Hegg, John 1848 –
HEGG, ARNESON, VISTE
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 3/22/2015 at 16:51:30
JOHN HEGG.
John Hegg, a prosperous agriculturist and prominent citizen of Winneshiek county, owns and operates a farm of one hundred and sixty-four acres on section 1, Springfield township. His birth occurred near Drammen, Norway, on the 28th of April, 1848, his parents being Ole and Carrie (Arneson) Hegg, who were likewise natives of that country. In 1853 the family emigrated to America, coming direct to Springfield township, Winneshiek county, Iowa, where the father purchased one hundred and twenty acres of government land. He followed the trade of blacksmithing in Norway but in this country turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits, clearing and improving his land and cultivating the same during the remainder of his life. He passed away in 1861, at the age of sixty years, being long survived by his widow, whose demise occurred in 1890, at the ripe old age of eighty-five years.
John Hegg, who was a lad of five years when brought by his parents to the new world, attended the district schools of this county in the acquirement of his education and spent the period of his minority with his mother on the home farm. When twenty-one years of age he bought the property and subsequently extended its boundaries by purchasing an adjoining tract of forty-four acres. He has made many substantial and modern improvements on the place and has been continuously engaged in its cultivation to the present time, annually gathering rich harvests which find a ready sale on the market. In addition to his farming interests he acts as president of the Norwegian Mutual Insurance Company of Winneshiek county and is a stockholder in the Nordness Creamery Company, the Nordness Telephone Company and the Decorah Farmers Cooperative Society.
On the 28th of October, 1871, Mr. Hegg was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Viste, her parents being Ole and Sigrid Viste, of whom more extended mention is made on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of Olaus Viste, a brother of Mrs. Hegg. Unto our subject and his wife have been born thirteen children, as follows: Olaf, who passed away on the 1st of January. 1873; Sophia, whose demise occurred on the 15th of February, 1910; Olaf, the second of the name, who follows farming in South Dakota; John and Gustav, twins, who are thirty-three years of age, the former living at home and the latter a minister of the gospel in Williams county, North Dakota; Elizabeth, who is under the parental roof; Marie, who passed away on the 12th of August, 1887; Henrietta, at home; William M., whose demise occurred on the 15th of January, 1893; Ferdinand, who follows the profession of teaching in South Dakota; Joseph G., a young man of twenty-one years, who is a student in Luther College; Marie, who is pursuing her studies at Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Ruth, a maiden of sixteen years.
In politics Mr. Hegg is a republican and an active worker in the local ranks of the party. He has served as assessor of Springfield township for a period of eighteen years altogether, has also acted in the capacity of township clerk and is now serving as justice of the peace, having ever discharged his official duties in a most efficient and commendable manner. In 1891 he was the candidate of his party for state representative. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Lutheran church. The period of his residence in Winneshiek county covers six decades and he enjoys an extensive acquaintance within its borders. Industry and progress seem to be the salient features in his career and have been potent elements in the acquirement of a success which, however, speaks not only in terms of material gain but in the regard and high esteem of his fellowmen.
Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark Publishing Company 1913
Winneshiek Biographies maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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