Hon. Christian N. Flugum
FLUGUM, EGGUM, HERMANSON
Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 5/27/2007 at 16:07:27
One of the most prominent and influential farmers of Center township, Winnebago county, is Christian N. Flugum, whose home is on section 31. He was born on the other side of the Atlantic, his birth occurring in Norway, January 17, 1859, and he is a son of Nels and Martha (Eggum) Flugum, who brought their family to America in the spring of 1867 and located in Dane county, Wisconsin, where the father taught school for six years. In the spring of 1873, accompanied by his wife and children, he came to Winnebago county, Iowa, and purchased land in Mount Valley township, which he at once began to clear and improve. In connection with farming he continued to engage in teaching and followed that profession for fifty-seven years. In 1914 he retired and is now living on the old home place in ease and quiet. He has attained the age of eighty-six years and receives the veneration and respect which a long, upright and honorable life should always command. He has been called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away in April, 1905.
Christian N. Flugum began his education in the schools of Wisconsin, being fourteen years of age on the removal of the family to Iowa. Later he attended school in Forest City and completed his education at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Being well fitted for a teacher's profession, he taught nine months of school each year for twelve years and during this time worked at the carpenter's trade during the summer season. In the fall of 1892, Mr. Flugum purchased eighty acres of land in Center township, Winnebago county, on which he located the following January and has since engaged in its operation. As a farmer he has met with marked success and has been able to add to his property from time to time until he now owns a half section of land in one body, improved with two sets of good buildings. He has also dealt in real estate, buying and selling farm lands, and has owned property in several different parts of the county.
On the 13th of December, 1892, Mr. Flugum was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Hermanson, a daughter of Elling and Brita Hermanson, natives of Norway and early settlers in Winnebago county. Both are living. Mr. and Mrs. Flugum have become the parents of nine children, namely: Edward, who is now farming in Texas; and Norman, Charles, Joseph, Mabel, Bertha, Esther, Clarence and William, all at home.
Religiously the family is connected with the United Lutheran church, and politically Mr. Flugum has affiliated with the republican party since attaining his majority. His fellow citizens, recognizing his worth and ability, have elected him to official positions of honor and trust and he served as a member of the thirty-second general assembly from this district and also of the thirty-second extra session in 1907-08. For three terms he was township clerk of Mount Valley township and for a number of years served on the school board. He is now secretary and manager of the Farmers Mutual Insurance Association of Winnebago county, which he helped to organize in 1886, with home office in Lake Mills, and with the exception of three years, while he was farming in the western part of Winnebago county, he has filled the former position since the company was incorporated. Mr. Flugum is also a stockholder of the Farmers Elevator Company of Lake Mills; the Lake Mills Lumber Company; the Farmers Elevator Company of Leland; and the Leland Creamery Company. He is one of the directors of the Iowa Mutual Tornado Insurance Association of Des Moines and is one of its adjusters. This company has two hundred and twenty million dollars insurance in force at the present time. It will thus be seen that Mr. Flugum is recognized as a man of good business and executive ability and the success that has come to him is certainly well merited, as it is the result of his own industry, enterprise and good management.
Source: History of Winnebago and Hancock Counties, Iowa, 1917, Vol. II, pages 78 & 81.
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