Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/1103

 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY 955 Arthur and William B., living at home. Mr. Swensen is a Repub- lican and is interest c(l in the Farmers' Hlevator at Dennison, also the Farmers' Telephone Company. He and his family are com- municants of Yang's United Lutheran church, of which Mr: Swen- sen is a trustee. Christopher T. Lykken was born in Warsaw township on the farm where he now lives. January L5, 1867, son of Torger and Gertrude (Williams) Lykken, natives of Norway. The father came to America in 1854, the mother in 1864. The father located in AYiseonsin, where he worked at farming and in the pineries for eight years. In 1862 he came to Minnesota, and settled in Holden township, purchasing eighty acres of wild land, which he broke and improved, carrying on farming until 1867, when he sold this land and bought 160 acres in Warsaw township, which he cleared and built a home and outbuildings, carrying on gen- eral farming. In 1884 he added eighty acres, and in 1904 he retired, placing the charge of the farm in the hands of his son. Christopher received his education in the public schools of War- saw, and attended public school at Northfield for one year, after which he returned to the farm and in 1904 took charge of the old homestead. Since that date he has carried on general farm- ing, stock raising and dairying. Mr. Lykken has four sisters and two brothers : The sisters are : Jennie, married to A. Huseby, of North Dakota ; Annie, who is in the millinery business of North Dakota; Mary, married to Christ Haugen, of Warsaw; and Dena, liviug at home. The brothers are : Anton, who is living at home, and Gilbert, who died in 1902. In politics, Mr. Lykken is a Democrat, being treasurer of school district No. 51, which office he has held for twelve years. He is vice president of the elevator company at Dennison, and is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Fraternally he affiliates with the Modern Woodmen, in which organization he has held the office of clerk. Jens H. Otterness, of Warsaw township, was born in Holden township, June 11, 1864, son of H. R. and Bertha (Berkvan) Otterness, natives of Norway, who came to America in 1857, locating in Wisconsin, where they lived seven years, after which they came to AVarsaw township, purchased ninety-five acres of improved land and engaged in farming. The father now rents the farm, but still lives in the old home. The mother died April 20, 1907. Jens II. received his education in the AYarsaw public schools, and w T orked at farming until 1895. He then entered the employ of the International Harvesting Machine Company, as salesman for Polk, Norman and Clay counties, remaining with them for eight years. He then engaged in the mercantile busi- ness, with H. A. Huseth, at Fertile, Minn., which he continued for four years, after which he sold out and entered the employ