Charles E. Kittleson was born in a small log cabin on the Kittleson farm, south of St. Ansgar, on December 5, 1864, the eldest son of John F. and Berith (Holtan) Kittleson. He was baptized into the Lutheran church on January 15, 1865 at First Lutheran Church in St. Ansgar. He was confirmed at the same place on September 28, 1879.
As a young man he did construction work in Washington state and in the St.Ansgar area. In November 1883 he left for LaCrosse, Wis, where he attended a business college for a few months.
He married Amelia Johnson, daughter of Martin Johnson Nesset and Bertha Gunderson Johnson, on September 18, 1900 at Otranto, Iowa, by Rev. J. Muller Eggen. Amelia was born on August 4, 1869 in Otranto Township, Mitchell county, Iowa.
Before her marriage, Amelia had started a dressmaking shop, at the age of 19 years, which she continued to operate for eleven years, employing a number of young ladies as apprentices. This was no easy job at the time with all the linings, fittings and perhaps lace trim, also a dust ruffle all around the bottom.
Charles and Amelia became the parents of four children: Julius Martinus, better known as Jake, born September 16, 1901; Carl Bernard, born August 17, 1903; Clara Amelia born July 3, 1906 and Laura Beatrice born January 23, 1910.
Charles farmed the home farm after his father died in 1898. However, he rented out the farm when he was asked to be manager of the St. Ansgar Lumber Company. As recorded in the St. Ansgar, Enterprise of February 22, 1911, it said: "Chas. Kittleson has been chosen manager of the Lumber & Grain Company and will take charge of the business the first of the month. He has been connected with the company ever since its organization, being secretary the most of the time, and will make a splendid man for the place."
The family had lived in St. Ansgar for a few years so Charles could be near his work. First in the Dormitory in 1910, for a few years, and then they moved to the T.O. Bakken house on the northeast corner of 3rd street and Jefferson. Amelia was in charge of the renting operation at the dormitory for a while. Following her husband's death, Amelia decided it best she move back to the farm with her young family.
Charles had suffered occassional abdominal pains for 1 or 2 years, but continued this work until he was stricken with intestinal cancer and died October 30, 1921 in a Mason City hospital. He was 56 years, 10 months and 25 days old. He was buried in First Lutheran Cemetery, St. Ansgar.
The following is excerpted from the book "History of Mitchell and Worth Counties, Iowa", (Page 331), published in 1918, by the S. J. Clark Publishing Company, Chicago.
C. E. Kittleson, who since 1911 has had charge of the Farmers' Cooperative Company's Lumberyard at St. Ansgar, was born December 5, 1864, in St. Ansgar township, Mitchell County, a son of J. F. Kittleson. The father was a native of Norway, born near Kongsberg on the 18th of June 1830. He there spent the period of his minority and in 1853, when a young man of twenty-three years, crossed the Atlantic to the new world, settling in Dane county, Wisconsin. In 1863 he removed to Iowa, taking up his abode in St. Ansgar, where he lived until his death on May 16, 1898. He was married on the 20th of March, 1862, to Miss Betsey Holtan, who was born in Norway, March 20, 1836 and was brought to the United States in 1846 when a little maiden of ten summers. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Kittleson: C. E., of this review; Martin G.; Carrie L.; and Andrew L. In his political faith the father was a republican and he and his wife were consistent members of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
C. E. Kittleson acquired his education in the common schools and in the high school at St. Ansgar, thus becoming well qualified by thorough training for life's practical and responsible duties. He worked for his father until eighteen years of age, being carefully trained in the tasks of developing the fields, and later he worked for others for a time. Subsequently he returned to the old homestead, which he continued to cultivate and operate until 1911, when he took charge of the lumberyard of the Farmers' Cooperative Lumber Company. He has since given his attention to this business, which he has carefully and wisely managed, winning success for the undertaking. On the 19th of September, 1900, Mr. Kittleson was united in marriage to Miss Emily Johnson, a native of Mitchell county and a daughter of Martin Johnson. They have four children, Julius, Karl, Clara and Laura.
Mr. Kittleson belongs to the Commercial Club and is interested in all that pertains to public progress and improvement. He likewise has membership with the Knights of Pythias lodge and both he and his wife are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church. In politics he maintains an independent course, voting for men and measures rather than for party. He has served for two terms as trustee of St. Ansgar township and he is a cooperant factor in all those forces and movements which look to the upbuilding and which promote the progress of the community. He is widely known in this section of the state, in which practically his entire life has been passed, and his worth is attested by all with whom he has been associated.