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History of Story County Iowa K JOHN V. KALSEM submitted by Dick Barton John V. Kalsem, who has been living retired at Huxley for nine years past, and attained a competence through years of wisely applied labor, was born in Norway, May 26, 1839. He is a son of Valentine and Sarah Kalsem, both of whom were natives of Norway and continued in that country during their entire lives. Mr. Kalsem of this review was reared under the parental roof and acquired his education in the public schools of Norway, subsequently attending the schools of Mahaska county, Iowa, for a short time. In the spring of 1859, being then twenty years of age, he arrived in the United States, having decided to make for himself a home and a fortune under the sheltering protection of the republic. He stopped for a short time in Henry county, Iowa, where he worked on a farm for five dollars a month and board, but he soon removed to Mahaska county, where he spent two or three years. In 1862, having in the meantime selected a life companion, he brought his bride to Story county and took up his home on eighty acres of land in Palestine township, where he began on his own account. He worked industriously and with good judgment and as he prospered from year to year he purchased more land until at one time he was the owner of five hundred acres in Story county. About 1902 he retired from active labor and removed to Huxley, where he is now living in the enjoyment of comfort and ease. He has divided his land among his children but is sure of a liberal income during the remainder of his life, being also a stockholder in the Farmers Savings bank. On the 17th of May, 1862, at Oskaloosa, Iowa, Mr. Kalsem was united in marriage to Miss Martha Cleveland, a native of Norway, a daughter of Ole and Martha Knutzen, and of this union nine children were born, five of whom are now living, namely: Severt J., a farmer of Palestine township; Ole, also a farmer of Palestine township; Martha, the wife of Ole B. Olson, of the same township; Mary A., now Mrs. Knute Nelson, of Polk county; and John F., who is living at home. Mr. Kalsem is essentially a self-made man, having acquired a fortune almost entirely through his own efforts. His total cash capital upon arriving in America was ten dollars, and although he was among strangers and in a strange land, he bravely set to work to win a responsible position among his fellowmen. This he accomplished and no name is more highly respected in Huxley and vicinity than that of John V. Kalsem. He has been for many years an active worker in the republican party and has served most acceptably as township trustee and member of the school board. He and his estimable wife are connected with the Lutheran church and are earnest workers in its behalf. SEVERT J. KALSEM submitted by Dick Barton The second generation of the Kalsem family in Story county is ably represented by Severt J. Kalsem, whose name is synonymous with integrity and honor. He lives upon a well improved farm in Palestine township, whose appearance indicates that its owner is wide-awake and fully capable of keeping abreast of the times. He was born in the school district in which he now lives, October 4, 1866, a son of John V. Kalsem, a record of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Severt J, Kalsem was reared at home and acquired his preliminary education in the district schools, later attending the Iowa State Business College at Des Moines, where he gained a practical knowledge that has been of special benefit to him as a man of affairs. He continued with his father and assisted in cultivating the farm until twenty-three years of age, when he began farming on his own account, locating upon land which he had previously purchased from his father. He now owns one hundred and ninety acres on section 22, Palestine township, and has one of the desirable places of the county, having made many improvements adding greatly to its original value. He is a stockholder of the Farmers Savings bank and also of the Farmers Elevator company and the Farmers Cooperative Creamery Company, all of Huxley, and as a business man and citizen stands very high in the estimation of the people. On the 14th of February, 1895, Mr. Kalsem was united in marriage to Miss Carrie R. Nelson, a daughter of Andrew Nelson, a wealthy farmer of Polk county. Four children blessed this union: Mabel V., Martha C., Joseph N. and Agnes M. Mr. and Mrs. Kalsem are active members of the Lutheran church, in which he serves most creditably as trustee. Politically he gives his support to the republican party and is a stanch advocate of its principles. In 1910 he was a candidate for the office of county supervisor but failed at that time of nomination. He has been identified with this section ever since his earliest recollection and on account of his many excellencies of character is greatly esteemed by a large circle of friends and acquaintances in this part of the county. SOREN V. KALSEM submitted by Dick Barton In the list of Columbia's adopted children who put on the blue and fought for the stars and stripes in the south during those momentous days of the early '60s must be placed the name of Soren V. Kalsem. He was born in Norway on the 14th of August, 1836, in which country his boyhood and youth were passed. He acquired his preliminary education in the schools of his village and after completing the course of study he entered a more advanced school and remained there until he felt competent to apprentice himself to a trade. He chose cabinet-making for his life work and has continued to follow that trade during his residence in the United States. In 1858 he opened the first cabinet- maker's shop in Oskaloosa, Iowa. He was one of the first to respond to the call for volunteers and in 1861 enlisted in Company C, Seventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He spent about three years in the army, much of which time he was actively engaged at the front. He took part in many of the notable battles of the war, being at Shiloh and Fort Donelson and the closely contested engagement at Belmont. He was wounded three times and yet bears the scars of some of those strifes. He now keeps in touch with his old comrades through his membership in Ellsworth Post, No. 30, of the G. A. R. Mr. Kalsem was united in marriage to Miss Sarena Strom, and they have become the parents of the following children: Sarah, the wife of Irven Wettland; Goodman, who resides in Marshalltown, Iowa; Fulton; Berth, who married Rinert Pierson and lives in Union township; Phillip, at home; Silas, a railroad man living at Woodbine, Iowa; and Albert and Cora, both at home. The family attend
the Methodist Episcopal church, in which the parents hold membership.
Ever since acquiring the full rights of citizenship Mr. Kalsem has cast
his vote with the republican party, its principles best conforming to
his conception of the highest form of government. He has never aspired
to political honors or public office but meets the requirements of good
citizenship by casting his ballot on election day. He is one of the
pioneer citizens of Story county and has watched the growth and development
of the country from the days when Ames contained but a few frame dwellings
and the country was largely wild prairie. He tells many entertaining
reminiscences of the hardships and privations of the early days which
can hardly be credited by the present generation. He was for some years
the president of the Grange and Farmers Alliance. Mr. Kalsem owns his
own home, which is located on one of the older streets of the town,
and is highly regarded in the community.
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