Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/1031

 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY 889 June 12, 1874, at Wanamingo, to Mrs. Rachael Seium Olson, by whom lie has had five children: Herman is manager of the elevator at Wanamingo and also manages a farm; Carl is a dray- man in Minneapolis ; John is a student in the law department of the State University; Ida, who has graduated from the Luther- an Ladies' Seminary at Red Wing, is a school teacher; Adolf is a graduate of the Lutheran College, at Decorah, Iowa. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Kjostel and Maria H. (Faehn) Naeseth, parents of the subject of this sketch, were born in Norway and upon coming to America lived in "Walworth and Dane counties, "Wisconsin, until moving to Wanamingo township in 1856. Here they purchased 160 acres of wild land, which they broke and improved, adding and dispos- ing of other tracts from time to time, but always retaining the original homestead in Section 10. The father died in July, 1807, and the mother in January, 1895. Martin Halvorson, cashier of the Farmers' State Bank of Wanamingo, is a native product of the village, born May 24, 1881, son of Martin and Gretha (Fraas) Halvorson, both natives of Norway. After coming to this country the father clerked for a while in a store at AYanamingo, and then opened a general store of his own. which business he followed until his death in 1899. His widow is still living. Martin was brought up in this village, and aside from attending the public schools here, also took courses in the Augsbury Seminary at Minneapolis and the Normal school at Mankato. After leaving school he worked for a time on his father's farm, and clerked in his father's store. A short period before the father's death, the two brothers, Martin and Henry, purchased the store and in December, 1904, they or- ganized the Farmers' State Bank of AYanamingo. Martin at first was assistant cashier, but in January, 1909, was promoted to his present position. He is a Prohibitionist in politics and is interested financially in the AYanamingo Lumber Company. In church circles he is well liked, being president of the- Young People's Association of the AYanamingo church and superintend- ent of the Sunday school. He was married, December 19, 1906, at Mankato, Minn., to Anna Gunderson, daughter of Ole and Ingeborg (Kelly) Gunderson. natives of Norway. The father is a tailor in Mankato, where he conducts a successful business. To Air. and Airs. Halvorson, one son, George M., was born October 23, 1907. Henry M. Halvorson, one of those hustling young men who have given the village of AVanamingo the reputation for pro- gressiveness which it so richly deserves, is a native product, born in this village June 3, 1875, son of Martin Halvorson. His edu- cation was received in the public schools of AVanamingo and