Louis O. Solomonson

SOLOMONSON, KLOSTER, LANDE

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 1/17/2010 at 07:41:43

LOUIS O. SOLOMONSON

In presenting the life record of Louis O. Solomonson we give to our readers the history of one who has been a lifelong resident of Iowa and who in his business career has ever exemplified the spirit of western enterprise and progress which has led to the substantial development of this great state. He now resides on section 4, Newton township, Winnebago county, where he has an excellent farm. He was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, October 10, 1871, a son of Ole and Karie Solomonson. He was reared in Winnebago county, his parents removing from Winneshiek county when he was a little lad of five summers. He remained under the parental roof until he had reached the age of thirty years and then purchased one hundred and forty-four acres of land on sections 3 and 4, Newton township, the buildings being on section 4. He has wonderfully improved this place and is planning to erect a fine modern home in the year 1917. He has continuously cultivated his farm through the intervening period since the purchase was made and has lived in Newton township altogether for forty-one years. His fields have been brought under a high state of cultivation and everything about his place is indicative of his progressive methods and practical care. He has one of the finest and largest barns in the county and he also owns property in Lake Mills. He keeps upon his farm a large number of cattle and other stock and during the winter of 1916-17 cared for one hundred head of cattle. He has become financially interested in several local business enterprises, being a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company of Lake Mills, the Farmers Elevator Company of Scarville, of which he is also a director, and in the Lake Mills Creamery Company.

On the 9th of October, 1901, Mr. Solomonson was married to Miss Inger Kloster and to them have been born five children: Andrew, Nora, Ole, Carl and Emma. Mrs. Solomonson is a daughter of Andrew and Anna (Lande) Kloster, natives of Norway, where they were married in 1873, and in the same year they came to the United States. They settled in Winneshiek county, Iowa, and later Mr. Kloster purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 2, Newton township, Winnebago county, which he improved with good buildings. He died in August, 1900. In his family were eight children, namely: John, now farming near Scarville, Iowa; Carl, who died in infancy; Carl, a resident of North Dakota; Berit, who died at the age of eleven years; Job, now farming the old homestead; Inger, now Mrs. Solomonson; Anna, who died in 1916; and Andrew, deceased.

The religious faith of Mr. and Mrs. Solomonson is that of the Lutheran church and Mr. Solomonson gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He has served as a republican committeeman of his township and does all in his power to secure the adoption of the political principles in which he believes. He has also been a member of the school board and he is numbered among the leading and representative residents of Newton township, standing as he does at all times for progress and improvement. His enterprising business methods have been the basis of his success and his life work has been an exemplification of modern scientific methods of farming.

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. 451-452.