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Allamakee County >> 1913 Index Past and Present of Allamakee County Iowa A Unless otherwise specified, these biographies are submitted by Dick Barton. J.
M. Anderson, one of the most progressive, energetic and successful
farmers of Paint Creek township, is operating on section 4 one hundred
and twenty acres of the farm upon which he has resided since he was
three years of age.
He was born in Jefferson township, Allamakee
county, on the 24th of November, 1866, and is a son of Martin Anderson,
who was born in Nordre Land, Norway, on the 11th of January, 1836, and
as a young man came to the United States, settling in Allamakee county,
Iowa, June 24, 1857.
He was entirely penniless and still owed the money
for his passage across the ocean, but with characteristic energy he set
himself to improve and develop the tract of sixty acres of wild land in
Jefferson township which he took up.
There he made his home for seven
years, after which, in 1869, he moved to a farm of one hundred and sixty
acres on section, Paint Creek township, to which he later added eighty
acres adjoining and another eighty acres in Center township.
This
property he made in the course of years one of the finest in this part
of Iowa and upon it he made his home for many years.
He wedded Miss
Anna Christoferson, who was born in Norway, September 29, 1837, and died
September 3, 1898.
In their family were eleven children:
Mrs. H. J.
Busness, of Paint Creek township;
Christina, deceased;
Mrs. S. T.
Rickensrud, of Fosston, Minnesota;
Albert M., of Paint Creek township;
J. M., of this review;
Anton, who has passed away;
Olaf, of Center
township;
Mrs. Edward Busness, also of Paint Creek township;
Nellie,
who is a nurse in a hospital at La Crosse, Wisconsin;
Laura, of Sioux
City, Iowa;
and Mrs. E. T. Rickensrud, of Jefferson township.
After
the death of his first wife Martin Anderson sold his land to his sons
and took a trip to Norway, where he was again married.
He and his wife
now reside in Allamakee county, in a house on the farm belonging to his
son Olaf.
J.
M. Anderson was three years of age when his parents moved to Paint
Creek township and upon the homestead he grew to manhood, aiding in its
operation and acquiring his education in the district schools.
When he
began his independent career he already understood farming in principle
and detail, having been reared to that occupation, and he purchased one
hundred and twenty acres of the old homestead, which he has since
cultivated and developed.
Upon this property he has made substantial
improvements, erecting barns and outbuildings, all modern and in good
repair, and installing the necessary labor-saving machinery to
facilitate the work of the fields.
He has met with excellent success in
his farming and stock-raising, both branches of his business proving
under his able management important and profitable.
Mr.
Anderson married Miss Martha E. Busness on the 8th of April, 1896, a
native of Allamakee county and a daughter of Ole and Martha Busness, now
deceased, who came as early settlers to Paint Creek township.
Mr. and
Mrs. Anderson have six children,
Leonard,
Alfred,
Edna,
Eveline,
Leonora and Rudolph.
Mr.
Anderson is a member of the Lutheran church and gives his political
allegiance to the republican party, serving as present as school
director.
His life has been such as to merit the respect of the people
among whom it has been to a great extent passed, and by his honesty,
uprightness and industry he has contributed much toward the upbuilding
of the community of which he is a representative citizen.
Engebret
Asleson, a successful farmer residing on two hundred and
seventy acres of well improved land on section 26, Paint Creek township,
is a native of Hallingdal, Norway, born in December, 1843.
His boyhood
days were spent in his native land and he there remained until 1869,
when he emigrated to the United States, sailing from Christiania,
Norway, and arriving in New York city after a voyage of ten days.
Almost immediately afterward he came to Waterville, Allamakee county,
Iowa, being at that time a poor man and still in debt for his passage
money to America.
With characteristic energy he secured employment upon
a farm and spent a number of years thereafter at the hard labor of
grubbing up stumps, earning in this way an honorable living for himself
and family.
In 1873, having accumulated a small sum of money, he
purchased eighty acres of wild land in Paint Creek township and turned
his attention to its improvement and cultivation.
Success has rewarded
his untiring industry and his well directed efforts through the years
and he today owns two hundred and seventy acres of valuable land on
section 26.
The farm is equipped with an excellent set of buildings and
is neat and attractive in appearance, being a visible evidence of Mr.
Asleson's life of industry and thrift.
He engages in general farming
and has also a profitable dairy and, his business interests being all
carefully and capably managed, have become important and profitable.
Mr.
Asleson was married in Norway, to Martha Knutson, and to him and his
wife have been born four children,
Julia,
Albert,
Knut
and
Gena.
The family are devout members of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
Since
taking out his naturalization papers Mr. Asleson has voted the straight
republican ticket and has cooperated heartily in all movements for the
progress and welfare of this section.
His standing in business and
agricultural circles is high and well merited and he is, moreover, known
as a progressive and public-spirited citizen.
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