Bergan, Nels N. 1853 - 1934
BERGAN, MCINTOSH, CRAWFORD, LARSON
Posted By: Bill Waters (email)
Date: 4/17/2014 at 10:23:29
NELS N. BERGAN
One of the model and well improved farms in Madison Township, Winneshiek County, is owned and operated by Nels N. Bergan, his place comprising two hundred and seventy acres, located on section 32. He is a native of Wisconsin, born July 5, 1853, a son of Ole and Isabelle Bergan, both of whom were natives of Norway, and upon emigrating to the new world in 1842, located in Wisconsin. The father soon afterward went to Chicago, where he spent a brief period, and then located in Racine County, twenty miles south of Milwaukee, purchasing a farm in Muskego Township. For nine years he gave his time and attention to the clearing and improvement of that farm, and on disposing of the place he came to Winneshiek county, the date of his arrival here being June 8, 1855. He purchased a farm in Madison Township and was engaged in farming here until the time of his death, which occurred in May, 1892, when he had reached the age of seventy-two years. The mother survived for a few years, passing away in January, 1900, when she had reached the advanced age of eighty-nine years.
Nels N. Bergan was reared on the home farm and was educated in the district schools near his home. In 1883 the father divided his land among his children and Nels N. Bergan came into possession of his present farm, comprising two hundred and seventy acres, situated on section 32, Madison Township. To the cultivation and improvement of this place he has since given his time and attention. He has made his fields very fertile through the cultivation of crops best adapted to the soil, while he has erected good and substantial buildings, which he always keeps in the best of repair. In addition to this land Mr. Bergan likewise owns land in South Dakota. He makes a specialty of Scotch shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs and this branch of his business adds not a little to his annual income.
Mr. Bergan established a home of his own in November, 1889, by his marriage to Miss Louisa Crawford, a daughter of Henry and Marjorie (McIntosh) Crawford, the former of Irish descent, while the latter comes of Scotch ancestry. The father was engaged in farming in Madison Township throughout his entire business career and became one of the county's substantial citizens. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bergan were born two children but both are now deceased, one having died in infancy, while Emma departed this life April 15, 1908. The wife and mother passed away in May, 1892, and Mr. Bergan was married a second time, this union being with Lena Larson, whom he wedded in November, 1893. Her parents, Lars and Carrie Larson, both natives of Norway, immigrated to America in an early day, locating in Winneshiek County, where the father engaged in farming throughout his entire business career.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bergan has been blessed with seven children: Ole, now nineteen years of age; Lillian, who passed away March 2, 1908; Carl, who is a youth of fourteen; Ina, who has departed this life; Ina, the second of the name, who is ten years old; and Francis and Lloyd, aged respectively seven and five years.
Mr. Bergan gives his political support to the Republican Party and for seven years has filled the office of township trustee. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Creamery Company of Ridgeway and takes a deep interest in this branch of farm work. His religious faith is that of the Lutheran church. He is an honest and industrious man, who has spent his entire life on a farm, the greater part of which has been passed in Winneshiek county, so that he is not only familiar with its history but is interested in its welfare and development, and has himself done not a little to further the agricultural interests of this section of Iowa.
Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark publishing Company 1913
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