Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/1032

 890 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY Zumbrota, the Augsbury Seminary and Beeman's Business Col- lege. Thus equipped with a classical and business training, he took up the mercantile business in AVanamingo, following same for six years. In 1904, together with his brother Martin and others, he organized the Farmers' State Bank of AVanamingo, of which he is vice president and secretary. In addition to this he was postmaster of the village for eleven years until his resig- nation in February, 1909. He has been clerk of district No. 63 for many years and was for some time secretary of the Wana- mingo, Minneola and Cherry Grove Mutual Fire Insurance Com- pany. He is interested in the AVanamingo Lumber Company. To his efforts as director, the AVanamingo choir, a musical organi- zation of young folks, owes much of its excellence and merit. Mr. Halvorson was married October 24, 1900. to Nettie Chris- lock, daughter of Rollcf and Dordi ('Lund) Chrislock. natives of Norway and well known farmers of AVanamingo. The Hal-' vorson home has been brightened by the arrival of three children: Martha Louise, born July 16, 1902; Ralph Donald, born Septem- ber 4, 1904; and Helen Josephine, born December 1, 1907. Mr. Halvorson is an independent Republican and the family faith is that of the Evangelical Lutheran church. Andrew H. Tongen, one of the substantial and well-to-do farmers of AVanamingo township, is a native of AVisconsin, born in Columbia county, October 20, 1862. At the age of nine years he came to AVanamingo township with his parents, attended the schools of his neighborhood and took up farming with his father until 1882, when he assumed charge of the home farm. Being a hard worker and taking a thorough interest in his under- takings, he soon had one of the finest farms in the township, adding to its well kept appearance in 1905 by erecting a fine residence. The original homestead has been increased by the purchase of sixty acres adjoining, and in 1908 Mr. Tongen bought another farm of 138 acres in Minneola township, which he also manages. His farming operations consist in raising general crops and breeding live stock. As an encouragement to public enterprise Mr. Tongen has taken stock in the elevators at AVana- mingo and Zumbrota, and since January 1, 1906, he has been secretary of the AVanamingo, Cherry Grove and Minneola Mutual Fire Insurance Company. By Anna M. Thompson, whom he married, November 27, 1882, the subject of this sketch has had nine children : Ole H. and Eddie are in Minneola township, and Oscar, Chester. Henry, Peter. Alfred, Luella and Clara are at home, Chester being a student in St. Olaf 's College at Northfield. Airs. Tongen 's parents were Peter O. and Bretha Thompson, natives of Norway, who came to America and settled in Min- neola township, where the mother still lives, the father being