NELS THORSON

On the list of capable officials in Worth county appears the name of Nels Thorson, of Northwood, who is filling the position of county supervisor. He was born in Bristol township, Dane county, Wisconsin, May 24, 1852, a son of Hans and Betsy (Malland) Thorson, both of whom were natives of Norway, where they were reared and married. The father there followed the occupation of farming until 1848, when he sailed with his wife for the United States, taking passage on one of the old-time sailing vessels which was eight weeks in making the voyage. They then traveled westward by way of the Great Lakes to Milwaukee, whence they drove across the country to Dane county, Wisconsin, which was then a wild and undeveloped frontier region. Mr. Thorson entered a claim of one hundred and sixty acres of government land and also secured forty acres on another section, which he purchased later. He built a log house on his original tract and afterward erected a large frame residence, but the pioneer dwelling of logs is still standing upon the farm-one of the mute reminders of frontier days and of the progress which has since wrought so marked a transformation in the appearance of the country. He continued to further develop and cultivate his land until 1868, when he removed to Iowa, settling near Forest City, where he purchased a farm which he continued to cultivate for a number of years. At length he sold the place to his son-in-law, Pat Gavin, but resided there until his death. He passed away at the age of seventy-one, while his wife died at the age of seventy-nine. On coming to the new world he took out naturalization papers and after securing the right of franchise gave his political allegiance to the republican party. He held various township offices while living on the farm and at the same time he wisely and carefully directed the work of his fields and operated a large threshing outfit. His religious faith was that of the Norwegian Lutheran church, to which his wife also belonged, and their genuine worth was recognized by all with whom they came in contact.

Nels Thorson spent his boyhood days upon the old home farm in Wisconsin until he reached the age of sixteen years, when he accompanied his parents to Forest City, Iowa, after which he worked with his father upon the home farm in that locality for three years. He then turned his attention to commercial pursuits, securing a clerkship in the drug store of James Pickney, while subsequently he was a clerk for Arembergh Blennerhassett, who was also a druggist and with whom he remained for seven years. He then was connected in a general store with Matt Johnson at Benson Grove, Winnebago county, Iowa, with whom he continued for two years, after which he returned to Forest City and again clerked for Mr. Blennerhassett. In 1882 he was married and removed to Northwood, Iowa, where he became a clerk in the drug store of Gordon & Hanson, with whom he remained for two years. He also clerked for T. K. Hundeby in a drug store and afterward bought out his employer, entering into partnership at that time with L. O. Brown. They conducted business successfully together for twenty-one years, or until 1911, when Mr. Thorson sold out to Mr. Brown. They were long proprietors of one of the leading drug stores of Northwood, had a well appointed establishment, carried a carefully selected line of goods, were thoroughly reliable and enterprising in all of their dealings, and won a gratifying measure of success.

On June 8, 1882, Mr. Thorson was united in marriage to Miss Emma Westbury, of Leland, Winnebago county, Iowa, who was born at Waverly, Iowa, and was a daughter of William and Ellen A. (Seger) Westbury, the former a native of England. Mr. and Mrs. Thorson became the parents of five children: Ernest R., who is engaged in the drug business in the state of Washington; Nina R., who was drowned in the Raccoon river at the age of twenty-three years while she was on a trip to Adair, Iowa; Arthur R., who is an optician in Waterloo, Iowa; Mabel A., the wife of Paul Thompson, of Forest City; and Oliver Ansley, who is in the government service in the state of Washington with the rank of sergeant-major.

Mr. Thorson has always voted with the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and has been elected to several local offices. In 1908 he was chosen supervisor of Worth county and has since been reelected, so that he is the present incumbent in the position. He served as township clerk in Forest City from 1879 until 1882 and was township clerk in Northwood from 1883 until 1886. His public duties have ever been discharged with a sense of conscientious obligation that has indicated his recognition of the duties and responsibilities as well as of the privileges of citizenship. He is well known in fraternal circles, belonging to the Masonic lodge of Northwood, of which he served as secretary in 1883-4.

His has been an active and useful life. As the years have passed he has given close attention to the interests and duties at hand and that fidelity is one of his marked characteristics is shown by the fact that his clerkships usually extended over a very long period. At length he embarked in business on his own account and his carefully directed affairs brought to him a substantial measure of success that now enables him to live retired and yet enjoy many of the comforts and luxuries of life.

SOURCE: HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTIES, IOWA, 1918, VOL. II; PAGES 226 - 228

Transcription by Gordon Felland, 9/22/2006