LEWIS G. MELLEM
Lewis G. Mellem makes his home in Northwood, where he is surrounded by all of the comforts and some of the luxuries of life. While now living retired, he was for many years actively identified with farming interests and his unfaltering labor, diligence and perseverance constituted the elements in the attainment of the prosperity which is now his. His life record illustrates what may be accomplished through individual effort. He was born in Grove township, Worth county, November 29, 1864 , and is a son of Gulbrand 0. Mellem, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. His youthful days were spent upon the home farm and he pursued a district school education, after which he continued' his studies in the Breckenridge Institute at Decorah , Iowa . When his school days were over he took up the active work of the farm and in 1888 began the operation of a tract of land which he had acquired from his father. But he was still single then and it was not pleasant to live alone, so he returned home and assisted in the operation of the old homestead with his parents until 1894. The following year he was united in marriage to Miss Sophia Butler, of Kensett township.
Soon afterward Mr. Mellem accepted a position as second hand with the Farmers Butter & Cheese Association of Northwood and not long afterward he was made secretary of the association in which position he served for two ears more. In 1899 he removed to Griggs county, North Dakota, where he entered into partnership with his brother, Elling G. Mellem, in the ownership and cultivation of eight hundred acres of land. He carried on farming there for two years and he still owns four hundred and eighty acres of valuable farming property in Griggs county. Early in 1901, however, he returned to Worth county and settled in Northwood, owning a city residence. With the exception of three years spent upon his farm in Lincoln township, near Manly, he has since made his home in Northwood and is one of the well known, highly respected and valued residents of the city.
In 1902 Mr. Mellem was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died in that year, leaving two children, Esther Viola and Inger Geneva. In 1905 Mr. Mellem was again married, his second union being with Miss Signe Rorvig, of Binford , North Dakota , and to them have been born a son and four daughters, but the son has passed away. The daughters are Agnes Catherine, Pearl Valborg, Virginia Lenore and Elvira Anne.
In his political views Mr. Mellem is a republican and has always given allegiance to the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He and his wife are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church, to the support of which they make generous contributions, and they are interested in all those forces which make for the uplift of the individual and the betterment of the community at large. Mr. Mellem is now living retired, enjoying a well earned rest, his only activity being the supervision which he gives to his farming and invested interests. He owns a farm of two hundred and twenty-two acres near Manly, Worth county, and another valuable tract of land of one hundred and two acres two miles from Northwood and these properties, together with his land in North Dakota , constitute a most gratifying source of income. His investments have been most judiciously and wisely made. He has watched his chance for the purchase of property which he believed would increase in value and as the years have passed he has lived to see this belief substantiated. He is today one of the prosperous citizens of Northwood, with his money in the safest of all investments-real estate -and as a modern economist has expressed it, "there is no better investment in all the world than good productive farm land."
Transcribed by Gordon Felland, July 13, 2005 (picture added 11/26/06)