Torger O. Torgeson

TORGESON

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 10/1/2005 at 22:59:26

Torger 0. Torgeson was numbered among those who have contributed to the agricultural development of Worth county, for through a considerable period he was actively engaged in farming in Danville township and in his passing the community lost a substantial and representative resident. He was born in Telemarken, Norway, March 16, 1847, a son of Ole and Sigrid Torgeson, who were also natives of Telemarken, where the father followed the occupation of farming. He came to the United States in 1851, crossing on an old sailing vessel that was eight weeks in making the voyage. He then proceeded westward by wav of the Great Lakes route to Koshkonong, Wisconsin, and afterward removed to Coon Valley, Wisconsin, where he purchased farm land, his first home there being a little log cabin. The timber had to be cleared away before he could plant and cultivate his fields. He cleared a part of the farm and operated it for a number of years but later sold that property and removed to Iowa, establishing his home in Danville township, Worth county, where he and his wife lived with their daughter, Mrs. N. N. Storre. The mother died at the home of Mrs. Storre and the father afterward went to Independence, Wisconsin, on a visit to another daughter and there passed away. They were both consistent members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and Mr. Torgeson gave his political allegiance to the republican party.

Torger 0. Torgeson spent his boyhood upon the home farm in Wisconsin and is indebted to the public school system of that state for the educational privileges he enjoyed. When a youth of eighteen years he began working in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and was employed in the lumber camps in the north through the winter months. He afterward became foreman and salesman with the C. I.. Coleman Lumber Company at La Crosse, Wisconsin, and was associated with that company for a decade-a fact indicative of his thorough reliability and capability. In 1883 he arrived in Danville township, Worth county, and settled upon the farm which his widow now occupies. He had purchased one hundred and sixty acres some time previous and upon this tract of land he erected new buildings and otherwise improved his farm, making it one of the valuable properties of the district. He carefully cultivated his fields,, and annually gathered good crops is a reward for the care and labor which he bestowed upon his land. The place was divided into fields of convenient size by well kept fences and he utilized modern machinery in facilitating his work. In a word he was one of the alert and energetic farmers of the neighborhood and by reason of his carefully directed energy was enabled to leave his family in very comfortable financial circumstances.

On the 24th of October, 1874, Mr. Torgeson was united in marriage to Miss Oline Storre, a daughter of Nels 0. and Ingebor (Ansenhus) Storre. Mrs. Torgeson was born in Norway but came to the United States with her parents when a young lady of seventeen years. The family home was established at Spring Grove, Minnesota. Severin Storre, a brother of Mrs. Torgeson, afterward purchased a farm in Danville township, Worth county, and married and took up his abode thereon. His parents then went to live with him upon the farm and remained there until they were called to their final rest. To Mr. and Mrs. Torgeson were born twelve children, namely: Oscar, Ingwal, Olga, Norman, Gerhard, Olga, Selma, Arthur, Samuel, Thomas and Theresa, twins, and Mabel.

In his political views Mr. Torgeson was a republican, always supporting the party and serving for a number of years as supervisor. He belonged to the Norwegian Lutheran church and guided his life according to its teachings. He passed away in 1907, at the age of fifty-nine years, and his death was the occasion of deep regret to his many friends as well as to his immediate family. He left to his widow an excellent farm property of two hundred and forty acres splendidly improved. He was a progressive agriculturist and a credit to his community and his sterling traits of character were such as won for him many friends and the warm regard of all with whom he was brought in contact.

Source: History of Mitchell and Worth Counties, Iowa, 1918, Vol. II, page 421.