Sivesind, Christian J. 1846 – 1927

SIVESIND, ANDERSON, BLILIE, WORLEY, HULVERSON, EVENRUD

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/2/2015 at 12:38:02

CHRISTIAN J. SIVESIND.

Among the worthy and representative citizens that Norway has furnished to Winneshiek county is numbered Christian J. Sivesind, who was born in the land of the midnight sun, December 28, 1846, his parents being Johannes and Olina Sivesind, who in the year 1853 came to the United States and settled upon the farm where their son Christian now resides, spending their remaining days there. Both reached a good age, for the father, who was born February 19, 1805, passed away April 29, 1885, when in the eighty-first year of his age; and the mother, who was born March 6, 1817, died March 23, 1895. Mr. Sivesind had followed shoemaking in his native country, five men working under him. They tanned the leather, which they would take to the farmers' homes and there make shoes for different members of the family, according to the custom of the times. In 1882 Christian J. Sivesind returned to Norway and talked with many of his father's old friends, who spoke of him as a fine workman who had made wedding shoes for many of them.

After coming to the new world Johannes Sivesind turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and stock-raising, to which he devoted his remaining days, becoming owner of two hundred acres of land, which he carefully and successfully cultivated. After becoming a naturalized American citizen he cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860 and was thereafter a republican, never faltering in his allegiance to the party. He was an active and helpful member of the Lutheran church and subscribed to the building of Luther College in Decorah. Unto him and his wife were born nine children: Maria, now living in Minneapolis; Johanna, the wife of George Anderson, of Frankville township; Johan, who was a pioneer of both the Dakotas and Montana and died in 1911; Christian J.; Mina, who died at the age of nineteen years; Emma, the wife of the Rev. J. A. Blilie, of Flandreau, South Dakota; Ole, who died in infancy; Olena, of Charleston, North Dakota, who is the widow of J. J. Worley, who was a school teacher and merchant and also postmaster there, but died in 1910; and Julianna, who married Barrd Hulverson, but both are now deceased.

Six decades have come and gone since Christian J. Sivesind took up his abode upon the farm which is now his home. He today owns one hundred and twenty acres of well improved land on section 26. Glenwood township, and is one of the progressive farmers of the district. His only absence from the home place occurred when he was a student in Luther College at Decorah, in which he spent two and a half years. He has worked diligently and persistently to bring his land under a high state of cultivation, and he has upon his place good farm machinery and modern equipment.

On the 19th of December, 1901, Mr. Sivesind was married to Miss Christina Evenrud, who was born in Glenwood township and is a daughter of Andrew and Carenna Evenrud, of whom mention is made on another page of this volume in connection with the sketch of Nels A. Evenrud.

In politics Mr. Sivesind has always been a republican, stanchly supporting the principles of the party. He has held all of the township offices, save that of justice of the peace, to which he has been elected on four different occasions but would never qualify. He was postmaster at Woodville until the office was discontinued, and in 1900 he was census enumerator. He holds membership in the First Lutheran church, in which he has filled various official positions, and at all times his life has been actuated by high and honorable principles in harmony with his professions as a member of the church. He was a little lad of but six years when brought by his parents to the new world, and since that time he has resided continuously in Winneshiek county, always identified with its agricultural interests, and the record which he has made is a commendable one.

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

Glenwood Lutheran cemetery gravestone
 

Winneshiek Biographies maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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