Ingvoldstad, William B. 1875 – 1956
INGVOLDSTAD, ENGBERTSON, LARSON, PEDERSON
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 3/29/2015 at 15:13:23
WILLIAM B. INGVOLDSTAD.
A man who largely through his own efforts has attained one of the foremost positions in the commercial life of Decorah is William B. Ingvoldstad, owner of one of the largest lumberyards in the city, the business being conducted under the firm name of Ingvoldstad & Company. In a comparatively short time he has built up a large and prosperous enterprise which returns to him gratifying financial results, and in 1910 was enabled to buy out the business of his first employer, thereby enlarging the capacity of his yard to a considerable extent. Born in Decorah, Iowa, June 21, 1875, William B. Ingvoldstad is a son of Peter O. and Josephine (Engbertson) Ingvoldstad, natives of Norway. In their family were twelve children, nine sons and three daughters, and inclusive of the parents they celebrated a family birthday every month in the year. All of the children are now living and are a credit to the family name. After the father came to this country he located in Decorah at an early date in the history of the city, and being a carpenter by trade engaged in that business until his demise, which occurred in April, 1902. He was known as a contractor and builder and erected a large portion of the residences and business houses in Decorah. The mother yet survives him.
William B. Ingvoldstad was reared under the parental roof and was early grounded in the old-fashioned virtues of industry and honesty, attending in the acquirement of his education the public schools of his native city. Deciding upon a commercial career, he then entered the employ of the Wilbur Lumber Company, remaining with that firm for about six years. Having become well acquainted with the details of the business and possessing no mean business ability, he engaged on March 1, 1898, in partnership with E. K. Hovden, in the lumber business at the corner of Washington street and Broadway, the partnership continuing until October, 1905, when our subject acquired Mr. Hovden's interest and has since continued the business under the firm name of Ingvoldstad & Company. In February, 1910, Mr. Ingvoldstad bought out the Wilbur Lumber Company, whose yard adjoined his property, and his firm is now one of the largest in this part of the state, occupying a block of ground. Success has attended his efforts and his attainments must be largely ascribed to the ready utilization he has made of every opportunity that has presented itself.
On August 20, 1903, Mr. Ingvoldstad married Miss Sophia Larson, a daughter of C. L. and Josephine (Pederson) Larson, natives of Norway. The father is a bookbinder by trade and at an early date came to Decorah, where he has since resided. He is foreman of the bookbinding department of the Lutheran Publishing Company, with which concern he has been connected for about four decades. The mother passed away in 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Ingvoldstad have three children: Carsten W., aged eight; Lester R., six; and R. Kenneth, three. The family home, which is one of the handsome residences of Decorah, is located at No. 816 River street, and Mr. Ingvoldstad owns besides valuable residence property. The religious faith of the family is that of the Lutheran church. A man of discriminating judgment and no mean ability, Mr. Ingvoldstad has come to be recognized as one of the forceful elements in the business life of the city, and by his sterling traits of character has won the high regard and confidence of all those with whom he has come in contact in a business or social way.
Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark Publishing Company 1913
Decorah Lutheran Cemetery gravestone
Winneshiek Biographies maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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