HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTIES, IOWA, VOL. II, 1918, page 476

In the death of Marcus Severson, Fertile township lost one of its substantial farmers and worthy citizens. He was born in Sogen, Norway, on the 23d of May, 1841, a son of Sever and Kari Severson. During the boyhood days of their son Marcus the parents left Sogen and removed to Norland, Norway, where the subject of this review pursued his education and was trained to the work of farming and fishing. There he was married and in 1872 he sought a home in the United States, crossing the Atlantic to the new world. He made his way to Northwood, Iowa, with his wife and family and in 1874 took up his abode in Fertile township, purchasing forty acres of land, to which he added from time to time as his financial resources increased until he was the owner of an excellent farm property of two hundred and forty acres. This he continued to develop and improve, adding to it many modern equipments and accessories, and as the years passed he converted it into one of the most productive farms of the region.

It was in Norway in 1868 that Mr. Severson was united in marriage to Miss Oltine Peterson, a daughter of Peter and Lucy (Olson) Peterson, who were natives of Norway, and in that country Mrs. Severson also was born. Her father was a farmer and fisherman. To Mr. and Mrs. Severson were born eight children: Lena, Josephine, Amelia, Martin, Sophia, Emma, Amanda and Lewis.

Mr. Severson was a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, to which his wife also belongs, and his political support was given to the republican party. He Passed away February 5, 1914, at the age of seventy-three years, and in his death his family lost a devoted husband and father and those who knew him a faithful friend, while in his passing the township lost one of its representative and highly respected citizens.

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Transcribed by Gordon Felland - October, 2005