager was next engaged in the hotel business for two years, and then clerked in the general store of Ed Monday for three years. At the end of that time he again entered the creamery business and in 1910 purchased an interest in what is known as the Farmers Cooperative Creamery Company, of which he has since been secretary. He continued to actively engage in butter making until 1914, but has since given his attention to general contracting. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company and the Thompson Telephone Company and also owns farm land in King township, Winnebago county, adjoining Thompson.

In 1894 Mr. Tapager was united in marriage to Miss Mary Bertelson, a daughter of Nels P. and Marion (Jorgenson) Bertelson, who were natives of Denmark, and on coming to the United States in 1868 located on a farm near Albert Lea, Minnesota, which the father operated throughout the remainder of his life. He died in July, 1908, at the age of sixty-four years, but the mother is still living in Albert Lea at the age of sixty-eight. Mr. and Mrs. Tapager have become the parents of five children: Elmer, born in August, 1896; Clare, in February, 1898; Alonzo, May 1, 1904; Luella, in September, 19.07; and Alice, who was born in January, 1895, and died in January, 1896.

The family are connected with the Lutheran church and Mr. Tapager is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. By his ballot he supports the men and measures of the republican party and his fellow citizens, recognizing his worth and ability, have called upon him to serve in several official positions, including that of city treasurer. He has also been a member of the school board and a member of the town council, where he served in a most creditable and acceptable manner.

Source: History of Winnebago and Hancock, Counties, Iowa, 1917, Vol. II, page 237