Lauritz I. Hendrikson

Lauritz I. Hendrikson is actively and successfully engaged in farming in Deer Creek township, Worth county, his home being on section 7, where he has two hundred and twenty-eight acres of rich and productive land, which he devotes to general farming. He also makes a specialty of dairying and raises Red Polled cattle. He was born in Waterloo township, Allamakee county, Iowa, July 20, 1865, a son of Iver and Anna Elizabeth (Peterson) Hendrikson, who are mentioned elsewhere in this work. His boyhood days were spent upon the old homestead farm in Allamakee county until he reached the age of ten years, when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Deer Creek township, Worth county, where the family home was established in 1875. He completed his education in the public schools and afterward gave his father the benefit of his services in the work of the fields until the fall of 1899, when he began farming on his own account, purchasing two hundred and forty acres of land a mile south of his present farm. For seventeen years he resided upon that place, carefully cultivating his fields, but in 1906 he sold the property and purchased two hundred and twenty-eight acres of the old homestead, upon which he now resides. He concentrates his efforts and attention upon general farming and dairying and handles Red Polled cattle. He practices the rotation of crops and other scientific methods of farming and thus keeps his land in good condition. His dairy products, too, because of their excellence, find a ready sale, and both branches of his business are profitably conducted. On the 20th of December, 1889, in Northwood, Mr. Hendrikson was married to Miss Helen M. Woien, a daughter of Peter and Margaret Woien, who were natives of Norway and in early life came to the United States, settling in Houston county, Minnesota. There the father purchased a farm and he and his wife spent their remaining days upon that place. Mr. Woien was born June 30, 1824, and passed away in 1888, while his wife survived until April, 1896. Their daughter, Mrs. Hendrikson, was born in Houston county, Minnesota, and by her marriage has become the mother of four children, namely: Pearl, Effie, Luella and Ernest.

Mr. and Mrs. Hendrikson hold membership in the Norwegian Lutheran church and his political allegiance is given to the republican party. There are no spectacular phases in his career, his record being that of an energetic and enterprising farmer who confines his attention closely to his business and by his capable management has won deserved success. Both he and his wife are widely and favorably known in Worth county and the hospitality of many of the best homes is freely accorded them.

SOURCE: HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTIES, IOWA, 1918, VOL. II; Pages 266 & 267

Transcription by Gordon Felland, 10/5/2006