Andrew Kittleson
Andrew Kittleson, who follows farming on section 9, Fertile township, his time being profitably given to the cultivation and development of his fields, was born in Dane county, Wisconsin, on the 5th of March, 1868, a son of Ole and Torbjor (Burgeson) Kittleson. The father was born in Telemarken, Norway, which was also the birthplace of the mother. Ole Kittleson left his native country with his parents when a youth of sixteen. They took passage on a sailing vessel which was eight weeks in making the voyage, and after reaching an American port they traveled westward by canal and the Great Lakes to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and thence drove with ox teams to Koshkonong, that state, where Mr. Kittleson took lip the occupation of farming. Later he established his home in Perry township, Dane county, Wisconsin, where he purchased land and built a log house. There he continued the work, of cultivating and improving his farm, clearing his land and placing it under the plow. He was thus busily engaged until 1864, when in response to the country's call for aid he enlisted as a soldier of the Union army, joining Company I of the Forty-sixth Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteers. His command went to the front and served under General Sherman until the close of the war, Mr. Kittleson participating in several hotly contested engagements. When the country no longer needed his aid he returned to Dane county and once more resumed farming operations, continuing to give his time and energies to the tilling of the soil in that locality until the spring of 1889, when he came to Iowa, establishing his home in Fertile township, Worth county, a mile east and a mile north of the farm upon which his son Andrew now resides. There he purchased two hundred and forty acres of land and with characteristic energy he began the further development and improvement of the property, concentrating his efforts and attention upon the cultivation of his land until 1898, when he sold the farm to his sons, Andrew and Henry. He then retired from active business life and took up his abode in Kensett, Worth county, where he died on the 25th of June, 1903, when sixty-nine years of age. His political allegiance was given to the republican party and he held a number of township offices, being ever loyal to his duty. He was ever as patriotic and progressive in citizenship as when he followed the nation's starry banner upon the battlefields of the south. He belonged to the Norwegian Lutheran church, of which his widow is still a member. She makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. O. T. Hogen, near Kensett, and is now eighty-one years of age. They were married in Dane county, Wisconsin. Mrs. Kittleson was brought to the United States when but six years of age by her parents and they, too, made the voyage is one of the sailing vessels of that period, fourteen weeks elapsing before they reached the American coast. The family settled near Stoughton, in Dane county, Wisconsin, where her father purchased a farm, which he continued to cultivate for a number of years. He afterward removed to Green county, Wisconsin, where he purchased land, and both he and his wife spent their remaining days upon that place.
Andrew Kittleson passed his boyhood in Dane county, where he lived to the age of twenty-one years. He then came with his parents to Iowa, the family home being established in Fertile township, Worth county. He took up farming on his own account by renting land of his father and later he purchased the old homestead in connection with his brother. This he continued to further develop and improve until 1910, when he sold the property and bought his present farm of two hundred acres, which is situated on section 9, Fertile township. It is a splendidly developed property. He has erected new buildings upon it and has improved it in every possible way. It now constitutes one of the attractive features of the landscape by reason of the neat and thrifty appearance of the farm, its excellent buildings and splendid crops. He utilizes the latest improved machinery in facilitating the work of the fields, and his labors are productive of excellent results.
On October 31, 1896, Mr. Kittleson was united in marriage to Miss Gena Gordon, a daughter of Thomas K. and Kjersti (Kvorve) Gordon. Mrs. Kittleson was born in Fertile township, Worth county. Her father was a native of Hallingdal, Norway, as was her mother, and when young people they came to the United States. They were married in Rock county, Wisconsin, and in 1868 removed to Fertile township, Worth county, where the father purchased land, to which he added as his financial resources increased until he was the owner of three hundred and twenty acres, constituting one of the valuable and highly improved farms of the district. Both he and his wife remained thereon until called to their final rest. To Mr. and Mrs. Kittleson have been born nine children: Thelma C.; Truman; Carl G., who died in infancy; Glennes A.; Raymond C.; Grace E.; Wallace J.; James A.; and Stanley G.
The parents are consistent members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and contribute generously to its support while taking an active interest in its work. Mr. Kittleson votes with the republican party and has served as one of the township trustees, but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking, preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business affairs, which he has wisely, carefully and profitably conducted, being now numbered among the leading and representative farmers of Fertile township.
SOURCE: HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTY, IOWA, 1918, VOL II, PAGE 550
Transcribed by Gordon Felland, August 14, 2006