Christian Torgerson

TORGERSON, GULLICKSON, WATENBRYN, ELLEFSON

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 1/12/2010 at 04:45:57

CHRISTIAN TORGERSON

Forty years have come and gone since Christian Torgerson arrived in Winnebago county and through much of the intervening period he has been closely identified with its farming interests but is now living retired in the enjoyment of well tamed rest, making his home on section 10, King township. He was born six miles from Christiania, Norway, in February, 1848, a son of Torger and Ingeborg (Gullickson) Torgerson, who were natives of Norway, where the father followed the occupation of farming to the time of his death. He passed away in 1900, while his widow survived only until 1903.

Christian Torgerson was reared and educated in Norway, where he remained until he reached the age of eighteen years and then came to the United States in 1866. He located in Dane county, Wisconsin, where he was employed for several years, and in 1877 he arrived in Winnebago county, where he continued to work as a farm hand for some time. He carefully saved his earnings and as soon as possible purchased a yoke of oxen and forty acres of land situated on section 17, King township. He at once began to develop and improve the property and, continuing his close economy and his unremitting industry, he was afterward able to add eighty acres. Eventually he obtained forty-six acres which he added to his homestead in King township, and he continued to cultivate and develop his farm until 1911, when he retired, since which time he has lived with his daughter. He also became the owner of one hundred and twenty acres in Eden township, which his sons are now farming. He formerly made a specialty of raising Shorthorn cattle and he is still a stockholder in the Cooperative Creamery Company of Thompson.

In May, 1869, Mr. Torgerson was united in marriage to Miss Julia Watenbryn, by whom he has six children, as follows: Theodore, who operates the old home place; Julius, George and Ole, all of whom are engaged in farming in Eden township; Albert, who is employed as a farm hand; and Mary, who is the wife of Eddie Ellefson, an agriculturist residing on section 10, King township. Mr. and Mrs. Ellefson have four children: Marion, Opal, Mildred and Carroll.

Mr. Torgerson has served on the school board for a number of years and does all in his power to further the interests of public education in his district. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the democratic party and his religious belief is that of the Lutheran church. His has been an active, useful and honorable life and his present rest is well merited, for lie worked most diligently and persistently for many years and in all of his business dealings was found thoroughly reliable. Today he is the possessor of a comfortable competence which enables him to rest from further labor.

Source: History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II. Pioneer Publishing Company (Chicago), 1917. pp. 386-387.