Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 963
N. A. MIKKLESON

The Danish-American citizens of Harrison county, Iowa, have been universally successful in whatever line of work they choose to follow. Some of the most substantial farmers of the county have come from Denmark, and among this number N. A. MIKKLESON occupies a prominent place. Starting out in a very humble way, as a farmer, Mr. MIKKLESON now has more than three hundred acres of excellent land in Little Sioux township, and his prosperity is the direct result of his own individual efforts. Notwithstanding the fact that he has been so successful in a material way, he has not neglected to take an active part in the civic life of his community, and has held various official positions with satisfaction to his fellow citizens.

N. A. MIKKLESON, the son of Rasmus and Amelia (HANSEN) MIKKLESON, was born on February 9, 1866, in Denmark. His parents came to the United States about 1870, and landed at Boston, Massachusetts. His father had been a weaver in his home country, but upon coming to the United States, he worked as a day laborer in Boston for the first two years. The family came west and located in Monona county, Iowa. Some Mormons had squatted on a claim in the hills, but the senior MIKKLESON bought them out for ten dollars, and in a dug-out which the Mormons had constructed, the family lived for three years. There were seven in the family and the dug-out had only one room, but it was the best they could do. When the family left the train at Dunlap, there were nine of them and their worldly assets consisted of five dollars in cash. Rasmus MIKKLESON settled down to work with that energy which characterizes the people of his race and eventually became a substantial and influential citizen of Monona county. Several years ago he retired from active work and is now living a life of ease and retirement in Onawa, Monona county, Iowa. Mr. MIKKLESON does not know very much concerning his mother's family. It is known that they were originally from France, and fled from that country during the French Revolution and took refuge in Denmark.

N. A. MIKKLESON was four years of age when his parents came from Denmark to Boston, Massachusetts, and six years of age when they located in Iowa. He received his education in the district schools of Monona county, and remained at home until he was married. He then bought one hundred and twenty acres of land in Monona county, for which he paid thirteen dollars an acre. He improved this farm and, a few years later, bought sixty acres more. He lived on his Monona county farm for ten years and then sold it for thirty-five dollars an acre. He invested his money in land in Harrison county in 1901, buying three hundred and twenty-seven and one-half acres in Little Sioux township. He paid thirty-five dollars an acre for this land and since then has been offered one hundred and twenty-five dollars an acre for it, which shows the remarkable increase in land values since he first acquired the farm.

When Mr. MIKKLESON came here with his parents, the farmers in Iowa did all their plowing with oxen, and, in fact, they hauled their grain to market with oxen. Today, Mr. MIKKLESON hauls his grain to market in more modern ways, and he even uses a gasoline engine to do all of his plowing. He can now plow more land in half a day than his father could plow in a week with oxen, and do it better and with infinitely more ease. With his farm of more than three hundred acres, Mr. MIKKLESON is an extensive grain and stock raiser, feeding most of his grain to stock, which he fattens for the market. Few farms in the state are better equipped for progressive farming and Mr. MIKKLESON ranks among the most progressive of his county.

N. A. MIKKLESON was married on February 4, 1889, to Christina MATTISON, who is also a native of Denmark, a daughter of Peter MATTISON and wife. Her mother died when she was a small girl. Her parents came to the United States in 1886 and located in Monona county, Iowa. N. A. and Christina (MATTISON) MIKKLESON have seven children, six of whom are living, Rasmus, October 15, 1890, died on March 22, 1898; Sophia, born on October 15, 1892; Sena, September, 1894; Harry, March 22, 1898; Raymond, July 5, 1900; Stella, July 27, 1904; Glenn, March 9, 1912. Sena is the only child married. She married Floyd Alton and lives on a farm in Little Sioux township, and has one son, Leo M.

The family are loyal members of the Lutheran church and are greatly interested in all of its activities. Mr. MIKKLESON is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He has always given his loyal support to the Democratic party. He has served on the school board and was treasurer of that body in his township for four years. He has also been trustee and at the present time is serving as treasurer of his township. In every official position, he has rendered his fellow citizens faithful and efficient service, and, consequently, is eminently deserving of the high esteem in which he is held by everyone who knows him.

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