Tonnes Mortenson

MORTENSON, AASE, FUGLESTAD, SVILAND

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 2/4/2010 at 04:49:59

TONNES MORTENSON

Tonnes Mortenson now owns and operates a well improved farm on section 17, King township, Winnebago county, where he has resided for the past seven years. He was born in Norway, on the 17th of March, 1856, and is a son of Morten Nelson and Malena (Aase) Fuglestad, also natives of Norway, where they continued to make their home throughout life. By occupation the father was a farmer.

Tonnes Mortenson was principally reared and educated in his native land, being twenty years of age on his emigration to America. On his arrival in this country he continued his journey westward to Iowa and first located in Story City, where he was employed for a time. Later he worked at Radcliffe, Hardin county, and subsequently rented land in that county, which he operated for three years. At the end of that time he was able to purchase eighty acres, on which he lived for two years, and then came to Winnebago county, where, in partnership with his brother, he bought a half section of land where the town of Thompson is now located but did not come into full possession of that property. He next bought two hundred and forty acres on section 31, King township, to the improvement and cultivation of which he devoted ten years. The following three years were spent in Thompson, where he worked at the carpenter's trade. He then bought an additional one hundred and twenty acres adjoining his land, on which he lived for six years. After selling that place he purchased one hundred and sixty acres on section 17, King township, where he has since made his home. Being a carpenter, he has erected all the buildings upon the place and now has a well improved farm in a high state of cultivation.

In November, 1890, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Mortenson and Miss Sarah Sviland, a daughter of Osmund and Sarina (Sviland) Sviland, natives of Norway, in which country Mrs. Mortenson was born July 12, 1862. There her parents both died. Mr. and Mrs. Mortenson hold membership in the Lutheran church and he casts his ballot with the republican party. For four years he has served as secretary of the school board and has always taken a commendable interest in public affairs. He is a stockholder of the Farmers Elevator Company and the Cooperative Creamery Company of Thompson and is one of the well-to-do citizens of his community, who commands the respect of all with whom he comes in contact.

Source: History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II. Pioneer Publishing Company (Chicago), 1917. p. 489.