CHRIST B. REYERSON

Christ B. Reyerson, who is carrying on general agricultural pursuits on section 19, Hartland township, Worth county, was born on Christmas day of 1864 on the old homestead which his brother now owns and occupies, his parents being George and Annie (Halberson) Reyerson. His father and mother were both natives of Norway, where they were reared and married, Mr. Reyerson following farming there until he came to the United States. He crossed the Atlantic in a sailing vessel which was seven weeks in completing the voyage to Quebec, Canada, from which point he proceeded by way of the lakes to Chicago, Illinois, where he arrived with a cash capital of but five dollars. He took up his abode in Rock Prairie, Wisconsin, where he remained for a short time, and then brought his family to Iowa, establishing his home in Hartland township, Worth county, where he could secure government land. He entered a claim of one hundred and sixty acres upon which not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made. The arduous task of developing a new farm confronted him, but with resolute spirit he undertook the work and soon the result of his labors was manifest in the highly cultivated fields, which annually brought forth good harvests. Through the sale of his crops he was able to add to his original purchase from time to time until the family owned an entire section of land. The original home was a log cabin and they experienced many of the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life in the early days, but the years wrought a change as the result of their labors enhanced the productiveness of their fields and larger crops were gathered. In the early days McGregor was the nearest market and they hauled their produce on a hand sleigh to that place. Later they had oxen but they were compelled to use the hand sleigh during the winters and the men made the trip on snow shoes and skis. As the years passed modern improvements were added to the farm, which became one of the valuable properties of that locality. Both Mr. and Mrs. George Reyerson spent their remaining days upon this farm from the time of their arrival in Worth county. The father died in 1899 at the age of seventy-three years, while the mother survived until May, 1901, and was seventy-four years of age at the time of her demise.

Christ B. Reyerson was reared upon the old homestead farm in Hartland township and was educated in the district schools. Through vacation periods and in fact through most of the year save the winter months he worked in the fields, early becoming familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the harvests. He resided upon the old homestead farm with his father until 1889, when he was married and purchased his present farm of one hundred and twenty acres. To this he has added from time to time until he now has four hundred and thirty-four acres of rich and valuable land. He still occupies the farm, which is today a very valuable property, known as the C. B. Reyerson Stock and Dairy Farm. Its equipment is most modern. There is an attractive residence, large and substantial barns and outbuildings, the latest improved farm machinery and in fact everything that will facilitate the work of field or dairy. He raises stock of high grade and his business is most wisely, carefully and successfully conducted.

On December 12, 1889, Mr. Reyerson was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Sime, a daughter of Ernie and Randinea (Thompson) Sime, both natives of Norway. Mrs. Reyerson was born in Hartland township and by her marriage has become the mother of seven children, namely: Adolph G., Rosie A., Ida, Henry, Oliver, Clarence L., and Robert E. Adolph G. is now a member of Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Machine Gun Battalion at Camp Logan, Houston, Texas, and is ready for duty in France.

Mr. Reyerson and his family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and in social circles they occupy an enviable position, their genuine worth being recognized by all with whom they come in contact. Mr. Reyerson votes with the republican party but has never sought or desired office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs. More and more largely he has given his attention to stock raising and to dairying and is today one of the leading stock farmers of Worth county, owning and controlling important interests which constitute a feature in the general prosperity of the community as well as proving a source of individual success.

SOURCE: HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTIES, IOWA, 1918, VOL. II; PAGES 120 & 121

Transcription by Gordon Felland, 9/13/2006