Hove, Ole O. 1853 –

HOVE, HEDALEN, GREINSTVET, TVEDT

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 3/26/2015 at 07:57:54

OLE O. HOVE.

One of Winneshiek county's most able, progressive and successful farmers is Ole O. Hove, whose fine property of three hundred and twenty acres lies on sections 26 and 27, Madison township, and is one of the best improved and best managed farms in this vicinity. Mr. Hove was born in Norway, on the 17th of March, 1853, and is a son of Ole and Barbara (Hedalen) Hove, also natives of that country. The parents came to America in June, 1866, and located at once in Winneshiek county, Iowa, the father purchasing land in Madison township. To the development and improvement of this property he turned his attention, but he was unfortunate enough to take up his residence here at the time of the great failure of the wheat crops and he was forced to abandon his farming operations. Afterward he made his home with his children until his death, which occurred in the fall of 1892. He had long survived his wife, who passed away in 1869.

Ole O. Hove was thirteen years of age when he came to America and he had practically completed his education in the public schools of Norway, having attended district school in Winneshiek county only five days. He afterward went out to work as a farm hand for three years, and he worked in the employ of others and for his father and brothers until he was twenty-four years of age, when he rented land and turned his attention to its operation. For a number of years thereafter he continued thus but he finally purchased eighty acres on section 22, Madison township. This formed the nucleus of his present fine property, for to it he afterward added one hundred and sixty acres lying on sections 26 and 27 and eighty acres on section 15, his holdings now comprising three hundred and twenty acres of well improved and valuable land. In its cultivation he follows the most practical and progressive methods, and his labors have been rewarded by a gratifying degree of success, which places him in the front rank of progressive and able agriculturists.

In 1875 Mr. Hove was united in marriage to Miss Anna Greinstvet, a daughter of Aslak and Susanna (Tvedt) Greinstvet, natives of Norway, who came to America about 1870 and located in Wisconsin, where they spent one year. At the end of that time they came to Winneshiek county, Iowa, and here the father farmed for a number of years, later moving into Worth county, where he spent the remainder of his life. Mr. and Mrs. Hove have become the parents of two children: Ole, who lives at home; and Albert, a farmer in Madison township.

Mr. Hove is a stockholder in the Farmers Creamery Company and the Farmers Cooperative Hog Buying Company of Decorah. He is a member of the Lutheran church and is a republican in his political beliefs, interested in the growth and progress of the community where he has so long resided but not active as an office seeker. He is a man of sterling qualities of character, industrious and enterprising and, well known throughout the township for his uprightness and honesty, he enjoys the respect and confidence of his neighbors and friends.

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