Mikelson, Engel 1834 – 1919
MIKELSON, SAMUELSON, JOHNSON, DAHLE, FRICK, ODSON
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 4/14/2015 at 08:03:09
ENGEL MIKELSON.
Engel Mikelson is numbered among the early settlers in Winneshiek county and is today one of the prosperous farmers and stock-raisers of Decorah township, where he owns three hundred and sixty acres of fine land. He is a native of Norway, born in April, 1834, a son of Mikel and Anna (Johnson) Samuelson, the former a prosperous farmer in his native country. The parents never came to America.
Engel Mikelson was reared and educated in Norway and until he was twenty-two years of age lived with his parents, aiding his father in the operation of the homestead and becoming thoroughly familiar with agricultural methods. In 1856 he crossed the Atlantic to America and in 1857 came to Iowa, settling in Winneshiek county, where he bought eighty acres of land lying on section 18, Decorah township. To this he later added another tract on section 17, accumulating three hundred and sixty acres which he has since improved and developed. By following progressive and practical methods he has made this an excellent and productive property and it reflects everywhere his many years of careful supervision and well directed labor. In addition to general farming Mr. Mikelson operates a dairy upon his farm, keeping a number of milch cows, and he is a breeder of thoroughbred stock, these branches of his business forming an important source of income to him.
In June, 1865, Mr. Mikelson was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Dahle, a daughter of Iver and Anna Dahle, natives of Norway. The father died in that country and the mother afterward came to America, locating in Winneshiek county, Iowa, about the year 1860. Mr. and Mrs. Mikelson became the parents of ten children, seven of whom survive: Mikel, aged forty-four, a farmer in Madison township; Anna, aged forty-one, who is the wife of Gust Frick, of Chicago; Lena, aged thirty-nine, who married Sam Odson, of the state of Washington; John, aged thirty-six, who resides in Portland, Oregon; Henry, aged thirty-three; Amelia, aged thirty-one; and Edward, aged twenty-four.
Mr. Mikelson is a stockholder in the Farmers Creamery Company and the Farmers Hog Company of Decorah and his ability is widely recognized in business circles. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and his religious views are in accord with the doctrines of the Lutheran church. He has resided in Winneshiek county for over half a century and the years have witnessed his constantly increasing success and prosperity. Business men respect him for his high standards of integrity and his honorable dealings and wherever he is known he holds the confidence, esteem and regard of an extensive circle of friends.
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.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen