M. George Tollefson, the owner of a fertile and well improved farm in St. Ansgar township, Mitchell county, was born in that township, May 18, 1876, a son of A. T. Tollefson, whose birth occurred in Kragro, Norway, May 1, 1847, and who was brought to the United States in 1849 by his parents, Knut and Taran Tollefson. After residing for two years at Rock Run, Illinois, and for three years at Rock Prairie, Wisconsin, the family removed to Iowa and settled on a farm near the town of St. Ansgar. The mother died there in 1881, but the father survived until 1900. Four of their nine children survive, namely: A. T.; Belle, now Mrs. L. H. Johnson; A. K., a resident of Bristol, North Dakota; and George P., a resident of Chicago.
A. T. Tollefson was educated in the common schools and remained with his parents until he was twenty-two years old. He then purchased forty acres of land, which he worked for one year and then traded for one hundred and sixty acres. This place he brought to a good state of cultivation and resided thereon until 1876, when he again made a very satisfactory exchange, obtaining the two hundred-and-forty-acre tract which he transformed into a highly improved farm and upon which he made his home until 1904, when he retired and removed to St. Ansgar.
He met with success as a farmer and accumulated sufficient capital to enable him to enjoy a period of leisure. He is a stanch democrat in politics and has held a number of offices. He has served as trustee, justice of the peace and a director of the school board, was for six years county supervisor and for four years was postmaster of St. Ansgar under appointment of President Cleveland. He has been influential in the direction of the affairs of St. Ansgar Seminary for years and is an ex-member of its board of regents. He has done much enthusiastic work in promoting projects for the upbuilding of his city and is numbered among its most valued residents.
Fraternally he is a Mason and in religious faith is a Norwegian Lutheran. In 1870 he was married to Miss Liv Tollefson, who was born in Rock Prairie, Wisconsin, but in 1853 was brought to St. Ansgar by her parents, well known pioneers of Mitchell county. Four children have been born to this marriage, namely: C. T., who is a commercial traveler with headquarters in St. Ansgar; M. George, of this review; A. L., deceased; and Anna H., now Mrs. George Halvorson and a resident of St. Ansgar township.
M. George Tollefson entered the public schools at the usual age and supplemented the education there acquired by attendance at St. Ansgar Seminary. During his boyhood and youth he became thoroughly familiar with practical methods of farming through helping his father. Following his marriage at the age of twenty-two years he began operating his present farm on his own account and as the years have passed he has gained a place among the substantial farmers of his township. He holds title to one hundred and fifty-two acres of fertile land and has erected thereon commodious and well designed buildings. He raises grain and stock, and his industry and good management are rewarded by a gratifying income from his land. He is also a stockholder in the local cooperative creamery.
On the 22nd of September 1898, Mr. Tollefson was united in marriage to Ragnild Groth, a daughter of A. H. Groth, Sr. They have two children, Ada Clarinda and Luther Theo, both of whom are students in the high school at St. Ansgar. Mr. Tollefson gives his political allegiance to the republican party but has not been an aspirant for office. He has, however, been chosen as township trustee and for years has been a member and secretary of the school board, in which connection he has done much to advance the interests of the schools. The teachings of the Norwegian Lutheran church, to which he belongs, have guided his life and he has gained the respect and warm regard of all those with whom he has come in contact.
Transcribed by Gordon Felland, August 2001