Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/1106

 958 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY lives, August 16, 1869, son of Iver "Wan gen and Ingeborg (Loven) Wangen, natives of Norway, who emigrated to America in 1864 and settled first at Stoughton, Wis., remaining one year, subse- quently locating in Ked Wing and later in Leon township, where the father farmed and worked at masonry. Again they moved, this time settling in Warsaw township, where they purchased eighty acres of land which the father broke and improved, and built a log house, in which they lived for a time. Later he built a more comfortable house, with barns and other outbuildings, and continued to improve the land, carrying on a general line of farming, adding to his land, as he was able, until he owned 200 acres in all. In 1899 they retired from active life, but continue to live on the homestead. John I. received his education in the common schools of the township and worked on the farm until in 1899, when he and his brother assumed the management of the homestead, improving and carrying on general farming and dairying. They also rent forty-six acres. In the family there were seven children, six boys and one girl. The boys are : Andrew I., who is a farmer in Becker county; Hans I., John I., Christian I., Elias I., and Martin I. The girl, Betsy I., died in 1889. Mr. Wangen is a Kepublican, having served as supervisor for one year, and treasurer of school distrid 147. He is also interested in the Farmers' Elevator at Dennison. John T. Wangen, formerly known as Johannes Tostenson, enjoys the distinction of having been chairman of Warsaw town- ship twenty-two years, lie was born in Aurlands Vangen, Ber- gens Stift, Norway. September 26, 1839, son of Tosten and Breta Wangen, the former of whom died in 1874 and the latter in 1864. He received his education in the public schools and clerked in a store in Bergen until coining to America in 1858. The voyage was long and dangerous, and the ship was disabled, making it doubt- ful at one time whether the passengers would ever reach the shore in safety. After working in Dane county, Wisconsin, and work- ing in a sawmill in the city of Winona, Minn., he came to Warsaw township in 1866 and bought 160 acres of land, which he broke, cultivated and improved. Previous to this, however, he enlisted in the Civil War and served honorably from April 22, 1862, to April 22, 1865. Mr. Wangen now owns 270 acres of highly culti- vated land, and until 1906, when he retired, conducted general farming and stock raising on a large scale. April 9, 1869, he was married to Carrie J. Buene, daughter of Jens and Ragnald Buene, the former of whom died in 1895 and the latter in 1897. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Wangen has been blessed with seven children: Thomas; Betsy M., wife of William Dunn; Roggine, wife of Anton Daniels ; Joseph, wife of John Owoumb ; and John, Jensine and Carl, who live on the farm. The family faith is