- HALVOR H. HUSEMON. Numbered among the leading farmers and
early settlers of Rock
- County, is the subject of this sketch, who resides on section
12, Newark Township. The history of his life will be read by
his many friends with interest. He was born in Norway, on the
9th day of October, 1833, and is a son of Hans and Bergith (HALVORSON)
HUSEMON. His parents were also natives of Norway. In his native
land the father followed the occupation of farming and shoe making
and in that country married Miss HALVERSON in 1830. Before their
emigration to American, five children were born unto them, three
of whom accompanied their parents to the United States, the other
two having died in infancy. Their first child died when an infant;
Halvor was the second in order of birth; Carrie came with her
parents to America, and is now the wife of Hans P. GAARDER, a
farmer of Worth County, Iowa; Bergith died at the age of ten
years; Annie died while crossing the ocean. After the family
reached Rock County, another daughter was born, whom they also
named Annie, and who is now the wife of O.P. GAARDER, a resident
farmer of Spring Valley Township; Halvor, Jr., the next child,
died in infancy; Bessie is now at home; and Ellen also died in
infancy.
- Immediately after the landing of the family in New York,
they continued their travels to the
- Territory of Wisconsin and for two months made their home
in the town of Beloit. Purchasing 125 acres of land on sections
11, 12 and 14, Mr. HUSEMON in 1846 built a log cabin, and into
this the family moved - their first home in their adopted country.
The land was in a wild and uncultivated state, but with the aid
of his sons, he at once began the work of development and improvement,
and the raw prairie was soon transformed into a fine farm. In
1852 the pioneer house was replaced by a more commodious frame
dwelling, which is still the home of the old people, though it
is owned by our subject with whom they reside. The father is
now eighty-three years of age, having been born June 24, 1806,
and can well remember the great war in the old country in 1814.
The mother is now eighty years of age. Both are members of the
Norwegian Lutheran Church, and are highly respected by their
many friends and neighbors.
- Until twelve years of age, Halvor HUSEMON remained in his
native land, but at that time, 1845,
- an important event in his life transpired - his emigration
to America. His primary education was received in Norway, and
supplemented by a course in the schools of Rock County. He assisted
his father in the development of the new farm, and since that
time has given his undivided attention to agricultural pursuits.
In 1859 he became the possessor of the old homestead, which at
that time contained 190 acres. The many improvements which he
has made show that his life has not been an idle one, while everything
about the place denotes the thrift and enterprise of the owner.
Though commencing life in limited circumstances, he has accumulated
a comfortable property, and is regarded as one of the leading
farmers of Newark Township. In connection with his other interests
he operates a dairy, keeping sixteen cows for this purpose, and
his farm is also stocked with a good grade of horses and hogs.
- On the 24th day of May, 1862 Mr. HUSEMON was united in marriage
with Miss Carrie THON,
- who was born in Norway, in April 1827, and is a daughter
of Christian and Sarah THON. Her parents both died in their native
land, and her two sisters came to America in 1846. Margaret,
the eldest, is the deceased wife of O. NASS, a resident of Litchfield,
Minn.; Emily is the wife of Thomas ANDERSON, whose home is in
Allamakee County, Iowa. Two children have been born of the union
of Mr. and Mrs. HUSEMON - Bessie, born Sept. 12, 1864; and Charles,
born April 15, 1871. The latter is now attending school at Beloit.
- Mr. HUSEMON has been honored by his fellow citizens with
several local offices. He was one of
- the first Norwegians elected to the position of side-supervisor
in the town of Newark, and was also the first Norwegian who served
upon the petit jury of Rock County. In political sentiment he
is a stalwart supporter of the Republican party, having been
numbered among its adherents since the time he cast his first
presidential vote for John C. Fremont. He has been identified
with the educational interest of the county and for twelve years
served as a member of the school board. He is well informed on
all the leading topics of the day, both political and otherwise,
and although born on foreign soil Rock County has no citizen
more true or loyal. He and his family are members of the Lutheran
Church. The portraits of Mr. and Mrs. HUSEMON are shown upon
another page.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 283-284.
-
- See a second
biography from "The History of Rock County, Wis."
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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