- JOHN O. FOSSUM, a native of Norway, was born September 29,
1846, and is the son of Ole
- and Mary JOHNSON, both natives of Norway, where the father
was engaged in farming. On April 25, 1866, the parents, with
their family of four sons and two daughters left their native
land, and after a long, weary and tedious journey, on July 6,
reached Rock county, Wisconsin, whence a little later they went
to Richland county, where the father bought a farm of 100 acres,
which he improved and where he and his wife spent the remainder
of their lives He died at the age of eighty-three and she at
the age of seventy-five years. They were members of the Norwegian
Lutheran church and highly respected people in their community.
- Of seven children born to them (one after settling in Wisconsin)
five are now living.
- John O. was educated in his native place and after coming
to Wisconsin assumed the name
- "FOSSUM" in place of his surname - "JOHNSON."
When his parents settled in Richland county he remained in Rock
county, and during the following eighteen years worked by the
month as a farm hand for various farmers in the county. He was
a young man of thrift, industrious and economical, and with his
savings bought a farm in Section 33, Plymouth township, which
now comprises 190 acres of well improved land. Mr. FOSSUM has
erected a fine modern dwelling house an spacious barns and out
buildings, and carries on in the most approved manner general
farming and stockraising, also engaging extensively in tobacco
growing and dairying, having a creamery on the home farm. Mr.
FOSSUM is a man of public spirit - a Republican in politics and
has served several terms as supervisor of Plymouth township.
- On September 18, 1883, Mr. FOSSUM married Miss Jane, a daughter
of Nels L. FOSSUM,
- who came to the United States from Norway about the year
1844 and settled in Plymouth township, where he and his wife
passed the remainder of their lives. Mrs. FOSSUM was born in
Plymouth township, educated in the district schools there. Mr.
and Mrs. FOSSUM have an interesting family of three sons and
one daughter: Minnie A., Norman O., Alfred B. and Jay L., and
live surrounded with domestic comforts and in the full enjoyment
of a beautiful and happy home.
-
- Taken from "Rock County, Wis." by William Fiske
Brown, (c)1908, pp. 1019-1020.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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