Iowa State College is in considerable measure a monument to his life work, but greater than even this is the monument that he has builded in the lives of those pupils who have been influenced by his instruction and stimulated and inspired by the example which every teacher consciously or unconsciously sets before his pupils.
SEVERT J. Severson.
To few men are given the pleasure and gratification of looking back over half a century of their lives spent upon the place of their birth and reflecting that by their individual efforts they have contributed in no undue measure to the development and growth of the community in which they reside, and the history of Union township, Story county, would be incomplete without a record of the life work of Severt J. Severson, who was born March 15, 1855, a son of John and Betsy (Aspoland) Severson, both of whom were natives of Norway. They came to this country while in their youth, locating in Illinois, where they were married and resided until 1855. In the spring of that year they removed to Story county, Iowa, and upon his arrival Mr. Severson entered five quarter sections of government land, two quarters of which were in Palestine township and three in Union township. On the latter property he built a log cabin, located on the farm where his son now resides. Here he carried on the pursuit of agriculture until the time of his death, which occurred in 1877 in England while he was returning from a visit to Norway. The faithful wife and mother survived him for eight years and then she too passed away.
Severt J. Severson was reared on the home farm, where he has spent his entire life, obtaining his early education in the district schools, which at that time were exceedingly limited in their facilities. Being naturally ambitious, however, he acquired enough book knowledge to enable him to adapt it to the pursuit of every day life. Possessed of the sterling qualities of thrift and industry which characterized his father, he, when but twenty years old, bought the home farm, of which he had been previously in charge. In conjunction with his brother John J., he purchased three quarter sections, and later bought forty acres, which he added this to his other property. From time to time he acquired additional land in North Dakota, his first purchase there having been made in 1903, in Cavalier county, his holdings in that state now amounting to eight hundred acres. At the present time he owns three hundred acres in Union township, this county, one hundred acres of which is located two miles east of the home farm. Mr. Severson has contributed to the welfare of his township, always having its interest at heart. Although at first giving his attention to general agriculture, he subsequently made a specialty of raising hogs, and, having unusual knowledge in this branch of farming, he has met with unqualified success.