Nils Goranson

GORANSON, LARSON, HUNT

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 1/24/2010 at 05:38:40

NILS GORANSON

Nils Goranson whose farm on section 6, Linden township, is one of the best improved places in Winnebago county, is concentrating his efforts upon raising high grade stock and has gained a position of leadership in that line of activity. Tie was born in Sweden, March 7, 1872, of the marriage of Goran and Hannah (Larson) Olson, both of whom spent their entire lives in that country. He attended the common schools in Sweden and was for one term a student in a school in Iowa after his emigration to the United States in 1889. He landed in New York city on the 26th of April of that year. He did not remain in the east, however, but went to Delaware county, Iowa, where a brother and sister were living. He was then seventeen years of age and secured work as a farm hand in that county, where he remained until 1896, when he came to Winnebago county. For one year he rented land here and then bought one hundred and sixty acres of his present farm on section 6, Linden township, to which five years later he added the quarter section adjoining on the west. Therefore his farm now includes the north half of section 6, Linden township, and he has greatly added to its value by the improvements which he has placed upon it. The buildings are new and modern in every particular and as he raises stock extensively, in fact feeding all the grain grown upon the farm, the fertility of the soil has been, conserved. He breeds Poland China hogs and shorthorn cattle and believes firmly that it is the best policy to raise only high grade stock. Aside from his farm his financial interests include stock in the Farmers Cooperative Creamery Company of Thompson and in the Farmers Elevator Company of Thompson, of which he is secretary.

Mr. Goranson was married in Delaware county, Iowa, February 20, 1895, to Miss Alice Hunt. Her father, James Hunt, was born in England but came to the United States when a boy with his parents and became one of the prominent farmers of Delaware county, Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Goranson have been born eleven children, of whom eight survive, namely, Henrietta E., James H., Nels Henry, Evlon, Alice E., Darley L., Phoebe V. and Gladys C.

Mr. Goranson is a republican in his political views but has confined his participation in public affairs to the exercise of his right of franchise. The success which he has gained as a stock raiser is due in part to the fact that he has concentrated his energies upon that business and to the careful study which he has made of it in its various phases. He has prospered financially and has also been instrumental in promoting the stock-raising interests of his township. Personally he is popular and it is recognized that his integrity is above question.

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. 266-267.