Sever Gunderson

GUNDERSON, SUNDERLAND

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 11/16/2008 at 06:17:40

Sever Gunderson

Sever Gunderson, living upon a farm on section 2, Center township, was born in Kongsvinger, Norway, March 14, 1872, a son of Gunder and Caroline D. (Holmen) Severson, who were also natives of that country. The father there followed the occupation of farming and never came to American, passing away in his native land in 1883, while his wife died there in the year 1878.

Sever Gunderson spent his first twelve years in his native country and then came to America with relatives in 1884, at which time Worth county, Iowa, was made their destination. He had begun his education in Norway and he continued to attend school in Worth county during the Winter seasons, during which periods he worked for his board. In the summer months he was employed at farm labor. In early manhood he turned his attention to the meat business, peddling meat in Worth county. The year 1894 witnessed his arrival in Winnebago county, at which time he secured employment in a meat market at Lake Mills. After a short period he purchased in interest in the business, becoming a partner of L. J. Holland, with whom he was thus associated for five years. Later he retired, but after two years out of business he purchased another meat market, which he conducted for a decade, meeting with substantial success in that undertaking. He afterward turned his attention to farming, purchasing eighty acres of land on section 2, Center township, within the corporation limits of Lake Mills. He has since given his attention to the improvement of the place, devoting the energies to its further development for six years. He is also a stockholder in the Lake Mills Lumber Company, the Farmers Elevator Company and the Lake Mills Creamery Company and he also owns a gravel pit, furnishing gravel to the town of Lake Mills.

On the 16th of February, 1898, Mr. Gunderson was married to Miss Julia O. Sunderland and they have become parents of eight children, namely: Ole R., George L.; Gladys S.; Alfred; Selmer G.; Joseph R.; Carl, who died in infancy; and Clara.

In religious faith the parents are connected with the United Lutheran church, in which Mr. Gunderson has served as a trustee, and he is now one of the members of the school board of Lake Mills. His political endorsement is given to the republican party. His life has been an active and busy one and upon his diligence and determination has been based his success. He has never regretted coming to America in his youthful days, for here he has found the chance for working upward and has based his advancement upon indefatigable industry. He has never allowed difficulties nor obstacles to make him disheartened of discouraged and his persistency of purpose has brought him to a place among the substantial citizens of Center township.

Source: History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa
Chicago :: Pioneer Pub. Co.,, 1917, 958 pgs. pp. 550-551.