Otto G. Levorson of rural Osage, Iowa, was born in Albany, Green County, Wisconsin, on October 2, 1878. He lived in Wisconsin until 1893, when he moved to what was called Rock Creek, in Mitchell County, Iowa.
Otto worked as a farmer, and attended the United Norwegian Lutheran Church. For schooling, he attended the Cedar Valley Seminary in Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa; and then the C.C.C. College in Des Moines, Iowa, where he received a diploma from the business school after studying stenography.
On June 12, 1901 he married Clara B. Nilson. They had four children: Irene Sylvia, born August 16, 1905, in Des Moines; Elmer Oscar, born March 30, 1907; Clarence Oliver, born April 28, 1909; and Norman Lawrence, born May 4, 1912 -- all born in Rock Creek, Iowa.
His parents were Ole O. Levorson and Sophia Gothompson. Ole was a farmer and carpenter, and was born in rural Albany, Wisconsin, on December 19, 1853. Sophia was also born near Albany, on November 24, 1851. Ole and Sophia were married on July 4, 1877. Otto's brothers and sisters are: Mrs. Otilda Lunde, born May 15, 1881, of Nora Springs, Iowa; Emmet Levorson, born May 28, 1887, of Osage, Iowa; Oscar Levorson, born July 29, 1888, of Osage, Iowa; Thomas Levorson, born October 1883, and died January 26, 1912.
Otto's father's parents were: Ole Putten Levorsen and Oline Levorson. Ole was born in Drammen, Buskerud, Norway, on December 21, 1804, and died in March of 1887. Oline was born in Aadalen, Norway, on October 26, 1819, and died on October 19, 1911. They were married on February 19, 1846, and came to the United States in 1849, landing first in Quebec, Canada.
Sophia's mother's parents were Guttorm Guttormsen and Thora Gaarder. Guttorm was born in Hallingdal, Norway. He was a farmer, and died unexpectedly of an accident when he was only 33 years old. Following his death, Thora married Ole Paulson Skinningsrud.
Additinally, Ole Levorson's siblings are: Mrs. Gjertrud Haugen, Osage, Iowa; and Cornelia Gunnild (Mrs. Ellef) Gaarder, Osage, Iowa.
Sophia's siblings are: Mrs. E.E. Kittelson, Albany, Wisconsin; Mrs. Berthe Gordon, Thompson, Iowa; and Mrs. Ole Wallen, Portland, North Dakota.
Sophia's half-siblings are: Julia Paulson, Albany, Wisconsin; and Mrs. Harry Jacobson, Albany, Wisconsin.
Submitted by Kathy Pike -- August 2004.