Haugen, O. G. 1847 – 1923
HAUGEN, EVENSON, VISTE, OPPEN
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 3/21/2015 at 17:36:59
O. G. HAUGEN.
A native of Norway and one of that large colony of sturdy sons of the Norseland who make their home in Winneshiek county, Iowa, O. G. Haugen has here found the opportunities to become prosperous and now owns two hundred and thirty acres of valuable land on sections 2 and 3, Springfield township. He was born March 15, 1847, a son of Germund O. and Mary (Evenson) Haugen, natives of Norway. The parents came to this country in 1855 and it took them nine weeks to cross the Atlantic. Coming directly to Winneshiek county, the father arrived here when pioneer conditions still prevailed and purchasing one hundred and twenty acres of land in Springfield township, set himself to the task of clearing it and bringing it under cultivation. He was a cabinet-maker by trade and during his first year here worked at that occupation in Decorah, receiving one dollar per day, while he hired a man to look after his agricultural interests, paying him twenty-five cents. These figures tend to give an indication as to the value of money in those early days. The father improved the farm, bringing it gradually to a good state of productivity, until his death, which occurred in 1866. The mother survived him many years, her demise taking place in March, 1913, at the age of ninety-one years and seven months.
O. G. Haugen was about eight years of age when he came to America with his parents. When of school age he began to attend the district school near his father's farm and subsequently took a course at Worthington's Commercial College at Madison, Wisconsin, graduating from that institution with the class of 1872. Returning home, he then rented the family homestead and operated other rented farms for about ten years with ever increasing success, being enabled at the end of that period to acquire by purchase one hundred and twenty acres of land on sections 2 and 3 in Springfield township. Energetic and industrious, he gave his whole attention to clearing and improving the property, erecting buildings and installing machinery, and that he has succeeded is evident from the fact that the land which he purchased at thirteen dollars per acre is now valued at about one hundred and twenty-five dollars an acre. In 1909 Mr. Haugen bought one hundred and ten adjoining acres and he has ever since operated his two tracts together, his annual returns increasing in a gratifying degree.
In September, 1877, Mr. Haugen was united in marriage to Miss Olena Viste, a daughter of Ole and Sigrid (Oppen) Viste, both natives of Norway. The father emigrated to America in 1853, locating first in Wisconsin, but the following year came to Winneshiek county, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits. He retired from the active cultivation of his farm in 1895 and passed away March 8, 1905, after having attained the venerable age of eighty-eight years. The mother is still living and now makes her home, at the age of eighty-four years, with her son, Olaus Viste. Mr. and Mrs. Haugen became the parents of eight children, as follows: Gustav, a resident of North Dakota; Thomas, at home; Albert; Edwin; Mary, who lives in Decorah; Bertha, a trained nurse; Agnes, in Decorah, who is training to become a nurse; and Sophia, whose demise occurred in March, 1913.
Mr. Haugen has ever taken a deep interest in matters of public import and upon the foundation of the new progressive party eagerly embraced its principles in the hope that by the realization of its ideals may be obtained valuable improvements which will relieve politics of contamination and restore to the masses political power. He also believes that the new party is predestined to relieve the living conditions of the wage earner and that with its coming a new era of greater prosperity and greater freedom will dawn upon the nation. He has been active in the public life of his community, having served as township assessor for the past three years and has also served as trustee. He is a stockholder in the Nordness Creamery Company and Nordness Telephone Company, having formerly been manager of the former. Later he was for a time in charge of the Red Oak Creamery and is still interested in the Farmers Hog Company of Decorah. His religious faith is that of the Lutheran church and he exemplifies its teachings in his everyday life. He has become a valuable and useful factor in his community and is highly respected and esteemed for what he has accomplished and as one of those who has witnessed the evolution of this district from primitive conditions to the present state of civilization,—one, who not only has witnessed the development, but who has actively labored to bring it about.
Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark Publishing Company 1913
Transcriber’s Note: The gravestone shows year of birth as 1848.
Washington Prairie Lutheran Cemetery gravestone
Winneshiek Biographies maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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