Lewis O. Stokke

STOKKE

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 10/1/2005 at 22:35:14

Lewis 0. Stokke, who is engaged in the harness business at Fertile, was born near Trondhjem, Norway, on the 26th of August, 1864, his parents being Andrew and Anne (Larson) Stokke, who were also natives of Trondhjem. The father followed both farming and fishing as a life work, the family living on the coast, and both parents remained residents of Norway until called to the home beyond.

Lewis 0. Stokke spent his youthful days in Norway and there remained to the age of twenty-three years, during which period he learned the shoemaker's trade. He came to the United States in 1887, settling first at Kenyon, Minnesota, where he worked for the Great Western Railroad Company at the coal loading chutes. Later he removed to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he was employed in different ways. He also spent some time in the north lumber camps in the winter and afterward went to Winona, Minnesota, where he was employed in a shoe factory for a year. In 1890 he became a resident of Iowa, making his way to Clear Lake, Cerro Gordo county, where he was employed in a shoe shop. In 1892 he removed to Fertile and established a shoe repair shop. In 1902 he added the harness business to the shoe repair shop and now enjoys an excellent trade. He has built up a good business in both lines and his reasonable prices and honorable dealings are important features in his growing success.

In 1895 Mr. Stokke was united in marriage to Miss Martha Johnson, a daughter of Andrew and Carrie Johnson. She was born in Norway and came to the United States with her parents when but three years of age, the family home being established in Mitchell county, Iowa. Later she removed to Winneshiek county and subsequently became a resident of Fertile, while at a later period the family home was established in Grant township, Cerro Gordo county, Iowa. There Andrew Johnson continued to follow farming until called to his final rest at the age of sixty-nine years. His wife survives and is yet living in Fertile at the age of seventy-four years. To Mr. and Mrs. Stokke have been born six children, named : Albion, Leo, Annie, Hilda, Melvin and Selmer.

Mr. and Mrs. Stokke are members of the Lutheran Free church and Mr. Stokke gives his political support to the republican party. He is an earnest champion of its principles because of his firm belief in the party platform as a factor in good government. Mr. Stokke has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for he has here found the opportunities which he sought and in their utilization has made steady progress in a business way. His energy and efforts have enabled him to overcome obstacles and difficulties in his path and steadily work his way upward to success.

Source: History of Mitchell and Worth Counties, Iowa, 1918, Vol. II, page 367.