Akre, Jonas J. 1877 - 1953

AKRE, SERVOLD, COWAN, OVRE, BIDNE, WASENBURG, PETERSON, NODSHILDER

Posted By: Bill waters (email)
Date: 4/14/2014 at 15:15:40

Practical and progressive farming and stock-raising find a worthy representative in Jonas J. Akre, who since his birth on the 15th of September, 1877, has resided upon the farm which he now operates on section 14, Pleasant Township. His parents were John J. and Martha (Servold) Akre, natives of Strandvick, Norway, the former born June 15, 1829, and the latter September 29, 1836. Their marriage occurred in America, they having crossed the Atlantic in 1862, and one month after their arrival they came to Iowa, buying from the United States government eighty acres of land on section 14, Pleasant Township, upon which they spent the remainder of their lives. To his original holdings the father later added forty acres and with characteristic energy carried forward the work of improving and developing his property, becoming in time one of the substantial and able farmers in his section of the county. He died upon his holdings June 6, 1904, having survived his wife two years. Both were active members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and people of exemplary moral character. To their union were born nine children. Inga is the wife of W. J. Cowan, of North Dakota. Martin Johann is the proprietor of the Highland Creamery in this county. Rev. Ole J. is pastor of the Norwegian Lutheran church at Velva, North Dakota. He is a graduate of Luther College at Decorah and later graduated from the Lutheran Theological Seminary of Minnesota. He is today a prominent educator, being president of Northwestern College at Velva, North Dakota. John is a mechanic and inventor at Spring Grove, Minnesota. Hattie is the wife of K. N. Ovre and for the past ten years has lived in the vicinity of Mercer, North Dakota, where her husband proved up a claim. Annie is a twin to Hattie and the wife of Peter J. Bidne, who has been the proprietor and butter maker of the Highland Creamery for the past twenty years. Jonas J. is the subject of this review. Ingeborg Mary is the wife of Martin Wasenburg, who for the past seven years has been developing a claim near Mercer, North Dakota. Christina, the youngest child in this family, passed away when she was seven years of age.

Jonas J. Akre was reared under the parental roof and when not engaged with his books aided his father with the work of the homestead, becoming early familiar with the best agricultural methods and all the details of farm operation. He has never left the property upon which he was born and in 1903 purchased it from his father, buying one hundred and twenty acres lying on section 14, Pleasant Township. Upon this he carries on general farming and stock-raising and under his able management both branches of his enterprise have proven extremely profitable, his homestead being one of the finest farms in his locality. He follows at all times practical and progressive methods in its development and has steadily carried forward the work of improvement, being known as an able agriculturist whose success is the natural result of his earnest, well directed and persistent labor. In addition to the general work of his farm Mr. Akre is well known as an extensive breeder of white Plymouth Rock chickens, which he has raised for the past fifteen years.

On the 6th of April, 1904, Mr. Akre was united in marriage to Miss Susanna Peterson, who was born in Springwater, Iowa, on the 12th of September, 1877. She is a daughter of Lars Peterson Eide and Helga (Nodshilder) Peterson, natives of Norway, the former of whom died in Decorah on the 28th of February, 1905, at the age of seventy-seven. He is survived by his widow, who makes her home in Decorah. Mr. and Mrs. Akre are the parents of four sons, Lloyd Julian, Maurice Herbert, Earl Raymond and Oliver Malbourne.

Mr. Akre is a devout member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, and guides his honorable and upright life by its principles. For a number of years he was president of the Sattre Telephone Company but has largely confined his attentions to his farming and chicken raising. He gives his political allegiance to the Republican Party and is prominent in its councils, being at all times loyal in his support of republican principles and policies. He is now serving as justice of the peace, his public spirit being of that vital and effective kind which finds its best exemplification in public service. In the community where he has spent his entire life he has become widely and favorably known, for he is reliable in business, progressive in citizenship and faithful to all the ties and obligations of life.

Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark publishing Company 1913

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