ALFRED B. BAKKEN

Alfred B. Bakken, who successfully carries on farming on section 15, Hartland township, Worth county, was born November 27, 1895, on the farm which is still his place of abode, his parents being Ben A. and Randina (Rusten) Bakken. The father was born in Hallingdal, Norway, January 1, 1869, a son of Andres and Aase (Loken) Bakken, who were likewise natives of the land of the midnight sun, where they were married and spent their entire lives upon a farm, the former having died when about seventy years of age, while the death of the latter occurred when she was about sixty-two years of age. Ben A. Bakken was educated in Norway and assisted his father upon the home farm until he reached the age of seventeen years, when he determined to become a resident of America, believing that he might have better business opportunities on this side of the Atlantic. He accordingly emigrated to the United States in 1886, crossing to New York by steamer and thence making the overland trip to Chicago and on to Norman, Iowa. From that point he continued his journey to Worth county, where he was employed as a farm hand for a number of years. During that period he carefully saved his earnings and when the sum was sufficient he purchased a claim in North Dakota which he cultivated for about a year and a half. In the fall of 1891 he bought one hundred and twenty acres of farm land in Hartland township, Worth county, on section 15, constituting the present home place of his son, Alfred. The tract of land was then all covered with the growth of native forest trees and he started out with his axe to clear the place. He built a small frame house and later on erected new buildings, thus developing one of the fine farms of the county. He continued to reside thereon for a quarter of a century and today the place is all cleared and improved in every way. The equipment is thoroughly modern and general farming, dairying and cattle feeding are carried on extensively and successfully.

On the 1st of January, 1894, Mr. Bakken was united in marriage to Miss Randina Rusten, a daughter of John and Tonnete Rusten. Mrs. Bakken was horn in Norway and came with her parents to the United States when but six years of age, the family home being established in Minnesota, where her father purchased a farm just over the Iowa state line. This he continued to cultivate until a recent date, when he retired from active business life and removed to Northwood, occupying a comfortable home on the west side of the town. To Mr. and Mrs. Ben A. Bakken have been born three children: Alma, Alfred and Betsy. The parents with their family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and they are held in high esteem in Worth county, where they have so long resided, Mr. Bakken occupying for many years a position among the leading and representative agriculturists of Hartland township. His genuine worth, his business enterprise and his unfaltering industry have been widely recognized and have made him one of the respected citizens of the community.

Alfred B. Bakken of this review spent his youthful days upon the old home farm, dividing his time between the work of the fields in the summer months and the acquirement of a district school education in the winter seasons. He afterward had the benefit of further instruction in the Albert Lea Academy at Albert Lea, Minnesota, and following his graduation from that school he returned to his father's farm, upon which he has since remained. He is now operating the farm on his own account, his father having removed to the city of Northwood, where he now owns and cultivates one hundred and eighty-four acres of excellent land, a part of which is within the corporation limits of Northwood, on the southeastern side of the city, where he has a beautiful and modern home. Reared to farm work, Mr. Bakken was well qualified to undertake the care and management of the old homestead and in the conduct of his business displays marked energy and progressiveness. His fields are now under a high state of cultivation and return to him a gratifying annual income.

In 1916 Mr. Bakken was united in marriage to Miss Emma Walswick, a daughter of Ole H. and Anna (Frethein) Walswick. She was born in Kensett township, Worth county, while her father is a native of Illinois and her mother was born in Norway: Her father has now retired from active business and he and his wife are living in Northwood. Mr. and Mrs. Bakken hold membership in the Norwegian Lutheran church and guide their lives according to its teachings. They have many friends who esteem them highly because of their sterling traits of heart and mind, and throughout Worth county their circle of friends has increased as their circle of acquaintance has broadened.

SOURCE: HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTIES, IOWA, 1918, VOL. II; PAGES 588 & 589

Transcribed by Gordon Felland, October 26, 2006