Andrew Ingebretson

INGEBRETSON, TOLLEFSON

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 1/30/2010 at 06:21:41

ANDREW INGEBRETSON

Among the prosperous farmers and highly esteemed citizens of Center township Winnebago county is numbered Andrew Ingebretson, whose home is on section 32. He was born on the 24th of June, 1844, in Norway, of which country his parents, Ingebret and Gudve Ingebretson, were life long residents. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, died in July, 1844, and the mother's death occurred in 1853.

Andrew Ingebretson was thus left an orphan at the early age of nine years. He grew to manhood in his native land where, he attended school to a limited extent as he found opportunity, and completed his education after coming to this country. It was in June, 1867, that he landed in America and, continuing his journey westward, settled in Dane county, Wisconsin, where he worked as a farm hand for eight years, being in the employ of one man for six years of that time. In 1875 Mr Ingebretson came to Winnebago county, Iowa, and purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land on section 32. Center township, to which he has since added twenty acres. Upon his place he has erected good and substantial buildings and has converted the tract into a very productive farm. In connection with general farming he is engaged in stock raising, making a specialty of pure blooded cattle, and he is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company of Leland, the Leland Creamery Company and the Lake Mills Lumber Company.

On the 17th of April, 1873, Mr. Ingebretson married Miss Caroline Tollefson, by whom he has had eleven children, namely: Annie; Ida; Obert; Josie; Nettie, who died October 12, 1913, leaving four children; Palmer; Garfield; Luther; Emma and Sylvan, twins; and Nellie. In religious faith the family are Lutherans, and by his ballot Mr. Ingebretson supports the men and measures of the republican party. At one time he returned to Norway and spent three delightful months in visiting old friends and the scenes with which he was familiar during his boyhood.

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. 242-245.