Nels A. Mellem
Nels A. Mellem is a well known arid substantial representative of fanning interests in Danville township, Worth county. He makes his home on section 9 and his place of one hundred and sixty acres is regarded as one of the finest farms of the township. He also has other holdings and his property interests are the visible evidence of his life of well directed energy and thrift.
Mr. Mellem was born in Norway on the i8th of September, 1864, and is a son of Andrew and Carrie (Nordhaugen) Mellem, who lived and died in Norway. He was reared in his native country and acquired his education in the common schools. When a youth of nineteen years he determined to try his fortune in America and bade adieu to' friends, family and native land, sailing for the United States. He at once made his way to Worth county, where he arrived without money, his entire capital consisting of twenty-five cents in his pocket. He, moreover, owed twenty-five dollars which had been loaned him for his passage. It was necessary, therefore, that he secure immediate employment and he began working as a farm hand for Ole Benson, with whom he remained for five years-a fact which indicates his industry and trustworthiness. During that period he carefully saved his earnings until his labor and economy had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to purchase eighty acres of land. He then began farming on his own account, but after two years sold that property and bought his present home farm of two hundred acres, which is justly numbered among the finest farms of Danville township. Upon this place he.' has since resided and has continually promoted the work of development and improvement. His perseverance and unfaltering energy have placed him among the substantial agriculturists of his township. In addition to his farming interests, Mr. Mellem is a stockholder in the Farmers Savings Bank of Hanlontown, a stockholder in the Farmers Cooperative Elevator Company and in the Farmers Cooperative Creamery Company of Hanlontown.
On June 15, 1889, Mr. Mellem was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary N. Brunsvold, of Fertile township, Worth county, her father being N. O. Brunsvold, one of the honored pioneers of the county. To Mr. and Mrs. Mellem have been born eight children, five of whom survive, as follows: Kia, Elnora, Selma, Norma and Bertha. All are still under the parental roof.
In his political views Mr. Mellem is a republican but has never been an office seeker, preferring to concentrate his time and attention upon his business affairs. He has served, however, as a member of the school board and believes that the children should be provided with excellent educational opportunities, recognizing the value of thorough training as a preparation for life's duties and responsibilities. He and his family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and their genuine worth has made them highly esteemed in the community where they live. Coming to the new world when a youth of nineteen, prompted by the laudable ambition of gaining better opportunities than he could secure in his native country, Mr. Mellem has steadily worked his way upward. It is a well known fact that opportunity slips away from the slugged, tauntingly plays before the dreamer, but yields its rewards to the man of persistent and earnest purpose. The determination of Mr. Mellem to make for himself a creditable place in the business world has enabled him to overcome obstacles and difficulties and work his way steadily upward, gaining the rewards which opportunity offers.
SOURCE: HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTY, IOWA, 1918, VOL II, PAGE 549
Transcribed by Gordon Felland, August 14, 2006