Orvella, Ole H. 1861 – 1942
ORVELLA, BROWN, TOVSON, VINLUS, ANDERSON
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 4/20/2015 at 08:16:03
OLE H. ORVELLA.
A well improved and highly cultivated farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Springfield township, Winneshiek county, is the visible evidence of modern methods and persistent effort on the part of its owner, Ole H. Orvella, who as a stockholder in several well known business enterprises of this county, is also a prominent figure in business circles in this district. Winneshiek county claims him as one of her native sons, his birth having occurred in Springfield township, December 20, 1861, his parents being Hans and Ingeborg (Brown) Orvella, both natives of Norway. The father came to America in the '50s, and, making his way directly to Winneshiek county, Iowa, was numbered among the pioneer settlers of this district. He purchased land in Springfield township which he cleared and transformed into fertile fields, and to the cultivation of that farm he devoted his remaining days, passing away there in January, 1911. His wife had preceded him in death, her demise occurring in 1901.
Ole H. Orvella acquired his education in the district schools near his parents' home and at an early age took his place in the fields, his father's farm being the training ground upon which he received his preparatory knowledge of the practical duties of life. On laying aside his text-books he gave his entire attention to the work of the farm and remained with his father until he had attained the age of twenty-four, when, ambitious to engage in agricultural pursuits on his own account, he purchased forty acres of land on section 13, Springfield township, which he operated until 1906, in which year he sold that tract and purchased his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 14, Springfield township. This farm has been developed year by year, as his progressive ideas have taken on material form, and today it is one of the valuable and highly improved properties of the township,—a visible evidence of his persistent purpose and well directed efforts. Success is his in large measure and as he has prospered he has become financially connected with several of the important business enterprises of the county, being a stockholder in the Nordness Creamery Company, the Nordness Telephone Company, the Farmers Hog Company of Decorah and the Ossian Produce Company of Ossian, Iowa, all of which are sources of a substantial annual income.
Mr. Orvella was married in November, 1885, to Miss Gunnild Tovson, a daughter of Tov and Signe (Vinlus) Tovson, both natives of Norway, who at first came to Wisconsin but after a few weeks went to Ossian, Winneshiek county. Of this union have been born five children, namely: Selma, aged twenty-six years, who is the wife of Ole Anderson, a farmer residing near Ossian; Hilda, aged twenty-four years, who lives at home; and Clara, Helmer and Grant, aged respectively twenty-two, nineteen and eleven, who are also under the parental roof. In his religious faith Mr. Orvella is a Lutheran while in his political allegiance he supports the progressive party. Progress has ever been the watchword of his life and has actuated him in the pursuit of his chosen life work with the result that today he ranks among the prosperous and successful agriculturists and business men of his native county.
Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark Publishing Company 1913
Washington Prairie Lutheran gravestone
Winneshiek Biographies maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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