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Lynne, Edward 1855 – 1935

LYNNE, DAMMEN, PETERSON, RUNNING, RAMSEY

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 4/8/2015 at 09:46:10

EDWARD LYNNE.

Although Edward Lynne has been engaged in business in Decorah only since 1908, he has already been recognized as an important factor in the commercial life of the city. There he conducts an establishment on Main street, where he handles flour, feed, hay and grain. A native of Winneshiek county, Iowa, he was born October 3, 1855, and is a son of John and Mary (Dammen) Lynne, natives of Norway. The father, who was a carpenter by trade, came to America in 1853 and settled in Glenwood township, Winneshiek county, buying one hundred and twenty acres of land in that locality upon which he lived until his death. His wife also passed away on that farm. He was among the early pioneers of this section and by strict attention to his property succeeded in transforming a wild tract of land into a valuable farm, enjoying in his later years a substantial competence as the result of his diligence and industry. He was highly respected and esteemed in the vicinity by all who knew him. He was a public-spirited man, interesting himself in public affairs, and successfully held various township offices. Both he and his wife made their homes with our subject after Edward Lynne had bought the farm from his father, the parents remaining with him until their death. They were among the ones that founded the congregation of Rev. Korns, a Norwegian pioneer minister, on Washington prairie. The latter was one of the very first circuit riders in northeastern Iowa and the parents always gave their faithful allegiance to this church.

Edward Lynne attended the district schools in Glenwood township in the acquirement of his education and early began to assist his father in the work on the home place. He took charge of the management of the farm in 1883 and continued in its cultivation until 1908. He bought the home farm from his father before the latter died and subsequently added forty acres to it. Following modern and progressive methods of soil cultivation, he made a success of his enterprise, bringing his land to a high state of productivity. He placed upon the farm many valuable improvements and such equipment as is considered indispensable to attain the highest agricultural results. He gave also considerable attention to stock-raising, specializing in full-blooded Poland China hogs and a high grade of Guernsey cattle. In 1908 Mr. Lynne laid aside the active work of the farm and rented his property in order to remove to Decorah. Four years later, in the fall of 1912, he disposed of his farm of one hundred and sixty acres, receiving an advantageous price. Upon his coming to Decorah Mr. Lynne engaged in the flour and feed business and has since built up an enterprise of extensive and profitable connections, having a store on Main street where he handles his produce.

On May 6, 1879, Mr. Lynne was united in marriage to Miss Catharine Peterson, a daughter of Gustave Peterson, who for many years engaged in school teaching and farming in Glenwood township. Later Mr. and Mrs. Peterson sold their farm and moved to Wisconsin, where both passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Lynne became the parents of the following children: Clara, the wife of Adolph Running, an agriculturist residing in Detroit, Minnesota, by whom she has one child, Catharine; Milla, who is the wife of Peter Ramsey, a farmer of Frankville township, and by whom she has five children, Elling, Thelma, Oren, Marjorie and Peter; Gustave, who is engaged as bookkeeper and stenographer at Detroit, Minnesota; and Arthur and Edna, at home.

Politically Mr. Lynne is a republican and has given evidence of his public spirit in various capacities, serving as township tax collector, assessor and trustee, as justice of the peace and president and secretary of the school board of Glenwood township, of which board he was also a director. He, moreover, was road supervisor for several years. His interest in commercial expansion is evident from his membership in the Commercial Club of Decorah, and his religious faith, and that of his wife and children, is indicated by their membership in the Lutheran Synod church. He is keeping alive the spirit of his ancestors by membership in the Norske Selskab society of Decorah. When living upon his farm he was one of those who were instrumental in organizing the first creamery in Glenwood township and subsequently organized two more enterprises of that kind, assisting in the management and operation of the three plants. In partnership with him in this company were Nels Ramsey, Ole Batke, Gustave Johnson and E. R. Miller. They operated their plants successfully for three years and then sold out at a profit to the Excelsior Creamery Company. That the activities of Edward Lynne have been of lasting and important benefit to his locality, there is no doubt, for he has not only raised agricultural standards but was one of the promoters of the creamery industry and in later years has become a power for trade expansion in Decorah, making him a serviceable factor in the community life—a man who is as much interested in promoting general prosperity as his own success.

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

Washington Prairie Lutheran cemetery gravestone
 

Winneshiek Biographies maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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